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AUC chief hails China's "timely" zero-tariff initiative amid global uncertainties

Xinhua) 10:27, April 23, 2026

ADDIS ABABA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- China's decision to grant zero-tariff treatment to products from African countries is a "very timely" move that will help Africa tackle global challenges, African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said on Tuesday.

China's initiative is particularly vital as Africa bears the brunt of global uncertainties, Youssouf told media at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, after the inaugural meeting of the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit.

"The world is passing through difficult times, with numerous crises, and the most critical one is the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz," Youssouf said. "These crises have disastrous effects on African economies, mainly on African countries with structural vulnerabilities. We also see isolationist policies across the world, while protectionism is growing."

"The Chinese government's decision to allow African products to enter the Chinese market with zero tariffs is very timely," the AU Commission chief said. "I would like to express, on behalf of the African Union Commission, our sincere gratitude for this very brotherly gesture that all Africans appreciate."

Youssouf said that the African continent is currently facing a number of challenges, including global fertilizer supply chain disruptions due to the conflict in the Middle East, posing a higher risk of food insecurity.

Global trade rules and procedures must be improved, as the current system places African economies in "increasingly awkward and disadvantaged situations," he said, underscoring the urgent need to increase Africa's representation in the global decision-making process.

According to data released by China's General Administration of Customs, China-Africa trade reached 348 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, up 17.7 percent year on year and hitting a new record high. Of this total, China's imports from Africa amounted to 123 billion dollars, an increase of 5.4 percent year on year.

China will implement zero-tariff measures on all tariff lines for products from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties starting May 1.

Beyond improving market access for African exports, China's policy is expected to open new opportunities for African industries and businesses, with potential for greater value addition.

"We value this fair and transparent partnership that the Chinese government is trying to put in place with regard to China-Africa relations," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
EastEnders star Ronni Ancona had her phone snatched after she left the London premiere of Twiggy.

Ronni Ancona as Bea Pollard in EastEnders

The 57-year-old actress - who plays Bea Pollard in the BBC soap - was left in despair after an individual swiped the device out of her hand as she left the glitzy launch of 60-year-old Sadie Frost's documentary about the iconic 76-year-old model in Leicester Square and headed to the Soho afterparty in March 2025.

Ronni recalled the theft nightmare to the Daily Mail newspaper's Eden Confidential column: "I was taking some investors and people involved in the film from the Vue Cinema to the afterparty in Soho.

"The theft was by someone on foot, someone very deft of hand - I was absolutely devastated."

The Big Impression co-creator panicked after the ordeal as she had many big-name phone contacts, but thankfully, "their names are under code" and Ronni "got a young person to help me wipe the data".

And her phone travelled out of the UK.

Ronni said: "I tracked my phone, it went everywhere and ended up in the Middle East."

In September 2025, Nina Wadia - who played Zainab Masood in EastEnders from 2007 until 2013 - recalled a double mugging ordeal.

Appearing on BBC Radio London, Nina, 57, recalled: "I'm in Central London, in Oxford Street.

"I felt a punch in my back. She knifed my rucksack open, and my friend starts screaming because she'd just missed my spine.

"I was angry because I'd just lost my mum, and my favourite photo of my mother was in that wallet.

"So there I am, bleeding in the back, putting my hands in every single bin up and down Oxford Street looking for the photo of my mother."

The photo was "never found", but Nina was surprised by how witnesses to the incident came together to help her find it.

She said: "[I] never did [find the photo].

"But it doesn't matter because what happened along that way doing that was the amount of people that saw that happen in the store, the amount of people that said, 'We'll go through the bins,' and there were people walking up and down, didn't even know me from Adam.

"They went looking up and down, and said, 'We'll meet you back here in an hour.

"Now that is why I love London."

And Nina was also once accosted by a "very tall" man whilst getting her rent out of an ATM machine in a high street.

She recalled on the radio station: "I got mugged twice, and this was when ATM machines had just been put into high streets.

"I was getting my rent out, which I think, believe it or not, was 60 for the week.

"And I just remember a very tall presence behind me, and this voice saying, 'You want to give me that, don't you?'

"And then he pressed really hard into my back, and said, 'You want to give me that?!' His voice changed.

"At that point, my hand went straight up. 'Have it, I don't want anything.'

"He took it, and as he walked, he went, 'Thanks mate.'"
Eddie Marsan stars in No Ordinary Heist, opening Friday. The versatile actor reflects on his craft, the films Belfast premiere, and its tribute to the cit...

AceShowbiz - Eddie Marsan continues to showcase his remarkable versatility with a new role in the upcoming film No Ordinary Heist, set to release in U.S. theaters this Friday. Known for his impressive career spanning decades and genresfrom blockbusters like Mission Impossible III and Deadpool 2 to acclaimed auteur films such as 21 Grams and Vera DrakeMarsan remains deeply passionate about his craft. "I'm not a big movie star, and I'm really proud to be an actor," he shares, reflecting the dedication that defines his work.

The film, directed by Colin McIvor and co-written alongside Aisling Corristine, debuted earlier this year at the Santa Barbara Film Festival before screening in Belfast and Dublin. Marsan praises the Belfast premiere, calling it a "homage" to the city and an important nod to its recent history. "It's part of their recent heritage, you know?" he remarks, describing the excitement and engagement he witnessed firsthand during the Northern Ireland premiere.

No Ordinary Heist is based on the true story of the 2004 Northern Bank robbery, one of the largest cash thefts in British history, involving over 25 million stolen from the banks Belfast headquarters. Marsan stars as Richard Murray, the bank branch manager who is forced to cooperate with robbers after they take family members hostage. Alongside him, Eanna Hardwicke plays Barry, a security guard also coerced into aiding the heist under similar threats. The films tension is heightened by the volatile relationship between their characters, who harbor mutual animosity but must work together under dire circumstances. The supporting cast includes notable actors such as Eva Birthistle, Michelle Fairley, Andrea Irvine, and Patrick OKane.

Discussing the films appeal, Marsan emphasizes its universal themes despite its specific cultural context. "Films are always set within a certain cultural context, or geographical, ethnic context, and with any good film, within 10 minutes, youll realize its a universal story," he explains. The dilemma at the heart of the filmwhat one would do if a loved ones life were threatenedis a powerful, relatable question. The dynamic between Richard and Barry, two men from different social standings and backgrounds who despise each other yet must cooperate, provides rich dramatic material.

For Marsan, the project is not only a compelling story but also a learning opportunity. He admits he initially knew very little about the Northern Bank robbery, highlighting how English media coverage often overlooks such events. The storys complexity, touching on social class and internal community distinctions within Northern Ireland, fascinated him. Specifically, he appreciated the nuanced portrayal of Catholic social hierarchy, contrasting "snobby Catholics" like Richard with working-class Catholics like Barry. This layering defies simplistic sectarian narratives and focuses instead on class, money, and inequality.

Preparing for the role, Marsan took an experiential approach to character development, relying on sensory details rather than strict academic research. While the character of Richard Murray is loosely inspired by real-life figure Kevin McMullan, Marsan focused on the emotional and physical cues that convey the characters mindset and challenges. This method allowed him to capture the essence of Richards conflicting loyalties and survival instincts.

The actor also reflects on the broader significance of political themes in film. He believes cinema should engage with political issues without becoming preachy or didactic. "Art is persuasive," Marsan insists, underscoring the importance of balancing storytelling with meaningful commentary. This perspective aligns with the films exploration of social tensions and personal dilemmas set against a politically charged backdrop.

In addition to No Ordinary Heist, Marsan is preparing for an eventful year with several high-profile projects. Among these are season three of The Rings of Power, the DC animated feature Clayface, and the FX series Disinherited by Peter Gould. Despite his busy schedule, Marsan remains grounded and focused on the craft of acting. "I dont even know who I am really. I dont think any of us do," he muses, capturing the humility and curiosity that drive his enduring career.

Marsan also discusses the challenges of mastering the Belfast accent for the film, a task that required careful attention to detail to authentically represent the regions speech. The actor praises the collaboration with his co-star Eanna Hardwicke, whom he admires for his talent and professionalism. Their on-screen chemistry enhances the films central conflict and emotional stakes.

While Marsan has not previously worked with Michelle Fairley, another key cast member, he expresses enthusiasm about the talented ensemble brought together for this film. The collective effort of everyone involved contributes to the authentic atmosphere and compelling storytelling that characterize No Ordinary Heist.

The reception of the film so far, particularly in Ireland, has been overwhelmingly positive. Audience members have engaged deeply with the story, often sharing their own opinions about the robbery and its aftermath. Marsan describes the event as almost mythic in local memory, with many people still curious about the unresolved questions surrounding the case, including the whereabouts of the stolen money.

Although Marsan missed the premiere events in Santa Barbara and Glasgow due to scheduling conflicts, he notes the strong and generous response from Irish audiences as particularly rewarding. This positive feedback reinforces the films resonance and effectiveness in portraying a story rooted in real-life events yet speaking to wider human experiences.

Ultimately, No Ordinary Heist is more than just a crime thriller. It is a nuanced exploration of morality, survival, and the complexities of human relationships under pressure. Through the lens of the Northern Bank robbery, the film delves into issues of trust, fear, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones. Marsans portrayal of Richard Murray brings depth and empathy to a man caught between duty and desperation, making the film a compelling addition to the genre.

As the film prepares to reach wider audiences, Marsan hopes it sparks conversations about the social and political contexts that shape such dramatic events. His belief in the power of cinema to influence perspectives and encourage reflection is evident throughout his work, and No Ordinary Heist stands as a testament to that vision.
The Guardian is a far-left newspaper in the U.K. It thrives on sensationalism and preaches to the far-left choir in terms of what the left already believes.

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Its hardly a valid source  in most cases. However, if you actually want to know what the wider woke progressive crowd is pushing on an unsuspecting public, the Guardian is hard to beat.

I first read about progressive outrage over the current Iran military action in the Live Science newsletter, a source for reliable news about scientific breakthroughs, which I read to inspire my science fiction novels and short-story writing.

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However, for this article, I also tracked down the recent Guardian article that inspired Live Sciences coverage. Since, on all things political, both the Guardian and Live Science swim in the same progressive swamp, my source is also reliable as to what the far left is thinking and saying.

Heres what theyre saying. (headline) 

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 Iran war has already released a staggering amount of CO 2  Destruction of schools, homes and buildings is the biggest source  Advertisement

More on that lurid claim in a moment.

That worldview is one progressive leftists want you to think, consider and believe. However, wait until you hear their sources.

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Its clear they only had two sources. The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for their bogus claims of the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and Patrick Bugger, the research director for the Climate and Community Institute.

On their website, CCI defines themselves as a progressive climate and economy think tank  we work with movements and progressive policy makers  to, among other things shift narratives.

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Clearly, not an unbiased organization. However, when it comes to the destruction of civilian infrastructure, they are quick to cite their unbiased sources, specifically the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Supposedly an organization inspired by the International Red Cross, but one thats learned over fifty years of operating in a theocratic dictatorship  having survived almost fifty years of rule dictated by the Ayatollah, they are anything but unbiased. More on them in a moment.

Heres what the RCSIRI says about the Iran war and the facilities Israel and America have targeted: infrastructure that has been razed includes 16,191 residential buildings, 3.384 commercial units, 77 medical units and 69 schools.

From the beginning, President Trump told America that we are targeting military facilities, including military airfields and navy coastal missile batteries that could impose a barrier to ships entering or leaving the Persian Gulf. There is no reason, and no benefit from the destruction of homes, offices, medical facilities or schools. Who would benefit from that? Unless, of course, if the Iranian Republican Guards, Iranian secret police and perhaps other, similar stealth combat forces are hiding under medical clinics or schools, as Irans surrogates, Hamas in Gaza, did in the aftermath of October 7s horrific terror assault.

To reach their goal of swaying public opinion, they had to batch the direct, indirect and future greenhouse gas emissions totals, such as CO2, which is ironic indeed in a major oil-producing country already famous for its petroleum-polluted waterways and minimal environmental standards.

A big trigger here is the use of estimated future emissions caused by violence created only in the first two weeks of what is now a five-week campaign, and since there are no independent sources of verification, the Guardian used an obviously unbiased group the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Doing so, they embraced a source that wouldnt stand a close journalistic smell test, but since this is Trumps war, and since Trump is evil orange man, no independent third party has stepped forward with an alternative interpretation, until now.

One of the Guardians sources, as cited by CCI, is the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The RCSIRI is nominally not unlike the International Red Cross. However, after nearly fifty years of existing theocratic Iran, the CCIs evaluations are not valid news sources. However, one thing they do assert is that during the first two weeks of war, carbon-based CO2 and other aerial pollution, if continued for a full year, would add to worldwide CO2 will match the annual total of what Iceland releases in a year.

Since Iceland is hardly a hot-spot CO2 emitter creating enough greenhouse gasses to worry the world, this is hardly an effective indictment of the war against Iran.

The CCI also laid claim that the wars emissions, if they lasted unchecked for a full year  something neither Israel nor the U.S. is projecting  would equal those of the 84 least CO2-polluting nations on earth. These polluters such as Iceland, Greenland, the Maldive Islands, Tonga, and other high-energy powerhouses. Hardly project near-term doom for Planet Earth.

If thats the risk, let the good times roll!

The source of this Iran war greenhouse gas includes firing greenhouse weapons  rockets, bombs, kamikaze drones and guided missiles.. That burns carbon-based fuel.

However, since pilots and crews would be flying anyway, that really shouldnt count against America or Israel in this antisemitic charge of creating massive CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. Their logic has little relation the groups assessment  even when they apply it to aircraft carrier battle groups. When not in dock for repairs, these behemoths of the sea are maneuvering and carrying out mock-attacks on targets of opportunity, to help the ships crews maintain peak readiness. So the ships, like their planes, would be operating anyway, and the fuel theyd burn should not be allocated against the war. Only those flight hours which exceed normal training hours for aircraft, and with the same factors assigned to the ships during peacetime  only those should count.

Heres how the playbook stands: Since Feb. 28, and through March 14, if this rate is kept up, unchanged, for a full year, the warring factions would have released more CO 2 and greenhouse gasses than eighty-four smallest-burning nations, combined.

Places, as noted, such as Greenland or Tonga, the Maldive Islands or Iceland, are hardly countries that produce a lot of CO2. These are not countries known for being major polluters. However, its also worthy of note that these eighty-four countries are not named, preventing an accurate assessment of which countries are in the lower eighty-four.

Bottom line. This report is an example of what the progressive far left will do to stifle the success of the current air-and-sea attack on Iran, let alone allow President Trump to take credit for what he is doing to prevent Iran from rebuilding their nuclear capability or to finance violence against Israel and America. They are learning what 20th and 21st century military historians know only too well.

This is also sending an important message to the Peoples Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and perhaps the Ukraine and NATO, too.

When provoked, the U.S. has military forces and beyond just smart weapons that can take down any country in a matter of days and weeks, not months and years. Thats an important message to send.

Now, all thats left, beyond military targets still on the list, is to negotiate a peace that meets Americas and Israels goals, not the Gayatollah who might actually be running the country, with or without the use of his legs  because nobody on the outside really knows whos really running Iran. Then, once Irans defeated, totally and utterly  like Germany and Japan in 1946 well probably also see a new, 21st century Marshall Plan for the economic rebuilding of that nation, ruled not by a religious fanatic, but by someone the people chose. For that, only time will tell.

One final note. In regards to my recent article about what the president can do to help hold Congress  House and Senate  during the midterm elections in November, winning in Iran will certainly help him carry Congress in November.

First, if you havent donated to American Thinker, if you havent subscribed to the ad-free version, please join me by doing so, now. This will help the dream that is American Thinker alive. We wont always have Trump or a Republican successor, and we wont always have majorities in the House and Senate, and whenever that happens, America will need American Thinker more than ever. So join us now and lets build for the future.

About the Author: Im Ned Barnett, and Im here to say Ive been a frequent contributor going back two decades  in fact, Ill reach that milestone in August of this year. Before and during my tenure with American Thinker, Ive written 41 published books, including 19 that were ghostwritten for clients. If you are or would like to be a writer, please let me know how I can help you, with editing, coaching, or ghostwriting, as well as marketing and promotion once the book is ready for market. Reach me at 702-561-1167 or [email protected].

Image: Dynamosquito, via Wikipedia // CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed
Last year, plans were revealed to initiate an automated military draft. It is scheduled to take effect in December 2026. Whereas the old system required a conscious acknowledgment of obligation, the new system imposes obligation by default. But rather than tinkering with the methods of deploying conscription, a free society would be better served by questioning the process altogether.

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Why would a nation built on liberty, private property, and individual rights ever consider a military draft to be a legitimate tool of government? If people are free, they are presumed to own their own lives, their time, and their labor. By contrast, a draft assumes that citizens are government property. That concept is a principal element of slavery, not freedom.

Self-ownership is a fundamental premise of the free market. Individuals choose how to spend their time, what occupations to pursue, and whether to risk their lives for any cause -- including their country. But a draft implies that, in moments of its own choosing, the state may commandeer your service, like conscripting a mule to haul government goods. In any other context, forcing someone into involuntary labor would be rightly condemned. Yet, wrapped in patriotic language, this coercion is rebranded as duty.

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Some will argue that the draft is a necessary evil in times of crisis. But if the defense of a nation depends on violating the very liberty it purports to defend, then the moral foundation of that nation is already hopelessly compromised. The same government that cannot force you to pick crops, or fix cars, or teach school, somehow presumes the right to force you into combat, even to die, for causes you did not choose and may not believe in. That is not a defense of liberty; it is an obliteration of it.

Consider the economic absurdity of the draft. In a free market, goods and services are exchanged voluntarily based on value. A soldier, like any other worker, should be free to negotiate the terms of his labor. A voluntary military is both morally defensible and economically efficient. It rewards those who choose to serve and allows the military to compete for talent, just as every other sector must. A draft eliminates this dynamic, replacing voluntary exchange with coercion and obedience. And like most government interventions, it introduces perverse incentives and waste.

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There is also a philosophical flaw at the heart of conscription. To believe in the draft is to reject the idea that individuals are ends in themselves. Instead, it treats them as a means to an end -- the states end. The difference between a draft and a forced labor camp is one of degree, not principle.

One must also ask, who gets drafted, and who does not? History shows that drafts are never applied equally. The children of the elite often find ways to avoid service, while the burden falls disproportionately on the working class, on minorities, and on those with fewer political connections. The draft becomes not just an assault on liberty but a tool of exploitation. A moral society should not outsource its wars to the powerless by force.

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Supporters of the draft often point to great causes -- fighting tyranny, defending freedom, saving civilization. These are noble ideals, and many will voluntarily fight for them. But when the cause is truly just, volunteers will rise to meet the moment. When the cause is murky or unjust, only the draft makes it possible. A draft does not reflect the will of the people -- it subverts it. It enables wars the public would not support if their own children were not dragged into it by force.

When the military has a recruiting problem, it is either failing to provide a compelling reason to join or the compensation is too low to entice enlistment.

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In a free society, moral action requires consent. A war fought with slaves -- because thats what draftees are, legally bound and stripped of choice -- is not a moral war. It is a war of compulsion. The draft trains citizens not in sacrifice but in obedience. It teaches that the states power over the individual is absolute in matters of life and death. A republic that tolerates such a practice cannot claim to be a consistent defender of liberty.

Ironically, those who call for a draft often do so in the name of shared sacrifice or national unity. But when an action is compelled, it is not sacrifice; it is servitude. True unity comes from shared values, not shared shackles. If soldiers must be forced into service, it is because a compelling case has not been made to justify war. A free country must earn its defenders, not seize them.

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Those who advocate for free markets in goods and services must not flinch when it comes to the market for military labor. To exempt war from moral scrutiny is to exempt it from reason. A volunteer army, properly compensated, professionally trained, and morally respected, is not just more effective -- it is the only military compatible with a free society.

If freedom means anything, it must mean the right to refuse to kill and die for causes you do not choose. Otherwise, freedom is just a slogan used by those in power to demand your obedience.

Jim Cardoza is the author of The Moral Superiority of Liberty and the founder of LibertyPen.com. Read more of his essays there.

Image: Arthur T. LaBar
As the Iranian war comes to a head -- one way or another it is going to end soon -- the Iranians state they refuse to surrender or even negotiate under threat. I understand their desire, but sadly for them, reality is stacked against them.

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As an analogy, imagine having an older brother who wants to physically dominate you and make you cry uncle. Many have had this experience. You dont want to give in. You want to fight back. But sooner or later you will cry uncle or your brother will tear your arm out of its socket. That doesnt do it? Then hell do the other arm and then move on to other targets. Trust me, sooner or later you are going to surrender. Just the way it is.

The Iranians find themselves in a similar position. They want to fight. They want to say no. But sooner or later the pain will become too great and they will surrender. Food, clean water, and electricity will soon be far more important than this or that revolutionary slogan.

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Of course, they dont want to do this. Does anyone really think in WWII Imperial Japan and Germany willingly surrendered? Or that they were happy about their reality? Heck no. Did many want to fight to the death? Sure. But unconditional surrender was the only way to stop the pain, so they chose that over complete and total destruction.

Iran might go to this surrender baby-tantrum style but they will still go. What other option do they truly have? Regardless of what our Iranian-cheering media and Democrat traitors might be telling you, this war is effectively over and has been for weeks.

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The only limiting factors are how much pain we are willing to inflict and how much pain they can endure before giving in. Just like that older brother. Unless we foolishly quit, there is only one way for it to end.

And sure, they will try to get in a few hits before going down, that is to be expected. They might even score a few and give us a bloody nose or two but that in no way will influence their demise.

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There is one wild card that will determine the degree of destruction coming their way. Do Iranians view themselves as Iranians first or Islamic revolutionaries first?

In WWII, the Japanese loved their country. This love of country is what drove them to unconditional surrender. The end of the war for them was obvious for months. The only question was how would they end it.

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Always remember, the loser determines when a fight is over, not the winner.

A couple atomic weapons later and the Japanese made the wise choice to save their country and countrymen. We did not allow them to save face. All the cards were with us, so why should we negotiate about anything. The emperor -- whom many Japanese considered divine -- would come on bended knee whether he wanted to or not. Sound familiar, Iran?

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Or consider the Germans. They too loved their country and saw the writing on the wall; the war was lost. Towards the end, Hitler did push the idea they had some secret super-weapon that had been kept in reserve just in case it was needed. The super-weapon did not appear, as it did not exist, and the Nazis simply wanted justification for continuing to send young boys and old men to die at the front.

The Iranians are saying the same thing today. Why havent they already unleashed this super-weapon? Probably because it doesnt exist and they want to provide motivation for their people to keep fighting and dying even though the outcome is already settled.

If the Iranians love their country they will curse and spit, but they will surrender. And unless we choose to pull defeat from the jaws of victory, it can and should be unconditional. No face saving. We have absolutely no reason to seek compromise on anything.

The only wild card is do they fundamentally consider themselves Iranians or Islamic revolutionaries? I do not know this answer. But the past 50 years does not provide comfort. If they had truly considered themselves proud Persians, they wouldnt have turned over a centuries old Persian culture to Arab Islamists.

So will they surrender in an attempt to save their country -- like Japan and Germany -- or fight to the bitter end, destroying Iran in the process, as they have no allegiance to the country of Iran or its people?

Id guess there are folks in both camps in Iran. I hope they make the right choice and like Japan and Germany choose to join the other peace-loving nations in world. But if they dont, I have no problem letting them wallow in their own crapulence for the next 50 years.

Hell is coming to pay them a visit in a day or two. And what we destroy will not be fixed and rebuilt anytime soon. I hope they make the right choice but I, and my fellow citizens, can live with whatever direction it goes.

But just like having that older brother, they will cry uncle sooner or later.

And as a side note, after this is over and they lie licking their wounds, they should thank Allah on a daily basis that they were conquered and surrendered to the only country in the history of man that will willingly leave after victory.

John Conlin is an expert in organizational design and change. He also holds a BS in Earth Sciences and an MBA and is the founder and President of E.I.C. Enterprises. He has been published in American Greatness, The Federalist, The Daily Caller, American Thinker, Houston Chronicle, Denver Post, and Public Square Magazine among others.

Image: National Archives
For whatever reason, conservatives have just had a very good day in two different courts. Im not one to count my chickens before they hatch, but here are two decisions that might lead you to believe that some judges have decided not to be completely insane:

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The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: California enacted a No Vigilantes Act, which forced federal agents to appear in public unmasked and with prominently displayed name tags. The purpose, of course, was to enable doxing them. After all, California is the state that went all-in on masking throughout the COVID panic. It has no problems with masks. It just has a problem with ICE agents.

Immediately after Gavin Newsom signed the act, the U.S. moved for a preliminary injunction regarding the masking and name-tag portions of the act. The district court denied the request on both substantive and procedural grounds. Pending the outcome of an appeal, the U.S. immediately sought an injunction from the Ninth Circuit to stop enforcement of the name-tag aspect of the act.

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Today, the Ninth Circuit granted that request for an injunction pending the outcome of the appeal. While this is a temporary measure, it was granted because the court concluded that the United States is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that  10 of the No Vigilantes Act violates the Supremacy Clause because  10 attempts to directly regulate the United States in its performance of governmental functions. The court concluded that there were other, lesser reasons to rule in the governments favor.

This decision was a no-brainer. However, it has often seemed as if the Ninth Circuit judges, collectively, have no brain, so it was great to see it reach an appropriate outcome.

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Even better news just emerged from Virginia.

Virginias 29th Judicial Circuit: Yesterday, Virginians apparently voted to gerrymander the state so that the 46% of Trump voters in the state (presumably mostly Republicans) have only one sure-thing House seat out of Virginias 11 seats. The rest of the House districts have all been crowded into overwhelmingly Democrat regions, virtually ensuring that 10 Democrat representatives are sent to Congress. I say apparently, because there seems to be growing evidence of mail-in ballot shenanigans:

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Looks like mail-in ballots were used again to rig the election in Virginia.



The vote count also jumped 64,000 "yes" votes in 5 mins.



Sometimes, you have to let them show you how they cheat, to catch them cheating, to charge them for cheating. pic.twitter.com/ilaQZ0CcPc  The SCIF (@TheSCIF) April 22, 2026

According to Judge Jack Hurley, Jr., the Democrats used the wrong procedure to get their proposed gerrymandering referendum on the ballot. He therefore issued an order blocking the state from certifying the election results:

We are having quite the night in the courts. A Virginia judge just blocked the state from certifying the results of Tuesday's congressional map referendum as unlawful. Judge Jack Hurley Jr., ruled that Democrats did not follow the correct procedure for a constitutional Advertisement April 22, 2026

Completing the unseen part of the sentence in the tweet is the word amendment.

The problem is that in Virginia, referendum language must be neutral, and the language on the ballot was anything but. It was the equivalent of a push poll:

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Referendum language is required to be neutral. pic.twitter.com/ap6GOuZ7LK  Brian Kennedy (@Brian_Kennedy) April 22, 2026

In other words, Judge Hurley was not reaching. This decision, like the decision out of the Ninth Circuit, was a no-brainer.

As I said, I dont want to count my chickens before they hatch, but perhaps judges, having looked into the abyss, are worried, and sanity will return to our court system.

Image created using AI.
Democrats can't seem to do anything honestly.

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Now we learn that their fundraising machine, ActBlue, is under investigation for taking foreign cash to elect Democrats, making Democrats bought men.

According to the New York Post:

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WASHINGTON  ActBlue employees invoked their Fifth Amendment right at least 146 times in depositions with congressional committees investigating alleged donor fraud on the fundraising platform, according to an explosive report released Monday. Two ActBlue officials, one of whom formerly served as VP of customer service, and three of its former lawyers declined to answer a single one of the Committees substantive questions, stated the interim staff report from the House Administration, Oversight and Judiciary Committees. Advertisement Their unwillingness to testify only amplifies the Committees concerns, the report added of the depositions between July and December 2025, also citing ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Wells seemingly false statements to Congress and withholding of documents pursuant to a subpoena for recor

One hundred forty-six times, which sounds a lot like Hillary Clinton's 'I don't recall.'

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There's no such thing as Democrat cooperation in any operation that requires transparency. But as the Post continued:

ActBlue has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and in a recent statement through a spokesperson maintained that it has always been forthcoming with Congress. Advertisement

I'll bet. And you can bet that no one on that congressional panel was fooled, either. They sound like they are hiding something.

Yet the investigation raises serious questions about how many 'bought men' there are among the Democrats, in hock to foreign moneymen.

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The Post continued:

It could be alleged that ActBlue accepted and/or facilitated the acceptance of foreign-national contributions into American elections, in violation of federal law, a February 2025 internal memo from the firm Covington & Burling found, according to The New York Times.

How many did China's bidding, how many did Iran's? How many did Venezuela's? How many did Mexico's? All of these nations are famous for meddling in foreign elections, as we often see in elections abroad. Anyone want to 'assume' they wouldn't dream of doing it here, particularly with Democrats so easily and cheaply purchased? It's so odd that the foreign funding in numbers such as these went to just one side of the aisle. It reminds me of Democrat obstruction of President Lincoln during the Civil War.

And yes, there are many signs of it. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, after all, recently cheered Iran over the U.S. military. Anyone want to look closer at what he got from ActBlue?

Suffice to say, this was something the Founding Fathers looked on as a nightmare scenario; the U.S. controlled by foreign powers as its puppet state. Democrats, who stand for nothing other than crony pork barrel spending, seem to be making it happen, except that they don't want voters, or Congress, to know about it.

Combine it with their gerrymandering, their ballot harvesting, their mass-mail voting, their ballots accepted after Election Day, their Election Month endless counting, voters fleeing to other states, and one wonders if any of their elections are honest, and whether they have any claim on power at all.

One can only hope that this failure to be forthcoming in the face of heavy evidence that they knowingly used their ActBlue vehicle as a foreign funding conduit will meet heavy consequences. If they want to be bought men, they need to be in jail, not anywhere near the levers of power in a free country.

Image: Photo montage by Monica Showalter from logo and other fair use / public domain sources
Leftist NGO Southern Poverty Law Center has been indicted for using donor funds to pay the leadership of violent and leftist extremist groups.

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The Department of Justice has accused the Leftist NGO Southern Poverty Law Center of secretly giving millions of dollars to white supremacist groups, according to a bombshell indictment from the Department of Justice on Tuesday.

You read that correctly, the SPLC stands accused of funneling millions to neo-Nazi and KKK groups while purportedly fighting 'against' them. This included funding for the infamous  and mislabeled -- 'Unite the Right' Rally that spawned the 'fine people' hoax.

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The New York Post had further details on the allegations:

The Southern Poverty Law Center is accused of funneling millions of dollars to at least eight leaders and members of hate groups  including a Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard and a fundraiser for a neo-Nazi group  to act as informants, which one nonprofit leader likened to paying an arsonist to help put out a fire. Advertisement The Alabama-based non-profit was charged by the Department of Justice with wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy on Tuesday for allegedly hiding from donors the fact that it doled out more than $3 million over the course of nearly a decade to field sources tasked with infiltrating violent extremist groups, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wednesday.

The leftist NGO SPLC was acting very much like firefighter arsonists from real life and TV. Throwing gasoline on the coals of racism and then profiting from putting out the fire. Then, of course, there is the reality that the KKK was supported by the Democrat party, and our research has shown more than 50 common traits between them and the Brown Bolsheviks of the Third Reich.

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One does have to wonder why the leftist 'law center' would be funding these groups, given all of the leftist falsehoods that they are supposedly on the 'right.'

But then again, anyone who researches past the lies should realize that it all makes sense. We'll set that aside for the moment, because these allegations raise even worse implications in that all of this was to stoke the fires of a color revolution.

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Glenn Beck offered a short explanation of this dangerous manipulation of our society by the violent Left for the purpose of fomenting one of these 'revolutions:'

He said:

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At this point, it really looks like these extremist "right-wing" movements are nothing but FBI informants and people paid off by the SPLC. If this isnt an attempt at a color revolution, I dont know what is.

As he explained, if the indictments are true, this leftist NGO was working to create hatred and division, as has been done around the world, to foment a dangerous color revolution. It operates on a self-repeating cycle in which donations supposedly for 'fighting' these groups instead flowed to them, amplifying the threat. This naturally necessitates that SPLC would need more donations to fight this increasing threat, and those, in turn, would amplify the threat even further in a feedback loop. This would make the SPLC supposedly indispensable in 'fighting' a 'threat' that they themselves are funding.

A self-perpetuating cycle that is all part of a larger 'movement' towards a color revolution, coupled with the way the left lies with language in charging anyone they consider to be an enemy as an 'extremist.' Their connections to government entities give them leverage to suppress the rights of those they deem to be  you guessed it  extremists.

Naturally, leftist 'logic' would be that with these 'increasing' threats  energized by the left  something would have to be done to suppress their civil rights  along with anyone else the SPLC deems to be 'extremist.' See how that works?

As explained, the label itself is 'proof' in a self-perpetuating cycle, with the national socialist media using those labels to 'deplatform' those that are 'extreme' according to the folks feeding the vicious cycle in the first place.

This is why we need everyone on board in talking to family, friends, and coworkers as to what is at stake next November. If that goes wrong, it will be the start of a slippery slope to disaster.

They made a colossal mistake in trusting the collectivist left in Virginia; now it looks like they are going to lose most of their common-sense civil rights, along with basic representation in the legislature.

If the left wins, they have already started talking about packing the Supreme Court, locking people up, and taking other maneuvers to keep themselves in perpetual power, and that's now, while we're months away from the election. Think about what they would actually do if they were already in power and get activated.

D. Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, former director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a long-time contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack.

Image: Screenshot from Isabel Brown YouTube video
As is illustrated by recent accusations against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Democrats fund various organizations, groups, and centers that pay people to be racist.

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And then Democrats, utilizing their media lapdogs, point out these acts, pretending to be aghast at the heinous, Republican-inspired atrocities, all the while screaming that we must fund these various organizations, groups, and centers in the fight against racism!

This manages to be even more despicable than it is darkly brilliant -- and should clearly be as against the law as it is against all codes of ethics and moral principles.

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But wait, theres more!

Then we have a couple of sitting presidents and one president wannabe working with the slimiest of swamp creatures to create hoax after hoax in order to take down a duly elected sitting president.

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Obama, Biden, Hillary  and James Comey, James Clapper, John Brennan, et al., should all be drawn up on charges of treason, sedition, attempted overthrow of the government, and/or any of several potential other charges.

The Russia-collusion hoax was one of the most consequential and heinous in American history. In days of yore, they would have been threatened with tar-and-feathering at minimum and public hanging as a more likely option. Today? Many of the same people who were fine with the FBI rummaging through Melanias lingerie drawer at her home in Mar-a-Lago and the murder of unarmed veteran Ashli Babbitt at the Capitol building are aghast at the idea that these utterly reprehensible Democrats, a basket of deplorables if you will, might possibly be held even lightly accountable.

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Whether it is the now thoroughly debunked fine people" hoax, the Russian-collusion hoax, or any of several other wholly made-up smears and hoaxes, Democrats are brilliant at being evil. The truth is, going all the way back to slavery, the Civil War, and the KKK, it is obvious that being satanically, maniacally evil comes naturally to them. And so they indiscriminately lie and slander -- whether against individuals, groups, the Republican Party, or the United States of America -- in their rabid and unceasing quest for power. Because they are never truly held accountable for their deeds.

This fact presents us with one of the great questions of our time, the elephant in the room, so to speak: why don't Republicans do everything they can to fight back against this incessant onslaught of evil? Is it because being spineless, gutless, two-faced weasels comes naturally to a great many Republicans?

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In any case, if Republicans continue to let Democrats get away with anything and everything, they will be held accountable in upcoming elections. Democrats, on the other hand, will be held accountable in the next world. The netherworld.

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Image: Imgur-created meme
Jake Wood is launching his first art exhibition in support of Dementia UK.

Jake Wood is launching an exhibition

The 53-year-old actor has announced that the upcoming event will honour Dame Barbara Windsor, his former EastEnders co-star, who passed away in December 2020, aged 83, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014.

Jake's announcement read: "Exhibition Announcement  Jake Wood: ICONS Indelible Fine Art presents an invite-only exhibition from actor and artist Jake Wood.

"ICONS introduces a new body of work celebrating defining figures in British culture - people who have shaped identity, history, and public memory.

"At the centre of the exhibition, timed alongside VE Day, is Winston Churchill - a figure deeply tied to both national history and Brighton itself.

"The exhibition also supports Dementia UK, a cause close to Jake's heart following the experience of his close friend and co-star Barbara Windsor.

"It's a reminder of the very real human stories behind public figures - and the importance of continued support and research."

Meanwhile, Ross Kemp - who delivered the eulogy at Barbara's funeral - previously revealed that he has a special memento of Barbara in his office to remember his beloved friend.

The 61-year-old actor - who played Grant Mitchell, Barbara's on-screen son, in EastEnders - described his former co-star as "timeless".

He said: "I have a picture of her in my office, she gave that picture to me virtually when I first met her.

"Its of her in her twenties, it has a special message.

"Shes timeless, we are very flippant, transient and in a disposable kind of time, sadly, as you can see by all the plastic that washes up in the ocean, but she is pretty timeless."

Ross is also keen to ensure that Barbara's memory will "carry on" in the coming years.

The actor - who first joined EastEnders in 1990 - said: "I hope that people will carry on remembering what a great person she was."
Britains TV News Channel, GBNews, began an April 12, 2026 post this way: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a stark statement warning that Ankara would launch military operations against Israel over Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. The same outlet broadcasted that the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, described Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Hitler of our time due to the crimes he has committed.

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Prime Minister Netanyahu, responding to Erdogan on X, wrote, Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Irans terror regime and its proxies, unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens.

Erdogan, a megalomaniacal figure, considers himself the caliph and sultan of Turkeys Sunni Muslim believers and has ambitions to expand Turkeys influence beyond its borders, to resemble the former Ottoman Empire. Such aspirations pose a significant threat to Israel and to peace in the region.

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President Donald Trump, who considers him a friend, should recall Erdogans stances and reconsider this relationship. For example, Erdogan betrayed NATO by buying the S-400 multi-layered surface-to-air missile system from Russia and, along with his proxies, has butchered Kurdish civilians and fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who have been U.S. allies in the fight against ISIS.

Most recently, despite being a NATO member, Turkey sought neutrality and denies claims that it helped U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in allowing its airspace, territory, or bases to be used for military operations against Iran  clearly demonstrating the unreliability of todays Turkey as an ally.

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According to the Foreign Affairs Forum, a Dubai-based outlet, there are serious allegations of ethnic cleansing campaigns taking place against Kurdish residents in northwest Syria: a massive campaign to evict Kurdish residents from their ancestral homes and replace them with Syrian Arab settlers. Turkish assaults have reduced the Kurdish population in some areas, such as Afrin, by up to 60%. A settlement-building project, announced by Erdogan in 2023 and financially supported by Qatar, aims to relocate one million Syrian Arab refugees into traditionally Kurdish areas.

Erdogan seized on the coup that took place on July 15, 2016 to eliminate political rivals and consolidate power. According to Politico, 250 were killed by regime forces, 1,400 were injured, and 2,839 were detained in the failed coup. To further fortify his power, Erdogan switched from being prime minister to president. In the aftermath, Erdogan has shaken up the government, cracked down on dissidents, and restricted the news media. He has arrested and imprisoned journalists who criticize his policies, thereby killing freedom of the press in Turkey.

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And, on February 20, 2026, NBC News reported that Turkish authorities had formally arrested investigative journalist Alican Uludag, charging him with insulting Erdogan in a series of social media posts.

Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party have achieved what has long been the aim of Islamists in Turkey: to expand the role of Islam in Turkish society and its institutions. He has grabbed power from the countrys secularist parties and put his followers into various pivotal branches of government, including the judicial branch, commerce, and the media.

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Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey was established on October 29, 1923 by a military commander and an imposing political figure, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ataturk became Turkeys first president, enacting reforms that came to be known as the Ataturk Reforms, or Kemalism. He focused on severing ties with the Ottoman past, which he viewed as backward and overly Islamist. Ataturks ideology, rooted in secularism, liberal republicanism, and a modern version of Islam, became the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, earning him the title Father of Turkey.

Erdogans authoritarianism has replaced the Kemalist principles of secularism with Islamist fundamentalism in order to fulfill his desperate desire to revive the caliphate and become its caliph.

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Columnist George Will spoke out on a YouTube video, warning that Erdogan threatens to use its thermobaric Gazap mega-bomb against Israel. This is a bomb that can destroy a whole large city and its people. It contains almost a ton (970 kg) of high explosives and a high-fragmentation warhead capable of dispersing 10,000 metallic fragments upon impact, while generating massive overpressure waves and heat signatures that can incinerate enemy personnel and melt infrastructure in seconds.

Inasmuch as President Trump recognizes Israel as a loyal and dependable ally, he should be calling attention to this threat to Israel. The American and Western media have ignored this significant threat to Israel, while President Trump has neither mentioned it nor rebuked the Turkish dictator. The use of such a bomb by Erdogan against an Israeli city would force Israel to retaliate with a nuclear bomb, which would bring hell on earth to the entire region.

It is time for the Trump administration to demand that Turkey end its threats against Israel, halt financing to Hamas terrorists and cease providing sanctuary to them, end the ethnic cleansing of the Syrian Kurds, transfer the Russian S-400 system to the U.S. so that the U.S. might learn how to make our F-35 fleet invulnerable to Americas enemies, and stop all aid to the Iranian economy. The U.S. must revisit the Biden administrations decision to sell F-16 fighters until Turkey aligns with our interests and conducts itself as an ally and a member of NATO.

The U.S. must recognize that Erdogans Turkey is not only a threat to Israel, but ultimately a threat to the West.

Image: www.kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
Some of us still recall the magnificence of a country that once ruled the largest empire in human history, thereby permanently positioning English as the worlds dominant language.

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It was the country that gave us the likes of Shakespeare, Sir Francis Drake, Issac Newton, John Locke, and the Beatles. It gave us the brilliance of Alan Turing, who broke the German Enigma code, and, together with the stunning leadership of Winston Churchill and a bunch of brave young Spitfire pilots, gave the nation its finest hours.

Ironically, and with the full power of hindsight, we now see that WWII also led the country into what increasingly appears to be a fatal case of economic, political, cultural, and psychological exhaustion.

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British investor and author Dominic McGregor has cleverly pointed out just how badly the U.K. has fallen from its former greatness. He noted that if the U.K. joined the U.S. as the 51st state, it would be the poorest state in the Union in terms of GDP per capita, meaning that the average person in the UK on 50,000 is less well off than your average Mississippi swamp dweller.

McGregors rude comment about the people of Mississippi caused Governor Tate Reeves to quip, As we say in Mississippi, Bless Your Heart. Or as you say in the UK, As-salamu alaykum.

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Thus, we glimpse how generations of British leadership (the great Margret Thatcher notwithstanding) have run the place into the ground with consistent bad judgment and even worse decisions.

President Trump has called out the Europeans, including the British, for allowing and even encouraging third-world migrants into their countries to destroy their core cultures. In the case of the U.K., Trump has also criticized them for allowing vast oil reserves in the North Sea to remain untapped as a source of wealth, leaving the country in a downward slide of destructive no-growth. As Reevess comments indicate, the collapse of British greatness is not just economic. Its also cultural, religious, and perhaps even genetic.

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In the years to come, serious historians will inevitably fill books with multiple explanations describing the decline of this once great nation. They are likely to note that the seemingly clueless upper class has managed to thrive on generational old money, cheap imported labor from places like Pakistan, and the continuing sale of precious real estate and other assets to oil-rich Muslim nations. Meanwhile, the middle class is coping with the downward financial pressure. Part of this is attributable to destructive socialist policies, most visibly implemented only a month after the end of WWII.

Meanwhile, second and even third generations of immigrants from the colonies have energetically hustled their way into positions of financial and political power. Only recently have we begun to see some middle-lower-class native British resistance. But is it too late for them to retake their country?

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Trying to understand how it has happened, there are interesting clues in the life of Lord Halifax, the former viceroy of India, who was positioned in 1938 to succeed peace in our time Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain as Britains leader.

At that point, Britain was still reeling with WWI military deaths of approximately 890,000, which represented roughly 11% of men mobilized for the war. Another 1.6 million were wounded. Roughly 2% of the total U.K. population died in the war, which ended in 1918. (That would be the equivalent of 6.8 million Americans.) In 1938, as Adolf Hitler was beginning his step-by-step conquest of Europe, the British had little stomach for another fight  thus Chamberlains infamous treaty-waving meeting with Hitler in Munich. He and his primary ally, Lord Halifax, firmly believed that appeasement was the preferred route for the U.K.

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Events rapidly overtook them with Hitlers September 1939 invasion of Poland. In May 1940, as German troops swarmed into France and other countries in northern Europe, Halifax strongly advocated for a negotiated peace (translation: virtual surrender) with Hitler. Chamberlain, ailing with fatal cancer, stepped down as P.M. Halifax, as the close supporter of his appeasement policies, was widely regarded as Chamberlains logical successor. But he declined to lead. He couldnt bear the thought of more lost British soldiers like what the country had suffered only a relatively few 22 years earlier. In desperation, the nation turned to Churchill. The rest is history.

Halifaxs worst nightmare came true. His second son was killed in action in Egypt. Another son lost both legs fighting in Libya. And he was far from alone in the upper, intellectual, and ruling classes in suffering such devastating losses.

Here is the other element of the story. In WWII, the British lost another 450,000 military and 70,000 civilians killed. Looking back, it is clear that even though they ended up on the winning side, these were losses the country could ill afford. How many of those dead might have gone on to sire future leaders, industry titans, and nation-builders?

Who knows how many promising, brilliant, essential sons and daughters might have been able to take the country back to greatness?

Well never know. But what we do know is that what did happen is clearly not turning out well for them. Its the true meaning of national tragedy.

Former Cold War spy, foreign correspondent, and international businessman, Frank Hawkins is the author of the novels The Zurich Printout and Ritters Gold and co-author of the hilarious novel $ea Weed, written with his daughter Liv. Frank and his wife Inge live adjacent to the Everglades in a space they share with an alligator they call Fred.

Image via Public Domain Pictures.
In the year 1692, an 86-year-old man who lived in the town of Malpils in Latvia stood before a judge and calmly proclaimed that he was a werewolf working for the benefit of the community. The man, known as Thiess of Kaltenbrun, made a series of curious statements during his testimony, describing not only the habits of werewolves but also offering a vivid account of Hell.

Thiesss confession, preserved in the transcripts of the court proceedings, has long struck researchers as highly unusual. Bruce Lincoln, who translated the trial record from German into English, has described it as one of the best surviving pieces of evidence for a werewolfs self-understanding.



Credit: Wikimedia

The story of Thiess of Kaltenbrun begins a year earlier, when the judges of Jurgensburg, a town in Swedish Livonia, summoned him as a witness in a case concerning a church robbery. They were aware that local people regarded him as a werewolf who had consorted with the Devil, but at first they showed little interest in such allegations, which had no bearing on the matter before them. Nevertheless, Thiess himself volunteered the information. He freely admitted that he had once been a werewolf, though he insisted he had given it up ten years earlier.

He went on to recount an incident from 1681, when he had previously appeared in court after accusing a farmer from Lemburg of breaking his nose. According to the story he told at the time, he had descended into Hell in the form of a wolf, where the farmer, whom he described as a practising witch, had struck him across the face with a broomstick decorated with horses tails. The judges then had dismissed his account with laughter, though one of them did verify that his nose had indeed been broken.

On this occasion, however, the judges of Jurgensburg decided to take his claims with greater seriousness. Seeking to determine whether he was mad or of sound mind, they questioned several people in court who knew him. These witnesses testified that, so far as they could tell, Thiess was perfectly rational.

Thiess of Kaltenbrun claimed that on the night of St. Lucias Day, and often also on the nights of Pentecost and St. Johns Day, he and other werewolves left their human bodies and took on the form of wolves. When pressed on how this transformation occurred, he at first explained that they donned wolves pelts. He even claimed to have obtained his own from a farmer in Marienburg, though he added that he had passed it on to someone else years earlier. When the judges asked him to name these individuals, however, he altered his account, saying instead that he and the others went into the bushes, undressed, and then transformed.

Also read: Peter Stumpp: The Werewolf of Bedburg

Once changed, Thiess said, they roamed the countryside, descending on farms and tearing apart livestock wherever they found it. The meat, he added, they did not eat raw. Rather, they roasted it before consuming it. When the judges asked how wolves could manage such a task, Thiess clarified that at this stage they had resumed human form. They seasoned their food with salt, he said, though they never had any bread to accompany it.

He also described how he had first acquired the ability. In his telling, he had once been a beggar when a rascal drank a toast to him, thereby passing on the power to become a werewolf. The same gift, he explained, could be transferred to another. One had only to breathe into a jug three times, offer it with the words, It will be for you as it was for me, and persuade the other person to drink. Yet Thiess claimed that he had never succeeded in finding anyone willing to take on the role from him.



Credit: Wikimedia

Thiess went on to describe how the werewolves journeyed to Hell, which he located at the end of the lake called Puer Esser, in a swamp below Lemburg, about half a mile from Klingenberg. Ordinary people, he explained, could not perceive this place, for its not on top but under the earth, and the entrance is protected by a gate that no one can find, except someone who belongs inside. Once there, the werewolves fought both the Devil and the witches who served him, beating them with long iron rods and driving them off like dogs. Thiess insisted that the werewolves cannot tolerate the Devil, describing them instead as Gods hounds

When the judges of Jurgensburg asked why they would willingly descend into Hell if they so despised the Devil, he responded by telling them that he and his companions undertook these journeys to recover livestock, grain, and fruits of the earth that witches had stolen. If they failed in this task, the harvest would suffer. He recounted that only the previous year he had made such a journey, returning with as much barley, oats, and rye as he could carry in order to ensure abundance.

At this point, the judges noted a contradiction. Thiess had earlier claimed to have abandoned his life as a werewolf ten years before, yet now he admitted to having travelled to Hell in that very form just a year earlier. Confronted with the inconsistency, Thiess conceded that his earlier statement had been false.

The judges of Jurgensburg then asked Thiess what became of the souls of werewolves after death. He replied that they went to Heaven, while the souls of witches were consigned to Hell. The judges then questioned this, asking how it was possible for the werewolves' souls to go to Heaven if they were the servants of the Devil. Once more, Thiess reiterated that the werewolves were not servants of the Devil, but of God, and that they undertook their nocturnal journeys to Hell for the good of mankind.

Despite this insistence, his testimony raised doubts about his religious orthodoxy. The judges began to question whether he was a devout adherent of Lutheranism. They asked if he attended church, listened to sermons, prayed regularly, and took part in the Lords Supper. Thiess admitted that he did none of these things, explaining simply that he was too old to understand them.

It later emerged that, aside from his claims of nocturnal journeys, Thiess practised forms of folk magic within his community. He acted as a healer and charmer, blessing grain and horses and employing incantations to ward off wolves and to stop bleeding. These activities, though not uncommon in rural society, further complicated the judges efforts to determine whether he was a harmless eccentric, a pious visionary, or something more troubling.

At the end of the trail, the court decided that the accused was involved in acts that was unbecoming of Christians. The judges announced that nor did he uphold the vow he previously swore to the local Herr Pastor, nor did he listen to the Holy Word, nor did he present himself to take the Holy Sacrament. Rather, since he pronounced all sorts of prophecies and blessings strongly forbidden by the highest divine and lay authorities, thereby powerfully sinning against himself and the others whom he led into superstition, it is fair to consider this and punish him according to the severity of the law. In the end, he was sentenced to be flogged and banished for life.

The case of Thiess of Kaltenbrun fascinates scholars precisely because his testimony looks so implausible on the surface. What makes it valuable is not whether it is factually true, but what it reveals beneath the surface about belief, society, and legal culture in 17th-century Livonia.

Thiesss story is strikingly unusual within the context of early modern witch trials. Instead of confessing to serving the Devil, as most accused were expected to do, he claimed that he and other werewolves were hounds of God who descended into Hell to fight witches and demons and recover stolen grain. This completely inverted the standard demonological framework which portrayed werewolves and witches as agents of Satan.

The Italian historian Carlo Ginzburg have drawn parallels between Thiess and the benandanti folk tradition of early modern Friuli in northeastern Italy, in which local Friulians fell into trance states in which they believed that their spirits left their bodies to battle malevolent witches, in doing so protecting their crops from famine. In Ginzburg's view both the benandanti tradition and Thiess's werewolf tradition represented surviving remnants of a shamanistic substratum that had survived Christianization.

References:

# Thiess of Kaltenbrun. Wikipedia

# Carlo Ginzburg and Bruce Lincoln. Old Thiess, a Livonian Werewolf
Adam Thomas breaks down in tears over Im A Celeb bullying row and reveals it sent him to therapy

Adam Thomas broke down in tears over the Im a CelebritySouth Africa bullying row with David Haye, as he revealed he went to therapy after exiting the show.

Speaking on his podcast, At Home With The Thomas Bros, on Wednesday (21 April), the actor said his time in the jungle changed him foreverand left him feeling broken.

He said: I know for a fact, Im not the same person as I was when I went into the jungle, to when I came out. Its changed me and thats no over-exaggeration. Its changed me. Im in therapy now because of it.

Viewers were unhappy after Haye, 45, called the actor useless among other insults after Thomas, who has the autoimmune condition psoriatic arthritis, asked to skip a Bushtucker Trial due to feeling unwell.
A new bride is being rushed back to the U.S. after her honeymoon in Japan turned into a terrifying medical emergency.

Sarah Danh, 27, has been hospitalized in critical care for nearly two weeks after she suffered acute liver failure on the second day of her trip to Japan, according to a GoFundMe for the newlyweds.

Danh took an emergency medical evacuation flight that landed Tuesday night in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, 28-year-old Luke Gradl, according to People.

Her mother, Le Le, flew back to the U.S. separately after she had joined the couple in Japan for moral support, the outlet reported.

A huge thank you to the medical team in Japan  the doctors and nurses who worked nonstop to keep Sarah stable up until evacuation, Gradl and Le said in a statement to the outlet. We'll never forget your care and dedication. To the AirMed team, thank you for moving so quickly and making everything come together when it mattered most. You made a real difference for us.

Sarah Danh, 27, has been hospitalized in critical care for nearly two weeks after she suffered acute liver failure on the second day of her trip to Japan (GoFundMe)

Their statement continued, We're also so thankful to the team in San Antonio for being ready and waiting for Sarah. Knowing she was going into such good hands brought us peace during a very uncertain time."

Danh and Gradls GoFundMe has raised over $175,000 for her medical funds.

The fundraiser, which launched April 11, said the bride and groom had been married for a week when they went to Japan as their dream honeymoon trip.

They were so excited to start celebrating their marriage together, looking forward to exploring a new country and making memories as newlyweds, the page said. But while in Japan only for two days, Sarah suddenly became very ill and was rushed to the ER, where she was diagnosed with acute liver failure.

The page noted, Being away from home during such a vulnerable time has been incredibly difficult for Sarah and her husband, Luke, as they try to navigate the uncertainty and worry together.

In Japan, hospital bills must be paid in full or treatments will be stopped, which adds another layer of stress to an already overwhelming situation, the GoFundMe continued.

An update posted to the page revealed that Danh would require a liver transplant.

Every donation, every message, every share it all reminds us that were not alone in this, the latest update read in part. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us and for holding Sarah in your thoughts.
Its like watching the news now  Forget Me Not: South Lebanon in Memory and Motion at Palestine House in London. Photograph: Rasha Kotaiche (Photograph: Rasha Kotaiche)

In one room of Londons Palestine House, a large screen plays looped news footage from southern Lebanon. Tanks and armoured vehicles plough their way through a rural landscape of hills and villages, amid frequent interruptions of mortar fire. As a person turns away from the screen, she says that its like watching the news now.

For all its similarities to current events, the archival video actually dates from 2000  the year of Israels withdrawal from the region, following an 18-year-long military occupation. Another corner of the room plays host to broadsheet pages from newspapers of the time, including a front-page report from the Guardians then Middle East correspondent, Suzanne Goldenberg.

The exhibition, entitled Forget Me Not: South Lebanon in Memory and Motion, took place earlier this month, as this largely rural part of the Levant became a front in the US and Israeli war against Iran. Since then, Israeli tanks have returned to the beaten track in Lebanon  this time heading in the opposite direction, further into the beleaguered Arab country causing one in five residents to flee.

For co-curators Rasha Kotaiche and Ali Abou Khalil, who both have roots in southern Lebanon, the cycles of violence have prompted a need to retell the regions history, although the project itself has been years in the making. Kotaiche says: What was initially meant to be exhibited in 2020 came to life six years later with more depth and meaning. The first iteration of Forget Me Not emerged as a film (which played on the opening night) in which Kotaiche used 30 years of footage to explore the impact of migration on her family as they moved from Lebanon to the UK via Kuwait.

Diaspora is but one of the themes that Forget Me Not explored through its collection of photographs and audiovisual material, alongside displays dedicated to future generations and the land itself. In another room of the exhibit, windows were covered with drawings made by Lebanese schoolchildren in celebration of the nations independence day.

As Abou Khalil explains, Lebanons south  simply referred to in Arabic as the south, or al-Jnoub  holds particular significance in the history of the wider region. The south has long been shaped by foreign intervention, occupation and deliberate neglect  producing a political culture rooted in self-reliance, resistance and deep mistrust of external authority.

It is a culture that predates Lebanons independence from France in 1943, when political and economic investment was concentrated in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, while the south was underdeveloped and treated almost as a rural buffer zone. Its agricultural traditions, negatively impacted by state policies and Israeli raids against Palestinian guerrilla fighters based in the area, provided fertile ground for peasant revolts and support for radical organisations such as the Lebanese Communist party.

In that sense, Kotaiche acknowledges that Forget Me Not has taken on the task of educating the community on Lebanon  its history, its beauty and its resilience  and in a way, reclaiming a mainstream narrative on south Lebanon and exchanging it with one written by its people.

An example of that is Nor Nsrallas video testimonial, entitled What Remains, which features residents of the south who experienced Israels last invasion in October 2024. One interviewee describes how we are attached to this land just like a tree is rooted in its soil. The exhibitions framed images of this land  some of pomegranates and oranges in Bint Jbeil, others of the stony interior and the coastal shores of Naqoura and Tyre  are never far from sight or the popular memory of southerners.

That memory extends to previous large-scale Israeli invasions in the 1970s and 80s. Abou Khalil says: Lebanese state institutions and the army proved incapable  and at times unwilling  of protecting the south. Southerners found themselves exposed to both Israeli aggression and the consequences of regional conflicts fought from their land, without any meaningful state protection. This absence of the state produced radicalisation, but also organisation  ultimately leading to the creation of Hezbollah in 1982.

After the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024, attempts were made for a withdrawal of warring parties from the region. The following January saw the election of General Joseph Aoun to the presidency, raising hopes that the Lebanese state might take responsibility for the south, but it failed to materialise. Instead, UN peacekeepers reported multiple ceasefire violations in the months that followed, mostly by Israeli forces, and southern Lebanon remained exposed to the consequences of future conflicts.

As diplomats and politicians tussle over a tentative ceasefire deal, Abou Khalil says that today, the mood has shifted from tension to alarm.

Elsewhere in the country, the picture looks starkly different. Large parts of Lebanon function as if the war were distant. This divergence reflects a deeper issue: borders are perceived differently within the same country. For southerners, the border is literal and existential.
(WWLP)

An award-winning chef for UMass Amherst is facing murder charges after officials say his wife was found dead at hotel on campus earlier this week.

Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, of Wilbraham, was arrested Wednesday evening after police responded to a 911 call at Hotel UMass on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, according to the Northwestern District Attorneys Office.

When police arrived around 7:42 p.m., MacDonald allegedly became combative. Investigators say MacDonald threw objects at officers, striking one UMass officer in the face.

MacDonald, who was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation last year, was arraigned Thursday in Eastern Hampshire District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and one count of assault and battery on a police officer.

He is accused of carrying out the killing of his wife  who has not been publicly named  inside the 113-room campus hotel, which operates as a teaching facility for students in the universitys hospitality program, WWLP reported.

Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, is charged with murder and assault and battery upon a police officer after his wife was found dead at a UMass campus hotel (WWLP)

Inside the hotel room, officers made a grim discovery. Police said the womans injuries were consistent with a violent attack.

Upon entering Room 413, officers located a deceased female, according to the report. Given the nature of the females significant injuries, it seemed apparent to officers that her injuries resulted from a violent assault.

According to the report obtained by CBS News, MacDonald admitted to investigators that he had intentionally beaten his wife with his hands, feet, and other blunt objects and that it was his intent to kill her in doing so.

Although the victims name has not been released, the DAs office confirmed both MacDonald and the victim, who they describe as his wife, were employees of UMass Amherst. Her cause of death has not yet been determined.

In a message to the campus community, UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes said there is no ongoing threat to the campus.

I want to acknowledge that this is heartbreaking and deeply unsettling news for our campus. Our thoughts are with those affected, including the families, friends, and colleagues of the individuals involved, he wrote. I also recognize that the lack of complete information may add to the distress many are feeling, but this is necessary to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Please know that support resources are available for anyone who may need them during this time.

The investigation remains ongoing and involves UMass Amherst Police, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorneys Office, and the Massachusetts Crime Scene Services Section.

MacDonald is being held without bail. His next court date is scheduled for May 12.
Chinese solar exports doubled in a single month to reach a record high in March as the energy crisis sparked by the US-Israeli war on Iran accelerated demand for alternatives to oil and gas across Asia, Africa and beyond, according to an energy think tank.

The exports reached 68 gigawatt (GW) in March  equivalent to Spain's entire solar capacity  surpassing the previous record set in August 2025 by 49 per cent, Ember said.

At least 50 nations set all-time records for Chinese solar imports that same month, with a further 60 seeing their highest levels in six months, the think tanks analysis of customs data found.

Regions most acutely affected by the energy crisis saw the sharpest increases. Exports to Africa rose 176 per cent compared to February to reach 10GW, while exports to Asia doubled to about 39GW  both all-time records.

Together, the two regions accounted for three-quarters of the overall increase. Indias imports rose 141 per cent, Nigerias 519 per cent, Kenyas 207 per cent, and Ethiopias 391 per cent, each importing more than one GW of solar technology in a single month for the first time ever.

Records were also set in Japan, Australia and across the EU. The Middle East was the only region not to see a step up in solar imports as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz massively affected trade flows.

"Fossil shocks are boosting the solar surge," said Euan Graham, senior analyst at Ember. "Solar has already become the engine of the global economy, and now the current fossil fuel price shocks are taking it up a gear. Countries are importing solar panels at record levels, and building up their own domestic assembly and manufacturing capabilities to address surging global demand."

File. Solar panels at Dunhuang Photovoltaic Industrial Park in Chinas Gansu province (Reuters)

The surge was also partly driven by a change in Chinese export tax rebate rules that came into force in April, adding around 9 per cent to solar panel costs and prompting a rush of purchases before the deadline.

Demand was not limited to finished panels. Exports of solar cells and wafers, which are increasingly assembled into panels outside China, rose 108 per cent from February levels to reach 36GW, overtaking panel exports for the first time since October 2025. Panel exports rose 91 per cent to 32GW.

Battery exports surged as countries sought to store solar electricity generated during the day for use in the evening. China's battery exports rose 44 per cent from February to reach $10bn in March, with particularly strong demand in the EU, Australia and India.

The scale of the clean energy build-out is beginning to rival the fossil fuel disruption it is responding to. Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026, published earlier this week, found that record growth in solar generation in 2025 was sufficient to displace gas-fired electricity equivalent to all liquefied natural gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz last year.

The global electric vehicle fleet displaced 1.8 million barrels per day of oil demand in 2025, equivalent to 13 per cent of US crude oil production.
The Boys stars Jack Quaid and Claudia Doumit have reportedly married in an intimate, star-studded ceremony in a small Australian farming town.

Quaid, 33, and Doumit, 34, were first linked back in June 2022 after meeting on the set of Amazon Prime Videos satirical superhero television series.

Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported the news Monday that the couple had married at Mona Farm  a five-star hotel and 124-acre estate located in Braidwood, New South Wales. The town is home to fewer than 1,800 residents.

Braidwood itself has been one of NSWs best-kept secrets, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Kenrick Winchester told the publication.

It is a great little town, only an hour to the beach and an hour to an international airport. Outside of a major city, when would we ever have so many Hollywood A-listers like that? So of course it took us by surprise but why wouldnt they come here?

Jack Quaid and Claudia Doumit have married in an intimate ceremony in rural Australia (Getty)

The couple were first linked in June 2022 after meeting on the set of Amazon Prime Videos The Boys (Getty)

According to the Telegraph, actors Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Costner and Henry Golding were among the guests at the wedding, as were Quaids celebrity parents, Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid.

Doumit  who was born and raised in Sydney  opted for an ivory satin gown featuring a tiered, ruffle-heavy skirt, paired with a coordinating floral headpiece. Jack, meanwhile, was seen sporting a red blazer adorned with ornate gold embroidery in social media images shared by news.com.au.

The publication claimed the couple enjoyed their first dance to Atlantis by Donovan.

While the wedding venue staff were reportedly asked to sign NDAs ahead of the event.

Local venue Smokey Horse Himalayan bar and restaurant shared a carousel of photos from their visit alongside the caption: Big congratulations to the newlyweds @jack_quaid and @claudiadoumit, what a beautiful couple you two make, we wish you boundless happiness and good fortune in the days ahead!!!

It was an absolute pleasure to host you guys at ole #SmokeyHorse, and we trust your family and friends enjoyed their stay here in our beloved little hometown?

The Independent has contacted representatives for Jack and Doumit for comment.

Doumit played Victoria Neuman, a congresswoman with a secret life as a deadly, blood-controlling supervillain, opposite Jack Quaids tech-savvy Hughie Campbell. Her character was killed off in the fourth season, marking Doumits exit from the show in 2024.

Quaid is next set to star in the comedy film Close Personal Friends alongside Brie Larson and Lily Collins in which a couples chance encounter with a celebrity couple results in awkwardness.
Kate Thornton was rushed to hospital after a horror fall in the bread aisle in a Tesco Express.

DJ Kate Thornton

The former Xtra Factor host smacked her face on the floor and broke her shoulder as she tried to take a loaf off the shelf, and now the painful injury, which also caused Kate's lips to be stitched, has made recording her White Wine Question Time podcast a "bit of a challenge".

Kate, 53, said to kick off the latest episode of her show: "Here's a thing, Ive broken my shoulder. Yeah, I fell over my own feet. Theres no kind of sexy showbiz story to this.

"I was going to get bread from Tesco Express, landed on my face, smashed my shoulder up, and Ive also had to have my lips stitched, which has made recording a brand new episode for you a bit of a challenge, Im going to be honest."

Kate's injury came three months after her "relentless and obsessive" stalker, James McCarthy, was handed a 12-month community order at Highbury Magistrates' Court, North London, after he sent the Greatest Hits Radio DJ 6,000 texts and emails.

The dad-of-four's obsession with Kate came in 2025 after she and her fellow broadcasters encouraged listeners to get in touch, and James even rocked up to her studios in London with books he had written.

In a police statement, Kate said the ordeal made her fear "going on public transport at night", and that it "increases your sense of vulnerability and panic".

The former BBC Radio 2 star acknowledged that "hes unwell", but it did "impact my life".

Elsewhere, Kate previously shared her pain of being axed from The X Factor and replaced by Dermot OLeary in 2006 after two years in the job.

Appearing on an episode of the In The Pink podcast with Natalie Pinkham, Kate said: "It hurt more that somebody that I considered to be a friend hadnt been up front with me.

"It was very public. It was on the News at Ten. It was embarrassing, it was humiliating, and it kind of burnt for a bit. Then you process it, and you go 'Im not letting this define me'."

But Kate bounced back from the pain, going on to land presenting gigs on the likes of ITV's This Morning, Lorraine and Loose Women.
Start spreading the news - a 100-year-old Lake Tahoe resort and casino, once owned by Frank Sinatra, is set to reopen after sitting empty for decades.

The Cal Neva Resort & Casino first opened in 1926 along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Over the decades, it became one of the most iconic destinations in the American West, particularly during its mid-century heyday when it attracted a mix of Hollywood elites and political figures. During the 1960s, the resort thrived under Sinatras ownership, hosting stars like Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., along with future president John F. Kennedy.

Despite its early relevance, the Cal Nevas fortunes declined in later years. The resort closed in 2013 for what was supposed to be a major renovation, but the project stalled. The property remained shuttered for more than a decade amid financial struggles and multiple ownership changes. Now, developers say the historic resort is finally on track for a revival. Realberry, a Denver-based real estate firm, in partnership with Proper Hospitality, has secured around $298 million in financing to transform the property into the Lake Tahoe Proper Resort and Casino.

The reimagined spot, slated to open in 2027, is expected to feature 197 guest rooms, suites and private villas, plus a lineup of restaurants and bars centered around the resorts iconic Circle Bar. There will be two lakefront pools, a 50,000-square-foot spa, recreational facilities and meeting and event spaces, including a restored 225-seat theater and a casino.

"Cal Neva is one of the most storied hospitality properties in the West, and we feel a deep responsibility to get the execution right with Lake Tahoe Proper," Chad McWhinney, CEO of Realberry, said in a news release. Our focus has been on rigorous restoration, and this financing milestone allows us to continue to thoughtfully reestablish this asset as a premier hospitality destination in Lake Tahoe, balancing preservation and long-term stewardship."

The Cal Neva Resort & Casino first opened in 1926 along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Over the decades, it became one of the most iconic destinations in the American West, particularly during its mid-century heyday when it attracted a mix of Hollywood elites and political figures (Don Graham/CC BY-SA 2.0)

The reimagined spot, slated to open in 2027, is expected to feature 197 guest rooms, suites and private villas, plus a lineup of restaurants and bars centered around the resorts iconic Circle Bar. There will be two lakefront pools, a 50,000-square-foot spa, recreational facilities and meeting and event spaces, including a restored 225-seat theater and a casino (Public Domain)

Back in the day, the resort was known not just for its star power but also for its large non-amplified theater and a network of tunnels that allowed celebrity guests to move discreetly around the property, developers said.

Sinatras time as owner was brief but dramatic, helping define the resorts most famous era. He bought into the Lake Tahoe property in 1960 and quickly became its public face, eventually growing his stake to about 50 percent within a few years.

Under his leadership, the Cal Neva turned into an exclusive celebrity playground, adding features like the Celebrity Room, a showroom that hosted performances by the Rat Pack, Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald - and where Monroe stayed during the week of her death, according to KTVU.

Under Sinatras leadership, the Cal Neva turned into an exclusive celebrity playground, adding features like the Celebrity Room, a showroom that hosted performances by the Rat Pack, Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald - and where Monroe stayed during the week of her death (Public Domain)

Ties between Frank Sinatra and mob figure Sam Giancana led regulators to suspend his gaming license in 1963, forcing him out of the casino business (Getty)

But behind the glamor, things got messy. Sinatras association with Chicago mob figure Sam Giancana drew scrutiny from regulators. After Giancana was seen at the property, Nevada authorities suspended Sinatras gaming license in 1963, forcing him out of the casino business and damaging his reputation. Although he remained linked to the resort for a few more years, Sinatra sold his stake in 1968.

The resorts modern-day struggles began in 2013, when it was purchased by Criswell Radovan. Just five months later, in September, the property was shut down for what was supposed to be a full-scale renovation, both inside and out.

That reopening never arrived on schedule, and the project quickly ran into financial trouble, missing its planned 2014 and 2015 debut dates and leaving the property sitting idle.

After years of uncertainty and a bankruptcy, the resort changed hands again in 2018, when Larry Ellison bought the property. In 2023, it changed hands again when Realberry acquired it for roughly $52 million.
Congress debates rotisserie chicken and if it should be covered by food stamps

A bipartisan group of US senators is pushing for a change to government food assistance, proposing that supermarket rotisserie chickens become an eligible purchase under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

The senators have introduced what they are calling the "Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act," which aims to update rules for the program, formerly known as food stamps. SNAP currently excludes hot, prepared foods.

"Americas best (and delicious) affordability play is Costcos $4.99 rotisserie chicken, said Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who joined Republican Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia and others in sponsoring the bill.

Its one of my familys favorites, and Im proud to join this bill with Sen. Justice for all to try, Fetterman continued. SNAP funds would be well spent to feed our nations families who need it."

SNAP provides a monthly stipend for low-income families to buy groceries, and its decades-old exclusion of hot prepared foods was originally meant to promote home cooking. Critics argue this rule is outdated, penalizing struggling families by denying them convenient and nutritious options.

Lawmakers at the state and federal level have long debated which foods should be eligible for SNAP benefits. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pressed states to exclude junk food such as soda and candy, with 22 states, mostly Republican-led, requesting or being granted permission to ban certain foods.

The rule dates back decades and was meant to encourage families to cook at home (AP)

SNAP is a crucial part of the US social safety net, assisting nearly 42 million Americans  about one in eight  with their grocery bills. On average, the monthly benefit per household is about $350, and the average benefit per person is about $190.

Besides Fetterman and Justice, the bills sponsors include Republican Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado. Republican Representative Rick Crawford of Arkansas is championing similar legislation in the House.

Justice said, "We have to give people the option to put a healthy, protein-dense choice on the table that actually tastes good and doesnt take an hour and a half to cook."
It could take 6 months to clear all the mines from the Strait of Hormuz, Pentagon warns

It may take up to six months to completely clear the Strait of Hormuz of Iranian mines, according to a new report.

A Defense Department official relayed the estimate to lawmakers during a closed-door congressional briefing on Tuesday, three sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

The assessment points to potentially long-lasting economic consequences, as the strait  now subject to dueling U.S. and Iranian blockades  is a critical trade artery that carried 20 percent of the worlds oil before the war.

On Wednesday, the average cost of gasoline in the U.S. stood at $4.02 a gallon, up from $2.98 two days before the U.S. and Israel launched their surprise attack on Iran, according to AAA.

Continued disruption in traffic through the waterway could also dampen Republicans chances in the upcoming midterm elections. The war is unpopular with most Americans and over half of voters blame Trump a lot for the spike in gas prices, according to a recent poll.

The Pentagon informed Congress that it could take six months to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to a new report (Getty Images)

When contacted by The Washington Post, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell described the outlets reporting as inaccurate.

By deciding to publishthese false claims, the Washington Post has made clear they care more about advancing an agenda than truth, he said in a statement.

The Independent has reached out to the Pentagon for comment.

Three unnamed officials told the outlet that lawmakers were briefed on intelligence indicating Iran may have deployed more than 20 mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Some were dropped by boat, while others were set adrift using GPS-guided technology, making them difficult for U.S. forces to detect.

It remains unclear how the U.S. military would clear the mines, though some officials have pointed to drones and helicopters as possible options.

Last month, Trump threatened Iran with repercussions at a level never before seen if it did not remove the mines (Getty Images)

Iranian forces started placing mines in the waterway in March, after the U.S. and Israel launched the war, according to CNN.

The Middle East nation possesses more than 5,000 naval mines, which could be highly effective given the straits shallow waters and narrow shipping lanes, according to the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Later in March, President Donald Trump threatened Iran with repercussions at a level never before seen if it did not remove the mines.

In April, The New York Times reported that Iran is unable to locate all of the explosives it placed in the strait and that it lacks the capacity to recover them.

Hostilities are currently paused under a fragile ceasefire extended earlier this week by Trump, as negotiations to end the war continue.
Some online communities in East Asia have called for a boycott against The Devil Wears Prada 2 after a promotional clip featuring a Chinese assistant character drew criticism over her name and portrayal.

The highly anticipated sequel will see the return of the core original cast, including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci.

The backlash centres on Qin Zhou, a character played by Chinese American actor Helen J Shen, who appears as an assistant to Andrea Sachs (Hathaway). The controversy began after 20th Century Studios uploaded a clip to its official YouTube and social media channels on Friday, prompting a flurry of reactions online.

Several people have argued that the characters name sounds similar to a historically racist term used in the West to mock Chinese people. According to The Korea Herald, Hong Kongs Oriental Daily News described the phrase as a symbolic racist slur historically used in the West to ridicule Chinese immigrant workers in the 19th century, and added that it conveys contempt and discomfort towards Chinese accents and intonation.

In the clip, Qin Zhou appears in a buttoned-up striped shirt and a checked skirt and rattles off her Yale education and 3.86 GPA, a look that some social media users criticised as leaning into a familiar nerd stereotype in a film set in the fashion industry.

Child-like dress, glasses, overqualified, Ivy League credentials and at top of her game yet obsequious and insecure of her competency: these are not Asian American stereotypes, theyre white womens fantasies https://t.co/hLVfvsQBHI  Boba Cyclist  (@BobaCyclist) April 21, 2026

Social media users have criticised Qin Zhous character as leaning into a familiar nerd stereotype in a film set in the fashion industry (YouTube/20th Century Studios)

The Independent has reached out to 20th Century Studios for comment. Neither the studio nor the films cast have yet reacted to the criticism online or in Asian media outlets.

One user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Child-like dress, glasses, overqualified, Ivy League credentials and at top of her game yet obsequious and insecure of her competency: these are not Asian American stereotypes, theyre white womens fantasies.

Another described the character as a stereotype-riddled discrimination: an awkward Asian woman who's a bespectacled, communication-impaired type who, upon first meeting, immediately starts bragging about her Yale degree and GPA.

Hollywood is so out of touch its embarrassing. Its 2026 and THIS is your Asian rep? The name, styling, whole look. Lazy stereotypes, wrote another.

One user on Reddit said that the name sounds like Zhen Chou, which when translated means really ugly.

Others pointed to a contrast between the films marketing and its on-screen portrayal, noting that it enlisted one of South Koreas most commercially influential K-pop stars to build buzz. Earlier this month, Vogue Korea released a video featuring Ives Jang Won Young with Streep and Hathaway ahead of the films release, as part of its Asia rollout.

While putting Jang Won Young, who is called a human doll and enjoys great popularity across Asia, at the forefront of promotions, the movie features an understated, stereotypical Asian character, wrote one user, according to Star News.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is scheduled to open in China on 1 May and will have its global premiere in South Korea on 29 April. According to Seoul Economic Daily, data from the Korean film council showed it had recorded an advance booking rate of 15.5 per cent, with at least 44,933 tickets sold.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits theatres worldwide on 1 May.
Slovenia refuses to air Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after pulling out of event

Slovenias national broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, has said it will not air this year's Eurovision Song Contest following the country's decision to withdraw over Israel's continued participation.

The main competition, featuring 35 nations, is scheduled to take place in Vienna from 12-16 May.

Slovenia joins a growing list of countries, including Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain, in boycotting the event.

Ksenija Horvat, RTV Slovenia director, confirmed the move to The Associated Press, stating: "We will not be broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest.

She added, We will be airing the film series Voices of Palestine, featuring Palestinian documentaries and feature films."

Organisers' December decision to allow Israel to compete prompted the walkout. Slovenia has been a vocal critic of Israel's conduct in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Fans watch the screen at the end of the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel on May 13, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)

While Eurovision aims to prioritise pop music over politics, it has frequently found itself entangled in global events, notably expelling Russia in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The current Israel-Hamas war has similarly roiled the contest, leading to protests and stricter rules against political displays at venues.

Slovenias announcement comes days after Paul Weller, Kneecap, Massive Attack and Paloma Faith and 1,000-plus artists signed an open letter calling for fans to boycott the event.

As musicians and cultural workers, many living within the reaches of the [EBU], we reject Eurovision being used to whitewash and normalise Israels genocide, siege and brutal military occupation against Palestinians, the letter, organised by No Music for Genocide and the BDS movement, said in part.

We stand in solidarity with Palestinian calls for public broadcasters, performers, screening party organisers, crew, and fans to boycott Eurovision until the EBU bans complicit Israeli broadcaster KAN.
As the Gulf crisis continues, the EU Energy Commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, has warned Its very likely that many peoples holidays will be affected, either because of flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets.

His remarks amplify fears that aviation fuel is becoming scarce, though the UK government says British airlines are not seeing a shortage of jet fuel. A spokespersoon said: We are continuing to work with fuel suppliers, airlines and international counterparts to keep flights operating, as well as planning for a range of contingencies.

But if your flight is cancelled or heavily delayed, these are the passengers rights rules you need to know.

Flights from the UK and EU airports (as well as those in the wider EEA) are subject to European rules.

They were devised to require airlines to do the right thing for their passengers. They specify the care and compensation you can expect when your plane is cancelled or heavily delayed.

These rules also apply for flights on EU and British airlines departing from outside the European Union and the UK.

A cancellation, or even a delay of hours rather than minutes, could trigger the obligation for an airline to provide a hotel room and meals as appropriate. If the airline is to blame, it will also owe hundreds of pounds in cash.

Conversely, when flying on a non-EU/UK carrier from outside Europe, you may just have to put a dismal aviation episode down to an expensive experience, and see if your travel insurer can help.

These are the key questions and answers.

The rules vary depending on your airline and destination (Getty Images)

In the UK and Europe, what can I expect if my flight is delayed?

For delays of under two hours, you have no rights (unless a short delay in the UK triggers a missed connection and much later arrival at your final ticketed destination  see below).

For longer delays, the airline should provide refreshments as appropriate after a specified length of time. This applies regardless of the cause of the delay.

The time at which the duty of care kicks in depends on the distance you are flying:

Short flights (up to 1,500km): refreshments after two hours

Mid-haul journeys (1,500 to 3,500km): three hours

Longer trips: four hours

Note that if the airline believes providing the care would further delay the flight, it need not deliver.

If the delay extends overnight, the airline is obliged to find and pay for a hotel room. In practice, carriers often say, too difficult, and invite the passenger to book their own and reclaim later.

While this attitude does not comply fully with the rules, aviation authorities tend to turn a blind eye to it.

The duty of care applies regardless of the cause of a delay or cancellation.

What happens if my flight is cancelled?

Under air passengers rights rules, travellers whose flights are departing from the UK or the EU  or on British or European airlines from anywhere in the world  have strong rights. They are entitled to be flown to their destination as close to the original schedule as possible, on any airline with seats available, and to be provided with meals and hotels if there is a significant delay.

If you are informed about a cancellation less than two weeks ahead, and the airline cannot find an alternative close to the original timing, the presumption is that you should be given between 220 and 520 in cash compensation. But carriers may argue that the aviation fuel situation constitutes extraordinary circumstances because the root cause is political instability, and refuse a payout.

How do I qualify for a cash payout?

If you are flying from a UK/EU airport or on a British/ European airline and have your flight cancelled  or are delayed in arrival by at least three hours  the presumption is that you are owed hundreds of pounds in compensation.

The payment depends on distance:

Under 1,500km, for example London to Barcelona: 220 or 250

1,500-3,500km, such as Manchester-Lisbon: 350 or 400

Above 3,500km, eg Birmingham-Dubai: 520 or 600. If a long-haul arrival delay is between three and four hours, the compensation is halved

The only way the airline can avoid paying out is by demonstrating extraordinary circumstances were responsible.

Define extraordinary circumstances?

The rules provide only a partial answer: political instability, meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and strikes.

Court cases have gradually refined the concept of extraordinary circumstances to exclude technical problems. In other words: if a mechanical failure caused the delay, you are due compensation. A judge ruled such issues are inherent in the normal exercise of the activity of the air carrier.

Official strikes by the airlines own staff are regarded as within the carriers control, but oddly wildcat walkouts not sanctioned by a trade union are not.

Crew sickness is a grey area, with no legal certainty.

Ryanair says: Only a small number of claims will be eligible for compensation. Most delays/cancellations are out of Ryanairs control.

How do I claim?

Each airline should enable you to fill out an online form, but these are sometimes difficult to track down. The pages for leading airlines are here:

British Airways (click on raise a new case)

EasyJet

Ryanair (click on Cancelled, Delayed and Rescheduled Flights and spin down to Passenger Rights)

Wizz Air

Compensation must be paid by bank transfer (or cheque), except if the airline obtains the prior signed agreement of the passenger to pay with vouchers for future travel.

For example, an airline might offer a 30 per cent uplift if you accept vouchers that are valid for a year  so a choice between 350 in cash or 455-worth of flights. If you know you will be using the same airline within a year, that might be a good decision. But most airlines do not offer such benefits, so insist on cash rather than a voucher.

Compensation is available for passengers flying from the UK on a British or European airline (Getty/iStock)

The delay is so long its no longer worth going. Can I cancel and get my money back?

If your flight is delayed by at least five hours and you decide not to travel, you should get money back within a week.

My flight from an airport outside the UK or EU is cancelled. What am I entitled to?

If you are booked on a UK or EU airline, you have full rights as above. On any other airline, you have none  though in practice a reputable airline will provide meals and accommodation as appropriate.

Some travel insurance policies will help meet expenses that cannot be claimed back elsewhere, and may pay a modest amount of flight delay compensation.

What if I have a justifiable claim but it is turned down?

One course of action is alternative dispute resolution, but The Independent has serious reservations about some of the decisions of these arbiters.

Writing a Letter Before Action  warning that you will go to Money Claim Online if you do not get a positive response within two weeks  is worth trying, so long as you follow through. For a 350 claim the fee is 50, which is refunded if you win.

Since Brexit UK citizens no longer have access to the European Small Claims Procedure, so if you are chasing compensation on a flight originating in the EU it might be easiest to go through a claims handler. One such firm is AirHelp, but be warned that the company will keep between 35 and 50 per cent of any payout (the higher amount if court action is involved).

My flight was an hour late departing, but I missed a tight connection

If you arrive at your final ticketed destination three hours or more late, you are still in line for compensation  as long as the cause was down to the airline.

For example, in 2018, I flew on British Airways from Heathrow to Moscow for an onward connection to Volgograd on the Russian airline S7. The plane was an hour late leaving London because of overrunning engineering work. I missed the connection in Moscow and arrived five hours behind schedule at Volgograd.

BA paid delay compensation without a fuss; the issue of meals was easily solved because S7 sent me to the business lounge to wait.

Simon found that BA paid delay compensation without a fuss (Simon Calder)

Network carriers have a strong incentive for punctuality, with connections sometimes less than an hour and the penalty for messing up so high.

In the Eurocontrol delay figures for key European airports on Wednesday 22 April 2026, London Heathrow (hub for British Airways), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Vienna (Austrian Airlines) and Copenhagen (SAS) do well, with around 90 per cent of flights on time.

Munich and Frankfurt (both Lufthansa) and Amsterdam (KLM) are less impressive, at around 83 per cent. Paris CDG (Air France) is on 72 per cent, with Zurich (Swiss) getting barely half of flights away on time.

Is travel insurance relevant?

Generally not, except if you are caught in the non-UK/EU airline flying from outside Europe category, as mentioned above.

Insurers will rightly say that airlines are responsible for the key areas of care and alternative transport.

Some policies will pay out a token amount for long delays.

This piece is kept updated with the latest advice.

For more travel news and advice listen to Simon Calders podcast
Authorities say a former North Carolina law enforcement officer planned to kill Black people in a mass shooting at a major New Orleans festival but was arrested at a Florida hotel with a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Though the festival was not named by authorities in several states, the widely known New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, commonly known as JazzFest, is set to begin on Thursday through May 3.

The event celebrates Louisianas music, food and culture, and attracted about 460,000 people last year, organizers said.

Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was wanted for terroristic threats, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida posted online Thursday.

Federal authorities told the sheriff's office that Gillum was in the Florida Panhandle heading to do a mass shooting at a large festival in Louisiana.

The Okaloosa sheriffs office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin (Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office)

The sheriff's office did not name the federal agency, and the FBI office in New Orleans did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Okaloosa sheriffs office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin, and posted a photo of him being led away in handcuffs. Deputies recovered a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition from the hotel room, the statement said.

Gillum was arrested as a fugitive from justice and will be extradited to Louisiana to face charges there, the sheriffs office said. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer.

The Associated Press left a message at the phone numbers listed for him.

Gillums family reported him missing on Tuesday and he had a history of self-harm, according to Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina.

Gillums family told law enforcement he had a gun and expressed recent threats to harm Black people, according to a bulletin from police in Burlington, North Carolina.

The Okaloosa sheriffs office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin (Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office)

Lyons said Gillum crossed state lines before his agency could prepare the paperwork to involuntarily commit him to psychiatric treatment. Lyons said that there were no criminal grounds to detain Gillum despite his comments about Black people because there was no victim.

But we felt that there was definitely something there that needed to be shared, so thats what we did, Lyons said.

Gillum was located and stopped by law enforcement in Oklaloosa County on Wednesday, according to Lyons and the Burlington police bulletin.

However, Gillum did not present any grounds for involuntary commitment or criminal charges and was allowed to continue on his way, the bulletin stated. Gillum told officers that he was enroute to New Orleans, the report added.

Okaloosa deputies were initially asked to make a welfare check on Gillum Wednesday morning and were not aware of any threats he had made, sheriff spokesperson Michele Nicholson said. Later that day, after the sheriff's office learned Gillum was being investigated, deputies surveilled him until a signed warrant arrived from Louisiana, she added.

Gillum had been hired as a detention officer by the sheriffs office in Orange County, North Carolina, in October 2023 but he left in July 2024, department spokesperson Alicia L. Stemper said.

In a statement, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival said it works closely with law enforcement and applauded their efforts, saying we look forward to another safe and joyful Jazz Fest (Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office)

We hired him again as a deputy on Jan. 13, 2025, she said in an email. He resigned his position on Sept. 21, 2025, and we terminated him accordingly.

Gillum also served as a sworn police officer for Chapel Hill from 2004 until his resignation in 2019, town communications manager Alex Carrasquillo said.

He returned as a non-sworn employee in 2024 before leaving for another job by the end of that year, Carrasquillo said in an email.

Louisiana State Police spokesperson Trooper Danny Berrincha said the agency is still investigating the episode with the FBI.

At this time, there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana, he added.

In a statement, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival said it works closely with law enforcement and applauded their efforts, saying we look forward to another safe and joyful Jazz Fest.
Five people were critically injured after two trains collided head on north of the Danish capital Copenhagen on Thursday, emergency services said.

Another 13 people were injured when the trains collided between the towns of Hillerod and Kagerup, around 40km north of the capital.

Images showed two yellow and grey trains facing each other with visible damage on a tree-lined stretch of track, with rescue services describing "chaotic" scenes inside the carriages.

"The two trains collided head-on, causing large damage to them and sending broken glass flying everywhere," fire and rescue service leader Christoffer Buhl Martekilde told reporters.

Two trains have collided between Hilleroed and Kagerup at Isteroedvejen, Thursday, April 23 (Reuters)

Danish police said they had declined the Swedish offer to assist as local resources were sufficient.

"There are injuries among the passengers. Everyone is out of the trains, so no one is trapped... Large resources have been dispatched to the scene," a police spokesperson said earlier today.

Police say it is too early to say what had caused the crash on the Gribskov train line, adding there would be an extensive investigation.

A total of 37 people are believed to have been on board the two trains at the time of the crash, which occurred shortly before 6:30am local time (5:30 BST).

While health services attended to the injured, those who were not physically hurt were also offered assistance, said transport group Movia, parent company of rail operator Lokaltog.

Four people were critically injured (Reuters)

The injured were transported away from the scene of the accident in ambulances and helicopters, the fire department said on X.

Around 15 vehicles and 50 firefighters were on the scene, with further assistance from neighbouring emergency services and Emergency Services RailDenmark.

Passengers who are not physically injured have been gathered at the collection point.

After a press briefing on Thursday morning, the fire service said its work at the scene was completed and further proceedings were being handled by the police.

Police said technical investigations are underway at the scene which will continue over a longer period of time.
G7 foreign ministers called for Hormuz to be reopened

A meeting of G7 nations on the environment begins in Paris on Thursday but climate change has been left off the agenda to avoid a row with the United States.

The office of France's ecology minister Monique Barbut said the two-day meeting would focus on "less contentious issues" in an effort to appease the largest and most powerful G7 member.

"We chose not to address the climate issue head-on ... because the United States' positions on this subject are well known," the ministry said.

"We wanted to prioritise G7 unity, particularly to protect this forum."

Read moreRubio says Iran war to last weeks, no US ground troops needed

President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn the United States from global agreements on climate change and weakened environmental protections since he returned to office in 2025.

France, Italy, Canada, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom are sending their environment ministers to the meeting of the Group of Seven industrialised economies.

Washington will be represented by Usha-Maria Turner, assistant administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Barbut's office said attendees would discuss themes including ocean conservation, biodiversity funding and the transformation of dry areas into desert.

Activists were critical of the decision to leave climate off the agenda.

Gaia Febvre from activist group Climate Action Network said "a G7 moving at the pace of the United States cannot claim to respond to the crises of the century".

"By yielding to pressure, it weakens collective action and renounces its potential leading role," she said.

It takes place just days before more than 50 countries meet in Colombia for the first-ever global conference dedicated to phasing out fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change.

Read moreFrance rebukes Lavrov, says Russia does not defend international law

Forests and funding

France is spearheading an initiative to raise public and private finance for the protection of biodiversity and hopes to win the backing of other G7 nations.

Barbut's ministry hopes to announce $800 million in funding for national parks in around 20 African countries, according to sources close to the matter.

Jean Burkard, advocacy director at WWF France, welcomed this inclusion on the G7 agenda but said any funding "must be additional and not compensate" for cuts elsewhere to state budgets for nature.

The G7 meeting also hopes to reach a political declaration on desertification and security, while sessions on oceans will look to strengthen an alliance on marine protected areas.

Other sessions are planned, including on water pollution, while a visit to Fontainebleau woodland south of Paris is also scheduled Thursday as part of a session dedicated to forests.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Marcus Terry, 43, laughed in court as the judge described how he killed cellmate Ray Matos back in 2021 (NBC6)

A convicted killer giggled in a Florida courtroom on Tuesday as the judge delivering his fate described in horrific detail how he brutally stabbed his cellmate in the brain with a pen.

Marcus Terry, 43, had just learned he would spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2021 killing of his 64-year-old cellmate Ray Matos inside the Dade Correctional Institution in Homestead.

Judge Ellen Sue Venzer paused and questioned his laughter: Im not sure why youre laughing, she said, as Terry continued to grin, according to NBC6.

You are amusing, Terry said from the defense table, still smiling.

I found nothing amusing about your behavior or the death of this gentleman, Venzer replied.

Marcus Terry, 43, laughed in court on Tuesday as the judge described how he killed cellmate Ray Matos back in 2021 (NBC6)

In December 2025, a jury found Terry guilty of second-degree murder for killing Matos inside their jail cell in 2021.

The two men had only been cellmates for less than a week when the attack happened.

Prison guards found Matos lying in a pool of blood while Terry sat nearby on the lower bunk, according to an arrest warrant.

Terry, who was already serving a life sentence for armed burglary and armed robbery at the time of the killing, returned to court on Tuesday to learn his fate.

Ray Matos, 64, was found dead in the cell he shared with Terry, who has been sentenced to life in prison for the crime (Florida Department of Corrections)

His attorney, Steven Yermish, asked Judge Venzer to grant a new trial, arguing that inadmissible evidence had been presented to jurors. The judge denied the motion and moved forward with sentencing.

Venzer described how Terry attacked Matos inside their shared cell, overcoming him with a pillowcase before pushing a pen into his brain, killing him.

He shoved a pillowcase into his mouth, Venzer said. When the guards came in to find out what was going on, he was standing on top of this man, and his hand was bloodied.

Venzer sentenced Terry to life in prison without the possibility of parole, telling him: God have mercy on your soul.

Terry now has the right to appeal.
TUCSON, Ariz.  More than 80 days after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson, the investigation remains active but without a named suspect or identified motive, as authorities continue analyzing DNA evidence and the family maintains a $1 million reward for information leading to her safe return.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos on Friday night firmly denied a viral rumor circulating on social media and news aggregator sites that a new person of interest had been detained in the case. When asked directly by a Fox News reporter whether authorities had taken anyone new into custody, Nanos responded with a single word: "Nope." The denial came after claims spread rapidly online, drawing tens of thousands of views and adding to the intense public scrutiny surrounding the high-profile disappearance.

Guthrie, the mother of NBC's "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last known to be at her residence on the night of Jan. 31 or early Feb. 1, 2026. She had plans to watch a church service online with friends the following morning but failed to appear. When she did not show up, friends contacted her daughter Annie, who lives nearby, prompting a welfare check that revealed signs of a struggle, including drops of blood on the front porch. Authorities believe she was taken against her will in the middle of the night, possibly while in her pajamas and without shoes.

Surveillance footage released by investigators shows a masked, armed individual approaching Guthrie's doorstep on the night of the abduction. The images, which include video and still photos of the suspect wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack, have been widely circulated but have not yet led to a positive identification. The family has described the footage as chilling, with Savannah Guthrie noting the intruder appeared to move with purpose.

The FBI has joined the Pima County Sheriff's Department in the investigation, bringing additional resources and forensic expertise. Sources familiar with the case told ABC News that the FBI recently received and is now analyzing a potentially critical DNA sample recovered from Guthrie's home, including a hair that was collected in February. Advanced laboratory techniques are being used to generate a profile that could be entered into databases for comparison. Gloves found about two miles from the residence also contained unknown male DNA, which investigators continue to examine.

Early in the case, two ransom notes were sent to local media outlets demanding payment in Bitcoin. Savannah Guthrie has said her family tends to believe at least one of the notes is legitimate. A Bitcoin wallet linked to the demands showed limited activity  a small deposit on Feb. 10 with a message stating "We are ready to talk. Contact us"  but has seen no further transactions. The FBI has monitored the wallet closely but has not made any payments, consistent with standard policy in such cases.

No arrests have been made, and law enforcement has cleared all immediate family members, including Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, as possible suspects. Profilers consulted on the case, including former FBI behavioral analyst Ann Burgess (known for her work inspiring the "Mindhunter" series), have suggested possible motives ranging from financial gain to personal retribution linked to the family's public profile. Some experts have noted the unusual nature of targeting an elderly woman in a relatively quiet suburban neighborhood.

The search has involved extensive ground efforts, drone surveillance and analysis of neighborhood security cameras. In recent weeks, police have returned to the Catalina Foothills neighborhood to follow up on tips, though residents have complained about amateur sleuths and true-crime vloggers trespassing and disrupting the area. Sheriff's officials have urged the public to respect the ongoing investigation and report any credible information through official channels rather than speculating online.

Savannah Guthrie has spoken publicly about the agony of not knowing her mother's whereabouts. In a video statement, she appealed directly for help: "Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home." The family has offered up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's recovery, with payment criteria aligned with FBI guidelines for kidnapping cases.

As the investigation stretches into its third month, experts note that the passage of time makes solving the case more challenging. Retired FBI supervisory special agent Lance Leising told CBS News that without meaningful new leads, momentum can fade, though the high-profile nature of the case ensures continued attention and resources. Tips continue to pour in, but authorities stress the need for verified, actionable information.

Guthrie, a widow whose husband Charles died in 1988, was known in her community as an active participant in local church activities and social gatherings. Her sudden disappearance from a home she had lived in for years has shaken neighbors and highlighted vulnerabilities for elderly residents living alone.

The case has drawn national and international attention, in part because of Savannah Guthrie's prominent role on morning television. The "Today" show host has balanced her professional duties with private family concerns, occasionally sharing emotional updates while urging patience and respect for the investigative process.

Pima County authorities have emphasized that the case remains a top priority. They continue to review surveillance footage, examine digital evidence and pursue forensic leads. Bluetooth data from Guthrie's pacemaker reportedly disconnected around 2:30 a.m., suggesting the abduction occurred in the early morning hours when she was most vulnerable.

As of April 22, 2026, Nancy Guthrie has been missing for approximately 81 days. No new public press conferences have been scheduled in recent weeks, but officials say the investigation is ongoing with no leads ruled out. The family continues to hope for her safe return while cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Tips can remain anonymous. The $1 million reward is available for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie's recovery, subject to FBI criteria.

The prolonged uncertainty has taken an emotional toll on the Guthrie family and the broader community. As the search enters its third month, the focus remains on following every scientific and investigative avenue  from advanced DNA analysis to public appeals  in the hope of bringing Nancy Guthrie home.

Originally published on ibtimes.com.au
For some animals, moms-to-be are surrounded by their family or others of their kind for this occasion. But imagine if an unexpected visitor dropped in while you were bringing a new life into the world. Thats the story of one mama Harbor Seal when a seagull showed up while she was in the midst of giving birth.

Talk about a surprise! TikToker @tea_withaside_of_ginger shared a clip of the encounter, replying to the comment, Seagull was the delivery nurse. The way this bird was hovering around this mother seal, thats one interpretation they could get behind, and even wrote back Yes! in the caption.

Once you check out this video of a mother seal giving birth, youll see why.

This uninvited guest really wanted to be a part of this moment! But it's pretty clear that things were kinda uneasy as mom was giving birth. @tea_withaside_of_ginger added, It was very tense for all of us to watch! And in terms of having a feathery audience, who wants to be crowded during that moment?

Viewers found humor in their interaction and responded with jokes in the comment section. Seagulls be in everybody business but their own, @morselsoftee kidded, and with good reason. This seagull just wouldnt back up while mom was pushing out her pup.

Related: Little Seal 'Running' Is Too Cute for Words

SIGN UP to get pawsitivity delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends

@listenjewel claimed that this bird was being a Seagull midwife , but others werent so convinced.

Some believed that this seagull was there for another reason. @amenimun chimed in, Seagull: So, are you gonna need this afterbirth or?

How Harbor Seals Care for Newborn Pups

No matter what this bird's reasons for joining the moment were, people are just glad that mom and her pup are alright. While the birth may have been described as tense, @tea_withaside_of_ginger further explained in the caption, But she did so amazingly and was able to nurse about 15 min after birth, and [it] was reported that she went for her first swim about an hour after birth!

According to NOAA Fisheries, Harbor Seals generally give birth once a year to one pup, and those pups are dependent on mom for the first four to six weeks of their lives. Seal pups are nursed by their mothers. As with this new mom, they can start nursing quickly after giving birth.

From time to time, moms will leave their pups to find food for themselves, notes Marine Mammals of Maine. That could suggest that this mom may have recovered well if she was swimming after an hour. After all, she has to stay fed to take care of her growing pup.

Once theyre weaned, pups learn how to forage for food by themselves. Then theyre ready to get out in the world on their own.

Welcome to the world, pup!

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The assault charge, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum sentence of just under a year in jail (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

An immigration officer has been charged with third-degree assault and criminal mischief after an investigation into his treatment of a protester who alleges he placed her in a chokehold.

Videos recorded by bystanders show a masked agent grabbing and dragging Franci Stagi across a street during an October protest in Durango, Colorado, over the detention of three Colombian asylum seekers.

Stagi said the officer pulled her by the hair and restrained her in a chokehold. Colorado is among several states that have banned or sharply restricted the use of chokeholds and neck restraints by police since the death of George Floyd in 2020.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation opened a probe into the incident at the request of Durango Police Chief Brice Current, who raised concerns about potential violations of state law, an unusual if not unprecedented request.

The woman said the officer pulled her by the hair and restrained her in a chokehold (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which launched its own investigation, acknowledged a request Wednesday seeking comment but didnt immediately respond to questions about the charges. Court documents didnt list any attorney as representing the officer, Nicholas Rice.

Stagi said she was standing close to the officer and filming him outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Durango, a college town popular for outdoor recreation, when he hit her hand hard, causing her to lose her cellphone. Stagi, a retired hypnotherapist, said she then reached for the officer's shoulder to get his attention. After she said he put her in a chokehold, she said he threw her down an embankment next to the street. She said she still experiences pain in her arm doing normal everyday activities, like putting on her jacket.

Court documents allege that Rice committed third-degree assault by causing bodily injury to Stagi, but the documents dont describe how she was injured or make mention of a chokehold. Rice also is charged with criminal mischief for allegedly damaging Stagis cellphone.

Stagi said Wednesday she was disappointed Rice was charged with less serious crimes. The assault charge, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum sentence of just under a year in jail. But she hopes the prosecution sends a message that immigration officers can't tackle people indiscriminately and use excessive force.

It did open my eyes to how quickly I can be under someone else's control, and it's frightening, said Stagi, whose legal name is Anne Francesca Stagi.

Federal law enforcement officers have broad legal protections when acting in the course of their official duties, and the Justice Department has in recent months taken a hard line against state efforts to arrest or prosecute federal agents. Late last year, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said arrests of federal officers performing their duties would be illegal and futile, citing the Constitutions Supremacy Clause and federal law. Legal experts say those protections are significant but not absolute and the Supremacy Clause does not provide blanket immunity.

Chokeholds have been at the center of public discourse and state legislative initiatives about what constitutes an unreasonable use of force since Eric Garner died in New York in 2014 after he was put in a chokehold by a white police officer.

Garners dying words, I cant breathe, became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

While some states have banned chokeholds and other tactics, sweeping changes were met with resistance.

A federal package of reforms that would have banned chokeholds nationwide passed the U.S. House in 2021 but failed to reach then-President Joe Bidens desk. The bill was named in honor of Floyd, who died in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed his knee to his neck.

Within a month of Floyds death, Colorado lawmakers approved a ban on chokeholds as part of broader police reform legislation. The law overrode more limited chokehold restrictions that were put in place four years earlier.
An inspirational line-up of lady amateur riders has been announced by Goodwood Racecourse for this years Markel Magnolia Cup which will raise money for the Education Above All Foundation.

It was revealed earlier this week that Michael Owens daughter, professional dressage rider and presenter Gemma Owen, would be among those competing in the annual charity race on the Sussex Downs and she will be joined by 11 others from a wide range of backgrounds.

The race has raised more than 3.5million since its launch in 2011 and the Duke of Richmond, chairman of the Goodwood estate, said: We are very much looking forward to supporting Education Above All Foundation as the charity partner of this years Markel Magnolia Cup.

Over the past 15 years, the Markel Magnolia Cup has become a powerful force for real and lasting change, championing women and raising more than 3.5million for vital causes.

Gemma Owen will take part in the Magnolia Cup (Matt Alexander Media Assignments) (Matt Alexander Media Assignments)

I am confident that the generosity of our partners, sponsors and racegoers, as well as the dedication and commitment of our riders, will allow us to deliver meaningful support to (the) Education Above All Foundation.

We wish this years riders all the best in their training and look forward to seeing them race down Goodwoods home straight in July.

This years race will also feature Real Housewives of Cheshire star and breast cancer survivor Nermina Pieters-Mekic, while Riding A Dream Academy graduate Ruth Inman will attempt to follow in the footsteps of former Magnolia Cup winner Khadijah Mellah who took home the trophy in 2019.

International interest is provided by Australian racehorse trainer and broadcaster Charlotte Littlefield, with Zoey Schorsch a first American woman to grace the Goodwood turf.

Molly Hunter is riding in the race for the first time (Matt Alexander Media Assignments) (Matt Alexander Media Assignments)

One participant who is a regular visitor to the Qatar Goodwood Festival is the Press Associations Molly Hunter, who will this year temporarily close her laptop and swap the press room for the starting line.

Although an adept rider, she has been fine-tuning her skills on the famous Newmarket gallops, as well as at the British Racing School.

Hunter said: Ive covered the race as a journalist for the past five years, now the shoe is on the other foot as Ive taken on the challenge with some firm persuasion from my friends in the press room.

Prior to starting my training, I had very little experience riding racehorses, and had barely any experience in the gym, so it has been a steep but very rewarding learning curve.

This years race down Goodwoods home straight will take place on Thursday July 30, which is Ladies Day during the tracks showpiece summer meeting.
Italy under pressure to cancel Kanye West concert after gigs in UK, France and Poland axed

The Italian government is facing calls from trade unions, politicians and more to cancel Kanye Wests forthcoming appearance at the Hellwatt Festival.

West, 48, is attempting to bring his comeback tour to Europe, but the effort has so far been derailed, with countries including the U.K., France and Poland blocking his performances amid backlash over past antisemitic remarks.

The All Falls Down rapper is scheduled to headline the Reggio Emilia music festival July 18, though growing opposition is urging officials to axe the concert.

The United Kingdom denied the visa. France effectively prevented the Marseille concert, Pina Picierno, the vice president of the European Parliament and a senior member of Italys Democratic Party, told local newspaper La Gazzetta di Reggio. Italy, meanwhile, is just staying idle with 68,000 tickets sold, as if nothing had happened.

Rosamaria Papaleo, a representative of the Italian Confederation of Workers Unions in Emilia-Romagna, added in a statement to CBS News: It seems quite contradictory that an artist known for his antisemitic remarks can be hosted by our city, which has always strongly advocated anti-fascist values. Anti-fascism for us is not a whim, but a value rooted in our history.

Kanye West is scheduled to headline Italy's Hellwatt Festival in July (Reuters)

Papaleo clarified, however, that while the union does not wish to disrupt the festival  an important event for employees and attendees  it expects artists to be held to standards that promote positive values.

The union has asked Reggio Emilias mayor, Marco Massari, to require West to meet with members of the areas Jewish population as a symbolic act of reconciliation for his past harmful comments, according to CBS News.

Massari has said in a statement that he distances himself from Kanye Wests behavior and remarks, but noted that the decision to allow the rapper into the country rests with the national government.

The Independent has contacted Wests representative for comment.

Despite the uproar, Victor Yari Milani, the founder and artistic director of the Hellwatt Festival, has defended booking West  now known as Ye  calling the festival a space for free artistic expression.

The artists past comments have certainly provoked a legitimate reaction, he said in a statement to Italian news agency ANSA, but we also want to remember that Ye formally apologized through the Wall Street Journal in January, stating that he is not a Nazi or antisemite but suffers from bipolar disorder.

Wests European tour has been derailed by a slew of cancellations (Reuters)

In January, West took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal apologizing for years of offensive outbursts, blaming a brain injury for his erratic behavior.

The disgraced superstar claimed that neurological damage caused by a near-fatal 2002 car crash was responsible for his concerning behavior in recent years, which has included public antisemitic rants. He said that he believes his brain injury also added to his struggle with bipolar disorder, which he was diagnosed with in 2016.

He went on to say that he regrets the things he said and did while spiraling during his manic episodes, writing that he lost touch with reality and gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it.

After Italy, Wests European tour has four stops that remain scheduled: Turkey, the Netherlands, Madrid, and Portugal.
Ahmed ShihabEldin, seen here at the Doha film festival last year, was arrested on 3 March. Photograph: John Phillips/Getty Images for Doha Film Festival (Photograph: John Phillips/Getty Images for Doha Film Festival)

A Kuwaiti-American journalist, who had been detained in Kuwait, has been acquitted, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has previously worked for PBS, HuffPost, the New York Times, the BBC and Al Jazeera, was arrested on 3 March during a brief visit to Kuwait.

Earlier this month, the CPJ said it understood authorities had charged him with spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone.

The CPJ said that his posts prior to the arrest had included a a geolocated video, verified by CNN, showing a US fighter jet crash near a US airbase in Kuwait.

In a statement on Thursday, Jodie Ginsberg, the organisations chief executive, said: We are relieved that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been found innocent after 52 days in detention. She added: Ahmeds freedom and safety remain our topmost priority and we will continue to closely monitor his case.

In a statement online, Ginsberg also added that full details are still being ascertained but his international legal team confirms that he has been found innocent of the charges and he is expected to be released imminently.

Lawyers for Shihab-Eldins sisters also shared a press release on Thursday saying that he had been acquitted. We are relieved that, after 52 days in detention, Ahmed has been found innocent on all charges, they said. Our focus now is upon ensuring the liberty and safety of our client, and we will provide more details once they can be confirmed.

Related: Detention of journalist in Kuwait raises questions about crackdown on freedom of speech

The office of Caoilfhionn Gallagher, a lawyer representing two of the journalists sisters, said he was expected to be released imminently.

Shihab-Eldins arrest came as Kuwait recently passed new security laws, including a measure defining terrorism as spreading terror among the people by endangering the safety of and security of society.

A new law also proposes significant fines and sentences on anyone that publishes statements or spreads false rumours in relation to military entities with the intent to weaken confidence in these entities, diminishing their prestige, casting doubt on their existence or undermining their morale.

Hundreds of people have been arrested across the Gulf for sharing images of attacks and the resulting damage. The strikes occurred almost daily from the start of the Middle East conflict on 28 February until a ceasefire came into effect on 8 April.

AFP contributed to this report
Amal Khalil had reported on the demolition of homes in southern Lebanon by Israel - Getty

Lebanon has accused Israel of committing a war crime after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed a journalist who had been documenting the destruction of villages.

Amal Khalil was travelling in a convoy in southern Lebanon on Wednesday when the car in front of hers was destroyed by an air strike.

According to local media, she and a photographer ran into a nearby house in the village of al-Tayri to take cover. The Israeli air force then launched a strike on the house.

Khalil died and the photographer, Zeinab Faraj, suffered head injuries. An Israeli drone had dropped a sound grenade on rescuers to prevent them from reaching the casualties, reported Reuters.

Friends and relatives of newspaper journalist Amal Khalil mourning at her home in the village of Bisariyeh on Thursday - Getty

Khalil, 43, who was from Bisariyeh, southern Lebanon, worked for Al Akhbar, a Lebanese daily newspaper seen as sympathetic to Hezbollah. She had recently reported on the demolition of homes in a new security zone being created by Israel.

Nawaf Salam, Lebanons prime minister, said after Khalils death that the targeting of journalists and the obstruction of relief efforts constituted war crimes.

Israel said it was destroying terrorist infrastructure and that Hezbollah routinely fought from among the civilian population.

Mourners carrying the coffin of Amal Khalil, who worked for a Lebanese newspaper, at her funeral in Baisariyeh on Thursday - Reuters

The IDF said it did not target journalists, and was not preventing a rescue at this stage. It said it had targeted Hezbollah operatives who had crossed the forward defence line marking Israels security zone of occupation in southern Lebanon.

A spokesman said: Troops identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah.

The terrorists in the vehicles crossed the forward defence line and approached the troops in a manner that posed an immediate threat to their safety.

1704 Israel's expanding control zone in Lebanon

The IDF spokesman added: After identifying the individuals as violating the ceasefire understandings and posing an imminent threat, the Israeli air force struck one of the vehicles.

Subsequently, the structure from which the individuals had fled was also struck.

At least nine journalists have been killed in Lebanon since the latest conflict between Israel and Lebanon began on March 2. Around 2,300 people are believed to have died in the country overall.

Amal Khalil  the ninth journalist killed in Lebanon since March 2  reporting from a damaged bridge in Qasmiyeh last month - AP

Israel began its air and ground offensive in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at the Jewish state to support Iran, following the US-Israeli assault on the Islamic Republic, which began on Feb 28.

The IDF said it had killed around 1,700 Hezbollah combatants. While it denied deliberately attacking journalists, it did admit targeting Ali Shoeib, an al-Manar TV correspondent, in March, accusing him of being a Hezbollah intelligence operative. The strike killed three journalists.

Mourners holding pictures of Amal Khalil during her funeral on Thursday - Reuters

It came as a second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon were expected to take place in Washington. A 10-day ceasefire announced by Donald Trump on April 16 is due to expire on Sunday. It was reported that Lebanon was seeking a one-month extension.

Meanwhile, the IDF is pressing for political consent to react more aggressively to what it claims are repeated violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah.

The army said the Shia terror group had fired an anti-tank missile at its troops on Thursday morning, and two Israeli soldiers were killed at the weekend.
Jennie Formby (L) joined Zack Polanskis party as a member four months ago and said she intended to campaign for her local council candidate - PA

Labours general secretary under Jeremy Corbyn has announced her defection to the Green Party.

Jennie Formby, who managed the Labour Party from 2018-2020, revealed she had joined Zack Polanskis party as a member four months ago and intended to campaign for her local council candidate.

She is the latest ally of Mr Corbyn, the former Labour leader, to have defected to the Greens, following similar moves by James Meadway, a former Labour adviser, Jamie Driscoll, the former North of Tyne mayor, and Lloyd Russell-Moyle, a former MP.

Jennie Formby was a key ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn during her tenure as general secretary - AFP

The Greens have surged in the polls under Mr Polanskis leadership, with the party establishing itself as the main Left-wing challenger to Sir Keir Starmers unpopular Labour Government.

Her defection comes despite Mr Corbyn leading Your Party, his own Left-wing alternative to Labour.

Ms Formby told The Guardian: Zack and the Greens are not scared to talk about economic justice and tax increases. I am increasingly concerned by seeing the extent to which Labour is in hock to corporate sponsors.

She added: The Greens also have some important policies on workers rights, which is important to me  all these things made me want to join the Green Party and I want to do everything I can to support them.

Ms Formby, a former political director of Unite, resigned as Labours general secretary in 2020 just a month after Sir Keir was elected as leader, saying the change in leadership meant it was the right time to step down.

She is now highly critical of the Prime Minister and accused him of breaking promises almost as soon as he became leader.

Keir was elected on a bunch of things he immediately reneged on, Ms Formby said. He does not have a set of principles which he is willing to stick to.

She said her decision to leave Labour was also motivated by its treatment of MPs who signed a letter in 2022 criticising the British government and Nato over the war in Ukraine.

The letter by the Stop the War campaign group was initially signed by 11 MPs, including Mr Corbyn, but they all withdrew their names after being threatened with the removal of the whip.

A Labour source told the Guardian: The Green Party has the wrong answers for Britain. Whether its opposing housing and clean energy schemes across the country, or their lack of serious and credible proposals on the challenges facing working people, Zack Polanskis party are not the answer.

Zack Polanskis election as leader of the Greens has fuelled a surge in party membership - Guy Smallman/Getty Images

The Green Partys membership has surged to more than 200,000, up from some 70,000 when Mr Polanski was elected leader last year, with a recent survey putting the Greens five points in front of Labour.

Speculation about possible defections to the Greens will continue to mount if Labour takes a drubbing in the local elections in May, as is being widely predicted.

Labours defeat in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February prompted the Prime Minister to write a letter to his MPs condemning Mr Polanskis party as extreme.

During the campaign he attacked the Greens position on legalising drugs and its stance on defence in an attempt to stem the loss of voters on its Left flank.

Ministers were also critical of sectarian campaigning as the Greens targeted the constituencys Muslim voters and urged them to punish Labour for Gaza.

Pollsters have claimed that Labour faces a very substantial potential electoral threat in the Greens, particularly if it joined forces with other parties on the Left.
A journalist has been killed in an Israeli air strike while seeking shelter and then left under the rubble for hours without medical care, officials have told The Independent.

Amal Khalil, who worked for the Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, was killed in the village of al-Tayri while covering Israels bombing of southern Lebanon on Wednesday. Two strikes are reported to have struck the town in the Bint Jbeil district, killing two people and injuring another.

The Lebanese health ministry told The Independent in an official statement that the Israeli military pursued Khalil and her colleague, Zeinab Faraj, who had taken refuge from the first raid in a nearby house, targeting the house where they had sought shelter.

When the Lebanese Red Cross arrived to transport the wounded, they were obstructed by Israeli troops who fired a stun grenade at the ambulance and targeted it with gunfire, the ministry said. They were unable to retrieve Khalil.

Amal had gone into a building to shelter, and the military attacked it, a spokesperson for the Lebanese health ministry, told The Independent. After that, no one was allowed to go back  the teams needed special tools to take her out from under the building. But the [Israeli military] was attacking any vehicle or anything that was going to search for Amal. She was stuck, wounded under the rubble for more than seven hours before we were able to reach her.

The spokesperson added that medical aid was further delayed by roads being closed due to bombing and the fact that the Israeli military attacked the ambulances with guns and grenades.

Amal Khalil was killed in the line of duty as a journalist reporting on the bombing of southern Lebanon (AP)

How is it permitted that a media person with no weapons is attacked and no one is allowed to help her when she is wounded? they asked. And in a ceasefire. What ceasefire is this? This is not the first time that medical convoys have been attacked. We have more than 100 casualties from amongst medical staff. This constitutes a blatant double violation: obstructing the rescue efforts of a citizen known for her civic media activism, and targeting an ambulance clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem.

Lebanons prime minister, Nawaf Salam, has condemned the attack and accused Israel of repeatedly targeting journalists in what he described as an established approach. Targeting journalists, obstructing access to them by relief teams, and even targeting their locations again after these teams arrive constitutes described war crimes, he said.

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists has warned that Israel is engaging in the deadliest and most deliberate effort to kill and silence journalists that the CPJ has ever documented. A record 129 journalists were killed in 2025, according to the CPJ. Two-thirds of those were killed by Israel.

A vigil in Beirut on 23 April 2026 to condemn the targeted killing of journalists (Reuters)

The Israeli military said: Earlier today [Wednesday], IDF troops identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah. The terrorists in the vehicles crossed the forward defence line and approached the troops in a manner that posed an immediate threat to their safety.

After identifying the individuals as violating the ceasefire understandings and posing an imminent threat, the Israeli Air Force struck one of the vehicles. Subsequently, the structure from which the individuals had fled was also struck. Reports were received that two journalists were injured as a result of the strikes.

The IDF is not preventing rescue teams from reaching the area. The details of the incident are under review. It should be noted that the map of the forward defence line has been published and the area has been evacuated. The IDF does not target journalists and acts to mitigate harm to them while maintaining the safety and security of its troops.

After Ms Khalil was pronounced dead, the military added: As said in the statement, the incident is under review.
Long lines at airports may soon return as bosses at the Department of Homeland Security warn that they will quickly run out of funds to pay security staff.

That money is dried up, if I continue down this path, the first week of May, because my payroll at DHS is just over $1.6 billion every two weeks, newly instated DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox & Friends on Tuesday.

There is no more emergency fund, so the president cant do another executive order for us to use money, because theres no more money there, he added.

According to Office of Management and Budget data, as of this week, less than $1.4 billion remains in the DHSs $10 billion budget.

The Independent has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Mullins remarks.

Long lines at airports could return soon as bosses at the Department of Homeland Security warn that they will soon run out of funding to pay security staff (Reuters)

The government shutdown affecting the DHS and Transport Security Administration workers has been ongoing since mid-February and is the longest in U.S. history, with approximately 100,000 employees reportedly at risk of not being paid until summer.

The lack of payment has resulted in heavy understaffing, causing huge lines out of airports and other major disruptions. According to Politico, by early March, nearly 500 TSA officers had already resigned.

Major travel hubs, including JFK and HartsfieldJackson in Atlanta, have seen passengers facing unpredictable security lines that frequently peaked at over two and a half hours.

In some terminals, wait times have reportedly stretched so long that passengers have missed international flights, prompting Donald Trump to threaten the deployment of the National Guard to assist with crowd control.

Late last month, the president signed an executive order directing that money from his One Big Beautiful Bill funding package be used to pay TSA workers and other DHS staff temporarily.

Earlier this month, Trump asked Congress to begin the process of privatizing the TSA to end government control over its funding and prevent similar shutdowns in the future.

The lack of payment has resulted in heavy understaffing, causing huge lines out of airports and other major disruptions. According to Politico, by early March nearly 500 TSA officers had already resigned (Reuters)

The White Houses 2027 budget proposal suggests that smaller airports be required to enroll in the TSA Screening Partnership Program, which allows facilities and airlines to contract with private companies to provide security under the same standard as TSA officers.

That would cut more than 8,000 TSA positions, including 2,400 transportation security officers, and save roughly $52 million, the White House estimates.

The move would yield cost savings compared to Federal screening and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency, the White House budget proposal states.

A longer-term solution seems unlikely, as Democrats continue to oppose a full reopening of the DHS without significant changes to ICE enforcement operations and its funding.
Former Love Island star Maura Higgins will take part in the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, it has been announced.

The Irish TV personality will compete in the upcoming series of Dancing With The Stars.

She said: Im so excited, get me on the dancefloor, I want to win the trophy!

Im so excited Ive manifested this, please pray for me!

Higgins shot to fame on the ITV2 dating show Love Island in 2019 but has since forged a career in the US, where she hosts the spin-off of the US version of Love Island, Aftersun.

She also recently competed in the US version of The Traitors, where she finished as a runner-up as a faithful.

She made headlines for forming a close bond with fellow contestant Rob Rausch, who was a Traitor and ultimately stole the prize money in the final, leaving her shocked.

Higgins will compete on Dancing With The Stars alongside reality star Ciara Miller, who has also been the subject of recent headlines after her ex-boyfriend West Wilson started dating her best friend Amanda Batula.

The trio, who appear on the Hayu show Summer House, were at the centre of internet controversy over the relationship drama.

Miller was photographed slumped on a New York pavement looking distressed after West and Batula released a statement confirming their romance.

She has since been offered public support by stars including Lena Dunham, Alana Haim and Jon Hamm, while Rihanna unfollowed Batula after the news broke.
Conservatives on Reddit reacted angrily this week after Virginia voters approved a temporary redistricting plan, with users on the r/Virginia forum accusing the state of a 'power grab' and comparing the move to the very tactics they say they oppose.

The vote followed a legislative process in which the proposal passed through the Virginia General Assembly before being signed into law and put to a public referendum. Voters ultimately approved the measure, which is described as temporary and tied to restoring balance ahead of the next census cycle, though critics remain unconvinced by those assurances.

The strongest reactions came from conservative-leaning users who framed the result as a betrayal of democratic principles. One widely shared comment read, 'You are no better than them. By executing this power grab, you have laid down in the same mud and swallowed with the pigs you despise.' Another user claimed they had been 'disenfranchise[d] to protect democracy,' capturing a sense of grievance that ran through much of the thread.

Conservatives Push Back on Virginia Redistricting Vote

Across the discussion, frustration often gave way to complaints about fairness in US elections. Some users argued the vote marked a turning point, with one writing, 'So much for "fairness." Guess we are in the age of elitism.'

Others pointed to long-standing disputes over election integrity, suggesting the current moment is part of a pattern rather than a one-off decision. There was also scepticism about the plan's temporary nature.

While the amendment states the changes are not permanent, critics questioned whether that promise would hold. 'That's what they say now. There's always another "emergency" around the corner,' one user wrote, drawing comparisons to past policies that outlasted their original timelines.

However, most agreed that the vote is a 'death of democracy,' while others suggested the state was drifting towards authoritarianism.

Supporters Poke Fun at Conservatives

Not everyone in the thread agreed with the sentiment expressed by conservatives. Other users pushed back, noting that the plan had gone through a public vote rather than being imposed unilaterally.

'It's not even cheating... the people voted for it,' one comment read, arguing that the process itself distinguished Virginia from other states where redistricting decisions were made solely by legislatures.

Some responses were sarcastic, with one user writing, 'Wait wait wait only Republicans should be allowed to cheat.' Another questioned whether critics were engaging in good faith at all, expressing disbelief at the intensity of the reaction.

Overall Sentiment Is Divided

The argument in the thread concerns how voting districts should be drawn. Some users said Virginia changed its maps only because other states have already done similar things, particularly Republican-led states that have drawn districts in ways that help their party win more seats.

Others disagreed, arguing that copying such behaviour only worsens the problem rather than fixing the system.

The conversation also extended beyond Virginia. Some users referred to national attempts to ban gerrymandering, noting that similar efforts have previously failed in Congress. Others said both Democrats and Republicans have used district changes when it benefits them, and that neither side is entirely blameless.

To clarify, gerrymandering refers to the practice of drawing the boundaries of voting areas in a way that helps a particular political party win more elections. Instead of districts being shaped fairly based on population, they can be stretched or reshaped to give one side an advantage.

A few users in the thread expressed frustration to the point of suggesting they were considering leaving the state. Others responded sharply, dismissing those remarks, which shifted the discussion away from policy and towards personal exchanges.

Overall, there was no clear agreement in the discussion. Some users viewed the vote as a fair correction to an unfair system, while others saw it as another example of politicians using the rules for political advantage. Even though voters approved the change in a referendum, debate continues over whether it is fair or simply another form of political gamesmanship.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Luke Littler defied a hostile reception to beat Luke Humphries in their Premier League quarter-final in Liverpool.

The back-to-back world champion was subject to heavy booing as he made his way on to the stage and was then jeered at various points throughout the match, but he silenced the crowd in style by cruising to a 6-2 victory.

Littler has never enjoyed the warmest of welcomes on Merseyside, mainly because he is a Manchester United fan and has been quick to mock Liverpools fortunes on social media.

Littler had the last laugh in Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA) (Peter Byrne)

However, the general mood towards the teenager has soured in recent weeks following his spat with Gian van Veen in Manchester.

But Littler let his darts do the talking as he sent the defending champion and his biggest rival packing with a solid performance.

Victory means he will play Michael van Gerwen in the semi-final after the Dutchman beat Josh Rock in their quarter-final.

A hotly anticipated rematch between Littler and Van Veen, who is celebrating his 24th birthday, can happen in the final, if the latter can get past Jonny Clayton in the semi-final.

Defending champion Humphries hopes of making the play-offs at London at the end of May took a huge blow with his defeat to Littler.
Luke Littler silenced the boo boys as he swept to Premier League glory in Liverpool.

The back-to-back world champion received a hostile reception throughout the evening but responded in style with victories over Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton to win night 12 of the weekly roadshow.

And success on the banks of the Mersey will mean more to him than most of his many victories.

Luke Littler saved his best for last as he swept aside Jonny Clayton in the final (Peter Byrne/PA) (Peter Byrne)

Littler has never enjoyed the warmest of welcomes in Liverpool, mainly because he is a Manchester United fan and has been quick to mock the Anfield clubs fortunes on social media.

However, the general mood towards the teenager has soured in recent weeks following his spat with Gian van Veen in Manchester and he felt the full force at the M&S Bank Arena.

But Littler let his darts do the talking as he claimed a third nightly victory of the campaign, which puts him in a strong position to qualify for the play-offs at the O2 at the end of May.

Facing a chorus of boos during his on-stage interview, he said: Its been a good night. I am very happy with myself.

LITTLER REIGNS SUPREME IN LIVERPOOL  Luke Littler thrashes Jonny Clayton 6-1 to claim victory in Liverpool  his fourth nightly win of the Premier League!  https://t.co/gFQK4rQ2wU#PLDarts | Final pic.twitter.com/hF6xtjoPCY  PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 23, 2026

It is what it is, I have won, we move on to next week.

Rotterdam was way, way louder than this, this week was nothing compared to last week. I have got to forget about it all, I was definitely focused tonight, I wanted to win and thats what I have done.

The teenager had to show his grit to come through a testing trio of matches, first dispatching the defending champion Humphries 6-2 with a solid performance before having to dig deep against Van Gerwen.

Luke Littler (right) and Michael van Gerwen put on a thrilling semi-final (Peter Byrne/PA) (Peter Byrne)

The Dutchman put in a majestic performance in the semi-final, averaging 107.54 and firing nine 180s, but Littler rallied from 3-1 down to win a final-leg decider 6-5.

He then finished the job against Clayton, who was going for a third successive nightly win, producing his best display of the evening and sprinting to a 6-1 finish.

His victory over Humphries has left the defending champion in danger of not making it to the O2 while Van Gerwen strengthened his chances.
Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are just one preventative measure to protect against malaria - Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Key facts

Malaria is a serious infection spread by mosquitoes, which can be deadly if not treated quickly

The disease is caused by a parasite transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes

In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths globally, with the majority of these in sub-Saharan Africa

Children under 5 are particularly vulnerable

Malaria is preventable and curable with the use of medicines and preventative measures.

Overview

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, infected with a parasite. The disease is very common in tropical regions, including large areas of Africa and Asia, Central and South America, and some Pacific islands. Malaria cannot be spread directly from person to person.

Malaria can range from a very mild illness to severe disease and even death. Starting treatment as soon as possible is imperative.

Signs and symptoms

Malaria symptoms can be difficult to spot as they are similar to other fevers. They may include high temperature, sweats and chills.

Dangers and complications

Malaria can be a deadly disease if not diagnosed and treated quickly. Untreated, malaria can cause severe illness or death within 24 hours. Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women and girls, travellers (who have no immunity), and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection. Malaria infection during pregnancy can also cause premature delivery or delivery of a baby with low birth weight. Malaria can sometimes return and require further treatment.

Severe symptoms are:

extreme tiredness and fatigue

impaired consciousness

multiple convulsions

difficulty breathing

dark or bloody urine

jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

abnormal bleeding.

Transmission

Malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. When an Anopheles mosquito bites a person with malaria, the mosquito becomes infectious. When this mosquito bites another person, it transmits the virus. Malaria is not spread from person to person like a cold or the flu, nor is it sexually transmitted.

Malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusions and contaminated needles. The first symptoms of malaria may be mild and difficult to recognise, similar to many other febrile illnesses. P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite, and is most prevalent in Africa. P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite outside of sub-Saharan Africa.

Treatment

Malaria is considered an emergency and needs to be treated quickly with antimalarial medicines. Artemisinin-based combination therapy medicines are the most effective treatment for P. falciparum malaria. Chloroquine is recommended for treatment of infection with the P. vivax parasite only in places where it is still sensitive to this medicine. Antimalarial drug resistance is a growing problem and the World Health Organization urges regular monitoring of drug efficacy.

Prevention

Travellers to areas where the disease is endemic should take antimalarial medicine, starting a few days or weeks before you travel and continuing it when you return. However, the medication will not prevent all cases and avoiding getting bitten is important. Insect repellent should be used, and you should sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Wearing long-sleeved clothing and trousers in the evening, when mosquitoes are most active, can also help to prevent bites.

For people living in endemic regions, game changing vaccines are now being rolled out in routine childhood immunisation programmes across Africa  two different vaccines have now been shown to be effective.

Other prevention strategies for people living in malaria endemic countries include the use of insecticide treated bed nets, spraying inside homes and the use of chemoprophylaxis  where vulnerable populations are given antimalarial medication during times of the greatest malarial risk.

History

Malaria is one of the oldest diseases known to humanity, with some historians even arguing that it played a part in the fall of the Roman empire. Malaria flourished throughout the world, including in Britain where it was commonplace around the Thames marshes and was known as either marsh fever or ague.

There was huge progress against the disease in the 20th century and it was eradicated in Europe and the United States. In 2019 China was also officially declared free of the disease  a remarkable achievement for a country 90 per cent of whose population lived in malaria endemic areas in the 1940s.

Africa and south east Asia have also seen huge declines in the number of cases since the beginning of millennium thanks to renewed efforts to eradicate the disease. However, that progress has stalled in recent years: according to WHOs World Malaria Report 2024 there were about 11 million more cases of the disease in 2023 than in 2022.

There is concern that malaria could easily come surging back due to a number of factors: drug resistance; the spread of a super mosquito from Asia to Africa; climate change leading to an explosion in mosquito numbers; and a drop in funding for control efforts. However, the roll out of two vaccines in recent years has provided a glimmer of hope.

Useful links

who.int/malaria

malarianomore.org.uk

cdc.gov/malaria

travelhealthpro.org.uk

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
A medical student who created an AI-generated conservative influencer has claimed the dumb MAGA crowd was easy to fool, according to a new report.

A 22-year-old medical student from northern India, identified only as Sam, told Wired he was behind a series of pro-MAGA social media accounts featuring Emily Hart, an AI-generated woman. Sam said he started posting about Emily Hart to generate some extra cash while studying, and made thousands of dollars every month.

The MAGA crowd is made up of dumb peoplelike, super dumb people. And they fall for it, he told Wired.

The Instagram and Facebook pages featuring Emily Hart appear to have been taken down. Posts, previously reviewed by Wired and the New York Post, touched on topics like immigration and abortion.

Trump should tell all the illegals that he will give them citizenship if they vote Republican and see how fast Democrats want them out of the country, one post, reviewed by the New York Post reads.

A 22-year-old medical student claims he created an AI-generated MAGA influencer known as Emily Hart (Facebook)

If you want a reason to unfollow: Christ is king, abortion is murder, and all illegals must be deported, another post reads.

The Instagram page for Emily Hart was banned in February after it was cited for fraudulent activity, Wired reported. The AI-generated influencers Facebook page also appears to have been taken down.

Meta, which operates Instagram and Facebook, works to identify content generated or edited using AI outside of ads on our platforms, and label it to promote transparency, according to a statement published in February.

We display an AI info label for content we detect was generated by an AI tool, and share whether the content is labeled because of industry-shared signals or because someone self-disclosed, the statement reads. We require people to use this disclosure and label tool when they post organic content with a photorealistic video or realistic-sounding audio that was digitally created or altered, and we may apply penalties if they fail to do so.

Sam told Wired he launched the accounts after coming up with the idea to create and sell AI-generated images of a woman in a bikini. The student said he then used Googles Gemini AI platform.

The Facebook account created for Emily Hart shared pro-MAGA messages (Facebook)

According to a transcript reviewed by Wired, Gemini told Sam: If you create a generic hot girl, youre competing with a million other models.

Sam then gave Gemini some options for making her more appealing, and it suggested he go with the MAGA/conservative niche, the outlet reports. The AI platform also told Sam that the conservative audience (especially older men in the US) often has higher disposable income and is more loyal.

A Google spokesperson told The Independent: Gemini is designed to answer your requests without conveying a particular set of beliefs, and if asked for its opinion, it should provide a range of viewpoints.

The spokesperson added: In the examples provided by WIRED, Gemini was asked how to reach an audience with specific political beliefs, and responded accordingly.

In addition to Emily Harts social media accounts, Sam also sold MAGA apparel and subscriptions to a page he created for her on Fanvue, a competitor of OnlyFans that describes itself as an AI monetization platform.

Sam told Wired he doesnt regret making Emily Hart, and that he doesnt feel like he was scamming people.

I was spending maybe 30 to 50 minutes of my day, and I was making good money for a medical student, he said. In India, even in professional jobs, you can't make this amount of money. I havent seen any easier way to make money online.
CCTV captured the moment a 73-year-old man had a 30,000 Patek Phillipe watch ripped from his wrist in a robbery that left him so traumatised he now plans to leave the UK.

The victim was ambushed in broad daylight by Zakaria Senouci, 27, on a street near Hyde Park in April last year.

Southwark Crown Court heard Senouci paid 700 for the theft of the watch, a family heirloom which has not been recovered, following the robbery.

Senouci, a mechanic who applied for asylum after arriving in the UK aged 22, was sentenced today (23 April) to three years and nine months in prison.
US Navy chief John Phelan ousted from Trump administration as Strait of Hormuz stand-off continues

Navy Secretary John Phelan has been ousted from the Trump administration, marking the second major leadership shakeup at the Pentagon since the Iran war began in late February.

President Trump and Secretary Hegseth agreed new leadership at the Navy is needed, a senior administration official told The Independent on Wednesday evening. Secretary Hegseth informed John Phelan of this news prior to it being made public.

Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X that Phelan was leaving effective immediately, offering no explanation for the sudden exit.

We are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy. We wish him well in his future endeavors, Parnell said. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will now serve as the acting secretary of the Navy, he added.

Multiple reports indicate that Phelan  a former financier and prominent Trump campaign donor  was pushed out as tensions escalated between him and the Pentagons top brass.

Navy Secretary John Phelan has been ousted from the Trump administration, a senior administration official said (The Associated Press)

Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss, a source told Axios. His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given. They added that he didnt get along with the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Trump tapped Phelan, who did not serve in the military, to lead the Navy shortly after his re-election. The Harvard Business School graduate and founder of a Palm Beach-based investment firm reportedly helped raise millions for the presidents campaign. In August 2024, he hosted Trump for a fundraising dinner at his Colorado home, where attendees were required to fork over a minimum of $25,000, according to The Guardian.

Johns intelligence and leadership are unmatched, Trump said in a November 2024 statement announcing Phelans nomination. John will deliver real results for our Navy and our Country.

Phelans tight-knit relationship with the billionaire president is part of what led to his ouster, according to The Wall Street Journal. The pair, who own homes close to one another in Florida, regularly chatted at Mar-a-Lago, and Phelan would text the president late at night about shipbuilding, the outlet reports.

Senior Pentagon officials were particularly frustrated last year when Phelan took his proposal for a new battleship directly to the president, leaving Hegseth out of the loop, sources told the outlet.

The Independent has contacted the Pentagon for comment.

Phelan didn't get along with Hegseth, a source familiar with the matter told Axios (Getty Images)

Phelans exit marks the second high-level personnel change at the Pentagon in recent weeks. On April 2, the Defense Department announced the retirement of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George.

The Department of War is grateful for General Georges decades of service to our nation, Parnell wrote at the time. We wish him well in his retirement.

Hegseth had reportedly demanded Georges resignation. A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that the defense secretary wanted someone in role who would implement his and Trumps vision for the Army.

Both departures have taken place against the backdrop of the Iran war, which began when the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes in late February.

The conflict has engulfed much of the Middle East in violence, killing thousands  including 13 U.S. service members  while surging fuel prices and stoking fears of global economic upheaval. Multiple recent polls indicate a majority of Americans oppose the war.

Phelan, the founder of a Palm Beach-based investment firm, reportedly helped raise millions for Trumps campaign before his confirmation in 2025 (AP)

The U.S. Navy, now headed by Cao, is currently enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz amid a tenuous ceasefire. At least 15 U.S. warships are in the region.

A number of social media commenters pointed out that Phelans exit comes at a particularly perilous moment.

Weird time for the Secretary of the Navy to leave, Dan Pfeiffer, a former Obama White House senior adviser, wrote on X.

Were in the middle of a pretty important naval blockade standoff with a country weve threatened to destroy, so it seems like a weird time for the Secretary of the Navy to abruptly depart, Sarah Longwell, a political consultant and founder of The Bulwark, wrote on X.

Prior to the war, multiple top military leaders were also removed from their posts.

Last February, the president fired U.S. Air Force General Charles Q. Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and removed the Navys top officer, Adm. Lisa Franchetti. In October, Lt. Gen. Joe McGee, a three-star general working on the Pentagons Joint Staff, was allegedly forced out after months of tensions with Hegseth. Reports indicate the two sparred over the administrations operations targeting suspected drug boats in the Caribbean.

Hegseth has also claimed subordinates are behind embarrassing leaks, including allegations he used a commercial chat app to plan military strikes instead of high-security military channels.
For much of the past two years, British policymakers have been told a familiar story by the worlds largest AI companies: weaken your copyright laws and allow AI to hoover up the work of British musicians, artists and writers without permission, or investment will go elsewhere.

Every other jurisdiction is about to do it, the argument goes  so change the rules in our favour now, or risk being left behind. Its a seductive narrative. And as we have now seen, it is also completely false.

This month, OpenAI announced that it was opening a major new office in Kings Cross. This is a welcome vote of confidence in London, and exciting for all of us who see the huge opportunities that AI will bring over the decades to come.

However, the fact that it comes just a few weeks after the Government withdrew plans to allow AI companies to train on copyrighted content by default  unless rights holders actively opt out  is very telling. Despite spending months warning that investment will dry up unless intellectual property (IP) laws are weakened, one of the loudest voices making that argument has chosen to invest here anyway.

This should put to bed once and for all that the UK needs to throw its creative sector under the bus in order to attract inward AI investment. Britain is a brilliant place to invest, with world-class talent, a respected legal framework, strong IP protections, creative dynamism and a positive global outlook.

We do not need to try to entice companies here by giving away our valuable creative content for free. Indeed, contrary to repeated claims from AI companies that opt-out regimes will soon be the global norm, many countries are going in the opposite direction.

Australia has explicitly ruled out an opt-out approach, reaffirming that existing copyright law applies to AI training. In the US, the courts appear increasingly sceptical of the idea that commercial AI developers should enjoy blanket exemptions.

And even after being reportedly threatened by OpenAI with a withdrawal of investment, Brazilian ministers refused to weaken their copyright laws, accusing the company of blackmail.

Meanwhile, the EU, which has introduced a text and data mining exception, has been beset by confusion, legal uncertainty and frustration on both sides, with neither the creative sector nor the tech sector enjoying the clarity they were promised.

Against that backdrop, the UK Government deserves real credit for refusing to weaken IP laws. The idea that copyrighted works should be available for AI training by default unless rights holders actively opt out was morally wrong and practically flawed.

It would have upended copyright by shifting the burden of enforcement onto creators and damaged the creative sector without providing legal certainty for the tech sector.

The way forward instead lies in encouraging a healthy and dynamic market-based licensing model. This approach has worked for decades across music, film, publishing and software, with agreements negotiated between willing buyers and sellers, not compulsory license regimes imposed by the state, which distort markets and undermine investment.

However, the threat of an opt-out stalled many of those negotiations. There was little incentive for AI developers to strike commercial agreements to use content when there was a chance that the same content might be made effectively free to use.

A licensing market can only function effectively if it has certainty, so the most pro-growth step the Government could now take is also the most straightforward: clearly state that copyright applies to AI training and that permission is required to use rights holders content. That clarity would unlock stalled negotiations and give confidence to all sides to engage in licensing discussions.

Its a profound shame that this issue has pitted two of Britains leading sectors against one another. It should never have been framed as a choice between backing AI or backing creatives. Both industries depend on strong IP protections. AI companies fiercely defend their models, software and proprietary systems. Creative businesses rely on copyright to invest, take risks and build sustainable careers. Its neither credible nor fair to have a system that protects one while eroding the other.

OpenAI has spent months complaining that DeepSeek stole its intellectual property  using its own models as unauthorised training data to build a rival at a fraction of the cost. OpenAI is absolutely right to be angry about that.

But it cannot demand IP protection for its own systems while simultaneously arguing that musicians, authors and filmmakers should have no say over whether their work is used to train AI models. A robust IP framework that guards against theft and expropriation is just as vital for the creative sector as it is for the tech sector.

OpenAIs investment could and should be a reset moment in this debate. Indeed, in its new Kings Cross base, the company will be literally next door to music giants like Sony and Universal, and the University of the Arts London. The tech sector and creative sector are two of Britains biggest success stories, and for many years, they worked together constructively.

Now should be an opportunity for these dynamic sectors to move forward in a partnership built on mutual understanding  where tech respects the value creative IP brings to their products, and creatives recognise the huge potential of new technology to open up new audiences around the world. Meaningful collaboration and copyright clarity  not capitulation  is the way forward.

Jamie Njoku-Goodwin sits on the boards of the Royal College of Music, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, ABRSM and Britten Pears Arts. He is the former director of strategy at 10 Downing Street and former chief executive of UK Music
(Mark Senior)

How tightly Arthur Miller binds the knot of family tensions in this formally strange 1967 play, which is haunted by the Depression. In the first half, New York cop Victor wrangles with the almost 90-year-old Jewish furniture dealer Solomon over the sale of his once-wealthy parents possessions, piled high in a cramped apartment for over 30 years after they lost almost everything in the Wall Street Crash.

In the second the wily, zesty Solomon is shuffled largely offstage to make space for a showdown between Victor and his prodigal brother Walter, a successful  but, it turns out, troubled  doctor. Director Jonathan Munbys sumptuously realised production successfully bridges the tonal shift between the serio-comic preamble with the surrogate father and the legacy of bitterness bequeathed to Victor and Walter by their real dad.

It features a bravura turn by Henry Goodman in the showboat part of Solomon before Elliot Cowan and John Hopkins assert themselves in act two. Faye Castelow is also excellent in the functional part of Victors wife Esther - her body language and expressions are detailed and period-appropriate even when the focus is not on her, and Esthers fast-changing emotions reflect the speed at which family secrets come out.

Solomon is a hugely rich character bordering on caricature, a kvetching mix of wit, wisdom and ruefulness. Having left Russia and somehow joined the Royal Navy hes survived three (or is it four?) marriages, several bankruptcies and the suicide of a daughter. But he keeps pressing forwards, a force of nature. Its almost a comedic equivalent to King Lear: by the time an actor is the right age for the part, hes too old to do it. Goodman, a spry and springy 76, gives little sense of decrepitude but superbly captures Solomons spirit. Its up there with his superb Shylock in the Merchant, Tevye in Fiddler and his Billy Flynn in Chicago in terms of immersion in the role.

(Mark Senior)

Cowans Victor is one of Millers beaten-down, tarnished heroes. He and Walter were chauffeur-driven college princelings, who fenced, rowed and built ham radio sets. Both looked destined for stellar careers in science. But after the Crash and their appalled mothers death, Victor abandoned his studies to look after their shattered father while Walter went off and made a fortune. Victors life with Esther has been one of disappointment and delayed gratification  they put off parenting till late and at 50 hes fearful of his looming retirement. She dislikes being seen with him in uniform because then everybody know(s) your salary.

In the first half Cowans Victor is reactive, broad shoulders wilting during arguments with Esther, then alternately exasperated and amused by Solomon. In the second we get the nuance behind his apparent self-sacrifice, and his insistence that he did things straight, as a cop, son and brother. Likewise John Hopkinss Walter, who exudes sleek, lantern-jawed American success on his dramatic entrance, slowly reveals what his own actions and ambitions have cost him.

The furniture, hemming the characters in like the walls of a narrowing canyon in Jon Bausors meticulous set, is an obvious metaphor for the familys legacy of hurt. And for the alterations wrought by time and circumstance, with once-coveted status symbols no longer valued. The boys mothers harp stands askew, its sounding board cracked. The sale of the stagnating possessions is only happening because the building theyre housed in is being torn down for redevelopment.

Miller was in his mid-teens when the Depression hit and 52 when he wrote this. The play is pregnant with an awareness of passing years and the fragility of things. The sense that another crash could happen at any time chimes very well with our contemporary world, where everything feels suddenly provisional.

The reckoning at the end  where the price paid by all the characters is calculated  seems inevitable yet Miller springs constant surprises. The play shouldnt work as well as it does given the way he engineers the shift in tone around the interval, but the lulling, luring early humour sets us up perfectly for the coming sucker punch.

To 7 June, marylebonetheatre.com
UK Biobank, which holds data from half a million people. Photograph: Dave Guttridge/UK Biobank/PA (Photograph: Dave Guttridge/UK Biobank/PA)

The confidential health records of half a million British volunteers have been offered for sale on Chinese website Alibaba, the UK government has confirmed.

The de-identified data, belonging to participants in the UK Biobank project, was found for sale on three separate listings last week. Ian Murray, the technology minister, told the Commons on Thursday that, after working with the Chinese government and Alibaba, the records had now been removed. It is not believed any sales were made.

The latest breach comes after the Guardian revealed last month that sensitive UK Biobank data has been exposed online dozens of times, raising further questions about whether security has been too lax.

On Monday 20 April, the UK Biobank charity informed the government that it had identified their data had been advertised for sale by several sellers on Alibabas e-commerce platforms in China, Murray said.

Biobank told us that three listings that appear to sell  Biobank participation data had been identified. At least one of these three datasets appeared to contain data from all 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers.

Murray added: I want to thank the Chinese government for the speed and seriousness with which they worked with us to help remove those listings and the ongoing work to remove any further listings.

UK Biobank has referred itself to the Information Commissioners Office.

Chi Onwurah, chair of the Commons science, innovation and technology committee, said the incredibly serious breach came as yet another blow to public trust at a time when we need the benefits of digitalisation to be embraced by all. Its really coming to something if were having to rely on the Chinese government to keep our data secure, she said.

The UK Biobank holds the health data of 500,000 volunteers, including genome sequences, brain scans, blood samples and diagnostic records. Scientists at universities and private companies across the world apply for access, and the project has been described as the jewel in the crown of UK science. In February, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, issued a legal direction that allowed the coded GP data of all volunteers to be shared with UK Biobank for the first time.

The data being advertised on Alibaba was de-identified, meaning it does not include names, addresses or precise dates of birth. But such data can still pose privacy risks. Last month, the Guardian was able to apparently re-identify a single participant in another UK Biobank dataset that had been leaked online, which provided access to extensive hospital diagnosis records for that individual.

Murray said the government had ensured Biobank had revoked access to the three research institutions identified as the source of the data. Biobank has also temporarily suspended all access to its data.

Since 2024, scientists have been required to analyse data in Biobanks cloud-based research platform  a system put in place to improve data security. It is understood that, while researchers are required to sign an agreement not to download raw participant data, there has been no technical block on this. One data privacy expert described this setup as an extraordinary failure.

Prof Felix Ritchie, an economist at the University of the West of England, said UK Biobank had been supremely careless with volunteers data. They have been irresponsible and its really sad because UK Biobank is a fantastic resource.

I dont think theyve got a grip of it, Ritchie added. The amazing thing today is that it is for sale on the public internet. I expect that theres lots more information on the dark web. And once its out there, you cant get rid of it.

Prof Rory Collins, chief executive and principal investigator of UK Biobank, said: We take the protection of participants data extremely seriously and do not tolerate any form of data misuse. With support from the UK government, Chinese authorities and Alibaba, three listings for de-identified data were swiftly removed before a sale was made. The actions of these individuals are a clear breach of the contract they signed with UK Biobank and they, along with their academic institutions, immediately had their access suspended.

We apologise for the concern this will cause and have already put in place technology, processes and a board-led review to stop this happening again. We have also taken our research platform offline while we add a further upgrade that helps prevent de-identified data being taken out of the platform. We expect this to take three weeks. Our existing plans to implement an automated airlock that checks files and data continues at pace.
Rain has been pouring relentlessly as a handful of campaigners cluster beneath umbrellas on a high street in Hackney, Green Party leaflets in hand.

The weather has done little to deter them as they prepare to knock on doors across the neighbourhood, where the Greens believe they have the biggest chance of success in London in next months high-stakes local elections.

Joining them is Zoe Garbett, the partys mayoral candidate for Hackney, where local organisers are hoping the Green wave sweeping across the country could help them snatch the historically Labour council.

The primarily east London borough, home to Greens leader Zack Polanski, is the partys top target in the capital as pollsters predict a very bad night for Labour in London.

A new poll shows Sir Keir Starmers party is on course for its worst result in the capital in more than four decades, while Londons Labour mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has warned his party faces being stonked next month.

Walking down a residential street between door knocks, Garbett says she is fairly confident about her chances in what will be her third attempt at becoming Hackneys mayor.

She was defeated in the 2023 mayoral by-election by Labours Caroline Woodley, but a change in both the national and local mood suggests it could swing the Greens way this time.

Ive been door-knocking in Dalston, where Ive been a ward counsellor for six or seven years now, she says.

Theres definitely people that we have down as Labour supporters or who are on the fence, who are definitely really supportive of us now.

It feels like were really pushing at an open door: Zoe Garbett, the Greens mayoral candidate for Hackney (Supplied)

It feels like were really pushing at an open door.

She says voters are taking the Greens more seriously on positions they hadnt associated with them previously, with issues such as Gaza, housing, disability support and immigration coming up repeatedly.

There was a long period of time where you knock on doors and people would think you just want to talk about bins and buses, which obviously, we really care about those things, but we worry about so much more as well, she tells The Independent. So I think the biggest change is that it really feels like people know who we are and what were about.

She adds: Theres also the wider kind of global and national context around whats been happening with the Labour government, and people feeling like its not bringing the change that they promised or that its a party thats moved away from their values.

While London is currently dominated by red borough councils, Labour is facing a potential obliteration at the polls in May with the dual threat of both the Greens on the left and Nigel Farages Reform on the right.

The Greens have now leapfrogged Labour in the national polls, casting doubts over Sir Keirs continued leadership after Polanski declared his party could win anywhere following its landmark by-election win in Gorton and Denton earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Garbett believes Polanskis election as leader in September was a real acceleration point, with data showing a more than 300 per cent increase in local members from January 2025 to 2026.

Hackney borough, home to leader Zack Polanski, could serve as a key political battleground on 7 May, which pollsters warn could be a very bad night for Labour in London (Getty/iStock)

I think people have just been suffering for quite a long time and want an alternative and want to try something different, and thats people who are really feeling the pressures of the cost of living and growing inequality, she says.

Pollster Chris Annous, of the think tank More in Common, said growing frustration and exasperation about the governments record is driving many voters away from Labour.

I cant stress how disappointed and disillusioned people are with the Labour government, he says.

People are so disappointed, and so desperate for change, and they feel like Labour arent representing that in many parts of London. It means that there is a real opportunity for quite significant volatility when it comes to voters.

On the doorstep, Green-leaning voters support these claims as they echo their disappointment with the current government, with residents raising concerns about housing, the cost of living and Labours approach to immigration.

The island of strangers speech was a real turning point on the doorstep I found, Garbett says after speaking to a resident who said he was disgusted by Labours immigration policies, which are set to make the countrys asylum rules among the toughest in Europe.

That issue comes up a lot  their indefinite leave to remain policy has caused a lot of anxiety.

Zack Polanskis successful bid to become the Greens leader in September has been pegged as a real acceleration point for the partys membership (PA Wire)

Labour has faced fierce criticism from left-leaning voters on their approach to immigration, with the home secretary Shabana Mahmood having laid out a raft of hardline proposals as part of efforts to quell rising migration figures.

Such measures include doubling the amount of time it takes for migrants to be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK from five to 10 years, and making it easier to remove those who have no right to remain in the country.

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner echoed concerns from some voters, dubbing the reforms as an un-British move that would amount to a breach of trust to those settled in the country.

The optimism within the Green Party comes amid warnings from pollsters that 7 May could be a very bad night for Labour in London.

More in Commons Annous said the Green Party was more likely to claim victory in inner areas of London such as Lambeth, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Newham, Lewisham and potentially parts of Greenwich.

I think it could be a very bad night for Labour in London, he said, adding they are likely to lose majorities or entirely in several councils.

[With Labour], were talking about complete dominance in parts of London, which I think is going to unravel extensively.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said contacts are ongoing with Israel to extend the ceasefire between the countries.

Aoun said an upcoming meeting between Israeli and Lebanese delegation on Thursday seeks to "fully" stop Israeli attacks in the country, as well as the withdrawal of its troops and release of prisoners.

He went on to say that the goal is to also deploy Lebanese troops along its southern border and beginning the reconstruction process, noting that support promised by President Donald Trump and other countries "provided us with an opportunity that we must not miss, as it may not come again."

The ceasefire went into effect last Friday, and a Lebanese official told AFP that the country will request a one-month extension.

"Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one month, an end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire," the official said.

In the meantime, Lebanese group Hezbollah, which has firmly opposed the talks, took responsibility for a drone attack on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. The IDF said the drone was intercepted.

Talks between the countries are the first in more than 30 years. In the first encounter, both parties agreed on the need to "liberate" the latter country from Hezbollah, according to Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter.

He added that negotiators "discovered today that we're on the same side of the equation, and that's the most positive thing we could have come away with."

"The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah," Leiter added.

Hezbollah not only called on Lebanese officials to not attend the meeting, but a top official also said the group won't observe any agreement reached between the countries.

Concretely, Al Arabiya noted that the remarks were made by Wafik Saha. They follow those of the group's top leader, Naim Qassem, who said the entity "absolutely rejects" the talks.

Originally published on IBTimes
Actor Ralph Fiennes has said I love that Pope Leo is standing up to US President Donald Trump.

Appearing on Andrew Marrs show on LBC Radio, Fiennes spoke of the ongoing Iran conflict and what he described as the obscene approach of Mr Trumps regime to waging war.

Fiennes starred in Oscar-winning film Conclave in 2024, playing the role of Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, who organises a conclave to elect the next pope.

Pope Leo celebrates the Holy mass at the Malabo stadium, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (Misper Apawu/AP) (Misper Apawu)

Asked by Marr what he thought of Leo in light of his role, Fiennes said: I think hes great.

I love his standing up to Trump, or implicitly to Trump by what he said.

I think war is an obscenity.

I think a central  as I understand it  a central theme of Christs teaching is war is wrong.

The US president has said that Pope Leo owed his election to him (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) (Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

You do not wage war, certainly not by choice.

And the  in my view  not that youre interested, but the obscene approach of Trumps regime to waging war in this way, whatever.

I make, no apologies for the Iranian regime, but the point about the Pope is he spoke about an ethical principle, about violence, about non-violence

Leo has issued consistent calls for peace and dialogue, and has denounced the use of religious justification for war.

Ralph Fiennes attending the BFI London Film Festival gala screening of Conclave (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

Mr Trump has accused Leo of being soft on crime and cosy with the left, and said that the first American pontiff owed his election to him.

Discussing Leo, Fiennes continued: Hes not looking for a fight, hes looking to make a point of principle. And hes in obviously an extraordinary position.

He can say it, and I thought he positioned it and said it with great courage.

And Im a fan of Pope Leo. Im a fan.

Fiennes was appearing on LBC on Thursday evening to talk about his role in the West End play Grace Pervades.

He is due to reprise the role of Henry Irving at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Friday, after it was previously performed at the Theatre Royal Bath last summer.
Angela Ross, the partys candidate for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent in the Holyrood election, is the co-founder of a firm that offers training in diversity, equity and inclusion - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

A Reform UK candidate is a public sector diversity champion, despite the party pledging to scrap the posts.

Angela Ross, the partys candidate for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent in the forthcoming Holyrood election, is the co-founder of Sub 10 Ltd  a tech firm that provides companies with compliance training.

The firm offers modules on anti-corruption, data privacy and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

In 2020, Ms Rosss company provided diversity training to Northumbria Police.

She also delivered a talk promoting national inclusion week in 2022, which included a section on unconscious bias and how to identify protected characteristics.

A separate session offered by the company later that week focused on how to be an ally.

Reform has stood by the candidate, saying she shares the partys view that DEI programmes have gone too far.

The party said that, having seen the initiatives from the inside, Ms Ross is better placed to understand their flaws.

However, the appointment has led to allegations of hypocrisy as Nigel Farage has said he will rid public bodies of diversity roles and schemes if he becomes the next prime minister.

Last year, Mr Farage said he could find 7bn per year in savings by scrapping the initiatives. Official figures show that the Civil Service spent only 27m on DEI measures in 2022-23.

Reforms 7bn figure was based on a study by campaigning group Conservative Way Forward that included money spent by charities, universities and school boards.

Last July, diversity training for councillors at Reform-controlled Durham county council was scrapped as part of a mission to cut down on spending on the schemes across local government.

Height of hypocrisy

Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Tory candidate for Perthshire North, told The Telegraph: This is the height of hypocrisy from one of Reforms leading candidates.

Lord Offords outfit claims to want to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion spending  while one of their MSP hopefuls lines their pockets promoting this woke training.

Diversity training has become a common feature of professional life since the Equality Act was introduced in 2010 by Gordon Browns government.

The legislation gave legal protection to workers based on protected characteristics  age, disability, sexuality, race, religion and belief  meaning employees could sue their bosses if they felt they had been discriminated against on the basis of one of these characteristics.

The law exposed companies to legal challenges if disgruntled employees felt they had been discriminated against, incentivising firms to teach employees about what kinds of behaviour could constitute workplace discrimination in order to reduce the risk of such cases being taken to court.

Reform has said it would abolish the Equality Act on day one if it formed the next UK government.

Diversity training schemes surged in the wake of 2020s Black Lives Matter protests.

Businesses are now reportedly cutting down on the schemes as part of a global shift following the election of Donald Trump as US president in November 2024.

A Reform spokesman said: Angela Ross is standing for Reform because she shares our view that many diversity, equity and inclusion programmes have gone too far, becoming bureaucratic, divisive and often ineffective.

Having seen these initiatives from the inside, she is well placed to understand their shortcomings. Reform UKs position is clear: We support equality under the law and merit-based opportunity, but we oppose costly, box-ticking exercises that do not deliver real results.
Reform UK has unveiled a series of education policies, including mandatory displays of the King's portrait and the union flag in every school, alongside the introduction of "patriotic" history lessons.

The party, which announced the proposals ahead of St George's Day, stated these measures aim to restore "national pride" within the curriculum.

They criticised the current approach to history, describing it as being taught through "a progressive lens."

Should they form a government, Reform UK pledged to implement a new curriculum within their first 100 days. They argued that the subject should reflect a "patriotic history of the British Isles" and avoid being framed by "modern narratives."

The party has also indicated that every school will be required mount a visible portrait of King Charles in a communal space (Alamy/PA)

Reform wants pupils in England to cover events such as the Magna Carta, the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, the Act of Union, the Enlightenment and Victorian Britain.

These are all topics which fall within time periods covered already in GCSE history by exam boards across England.

British history would form a minimum of 60 per cent of the subjects assessed content, with the Secretary of State for Education being given powers to intervene where this is not followed, the party said.

Reform UKs would-be education secretary, Suella Braverman, said: Tory and Labour governments have failed a generation of young people with a substandard curriculum that undermines academic rigour and national identity in favour of promoting their mass migration agenda.

Reform will end this. As education secretary I will introduce a new curriculum that will rekindle national pride and ensure that every child leaves school with an understanding of what a privilege it is to be British.

The party has also indicated that every school will be required to fly the union flag, honour St Georges Day in England and mount a visible portrait of King Charles in a communal space.

They also indicated that funding would be provided for Scottish and Welsh schools to fly the union flag along with their national flags but acknowledged that education is a devolved area of government.

They claimed that in 2024, every state-funded school in the country was offered a portrait of the King but only 34 per cent took up the offer.
A black bear perched in a suburban tree held a New York neighborhood in suspense for hours, until the moment he suddenly fell from the tree. The Albany bear incident quickly gained online attention, with many viewers feeling sorry for the adventurous bear, who had climbed into a tree in the middle of the night and refused to come down.

The young male bear, sedated by wildlife officials as stunned onlookers gathered below, clung to the branches as the sedative slowly took effect, then finally slipped and fell into a safety net. Neighbors gasped and held their breath as the tranquilized bear tumbled from the tree, but the wild animal was unharmed in the dramatic debacle.

The way the poor bear clung to the branch for dear life looked like a scene from a movie, and anyone who's fought hard to stay awake can imagine how he felt as the sedatives kicked in. Fortunately, officials were ready on the ground with a safety net and a plan to move the black bear somewhere safe.

Neighbors near the intersection of Raymo Street and Second Avenue first noticed the bear around 2 a.m., then watched him climb into a tall tree. By morning, the bear was still comfortable in the branches, so Albany Police closed off several streets while they hatched a plan. Neighbors quickly gathered to watch the hours-long standoff until officials made the decision to sedate the wild animal just before noon.

Related: North Carolina Black Bear Mom Attempting to Wrangle Two Stubborn Cubs Has Parents Feeling Seen

Onlookers weren't the only ones stunned by the stubborn bear's dramatic fall. "So mean for not telling us the net was there," @elizabethinautum commented on ABC13 Houston's social media video. The bear's Lion King-esque fall left everyone in suspense, but no one had any reason to be worried. He landed safe and sound!

Bears in Neighborhoods

DEC wildlife biologist Jeremy Hurst told CBS6 Albany that young male bears often wander out of the Catskills and into suburban areas in search of food, especially in spring. Once sedated and captured, the bear began his journey back to the Catskills, where he'll be released back into the wild.



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A peaceful, happy ending is exactly what this wild animal deserves after such a dramatic endeavor. Let's hope he finds what he's looking for in the mountains, and that he doesn't wander back into a neighborhood again!

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The earliest known depictions of the dragon slaying story comes from 10th or 11th Century Cappadocia and Georgia in which George dispatched a giant monster living in lake in Libya

England's patron saint, St George, will be celebrated this Thursday 23 April.

The day is synonymous with public displays of the English flag  the red cross on a white background  and is celebrated by Christian churches.

Though English schoolchildren learn of a dragon-slaying knight, there is much more to the story of historical figure of St George.

We explore the legend's origins and other countries that honour him as their patron saint.

Who was he?

According to legend, St George was a Roman soldier born in what is now modern-day Turkey in around 280AD and died around 303.

Very little is known about his early life but it is believed he was born to a wealthy Christian noble family.

When he grew up he became a soldier and joined the retinue of Emperor Diocletian.

In 303 Diocletian, as part of a crackdown on the growing influence of the Christian community, ordered that all Christian soldiers in the army should be expelled and all Roman soldiers be forced to make the traditional pagan sacrifice.

St George refused and denounced the edict in front of his fellow soldiers, declaring he was a Christian.

Diocletian initially tried to convert him with offers of wealth and land but when he refused he was beheaded on 23 April 303.

So what does he have to do with dragons?

The myth of St George slaying a dragon originally appeared in stories told by the mediaeval Eastern Orthodox Church which were brought back to Europe by the Crusaders in the 10th and 11th centuries.

According to one story, a town in Libya had a small lake with a plague-infected dragon living in it. The townspeople were gradually being killed by the dragon and started feeding it two sheep a day to appease it.

A woman assembles her St George and dragon costume during the St George's Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square (Getty)

When they ran out of sheep the king devised a lottery system to feed it local children. One day his own daughter was chosen and as she was being led out to the lake St George happened to ride past.

He reported offered to slay the dragon if the people converted to Christianity. They all did, and the king later built a church where the dragon died.

If he was from Turkey how did he become the patron saint of England?

King Edward III made St George the countrys official saint just after he came to the throne in 1327.

According to historian Ian Mortimer, a patron saint did not have to be from the country they were born in  they just needed to embody the characteristics the kingdom wanted to project to the outside world.

After all, as well as England, St George is also the patron saint of Portugal, Venice, Beirut, Malta, Ethiopia, Georgia, the Palestinian terrorities, Serbia and Lithuania.

Edward III wanted to rebuild the strength of the English monarchy after the disastrous reign of his father  St George was part of his strategy to make England one of the most powerful and warlike nations in Europe.

This article was originally published in April 2016
Sir Keir Starmer has voiced "increasing concern" over the use of proxies by foreign states for criminal activities within the UK following his visit to a London synagogue which had been subjected to an arson attack.

The Prime Minister visited Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, which was attacked on Saturday.

This incident is one of a series of arson attacks on Jewish community sites across the capital.

Since late March, other targets have included Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, another synagogue, and a former Jewish charity.

A drone was also flown near the Israeli embassy during this period.

Sir Keir Starmer speaks as Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (2nd right) reacts while they join people during a visit Kenton United Synagogue (Getty)

Speaking at the Kenton United Synagogue on Thursday afternoon, the Prime Minister said: We have to deal with malign state actors, that will require legislation.

Were going to bring that legislation forward. Its really important we do that. Its very important this particular context because Im increasingly concerned that a number of countries are using proxies for attacks in this country.

Its very, very important that the counter terrorism police, and the police are working with CST together on this, but on both fronts, we need to move forward.

On Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the attack in Harrow, admitting arson not endangering life at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Police officers stand near a cordon after the incident at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow (Jamie Lashmar/PA)

The teenager, a British national from Brent, north-west London, has not been named because of his age.

Footage was posted online appearing to show a figure in dark clothing setting light to a bottle of liquid and throwing it through a window at the synagogue.

Jewish charity the Community Security Trust said minor smoke damage to an internal room was caused, but there were no injuries or significant structural damage.

The defendant was released on bail and is due to appear at Willesden Youth Court on June 4.

A 19-year-old man who was also arrested after the attack has been released on bail pending further inquiries, the Metropolitan Police said.

More to follow...
Firstborn children are more likely to pass viruses from nurseries to their baby siblings (Getty/iStock)

Being the firstborn child can certainly have its advantages  no hand-me-downs, a few extra years of devoted attention from parents, and the ability to always pretend that you know best.

Studies have shown that being the eldest also has its financial perks: firstborn children are more likely to score higher on IQ tests, get better exam results and earn more later in life.

And a new economics study has now drawn on decades of Danish data, and suggested childhood illnesses could be one of the reasons for the difference.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen found illnesses during the early years could account for the 1.9 per cent wage gap that is commonly seen between siblings.

The findings are similar to those made by the University of Edinburgh, which found that firstborns scored higher in IQ tests and the gap usually appears within the first year of life.

Firstborns are more likely to score higher on IQ tests and perform better in exams (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

The researchers, collaborating with a team from Sydney University, examined data from 5,000 children who were given reading and picture vocabulary tests every two years.

It found younger siblings were two to three times more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, which could result in them being hospitalised.

Children who suffered from illnesses during their early years were found to achieve less on the academic front, with potential reasons being that infections could have diverted energy from the development of the brain.

Given that nurseries are often blighted with bugs, common colds and illnesses, it is often the case that firstborn children pick up these viruses and pass them on to their baby siblings.

Another explanation is the difference in parental attention that is afforded to firstborn children during their first years. Younger siblings often receive less one-to-one attention, given that their parents are already juggling childcare responsibilities.

Parents are encouraged to ensure that vaccinations are kept up to date and to keep sick children at home, instead of sending them to nursery.
London Underground drivers are on their third day of strike action this week, causing significant travel disruption for commuters and visitors to the capital.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union had announced its members will walk out for 24 hours from midday on Tuesday 21 April, and again on Thursday 23 April.

This means the second strike is starting later today and will continue into Friday.

There are additional strikes planned for May and June.

The RMT has accused Transport for London (TfL) of attempting to impose a new four-day working week, with general secretary Eddie Dempsey expressing frustration over the stalled negotiations.

London Underground drivers will begin strike action this week (Getty)

He said: We have approached negotiations with TfL in good faith throughout this entire process, but despite our best efforts, TfL seem unwilling to make any concessions in a bid to avert strike action.

Claire Mann, TfLs chief operating officer, said the proposals for a four-day working week allow the company to offer train operators an additional day off, whilst at the same time bringing London Underground in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no additional cost.

She added: The changes would be voluntary, there would be no reduction in contractual hours and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so.

TfL has set out what travellers can expect during strike days, with certain lines more affected than others. Heres what you need to know:

What dates are the Tube strikes?

April

Tuesday 21 to Wednesday 22 April

Thursday 23 to Friday 24 April

May

Tuesday 19 to Wednesday 20 May

Thursday 21 to Friday 22 May

June

Tuesday 16 June to Wednesday 17 June

Thursday 18 June to Friday 19 June

What time will the Tube shut and reopen?

TfL has laid out how its services will be affected over the coming days (Transport for London (TfL))

The planned strike action will take significant parts of the network out of action for half of two consecutive days, lasting from midday to midday.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays travellers can expect normal service until mid-morning, when services will begin to ramp down. There will be significant disruption on all lines from midday, and lines that do run will finish early. TfL recommends completing journeys by 8pm.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, Tube services that do run will begin later, with no service expected before 7.30am. There will be significant disruption until midday, when normal service will begin to resume, but with delays very likely.

Which Tube lines will be affected?

TfL says strikes will affect the whole Tube network, but a reduced service will still run on most lines with significant disruption.

However, there will be no service on the:

Piccadilly and Circle lines

Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate

Central line between White City and Liverpool Street

On Thursday morning the TfL website also showed all lines will be running a special service with a part closure on the Northern line between Camden Town and Kennington .

Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, and tram services will be running normally on strike days, but are likely to be very busy.
US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday without evidence that a Virginia vote to redraw the state's congressional map in a way that favours Democrats had been "rigged", as a county judge moved to block the measure.

On Tuesday, Virginia voters approved a redistricting referendum that could help Democrats flip as many as four Republican-held seats in the US House of Representatives and boost Democrats' chances of winning control of the chamber in November.

Trump, a Republican, wrote in a social media post that "A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA!" and blamed mail-in ballots for the outcome.

The post was the latest example of Trump casting doubt on election outcomes he dislikes by portraying ordinary vote counting, particularly the tabulation of mail ballots, as evidence of fraud without offering proof.

The referendum has already faced multiple legal challenges.

The Supreme Court of Virginia allowed the referendum to proceed but may end up invalidating it, making the results moot.

Read moreVirginia redistricting vote could boost Democrats in US midterms

And in a separate case that also looks likely to end back up at the Supreme Court, a Virginia county judge, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee, blocked the new map on Wednesday, ruling lawmakers had not followed the rules for the constitutional amendment that the map redrawing required.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat, said he would ask the state's Court of Appeals to overturn Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr.'s order, which called the ballot language "flagrantly misleading" and blocked the state from certifying Tuesday's referendum results.

The referendum in Virginia is the latest twist in the nation's redistricting arms race, which Trump and Texas Republicans began last year as they sought to defend the party's slim House majority during the midterm elections in November.

Trump, who has not accepted that he lost the 2020 presidential election despite having failed in dozens of courts to challenge the results, has consistently sought to undermine faith in the voting process.

After his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden, Trump falsely claimed widespread fraud and backed efforts to overturn the result, including pressuring his then vice president, Mike Pence, to not certify the election results.

Courts, state election officials and his own administration have since found no evidence of fraud on a scale that would have changed the outcome.

In recent months, the Trump administration has stepped up its effort to revive claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. The Justice Department is seeking a swath of state voter data, while the FBI has reopened old election-fraud allegations in battleground states including Georgia.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
Donald Trump described the King as a brave and great man - Kevin Lamarque

The King is a great man who could help repair the fractured relationship between the US and Britain, Donald Trump has said.

The US president said the monarch could absolutely repair the much-cited special relationship between the two countries, which has become strained in recent months.

I know him well, Ive known him for years, Mr Trump said during a phone interview with the BBC before the Kings four-day state visit, which begins on Monday. Hes a brave man, and hes a great man.

The president, however, appeared more muted when discussing Sir Keir Starmer, saying the Prime Minister could only recover if he changed course on immigration.

If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now theyre not, he can recover, but if he doesnt, I dont think he has a chance, Mr Trump said.

The King and Queen will visit the United States for a four-day visit - Aaron Chown

The King and Queens visit, during which the monarch will address Congress and attend a state dinner at the White House, marks the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The King will meet privately with Mr Trump, as will the Queen and with first lady Melania Trump. The trip includes stops in Washington, DC, New York, Virginia and Bermuda.

In a letter to the King on April 1, Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House, said he believed the address would provide a unique opportunity to share your vision for the future of our special relationship.

While in New York, the King and Queen will meet with survivors of the 9/11 terror attack.

The US presidents relationship with Sir Keir soured after he initially refused to allow the US access to British bases at the beginning of the Iran war.

Sir Keir Starmer presenting Donald Trump with a letter from the King in February 2025 - Kevin Lamarque

Mr Trump previously told The Telegraph he was very disappointed by the Prime Ministers attitude towards the conflict.

The president said the Prime Ministers initial refusal to let US forces use the Chagos Islands base during their operations was unlike anything that had happened between our countries before.

The relationship between the two leaders deteriorated after Sir Keirs refusal, a source told The Telegraph previously.

The American people have been shocked at just how much the British Government has been unreliable. The US department of defence has been frustrated that they cant properly partner with a country that is supposed to be our greatest ally, the source said.

The Epstein question

US congressman Ro Khanna  who led efforts to force the release of the Epstein files  asked the King and Queen to meet with survivors of the paedophile during the visit.

In a letter to Mr Khanna, lawyers for the King and Queen said the royal couple could not meet with the survivors due to ongoing police inquiries in the UK, The New York Times reported this week.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was accused by Virginia Guiffre, an Epstein victim who died by suicide in 2025, of sexually assaulting her across three separate occasions in 2001 when she was 17. He denies all allegations.

The former prince was a close friend of Epsteins and maintained contact with him following the paedophiles conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution in 2005.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, a long-time friend of Epsteins, was arrested in February over allegations of misconduct in public office following the release of the latest tranche of documents relating to the paedophile.

Emails appeared to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor sharing confidential information while he worked as a British trade envoy.

He was released under investigation and has not been charged.

Mr Trump has also been critical of the Prime Ministers decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as the British ambassador to the US, whom the president had described him as a really bad pick.

Lord Mandelson was also arrested in February, after police received a tip that he was about to flee the country. The disgraced peer was placed under investigation.

He was released without charge after seven hours of questioning. Lawyers for Lord Mandelson described the allegations as baseless.

Lord Mandelson has consistently denied any knowledge of Epsteins crimes, claiming the paedophile was a charismatic criminal liar who kept him in the dark about his abuse.

The scandal surrounding the decision to appoint him, despite his links to the paedophile, has threatened to topple Sir Keirs premiership.
Ghislaine Maxwell has asked a federal judge to throw out her sex trafficking conviction and free her from prison. The new filing is the latest attempt to overturn the case that led to her 20-year sentence.

Maxwell sent the request to federal prosecutors in New York, who said they received a FedEx package dated Apr. 16, 2026, with an amended motion and supporting materials on a USB drive.

She was convicted in 2021 for helping Jeffrey Epstein recruit and abuse underage girls. Prosecutors said at trial that Maxwell played a central role in the abuse by identifying victims, bringing them into Epstein's orbit, and helping create a setting where the exploitation could continue, according to ABC News.

According to the Justice Department, Maxwell and Epstein used promises of money, travel, and opportunities to draw in minors, then pressured them into sexual abuse. Prosecutors also said she helped groom victims, encouraged some to recruit others, and was at times present during the abuse.

Trial evidence also showed that Maxwell and Epstein targeted girls as young as 14, often using a massage pretext to get them alone with Epstein. Prosecutors said Maxwell and Epstein built a system that kept feeding Epstein new victims by rewarding some girls for bringing in others.

The case against Maxwell grew out of years of allegations, civil suits, and witness accounts that put her at the center of Epstein's network. Maxwell had long been described by prosecutors as one of Epstein's closest associates, and she was charged after the FBI arrested her in New Hampshire in July 2020, NPR reported.

The latest submission follows a February ruling that allowed her to amend a habeas petition after the Justice Department released Epstein-related files. Maxwell previously argued that Epstein's 2007 non-prosecution agreement should have protected her, but courts rejected that claim.

Her motion has not yet been made public on the court docket, but prosecutors said it appears to overlap with earlier arguments that district and appellate courts rejected in 2024. The U.S. Supreme Court later declined to hear her appeal.

Maxwell filed a habeas petition in December, arguing that "substantial new evidence" had emerged in her case. In that petition, she pointed to alleged juror misconduct, evidence she said was not disclosed, and the time gap between the conduct and the indictment, as per CBS News.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
A man waves Iranian national flags in Enghelab Square, Tehran. Some commentators feel that Iran has shown remarkable political resilience. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA (Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA)

Donald Trump has claimed that the infighting between moderates and hardliners in Irans leadership is so intense that Iranians have no idea who their leader is, but many experts questioned his analysis, saying, given the mass assassinations of senior commanders, the country had shown remarkable institutional cohesion.

Trumps allegations of CRAZY splits in the Iranian leadership  the second outing for this argument in three days  is remarkable since he has previously said either he has little knowledge of the new Iranian leadership or that there has already been regime change.

Trumps team, either through Pakistani mediators or more direct contacts, may be picking up that different factions are demanding different preconditions for the talks to restart. Trump at a minimum is implying that military hardliners have taken charge from the civilian diplomatic leadership.

It is hardly a secret that Iran has been riven for decades over how to approach the US and the wisdom of negotiations, but some Iranian academics and observers are accusing Trump of cognitive warfare: attempting to create what Mohamed Amersi, a member of the Global Advisory Council at the Wilson Centre, described as chronic systemic paralysis in which the countrys decision-making machine becomes deadlocked.

Ali Ansari, a professor of modern history at St Andrews, said Iran, if not experiencing a leadership vacuum, was at least a country in transition since the newly installed  and apparently badly injured supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei  had not yet been able to establish his authority, a process that took his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei many years.

We are not quite sure if he is all there and even if he is all there, whether he will be able to consolidate his position and authority in the way that his father did, Ansari said.

Ali Alfoneh, a senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, said Iran had been moving towards a more collective leadership in the final two years of Ali Khameneis life. He was getting older and unwilling to take responsibility for unpopular measures or ones that he could not justify in religious terms such as not enforcing the hijab, said Alfoneh.

Mojtaba Khamenei has said little in detail about the talks or the ceasefire, but one indicator of his frame of mind may be his appointment as military adviser of Mohsen Rezaee, one of the most unreconstructed of the former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and an opponent of a ceasefire.

Hassan Ahmadian, an associate professor of west Asian studies at the University of Tehran, denies there are any fractures in Irans leadership.

The Iranian political system is very institutionalised. Name another system whose top echelon is assassinated and is capable of continuing and also waging a retaliatory war effort against two big foes. I do not see any historical parallel to this, Ahmadian said.

He added: For every institution in Iran there is a parallel institution and that makes it easier to withstand shocks.

He said that Iran had united around a new strategy born of war that focused on using the leverage provided by the strait of Hormuz to fight Trumps pressure. The strait is the key  If there is a fair deal, we will get sanctions relief and reparations and in exchange Iran will bring in the IAEA [the UN nuclear inspectorate] and dilute the highly enriched uranium.

Moreover, we are saying if you violate your commitments, we have a changed mentality. In 2018 [when Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal] Iran did not have a lot to offer. At this point we do, so we are talking Trumps language. It is very effective. As you target our people, we will target the pockets of your people, he said.

Ahmadian said Trumps claims of a divided command were a form of psychological warfare and argued that senior leaders widely agreed on the refusal to negotiate until the US ended its blockade of Irans ports.

That policy, he said, derived its strength from being hammered out by the 13-strong supreme national security council (SNSC), the governing body that, far more than the political cabinet, brought together all the forces inside Iran: judicial, political, military and intelligence.

The Israeli decision to assassinate the SNSC secretary, Ali Larijani, may turn out to be counterproductive as it removed the most capable, pragmatic and experienced figures in Iranian politics, who might have been able to forge a consensus negotiation strategy. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, his replacement as secretary, does not have the same breadth of experience, and is a veteran IRGC commander.

To the extent that anyone has taken on Larijanis cohesive role, it is the speaker of the parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Sometimes described as a modernising autocrat, he was appointed head of the Iranian delegation to Islamabad, overseeing the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, a skilled diplomat who would work inside pre-determined parameters.

Related: Trump claims US has total control over strait of Hormuz after Iran seizes two container ships

In a recent, widely praised TV interview, Ghalibaf laid it on thick how successful Iran had been, but also made clear the country could not continue in the same vein. Making the case for negotiation, he argued Iran may have won the battle, but it may not be able to win the war.

He cautioned against exaggerating Irans leverage, stressing that US military superiority and capabilities should not be underestimated. Iran had to negotiate, a position not shared.

In all this, the elected Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has been sidelined. The reformist leader has been deputed instead to keep the home front operating, and has been kept from the details of the negotiations.

Prof Ansari argued some of the tensions on how to negotiate reflect IRGC concern to protect essential interests  including its extensive business empire. He said: The real danger for the Islamic republic is not war but peace, for then there will be an auditing of what the hell happened  especially if the economic situation is extremely difficult as it is expected to be.
John Phelan, left, speaks at Mar-a-Lago in December 2025. Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters (Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters)

The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the navys top civilian official, John Phelan, the secretary of the navy, is leaving his job.

In a statement posted to social media, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Phelan was departing the administration, effective immediately.

Hung Cao, the navy undersecretary, would become acting secretary of the navy, Parnell said.

Reuters, citing an anonymous source, reported Phelan had been fired by the Pentagon.

Pentagon says navy secretary is leaving, marking another top leaders departure

The sudden departure comes just a day after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navys annual conference in Washington DC, and spoke with reporters about his agenda.

Phelans departure also comes just weeks after Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, fired the armys top officer, Gen Randy George. Hegseth also has fired several top generals, admirals and other defense leaders since taking office last year. As with many of those other firings, Pentagon officials did not offer a reason for Phelans departure.

Phelan is leaving just as the US navy has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war.

Read the full story

Iranian forces seize two ships in strait of Hormuz amid doubts over further peace talks with US

Iranian forces seized two ships in the strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran doubled down on imposing separate blockades of the shipping waterway.

The standoff over the strait  through which about 20% of the worlds oil and liquefied fossil gas passed through during peacetime  has raised doubts about whether stalled peace negotiations will resume.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, said late on Wednesday that reopening the strait of Hormuz would be impossible while the US and Israel committed flagrant breaches of the ceasefire, including the US naval blockade, the hostage-taking of the worlds economy and Zionist warmongering.

Read the full story

Trump approval slips in recent polling

A trio of political polls indicate public approval of Donald Trumps management of the US economy, immigration and the Iran conflict is slipping, flashing warning lights for Trump-aligned Republican candidates with six months to go until the US midterm elections. Polls by Reuters-Ipsos poll, Strength in Numbers-Verasight and AP-NORC had the presidents approval rating hovering in the mid-30s, at 36%, 35% and 33% respectively, which are near his lowest numbers.

Read the full story

Democrats demand Kash Patel take alcohol abuse test

House judiciary Democrats have launched a formal inquiry into the alleged drinking habits of the FBI director, Kash Patel, demanding he complete a standardized alcohol abuse assessment and submit the results to Congress. Democrats on the committee called on Patel to take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Audit)  a 10-question World Health Organization screening tool used to identify harmful patterns of drinking  along with a sworn statement attesting to his answers. Lawmakers also requested all security clearance questionnaires Patel has completed since taking the role.

Read the full story

White House close to deal of up to $500m to rescue ailing Spirit Airlines

The White House is finalizing a financing package to help ailing US budget carrier Spirit Airlines, which could receive as much as $500m in loans as rising costs continue to plague the company. News of the potential deal comes as Spirit and others struggle with soaring fuel costs due to the war with Iran.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened on 21 April 2026.
President Donald Trump in a pair of raging Truth Social posts Thursday announced he has ordered American naval forces to open fire on any Iranian vessel believed to be laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, something he previously claimed was not happening.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he had ordered the U.S. Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be ... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

There is to be no hesitation, the president added.

Trump also claimed American minesweepers are currently clearing the narrow waterway right now and said he was ordering the minesweeping efforts to continue ... at a tripled up level.

The presidents threat against any Iranian mine-laying vessels comes over a month after he claimed to have destroyed most of Irans mining capacity while simultaneously denying that Iran was placing any mines in the strait, a key transit point for roughly a fifth of the worlds oil supply each year.

Its unclear to what extent U.S. forces will be able to easily clear what mines have been placed in the strait, as the American Navy is relying on unproven drone technology based on a pair of Littoral Combat Ships, small combatant craft that were never designed for minesweeping.

Trump claims the U.S. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz (AFP/Getty)

Although the U.S. once had a force of four purpose-built Avenger-class minesweepers permanently stationed in the Persian Gulf region for the express purpose of clearing any mines Tehran might lay in the Strait of Hormuz, the Trump administration sidelined those ships ahead of the currently conflict by decommissioning them this past fall.

Even as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continued to ratchet up over the last few months, the Pentagon continued with plans to bring the ships back to the U.S. for disposal this past January by contracting for their transportation on the semi-submersible cargo ship M/V Seaway Hawk , which left Bahrain for Philadelphia this past January.

Photographs released by the Pentagon on Jan. 21 show the Seaway Hawk carrying the four decommissioned minesweepers while being escorted by the Littoral Combat Ship U.S.S. Canberra  one of the troubled class of vessel which the Navy is pressing into service as a replacement for the minesweepers.

A report published by The Washington Post on Wednesday alleged that House Armed Services Committee members were told in a classified briefing that clearing the at least 20 mines believed to have been placed thus far could take a full six months. The Pentagons chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, has angrily denied the Post report as cherry picking leaked information, much of which is false, from a classified, closed briefing.

Four Avenger -class minesweepers were removed from a U.S. base in Bahrain just weeks before President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran (X/@WarshipCam) (X/@WarshipCam)

Trumps directive to sink any Iranian mine-laying craft comes as the tenuous ceasefire between Washington and Tehran enters a third week after an 11th-hour extension announced by Trump after a planned round of talks in Islamabad fell apart amid what the White House described as infighting and indecision within Irans government more than a month after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed much of the Islamic Republics leadership.

In a separate Truth Social post, Trump said Iran was having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is and claimed infighting between hardliners and moderates is at a CRAZY state right now.

The president also claimed the U.S.  not Iran  is maintaining total control over the Strait of Hormuz.

No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is Sealed up Tight until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL, he said.

Earlier this week, Iranian forces seized a pair of cargo ships attempting to transit the waterway, while Tehrans lead negotiator, Mohammad Ghaliba, said in a post on X that reopening the Strait would be impossible while the U.S. blockade persisted, calling it a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.
President Donald Trump is basking in a rare moment of praise from a perennial thorn in his side who he once called a wiseguy with no talent and the most overrated joke on television  The Daily Show host Jon Stewart.

Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to amplify a clip of Stewarts most recent turn hosting the Monday edition of the long-running program in which the comedian started his monologue by giving Trump credit where credit is due for having done a solid over the weekend.

Stewart was referring to Trumps surprise Saturday morning Oval Office appearance alongside podcaster Joe Rogan, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Texas congressman and ex-Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell and other MAGA-aligned personalities and administration officials, at which Trump signed an executive order intended to accelerate medical treatments for serious mental illness using psychedelic drugs.

Such substances, such as Ibogaine and MDMA, have long been thought to have benefits for people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but they have also been nearly impossible to access because they are banned under federal drug laws in most cases.

Stewart quipped that Trump signed an executive order in front of his fraternity brothers, fast-tracking the FDA process for novel psychedelic drug treatments for veterans suffering from all forms of PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, including addiction.

Trumps most recent executive order earned him plaudits from Jon Stewart, a longtime nemesis (YouTube/The Daily Show/AP)

He then played a clip of Trump awkwardly pronouncing the name of the drug ibogaine before stopping himself and apologizing for falling into hold habits by mocking the president.

It's good. You did a good thing. I'm nitpicking. I apologize. A lot of the people are going to get the help they need, he said.

Stewarts kind words for the presidents executive action were a sharp contrast to many of the things Trump has said about him over the years.

The 47th president was a frequent target for the comedians mockery when he was in the midst of his first campaign for the presidency against Hillary Clinton, and Trump more often than not responded in kind, usually on his Twitter account in the wee hours of the morning.

Over a three-day period from May 30 to June 1 in 2015, Trump posted about Stewart nine separate times, referring to him as a dummy, a joke, as well as not very bright and totally overrated.

He also poked fun at the comedians use of Stewart as a stage name in place of his family name, Leibowitz, in a tweet in which he claimed he would never attack the Daily Show host for his phony last name even though it is an alternative spelling of his middle name, Stuart.

But Thursdays Truth Social post was not the only time he has amplified an instance of Stewart giving him plaudits for something that hes done as president.

According to CQ Roll Calls FactBase archive of Trumps social media output, he tweeted  then deleted  a retweet of a post by a Twitter user @rcale1776 which quoted Stewart as saying Trumps first-term justice department had done an excellent job administering the 9/11 compensation act.
Next weeks state visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla could absolutely repair relations with the UK, Donald Trump has said, amid a growing rift with Sir Keir Starmer.

Relations between the UK prime minister and the US president have been fractious in recent months, with the president branding Britains approach to the Iran war as terrible and repeatedly lashing out at Sir Keir  at one point describing him as not Winston Churchill.

It comes after the UK prime minister repeatedly insisted that the UK will not get dragged in to the conflict in the Middle East, insisting that it is not our war.

Asked by the BBC whether the upcoming state visit from the King could help repair the damaged relationship, Trump said: Absolutely. Hes fantastic. Hes a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.

US president Donald Trump said the state visit could repair relations (AFP/Getty)

I know him well, Ive known him for years, he added. Hes a brave man, and hes a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.

In a video shared on X by the US Department of State, Mr Trump said: I look forward to having King Charles come. Hes a friend of mine. Weve spoken and were going to have a great time.

It comes after Sir Keir last week told parliament that the British monarchy is an important reminder of the longstanding bonds and enduring relationship between our two countries, insisting the special relationship is far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time.

Mr Trumps comments will come as a boost to Sir Keir, as there has been hope in Downing Street that Charles and Queen Camilla can help put the UK-US relationship on a firmer footing.

It comes just hours after a former Nato secretary general warned that Britains military reliance on the US is no longer tenable, arguing that the UK should not expect relations with Washington to return to their previous state  even after Mr Trump leaves office.

In his second attack on the governments defence policy in less than two weeks, Lord George Robertson  who is also a former Labour defence secretary  hit out at Britains naive belief that the US would always be there in times of crisis, saying such a mentality has diminished the UKs capabilities.

The state visit, which begins at the end of the month, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US, with Charles and Camilla marking the milestone at a block party.

Trump described Charles as a great man (Getty)

The first time Charles and Camilla will meet the president and the first lady will be at a private tea, captured by cameras only.

Later, Mr Trump and the King will sit down for talks in the White Houses famous Oval Office while Camilla and Melania Trump take part in an event together.

However, the King and Queen will not meet with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during their visit, sources said, despite reports that a private gathering was being planned.

There have been repeated calls by US congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for a meeting with the King and Queen, and the Mail on Sunday reported that the Queen had been approached by victims rights groups.
Trump says Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK after Duke of Sussex plea to support Ukraine

Donald Trump has dismissed the Duke of Sussex's comments on the Ukrainian conflict, saying that Prince Harry "is not speaking for the UK".

The remarks followed an impassioned speech by Harry at the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday, where he urged "American leadership" to "honour its international treaty obligations" in its "enduring role in global security".

The Kings youngest son, in a rare input on global matters, clarified he was "not here as a politician" but as "a soldier who understands service" and "a humanitarian", though he did not mention Mr Trump by name.

Responding to the speech Harry made during a surprise visit to Ukraine, the US president told reporters: I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, thats for sure. I think I am speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry.

But I appreciate his advice very much, he added.

Trump responded to Harrys impassioned speech (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty)

Mr Trump went on to ask: Hows he doing? Hows his wife? Please give her my regards.

Harrys unannounced visit  his third trip to Ukraine since the war began in 2022  comes days after he finished a tour to Australia with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex.

Harry said: The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraines sovereignty and borders would be respected.

This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America, to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations  not out of charity but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.

Harry stopped in the UK on his journey to Ukraine but only to transit through.

The King and Queen are due to travel to the US on Monday for a four-day visit during which they will meet Mr Trump.

The President has said the visit could absolutely mend relations with the UK damaged over the Iran war.
A spoken word performer who explores Britishness, class, race and masculine identity is among the artists shortlisted for the Turner Prize.

Simeon Barclay is nominated for his hour-long performance The Ruin, which draws on his upbringing in Huddersfield and his lived experience of the industrial landscape of northern England.

Featuring live percussion by James Larter and horn by Isaac Shieh, the jury praised his work for its evocative, experimental use of language and a psychologically immersive soundscape.

Simeon Barclay performing The Ruin (Anne Tetzlaff/Roberts Institute of Arts/PA)

Also shortlisted for the prestigious prize for the visual arts is Kira Freije, who is nominated for her first major solo exhibition, Unspeak The Chorus, at The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The artist uses metal, fabric and found materials to create sculptures that explore universal human emotions featuring life-sized figures constructed from bare metal framework with expressive, stonecast faces.

The jury praised the emotional depth of Freijes work, highlighting its unique sculptural vocabulary of materials and forms, as well as the haunting, expressive way she transformed the space through her arrangement of figures.

Kira Freije uses metal, fabric and found materials to create sculptures (Robin Bernstein/PA)

Sculptor Marguerite Humeau is nominated for her solo exhibition Torches, which examines the formation of life, ancient human history and imagined future worlds.

The jury was impressed by her cinematic exhibition-making, and her engagement with ecological and existential themes through inventive forms, speculative scenarios and dynamic shifts in scale.

The fourth shortlisted artist is Tanoa Sasraku, nominated for her solo exhibition Morale Patch at The Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, which focuses on recent political and military histories of oil.

Using object-like sculptures and works on paper and film, the jury praised the precision and sophistication of the installation, noting how it addresses complex historical issues with strong contemporary resonances, and its use of a clinical, minimalist display that conveys both irony and seriousness.

Torches by Marguerite Humeau examines the formation of life, ancient human history and imagined future worlds (Julia Andreone/PA)

An exhibition of the work of the shortlisted artists will be held at Teesside Universitys MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, from September 26 to March 29, 2027.

The winner will be announced on December 10, 2026 at an award ceremony at MIMA.

Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain and chairman of the Turner Prize jury, said: It is a privilege to announce this outstanding shortlist  congratulations to all four nominated artists.

The Turner Prize continues to offer the public a compelling reflection of the breadth and vitality of contemporary British art.

Morale Patch by Tanoa Sasraku looks at recent political and military histories of oil (Jack Elliot Edwards/Vardaxoglou Gallery/PA)

This years selection presents a rich and diverse range of work, spanning installation and performance, and with a strong emphasis on sculptural practice.

Each artist invites us into carefully constructed scenarios, both real and imagined, that offer distinct perspectives through which to explore the world around us, and to reflect on our place within it.

Established in 1984 and named after JMW Turner, The Turner Prize is one of the most prestigious awards for the visual arts, aiming to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art.

It is awarded each year to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work.

The Turner Prize winner will be awarded 25,000, with 10,000 given to the other shortlisted artists.
Famed UFO researcher David Wilcock has died at the age of 53 in Boulder County, Colorado, authorities confirmed.

Wilcock was a significant figure in whats known as the disclosure movement, a belief that the U.S. Government was withholding information about extraterrestrial life. His death follows an explosion of conspiracy theories on social media about an alleged string of deaths and disappearances of scientists tied to sensitive U.S. research.

A flood of tributes to the late influencer have appeared on social media, with Representative Anna Paulina Luna describing his death as tragic.

We are praying for his family and loved ones and the millions of lives he impacted, The Florida Republican wrote on X.

David Wilcock, the famed UFO researcher, has died at the age of 53 after taking his own life (Instagram)

Included in her tribute was a reference to the Bible verse John 8:32.

The verse reads, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

The Office of the Boulder County Coroner confirmed in a statement that Wilcock took his own life just after 11.02 am on April 20.

The details of the incident were first reported by the Boulder County Sheriffs Office, which shared a statement revealing that they received a call at around 10.44 am that same day. During the call, the individual appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis. 

Upon arriving at the property, which was northeast of the community of Nederland, they found a man with a weapon. The coroners office has confirmed that this man was Wilcock, who turned the gun on himself.

Deputies searched the residence and surrounding property and did not locate any other individuals, the statement added. There is no known threat to the public.

The Boulder County Sheriffs Office had responded to the scene in the community of Nederland, shown here, in which an individual was experiencing a mental health crisis (Boulder County Sheriffs Office)

Two days before his death, Wilcock shared a post addressed to his Dear Family on X.

I am not yet sure if I am doing a show tomorrow, he wrote. I've had some very intense stuff going on this weekend.

Either way, I want you all to know how much I love and appreciate you, he added. Always remember that the Creator is within -- and we live in a loving universe.

A day later, he shared on the same social media platform that he had slept miraculously well and planned to host in a live show about a picture posted by President Trump, in which the commander in chief appears to resemble Jesus Christ.

Wilcock regularly appeared on the History Channel program Ancient Aliens. His YouTube channel, Divine Cosmos with David Wilcock, has racked up over 46 million views and 518,000 subscribers. 

Fans of the UFO theorist have suggested that he may be the reincarnation of clairvoyant Edgar Cayce, with biographer Wynn Free and Wilcock himself publishing a book on the subject. 

President Trump said that he hopes the deaths of the scientists and researchers is a coincidence, or whatever you call it (Getty)

The House Oversight Committee announced in a press release on Monday that it would be investigating the deaths and disappearances of 10 scientists linked to U.S. nuclear or space research programs.. The FBI will also be launching its own investigation into the matter.

Monica Reza, who served as the director of the NASA Labs Materials Processing Group, vanished while hiking in California in June 2025, according to the committees press release. She remains missing. 

Retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland disappeared in February 2026, after leaving his home in Albuquerque with a .38 caliber revolver.

According to the press release, an MIT scientist working on nuclear fusion, a government contractor working at a nuclear weapons component production facility and a pharmaceutical researcher are amongst the other missing or deceased officials. 

President Trump told reporters on Thursday that the disappearances were pretty serious stuff but hopefully a coincidence, or whatever you call it.

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.
The UKs deal to pay France 662m to police small boat migrants on beaches will only force more people to make the perilous Channel crossings, charities have warned.

Riot-trained police will be sent to beaches in France as part of the deal that aims to stop migrants from coming to the UK by boat. The Home Office has also promised a 40 per cent increase in the number of enforcement officers on the ground in northern France, bringing the total to nearly 1,100.

The extra money will be paid to France over three years, with a 160m tranche conditional on enough journeys being stopped.

But charities that work with migrants who make the journey from France have warned ministers that the additional funds will not reduce the number of crossings  and could even increase them.

Jo Cobley, chief executive at Safe Passage International, said: This is a brutal deal for refugees. More violent tactics will only force people who have fled war and persecution, into taking even more dangerous and fatal journeys across the Channel.

The children we work with in France, hoping to reunite with family in the UK, have no alternative. With no safe routes and the governments suspension of refugee family reunion, they have no way to reach protection and family in the UK.

Steve Smith, CEO of refugee charity Care4Calais, said: The government continues to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results  whilst ignoring the only solution that will stop crossings.

Migrants board a dinghy before attempting to sail into the English Channel earlier this month (Getty)

All the evidence shows that these UK-France agreements not only cost the public purse huge sums, they also lead to more loss of life in the Channel. They do nothing to deter crossings; they only make the crossings that refugees make more dangerous. We have seen this in recent weeks with reports of small boats launching from Belgium.

The only way to stop crossings is to open safe routes for refugees to claim asylum in the UK.

The Home Office also announced on Thursday that a new detention centre in Dunkirk would be operational by the end of 2026. The centre was originally promised to Rishi Sunak under the terms of the Conservatives deal with France.

The Independent previously revealed how migrants attempting to make their way to Britain are held at the UK-run detention sites in France, with the four sites already in Calais and Dunkirk.

People who are stopped can be held at the sites for no more than 24 hours, after which they must be allowed to continue their journey to the UK or be handed over to French police.

Meghan Benton, director at the Migration Policy Institute based in Paris, described Labours deal as more of the same, saying it was a bigger, tougher version of the existing arrangements, more money, more offices, more fancy kit. Its very tech-forward.

The Labour deal renews a previous agreement made under Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak, which saw France receive almost 500m to tackle small boat crossings. Despite the surge in funding and policing, crossings in the Channel have risen, with some 41,472 people arriving in the UK by small boat in 2025.

French police officers talk on a radio as they hear that a group of migrants are approaching the beach (Getty)

Ms Benton referred to the UKs one in, one out deal with France, which saw some asylum seekers exchanged for others, saying: That has really underdelivered on numbers, but it has the seeds of a sensible approach that could be more part of a comprehensive solution. What weve got here is really something that is enforcement only.

The Independent reported last month that the flagship one in, one out scheme was returning just 12 migrants a week to France despite initial promises of 50 people a week.

The scheme has also faced numerous legal challenges, with 40 per cent of migrants detained for deportation making trafficking claims.

Immigration minister Alex Norris told BBCs Today programme on Thursday: If we dont see the disruptions that we collectively want to see, we all pay that penalty, they certainly do in northern France as well.

Analysis from the University of Bristol and Swiss research agency Border Forensics published last month found that the number of migrants who died while attempting to cross the Channel soared after Mr Sunaks deal with France was signed.
Warmer spring weather has arrived, with temperatures expected to rise above 20C this weekend, making parts of the country hotter than Ibiza, Athens or the south of France, forecasters have suggested.

The bright dry weather began in earnest on Tuesday, but easterly winds have kept temperatures low. However, by the weekend, winds are expected to fall somewhat, meaning that the mercury could rise further for many areas.

Met Office meteorologist Aiden McGivern said: "We still do have high pressure across the UK keeping things dry and keeping things sunny for most. But with this easterly component to the wind we have seen low cloud creep inland and that low cloud is now pushing back towards the coast. So inland, for the vast majority, sunny skies."

On Friday it will be "not entirely calm" he said. "There'll be a brisk wind blowing across the south and southwest in particular. Gusts into the mid-40s  miles per hour  just to the west of Dartmoor may make it feel cooler."

After an aeon waiting for the last spasms of winter weather to retreat, bits of springtime tepidity are finally arriving in Britain (Getty Images)

But elsewhere temperatures will slowly move up to hit the high teens and low twenties, with some estimates suggesting highs of around 23C could be recorded.

Mr McGivern warned that UV levels are also expected to be high. "The sun is strong so do bear that in mind if you're spending long periods outdoors, he said.

"High pressure continues to be in charge. A lot of dry and bright weather to come."

But while daytime temperatures rise, overnight temperatures will still struggle. Overnight temperatures on Friday could fall as low as freezing in parts of the north of England, and low single figures across Scotland and the rest of Britain.

This means "Saturday starts with some local chilly mornings, but sunshine will again allow temperatures to rise," the Met Office said.

"Northern Scotland may notice a fresher feel as a weak low-pressure system moves through Scandinavia, briefly introducing northerly winds, it added.

Gloucester Cathedral rises out of a morning mist. Similar conditions will abound this weekend, say forecasters (Getty Images)

This will most likely affect the far north, while most areas further south will be hit by warm conditions inland.

"By Sunday, winds are generally light once more, and temperatures build again for many, with highs in the low 20s possible and isolated spots reaching 22 or 23C."

This means temperatures will be above those expected in Nice in the south of France, which is forecast to see highs of 18C on Sunday, and also in Ibiza where temperatures will reach 20C on Saturday.

The Met Office also said confidence was "high" that the good weather will last, saying that their models indicated "a strong and consistent signal that high pressure will remain the dominant feature into next week."
A 25-year-old PBS Kansas employee and former Marine has died after police say she was shot outside her Wichita apartment by her estranged husband.

Ivy Unruh was shot in the upper body on Apr. 17 and was taken to a hospital in grave condition, according to the Wichita Police Department. Police said she died three days later, and her husband, Joshua Orlando, 29, was later charged with premeditated first-degree murder.

Authorities said officers responded to a reported shooting around 8 a.m. at The Remington Apartments in northeast Wichita. When they arrived, they found Unruh near one of the apartment buildings and recovered a firearm at the scene, police said, according to People.

Orlando was arrested at the scene and initially booked on suspicion of aggravated battery before the case was upgraded after Unruh's death. He remains in custody and had a first court appearance Tuesday, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 5, according to court records cited in reports.

Unruh served in the U.S. Marine Corps from November 2020 to November 2024 and reached the rank of sergeant, according to military information cited in reports. Fox News reported that she deployed to Australia in 2023 and later worked as a broadcast engineer at PBS Kansas, WHMI reported.

PBS Kansas colleagues described Unruh as a reliable and respected team member, and station president Victor Hogstrom called the death shocking. Reports also said the case is being investigated as a domestic violence homicide and that police found no prior domestic violence reports involving the couple in Wichita.

Family and friends have shared tributes, and a fundraising effort has been launched to help cover funeral expenses, according to published reports. The case has drawn attention to domestic violence risks even as investigators continue to gather details about the shooting and the relationship between Unruh and Orlando, as per the Hindustan Times.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying that Putin would only meet Zelenskyy for the purpose of finalising agreements. The Kremlin instead appealed for the US to again send Donald Trumps delegates Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow. The pair have repeatedly listened to Putins maximalist demands, to which Witkoff has appeared pliant, and produced no outcomes while declining to visit Kyiv and hear Ukraines side. Peskov said Russia was ready for any new talks on a settlement to the war with US negotiators even tomorrow.
Products featured in this Yahoo article are selected by our shopping writers. We will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

United Airlines may raise fares by 20% as airlines struggle with fuel price surge amid Iran war

As the airline industry looks to its peak summer travel season, United Airlines may need to raise fares by as much as 20 percent as a result of rising fuel prices tied to the Iran war.

Speaking on an earnings call on Tuesday, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline is hoping to eventually offset the full increase in fuel costs.

The air carrier will do whatever it takes to recover 100 percent of the increase in jet fuel prices as quickly as possible, Kirby said.

Kirby told CNBC on Tuesday that the airline is currently transferring about half of the cost of elevated fuel prices to customers, as oil prices have skyrocketed due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil-shipping lane.

The executive nonetheless touted the companys recent first-quarter results, which beat earnings expectations while at the same time including reduced profit guidance for the full year.

United Airlines could raise fares by double digits to respond to sky-high fuel prices stemming from the Iran war (Reuters)

Weve had a doubling of fuel prices as weve gotten through the end of the quarter, and [to] still be solidly profitable, grow earnings year over year, is a pretty remarkable achievement, Kirby said on CNBC.

The war has sent ripples of concern across the industry.

The Lufthansa airline group on Tuesday announced it would cancel 20,000 flights, saving 40,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel, in a bid to counter the rising cost of oil.

The European Union, meanwhile, has moved to take measures like optimizing fuel distribution between EU nations to head off a potential summertime fuel shortage, which one industry group has warned could be systemic and cause significant harm to the EU economy.

Last month, Kirby reportedly warned that the high oil prices might topple entire airlines.

If these other guys make the same mistakes they made six years ago (during the Covid-19 pandemic), and if the forecast about $175 per barrel is right, youll see airlines not survive, he said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil-shipping lane, remain stalled (Getty)

If prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11B in annual expense just for jet fuel. For perspective, in Uniteds best year ever, we made less than $5B, he wrote in a memo to United Airlines employees that month.

The present state of the strait remains in flux.

On Wednesday, Iran seized two container ships in the waterway, hours after President Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire.

The same day, John Phelan, the secretary of the Navy, which has been leading a U.S. blockade of ports that Iran demands must end before talks can progress.

It could take up to six months to clear the strait of Iranian mines, the Pentagon has reportedly told U.S. lawmakers.
The use of the Department of Justice plane in a parental kidnapping investigation comes after President Donald Trumps administration has sought to block access to gender-affirming care for minors and pressured health care providers over the issue. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

The Trump administration took the unusual step this week of deploying a government plane to Cuba to return a 10-year-old child from Utah at the center of a complex and contentious custody dispute involving gender identity.

The childs parent, Rose Inessa-Ethington, a transgender woman, is accused of taking the child to Cuba without the consent of the childs biological mother.

Federal and state authorities intervened after a family member raised concerns that Inessa-Ethington had traveled to Havana seeking gender transition surgery for the child.

Inessa-Ethington and her partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, were arrested and charged in the U.S. with international parental kidnapping.

Federal and state authorities intervened after a family member raised concerns that Inessa-Ethington had traveled to Havana seeking gender transition surgery for the child (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The couple traveled with the child to Canada ostensibly for a camping trip in late March with Blues 3-year-old child. However, the two adults turned off their phones after telling the older childs mother theyd arrived in Canada. They flew from Vancouver to Mexico and then to Cuba on April 1, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in federal court in Utah.

The charges don't say if the couple actually planned on getting the child gender-affirming surgery in Cuba or how they would get it, because that surgery isn't legal for children in Cuba.

The FBI said that Blue Inessa-Ethington withdrew $10,000 from her checking account before leaving. Agents also found at their home a note with instructions from a mental health therapist in Washington, D.C., to send the therapist the $10,000.00 and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children. That note didn't mention Cuba.

The use of the Department of Justice plane in a parental kidnapping investigation comes after President Donald Trumps administration has sought to block access to gender-affirming care for minors and pressured health care providers over the issue.

The Associated Press left a voice message seeking comment from the federal public defender in Richmond who represented Rose and Blue Inessa-Ethington. They will be returned to Utah to face one count each of international parental kidnapping, authorities said.

Search began after child wasn't returned as scheduled

The search for the child began on April 3 when they were not returned to the mother in Utah as scheduled, court documents show. The 10-year-olds mother, who was divorced from Rose Inessa-Ethington and had shared custody of the child, filed a missing person report with police in Logan City, Utah, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City.

Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons said his departments initial focus was on the custodial interference allegations in the case, and he said investigators did not learn until later about the concerns over gender-affirming surgery.

Logan police spokesperson Sgt. Brandon Bevan said those concerns were raised by one family member. He declined to say who.

They just had the concern about it, no actual physical evidence Bevan said.

A Utah state judge ordered the return of the 10-year-old to the childs mother on April 13. Three days later, a federal magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for the Inessa-Ethingtons. On the same day, Cuban law enforcement located the group. They were deported to the U.S. aboard the government plane Monday and arraigned in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.

The 10-year-old was returned to the childs biological mother, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak in Utah indicated in a statement. Representatives of the FBI and U.S. attorneys office in Utah declined to say what happened to the 3-year-old child who had been with the group.

Parents engaged in custody dispute

The custody dispute between the parents does not appear to be a new development. An online fundraiser created five years ago by Blue Inessa-Ethington titled Help a Trans Mother Keep Custody of Her Child raised $9,766.

Last week, Roses ex relocated several counties away, negatively impacting Roses parent-time with the child, she wrote in the fundraiser. She said the money would be used to seek a court order that would keep the child safe and stable throughout this process.

Anyone who has spent time with Rose knows how much care and thought she puts into parenting her gender open child, she wrote.

She later continued, While her ex is not making an issue of Roses gender, as a trans woman, Rose is at a disadvantage against her cishet ex-wife. Rose also lacks the family resources and connections to face this litigation on her own.

Family members said the child was assigned male at birth but identifies as a girl because of what they believed to be manipulation by Rose Inessa-Ethington, according to an April 16 affidavit from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield.

Gender-affirming care for minors has been limited

The Trump administration moved in December to cut off gender-affirming care for minors, prompting a third of states to sue.

It was the latest in a series of clashes between an administration that says transgender health care can be harmful to children and advocates who say its medically necessary.

Gender-affirming surgery is rare among U.S. children, research shows. And fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents receive gender-affirming medications.

In February, the nations largest professional organization for plastic surgeons recommended gender-affirming surgeries be delayed until patients turn 19, diverging from several other major medical organizations guidance.

In Cuba, gender-affirming surgeries are banned for minors and only performed for adults through the public health system under strict supervision in designated public hospitals for Cuban citizens. They must be authorized by a medical commission after a comprehensive review of the patients file. That process often takes years because it requires a wide range of medical and psychological evaluations.
John Phelans departure was effective immediately, the Pentagons chief spokesman said - AP

John Phelan, the US navy secretary, has been fired by Pete Hegseth, according to reports.

The Pentagon confirmed Mr Phelan has left his post after months of simmering tension with Mr Hegseth, the US secretary of defence, and senior military officials.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesman, announced the exit on X on Wednesday evening, saying Mr Phelan would be departing the administration effective immediately.

On behalf of the secretary of war and deputy secretary of war, we are grateful to secretary Phelan for his service to the department and the United States navy, Mr Parnell said in a short statement.

We wish him well in his future endeavours.

Mr Parnell said Hung Cao, the US navy undersecretary, will serve as acting secretary.

Reuters, citing an anonymous source, reported that Mr Phelan had been fired.

A spokeswoman for Mr Phelan told The New York Times to refer questions on his exit to the department of defence.

Hung Cao, the acting navy secretary, with Donald Trump in 2024 - Getty Images

His departure follows a prolonged period of friction with Mr Hegseth, The New York Times reported, including tensions tied to Mr Phelans close relationship with Donald Trump.

He had also clashed with Stephen Feinberg, Mr Hegseths deputy, who reportedly disapproved of his handling of shipbuilding initiatives.

Mr Phelan is known to speak with the US president regularly at his Mar-a-Lago club, which is close to his own Florida home. He even told legislators last year he exchanged late-night texts with Mr Trump about naval strategy.

Senior Pentagon leaders were said to be annoyed after Mr Phelan pitched a proposal for a modern warship directly to Mr Trump, bypassing Mr Hegseth.

Mr Phelans sudden departure comes amid broader upheaval in the US military leadership.

Earlier this month, Gen Randy George, the top US army officer, and two other senior officers were removed.

Gen Randy George with Pete Hegseth at the 2025 MIA Recognition Day ceremony - Jim Watson/AFP

The leadership shake-up coincides with a fragile ceasefire with Iran, as the US deploys additional naval assets to the Middle East.

The US military is enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, which Mr Trump hopes will pressure Tehran to negotiate an end to the conflict on his terms.

Since returning to office last year, Mr Trump has overseen a purge of top military staff, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Charles CQ Brown, whom he fired without explanation in February 2025.

Gen Charles CQ Brown was ousted from his role in February last year - AFP

Other senior officers dismissed include the heads of the US navy and the US coast guard, the general who headed the National Security Agency, the vice-chief of staff of the air force, a navy admiral assigned to Nato and three top military lawyers.

Mr Hegseth has defended the changes, saying the US president is entitled to appoint his preferred leadership team.

However, Democrats have raised concerns about the potential politicisation of the traditionally neutral US military.

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, described Mr Phelans dismissal as troubling.

I am concerned it is yet another example of the instability and dysfunction that have come to define the department of defence under president Trump and secretary Hegseth, Mr Reed said.

Last year, the defence secretary ordered at least a 20 per cent cut in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals in the US military, as well as a 10 per cent cut in the overall number of general and flag officers.

The navy is also under mounting pressure to expand its fleet, as Chinas shipbuilding capacity now far outstrips that of the US.

Mr Trumps $1.5tn defence budget request for fiscal year 2027 includes more than $65bn for the procurement of 18 warships and 16 support vessels.

The funding forms part of what the Pentagon has dubbed the Golden Fleet initiative, which officials say is the largest shipbuilding request since 1962.
Cell fires have more than doubled over the last five years (PA Wire)

It is a scandal that has all the potential to lead to a Grenfell fire-style disaster  one that could be prevented by relatively simple measures at low cost, and yet is still stymied by complacency.

Around half of British prison cells lack even the most basic of fire alarms, years after the danger was first identified, and with at least 11 inmates in recent years losing their lives as a result  all entirely avoidable tragedies.

One particularly distressing case, reported by The Independent on Thursday, involves a mother of six at HMP Eastwood Park, who could not be rescued from her burning cell for more than half an hour because the outbreak had gone unnoticed, and the locked door handle was too hot to touch. The coroner in the case noted that fire detectors are still missing from her cell some three years after her death.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not, given the neglect routinely shown to Britains prison estate and its occupants, it is actually against the law for the Ministry of Justice to tolerate this situation. As is only right and widely applied in workspaces across the country, adequate fire alarms have to be installed, and there is no good reason why jails should be exempted.

The ministry pleads that there arent enough places for prisoners to be installed while the work is carried out  to which the only answer can be that such capacity has to be found, even if it means juggling people around and allowing groups or the safer prisoners to be in short release. For what its worth, Labour ministers promised to rectify things and make all cells fire-safe by 2027.

It is a matter of life and death, and has become more urgent with a widespread use of vapes. Unlike tobacco, these can self-combust and lead to a particularly intense blaze, and one that firefighters have found difficult to control because of the nature of lithium-ion batteries used. It is the same factor behind an increase in house fires caused by e-bikes, and in refuse lorries as old laptops are discarded.

But in a prison, the fire can take place in a small, confined, unventilated area, and with the potential to spread and with even more significant injury and loss of life. Cell fires have more than doubled over the last five years, and are running at a rate of eight per day; malfunctioning vape devices are invariably the cause.

It is all part of a regrettably familiar pattern of official negligence that has left Britains jails in a parlous state. They are notoriously overcrowded as a result of the ever more draconian sentences demanded by the politicians and the public, which are never accompanied by any sense that the extra capacity will need to be funded through taxation before it can be built.

The crisis was highlighted shortly after Labour came to power and the government was forced to release some less-serious prisoners to prevent the system from collapsing. Outdated IT systems mean that too many genuinely dangerous individuals are accidentally released before their time.

By contrast, there are around 2,600 people in jail under pernicious and unjust imprisonment for public protection sentences handed down many years ago and often for relatively trivial crimes. Drug abuse and violence is widespread, and prison officers, having to operate under austerity budgets for decades, are undertrained, overstretched and demoralised.

A report by the former justice secretary David Gauke last year showed that custodial sentences are too often inappropriate and counterproductive, and driven more by a popular taste for retribution than any desire for rehabilitation. A more rational sentencing policy would help ease the pressures  but for those who have to be detained for the safety of the public, there is no necessity to house them in unsanitary death traps.

We should not have to wait for something like a repeat of the Grenfell fire to notice what is wrong behind the forbidding walls and barbed wire of Britains prison estate; the jails must be treated like any other public building such as a hospital, a school or, indeed, a block of flats. A prisoners life is worth as much as anyone elses.
Ben Thompson fell into the sea while crossing a gangway (PA Archive)

A wind farm technician is pursuing a 500,000 damages claim against his employer after suffering a "traumatic brain injury" in a 25-metre fall into the North Sea.

Ben Thompson, 31, fell in August 2023 while crossing a gangway between a ship and a column at the Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm, east of England.

Mr Thompson has launched High Court action against GE Energy UK, alleging the company was negligent and breached its contractual and duty of care obligations.

GE Energy UK is contesting the claim, denying any negligence or breaches.

According to court documents seen by journalists, Mr Thompsons barrister, Matthew Chapman KC, stated the technician crossed the gangway after a green light indicated it was safe.

Mr Chapman added that Mr Thompson was told not to clip on by his colleague and, as he walked, began to feel the gangway move.

Ben Thompson was working at Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm, pictured (PA Wire)

Mr Chapman said: His top half was still, but his lower half was moving.

The gangway was suddenly and unexpectedly retracting and, while the claimant tried to move back, he lost balance as a result of the movement and fell approximately 25 metres into the sea.

Mr Thompson believes he momentarily lost consciousness when he hit the water and was there for just over five minutes before a rescue boat pulled him out.

He also maintains that he did not see any red light or hear an emergency alarm, or someone shouting that would have warned him of the danger.

Mr Chapman said his resulting brain injury causes him ongoing cognitive problems, while he has suffered further injuries to his face, neck, back, legs and wrists and also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

The technician said these injuries cause him continuing pain and damage his opportunities for employment.

Lawyers for GE Energy UK said in court documents that the emergency system on the gangway was activated and there was a red light signal and an alarm, but contrary to his training, Mr Thompson took another 19 steps forward.

They said they have seen CCTV footage which captured the incident but it is currently held by the Norwegian company that owns the ship from which Mr Thompson crossed.

They also said that safe access was controlled by a gangway operator and an able seafarer, both employed by Ostensjo/Edda Wind, the Norwegian company.

Communication between these two was inadequate and the able seafarer failed to respond to the alarm in a timely manner by shouting to Mr Thompson, they added.

Ostensjo/Edda Wind therefore breached its duty, the lawyers said, but GE Energy UK did not.

The lawyers also said Mr Thompson failed to take any or any adequate care for his own safety.

They continued: The accident occurred because the claimant failed to follow his training.

Had the claimant adhered to his training, when the lights turned to red and the alarm sounded he would have stopped immediately, held on to the side of the gangway with both hands and awaited further instructions.

In those circumstances the claimant would not have fallen from the gangway and would not have sustained injury loss or damage.

Ostensjo/Edda Wind has been contacted for comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday welcomed the European Union's approval of a 90 billion loan for Ukraine that had been stalled by Hungary's outgoing prime minister Viktor Orban.

"Today is an important day for our defence and for our relations with the European Union. The European support loan for Ukraine has been unblocked  EUR90 billion over two years," Zelensky said on X.

"It matters that Ukraine is securing this level of financial certainty  after more than four years of full-scale war," he added, urging for the first tranche to be disbursed by May or June.

The funds were blocked after a bitter row broke out between Orban and Zelensky.

Orban said he would only lift his veto after Ukraine fixed a pipeline damaged by a Russian strike. After 16 years in power, Orban suffered a crushing election defeat to pro-EU opposition figure Peter Magyar in an election this month.

And the standoff was resolved when Zelensky said Tuesday repairs had been completed and officials said the next day that Ukraine had restarted pumping oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

Moscow ally Orban has frequently been a thorn in the EU's side over Ukraine and EU officials hope on issues related to Kyiv, decisions will be made faster without his opposition.

Read moreOrban ousted: What Magyars victory means for Hungary and the EU

Diplomats were relieved by Wednesday's green light. One EU diplomat said Zelensky's Cyprus visit was "symbolically important" now that the EU money will help support Kyiv against Russia in 2026 and 2027.

Zelensky pushed back on remarks about the symbolism of his visit, saying Thursday that Ukraine should be granted full membership to the European Union and not merely a "symbolic" one.

"Ukraine does not need symbolic EU membership," Zelensky told journalists, including from AFP, in a recorded voice message, adding: "We are defending common European values. I believe that we deserve full-fledged EU membership."

Orban, who will only step down next month, will not attend meetings in Cyprus on Thursday and Friday, which are informal.

Beyond Ukraine

Ukraine will not be the only conflict on the menu during the talks in Cyprus, which holds the rotating EU presidency.

They will also discuss the Middle East war and its fallout, including skyrocketing energy prices.

Cyprus was sucked into the war in March after a drone strike on a British base on the Mediterranean island.

Read moreBaltic Sea strikes: How Ukraine aims to undermine Russia's oil profits from Iran war

European leaders will be joined on Friday by their regional counterparts for what a senior EU official described as "intensive dialogue".

Expected to join them are Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah.

During a working lunch, they will discuss the situation in Lebanon, where there is currently a ceasefire. More than 2,400 people have been killed and more than a million displaced in Israeli strikes in the country since Iran-backed Hezbollah drew the nation into the war on March 2.

A key issue for Europe is the Strait of Hormuz whose effective closure has sent oil prices soaring and affected supply of jet fuel in Europe.

The official said the bloc was "ready to contribute" to keep the strait open "when the conditions are met", noting that any assistance depended on "events".

"We certainly hope that the ceasefire is kept and maintained."

Budget

The European Union's 2028-2034 budget will also be discussed for the first time, with hopes of securing a final agreement by the end of 2026.

The EU executive wants a bigger budget worth around two trillion euros though governments are reluctant to pay more.

That's why despite the energy shocks, the EU has little wiggle room to spend more as it must find money to pay off Covid-era loans.

But as with anything related to money in the EU, France and Germany are diametrically opposed, with Paris calling for more European investment and Berlin arguing for fiscal restraint.

The clock is ticking however. European officials fear that without a deal before France's presidential election next year, there is a risk that a far-right leader could cut contributions to the EU by France, the bloc's second-biggest economy.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Lord Hermer was a barrister in private practice when he first formally began acting for Iraqi clients, who were members of the Mahdi Army, an Iran-backed militia, in 2008 - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Lord Hermer has been reported to the barristers watchdog for alleged serious professional misconduct over his role in pursuing a witch hunt against British troops.

Both the Conservatives shadow justice secretary and a former defence minister have requested that the Bar Standards Board investigate the part played by Lord Hermer. Separately, Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has reported the Attorney General to the House of Lords standards commissioner, alleging that he was a deeply unpatriotic man and a threat to national security.

Lord Hermer has been widely condemned after The Telegraph disclosed that he had acted as leading counsel in a legal case in which UK troops were accused of murdering Iraqis at a British Army base who had been captured on the battlefield.

He is accused of ignoring numerous warnings that his clients  members of the Mahdi Army, an Iran-backed militia  were lying and that the inquiry might conclude they were on the make.

Lord Hermer vehemently denies acting for the Iraqis with the knowledge that their claims were false.

The claims, centring around the Battle of Danny Boy in 2004, were shown by a public inquiry 10 years later to be deliberate lies, motivated by ingrained hostility towards the British Army.

In his letter to the Bar Standards Board, Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, said Lord Hermers role may constitute serious professional misconduct and the public interest in thorough and independent regulatory scrutiny could scarcely be higher. He said Lord Hermer had continued to provide legal advice to the Iraqis long after knowing the claims to be almost certainly without foundation.

Sir Gavin Williamson, the former defence secretary, also urged the Bar Standards Board to open an investigation without delay. Sir Gavin said Lord Hermers role as lead counsel advancing claims that were ultimately discredited as egregious and unfounded and concerns he ignored multiple warning signs regarding the credibility of the Iraqis justified an inquiry. He said barristers were required by the watchdog to act with honesty and integrity and alleged that Lord Hermers conduct in the case appears, at the very least, to sit in stark and uncomfortable tension with those obligations.

Deeply unpatriotic man

On Thursday, Mr Farage accused Lord Hermer in a letter to the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards of being a deeply unpatriotic man, a man of questionable judgment and a man who is very happy to prosecute the very people who are prepared to give their life for King and country to keep us safe.

He said the actions Lord Hermer has taken in the legal cases against British veterans is treacherous, and a full investigation should now take place. He also called the Attorney General a national security threat.

Lord Hermer was a barrister in private practice when he first formally began acting for the Iraqis in 2008. Their civil claim for damages was finally withdrawn in 2015 after the Al-Sweady public inquiry concluded that his clients were liars.

In a statement, his spokesman said: Over a 30-year legal career, the Attorney General represented many clients  including British military personnel, such as a British soldier killed by IRA terrorists, and injured servicemen in the Iraq War. The Attorney always acted with the highest professional standards, and the suggestion the Attorney acted for individuals with the knowledge that their claims were false is categorically untrue.

The spokesman added: The Attorney General had minimal involvement in the Al-Sweady claims, limited to a small number of hours between 2008 and 2013.

A Bar Standards Board spokesman said: The Bar Standards Board does not comment as to whether or not it has received any information about potential misconduct by a barrister, regardless of how any information comes to our attention. These procedures are usually conducted confidentially unless they result in a listing for a disciplinary tribunal hearing.

Lord Hermers role in the Danny Boy scandal  disclosed by The Telegraph  prompted widespread condemnation.

Emails and legal documents uncovered by The Telegraph show that Sir Keir Starmers closest Cabinet ally pressed for compensation despite mounting evidence that his eight Iraqi clients were lying.

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said that the actions of the Prime Ministers chief legal adviser added to mounting concerns about Sir Keirs judgment.

Posting on X, Mrs Badenoch referred to an email in which Lord Hermer suggested the Iraqis solicitor might want to be more explicit in a press release about their clients allegations that British troops had executed civilians, while saying they needed wriggle room in case the allegations were false.

Quoting Lord Hermers email, Mrs Badenoch wrote: Those are the words of Keir Starmers Attorney General, sent whilst dragging British troops through the courts. The troops were innocent. Keir Starmers judgment is not.

The Telegraph has examined more than 25,000 pages of legal documents, largely drawn from a disciplinary case brought in 2017 against Leigh Day, the law firm representing the Al-Sweady claimants, and three of its lawyers.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal cleared the firm and its solicitors of all wrongdoing. An earlier investigation into another solicitor on the case  Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers  found him guilty of serious misconduct and struck him off. Shiner was subsequently convicted of fraud over obtaining legal aid for Iraqis involved in the Al-Sweady public inquiry.
Members of the senior leadership team at the Countess of Chester Hospital are being investigated by police - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Police who investigated Lucy Letby have arrested a hospital boss on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Cheshire Constabulary said it had executed a search warrant at a property in connection with Operation Duet, which is investigating bosses at the Countess of Chester Hospital for corporate and gross negligence manslaughter.

Letby, 35, from Herefordshire, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others while working at the hospital between 2015 and 2016.

Last year, three members of the senior leadership team were arrested in connection with the increased fatalities and later released without charge.

Cheshire police said they had carried out a search of a property on Wednesday and later arrested a suspect, although it did not give further details.

An individual was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, the police said in a statement.

They have subsequently been bailed pending further inquiries.

Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016 - Cheshire Constabulary/PA

Letby was sentenced to 15 life terms in prison, but a number of experts have since challenged the way evidence was presented to the jury during her trial.

A panel of world-leading experts has reviewed the medical notes and concluded that there were no murders or attacks, with babies dying because of extreme prematurity and poor healthcare.

Letbys case is being considered by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which looks into potential miscarriages of justice, although police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) insist she was fairly convicted. The CCRC is considering evidence that poor medical care and natural causes were the reasons for the babies deaths and collapses.

This week, the Thirlwall Inquiry, which is investigating how the deaths could have been prevented by the hospital, and outside agencies, delayed the publication of its report again.

It is unlikely the report will be published before the CCRC has ruled on the case.

Cheshire Constabulary is facing ongoing criticism for its handling of the Letby inquiry.

Sir David Davis, the Tory MP, told Parliament in March that the forces investigation had made egregious failures and did not follow official guidance for investigating suspected healthcare serial killers.

He accused police of failing to appoint statistics experts or neglecting to pursue other lines of inquiry apart from the nurse, despite evidence that the unit was understaffed, overcrowded and was suffering from bacterial outbreaks.

The former Brexit secretary said he would be asking the director of public prosecutions to review the behaviour of both the CPS and Cheshire police.

Constant noise

Cheshire police said that it strongly refuted Sir Davids claims, saying that it remained confident in the integrity of the investigation, the conduct of the prosecution and the decisions reached by the courts.

The force warned that the constant noise surrounding the case undermined public confidence in the criminal justice system.

In a statement, Cheshire Constabulary said: Over the past two years, the force has come under constant criticism and has been intensely scrutinised and subject to unpleasant opinion from a core group of individuals who appear to pride themselves on spreading misinformation, making baseless claims and attempting to destroy reputations.

In 2024, Letby lost two attempts to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal  in May for seven murders and seven attempted murders, and in October for the attempted murder of a baby girl, of which she was convicted by a different jury at a retrial.
An Orthodox Jewish man has been verbally assaulted in the street amid a spate of attacks on members of the Jewish community.

A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of religiously aggravated assault and religiously aggravated public order over the attack in Slough, Berkshire, on Monday.

Video footage appeared to show the moment a man was called a slew of anti-Semitic slurs after a man approached him in the street.

It is the latest targeting of the Jewish community following a number of arson attacks in recent weeks claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (Hayi), an Iranian-linked Islamist organisation. It is suspected of using proxies to carry out the attacks in London.

Thames Valley Police said it had been called to an incident at around 4.30pm on Monday following reports that a man in his 20s had been subject to abusive, anti-Semitic comments, as well as attempts to snatch his phone.

The force added that it was treating the incident as hate-related and that the individual arrested was in police custody.

Shomrim, a volunteer Jewish neighbourhood watch service, described it as an abhorrent, vile and unprovoked anti-Semitic assault on a visibly Orthodox Jewish man.

Footage taken by the victim appeared to show him being approached by the man on a bicycle who asked what he was doing there.

When the person filming answered that he was there for work, the man launched the verbal attack. He also appeared to step forward and use physical force to stop himself being filmed.

A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said the incident was Jew-hatred without its disguise.

He added: This is the climate in the UK which has been bred by the inaction and appeasement from the authorities. Jews going about their daily lives are not safe from being subjected to vile assault and violent threats.

This is simply untenable for Jewish life in Britain.

Det Insp Terry Dixon, of the Berkshire East Priority Crime Team, said: We know this incident will cause a great deal of concern within our Jewish communities. We urge anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened to please get in touch with us.

Anti-Semitic incidents, or indeed any hate-related incident reported in the Thames Valley, will not be tolerated by police and we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

The Metropolitan Police believes proxies are offering quick and easy money to people to carry out attacks on their behalf.

Hayi has claimed responsibility for five attacks on the Jewish community in the past month, and is being investigated by the UK over its links to the Iranian state.

These include a firebomb attack on a fleet of ambulances belonging to the Hatzola charity in Golders Green.

The string of attacks on the Jewish community includes an incident where ambulances were torched in north London - Henry Nicholls/AFP

There have also been firebomb attacks on synagogues in Finchley and Kenton and against the former offices of the charity Jewish Futures in Hendon, north London.

Additionally, counter-terror police are investigating claims that an Iran-linked group used drones to threaten the Israeli embassy in Kensington last week. Hayi posted a video on social media, making an unsubstantiated claim that the Israeli embassy was targeted by two drones carrying radioactive and carcinogenic materials.

Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, is now urging ministers to introduce his proposed law that would unlock new powers under the National Security Act and enable police to secure jail sentences of up to 14 years for anyone helping or benefiting from a banned state intelligence agency, such as Irans IRGC.
Google Cloud has acknowledged Aviato Consulting as its top partner of the year for Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) at its Next 2026 conference in Las Vegas.

The consultancy said the accolade recognises its work helping joint customers modernise infrastructure and accelerating digital transformation on Google Cloud while also validating its business model, which was built on utilising deep technology expertise.

Google Cloud president of global partner ecosystem and channels Kevin Ichhpurani said the awards honour the strategic innovation and measurable value our partners bring to customers.

We are proud to name Aviato a 2026 Google Cloud Partner Award winner, celebrating their role in driving customer success over the last year, he said.

The consultancy was founded in 2023 in Newcastle by former Google Cloud Asia Pacific consulting lead Ben King and provides end-to-end services, from initial architecture and migration to advanced data analytics and AI integration. It also has businesses in Singapore.

During 2025, Aviato achieved several highlights, including significant growth, the expansion of AI and infrastructure modernisation specialisations, helping legacy enterprises through complex migrations, and delivering record-breaking cloud migration projects.
Chief partner officer and CVP global channel partner Nicole Dezen sales wrote Frontier Firms are organisations that embed AI across every layer of their business.

A Frontier Firm is a next-generation organisation built for the AI era, she said. These companies blend human judgment with AI agents to scale faster, make smarter decisions, and deliver more value.

At the time the software giant also evolved its designations and badges to differentiate partners in the market.

The Frontier Partner badge recognises organisation leading AI transformation through an AI-first, human-led approach that combines AI agents and human ingenuity to scale innovation and impact, explained Denizen.

The Support Services designation celebrates partners that deliver exceptional customer experiences across the Microsoft Cloud, Dezen said.

These partners meet rigorous standards for satisfaction, resolution, and service excellence, customers can identify them with public badging that signals their support capabilities and differentiates them in market.

Reshaping Australia

The ideas around embedding AI across every layer of the business to create a blend of human judgement with AI agents, echoes the recent blog Livesey wrote ahead of the event where she said, I believe [AIs] true measure will be how broadly its benefits reach.

Inclusive growth must be both a business and social imperative  if digital progress does not lift every segment of Australian society, we have missed a significant opportunity, wrote Livesey. I believe trust is the currency that underpins innovation and longterm growth in the AI era.

Responsible AI needs to be embedded into daytoday decisionmaking and leadership behaviour.

Since joining Microsoft in August last year, Liveseys first few months reinforced the fact for her that AI is no longer a future promise.

It is reshaping how Australians work, learn, and do business right now, she wrote. The organisations that move decisively and responsibly will define the next phase of our economys growth.

This momentum is remarkable. It reflects a willingness across Australian organisations to move quickly and responsibly.

Across my conversations with Australian business and government leaders, Ive been struck by the pace at which AI adoption is accelerating, she noted. Australia is among our leading markets globally for Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption.

Today, 17 of the ASX Top 20 companies are using it, including all four of Australias major banks. Fifty-seven government agencies have also deployed Copilot. Among customers who purchased Copilot in its first quarter of availability in Australia, seat counts have expanded by more than 560 percent.

Livesey also said on Australian businesses race to harness the enormous potential of AI, the story isnt about showing what AI can do, its about showing how organisations are fundamentally changing because of it.

Weve moved beyond the first wave of AI for productivity into a second wave focused on reinvention, new business models, new ways of working, and agentic AI operating alongside humans, she said.

For partners, Microsoft is also helping small and medium-sized enterprises adopt cloud and AI tools that enable them to compete and grow, Livesey stated.

When these partners succeed, they create jobs and drive innovation in every state and territory, she said. For example, Arinco is a Microsoftonly partner operating across A/NZ that has increased its headcount by more than 50 per cent in the last three years, while revenues have climbed from $46 million to $60 million between 2024 and 2026.

Recently released analysis from EY-Parthenon estimates that across the 2025 financial year, Microsoft was responsible for $36 billion in local economic contribution and sustained the equivalent of more than 186,000 full-time jobs, to which Livesey said those headline numbers tell a powerful story.

Seeing the advancement of AI early, responsibly, is not just about doing things, its about unleashing human ambition, Livesey said during her keynote. Thats what we call frantic transformation. This moment isnt just about technologyits about shared prosperity.

It takes leadership that is bold and curious, and peoplecentred, and partnership across industry, technology, and across all of Australia to ensure that we adopt AI in a way that is safe, inclusive, [and] benefits all Australians.

According to Liveseys blog, the federal governments National AI Plan is a strong example of this, which outlines three main goals  capturing the opportunity, spreading the benefits, and keeping Australians safe.

Thats why were proud to have recently agreed a new five-year agreement with the federal government, which has named Microsoft a trusted partner in nation-building, she wrote. The agreement accelerates secure and safe AI access, including Copilot, across all federal agencies, while locking in stable pricing and enhanced protections.

Working together, our technology in the hands of the public service will have a transformative impact on addressing some of the biggest social challenges like improving healthcare outcomes.
This year, the major pilgrimage to Makkah is set for 24-29 May. The desire to participate outweighs the fear of war, although concerns remain about rising prices, last-minute cancellations, and delayed return journeys. Saudi Arabia is using artificial intelligence to manage security and monitor pilgrims. Two million people are expected to participate.

Riyadh (AsiaNews)  A few weeks from now, hundreds of thousands of Asian Muslims will fly to the Gulf, untouched by the conflict inflaming the region since the United States and Israel attacked Iran, but hopeful that the fragile truce will hold.

For many, come war or peace, what matters is taking part in the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah that represents one of the most significant moments in the life of Muslims.

While the world closely follows ceasefire talks in Islamabad, Muslims in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, home to the largest Muslim populations in the world, are determined to take part in the pilgrimage, one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, their faith stronger than the fear of missiles and drones.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of faith, and every Muslim in good health has to perform it at least once in their lifetime; this year, it is scheduled to start in the evening of Sunday, 24 May until Friday, 29 May.

In the past, Saudi Arabia has used the event as a political weapon, denying entry visas and participation to Iranian (Shia) or Syrian pilgrims. The pilgrimage (along with the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah) has also been marred by accidents and attacks, with thousands of deaths.

In 2015, a stampede killed at least 2,300 people; in 2006, more than 360 pilgrims died during the stoning ritual, in which stones and pebbles are thrown at three tombstones symbolising the rejection of Satan; in 1989, a double attack outside the Grand Mosque left one dead and 16 injured, with 16 Kuwaitis executed for the attack.

In Asia, home to approximately 1.3 billion Muslims, or two thirds of the world's total Muslim population, many have waited years for the opportunity to participate in the pilgrimage, with visas assigned based on quotas set by Saudi Arabia.

It is currently unclear how many will perform the Hajj, but the total number, including those already living in the kingdom, both nationals and migrants, is expected to reach two million.

Many of those who received permits, issued since February, have already paid for their flights and accommodations, spending thousands of dollars in total, some of which are non-refundable in the event of a last-minute cancellation.

The Hajj, along with the year-round Umrah, contributes more than US$ 12 billion annually to the Saudi economy, this according to Saudi Market Research, which is part of Eurogroup Consulting, a major player in the industry.

Any resurgence of hostilities in the Gulf or flight ban could seriously impact pilgrims, forcing longer stays in Saudi Arabia or more arduous journeys home.

Many pilgrims are well aware of the situation but are optimistic and confident about their ability to fulfil their Muslim duty and reach the holy sites in Makkah.

Indonesia is expected to send 204,362 pilgrims based on the number of visas assigned by Saudi Arabia. As the world's most populous Muslim nation, it has the highest quota of visas for pilgrims, who will depart in 525 separate groups from 14 departure points across the country.

Despite rising jet fuel costs triggered by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched attacks on 28 February, Indonesia has made every effort to ensure pilgrims do not face additional costs.

For now, departures remain confirmed, despite the increased costs that the government has decided to cover.

After Indonesia, Pakistan generally receives the second-largest quota for Hajj. This year, approximately 180,000 Pakistanis are expected to go at a cost ranging between US$ 4,000 and US$ 5,500 per person.

The first Hajj flight from Pakistan is scheduled to leave Lahore Saturday. Pilgrims say they are happy that plans are, for now, going ahead as scheduled.

Pilgrimages have taken place regularly in the past, even during wartime, noted Navaid Hamid, former president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, a group that includes several Muslim organisations.

A ban was imposed only in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting pilgrims from abroad, while locals, albeit in limited numbers, were still able to perform the ritual.

In the past also, when there was the Iran-Iraq War and other disturbances [in the Middle East], the Hajj used to be a very peaceful event. Even if the [current] conflict escalates in the region, there are other routes which can be adopted for transporting Hajj pilgrims from India to Saudi Arabia," said the Indian Muslim.

Finally, 78,500 people are expected to leave Bangladesh, home to over 150 million Muslims, for Makkah this year, approximately 4,500 of whom will travel under a government arrangement, while the other 74,000 booked private agencies for their travel plans.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is tightening its laws and regulations, restricting access to permit holders only, and imposing heavy fines, deportations, and entry bans on violators.

The measures aim to improve crowd control, security, and supervision by targeting both unauthorised pilgrims and the networks that facilitate them, increasingly making use of technology and artificial intelligence.

Electronic systems are being used for the first time to manage pilgrims' movements, as part of an operational plan covering 60 languages through an advanced digital system across Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Masjid An-Nabawi.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Sudais, who chairs the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, stressed that the use of AI is an important step forward, in line with the Year of Artificial Intelligence declared by Saudi Arabia for 2026.

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah confirmed the introduction of new electronic systems to track movements, along with improved signage that also displays departure and return times at the exits of the camps hosting pilgrims, along with other more general instructions.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Almost 1.4 million was stolen from the accounts of the faithful of the parish of St Francis of Assisi in Aek Nabara. For weeks, the nun fought for the return of the money stolen by a former bank employee, who subsequently fled to Australia and was arrested. The banks senior management offered sincere apologies to the countrys Catholics.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - After an exhausting battle, Catholics in North Sumatra, led by Sister Natalia Situmorang KYC who personally championed their cause, will be fully compensated for the million-euro theft from private current accounts at a local branch of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI).

Yesterday afternoon, in fact, BNI 46 officially announced that the process of returning the remaining funds to customers of the Aek Nabara financial cooperative had been completed via bank transfers directly into the account holders accounts.

At the same time, during the press conference, the banks senior management officially apologised to the countrys Catholics, in particular the members of the parish of St Francis of Assisi in Aek Nabara, for the embezzlement committed by a former employee, who subsequently fled abroad and was captured.

Over the past week, the nun has repeatedly lobbied in Jakarta on behalf of the robbed account holders, meeting with senior bank officials and government representatives in the hope that BNI 46 would return the final portion of the stolen funds. We are calling for the support of the media and the press, she emphasised to AsiaNews in recent days, so that our struggle to recover the remaining funds can be resolved.

A breakthrough came at the start of the week when Sister Natalia met with BNIs chairman, Putrama Wahju Setyawan, thanks in part to the mediation of representatives from the Gerindra Party, a movement allied with President Prabowo Subianto, which ultimately yielded a positive outcome.

Over the past month, the Catholic Church in Indonesia has been shaken by the disappearance of approximately 28,257,360,600 Indonesian rupiah (just under 1.4 million euros) belonging to members of the parish of St Francis of Assisi in Aek Nabara, in the Archdiocese of Medan, about a seven-hour journey from the provincial capital.

A substantial sum, the result of money deposited by thousands of account holders over the last 45 years at the Aek Nabara Credit Union: most of them are farmers or humble workers from remote areas of northern Sumatra.

The money was stolen over time and in the utmost secrecy by Andi Hakim Febriansyah, who at the time was head of the BNI branch in Aek Nabara, where he had worked before resigning and fleeing with the treasure belonging to the parishs Catholic community.

It later emerged that Andi, together with his wife, had used the funds to finance a lavish lifestyle and other personal interests. Meanwhile, the police have tracked him down and arrested him in his gilded exile in Australia, where he had taken refuge after leaving his home country with the misappropriated money, and the judiciary has opened an investigation into the couple.

Since the case came to public attention, with peaceful demonstrations by tearful customers, it has sparked controversy and outrage, particularly on social media, which has been inundated with calls for mass forced withdrawals should the bank fail to return the remaining 21 billion rupiah. Previously, the bank had paid out around seven billion in refunds, deemed insufficient by the defrauded citizens and public opinion itself.

BNI extends its sincere apologies to Catholics throughout Indonesia, particularly the parishioners of Aek Nabara, as well as to the wider public for the inconvenience caused. We understand the concerns and the impact experienced by those affected, stated Munadi Herlambang, the banks Human Resources Director.

Today we bring good news to the public. The process of returning funds to customers of the Aek Nabara parish has been completed, concluded the senior official of one of the archipelagos largest banks.

The number 46 usually appears in the banks name, referring to the year of its foundation as the first bank since independence. In her role as treasurer and spokesperson for the parish, Sister Natalia fought with remarkable determination, garnering widespread sympathy.

During yesterdays meeting with BNI executives, the nun was accompanied by the credit institutions legal adviser, Bryan Roberto Mahulae. In this final phase, the bank has returned 21,257,360,600 rupees, following the previous repayment of approximately seven billion. Munadi expressed the hope that this response would help maintain public confidence in the bank.
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The images show an empty space at the site of the imposing Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert. Contacted by RFE/RLs Azerbaijani Service on Wednesday, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry declined to comment on its demolition.

The cathedral was consecrated by the Armenian Apostolic Church in 2019 after almost 13 years of construction. Its underground section was used by many Stepanakert residents as a bomb shelter during the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war.

Sergei Shahverdian, a former Karabakh official now based in Yerevan, was the first to report on Tuesday that the cathedral appears to have been torn down. It was not visible in fresh videos of central Stepanakert posted by Azerbaijani social media users and cited by Shahverdian.

Armenian media published last week photographs suggesting that another, smaller Armenian church in Stepanakert has been razed to the ground. It had been built in the 1990s.

Several other Karabakh Armenian churches have also reportedly been destroyed after the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijan war and Azerbaijans full recapture of Karabakh in 2023. Also, Baku announced in early 2022 plans to erase Armenian inscriptions from medieval Karabakh churches. The move prompted serious concern from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The European Parliament likewise condemned the elimination of the traces of Armenian cultural heritage in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The Armenian government essentially stopped accusing Azerbaijan of systematically desecrating or destroying Armenian monuments in Karabakh after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian first recognized Azerbaijani sovereignty over the territory in 2022. The government remained silent on Wednesday about the demolition of the Stepanakert cathedral. Pashinian has repeatedly declared in recent years that the Karabakh issue is closed for his administration.

Exiled Karabakh activists, who fled the region in 2023 along with its entire Armenian population, say Yerevans silence has only encouraged Baku to continue the church demolitions. One of them, Artak Beglarian, believes Pashinians government could have stopped that process by raising the issue on the international stage.

Its obvious that the Armenian authorities are complicit in this case because of their inactivity  No other country would do more than Armenia for the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage, Beglarian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.
23 April 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The official visit of Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics to Azerbaijan upon the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev is more than a diplomatic courtesy. It is a clear statement that relations between Baku and Riga matter not only bilaterally, but strategically across a rapidly changing Eurasian landscape.

At a time when Europe is rethinking supply chains, transport security, energy resilience and geopolitical partnerships, Azerbaijan and Latvia increasingly find themselves on the same page. One stands on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the other on the Baltic coast. Despite geography, once seen as a distance, is now becoming an advantage.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, both Azerbaijan and Latvia have pursued a path centred on sovereignty, state-building and integration into wider international systems. Both nations emerged from the same imperial wreckage with a determination to define their own futures. Both understand the value of independence because both know the cost of losing it.

That shared historical memory has often translated into political understanding. Latvia, like the other Baltic states, has consistently recognised and respected Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity. This principle was particularly significant during the difficult years following the First Karabakh War in the 1990s.

Those were years of chaos and confusion across much of the post-Soviet space. Information was scarce, media freedom was weak, and international awareness of the South Caucasus remained limited. Many in Western Europe knew little of the realities on the ground. However, in the Baltic states, there was sharper attention and greater sensitivity to issues of occupation, displacement and territorial disputes. Their own historical experiences made them alert to the dangers of unresolved aggression.

Latvias position over the years has reflected that instinctive respect for international law. It is one reason relations with Azerbaijan have remained stable and constructive.

But todays partnership is no longer defined only by political sympathy. It is increasingly driven by practical interests.

In 2017, Azerbaijan and Latvia signed a strategic partnership document, giving institutional form to growing ties. That framework now looks prescient. Since then, the global economy has been shaken by war, disrupted trade routes and energy insecurity. Countries able to connect Europe with Asia safely and efficiently have gained strategic weight. Azerbaijan is, certainly, one of them, and for Latvia, the country is not merely a South Caucasus state. It is a transport hub, an energy partner and a gateway to Central Asia. The Middle Corridor, linking China and Central Asia through the Caspian, Azerbaijan, Georgia and onwards to Europe, has become one of the most discussed trade routes of the decade. The North-South corridor, meanwhile, offers additional relevance as Eurasian connectivity expands.

For a Baltic trading nation such as Latvia, these routes matter. Ports, railways, logistics centres and customs cooperation go beyond technical issues, so to speak, they turn into geopolitical assets. Riga understands that access to diversified corridors strengthens Europes economic security.

Energy is another area of convergence. As Europe seeks cleaner and more reliable supplies, Azerbaijans growing role in natural gas exports and renewable energy development has attracted increasing interest. Latvia has every reason to watch closely. Azerbaijans green energy ambitions in solar, wind and Caspian offshore projects create openings for investment, expertise-sharing and long-term cooperation.

There is also room for collaboration in agriculture, electronics, digitalisation and cybersecurity. And these are the sectors where smaller but agile states can move faster than larger bureaucracies. Besides, Latvias experience in technology and governance innovation complements Azerbaijans expanding regional economic role.

Culturally, too, the relationship has more depth than is often assumed. Azerbaijan and the Baltic states share traditions of education, multilingualism and outward-looking commercial identities shaped by crossroads geography. Both regions have historically balanced eastern and western influences while preserving strong national cultures. That creates a natural basis for mutual respect.

Too often, European debate draws artificial lines between core Europe and its eastern neighbours. Here, the reality might be more complex. However, nations such as Latvia and Azerbaijan show that modern Europe is interconnected from the Baltic to the Caspian.

President Rinkevics visit to Baku, therefore, deserves attention. It reflects confidence, continuity and ambition, and suggests that Latvia sees Azerbaijan not through outdated stereotypes, but through the lens of future opportunity.

And it reminds the wider continent of a simple truth: countries that understand sovereignty, resilience and strategic geography tend to understand each other well.

From Riga to Baku, a partnership built on shared experience is steadily becoming one built on shared interests, which in the current international climate may prove even more valuable.
23 April 2026 17:54 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

We are already in the second month of the Gulf War, and the parties remain unable to reach a common ground, even on the resolution of the conflict. Combined with the already devastated oil and gas market and destroyed infrastructure, this has shown that the market needs serious time to stabilize. There is one more point we should emphasize here. The US renewed the Russian oil waiver after pressure from countries dealing with the Iran war price shocks. The Treasury Department's waiver lets countries purchase Russian oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels as of Friday through May 16. It replaces a 30-day waiver that expired on April 11 and excludes transactions involving Iran, Cuba, and North Korea.

Just when that happened, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that from May 1st, Moscow would cease transit of Kazakhstani crude through the Druzhba pipeline's northern leg to Germany, citing "technical capacities" in two words that explained nothing and implied everything. The PCK Schwedt refinery in northeastern Germany, which supplies roughly 90% of fuel to vehicles in the Berlin-Brandenburg region and feeds jet fuel to the capital's airports, will lose approximately 17% of its annual crude throughput. Brent crude ticked upward on the news. Germany's economy ministry said, with the careful phrasing of a government that knows the situation is serious, that supply was "not ultimately jeopardised."

In addition, Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov (Erlan Aqkenjenov) confirmed that Russia will stop transporting oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline in May. Notably, this occurred before Novak's statement. According to Akkenzhenov, Kazakhstan does not plan to reduce oil production, but volumes will be redistributed across export routes:

"For May, we have zero transit via the Druzhba pipeline via Atyrau-Samara and from there to the oil refinery in Schwedt."

Kaztransoil, Kazakhstan's national operator, provides oil transit through Russia via the Transneft pipeline system. This transit is carried out under the relevant intergovernmental agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia, dated June 7, 2002. Kazakhstan has been exporting oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline since 2023.

The Schwedt refinery operates at a capacity of around 12 million tonnes of oil annually. In 2025, Kazakhstan was supplying 2.146 million tonnes through Druzhba, an impressive 44% rise over the previous year, since Astana was consciously constructing that particular channel as an alternate source of non-Russian crude under the control of Russia following Berlin's decision to place Rosneft Germany into trusteeship in 2022. The Schwedt refinery is currently importing the rest of its oil through pipeline supplies from both Rostock, on the Baltic Coast, and Gdansk, in Poland. All three pipelines are running at full capacity, and with Hormuz supply chain issues due to the war in Iran, Germany is now dealing with two logistical problems at once.

Now, when something like this happens, what is at stake?

PCK Schwedt numbers:

- 12 million tons: Total annual crude processed.

- 17%: Share supplied by Kazakh Druzhba transit, which will be reduced starting May 1st.

- 90%: Proportion of vehicle fuel for Berlin-Brandenburg supplied by the Schwedt refinery.

- 2.15 million tons: Kazakhstan's planned Druzhba deliveries to Germany in 2025, representing a 44% increase year-on-year.

But is it really a technical issue?

Russia has cited technical reasons. Well, there are two more plausible explanations, which are not mutually exclusive. The first would be geopolitical, in that Germany is the second-largest provider of weaponry to Ukraine, following only the United States, and also provides significant monetary assistance to Kyiv. Russia has always wanted some form of leverage over Germany, and with Hormuz currently being blocked due to the Iran war, blocking the passage of Kazakhstan oil shipments through its territory could very well have been calculated as such.

The second explanation is infrastructural. Drones from Ukraine hitting fuel stations and pumping stations two days ahead of the statement indicate that significant damage has been inflicted upon the part of the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Kazakh oil to be transported along the Belarus-Poland-Germany route. If there really is a problem of capacity of Russian pipelines, then it will obviously favor its own crude. Kazakh oil, which is shipped under a separate agreement between the governments signed back in 2002, is diverted elsewhere. In any case, Germanys reserve of Kazakh oil is gone, but the difference is important here for the sustainability and reversibility of the action taken.

Caspian alternative is on the agenda, yet again

Kazakhstan has always had a second option: the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Perhaps, either does Europe.

The BTC, managed by bp and consisting of eleven shareholders, including SOCAR and Chevron, spans 1,768 km from the Sangachal terminal at the Caspian Sea via Georgia all the way to the Mediterranean Sea at Ceyhan, Turkey. Its planned maximum capacity is 50 million tons annually, or one million barrels a day. However, in 2025, its throughput amounted to just 27 million tons, which means it has considerable spare capacity left. Oil extraction in Azerbaijan is in decline, and domestic demand keeps rising; thus, the current use of this pipeline barely reaches 50 percent of its capacity, which makes it readily available for Kazakh oil, unlike any other alternative.

Legal arrangements have already been made via the transit agreement between KazMunayGas-SOCAR, which took place in 2022 and was later extended. In 2025, Kazakhstan shipped 1.3 million tonnes of crude oil via BTC; in 2026, this amount is expected to be increased to 1.6 million tonnes per year. The goal for the long term, which was announced during the talks between KMG and a group that consisted of such companies as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Eni, TotalEnergies, CNPC, and Inpex, is the annual shipment of 20 million tonnes.

Let us take a look at the alternatives in a big picture:

Export route 2025 Kazakhstan volume Destination Russian control? Status Druzhba (northern leg) 2.15 million tonnes Germany (Schwedt) Yes, Transneft Halted from May 1st CPC (Caspian Pipeline Consortium) ~60 million tonnes (all origins) Novorossiysk, Black Sea Partial, but Russian majority Operating, subject to Russian legal pressure and weather stoppages BTC via Azerbaijan ~1.3 million tonnes Ceyhan, Mediterranean None, bypasses Russia entirely Operating; <50% capacity used; long-term target 20mt China (rail/pipeline) Growing volumes Chinese refineries None Limited by eastward orientation; not a European solution

___________________________________

The strategic importance of the BTC corridor is obvious. It is free from dependence on Russia; it links the Caspian suppliers with Mediterranean tanker shipping directly; it has the extra capacity to take the increased volume. Herein lies the limitation: not in the pipelines, but in the terminal for supplying the pipeline network. It is necessary that Kazakhstani oil be delivered by tankers from the Aktau port through the Caspian Sea to Baku, where it would then enter the pipeline network. At present, Aktau has a capacity of transporting just 56 million tonnes of oil annually, compared to the target figure of 20 million tonnes. The Caspian max tanker capacity of the state shipping company Kazmortransflot was cut from six to three ships when volumes were low. To reach 20 million tonnes, an expansion ten-fold of Aktau's capacity, building new tankers, and constructing new pipelines will be needed.

Over the shorter period of time, that is, over the next 12-24 months, Kazakhstan is capable of re-routing 2-3 million tons of its oil originally destined for Druzhba transit. First, there is the capacity within BTCs pipelines; second, there is an agreement in place with SOCAR; third, there is an operational facility in Ceyhan for shipping crude to Europe via tankers. Considering the current limits of the number of tankers from the Caspian available in 2026, that amount is not expected to exceed 2.2 million tons  that is the limit according to the agreement. But that still corresponds to the amount sent through Druzhba to Germany.

Best opportunity for Baku

The Druzhba closure is an opportunity that arrives at an awkward moment. On one hand, it brings closer to fruition precisely the transit revenue calculus Azerbaijan had been working towards all along: excess capacity in BTC, a strategic benefit that Europe requires desperately, and something that provides a big commercial gain as well. The war in Iran had already forced oil flows to shift northwards via the Caspian route. Druzhba's shutdown introduces yet another push factor for the same redirection. Azerbaijan finds itself in a uniquely pivotal position regarding the only oil transport corridor that avoids going through either Russia or Iran, a geopolitically advantageous situation that has gained material significance in the last eight weeks alone, which I have been reiterating ever since.

This is because, last years two-month shutdown of the flow of BTC-bound Kazakh crude due to the poisoning of Azerbaijani crude oil en route to Ceyhan, claimed to be orchestrated by the Russians, revealed that the BTC passage cannot escape hybrid attacks. While the problem was sorted out, the timing, when Europe was starting to rely on it, was very unfortunate and damaging to the reputation of the transit route. Azerbaijan must prove that the BTC route is indeed secure in terms of both operation and international diplomacy before it becomes the main pipeline for European refineries.

BTC capacity: 50 million tonnes/year nameplate; approximately 27 million tonnes used in 2025, leaving roughly 23 million tonnes of headroom.

Kazakh BTC volumes: 1.3 million tonnes in 2025; target 1.62.2 million tonnes in 2026 under existing SOCAR agreement. Long-term ambition: 20 million tonnes annually.

Aktau bottleneck: Current port capacity 56 million tonnes/year. Tripling required for 20mt ambition. Tanker fleet reduced from 6 to 3 Caspian-max vessels, needs rebuilding.

Near-term feasibility: Substituting the halted 23 million Druzhba tonnes via BTC is achievable in 2026 within existing infrastructure. Scaling to 20 million tonnes is a 57 year infrastructure programme requiring $58bn in port, fleet, and pipeline investment.

Germany's first course of action, diversification through Rostock and Gdansk, may be a decent tactic, but it doesn't address the underlying issue. Both Rostock and Gdansk were already operating at their limits even before Wednesday's announcement. What this announcement did do, however, was hasten the decision that had already been hanging for the last two years over Europe's heads regarding how much investment would have to go into the Trans-Caspian corridor to give it the capability to become a real alternative to the transit facilities of Russia. The pipeline between Aktau, Baku, Ceyhan, and European terminals is there. So too is the arrangement structure. Capacity is present. What has been lacking until now is the urgency, together with the political commitment to complete the infrastructure. Now Russia has supplied the former; the latter becomes much more urgent.

*Image is AI-generated
23 April 2026 13:08 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The Eurasian Regional Center of the Youth Forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (ICYF-ERC) expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of renowned Russian writer and publicist Yuri Pompeyev. The condolences note that Yuri Pompeyev was one of the Russian cultural figures who, in the 1990s, during the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent Azerbaijani regions by Armenia, spoke out against the injustices committed against the Azerbaijani people.

He was one of the publicists who promptly condemned the crimes in Khojaly, writing the book "Karabakh in Blood" six months after the tragedy. Yury Pompeyev collaborated with the ICYFERC on the publication of his book "Karabakh Diary" in 2010 as part of the international campaign "Justice for Khojaly." The ICYF-ERC once again expresses its deepest condolences over this loss and its confidence that the memory of this man will long remain in the memory of the Azerbaijan people.
23 April 2026 15:03 (UTC+04:00)

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According to the data, this represents a significant decline compared to the same period last year, down by $19 million (1.6 times) in value and 78.5 thousand tons (1.9 times) in volume. During the reporting period, fertilizer exports accounted for...

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Rising Chinese demand fuels surge in Uganda's coffee exports

Xinhua) 10:29, April 23, 2026

KAMPALA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Surging coffee consumption in China is driving a sharp increase in Uganda's coffee exports to the Asian market, officials said at a one-day Uganda-China Coffee, Investment and Destination Conference held here on Tuesday.

Fan Xuecheng, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, told the meeting, which was also attended by a delegation of Chinese investors, that a growing number of Chinese companies operating in Uganda are seeking to tap into this opportunity by investing along the country's coffee value chain.

Data from the Chinese embassy show that Uganda's exports to China reached about 138 million U.S. dollars last year, up 73.8 percent year on year. Coffee accounted for the largest share at 62 million dollars, marking a 99.3 percent increase.

Fan attributed the growth partly to China's zero-tariff policy covering 100 percent of tariff lines for African products since December 2024. He said that expanding the policy to 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China, starting May 1, is expected to deliver further gains for countries such as Uganda.

Vincent Bagiire, permanent secretary at Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country offers high-quality, distinctive coffee varieties and a fully liberalized, investor-friendly value chain spanning production, processing, branding and export.

Bagiire welcomed the visiting Chinese delegation, noting that its nationwide tour provided first-hand insight into Uganda's vast potential, from its rich coffee heritage to its globally recognized tourism attractions.

China's green coffee bean consumption reached 367,400 tons in 2025, up 6.22 percent year on year, according to the Chinese embassy.

Coffee remains a key commodity in Uganda's economic agenda, with about 1.7 million households depending on the crop, the agriculture ministry said. In fiscal year 2023/2024, Uganda recorded its highest coffee export earnings in 30 years, generating 1.14 billion dollars, compared with 846 million dollars in the previous year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
23 April 2026 15:41 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Ganja Automobile Plant Production Association has signed cooperation agreements with two Chinese companies to expand vehicle assembly and distribution activities in Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the companys press service, an agreement with CLW Chengli Group provides for the launch of productionspecifically the assemblyof commercial and cargo vehicles in Azerbaijan. Under the terms of the deal, the Ganja Automobile Plant will serve as the exclusive distributor of the Chinese companys electric chassis in the country, as well as provide after-sales services, spare parts, lubricants, accessories, and repair services. While the vehicles will initially target the domestic market, export plans are also under consideration.

A separate cooperation agreement was also signed with Shaanxi Automobile Group Commercial Vehicle Co Ltd, commonly known as SAGMOTO. This partnership similarly provides for the assembly of commercial vehicles in Azerbaijan. In addition, the Ganja Automobile Plant has secured exclusive rights to distribute SAGMOTOs electric and diesel chassis, along with after-sales services, spare parts, lubricants, accessories, and maintenance support.

The agreements were signed by Xanlar Fatiyev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Ganja Automobile Plant Production Association, Don Shunguo, General Manager of CLW Chengli Group, and He Wencun, Deputy General Director of SAGMOTO.

Ahead of the signing ceremony, the delegation visited the Azerbaijani Embassy in China, where they laid flowers at the bust of Heydar Aliyev in tribute.

During meetings held prior to the signing, Ganja City Executive Authority Head Niyazi Bayramov highlighted Azerbaijans favorable business and investment climate, created under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. He emphasized Ganjas strategic location along the historic Silk Road and its growing role as a key hub in the East-West transport corridor, underscoring the citys strong potential for both domestic production and export-oriented manufacturing.

Xanlar Fatiyev noted that the foundation of the Ganja Automobile Plant dates back to 1986, initiated by Heydar Aliyev, and that the facility began operations in 2004 following directives from Ilham Aliyev. Today, the plant employs nearly 500 people and operates as a major industrial complex equipped with modern assembly lines for trucks, passenger cars, buses, tractors, and specialized vehicles. He expressed confidence that cooperation with Chinese partners would be mutually beneficial.

The meetings also featured video presentations showcasing the city of Ganja and the activities of the Chinese companies.
23 April 2026 17:15 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The integration of digital technology with museum practices is reshaping how we interact with cultural heritage.

With new technological advancements and creative exhibition strategies, museums are improving visitor engagement and expanding the accessibility of their collections to audiences worldwide.

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has hosted a seminar titled "Digital Technologies and Exhibition Practices in Museums," focusing on the digital transformation of the museum sector and contemporary, bold approaches to exhibitions that make the perception of collections more engaging and accessible to audiences, AzerNEWS reports.

The main topics revolved around the "reboot" of museums in the digital age: from the creation of global online platforms to the implementation of daring design solutions within exhibition halls. Participants discussed how a regular collection viewing could become an exciting event and how to ensure a dialogue between culture and the modern generation.

A key discussion point was the digital development strategy presented by Vladimir Opredelenov, the Director of Development at the Almaty Museum of Arts, founder and CEO of the Digital Art & Technologies Agency, as well as a curator and ambassador of the digital art project ART Registry.

In his presentation "Innovation, Society, Culture: Unseen Connections," he explained how digital technologies are changing museums. According to the expert, we are on the verge of erasing the boundaries between the physical and the virtual. Today, technology is not a competitor to art; it makes museums more alive and contemporary, where technology does not distract from art but helps viewers experience it more deeply.

In his talk "Museum Digital Development Strategy," Opredelenov introduced the concept of a unified digital ecosystem. This framework represents the foundation for the museum's new life, where the digitalization of collections and the creation of a cohesive digital ecosystem link collections, researchers, and audiences into a single, living network.

Lighting plays a special role in shaping the atmosphere of a museum. In her presentation "Lighting Dramaturgy in Museum Exhibitions: Method and Practice," Ksenia Lanikina, a lighting designer, founder of the YARKO studio and the YARKO School platform, discussed the principles of lighting design based on the specific characteristics of exhibits and how lighting "brings exhibitions to life," becoming their main storyteller.

Using examples from her own work, she demonstrated how the clever interplay of light and shadow can change the mood in a room and guide the viewer's attention, emphasizing the most important aspects of the exhibition.

The meeting highlighted that the integration of digital strategies and subtle design creates an environment where cultural heritage becomes truly accessible to everyone.

The event received a positive response from the professional community, including curators, designers, and all those who are currently transforming the museum environment and making culture more accessible.

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum is one of the country's most important cultural institutions dedicated to preserving, researching, and promoting the art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving, which is recognized as a key element of national heritage and has been inscribed on UNESCO's lists of intangible cultural heritage.

The museum was established in 1967, and today it houses a rich and diverse collection of more than 10,000 exhibits, including rare carpets, carpet-making tools, national costumes, jewelry, and works of applied art that reflect different historical schools of Azerbaijani carpet weaving.

In recent years, the museum has built strong partnerships with leading museums and cultural organizations abroad by organizing and participating in exhibitions in more than 30 countries, including across Europe, Asia, and beyond.

These international projects allow Azerbaijani carpet art to be showcased to global audiences while also enabling academic collaboration in conservation, textile research, and museum studies.
23 April 2026 18:29 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The upcoming 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026, marks a significant milestone in Azerbaijans growing international presence, AzerNEWS reports.

Held under the theme "Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities," the forum will bring together government representatives, international organizations, urban development experts, academics, and major corporations from across the globe.

Hosting such a prestigious global event highlights Azerbaijans expanding role as a hub for international dialogue and cooperation. It reinforces the countrys reputation on the world stage, while opening new avenues for investment, partnerships, and knowledge exchange in urban planning and sustainable development.

For Baku, the forum holds particular importance. As the capital city continues to evolve, WUF13 provides an opportunity to showcase its urban transformation, infrastructure development, and commitment to building resilient and inclusive communities. At the same time, it allows Azerbaijan to contribute actively to global discussions on housing, sustainability, and urban resilience.

The organization of an event of this scale also necessitates temporary adaptive measures across various sectors, including education. In line with the principle of continuity in learning, schools and educational institutions will transition to online instruction during the forum period. This approach ensures that students remain on track with their academic programs without disruption.

The temporary move to distance learning also presents opportunities. It contributes to the development of students digital competencies while enhancing the resilience and flexibility of the national education system.
23 April 2026 11:30 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics visited the Heydar Aliyev Center during his trip to Azerbaijan on April 23.

According to AzerNEWS, the President was given information about the Heydar Aliyev Center, which is regarded as one of the unique masterpieces of world architecture.

The Center's activities are aimed at in-depth study and research of the state philosophy of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, the ideology of Azerbaijaniism, and the heritage of the National Leader.

In a virtual format, the Heydar Aliyev Museum at the Center showcases several aspects of the concept of the National Leader's activities both in the Soviet era and during the years of Azerbaijans independence.

President Edgars Rinkevics also viewed the cars that National Leader Heydar Aliyev used during his leadership of Azerbaijan from 1969 to 2003.

The Latvian President familiarized himself with the Pearls of Azerbaijan exhibition, highlighting the rich history and culture of Azerbaijan, as well as unique exhibits related to the rich natural resources, centuries-old history and cultural heritage of the country. The exhibition also features carpets, national costumes and ancient coins, etc.

He also viewed the "Classic cars exhibition" and then, signed the guest book.
23 April 2026 14:47 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The U.S. State Department has issued a strong advisory urging American citizens in Iran to leave the country, following a partial reopening of Iranian airspace, AzerNEWS reports.

"As of April 21, Irans airspace has partially reopened. U.S. citizens should leave Iran now, monitor local media for updates, and consult with commercial carriers for additional information on flights out of Iran. Americans seeking to depart Iran may also depart by land to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan," the statement reads.

In a social media post, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs urged Americans to monitor local media for updates closely and to contact commercial airlines for information about outbound flights.

The State Department also advised U.S. citizens not to travel to Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Pakistan-Iran border area.

Americans who are unable to leave the Islamic Republic of Iran are advised to remain in their residences - at home, in hotels or other buildings - until further notice, and to stay away from windows.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump indicated the following day that the second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, could come as soon as Friday.
23 April 2026 12:42 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

"Founded at the end of the last century and bringing together distinguished figures who have devoted their lives to serving society, the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan has come a long way and continues today to contribute to the development of our country," said President Ilham Aliyev in his address to the participants of the 9th Congress of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.

"The Council takes part in the countrys socio-political and humanitarian development, in resolving current issues of public life, and in the upbringing of the younger generation," the head of state added.
23 April 2026 16:44 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has congratulated Turkiye on National Sovereignty and Childrens Day, AzerNEWS reports.

The message was posted through the ministrys official account on the social media platform X.

On April 23, Turkiye celebrates one of its most meaningful national occasions: National Sovereignty and Childrens Day. This special day, established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan extended its sincere congratulations to Turkiye on this occasion, highlighting the deep-rooted brotherhood between the two nations. The message reflects the enduring spirit of solidarity captured in the well-known principle, "one nation, two states," which defines Azerbaijan - Turkiye relations.

It also expressed confidence that the common history, culture, and values of the two countries will foster the same spirit of unity and solidarity among future generations.

"On this cherished day, we wish brotherly Turkiye peace, prosperity, and sustainable development, and all children health, happiness, and a bright future," the post added.
23 April 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

On Wednesday, Rocket Lab successfully launched its Electron rocket into space, carrying a U.S. Department of Defense hypersonic technology test payload to suborbital altitude, AzerNEWS reports.

According to tracking data from Space Launch Now, specific details and results of the mission remain classified, consistent with the secretive nature of defense-related hypersonic testing.

The flight was conducted under the HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) program, operated in cooperation with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. The program is designed to rapidly test hypersonic systems using suborbital rocket launches, significantly reducing the time and cost compared to traditional testing methods.

The Electron rocket lifted off from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, located off the Atlantic coast of Virginia  a site frequently used for experimental and small satellite launches.

This mission marks the seventh hypersonic test flight under the HASTE program, which began in June 2023. Since its inception, the program has become an important platform for accelerating U.S. hypersonic research amid growing global competition in the field.

An interesting detail is that Rocket Labs Electron, originally designed for small satellite deployments, is increasingly being adapted for defense and research missions like HASTE  showing how commercial space companies are becoming a core part of modern military testing infrastructure.
23 April 2026 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The United States has intercepted nearly 30 vessels during the enforcement of its maritime blockade against Iran, according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, AzerNEWS reports.

The statement noted that U.S. forces stopped a total of 31 ships as part of blockade operations, redirecting them back to their ports of origin. The move underscores Washingtons continued efforts to restrict maritime activity linked to Iran amid escalating regional tensions.

The blockade comes against the backdrop of a prolonged standoff between the United States and Iran over Tehrans nuclear program, which has so far failed to yield concrete diplomatic outcomes. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian positions. In response, Iran initiated retaliatory attacks, firing missiles and deploying unmanned aerial vehicles against Israeli targets as well as U.S. assets in the region.

Following weeks of heightened confrontation, a temporary de-escalation was brokered on April 7 through mediation by Pakistan, resulting in a two-week ceasefire agreement between the parties.

On April 21, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire, stating it would remain in place until Iran presents a formal proposal and negotiations reach a definitive conclusion. Despite the extension, Washington has opted to maintain the maritime blockade, signaling sustained pressure on Tehran as diplomatic efforts continue.
23 April 2026 11:12 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The Country to Live party, linked to former Karabakh regime figure Ruben Vardanyan, has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Strong Armenia Alliance of Parties, founded by RussianArmenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, ahead of Armenias 2026 parliamentary elections, AzerNEWS reports via OC Media.

According to the agreement, the two sides will unite their political, organisational, and human resources to participate in the June 7 elections. The memorandum provides for the formation of a unified political agenda and the active involvement of regional structures.

Vardanyan is currently serving a 20-year sentence in Azerbaijan on charges including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and terrorism.

While the alliances updated electoral list includes several members of the Country to Live party, its founders, Mesrop Arakelyan and Mane Tandilyan, were not included, without a detailed explanation.

The party stated that the decision to cooperate was made amid serious security, political, and value-based challenges facing Armenia, which require nationwide consolidation, responsibility, and clear political will.

It also emphasized that the inarguable priority of returning Armenian prisoners is a key element of the cooperation.

Arakelyan expresses his confidence that Karapetyan would spare nothing to ensure their return.

Azerbaijan has officially confirmed that 19 Armenian detainees are currently held, including former political and military figures, who have been convicted on various charges.

Arakelyan described the upcoming elections as a choice between surrender and resistance and stressed that the return of detainees should become a central national priority.

The announcement coincided with a congress of the alliance, where the first 30 candidates on its electoral list were approved. It was also confirmed that the bloc would formally operate under the name Strong Armenia Alliance of Parties, following recent amendments to Armenias electoral legislation prohibiting the use of personal names in alliance titles.
23 April 2026 19:45 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

As part of his engagements in Ankara, Rutte first visited ASELSAN, where he highlighted Turkiyes advances in the defense industry. Emphasizing the importance of accelerating production while also encouraging innovation in the defense sector, Rutte said:

This is one of NATOs top priorities. It will also be one of the main agenda items at the NATO summit to be held in Ankara in July.

Stressing the importance of increasing production in the defense industry, Rutte added:

Because we need to do better and do more. We can learn a great deal from what Turkiye has achieved in this area. This is necessary because we live in a dangerous world.

He noted that strong defense systems are essential for security, stating:

We need the best capabilities and must integrate the latest technologies into our operations.

Declaring that Turkiye has undergone a defense industry revolution, Rutte pointed out that ASELSAN has been at the forefront of this transformation. Recalling that NATO had successfully intercepted ballistic munitions launched from Iran that entered Turkish airspace, Rutte said:

NATO is prepared against such threats and will always do what is necessary to defend Turkiye and all its allies.

Highlighting the development of groundbreaking technologies at ASELSAN, Rutte continued:

I see this as a defense industry hub across Turkiye. This is how you are delivering many of these capabilities, and this is exactly what we need. We also need a defense industry across Europe and North Americaliterally stretching from Alaska to Ankara. We must continue to produce together, innovate together, and procure from one another.

Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkiyes Presidency of Defense Industries, said they briefed Rutte on the countrys defense industry infrastructure. He also noted that ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol provided a detailed presentation on the companys investments. Gorgun concluded:

We specifically mentioned the visit of our President on August 27, 2025, during which elements of the Steel Dome were delivered and the investments were formally named. He was very impressed.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also held a phone call with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. During the conversation, which addressed bilateral relations and global developments, Erdogan emphasized that relations between the two countries have gained positive momentum through recent high-level contacts.

Erdogan stated that the ongoing war in the region has begun to weaken Europe as well, warning that unless a peace-oriented approach is adopted, the damage caused by the conflict process would become much greater.

President Erdogan later received NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The meeting addressed preparations for the NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara, key issues on the Alliances agenda, as well as regional and global developments.

Erdogan stressed that the unstable environment in the region once again demonstrates the importance of cooperation and solidarity among NATO allies. He expressed expectations that decisions would be taken at the Ankara Summit to strengthen allied solidarity and ensure the Alliances constant preparedness against crises.

Noting that Turkiye continues to expand its capacity in the defense industryparticularly in air defense systemsErdogan said the country aims to further enhance cooperation with allied nations in this field.

He also underlined the indispensable importance of maintaining the transatlantic bond, adding that Turkiye expects the European pillar of the Alliance to assume greater responsibility. In this regard, he said excluding non-EU European allies from the EUs defense initiatives would not serve the intended purpose.

Erdogan further stated that Turkiye has positioned itself on the side of peace and diplomacy following the process that began with attacks on Iran. He added that Turkiye remains actively engaged in efforts to ensure that the RussiaUkraine war concludes with peace, working to revive negotiations and initiate talks at the leadership level.

During the meeting, Erdogan and Rutte comprehensively reviewed preparations for the NATO Ankara Summit.
23 April 2026 22:09 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The high-speed train project covering the BursaYenisehirOsmaneli route has reached its final stage. The project, which is expected to have a positive impact on many areas from Bursas economy to tourism, is targeted for completion by the end of 2026.

At a recent meeting held at the construction site of the high-speed train line, Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality Sahin Biba was present, along with Director General of Infrastructure Investments at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Yalcn Eyigun, AK Party Bursa Provincial Chairman Davut Gurkan, AK Party Bursa deputies Emel Gozukara Durmaz, Refik Ozen, Ahmet Klc, Ayhan Salman, district mayors, and relevant officials.

Making statements about the 106-kilometer high-speed train lineone of the largest projects not only in Bursa but also in the Marmara regionAK Party Bursa Provincial Chairman Gurkan said:

This major investment, which will breathe life into Bursas transportation and strengthen its economy, will be beneficial for the Marmara region. The year 2026 is very important for us. We can say that this is one of the largest projects in Bursa and even in the Marmara region. Today, together with the project designers, we reviewed the progress of our 106-kilometer high-speed train line. Hopefully, in the coming period, by around the fourth or fifth month, the systems related to electrical infrastructure will most likely be put into operation. By the seventh month, we expect the test train to be placed on the rails and testing to begin. Then, towards the end of 2026, our high-speed train line will, hopefully, be put into service for the people of Bursa.

Of course, it does not end with this alone. As you know, it is also very important for us that the EmekCity Hospital line, which extends to the station area, is put into operation. Our contractor company will, hopefully, bring this line into service together with the activation of the high-speed train. This is actually a major integration for us. When we look specifically at Bursa, by the end of 2026, both our high-speed train and our urban rail system serving the city hospital will, hopefully, be operational and serving the people of Bursa.

Deputy Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Sahin Biba also stated:

As you know, in Bursa, we have a rail line that starts from Kestel and extends to the university. There is also our T2 line. However, these do not fully meet the needs of our citizens in terms of rail transportation. We have been working on this issue for a long time, and we have intermediate connection projects. Just a short while ago, we held consultations together on this matter. Of course, we tried to conclude our meeting with a clear outcome regarding taking action on this as soon as possible. In other words, we hope that we will soon begin projects that the people of Bursa have been waiting for and will be pleased about.
23 April 2026 12:37 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

Transit traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has tripled over the past five years and is expected to reach 300,000 containers by 2030, AzerNEWS reports.

The announcement was made by Nurzhan Kelbuganov, chairman of the Committee of Railway and Water Transport under the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, during a working visit to the Mangystau Region.

During the visit, Kelbuganov reviewed ongoing projects aimed at developing maritime infrastructure and expanding the countrys merchant fleet. He also toured port facilities and held meetings with shipping company executives, where strategic priorities for the development of the Middle Corridor were discussed.

Significant progress has already been made. Completed projects include the construction of a container hub and a vessel traffic management system at the Port of Aktau, as well as dredging operations and the modernization of Berth No. 1 at the Port of Kuryk. Additional roadside service infrastructure has also been established at Kuryk.

Officials say these projects will significantly increase port capacity and strengthen Kazakhstans role as a key transit hub along the Trans-Caspian corridor.

It should be pointed out that the TITR, also known as the Middle Corridor, connects China to Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, providing an increasingly important alternative trade route between Asia and Europe.
23 April 2026 23:00 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The Ministry of Family and Social Services, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-Generals Special Representative on Violence Against Children and UNICEF, organized a meeting at a hotel titled International Policy and Practice Sharing on the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment.

Emine Erdogan, speaking at the event, stated that in todays world, dangers surround children not only on the streets or in the physical world but also in the borderless digital space. She emphasized that the risks faced by childrenwho make up one-third of internet users worldwidehave reached alarming levels.

Noting that this issue transcends national borders and requires the development of joint solutions and coordinated action, Emine Erdogan thanked the Ministry of Family and Social Services for hosting such a meaningful meeting, as well as UNICEF and the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative on Violence Against Children for their valuable cooperation.

She said that thanks to information technologies, children today have access to learning and development opportunities that previous generations did not, such as AI-supported learning tools, online education platforms, and global information networks.

Emine Erdogan stated that children can access information and millions of resources in the digital world with a single click, adding:

However, unfortunately, in the same world, all kinds of abuse also reach children at the same speedagain, with a single click. Research shows that more than 300 million children globally are exposed to online abuse and harassment every year. The fact that the frequency of such cases can drop to one every 10 seconds clearly reveals the scale of this silent epidemic that surrounds every country, every household, and every school.

She noted that children today do not merely spend time in the digital world but grow up in it, building their social relationships, values, and identity there. She continued:

Unfortunately, as adults, we are pushed out of this world with the label of digital immigrants. Just as our right to draw boundaries in a digital world where children are declared natives has been taken away, every step taken in this framework has been blocked with allegations of censorship. Whenever parents express concerns, they are accused of being behind the times. When regulations concerning digital platforms become a matter of social policy, governments are accused of being authoritarian. Unfortunately, the result of this situation has been that children and young people are surrounded by risks such as cyberbullying, digital addiction, misuse of personal data, violent content, discrimination, and hate speech. Today, we are paying the price of this boundlessness through damage to childrens psychological, mental, cognitive, social, and physical development.

Emine Erdogan pointed out that children now spend more than half of their waking hours in front of screens, stating:

An 8.5-hour screen time filled with social media and computer games means a kind of digital vegetative existence.

She underlined that Turkiye has taken important steps to protect children, saying:

With the Action Plan for Empowering Children in the Digital World implemented by our Ministry of Family and Social Services, we are addressing the issue with a holistic strategy. In addition, the Convention on Childrens Rights in the Digital World prepared by the Ministry is an important international call aimed at protecting, supporting, and empowering children in digital environments. I take this opportunity to invite all stakeholders to sign this convention. Let us not forget that making the digital world safer for children is a shared responsibility not only of families but also of public institutions, technology companies, international organizations, and the media industry. In particular, technology companies must be accountable and design child-friendly systems.

She noted that laws restricting access to social media for young children are on the agenda in countries such as Australia, France, and Denmark, adding:

There is a global awakening in this regard. In our country, a bill has been submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly to regulate childrens access to age-appropriate social media and gaming content. In this framework, it is planned to restrict access to social media for children under the age of 15, while providing age-appropriate services and parental control tools for those over 15.

Emine Erdogan said she sees families as the most important stakeholders in making digital environments safe and beneficial for childrens education:

If we are to raise our children as strong and conscious individuals who can carry the future, pulling them out of the unsafe backstreets of the digital world, we must do this hand in hand with parents.

She also stated that there are a few key principles in addressing the issue:

The first is rebuilding the boundaries that have been eroded by digitalization. Many of todays problems stem from equating boundlessness with freedom. True freedom is not the unrestricted ability to do anything, but the ability to think critically and set limits against elements that invade the mind, intellect, and soul. As the saying goes, what distinguishes medicine from poison is the dose. Similarly, while technology has the potential to advance humanity, if left uncontrolled, it can threaten the future of humanity. Digitalization may increase efficiency in many areas, but if control is lost, childrens lives may be invaded by digital nannies, digital friends, and digital playgrounds. That is why we need strong boundaries.

Expressing confidence that every parent understands where boundaries should be drawn, she continued:

Parenting is the oldest profession in the world. If a child wanted to go out alone in the middle of the night, would we allow it? Would we let a stranger take them by the hand? Would we accept gambling, deviant propaganda, or activities that endanger their lives? Of course, the answer to all of these is no. Therefore, let us also draw safe boundaries for our children in digital environments, without forgetting that they face the same dangers there. Likewise, educators are the architects and protectors of these boundaries, which guarantee true freedom. I believe that with a shared understanding and strong cooperation, we can provide children with digital literacy skills and realign the current course.

She added that strengthening family communication is another key solution:

Let us not give up on eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart, face-to-face communication and spending time together as families. The family, as it was yesterday, remains today our only refuge against the storms of life.

Emine Erdogan emphasized the importance of the exchange of ideas at the meeting, noting that participants would share best practices, develop joint projects, and encourage technology companies to adopt higher standards for child safety.

She expressed confidence that these efforts would produce positive outcomes such as global campaigns for parents and programs enhancing young peoples digital skills, stating that Turkiye is ready to contribute to all constructive initiatives in line with this shared goal.

After her speech, Emine Erdogan was presented with a painting by a child depicting escape from the cage of the digital world.

The program concluded with a family photo session.
23 April 2026 13:51 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced a 30-day extension of sanctions waivers on maritime shipments of oil products from Iran and Russia, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Bessent, the decision was made in response to requests from several countries facing rising risks of fuel shortages due to recent instability affecting shipping traffic in the region. He said the appeals were made by finance officials from around ten countries during recent meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

The waivers temporarily allow certain maritime oil deliveries from Iran and Russia despite ongoing U.S. sanctions targeting both countries energy exports.

Bessent rejected claims that Iran had generated more than $14 billion in revenue from such exemptions, although he did not provide further details.

On April 15, during a White House briefing, Bessent said the administration would not renew general licenses for Russian or Iranian oil shipments, noting that existing exemptions applied only to cargo already at sea before March 11.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the worlds oil supply is transported, has reportedly experienced increased disruptions in recent weeks.

Photo: Reuters
23 April 2026 16:57 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

Tokyo and Riyadh have agreed to establish an alternative crude oil supply route that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical and vulnerable maritime chokepoints, AzerNEWS reports.

The agreement was reported by Kyodo News, citing Japanese government sources.

In a phone call on Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to request further support in securing stable crude oil supplies for Japan.

Tokyo also expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabias continued delivery of crude oil to Japan via the Red Sea route, following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to coordinating efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Middle East as quickly as possible.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman responded that Saudi Arabia is committed to ensuring stable energy supplies to global markets, including Japan, and intends to respond positively to requests for cooperation.

Earlier, local media also reported that the Japanese government is confident in its ability to fully meet the countrys domestic oil needs at least until the end of this year. It was emphasized that this will be possible due to a combination of alternative oil supply routes and the release of some strategic reserves.

On March 16, oil from Japan's strategic reserves began entering the market in volumes sufficient to meet the country's needs for 45 days.

Image: iStock/PeterHermesFurian
23 April 2026 16:14 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, said on Thursday that negotiations with Tehran will not resolve the current crisis, AzerNEWS reports.

"[Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher] Ghalibaf and [Foreign Minister] Araghchi are not pragmatists; they are not reformers... they are different faces of the same machine," Pahlavi said during a speech in Berlin, adding that figures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also operate behind the scenes. "As long as this regime is in place, you will continue to face these threats, and they will only get worse. No deal will solve this. No negotiations will solve this. It is in their DNA," he added.

The remarks come as Pahlavi warned that Iran continues to pose a threat to Europe through alleged cyberattacks, support for attacks on European soil, and military cooperation with Russia, including the supply of drones used in the war in Ukraine.

"European governments must stop appeasing this regime."

Senior Iranian officials have blamed Washington for stalled peace negotiations due to the United States naval blockade of the countrys ports, while Irans Revolutionary Guard says it captured two foreign vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and opened fire on a third ship for violating maritime regulations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran wants dialogue and agreement but breach of commitments, blockade and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiations.
23 April 2026 18:13 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Disagreements between Iranian government officials and Supreme Leader Montaba Khamenei's spokespeople prevented Iran from taking part in a second round of negotiations with the United States, Iran International reported on Thursday, AzerNEWS reports.

Delegations from the US and Iran were expected to arrive in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad this week, but Tehran said it will only participate if Washington ends its blockade of Iran's ports.

According to the report, Khamenei's office "reprimanded" the Iranian Foreign Ministry for "ignoring" its order and attending the first round of talks earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi argued that Khamenei's stance "effectively means a 'death sentence' for the negotiations with all its consequences."
23 April 2026 18:48 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The Defense Department released video footage of U.S. forces on the deck of the Guinea-flagged oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean, AzerNEWS reports.

"Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility," the statement reads.

The latest seizure comes after President Trump said on social media Tuesday he was extending the ceasefire indefinitely, hours before it was set to expire.

On April 16, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces Dan Kane said that the United States intends to intercept Iranian vessels, including tankers, on the high seas as part of the blockade of Iran's ports and coastline. A few days later, WP newspaper reported that the United States had expanded operations against Iran beyond the Middle East.
23 April 2026 21:13 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Bernard Fontana, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Electricite de France (EDF), to discuss current cooperation and future prospects in the energy sector, AzerNEWS reports via the presidential press service.

During the talks, both sides reviewed opportunities to expand collaboration, particularly in low-carbon and nuclear energy.

Tokayev noted the broad potential for joint work and stressed that Kazakhstan attaches particular importance to deepening cooperation with the French company.

For his part, Fontana expressed interest in further expanding cooperation in the fields of sustainable energy and modern energy infrastructure.

The President reaffirmed Kazakhstans readiness for open and mutually beneficial cooperation with international partners, including EDF, based on the principles of transparency and parity.

The sides also discussed cooperation in uranium supply.
Paleocanna tentaculum marks a stunning soft-bodied fossil discovery from Quebec, revealing an Ordovician jellyfish relatively preserved from 450 million years ago. This tube-shaped polyp pushes boundaries in understanding early marine evolution during the Upper Ordovician.

How Paleocanna tentaculum Was Discovered

John Iellamo, an avid amateur collector, first encountered the fossils in 2010 while exploring near Saint-Joachim, about 50 kilometers northeast of Quebec City. He generously donated 15 slabs containing roughly 135 specimens to the Musee de paleontologie et de l'evolution in Montreal. These rocks from the Upper Neuville Formation held clusters of one to three tubes each, preserved in remarkable detail.

What sets this soft-bodied fossil apart starts with its preservation story. A sudden seafloor mudslide in low-oxygen waters buried the polyps rapidly, shielding them from scavengers and decay. Over millions of years, the fine sediment hardened into shaly limestone, locking in features rarely seen in the fossil record. Phys.org covered this find in detail back in April 2026, highlighting how such events create windows into ancient oceans.

Researchers later selected 39 prime specimens for close study, measuring lengths up to 36.9 mm and widths around 6 mm. This hands-on work revealed an annulated periderma ridged outer layeralong with a clear digestive tract and a ring of tentacles at one end. These traits screamed medusozoan connections, closer to today's jellyfish than many presumed ancient relatives.

Physical Features of This Ordovician Jellyfish Relative

Paleocanna tentaculum boasts a tubicolous body, meaning it lived inside a tube like some modern corals or anemones, but with distinct jellyfish vibes. The polyps grew sessile, anchored to the seafloor as epibenthic dwellers, feeding via that tentacle ring near the oral opening. Allometric growth kept their width consistent, a pattern seen in living box jellies.

Key traits include:

Tube structure : Soft yet sturdy, up to 37 mm long, with subtle ridges for flexibility.

: Soft yet sturdy, up to 37 mm long, with subtle ridges for flexibility. Tentacle ring : Crowded around the mouth, perfect for snaring tiny prey in ancient seas.

: Crowded around the mouth, perfect for snaring tiny prey in ancient seas. Internal anatomy : Visible gut trace running tube-length, hinting at simple digestion.

: Visible gut trace running tube-length, hinting at simple digestion. Clustering habit: Often 1-3 per group, suggesting colonial living or family patches.

Sci.Newsdove into these specifics in their 2026 piece, noting how the fossils' alignment suggests minimal post-mortem movement. Unlike hard-shelled neighbors from the same rock layer, Paleocanna tentaculum's soft parts survived thanks to that anoxic blanket of mud. This raritysoft-bodied fossils make up a tiny fraction of Paleozoic recordsmakes every detail a treasure.

The Ordovician jellyfish relative's body plan bridges stem and crown medusozoans. Stem forms represent early branches, while crown groups include modern jellyfish, hydras, and siphonophores. Paleocanna tentaculum slots in as basal, showing tentacle setups and tube dwelling that echo polyp stages in today's life cycles.

Research Process and Scientific Comparisons

Greta Ramirez-Guerrero, a Ph.D. student at Universite de Montreal, spearheaded the study under advisor Christopher B. Cameron. McGill University's Louis-Philippe Bateman joined to compare the fossils against 69 other speciesboth fossils and live ones. Their paper landed in the Journal of Paleontology, cementing Paleocanna tentaculum as the first North American Ordovician soft-bodied cnidarian polyp.

They used microscopy and measurements to map growth patterns, ruling out lookalikes like ancient tubeworms or corals. Modern parallels shone brightest: the tentacle ring mimics hydrozoans, while tube rigidity nods to anthozoans. Yet overall, it leans medusozoan, refining evolutionary trees.

McGill's newsroom shared team insights in April 2026, stressing how Quebec's Saint Lawrence Lowlands rival global hotspots like Burgess Shale for fossil wealth. Low-energy deposition there favors soft-tissue grabs, explaining the haul's quality. The researchers' cross-species grid showed Paleocanna tentaculum clustering nearer to box jellies than scyphozoans or older tubes.

This work expands Paleozoic biodiversity views. The Ordovician hosted a marine explosion post-Cambrian, with cnidarians diversifying quietly amid trilobites and brachiopods. Paleocanna tentaculum proves soft-bodied players joined early, their polyps hinting at complex life cycles long before free-swimmers dominated.

Evolutionary Role of Paleocanna tentaculum

Few Ordovician jellyfish relatives endure fossilization, as soft bodies dissolve fast without special conditions. Paleocanna tentaculum fills a glaring gap, showing medusozoans rooted deep in the period. It predates many Canadian icons like Burgess Shale jellies by 50 million years, tweaking timelines.

Why does this soft-bodied fossil matter? It spotlights polyp stagessessile youth phases that bud into swimming medusae today. Finding an adult-like polyp this old suggests life cycles stabilized early, with tubes as safe nurseries in turbulent seas.

Quebec's fossil beds keep delivering: the Neuville Formation teems with echinoderms, mollusks, and now this gem. Global parallels exist in European Ordovician sites, but North America's first soft cnidarian polyp steals the show.

Evolutionary takeaways include:

Tentacles ring as ancient medusozoan hallmark, persisting 450 million years. Tube-dwelling as an adaptive edge in low-oxygen bottoms, shielding from predators. Bridge to modern forms, where polyps alternate with medusae for reproduction.

Paleocanna tentaculum challenges assumptions that jellyfish ancestors were purely floating. Its grounded lifestyle reveals diverse strategies in early cnidarians, enriching ocean history.

Paleocanna tentaculum Compared to Today's Jellyfish

Modern jellyfish zip through pelagic zones as medusae, pulsing bells for jet propulsion. Paleocanna tentaculum stayed put as polyps, tentacles waving for food. Yet shared DNA blueprints shine through.

Key differences and similarities:

Lifestyle : Paleocanna tentaculum was a sessile polyp in a tube; modern jellyfish like box jellies swim freely as medusae.

: Paleocanna tentaculum was a sessile polyp in a tube; modern jellyfish like box jellies swim freely as medusae. Size : Reached 37 mm long and 6 mm wide; modern bells grow to 30 cm with meter-long tentacles.

: Reached 37 mm long and 6 mm wide; modern bells grow to 30 cm with meter-long tentacles. Feeding : Tentacle ring snared plankton on the seafloor; today's trailing tentacles sting larger prey in open water.

: Tentacle ring snared plankton on the seafloor; today's trailing tentacles sting larger prey in open water. Environment : Thrived in low-oxygen seafloor mud; modern forms prefer oxygen-rich pelagic zones.

: Thrived in low-oxygen seafloor mud; modern forms prefer oxygen-rich pelagic zones. Fossil Odds: Rare mud burial preserved it; modern jellyfish almost never fossilize due to high water content.

This comparison underscores polyp primacy in deep time. Today's cycles flip between polyp (tiny, attached) and medusa (big, mobile), but fossils like this suggest polyps ruled first. Over eons, budding tech evolved, letting clones launch swimmers.

PopSci is equipped with a "flailing carwash," evoking its bushy tentaclesvivid yet apt for grasping Ordovician vibes. Such visuals help picture 450-million-year-old food webs, where polyps filtered microbes amid bigger beasts.

Insights from Ordovician Jellyfish Fossils

Soft-bodied fossils demand luck: anoxia, quick cover, no burrowing pests. Paleocanna tentaculum hit that jackpot, its preservation rivaling Ediacaran softies.

Quebec lowlands as Ordovician goldmine, rivaling Wales or China beds.

Polyp focus shifts evolution narrative from medusae hype.

Future digs may uncover medusa stages, completing the cycle puzzle.

Numbered preservation steps clarify the magic:

Sudden turbidity flow drops the mud sheet. Oxygen dips starve bacteria, halting rot. Sediment compacts minerals around soft bits. Eons later, slabs split to reveal ghosts.

These Ordovician jellyfish relatives remind us oceans teemed invisibly long ago. Paleocanna tentaculum, through one collector's eye and scientists' lenses, rewrites quiet chapters of life's deep past.

Why Paleocanna tentaculum Changes Fossil Perspectives

Paleocanna tentaculum redefines Ordovician jellyfish views as a preserved soft-bodied fossil pinnacle. With tentacles frozen in time, it links ancient polyps to pulsing modern seas, inviting more Quebec quests into pre-Cambrian echoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Paleocanna tentaculum?

Paleocanna tentaculum is a newly identified basal-medusozoan species, a soft-bodied, tube-shaped polyp with a ring of tentacles, discovered in 450-million-year-old Ordovician fossils from Quebec.

2. Where was the Paleocanna tentaculum fossil found?

The fossils came from the Upper Neuville Formation near Saint-Joachim, about 50 km northeast of Quebec City in the Saint Lawrence Lowlands.

3. How old are these Ordovician jellyfish fossils?

They date to the Upper Ordovician period, approximately 450 million years ago.
23 April 2026 20:09 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

Japan plans to urge the European Union (EU) to reconsider policies that favor electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured within the bloc, AzerNEWS reports.

Tokyo intends to raise this issue, which is crucial for the Japanese automotive industry, during the Japan-Europe High-level Economic Dialogue scheduled to take place in Brussels next month. The goal is to push for fair treatment of vehicles produced outside the EU.

Under Brussels current proposal, to qualify for subsidies, at least 70% of a vehicles componentsexcluding batteriesmust be manufactured within the EU. The EU also plans measures to reduce the cost of purchasing and maintaining locally produced vehicles, giving them a competitive edge.

The proposal still requires approval from EU Member States and the European Parliament and may be subject to revisions. Following ministerial-level talks in May, Japan hopes the matter will be addressed at the next bilateral summit, possibly in June.

A representative of the Japanese automotive industry warned, If our vehicles are excluded from these support measures, our sales will face a significant disadvantage.

Experts suggest that the outcome of these discussions could have far-reaching implicationsnot only for Japanese automakers but also for global EV supply chains. Some analysts note that the dispute highlights growing tensions in international trade as countries strive to protect domestic industries while promoting green technology.
23 April 2026 19:12 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

Its a somber scene in the backstreets of one of Chinas largest manufacturing hubs, where workers gather under a tree, smoking in front of storefronts advertising temporary factory jobs, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

No one understands what our life is like, says one man, who prefers to remain anonymous.

We work and work and have no life. Please help us, adds anothera rare and risky plea to a foreign journalist.

These workers seem desperate, struggling to earn enough to send money home, as they face massive shifts in Chinese manufacturingfrom cheap, mass-produced goods to increasingly automated, high-tech production.

Their struggles were already severe before the recent US-Israel conflict with Iran sent shockwaves through the global economy. Chinas growth had been slowing even prior to this, with unemployment rising and tariffs from the Trump administration hitting exports hard last year. Yet, the country proved surprisingly resilient, maintaining GDP growth of around 5%. Still, dissatisfaction among workers continued to simmer. Now, the Middle East conflict threatens to further strain factory orders, increase costs, and jeopardize jobs.

In Foshan, in the southern industrial province of Guangdong, the best opportunities available are displayed in bright red lettering: a few weeks of molding plastic or assembling mobile phone parts for 18 to 20 yuan an hourroughly a few dollars or pounds.

Im going to try and find work elsewhere, says another worker from a rural province. Many of these laborers are well over 40 years old, burdened by uncertainty and frustrated at the lack of stable prospects.

Analysts warn that this is part of a broader trend: Chinas aging workforce and the shift to automation are leaving many skilled workers behind. Some experts predict that without major reforms or social support, the gap between high-tech urban industries and low-paid factory laborers may widen, fueling unrest and migration pressures.
In todays interconnected global economy, power is no longer measured solely by military strengthit is increasingly defined by control over critical trade routes. Two of the most strategic maritime chokepoints in the worldthe Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandebhave become central to this transformation.

These narrow waterways are not just geographic features; they are pressure points of the global system, capable of influencing oil prices, supply chains, and geopolitical stability. Recent tensions have highlighted how Iran is leveraging these chokepoints as tools of asymmetric power projection.

 Why These Chokepoints Matter

 Chokepoint  Location  Strategic Role  Global Impact Strait of Hormuz Persian Gulf  Arabian Sea Main oil transit route ~20% of global oil flows Bab al-Mandeb Red Sea  Gulf of Aden Gateway to Suez Canal Critical for Europe-Asia trade

 These routes compress global commerce into narrow corridors, making them highly vulnerable to disruptionand incredibly valuable as geopolitical leverage.

 The Shift: From Military Power to Geoeconomic Warfare

Traditionally, power in the Middle East was expressed through military dominance and territorial control. Today, the paradigm has shifted.

The power to disrupt a maritime chokepoint may rival battlefield control.

Instead of direct confrontation, Iran increasingly relies on:

 Asymmetric naval tactics (e.g., small fast-attack boats)

 Strategic positioning along key routes

 Regional proxy networks (e.g., influence near Bab al-Mandeb)

This allows Iran to raise the cost of conflict without full-scale war.

 Hormuz: The Worlds Energy Pressure Valve

The Strait of Hormuz is arguably the most critical energy artery on Earth.

Carries one-fifth of global oil supply

Even minor threats trigger oil price volatility

Disruption affects industries far beyond energy (fertilizers, logistics, finance)

 Key Insight:

Hormuz doesnt need to be fully closed to cause chaosuncertainty alone is enough.

 Bab al-Mandeb: The Hidden Multiplier

While less discussed, Bab al-Mandeb plays a crucial complementary role.

Controls access to the Red Sea and Suez Canal

Essential for EuropeAsia shipping routes

Disruptions force costly rerouting around Africa

 When combined with Hormuz, the impact becomes exponential:

 Shipping costs surge

 Supply chains break down

 Global markets destabilize

 The Twin Chokepoint Strategy

Together, these two straits form what analysts call a dual leverage system.

 How it works:

Scenario Result Pressure in Hormuz only Energy markets destabilize Pressure in Bab al-Mandeb only Trade routes disrupted Pressure in both simultaneously Global economic shock

 The real power lies not in controlbut in the credible threat of disruption.

 Strategic Doctrine: Controlled Instability

Irans approach reflects a broader doctrine:

 Avoid direct large-scale war

 Maximize strategic uncertainty

 Exploit global economic dependencies

This aligns with modern geopolitics where:

Markets react instantly to risk signals

Insurance, shipping, and logistics amplify disruption

Small actions create outsized global consequences

 Real-World Effects

Recent tensions have shown:

 Shipping routes become unreliableeven without full closure

 Freight costs and delivery times increase

 Energy prices fluctuate globally

 Economic ripple effects reach multiple continents

As experts note, chokepoints dont need to shut down

 they just need to become unpredictable

 Bigger Picture: Geography Still Rules

Despite technological advances, geography remains destiny.

Modern globalization depends on:

Narrow maritime corridors

Concentrated infrastructure

Highly optimized supply chains

This creates a paradox:

The more efficient the system becomes, the more vulnerable it is.

 Conclusion

The Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb are no longer just shipping lanesthey are strategic levers of global power.

Irans ability to influence these chokepoints demonstrates a broader shift in international relations:

From military dominance  geoeconomic leverage

From territorial control  supply chain disruption

From direct war  strategic pressure

 In the 21st century, controlling the flow of goods may matter more than controlling land itself.
UPDATE: The Virginia trial court judge whose previous ruling against the referendum is now before the state supreme court, has issued another order after the referendum declaring it invalid.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/breaking-virginia-court-strikes-down-democrat-gerrymander-referendum/

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/virginia-redistricting-rout-deals-major-blow-house-republicans

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL ARTICLE;

Virginia Democrats' outrageous gerrymander of Congressional seats was fueled by tens of millions in dark money, much of it affiliated with the far left Soros network. Soros is now the sugar daddy of the international far left, iin spite of having been a Nazi collaborator in his youth in World War II Hungary. More money has been spent on trying to limit Republicans to only one seat in the 11 member Virginia congressional delegation, in spite of 48.5% of Virginians voting Republican for Congress in the last election, than was spent in the last election for governor.

https://dailycaller.com/2026/04/21/virginia-gerrymander-redistricting-amendment-passes-abigail-spanberger-democrats/

https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/04/22/exposed-splc-funneled-270k-cash-to-charlottesville-hoax-rally-planner-manufacturing-racism-n2201554

Of course, the teachers unions were also caught abusing the teacher / student relationship in pushing them to lobby parents to vote for the gerrymander.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/20/ahead-virginias-gerrymandering-referendum-lesson-boys-public-school/

Meanwhile, the issue of the legality of the whole gerrymander process has been and still is in the courts. A trial court has ruled that the Virginia Democrats violated their own legislative rules and also laws governing Constitutional referenda and the vote is therefore illegal. That was appealed to the State Supreme Court by the Democrats where it currently sits. The state Supreme Court decided against fast tracking it prior to the actual vote.

https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/04/22/its-not-over-the-courts-could-and-should-neuter-virginias-anti-democratic-gerrymandering-gambit-n2201551

There are also some other proposals on how to reverse this travesty such as:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/former-trump-staffer-proposes-highly-explosive-plan-that/

Virginia's "Dear Leader" Spanberger used the Texas redistricting as an excuse for her brazen partisan power grab. However the Texas redistricting was a response to a ruling by the 5th Circuit US Court of Appeals ruling on racial redistricting which struck down the theory that if it was possible to draw a minority district based on multiple minorities, it had to be done. The US Supreme Court denied the attempted appeal of that decision. So while Texas was correcting a redistricting mistake after the courts ruled it was a mistake, what Spanberger is doing is a naked partisan power grab, and funded with dirty Soros money.

There is a case now awaiting a ruling by the US Supreme Court that is expected to outlaw ALL racially based redistricting, and when that decision comes down, it will cost Democrat over 20 House seats. There is speculation that Democrat justices are slow walking it to try to keep it from impacting the 2026 election.
A 10 year old Utah boy has been rescued by the FBI after his father, who now identifies as a woman and the father's partner kidnapped the boy to Mexico and then Cuba for the purpose of subjecting the child to a forced sex change operation. Cuban authorities assisted in locating the boy and the two adults. The two adults have been arrested and will be prosecuted for familial kidnapping. The child has been returned to his mother.

The Trump administration authorized the use of government resources to rescue the child.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/rescue-mission-trump-admin-deploys-u-s-plane/

Meanwhile, genital mutilation surgeries and drugs for "gender transition" has increased 40% at Planned Parenthood regional clinics around the country. This includes children.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/22/report-gender-affirming-care-at-planned-parenthood-regional-clinics-surges-40-percent/

The world's first "gender transition" surgeries, both male to female were performed in Germany in the 1930s by a doctor later convicted at Nuremburg as a Nazi war criminal. One failed, with the patient not surviving the surgery, and one succeeded.
Liberal "Republican" Senator Thom Tillis is back to his old tricks of stabbing his party in the back, this time on an election integrity bill, the SAVE Act that is overwhelmingly popular with voters according to the polls. The SAVE Act would make photo voter ID nationwide, add safeguards against foreign citizens registering and voting, and put safeguards on mail-in ballots. Even Jimmy Carter's federal election commission identified mail in ballots as the most vulnerable to fraud.

The SAVE Act has already passed the House. Tillis had previously come out against it in the Senate. Now Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) has put forward a proposal to get it through the Senate in pieces, but Tillis is one of four liberal Republicans to oppose Kennedy on that.

https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/04/23/sigh-4-gop-senators-doom-sen-john-kennedys-save-act-fix-n2201612

One wonders if this is just the usual Tillis support for amnesty for illegal aliens focused on the provisions that stop foreign citizens from voting, but if so, why does he have a problem with photo voter ID, something all industrialized countries except the US already have on a national basis, most of them for many years.
Single Parent Scholarship Fund officials say they have reached 55% of a major challenge grant goal that will help more single moms and dads pay for college in the coming year.

Latest Fundraising Milestone

The nonprofit has raised $835,659 toward a $1.8 million target linked to a challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The organization must meet this amount by May 20 to unlock an additional $1 million gift from the foundation. Leaders say the new money will be used to expand scholarships and support services for single parents working toward college degrees.

The challenge grant is part of a larger $7.4 million campaign to strengthen facilities and programs that serve single-parent families. As of late March, the group had already raised $5.38 million toward that broader goal, placing it ahead of schedule but still short of the total needed to fully expand services, according to Talk Business.

How the Fund Helps Single Parents

The Single Parent Scholarship Fund model focuses on low-income single mothers and fathers who are the heads of their households and are enrolled in college or technical programs.

Scholarships typically cover part of tuition and also help with basic needs such as childcare, transportation, and school supplies, which often block single parents from finishing their degrees.

In Arkansas, for example, the Single Parent Scholarship Fund has helped recipients with awards ranging from a few hundred dollars to $2,500 per semester as the program has grown, SPSF reported.

One former recipient described using the scholarship to stay in school while paying weekly childcare costs that nearly matched her entire paycheck, showing how even modest awards can change a family's trajectory.

Read more: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Makes Universal Child Care a Cornerstone of His First 100 Days in Office

Wider Demand for Aid

Demand for scholarships for single parents remains high nationwide, with multiple programs now targeting this group. A Rhode Island fund offers between $500 and $2,000 to support single parents returning to school, and national programs such as Generation Hope provide up to $2,400 per year plus mentoring for student parents.

Other regional efforts, like the Oklahoma Single Parent Scholarship Program, have distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of students each semester, as per Yahoo News. Philanthropic groups such as ECMC Foundation are also building grant strategies aimed at removing barriers for single mothers and more than doubling their associate degree completion rates.

What Happens If the Goal Is Met

If the Single Parent Scholarship Fund secures the remaining 45% of its $1.8 million challenge by the May deadline, it will receive the full $1 million Mabee Foundation grant.

That would push the long-term campaign much closer to the $7.4 million mark, allowing the nonprofit to offer more scholarships, increase award amounts, and invest in wraparound services that help single parents persist through graduation.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
An article on the May 7 annual town meeting warrant would allow the Select Board to negotiate a lease for a carrier to locate an antenna on the existing tower at the new public safety complex.
PITTSFIELD  The state office that oversees the state's housing voucher program  which helps tenants who cant afford market-rate rents  has quietly announced changes that will make housing less affordable.

On Friday, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities posted the policy update on its website, including ending payments for security deposits and utility reimbursements. Massachusetts cites high program costs as the reason for the cuts, but local housing officials say passing those costs to tenants will keep some people out of housing.

The changes caught local housing advocates and legislators off guard; many contacted by The Eagle on Tuesday and Wednesday said they had not yet been briefed on the policy updates.

"This just came out of the blue to me," said state Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams.

Kathy Keeser  executive director for Louison House, which operates units that use the voucher program  was also surprised by the news, even though she has been watching the state budget closely. The policy update wasn't mentioned during the monthly state meetings she attends, she added, one of which was canceled for Patriots' Day.

Pulling security deposits and help with utilities is detrimental to the purpose of the program, which is to keep people in stable housing, Keeser said.

Those extra expenses will cause people to "stay in shelters and other places longer," said Keeser.

Rental vouchers, like Massachusetts' voucher program and Section 8 vouchers, help tenants who can't afford market-rate housing. The changes announced Friday will affect tenants using the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program or Alternative Housing Voucher Program, which is for adults under 60 years old living with a disability.

Both programs are for residents making less than 80 percent of the area median income  which is $68,800 for one person in Pittsfield  and require tenants to pay at most 30 percent of their gross income toward rent. The state makes up the difference in the rent, which is set at the federal level based on an area's fair-market rent. In Pittsfield, that's $1,269 for a one-bedroom unit.

In Berkshire County, there are 106 vouchers through the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, which serve just 2 percent of eligible households, according to Pittsfield City Councilor at-large Alisa Costa.

"It could make housing more precarious for them at a time when the state is reducing the number of shelter units as well," she said of the cuts.

Rising costs forced the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to adjust the program, a spokesperson told The Eagle, adding that the changes will protect thousands of residents from losing their housing and preserve the long-term sustainability of these important resources.

The state added the additional benefits of help with utilities and security deposits when "budgets could afford it," said Eileen Peltier, CEO and president of Hearthway, which administers the voucher program in Berkshire County.

But as rents continue to rise, local housing and state officials say the cuts work against the programs purpose.

Peltier said the changes are "unfortunate and will present challenges for voucher holders who have had the benefit of these additional supports for some time."

Utility assistance was a key support for many of the tenants, Keeser said, and, "without that utility assistance, many households will sink."

Pulling together enough money for a security deposit is also an expense low-income tenants struggle with, often delaying their entry into housing, Keeser said.

"And the landlord's not going to wait long if you don't have those extra payments  the down payment, the deposits  you're not going to get the apartment," she said.

If a landlord requires a security deposit and first months rent at fair-market rates, a tenant would need to come up with $2,538 to move into a one-bedroom apartment.

The state is also requiring agencies to verify participants income more frequently  annually instead of every other year  and to impose penalties for errors. If a tenants self-reported income is found to be higher during certification, they must repay any underpaid rent.

Agencies used to be able to work with tenants to reach a repayment agreement and schedule. Now, a tenant has 90 days to pay or else they will be terminated from the program.

State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, said the changes reflect difficult decisions lawmakers face as they navigate an uncertain budget year.

Still, she called the stricter repayment rules troublesome, noting that keeping up with all this paperwork is a burden for anyone.

Keeser said the changes could undercut people who have spent years trying to secure stable housing, only to find it slipping out of reach once they finally get help.

"They finally get a voucher they've gone on a waiting list for a few years for, and then find out it's not affordable," she said.
PITTSFIELD  Author and activist Chris Hedges will be the keynote speaker at an event seeking a different approach to the PCB Rest of River cleanup of the Housatonic River.

The Deep Dive Summit, a veteran-led, mission-focused approach to environmental activism, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the United Church of Christ (formerly South Congregational Church) at 114 South St. Tickets are available on a "pay what you can" basis.

The event, described by organizers as a community summit and public confrontation, comes as General Electric Co. is gearing up for construction of the landfill in Lee that will receive lower-level PCB-contaminated sediments from the Housatonic River and its floodplains. The company has launched a website detailing its cleanup plans.

Hedges is the keynote speaker of a program featuring Lee Select Board member Robert Jones, Lee PCB Advisory Committee members Robert Heinzman and Dr. Robert Wespiser, and Eric Wasileski, the local Veterans for Peace chapter president.

U.S. Rep. Seth Mouton, who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Edward Markey, also is expected to speak.

Hedges won a Pulitzer Prize in 2002 as part of The New York Times coverage of Al-Qaeda following the Sept. 11 attacks, and was a foreign correspondent for the Times until resigning in 2005. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister and writes for his own Substack page, The Chris Hedges Report.

Wespiser will address the health impacts of PCBs and the need for more comprehensive testing, while Heinzman will speak on the potential for bioremediation rather than disposal. Jones will recount the history of the current cleanup agreement and how it was reached.

Eric Wasileski, of Pittsfield, an Army and Navy veteran who was deployed to the former Yugoslavia in 1996 and Iraq in 1998, is the the head of Veterans for Peace Daniel Shays Home of the Mohican Chapter 186. He sees its mission as opposing war and the environmental damage done by military manufacturing, and that includes the Housatonic.

Wasileski said the group believes bioremediation  treating PCBs to destroy them or render them harmless, rather than disposing of them in a landfill  is how the cleanup should proceed. Other area local environmental groups have called for treatment rather than removal.

Theres a potential here for a whole new industry, Wasileski said. This needs to happen all across the entire world. Pittsfield is not alone, and the Housatonic is not alone in dealing with the environmental impacts of the military industrial complex.

Wasileski also cited the Clamshell Alliance, a movement opposing the construction of the Seabrook, N.H., nuclear power plant in the 1970s, as a potential model for a grassroots citizen response.

For several years, Clamshell Alliance members repeatedly trespassed on or occupied the Seabrook construction site, leading to thousands of arrests. In the end, only one of the stations two reactors was built.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has signed off on the overall cleanup plan, with officials saying it is protective of human health and the environment and removes PCBs from the river to reduce human exposure. For decades. the river has been posted with warning signs advising against consumption of river fish and waterfowl caught there.

The meeting comes as planning and review of the the Rest of River cleanup, from the confluence of the East and West branches in Pittsfield to Rising Pond in Great Barrington, is inching toward construction.

Site preparation for the landfill, known as the Upland Disposal Facility, began last fall. Final design plans for Reach 5A of the cleanup are expected to be submitted by the end of April. And EPA is reviewing a preliminary design plan for rail sidings in Pittsfield and Lenox that will be used to load and unload contaminated sediments for transport or disposal.

The removal of PCB-contaminated sediments from the Housatonic River and its floodplains was mandated by a consent decree approved by a federal judge in 2000. GE used PCBs in the manufacturing of power transformers in Pittsfield until the late 1970s and disposed of them in the East Branch.

But environmental advocates and Lee residents who did not want a landfill in their town remain dissatisfied with the overall plan.

General Electric challenged the original cleanup plan approved by EPA, which would have hauled all contaminated sediments out of the area. That led to closed-door mediation, which produced the current plan and its insistence on a landfill for more than 1 million cubic yards of sediment averaging less than 50 parts per million of PCBs. Higher-contaminated sediments will be transported out of the region by rail.
Although the Broad Brook dam am has begun to collapse, removing it will still take much work.
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A Zohran Mamdani campaign sign is seen Nov. 3, 2025, outside a grocery store in the Astoria neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Before he was elected mayor of New York, Mamdani represented Astoria in the New York State Assembly.
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Motorica India collaborates with PDUNIPPD to strengthen prosthetics training and clinical capabilities

April 23, 2026 | Thursday | News

Three-day programme focuses on advanced socket design, myoelectric technology and clinical skill development

In a continued effort to strengthen clinical capabilities in prosthetics and rehabilitation, Motorica India recently concluded a three-day Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) programme at Delhi-based Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (DIVYANGJAN) (PDUNIPPD).

The programme, centred on advancements in socket technology for trans-humeral myoelectric prostheses, brought together students, clinicians, prosthetists and orthotists for hands-on learning and practical exposure.

Designed as a collaborative learning initiative, the programme combined PDUNIPPDs clinical expertise with Motoricas technical inputs, allowing participants to engage with contemporary prosthetic systems and understand their practical application in rehabilitation settings.

Through demonstrations, workshops and lab-based sessions, participants were introduced to new approaches in socket design, material selection and device customization, with an emphasis on improving comfort, functionality and long-term adoption for users.

A key highlight was live EMG assessments, facilitated using Motoricas systems, allowing participants to understand how muscle signals are captured and translated into movement. This on-ground exposure enabled a deeper understanding of patient-specific calibration, clinical fitting and rehabilitation.

Sessions progressed from theory to application, covering casting techniques, lamination, fitting trials and functional testing, alongside app-based tuning and patient training simulations that reflect the growing integration of digital tools in prosthetic care.

The CRE programme attracted a diverse audience, including certified prosthetists and orthotists (CPOs), final-year and postgraduate students, and academic faculty from across India.

The initiative forms part of Motoricas broader efforts to engage with the Indian prosthetics ecosystem through education-led programmes. In line with this, the company has introduced an educational initiative under its University of Medical Cybernetics, aimed at creating structured learning opportunities for prosthetics professionals to build relevant competencies and skills. The platform already provides Indian specialists access to online lectures.

By focusing on skill development, clinical exposure and knowledge exchange, such initiatives highlight the role of collaboration between institutions and technology providers in strengthening rehabilitation services in India, while contributing to ongoing efforts to improve the overall quality of prosthetic care.


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There should be more checks on gun owners in an effort to tackle violence against women and girls, MLAs have heard.

Elaine Crory, a womens sector lobbyist for the Womens Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) said coercive control by men can be exacerbated if there is a firearm in the household.

Thirty women have been killed since 2020 in Northern Ireland, seven in the period since the Stormont Executive launched their violence against women and girls strategy in 2024.

Crory launched a report titled The Role of Firearms in Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland which called for a number of measures to bring Northern Ireland in line with guidelines in the rest of the UK.

They include requiring applicants for a firearms licence to provide at least two referees; enhanced disclosure including all previous convictions and offences, cross referenced with any reports of domestic abuse with a current or past partner; and new full cost recovery fees for firearms and shotgun certificates, significantly increasing costs for licences and renewals.

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Crory told MLAs on Northern Ireland's Justice Committee there are currently around 53,000 active licences in Northern Ireland, corresponding to over 100,000 firearms, and 97 per cent of firearm owners are men.

However, due to the ongoing impact of paramilitaries in the region and general criminality there is an unknown quantity of firearms actually circulating.

The dangers of coercive control are heightened by the presence of a weapon, MLAs were told (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Crory said for women facing domestic abuse at the hands of a man the coercive control is intense, and so we can only imagine thats exacerbated if theres a weapon in the house.

Chairman of the Justice committee, DUP MLA Paul Frew, said he had concerns about the research as a representative of the rural constituency of North Antrim and said the police are super sensitive around this.

If theres a pink flag raised by a member of the public, ringing Crimestoppers, or 999, or 101, those firearms, 99 times out of 100 will be lifted before any other conversations had, he said.

And so I do think that at the minute, I would be content out there with regards to the regime, the way the police respond, and quite legitimately, I must say, when there is flags or concerns.

He added: Theres real passions going on here and people love their sport and their guns. I see the current licensing system as one, as being really robust.

Crory said the licensing regime as it stands considers the fitness, physical and mental of and it considers that persons criminal record, but it doesnt consider do they live with somebody who perhaps has reported domestic abuse.

DUP MLA Paul Frew, said he had concerns about the research, adding the police are super sensitive around this (PA)

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone said Crory wouldnt want a message going out, youre demonising legitimate firearms holders.

Many of whom are passionate about their sports, passionate about their guns, passionate about what they do, and also are among the most law abiding in society because they do not want to jeopardise their sport, he said.

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The researcher responded that her report has no intention to demonise anyone and the majority of licence holders have never so much as squashed a fly on purpose.

The issue is, are there loopholes that are allowing people to fly under the radar, I suppose, and use to cover the fact that we have a system by which you can acquire a firearm legally, to hold in their in their possession, the means to coercively control their partner or children, in many cases, in some of these reports, for decades and centuries, she said.

The rate of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland has been compared to other countries in Europe and across the UK.

Sinn Fein MLA Emma Sheerin said the real cause of femicide here is misogyny, the hatred of women and asked what impacts of being a post-conflict society and the normalisation of violence has had on that.

Crory said she would love to have the force of the university and the reach of the university and funding of the university to do a piece of work on this and her resources were limited to the cost of printing reports.
A meeting of a panel assessing the decision to dismiss Enoch Burke from his job will go ahead on Friday despite attempts by the former teacher to secure a High Court injunction to prevent it from happening.

A Disciplinary Appeals Panel (DAP) oral hearing is due to take place at 10am on Friday, but Mr Burke said it should be halted until a decision is reached by the Court of Appeal in another matter relating to his dispute with Wilsons Hospital School.

In the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Michael OConnell refused the application as proceedings stretched into 7pm in the evening.

The judge also granted a production order so that Mr Burke would be brought to the disciplinary hearing.

Enoch Burke (right) leaving the Court of Appeal in Dublin on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA)

The former history and German teacher has been engaged in a legal dispute with the Co Westmeath school since 2022.

He was suspended following incidents arising from a request from the schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun, and later dismissed from his position.

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Mr Burke has repeatedly argued the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

He has spent more than 650 days in prison after he was found to have violated court orders instructing him not to trespass at the school.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal heard arguments from Mr Burke as he sought to overturn a May 2023 High Court ruling by Mr Justice Alexander Owens which found his suspension from the school was lawful.

Isaac, Martina, and Ammi Burke (Niall Carson/PA)

In normal circumstances, litigants have 28 days to file an appeal to a High Court decision after an order is perfected, the date it is formalised.

Appearing in front of the three-judge panel, Mr Burke said he did not bring his appeal in time because he was involved in other litigation, was in prison for much of the period since the ruling and had lost confidence in the Court of Appeal following a previous judgment.

He said he was appealing against the judgment because it had not taken his constitutional rights into consideration or properly examined the legality of the principals instructions.

He also referred to a statement the Department of Education gave to The Irish Times in January, which said schools are not legally obliged to use students preferred pronouns.

Enoch Burke outside Wilsons Hospital School (Brian Lawless/PA)

The lawyer representing the schools board of management, Rosemary Mallon, challenged his request and said the two-and-a-half year delay was extraordinary, she said there was a need for finality in the matter.

Ms Mallon argued Mr Owens decision was not a declaration as to the lawfulness of the principals direction or instruction, but about the lawfulness of the decision to suspend.

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She also said Mr Burke had the opportunity to make arguments at the time, but he was disorderly and in persistent contempt of court, and was asked to leave the court.

She also said the statement from the Department of Education was simply be a view expressed by the department and not binding for the courts.

The first judge scheduled to hear the injunction on Thursday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan, recused himself from the case after hearing arguments from Mr Burke.

He had argued the judge should remove himself from making a decision on the injunction on the grounds of objective bias.

In a previous judgment, Mr Cregan had referred to Mr Burke as not a credible witness, and Mr Burke said this, and other comments the judge made pushing for the DAP to be heard, supported his case.

Enoch Burke outside Wilsons Hospital School in Co Westmeath (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Cregan said that he did not agree with Mr Burkes arguments but said not only does justice need to be done, it needs to be seen to be done adding especially in this case.

Addressing the High Court on Thursday for the purposes of the appeal, Mr Burke said the issues before the Court of Appeal and to be discussed by the DAP were closely relevant and connected to the issues.

He said the issue of the legitimacy of the principals instructions was the kernel of what the DAP is to consider and central to his case in front of the Court of Appeal.

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I am going to be sitting in front of three members of DAP who are relying on Judge Owens judgment, Mr Burke said, adding that there is a huge question mark over Mr Owens judgment and he is awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal.

Tomorrow, if this injunction is not granted, the DAP will be sitting down to decide a question of law, a question of constitutional law, he said.

He argued the issue should only be decided by the courts and not the lay people who make up the DAP.

He said the panel usually only decides on matters of fact, not matters of law.

Enoch Burke at the High Court (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Burke said he had written to the DAP three times since late March requesting an adjournment of the meeting.

Padraic Lyons SC, for the DAP, said Mr Burkes submission was untenable, misconceived and there is no basis for it.

He said that if the hearing were to go ahead, it doesnt mean he (Mr Burke) is shut out from further legal review.

If the DAP made a decision, based on a judgment that was then overturned, Mr Burke could have it corrected for legal error, Mr Lyons said.

He also said Mr Burke had not brought proceedings in the correct manner, despite being a vastly experienced litigant who he knows exactly what he is doing.

Mr Lyons said Mr Burke was informed of the hearing date on March 26, he was told on April 7 that all his objections had been rejected.

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He said he had ample time to apply for an injunction but waited until the eve of the hearing.

Enoch Burke at the High Court, Dublin, arriving with family members including his brother Isaac (left), mother Martina (second left), and sister Ammi (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Justice OConnell said he was satisfied that the judgment of Mr Owens never amounted to a final determination of the issue about the validity of the instruction given by the principal.

In refusing the injunction, he said he did not believe the DAP had to delay its hearing due to the Court of Appeal proceedings.

Five other members of the Burke family were in court on Thursday: his mother Martina, as well as his brothers Isaac and Simeon and sisters Ammi and Jemima.

Ireland Man (50s) dies after house fire in Cork Read more

After Mr Lyons argued against a further delay, Mr Burke responded and said the panels work had already been delayed for three years.

Mr Burke argued the delay was down to conduct of his (Mr Lyons) clients, stating a previous member refused to resign from the panel for two years and two further members resigned earlier this year.

The current DAP is the third iteration of the panel and is made up of Claire Callanan, John Irwin, and Seamus Lahart.
New offering helps independent contractors structure their business to reduce their tax burden from day one

NEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 1-800Accountant, the nation's leading virtual accounting firm for small businesses, announced the launch of a new service offering built specifically for 1099 workers and independent contractors. The service helps freelancers and self-employed professionals work with an accountant to select the right business setup for their income, with a focus on reducing taxes from the start.

Growth Is Outpacing Tax Readiness

1-800Accountant's Logo

Independent contractor work has grown significantly in recent years. 1-800Accountant's client data shows sharp year-over-year growth across contractor-heavy industries, with Consulting up 17%, Construction up 10%, and Service-sector clients growing more than 200% compared to 2024. Despite this growth, many contractors continue to overpay their taxes because they operate without a formal business structure in place or the right tax election.

The gap is particularly visible in industries like Healthcare, Engineering, and Legal, where LLC adoption among 1-800Accountant clients sits at 81%, 72%, and 71%, respectively, well below the 90%-plus rates seen in higher-adoption industries like Construction and Real Estate. 1-800Accountant's new business tax optimization service closes that gap by matching contractors with the right business type while ensuring their business is set up correctly before they file their first return.

"Independent contractors continue to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the American workforce, and they are also among the most underserved when it comes to strategic tax planning," said Mike Savage, Founder and CEO of 1-800Accountant. "That lack of planning means that most 1099 workers don't realize how much they're leaving on the table. This service changes that. We're giving contractors access to the same strategic advantages that established businesses have, ensuring the right business setup from the beginning."

Tax Strategy Built In from Day One

These services walk clients through a structured process that includes accountant-recommended business types, registering with the appropriate state agencies, and coordinating with an accountant to ensure alignment between the structure and the client's specific tax situation. 1-800Accountant integrates business setup for 1099 earners into a broader tax strategy tailored around each contractor's income level, filing status, and long-term goals.

"What sets us apart is the tax strategy layer," said Ryan Teeples, Chief of Strategy at 1-800Accountant. "What contractors and gig workers actually need are professionals to help them understand which tax setup makes the most sense for their income, their industry, and where they want their business to go. Then, we do the work to save on both their business and personal taxes. That's what we're delivering here."

The service is available now to new and existing 1-800Accountant clients. Pricing starts at $19 per month (plus any government filing fees) and includes business setup evaluation, tax return preparation and filing, state registration, federal registration, simple-to-use AI bookkeeping software, and a consultation with a tax expert for onboarding and explanation of their individual tax situation.

About 1-800Accountant

1-800Accountant is the nation's leading virtual accounting firm for small businesses and independent contractors. With a team of credentialed accountants and tax professionals, 1-800Accountant provides bookkeeping, tax preparation, tax planning, and advisory services to clients across all 50 states. The firm is committed to making professional accounting accessible and affordable for business owners at every stage.

Contact: Wyatt Johnson

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920-807-9159 | [email protected]

SOURCE 1-800Accountant
Thousands of artworks are going on sale for a charity fundraiser where buyers will not know who the artist is until after their purchase.

For 75, buyers could get a 68 inch postcard-size artwork from famous artists including Irish author and environmentalist Don Conroy or fashion designer William Costelloe.

Costelloe is taking part in the fundraiser after the death of his father Paul last year.

The Incognito art sale is in aid of the Jack And Jill Foundation, which provides support for children with neuro-developmental delay.

To date, the project has raised more than 1.2 million in funds to support vital in-home nursing and respite care provided by the charity.

This years incognito online art sale is taking place in aid of the Jack And Jill Childrens Foundation (Jack And Jill Childrens Foundation/PA)

Jack And Jill provides nursing care and respite support to families caring for children up to the age of six, with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs.

These may include children with brain injury, a genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy and undiagnosed conditions.

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This years sale contains 1,926 artworks in a project that has raised 1.4 million euro for families over ten years.

The sale begins on Wednesday and ends on May 20, when the artists will be revealed.

For William Costelloe, who is the creative director at Paul Costelloe following the death of his father last November, it was so important to continue his fathers support for Jack And Jill.

Dad was a father of seven and he absolutely loved children, he said.

He always had such a love for me and my brothers, and especially for my sister Jessica and, of course, his grandchildren.

Meeting the beautiful children that he connected with through Jack And Jill, and incognito, he was just so honoured to be part of that journey and to help raise awareness.

Ive been working with Jack And Jill for a number of years now on the design of their coveted Christmas candles and it was really important for me to keep up that association.

I studied fine art and love to work in water colours, because you really capture small scenes and beautiful moments so easily.

Whether its people enjoying a glass of wine over dinner, or lounging on the beach, its something that a camera cant capture.

I think people generally just love the light brushstrokes too.

Theyre almost romantic.

I think incognito is incredibly unique.

I dont know anyone else who actually does this and I think people love a surprise.

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It really is a treasure hunt and brings joy to people.

Its so important that the money keeps coming in for Jack and Jill, because parents need the help and the children need the help.

As for a hint to my pieces, lets just say they are very fashion forward!

One of the original 1,926 postcard artworks (Jack And Jill Childrens Foundation/PA)

Don Conroy said: For me, incognito is such a truly worthy cause  one that not only highlights the incredible work of Jack and Jill, and the talented artists who support it, but which also gives the public a meaningful way to contribute while enjoying an original work of art.

On the one hand, theres such joy in buying a piece of art, and with it the added element of mystery.

On the other hand, theres the essential, human contact, and the wonderful reassurance and profound healing, that Jack and Jill nursing and care teams provide by their very presence.

When it comes to this years incognito art collection, theres such a cross-section of talent, from the professional to the enthusiastic amateur.

Its really lovely to see how alive and well the creative expression is in its many forms. When it comes to my own artworks this year, I can divulge that one of my pieces may reveal my romantic side! Happy investigating!

Hannah McGrenera, from Bishopstown, Cork, is mum to five-year-old Mila Beukers and is also one of the artists.

It was October 2020 and Mila was rushed to Cork University Hospital after her first night at home, as she wasnt feeding and an alarm bell went off in my head. Mila spent her first month in ICU, battling seizures, she said.

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What struck me was the quietness in ICUfull of babies and yet no crying.

After months of tests, doctors diagnosed Mila with KCNQ2 Encephalopathy, a rare genetic condition causing severe epilepsy and developmental delays.

After a year, Mila was discharged, the hospital having exhausted its options.

I remember thinkinghow was I going to manage things by myself when there was a whole nursing team in the hospital. I was scared, defeated and totally hopeless; it was the darkest time of my life. Thats when Jack and Jill stepped in. While everything around me was uncertain, they were my rock.

For 75, buyers could get a 6-8 inch postcard-size artwork from famous artists (Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation/PA)

For the chief executive of the Jack And Jill Childrens Foundation, Deirdre Walsh, said Incognito has meant more children can be cared for, for longer.

Since incognito started, it has made such a real-world impact for the work that we are able to do, she said.

In those ten years, we have gone from supporting children up to the age of five years, to six years, and now to seven years.

Last year, for the first time, we introduced a counselling service for all families too, providing additional support.

Artists tell me that it is a real badge of honour to see their art showcased, while for the art buyer, there is the thrill in securing a treasured piece of art.

Ultimately, what both artist and art buyer delight in is what their support means for parents  time for much-needed sleep, or time for coffee with a friend, or perhaps time to take a sibling to see a movie or go to a match.

We are so grateful to the artists for giving, and to the public for buying, as the gift of time makes a significant difference for Jack And Jill families.
A man has died following a fire in the emergency department of a Belfast hospital.

The incident occurred at the Royal Victoria Hospital, when the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) was called to a blaze on the ground floor at around 6.50pm on Wednesday.

A PSNI statement said: A man in his 30s has since passed away in hospital.

This is being treated as a sudden death and not suspicious at this time.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: The thoughts and sympathies of Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are with the loved ones of a man who died following a fire at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire at 6.43pm yesterday.

Two appliances from Springfield Fire Station, one appliance from Central Fire Station, one appliance from Cadogan Fire Station and one appliance from Whitla Fire Station attended the incident.

The fire was extinguished prior to NIFRS arrival.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus ventilated the premises and used gas monitors to ensure readings were normal.

One male casualty, aged in his 30s, tragically died as a result of the incident.

The scene was handed over to the PSNI and firefighters left the incident at 9.02pm.
Several new additional lines of inquiry have emerged in recent months as part of the Garda investigation into the violent death of a young man from England while he was on holiday in the west of Ireland nine years ago, an inquest has heard.

Joe Deacy (21) from St Albans in Hertfordshire died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on August 13th, 2017, from injuries he had sustained the previous day in Swinford, Co Mayo.

The victim, who had strong family ties with the west of Ireland, had initially been treated at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar, where he was brought after being discovered lying on the ground outside a house at 6.30am on August 12th, 2017, by a passing cyclist.

Gardai launched a murder investigation after post-mortem results showed he had suffered blunt force trauma to the head.

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Inspector Naomi de Ris told a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court this week that the senior investigating officer in the case had informed her that recent extra lines of inquiry had emerged.

Insp de Ris told coroner, Crona Gallagher that such lines were being actively pursued.

She also told the brief hearing which was attended by Deacys mother, Alison Thebold, by video link, that there was ongoing contact between gardai and the victims family.

Insp de Ris said a family liaison officer was keeping Deacys relatives apprised of any developments in the case.

At a previous preliminary sitting of the inquest in November 2022, it was revealed that several witnesses who were living outside Ireland still had to be interviewed by gardai.

Deacy, who considered himself to be from Mayo  the home county of his paternal grandparents  was a regular visitor to the west of Ireland, where he stayed with relatives and had applied for an Irish passport shortly before his death.

He had spent the evening before he was assaulted socialising in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, before being dropped with his friend to the house in Swinford where he was later found.

He had sent a video via social media to his second cousin, Michelle Deacy, with whom he had been staying, at around 3.45am, but what happened over the next few hours remains unclear.

Other individuals in the house on the night have strenuously denied knowing anything about events that led to Deacys death.

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Two people  a male and a female  were arrested in 2024 on suspicion of withholding information from gardai.

The deceaseds parents, Adrian Deacy and Alison Theobold, have issued a number of public appeals for people with information about their sons death to pass on details of what they know to gardai.

Insp de Ris applied for a further adjournment of the inquest for six months under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings are being considered.

Dr Gallagher granted the application and listed the case for a further update on October 13th.

However, she asked gardai to inform the coroners office if matters had progressed during the interval.

Last October, Brendan Rowland (30) was given an 18-month suspended sentence at a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court for operating an orchestrated and malevolent greeting-card campaign of harassment against a Co Mayo couple outside whose home Deacys body was found.

The victims, Peter and Ann Byrne of Gortnasillagh, Swinford, Co Mayo, told the court that they had been subject to a hate campaign for years, despite having nothing to do with Deacys death.

Ireland Girl charged with fatal assault on Scarlett Faulkner to undergo psychological assessment Read more

They pointed out that they had done what they could to help the deceased that night.

The court heard that Rowland, a close friend of Deacys, had been forensically linked to 14 of 40 messages contained in Christmas cards, birthday cards, Mother's Day cards as well as a black rose on their wedding anniversary card sent to the couple over a 12-month period up to December 2019.

Most of the cards contained a signature from Joe or Joseph.

Rowland, a construction worker who comes originally from Ballygaravaun, Ballycroy, Co Mayo, but with an address in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, had 11 previous convictions from courts in the UK.
A judge has described as very disturbing an assault in which the victim was punched, pulled to the ground and kicked.

Aidan Daniels (30) and Adam Kelly (21), with an address at Rochdale, Honeypark, Monkstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault with intent to cause bodily harm at the Daybreak shop in Loughlinstown, Dublin, on June 23rd, 2025.

Garda Sinead Whelan told Edward Doocey, prosecuting, that a member of the public anonymously called gardai after witnessing the attack on a man outside the shop.

The victim declined to make any statement to gardai, but the defendants were identified from CCTV of the attack.

Viewing this footage in court, Judge Martina Baxter said: This is very disturbing.

The footage showed Kelly punching and kneeing the victim as he slides to the ground.

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She said the victim is then defenceless on the ground and being dragged by his hoodie with one of the men dragging him by his leg.

Judge Baxter noted that one of the men is seen trying to stamp on the victim's head.

Gda Whelan testified that the victim was punched, kneed, kicked and stamped on multiple times. When he is lying on the ground, he is trying to protect his head from the blows.

Kelly's 38 previous convictions include theft, drug dealing, criminal damage and careless driving. He was on a suspended sentence imposed in February 2025 when he carried out this assault.

Daniels has 18 previous convictions, including possession of a flick knife, aggravated burglary and taking vehicles. Most of these are from the UK, where Daniels lived up to 2018, before he moved here.

At the time of the assault, he was out on bail for other offences which are still before the courts. Both men were arrested on July 17th last, and bail was refused.

Shaun Smyth, defending Daniels, said his client went into care at a young age. He accepts now that this was a horrific offence and is remorseful.

Ireland Man (31) appears in court over assault of priest in Ennis Cathedral Read more

He said the father of three, including a newborn, plans to engage with his family when he gets out of custody.

Carol Doherty, defending Kelly, said this harrowing, violent episode was out of character with his previous non-violent offending.

She provided the court with a letter from his partner, who has just given birth to their first child. His partner believes that Kelly's perspective on life has changed now with the birth of his son, counsel told the court.

Judge Baxter ordered reports from the prison governors on both defendants and adjourned sentencing to May 1st next.
US President Donald Trump has said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House on Thursday.

Mr Trump said the meeting between Israels and Lebanons ambassadors to the United States went very well.

The meeting was the second high-level negotiation between the two countries since last week.

The initial 10-day ceasefire, which took effect last Friday, had been due to expire Monday.

Mr Trump greeted Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad and her Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter on their arrival. In addition to Mr Trump, the US was represented by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counsellor Michael Needham, ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.



Marco Rubio, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Mr Trump said he will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in the near future.

The latest war started when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran.

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Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion in which it captured dozens of towns and villages along the border.

Israels military currently occupies a buffer zone stretching as much as 10km (six miles) into southern Lebanon. Israel says it aims to remove the threat of short-range rockets and anti-tank missiles being fired toward northern Israel.

Since the earlier ceasefire went into effect last week, there have been multiple violations by both side sides.

On Wednesday, Amal Khalil, a well-known Lebanese journalist covering southern Lebanon, was killed by an Israeli strike.

Lebanese health officials said the Israeli military opened fire on an ambulance that responded to the scene, preventing rescuers from reaching her. Her body was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building several hours later.

The Israeli military denied that it had deliberately targeted journalists or fired on rescuers, but the case sparked widespread anger in Lebanon ahead of the Washington talks.

After a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Lebanons Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said the government is working on a report documenting alleged war crimes by Israel and that ministers had discussed joining the International Criminal Court.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war has killed around 2,300 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of women and children, and displaced more than one million people.

Last weeks talks were the first between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. Both countries have relied on indirect communication, often brokered by the US or Unifil, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Lebanons top political authorities, critical of Hezbollahs decision to fire rockets toward Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, quickly proposed direct talks in a bid to stop the escalation, hoping Israel would not launch its ground invasion.
Keir Starmer has accused his opponents of making politically motivated allegations about the Mandelson vetting scandal.

It comes after the British Prime Minister said he had been exonerated over accusations he misled MPs by evidence from Olly Robbins  the former British foreign office chief he sacked last week.

Starmer was asked whether he had considered resigning during a visit to Newcastle on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and deputy leader of the Labour Party Lucy Powell at the Newcastle United Foundation Community Centre in Newcastle (Owen Humphreys/PA)

He said: Last week, my political opponents were saying that theres no way a civil servant wouldnt have told me about the outcome of a developed vetting security exercise.

Turns out my political opponents were completely wrong about that.

Then they said that I was dishonest.

It turns out they were completely wrong about that.

They are now putting any allegation they can and I will tell you for why  they are opposed politically to what this Government is trying to achieve.

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is said to be pressing for his referral to the Privileges Committee claiming he misled MPs, The Times reported.

Kemi Badenoch has suggested Keir Starmer misled the Commons (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

The same committee found former British prime minister Boris Johnson lied to the Commons over so-called partygate.

The Tory leader has suggested Starmer misled the Commons when he said due process had been followed in the appointment of Lord Mandelson as British ambassador to the US, according to the newspaper.

Amid reports of a split behind the scenes, the Prime Minister said his Cabinet was working really hard to counter the impact on the UK of the wars in Ukraine and Iran.

Starmer also repeated that he thought Robbins was wrong not to have told him the outcome of the so-called developed vetting process and insisted that as prime minister he could have been passed the top secret information.

I strongly think that the outcome of the security clearance exercise, the developed vetting exercise, was important and should have been brought to my attention, and could have been brought to my attention, and had it been brought to my attention before Peter Mandelson took up his post, I wouldnt have appointed him, he said.

Senior civil servant Cat Little earlier told MPs due process was followed in the vetting process.

The British Cabinet Office permanent secretary has been uncovering documents related to the peers appointment to the role being released under the humble address process forced by MPs in February.

Cat Little answered questions at the Foreign Affairs Committee (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

She answered questions at the Foreign Affairs Committee after Robbins appeared before the same group of MPs earlier this week.

Little said: So my view is that due process was followed, and if I might explain why I believe that, it is because the process as Ive outlined to the committee is that UKSV (UK Security Vetting) make a recommendation and the Foreign Office make a decision as to whether to grant DV (developed vetting).

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That is the process, and that is the process that is agreed with the Foreign Office.

Little found out on March 25th that Mandelson had been granted high-level security clearance despite vetting officials recommending against it.

But she did not tell the British Prime Minister until several weeks later on April 14th, as she first sought expert legal advice about how to deal with such sensitive information.

Little said Robbins had refused to share vetting information with her and that she then took the very unusual decision to request it from security officials directly.

I felt that I needed to see some relevant documentation so that I could advise the Prime Minister as to whether we had fully complied and gathered the information that was available and within scope, she said.

Meanwhile, Labour backbenchers have openly voiced doubts about Starmer's future since it emerged last week the British Foreign Office decided to appoint Mandelson despite the fact he failed the vetting process.

However, junior minister Alex Norris on Thursday said claims of a Cabinet split over the scandal are a load of guff and insisted Starmer would lead Labour into the next election.

On Wednesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden repeatedly declined to say whether he believed the sacking of Robbins was fair.

Starmer's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has also been summoned to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee next week.

The British Prime Minister is under further pressure ahead of Mays elections for English councils and the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

YouGov projections indicated Labour was on course for disastrous results in its former London and Welsh strongholds.
SAN DIEGO, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbisko Therapeutics (HKEX: 02256) announced that the company presented six latest preclinical and translational research findings in poster sessions at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, held from April 17 to 22, 2026, in San Diego, USA.

The presentations span multiple key innovation areas, including the pan-KRAS inhibitor ABSK211, the 4th generation EGFR inhibitor ABK-EGFR-1, the CDK4 selective inhibitor ABK-CDK4, the MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor ABSK131, as well as a ctDNA-based study investigating resistance mechanisms to the FGFR2/3 inhibitor ABSK061.

pan-KRAS Inhibitor ABSK211

ABSK211 is a potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable small-molecule pan-KRAS inhibitor developed by Abbisko Therapeutics. It demonstrates broad inhibitory activity against multiple KRAS mutations, addressing significant unmet medical needs in KRAS-driven cancers. At AACR 2026, Abbisko presented preclinical data for both monotherapy and combination strategies of ABSK211.

Monotherapy: Broad and Potent Inhibition Across KRAS Mutations

KRAS mutations are highly prevalent across multiple cancers, including pancreatic (~90%), colorectal (~35%), and lung cancer (~25%). While several pan-KRAS inhibitors have entered clinical development, there remains a critical need for enhanced potency.

In preclinical studies, ABSK211 demonstrated:

Robust in vitro activity: ABSK211 significantly reduced cell viability across multiple KRAS alterations (including G12, G13, Q61, and WT amplification) at sub-nanomolar to nanomolar concentrations. Meanwhile ABSK211 displayed marginal inhibition in KRAS wild-type cell line with normal copy.

Strong in vivo efficacy: Oral administration induced deep tumor regression in multiple KRAS G12V xenograft models, with robust target engagement.

Broad mutation coverage: Consistent and significant antitumor activity was observed in models harboring KRAS G12D/C/S and G13D mutations.

These findings support the clinical advancement of ABSK211, which is currently undergoing IND-enabling studies.

Poster Information

Title: Preclinical characterization of ABSK211: A highly potent, orally bioavailable and selective pan-KRAS inhibitor with broad and robust activity in KRAS-driven tumors

Time: April 22, 2026, 9:00 AM  12:00 PM (PT)

Location: Poster Section 13, Board #10

Abstract #: 7090

Combination Therapy: Multi-Mechanistic Synergy Enhances Antitumor Activity

Combination therapy is widely considered a key strategy to improve treatment outcomes in KRAS-mutant cancers. ABSK211 demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity with multiple therapeutic agents:

In vitro synergy: Significant anti-proliferative synergy with PRMT5 inhibitors across KRAS mutations; strong synergy observed with EGFR monoclonal antibodies and chemotherapy in KRAS G12D/G12V models.

Enhanced in vivo efficacy: Combination regimens with PRMT5 inhibitors, cetuximab, immunotherapies, and chemotherapy showed superior tumor growth inhibition and improved durability compared to monotherapy.

These results demonstrate that ABSK211 can significantly enhance antitumor efficacy through multi-mechanistic synergy, supporting its further development in combination strategies.

Poster Information

Title: ABSK211, a highly potent and orally available pan-KRAS inhibitor, demonstrates robust antitumor efficacy in combination with multiple agents

Time: April 22, 2026, 9:00 AM  12:00 PM (PT)

Location: Poster Section 13, Board #3

Abstract #: 7083

4th Generation EGFR Inhibitor ABK-EGFR-1

ABK-EGFR-1 is a novel 4th generation EGFR inhibitor developed by Abbisko Therapeutics, specifically designed to target the EGFR C797S resistance mutation. It combines high selectivity with central nervous system (CNS) penetration to address key clinical challenges following resistance to 3rd generation EGFR TKIs.

Targeting C797S-Mediated Resistance

The EGFR C797S mutation is a clinically validated mechanism of resistance to third-generation EGFR TKIs, with an estimated 51,000146,000 cases annually worldwide. Currently, no approved therapies specifically target this mutation, representing a significant unmet clinical need. Preclinical studies showed that ABK-EGFR-1:

Exhibits high selectivity over wild-type EGFR and other kinases.

Demonstrates significant in vivo antitumor activity in multiple EGFR C797S-driven xenograft models, effectively inhibiting tumor growth.

Possesses excellent blood-brain barrier penetration and favorable drug-like properties.

These findings support further development of ABK-EGFR-1 as a next-generation targeted therapy for EGFR-resistant cancers, particularly for patients with brain metastases.

Poster Information

Title: Discovery and characterization of ABK-EGFR-1, a 4 th generation EGFR C797S Inhibitor with excellent selectivity and brain penetration

generation EGFR C797S Inhibitor with excellent selectivity and brain penetration Time: April 21, 2026, 2:00 PM  5:00 PM (PT)

Location: Poster Section 53, Board #7

Abstract #: LB350

CDK4 Selective Inhibitor ABK-CDK4

ABK-CDK4 is a highly selective, brain-penetrant small-molecule CDK4 inhibitor developed by Abbisko Therapeutics. It is designed to selectively target CDK4, reduce CDK6-related toxicity, and expand treatment potential for patients with brain metastases.

Differentiation Through Selectivity and CNS Penetration

1st generation CDK4/6 inhibitors (e.g., palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib) have demonstrated clinical benefit in breast cancer, but CDK6 inhibition is associated with dose-limiting hematologic toxicities. In addition, 2040% of breast cancer patients develop brain metastases, while current therapies have limited CNS exposure.

Preclinical studies showed that ABK-CDK4:

High selectivity: Over 50-fold selectivity for CDK4 versus CDK6, potentially reducing CDK6-related toxicity.

CNS penetration: Favorable CNS exposure (Kpuu > 0.5) and drug-like properties.

Antitumor activity: Effective inhibition of Rb phosphorylation and tumor growth in HR+/HER2 breast cancer models

These results suggest that ABK-CDK4 may overcome key limitations of current CDK4/6 inhibitors and provide a differentiated therapeutic option.

Poster Information

Title: Discovery of ABK-CDK4, a selective and brain-penetrant CDK4 inhibitor

Time: April 20, 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PT)

Location: Poster Section 20, Board #13

Abstract #: 1905

MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor ABSK131

ABSK131 is a potent and selective small-molecule MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor developed by Abbisko Therapeutics, targeting MTAP-deleted tumors, and is currently in clinical development.

Broad Synergy Across Multiple Therapeutic Modalities

MTAP homozygous deletion occurs in approximately 1015% of solid tumors and frequently co-exists with oncogenic drivers such as KRAS and EGFR. In addition, MTAP abnormities are associated with poor prognosis following standard-of-care therapies across multiple cancer types. Therefore, there remains a significant unmet need for novel and effective combination therapies centered on MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor for MTAP-deleted tumors, with the potential to enable precision patient stratification and deliver synergistic therapeutic benefits.

Preclinical studies demonstrated that ABSK131 exhibits strong synergistic activity with multiple therapies:

KRAS inhibitors: Enhanced tumor growth inhibition in KRAS-mutant, MTAP-deleted models when combined with AMG 510 or ABSK141.

EGFR inhibitors: Improved anti-proliferative and in vivo antitumor activity in EGFR-mutant, MTAP-deleted NSCLC models when combined with osimertinib.

MAT2A inhibitors: Consistent synergistic effects across multiple tumor models when combined with IDE397.

Chemotherapy: Synergistic activity observed both in vitro and in vivo when combined with carboplatin in NSCLC models.

These findings support ABSK131 as a potential backbone therapy for combination strategies in MTAP-deleted tumors.

Poster Information

Title: Synergistic antitumor activity of the MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor ABSK131 in combination with multiple therapeutic agents in diverse cancer models

Time: April 21, 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PT)

Location: Poster Section 14, Board #23

Abstract #: 4504

FGFR2/3 Inhibitor ABSK061

ABSK061 is a highly potent and selective small-molecule FGFR2/3 inhibitor developed by Abbisko Therapeutics. It has demonstrated encouraging efficacy and safety in Phase I studies and is currently being evaluated in a Phase II trial for gastric cancer.

ctDNA Analysis Reveals Resistance Mechanisms

Acquired resistance remains a major challenge limiting the long-term benefit of targeted therapies. Using ctDNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS), Abbisko conducted longitudinal genomic analyses comparing baseline and progression samples to elucidate resistance mechanisms to ABSK061:

On-target resistance: Polyclonal acquired FGFR2 mutations in the FGFR2 kinase domain were commonly observed in gastric cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.

Off-target resistance: FGFR2-Atered NSCLC was prone to develop acquired alterations in genes involved in RTK/RAS pathways.

These findings provide important molecular insights into resistance mechanisms and inform the design of future combination and sequential treatment strategies.

Poster Information

Title: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based profiling of acquired resistance to the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)2/3 inhibitor lavengratinib(ABSK061) in patient(pt)s with advanced solid tumors

Time: April 21, 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PT)

Location: Poster Section 45, Board #14

Abstract #: 5319

At AACR 2026, Abbisko Therapeutics showcased the latest preclinical and translational research advances across multiple pipeline programs, demonstrating its strong capabilities in drug discovery and development. As these programs continue to advance into clinical stages, the company is further strengthening its globally competitive R&D platform.

Looking ahead, Abbisko Therapeutics will continue to focus on addressing unmet medical needs and accelerating the translation of innovative discoveries into clinical applications, with the goal of delivering more first-in-class and best-in-class therapies to patients worldwide.

SOURCE Abbisko Therapeutics
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Dalaroo dives offshore for critical minerals in Greenland Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Murray Ward April 23, 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

Dalaroo Metals is taking a fresh look at the critical minerals potential of south-west Greenland, moving beyond the shoreline to test whether the ocean floor holds a massive accumulation of rare earths and heavy minerals. The company has expanded its Blue Lagoon project footprint by securing additional highly prospective licence areas that cover nearshore and offshore environments adjacent to its existing tenure. Dalaroo Metals is set to explore the seabed near its Blue Lagoon critical minerals project in south-west Greenland. Dalaroo plans to target coastal and shallow marine sedimentary environments, built on a geological model that views the local landscape as a giant natural sluice box. The company says the constant weathering of upstream alkaline and granitic rocks is releasing valuable minerals, such as zirconium, niobium, hafnium and other rare earth elements downstream.

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This positions Dalaroo to assess what could represent a significantly larger sediment-hosted critical minerals system. Dalaroo Mining chief executive officer John Morgan The dense minerals are then carried by rain and runoff through natural drainage channels, passing through the primary lagoon and eventually being deposited in the sea. The company believes the fresh licence areas may be potential accumulators of heavy minerals. Dalaroos theory suggests that as the energy of flowing water decreases, dense minerals settle into natural traps on the sea floor. The new licences will allow Dalaroo to evaluate what it believes could potentially be a district-scale, sediment-hosted critical minerals system. Dalaroo Mining chief executive officer John Morgan said: Expanding the Blue Lagoon project is a logical step in testing the broader scale potential of this emerging system.

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Its looks a savvy move by the company to secure areas covering extensions of already outlined key drainage pathways and coastal seabed trap zones, which could add fresh district scale potential. For Dalaroo, the next logical step is to test its model by chasing the critical minerals trail it has already identified across its onshore holdings. Whilst its Arctic exploration is currently stealing the spotlight, Dalaroo is far from a one-trick pony. The company has been rapidly evolving from its Western Australian roots into a geographically diversified multi-commodity explorer. In Cote dIvoire, the company is putting its foot down on gold projects within the world-class Birimian Greenstone Belt. Early-stage work there has already hit the mark, uncovering a series of significant mineralised trends that highlight the regions golden potential. Back on home soil, Dalaroo is keeping boots on the ground. At its Namban project in Western Australias wheatbelt, the company is chasing nickel-copper-platinum group elements. Namban is 80 kilometres north of Chalice Minings giant 30-million-ounce palladium equivalent Julimar discovery and sits in the same geological setting.

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At the companys Lyons River project in the Gascoyne, Dalaroo is hunting a diverse mineral bounty across its 838-square-kilometre holding, with gold leading the charge. Next steps for Dalaroo are all about getting a better look at what lies beneath the waves at Blue Lagoon. The company says its preparing a suite of low-impact exploration toolkits, including bathymetric and depth profiling surveys alongside geochemical sampling. Notably, the company plans to use Van Veen grab sampling, a method that uses a mechanical clamshell device lowered from a vessel to collect undisturbed surface sediment samples from the seabed. The recovered samples will then be analysed, allowing the company to determine the potential size and continuity of the system. Its a clever bit of geological detective work from the Dalaroo. By following the trail of minerals from the source rocks right down to the beach and beyond, the company looks set to be opening a whole new exploration frontier at Blue Lagoon. With the companys other projects percolating nicely in West Africa and Australia, Dalaroos exploration engine is now well and truly purring.

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Punters are likely to be keeping a close eye out for the all-important grab samples to land Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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BusinessCompaniesSupermarkets Suppliers could cut us off if we dont hike then cut prices: Woolworths Elias Visontay April 23, 2026  3:22pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A senior Woolworths manager has conceded price hikes and subsequent drops promoted as discounts were pre-planned at the request of product suppliers and claimed that if the supermarket didnt comply, it risked losing the products from its shelves. Sam Woodcock, who has worked in management roles across Woolworths for more than nine years, appeared as a witness before the Federal Court in Sydney on Thursday as it heard the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) case accusing Woolworths of fake discounts via its Prices Dropped program. Sam Woodcock appeared as a witness on Thursday. Sitthixay Ditthavong The allegations, which have similarly been levelled against Coles, centre on a claim that the supermarkets misled shoppers by artificially increasing a products price for a short period, then slightly lowering it and advertising it as a discount, despite the new price being higher than the regular price it was sold at before the brief spike. On Thursday, Woodcock, who served as category manager of breakfast cereals, muesli bars and spreads between April 2021 and September 2022, was asked about changes in the price of a box of 12 Carmans brand fruit and nut muesli bars.

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The bars were priced at $9 between January 2021 and late March 2022 before they were increased by 22 per cent to $11, a price which lasted for just 32 days. Then, they were placed on the Prices Dropped program and sold for $10. Woolworths advertised the new price with the schemes red and white promotional shelf stickers which showed a comparison to the $11 price. The ACCC has argued this was misleading, because the muesli bars were advertised as being on discount at $10 despite being $1, or 11 per cent, more expensive than 33 days beforehand. The $10 price and promotional labels were advertised to shoppers for the next 374 days, compared it to its short-lived former $11 price tag. The ACCCs lead barrister Michael Hodge KC enters Federal Court. Edwina Pickles Under questioning from the ACCCs lead barrister Michael Hodge, KC, Woodcock conceded all the various fluctuations in muesli bar prices had been decided and agreed to at the same time as part of a planned trajectory to land on discount. He said Carmans approached Woolworths with a proposal to increase prices for a range of its products temporarily before placing them on the supermarkets Prices Dropped discount program.

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Each product had a specific request, but there was an overall proposal [from Carmans], Woodcock said. After Hodge finished with his questions, Woolworths lead barrister, Robert Yezerski SC, asked Woodcock about how the supermarket could respond to such pricing change proposals from suppliers. Woodcock said if Woolworths didnt accept changes such as those proposed by Carmans, the supermarket risked angering grocery manufacturers who could ultimately cease supplying their goods. Essentially, if a supplier proposes a cost price increase to be effective from a certain date and we dont accept that as a retailer, theres a risk that if we havent accepted and actioned it in our system that a supplier will choose not to supply us that product anymore, he said. Woolworths former chief commercial officer Paul Harker leaves the Federal Court in Sydney. Oscar Colman

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And I have to say, in Woolworths at that point in time, ensuring that we had product on the shelf was an absolute requirement, Woodcock said. Related Article Opinion

Supermarkets Are we being cheated on prices? ACCC and supermarkets slug it out in court Elizabeth Knight Business columnist Woodcocks appearance followed a tense morning before Justice Michael OBryan, who has repeatedly appeared frustrated at the ACCCs line of arguments and questioning of witnesses. When Hodge was questioning Woolworths former chief commercial officer Paul Harker earlier on Thursday about timelines of when the supermarket changed its internal rules for how long a products price should exist before it can be changed, OBryan interjected. Were now following a path, Ive got no idea where were going or why were going there, OBryan said.

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It follows earlier comments expressing doubt over the case the ACCC was pursuing, when OBryan interrupted Hodges opening remarks on Tuesday to suggest the watchdog was setting up a straw man and not directly responding to Woolworths case. Central to OBryans concerns have been whether each sides arguments are over-intellectualising what goes through an average shoppers mind as they walk down an aisle, and whether the was price displayed as the more expensive comparator on the Prices Down promotional labels conveyed to customers that it was a genuine price. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessWorkplaceWork therapy Opinion My colleague has been sick for a year. Is it fair to fire them? Jonathan Rivett Careers contributor April 24, 2026  5:01am

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I work in an organisation where an important team member has been on various sick leave  on and off  for at least a year. They are unable to complete outstanding tasks, and the impact on other staff covering their duties is becoming increasingly stressful. Can they be moved to a different, possibly less financial, role or let go for medical reasons? Even if the decision immediately relieves tension and discontentment in one area, it might still have a net negative effect on morale among the larger team. John Shakespeare I think there are two main elements to this question. The legal side: what can be done according to regulation. And the ethical and cultural side: whats the right thing to do and how might respective decisions affect the broader organisation. While these are different dimensions, theyre not separate - they affect one another. I spoke with Joellen Riley Munton, an expert in workplace law, and Professor Emerita at the University of Sydney, about the legal aspect. She told me that although having a chronic illness would count as having a disability, and you cant take adverse action against someone because of their disability, an employer can dismiss someone if they cant meet the inherent requirements of the job.

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More specifically, if a person with a chronic illness is not taking more than their permitted personal (sick) leave and if theyre doing the job during periods when theyre able to work, then theyre protected from dismissal. But this protection may not apply in the situation youve described. To answer your question about whether your employer can sack this person, Ill quote Professor Munton directly: The Fair Work Act protects people from dismissal for temporary absence for illness or injury for three months. After three months of unpaid leave [once a person has exhausted their paid leave entitlements], it is open for an employer to ask the employee to return to work, usually with a medical certificate showing fitness to resume work, she says. The person with the chronic illness didnt mean for this to be the case and very likely cant change it. If someone cant do that, the employer will give them notice to terminate employment. It is all different, though, if the illness is caused or exacerbated by work.

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Thats the legal side: its possible. Lets move on to the ethical and cultural element. What youve outlined would be hugely frustrating, and probably exhausting, for you and other colleagues who are being asked to take on more work. But the person with the chronic illness didnt mean for this to be the case and very likely cant change it. They may, however, be going through one of the most difficult periods in their life. Sacking them could bring a specific organisational problem to a close, but it could also be devastating for the person with the illness. It might also have additional, unintended consequences. If I worked for an organisation where a colleague was cut loose in the midst of a health problem, I might start to wonder if Id be safe if bad luck befell me. Even if the decision immediately relieves tension and discontentment in one area, it might still have a net negative effect on morale among the larger team.

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Of course, its impossible to say for sure without knowing every single detail, but my general proposition would be that although your employer has done the right thing by the unwell employee in not firing them, they have not done the right thing by the people left to carry the can. It sounds like youre in an unsustainable holding pattern. Editor's pick Opinion

Jobs Why your first-ever pay cheque still matters decades later Tim Duggan Work columnist I asked Dr Denise Jepsen, Professor in the Macquarie University Department of Management, and an organisational psychologist, about what your employer should be doing to break the stalemate. Organisations now have an increased visibility of their duty of care to manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace, including excessive workloads, unreasonable time pressures and insufficient support that can cause psychological or physical harm, which appear to be the main issues here, she says. So the issue is not so much about what is going on for this other person  and lets assume they are dealing with something awful  but to focus on what support or conditions the reader themselves needs to be able to do their job. That then becomes a real and valid issue that the HR team should pay attention to before it becomes a legal issue.

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In summary, what, I think, is probably happening here is not an individual deliberately causing a problem. Instead, its a system struggling to cope with a difficult situation. I think, after a year, leaders at your organisation should already have made changes to make sure this continued absence is not putting a burden on your team. It seems as if they havent  or that any attempted remedies have failed to improve the situation. In light of this, as Professor Jepsen says, you may need to discuss it with decision-makers, making it clear how seriously the extra work is affecting you and others. Id be hopeful that this reader can find a way to raise the issue constructively and compassionately, get some increased clarity on their role at work and be able to move forward, even despite uncertainty. Send your questions through to Work Therapy by emailing jonathan@theinkbureau.com.au Get workplace news, advice and perspectives to help make your job work for you. Sign up for our weekly Thank God its Monday newsletter.

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Opinion Jonathan Rivett is a writer based in Melbourne. He's written about workplace culture and careers for more than a decade.
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Drive west alongside the crease where Victoria meets NSW and youll find the Perry Sandhills, a site of 40,000-year-old rolling dunes. From this month, youll also find something a lot more contemporary but no less spectacular: a light installation created by an English-born artist who fell in love with Australia more than 40 years ago. Bruce Munros FOSO  the Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra  is an immersive installation in which fibre optic light and sound meet the land. When we arrive for the launch party, the burnt orange sunset is still too bright. We will have to wait. There is anticipation born of the artists reputation for creating immersive artworks that take the breath away. Far away from here, thousands have been mesmerised by another Munro light installation in another patch of sand: 50,000 illuminated wildflower stems near Uluru in the Northern Territory. Field of Light quickly became a global sensation when it was installed a decade ago by the ebullient Englishman. Now, thanks to a series of cascading events, and a concerted effort by the border settlements of Wentworth in NSW and Mildura in Victoria, the regions on both sides of the Murray River are playing host to not one but two fibre optic sequels. Bruce Munros Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO) at the Perry Sandhills, Wentworth, NSW. This has been a five-year journey. And its been something of a dream, Munro tells the crowd at the FOSO opening. Had Munro been born in Australia, it is doubtful all this would have happened. When the then-24-year-old fine arts graduate arrived here in 1984, this ancient land, for him, was the shock of the new. In fact, Australia was something of a dream for Munro. He had watched a season of classic Australian films including Gallipoli and Breaker Morant with his dad, Brian, and been inspired. They were living in the fishing village of Salcombe, in Devon, but Brian urged him: You have got to go, dont get stuck here.

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After arriving in Sydney, he told his dad that it felt like coming home. Brian told him: Youd better stay there, then. Munro met his wife, Serena, in his first week here. They stayed eight years, becoming naturalised Australians, or as they term it, Possies or Pommie-Aussies. In the years since, they have travelled between their two countries. Munros voice catches when he talks about his dad. Field of Light started as an idea scratched into his notebook during the couples farewell tour of Australia before they returned to Britain in 1992. Bruce Munros Field of Light at Uluru. Tourism NT/Salty Aura When Brian died, Bruce was 39. In what was an artistic epiphany, he thought: Im going to bring this moment to life by creating a piece of art. When my father died, and I recognised that I didnt know what art was good for, and then I thought, actually, it should be about an expression of  the good things in life. I always find beauty in the usual stuff, says Bruce Munro.

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He built a prototype behind his house in Britain. A version at the Eden Project, a reclaimed china clay pit in Cornwall, brought massive global recognition in 2008, and in 2016 he installed it at the original intended site: the Voyages Ayers Rock Resort just beyond the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where 50,000 globes in the sand have attracted 750,000 viewers since. Originally scheduled to run for one year, the installation has been extended to 2029. The Hills Hoist takes on artistic form in Bruce Munros Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO) at the Perry Sandhills, Wentworth. The FOSO installation sits in the dunes outside the NSW town of Wentworth, where the Darling River flows into the Murray River. A platform acts like a dress circle in a concert hall, and fanned out below us in a giant semicircle is an orchestra pit of something so familiar most of us would not give its sculptural form a second thought  the humble Hills Hoist clothesline. It is a beautiful form. I always find beauty in the usual stuff, Munro says. Part of our problem is that we arent taught to look as kids. Munro was sharing a flat in Sydney in his 20s when he had a memorable encounter with the Aussie invention, via an uninhibited flatmate. He was always hanging his socks on the line naked in the middle of Sydney. On the Hills Hoist.

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Instead of socks, the 80 clotheslines in FOSO are each festooned with about 240 drops  or fibres  which form a mesmerising and continually shifting curtain of light. Special weights keep the fibres under tension for each installation, which Munro describes as distinct kind of slightly mushroomy form. It has to be under tension because fibres natural inclination is to curl up, and I wanted to go against the grain. I wanted it to be quite geometrical and structural. When the sun goes down, the lights come to life, as does the swelling cinematic score by award-winning composer Nainita Desai, with each clothesline in sync with a specific instrument. The audience can watch from the dress circle, or wander through the sands and get up close to each tower of sound and light. Look, its an expression of joy, says Munro. I want to make art about joy. And good things in life. Art can never be made by one person. In fact, nothing we will do is by one person. Its about time we all recognised that we need each other. We are not this selfie-mad world where we all think were marvellous. Across the river, on an island next to the town of Mildura, is Munros companion installation, Trail of Light, which opened a year ago.

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EnvironmentConservationBiodiversity Could gene-edited super quolls fight back against cane toads? Caitlin Fitzsimmons April 24, 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

A biotechnology company aiming to bring back extinct animals such as Tasmanian tigers and woolly mammoths says it is about a year away from breeding the first litter of northern quolls genetically modified to withstand cane toad toxin. Colossal Biosciences, in partnership with the University of Melbourne, has isolated the gene that makes many South American mammals naturally resistant to cane toad toxin and plans to introduce it to quolls to fast-track evolution. Northern quolls are endangered mainly because of fatal poisoning when they eat cane toads. It turns out its just one single letter of code in the entire genome that means youre either completely resistant to cane toads, and youre fine, you can eat them  or youre dead when you eat a cane toad, said Andrew Pask, chief biology officer at Colossal Biosciences and a professor in genetics and developmental biology at the University of Melbourne. Thats incredible because the quoll genome is 3 billion letters of code, and its one single change that you have to make in that 3 billion. Youre still definitely a quoll, but that single nucleotide has the power to make you completely resistant. It makes you a super quoll.

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Northern quolls or Dasyurus hallucatus are small marsupial carnivores that eat frogs, reptiles, mammals and insects  but will die if they eat a cane toad. The species ranged across northern Australia from Western Australia to south-east Queensland, but is now endangered and locally extinct in many places mainly because of toads. Professor Andrew Pask, of the University of Melbourne and Colossal Biosciences, with the skull of a Tasmanian tiger and the skeleton of a moa, a flightless bird from New Zealand. Jason South Pask said northern quolls would probably evolve resistance in 10,000 years, but without intervention they would be extinct in about a decade. If cane toads became a viable food source for quolls, any reduction in the population of the invasive amphibians would help other native species vulnerable to toad poisoning, such as snakes, lizards, freshwater crocodiles and birds. Pask said previous projects to train quolls not to eat cane toads and pass that knowledge on to their offspring had largely failed, and would have needed to succeed at vast scale to make any difference. Despite various efforts to eliminate cane toads, they continued to spread across the Top End. They were also marching south, Pask said, as the climate warmed and the toads simultaneously adapted to colder weather.

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Pask said the team had proven in the laboratory that they could tweak the genes in quoll cells using prime editing  a more precise successor to CRISPR editing  to make them resistant to cane toad toxin. While unaltered quoll cells died from contact with the poison, those with the edited gene did not. Conservation biologist Dr Emily Scicluna with one of the pregnant fat-tailed dunnarts. Jason South The end goal was to make the edit to quoll eggs and then implant embryos into an adult female to pass on the resistance to her offspring, Pask said. The team was now testing IVF technology in a close relative of the northern quoll  the fat-tailed dunnart. Several pregnant fat-tailed dunnarts at the university lab will give birth within weeks. The team would then try implanting gene-edited embryos before moving on to quolls, Pask said. Its the same process that was used for Dolly the sheep, Pask said. You get the quoll to produce an oocyte or an egg. From that we suck out the nucleus which has got the mums DNA in it, and we replace it with our engineered nucleus thats got [the mothers DNA with] that single change.

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Pask said Colossal would partner with conservation organisations that run captive breeding programs and start testing IVF procedures in northern quolls within months. The first genetically edited joeys were about a year away, and any release into the wild would need regulatory approval. Were pushing this timeline as quickly as we possibly can because the longer we wait, the more tiny these populations of quolls are becoming in the landscape, and the more genetic diversity thats lost, the more difficult it is for the quolls to ever recover back to their full population and size again. Fat-tailed dunnarts, a close relative of northern quolls, are being used to test IVF procedures. Jason South Colossal Biosciences is a venture capital-backed company with a moon shot goal of reviving extinct species, including the Tasmanian tiger or thylacine, woolly mammoth, dodo and moa, and a business model to commercialise the technology it developed along the way. The quoll project was funded by the charitable arm, Colossal Foundation. The de-extinction concept is controversial, and some scientists are sceptical of the feasibility or concerned about the ethics. Among them is Yassine Souilmi, group leader at the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at Adelaide University, who said concerns included degraded DNA in dead cells, and altered habitats and ecosystems.

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Gene editing with endangered animals was significantly different because it used living cells and this was proven technology, Souilmi said. However, it raises the question around unintended consequences of introducing this mutation into other quolls, Souilmi said. The genome works in really weird ways  some that we understand, some we dont. Related Article Wildlife Hayleys team took in 12 endangered turtles. Then the hard work began Professor Mike Archer at the University of NSW, who founded an earlier effort to revive the thylacine when he was director at the Australian Museum, said he was delighted by the quoll project both professionally and personally. In 1975, Archer moved from Western Australia to Brisbane with his pet western quoll. He let it out into the backyard, where it bit a cane toad and died 20 minutes later. This prompted Archer to co-author a paper on the threat that cane toads posed to native fauna.

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I see it as a long overdue use of this technology to do something important to save quolls, Archer said. Dunnarts are obviously not normally going to be eating cane toads, but quolls do. And having had my quoll die in my arms from that, Im very, very keen on any efforts that will protect quolls from these horrible animals. Photo: Matt Golding Archer said he hoped the gene-editing project for quolls  and a similar project to help frogs develop resistance to the deadly chytrid fungus  would attract wider support for the role of genetic technology in conservation. It is important that we embrace the fact that we can, in fact, improve things, Archer said. We can make things better if we let science give us the tools. We dont have to accept the steadily degrading world that were currently confronted with now because of human activities. Get to the heart of whats happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter.
Previously in Glenferrie Road, Made In Casas new location is a polished step-up, complete with dedicated wine room and an exemplary crumbed T-bone steak, carved theatrically tableside.

This story is part of the April 25 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories .

1 / 6 Fringed lampshades glow above each table in the downstairs dining room. Bonnie Savage 2 / 6 A study in pale tones: Calamari stuffed with breadcrumbs, served in a cream sauce and draped with fennel slices. Bonnie Savage 3 / 6 Eggplant parmigiana striped with Napoli sauce, cheese and basil. Bonnie Savage 4 / 6 Spaghetti alla vongole with clams, bottarga and fermented garlic. Bonnie Savage 5 / 6 Bistecca fritta, a crumbed T-bone steak pan-fried in clarified butter then finished in the oven, is carved tableside. Bonnie Savage 6 / 6 Crostata topped with custard and fruit. Bonnie Savage Previous Slide Next Slide

14 / 20 How we score Made In Casa Italian$$$$

When an Italian chef tells you spaghetti carbonara isnt a dish, its a religion, you better be ready to take their Italian cuisine seriously. Im here for it and, more specifically, Im at Made in Casa for it  a new, two-level, Toorak Village restaurant from Annapaola DAlessio and Valerio Violetti, the latter prone to holy pasta declarations. The Italian couple previously ran a pizza-pasta place of the same name in nearby Glenferrie Road, and briefly plied their trade at the Mercato Centrale eating hall when it opened in the city in 2024.

Their new restaurant is more ristorante, less trattoria, a polished step-up. The ground floor is a smart salon, the floorboards laid with rugs, with evocative, modern Italian art on the walls and fringed lampshades glowing above each table. The upstairs function (and spillover dining) room is more like an immaculate parlour in a dreamy villa, with still-life paintings and marble fireplace. Theres also a wine room: ask if you can browse the Tuscan reds, or book in for a date-night vino.

Violetti and DAlessio met and fell in love in Soriano nel Cimino, a medieval town north of Rome. Violetti built his first pizza oven at 13 on a family farm; DAlessio learnt to make pasta before she could read and write. Theyve spun their heritage into contemporary dishes that stand proudly on the bedrock of tradition.
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NationalNSWVale James Valentine fought oesophageal cancer for two years. Men are most likely to be diagnosed Daniel Lo Surdo April 23, 2026  11:50am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

ABC radio presenter, musician and author James Valentine died aged 64 at home on Wednesday, surrounded by family after a two-year battle with oesophageal cancer. Valentine used voluntary assisted dying, a detail he wanted to be public, two months after farewelling listeners to focus on his treatment. Broadcaster James Valentine died at home using voluntary assisted dying on Wednesday. James Alcock/NINE MEDIA Oesophageal cancer Oesophageal cancer is diagnosed in about 1785 Australians every year, with men almost three times more susceptible than women. Its also more commonly diagnosed in people over 60, but can occur at any age.

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Valentine announced he had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in March 2024, triggering a prolonged absence from the public broadcaster to receive treatment. Related Article Vale Deeply missed: ABC radio presenter James Valentine dies aged 64 The cancer affects the oesophagus, the tube that carries food from the back of the mouth to the stomach. It begins when abnormal cells develop in the innermost layer of the oesophagus, and can spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body, including the liver and lungs, and grow into nearby organs. There are many treatment options for the cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The causes of the cancer are unknown, though there are some factors that increase the risk of diagnosis. They include being overweight or obese, smoking and alcohol consumption.

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Valentine regularly discussed his diagnosis on radio, and invited medical professionals on-air to talk about treatment plans for the cancer. He was originally planning on undergoing a full oesophagectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the food pipe. However, he opted for a less invasive approach following an assessment from Professor Michael Bourke, a gastroenterologist at Westmead Hospital and guest on Valentines program. Bourke contacted Valentine after raising his diagnosis on radio. Loading Valentine returned to ABC radio last year, though left in June after tumours were discovered in his omentum, the tissue draping over the organs in the abdomen. His final ABC broadcast concluded 25 years with the station. Voluntary assisted dying

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Valentine died at home using voluntary assisted dying, legalised in NSW for terminally ill people in 2022. His family, in a statement, said he was grateful to be given the option to go out on his own terms, and was calm, dignified as always and somehow still making us laugh. Related Article ABC Days out from cancer surgery, the ABCs James Valentine made a life-changing choice NSW was the final state to legalise voluntary assisted dying. The legislation was passed with 28 co-sponsors from across all parties  the highest number of any bill in Australian parliamentary history. Coalition and Labor MPs were granted a free vote in the vote. Valentine is survived by his wife Joanne and children Ruby and Roy. He hosted a living wake on Valentines Day, attended by his family, friends, and ABC colleagues. Such occasions are an increasingly common event to celebrate the lives of people using voluntary assisted dying. Governor-General Samantha Mostyn, a friend of Valentines, was among the guests at the wake. Mostyn said Valentine provided plenty of advice as to how we cherish our lives and how we think about our futures.

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It was a very brave thing to do, and I think everyone who was there felt extraordinarily privileged to be there with him in life, and tell him how we loved him while he was alive. Linda Swan, chief executive of end-of-life advocacy group Go Gentle Australia, said it was heartwarming that Valentine could take control of the final moments of his life. Its an incredibly emotional time for family and friends, but so delightful to think that although he died, he did so on his own terms, Swan said. Governor-General Sam Mostyn was a friend of Valentine. His [experience] is a fairly typical story for people dying a voluntary death ... the illness has robbed them of their state of being and gives an opportunity to be themselves again.

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Mostyn shared that Valentine was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) last week, setting in motion an expedited process to have his medal struck and engraved before presenting the medal to Ruby and Roy at Admiralty House on Saturday. 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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NationalNSWDefamation Terribly rude: Text messages between Rebel Wilson and rising star revealed Michaela Whitbourn Updated April 23, 2026  5:24pm ,first published 11:50am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Hollywood star Rebel Wilson admonished a young actor for being terribly rude in text messages revealed during a high-stakes defamation fight between the pair that has raked over an incident involving a bath at a Bondi penthouse. Charlotte MacInnes, who plays the lead role in Australian musical film The Deb, directed, co-produced and acted in by Wilson, is suing the Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids actor for defamation over a series of social media posts. Text messages between Rebel Wilson and Charlotte MacInnes were tendered in the Federal Court. Matt Willis, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Audrey Richardson. At the centre of the trial is a claim by Wilson that MacInnes complained to her that a producer of The Deb, Amanda Ghost, made her feel uncomfortable during the bath incident in 2023, but later changed her story to secure future career opportunities with Ghost. MacInnes gave evidence on Thursday that she never made a complaint to Wilson and didnt walk back anything. She is seeking damages for defamation for Wilsons claim that she lied in recanting the alleged complaint to advance her career.

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Text messages shown in court on Thursday reveal some tension in May 2023 between the two performers at the start of their working relationship. The court heard Wilson had secured a ticket for MacInnes to watch the production Oklahoma! on Londons West End with her and cast mates, but MacInnes texted Wilson after the event to offer huge apologies because she lost track of time. MacInnes said she had [ended] up eating with Amanda Ghost, who has emerged as a central figure in the defamation case, and Ghosts assistant Pia Ashcroft. Not a great start Hi Charlotte. I appreciate the apology. In the future, it is terribly rude to say you wanted a ticket to a show and then you dont reply or follow up, Wilson replied. Its not a great start to our working relationship. MacInnes responded: Completely understand. Again, hugely sorry for my poor communication. Id love to send you the money for the ticket as you stuck to your word and got an available ticket.

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Wilsons barrister, Dauid Sibtain, SC, put to MacInnes that she was quite happy to effectively ditch your other co-lead actresses and the director [Wilson] for the possibility of another one-on-one meeting with Ms Ghost. MacInnes disagreed. The lawsuit More than two years later, in September 2025, MacInnes launched a Federal Court defamation suit against Wilson over a series of four Instagram stories, posted between September 2024 and July last year, that made claims about the young star and Ghost. Wilson alleged in one of the stories that MacInnes made a complaint to me as director that Ghost asked her to have a bath and shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable. MacInnes denies that conversation happened. Neither woman was named in that story, but surrounding posts contained identifying information.

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Charlotte MacInnes arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney on Thursday with her boyfriend Carlo Boumouglbay. Audrey Richardson At the time of the alleged complaint in September 2023, MacInnes was living with Ghost and the producers assistant at a rented Bondi penthouse apartment during rehearsals for The Deb. MacInnes is not suing for defamation over Wilsons allegation that she made a complaint, but the further allegation by Wilson that the rising star recanted the alleged complaint in return for further career opportunities allegedly set up by Ghost, namely a lead role in a stage production and a record label. The bath incident MacInnes gave evidence on Thursday that the incident involving the bath, on September 5, 2023, was a medical episode. Ghost had a reaction to the cold after swimming with MacInnes at Bondi Beach, and MacInnes assisted the producer to warm up, she said. At one stage both women, wearing their swimmers, shared a bath.

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Sibtain put to MacInnes that it was a pretty regular-sized bath, and tendered a photo of the bathroom in the Campbell Parade penthouse. The penthouse bathroom in the defamation case, as shown in a Sothebys real estate listing. Sothebys Id describe it as a large bath, MacInnes said. MacInnes agreed under questioning by Sibtain that she ran a bath for Ghost to warm up, but said she got in first rather than Ghost. She denied Ghost invited her to get in the bath. MacInnes barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC, alleged in her opening address to the court that Wilson was not a whistleblower  seeking to protect a young actress and had only claimed when it suited her that MacInnes was a victim.

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Wilson has denied making the claims to further her commercial interests amid a welter of legal disputes with the films co-producers, including Ghost. Strange or bizarre situation MacInnes rejected Sibtains suggestion on Thursday that she told Wilson on September 6, 2023, the day after the Bondi incident: Amanda asked me to have a bath and a shower with her and it made me feel uncomfortable. I never said those words. I never made a complaint to Ms Wilson, she said. But she agreed they had spoken that day, and the next day Wilson called her in her capacity as director to check in with her. MacInnes agreed that in the call she told Wilson something like the situation was strange or bizarre.

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I dont recall saying those words specifically, but I may have, MacInnes said. Asked if she had also told Wilson she had not felt personally uncomfortable, MacInnes said: I dont recall. She said she didnt walk back anything and had not made a complaint. Wilson texted Ghost on September 7: Charlotte says all good. She just meant it was a bizarre situation not that she personally felt uncomfortable x. MacInnes agreed with Sibtains suggestion that she was very distressed about the fact that Amanda was keeping her distance from her after the incident. She had been asked to move out of the penthouse.

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On September 20, MacInnes had a conversation with Ghost. She agreed with Sibtains suggestion that she felt she had better clear the air with the producer, or she might have some real problems. I knew it was important that she knew I never made a complaint, MacInnes said. Career opportunities MacInnes was questioned at length by Sibtain about the circumstances in which she got a record deal with Atlantic Records and a lead role in the stage production Gatsby: An American Myth, co-produced by Ghost. Sibtain put to MacInnes that Ghost had provided her with quite a lot of help  to get through the audition process for Gatsby.

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I agree that it was a lot of help, MacInnes said, after Justice Elizabeth Raper asked her to answer the question directly. Rebel Wilson outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday. Sitthixay Ditthavong Sibtain took MacInnes to information Ghost sent MacInnes that was described as super confidential: the audition tape of an actor who didnt get the role. She was encouraging you to be more dramatic, Sibtain said. Yes, MacInnes said.

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She agreed that, in another message, Ghost was encouraging her to audition for the role even though she would be up against the worlds best performers. Everything has come up trumps for you, Ms MacInnes, over the last three years, Sibtain said. Ive worked very hard, MacInnes said. We know you talk to Amanda MacInnes was also taken to a note she made on her phone of a meeting with Wilson and Greer Simpkin, another producer of the film, during production of The Deb.

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MacInnes wrote in the note that Simpkin said to her: We know you talk to Amanda all the time. There are protocols that you havent followed. Maybe its just cause its your first movie. She told me you were [unhappy]  with the make-up. But the actions you took almost got a lot of crew fired. She wrote that Wilson added: Yeah lots. MacInnes said she did not know what Simpkin meant when she mentioned the crew. She said she had not complained about her make-up, but had asked on one occasion if it could be redone.

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Her voice shook with emotion briefly during questioning about the meeting, but she told the court she did not need a break. MacInnes was asked later about the opening song from The Deb, FML (F--- my Life). I dont require it to be played in court, but I embrace its sentiment, Sibtain said. I can sing along, Chrysanthou said. MacInnes denied she had a good and friendly relationship with Wilson throughout the shoot.

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She said she did what she could to keep the relationship lighthearted but its very difficult to be around Rebel. Wilson, who is seeking to rely on a truth defence, is expected to give evidence next week while Ghost is slated to appear on Friday. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
The unified passenger service system will enable smoother booking and travel while unlocking the benefits of Atmos Rewards and a growing global network

Guests can manage trips via the single Alaska Hawaiian app featuring improved performance and self-service options

HONOLULU, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Airlines today transitioned to the same Sabre passenger service system (PSS) used by Alaska Airlines, a significant integration milestone that provides guests flying with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines a more seamless and consistent travel experience from booking to boarding across a growing global network.

The combined company's shared PSS serves as the central reservation technology that connects the digital tools and programs used by guests and employees; from websites, mobile app, Atmos Rewards and Huaka'i by Hawaiian loyalty programs, to airport kiosks and reservation records.

"We're doing something that no other U.S. airline has done before: Operating multiple brands on a single platform, and giving guests a smoother experience when they fly with Alaska and Hawaiian around the world," said Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci. "Credit to our teams who have worked for more than a year on this milestone that removes friction and unlocks the full strength of our combination moving forward."

One App for All Your Travels

Beginning today, guests can manage their entire journey via a single Alaska Hawaiian mobile app, with the option to select either an Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines theme for the app's look and feel. The combined app offers better performance and simplified trip management, a single record locator for travel on either brand, as well as convenient self-service features, including:

Canceling or changing a flight, including switching to an earlier or later flight on the same day.

Using Apple Pay.

Adding a lap child on domestic flights.

Sharing a boarding pass.

Using cash or points to book flights on over 30 airline partners, including one world alliance members, via the combined app, on alaskaair.com or hawaiianairlines.com.

world alliance members, via the combined app, on alaskaair.com or hawaiianairlines.com. Pre-ordering First Class meals on Hawaiian Airlines, starting in May.

Enrolling in TSA Touchless ID with Atmos Rewards membership and a known traveler number (KTN) and valid passport to gain access to expedited security lines at select airports.

One Flight Code, Two Distinct Brands

While Alaska and Hawaiian are maintaining their unique brand experiences, all flights now carry the "AS" code assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Travelers will continue to be able to clearly select and book Hawaiian Airlines flights  now denoted as Operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines  and enjoy Hawaiian's authentic ho'okipa (hospitality). Hawaiian's iconic Pualani will remain prominently displayed on digital channels and on airport signage, lobbies, gates and most information displays. Gate and onboard announcements will continue to welcome guests to their Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines flight, depending on the brand and experience they are flying. The company is working closely with travel agencies to ensure accurate branding across their platforms.

Improved Airport Experience

In bringing its operations together, Hawaiian and Alaska are now welcoming guests in shared airport lobbies to simplify the check-in process in major cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New YorkJFK, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and, starting tomorrow, Seattle.

Airport signage is being updated to reflect combined operations, with Hawaiian or Alaska branding taking prominence depending on the location.

Hawaiian has also joined Alaska in switching to mobile and web-only check-in while equipping lobbies with modern selfservice bag tag kiosks to simplify the airport experience and eliminate waste from printed boarding passes.

Boarding Process and Onboard Enhancements

Hawaiian Airlines today adopted Alaska's A-F alphabetical boarding group system for a more consistent experience on both airlines, while prioritizing boarding for elite guests along with those who need additional assistance, families with children, and active military. Guests can track boarding and flight times, and updated terminal and gate information via the combined mobile app.

Once onboard, guests flying with Hawaiian Airlines will continue to experience the sights, sounds and flavors of Hawai'i, reflected in the genuine ho'okipa, or hospitality of inflight team members, islandinspired meals by Hawai'i chefs, local products and music. As a new benefit, starting today, guests flying in Premium Class (formerly Extra Comfort), along with Atmos Gold, Platinum and Titanium members will all enjoy complimentary alcohol on Hawaiian Airlines transpacific flights.

The transition to a unified PSS marks a key milestone in Alaska Air Group's Alaska Accelerate strategic plan to deliver on the combined airline's vision of connecting guests to the world with a remarkable travel experience rooted in safety, care and performance.

Today, guests have access to an expanding network of destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, the Hawaiian Islands, throughout North America, Europe, and globally via the oneworld alliance. The combined company's Atmos Rewards loyalty program - recently voted No. 1 in the U.S. airline industry by WalletHub - offers members unmatched flexibility to earn and redeem points, achieve status faster, and enjoy generous rewards and benefits.

For more information on investments in the Hawaiian Airlines experience and the ongoing combination with Alaska Airlines, please visit https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/content/hawaiian-is-here-to-stay.

About Alaska, Hawaiian and Horizon

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific and Europe. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska and Hawaiian are members of the oneworld alliance. Members of our Atmos Rewards loyalty program can earn and redeem points with oneworld airlines and our additional global partners that serve over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK."

SOURCE Alaska Airlines
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Exclusive NationalQueenslandBrisbane development Key Qld stormwater guidelines censoring the science, lead author says Julius Dennis April 24, 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 author of new stormwater guidelines that dictate how major Queensland development projects get approved says significant findings that showed past versions were flawed were wiped from a version published without his blessing. Bligh Tanner civil engineer Alan Hoban says the Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation (MUSIC), which developers use to align with state planning policy, have relied on incorrect data for about two decades, and has called for the state planning policy to be reviewed. Hoban says he raised the issues with Healthy Land & Water and the environment minister. Julius Dennis Earlier this year, Healthy Land and Water, the peak environmental body in south-east Queensland  which is funded by the state, councils and other stakeholders  contracted Hoban to update the guidelines, which had last been looked at in 2018. Hoban, a former Healthy Land and Water employee and the 2020 winner of Queensland Engineer of the Year, played a key role in the establishment of the Queensland MUSIC guidelines in 2010 and 2018, which was only released as a draft.

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This time, Hoban said he went back to the foundations of the first guidelines and found they were built on unreliable data. A lot has been learnt in the 16 years since the previous guideline was released, so we sought to go back to first principles and validate all the key input assumptions, Hoban said. Major projects rely on the guidelines for their post-construction run-off plans. Dan Peled What we found was the earlier stormwater quality analyses were flawed, and they are based on a limited number of catchments for urban run-off  its only based off two catchments studied by Brisbane City Council. The catchments were clearly subject to contamination and didnt have typical stormwater run-off.

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The flaws meant there was actually less stormwater run-off, and it was much cleaner than the MUSIC guidelines assumed, he said. Related Article Exclusive

Marine life Greg was the only one checking for toxic algae  hes just been told to stop The implication is there is far less pollution coming off developed urban catchments than has been previously assumed, Hoban said. He said the bungle meant the underlying assumptions for the business case he helped prepare, which informed state planning policy, was wrong. Theres not the acute problem with sediment and nutrients thats been previously assumed, and was used to support the implementation of the planning policy, he said.

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Because of this, developers have been spending millions of dollars on stormwater quality control, such as underground cartridge systems that filter water and have high upkeep costs, Hoban said. Healthy Land & Water CEO Julie McLellan. Healthy Land & Water When he learnt Healthy Land and Water intended to release the draft guidelines with the outdated data, Hoban wrote to Queensland environment minister Andrew Powell and the department director general expressing his dismay. That letter was sent on April 14. The following day, Hoban received an email from Healthy Land and Water chief executive Julie McLellan who was angered by the letter, but offered to meet with the engineer in May. Despite this, the draft guidelines were released for stakeholder consultation on Tuesday using the data Hoban claimed is outdated.

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What theyre doing is censoring the science to hide from the minister, and the broader industry, the fact that urban stormwater pollutant loads have been systematically overstated, and that the state planning policy is in need of a review, he said. The back-and-forth follows reporting by this masthead earlier this week that Healthy Land and Water had paused a long-running toxic algae monitoring program in Moreton Bay as part of a broad review into its water quality reports at the behest of the environment department. A Healthy Land and Water spokesperson said they had discussed the issues raised by Hoban with the department, and it was decided further investigation was required before they could be included in the guidance material. Therefore [it would] be best addressed through a dedicated discussion paper to be provided to DETSI [Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation] as the appropriate government authority to assess their implications for policy and practice, they said. Healthy Land and Water is working closely with DETSI to ensure the discussion paper is completed and that Mr Hobans proposals receive the thorough government consideration they deserve.

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A department spokesperson said they were working with Healthy Land and Water to consider the issues raised by Hoban. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

A man has died while trying to fix a ride-on mower west of Brisbane.

The man, in his 60s, died from traumatic injuries at the scene after he attempted to repair the machine.

Police and ambulances were called to the property in Haigslea, outside Ipswich, about 6.20pm on Thursday.

Police said the death was non-suspicious and they were preparing a report for the coroner.

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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NationalWARenting Alicia was evicted without any reason. But support is growing in WA to change that Holly Thompson April 23, 2026  3:56pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Alicia Keenan had just turned 21 when they found out they were being evicted from their Perth rental  with no reason why. Three years later, the stress of trying to find a new place to call home remains, with Keenan saying they lived in fear the same thing would happen again. Alicia Keenan has experienced a no grounds eviction. Holly Thompson It was three days after my 21st which wasnt a great birthday gift  I can still remember how it turned my life upside down, they said. My home was meant to be my safe place, my security, a place I could go home to, and it was turned into turmoil and uncertainty.

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I ended up having to take a housing situation that  eventually led to consequences that Im still living with. Related Article Cost of living Warning over looming tax changes as WAs rental market pushed to breaking point Now, thankfully live in a wonderful share house. I love my housemates, but there is a fear almost every day that were just going to receive a no-grounds eviction. Keenan spoke out about their experience to raise awareness and fight for the state government to put an end to no-grounds evictions. WA is the only jurisdiction in Australia, bar the NT, which does not have laws against no-grounds evictions.

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New polling from market research firm Painted Dog in March, commissioned by WAs Make Renting Fair Alliance, revealed growing support to end no-grounds evictions across the state, including support from property investors. Of the 761 respondents polled across metro and regional WA, 80 per cent support ensuring that tenants could not be evicted without a reason, and just 3 per cent strongly opposed. These changes have been on the table since 2019, and its time to move forward and bring our rental system into the modern age. Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell More than 70 per cent of investment property owners were also supportive. The majority of those surveyed were also supportive of rent stabilisation, including limiting rent increases in some way.

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Alice Pennycott, a Make Renting Fair spoesperson and Circle Green Community Legal principal lawyer, said the new polling showed there was clear, broad-based support for strengthening protections for renters, including an end to no-grounds evictions and the introduction of minimum standards for rental properties. These results should give the government real confidence to move forward, knowing the community is firmly behind them and ready for change, she said. Make Renting Fair spokesperson, and Circle Green Community Legal principal lawyer, Alice Pennycott. Holly Thompson People understand that a stable, fair rental system benefits everyone. Opposition is inevitable with any proposed reforms, and while a vocal minority can sometimes dominate the conversation, this data shows clearly that the broader community recognises these reforms as fair, reasonable, and long overdue.

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Now is the time for the government to take action and bring the rental system in line with community expectations. Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell said abolishing no-grounds evictions would be a major step forward and finally bring WA in line with the rest of the country. It shouldnt be a concern for landlords who are already doing the right thing, with valid and reasonable reasons to end a lease still in place  such as selling a property or responding to a breach of the tenancy agreement, she said. Ending unfair evictions is one of the most meaningful changes our campaign has been advocating for and will provide safety, security and dignity  a relief for more than 700,000 renting families in WA who currently live in fear that they will lose their home through no fault of their own. These changes have been on the table since 2019, and its time to move forward and bring our rental system into the modern age.

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WA Premier Roger Cook said the state government had already introduced significant residential tenancy law reform. Thats been really important to continue to make sure people have confidence when they operate in the rental market and in relation to their rights as a tenant, and we signalled at that time, there will be further tranches of residential tenancy law reform, and were continuing to examine what the opportunities are, he said. Get the days breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.
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NationalVale Witty and warm, James Valentine lifted the spirits of a city Richard Glover April 23, 2026  8:28am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

James Valentine, who has died at the age of 64, was a musician and jazz enthusiast who brought his love of improvisation and creativity to the world of talkback radio. His audience became his orchestra, and he was their conductor. He offered great wit and wisdom, alongside an appreciation of the rich drama and hilarity of everyday life. Monday to Friday on 702 ABC Radio, for 25 years, he lifted the spirits of a city. Valentine was born in 1961 in the Victorian city of Ballarat, his father, Peter, operating a car dealership and other local businesses, his mother, Nina, a presenter with the local radio station. Loading He was educated at Ballarat Grammar School, where he happily discovered a talent for performing, debating and playing music. It was there he began his love affair with the saxophone.

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Playing jazz saxophone in 2009. Keith Saunders Music took him to Melbourne where, from 1980, he studied classical sax at the University of Melbourne. He was soon moonlighting in bands around town. A Diana Ross covers band, Diana Boss and the Extremes, was his introduction to musicians Kate Ceberano and James Freud, both of whom were to play a part in his future music career. In 1982, he toured with Joe Camilleris band, Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, and with Kate Ceberano. In 1984, he joined The Models, with James Freud as lead vocalist. Valentines saxophone became an important part of the bands success. In contrast to the bluesy saxophone sound common at the time, Valentines classical training allowed him to use the full palette of the instrument, playing with a confident and determined vigour. He also brought an antic, playful spirit to the bands stage shows.

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The Models enjoyed significant success, including a number one hit with Out of Mind, Out of Sight, and a number two single with Barbados, featuring a lengthy Valentine sax solo. Editor's pick Vale James Valentine fought oesophageal cancer for two years. Men are most likely to be diagnosed Valentine left the group in 1987, shortly before it disbanded. He rapidly began a career in television, hosting ABC-TVs The Afternoon Show  an after-school compendium of cartoons, alongside live-action shows like Dr Who and The Goodies. He presented the program from 1987 to 1990, while playing music around Sydney, including a three-year stint with Absent Friends which included Sean Kelly and Wendy Matthews. That band, too, had a big hit, with I Dont Want to be with Nobody but You, winner of Best Single in the ARIA Awards of 1991. Valentine caught the bug for radio after listening to John Doyles smart, whimsical afternoon program on the ABCs local Sydney station, 2BL, now known as ABC Radio Sydney. James Valentine (left) in the Models in 1985 with James Freud, Roger Mason, Barton Price and Sean Kelly. Fairfax Media

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He thought I like this, and the station manager of the time, Peter Wall, agreed to give him a chance. Valentine quickly proved his talent for radio through an increasing number of fill-in shifts. A permanent job followed at the ABCs Canberra station, his success leading to a similar offer back in Sydney. After a brief stint presenting Mornings on 2BL, he was, in 1999, placed in the slot that he made his own: Afternoons. Related Article Opinion

Five Minutes with Fitz All the love for Valentine: Thank you, James, for 40 years of broadcasting joy Peter FitzSimons Columnist and author While many defined talkback radio as a chance to ask listeners to recount their political views, Valentine saw the opportunity for something more nourishing and certainly more enjoyable. Working alongside longtime producer Jennifer Fleming, he invented a revolving series of segments with names like This is What I Live With, Rant and The Form Guide, all of which invited his audience to delve into their own lives, often with hilarious results.

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Valentine brought a curious mix of sweetness and acid to the role; his sardonic wit co-existing with an amused and loving temperament. It was jazz improv meets talk radio. He also demanded considerable creativity from his audience, inventing sessions in which listeners would create songs, movies, poems or even (with the help of HG Nelson) plan future Sydney infrastructure. Listening to his show made you feel good about your fellow Sydneysiders. Valentine had a crazy-brave attitude to radio that left his fellow presenters in awe. Hed set up a game or topic and then keep talking until someone called. He never once seemed to lose his nerve, however long it took for his audience to understand what, on this occasion, he was demanding of them. It was a technique that reached its apotheosis in a segment called Nothing, in which Valentine would confess that he had nothing  no game, no topic, no question to ask. But people should ring anyway. And, remarkably, they did. Some offered philosophical thoughts about the nature of nothing; others simply confessed that they, too, were doing nothing, or had nothing to offer. It was extremely funny and somehow delivered an uplifting message about life. Life is worth something in itself. Even when nothing is happening.

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Along the way, Valentine wrote a trilogy of books for teenagers, the Jumpman series, which was published internationally, plus a book for children, The True History of Stuff, and two books based on his radio show, The Form Guide and Spotfull. He had success with his podcast Head Room, and with the TV and radio program Exhumed, a competition for garage bands, in which every member had to lack professional experience. Valentine with his sax in Woollahra in 2013. Photo: Sahlan Hayes His jazz program, Upbeat, was a favourite on ABC Jazz. Valentine transferred to Breakfast for two years  2022 and 2023  before returning home to Afternoons in 2024, to the delight of his afternoon fans and contributors. That delight was not to last. In March 2024, Valentine told his listeners that he was beginning treatment for cancer of the oesophagus. As usual, he shared everything, even interviewing the surgeon who was to perform the complex surgery.

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Returning to the airwaves in September, he updated the tale: hed been offered, and accepted, a less invasive operation, even though it might increase his risk of a future cancer. The choice meant he was able to return to his show in September 2024. Then, in June 2025, some fresh bad news. Cancer had reappeared, this time in the omentum  a fold of tissue which extends from the stomach over the intestine. Related Article Opinion

Religion Im not religious, but my faith is beyond belief James Valentine Broadcaster Again, Valentine shared the diagnosis, with his usual frankness and humour. I have tumours in my omentum. Yes, omentum, Id never heard of it either, he wrote on the ABCs website. I am now way too familiar with the digestive aisle of my local chemist.

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Would the outcome have been different had he chosen more aggressive surgery? To quote again from that piece in June, 2025: Theres every chance that cancer cells have been out in my body for some time, looking for a place to call home, and the full surgery would not have prevented their spread. Im not that concerned about that, the how, the why, the might have been. I find cancer, like any other major insult to my being, has a way of bringing me very firmly into the present. In more recent times, when well enough, Valentine returned to music with his band Upbeat, featuring Nic Cecire on drums, Sam Rollings on guitar and Darren Heinrich on keyboards. The shows combined storytelling, humour and brilliantly reimagined jazz classics. He also recorded a solo album, Debut. James was determined to have a good death, and I believe he did. He connected with his family and friends until the last  always funny, wise and loving. Richard Glover and James Valentine at the Andrew Olle Media Lecture in 2022.

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PoliticsQueenslandOne Nation One Nation pulls out of byelection test despite surging polls Julius Dennis April 23, 2026  8:24am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

One Nation will not run a candidate in the snap byelection called for the Brisbane state seat of Stafford. The poll in the citys inner north, to be held on May 16, was expected to be a test of the rising support for Pauline Hansons party in urban areas. Hanson said the party had chosen not to run a candidate because the four-week campaign was too short. Pauline Hanson and her party have been surging in popularity. Ben Searcy Weve decided not to let this sudden byelection disrupt our plans for Queensland, she said.

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We are contesting byelections in other parts of Australia, however there was a great deal more lead-up time to these contests. One Nation had earlier indicated it would run a candidate in the byelection, with the partys preferences likely to flow to the LNP. Related Article Exclusive

Resolve Political Monitor Crisafullis LNP falls to new low as third parties lift high-water mark The party secured just 3 per cent of the vote in 2024, but pollster Kos Samaras for RedBridge Group said its national surge in popularity would probably be reflected in the vote. Its highly likely that One Nation hits the LNP and 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, Samaras told this masthead last week when One Nation was still expected to field a candidate.

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He said while the election would be the first window into how One Nation fared at the ballot box since becoming the largest party in Queensland, it was highly unlikely they would pull enough new voters to secure the seat. The demographics in the electorate, university-educated professionals and public servants, typically favour Labor. The byelection was called after MP Jimmy Sullivan died suddenly in his Brisbane unit two weeks ago. Sullivan was elected as a member of Labor, but was kicked out of the party last year as he struggled with personal issues and allegations from the government that he was involved in a domestic violence incident. Labor selected local lawyer Luke Richmond as its candidate, while the LNP tapped former councillor Fiona Hammond.

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Hammond ran in 2024, garnering 38 per cent of first preference votes, essentially tied with Sullivan, but the preference flow from a significant Greens vote delivered Labor the easy win. Polling from Resolve Strategic surveys published on Wednesday in Brisbane Times showed One Nation was the leading third party in Queensland, with 17 per cent of those surveyed saying they would put the party first on their ballot, up from just 8 per cent in the 2024 election. Last month, the party transferred its burgeoning support in South Australia, picking up four seats in the 47 seat parliament. 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 After decades of travel, I still fell for a taxi scam that cost me $1500

Sue Wallace April 24, 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

No doubt, somewhere in Santiago, Chile, a slick conman is still dining out on how two jet-lagged Australians paid nearly a million pesos ($1500) for a lift from the airport. It should have been $40. Embarrassing? Yes. After all, were both seasoned travellers, each with five decades of international travel racked up, but we still got stung. Yes, we should have known better. Illustration: Jamie Brown We let our guard down. Wed come straight from celebrating my husbands milestone birthday, by train from Albury to Melbourne, then jumped on the plane the next day. Arriving at Santiagos frenetic Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, we battled jostling crowds, screaming children and wayward luggage trolleys with minds of their own. Dodgy Wi-Fi meant plans for an Uber ride were scrapped  our first mistake. Instead, we went to an official taxi office and received two white tickets, a reasonable quote and instructions to go to gate three. Payment would be on hotel arrival. In hindsight, maybe those white tickets were code for here come a couple of suckers.

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Pushing two suitcases loaded with cold-weather gear for an Antarctic cruise, summer clothes for hiking in the Atacama Desert and Patagonia, plus carry-ons, we were eager to get to our accommodation. Too eager. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Taxi scams are apparently quite common at Santiagos airport. iStock This way, this way, yells an official driver with smouldering Latino looks, flashing his credentials and quoting the same price in a private van. So we follow him to a sleek Mercedes with a driver, and he hops in too. Mr Smoothie  lets call him that for now  points out landmarks and tells us about Santiago. Laughing and joking, its a jolly atmosphere. On arrival, my husband produces a credit card and Mr Smoothie swipes it on a portable machine, then says it isnt working. He tries again. Another credit card is handed over and it works. My husband asks for receipts. From there it goes rapidly downhill. He tries to take a photo of the officials lanyard, then threatens to call the police, as I panic kerbside. Mr Scammer  a suitable name change  shoves my husband out of the car and we realise we have been scammed as they take off at high speed. There are three amounts together totalling $1500 on the credit cards.

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Ever tried to contact your bank at 2am in Australia? Not easy. And, yes, we had registered our overseas travel. Fill in a form, get a police report and contact your insurer was the varied advice. Its complicated, as the card was used by us, at the hotel, while in our possession  not lost or stolen, plus a fake website and no receipts. Its still ongoing. Related Article Opinion

Tripologist The 24 common scams and traps travellers fall for (and how to avoid them) Michael Gebicki The Tripologist We were advised not to go to the police, which would take many hours, and we had an early morning flight the next day. It seems scams at Santiago airport are common with warnings online, which we should have checked to avoid such a saga. My husband was last scammed 50 years ago. He was wearing a heavy tweed suit purchased at Harrods to impress his family of wool growers. On a milk-run flight back to Australia, he bought a coffee at Athens airport. It wasnt until he was back on the plane, tweed suit intact, that he calculated that he had paid $35 in drachma. Hes been on the lookout for that cafe owner when visiting Athens since. But no more. Its that South American conman hell be searching for when he next sets foot in Santiago.
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WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Trump orders navy to shoot and kill mine-laying boats in Strait of Hormuz Updated April 23, 2026  11:10pm ,first published 5:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the navy to shoot and kill any boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized two ships and tightened its grip on the strategic waterway during an indefinite ceasefire with no sign of peace talks restarting. I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday. There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! Ships lie at anchor off the major Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, which is under blockade by the US Navy. Getty Images In a separate post, Trump claimed the US had total control over the Strait of Hormuz and that no ship could enter or leave without the approval of the navy. It is Sealed up Tight, until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!! he said.

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The status of a two-week-old ceasefire, due to expire earlier this week, has remained unclear. In a sharp about-face hours after threatening renewed violence, Trump made what appeared to be a unilateral announcement that the US would extend the truce until it had discussed an Iranian proposal in peace talks to end the two-month-old war. But Iranian officials did not say they had agreed to any ceasefire extension and criticised Trumps decision to maintain the US blockade of Irans ports, itself considered by Tehran as an act of war. Related Article Middle East at war Iran claims it has seized two ships after Trump extended ceasefire indefinitely Irans parliament Speaker, and lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said a full ceasefire only made sense if the blockade was lifted. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that carried a fifth of the worlds oil trade before the war, was impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire, Ghalibaf said on social media.

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You did not achieve your goals through military aggression, and you will not achieve them by bullying either, he wrote in his first response to Trumps announcement. The only way is recognising the Iranian peoples rights. Trump again backed away at the last moment from his repeated threats to bomb Irans power plants and other civilian infrastructure, which the United Nations and others have warned would violate international humanitarian law. But little progress has been made in ending the war that started with joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. That leaves the two sides in a holding pattern, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, straining economies worldwide. Iranian state television reported Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard had seized two ships  identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas  after three vessels were attacked in the strait on Wednesday. The two ships were reportedly being taken to Iran for inspection of their cargo, documents, and records. The third vessel, a Liberian-flagged container ship, was fired on in the same area but was not damaged and resumed sailing, according to maritime security sources.

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White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that since the ships were not US or Israeli vessels, the seizure was not a violation of the ceasefire. She called it an act of piracy. Loading Traffic through the strait ground to a halt following the seizures. Only one ship, bulk carrier LB Energy, was seen moving through the waterway early on Thursday, with none observed entering. The tanker Ocean Jewel is currently idling at the entrance to the corridor, having aborted a transit not long after Iranian forces began firing at three ships. The US military said on Wednesday it had so far directed more than 30 ships to turn around or return to port as part of its blockade against Iran. Far beyond the Gulf, the US has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters, sources said, redirecting them away from their positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Brent, the international crude oil benchmark, remained above $US100 a barrel in Asian trade on Thursday, having hit triple figures a day earlier for the first time in two weeks.

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No new deadline In his Tuesday announcement, Trump said he had agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal ... and discussions are concluded, one way or the other Trump has declined to set an expiry date on the ceasefire. AP He has not set any deadline for the proposal or discussions, Leavitt told reporters. Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator, was still trying to bring the sides together after both failed to show up for tentatively scheduled talks in Islamabad on Tuesday before the two-week-old ceasefire was due to expire.

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A first session of peace talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad 11 days ago produced no agreement. Trump wants Iran to give up highly enriched uranium and forgo further enrichment to prevent it from building a nuclear weapon. Iran says it has only a peaceful civilian nuclear programme, and wants the lifting of sanctions, reparations for damage and recognition of its control over the strait. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war Trumps Iran deal may need him to do the unthinkable Iran has also made a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah militant group a condition of truce talks. On Wednesday, Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed at least five people, including the Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, in the deadliest day since a 10-day ceasefire was announced on April 16. On the eve of further talks in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors on Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Beirut would seek an extension to the ceasefire, which is set to expire on Sunday.

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Thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has released his Anzac Day message, reflecting on the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers who embody the courage, selflessness and mateship that defines the nation.

On Anzac Day, we pause to acknowledge the debt all of us owe to Australians who have gone to war in our name. Across our continent, from the biggest cities to the smallest country town, and in every corner of the world made hallow by the sacrifice of our fallen, we gather in respect, reflection, gratitude and pride.

One hundred and eleven years after the first Gallipoli landing, Anzac Day has come to stand for every generation of Australians who have served. At dawn services and marches today, we renew our solemn promise to remember all those young Australians who did not grow old and everyone they left behind.

We remember all who lived to keep fighting and all who finally made it home, but with the battle raging forever in their hearts. We reflect on all they went through and all they were up against, and we give thanks for the difference they made just when the world needed it most.

We give thanks to our veterans for all you have given. We thank all Australians serving now, and we thank your families, who take on both the pride and the burden. Time and time again, Australians at war have embodied the courage, selflessness and mateship that define our national character.

What their legacy proves to us is that even when peace seems elusive, it is always worth fighting for. So we gather. And as we give thanks for the light of every bright dawn that was their promise to us, we keep tending the flame of memory. Lest we forget.
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Analysis WorldNorth AmericaForeign relations Pynes AUKUS summit stunned by sudden sacking of Trumps navy boss Michael Koziol April 23, 2026  3:29pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: News that the now-former US Navy Secretary John Phelan had been unceremoniously sacked spread like wildfire through Christopher Pynes annual AUKUS conference in Washington. Many attendees at the defence lobbyists $5000-a-head summit did not yet know about the ousting when they arrived for an exclusive dinner at the Cosmos Club on Wednesday evening (US time). Sacked navy secretary John Phelan announcing Donald Trumps Golden Fleet just before Christmas. AP Australian Navy chief Mark Hammond, who in July will become chief of the Australian Defence Force, had met Phelan earlier in the day, along with US Indo-Pacific Commander Sam Paparo. It appeared the US Navy boss had no idea he was about to be made to walk the plank.

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Still, it was not entirely unexpected. One well-placed US source indicated Phelans dismissal had been a long time coming, such was the animosity between him and the top dogs at the Pentagon and the White House. Related Article Analysis

Defence Forget Trump. On AUKUS, its the next president we must worry about That was evident in the way it played out. Just 24 hours earlier, Phelan delivered a keynote luncheon address at the US Navy Leagues annual Sea Air Space conference, the premier event of its kind, where he detailed his agenda. Time is our most valuable asset. It is the one thing we cannot get back, and we will not waste it, he concluded. If only he knew then how little he had. Phelan also briefed reporters, met top congressional leaders about the navys budget request and the head of the Singaporean Navy, as well as posted publicly on X about his agenda and Donald Trumps historic naval budget request. Hours later, he was gone.

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The Pentagon did little to defend him on the way out. Phelan was departing the administration effective immediately, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. We wish him well in his future endeavours. The New York Times reported that one of the issues between Phelan and Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg was naval shipbuilding  a matter of acute interest to Australia, given the AUKUS pact relies on the US dramatically increasing its production of Virginia-class submarines. That stands to reason because one of the Pentagons recent acts was to promote Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher into a senior role  reporting directly to Feinberg  that assumes responsibility for submarine construction. Phelan was seated at the table in the White House cabinet room during Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses meeting with Trump in October, when the US president said AUKUS was full steam ahead.

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It was Phelan who provided the only respite from the love-in, noting that while AUKUS was moving ahead, there were still some ambiguities to sort out. Related Article Exclusive

AUKUS Australias depending on AUKUS Virginia-class subs. The US says theyre not its priority According to one well-placed American source, Trump later instructed Phelan to just get on with it: there were to be no more reviews, and no more delays. As a political appointee, Phelan was Trumps man. He had no naval or even military experience: he was a finance guy who managed money for Dell billionaire Michael Dell, another friend of Trump. He also raised millions for Trumps campaign and collected art. His replacement, Hung Cao, is a long-serving Navy officer who unsuccessfully ran for political office and was appointed by Trump to a role in the Pentagon bureaucracy.

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He is described as a hardliner who, during a 2024 debate with Democratic senator Tim Kaine, said the Navy needed alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds. Some saw Phelans openness to outsourcing parts of American shipbuilding as his downfall. Hunter Stires, who was maritime strategist to president Joe Bidens navy secretary Carlos Del Toro, said Phelan committed a grave strategic, as well as political, error by signalling his receptiveness to such a proposition during his speech at this weeks US Navy League conference. Phelans firing within hours of his blunder should be read as a stark and welcome signal that outsourcing US naval construction abroad is and must remain a non-starter, said Stires, who is now a fellow at the Centre for Maritime Strategy. Back at Pynes AUKUS dinner, no speakers mentioned the elephant in the room, nor reflected on the fact that Australias prime ally had sacked its navy boss in the middle of a war and naval blockade. And why should they, really? Its just another day in the Trump administration. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Foreign relations

Analysis Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra. or email. Connect via X
MEXICO CITY, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: ASR; BMV: ASUR) (ASUR), a leading international airport group with operations in Mexico, the U.S. and Colombia, today announced that shareholders approved the following resolutions and considered the following matters at the General Annual Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting held in Mexico City on April 23rd, 2026:

General Annual Ordinary Meeting

Summary of Resolutions

Approval of the report submitted by the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors, accompanied by the independent auditor's report, with respect to the operations and results of the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2025, as well as the Board of Directors' opinion regarding the content of said report.



Approval of the report submitted by the Board of Directors which contains the principal accounting and reporting policies and criteria followed in the preparation of the Company's financial information. Furthermore, note was taken of the report submitted by the Board of Directors with respect to the transactions entered into with Related Persons and Relevant Shareholders, or contracts exceeding US$2,000,000.00.



Due note was taken that the report of the activities and operations in which the Board of Directors intervened, pursuant to Article 28 IV (e) of the Securities Market Law, was not prepared because during the fiscal year ended on December 31st, 2025, the Board of Directors did not intervene in any such activities or operations to be reported.



Approval of the audited individual and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31st, 2025.



Approval of the report submitted by the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of the Company with respect to its activities during the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2025.



Approval of the activities of the Board of Directors during the year ended December 31st, 2025.



Approval of the report on fulfillment of the tax obligations of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2024. Due note was taken that the report for the year ended December 31st, 2025 has not yet been issued and will be presented for approval at the first General Shareholders' Meeting to be held after the report is issued.



Approval to set aside Ps. 6.00 (six pesos and zero cents, Mexican legal tender) from the accumulated net profits for the year ended December 31st, 2025 to increase the legal reserve of the Company, in accordance with Article 20 of the Mexican General Corporations Law (Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles).



Approval of an ordinary net cash dividend from accumulated retained earnings in the amount of Ps. 10.00 (ten pesos and zero cents, Mexican legal tender) per share, payable in May 2026, to be paid out in a single installment to each of the outstanding, common, Series "B" and "BB" shares representing the paid-in capital stock of the Company, and that are issued, subscribed, fully paid and released on such date and (ii) the taxes that the Company incurs with respect to the dividend payment.



Payment of the ordinary dividend shall be made through the Variable Income (Renta Variable) department of S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V., at its offices located at Paseo de la Reforma No. 255-3rd floor, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500, Mexico City, Mexico, from Monday through Friday from 9:30 through 13:00 hours as of May 28th, 2026. Payment of the dividend shall be made against delivery of coupon "22" (twenty-two) of the outstanding stock certificates in accordance with the terms notified to shareholders.



The dividend payment notices shall be published no later than April 24th, 2026 in a newspaper in general circulation.



Approval to set aside all remaining accumulated net profits for the year ended December 31st, 2025 for the repurchase of shares by the Company during the fiscal year 2026, pursuant to Article 56 of the Securities Market Law.



Approval of the activities of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary during the year ended December 31st, 2025, and release from any liability they might have incurred in the execution of their duties.



Ratification of all members and alternate members of the Board of Directors, as well as ratification of non-member Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Directors.



Ratification of Mr. Guillermo Ortiz Martinez as Chairman of the Audit Committee.



Ratification of Ms. Barbara Garza Laguera Gonda, Mr. Fernando Chico Pardo and Mr. Jose Antonio Perez Anton as members of the Nominations and Compensation Committee.



Approval of the proposal made by the Nominations and Compensation Committee to pay the following compensation to the members of the management bodies of the Company:

- Each member of the Board of Directors will receive Ps. 110,000.00 (one hundred and ten thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended.

- Each member of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee will receive Ps. 150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican Currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended.

- Each member of the Operations Committee will receive, Ps. 110,000.00 (one hundred and ten thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended.

- Each member of the Nominations and Compensation Committee will receive Ps. 110,000.00 (one hundred and ten thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended.

- Each member of the Acquisitions and Contracts Committee will receive Ps. 40,000.00 (forty thousand pesos 00/100 Mexican Currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended.

Special delegates of the Ordinary Annual General Shareholders' Meeting were appointed to appear before a notary public to legalize the minutes of the meeting and to undertake any other action necessary to formalize and give effect to the resolutions taken at this meeting.

About ASUR

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR) is a leading international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain, and develop 16 airports across the Americas. The Company operates nine airports in southeast of Mexico, including Cancun Airport, the largest tourist gateway in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America; as well as six airports in northern Colombia, including Medellin international airport (Rionegro), the second busiest in Colombia.

ASUR also holds a 60% interest in Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC, operator of Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, the island's primary international gateway. San Juan Airport was the first and remains the only major airport in the U.S. to have successfully completed a publicprivate partnership under the FAA Pilot Program. ASUR has recently expanded into airport commercial services through ASUR US Airports, which partners with airports and airlines to deliver enhanced retail and passenger experiences. ASUR US Airports operates at major U.S. hubs, including Los Angeles International, Chicago O'Hare, and John F. Kennedy International, and has historically shown competitive performance against U.S. commercial revenue benchmarks.

Headquartered in Mexico, ASUR is listed on both the Mexican Bolsa (BMV) under the symbol ASUR, and on the NYSE in the U.S., where it trades under the symbol ASR. One ADS represents ten (10) B-series shares. For further information, visit www.asur.com.mx

SOURCE Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V.
campus news

On Earth Day, UB announces major milestone in carbon neutrality goal

This milestone reflects years of commitment, innovation and shared effort across our campus community. It also represents a meaningful step forward in our journey  to take responsibility for our emissions, drive climate solutions, and prepare the next generation of leaders to build a more sustainable future.  UB President Satish K. Tripathi

In 2020, UB unveiled its most ambitious Climate Action Plan (CAP) update. With that plan, the university renewed the commitment it made in 2007  when UB signed on to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment  to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Thats the year UBs own scientists and others say is the deadline to stave off more severe global warming and the worst impacts of climate change. Today, on Earth Day, UB President Satish K. Tripathi announced that UB has achieved that goal for its direct emissions five years ahead of schedule. Its a milestone that reflects decades of collective vision, innovation and commitment to campuswide change. On Earth Day 2026, I am delighted to share a major milestone in our climate action plan: The University at Buffalo has achieved climate neutrality for the emissions we directly control, Tripathi says. In achieving this goal, UB is generating zero net greenhouse gas emissions for its directly controlled emissions, often referred to as Scope 1 and Scope 2. Scope 1 emissions are generated from the burning of natural gas to heat campus buildings and include fueling the universitys vehicle fleet, while Scope 2 refers to emissions from electricity purchased. In simple terms, this means that the energy that powers our campus, and the fuel that supports our operations, now have a net-zero greenhouse gas impact on the climate, Tripathi adds. This milestone reflects years of commitment, innovation, and shared effort across our campus community. It also represents a meaningful step forward in our journey  to take responsibility for our emissions, drive climate solutions, and prepare the next generation of leaders to build a more sustainable future. UB achieved its direct emissions carbon neutrality goal through a combination of energy efficiency and decarbonization activities that resulted in the university reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 66% since 2007. UB has also made substantial investments in energy efficiency, decarbonizing its campus heating sources, converting its vehicle fleet to electric, and generating renewable energy both on- and off-campus. These strategies have been combined with the purchase of high-quality super-pollutant carbon credits created by activities that capture and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.

This milestone shows what is achievable when sustained commitment, thoughtful planning, and strong institutional leadership unite in service of climate action, says Tim Carter, president of Second Nature, an organization that works to accelerate climate action in and through higher education. Second Nature is proud to support the University at Buffalo and our broad network of higher education institutions as they move from ambition to tangible, measurable impact, Carter adds. Achieving climate neutrality for directly controlled emissions five years early sets a compelling example for higher education institutions across the country and reinforces the vital role higher education plays in advancing climate solutions at the speed and scale this moment requires.

The road to neutrality

UBs path to carbon neutrality is centered around the universitys climate action plan, called UBs 10 in 10, a roadmap of innovative, engaging and digestible steps to increase the universitys climate action and put UB on a path to net zero emissions by 2030. These initiatives represent a synthesis of ideas expressed by a diverse array of stakeholders through a robust campus engagement process. In 2023 the university introduced three integrative themes  climate justice, resiliency, and leveraging the academy  that are woven throughout the climate action plan. A foundation of UBs strategy was transitioning to renewable electricity. The university now generates and purchases 100% of its electricity from clean sources, which has led to an approximately 30% decrease in UBs overall carbon footprint. This has been achieved through direct on-site solar, off-campus solar generation and the purchasing of renewable energy credits. In 2023, UB flipped the switch on one of the largest on-campus solar generation initiatives across the higher-education sector. The project  composed of five solar arrays on university-owned land on the North Campus and four rooftop solar installations on UB buildings  has increased campus capacity by 15 times current levels. According to university officials, UBs renewable energy planning and implementation efforts have lowered operational costs while expanding clean energy adoption across the region. In addition, UB completed comprehensive clean energy master plans for the North, South and Downtown campuses, creating a roadmap to converting outdated, inefficient, fossil-fuel burning heating systems. These strategies are accompanied by a business plan that charts a fiscally responsible path to decarbonize more than 200 campus buildings totaling 13 million gross square feet of space. Several buildings have already transitioned, while others are in design; more than $80 million in funding was secured in 2025 to advance the work. In addition to new geothermal wellfields and heat pump technology, the work also will leverage Empire AI by capturing heat generated from the supercomputing center and distributing it through a thermal energy network across the campus to keep buildings warm. As UB Vice President for Finance and Administration Laura Hubbard noted, decarbonization is an investment strategy, one that when done right is the same cost, or even less expensive, over the long term than the business-as-usual approach. Hubbard adds: Todays announcement further cements UBs commitment to a triple bottom line strategy of sustainability. We arent just reducing our carbon footprint. We are achieving financial savings in the decades to come while showing how public research universities can lead the way on climate action. UB also continues to transform mobility across its three campuses. The universitys new busing contract includes a 40% electric fleet. In addition, nearly all new vehicles purchased will be electric, and UB now hosts the largest fleet electric-vehicle charging lot among New York State universities  and one of the largest statewide across all sectors  with more than 40 charging ports supporting university-owned vehicles. Through the successful execution of the Climate Action Plan, UB was recognized nationally for its leadership in climate action and research by then-Vice President Kamala Harris. In addition, UB was ranked the No. 1 university in the United States for climate action in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Eliminating super-pollutants

All told, UBs decarbonization activities add up to the elimination of 66% of its direct emissions. Thats substantial, but achieving the next 34% will take significant time as implementing the clean energy master plans requires addressing 13 million square feet of buildings and the capital required to renovate them, says UB Chief Sustainability Officer Ryan McPherson. This is why the university is leveraging other key strategies to complement the decarbonization work and fulfill our promise as well as provide direct impact in lowering emissions. Last April, UB announced it was the first State University of New York (SUNY) institution to purchase high-quality carbon credits as part of its comprehensive climate neutrality strategy. This year, UB has partnered with Tradewater, a certified B corporation that collects, controls and permanently prevents the release of super-pollutants like ozone-depleting substances (ODS), on the purchase of 42,100 credits from Tradewaters ODS 10 project. UBs funding ensures that Tradewater can reach and safely destroy equipment and canisters that hold legacy ozone-depleting substances and which are at risk of leaking super-pollutants into the atmosphere. The move places UB among an elite group of universities that are purchasing high-quality carbon credits that target the safe destruction of ODS.

Why now?
AUGUSTA, Ga., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Best Lawyers, the most established global network of vetted legal professionals, announces the launch of the first-of-its-kind legal search app on ChatGPT to provide users tailored, peer-reviewed results of top attorneys.

Users can now search for "Best Lawyers" in the ChatGPT app directory and connect the app to their account to find lawyers by practice area and location. By leveraging Best Lawyers' trusted, peer-reviewed data, the app provides a credible alternative to generic or unverified search results when selecting legal representation.

The Best Lawyers App is now live on ChatGPT.

"The legal industry is continuously evolving, and so is the way clients connect with attorneys. Launching our app directly within ChatGPT makes it easier than ever for people to search for credible, experienced counsel, right where they are already asking questions," said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer.

Artificial Intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews have reshaped how users find legal assistance and overall search behavior. Best Lawyers has evolved alongside this shift by integrating its trusted rankings into the tools people increasingly rely on for information and decision-making.

The Best Lawyers app enables users to search for attorneys in a natural, conversational way. Users can prompt ChatGPT with requests such as, "Find me a [specialty] lawyer in [location]," to receive results powered directly by Best Lawyers' peer-reviewed rankings.

"Clients deserve more than generic search results when they are looking for trusted legal representation, and putting verified, peer-reviewed attorney recommendations within an AI tool millions of people use daily is a meaningful step forward," Greer said.

The app's development, alongside Best Lawyers' artificial intelligence tool SmithyAI, reflects the organization's continued investment in technology built for the demands of modern legal practice.

To explore the app, visit the ChatGPT app directory and search for "Best Lawyers" or visit ChatGPT - Best Lawyers.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the most established global network of legal professionals, providing elite lawyers and law firms with tools to enhance visibility, credibility and client engagement. Built on a rigorous peer-review process, Best Lawyers delivers data-driven legal recognition while offering industry insights and tech-forward marketing solutions. Powering Best Law Firms, we simplify the law firm selection process, fostering confidence between firms and clients.

Learn more at www.bestlawyers.com and www.bestlawfirms.com.

Media contact:

Alesia Bani

Communications Manger

Best Lawyers

[email protected]

SOURCE Best Lawyers
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Popular French comic artist and animator Nicolas Pegons debut feature Flick!, was one of the best project pitches we saw at this years Cartoon Movie, and were excited to exclusively unveil the films first full trailer.

Pegons film, produced by Wizz and Folivari-owned studio FOST, follows Joy, a 25-year-old drifting through a dead-end existence in rural eastern France. Shes kind of bored there, Pegon tells us. She spends most of her time between depressing jobs at the supermarket. She goes to the bar and lives in an old cabin in the woods.

Joys quiet, aimless routine takes a sharp turn after a strange accident involving a buried gun, a cowboy-looking corpse, and a panicked decision that spirals into increasingly surreal territory. She comes face to face with a dead body, Pegon explains. She fires the gun and realizes that she just shot a cowboy. And although the cowboy was obviously already dead, she looks a bit like a suspect, so she panics.

Back at the cabin, she shares space with an unlikely accomplice. Didier, her roommate, is a 50-year-old history teacher a former hippie, Pegon says, someone pretty zen and largely out of sync with Joys restless energy.

From there, the film escalates into a darkly comic drama of failed cover-ups involving a freezer, stolen lime (for the smell), and a half-painted getaway car. There will never be really a great plan, Pegon says. Its going to be one epic fail after another until eventually they find a radio and end up calling the police directly.

But beneath the escalating chaos is a more introspective thread. As Joys grip on reality loosens, the dead cowboy begins to haunt her. Reality slowly will blend into fantasy, Pegon says. So Joy starts to ask herself a question, a big one. What if he was her estranged father?

Wizz producer Claire Madigan frames the story as something more layered than its premise suggests. Thats the overall synopsis of the story, she says. But there are a lot of other themes that are going on here.

Visually, Flick! stands out immediately, its uniquely colored, comic-like aesthetic being what first caught our eye at Cartoon Movie. Pegon, who comes from a comics background, leans heavily into that influence. I drew comics myself and of course, my graphic style is influenced by underground American comics artists, he says. Thats probably why you have this strong black line.

The films look intentionally balances stylization and realism. The intent was to mix the comic aspect with something a bit more realistic, a bit more cinematographic, Pegon explains. For the colors to mix a little bit of a realistic palette with something a bit more pop.

Madigan adds that this aesthetic is key to the storytelling. Youre not really sure if youre seeing whats happening or if youre inside one of Joys comics, she says. That line between real and reality, you dont really know as the film goes on.

Music will also play a central role, something Pegon has been eager to explore after working so long in comics. Thats probably why I wanted to go from comic books to a feature film, he says. Music is an important part of my work, but on comic books, it can be a bit frustrating.

The soundtrack evolves alongside Joys journey. The first part of the film would probably be more in this punk vibe, Pegon says. And in the middle something more of folk. Just a simple guitar, because of the cowboy character and his guitar.

Crucially, the music is diegetic. Every time youre going to have this guitar atmosphere, youre going to have the silhouette of the cowboy somewhere in the frame playing the music, Pegon explains. The idea is to show that hes haunting Joys life just as hes haunting the film.

On the production side, Flick! marks a significant step for the team at Wizz, marking the outfits feature debut. Producer Amanda Stubbs describes it as a natural evolution. Weve been around for 15, 20 years and it sort of just feels natural that weve arrived at that stage, she says. Pegon came with this fantastic idea, and immediately it felt right.

Stubbs also highlights the importance of working with a highly experienced partner in FOST. Getting a studio like that on board as co-producers has given us a lot of credibility, she says. They have that experience, they have the contacts.

Even so, the leap into feature production comes with uncertainty. We had no idea how people were going to react, to be honest, Madigan says, recalling the days leading up to the Cartoon Movie pitch.

Stubbs echoes that sentiment. Its very different in the world that weve been working in for the last 15 or so years, she says. But its so refreshing, and its so invigorating.

For now, the team is focused on financing and development, with an eye toward international partners, including distributors.

Pegon, meanwhile, continues to refine the project while the producers secure the funding. Having already finished a second version of the script, he says the goal now is to finalize the producer lineup so that a third and final version can be penned. We are already pretty happy, but going to go a step further when the financing is finalized.

If the trailer is any indication, Flick! is aiming for something tonally unique and visually distinctive, but in a pulpy way that should have tremendous cross-border appeal. The plan is to produce a film that moves freely between deadpan crime farce and something more introspective and uncanny. As Pegon puts it, the goal is not just to tell Joys story, but to let her reshape it. Its a way for her to tell her story in her own way, he says.
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The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is getting into the digital-native animation game with Know Your Rights University (KYR-U), a stop-motion series headed by Brandon Lake that introduces kids to civics, constitutional rights, and free expression through short, accessible episodes available for free on YouTube starting today.

The project leans into a familiar educational format, drawing inspiration from legacy edutainment like Schoolhouse Rock while updating the subject matter for a more politically charged moment.

Set inside the fictional Eastman-Baldwin Junior High, the series follows two student journalists, Lisa and Aaron, who write for their school paper, the Liberty Gazette. Through their reporting, they learn about student speech, censorship, and how government functions. A teacher named Mr. Charles acts as a guide, while a supporting cast includes talking books and even a sentient PA system, pushing the show toward a lightly surreal tone.

The first season will include four episodes, each built around a specific civics concept. Topics include the landmark student speech case Tinker v. Des Moines, book bans and censorship, the structure of the three branches of government, and grassroots civic engagement. One episode centers on a fictional challenge to James and the Giant Peach, using it as a gateway into broader conversations about restricted access to literature in schools.

Visually, KYR-U looks really sharp. The backgrounds, puppets, lighting, and animation are all on point, and the dynamic colors and characters should provide a comfortable entry point for little ones.

According to press materials, the team developed the series in-house, building sets, composing music, and consulting with both animation professionals and First Amendment experts.

The project is spearheaded by Lake, an ACLU creative lead with a background in stop-motion and education. His stated goal was to bring civics lessons to life in a way that resonates with younger audiences while maintaining clarity around complex legal and political concepts.

KYR-U arrives amid ongoing debates around curriculum control and book bans in U.S. schools. The ACLU frames the series as a response to those trends, positioning it as a tool to help kids and families better understand their rights and the systems that shape them.

The series premieres today on YouTube Kids, with additional materials including study guides and companion content hosted on the ACLUs website.
China's four-point proposal: a constructive contribution to Middle East peace and stability

10:55, April 23, 2026 By He Yin ( People's Daily

During a recent meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

He called for adherence to the principle of peaceful coexistence, the principle of national sovereignty, the principle of international rule of law and a coordinated approach to development and security.

This four-point proposal fully reflects China's consistent position of promoting peace, ending conflict, and resolving differences through dialogue, offering a Chinese approach for the Middle East and the Gulf region to emerge from the shadow of conflict and achieve lasting stability.

The international community widely believes that the four-point proposal, pragmatic and just, is grounded in the fundamental interests of the people of the region, and will inject positive energy into regional and global peace and stability.

Instability in the Middle East means instability for the world. The region is once again experiencing turbulence, with the spillover effects of conflict becoming increasingly evident.

Reports from the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund warned that the current conflict could trigger a global economic slowdown, weigh on growth in 2026, result in nearly $200 billion in losses for regional economies, and push more than 32 million people worldwide into poverty.

Bringing hostilities to an end, consolidating ceasefires, and pursuing political solutions are the most urgent priorities and the shared expectation of the international community.

Adherence to the principle of peaceful coexistence is a fundamental basis for resolving the Middle East security dilemma and achieving long-term stability.

Countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region are interdependent and inseparable neighbors. The more tense the situation becomes, the more they must cherish peace.

From facilitating the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to supporting dialogue among 14 Palestinian factions and the signing of the Beijing Declaration, to jointly issuing a five-point initiative with Pakistan for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East, China has consistently played a constructive role in promoting dialogue, bridging differences, and building mutual trust.

China supports efforts by countries in the region to improve relations and advocates building a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture for the Middle East and the Gulf region, as these endeavors will lay a solid foundation for peaceful coexistence among regional countries.

Adherence to the principle of national sovereignty is the core prerequisite for maintaining peace and stability and safeguarding the development rights of countries in the region.

Sovereignty serves as a foundation for all countries, especially developing countries, and must not be violated. The people in the Middle East are the true master of this region, and regional affairs should be determined by regional countries independently. External forces should not overstep or resort to the use of force, interfere in internal affairs, or trample on the sovereignty of others.

The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region should be fully respected, and the safety of personnel, facilities and institutions of all countries should be effectively safeguarded. China supports countries in the region in defending their sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests.

Adherence to the principle of international rule of law provides a solid guarantee for curbing the spread of conflict in the Middle East and building a durable peace framework for the region.

The prolonged escalation of conflicts in the Middle East largely stems from certain countries disregarding international norms. They frequently resort to extreme pressure and unilateral sanctions, place their own interests above shared global interests, and undermine multilateralism and the foundation of international rule of law.

The authority of international rule of law should be upheld, rejecting selective application to prevent the world from falling back into the law of the jungle. It is essential to firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

A coordinated approach to development and security is the long-term path toward peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East.

Security makes development possible, and development helps maintain security. From advancing clean energy cooperation to support green transition, to sharing agricultural technologies that help deserts bear fruit, China has actively shared its development experience with countries in the region.

Since the outbreak of the war in Iran, China has promptly provided emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, delivering urgently needed supplies to people affected by the war.

All parties should work together to create a favorable environment for the development of countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region. China is ready to share with these countries the opportunities brought about by Chinese modernization to strengthen the foundation for regional development and security.

The four-point proposal serves as a guiding light for peace in the Middle East. At present, the region stands at a critical juncture between conflict and peace. At such a moment, all parties must demonstrate the greatest sincerity and work toward a political resolution.

China will continue to stand on the side of peace and dialogue, on the right side of history, and on the side of human progress. Together with like-minded countries, it will make sustained efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, contributing China's strength and demonstrating the responsibility of a major country.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
PHILADELPHIA, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- dbt Labs, the leader in standards for AI-ready structured data, announced today that it has received the 2026 Google Cloud Partner of the Year award for Data and Analytics: Data Pipelines and Governance. dbt Labs works together with Google Cloud to provide the foundation for an organization's transition to AI leadership and innovation. The combination of rich data warehousing capabilities and the democratization of complex data transformation removes technical barriers, enabling analysts and business leaders to accelerate their time-to-value.

dbt Labs is being recognized for its achievements in the Google Cloud ecosystem, helping joint customers manage data at scale on Google Cloud and turn it into trusted, actionable insights with speed and efficiency. Thousands of organizations run dbt on Google BigQuery globally, an integration designed to accelerate the delivery of trusted analytics and AI. By consolidating data transformation into a single, unified tool, joint customers quickly gain increased operational efficiency through advanced orchestration features. dbt Labs empowers customers to manage and trust results, ensuring high-quality data is ready to power analytics and AI initiatives both today and in the future.

"Every AI strategy needs to be underpinned by a standardized foundation and process to control, govern and document progress for high-quality, trusted results," said Shawn Toldo, Vice President, Worldwide Partner Ecosystem at dbt Labs. "Together, dbt Labs and Google Cloud enable organizations to build that foundation for an AI-ready future. We are excited for the recognition and growing partnership with Google."

dbt Labs is being recognized for its achievements in the Google Cloud ecosystem, helping joint customers manage data at scale on Google Cloud and turn it into trusted, actionable insights with speed and efficiency. Thousands of organizations run dbt on Google BigQuery globally, an integration designed to accelerate the delivery of trusted analytics and AI. By consolidating data transformation into a single, unified tool, joint customers quickly gain increased operational efficiency through advanced orchestration features. dbt Labs empowers customers to manage and trust results, ensuring high-quality data is ready to power analytics and AI initiatives both today and in the future.

"The Google Cloud Partner Awards honor the strategic innovation and measurable value our partners bring to customers," said Kevin Ichhpurani, President, Global Partner Ecosystem and Channels, Google Cloud. "We are proud to name dbt Labs a 2026 Google Cloud Partner Award winner, celebrating their role in driving customer success over the last year."

This recognition is the latest example of dbt Labs' momentum since launching on Google Cloud Marketplace one year ago. The partnership's trajectory is driven by extensive global adoption and usage across diverse industries and a rapidly expanding community of active practitioners. Additionally, dbt Labs' partner team earned two Google Partner All Star awards, reinforcing the deep collaboration and commitment to driving mutual success.

By bringing Google AI capabilities into dbt workflows, joint customers gain the trustworthy, well-documented, governed foundation that reliable analytics and AI demand. To learn more about how dbt Labs and Google Cloud are enabling AI-ready data pipelines, watch the on-demand webinar "Building dbt Models Faster with Google AI" at https://www.getdbt.com/confirmation/building-dbt-models-faster-with-google-ai-recording.

About dbt Labs

Since 2016, dbt Labs has been on a mission to help data practitioners create and disseminate organizational knowledge. dbt is the standard for AI-ready structured data. Powered by the dbt Fusion engine, it unlocks the performance, context, and trust that organizations need to scale analytics in the era of AI. Globally, more than 80,000 data teams use dbt, including those at Siemens, Roche and Conde Nast.

Learn more at getdbt.com, and follow dbt Labs on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

SOURCE dbt Labs
Middle Valley Church of God, located at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, announces that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday, April 26, in the 10:30 a.m. service. His topic will be 'Look How God Did What He Did For Me.' The purpose of the sermon series is to help all Believers understand their relationship with God and how He helps them be the person He wants them to be in life and eternity. It includes a call for self-examination. This will be the tenth part of the sermon series to encourage Believers to realize their need to know their relationship with God and to be determined to draw closer to God.The focus will be to remind the hearer that God sees us through Jesus Christ because He overcame death in the Resurrection. All are welcome to participate.





Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m. , the church conducts a Prayer Meeting. The Prayer Meeting is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage Believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate.





Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an Interactive, Interesting, and Informative Bible Study will be held in the church auditorium. Pastor Mitch McClure is currently leading this Bible study on the life of David. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage Believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide.





Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1946 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423.843.1539. All are welcome.




The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been recognized for outstanding creative excellence in the 2025 Collegiate Advertising Awards, one of the nations most prestigious competitions honoring higher education marketing and communications.

The Collegiate Advertising Awards received entries from institutions across the United States and Canada, ranging from community colleges to large university systems. Submissions were evaluated by a national panel of industry professionals and judged on creativity, layout and design, functionality, message effectiveness, production quality, and overall appeal.

Earning recognition in the Collegiate Advertising Awards is a tremendous honor and a testament to the creativity and excellence of our team, said UTC Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Jay Blackman. Having our work ranked among the top entries nationwide reflects both the talent of our staff and their commitment to telling UTCs story in innovative ways. Congratulations to everyone involved in these outstanding achievements.

UTC earned two honors in the competition, placing its work among the top tier of collegiate advertising nationwide:

Gold Award (Top 5% in the nation)

WUTC Alan Broadbent Jazz Concert Video

Category: Special Video Production  Single

Mike Andrews and Sam Blevins

Silver Award (Top 12% in the nation)

WUTC Alternate Brand Expression Package

Category: Logos/Trademarks/Mascots

Amy Devan-Barker

Both entries were submitted in the division for institutions with 10,001-20,000 students.

The award-winning Alan Broadbent Jazz Concert Video captures a benefit performance with a strong sense of emotional storytelling, highlighting both musical artistry and WUTCs connection to the community. The production emphasizes nuance, intimacy and the transformative power of music while reinforcing the importance of public radio support.

The WUTC Alternate Brand Expression Package showcases a vibrant and dynamic visual identity designed to reflect WUTCs dual focus on music and talk programming. The campaign extended across multiple platformsincluding posters, apparel, mugs and promotional itemsusing bold colors and music-inspired graphics to create a sense of energy, innovation and community engagement.

WUTC 88.1, a National Public Radio station, is a university licensee for UTC. We are thankful for the collaboration that being a part of the university affords, said WUTC General Manager Susan Lazenby. It is wonderful to have access to the talent and enthusiasm within the Communications and Marketing department. Both Amy and Sam have been able to visually capture the joy and unity that public radio brings to our community.

Awards in the Collegiate Advertising Awards are reserved for entries receiving the highest scores nationwide, with Gold Awards representing the top 5% and Silver Awards the top 12% of all submissions. Overall, only the top 16% of entries are recognized.

The 2025 competition highlighted some of the most innovative and effective work in higher education marketing today, and UTCs recognition underscores the creativity and impact of its communications team.
A DeLorean, time machine, robots and laser light shows dazzled the 1,000 plus attendees at Erlanger Healths 10th annual Believe Bash, presented by First Horizon, at the Chattanooga Convention Center last Saturday.Officials said, "The theme of this years fundraiser was 'Building on Erlangers Past for a Better Tomorrow,' which celebrated Erlangers 130 year history, while addressing its plans for a strong future, emphasizing a legacy of innovation. While the Chattanooga community came together for a night of futuristic fun, it was all for the purpose of making Erlangers mission possible for another 100 years."The community met the moment, raising an unprecedented $2.33M for the health system; the most a Chattanooga philanthropic event has ever generated in a single evening. Included in that number was an individual gift of $500,000 by Scott and Alison Robins of The Group Savings Organization. Their gift set another record for the largest individual contribution in Erlanger history during the paddle raise at its annual fundraiser."Funds raised this year at Believe Bash are supporting the recently announced renovations to Erlanger Childrens lobby and Emergency Department. Believe Bash 2026 is awarding $550,000 to this project, which is the single largest donation to Childrens Hospital ever given in the galas 10 Year history."The energy behind what were doing at Childrens Hospital is really exciting, said Deborah Spielman, senior vice president and CEO, Women and Childrens, Erlanger. People will be amazed when they bring in their children, but more importantly, theyll feel cared for and safe.Additional projects on the Baroness campus will be funded and announced in the near term. Even before the surprise gift of $500,000 was added to the total, the evening had raised $1.83M, surpassing last years record of $1.67M."This community showed up in a way we've never seen before," said Sheila Boyington, Erlanger board chair and Believe Bash Steering Committee member. "Every dollar raised is a promise to the families who need us most. We are so grateful."Officials said, "Erlanger started with a single gift of $5,000 in 1891. It began with a dream and a vision. So, innovation is so much part of our story at Erlanger, its in our DNA. We will continue to innovate and do what is necessary to meet our mission to this community to compassionately care for people for another 100 years."Jim Coleman, CEO of Erlanger Health and Believe Bash co-host, said, "We cannot thank the community enough for joining us and supporting us on this journey."Group Savings Organization made this gift because we believe deeply in Erlangers mission and its leadership, said Scott Robins, chairman of the board, The GSO. Over the last four years, Erlanger has transformed into a private, nonprofit with a leadership team that blends visionary strategy with strong execution. Erlanger delivers world-class technology because they have deployed innovative business processes rarely seen in this industry - a model that must become the future for multi-state health systems. As we often say, theres no mission without margin, and this investment supports Erlangers ability to innovate and change lives. We hope it inspires others to join us in supporting this vital work."This incredible event could not happen without the generous support of our Believe Bash leaders: Amy Coleman, chair of the Believe Bash, co-hosts Dr. Amar and Sujata Singh and Jim and Amy Coleman, and Todd Womack and Nicole Watson, who led the historic auction and giving moment, which raised over $400,000," officials said. "And a huge thank you to our sponsors: Presenting Sponsor - First Horizon; Leading Sponsors  The Maclellan Family Foundations, Blue Cross Blue Shield TN, Group Savings Organization, Riverdance at River Gorge Ranch and Chattanooga Lookouts; Prime Plus Sponsors: Marsh McLennan Agency, Delta Dental, Unum Group, Tennessee Valley Authority and Sodexo; Prime Sponsors: Ace Anesthesiology Consultant Exchange, DeFoor Brothers, EPB, Global Medical Response, Health Trust Performance Group, Lift, Millenium Bank, Noon Development, Nephrology Associates, Shields Health Solutions, University Surgical Associates, Major Plus Sponsors: Food City, Tennessee Oncology Major Sponsors: Acumen Wealth Advisors, Ahead, Bass, Berry & Sims, Dr. Christopher Bell, Bellanomi, Bussey Financial Group, Cempa Community Care, Coca-Cola, DeRoyal, The Double Cola Company, Finks Jewelers, Flawless Aesthetics, Grace, Johnson Group, Journey Health Foundation, Kauffman Hall/Vizient, Korn Ferry, Barry and Marylee Large, M&M Industries, MagMutual Insurance Co., McCarthy Building Co., Morgan Stanley, Dr. Haresh & Sumi Patel, Patten & Patten, Inc., Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, Qventus, Riley & Jacobson PLC, Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams PC, Steris and Warbird Healthcare Advisors."
Leland Curtis Rogers Jr.,94, departed this life on April18, 2026 on his Final Eternal Patrol as a United States Navy submarine veteran.





Lee was born on June 24, 1931, in Chinchilla, Pa. He graduated from Clarks Summit High School in 1949. Following graduation, he attended Castle Heights Military Academy and Wyoming Seminary before enlisting in the U.S. Navy after the beginning of the Korean War in 1950. After attending Boot Camp and Electronics School, Lee was assigned to the USS Briarius. He began training at Submarine School and was assigned to submarine USS K-1 in 1953. He was transferred to the nuclear power submarine training school in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1955. His submarine service continued, serving on the USS Skate, temporary duty on the USS Nautilus, the USS Swordfish (plank owner), the USS Sculpin (plank owner), and the USS Tinosa. He was also an instructor at the Navy Nuclear Power School. Upon retirement from the Navy, after 20 years, Lee became an engineer in the commercial Nuclear Power field, working for various firms for 34 years. He retired in 2004 and continued living his full and meaningful life of 94.75 years.





Lee married the love of his life, Patricia Ann Brennan, in 1955 and together they had five children. Over the length of their marriage, they lived in 10 States (in 4 time zones), owned 11 homes, served in numerous temporary duty stations, had 7 dogs and 4 cats, met numerous life-long friends, and still loved each other as much at the end as in the beginning. What an adventure!





He was an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend to all. His children could not have asked for a better role model and mentor. He was at every game, meet, recital, concert, or activity. His approving voice could always be heard.





In his retirement, Lee was actively involved in Submarine Veterans groups in multiple states and many other Veterans associations, which brought him great joy. He still fit in his uniform and loved participating in ceremonies, parades, and other special events. This Senior Chief loved to tell stories - and he had many (some of them true!)





Lee was preceded in death by Patricia, his faithful and loving wife of 60 years, parents Leland C. Rogers and Phoebe Maddock Rogers, and sister Jean Dorothy Rogers.





Lee is survived by his five children: Lecia Ann Albright (Thomas), Diane Jane Calhoun (Frank), Ellen Louise Smith (Paul), Leland Curtis III (Stacy), and Owen Gregory; six grandchildren: Katharine Albright, Cassandra Miller (Keaton), Patrick and Alexander Rogers, and Brendan and Maeve Smith, and great-grandchildren Beau and Brooks Miller.





As the Navy tradition states - "Sailor, rest your oar - we have the watch."





In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: The US Submarine Veterans, Inc., Disabled American Veterans, other veterans organizations and St. Jude Childrens Hospital.





To share your memories of Lee, please visit https://www. hamiltonfhofchattanooga.com/ obituary/leland-lee-rogers-jr





The family will receive friends from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 27, at the funeral home.





A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:45 a.m. on Monday, April 27, in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Frank Calhoun officiating. Interment will follow in the Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy.





Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343, 423 531-3975.
Chattanooga firefighters spent all night tackling a woods fire on Stringers Ridge.

At 11:43 p.m. on Wednesday, Green Shift companies responded to Stringers Ridge Park at 898 High Ridge Dr. after 911 received multiple reports of visible flames and smoke from concerned citizens. The Tennessee Division of Forestry also responded to that location where approximately an acre of land was burning.

Chattanooga Fire personnel worked with Forestry to start fire breaks with leaf blowers.

Two more trucks from Forestry arrived and joined the existing fire ground operations. Command requested Mini Pumper 17 and Tanker 16 be dispatched to the scene.

Once all units arrived, water shuttle operations began to extinguish the fire. The terrain was challenging, so firefighters from CFD and Forestry used handlines to surround the fire from different sides. After an extended operation, the fire was under control at around 6 a.m.

Fire officials said, "We ask the public to be aware that a fire break has been made at that location. There will be smoldering and light smoke in that area for some time, which is normal following wildfires."
The growing coalition of 25 organizations is asking California lawmakers to pass legislation this year to extend Diablo Canyon Power Plant to 2045

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, organizations representing clean energy, labor, business, and other thought leaders announce Diablo Canyon 2045, a broad and growing coalition of groups and individuals that have come together to urge lawmakers to keep Diablo Canyon Power Plant open until 2045.

"Extending the life of Diablo Canyon this year will set California on a path to save customers money on their bills and ensure the state has a reliable source of clean energy as demand is expected to double by 2045," said John Grubb, Bay Area Council Interim President & CEO. He adds, "California must not take a step backwards on our climate goals and rely on fossil fuels to backfill energy needs."

Diablo Canyon Power Plant, California's only operating nuclear power plant, provides constant zero-emissions electricity to more than 4 million Californians every day. The plant recently received a license extension from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, certifying it is safe and environmentally sound to operate for another 20 years. However, current state law doesn't allow for operations past 2030, despite California Energy Commission estimates that the state's energy demand will increase 50 percent by 2045 - that's equal to the output of nine Diablo Canyons.

A study released this week by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that extending Diablo Canyon to 2045, "displaces capacity from existing natural gas power plants, offers California the opportunity to deploy in-state renewable resources more economically, and delays the need for costly transmission upgrades."

The study found that the likely total savings for customers from extending the life of DCPP exceed $20 billion, or more than $1.3 billion per year. This equates to roughly $5.50 more per month that customers would pay on their electric bills if the Legislature fails to extend Diablo Canyon's operations past 2030.

"California has been able to maintain its transition to renewable energy because Diablo Canyon offers reliable carbon-free energy, saving 7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The state will need this power source to stay on track with California's ambitious climate goals and continue the transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy," said Armond Cohen, Clean Air Task Force Executive Director.

"California's energy demand is rising. We need to keep our hardworking California-based zero carbon power sources, like Diablo Canyon, on the grid to stabilize utility prices and grid reliability, even as we work hard to bring significantly more renewable resources into our system," added Kate Gordon, California Forward CEO.

California has been able to maintain its transition to renewable energy because Diablo Canyon offers reliable carbon-free energy, saving 7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The state will need this power source to stay on track with California's ambitious climate goals and continue the transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy.

Diablo Canyon 2045 includes the following:

Organizations

Atascadero Chamber

Bay Area Council

Business Council of San Joaquin County

California Forward

Central Coast Taxpayers Association

Central Valley Business Federation

Clean Air Task Force

Home Builders Association of the Central Coast

IEBW 1245

Mothers for Nuclear

Native Nuclear

New California Coalition

Nuclear is Clean Energy (NiCE) UC Berkeley

Oppenheimer Project

REACH

San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance

San Luis Obispo County COLAB

Santa Barbara County COLAB

Santa Barbara County Econ Alliance

Santa Barbara County Taxpayer Advocacy Center

Santa Maria Valley Chamber

SLO Chamber

South County Chambers of Commerce

Stand Up for Nuclear

TMG Partners

Elected Officials

John Peschong, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor, District 1

Dawn Ortiz-Legg, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor, District 3

Heather Moreno, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor, District 5

Kassi Dee, Grover Beach Mayor

John Hamon, Paso Robles Mayor

Caren Ray Russom, Arroyo Grande Mayor

Charles Bourbeau, Atascadero Mayor

Ed Waage, Pismo Beach Mayor

Bob Nelson, Santa Barbara County Supervisor, District 4

Steve Lavagnino, Santa Barbara County Supervisor, District 5

Interviews available upon request.

Contact: Megan Gamble, 916-832-1884, [email protected]

For more information, visit http://diablocanyon2045.com.

About Diablo Canyon 2045: We are a broad coalition of clean energy, business, labor, and other organizations, elected officials, and other thought leaders that support extending Diablo Canyon Power Plant operations to 2045 to ensure California's clean energy transition meets the need for reliable, affordable, carbon-free energy as electricity demand grows. We are urging the California legislature to pass a bill this year to extend operations. Visit http://diablocanyon2045.com for more information.

SOURCE Diablo Canyon 2045
A man who threatened to kill members of the Chattanooga Islamic Center was sentenced on Thursday to serve 18 months in federal prison. He has already served over seven months.

That was the maximum of the sentencing range for 51-year-old Robert William Miller on his guilty plea to making interstate threats to injure the person of another. Miller has no prior felony charges, but a number of misdemeanor cases, including several drunk driving charges.

Judge Charles Atchley said Miller has "a long history of extremely disturbing behavior" related to mental health issues and use of alcohol and drugs.

He said an incident in 2020 when Miller was arrested on an obscenity charge after taking off his clothes in public "was some of the lewdest behavior I've seen."

Judge Atchley said, "He's been involved in a series of troubling and disturbing conduct throughout his adult life. Between his drinking beer and his mental illness is how we got here today."

The judge said Miller "is free to believe anything he wants about religion, but what he can't do is threaten to kill people based on their religion."

Attorney Michael Henry of the federal defender's office said Miller has no car and no gun and it was not a realistic threat. Prosecutor Chris Poole disagreed, saying, "This is anything but trivial. It's very serious. There needs to be a deterrence so that others don't do the same thing."

The principal of the Islamic Center's school said the threat had a chilling effect, frightening staff, students and parents. "It changed everything. Our sense of safety was taken away," she said. The school, which has 120 students, had to hire security guards, put up cameras and go to a gated system.

The president of the center said the extra security measures were costly and some have been afraid to return to the facility.

Agents said the Islamic Center received an email from "Robert" at a Gmail account that contained his initials, stating "I'm going to kill all of you, Hail Satan." ISGC received the threatening email at their official email.

ISGC is a Muslim community center where community members pray, attend school, and participate in extracurricular activities and events, it was stated.

ISGC reported the threat via email and text message to the FBI.

An emergency disclosure request to Google revealed the last Internet Protocol (IP) address utilized by Miller's email was a Chattanooga location and was linked to an EPB Internet service provider. EPB advised the IP address was attributed to The Brew and Cue, a bar located at 5017 Rossville Blvd.

The Brew and Cue bartenders were interviewed regarding the IP address usage by the Gmail account. The bartenders advised Robert Miller lived upstairs above The Brew and Cue bar, and Miller exclusively used the bar's WiFi for his phone and Internet usage.

In addition, the bartenders advised Miller "had a history of writing hateful and volatile messages and posts online including one instance in 2022 in which he threatened to rape and kill a woman on Facebook."

Agents and a Chattanooga Police officer went to Miller's residence at 5017 Rossville Blvd., Apt. B. Miller told law enforcement he did write the threatening email to ISGC.

After Miller was confronted by law enforcement, he wrote an email to the ISGC stating, "You are stupid, send the FBI after me, they didn't do anything but walk away, ---- you." It came from Miller's same Gmail account.

He was afterward taken into custody.

Judge Atchley directed that Miller receive a physical and mental health evaluation upon his arrival at prison.

Attorney Henry said Miller has skin cancer that needs attention.

The attorney said Miller tried to commit suicide while in jail after his federal arrest. He has a history of suicidal statements, it was stated.
Home News Council accused of 'unprecedented' use of powers to silence the Gospel

Christian Concern has suggested that a local council has made an unprecedented use of public-order powers to silence the preaching of the Gospel in Colchester city center.

Local officials are alleged to have asked that church evangelists turn down the volume of their amplification, but later made objections surrounding the content of the message being proclaimed by members of Bread of Life Community Church.

The church, based in Clacton-on-Sea, has engaged in its evangelistic outreach ministry for some time without any formal complaints being registered.

Although the current Public Space Protection Order contains no ban on amplified sound, street wardens allegedly asked church members to stop or reduce their amplification. Last November, a non-legally binding Community Protection Warning was issued, followed by a threat of fines.

A legally binding Community Protection Notice (CPN) soon followed. Such a move is unprecedented, Christian Concern said, because it covers the whole church and its membership, rather than individual preachers.

The CPN not only takes issue with the volume of the preaching, but with the content of the message being preached. References to Hell are also said to cause harassment, alarm and distress."

The preaching is also described as unreasonable and as having a detrimental effect on the community.

Bread of Life Community Church is challenging the CPN and is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre. Colchester Magistrates Court will be hearing the case on May 1.

Pastor Stephen Clayden said, We have preached the Bible lawfully and peacefully in Colchester for six years. We have harmed no one.

"We will not be intimidated into abandoning the Great Commission. We respect the law. But we cannot and will not stop preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No council has the authority to silence the Church.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, described the case as deeply alarming.

Publicorder powers designed to address genuine antisocial behavior are now being used to clamp down on Christian preaching," she said.

"Today it is amplification; tomorrow it is the content of the message itself. We are seeing a slippery slope from managing noise to policing theology.

She added, Preaching and public witness are central to the Christian faith and protected by law. If a church can be criminalized simply for proclaiming the Gospel, then freedom of religion and speech in the U.K. are in serious jeopardy."

A spokesperson for Colchester Council said, "As the matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate for the council to comment further at this stage."

This article was originally published at Christian Today
Home News Court requires bank to seize assets from Benny Hinn Ministries after failure to pay marketing company

For the second time in five years, a court has ordered Benny Hinn Ministries to pay a marketing company for services rendered which the ministry had previously avoided paying. Hinns ministry now faces garnishment of assets.

In a case that received almost no attention, during summary judgment Judge John P. Chupp ruled against Benny Hinns World Healing Center Church (WHCC) in January, ordering the Grapevine, Texas-based organization to pay PrintMPro, Ltd, better known by the trade name PrintMailPro, actual damages in the amount of $144,617.52 plus $64.93 per day from November 6, 2025 through date of this Judgment.

Judge Chupp also required WHCC, which uses the trade name Benny Hinn Ministries, to pay PrintMailPros legal fees.

According to the lawsuit filed in September 2025, PrintMailPro produced a substantial amount of printed materials and provided a substantial amount of mass mail marketing services for Defendant between January and May 2025.

In February, PrintMailPro submitted an application to Tarrant Countys 141st Judicial District Court requesting a Writ of Garnishment to allow the company to collect the debt from the ministrys bank, Frost Bank in San Antonio.

In March, PrintMailPro served San Antonio-based Frost Bank a Writ of Garnishment authorizing the bank to seize $159,615.85, besides interest and costs of suit to pay the plaintiff.

PrintMailPro also notified WHCC that assets would be seized to pay debts.

On April 9, Trinity Foundation emailed Attorney Paul Hyde, representing PrintMailPro, several questions, including, Is this a common problem? In your career as an attorney, have you encountered other religious organizations that wouldnt pay bills and debts had to be collected by garnishment?

This article will be updated if a response is received.

The court docket for the PrintMailPro case is viewable at txcourts.gov.

Mail America Communications, Inc. lawsuit

In 2021, a federal court required WHCC to pay Mail America Communications, Inc. $2,993,221.74, plus interest and attorneys fees.

Following the 2021 court ruling, Trinity Foundation reported, WHCCs spending priorities are to pay ministry executives first and vendors last, according to an anonymous informant.

When Hinns TV program was dropped by Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar Television Network, revenue also dropped for WHCC. For years, the broadcast ministry struggled with debt.

In the Mail America Communications, Inc. ruling, Judge Alvin Hellerstein wrote, For nearly 15 years, Defendant had been falling behind its payment obligations, with over $5.6 million in arrears by early 2012.

Church status loophole

Hinns ministry has spent millions of dollars settling lawsuits and refuses to disclose legal expenses and settlement expenses to its donors.

While WHCC claims to be a church and the word church appears in its name, the nonprofit organization lacks a distinct membership, which is one of the defining characteristics of a church.

There is no mention of the word membership on Hinns website.

By claiming church status, WHCC exploits a well-known loophole in the tax code: Churches are NOT required to file the information return Form 990, which discloses total revenue, total expenses, compensation of officers, legal expenses and other critical financial information for donors.

In 2005, while dumpster-diving at Hinns law firm, Trinity Foundation investigator Pete Evans discovered documents showing the IRS was auditing WHCC. Evans compiled a brief challenging WHCCs church status.

While the IRS declined to act on the brief, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee took it more seriously. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, launched an inquiry into six large media ministries after his staffer, Dean Zerbe, received the brief.

This article was originally published at the Trinity Foundation
Home News Evangelical group condemns Trump admin.'s plan to send Afghan allies to DRC

The Evangelical refugee resettlement agency World Relief has opposed the Trump administrations reported plans to resettle over 1,000 Afghans, many of whom aided the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as questions about the future of refugee resettlement in the U.S. remain.

A Tuesday report from The New York Times that cites an aid worker briefed on the situation outlines the Trump administrations purported plans to resettle Afghans currently living at Camp As Sayliyah in Doha, Qatar. These include former interpreters for the U.S. military, former members of the Afghan Special Operations Forces, and family members of American service members.

They have been stationed in Qatar for more than a year after being evacuated due to safety concerns following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Talibans subsequent takeover of the country.

While the Afghans were expected to eventually resettle in the U.S., the Trump administration halted almost all refugee resettlement, including Afghans, upon taking office in January 2025.

The administration also instituted a policy of reinterviewing refugees admitted to the U.S. during the Biden administration. The move follows security concerns after an Afghan national cleared for admission during the Biden administration killed a National Guard member stationed in Washington, D.C., last November. The administration has also imposed a visa ban on Afghans.

The New York Times reports that the Trump administration plans to give Afghan refugees in Qatar the option to resettle in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or return to Afghanistan.

If these reports are accurate, the administration is considering sending hundreds of individuals from Afghanistan  the top country of origin for refugees resettled to the United States last year  to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the number two country of origin for refugees resettled to the United States in fiscal year 2025, said Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, in a statement.

World Relief is one of several nonprofits that receive funding from the U.S. State Department to resettle refugees in the United States.

Denouncing the proposal as cruel and shortsighted, Greene stressed that Afghans who risked their lives to stand alongside the U.S. military were promised protection.

To abandon them now  either to the Taliban forces whom they fled or to a separate country beset by war, conflict and extreme poverty  is morally wrong, and I hope and pray that the administration will not pursue this reported plan," Greene said.

Having operated in the DRC for roughly 25 years in partnership with local churches, World Relief has a firsthand perspective on the stark humanitarian challenges facing the country. The DRC, which has been plagued by conflict and war for decades, needs the prayers and support of the American people, not additional refugees from an entirely separate conflict.

Afghan residents of the camp in Doha said in a statement issued through the advocacy group #AfghanEvac that they have not been formally instructed on the plan and only learned about it through the media.

"No American official has come to us to explain what is being planned for our lives," the statement said, as reported by KPBS. "Many of us are not well. The uncertainty has been more than some of us can carry. There is deep depression here."

During a hearing in Washington earlier this year, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., argued that "tens of thousands of people" were admitted to the U.S. without proper vetting, saying "we have no idea of their actual background."

"And in many cases, we now have no idea where they are or what they're doing, who they're connected with, or what they're capable of," Hawley said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General stated in a 2022 report that over 36,400 Afghans had a facilitation document as their proof of identity that federal officials "could not define or provide an explanation for ... indicating potential inaccuracies."

"We found missing, incomplete, or inaccurate first and last names, DOBs, travel document numbers, travel document types, and visa data in TECS," the report states. "We questioned data in many of the 88,977 TECS records."

World Relief Senior Vice President for U.S. Programs Aerlande Wontamo urged the Trump administration to consider reopening the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

For nearly 50 years, Wontamo said that the U.S. refugee resettlement program has allowed faith-based organizations like World Relief to partner with local churches "to welcome and help integrate carefully vetted refugees who have fled persecution for reasons such as their service to the U.S. military, their faith or their ethnicity.

The Christian Post reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment. A response was not received by press time.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott told The New York Times that The American people have had to pay the price for the irresponsible way hundreds of thousands of Afghans were brought into the United States.

Our focus now is on restoring accountability by advancing responsible, voluntary resettlement options," Piggott said.

Others voicing disapproval with the reported plan include Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He told MS Now on Wednesday that sending Afghan allies of the U.S. to the DRC would be a "moral travesty and a terrible failing" for those who "worked with me and helped me do my mission and bring my soldiers home alive."
Home News 7-day global fast for Mike Bickles heaven-ordained destiny sparks protest

A seven-day global fast planned next month for the heaven-ordained destiny of International House of Prayer Kansas Citys disgraced founder, Mike Bickle, who, according to an investigation report, used predatory tactics and spiritual manipulation to sexually abuse at least 17 females, including minors, has sparked a protest.

The protest comes in the form of a dueling Global Nope Feast event organized by survivor advocates who oppose his return to ministry.

For more than 50 years, Mike Bickle has gaslit and preyed on the church. Now it is our turn to say NOPE to the self-aggrandizing comeback of a man who serially sexually abused women and exploited thousands of youth, wrote organizers of the Global NOPE Feast 2026: Contending for the NON-RETURN of Mike Bickle, set to coincide with the May 1-7 fast for Bickle.

There is only ONE necessary and designated purpose yet to manifest forth through his life  and it involves a millstone (or the passing of SJR 93, which would allow his survivors to sue him), they added.

Susan Tuma, a survivor advocate and former IHOPKC staff member, created the event along with fellow survivor advocate Brittany Hart. She told The Christian Post the feast is really a tongue-in-cheek play on the fast meant to serve as an act of solidarity and protest.

It's not a literal feast. We were joking; we were going to push recipes. But it's extremely heavy when these things happen, Tuma told CP.

She said the Facebook group, which already has about 90 people planning to attend, will also be pushing support for Missouri Senate Joint Resolution 93, or SJR 93, during the fast.

The joint resolution is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state Legislature to enact laws reviving civil claims for alleged child sexual abuse. If it were to become law in Missouri, it would effectively eliminate or extend statutes of limitations, allowing survivors to file lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred.

Krista Tatschl Eyler, a reporter with KMBC-TV in Kansas City, shared documents online Sunday showing that a house church called Grandview Fellowship and an email from The Kansas City friends of Mike Bickle promoted the global seven-day fast for Bickles destiny. Ex-IHOPKC congregants formed the fellowship.

The last few years have brought a dramatic assault against the prayer movement and specifically Mike Bickle, the email to Bickles friends and supporters said.

For over 50 years, Mike Bickle has fasted and prayed for the church and for Israel. Now it is our turn to fast and pray for the heaven-ordained destiny of a man whose work on the earth for the sake of Israel is not yet complete. There are yet necessary and confirmed prophetic purposes designated to manifest forth through his life.

Quoting Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10:4, the group stated that they plan on waging spiritual warfare to tear down the dark strongholds opposing Bickles destiny.

We are joining globally on a 7-day fast specifically targeted upon Mike Bickle  to push back the press of darkness and agree with Heavens narrative over his life to come forth, the group said.

Clay Edwards, the brother of former IHOPKC worship leader Misty Edwards, who is listed as a contact for Grandview Fellowship, did not respond to The Christian Post's request for comment on Tuesday.

Gracia Macks, the executive director of The Rise & Reclaim Advocacy Group, comprised of survivors who emerged from the IHOPKC crisis, is also listed as an organizer for the Global NOPE Feast 2026: Contending for the NON-RETURN of Mike Bickle.

She agrees with Tuma that the fast is an attempt to spiritually sanitize IHOPKCs leadership crisis, and said it's her greatest concern.

Fasting is historically meant to express humility and repentance, not to accelerate public restoration. When religious practices are mobilized in ways that appear to advocate for a return to influence before accountability is taken, survivors receive a very clear message: institutional reputation still outranks human safety, Macks told CP.

This is not OK. Survivors matter. Their stories matter. Their continued pain matters. And the fact that IHOPKC has not, in my opinion, properly addressed that pain is inexcusable. Caring for survivors should come long before any discussion about restoration of power even begins.

While Bickle has remained publicly quiet since his ouster from IHOPKC, Macks said his family, friends, and closest followers have behaved in ways that have only deepened the pain for survivors.

We are not asking for symbolic repentance; we are asking for meaningful accountability that prioritizes safety over status, said Macks, adding that the IHOPKC founder should be committing to real accountability that isnt tied to protecting his platform, reputation, or influence.

Making peace with survivors begins with truth-telling that does not minimize harm. If Mike Bickle is truly repentant, then he needs to admit to the harm he has caused and submit himself to the consequences of his actions, which includes permanent disqualification from ministry, Macks told CP. He also needs to tell his dedicated followers to stand down.

The 68-page report, Investigation of Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer Kansas City, is the result of an investigation conducted by independent sexual abuse investigation firm Firefly and commissioned by Tikkun International, a Messianic Jewish umbrella organization, on Sept. 5, 2024. It paints Bickle as a seductive predator who used his influence, gifts, money, and position as spiritual leader to bend young and vulnerable women to his will.

Among his alleged victims is Deborah Perkins, the first to go public with her account of abuse. She told investigators that Bickle made her read Scripture after their sexual encounters.

Bickles actions in having Deborah Perkins pray Psalm 51  after sexual encounters were another layer of his manipulation. By invoking a prayer of repentance, he further distorted her understanding of the situation, making her feel complicit in the abuse, investigators wrote.

The report also highlighted Bickles abuse of Tammy Woods, a now 59-year-old mother and grandmother who claims she was groomed and sexually abused by Bickle in the 1980s when she was 14. Perkins, Woods and another interviewed survivor told investigators that on different occasions, Bickle, who is married, exposed himself in a state of undress, with an erection.

An interviewed witness also told investigators that they questioned Bickle about a time when he provided Perkins with a hotel room, and he admitted that his actions toward her were immoral.

The Global NOPE Feast uses a bit of dark humor to express a very real concern shared by many survivors. Watching efforts that appear to support Mike Bickles return brings understandable anxiety and grief, and humor can be a way to cope together. Its a communal way of saying that a public fast centered on restoring a leader does not address the harm that still needs accountability, Macks told CP.

It is not intended as a mockery of faith, but a reminder that spiritual gestures cannot substitute for meaningful repair.
Home News Over 600,000 people using SBC International Mission Board AI tool FaithBot

An artificial intelligence tool launched by the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board has been used by more than 600,000 people over the past year.

Known as FaithBot, the IMB launched the AI program in April 2025, in part to help handle the large number of messages it receives from around the world.

Don Barger, who serves as director of innovation and artificial intelligence on the IMB Global Engagement Leadership Team, told The Christian Post in an email on Tuesday that, since its 2025 launch, over 600,000 people have engaged with the tool in English.

According to Barger, that total doesn't include the people who used FaithBot in the 25 other languages in which it's offered. Barger said the number was truly surprising, but added that he believes what matters more is what's behind it.

Pastors with limited access to theological libraries are using FaithBot as a research assistant to ethically prepare their sermons, explained Barger. It surfaces sources, raises interpretive questions, suggests frameworks, and then gets out of the way so they can do the distinctly human work of preaching.

Bible study groups are using it to dig deeper into passages. New believers with no local church nearby are using it to keep learning. Seekers, people who have carried questions for years and never felt safe enough to ask them out loud, are turning to FaithBot to help answer questions.

Barger told CP that one of the benefits of FaithBot was that it effectively countered what he described as the politeness problem, noting that with traditional outreach, individuals tell you what they think you want to hear.

In contexts where religious identity carries social risk, it's not just social awkwardness, it's sometimes genuinely dangerous to voice doubts to a foreigner with a visible agenda, he continued.

FaithBot changed that dynamic in ways we didn't fully anticipate. People asked questions they likely never would have asked a human. Some of these are doubts they have carried for decades. Until they had access to AI, they really didnt have a place to ask these questions.

In recent years, many churches and ministries have used AI tools in their work, with some entities launching their own chatbots to answer questions about Christianity.

According to a report titled "The 2025 State of AI in the Church Survey Report," 61% of surveyed pastors said they use AI weekly or daily, an increase from the 43% of pastors who said the same in 2024.

However, many have expressed concern about societys growing acceptance of AI content and programs, including their use in church and ministry endeavors.

For example, a 2023 study by Barna and Gloo found that 51% of respondents believed AI negatively impacted churches, while 22% believed it was good for churches.

Similarly, concerns have been raised about the accuracy of such tools, particularly when they're used to explain biblical issues or topics to a user unfamiliar with Scripture.

Last month, YouVersion founder and CEO Bobby Gruenewald explained that his organization doesn't plan to launch a public chatbot for users, due to concerns over inaccuracies.

The best model with the best performance, with the most popular versions of the Bible that are most indexed, misquotes Scripture at least 15 percent of the time, Gruenewald told Christian Daily International. Some of them as much as 60 percent of the time.

Regarding these concerns, Barger told CP that one of the reasons IMB launched FaithBot was to provide people who are already using chatbots to ask questions about religion with a more accurate tool.

If people are already defaulting to AI for answers to their deepest spiritual questions, I'd rather they have access to something grounded in Scripture than something trained on everything the internet has ever said about God, Barger explained.

What FaithBot represents is a conviction that the Church should be present where people are already asking questions, and that presence should be theologically grounded rather than algorithmically generic. The world built a tool that will answer spiritual questions with whatever the internet contains. We think the Church can do better than that.

Barger explained that IMB had begun work on FaithBot in 2024, partnering with Chipp.ai and devoting several months to learning "about what works, what doesn't, and what people ask when they feel safe enough to ask honestly."

Barger also stressed that there were certainly things that AI shouldnt be involved in, such as counseling, trauma healing, preaching, praying, and other things that are uniquely human.

Faithbot doesn't resolve the tension between AI-mediated ministry and embodied human presence, and we're not pretending it does, he said. FaithBot is a front door, but we dont see it as a final destination.

It's built to triage genuine Gospel conversations toward human responders, not away from them. Its built to help do research, not preach. When conversations move toward crisis, grief, or acute need, the tool routes to human support. Algorithms don't provide soul care. Souls provide soul care.
Home News Josh Hawley, Al Mohler discuss challenges facing 'disaffected' young men: 'They feel shut out'

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Southern Baptist theologian Al Mohler discussed the unprecedented challenges facing disaffected young men in the United States today during a Wednesday episode of Mohler's podcast "In the Library."

Toward the end of their wide-ranging conversation that spanned more than an hour, the two were discussing cultural gender confusion and the so-called "manosphere" influencing young men, when Hawley noted that the demographic is facing particularly challenging circumstances that often make them feel they can't succeed.

"You mentioned the manosphere, which makes me think of all of these young men out there, many of whom voted for Republicans and the president this last time around, but now say that they're very disaffected," he said.

"This is just a very, in many ways, disaffected group, because I believe they feel shut out of American society."

Hawley, who wrote a book about manhood and masculine virtues in 2023, observed that the difficulties young men face are coming at them from multiple angles and include economic, social and spiritual challenges.

"Number one, they've been told by the liberals forever that masculinity is inherently toxic and evil," he said. "They can't afford to buy anything. They are uncertain about how to have a relationship, how to get married, if they can get married ... if they can afford it, all of those things."

Hawley, a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, suggested that the pain and alienation many young men feel offer Christians an opportunity and a responsibility to disciple them, but that policymakers must also play a role.

"This is a huge segment of our population. We as believers especially have to speak to these men and say to them, there is a purpose for your life, right? The country needs you; more importantly, the Kingdom needs you."

"And we've got to show them that what real masculinity looks like is choosing to be responsible, get that job, get married, have a family. But on policy terms, we've got to give them a country where that's possible. And right now, they don't think it is possible."

Mohler, who serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, framed the crisis facing young men in civilizational terms, noting that "no civilization can survive unfulfilled, aimless, restless young men; it just doesn't work."

Mohler had earlier brought up the potential economic dangers posed by artificial intelligence and proposals out of Silicon Valley for a universal basic income, which he said would mark "the end of all structured, ground organic morality" and effectively cede total cultural control to the Left.

"One of the most basic Christian observations in politics and economics is there ought to be an appropriate link between labor and reward, right? And if that is not honored, then you actually subvert everything you say you're trying to do," Mohler said.

Mohler went on to stress the importance of teaching young men that they must delay gratification and "take the initiative" in things like work, relationships and even hygiene, if they hope to find later joy and satisfaction.

He said he had never met "any sizable number of young men" who regretted following the so-called "success sequence," which includes getting at least a high school degree, securing a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children.

Hawley agreed, but noted the ladder of success that worked in previous generations increasingly feels out of reach for many young men in the U.S.

"That's all what they want," Hawley said. "And I think that's the disaffection that we're seeing right now, is young men are afraid they won't be able to have it. They can't always put words to it, but that's the fear. It's that, 'I'm never going to be able to buy a house, get a girl, have children, grow up together.' They fear they're going to be shut out of all of that."

"And they're not terribly wrong about that," he added.

Amid their struggles, young men appear increasingly to be turning to faith, according to recent data. A new Gallup report released last week showed that 42% of men ages 18 to 29 surveyed from 2024 to 2025 said religion is "very important" to them, which marks a sharp rise from 2022 to 2023 data, when just 28% of men said religion was "very important."
Home News Ohio pastor found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after teen dies in church van accident

Update Appended

An Ohio pastor has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a 14-year-old church member who died in a traffic accident.

Rushon T. Patterson II, a 27-year-old former volunteer pastor at Alive Now Church, was found guilty of the charge on Tuesday in connection with the death of Malachi I. Nichols-Williams last year.

Patterson was also found guilty of allowing the teenager to ride outside his vehicle on the night of the accident, but he was not found guilty of reckless homicide.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Natalie R. Haupt is scheduled to sentence Patterson on May 20, according to The Canton Repository, with the pastor facing up to three years in prison.

Pamela Nichols, the victim's mother, told The Canton Repository that she didn't consider Patterson to be a bad person, saying that he stepped in and was a dad to my kids.

Defense attorney Jeffrey R. Jakmides stated that the situation was just a terrible tragedy and there were no winners, the outlet added.

Last September, Patterson was arrested following a traffic accident that resulted in the death of Nichols-Williams. The accident occurred about a block away from where the teenager lived.

Patterson had been driving a church van and had allowed at least one teenager to hang off the side of the vehicle, with a witness telling police that multiple teens were doing so, WOIO News reported at the time.

According to the outlet, Patterson then hit a pothole while he was operating the church van, causing Nichols-Williams to fly off the vehicle and be seriously injured in the fall, later dying from the fatal injuries.

Based in Canton, Alive Now was founded by Pastor Joann Macksyn, along with the childrens ministry group, Alive Now Kidz, launched in 2021.

Our mission is to reach out to high-risk children (Kidz) with the message of the Gospel, to lead them into their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to the best of our ability, meet whatever spiritual, practical and emotional needs that arise with food, clothing and our sponsorship program, noted ANKs website.

In 2024, The Canton Repository reported that Macksyns Alive Now Services, a home care business centered on adults with developmental disabilities, had its certification revoked by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities amid accusations of neglect and verbal abuse.

Macksyn claimed at the time that state officials were wrong to remove ANS certification, telling them that she had fixed or was in the process of repairing the assorted issues with the business.

Update, 4/28/2026

Article updated to clarify that Rushon Patterson II was a volunteer pastor with Alive Now Church specifically, and, according to Alive Now founder Joann Macksyn, was not specifically linked to Alive Now Kidz.
Home News Megachurch Pastor Ryan Blackwell elected president of Lifeway Christian Resources

Ryan Blackwell, an executive and teaching pastor of the multi-campus Cross Church in Arkansas, has been elected the 11th president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Conventions publishing arm, Lifeway Christian Resources.

A press release from the organization said Blackwell, a 42-year-old married father of three, was unanimously elected by trustees during a special meeting in Nashville on Wednesday.

Im deeply humbled and grateful to be given this opportunity by the trustees. Lifeway has a long and faithful history of serving churches, and Im honored to step into this role at such a pivotal time, Blackwell said in a statement. I love the local church and believe deeply in its mission. My heart is to serve pastors and church leaders by helping provide biblically faithful resources that strengthen discipleship and advance the gospel.

Blackwell has served at Cross Church since 2020 and helped grow weekly attendance from 7,000 to more than 11,000. Before joining the staff there, he served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of San Francisco for nearly 10 years.

Lifeway Christian Resources said Blackwells election followed an eight-month search led by the presidential search committee of seven trustees approved by the organizations board in July 2025.

The search committee and I couldnt be more thrilled that Ryan will serve as the 11th president and CEO of Lifeway. After diligently seeking the Lord throughout this important assignment, we are convinced Ryan is an innovative leader who will shepherd Lifeway into the future with a clear sense of purpose, said Billy Stewart, chair of the search committee. He is committed to Lifeways mission to honor God and serve churches by designing trustworthy experiences that fuel ministry. We believe him to be Gods man to lead Lifeway for such a time as this.

Other Southern Baptist leaders, such as Hance Dilbeck, president and CEO of Guidestone, also praised Blackwells election.

Ryan leads out of his authentic walk with Jesus. He lives with humility and confidence, Dilbeck said. He has proven to be effective in a variety of ministry settings. I know Ryan loves the local church and is deeply committed to helping our churches make disciples of Jesus.

Nick Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church, was among the first to endorse the nomination of his colleague and childhood friend. He said that while Blackwells departure from his leadership team is a significant loss for his church, it is a win for Southern Baptists.

Ryans heart beats for the local church, and Im confident in his ability to lead Lifeway into a bright future of serving churches worldwide, Floyd said. While this transition is a significant loss for Cross Church, it is a massive win for Lifeway and Southern Baptists.

Lifeway Christian Resources, which is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, has been in operation since 1891. It is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies. It is also the worlds largest provider of Spanish Bibles.

When I look back over the ministry journey the Lord has taken me on, I can see how faithful He has been in every season, Blackwell added. Ive had the opportunity to serve in different churches and contexts and to learn through seasons of growth and change. At the same time, Im very aware I have nothing to offer apart from the Spirits power at work.

Lifeway's former CEO Ben Mandrell was hired last year by Bellevue Baptist Church in Tennessee to replace former Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines as its senior pastor. Gaines died last month at age 68 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Home News Scott Pace elected to succeed Daniel Akin as president of Southeastern Seminary: Stewardship 'by God's grace'

The Trustees of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, have unanimously selected Scott Pace to succeed prominent Southern Baptist leader Daniel Akin as president.

Southeastern Seminary announced Tuesday that it had selected Pace, 51, an alumnus and professor at the academic institution, to succeed Akin when he retires in July.

Pace was quoted in the announcement as saying that he was deeply honored and grateful to be elected president, noting that he was stepping into this new role with a real sense of stewardship, desiring to be faithful with what God has entrusted to me.

Im also grateful and humbled by Gods kindness in calling me to this role and tremendous responsibility, he added. I look forward to serving our Savior with joy and confidence, trusting in what he will continue to do through our Southeastern family.

By Gods grace, Southeastern will continue to equip Great Commission-minded pastors and church leaders to be firmly rooted in the inerrant and infallible word of God and to faithfully preach it as capable expositors  because at Southeastern, we advance the global church by serving the local church.

Jeff Iorg, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president and CEO, conveyed his congratulations to Pace in a statement quoted by Baptist Press on Tuesday.

I celebrate the successful transition at Southeastern Seminary, stated Iorg. Pace will provide remarkable leadership as they continue to prioritize the Great Commission as their driving motivation for developing leaders for Southern Baptist churches and our global mission outreach.

In advance of being elected president of the seminary, Pace was already serving as provost and dean of Graduate Studies, as well as professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry.

According to his official biography, Pace earned a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University, and a masters in divinity and a Ph.D., both from SEBTS.

Pace previously served in the corporate world as an accountant and a business manager before he shifted to his current vocational calling. He has been married since 1999 and has four children.

Last October, the 68-year-old Akin announced that he planned to step down as president of Southeastern Seminary at the end of 2025-2026 academic year after 21 years in the role.

Charlotte and I have prayed this matter through and talked with family and friends. We are convinced the time is right for us and the school, Akin said in a statement last year.

We are at perfect peace in our decision. The college and seminary are healthy and thriving, and I believe the best days are ahead for this Great Commission juggernaut.

Akin is the longest-serving president of SEBTS since its founding in 1950 and is credited with helping the academic institution achieve record enrollment and giving.
BOGOTA, Colombia, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) hereby announces that on April 23, 2026, it entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jive, Yellowstone and Bloco Somah Printemps Quantum, which together constitute a group of significant shareholders holding approximately 26% of the outstanding common shares of the Brazilian company Brava Energia S.A. (B3: BRAV3) ("Brava"), for the acquisition by Ecopetrol S.A., or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries within the Ecopetrol Group, of 120,813,490 shares of Brava, representing approximately 26% of Brava's share capital.

Brava was incorporated in 2024 from the merger between 3R Petroleum Oleo e Gas S.A. and Enauta Participacoes S.A., two oil and gas companies operating in Brazil. Brava currently conducts crude oil and natural gas production activities in offshore and onshore fields across multiple basins in Brazil as well as participates in the midstream and downstream segments. As of December 2025, according to Brava's public information, the Company reported EBITDA of USD 806 million, with an EBITDA margin of 39%. Brava is positioned as the second-largest independent company listed in the Brazilian market in terms of reserves and production.

The completion of this transaction is subject to certain customary conditions precedent, including, among others, approval by Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), the grant of certain waivers and consents considering Brava's financing instruments and relevant commercial agreements, as well as the purchase by Ecopetrol S.A., or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries within the Ecopetrol Group, of the number of shares required to achieve a 51% controlling stake of Brava's voting share capital.

Therefore, Ecopetrol S.A., or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries within the Ecopetrol Group, plans to launch a Voluntary Tender Offer (Oferta Publica de Aquisicao  OPA) on the B3 stock exchange in Brazil, at a price of R$23.00 per share, to acquire the additional number of Brava shares required to secure a 51% equity interest in the Company. This offer price represents a premium of approximately 27.8% over the VolumeWeighted Average Price (VWAP) of the Company's shares during the 90 trading days immediately preceding the date of this announcement. The tender offer is addressed to all of Brava's shareholders, ensuring equal treatment and conditions, and will be subject to applicable regulatory requirements and certain conditions precedent.

Ecopetrol S.A., or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries within the Ecopetrol Group expects to secure the funding required to consummate the transaction through a bridge loan, subject to the fulfillment of the applicable conditions precedent.

Upon completion of the transaction, the Ecopetrol Group would incorporate prorata 1P reserves based on its ownership interest from Brava's total reported reserves of 459 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) as of year-end 2025, under the Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS) standard, through a diversified portfolio of offshore and onshore assets. In addition, the transaction would allow the immediate addition of prorata production from Brava's average reported production of approximately 81 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboed) in 2025, strengthening production sustainability and cash flow generation in a geography where the Ecopetrol Group already has an established presence. This transaction directly supports the objectives set forth in the Ecopetrol Group's 2040 Strategy. Moreover, the transaction is aligned with the Ecopetrol Group's capital discipline and, upon closing, is expected to contribute to metrics such as ROACE and EBITDA. Finally, this transaction would expand the Ecopetrol Group's footprint in Brazil, diversifying its asset base in a highgrowth region and strengthening its international portfolio.

Once the applicable conditions precedent and legal requirements for closing the transaction have been satisfied, Ecopetrol will disclose relevant information in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework through this same channel and/or any other required means.

Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 19,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector.

This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations Office

Email: [email protected]

Head of Corporate Communications (Colombia)

Marcela Ulloa

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
Home News Texas doctors disciplined over pregnant women's deaths blamed on state's abortion law

Three Texas doctors whose pregnant patients died are facing consequences not for attempting to intervene and save the mothers life, but for delaying or failing to provide the appropriate care.

The Texas Medical Board ordered each doctor to take eight hours of continuing education courses after determining that the substandard care they provided led to the deaths of their patients.

Two of the doctors sanctioned by the Texas Medical Board, Dr. Ali Mohamed Osman and Dr. William Noel Hawkins, were cited in relation to the case of 18-year-old Nevaeh Crain, a pregnant woman who died in 2023 due to pregnancy complications that occurred when she was six months pregnant.

The board also cited Dr. Andrew Ryan Davis after his patient, Porsha Ngumezi, died in 2023 after bleeding heavily during a miscarriage at 11 weeks.

On Monday, Amy ODonnell, the executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, issued a statement praising the Texas Medical Board for its actions against the three doctors.

The deaths of Porsha Ngumezi and Nevaeh Crain were heartbreaking tragedies that should not have occurred, ODonnell said. Texas pro-life laws have always allowed physicians to act swiftly using their reasonable medical judgment to save a mothers life or protect her from serious bodily harm. These doctors had the legal authority and medical duty to intervene. The Boards actions show the shortcoming was not in the statute, but in its execution.

In a statement on Friday shared by ProPublica, Michelle Maloney, an attorney representing the families of both patients in malpractice lawsuits, indicated that she was pleased by the medical boards 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 its reporting on the two pregnant womens deaths, ProPublica made the case that Texas near-complete ban on abortion, which includes exceptions for saving the life of the mother and went into effect in 2022, made the doctors reluctant to provide care to Crain and Ngumezi, suggesting that the medical professionals didnt understand it and feared facing criminal penalties.

A ProPublica spokesperson told The Christian Post that the outlet stands by its reporting, stating:

"ProPublica does not purport to know what the physicians were thinking in the cases of Porsha Ngumezi and Nevaeh Crain, though we have repeatedly asked these doctors for comment," the spokesperson said, claiming that the nonprofit outlet has continued to find evidence that the law in Texas "has impacted patient care and outcomes."

"When ProPublica first investigated these and other cases in 2024, more than 100 Texas OB-GYNs authored a public letter saying the states abortion ban impeded their ability to provide lifesaving care," the representative for ProPublica stated. "Lawmakers responded with reforms."

The public letter signed by more than 100 OB-GYNs that ProPublica cites points to ProPublica's own reporting to claim that the "evidence is clear" that the "nature of the strict abortion ban in Texas does not allow us as medical professionals to do our job."

Allison Gilbert, who is listed in the letter as an OB-GYN in Dallas, is an abortion provider who previously served as the medical director of Southwestern Womens Surgery Center, an abortion facility that performed abortions up to 21 weeks.

As is the case with multiple abortion businesses throughout the country, the Southwestern Women's Surgery Center closed its doors in 2023, the year after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization stated that abortion is not a constitutional right.

Regarding the claim that Texas abortion law blocks doctors from providing lifesaving care, pro-life advocates have noted that the law states that doctors are allowed to intervene during medical emergencies. The law also defines abortion as the act of using or prescribing an instrument, a drug, a medicine, or any other substance, device, or means with the intent to cause the death of an unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant.

The law states that acts done for the purpose of saving the mothers life or preserving the health of her child, the removal of an ectopic pregnancy or the remains of an unborn child after a miscarriage, are not legally considered an abortion.

In a statement to The Christian Post, Monica Snyder, the executive director of Secular Pro-Life, said that neither the Ngumezi case nor the Crain case is an example of a doctor being too afraid to provide care in a state with a near-total ban on abortion.

ProPublica laments that Texas didn't sanction doctors for failing to provide medically necessary abortions, but each doctor's malpractice wasn't about failure to provide abortion, Snyder told CP.

Regarding the outlet's reporting on the medical board's actions, the ProPublica spokesperson told CP that it had reported that abortion rights advocates said the board "could have done this or more."

Snyder also said that the argument that Davis was afraid of violating Texas abortion law is strange as he gave her misoprostol, a drug that is part of the abortion pill regimen, to help complete her miscarriage.

In Ngumezi's case, Davis failed to provide a [Dilation and Curettage] but did administer abortion pills, and in Crain's case, Hawkins failed to treat a clear infection that, had it been properly treated, may not have required ending the pregnancy at all, the pro-life advocate explained.

Before her death, Crain visited two hospitals on three separate occasions, including Osman at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas and Hawkins at Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital.

It is currently unknown whether the Texas Medical Board investigated Dr. Marcelo Totorica, who saw Crain at her third visit to Christus. The Texas Medical Board did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment on the matter.

During the first visit to the emergency room, Osman neglected to investigate Crains stomach cramps and sent her home. When she visited the emergency room a second time, Hawkins discharged her, even though she had a high fever and had screened positive for sepsis. Crains unborn child also had an abnormal heart rate at the time.

Bad doctors existed before Dobbs and continue to exist after, Snyder added. We're glad to see the Texas Medical Board take action, and to cite the real reasons these women's deaths were preventable.
Home News 10-year-old boy reunited with mom after trans dad absconded to Cuba with son

A 10-year-old boy has been reunited with his mother after his father, who identifies as trans, flew his gender-confused son to Cuba in what some family members feared was an attempt to transition the child before he reaches puberty.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah said in a press release on Tuesday that Rose Inessa-Ethington, aka Eri Ethington, 42, and Blue Inessa-Ethington, aka Carly Ann Crosby, 32, were apprehended by authorities in Cuba after absconding with the boy.

According to authorities, the 10-year-old boy and his father, Rose Inessa-Ethington, were supposed to travel to Canada for a camping trip, along with his partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, and her 3-year-old child.

However, the group did not arrive at the Alberta-based campground they had planned to stay at from March 29 to April 2 and instead traveled to Vancouver, then took a flight to Mexico City, Mexico, and then to Havana, Cuba.

Rose Inessa-Ethington and the boy's mother have joint custody of their son, who is said to identify as a girl, due to the influence of his father.

Logan City Police Department of Logan, Utah, released a statement explaining that the biological mother, identified as Lindsey Boden, had first reached out to the boy's father on April 3, expressing concern about not being able to contact her son, of whom she had shared custody.

On April 5, as neither the police nor Boden had been able to contact the boy or his father, local authorities assigned a detective to investigate, discovering that the child had been flown to Cuba on April 1.

From there, Logan police worked with the Cache County Attorneys Office to issue warrants for the adult couple on charges of custodial interference and contacted the FBI, which provided assistance.

The mother and other family members were concerned that the 10-year-old boy was going to be forced to undergo cosmetic sex-change surgery in Cuba, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

However, gender transition surgeries for trans-identified youth are banned in Cuba, according to The Associated Press, while adult procedures are heavily regulated by medical authorities.

On April 13, a Utah State Court issued an order for the 10-year-old to be returned to the childs mother at once and gave the mother exclusive custody. Three days later, Cuban authorities located the group in Cuba.

Our priority in every parental kidnapping case is the safety and well-being of the child," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI, as quoted in the U.S. Attorney's Office announcement.

"This case reflects the strength of partnerships in locating victims, supporting reunification, and ensuring accountability.

The Inessa-Ethingtons were deported from Cuba earlier this week. They were arraigned at a court in Richmond, Virginia, and are slated to be transported to Utah at a future date.
Home Opinion Americas real crisis is biblical illiteracy: A civilizational problem

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the nation finds itself preoccupied with familiar concerns: political polarization, civic deterioration, institutional distrust, and cultural fragmentation. These are serious realities, but they are not ultimate ones. They are symptoms of a deeper disorderbiblical illiteracy.

I have become increasingly convinced that the central problem confronting both church and culture is not merely moral rebellion against biblical truth, but widespread unfamiliarity with it. We see this in public officials who invoke God in the language of prosperity, national sentiment, or self-affirmation rather than repentance, moral accountability, and divine authority. We see it in podcasters, influencers, and media personalities who handle Scripture with confidence but little theological discipline. We see it in Christian audiences so uninitiated that charisma, sentiment, and ideology are often mistaken for sound doctrine. The issue is no longer simply that Scripture is denied. It is that Scripture is often no longer known with sufficient depth to be interpreted responsibly, rejected intelligently, or applied coherently.

This is a more profound crisis than open opposition. A society that consciously rejects truth still acknowledges its existence. A society that has lost the categories necessary to understand truth has entered a far more precarious condition.

Biblical illiteracy, therefore, is not a peripheral church problem. It is a civilizational one. The American experiment did not arise in a moral vacuum, nor was it sustained by constitutional procedure alone. While the Founders did not establish a confessional state, they operated within a moral framework deeply shaped by biblical assumptions about human nature, justice, sin, restraint, authority, duty, and accountability. Scripture furnished not only private devotion, but also a shared moral vocabulary through which public life could be understood.

That vocabulary once supplied a grammar for ordered liberty. Concepts such as freedom, responsibility, virtue, truth, and judgment were grounded in a larger moral order. John Adams captured this principle clearly when he wrote, Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. His point was structural: constitutional self-government requires a citizenry formed by moral conviction, and such conviction cannot be sustained where Scripture has become unknown.

The erosion of biblical literacy carries consequences well beyond the Church. When a people lose familiarity with the biblical world of meaning, they do not merely lose theological competence. They lose the conceptual architecture that once made moral reasoning intelligible. They may continue to invoke the language of liberty while severing it from the moral restraints and transcendent obligations that gave it coherence. What remains is freedom emptied of purpose, rights detached from responsibility, and public discourse increasingly incapable of distinguishing justice from sentiment or authority from will.

This helps explain the magnitude of the present confusion. We are not simply witnessing cultural change. We are witnessing moral and theological disintegration. Data from the State of Theology and similar studies suggest that large numbers of self-identified Christians now affirm claims fundamentally at odds with historic Christian orthodoxy. This is not a marginal anomaly. It is evidence of doctrinal erosion significant enough to shape both ecclesial life and public witness.

Where biblical literacy declines, confusion does not remain theoretical. It becomes formative.

Its effects are visible throughout the public square. Questions of justice, human dignity, freedom, sexuality, authority, and national purpose are increasingly debated in terms detached from any stable moral ontology. Competing ideologies rush to occupy the vacuummoral relativism, expressive individualism, and therapeutic visions of the self that offer counterfeit meaning while rejecting the theological foundations that once ordered moral judgment. In such a climate, the Church is hardly immune. Shallow preaching, weak catechesis, and the prioritization of relevance over doctrinal seriousness have left many Christians without the framework necessary to recognize error, much less refute it.

More concerning still is the fact that Scripture is now routinely conscripted into public argument by voices who handle it without theological fidelity, historical awareness, or interpretive rigor. Passages are abstracted from context, repurposed to ratify contemporary moral intuitions, and presented as though sentiment were an adequate substitute for exegesis. In this environment, biblical language remains publicly useful even as biblical meaning is steadily evacuated from it.

For that reason, the answer to the present crisis is a recovery of Scripture as Scripture: not as civil religion, partisan ornament, or a reservoir of selectively quoted affirmations, but as the authoritative Word of God, rightly handled and faithfully taught. The Church must recover the whole counsel of God. Christians must once again become a people formed by the text, governed by its categories, and trained in theological discernment. Those of us in Christian media bear a particular obligation here. What we platform and normalize will either clarify biblical truth or contribute to its further confusion.

As the nation approaches this historic anniversary, the central question is whether the country still possesses the theological and moral vocabulary necessary to sustain the freedoms it so confidently celebrates. For when a people forget Scripture, they do not merely lose a religious inheritance. They lose the interpretive framework by which truth, liberty, virtue, and judgment can be rightly understood.
STOCKHOLM, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolux Group announces today that it has entered into agreements with Midea Group to establish a highly complementary long-term strategic partnership in Food Preservation (refrigeration) manufacturing and sales, and Fabric Care (laundry) manufacturing in North America. The partnership is designed to support long-term profitable growth and will contribute to Electrolux Group's overarching efforts to transform the business in North America. It will strengthen the Group's product offering in Food Preservation and Fabric Care through innovation, improved cost competitiveness and increased operational flexibility. The Group expects that the partnership will have a positive effect on Electrolux Group's sales and contribute to gradually increasing cost efficiency improvements over the next three years, with approximately SEK 0.6 billion in year three. As a result of this announcement, Electrolux Group expects to report total negative non-recurring items ("NRIs") of approximately SEK 2.4 billion, in the second quarter of 2026, of which approximately SEK 0.9 billion will have a cash impact. The partnership is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2026 and will aim to create a stronger platform for innovation, product development, and deliver value to customers and consumers in North America.

The partnership with Midea Group is expected to accelerate the transformation of Electrolux Group's North American business, strengthening its ability to support long-term profitable growth. The partnership builds on the companies' more than 20-year sourcing-supplier relationship and combines Electrolux Group's strong market presence, established infrastructure and deep consumer insights with Midea Group's core competence in operations and innovation, continuous investment in efficient manufacturing and supply chain and industrial flexibility. Midea Group is a global, publicly listed smart home solutions and commercial and industrial solutions provider with significant R&D capabilities, headquartered in China, with global revenues of approximately USD 63.7 billion[1].

A new operating model will be introduced across selected parts of Electrolux Group's North American operations. It will support the Group's continued investments in consumer-centric innovation, including the rollout of advanced digital product features. In addition, it will enhance the Group's ability to expand its product offering in Food Preservation, including a wider and up-featured range of refrigerators, and in Fabric Care, including top-load laundry, in North America.

"This partnership marks a major milestone in the execution of Electrolux Group's strategy and puts us in a position to accelerate profitable growth. It enables us to continue to invest in sustainable, consumer-centric innovations to serve our customers and consumers with even stronger product offerings in North America." says Yannick Fierling, President & CEO of Electrolux Group.

The partnership will include shared manufacturing expertise benefiting from joint operational capabilities. It is expected to deliver fixed and variable cost savings from 2026 that will increase over time. Together, the Group believes these measures will accelerate growth, strengthen the Group's ability to innovate, and improve responsiveness to evolving market conditions and consumer needs.

Structure of the partnership

The partnership will be structured as three Joint Ventures:

Sales Joint Venture ("JV") for Food Preservation product and commercial strategies in North America

Electrolux Group and Midea Group will jointly co-develop and sell Food Preservation products for North America through a sales JV, in which each company will hold 50 percent of the shares. The sales JV will manage product and commercial strategies in North America across Electrolux Group's and Midea Group's product brands. Electrolux Group and Midea Group will work together to develop a full line of innovative, differentiated products for both companies' brands, providing customers and consumers with a broad array of choices. The sales JV is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026.

Manufacturing JV for Food Preservation in Juarez (Mexico)

Electrolux Group and Midea Group will jointly operate the Food Preservation factory in Juarez, which is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026. Midea Group will purchase 65 percent of the legal entities holding the operational assets associated with Food Preservation in Juarez, and Electrolux Group will retain 35 percent. Electrolux Group's Fabric Care operations in Juarez will be carved out prior to closing of the transaction and will continue to serve the Group exclusively.

Manufacturing JV for Fabric Care in Anderson (South Carolina, United States)

Electrolux Group and Midea Group will jointly operate the factory in Anderson, which will be repurposed from a Food Preservation factory into a Fabric Care factory. A manufacturing JV will be established that will own and operate the Anderson factory, with Electrolux Group holding 55 percent and Midea Group holding 45 percent of the shares. The current Food Preservation production is expected to be phased out by July 2026, with the Fabric Care production expected to commence in the first half of 2027.

The JV agreements have an initial term of 15 years that is automatically extended with consecutive 10-year periods, unless terminated three years in advance by either party. The manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Tennessee (Food Preparation), Kinston, North Carolina (Dish Care) and Juarez, Mexico (Fabric Care) will continue to be operated by Electrolux Group.

Financial aspects

In 2025, Electrolux Group North America generated approximately SEK 45 billion in net sales, representing approximately 34 percent of the Group's total net sales.

The partnership is expected to positively contribute to Electrolux Group's sales in North America, driven partly by the assumption of consolidation of the sales JV in Electrolux Group's financial statements, including Midea Group's branded Food Preservation sales in North America. In addition, the partnership will enhance the opportunities for Electrolux Group to accelerate growth in both Food Preservation and Fabric Care, in North America.

The partnership is expected to affect approximately 1,500 employees in 2026, resulting in a negative cash NRI of approximately SEK 0.9 billion. The NRI mainly relates to severance costs and is expected to be recognized in the second quarter of 2026. The manufacturing JV for Anderson is expected to hire up to approximately 1,200 employees gradually across 2027 and 2028, as it is re-purposed into a Fabric Care factory.

It is further expected that a write-off of approximately SEK 1.5 billion, mainly related to the Food Preservation production in Anderson will be reported as a negative NRI in the second quarter of 2026. As a result of these actions, Electrolux Group expects to report total negative NRIs of approximately SEK 2.4 billion, in the second quarter of 2026. The sale of assets in Juarez to the manufacturing JV is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2026 and have a neutral effect on the income statement, but is expected to generate a positive cash flow effect of approximately SEK 1.0 billion with a corresponding reduction in assets.

The partnership is also expected to require approximately SEK 1.1 billion in capital expenditure over the next three years related to the start-up of the Fabric Care production in Anderson and investing in new platforms for refrigeration in Juarez.

The partnership will not impact Electrolux Group's business outlook for 2026[2].

Timing

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. ("CFIUS") has approved the transactions described above. Subject to certain regulatory approvals outside the U.S. and other customary closing conditions, the JVs are expected to commence their operations in the third quarter of 2026.

Advisors

PJT Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Electrolux and King & Spalding acted as lead legal advisor to Electrolux, with Ropes & Gray providing additional legal advice to Electrolux.

Important notice

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any expected future events or results expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Persons receiving this announcement should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, regulation or accounting standard, Electrolux Group does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

[1] Based on full-year 2025 revenues of CNY 458,502 million, translated using an average CNY/USD FX rate of 0.1392 for the period January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

[2] See the Electrolux Group's Year-end report Q4 2025, page 3.

This is information that AB Electrolux is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on 23-04-2026 17:30 CET.

CONTACT:

For more information:

Ann-Sofi Jonsson, Head of Investor Relations & Sustainability Reporting, [email protected], +46 73 025 1005

Maria Akerhielm, Investor Relations Manager, [email protected], +46 70 796 3856

Henry Sjolin, Investor Relations Manager, [email protected], +46 76 863 51 85

Electrolux Group Press Hotline, + 46 8 657 65 07

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/electrolux-group/r/electrolux-group-and-midea-group-form-a-highly-complementary-long-term-strategic-partnership-in-nort,c4339287

The following files are available for download:
Stockfotos-MG / Adobe

Two charities have been wound up and 1.39m redistributed after their founder was sanctioned following Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Kantor Foundation (KF) and Kantor Charitable Foundation (KCF) were dissolved and removed from the charity register on 30 May last year after Russian oligarch Viatcheslav Kantor was found responsible for misconduct and mismanagement.

Kantor, who ran both charities from their inception in 2017 via private company Kantor Trustees, was sanctioned in 2022 by the UK government, prompting investigations into KF and KCF by the Charity Commission.

After the investigations concluded, 1.39m in gift aid funds recovered by the commission from the charities were redistributed to several other organisations in the sector.

A violin, made in the 19th century by Italian Riccardo Antoniazzi and valued at 151,000, was also redistributed to another charity as it had been on loan from KF.

Timeline of events

Kantor was named as a designated person by the government under the UKs Russia sanctions scheme, which meant it was a criminal offence for funds to be made available to him.

The regulator then opened inquiries into KF, KCF and a third charity connected to Kantor called the World Holocaust Forum Foundation (WHFF).

Their bank accounts were frozen and in May 2022 the commission removed Kantor as a WHFF trustee and disqualified him from holding that role again. He also ceased to be a Kantor Trustees director.

Meanwhile, the commission appointed interim managers at KF and KCF, who found that multiple outstanding gift aid claims were owed.

After settling the liabilities, the interims distributed the funds, more than 1.39m, via grants to several charitable organisations.

The total cost of the interim managers appointments was 459,000  paid for by the charities funds.

KF and KCFs operations were found to be no longer viable and it was decided that they should be wound up and dissolved in June 2023.

No trustees remained at the charities, nor were there directors at Kantor Trustees, who resigned after he was sanctioned.

Kantor Trustees ceased to exist on 30 July 2024 after a compulsory Companies House strike-off.

The commission closed its inquiry into WHFF in 2023 after the charity ceased to operate that year.

Million-pound injection much-needed for sector

Joshua Farbridge, head of compliance and visits and inspections at the commission, said: We are pleased some good can come to other charities and causes as a result of our intervention.

Instead of assets lying dormant, or owed gift aid lost, weve been able to see a much-needed boost of over 1.3m into the sector.

He also welcomed the move to gift the Antoniazzi-made violin to a charity which furthers musical education.

Farbridge said Kantors conduct as a trustee fell below the commissions expectations and criticised his failure to proactively resign after being sanctioned and to cooperate with the investigations.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced it will participate in the BofA Securities 2026 Health Care Conference, which will be held May 12-14, 2026.

Encompass Health Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Doug Coltharp will participate in a fireside chat Tuesday, May 12, 2026, from 8:40-9:10 a.m. PT.

The presentation will be webcast live and available at investor.encompasshealth.com.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 174 hospitals in 39 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is recognized as America's Most Awarded Leader in Inpatient Rehabilitation by Newsweek and Statista and is ranked among Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, Forbes' America's Best Companies and Becker's Healthcare's Top Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, X, Instagram and Facebook.

From Fortune. 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Fortune is a registered trademark and Fortune World's Most Admired Companies is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Encompass Health.

Media contact:

Polly Manuel | 205-970-5912

[email protected]

Investor relations contact:

Mark Miller | 205-970-5860

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.
President Donald Trumps administration on Wednesday moved to make it more difficult to hold companies liable when their contractors or franchisees violate federal wage laws.

The U.S. Department of Labor unveiled a proposed rule that would narrow the circumstances in which a business can be considered the joint employer of another companys workers under the federal law requiring a minimum wage and overtime pay.

The rule is similar to one adopted by the department during Trumps first term that business groups backed but Democratic former President Joe Biden rescinded.

Easier To Comply: Secretary

Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the goal of the proposal was to make it easier for employers to comply with the law, ultimately benefiting workers.

A clear standard on joint employment would give businesses more confidence to invest in partnerships, help employees understand their rights, and make the departments investigations more efficient, Sonderling said in a statement.

The rule will guide the departments enforcement efforts and could be cited in private lawsuits, though courts may not be bound to follow it.

The proposal will be formally published on Thursday and the department will collect public comments for 60 days. A final rule could be adopted this year.

Trump-appointed U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned this week amid allegations of misconduct, including claims she had an affair with a member of her security team and used department resources for personal trips. She did not address the allegations in a statement announcing her resignation.

Joint employment has been one of the most debated topics in labor law over the last decade and the subject of numerous dueling rulemakings by agencies that enforce different federal laws.

The National Labor Relations Board, which is separate from the Labor Department and enforces workers rights to organize and join unions, in February repealed a Biden-era rule on joint employment and reinstated a test adopted during Trumps first term.

Like the labor boards standard, the Labor Department proposal says companies are only joint employers if they exercise direct control over hiring, supervision, pay, and employee records.

Worker advocacy groups have been critical of that approach. The Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning group, said in 2020 that the rule from Trumps first term would make it more difficult to crack down on wage theft and cost workers more than $1 billion annually.

(Reporting by Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Rod Nickel)
Its been called one of the most unusual medical malpractice cases and one that has raised questions for organ donors, organ recovery centers and their insurance carriers.

Paula Denison, age 57, was taken to the emergency room at Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Mississippi, late one afternoon in 2022. She showed signs of an aneurysm, brain swelling or a stroke. She was found to be drowsy and confused but with coherent speech, according to court documents.

Within a few hours, the woman was pronounced brain dead by a physician, then legally dead.

Denisons family arranged for her to be transported to the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency, or MORA, a nonprofit center in Flowood, about an hour away, where her organs could be recovered and donated to patients in need.

About 2 a.m. the next morning, nurses at the recovery center started tests, including a surgical liver biopsy. Later that evening, Denison began showing medical signs inconsistent with human death, such as spontaneous respirations, a reactive pupil, and the presence of coughing and gag reflexes,' the Mississippi Supreme Court recounted in an opinion handed down last week.

The woman was taken back to the hospital, where, a day later, she was pronounced deadagain. Denisons daughter, Brooke, filed two lawsuits, one as administrator of the estate, against the organ recovery agency, the hospital and physicians involved, charging negligence. Brooke Denison also sued in her own name, seeking bystander recovery, arguing that she had suffered emotional distress and mental anguish upon learning of her mothers situation.

The circuit court in Meridian agreed with the organ center and defendant physician and dismissed the estates suit on the grounds that the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, a model law adopted by Mississippi and most other states, provides immunity to the organ center. The trial court also dismissed the daughters lawsuit, noting that Brooke did not meet the statutory requirements because she had not actually witnessed the organ centers treatment of her mom. (The daughter did not file a wrongful death suit, based on the conclusion that Denison likely would not have survived, anyway.)

On appeal, the daughters attorney, Michael Jaques, argued that the law provides immunity only for actions taken by an organ center on a deceased person. But Denison was not dead. Jaques declined to comment while the case is still pending, but his appeal brief argued that the organ recover agency performed surgery on the living woman without anesthesia, something the immunity law does not apply to.

Later, after realizing Denison was not quite deceased, the center staff administered significant doses of propofol, Brookes team wrote.

Propofol is a powerful sedative and anesthetic. The organ center said it was ordered for sedation, but it also has been used as part of a euthanasia cocktail in Canada, the plaintiffs brief notes. Propofol was famously determined to be the drug overdose that killed pop star Michael Jackson in 2009, according to news and medical reports.

The Mississippi organ center never obtained the womans permission nor the familys consent before giving the dosage, the plaintiffs brief argued. It also kept Denison at the center for more than a day before notifying the family.

At no time on March 18 was any member of her family advised that she was alive,' Brookes lawyer wrote. At no time did the MORA representatives obtain consent to medically treat her as a live patient, or to give her propofol or any other drug to treat any illness or disease.

The daughters attorney also contended that the trial courts notion that she did not witness the negligent acts is misplaced. She was present at the hospital during some events, and observed procedures indirectly, even if she did not see them firsthand.

In the end, the state Supreme Court, which had consolidated the two suits, upheld the dismissal of the daughters bystander liability claim. The justices remanded the other claim to the trial court on procedural grounds: The circuit judge had granted the organ centers motion to dismiss the suit by considering information that was not part of the initial complaint, including medical records and an authorization form giving the center permission to harvest Denisons organs.

Because of the procedural issue, the justices declined to opine on the big question of legal immunity for the organ agency. In a dissenting opinion, though, Justice Kenneth Griffiths gave an idea of how that question may ultimately be decided: He wrote that the law is clear that the center and its director enjoy full immunity from tort actions.

Simply no authority exists for the majoritys conclusion that the record is not fully developed at this time for us to adequately address whether MORA should be granted immunity or not,' Griffiths wrote.

Its likely that on further proceedings, the trial court will grant immunity. But the case has raised issues about how the 58 organ agencies in the United States handle not-so-deceased patients, and whether liability insurance policies might exclude negligence toward or medical treatment of living persons at the centers.

Several companies offer liability insurance for organ recovery operations, including Liberty Mutuals Ironshore, Homewood Insurance and others. But it was unclear if those carriers policies exclude actions taken on people who are not yet deceased. The Mississippi centers director, Kevin Stump, could not be reached Tuesday. The lead lawyer for the Mississippi organ center, hired by the agencys insurance company, is Whitman Johnson, of Flowood. He declined to talk about the case or name the carrier. His reply brief in the appeal is here. The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations director of communications said liability coverage varies by organization.

Finding that organ-donor candidates are still alive is rare, but not unheard of. In 2024, a 36-year-old man in Richmond, Kentucky, was declared dead after a drug overdose. Later, he began thrashing around on a gurney, and the family was told those were merely reflexes. Eventually, the organ harvesting was cancelled, and the man was returned home, NPR News and other sites reported.

The Kentucky case and others like it were highlighted in a hearing held by a U.S. House committee examining organ procurement and oversight. Others, including Thaddeus Pope, a professor at Hamline University School of Law in Minnesota, has charged that organ centers have engaged in widespread violations of death determination protocols, sometimes attempting to harvest organs before death is certain.

The Mississippi Supreme Court opinion can be seen here.
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A distinguished panel of policymakers, legal experts, and financial industry leaders convened in Washington, D.C. yesterday to examine the effectiveness of the current Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regime, concluding that the system has become overly focused on procedural compliance at the expense of its core mission: combating financial crime.

The event, hosted by the Huggard Consulting Group, brought together senior representatives from government, Congress, law firms, and financial institutions. The panel featured prominent voices including two former FinCEN Directors, the President of the Bank Policy Institute, a scholar from the Cato Institute, and a former Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice's Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section.

All participants agreed on the critical importance of AML efforts in addressing serious crimes such as drug trafficking, human exploitation, and terrorism. However, a strong consensus emerged that the current regulatory framework is misaligned with these goals.

"The system has shifted toward policing compliance rather than preventing crime," noted one panelist. "Institutions that effectively stop illicit activity can still face penalties for minor procedural deviations, creating counterproductive incentives."

Panelists highlighted that the existing AML model struggles to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated and adaptive criminal methodologies. They also raised concerns about unintended societal consequences, particularly the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, underserved communities, and charitable organisations operating in high-risk regions.

Privacy implications within the U.S. constitutional framework were also discussed, alongside emerging risks such as extortion schemes using false AML flags. These schemes involve threats of false reporting designed to trigger account closures or denial of financial services.

Looking ahead, opinions diverged on the potential role of artificial intelligence in modernising AML enforcement. While some panelists expressed optimism about AI, others cautioned that regulatory and institutional capacity gaps remain significant.

The discussion concluded with a call for simplification and reform, echoing feedback from similar forum recently held in Luxembourg. A recurring theme was the need to refocus on actionable intelligence, summarised by the phrase: "See something, say something."

The panel ultimately characterised the current AML framework as "compliance theatre", a system in urgent need of recalibration to restore effectiveness, reduce harm, and better address evolving threats.

For more information go to the AML website: https://www.betteramldc.com/resources

SOURCE Huggard Consulting Group
Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C. and Kreindler & Kreindler LLP Represent Estates of Spanish Family Killed in April 2025 Sightseeing Helicopter Tragedy

NEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C. announced the filing of a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York on behalf of the estates of five members of the Escobar Camprubi family who were involved in a fatal helicopter crash on April 10, 2025. The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages against New York Helicopter Charter Inc., New York Helicopter Tours LLC, and Michael Roth, the owner and CEO of both companies, for negligence and wrongful death.

Members of the Escobar Camprubi family in New York for the one-year anniversary this month joined by their attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C. and Kreindler & Kreindler LLP.

Agustin Escobar Canadas (49), his wife Merce Camprubi Montal (39), and their three children were tragically killed when their Bell 206L-4 sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair, separated into three major sections, and crashed into the Hudson River.

The complaint alleges that the defendants operated the helicopter with willful and wanton disregard for passenger safety, failing to properly inspect, overhaul, repair, equip, modify and maintain the helicopter in an airworthy and safe condition, and ignoring established policies, procedures and safety management systems, in accordance with applicable industry procedures and safe practices.

The complaint also details particularly egregious conduct by defendant Michael Roth, who refused an FAA request to cease operations pending investigation and allegedly retaliated against his Director of Operations for agreeing to the safety stand-down.

"This beautiful family came to New York for what should have been a joyful sightseeing experience and instead suffered an unimaginable tragedy," said Jeff Korek, Senior Trial Partner at Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C. "While no money can ever make up for this devastating loss, we intend to hold all parties accountable, including Michael Roth, and eagerly await the NTSB report. In the meantime, our work continues to honor the family's memory by raising safety standards in the U.S. and preserving the Escobar Camprubi legacy through a new charitable foundation."

The attorneys anticipate that more defendants will be added to the lawsuit pending receipt of the NTSB report and examination of the wreckage.

"Aviation safety is not a choice, it is a responsibility," said Joan Camprubi Montal, brother of Merce Camprubi Montal. "No other family should have to endure the loss our family has experienced. We want to keep their memories alive, and the best way to do that is through elevating sightseeing standards in the United States by passing the bipartisan Helicopter Safety Parity Act. We have also created the Fundacion Escobar Camprubi, a charitable organization that honors their legacy and values, to Smile, Live, and Help as they did."

The Helicopter Safety Parity Act, led by Representatives Nadler and Malliotakis in a bipartisan effort, would close dangerous regulatory gaps by requiring helicopters carrying fare-paying passengers to meet the same high safety standards, equivalent to FAA Part 121, that already apply to commercial airlines. The legislation would also require modern safety equipment, including cockpit voice and flight data recorders, terrain awareness technology, and stronger maintenance programs and pilot fatigue rules, and would provide $50 million annually from FY2026 through FY2030 to fund FAA oversight, inspections, and enforcement of the enhanced standards. The NTSB is among the safety advocates that have long recommended abolishing the exemptions the legislation targets.

About Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C.

Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C. is one of New York's premier personal injury law firms, with over 40 years of experience and more than $1 billion recovered for injured victims in New York and New Jersey. Led by Partners Edward H. Gersowitz, Jeff S. Korek and Michael A. Fruhling, the firm has deep experience litigating complex aviation disaster cases. This includes a wrongful death lawsuit against multiple production companies on behalf of a pilot killed in a plane crash during the filming of the Tom Cruise film American Made in South America, alleging the production disregarded basic safety procedures and failed to properly supervise the flight. The firm's aviation practice is led by Senior Trial Partner Jeff S. Korek and Attorney Cydney (Cyd) Korek. Cyd was a former Assistant District Attorney and a law clerk for the New York State Court of Appeals. Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006, Jeff was named "Lawyer of the Year" for Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs, New York City in 2026, "Lawyer of the Year" for Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs, New York City in 2020, and "Lawyer of the Year" for Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, New York City in 2016. All partners have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. For more information, visit www.lawyertime.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

[email protected]

SOURCE Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C.
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., exits Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, California, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.

Google , LinkedIn and Wikipedia are among hundreds of websites and apps where Meta plans to capture employee keystrokes and mouse clicks as part of a project to train its artificial intelligence models, according to internal messages viewed by CNBC.

A new employee tracking tool, dubbed Model Capability Initiative (MCI), allows Meta to observe and collect data from staffers' actions on their work computers, Reuters first reported on Tuesday. The list of sites being tracked, which also includes Microsoft's GitHub, Salesforce's Slack and Atlassian , has not been previously reported.

Meta properties like Threads and Manus are also on the list, which is still in flux and originally included AI apps like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude.

The list of third-party sites and services the MCI tool is tracking was widely circulated internally and discussed on chat boards after a member of the Meta Superintelligence Labs, or MSL, sent a memo intended to assuage concerns about worker surveillance and privacy. CNBC viewed the memo.

The data gathering project is tied to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ambitious effort to catch up in generative AI, where the company has lagged behind OpenAI, Anthropic and Google . To try and close the gap, Zuckerberg went on a spending spree starting last summer, bringing in Scale AI's Alexandr Wang to build a team and develop new foundation models.

Earlier this month, Meta unveiled its first major AI model since the costly hiring of Wang. Dubbed Muse Spark, the model marked the debut of the new Muse series developed by MSL, the AI unit that Wang oversees.

Like other tech giants, Meta is pushing hard into AI agents that can perform various office and coding-related tasks that are typically accomplished by white-collar workers.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the project but didn't provide a comment on the list of sites being tracked.

"If we're building agents to help people complete everyday tasks using computers, our models need real examples of how people actually use them  things like mouse movements, clicking buttons, and navigating dropdown menus," the spokesperson said. "To help, we're launching an internal tool that will capture these kinds of inputs on certain applications to help us train our models. There are safeguards in place to protect sensitive content, and the data is not used for any other purpose."

Multiple Meta employees characterized the data-tracking project as "dystopian" in internal messages viewed by CNBC. Others expressed concerns that MCI could widely expose sensitive data, including user passwords, details about new product development, and personal information about workers' immigration status, health or family members.

The MSL staffer said in the memo that in order to "teach our models to be able to use computers," Meta requires a "big and unbiased" data set that reflects how employees work and do tasks on their corporate devices.

"We need to capture on-screen content as the context of what was being manipulated or interacted with," the memo said.

In listing a "few assurances," the MSL representative noted that the new tool would only be able to view employees' "screen contents" as they see them, and would "not read in files or attachments."

"Any incidental personal information in your corporate email that may get captured from the screen, will not be learned by the model, due to the mitigations above," the memo said.

Meta employees who are still concerned about the data-tracking tool, "can control what shows up on your screen by not doing personal work on your work computer," the memo said.

WATCH: AI demand metrics are broken and only Anthropic is being realistic.
Anthropic is ramping up a push to secure European data center deals to power its AI models, as it looks to hire a role for negotiating compute capacity in the region.

U.S. hyperscalers' AI infrastructure expenditure is set to top $600 billion in 2026. Anthropic is looking to capitalize on the boom and has announced a slew of data center deals in the U.S. in recent weeks.

While it's yet to unveil any in Europe, that could be about to change. Anthropic is now recruiting for a principal to "drive the commercial sourcing and transaction execution process" for its European data center capacity deals, according to a job advert posted in London.

Anthropic declined to comment on the job advert or its plans for data centers in Europe.

It comes on the back of a number of AI infrastructure deals for the company. Anthropic said this week that it's committed to spending more than $100 billion on Amazon Web Services tech over the next 10 years. It also signed an expanded deal with Broadcom earlier this month for about 3.5 gigawatts worth of computing capacity.

Anthropic is currently evaluating deals to acquire data center capacity directly from developers "across the world," a source familiar with discussions told CNBC.
Shares of Avis Budget Group , ticker 'CAR,' soared from under $100 last month to a record high near $850 in early trading Wednesday before a sharp U-turn lower intraday. The stock closed down 38% and was down another 6% in premarket trading Thursday. The shares were last trading around $417 a share. Options volume was surging with over 200,000 contracts trading Wednesday and implied volatility of 235%, compared to 20% in the S&P 500. The volatility is so high that there was market speculation that brokers were changing margin requirements to trade the stock.

My sources at Charles Schwab said margin requirements did change on April 9, but they did not increase them on Tuesday. However, traders with concentrated portfolio positions in CAR are now required to post 100% margin, meaning trading has to be done entirely in cash.

The saga is reminiscent of GameStop five years ago, when wild swings forced many broker dealers to charge more to trade it  and in some cases  actually restricted trading the the stock.

In the last two days, Avis has traded over 10 million shares. There are only 36 million outstanding shares and much less than that available for trading because of control by two shareholders  Pentwater Capital Management and SRS Investment Management.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs escorted by federal agents after landing at a Manhattan helipad, en route to a federal courthouse in New York City, Jan. 5, 2026.

A U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant was arrested for allegedly using classified information to make extremely profitable bets on the Polymarket prediction market related to the American military mission that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the Department of Justice said Thursday.

The sergeant, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, "was involved in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve," which apprehended Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in early January, the DOJ said.

Van Dyke, 38, wagered a total of about $33,000 in 13 or so bets in the week leading up to that operation, with the knowledge that the United States was secretly planning military action against Maduro, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

The bets won Van Dyke nearly $410,000, the indictment alleges.

The arrest of Van Dyke, who has been on active duty in the Army since 2008, comes as Polymarket and Kalshi have grown in popularity and as concerns have grown about people with inside information making wagers on those prediction market platforms.

On Wednesday, Kalshi said it had suspended and fined three candidates for Congress  from Minnesota, Texas and Virginia  for "political insider trading" activity on their own campaigns.

Polymarket, in a statement Thursday about Van Dyke's arrest, said, "Last month, we published our enhanced market integrity rules to combat insider trading."

"When we identified a user trading on classified government information, we referred the matter to the DOJ & cooperated with their investigation," the company said. "Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today's arrest is proof the system works."

Van Dyke had been stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which houses U.S. military special forces involved in the capture of Maduro and his wife.

He was expected to be presented Thursday evening to a magistrate judge in federal court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The indictment says that Van Dyke is charged with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

He faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted of the top criminal count, wire fraud, and up to 10 years in each of the remaining counts.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates prediction markets, said Thursday that it charged Van Dyke in a civil complaint with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act.

Both the criminal and civil cases against Van Dyke were filed in Manhattan federal court  the same courthouse where Maduro is charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons charges, and where Flores is charged with cocaine conspiracy and weapons counts.

The criminal indictment says that Van Dyke became involved in the planning of the Maduro mission on Dec. 8.

On that day, the CFTC's complaint says, "Van Dyke received a 'Classified Information Security Briefing' and executed a nondisclosure agreement" in which he agreed never to "divulge, publish, or reveal by writing, word, conduct, or otherwise, to any unauthorized person, any classified or sensitive information" relating to U.S. Army Special Operations Command operations within the Western Hemisphere.

On Dec. 26, he created a Polymarket account and began trading on markets related to questions about Maduro and Venezuela, according to the criminal indictment.

Van Dyke then made his bets on Polymarket between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, the eve of the raid on Caracas that ended with Maduro's apprehension.

All of those wagers took a "Yes" position on contracts that said U.S. forces would be in Venezuela by Jan. 31, 2026; that Maduro would be out of office by that date; that the U.S would invade that country by Jan. 31; or that President Donald Trump would invoke the War Powers Act against the country by that date, the indictment says.
A tablet screen displays a portrait of Jeffrey Epstein beside the U.S. Department of Justice website page titled Epstein Library, Feb. 11, 2026.

The Department of Justice's internal watchdog said on Thursday that it is investigating the DOJ's compliance with a law requiring that it fully disclose department files about the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The audit by the Office of the Inspector General comes after months of complaints that the DOJ has failed to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act by withholding many files in its possession about Epstein and his convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Deputy Inspector General William Blier, in a statement, said, "Our preliminary objective is to evaluate the DOJ's processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the Act."

"If circumstances warrant, the OIG will consider addressing other issues that may arise during the course of the audit," Blier said.

The OIG "will issue a public report with the audit's results when our work is complete," he said.
TIANJIN, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin(L) and Chinese President Xi jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 1, 2025 in Tianjin, China. (Photo by Suo Takekuma - Pool/Getty Images)

India and China, two of the world's major oil importers, are competing for scarce global crude supplies as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and stalled peace talks between the U.S. and Iran tighten the market.

The two economic powerhouses are now locked in a fierce scramble over limited available supplies, mainly from Russia and, to a lesser extent, Saudi Arabia.

"The competition for Russian crude between India and China has been intense and will continue to be so for June-loading cargoes," Muyu Xu, a senior analyst at Kpler, told CNBC.

On April 18, the U.S. renewed a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil at sea for about a month, easing pressure on global prices. However, it did not ease sanctions on Iranian crude, of which almost 98% is bound for China, with smaller volumes reaching India.

Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East have also disrupted oil supplies from Gulf countries, increasing demand for Russian oil.

According to Kpler, Chinese imports through the critical waterway fell to about 222,000 barrels per day in April, a sharp dip from 4.45 million barrels per day (mbd) before the start of the Iran war. India's supplies through this route plunged to 247,000 barrels per day so far this month from 2.8 million in February.

Both countries are now seeking alternative supplies to fill the gap.

"The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz is prompting Asian countries to seek cheap crude that is readily available, and Russian crude falls into this category," said Xu of Kpler.

India appears more vulnerable to supply shocks. Its oil imports fell in March, and it has a limited buffer of around 30 days against prolonged supply shocks, oil industry experts said. Unlike other countries, the Indian government has not raised pump prices, so demand for petrol and diesel in the country has not dropped, they added.

Meanwhile, China is dependent on the critical waterway for 45-50% of its crude imports, according to Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy. However, its oil stockpiles can meet demand for three to four months.

China is better positioned than most other Asian countries, said Mukesh Sahdev, chief oil analyst at energy intelligence firm XAnalysts.

Still, Beijing needs crude imports to support its massive export and petrochemical industries and to ramp up its strategic reserves in case the war is prolonged, Sahdev said.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- F&M Trust is pleased to announce that Chad Carroll has been promoted to President, effective April 28, 2026. Carroll will now serve as President and Chief Operating Officer.

Chad Carroll

In his role as President and Chief Operating Officer, Carroll will work closely with Craig Best, Chief Executive Officer, in the overall leadership and administration of F&M Trust while continuing to oversee day-to-day operations. He will remain actively involved in executing the bank's strategic plan, supporting continued growth, and serving the best interests of the bank's shareholders, customers, employees, and communities. Additionally, Carroll will be appointed to the F&M Trust Board of Directors.

"Chad has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to our customers, employees, and communities," said Craig Best, Chief Executive Officer of F&M Trust. "Since joining F&M Trust, he has played an important role in advancing our strategic priorities and strengthening our organization. I am pleased to see him assume the role of President and look forward to continuing to work alongside him."

Carroll joined F&M Trust in 2023 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President in January 2026. In this role, Carroll has been responsible for overseeing the bank's day-to-day operations and supporting the bank's continued market expansion and asset growth. He is based out of the bank's corporate headquarters in Chambersburg.

"Chad Carroll has been a key contributor to the success and milestones that are being achieved at the bank," said G. Warren Elliott, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Franklin Financial Services Corporation and F&M Trust. "I am excited about the opportunity to work with him as our next president."

About F&M Trust: A subsidiary of Franklin Financial Services Corp., F&M Trust is an independent community bank headquarters in Chambersburg. With $2.2 billion in assets, F&M Trust has 23 community-banking locations in Franklin, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fulton, and Huntingdon Counties in Pennsylvania, and in Washington County, Maryland. Please visit fmtrust.bank for more information.

SOURCE F&M Trust
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.

Kevin Warsh can credit more than $100 million of his vast fortune to a lucrative regulatory carveout that favors family office executives and investment professionals, family office attorneys told Inside Wealth.

While single-family offices are widely understood to only manage family members' assets, a little-known exception allows certain employees to invest with the ultra-wealthy families they work for.

Warsh's recent financial disclosures are putting the carveout on display.

The Federal Reserve chair nominee has two stakes worth at least $50 million each in a vehicle called the Juggernaut Fund, according to the filings. The fund is managed by Duquesne Family Office, the personal investment firm of billionaire hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller.

Warsh joined Duquesne as a partner and advisor after leaving the Fed in 2011 and has interests in dozens of other Duquesne entities. The underlying assets in the Juggernaut Fund are not detailed, citing Warsh's "pre-existing confidentiality agreements" with the firm.

An attorney who has advised family offices for 30 years told CNBC it's increasingly common for family offices to structure compensation for their key employees in a similar manner to private equity firms. That could include incentive fees from investments or opportunities to co-invest capital, said the lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.

Family offices often lend money to these employees in order to fund their capital commitments and forgive them over time or apply future bonuses toward the debt, the lawyer said.

Single-family offices can allow employees to co-invest thanks to a family office rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2011. Under that rule, family offices do not have to register as investment advisors so long as they only advise or manage assets for family clients, a category that includes key employees along with family members of the firm founder.

To qualify, key employees must occupy a senior position like director or a executive officer or be involved in the firm's investment activity, according to the SEC. Investment professionals must have held these duties at the family office or another company for at least 12 months, per the SEC.

"I think the SEC staff at the time was sympathetic to the family office community's concerns about making investment opportunities and in-house investment staff as robust as possible," said a lawyer at a New York City firm, who asked to remain anonymous to speak about the matter. "They recognized that attracting and retaining that type of talent required providing executives that level of compensation."

Lawyers told Inside Wealth that Warsh likely falls under the key employee exception. Duquesne and a representative of Warsh did not respond to requests for comment.

Evan Hall, partner at investment management practice group at Haynes Boone, said the "key employee" category is somewhat flexible, however.

"If you're an employee of the firm who participates in investment decisions, it doesn't have to be all investment decisions for the family office," Hall said. "People can game it a little bit. Can a consultant fit in the key-employee definition? It really seems kind of murky, but that's a line we see a lot."
LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault warned Thursday of "world catastrophe" if the conflict in the Middle East is not resolved.

His comments came after the Iran war weighed on demand in the first three months of the year, halving the luxury giant's sales growth.

"The world is now in a pretty serious crisis in the Middle East," the longtime CEO told shareholders at the company's Annual General Meeting in Paris.

"Either it'll be a world catastrophe with very serious and very negative economic impact  in which case, who can say how 2026 will unfold  or it will be resolved more rapidly in some shape or form that we all hope for, even if it doesn't seem to be easy, in which case, business will recover and resume their normal course," he said, according to a translation by LVMH.

Organic sales at the world's largest luxury company grew 1% in the first quarter. The Middle East conflict had a 1% negative impact on organic growth, LVMH said last week, effectively cutting quarterly growth in half.

If a solution can be reached between Iran, the U.S. and Israel, however, Arnault expects to see a return to growth in the second half of this year.

A ceasefire is currently in place but there's little clarity on when or how the conflict could be brought to an end. Both the U.S. and Iran are using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip, as around a fifth of global oil normally comes through the narrow waterway. The effective closure of the strait has led to the "biggest energy security threat in history," the head of the International Energy Agency told CNBC on Thursday.

Arnault's comments come as many of LVMH's peers also faced a hit to sales in March due to subdued activity in the Middle East, weighing on both quarterly earnings and shares.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 23: Chairman and CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella speaks on stage during the Microsoft AI Tour at TikTok Entertainment Centre on April 23, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. Nadella, making his first visit to Australia since 2019, addressed business leaders, developers, and government representatives at the Microsoft AI Tour in Sydney on April 23, outlining a vision for Australia to become a critical hub for AI innovation rather than simply a consumer market for Microsoft's products. (Photo by George Chan/Getty Images)

Microsoft on Thursday announced a A$25 billion ($18 billion) investment into Australia's digital infrastructure which will see the technology giant partnering with Canberra on initiatives spanning cybersecurity, workforce upskilling, and artificial intelligence development.

Touting its "largest ever" investment in Australia, Microsoft said it would expand adoption of its Azure cloud computing infrastructure in the country by more than 140% by the end of 2029.

The partnership would also see Microsoft expanding existing collaborations with government entities like the Australian Signals Directorate  Australia's signals intelligence agency  and the Department of Home Affairs to secure critical infrastructure, as well as training three million Australians on the use of AI by 2028.

Microsoft's Thursday agreement builds on a previous A$5 billion commitment to Australia in October 2023, which it said at the time was its "single largest investment" in 40 years operating in the country.

"We want to make sure all Australians benefit from AI. Our National AI Plan is all about capturing the economic opportunities of this transformative technology while protecting Australians from the risks," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference where he was joined by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella as part of the Sydney leg of Microsoft's AI tour.

Canberra has actively sought to expand the country's AI capacity. In December 2025, the government launched its National AI Plan, which pledged to "build an AI-enabled economy that is more competitive, productive and resilient."

Beyond Microsoft, Canberra has courted investments from other AI hyperscalers. In July, Amazon Web Services pledged a A$20 billion investment in Australia, and in December, Australia announced a A$7 billion investment from OpenAI.

Australia has touted its edge in attracting foreign AI investment, citing its "rigorous but tech-friendly" regulatory environment. The country ranked second only to the U.S. in global data center investments in 2024, according to a ranking published by Knight Frank.

Microsoft executives inked a memorandum of understanding Thursday, pledging to abide by the Australian government's recently announced expectations of data centers and AI infrastructure development, which include commitments to prioritize Australia's national interest, and to ensure sustainable water usage.

In March, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with Albanese to sign a similar memorandum of understanding over cooperation on AI safety research, calling Australia "a natural partner for responsible AI development."

As of October 2025, Microsoft operated three data centers across Australia, with three more under construction in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Washington-headquartered tech giant has seen its stock trading around 20% lower in recent months compared to its October 2025 highs.

At the end of March, Microsoft closed its worst quarter on Wall Street since 2008, with analysts telling CNBC the business's struggles relate to broader market reactions to AI-driven disruptions to software stocks.
College grads are launching their careers in one of the worst job markets in years.

The unemployment rate for recent college grads reached 9.7% as of September 2025, the same as for 20- to 24-year-olds with only a high school diploma, according to Federal Reserve data. Businesses say they're hiring fewer entry-level jobs because of economic uncertainty and AI developments, per research from the education tech company Cengage Group.

Despite the bad market, recent grads are adjusting their expectations, finding their footing and landing jobs faster than the class before them, according to ZipRecruiter's 2026 grad report.

Seventy-seven percent of 2025 college grads said they landed their job within three months of earning their degree, per the report. That's a jump from the year prior when 63% of 2024 grads said they got their job within three months of finishing school.

The 2025 grads most likely to have found work soon after college majored in agriculture and environmental science, nursing, history or philosophy, and education.

Overall, the ZipRecruiter data suggests new grads are putting in more work to get fewer opportunities, with 16% of students submitting 20-plus applications before landing just one offer, compared to 12% of 2024 grads, and fewer students report landing multiple offers before taking a role.

"Young people and recent grads are getting more in line with the reality of this job market," where there are fewer opportunities than there were during the post-pandemic recovery, ZipRecruiter labor economist Nicole Bachaud tells CNBC Make It.

Meanwhile, more students are taking their first offer even if it doesn't align with the path they consider to be their "dream career," seeing it as a stepping stone or even a "bridge job" in order to cover expenses while they continue searching, according to ZipRecruiter.

About 1 in 5 employed graduates say they're overqualified for their current position, and a similar share said they intentionally applied below their level just to get a foothold. Nearly 43% of U.S. college grads age 22 to 27 are "underemployed," or working a job that doesn't require the degree they earned, according to New York Federal Reserve Bank data as of December 2025.

While the ZipRecruiter report covers how 2025 grads have navigated the job market since leaving school, it offers a glimpse at what 2026 grads are facing as they receive their diplomas in the coming weeks, Bachaud says.

"Today's grads are being more pragmatic, taking a job even if it's not necessarily the best or the right job for their career prospects," she says, rather than "waiting for something bigger and better to come along."
BP logos are seen at a BP petrol and diesel filling station southeast of London on June 15, 2020.

British energy major BP suffered a shareholder revolt at its annual general meeting on Thursday, following a tense clash with investors over corporate governance and climate transparency.

As the energy major pivots back to its core business of oil and gas and away from renewables, it failed to get majority shareholder approval on two highly anticipated motions, which would have permitted online-only AGMs and retired two company-specific climate disclosure obligations. Each resolution received around 47% support, far short of the required 75% required to pass.

A majority of 81.8% voted in favor of electing Albert Manifold as chair. His election was in sharp focus following the board's move to block a proposal put forward by Dutch activist group Follow This.

Board members require 50% of the vote to be elected, and they typically receive close to 100% support.

Some activist investors had said even a 5% vote against Manifold, who has only been in post as chair since October, would represent a severe reprimand, particularly after a historic 24% vote against outgoing chair Helge Lund last year.

Ahead of the AGM at its Sunbury-on-Thames hub in Surrey, BP's board blocked a motion tabled by Follow This that would have required the company to share plans on creating value for shareholders under future scenarios of falling oil and gas demand.
A picture taken on March 12, 2017, shows a view of an oil facility in the Khark Island, on the shore of the Gulf.

Brent oil prices jumped more than 3% on Thursday, as tensions run high in the Strait of Hormuz with the U.S. and Iran enforcing blockades.

Brent oil futures rose about 3% to close at $105.07 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate futures advanced around 3% to close at $95.85.

Iran is continuing to demand that ships receive its permission to cross the strait, while President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that the U.S. has "total control" over the sea lane. Trump said ships need to receive permission from the U.S. Navy to transit the strait.

The U.S. has been enforcing a blockade of Iran's ports since April 13.

Oil tanker traffic through the strait remains very low as the U.S. and Iran have both seized ships during a fragile ceasefire. Iran detained two cargo ships in the strait on Wednesday, while the U.S. has intercepted several Iranian oil tankers.

Meanwhile, Israel's defense minister said Thursday that Jerusalem was waiting for the green light from the U.S. to resume the war against Iran and "complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty."

Israel killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of the war. He was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.

Oil prices also jumped Thursday after Israeli broadcaster N12 reported that Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf resigned due to interference from the country's Revolutionary Guard.

CNBC has not confirmed the report, but possible intervention by the Revolutionary Guard raises market concerns that Tehran will take a harder line during negotiations with the U.S.
Dover on Thursday reported healthy first-quarter results, highlighted by double-digit earnings growth and a brimming order book. In an AI-obsessed market, the industrial conglomerate is sometimes overlooked by investors. On Thursday, at least, it's getting a much-deserved day in the sun. Revenue rose 10% year over year to $2.05 billion, topping the LSEG consensus of $2 billion. On an organic basis, which removes the impact of acquisitions and currency exchange fluctuations, total revenue grew 5.3%. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the three months ended in March totaled $2.28, a 2-cent beat versus the LSEG consensus, and up 11.2% from a year earlier. DOV YTD mountain Dover YTD Shares of Dover jumped about 5.5% on Thursday to roughly $229 apiece. Dover entered Thursday up just shy of 11% year to date, essentially in line with the broader industrial sector . The stock's all-time closing high came on Feb. 20 at $233.31, eight days before the Iran war broke out and muddied the global economic outlook. Bottom line A round of applause for Dover and CEO Richard Tobin. Going into earnings, we said we were on the fence about whether Dover still belonged in the portfolio  not because it's a poorly run company, or didn't have anything exciting going on. The debate essentially boiled down to this: Did Dover have enough going right to capture investors' attention and dollars in a market dominated by the artificial intelligence gold rush? We knew it had some businesses riding the AI wave, specifically around liquid cooling in data centers and spending to update the electric grid. But it also has a bunch of other businesses serving markets like can-making, vehicle repair lifts, and textile printing that, well, aren't exactly in the market zeitgeist. Against that backdrop, would Dover be able to break through? Were there better opportunities elsewhere, even staying within the industrial sector, that had more AI exposure, a la Club name GE Vernova ? We're stepping off the fence. Based on these first-quarter results and conference call commentary, Dover deserves to stick around. And plenty of other investors are taking notice, judging by the stock's well-earned pop Thursday. Why we own it We own Dover for its exposure to mega-themes, including the data center buildout to support artificial intelligence computing. The company's key products for data centers are thermal connectors and heat exchangers. Dover's active portfolio management and commitment to capital returns sweeten the investment case. Competitors : Ingersoll Rand , IDEX Corp ., Snap-On , Veralto , among others Most recent buy: July 30, 2025 Initiated : May 28, 2024 The most important number in Dover's release: orders rose 24% year over year to $2.5 billion. That's across the whole company  an incredibly impressive feat. Plus, Dover's companywide book-to-bill ratio was a robust 1.2. This measures the number of orders received in a period versus the number of orders fulfilled, so you want the number to be above 1 to signal more business is coming in than going out. Investors in the industrials sector pay very close attention to these metrics. They cannot help but like what they see Thursday. The first question that Tobin faced from Wall Street analysts on the earnings call: Were the orders so strong because customers were trying to get ahead of potentially Middle East-related supply chain disruptions? Nope, according to Tobin. "We don't see any kind of pre-buy," said Tobin, who's been chief executive since 2018. "What you do see is customers ordering for later delivery periods than normal, just because demand is outstripping supply, at the end of the day." That dynamic is especially pronounced in Dover's business selling brazed plate heat exchangers, which are used in liquid-cooling systems in data centers, and seeing a surge in demand thanks to AI. It's also boosting Dover's CO2 refrigeration business, which isn't an AI story but still has some favorable tailwinds behind it. Grocery store operators want the energy efficiency gains of CO2 systems  and Tobin calls this a multi-year growth opportunity, especially in the U.S., where Dover is the market leader and only 10% of the installed base has transitioned away from synthetic refrigerants. Dover's refrigeration business was a drag on growth last year, which the company chalked up to the ripple effects of President Donald Trump 's tariff shocks. It has the wind at its back now. Finally, a brief point on M & A: Tobin said Dover is poking around for opportunities, but he isn't willing to pull the trigger on anything unless the price is right  and at the moment, he thinks valuations are a bit stretched for potential takeover targets. As much as we'd like to see Dover put some of its dry powder to work to boost growth, we also appreciate that Tobin is being responsible and not making deals for the sake of making deals. We're raising our price target on Dover to $245 a share from $230, but keeping our hold-equivalent 2 rating on the stock. Quarterly commentary The changing fortunes of the refrigeration business  housed within its Climate & Sustainability Technologies segment  are indicative of what makes the Dover story easier to get behind now. Whenever you're dealing with an industrial company as diversified as Dover, some businesses will be doing better than others. It's just the reality of operating in a bunch of different markets and helps explain why the stocks of conglomerates can be valued at a discount to simpler, more streamlined firms. Right now at Dover, though, all five of Dover's operating segments are seeing healthy order growth, which wasn't the case throughout last year. Of course, some are stronger than others. Climate & Sustainability Technologies was up a blistering 64% in Q1, thanks to the data center and refrigeration spending, and the company raised its full-year expectations to double-digit organic growth from high-single digits previously. The Pumps & Process Solutions segment saw 20% order growth. This unit houses some data center exposure  namely, thermal connectors also used in liquid cooling  and other AI-related exposure with its subsidiary that makes bearings for gas turbines and the recently acquired Sikora, which makes inspection equipment for high-voltage wires and cables. With growing investments in the electrical grid, Sikora benefits. Across the whole company, Tobin on Thursday said Dover expects over $1 billion in revenue in 2026 from applications tied to AI and power generation infrastructure  in other words, the buzzy trends driving so much of the market. The Street currently projects about $8.6 billion in full-year revenue for Dover. So, that $1 billion AI business guide would be just over 11.5% of total revenue . Dover's Clean Energy & Fueling segment saw 13% order growth in the quarter, driven in large part by retail fueling (yes, it sells gas pumps ) as national retailers embark on what Tobin called "aggressive" build-outs. Think new Costco gas stations. There are also plenty of popular convenience chains like Casey's and Texas-based Buc-ee's that are opening up locations in new states. Tobin said retail fueling is still in the "early innings of a multi-year growth cycle." Not AI, but not nothing. The final segment with double-digit orders was Engineered Products , up 11% and benefiting from tailwinds in aerospace and defense. Even the vehicle lift business, which had been struggling, showed improvements. The weakest segment was Imaging & Identification , which is home to the textile printing business. Orders were up 8% in I & I. Tobin described its performance as stable, and said while it may not ever be a fast-growing segment, it has "very health margins and a ton of cash." Guidance Dover left its full-year guidance mostly unchanged, though Tobin was clear on the earnings call that he's being very conservative because it's still early in the year. That's nothing new for Tobin. It was roughly a year ago when Tobin cut Dover's outlook , not based on what he was seeing with customers, but as a "hedge" in case tariffs slowed the economy down. On Thursday, Tobin said if order booking trends remain consistent through the second quarter, they will revisit top-line expectations. For now, here's where Dover's outlook stands on the top and bottom lines: Revenue growth: up 5% to 7% on a reported basis and 3% to 5% on an organic basis Adjusted EPS: in the range of $10.45 to $10.65 Dover did slightly lower its EPS outlook on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis  $8.92 to $9.12, down from $8.95 to $9.15 previously  but that isn't a concern because the adjusted outlook was untouched. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long DOV. See here for a full list of the stocks.) 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.
Roche reported falling sales in the first three months of the year, as the strength of the Swiss franc and generic competition for some of its older drugs weighed on the drugmaker.

First-quarter sales came in at 14.7 billion Swiss francs ($18.7 billion), down 5% year-on-year  but up 6% on a constant currency basis.

The appreciation of the Swiss franc against most currencies, notably the U.S. dollar, had a significant impact on the results reported in Swiss francs compared to constant exchange rates, Roche said.

The Swiss franc fell 12% against the U.S. dollar in 2025 and is down another 1% so far this year.

CEO Thomas Schinecker defended the company's quarterly results, saying it's a "question on how you look at the reporting," and that while the Swiss franc appreciates, sales reported in U.S. dollars increased by 9%.

"We spend most of our money in the U.S., and we have most our debt in the U.S., we've just recently bought another company in the U.S.," he told Squawk Box Europe.

"We will continue to invest in the U.S., and we don't see that as a major issue."

Shares rose 3% on Thursday, adding to a 12-month gain of 18%.
Spirit Airlines' accessible cash to keep operating won't last long and a government rescue package is on the table, a lawyer for the struggling budget carrier said at a hearing Thursday.

President Donald Trump later Thursday at the White House told reporters: "We're thinking about doing it, helping them out, meaning bailing them out, or buying it."

Trump told reporters that "when the price of oil goes down," the government could "sell it for a profit."

"I'd love to be able to save those jobs. I'd love to be able to save an airline. I like having a lot of airlines, so it's competitive," he said.

Marshall Huebner of Davis Polk, the airline's lawyer, did not outline the proposed rescue plan at the Thursday bankruptcy hearing, but people familiar with the matter told CNBC this week that on the table is a $500 million loan that could give the government a potential stake of 90% of the Florida-based airline. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks.

The deal would also allow the U.S. government to select a board member, a person familiar with the potential terms told CNBC.

The White House and Spirit didn't respond to a request for comment about the board seat.

"We are grateful for President Trump's support and look forward to continuing to work with him and his Administration on a solution that protects thousands of jobs, preserves and enhances competition and helps ensure Americans continue to have access to affordable fares," Spirit's CEO Dave Davis said in an emailed statement

The company needs access to existing cash or new funding in the next few days to continue operations, Huebner said Thursday.

"The cash actually available to Spirit to fund ongoing operations is not going to last for very much longer," he said. "So either new financing, either or both of new financing or access to almost $240 million of restricted cash, is absolutely essential. Round about, no later than the end of next week."

The airline has been at risk of shutting down. The potential deal has been shared with various creditor groups, according to the people familiar with the matter.

Spirit had expected to emerge from bankruptcy midyear, but a surge in fuel prices since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran has complicated those plans, the company has said.

The iconic discount airline has faced troubles for years, including an engine recall, an acquisition by JetBlue Airways that a federal judge blocked two years ago, shifting customer preferences for more upmarket offerings and a jump in costs, even before fuel prices surged this year.

"Spirit now definitively stands at the crossroads," Huebner said, with "several hundred million dollars" of the company's cash "locked away and inaccessible" under bankruptcy loan terms while other funds are in separate accounts for payroll and tax payments.

Huebner said the additional financing would "create an appropriately capitalized, fierce competitor in the airline space" as a stand-alone carrier, "but also potentially as the strongest player in what so many believe must happen next, consolidation in the value carrier space," hinting at a potential merger.
Check out the companies making the biggest moves before the bell: Netflix  The streaming giant gained more than 1% after a regulatory filing showed the company authorized an additional $25 billion share buyback. Helix Energy Solutions  Shares of the offshore energy company rose more than 3% after Helix agreed to merge with privately held Hornbeck Offshore Services in an all-stock deal. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026. The newly formed entity will operate as Hornbeck Offshore Services and will trade under the ticker HOS. Honeywell  The industrial giant shed 5.6% after it reported mixed first-quarter results and issued lackluster second-quarter guidance. In Q1, adjusted earnings of $2.45 per share beat an LSEG estimate of $2.32 per share, though revenue of $9.1 billion was below consensus. For Q2, the company sees EPS between $2.35 and $2.45, below a FactSet forecast of $2.56. Lululemon  The athleisure company fell more than 4% after it announced Heidi O'Neill as the new CEO. O'Neill will take over on Sept. 8. She previously has worked at Nike, Levi Strauss, Hyatt Hotels and Spotify. Nokia  Shares popped 11% after the company posted a slight beat on earnings and missed on revenue in its first quarter report. Its operating profit came in above expectations, and the telecommunications company added its tracking toward the higher end of its full year-guidance forecast. Mobileye Global  The autonomous driving tech company rallied 11% after it reported better-than-expected Q1 results. Mobileye earned an adjusted 12 cents per share on revenue of $558 million. Analysts polled by FactSet expected a profit of 8 cents per share on revenue of $519.9 million. Full-year revenue guidance was also better than expected. Avis Car Budget  The car rental company shed more than 5%, putting it on track to add to its massive 37.8% plunge from Wednesday. To be sure, the stock is still up more than 200% for the month. International Business Machines  The technology giant slipped 7% after IBM failed to raise its full-year guidance after posting an earnings beat. IBM reported first-quarter earnings of $1.91 per share, excluding items, beating forecasts of $1.81, according to LSEG. The company's $15.92 billion in revenue also came in above the expected $15.62 billion. Tesla  Shares fell more than 2% after CEO Elon Musk warned of substantial increases in capital spending to fund its self-driving and humanoid robot ambitions. Shares had climbed as much as 4% just after the electric vehicle maker posted first-quarter adjusted earnings of 41 cents per share, beating the 37 cents analysts polled by LSEG had expected. However, Tesla's $22.39 billion in revenue came in below the $22.64 billion consensus estimate. CSX  The transportation stock popped 4% after posting first-quarter earnings of 43 cents per share, beating the expected 39 cents analysts surveyed by FactSet had penciled in. However, CSX's $3.48 billion revenue came in slightly below the forecast $3.49 billion. Texas Instruments  The semiconductor stock soared 11% after it forecast that its current-quarter earnings would come in the range of $1.77 to $2.05 per share, versus the $1.57 consensus, according to LSEG. Similarly, it sees its revenue coming in between $5 billion to $5.4 billion, while analysts were anticipating $4.86 billion. Texas Instruments also posted a beat on both the top and bottom lines for its first quarter. Southwest Airlines  Shares fell 2.5% after the airline carrier posted first-quarter adjusted earnings of 45 cents per share and revenue of $7.20 billion, falling short of the 47 cents and $7.27 billion in revenue analysts were expecting, per FactSet. ServiceNow  The AI-powered software company reported first-quarter earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street expectations. However, shares tumbled more than 13% as the integration of recently acquired Armis weighed on its outlook. For the full year 2026, the company's subscription revenue should grow more than 22% to a range of $15.74 billion to $15.78 billion, including the Armis cybersecurity business. Previously, the company expected subscription revenue of $15.55 billion. Molina Healthcare  Shares of the managed healthcare company rose 2.9% after it reaffirmed its 2026 forecast. Molina earned $2.35 per share, excluding items, in the first quarter on revenue of $10.8 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet anticipated Molina would earn $1.90 per share on revenue of $10.87 billion. United Rentals  Shares jumped more than 13% after the equipment rental company boosted its full-year sales forecast to a range of $16.9 billion to $17.4 billion. The company said it sees momentum heading into its busiest season. Knight-Swift Transportation  The transport stock shed 4% after reporting first-quarter revenue of $1.85 billion, coming in below the $1.86 billion analysts were expecting, per FactSet. Operating income for the firm's last quarter came in at $49.8 million, while consensus estimates had called for $87 million.  CNBC's Lisa Kailai Han, Davis Giangiulio Christina Cheddar Berk contributed reporting.
New MCP Server, Skills, Agentic Coding Plugin, and Universal Agent Gateway (UAG) keep AI-generated applications on the rails for enterprise development teams.

DALLAS, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Form.io, the enterprise data platform trusted by regulated industries and government agencies worldwide, today announced the introduction of its Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, Skills, and Agentic Coding Plugin, adding to the existing Universal Agent Gateway (UAG). Together, this comprehensive purpose-built toolset brings schema-governed infrastructure to agentic coding environments. The release equips enterprise development teams with the tools to harness AI coding agents like Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf, while maintaining the architectural consistency, compliance posture, and data governance required by regulated organizations.

New MCP Server, Skills, Agentic Coding Plugin, and Universal Agent Gateway (UAG) keep AI-generated applications on the rails for enterprise development teams.

As agentic coding accelerates across the enterprise, organizations are discovering that velocity without standardization creates technical debt at an unprecedented pace. Applications generated across independent teams can diverge in architecture, data handling, and compliance posture  creating fragmentation at scale and introducing the need for additional resources and controls to manage the process. This ultimately undermines the efficiency gains of new agentic coding processes.

"Labor used to be the pain point for enterprises. Now it's chaos", said Heather Hornor, COO of Form.io. "Five teams solving the same problem, five different ways, without any standardization, because each AI agent made a different decision, is a problem. This problem isn't new, but it's surfacing faster and more disruptively than ever before. Thankfully, it's solvable at the infrastructure layer  where systems can be governed, monitored, and audited continuously over time. Form.io provides that layer, from development through runtime. And we're the only company delivering it inside the customer's own self-hosted development and runtime environments."

The Toolset

MCP Server : Connects to the customer's self-hosted Form.io deployment. AI coding agents receive governed access to read, create, and scaffold the full data layer  forms, resources, actions, APIs  without data leaving the enterprise security boundary.

: Connects to the customer's self-hosted Form.io deployment. AI coding agents receive governed access to read, create, and scaffold the full data layer  forms, resources, actions, APIs  without data leaving the enterprise security boundary. Skills : Platform specific guidance that teaches AI agents how to build applications leveraging Form.io  applying standardized compliance-ready data patterns by default instead of improvising per project.

: Platform specific guidance that teaches AI agents how to build applications leveraging Form.io  applying standardized compliance-ready data patterns by default instead of improvising per project. Agentic Coding Plugin: Integrates Form.io's MCP Server and Skills directly into the developer's coding environment, enabling AI agents to automatically trigger tools and apply standardized patterns based on prompt context. Coordinates interactions between MCP tools and Skills so complex, form-based applications can be built entirely within the agentic coding interface.

"This is the logical extension of the JSON-based, open-source platform we've been building for more than a decade," said Travis Tidwell, CTO and Co-founder of Form.io. "The same open architecture that made Form.io extensible for human developers makes it the natural foundation for agentic development processes."

The new build-time toolset operates independently from Form.io's Universal Agent Gateway (UAG), the company's runtime governance layer for production agentic workflows. Together, they provide enterprises with governance and auditability across the full lifecycle of agentic coded software  from the first prompt in a developer's Agentic Coding Plugin to the production workflows running in regulated environments.

For organizations adopting governed agentic coding, the Form.io MCP Server, Skills, Agentic Coding Plugin, and UAG are part of Form.io's enterprise-grade agentic coding toolset. Explore the full toolset at https://form.io/ai/

For agentic workflows in production, visit the Universal Agent Gateway at https://form.io/uag/

Enterprises can learn more, request a demo, or get started at form.io

About Form.io: Form.io is the enterprise application infrastructure platform where a single JSON schema governs everything a modern application needs  including data collection UIs, validation rules, workflow actions, data models, and auto-generated APIs with RBAC.

One schema. One source of truth. One governance layer. That's a form.

Form.io's self-hosted platform serves regulated industries and government agencies requiring architectural consistency, data sovereignty, and formal compliance  including central banking groups across the US, EU, and Australia, global government agencies, and leading organizations in healthcare, financial services, and insurance.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Visit form.io.

For press inquiries and additional information, please contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Form.io LLC
Donald Trump is seen on a TV screen below the graph showing the day's course of the DAX index at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on November 9, 2016 in Frankfurt, Germany.

One basis point is equal to 0.01%, and yields and prices move in opposite directions.

The 2-year Treasury note yield, which more closely tracks short-term Federal Reserve interest rate policy, was also up more than 3 basis points at 3.832%. The longer-dated 30-year Treasury bond yield added more than 1 basis point to 4.919%.

The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note  the key benchmark for U.S. government borrowing  rose more than 3 basis points to 4.325%.

Treasury yields moved higher on Thursday as tensions between the U.S. and Iran with the Strait of Hormuz reignited inflation fears.

On Thursday, U.S. forces seized a sanctioned tanker carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean. A day earlier, Iran's navy said that it had seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, casting doubt upon an already fragile ceasefire.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy said in a statement that it had seized the ships for what it claimed were maritime violations and transferred them to Iranian shores, according to state media. CNBC could not independently verify the claim.

The announcement came after U.K. maritime authorities said two ships had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported a third vessel had also been targeted by the country's military.

The attacks come shortly after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow for the Islamic Republic's leaders to submit a "unified proposal" to end the war.

Complicating the situation, however, was Iran's parliament speaker resigning from the negotiating team, according to Israel's N12 news. The report, which CNBC has not confirmed, boosted oil prices. Brent crude futures rose 3.1% to close at $105.07 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures gained 3.11% to settle at $95.85 per barrel.

 CNBC's Sam Meredith, Spencer Kimball and Jason Gewirtz also contributed to this report.
Canadian companies are turning towards making deals with China because of economic coercion from the U.S., according to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Speaking at CNBC's CONVERGE LIVE in Singapore on Thursday, Trudeau described a time when he said the U.S. and Europe "almost drove" Canada "into China's arms."

Canadian company Bombardier, which makes private jets, began building a commercial jet known as the C Series in 2008. But it was unable to sell the model to airlines because of pressure from Airbus , a European company and Boeing , a U.S. firm, Trudeau said.

Bombardier was approached by Chinese investors, who offered a "dump truck full of money" to buy the business, according to Trudeau. "Boeing and Airbus  that were busy trying to put Bombardier out of business because they didn't want Bombardier to be a contest  almost drove us into China's arms," Trudeau said.

Chinese investors offered a partnership with Bombardier in 2015 when talks about a potential Airbus merger fell apart. In 2017, Bombardier again turned to China for a deal after negotiations with Boeing over the C Series were unsuccessful.

At the G7 Summit in 2017, an annual meeting of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, Trudeau intervened, he said. "It took me around the G7 table in Sicily ... in 2017 saying to Macron and Merkel and Trump, you are driving us into Chinese pockets, into Chinese hands to protect jobs. They're willing to pay anything to get this," Trudeau told CONVERGE LIVE.
The Trump administration moved Thursday to reclassify cannabis under federal law, which could significantly expand scientific research into the drug's medical uses.

The change would not legalize the drug at the federal level, but shift cannabis from its current status as a Schedule I substance to Schedule III under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's controlled substances framework.

In a release, the Department of Justice said it will immediately move FDA-approved products containing marijuana along with items regulated by a state medical marijuana license to Schedule III. It also announced an expedited hearing in June to consider the formal reclassification of cannabis to Schedule I at the federal level.

"Together, these actions provide immediate and long-term clarity to researchers, patients, and providers alike while still maintaining strict federal controls against illicit drug trafficking," the DOJ said.

Drugs in Schedule I, which include heroin and LSD, are considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs, like Tylenol with codeine and testosterone, by contrast are recognized as having medical applications and are subject to fewer regulatory restrictions.

Reclassification lowers longstanding barriers that have made it difficult for researchers to study cannabis in clinical settings.

The financial implications are significant too. It would exempt cannabis companies from IRS Code Section 280E, allowing them to deduct standard expenses like rent and payroll for the first time, and opens the door for banking access that was previously barred.

Investors showed some skepticism over the move as cannabis stocks pulled back from early gains and turned negative. Critics are concerned the policy could create a two-track system for drug development that may allow developers to bypass the FDA process entirely in favor of state level pathways.

Still, the move marks one of the most significant federal shifts on marijuana policy in decades, signaling a growing willingness in Washington to reconsider how the drug is categorized and studied in the U.S.

The move could benefit companies like Tilray, which is known for recreational cannabis products but is expanding its medical segment. Tilray's medical business has served hundreds of thousands of patients across more than 20 countries, according to the company.

"We have the research to walk into the FDA. We have the research to walk into the DEA and show them what we've been doing," said Tilray CEO Irwin Simon.

Simon told CNBC he expects to hear from pharmaceutical companies interested in U.S. partnerships, similar to the wave of outreach from alcohol companies following the surge in demand for hemp-derived beverages.

Tilray currently partners with Novartis in Canada.

Scientists have faced strict approval processes, limited supply access and heavy compliance requirements when attempting to examine cannabis for therapeutic use, including chronic pain, PTSD and neurological disorders. Those federal barriers remained in place even as roughly half of states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and even more have approved it for medical use.

"While operators would still face a fragmented state-by-state system, the improved cash flow from rescheduling would support reinvestment, strengthen stability, and help build momentum for more consistent standards over time," said Wendy Bronfein, co-founder and chief brand officer at Curio Wellness, a Maryland-based cannabis company.

The action follows an executive order issued last year directing federal agencies to begin the reclassification process, which typically unfolds over several years and involves scientific review, interagency coordination and rulemaking procedures.

"This rescheduling is not the finish line  it is the final stage of a race we have been running for decades," said Shawn Hauser, partner at cannabis law firm Vicente LLP.

In 2024, the Biden administration started that process and put reclassification before the public for a 60-day comment period. After that window, hearings to review potential hurdles stalled in the handoff between administrations.

The move also comes just days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on psychedelics to accelerate research, clinical trials and "Right to Try" access for drugs like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine.
The Trump administration on Thursday accused Chinese entities of waging "industrial-scale campaigns" to rip off U.S. artificial intelligence systems, and said it will explore ways to hold the foreign actors accountable.

"There is nothing innovative about systematically extracting and copying the innovations of American industry," Michael Kratsios, the top science and technology advisor to President Donald Trump, said in a memo on alleged Chinese "distillation" operations to train smaller AI models off of larger ones.

The U.S. government has previously accused China of targeting American AI technology and intellectual property.

Kratsios warned that as it gets easier to detect and prevent large-scale "distillation" operations, the entities that "build their AI capabilities on such fragile foundations" should lose confidence in "the integrity and reliability of the models they produce."

U.S. information indicates that the campaigns to "distill" U.S. frontier AI systems are coming from mostly China-based entities, he said.

The efforts involve using tens of thousands of proxy accounts and jailbreaking techniques to secretly "expose proprietary information," Kratsios said.

Attempts to copy U.S. models through "surreptitious, unauthorized distillation campaigns" won't result in AI systems with the same performance as the originals, the advisor noted.

But they "enable foreign actors to release products that appear to perform comparably on select benchmarks at a fraction of the cost," he said.
President Donald Trump speaks during a health-care affordability event in the Oval Office of White House in Washington, April 23, 2026.

President Donald Trump on Thursday said Americans should anticipate paying higher gas prices "for a little while" as a result of the Iran war, without specifying a timeline.

But Trump said he is in no rush to make a peace deal with Tehran, while claiming the war has had less of an impact on both stocks and oil prices than he had expected.

"I have to be honest, the stock market is at an all-time high right now. I thought it would have been down 20, 25 percent," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office who had asked how much longer the war will last.

"I thought oil would go up to maybe $200 a barrel. And oil is a very different number than anyone thought," Trump said. "In fact, this country is much lower [than others] because we have all the oil we can use."

Brent oil futures rose about 3% on Thursday to close at $105.07 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate futures advanced around 3% to close at $95.85. Brent crude has surged to nearly $120 a barrel from about $72 a barrel the day before the war started.

Trump also asserted Thursday that temporarily higher prices will be rewarded with an eventual deal that keeps Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, with which they would "try and blow up one of our cities or blow up the entire Middle East."

Trump's confident remarks came as a large majority of Americans say they have cut spending due to pain at the pump, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic survey released Thursday morning.

The nationwide survey of 1,000 people found nearly 80% have changed their spending habits in response to pain at the pump. The poll was conducted from April 15 to 19 and has a margin of error of 3.1%.

Gas prices have surged more than 30% to top $4 per gallon since the war began, according to AAA.

A majority of the survey respondents also said they expect the higher prices to last at least six months.

Since the U.S. and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb. 28, the Trump administration has repeatedly said it expected the war will last around four to six weeks.

But with the conflict now nearing the end of its second month, Trump has tweaked the timeline.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio standing behind him, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 23, 2026.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following a meeting in the White House with top U.S. officials, President Donald Trump said Thursday.

"The Meeting went very well!" Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing the extension of the temporary truce.

"The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah," Trump wrote, referring to the Iran-backed militia group.

"The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS," he wrote.

The agreement provides breathing room for Israel and Lebanon to continue diplomacy by pushing off the looming expiration of an initial, 10-day ceasefire brokered last week.

Trump's post Thursday afternoon said that "High Ranking Representatives" of the two countries met with him, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa in the Oval Office.
U.S. Senate Republicans voted on Thursday to advance a $70 billion plan to fund the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agencies for the next three years, ignoring demands from Democrats for guardrails on immigration enforcement agents and their operations.

Lawmakers voted 50-48 in the predawn hours to adopt the non-binding budget resolution and send it to the U.S. House of Representatives, taking a crucial step forward in their effort to end a partial shutdown that has gripped the Department of Homeland Security since mid-February.

Two Republicans  Senators Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski  opposed the measure.

If adopted by the House, the resolution will allow congressional committees to begin filling in the details on how the $70 billion would be spent in separate legislation that President Donald Trump would have to sign into law. The new funding would be expected to run through Trump's presidency, which ends in January 2029.

With Democrats adamantly opposed to the funding initiative, Republicans plan to employ a rarely used procedure known as budget reconciliation in the separate legislation, which allows some budget-related bills to bypass Democratic opposition in the Senate.

Such measures require only a simple majority for passage in the 100-member chamber, instead of the usual supermajority of 60 votes or more. Republicans hold a 53-47 seat majority.

Funding for most of DHS ran out more than nine weeks ago, as Democrats pressed Republicans and the White House to accept new constraints on ICE and Border Patrol, which operate under the direction of DHS.

After two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Democrats insisted that ICE and Border Patrol be subject to the same operational rules as police forces across the United States, including a requirement that judicial warrants be obtained before agents can enter private homes.

But weeks of negotiations ended in a stalemate.

The Senate has since passed legislation to fund DHS operations other than ICE and Border Patrol. But the measure has stalled in the House, where hardline Republicans have demanded funding for those two entities as well.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heidi, the AI Care Partner for clinicians, today formally launched in South Africa after more than 15,000 clinicians across the country adopted the platform organically.

The launch follows a wave of clinician-led demand, as workforce shortages and mounting administrative burden push healthcare systems toward AI that works inside existing workflows, rather than alongside them.

That demand is now extending beyond individual clinicians into broader system adoption, with organisations including Intercare Group piloting the platform across its network and Fourways Veterinary Hospital deploying it within its clinical teams. Integrations with practice management systems including Practice Perfect and HealthFocus are enabling uptake without requiring changes to existing workflows - an early signal of how clinician-led usage is beginning to shape system-level adoption.

The shift comes as South Africa is projected to face a shortfall of nearly 97,000[1] health workers by 2030, with administrative load[2] a key contributor to burnout, particularly across public hospitals, emergency departments and rural clinics where time is most constrained.

Heidi sits directly inside clinical workflows, automating documentation and routine administrative tasks. The platform meets local healthcare governance and regulatory requirements, supports multiple languages, and works offline in low-connectivity environments.

"Adoption in South Africa has been almost entirely clinician-led," said Dr Tom Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Heidi. "Doctors are using it in real clinical settings, seeing the impact and recommending it to peers. That is what has driven us to more than 1.5 million consultations each month locally, with weekly active use growing 500% year-on-year.

"Our role now is to support that momentum with local infrastructure and partnerships. Globally, Heidi is already supporting more than 2.5 million consultations each week, and our mission is to double the world's healthcare capacity. Markets like South Africa, where the workforce gap is most acute, are where that mission matters most."

"To anchor the next phase of growth, Heidi has appointed Dr Calvin Howard to lead its South African operations, alongside Dr Michelle Yuan to drive customer success and deepen engagement with healthcare teams as adoption grows. Medical doctors by background, Dr Howard will oversee partnerships as adoption expands beyond individual users into healthcare organisations, while Dr Yuan will ensure teams embed Heidi seamlessly into their workflows.

"What stood out immediately was how naturally Heidi fits into South African clinical workflows. Its real impact is removing barriers to care. With support for local languages and offline capability, clinicians can capture every patient interaction, even in rural settings without connectivity. Heidi has taken the time to understand how care is actually delivered here and built accordingly. In a system under real pressure, that kind of practical innovation matters, and I'm proud to be part of improving both the clinician and patient experience."

Heidi's expansion into South Africa reflects a broader shift, as AI moves from experimental tooling to core infrastructure within healthcare systems under pressure.

About Heidi

Heidi is building an AI Care Partner, with a mission to double the world's healthcare capacity by supporting every stage of care delivery. In addition to its popular AI scribe, Heidi has introduced Evidence, giving clinicians access to trusted medical research to support clinical decisions at the point of care  and Comms, a calls function that enables healthcare teams to coordinate patient communications. Together, these capabilities support various aspects of the clinical workflow, enabling clinicians to focus on providing quality patient care.

Heidi supports more than 2.5 million consults each week in 110 languages from 190 countries. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Heidi has raised $96.6M USD from global investors including Point72 Private Investments, Blackbird, Headline, Phoenix Court's growth fund - Latitude, Possible Ventures, and Archangel. Heidi adheres to international standards including the NHS, HIPAA, GDPR, and Australian Privacy Principles, and has obtained enterprise-grade security certifications such as POPIA, SOC2 and ISO27001.

Learn more at heidihealth.com.

[1] 2030 Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategy [2] Africa Journal of Public Sector Development and Governance (2023)

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How a south China island balances conservation and tourism

Xinhua) 10:58, April 23, 2026

NANNING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- On a cloudless morning during the Spring Festival holiday, an 11-passenger speedboat hummed along at low throttle, slipping out of the harbor on Weizhou Island, a volcanic outcrop off the coast of Beihai in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Once known primarily as a quiet refuge of pristine beaches, the 24-square-kilometer island has become the unlikely center of an experiment in marine coexistence.

It did not take long for the passengers to find what they had come for. About 30 minutes into the excursion, the captain closed the engine. The boat drifted in silence, broken only by the gentle slap of water against the hull. Then came the sound -- a sharp and rhythmic whoosh as the dark, sleek dorsal fin of a Bryde's whale sliced the surface.

For the passengers, it was an awe-inspiring spectacle. But for local officials, it represented the payoff of nearly a decade of painstaking policy work, habitat restoration and careful engagement with the island's fishing community.

Bryde's whales -- a first-class protected species in China that can grow up to 15 meters long and weigh up to 20 tonnes -- had all but vanished from these waters for decades.

But now, this stretch of the gulf is the country's only known inshore site where the animals appear reliably each year, arriving in December and lingering until April.

The turning point came in 2018, when the region passed the Weizhou Island Ecological Protection Regulations, the first such statute expressly written to shield a single island's waters, beaches and core habitats.

The same year, researchers from Nanjing Normal University began a formal monitoring partnership with the local government after the first scientific sightings in April.

Data show that in 2022, local authorities invested more than 100 million yuan (about 14.6 million U.S. dollars) in a major coral-reef restoration project. What had been a struggling 2,000-square-meter patch of reef has since expanded more than 150-fold to 300,000 square meters. Fish populations multiplied more than sixfold, helping rebuild the marine food chain.

Monitoring data from the Nanjing Normal University team shows that the identifiable Bryde's whale population around Weizhou has grown from roughly 10 individuals in 2018 to more than 70 today, making it the largest known stable inshore group of its kind in the world.

In November 2025, the island's tourism authority and the university signed a long-term agreement to create a dedicated monitoring and technology center -- tangible proof, one official said, that policy here is now guided by science.

For the residents of Weizhou Island, the recovery of the Bryde's whale population has brought new opportunities to the local economy. Once a quiet outpost dominated by subsistence fishing and the uncertainties of the sea, Weizhou is now experiencing growth in its marine tourism sector, with whale-based tourism serving as a welcome addition.

Visitor numbers have surged, jumping from roughly 1.53 million in 2018 to more than 2.13 million in 2023 -- the first time the island crossed the two-million mark -- and rising further to 2.24 million in 2024, according to Beihai tourism authorities.

Whale-watching has turned the once-quiet winter off-season into a major attraction. During the 2026 Spring Festival, daily crowds exceeded 2,000, according to official data.

Liang Chunmei, head of Weizhou Township, said nearly 200 households still fish in the traditional way. Many of them help guard the whales. But the promise of reliable income has proved irresistible for some.

A former fisherman who goes by the name Azhen once spent weeks at sea for a modest catch, but now works as a whale-watching guide. "The switch is about stability," he said. "With the whales here, the 'harvest' is more consistent. As long as the weather cooperates, the tourists will just keep coming."

Local government and professional tourism operators have tried to manage the whale-based tourism boom responsibly.

Two community-run speedboat "clubs" have folded independent boat owners into a single professional fleet, said Liu Haiming, a deputy general manager of a local tourism operator. "And all tours now run through a unified booking platform with fixed prices -- 298 yuan per person in the regular season, 398 yuan during major national holidays -- and follow national maritime safety rules that ban reckless 'whale chasing.'"

The island has also built the country's first Bryde's whale science education center with help from Nanjing Normal University and a Beijing-based environmental foundation.

"It is now mandatory for tourists to sit through briefings delivered by trained staffers before every trip, explaining the mammals' biology and the rules of respectful watching," said Liu, who noted that the aim of the practice is to turn spectators into participants in the conservation efforts.

However, striking the right balance between conservation and economic growth remains fairly challenging.

The effort was tested in early 2026 when a local fishing boat returning from a fishing run accidentally grazed the back of a medium-sized whale. The injury was not fatal, and the whale is now on the path to full recovery. Shortly after the incident, local authorities suspended all whale-watching tours on March 15 until further notice.

The episode highlighted the inherent friction between humans and marine animals in shared busy waters.

Studies show that whales are acoustic creatures, and the constant humming of boat engines can interfere with nursing and feeding, even if no physical contact occurs.

"The issue is that their activity zones have no borders and often overlap with high-traffic areas where humans live and work," said Liang.

Protecting "fenceless" patches of ocean is a daunting task for the island's overstretched authorities.

The Weizhou fisheries and marine law enforcement team oversees roughly half of Beihai's sea area and is responsible for policing more than 900 local vessels, plus occasional "migrant" trawlers from neighboring provinces.

"Sometimes, we are like a police car trying to stop a massive heavy-duty truck," said one law enforcement official, describing the difficulty of intercepting large 40-meter trawlers that sometimes stray into the whales' core habitat with limited staffing and equipment.

To tighten control, the local government has rolled out upgraded electronic "fencing" and real-time vessel tracking. New rules also require boats to drop to idle or minimal engine power within 100 meters of a whale sighting, impose strict speed limits, and cap the number of vessels allowed in protected zones to prevent overcrowding.

"Bryde's whales choosing to come here to feed and raise their young is a vote of confidence for our ecosystem," said an official from the local environmental protection bureau. "This is not protection for protection's sake, it is protection that creates jobs and ensures future generations can see the same whales their grandparents once took for granted."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hippo (NYSE: HIPO) today announced the appointment of its current Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer and former Chief Financial Officer, Stewart Ellis, to the Company's Board of Directors effective June 3rd, 2026. In connection with his transition to a Board role, Mr. Ellis will resign from his current position and become a consultant to the Company, effective May 1st, 2026.

Stewart Ellis

"Stewart has been an invaluable member of the Hippo leadership team for the past seven years," said Rick McCathron, President and CEO of Hippo. "During that time, he built a world-class finance team, oversaw our transition from a private to public company, led several strategic acquisitions and divestitures, and was a core partner to both me and the Board in defining our vision and strategy. I could not be more excited that Stewart wants to continue to be part of what we are building at Hippo."

Before joining Hippo as its Chief Financial Officer in 2019, Mr. Ellis served as Chief Financial Officer at Activehours (d/b/a Earnin), a mobile fintech company, from April 2017 to February 2019; as Chief Financial Officer at BloomReach, Inc., an enterprise software company, from July 2012 to April 2017; and as Vice President, Finance, and other roles, of 23andMe, Inc. from September 2008 to July 2012. Mr. Ellis holds a bachelor's degree with a concentration in Economics from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar.

"Working with Hippo's leadership team over the past seven years to build the Company into what it is today has been one of the highlights of my career," said Mr. Ellis. "As we continue building toward our long-term vision, I'm thrilled to join my colleagues on Hippo's Board to support that journey."

About Hippo

Hippo is a technology-native insurance group that uses its carrier platform to diversify risk across both personal and commercial lines. Through the Hippo Homeowners Insurance Program, the company applies deep industry expertise and advanced underwriting to deliver proactive, tailored coverage for homeowners. Hippo Holdings Inc. subsidiaries include Hippo Insurance Services, Spinnaker Insurance Company, Spinnaker Specialty Insurance Company, and Wingsail Insurance Company. Hippo Insurance Services is a licensed property casualty insurance agent with products underwritten by various affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies. For more information, please visit http://www.hippo.com.

Contacts

Investors:

Charles Sebaski

[email protected]

Press:

Mark Olson

[email protected]

SOURCE Hippo Holdings Inc.
A Top Washington State Tourist Destination, Poulsbo, Washington, Honors Norwegian Heritage with Scandinavian Design Led by Local Developer Kelly Clark in the Development of the Eliason Building Built in 1908 on Front Street.

POULSBO, Wash., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Local developer and owner of Chinook Contractors, Kelly Clark, has announced the completion of the rebuild and addition of the Eliason Building on Front Street in Poulsbo, Washington with the goal of enhancing and further beautifying the city he has come to love.

The project aims to revitalize a neglected corner site on busy Front St. with a mixed-use development that includes 14,000 square of feet of residential and 10,000 square feet of retail and a restaurant. It is a vibrant community overlooking Liberty Bay, with strong historical, Nordic roots that welcomes locals and tourists alike.

One of the early founders of Poulsbo, Washington was Jorgen Eliason, a Norwegian immigrant. Other Scandinavian immigrants also joined, drawn to the area's similar landscape, resources and opportunities. Although the community was suggested to be named "Paulsbo" in 1886, a misspelling by Washington D.C. officials resulted in the name becoming "Poulsbo." Poulsbo was officially incorporated as a City in 1907. Jorgen built the original Eliason building that same year.

Clark purchased the Eliason Building in 2020 and construction began in August 2023. It was important to Clark that the project keep a Scandinavian feel and the same character of the original 1907 Eliason Building. Clark hired Travis McDanald from Wattenbarger Architects to help accomplish the goal of retaining the character. They used different concrete architectural trims and stonework on the commercial storefronts to establish the look of individual buildings as you might see in the old towns of Norway.

"We can't wait to bring more life back to this section of the downtown area, which is a wonderful location and deserves a more modern hub of activity that will contribute to the beauty of Poulsbo," said Clark, Owner of Chinook Contractors.

According to Clark, there was a definite need for luxury style apartments downtown. These 14 apartment residences were designed at a level of quality that you might find if you were purchasing a condominium in downtown Poulsbo.

"The comprehensive renovation of the historic Eliason Building exemplifies the elevated standard of thoughtful site and building design that Poulsbo's downtown aspires to. By honoring its heritage while introducing inspiring architectural elements and vibrant mixed-use living, this project sets a new benchmark for livability and character in the heart of downtown Poulsbo," said Nikole Coleman, AICP, Planning Manager, City of Poulsbo.

The project is on a prominent corner on the south end of Front Street. The Builder developed a small park plaza that will house a life-size bronze sculpture of an 18th century Scandinavian fisherman holding Pacific Codfish while standing in the bow of his boat. The sculpture was done by Caswell Sculpture. The park creates a gathering space and a fun spot for photo opportunities. The fisherman sculpture is planned to enhance the first impression of Poulsbo for visitors arriving by boat or land.

"The Planning and Economic Development Department views the Eliason Building as a defining example of how intentional design can enhance both the function and aesthetic of our downtown core. Its scale, materials, and pedestrian-oriented features reflect the kind of context-sensitive development that will guide and inspire future projects in downtown Poulsbo," said Coleman.

To ensure there will be pedestrian connectivity, Clark created a boardwalk that meanders through the project. This helps direct traffic through the retail spaces, commercial spaces, and the parking garage.

The Eliason Building has significant historical value in Poulsbo. The building has survived various challenges, including a nearby fire, and is one of the last wood buildings on that side of the street. Clark has even reclaimed wood from the former structure for use in the new project.

Media Contact:

Frank Tortorici

Marketing Maven

(908) 875-8908

[email protected]

SOURCE Chinook Contractors
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Community-focused credit union expands access to education-driven investment guidance for members across Michigan

SAN DIEGO, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cetera Financial Institutions has partnered with Honor Credit Union to support the growth of its investment services program, Honor Investment Services*. Alongside Cetera, Honor is introducing a new approach to help people access investment guidance and learn about their financial options.

Honor Credit Union Partners with Cetera Financial Institutions

As a not-for-profit credit union serving over 105,000 members throughout Michigan with approximately $1.8 billion1 in member assets on deposit, Honor is committed to helping individuals and families improve their financial well-being while supporting local communities. This partnership with Cetera reflects that focus by broadening Honor's investment services and creating new opportunities to plan for the future. These services are now available to current Honor members and new members through Honor Investment Services at honorinvestmentservices.com or by visiting a local Honor Credit Union branch.

Honor Investment Services chose Cetera because of the firm's experience working with credit unions and banks nationwide. Through this partnership, Honor Investment Services will participate in Cetera's GrowthLine program, which provides tools and support to help expand investment services and connect more people with financial guidance.

"Helping our members build strong financial futures has always been central to who we are as a credit union," said Scott McFarland, CEO of Honor Credit Union. "Partnering with Cetera helps us enhance our investment services program so we can provide members with even greater access to trusted financial guidance and support at every stage of life."

"We're confident about helping Honor Investment Services reach their business and member-service goals because we're drawing on our deep experience activating managed programs with banks and credit unions across the country," said LeAnn Rummel, President and CEO of Cetera Investment Services. "Cetera is passionate about delivering managed programs to institutions like Honor Credit Union because the flexible programs align tightly with the member-first culture at the heart of the credit union's core beliefs."

For 41 years, Cetera has provided unmatched knowledge and award-winning technology and tools to help financial institutions deliver trusted investment experiences that help people work toward their financial goals.

Together, Cetera and Honor Investment Services look forward to creating more ways for people to access guidance and plan their financial futures with confidence.

Visit Cetera Financial Institutions for more information.

About Cetera

Cetera Financial Group (Cetera) is the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub, empowering independent advisors and institutions with personalized support, flexible affiliation models, and end-to-end growth solutions. Home to approximately 12,000 financial professionals and institutions, Cetera's multi-channel ecosystem enables financial professionals to grow, scale or transition their businesses on their own terms.

Unlike traditional IBDs, Cetera offers true choice  blending modern technology, integrated wealth solutions, and a community-driven culture. Cetera's five-channel model and commitment to long-term advisor value provide a scalable blueprint for consistent, repeatable growth.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, Cetera firms manage approximately $640 billion in assets under administration and $294 billion in assets under management. Its Voice of the Customer program has captured more than 40,000 advisor reviews, with over 40,000 five-star ratings, giving Cetera a 4.8 out of 5 satisfaction score.

Learn more at www.cetera.com and follow Cetera on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X.

Cetera Financial Group (Cetera) is a network of independent retail firms, including those that are members of FINRA/SIPC: Cetera Advisors LLC; Cetera Wealth Services, LLC (formerly known as Cetera Advisor Networks); Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors); and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. Entities registered as investment advisers with the Securities and Exchange Commission include Cetera Investment Management LLC and Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Cetera's principal office is located at 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.

Avantax Planning Partners, Inc., is an SEC registered investment adviser within the Aretec Group, Inc. (dba Cetera Holdings, an affiliate of CFG). All the referenced entities are under common ownership.

Cetera exclusively provides investment products and services through its representatives. Although Cetera does not provide tax or legal advice, or supervise tax, accounting or legal services, Cetera representatives may offer these services through their independent outside businesses. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice.

*Honor Investment Services is a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Investments are not NCUA/NCUSIF insured, may lose value, are not guaranteed by the financial institution, are not deposits and are not insured by any federal government agency.

About Honor Credit Union

Honor Credit Union is a not-for-profit, full-service financial institution serving more than 105,000 members in 28 branch communities throughout western and northern Michigan. Providing solutions for financial success and giving back to the communities it serves remain the driving forces behind Honor Credit Union. For more information, call 800.442.2800 or visit www.honorcu.com.

Investments are: *Not FDIC/NCUSIF insured * May lose value * Not financial institution guaranteed * Not a deposit * Not insured by any federal government agency.

1Member assets on deposit reflect total shares and deposits as reported by the Honor Credit Union 2025 Annual Report (year ended December 31, 2025).

SOURCE Cetera Financial Group
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ALPHARETTA, Ga., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What is the best coating for church exteriors in Georgia, and how can community buildings maintain their appearance for decades instead of years? A HelloNation article by Jeff Ecklund of Rhino Shield by Georgia Coatings, Inc. in Alpharetta answers these questions by explaining how ceramic coating systems provide long-term paint protection for churches, condominiums, and homeowners' association properties throughout Georgia.

Jeff Ecklund - Owner- Rhino Shield by Georgia Coatings, Inc. Speed Speed

The article explains that large community buildings face far greater environmental stress than single-family homes. Georgia's strong sun, high humidity, and heavy rainfall can cause conventional paints to deteriorate quickly, leading to fading, mildew growth, and peeling. Painting Expert Jeff Ecklund notes that these effects make well-kept properties appear neglected far sooner than expected. Choosing an advanced ceramic coating system can change that outcome completely.

The HelloNation feature begins by describing how building scale and exposure affect performance. Smaller homes can be repainted more often with minimal disruption, but large churches, condos, and HOA-managed properties need coating systems that last significantly longer. Frequent repainting on tall or expansive surfaces is both costly and impractical. For this reason, property managers and building boards increasingly turn to ceramic coatings engineered to perform for decades.

Before application, preparation remains essential. The article emphasizes that every exterior surface should be pressure-washed to remove dirt, mildew, and remnants of old paint. Cracks and joints must then be sealed using flexible exterior-grade caulking rather than rigid masonry fillers. This change reflects an important update since caulking moves with the structure, preventing cracks from reopening and stopping water from infiltrating beneath the coating. Once cleaned and sealed, the surface should be primed with a high-bond masonry primer that ensures excellent adhesion.

Painting Expert Jeff Ecklund explains that ceramic coatings provide unmatched performance advantages over conventional paints. These coatings combine flexibility and strength, forming a breathable protective film that blocks liquid water while allowing water vapor to escape. This breathability prevents trapped moisture, one of the main causes of blistering or peeling in Georgia's humid climate. The ceramic particles in the coating increase durability, reflect sunlight, and keep exterior surfaces cooler, reducing heat stress on large walls.

Because of their composition, ceramic coatings resist fading, chalking, and UV degradation even under Georgia's intense sunlight. Churches with tall facades or HOA properties with long street-facing walls maintain consistent color and sheen far longer than with ordinary latex paints. Coastal condominiums benefit from enhanced salt and moisture resistance, while inland properties experience less mildew growth. A well-applied ceramic coating preserves color, prevents cracking, and significantly extends the time between repaint cycles, often lasting well beyond a decade.

Ultraviolet exposure is one of the biggest causes of coating failure in the Southeast. To address this, the HelloNation article explains that ceramic coatings use inorganic pigments that resist UV breakdown. This keeps colors vibrant even after years of exposure and helps property managers maintain visual consistency across multiple buildings. With color stability, touch-ups and additions blend seamlessly, reducing visible variations caused by sun fading.

Flexibility is another crucial advantage. As Georgia buildings heat up during the day and cool at night, they naturally expand and contract. Standard paints can crack or peel under this constant movement. Ceramic coatings stretch microscopically with the substrate, maintaining a tight bond and smooth surface. This makes them particularly effective on stucco, concrete, fiber cement, and metal surfaces commonly found in large-scale residential and institutional buildings.

The HelloNation article also addresses cost efficiency. While the initial investment in a ceramic coating system may be higher than traditional paint, the long-term savings are substantial. Repainting a church or condominium complex can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Extending the repaint cycle from five years to fifteen or more means lower maintenance costs, less downtime, and a consistently appealing appearance.

For church facilities, aesthetics carry deep significance. Congregations value the look of their sanctuaries, educational spaces, and fellowship halls as expressions of care and pride. A long-lasting, color-stable coating safeguards that image. Likewise, condominium and HOA boards prioritize durability because it preserves property values and helps keep maintenance budgets predictable.

Proper application is key to realizing these benefits. Contractors must follow manufacturer recommendations for surface moisture, temperature, and coating thickness. Applying too thin a layer reduces protection, while overly thick layers can interfere with breathability. When applied under ideal conditions, the coating cures into a durable, flexible finish that resists peeling and weathering for many years.

Maintenance for ceramic-coated structures is straightforward. Annual washing with mild detergent removes pollen, dirt, and mildew before they can stain. Small chips can be touched up using the same coating material, preserving consistency. Because ceramic coatings do not chalk heavily, they retain a clean, uniform color and sheen for long periods. Property managers appreciate the reduced maintenance burden and fewer repair cycles.

In Georgia's mix of heat, moisture, and storm conditions, ceramic coatings have proven to be the most practical long-term solution for community buildings. They deliver durability, breathability, and UV protection that standard paints cannot match. When applied over a properly prepared and caulked surface, they help large properties stay bright, protected, and structurally sound for decades instead of years.

As Painting Expert Jeff Ecklund explains in the HelloNation feature, a well-chosen ceramic coating system not only improves appearance but also protects a building's integrity and reduces its life-cycle costs. Churches, condominiums, and HOAs across Georgia benefit from coatings that adapt to the state's tough climate while minimizing future maintenance needs.

Long-Term Paint Protection for Churches, Condos, & HOAs features insights from Jeff Ecklund, Painting Expert of Alpharetta, GA, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation
What kind of cases do you want to read more about? Let us know at: crimedesk@dailymail.co.uk

To get a free exclusive article on what has happened to Fred and Rosemary West's children, more than 30 years after 'house of horrors' was found, sign up to our newsletter HERE

The son of a pregnant British woman found dead in a Ghanaian hotel bathtub in mysterious circumstances has recalled the moment he was told his mother had died.

The body of Charmain Speirs, 41, was discovered in Koforidua in 2015, two days after her husband Eric Adusah, a Christian preacher from Ghana, had returned to the UK.

Local police arrested Mr Adusah on suspicion of murder but the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence and he has always denied involvement in her death.

A post-mortem examination in Ghana gave the cause of death as a heroin overdose and a second post-mortem eight months later in the UK found no evidence of assault.

Investigations into the death of Ms Speirs, who grew up in Arbroath, then came to a halt when a coroner recorded an open verdict at an inquest in Essex in 2016.

Now, a decade later a new BBC Disclosure documentary called 'Charmain and the Prophet' has reinvestigated the evidence and spoken to those who knew Ms Speirs  including her son Isaac, who talks about the moment he learned of her death.

In an exclusive clip shared with the Daily Mail, Isaac says: 'We were just sitting there for five or ten minutes in just silence. I remember my dad told me that she was dead.

'The first thing I said was 'you're joking'. He's like 'I'm not joking'. I just kept repeating 'you're joking'. No father should have to tell his son his mum's died.'

Charmain Speirs and Eric Adusah on their wedding day in 2014 with her son Isaac, then seven

Isaac, now 19, son of Charmain Speirs, recalls the moment he was told his mother had died

Isaac, 19, also accused Adusah of hitting him and his mother, saying: 'I could hear my mum screaming and crying. And he came into my room trying to hit me.

What became of Fred and Rose West's children? Hi, I'm Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk. It was over 30 years ago that Fred and Rose West's 'house of horrors' was found - but have you ever wondered what happened to their children? Some live in fear, others have happy lives. We have all the information. Sign up here to get our exclusive piece for free.

'My mum stood between me and him and he ended up punching her in the face. He called himself a prophet. What prophet would hit their wife? What prophet would lay a finger on a child? I don't think any prophet would do something like that.

'The way he talked to my mum, the way he treated her, he wasn't a prophet. He was an evil human being. He didn't deserve a fraction of the praise he got in that church.'

Isaac claimed Adusah controlled 'every aspect' of his mother's life including her phone, money, clothes, eating habits and 'happiness'  accusing him of 'dictating her life'.

The series, available on iPlayer, also claims to have uncovered a significant omission from Adusah's account of what happened at the hotel where Ms Speirs died.

Ms Speirs moved to Glasgow aged 19 where she worked in shops, restaurants and bars, before moving to Swansea aged 30 to study photojournalism.

She gave birth to Isaac in 2007 as a single mother and met Adusah in spring 2014 through a Christian dating website. They quickly married in September that year.

She became known as the 'First Lady' at Adusah's Global Light Revival Church, and had a celebrity status within the congregation as the wife of a 'prophet'.

Eric Adusah and Charmain Speirs, who was found dead in a bath in her hotel room in Ghana

Charmain Speirs became known as the 'First Lady' at Adusah's Global Light Revival Church, and had a celebrity status within the congregation as the wife of 'prophet' Eric Adusah

The church has three sites in Walthamstow, East London; Dublin and Maryland in the US - where Adusah now lives with his new wife and children.

But soon after the wedding, Ms Speirs confided in her mother Linda Speirs that their marriage was already in difficulty and she was planning to move home.

However, Ms Speirs flew out to Ghana and was found dead at the Mac-Dic Royal Plaza Hotel after she did not check out at midday on March 20, 2015, as scheduled.

According to police records, Adusah was the last known person to see her alive  and said they went for lunch before visiting the pool and returning to their hotel room.

Adusah claimed to have left the hotel after midnight to travel to Accra for a meeting at 6am before flying back to the UK, but Ms Speirs wanted to stay longer in Ghana.

However, a witness working at the hotel that night claimed two tall men, one of whom had a briefcase, arrived with Adusah late at night and went to their room.

The men were said to have stayed for up to one hour before helping Adusah put bags into his car  and Adusah left the hotel at 1am after telling staff not to disturb her.

Charmain Speirs met Eric Adusah through a Christian dating website and they quickly married

Eric Adusah cries as he leaves an inquest into his wife's death in Chelmsford, Essex, in 2016

Adusah never mentioned the men to detectives in Ghana, with police documents confirming witnesses reported the presence of three men.

Two of those men were tracked down and confirmed they knew Adusah through his ministry and were present that night  but claimed to have been praying in the room.

A third man appears to have never been traced. Adusah claimed he was meeting a reverend in Accra, but the BBC found this man  and he did not corroborate the story.

Ms Speirs's medical cause of death was recorded at Chelmsford Coroner's Court as acute opiate poisoning, but insufficient evidence for any possible conclusion as to how heroin entered her body meant the inquest finished with an open conclusion.

Adusah, who now lives in Maryland under the name Eric Isaiah Kusi Boateng, was contacted for comment by the Daily Mail through his church.

He told the BBC he suffered 'severe emotional distress' from the probe and attempts to question him, and 'profound personal trauma' after losing his wife and child.

The three-part BBC Disclosure documentary 'Charmain and the Prophet' next airs on BBC One on Monday at 8pm. The full series is available on BBC iPlayer now
The ex-wife of Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has moved her bedroom into the kill room where he tortured, murdered and dismembered several of his victims inside their family home.

In a bizarre moment in the Peacock documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets, Asa Ellerup reveals her decision to begin sleeping in the basement after learning that seven women died at the hands of her husband of almost three decades in that very space.

Ellerup says that she wants to show how sorry she is for the victims, but also wants to get to know the other side of the man she loves - the side which hunted and murdered vulnerable women for 17 years.

I have seen Rex about 12 times since he confessed to me that he had dismembered these bodies down here, she says.

I want to get to know the other side of Rex. I want to know why Rex killed these women, what his triggers were.

I am processing the information in a very different way because now I see evil in him.

The show reveals that Ellerup moved into the basement room one month before Heuermann changed his plea to guilty for the murders of seven women and admitted to the murder of an eighth woman during a court hearing in Suffolk County, Long Island, on April 8.

Between 1993 to 2010, the 62-year-old had masqueraded as an architect and married father-of-two all the while leading a double life as a sadistic serial killer.

Asa Ellerup is seen in the basement of their family home before she tried to renovate him

Asa Ellerup and Rex Heuermann were married for more than two decades and lived in the home where he lured and killed his victims

He kept up the pretense even to his own family for decades before he was finally arrested in July 2023.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney exclusively told the Daily Mail earlier this week how Heuermann killed seven of his eight victims - Karen Vergata, 34, Valerie Mack, 24, Jessica Taylor, 20, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Costello, 27 - inside the basement of their Massapequa Park home while Ellerup and the children were out of town on vacation.

The only exception was his first known victim Sandra Costilla, 28, who he murdered in his Ram Charger in November 1993.

At the time of Costilla's murder, Heuermann had recently separated from his first wife and was not married to Ellerup.

He then killed his second known victim, Karen Vergata, just days before he married Ellerup in 1996, while she was pregnant with their daughter Victoria.

Vergata's murder began his meticulous pattern of luring women inside the home, where he held them for some length of time, tortured and strangled them.

As well as the seven women being murdered inside the home, Vergata, Mack and Taylor were also dismembered there between 1996 and 2003.

The extent of the horrors that unfolded there is something only Heuermann fully knows.

Heuermann's family was out of town at the time of the murders and neither they nor any neighbors noticed what was taking place when the serial killer was home alone.

But a planning document, found on a hard drive during a search and presented as evidence in court filings, has shone a light on some of the depravity.

Described as Heuermanns blueprint for selecting, killing and disposing of victims, it includes sections such as 'body prep' detailing how to clean and dismember bodies and remove tattoos, as well as lists of supplies and tools for use in his crimes.

Rex Heuermann's Massapequa Park home where he murdered seven of the eight victims

Law enforcement on the scene of Rex Heuermann's home following his arrest in July 2023

As well as raising his own children, Victoria Heuermann and Christopher Sheridan, inside the ranch-style house, Heuermann had grown up there with his parents and siblings. The basement room where he committed the murders was once his childhood bedroom.

Yet, after buying it from his elderly mother, the professional architect let the house fall into disrepair - the property becoming an oddity among the well-kept suburban family homes with picket fences that line the rest of the street.

Despite divorcing him days after his arrest as the Gilgo Beach serial killer, Ellerup continued to stand by her husband and refused to believe he could be the serial killer for years.

In the new Peacock show, she now reveals that she has finally accepted the truth after he confessed to her in a jailhouse meeting last August.

The brutal truth is that Rex Heuermann said he dismembered the bodies in this room. That is the brutal truth, she says, sitting in the basement.

Now, theres me. I am in this room. And I am here because I do feel spiritual. Im trying to say spiritually in my own way that I am really sorry for what these victims went through.

Despite her efforts to renovate the basement - saying she has completely gutted and redone it with new floors, doors and moldings - Ellerup says she is haunted by her husbands crimes.

Every night when I go to sleep I am haunted by dreams. Every night, she says.

It will never go away. It will follow me for the rest of my life. There will never be any justice for anyone and there will never be any way to forget about this.

The victims clockwise from top left: Sandra Costilla, Karen Vergata, Melissa Barthelemy, Valerie Mack, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Jessica Taylor

Throughout the show, Ellerup is seen wrestling with her new reality that she was married to a serial killer for 29 years.

Ellerup was 18 and working in a 7-Eleven when she first met Heuermann.

By this point, she had endured a difficult upbringing. She was adopted from Iceland. And during her teenage years, she was sexually assaulted and attempted suicide.

Both she and Heuermann then had brief marriages to other people.

Ellerup has said that her first marriage did not go well at all after her son Christopher was born and Heuermann became her hero who helped her through her divorce and took her and Christopher into his home.

Alison Winter, a psychotherapist and family counsellor who has been working with Heuermann, Ellerup and Victoria since his arrest, tells Peacock that Heuermann had such a big influence on her that she would never believe he was guilty unless she heard it from him.

It is revealed that Heuermann admitted to his attorney back in 2024 that he was guilty of the allegations and negotiated with prosecutors a plea condition that he be allowed to privately meet with both Ellerup and Victoria one-on-one to confess his crimes in person before it was made public.

In August 2025, Ellerups meeting with her husband took place.

During it, he admitted to her that he had murdered eight women, including the seven inside their home, she tells the documentary.

Rex Heuermann and Asa Ellerup at their 1996 wedding - days after he murdered Karen Vergata

Heuermann allegedly told her that none of the murders were planned, yet he told others that all but Costilla's was.

Vergata - the first woman he admitted he had planned to kill - was murdered when Ellerup was two months pregnant with Victoria and had flown to Sweden with Christopher.

Heuermann murdered Vergata, dismembered her and dumped her remains in two locations: Fire Island and Ocean Parkway. He then flew out to Sweden to join Ellerup and Christopher and they married there on April 13, 1996.

In the show, Ellerup is heard speaking on the phone to Heuermann inside prison, asking if that was his first planned event and saying how she had gone in hand with a wedding dress to Sweden. Yet, during the call, Ellerup then voices concerns that 'I might scare you off.

Despite coming to terms with the fact that the man she spent her life with and raised children with is a serial killer, it emerges that Ellerup continues to visit him in prison and sees him no differently to the man she thought she knew.

I am looking at him no differently than I ever saw him. That hasn't changed in my view at all, she says.

When her attorney Bob Macedonio questions that there is a whole side of him you never knew, Ellerup simply says that is a new side to get to know.

Pressed on how and why she would do that, she says by visiting him in prison and that she has an interest from a psychological standpoint.

Prosecutors have long maintained that Ellerup knew nothing of her husbands crimes.

Asa Ellerup speaks outside court after her former husband pleaded guilty to the murders of seven women and admitted an eighth

In an interview with the Daily Mail, DA Tierney said the relationship dynamic between the couple was not typical, with the serial killer controlling all aspects of their home life and finances.

Normally with offenders, especially when there is obsessive behavior, they don't tend to associate themselves with people who are very suspicious, Tierney said this week.

He pointed out that, in typical relationships, spouses tend to know about each others finances and whereabouts - but this didnt seem to be the case in their marriage.

I don't think that was the dynamic in this particular relationship, Tierney said. Rex liked to control. He controlled the finances. He really controlled everything. I don't think that their dynamic was typical.

Fears of a serial killer first emerged back in 2010 when the remains of the first of 11 bodies were discovered along the remote stretch of Ocean Parkway, close to Gilgo Beach.

The harrowing discovery came during a search for 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert, who had made a chilling 911 call and then disappeared following a visit to a client's house in nearby Oak Park that May.

That December, Barthelemy's remains were the first to be found. Within days, Brainard-Barnes, Waterman and Costello were found close by.

By the spring of 2011, 10 victims had been found in the area. The final victim found was Gilbert, who, to this day, investigators maintain died by accident and is not linked to the serial killer case.

Another 13 years would pass before a suspect fell on investigators' radar, after Tierney entered office and launched the Gilgo Beach Task Force comprising multiple law enforcement agencies.

The family together before Heuermann's arrest on suspicion of being a serial killer

We now know that between 1993 and 2010, Heuermann murdered eight women, dumping many of their remains on Gilgo Beach. But are there still more victims?

Heuermann was ultimately tied to the serial killings through a witness tip about his pickup truck as well as damning cellphone evidence and was arrested in July 2023.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, Heuermann fought the allegations while new murder charges mounted.

In a sudden reversal, he changed his plea to guilty on all seven murders for which he was charged - and also admitted to the murder of an eighth victim, Karen Vergata.

For the first time, he revealed how all of the women died by strangulation.

Under the plea agreement, Heuermann has waived all rights to appeal and will not face any additional charges over the eight murders. He has also agreed to cooperate with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.

He faces multiple life sentences at his sentencing on June 17.
DNA is being sought for testing for the very first time in the unsolved Black Dahlia case - almost 80 years on from the chilling murder of Elizabeth Short.

In December, the Daily Mail revealed in a world exclusive that two of the most notorious unsolved cases in history had been linked to one suspect through an explosive cold case investigation.

In January 1947, Los Angeles was rocked by the grisly murder of aspiring starlet Short when her mutilated body was found dumped in a vacant lot, severed in two at the waist and a smile carved into her cheeks.

Two decades later in the late-1960s, the Zodiac killer then reared its head, killing at least five victims in random attacks while leading police on a cat-and-mouse game with terrifying letters and cryptic codes.

Following a years-long probe, investigative consultant Alex Baber concluded that Marvin Margolis - a late military veteran and father - was the perpetrator behind both haunting crimes.

And since then, the investigation - and law enforcement involvement - has snowballed.

During a panel at the Daily Mail-sponsored Hamptons Whodunit festival in East Hampton, New York, Baber, Daily Mail Senior Correspondent Kayla Brantley and The Crime Desk US Editor Rachel Sharp discussed the inside story of the bombshell investigation - and revealed explosive new developments that could finally close these cases once and for all.

Watch the panel in full here:
The mother of a woman who claimed she was driven to suicide by her husband's coercive behaviour is planning to 'pursue' the mental health services she believes failed her daughter, the Daily Mail's The Trial UK podcast has revealed.

Tarryn Baird was found by police after she took her own life aged 34 at her home in Swindon, Wiltshire, on November 28, 2017.

Her husband Chris Trybus, 43, was cleared by a jury on April 22, 2026, of manslaughter, controlling and coercive behaviour and two counts of rape in relation to Ms Baird.

The verdict came following a trial at Winchester Crown Court, in which a series of explosive evidence was presented by both sides.

Mr Trybus had been accused of an extensive and escalating pattern of controlling, coercive and manipulative behavior by his late wife.

The Trial UK co-host Caroline Cheetham said: 'The allegation was that Taryn Baird, a woman in her 30s, was being controlled by her husband.

'The allegations were he limited her access to money. He was violent. He hit her more than once, but certainly the allegation was with a metal pole, other times with a remote control.

'You know, numerous allegations of him tracking her. Her being scared. She made attempts to leave, but couldn't escape. She felt trapped, and in the end, took her own life.'

Pictured: Christopher Trybus (right) leaving Winchester Crown Court with his current wife Bea

Mr Trybus's first wife Tarryn Baird killed herself more than seven years ago and was found at her home in Swindon after accusing him of controlling and coercive behaviour

The court heard that Tarryn had logged the alleged abuse with a number of people including her mother, her GP and a civilian officer at the local police station.

Text message exchanges were read out in court from one of Tarryn's friends, which appeared to paint a damning picture of the marriage.

However, the prosecution's case began to waver when a number of disparities began to emerge in court - including that Mr Trybus was not actually in the country at the time some of his abusive behaviour was alleged to have occurred.

'There was a really key moment in this trial, and it was a single word used by defence barrister Katy Thorne, and it was the "disconnects",' Caroline Cheetham said.

'Let's start with the bugging device. So this was a meeting that Taryn Baird was having with her domestic violence advisor, and she used a phrase in that meeting where she said "He always seems to be four steps ahead of me," referring to Chris Trybus, he always seems to know where I am and what I'm doing.

'And in the evidence at that point, the domestic violence advisor said to Taryn Baird, have you considered you might be being tracked?

'And a couple of days later, they meet again. This is in a Marks and Spencer's cafe, and Taryn produces a bugging device that she said she had found in her study at home, and it was sort of trained or looking at her desktop.'

As Thorne put it in court: 'You make the suggestion that she looks out for a bugging device, and just a matter of hours later, she's on Amazon, ordering a bugging device.

'The next day, showing you a bugging device, and a few days later, sending it back to Amazon. So there's a disconnect, isn't there, between what she's telling you there, and what the evidence appears to show.

Baird was accused in court of being an attention-seeker and a fantasist after the defence team revealed a number of 'disconnects' between her claims and the facts

Ms Thorne claimed that most of the evidence cited against Trybus happened when he was overseas and so not in the 'jurisdiction' of the UK.

All three court applications to dismiss the case - in July 2025, in March this year, after the Crown had first presented its case, and again in April this year, after all of the evidence had been heard - were dismissed by Mr Justice Linden, due to the 'high bar' that must be achieved to throw out a live criminal trial.

And in her final address to the jury, Ms Thorne claimed that the prosecution was driven by a 'Kafkaesque' agenda under which it's widely held that women who make allegations of domestic violence must be telling the truth.

And this applies even when the evidence actually suggests the opposite is true, she asserted.

She branded Tarryn Baird's allegations 'fairy dust' and claimed the young woman was an attention-seeker and a fantasist, who concocted her story after being left bored and lonely when her devoted husband frequently travelled for work.

Ms Thorne said that Tarryn became trapped in her own lies about domestic abuse, harmed herself and made false allegations against him in order to continue receiving the attention she craved.

Tarryn's mother has now said she is planning to 'pursue' the mental health services she says failed to intervene to save her daughter - although it is not yet known if this will include exploring legal options.

The podcast includes testimony from medical expert Dr Philip Joseph, who told the court: 'I've listened to her phone calls on the day of her death. What comes across to me is that she seemed very frustrated, rejected, abandoned by the mental health services, feelings that she was going around and around in circles and not getting the help she was desperately seeking, feeling she was completely let down by the mental health services, and losing hope that may have prompted her to decide that day to kill herself.'

Caroline Cheetham added: 'Tarryn's mother, Michelle Baird, has decided she is now going to pursue the mental health services and the other medical services who she says abandoned her daughter.

'We talked a lot about her contact with her GP, over 100 appointments in two years.

'We talked a lot about her links to mental health services, the crisis team, and, of course, to the domestic violence advisors.

'But what we know is, by the end, both of those agencies, the domestic violence charities and the mental health crisis team, had decided they couldn't help her, and by the end in her awful phone calls that she made in the hours before she died, she makes it clear that she feels abandoned.'

To hear more about the Christopher Trybus' case, search for The Trial UK wherever you get your podcasts.
There's a particular kind of man in Washington who doesn't need to say he's rich. You can tell by the way the maitre d' suddenly develops the urgency of a cardiac surgeon, or how a table materializes for him in a room that's been 'fully booked' since the Obama administration.

But when I arrived in DC, I expected power to look loud, and, dare I say it, with a hint of tangerine tan. I thought it would be flashy: new money in a designer suit with a Bluetooth earpiece.

Instead, I discovered, it's aggressively discreet. Unlike New York, where money is brazenly thrown around with the air of a well-endowed man, or LA, where the almighty dollar is worshipped, Washington's elite don't peacock.

Here, wealth whispers over martinis, and, I was quick to discover, lots of them!

It also raises the obvious question for a nosy outsider with a notebook and a decent blow-dry: where exactly do the billionaires go when they don't want to be found?

But my search, like most things in Washington, started with something that sounded far more promising on paper.

I'd heard whispers that the Library of Congress hosts a happy hour every Thursday. In my mind, it should have been a hot spot for the rich: a touch of culture, and the vague promise of intellectuals sipping scotch under historic ceilings.

So naturally, I booked immediately. One ticket. Toot suite. I should have realized what a mistake I was making.

I heard there was happy hour at the Library of Congress every Thursday, but was disappointed when I arrived to a full-blown tourist hub

Unlike New York, where money is brazenly thrown around with the air of a well-endowed man, or LA, where the almighty dollar is worshipped, Washington's elite don't peacock

I arrived with a fresh blowout, dolled up in a little black dress, sheer stockings, heels and a handbag that suggested I, too, might have opinions on venture capital.

Within seconds, it became clear I had wildly misread the room.

What I had imagined as discreetly glamorous turned out to be a full-blown tourist hub. The line to get in was filled with men wearing cargo shorts and those deeply offensive Birkenstocks, and women in shapeless floral dresses with fanny packs strapped across their torsos like emotional support accessories.

To say I was overdressed was an understatement. I looked ridiculous.

The drinks didn't help. There was nothing remotely billionaire-adjacent about them. As I chugged a watered-down pink cocktail called an 'El President' - which tasted like a melted ice pop - I did a few polite laps of what is, admittedly, a breathtakingly beautiful building with a distinct absence of anyone remotely eligible, powerful, or even mildly interesting.

It was at this point that I realized two things. One, billionaires are not queuing for cheap drinks. And two, I was far too well dressed to admit defeat.

Earlier that day, I clocked the Waldorf Astoria sitting in the middle of the city looking quietly expensive. So, I ordered an Uber and left my rum-induced disappointment behind.

Walking in, with only one aggressively sweet cocktail under my belt, I felt a flicker of nerves - the kind you get when you suspect you're about to walk into a room where everyone is more important than you.

And I was right.

I asked the doorman where the bar was, and he gestured towards the center of the hotel, where an outrageously over-the-top chandelier hung in a room filled with men in good suits.

Finally.

Occupying the barstool next to mine was a woman so effortlessly fabulous she looked like she'd never once had to check the price of anything in her life. Goals.

My new friend  let's call her 'the Publicist' - had popped in for a martini after a long day at a tech conference and, thankfully for me, she was a generous oversharer.

Having secured herself a very wealthy husband, which she was not shy in telling me, she had plenty of tips for a new girl in town. If I had any real interest in finding a billionaire in this hotel, there were two rules worth committing to memory.

The first was to always sit at the bar, never at a table - tables were for people who were sticking to their tight circles, whereas the bar was for people who accidentally ran into the right person.

The second, and more surprising, was timing. Not dinner, not late drinks, but lunch.

Because, as she explained, Washington has quietly slipped back into one of its more indulgent habits: the three-martini lunch! How very 90s.

'Since Trump's back in the mix,' she said, 'people aren't pretending anymore.'

The Biden years, in her telling, had been more restrained, more careful. Meetings tended to be held in offices, and lunches were on a stricter budget. She said everyone seemed faintly aware of how things might look. Now, she said, there's a noticeable shift.

She pointed towards the hotel's newly relaunched restaurant Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres, which has apparently become the place to settle in for one of these drawn-out, slightly indulgent afternoons. Especially for the Republicans, who she told me had returned to the hotel.

Its predecessor, The Bazaar, had maintained all the elegance one would expect, but lacked that louder crowd. Now, she said, the restaurant was often booked. Wild what a change in government can do.

By the time I was a few martinis in myself, I had to concede that she wasn't exaggerating. Both the bar and the restaurant were packed with stealth-wealth clientele.

When I arrived in DC, I expected power to look loud and flashy: new money in a designer suit with a Bluetooth earpiece

Walking into the Waldorf Astoria (pictured) I felt a flicker of nerves - the kind you get when you suspect you're about to walk into a room where everyone is more important than you

By the time I was a few martinis in myself, both the bar and the restaurant were packed with stealth-wealth clientele

Meat Bazaar's predecessor, The Bazaar (pictured), had maintained all the elegance one would expect, but lacked that louder crowd

Unfortunately, and somewhat predictably, I fell into my usual trap of making a new female friend and promptly forgetting the original assignment altogether. I did not leave with a billionaire, but I did leave with her number and, more importantly, a promise that she would take me somewhere even better the following Monday.

Which is how I found myself, a few days later, making my way into Off the Record, a bar tucked discreetly beneath the very posh Hay-Adams Hotel, directly across from the White House.

On this occasion, I had finally dressed appropriately (or at least, I was no longer wildly out of place). And as we once again propped ourselves up at the bar, she greeted a wonderfully seasoned bartender, a man, she told me, who'd been there for at least 20 years.

I made a joke with him that I would happily ghost-write his memoir (oh, the gossip he would have!) but he told me sternly that what is spoken in the bar, stays in the bar.

Boo.

He brought us two pear martinis, which I was informed the bar is famous for. They were lovely, but I noticed that most of the gents were ordering whisky or martinis. Turns out wealth likes hard liquor at the end of a busy Monday.

The room itself was packed, and I noticed some familiar parliamentary faces. At one point, the Publicist subtly pointed towards a table tucked under the staircase behind the bar and told me that during Trump's first term, she would often see Ivanka Trump seated there. Slightly hidden, but unmistakably important. Apparently, that table is always reserved for whoever matters most in the room.

She also casually mentioned that there is, apparently, a tunnel that runs from the White House directly to the bar. (I have absolutely no way of confirming this, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.)

When my new friend eventually had to leave for dinner, I decided to stay exactly where I was. My seat at the bar was perfectly positioned for people watching, and I wasn't about to give that up.

That's when a gloriously pompous older gentleman  who I strongly suspected was worth an extraordinary amount of money  plopped down next to me.

He barked his order: 'I'll have my No Putin Mule!' And obviously I needed more information. He lit up instantly, delighted to explain that it was made with vodka that was strictly American, not Russian. This, it seemed, was a point of great personal pride.

Before I knew it, he'd ordered one for me as well, and we fell into a slightly theatrical chat that lasted the better part of the afternoon.

Sadly, despite his highly probable billionaire status, there was no romantic connection (which, annoyingly, tracks for me and my terrible taste in men). But he did dish on where the elite spend their leisure time in the nation's capital.

On this occasion, I had finally dressed appropriately

At one point, the Publicist subtly pointed towards a table tucked under the staircase behind the bar and told me that during Trump's first term, she would often see Ivanka Trump seated there

We were served pear martinis, which I was informed the bar is famous for

If I was serious about finding billionaires in this town, he said I needed to stop thinking like a normal person.

'Most of them aren't out where you can just wander into them,' he said, as if I'd been embarrassingly naive to think otherwise. 'They're in private members' clubs which are strictly invite only.'

Which, unfortunately, ruled me out  for now.

But, he added, there are a few places where they occasionally surface among us mere mortals.

'There's this place. 1789 Restaurant,' he said, noting it's hosted former President Barack Obama and former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. 'Very low-key, no fuss - but that's the point.'

He also mentioned Dabney - which is Michelin-starred and, in his words, 'marvelous!' - and the Round Robin Bar at the Willard InterContinental, which he described as 'basically the Oval Office of bars.' Founded in the 1800s, it is full of history, and the sort of place where presidents, senators and international dignitaries have all passed through at one point or another.

'And if you're really trying to impress someone,' he added, 'you leave the city.'

About an hour out sits The Inn at Little Washington, a three-Michelin-star situation that, according to him, is permanently filled with real Washingtonians.

Now, all I need to do is overhaul my terrible taste in men and learn to stop at two martinis and I might actually have a shot.
In a world that prizes certainty and pretends to understand everything, the most honest answer about the Iran war is the least satisfying one: nobody knows what comes next.

Not the think tankers with their tidy frameworks. Not the market wizards reading tea leaves in oil futures. Not the intelligence services parsing fragments of intercepted chatter. And, perhaps most strikingly, not the men at the very top  the ayatollahs in Tehran or the President of the United States.

The range of plausible outcomes is so vast it almost feels unserious to say out loud. A peace agreement could be struck within days, hastily assembled, imperfect, but enough to pause or even halt the violence. Or the conflict could spiral, with renewed American strikes, Iranian retaliation and escalating tit-for-tat ship seizures in and around the Persian Gulf, igniting a broader war that pulls in great powers and edges toward something unthinkable. Like World War III.

That is quite a spread. But it is also an accurate reflection of the moment.

We are no longer in a phase where events follow a discernible script. Indeed, we never were, no matter how much the armchair generals pontificate. We are, however, in a particularly murky interlude, neither full war nor genuine peace, where the most consequential decisions have not yet been made and perhaps cannot yet be made.

The fighting itself has not truly stopped. The dramatic exchange of strikes may have slowed under an extended ceasefire, but the conflict has shifted to a more insidious battleground. The Strait of Hormuz  the narrow maritime artery through which a significant share of the world's oil flows  has become the central arena.

Control of that chokepoint now matters as much as any airstrike or missile barrage. On Thursday, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he has commanded the US Navy 'to shoot and kill' any Iranian vessels mining the waterway.

The result is a kind of economic and strategic paralysis. Shipping is disrupted. Insurance rates are spiking. Traders are jittery. Oil prices have surged past levels that rattle governments and consumers alike and might go higher. Iranian forces have harassed and struck commercial vessels. The United States, for its part, is working to choke off Iran's ability to export oil or import critical supplies, including boarding and taking a few Iran-affiliated ships. Each move is calibrated, but each also carries the risk of miscalculation.

In a world that prizes certainty and pretends to understand everything, the most honest answer about Iran war is the least satisfying one: nobody knows what comes next (Pictured: Trump addresses USS George Washington sailors)

It is a limbo that is damaging precisely because it is unsustainable.

Amid this swirl of uncertainty, there are two questions  one for each side  that matter more than any others.

For Iran: is a divided leadership, hamstrung by decapitation strikes, fractured by internal pressures and competing factions, actually capable of agreeing to a deal, even if some of its leaders wanted one?

And for the United States: is Donald Trump prepared, if diplomacy stalls, to resume large-scale military action against new Iranian targets?

The uncomfortable truth is that I don't know the answers to either question. And I am increasingly convinced that neither side does either.

We hope that leaders operate with clear intent and defined endgames. But history tends to break the faithful. Decisions of this magnitude are often made late, under pressure, with incomplete information and competing impulses. Tehran may not know whether it can unify behind a negotiating position, among its military and religious factions. Trump may not know whether he wants to escalate or claim victory and move on.

Publicly, the president has suggested that the initiative lies elsewhere, that intermediaries, particularly the Pakistanis, hold the key to restarting talks. That framing is politically convenient. It implies patience, restraint, even a measure of distance.

I'm skeptical.

On Thursday, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he has commanded the US Navy 'to shoot and kill' any Iranian vessels mining the waterway (Pictured: IRGC vessels in the Persian Gulf)

The conflict could spiral, with renewed American strikes, Iranian retaliation and escalating tit-for-tat ship seizures (Pictured: US troops boarding ship allegedly transporting Iranian oil on April 22)

Mark Halperin is the editor-in-chief and host of the interactive live video platform 2WAY and the host of the video podcast 'Next Up' on the Megyn Kelly network

Recent events have underscored how unreliable such intermediaries can be, how fragile the trust placed in them often is. The idea that any outside player can decisively steer this crisis toward resolution feels, at best, optimistic.

There is also a theory gaining traction in Washington that time favors the United States  that economic pressure will force Iran's hand. The logic is straightforward: Iran needs to sell oil to sustain its economy and maintain basic infrastructure. Deny that revenue and oil flow long enough and Tehran will have no choice but to compromise.

But Iran is not behaving like a country on the brink of capitulation. Its actions suggest something else: hesitation, division, perhaps even paralysis. A leadership that cannot decide is not necessarily one that will yield. It may simply drift. Or defy.

And both drift and defiance can be dangerous.

If Iran is indeed too divided to act decisively, then the next meaningful move is unlikely to come from Tehran alone. Instead, we are left with a short list of possibilities, none of them guaranteed and all of them consequential.

Talks could resume, perhaps in Islamabad, with diplomats once again trying to stitch together a deal that neither side fully trusts.

China could step in more forcefully, pressing Tehran to de-escalate in order to stabilize energy markets and protect its own interests.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Or the United States could decide that enough is enough  that the current stalemate is untenable  and launch a new round of strikes designed to break the impasse.

Each path is plausible. None is preordained.

This is what true geopolitical uncertainty looks like. Not a puzzle waiting to be solved, but a set of conditions in which even the principal actors are feeling their way forward in the dark.

For observers, analysts, and commentators  including this one  that requires a measure of humility. The temptation is always to predict, to project confidence, to impose order on chaos.

But sometimes the most important insight is recognizing that the future is unwritten, even, and especially, for those who will write it.

Mark Halperin is the editor-in-chief and host of the interactive live video platform 2WAY and the host of the video podcast 'Next Up' on the Megyn Kelly network
The revelation that our Attorney General, Lord Hermer, was part of a group of lawyers said to have hounded British soldiers on behalf of Iraqi hoodlums and thugs will surprise no one who served in Iraq or, indeed, in any recent British military campaign.

I speak for many thousands of veterans  both full-time and reservist  when I say that what we truly think of Hermer and his coterie of 'human-rights' lawyers is unprintable. But contempt, anger and derision would be good starting places.

The comfortable world of the solicitors' consulting room was a far cry from the blinding heat, dust and sweat in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Think what it's like to patrol for hours, weary with heavy kit on your back, wrapped in Osprey body armour itself weighing 10 kilos, sweat dripping into your eyes, head boiling beneath a chunky helmet. And then imagine having to make life-and-death, split-second decisions under attack from the Iran-backed Mahdi Army militia in Iraq or Taleban fighters in Afghanistan.

Yet it was these brave British soldiers  who endured exactly such perilous conditions day after day  who became the target for a despicable witch-hunt mounted by lawyers from their own country.

Now Hermer's personal role in giving legal advice to fellow lawyers  at least one subsequently struck off  in a large scale attempt to sue the Ministry of Defence has come to light.

The resulting five-year public inquiry  a 31million bonanza for lawyers  attempted to present the British Army as no more than a gang of marauding thugs bent on Vietnam War-style massacres.

But the claims had been a tissue of lies from beginning to end and the al-Sweady investigation, as it became known, cleared the British troops.

Iraq veterans were hounded by a group of lawyers following their service on behalf of Britain

Attorney General Lord Hermer was part of a group of lawyers who targeted such war heroes

It is disgraceful that, even today, the hounding of our soldiers continues with ageing Northern Ireland veterans chased through the courts for the actions and events of decades ago.

Is it any wonder the British army is gripped by a recruitment crisis? Special Forces soldiers are reportedly quitting early for fear of being sued in years to come  for obeying lawful orders.

The whole debacle was a repugnant play in two acts, both of which also involved Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

Act One: lawyers campaigned to use European human-rights laws to investigate  and presumably prosecute  British troops. Back in 1997, Starmer himself called for such laws to be used to investigate our troops in Iraq.

Act Two: Starmer was instrumental in a 2007 case which extended the European and British human rights laws to cover military operations in Iraq, opening an Aladdin's cave for greedy lawyers to attack British forces.

It is now alleged that Lord Hermer was one of the lawyers who advised how to pursue claims against the Ministry of Defence. And that he continued to press for large payouts on behalf of vile, lying clients even as evidence mounted of their shameless dishonesty. Our politicians must also bear some blame. Allowing human rights legislation to be used against our military in the first place was an act of cowardice and stupidity. The policy originated under the government of Tony Blair, another example of his corrosive influence on public life.

The truth is that Britain has always had high standards in soldiering. Our troops, mostly during their long years in Northern Ireland, developed a culture of intelligent soldiering and a deep humanity for the societies in which they operated.

At the close of the Second World War, German civilians were desperate to fall under British control rather than into the hands of Soviet troops now reviled in posterity for the mass rape and murder of women and men.

To depict British soldiers as an out-of-control rabble (such as the Russian army in Ukraine today) is a despicable libel. Should individual British soldiers behave badly, there has always been a robust military chain to deal with them, including the courts martial, or military courts.

One of the soldiers caught up in the Iraqi scandal, Lance Corporal Brian Wood, said Hermer and others had pursued a 'witch- hunt' for years. Hermer, he said, 'was representing the people trying to kill us'.

'Look at where we are in the world at the moment,' he continued, 'and you wonder if we can trust the Government.' I agree.

Wood was awarded the Military Cross for his courage in Iraq during the Battle of Danny Boy, the name of a British checkpoint ambushed by Iraqi militia in May 2004.

I served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I remember the exhaustion at the end of patrols, the gunshots over and near your patrol, the rocks thrown at you, missiles aimed at your base.

Decisions are taken by young men and women fighting exhaustion, heat, the enemy and armed with only limited situational awareness. My admiration for people like Wood is boundless.

Yet I am ashamed of the legal, political and military classes that failed to protect good soldiers like him.

One of the baleful consequences of ambulance-chasing human rights lawyers has been the effect on the Ministry of Defence.

I remember painful conversations, including an absurd one in Basra in Iraq in late 2007, when a Ministry of Defence Policy Advisor tuttingly lectured me  the condescension dripped from her voice like a leaky tap  of the importance of not preparing for 'contact' (a firefight of some kind) with a militant on the off-chance they had an innocent explanation for carrying a rocket- propelled grenade.

So fearful were we of the human-rights class that protecting the lives of British soldiers  and innocent Iraqi civilians came second to militants' rights to carry weapons.

We were being defeated by British lawyers, not a foreign enemy.

By 2014 and the rise of ISIS, our legal processes had become so convoluted that we were fearful of making arrests on the ground.

'Permission sets'  jargon for the rules under which we operated  became a mess. Allies, notably the United States, grew weary of working with us because of this legal paralysis.

There is also an additional  and very ugly  dimension to this. The lawyers who intimidated our soldiers were often well-heeled and highly educated. Their targets were young soldiers from white, working-class communities in neglected towns across the Midlands and North, some following in the footsteps of their forebears into famous regiments such as the Fusiliers, the Lancashires and others.

These young soldiers' education might sometimes have been limited. Some were from troubled backgrounds. But their courage, decency and patriotism were first class. They were sacrificial lambs for the 'enlightened' of North London.

Hermer says his role in this was minor. On Wednesday, a spokesman said the suggestion the Attorney acted for individuals with the knowledge that their claims were false is categorically untrue. Starmer, too, has played down his involvement.

But I see these two senior figures and those like them for what they are: members of a class of lawyers who used British statute to attack British soldiers and the state. Their actions, deliberately or not, helped undermine our national resolve.

They were aided and abetted in this shameful enterprise by parts of the media, notably the BBC and The Guardian. I regret to say that the response of legal advisers in the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence was hand-wringingly feeble and has remained so to this day.

In my opinion, Hermer's reputation is now damaged beyond repair. I hope MPs, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demand answers.

Did Hermer really press for lucrative payouts when it was likely that his Iraqi clients were lying? Is a man who willingly takes on cases such as these someone who should be our senior legal office?

General Sir Peter Wall, one of the commanders in Iraq, has said that the 'orchestrated' claims against British troops following the Battle of Danny Boy 'were tantamount to treason'. What does Hermer, the country's chief legal officer, have to say to these devastating accusations?

I try not to hate, but there is a deep and abiding anger from so many soldiers directed at the legal vultures who libelled the British Army and hounded individual soldiers.

Prime Minister Starmer will go soon. But if he cared what servicemen and women thought, there is one last thing he could do before he slinks off the political stage: sack his Attorney General, Richard Hermer.

Dr Bob Seely MBE is the author of The New Total War. He served as a British soldier on the Iraq, Afghan, Libya and ISIS campaigns.
More than 11 million sick notes were dished out by NHS staff in England last year - with GPs remaining silent on why they issued the vast majority of them.

New figures published by NHS England show over eight million of the certificates distributed by medical professionals did not record a reason or diagnosis.

The leading documented cause was 'mental and behavioural disorders' - such as anxiety and depression - which accounted for 932,100 notes.

The number of notes issued in 2025 more than doubled since 2015, when 5.3million were distributed. In the last three years since 2022 the number issued has risen by nearly 500,000.

Also known as a 'fit note', the certificates are provided when someone is deemed unfit to work after they have been off for more than seven days.

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and GPs can all provide the notes, which inform an employer that the person is unable to carry out their job - or in some cases that adjustments should be made to support their return to the workplace.

But earlier this year hundreds of GPs confessed they had never denied a patient a mental health-related sick note.

More than 11 million sick notes were issued in England last year, newly released figures show

Sick notes issued for mental health conditions were more than double the number attributed to 'diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue' - including osteoarthritis, arthritis, gout, lupus and fibromyalgia - which accounted for 468,010 notes.

There was a small drop from the previous year - with the figure down by 41,395 - however there was also a 124,140-figure rise in notes handed out with the cause 'not provided'- marking a 10.8 per cent change over the three years since 2022.

The biggest increase in people being signed off work since 2022 was for 'congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities', which rose by more than 17 per cent from 12,162 to 14,338.

The category includes inherited or developmental conditions such as Down syndrome and other disorders that may be linked to consanguineous relationships, such as cousin marriage.

There were also 156,422 cases in which people were signed off work with 'diseases of the respiratory system', a category that includes conditions such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - a 14.53 per cent rise since 2022.

It comes as more than 5,000 GPs in England were questioned last month over whether they had ever denied a patient a sick note.

Just 752 responded to the BBC, with 540 saying they had never refused a request asking for a sick note linked to mental health.

Meanwhile, 162 said they had refused at least one person a fit note, with 50 not wanting to disclose a response.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Leading the nation for the number of sick notes issued last year was NHS North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB), which provided 454,757 of the notes.

That was an increase of just under 20 per cent since 2022.

Following them was NHS North West London ICB, which issued 390,467 fit notes in 2025 - up more than 18 per cent since 2022.

NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board issued 369,300 sick notes last year, while NHS South East London Integrated Care Board handed 343,803 certificates to patients.

The ICB to record the biggest increase of sick notes since 2022 was NHS Central East, where the number issued increased by more than 20 per cent over from January 2022 to December 2025.

More than eight million of the 11,171,899 certificates issued failing to carry a recorded diagnosis, meaning the true number of cases linked to specific conditions could be significantly higher than the newly published figures suggest.

Overall, the number of sick notes issued last year decreased slightly from 2024, when 11,181,103 notes were written.

Last July, Healthy Secretary Wes Streeting vowed to tackle the sick note epidemic, admitting 'we simply cannot afford to keep writing people off'.

Mr Streeting said: 'Some 2.8million people are out of work due to health conditions - this is bad for patients, bad for the NHS and bad for the economy.'

Earlier in the year official forecasts predicted the annual bill for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would jump from 25.9billion when Labour came to office to a staggering 44.9billion by the end of the decade.

Paying for the increase alone would cost the equivalent of putting 2p on all income tax rates.

Last year, Keir Starmer abandoned plans to try to curb the growth of PIP payments following a revolt by Labour backbenchers.

Government sources confirmed that, despite ministers paying lip service to the need for welfare reform, there would be no legislation on the issue in the next King's Speech in May.

The figures bolstered concerns that Labour is incapable of reining in rapid rises in welfare spending, which experts warn are unsustainable.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: 'There was little change in the number of fit notes issued in 2024 and 2025, and comparisons with 2015 are ill-advised due to significant differences in how the data was collected.

'That being said, we have been clear the current fit note system needs reforming to work better for patients, employers and our health system. We are already testing new approaches as part of our wider plan to get Britain working, but we know that we need to do more to build a system that works for everyone.'

NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care declined to respond.
Millions of patients were left unable to access the NHS app after a major outage disrupted key digital health services, including GP appointment bookings, prescription orders and 111 access.

This morning, users attempting to log in were met with an error message stating: 'We could not log you in. This may be a temporary problem. You can go back and try logging in later.'

The disruption was flagged by outage tracker Downdetector, which recorded a surge in reports from users experiencing problems with the service.

Data from the site suggested user reports spiked at around 11.41am. The technical issue was later reported to have been resolved at around 2.58pm.

At the time of writing, NHS officials have not confirmed the cause of the outage.

Frustrated users took to X (formerly Twitter) to report issues.

One wrote: '@NHS is your app down? I can't access the app or the app team. What's the problem. Different error code every time.'

Another said: 'Is the @NHSuk app completely broken for anyone else right now? I keep getting an error message when I try to log in Help!'

Those attempting to log in were instead met with an error message stating: 'We could not log you in. This may be a temporary problem. You can go back and try logging in later'

Others questioned the growing reliance on digital healthcare, with one user adding: 'This is exactly why being forced to rely so heavily on digital tech for important, time-sensitive health-related things is a bad thing.'

The NHS app allows users in England to manage healthcare digitally, including ordering repeat prescriptions, booking GP appointments, viewing medical records and test results, managing hospital referrals, and accessing NHS 111 symptom checks.

It also enables patients to manage organ donation decisions and receive messages from their GP or hospital.

The outage comes despite NHS-linked accounts urging people to book their spring COVID-19 vaccine online or via the NHS App.

The disruption also comes amid wider debate over the future of the NHS app as ministers push plans to make it central to digital healthcare.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has pledged major upgrades, including AI-powered tools designed to answer medical questions and guide patients through care options.

Under proposals in the Government's 10-Year Health Plan, the app is expected to become a 'digital front door' to the NHS, with patients able to book, change and cancel appointments and access personalised medical advice.

Mr Streeting has said the aim is to end the '8am scramble' for GP appointments and make accessing healthcare 'as easy and convenient as doing your banking or shopping online'.

By 2028, the app is expected to combine elements of patients' medical records with AI tools to provide instant guidance and direct users to appropriate care.

Millions of patients have been left unable to access the NHS app after it suffered a major outage

However, patient groups have warned that a shift towards digital-first healthcare could risk excluding some users, particularly older people.

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said there were concerns that greater reliance on the app could leave some patients behind, adding: 'For some, the doctor in their pocket will be padlocked.'

Caroline Abrahams of Age UK described the plans as 'truly exciting', but stressed the need to ensure that 'no one is left behind'.

A survey of 8,000 people for the Health Foundation found only 49 per cent would be willing to use AI features in a redesigned NHS app, while 32 per cent said they would not.

Support was higher for practical functions, including booking hospital appointments (76 per cent), choosing a preferred hospital (73 per cent), and accessing information about procedures (73 per cent).

Ahmed Binesmael, senior improvement analyst at the Health Foundation, said the findings showed strong support for everyday digital healthcare tasks, but greater caution around AI-generated advice.

He added that 'meaningful engagement with the public will be essential' to ensure new tools meet patient needs and do not widen inequalities.
This is a family-friendly event for everyone, with special guests and community organizations!

SPRINGFIELD, N.J., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 21 is hosting a Community Day of Action at their New Jersey office and Finishing Trades Institute in Springfield, NJ, on Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. All are welcome, including union members, friends and local residents! There will be food & drink, children's activities and giveaways, as well as information booths for various community organizations.

IUPAT District Council 21 represents over 6,000 members in the finishing trades in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Region, New Jersey and the State of Delaware and is affiliated with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. IUPAT District Council 21 is proud to provide career opportunities to apprentices and journeypersons in the construction industry and is determined to ensure the best wages and benefits for Painters, Drywall Finishers, Wall Coverers, Glaziers, and Glass Workers.

District Council 21 is recognized as one of the most active unions in the region for both its community service and member involvement.

WHAT: Community Day of Action, hosted by IUPAT District Council 21 WHO: Special guests expected to attend include Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka; staff from Office of Congressman Robert Menendez; and staff from Office of NJ Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy. WHERE: IUPAT DC 21 New Jersey office, 9 Fadem Road, Springfield, NJ. WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2026; 10:00am to 2:00pm

SOURCE IUPAT DC 21
Confidential medical data belonging to half-a-million UK citizens has been breached from UK Biobank and put up for sale on a Chinese website.

The UK Biobank holds de-identified biological samples and health data of 500,000 volunteers - used to advance cancer, dementia and Parkinson's care.

But technology minister Ian Murray announced today there has been a large-scale data breach which resulted in highly confidential information being leaked.

The data has been found for sale on three separate listings on the Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba on Monday 20 April.

'At least one of these three datasets appeared to contain data from all 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers,' Murray told the House of Commons.

'Additional listings offer support for applying for legitimate access to UK Biobank or analytical support for researchers who already have access to the data.

'I want to reassure the House up front however, that Biobank have advised that this data did not contain participants, names, addresses, contact details or telephone numbers.'

He added that the Government have today spoken to the vendor and do not believe there were any purchases from the three listings before they were taken down.

Half a million Biobank volunteers health data was listed for sale on a Chinese website following a serious data breach

But according to reporting by The Times, Government sources have slammed the Biobank's security arrangements, labelling them 'extremely lax.'

Responding to the news, Dame Chi Onwurah, Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Chair, said: 'It's deeply concerning to learn that the highly sensitive data held by the biobank has not been subject to proper controls.

'My committee has carried out extensive scrutiny of public sector information security and data hygiene, and in February Ian Murray and government officials assured us that standards would improve, and public data would be better protected.

'Today's statement, however, demonstrates just how little progress has been made.

'It raises serious questions about whether lessons have been learned from repeated data breaches and leaks, and whether robust data management practices are being enforced at publicly funded bodies.

'Public trust in the handling of sensitive data is handled is key to the governments digital transformation ambitions. This is another blow to public confidence.'

But Professor Sir Rory Collins, chief executive and principal investigator at Biobank, maintains it takes data protection 'extremely seriously'.

'Last week, we found that de-identified participant data made available to researchers at three academic institutions were listed for sale on a consumer website in China, owned by Alibaba,' he said.

WHY SHOULD WE BE WORRIED?

Cyber security experts fear this breach could have far-reaching consequences, including potentially the blackmail of individuals. Others have labelled the scale of the problem 'shocking' at a time when artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to analyse large pools of data. Now, the worry is that simply removing personal details does not guarantee anonymity. In February this year, after decades of legal wrangling, the supposedly anonymous data was linked to patients' GP medical records. The worry is that, as a result, GP records could now be in the hands of malicious actors - such as Chinese hackers.

'This is a clear breach of the contract signed by these academic institutions and they, along with the individuals involved, have had their access suspended.'

Data sets including gender, age, month, birth year, socio-economic status, lifestyle habits and measures from biological samples were included in the breach.

As a result, Mr Murray said he could not guarantee that no one can be identified from the data.

Responding to the breach, Prof Luc Rocher, from the University of Oxford, added: 'Researchers have, in the past, repeatedly and accidentally uploaded datasets to online code sharing platforms, and many of these files are now replicated across the web.

'UK Biobank has sought to downplay the importance of such exposures, stating that data are de-identified and free of personally identifying information, and that no participant has been unwillingly re-identified.

'Last month, The Guardian correctly identified a single participant from just two easily known facts.

'The actions being taken today are inadequate to take down data from the web, and cannot protect the 500,000 participants whose intimate health records have been exposed 198th time this year.'

The Biobank, ran independently from government, is the world's most comprehensive database of health and lifestyle information and is used by researchers globally looking into what happens as we age.

Biobank states it removes all personal information including names and addresses before granting researchers access to the data.

Prof Collins added: 'Researchers have to go through our rigorous access review process, and their institutions sign a contract committing to keep the data secure, before we make the data available to them for research.

'Even though we only ever share de-identified data and have no evidence of any of you being identified unwillingly, we dont want any use by anyone who has not been approved for access.

'We are sorry that this incident has occurred and hope you are reassured by the swift and decisive action we have taken.'

The research platform will remain offline for around three weeks, while further security measures are put in place which it hopes will help prevent future breaches.

The UK Biobank study began in 2006.
Hollywood isn't known for long-term marriages and stability, but now and then, some celebrity couples get their 'happily ever after'.

Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith, who have been married for over 25 years, Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach's 44-year marriage, and Michael and Shakira Caine's 53-year union are among Tinseltown's most enduring love stories.

Their lives may be aligned, but are their looks? Striking before-and-after photos reveal the years have been kinder to one partner, plastic surgeon Dr Fadi Hamadani said.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that they are 'ageing better', the aesthetics expert told the Daily Mail. 'Instead, they are managing the ageing process more consistently and earlier.'

This 'proactive' approach means 70-something male celebrities like 007 actor Pierce look just as good as their younger wives - if not better, according to Dr Hamadani.

There are exceptions, he continued, while pointing to Beatles legend Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara, whose 'face ages' are just as 'aligned' as their lives together.

Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith, together for 25 years

Irish actor Pierce met his now-wife Keely Shaye Smith at a beach party in Mexico. They tied the knot seven years later in 2001

Pierce Brosnan married his second wife, journalist Keely Shaye Smith, in 2001 after seven years together.

The Irish actor, now 72, shares two children with Keely, 62, who recently showed off a dramatic weight loss transformation after losing nearly 100 pounds or seven stone at the beginning of 2025.

However, according to Dr Hamadani, dramatic weight loss can make you look older by highlighting volume loss.

Giving his verdict, the expert said: 'Pierce has maintained a very classic, well-aged look, while Keely's recent weight loss will influence how her face is perceived.

'Weight loss can initially highlight volume loss, but with the right approach - such as skin tightening and regenerative treatments - it can ultimately enhance definition and structure.'

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, together for 25 years

Over two decades after they met in 1998, Michael, now 81, and Catherine are still going strong - but the Wall Street star shows the 'expected ageing pattern in men', Dr Hamadani said

Michael Douglas met his now-wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is 35 years his junior, at France's Deauville American Film Festival in 1998.

Over two decades later, Michael, now 81, and Catherine are still going strong - but the Wall Street star shows the 'expected ageing pattern in men', Dr Hamadani said.

'In Catherine Zeta-Jones' case, her skin quality is what stands out most. It's smooth, lifted and evenly toned, which typically points to long-term maintenance rather than dramatic change,' he noted.

'With Michael Douglas, we see more of the expected ageing pattern in men - loss of volume, increased skin laxity and deeper lines.'

Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach, together for 44 years

Ringo Starr, 85, and Barbara Bach, 78, have aged at a similar pace, said Dr Hamadani

Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach, who have been married for 44 years, are a great example of ageing in a way that feels aligned rather than dramatically different despite their eight-year age difference, according to Dr Hamadani.

'They've both clearly taken care of themselves over time, but without chasing a noticeably "worked-on" look,' he explained.

'When both partners age at a similar pace, it often comes down to maintenance rather than intervention.'

Michael and Shakira Caine, together for 53 years

Michael Caine married Guyanese actress Shakira in 1973

Michael Caine, now 93, married Guyanese actress Shakira, now 79, during a Las Vegas ceremony in January 1973.

Dr Hamadani said the couple show a more 'traditional dynamic where the woman appears to have invested more in maintaining skin firmness and brightness' and therefore looks younger.

According to the aesthetics expert, Michael has aged very well, but more naturally, which often results in softer contours and deeper lines becoming more visible over time.

Gordon and Tana Ramsay, together for 29 years

Gordon and Tana Ramsay have been together for 29 years

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and wife of 29 years, Tana, tied the knot on December 21, 1996.

'Tana's complexion appears smoother and more even, which could suggest regular treatments to support skin quality and prevent deeper lines forming,' Dr Hamadani noted.

Meanwhile, Gordon still presents with more visible signs of ageing, particularly in skin texture, he continued.

This is quite common, as men tend to start later and take a more reactive approach, whereas women often treat ageing more proactively.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, together for 38 years

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson said 'I do' on April 30, 1988

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson said 'I do' in 1988 and have stayed committed to each other since.

Dr Hamadani told the Daily Mail that Rita's skin appears more refined and radiant, suggesting consistent skin treatments and likely a combination of subtle anti-wrinkle injections alongside collagen support.

Meanwhile, 'Tom has aged naturally and well, but without that same level of visible intervention,' he added.

Sting and Trudie Styler, together for 33 years

After a decade together, Sting and Trudie Styler got married in London in 1992

Sting, now 74, and Trudie Styler, 72, were married in a civil ceremony in London in 1992, after ten years together.

They have both aged 'incredibly well', said Dr Hamadani, 'but in slightly different ways'.

'Trudie's skin appears particularly well-maintained in terms of texture and luminosity, which often comes from a combination of in-clinic treatments and a strong at-home routine.

'Sting has a more lived-in look, which many men lean into, whereas women are more likely to explore options that preserve smoothness and definition.'

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, together for 43 years

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have been together since the Eighties

Kurt Russell, 75, and Goldie Hawn, 80, have been in a relationship since 1983 and share a blended family.

Their children include Boston Russell, Oliver, Kate Hudson and Wyatt.

Wyatt and Meredith have two children, and the actors are also grandparents to six other grandchildren.

'Both Kurt and Goldie have aged recognisably and authentically, which is why people still find them so appealing,' Dr Hamadani said.

He added that the actress appears to have maintained brighter, smoother skin and more facial structure, which may be down to long-term skincare, healthy lifestyle habits and subtle aesthetic support over the years.

'Kurt has a more rugged, lived-in look, which suits him, but men often carry more sun damage and textural ageing because they historically have not been as diligent with SPF or skincare,' the aesthetics expert noted.

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, together for 40 years

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan got married in 1986

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan may be 'semi-detached' professionally, but the presenters, who got married in 1986, are still just as enamoured with each other as the day they met.

Dr Hamadani said: 'Richard appears to have aged a little more gradually in the visible sense, while Judy often looks softer and fresher, which is something we commonly see when someone has prioritised skin quality over dramatic change.

'Judys smoother skin and more rested appearance may reflect a combination of good skincare, light anti-wrinkle treatments, skin boosters or collagen-supporting treatments that maintain hydration and texture without changing facial character.

'Richard, on the other hand, still looks good but more naturally weathered, which often comes down to lifestyle, sun exposure and men being less proactive with preventative treatments.'
Do you know a woman who deserves special recognition? Who has inspired others with her outstanding achievements, her extraordinary strength, compassion, bravery or perseverance?

Our 2026 Inspirational Women of the Year Awards in association with Marks & Spencer is looking for people who stand out above all the others.

Just scroll down and fill in the online form at the end of this article to nominate special women from every walk of life  extraordinary charity and outreach workers, teachers, nurses, an exceptional carer, trailblazer or someone whos changed their community for the better. Anyone who you consider deserves a special honour.

Five national winners will be chosen to attend a morning reception with HRH The Princess Royal at St James Palace on Wednesday, June 3. Each winner will also receive a crystal trophy and a 500 M&S gift voucher.

Inspirational Women Award Winners: Gulnaz Brennan, Jo Cruse, Maisha Sumah, Sally Becker and Roxy Longworth

Princess Anne is a patron of Sense. The charity was founded 70 years ago and now supports more than 30,000 disabled people each year, believing that every disabled person should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world.

The charity offers personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life, no matter how complex someones disability.

The Awards are supported by HRH Princess Anne, patron of Sense. Princess Anne says: As Patron of Sense, I am delighted that the Inspirational Women Awards has chosen Sense as its charity beneficiary this year. Peggy Freeman and Margaret Brock, the founders of Sense, started the organisation hoping to improve support for their own deafblind children and other families in a similar situation.

This years Inspirational Women Awards honour the many women who selflessly work to improve the lives of others; like Peggy and Margaret  two ordinary women who resolved to do something extraordinary.

The 2026 Inspirational Women of the Year Awards in association with Marks & Spencer is looking for people who stand out above all others

M&S sponsors this years Awards. Its Chief People Officer, Hayley Tatum, says: 'As one of the biggest supporters of women on the high street, M&S is proud to support the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards for the third year running.

'Women make up around 70% of our workforce and more than half of our leadership roles. We want to be the best place to work for women, which is why one of the first things our CEO, Stuart Machin, did when he was appointed was to transform our family support policies, doubling the length of paid time away for maternity and adoption leave and extending paternity leave to six weeks fully paid.

'Many inspirational women shop with and work for M&S and now we're excited to be a part of the search for this year's most worthy winners of the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards.'

NOMINATE YOUR INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN

To make your nomination, fill in the online form below and tell us in no more than 400 words why you think your candidate should win.

Your browser does not support iframes.

You can also submit your nomination by email. Copy and paste the nomination form below into an email and send it to inspirationalwomen@dailymail.co.uk

The closing date for entries is midnight on 11th May 2026.

The Editor's decision is final.

Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2026

YOUR NAME....

YOUR TEL NO........

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

YOUR NOMINATION

THEIR TEL NUMBER

THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS

Tell us in no more than 400 words why you think your candidate should win:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By entering, nominators agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Any UK resident may be nominated, excluding employees, agents and families of the Daily Mail (the Promoter), Marks & Spencer (the Sponsor) and Campbells Production Group (the Organiser). Finalists must be willing to travel to London for a photoshoot on Tuesday 2nd June 2026, followed by a reception with HRH The Princess Royal on Wednesday 3rd June and agree to all publicity required by the Promoter, the Organiser and Marks & Spencer.

To enter, complete either the online form included within this article, the postal form in the Daily Mail or email: inspirationalwomen@dailymail.co.uk and tell us, in no more than 400 words, why your nominee should win. Nominations must be received no later than 11.59pm on Thursday, May 11th 2026. The Editors decision is final.

There will be five winners in total chosen by a panel of judges who will attend a reception at St James Palace in June with HRH The Princess Royal. Each Inspirational Woman and one guest will also attend a private dinner and receive an overnight stay in a five-star London hotel. Standard class return travel to London will be provided. Each winner will also receive a crystal trophy and a 500 M&S gift voucher. There are no cash alternatives to the prizes.

Finalists will be notified by email and/or phone by 25.05.26. Finalists must respond to Promoters notification within 24 hours. Failure to respond in the time specified means an alternative finalist will be selected from all eligible entries. Promoter accepts no responsibility for lost/delayed postal entries and/or technical difficulties.

Your data will be processed in accordance with the following privacy policy: listed below.

These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. To fullest extent permitted by law, Promoter excludes all warranties, representations and liabilities relating to this promotion.

Promoter may cancel promotion or any part of it, at any stage, in the event of circumstances occurring beyond Promoters reasonable control.

Promoters decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Promoter is Associated Newspapers Limited, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY.

DAILY MAIL INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN AWARDS 2026: PRIVACY POLICY

This notice explains what personal data we hold about nominators and nominees, how we use the data, and how we may share the data for the purposes of administering the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2026.

1. Who we are

dmg media is an international multichannel media company which is home to some of the UK's most popular brands, including the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, MailOnline, Metro, This Is Money, You Magazine, MyMail, MailPlus, MailShop, MailTravel and MailFinance.

These brands are all trading styles of Associated Newspapers Ltd, which is the controller of your personal data for the purposes of data protection law.

2. Personal information we collect and use

In the course of running the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2026 process, we collect the following personal information, when you (the nominator) or the nominee provide it to us:

 nominators personal information (name, telephone number, email address).

 nominees personal information (name, postal address, telephone number, email address, achievements and efforts recognised).

 nominees special category information (such as ethnicity, disability, health conditions) if this is part of the nomination story.

 Photographs and videos of the nominee.

3. How we use your personal information

We use the nominators and nominees personal information to:

 maintain a nominations log;

 communicate with any nominators to obtain further information about a nominee;

 review the nominees and choose the finalists in line with the selection criteria outlined in the terms and conditions;

 communicate with any nominees to confirm that they are happy to be winners of the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2026;

 provide details of the finalists to Marks & Spencer;

Photos and recordings will be used by Associated Newspapers Ltd and may be placed online and enter the public domain with the award winners consent.

If a winner does not wish to accept the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2026, then their personal information will be promptly deleted except for personal information identifying them as a winner who declined.

4. How long your personal data will be kept

 We will hold Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2026 winners personal information securely by retaining the name and contact details of the winners to be able to invite them to reunion events and promote the award after the event.

 After this time the personal information will be securely destroyed.

 All nomination forms are securely destroyed after one year.

5. Reasons we can collect and use your personal information

 We collect and use your personal information as we have a legitimate interest to collect Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2026 nominations to celebrate the efforts and achievements of inspirational women.

 Following receipt of nominations, we rely on the nominees consent to process the nominees personal information and proceed with award stages.

 To process any special category information we also rely upon the nominees consent.

 The nominee may withdraw her consent at any time. If she withdraws her consent prior to judging, the nomination will not be processed any further and any personal information that has been collected will be deleted.

 We rely on consent for the taking and use of photos, sound bites and video recordings.

Who we share your personal information with:

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Under GDPR you have rights which you can exercise free of charge which allow you to:

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London, W8 5HY
Whether it's an unreasonably high price tag or the possibility of unpleasant side effects, anti-ageing hacks all too often come with a catch.

But there's an old-school trick that's virtually cost-free and so simple anyone with hair beyond their shoulders can pull it off: the ponytail - otherwise known as the original non-invasive facelift.

It might sound all too simple, but pulling hair into a ponytail will pull skin around the ears, elevate the cheeks and corners of the eyes and create an overall more youthful look.

Actress Meryl Streep is the ideal example; the 74-year-old is back on the press circuit as she promotes the much-anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, and during which she's embraced the look.

Streep's ponytail added to her overall radiance, lifting and snatching her skin as she attended a conference alongside the film's other stars, including Anne Hathaway, in Seoul, South Korea.

She's not the only one, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore have also used the look to their advantage.

Red-carpet genius George Northwood, who has styled mid-life beauty Rachel Weisz, previously told the Daily Mail how to best execute the look. 'A ponytail works best on dirty hair.

'It gives guts and hold, while a bit of grease about the hairline can make things look more modern, cooler and edgier.'

Forget a facelift... just opt for a pony! Celebrities, including Nicole Kidman, have embraced the look

'I hold the head upside down and use my George Northwood Undone Wave Holding Spray squirted and scrunched into the mid-lengths and ends,' he added.

'Then, I lift the head back up and rub in some of my Undone Moisturising Cream with my palms. This makes the hair easier to scrape back into a tight, bump-free ponytail with my fingers.'

'The trick is to tie it once with a hair band, then go in again with a second one to pull it even tighter - a second draft that makes the look more sculptural.'

Of his work with celebrities, he said: 'When I've styled Gwyneth Paltrow and Laura Bailey in the past, we've kept their hair pulled back tightly at the sides for the lifting effect, but with looser texture teased out on top for elongating height.

'If you're not a ponytail person - some people's hair is too fine so it looks insubstantial - then just wrap it round and turn it into a top knot.'

It comes after celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton and hair expert Charlotte O'Flanagan revealed their trusted tips and tricks for those looking to get away with long hair over 50.

According to Andrew, irrespective of the age-old myth, women in fact 'can wear their hair long throughout their life, as long as they abide by three golden rules'.

These fall under the following categories: optimum health, investment in quality haircare and multi-dimensional hair colour.

Actress Julianne Moore looked flawless as she sported the look while attending a red carpet event in Santa Monica, California, last year

During the press conference for Devil Wears Prada 2, Meryl was radiant while embracing the hairstyle

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, 53, has embraced the slicked back ponytail look during recent events

According to Andrew, moisture is the 'holy grail' of hair care in older age, meaning 'moisture-rich hair care is a top tip'.

He said: 'Don't leave conditioning masks at the back of the bathroom cupboard. Instead, use them religiously to bathe the hair in moisture-rich ingredients that will add shine and vitality to longer lengths.'

While a trip to the salon may seem somewhat tiresome, Andrew is clear that investing in good quality hair care is the key to looking youthful.

He explained: 'Subtle layering should also be used to trim every single split and tired end.

'One-length hair barely even suits youth, so opt for face-framing layering that will flatter the features. When pushed back away from the face, it will add soft volume.'

For those seeking longer hair in older age, colour is your ultimate best friend.

Andrew said hair colour remains an integral part of a 'beauty regime' by adding 'multi-dimensional tones' to ensure your locks look 'interesting and not drab'.

For those feeling less adventurous, even a simple 'scattering of fine woven high or low lights can make such a difference'.
The party was in full swing, friends and family in every room, so it was easy to miss when Zara, 12, once again quietly slunk off to her room clutching her phone. However, one person did notice her withdrawn behaviour: her older cousin, Jaz.

It was the latest in a string of worrying changes. First it was the make-up. Then the change in clothes  underwear that made Zara look more mature than she was. Recently Jaz, 17, had also heard a rumour from friends that Zara had an older boyfriend.

Jaz had tried voicing her concerns, but her aunts had dismissed her. They argued that Zara was nearly a teenager and she was just trying to keep up.

Except it wasnt just that Zara was glued to her phone, she was also jumpy around it  and that worried Jaz the most. Because, thanks to an online safety talk at school, she knew how to spot all the warning signs of online sexual harassment and grooming.

Armed with what shed learned, Jaz braced herself and knocked on Zaras door, gently opening a very difficult conversation. Haltingly, the truth came tumbling out.

Zara had met a friend-of-a-friends brother on Snapchat. At first the boy, who said he was 16, was nice to her, telling her how pretty and funny she was and how much he liked her.

However, the conversation rapidly darkened. Now he was begging her to send him nude photos.

Zara felt caught. She really liked him and didnt want him to lose interest. But she was scared and felt so alone with this horrible dilemma, she was convinced Jaz wouldnt understand.

Roxy Longworth, one of the remarkable winners of Femail's 2025 Inspirational Women Awards

But Jaz did  and knew Zara was far from alone. The online safety talk that had spurred her to intervene was presented by Roxy Longworth, one of the remarkable winners of Femails 2025 Inspirational Women Awards.

Just 23, Roxy is the founder of Behind Our Screens, a platform highlighting the potentially life-threatening dangers young people are exposed to online, day in, day out.

Our awards for 2026 launch today, and we are once again asking you to nominate ordinary women who, like Roxy, have achieved extraordinary things.

I met Jaz at a talk Id given at her school in the south of England, explains Roxy. When she saw the way her cousin was behaving, alarm bells started ringing.

My dream is for everyone to recognise and be able to talk about the dangers we face every time we go on the internet, so we can make it a safer place for young people and especially children.

Technology is moving so fast, so many parents are still oblivious. Unless we talk about it, we cant address the problem.

For Roxy, this is an intensely personal battle. She was just 13 when a 17-year-old boy at her school pressurised her into sending him a nude photo.

I fancied him and he was saying that everyone was doing it so I pressed send, she recalls. Then he wanted more and more. From that moment he controlled me. I couldnt tell my parents because I felt so ashamed and stupid. He shared the photos with a friend of his, who threatened to spread them around unless I sent more. I was terrified.

Roxy at the 2025 ceremony for the Femail Inspiration Women's awards, which returns this year

Roxy started self-harming when a boy she had sent explicit photos with shared them around the school (picture posed by model)

When Roxy, from London, blocked him, he sent the photos of her around the entire school. Shockingly, the school blamed her. The first her parents knew was when they were called in to be told Roxy was being punished for breaking school rules.

Consumed with shame, Roxy  a straight-A student  started self-harming and, despite her parents loving support, went into a mental health spiral. It culminated in a psychotic breakdown and she started hearing voices.

I thought it was all my fault, says Roxy, who also works full-time as a strategy consultant. I missed an entire year of school because I was either in hospital or at home on suicide watch. I survived but lost the rest of my adolescence feeling ashamed, alone and disgusted with myself.

Roxy and her 56-year-old mum Gay, a novelist, wrote a book to help families bridge this digital divide. When You Lose It was published in 2022. I was inundated with messages sharing other peoples experiences online, says Roxy. It saddened but emboldened me to speak out.

Exactly one year ago, in April 2025, with a 20,000 grant from the Co-op Foundations Young Gamechangers Fund, Roxy launched Behind Our Screens.

The aim is two-pronged, she explains. Encouraging young people to talk openly and share their experiences removes the shame. Secondly, its vital that young people have a say. Often they know more than adults give them credit for and, without their input, it will be much harder to improve online safety.

Since winning the Inspirational Women Award, Roxy has seen Behind Our Screens take off exponentially. Shes met Home Office minister Jess Phillips, and is in regular contact with both her officials and Ofcom (the regulating body for communication services) sharing the evidence she collects so that it informs Government policy.

As well as school visits, she was invited to speak at Reading and Latitude Festivals.

We had more than 1,500 young people coming into our tent  one of them was Jaz, which is how I know we helped her, she says.

So many wished their parents had realised how many strangers they were speaking to online when they were 12 or 13.

Others had been traumatised by watching violent videos or feel the extreme porn they were exposed to has left them struggling with relationships.

I have heard from several mothers whose children have killed themselves or been hospitalised, adds Roxy.

I came so close myself. Its truly shocking that, ten years on, there are still children feeling such shame they believe they dont have a future.

I know if I had just seen one person talking about their experiences, it would have countered the shame. I honestly believed I was the only person stupid enough to ruin my life. Thats what drives me on.

Winning the Inspirational Women Award helped convince me all the effort is worthwhile. We really are able to make a vital difference.

Some names have been changed.

Interview by Tessa Cunningham

Nominate YOUR extraordinary woman

We all know them  the women determined to make a difference in their communities. That might be by raising funds, championing underdogs or campaigning for a cause.

Thats why were launching the Daily Mails Inspirational Women Awards 2026, in partnership with disability charity Sense and sponsored by Marks & Spencer.

Over the next three weeks, we want you to nominate extraordinary women from every walk of life. Five finalists will be chosen to attend a morning reception with HRH The Princess Royal at St Jamess Palace on Wednesday, June 3.

How to nominate: Visit dailymail.com/InspirationalWomenAwards2026 and tell us in no more than 400 words why your candidate should win.

You can also email your entry to inspirationalwomen@dailymail.co.uk, or send it to Inspirational Women Awards c/o Femail, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY.

Entries close at 11.59pm on Monday, May 11, 2026. The Editors decision is final. Each winner receives a crystal trophy and 500 M&S gift voucher. There are no cash alternatives. Full Terms apply. See dailymail.com/InspirationalWomenAwards2026
An American visitor's observation about a common exchange in Aussie cafes has caused a stir.

Brandon Borror-Chappell recently explained that, although he is 'the most Australia-loving American in the world' who 'delights' in all the 'nuances' of the culture, there's one phrase frequently used that always makes him do a double-take.

The two-word phrase? 'That's okay'.

He clarified in an opinion video that this expression 'doesn't bother me, it just bothers my language processing centre'.

New York City-based Brandon, who regularly entertains his 40,000+ followers on his @brandonborrorchappell account, explained that he became acutely aware of this expression during one of his many visits to his Aussie wife's hometown of Sydney.

To illustrate, Brandon recounted a typical scenario in an Aussie cafe, seamlessly switching between his usual American accent and a remarkably accurate Aussie one.

He gave the example of ordering a flat white to take away, waiting for it to arrive, and then saying 'thank you' to the cafe worker who handed it to him.

The response he says he would then invariably receive? 'That's okay,' he mimicked in a perfect Aussie accent.

Brandon Borror-Chappell recently shared an observational video about how Aussies in retail settings will respond to a thank you with the phrase 'that's okay'

Brandon is based in NYC, but frequently visits his wife's home country, Australia

'And I get it  that's the equivalent of "no problem",' he explained in the video.

'But "that's okay" to my brain is a response to "I'm sorry", not to "thank you",' he elaborated.

'The implication, then, is that I've committed some faux pas just by ordering something,' he mused.

Brandon even offered an example of when he'd expect to hear 'that's okay' said in the US - like if you have accidentally stepped on someone's foot.

In that scenario, Brandon explained that the person who stepped on someone would say 'I'm sorry', and the response from the other person would be, 'That's okay'.

The recent video exploded online, viewed over 415,000 times and attracting thousands of comments.

Expanding on his observation, Brandon told Daily Mail how, from his American perspective, 'when someone says "that's okay", it's usually when they are apologising for a minor infraction'.

'But for me, not knowing the local hospitality vernacular and not being used to it, it's just an adjustment. It takes a moment for the brain to catch up when someone says it.'

Brandon's video sparked mixed reactions from Aussies - some tried to justify the 'that's okay' response, while others were floored that it wasn't universally used

'I enjoyed a great deal of the comments I received in response to the video, explaining the cultural context of this response,' Brandon added. 'And how the "that's okay" really does have this underlying translation of: "Look mate, don't worry about it, I am happy to do it, you haven't caused any offence."'

Indeed, many replies to Brandon's video did just this, explaining that 'that's okay' in Australia is, in fact, a highly polite response.

'When we say "that's okay" after a thank you, it is similar to saying "don't mention it mate - all good".'

Another agreed that in Aussie-speak, '"that's okay" essentially means "it was no problem".'

'As a local, it feels more honest and genuine than the alternatives. And our culture values a response,' another Australian insightfully added.

However, for many Aussies it only dawned on them that this response wasn't universally understood when Brandon pointed it out.

'It's just a habit; we do it automatically. Never even thought about it before!' one reflected.

'I say this all the time,' noted another.

One Aussie local explained that they never felt it was strange to hear 'that's okay' as a response to a thank you until Brandon pointed it out

'When you grow up with language like that, it's just normal. You don't think about it, or how strange it seems you've made me consider something I've never thought about. And now it does seem weird!'

Interestingly, several Aussies even admitted to disliking the use of the 'that's okay' response to 'thank you'.

'I'm Aussie and I bloody hate "that's okay",' one woman wrote. 'My husband says it to me and I want to clobber him. "Yeah, I know it's okay!"'

'I agree. I'm Australian and it bugs me as well.'

'I agree! I can't stand "that's okay". I much prefer: no worries, all good, have a great day instead.'

Several other overseas visitors to Australia agreed that they too were thrown off by hearing the response after thanking a store worker.

'This threw me off soooo bad and I tried explaining it to a friend once I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks this!'

However, a number of Aussies also pushed back, calling out the standard American customer service reply to 'thank you' as equally strange and even borderline rude.

Brnadon, who regularly shares witty observation videos to the 40,000+ followers on his @brandonborrorchappell Instagram account, admitted he hadn't noticed the typical American retail worker's 'mmhmm' response to a 'thank you'

One Aussie explained: 'I feel the exact same thing in reverse as an Aussie living in the US. When I say thank you it's met with "mmhmm!". It bugs me.'

A similar reply agreed: 'I had the same thing in America when people responded "yep" to thank you. It feels so rude and messes with your brain!'

'As an Aussie, when I moved to America I was so offended when I'd say "thank you" and the reply was "mmhmm". But now I'm used to it.'

And just as Brandon's observation had surprised Aussies, this reverse observation caught him off guard, as he explained how 'as an American, I'm totally blind to its peculiarity'.

'The most common rebuttal I got to this video was from Aussies remarking on the American "mmhmm" response to "thank you",' Brandon told Daily Mail.

'It's something I don't even notice, because it's so typical here I'm deaf to it.'

Other overseas visitors to Australia reflected on another similar local response when they were told 'too easy'.

'When I moved to Australia, the phrase that tripped me up was "too easy",' one explained. 'Is my coffee order not complicated enough? Are you wanting more of a challenge?' they joked.

Others who had visited Australia said they were also baffled when Aussies retail and hospitality workers replied with the phrase, 'Too easy'

Someone else replied to clarify, saying it isn't much different from replying with 'no problem'.

Another added: 'Too easy = your request is within my capabilities and it will be a pleasure to help you.'

One Aussie remarked that both this phrase and 'that's okay' reflected something broader about the national spirit.

'As a culture, we seem very keen to let everyone know nothing is a hassle, we're definitely not stressed. So it's either 'too easy' or 'no worries' or 'that's okay'. Either way, everything is chill.'
When I was offered treatment for my sun-damaged skin last year, I felt huge relief. I had believed it was too late for me, and I was doomed to suffer the consequences of decades of sun-worshipping and poor care.

The offer came after I took part in Spencer Matthews Untapped podcast to discuss my life before and after sobriety  and I foolishly forgot that audio is also visual in these modern times. Arriving au naturel, bar moisturiser and mascara, I was to pay a heavy, public price.

I then made the added mistake of looking at the social media comments and the words aged badly leapt out at me. Rather than focus on my honesty about my issues with alcohol, social media was set alight with criticism about my leathery, over-tanned face.

I showed my eldest daughter Bo, whos 25, and she very sweetly told me to concentrate on the kind words not the cruel ones. But who can do that? Its always the negative stuff that sticks.

I was really upset. Firstly, because its so depressing that people judge a womans appearance rather than her words or actions. Also, from a child right into adulthood, Ive had issues with my skin  shameful outbreaks of eczema would appear on my body and face in response to stress or allergies. I could never rely on my skin  it was volatile and, at times, crushingly disappointing.

Due to my eczema, I was made to believe the sun was my skins friend and in many medical ways, it was. I was told to use a UV lamp and later sunbeds, bathe in sea salt and apply astringent creams.

As a child of the Seventies and a teenager of the Eighties, no one sought protection from the sun. There wasnt masses of SPF around  the mindset was all about accelerating tanning. The darker the shade of mahogany you went, the more lush you were. Also, as a Nordic child who might only see five to six hours of daylight in winter, I sought out and worshipped the sun whenever I could.

I loved  and still do  how sunlight lifts your soul. As for premature ageing, it wasnt something I dwelled on in my 20s. I used SPF, but not religiously  if I went on holiday I wanted a tan.

Age 58: Ulrika today, after seeking help to reverse years of sun damage, which included applying SPF every day

Age 52: A heavily tanned Ulrika in 2020 after years of sun worshipping

Age 23: Ulrika in 1990 during her career as a TV presenter

I acknowledge that a huge part of my career was courtesy of my agreeable face. I was blonde, blue-eyed and quite innocent looking. Easy on the eye as men might say. But then I was just 20. However, I never considered the value of my face. For me, my career was all about the work I put in. I didnt care what others thought of my looks, despite being described as sexy, Swedish and blonde. In Sweden, lots of people are blonde after all, so I was no extraordinary exception.

My father died suddenly at 53 from a brain haemorrhage, so Ive always known getting old isnt guaranteed. I actually never thought about a life beyond 50. But now here I am, at nearly 59, being bullied and judged because of my appearance.

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I havent dabbled with lots of skincare. Ive just used La Mer moisturiser for decades because it agrees with me. Ive never had regular facials. And I always knew there would be a price to pay for being a sun worshipper.

As a feminist I try not to care what others say, but its impossible. I think what bothers me the most is that people want to be so cruel. The bar is set impossibly high for women. A man wouldnt have got the same amount of critique.

On a personal level, though, this experience has shown me how my skin is viewed by others  and I havent liked what Ive seen. So when Dr Benji Dhillon, from Define Clinic in Beaconsfield, invited me to a consultation, I jumped at the chance because I really needed some help.

Over the years, I havent done much to counter the process of ageing. Ive had Botox in my frown lines and a bit of filler but looking older isnt something that bothers me. With Dr Dhillon there was no mention of anti-ageing, the focus was on treatments to rejuvenate, refresh and repair my sun-damaged skin.

His knowledge and experience were without judgment  having someone not shame or look at me with despair gave me hope. We agreed on a plan of various treatments over a six-month period and perhaps, most crucially, a skincare regime with medical-grade products.

At first I rolled my eyes at the thought of spending hours cleansing, stripping and moisturising my skin, but actually, the routine takes me mere minutes at both ends of the day. In doing it, Ive learnt to value and respect my skin in a way I never have before.

Its helped that 22 months ago, I gave up alcohol. While I dont have a long history of alcohol addiction, it had become problematic for me in the past couple of years. Since going teetotal, Ive been on an incredible journey of healing and found an inner peace I didnt think possible. Ive gone from feeling I wasnt cut out for life, to a woman in her late 50s eagerly awaiting what the future holds. So, if Id worked hard at mending my soul and my mindset, why wouldnt I want to heal my skin? It was my next act of self-care.

Its infuriating that we have such a negative approach to getting older. Ageing should be celebrated and valued as the privilege it is. The current fashion for stuffing faces with filler and Botox to stay forever young has launched a cohort of Stepford Wives. Their aesthetic journey has created a ghastly template of identikit women with lips like tyres, overinflated cheeks and frozen faces.

Im not anti these treatments but if the first thing you notice about someone is their frozen features, the aesthetician isnt doing it right. The approach should be about balance and improvement not exaggeration. I trusted Dr Dhillon implicitly because he saw me as an individual and his intention was never about changing how I looked, but rather improving it.

I now have a greater respect for my skin. I have not sat in the sun since the day I met Dr Dhillon and I will never use a sunbed again. The miracle is that since Ive had help with my skin, Ive been wearing SPF every day  even through winter.

But the most fundamental change has been the way I feel about my face. I can say, wholeheartedly, that I now look in the mirror knowing I look the very best I can. My face is not perfect; its the face of a nearly 59-year-old. But for the first time in my life, I can honestly say I accept it. I am not meant to look 39. This is how Im meant to look.
Megyn Kelly has hurled a batch of fresh insults at President Donald Trump, suggesting that the thrice-married commander in chief is immoral and a 'bad husband.'

Kelly, 55, left no stone unturned as she erupted in a wild rant during her show on Wednesday alongside guest Russell Brand, where the once firebrand MAGA supporter obliterated her once-trusted ally.

'The truth of it is, there are aspects of his personality which are obviously not good and that we've mostly just chosen to overlook,' she said.

'You know, he's not a moral man. He's obviously not the greatest husband in the world. And he's extremely petty and thin-skinned, extremely petty and thin-skinned.'

Kelly also accused the president of 'getting in bed with people who hate him,' including Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin, while out-casting his once loyal supporters, like herself and Tucker Carlson.

'If you have a principal disagreement with something he does, you're otherized,' Kelly said. 'There's no loyalty in return ever from Trump. Ever.'

Kelly had been a long-time loyalist to the 79-year-old Republican leader, but the two have recently been at odds over the president's handling of the Iran war.

She recently took to social media to mock Trump and disagreed with his position that he was not persuaded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start the war with Iran.

Megyn Kelly, 55, blasted President Donald Trump as a bad husband and an immoral man acting like a 'cornered animal' on her show on Wednesday

'You know, he's not a moral man,' Kelly said of Trump. Trump recently called Kelly and others a 'nut job' and a 'troublemaker'

He said Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel played a factor, but that the decision to invade Iran stemmed from his 'lifelong opinion that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.'

She shared his post on X, accompanied by a meme of sitcom character Marcia Brady saying: 'Sure, Jan.'

The popular meme is usually referenced to suggest that someone is telling a lie. It's cut from a scene in the 1996 film A Very Brady Sequel where Jan Brady, portrayed by Jennifer Elise Cox, lies about dating a classmate called George Glass.

Kelly told Brand that although she has had her 'skirmishes' with Trump over the years, as has Carlson, but the two always fought hard for the president at the end of the day.

'Weve had our skirmishes in the past, Tuckers had skirmishes with him, I have too,' she said.

'But who fought harder than a lot of others during the lawfare against him to make sure people knew that it was bulls**t, and stood up for him during the actual electoral contest to make sure people understood what was at stake and why he had to be the choice.'

She also hit out at his approval rating, which is in the low 30 percent, especially with the war in Iran, calling the president a 'cornered animal.'

'He's got no support in this Iran war. He can't bring it to an end,' she added.

Kelly was once a staunch supporter of the Republican, but the two have recently had a spat over the Iran war. They're pictured together in February 2025

Trump and his wife Melania Trump earlier this month. 'He's obviously not the greatest husband in the world. And he's extremely petty and thin-skinned, extremely petty and thin-skinned,' Kelly said

'His legacy is on the line, and you can tell he can tell,' she told Brand on Wednesday. 'He's acting out in a very, very bad way. And my prayer every night  every night, Russell  is that he will get back on track.'

Earlier this month, Trump issued a nearly 500-word rant ripping into his most influential advocates, including Kelly and Carlson.

Trump branded his former allies 'low IQ...stupid people' and 'NUTS JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS,' in a Truth Social post on Thursday.

'I know why [they] have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon - Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs,' Trump said.

'They're stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!'
It's undeniable, Chinese brands are rapidly taking over the UK car market.

Last month, they accounted for one in seven new motors sold, and the most popular model of all was the Chinese Jaecoo 7.

But not every Chinese car is thriving in Britain. In fact, one has just been pulled from showrooms after four years of disappointing sales.

Great Wall Motors' Ora brand has axed the availability of its only UK car, the 03 electric supermini - a plush rival to the Mini Electric.

It debuted in showrooms in late 2022 under its former nameplate, 'Funky Cat'. However, the awful moniker was quickly dropped a year later over concerns it was impacting demand.

But it appears the damage had already been done, with drivers steering clear of the small EV due to its questionable badge and a relatively steep asking price.

Last year, GWM's UK importer, International Motors, delivered just 542 examples to customers. That compares to around 9,000 MG4 EVs registered in 2025.

Bosses say it is being phased out as part of plans to overhaul its European strategy.

*Is Funky Cat the worst car name ever? Scroll to the bottom for 10 other howlers

The Ora 03 - formerly the Ora Funky Cat - has been dumped from UK showrooms due to poor sales over the last four years

When the Funky Cat launched in Britain in 2022, it was pitched as a premium rival to the Fiat 500 Electric and Renault Zoe.

As standard, it came with features including wireless phone charging, facial recognition, electric front seats, app integration and an 'intelligent voice assistant'.

Range topping models offered comfort features like heated, cooled and massage front seats, a heated steering-wheel, panoramic sunroof, power-opening boot and automatic parking assistance.

As such, it wasn't cheap.

The Ora Funky Cat debuted in showrooms in late 2022. However, the awful moniker was quickly dropped a year later over concerns it was impacting demand

GWM has shifted just over 2,700 examples of the car in four years. In 2025, delivered hit a mere 542 units

When the name was changed to 03, the small EV cost between 25,000 to 33,000 depending on battery and trim level.

It was available with the choice of a 48kWh or 63kWh battery. The smaller battery's official - though never achievable - 193 miles between charges was disappointing, though the bigger pack offered a more reasonable 260 miles of range.

But sales still tanked.

In the last couple of months of its debut year in 2022, GWM dealers sold 68 in total.

Funky Cat registrations hit 911 units a year later, then when the name was changed to 03 it enjoyed its most fruitful period with 1,162 sales in the 2024 calendar.

With just 542 sold in 2025 and a mere 26 delivered in the first three months of this year, it amassed a lacklustre 2,707 registrations across its four-year spell.

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International Motors has confirmed that there is available new stock across its UK dealer network, though no more Ora 03s are due to arrive from its Chinese factory.

The decision also means Ora no longer has a single model in its line up, despite having a relatively large UK dealer network.

Last summer, it boasted some 46 sites nationwide, made up of showrooms, aftersales locations and test drive centres.

International Motors will continue to import GWM's Poer 300 pick-up truck and the Haval Jolion Pro hybrid crossover.

However, sales of these have been equally slow.

Autocar estimates that it has sold around just 80 examples of both between January and March.

But the Haval and Poer brands will remain available in Britain for the time being. And GWM - which has a broad stable of brands in China - is currently considering which of its marques it wants to launch in Europe next as part of its new strategy.

The decision to axe the Ora 03 means the brand no longer has a single model in its line up, despite having a relatively large UK dealer network made up of around 46 sites

The problem with the Ora Funky Cat/03 wasn't just its name - it was expensive, not just by Chinese car standards but also compared to well-established European rivals

Bosses have said its European operations will now focus on hybrids and combustion-engine models after its previous electric-only attempt stuttered.

It believes following a similar route taken by the Chery Group - which includes the brands Chery, Jaecoo, Lepas and Omoda - of offering long-range hybrids and cheap petrol models will help it double its overseas sales to one million vehicles by the end of the decade.

'Europe still has great potential for Chinese brands,' said Parker Shi, president of GWM International in February.

Andrew Dyson, GWM's head of design, claims the company will now look to launch new saloons, estates and pick-up truck for Europe to 'appeal to (European) markets where there isn't the full infrastructure for (EV) charging'.

In January, GWM unveiled a new architecture for global vehicles, with more than 50 electric, hybrid and combustion-engine models planned.

The automaker is recruiting new dealers in Europe and focusing on bolstering resale values, an issue that is important to European buyers, Shi said.

GWM also plans to set up a European factory to make 300,000 cars a year by 2030, requiring close to a hundredfold growth in sales.

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Registration figures show that almost one in ten new models sold in Britain last year were produced by Chinese brands - that's almost 200,000 Chinese vehicles hitting our roads. This is up from 98,000 registrations in 2024.

And despite Ora's difficulties breaking into the EV segment, it's clear this is where Chinese brands are aiming to have the most influence.

In 2025, around one in eight new electric vehicles (EVs) entering the road had a Chinese company's badge on its bonnet, up from one in 12 the year previous, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Over a dozen different Chinese brands are now on sale in the UK and more are due to arrive in 2026 as the region looks to disrupt the new car market.
BP has rarely been out of the headlines over the last year with top-level boardroom reshuffles and merger speculation. At its lowest point, Shell was seen as a default buyer.

Todays annual meeting at Sunbury in Surrey will not be a tame affair. It will be the first appearance before shareholders both for chairman

Albert Manifold, who took the job last October, and for new arrival from Down Under, Meg ONeill, the chief executive.

Annual meetings rarely live up to their billing. But there will be plenty for BP shareholders to sink their teeth into.

They are likely to be much more friendly to the board and executives than before Donald Trumps assault on Iran and the subsequent revival in crude prices.

Crude costs have advanced some 60 per cent, to above $100 a barrel in latest dealings, and unleashed a bonanza for BPs sophisticated trading arm.

Question time: BP's annual meeting will be the first appearance before shareholders both for chairman Albert Manifold and for a new arrival from Down Under, Meg ONeill, the chief exec

How fortunate that Manifold, in his enthusiasm to sell off extraneous assets and pay down debt, did not follow the advice of critics who wanted the trading arm divested.

Manifold cannot be expected to receive an easy ride.

The groups decision to reject a climate change resolution from green activists Follow This, which demanded scenarios on falling oil and gas demand (pre-Gulf war), led antagonists including leading UK insurer Legal & General to demand Manifolds head.

This is a little bizarre given the extensive search undertaken by BP senior independent director  and Aviva boss  Amanda Blanc, after Manifolds predecessor Helge Lund was shown the door for not reining in climate change passions.

There is expected to be a vote against Manifolds election, but dissidents may be hard pushed to meet the 20 per cent threshold that requires the board to keep close tabs on the target director.

A more commanding vote may be possible on a resolution from a shareholder coalition led by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility).

It is seeking forensic details on BPs approach to capital spending. This also has been a long-standing gripe of activist investor (and BP shareholder) Elliott, which has been quieter since the share price has taken off. It has risen a shade under 60 per cent over the last 12 months.

The company can be expected to highlight seven major fossil-fuel projects started in 2025. Five are ahead of schedule, including BPs largest discovery in a quarter of a century in offshore Brazil.

Meg ONeill, the first female chief executive in big oil, couldnt be blamed for being confused by the opposition to Manifold. BP spent much of the last several years defending its plan to have 40 per cent of its operations on renewables by 2030.

This was the goal set by ejected but not-lamented chief executive Bernard Looney. Now that BP has rowed back on climate change transformation it is under fire for neglect. You couldnt make it up.

There is one resolution which needs to be firmly rejected and could be heading for defeat. The directors are asking for powers to hold future AGMs as hybrids, online and in person, or more radically online alone.

Aside from depriving investors of the customary cup of tea, abandoning in-person AGMs for online should not be tolerated. Shareholder democracy is the crowning glory of public companies.

Annual meetings provide the opportunity for the owners of companies  shareholders, institutional and private  to extract bosses from the gilded cages of private jets, limousines, big expense accounts, and armies of personal assistants, and look them in the eye.

Some AGMs may be ill-attended but putting them online, especially for regiments of older investors, is tantamount to shutting them out.

One of the great differentiators of listed companies from private equity plunderers taking over the world, is that major decisions  such as those in climate change  are not made behind closed doors.

We are told that ONeill likes nothing better than to engage with investors and the media.

If she fulfils that objective alone today, she will have gone a long way to restoring confidence in Britains more than a century-old energy producer.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz reminds us that fossil fuels are much more than a transition to renewables.
LONDON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The fifth edition of the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit 2026 was held at the historic Mansion House, bringing together Heads of Government, ministers, and senior business leaders from 56 Commonwealth nations. Under the theme "Commonwealth Solutions to Global Challenges," the summit featured high-level discussions on AI, sustainability, health-tech, and the global financial landscape.

Among the distinguished speakers was Maitreya Dadashreeji, a renowned global humanitarian, transformation pioneer, spiritual leader, and founder of MaitriBodh Parivaar. He was invited to represent India and delivered a discourse titled "India  Leadership Through Change to Prosperity."

In a landmark proposition, Dadashreeji introduced the concept of a 'Gross Peace Index,' urging global leaders to evaluate nations not only by economic performance but by their levels of peace, trust, and societal harmony. He advocated that, future collaborations and investments be guided by this index, fostering stability-driven partnerships.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, from the US - Israel - Iran conflict to the ongoing Russia - Ukraine war, global instability has reached an unprecedented intensity, with its ripple effects now being felt across societies and economies worldwide. Maitreya Dadashreeji at the summit shared, "The world today does not need any hero or messiah. Instead, what it needs are selfless individuals who are genuinely committed to the welfare of society to step forward and collectively establish peace!"

Just in March, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and de-escalation, India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of peace. Global Leaders like Brazil's President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, commended India's nuanced negotiating approach, noting that India consistently prioritizes the happiness and well-being of other countries.

Reinforcing India's spiritual legacy, Maitreya Dadashreeji called for a shift from power-driven to purpose-driven leadership, inspiring collective action toward a more peaceful, united, and prosperous world.

Distancing from conventional policy dialogue, he brought a deeply human and spiritual perspective to the summit. Emphasizing that true progress stems from inner stability and emotional alignment, he highlighted the urgent need to reconnect with the essence of humanity beyond divisions of race, religion, and region. His address underscored that while economies and strategies shape nations, it is trust, compassion, and unity that sustain them.

SOURCE MaitriBodh Parivaar
WH Smith has scrapped its dividend and cut its annual profit outlook amid disruption to air traffic triggered by war across the Middle East.

WH Smith, which focuses on travel hubs including airports, said it had been forced to adopt a more 'cautious' outlook reflecting the impact on passenger numbers and weaker consumer confidence.

The Swindon-based retailer now expects its annual headline profit before tax and underlying items to be between 90million and 105million, down from previous expectations of 100million to 115million.

The group's new annual forecast hinges on the assumption that jet fuel supplies 'can be maintained', it said.

Shares in WH Smith fell 12.61 per cent or 78.62p to 549.22p following the group's update on Thursday. In the past year, the company's share price has fallen nearly 40 per cent.

Leo Quinn, executive chair at WH Smith, said: 'Moving forward, the board and management team will have a relentless focus on driving cash, cost discipline and strengthening the balance sheet.'

Grim: WH Smith shares fell sharply on Thursday after the retailer cut its annual profit forecast

Quinn said the firm's first step in the process was to axe dividends for investors in a bid to reduce debt and strengthen the group's financial position.

WH Smith slumped to a 25million pre-tax loss in the six months to February, representing a sharp widening from losses of 4million the previous year. Revenue in the period edged up two per cent to 748million.

Looking ahead, the London-listed retailer said: 'Much will depend on the peak summer trading period and the Group assumes no immediate improvement in consumer confidence.'

Airport outlet operators such as WH Smith are likely to see weaker activity as travel slows amid the conflict, with airlines passing on higher jet fuel costs to passengers via ticket price hikes.

Tourist numbers have been hit due to the Middle East conflict, as airlines initially grounded flights to protect passengers. Now many airlines claim they will soon be facing jet fuel shortages.

WH Smith is still recovering from an accounting blunder last year, which caused the resignation of chief executive Carl Cowling.

The retailer's profile took a drastic pivot last year when it sold its 480 high street locations, leaving only its stores in airports, train stations and hospitals.

Duncan Ferris, an investment writer at Freetrade, said: 'At WH Smith, management may have confidence in the businesss long-term outlook, but the near-term challenges are substantial.

He added: 'Profits aside, what may really get investors backs up is the dividend suspension, as management turns its focus to debt reduction and bolstering its balance sheet. Winning back investor trust may prove more difficult if the stock is not lining their pockets.

'Strong summer trading is now even more crucial. Anything that further upsets consumers travel plans, such as pressure on travel costs or jet fuel supplies, could squeeze the businesss results further.'
BPS new bosses were given a bloody nose yesterday as the oil giant suffered a shareholder revolt and its annual general meeting descended into a farcical row.

Investors rebuked chairman Albert Manifold, who is just six months into the job, by defeating the board in two key votes and staging a significant rebellion against his appointment.

It was the first annual general meeting to be led by Manifold, who took over in October, and chief executive Meg ONeill, who has been in the role for just three weeks.

Manifold said shareholders had shown overwhelming support for the direction of travel for the company.

Yet there was an 18 per cent vote against him being given the job. And he suffered defeat on a proposal to hold future annual meetings online, while also losing a vote on a proposal to scrap climate disclosure requirements.

Meanwhile, shareholders voiced anger over BPs stance on renewable energy and pension arrangements for former employees.

Revolt: In a bruising annual general meeting, some 18% of investors voted against Albert Manifold, pictured, being given the job of chairman

There was even a row about the refreshments at the meeting, with one attendee ejected.

The meeting was a major test for the new leadership at the 117-year-old company, which has come under pressure from US activist investor Elliott to improve performance.

BP has overhauled its top team as it redirects billions in spending to oil and gas after a pivot towards renewable energy. Manifold told the meeting: BPs performance in recent years has not been where you, or we, want it to be.

We need to be a simpler, stronger, more valuable company. In service of that, we have made decisive changes to BPs strategy and to the leadership.

ONeill said: BP is a great company. It can be an even greater one. Now, we need to accelerate the progress we have made so far.

BP had already run into opposition over its agenda from shareholder advisory firms Glass Lewis and ISS, as well as major investors Legal & General and the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum.

There was backing for Manifold from Norways giant sovereign wealth fund, which has a significant stake.

But the board came under fire over a series of issues. It faced a backlash after blocking a vote on a motion from climate campaign group Follow This.

This would have required BP to reveal how it would handle future scenarios of falling oil and gas demand.

Mark van Baal, founder of the group, said: They dont want to answer a question because its outside of their comfort zone of turning hydrocarbons into petrodollars. This board stands with its hands in its ears.

And a number of investors also spoke out over online-only annual meetings.

One said that at other companies that had adopted the practice it placed a barrier between the board and its shareholders, and in many cases questions were not answered in a meaningful way.

Gavin Palmer, another shareholder, was ejected after demanding the board commit to being honest and straightforward and haranguing it over the offer of a packet of biscuits and a weak tea for attendees, rather than the lunches of the past. He said: You are insulting the owners of this company.

Manifold defended the companys decision to bring forward the defeated motions, saying: It is good governance to bring these types of issues to a meeting like today  to debate and discuss them.
Britain's high streets have changed radically over the last couple of decades, and not always for the better.

As online retailers eroded shop footfall and business rates for physical shops rose sharply, several big-name brand shops disappeared.

Toys R Us, Borders, Staples, Tie Rack and BHS all shut up shop years ago as it became unviable to trade. More recently, the likes of Bodyshop, River Island and Poundland have seen large-scale shop closures.

Fed-up British shoppers and independent retailers have now revealed what they want to see less and more of on Britain's high streets.

In a survey of more than 2,000 shoppers, 68 per cent said they wanted to see fewer vape shops, which have flooded shopping districts.

The scale of the scourge of vape shops has become all too apparent. In Cheetham Hill in Manchester, 54 vape shops line just two streets.

Get rid: A sizeable proportion of shoppers want to see fewer vape shops on our high streets

According to the Voices of Retail report by Faire and Spring & Autumn Fair, Britons' second biggest gripe with high streets is shuttered, empty and boarded up shops, with 66 per cent stating they want to see less of them.

Gaudy gambling arcades came in as the third least popular sites with shoppers, with 52 per cent of people and independent shop owners surveyed claiming they wanted to see fewer of them on high streets.

A hefty proportion of respondents said they also wanted to see fewer bookies, payday loan shops, tanning salons, mobile phone repair and accessory shops.

To a lesser extent, takeaway food shops, charity shops and chain coffee shops were also viewed with a degree of disdain.

Shopper Imogen Corker, 28, who works in hospitality, said there should be more support businesses, as in Australia where she's from.

Ms Corker said: 'Back home people are embarrassed to walk around with a Pret coffee, they dont want to be seen to be supporting big corporate companies.

'If the attitude towards corporate companies changed in the UK to the same then there would be even more independent businesses.

'Independent businesses need to be given more grants, more tax breaks to be able to help them get off their feet in the first few years of being open.'

One type of shop omitted from the research was what have been dubbed 'Turkish-style' barber shops.

In 2025, hundreds of barbers were raided in an operation led by the National Crime Agency, leading to dozens of arrests for money laundering and drug dealing to modern slavery.

Calling for less: Shopper Imogen Corker, left, wants to see fewer chain coffee shops in Britain

Independent retailers are the most desirable

The research also highlighted what shoppers want to see more of.

A bakery (70 per cent), free parking (69 per cent), and an independent coffee shop (59 per cent) topped the public vote, according to the analysis.

Others that were high on the wish list of shoppers were a bank, a cash point, independent restaurants and bars, hairdressers, chemist and quirky gift shops.

Britons are also keen to have supermarkets and butchers shops in their tow centre. Of all the big brands on the high streets, 40 per cent of shoppers said they would go more if it had a Marks & Spencer, while 39 per cent said they wanted a Boots shop.

Parking woes: Paul Grout, owner of MEAT N16, said free parking would help many businesses like his

Paul Grout, 65, owner of MEAT N16, a butcher who started his store in Stoke Newington 15-years-ago, said: 'Its about being able to get a quality service that you just dont get in big corporations. You get the professional knowledge and get to know your customers.

'Free parking definitely is a big driver, and when Mr and Mrs Jones cant just drive up the street and pick up their Sunday roast then it stops them from coming to small businesses.'

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said they wanted to see more free parking available on and around local high streets.

In Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppy in Kent, the local council has recently introduced car parking charges at previously free sites, prompting uproar among residents and business owners.

Another business owner said they had altered opening hours due to local parking restrictions.

Diane Yartlett, Owner of Nova Fortuny in Teddington, said: 'We open at 11am because parking isnt good, you cant park before 10.30am, which is ridiculous. Ive had customers say its hard to park. People want to come, go for lunch, look in shops, but its not easy.'
When Michael Guillen was in his mid-twenties and studying a PhD in physics, mathematics and astronomy, he was so devoted to his scientific research that he spent all his waking hours in a basement at Cornell University, barely even finding the time to wash.

In the windowless and dark room, he thought he had found his own version of a secular heaven, having decided in elementary school that he didn't believe in God and wanted to devote his life to science.

'I'm spending 20, 21, hours a day in my basement lab,' he told the Daily Mail, describing feeling like 'a kid in a candy shop' - with the personal hygiene habits to match.

'If you look at pictures of me back then, I was pretty scuzzy looking,' he joked.

He added: 'Becoming a scientist was all-consuming. Who spends 20 to 21 hours a day in a basic lab with no windows, for years and years with no social life? I hardly groomed myself. Hardly ate. Who does that? It was obsession.'

But for some reason, he had caught the eye of a young woman in a physics class, who had slipped a Valentine's Day card under his door.

When he sought her out to thank her, he confessed that he had also embarked on a spiritual quest. While he was devoted to science and had not read the Bible, he had begun to get the feeling that science may not answer all the questions he had about life.

'She said something that changed my life forever. She said: "I haven't read the Bible either: if you read it, I'll read it with you,"' he said.

Michael Guillen's new documentary is the latest in a growing canon of works in which academics argue that modern science and religion are not incompatible

Guillen isn't happy just quietly practicing his faith: he is determined to try and use his beloved science to prove that God exists

'And I thought, well, I don't care about the Bible, but I do care about this girl.'

That was the first step on his decades-long journey to Christianity.

But today, Guillen isn't happy just quietly practicing his faith: he is determined to try and use his beloved science to prove that God exists.

His new documentary, The Invisible if Everywhere: Believing is Seeing, released April 8, is the latest in a growing canon of works in which academics argue that modern science and religion are not incompatible, but essential partners in answering life's great mysteries.

The documentary traces the journey that Guillen made from curious child to devout atheist student and eventually to Christian believer, mixing AI-enhanced archival footage and photos of Guillen and other scientists with AI-generated images and videos to explain his theories.

It uses accessible imaginary and language to talk the viewer through each of the scientific discoveries he made, and how they pushed him closer to God.

Rather than being one 'eureka' moment, he explains how it was a gradual discovery that 'modern science believes most of reality is not visible, not logical and not imaginable.'

Earlier this year, he explored the question of where heaven is. He argues it could exist far beyond the visible universe, past a distant boundary in space unreachable by humans.

He speculated that this inaccessible region would be beyond time as we understand it, past the limits of what we can ever see or travel to.

The exploration, in an essay for Fox News, led him to the concept of the Cosmic Horizon, a theoretical borderland located 273 billion trillion miles away from Earth.

Drawing on Edwin Hubble's discoveries about our expanding universe and Einstein's theories of relativity, he described a distant location moving away at the speed of light, a boundary where time effectively stops.

Heaven could lie on the other side of this Cosmic Horizon, inhabited only by light and light-like entities.

He concludes that our current understanding of cosmology aligns well with the biblical view of an eternal heaven up there, inaccessible to us mortals and inhabited by nonmaterial, timeless beings including the One who created the universe.

His documentary comes after the worldwide publishing success of God: The Science, The Evidence by French engineers, Michel-Yves Bollore and Olivier Bonnassies, who argue that everything modern science has revealed points to some sort of intelligent design of humanity.

Similar books have been flying off the shelves, as people seek answers in an increasingly chaotic world. With new wars, geopolitical turmoil, climate change and the threat of AI wiping out humanity, many are seeking answers outside the earthly realm.

Guillen attributes that to the 'hyper cognitive ability' of humans to 'perceive that there's more to reality than we are able to fully understand' - and hopes that his new documentary will help launch them on their own spiritual quest.

When Michael Guillen was in his mid-twenties and studying a PhD in physics, mathematics and astronomy, he was so devoted to his scientific research that he spent all his waking hours in a basement at Cornell University

Join the discussion How do YOU see the relationship between science and religion?

His new documentary, The Invisible if Everywhere: Believing is Seeing, uses accessible imaginary and language to talk the viewer through each of the scientific discoveries he made

'I'm hoping that people will come away with a greater appreciation for the deeply mysterious universe beyond us and within us,' he said.

'I began life as an atheist, and to my surprise, science opened my eyes to the existence of God - I would have never, never in a million years expect that my beloved science would lead me to that conclusion.'

The question of whether science and religion can co-exist - or if one automatically disproves the other - has long been a contentious one. History is full of renowned scientists who also had faith, ranging from Isaac Newton to Michael Faraday.

But many prominent scientists in more recent history were scathing. The late renowned physicist Stephen Hawking famously called religion a 'fairy tale' for people afraid of death and used his final book to declare 'there is no God, no one directs the universe.'

British biologist Richard Dawkins has devoted much of his career to demolishing the case for the existence of God.

This was exactly where Guillen began his intellectual quest. He grew up attending Spanish-language church with his Pentecostal family, who have Mexican, Cuban and Spanish roots.

However, he decided around age seven that he was an atheist who loved evidence-based science. He went on to get a degree, a master's and a PhD in physics and math at the most prestigious universities, before taking a position as a physics instructor at Harvard University.

In 1988, he was appointed the Science Editor for ABC News, becoming a familiar face in American households as he spent nearly 15 years investigating and explaining all the scientific innovations taking place all over the world.

But the deeper his scientific research went in his student days, the more he realized it was unable to answer some of the most perplexing mysteries there were.

These conundrums included the still unknown origin of the Big Bang, which created our universe 13.8 billion years ago; the mysteries of the human brain; the phenomenon of near-death visions; the absence of alien life, despite the apparent perfect conditions for it to exist.

He also was troubled by the fact that the dark matter and dark energy that make up 95 percent of the universe are invisible to humans. He had to take it on faith that it existed, even though his scientific motto had always been 'seeing is believing.'

'It's like if you're sitting on a sofa and you drop a coin between two cushions, as you reach for the coin, it just keeps slipping further and further away from you,' he explained.

'That's exactly what I discovered as a student: yes, science answers questions, but every time it answers a question, it's like rabbits - it brings up 1,000 more questions.'

He added: 'I reached a point when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, when I had all these epiphanies, all these revelations, that demolished my childhood mottos. I realized that if I'm going to just rely on science alone to answer my deep questions, it ain't going to happen.'

Guillen approached his spiritual quest with the same determination as his scientific studies, poring over Hindu and Jewish texts, reading the books of the German author Hermann Hesse and Chinese philosopher Confucius, even trying out transcendental meditation.

Then came the fateful meeting with his Valentine admirer Laurel, and her challenge to read the Bible together. His scientific research continued in tandem with that spiritual quest, and the more he learned, the more he realized would never be able to truly know everything.

'What science has done is opened our eyes to the mystery of the universe. It's not at all simple, and we don't understand it. And the more science learns about the universe, the more it realizes it doesn't understand most of it,' he said.

Today, one of his central theses is that there are too many cosmic coincidences that led to the creation of life on Earth, therefore it must have been designed by an intelligent being.

He appears to have worked on the principle of elimination to ascertain that is a Christian God, rather than some sort of extra-terrestrial lifeform or deity of another faith.

'Is there [a religion] that stands out in terms of its synchronicity with science? The answer was just like a no brainer. It was Christianity,' he said.

He decided around age seven that he was an atheist who loved evidence-based science. He went on to get a degree, a master's and a PhD in physics and math at the most prestigious universities

'I began life as an atheist, and to my surprise, science opened my eyes to the existence of God -- I would have never, never in a million years expect that my beloved science would lead me to that conclusion,' said Guillen

'I had all these epiphanies, all these revelations, that demolished my childhood mottos. I realized that if I'm going to just rely on science alone to answer my deep questions, it ain't going to happen,' he said

His argument about intelligent design is not a new one, and all the claims Guillen makes in his book are ones that skeptical scientists have tackled before, chief among them that the absence of a scientific explanation for one thing does not prove the existence of another.

But Guillen is very open to debate and said that he is not interested in trying to convert people to his personal faith, but to embrace the more mysterious side to our life on Earth.

'I'm well aware of the deep mystery that we inhabit, and that inhabits us, so there's plenty of room for disagreement,' he said.

Guillen remains intellectually curious: he made his new documentary - which is based on his 2021 book, Believing is Seeing -- on his computer using only artificial intelligence.

And as for the woman who led him out of his dark basement and towards the light all those years ago, they have now been happily married for 34 years.

'If Laurel hadn't come into my life, honestly, I don't know where I would be, but I know I wouldn't be here talking to you,' he said.

'I would probably still be that scientific monk in the basement in a lab somewhere.'
Three asylum seekers who entered Britain in small boats have been convicted of gang-raping a woman on Brighton beach - after telling a court that 'rape is sex'.

Iranian-born Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, and Egyptians Karin Al-Danasurt, 20 and Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, repeatedly raped the 33-year-old woman behind a beach hut in the early hours of October 4 last year.

The trio behaved like a 'predatory pack' after spotting the drunk victim as she staggered along the promenade when she became separated from her friends after a night out.

Approaching her in the street at around 5.45am, two of the men engaged her in conversation, and just four minutes later they could be seen on CCTV camera walking her towards a ramp down to the beach.

The woman was then led behind a Beach Patrol shack and, as she drifted in and out of consciousness, Ahmadi and Alshafe brutally raped her.

The pair were joined by Al-Danasurt who filmed her on his phone, laughing and repeatedly calling her: 'Dirty b****, dirty b****.'

At one point he grabbed hold of her face, forced open her mouth and spat in it while encouraging his friends to do the same.

When quizzed on his understanding of consent by prosecutors, Al-Danasurt said he thought 'rape was sex' - adding the woman was so drunk she could barely stand.

Two of the attackers were failed asylum seekers but were still living in a Home Office-approved hotel in West Sussex while the third man was under investigation for immigration offences.

CCTV footage shown to the jury showed the group chatting up and groping other women throughout the night, including a friend of the woman they raped.

Prosecutors said the men had been 'on the prowl' and had worked like a 'predatory pack' - adding they hadn't seen their victim as a human being but as a piece of 'meat'.

Giving evidence, the victim told the court: 'I was begging them to stop and they wouldn't. Every time I close my eyes I can see them laughing at me. Every night it bothers me. They thought it was funny. It wasn't consensual at all. They have literally ruined my whole life.

'I didn't say they could do that. My skin crawls because of what they did to me. They're evil and they've ruined my life.'

In the wake of the verdicts, Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said: 'Once sentencing has taken place, we will move to deport them off British soil.'

Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, from Egypt was found guilty of raping the woman on Brighton beach

Karin Al-Danasurt, an Egyptian asylum seeker, said he thought 'rape was sex' during the trial

Al-Danasurt grins as he was led to the prison van after court on Wednesday

The men filmed themselves getting ready for a night out before catching a bus into Brighton where they met the woman

All three defendants were found guilty of rape at Hove Crown Court on Thursday. They showed no reaction as the verdicts were read out, and then translated.

The jury of seven women and five men took around 16 hours and 38 minutes deliberating before reaching their verdicts.

On Wednesday, Al-Danasurt was pictured grinning while being led from the court to a prison van after a day of jury deliberations.

It was heard that Ahmadi and Alshafe had met when then came to the UK from France on the same small boat on June 19 last year, while Al-Danasurt had arrived separately in September 2024.

On the day of the attack, Alshafe's asylum application had been refused, although he claimed in court he did not know this prior to the group's outing.

The court previously heard the asylum seekers filmed themselves getting ready and partied at nightclubs before they targeted their victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The three men left the Horizon nightclub after it closed at 5am and targeted the lone victim who had also been partying in the same bar.

She had become separated from her friends and left the club on her own. She described herself as 'paralytic drunk' and said she had no recollection of how she came to be on Brighton beach.

Hanna Llewellyn-Waters, prosecuting said the men had been 'on the prowl' that night and had worked like a 'predatory pack'.

She said they hadn't seen her as a human being but as a piece of 'meat'.

She said: 'She was repeatedly abused for their sexual gratification and entertainment and that entertainment was obtained in part through her degradation.

'They wanted sex and that could be achieved by being with someone who was in no state to resist them.'

She added: '[The complainant's] state was such that it rendered her extremely vulnerable and indeed, to all intents and purposes, pretty much incapacitated.'

The three defendants partied at their asylum hotel after the attack - with one posing with a sunglasses filter on his face

Egyptian Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, was one of three asylum seekers who came to the UK illegally convicted by a jury today

Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, also Egyptian, raped the woman and filmed her on his phone while calling her a 'dirty b****'

Iranian-born Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, was also convicted of rape - the jury deliberated for more than 16 hours

Ibrahim Alshafe (left) and Abdulla Ahmadi (right) are escorted to a prison van after a day of jury deliberations on Wednesday

Ahmadi is pictured being interviewed by police after the woman reported what had happened

The victim said she remembered drifting in and out of consciousness while being repeatedly 'abused' by three men.

She described being powerless to stop them and said her body felt so paralysed she thought she may have had her drink spiked earlier in the night.

The jury heard that in video interview she said: 'So at first it was like I was coming round and someone had their finger in my mouth and like was rubbing their finger in my mouth and it was almost like I kept falling back asleep.

'Like every time I, I was there but I wasn't, like it was such a weird experience. Like I've been drunk, I'm 30-odd, I've been drunk many a times, I've never had this like feeling before.

'And like as I could remember like I could see a light in my face, like do you know like when you put a flash on a like on the camera on an iPhone and I could hear a foreign accent saying 'Dirty b****, dirty b****'.

Alshafe claimed during the trial he lost his virginity while taking part in the gang rape of the woman.

Asked by prosecutors if he had had sex before, he said: 'No, it was the first time. I was happy that I'm trying something like that for the first time.'

Al-Danasurt was questioned during the trial about why he filmed the assault on Brighton beach.

Hanna Llewellyn-Waters, prosecuting for the Crown, asked him: 'As far as you were concerned, you were witnessing a rape?'

'I see sex in front of me,' he told the court.

'No, there's lots of different types of sex, you were witnessing a rape,' Ms Llewellyn-Waters said.

Al-Danasurt replied: 'That's what I saw. Rape to me is sex.'

He was further challenged on whether he saw 'any distinction' between someone who is or is not able to agree to sex, and whether it 'mattered'.

Speaking through an Arabic interpreter, he said he did not understand the question.

After getting a bus back to their hotel after the alleged rape, the migrants filmed themselves having a barbecue in the hotel grounds

The victim of the callous attack left the nightclub shortly after 5am and made her way along the seafront, before being attacked behind a shed on Brighton Beach

Pressed, the Egyptian said: 'I said what I saw. She was closing her eyes, opening her eyes. She wasn't speaking.

'The situation wasn't pleasant, it was bad. She wasn't able to say anything. They were raping her, but I did not hear anything. I didn't hear what they told her.'

Al-Danasurt told police he started filming his friends, who all lived in the same Home Office-approved asylum hotel, to gather evidence.

Asked why he was filming, he said: 'It was to stop them and to protect myself. I did whatever I could do to stop them and to speak to them.'

But Ms Llwelly-Waters told him: 'You did precisely nothing. You went off and had a barbecue with them the next day.'

The men had filmed themselves getting ready for a night out before catching a bus into Brighton on the night of the attack.

In one clip, Alshafe could be seen speaking to an unknown blonde female in Horizon nightclub in the early hours of October 4.

As she could not speak Arabic and he could not speak English, the pair communicated via the Google Translate app.

In a series of texts she asked him where he was from and told him he was welcome in the UK but questioned his motive for coming to the country.

She asked him what his 'goal' was for the future and how he saw his life panning out in Britain.

Reading from the message, Hanna Llewellyn-Water, prosecuting, said the woman asked: 'Is your only goal here to marry a British woman?'

He replied: 'I am in this country. I will build my future, meet a woman, get married, have children have and become a citizen.'

Another CCTV clip from earlier in the evening, showed Ahmadi and Alshafe in the foyer of Revolution nightclub.

Here, Ahmadi groped one of the complainant's friends, putting his arm around her waist.

Meanwhile, Al-Danasurt put his arms around an unknown brunette woman and stroked her bottom.

A video of them in a room at the asylum hotel where they were all living was shown to the jury.

They got a bus back to their hotel after the rape, before filming themselves having a barbecue in the grounds.

In the clip shown to the jury, one of the defendants appears to be smoking while they cook meat on a portable barbeque.

Ahmadi left the hotel the day after the rape and moved to an address in Crewe, Cheshire, where he was arrested on October 12, the court heard.

The move had not been approved by the Home Office and Ahmadi had been marked as 'absconding, self-departing' from the accommodation.

On October 13, Alshafe and Al-Danasurt, both of Lower Beeding, near Horsham, were arrested by police at their hotel.

Alshafe and Ahmadi were both found guilty of two counts of rape by jurors on Thursday.

Al-Danasurt was also found guilty of all four counts of rape as a secondary party by encouraging and filming the ordeal.

He had also received a caution from police for criminal damage in April 2025, the court was told.

It was heard at a hearing in November that the Egyptian had been convicted of murder in his home country, but this could not be heard at trial as his legal team disputed this, claiming it was in fact his brother who had been convicted of the crime.

At the time, prosecutors told the court Al-Danasurt had been convicted of murder in his absence in Egypt, adding that the basis of his asylum claim was that he fled the country to 'evade a lengthy custodial sentence'.

After the verdicts, Ms Llewellyn-Waters told the judge all three defendants were in the process of appealing against their refused asylum applications.

They will be sentenced on July 15.

After the case, Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said: 'My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim of this appalling crime, and with all those who have been affected by it.

'What she endured is deeply disturbing, and I commend her bravery in coming forward and reporting these vile individuals. I share the public's outrage in their horrendous actions.

'The perpetrators have now been rightly convicted, and justice has been delivered by the courts. Once sentencing has taken place, we will move to deport them off British soil.'

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'These illegal immigrants are dangerous sexual predators who attacked a young woman on a beach.

'Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants are flooding into the UK each year by small boat and we have no idea who they are or what their history is.

'The majority are young men and many have committed rape, sexual assault and even murder - with some sexual assault victims girls as young as just 12 years old.

'We must completely stop illegal immigrants from entering the UK.

'The only way to do this is the Conservative plan to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival.

'But Labour is too weak to do that.'
On January 6, 2021, a bare-chested man covered in Norse tattoos and furs, with horns on his head and a spear in his hand, strode through the US Capitol and sat in the vice president's seat in the Senate chamber.

The painted face of the man who would become known around the world as the 'QAnon Shaman' was one of the most indelible images of the attack that engulfed Congress and sent shockwaves across the world.

Chaos erupted as a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol while lawmakers met to certify President-elect Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

These days, Jake Angeli  though going by Jacob Chansley five years ago  is still a shaman in his native Arizona, and remains adamant that his behavior on January 6 was not threatening.

'You know that viral clip where it looks like I'm screaming?' he told the Daily Mail.

'Everybody thinks I'm screaming - common misconception. No, dude, I'm actually singing. I was singing and at the climax of my shamanic song.

'I was singing to cleanse the ley lines in that harmonic chamber, and the ripple effect of that went global.'

Jake Angeli, aka the 'QAnon Shaman,' inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. 'Everybody thinks I'm screaming... I was singing'

Jake Angeli as he is today, five years after he became globally known on January 6

Angeli's prominence that day helped make him instantly recognizable among the January 6 defendants.

He later pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding and, in November 2021, was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

In court, minus his headdress, he declared himself 'truly repentant', while the judge described his mea culpa as 'the most remarkable I've heard in 34 years.'

Ultimately, he was released from jail after 27 months for good behavior with part of the remainder of his sentence served in community confinement under standard official procedures. Prison, he said, 'sucked.'

On Trump's first day back in office on January 20, 2025, Angeli was among roughly 1,500 'J6ers' granted clemency in a sweeping proclamation covering offenses linked to the Capitol attack.

The prominence of Angeli, above in the Senate chamber during the riot at the US Capitol, helped make him instantly recognizable among the so-called J6ers

President Donald Trump speaking at a rally near the White House before supporters stormed the US Capitol to try to stop Congress from certifying President-elect Joe Bidens victory

Now, though, Angeli says he is less enamored of Trump  largely because of what he believes about the still-contentious Epstein files.

Late last year, he appeared in full shaman regalia at a 'No Kings' protest in Phoenix carrying a sign showing the face of the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and the words: 'Distract to deceive.'

'I am moving away from Trump and politics because it is toxic,' Angeli told the Daily Mail.

'Trump is a liar. He deceived the entire country, and he's now taking us into war because he's in the Epstein files. You know, he's taking us into war unconstitutionally. Politically, it's all corrupt as f***.

'People don't know about the Epstein files, people don't know the truth about what was going on on the island, people don't know the truth about what was going on at Zorro ranch.

'If they knew what was going on, then Donald Trump would not be president.'

Since his release, Angeli has flirted with running for Congress as a Libertarian or for governor of Arizona.

He has also promoted a forthcoming self-published book, Shamanic Apocalypse, which sets out his beliefs.

Jake Angeli at a No Kings Protest in Phoenix, Arizona on October 18, 2025

Angeli told the Daily Mail he has 'moved away' from Trump and politics because it is 'toxic'

Among his political and spiritual claims is a $40 trillion civil lawsuit filed last September in Maricopa County, Arizona, against the President and a long list of other defendants, including the International Monetary Fund.

In it, Angeli sets out a distinctly America First, anti-war worldview, accusing the government of 'continuing multiple deadly wars for profit', and even allowing foreign leaders to dictate US foreign policy in the Middle East and eastern European.

He also alleges that the Patriot Act was used to place him under National Security Agency surveillance, and that the NSA catfished him on Facebook.

In the lawsuit, he declares himself president of a 'New Constitutional Republic of the United States,' with its capital in Phoenix, and says he would have the Federal Reserve mint a $40 trillion gold coin to wipe out the national debt.

'We must end the Fed,' he said.

'QAnon Shaman' was sentenced to 41 months in prison for obstructing an official proceeding. The judge described his mea culpa as 'the most remarkable I've heard in 34 years'

Angeli with America First former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has also moved away from Trump

Angeli says that America is experiencing a 'crisis of consciousness' and his book is intended to be a 'spiritual map out of the mess.'

'We don't have to have a war,' he said. 'We don't have to have a revolution. We can have an evolution, an evolution of consciousness.

'People don't realize that everything is one, that we're all one, bro. They don't realize that they're destroying their mother earth.'
Politics is fast. We're faster. Sign up to the DC Insider newsletter for a front-row seat to American politics... and unlock 3 FREE months of DailyMail+ HERE

Americans' favorite living Brits are members of the royal family, but a majority of registered voters have no clue that King Charles III is coming to the White House for a state visit next week.

In the latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, voters were asked about the royal visit, which will bring King Charles across the pond for the first time as the British monarch.

He and Queen Camilla were invited by President Donald Trump to help celebrate the US's 250th birthday.

A whopping 53 percent of registered voters admitted that they had heard 'nothing at all' about the royal visit in a poll conducted April 14 and 15.

Thirty-one percent said they had heard 'a little' about the visit, while just 8 percent answered 'a lot.'

Republicans were slightly more likely to have heard about the visit, with 12 percent answering they had heard 'a lot' about it, versus just 7 percent of Democrats.

Independents knew the least, with just 5 percent saying they knew 'a lot' about King Charles' plan to visit the United States.

At the same time, American voters listed members of the British royal family as their favorite living Brits.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump (right) have invited King Charles and Queen Camilla (left) to the White House next week for the first state visit of the President's second term. Fifty-three percent of US voters admitted to not knowing about the visit

When American voters were asked to name their favorite British person, the top results were members of the monarchy, including Princess Kate, Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles

Topping the list: King Charles and Prince Harry, who is married to American actress Meghan Markle, followed by Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Coming in a distant fifth was Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

Markle got a smattering of votes too, even though she's not British.

The President and First Lady Melania Trump will host King Charles and Queen Camilla for tea on Monday, but the grander welcome and state dinner is scheduled for Tuesday.

It will mark the first official state dinner of the President's second term.

It also comes as serial pedophile Jeffrey Epstein remains in the news, with Trump on Monday night Truthing about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer taking heat over his US ambassador pick Peter Mandelson, who had Epstein ties.

'Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom acknowledged that he "exercised wrong judgement" when he chose his Ambassador to Washington. I agree, he was a really bad pick. Plenty of time to recover, however!' Trump posted.

Ahead of the King's visit, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna and the family of the late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, who had alleged abuse from the King's brother Andrew when she was a minor, have called on Charles to meet with the victims.

Princess Kate (left) topped the list of American voters' favorite British people, with King Charles (right) not far behind. President Donald Trump gives a toast during his September visit to the United Kingdom, where the King held a state dinner for him at Windsor Castle

Prince Harry (right) is among American voters' favorite Brits, new Daily Mail and JL Partners polling found. Harry is married to American actress Meghan Markle (left). They were photographed on a tour of Australia last week

The polling found that the idea didn't have strong support.

Only 27 percent of all voters believed King Charles should sit down with Epstein survivors during his time in Washington.

Another 41 percent said he should not be expected to meet Epstein survivors, while 32 percent of respondents said they were unsure.

Even among Democrats, the idea wasn't necessarily popular.

Just one-third, 34 percent, said King Charles should meet with Epstein survivors, whereas 35 percent said the King shouldn't be expected to have those meetings.

Among Republicans, 51 percent said King Charles should not be expected to meet with Epstein survivors, while 22 percent of GOP voters encouraged him to do so.

Voters were also asked about Melania Trump's stunning statement distancing herself from the pedophile that she delivered on April 9 from the White House Cross Hall.

Just 22 percent of voters said they believed her statement - including less than half, 43 percent, of Republicans.

More Americans expressed some skepticism.

Princess Kate topped the list of favorite Brits according to a poll of US registered voters. Catherine Middleton was photographed marking the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's birth at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday

Prince William is photographed earlier this week at a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II

Twenty-nine percent of all voters said they didn't believe the First Lady, while 18 percent said they were skeptical of her statement and think a connection with Epstein is possible.

Another 14 percent said they mostly believed her statement.

Democrats, not surprisingly, were least likely to believe the Republican First Lady, with 46 percent stating they didn't believe her.
The stunning country estate where Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner held their 250,000 wedding has been ordered to shut after neighbours complained their picturesque village had been turned into 'Malaga'.

The comedian and his new model bride hired the luxury 17th-century estate Euridge Manor in Wiltshire for their nuptials on Saturday.

They said 'I do' during an outdoor ceremony surrounded by a host of famous guests including Jamie Redknapp and his wife Frida, actor Douglas Booth, David Gardner and businessman Gabe Turner.

The 450-acre estate, owned by John Robinson, founder of clothing giant Jigsaw, hosts weddings and private parties throughout the year.

But locals have become fed up with the noise and traffic the posh parties generate with Wiltshire council imposing strict planning conditions for the site aimed at reducing the levels of noise emanating from the complex.

However, Mr Robinson's company Euridge Manor Weddings, challenged the council's conditions, claiming they were 'unreasonable' and 'inconsistent', launching an appeal with the government's Planning Inspectorate eight months ago.

The company suggested a series of proposals to reduce the the impact of noise on villagers, including banning brass instruments, drums and bagpipes from being played outdoors.

Despite the proposals, the Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal ruling that the venue must cease all operations by May 17.

Euridge Manor in Wiltshire where Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner held their 250,000 wedding could be operating illegally

The comedian and his new model bride hired the luxury 17th century estate Euridge Manor in Wiltshire for their nuptials on Saturday

John Robinson, the multi-millionaire founder of luxury fashion chain Jigsaw pictured with his now ex-wife Belle

Locals were jubilant after hearing news of the inspectorate's decision.

One who asked not to be named said: 'We've had to put up with noise and huge volumes of traffic from Euridge Manor for a decade. I've been unable to get a good night's sleep at least two or three times a week due to these posh yobs with too much money and too little class.

'Mr Robinson has turned a beautiful, peaceful village into Malaga. We've all had enough of him and his ridiculous wedding venture. This is not the place for these events.

'The racket makes our lives hell. It's time Mr Robinson read the room and called every wedding he's got booked off.'

Another added: 'Even last weekend Mr Whitehall and his guests made a lot of noise during the later afternoon and early evening. There was whooping and cheering and amplified speeches.

'This is supposed to be a unspoilt and tranquil rural area. We are fed up with sometimes two weddings a week with generates excess traffic, jeering, swearing and music all hours of the day and night.'

Councillor Mel Jacob, Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: 'We have a duty to protect our communities, and this decision supports the council's consistent approach throughout this complex case.

'We remain committed to supporting and working with local businesses, but we must ensure that development and commercial activities operate responsibly and in a way that respects our rural communities and residents. It is simply not fair that residents should have to put up with excessive noise as the result of the absence of a legally enforceable Noise Management Plan.

Euridge Manor must cease all operations by May 17

Roxy looked stylish in white feathered edged satin pyjamas as she got ready for the big day

All the details of the lavish nuptials have been revealed to Vogue, where gorgeous snaps showed the bride in her two designer Galia Lahav gowns

'The Planning Inspectorate has agreed that the revised Noise Management Plan did not yet meet the necessary standard and so the planning permission conditions come into effect and the venue must stop operations.

'We will continue to closely monitor the site, and where breaches occur, we will consider our options and where appropriate, take enforcement action.'

With only 30 days to go to possible closure, Mr Robinson, a friend of the Middleton family who played a key role in the romance of Prince William and Kate, is facing a financial disaster.

In another twist, Mr Robinson and farm manager Charles Williams are still due to stand trial for animal cruelty. The pair have submitted application for the charges, relating to sick and dead sheep, to be thrown out.

Princess Margaret dined at Mr Robinson's villa, Hibiscus, on Mustique. But despite his Royal connections he is not a popular figure in Wiltshire.

He purchased Euridge in 1980, then a 200 acre estate, a five bedroom farmhouse, assorted outbuildings and three cottages. He set about a major restoration and upgrade and bought a further 250 adjoining acres.

Mr Robinson himself has hosted a country fayre and a summer ball in the past which was attended by the local community. And he held his own marriage to now ex-wife Belle there with a gigantic  and controversial - firework display.

In 2015, things started to go downhill after he registered the events business and noise levels rocketed. Even last weekend, cries of 'shagger' aimed at Whitehall could be heard ringing across the valley.

Pictured: Jack arriving at the wedding on Saturday in a Tom Ford suit - he later had to change after a wardrobe malfunction

The details of Whitehall's lavish nuptials were published in Vogue with the bride showing her two designer Galia Lahav gowns -which are thought to have cost up to 16,000 each.

She told the publication of her dresses: 'I ended up choosing one of the first I tried on. Well, two'.

Blonde beauty Roxy - who shares daughter Elsie with Jack - changed into her second dress for the party and also had a veil from the designer, while adding Alaia's Le Coeur heels and jewellery from Roxanne Assoulin.

She also wore her grandmother's engagement ring, saying: 'She handed it down to me when she passed away, which was so special.'

The groom started the wedding day in a Tom Ford suit but later had to change after a wardrobe malfunction.

He explained to the publication: 'I squatted down to pick up Elsie and my trousers split, my whole a** was hanging out.'

Elsie was one of three flower girls on the day and sweetly shouted 'daddy daddy' when she got to the end of the aisle - where Jack was waiting in tears.

After having her makeup done by Nikki Wolff and her hair styled by her sister Josie, Roxy was ready to walk down the aisle with her dad.

Roxy and Jack have been dating since lockdown in 2020, and welcomed daughter Elsie, two, in September 2023 before becoming engaged in December 2024

After the ceremony, the party was catered for by Jimmy Garcia, while their wedding cake was a multi-tier vanilla sponge from Hall of Cakes.

The couple and their friends and family then partied until 2am along with a sea of famous faces including Joshua and Lottie Kane.

The couple will soon be jetting to Venice for their honeymoon.

A spokesperson for the Planning Inspectorate said: 'The Appeal decision was issued on April 16th. As such, it is still within the six week period during which the decision can be challenged in the High Court if it is felt that there has been an error in law in making the decision. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further.'

Euridge Manor Weddings have been contacted for comment.
Chances are Tucker Carlson didn't eat many TV dinners growing up. But according to the sister he barely acknowledges, he now wants more than his share.

The multi-millionaire former Fox News host is embroiled in a bitter he-says-she-says battle with his heiress stepsister Dr Roberta 'Bo' Hunt, over the Swanson TV dinner family fortune she claims he is not entitled to, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

Tucker insists he doesn't want the money, yet his name appears in court documents demanding $2,414 a month.

Hunt is the only biological child of Patricia Swanson Carlson, heiress to the Swanson frozen food firm famed for its iconic foil-wrapped dinners of the 1950s. Patricia adopted Tucker and his brother Buckley in 1979.

When the Daily Mail asked him about the stepsister he grew up with, Tucker claimed: 'I don't know who this person is really.'

But we clearly touched a nerve. 'She's bonkers,' claimed the 56-year-old former Fox News host, denying any knowledge of the legal wrangling.

For her part, Hunt, 61, a Georgia-based college professor, decided to step out of the shadows armed with a trove of family photos, financial records, and a legal complaint stating Tucker has been wrongfully receiving their late mother's inheritance.

'I'm not saying I hate him or that he's a bad person,' Hunt told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview. 'I just want him to do what he knows is the right thing.'

Dr Roberta 'Bo' Hunt is speaking publicly for the first time about the lawsuit against her adoptive famous brother, Tucker Carlson - who has denied knowing her

Hunt and Tucker became family after her mother, Patricia Swanson Carlson (right) - heiress to the TV dinner fortune - married his father, Dick Carlson (left), and adopted his two sons

'The rest of my family don't want Tucker lying and getting away with it because he is Tucker Carlson.'

Hunt's lawsuit against the TV star boils down to a sibling squabble over less than $2,500 per month, marking an ignominious decline for the Swanson family, once revered in Nebraska for their success and philanthropy.

Hunt claimed in a 2024 legal complaint that Tucker and his brother Buckley have improperly received a total of $21,727 each from her mother's trust since she died in 2023, arguing that the document written by her grandfather says the money should only go to blood descendants of the Swanson line, not adoptees.

The courtroom battle is being waged as Tucker is swiftly becoming one of the most divisive figures in Republican politics.

Last month, his longtime ally, President Donald Trump, told ABC News that 'Tucker has lost his way.' This week, Tucker responded by apologizing to voters for endorsing Trump's re-election campaign in 2024.

With his legacy as a conservative thought leader under threat, Tucker now also faces an attack on his adoptive Swanson inheritance and the carefully constructed story of his upbringing.

The saga dates back to 1968 when Gilbert C Swanson, son of the TV dinner company's founder and Hunt's grandfather, set up a trust to pass on substantial wealth to his 'lineal descendants' in the belief he was encouraging his children towards committed family lives.

Instead, Gilbert, who died that year aged 62, set the scene for a family feud more than half a century later.

Family photos shared with the Daily Mail, including this onefrom 1982, show Hunt (white dress) posing alongside her mother, stepdad, and adoptive brothers Tucker (circled) and Buckley (far right) at her debutante ball

The photo of Tucker (left) and brother Buckley (right) with Roberta as young siblings casts doubt on his claim that they barely knew each other

The Swansons' holdings were estimated to be in excess of $100 million at the time, almost a billion dollars in today's money, after the sale of their food business to Campbell's Soup Company.

Their largesse was renowned in Nebraska  and executed with flair. For one 'Hawaiian Evening' gala thrown by Gilbert and his wife at the Omaha Country Club, they imported 70 tons of sand and live palm trees from the West Coast to transform the patio into a 'beach'.

Thanks to their philanthropy, the family name adorns an Omaha public library, an elementary school and a Creighton University dormitory.

As a 1979 New York Times profile put it: if the Swansons were late for a flight, the plane waited.

So when 18-year-old daughter Patricia announced to her father that she had secretly married beau Howard Feldman, Gilbert felt the need to scramble to protect the family legacy.

He demanded his daughter sign over control of her inheritance to the family lawyers, then set up a trust that stipulated Swanson riches could only pass to grandchildren 'born in lawful wedlock', according to Hunt's 2024 lawsuit.

The Carlson brothers' entry to the Swanson family was a little more turbulent than 'lawful wedlock'.

Patricia Swanson (above) excluded her daughter from her will, Hunt claims, while the Carlson brothers continued receiving trust payments

The Swanson empire  famed for its iconic TV dinners  amassed a fortune now at the center of a family feud

Dick Carlson, a former TV newsman, gained custody of Tucker (right) and his younger brother, Buckley, (center) before they were adopted into the Swanson family

Tucker's biological mother was an heiress herself: Lisa McNear Lombardi, born to a family that owned three million acres of ranch land across four states, with oil and gas rights.

After majoring in architecture at UC Berkeley, Lombardi met and married Tucker's father, TV newsman Dick Carlson, and moved to Los Angeles, where she had the two boys.

There, seeking to pursue her career as a sculptor and distance herself from her privileged upbringing, she joined the entourage of renowned artist David Hockney.

'She was more like a hippie, arty kind of person. I couldn't ever imagine her being a mother,' former West Coast editor of Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine Joan Quinn told Business Insider in 2022. 'She was ill-content.'

Molly Barnes, who exhibited Lombardi's work in the 1980s, remembered her as 'bohemian', 'very ambitious' and 'someone who was fighting the establishment.'

According to Dick's divorce filings, Lombardi also fell into 'alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine abuse' that 'left her incapable of properly caring' for the children.

Tucker put it succinctly in his father's obituary: 'His wife departed for Europe and didn't return.'

In 1975, Dick got full custody of Tucker, then six, and Buckley, five, and moved to the affluent San Diego suburb La Jolla. Lombardi died of cancer in France in 2011, having never seen her sons again.

Once ensconced in La Jolla, the Carlson pad became the venue for high society dinner parties where future California Governor Pete Wilson and author Theodore Geisel  aka Dr Seuss  were regulars.

More recent photos show Hunt with her children and her mother (left) dining with Tucker and his family at an Easter brunch in Washington, DC, around 2008

Tucker (circled) at the same Easter event with his family

Another picture shared with the Daily Mail shows Hunt (right) hanging out with her sisters-in-law, Susie (center) and Melissa, at Tucker's home around 2010

Two streets away lived Patricia, married by then to architect George Hunt, and their teenage daughter, Roberta.

Patricia had married George in the Swanson's Omaha mansion aged 22, just a week after her father's funeral in 1968.

But Hunt says her father left her mother after she and Tucker's dad began an affair. Dick moved in with his two sons around 1977, leaving Hunt feeling like 'an afterthought' in the family throughout her teenage years. Patricia adopted the Carlson boys in 1979.

'It was all about Dick Carlson and his boys,' Hunt, a Georgia Military College professor, said. 'Whenever anything would go wrong, I was always the one who got in trouble.'

Hunt said she and her new stepfather 'never got along,' and the 'animosity' strained her relationship with her mother.

'She always took their side. Even being older, when they were married, it was always that they did no wrong,' Hunt said.

She said Dick convinced Patricia to send her to Kents Hill boarding school in Maine in ninth grade. 'As far away as you can possibly get.'

'It was a toxic thing with him being involved,' she said. 'I think he married my mom for money, and I will die thinking that.'

Roberta even received a Christmas card in recent years from the former Fox News host and his family. Photo provided by Roberta Hunt

The former Fox News host, meanwhile, claims he has had 'no contact' with the woman suing him over the Swanson family fortune

Asked by the Daily Mail whether he grew up living in the same home as Hunt, Tucker took on an indignant tone, characteristic of his expressive on-screen persona, and replied: 'No!'

'I've had no contact with this person in more than 30 years,' he added, claiming he last saw her 'in the 1980s', and that 'I don't know who this person is really.'

But a family photo from 1982 shows an 18-year-old Hunt on the night of her debutante ball, flanked by a grinning, suited Tucker and Buckley, her mother and their father beside them.

And other, much more recent pictures show Hunt and her children dining with Tucker and his family at an Easter brunch in Washington, DC, around 2008 and hanging out with Tucker's wife at his home around 2010. She also shared with the Daily Mail a Christmas card she said she received in recent years from the former Fox host.

'I don't know why he would lie about it,' Hunt said.

'They must have amnesia, especially because I sent them these pictures about eight months ago.'

But she admitted that relations had been tense for decades.

Hunt claimed that on one occasion in the years before her mother's death, Patricia and Buckley asked her and her cousins to sign papers that would confirm the inclusion of the Carlsons in the Swanson grandchildren's trusts.

According to Hunt, the bad blood came to a head in 2023 when Dick allegedly failed to tell her that her mother had a stroke. Above, at Patricia's bedside in the hospital in 2023

Hunt - above, with her mother's coffin - also claims she was forced to say goodbye to her mother in the morgue after her stepfather, Dick Carlson, scheduled the funeral on the same day as her daughter's graduation

Patricia Swanson Carlson died on November 18, 2023 at the age of 78

'They tried to get us to sign off that Tucker and Buckley were family,' she said.

'I got a cryptic text from my mother, saying, "Somebody's going to call you from the bank, don't worry about it, just sign it."'

'I said, I'm not going to do that. That's when things went downhill with Tucker and Buckley.'

Hunt said the bad blood came to a head in 2023 when Dick allegedly failed to tell her that her mother had a stroke.

Tucker's father refused to reveal where the ailing Patricia was hospitalized, she claimed. Hunt said she resorted to hiring a private investigator to find out.

When her mother died days later, she claimed Dick also refused to schedule the funeral on a day other than her daughter's graduation, forcing her to say goodbye to her mother in the morgue.

In the following months, she found the Carlsons were drawing thousands of dollars from her late mother's trust, her lawsuit claims.

Hunt filed a legal complaint in Omaha, Nebraska, in September 2024, alleging Tucker and his brother Buckley have an 'illegitimate claim' to the Swanson wealth.

Swanson patriarch Gilbert C Swanson helped create the frozen food fortune now being fought over in court

Swanson, the son of the TV dinner company's founder and Hunt's grandfather, set up a trust to pass on substantial wealth to his 'lineal descendants'. He died in 1965

She alleges a trust established by her grandfather specifically bans inheritance by anyone other than blood relatives, excluding adopted family members.

And she makes it clear the lawsuit is personal, pointing out that the Carlsons never knew her grandfather, the source of the disputed legacy, while to her, he was 'Big Poppa'.

'He got me sick on pistachios, I used to sing to him,' she said. 'I was told I was his favorite.'

Tucker claims he has had nothing to do with the trust or the court case.

'I have never taken a dollar of the money,' he said. 'I'm not involved in any way. I have never responded to anything.'

But filings from 2025, submitted on his behalf without a lawyer, acknowledged it is 'true' he received thousands a month from the trust.

Later filings say he and his brother hired attorneys who are taking the case to trial in August.

Tucker and his wife, Susie, have built a life far removed from the Swanson family's Omaha roots

Tucker's filed answer to Hunt's inheritance lawsuit last year claimed that she had been 'specifically disinherited' by her mother in a 2014 will, and that he and his brother are 'permissible beneficiaries' of the TV dinner cash.

Hunt agreed that she was not bequeathed anything in her mother's will, but because she was 'taken care of' by her father's side.

As the Omaha court case continues, it remains to be seen whether the Carlson brothers will keep their share of the Swanson money.

But either way, Hunt, a devout Christian, says each will ultimately receive what he is owed.

'They can be mean,' she said, 'and when they die, that's what they have to deal with, how they've conducted themselves on this earth.'
Aussie TV star Alicia Gardiner almost broke down in tears after a court indicated it would release bodycam footage of her conduct at a pro-Palestine rally which turned ugly inside the Victorian parliament.

Gardiner, who starred in Offspring, had earlier won a key court battle after the prosecution withdrew an assault charge relating to an alleged 'nipple cripple' that had been hanging over the actor's head.

No reason was given for prosecutors abruptly withdrawing the charge and instead, Gardiner was fined $500 and avoided a conviction after she pleaded guilty to failing to leave after a direction to do so.

The 50-year-old mother-of-two was part of a group pro-Palestinian protesters in the upper public gallery of the Victorian Parliament on May 7, 2024.

Gardiner refused to leave when instructed and her offence was captured on body worn camera, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday.

The footage depicted Gardiner in a blue knitted jumper, wearing a surgical mask over her mouth and nose, while protective services officers frog-marched her and a dozen or so protesters out of the gallery just after 1pm.

Then-Treasurer Tim Pallas had to halt a speech as the protesters chanted 'shame on you' and 'free, free Palestine' while security officers pushed, shoved and dragged the agitators out of the gallery, down the staircase and out on to the front steps of parliament.

Parliament was suspended and politicians were forced to evacuate as the upper house gallery protest got out of hand.

Alicia Gardiner, 50, leaves Melbourne Magistrates; Court after the prosecution withdrew an assault charge last night

Gardiner speaks with officers outside Victoria's Parliament House in bodycam video released by the court

Gardiner appeared on the Prime show Deadloch

Gardiner, who appeared in Wolf Creek, Kath & Kim and the Prime crime comedy series Deadloch, had faced a more serious allegation she assaulted a parliamentary staffer during the chaotic protest.

The complainant previously gave evidence a woman in a blue knitted jumper 'charged' at her twice when she blocked her from entering a door into the legislative chamber.

She told the court the second charge knocked her off balance 'quite a bit'.

'Then I felt a really sharp stabbing pain,' the complainant told the hearing while under cross-examination.

'For a split second, I thought I had been stabbed. I thought it was a knife. Then I felt a twist on my left breast. It was like a squeeze, and a real hold on, and then a twist.'

A photo of her bruised and grazed breast was tendered to court.

Lawyer Angeline Centrone, for Gardiner, said the breast touching was 'not deliberate' but occurred when her client put her hands up amid a 'crush' as the protesters were being shoved out of parliament.

'We don't dispute that collisions may have occurred,' Ms Centrone said. 'It's unintentional.'

Gardiner is ordered to leave the public gallery

Gardiner almost broke down in tears after a court indicated it would release body worn camera footage of her conduct at a pro-Palestine rally

The complainant also denied that Gardiner deliberately charged at her because the protesting actor was 'being pushed around like a ball in a pinball machine'.

'Her body language gave me the impression she was coming at me  that it was her choice to try and move me,' the complainant said.

'My view is she broke the girl code and twisted my breast, you don't do that,' she said.

Gardiner's joy at avoiding the more serious allegation was short-lived after Magistrate Malcolm Thomas indicated he would consider releasing body worn camera footage to the media.

Gardiner, who appeared at court in person wearing a floral dress, looked despondent and on the verge of tears, when Magistrate Thomas said he wanted to release the footage. 'There's been a plea in relation to your client remaining in the premises which the footage shows,' Magistrate Thomas said.

Gardiner kept a face mask on while inside parliament house

Gardiner played Cath York (above) in Deadloch

'And it shows how she's conducted herself in that time.'

Ms Centrone fought the release of footage, telling the court her high-profile client's career will suffer.

'The life of an actor has been described to me as quite lean at times,' Ms Centrone said before calling out previous media coverage of the assault allegation including a headline which referred to the incident as an alleged 'nipple cripple'.

'My client has suffered enough... it's unfair and [she has] suffered more than most would.'

The prosecution said the footage should be released.

'To the extent it shows Ms Gardiner acting inappropriately in the court place, well that's part of the series of events that occurred on that day and part of what the Crown rely on for the failing to move on charge,' the prosecutor submitted.

'If the media aren't reporting on that footage in a way that is appropriate that becomes a matter between Ms Gardiner and those news outlets. We would say it should be released.'

Magistrate Thomas took a short break to consider the media application.

Gardiner exits the public gallery

The court heard Gardiner is 'currently relying of her savings'

However, when the court returned, Ms Centrone came armed with new argument against release of the footage.

Ms Centrone told the court Gardiner has 'expressed concern in regards to the other persons in the footage'.

'She has concerns for their employment... these people aren't in the public as such,' Ms Centrone told the court.

Magistrate Thomas ultimately decided it was 'appropriate' to release the footage after he determined the possible identification of other people depicted does not 'outweigh the public interest'.

'The body worn camera footage is highly relevant to a fair and accurate reporting of the matter to which Ms Gardiner has pleaded guilty,' he said.

The court heard Gardiner, most famous for her eight-year stint playing nurse Kim Akerholt on Offspring, is not working and 'currently relying on her savings'.

Ms Centrone also submitted references on behalf of her client which described the Offspring actor as having 'great integrity'.

Ms Centrone said Gardiner, who was supported in court by family and friends, had 'always disputed the allegation of assault' and is of 'very good character'.

Gardiner is also a prominent theatre and musical performer who was part of the original cast of the Australian stage production of Mamma Mia!.

The actor also returned for the musical's 2017/18 national tour.

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HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An" or "the Group"; HKEX: 2318/82318; SSE: 601318) released its 2025 Sustainability Report, introducing for the first time its "SIMPLE" sustainability framework, which demonstrates how the Group embeds sustainability deeply into its core businesses through six strategic pillars to create long-term value for customers, employees, shareholders, and society.

The SIMPLE framework articulates Ping An's sustainability philosophy across six key dimensions:

Sustainable  Long-term Stability and Growth: Leveraging its integrated financial services strategy, Ping An continues to support key sectors underpinning long-term economic development, aligning corporate value creation with macroeconomic growth. As of the end of 2025, the Group had deployed over RMB 10.88 trillion in funding to support the real economy. In 2025, sustainable insurance premium income reached RMB 730.8 billion, up 16.1% year-on-year. Responsible banking balances stood at approximately RMB 1.3 trillion, while responsible investment assets totaled RMB 1.0426 trillion, representing a 22.7% increase from the end of 2024.





Leveraging its integrated financial services strategy, Ping An continues to support key sectors underpinning long-term economic development, aligning corporate value creation with macroeconomic growth. As of the end of 2025, the Group had deployed over RMB 10.88 trillion in funding to support the real economy. In 2025, sustainable insurance premium income reached RMB 730.8 billion, up 16.1% year-on-year. Responsible banking balances stood at approximately RMB 1.3 trillion, while responsible investment assets totaled RMB 1.0426 trillion, representing a 22.7% increase from the end of 2024. Inclusion  Inclusive Finance: Ping An continues to expand access to financial services and unlock the potential of long-tail markets. By the end of 2025, inclusive insurance generated RMB 179.723 billion in premium income, providing risk protection to nearly 2.93 million small and micro enterprises. Inclusive small and micro enterprise loan balances reached approximately RMB 484.5 billion, benefiting around 910,000 businesses.





Ping An continues to expand access to financial services and unlock the potential of long-tail markets. By the end of 2025, inclusive insurance generated RMB 179.723 billion in premium income, providing risk protection to nearly 2.93 million small and micro enterprises. Inclusive small and micro enterprise loan balances reached approximately RMB 484.5 billion, benefiting around 910,000 businesses. Mitigation  Risk Prevention and Loss Reduction: Ping An is transforming insurance from a post-event compensation mechanism into a proactive risk management solution, enhancing societal resilience. In personal and public safety, Ping An Global Emergency Assistance provides 38 services covering more than 100 emergency risk scenarios across home, outdoor, and overseas settings, with coverage spanning 233 countries and regions worldwide. Through its public safety initiative "Traffic Light", Ping An has donated over 10,000 traffic safety facilities across 31 provinces in China and upgraded more than 1,700 high-risk road sections, significantly reducing accident rates. In climate risk management, Ping An's proprietary EagleX System issued 10.57 billion risk alerts to 130 million customers in 2025, helping reduce losses by approximately RMB 707 million.





Ping An is transforming insurance from a post-event compensation mechanism into a proactive risk management solution, enhancing societal resilience. In personal and public safety, Ping An Global Emergency Assistance provides 38 services covering more than 100 emergency risk scenarios across home, outdoor, and overseas settings, with coverage spanning 233 countries and regions worldwide. Through its public safety initiative "Traffic Light", Ping An has donated over 10,000 traffic safety facilities across 31 provinces in China and upgraded more than 1,700 high-risk road sections, significantly reducing accident rates. In climate risk management, Ping An's proprietary EagleX System issued 10.57 billion risk alerts to 130 million customers in 2025, helping reduce losses by approximately RMB 707 million. People-oriented  Talent empowerment: Ping An is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. In 2025, the Group and its subsidiaries provided more than 30,000 jobs, with total investment into employee training reaching RMB 885 million. To align long-term incentives with sustainable value creation, Ping An continued to optimize its Core Personnel Stock Ownership Plan and Long-term Service Plan. By the end of 2025, more than 109,000 employees had participated, establishing a robust long-term incentive and accountability mechanism.





Ping An is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. In 2025, the Group and its subsidiaries provided more than 30,000 jobs, with total investment into employee training reaching RMB 885 million. To align long-term incentives with sustainable value creation, Ping An continued to optimize its Core Personnel Stock Ownership Plan and Long-term Service Plan. By the end of 2025, more than 109,000 employees had participated, establishing a robust long-term incentive and accountability mechanism. Low-carbon  Green Finance and Low-carbon Operations: Ping An advances green finance while accelerating its low-carbon transition. As of the end of 2025, green investments by insurance funds reached RMB 530.1 billion, representing a more than threefold year-on-year increase. Green loan balances totaled RMB 266.433 billion, up 12.2%, while green insurance premium income surged 30.5% to RMB 76.474 billion. Operationally, the Group continues to advance toward its 2030 operational carbon neutrality target, with carbon emissions falling by more than 16% year-on-year in 2025.





Ping An advances green finance while accelerating its low-carbon transition. As of the end of 2025, green investments by insurance funds reached RMB 530.1 billion, representing a more than threefold year-on-year increase. Green loan balances totaled RMB 266.433 billion, up 12.2%, while green insurance premium income surged 30.5% to RMB 76.474 billion. Operationally, the Group continues to advance toward its 2030 operational carbon neutrality target, with carbon emissions falling by more than 16% year-on-year in 2025. Efficiency  Intelligent and Responsible Technology: Harnessing its leading technological capabilities, Ping An has built a collaborative ecosystem spanning finance, healthcare and senior care, while continuously strengthening its AI ethics governance framework. Ping An's AI-powered "Express Service" platform streamlines complex processes across multiple applications, enabling an AI assistant that allows users to complete tasks through a single, simple command. The service supports 251 million customers and approximately 90 million monthly active online users, significantly enhancing customer experience and engagement.

Ping An's long-standing commitment to sustainability continues to earn strong recognition from global capital markets. In 2025, Ping An received the MSCI ESG AAA rating, ranking third globally in the "Multi-line Insurance & Brokerage" category and maintaining its Asia-Pacific No.1 position for four consecutive years. In addition, in 2026, Ping An remains in S&P Global's Sustainability Yearbook (China Edition), becoming the only mainland Chinese insurance group to receive this recognition for four consecutive years.

Looking ahead, Ping An will continue to advance its "SIMPLE" ESG philosophy, underpinning its high-quality growth trajectory with sustainability and professional expertise to deliver long-term value for customers, employees, shareholders and society.

- End -

About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEX:2318 / 82318; SSE:601318) is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. It strives to become a world-leading provider of integrated finance, health and senior care services. Under the technology-enabled "integrated finance + health and senior care" dual-pronged strategy, the Group provides professional "financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge" services to its over 250 million retail customers. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation and employs technologies to improve financial businesses' quality and efficiency and enhance risk management. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. As of the end of December 2025, Ping An had more than RMB13 trillion in total assets. The Group ranked 27th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2025, 47th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2025, and ranked AAA in MSCI ESG Ratings in 2025

For more information, please visit the www.group.pingan.com and follow our LinkedIn page - PING AN.

SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.
A McDonald's in California has been somewhat open for more than 50 years without ever serving a customer.

Hungry folks who stumble upon what appears to be an ordinary outlet tucked away in the San Gabriel Valley's City of Industry would have to get past a ten-foot steel fence while being recorded by several security cameras, only to discover that no employees are there to take their order.

That is because the building is not exactly a restaurant but has instead been used as a filming location for countless McDonald's commercials.

In 1978, the McDonald's Production Center was built for $1 million, giving the fast-food chain a place to film without disrupting an actual restaurant's business, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Despite its appearance, the restaurant has notable differences that set it apart from your local McDonald's.

The outlet noted that the ceilings are slightly higher to easily accommodate lighting fixtures, and that the downstairs is equipped with a dressing room for talent.

Additionally, the trees outside are in movable planters, and the McDonald's sign itself can rotate in any direction.

Even the intimidating gates can be adjusted for filming, which the outlet said would, every now and then, result in customers rolling in and honking at the drive-thru for service.

A McDonald's tucked away in the San Gabriel Valley's City of Industry in California has never served the public

It was built in 1978 for $1 million, giving the fast-food chain a place to film without disrupting an actual restaurant's business (stock image)

The mock McDonald's has been used in thousands of commercials and can still operate as a functioning restaurant, as it has a kitchen (stock image)

Before the location was built, the company would have to pay a franchisee $5,000 per day in lost sales for using their restaurant to film, according to the outlet's 1988 report.

In addition to the classic McDonald's a customer would visit in the suburbs, there is another building which replicates one of the company's restaurants in a city setting, according to the SF Gate.

The filming site was chosen for its proximity to Hollywood and its talent and was available to movie productions for free.

However, while not serving customers, the mock McDonald's is still able to operate and serve its classic fast food.

There is a kitchen stocked with equipment, such as fryers and griddles, within the facility, according to Los Angeles Magazine.

Linda Magruder-Briggs, who was the advertising production manager for McDonald's, told the Times in 1988: 'We could be open for business tomorrow if we wanted.'

Roadside America noted that, over the years, the filming site has knocked down the model McDonald's to reflect the restaurants at the time.

The worldwide food chain opened in 1940, roughly in San Bernardino, 49 miles away from the production site.

According to McDonald's, it is the largest global foodservice retailer, with over 44,000 locations in more than 100 countries.
A child inmate has died at a young offenders' institution, with his partner claiming he was a victim of violence inside the prison.

The 16-year-old boy was said to have been found unresponsive in his cell at Feltham Young Offenders' Institute, in south-west London, on Monday.

Prison staff called for an ambulance and the teenager was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead two hours later.

His girlfriend, who asked not to be named, said the teenager suffered from a heart condition but did not believe this was the cause of his death.

And when she was asked to examine the body, she said he appeared to have suffered severe injuries.

But a source close to the investigation said this was not the case.

Last night, a Scotland Yard spokesman said the death was being treated as 'unexpected'.

They said: 'On Tuesday, April 21 at 12.05am, police were notified by staff at Feltham Prison and Young Offender Institute about the death of a boy who had been found unresponsive and later died in hospital.

'The London Ambulance Service were called at around 9.30pm on Monday, April 20 and treated the boy, aged 16, before taking him to hospital. He sadly died at 11.43pm.

Watchdogs concluded in 2024 that Feltham, a young offenders institution and prison for men aged 18 to 35 in south-west London, was the most violent in the country

'At this stage, the death is being treated as unexpected and enquiries remain ongoing. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.'

The young man's girlfriend said she had identified his body at West Middlesex Hospital.

'His body had been beaten to a pulp, he was covered in scuff marks and bruises,' she told the Daily Mail.

'We had to look at him through a glass window, we weren't allowed to say goodbye properly.

'We are so confused. We don't know how he died. He did have a heart condition but it is one that is very rare to die from.

'His mother is completely broken. She was originally told he had died in the prison but then later that it was in hospital so we just don't know what happened.

'He had been in trouble, but he was 16, a child, and should have been protected. He had his whole life ahead of him and planned to go back to college but now he can't.

'It is a complete disgrace that this happened.'

The 16-year-old boy was said to have been found unresponsive in his cell at Feltham Young Offenders' Institute. Pictured is an occupied cell at the prison in south-west London

A prison source said that if the boy had been injured, he should have been subjected to regular checks every 15 minutes from staff.

'Heads may roll for this,' they said. The revelations at the coroners court might actually shut Feltham down once and for all.'

The Daily Mail revealed in November that staff at the prison accused of criminal offences were being permitted to quietly resign or transfer to avoid police probes.

Watchdogs concluded in 2024 that Feltham, a young offenders institution and prison for men aged 18 to 35 in south-west London, was the most violent in the country.

In 2019, it was subject to an urgent notification from the Prisons Inspectorate - but a follow-up inspection last August found levels of violence were still as high as anywhere in the UK.

A Youth Custody Service spokesman said: 'We were saddened to hear of the death of a child from YOI Feltham, who died in hospital on Monday April 20, and our thoughts are with their friends and family.

'As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.'
A police officer in Texas was relieved of duty after an alleged viral video showed her spewing a vile racist rant against black people.

Officer Ashley Gonzalez of the Houston Police Department (HPD) was relieved of her duty as an internal investigation determines the validity of a video allegedly showing her racist tirade, according to Fox26.

The alleged footage of Gonzalez shows a woman in a vehicle using multiple racist slurs as she declared that she hated black people and threatened to arrest a black person the following day while on duty.

'Let me get a f*****g black person on a 911 call tomorrow. You're going f****** to jail,' said the woman in the video.

'The amount of times I will always and forever say that I f***** hate n*****... like I hate y'all,' she disgustingly added.

The rant came after she claimed a black person tried to steal her wallet while she was out with a friend.

She said she felt good as she called the alleged thief a slur, adding that it reminded her of her time in the Marine Corps.

According to Click 2 Houston, the US Marine Corps confirmed that Gonzalez served from 2019 to 2023.

Officer Ashley Gonzalez of the Houston Police Department was allegedly filmed spewing a vile racist rant

Gonzalez who was sworn in January, 2024 was relieved of her duties as an internal investigation determines the validity of the video

The woman in the video uses multiple racist slurs as she declared that she hated black people and threatened to arrest a black person the following day while on duty

The Houston Police Officers Union acknowledged the rant in a statement on Tuesday, denouncing the racist remarks and adding that they and HPD do not tolerate the alleged behavior by any of their officers.

'It is our belief that the Department is diligently working to confirm the authenticity of this video and will take appropriate measures to ensure public confidence and trust between our department and our community,' reads the statement.

Authorities also told KHOU that they believe the woman in the video is Gonzalez.

She is still employed at the department, but the results of the investigation will determine if she will be reinstated or indefinitely suspended.

If indefinitely suspended, she would be terminated and ineligible to be rehired by the department.

Gonzalez joined the force in January 2024 and was assigned to the South Gessner Patrol Division.

Authorities told KHOU that they believe the woman in the video is Gonzalez

Several activists and organizations have called for Gonzalez's firing from the department, including Candice Matthews.

Matthews, a civil rights activist, took to Facebook, calling out the officer, noting that while she supports the police, she does not stand for racism hiding behind the badge.

'You will not use the N-word and talk about black people and think you gon' still be holding the badge in my damn city,' said Matthews.

One upload of the alleged rant by Gonzalez reached more than 1.1 million views and thousands of comments condemning the racist remarks.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Houston Police Department for comment.
The parents of an 18-year-old college student revealed that their daughter used her last moments to warn her friends to run before she was gunned down by an illegal migrant in Chicago.

Jessica and Thomas Gorman revealed the gut-wrenching events of the night they lost their daughter, Sheridan.

Sheridan, a freshman at Loyola, was walking with her friends along a pier on Lake Michigan at around 1.30am on March 19 when she encountered a masked man clad in black.

'He, like, moved towards her threateningly,' her mother told CBS News.

'She turned around and she warned her friends that there was a man with a gun and you need to run. And they ran.'

Thomas said his daughter ran about 40ft before she was shot in the back and neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jose Medina-Medina, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been charged with murdering the young woman.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Medina was apprehended by US Border Patrol while crossing the border in May 2023 but was subsequently released into the country.

Sheridan Gorman's parents, Thomas and Jessica Gorman, described how their daughter, Sheridan warned her friends that was a gunman moments before she was killed

Sheridan Gorman, 18, was struck in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene while walking with friends near Chicago's lakefront last month

Jose Medina, a 26-year-old Venezuelan man who illegally entered the country in May 2023, is now facing felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated use of a firearm

DHS also confirmed that Medina was arrested for shoplifting at a Macy's in Chicago roughly one month after entering the US.

Chicago police believe the incident was a random shooting, according to the outlet.

The Gormans were told that their daughter's warning likely saved her friends' lives.

'Presumably, that's what we heard,' Jessica said.

'They say it was a senseless tragedy. It wasn't. It was a murder. It was a preventable murder.'

Julie Koehler, a public defender who is Medina's lawyer, said in a statement to CBS News that her client had been shot in the head in 2018 during a robbery in Colombia.

'He survived but lost a portion of his brain and his skull, leaving him with the mental capacity of a child,' she said.

However, the Gormans believe that Medina had the mental capacity to allegedly kill their daughter.

The Gormans were told that their daughters warning likely saved lives

Gorman's death was also brought up several times during White House press conferences

'He had the mental capacity and the wherewithal to buy a gun, to have a mask on, and to be waiting,' Jessica said, told the outlet.

'The mask was on, and he had a gun pointed at my daughter when she passed him.'

The killing has drawn the attention of President Donald Trump, who took the opportunity to publicly blame former President Joe Biden's immigration policies for allowing Medina to remain in the country.

'A precious 18-year-old college student named Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed while walking in a park, innocently,' Trump said during remarks last month at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual fundraising dinner.

'The illegal alien monster charged with Sheridan's murder had come illegally from Venezuela and had been released into our country by Sleepy Joe Biden,' he continued, while also criticizing Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago's sanctuary city policies.

Trump later called the killing 'devastating'. 'These people were let in by Biden We're getting them out fast,' he promised.

Officials in Illinois have pushed back, with Governor Pritzker describing the case as a 'terrible tragedy' while arguing that failures extend beyond the state and reflect broader national issues, including the lack of comprehensive immigration reform.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized federal enforcement priorities, saying they do not reflect public safety realities.
A hiker in New England was found dead on a trail after an unexpected snowstorm left him stuck in nearly half-a-foot of snow.

Kent Wood, 61, of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, was discovered about 5.5 miles from his car in Franconia Notch on Tuesday, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Wood's family became concerned after not hearing from him for two days as he hiked in the White Mountains and they contacted officials.

The hiker began his journey at the Lafayette Campground in Lincoln on Friday, planning to camp and hike for the weekend.

Officials determined that Wood was not prepared for the three to five inches of snow that fell between Sunday and Monday, noting that he had expected warmer conditions.

The weather that weekend in Lincoln was sporadic. The day Wood arrived on April 17, temperatures reached 66 degrees Fahrenheit but dropped below freezing on April 20.

Officials began an extensive search on Tuesday involving several agencies around the Lonesome Lake and Kinsman Pond area.

Officials located Wood's body at 7.41pm that same day and carried it out of the trail at 1.10am the next morning.

Kent Wood, 61, of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, was discovered about 5.5 miles from his car in Franconia Notch - trail in the White Mountains (Stock Image)

Officials determined that Wood was not prepared for the three to five inches of snow that fell between Sunday and Monday (Stock Image)

Officials issued a safety warning to the public: 'New Hampshire Fish and Game would like to remind hikers that it is still winter in the mountains with deep snow, precipitation, and freezing temperatures.'

According to WCVB, six hikers from Massachusetts were rescued in the White Mountains this past week.

Fish and Game Sgt. Christopher McKee told the outlet that hikers should expect winter conditions in the area.

'It's 40 degrees at the top and never got above freezing. The trees are still covered in snow. Nothing was melting up there, and it was extremely cold.'

McKee added that he expects hikers to have proper equipment and attire, such as waterproof boots, as the warm weather begins to melt the snow.

He added that proper preparation includes informing others about your trip, where you will be, and when you will be there.

The weather that weekend in Lincoln was sporadic. The day Wood arrived on April 17, temperatures reached 66 degrees Fahrenheit, but dropped below freezing on April 20 (Stock Image)

In January, a hiker tragically died alone while climbing a dangerous California mountain after their friend turned back because of the treacherous conditions.

The Inyo County Search and Rescue (SAR) started searching for the unnamed hiker on Mount Whitney after a report came in on January 21 stating they had failed to return.

The agency, which works under the authority of the local sheriff's office, said two hikers started climbing the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States around 11.30pm January 17.

By 3.30pm the following day, while near the 12,500ft elevation, one of the hikers turned around and descended after determining the conditions were too dangerous.
Hypocritical Labour politicians buy houses to get their children into high-performing schools while demonising the privately educated as a 'sort of pestilence', Peter Hitchens has argued.

Speaking on the latest Alas Vine & Hitchens podcast, the longstanding Mail on Sunday columnist cited the example of a Labour 'power couple' who bought a home in an exclusive neighbourhood of the capital.

'The catchment area of a certain girls school in North London is so small that if you want to buy a house there, it's going to cost you millions of pounds,' Hitchens said.

'Because I can't prove intent, I will not name the extremely glamorous Labour power couple who, some years ago, bought such a house in its catchment area.

'They got their daughter into Oxford and all the rest of it, and launched her on the sort of career she would have had if she'd gone to a private school, only without any of those disadvantages that now fall on the heads of privately educated boys and girls who are considered to be sort of pestilence.'

Much was made of the fact that 92 per cent of Keir Starmer's 2024 Labour cabinet attended comprehensive schools - making it the most state-educated in modern history.

In February the government announced plans in a new white paper to restructure school admissions with the aim of stopping parents from being 'priced out of going to their local school'.

However, Hitchens pointed in the podcast to a new type of 'well-hidden privilege' by which middle class parents continue to game the state education system.

Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens has accused Labour politicians of exploting a new type of 'well-hidden privilege' to game the state school system

He said: 'Alan Milburn and his social mobility campaigns and Ofsted have constantly fed the idea into the employment market that you that if you discriminate against privately educated appeals, you're helping the poor.

'On the contrary, the new form of privilege which exists in this country has nothing to do with private schools, everything to do with well-hidden privilege.

'And the thing that I wanted to dwell on here is that left-wingers actually love privilege, provided it's only for them, and it's not just this couple, there are several schools in London.

'Again, I won't name them, but I know where they are and who send their children to them, which are noted for being extremely high standard schools, effectively highly selective, though technically comprehensive.

'Some of them are religious, though not all of them are, and they are full of the children of the left-wing elite who then progress to Oxford and Cambridge, who do not discriminate because they've gone to private school.

'So this is, this is hugely endemic problem in in our middle class and our education system, the civil service and professions everywhere.'

To illustrated his idea of 'disguised privilege', in the same episode Hitchens shared an anecdote about his time living is Moscow, where he served a a foreign correspondent between June 1990 to October 1992, reporting on the final days of the Soviet Union.

'I had to go out on my own and try and find somewhere to live in Moscow, which is complicated.

Alas Vine & Hitchens: What's the big idea? Get the Mail's new politics podcast, hosted by columnists Sarah Vine and Peter Hitchens, wherever you listen to podcasts now.

The Mail on Sunday's Peter Hitchens, pictured in front of Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow's Red Square in 2005. He previously lived in the city in the early 1990s as a foreign correspondent

'I struck very lucky, and I was introduced to a member of the Soviet elite who was going abroad on some sort of mission for a couple of years, and he had a superb flat on the 11th floor of a block built, as all the best buildings in Moscow are, by German prisoners of war in the 1940s - very solid construction work.

'It was full of KGB men, and my favorite neighbours were the families of Leonid Brezhnev and Yuri Andropov.

'Fourteen foot ceilings, chandeliers, Moscow in both directions, over the river on one side and from the university down to the Kremlin on the other. It was actually one of the nicest places I've ever lived.

'During a period of vodka rationing, I got my vodka ration. Officially, it was just like any other Soviet flat but obviously it wasn't.

'I saw disguised privilege when I drove through Moscow, I had to drive past the Kremlin clinic, which had a 15 foot stone wall around it and trees planted within it, so you couldn't actually see the building.

'This was a hospital the size of a general hospital in a major British city, reserved entirely for the members of the Communist Party Central Committee.'

To hear Peter Hitchens and Sarah Vine debate middle class parents' gaming of the state school system in full, search for Alas Vine and Hitchens wherever you get your podcasts.
With Chris Trybus' whole life on the line, accused of having caused the death of his wife through a sickening campaign of abuse, there was one woman in particular to whom he looked to save him - and it wasn't his KC.

Because, incredibly, while the case put together by two different police forces was mounting against him and he potentially faced years in jail, the wealthy IT expert had married again - to a woman who would become his staunchest supporter.

The Porsche-driving, 300,000-a-year IT consultant was on Wednesday dramatically cleared of all charges in relation to his wife, including manslaughter, coercive behaviour and two counts of rape.

Now the Daily Mail can reveal how Trybus had found time while trying to clear his name to meet, woo and, in August 2024, marry glamorous, blonde, divorced, single mother Beata Wheelhouse (nee Hefczyc).

And while that eminent KC, Katy Thorne, was defending him in the dock, it was his new bride who mounted a robust defence out of it.

Posting as 'Bea Trybus, Chris's wife' on the eve of the trial, she wrote: 'Christopher Trybus has been falsely accused of serious offences. As his family, we are devastated but we are determined to fight for the truth.

'Chris is innocent and deserves a fair and unbiased hearing.

'In cases involving allegations such as these, men often face a deep societal presumption of guilt, a prejudice that overshadows the principle of fairness and due process.'

Christopher Trybus pictured arriving at Winchester Crown Court alongside his second wife Beata Wheelhouse

Tarryn Baird killed herself more than seven years ago and was found at her home in Swindon

Mrs Trybus, 39, stated that he had been 'falsely accused' and that the couple were 'devastated' but 'determined to fight for the truth', in her statement issued as the eight-week trial opened in February.

And she cited her husband's 'quiet kindness and integrity'.

Bea described Chris Trybus as a 'loving husband and stepfather' to her two children, whose world was 'turned upside down'.

She added: 'Those who know him described him as kind, hardworking, and deeply devoted to his family.

What became of Fred and Rose West's children? Hi, I'm Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk. It was over 30 years ago that Fred and Rose West's 'house of horrors' was found - but have you ever wondered what happened to their children? Some live in fear, others have happy lives. Sign up here to get our exclusive piece for free.

'He has found himself in an unimaginable situation following the tragic passing of his wife.

'In the midst of grieving, Chris has also had to face false accusations that have turned his world upside down.'

The mother-of-two - who seems to have begun dating him in early 2020 around the time of her divorce - then followed this up with a dutiful display around Winchester Crown Court.

There, despite not featuring in the case as a witness, she would become recognisable to all as Trybus' closest supporter.

The second Mrs Trybus did not miss a single day of the long and arduous case, in which her husband was accused of being responsible for Tarryn Baird's suicide and of coercive and controlling behaviour towards her and two counts of rape.

He was finally cleared of all counts on Wednesday.

Always dressed smartly in either a trouser suit or a sombre skirt and jacket, she accompanied Trybus to court every morning.

Once up the courtroom steps she would either head to the public gallery to listen to the evidence or just as often peel off, choosing not to listen to much of the evidence but simply to wait.

Instead, on these occasions, she would patiently wait outside Court 4 where her husband's fate was being decided.

During each lunch break the couple would leave the court buildings and wander down to the centre of the historic Wessex town to buy sandwiches at one of the many cafes on the pedestrian High Street.

They would then return to the court and sit together until the proceeding restarted.

Sometimes they shared a public kiss.

Trybus accused of being responsible for Tarryn Baird's death because he subjected her to 'extensive' acts of manipulative behaviour and sexual violence

Trybus and his wife speaking after he was found not guilty of the manslaughter of his first wife

Then, at the end of each day's hearing, the couple descended the court steps together, drove home and then returned the next day.

It is not clear how long after first wife Tarry Baird's death that Trybus met the former Miss Hefczyc.

However, what is clear is that she had left her first husband and was living with their two children in Swindon.

Chris Trybus and Bea Hefczyc are thought to have met in 2020 and married in August 2024 before moving to a quaint village just outside the town.

Her open Facebook charts their relationship over six years and shows many pictures of their developing relationship.

In early 2020, she posted about her divorce from first husband: 'Finally! The papers came through. I'm free!'

And four months later she posted pictures of Trybus with her and her children, saying: 'My World!

'We love you Chris x.'

In the years that followed her posts also featured them attending Reading Festival, boating on the Solent and taking her children around tourist sights such as Buckingham Palace and London's Chinatown.

They also enjoyed a city break in Barcelona, a family trip to South Africa and a jaunt to her native Poland.

Another post shows them kissing and is captioned: 'With you every moment is a fairytale' with heart emojis.

Another again touts his qualities as a stepfather and says: 'love you to the moon and back'.

They got a dog, a spaniel, which they named Snoopy.

Trybus (pictured) was charged with manslaughter, controlling and coercive behaviour and two counts of rape in relation to Ms Baird

In August 2024 she shared pictures of their wedding which she described as the 'best day ever'.

She also posted a Father's Day tribute to her second husband calling him 'the best stepdad around' - and similarly pledged her love on Valentine's Day.

Even during the trial her posts have shown them visiting Winchester's famous cathedral during breaks from court.

In a further post on her trial website, under a heading: 'Before You Judge', she urged people to analyse the case themselves before coming to any conclusion.

She wrote: 'Newspaper articles don't show the full picture. They don't show the grief, the private struggles, the truth behind closed doors.

'They don't show Chris as a husband, a stepfather, or the countless lives he's touched with his quiet kindness and integrity.

'That's the man we know. That's the man we're standing by.'

And under a heading 'Dedication' she wrote:

'In a world where assumptions spread faster than facts, we honour the quiet strength it takes to keep fighting for the truth.'

There is also a link to the mental health charity Mind.

The website ends with the note 'Thank You' from Bea and Chris.

It reads: 'Thank you to everyone who has shown us love, support, and kindness.

'In the midst of this incredibly difficult battle, your support gives us strength, hop, and the determination to keep going. We are truly grateful for every single person standing with us.

'Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

'Bea and Chris'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
An Emmy Award-winning journalist with a creepy stare has been arrested for allegedly filming people undressing at an Oklahoma City television station.

Darrell Lee Vannostran, 40, a photojournalist at KWTV, also known as News 9, appeared disheveled and bug-eyed as he was taken into custody on Tuesday on a criminal complaint claiming he used photo or video equipment in a clandestine manner in a private place.

He has not yet been formally charged with any wrongdoing. But court documents obtained by The Oklahoman detail how Vannostran allegedly hid two work cameras inside a dressing room at the downtown news station.

Those cameras were later found to be recording, and police said they found cached images from the videos on Vannostran's personal cellphone.

'These images depict the same dressing rooms from the same viewing angle with subjects in various stages of undress,' a police investigator wrote in an affidavit.

An investigation into the alleged invasion of privacy began on March 24, when police received a call from Griffin Media, the owner of KWTV, saying janitorial staff found two hidden cameras inside a dressing room at the downtown news station.

Darrell Lee Vannostran, 40, a photojournalist at KWTV, also known as News 9, appeared disheveled and bug-eyed as he was taken into custody on Tuesday

A criminal complaint claims he installed hidden cameras in the dressing rooms of the Oklahoma City news station (pictured)

'The cameras and battery packs had been found mounted to adhesive Velcro strips underneath clothing racks within the room,' an investigator wrote.

'A review of the extracted video footage confirmed the cameras had been active and had recorded multiple subjects who used the dressing room areas in private settings.'

Police were ultimately able to identify a suspect by comparing the station's door scan logs with times the cameras were accessed by another device or repositioned.

They then found that Vannostran had been in the building even when he was not scheduled to work, entering the building and staying less than 45 minutes, when the cameras were found to be repositioned, according to KFOR.

He also allegedly made connections to the hidden cameras within the time frames under investigation.

Police ultimately made contact with Vannostran at the news station on April 2, at which he allegedly acknowledged he was aware of the hidden cameras.

He also reportedly told police he worked with the type of equipment that had been recovered, and had access to the devices as the supervisor of the company's photography and videography department.

An affidavit claims Vannostran told police he worked with the type of equipment that had been recovered, and had access to the devices as the supervisor of the company's photography and videography department

But when Vannostran was then informed he is a suspect in the case, he 'exercised his right to an attorney,' according to court documents.

It remains unclear whether Vannostran was fired or if he quit his position.

In a statement to The Oklahoman, Griffin Media Vice President of Marketing Houston Hunt just said that the company is aware of Vannostran's arrest.

'Our priority is the safety and privacy of our employees,' Hunt said, noting: 'When the devices were discovered, we immediately contacted the police and have been cooperating fully with their investigation.'

'We are very appreciative of the dedicated, hard work by the members of the Oklahoma City Police Department,' Hunt continued.

But, he added, 'because this is a personnel matter, we can't comment further.'

In the meantime, Vannostran remains behind bars, with his bond set at $25,000.
A wealthy real estate agent who removed more than 100 trees from a Washington State forest to 'keep his family safe' is now accused of doing it for profit, court documents reveal.

Vlad Popach, 34, of Issaquah, was hit with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit last year after allegedly cutting down 142 trees on protected land in Grand Ridge Park, leaving a massive gap now visible from Interstate 90.

He claimed that removing dozens of decades-old trees was necessary to protect his 4,500-sq-ft home and his three children, alleging that trees were continuing to fall around the property.

But court records obtained by The Seattle Times reveal that Popach has since raised his home's asking price by more than $1 million.

Just weeks ago, his residence in the private Highlands neighborhood appeared on his real estate website with a $6.5 million price tag - $1.5 million higher than its earlier off-market listing.

He touted the 'once-in-a-lifetime' views of West Tiger Mountain as a standout feature of the property, which is now listed as pending.

Now, county attorneys allege that his so-called 'safety' concerns were merely a cover, arguing that the giant clearing was intended to boost the property's value by creating some of the best mountain views in the neighborhood.

'Remarkably, this concern about the danger of hazardous trees falling on his residence is wholly absent from the Zillow listing, choosing to highlight the scenic "vistas" offered by the property instead,' attorneys said, according to the outlet.

Vlad Popach, a wealthy real estate agent who removed more than 100 trees from a Washington State forest, is accused of doing so to boost his home's value due to the 'mountain views'

The final bill for damages could range from tens of thousands to nearly $7 million, depending on whether the court accepts the countys assessment or Popachs independent expert.

While a civil trial is expected to begin in January, prosecutors are still weighing whether to pursue potential criminal charges.

The massive clearing in the once-dense forest came to light after a downslope neighbor from the Highlands, Alex Brown, installed a trail camera that alerts his phone when it detects movement.

'Pretty much everyday we see a bear coming by that camera, bobcats, cougars, the occasional mountain lions,' Brown told KING 5 News last year.

But one day, the footage captured something unusual: a large log barreling down the slope like a torpedo.

'To see a tree just flying down the hill like a javelin was pretty alarming,' he told the outlet.

Brown tracked the trail of destruction up the steep hillside to a sprawling development off Issaquahs Grand Ridge Drive, where he found dozens of trees had been chopped and sawed down.

Altogether, 72 trees were stripped of their limbs, 45 were cut down entirely, 18 were topped and seven more were damaged - all of them once standing in the countys Grand Ridge Park, according to The Seattle Times.

Join the discussion Should wealthy homeowners face harsher penalties for damaging protected forests to boost property values?

Popach was hit with a lawsuit last year after allegedly cutting down 142 trees on protected land in Grand Ridge Park to 'protect his family,' leaving a massive gap now visible from Interstate 90

The now-empty space opened a view between three mansions on the hill and the mountains to the south, visible from the busy interstate below.

Photos captured by Brown, author of the Critters Cam Substack, revealed the damage.

Caitlin McNulty, a nearby resident who often walks the local trails with her son Julian, told KING 5 that a tree catapulting from the top of the mountain stopped just a few hundred feet from her home.

'It was just pretty scary because this is a part of our regular little Julian loop that we come and walk most days,' she told the outlet.

Brown ultimately reported the incident to King County, triggering an investigation that initially estimated the damage at approximately $2.3 million, according to The Seattle Times.

In June, a civil lawsuit was filed against Popach seeking damages for the alleged destruction, as well as concerns that he could try to avoid payment if he loses the case.

The lawsuit extends beyond Popach, also naming his wife and two neighbors as defendants, both of whom work in the real estate business.

It is not in question that Popach, a top-producing lead broker at Compass in Bellevue, hired a mystery company to cut down hundreds of trees, the outlet reported. He has not only admitted it to several news outlets, but also in court filings.

The final bill for damages could range from tens of thousands to nearly $7 million, as prosecutors continue to decide whether to pursue criminal charges

Photos captured by Alex Brown, Author of the Critters Cam Substack, reveal the damage

While refusing to name the crews he hired, he has continued to defend the work, insisting the trees were a safety hazard and claiming an automated county phone line gave him 'verbal permission.'

The county ultimately rejected his claim and reiterated its accusation that the motive was driven by personal financial gain.

Then, earlier this year, another real estate agent came forward with testimony that appeared to back up some of the countys claims, according to the outlet.

The agent said that in late 2023 - before the clearing was exposed and construction on the home was finished - Popach said he would accept $5 million for the property in an off-market sale.

Once the trees were gone, the price only went up.

According to the lawsuit, photos Popach texted to the real estate agent showed off the mountain views and his luxury family home.

In an August exchange shown to the court, Popach called his property the best in the neighborhood and 'certainly the only one with great light exposure and views. All else are dark and gloomy.'

Popach allegedly said the upgrades he had made had increased the propertys value, and for that reason, he was now seeking $6.5 million.

Court documents revealed that Popach raised his home's asking price by more than $1 million after cutting the trees, highlighting the 'once-in-a-lifetime' views of nature

He said that since he was not actively looking to sell his property at the time, he felt more comfortable setting his own price, stating in a text that he was not 'interested in negotiations.'

Court documents showed that the sale ultimately fell through, but by April of this year, the property was officially listed as a featured home on Popach's website.

He claimed he is looking to sell because his family is growing and they now need more space than the property allows, according to records obtained by the outlet.

Meanwhile, King County attorneys argued that it 'defies belief' that Popach, who describes himself as a 'specialist in luxury residential real estate,' did not consider whether the home he built was suitable for children before moving in.

They also wrote that he only began to make efforts to sell his home after the civil suit began to unfold.

Attorneys argue that after 'enjoying one summer with their newly cleared views,' Popach now intends to 'flip' the home, having listed it publicly in March - 'a time of year commonly considered ideal for listings and sales.'

His neighbor, McNulty, told KING 5 that she believes Popach likely thought he would never be caught.

'I imagine they thought there was a really low probability of anyone finding out. It would have been really hard for someone to have known this happened and I think the only reason we did is we had that wildlife camera there,' she told the outlet.

Other residents have since flooded Popachs social media accounts with comments criticizing his tree-cutting efforts and his businesses.

'Way to go in cutting all those trees. You are a POS!' one comment read.

Another said: 'You believed you had permission?!! F*** outta here! Hope you have your day in court and have to pay per tree.'

'Cutting down trees for a view. Nice. I will never recommend anyone to you,' a third wrote.

One user added: 'You should be so f***ing ashamed. I hope cosmic karma catches up with you and your entire family are made to suffer.'

Throughout the lawsuit, Popach has maintained that the trees posed a hazard if they were to fall, and he hired his own independent expert, consulting arborist Favero Greenforest.

In the companys report, he noted that the trees that were not fully cut down are now on track to die in the coming decades.

Greenforest wrote: 'There are no recreational trails or other high value targets within striking distance of these trees and I see no reason to remove them,' according to the outlet.

Altogether, 72 trees were stripped of their limbs, 45 were cut down entirely, 18 were topped and seven more were damaged

The companys own estimates for damage, including cleanup, reseeding grass and replacement trees, came to nearly $19,700 - substantially lower than the countys estimate.

State law allows damages to be tripled, which could push the total to nearly $7 million if the countys estimate is upheld and Popach loses at trial. If Greenforest is correct, the total could be closer to $60,000.

In April, county attorneys said Popach might sell his home and move the proceeds beyond the courts reach, prompting them to seek a 'writ of attachment' to hold any funds in trust until the case is resolved.

Popach said he has no intention of fleeing or hiding proceeds from the sale of his home, saying he and his family have established roots in King County and do not plan to leave.

In the end, the judge sided with Popach and denied the countys motion on April 15.
Donald Trump has moved to reclassify cannabis following a months-long federal review of the drug and its current restrictions.

The President's acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana on Thursday.

He said the effort was 'delivering on President Trumps promise' to expand medical options for Americans.

'This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,' Blanche's statement said.

The shift marks a significant step toward loosening federal barriers on marijuana.

The order establishes a system for marijuana producers to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and helps legitimize the 40 medical cannabis programs within the states that have passed laws adopting the shops.

Trump ordered the review in December, targeting cannabis's Schedule I designation - a category reserved for drugs like heroin, LSD and ecstasy. The reclassification is expected to ease limits on research and expand legal use.

'The Administration continues to expeditiously implement President Trump's December executive order to increase medical marijuana research to close the gap between current medical marijuana use and medical knowledge,' a White House official told the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

Steps to reschedule cannabis could come as soon as this week, Axios reported on Wednesday

The President signed an order to advance reclassification in December 2025, citing the benefits of cannabis for medical use as a common sense decision

The official said 'specifics related to possible reclassification' would come from the Department of Justice. The DOJ did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is planning to announce an administrative hearing on the rescheduling, two people familiar with the matter told the Washington Post.

The administration's plan would move to classify cannabis as a Schedule III substance, which is the same category as prescription painkillers, ketamine and anabolic steroids.

However, rescheduling cannabis is broadly unpopular among congressional Republicans.

'Reclassifying Marijuana does NOTHING to lower the cost of health insurance premiums,' former Trump ally and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene fumed on Thursday after the announcement.

'We are soon entering the bankruptcy phase of our nation and Democrats answer will be to throw more taxpayer money that we dont have to solve the problems and Trumps answer is, "Give them marijuana, they will all be too high to notice theyre broke,"' she added.

Shortly after Trump announced in December that he was prioritizing rescheduling, 22 GOP Senators and 26 Republican House members sent letters urging the President against the effort.

'The recently announced move to reschedule so-called medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act is, to be frank, bad policy,' Congressman Andy Harris, the conservative House Freedom Caucus chairman, said in a statement to the Daily Mail on Thursday.

'In addition to the health concerns rescheduling poses, this decision will provide retroactive tax relief for previously criminal activities. The American people should not be responsible for providing retroactive tax relief for dealers in illegal drugs,' he added.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote on Thursday: 'A change to marijuanas drug classification is a step in the wrong direction.'

But Trump fought back against claims that the reclassification effort would lead to additional drug use. Additionally, the President himself has long abstained from drinking alcohol or using drugs.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Join the discussion Should medical marijuana be expanded nationwide?

'I always told my kids don't take drugs,' Trump said, telling America's youth to 'just don't do it.'

'It doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form,' he said. 'And in no way sanctions its use for a recreational drug,' Trump said during his December announcement.

The President pointedly repeated his opposition to the use of illegal drugs.

Kim Rivers, the CEO of cannabis dispensary Trulieve, lobbied Trump for months to get the regulatory rollback.

Her organization donated to Trump, attended fundraisers and raised the rescheduling issue with White House aides repeatedly before the President sided with her.

'It was a little surreal,' she told the Wall Street Journal of her successful effort resulting in Trump's decision to reclassify the plant.

Senior administration officials described the December order as the president keeping his 2024 campaign promise.

Trump announced support for rescheduling the drug in 2024 to allow 'research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana' even though he expressed his desire to ban its use in public spaces to prevent the smell from affecting cities.

Cannabis stock prices jumped on Wednesday after Axios first reported that the administrative change could be coming within days.

Canopy Growth Corp stock spiked over 20 percent, while Tilray's stock price jumped up 15 percent.

The change would reshape the cannabis industry by enabling companies in the space to more easily secure loans and funding that have previously been stifled due to strict federal regulations.

It would also lower the tax burdens on cannabis companies.
Strong Large Deal wins of $14.9 Billion and healthy Free Cash Flow of $3.7 Billion

FY 27 Guidance  Revenue Growth of 1.5%-3.5%, Operating Margin of 20%-22%

BENGALURU, India, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in AI-first business consulting and technology services, delivered $20,158 million in FY 26 revenues with a growth of 3.1% in constant currency. Reported IFRS operating margin was at 20.3% and adjusted1 operating margin at 21.0%. EPS growth was 11.0% in rupee terms2. Free cash flow generation was healthy at $3,733 million. TCV of large deal wins was $14.9 billion, with net new of 55%.

Q4 revenues were $5,040 million, growth of 4.1% year on year in constant currency. Q4 operating margin was at 20.9%.

"We delivered a resilient performance in FY 26 with growth of 3.1% with strong large deal wins of $14.9 billion, reflecting the robustness of our enterprise AI value proposition and market share gains in large transformation opportunities. The simplicity and strength of our AI services strategy across six areas is gaining traction in the market further strengthened by strong ecosystem AI partnerships enabling clients to get value from AI," said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. "Our AI First value framework and differentiated Topaz Fabric, position us uniquely to deepen client trust and gain greater share of the market," he added.

3.1% FY

4.1% Q4

YoY CC Growth

20.3% FY Reported

21.0% FY Adjusted1

20.9% Q4

Operating Margin

$14.9 Bn FY

$3.2 Bn Q4

Large Deal TCV

$3.7 Bn FY

$0.8 Bn Q4

Free Cash Flow

(FCF)

11.0% FY

23.8% Q4 YoY

` EPS Increase2

Guidance for FY27:

Revenue growth of 1.5%-3.5% in constant currency

Operating margin of 20%-22%

Key highlights:

For the quarter ended March 31, 2026



Revenues in CC terms grew by 4.1% YoY and declined by 1.3% QoQ





Reported IFRS revenues at $5,040 million, growth of 6.6% YoY





Reported IFRS operating margin at 20.9%





Basic EPS at $0.23; increase of 15.7% YoY and 25.3% QoQ





FCF at $833 million 3 ; FCF conversion at 90.6% of net profit For the year ended March 31, 2026



Revenues in CC terms grew by 3.1% YoY





Reported IFRS revenues at $20,158 million, growth of 4.6% YoY





Reported IFRS operating margin at 20.3%; Adjusted 1 operating margin at 21.0%





operating margin at 21.0% Basic EPS at $0.81; increase of 5.6% YoY





FCF at $3,733 million 3 ; FCF conversion at 112.6% of net profit

1,2,3 - Please refer to the last page of this release for detailed explanation

"FY 26 was a year of disciplined execution and financial resilience reflecting in 21% adjusted operating margin and healthy free cash flow of $3.7 billion. Savings from Project Maximus enabled us to invest in strategic areas like talent, AI and sales & marketing," said Jayesh Sanghrajka, CFO. "We remain focused on margins and cash generation as we navigate an evolving macro environment. In line with our capital allocation policy, Board has proposed a final dividend of `25 per share, which along with interim dividend and recently concluded buyback, amounts to over `37,500 crore returned to shareholders for FY 26," he added.

Client Wins & Testimonials

Infosys collaborated with Citizens to accelerate AI-driven transformation across its banking operations, product development, and customer experience. Michael Ruttledge, Chief Information Officer and Head of Enterprise Technology & Security, Citizens Financial Group, said, "Our AI-first Innovation Hub reflects Citizens' long-term commitment to building modern, secure, and intelligent banking capabilities. Partnering with leading technology firms like Infosys and leveraging Infosys Topaz Fabric is helping transform how we serve our customers by integrating advanced AI at the core of our operations to deliver more modern, secure, and personalized banking experiences."

said, "Our AI-first Innovation Hub reflects Citizens' long-term commitment to building modern, secure, and intelligent banking capabilities. Partnering with leading technology firms like Infosys and leveraging Infosys Topaz Fabric is helping transform how we serve our customers by integrating advanced AI at the core of our operations to deliver more modern, secure, and personalized banking experiences." Infosys collaborated with ExxonMobil to enable the development and deployment of high-efficiency cooling systems that can meet the growing demands of AI and high-performance computing workloads. Alistair Westwood, Global Marketing Manager, ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company, said, "This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation by allowing us to apply our energy and thermal management expertise to the evolving landscape of digital infrastructure. Infosys' suite of AI and digital services is enabling us to pilot and adopt infrastructure that is smarter, efficient, and more resilient."

said, "This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation by allowing us to apply our energy and thermal management expertise to the evolving landscape of digital infrastructure. Infosys' suite of AI and digital services is enabling us to pilot and adopt infrastructure that is smarter, efficient, and more resilient." Infosys collaborated with Crocs to drive a comprehensive IT and business process transformation with AI-powered innovation and advanced automation capabilities. Tom Britt, Chief Information Officer, Crocs Inc, said: "As Crocs reimagines its IT landscape, we sought a partner who could combine deep domain expertise with a commitment to innovation and operational excellence. By leveraging Infosys' AI and advanced automation capabilities, we will optimize operations, reduce costs, and scale responsiblywhile driving continuous improvement and building a foundation for sustainable growth and digital resilience that positions Crocs for the future."

said: "As Crocs reimagines its IT landscape, we sought a partner who could combine deep domain expertise with a commitment to innovation and operational excellence. By leveraging Infosys' AI and advanced automation capabilities, we will optimize operations, reduce costs, and scale responsiblywhile driving continuous improvement and building a foundation for sustainable growth and digital resilience that positions Crocs for the future." Infosys announced a strategic collaboration with Incora to drive faster, accurate, and resilient supply chain operations with the use of artificial intelligence globally. "Infosys brings proven leadership in AI and large-scale digital transformation, making them an ideal choice as we continue to modernize our global supply chain," said Hari Kumar Rajendran, Executive Vice President of Global Operations, Incora . "This alliance allows us to apply advanced AI capabilities in a practical, enterprise-wide way. Together, we are building a foundation that enables Incora to better serve our customers today and adapt to the future of aerospace and defense supply chains."

. "This alliance allows us to apply advanced AI capabilities in a practical, enterprise-wide way. Together, we are building a foundation that enables Incora to better serve our customers today and adapt to the future of aerospace and defense supply chains." Infosys and University of Nottingham extended their strategic collaboration to strengthen digital infrastructure of the University's Student Management System, ensuring high performance and security compliance. Chris Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, University of Nottingham, said, "Collaborating with Infosys empowers the University of Nottingham to set new benchmarks in higher education. Our Student Management System is one of the most critical components of the university's operations, supporting every stage of the student journey. Our embedded partnership with Infosys will help us strengthen our core services, accelerate innovation, and enhance the reliability and security of our digital ecosystem. By integrating cutting-edge digital solutions, we are not only enriching the student journey but also redefining what it means to be a leader in global academia."

said, "Collaborating with Infosys empowers the University of Nottingham to set new benchmarks in higher education. Our Student Management System is one of the most critical components of the university's operations, supporting every stage of the student journey. Our embedded partnership with Infosys will help us strengthen our core services, accelerate innovation, and enhance the reliability and security of our digital ecosystem. By integrating cutting-edge digital solutions, we are not only enriching the student journey but also redefining what it means to be a leader in global academia." Infosys extended its strategic collaboration with ABN AMRO Bank to drive the Bank's ambition of achieving sustainable and profitable growth through 2028. Carsten Bittner, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at ABN AMRO Bank , said, "The renewed collaboration with Infosys will help further to simplify and modernize our IT landscape, while accelerating the responsible adoption of AI across the company. This engagement will enhance operational efficiency, deliver greater customer value, and help reduce complexity and operating costs."

, said, "The renewed collaboration with Infosys will help further to simplify and modernize our IT landscape, while accelerating the responsible adoption of AI across the company. This engagement will enhance operational efficiency, deliver greater customer value, and help reduce complexity and operating costs." Infosys announced its strategic collaboration with Anthropic to unlock AI value with automated workflows, accelerated software delivery, and agentic AI solutions across complex, regulated industries. Dario Amodei, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Anthropic, said, "There's a big gap between an AI model that works in a demo and one that works in a regulated industry  and if you want to close that gap, you need domain expertise. Infosys has exactly that kind of expertise across important industries: telecom, financial services, and manufacturing. Their developers are already using Claude Code to accelerate their work and to create AI agents for industries that demand precision, compliance, and deep domain knowledge."

said, "There's a big gap between an AI model that works in a demo and one that works in a regulated industry  and if you want to close that gap, you need domain expertise. Infosys has exactly that kind of expertise across important industries: telecom, financial services, and manufacturing. Their developers are already using Claude Code to accelerate their work and to create AI agents for industries that demand precision, compliance, and deep domain knowledge." Infosys and Intel expanded their strategic collaboration to help enterprises move from AI pilots to production at scale, aimed at optimizing performance and delivering measurable enterprise outcomes across industries. Lip-Bu Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Intel, said, "Working closely with Infosys allows us to bring the power of Intel's AI hardware ecosystem to enterprises globally. Together, we are delivering performance-optimized, energy-efficient, and open AI solutions that clients can deploy wherever their workloads reside  from data centers to the cloud to the edge."

said, "Working closely with Infosys allows us to bring the power of Intel's AI hardware ecosystem to enterprises globally. Together, we are delivering performance-optimized, energy-efficient, and open AI solutions that clients can deploy wherever their workloads reside  from data centers to the cloud to the edge." Infosys announced its strategic collaboration with Cursor to help enterprises build and scale AI-powered digital solutions and accelerate their AI value journey. Michael Truell, CEO and Co-Founder, Cursor, said, "Infosys' commitment to building an AI-first organization makes them a natural collaborator for Cursor. Their global scale, delivery rigor, and deep industry expertise create an ideal environment to demonstrate what AI software engineering tools can achieve in the enterprise. We are excited to collaborate with Infosys as they enable over 100,000 software engineers at Infosys with agentic coding platforms and we look forward to helping their teams deliver breakthrough outcomes for customers worldwide."

said, "Infosys' commitment to building an AI-first organization makes them a natural collaborator for Cursor. Their global scale, delivery rigor, and deep industry expertise create an ideal environment to demonstrate what AI software engineering tools can achieve in the enterprise. We are excited to collaborate with Infosys as they enable over 100,000 software engineers at Infosys with agentic coding platforms and we look forward to helping their teams deliver breakthrough outcomes for customers worldwide." Infosys and Cognition announced strategic collaboration to accelerate the AI value journey for global enterprises with advanced agentic and autonomous engineering capabilities. Scott Wu, Founder & CEO, Cognition, said, "We are thrilled to collaborate with Infosys to bring the power of autonomous and agentic AI engineering to some of the world's most complex enterprises. Infosys' Exponential Engineering offering perfectly complements our mission to redefine how software is built. Infosys Topaz Fabric and Devin together offer unmatched capability from real-time developer augmentation to fully autonomous engineering execution. Infosys is the first large digital services and consulting firm to deploy agentic tools at this scale. By combining Infosys' deep industry expertise with our platform, we are enabling clients to dramatically accelerate time-to-market, enhance ROI and unlock a new era of engineering transformation."

said, "We are thrilled to collaborate with Infosys to bring the power of autonomous and agentic AI engineering to some of the world's most complex enterprises. Infosys' Exponential Engineering offering perfectly complements our mission to redefine how software is built. Infosys Topaz Fabric and Devin together offer unmatched capability from real-time developer augmentation to fully autonomous engineering execution. Infosys is the first large digital services and consulting firm to deploy agentic tools at this scale. By combining Infosys' deep industry expertise with our platform, we are enabling clients to dramatically accelerate time-to-market, enhance ROI and unlock a new era of engineering transformation." Infosys Finacle and Producers Savings Bank Corporation announced an initiative to modernize the bank's technology landscape in the Philippines through an upgrade to the latest version of the Finacle Core Banking Solution, enabling faster, broader, and more personalized customer experiences. Andres M. Cornejo, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Producers Bank, said, "Our decade-long association with Infosys Finacle has been pivotal to our modernization journey. As we celebrate 30 years as an institution, this modernization initiative will further strengthen our digital capabilities, enabling us to provide real-time banking services for our growing client base and scale our lending business with greater confidence. We deeply value Finacle's collaboration, rich functionality, swift deployment, and proven reliability, and we are excited about the new possibilities this transformation will unlock."

said, "Our decade-long association with Infosys Finacle has been pivotal to our modernization journey. As we celebrate 30 years as an institution, this modernization initiative will further strengthen our digital capabilities, enabling us to provide real-time banking services for our growing client base and scale our lending business with greater confidence. We deeply value Finacle's collaboration, rich functionality, swift deployment, and proven reliability, and we are excited about the new possibilities this transformation will unlock." Infosys BPM collaborated with Old National Bank to support its digital transformation journey, spanning process optimization, automation, and emerging AIdriven capabilities. Jeff Newcom, Chief Operations Officer, Old National Bank, said, "Our relationship with the digital delivery team has been another example of how Infosys' expertise and resources have accelerated our ability to optimize and automate processes. Now, we're exploring AI and Agentic AI to further advance our capabilities and delivery to our clients, so that we can continue to focus on putting our clients first without needing to build all of the capabilities ourselves."

Recognitions & Awards

- Brand & Corporate

Multiple awards from FinanceAsia, including Best CFO, Best Investor Relations and Best Large Cap Company

Recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2026 for sixth consecutive year by Ethisphere

Awarded the Compliance Leader Verification by Ethisphere for its commitment to fostering a strong culture of integrity, accountability, and responsible governance across its global operations

Recognized as a Top 3 IT services brand and the fastest growing IT services brand globally in the Brand Finance Global 500 2026 report

Recognized as a Global Top Employer 2026 for the sixth consecutive year by the Top Employer Institute

Infosys BPM recognized as a Global Top Employer 2026 by the Top Employers Institute

- AI and Cloud Services

Rated as a market leader in HFS Horizons: Agentic Services, 2026

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Observability and AIOps Services

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Cross-Platform Agentic AI

Featured as a leader in PAC INNOVATION RADAR SAP Business AI and Joule-related Service Worldwide 2026

- Key Digital Services

Positioned as a leader in Everest Group Private Equity (PE) Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2026

Positioned as a leader in Everest Group Software Product Engineering Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2026  Global

Rated as a market leader in HFS Horizons: Next-gen IT Infrastructure Services, 2026

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: for Microsoft End-to-End Service Providers

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Innovation Services and Engineering

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Cybersecurity Services

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Custom Software Development Services

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Learning Marketplaces

Featured as a leader in PAC RADAR SAP-related Services Worldwide 2026

- Industry & Solutions

Infosys Finacle positioned as a leader in 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Banking Payment Hub Platforms report

Infosys Finacle along with its customer HDFC Bank received the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2026 for Excellence in Mass Affluent Banking

Read more about our Awards & Recognitions here.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 325,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in 63 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release, including those concerning our future growth prospects and our future financial or operating performance, are forward looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid working model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes and developments in the US H-1B visa program, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity and capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, cybersecurity matters, the outcome of pending litigation and the US government investigation, and the effect of current and any future tariffs. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

Infosys Limited and Subsidiaries Extracted from the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet under IFRS as at: ( in $ million) Particulars March 31, 2026 March 31, 2025 ASSETS



Current assets



Cash and cash equivalents 2,341 2,861 Current investments 1,365 1,460 Trade receivables 3,715 3,645 Unbilled revenue 1,633 1,503 Other current assets 1,858 1,890 Total current assets 10,912 11,359 Non-current assets



Property, plant and equipment and Right-of-use assets 2,057 2,235 Goodwill and other Intangible assets 1,576 1,505 Non-current investments 942 1,294 Unbilled revenue 183 261 Other non-current assets 776 765 Total non-current assets 5,534 6,060 Total assets 16,446 17,419 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY



Current liabilities



Trade payables 500 487 Unearned revenue 1,248 994 Employee benefit obligations 372 340 Other current liabilities and provisions 3,396 3,191 Total current liabilities 5,516 5,012 Non-current liabilities



Lease liabilities 634 675 Other non-current liabilities 456 477 Total non-current liabilities 1,090 1,152 Total liabilities 6,606 6,164 Total equity attributable to equity holders of the company 9,786 11,205 Non-controlling interests 54 50 Total equity 9,840 11,255 Total liabilities and equity 16,446 17,419

Extracted from the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income under IFRS for: (In $ million except per equity share data) Particulars 3 months ended

March 31, 2026 3 months ended

March 31, 2025 Year ended

March 31, 2026 Year ended

March 31, 2025 Revenues 5,040 4,730 20,158 19,277 Cost of sales 3,485 3,302 14,079 13,405 Gross profit 1,555 1,428 6,079 5,872 Operating expenses:







Selling and marketing expenses 256 226 1,025 898 Administrative expenses 244 210 969 903 Total operating expenses 500 436 1,994 1,801 Operating profit 1,055 992 4,085 4,071 Other income, net of finance cost (b) 113 125 421 376 Profit before income taxes 1,168 1,117 4,506 4,447 Income tax expense (b) 248 303 1,190 1,285 Net profit (before non-controlling interests) 920 814 3,316 3,162 Net profit (after non-controlling interests) 919 813 3,313 3,158 Basic EPS ($) 0.23 0.20 0.81 0.76 Diluted EPS ($) 0.23 0.20 0.80 0.76

NOTES :

a) The above information is extracted from the audited condensed consolidated Balance sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026, which have been taken on record at the Board meeting held on April 23, 2026.

b) Includes interest income (pre-tax) of $41 million and $38 million for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025 respectively, and reversal of tax provisions amounting to $83 million and $12 million for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025 respectively. This is on account of orders received under sections 250 and 254 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for certain assessment years.

c) Revenue growth in reported currency includes the impact of currency fluctuations. Additionally, we calculate constant currency (CC) growth by comparing current period revenues in respective local currencies converted to US$ using prior period exchange rates and comparing the same to our prior period reported revenues.

d) A Fact Sheet providing the operating metrics of the Company can be downloaded from www.infosys.com.

Reconciliation of Reported IFRS financial measures to Adjusted non-IFRS financial measures for year ended (in $ million)

March 31, 2026 March 31, 2025 Operating Profit Operating Margin (%) Operating Profit Operating Margin (%) Reported IFRS 4,085 20.3 4,071 21.1 Adjustments1 143 0.7 - - Adjusted non-IFRS 4,228 21.0 4,071 21.1

Notes:

The adjusted non-IFRS measures excludes the effect of, the provisions of The Labour Codes notified by The Government of India on November 21, 2025 which resulted in an increase in gratuity liability (arising out of past service cost relating to plan amendment) and leave liability by $143 million, which is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. This also resulted in a lower tax of $35 million in the year ended March 31, 2026.



Excluding the effect of Income Tax orders received under sections 250 and 254 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and The Labour Codes provisions notified by the Government of India, EPS increase (in  terms) is 12.1% and 13.9% YoY for the year and quarter ended March 31, 2026, respectively.



The free cash flow includes cash payments made towards The Labour Codes of $49 million and $99 million for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026, respectively.



We are using non-IFRS financial performance measures to supplement the financial information reported on an IFRS basis. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the relevant IFRS measures and should be read in conjunction with information presented on a reported IFRS basis. We believe these adjustments are necessary to reflect the Company's core performance across periods.

IFRS-INR Press Release: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2025-2026/q4/documents/ifrs-inr-press-release.pdf

Fact sheet: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2025-2026/q4/documents/fact-sheet.pdf

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/5460444/Infosys_Logo.jpg
A mother and son embraced for the first time in nearly two decades after being reunited at an emotional surprise party in Louisiana.

Nerry Aspuria made a decision around 20 years ago that would reshape her family's life: her son, Ian Aspuria, would move to the United States to live with his father, while she stayed behind in the Philippines with his siblings.

She immigrated just a few years ago, finally making the long-awaited move to America.

But her sons full name and whereabouts within the country remained a mystery.

It wasnt until she walked into a surprise party to celebrate her 60th birthday that she realized her gift wasnt the party at all, but seeing her now-28-year-old son for the first time since he was a child.

'I was very nervous at the time, but it was just a lot of emotions. Very grateful,' her son Ian told KALB News.

The tear-jerking reunion followed years of uncertainty after Nerry made the difficult decision to send Ian from their hometown of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, across the ocean to the United States.

As her life went on and she continued raising her other children, she consistently prayed each day that she would one day see him again.

Nerry Aspuria and her son embraced for the first time in nearly two decades after being reunited at an emotional surprise party in Louisiana

Nerry made a difficult decision around 20 years ago: her son, Ian Aspuria, would move to the United States to live with his father, while she stayed in the Philippines

Emotional footage showed Nerry seeing her now-28-year-old son for the first time since he was a child

But the lack of communication with Ian became unbearable over the years, and after meeting the legal requirements, she packed her bags and headed to the US, hoping it would bring her closer to him.

Annette Andriette Mendoza, one of Nerrys three daughters based in Louisiana, felt she could do more and quietly began searching for Ian on her own.

'As I grow old and become mature, I realize that there is a missing piece in our family. And that is having my mother and brother reunite again,' Mendoza told the outlet.

Then the day came: she finally tracked Ian down.

'So, me and my brother planned all of this to have them reunite after 20 years, on her 60th birthday,' she said.

Ian flew in from Florida, where he currently lives in Brandon, to give his mother the best present she could have ever asked for.

'Very blessed. Very thankful to have a sister like her to make everything happen,' Ian told the outlet. 'It wouldn't be possible without her making it happen.'

Emotional footage captured the moment they locked eyes: Ian walking into the venue with flowers and Nerry instantly springing to her feet and reaching out for him, all while the room erupted in cheers.

Nerry immigrated just a few years ago, finally making the long-awaited move to America

Annette Andriette Mendoza, one of Nerrys three daughters based in Louisiana, quietly began searching for Ian on her own, despite no one knowing his full name or whereabouts

After tracking down Ian, Mendoza recalled: 'I realize that there is a missing piece in our family. And that is having my mother and brother reunite again'

At another point in the clip, Nerry sits down, wiping tears from her eyes with a tissue, as Ian comforts her and reaches out so she can stand and hug him once more.

Those witnessing the pairs reunion in the packed room agreed it was a birthday surprise no one would ever forget.

'God is good. We got to keep God in the center of everything,' Ian told KALB News.

'All the times that we were disconnected, you know, she kept searching,' he added, speaking of his sister. 'She kept searching and searching until God was ready to have us together again.'

'Happy birthday, Mom. Happy birthday. I hope you're so happy today. And we love you. We love you.'
From the White House briefing room podium to the world of literary romcoms may not be the most obvious career leap.

But Dana Perinos debut novel, Purple State, is written around a question that feels oddly timely in an America more politically divided than ever: can relationships  especially love  survive the red-blue split?

The former George W Bush press secretary and now Fox News host, 53, was on the receiving end of a flirtatious Donald Trump last month, when he deflected her question about starving Iranians to tell her she was getting 'better looking' with age.

Now the bestselling author has turned to fiction with a story about a young New York political PR who falls for a Midwestern man in a swing state.

Drawing on her own life, Perino took inspiration from what she describes as an unlikely marriage and years of watching politics pull people apart as much as bring them together.

It is a theme that runs straight through Purple State, published this week, which follows Dorothy Dot Clark as she leaves New York for Wisconsin  that most coveted of swing states  and finds herself falling for a truck-driving local who is about as far from her usual type as it gets.

Perino says the idea had been with her for years, and began with a much broader fascination about what happens when people from very different Americas are thrown together.

A lot of people dont know or dont remember that I was born in Wyoming, grew up in Colorado, my family still ranches in Newcastle, Wyoming, and Ive had the opportunity to live abroad, she said, explaining that she has also had stints in the UK, Washington and New York.

Dana Perino, a Fox News host, has turned to fiction with a story about a young New York political PR who falls for a Midwestern man in a swing state

As White House Press Secretary, Perino accompanied President George W Bush to Iraq in 2007

I had this idea bopping around in my brain, kind of when reality TV started, that wouldnt it be fun if I dropped my friends and family from Wyoming into the middle of Manhattan and vice versa, took my friends here and put them on the ranch and said: Good luck. Ill see you in three months.

I think that they would thrive but that they would get to know each other better, understand each other better - and then, who knows, along the way love could blossom.

In other words: what if the people who assume they have nothing in common were forced to discover that they might? A kind of Heated Rivalry for DC's power elite.

For Perino, though, the roots of the novel are not just political. They are deeply personal, too.

Her terrible quarter life crisis  that point when everything looks orderly on paper but feels far less certain in reality  was pivotal.

Looking back on her mid-20s, Perino had the graduate degree, the Capitol Hill job with a member of Congress and the sense that she was climbing steadily. But she had not dated anyone in two years and had become disillusioned with politics during the Monica Lewinsky scandal (when none of the womens groups stood up for her) and a string of others.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

At a church singles group, she recalled opening up to an older woman about her worries, only to be told: God says: Fear not. Ive got you. Relax. Youre 25. Everythings going to be fine.

A few months later while enjoying the summer, she sat next to a man on a plane who would become her husband. This August, she and Peter McMahon will have been together for 29 years.

Hes British and 18 years older than me, she said. He lived in England at the time. Theres 100 reasons why we shouldnt have been together.

Looking back on her mid-20s, Perino had the dream career - but she had not dated anyone in two years and had become disillusioned with politics

She says that when she chose to be loved, her career didn't suffer the way she expected

The lesson she took from the successful relationship was not that love derails ambition but something quite the opposite: When I chose to be loved, my career did not suffer.

That, really, is at the heart of Purple State.

Yes, the novel is set against the backdrop of an election. Yes, it plays with the idea of romance across the red-blue divide. But Perino seems more interested in nudging readers away from the rigid life plans and ideological checklists they place on themselves.

Asked whether she deliberately wanted to show that people from opposite sides politically could still be soul mates, Perino agreed.

But polling just after the 2024 election, she pointed out, showed a dramatic increase in Americans saying that they would never even consider dating somebody who voted the other way  a shift she found alarming.

Politics is interesting to me. Obviously, I love what I do but politics is not who I am, she said. And I think that thats a sure way to not enjoy your life. It closes you off to friendships and opportunities.

Hopefully, in this book is a gentle lesson of: Wear your politics lightly and youll enjoy your life.

Perino namechecked James Carville and Mary Matalin, the veteran Democratic and Republican strategists whose marriage became Washingtons most famous example of opposites attracting.

He worked for Bill Clinton, she for George HW Bush, and they fell madly in love and really were able to go out on the speaking circuit and show people you could have debates with your loved one and go home and still be deeply in love.

She also recalled meeting a couple in Florida who told her they had been in a red-blue marriage for 31 years.

Still, when asked whether there were other high-profile Washington couples who had inspired her, Perino was careful, stressing that the novel is aspirational and fiction.

One famous bipartisan marriage does not, after all, exactly amount to a dating trend, and modern political life often seems to provide more evidence of people sorting themselves into tribes than escaping them.

That may be why the setting matters. Perino places her heroine not in Washington, where politics can become its own all-consuming social currency, but in Wisconsin  a true purple state where the culture war feels less performative and more lived.

The decision was also her way of saying that the political class often misunderstands the way that the rest of the country thinks, forever trying to fix Middle America when, in her view, it doesnt need fixing at all.

We dont need your help. Were good, she said.

She also suggested that romance across political lines might feel more plausible outside the usual power centers.

Of her own move to New York, Perino said she had once assumed that politics could only really be done from the capital. But living in Manhattan changed that.

Perino met her husband, British businessman Peter McMahon, when they sat next to each other on a flight

James Carville and Mary Matalin, the veteran Democratic and Republican strategists, became Washingtons most famous example of opposites attracting

In DC, she said, everything felt so transactional. By contrast, 225 miles up the I-95 nobody cared what my politics was.

Even so, she made a rule: I dont talk politics at the dog park. There, in Central Park, Perino said she found common ground with people who would probably vote differently simply because they all shared the much more immediate business of adoring their pooches.

That same instinct shows up in the sort of man she gives Dot.

Perino said she deliberately steered away from the finance bros and status-hungry political obsessives who often dominate the dating pools of New York and DC.

She talked about ambitious young women imagining that the perfect life means the perfect career, the perfect timetable and the perfect man in a puffer vest working in finance  only to discover that life may have other ideas.

What interested her more, she suggested, was the question beneath all that striving: Is the thing you always assumed you wanted actually the thing that will make you happy?

That is why Purple State feels, at its core, less like a book about party labels than one about people loosening their grip on the blueprint they once wrote for their lives.

Perino said that when young women come to her for advice, they often begin with the professional questions  difficult bosses, stalled careers, sexism.

Then, at the end of the conversation, almost every single time theyll say: Can I ask you one more question? And itll be about how they could possibly find love.

It is a telling anecdote, and one that helps explain why a woman once known for briefing the White House press corps has now written a novel about romance, risk and the possibility of stepping outside the bubble.

Purple State: A Novel, by Dana Perino is published by Harper
The 'grand irony' of Trump's war with Iran is that it will likely end with the US signing a peace deal nearly identical to Obama's 2015 agreement with the regime on uranium enrichment, reporter Philip Nieto has told the Daily Mail's Deep Dive podcast.

Speaking to foreign correspondent Chris Pleasance, Nieto said Iranian military hardliners have little interest in agreeing to the concessions Washington wants, leaving Trump with few good options as the political costs of the war mount ahead of the midterm elections.

On Tuesday, Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran for the fourth time, having previously vowed not to do so. Despite the truce, Wednesday morning saw the Islamic Republic seize two cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and destroy a third.

Nieto identified a 'divide' between Iran's government, who are fronting peace talks, and the vengeful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who actually control the Strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes.

The 'grand irony' of Trump's war with Iran is that it will likely end with the US signing a peace deal nearly identical to Obama's 2015 agreement, reporter Philip Nieto has predicted

On Tuesday, Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran for the fourth time. Despite the truce, Wednesday morning saw Iran seize two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and destroy a third

Nieto argued that accepting a deal on Iran's terms in exchange for peace is more politically palatable to Trump than restarting the war

This makes the Islamic Republic extremely difficult to negotiate with, the reporter said, which could see Trump 'concede' to the same terms Obama agreed with Iran over a decade ago to avoid a prolonged stalemate.

'There are some reports of an early draft of US concessions,' Nieto explained.

'It paints a picture of Trump agreeing to a 2015 Obama-style nuclear deal with Iran, where they have to stop enriching uranium for a decade or so.

'It is a deal awfully similar to the one Trump scrapped in his first term. But, in order for the President to wrap up this war and avoid a prolonged conflict, it might be something the US and Iran sign.'

'So we come all this way just to go back to where we started?' host Pleasance asked. 'That's the grand irony of it all, yes,' Nieto replied.

Before scrapping the deal in 2018, Trump labelled Obama's 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran 'one of the worst deals ever made' and a 'guaranteed road to an Iranian nuclear weapon.'

Under the Obama-era deal, Iran agreed to reduce its uranium stockpile by 97 per cent for a period of between 10 and 15 years.

Nieto argued that accepting a deal on Iran's terms in exchange for peace is more politically palatable to Trump than restarting the war.

'There would likely be less political fallout for him,' the reporter said.

'Trump could just spin it and say: "Oh, we won! We blew up all their air defences."

'He already stated weeks ago that he had won the war, so I think behind-the-scenes he could concede to some Iranian demands and just publicly claim American victory.

Speaking to foreign correspondent Chris Pleasance, Nieto said IRGC hardliners have little interest in agreeing to the concessions Washington wants

Elsewhere in the podcast, Nieto argued the main beneficiaries of the Iran war are Russia and China

To hear Nieto's full analysis, search for Deep Dive: Not Strait Forward, wherever you get your podcasts

'Restarting the war and potentially destabilising Iran further, which could lead them to target all power infrastructure across the Middle East, would have a much wider fallout for him.

'That's not something you can wrap up on Truth Social or just by claiming you've won. He sees it as not in his best interests to continue the war for a long period of time.'

Elsewhere in the podcast, Nieto argued the main beneficiaries of the Iran war are Russia and China.

Russia has benefited from the easing of sanctions on its oil, the reporter said, while China will be delighted by the US exposing itself as an 'unreliable ally' to the Gulf states.

'Russia and China are loving this,' he said.

'If the US is unable to win this war in the eyes of the world, it damages America's control of the Middle East.

'If the US can no longer guarantee the safety of its Gulf allies from a power like Iran, then those states will ask: "Why are we giving you this money? Why are we allowing you to have these bases if it puts us at risk for very little in return?"'

To hear Nieto's full analysis, search for Deep Dive: Not Strait Forward, wherever you get your podcasts.
A Gold Coast Playboy model was 'shaking like a leaf' while she fronted court for causing a two-vehicle collision while almost five times the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Aussie model Samantha Stubbs, 30, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates' Court earlier this month to driving under the influence of a high-range of liquor.

The Point Paradise glamour is also a registered nurse but the court heard that job is now in jeopardy after the incident in Surfers Paradise on March 8.

The court heard police rushed to the scene about 7.30pm following reports a woman had been 'driving erratically' prior to a two-vehicle crash.

Stubbs told officers she had 'only consumed a single glass of wine'.

Police noted the smell of liquor on Stubbs' breath, her slurred speech, and her 'aggressive and argumentative behaviour towards police', the court heard.

Stubbs refused a breath test but a blood sample taken at Gold Coast University Hospital returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.242 per cent.

The model, who the court heard had 'no relevant criminal history', was previously a registered nurse who worked across a number of aged care facilities.

Samantha Stubbs appeared on the June/July cover of Maxim Australia last year

The Aussie model, 30, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates' Court earlier this month to a charge of driving under the influence of a high-range of liquor

While Stubbs isn't nursing she is working as glamorous lingerie model who has recently appeared on the covers of both Playboy Australia and Maxim Australia.

Maxim described her as 'confident, vibrant, fun, loyal, [and] up-and-coming'. Playboy said Stubbs, who models under the name 'Sam Stubbs', was 'capturing hearts'.

The model's defence lawyer, Brooke Winter, told the court her client would be unable to continue working as a nurse due to the loss of her licence.

Ms Winter described his client as a 'highly respected member of the community' who was of 'impeccable character', the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

The lawyer said her client was 'highly embarrassed' having never faced court before and was 'shaking like a leaf' during the April 13 sentencing.

Ms Winter said Stubbs had been off the roads since the crash and had the 'added punishment' of paying for the damage caused to both vehicles out of her own pocket.

The court heard insurance companies would not pay a cent due to her 'intoxication'.

But Magistrate Lisa O'Neill did not hold back, lashing Stubbs for driving while drunk and saying there was 'no way you should've been in control of a vehicle'.

Stubbs was 'highly embarrassed' having never faced a court before and she was 'shaking like a leaf' the morning of the April 13 sentencing hearing

Magistrate O'Neill also said the offending was 'all the more bewildering' because Stubbs had trained and worked as a nurse.

Stubbs, who was fined $1,400 and had her licence disqualified for 11 months, escaped a conviction.

However, Stubbs will be subject to a mandatory vehicle interlock program for a minimum of 12 months after her disqualification ends.
A teenage boy has died after the electric motorbike he was a passenger on collided with two cars at a notorious hot spot in Melbourne's north.

The incident occurred at the busy Plenty Road and Findon Road intersection in South Morang, during peak hour traffic at 5.30pm on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old was riding on the back of an e-bike with his 17-year-old friend driving when it collided with two cars.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and took the 17-year-old to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but his friend couldn't be saved and died at the site.

The drivers of the two cars involved in the accident stopped to help the boys and were assisting police with their enquiries.

There was at least one helmet seen at the crash site, and Victoria Police told Daily Mail on Thursday morning that they were still investigating whether the victim was wearing a helmet.

7News reported on Thursday that witnesses claimed the 15-year-old was not wearing a helmet and the e-bike may have run a red light.

One member of a Facebook community group with ties to South Morang said it was a 'tragedy waiting to happen'.

Police examine the e-bike involved in the crash at South Morang, in Melbourne's north, on Wednesday afternoon

The incident occurred on Plenty Road which locals say is notorious for reckless e-bike use

'They were flying up and down my street just before the accident. They've been doing it for a long time. I'm not surprised this happened at all. Someone was always bound to be killed. It was a tragedy waiting to happen,' they said.

'Last week I encountered young hoons weaving by me in dense traffic on Plenty Road, doing wheelies and endangering other drivers. Accident waiting to happen,' another said.

'I see them every single day. Up and down the main roads in and out of traffic,' a third wrote on social media.

The teenager's death was the latest in a string of e-bike accidents across the country, which have prompted crackdowns on the devices in a number of states.

On Monday, two teenage boys died after a bus and motorised bike collided in Sydney's west.

Emergency services rushed to the Liverpool-Parramatta Transitway at Bossley Park, following reports of a crash around 7.15pm.

The 15-year-old rider and his 14-year-old passenger died at the scene.

The bus driver wasn't injured but was taken to hospital for mandatory testing. No bus passengers were injured in the collision.

The 15-year-old died at the scene while his 17-year-old friend was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

On Monday, two teenage boys died after a bus and motorised bike collided in Sydney's west

Harrowing footage showed bystanders who appeared to be family members becoming emotional and hugging as emergency crews attended to the boys.

'This is what happens when the NSW State Government ignores repeated requests for action on e-bikes on the T-Way,' Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said.

Mayor Carbone said he had written to Premier Chris Minns weeks ago requesting the section of road be policed more heavily, as he was worried someone would be injured.

The NSW Premier introduced a new minimum age limit for e-bike riders last month.

Under NSW's current laws, which are to be modified, a child of any age is allowed to ride an e-bike and carry passengers.

All legal e-bikes in NSW must have motors that cut out once they exceed 25km/h, otherwise they are classified as a motorbike and require a licence.

Victoria similarly imposes a maximum e-bike speed of 25km/h but has no age limit on who can ride them.

From July 1, riders in Queensland will need to hold a valid learner's permit or licence to use e-bikes, while parents who supply them to underage children could also face fines.

Western Australia and the Northern Territory are the only states and territories to currently impose an age restriction on e-bikes, with riders required to be at least 16 years old.

Anyone who witnessed the incident in South Morang, with footage or information, is urged to contact police.
A healthy but heartbroken mother's moving account of her decision to end her life at a Swiss clinic this week has triggered an emotional reaction from both sides of the debate over assisted dying in the UK.

Wendy Duffy, 56, is physically healthy and of sound mind  but so devastated by the loss of her only child in a tragic accident that she has decided to take her own life at the controversial Pegasos 'suicide clinic' this week.

She told the Daily Mail: 'I want to die, and that's what I'm going to do. My life; my choice.'

Read the full exclusive interview with the Daily Mail here, in which she explains in heart-rending detail the reasons behind her decision that was a year in the making.

It comes as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is not expected to pass during this parliamentary session because the House of Lords will run out of time on Friday to debate all the legislation.

Wendy shared her story because she says she wants to draw attention to the 'unfairness' of the current system on her family.

She has already tried to take her own life, and failed, and has now informed her family of her decision (she has four sisters and two brothers).

But she did not inform them of the timescale for their own protection  if anyone travelled with her, or assisted her suicide in any way, they would risk police investigation, if not prosecution, in the UK.

Wendy Duffy, 56, is physically healthy and of sound mind - but has decided to take her own life at a controversial 'suicide clinic'

Wendy's suffering has been deemed sufficient to meet the Pegasos criteria. A panel of experts, including psychiatrists, has passed her application after months of assessment and having had access to her full medical records.

Under Swiss law it is forbidden to profit from assisted death, and Pegasos is a non-profit organisation. Clients fund the medication, pay for the doctors (there is a rule that they cannot earn more than they would in, say, a hospital) and the funeral costs.

A portion also goes to the Swiss state. Growing concern over taxpayers forking out for 'death tourism' has led to an agreement between the clinics and the authorities, so that the police and coroner charges  routine in any death  are met by the clinics.

Pegasos insists that the application process is rigorous. Even within Swiss law, founder Ruedi Habegger told the Daily Mail, 'There is a red line that we cannot cross, otherwise it is not assisted suicide; you could actually call it murder'.

Wendy is not the first British person to travel to the Pegasos clinic, but no one has spoken so publicly before.

Those who oppose any change to assisted dying law in the UK have long argued that if terminally ill people are given the 'right' to die under any circumstances, then it won't be long before those who are not nearing the end of life will demand the same right.

Alistair Thompson, Care Not Killing's spokesman, told the Daily Mail: 'This is a tragic case that highlights the real dangers of legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia.

'In recent years, we have seen people with diabetes, eating disorders and even those losing their looks to have applied to have their life ended under assisted dying legislation.

'This is why we argue there is no safe system anywhere in the world and why the House of Lords looks set to reject the assisted dying bill this week in Parliament.

Join the discussion How should society balance compassion for suffering with the risks of legalising assisted dying?

She was so devastated by the loss of her only son that she decided to go through the application process to be considered for assisted dying in Switzerland

'What we should be doing is concentrating on good palliative care rather than condoning the deaths of people who are clearly suffering in different ways.

'We've seen cases where people are heartbroken in the past. In Canada we've seen a case where a man was applying for an assisted death because he was made homeless, there are many similar tragic cases.

'That is the problem. Once you legalise assisted killing, it is only a matter of who is eligible, when they are eligible, and you end up with tragic and heartbreaking cases like this.'

Labour MP Rachel Maskell, who voted against assisted dying, said: 'Complex grief needs to be far better understood and supported.

'Nothing could be more tragic than losing your own child in unexpected circumstances, but Wendy's story highlights why far more needs to be invested into trauma management; the answer is not ending your own life.

'Investment in trauma-informed approaches to grief is crucial, while for those with enduring mental health challenges, services must rapidly improve.

'However, I believe we have a further duty  the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland should cause us alarm and we, as a Parliament, must explore ways of protecting people from using their 'services' if we are to protect people at their most vulnerable state.'

Protests were held outside Parliament yesterday by assisted dying supporters, with Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter saying she was 'furious' with the House of Lords, after accusing it of blocking the vote by 'democratic vandalism'.

Rebecca Wilcox said: 'This delay, this lack of a vote, this lack of choice has a real human cost.

'It's really a sea of warmth and pink and smiling and loveliness here today, but I can't help feeling unbelievably furious that we are here again when we should be celebrating a vote.'

Dame Esther, 85, has been a leading voice of support for assisted dying since her own diagnosis with terminal lung cancer in 2023, but was not able to attend the protest herself as she is in palliative care.

Kim Leadbeater, the MP who first proposed the legislation to Parliament in October 2024 as a Private Members' Bill, told protesters that it was 'wrong, democratically and morally, that the House of Lords have talked the Bill out and allowed it to fall'.

Those opposed to assisted dying have been accused of using 'procedural tactics' to block the Bill after more than 1,000 amendments were tabled in the upper chamber.

The Bill has twice been passed through the Commons, although it was with a narrower majority the second time round.

For the existing Bill to become law, it needed to clear further revising stages in the Lords by Friday for both Houses to agree on its final wording to be written in to the statute book.

Broadcaster Prue Leith, who also attended the protest, said she was 'indignant' and said what the House of Lords had 'done' was 'criminal'.

She told Sky News: 'What's happened is a handful of Lords, five or six of them, produced over a thousand amendments which is more amendments than any bill has ever had in parliament and some of them are complete nonsense. They're just there to make sure the Bill runs out of time.

'What the Lords have done have even got people on their side say 'that's not right' and so I think we will come back with more support.'

Supporters of the Bill have claimed there are 'loads' of backbench MPs who are willing to revive the legislation after the next parliamentary session begins on May 13.

A study last year revealed that three quarters of Britons supported assisted dying, with more than half saying they would themselves consider travelling to Switzerland for an assisted death if they were terminally ill.

Read the full exclusive interview with the Daily Mail here, in which she explains in heart-rending detail the reasons behind her decision that was a year in the making, here.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
A man posing as a roofer allegedly tricked an elderly woman into writing a cheque for tens of thousands of dollars for repairs she didn't need.

The 73-year-old told police the middle-aged man visited her Sydney apartment last month, and once inside, told her the unit required 'urgent repairs'.

Police believe the man was also able to access her personal financial details.

The woman said the tradie accompanied her to the bank the following day where she was allegedly coerced her into handing over a cheque for the advance payment.

She later cancelled the cheque and contacted police.

Police have since released CCTV footage of the man, who is seen wearing a black shirt, blue denim jeans and a cap as he walked through a shopping mall.

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, aged in his 40s or 50s , and with a distinctive, possibly Irish, accent.

Police believe the man drives a white van and is usually accompanied by a second man, also believed to be Caucasian.

An elderly woman has allegedly lost a 'significant' amount of money after a man posing as a roofer (pictured) tricked her into withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars

Police have since released CCTV footage of the man, who is seen wearing a black shirt, blue denim jeans and a cap as he walked through a shopping mall (pictured)

Inner West Police Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Benjamin Kennis, has urged older people to remain alert to scams.

'These [alleged] scammers are targeting older people and claim that urgent home repairs are necessary, demanding large sums of money for work that is not needed,' he said.

'We would always recommend anyone approached like this should take the time and check these people are correctly licensed; these details can be checked with authorities such as NSW Fair Trading, Service NSW.

'It would also be a wise move to get a second, independent quote from known appropriately-licensed tradesmen to be sure your house actually needs the work.

'If you feel intimidated by someone at your home, close the door and contact your family or the police immediately.

'It is also important not to allow these people to accompany you to your bank or other financial institutions to for payment, as you can be vulnerable in this situation as well.'
Millions of mobile phone users are facing data rationing and price hikes after Rachel Reeves left telecoms firms to suffer the rising costs of energy.

The Chancellor left the telecoms sector out of a tax-relief scheme, leaving firms facing the full force of energy price rises caused by the war in Iran.

The multi-billion-pound British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) acts as a taxpayer-funded lifeline to give relief to 10,000 businesses with a 25 per cent discount on their electricity bills.

Now some of Britain's biggest networks have warned they may be forced to slow down speeds and hike costs for consumers.

However, telecoms giants including VodafoneThree, Virgin Media O2 and EE have been left out of the scheme despite consuming under one terawatt-hour of electricity each year, enough to power 370,000 homes.

As a result, the firms are drawing up emergency contingency plans to manage their own bills.

Among the measures being considered are slowing speeds, restricting access during periods of high demand and charging customers a premium for usage at peak times.

Most rationing will be targeted at voice calls and mobile data usage.

Customers could face online downtime, slower speeds or even charges under plans being drawn up by telecoms firms

Join the discussion How do you feel about paying more or getting slower service because the government excluded telecoms?

Operators may also consider offshoring call centres to offset the cost of energy bills, just as jobs were beginning to return to the UK.

The cost pressures could also lead to 5G rollout plans being shelved in another blow to British jobs.

One network warned that 9,000 jobs could be made at risk if investment plans are slowed down by rising costs.

The BICS scheme will cut costs by up to 40 per megawatt-hour from 2027 by exempting businesses from certain extra charges that currently support green energy and back-up power supply systems.

An additional one-off payment in 2027 will be given to an extra 3,000 businesses, including companies in the automotive, aerospace, steel and pharmaceuticals sectors.

The Chancellor previously said the plan will help UK businesses compete and create jobs despite the uncertain economic backdrop.

Industry insiders warned that mobile networks are officially classed as critical infrastructure and should be included in the scheme.

The price of electricity has risen by 33 per cent since the war began and could continue to rise.

A spokesperson for VodafoneThree told The Sun: 'We are disappointed that the Government has chosen not to include the telecoms sector in the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

'We urge the Government to consider the impact of rising energy prices on the vital telecoms sector that unlocks growth in all parts of the economy.'

A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson added: 'If the Government wants growth, productivity and resilience, it cannot overlook the digital networks the country depends on.'

Virgin Media O2 said they are not planning to ration data or throttle services.
The mother of a FedEx driver who admitted to murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand broke down in court on Wednesday as she spoke about her son's upbringing.

The woman, only referred to in court as 'Mrs. Horner,' told jurors at her son Tanner Horner's sentencing hearing that she did drugs and drank before she knew she was pregnant with him, and how he was bullied as a child.

'I mean, he wanted to get along with people, but they just weren't interested in having conversations with him,' she testified, according to NBC DFW.

'It was hard to watch. Very sad. They didn't like him at all.'

Defense attorneys are now apparently hoping jurors will take her testimony into account as they decide whether Tanner should be executed for Strand's murder.

He pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the case on April 7, just hours before his trial was set to start.

But Tanner denied that he raped the young girl before he strangled her to death - something his mother said she no longer believes, Fox 4 reports.

'I am so mad at him,' Mrs. Horner said of her son when she was asked by the defense if she was angry with him, given what he had pleaded guilty to.

'I want to just tear his a** up... She was just a baby,' she said.

FedEx killer Tanner Horner's mother testified about his upbringing at his trial on Wednesday

Mrs. Horner told jurors at her son Tanner Horner's (pictured) sentencing hearing that she did drugs and drank before she knew she was pregnant with him, and how he was bullied as a child

Tanner has admitted to abducting and killing seven-year-old Athena Strand from her home

Much of Mrs. Horner's testimony on Wednesday dealt with her own upbringing and the effects it had on Tanner when he was growing up.

She told jurors how she was born to a teenage mother, her parents divorced when she was just one year old and her stepfather started sexually abusing her at the age of four.

'I don't remember having dreams,' Mrs. Horner said. 'I didn't have a childhood.'

She then went on to describe years of drug abuse and mental health issues - saying she used heroin for 25 years and is now on methadone.

'I used everything I could get my hands on,' she said, according to CBS News. 'It wasn't a good lifestyle.'

The woman, whose image was blurred in the livestream of the court proceeding to maintain her anonymity, also said she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

She said she first went to rehab at the age of 14, then dropped out of high school - eventually getting a job as a teenager at a strip club in Fort Worth, Texas, where she first met Tanner's father, Terry.

He raped her on the night they first met, Mrs. Horner said, but she ultimately decided to marry him when she was 19 years old.

'It wasn't for love,' she told the jury.

Much of Mrs. Horner's testimony on Wednesday dealt with her own upbringing and the effects it had on Tanner when he was growing up (pictured)

Mrs. Horner testified in court on Wednesday that her Tanner (pictured) had trouble making friends as a child and was later diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome

Tanner seemed to blame his Asperger Syndrome on his actions in November 2022

Mrs. Horner then went on to claim she did not know she was pregnant with Tanner until she was about eight and a half weeks along.

Until then, she said she continued using drugs and drank 'pretty heavily, enough to get cirrhosis.'

Even after she found out she was pregnant, though, Mrs. Horner said she continued to smoke cigarettes and marijuana.

She also testified that she kept using drugs throughout Tanner's childhood - noting that he was just two years old when she relapsed.

'I nodded out one time, on the toilet,' she recounted. 'Tanner came in. He was just a little guy and he thought I was dead.'

At times, Tanner and his younger brother would live with their mother at rehabilitation centers. But when she was arrested on drug and prostitution charges, Tanner and his brother would also live with her mother.

Throughout his childhood, Mrs. Horner said, Tanner said he had a hard time making friends and communicating with other children.

Tanner strangled Strand, abducted her and dumped her body in a creek.. The two are pictured in his FedEx truck following the kidnapping

Horner kidnapped the little girl as he delivered a parcel of Barbies that her father and stepmother bought for her as a Christmas present

At the trial, jurors were also shown letters Horner wrote to Strand's family

She said he often had meltdowns, which she assumed were just temper tantrums when Tanner was younger.

But when he started getting bullied at school, Mrs. Horner said Tanner would act out violently by hitting himself in the head - though she insisted he never hit her or other people.

Tanner was eventually diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger Syndrome - an autism spectrum disorder whose sufferers may struggle to cope if their usual daily routine is disrupted.

In a letter to Strand's heartbroken family, Tanner seemed to blame his actions on the diagnosis.

He described in the letter how he was extremely stressed by not being able to drive the exact same route in his FedEx truck every day, when he kidnapped and killed Strand.

'I'm sorry I allowed my mental state to be unstable. I'm sorry I took your little angel away from you. She didn't deserve it,' Tanner wrote, as he moaned about the impact his crime would have on his own family.

He has claimed he accidentally struck Strand with his truck when he was delivering Barbie dolls that would be her Christmas present in November 2022, and that he strangled her out of fear she would tell her parents.

He told the court he initially tried to break Athena's neck to kill her, but that it didn't work, so he strangled her with his bare hands instead while singing 'Jingle Bell Rock.'

Prosecutors, however, have called the claims an 'absolute lie' and said Athena was not hurt before he abducted her, with footage showing Athena conscious and seemingly physically unharmed inside the truck.
SCRANTON, Pa., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- How does home care help families manage the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer's disease? That question is explored in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Peter Tomasi, Senior Care Expert and owner of FirstLight Home Care of Greater Scranton. The article discusses how consistent, compassionate home care provides essential dementia care and Alzheimer's support, helping families protect both safety and emotional wellbeing.

Peter Tomasi, President Speed Speed

According to the HelloNation feature, caring for a loved one with memory loss can be one of the most demanding responsibilities a family faces. As confusion increases and memory fades, it becomes difficult to maintain independence without assistance. Home care offers a practical and emotional solution by creating a calm, familiar environment where seniors can age in place with dignity.

The article explains that familiar surroundings play a powerful role in dementia care. For many individuals living with Alzheimer's disease, routine and recognition are key to reducing anxiety. A skilled caregiver can learn each person's specific habits, preferences, and daily rhythms, then adapt their support to promote comfort and stability. This individualized attention helps prevent agitation and fosters emotional connection even as memory challenges progress.

Peter Tomasi emphasizes that the strength of home care lies in its consistency. Having a trained and steady caregiver allows for reliable Alzheimer's support throughout the day. These professionals are equipped to recognize early signs of distress, manage wandering risks, and respond calmly during moments of confusion. By providing structure and reassurance, caregivers help minimize the disruptions that often lead to emotional distress or hospitalization.

The HelloNation article also highlights how home care enhances communication and daily engagement. Gentle activities such as simple conversation, light exercise, or music therapy can make meaningful differences in mood and memory function. When routines are predictable and caregivers remain patient, seniors often experience fewer episodes of confusion and enjoy more moments of clarity. This sense of balance and predictability is essential for maintaining comfort at home.

A major benefit of home care for dementia and Alzheimer's patients is the reduction of family stress. Many relatives find that caregiving can be emotionally and physically exhausting, especially as symptoms progress. By bringing in professional caregiver assistance, families can shift from managing constant care tasks to sharing more personal, loving moments with their loved ones. Tomasi explains that this adjustment allows family members to reclaim their roles as spouses, children, and companions, rather than full-time caregivers.

The HelloNation piece also points out that home care helps prevent burnout by providing dependable respite for family caregivers. Knowing that a trained professional is handling complex needssuch as medication reminders, meal preparation, or safety monitoringbrings peace of mind. This family support system strengthens the household and helps ensure that everyone involved can maintain their own health and balance.

Financial flexibility is another advantage discussed in the article. Home care often provides a more affordable option than residential facilities while maintaining high-quality dementia care. Families can tailor services to match their budget and needs, choosing part-time or full-time care based on evolving circumstances. This adaptability makes Alzheimer's support accessible to more families without sacrificing quality or compassion.

The feature goes on to explain that aging in place can greatly improve quality of life for individuals with memory loss. Remaining in a familiar home surrounded by personal belongings, photos, and memories helps preserve emotional stability. Tomasi notes that these detailssmall as they may seemare critical in maintaining a sense of identity and belonging for someone experiencing cognitive decline.

Special attention is given to sundowning, a common symptom of Alzheimer's and dementia where confusion and restlessness intensify in the late afternoon or evening. The article describes how professional caregivers anticipate and manage these episodes with calm communication, gentle redirection, and consistent routines. By reducing anxiety during these difficult hours, caregivers help keep both clients and families more at ease.

In the end, the HelloNation article emphasizes that home care is not only about managing symptoms, but about preserving the human connection that defines family life. Compassionate caregiver assistance bridges the gap between safety and independence, allowing loved ones to stay in the place where they feel most secure. Through ongoing support, understanding, and empathy, home care enables seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's to continue aging in place with comfort, dignity, and love.

How Home Care Supports Dementia and Alzheimer's Patients features insights from Peter Tomasi, Senior Care Expert of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in HelloNation.

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Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed has been helping the government strengthen Australias relations in the Middle East.

Footage of Mr Al Ahmed wrestling a gun from one of the alleged Bondi Beach shooters went viral following the December 14 massacre.

The tobacco shop owner, who has met world leaders, visited the US and been interviewed by international media in the wake of his heroism, received more than $2.65million from GoFundMe donations.

The Syrian-born hero was this week pictured at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters alongside the official delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Mr Al Ahmed was also joined by a group of Syrian business leaders to discuss how to strengthen ties between the two nations.

'This visit comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to restore diplomatic relations and to work towards lifting the sanctions imposed on Syria, in a way that serves the strategic, economic, and social interests of both nations,' he wrote online.

'It was a valuable opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue, strengthen mutual understanding, and explore avenues for future cooperation that benefit our peoples and contribute to long-term stability and prosperity.'

The meeting is believed to be the first high-level Syrian-Australian meeting since 2012.

Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed recently helped bolster relations between Australia and Syria

He attended the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Canberra alongside the official delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic

Mr Al Ahmed wrestled a gun from shooter Sajid Akram during the shooting at Bondi Beach

The Director General of Syrian Investment Authority, Tala Helali, said the meeting focused on restoring Syria's economic ties with Australia, the reopening of their embassy in Canberra and Syria's commitment to a 'secure investment climate.'

It came just days after Mr Al Ahmed attended the Expatriate Investors Support seminar organised by the Syrian Australian Chamber of Commerce in Sydney, which he said highlighted 'promising' investment opportunities.

He recently returned to Bondi Beach after he was awarded a 'Key to the City' in recognition of his bravery during the terror attack.

Mr Al Ahmed was also gifted a lifetime Waverley Beach Pass, which gives him free waterfront parking at some of Sydney's best beaches.

When presenting Mr Al Ahmed with his award last month, Mayor Will Nemesh described the hero's actions as 'a guiding light to prevail against the darkness'.

'Amid scenes of unthinkable horror, Ahmed ran towards grave danger to save countless innocent people, physically disarming one of the shooters and forcing him to retreat,' Mr Nemesh said, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.

'The entire Waverley community is incredibly thankful to him.

'These gestures we present today symbolise our never-ending gratitude. This gratitude can never be enough.'

Join the discussion What do YOU think about Ahmed Al Ahmed stepping into a diplomatic role after Bondi?

While in recovery post-surgery, he was personally delivered a huge GoFundMe cheque

NSW Premier Chris Minns thanked Mr Al Ahmed via video message for showing 'the nation and also the world what true Australian courage looks like'.

'Without a second thought and without a sense of your own self-preservation, you put your own life at risk to save people that you've never met before,' he said.

'So today we remember everyone affected by this terrible crime. We know your story will continue to bring hope and togetherness as our community heals.'

The Daily Mail has contacted DFAT for comment.
Ryanair is set to close its check-in desks 20 minutes early as new EU border controls have led to delays for passengers.

The airline currently allows passengers to check-in until 40 minutes before their flights.

But from November, desks will close an hour before take-off, meaning holidaymakers will have to arrive earlier to avoid missing their flight.

The airline has brought in the change after changes to EU security checks have left passengers stuck in lengthy queues ahead of their journeys.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES), which collects fingerprints and facial scans from visitors from outside the EU, has caused disruption at some European airports and has left Brits stranded.

More than 100 passengers missed an easyJet flight earlier this month due to long queues in Milan.

Greece has defied the EU by dropping the biometric tests for UK visitors, who contribute a large amount to the country's tourism-centred economy.

The move is also part of the airline's rollout of self-service bag drop kiosks, with more than 95 per cent of airports having them by October.

From November, desks will close an hour before take-off, meaning holidaymakers will have to arrive earlier to avoid missing their flight

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has previously offered staff bonuses for fining passengers with overweight luggage

The EES scheme is just one of a number of overbearing EU rules which are slowing tourists down on their trips abroad.

Pet owners have been told that their pet passports are no longer valid unless they live within the European bloc full time.

Ryanair has a reputation for strict rules, with its chief executive Michael O'Leary offering bonuses for staff who fined passengers with overnight bags.

The firm also banned paper boarding passes last year and required travellers to use the airline's app for tickets.

Dara Brady, Ryanair's chief marketing officer, said: 'From Tues 10 Nov next, Ryanair customers will see airport check-in and bag drops close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of today's 40 minutes.

'This will allow these 20 per cent of our customers (who check in a bag) more time to clear through airport security and passport queues, and get to their departure gate on-time, especially during busy travel periods when some of these airport queues can be longer.

'We are also installing self-service kiosks at over 95% of Ryanair airports before October.

'This means a quicker bag-drop service, less queuing at airport desks, and an even more punctual service for the 20 per cent of our customers who still wish to check-in a bag, while the 80 per cent (who don't check-in a bag) will be unaffected by this small 20 minute change, as they will continue to check-in online before they arrive at the departure airport and they go straight through airport security to their departure gate.'
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has warned Australians could soon be an 'endangered species' after the nation's birth rate dropped to an all-time low.

Musk, who has 14 children by four different women and a net worth of over $800billion retweeted a post announcing that Australia's birth rate had fallen to a record low of 1.48 children per woman.

It continues a long-term downward trend, with Australia's fertility rate sitting below the replacement level for nearly 50 years.

A birth rate of 2.1 is required for a population to sustain itself.

'Australians are becoming an endangered species', Musk wrote on X.

But Aussies were quick to respond to Musk's X post, claiming they simply couldn't afford to have more than two children.

'Complain about low birth rates while getting richer and being one of the reasons those birth rates are low is diabolical!' one person hit back.

'One reason Australia's birth rate keeps falling is because young adults are facing a mix of financial pressure, high housing costs, and expensive childcare, all of which make starting a family feel harder than it used to,' a second argued.

Musk (pictured with one of his sons) has 14 children by four different women

Musk's X post (pictured) generated plenty of comments from Aussies

Australia's total fertility rate has been declining for decades

'We are deliberately being replaced by the third world. The government has made it unaffordable and unsafe to raise children in Australia,' a third said.

'The rich can afford to have children, the poor can afford to have children through welfare, the middle class can't afford to have children because we pay for the poor,' a fourth commented.

'We can't afford children or houses. The economy is terrible and taxed to death. I've run a small business for ten years and since Covid I've seen the working class lose their disposable income. How will it ever improve?' a fifth agreed.

Many Aussies heaped the blame in the Albanese government's immigration policies for upping the cost of living which, in turn, is affecting their ability to raise a family.

'Replacement mass immigration is accelerating this. Almost no-one can afford a home,' one person commented.

Musk has been warning about the declining birth rate for years, not just in Australia but across Western countries.

The billionaire and other concerned experts fear society will be left with 'more grandparents than grandchildren' and face a myriad of challenges, including not enough young people to work, pay tax and look after the ageing population.

In 2017, the Tesla CEO warned the number of people on Earth was 'accelerating towards collapse but few seem to notice or care'.

Join the discussion What should Australia do to make raising a family more affordable and attractive?

Australia's birth rate has dropped to a record low of 1.48 children per woman

In 2021, Musk warned that civilisation is 'going to crumble' if people don't procreate, and said Japan could 'flat-out disappear' if a population downturn continued.

He similarly warned Italy 'will have no people' if its low birth rate continued.

Now he's saying the same about Australia, where soaring living and property costs are hampering many residents' desire to have large families.

Housing, grocery and childcare prices were already steep, but the war in the Middle East has driven costs even higher, fuel being the most notable example.

Low fertility rates are now the norm outside sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in parts of Europe and East Asia.

The birth rate in South Korea is now just 0.7 births per woman, while Japan has a famously low rate of around 1.3.

One local government in Kochi, Japan, has even resorted to paying people to date. They are offering up to $125 to residents aged 2039 to use certified dating apps.

Some nations have even taken to paying new parents for having children in a bid to increase the birth rate. Sparsely populated regions in Finland dish out 10,000 euros (8,500) to couples over 10 years per child.
Indigenous communities could ask the High Court to rule on the fundamental question of sovereignty, after the discovery of a landmark legal rule which upends the belief that the court lacks power to decide on the matter.

Research by Melbourne Law School's Olivia Barr has found a 1935 legal rule she says means there is an 'open door' for the High Court to get involved in questions of Indigenous sovereignty.

The issue dates back to a 1970s case, Coe v Commonwealth, in which four High Court judges split two-two on the procedural question of whether the court should allow a trial on sovereignty.

The case did not go to trial because the vote was a stalemate, Associate Professor Barr said, and everyone accepted the outcome and the assumption that the High Court lacked jurisdiction.

But Assoc Prof Barr has uncovered a long-forgotten legal rule in Tasmania v Victoria (1935) that split-court decisions do not create a precedent.

'This means it is as if the Coe case never happened, so it is open to the High Court to agree to hear any case on Aboriginal sovereignty that is put forward,' she said.

Australia is the only Commonwealth country that has not signed a national treaty with its Indigenous peoples.

A treaty acknowledges the 'sovereignty' of original inhabitants, that is, their authority and power to make decisions about how best to govern aspects of their lives.

The rule was highlighted by Associate Professor Olivia Barr (pictured)

The next practical step would be for Indigenous communities and leaders to decide if a test case was a good idea, and whether the risk is justified.

'It's high risk,' Assoc Prof Barr said.

'It could lead to massive legal change, it could lead to massive legal regression, or it could lead to the status quo.'

University of Melbourne deputy vice-chancellor (Indigenous) Barry Judd said given the experience of heightened racism in the aftermath of the Voice referendum, Indigenous leaders and organisations would likely open up private discussions about what this meant.

'I think there'll be a time of deep thinking and consideration about whether it's the right time to put our heads up, or whether we might hold and think about it for longer,' he said.

The research needed to be considered in the context of the High Court's 1992 Mabo decision, which recognised that terra nullius was a myth and recognied that Indigenous people held land rights, he said.

'This research potentially gives the Australian legal system, through the High Court, an opportunity to revisit history and to revisit those questions of truth which were partially answered by Mabo, but not fully.'

Professor Judd said it raised the question of Australians taking responsibility for historical lies and 'the untruths we've lived by' since 1788.

Join the discussion What would true Indigenous sovereignty mean for Australia's identity and future as a nation?

A legal rule from almost a 100 years ago could see the High Court step in on the question of Indigenous sovereignty (pictured, Yes campaigners in Brisbane in October 2023)

The consequences of the research should not be feared, because if sovereignty were found to exist, this would not change the world and the sky would not fall in, he said.

'It would simply bring Australia into line with just about every other like contemporary society that was a part of the former British Empire,' he said.

Assoc Prof Barr said High Court recognition of Indigenous sovereignty would be a massive change with potentially massive benefits, leading to wider treaty-making.

'But if it's a 'no' or a status quo result, then that will be devastating, in the way that the Voice referendum result was,' she said.

'So Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities need to have conversations, because it's not without risk.'

Assoc Prof Barr's research is published in the University of New South Wales Law Journal on Thursday.
David Wilcock, the controversial UFO researcher and bestselling author has died at his Colorado home at the age of 53 after authorities said he took his own life.

The death of Wilcock was confirmed by the Boulder County Coroner's Office on April 22, two days after deputies were called to a residence outside Nederland, Colorado, following a 911 call.

Emergency crews were dispatched to his home around 10:44am on Monday after a caller reported what authorities believe may have been a mental health crisis, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

When deputies arrived, they encountered a man outside the home.

Officials said that 'within minutes of deputies' arrival,' Wilcock took his own life. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators searched both the residence and surrounding property and confirmed that no other individuals were present.

The case remains under review as authorities work to determine the official cause and manner of death.

Wilcock's sudden death has sent shockwaves through a devoted online following that had grown around his decades-long work exploring UFOs, ancient civilizations and theories about hidden knowledge.

David Wilcock died on April 20, 2026, at the age of 53, according to Colorado authorities

The Boulder County Coroner's Office confirmed his death in a public statement on April 22. Deputies were dispatched after a 911 call just before 11am near Nederland, Colorado

Tributes quickly flooded social media, with fans expressing grief, disbelief and, in some cases, skepticism about the circumstances of his death. A message from X in 2022 is seen above

A leading figure in what is known as the 'disclosure movement,' Wilcock built a career on the belief that governments, particularly in the United States, possess secret information about extraterrestrial life and advanced technologies.

He advocated for that information to be made public, drawing a loyal audience of believers and skeptics alike.

He authored several books on the subject, including The Source Field Investigations and The Synchronicity Key  both of which became New York Times bestsellers.

He also gained mainstream visibility through repeated appearances on the Ancient Aliens, a long-running series that explores theories about extraterrestrial influence on human history.

Beyond television, Wilcock cultivated a massive digital presence.

His YouTube channel attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and he frequently hosted livestreams discussing everything from cosmic consciousness to alleged government cover-ups.

In the days leading up to his death, Wilcock appeared to hint at personal struggles.

On April 18, he wrote to followers on X: 'I've had some very intense stuff going on this weekend. Either way, I want you all to know how much I love and appreciate you!'

He added: 'Always remember that the Creator is within - and we live in a loving universe. I am very grateful to you for all of your love, care and support.'

Wilcock was a leading figure in the UFO 'disclosure movement,' which advocates for releasing alleged government secrets about extraterrestrials. Wilcock is pictured with actor Denise Richards

Wilcock had more than 500,000 followers on YouTube alone, He is pictured with a superfan in Boulder, Colorado

Wilcock called 911 after he had been experiencing a mental health crisis

Last week he posted that he had 'some very intense stuff going on' and thanked followers for their support

The message has since taken on a haunting tone for those who followed his work.

Tributes quickly flooded social media, with fans expressing grief, disbelief and, in some cases, skepticism about the circumstances of his death.

'Rest In Divine Peace, and be so very blessed David Wilcock. I am sure the whole story has not yet come out!' one user wrote on X.

Another added, 'My heart feels so sad. Poor David. He didn't deserve this. He was a genuine good person.'

Others openly questioned the official account, with one post reading, 'Noooooo! He did not take his own life and most of us are wise to that!!' while another claimed, 'David literally said on video multiple times that he is not suicidal.'

A self-described longtime friend wrote: 'I do not believe the official story, at all.'

Some described him as a 'genuine good person' whose work 'opened [their] eyes,' while others questioned the official account - reflecting the same mix of devotion and controversy that defined his career.

Wilcock's influence extended beyond internet forums into political circles.

Florida Republican Rep Anna Paulina Luna publicly acknowledged his passing, writing that she was 'praying for his family and loved ones and the millions of lives he impacted.'

Wilcock was living in a home near Nederland, a small mountain town in Boulder County, Colorado, at the time of his death. He is pictured at Lake Louise in Western Canada

The area outside Nederland where he lived is a remote, high-altitude region in the Rocky Mountains known for its isolation and natural surroundings. Wilcock is seen alongside a in Banff, Canada

Wilcock is pictured alongside Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Motown legend Smokey Robinson

Born in New York in 1973, Wilcock studied psychology before embarking on a career that blended spiritualism, conspiracy theories and alternative science.

He even advanced the claim in one of his books that he was the reincarnation of famed psychic Edgar Cayce - a theory that further cemented his reputation as a polarizing figure.

Despite, or perhaps because of those claims, he remained a central voice in the UFO and paranormal community for years, drawing audiences eager for answers to questions far beyond conventional science.

Now, his sudden death leaves that community grappling not only with the loss of one of its most recognizable figures, but also with the unanswered questions surrounding his final moments.

Authorities have not indicated any evidence of foul play, and the investigation remains focused on confirming the official findings.
The trusted ex-secretary of one of Australia's richest women has been sensationally accused of stealing more than $1 million from her former boss in a case that has rocked Sydney's elite.

Annalouise Spence, who worked for philanthropist Judith Neilson, was arrested on Wednesday at her home by heavily armed police following an extended investigation into alleged fraudulent expense claims made by an employee at the Judith Neilson Foundation.

It is understood that Spence worked as Neilson's private secretary for eight years.

Police allege Spence, 50, used a business credit account to make unauthorised purchases of luxury and personal items - including clothing, artwork and jewellery - between March 2023 and September 2025.

'Following extensive inquiries, yesterday morning investigators executed search warrants at a home in Erskineville, and a storage unit in Campbelltown,' the NSW Police Force said in a statement.

'During the search, officers located and seized luxury handbags, jewellery, clothing, documents and other personal items.'

Spence was charged with 68 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

During Spence's employment, Neilson, who has an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, entrusted her with access to her intimate personal and financial details, the Sydney Morning Herald's Kate McClymont reported.

Annalouise Spence (pictured with her husband Adam) was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly stealing over $1 million from her former boss

Spence (centre) was the private secretary for the billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson (centre, right) - pictured together at a SolidAfrica event in Rwanda

The duo worked together for eight years, with Spence believed to have been entrusted with access to Ms Neilson's intimate personal and financial details without oversight

Spence is also alleged to have impersonated Neilson, 79, to obtain a supplementary card attached to her Black Amex Card.

It was this card she allegedly used to rack up over $1 million in expenses on first-class flights, luxurious hotel stays, designer clothes and bags, jewellery and artwork.

Neilson told the publication she did not authorise Spence's card and had no idea Spence had allegedly removed her finance team's oversight of her Amex account.

Among the allegations facing Spence is that she used the Amex card to buy a $16,000 piece of art for a male friend, which he then reimbursed to her personal account, $58,593 on a rare pink-gold Rolex wristwatch from the Vintage Watch Company in London and $21,000 had been spent at the luxury department store Harrods.

Spence allegedly also billed Neilson's card $38,757.85 for a five-night stay at a New York hotel in October 2023.

'I was sickened and so damned hurt,' Neilson told the publication upon discovering Spence's alleged frauds.

Spence's employment reportedly ceased in September 2025 following a 'restructuring' of Ms Neilson's office.

It was only when Ms Neilson's new assistant was reconciling her account was when alarm bells started to ring.

Spence allegedly used this Blac Amex card which was linked to Ms Neilson's account, without her knowledge

Ms Neilson is benefactor behind the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, Sydney - which is focused on Chinese art

Following her arrest on Wednesday, Spence was taken to Mascot Police Station and spent the night in custody having been refused bail.

Spence will front Bail Division Court 7 today.

NSW Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
An award-winning pro-Palestinian writer has sensationally quit her publisher after claiming they 'capitulated to a smear campaign' by cancelling and 'pulping' thousands of copies of a children's picture book.

Randa Abdel-Fattah's resignation email to the University of Queensland Press (UQP), was published to social media on Thursday.

Her letter, shared by the podcast Lamestream, cited the publisher's decision to axe all copies of Bila, a river cycle, written by First Nations poet Jazz Money and illustrated by Matt Chun.

It followed reports by Rupert Murdoch's The Australian newspaper that Mr Chun had gone on a 'tirade against Jews and Zionists' in a newsletter titled 'We Don't Mourn Fascists' following the Bondi Beach terror attack.

'I am shocked by UQP's shameful and cowardly decision to capitulate to, and thereby legitimise, yet another Murdoch-driven smear campaign by cancelling Bila,' Dr Abdel-Fattah wrote.

'I want you to imagine that one day people will study this moment. (People) will... read books chronicling how institutions and the arts responded to a genocide.

'And they will read about a publisher pulping 5,000 picture story books written by a brilliant, generous, principled, fierce First Nations poet to appease a racist, pro-genocidal media and political elites.

'It should never have come to this.'

Acclaimed author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah (pictured) has quit her publisher University of Queensland Press (UQP) after it cancelled a children's picture book

Pictured, a mock up of Dr Abdel-Fattah's email to UQP

She said it had 'capitulated to a smear campaign' by Murdoch-owned media (pictured is Rupert Murdoch)

A statement issued by the University of Queensland refused to comment on individual contracts but confirmed that Bila, a river cycle had been cancelled as a result of Mr Chun's statements.

'The University will not comment on individual contracts as these are confidential,' ot read.

'Regarding the query on Bila, a river cycle, in late January, the university paused the scheduled publication of the book by Jazz Money and Matt Chun to allow time for statements made by the illustrator Matt Chun in an online article to be considered.

'The university has determined the statements made by Matt Chun do not align with the university's policies and values including in light of its adopted definition of antisemitism.

'We do not condone his views and cannot proceed in a way that suggests endorsement or association. As a result, this publication of the book will not proceed.

'The University regrets the impact this matter has on the author, Jazz Money. We have enormous respect for Jazz and her work and we would welcome the opportunity to work with Jazz again in the future.'

The books remain in storage while the university 'considers recycling options', it said.

The Daily Mail contacted Mr Chun and Ms Money for comment. Ms Money wrote a statement, shared via Lamestream, saying the UQP decision was 'awful'.

UQP has cancelled all 5,000 copies of the book Bila, written by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrated by Matt Chun

'It's environmentally reckless, it's disrespectful of Aboriginal storytelling, and it sets a chilling standard that any perceived activism for Palestine puts livelihoods at risk,' she wrote.

In Mr Chun's article, he claimed 'misinformation disseminated' following the Bondi shooting where 15 innocent people were killed.

'On 14 December, an event hosted by the Zionist Jewish-supremacist organisation Chabad was targeted by shooters on Bondi Beach,' he wrote.

'While this was immediately and widely reported as an 'antisemitic attack' at an 'innocent Hannukah gathering', Chabad is in fact a network of centres and institutions which actively, publicly, and extensively helps to facilitate the ongoing Zionist and Euro-American imperialist holocaust of Palestine.

'Progressive organisations and community leaders hurriedly produced an avalanche of formal public statements, rushing to co-sign the Zionist rhetoric of 'rising antisemitism', 'terrorism', and 'social cohesion'.

'The shooting was immediately condemned as an antisemitic hate crime, a framing shared by major Australian Palestine solidarity groups, 'antizionist' collectives, and Benjamin Netanyahu.'

Authors Natalia Figueroa Barroso and Evelyn Araluen have also said they will be leaving UQP after the children's book was dropped.

Dr Abdel-Fattah said her 2025 novel Discipline, which draws on themes about the war in Gaza, was at risk of suffering the same fate as Bila, after the book - and her pro-Palestinian support - was contested several times.

Jazz Money (pictured) described the decision as 'awful'

'I cannot bear to publish my next book (which I am currently writing) with a publisher that has empowered bullies to move against a First Nations, queer woman poet,' she said.

'And that holds its authors of colour in such contempt. My god, the irony.'

The author, who has also been the target of The Australian's scrutiny, was due to speak about Discipline at Adelaide Writers' Week this year.

However, she was uninvited over 'cultural sensitivity' concerns in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack due to her activism.

Jewish academics also wrote to Bendigo Writers Festival last year complaining about her presence on a panel about censorship in media and literature.

Her appearance at this year's Newcastle Writers' Festival in March was then criticised by Jewish groups and NSW Premier Chris Minns.

She said the events should have made UQP anticipate what would happen to Ms Money and Mr Chun.

Dr Abdel-Fattah also noted there was no outrage for Palestinian lives lost in Israel's ongoing war with Hamas, compared to fury about Mr Chun's article.

The decision was made after Matt Chun (pictured) wrote an anti-Israel newsletter after the Bondi Beach terror attack, sparking aggressive headlines by Murdoch's The Australian paper

Pictured, Mr Chun's controversial newsletter

'(Writers and the public) can see through the weaponisation of accusations of antisemitism to censor and punish voices that denounce and oppose... Israel,' she wrote.

'And they can see the travesty that these machinations are being waged against a children's book written by a First Nations writer, and are being indulged by a publisher that has burnished its reputation through publishing First Nations writers.'

She said UQP chose Rupert Murdoch and 'pro-Israel lobbyists' over authors, saying 'this is why Discipline will be my first and last book with UQP'.

'It chose the side of the bullies, the powerful, and the resourced, over marginalised minorities,' the author added.

She then thanked members of the team who 'do not deserve to be tarnished by this ugly, racist decision'.

The Daily Mail has contacted Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp for comment on Dr Abdel-Fattah's claims.
READ MORE: Albanese in talks to develop new oil refinery

Queensland's disability minister has blasted the Albanese government's sweeping overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Amanda Camm, the state's minister for families, seniors and disability services, accused Labor of allowing fraudsters to rort the system, with the new changes leaving those who actually require assistance in the lurch.

'The federal government is walking away from its responsibility to people with a disability,' the minister said.

'The same government that created the NDIS is now introducing legislation without proper consultation with states, territories or peak bodies, and it will fundamentally alter the lives of almost 160,000 Australians living with disability.'

The new measures, unveiled on Wednesday by the NDIS and Health Minister Mark Butler, aim to rein in the scheme's rapid growth by removing as many as 160,000 participants and diverting many children and people with milder disabilities out of the federally funded program.

The minister questioned the practical impact on families with children with autism in Queensland.

'If your child currently receives oneonone occupational therapy, speech therapy or similar supports, you can say goodbye to them,' she said.

'Those services will disappear under these cuts and changes.'

Amanda Camm (pictured) said rorters and fraudsters had been allowed to thrive in the NDIS

She also accused the Commonwealth of mismanagement and failing to address the persistent rorting of the scheme.

'The Albanese government has allowed fraudsters, criminals and rorters to take over a system that was designed to protect our most vulnerable people,' she said.

It follows comments by Camm on Wednesday, where she called the NDIS a 'runaway train'.

'Minister Mark Butler stood up in the National Press Club and outlined the runaway train of which the NDIS has become and, in doing so, simultaneously decoupled the carriages and sent them the states' way,' she said.

The Commonwealth wants annual growth in NDIS spending slashed from 10.3 per cent to just 2 per cent.

One of the most contentious elements is a revamp of early intervention supports, including the 'thriving kids' program, which helps children with autism, which would shift both funding and administration to the states.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli's LNP government has labelled the move a cost shift and accused the Albanese government of stepping back from its responsibilities.

State Treasurer David Janetzki placed the blame for the NDIS's financial woes squarely on Canberra.

Anthony Albanese (pictured) is under pressure from states around NDIS changes

'The federal government's budget matters to Queensland, and the Albanese government must find solutions to the problems it has created,' Janetzki said.

'This NDIS cost shift to the states reflects a failing federal program, and it remains the federal government's responsibility.'

Minister Butler acknowledged that previous attempts to rein in costs had not gone far enough and warned drastic measures were now needed to secure the NDIS's long-term future.

Under the changes, higher-functioning participants with milder conditions, including some people with autism and mental health issues, would be shifted to state or mainstream services.

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls argued the plan fails to tackle the root challenges facing the NDIS.

'The announcements made yesterday by the Albanese Labor government will not even scratch the surface of the challenges faced in Queensland, let alone across the nation,' he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with state and territory leaders, including Crisafulli, at National Cabinet on Thursday, with Queensland understood to remain unsupportive of the proposed changes.
A young man has copped a spray from his neighbour who demanded to know whether he owned or rented after he parked outside the man's house.

Jakeb Fisher, 27, came home after a 12-hour shift and parked his car in an unrestricted spot on a public road opposite his home in Sydney.

'I parked the car across the road from where I live because there's a car in the spot I normally park in,' Mr Fisher said in a TikTok video.

'It's a public road though, so who cares. Sometimes I park around the corner or just wherever. You move on and park somewhere else.'

Mr Fisher said the unhappy resident asked if he could move his car to another spot, and whether he rented or owned his property.

'I'm already exhausted, tired, and irritable and then my neighbour comes over and goes "mate, is that your car"?' he recalled.

'I ask him why and he says "because you can't park there". I say "what? On a public road?" and he goes "yeah, that's my house".'

The neighbour then asked Mr Fisher if he rented, but he refused to answer, saying it was none of the man's business.

Jakeb Fisher, 27, came home after a long day at work and legally left his car across the road

'He goes "Well I own and that's mine",' he said.

When Mr Fisher suggested the man parked behind him in a spot in front of another house, he hit back, saying it was disrespectful to the neighbours.

Mr Fisher said the exchange angered him, so he left his car where it was.

'Out of spite, I didn't end up moving the car because it pissed me off,' he said.

Many Aussies sided with Mr Fisher, saying he was entitled to park where he pleased.

'I love the way you handled it and no, you are not in the wrong,' one person said.

'I dislike it when someone parks in front of my house for an extended period of time, but it isn't illegal and I don't complain to them,' a second said.

'If someone is parked in front of my house, I park in front of someone else's house.'

Aussies were divided over whether the driver or the neighbour was in the wrong (stock image)

'I have neighbours that park out the front of my house, but it doesn't bother me unless they or their visitors park too close to my driveway causing me issues getting in and out,' a third said.

However, some sided with the neighbour.

'It's good manners not to park out the front of someone else's house,' one said.

'It is common knowledge not to park out the front of someones house if your car's there for a long period of time,' another said.

'It's an unwritten courtesy rule,' a third agreed.
A young Sydney entrepreneur dubbed the 'next Zuckerberg' has been arrested in New York City over a serious assault, just days after he was accused in a lawsuit of running a cryptocurrency scheme that allegedly caused millions of dollars in losses

Ben Pasternak, 26, is accused of strangling and assaulting a person on March 31.

According to New York Criminal Court listings seen by the Daily Mail, Pasternak was arrested on Tuesday and charged with one count of strangulation in the second degree and one count of assault with intent to cause physical injury.

It's understood Pasternak pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He is due to front New York Criminal Court on June 11.

Dini von Mueffling, an American public relations executive who identified herself as a friend of Pasternak, said his relationship with content creator and podcaster Evelyn Ha ended on March 31, the same night as the alleged assault.

'I am writing this statement on his behalf. Ben unilaterally denies the accusation Evelyn Ha has made against him,' she said.

His arrest comes just days after it was revealed Pasternak is also being pursued in the civil court after he was accused of running a cryptocurrency scheme that allegedly caused millions of dollars in losses.

Ben Pasternak, 26, is accused of strangling and assaulting a person on March 31

Dini von Mueffling, an American public relations executive who identified herself as a friend of Pasternak, said his relationship with content creator and podcaster Evelyn Ha ended on March 31, the same night as the alleged assault

Pasternak is also accused in a civil lawsuit of orchestrating an elaborate crypto scheme using allegedly deceptive tokens to lure millions from investors

The civil lawsuit alleges Pasternak orchestrated an elaborate crypto scheme using allegedly deceptive tokens to lure millions from investors.

Pasternak, the grandson of Sydney property heavyweight Robert Magid, whose net worth is said to exceed $700 million, first made headlines at just 15 when an iPhone game he created in class shot to number one on the Apple App Store charts.

The teenage success story quickly attracted invitations from tech giants such as Google and Facebook, along with a scholarship to Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.

He later secured more than $91 million in investment for two businesses - a social media app and a plant-based chicken nugget company - which he later sold.

In recent years, Pasternak moved into cryptocurrency and launched a platform called Clout, which he later rebranded to Believe.

The platform allowed users who met certain follower thresholds to create cryptocurrency tokens linked to their personal profiles.

In filings lodged in a New York district court seen by the AFR, lawyers for angry investors claim Pasternak promoted three cryptocurrency tokens on social media, sold through the platform, before abandoning the projects, leaving buyers stuck with near-worthless assets in a scheme known as a 'rug pull'.

'Each iteration followed the same cycle: hype and promotional activity, rapid price appreciation, and catastrophic decline,' the court filing listed by lawyer Max Burwick reads.

The wizz kid, who left his school in Sydney in Year 10, has regularly been spotted with celebrities like Drake (pictured) and giants of Silicon Valley

He has also been pictured with former Apple CEO Tim Cook

Investors claim they are owed hundreds of millions of dollars tied to the tokens $PASTERNAK, $LAUNCHCOIN and $BELIEVE.

The $PASTERNAK token, allegedly plunged from a $US85 million valuation to less than $US190,000 within a week of launch.

Pasternak, who grew up in Sydney's exclusive eastern suburbs, dropped out of school in Year 10 after catching the eye of Silicon Valley investors.

The Daily Mail has contacted Pasternak and Ms Ha for comment.
Reports revenues of 52.5763 trillion won, operating profit of 37.6103 trillion won, net profit of 40.3459 trillion won

Record-high quarterly performance driven by increased sales of high value-added products from strong AI demand

By launching advanced products, the company will try to address growing market demand in the looming agentic AI era

Company to secure both stable supply and robust financial conditions through investment aligned with demand

SEOUL, South Korea, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has recorded 52.5763 trillion won in revenues, 37.6103 trillion won in operating profit (with an operating margin of 72%), and 40.3459 trillion won in net profit (with a net margin of 77%) in the first quarter.

Revenue surpassed 50 trillion won for the first time on a quarterly basis, while operating profit and operating margin reached record highs at 37.6 trillion won and 72%, respectively[1]. Operating profit has nearly doubled compared to the previous quarter, clearly demonstrating an improving profitability.

[1] 4Q2025 Revenue: 32.8267 trillion won / 4Q2025 Operating Profit: 19.1696 trillion won

SK hynix noted that despite the fact that first quarter is typically a seasonal downturn, strong demand persisted due to expanded investments in AI infrastructure. The company sustained its upward performance trend by increasing sales of high-value-added products, including HBM, high-capacity server DRAM modules, and eSSDs.

Building on this strong performance, the company's cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter increased by 19.4 trillion won from the previous quarter, reaching 54.3 trillion won. Meanwhile, interest bearing debt stood at 19.3 trillion won down 2.9 trillion won from the previous quarter, enabling the company to reach a net cash position of 35 trillion won.

The company analyzed that as AI evolves from large model training to the stage of agentic AI, which repeatedly performs real-time inference across various service environments, the foundation for memory demand is expanding across both DRAM and NAND flash.

SK hynix also predicted that the spread of memory efficiency technologies will enhance the economic viability of AI services, leading to an expansion of the overall service scale and further drive memory demand. Based on this, the company forecasted that favorable pricing conditions will continue for both DRAM and NAND flash.

To meet this demand, the company, plans to continue rolling out new products across both DRAM and NAND flash to address the diversifying memory demand.

Regarding HBM, the company will further strengthen its capabilities, encompassing performance, yield, quality, and supply stability. In DRAM, the company will fully ramp up the shipment of LPDDR6, which applied 1cnm process, or the sixth-generation of the 10-nanometer technology, for the world's first time, and the 192GB SOCAMM2, which is based on the same process and began mass production this month.

For NAND flash, the company will flexibly address AI demand with CTF[2] based 321-layer QLC[3] cSSD 'PQC21', and eSSD lineup of high-performance TLC and high-capacity QLC. Especially, by leveraging synergies with Solidigm, which holds strengths in high-capacity QLC eSSDs, the company plans to strengthen its competitiveness in the AI data center and AI PC storage markets.

[2] Charge Trap Flash (CTF): Unlike floating gate, which stores electric charges in conductors, CTF stores electric charges in insulators, which eliminates interference between cells, improving read and write performance while reducing cell area per unit compared to floating gate technology. [3] Quad-level cell (QLC): NAND flash is categorized as single-level cell (SLC), multi-level cell (MLC), triple-level cell (TLC), QLC, and penta-level cell (PLC) depending on how many data bits can be stored in one cell. As the amount of information storage increases, more data can be stored in the same volume.

Meanwhile, SK hynix emphasized that within the environment where customer demand exceeds supply capacity, securing stable supply capability to meet the structural demand growth of the AI era has emerged as a key competitive advantage.

Accordingly, the company explained that this year's investment scale will increase significantly compared to the previous year, focusing on the ramp-up of M15X, infrastructure preparation on the Yongin cluster, and securing key equipment such as EUV.

The company highlighted that it will secure both stable supply and robust financial conditions through investment aligned with demand and will strategically expand production bases to proactively respond to long-term demand growth.

1Q26 Financial Results (K-IFRS)

*Unit: Billion KRW

1Q26 QoQ YoY

4Q25 Change 1Q25 Change Revenues 52,576.3 32,826.7 60 % 17,639.1 198 % Operating Profit 37,610.3 19,169.6 96 % 7,440.5 405 % Operating Margin 72 % 58 % 14%P 42 % 30%P Net Income 40,345.9 15,246.0 165 % 8,108.2 398 %

 Financial information of the earnings is based on K-IFRS  Please note that the financial results discussed herein are preliminary and speak only as of April 23, 2026. Readers should not assume that this information remains operative at a later time.

Disclaimer

This material has been prepared by the Company for informational purposes only, and the information contained herein has not undergone any separate, independent verification process. No representations or warranties are made regarding the fairness, accuracy, or completeness of the information contained in this material, and such information should not be relied upon. Neither the Company nor its employees bear any civil, criminal, or administrative liability for any damages arising from this material or from its use.

Review of the FY2026 Q1 financial results has not been finalized. Figures in this earnings release are subject to changes during the independent auditing process.

All financial information contained in this document is based on consolidated K-IFRS.

This material contains forward-looking statements which can be subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.

This material does not constitute a solicitation for the acquisition or purchase of securities, and no part of this material should serve as the basis for any contract, agreement, or investment decision, nor should it be relied upon in connection therewith.

About SK hynix Inc.

SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM") and flash memory chips ("NAND flash") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.

SOURCE SK hynix Inc.
The Greens are at it again, all compassion in the abstract, little regard for the practical responsibilities of governing.

They have never had to carry the burden of being in power federally, so they they keep doing what they do best: demanding more spending, denouncing fiscal restraint and pretending hard trade offs are a moral failure rather than an unavoidable part of government.

Their latest position on the NDIS fits this pattern perfectly. Faced with a scheme both major parties accept has become financially unsustainable in its current form, the Greens instinct is simply to oppose any tightening and insist the money keep flowing and growing.

'This is an extraordinary betrayal of disabled people by a Labor government that promised to protect the NDIS, not cut it,' leader Larissa Waters said. 'Australians with a disability and everyone who loves them are angry, and theyre not going to let Labor take away their dignity without a fight.'

'Budgets are about choices, and Labor is choosing to cut the NDIS instead of taxing rich gas corporations. Labor needs to show courage, tax the big corporations and 1%, stand up to Donald Trump, and get these billions back into the essential services we all rely on.'

Thats the Greens playbook neatly summed up in one quote: Bash gas companies harder, soak the rich a bit more and somehow stand up to Trump, then the money will magically appear and the hard choices will disappear!

Its always easier to defend every entitlement than it is to choose who gets what from a limited pool of funds. But the Greens dont see things that way.

There are almost no limits to their fiscal profligacy: Free dental care, free university, more subsidies, more public spending, and certainly bigger government. The bill to pay for it all is treated as secondary, as though taxpayers can be tapped indefinitely and public spending can rise without consequence.

Greens leader Larissa Waters brought Donald Trump, gas tax and the wealth of the top one per cent into her response to the NDIS cuts

She was echoed by Senator Jordon Steele-John, the party's disability spokesman

And when the question of funding gets pressed, the Greens answer is as predictable as their promises: just tax more.

Tax business more heavily, tax profits more aggressively, and tax wealth more substantively.

The productive side of the economy is treated less as the engine of national prosperity than as a standing reserve to be raided whenever another commitment needs paying for.

Its economic escapism. Economic growth isnt automatic and investments certainly arent guaranteed. Business confidence collapses when the sector is treated as an endless tap, and capital moves abroad, firms delay decisions, and investment dries up when governments treat enterprise as an inexhaustible source of revenue.

Thats especially true in the resources sector, where capital is mobile and sovereign risk matters. Keep telling investors they are hostages to the next Greens spending promise and theyll act accordingly and flee.

Punish economic activity heavily enough and the result isnt social justice but slower growth, weaker job creation and a smaller pie from which to fund public services.

The Greens rarely seem interested in that side of the ledger. In fact they are in denial about how national economies work.

Their politics begin with redistribution, not production, and they are preoccupied with dividing up a shrinking pie rather than helping it grow.

NDIS Minister Mark Butler announced on Wednesday that Labor would finally move to clamp down on the NDIS - which is currently forecast to suck up $70b of public spending a year by 2030

It was former Labor PM Paul Keating who talked up the need to grow the pie so that everyone gets more, and he was right.

The Greens' misguided moral confidence is built on the assumption that prosperity will continue regardless of how much extra burden is piled onto the sectors that generate it.

None of this is to argue that disability support doesnt matter, or that the NDIS should be cut for its own sake. The major parties arent saying that either. But its important to recognise that without discipline the NDIS will eventually become harder to sustain politically as well as fiscally. If it is to endure, it has to be tightly run and properly targeted.

The Greens are nothing if not predictable, resisting that reality because it disrupts the simplicity of their politics. A responsible system can support the vulnerable while still imposing limits and demanding value. But that requires tough decisions the Greens simply arent prepared to make, and dont have to because they arent in government, and hopefully never will be.

The Greens campaign brilliantly, solidifying their narrow constituency, because they can always take the easier side of any argument. They can promise, condemn and moralise without having to balance competing demands or protect the long term health of the economy.

Someone else is always left to do that.
READ MORE: Albanese not ruling out tougher fuel measures for Aussies

Pauline Hanson has lashed the Greens for using Punjabi on campaign signs ahead of the federal by-election, insisting that English should remain the primary language.

The One Nation leader claimed the Greens' decision to display a sign in Punjabi undermines the unifying role of English as Australia's national language.

'What's interesting in this byelection are the corflute signs that are popping up across the electorate,' she wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

Early voting for the NSW seat of Farrer opens next Tuesday, with voters scheduled to head to the polls on May 9.

The vote follows the resignation of long-serving former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who held the seat for 25 years after she was first elected in 2001.

'The Greens have erected the following signs, appealing to the Indian community in Punjabi,' Hanson said. 'The Greens ignore the vital need to use English for those who want to call Australia home.'

She argued that English proficiency is especially important during election campaigns, where voters must weigh up candidates and their policies.

'English is critical for economic, social and practical survival, especially during elections where debate and policies help voters form a view on who is best suited to lead a community or region,' she wrote.

Pauline Hanson has lashed the Greens for using Punjabi on campaign signs ahead of the federal by-election, insisting that English should remain the primary language

Hanson slammed Greens candidate Richard Hendrie (sign pictured) for having a sign in Punjabi

Hanson also took aim at the Greens' wider agenda.

'Remember the Greens stand for open borders, mass migration and further division in this country,' she said.

The Greens' signs promote their candidate Richard Hendrie, encouraging voters to 'Vote 1' and spelling out party priorities.

One of the Punjabi signs says the Greens support social justice, oppose discrimination and stand for better education, healthcare, environmental protection and costofliving relief.

Another sign highlights the party's stance on social wellbeing, refugee protection, environmental action and ending political corruption.

However, the 2021 Census shows Punjabi speakers make up just 1.2 per cent of Farrer's population.

The rural electorate stretches across southwestern NSW, taking in regional centres such as Albury, Griffith, Leeton and Deniliquin, and has been a conservative stronghold since its creation in 1949.

The byelection is shaping up as a fierce contest, with One Nation's David Farley and independent Michelle Milthorpe among the frontrunners.

One Nation candidate David Farley (left) is a front runner for the hotly contested by-election

Join the discussion Should campaign signs in Australia include languages other than English to reach diverse communities?

One Nation remains ahead of the Coalition in recent polling, with a new YouGov survey putting the party level with Labor nationally on a 27 per cent primary vote.

Liberal sources say their candidate, Albury councillor Raissa Butkowski, is an outside chance, as the party seeks to win back ground by highlighting One Nation's controversies - including the fallout over the employment of convicted rapist Sean Black, who was sacked following public backlash.
US officials reportedly said clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz could take at least six months as Iran warned the vital waterway was 'impossible' to reopen.

The fight over the narrow strait  through which one-fifth of the world's oil supply flows  has mired the US in a stalemate with little wiggle room to reach a deal.

President Trump set conditions to end the war that include Iran ending its nuclear program, turning over its highly-enriched uranium, and opening the strait.

Trump had threatened broader military action if Iran did not agree to his demands. However, he announced Tuesday that he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire.

The stalemate hardened when Iran pledged to stall peace negotiations unless Trump ends a naval blockade he imposed to damage the country's oil-based economy.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, argued late Wednesday that reopening the strait would be 'impossible.'

Ghalibaf, the lead negotiator, said the US and Israel are committing 'flagrant' breaches of the ceasefire agreement including the naval blockade.

He added that the US and Israel have not achieved 'their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying.'

President Donald Trump has demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil traverses

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and a lead negotiator in the first round of peace talks, argued late Wednesday that reopening the strait would be 'impossible'

In a post on X Wednesday night, Ghalibaf accused the US and Israel of 'flagrant' breaches of the ceasefire agreement

But US officials have now warned about another unexpected hurdle to opening the strait.

A senior defense department official told members of the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that it could take six months to clear the waterway of mines the Iranian military has deployed, according to the Washington Post.

Any efforts to remove the mines won't even begin until the war ends, the official warned.

The Iranian navy began placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz in March, as US-Israeli forces continued their joint attacks on the country.

The Pentagon then highlighted an effort to attack the Iranian ships that were laying the mines.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proclaimed that US forces were destroying the ships with 'ruthless precision' as he declared that the US 'will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.'

But Iranian forces are now reportedly having trouble finding all of the mines they deployed in the waterway.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth highlighted an effort to attack Iranian ships that were laying the mines back in March

Video released by the US Central Command showed what they said was an Iranian naval vessel as it was struck by a projectile 'near the Strait of Hormuz' on March 10

The US may now also have trouble finding the mines, some of which were floated remotely using GPS technology - which makes it difficult for American forces to detect the mines when they are deployed, the senior defense official reportedly told lawmakers at the hearing on Tuesday.

Others are believed to have been laid by Iranian forces using small boats.

In total, officials who spoke with the Washington Post said they were told Iran may have placed 20 or more mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The assessment came after President Trump posted to social media on Friday that 'Iran, with the help of the USA, has removed or is removing, all sea mines.'

It now remains unclear what options the US may use to clear the waterway of the mines, as officials mull whether to use helicopters, drones or explosive ordnance disposal divers.

As the standstill between the US and Iran now continues, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday it stopped two ships trying to cross the strait and brought them to shore, according to The Guardian.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the IRGC accused the two ships - the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas - of 'attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz covertly.'

President Trump has imposed a naval blockade to damage Iran's oil-based economy

Tehran said it has no plans to continue another round of talks with the US due to Trump's naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian forces claimed on Wednesday they stopped two cargo ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

The Epaminondas is Greek-operated, and Greece's foreign minister confirmed on Wednesday that there had been an attack on a Greek-owned cargo ship.

A UK-based maritime security monitor also reported attacks on the ships on Wednesday, claiming that a vessel was approached by an Iranian gunboat 'that then fired upon the vessel, which has caused heavy damage to the bridge.'

The seizure on Wednesday marks the first time since the war began that Iran has taken control of ships in the waterway.

The change in its strategy comes after US forces fired on and seized an Iranian cargo vessel and boarded an Iranian oil tanker in the Indian Ocean over the weekend.

Despite the apparent escalation on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that President Trump was 'satisfied' with the US naval blockade and 'understands Iran is in a very weak position.'

'The cards are in President Trump's hands right now,' she said, arguing that the US was 'completely strangling their economy through this blockade - they're losing $500 million a day.'

Yet a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz can have dire effects on the oil and gas markets as insurers, ship owners and captains will continue to have reservations about moving through the mine-infested waterway.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that President Trump was 'satisfied' with the US naval blockade and 'understands Iran is in a very weak position

'You're not going to have many people wanting to run that risk,' Richard Nephew, an expert on Iranian diplomacy and a senior researcher at Columbia University, told the Washington Post.

Gas prices in the US have already soared since the war with Iran began in late February, with the average cost of a gallon of gas rising to $4.02 on Wednesday, according to AAA.

That is up from $2.98 just before the war began.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also warned it could be late September before 'we can have $3 gas again.'

But if the sky-high gas prices persist, Republicans fear they may lose the midterm elections in November.

Defense spokesman Sean Parnell, though, seemed to deny the timeframe in a brief statement to the Washington Post, calling the information it published 'inaccurate.'

The Daily Mail has also reached out to the Department of Defense for comment.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia's fuel supply remains secure for now - with 46 days of reserves - but is not ruling out tougher measures if global conditions worsen.

Speaking after a National Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Albanese said Australia remained at Level 2 of its national fuel security plan, stressing there was no immediate risk of escalation but acknowledging the situation remained uncertain.

He revealed Australia currently has 46 days of petrol supply, an improvement from levels recorded when the conflict began in late February when it was around 34 days.

Albanese said the proportion of fuel Australia imports from the US, Argentina and Algeria had increased, with roughly 18 per cent now coming from the US, and Argentina's oil share climbing into double digits.

'We'll continue to work to diversify where we can get fuel from, and the key here is achieving supply, that is our top priority,' he told reporters.

Level 2 of the Australian National Fuel Security Plan, known as 'Keep Australia Moving,' is a government response designed to manage pressure on fuel supply chains triggered by the Middle East War.

Higher levels include more drastic measures, such as rationing.

'Australia remains steady at Level 2 in our national fuel security plan that has been agreed to by National Cabinet,' Albanese said.

Anthony Albanese (pictured) revealed Australia has 46 days of fuel left, increasing from March levels

'Australia's fuel supply outlook remains secure in the near term. However, we're working hard to prepare for contingencies in the event of supply disruptions in fuel and in fertiliser.'

The government has also moved to bolster fuel supplies directly, including underwriting diesel shipments through Export Finance Australia.

'We've now had six cargoes of diesel, just a little bit over 300million litres, on their way to Australia as a result of the work that we've done,' Albanese said.

'We'll continue to do what we can to see if there are further cargoes available for purchase in the spot market.'

One of the first cargo ships part of the deal signed with Asian nations, including South Korea and Brunei, arrived in Sydney at Port Botany on Thursday.

While refusing to speculate on whether Australia could move to Stage 3 of the fuel plan, the Prime Minister made it clear the government was preparing for all scenarios.

'It's certainly not imminent,' he said.

'But we are being straightforward with people  we are in uncertain times, and that's just the reality.'

Anthony Albanese would not rule out stronger measures, if fuel supply deteriorated

While refusing to speculate on whether Australia could move to Stage 3 of the fuel plan, the Prime Minister made it clear the government was preparing for all scenarios.

'It's certainly not imminent,' he said.

'But we are being straightforward with people  we are in uncertain times, and that's just the reality.'

Level 3 of the Australian National Fuel Security Plan, known as 'Take Targeted Action', would be activated if fuel supply disruptions persist.

'If the conflict ends tomorrow and the Strait of Hormuz opens tomorrow, then there is a time lag before the economic consequences of what has happened over the last two months flow through the system. It takes time to clear the Strait to make it safe. It will take time for the ships that have been stuck in the Gulf to reach their destination, to unload, and then to travel back to receive more supply.

'So there will be a long economic tail here.'

At this stage, the focus shifts to directing fuel to where it is most needed, such as freight, essential services and food supply chains, while encouraging Australians to voluntarily reduce fuel use.

Governments will intensify efforts to secure overseas fuel supplies and can release additional fuel from national reserves.

States and territories may adjust roaduse rules to improve efficiency and use existing powers to protect petrol station and bulk fuel supplies.
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith had planned to move to Spain with his partner to pursue business opportunities before he was charged with war crimes.

Roberts-Smith could not continue 'to put his life on hold, living in limbo' and chose Spain in part because some of his former special forces colleagues had moved there and liked it.

War crimes Investigators have expressed fears Roberts-Smith intended to relocate to Singapore, Spain or the United States before his arrest earlier this month.

Roberts-Smith had booked a flight through Singapore for April 11, sought immigration advice about moving to Spain and held a visa waiver to visit the US, according to court documents.

The Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) could not determine Roberts-Smith's supposed destination and had considered the possibility he was attempting to disguise his travel plans.

The 47-year-old is charged with five counts of 'war crime - murder' allegedly committed while serving with the Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

Roberts-Smith's partner Sarah Matulin wrote in an affidavit that the couple had begun discussing moving overseas several years ago 'to try to create some normalcy in our lives'.

'Ben and I had agreed that neither his life, nor mine, could continue to remain on pause in Australia waiting for the [OSI] to charge him,' the 34-year-old said.

Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith had planned to move to Spain with his partner Sarah Matulin to pursue business opportunities before he was charged with war crimes. The couple is pictured on Sunday

Roberts-Smith could not continue 'to put his life on hold, living in limbo' and chose Spain in part because some of his former special forces colleagues had moved there and liked it. Stock image

'We had originally looked at places in East Asia and we were trying to find somewhere that we could afford long-term and build a business.'

Ms Matulin said Roberts-Smith had submitted several inquiries about online listings of businesses for sale in Spain in the fitness and wellness industry by October 20 last year.

The following day the couple, who have been in a relationship for five and a half years, started the visa application process to live and work in Spain.

'We had retained a lawyer from Spain to assist us with the application for visas and for assistance in acquiring a business in Spain,' Ms Matulin wrote.

'Both Ben and I had discussed the planned move to Spain openly over our mobile phones and with few friends and family. It was not a secret that we were moving to Spain.'

Roberts-Smith's solicitor Karen Espiner revealed in her own affidavit that her client had informed her in February this year he and Ms Matulin would be moving to Spain.

'He told me that after considering it for some time he and Sarah had decided to move to Spain to pursue some business opportunities and that some of his former special forces colleagues lived there and enjoyed,' she wrote.

Ms Espiner said that Roberts-Smith would have been willing to return to Australia if he was going to be charged with war crimes.

Roberts-Smith (with Ms Matulin) could not continue 'to put his life on hold, living in limbo' and chose Spain in part because some of his former special forces colleagues had moved there and liked it

Each of the charges against Roberts-Smith (above) carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He has always denied involvement in any unlawful killings

'Mr Roberts-Smith knew that if the OSI contacted him, through me, notifying of an intention to criminally charge him, he would be required to return to Australia for this to occur,' she wrote.

'He told me that he had absolutely no difficulty doing this and that he would immediately return to Australia without hesitation but said he could not continue to put his life on hold, living in limbo, just sitting around waiting to be charged.'

Ms Espiner said Roberts-Smith and Ms Matulin had booked return flights from Australia to Spain via Singapore, with Ms Matulin flying out the day after him.

Roberts-Smith had staggered the bookings that way so that if he was prevented from leaving Australia, Ms Matulin could cancel or change her flight and they might only forfeit one airfare.

Return flights had been booked to coincide with the end of term two school holidays.

Ms Espiner said she and Roberts-Smith had discussed whether to notify the OSI about his pending move but given there were no restrictions on his ability to travel decided he was under no obligation to do so.

'Instead, we decided we would wait until he and Sarah were settled in Spain and were sure that they were going to stay, before contacting OSI to again reiterate the offer for an arrest by appointment be arranged through me, if necessary,' she wrote.

Judge Susan Horan released a raft of documents to the media on Thursday when the case came before Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.

Roberts-Smith was arrested by the Australian Federal Police, alongside members of the Office of the Special Investigator, on April 7 as he prepared to get off a Qantas flight from Brisbane at Sydney Airport (above)

Stephen McIntrye, the senior investigating officer for the OSI's Operation Emerald-Argon, revealed Roberts-Smith's alleged plans to move overseas in a letter tendered during his successful bail application last week.

Mr McIntyre wrote that Roberts-Smith had been aware of the OSI's criminal investigation since before December 3 last year when it requested to interview him about alleged unlawful killings.

'At that time, Roberts-Smith was advised that these matters would be referred to the CDPP (Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions) early in 2026 for consideration of charges,' he said.

'OSI has received information that Roberts-Smith has advised family that he intends to travel overseas for the purpose of relocating to Singapore to reside and to establish a business venture.

'OSI has no information regarding that business venture.'

Qantas had advised the OSI that Roberts-Smith was booked on depart Australia on QF053 for Singapore on April 11, with a return booking on QF054 on June 30.

Ms Matulin was also booked to depart Australia on April 12 with a return ticket valid until June 30.

Mr McIntyre said 'lawfully intercepted information' received on November 4 last year revealing Roberts-Smith was seeking advice from a financial advisor about relocating to Europe.

The Victoria Cross recipient, who also earnt the Medal for Gallantry while serving in Afghanistan, is pictured at Buckingham Palace in 2018 meeting Queen Elizabeth II

Roberts-Smith had allegedly inquired whether his company RS Group could employ Ms Matulin and pay her a wage in support of a visa application to travel to Spain.

'According to the conversation, the visa would allow Roberts-Smith to travel to Spain as a spouse and work in Spain,' Mr McIntyre said.

'The objective of the arrangement was to have Spanish authorities believe that Mr Roberts-Smith's partner had an ongoing source of employment and income.'

Mr McIntyre said further 'lawfully intercepted information' received on December 3 showed Roberts-Smith had paid 3,320 ($5,442) to a Spanish firm for immigration law advice.

The OSI had identified that Roberts-Smith and Ms Matulin had been fingerprinted by Queensland police in February, stating they were doing so to travel to the United States.

'I am aware that several USA visas require biometrics such as fingerprinting to be undertaken by applicants,' Mr McIntyre said.

'OSI has requested information from USA Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security for information they may hold regarding applications by Roberts-Smith and his partner for visas or citizenships.'

The OSI had further learnt Roberts-Smith and Ms Matulin both hold approved Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTAs) to visit the United States for 90 days or less.

Roberts-Smith (above) is accused of shooting dead one Afghan detainee and ordering subordinate SAS troopers named in court documents as Person 4, Person 11, Person 66 and Person 68 to kill four others

'Fingerprints are not required for Australian citizens seeking routine visitor travel to USA pursuant to ESTA visa waivers,' Mr McIntyre said.

'Based on the above, the OSI holds concerns that Roberts-Smith is attempting to relocate to reside in a jurisdiction outside Australia.

'The ultimate destination and duration of this relocation is unclear as Roberts-Smith's booked flights and family suggest Singapore whilst the alternative destinations of Spain or USA have been identified during OSI enquiries.

'The possibility that Roberts-Smith has intended to disguise his travel plans cannot be excluded.'

Roberts-Smith's barrister Slade Howell addressed the CCPP's concerns about his client moving overseas in written submissions tendered in court.

'Frankly, [Roberts-Smith] was entitled to get on with his life and not sit around waiting for the OSI to charge,' Mr Howell wrote.

'The OSI's imminent decision to charge him could not have been known by [Roberts-Smith] when he started planning to move overseas.'

Roberts-Smith was arrested by the Australian Federal Police, alongside members of the OSI, on April 7 as he prepared to get off a Qantas flight from Brisbane at Sydney Airport.

The former corporal was on a day trip to Sydney to take his 15-year-old twin daughters shopping as a school holiday treat and was also in the company of Ms Matulin.

The Daily Mail has previously revealed Roberts-Smith - who has always denied committing war crimes - had repeatedly offered to present himself to a police station if authorities intended to arrest him.

Roberts-Smith is accused of shooting dead one Afghan detainee and ordering subordinate SAS troopers named in court documents as Person 4, Person 11, Person 66 and Person 68 to kill four others.

The CDPP has indemnified from prosecution four witnesses - former soldiers Person 4, Person 8, Person 56 and Person 66 - who have admitted killing prisoners.

The case returns to Downing Centre Local Court on June 2.
The husband of a Michigan woman who vanished at sea in the Bahamas wants the 'benefit of the doubt' as questions mount over the night she disappeared.

Brian Hooker remains at the center of an investigation swirling with suspicion nearly three weeks after his wife Lynette Hooker vanished without a trace.

The husband has forcefully denied any wrongdoing and insists the disappearance was a tragic accident.

His attorney, Crystal Marie Hauser, told ABC News he would never have harmed his wife of 25 years and urged the public not to rush to judgment.

'We all handle things in different ways,' Hauser said.

'Be open-minded to the fact that just because Karli and Darlene are making these claims, there's absolutely no evidence to support any of the allegations - absolutely none.'

Lynette Hooker has been missing since April 4, when the couple set out from Hope Town toward their yacht, Soulmate, anchored near Elbow Cay.

According to Brian Hooker's account to authorities, the couple encountered rough weather during the short journey in a dinghy, when suddenly his wife fell overboard in high winds.

Lynette Hooker, 55, has been missing since April 4 after disappearing in waters near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. Her husband, Brian Hooker, told authorities she fell overboard from a dinghy

Michigan-based attorney Crystal Marie Hauser said Brian Hooker 'would never' harm his wife and urged the public to give him the 'benefit of the doubt'

Brian Hooker, 59, right, has maintained his innocence and insists his wife, Lynette, fell overboard in rough conditions on the water

He told investigators that Lynette was attached to the boat's kill-switch key, which shut down the motor when she went into the water, forcing him to paddle alone through the night to reach shore.

Days later, police detained and questioned him in connection with the disappearance but he was released without charge on April 13.

In an interview with ABC News the following day, Brian Hooker said he was staying in the Bahamas to help find his wife.

'My only focus is to go back to the boat and then hire or beg people to help me go find some areas to search,' he said, adding he would continue looking 'no matter how likely or unlikely that is.'

But within hours of that interview, he left the Bahamas. His Bahamian attorney said the decision was driven by a need to be with his terminally ill mother.

The abrupt departure only deepened the unease already surrounding the case.

Lynette's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has traveled to the Bahamas herself and publicly questioned her stepfather's account.

'I don't understand how she drowned or got floated away,' she told ABC News. 'It just made me be more, 'Why didn't he do this? Why didn't you do that? Why did that happen?''

Her grandmother, Darlene Hamlett, added another layer of concern, describing the couple's relationship as volatile.

Bahamas bartender Ken, 38, who served Brian and Lynette Hooker the night before she was lost at sea, says he doesn't believe the timeline of her disappearance adds up

The bartender said he was doubtful of Brian's story that it took him all night to paddle across Embow Cay (pictured) after his wife went overboard

The couple have been married for over two decades and frequently sail around the Caribbean

Brian Hooker told ABC News his 'sole focus' was to continue searching for his wife 'no matter how likely or unlikely that is.' He left the Bahamas shortly after this interview, above

Your browser does not support iframes.

Yet the most striking new challenge to Brian Hooker's timeline has come not from family - but from a bartender who saw the couple only hours before Lynette vanished.

Ken, 38, who works at the Abaco Inn in Elbow Cay, recalled serving the couple drinks on the evening of April 3.

He said they arrived around 6pm, ordered multiple rounds of rum and Cokes, and it appeared, at the time, entirely unremarkable.

But after learning of Lynette's disappearance, he began to question the sequence of events described by Brian.

'What catches my eye is they left here at 7, 7:30pm and [her going missing] supposedly happened right after they left here, and he didn't make it over there until 4am or something like that, in 25-mph winds,' he told the New York Post.

'It's only four miles that way. It shouldn't have taken eight to 10 hours to get there,' he added. 'Even if he was only floating, it should have been a much quicker time.'

Brian Hooker has consistently denied any involvement in his wife's disappearance, maintaining that the conditions on the water - high winds and strong currents - turned a routine trip into a nightmare.

Lynettes daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has publicly questioned Brian Hookers account of the incident saying she does not understand how her mother could have drowned or drifted away

Karli Aylesworth has been in the Bahamas in the search for her mother and to try and get a better understanding as to what might have happened

Authorities continue to investigate the disappearance but Lynette Hooker has not been found

Brian and Lynette Hooker are seen alongside her daughter, Karli Aylesworth, right

In a Facebook post shortly after the incident, he wrote: 'I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas.'

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus,' he added.

Still, questions continue to mount.

Aylesworth has openly suggested she does not believe the incident was accidental, telling NBC News: 'I hope this was just a freak accident, but I just have a hard time believing it at the moment I just want to know the truth.'

She has also alleged there was a history of domestic violence in the relationship.
The trusted exsecretary of one of Australia's richest women has been denied bail after she was accused of stealing more than $1 million from her former boss in a case that has rocked Sydney's elite.

Annalouise Spence, who worked for philanthropist Judith Neilson, was arrested on Wednesday at her home by heavily armed police following an extended investigation into alleged fraudulent expense claims made by an employee at the Judith Neilson Foundation.

It is understood that Spence worked as Neilson's private secretary for eight years.

Police allege Spence, 50, used a business credit account to make unauthorised purchases of luxury and personal items, including clothing, artwork and jewellery, between March 2023 and September 2025.

'Following extensive inquiries, yesterday morning investigators executed search warrants at a home in Erskineville, and a storage unit in Campbelltown,' the NSW Police Force said in a statement.

'During the search, officers located and seized luxury handbags, jewellery, clothing, documents and other personal items.'

Spence was charged with 68 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

While fronting Bail Division Court 7 on Wednesday afternoon via audiovisual link, Spence appeared in a baggy checkered jumper with her distinctive black glasses on show as she sat silent throughout her lawyer's submissions.

Annalouise Spence (pictured with her husband Adam) was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly stealing over $1 million from her former boss

Spence (centre) was the private secretary for the billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson (centre, right) - pictured together at a SolidAfrica event in Rwanda

The duo worked together for eight years, with Spence believed to have been entrusted with access to Ms Neilson's intimate personal and financial details without oversight

Spence's lawyer, Bryan Wrench from Murphys Lawyers, told the court the couple had been in contact with Ms Neilson, the complainant, since October 2025, when her employment was ceased.

The couple had reportedly been regularly corresponding with Ms Neilson and her representatives over a repayment schedule.

Mr Wrench said the couple had already paid back over $800,000 to Ms Neilson before heavily armed police swooped on their home on Wednesday  a move he described as "totally unnecessary."

The court also heard Spence, who has been diagnosed with complex PTSD and bipolar disorder, was out walking her dog when she was arrested.

Despite the judge admitting the case was "confusing," noting disparities between the police facts and a sworn affidavit by Spence's husband, bail was denied on the grounds that a custodial sentence was likely to be handed down if convicted.

"It appears admissions were made to a vast number of sequences by the accused... it is my assessment that the strength of this case is overwhelming and if convicted of the offence, a custodial sentence is inevitable," the judge said.

The court heard police located 115 items from Spence's Erskineville home that they will allege were part of the fraudulently acquired property.

She is next due to front Downing Centre Court via audiovisual link on May 7.

Spence allegedly used this Black Amex card which was linked to Ms Neilson's account, without her knowledge

Ms Neilson is benefactor behind the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, Sydney - which is focused on Chinese art

During Spence's employment, Neilson, who has an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, entrusted her with access to her intimate personal and financial details, the Sydney Morning Herald

Spence is also alleged to have impersonated Neilson, 79, to obtain a supplementary card attached to her Black Amex Card.

It was this card she allegedly used to rack up over $1 million in expenses on first-class flights, luxurious hotel stays, designer clothes and bags, jewellery and artwork.

Neilson told the publication she did not authorise Spence's card and had no idea Spence had allegedly removed her finance team's oversight of her Amex account.

Among the allegations facing Spence is that she used the Amex card to buy a $16,000 piece of art for a male friend, which he then reimbursed to her personal account, $58,593 on a rare pink-gold Rolex wristwatch from the Vintage Watch Company in London and $21,000 had been spent at the luxury department store Harrods.

Spence allegedly also billed Neilson's card $38,757.85 for a five-night stay at a New York hotel in October 2023.

'I was sickened and so damned hurt,' Neilson told the publication upon discovering Spence's alleged frauds.

Spence's employment reportedly ceased in September 2025 following a 'restructuring' of Ms Neilson's office.

It was only when Ms Neilson's new assistant was reconciling her account was when alarm bells started to ring.

NSW Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Locals have complained that migrants are being moved into their riverside village in 'secret' after an Afghan asylum seeker living in an unlicensed 500,000 hostel was arrested for harassing schoolgirls just yards from a primary school.

The man in his 20s was detained by police after a number of children were approached outside Laleham Church of England Primary School in Surrey.

The migrant was held under the Mental Health Act pending further assessment at a secure facility.

It has since been revealed that officials placed the Afghan male nearby in a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) without risk assessments having been carried out.

Parents, who were also said to have been targeted by the suspect, have accused the Labour Government of putting children in harm's way by secretly moving asylum seekers into their peaceful village perched on the banks of the Thames.

One said: 'This raises serious questions about the safeguards in place and does little to reassure residents that appropriate checks are being carried out, especially in an area with many families and in such close proximity to a primary school.

'The current situation is untenable, and residents deserve clear assurances that their safety and the wellbeing of local children are being treated as a priority.'

Local MP Lincoln Jopp said it was 'unbelievable' the suspect was 'living in an unlicensed HMO supported by the Home Office, a stone's throw from a primary school'.

An Afghan asylum seeker arrested for harassing schoolgirls had been placed in an unlicensed 500,000 hostel just yards from a village primary school in Laleham, Surrey

It has since been revealed that officials placed the migrant nearby in a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) without risk assessments having been carried out

Earlier this month, the Tories accused the Home Office of housing asylum seekers in new areas of the country without proper vetting or consultation.

Andrew Kennedy, a Conservative member of Kent County Council, said there was 'widespread anger and fear' over the Government's decision to place more than 220 migrants in self-catering accommodation around Tonbridge and Malling.

Mr Kennedy warned that asylum seekers are being allocated housing in 'desirable residential areas' as part of Labour's move to shut migrant hotels.

Labour has announced it is shutting 11 hotels around the country with a promise to 'accelerate' closures later in the Spring.

Mr Kennedy said he was particularly concerned about the 'lack of consultation and concerns over vetting'.

Labour has pledged to close all migrant hotels by the end of this Parliament in 2029, re-housing them in flats and houses, as well as in large-scale accommodation centres.

Mr Jopp challenged Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions this week, in which he demanded to know 'who screwed up' and who was 'responsible for the risk assessment that put' the migrant in the HMO in Laleham.

The Prime Minister said he was unable to discuss the case as it was subject to 'a live police investigation'.

But he added: 'Can I reassure him that all accommodation must meet contractual standards. The Home Office work with the police to manage all sites safely.

'Local authorities are consulted prior to any accommodation being procured and can object to any proposal.

'Where there is strong evidence a site is not suitable it will not proceed.'

However, the local authority, Spelthorne Borough Council, said it had not been consulted on plans to house asylum seekers at the property.

The council said in a statement: 'We are aware that the man identified, resided in a House in Multiple Occupation, supported by the Home Office.

'It would appear that this has happened without the normal risk assessment and communication from the Home Office to the local agencies.

'The Council has written directly to the Home Office asking for an explanation and an assurance that this will not happen again.'

Locals living in Laleham - a village near the Thames in Surrey with a population of around 2,500 -have accused the Home Office of moving migrants into their area in 'secret'

Officials placed an Afghan asylum seeker in a House of Multiple Occupation (pictured) without risk assessments having taken place

A spokesperson added: 'We know this matter has caused concern among local parents and Surrey Police have been working with the school and the local community to keep them informed.

'We are mindful of some community tension but would ask that people remain calm and allow the police to carry out their investigation, and we ask that residents do not speculate or share unverified information on social media.

'Alongside the police, protecting our children remains our highest priority.'

In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Mr Jopp said: 'Had Surrey Police not acted so quickly there could have been tragic consequences.

'It has since transpired that he resided in an unlicensed HMO supported by the Home Office and that this has happened without the normal risk assessment and communication from the Home Office to the local agencies.

'As you can imagine, my constituents are understandably very concerned about the safety of their children and indeed their own safety.

'I would be grateful if you would investigate this as a matter of urgency.'

Surrey Police said: 'A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of harassment last Thursday (April 16) following reports of an individual approaching people outside Laleham Church of England Primary School.

'Following further assessment, the man, who is an Afghan national, was detained under the Mental Health Act and is currently awaiting further treatment and assessment at a secure facility.'

It comes as 602 small boat migrants reached the UK last 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.

There have been no arrivals in the three days between April 19 and April 21, according to Home Office figures.

It also means that since Labour came to power 70,701 migrants have crossed the Channel to reach Britain.
People should stop using traditional passwords over fears they are too vulnerable to hackers, the UK's cyber agency has warned.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) announced it was 'overhauling decades of practice' by advising the public to stop relying on passwords for protection.

The change in guidance is because most phishing attempts start with criminals compromising or stealing a person's logins.

Instead, everybody is being encouraged to adopt passkeys, a more secure and convenient alternative to passwords.

Passkeys, likened to 'digital stamps', do not need to be remembered as they are created and managed by software on the device.

For many, that means using biometric data  such as a fingerprint or facial recognition  or their phone's PIN to create and authenticate their passkey.

This preferred method allows for a secure digital key on your phone, computer or tablet - and can save users one minute every time they sign in.

Experts at the NCSC, an arm of GCHQ, say that even if a website that uses passkeys is breached, hackers can only access 'public' keys, which on their own are useless.

The NCSC is now encouraging people to adopt passkeys, a sign-in method which is password-free, which is deemed more secure because they can't be stolen from servers (pictured: the Government Communications Headquarters)

When a user first logs in to a device, the system sends a digital key to specific devices.

This allows a user to log in safely on future occasions without needing a password, text message or other code.

The key remains stored on the device and cannot be easily intercepted or stolen  with third parties unable to access accounts using other devices.

Passkeys have already been implemented in many of the Government's digital services, like the NHS.

In addition to securing patients' health data, passkeys are thought to have made significant cost savings because they remove the need for multi-factor authentication like receiving time-sensitive codes sent via text message.

The use of passkeys has since been adapted by major online services such as Google, Microsoft, PayPal and eBay. Data from Google suggests more than half of their UK users are registered with one.

Jonathon Ellison, the director for national resilience at the NCSC, said passkeys provide 'a user-friendly alternative which provide stronger overall resilience'.

He said: 'As we aim to accelerate the UK's cyber defences at scale, moving to passkeys is something all of us can do to improve the security of everyday digital services and be prepared for modern and future cyber threats.'

The NCSC said that last year it stopped short of endorsing passkey adoption due to reservations regarding their implementations.

However, the agency has said progress within the tech industry has since meant passkeys have been deemed more secure and user-friendly, and has encouraged businesses to implement them as the default option for consumers.

On Thursday, a technical report by the NCSC will outline how passkeys are as secure, if not more secure, than the strongest possible password in combination with a two-step verification process.

And in the instance where online services do not support passkeys, the NCSC advises using a password manager to create stronger passwords and keep using two-step verification.

Chris Hosking, from cybersecurity company SentinelOne, said passkeys remove 'entire classes of attacks'.

He said: 'The reality is we all juggle dozens of logins across our work and personal lives and expecting all your employees to create and manage strong, unique passwords for each one simply isn't realistic.

'Inevitably people reuse them or stick with the same ones for years.

'That's why so many major breaches start the same way  a popular service with authenticated users gets breached, those passwords and emails land in data dumps on the dark web, triggering a domino effect that compromises multiple sites and systems.

'Passkeys remove entire classes of attacks, as there's no password to steal or reuse.'
Prince Harry today urged Vladimir Putin to 'stop this war' with Ukraine and accused the Russians of carrying out 'mass killings and torture' during an unannounced visit to Kyiv.

Describing himself as a 'soldier who understands service', the Duke of Sussex also urged President Trump to step up as he called for 'American leadership'.

Harry has claimed he is in Kyiv to 'remind the world' and 'people back home' in Britain about the conflict that began in February 2022.

After arriving in the Ukrainian capital secretly by train on Thursday morning, Harry, 41, spoke at a security conference where he made a direct plea to Putin for peace, telling him he will never win the war.

'There is still a momentnowto stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course', Harry said.

He went on: 'President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing'.

Harry then accused the Russians of relentless 'attacks on civilians, mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and the forced deportation of entire populations' including many tens of thousands of children.

He said these young people are being brainwashed by a system 'designed to erase who they are'.

Prince Harry has made a surprise appearance at the Kyiv security forum where he made a direct plea to Vladimir Putin for peace

Harry also reassured Ukrainians that he has not forgotten their plight.

'The world sees you and respects you', he told delegates.

He added: 'I am not here as a politician.

'I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences.

'Because what is happening here is not simply a war about territory. It is a war about values. About sovereignty.

'About whether the principles that underpin our shared democracy still hold meaning'.

His unannounced visit to Kyiv came just a week after Russia launched its deadliest aerial assault on the capital so far this year. Moscow bombarded the country with a wave of drone and missile strike, killing 17 people and injuring more than 100. Four died in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old boy.

'It's good to be back in Ukraine', Harry said, adding praise for how its people had been 'bravely and successfully defending Europe's eastern flank'.

He arrived in Kyiv by train this morning having spent last week in Australia with Meghan on their controversial pseudo-royal tour.

Harry also quietly sent a wreath to his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Windsor grave to mark what would have been her 100th birthday on Tuesday - but did not join his family's celebrations at Buckingham Palace in London.

He secretly arrived in Kyiv by train early on Thursday morning, suggesting he flew to Poland and then travelled by rail to the Ukrainian capital overnight.

He told ITV News that his visit is 'to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions.'

Prince Harry has arrived in Ukraine for an unannounced visit to Kyiv

Harry travelled by train overnight and was hugged on the platform

'It 's good to be back in Ukraine', Harry said as he arrived this morning

It is Harry's second visit to Kyiv and third to Ukraine since war with Russia began

He branded Ukraine 'a country bravely and successfully defending Europe's eastern flank' and said 'it matters that we don't lose sight of the significance of that.'

'This is a war about values, not just territory', Harry said in his speech.

It is his second visit to the city, having spent time there last September as part of his continued work for the Invictus Games and to support Ukraine's tens of thousands of injured veterans.

Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, has long made helping injured soldiers one of his most prominent causes.

He will give a speech later today where he will say Ukraine's battle is more than a simple fight about territory.

In April last year, Harry met with war victims in his first trip to Ukraine, this time time to Lviv.

Photos showed the royal with a smile ear-to-ear, posing with dozens of wounded soldiers.

One image showed the Duke with a solemn expression as he chatted to a visibly injured youngster.

The visit to the area in western Ukraine, that has frequently been targeted with Russian missiles, was not announced until after Harry was out of the country.

Harry has arrived in Europe but it is not clear if he has been in the UK.

However, the Duke of Sussex organised for flowers to be laid by the Queen's grave at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on what would have been her 100th birthday, according to Sussex-approved People magazine.

The Queen was interred after her death in 2022 alongside her husband Prince Philip in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which also houses the body of the Queen's father George VI, her mother the Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret.

Harry stayed in California this week while King Charles and Queen Camilla led senior Royal Family members at a Buckingham Palace reception to honour her yesterday.

It comes after the Duke paid tribute to Philip last August in a personal letter left secretly at the National Memorial Arboretum on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Harry asked a friend to discreetly leave the note and a wreath of red poppies for his late grandfather at the Burma Star Memorial in Staffordshire, following the national commemorations attended by the King and Queen earlier the same day.

But one friend of the Royal Family told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden at the time: 'What hypocrisy. Harry hurt his grandfather deeply during the final year of his life.'

The letter was said to have been placed after Charles and Camilla left to avoid distracting from the service which honoured the sacrifice of Second World War heroes who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East.

Queen Elizabeth II with Harry after Lady Gabriella Windsor's wedding at Windsor Castle in 2019

Harry asked a friend to place a letter and wreath on the Burma Star Memorial last August

In 2020, the year of Megxit, former soldier Harry was left saddened when he was refused his wish to have a poppy wreath placed at the Cenotaph, the focus of the UK's Remembrance Sunday service, on his behalf.

Just months later, the Duke, who undertook two tours to Afghanistan, was stripped of his military patronages by Elizabeth II after his decision to step down as a senior working royal was made permanent.

Since Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022, Harry has returned to her burial site in Windsor on two occasions - including on the first anniversary in 2023.

The Duke also paid his respects last year, when he was in the UK for the WellChild awards and met his father Charles for the first time in more than a year.

At Tuesday's Palace reception, the King was accompanied by all the working royals in honour of what would have been his late mother's 100th birthday.

Joining the King and Queen were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and even the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra  aged 90 and 89 respectively.

The reception was a celebration of Elizabeth II's life and legacy, as guests from 45 of the patronages she supported were also present for the occasion.

Meanwhile, Harry returned to Montecito last week after he and Meghan toured Australia during a four-day visit that drew large crowds of supporters  as well as fierce criticism.

The Sussexes were accused of using their royal links to cash in on Australia as they carried out a mix of charity and business engagements during their time Down Under.
Macao to help China-Portugal cooperation reach new level, says Macao SAR chief executive

Xinhua) 13:26, April 23, 2026

LISBON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Sam Hou Fai, said here Tuesday that during his visit to Portugal, the two sides agreed to use Macao's platform to strengthen China-Portugal economic cooperation.

On Tuesday, Sam met separately with Portuguese President Antonio Jose Seguro, Speaker of Parliament Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and President of the Supreme Court of Justice Joao Cura Mariano. During the meetings, he briefed the Portuguese side on the successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao.

Speaking at a media briefing at the end of his visit, Sam said the visit had yielded fruitful results, achieving the goals of enhancing mutual understanding, consolidating the traditional friendship and strengthening all-round cooperation.

He expressed confidence that China-Portugal cooperation would reach a new level, with Macao continuing to leverage its unique advantages to contribute further to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal.

For his part, Seguro said Portugal and China established diplomatic relations in 1979 and formed a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2005, noting that the two countries have long enjoyed close and friendly ties, with growing political mutual trust, frequent high-level exchanges, and strong cooperation across various fields.

Portugal will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and further advance all-round cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Sam arrived in Lisbon, the first stop of his visit, on Saturday. During the visit, Sam also held discussions with several Portuguese ministers and attended a presentation on the achievements of the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macao.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
CALGARY, AB, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Strathcona Resources Ltd. ("Strathcona" or the "Company") (TSX: SCR) today reported its voting results from its annual meeting of shareholders held on April 22, 2026 (the "Meeting"). All matters presented at the Meeting were approved including the election of all nine nominees listed in the management information circular dated March 11, 2026. The complete results of voting for business considered at the Meeting are set out below:

Voting Results

1. Election of Directors

The director nominees listed below were elected. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld

Number Percent Number Percent Adam Waterous 177,419,394 96.88 % 5,718,427 3.12 % Cody Church 183,004,366 99.93 % 133,455 0.07 % Andrew Kim 178,609,241 97.53 % 4,528,580 2.47 % Steve Fagan 181,575,863 99.15 % 1,561,958 0.85 % Connie De Ciancio 179,376,742 97.95 % 3,761,079 2.05 % David Roosth 181,570,463 99.14 % 1,567,358 0.86 % Navjeet (Bob) Singh Dhillon 181,222,775 98.95 % 1,915,046 1.05 % Henry Hager 179,415,141 97.97 % 3,722,680 2.03 % Connor Waterous 179,031,319 97.76 % 4,106,502 2.24 %

2. Appointment of Auditors

The appointment of Deloitte LLP as the Corporation's auditors was approved. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes For Votes Withheld Number Percent Number Percent 184,034,560 99.99 % 11,847 0.01 %

About Strathcona

Strathcona is one of North America's fastest growing pure play heavy oil producers with operations focused on thermal oil and enhanced oil recovery. Strathcona is built on an innovative approach to growth achieved through the consolidation and development of long-life assets. Strathcona's common shares (symbol SCR) are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

For more information about Strathcona, visit www.strathconaresources.com.

SOURCE Strathcona Resources Ltd.
Two Australian tourists were among those injured in a freak car crash in Thailand.

Five people, including one American and two Australians, were walking past a massage shop on Second Road in Pattaya at 7.50pm on Wednesday when the driver of a BMW 520d lost control of the car which reversed suddenly, and mounted the kerb.

Disturbing footage showed the driver was only half inside the vehicle when it took off, crashing into staff of the massage shop and passers-by, including an Australian dad pushing his son in a stroller.

One person was caught under the vehicle's wheels as it came to a stop inside the luggage store next door.

The five victims - a 56-year-old Australian, his two-year-old son, a 45-year-old American man and two Indian men - were rushed to Pattaya Memorial Hospital. No deaths were reported.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Suthiraphan Tapsri said the female driver, 57-year-old Phannee Tan-ngam, had just been involved in a separate crash with a motorbike.

Tan-ngam claimed she sat in the driver's seat with the door open as she retrieved her driver's licence to exchange details when the car suddenly reversed.

'We inspected the scene and found that CCTV cameras from a massage parlour clearly captured the incident,' he said.

An Australian father and son were hospitalised after a car reversed over them in Thailand

The Australians were among five people hit by the car while walking outside a massage store in Pattaya

'The footage shows the driver getting into the car and, before the door could be closed, the vehicle suddenly moved backwards and struck the tourists, causing the injuries.

'We have collected the CCTV footage for examination and are questioning witnesses as part of legal proceedings.'

The driver claimed the handbrake was engaged but she wasn't sure if she left the automatic gear in reverse.

'I had no intention of causing the accident. I am ready to take responsibility for those I injured,' Tan-ngam said.

A masseuse sitting on the steps at the front of the massage shop said the incident could easily have killed people.

'Everyone in the shop screamed because a tourist was pushing a pram past at that moment. The car hit many tourists directly,' she said.

'We were lucky because we usually sat on that path but today we were sitting on the steps. Otherwise, someone would have been run over and killed.'

The female driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while trying to receive her licence

Five people were hospitalised but no deaths were reported from the crash

The incident occurred on a busy stretch of Second Road, one of Pattaya's main streets, where there are many shops, restaurants, bars and hotels.

The massage shop was adjacent to Central Festival, one of Pattaya's biggest shopping malls.
Tehran has released a propaganda video showing their troops seizing two ships in an effort to show the world - and Donald Trump - who really controls the Strait of Hormuz.

Dramatic footage shows masked fighters from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approach the container ships in speed boats, before entering them via rope ladders.

The soldiers, armed with machine guns, proceed to take control of the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Greek-flagged Epaminondas, whose crews appear to have been evacuated.

In a statement, the IRGC accused the vessels of 'tampering with navigation systems and jeopardising maritime security', as well as 'operating without authorisation' in the strait.

It comes as peace talks between Washington and Tehran appear to have reached a stalemate, as the two adversaries continue to come to blows over the future of the vital waterway through which 20 per cent of the world's gas and oil usually flows.

Wednesday saw the regime attack three vessels in the Hormuz Strait - the Francesca, the Epaminondas, and the Panama-flagged Euphoria - in retaliation for the US intercepting an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf as part of its naval blockade.

Tehran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has insisted it is 'not possible' to reopen the crucial oil passage because of 'flagrant' breaches of the ceasefire by the US and Israel.

And after extending the ceasefire on Tuesday night, Trump admitted there was 'no time frame' for ending the war with Iran - causing frustration to mount among Republicans and the country at large for the conflict that shows no sign of abating.

A screen capture from a video said to show the seizure of the container ships MSC Francesca and Epaminondas in the Strait of Hormuz, broadcasted on Iranian State TV

The soldiers, armed with machine guns, proceed to take control of the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Greek-flagged Epaminondas in the operation

In a statement, the IRGC accused the vessels of 'tampering with navigation systems and jeopardising maritime security', as well as 'operating without authorisation' in the strait

'The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force this morning identified and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz two violating ships,' the Guards claimed in a statement yesterday.

'The two offending ships... were seized by the IRGC's naval forces and directed to the Iranian coast.'

The Guards further warned against any action against the regulations imposed by the Islamic republic in the strait, 'as well as activities contrary to the safe passage' through the waterway.

The navy said the allegedly seized ships were transferred to the territorial waters of Iran for 'inspection of their cargo, documents, and records'.

Tehran has said vessels must seek permission to leave of enter the Gulf through Hormuz, and imposed a $1 per barrel tax on oil and oil products - or $2 million for a large tanker.

A senior Iranian parliament official confirmed on Thursday that the regime had received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the strategic waterway.

'The first revenue received from the Strait of Hormuz tolls was deposited into the Central Bank account,' said deputy speaker of parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei, according to Tasnim news agency.

Before the announcement of revenue from tolls, Iran's parliament had been deciding whether to impose them on shipping through the strait, with Iranian officials warning that maritime traffic through the strait would 'not return to its pre-war status'.

On March 30, Iranian state media said the parliament's security commission had approved plans to impose tolls, but it was not clear if a final parliamentary vote on the proposal had taken place.

Britain, France and military planners from over 30 countries have held talks to protect navigation through the strait, with Paris and London saying they would lead a multinational mission as 'soon as conditions allow'.

Footage shows the fighters searching the interior of the ships, unlocking compartments, and aiming their guns in the air while standing on deck.

The first ship to be targetted yesterday was the Epaminondas, 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said an IRGC 'gun boat' fired on the container ship and caused heavy damage to its bridge, without giving any prior radio warnings.

Despite video footage purportedly showing the seizure of the vessel, the Greek Ministry of Shipping denied that the boat was boarded by Iranian fighters and insisted all crew members were safe.

The second ship to be struck was the Euphoria, which began transiting the strait at 1.10am UTC (2.10am BST), with Jeddah, Saudi Arabia listed as its destination.

The vessel, owned by a UAE-based company, came under fire eight nautical miles west of Iran at 6.38am UTC (7.38am BST). The ship's master brought the boat to a halt.

The third ship to be attacked was the MSC Francesca, around six nautical miles off the coast of Iran while it was heading south out of the strait and into the Gulf of Oman.

The vessel has reported 'damage to the hull and accommodation'.

Iran said the ship belonged 'to the Zionist regime' in reference to Israel.

Footage shows the fighters searching the interior of the ships and aiming their guns in the air while standing on deck

Several IRGC fighters were involved in the maritime operation, released by Iranian TV

Scores of masked gunmen entered the ships and established control, while their crews appeared to be absent

Footage shows IRGC members unlocking different compartments of the container vessels

Oil prices surged on Thursday following the Iranian attack on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent, the global benchmark for crude, is hovering around $103 (76.35) a barrel, while US-traded oil soared above $94.

While Pakistan continues to prepare for a second round of peace talks, there is yet to be any confirmation from either the US or Iran of attending.

Vice President JD Vance, who was due to be leading Washington's delegation, remains in the US.

But as peace talks approach collapse, the White House continues to insist that it is still in control.

In a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'We are completely strangling their economy through this blockade.

'They are losing $500m a day. The Kharg Island is completely full. They can't move oil in and out. They can't even pay their own people as a result of this economic leverage that President Trump has inflicted over them.'

Since the American blockade of Iranian ports began, US Central Command says it has 'directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port'.

It said most of the vessels were oil tankers and had 'complied with US directions'.

While Leavitt says Trump is 'satisfied' with the blockade, which she described as 'effective and successful', Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said it is one of the 'main obstacles' to 'genuine negotiations' with the US.

Iran allegedly seized the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca, which it said belonged 'to the Zionist regime' in reference to Israel

Tehran also said it seized the Greek-flagged Epaminondas, 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, but the Greek ministry of shipping has denied this

The attacks follow a sudden reversal in the Iranian stance over the weekend, as the Iranian foreign minister announced Friday that the strait was open, only to be contradicted the next day by the Revolutionary Guard.

Six cruise ships stuck in the Persian Gulf since late February took advantage of the narrow window and slipped through the strait. But since then, traffic has dried up.

The resumption of attacks reflects in part 'genuine confusion ... about when passage is permitted,' said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

Conflicting statements emerged from Trump about a full reopening and from the Iranian foreign minister about a limited reopening. Then things 'shifted very quickly' Saturday when the Guard said the strait was closed.

Additionally, Soltvedt said, its in Irans interest to keep insurance premiums high with sporadic attacks. 'Their main leverage in negotiations with the US is being able to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and insurance is a big part of that.'

Some vessels have passed the Iranian vetting system, and some have relied on diplomatic requests from home governments. But hundreds of ships and thousands of crew members are still stuck.
Four people are in critical condition and 13 others injured after two trains collided in Denmark early Thursday, prompting a massive emergency response for what police called a major accident.

The collision occurred around 6.30 am near Hillerd, about 35 kilometers north of Copenhagen in the Gribskov area.

Photos from the scene show the front ends of the trains smashed, though both remained upright on the tracks.

'It is two local trains that have collided head-on,' a spokesperson for the rescue services told Reuters.

'There are injuries among the passengers. Everyone is out of the trains, so no one is trapped... Large resources have been dispatched to the scene,' the spokesperson added.

North Zealand Police said work was ongoing at the accident site at Kagerup north of Hillerd.

A police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that there are injuries, but we cannot comment on the nature and extent of the injuries.'

'Technical investigations are under way at the site, which we expect to continue over a longer period of time. We will update regularly.'

Photos from the scene show the front ends of the trains smashed

The crash occurred on a local rail line that's used by many Gribskov residents

The injured have since been transported away from the scene of the accident in ambulances and helicopters

The injured have since been transported away from the scene of the accident in ambulances and helicopters, the fire department said on X.

Hillerd Municipality has set up a crisis centre where those affected can speak to psychologists.

'We have set up a crisis center in the Grnnegadecenter, Grnnegade 14 in Hillerd, for everyone affected by this morning's train accident. Passengers from the two crashed trains are being taken here, and relatives are also very welcome to attend, no matter which municipality they come from,' they wrote on Facebook.

Gribskov Mayor Trine Egetved, in a post on Facebook, said the crash occurred on a local rail line that's used by many Gribskov residents.

She wrote: 'I am deeply shaken and shocked and my thoughts are with all those involved. The local track is used by many Gribskov citizens, employees and pupils.'

'Emergency services are working at full pressure, and we are trying from the central team to get an overview of what has happened more accurately and make sure that everyone gets the help they need.'

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has offered Sweden's help in handling the incident.

'I have been contacted about the news of a train accident outside Copenhagen. I have contacted the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, this morning and offered Swedish help in handling the tragic train accident,' he wrote in a comment to the Swedish media.

It is not known what the aid would consist of.

The Gribskov Line is now temporarily suspended following this morning's crash.
This is the moment a mini-market owner is caught selling cocaine, cannabis and prescription drugs from his High Street shop.

'I've got weed, coke, everything. Whatever you want, I can sort you out,' said a man behind the counter at a shop in Cradley Heath, a town within the West Midlands.

The man inside the store, who said his name was Akwa, was ready to supply cocaine and cannabis to an undercover researcher for the BBC.

After trying one high street shop, the undercover researcher was told to visit Cradley Market where Akwa took seconds to produce 3.5g of cannabis from the back of the store.

He took out a small bag of cannabis from his rucksack and exchanged 35 before ringing a dealer after being asked if he sold cocaine.

'Big boss can you sort 1g coke today?,' he asks down the phone before selling it on for 90.

He also offered him a range of prescription drugs, including pregabalin, a prescription drug used to treat anxiety, nerve pain and epilepsy.

Akwa reeled through a selection of pictures of prescription drugs on his phone for sale, telling the researcher to take photos in case he knew anyone who would be interested.

The man inside the store, who said his name was Akwa, was ready to supply cocaine and cannabis to an undercover researcher

After trying one high street shop, the undercover researcher was told to visit Cradley Market where Akwa took seconds to produce 3.5g of cannabis from the back of the store

Akwa also offered him a range of prescription drugs, including pregabalin, a prescription drug used to treat anxiety, nerve pain and epilepsy

When confronted, Akwa denied any wrongdoing, saying: 'Me selling cannabis from the shop? I don't know what you are talking about'.

He continued: 'It's my shop. OK. It's my shop. I gotta do what the f*** I wanna do here.

'You don't come here and tell me that I sell drugs because you're actually p****** me off right now.'

A spokesperson for Sandwell Council said it was working with police to tackle illegal activity.

A few miles away, organised crime gangs have taken hold of some of the High Street in the neighbouring borough of Dudley, the Trading Standards lead there says.

Kuldeep Maan, from Dudley Council trading standards, said that the sale of illegal drugs, counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes is the worst it has been in 20 years.

He said that he has shut down 39 stores in Dudley for selling illegal cigarettes in the past year, and during raids, his team has found cannabis, cocaine, nitrous oxide, and fake and foreign prescription drugs.

Undercover researchers were able to buy cannabis, cannabis vapes and nitrous oxide from shops in two towns in the borough, Lye and Brierley Hill.

Nitrous oxide, a class C drug commonly known as laughing gas that brings about short-term feelings of lightheadedness, fits of giggles and hallucinations, can cause brain damage when inhaled.

One local business owner, who did not want to be named, said they regularly see people inhaling laughing gas after buying it from nearby stores.

Romanian national Marius Boros, who runs a grocery shop on Dudley High Street, said: 'People are scared to come here.'

There are 'a lot of fights, knives, guns' outside, he added. 'I work really hard, everything I had, I invested here. I'm very close to losing everything.'

Join the discussion Should rogue shops caught selling drugs be shut for good?

When confronted, Akwa denied any wrongdoing, saying: 'Me selling cannabis from the shop? I don't know what you are talking about'

Dudley Council says through its Operation Clearance campaign, launched in August 2024, it has been working with local police, landlords and businesses 'to rid the borough of businesses run by organised crime'

Michael Brereton, director for development and regulation, said: 'The council has delivered some of the strongest enforcement outcomes in the country and, to date, 42 shops have been successfully closed.'

Under anti-social behaviour legislation, shops can only be closed for three months, but statements from other businesses and members of the public are often needed.

BBC analysis reveals that drugs, including crystal meth and heroin, had been found in more than 70 shops and linked premises on UK High Streets.

MP Liam Byrne, who leads the Business and Trade Committee, said: 'The scale of it is horrifying and the ease of it is just terrifying. It means a zero-tolerance approach to the kind of organised crime that is now doing business under our noses.'

A spokesperson for the Home Office said the government is working with police, the National Crime Agency and Trading Standards to 'take the strongest possible action against these criminal businesses.

Earlier this year, a council worker claimed that children as young as 11 are being sexually abused in High Street mini-marts after being groomed with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes

They said reports of the abuse have been raised multiple times between 2016 and 2025 in briefings with members of a child sexual exploitation safeguarding group at Dudley Council in the West Midlands.

And intelligence briefings between 2019 and 2024 saw concerns that children were at risk after being offered drugs, alcohol and cigarettes at mini-marts - with some then being ferried to other locations.

Trading Standards officers said raids at some shops revealed pull-out beds, while a 13-year-old girl was reportedly attacked by a worker who attempted to remove her clothes and drag her to a room above the shop.

In June 2024, a report was made of an attempt to 'lure a child to a flat' after they were given free cigarettes.

By December 2024, concerns were raised by Trading Standards that children as young as 11 were being 'taken in one pop-up shop to an unknown location via vehicle to collect cigarettes and vapes'.

According to Dudley Trading Standards intelligence, authorities had concerns over child sexual exploitation linked to 11 shops and shopworkers across the borough, the BBC reports.

These include premises in Lye, Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Dudley itself.

A report from 2023 stated: 'These crime groups in Dudley have links to CSE, drug offences, modern day slavery, and have illegal immigrants working on the premises.'

By 2024, Trading Standards said that workers in one Stourbridge mini-mart were 'now selling drugs and giving away these illegal goods to children in return for sexual favours'.

Five years previously, a separate case saw a mini-mart worker claim to have offered free cigarettes to schoolgirls for kisses, and sexually assaulted a female PCSO in Wales.

A separate law enforcement source told the corporation they were informed last year that children aged 13-15 were being given vapes from shop workers in return for sex, while raids at some premises revealed 'pull-out beds'.

Along Dudley High Street, the raids by Trading Standards revealed the beds and piles of make-up, while officers who entered the flats above found 'used condoms everywhere', officer Mr Maan said.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: 'We won't tolerate illegal activity and we work with a range of partners to respond to any concerns linked to shops around the West Midlands.

'Officers from across our various teams have carried out warrants alongside Trading Standards, HMRC and others, in response to information we've received throughout the region.

'We will always look to work with partners to act on complaints about illegal drug sales, anti-social behaviour, and crime and disorder.

'If there's evidence of criminal activity, or links to organised crime, then we will take action to arrest those involved, pursue prosecutions, and work with agencies to secure closure orders.

'We would always urge anyone with information to contact us and our partner agencies, as the more evidence and intelligence we receive means we all have a better opportunity of combating any illegal activities.'
Four adults and three children had to be rescued from the edge of a cliff after the rising tide surprised them.

The family were walking along the base of the cliffs at North Head lookout at Murramarang National Park in Durras, on the NSW South Coast, on Sunday morning when the tide started coming in.

They phoned police for help at about 9am and spent hours climbing 10m up the cliff face while waiting for the SES to arrive.

Police had initially called Westpac Rescue Helicopters to save the group but it was determined it was too risky as the helicopters may have blown them off the rocks.

Eurobodalla SES commander Peter Collins told News.com.au it took three hours to successfully help each family member onto higher ground, going one at a time.

'I knew this was not going to be an ordinary rescue. This was a very, very dangerous situation,' he said.

'They were so close to the waves breaking at the bottom and I thought, gosh, if a huge wave comes in, it's going to wash them straight off and they'd be gone.'

The NSW SES Moruya and NSW SES Batemans Bay Units created an Arizona Vortex frame at the top of the cliff and abseiled down to where the family were.

Four adults and three children were rescued from a cliff face in Durras

The family had been walking at the base of the cliff when the tide rose

Rescuers abseiled to collect each family member, one at a time

Each of the four adults and three children were then pulled to the top where a temporary first aid station was created.

'The crew spent over three hours retrieving each person one by one,' NSW SES wrote online.

'This involved lowering our operators 40 metres down the cliff face and then hauling each casualty back to the top.

'Although tired and cold, everyone rescued was in good spirits and glad to be back on high ground.'

The family were a little battered and bruised but suffered no serious injuries.

Mr Collins said it was the biggest rescue mission he'd been involved in and a timely reminder for people to beware of tides when walking on beaches.

'When you're walking around rock edges, you need to be really aware of what could happen, especially when there are big waves,' he said.

'Basically the rule is, if the rock is wet, don't go there.'

The family climbed 10 metres to avoid the incoming waves

No serious injuries were reported from the incident

SES crews spent three hours winching everyone to safety

NSW SES had its second-busiest year on record in 2025.

Volunteers were called to more than 60,000 incidents and answered over 140,000 calls.

The highest volume of calls were in January, March and May, linked to major storm and flooding events.
A boy accused of killing a tourist by dropping a statue on her head had a habit of throwing objects from windows and balconies, according to prosecutors.

Chiara Jaconis, 30, was celebrating her birthday in Naples with her boyfriend in 2024, when she was fatally struck by a 2kg figure as she walked down the street.

The parents of the 13-year-old child are facing manslaughter charges, with prosecutors arguing they did not keep a close enough eye on him.

They are now requesting that the teen's mother and father be charged with negligent manslaughter because the schoolboy is alleged to have carried out similar dangerous acts in the past.

Investigations revealed that the boy had previously thrown other objects off the balcony including clothes pegs, a remote control and a tablet, prosecutors have said.

However, the couple strongly deny any wrongdoing and have claimed the statuette did not belong to them.

'This is a tragedy that has struck two respectable families, that of poor Chiara and that of the two professionals,' said Carlo Bianco, the couple's lawyer.

He added that the parents have always shown 'great care and protection toward their son, who has suffered from health problems since birth'.

CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment Chiara was killed, with the clip showing the tourist walking down Naples's Spanish Quarters with her boyfriend Livio Rousseau, when she is suddenly hit

Chiara (pictured) was taken to hospital, where she died two days later from traumatic brain injuries

The pair have appealed the court's decision to clear their son because of his age, arguing he should be acquitted based on the facts of the case rather than simply because of his age.

With a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 26, Chiara's parents are actively seeking justice.

Her father, Gianfranco Jaconis, said: 'The request for indictment of the parents of the child who allegedly threw the figurine from the balcony that killed our Chiara?

'It's a step we've been waiting for. It doesn't reward us or satisfy us because another hard and tortuous journey lies ahead. But it's a start.

'The only consolation that will help us face this new tortuous journey, made up of hearings, testimonies, and interrogations, is that we are finally getting to the truththe one we have always sought.'

CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment Chiara was injured, with the clip showing the tourist walking down Naples's Spanish Quarters with her boyfriend Livio Rousseau, when she is suddenly hit and falls motionless to the floor.

In the seconds that follow, her boyfriend falls to his knees as he screams and calls for help.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and Chiara was taken to hospital, where she died two days later from traumatic brain injuries, local media reported at the time.

The statuette  which depicted an ancient pagan deity  reportedly fell from a third floor apartment as Chiara walked past.

The figure, which weighed just over 2kg, fell from a height of ten metres, and before hitting the ground, shattered on the balcony below, on the second floor, breaking.

One of the pieces struck Chiara on the head, severely injuring her. Several people, including some minors, were present in the apartment where the statuette was located, according to local media.

Italian-born Chiara worked as a store manager for the fashion house Prada and had spent some time working for the brand in France.

At a memorial event held for her last year, her mother said: 'I invite you to live life in colour, because that's what she always did.'
It was the long-awaited moment Sir Olly Robbins broke his silence on the Lord Mandelson vetting scandal.

Yet it was the cravat-clad figure sitting just behind him who left the more lasting impression.

Donning a striped shirt, a red handkerchief and the distinctive neck piece, Andrew Edwards captivated the internet as he nodded along to the parliamentary proceedings.

Mr Edwards  revealed to be a town councillor in Wiltshire  has been attending parliamentary and court hearings for more than 20 years.

His presence at the Robbins hearing adds to an already extensive track record that includes high-profile moments such as Prince Harry at the High Court and the 2010 Iraq Inquiry.

Yet on X, spectators quickly began asking who he was  and questioning his eccentric dress sense.

One watcher said: 'Watching Sir Olly Robbins and @BBC Parliament.

'Can anyone tell me who is the perpetual 'Nodding Dog' in the stripped shirt behind Olly Robbins please?'

Andrew Edwards (right) made a lasting impression at the Sir Olly Robbins (centre) hearing on Tuesday because of his quirky dress including a cravat and pocket handkerchief

Others were quick to point out his quirky attire, adding: 'A day with destiny and what does the chap behind Olly Robbins to the right of Dave Penman wear?

'Blazer, striped shirt, red pocket square and strange leopard print thing around his neck?'

But for Mr Edwards, who lives in Islington in north London, wearing his trademark cravat is far from unusual - and neither is attending high-profile events such as this.

Speaking to the Mail, Mr Edwards explained: 'It's about being smart.

'I think that you should always make the effort to look like you've made an effort.'

Mr Edwards, who works for Southeastern Trains, has been filmed at many high-profile events including an Alistair Campbell appearance at the 2010 Iraq Inquiry and a Commons select committee scrutinising alleged BBC bias in 2025.

His motive for attending such high-profile meetings, he said, is because they are where the 'hard work is done'.

He said: 'It helps me to understand is how government works because I only go to committees and court hearings - that is where the hard work is done.

Mr Edwards (right) was on hand when Alistair Campbell gave evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war in 2010

'You can understand the detail of how these things happen and you're better informed, when you're discussing it with your friends and your colleagues, either in work or because you've been there and you understand how these matters work.'

He has also attended the first meetings of Shabana Mahmood at the Justice Committee and Liz Kendall at the Work and Pensions Committee, and witnessed Prince Harry at the High Court, where he alleges the prince was 'slouched' inhis seat.

Mr Edwards offered a similar critique of Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, whose hearing was on Tuesday.

He said: 'He should have sat up straight. Those chairs are absolutely terrible for allowing you to ease back into them.

'And so his answers could have been a lot sharper and more focused and it would not have taken two-and-a-half hours.'

The Robbins hearing  held on Tuesday before the Foreign Affairs select committee  saw Sir Olly claim No 10 was determined to push through its controversial choice of US ambassador, whatever the risks.

Sir Olly, 51, described the pressure placed on the Foreign Office to fast-track vetting checks so Mandelson could be dispatched to Washington DC in time for Donald Trump's return to the White House.

He also told MPs on the committee that rejecting the appointment would have created a major problem.

Mr Edwards told the Mail he attends high-profile committee and court hearings because that is where 'the hard work is done'. Here he watches over a hearing examining BBC bias

Sir Olly made another highly damaging revelation: that No 10 had privately lobbied for Sir Keir's own spin doctor, Matthew Doyle, later disgraced over his links to a paedophile, to be appointed ambassador.

The civil servant spoke of his sadness at losing his role as permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, and hinted the matter could end up in court, as he declined to disclose the precise circumstances of his dismissal by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

Yet on Sir Keir  who has been under the microscope since Sir Olly spoke  Mr Edwards added he believes his position is safe.

He said: 'I do think that the Prime Minister is secure in his, in his post because I think that the government have a majority that can last until 2029.

'I see no reason why the Prime Minister cannot be there because of his majority.

'And I don't think that Mandelson's appointment - although it's a bad appointment - is so bad that it will bring him down, even if you pile it onto the other misfortunes.'

And for Mr Edwards  who has been attending hearings such as these for 20 years  there is another big week of hearings ahead.

He added: 'I'll be at [Morgan] McSweeney next week.

'What I always say to people is whether you're in Belfast, whether you're in Edinburgh, whether you're in Cardiff or whether you're in London - all these committees are open.

'I'm just a bloke. I really can't emphasise that enough.

'I am just a bloke who goes and watches these committees in action because that's where the hard work is done.'
Cruise passengers were left 'shaking' after crew pulled five bodies from the sea during a dramatic recovery mission in the Mediterranean on Tuesday.

The victims, believed to be migrants, were spotted after an orange life jacket was seen floating in the water, forcing the ship to divert.

Passengers aboard the Sapphire Princess were told the vessel was turning around after the object was sighted in the western Mediterranean at around 6pm local time.

Footage shows the body of a man, wearing a purple top and black shorts, being lifted into a lifeboat before being covered and brought on board.

Medical staff examined the body, before taking him to the hold of the ship and the cruise ship moved off again at 6:59pm.

But at 7:47pm another orange life jacket was spotted, and a second body was brought onto the ship.

Videos show three more bodies being pulled from the water before the captain announced the recovery of five bodies was complete.

A passenger, who does not want to be named, said: 'It was very sad to watch.. I was shaking inside.

Cruise passengers were left 'shaking' after crew pulled five bodies from the sea during a dramatic recovery mission in the Mediterranean on Tuesday

The victims, believed to be migrants, were spotted after an orange life jacket was seen floating in the water, forcing the ship to divert

'The crew were very good at keeping everyone calm, but everyone was shocked.

'From what I saw I think they were migrants.

'The crew treated them with respect and we were all offered counselling.'

The cruise ship was between the coasts of Spain and North Africa, and docked at Cartagena in Spain yesterday.

The boat, with over three thousand passengers on board, is on a fourteen-day voyage which departed from a port near Rome, Italy, on April 19 and is scheduled to dock in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 3.

The passenger, who first shared the story via Talk to the Press, said: 'I've been on lots of cruises and I've never seen this before.

'There was someone on board who said they've been on 60 cruises and never seen anything like this.'

Princess Cruises said: 'Princess Cruises confirms that on April 21, Sapphire Princess, while at sea en route to Cartagena, Spain, observed an orange inflatable lifejacket in the water.

Video footage shows an announcement being made to passengers that life jackets had been spotted in the water

Passengers aboard the Sapphire Princess were told the vessel was turning around after the object was sighted in the western Mediterranean at around 6pm local time

'The vessel immediately altered course to investigate and, upon arrival on scene, deployed its Fast Rescue Boat.

'Five deceased individuals were recovered by the Sapphire Princess crew members and coordinated efforts with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC).

'The individuals involved are not guests or crew of Sapphire Princess.

'We extend our sincere condolences for this loss and are grateful to our crew for their swift response and efforts to render assistance.'
Prince Harry joked that his wife needed to calm down while hugging a handsome Australian lifeguard, a new video has revealed.

The Duke of Sussex enjoyed some banter with enthusiastic Aussie crowds as Meghan Markle embraced a fan when they visited survivors of the Bondi terror attack last week.

After Harry had hugged a well-wisher himself, Ms Markle cuddled the man in a Bondi vest and swimming cap as she said goodbye to first responders on the Sydney beach.

There was laughing from the crowd as Harry shouted 'easy, easy' as his wife enthusiastically said goodbye to the well-wisher on Friday.

Meghan also clearly thought her husband's joke was funny.

She then profusely thanked people for coming to meet them on the final day of their four-day tour Down Under.

Having enjoyed 'three cheers' from the crowd, the Sussexes climbed into their luxury Range Rover 4x4 driven by their private security and went to their next event: the so-called 1,700-a-head 'Megstock' retreat.

The funny moment Harry yells 'easy, easy' as Meghan hugs a fan in Australia last week

There was a ripple of laughter, including from his wife, as the duke made the off-the-cuff gag

Harry then held the door for the duchess as they climbed into their Range Rover

Meghan hugs the Bondi beach lifesaver

The video, captioned 'the crowds could not get enough Harry & Meghan', emerged as the Duke of Sussex popped up in Kyiv.

Harry is in Ukraine for a security conference claiming he is there to 'remind the world' and 'people back home' in Britain about the war with Russia.

Today's Bondi Beach video from almost a week ago came on a day that became one of the most controversial of their tour.

Meghan was deeply moved as she met survivors of the terror attack that claimed 15 innocent lives in December.

But hours later her outfit from the engagement was being sold on a website that pays her a commission and she has also invested in.

The controversial advert with first responders was then quietly deleted.

The Duchess of Sussex was criticised after her $2,000 (1,478) 'look' when she met survivors of the massacre was posted.

The Daily Mail revealed how shortly after she hugged witnesses to the tragedy, the clothes she wore to the Sydney beach where 15 people died were immediately posted on a fashion platform she has also invested in.

Prince Harry also featured on the OneOff page advertising his wife's outfit at Bondi on Friday, although he was largely covered by links to her $440 blue and white striped Matteau shirt, $139 white 'sailor jeans' and $298 Freda Salvador trainers.

Meghan's $198 Brochu Walker sunglasses and $950 brown suede bag from her Bondi engagement were also being advertised - taking the cost of the entire outfit to around $2,000.

But the original contentious OneOff ad inviting fans of Meghan's fashion to buy her expensive Bondi ensemble was then quietly deleted.

It was replaced with a picture of the duchess waving as she left her luxury Range Rover 4x4 earlier in the day, in the same outfit but not on the beach and without Harry in shot.

Meghan on Bondi Beach. Her outfit was immediately added to a website where she makes a percentage from sales. This ad has been quietly deleted and changed

Meghan hugs Jessica Chapnil Khan, a survivor of the 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack

Meghan is expected to earn a portion of OneOff's sales commission, which ranges from 10 per cent to 25 per cent per item sold. She is also an investor in the AI-powered fashion business.

Meghan embraced Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who survived while shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah party. She and Harry also spoke to first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack, including lifeguards on the beach.

All Meghan outfits from the Australian tour continue to be uploaded almost immediately to OneOff, including the one she wore at Bondi on Friday morning.

She will take a percentage of any sales from the online fashion sales platform, described as the 'Spotify of fashion'.

Critics said that the decision to advertise the duchess's 'look' on a visit to meet terror attack survivors is 'the starkest example yet of Harry and Meghans efforts to commercialise their royal brand'.

Royal expert Richard Palmer said the sale of her Bondi outfit online reflected badly on the Sussexes.

He said: 'This is perhaps the starkest example yet of Harry and Meghans efforts to commercialise their royal brand.

'I think this will have alarm bells ringing at the palace and may ultimately prompt further discussion about whether there is a need to strip them of their royal titles, now the King has shown it can be done in effect with Andrew.

'The palace can say its nothing to do with the institution because Harry and Meghan arent publicly-funded members of it - but they are the Kings son and daughter-in-law and any suggestion of cashing in on royal status reflects badly on the monarchy'.

The new advert shows Meghan without first responders - and without Harry

Billed as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, her OneOff page features dozens of pictures of her, including in Australia this week, all with links to buy her outfits.

OneOff is an AI-powered fashion platform and app that allows users to shop curated, celebrity-inspired looks.

Stars who are verified, such as Meghan, can earn affiliate revenue every time a fan purchases an item.

The current revenue split on a sale is, apparently, 10 to 25 per cent from the retailer to OneOff, which is then shared with the creator.

It is not clear how much the duchess expects to make, but the firm said of its deal with Meghan: She cares about fashion and was motivated to invest not only to expand her portfolio, but to help uplift the fashion designers she is a fan of.

On a packed Bondi beach, Harry hugged a man wearing only beachball-patterned budgie smugglers before the couple met survivors of the terrorist attack late in 2025.

Some of the group they spoke to were among the first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack, in which 15 innocent lives were lost on December 14.

A Bondi sunbather appeared to be unaware that Harry and Meghan were just metres away - and refused to move

The couple speak with Elon Zizerb (right), a Bondi beach terror attack survivor

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex looked deeply moved and chatted to Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who survived while shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah party.

Ms Chapnik Kahn, who was embraced by Meghan, said it was an 'honour' to meet the couple during their visit to the Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club.

She said: 'The greater problem in the world right now is hate.

'Hate is a human problem that we're facing, a very big problem. So to highlight that, to be able to connect with them on this heart level, I think is very special.'
An Algerian migrant who stalked the streets of Mayfair to target wealthy shoppers for their luxury watches has been jailed.

Abdulkarim Ienbuzir, 25, stole more than 100,000 of high-value timepieces during a crime spree in the capital last summer.

The 'systematic predator' stole a 5,000 Cartier watch, 18,000 Hublot and 85,000 Patek Phillipe timepiece from three victims over three months.

He tried to claim he was only in London to check on his asylum application and just happened to get involved with a robbery gang.

Aided by an Arabic interpreter, Ienbuzir, of Liverpool, was jailed for four and a half years at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.

The court heard his first victim, Finbar Breslin, was targeted as he walked along Berkeley Street in Mayfair on July 17 last year.

Mr Breslin described being approached by Ienbuzir and an accomplice as he took his phone out of his pocket, the court heard.

'A conversation took place and he described both males got close to him. One of them was in front of him, and the other was to his side,' prosecutor Henna Baig said.

'Without warning, the defendant grabbed the wrist and stole his [5,000 Cartier] watch.'

'Systematic predator' Abdulkarim Ienbuzir, 25, originally from Algeria, robbed three victims of their watches in a spree of crimes last summer

The first robbery took place on Berkeley Street, Mayfair (pictured) in July 2025

Ienbuzir snatched an 18,000 Hublot watch from Matthew Payton in Mayfair on August 1.

The thief, with other unknown men, also robbed Thomas Pope of his 85,000 Patek Phillipe timepiece outside the Ritz Hotel on September 18.

The prosecutor said: 'Similar to the August robbery, a very quick grab of the wrist, and it was this defendant acting with another person.

'On each offence, the defendant was identified or linked to the robbery by CCTV footage.'

Ms Baig continued: 'All three robberies have a similar method, in that the defendant, along with other people, on three separate occasions, targeted members of the public, stole high-value watches, and on one occasion a phone.'

Passing sentence Judge Mark Cole told Ienbuzir: 'You acted as a systematic predator.

'You knew exactly what you were looking for, you loitered in parts of London where you hoped to find people wearing high-value watches.

'You found them, and you swooped.'

He said the 'shock and fear' resulting from his offending is 'exemplified' by the words of Mr Payton, who told police he 'could not help but think of the worst-case scenario.'

The judge said Ienbuzir had 'little in mitigation' beyond the fact that he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was sceptical of the Algerian's claim that his father had recently died.

Mr Cole said: 'Forgive me for being cynical but he had told provable lies to the officer that he was in London to check on his asylum application, when in fact he is an absconder.'

Defending, Michaela Onuchukwu said she could not verify Ienbuzir's bereavement.

She added: 'He is under no illusion that custody is almost a certainty, to quote a previous judge.'

Ienbuzir was sentenced to four and a half years in prison concurrent on each offence.

Passing sentence the judge said Ienbuzir would have served up to six years imprisonment 'were it not for your guilty plea.'

The Algerian remained stoney-faced in the dock.

Ienbuzir has three previous convictions for a total of five offences, two of which relate to theft of items other than watches in 2023 and 2024.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Join the Franklin County Visitors Bureau on the afternoon of May 2 to celebrate Harriet Rebecca Lane, who was born in Mercersburg, Franklin County PA, on May 9, 1803. Harriet Lane was the niece of future president James Buchanan and served as the nation's First Lady during the Buchanan presidency, 1857 to 1861. She is the First Lady of Franklin County.

Harriet Lane, born in Mercersburg PA, was America's First Lady during her uncle James Buchanan's presidency. Each year, Franklin County celebrates the First Lady of Franklin County with a tea in May, her birth month.

Tea begins at noon and is held in the Great Room on the second level of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. Cost per person is $38. Each participant receives a take-home tea cup and take home teas. The program will look at the beauty of flowers, share how to bring a Victorian touch to flower arranging, and talk about accenting outfits with flowers--much like Harriet Lane often did as First Lady.

Hats are a tradition of Harriet Lane's era, so every participant is invited to wear a hat. Feel free to craft a special one or wear a favorite. Franklin County Visitors Bureau will be awarding prizes to those wearing hats and will recognize Most Elegant, Most Springtime Inspiration, and Harriet's Pick.

Menu for the tea is: cucumber sandwiches, summer sandwiches, cookies, strawberry tarts, milk bread, and an array of teas.

Seating is limited. Get tickets online here or contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 717.552.2977.

For more to see and do in Franklin County, visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com.

SOURCE Franklin County Visitors Bureau
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has met with the campaign team of New York's Left-wing mayor Zohran Mamdani in the hope of copying his success.

Mr Polanski, an 'eco-populist', is revealed to have held talks with Mr Mamdani's aides in recent weeks as he attempts to boost his social media strategy.

The discussions are said to have focused on how Mr Mamdani used 'high-quality video content' to drive his campaigning.

At the age of 34, Mr Mamdani is the youngest mayor of New York in more than a century and also the first Muslim to hold the role.

The self-described socialist defeated independent rival Andrew Cuomo and Republican hopeful Curtis Sliwa in November's election.

He centred his campaign on bringing down costs for New Yorkers through rent freezes, the creation of city-owned grocery stores, the introduction of free buses, and universal free childcare.

Mr Mamdani also vowed to 'tax the rich' with levy increases for businesses and the wealthiest 1 per cent of the city's population.

In one social media video this month, which garnered millions of views, Mr Mamdani announced the introduction of a 'pied-a-tierre tax'. He said: 'When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich; Well, today we're taxing the rich.'

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has met with the campaign team of New York's Left-wing mayor Zohran Mamdani in the hope of copying his success

Mr Polanski, an 'eco-populist', is revealed to have held talks with Mr Mamdani's aides in recent weeks as he attempts to boost his social media strategy.

In one social media video this month, which garnered millions of views, Mr Mamdani announced the introduction of a 'pied-a-tierre tax' in New York

Mr Polanski is reported to have considered changing his branding and hiring a videographer in an effort to emulate Mr Mamdani's social media success.

The Green leader currently has 670,000 followers on Instagram and 157,000 followers on TikTok.

This compares to the 11.5million followers that Mr Mamdani has on Instagram, while the New York mayor has 3.5million followers on TikTok.

Mr Mamdani's videos on TikTok have racked up 42million 'likes', while Mr Polanski's videos have only attracted 873,000 'likes'.

A Green Party source told The Times that Mr Polanski wanted to learn how prioritising social media and video content had shaped Mr Mamdani's campaign, as he sought to do the same.

They added: 'Zack's social media is absolutely flying. It helps that he's a natural at it.

'But we want to make sure we're being as strategic as possible in how we're using all forms of social media, particularly video, to really own the narrative.

'Mamdani has set the bar really high for producing a huge volume of high-quality video content to drive his campaign and there is lots we can learn from that.'

The meeting with Mr Mamdani's team is said to have been hosted online a few weeks ago between Mr Polanski and Morris Katz, one of the New York mayor's top strategists.

Mr Polanski was unable to visit New York to meet Mr Mamdani in person because he does not fly for environmental reasons.
Lord Mandelson's money-spinning consultancy firm Global Counsel went bust owing 4.5million  including more than half a million pounds to the taxman, it was revealed today.

The corporate strategy firm set up by the disgraced peer collapsed in February amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Today it filed a 'statement of affairs' at Companies House reporting its bills to creditors are 4,596,149 more than the value of its assets.

Among those out of pocket are HM Revenue and Customs, with the taxman being owed 645,000.

Lord Mandelson set up the firm in 2010 to make his fortune - but it sacked its own founder last September just minutes after he was fired as Britain's ambassador to Washington.

The Labour grandee's downfall came after a torrent of sickening emails showing his closeness to his 'best pal' Epstein, a convicted child sex predator.

The creepy holiday snap that triggered his downfall: Lord Mandelson in a fluffy white dressing gown enjoying a chat with 'best pal' Epstein

Happier times: Sir Keir Starmer with his ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson before he sacked him

Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein at a boutique in the Caribbean in 2005

Directors of Global Counsel got rid of Lord Mandelson fearing the 'threat of negative media coverage' from their founder, an internal note revealed.

But it was not enough to save the company, and as the Epstein scandal grew, Global Counsel went into administration on February 20, three days before Lord Mandelson was arrested by police.

The peer was quizzed over allegations that while serving as a minister he passed on market-sensitive government information to the late convicted paedophile Epstein. Lord Mandelson is on police bail and has not been charged with any offence.

When Mandelson started Global Counsel, it was after Labour lost the general election and David Cameron became Prime Minister. It was a strategy and communications firm founded by him with his long-term associate Benjamin Wegg-Prosser.

Among Global Counsel's many clients were Chinese-owned TikTok and US tech firm Palantir. It had six offices across the world.

At one stage last year, Lord Mandelson had a 21 per cent stake worth around 6million ($8.1 million). But he is not among the creditors owed money by the firm, according to the list prepared by administrators.

Lord Mandelson was held for around nine hours following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He denies wrongdoing

In this photo from the Epstein files, Lord Mandelson stands in white underwear talking to a woman in a dressing gown

Documents at Companies House show Lord Mandelson's old firm Global Counsel owed 645,000 to the taxman when it went bust this year

In February, the New Labour architect launched a furious attack on Scotland Yard for swooping on his home to detain him. Detectives had received intelligence that the disgraced former minister presented a 'flight risk' and could flee abroad to avoid potential prosecution for misconduct in public office.

But Lord Mandelson told friends police had been taken in by 'complete fiction', pointing out that he has been cooperating fully with the investigation.

Lord Mandelson has denied any criminal wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein, or acting for personal profit.
Earl Spencer's girlfriend Professor Cat Jarman has had her final say in a bitter privacy row over her MS diagnosis with his estranged wife Karen Spencer.

The two women have been embroiled in a lengthy High Court battle after Professor Cat Jarman, 44, accused the countess of disclosing her private medical information.

In December, the countess, 53, agreed to settle the case - without accepting liability - on the proviso the earl will 'indemnify' her separately as part of her divorce payout.

However, the saga has dragged on as they quibbled over the wording of a statement Professor Jarman applied to have read in open court as part of the settlement.

Professor Jarman arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice this morning to see it read out in open court by her lawyer.

In the brief hearing, the two-page statement was read to the largely empty Court 17 in front of a judge and a few members of the press.

In it, she said she remains 'profoundly distressed by the disclosure of her medical information' and is 'disappointed' the countess has never admitted liability or wrongdoing.

'She has brought these proceedings in order to vindicate her right to medical privacy and to secure recognition of the wrong she considers has been done to her,' the statement added.

Earl Spencer's girlfriend Professor Cat Jarman arrived at the High Court this morning to have the final say in a bitter privacy row with his estranged wife Karen Spencer

Earl Spencer said Jarman had handled the situation with 'grace, integrity and quiet courage'. Pictured together last year

Spencer pictured with his then-wife Karen at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018

It said that she 'wishes to draw a line under this matter and move on with her life.'

'Whilst the Claimant had not wanted the fact she has MS to be widely disclosed because of her fear of discrimination, she has sought to deal with the situation as positively as possible by using her public profile to promote awareness of the condition,' it continued.

It adds that she, jointly with Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer, was working with the MS Society towards that aim.

Lawyers for Countess Spencer who was not present said after the hearing that she considers the 'matter closed'.

The statement revealed that the countess first learnt of her condition in late April 2024, during a private conversation with the Claimant's former husband.

It said the defendant was told 'highly sensitive medical information about the Claimant, namely her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

'The Claimant had made a deliberate personal choice to keep her diagnosis private and had disclosed it only to a very small group of people within her circle, understanding that medical privacy, once lost, can never be reclaimed.'

It said she believes that 'medical information is among the most intimate aspects of our private lives'.

Professor's Jarman's two page statement was read to the largely empty Court 17 by her lawyer in front of a judge and members of the press.

'The right to control when, how, and to whom such sensitive health data is disclosed is fundamental to human dignity and autonomy.

'Privacy is not a privilege, it is a universal human right that belongs to everyone, regardless of their circumstances,' it continued.

The award-winning archaeologist said she was caused 'enormous strain and anxiety' after the countess was unable to provide a list of people she had told of her MS.

The statement said the countess admitted that she had 'told a few people who were her immediate family, or close friends and associates that the Claimant had MS'.

But that she was 'unable to recall with certainty' who exactly she had informed.

After the hearing, Professor Jarman who was supported by a group of friends, told the Mail that she had felt 'compelled' to deliver the statement to protect medical privacy rights and had chosen to deliver it during MS awareness week.

Speaking after court, the Earl praised his girlfriend for acting with 'grace, integrity and quiet courage' as she sought to defend her right to privacy.

'Cat has handled every aspect of this with grace, integrity and quiet courage, he said in a written statement.

'She sought only what was her right: the same right to privacy that every person deserves.

'Multiple sclerosis is a serious condition; its course is uncertain and its demands are significant.

'Those who live with the condition deserve complete control over when, how and to whom they choose to disclose it,' he said.

Her ex-husband, Tom Jarman, 45, also released a statement in the professor's support, expressing 'huge personal regret' over his disclosure to the countess.

The architect said his exchange with Lady Spencer were 'very sensitive and private in nature' and accused the countess of 'weaponising' the issue.

The declaration in court acknowledged that the Earl had 'made a contribution' towards his girlfriend's legal action against his estranged wife 'by way of a formal loan'.

The row is estimated to have racked up costs of 2.2million after Professor Jarman, who has been dating the earl, 61, since 2024, issued the claim in the High Court in October 2024.

A spokesperson for Countess Spencer said: 'Countess Spencer accepted the Part 36 Offer with no admission of liability or wrongdoing after the arbitrator in her divorce proceedings ruled that, if she did accept the offer, Earl Spencer would be required to indemnify her for the costs associated with accepting the Part 36 Offer and bringing the proceedings to an end.

'Countess Spencer has exercised restraint throughout and has limited what she has said publicly.

'At this time, she does not intend to discuss these matters beyond the few points she feels it is important to highlight in this statement for the purpose of context and accuracy. She considers the matter closed.'

The Norwegian archaeologist had accused Countess Spencer of disclosing to the earl and others without her consent that she had multiple sclerosis, which she said was a 'misuse of private information'.

In July, a court heard that both parties had reached an agreement on future estimated legal costs amounting to more than 2.2million.

But the countess agreed to settle after following the 'advice of an arbitrator overseeing her divorce, thought to be in its final stages.

The total cost to be paid by Earl Spencer is said to be 'hotly disputed' between the former couple, who are yet to agree on how the final sum should be calculated, according to court documents.

A spokesman for Countess Spencer said at the time the issue has 'been resolved in an agreed settlement', adding: 'Countess Spencer considers her position fully vindicated.

'There was no admission of liability or wrongdoing and Earl Spencer has been ordered to pay the legal costs, which are in excess of 2million, together with 4,500 in damages to be paid to his girlfriend Cat Jarman.

'Countess Spencer sincerely hopes this will mark the end of the matter.'

However, Professor Jarman claimed the move as vindication of her legal action.

At the time, she said: 'As someone living with multiple sclerosis, I have the unquestionable right to decide when and how to 'share such sensitive details.

'Pursuing the claim was a necessary and principled step to protect that right, as well as my career and livelihood.

'The matter has now been resolved after the other party chose to settle the claim, and I regard that outcome as a clear vindication of my decision to take action.

'I am relieved to be able to move forward and glad the other side saw sense... I acted on principle and to defend my privacy at a time when it had been seriously violated.'

In court documents, the countess accused her husband of having an affair with Professor Jarman, who was digging for a Roman villa at his Althorp ancestral home.

She said her disclosures were 'entirely justified and legitimate' given the way she was treated.

The Canadian-born social entrepreneur became Earl Spencer's third wife in 2011, and they have an 11-year-old daughter. T

The countess was informed by the earl on March 19, 2024, that 'their marriage was over after almost 13 years'.

'He did this by text message,' said her defence papers, adding: 'Having given up her life in the US, in order to live in rural Northamptonshire and dedicate herself to sorting out the Althorp Estate business, as well having a child, the news was hideous for Lady Spencer.'

When she compared notes with Professor Jarman's ex-husband, Tom Jarman, 'she discovered their affair had been going on since at least November/December 2022', the defence stated.

During the dig, the archaeologist stayed on the Althorp estate and dined at the house. She insisted they were just friends until after the earl and countess announced their split in June 2024.

Earl Spencer confirmed his relationship with Professor Jarman that October. In her legal claim, she alleges she was shocked when the countess revealed her private information to the earl.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Professor Jarman said: 'I have worked very hard indeed to keep my MS hidden... So only a handful of people have known - and [the earl] wasn't one of them.

'I'd been seeing him, romantically, for only two or three months, and still hadn't told him.' She alleges Earl Spencer's wife 'found out from someone close to me' and told her husband.
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An individual has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with the gross negligence manslaughter investigation at the hospital where Lucy Letby murdered babies, Cheshire Police announced today.

The force said on Wednesday that officers had executed a warrant and searched the home of an unnamed person. They refused to reveal their age or sex.

It comes after three senior executives who worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital during the neo-natal nurse's killing spree were quizzed by detectives in June 2025.

Police confirmed that the individual arrested today is one of those three arrested last year. They have been bailed pending further enquiries.

A spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said today: 'Operation Duet is the ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

'An individual was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. They have subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries.

'The searches at the property have now concluded.'

The arrest forms part of Cheshire Constabulary's ongoing inquiry into corporate manslaughter at the NHS Trust, where Letby murdered seven premature infants and harmed seven more between June 2015 and June 2016.

In March last year Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes confirmed the corporate manslaughter investigation, codenamed Operation Duet, had been widened to include 'the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals.'

He said 'those identified as suspects had been notified' but refused to confirm any names.

Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole-life orders after being found guilty of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, at the hospital's neo-natal unit.

She has twice had applications to challenge her convictions rejected by the Court of Appeal.

Letby is serving 15 whole life sentences and has twice applied but failed to appeal her convictions. Her case is now being looked at by the Criminal Cases Review Commission

Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, who leads Operation Hummingbird, Cheshire Police's investigation into Lucy Letby and the Countess of Chester Hospital

According to an independent report, leaked to the Mail's Trial+ podcast, babies' lives could have been saved if hospital bosses had acted sooner to remove Letby from working.

The report, commissioned by the Countess after Letby was first arrested, in July 2018, found managers were 'inexperienced' and missed 14 opportunities to suspend the nurse because they became 'blinkered' to the possibility she was responsible.

Instead of alerting the police, they commissioned a series of ineffectual external investigations, which failed to get to the bottom of why babies were unexpectedly collapsing and dying, the document said.

Executives also 'ostracised' and 'bullied' doctors when they continued to raise concerns and demand police be called in, the report, carried out by independent healthcare consultancy Facere Melius, which has been blocked from publication, concluded.

Although the report does not specifically reveal which babies might have lived, it makes clear that, by February 2016, at least two senior executives at the hospital knew about the link between Letby and the infant deaths.

She tried to kill four children, referred to at her trial as Babies K, L, M and N, and murdered two triplet brothers, Babies O and P, before being removed from frontline nursing in July that year.

'Earlier action potentially would have reduced the number of baby deaths,' the report said.

'Had different decisions been made the spike in baby deaths would have been picked up sooner internally and externally, and potentially, lives could have been saved.'

At the public inquiry investigating Letby's crimes, senior management at the hospital faced serious criticism over their handling of the spike in deaths.

In their closing speeches lawyers for the infants' families accused executives of orchestrating a cover up to protect the reputation of the hospital, lying to the families and bullying the consultants who tried to raise the alarm.

Peter Skelton KC, who represents seven of Letby's victims, said they displayed 'a form of individual and corporate self-protection that should have no place in the NHS.'

Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more following a trial at Manchester Crown Court

The Women and Children's building which houses the neo-natal unit where Letby committed her crimes

Kate Blackwell KC, for the senior executives, said in her closing remarks that they now accepted they should have called in police sooner.

But the barrister insisted it was never expressed to them in 'stark' terms that Letby was causing deliberate harm before June 2016  when she attacked and murdered Babies O and P and was finally moved from frontline nursing into an administrative role.

Ms Blackwell said managers accepted they had failed to follow safeguarding policies, made mistakes in their communication with the babies' parents and that there was a breakdown in their relationship with the paediatricians, who should have been better supported.

But she insisted all their decisions were taken 'in good faith' and they 'vociferously denied' claims they deliberately and knowingly 'harboured' a murderer or put the hospital's reputation before the safety of babies in their care.

'The senior managers have emphatically refuted the proposition that either their own reputation or that of the Trust was prioritised over safety,' she added.

In law, an individual can be found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter if they negligently breach the duty of care they owe the person who died and it was 'reasonably foreseeable' that such a breach gave rise to a 'serious and obvious risk of death.'

The circumstances of the breach also have to be 'truly exceptionally bad and so reprehensible' that it amounts to gross negligence.

Letby, of Hereford, has always maintained she is innocent and in April 2025 her new defence team submitted evidence from a panel of international experts to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the organisation that examines miscarriages of justice, in a bid to have her convictions overturned.

The experts claim no murders took place and instead assert that the babies died or collapsed because of natural causes or poor care.

In January 2026 the Crown Prosecution Service announced it would not bring further charges against Letby.

Cheshire Constabulary had submitted files of evidence to consider alleged offences of murder and attempted murder related to two infants who died and seven who survived.

However prosecutors concluded that the evidential test was not met in any of the cases.
An investigation has been launched after two men allegedly robbed a man of his phone on the London Underground before assaulting two officers.

British Transport Police have released CCTV images of a pair wanted for questioning in relation to the incident.

The force said two men allegedly attempted to rob the victim's phone after he alighted a Central Line train at Oxford Circus Underground station.

The incident occurred at around 3.15pm on Sunday, March 8.

Two officers intervened but were assaulted as the suspects fled the scene.

Detectives would like to speak to those pictured, as they believe they may have information which could help their investigation.

Anyone who recognises them is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 331 of 8 March.

Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

British Transport Police said two men allegedly attempted to rob the victim's phone after he alighted a Central Line train at Oxford Circus Underground station
A detention centre for Channel migrants will finally be built in France three years after it was first promised  but it will only have 140 spaces.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the French government had agreed to detain small boat migrants on the beaches, transfer them to the new centre and then deport them.

The deal was first mooted by then Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak under a previous agreement with Emmanuel Macrons government in March 2023.

The new facility in Dunkirk, paid for by the British taxpayer, will have a capacity of 140 migrants.

But by comparison more than 6,000 have successfully reached Britain so far this year, including 602 on a single day last week.

The Home Office said the new scheme would aim to remove hundreds of small boat migrants from French beaches every year.

It remains unclear whether detaining and deporting such a small proportion of migrants will deter others from attempting the dangerous crossing.

The centre, staffed by more than 100 officers, is expected to open by the end of this year.

More than 6,000 migrants have successfully reached Britain so far this year, including 602 on a single day last week, and now Labour has announced a detention centre will be built near Dunkirk with 140 places

Meanwhile, the Home Office said the new approach will be trialled using existing capacity at a removal centre in Coquelles, near Calais, from next month.

French police will focus removals on the 10 nationalities which cross the Channel illegally in the greatest numbers.

They are Eritreans, Afghans, Iranians, Sudanese, Somalis, Ethiopians, Iraqis, Syrians, Vietnamese and Yemenis.

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A Home Office spokesman said: Migrants will be deported back to their home countries or other EU countries they have passed through.

As part of a 160million payment by results deal between Britain and France, announced yesterday, funding will be withdrawn from the scheme at a later date if it proves unsuccessful.

Home Secretary Ms Mahmood said: This Government is bearing down on illegal small boat crossings.

Under this new agreement, we will remove those with no right to be here before they attempt to cross the Channel  starting this year.

We will restore order and control to our borders.

Migrants board a dinghy off Dunkirk, northern France, bound for Britain earlier this month

Labour yesterday announced it will hand France up to 660million for small boat patrols and other measures as part of a new three-year deal.

It will push the total amount of British taxpayers money given to France since the start of the Channel crisis past 1.3billion.

Since the previous three-year, 500million deal was agreed by Mr Sunak and Mr Macron more than 84,000 migrants have reached Britain across the Channel.

Since Labour came to power nearly 71,000 migrants have reached the UK by small boat.

One of Sir Keir Starmer's first acts as Prime Minister was to scrap the previous government's Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed to deter crossings and save lives by removing Channel migrants to east Africa.

The Home Offices own figures, published last year, showed Rwanda was deterring crossings even though removals flights never got off the ground.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Over 70,000 people have crossed illegally since Labour took office, a 45 per cent increase on before the election, and their answer is a facility that holds fewer people than a secondary school.

'France prevented just a third of embarkations last year, but there is nothing in place to stop these illegal immigrants trying to cross again.

'Now Labour are handing over 662million with conditions so weak that the money only gets pulled if it fails to deliver "value for money"  a test so vague it means nothing.

'The only way to fix this is the Conservative Partys borders plan  leave the European Convention on Human Rights so we can deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival, and then the crossings would soon stop.

'But Shabana Mahmood and Keir Starmer are too weak to do this.'

Earlier this year Ms Mahmood admitted her flagship 'one in, one out' deal with France, launched last summer, has 'obviously not dented the numbers yet'.

More migrants have been brought to the UK under the reciprocal terms of the treaty than have been removed.

The Home Secretary has refused to reveal how many failed asylum seekers families have accepted up to 40,000 to voluntarily leave Britain under another of her schemes.

It offers 10,000 per head up to a maximum of 40,000, plus air tickets home.

Most failed asylum seeker families offered the cash are living in migrant hotels at an average cost of 158,000 a year per family, and Ms Mahmood insists the hand-outs will save the taxpayer in the long-run.
Potentially faulty service pistols will continue to be used by police while the firearms undergo testing, a deputy commissioner has said.

The admission followed a fault identified which showed 15,000 Glock pistols issued by the Queensland Police Service could accidentally fire multiple bullets.

However, while all the pistols will be tested, they are not all being immediately recalled despite the discovery of the malfunction that increases the weapon's potential lethality.

Queensland Police and Emergency Services Minister Dan Purdie said on Thursday the findings were concerning.

'We are now demanding answers of the Queensland Police Service,' he said.

Deputy Commissioner Chris Stream said community safety would not be diminished while the state's supply of service-issued Glocks was tested.

'The ones that aren't tested will continue to be used,' he told reporters on Thursday.

Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie said he wants answers about the faulty weapons

QPS officers have been issued with Glocks since 1999

The deputy commissioner was asked whether it was possible faulty weapons could be used in the field before they were tested, with potentially fatal consequences.

'Yes, there is that possibility,' he said.

'It would only come into effect if the weapon was drawn in a lethal use-of-force situation. 'It doesn't diminish the wider community safety.'

He said weapons that failed further testing would be replaced with Glocks that had passed the test.

Officers have received instructional videos about the issue.

While the number of weapons affected and the cost of replacements were not yet known, Mr Stream said cost was not an issue in maintaining community safety.

The Queensland Police Service has used the pistol since 1999.

Mr Stream was unable to say why the issue had only just arisen.

Deputy Commissioner Chris Stream said it would be more dangerous to pull the weapons from service

'The QPS is actually still purchasing these weapons new, and as late as 2025, we received new batches of weapons,' he said.

'New testing has revealed this specific issue.'

He said no operational incidents had been recorded in connection with the handguns.

Queensland Police are working with suppliers to identify defects.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has risked a fresh row by claiming Britain's 'special relationship' with America is 'more of a danger' than the actions of Vladimir Putin.

In an astonishing outburst against Keir Starmer's efforts to maintain US-UK ties, Mr Polanski suggested it was a greater threat to the UK than Russia's assault on Ukraine.

The Prime Minister has been fiercely criticised by Donald Trump in recent weeks as the US President fumes at Sir Keir's failure to provide greater support for his Iran war.

In response, Sir Keir has distanced himself from America's military action in the Middle East but continued to stress the importance of the transatlantic relationship.

Yet Mr Polanski demanded the PM offer greater condemnation of Mr Trump's attacks on Iran and claimed it was 'despicable' that Sir Keir had failed to do so.

'Keir Starmer's commitment to the so-called special relationship with Donald Trump is more of a danger to British people than what Vladimir Putin is doing in Ukraine,' the Green leader said.

Mr Polanski's comments will bring further scrutiny of his demands for a radical shift in UK foreign policy, with him having also advocated for Britain quitting NATO and expelling American troops from UK military bases.

In a dig at the Green leader's backing for the legalisation of all drugs, Sir Keir has previously jibed that Mr Polanski is 'high on drugs, soft on Putin'.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has risked a fresh row by claiming Britain's 'special relationship' with America is 'more of a danger' than the actions of Vladimir Putin

The Greens are predicted to enjoy a strong performance in May's local elections, with Mr Polanski's party tipped for success in urban areas that were previously Labour strongholds

Mr Polanski, a self-described 'eco-populist', has overseen a surge in support for the Greens since becoming the party's leader in September last year.

The Greens are predicted to enjoy a strong performance in next months' local elections, with Mr Polanski's party tipped for success in urban areas that have previously been Labour strongholds.

At a press conference for foreign journalists in London on Tuesday, Mr Polanski was asked whether he still stands by his past comparison of Mr Putin and Mr Trump.

In comments reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Green leader made reference to the US President's recent threat to Iran that 'a whole civilisation will die'.

Mr Polanski said: 'As horrendous as Vladimir Putin is and as despicable as his crimes are, I've never seen him threaten genocide.

'And I've never seen him threaten to wipe up an entire civilization and I've never seen Keir Starmer saying we have a special relationship with Vladimir Putin  as we shouldn't  or that he's our ally, but we have with Donald Trump.

'There was no condemnation from Keir Starmer that I saw about what he's threatening to do in Iran nor what is happening in Lebanon or Gaza.

'I think that's despicable. At this point, it's not that Donald Trump is more of a danger than Vladimir Putin.

'But I think Keir Starmer's commitment to the so-called special relationship with Donald Trump is more of a danger to British people than what Vladimir Putin is doing in Ukraine, which is also vile and needs to stop.'
Katherine Ryan has claimed that her Eastern European housekeeper 'may have stolen' several designer coats from her house after they mysteriously went missing.

The Canadian comedian first suspected her husband Bobby Koostra had thrown them away because he likes to declutter, but he firmly denied binning the jackets.

The 42-year-old then admitted she believes she 'might have been robbed by a housekeeper in retrospect' after finding her taking photos of her husband's clothes.

Ms Ryan said that the housekeeper explained this by saying she was taking pictures for her 'adult Jamaican son', who she asked to move into the comedian's home.

Coats which went missing included a Prada jacket and an Alexander Wang coat with a felt design of Romesh Ranganathan's face on it.

Talking on the Olivia's House with Olivia Attwood podcast, she said: '[My husband] gets rid of everything. He's a very tidy husband, and I do appreciate that.

'Because a lot of them are really messy, I've read. But he will just throw things away.

'So there was a case of the missing jackets, which I think we might have been robbed by a housekeeper in retrospect.

Katherine Ryan first suspected her husband Bobby Koostra (pictured together) had thrown them away because he likes to declutter, but he firmly denied binning the jackets

Ms Ryan revealed the coats that went missing included a Prada jacket and an Alexander Wang coat with a felt design of Romesh Ranganathan's face on it

'She was Eastern European. She was a lovely woman. We only had her for a short time, and she had this random son who was like her same age and Jamaican.

'But I'm a very progressive person. I'm all about diversity. I was like, maybe you're a young s**g.

'I was as well. I don't know, I could have a Jamaican son my age easily.

'So she would take photos of Bobby's clothes. We found her a couple of times taking photos of Bobby's clothes.

'And we're very live and let live. So we didn't ask questions. We were like, all right.

'And then one time she said to him, "Oh, my son likes this kind of thing. So I was taking a picture for my son".

'And we were like, "Oh yeah. Your adult Jamaican son".

'And then one time she was like, "Will my adult Jamaican son stay here?" And I was like, "No, no".'

Ms Ryan went on to say that she 'parted ways' before adding that she wasn't a 'huge staff person.

'It didn't work out,' she said. 'But we had these coats that I was putting away seasonally.'

'And I had beautiful coats in there. I had this like Prada puffer jacket. I had an Alexander Wang coat that I had customised with this like insane felt artist rendition of Romesh Ranganathan.

'This woman online used to make like felt representations of different comedians, but with t***, with like tassels on the ends of the nipples.

'And I bought the Romesh one because he hated it so much and I loved it so much. And I put it on a jacket and then that was gone as well.

'And I was like, Bobby, because he, my husband Bobby, throws everything away. Everything away. You move it into the garage and then you know it's in danger and then it will go.

'And then he takes it to the dump or to his marketplace, which is just the road. And so all these went missing and he was like, "I promise it wasn't me".'

Ms Ryan married businessman Bobby Koostra, her Canadian high school sweetheart, after they reconnected in 2018 while she was filming an episode of the BBC ancestry series Who Do You Think You Are? in her home town of Sarnia, Ontario.

The couple share son Fred, four, and daughters Fenna, three, and Holland, six months.

Ms Ryan with her son Fred, four, and Holland, six months, and her partner Bobby Kootstra

She is also mother to Violet, 16, who is from a previous relationship.

The comic, who has never disclosed the identity of Violet's father, tore into him recently as she admitted she no longer feels the need to bite her tongue since Violet is old enough to 'see for herself'.

'I've been careful never to s**g him off just because I don't think it's the right thing to do,' Katherine said on the Juicy Scoop With Heather McDonald podcast.

'And I really protected him while my daughter was young. I would never say anything bad about him.

'But now she's 16, she can see for herself that unfortunately, he's not a bad person, but he's never made any sacrifices, never paid anything for her, just kind of texts her, which I think is breadcrumbing.

'Like, "Hey, love you. How are you?" Which is better than no contact. But he hasn't been the type of dad that you would want for your daughter.'

When asked directly if he is involved in Violet's life, she replied, 'Not really.'
Britons heading abroad for holidays over the coming months are 'very likely' to face flight cancellations or 'very, very expensive tickets', energy officials warned today.

EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen warned tourists to brace for disruption and higher prices as airlines adjust schedules and costs to cover the higher fuel costs.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes physical jet fuel shortages could start in June because of the prolonged blockage of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war.

Carriers have been announcing increased ticket prices, with United Airlines saying this week they may need to rise by up to 20 per cent to offset the fuel cost surge.

Air France-KLM is planning to raise long-haul cabin fees by 50 (43) per round trip, while Delta and Southwest are both hiking baggage fees to cover the higher costs.

Mr Jorgensen told Sky News: 'Unfortunately, it's very likely that many people's holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets. Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it's not there.

'It is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.

'If we had peace tomorrow and the Strait of Hormuz opens, I think we will manage without that happening, but I have to say that even in the best-case scenario the price crisis will still last for quite some time.'

IEA boss Fatih Birol told how Europe gets about 75 per cent of its jet fuel from the Middle East but this is now 'zero' as it tries to raise imports from the US and Nigeria.

Passenger jets prepare to land at London Gatwick Airport on Monday as jet fuel fears continue

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EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen speaks at a press conference in Brussels yesterday

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Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, speaks in Berlin yesterday

He also said cancellations made by some airlines including Lufthansa, KLM and SAS could be 'only the start' as demand soars by 40 per cent in the peak summer season.

Mr Birol told CNBC: 'Europe gets about 75 per cent of its jet fuel from Middle East refineries and this is basically now almost zero and the rest coming from some big Asian countries who have no export restrictions.

'Europe is now trying to get it from the US and Nigeria. If we are not able to get in Europe additional imports from the countries now, we will be in difficulties in Europe.

How European airlines are responding to the jet fuel crisis AEGEAN AIRLINES: The Greek airline expects suspended Middle East flights and a spike in fuel prices to have a 'notable impact' on its first-quarter results. AIR FRANCE-KLM: The airline group said it planned to increase long-haul ticket prices to address surging fuel costs, with cabin fares set to rise by 50 (43) per round trip. The group's Dutch arm KLM said on April 16 it would cancel 160 flights in Europe in the coming month due to rising fuel costs. EASYJET: EasyJet warned of a bigger half-year pre-tax loss of between 540million to 560million, including 25million in extra fuel costs in March. IAG: British Airways-owner IAG said in March it did not plan to increase ticket prices immediately, as it had hedged much of its fuel for the short- to medium-term. IAG says it is not facing jet fuel supply interruptions but 'fuel prices have risen significantly and although we have a strong hedging strategy, we're not immune to some of the impacts'. LUFTHANSA: The airline group said 20,000 short-haul flights would be removed from its schedule through October, equivalent to about 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel. The German company previously said it would ground 27 planes servicing its short-haul CityLine subsidiary earlier than planned. RYANAIR: The airline's boss Michael O'Leary said on April 1 that if the war continues, then there was a risk of 'disruptions in Europe in May and June', adding that 'maybe 10%, 20%, 25% of our supplies might be at risk'. SAS: The Scandinavian airline said it would cancel 1,000 flights in April because of high oil and jet fuel prices, after canceling a 'couple hundred' flights in March. TAP: The Portuguese airline said its price hikes would partially mitigate the impact of fuel price changes on its revenue. TUI: The European airline and tour operator cut its full-year underlying profit outlook and suspended revenue guidance, saying it had incurred about 40million (35million) in extra costs due to the war in March, including repatriation efforts and operational disruptions. TURKISH AIRLINES, LUFTHANSA: SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, said it would impose a temporary fuel surcharge of 10 (9) per passenger from May 1 on routes between Turkey and Europe. The surcharge will apply to bookings made on or after April 1 for departures on or after May 1. VIRGIN ATLANTIC: The airline is adding fuel surcharges to fares but will still struggle to return to profitability this year, its CEO Corneel Koster said. VOLOTEA: The Spanish low-cost airline introduced a new pricing policy linking ticket prices to fuel costs, which could potentially add a post-purchase surcharge of up to 14 (12) per passenger, per flight.

'You might have seen that only in the last few days, Lufthansa, a German carrier; KLM; and Scandinavian Airlines, they have reduced their number of flights around the continent and beyond.

'So I really hope, that first of all, the strait is opened and refinery exports start from there, but we may well need to take some measures in Europe to reduce air travel as well.

'It is only the start. The airlines I'm saying at least the three big ones, Lufthansa, KLM and SAS, Scandinavian Airlines, they have reduced them.

'The problem is when we move to summer, in August, jet fuel demand is about 40 per cent higher than in March. So demand will increase and if the supply stays where it is now, the challenge can be even bigger. But I very much hope that Europe will be importing energy.

'I talked last week, in fact the day before yesterday, with the Nigerian petroleum minister to get some Nigerian jet fuel imports and from the US and elsewhere. But difficult days in Europe in terms of jet fuel and beyond, of course.'

Mr Birol previously estimated on April 16 that Europe had about six weeks' worth of jet fuel remaining and said airlines would start to cut routes from their schedules without more.

Lufthansa said yesterday that 20,000 short-haul flights would be removed from its schedule through to October, equivalent to about 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel.

The German company previously said it would ground 27 planes servicing its short-haul CityLine subsidiary earlier than planned.

Scandinavian airline SAS said it would cancel 1,000 flights in April because of high oil and jet fuel prices, after cancelling a 'couple hundred' flights in March.

KLM said on April 16 it would cancel 160 flights in Europe in the coming month due to rising fuel costs.

All but one of the world's 20 largest airlines have cancelled flights scheduled for next month spanning every major region, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Senior consultant Richard Evans said this was a 'direct result of airspace and airport disruption in the Middle East, as well as due to the cost impact of a doubling in jet fuel prices'.

Analysing the 20 largest airlines, Mr Evans said: 'With one exception, Turkish Airlines, all the airlines have cut their May schedule. Most have made reductions of 0 to 5 percentage points, consistent with the global change of 3 per cent.

'There is a noticeable contrast between Qatar, with schedule now down 33 per cent versus May 2025, and Emirates, who still plan a 2.4 per cent year-on-year growth.

'All regions have seen schedule cuts, with major airlines in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific reacting to a similar degree. The two purely short-haul carriers in this sample, Southwest and Ryanair appear to have been impacted less, making cuts of less than 1 per cent at present.

'It appears extremely likely that more reductions are ahead. Delta guided to flat year-on-year capacity in Q2 2026, against its current plan of 2.7 per cent growth and Ryanair hinted it might trim schedules by 5 to 10 per cent if jet fuel prices remain at their current levels.'

Meanwhile, the head of Italy's Civil Aviation Authority, Pierluigi di Palma, has claimed people should consider staying in their home countries for their summer holidays.

He told Sky News: 'In the past petrol prices have reached and exceeded more than $100 without any significant side effects on air travel but this time, the psychological effect is having a destructive effect on passengers.

'It is best to recommend holidays nearby, rediscovering beautiful places in our country. For those who still want to risk taking a long trip, it's a good idea to consider special insurance that can provide reassurance regarding a guaranteed refund in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight.'

The price of jet fuel has more than doubled in some markets since the war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The price increased from about $99 (73) per barrel at the end of February to as high as $209 (155) a barrel at the start of April. The latest figure from last week is $185 (137).

Airlines are particularly vulnerable to fuel price shocks because jet fuel typically accounts for one of their largest operating expenses.

Tim Jeans, a former commercial director at Ryanair who was later managing director of Monarch Air, said today that there was a 'triple whammy for airlines at the moment', including 'the issues in the Middle East which has caused a massive spike in the cost of fuel'.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast programme, Mr Jeans added: 'That in turn is pushing up ticket prices, and the uncertainty around whether it is going to be possible to travel, plus the increase in prices is reducing demand.

'And so you have a situation where airlines are looking at their bookings for the next three months ahead and saying "should we fly that flight, is it going to be profitable?"'

But he added that the so-called holiday airlines have 'got very robust bookings for May, June and July', saying that while there 'may be some trimming of schedules' by airlines, he did not expect firms to cancel routes altogether.

Fighting around the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway off Iran's coast where a fifth of the world's oil typically passes, has disrupted fuel prices and supplies around the world.

Airports Council International, which represents more than 600 airports, has written to European commissioners for energy and transport and tourism, claiming that if the strait does not reopen in a 'significant and stable way within the next three weeks' then 'systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU'.

Fellow trade body Airlines UK said ministers have to make preparations now if they want to avoid disruption later, warning of the 'immediate impact on the UK aviation sector and UK consumers in the event disruption to jet fuel supply continues or worsens'.

The EU believes the war is costing Europe around 500million (433million) each day.
Construction on Kemmerer Unit 1 Marks a New Chapter for Advanced Nuclear Industry

KEMMERER, Wyo., Apr. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company, today, announced the official start of construction on its flagship Natrium plant1, Kemmerer Unit 1. Kemmerer Unit 1 is on track to be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the United States.

This historic moment follows the successful issuance of a construction permit by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and represents the culmination of years of innovation, rigorous engineering and disciplined site preparation.

"This is the moment our industry has been working toward for a generation. We're not just breaking new ground on a first-of-a-kind nuclear plant in Wyoming; we're building the next generation of America's energy infrastructure," said Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower. "The Natrium plant will deliver reliable and dispatchable power to the grid and Kemmerer Unit 1 will serve as a commercial blueprint to mobilize a fleet of Natrium plants across the country and around the world."

"The start of construction on TerraPower's Natrium plant in Kemmerer marks a major milestone not just for Wyoming, but for the future of American energy," said Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. "I want to thank everyone at TerraPower for their work getting to this day. Wyoming has long powered this country, and today we are leading again, this time in next-generation nuclear technology. This project reflects our commitment to reliable energy, good-paying jobs, and a future built on innovation and Wyoming values."

"The United States needs more reliable baseload power now. Wyoming's energy workers continue to lead the way," said U.S. Senator John Barrasso. "As the country's number one producer of uranium, Wyoming is the perfect place to build TerraPower's advanced nuclear reactor. Starting construction on this groundbreaking project will create more jobs in Kemmerer and help expand Wyoming's already strong energy economy. It's a win-win for Wyoming and America's energy security."

"Wyoming has always powered America, and today that proud tradition reaches an exciting new milestone," said U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis. "The start of construction on TerraPower's energy island in Kemmerer is a defining moment for our state, our nation, and the future of American energy. This project delivers what Wyoming communities deserve: good-paying jobs, lasting economic strength, and reliable, affordable baseload power. I am proud to stand with TerraPower, with our workers in Lincoln County, and with an Administration that is getting real results for Wyoming and American energy independence."

"This construction of the first new state-of-the-art advanced nuclear power plant demonstrates Wyoming's leadership pioneering a new frontier in American energy," said U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman. "As the nation's top producer of uranium, Wyoming is a natural launch pad for America's nuclear renaissance."

"Today's construction milestone is a testament to the Department of Energy's investment in American innovation and helping companies like TerraPower deliver the next generation of advanced nuclear technologies," said Dr. Rian Bahran, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy. "The Natrium reactor shows that when government and private industry work together, we can build a bright future for our country powered by nuclear."

"Bechtel is proud to partner with TerraPower as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor on the Natrium advanced reactor," said Dena Volovar, president of Bechtel's Nuclear, Security & Environmental business. "The start of construction at Kemmerer Unit 1 marks an important step forward for the project and for the next generation of U.S. nuclear energy. By combining TerraPower's reactor innovation with Bechtel's processes, experience and execution model we will deliver these nuclear projects consistently, safely and at scale. By applying the latest digital tools and project delivery systems, Bechtel is uniquely positioned to deliver the nation's first Natrium plant with efficiency and execution certainty."

"Rocky Mountain Power supports a balanced, all-of-theabove energy strategy," said Dick Garlish, president of Rocky Mountain Power. "Baseload power is critical to serve our customers, and advanced nuclear technologies like the Natrium project is a promising resource."

With this milestone, TerraPower is mobilizing a workforce of roughly 1,600 workers to begin plant construction, bringing the first Natrium reactor and energy storage system one step closer to fruition. Once operational, it is expected to employ approximately 250 full-time staff.

The plant features a 345-megawatt (MW) sodium-cooled fast reactor with an integrated molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can boost energy output to 500 MW of power when needed, equivalent to the amount of energy needed to power around 400,000 homes. The energy storage capability is designed to keep base output steady, ensuring constant reliability, and can quickly ramp up when demand peaks. It is the only advanced reactor design with this unique feature.

This first Natrium plant is being developed through the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), a public-private partnership. When complete, the project will be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the U.S. and Wyoming's first-ever commercial nuclear generating station. The project has been under active development since TerraPower broke ground on the greenfield site in June 2024 and began construction on non-nuclear support facilities.

TerraPower is rapidly commercializing the Natrium technology; which includes an agreement with Meta for up to eight Natrium plants by 2035.

1The Natrium reactor is a TerraPower and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy technology

About TerraPower

TerraPower is a leading nuclear innovation company that strives to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Since it was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries, TerraPower has emerged as an incubator and developer of ideas and technologies that offer energy independence, environmental sustainability, medical advancement and other cutting-edge opportunities. It accepts and tackles some of the world's most difficult challenges. Behind each of its innovations and programs, TerraPower actively works to bring together the strengths and experiences of the world's public and private sectors to answer pressing global needs. Learn more at terrapower.com.

Media Contacts[email protected]

SOURCE TerraPower
One of Britain's most famous estates has won planning permission for a car park in a protected area of a national park - despite outrage from villagers who believe it is a 'Trojan Horse' planning project.

The Beaulieu Estate has been given the green light for a 46-space car park near its iconic motor museum after facing opposition from villagers who campaigned against it.

People from Beaulieu - one of the most expensive villages in Britain - worry the approval 'sets a precedent' for the estate to make further applications near ancient woodland.

The 46-space car park is only metres away from a 1,000 space car park that The Beaulieu Estate owns in the New Forest National Park, Hampshire.

Locals said they fear that the exclusive estate - owned by Lord Montagu - is planning to secretly carry out a 'developmental creep' in an attempt to 'commercialise' the celebrated area.

Beaulieu residents described the planning application as a 'Trojan Horse', saying that it has been lodged as an individual application, but that it is part of a wider plan.

The village, famous for its motor museum, was recently named by Savills as the most expensive village in England, Scotland and Wales - with an average house price of more than 2million.

The Beaulieu Estate has been in the ownership of the Montagu family for more than 400 years.

Beaulieu has won planning permission for a car park on protected land - despite outrage from villagers who believe it will lead to more development

The Beaulieu Estate in New Forest, Hampshire, has been given the green light for the 46-space car park near its iconic motor museum

Pictured: Animals in Hides Field, the location of the proposed new car park

The agricultural land at the centre of the planning application is currently used by an education charity to park around 10 cars at a time.

The 9,000 acre Beaulieu Estate will soon put in a gravel-surfaced car park to be used as additional parking for events.

A gravel track will also be laid down between an existing track and the new car park.

The car park, currently grassland, is used by the CET (Countryside Education Trust) Treehouses charity, which runs a treehouse study centre and event venue.

Alan Titchmarsh opened the educational treehouse based on Beaulieu Estate land, near the National Motor Museum, in 2008.

At a New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) planning committee meeting, Rachel Pearson, agent for the estate, told members the car park will help the education centre to survive.

She said: 'The need for additional parking is real.

'There are no suitable alternatives within the Treehouse site without damaging ancient, natural woodland.

'The proposals will not result in any material intensification of the study centre and its core educational function to offer countryside education to all will remain.'

Wealthy residents of the New Forest tried to stop the 'developmental creep' that they believe the owners of the Estate are implementing.

Beaulieu resident Stephen Rigby branded the application a 'Trojan horse'.

Reacting to the planning application's approval, the 62 year old business consultant said: 'We'll have to wait and see if they really do only use it for educational purposes - that's fine, but that wasn't our main concern.

'Our main concern was whether it sets a precedent and the potential growth for other applications elsewhere on the field.

'No one has a problem with the charity, it's an exemplary charity.'

The father-of-two said that the limited number of parking spaces are intended for people who are unable to walk the couple hundred of metres up an incline from the National Motor Museum's 1,000 space car park.

He alleged the parking was for weddings on the site, but that 'they will never get it for weddings, that's commercialisation - so they are claiming it is for educational purposes'.

Mr Rigby continued: 'We were very lucky, the planners did actually put an additional condition which we were very pleased about.

'They suggested that if anything happened to the charity in the future, then it would revert back to agricultural land.

'I did say there's still no business plan that proves need, and scale - does it really need to be that scale, whereas if they use the spaces they have currently got they should take that first, but they weren't interested.

'Our concern wasn't so much about if it was only used for the treehouses, we're concerned if there's going to be creep, if there's going to be extra weddings. Hopefully it will remain at 12 maximum.'

Mr Rigby said the land the car park is on, Hides Field, has been used for crops and grazing 'going back 500 years'.

He believes the estate has a 'proven record of developmental creep in the area', including the introduction of a 4x4 track, a ropes centre and 'multiple attempted commercialisation events'.

Business consultant Steve Rigby, 62, branded the planning application a 'Trojan horse'

Pictured: Signage to the centre run by the Countryside Education Trust

Mr Rigby is also worried about the impact the car park would have on a nearby site of special scientific interest, with the potential of oil spilling into nearby rivers.

He told the planning committee meeting that 'Granting this application will allow further urbanisation of agricultural land in New Forest National Park for commercial purposes'.

Mr Rigby added that 'it is claimed to be for charitable, educational needs' but that the proposals are the estate's 'latest attempt by claiming the need is educational when in fact they only seek to increase the number of weddings at the Treehouses'.

In response, Ms Pearson said the number of weddings held at the site is limited to 12 per year with a capacity of 100 people, and they are 'vital fundraising' for the charitable trust.

During the debate, Cllr David Harrison, who sits on the planning committee, said the plans have faced a 'high level of scrutiny'.

The Liberal Democrat councillor for Totton South in Hampshire said: 'The current parking provisions and accessibility arrangements are unsuitable and can act as a barrier.

'That certainly deals with the issue of if this is necessary. It is supporting the existing use of the study centre.'

Members approved the plans and agreed on including a condition that the car park will return to agricultural land if the educational trust leaves the site.

Reacting to the news online, New Forest resident Adam Maynard said that he 'could be a nimby', but added: 'There is a military tactic called bite and hold, it involves small localised battles to achieve an outcome that on the face of it is overwhelming.

'It [is] not the first bite Beaulieu estates have taken, when they purchased the butcher's shop there was a field to [its] left.... now a car park.'

A spokesperson for the Beaulieu Estate and the Countryside Education Trust previously said the car park 'is intended to serve visitors to the Treehouse Study Centre including those who are unable to walk the existing access route'.
The families of four children and a teenage camp counselor killed after a car plowed through an after-school program allege the freak accident could have been avoided.

Marianne Akers, 44, rammed her SUV straight through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, southern Illinois, on April 28 last year.

She had been driving down a county highway when she veered off the road, drove through a cornfield and crashed through a wall at the camp.

The collision killed Kathryn Corley, Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven, Bradley James Lund, Ainsley Johnson, both eight, and 18-year-old Rylee Britton. At least six other children were severely injured.

Their families have now filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Akers and YNOT bosses James R Loftus and Mitzi Loftus Trust.

Akers acted with negligence after she failed to stop her vehicle to avoid hitting the building, according to the lawsuit obtained by the Daily Mail.

The families further accused YNOT of violating state safety codes that prohibit permanent youth camps from being located within 100 feet of a highway, the complaint said.

The camp also allegedly did not have adequate means installed to prevent a vehicle from striking the building, leaving areas where 'children were routinely present and vulnerable to foreseeable harm.'

Mother-of-two Marianne Akers, 44, rammed her SUV straight through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham on April 28 last year

She had been driving down a county highway when she veered off the road, drove through a cornfield and crashed through a wall at the camp

The lawsuit further accuses YNOT of failing to make 'proper structural changes and improvements' to its building since its construction in 2012.

'No family should ever have to endure the unimaginable loss of a child. Kathryn, Alma, Bradley, Ainsley and Rylee had their whole lives ahead of them,' said Lance D Northcutt, the attorney for the families.

'Chatham is a tight-knit community and this tragedy has deeply affected countless families. These children were irreplaceable.'

The families are seeking 'accountability for this profound loss' and 'meaningful safety improvements to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again,' he added.

The lawsuit comes nearly one year after the fatal crash, which did not result in any charges against Akers.

Britton, Corley, Buhnerkempe and Johnson were pronounced dead at the scene. Lund died on June 2 after spending weeks in the hospital.

The coroner ruled that all five died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the accident.

Akers's attorney, W Scott Hanken, previously said that she suffered a seizure before the crash.

The crash killed four students and an after-school camp counselor, 18-year-old Rylee Britton

The crash killed Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven

Bradley James Lund and Ainsley Johnson, both eight, were also killed

'It rendered her completely and utterly incapacitated at the time, and as a result of that seizure, she has no recollection of what occurred,' Hanken told local media last year.

Illinois State Police said Akers's vehicle left the road at around 3.20pm and traveled through a field before crashing into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp, which stands for Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors.

Akers's Jeep then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and a fence. She was transported to a local hospital but was uninjured and released.

She tested negative for drugs or alcohol and was not under the influence when she veered off the road 'a substantial distance' away, police said.

Akers was a food service worker at Chatham Elementary School and is a mother of a teenage boy and a girl.

She had been working for the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Business Services at the time of the crash.

She previously worked for the Illinois State Police from June 2006 to August 2018 but was not an officer.

Britton was a high school student who helped run the after-school program. She was planning on studying English and secondary education at the University of Iowa.

Britton was a high school student who helped run the after-school program. She was planning on studying English and secondary education at the University of Iowa

Akers was taken into custody at the scene and taken to hospital, but was uninjured and released. The crash did not result in any charges against her

Her classmates described her as 'super intelligent' and 'unconditionally nice,' adding that she 'always made people laugh.'

Johnson was a dancer at Studio M Dance Centre. Her instructor, Mariah Clark, said she always 'brought so much light and joy into my class.'

'Her smile was so bright, her personality was already so big at such a young age, and she danced like she meant it. I will forever keep Ainsley in my heart,' Clark added.

Corley went by the nickname Kit Kat and was described in her obituary as 'brightening the lives of everyone she encountered with her loving nature and unforgettable personality.'

'Alma came into this world exactly how she lived  in a burst of activity,' the seven-year-old's obituary read.

'From that point on, she never stopped. She lit up our world with an infectious energy, a goofy sense of humor, and a sense of compassion that was boundless.'

Lund's family said the second-grader would be remembered for his 'bright smile, contagious laughter, and kind spirit.'

'Bradley had a heart full of wonder and a boundless capacity for joy. He found comfort in story time snuggles with his mom and brought happiness to every life he touched,' his obituary said.

YNOT camp appears to remain operational, with its website promoting the cost of upcoming summer tuition. Its owners declined to comment.

The Daily Mail has also approached Akers's attorney for comment.
Huge rats have overtaken a Philadelphia neighborhood, and residents are begging the city to take action.

In Mayfair, a working-class neighborhood in northeast Philly, locals have been sidestepping rats on their way to work and spending hundreds of dollars on traps.

It is common to see the rodents eating trash, living in cars and scurrying across the pavement as they emerge from and reenter their burrows.

And some of them are enormous. Resident Campion Marotta told WPVI: 'We have cats, but I think the rats are bigger than my cats.'

Campion, who has lived in her Mayfair house for 30 years, added that the problem has been most pronounced since January, and that 'It gets my anxiety level beyond what it should be.'

Mark Mastrangelo, another local, told WPVI that he is aggravated, sickened and sad to see his neighborhood 'overrun by rats.'

He said that he has had to cement his yard to prevent the pests from burrowing on his property and that he has been setting traps to try to alleviate the problem for more than a year.

'I actually have a log down in my basement of how many rats I got last year. 34. That's 34 I caught,' Mastrangelo told WPVI.

Enormous rats have overtaken the northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Mayfair. Resident Campion Marotta (left) said that some of them are bigger than her cats

Mark Mastrangelo (left), another resident, said that he caught 34 rats last year and has caught an additional 17 since the beginning of the year

In Mayfair, it is common to see the pests scurrying across the pavement, emerging from burrows and living in cars. A rat living in a car's hollowed-out headlight is pictured

And this year, the homeowner is on pace to surpass that number. He said that he has already caught 17 rats since the start of 2026.

Despite those impressive numbers, Mastrangelo's efforts seem to have barely made a dent in the rodents' population. As he was interviewed on camera by WPVI, a rat could be seen scurrying behind him and climbing into an open trash bin.

Mayfair residents have filed complaints with the city, and Vector Control with the Department of Public Health visited the neighborhood on April 13.

But the inspectors said they did not see any rodents during their visit, according to Marotta, so action from the city remains elusive.

Marotta said that the rat population likely exploded due to unmaintained properties in the neighborhood, which creates opportunities for the rodents to nest and feed on garbage. Enforcing cleaner streets would likely alleviate the problem, she added.

Although action from the city has been muted, help may be on the way from the state level.

Pennsylvania State Representative Jared Solomon, whose district covers the Mayfair neighborhood, told WPVI that he plans to work with the city to make sure trash regulations are enforced.

'We'll make sure this is taken care of,' he told the outlet. 'They're right that we need to do everything to make sure that their block is safe and secure and they have a certain quality of life.'

While Mastrangelo discussed how many rats he has caught in an on-camera interview, a rat could be seen scurrying behind him into an open trash bin

Resident Marotta said that the rats are likely thriving due to unmaintained properties in the neighborhood. A rat is pictured among trash in Mayfair

There has been little action from the city to address the infestation, but State Representative Jared Solomon assured that the problem will be 'taken care of'

Solomon added that a second visit from Vector Control was scheduled for Thursday morning and that crews will continue visiting the neighborhood until the problem is resolved.

Philadelphia has long contended with enormous rats plaguing neighborhoods across the city, but the problem seems to be especially pronounced in the city's northeast.

Rats the size of cats in Philly made headlines back in 2019 after residents of Howland Street, which is also in the city's northeast but closer to the center than Mayfair, complained to NBC Philadelphia that the rodents 'run the block.'

At the time, Philadelphia environmental health program administrator Raymond Delaney told the outlet that peak rat season in the city runs from April through October.
Cracks have been found on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state 84 years after the structure collapsed into the Puget Sound.

The massive suspension bridge, which connects the city of Tacoma with the Kitsap Peninsula, was found to have cracks 'beneath the driving surface,' the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said on Wednesday.

The bridge, which is used by around 91,000 cars passing over it every day, is undergoing emergency repairs that will close two of its four driving lanes, the agency said.

Officials shared images of the damage while urging motorists to carpool, work from home, or cancel their travel plans altogether while repairs are made.

The double lane closure and repairs 'could go through the weekend,' the agency added.

The troubling development comes nearly eight decades after the bridge, nicknamed 'Galloping Gertie', plummeted into the water on the morning of November 7, 1940.

Terrifying footage showed the crossing rocking back and forth after 40mph winds took hold and caused the suspension bridge to violently sway until it tore apart completely.

Incredibly, no humans were killed, but a three-legged black cocker spaniel named Tubby lost his life that day.

Terrifying cracks have been found on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state 84 years after the structure collapsed. Two lanes are closed to motorists while repairs are made, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said

Terrifying footage showed the crossing rocking back and forth after 40mph winds took hold and caused the suspension bridge to violently sway until it tore apart completely in 1940

The pup was in the backseat of his owner, Leonard Coatsworth's car, when the vehicle suddenly stopped, and Coatsworth abandoned the car, according to WSDOT's bridge history webpage.

Coastworth attempted to rescue his beloved dog, but because the bridge became so unstable, he couldn't.

His colleague, photographer Howard Clifford, then tried to save Tubby, but also failed.

Another man, Professor Farquharson, then tried to rescue the dog. He managed to reach the car and tried to guide Tubby out of it, but the pup was terrified and didn't budge.

The dog then snapped at Farquharson, biting his knuckle, before the bridge collapsed and took Tubby with it.

It is unclear why Tubby had lost on his leg, but Coatsworth's wife, Ethel, later revealed that their dog was also paralyzed, the website stated.

Coatsworth later filed a claim to be reimbursed for the loss of his dog and car.

He was awarded $450 for the loss of his car and $364.40 for the loss of his car's 'contents,' which included Tubby.

A three-legged black cocker spaniel named Tubby, who got trapped in the back of his owner's car, lost his life that day. Several humans were injured

The portion of the bridge that fell into the water below now serves as an artificial reef

The bridge officially re-opened in 1950 after experiencing delays from financial and engineering issues, as well as the US's involvement in WWII

Several people were left injured after fleeing the tumbling bridge that day.

The portion of the bridge that fell into the water below now serves as an artificial reef.

The bridge officially reopened in 1950 after experiencing delays from financial and engineering issues, as well as the US's involvement in WWII.

It was expanded in 2007 and joined by a new parallel suspension bridge set to handle traffic congestion to the south of the original structure.

The new bridge was celebrated on July 15, 2007, with a 5k walk-run across the lanes. Nearly 60,000 people turned out for the event.

This is not the first time the bridge has had to face urgent repairs, as a cracked beam resulted in a similar two-lane shutdown in 2024.

According to WSDOT, the fracture was the result of 'years of underfunding' for statewide highway maintenance that 'have put our transportation system in jeopardy,' the agency said at the time.

'Unfortunately, given the number and age of our bridges, there is just not enough dedicated funding to keep them from developing age-related problems,' the agency added.

It was expanded in 2007, and also joined by a new parallel suspension bridge set to handle traffic congestion to the south of the original structure

This is not the first time the bridge has had to face urgent repairs, as a cracked beam (pictured) resulted in a similar two-lane shutdown in 2024

After hearing of the sudden bridge closure, locals took to social media to share their reactions.

'Thats called lack of maintenance which the state of Washington and every other government agency is good at,' a Facebook user wrote.

Another person shared a similar comment, stating: 'Maybe you wouldnt need emergency repairs if you would maintain that bridge!'

Meanwhile, other commended officials for tackling the pressing issue.

'Get her fixed up. Thanks for all the bridge crew does !! Tough job and spooky,' one posted.

Someone else chimed in: 'Eeek! Glad you caught it and it's repairable.'
A California biker was starting a new chapter of his life after proposing to his overjoyed girlfriend, only for tragedy to strike just hours later.

Noah Jacobus, 25, and his fiancee, Molly Wiseman, were riding their motorcycles to their engagement dinner when the groom-to-be lost control of the two-wheeler and fatally struck a mailbox, she told KCRA.

'We were going to announce our engagement,' she told the outlet, adding that the duo got engaged just hours before the unthinkable happened.

The couple met in January and quickly fell in love, spending every day together.

'[We were] locked at the hip from then on,' Wiseman told the outlet.

On top of his engagement, Jacobus had been making career moves and was recently offered a permanent position with the National Guard - a feat he had been chasing for months, his fiancee said.

'He was so excited about that,' she said through tears. 'It's just not fair.'

'It was just cut too short. He might have just been too good for this place, but we just didn't get enough time,' she added.

Noah Jacobus, 25, had proposed to his girlfriend, Molly Wiseman, just hours before getting into a fatal motorcycle accident in California

The couple had been driving to their engagement party when it happened

He recently got a permanent position with the National Guard, which had been chasing for months, Wiseman said

The pair met at a bike meet-up in Sacramento in January.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating the crash. The agency is looking into if another vehicle was involved in the crash that took Jacobus' life on Oak Avenue in Orangevale.

It is unclear if the couple were riding the same bike or separate ones when the crash happened. CHP declined to answer when contacted by the Daily Mail due to the ongoing investigation and 'conflicting witness information.'

Jacobus worked as a fire support specialist for the National Guard. He had previously held the same position in the Army from June 2019 to December 2022, according to his LinkedIn.

His friends and family remembered the young man as a 'damn good man' who was 'very loved.'

'I miss you so much,' Wiseman wrote on Instagram, calling Jacobus the 'love of my life.'

'He was everything to me, and I miss him so much. He will never be forgotten. He was an incredible person, son, brother and fiance. I will do everything to bring justice to the person that did this to us,' she added.
A Canadian teenage girl took her own life after being encouraged by online predators who also convinced her to film a video in which she tried to slaughter her family's cat.

Jason Sokolowski said his daughter Penelope, 15, died by suicide last February after being groomed on the internet by the online extremist group called 764.

Sokolowski, of British Columbia, said the group turned his life into an 'insane horror movie,' according to CTV News, and gradually escalated how they abused Penelope over time.

'I came into the bathroom and she had cut up her legs,' Sokolowski told the outlet, adding that they helped her seek medical care afterwards.

He said 764 increasingly edged Penelope towards harmful behavior and encouraged her to film it.

'There is video of my daughter trying to kill my cat, which got sent to me by members of the group,' Sokolowski said.

Penelope took her own life last February, three days before what would have been her 16th birthday, but Sokolowski said other suicide attempts may have been witnessed by an online audience.

'I would say three to four other attempts, and they may or may not have been livestreamed or put out there on Twitch or Discord,' he said.

Penelope Sokolowski, 15, took her own life last year three days before her 16th birthday

Jason Sokolowski, Penelope's father, said his daughter was groomed by online predators, who even coerced her to film a video in which she attempted to kill the family's cat

Sokolowski claimed that Penelope was manipulated by an individual on Roblox, which she had first signed up for when she was around seven or eight.

'As a dad I thought, oh, this is nice, she's artistic, and she's made artistic friends,' Sokolowski told the New York Post in February. 'But I didn't understand what Roblox was and its effect on her.'

Penelope's grades began slipping as a teenager and she was self-harming by the time she was 14, Sokolowski said.

Penelope later admitted to her father that a self-harm group had recruited her through Roblox, though she insisted she was no longer a part of it.

But after Penelope's suicide, Sokolowski said he found about two years worth of messages on her cellphone with an individual who encouraged his daughter to mutilate herself.

At one point, Penelope sent the person a photo of herself, suggesting she could cut her chest but 'definitely couldnt [sic] go too deep bc thats [sic] tough to bandage n im not tryna get an infection,' per text messages obtained by the outlet.

She later sent a follow-up picture of the person's Discord username written on her bloodied chest.

'They are grooming girls to do whatever it is they can get a girl to do, whether it's nudes or cuts or gore or violence,' Sokolowski said. 'She was brainwashed all the way through.'

Roblox said it was 'deeply troubled by any incident that endangers any user,' according to the New York Post.

'We also understand that no system is perfect and that is why we are constantly working to further improve our safety tools and platform restrictions to ensure parents can trust us to help keep their children safe online,' the company added.

Penelope father said her grades started slipping and she began self-harming by the time she was a teenager

He said the online extremist group called 764 had turned his life into an 'insane horror movie' and sent him the video of Penelope trying to kill the family cat

Sokolowski remembered Penelope as a completely different person before she began interacting with the group.

'She would just create and see beauty in almost everything in a way that most people didn't,' he told CTV News.

Sokolowski explained that he and Penelope's mother thought they were keeping a watchful eye on their daughter's online activity.

'My ex had a parenting app on her phone that kind of told her what she was watching, what she was searching and all of that,' he said.

The grieving father added that he 'made the effort of generally being in her room sometimes just to see what she was doing' and 'took a genuine interest in her world.'

Her dad said the 764 group was systematically targeting youngsters and attempting to wreck their lives.

'They are grooming and teaching children how to do as much chaos and damage within their home and their community and the institutions that they go to, before they ultimately do an act of violence on themselves or someone else,' Sokolowski said.

Sokolowski said he believed social media has turned out to be 'just as dangerous to children' as many vices.

'We don't let kids drive cars, use guns, drink alcohol,' he said.

Sokolowski alleged Penelope had been manipulated by an individual on Roblox, which she had initially signed up when she was seven or eight years old (File photo of a child on Roblox)

The FBI has described the 764 network as a 'violent online group made-up of individuals who seek to coerce and manipulate children into engaging in unspeakable acts against themselves, animals, and other children, even suicide.'

In December, the Department of Justice announced that Alexis Aldair Chavez, an online leader of a related group, had pleaded guilty to racketeering and child exploitation.

The charges against Chavez, 19, detailed how the online group has used similar tactics on teens around the world.

For instance, it was alleged that Chavez had coerced a female minor to torture and kill a cat on a live video call in December 2023. Other instances of grooming included forcing female minors to drink their own urine and light their arm on fire.

In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has warned that they are 'seeing more and more acts of this group online.'

'It's a global phenomenon especially linked to the English-speaking population,' RCMP constable Marie-Pierre Guertin said.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Sokolowski and Roblox for further comment.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
A Canadian mother was detained by ICE and may be separated from her daughter because she neglected to update paperwork after divorcing her American husband.

Michelle Crichlow went to visit family in Toronto with her seven-year-old daughter in July of last year. When she tried to fly back to the US after leaving her child with cousins, she was taken into custody at an airport in Canada.

Crichlow moved to the US in 2017 and began building a life with her former husband in Baltimore. They bought a house and welcomed their daughter into the world.

But according to a GoFundMe the mother set up to pay for legal expenses, the pandemic 'upended' their lives, and their 'marriage ended in divorce' in 2022.

'Amid the heartbreak and chaos, my green card expired,' Crichlow wrote on the fundraising page.

The mother failed to update her immigration status, so when she attempted to return to Baltimore through Toronto's Pearson International Airport, she was 'red-flagged,' Crichlow told CTV News.

She explained to the outlet that because her green card had expired, 'They took my passport, took me to secondary and thats where I was for 11 hours.'

The mother added that her phone and invalid green card were also seized, and she was eventually told that she was under arrest.

Michelle Crichlow, a Canadian mother, is facing deportation after failing to update her immigration status when she divorced her American husband. She now fears being separated from her seven-year-old daughter, whom she is pictured with

Crichlow flew to Toronto with her daughter in July of last year to visit family, but when she tried to fly back to Baltimore through Pearson International Airport (pictured), she was detained

Crichlow spent the night in a cell before being handcuffed and driven about nine hours south to an ICE detention facility in Northern Virginia.

She told CTV News that during the process, at no point was she allowed to contact her family and let them know what was happening.

She said that agents told her there was a 'new administration, new rules.' At the ICE detention facility, she was given a tinfoil blanket and military rations while she stayed there for several more hours.

Crichlow said that everyone in the detention facility spoke Spanish and that she saw a boy 'who was probably 12 years old.'

She added that her fellow detainees were friendly and told her she would not stay in the facility, but that she 'knew those people werent leaving.'

Eventually, the mother was released, but she has been forced to wear an ankle monitor 24/7. She told CTV News that the device gives her cuts and blisters and that she is embarrassed to wear it and fears what her neighbors might think.

'Its hard to explain when people notice it, especially kids. You know, I dont want anybody to view me as a bad person, or like Ive done something wrong or criminal,' Crichlow told the outlet.

The mother said she takes responsibility for forgetting to update her green card, but under the previous administration, she would have faced a $700 fine rather than detention and deportation.

Crichlow said that while in detention, ICE agents told her there was a 'new administration, new rules.' Under the previous administration, she would have just been faced with a $700 fine

Crichlow said that her experience made her change the way she views America. She is pictured posing with a friend in a photo cutout board

On her GoFundMe page, Crichlow wrote: 'Until recently, people in my situationpeaceful, long-term residents with family tieswere rarely detained. But the policies have changed.'

The prospect of being separated from her daughter left the mother in tears while speaking to CTV News.

'My daughter is my entire life. I have fought tooth and nail for my child,' she told the outlet. 'Im not giving up. I cant give up. This is my whole life right here.'

On her fundraiser, Crichlow explained that she and her husband have 'joint custody, and because of our legal agreement, I cant simply take her with me if Im forced to leave. That would be considered a violation of custody and could cost me my parental rights.'

'If Im deported, I face the unthinkable: being separated from my little girl,' she wrote in bold on the GoFundMe.

The mother told CTV News that her experience has been 'heartbreaking' and that it has 'challenged my faith and changed the way I view America, unfortunately.'
Minnesota's Democrat Attorney General has been blasted for using his phone while a woman became emotional as she recounted an interaction with ICE agents.

Democratic Attorneys General Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Kwame Raoul of Illinois and Dan Rayfield of Oregon held a town hall in Minneapolis on Wednesday to discuss the lawsuits they have brought against the Trump administration.

Ellison, whose state was at the center of the president's immigration crackdown earlier this year, was seen frequently checking his phone throughout the night.

In one instance, a woman was telling the AGs about a time she went to observe Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

She said ICE agents were following school buses and 'using children to draw immigrant neighbors from their homes' when she allegedly became surround but law enforcement herself and fled to another street.

'Thank God I made it to that street. There were many of our community members just leaving work from the state hospital, which was right up there,' the woman said.

'They were able to be there and see what was happening. I was scared because ICE agents have been operating without impunity.'

While the woman spoke, Ellison was typing away on his phone. At one point, a staffer came over to talk to him and he briefly put his phone down.

Minnesota's Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison used his phone as a woman became emotional while recounting an interaction with ICE agents

While the woman spoke, Ellison was typing away on his phone. At one point, a staffer came over to talk to him and he briefly put his phone down

However, just moments after the staffer walked away, Ellison picked up his device and began typing.

A spokesperson for Ellison told the Daily Mail that the AG was 'taking notes about what the speaker was saying.'

His actions drew criticism online, with many accusing him of being inconsiderate and lacking empathy.

'What an a**! How many times have we seen many do this? Any hearing in Washington, city hall meetings, town hall meetings, school board....they are not even listening,' one person wrote on X.

'Learn some f*****g, MANNERS, no wonder youth end up like you, such a poor EXAMPLE!! You need to be dismissed, & grow UP,' a second person wrote.

'Hahaha I love how nobody even PRETENDS to give a f**k anymore,' added a third.

'Sure seems like every level of government despises and looks down on the people the are supposed to represent and work for,' wrote a fourth.

Others accused Ellison of being addicted to his cell phone, writing on X, 'Phone addiction is a real thing.'

Ellison's actions drew criticism online, with many accusing him of being inconsiderate and lacking empathy

'He managed to put that thing down for 8 seconds! World record,' wrote a second person.

'Put the phone away. Even if its on the table we know the phone is more important to him than the people in the room,' added a third.

'OMG!! Is he a child?? I would have taken it away from him! How freaking rude,' wrote a fourth.

A fifth person wrote, 'In his defense he has a good candy crush run going.'

Some people came to Ellison's defense, saying they were not moved by the woman's speech and would have been on their phones too.

'Rude for sure; and thats okay given the pitiful speech - but he for the wrong reason. Ellison is evil,' one person wrote.

'Well, she's upset about the ICE agents. So, I'm not empathetic. But, HE should have been considering his stance,' wrote a second.

'Hear what she is saying? Id be on my phone, too,' added a third.
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith has announced he will attend public ceremonies for Anzac Day.

'Anzac Day is sacred to me and every other veteran. I will be attending to pay my respects and I encourage everyone else to,' Roberts-Smith told Daily Mail.

The retired SAS corporal is expected to attend an Anzac Day event in Queensland on Saturday, the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

His declaration is amid ongoing debate around the circumstances of his arrest earlier this month and prosecution for the alleged war crime murders of five Afghan nationals during his tours of duty between 2009 and 2012.

Roberts-Smith was arrested on April 7 at Sydney's domestic airport in front of his partner and two teenage daughters. On Thursday, it was revealed he had preparing to move to Spain when police swooped.

Many of his supporters earlier vowed to boycott Anzac Day ceremonies in protest.

Australia's four living VC holders, including Vietnam War hero Keith Payne, backed Roberts-Smith's right to attend Anzac events.

Mr Payne, 92, publicly supported Roberts-Smith in attending Anzac Day ceremonies, saying: 'I'll be very, very bloody surprised and so will the remainder of the veteran community if he's not bloody welcome wherever he goes.'

Roberts-Smith (above) has been charged with five alleged war crime murders

When asked earlier this week, he repeated the same sentiment.

'Look, I'll give you one answer to the whole question of Ben's treatment,' Mr Payne said.

'My belief is what happens in war, stops in war. You can't second guess it when you weren't there.'

Roberts-Smith has claimed he is innocent of the charges against him. He returned to his home following his sensational arrest earlier this month and is required to report to police three times a week.

'I greatly appreciate the support from Keith Payne VC and everyone else that has made contact,' Roberts-Smith told The Australian on Thursday.

On Sunday, Roberts-Smith reiterated that he is proud of his service in Afghanistan, having served in multiple deployments between 2006 and 2012.

'While I was there, I always acted within my values, within my training, within the rules of engagement,' he said in a brief press conference.

'I'd also like to say that I'm extremely proud of all the men and women that served alongside me in Afghanistan and their service and sacrifice should never be forgotten, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice, many of whom were my friends.'
An uninsured British mother and her 19-year-old daughter are stranded in a hospital in Montenegro facing a 40,000 bill after a car mounted the pavement and hit them.

Helen and Nell Barratt suffered 'life-changing' injuries while on holiday in Budva, including a broken collarbone, spinal fractures and head wounds.

Although they originally had travel insurance, it is understood it had expired. Nell's sister Ella said the fundraising target reflects the cost of getting them home, as both would need specialist medical transport.

Ella said her mother and sister had been walking to a local shop last week when a driver left the road and struck them.

'My mum flew backwards into another parked car, hit her head and all her back so she had the impact from the one car and then hit into the other car,' she said.

Both were rushed to hospital and are being treated for multiple injuries. Police took witness statements from the driver and the other people who were there, according to Ella.

She said the accident, on April 13, has 'changed their lives completely'.

'My mum and sister have severe, documented life-changing injuries and I am watching them suffer while having to fight for their basic care,' she told Worcester News.

An uninsured British mother and her 19-year-old daughter are stranded in a hospital in Montenegro facing a 40,000 bill after a car mounted the pavement and hit them

Helen and Nell Barratt suffered 'life-changing' injuries while on holiday in Budva, including a broken collarbone, spinal fractures and head wounds

Ella said her mother and sister had been walking to a local shop last week when a driver left the road and struck them

She added that the incident happened just three hours after the pair arrived on vacation.

According to the outlet, Nell suffered a broken collarbone and fractures to her vertebrae, while she also has a large open wound on her back.

Helen has a fractured pubic bone, a split lip which is showing signs of infection and 10 head injuries which have required stitches.

The pair have Global Health Insurance Cards, meaning emergency treatment in Montenegro is covered, but they have had to pay for follow-up care.

Ella, who lives in neighbouring Serbia, said she has been quoted 40,000 to bring them home as they are immobile and unable to take a commercial flight.

The family have contacted the British Embassy and a local lawyer but a friend set up a Go Fund Me page to try and help.

'It's been an absolute godsend that people actually want to help and they are being so supportive and donating money,' Ella said.

'To get them home would mean absolutely everything as they're both scared and so worried.'

In photos shared on the GoFundMe page, Helen can be seen with stitches on her lips and head, while Nell was pictured lying in a hospital bed.

A photo of the large wound on Nell's back was also shared.

'My sister's boyfriend said the car mounted the curb as if to park but just kept on going,' Ella told Worcester News.

Helen and Nell Barrett with oldest daughter Ella (left) before the accident in Montenegro

'The driver stopped and the police took witness statements from him and the other people who were there.'

In her update on the GoFundMe page, Ella said her mom and sister's insurance is not valid and the family 'desperately needs help' to bring the pair home.

According to Worcester News, Helen and Nell have global health insurance, but this doesn't cover a medical repatriation, and they didn't know their travel insurance had expired.

'We've struggled to get answers about their injuries, we don't even know if my mum has had a CT scan for possible brain injuries,' Ella told Worcester News, adding that the situation has been 'horrific to witness' and she feels 'helpless.'

'We're worried their injuries could be worse and have permanent consequences,' Ella continued. 'We started the appeal to get them home and it would just be so nice to have some help and support.'

'At the moment, it's just me, my boyfriend and my sister's 19-year-old boyfriend, we're three young people having to navigate a foreign hospital system and a legal battle,' she added.

The GoFundMe page has so far raised over $8,105 out of a 8,780 goal.

In a statement, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of two British nationals who are hospitalised in Montenegro and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Visier's Workforce Intelligence delivers the invaluable context layer for the most trusted, consistent and secure data the world's most prominent and successful organizations rely on to navigate workforce transformation at scale

VANCOUVER, BC and PALM SPRINGS, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The real unlock for successful enterprises is when they can confidently and directly connect their talent to positive business outcomes. Whether the ideal financial outcome is driven by operational efficiency, deep customer retention and engagement, or market leadership, none of it is possible without the right talent. Now more than ever, AI is shifting how work gets done, and how workforces are shaped and challenged. Visier Workforce AI is the only solution purpose-built to help organizations thrive by navigating the new world of work.

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The Power of Visier Workforce Intelligence Platform in Action: Visier adds Glean and AWS Quick ecosystems via Model Context Protocol (MCP) to Drive Workforce Intelligence

One of the most requested integrations from Visier customers is now a reality. Visier is connecting its Workforce Intelligence platform to Glean, the enterprise AI search and assistant platform, through the MCP. Powered by workforce insights delivered from Visier, the integration delivers the secure, comprehensive, context layer that you can trust in conjunction with the tools you use. Employees, managers, and business leaders can access Visier workforce insights directly inside Glean's unified AI assistant and agent experience, without switching contexts or navigating separate tools. A seamless experience for the most innovative, and transformation-ready enterprises.

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Availability

The Glean MCP Connection and updated Workforce AI capabilities are available to Visier enterprise customers beginning May 2026. For more information on our other capabilities like Workforce Planning and Workforce Programs, visit visier.com or speak with a Visier representative at Outsmart 2026.

About Visier

Visier Workforce AI gives leaders, business executives, and managers, the trusted insights and contextual guidance to make confident workforce decisions and lead workforce transformation at scale. The company's award-winning technology expands beyond analytics, connecting insights to action during the workforce decision moments that matter most to an organization.

Our mission is to help businesses lead with insight at scale while continuously transforming in a rapidly changing workforce landscape.

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Discover more at visier.com.

Media contact:

Walker Sands

[email protected]

SOURCE Visier
Ministers have delayed an announcement on the future of a heavily criticised 6.3billion contract for light tanks amid a row over jobs in a Labour heartland.

The Minister of Defence had been expected to reveal today if it was pulling the plug on the long-running and beleaguered Ajax programme to provide almost 600 armoured fighting vehicles (AVFs) for the British Army.

The 38-tonne machines, the first new AFVs to enter service for nearly 30 years, were ordered in 2011 with an expectation they would start joining active units in 2017.

But only a fraction have so far been delivered, with the programme marred by major issues with noise and vibration that have left hundreds of troopers who drove them with hearing loss, back spasms and joint pains.

In the latest setback late last year, soldiers were left vomiting after using the cannon-armed recon vehicle on a training exercise, despite assurances from defence chiefs and GD that problems had been solved.

The vibration also caused other problems, including an inability to fire its 40mm cannon while moving and limiting its speed to around 20mph, half that of comparable vehicles.

But axing the contract would threaten up to 700 jobs at two sites in South Wales, a fortnight before Senedd elections in which Labour is on course to be removed from power for the first time since devolution.

Ministers had reportedly been leaning towards keeping the expensive contract going in order to safeguard the jobs, also arguing that alternative AFVs were less advanced and it would be better to fix Ajax instead.

Procurement Minister Luke Pollard this afternoon said the announcement had been postponed at the request of 'political channels' after meetings between politicians, civil service and GD executives this week.

The Minister of Defence had been expected to reveal today if it was pulling the plug on the long-running and beleaguered Ajax programme

The 38-tonne machines were ordered in 2011 with an expectation they would start joining active units in 2017. But only a fraction have so far been delivered.

Procurement Minister Luke Pollard this afternoon said the announcement had been postponed at the request of 'political channels'

Tory shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois said: 'It seems that MoD Ministers have gone from working ''flat out'' on the Defence investment Plan - which is now nine months late and still unpublished - to ''flat on their faces'' over Ajax.

'As the situation descends into farce we will be urging the Government to urgently clarify the situation regarding what is, after all, a six billion pound plus Defence programme.'

After all the delays, Ajax's full operating capacity was only expected in 2029, with just 160 vehicles built so far.

At the start of November Mr Pollard declared its initial operating capability, meaning it could be deployed on operations, and had 'left its troubles behind'.

But weeks later its use was halted after around 30 soldiers became ill due to noise and vibration that left them vomiting and unable to control their bodies on a training exercise.

Mr Pollard later told the Commons Defence Committee he had made his declaration after receiving written assurances from the head of the Army, General Sir Roly Walker, and the then-national armaments director, Andy Start, that it was safe.

Former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace, who inherited the mess when he entered office, last year branded Ajax 'a ridiculous project' that was 'over priced and the very worst of indecision and capability'.

In February Gerald Jones, in whose Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare seat the Ajax is being built, warned ministers to hurry up and make a decision, saying: 'The 700 workers in my constituency need assurances on their future and the future of that work.'

He added: 'The ironworks in my constituency supplied cannons and cannonballs to the Royal Navy, and in the 21st century the workforce at General Dynamics are keen to continue in that tradition.

I hope that we can soon move on with Ajax and secure and grow the much-needed jobs in my constituency and across the south Wales valleys.'
Scotland's police chief snubbed one of her own top officers in a row over the delayed publication of a watchdogs report, the Mail can reveal.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell was accused by the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) of undermining public confidence by stepping in to block the report at the last minute.

Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) said His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMICS) should hold off until after polling day on May 7 before publishing the inquiry into the forces professional standards department.

ASPS president Rob Hay later went to a meeting with Ms Farrell at Tulliallan  the corporate headquarters of Police Scotland near Kincardine, Fife  to discuss the situation, but was told she would not see him.

Unofficially, he was told it was because of ASPSs public criticism of her in the Mail.

The report, which is widely expected to be highly critical, was held up because of potential implications for proceedings that are currently ongoing, which is understood to refer to the case of Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors - who is subject to an ongoing bullying investigation.

Last night Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: There must be transparency and accountability within the police service, but that also means that there must be honest engagement between the Chief Constable and her officers.

Police Scotland have a difficult enough task as a result of the SNPs neglect, underfunding and skewed priorities without this kind of internal wrangling.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell was accused of undermining public confidence by the ASPS

Scots want to see them get on with the job of dealing with crime and ensuring public safety.

The HMICS report on the handling of complaints and conduct issues was scheduled for release on March 17  but Ms Farrell stepped in four days before to order a delay.

Last month Mr Hay said he was concerned the delay risks undermining public confidence in the independence and transparency of the assurance process.

He added: Transparency... is essential to support improvement and maintain confidence in the system of police accountability.

A policing source said: It is scandalous and smacks of a politically motivated cover-up. This report has been a long time coming and tackles some really important and sensitive areas for the force.

Mr Hay, who declined to comment, was told Ms Farrell could not meet him last week, but he could speak to Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs or Deputy Chief Constable Bex Smith instead.

He did not wish to do so and left Tulliallan.

Another policing source said: Ms Farrell knows that the report will not make good reading - and in particular how complaints are handled.

It is understood the HMICS report is now scheduled to be published on May 17.

The Mail revealed on Saturday that Ms Connors, who earns 230,580 a year, planned to launch a judicial review against police chiefs.

As a result, they caved in and lifted her suspension, meaning Ms Connors could work for the London-based National Police Chiefs Council.

She is said to be working remotely from Scotland.

The number of people  all believed to be in senior positions  who have complained against Ms Connors is between five and 10, according to sources.

Ms Connors is still on the payroll of Police Scotland but not allowed to work directly for the force because of the ongoing probe into the bullying claims.

It emerged last month that she is working for the NPCC, coordinating and developing business cases and change plans for mounted, marine and specialist dog services across England and Wales.

Ms Connors, a former Metropolitan Police officer, received taxpayer-funded relocation expenses of more than 112,000 to help her move when she got the Police Scotland job in 2023.

Regulations state police are duty-bound to find work for suspended officers wherever possible - as long as there is no conflict with the conduct investigation.

Commenting on Ms Farrells failure to meet Mr Hay, a Police Scotland spokesman said: The meeting was not cancelled and Police Scotland was represented by the two Deputy Chief Constables who regularly attend.

The force did not respond when asked why Ms Farrell was unavailable.

An SPA spokesman: 'We are grateful to HMICS for allowing the time to consider any potential implications for proceedings currently ongoing.'
The man who exposed that a top Trump counterterrorism official trawled for sugar daddies online is a 57-year-old software executive from the DC suburbs, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Robert Bianchi agreed to be named after our blockbuster article revealed how he spent $40,000 on DHS official Julia Varvaro during a three-month fling.

Varvaro, 29, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism since May 2025, was put on administrative leave on Wednesday after the Daily Mail's story was published.

'I saw a major security risk and reported it,' Bianchi told the Daily Mail on Thursday. 'That's what you do.'

Bianchi is CEO of SDVO Solutions, a software company. He also has supplied technology to the Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies, with multi-million dollar contracts that originated before he met Varvaro.

The divorced father says he took the raven-haired beauty on first-class trips to Aruba, Italy, San Diego and South Carolina during their short time together.

But he could never spend enough to keep her happy, he claimed in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.

Varvaro, however, told the Daily Mail she did nothing wrong. 'I didn't know it was bad to go on vacation with your boyfriend,' she said.

Robert Bianchi, 57, CEO of SDVO Solutions, a software company, based in DC

The man said the relationship began with an upscale date in Washington, DC, where he picked up a $1,400 bill. Above they are pictured having dinner during a trip to Charleston

'We were together in an exclusive relationship. We went on vacations. I don't know what's the problem with that.'

But Robert has made an official complaint with the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General, revealing she had a profile on the sugar daddy website 'Seeking'.

On the page, seen by the Daily Mail, she called herself Alessia and offered 'seductive sophistication.' She used the same photo that is on her Instagram.

'Alessia' also said she is 'flirty, fun, and fond of sultry spaces - mysterious lounges, velvet shadows, wine in hand' She said she is 'drawn to a masculine man who's attentive, protective, and quietly playful for mutually beneficial experiences.'

Varvaro denied having a profile on Seeking when questioned by the Daily Mail. The profile  which was set up on the day after Thanksgiving last year  was removed after we initially reached out for comment on this article.

In his complaint to the Inspector General, which the Daily Mail has seen, Robert said: 'I did not want a sugar daddy/prostitution relationship, after spending $30,000-$40,000 for vacations, Cartier jewelry, expensive handbags, and various shopping trips.

'She told me that she does not have college debt because sugar daddies paid for her college education.

'She also told me directly that the $40,000 worth of jewelry on her wrists and ears are all trophies from her sugar daddies.

Robert told the Daily Mail he took Varvaro on a first class trip to Aruba - where he is pictured holding a 'She's Horny' sign - but claimed she later expressed disappointment in his choice of resort

Robert claims she regularly ordered the most expensive items on the menu during their outings

Robert says Varvaro led them on shopping sprees for dresses and luxury footwear - 'mostly for herself,' and sent $2,000 to cover half of her rent

'I believe that she's under financial stress and that her actions pose a security risk,' he added in the official complaint.

Robert also accused her of consuming marijuana during their time together, something she adamantly denies.

Security sources told the Daily Mail that if true, Varvaro's case is comparable to that of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's cross-dressing husband.

'It's the same issue as Noem but on a much larger scale and I'd argue is actually worse because getting to Noem is much harder than picking off someone at the DAS (Deputy Assistant Secretary) level,' said one government source.

And former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos also found the claims troubling.

'Allegations of a sugar daddy relationship and unreported income from that relationship are serious issues for DHS security personnel that need to be resolved,' he told the Daily Mail.

'I would be curious to see what kind of vetting was done on her prior to her employment, given she would have been subject to a full background investigation. How did this not come up?'

Varvaro denies illegal drug use or smoking marijuana.

Some sources have likened the case to that of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her husband's cross-dressing - and the security risks both pose. Varvaro posted this photo with Noem

Varvaro, pictured with the president, works as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism within the Department of Homeland Security

'We do not comment on internal investigations,' a Homeland Security spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

The Inspector General would neither confirm nor deny that an investigation is underway.

Varvaro has made frequent appearances at MAGA events both before and after Trump's re-election in November 2024.

Her X-profile pictures show her wearing a Trump pin, flashing thumbs up with the president in front of the American flag.

Another video she posted in October 2024 shows her schmoozing with Trump loyalist Paul Ingrassia - soon to be White House liaison to DHS - poolside at Mar-a-Lago, sipping cocktails while promoting the screening of a movie about culture wars.

That same month Varvaro posted another picture of them posing at a Trump campaign event in New York, Varvaro clutching a red, white and blue MAGA jacket and handbag, and Ingrassia sporting a MAGA hat.

Varvaro earned her doctoral degree at St John's University in New York, completing a program in Homeland Security in 2024.

Just a year after her graduation, she was appointed to the senior position with DHS, at age 28.
A Las Vegas woman who mowed down a young father with her Tesla as he was crossing the street has begged his family for forgiveness in court.

Karen Cannon, 64, left pedestrian Patrick Deloria for dead after she struck him with her Tesla Model Y on May 13 last year and drove off.

She pled guilty to one count each of reckless driving resulting in death and attempt duty to stop at the scene of a crash involving death in January, court records show.

Cannon appeared in court for her sentencing hearing on Wednesday and sobbed as she asked Deloria's widow and family for forgiveness.

'It's unfortunate, I didn't mean for this to happen. I'm so sorry,' she cried, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'Please forgive me, please.'

His family, who were seated in the courtroom gallery, shouted back: 'No.'

Deloria, 32, was crossing a busy intersection when Cannon cut off another vehicle and hit him at speeds of around 66mph, an arrest warrant said.

The impact of the collision sent him flying approximately 155 feet into the air. Paramedics rushed to help, but Deloria was pronounced dead at the scene.

Patrick Deloria, 32, was struck dead by a Tesla Model Y as he crossed a busy Las Vegas street on May 13, 2025. He leaves behind two-year-old son Mason, pictured together

Karen Cannon, pictured in court in June last year, has pled guilty to one count each of reckless driving resulting in death and attempt duty to stop at the scene of a crash involving death

Cannon, 64, cut off another vehicle before hitting Deloria at speeds of around 66mph, police said. Her Tesla Model Y is seen after the crash

Cannon took her car to two different repair shops in the area, claiming to have hit a coyote, police said. She refused to file a claim with insurance.

Her attorney James Gallo told the court that Cannon had been speeding but 'didn't see anything' in the road after the collision.

He said that she suspected someone had vandalized her Tesla.

According to a police report obtained by KLAS, Cannon told investigators that she felt a 'hard blow' to her car and felt it shake upon impact.

A week after the crash she called her car insurance company and notified them that she had hit something, but said she did not know what.

The Tesla was later seized by police who noted that a camera had been removed from its front fender and that all videos captured from 2025 had been erased.

Gallo told the hearing Wednesday that Cannon was 'very remorseful' and requested she be sentenced to probation.

But the judge instead ordered that she spend between three years and eight years in prison.

The impact of the collision sent Deloria flying approximately 155 feet into the air, police said. Cannon, however, claimed she thought she hit a coyote

Cannon begged Deloria's family for forgiveness as a judge handed down her sentence on Wednesday, but they replied with a resounding: 'No'

Deloria was a bartender, martial artist and beloved father to his two-year-old son Mason.

'Anyone who knew him knew that every moment with Pat was never a dull one,' his loved ones wrote on a GoFundMe campaign created to support his family.

'You could always count on a grin, a joke, a jab, or a story, all in his own unique style.'

His wife Rebecca Hahn addressed the court during Cannon's hearing, saying that his death has 'completely and permanently' changed hers and Mason's lives.

Deloria's mother Melody Peterson also spoke out, asking Cannon how she could hit someone and just drive away.

She accused Cannon of choosing not to get help for her son and told the court: 'I won't forgive her and I don't think God will forgive her, but she will be judged in front of God.'
A Boston mother snapped at a reporter and accused him of twisting her words after her son was charged with taking part in an illegal street takeover.

The unidentified mom said, 'He wasn't there,' when asked by 7News on Wednesday about her son's antics during last October's chaos in Randolph, Massachusetts.

But the son, who was swaggering a few feet behind the mom and smirking, had just admitted to reporter Steve Cooper that he was at the takeover, while denying the crime he had been charged with.

Confronted with her son's words, the mom, who wore tight blue jeans and a tight black sweater, grew defensive and changed her story.

Speaking in a broad Boston accent, she said, 'He was passing through. Isn't that what he just said?'

Growing more aggressive, the mother added, 'Let's not flip the words.' Her son could be heard cackling behind her.

Wednesday's hearing at Quincy District Court saw some of the 17 people charged in the October 2025 street takeover appear before a judge.

Chaos unfolded after more than 100 people swarmed North Main and Oak Street in Randolph as drivers performed dangerous stunts amid the busy traffic, police said.

A dramatic video taken from the dashboard of a police cruiser showed the responding officers being overwhelmed by hooligans who jumped on their hood and aggressively slammed their windshield.

At one point, fireworks were lit just feet away from the vehicle, with police adding that another was ignited by someone on top of the car.

The mother of a street takeover suspect snapped at a reporter when grilled about her son's behavior

Meanwhile, the woman's son smirked while claiming to 7News, 'I didn't do nothing'

Several suspects charged with a Randolph street takeover,their parents and attorneys leave the courthouse in Quincy this afternoon with very little to say about the dangerous drivemore of the 17 suspects head to court in the coming weeks #7News pic.twitter.com/ZXtHdMOHac  Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) April 22, 2026

The woman's son also spoke to Cooper while smirking.

Asked what he would say to anyone considering taking part in a street takeover, he answered: 'They shouldn't do it, not at all.'

When asked if he would like to apologize to the police in Randolph, he exclaimed: 'I didn't do nothing!'

Other suspects put their hoods up, screamed and ran away on seeing Cooper trying to question them, with a lawyer growing visibly frustrated by the reporter's dogged questions.

Randolph Police detectives reviewed cruiser dash camera footage, surveillance video and numerous social media videos posted publicly online in the aftermath of the incident.

Investigators also obtained a search warrant for information related to several Instagram accounts whose owners were believed to be connected to the events.

Messages recovered through the investigation indicated that organizers shared locations and instructions with participants and encouraged spectators to impede police.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 31, now face a range of charges that include conspiracy, interfering with a police officer, disorderly conduct, operating to endanger, number plate violations and related offenses.

A street takeover saw more than 100 people block an intersection in Randolph, Massachusetts, while cars performed donuts and other dangerous stunts

At one point a firework was set off just feet from the police car as it tried to battle through the crowds

In total 17 people have been charged in connection with the takeover at the intersection between North Main and Oak streets

Investigators said several of the accused traveled across state lines to participate in the mayhem.

'Street takeovers create dangerous conditions for everyone involved, including the responding officers, anyone traveling in that area and residents who live nearby,' said Chief Anthony Marag.

'This case required extensive investigative work and strong coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies.

'I commend our detectives for the time and effort they put into identifying those responsible, and I also want to recognize the patrol officers who faced a volatile situation that night and continued working to keep the community safe.'
Traders placed a series of bets worth $430million on a drop in crude oil prices only 15 minutes before Donald Trump announced an extension to the ceasefire with Iran, new data has revealed.

It is the third time this month, and the fourth in total, that large, well-timed directional bets on the oil price have been made shortly before major announcements on the conflict in Iran.

One combined wager in March was worth $500 million, while April's bets have together totalled some $2.1 billion.

Between 7.54pm and 7.56pm GMT on Tuesday, 4,260 lots of selling hit the oil market, worth a combined $430 million, based on the prevailing Brent futures price , according to LSEG data.

Trump said he would extend the ceasefire indefinitely at 8.10pm GMT.

The Brent market settles at 6.30pm GMT, meaning these trades took place in what is known as post-settlement hours, when volumes are usually extremely limited.

The trades did not have much impact on the price, which edged down to $100.66 a barrel, from $100.91 before they took place.

After Trump's announcement, Brent crude futures fell to a low of $96.83 in the minute that followed. They were last trading at $99.2 a barrel at 12pm GMT on Wednesday.

US forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska on April 20, after firing upon the Iranian-flagged vessel that the Washington accused of attempting to violate the naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22

On March 23, 15 minutes before Trump announced a delay to threatened attacks on Iranian power infrastructure, anonymous traders placed $500 million on a drop in the oil price.

Similarly, on April 7, bets worth $950 million went through just hours before Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire.

On April 17, some 20 minutes prior to the Iranian foreign minister posting on social media that the Strait of Hormuz would be open to commercial shipping, traders placed $760 million in bets on a falling oil price.

The US is investigating a series of oil futures trades, including those on March 23 and April 7, that were placed shortly before major policy shifts by Trump related to the war in Iran, a person familiar with the matter said on April 15.

A spokesperson for the Intercontinental Exchange, known as ICE, declined to comment.

White House staff were warned last month that they should not wager on financial markets using non-public information, a White House official told the Daily Mail.

Though it did not explicitly mention Iran, the notice came to the aides amid the conflict, indicating concern from senior White House officials that some within the administration could leverage their jobs to find an edge on betting platforms.

Popular prediction market sites Polymarket and Kalshi have been hotbeds for gamblers trying to make a buck on anything from sports, to what words Trump will say, to when US ground troops may or may not be deployed in Iran.

Popular prediction market sites Polymarket and Kalshi have been hotbeds for gamblers trying to make a buck on anything from sports, to what words Trump will say, to when US ground troops may or may not be deployed in Iran

The US is investigating a series of oil futures trades, including those on March 23 and April 7, that were placed shortly before major policy shifts by Trump related to the war in Iran

Amid the surge in gambling and prediction markets have come suspicions that those in the highest echelons of the government are using private, potentially classified, information to beat the odds.

Before Trump delayed a deadline for Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz on March 23, billions of dollars of oil and stock futures moved hands, and experts have called for investigations into the fishy trades executed with abnormally good timing.

Contracts for at least six million barrels of Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude were sold at around 6.50am that day - roughly ten times the daily average.

At 7.05am, President Trump dropped a bombshell on global markets as he said the US wanted to negotiate with Iran.

Oil prices dropped sharply, around 14 percent in a matter of minutes, and money flowed into the pockets of the early traders.

No Trump administration official has been implicated in any wrongdoing.

It's not the first time that outsized bets have rippled across the markets since Trump took office: everything from Bitcoin to stockindex futures options have made traders buckets of cash, with prediction sites making profiteering even more accessible.

But the prospect that insider traders are potentially making money on highly classified secrets from the heart of the Oval Office during the Iran war poses a far more glaring security and ethical question.

Matt Saincome, CEO of Unusual Whales, a platform to detect anomalous trading activity, told the Daily Mail that the data leaves little room for doubt that regulators should investigate the trades.

'I can say the data here demands an investigation,' Saincome stated, referring to March 23. 'Regulators should explain to the public what happened here.'

'I would love to be in the room when this trader explains what happened here. If the trader is never asked to explain, I would love to be in the room when the regulators are asked why the hell not.'

Contracts for at least 6 million barrels of Brent and West Texas Intermediate oil were sold within minutes, according to exchange data compiled by Bloomberg - roughly ten times the daily average of around 700,000 barrels in the five days leading up to the Monday trades.

The suspicious timing does not necessarily mean the trades were illegal, Saincome noted.

'All federal employees are subject to government ethics guidelines that prohibit the use of nonpublic information for financial benefit,' White House Spokesman Kush Desai told the Daily Mail in a statement.

Executive branch ethics regulations prohibit government employees from conduct orparticipating in gambling activity while on government owned or leased property, or while on duty for the government, according to a White House official.

Still, the massive scale of the trades make the concerns hard to dismiss.
Since last year, residents of Roosevelt Island have been volunteering to prevent tourists and influencers from damaging the community's beautiful cherry blossom trees.

Roosevelt Island is a residential neighborhood of New York City with a population of about 12,000, situated in the center of the East River. For decades, the island was infrequently visited by tourists, but social media has made it a popular destination.

Posts of influencers posing in front of the Island's pink trees with the backdrop of the New York City skyline have drawn thousands of imitators and people curious to see the cherry blossoms themselves.

Roosevelt Island boasts more than 100 cherry blossom trees, including the yoshino, okame, kanzan and weeping higan varieties, which have been in peak bloom this month, meaning the island is also in its peak tourist season.

The island's surge in popularity has prompted residents to create the 'Petal Protector program,' a volunteer force of locals who wear pink high-visibility vests and politely ask tourists not to climb the trees or pluck their flowers.

Karen Jennemann, 70, a retired judge and resident of Roosevelt Island, is one of the 37 petal protectors who volunteered for the program this year.

'We love the cherry trees,' she told the New York Times. 'So it just seemed like an easy thing, a good thing to do.'

The Petal Protector program was created last year after a Microsoft Teams meeting to prepare for the tourist season that was organized by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, which is the state authority that runs the island.

Residents of Roosevelt Island in New York City have been volunteering to prevent tourists and influencers from damaging the island's cherry blossoms. A child is pictured climbing a cherry blossom tree

The volunteers, who are part of the 'Petal Protector program,' politely ask visitors not to climb trees. A child is pictured climbing one of the island's cherry blossom trees

The volunteers also ask visitors not to disturb and pluck the trees' flowers. A visitor is pictured doing exactly that while posing for pictures

During the meeting, a resident named Jennifer Engstler suggested that locals volunteer as 'cherry blossom rangers' to deter destructive behavior from visitors and influencers that could damage the island's iconic trees.

Twenty-five people quickly signed up, and 12 more joined the ranks this year.

BJ Jones, president of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, told the New York Times that the volunteers demonstrate 'how much the community cares about this island.'

The petal protectors are gentle in their approach, as their goal is not to scare tourists away. The yearly influx of visitors drawn by the cherry blossoms is a boon to local businesses.

Beyond chastising inconsiderate influencers, the volunteers also answer tourists' questions and hand out flyers with a QR code that brings up a digital map of the island that highlights shops, restaurants and, of course, the locations of the trees.

'The cherry blossoms are amazing, but were more than just cherry blossoms,' Jones, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation president, told the New York Times.

And the trees are just as effective at drawing in visitors who saw them online as those who see them in person for the first time.

Some tourists who ride the famous Roosevelt Island Tramway, an aerial cable car that offers panoramic views of the New York City skyline, stick around on the island after seeing its gorgeous, flowering cherry blossoms.

The famous Roosevelt Island Tramway, which carries visitors to and from the island, is pictured

People who get on the tram for the views it offers often stay on Roosevelt Island after seeing its beautiful trees. The tram is pictured through cherry blossom branches

The yearly influx of visitors is a boon to Roosevelt Island's local businesses. Tourists are pictured strolling around the island

Beyond chastising tourists, the petal protectors also hand out flyers with QR codes that bring up digital maps showing the location of shops and restaurants. A child is pictured jumping to reach cherry blossom branches

Lisa Tranter, a tourist from England who was visiting with her husband and daughter, told the New York Times that they had planned to just ride the tram back and forth for the views, but they decided to stroll around the island after seeing its trees.

'Theres so much more here than we thought,' she told the outlet.
Disgraced former Congressman Eric Swalwell's longtime best friend, Ruben Gallego, is having more questionable decision-making in his past, per a new report.

While participating in an official trip to Bogota, Colombia, last summer, Arizona's junior Senator Ruben Gallego stayed out late at a nightclub and invited embassy staff to join him, despite warnings of a credible threat to his life, sources told NOTUS.

Gallego and Ohio's Republican Senator Bernie Moreno were in Colombia to discuss bilateral relations, crime, business, and China's influence, per a press release about the visit.

However, Gallego's conduct raised concerns among US officials. One female embassy staffer told the State Department that Gallego asked her to come out. There's no allegation Gallego acted inappropriately. Moreno did not attend the dinner or club, per NOTUS.

Near the end of the trip, embassy staff received a credible threat report and alerted Gallego's security team. While at dinner, Gallego was informed of it but chose to stay out. Afterward, he walked to a nightclub and stayed out until 3am, per sources who spoke with NOTUS.

A Gallego spokesperson told NOTUS that the senator had 'coordinated closely with embassy security throughout the trip, including on the evening in question, and followed all security guidance.'

'While at dinner at the conclusion of a successful congressional delegation trip, the Senator and his Chief of Staff invited Embassy staff to join them, a common way to recognize the work of those who support these visits,' the spokesperson added.

Gallego and Moreno are both of Colombian descent. Moreno was born in Colombia. Gallego was born in Chicago to a Colombian mother and a Mexican father.

US Senator Ruben Gallego speaks during the National Action Network (NAN) National Convention in New York City on April 9, 2026

A view of the center of Bogota with the Andes mountains in the background

Eric Swalwell and Ruben Gallego outside of the US Capitol in September of 2021

Gallego has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks due to his longtime friendship with Eric Swalwell, a former congressman and candidate for California governor this year.

At least five women have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including rape, sexual assault, and sending unsolicited messages and photographs.

Swalwell announced last Monday that he would resign his seat in Congress after being engulfed by the scandal.

The Democrat - who had suspended his campaign for California governor only the day before - apologized to his family and staff while insisting the claims are false.

Gallego, Arizona's junior senator, held a press conference in his office last week during which he claimed he had no knowledge of Swalwell's inappropriate behavior, even though he had heard that Swalwell was 'flirty.'

He broke down in tears at one point, insisting that he 'trusted' his friend.

'And it hurts, the fact that he hurt a lot of people, and it pisses me off that now we all have to deal with all of his BS, his family, the poor victims that are still going to have to seek justice,' Gallego said.

Turning on his longtime friend and colleague, he said that Swalwell 'became very good at being a predator.'

He also noted that Swalwell 'lied to all of us' during his time on the House Judiciary Committee, where he was an active voice in the push to impeach Donald Trump.

The two men have been close throughout their time in Congress, with their families on friendly terms.
Donald Trump's right-hand woman Susie Wiles is cracking down on the Cabinet, ordering the President's inner circle to remain in the country ahead of what could be a GOP midterm bloodbath.

In a February meeting with Cabinet members and senior aides at the Capitol Hill Club, Wiles, who has been described as the 'Ice Queen,' told those in attendance that international travel should be undertaken only if necessary, sources told Politico.

The new directive mandated that all Cabinet-level trips abroad should be personally approved by Wiles, two sources shared.

The West Wing wants its cast of Trump-backers to hold back on travelling abroad as the midterm elections loom and as Republicans have sounded the alarm about getting walloped in November.

'All trips are run through Cabinet Affairs. The international ones are on a case-by-case basis, but they definitely want you to focus on domestic travel,' one of the individuals told the outlet.

An administration official told the Daily Mail that the White House has encouraged all Cabinet members to focus solely on domestic travel this year. The Cabinet has been under heightened scrutiny with the recent firings of Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi and Lori Chavez-Deremer.

The policy change came after several Cabinet officials made stops around the globe. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, for example, travelled to Japan, Brazil, Peru, India, Vietnam and the UK in 2025 to talk about crop exports and trade.

'Its like, why is Brooke going to the UK?' another source told Politico. 'Susie has definitely been more direct in laying down the law.'

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has clamped down on Cabinet members' international travel, according to Politico

Wiles now personally oversees approval of international travel for Trump's Cabinet members

One source questioned the many international trips USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has taken overseas

Rollins pictured on a trip to the UK last year

A press release from March 2025 published by the USDA touted Rollins' 'Aggressive International Travel Agenda.'

'President Trump and his Cabinet will continue fighting to lower costs for working families and will be travelling across the country to tout the presidents commonsense agenda,' White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told the Daily Mail.

Sources also said the travel crackdown is not a targeted rebuke of Rollins or any Cabinet member specifically.

Instead, the directive is a part of a broader push to have Trump's surrogates focus on domestic political issues ahead of campaign season, sources told Politico.

Polling and predictive markets show that Democrats currently are favored to retake both chambers of Congress.

A spokesperson for the USDA defended the Secretary's travels in a statement to the Daily Mail.

'Secretary Rollins has taken an historic and unprecedented role to boost American market access and is constantly meeting with American exporters and key foreign government counterparts in key markets to ease trade barriers,' they said.

'USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg has visited over two dozen countries in the last year. We are unapologetically working with foreign governments to boost American ag exports.'
A Texas court interpreter said she was 'treated like a criminal' by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who 'humiliated' her when they dragged her into custody at the airport.

Meenu Batra, who's been a certified court interpreter for more than 20 years, was arrested by federal agents on March 17 while traveling to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from the Harlingen Airport for work.

The single mother of four is fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, and is frequently requested across the country for her language skills.

Batra, 53, said she was questioned by an ICE officer at a TSA checkpoint, who asked: 'Do you know that you are here illegally?,' according to her sworn affidavit reviewed by ABC News.

She responded 'No' to the agent and explained that she has been granted an order that prevents her from being deported back to her home country of India due to fear of prosecution, Batra told the outlet.

According to Batra her response didn't appear to matter to the male agent, who replied: 'That doesn't mean you can be here forever.'

She was then handcuffed and escorted to an unmarked SUV by at least four officers, two of whom got in the car with her, Batra recalled while locked inside the El Valle Detention Facility.

Batra then arrived at an ICE field office in Harlingen, where she claims two agents got on either side of her and made her pose for a photo for 'social media', which left her feeling 'humiliated and treated like a criminal,' she said.

Meenu Batra, a veteran court interpreter in Texas, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 17 at the Harlingen Airport

The mother of four claims two agents got on either side of her and made her pose for a photo for 'social media', which she said left her feeling 'humiliated and treated like a criminal'

Deepak Ahluwalia, Batra's attorney, told the publication that she fled from India to the US when she was a teenager after her parents were killed during a violent attack against Sikhs in the 1980s.

When she arrived in the US, the veteran court interpreter applied for asylum, and in 2000 an immigration judge in New Jersey granted her withholding of removal status.

Batra (pictured) said she's experienced appalling conditions inside the immigration center, which she referred to as a 'storage facility for humans'

The status is granted to those who can prove it is more likely they will face persecution in their home country, and means they are 'protected from being returned to his or her home country' and can legally work in America, according to the American Immigration Council and National Immigration Justice Center.

Someone who is granted the status 'cannot petition to bring family members to the United States, and does not gain a path to citizenship,' per the organization.

Batra said she has experienced appalling conditions while inside the immigration center, which she referred to as a 'storage facility for humans.'

During a phone interview with the outlet, Batra said she went 'nearly 24 hours without food or water', and that she did not get her cholesterol medication until the 'evening of March 19.'

Amrita Singh, Batra's daughter, said her mother has gone on to develop a respiratory illness while inside the facility because of the alleged bad conditions.

Singh, 30, and her three brothers have had to learn how to live without her for the past month, but they continue to fight for her release and safe return home.

Deepak Ahluwalia, Batra's attorney, told the publication that she fled from India to the US when she was a teenager after her parents were killed during a violent attack against Sikhs

'When you're raised by a single parent, your biggest fear is always like, what if something happens to them? This was my biggest fear coming true,' Singh stated.

'I feel like I'm not in my body and my world just stopped and it sort of lost color. But at the same time, I am so focused and dedicated and will do anything to get her out.'

Jasper Jai Dolezal, Batra's son, said his mother was taken into federal custody just months after he joined the US Army.

Her youngest child, 18, is not sure how to feel about his deployment now that his mother has been snatched away.

'I hope to see her for my graduation and when I go to boot camp,' Dolezal said.

'But if I'm serving my army, working like a dog while my mom is being detained, even though my country swore they will help any and all immigrants, that's kind of upsetting and disappointing.'

Batra's co-workers have also been pushing for her to be released, as they posted a letter of support for her on the American Translators Association's website.

Amrita Singh (left), 30, said she and her three brothers have had to learn how to live without their mom for the past month, but they continue to fight for her release and safe return home

'Meenu has spent her career bridging gaps and fostering understanding. It is our turn to advocate for her safety and her right to remain with her community,' the letter's summary read.

The letter itself stated: Ms Batra is not a threat to public safety. She is not an unlawful resident. She is not a flight risk.

'She is a pillar of the communities she has served, a fact attested to by judges, elected officials, and the very courts across the country that have contracted her services for decades.'

Although her family and colleagues continue to fight for her freedom, her attorney said they fear she might be deported to another country, he told ABC News.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has gone on to file a motion to dismiss Batra's habeas corpus petition, a legal action to challenge unlawful detention, the outlet reported.

The DOJ has argued that Batra has been 'lawfully detained' and is the subject of a 'final order of removal'. The filing did not specify if the government plans on sending her to a third country.

The DOJ has argued that Batra has been 'lawfully detained' and is the subject of a 'final order of removal'

A spokesperson with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the Daily Mail that Batra is 'an illegal alien from India' who was arrested 'during a targeted enforcement operation.'

They added: 'Meenu was issued a final order of removal from an immigration judge in 2000. She first entered the country illegally at an unknown date and location. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal and will receive full due process.

'Employment authorization does NOT confer any type of legal status in the United States,' the federal agency continued.

Her lawyer also noted that the government 'didn't acknowledge or explain what changed in 26 years to warrant detention,' and 'still has not identified a third country' that she could be deported to.
HOUSTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group ("Sterling"), a Houston-based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce the additions of Robert Gray, Managing Director, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer and Pierce Edwards, Managing Director, Business Development to the Sterling team.

Robert Gray joined Sterling in February to lead the firm's legal and compliance functions. Rob previously spent more than fifteen years at Riverstone Holdings LLC, an energy-focused asset management firm, where he most recently served as General Counsel, overseeing legal matters including transaction execution, fund formation, and regulatory compliance. Rob brings over 25 years of legal experience and will support Sterling's operations, as well as provide broader legal guidance to Sterling portfolio companies.

Pierce Edwards joins Sterling's Dallas office to expand the firm's sourcing efforts. Prior to Sterling, Pierce served as Managing Director & Head of Business Development at Valesco Industries, a Dallas based private equity firm. Pierce brings nearly a decade of experience in business development in the lower middle market and will work closely with Sterling's Foundation Fund team to source new platform investments as well as add-on acquisitions across all of Sterling's strategies.

"We are pleased to welcome Pierce and Rob to the Sterling team," said Scott MacLaren, Partner at The Sterling Group. "Pierce's deep relationships and sourcing experience in the lower middle market will be highly valuable to our Portfolio Resources Group, and Rob's legal expertise and experience navigating complex regulatory environments will further strengthen our legal and compliance capabilities."

To learn more about a career at The Sterling Group, please visit sterling-group.com/careers/ or contact Claudine Lussier at [email protected].

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $1 billion. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 78 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $27 billion. Sterling currently has approximately $9.0 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.

SOURCE The Sterling Group
This is the moment an Algerian asylum seeker is caught on camera stealing a 30,000 watch from a 73-year-old man's wrist, as he is jailed for four years.

Footage released by the Met Police shows Zakaria Snouci, 27, conferring with an accomplice on a street near Hyde Park before jogging up behind his elderly victim, snatching his Patek Philippe watch and fleeing the scene.

The victim, Sunil Chopra, appears momentarily stunned before gesturing to a passing motorist that he has just been robbed.

The incident, which occurred on April 19, is said to have left Mr Chopra so anxious that he now plans to move abroad, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Snouci, an Algerian national, changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial last month and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison today.

As an asylum seeker, Snouci's case will be referred to the Secretary of State for a decision on deportation at the end of his sentence, the court heard.

The watch - which Mr Chopra had hoped to pass on to his son - was not insured and has not been seen again.

Footage hows Zakaria Snouci approaching his victim - who is dressed in a gilet and smart shirt - on the corner near Hyde Park

Snouci rushes towards the man, grabs his left arm and tears the Patek Phillipe watch off his wrist in less than two seconds

Stunned, the victim spins around to see Snouci running away across the street. The thief's face could be clearly seen underneath his hood - helping the police to identify him

His Honour Judge Mark Weekes told Senouci: 'CCTV and cell site evidence show that you and another individual had travelled to the area and were loitering for some time, the obvious inference is that you were seeking a suitable target for your activities that night.

'You see Mr Chopra approach. You allowed him to pass. You yanked from him a very valuable watch.

'It was taken with sufficient violence to cause a scratch to the arm and a tear to his shirt sleeve.'

Judge Weekes described Mr Chopra's watch as of 'profound sentimental importance,' which Mr Chopra intended to be 'passed on to his son as a family heirloom'.

He said the incident was an 'an unpleasant street robbery' on an elderly victim as he walked home in broad daylight.

He added: 'He was entitled to feel safe in his own neighbourhood  he no longer does.'

Now, one year after the robbery, the court heard Mr Chopra is 'hyper vigilant' and is making plans to leave the country.

He no longer feels safe, has anxiety and nightmares, with the robbery has altering his behaviour so he tries to avoid risk.

Judge Weekes added: 'Tragically as a consequence of the offence, he no longer feels safe in this wonderful country and thinks he may have to leave the UK.'

Algerian national Snouci (pictured) changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial last month and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison on Thursday

The court heard Snouci had willingly taken part in the theft although others may have been involved in the planning of it.

Elega Simpson, for Snouci, said he was 'directed' to behave this way by another individual, saying it was not Mr Chopra that was the target, but his watch.

She said: 'The individual who directed him promised to pay him 1,000 Euros, but only paid 700 Euros.

'He was not involved in the planning of the offence and he was not aware of the value of the watch.

'Regrettably the watch was handed to another individual and he has no idea what happened to it.'

The court heard Snouci had also been involved in pickpocketing.

Ms Simpson said: 'When he was involved in pickpocketing there was no real contact between him and the other person. He feels bad and regrets his actions.

'He has not lived an easy life. At the age of twelve he was in a car crash with his father. He spent two months in hospital and watched his father die next to him in the car.'

She added that Snouci had worked as a mechanic in Algeria and that he had come to Britain in search of work.

However, she said his status in the UK 'remains uncertain.'

She said: 'On his arrival in London he had nowhere to stay and was not entitled to benefits. He spent six months homeless.

'He hopes to use his skills as a mechanic to work on cars and contribute meaningfully to society, and to send money back to his family in Algeria.

'He came to the UK to better himself. If he had been able to do so legitimately he would have earned and done what he could to lead a legal lifestyle.'

Snouci spoke at earlier hearings only to admit the robbery, aided by an Arabic interpreter.

He applied for asylum after arriving in the UK aged 22 and is a mechanic by trade.

The court heard he hopes to turn his life around and help his family when he is released.
A Utah lawmaker has been accused of making unwanted and aggressive lesbian advances toward four women.

Salt Lake City councilmember Eva Lopez Chavez allegedly used physical force and restraint, as well as cringeworthy pick-up lines, to try to seduce her accusers.

State senator Jen Plumb, state representative Hoang Nguyen, fellow council member Victoria Petro and former political aide Maggie Regier made the concerning allegations to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Lopez Chavez, a Democrat, has staunchly denied the allegations through her lawyer Greg Skordas, who said she was 'shocked' to learn of them.

But her accusers paint an alleged pattern of predatory behavior, claiming they were accosted by Lopez Chavez during social settings prior to her joining the city council in 2023.

Petro claims she was approached by congressional hopeful Lopez Chavez at the wedding reception of a former council member.

She told the Salt Lake Tribune that Lopez Chavez: 'Pushed me back against a pillar so that my back was against the wall and told me, 'The only reason I still f*** men is because a woman hasn't shown me what I really want.''

'If a man had done that to me, would there be a question if it was assault or not?' she added in an interview with the outlet.

Salt Lake City councilmember Eva Lopez Chavez has been accused of making unwanted sexual advances towards four women, which she denies

She alleged that Lopez Chavez confronted her after she confided in several people and asked her to stop talking about it.

'I said, ''You shouldn't have given me a story to tell,'' Petro said. 'It's my story.'

Skordas denied Petro's recollection and said photographs of the evening showed her laughing and smiling with his client.

'Nothing inappropriate happened and no one ever expressed any concern about Eva's conduct,' he told the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Daily Mail reached out to Skordas, who said he was unable to comment until Saturday.

Petro's claims were echoed by Plumb, who alleged she was shoved against a wall by Lopez Chavez during a friend's birthday party in November 2022.

'It absolutely was a sexual advance. She leaned into me, grabbed onto my ass, got up in my face and said in my ear, "You're sure you're straight?"' Plumb said.

Regier, who uses they/them pronouns, alleged they were targeted by Lopez Chavez during a Human Rights Campaign fundraising event.

Fellow council member Victoria Petro claims Lopez Chavez pushed her against a pillar and said the only reason she is straight is because 'a woman hasn't shown me what I really want'

Regier claims the lawmaker was being 'flirty' all night and leading them around the room by their wrist.

However, they allege things escalated and Lopez Chavez dragged them into a hall, pinning them against a wall until they claim a friend stepped in.

Later on the dance floor, Regier said Lopez Chavez: 'Was kind of trying to grab on to me and another friend physically stepped between us and pushed her off of me and was like, "Leave Maggie alone."'

The former political aide, who worked on Salt Lake City mayoral hopeful Stan Penfold's unsuccesful campaign, said they reported it to their superior 'in tears.'

Corey Cronin confirmed Regier told him about the incident and they felt like they were 'being harassed by somebody [they] had a lot of respect for and [they] kept saying 'no.''

'Regardless of individual details of mine or anyone elses experience, there is an established pattern of behavior that is not appropriate for elected officials,' Regier told the Daily Mail.

'Eva made unwanted sexual advances on multiple occurrences towards multiple women, and I hope she find the courage to take accountability for her actions.'

Skordas denied there was any inappropriate contact between Lopez Chavez and Plumb or Regier.

'Eva holds Plumb in the highest regard, considering her a good friend and colleague,' he said, adding that his client 'never touched' her.

Of Regier, he said they 'played and laughed' with Lopez Chavez at the fundraiser, 'but no one was inappropriate in any way nor was there any unwanted contact.'

Lopez Chavez is a Democratic congressional candidate who has denied all the claims through her lawyer

Maggie Regier, who uses they/them pronouns, claims they were accosted by Lopez Chavez at a fundraising event, the lawmaker denied their allegations

Nguyen alleges that Lopez Chavez climbed on top of her as she was giving her a ride back to her car following a campaign event for Plumb.

'Next thing I know she has leaned over and she's on top of me, holding my shoulders down,' Nguyen told the Salt Lake Tribune.

'I said, "What are you doing?" And she said, "Kiss me,"' Nguyen said. 'She said, "I'm not going to get off you until you kiss me." I gave her a peck and she got off.'

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Skordas did not directly address Nguyen's allegation.

'Eva and Hoang have a series of friendly texts between them that show nothing inappropriate ever occurred,' Skordas said. 'There is never any mention of unwanted or inappropriate contact between the two of them.'

He added that Lopez Chavez has communications with all four accusers, which are 'entirely inconsistent with these untrue allegations.'

The accusers said they did not report the alleged incidents to the police and only decided to speak out in light of recent comments by Lopez Chavez in which she identified herself as a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault.

State representative and Lopez Chavez accuser Hoang Nguyen said she was motivated to speak out after hearing Lopez Chavez make comments in support of survivors of sexual assault

She issued a statement which read in part: 'Our communities deserve leaders who take these issues seriously, not just in rhetoric but in conduct.

'We cannot excuse behavior, past or present, that trivializes or undermines the seriousness of sexual violence, assault and harassment.'

But reports of Lopez Chavez's alleged conduct appear to have reached Council Chair Alejandro Puy, who ordered a review of the council's policies in February, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

An email he wrote, which the outlet obtained, reportedly states: ' I need to be direct: The reports and firsthand accounts of Council member Eva Lopez Chavez's past behavior cannot be dismissed or minimized.

'Based on my own firsthand knowledge, and the experience of some of my colleagues on the council, they do not describe an isolated incident.

'They suggest a pattern of conduct that has affected colleagues in our own council, myself and many others in our community and has shaped our working environment.'

The review is ongoing, but Skordas said his client has filed her own complaint against Puy and the city, which is unrelated to the inappropriate advances claims but her treatment on the council.

A lawyer for Lopez Chavez said communication between her and her accusers does not indicate any inappropriate conduct

Utah state Senate representative Jen Plumb alleged she was shoved against a wall by Lopez Chavez during a friend's birthday party in November 2022. Lopez Chavez refutes her claims

A spokeswoman for the Salt Lake City council told the Tribune that they were unaware of any allegations against Lopez Chavez before her appointment.

'Appropriate steps would have been taken immediately had the office been made aware of any such allegations,' she said.

The Daily Mail has contacted Salt Lake City council, Plumb, Nguyen and Regier for comment.
Boozy house parties are a rite of passage for young political staffers grinding through the final stretch of a campaign.

For a dozen Ohio GOP operatives and Trump reelection hands, that night came in October 2020 inside a cramped one-bedroom house north of Columbus. They tried to light the fire pit out back for a while, but as the night grew colder, everyone pulled inside. They drank late and eventually ran out of places to sleep. Some took the couch. Others claimed the floor. A few passed out in the basement.

Among the attendees was a 19-year-old female junior staffer. She had just moved in with the hostess and now found herself with nowhere else to sleep.

Hostess Madison Sheahan, then 23, invited her into bed, according to the young staffer's account. By morning, a secret sexual relationship had begun, one that would quietly shape the next two years of the young woman's life in ways she could not yet foresee, she told the Daily Mail.

Sheahan is a self-described Trump conservative now running for Congress in Ohio, who worked as ex-DHS secretary Kristi Noem's deputy ICE director from March last year to January.

Sheahan's former lover, speaking to the Daily Mail under the condition of anonymity, detailed a tumultuous two-year relationship, started during Trump's reelection campaign, that she claims was defined by control.

Sheahan, the woman says, was consumed by the nagging fear that she would leave her for a man and did everything she could to keep that from happening. That insecurity would allegedly boil over into verbal blowups and late-night screaming fights.

The womans recollection of her oppressive relationship with Sheahan was corroborated by two independent sources.

Madison Sheahan, a Trump conservative running for Congress, was allegedly engaged in a two-year secret relationship with a junior staffer with the Ohio Republican Party

Sheahan served as Kristi Noem's deputy ICE director during her tenure at the Department of Homeland Security

The Daily Mail spoke with Sheahan's ex-lover, who detailed a 'toxic' and 'controlling' relationship where Sheahan tried to dictate what she was allowed to wear

What started in secret quickly spiraled into a relationship where Sheahan, then a senior official working with the Ohio Republican Party, paid through the Trump campaign's 2020 political operation, exerted control over her younger partner in ways that extended to something as basic as what she was allowed to wear when going out with friends, according to the woman.

Before announcing her bid to run for Congress last January, Sheahan started her political career working for the Trump reelection campaign at the Ohio Republican office in Columbus. Sheahan held the title of state election operations director during the 2020 cycle, a senior role that placed her above her alleged lover in the office hierarchy.

There she met a young woman looking for a place to live after being forced to leave her student housing at university due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sheahan offered to let the college student move into her house in October 2020. Within a few weeks, the woman says their sexual relationship had begun.

At one point, in November 2020, Sheahan briefly became the womans supervisor while they were engaged in a sexual relationship, three sources told the Daily Mail.

Their sexual relationship followed both women through the end of the 2020 campaign and into the Georgia Senate runoffs in December 2020, where they worked at separate headquarters in the Peach State and did not live together.

Sheahan was stationed in Buckhead with senior staff. The younger woman was posted about an hour away from Sheahan in Georgia at a place she describes as the literal middle of nowhere.

It was during this stretch that Sheahan's allegedly toxic behavior began to show itself more plainly, though the woman says she did not fully see it at the time.

The most vivid episode allegedly came one evening in Atlanta on November 29, when the ex-lover and a group of friends decided to go out. She was wearing black jeans and a tight-fitting black bodysuit, and sent Sheahan a photo before they left.

She lost it on me, the woman recalled. It went from her saying, Have fun, have a great night, to, 'What the f***, you're not gonna f***ing go. Are you actually f***ing serious? I'm not gonna talk to you again.

At one point, in November 2020 Sheahan briefly became the womans supervisor while they were engaged in a sexual relationship, three sources told the Daily Mail

Sheahan is a longtime aide of the ousted DHS chief, above with her husband Bryon Noem

Sheahan and her lover first met while Sheahan was working for the 2020 Trump reelection campaign in Ohio

The woman went out anyway. She came back to her hotel room in the early hours and called Sheahan. The conversation worsened.

The implication, she says, was plain: women who dressed like that were women who cheated.

Sheahan screamed at her lover on the phone: People who do that stuff, that's what they do. They cheat on people.

A separate source who was present that night told the Daily Mail they could hear Sheahan screaming through the walls of the hotel room on speaker phone, corroborating the account.

Sheahan was not jealous of the other women in the group. She was jealous of the men, her former lover claimed.

The younger woman had never been in a relationship like this before, a fact Sheahan did not know because, as the woman puts it, it just never came up.

When it finally did, Sheahan's purported response was blunt: This is why I don't like to date people who aren't gay.

The woman believes Sheahans insecurities regarding her own sexuality played a role in their chaotic relationship.

She lost it on me, the woman recalled. It went from her saying, Have fun, have a great night, to, 'What the f***, you're not gonna f***ing go. Are you actually f***ing serious? I'm not gonna talk to you again"'

Shed always try to be the alpha in the room. There could never be a stronger woman. Madison was intimated by strong women, a senior senior DHS official told the Daily Mail

She describes Sheahan as someone not fully able to come to terms with her sexuality.

I think a lot of the problems with our relationship was that she's not comfortable in her own skin, the ex-lover told the Daily Mail. It's okay to be gay  but I don't think that's something she has accepted.

Sheahan declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail about the relationship.

There were other forms of control, the woman said. Sheahan was purportedly particular about how the younger woman presented herself, insisting she look and dress the part. She would become furious if the woman smoked a cigarette on a night out.

She would lose her ever-loving mind, the woman said.

Public affection, especially in front of other staffers or friends, was off limits.

At work events and in professional settings, she was expected to act as though nothing existed between them.

You couldn't hold her hand, the woman recalls. You couldn't show affection.

When the woman began looking at a job across the country in late 2021, Sheahan made her position clear.

She was not okay with that at all, the woman said. Her moving so far was not acceptable.

Sheahan went on to serve as Noem's political director during her South Dakota governorship and was named ICE deputy director in March last year.

A senior DHS official told the Daily Mail that Sheahan often targeted female staffers at ICE who she viewed as disloyal to her.

Sheahan was allegedly known to verbally abuse staff and aides who worked at ICE by often threatening to rip their faces off'

After departing ICE, Sheahan announced her bid to run for Congress against an Ohio Democratic incumbent

Sheahan declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail

Shed always try to be the alpha in the room. There could never be a stronger woman. Madison was intimidated by strong women, said the senior DHS official.

Shed always push to get women fired.

The senior official noted that Sheahan would act as though she had the full power and backing of Noem to other staffers.

Sheahan was allegedly known to verbally abuse staff and aides who worked for her by often threatening to rip their faces off, the source told the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail reached out to DHS and ICE for comment on Sheahans alleged behavior while serving in the Trump administration.

She resigned last January to run for Ohio's ninth Congressional District, challenging Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur, ahead of a Republican primary on May 5.

Despite raising over $450,000 since announcing her candidacy, Sheahan trails in third place with 10 percent support from GOP primary voters, according to a JL Partners poll.

By the time Sheahans secret relationship broke off, the pattern was familiar to the woman: a fight over the phone.

The woman said the relationship ended in 2022 on a phone call she took while driving from Washington, DC. Sheahan had just returned from a family vacation and had been largely unreachable. The woman had had enough.

It was a screaming fight over the phone, she said. It was very defeating. There's no winning. Everyone's losing So it didnt end well by any means.

It was all about how she'd always tell you how she feels, the ex-lover added, but it's not about how you feel.

The conversation, she says, only ever ran one direction.

She saw Sheahan once more in 2022, on the west coast, at a political fundraiser for Noem, where they had drinks and it was friendly. That was the last time.

When contacted by the Daily Mail for comment, Sheahans political adviser Bob Pudachik denied any wrongdoing on her behalf.

As the Ohio campaign manager, I can speak with authority that no such relationship existed, Pudachik told the Daily Mail. Madison was not and has never been in a relationship with a subordinate.

When asked to describe what she experienced, the ex-lover did not hesitate: 'Toxic.' 'Volatile.' 'Controlling.'

A relationship where Sheahan held most of the power and used it.
A smirking migrant who raped two men he met on the gay dating site Grindr has been convicted of rape for a third time.

Mohammed Altaher, 41, an Iraqi national, and his crimes were featured in an episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody titled 'The Predator'.

During his appearance on the hit Channel 4 show, Altaher shamelessly tried to claim he had been a victim during the investigation, alleging detectives subjected him to 'degrading treatment' because he was gay.

Following the broadcast of the episode, a third victim came forward to report that Altaher had also raped them in 2019.

On April 8, following a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court, he was found guilty of raping his third victim.

He was jailed for five years with a further seven years on extended licence, which will run concurrently with his existing 10 year prison sentence for his two previous convictions.

A judge at his first trial at St Albans Crown Court in 2023 called him 'arrogant, narcissistic and self-obsessed'.

They added: 'What Dr Altaher wants, Dr Altaher gets, and if what you want is sexual intercourse, then the consent of whoever you want it with matters to you not at all.'

A grinning Mohammed Altaher, 41, an Iraqi national, as he appeared in an episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody about his crimes titled 'The Predator'

On April 8, following a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court, Altaher was found guilty of raping his third victim

The court at the time heard how Altaher persisted in his assaults even after consent was revoked, committing rape in an 'aggressive manner'.

The serial rapist carried out these two attacks in August and September 2019.

His first victim had been given the drug MCAT, an illegal stimulant, before being subjected to sexual aggression. At one stage Altaher called another man to the house to indulge in sexual activity before he left.

After that, the victim was penetrated on at least 10 occasions by a shower hose before being raped. He suffered multiple injuries and revealed he had been attacked at a sexual assault referral centre in Brighton.

In a victim statement the man said he couldn't at first see himself as a rape victim. He said he did not engage at work and became 'like a Zombie'.

The second victim was grabbed, kissed and pushed onto a bed by Altaher as soon as he arrived at his home. He got onto the victim and raped him.

Following the latest trial at Aylesbury Crown Court, in Buckinghamshire, PC Heather Hutchinson, who worked on both investigations, said: 'Altaher showed no care or compassion for his victims, and I hope the conviction and sentence provide some sense of closure for those affected.

'I want to commend the immense bravery of the original victims who spoke out about their experiences, as well as the courage shown by the victim who came forward after the programme aired.

'That courage led directly to further evidence being secured and a dangerous offender being held to account.

'Not only does "24 Hours in Police Custody" play a vital role in educating the public on issues such as consent, but it also helps to build public trust and gives victims the confidence to come forward.

'Viewers can see investigations handled with care, professionalism and persistence, and for those watching who may be carrying their own trauma in silence, it can be the catalyst that gives them the strength to speak out and seek help.'
A small boat migrant today found guilty of gang raping a vulnerable woman on a beach had already been convicted of murder, it can now be reported.

Violent thug Karin Al-Danasurt should never have been allowed into the UK to lodge an asylum claim after crossing the Channel in 2024.

It is believed the Egyptian national duped immigration officials by giving a false name.

A year later, Al-Danasurt and fellow asylum seekers Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, also from Egypt, and Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, from Iran, lured a heavily intoxicated young woman to a secluded part of Brighton beach and subjected her to a brutal ordeal.

But it can now be revealed he fled Egypt in 2022, having been convicted of murder and facing a 'lengthy sentence', and spent two years living as a fugitive in Europe before making his way to the UK.

Prosecutors told magistrates at a previous hearing that an intelligence report based on documents found in Al-Danasurt's room suggested the 20-year-old was sentenced in his absence after he failed to surrender to Egyptian police.

Foreign criminals are routinely refused entry to the UK, meaning Al-Danasurt should never have been in the UK to rape his victim, who cannot be identified.

The Government has now vowed to deport Al-Danasurt and his two accomplices, also small boat migrants.

Karin Al-Danasurt, who was found guilty of gang-rape on Thursday, also has a previous conviction for murder

Al-Danasurt grins as he was led to the prison van after court on Wednesday

The 20-year-old, pictured seated alongside co-defendants Abdulla Ahmadi (centre) and Ibrahim Alshafe (right), all entered the country illegally before sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman

But the case yet again exposes the fragility of the UK's borders, with Al-Danasurt among the plethora of small boat migrants thought to have slipped into the country under an alias.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'There are people who are taking our country for a ride, are coming here trying to claim asylum, which is for genuine refugees, when really they come here to do harm to others.

'This is why it's really important that we solve this small boats crisis, that's why I've changed the Conservative Party policy.

'As a woman in particular, I do worry so much about a lot of men coming here with attitudes that are backwards and medieval and thinking that they can do whatever they like.

'We need to be very tough on them.'

Robert Jenrick, the former Tory immigration minister until 2023, who now represents Reform, said: 'These evil men should never have been in our country.

What became of Fred and Rose West's children? Hi, I'm Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk. It was over 30 years ago that Fred and Rose West's 'house of horrors' was found - but have you ever wondered what happened to their children? Some live in fear, others have happy lives. Sign up here to get our exclusive piece for free.

'I couldn't care less if they have a hard time back in Egypt, they should be deported so they never step foot in this country again.

'The small boat crisis is a national security emergency. Murderers, spies and gangsters are crossing with impunity and it's destroying lives.

'Only a Reform UK Government led by Nigel Farage has the backbone to leave the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) and fix this daily disaster.'

Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: 'Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants are flooding into the UK each year by small boat and we have no idea who they are or what their history is.

'The majority are young men and many have committed rape, sexual assault and even murder  with some sexual assault victims girls as young as just 12 years old.

'We must completely stop illegal immigrants from entering the UK.

'The only way to do this is the Conservative plan to leave the ECHR and deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival. But Labour is too weak to do that.'

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch, said: 'Scum like Al-Danasurt should never be admitted let alone allowed to stay, to commit more heinous crimes.

'What about the human rights of innocent victims? He must be deported, now.

'We must stop this gaming of the system and break out of the absurd legal web with which we've enmeshed ourselves, and our indulgent immigration courts are only too willing to go along with.'

A five-week trial heard Al-Danasurt even filmed the rapes on his mobile phone, with the victim, in her 30s, virtually unconscious throughout.

He then shamelessly told jurors at Hove Crown Court he was trying to 'help' the woman by building up evidence of the attack.

Ahmadi is pictured being interviewed by police after the woman reported what had happened

After getting a bus back to their hotel after the alleged rape, the migrants filmed themselves having a barbecue on the hotel grounds

Al-Danasurt, from Egypt, leaves Hove Crown Court where he was convicted of rape

Al-Danasurt said he filmed the rapes to build up evidence to support the victim  a claim dismissed by jurors today

But he did nothing to stop the violent assaults on October 4 last year, carried out by his friends, who slapped and spat at the woman and made crude gestures while treating her like 'meat'.

Al-Danasurt, who told jurors 'rape is sex', kicked the defenceless victim as he gleefully filmed the sickening assault.

All three were failed asylum seekers, with Al-Danasurt and Ahmadi having their applications rejected before the attack, and Alshafe's application being turned down the weekend of the rape. It is understood they have each lodged an appeal against the decision.

Al-Danasurt arrived in the UK by small boat on October 11, 2024. He gave his name as Karin Abdulaziz Al-Danasurt, and said he was born on June 22, 2005.

This would have made him 19 when he arrived in the UK, and no older than 17 when he allegedly murdered someone back in Egypt.

He was later granted a room at Cisswood House Hotel in Horsham, Home Office-approved accommodation, where he met fellow Egyptian Alshafe. Indeed the pair became roommates, given they were both from the same North African nation.

Alshafe, also from Egypt, was convicted alongside his two co-defendants

Iranian national Ahmadi was convicted by jurors, who deliberated for more than 16 hours

The victim of the callous attack left the nightclub shortly after 5am and made her way along the seafront, before being attacked behind a shed on Brighton Beach

Little is known about Al-Danasurt's past, other than that he left school at 11, he also has a previous caution for criminal damage at Cisswood on April 6, 2025.

However, jurors were oblivious to him being wanted for murder.

Details of Al-Danasurt's criminal past emerged at a plea hearing in November last year, ahead of the trial, but the judge withdrew the evidence from the case after his defence team contested the conviction.

But his defence barrister said it was in fact his brother who had the conviction for murder, not him.

They added that the UK Government's assessment of Egypt is that a person who is openly critical of the government is likely to be at risk of serious harm.

As a result, the evidence was not heard by jurors during the trial because of the dispute.

Yesterday, prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters KC told the court there were 'ongoing inquiries at a very senior level' about Al-Danasurt's crimes abroad.

The trio will be sentenced on July 15.

It is not the first time an asylum seeker with a criminal past has given fake details to immigration authorities upon arrival in the UK. Afghan national Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai was jailed for life for murder

The trial heard Alshafe's asylum application had been refused on the day of the attack, although he claimed in court he did not know this prior to the group's outing.

The trio then filmed themselves getting ready then behaved like a 'predatory pack' after spotting the drunk victim as she staggered along the promenade when she became separated from her friends after a night out.

Approaching her in the street at around 5.45am on October 4 last year, two of the men engaged her in conversation, and just four minutes later they could be seen on CCTV camera walking her towards a ramp down to the beach.

The woman  who cannot be named  was then led behind a Beach Patrol shack and, as she drifted in and out of consciousness, Ahmadi and Alshafe brutally raped her.

The pair were joined by Al-Danasurt who filmed her on his phone, laughing and repeatedly calling her: 'Dirty b****, dirty b****.'

At one point he grabbed hold of her face, forced open her mouth and spat in it while encouraging his friends to do the same.

CCTV footage shown to the jury showed the group chatting up and groping other women throughout the night, including a friend of the woman they raped.

Prosecutors said they had not seen their victim as a human being but as a piece of 'meat'.

Giving evidence, the woman told the court: 'I was begging them to stop and they wouldn't.

'Every time I close my eyes I can see them laughing at me. Every night it bothers me.

'They thought it was funny. It wasn't consensual at all. They have literally ruined my whole life.

'I didn't say they could do that. My skin crawls because of what they did to me.

'They're evil and they've ruined my life.'

She described herself as 'paralytic drunk' and said she had no recollection of how she came to be on Brighton beach.

In one clip, Alshafe could be seen speaking to an unknown blonde female in Horizon nightclub in the early hours of October 4.

As she could not speak Arabic and he could not speak English, the pair communicated via the Google Translate app.

In a series of texts she asked him where he was from and told him he was welcome in the UK but questioned his motive for coming to the country.

She asked him what his 'goal' was for the future and how he saw his life panning out in Britain.

Reading from the message, Hanna Llewellyn-Water, prosecuting, said the woman asked: 'Is your only goal here to marry a British woman?'

He replied: 'I am in this country. I will build my future, meet a woman, get married, have children have and become a citizen.'

Another CCTV clip from earlier in the evening, showed Ahmadi and Alshafe in the foyer of Revolution nightclub.

Here, Ahmadi groped one of the complainant's friends, putting his arm around her waist.

Meanwhile, Al-Danasurt put his arms around an unknown brunette woman and stroked her bottom.

A video of them in a room at the asylum hotel where they were all living was shown to the jury.

They got a bus back to their hotel after the rape, before filming themselves having a barbecue in the grounds.

In the clip shown to the jury, one of the defendants appears to be smoking while they cook meat on a portable barbeque.

Ahmadi left the hotel the day after the rape and moved to an address in Crewe, Cheshire, where he was arrested on October 12, the court heard.

The move had not been approved by the Home Office and Ahmadi had been marked as 'absconding, self-departing' from the accommodation.

On October 13, Alshafe and Al-Danasurt, both of Lower Beeding, near Horsham, were arrested by police at their hotel.

Police on Thursday praised the victim for her bravery in coming forward.

Al-Danasurt told the trial he knew what he was witnessing was 'haram'  forbidden by Islamic law  and wanted to document it by filming it on his mobile.

In a police interview recorded nearly two weeks later, Al-Danasurt said he had no role in arranging or encouraging the rape.

He said: 'The video is there, you have seen it, they were raping her in the video. I was in shock, so I started recording what I was seeing.'

Asked why he laughed and zoomed in while he was filming, he said: 'I didn't mean anything at all.

'I do not remember, I just wanted to capture them all together.'

Prosecutor Ms Llewellyn-Waters said: 'There's lots of different types of sex, you were witnessing a rape.'

Al-Danasurt, who used an interpreter to give evidence, replied: 'That's what I saw. Rape to me is sex.'

The jury deliberated for 16 hours and 28 minutes before finding Al-Danasurt guilty of four counts of rape, with Ahmadi and Alshafe found guilty of two counts of rape each.

All three defendants are now deemed foreign national offenders, meaning they can be considered for deportation.

However, there are fears they may seek to appeal the decision on Human Rights grounds.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said: 'The perpetrators have now been rightly convicted, and justice has been delivered by the courts.

'Once sentencing has taken place, we will move to deport them off British soil.'

Foreign sex offenders are now excluded from refugee protections, meaning any future asylum claim will be denied.

Sussex Police Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh said: 'These three predatory men took advantage of an extremely vulnerable woman, subjecting her to a prolonged, harrowing ordeal.

'I do not underestimate the strength and courage it required to report this to the police and support the investigation as she dealt with the lasting impact of that morning's incident.

'Thanks to this woman's resolve, we have been able to bring her attackers to justice.'

Holly Morton, deputy chief crown prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This was an utterly appalling and violent attack on a woman unable to consent to any sexual activity.

'These men targeted her in a cynical, predatory and callous way, dragging her to a secluded spot, before repeatedly raping her for their own sexual gratification.

'None of us can begin to imagine what the woman went through that night. She described drifting in and out of consciousness and hearing the men laughing.

'Thanks to the bravery of the victim in reporting what happened to her that night, we have been able to bring these dangerous men to justice and ensure that they cannot target women again.'

It is not the first time an asylum seeker with a criminal past has given fake details to immigration authorities upon arrival in the UK.

Afghan national Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai was jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years after he murdered aspiring Royal Marine Thomas Roberts in Bournemouth in 2022.

Abdulrahimzai arrived in Britain on a ferry in 2019 posing as a 14-year-old orphan, when he was actually a 19-year-old fugitive wanted by Serbian police for killing two people with a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

His criminal background only became known after he was arrested for stabbing Mr Roberts.

Another, Palestinian national Abdulkarim Al-Gassas, arrived in the UK in March last year on a small boat, seeking asylum and claiming to be 'a victim of Hamas'.

He was put up in an asylum hotel.

But the Mail on Sunday revealed Al-Gassas was also known as Abu Wadee, a prominent member of the so-called 'tyre-burning unit'  a militant group of Palestinian extremists who regularly hurled fire-bombs and rocks at Israeli forces manning the border with Gaza, before the outbreak of war.

In one sickening video, posted on his Facebook page, he was filmed calling for Allah to 'punish (Jews) completely' and 'kill them one by one'.

He was later charged with entering the UK illegally, jailed and deported.
A Palestine Action activist who hit a police officer on the back with a sledgehammer said it 'seemed reasonable to do something' at the time, a court has heard.

Samuel Corner told his trial he brought the tool down on Sergeant Kate Evans after he heard 'someone screaming' and feared they were being injured by security guards during a raid at Israel-based defence firm Elbit Systems' site, near Bristol, on August 6, 2024.

On Thursday, Woolwich Crown Court heard Corner had hit the officer after being sprayed with Pava spray, without shouting a warning and the officer had not been able to see him coming.

When asked if he thought striking Sergeant Evans was over the top, the 23-year-old admitted it would have been had he considered the consequences.

Of the officer, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC asked the defendant: 'She posed no threat to you at all, did she?'

'Well no, not to me,' Corner said.

The prosecutor continued: 'Did you hit her because you thought she was a security guard and she was complicit with Elbit?'

Samuel Corner said it was 'reasonable' to hit a police officer with a sledgehammer after thinking they were hurting a friend

'No,' he replied.

'Did you think, Mr Corner, that she was fair game?' she asked.

'No,' the defendant responded.

The prosecutor asked: 'Do you agree that, whatever you may have thought, it was completely unreasonable to hit Sgt Evans with a sledgehammer?'

'I mean it seemed reasonable to do something and I had to act quickly,' Corner responded.

'Do you think it was completely unreasonable, over the top, to hit Sgt Evans on the back with a sledgehammer?' Ms Heer asked.

'Yes, if I'd thought about what that was going to do, then yes,' the defendant said.

Tom Wainwright, defending, asked: 'The prosecution's case is that your actions were unreasonable, what do you say to that?'

At an earlier hearing, Sergeant Kate Evans told jurors she believed her spine could have been 'shattered' and feared she may have been 'paralysed' after being hit by the activist

'I disagree,' Corner replied.

Jurors heard Corner believed one of his female friends was being 'seriously hurt' and he had acted to 'protect' her.

The defendant said he now accepted Sergeant Evans was not injuring anyone before he struck her.

Corner previously told the court he 'would never want to seriously hurt anyone', and denied it was part of a plan to use violence against people during the raid.

At an earlier hearing, Sergeant Evans told jurors she believed her spine could have been 'shattered' and feared she may have been 'paralysed' after being hit by the activist.

Alongside Corner, Charlotte Head, 30, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, are on trial accused of criminal damage over the incident.

Corner, a former linguistics and philosophy student at Oxford University, denies further charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Sergeant Evans.

In a character reference read to jurors by Mr Wainwright, Corner's grandfather described him as a 'gentle soul' who 'cares deeply about the injustices in the world' and 'finds any form of violence abhorrent'.

On Thursday afternoon, Leona Kamio began her evidence and told the court there had been no plan to do anything to the Elbit's security guards other than shout and training provided by Palestine Action on direct action did not include anything about the use of violence.

She said she felt 'terrified' and 'very nervous' before the incident and described Elbit as a 'very evil company'.

Jurors heard the 30-year-old was a nursery teacher at a forest school at the time of the break in and had previously been signed to Island Records as part of the band Salen.

'I still felt like what we were doing was necessary, like I came here to do something, to stop people from suffering,' she added.

Supporters outside Woolwich Crown Court, London, where Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani and Zoe Rogers are facing a retrial

'Working with children, I would have put one of their lives before any amount of property and me being tired or anxious doesn't equate to children being blown up.'

Kamio, who is originally from Swansea in Wales and said she was tasered during the incident, described one of the defence company's security guards as seemingly 'up for a fight' and 'psychotic'.

She added of the guards: 'I thought maybe they'd been told to teach us a lesson because we were protesting for Palestine.'

The trial has heard the defendants crashed into shutters outside the factory in a prison van, which was driven by Head and used 'as a battering ram'.

Once inside, they used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy computers, drones and other equipment, and sprayed the walls and floor with red paint using fire extinguishers, the court heard.

The defendants deny all charges and the trial continues.

On Thursday, the public gallery was almost full with supporters of the defendants, some of whom wore keffiyeh scarves.

Three people were arrested outside the court after conditions were put on a protest due to take place during the hearing, including not to use amplified sound equipment for music or speech and to stay within a specified area, the Metropolitan Police said.

A spokesperson for the force said officers had attended the court that morning ahead of the demonstration, adding: 'A 71-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of breaching these conditions.

'A 25-year-old man was further arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and inciting racial hatred.

'They remain in custody as inquiries continue.'
Vladimir Putin has sent a frigate into the English Channel to guard a shadow fleet believed to be carrying weapons.

The Admiral Grigorovich warship is escorting three Russian ships off the south coast in spite of Keir Starmer's threats to use force to seize sanctioned ships from Moscow.

The frigate is guarding the Sparta, the General Skobelev and the Akademik Pashin off the south coast.

The Sparta, a 415ft ship linked to military equipment transported to Syria, entered the Channel near Dover on Thursday morning and is said to be heading towards Port Said in Egypt.

It was sanctioned by the US in May 2022 after reportedly being part of a fleet of Russian vessels used to run supplies through the Bosphorus to Bashar al-Assad's Syria.

It was also used to evacuate Kremlin troops from Syria to Libya following the fall of the Syrian regime.

Often described as a 'clandestine' network, Russia's 'shadow fleet' are in fact hiding in plain sight as they ferry millions of barrels of oil through the world's busiest shipping route in defiance of Western sanctions, embargoes and price caps.

Dozens of these ships pass through the Dover Strait every month, part of a 'shadow fleet' of up to 800 vessels that continue to fuel Vladimir Putin's four-year war on Ukraine.

The Admiral Grigorovich warship is escorting three Russian ships off the south coast in spite of Keir Starmer's threats to use force to seize sanctioned ships from Moscow

Dozens of these ships pass through the Dover Strait every month, part of a 'shadow fleet' of up to 800 vessels that continue to fuel Vladimir Putin's four-year war on Ukraine

Sir Keir has ordered the navy to 'go after' vessels in Putin's shadow fleet, which Moscow uses to export oil across the world.

But on Monday it emerged Britain is failing to board and seize Russian 'shadow fleet' ships in the English Channel over fears about the cost of storing the vessels and asylum claims from the crews.

None have so far been boarded, despite several using the Channel since Sir Keir gave them the green light last month.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have raised concerns about asylum claims by Russian mercenaries crewing the ships.

And fears have been voiced about the cost of mooring the seized vessels, with officials citing the cost to the Irish government of holding the drug-running ship MV Matthew.

The Panama-registered vessel was confiscated in September 2023 after it was boarded and 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth 157million (132million) was found in the hold.

But it has cost 14million (12million) to maintain since then in Cork harbour ahead of plans to send it to be scrapped.

Earlier this month Sir Keir was criticised after the Royal Navy allowed a Russian warship to escort two shadow fleet vessels past Dover.

The frigate Admiral Grigorovich passed the coast with the 'senior service' only able to rustle up a support ship to watch them head for the Black Sea.

RFA Tideforce, an auxiliary tanker armed with only light defensive weapons, simply followed the three-ship flotilla past Dover without intervening.

Moscow's shadow fleet is reported to be made up of more than a thousand ageing tankers.

They illicitly ship oil and other goods out of Russia by flying the flags of other countries, with the aim of evading sanctions imposed by the West since the invasion of Ukraine began.

Finland, Sweden and Estonia have recently intercepted suspected shadow tankers travelling through the Baltic.

Announcing his plan to allow commando raids, Sir Keir said in March: '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.

The frigate is guarding the Sparta, the General Skobelev and the Akademik Pashin off the south coast

'That's why we're going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin's war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.

'He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.'

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has said the fact a Russian warship escorting shadow fleet tankers 'shows how vulnerable they now are'.

The Ministry of Defence was contacted for comment.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass left the White House with more than what she bargained for after heading to The Hill to beg President Trump for wildfire recovery money.

The scandal-scarred mayor was seen toting a Trump goodie bag that was packed to the brim with all sorts of MAGA merchandise as she exited 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The LA fires in January 2025 was the most destructive blaze in the city's history and burned down more than 6,800 homes and buildings across Southern California.

Bass, who is running for reelection this year, and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger met with the commander in chief on Wednesday to discuss recovery funding amid a standoff with leaders over the federal government's role in the efforts.

'This afternoon, we met with President Trump and Administration officials to advocate for families who lost everything,' the LA officials said in a joint statement.

'We had a very positive discussion about FEMA and other rebuilding funds, as well as the support of the President to continue joining us in pressuring the insurance companies to pay what they owe  and for the big banks to step up to ease the financial pressure on LA families.'

'Our job is to fight for our communities. When it comes to this recovery, our federal partners are essential, and we are grateful for the support of the President,' she added.

Former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who is in the running to replace Bass, shared photos of her leaving the White House with a staffer who appeared to be holding a bag with Trump's signature on it.

'Look at the MAGA merch! Karen Bass sold her soul to Trump in a last ditch desperation move ahead of the election LMAO,' Pratt wrote on X.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger met with the president on Wednesday to discuss wildfire recovery funding

A Bass staffer (left) appeared to be holding a bag with Trump's signature on it as they left the White House

Trump has reportedly given out similarly signed merchandise bags to guests at other events.

The White House Historical Association, which operates two gift shops near the White House, told the Daily Mail they do not have any information regarding the merchandise or Bass's visit.

The Daily Mail contacted the White House, Bass and Barger's offices for comment.

Bass is facing a primary election in June and is under pressure after her handling of the fires.

The mayor did not share details about the specifics of her conversation with Trump, but indicated that progress is being made.

'I think what's important is that we certainly got the president's support in terms of, you know, what is needed, and then the appropriate people were in the room for us to follow up. And that was Russ Vought, who is the head of the Office of Management and budget,' she told KNX.

Pratt, 42, announced his campaign in January following a slew of public criticism of Bass over her handling of the massive wildfires at the start of 2025.

His unlikely political career followed years on television, including the hit MTV series, The Hills, where he met his wife Heidi Montag.

The LA fires in January 2025 was the most destructive blaze in the city's history and burned down more than 6,800 homes and buildings across Southern California

Spencer Pratt, pictured above filling out election paperwork, announced his campaign in January following a slew of public criticism of Bass over her handling of the wildfires

However, a recent poll conducted by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs suggests that Pratt's long-shot campaign may not be a long shot after all.

The poll still has Bass in the lead, with 25 percent of participants saying they plan to vote for her in the June primary.

Pratt came in second, with 11 percent of respondents saying they intended to vote for him in June.

Nithya Raman, a city council member and longtime Bass ally, came in a close third, receiving 9 percent of participants' support.

Rae Chen Huang, a pastor and housing advocate, and Adam Miller, a nonprofit executive and entrepreneur, tied for fourth with 3 percent. Nine percent of participants said they planned to vote for a different candidate.

Pratt is running as an independent. Los Angeles has a unique voting structure where the top two candidates in the primary run against one another in a November runoff.

However, if a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes in June, they win the election, and there is no runoff in the fall.

Bass won the election comfortably four years ago, but is facing an uphill battle this time around as her approval rating has plummeted.
An investment boss accused of sending thousands of emails to his former business partner and his wife appeared in court today.

Simon Lyons, 45, and Farid Alizadeh, 45, set up Enstar Capital Ltd in 2004, and worked on more than 100million worth of developments.

In 2023, a High Court judge granted an injunction under the Protection from Harassment Act banning Lyons from harassing Mr Alizadeh and his wife, 46-year-old Natasha Alizadeh.

Lyons is now accused of sending the couple thousands of emails between January 2024 and March 2025.

Representing himself, Lyons appeared at Southwark Crown Court in a black shirt and chinos.

Having previously denied two charges of breaching an injunction, an offence punishable by up to five years, his trial is now scheduled for April 24, 2028.

Simon Lyons is accused of sending the couple thousands of emails between January 2024 and March 2025

Lyons and Farid Alizadeh set up Enstar Capital Ltd in 2004, and worked on more than 100million worth of developments

He remains on bail on condition he does not contact Mr and Mrs Alizadeh directly or indirectly.

Lyons went to Clifton College public school in Bristol and now lives in an expensive apartment in Grosvenor Crescent, near Buckingham Palace.

Among other major projects, the company was involved in the conversion of former offices into a 20million development of luxury apartments opposite the Royal Courts of Justice in central London in 2015.
Ukraine has claimed it wiped out 12 Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers in a precision drone strike on a secret command base deep inside occupied territory.

Kyiv says a dozen officers were killed when a swarm of high-precision drones smashed into a building by Russia's feared FSB in the Donetsk region.

The attack, described as highly targeted, reportedly left a further 15 wounded.

Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's top drone commander, said eight unmanned aircraft were used to strike the site on Wednesday.

Dramatic footage released by his unit appeared to show first-person-view drones hurtling towards a high-rise before a series of massive explosions ripped through one of its floors, sending debris flying across the area.

Mr Brovdi said the strike had destroyed a command post and an operational special unit belonging to Russia's FSB.

He claimed that the unit had specialised in counter-intelligence, sabotage attacks and coordinating pro-Russian militants within the territory of Ukraine.

The reported strike comes at a critical moment in the war, with fresh analysis suggesting Moscow's grinding offensive may be stalling for the first time in more than two years.

Kyiv says a dozen officers were killed when a swarm of high-precision drones smashed into a building by Russia's feared FSB in the Donetsk region

Dramatic footage released by his unit appeared to show first-person-view drones hurtling towards a high-rise before a series of massive explosions ripped through one of its floors

The attack, described as highly targeted, reportedly left a further 15 wounded

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have failed to make territorial gains since March and have, in fact, lost nearly 23.2 square miles of ground since the start of the month.

Kyiv says it has inflicted more than 55,000 casualties on Russian troops over the same period, largely through drone usage, as Putin continues to pour soldiers into the so-called 'kill zone' - a vast, UAV-patrolled stretch of frontline spanning some 800 miles.

Ukrainian officials now believe they are in their strongest battlefield position for a year, crediting a growing edge in drone warfare and improved air defences.

'We are holding the line. Indeed, our battlefield position is the strongest or most solid it has been in the past year. Truly the strongest,' said Andriy Sybiha, the foreign minister.

'We have minimised the Russians' manpower advantage through drone use,' he added.

In a further boost for Kyiv, the European Union has agreed to release a 78.2billion loan package after Hungary lifted its long-standing veto.

The funds are expected to support Ukraine's battered economy and bankroll weapons production, though officials warn a funding gap of nearly 16.9billion could still emerge by 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the first tranche could arrive as early as late May or June and would be channelled into domestic arms manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued to paint a far rosier picture of the war effort.

Valery Gerasimov, the Kremlin's top military officer, has repeatedly claimed sweeping territorial gains, insisting earlier this week that Moscow had captured 656 square miles of Ukrainian land since January.

Separate estimates indicate Russia's advances in early 2026 are roughly half of what they were during the same period last year.

Military analysts say Moscow's struggles have been compounded by communications issues, including the loss of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service and restrictions on the Telegram messaging platform, both widely used on the battlefield.

Ukraine, by contrast, has pressed ahead with counter-offensive tactics, particularly around the Zaporizhzhia-Dnipro junction, where it has managed to blunt Russian advances.

There are also signs of growing alarm inside the Kremlin over Kyiv's rapid technological progress.

Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's top drone commander, said eight unmanned aircraft were used to strike the site on Wednesday

Mr Brovdi said the strike had destroyed a command post and an operational special unit belonging to Russia's FSB

The reported strike comes at a critical moment in the war, with fresh analysis suggesting Moscow's grinding offensive may be stalling for the first time in more than two years

Russian military bloggers have claimed that Defence Minister Andrey Belousov recently warned Putin that Ukraine now holds a significant drone advantage.

On Wednesday, Ukraine unveiled a new fixed-wing kamikaze drone dubbed the 'Khmarynka', capable of striking targets up to 31 miles away at speeds of 87mph, carrying a 7kg payload.

Kyiv's long-range drone campaign is also taking a toll on Russia's economy.

A Reuters report this week suggested the country could be facing its steepest drop in oil output in six years after sustained strikes on key ports and refineries.

Production is believed to have fallen by around 300,000 barrels per day in April following repeated attacks on Baltic Sea facilities at Ust-Luga and Primorsk, as well as the Black Sea hub of Novorossiysk.

Earlier this week, a strike on the Tuapse refinery triggered a massive blaze that raged for three days, with hundreds of firefighters battling to contain it.

Local officials warned of an environmental disaster, as residents described 'oil rain' coating homes, cars and vegetation in thick black residue.

Vil Mirzayanov, an exiled chemist credited with developing the Novichok nerve agent, warned that fumes from burning petrochemicals could cause 'mass poisoning of the population'.

Overnight strikes on Wednesday reportedly hit a petrochemical plant in Russia's Samara region and an oil pumping station in Nizhny Novgorod, as Ukraine kept up pressure on critical infrastructure.

Despite the mounting military and economic strain, Moscow has pointed to diplomatic developments as a sign of resilience.

Russia has been invited to attend the G20 summit in the United States later this year, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Pankin.

'There is an invitation to be present at the highest level, but we will see closer to the date,' said Aleksandr Pankin.
LCR-Reader is Ultimate Tool for Field Work for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) in aviation, space and military

ORLANDO, Fla., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its 2025 promotional tour, Siborg Systems Inc. started 2026 with presentation of its award-winning LCR-Reader line of multimeters at two of USA's top electronics events  IPC APEX Trade Show (March 17-19, Anaheim, California) and MRO Americas (April 21-23, Orlando, Florida). Both shows attract leading engineers, manufacturers, and R&D professionals from all around the world. At the IPC APEX Conference, Siborg presented a talk "Measuring small inductances using low frequency LCR-meters"

Ultimate Pocket-Sized Professional Miltimeters for Field Work Latest LCR-Reader Model Presented at MRO Americas 2026 in Orlando, FL

The spotlight was on the newest addition to the LCR-Reader family  the LCR-meter LCR-Reader-MPB, a compact device that merges the capabilities of the acclaimed LCR-Reader-MPA and LCR-Reader-R2 models and the first ever tweezer-meter offering CAN protocol support.

Comparison of LCR-Reader-MPB with popular benchtop LCR meters for wide testing range are summarized below:

Bench-level precision: Benchtop instruments may outperform in broad frequency sweeps, yet LCR-Reader-MPB delivers near-bench accuracy in a compact form factor.

Benchtop instruments may outperform in broad frequency sweeps, yet LCR-Reader-MPB delivers near-bench accuracy in a compact form factor. Exceptional versatility: The MPB integrates AC/DC voltage and frequency measurement, LED/diode testing, a signal generator, oscilloscope, and Analog Signature Analysisall within a handheld, cost-effective device.

The MPB integrates AC/DC voltage and frequency measurement, LED/diode testing, a signal generator, oscilloscope, and Analog Signature Analysisall within a handheld, cost-effective device. NIST Traceable Calibration: All LCR-Reader devices are calibrated in collaboration with respectful Navair Technologies, a certified calibration facility in Toronto

All LCR-Reader devices are calibrated in collaboration with respectful Navair Technologies, a certified calibration facility in Toronto Portable productivity: Ideal for field engineers, service technicians, and R&D labs where portability and speed are priorities.

Ideal for field engineers, service technicians, and R&D labs where portability and speed are priorities. Popular application areas: High precision and unrivaled functionality make it an indispensable tool for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) in aviation, space and military

The LCR-Reader line originated in 2014 with the launch of the LCR-Reader R1, a simplified, budget-friendly version of Smart Tweezers. A major redesign in 2020 introduced the LCR-Reader-MPA, later honored with Plant Engineering Magazine's Product of the Year Award. Known for their automatic operation, high accuracy, and wide measurement range, LCR-Reader devices have become indispensable tools for electronics testing and development.

Since then, the family has expanded to include the R2 (250 kHz test frequency), R3 (budget model with multilingual interface), and now the MPB, combining the most advanced features from both flagship and high-frequency models. A complete overview of the brand's evolution can be found in the Smart Tweezers Archive on Siborg's website.

Siborg has actively participated in major international trade events, including the SMTA International Expo and Conference (Rosemont, Illinois, 2024), where it presented "Calibration of Tweezer Meters Enabling Sub-1 pF and Sub-10 nH Measurements." The company also exhibited at IPC APEX EXPO (Anaheim, April 2025), Nepcon South Korea (April 16-18), Inatronics Indonesia (April 23-25), Taitronics 2025, Taipei (October 22-25), and Electronic Asia 2025, Hong Kong (October 13-16).

At these events, the LCR-Reader-MPA earned praise for its oscilloscope mode (waveform analysis up to 100 kHz) and proprietary Short/Open calibration boards (Patent Pending)a solution recently highlighted by NASA Tech Briefs. These tools allow sub-pico- and sub-nano-scale, rivaling benchtop instruments at a fraction of the cost.

The latest generation introduces Bluetooth connectivity, enabling real-time Pass/Fail testing, data logging, and visual PCB-based component selection. The new LCR-Reader Data Logger supports BOM and PCB image import, allowing users to select and test components directly on screen. Combined with sub-second evaluation times, this dramatically increases testing speed and productivity.

LCR-Reader Product Highlights

LCR-Reader-MPA  0.1% accuracy, up to 100 kHz test frequency, oscilloscope, voltage/current meter, signal generator.

 0.1% accuracy, up to 100 kHz test frequency, oscilloscope, voltage/current meter, signal generator. LCR-Reader-R2  250 kHz high-frequency model with Analog Signature Analysis.

with Analog Signature Analysis. LCR-Reader-MPB  combining features of LCR-Reader-MPA and LCR-Reader-R2, with CAN protocol support

 combining features of and with CAN protocol support LCR-Reader-R3  Budget version with multilingual interface.

 Budget version with multilingual interface. Bluetooth-enabled models  Real-time data logging, BOM import, and visual test mapping.

Media Contact

Michael Obrecht

5198889906

[email protected]

SOURCE Siborg Systems Inc
A teenager has described the moment he discovered he was HIV positive after being deliberately infected by a rapist predator.

Sex shop worker Adam Hall, 43, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, was on Thursday sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 23 years.

Described in court as a 'monster', Hall deliberately passed on the disease to vulnerable and inexperienced sexual partners, including five men and two boys aged just 15 and 17.

Hall hid his HIV status from partners, failed to take medication to keep his viral load low, then had unprotected sex with men, sometimes raping them.

One of his victims has spoken about the moment 'everything went numb' when he was diagnosed with HIV aged just 15.

The victim, who is now an adult and remains anonymous, said he received the devastating call when he was on his way home from school.

He said: 'I had just gotten off the school bus and I was walking home and my phone started ringing.

'When I picked it up it was a sexual health nurse, she explained that my results had come back and I was HIV positive.

'Everything shattered, everything went numb. I was mortified, not only at the situation, at myself. How has this happened to me, I felt like I was sinking.'

Adam Hall, 43, of Washington, Tyne and Wear has been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 23 years and 42 days

In court, Hall denied the charges against him and even claimed that some of his victims wanted to be infected with HIV.

Hall was convicted of five counts of rape and seven counts of causing grievous bodily harm - by deliberately infecting partners with HIV - after meeting them in bars in the Newcastle area or on the dating app Grindr, following a four-month trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

The offences relate to seven victim-survivors, between 2016 and 2023.

His victims were aged from 15 to their late 20s, with the youngest finding out he had contracted HIV in a phone call from health professionals moments after he stepped off a school bus.

Hall had denied the offences, but on Thursday, March 5, following a four-month-long trial, he was finally found guilty.

Police said the investigation into Adam Hall was complex, taking an estimated 35,000 hours of officer time.

As part of the operation, 450 statements were taken, 1,600 documents were generated, 670 exhibits were recorded and evidence was heard from 37 witnesses during the trial. 819 actions were generated and dealt with by officers during the course of their enquiries.

During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury was told that if the HIV virus is undetectable in a persons system it is untransmittable.

However, Hall knew at various points he had transmittable levels of the virus in his system and intentionally had unprotected sex  and in the majority of these cases raped the victim-survivors.

The victim told the BBC: 'I was angry and I couldn't comprehend why someone could do this to harm someone.

'I just felt like I had my rights stripped away.

'There is a lot of people who just think that it is a death sentence. A lot of people still judge me as dirty, unclean, that you sleep around all the time, those types of comments. It is a really hurtful process from start to finish.'

He becomes only the second person in the UK to be convicted of the intentional transmission of HIV and will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Sentencing Hall, who was known on the Newcastle chem sex scene, Judge Edward Bindloss described him as 'dangerous'.

Prior to his conviction, Hall had worked in bars and at a Tyneside sex shop, and had even tried to set up a charity for people with HIV.

A second victim said: 'The whole thing is so unfair, he knew he was infected, and he thought he could get away with infecting me, that he was immune from any consequences.

'He didn't even give me the option to take any pre or post-HIV exposure treatment.'

A third added: 'I blame myself for letting the monster in.'

Detectives found that the predator was active on the gay scene in Newcastle but travelled to see men he met on the dating app Grindr across the North East, including County Durham and Middlesbrough, as well as North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester and London.

He was first diagnosed with HIV in 2010 and was repeatedly advised of the importance of taking his medication, the court heard.

By 2016, health professionals had become concerned that Hall was not adhering to his treatment, making him infectious to others he slept with.

But he went on to have unprotected sex with other men between November 2016 and May 2023, with all of his victims only discovering his status after being diagnosed with HIV themselves.

Craig Hassall KC, defending, said Hall told the probation officer who compiled a pre-sentence report 'he feels sick at the thought that he had transferred HIV to others'.

He added: 'He maintains he did not do so intentionally.'

Hall was also convicted of count of coercive and controlling behaviour, supplying the controlled drug GBH and failing to comply with a police investigation after refusing to provide the password to his phone.

Health officials are urging anyone across the country who may have had sex with Adam Hall to get themselves checked for HIV.

Newcastle director of public health Professor Alice Wiseman urged people who have had sex with Hall to access confidential health services in their area.

She said: 'The sooner that anyone is diagnosed, the better the treatment is.

'We want to eliminate HIV in the long term, the way to do that is for those who are infected to receive treatment as soon as possible.

'The earlier you are diagnosed, the sooner you can have anti-retroviral therapy, and if you are consistent with your treatment, you can reduce your viral load so you are no longer infectious to those around you.'

A warning has been issued to other public health directors around the country about Hall's offending and the potential for there to be more victims whom he deliberately infected.

Speaking after Hall's sentencing hearing, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Emma Smith, of Northumbria Police, said: 'Adam Hall has now been sentenced to life imprisonment for his abhorrent offending.

'We remain exceptionally grateful to the victim-survivors who came forward to report Hall's crimes and who have bravely supported our investigation.

'It is because of them that this sexual predator is now behind bars and will be closely monitored for the rest of his life.

'I hope the outcome today can provide some sort of closure for them and allow them to move forward with their lives  if that is at all possible.'

She added: 'We can confirm we have an ongoing investigation into further reports made in relation to Adam Hall.

'Our priority firmly remains supporting anyone who has been impacted by Hall's actions in whatever way we can.

'Anyone who believes they may be a victim of a criminal offence is encouraged to come forward to ourselves.

'We have set-up a dedicated webpage for people to contact us, which can be accessed by visiting our website.

'We would further encourage anyone who may have health concerns to seek advice and support from your local sexual health services.

'There are safe places where you can access a broad range of services. We want people to know this is available confidentially and independently of the police.

Amy Dixon, Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Adam Hall deliberately transmitted HIV to the victim-survivors in this case, some of whom he also raped. We wanted to ensure that he was prosecuted and that his sentence appropriately reflected the severity of his crimes.

'A crucial part of this was working with victims to get the evidence we needed to demonstrate that it was Hall's intention to transmit the disease and to rule out any other potential sources of the disease.

'I would like to extend my thanks to Northumbria Police for their excellent work on what has been a highly complex investigation.

'Above all, I would like to praise the bravery and dignity shown by the victim-survivors and witnesses in this case.

'I hope that each of those impacted by Adam Hall's actions can take some solace in knowing that their evidence has played a key part in securing this significant custodial sentence against him today.'
The mother of a baby that died a week after a natural home birth was not made aware of the risks by her local NHS Trust, an inquest has heard.

Poppy Home Lomas was just seven days old when she died at University College Hospital, central London, on October 26, 2022.

She died following complications during a home birth, which her mother said she was encouraged to have.

A coroner concluded that Poppy likely died from a severe hypoxic ischaemic brain event, which happens when the brain lacks oxygen, suffered in the 30 minutes before her birth.

Barnet Coroner's Court heard Gemma Lomas was not properly consulted about the risks surrounding the natural delivery of her second child, having delivered her first daughter Willow via caesarean section.

The planned home delivery took place with Edgware Midwives, the designated home birth team at Barnet Hospital, which is part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

The inquest heard Alice Boardman, who was head midwife at Edgware Midwives, had encouraged a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) at home but failed to explain the potential risks.

Senior coroner Andrew Walker said the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust agreed to support Poppy's mother Gemma Lomas with an 'unsafe home delivery that was against medical advice' and failed to address 'an accumulation of risk factors'.

Poppy Hope Lomas died at University College Hospital in central London following complications with her home birth

In his concluding remarks, Mr Walker told the court: 'The trust agreed to support Ms Lomas with an unsafe home delivery that was against medical advice and the guidance provided by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Rcog).

'The home delivery midwives worked against a background of an accumulation of risk factors including a prolonged rupture of the membranes without antibiotic cover, two decelerations around one and a half hours before delivery, the slow delivery and poor condition at birth.

'There was a failure to recognise and appropriately manage these risk factors.'

He said this resulted in an 'absence or delay in interventions and actions'.

After the inquest concluded on Thursday, Ms Lomas read a statement to reporters outside the court, saying: 'Today's finding confirmed what we have lived every single day since losing our precious daughter Poppy.

'We came here for the truth because Poppy's life mattered and because she deserves to be remembered for more than the circumstances of her death.

'Nothing will ever bring her back but hearing the truth today acknowledged means everything to us.

'We trusted the professionals who were guiding us and Poppy should have had the safest possible start in her life.

'Our hope is that by hearing Poppy's story lessons will be learned and changes will be made so that no other family has to endure the pain that we will carry for the rest of our lives.'

She added: 'Poppy was our daughter, she was loved beyond words and she will never be forgotten.'

The inquest had heard Ms Lomas was not told of the risks involved with delivering naturally at her home, having already given birth to her first daughter Willow by caesarean section in 2018.

Poppy likely died from a severe hypoxic ischaemic brain event, which happens when the brain lacks oxygen, suffered in the 30 minutes before her birth

The inquest previously heard Ms Lomas was not told of the risks involved with delivering naturally at her home, having already given birth to her first daughter Willow by Caesarean in 2018.

Ms Lomas described how midwives were slow to react when Poppy was born 'blue and floppy'. Doctors from University College Hospital in London later discovered the baby girl had been 'starved of oxygen' for 'around seven to eight minutes'.

In a witness statement read out by her lawyer, Teresa Hargreaves, Ms Lomas said: 'The midwife placed Poppy on my chest and said, "There's your baby".

'Poppy was blue and floppy. There was blood coming out of her mouth and her head fell back. That's a horrific memory that sticks in my mind, being handed my dead baby.

'I said "there's something wrong" but the midwives moved very slowly, there was no sense of urgency.'

Ms Lomas told the court on Monday that Alice Boardman, who was head midwife at Edgware Midwives and present at Poppy's birth, actively encouraged her to have a vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) at home.

Guidance from the Rcog states VBACs should take place in a 'suitably staffed and equipped delivery suite' and 'with resources available for immediate caesarean delivery'.

In her statement, Ms Lomas said: 'I immediately trusted Alice. She was young and I felt like she was really advocating for me. She was very upbeat and said: "Let's go for this."

'VBACs were something they did every day. She said theyd just delivered a lady with a VBAC with twins.

'She said that, because of my previous C-section, Id have to "jump through a few hoops" and speak to their consultant.

'I was very much led to believe that the conversation Id be having with their consultant was just a tick box exercise and there was no good reason I could not have a VBAC at home.'

Poppy was rushed to hospital after the midwives, who are the designated home birth team at Barnet Hospital, told Mr Lomas to ring 999.

After the Poppy's brain was scanned, Dr Giles Kendall, a consultant neonatologist, described the scan as 'one of the worst that he'd seen in his career', according to Ms Lomas's statement.

Dr Kendall believed Poppy had been 'starved of oxygen for a long time', Ms Lomas said, while Ms Boardman estimated it to be around seven to eight minutes.

Doctors from University College Hospital in London later discovered the baby girl had been 'starved of oxygen' for 'around seven to eight minutes'

Ms Lomas told reporters she was 'encouraged' by medical staff to give birth at home, adding she 'would have never made decisions to harm myself or my baby'.

She said: 'I was encouraged to do what we did. I would have never made decisions to harm myself or my baby in any capacity.

'So I think moving forward for women and, you know, families, having the right information presented to them, in a good way, will make the decisions easier.'

Poppy's parents Gemma and Jason Lomas, from Enfield, north London, held hands as Mr Walker gave his concluding remarks on Thursday.

The coroner made four recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Care, including that patients should sign a consent form 'clearly' setting out the risks when they choose not to follow medical advice for delivery.

He added multi-disciplinary meetings with the consultant obstetrician, hospital midwives, home delivery midwives and the patient should be held when a patient chooses 'an unsafe birth at home' so they are aware of the risks to their baby and themselves.

The coroner also said: 'It is a matter of concern that the nationally used expression 'out of guidance' is used in these circumstances, when the patient has chosen an unsafe birth at home and in doing so has decided to refuse to consent to the care the hospital recommend for the management of the birth rather than an expression that captures both elements rather than just the Rcog guidance.

'It is a matter of concern that the home delivery kit does not include a pulse oximeter for maternal heart rate.'

Mr Walker told the court it was likely Ms Lomas's heart rate was believed to be Poppy's when checks were being carried just before the birth.

A spokesperson from the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Our heartfelt condolences remain with Poppy Lomas's family at this incredibly difficult time and we are profoundly sorry for their loss.

'Following an investigation, we have introduced a number of measures to improve care for women delivering their baby at home.

'This includes ensuring midwifery teams are aware of the guidance around transferring mothers to hospital and improving communication between clinicians and women.

'We will carefully review all the matters raised by the coroner and will respond to him in due course.'
King Charles's visit to the US next week could 'absolutely' help to repair the country's fractured relationship with the UK, Donald Trump has claimed.

The King and Queen will travel to Washington on Monday for a four-day trip to mark the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence as the monarch looks to shore up the special relationship.

Charles will hold a private meeting with the US President and deliver a speech to Congress before visiting New York, Virginia and Bermuda.

The UK-US relationship has plunged to its lowest point in decades as Keir Starmer refuses to unquestionably support Trump's war against Iran.

But asked if the trip could repair relations, Trump told the BBC: 'Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.

'I know him well, I've known him for years. He's a brave man, and he's a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.'

Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir, calling the UK's approach to the Iran war 'terrible' and mocking him for being 'no Winston Churchill'.

In another swipe he suggested 'we don't want another Neville Chamberlain', who is remembered for the policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany before World War Two.

Donald Trump has suggested the visit of King Charles could help repair the UK-US relationship

The King and Queen will travel to the US on Monday for a four-day trip to mark the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence

But Trump said he believed the PM could 'recover' if he changes his migration policies.

He added: 'If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now they're not, he can recover, but if he doesn't, I don't think he has a chance.'

The president has consistently intervened in British politics and on Monday said Lord Mandelson's appointment as Ambassador to the US was a 'really bad pick'.

Sir Keir has tried to play down his frayed relations with Trump. Last week he told Parliament the special relationship is 'far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time'.

Trump, meanwhile, has called the King a 'wonderful person', and insisted he is distinct from the diplomatic drama.

When the pair sit down together next week, it will first be for a private tea hours after Charles touches down, and then another meeting behind closed doors in the White House the next day, without any media present.

Charles's address to Congress, only the second by a British monarch, will be broadcast to American television, when he is expected to speak of the 'challenges' the UK and US face.

Both he and Trump will also read prepared speeches at the extravagant White House State Dinner.

There will also be a visit to New York to commemorate the victims of 9/11.

Earlier this month Trump gushed over the King, calling him a 'great gentleman, a friend of mine' and a 'fantastic person'.

Trump has called the King a 'wonderful person', and insisted he is distinct from the diplomatic drama

The UK-US relationship has plunged to its lowest point in decades as Keir Starmer refuses to unquestionably support Trump's war against Iran

When asked which aspect of the state visit he was looking forward to most, Trump said: 'Just being with him. I've known him for a long time. He's wonderful. Wonderful person.'

The president also denied that his strained relationship with Keir Starmer would taint the meeting with Charles, insisting the King was 'not involved in that process'.

During the trip Queen Camilla will be meeting with domestic and sexual abuse survivors on several occasions.

And there will be opportunities for the royal couple to meet the American people as part of a series of carefully-managed public engagements.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the visit, which is taking place at the request of the British government and has faced repeated calls to be scrapped, came at a perilous time for the so-called 'special relationship'.

They said of the visit: 'This is celebrating a partnership between two nations and two peoples. It is a relationship that has survived many presidencies and, of course, many reigns, and will no doubt continue to do so long into the future.'
An Alabama mom has lost both her boy in a horrific car crash that left their friend injured after they sped out of a local gravel pit.

Braxton, 20, and Braden Canterberry, 17, and their friend, 18, who was not identified, were seen by police speeding out of a local gravel pit on County Road 36 around 2am on Wednesday.

Police had been called to the area for teens drinking in the pit, ABC 33/40 reported.

Cops later found their SUV crashed and all three occupants had been ejected from the vehicle. It was a single-vehicle crash.

The Canterberry boys were found deceased, while their friend was life-flighted to a Birmingham hospital in critical condition, AL.com reported.

Authorities said the crash was not the result of a police pursuit. Although police turned on their lights, they did not chase the car.

The deaths of the Canterberry boys left their mother, Brandy Mitchell-Canterberry, devastated, as the mother-of-three mourned her youngest children.

'These two boys were my world,' she told AL.com. 'They were my reason for everything.

Braxton Canterberry, 20, and Braden Canterberry, 17, died after crashing their car on Wednesday around 2am

Their mother Brandy Mitchell-Canterberry has been left heartbroken after their deaths

Police saw the boys and their 18-year-old friend, who was not identified, speeding away from a gravel pit moments before the crash

Their vehicle was found up the road from the gravel pit. Authorities said the crash was not due to police pursuit

'I feel like Im watching someone elses life play out. Nothing seems real and I dont know how it ever will again.'

The boys were well entrenched in their local community, their mother said, writing on Facebook that they were 'raised with the same group of kids since birth.'

'Every family, every parent in this community feels this loss like its their own,' she said.

The town of Brilliant has a population of 845, and is located near the Alabama-Mississippi border.

Police are still investigating the crash and no new details are available.

Mitchell-Canterberry remembers her boys as smart, funny, and kind, she told AL.com.
A seven-year-old boy has been left in a 'serious condition' in hospital after being struck by a car on a city centre road.

The crash between a silver Volkswagen Polo and the boy, who was riding a scooter, took place at around 4pm on Wednesday in Hanley, Stoke.

Police, paramedics and an air ambulance scrambled to the scene and the child was airlifted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Police said on Thursday the boy remains in a serious but stable condition.

The force also issued an appeal for witnesses. A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: 'We are appealing for information following a serious collision in Stoke-on-Trent involving a child.

'We were called at around 4pm on Wednesday (22 April) to Commercial Road, Hanley, following reports of a collision involving a silver Volkswagen Polo and a seven-year-old boy, who was riding a scooter.

'The child was taken to hospital for treatment, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.

Police, paramedics and an air ambulance scrambled to the scene and the child was airlifted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital

'Officers spoke to a number of people at the scene at the time of the incident and carried out initial enquiries.

'We are now asking anyone who witnessed the collision or who has relevant CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage and has not yet spoken to a police officer to get in touch.

'The road was closed for a period while emergency services dealt with the incident and to allow officers to carry out enquiries. The road reopened at around 8.45pm.

'Anyone with information is asked to call us on 101, use Live Chat on our website, or email collision investigators at ciu@staffordshire.police.uk, quoting incident number 521 of 22 April.'
France could still receive extra millions under Labours new payment by results Channel deal even if the number of migrants goes up, it has emerged.

Downing Street suggested the agreement may allow British taxpayers cash to be handed over if small boat arrivals fail to reduce.

The deal  signed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood today  includes an unconditional 500million to pay for beach patrols in France, plus 160million in performance-related funding.

Asked if the extra cash would hinge on the number of crossings being reduced, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers official spokesman said: No, this is another tool in our armoury to reduce the number of illegal boat crossings.

The conditionality  the specific metrics  we are working on.

He suggested the French performance would be measured on factors such as the number of arrests rather than the total number of crossings.

What we have announced today is the principle, for the first time ever, of this flexible funding arrangement, he said.

We will now work on the metrics that will evaluate that success.

More than 6,000 migrants have successfully reached Britain so far this year, including 602 on a single day last week, and now Labour has announced a detention centre will be built near Dunkirk with 140 places

We will obviously be looking at things like arrests, disruptions.

That will determine whether the additional funding will continue after year one.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: France shouldnt get a single penny unless they stop the vast majority of the boats.

The Governments deal hands over half a billion pounds of our money with no conditions at all.

France only prevented a third of embarkations last year and they even let those illegal immigrants go to try again.

Your browser does not support iframes.



Last year saw 41,472 migrants reach Britain, the second-highest annual total since the start of the crisis in 2018.

A detention centre for migrants will finally be built in France three years after it was first announced  but it will only have 140 spaces.

The French government has agreed to detain small boat migrants on the beaches, transfer them to the new centre and then deport them, Ms Mahmood said.

The deal was first mooted by then Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak under a previous agreement with Emmanuel Macrons government in March 2023.

The new facility in Dunkirk, funded from the 160million conditional sum, will have a capacity of 140 migrants but, by comparison, more than 6,000 have reached Britain so far this year including 602 on a single day last week.

The Home Office said the new centre, due to open by the end of the year, would aim to remove hundreds of small boat migrants from French beaches every year to their home nations or other European countries they passed through.

Labours three-year funding deal will push the total amount of British taxpayers money given to France since 2018 past 1.3billion.

Since the previous three-year deal was agreed under the Tories more than 84,000 migrants have reached Britain.

It came as a new survey showed only 13 per cent of Britons believe France is sincerely attempting to stem Channel crossings.

A YouGov poll of more than 5,300 UK adults showed 61 per cent believe the French are not making a genuine effort to prevent migrants heading to the UK, while 13 per cent did, with the rest dont knows.

One of Sir Keir Starmer's first acts as PM was to scrap the previous government's Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed to deter crossings and save lives by removing Channel migrants to east Africa.
Sir Keir Starmer today said he is 'increasingly concerned' about countries using proxies for attacks in the UK.

The Prime Minister expressed his fears as he visited the Kenton United Synagogue in north-west London on Thursday.

It is one of several Jewish venues to have been targeted by arsonists in recent weeks.

Police are currently working to establish whether Iran has paid British criminals to carry out acts on UK soil.

'We have to deal with malign state actors, that will require legislation,' Sir Keir said. 'We're going to bring that legislation forward. It's really important we do that.

'It's very important this particular context because I'm increasingly concerned that a number of countries are using proxies for attacks in this country.

'It's very, very important that the counter terrorism police, and the police are working with CST (Community Security Trust) together on this.

'But on both fronts, we need to move forward.'

Sir Keir Starmer today said he is 'increasingly concerned' about countries using proxies for attacks in the UK

The Prime Minister met with the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis at the Kenton United Synagogue in north-west London

Kenton United Synagogue was attacked on Saturday with a 17-year-old boy having since pleaded guilty to arson not endangering life.

A series of incidents has also seen an arson attack on Jewish community ambulances, and attempted arson attacks at a synagogue in Finchley and a former Jewish charity in Hendon.

Another incident saw a drone flown near the Israeli embassy in London, and a petrol bomb was thrown towards the site of Volant Media, the parent company of Persian news channel Iran International.

A group that calls itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, that is suspected to be Iran-backed, has claimed responsibility for most of the incidents, along with other attacks in Europe, since March 9.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes told LBC on Monday: 'We're going to look incredibly closely at whether those claims stand up.

'They're intended to intimidate so we have to distinguish what's happening online and being broadcast and claimed, from those things we can prove.

'But I think this is an extraordinary period. We've sadly seen hate crime in our communities before, we've seen radicalisation towards terrorism.

'But now what we've got is the prospect of a foreign state actually using that as a mechanism to sow discord, discontent and to create anxiety in our communities. That is really troubling.'
War heroes have slammed Keir Starmer's closest adviser for pursuing legal claims against Iraq veterans despite being warned they were lies.

Richard Hermer, the Attorney General, pursued the 'witch hunt' against British troops when he was a senior lawyer in 2008.

Soldiers who had served their country on the battlefield were hounded with false allegations that they had tortured and murdered civilians after the 2004 Battle of Danny Boy in southern Iraq.

Emails have now revealed that Lord Hermer was warned the claims were 'nonsense', and even expressed his own doubts.

In one astonishing message to colleague Martyn Day, a leading human rights lawyer, the Attorney backed moves to publicise the lawsuits during an interview on Radio 4's Today programme - noting it must leave 'some wiggle room if the killings did not in fact happen'.

The publicity drive was part of an effort to secure taxpayer-funded compensation settlements before their Iraqi clients were exposed as liars at the Al-Sweady inquiry in 2014.

A spokesman for Lord Hermer insisted he was not aware that his clients were telling 'deliberate lies' until long afterwards.

However, Military Cross winner Brian Wood, who was among the soldiers falsely accused of war crimes by Lord Hermer's clients, called on the Attorney General to resign.

He told the Daily Telegraph: 'I have gone through hell for years. It's disgusting that Hermer is Attorney General. He pursued us in a witch hunt and yet is now the senior lawyer in Government. That is just wrong...he was representing the people trying to kill us.'

Lord Hermer represented Iraqi detainees who falsely accused British soldiers of serious war crimes

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer counts Lord Hermer as his closest political advisor

Iraq veteran Philip Ingram backed the resignation demand and described Lord Hermer's actions as 'absolutely disgusting'.

'I think this is even bigger than the Mandelson scandal,' he said. 'Keir Starmer's closest advisor was clearly trying to get more clients to fuel his ego and fill his pockets, even while rightly suspecting their claims were false.

'It's quite clear that he knew it was total nonsense, but was pushing it with no consideration the dreadful impact these lawsuits had on the soldiers who had put their lives on the line.

'It seemed to be almost a sport to him. It's lower than low. This individual is not fit to hold a British passport, never mind to be the Attorney General providing advice to our country.

'You can understand why this country is in such a mess, when we've got a Prime Minister who doesn't have any principles and relies on advice from his people like Lord Hermer.'

He added that the Attorney, who also argued on behalf of charity Liberty that jihadi bride Shamima Begum should be allowed to return to the UK, is 'anti-British' and 'a danger to this country'.

Mr Ingram, who retired with the rank of colonel after a 26-year career in the Armed Forces, was a senior officer responsible for interrogations in Iraq. He said the suggestion that troops were harming or murdering civilians is 'obviously nonsense'.

'We went over the top in making sure that our interrogations met human rights standards,' he said. 'I had one eye on law the whole time I was there, it's something that [soldiers] always consider carefully.

'Sadly, thanks to people like Lord Hermer, we have to spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulder.'

Last night, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Lord Hermer of 'dragging British troops through the courts'.

'The troops were innocent. Keir Starmer's judgement is not,' she said.

Tory justice spokesman Nick Timothy added: 'Lord Hermer is a disgrace. And the fact that Keir Starmer brought him into government tells you everything you need to know about the PM.'

Iraq veteran Philip Ingram said he was 'disgusted' by Lord Hermer's emails

SAS hero Robin Horsfall said false but damaging legal claims will continue to be made against British troops

Reform's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said Lord Hermer had 'hounded' soldiers and ruined their lives 'as a blood sport'.

'This is one of many emails he sent which show what an awful man he is. Hermer is a traitor to his country,' he said.

SAS hero Robin Horsfall, who was part of the famous assault team that rescued 19 hostages from the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980, said cash-grabbing 'lawfare' against soldiers will continue as long as the Government keeps funding it

'It's been an ongoing problem for the armed forces for the last generation,' he said. 'The Government funds law companies to investigate the behaviour of soldiers they have sent to fight their filthy wars, so they can punish them for not fighting them nicely enough.

'This damages recruitment, because the people who would normally encourage their sons and daughters to join the British Army don't have any confidence that they'll be supported in the long run.'

A spokesman for Lord Hermer insisted he was not 'involved substantially' in representing the six Iraqi detainees who were probed in the Al-Sweady inquiry.

In his 2008 email to Mr Day, Lord Hermer referred to disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner, who was later struck and convicted of fraud.

He wrote: 'I think the line to Phil works in getting the balance between making sure that the big story is out there whilst giving us some wriggle room if the killings did not in fact happen.

'Do you need to be slightly more explicit in the press release about "evidence raising serious concerns of executions of prisoners" in order to generate sufficient interest or will the Today interview naturally bring in the punters later that morning?'

However, he also said the claims must investigated properly to disprove them if necessary, writing: 'If they [soldiers] are innocent they deserve the fullest investigation so that that can be made crystal clear.'

He went on: 'Of some use if you face hostile questions might be the fact that when the allegations of mistreatment of Iraqis first came out in the press a few years ago there was an enormous media and army campaign to describe the allegations as scrullious (you might recall Piers Morgan was sacked for running mock photos that later were demonstrated to be exactly what happened at Breadbasket).

'That in itself justifies the need to take these allegations seriously and to ensure the most rigorous of investigations (indeed, you can argue that it would be unfair on the Army not to - without the fullest of investigations they will not be able to remove doubt that they were involved, if they are innocent they deserve the fullest investigation so that that can be made crystal clear.'

Lord Hermer's spokesman said it was wrong to criticise him over the email, adding: 'The Attorney did a small amount of work at the start of this case, where he made clear that serious allegations at the time needed further investigation. And the Attorney argued it would be unfair on armed services personnel if they didn't have the opportunity to show their innocence through a proper investigation.

'Over a 30-year legal career, the Attorney General represented many clients - including British military personnel, such as a British soldier killed by IRA terrorists, and injured servicemen in the Iraq war. Any suggestion that the Attorney acted improperly during his private career is false.'

Regarding Lord Hermer's realtionship with Shiner, the spokesman said: 'As soon as the Solicitors Regulation Authority case was brought forward, the Attorney General was clear in his condemnation for the reprehensible behaviour of Mr Shiner, that rightly led to him being disqualified and successfully prosecuted.'
The rape allegations which sparked protests in Epsom came after a woman 'made a confused report having sustained an accidental head injury', police have said.

Surrey Police originally said they received a report that a group of men followed a woman in her 20s from Labyrinth Epsom nightclub in the early hours of April 11 before she was allegedly assaulted outside Epsom Methodist church.

The force released an appeal for witnesses but said last week officers were not issuing any details about the suspects because they did not have 'sufficient information'.

In response, hundreds of protesters descended on the upmarket town's centre to demand descriptions of anyone involved.

Clashes took place between police and protesters with eggs and beer cans thrown at officers.

On Thursday evening, police said it had 'become clear' that the woman 'sustained an accidental head injury prior to making a confused report'.

They said they would be closing the investigation after a thorough probe had been carried out which 'concluded that no sexual offence occurred on this occasion'.

'The woman involved has given us permission to share this information with you and she continues to be supported by relevant services,' the force added.

Hundreds of protesters descended on Epsom town centre last Wednesday to demand descriptions of anyone involved

Community leaders, police officers and clergy attended the Hope for Epsom service on Thursday afternoon

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Epsom town centre last Wednesday, blocking the road and sparking traffic disruption amid false reports online that asylum seekers or immigrants were involved.

A day later, around 200 residents gathered outside Epsom Methodist Church for the Hope for Epsom service to 'demonstrate our love for the people of Epsom'.

Community leaders, police officers and clergy attended the service on Thursday and Reverend Catherine Hutton began with a message: 'Today our community gathers to demonstrate our love for the people of Epsom.'

Rev Hutton said the service was a place for people to express 'our outrage' at the alleged rape, adding: 'People of Epsom we are kind. Together we build the future of hopeful Epsom.'

A specially commissioned song of hope was sung before those attending were given the opportunity to lay stones at the front of the church.

Today, a Surrey Police spokesperson said: 'A thorough investigation, including an extensive examination of CCTV footage of the woman's movements, house-to-house enquiries, interviewing witnesses and forensic tests, has been carried out.

'Through this examination of all evidence, we can conclude that no sexual offence occurred on this occasion, and we are closing the investigation.

'What has become clear is that a woman in her 20s during a night out in Epsom, sustained an accidental head injury prior to making a confused report.

'The woman involved has given us permission to share this information with you and she continues to be supported by relevant services.

'To be clear, we take every report of sexual offending seriously, and any such report is treated with sensitivity.

'To do this, it is imperative that the appropriate time is allowed to complete a thorough investigation and support is given to the complainant to progress enquiries at their own pace. This limits what information we are able to release publicly.

Around 200 residents gathered outside Epsom Methodist Church for the Hope for Epsom service to 'demonstrate our love for the people'

'At the early stages of this investigation, we issued an appeal for any witnesses or information that could help us progress our enquiries and identify any potential suspects.

'There was a lack of information in our initial appeal particularly regarding potential persons of interest. This was because the descriptions given were vague and limited.

'We recognise this caused concern amongst the community. We are now confident that there was no offence, and there were no suspects.

'Our local officers will maintain a visible presence in Epsom over the coming days so please speak to them if you have any concerns or questions.'
John Swinney is facing a growing backlash over his beyond the pale bid to work with Sinn Fein on breaking up Britain.

Former Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw, who was at his partys conference when an IRA bomb went off at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, led the criticism of the SNP leader, saying his willingness to work with the party turns my blood cold and shows that no ally is too toxic.

The First Minister also attempted to downplay Sinn Feins historic links to IRA terrorism yesterday, saying that these issues have been well aired over many years.

It follows his controversial comments declaring that he would enjoy cooperating with the party, as well as Plaid Cymru in Wales, to help secure independence.

Mr Carlaw, who was staying close to the Grand Hotel when the bomb went off in October 1984, said: I was appalled to hear John Swinney reiterate his desire to work with Sinn Fein in their shared goal of breaking up the UK.

Its clear that no organisation or party is beyond the pale when it comes to pushing his independence obsession.

'I was at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton when the IRA tried to assassinate the British government at the height of the Troubles.

The thought of John Swinney working in tandem with the political wing of that terrorist organisation turns my blood cold. Yes, time has passed and Northern Ireland has changed, but its widely known that senior figures in Sinn Fein have blood on their hands.

An IRA bomb went off at the Grand Hotel in Brighton back in October 1984

Jackson Carlaw was at his partys conference when an IRA bomb went off at the Grand Hotel

Sadly, the SNP have a blind spot when it comes to independence and no ally is too toxic in pursuing their obsession. John Swinney should be ashamed of himself.

In 2024, Mr Carlaw led a Holyrood debate marking the 40th anniversary of the Brighton IRA bomb, when he urged all MSPs to stand in solidarity against this senseless act of violence.

During an event near Tranent in East Lothian on Thursday, Mr Swinney doubled down on his willingness to work with Sinn Fein.

Asked by the Mail if he has any concerns about Sinn Feins historic links to terrorism, he said: These issues have all been well aired over many years and addressed in the governance arrangements of the north of Ireland, which are not for me to speculate about.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said Mr Swinneys willingness to work with Sinn Fein is a wake-up call about the threat of independence. He told the BBC: Hell work with anyone including Sinn Fein to achieve the break-up of the United Kingdom.

Reform UK councillor Thomas Kerr accused Mr Swinney of seeking a cooperation agreement with a terrorist-sympathising party.

At an Ipsos event on Thursday Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth looks inevitably like becoming the next First Minister of Wales, and said: Which will mean nationalist First Ministers in all three devolved administrations, which was not what devolution was meant to be about.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: The only person whos really delighted by this development is Vladimir Putin, who wants to see destabilisation in the West and the breakup of successful political, social and cultural unions.

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney seems pleased with his record

Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill is not due to face an election until next year

For all the problems that Scotland faces, the answer to none of them is yet more nationalism and discussions of division at this difficult time.

With a crisis on many fronts in our world, we need to be pulling together with our nearest neighbours, both in the United Kingdom, but with our friends on the continent as well.

He said Sinn Fein are democratically valid in the island of Ireland, but added: Obviously they do have a dark association with the Irish republican movement and the paramilitary organisations.

But I recognise that they are officially constituted, theyve been democratically elected, and they were right to take their seats.

Their politics is not my politics. Their politics is one of division and wants to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom.

Ultimately, any sort of collaboration with the SNP and Plaid Cymru speaks to a politics that I think is the last kind of last thing we need in the face of global threats. Is a time for unity and forging alliances rather than breaking apart.

Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill is already First Minister of Northern Ireland and is not due to face an election until next year. Her party is seeking a referendum on a united Ireland by 2030.

She has previously attended talks at Bute House with Mr Swinneys predecessors as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.
Backed by Alibaba, ByteDance, Xiaomi and Meituan, X Square Robot unveiled a next-generation embodied AI foundation model for home robots and said its first deployments in everyday households will begin within 35 days.

BEIJING, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- X Square Robot on Tuesday unveiled Wall-B, a new embodied AI foundation model designed for deployment in real-world homes, marking what the company described as a major step toward bringing general-purpose robots into daily family life.

At a launch event themed "Born to Bot, Bot to Family," the company also introduced its World Unified Model (WUM) architecture, a training framework that combines vision, language, action and physical prediction within a single system from the outset. X Square said the model is intended to help robots operate in the far more unpredictable setting of a home, where tasks, layouts and interactions vary from moment to moment.

"Robots in factories and robots in homes are fundamentally different," said Qian Wang, founder and CEO of X Square Robot. "In factories, they repeat the same action 10,000 times. In a home, they may need to perform 10,000 different actions, each in a different context. The real challenge is not repetition, but whether a robot can execute new, untrained actions in an unstructured environment."

Wall-B is the company's first full implementation of its World Unified Model architecture. Unlike modular systems that train perception, language and control separately, X Square Robot said World Unified Model optimizes those capabilities jointly from the very beginning. The company said that allows physical prediction  including force, friction and collision dynamics  to emerge as part of the model itself, rather than being layered on afterward.

"We train vision, language, action and prediction in the same network from day one," said Wang Hao, chief technology officer of X Square. "Human infants do not learn to see, move and communicate in isolated stages. They learn by integrating perception and action at the same time, with constant feedback from the physical world. That is the principle behind our architecture."

X Square Robot said the model was built on two core foundations. The first is a data strategy centered on real, non-staged home environments, aimed at exposing the system to the long tail of household scenarios  misplaced objects, temporary occlusion, unexpected obstacles and spontaneous human activity. The second is a physics-aware predictive mechanism that enables the robot to anticipate physical outcomes before taking action, rather than merely reacting after contact occurs.

Together, those elements are meant to narrow one of robotics' hardest gaps: moving from controlled demos to reliable performance in live environments. The company said its work on physical robotic platforms has helped it accumulate practical experience in bridging simulation and reality across diverse operating conditions.

At the event, X Square demonstrated a series of live tasks. In one experience zone, a robot arranged flowers while adjusting its grip and motion in real time as stems shifted position under visual occlusion. The task was completed without pre-set trajectories, according to the company, and drew attention from both domestic and international media attending the event.

Even so, X Square acknowledged that the technology remains early. Wang said current systems can make mistakes that require remote intervention  such as placing slippers in the kitchen or pausing mid-task to process the next action. But he said the robots' ability to operate continuously and generate new real-world data around the clock gives the system a path to rapid improvement.

That learning loop is central to the company's next milestone: within 35 days, X Square plans to place its robots into everyday homes, underscoring the company's long-term commitment to the home robotics sector.

SOURCE X Square Robot
A majority of Scots do not believe John Swinney will reduce the cost of living, grow the economy or improve Scotlands public services if he remains First Minister.

Pollster Ipsos found voters had pretty low expectations that he would address their key concerns despite him claiming he can fix all three.

Expectations were even lower for the leaders of Labour and Reform in Scotland.

With a fortnight until polling, Ipsos said the public was extremely sceptical about whoever leads the next government being able to shift the dial on household bills.

It came as a Survation poll for the Ballot Box Scotland (BBS) website pointed to the SNP falling short of the majority that Mr Swinney has made central to his campaign. BBS founder Allan Faulds said it pointed to a bleeding of support for the party.

Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: After two decades of SNP failure its no wonder that Scots dont believe they can fix things if they win the election. From the ferries fiasco to plummeting educational standards and an NHS in permanent crisis, John Swinneys record is one of abject failure.

If he gets a majority at the Holyrood election, we know his top priority will be securing another divisive independence referendum at all costs  not the real issues facing Scots.

The Ipsos Scotland Political Pulse survey of 1,032 adults in mid-April found 61 per cent thought it unlikely Mr Swinney would cut the cost of living if he led the next government, compared with 26 per cent who thought he would, a credibility rating of -35 points.

John Swinney visits Seabass Vinyls pressing plant in East Lothian

Half thought it likely he could grow the economy, against 35 per cent who said unlikely (-15), while 46 per cent said he was unlikely to improve public services and 41 per cent thought he was likely (-5).

Labours Anas Sarwar had credibility ratings of -43, -34 and -24 respectively on helping with the cost of living, economy and services, while Reforms Malcolm Offord had ratings of -49, -40 and -43.

Mr Swinney was the most popular leader with a net approval rating of -1 per cent.

Mr Sarwar was on -21 and Tory leader Russell Findlay -34. All main leaders improved their ratings since March  except Lord Offord, who suffered a 6 point drop and was the least popular on net -43.

All parties marginally improved their popularity ratings since March bar Reform, which fell slightly.

The SNP was judged to have had the best campaign so far.

It was the only one to achieve a positive net rating (+6), with the others ranging from -1 for the Greens to -23 for the Conservatives.

Despite opposition efforts to brand him Dishonest John, Mr Swinney was viewed as the most likely leader to act with integrity, with a net trust rating of +7, against -9 for Mr Sarwar and -43 for Lord Offord.

Ipsos Scotland managing director Emily Gray said: Scottish voters have pretty low expectations of what the SNP would actually deliver if it were to win a fifth term.

The cost of living is the second most important issue, but six in ten of the Scottish public think its unlikely an SNP-led government will reduce the cost of living.

Half think an SNP Scottish Government would be unlikely to grow the economy.

Voters are a bit more divided on whether the SNP would improve public services or not, but even there more think its unlikely to improve them than think its likely to. Its not that Scottish voters are deeply enthusiastic about the SNP  its that they dont see an alternative who they think will do a better job.

The SNP emerge from this, from the publics perspective, as the best of a somewhat disappointing bunch.

She also said the chances of a pro-Union majority at Holyrood led by Mr Sarwar after May 7 look pretty slim.

The poll put the SNP on 35 per cent support in constituencies, unchanged from March, with Labour and Reform both on 20 (both +1), the Tories 13 (+2), Liberal Democrats 10 (+2) and Greens 1 (-7).

On the regional list, the SNP was on 29 (-3), Reform 19 (+1) and Labour, Tories, Greens and LibDems all unchanged on 17, 13, 11 and 8 respectively.

The figures gave a seat projection of SNP 57 (down 7 on 2021), Reform 21 (+21), Labour 18 (-4), Tories 13 (-18), Greens 11 (+3) and LibDems 9 (+5).

Mr Faulds said the slump in the Greens constituency support  they are standing in only six seats  was not boosting the SNP, which may indicate a bleeding of the support for Mr Swinneys party.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: The SNP is the only party in this campaign speaking to the priorities of the people of Scotland  improving the NHS, supporting people with the cost of living and delivering the fresh start of independence.
A man accused of killing a minister and her grandson begged for his mother while rejecting a plea deal in court.

Reginald Louis Jackson, 40, cried out for his mom during the hearing at Florida's Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Jackson is accused of shooting Annette Anderson, 69, and her grandson Tyrone Lenard Walker Jr, 20, the Miami Herald reported.

The victims were found bound with gunshot wounds to the back of their heads in July 2013.

Police said that several of their items were stolen, including Anderson's cell phone, debit card and television along with Walker's Xbox and debit card.

Jackson's alleged accomplice, Roderick Martin, 39, was arrested in 2015. Both are charged with two counts of first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping and burglary in connection with the case.

The men were called into court to accept a plea deal, but Jackson caused a scene when he noted his family was not present, NBC 6 reported.

'I want my mom,' Jackson, who was handcuffed to Martin, yelled out.

Reginald Louis Jackson, 40, refused to accept a plea deal for a double murder after he noticed his family was not in the courtroom

Florida Minister Annette Anderson, 69, and her grandson Tyrone Lenard Walker Jr, 20, were found with gunshot wounds to the back of their heads in July 2013

Jackson was set to accept a 40-year prison deal and Martin wanted to accept a 25-year deal.

But Jackson complained that his family had left the courthouse after being told his case would not be addressed.

Judge Ellen Sue Venzer said the hearing was not scheduled, but she agreed to take it because defense attorneys told her they would be pleading guilty.

'You had me bring them over,' Venzer told Jackson's attorneys. 'I said yes, really out of respect for y'all. I'm not playing games. We've been doing this for 13 years. Justice delayed is justice denied.'

Martin reportedly begged prosecutors to let him accept the deal without Jackson, but they declined, stating that his offer was dependent on Jackson's acceptance as well.

Martin's alternative was to accept a plea deal requiring him to testify against Jackson, which he refused.

The men are now scheduled to return to court on May 6 for a jury trial, where they face up to life in prison if found guilty.

Jackson and Martin were initially facing the death penalty, but in 2022, a judge declared Jackson intellectually disabled, which prevents him from getting the death penalty.

The men were handcuffed together in court. Martin tried to accept the plea without Jackson, but prosecutors refused unless he agreed to testify against Jackson

Jackson (left) was set to accept a plea deal alongside alleged accomplice Roderick Martin (right). The men are now scheduled to return to court on May 6 for a jury trial, where they face up to life in prison if found guilty

Prosecutors then waived the death penalty for Martin on March 30. Investigators said DNA and cellphone records connected him to the crime scene.

Jackson, who lived in the same neighborhood, allegedly made two phone calls to Anderson's home shortly before she was killed and left DNA at the scene, according to police.

At the time of the murders, Jackson was on probation after serving a five-year sentence for a series of burglaries.

He was arrested for murder at his girlfriend's home, where they found a 2001 silver Acura that matched surveillance footage of a car leaving Anderson's property, according to the Miami Herald.

Martin was on bond awaiting trial for a separate charge of illegally carrying a firearm.

It is unclear if or how the suspects and the victims knew each other.

Anderson was a minister with the Jesus People Ministries Church and hosted weekly Bible study sessions.

Her grandson, Walker, had only lived in the area for three months while attending ITT Tech.
A butcher who posed as a teenager to groom boys on Snapchat was branded every parents worst nightmare as he was jailed for his crimes.

Ryan King was told he had robbed his victims of their innocence and childhood.

The 31-year-old pretended to be 15 and bombarded children as young as 11 on the app with pictures and videos of himself and others performing sex acts. He also tried to arrange meet-ups while claiming to be a teenage boy called Sam between April and November last year.

At a pre-trial hearing, King had admitted his guilt to the offences which involved him targeting boys aged 11, 12, 13 and 15. On Thursday, at Paisley Sheriff Court, he was sentenced to 45 months.

Sheriff Gillian Craig ordered King, of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, to be supervised for three years once released.

She told him: You are, to my mind, every parents worst nightmare. These children should never have seen this material. Youve robbed them of their innocence. They were all groomed by you.

The shame is all yours  not theirs. They felt disgusted, frightened, shocked, scared.

The sheriff added: There is no alternative to a custodial disposal. This is the maximum sentence I can impose.

Ryan King King has been placed him on the sex offenders register for ten years

King was also placed him on the sex offenders register for ten years and made the subject of a ten-year-long sexual harm prevention order.

An Apprentice of the Year finalist at the Scottish Craft Butcher Training Awards 2017, King has previous convictions for possession of indecent images of children and for sending obscene messages and pictures to an 11-year-old girl.

After sentencing, Detective Inspector David Hardie said: King gave no thought to his victims, just using them for his sexual gratification.
The king of a self-styled African tribe evicted from a Scottish wood has been deported, the Home Office has confirmed.

Kofi Offeh was removed by immigration officers last year after setting up an illegal camp on private land near Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.

The 36-year-old spent months living at make-shift site near the Borders town with Jean Gasho, 42, from Zimbabwe, and handmaiden Kaura Taylor, from Texas, who goes by the name of Asnat.

The couple, who called themselves King Atehene and Queen Nandi of the lost Kingdom of Kubala even live-streamed the moment police and immigration officials arrived following a court ruling last October.

Now it has been confirmed that Offeh has been deported from the UK, with media in Ghana reporting his arrival at the countrys Accra International Airport earlier this week when he was pictured wearing a crown made of leaves.

According to the countrys popular online media platform Kofi TV, the self-proclaimed King of Kubala arrived in his homeland in high spirits and is now said to be looking to take over Ghana as he continues his mission to build a new kingdom.

In an interview with the TV channel the self-proclaimed king even suggested that his presence in the country was enough to establish dominion.

'King Atehene' and his handmaiden 'Asnat' were evicted from a wood in Scotland

'Everyone will bow before me, whether chiefs, politicians or even the police are going to serve me.

He said: I have come to take over Ghana because I am the King of Kubala. Everywhere I land, I take dominion, where I establish my throne, so the time has come. Everyone will bow before me, whether chiefs, politicians or even the police are going to serve me.

Everyone will bow before me, whether chiefs, politicians or even the police are going to serve me.

Offeh is reported to have his sights set on building his new kingdom in Sunyani, the countrys sixth largest city, which he described as the Sun City, where he says the sunshine starts in Ghana.

His tribe were living in the Jedburgh woodlands while claiming they are retaking land stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago, relying on donations from members of the public to survive.

There presence was seen as a circus which brought global media, influencers and TikTok sleuths to the Scots town until he was finally seen being led away in handcuffs in October.

A Home Office spokesman said: We can confirm that Kofi Offeh has been deported from the UK.

Tory councillor Scott Hamilton told BBC Scotland News that hearing the king was finally away came as a huge relief.

He added: When we reflect on what actually happened last year in Jedburgh, I dont think we can ever make sense of it.

They were a group who were filled with so much hatred, they caused so much aggravation in the community, thank goodness we have finally got rid of them.
Two teenage boys were taken to hospital and a bomb disposal unit called out following an incident involving fireworks.

The boys, both pupils at Holyrood Secondary School in Glasgow, were injured in the disturbance in the citys Dixon Avenue.

A bomb squad unit attended the scene near the school after police were called to the scene at around 12.15 on Thursday.

An eyewitness told STV News that there was a group of young teenage boys launching fireworks on the street.

Three ambulances were in attendance.

A Police Scotland spokesman said the explosive ordnance disposal team were in attendance to assess an item found at the scene.

The road was closed for several hours and people were advised to avoid the area.

Nearby businesses and homes were also evacuated as a precaution.

A bomb disposal unit and three ambulances were in attendance after the incident in Glasgow

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: Were aware of an incident that took place out with the school premises this afternoon.

As a result of the incident, two pupils were injured and have been taken to hospital for assessment.

We are working with the appropriate authorities as inquiries continue.

Last year, the SNP was accused of putting public safety 'at risk' after ditching tougher rules on fireworks ahead of Bonfire Night despite fears of street disorder.

The Scottish Government confirmed last October its 'groundbreaking' laws to license the buying of fireworks and restrict sales to just a few days a year had been abandoned.

The Scottish Conservatives warned of a repeat of the 'disgraceful violence' of recent years, while Labour called it 'farcical'.

As part of a crackdown on the abuse of pyrotechnics, the SNP previously promised to license their purchase by 'late 2023 or early 2024'. Legislation that was passed in 2022, but later paused, was also meant to limit sales to selected days.

However, SNP community safety minister Siobhian Brown said the government will 'not progress' either plan in order to 'focus resources' on front-line police and fire services.
Zack Polanski has said the far-left Greens are out to replace Labour at Holyrood.

The eco populist leader of the party south of the Border said radical Greens would ensure the fairer country Labour had promised but never delivered.

Polls suggest the Greens, whose coalition with the SNP was marked by a series of high-profile policy flops, will come only a handful of MSPs behind Scottish Labour in May.

At an activist event in Glasgow on Thursday night, Mr Polanski said: With Labour failing and disappointing people on so many levels, more and more people are looking to the Greens for the first time.

Zack Polanski believes the Greens can replaced Labour in the Scottish parliament

We don't just want to beat Labour, we want to replace them and build the kind of fairer, greener country that Labour has long promised but will never deliver.

It is the Greens who are standing for hope and the bold change that is needed.

He also threw his weight behind Scottish Green candidates standing in May, one of whom wants to abolish prisons.

Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said: Zack is a fantastic and powerful voice for change and we are proud to have him in Scotland.

Scottish Labour was asked for comment.
One person died after an active shooter opened fire inside a Louisiana mall around lunchtime on Thursday, police said.

A total of nine people were injured at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge after gunfire rang out in the mall's food court around 1.20pm, police said.

Five suspects have been taken into custody, Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse said. They have not yet been identified.

One 17-year-old victim died while nine others were injured, sources told WAFB.

Some of the victims were rushed into emergency surgery at the hospital, Morse said.

The incident is believed to have been a targeted attack between two groups of people, Morse said.

Panicked people were seen running into the parking lot as authorities escorted them to their vehicles.

Other harrowing footage showed officers carrying young children and their mother to safety.

An active shooter opened fire at a food court inside the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday afternoon

The FBI, SWAT, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and State Police Troopers are at the scene

Shoppers and employees were shuffled into tunnels that run along the mall's tunnels after shots rang out, according to a WBRZ reporter who was at the mall at the time.

FBI Director Kash Patel said agents in New Orleans and out of Baton Rouge are investigating the deadly shooting.

'Please pray for the victims and their families - and we will update as able,' he shared on X.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry posted to X after hearing of the shooting.

'I am aware of the active shooter scene at the Mall of Louisiana. I am in coordination with law enforcement and we will update as we know more,' he wrote.

'Please avoid the area. Sharon and I are praying for those affected and are grateful for a quick response by our law enforcement officials.

Attorney General Liz Murill also acknowledged the shooting.

'I have spoken to District Attorney Hillar Moore, who is actively monitoring the situation involving a weapon or weapons being discharged in the Food Court at the Mall of Louisiana,' she said.

'Multiple law enforcement agencies are responding - please avoid the area. More details will be available soon.'

Paramedics rushed to the scene and are setting up a triage area near JCPenney

Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards arrived at the mall shortly after the shooting.

'We have set up a command post. There has been a shooting with multiple victims. All civilians have been safely escorted out of the mall. Please keep the victims and their families in your prayers,' Edwards posted.

While standing outside the mall, Mayor Edwards said: 'To the thugs who did this, we will catch you. We're not have this in Baton Rouge. It's not gonna happen.'

Chief Morse has urged the public to send in any video footage they might have of the incident.

A state police helicopter was seen circling the area in an effort to hunt down the shooters.

A mall employee who was cleaning the carousel in the food court at the time told WBRZ she thought someone was setting off fireworks at first.

Once she realized it was gunfire, she radioed in 'shots fired' to security guards, she said.

The employee recalled seeing a lot of blood and a woman receiving CPR.

A mall employee who was cleaning the carousel in the food court at the time told WBRZ she thought someone was setting off fireworks at first

'I grabbed some cleaning rags to try and put on their wounds. One guy was bleeding tremendously,' she stated.

The employee said she saw a male shooting a firearm 'randomly'.

Two area hospitals, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital, have since been placed on lockdown.

'We are asking that visitors and guests refrain from visiting our facility at this time. Our emergency rooms will remain open. Additional updates will be provided as the situation evolves,' the hospitals said in a joint statement.

The FBI, SWAT, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and State Police Troopers remain at the mall scene.

The violent incident comes just days after a Louisiana father shot and killed eight children

The violent incident comes just days after a Louisiana father, Shamar Elkins, shot and killed eight children.

Elkins, 31, opened fire at a home in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday morning during a domestic disturbance with his 34-year-old wife, Shaneiqua Pugh.

Elkins, who was fatally shot by police during a vehicle chase, killed his seven children and a nephew 'execution style' in one of the deadliest family massacres in American history.
A would-be Palestinian suicide bomber was met with raucous applause as she appeared before University of California Berkeley law students.

Israa Jaabis, who was released from an Israeli jail in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange for 26 hostages taken on October 7 of that year, made the virtual appearance as part of a 'teach-in' organized by the student-run UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine.

The event, which came just one day before Israeli Independence Day, was described as a chance 'to hear experiences of Palestinian torture survivors and prisoners of conscience.'

But Jaabis was accused in 2015 of trying to ignite a gas tank in Jerusalem.

A police officer said at the time he spotted Jaabis driving in a commuter lane with no passengers, and when he spoke to her about the odd sight, Jaabis reportedly acted suspiciously, the Jerusalem Post reports.

The subsequent explosion then left Jaabis disfigured and the police officer burned.

An ensuing investigation revealed that Jaabis shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before the explosion and that she had handwritten notes showing support for people she described as 'Palestinian martyrs,' Israeli authorities said.

The officer involved in the attack even went as far as to call the incident an act of terrorism, according to the New York Post.

'You always hear of terrorist attacks and suddenly I am in one - boom - that's how it is,' he said.

Israa Jaabis met virtually with students at UC Berkeley's Law School on Monday

Video from the event showed scores of blurry students applauding Jaabis' remarks

The student-run UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine hosted the event, which was escribed as a chance 'to hear experiences of Palestinian torture survivors and prisoners of conscience'

The Palestinian Authority, however, claimed at the time that Israeli police fabricated the story as an excuse to attack the woman.

Jaabis also denied the charges as her family claimed that the fire started because of a faulty engine.

In a video from her speech on Monday, Jaabis told the students that their attendance at the event 'makes us hopeful that here remains some humanity.

'That there is someone to support us in the future, delivering our message to the international community and amplifying our call to liberate Palestinian prisoners, as well as to liberate all societies from servitude and from bigotry, which produces populations complicit in perpetrating inhumane laws,' she said.

The video from the discussion then showed blurry footage of students erupting into applause.

It was posted to Instagram by the pro-Palestine student-group UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine, which describes itself online as fighting 'for Palestinian liberation until Palestine is liberated from the River to the Sea.'

Jaabis (pictured in court in 2016) was imprisoned for 11 years after she was convicted of trying to set off a suicide bomb in Jerusalem

In a statement, a university spokesperson said that 'as a public university, UC Berkeley has a non-discretionary obligation to abide by and support the First Amendment in a completely content-neutral manner.

'We do not have the legal ability to sanction or censor Constitutionally protected expression,' spokesperson Alex AG Shapiro told the Daily Mail.

'However, as UC Berkeley has repeatedly informed the student body, if any campus community member feels threatened, they are encouraged to contact the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.

'OPHD provides support to those harmed, investigates all allegations, and the campus takes appropriate steps following any findings.'

The Daily Mail has also reached out to UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine for comment.
An author who sparked fury by openly boasting about shoplifting from Whole Foods launched into a foul-mouthed tirade when questioned about her behavior outside her $2.2 million home.

Jia Tolentino, 37, snapped: 'I can't believe you came to my f**king house!' when approached by a Daily Mail reporter outside the five-bedroom Brooklyn brownstone on Thursday afternoon.

Tolentino is the author of two bestselling books and also works as a journalist at the New Yorker magazine, where she is known for asking tough questions.

But she was exceptionally hostile to a reporter's polite enquiry about her criminal behavior and the backlash that her brazen admission has generated.

The drama began after Tolentino, a married mother-of-two, appeared on a New York Times podcast interview published Wednesday titled 'The Rich Don't Play by the Rules. So Why Should I?'

That saw Tolentino, who also hosts the official White Lotus podcast, laugh and smile while reminiscing about shoplifting lemons from Whole Foods.

Tolentino told podcast host Nadja Spiegelman and millionaire communist Hasan Piker that she targeted the Amazon-owned supermarket 'on several occasions', adding: 'I didn't feel bad about it at all'.

She cheerfully justified her behavior by saying that Whole Foods is a huge chain which she claims 'disenfranchises' its workers.

Writer Jia Tolentino angrily swore at a Daily Mail reporter when confronted about her shoplifting on Thursday afternoon

Tolentino, 37, smiled and laughed while regaling the host of a New York Times podcast about her stealing, but there was little evidence of mirth and merriment on Thursday

There was little sign of that mirth and merriment on Thursday though.

Tolentino, dressed a black tank top, flip flops and silk sweatpants, refused to comment further when politely asked about the widespread backlash to her shoplifting admission.

She then rushed back into the opulent home she shares with architect husband Andrew Daley, 40, as well as the couple's two children.

Among those condemning Tolentino's stealing were Michael Powell, a former New York Times journalist who now works at The Atlantic.

He said of the podcast and accompanying interview: 'This reads like privileged high school kids try to shock their parents.'

Columnist Jill Filipovic wrote on X: 'This whole interview just makes me incredibly sad. Total breakdown of any moral code / sense of personal integrity / commitment to the public good.'

Bestselling author Jonathan Turley wrote: 'When the New York Times is not featuring Hasan Piker on rationalizing the murder of business executives, it is featuring New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino defending shoplifting as a moral act.' Turley was referring to Piker's description of the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson as 'social murder.'

And popular podcaster Katie Herzog said: 'I used to shoplift a LOT and convinced myself that was a good and righteous thing to do but then I turned 15.'

Tolentino bragged about stealing lemons from Whole Foods Market and said 'I didn't feel bad about it at all.'

Despite her penchant for shoplifting, Tolentino lives in a stunning $2.2 million Brooklyn brownstone home in the highly desirable Clinton Hill neighborhood

Even liberal-leaning New York Times subscribers were horrified by Tolentino's blase admission, with the top-rated comments on the story all slating her justification for shoplifting.

Earlier on Thursday, Tolentino sent a snarky email to the Daily Mail complaining that our original story had highlighted her impressive property portfolio.

It comprises the brownstone in trendy Clinton Hill, bought with a $1.5 million mortgage in 2023 and an upstate New York cabin bought with a $200,000 mortgage in 2018, according to public records.

'If you'd told me you were going to center the piece on the home that I live in I could have had least helped you get the mortgage facts right!' Tolentino wrote.

She offered no further explanation as to what those 'facts' were.

Tolentino set the internet ablaze on Thursday after recalling how she had stolen from Whole Foods while involved with her neighborhood 'mutual aid' group that saw her go shopping for a friend called 'Miss Nancy.'

Tolentino's appearance on a New York Times podcast and subsequent interview horrified many

The Conde Nast writer said that when she would pick up food for her friend, she forgot items like lemons and decided to steal them rather than going through the hassle of standing in line to check out again.

'I forgot four lemons. And on several occasions, I was like, Im just going to go back, grab those four lemons and get the hell out,' she said.

Tolentino claimed that her conscience was further soothed by the apparent knowledge that Whole Foods loses as much stock to its own staff as it does to outsiders.

Earlier in the same podcast, Tolentino said she would 'cheer on' anyone stealing art from the Louvre.

Explaining her philosophy on theft, she said: 'I think that stealing from a big box store is not a very significant moral wrong.

'However, nor is it significant in any way as protest or direct action.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Whole Foods Market for comment.
An eye-opening poll has revealed that the majority of young Aussies would refuse to make personal sacrifices to defend their country from a major threat.

News Corp's Growth Intelligence Centre surveyed 1,292 people earlier this month and found that Gen Z (people aged 14-29) and Millennials (aged 30-46) were the least likely to make sacrifices to defend Australia.

Just 20 per cent of Gen Z Aussies said they were willing to make personal sacrifices to help protect the country if it came under serious threat.

In contrast, 31 per cent of Baby Boomers (aged 62-80) said they were willing to make sacrifices for the country.

And on top of this apparent reluctance to defend the nation, more young people plan to participate in boozy two-up sessions at pubs and clubs on Anzac Day than to attend dawn services on Saturday.

Gen Z also doesn't believe the United States can be relied on, with just 11 per cent of respondents saying they could count on the major ally during a potential conflict.

Federal Liberal defence spokesman James Paterson told News Corp that while Anzac Day was Australia's most sacred day, more had to be done to educate the next generation about the sacrifices made to protect Australia.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the reason Gen Z was unwilling to serve the nation was because: 'They're taught everything about Australia that is negative'.

New data reveals younger generations are less willing to make sacrifices in the event of war (pictured, a Royal Military College graduation in Canberra in 2005)

The Kokoda Track campaign was a pivotal part of Australia's history

Many will still be happy to drink and play two-up on Anzac Day this weekend (pictured, a stock image of young people at The Australian Hotel in Sydney in 2016)

RSL national president Peter Tinley, a former SASR member who lives in Perth, said he could remember times when Anzac Day was not as well attended as it is today.

'I remember Anzac Day marches in the 1970s when you could shoot a cannon down St Georges Terrace (in Perth) and not hit anyone, now they're 10 deep on Anzac Day,' he told News Corp.

'They (Gen Z) have got a different view of the world, they are very questioning and some people aren't used to being questioned but I don't think it's a bad thing.'

When it came to introducing compulsory national service for young adults, 39 per cent of Gen Z supported the idea compared to 69 per cent of Baby Boomers - who would not have to fight because of their age.

When asked if they would be willing to serve in the military, 25 per cent of participants said they would, this figure dropped to 21 per cent among Millennials.

More than 75,000 Australians applied to join the ADF in the 2025 financial year, the highest number in five years.

And while pubs and clubs are expected to be packed across the country on Saturday as millions play two-up, one Aussie tradition is falling by the wayside.

Aussies are shunning getting involved in a good old-fashioned round while out for a drink, saying it was simply getting too expensive.

The war in Iran has prompted many to question if younger Aussies were prepared to make sacrifices to defend the nation

The Australian Federation Guard, made up from the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Air Force

More Aussies are also steering clear of getting into a shout at the pub

According to news.com.au, just 22 per cent of Aussies said they still like to get into a shout, while 34 per cent no longer do due to costs.

Thousands of Australians will attend dawn services across the country tomorrow honour generations who have served and sacrificed in war.

Victoria Cross recipient and accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has announced he will attend public ceremonies for Anzac Day.

'Anzac Day is sacred to me and every other veteran. I will be attending to pay my respects and I encourage everyone else to,' Roberts-Smith told the Daily Mail.

The retired SAS corporal is expected to attend an Anzac Day event in Queensland on Saturday, the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

His declaration is amid ongoing debate around the circumstances of his arrest earlier this month and prosecution for the alleged war crime murders of five Afghan nationals during his tours of duty between 2009 and 2012.

Roberts-Smith was arrested on April 7 at Sydney's domestic airport in front of his partner and two teenage daughters. On Thursday, it was revealed he had preparing to move to Spain when police swooped.

Many of his supporters earlier vowed to boycott Anzac Day ceremonies in protest.
Yellowstone Bourbon has donated more than $1 million to NPCA since 2018 to preserve and protect national parks

ST. LOUIS and WASHINGTON, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For nearly a decade, Yellowstone Bourbon has been supporting the National Parks Conservation Association  and the brand recently renewed its annual partnership with a $25,000 donation. With this gift Yellowstone Bourbon has surpassed the $1 million mark in total donations since its partnership with NPCA began in 2018, continuing its commitment to protect and preserve national parks.

Yellowstone Bourbon will participate in the National Parks Conservation Associations year-long public engagement campaign United by Parks.

The ongoing partnership has been a natural fit because of Yellowstone Bourbon's heritage and history, which is rich in Americana. As the nation's second-longest running bourbon brand, Yellowstone Bourbon was named for the national park and is led by Limestone Branch Distillery Founder Stephen Beam, a seventh-generation master distiller of Kentucky bourbon's renowned Beam and Dant families. Its commitment to protecting national parks is unmatched in the industry as the perfect intersection of respect for history and appreciation for adventure.

This year, as the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Yellowstone Bourbon will participate in the National Parks Conservation Association's year-long public engagement campaign United by Parks. NPCA's United by Parks campaign is a chance to commemorate America through the lens of our national parks, connect with our most treasured places, imagine what we would lose if they disappeared, and take action to protect them. Together, NPCA and Yellowstone Bourbon will call on Americans to renew our century-old commitment to protecting parks so they can continue to endure for future generations.

"NPCA is so proud to continue our important partnership with Yellowstone Bourbon, who has been an incredible ally in our work to protect our national parks, including their unparalleled beauty and rich history," said Tiernan Sittenfeld, President and CEO of National Parks Conservation Association. "As we celebrate America's 250th birthday this year, we're all in to defend and commemorate America's best idea, just as we have for more than a century. And we know Yellowstone Bourbon is too."

Throughout its partnership, Yellowstone and NPCA developed creative ways to share and amplify their work to protect the parks and wildlife while inspiring others to take action. These efforts include the creation of videos and music highlighting preservation projects for use in social media campaigns; the release of commemorative special-edition bourbons and on-the-ground adventures exploring Yellowstone National Park with Beam and more.

A lover of the outdoors and avid adventure traveler, Beam has been at the forefront of the brand's commitment to the parks and NPCA.

"I grew up visiting national parks and the excitement of exploration and being surrounded by nature has been with me ever since," said Beam. "Having the opportunity to give back and see the impact we're making is a dream come true, and I hope people will be inspired to get out and enjoy the parks and do what they can to keep them preserved for generations to come."

In 2023, NPCA awarded Yellowstone Bourbon its National Park Defender Award, bestowed annually to a partner demonstrating exceptional dedication to national park protection through authentic and impactful partnership with NPCA and educating its customers about the importance of taking action to protect parks.

About National Parks Conservation Association

Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation's most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit npca.org.

About Yellowstone Bourbon

Founded by distiller Joseph Bernard Dant, Yellowstone Bourbon was named after the world's first national park in 1872. In 2011, seventh-generation Master Distiller Stephen Beam  a descendant of both the historic Dant and Beam distilling families  founded Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery and resurrected the Yellowstone brand with the creation of Yellowstone Select Bourbon. Expressions in our Yellowstone family of premium bourbons and whiskeys have earned many spirits industry awards including Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of the Year in 2025 as well as Double Platinum at the 2025 ASCOT Awards and multiple Gold medals at the 2025 SIP Awards and San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Since 2018, we have partnered with the National Parks Conservation Association, having donated over $1 million to preserve national parks. In 2026, Yellowstone Bourbon and our new Yellowstone Ready-to-Serve Cocktails are also supporting the Vital Ground Foundation to help preserve and protect threatened grizzly bear habitat. To learn more, visit YellowstoneBourbon.com and follow Yellowstone Bourbon on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and follow Yellowstone Cocktails on Instagram and TikTok.

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products with a mission to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Luxco operates as MGP Ingredients Inc. (Nasdaq: MGPI) Branded Spirits division since its acquisition in 2021. The company's extensive and award-winning premium portfolio includes brands from four distilleries: Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Penelope and Remus bourbon are produced; Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Rebel, Ezra Brooks, and Blood Oath bourbons; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Bourbon; and Arandas, Mexico-based Destiladora Gonzalez Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas including Cortada, El Mayor, Escasa and Exotico. For more information, visit Luxco.com.

SOURCE Yellowstone Bourbon and National Parks Conservation Association
A 15-year-old boy who was killed in a horror e-bike crash is being remembered for his charm and big smile by his school and loved ones.

The fatal smash occurred at the busy Plenty Road and Findon Road intersection in South Morang, during peak hour traffic at 5.30pm on Wednesday.

Max Foster was riding on the back of the e-bike with his 17-year-old friend driving when it collided with two cars.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and took the 17-year-old to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but his friend could not be saved and died at the site.

The drivers of the two cars involved in the accident stopped to help the boys and are assisting police with their inquiries.

The teenager's school, The Lakes South Morang College, shared a heartfelt tribute to the late student on social media.

'Max was a valued member of our college community, and his passing is a heartbreaking loss for us all,' the school wrote.

'Max was a larger than life personality, who endeared us with his warmth, humour, positivity and embraced us with a charm and smile that will always be unmistakably Max.'

The 15-year-old boy who died in a horror e-bike crash is being remembered for his charm and big smile by his school and loved ones (Max Foster is pictured)

Max Foster was riding on the back of the e-bike with his 17-year-old friend driving when it collided with two cars (pictured, police at the scene)

Friend Luca also paid tribute to the 15-year-old on a GoFundMe page raising funds for the Foster family.

Max was like a brother to me and one of the closest friends I have ever had Max was such a sweet soul and the most genuine person, please donate in memory of Max and to help his family all profits will be going to Max's family,' he wrote.

'Long Live Max.'

Victoria Police told the Daily Mail on Thursday morning that they were still investigating whether the victim was wearing a helmet.

Witnesses told 7News the 15-year-old was not wearing a helmet and the e-bike may have run a red light.

One member of a Facebook community group with ties to South Morang said it was a 'tragedy waiting to happen'.

The teenager's death was the latest in a string of e-bike accidents across the country, which have prompted crackdowns on the devices in a number of states.
A British vicar who described himself as a 'wild child' sexually abused and groomed young girls before fleeing to Australia, a review has found.

The Rev Kesh Govan, 50, from Bolton, 'groomed and sexually abused multiple female children within one youth group while living in the United Kingdom', according to the report.

He took his own life in November after allegations of sexual misconduct against the children were 'substantiated'.

Govan, known as the Singing Vicar, served in the Dioceses of Manchester and Lichfield.

He was born a Hindu but converted to Christianity after a near-death experience and moved to Ireland before settling in Brisbane.

The Anglican Church Southern Queensland commissioned an independent investigation into him following his death.

It concluded he sexually assaulted and groomed multiple young girls.

The Church said its investigation found Govan had 'groomed and sexually abused multiple female children within one youth group while living in the United Kingdom'.

The Rev Kesh Govan, 50, from Bolton, 'groomed and sexually abused multiple female children within one youth group while living in the United Kingdom'

While in Britain he also worked as a DJ at a local radio station and attended school chapel services.

The report said attendees of the church in Brisbane where Govan had served have been provided with 'a confidential pathway for people to come forward if they, or someone they know was groomed or sexually abused by Govan'.

'The Govan family, who had no knowledge of Govan's sexual abuse of children prior to his death, and the St Stephen's, and All Saints communities have also been offered free confidential counselling and support,' it added.

There is said to be no evidence that he committed any similar crimes in Australia.

The Most Rev Jeremy Greaves, the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, said: 'On behalf of the church, I would like to issue a sincere and complete apology to the survivors of Govan's child sexual abuse.

'Over the past decade, the church, both in Australia and the United Kingdom, has strengthened its policies, procedures, and protocols. However, it must do better.

'The evidence detailed within the independent investigation report has been shared with authorities in Australia and the United Kingdom.'

The Dioceses of Manchester and Lichfield, where Govan previously served, said it was 'deeply distressing above all for those who have experienced abuse, and also for families, friends and communities'.

He took his own life in November after allegations of sexual misconduct against the children were 'substantiated'

The vicar described himself as a 'wild child' until he turned 18 in an interview with the Irish Independent in 2005.

At that age he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and was later told he had late stage cancer.

While in hospital he met Christians and started to pray to God for help.

He then made a full recovery but returned to Hinduism until he had a vision which brought him back to Christianity.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
Nigel Farage has vowed to wage 'war' on Britain's benefits culture.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the Reform UK leader said he was ready to face down protests, strikes and even riots to cut the bloated benefits bill, should his party seize power at the next election.

Mr Farage said a 'massive change of thought' was needed on the welfare system to make it affordable and to tackle the growing resentment among working people about the crippling size of handouts.

He said Britain would have to become a 'much tougher society', adding: 'Attitudes are going to have to harden. There's a massive, massive change of thought needed on benefits  that's going to be the biggest war of them all,' he said.

'I'm sorry, but mild anxiety is not a reason to be on disability benefit  it just isn't. We can't afford it, it can't continue.

'And there'll be riots, and there'll be strikes and there'll be protests, and we know all of that, but that's what we're going to have to do  it has to be done. We just can't afford it now.'

The warning came in a wideranging interview with the Mail in which Mr Farage:

Pledged to introduce a radical cheap energy policy, including giving the green light for fracking, and ditching Ed Miliband's 'idiotic' Net Zero targets;

Put the European Union on notice that he will scrap any Brexit reset deal agreed by Sir Keir;

Distanced himself from Donald Trump's Iran conflict, saying he was starting to 'worry slightly about the judgment' of his longtime friend;

Played down the prospect of an election deal with the Conservatives, saying they 'don't deserve to survive';

Suggested his party would be boosted by an army of 'shy Reformers' who have not yet gone public on their intention to abandon Labour and the Conservatives.

Reform has already set out proposals which it says will save more than 20 billion from the welfare bill, including ending the right of foreign nationals to claim benefits here.

Nigel Farage has claimed a 'massive change of thought' is needed on the welfare system to make it affordable

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the Reform UK leader said he was ready to face down protests, strikes and even riots to cut the bloated benefits bill, should his party seize power at the next election

The party is understood to be drawing up plans that will go much further.

The proposals, to be published after the local elections, would cut tens of billions of pounds of benefits and could require millions of currently inactive people to look for a job.

Mr Farage claimed that Reform UK was now gaining the mantle of the 'party of working people'.

'I'm sorry, but as I go around the country... I now believe there's one big divide in British society... those that work and those that don't,' he said.

Mr Farage recounted a recent conversation with a constituent in Clacton, who said he was tired of working seven days a week only to find himself no better off than people claiming state handouts for sitting at home.

The Reform leader said the man told him: 'The b******s next door, they get up at midday, Deliveroo brings their lunch. They smoke dope all afternoon. They're as welloff as I am.'

Mr Farage added: 'He actually summed up how huge numbers of people feel. And yes, on the economy, we can incentivise those in business, but we equally can't go on paying an ever bigger (welfare) bill.

'Socially, this will be the biggest battle that we face.'

Mr Farage also pledged to lead a debate designed to change attitudes towards success, accusing Rachel Reeves of overseeing 'an assault on private enterprise, an assault on business and, even worse, an assault on savings'.

Mr Farage claimed that Reform UK was now gaining the mantle of the 'party of working people'

The Reform leader said 'there is one big divide in British society... those that work and those that don't' (Pictured: RMT workers striking on Tuesday)

'The economic turnaround this country needs is so fundamental and so huge, but it's also attitudinal, to a very large extent,' he said. 'It's all about the concept of work, success, risk taking.

'And we've got a country now where it's almost like if you poll public opinion, they want to punish anybody that's done well.

'Well, actually, we have to fight back against that. And that's where political leadership comes in, and not political followership. I've never, ever been afraid of that.'

Britain's overall welfare bill is forecast to top 400billion a year by the end of the decade  a staggering 70billion increase on today's figure.

The bill for sickness benefits alone is set to jump from 83billion last year to 109billion by the end of the decade  a realterms rise of more than 30 per cent.

Earlier this month, Mr Farage committed to keeping the pensions triple lock, saying the pledge would be funded by 'the biggest cuts to the benefits bill ever seen in the history of this country'.

In a sign of his hardening approach, he recently dropped plans to ditch the twochild benefit cap, saying a future Reform government would now reverse Labour's 3billion decision to hand huge payouts to thousands of Britain's jobless families.

Reform claims that a plan to block foreign nationals, including EU citizens, from claiming benefits could save 9billion a year, although the figure is disputed by experts.

The party has also announced plans to end Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for hundreds of thousands of people with mild mental health issues such as anxiety, potentially saving another 9billion in the long term.
Stolen medical data from 500,000 NHS patients has gone up for sale on a Chinese website just a year after the Mail revealed it could be abused by Beijing for bioweapons.

There were calls for an inquiry on Thursday after it emerged that confidential NHS medical details had been offered for sale within months of Chinese researchers being granted access to the sensitive information.

Last year, there was outrage when plans emerged to give Chinese researchers access to GP records of 503,000 volunteers who are part of the UK Biobank, a research hub that makes 'de-identified' data available to universities, scientific institutes and private companies.

MPs, security experts and former spy chiefs warned against the decision, fearing the hostile state was being given a window into 'strategic aspects of the nation's life', which could be used to develop viruses and help China become a biotech superpower.

Now it's emerged that data from 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers has been offered for sale on the e-commerce site Alibaba  sometimes called China's Amazon  three times in the last week. Although the posts were removed before any sales, experts believe the reason the information is being freely touted on the site is that Beijing has already capitalised on the information.

Ian Murray, the technology minister, told MPs there had been a large-scale data breach, admitting he could not provide '100 per cent assurance' that participants could not be identified with the available data.

It came as experts revealed that it was 'the 198th known exposure of UK Biobank data since last summer'.

The stolen data did not include names, addresses, or contact details, but it did contain gender, age, month and year of birth as well as assessment centre data, attendance data, socioeconomic status and lifestyle habits.

Sensitive medical data: The UK Biobank research hub





Three Chinese research institutions have since had their access revoked after being identified as the source, having initially accessed the data legitimately.

On Thursday, shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns said Labour had handed a 'gift to China', which could endanger lives. 'Half a million Britons trusted the system with their most intimate health data. That trust has been shattered.

'Labour must now answer three questions: which institutions had their access revoked, which had links to the Chinese state, and who signed off on overriding MI5's warnings last year.'

Last April, UK Biobank announced NHS England had audited its processes for sharing data internationally, including how it assesses applications from China. It passed the audit, meaning Chinese researchers could then apply for access.

Then, in February, the health secretary Wes Streeting allowed coded GP data of all volunteers to be shared with UK Biobank.

The decision shocked security experts, with former MI6 spy chief Sir Richard Dearlove comparing it to the aborted decision to let Chinese firm Huawei have a role in the UK's 5G network.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'I will be calling for an inquiry into this scandal. We need to know who made this utterly stupid decision to hand China access to this medical data. It beggars belief when China is looking to develop bioweapons.'

Professor Luc Rocher from the Oxford Internet Institute said: 'This is the 198th known exposure of UK Biobank data since last summer.'

Professor Rocher added that not enough is being done to get stolen data removed from the web, saying: 'UK Biobank data is not just available for sale, it also remains available online for anyone to download today.'

Professor Sir Rory Collins, UK Biobank chief executive, said: 'We apologise to our participants for the concern this will cause.'
Calls were growing on Thursday for Keir Starmer to face a Parliamentary inquiry for allegedly misleading the Commons about the Peter Mandelson affair.

The Prime Minister had already been accused of wrongly assuring MPs that full due process had been followed in the appointment of the Labour grandee as US Ambassador.

But now he has been hit by further damaging allegations that he misquoted the mandarin he sacked over the scandal.

Sir Keir told Prime Minister's Questions that Sir Olly Robbins had said his decision on whether to grant Lord Mandelson security clearance was 'rigorously independent of any pressure'.

But in fact Sir Olly had told the Foreign Affairs Committee that his decision was made 'rigorously independent of that pressure'. Earlier he had revealed his office had been under 'constant pressure' from No 10 to approve the appointment.

On Thursday, a suspended Labour MP joined the demands from opposition parties for the Prime Minister to be investigated by the Privileges Committee - the same body that probed Boris Johnson over Partygate - for allegedly misleading Parliament.

Karl Turner revealed he had written to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle requesting he consider a referral.

Under Parliamentary procedure, the Speaker must agree to a vote and MPs must back the calls for an investigation before it can take place.

Sir Keir Starmer told Prime Minister's Questions that Sir Olly Robbins had said his decision on whether to grant Lord Mandelson security clearance was 'rigorously independent of any pressure'

Karl Turner (pictured) insisted he was not accusing Sir Keir of deliberately misleading Parliament but said there are evident inconsistencies between statements made at Prime Minister's Questions and the evidence given by Sir Olly Robbins to the Foreign Affairs Committee

Despite Labour's large majority, some suspect that many of the party's MPs could refuse to back Sir Keir because of their anger over the Peter Mandelson scandal, which has now dogged the PM for more than seven months.

A Privileges Committee inquiry would be independent of Government, which is in charge of the separate process of publishing files on the Mandelson scandal. It stands more of a chance of going ahead than an investigation by the ministerial sleaze watchdog into whether Sir Keir has broken the Ministerial Code, of which the PM is the ultimate judge.

The Privileges Committee is chaired by a Conservative MP although four of its seven members are Labour.

If it set up an inquiry, it would be able to summon witnesses from the Government to hearings and demand documents including emails and WhatsApp messages. It would also question Sir Keir under oath, as it did to his Tory predecessor Mr Johnson, and would have the power to suspend him from Parliament if he was found to have misled the House and committed a contempt.

Mr Turner insisted he was not accusing Sir Keir of deliberately misleading Parliament but went on: 'There are evident inconsistencies between statements made at Prime Minister's Questions and the evidence given by Sir Olly Robbins to the Foreign Affairs Committee. These raise important questions that go to the heart of transparency and accountability in Parliament. It is right that they are examined properly.'

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are already in favour of the probe. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride told GB News: 'Our belief is that the Prime Minister has misled Parliament, because what he said in Parliament is that pressure was not applied, and he's been contradicted by Olly Robbins.'

The PM will face further scrutiny of No 10's actions in Mandelson's appointment on Tuesday at the Foreign Affairs Committee, when another former Foreign Office mandarin tells his side of the story.

Sir Philip Barton will be asked about the claim he was ordered by No 10 to 'just f***ing approve' the appointment - and if he quit his job early because of the pressure.
President Trump extended the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for three more weeks as the US attempts to continue peace talks with Iran.

Trump made the statement after he hosted an Oval Office meeting between 'high ranking representatives' of Israel and Lebanon.

'The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,' Trump posted on Truth Social.

'The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS.'

The ongoing military campaign by Israel in southern Lebanon has been just one of major roadblocks preventing an end to hostilities between Iran and the US.

A scheduled summit this week between Vice President JD Vance and his Iranian counterparts in Islamabad, Pakistan did not take place.

Also at the Oval Office meeting were Vance, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa.

Trump added that he is looking forward to meeting in person with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun 'in the near future..'

President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and Vice President JD Vance listen in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington

President Trump extended the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for three more weeks as the US attempts to continue peace talks with Iran

Despite the truce, Wednesday morning saw Iran seize two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and destroy a third

The latest war started when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran. Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion in which it captured dozens of towns and villages along the border.

Israels military currently occupies a buffer zone stretching as much as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into southern Lebanon. Israel says it aims to remove the threat of short-range rockets and anti-tank missiles being fired toward northern Israel.

Hezbollah has rejected the talks. Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of the militant groups political council, told The Associated Press that it will not abide by any agreements made during the direct talks.

Despite this, the talks are a major step for two countries with no diplomatic relations that officially have been at war since Israels inception in 1948.

The Lebanese government hopes the talks will pave the way to a permanent end to the war. While Iran has set ending the wars in Lebanon and the region as a condition for talks with the U.S., Lebanon insists on representing itself.

Since the ceasefire went into effect last week, there have been multiple violations by both side sides.

Shortly before the President's Truth Social post, the Pentagon released video of US naval forces boarding the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean

Trump is stepping up his push to cut off Iran from using the Strait of Hormuz by demanding the US Navy 'shoot and kill' any Iranian boat laying mines in the Persian Gulf

Masked fighters are seen racing toward the MSC-Francesca ship by using a gunboat before climbing its hull with rifles strapped to their backs

Meanwhile on Thursday, Trump escalated his efforts to cut off Iran from using the Strait of Hormuz by demanding the US Navy 'shoot and kill' any Iranian boat laying mines in the Persian Gulf.

The President wrote on Truth Social on Thursday morning: 'I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

'There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!'

US forces also seized another tanker caught smuggling the regime's oil just one day after Tehran seized two vessels.

Shortly before the President's post, the Pentagon released videos of US naval forces boarding the Iranian-linked oil tanker, Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean. The ship was reportedly carrying oil produced by the Iranian regime.

'We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,' the Pentagon wrote on X.

The Pentagon warned that sanctioned actors cannot use international waters as cover, vowing to keep blocking 'illicit actors and their vessels' from operating freely at sea.

Global oil prices began to skyrocket on Thursday as concerns grew that the truce between the US and Iran would collapse. The price of Brent crude rose above $103 a barrel on Thursday morning, up 1.3 percent.
The chant of 'Get Starmer Out' can be heard from outside the Sunniside social club on the outskirts of Newcastle as Nigel Farage rallies his troops.

Inside, around 120 Reform candidates have gathered for a pep talk from their leader ahead of next month's local elections, when the party is dreaming of a historic result.

Mr Farage tells them they are on the brink of triggering a political 'earthquake' in the May 7 poll, which will leave Labour in the rubble.

'Get Starmer Out' was adopted as Reform's campaign slogan weeks ago in a bid to turn the elections into a referendum on an unpopular Prime Minister.

Mr Farage acknowledges that Sir Keir has been 'a gift' to campaigners trying to persuade people to take the leap to Reform.

With a throaty laugh, he adds: 'I just don't want him to go before May 7!

'The slogan, "Let's Get Starmer Out", which we chose before this (Mandelson story) broke, is now looking better by the minute. And I think we can justifiably say, with another massive defeat for this guy, he will be gone by the end of May.

'It depends on the results up here in the North East and in central and southern Yorkshire, bits of the North West, South Wales... if I'm right, that we're going to wipe out Labour in their traditional areas, and the Greens are going to hit them in the more metropolitan areas, then I just don't see how he survives.'

Nigel Farage is interviewed by the Daily Mail's Jason Groves at an upmarket hotel in Durham

The Reform UK leader is in his seventh week of campaigning for the local elections on May 7

Yesterday, the party leader was blitzing the North East again, with walkabout tours in South Shields and Gateshead as well as candidate briefings.

Over a lunch of ribeye steak and beaujolais at an upmarket country hotel in County Durham, he argues that Reform can reach even deeper into Labour's traditional Red Wall heartlands than Boris Johnson did in 2019.

Mr Farage points out that voters in Red Wall areas fired a series of electoral 'warning shots' at Labour, including in the Brexit referendum  but says the 'complacent' party 'took them for granted'.

'Boris never got a sniff of winning Gateshead,' he says. 'Or Barnsley, or Tameside or St Helens. This is going way beyond anything that remarkable Brexit election produced in 2019, and my view is that this switch is not a one-off... this is a fundamental shift away from the Labour Party.

'What Reform has emerged as, genuinely, is the party of working people. That, by the way, is a very broad canvas, everything from entrepreneurs to people who work for the council, but working people. Everyone can see the Labour Party is now the party of welfare, not work, and the Tories up here can't connect.'

The Reform leader is into his seventh week of campaigning for what will be the biggest electoral contest before the next general election. Around 5,000 council seats in England are up for grabs, along with the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales. Polls suggest Reform will win big in England and party strategists believe they will come first in Wales, where Labour has ruled since devolution.

Mr Farage also hopes to end the Conservatives' status as a national party  and is focusing substantial time and resources on Essex in the hope of dealing a psychological blow to the Tories in a county where Kemi Badenoch and half the Shadow Cabinet have their constituencies. The Reform leader is dismissive of any kind of electoral deal with the Tories.

He acknowledges that a post-election pact cannot be ruled out, but is clear it would be 'highly undesirable', adding: 'They don't deserve it.'

Join the discussion What do you think really separates people in Britain today: work ethic, values, or something else?

His tour of the North East has shown him how much of the so-called Red Wall resents Labour

Former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft attempted a bit of peace-making by mischievously seating the two leaders on the same table at his recent 80th birthday. It was not a success, with Mr Farage spending more time chatting to Mrs Badenoch's 'charming' husband Hamish.

He acknowledges that Mrs Badenoch is landing blows against Labour but suggests it will make no difference.

'She's obviously trying very hard, and that's fine, but she's leading a broken brand, and that's really the point,' he says.

Mr Farage says Reform is gaining the mantle of the 'party of working people'.

'We're going to have to have a much tougher society,' he said.

'Attitudes are going to have to harden.

'I'm sorry, but as I go around the country... I now believe there's one big divide in British society, and it's not based on class or money or race or religion. The biggest divide in society is those that work and those that don't.'

On the streets of South Shields and Gateshead, the public reception for Mr Farage is generally warm but it would be an exaggeration to say he is mobbed.

Passers-by come over to shake hands and ask for selfies but there are, bluntly, not enough people around to form a mob. 'Everyone is saying it's the parking charges,' he says in an eerily quiet South Shields.

'The council handed out thousands of fixed penalty notices last year  once you've had one of those, you don't come back. It's crazy  this war on the motorist is killing our towns.'

In some tight-knit working-class communities, activists also believe they are discovering a new phenomenon  the 'shy Reformer'  which Mr Farage believes could add 'a few per cent' to the party's final tally.

'Some of these communities are very tight and very traditional, and so saying you're voting Reform is rather like coming out (as gay), you know  it's a big decision.' Mr Farage brands Green Party leader Zack Polanski 'incredibly dangerous' and questions whether he 'actually believes half the things he says'.

But he acknowledges that the party's success in 'shattering the Left-wing vote' will also help Reform in seats across the country.

The Iran war has come at an awkward time for Mr Farage, whose longstanding friendship with Donald Trump, which was once an asset, now risks becoming a liability.

He believes Sir Keir got it 'wrong' by initially refusing to let the US use British bases to launch attacks  a position that was rapidly dropped but which incensed the US President.

He says stopping Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon is a 'worthy cause', as is regime change. But he suggests Mr Trump 'feels slightly hoodwinked by Israeli intelligence, by his own internal intelligence  the neocon Right might have had a slight upper hand'.

Is Trump losing the plot? The question causes Mr Farage to pause and choose his words carefully for the only time in the interview. 'He'll be 80 in June,' he says finally. 'He's an incredibly resilient individual. He has closed the border. The American economy is still going gangbusters. He's not everyone's cup of tea.

'I do, as a friend, worry slightly about his judgment on this, yes. I do. It will be a terribly sad end to an amazing political career if the man that was always anti-war in the end gets (brought) down by this  I struggle to understand it.'

One area where the two men still agree is energy, where he supports a 'revolution' that would see not just the end of Ed Miliband's Net Zero targets and renewed drilling in the North Sea, but also the State potentially taking a stake in the rollout of mini nuclear reactors, and even a green light for fracking.

Cheap energy, he says, has to be at the heart of any industrial revival  coupled with a dramatic welfare clampdown designed to save money and prod people into work.

'What I'm talking about is a completely new vision for industry, for jobs and an energy revolution,' Mr Farage says. Will this include fracking, which was paused by the Conservatives and halted by Labour?

'Yeah, I won't quite make it compulsory,' he says, 'but the North Lincolnshire field  up under the Humber towards Doncaster, in an area with a history of extractive industries  we can have that operational within nine months. Jackdaw (gas field) in the North Sea, within 12 weeks.

'These morons like Reeves think the gas costs the same wherever it comes from. Really? So are you telling me, Rachel Reeves, that if you drill gas in Montana, liquefy it, drive it to Baltimore, bring it across the Atlantic, re-gasify from liquid and deliver it to where it's needed, it's the same price as producing it next door? I mean, they're just off their trolleys.'

On Brexit, too, he pledges to unpick Sir Keir's reset deal.

The US economy, he says, is now twice the size of the EU's, having been roughly the same size in 2008. Burning bridges with America to cosy up to Europe would be a 'bloody stupid thing to do'.

'The starkness of the approach towards money, risk appetite, capital in America and Europe is incredible,' he says. 'And here's Starmer taking us ever closer back to the European Union.'

He acknowledges there is 'disappointment' among Brexiteers about the failure of the political elite to deliver on the potential.

South Shields, he says by way of an example, would have an 'absolutely booming fishing industry' if successive governments had not traded away access to the EU.

But he argues that the PM is an 'idiot' to gamble on the hope that Brexit supporters no longer care about the issue.

'There is disappointment among Brexiteers,' he says. 'I would say our 5.7million small businesses are disappointed that Brexit has not delivered for them.

'But have they given up hope on it? No, and is going back into the increasing regulatory maw of Brussels, what anyone demands? No. You've even got Remainers writing in The Times that going back in now to a single market with no say is completely mad.'

So will he put Brussels on notice now that he will tear up any deal agreed with Sir Keir?

'Oh yes,' he smiles. 'In the words of the song, I want to break free.'
A US special forces soldier has been arrested for allegedly placing a bet on the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, despite being part of the operation.

American soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, is accused of placing a $32,000 bet on Polymarket - one of the best-known prediction markets - that Maduro would be 'out' by January, later pocketing $400,000 after the presidents capture.

But an indictment unsealed on Thursday alleges that he was involved in both the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve, and used his access to classified information to personally profit.

Van Dyke, an active-duty service member stationed at Fort Bragg, was taken into custody Thursday and is now facing five charges, with an initial court appearance expected in North Carolina.

'Todays announcement makes clear no one is above the law, and this FBI will do whatever it takes to defend the homeland and safeguard our nations secrets,' FBI Director Kash Patel said.

'Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable,' he added.

According to the indictment, Van Dyke is accused of creating the betting account on or around December 26, 2025, funding it, and beginning to trade on Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets.

In total, he allegedly placed about 13 bets between late December and early January, repeatedly backing 'Yes' outcomes on scenarios involving US military action in Venezuela and Trump's invocation of war powers by January 31, 2026.

Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is escorted in Manhattan for an initial appearance to face US federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others on January 5, 2026

A US special forces soldier was arrested for allegedly placing a bet on the raid that captured Maduro, earning him more than $400,000

In the early hours of January 3 - just days after opening his account - US forces captured Maduro in a covert nighttime raid under heavy fire in Caracas, an operation Van Dyke helped carry out himself.

Maduro was then transported to New York City, where he has pleaded not guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges.

Following the announcement of the operations success by President Donald Trump, Polymarket settled multiple related contracts as 'YES,' with Van Dyke ultimately earning approximately $409,881.

'Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly betrayed his fellow soldiers by utilizing classified information for his own financial gain,' FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. said.

'Van Dyke profited more than $400,000 by trading various outcomes related to Venezuela after learning of the operation because of his role as a US Army soldier,' he added.

After securing the nearly half-million-dollar payout, the soldier allegedly routed most of the proceeds through a foreign cryptocurrency vault before placing them into a newly established online brokerage account.

On the day of the operation itself, Van Dyke allegedly withdrew most of the illegal gains, according to the indictment.

But the scale of trading linked to Operation Absolute Resolve across social media and the press immediately raised red flags for law enforcement, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Trump shared on Truth Social a photo of Nicolas Maduro captured and subdued

American soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, is accused of placing a $32,000 bet on Polymarket that Maduro would be 'out' by January

It was at that point, according to the indictment, that Van Dyke allegedly began taking steps to conceal his identity as a trader in the Venezuela-related markets.

In one example cited by the US Attorneys Office, Van Dyke allegedly requested that Polymarket delete his account just three days after Maduros capture, falsely claiming he had lost access to the email tied to it.

He also allegedly changed the email linked to his cryptocurrency exchange account that same day, replacing it with an address not registered in his name, which he had created on or about December 14, 2025.

In a US Attorneys Office press release, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Americans in uniform are 'prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain.'

'Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible,' he added.

'Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply.'

Charges against Van Dyke include unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

He could face up to 10 years in prison for each violation of the Commodity Exchange Act, 20 years for wire fraud and 10 years for an illegal monetary transaction.

In a statement, FBI Director Kash Patel said: 'Todays announcement makes clear no one is above the law, and this FBI will do whatever it takes to defend the homeland and safeguard our nations secrets'

Van Dyke is accused of creating the betting account on or around December 26, 2025, funding it, and beginning to trade on Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets

In a statement, US Attorney Jay Clayton said: 'Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain.'

'The defendant allegedly violated the trust placed in him by the US government by using classified information about a sensitive military operation to place bets on the timing and outcome of that very operation, all to turn a profit,' he added.

'That is clear insider trading and is illegal under federal law.'

Clayton reiterated that those entrusted with protecting the nations secrets have a duty to safeguard them, not to use them for personal financial gain, particularly members of the armed services.

'Our Office will continue to hold accountable those who misuse confidential or classified information in a way that undermines and exploits our national security,' the statement concluded.

During Maduros capture, the US used a form of artificial intelligence during the military operation, despite concerns from developers about the risks of deploying the technology.

The use of Anthropic artificial-intelligence tool Claude highlighted how AI use is gaining traction in the Pentagon.

It is understood that Anthropic was the first AI model developer to be used in classified operations by the US's Department of Defense following a $200 million with the company last year.

Van Dyke allegedly placed about 13 bets, repeatedly backing 'Yes' outcomes on scenarios involving US military action in Venezuela and Trump's invocation of war powers by January 31

Following the announcement of the operations success by President Donald Trump, Van Dyke allegedly withdrew most of the illegal gains, according to the indictment

However, the developers have refused to comment on whether the software was used in any specific operation.

They have also said Anthropic's usage guidelines prohibit Claude from being used to facilitate violence, develop weapons or conduct surveillance.

Despite this, the mission to capture Maduro and his wife involved the bombing of several sites across Venezuela's capital Caracas.

But the companies concerns about how Claude can be used by the Pentagon have pushed administration officials to consider canceling its contract worth millions.

The Chief Executive Dario Amodei has also been publicly grappling with the power of the technology and the risks they could pose to society and he's called for greater regulation and guardrails to prevent harms from AI.

Despite this, the adoption of AI by the US military is seen as a key boost for AI companies that are competing for legitimacy and seeking to live up to their enormous valuations from investors.

Other companies such as OpenAI and Googles Gemini are now used by three million US military personal including a custom version of ChatGPT which will used for analysing documents, generating reports and supporting research.

Just last month, Maduro, 63, returned to court alongside his wife after spending nearly three months locked up at the grim federal prison.

Van Dyke, an active-duty service member stationed at Fort Bragg, was taken into custody Thursday and is now facing five charges

Last month, Maduro, 63, returned to court alongside his wife after spending nearly three months locked up in federal prison

It marked Maduro and former first lady Cilia Floress first appearance before a New York judge since their arraignment, having been held at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after their dramatic arrests in January.

The socialist leader, wearing prison clothing and restrained by leg shackles, looked strikingly thinner in the face as he entered the courtroom.

He smiled politely and greeted his team in English, telling his lawyer Barry Pollack he looked elegant.

Meanwhile, his wife, Cilia Flores, 69, appeared to have fully recovered from injuries reportedly sustained during the couples capture, no longer wearing bandages or showing visible facial bruising.

Maduro's attorneys sought to have his drug trafficking indictment thrown out over a geopolitical dispute over legal fees.

The hearing kicked off with the defense and prosecution arguing over whether Maduro should be allowed to use Venezuelan government funds to pay for his defense.

The defense has insisted that the US is violating the deposed leader's constitutional rights by blocking government money from being used for his legal costs.

US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein seemed skeptical of the reasons for denying Maduro and his wife funds from the Venezuelan government to pay for their legal fees.

March marked Maduro and former first lady Cilia Floress first appearance before a New York judge since their arraignment

Maduro's attorneys sought to have his drug trafficking indictment thrown out over a geopolitical dispute over legal fees

The couple cannot use money from Caracas because they are under sanctions from the US government which have been in place since the second Obama administration.

Despite requests from the defense, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has declined to grant them a waiver to use the funds.

Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba said that the case was 'unique' but the sanctions were valid due to national security and foreign policy reasons.

At one point, Maduro's lawyer claimed the solution was simply to throw out the case. The judge retorted: 'I'm not going to dismiss the case.'

Judge Hellerstein pointed out that since Maduro had been captured, the US was 'doing business with Venezuela.'

He seemed to suggest that the success of the Trump administration's operation to remove Maduro and the war in Iran had rendered the sanctions irrelevant.

The judge said: 'We are doing business with Venezuela. The oil interest in Venezuela has become vital particularly because of the shortages arising from the Strait of Hormuz.

'The defendant is here. Ms Flores is here. They present no further national security threat. I don't see that'.
Prince Louis has shown an uncanny resemblance to his father, the Prince of Wales, at the same age in his new portrait released to celebrate his eighth birthday.

The previously unseen photograph of young Louis was captured by Prince William and the Princess of Wales's trusted photographer Matt Porteous during the family's Easter getaway to Cornwall this month.

Shared on Kensington Palace's social media accounts with the message: 'Happy birthday, Louis! Eight today!,' the sweet snap saw the young prince dressed in a 42 blue quarter-zip jumper from Boden while beaming gleefully with his arms crossed.

Yet eagle-eyed royal fans have noticed a striking similarity to his father, now 43, when he was on a family holiday to Mallorca, Spain, in 1990.

A picture, taken when Britain's future King was just eight years old, shows William holding on to the handlebar of the yacht Fortuna while on holiday with his parents, Princess Diana and King Charles, alongside Prince Harry, then five.

Sharing a similarly gleeful grin to Louis, Wills is captured onboard the royal vessel while King Juan Carlos, the former king of Spain, stands behind him in a protective manner.

Like young Louis, William's brown hair is seen falling just above his eyes, while the prince is also seen squinting slightly due to the bright summer sun.

Prince Louis (pictured in a portrait released for his eigth birthday today) has shown an uncanny resemblance to his father, the Prince of Wales, in an old photograph taken when Prince William would have been the same age as his youngest son

The picture, taken when Britain's future King was just eight years old, shows William holding onto the handlebar of the yacht Fortuna while on holiday

In both of the photos, both William and Louis are dressed in smart-casual outfits, though the future King opted for more of a summer look with a white T-shirt, while Louis' navy jumper was indicative of the slightly cooler British spring weather.

Captured in August 1990, William was onboard the royal vessel for a trip that saw members of the British Firm join the Spanish and Greek royal families visit the Spanish royal summer residence, Marivent Palace, located near the island's capital, Palma.

I know how the Queen REALLY felt about Meghan Hi! I'm Richard Eden, Diary Editor and author of the Palace Confidential newsletter. I have spent hours looking into what Meghan Markle's relationship with the Queen was really like. And while I can tell you Meghan was welcomed with open arms, my sources have told me the Queen was very quickly concerned. Sign up here to read what I discovered

It marked the last of four annual trips the British royals had made to Spain, as guests of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

When the image of young Louis, who today celebrates his eighth birthday, was shared online, hundreds of well-wishers left heartfelt messages for the royal while describing him as a 'true precious legend'.

'He looks so mature,' one fan commented, while another said Louis was his mother Kate's 'mini me' in the 'lovely' photo.

Ahead of his birthday, fans remarked the playful prince looked 'so grown up' when he joined his family for Easter Service at St George's Chapel earlier this month.

While the youngest Wales child has won over royal fans with his cheeky antics during official engagements, Louis was on his best behaviour as he walked alongside his parents and waved bashfully at fans gathered outside the church in Windsor.

'Young HRH Prince Louis is learning very well,' one supporter praised his behaviour at the time.

Prince Louis Arthur Charles was born at 11.01am on April 23, 2018, at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, and was first photographed with William and Kate outside the Lindo Wing.

Last year, royal fans also drew similarities between Britain's future King and his son when young Louis' birthday portrait was released

The new photo by Mr Porteus is a delightful addition to the collection of Prince Louis's official portraits released over the years.

Last year, royal fans also drew similarities between Britain's future King and his son when young Louis' birthday portrait was released.

The photograph, taken in Norfolk by Josh Shinner, saw Louis dressed in a white and blue checked shirt, with a green jumper layered over the top and paired with jeans.

The sweet snap, which was shared on Kate and William's Kensington Royal social media accounts, was captioned: 'Wishing Prince Louis a very Happy 7th Birthday!'

And it drew comparisons to an earlier photograph of Louis' father taken during a polo match at Windsor in 1990.

The picture was taken days before Prince William's eighth birthday and shows him clapping while watching the match at Guards Polo Club on June 16, 1990.

This isn't the first time royal fans have noticed the striking resemblance between Prince William and his mischievous son, who is a favourite of the British public for his cheeky attitude and hilarious expressions

In the photos, both William and Louis are dressed in smart-casual outfits; the future King wore a blue and white striped shirt, khaki trousers, and black belt for his polo match outing at the age of seven.

This isn't the first time royal fans have noticed the striking resemblance between Prince William and his mischievous son, who is a favourite of the British public for his cheeky attitude and hilarious expressions.

Expressions that Louis appears to have inherited from his father, as old photos of William showed him exhibiting nearly identical mannerisms during public appearances growing up in the Eighties and Nineties.

One of the most iconic photos of Louis was taken at the Trooping the Colour parade in 2022 and showed the royal covering his years after becoming overwhelmed by the proceedings.

A photo of William, then aged six, taken during the parade many years prior similarly showed him looking displeased by the buzz around him.

Like William, Louis also has a penchant for engaging with crowds - mimicking his father's wave every time he's out in public.

The Princes have on several occasions been snapped raising their hand in greeting, at times with a smile, and in other instances with a confused air.

While Louis has earned the crown of the cheekiest British royal, old photos of William that captured his sassier side prove the young prince has inherited the unofficial title from his father.

Join the discussion Leave your Happy Birthday wishes for Prince Louis below

Kensington Palace held off until the afternoon on April 23, 2024, to share a new photo for his sixth birthday. The young prince sweetly echoed his father, Prince William's wardrobe

Finally, both William and Louis have previously displayed a habit they appear to have borrowed from King Charles: pointing at the crowds from Buckingham Palace's balcony.

In 1985, a cheeky William - aged three - pointed to the crowds as he, his cousin Zara Phillips and Lady Davina Windsor stood on the Buckingham Palace balcony following that year's Trooping the Colour.

Mirroring his father, Louis looked hyper-focused from the same exact place as he observed an RAF flypast following his grandfather's Coronation in 2023.

Louis' latest portrait is one of many released of the young prince that shows his playful personality.

On his first birthday, Kensington Palace released three images of the rosy-cheeked toddler gleefully exploring the great outdoors.

Kate, an avid photographer, turned her lens on her youngest as she snapped Louis playing in their garden at home in Norfolk, as fans remarked he was beginning to look a lot like his older brother, Prince George.

The following year, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released a new set of pictures of Louis, also taken by Kate at Anmer Hall, as he tried his hand at painting.

Dressed in a blue checked shirt, Louis looked positively ecstatic to be creating rainbow-coloured handprints as his parents tried to keep him busy after the world went into lockdown.

In keeping with what was becoming a tradition, Kate was behind the camera for Louis' fourth birthday pictures that were taken on the beach in Norfolk during a family outing

On his first birthday, Kensington Palace released three images of the rosy-cheeked toddler gleefully exploring the great outdoors. The photographs were taken by Kate, an avid photographer

By the time he turned three, Louis was big enough to be zipping around on his bicycle as he officially started nursery school.

Proud mother Kate snapped the portrait, which showed Louis flashing his trademark cheeky smile, before he left for his first day at the Willcocks Nursery School.

Beaming at the camera, Louis looked ready for his big day, sporting a smart blue and white striped shirt, navy blue sweater and sky blue shorts.

In keeping with what was becoming a tradition, Kate was behind the camera for Louis' fourth birthday pictures that were taken on the beach in Norfolk during a family outing.

Instead of releasing Louis' birthday portrait in the morning, Kensington Palace held off until the afternoon on April 23, 2024, to share a new photo for his sixth birthday.

But the happy photo was clearly worth the wait when it was finally posted, as Louis was pictured grinning from ear to ear while posing in the grounds of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Royal fans even noted a telling gap in his lower teeth, revealing that the tooth fairy has been.

Louis was dressed in a smart-casual shirt with blue and brown checkering - sweetly echoing his father, Prince William's wardrobe.
When the plane lands in Washington DC on Monday at the start of their historic visit, Charles and Queen Camilla wont be the only members of the Royal Family to find themselves working in the US  not, at least, if the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs cheerleaders are to be believed.

For Prince Harry and Meghan are running the Montecito branch of the House of Windsor, according to briefings given to sympathetic journalists who covered the couples quasi-royal tour of Australia earlier this month.

While some of us were highly critical of the way the Sussexes used their trip Down Under to combine money-making with public engagements, they are said to be delighted with how it went.

Their allies have made it clear that they saw the trip as a successful blueprint of what we can expect from them in the future.

It is a highly dangerous turn for the King and the future of the Monarchy.

Harry agreed with his grandmother Queen Elizabeth at the so-called Sandringham Summit in 2020 that he and Meghan would neither exploit their royal connections nor use their titles to make money.

But that is exactly what they did in Australia  in the most egregious fashion. For example, they visited the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne, where they met youngsters suffering from cancer. At the same time, Meghan was trying to sell the clothes she wore for the occasion to fans via a new Artificial Intelligence fashion portal in which shes now investing.

Queen Elizabeth would have been horrified.

Meghan and Harry taking a selfie with patients at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne during their tour of Australia this month

The King and Queen's visit comes on the back of increased tensions between Britain and the US over the conflict in Iran

Prince Harry pictured leaving Clarence House in September 2025. It was the last time he saw his father in person, and they are not expected to meet during Charles' and Camilla's US tour

Apparently determined to keep himself in the public eye, Prince Harry made a surprise visit to Kyiv this morning 'to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against'.

Its all a big change from the Sussexes original plans for their life in America, which involved signing big-money deals with giant media companies such as Netflix and Spotify to produce programmes and podcasts.

I know how the Queen REALLY felt about Meghan Hi! I'm Richard Eden, Diary Editor and author of the Palace Confidential newsletter. I have spent hours looking into what Meghan Markle's relationship with the Queen was really like. And while I can tell you Meghan was welcomed with open arms, my sources have told me the Queen was very quickly concerned. Sign up here to read what I discovered

The King is desperate not to antagonise his younger son and his American daughter-in-law. Indeed, royal officials are horrified when they are asked about the Sussexes because they fear saying something which could offend the Sussexes.

His Majesty entertained Harry last September when he invited him for tea at Clarence House. Although they have not met in person since then, moves are being made behind the scenes to pave the way for the princes return in July, accompanied by his wife for the first time in four years.

Its telling that when the royal and VIP executive committee, which authorises security for senior royals, met earlier this year, it was civil servants and not the Kings representative, who raised objections to the couple having their automatic, taxpayer-funded security restored. The civil servants feared a backlash from hard-pressed taxpayers who would have to pay for this automatic security.

A friend of the royals tells me: Their Majesties will not see Harry and Meghan while they are in the States, but dont read anything into that. The King hopes to see more of his son and spend time with his grandchildren. This will happen in Britain before long.

During an event in Australia, Harry claimed that his late mother, Princess Diana, would have approved of the life he has chosen. Speaking on stage at the InterEdge leadership summit, he said hed asked himself after her death: What would my mum want me to do?

That really changed my perspective, he continued. I realised well, actually, helping other people is also helping me. Service, for me, is a cure in itself.

The problem is that he is funding his service by making money, and that a half-in, half-out model could ultimately destroy the monarchy, as the late Queen wisely understood.

In my opinion, the King needs to take drastic steps to prevent the Royal Family being tarnished.

He should strip them of their Duke and Duchess titles, as well as Harrys styling as Prince, just as he has done with his brother Andrew.

If the Sussexes new model of money-making royalty is allowed to take root, it could eventually spell the end for the House of Windsor  and not just the Montecito branch.
How much is the new Toyota RAV4?

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 hybrid range costs up to $5930 more than the outgoing model depending on variant. Entry to the range is via the 2WD GX model which is now priced at $45,990 plus on-road costs making it $3730 more expensive that last year's equivalent. The range tops out with the AWD Cruiser grade at $60,340 plus ORCs which is subject to the larger price hike.

All 2026 RAV4 models are powered by the same 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid powertrain with e-CVT transmission, with 2WD or AWD options depending on variant. A choice of five grades are available - GX, GXL, Edge (AWD only), XSE (AWD only) and Cruiser.

The Toyota RAV4 is backed with a 5-year vehicle warranty and an 8-year/160,000km warranty on the hybrid battery.

Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD - $45,990

Toyota RAV4 GX AWD - $49,340

Toyota RAV4 GXL 2WD - $48.990

Toyota RAV4 GXL AWD - $52,340

Toyota RAV4 Edge - $55,340

Toyota RAV4 XSE - $58,340

Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2WD - $56,990

Toyota RAV4 Cruiser AWD - $60,340

*All prices plus on-road costs

More: Discover the best new car warranties in Australia

What does the 2026 Toyota RAV4 look like?

The new RAV4 design features squaredoff wheel arches, a flatter bonnet and a taller stance giving it a tougher, more large SUVlike presence compared with earlier, softerstyled versions.

At the front, a distinct honeycomb grille and sharp headlight design differentiate the new model significantly from the outgoing version and side-on, the tall roofline and large windows contribute to outward visibility.

Rear styling is functional, with a wide tailgate opening that makes loading much easier. An exterior colour palette including 10 single-tone and four two-tone paint options is available, depending on grade, with new colour additions including Urban Rock, Daintree Green and Massive Grey. Wheel options vary from a 17-inch rim on the entry model GX, to 20-inch alloy wheels on the top-of-the-range Cruiser.

More: Australia's best-selling cars, SUVs, hybrids and electric vehicles

What is the interior of the new Toyota RAV4 like?

The last-generation Toyota RAV4 had an interior which was utilitarian in comparison with more modern arrivals from brands including Kia and Hyundai. The new design advances some way to meeting the competition, with a well laid out cabin highlighted by the largest touchscreen offered in a RAV4 to date (10.5-inch in the GX and GXL, and 12.9-inch in all other models).



Compared with earlier generations, the dashboard sits 32mm lower and flatter, helping deliver a clearer forward view from the drivers seat and a more open driving position.

The central touchscreen is mounted higher in the dashboard for better visibility, while clearly labelled physical buttons and knobs are retained for key functions such as climate control and audio. It's incredibly easy to find all the key controls - an important factor for fleets where the Toyota RAV4 may be driven by multiple drivers.

Storage is well integrated throughout the cabin with large cupholders, a big cubby under the wireless phone chargers (although GX misses out on the wireless charger). The centre console has a removeable lid, with a reversible feature so the lid can be flipped and used either as a padded arm rest or a hard tray. There's even clever storage spots within the door handles which are large enough to hold a smartphone.

Passenger space is generous, with good headroom, and loads of usable rear legroom as well as wide rear door openings that make fitting child seats easier. Boot space is cavernous and while official comparison figures aren't available as Toyota has changed the way it measures boot volume, it appears on a par or slightly greater than the outgoing model. A huge bonus is the space saver spare wheel, which can be optioned as a full size spare in the GX thanks to its smaller wheels.

Depending on grade, you'll receive a different level of creature comforts - so scan the inclusions list carefully - you can check our comprehensive Toyota RAV4 guide for the full model breakdown including the upcoming plug-in hybrid version. As a for instance, you won't receive heated front seats unless you spend at least $55,340 for the Edge variant, and the entry model GX misses out on the aforementioned wireless phone charging and even rain sensing wipers.

How does the Toyota RAV4 drive?

On the road, the 2026 Toyota RAV4 is both predictable and comfortable but thanks to re-engineering work, it is also more engaging to drive than the last generation, coming closer to matching the road holding of the Hyundai Tucson.

Steering is direct and easy, making it well suited to city driving, but it delivers good feedback on the open road. A new electronically-controlled braking system has been introduced which delivers a more natural braking feel. In cornering, the RAV4 employs a new vehicle braking posture control which brakes the front outer wheel and rear inner wheel, noticeably reducing the body roll and contributing to a more confident on road feel.

Toyota chose to launch the new RAV4 on the beautifully smooth strips of tarmac of Tasmania so there were no compromises felt in either the suspension settings or the larger rims of the Cruiser model. But while the roads showcased the RAV4's engineering improvements they also showed up the engine's dimished performance, with the car needing some encouragement to tackle the includes towards Cradle Mountain and eliciting some signs of CVT whine in response.

When not under duress, Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid system, which debuted in the Toyota Camry, operates smoothly, relying on electric assistance at low speeds and engaging the petrol engine seamlessly when needed. There's no paddle shifters to imitate a gear change effect for the CVT so its whine can be wearing.

Its worth noting a couple of changes too to the hybrid's engines stats. There is a 4 per cent improvement in claimed fuel economy over the outgoing model, equating to a claim of 4.5L/100km in the 2WD models and 4.6L/100km in the AWDs - but and this is a big but in the current climate - you will now need to fill the RAV4 with 95RON so weekly fuel bills will be greater.



More: Research and compare family cars and SUVs

How safe is the Toyota RAV4?

The new 2026 Toyota RAV4 is comprehensively equipped with safety technology, and is what Toyota claims "the safest RAV4 ever," but due to delays to its arrival date into Australia it was built to 2025 ANCAP safety ratings. This means initial vehicles will be arrive as 'untested' with Toyota expecting to make unnamed changes to passive and active safety features to later deliveries of cars, which will be submitted for testing under 2026 protocols.

The new RAV4 has been equipped with a substantial safety inclusions list which includes the Toyota Safety Sense suite of active safety features. These include autonomous emergency braking pre-collision safety system, emergency steering assist, active cruise control, front and rear cross traffic alert, lane trace assist, proactive driving assist, automatic high beam, parking support brake and blind spot monitor with safe exit assist, along with eight SRS airbags. A 360-degree camera is available but only from the XSE model upwards.

The lack of a five-star ANCAP rating will be a dealbreaker for Government and fleet buyers who have mandated a five-star or nothing policy and are likely to put off purchases until later in the year.

More: Australia's safest mid-size SUVs revealed
She was lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother and remembered the late Queen Elizabeth as having been 'extraordinarily kind'.

But Lady Angela Oswald cannot say the same for some employees of His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

For I can reveal that the 87-year-old aristocrat and former courtier has been left distressed by 'threatening' HMRC letters wrongly accusing her of failing to pay 15,300 in stamp duty.

'I was terrified to receive a demand for alleged non-payment of stamp duty  plus added interest for alleged non-payment in time,' she tells me, adding: 'Luckily my daughter provided proof of my innocence  that the stamp duty had indeed been paid, many months earlier and in good time.'

Conclusive proof Lady Angela, pictured, had paid her dues did not deter the taxman's badgering. 'I still received two further threatening demands, then silence and subsequently no apology for having had false allegations made against me,' divulges the 6th Marquess of Exeter's youngest daughter, who lives in King's Lynn near King Charles's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Her husband of 63 years, Sir Michael Oswald, died five years ago aged 86.

Former courtier Lady Angela Oswald, 87, was badgered by HMRC over alleged unpaid taxes

Sir Michael was Queen Elizabeth's horse racing adviser and manager of the Royal Stud for nearly 30 years and was often pictured watching the tracks from royal boxes. Their adult children are son William and daughter Katherine who, like her mother, graced the pages of Country Life magazine.

Relieved after her ordeal, Lady Angela confirms that HMRC finally 'stopped sending anything' but affirms that they 'never acknowledged the error'.

'If I hadn't been lucky enough to have a son and daughter who can cope with these sorts of affairs  if I'd just been on my own, a vulnerable person  I might have been so frightened receiving that demand that I might have just paid,' she says.

'It's been sorted out as far as I'm concerned, but I'm worried about how many other people have suffered from this.'

Roxy reveals big day secrets

Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner, who received a bespoke treatment plan ahead of the wedding

Roxy Horner went the extra mile to get that special glow for her wedding to comic Jack Whitehall.

The model, 34, reveals that she underwent a cosmetic makeover worth 6,000 at Harley Street Injectables in London before saying 'I do' in Wiltshire last weekend.

'Her bespoke treatment plan began 12 months ahead of the wedding,' explains the clinic in a social media post shared by Roxy. 'Treatments included a series of VBeam [laser] sessions to perfect any redness and rosacea, Moxi laser for overall skin rejuvenation, Profhilo for deep hydration and luminosity, and the HSI signature Filter Facials for that final, camera-ready glow.'

Judging by her smile on the big day, the tweakments were worth every penny.

Stunning new figure for expecting Vogue

Vogue Williams, who is expecting her fourth child, made a healthy profit of 600,000 last year

Buoyant at the news she is expecting her fourth child, Vogue Williams is proving productive in more ways than one.

I can reveal the 40-year-old, who is married to former Made In Chelsea lothario Spencer Matthews, 37, is also enjoying the fruits of a very busy career.

The Irish broadcaster, content creator and author made a staggering profit of 600,000 last year.

Newly filed accounts for her company, Howth Media Limited, for the year ending July 2025 show her net assets are now worth nearly 3.3million.

No wonder she's not looking for any handouts from her Old Etonian husband.

'I pay for half of everything,' she declared recently.

Rocker Brian's hair-raising tips

Sir Brian May believes the secret behind his great locks is all in his hot and cold shower antics

Queen guitarist Sir Brian May is as famous for his curly hairstyle as he is for his virtuosic playing.

Now at the grand old age of 78, the musician reveals how he maintains his healthy long locks after all this time.

'It's still here to some extent,' he said at the launch of the remastered Queen II album in London. 'It's probably the cold showers, as I have got more hairy all over. I like the business of a hot shower and then a cold shower, like really cold.

'It builds your immune system and makes your hair grow.'



As a stand-up comedian, Sir Lenny Henry should have nerves of steel, but the 67-year-old reveals his stage fright is no laughing matter and has turned to transcendental meditation to help him to cope.

'I have a lesson, and she teaches me how to meditate, and it was mind blowing,' Sir Lenny tells the audience at a live event in London. 'I highly recommend, even if you don't buy into the woo woo aspect of it.' Om.

Actor James McAvoy has been widely praised for his role as Professor Charles in the X-men franchise.

But the 47-year-old reveals he was most affected by one cruel critic.

He said: 'I've received incredible reviews and the only thing I can remember is that one bad review. Isn't it nuts? It got to me because it was personal. It wasn't even that bad a review of my performance, but it described me as the Chubby McAvoy. And that's all I remember of any review for X-Men.'
The death of a prominent UFO researcher has triggered conspiracy theories after it was ruled he took his own life.

David Wilcock, 53, died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside his home in Boulder County, Colorado, on April 20, the coroner's office confirmed on Wednesday.

Police responded to a 911 call about a man, reported at the time as being Wilcock, 'experiencing a mental health crisis' around 10.44am local time.

'Within minutes of deputies arrival, he used the weapon on himself. He was pronounced deceased at the scene,' the sheriff's office added.

No other individuals were located inside the residence or on the surrounding property, authorities added.

Wilcock, who also tied his theories on UFOs to Christianity, previously posted on social media about not being suicidal and had spoken hours earlier about believing that a death from natural causes was the only acceptable way of dying.

'You don't get to resurrect. If you lay down your life, you're done. So, please don't do that. Please don't be stupid,' Wilcock said in an April 19 livestream on YouTube.

'It's something you never want to have to go through. And uh again, you know, natural is the only way to go.'

David Wilcock spoke about his aversion to suicide just hours before police said he took his own life on April 20

Police responded to a call about a man experiencing a 'mental health crisis' in Boulder County, Colorado

Wilcock, a prominent UFO researcher, had posted that he was not suicidal in 2022

In 2022, Wilcock, who also talked about humanity moving towards a spiritual enlightenment, wrote on X: 'I plan on LIVING. Not suicidal at all. Just concerned about what happens when you prove God is real.'

That unearthed post has been flooded with new comments from skeptics alleging without evidence that he was murdered or coerced into taking his own life.

Wilcock was a well-known figure within the growing community seeking full government disclosure on UFOs and extraterrestrials.

The author explored topics most people consider 'fringe' or alternative science, including the theory that ancient civilizations were influenced by aliens and used advanced technology that has been lost over the centuries.

He was a regular expert on the History Channels long-running show Ancient Aliens, making dozens of appearances.

Wilcock also promoted the idea that humanity was on the verge of a major positive spiritual 'ascension' that would likely coincide with the disclosure of alien life.

The UFO researcher and author's reported suicide sparked immediate backlash from Wilcock's supporters and even members of Congress, who found the timing of his death suspicious and claimed he may have been the victim of foul play.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett responded to a social media post announcing Wilcock's death by writing 'not cool.'

On Wednesday, Burchett told the Daily Mail: 'I just don't think there's any chance that this is just all coincidental.'

Wilcock had discussed the theory that ancient civilizations on Earth were visited and influenced by aliens

Wilcock's final posts on X promoted his final YouTube livestream where the researcher discussed UFO disclosure and a controversial photo of President Trump depicted as Jesus

On social media, one person replied to Wilcock's 2022 post, writing: 'Theres no way I believe David willingly did this to himself. Something stinks to high heaven.'

'He has never ever been suicidal, that is complete BS. This was murder,' another commenter alleged.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida said in a statement Tuesday night: 'We just learned of the tragic passing of David Wilcock. We are praying for his family and loved ones and the millions of lives he impacted.'

Luna, who is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee tasked with declassifying government secrets, added the Bible verse John 8:32, where Jesus states: 'Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'

Burchett quickly tied Wilcock's death and the researcher's chilling final comments to the investigation into the growing number of missing or dead scientists and nuclear officials throughout the US in recent years.

'It's just too much going on. We need to start paying attention [to] it. I don't have a lot of faith in the intelligence community,' the congressman said.

'Imagine if 11 newscasters disappeared, or 11 rabbis, or 11 barbers, 11 disc jockeys. Or they died mysteriously, or some combination thereof. Now, honestly, some of them could have honestly just passed away, but it's just too coincidental. We need answers.'

Burchett has been outspoken about his belief that extraterrestrial life exists and has been kept a closely guarded secret by the US government.

The Congressman previously revealed that multiple sources had told him missing Air Force General William Neil McCasland was the key figure in the US military's secret UFO programs. McCasland vanished without a trace on February 27.

Congressman Tim Burchett told the Daily Mail he feared Wilcock's death may be tied to the deaths and disappearances of multiple scientists since 2022

Wilcock claimed that UFO disclosure was coming soon and that humanity was approaching an age of spiritual enlightenment

Wilcock addressed this conspiracy in his final YouTube broadcast, stating: 'Every day that I have on Earth is a gift and a blessing. And I'm very grateful for that because, frankly, people are disappearing. Scientists are going missing now.'

'They're saying they're going to investigate this. The president himself is saying they're going to look into this and see if anything's going on. It's a little bit scary. I got to say, it's a little bit scary, but you guys knew that I might still show up even though it was last-minute and I've had a really rough week.'

Wilcock's final post on X addressed his final livestream, noting that the researcher had found some 'amazing twists' regarding a now-deleted image of President Trump depicted as Jesus, UFO disclosure and 'the true meaning of the Christ within.'

'Whats happened between this post and now?' one person asked following the news of Wilcock's death.

According to Corey Goode, a self-proclaimed associate of Wilcock, the UFO researcher had allegedly been stalked and harassed online prior to his death.

The Daily Mail has reached out to law enforcement in Colorado to confirm the claims.

As for the larger investigation into the deaths and disappearances now being investigated by the White House, Burchett was highly skeptical that anything of significance would be revealed in the coming days, as President Trump had promised last week.

'I do not, because the Intelligence Committee will be the ones briefing the president, and they'll tell him, again, what they think he needs to know,' Burchett said.

'Washington intelligence or intelligence agencies is a whole lot like, congressional ethics, it just doesn't exist, and they're not in the business of telling anybody the truth, or doing what's right. They have a history of that and they hide behind national security.'
The death of a NASA nuclear engineer has been thrust back in the spotlight as the nation reels from a disturbing pattern of 11 missing scientists.

Joshua LeBlanc, 29, was found burned beyond recognition in the wreckage of his 2021 Tesla Model 3 on July 22 last year in Huntsville, Alabama, according to local reports.

His family reported him missing at 4.32am ET that day, but it was not until 2.45pm that his vehicle was found.

Authorities were able to trace LeBlancs movements using recordings from his Teslas Sentry Mode, revealing the vehicle sat at Huntsville airport for nearly four hours on the morning of his death.

The vehicle slammed into a guardrail and several trees before bursting into flames.

The engineer's body was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, which took three days to identify due to the severity of the burns.

Family members said the sudden trip was never planned and told Louisiana news site KLFY that it was unlike him to go silent without updating them.

At the time of his disappearance, relatives told KLFY they suspected he may have been abducted from his home, noting that his phone and wallet were still inside the house.

Brittany Fox, a friend of LeBlanc, told the Daily Mail that neither she nor his family has been contacted by authorities about any investigations since the accident.

Joshua LeBlanc, 29, was found burned beyond recognition in the wreckage of his 2021 Tesla Model 3 on July 22, 2025 in Huntsville, Alabama

The vehicle slammed into a guardrail and several trees before bursting into flames

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According to LeBlanc's LinkedIn page, he began working as an aerospace technologies electrical engineer at NASA in October 2019, as first reported on by FOX News.

Electrical engineers in NASA's Aerospace Technology (AST) roles design, develop and test hardware and software used in spacecraft, satellites and ground support systems.

Specialists in this field also play key roles in emerging technologies, including nuclear propulsion systems tied to deep space missions and the agency's Moon to Mars initiatives.

Fox posted on Facebook on July 24 last year saying: 'We believe there is a chance he may have been abducted from the apartment and intend to keep searching.

'Tesla has been contacted numerous times to release [the] Sentry data, but the process has been slow. This story has too many holes in it and so many potential cameras to catch what happened.'

The Daily Mail has contacted the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for comment.

Following the news of LeBlanc's death, many of his former colleagues shared their memories of the scientist online, with one telling how LeBlanc helped provide him with transportation when they were on an out-of-state conference even though they had just met.

'He will be remembered and missed amongst his colleagues,' the post read.

A former roommates of LeBlanc's also wrote that 'the passion that Josh had for space was inspirational, further driving my own search for a dream career. The love for the outdoors (beach included) enabled me to become more closely integrated with his friend group.

'His revelry was infectious and shifted from singing Outkast to sea shanties. These reasons and more are why I am so grateful to have known Josh and why he will be deeply missed. Fly high in the friendly sky,' the former roommate wrote.

Another friend said LeBlanc 'wasnt afraid of who he was.'

'This man helped me get through so much emotional growth and has helped me become the person I am today,' the friend wrote.

LeBlanc's death has resurfaced as a growing number of unexplained deaths and disappearances involving scientists continues to draw attention nationwide.

At the time of his disappearance, relatives told local KLFY they suspected foul play, noting that his phone and wallet were still inside the house

Lawmakers sent letters on Monday to the Pentagon, FBI, NASA and Department of Energy demanding a sweeping investigation into the mysterious disappearances and deaths of nearly a dozen top US scientists, citing national security concerns.

Several individuals with ties to NASA, nuclear research, aerospace programs and defense-related work have vanished or died in recent years. Some observers have pointed to their access to sensitive projects as a reason the cases have attracted heightened scrutiny.

Among them is scientist Amy Eskridge, who had been researching anti-gravity technology before her death.

Eskridge was 34 when she allegedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in Huntsville, Alabama, on June 11, 2022, the same city where LeBlanc later died.

NASA-affiliated researchers Michael David Hicks and Frank Maiwald, both of whom worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, also died in recent years.

Hicks died in 2023 at age 59 after previously contributing to NASA's DART mission, a project designed to test whether humans could deflect potentially dangerous asteroids.

Maiwald, 61, had served as lead researcher on technology aimed at helping future missions detect signs of life beyond Earth before his death in 2024.

In another case, pharmaceutical researcher Jason Thomas, who was working on cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a Massachusetts lake on March 17, 2026.

Several individuals who disappeared have also drawn attention due to connections to retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland, who previously oversaw the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Nuclear research workers Steven Garcia, 48, Anthony Chavez, 78, Melissa Casias, 53, and NASA scientist Monica Reza, 60, have all been linked to projects connected to McCasland's leadership.

Elsewhere, physicist Nuno Loureiro, 47, was shot and killed at his home in the Boston suburb of Brookline on December 15, 2025. Authorities identified the suspected gunman as Claudio Neves Valente, a former classmate from Portugal.

Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was also fatally shot at his home in California on February 16, 2026, after being attacked on his front porch around 6am local time.
Scientists have discovered a huge tectonic boundary under Africa, running from Mozambique to Tanzania.

The ancient fault line, dubbed the Rovuma Transform Margin, extends over 310 miles (500km) and forms the boundary between the continent and the ocean.

Researchers say the existence of this previously unknown boundary will change how the Earth's continents shift over millions of years.

Eventually, these forces will tear Africa in two, forming new continents and a new ocean.

Africa is already splitting down the middle along a continentspanning fault line called the East Africa Rift System  cracking into the Nubian and Somali plates.

Coauthor Dr Jordan Phethean, from the University of Derby, explained that the Rovuma Transform Margin is helping to guide these plates apart.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he explained: 'These faults can act like railroad tracks controlling the future direction the tectonic plate moves in.

'It may also mean plates can rotate one way more easily than another, as there is less tectonic resistance for the plate to turn in one direction  away from the fault  than the other.'

Scientists have discovered a huge 'fossil' fault line extending over 310 miles (500 km), which might have been where Madagascar broke away from Tanzania

Africa is already splitting into two along the East Africa Rift System (pictured), but this newly discovered plate boundary is helping to guide the continent apart like a tectonic 'railroad track'

The Ruvoma Transform Margin isn't an active fault line like California's San Andreas Fault, but a 'fossil fault' leftover from where two tectonic plates ripped apart.

Scientists believe that the fault line formed during the Jurassic period as the Earth's massive supercontinents broke up in an event called the Gondwana dispersal.

However, over time, sediment carried to the sea by the Rovuma River, which forms the border between Tanzania and Mozambique, started to cover the fault.

Eventually, so much sediment was deposited that it changed the shape of Africa's coastline, burying the Ruvoma Transform Margin beneath the surface.

Since the 1980s, scientists have fiercely debated whether or not there could be a hidden fault line running along the coast of East Africa.

But it is only thanks to the latest cuttingedge technology that geologists were able to finally put this argument to bed.

A team of scientists used gravity measurements from satellites and a technique called seismic reflection to peer beneath the surface.

Dr Phethean explains that this works like a 'giant ultrasound scan of the Earth, measuring how sound waves pass through the ground to look for disturbances in the crust.

Scientists think the fault, dubbed the Rovuma Transform Margin, formed during the Jurassic period as the continent of Gondwana split into Africa and South America

How could Africa split in two? Scientists believe that East Africa is breaking up. A huge tectonic plate boundary 3,100 miles (5,000km) long is running up along the eastern section of the continent. This can be seen on the surface as the East African Rift System (EARS). The African plate has split into the Somalian and Nubian tectonic plates, which are pulling away from each other. This active rift zone is currently spreading at a few millimetres per year. This means that in around 10 million years, a new ocean will emerge as the EARS continues to tear East Africa apart.

What they found was a rapid transition between the continent and the ocean, with the crust becoming up to 18 miles (29km) thinner over a distance of just 10 miles (17km).

The researchers believe this is the 'giant scar' left behind by Africa's dramatic transformation tens of millions of years ago.

While it might be quiet today, in Earth's ancient history, the fault would have been an extremely active region of seismic activity.

'Earthquakes from this 500 km long prehistoric fault line would have certainly trembled the ground beneath where dinosaurs roamed for more than 50 million years,' says Dr Phethean.

The researchers believe that the Ruvoma Transform Margin played a key role in tearing the island of Madagascar away from its original spot in the Tanzania Coastal Basin.

'The shape of Africa around Tanzania and Mozambique was very much dictated by the Rovuma Transform Margin around 100 million years ago,' says Dr Phethean.

And in the next few million years, the fossil fault will help to guide the Nubian and Somali plates as they break apart along the East African Rift System.

In the very distant future, the researchers think that the fault might be activated again when tectonic stresses change.

Join the discussion Fascinating science - or nothing well ever live to see?

Scientists discovered the fault by using seismic reflection data (pictured), which works like a giant ultrasound scan of the Earth

They found a rapid transition between the continent and the ocean, with the crust becoming up to 18 miles thinner over a distance of just 10 miles

This activation will help to shape the movement of the continents, as the UK drifts down towards the equator and the current continent of Antarctica makes its way towards the North Pole.

Dr Phethean says: 'Our findings show that longoffset transform faults may be important in dictating plate motions, as opposed to only resulting from plate motions.

'The Rovuma Transform Margin may be reactivated as continents begin to move back together  once again becoming an active fault with earthquakes and facilitating the motion of tectonic plates.

'Eventually, we will likely have another supercontinent like Pangea!'
It's a stereotype characterised by brawn over brains  but men with masculine body shapes tend to be intelligent, according to a study.

Researchers have found that intelligence in young men is linked to physical traits like grip strength and a higher shouldertohip ratio.

They also discovered that these smart, manly men were less interested in casual sex than their counterparts.

The findings cast doubt on the 'meathead' cliche  that men who are intensely dedicated to bodybuilding and fitness are typically simpleminded.

And it suggests there is an 'overall fitness factor' that combines intelligence, a Vshaped torso and a desire for long, committed relationships.

'Our findings more align with the idea that, at least among men, intelligence is related to physical health and/or good genes but is inversely related to promiscuous sexual behaviour,' lead author Tara DeLecce, from Oakland University, told PsyPost.

'Some may interpret this as increased difficulty with mating success.

'However, this might also suggest that men of higher intelligence are more likely to succeed in monogamous mating contexts.'

Men with a higher shouldertohip ratio include Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (left). This 'V' body shape is typically associated with being more muscular and masculine and is often viewed as a marker of physical health

For their study, the team recruited 41 men aged between 18 and 34.

They measured intelligence through a series of tests, while a promiscuity score was generated through questionnaires on their sexual history.

Participants also took part in a hand grip test to measure strength, while their BMI and height were also recorded.

Body shape was determined using shoulder and hip measurements.

Those with a high shouldertohip ratio generally have broad shoulders and a wide chest that tapers down to a much narrower waist.

This 'V' body shape is typically associated with being more muscular and masculine and is often viewed as a marker of physical health.

Examples include Hollywood legend Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The opposite of this is a more 'pearshaped' body characterised by narrower shoulders and a broader hip  found in celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael McIntyre.

The opposite of this is a more 'pearshaped' body characterised by narrower shoulders and a broader hip  found in celebrities such as Michael McIntyre (left) and Leonardo DiCaprio (right)

The study, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, reads: 'There were significant positive correlations between intelligence, hand grip strength and shouldertohip ratio.

'Conversely, there was a significant negative correlation between intelligence and sexually promiscuous behaviours.

'Taken together, the current results suggest a more nuanced picture of how traits indicative of genetic quality relate to overall fitness.'

The researchers said the findings indicate that highly intelligent men are more successful in monogamous, longterm relationships rather than casual sexual encounters.

Evolving towards sexual exclusivity may be a more modern human strategy that requires higher intelligence to navigate successfully, they added.

A previous study found that women prefer men with more feminine faces. In a test of over 1,500 participants from Japan and the UK, researchers discovered no preference for men with more masculine features.

Despite some research suggesting otherwise, participants across the board had a general preference for more feminine features in both men and women.

Lead researcher Dr Thora Bjornsdottir, of the University of Stirling, told The Daily Mail: 'We were somewhat surprised that we didn't find that any group preferred masculinity in men's faces.'

Meanwhile, last year experts discovered that men like to eat meat because it makes them feel manly.

Researchers from the University of Bath surveyed more than 1,000 British men on why they enjoy munching on burgers, steaks, and kebabs.

The results uncovered a link between higher levels of meat consumption and a notion that meat is masculine.

The researchers also found that meatloving men often see plantbased meat and dairy alternatives as 'unnatural'.
Tim Cook has revealed his biggest mistake during his 15year stint as Apple CEO.

Speaking during a town hall meeting alongside his successor, John Ternus, Mr Cook admitted that Apple Maps 'wasn't ready' when it was released to the public back in 2012.

'The product wasn't ready, and we thought it was because we were testing more of local kind of stuff,' Mr Cook said, according to Bloomberg.

When it was released, Apple Maps hit the headlines after users reported a plethora of issues  including wrong directions and mislabeled landmarks.

The issues sparked Mr Cook to fire Scott Forstall, Apple's head of software, who was a close collaborator of Steve Jobs.

During the town hall, Mr Cook also revealed his proudest achievement  the Apple Watch and its range of health features.

'I remember getting the very first Apple Watch note from a user who told me that the watch saved their life,' Mr Cook said.

'Now, of course, I get these on a daily basis, but that first one hit me particularly hard. It caused me to just stop in my steps.'

Tim Cook has revealed his biggest mistake during his 15year stint as Apple CEO

Speaking during a town hall meeting alongside his successor, John Ternus, Mr Cook admitted that Apple Maps 'wasn't ready' when it was released to the public back in 2012

After 15 years leading the company, Tim Cook announced this week that he is stepping aside from his position as CEO to become executive chairman.

Moving into the spotlight is John Ternus, 51, Apple's widely respected hardware chief, who will take over as CEO on September 1.

At the town hall, Mr Cook admitted that he has made many mistakes, even joking that the list of errors was 'extraordinary in length'.

The launch of Apple Maps tops the list, although Mr Cook explained that it was a valuable learning experience.

'We apologized for it, and we said, "Go use these other apps. Theyre better than ours,"' Mr Cook said.

'And that was some humble pie. But it was the right thing for our users.

'And so it's an example of keeping the user at the center of the decisions that we made.'

Mr Cook now claims that Apple Maps is the 'best map app on the planet'.

After 15 years leading the company, Tim Cook announced this week that he is stepping aside from his position as CEO to become executive chairman. Moving into the spotlight is John Ternus, 51, Apple's widely respected hardware chief, who will take over as CEO on September 1

Tim Cook's biggest mistakes as CEO The release of Apple Maps before it was ready The failed launch of an AirPower wireless charging mat The unsuccessful mission to build an 'Apple Car'

He added: 'We learned about persistence, and we did exactly the right thing having made the mistake.'

Aside from Apple Maps, Mr Cook highlighted two other failures during his run as CEO  the failed launch of an AirPower wireless charging mat, and the unsuccessful mission to build the 'Apple Car'.

The Apple Car was a highlyanticipated project which had been in the pipeline for more than a decade.

However, in 2024, Apple notified employees it was killing the project, despite reportedly spending billions of dollars on it.

One project that Mr Cook failed to mention at the town hall was Apple's AI system, Apple Intelligence.

The system was announced to great fanfare in 2024, hailed by the company as a 'new chapter in Apple innovation.'

However, it soon faced significant criticism due to slow implementation, underwhelming features, and the absence of advanced AI capabilities.

According to industry experts and insiders, the failed AI rollout may have partly been to blame for Mr Cook's departure.

Rebecca Crook, head of tech consultancy MSQ DX, told the Daily Mail: 'Apple's setbacks in AI have been a consistent focal point, with analysts pressing Cook repeatedly on whether the company was prepared for a future beyond the iPhone.

'When a CEO finds themselves on the back foot about the most strategically critical technology of the decade, that's always going to be tough.'
Archaeologists have uncovered a strange, perfectly circular ancient Egyptian temple, that might have been used for sacred water rituals 2,200 years ago.

Located in the ancient port city of Pelusium, southeast of modern-day Port Said, the round temple centres on a huge water basin about 35 metres (115 ft) across.

Researchers discovered that this structure is actually connected to the Nile by a system of water channels and reservoirs.

This suggests the temple may have been used to worship the Egyptian river deity Pelusius in elaborate ceremonies.

At the centre of the temple's water basin is a large, square pedestal, which experts believe once held a statue of the god.

Pelusius is described as a 'shadowy figure' in ancient mythology, who emerges out of the mingling of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman beliefs.

His name comes from the Greek word 'pelos', which translates to 'mud' or 'silt', but almost no evidence about the deity has survived.

Egyptologist Dr Steve Harvey, of the Archaeological Institute of America, told The Art Newspaper: 'If this Roman-era cult structure can be confirmed to be dedicated to the city god Pelusius, it would be a stunning example of the presence of a temple for a deity previously attested only in Classical sources.'

Archaeologists have uncovered a strange, perfectly circular ancient Egyptian temple, that might have been used for sacred water rituals 2,200 years ago

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Archaeologists first uncovered the round temple structure in 2019, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

When around a quarter of the structure had been revealed, the researchers thought they had found the city's sennett house - the centre of political organisation.

However, as more of the round building emerged from the earth, this interpretation began to change.

Soon, archaeologists uncovered the network of waterways that connected the sanctuary with a tributary of the Nile.

Hisham Hussein, the head of Egypts Central Department for Maritime Antiquities and Sinai, who supervised the excavation, said in a statement: 'Ongoing excavation and comparative studies have completely changed our understanding [of the site].

'We now know this was a sacred water installation used in religious rituals, not a political structure.'

The Nile and its yearly pattern of floods would have had immense religious and practical importance for the people of this region.

Every year, the river burst its banks, submerging vast areas with silty water that retreated to leave behind rich, fertile sediment - perfect for growing crops.

The structure is located in the ancient port city of Pelusium, southeast of modern day Port-Said. It contains a huge water basin about 35 metres (115 ft) across

When archaeologists first uncovered the thick brick walls, they thought it was the city's sennett house - the hub of political activity for the region

The Nile was so important that the Egyptian people even assigned the river its own god: Hapi.

Inside the temple, researchers found evidence of Nile silt and areas to collect water, confirming its symbolic connection with the river.

The temple's unique construction also reveals the complex history of conquest and colonisation between the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilisations.

The bustling city of Pelusium was founded sometime around 800 BC on previously submerged land on the Eastern edge of the Nile Delta.

Located just before the river branches into tributaries that wind down to the Mediterranean Sea, the city occupied a critical strategic position that was ideal for trade.

The Egyptian Pharaohs built it up to be a fortress city, the Greeks and Persian empires attempted to capture it, and the Ptolemaic rulers used it as a customs station to connect their empire with the wider world.

Eventually, the city was absorbed by the sprawl of the Roman Empire and converted into a provincial capital.

The city's unique architecture and mish-mash of styles bear the distinctive marks of each generation of influence.

Researchers found a system of water channels and reservoirs that connect the structure to the Nile, suggesting it was used in water-based worship

The temple may have been used to worship the Egyptian river deity Pelusius, whose name comes from the Greek word 'pelos', which translates to 'mud' or 'silt'

Archaeologists say the city contains a mixture of influences from Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sources, which combine to create a unique style of architecture

Based on its thick, red brick walls, archaeologists believe that the temple was built during the Roman period.

However, the god Pelusius is an ancient Egyptian deity most often associated with the myth of the gods Isis and Osiris.

Likewise, in 2022, researchers found a temple dedicated to the Greek god Zeus, which was renovated under the rule of Roman Emperor Hadrian in the second century AD.

Hisham Lithi, the secretary general of Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities, pointed out the sites 'unique architectural design combining ancient Egyptian traditions and the Hellenic and Roman styles'.

Mr Lithi described the city as 'an exceptional embodiment of the civilised interaction between Egypt and the ancient world'.
Thousands of Americans have been warned to stay indoors as dangerous toxins pour into the air throughout the Southeast on Thursday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an air quality alert in Georgia and South Carolina as both ground-level ozone pollution and hazardous wildfire smoke have flooded into the region this week.

Wildfire smoke contains a complex mixture of toxic gases and fine particles, with carbon monoxide (CO) being the most common and immediate lethal threat near fires.

Approximately four to five million Americans live in the areas under fire danger and air quality warnings through at least 8pm ET on Thursday, with some warnings lasting into the weekend.

The NWS alerts were triggered by a combination of high atmospheric pressure causing stagnant air, warm temperatures, low humidity and smoke drifting north from fires raging across southern Georgia and northern Florida.

Wildfire smoke has become the main driver of the pollution in the two states, sending out plumes of fine particulate matter, microscopic particles of toxic compounds, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.

The smallest of these particles, called PM2.5, produced by wildfire smoke, can exacerbate stagnant air, which 'traps' pollution near ground level with little to no wind moving it away from populated areas.

NWS officials in South Carolina warned: 'Ozone will be in the Orange Zone today, meaning the air quality is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups.'

A 'Code Orange' means the air will be unhealthy for anyone with lung disease, heart disease and breathing problems, as well as older adults and children. Breathing in these toxins can damage the lungs, worsen asthma and even contribute to heart attacks and strokes.

Wildfires in Georgia are spreading hazardous smoke throughout South Carolina

The National Weather Service has issued air quality alerts due to the wildfire smoke throughout most of South Carolina on Thursday

'Hazy conditions and a smoky smell can be expected across much of central Georgia and parts of north Georgia through Friday,' the agency added in a statement.

AccuWeather has said that the dangerous conditions in Georgia have been caused by severe drought, extremely low humidity and gusty winds, causing a perfect storm for wildfires to rage across thousands of acres.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: 'Its unusual to see this level of wildfire activity across the Southeast in April. When soils and vegetation dry out this much, it only takes a single spark and a gust of wind to create a fast-moving wildfire.'

The US Environmental Protection Agency warned that the air over Columbia, South Carolina, home to more than 140,000 people, reached the 'unhealthy' zone for all residents Thursday morning.

Large swaths of Georgia, including over Augusta and Macon, have been deemed 'unhealthy for sensitive groups.'

NWS officials warned anyone in the path of the wildfire smoke to reduce or avoid outdoor activity, especially if they are engaging in strenuous work or exercise.

The greatest danger is expected to come in the afternoon and early evening when pollution levels are at their worst.

People with respiratory issues should move inside and keep their windows and doors closed. If using air conditioning, NWS urged people to keep the fresh-air intake closed and to make sure to clean the filter so smoke does not get inside.

The wildfires in Georgia (Pictured) are said to have been sparked by severe drought and extremely low humidity

Fire danger alerts have been issued across southern and central Georgia this week

In South Carolina, ozone alerts are expected to remain in effect until midnight in multiple cities, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Taylors, Easley and Clemson.

There are wildfire smoke warnings throughout the state, affecting Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Columbia, Aiken, North Augusta, and Lexington.

In Georgia, Atlanta and the surrounding metro area will be under an air quality alert for both smoke and ozone pollution throughout Thursday.

Two of the largest fires in the Peach State have been the Pineland Road Fire and one in Brantley County.

Statewide, the Georgia Forestry Commission reported that over 50,000 acres have burned so far in 2026. That is more than double the typical amount of wildfire destruction for this time of year.

The EPA has deemed the air throughout larger sections of the Southeast unhealthy for sensitive groups, including the elderly and children

Thousands of acres have already burned across Georgia this month, which meteorologists considered unusual for April

Fires in Florida have also spread wildfire smoke north into Georgia and South Carolina

In Florida, first responders have been dealing with major blazes across the state's panhandle region, including a massive wildfire in Collier County's Big Cypress National Preserve that has burned 35,000 acres.

AccuWeather has released a dire forecast for the rest of the year, predicting that between 5.5 and eight million acres of land across the US could burn.

Only 5.1 million acres burned down across America in 2025, well below the historical average of seven million over the last two decades.

'The fires can have far-reaching effects as winds carry smoke across the continent. When winds align with larger blazes, smoke can create a hazy sky and reduce air quality in areas hundreds or even thousands of miles away,' the AccuWeather team warned.

Heavy wildfire smoke can also create larger particles of air pollution called PM10, which are tiny solid particles or liquid droplets floating in the air that are less than 10 micrometers in diameter, thinner than a human hair.

These inhalable particles can get deep into your lungs when you breathe them in and are typically created by dust from construction, pollen, mold, smoke, soot, industrial emissions, and wind-blown dirt.

Just like PM2.5, these larger particles of pollution carried by smoke can worsen respiratory issues such as asthma and contribute to heart attacks and strokes that cause premature death.
Archaeologists have uncovered part of an ancient statue of a pharaoh in Egypt, who, according to many scholars, is the king mentioned in the biblical story of Moses.

The fragment is thought to depict Ramesses II, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful rulers and a figure many historians associate with the pharaoh described in the Book of Exodus.

According to the Bible, Moses confronted a pharaoh who refused to free the Israelites from slavery, setting off the events described in the Exodus narrative.

Part of the large statue, including its legs and base, was discovered at Tel Faraoun in Egypt's eastern Nile Delta, just northwest of the Red Sea, during ongoing excavations led by the country's Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The unearthed fragment stands about seven feet tall and is estimated to weigh between five and six tons, according to officials overseeing the dig.

Although parts of the statue are worn and damaged, archaeologists said enough detail remains to link it to royal sculptures created during Egypt's New Kingdom period, which lasted from about 1550 to 1070 BC.

Early analysis suggests the statue may not have originally been carved for the site where it was discovered.

Researchers believe it could have been transported from Pi-Ramesses, the grand royal city established by Ramesses II in the Nile Delta.

The fragment is thought to depict Ramesses II, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful rulers and a figure many historians associate with the pharaoh described in the Book of Exodus

Ramesses II is said to be the pharaoh mentioned in the Book of Exodus that tells the story of Moses freeing the Israelites from slavery and delivering them to the Promised Land

From there, experts suspect the statue was later moved to Tel Faraoun, known in antiquity as Emet, where it may have been reused inside a temple complex.

Ramesses, who ruled from 1279 to 1213 BC, was known for his military power and strategic genius, leading an army of around 100,000 men strong.

People often identify Ramesses II as the biblical Pharaoh primarily due to Exodus 1:1, which mentions Hebrew slaves building the city of 'Raamses' (or Pi-Ramesses), a city famously built by Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE.

While the Bible does not explicitly name the Pharaoh, this geographical link, combined with his long, dominant reign and the timing of the 19th Dynasty, makes him a popular historical candidate, often reinforced by popular media.

While the Bible does not explicitly name the Pharaoh, this geographical link, combined with his long, dominant reign and the timing of the 19th Dynasty, makes him a popular historical candidate, often reinforced by popular media.

Officials overseeing the excavation said the fragment may have once formed part of a much larger sculptural group, possibly depicting the king alongside Egyptian deities.

Comparable discoveries at other sites have shown rulers arranged in ceremonial triads, a common feature of monumental temple art in ancient Egypt.

Archaeologists said further study of the stone, carving techniques, and remaining surface details could help pinpoint the statue's exact origin and better understand how it was relocated across the Nile Delta.

Pictured is the excavation site where the statue was found

Part of the large statue, including its legs and base, was discovered at Tel Faraoun in Egypt's eastern Nile Delta (pictured) during ongoing excavations led by the country's Supreme Council of Antiquities

Many historians have long debated which Egyptian ruler may have reigned during the events described in the Book of Exodus. Ramesses II is frequently cited as a leading candidate due to references in the Bible to the Israelites building the city of Pi-Ramesses.

That ancient city, constructed during his reign, is believed to have been located in the same region of the eastern Nile Delta where the statue fragment was discovered.

Some scholars believe this geographic overlap strengthens the connection between Ramesses II and the biblical narrative of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

However, other historians caution that there is no direct archaeological evidence confirming the identity of the pharaoh described in Exodus.

They note that while Ramesses II remains a popular candidate, the biblical account does not name a specific ruler, leaving the question open to interpretation.

However, discoveries tied to Ramesses II continue to draw intense interest because of his prominence in Egyptian history and the long-standing debate surrounding the Exodus story.

In 2024, another team of archaeologists discovered an ancient sword in Egypt linked to the Biblical pharaoh.

The bronze blade, thought to be around 3,000 years old, has the markings of Ramesses II, hailed as the most powerful king of ancient Egypt.

The shimmering sword found in Egypt two years ago likely belonged to a high-ranking military official under the reign of Ramesses II

The sword was uncovered among the ruins of an ancient military fort in Housh Eissa, a city just south of Alexandria, which featured barracks for soldiers and storage rooms for food, weapons and other goods.

The ancient sword likely did not belong to the famous king, but likely to one of his soldiers stationed at the fort, experts said.

Elizabeth Frood, an Oxford University Egyptologist who was not involved in the dig, told The Washington Post: 'An object to bear the cartouches of Rameses II would suggest to me that it belonged to someone of relatively high rank.

'To be able to display such an object, even though it would have been presumably in a scabbard, was a marker of status and prestige.'

The sword was uncovered at a site called Tell Al-Abqain, which experts said was 'a crucial military outpost.'
The final moments of a prominent UFO researcher's life have been laid bare in a minute-by-minute timeline released by police following intense public scrutiny of his death.

Authorities said 53-year-old David Wilcock personally called emergency services shortly before shooting himself outside his Colorado home on April 20.

The call was received at 10.44am local time, when Wilcock reportedly told dispatchers: 'I need to leave,' before stating he would be 'to the left of the house.'

During the call, he spoke about ongoing health problems and mounting financial concerns, but refused to answer whether he was armed or planning to harm himself.

Deputies were dispatched immediately and arrived within minutes, approaching cautiously due to uncertainty about the presence of a weapon.

As officers drove toward the residence, Wilcock reportedly told dispatchers: 'I'm sorry to put you through this,' before disconnecting the call. Seconds later, deputies saw him sitting outside holding a gun to his head, prompting them to take cover and issue commands.

Moments after officers ordered him to drop the weapon, deputies witnessed him fire the fatal shot just seconds at 11.05am, ending the encounter in less than a minute.

The timeline, released by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office due to widespread public interest, details the rapidly unfolding sequence of events that culminated in Wilcock's death outside his residence.

Authorities said 53-year-old David Wilcock personally called emergency services shortly before shooting himself outside his Colorado home on April 20. Pictured is Wilcock with Denis Richards

'David Wilcock took his own life on April 20, 2026, after a long struggle with depression and overwhelming financial debt,' the police report stated.

'His family and chosen family hope this loss encourages more focused attention to mental health care access.'

According to officials, the first deputy reached the area at 10.53am but waited away from the property until backup arrived because it was unclear whether the caller posed a threat.

A second deputy arrived at 11.01am, and the two officers coordinated a plan to safely approach the home together.

Approximately three minutes later, just as deputies began driving up the property's driveway, the call with dispatch ended after Wilcock apologized.

Within seconds of arriving, deputies observed Wilcock seated outside the residence with a firearm pressed to his head.

Officers immediately exited their vehicles and sought cover while assessing the situation.

At 11.04.02am, deputies reported hearing a single gunshot discharged in an unknown direction, though Wilcock remained alive and still holding the weapon.

Less than a minute later, deputies confirmed the firearm was still pointed at his head.

Authorities arrived at Wilcock's home (pictured) to find him holding a gun, which he then shot himself with

At 11.05.24am, one deputy issued a direct command instructing him to put down the gun.

Just three seconds later, deputies witnessed him shoot himself. The timeline shows that from the moment deputies first saw him holding the firearm to the fatal shot, less than one minute elapsed.

Following the shooting, additional law enforcement personnel were called to the scene to secure the property and ensure no other individuals were present.

Deputies conducted a search of the residence and the surrounding area, confirming that no one else was inside or at risk.

Wilcock was pronounced deceased at the scene shortly afterward, and investigators began the formal death investigation process.

Two days later, on April 22, the Boulder County Coroner's Office officially identified the decedent as David Wilcock after scientific confirmation and notification of next of kin.

Authorities said the decision to publicly release the detailed timeline was made in response to significant public attention surrounding the case, including widespread online speculation about the circumstances of his death.

The timeline release was made with the consent of Wilcock's family, who acknowledged the high level of public interest but requested privacy as they mourned.

Wilcock's family also said in the police record that he struggled with depression and financial burdens

The police report also addressed rumors circulating online that suggested foul play may have been involved.

Family members said there was no evidence of a cover-up, urging the public to respect their request for privacy during what they described as an extremely difficult time.

Wilcock, born on March 8, 1973, in Schenectady, New York, was widely known as a bestselling author and media personality who wrote extensively about UFOs, unidentified aerial phenomena, and paranormal subjects.

The investigation remains closed, with authorities classifying the death as a suicide.
Posted by Nick on at 08:00 PM CST

TruMoo, a farmer-owned brand from Dairy Farmers of America (DFA),in collaboration with Disney Consumer Products is bringing back the iconic Blue Milk just in time for May the 4th!



TruMoo Star Wars Blue Milk makes its return as a vanilla low-fat milk available in dairy departments nationwide starting April 16. The color is iconic. The nutrition is real. Each serving delivers 9 grams of protein and eight essential nutrients, enough to power a full day of work, play, or whatever the galaxy throws at you. And now, its made without artificial colors.



Since its debut in Star Wars: A New Hope, Blue Milk has been one of fans most beloved canon details. Two years ago, when TruMoo first brought the iconic pour to stores for a limited time, it became an immediate cultural phenomenon. Now its back for another limited run, giving fans a delicious way to celebrate May the 4th and bring a taste of the Outer Rim home.



"For decades, fans have watched Luke Skywalker on Tatooine and wondered what that blue milk actually tastes like. That question is what made this product so exciting for us to bring to market, said Rachel Kyllo, Chief Marketing Officer of Dairy Brands at Dairy Farmers of America. When fans started asking for it back, we didn't hesitate. TruMoo Blue Milk is about turning a piece of movie history into something you can actually enjoy at your kitchen table."



Beyond the dairy aisle, fans can head to starwarsmilk.com to join the May the 4th celebration. The site serves as a central hub for cosmic crafts, themed recipes, and a store locator to find Blue Milk nearby. While there, fans can also enter the TruMoo Explore a Galaxy of Flavor sweepstakes for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize, alongside a 'galactic bounty' of instant-win prizes including exclusive Star Wars themed merchandise, TruMoo gear, and free milk.



STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates.  & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.


The deaths and disappearances of eleven top scientists have mystified the nation, with President Donald Trump and senior members of Congress demanding answers and vowing to uncover if the cases are connected.

Now, chilling claims have come to light about the death of Amy Eskridge, a 34-year-old researcher working on anti-gravity technology, who was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

She died in Huntsville, Alabama, on June 11, 2022, and her death was ruled a suicide. But four years on, newly uncovered text messages raise chilling questions about what really happened.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Unearthed evidence: Amy Eskridge reportedly took her own life on June 11, 2022 but the scientist claimed her life had been repeatedly threatened due to her work with anti-gravity tech

Franc Milburn, a retired British paratrooper and intelligence officer who claims to have been in contact with Eskridge before her death, shared messages he says she sent him.

One dated May 13, 2022, read: 'If you see any report that I killed myself, I most definitely did not. If you see any report that I overdosed, I most definitely did not. If you see any report that I killed anyone else, I most definitely did not.'

Milburn told the Daily Mail that Eskridge - as well as some of her colleagues involved in advanced propulsion and energy research - had been subjected to what he described as a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation designed to derail their work.

He also said he spoke with the young scientist just four hours before her death and noticed nothing unusual.

The former intelligence officer said: 'She said, "Everything's fine, Franc, I'm feeling okay." She sent me, and others, emails and LinkedIn messages saying, 'If anything happens to me - suicide or an accident - it wasn't, it's suspicious, treat it as such.'

Eskridge also told Milburn she believed she had been the target of repeated physical and psychological attacks - claims he says he documented and is now making public.

Burn allegations: Milburn shared multiple messages he had with Eskridge, who expressed concern about being targeted for her work and complained she was being physically hurt

Among the allegations, Milburn claimed Eskridge reported injuries she believed were caused by what he described as a 'directed energy weapon,' a device said to emit focused energy capable of causing burns or other physical harm.

Eskridge shared images in text messages to Milburn, apparently showing her hands, feet, neck, and back with burns and lesions after allegedly being struck by this weapon.

He claimed the images even appeared to show a scorch mark on a window at Eskridge's home where the 'energy weapon' allegedly passed and struck her while she was working on her laptop.

Don't believe it: Former British intelligence officer Franc Milburn revealed text messages he said Eskridge sent one month before her death - including ones where she claimed she would not end her life

On May 19, 2022, Milburn says Eskridge messaged him to say that a member of her research lab with advanced weapons experience was convinced a directed energy weapon had caused her injuries.

She wrote: 'My ex-CIA weapons guy on my team saw my hands when they were burned really badly a couple months ago, and he saw that window pane in person.

'He said he had built things like that, and that it was most likely an RF k-band emitter run by five car batteries strung together from inside an SUV.'

Eskridge then allegedly claimed that this expert believed the most likely party capable of carrying out such an attack was a U.S.-based contractor or company seeking to prevent the scientist from completing an important piece of research for the government.

The scientist founded her own research lab and was trying to develop anti-gravity technology, a way to control or cancel out gravity, which could revolutionize space travel and energy production.

Expert work: Eskridge was working on research for a way to control or cancel out gravity, which could revolutionize space travel and energy production, before her death

Very close: Milburn shared text messages he said Eskridge sent before her death that include disturbing allegations of people taunting her

Richard Eskridge, the woman's father and a former NASA scientist who worked on fusion propulsion, has refuted claims that his daughter's death was suspicious.

While declining to comment further the father told NewsNation: 'Scientists die also, just like other people.'

In a statement to CNN, Eskridges family said she was a 'marvelously intelligent person' who suffered from 'chronic pain.'

Reiterating her father's statement, they added: 'People should realize that scientists die also and not make too much of this.'

Shocking evidence: Eskridge messaged Milburn to say that a member of her research lab with advanced weapons experience was convinced a directed energy weapon had caused her injuries

Clear view: Milburn shared a picture, which he claims shows Eskridge's hands burned and discolored after allegedly being struck by an 'energy weapon'

Eskridge and her father co-founded The Institute For Exotic Science, which focused on so-called speculative research, including the creation of gravity-defying engines.

The scientist said she specifically co-founded her research company to create a 'public-facing persona to disclose anti-gravity technology.'

Eskridge said during the podcast: 'If you stick your neck out in public, at least someone notices if your head gets chopped off.

'If you stick your neck out in private... they will bury you, they will burn down your house while you're sleeping in your bed and it won't even make the news. That's why the institute exists.'

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After Eskridge's death, Milburn launched his own investigation and identified what he described as a troubling timeline that he believes left little time for authorities to fully rule out foul play.

Milburn said: 'Why was she cremated so quickly? She phoned me four hours before she died, then she dies, then a few hours later, on the Saturday when she died, she has an autopsy, and then on the Sunday, she's cremated,.

'After she died, her co-workers and her friends, people she'd worked with, they came forward anonymously and said to me, "yeah, look, we were attacked, we were roofied, my house was broken into, my car tires were slashed".'

Conerning mark: Milburn shared what he said was a scorch mark on Eskridge's window

More injuries: Other images sent by Eskridge revealed strange injuries including discolored and burned hands and bloody skin

Milburn continued: 'So this wasn't just random events, this was happening to her and people around her, and she was introducing me to the people that it was happening to.'

Before her death, the scientist claimed she had been the target of disturbing attempts to drug her and push her into taking her own life.

This included alleged break-ins at her apartment, cars following her, strangers approaching her in bars with intimate knowledge of her life, attempts to roofie her drinks and threats of sexual violence against her.

Bizarre injury: Eskridge revealed the alleged attacks also caused burns filled with fluid under her skin

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On some occasions, Eskridge alleged that someone managed to roofie her drink before a crowd of strangers gathered around her and began asking about her secret scientific projects while she was disoriented.

In a text message sent on May 11, 2022 the scientist wrote to Milburn: 'A group of anywhere between two to six people will walk into a location, usually about 30 [minutes] after I sit down.

'Then the whole group will take turns one at a time rotating through the empty seat next to me, repeatedly asking me the same questions over and over again.

'I deflect one, then the next one sits down. They even all use the same opening line between them all, as if they all read the same briefing materials.'

Another mark: Lesions also developed after Eskridge claimed she had been struck by a directed energy weapon

Bombarded: Milburn said Eskridge told him that she had received: 'A s*** load of anonymous messages. Offering advice on how to kill myself. Phrased as these crazy, creepy rhymes'

Eskridge alleged that her apartment had been broken into on at least three occasions, with an unknown intruder leaving clear signs someone had been there, including cutting her phone charger, closing windows and leaving her lingerie on the floor.

In a 2020 podcast interview, Eskridge detailed a plan for the public disclosure of UFOs and extraterrestrials, but feared the threats against her were growing more and more dire.

She said: 'I need to disclose soon, man. I need to publish soon because it's like escalating. It's getting more and more aggressive. This has been going on for like four or five years, and over the past 12 months, it's been escalating, like more aggressive, more invasive digging through my underwear drawer and sexual threats.'

Eskridge also began to receive threatening phone calls from unidentified individuals who allegedly tried to convince her to take her own life, Millburn claimed.

Milburn said Eskridge told him that she had received: 'A s*** load of anonymous messages. Offering advice on how to kill myself. Phrased as these crazy, creepy rhymes, like: "Take your pills and overdose and this will go away, take your pills and overdose and it will be OK."'

Opening up: Franc Milburn is a former British intelligence officer who says he was in contact with Eskridge prior to her death

Millburn added that Eskridge even suspected that some of her former boyfriends were actually 'handlers' sent from intelligence agencies or other groups monitoring her work, claiming the men would suddenly disappear and become unreachable after exactly six months.

In her texts, she seemed to reference the 2010 shooting of three people at the University Of Alabama's Huntsville campus, claiming without evidence that convicted shooter Amy Bishop was not responsible for the killings of Drs Gopi Podila, Maria Ragland Davis, and Adriel Johnson.

Bishop pleaded guilty to the killings in 2012 and is serving a life sentence. She later claimed medication she was taking at the time of the shooting had altered her brain chemistry, but the appeal was denied.

Eskridge added in a text to Milburn that she believed the 2021 death of Mark McCandlish, an illustrator and ufologist, was not a suicide, as it has been reported.

Milburn said: 'I would give a lot of credence to her. There's gonna be people saying she's delusional, she's this or that, just follow the facts.'

He claimed he put Eskridge in touch with the FBI regarding the growing frequency of incidents and the potential use of a directed energy weapon on U.S. soil, but said the case was later dropped by the agency.

Major operation: Milburn shared disturbing messages he said he received from Eskridge, claiming she had been targeted by people in public

Milburn's private investigation concluded that the 34-year-old had been 'murdered by a 'private aerospace company' in the U.S. because she was involved in the UAP conversation.'

Milburn also declared: 'I am not suicidal or contemplating suicide and if anything happens to me, like an accident or other suspicious event, then it should be fully investigated as suspicious.'

The former intelligence officer's findings were brought before a congressional hearing in 2023 that was examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, the new term for UFOs.

Journalist Michael Shellenberger cited Eskridge's case in writing, along with the rest of his testimony addressing incidents of government retaliation against UAP whistleblowers such as Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch.

Congressman Eric Burlison of Missouri told Fox News that Shellenberger has spoken to House members regarding the case. Lawmakers are seeking an investigation by the FBI into multiple deaths and disappearances among America's scientific community.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Eskridge's family as well as medical officials in Huntsville for comment on the circumstances surrounding her death.
Researchers have found that intelligence in young men is linked to physical traits like grip strength and a higher shouldertohip ratio.

In a new study, expert have also discovered that these smart, muscular men were less interested in casual sex than their counterparts.

The findings cast doubt on the 'meathead' cliche  that men who are intensely dedicated to bodybuilding and fitness are typically simpleminded. And it suggests there is an 'overall fitness factor' that combines intelligence, a Vshaped torso and a desire for long, committed relationships.

Breaking stereotypes: Expert have debunked the brawn over brains cliche, finding that men with masculine body shapes tend to be intelligent (pictured: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Arnold Schwarzenegger)

L ead author Tara DeLecce, from Oakland University, told PsyPost: 'Our findings more align with the idea that, at least among men, intelligence is related to physical health and/or good genes but is inversely related to promiscuous sexual behaviour.

'Some may interpret this as increased difficulty with mating success. However, this might also suggest that men of higher intelligence are more likely to succeed in monogamous mating contexts.'

For their study, the team recruited 41 men aged between 18 and 34.

They measured intelligence through a series of tests, while a promiscuity score was generated through questionnaires on their sexual history.

Participants also took part in a hand grip test to measure strength, while their BMI and height were also recorded. Body shape was determined using shoulder and hip measurements.

Those with a high shouldertohip ratio generally have broad shoulders and a wide chest that tapers down to a much narrower waist.

This 'V' body shape is typically associated with being more muscular and masculine and is often viewed as a marker of physical health. Examples include Hollywood legend Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Body shape: The opposite of the V body is a more 'pearshaped' body, with narrower shoulders and a broader hip (pictured: Michael McIntyre and Leonardo DiCaprio)

The study, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, reads: 'There were significant positive correlations between intelligence, hand grip strength and shouldertohip ratio.

'Conversely, there was a significant negative correlation between intelligence and sexually promiscuous behaviors. Taken together, the current results suggest a more nuanced picture of how traits indicative of genetic quality relate to overall fitness.'

The researchers said the findings indicate that highly intelligent men are more successful in monogamous, longterm relationships rather than casual sexual encounters.

Evolving towards sexual exclusivity may be a more modern human strategy that requires higher intelligence to navigate successfully, they added.
The cheapest beaches to visit for a holiday that won't leave your bank account dry have been revealed - and some boast hotels with bargain prices.

If you're planning a summer escape, new research has revealed the best budget beach getaways in Europe, with hotel stays starting from just 36.

Destinations in Greece, Croatia and Portugal top the ranking as Brits are on the lookout for affordable sunshine-filled breaks.

And Brits might want to book fast - before the cost of flights shoot up.

Airport transfer experts at hoppa analysed European getaways, scoring each on factors such as the average three-star hotel cost to determine the results.

Here's a full rundown of the most budget-friendly spots...

1. Faliraki Beach, Rhodes, Greece

Europe's cheapest beach holiday was revealed to be Faliraki Beach in Rhodes, Greece

Topping the ranking as the most affordable European beach break is Faliraki Beach in Rhodes, Greece, with hotel prices averaging at 36 per night.

In addition to being a cost-effective location, this beach features 0mm of summer rainfall, making it the ultimate destination for those seeking guaranteed sun, as temperatures average at 25.7C.

Faliraki Beach, located on the north-eastern coast of Greece, is well geared up for visitors and is easy to access.

=2. Kasjuni Beach, Split, Croatia

In second place is Kasjuni Beach, located in the popular Split region in Croatia

Following up in joint second place are not one but two Croatian beach destinations: the first is Kasjuni Beach, where hotel prices come in at just 56 per night.

This pebble beach is often hailed for its clear and calm waters, breathtaking views and snorkelling opportunities.

One Tripadvisor review read: 'Amazing clear water, still like a lake... For those who swim, it is a paradise! Hills on one side and ships anchored in the distance make a lovely setting.'

=2. Bacvice Beach, Split, Croatia

Bacvice Beach, also in Split, comes in joint second place

The second Croatian beach destination in joint second place is Bacvice Beach, with hotels also for 56 a night.

Both destinations achieve nearly 13 hours of average summer sunshine, perfect for long, sun-soaked beach days.

It's also a party centre, so is great if you're looking to let loose on holiday.

=4. Praia de Faro, Algarve, Portugal

Next up on the list is the popular Praia de Faro in Portugal

In joint fourth place are two Portugese beach destinations, Praia de Faro being one of them.

With hotel stays around 59 on average, this spot ranks among the best overall beach holidays in Europe, thanks to its short transfer time and limited rainfall.

The three-mile beach is located very close to Faro airport, and is a local favourite.

=4. Praia da Rocha, Algarve, Portugal

Another destination in Portugal's Algarve, Praia da Rocha, joins the list

Praia da Rocha is the second Portugese beach destination in joint fourth place, where hotel stays average in at 59.

It is best known for its dramatic cliffs and as the widest beach in the Algarve.

One visitor earlier this year wrote: 'Whether you are looking for an adrenaline rush or a stylish place to lounge, the area surrounding the beach provides one of the Algarve's most iconic and vibrant beach destinations, widely recognised for its massive expanse of golden sand framed by dramatic, ochre-coloured limestone cliffs.

'As of early 2026, it remains a top choice for travellers who want a high-energy holiday that perfectly balances raw coastal beauty with extensive resort amenities and a legendary nightlife scene.'

=4. Kolovare Beach, Zadar, Croatia

Next up is Kolovare Beach, situated close to Zadar in Croatia

Kolovare Beach, based in Croatia, takes the title as the beach with the most sunshine hours at 12.9 per day.

The part-pebble beach is located close to Zadar town, making it convenient to visit, and is full of shops and cafes - and with hotels just 59.

According to Beach Atlas: 'The concrete portion of the beach is perfect for sunbathing, while a sandy and pebble section lies adjacent.

'Families with children will find Kolovare Beach a particularly attractive option, as the beach is under constant lifeguard supervision and is fully accessible for individuals with disabilities.'

=7. Agia Marina Beach, Crete, Greece

Agia Marina Beach is a popular hotspot on the island of Crete

Next up is Agia Marina Beach in Chania, Crete, the second Greek destination to join the list - and with hotels costing 60 on average.

The long sandy beach is well equipped with sun loungers and parasols, and is conveniently located close to many dining options.

One visitor raved about the beach, saying: 'A lovely, well organised beach with clear water and a relaxed atmosphere. Perfect for swimming, easy walks and peaceful seaside moments.'

=7. Platanias Beach, Crete, Greece

Also in Crete is Platanias Beach, another spot that won't break the bank

Next up is Platanias Beach, also in Crete and with hotels averaging 60.

It's not just hotels that are budget-friendly here, either - reports online suggest sunbeds can start from as little as 8 (7) for two.

One Tripadvisor review read: 'Great beach, sandy, pebbly in parts, long and relatively narrow. Lots of restaurants and sunbeds.'

9. Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia, Greece

Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia, Greece is also one of Europe's cheapest destinations

Myrtos Beach on the island of Kefalonia, Greece, is next up on the list.

Here, hotels cost on average as little as 61.

'Surrounded by tall marble cliffs and looking out onto the azure waters of the Myrtos Gulf, this stunning beach makes for a dramatically breathtaking sight,' says Tripadvisor.

=10. Praia da Falesia, Algarve, Portugal

Praia da Falesia in the Algarve has unique scenery and affordable costs

With its dramatic red sandstone cliffs, Praia da Falesia is next up on the list - with hotels averaging just 63.

Stretching for more than six kilometres, it's especially good for hikers and walkers, with magnificent views.

One happy visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: 'A unique beach that deserves a visit. Very nice colors, the cliffs are mesmerising and the ocean very clean. A must in the Algarve, a favourite!'

Praia da Falesia was also awarded first place in the 2024 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches.

=10. Tamariz Beach, Cascais, Portugal

Rounding out the cheapest beach holidays list is Tamariz Beach in Cascais, Portugal

The final destination on the list is Tamariz Beach in Cascais, Portugal - with 63 hotels.

'The beach is directly by the railway station Estoril. You walk 100metres and then you are at a beautiful beach with fine sand, and clean but cold water,' one Tripadvisor review explained.

It added: 'On the west end there are flat rocks and a nice view of Cascais, especially at sunset. On the east end of the beach you find a sea swimming pool for those who feel uncomfortable swimming in the open sea.'
Tourists heading to a popular Irish city may soon face a 1 (87p) daily levy as local authorities find ways to manage the impact of growing tourism.

Galway City Council is proposing a tourist tax that could generate more than 2 million (1.7m) in the city each year, according to The Connacht Tribune.

On 13 April, City Hall officials met with elected members to present a detailed business case for implementing a tourist tax.

The case argues that 'tourists as well as local communities should be contributing to the socioeconomic development of' the city.

If approved, an accommodation charge of 1 may be applied to overnight visitors in hotels or short-term lodging.

Following similar initiatives in other cities, officials said its calculations were based on the number of tourists entering the city in 2024, combined with a recorded 77 per cent occupancy rate for accommodations.

Galway is currently one of Ireland's top five most visited destinations, drawing around 2.4 million international and domestic tourists in 2024.

Known as Ireland's 'Cultural Heart', the seaside city is famed for its colourful, cobbled streets, cosy pubs and traditional music scene, while its charming, scenic landscape has made it a premier filming spot for blockbuster films like Marley & Me.

Galway, known as Ireland's 'Cultural Heart' attracts millions of visitors each year - though they may soon need to cough up 1 each night they stay there, as officials consider a tourist tax

The seaside city drew 2.4 million international tourists in 2024

Helen Kilroy, Head of Finance at Galway City Council, said the proposed tourism tax would go toward improving services and tourism offerings across the city

While smaller than Dublin, Galway is one of the most populous cities in the west of Ireland - and it has a growing number of visitors entering the city each day.

But Helen Kilroy, Head of Finance at Galway City Council, said the proposed levy would not be introduced to control visitor numbers alone - the revenue raised would also go toward improving tourism offerings across the city.

And the council's newly-appointed tourism officer, Sally-Ann O'Brien, firmly believes the city should impose the levy as Ireland is one of the six EU states that has not implemented some form of bed tax.

Around 47 per cent of international visitors hail from Europe, 27 per cent from the US, and 18 per cent from the UK, many of which Ms O'Brien said are used to paying a tax.

However, the proposed tax faces significant hurdles before coming into play, as it requires approval from the Irish government at a national level - and from local leaders themselves.

Prominent figures have openly criticised the plan, with Councilor Alan Curran noting that inconsistent visitor numbers could 'severely impact our ability to budget effectively'.

He added: 'We need to protect ourselves from those economic shocks.'

Meanwhile, former Mayor of Galway, Eddie Hoare, recently voiced opposition to the proposed tax, warning it could 'send out the wrong message' to potential visitors.

Under the proposed plans, overnight visitors staying in hotels or short-stay lodges will pay 1 (0.87) each day

The city's newly-appointed tourism officer, Sally-Ann O'Brien, noted that Ireland is one of six EU states that has not brought in a bed levy for overnight visitors

Councilor Alan Curran warned that inconsistent visitor numbers could 'severely impact' the council's ability to 'budget effectively'

Councillor Eddie Hoare suggested a rebranding of 'tourist tax' to more positive terms like 'bed levy'

In addition, Pat McDonagh, founder of popular Irish fast-food chain Supermacs, blasted the idea as 'ridiculous' during an appearance on Newstalk Breakfast in 2024.

He said: 'We would be the laughingstock of the country if we introduced a tourist tax.'

On the flip side, while Councillor Mike Crowe supported the concept, he voiced concerns about it being a 'new tax', warning that the negative reputation of such a charge could outweigh its financial benefits.

Meanwhile, Councillor Eddie Hoare suggested a rebranding of 'tourist tax,' arguing that using terms like 'bed levy' or 'visitor levy' would appear more positive.

Nevertheless, the business case that is set to be presented to the Government insists the tax is critical to the West and Wild Atlantic Way.

The Irish city is one of many popular tourist destinations that have looked to implement a daily levy for overnight visitors.

Tourism tax has been introduced in many hotspots around the world to help manage the high numbers of visitors and bring extra revenue into the area.

The amount can vary, from a few euros a night extra in Rome to a percentage of the room rate in Amsterdam.

Closer to home, Manchester introduced a City Visitor Charge back in 2023, and Edinburgh is set to bring something similar in from July.

The UK government is now proposing to give city mayors and town officials across the country the authority to charge a small fee for overnight stays.
With the effects of overtourism now seen in even the most secure destinations, officials are taking extreme measures to safeguard residents and key infrastructure.

And it appears hotels and short-term rentals are directly in the firing line.

In recent years, tourist hotspots across Europe have clamped down on hotel construction, with several implementing complete bans to curb rising visitor numbers.

Barcelona pioneered the move in 2017, banning all new hotel licenses to manage tourism density.

Now, Greece's capital city is considering following suit - with Haris Doukas, the mayor of Athens, raising the issue at a recent event, though he insisted the holiday hotspot will not 'become Barcelona'.

A ban on new short-term rental permits is already in place in Athens' three core neighbourhoods to combat the rapid increase in holiday lets - similar to measures taken in other tourist hotspots around the world.

As Greece weighs up the possibility of imposing restrictions, we examine the global cities implementing bans on new hotels and short-term rentals.

Barcelona, Spain

Not only was Barcelona the first destination to ban new hotel licences, it now seeks to push out short-term rentals (pictured) entirely by 2028

When Barcelona first introduced its ban on new hotel licences in 2017, around 32 million visitors flooded into the city the year prior - a figure that vastly outweighed its 1.6 million residents.

In a bid to curb tourism, the city's major Ada Colau set out a policy following on from a ban to stop any new hotels from opening.

Her Strategic Plan for Tourism 2020, presented in February 2017, laid out a number of measurements aimed at deterring the masses.

Charges for day-trippers ramped up, parking rates increased and plans were drawn up to limit the number of Segways and electric scooters in the more touristic parts of the city.

Holiday apartments were also in line to be slapped with the highest property tax rates, while licenses for new tourist accommodation would be refused.

Officials currently have plans to eliminate all short-term rentals by November 2028, a move that will affect over 10,000 properties.

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian is another Spanish city that has set similar rules, with a total ban on new hotels set for implementation this year

As part of a new 2026 municipal update aimed at curbing high visitor numbers while protecting local housing, San Sebastian is implementing a total ban on new hotels.

The historic city is currently home to a population of just 200,000 - yet it can see up to two million international visitors in the height of summer, a number that has been driven by its newfound popularity on TikTok and other social media platforms.

In response, Eneko Goia, the mayor of the Spanish resort town, is banning the construction of new hotels, all while imposing strict restrictions on short-term apartments.

The new regulations divide the Spanish hub into two areas that will follow different sets of rules and standards.

An 'unconditional moratorium' will be implemented in crowded districts such as Antiguo-Ondarreta, Ategorrieta-Ulia, Centro, Gros, and Ibaeta, with all licenses to build and expand suspended without exception.

Across the remaining half of the city, the rules are to be somewhat relaxed, with a focus on protecting existing resident housing rather than halting expansion. This means plots in urban areas intended for local housing cannot be turned into tourist accommodations

The city's historic Old Quarter will also not be subject to the new rule as the 'stature zone' already follows its own strict regulations, according to Russpain.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam banned the construction of new hotels in 2024

In April 2024, Amsterdam implemented a ban on the construction of new hotels anywhere in city as part of a wider crackdown on rowdy foreign visitors.

At the time, the local government announced that it wanted to keep the city liveable for residents and visitors - meaning no over-tourism.

It also placed a new limit of 20million for the maximum number of overnight hotel stays by tourists the city is willing to accept each year.

As part of the fight against mass tourism, a new hotel in Amsterdam will only be able to be built if another hotel closes, if the number of sleeping places available in the city does not increase and if the new hotel will be better - for example, more sustainable.

The city has been actively trying to limit tourist numbers, which run into the millions per year, mainly by discouraging sex and drug-related tourism to the Red Light District.

There was already a ban on constructing new hotels in many areas of the city, but due to the most recent ban, the entirety of Amsterdam has become a 'no area' for new hotels.

The decision was made in a bid to keep a lid on the number of tourists who visit the popular holiday hotspot, with an aim to keep the number of overnight stays below 20million annually.

Athens, Greece

There are currently around 35,000 hotel beds in the Athens area - after hundreds of four and five star hotels opened in the capital between 2019 and 2024

At this week's This is Athens  Agora event, Haris Doukas, mayor of the capital, suggested that the city might begin banning the construction of new hotels to better manage local growth.

It follows a pre-existing 2025 ban on new short-term licences in three central districts across the historic city.

Doukas noted it is unfair to strictly regulate hotels while letting unregulated 'serviced apartments' continue to grow.

'We really need to see if and how many more hotels we need and where,' Doukas told Euro News, 'We need to see and think about how much extra tourist load we can lift and where.'

'We must not become Barcelona. We have to understand that there are saturated areas that cannot afford new beds: whether short-term rentals or not. Talking at events around the globe, we see that capping is not only being put on short-term rentals but also on hotels; in specific, "saturated" areas.'

Athens has seen a sharp rise in hotel beds in recent years. Between 2019 and 2024, hundreds of new four- and five-star hotels have opened across Greece.

Currently, there are 68,934 hotel beds in the Attica municipality - with some 35,000 of these located in the greater Athens city centre area.

To implement such restrictions, industry leaders agree planning is needed, with Evgenios Vassilikos noting the rapid rise in hotels, rentals, and serviced apartments, saying, 'We dont need to reinvent the wheel' when looking at measures adopted by other cities.

With Athens attracting around 10 to 12 million visitors annually, officials and businesses are increasingly focused on managing tourism growth at a sustainable level.

Malaga, Spain

In 2025, Malaga announced a three-year moratorium on new tourism rental licences beyond the existing 12,660

In April 2025, Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced a crackdown on holiday rentals in 'high tension' areas like Costa Blanca and Malaga.

Under the legislation, holiday rentals are now banned from an apartment complex if 60 per cent of property owners vote against them, citing noise concerns or other disruptions.

In addition, Malaga's city council announced a three-year moratorium on new tourism rental licences beyond the existing 12,660.

The Spanish government also threatened hefty fines against holiday platforms, including Airbnb, for hosting properties that fail to comply with licensing rules.

'There are too many Airbnbs and not enough housing,' Mr Sanchez declared at the time.

Airbnb, however, claimed it had been made a 'scapegoat' in the country's wider housing crisis, with the property rental giant accusing Spain's left-wing government of putting 30billion (25.7billion) of annual tourism activity.

The clampdown follows a boom in house prices and rents, which have doubled in less than a decade in some tourism hotspots.

The lack of affordable housing prompted a wave of fierce protests across Spain in recent years, with communities nationwide rallying against them.

Florence, Italy

In Florence, visitors can no longer rent an Airbnb, after the city banned the short-term lets to free up more housing for residents

In 2023, local officials announced Airbnbs would be banned in Florence's historic centre to help alleviate a chronic shortage of affordable homes for residents.

Over the last 20 years, the city centre has seen thousands of properties converted into short-term rentals like Airbnbs, spelling disaster for its 380,000 inhabitants that have struggled to obtain housing.

Under the latest policy, any allowing people to stay for fewer than 30 days is now officially classed as a 'short-term' rental, according to Time Out.

In order to obtain licences for short-term lets, hosts must register properties with local councils, and annual limits are set on the number of days a property can be rented.

Yorkshire Dales, UK

A house on the hillside of the Yorkshire Dales in the village of Bolton Abbey. Authorities have proposed a ban on new second homes

A contentious proposal was brought forward by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) in December 2024 that would mean no new properties are allowed to be used as holiday homes.

In June 2025, the proposal was approved, leading to fury from local second homeowners who expressed fears that an outright prohibition would cripple the local economy.

Instead, houses would need to be permanently occupied, with the rules applying to all new dwellings across the 27 towns and villages in the Dales - including Bolton Abbey, Hawes and Malham.

At the time, Conservative councillor Richard Foster said: 'We've slowly losing houses to second homes but we want to make sure the national park does what it needs to do.

'We need to build homes for people to live in - pubs struggle for staff so they have to import people to come into the area to work.

'We've also got an aging population, we don't have carers, so it's all about building houses that people live in and then they can become part of the community.

'We don't want to lose them to people who think that a property will make a nice holiday cottage.'
Industrial action at Stansted Airport is now set to commence as workers reject an 'unacceptable' pay offer.

Around 100 workers for ABM will strike over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, from May 3 to May 6.

Many of the staff members perform crucial jobs like escorting passengers on and off flights and through the airport.

They were originally scheduled to strike from April 17 to 20, but the planned action was postponed to allow workers to vote on a last-minute pay offer.

However, Unite has called the situation 'unacceptable' and union members are now going ahead with the action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'ABM staff do a vital job for passengers at the airport, yet they are struggling with low pay while their employer makes huge profits.

'This situation is unacceptable and workers at ABM continue to have Unite's full support.'

Around 100 workers for ABM will strike over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, from May 3 to May 6

Many of the staff members perform crucial jobs like escorting passengers on and off flights and through the airport

Staff members also argue they feel they are working under more pressure due to Stansted handling more flights and passengers.

Unite regional officer Steve Edwards said: 'Workers at ABM are increasingly given bigger workloads and deserve pay that reflects this.

'Their employer can afford to come back with an offer workers would accept and could end this dispute easily by doing so.

'But until then, Unite members will strike until their voices are heard.'

The strikes are expected to cause chaos and delays, as it will take longer to board passengers who rely on the service provided by ABM workers.

An ABM spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We are disappointed that Unite the Union has confirmed, once again, its intention to take industrial action, including over the bank holiday. This follows a shortfall of just two percentage points in the vote on our structured pay increase - an offer that significantly exceeds the current rate of inflation.'

'Through comprehensive contingency planning, we will continue delivering services throughout this period with all roles covered, and additional operational and management support in place. Our focus is on maintaining safety, operational resilience, and service continuity as far as possible for the passengers who rely on our team every day.

'We remain open to constructive conversation with Unite the Union and hope that a resolution can be reached in the best interests of our employees and the passengers we serve.'

The original strikes were planned after workers received a pay rise 'worth just a tin of beans a week to workers', according to Unite.

The strikes are expected to cause chaos and delays, as it will take longer to board passengers who rely on the service provided by ABM workers

It worked out at just one pence more on their hourly rates in the first year, and two or three pence more in the second year.

At the time, Graham slammed the pay rise and said: 'This is one of the meanest so-called pay rises imaginable.

'Dedicated workers will have to work for an entire week just to buy a tin of beans.

'It is beyond contempt that a profitable company such as ABM is choosing to prioritise greed and exposing its workers to a real-terms pay cut.

'Our members at ABM will be fully supported by Unite throughout this dispute.'

Meanwhile, Edwards added: 'Any strike action and the resulting disruption is entirely the fault of ABM for putting profits over people.

'ABM could avoid this disruption but it relies on management coming back with a realistic pay offer that reflects the hard work our members do.'

At the time, an ABM spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We are disappointed that industrial action is to be taken given our constructive engagement with Unite the Union.

'We appreciate the dedication our team members put in every day to provide an outstanding travel experience for those with special assistance requirements.

'For that reason, we continue to negotiate in good faith with Unite the Union toward an agreement that's fair for our team members, clients, and stakeholders. It is not accurate to describe the proposal as a 'pennies' increase. The offer we have proposed is a structured, staged pay increase over time, designed to provide an uplift to hourly rates.

'Our immediate priority is to limit disruption to the thousands of passengers with special assistance requirements who use our service every day at Stansted Airport.

'Through comprehensive contingency planning, we intend to continue delivering services throughout this period, with measures in place to maintain safety, operational resilience, and service continuity as far as possible.'
Jake Wood has announced his first art exhibition to support Dementia UK, where he will honour his late close friend and former co-star Dame Barbara Windsor with a special print.

The EastEnders actor, 53, who met the Carry On legend while starring as Max Branning on the BBC One soap, will showcase his artistic flair with pieces that 'celebrate defining figures in British culture'.

Jake's long-time friend and mentor Dame Barbara passed away in 2020, aged 83, after a battle with dementia.

The soap star announced the exhibition on social media while giving his followers an insight into his latest artworks.

On proud display was a print of Dame Barbara, laughing away, with the image laid over the top of street art and graffiti.

The announcement read: 'Exhibition Announcement  Jake Wood: ICONS Indelible Fine Art presents an invite-only exhibition from actor and artist Jake Wood.

Jake Wood has announced his first art exhibition to support Dementia UK, where he will honour Dame Barbara Windsor with a special print (pictured together in 2016)

The EastEnders actor, 53, who met the Carry On legend on the BBC One soap, will showcase his artistic flair with pieces that 'celebrate defining figures in British culture'

'ICONS introduces a new body of work celebrating defining figures in British culture - people who have shaped identity, history, and public memory.

'At the centre of the exhibition, timed alongside VE Day, is Winston Churchill - a figure deeply tied to both national history and Brighton itself.

'The exhibition also supports Dementia UK, a cause close to Jake's heart following the experience of his close friend and co-star Barbara Windsor.

'It's a reminder of the very real human stories behind public figures - and the importance of continued support and research.'

10 percent of the sales will be donated to Dementia UK, which offers vital support for families affected by the disease.

Speaking about his portrait of Barbara, Jake told the Daily Mirror: 'My portrait of Barbara was really about capturing her absolute joy and her light.

'She had this incredible energy; I just wanted the painting to feel like her, that effect she had on everyone when she walked into a room.'

The print drew inspiration from the actress a decade ago in 2016, when she received her Damehood, having already been diagnosed with dementia.

Jake explained: 'You can see her personality in that photo and I've enhanced it with the colours I've put around it.'

Speaking about Barbara and their close bond, Jake told The Sun in 2021: 'Barbara really supported me when I first started. She put an arm around me, if you like, and I will be forever grateful for everything she did for me.'

He added that the soap icon was 'very generous' and gave him some touching advice when he was starting out in the business.

10 percent of the sales will be donated to Dementia UK, which offers vital support for families affected by the disease

Speaking about his portrait of Barbara, Jake said: 'She had this incredible energy; I just wanted the painting to feel like her, that effect she had on everyone when she walked into a room'

'Her advice was don't change anything about who you are or what you do or where you go.

'I took that to heart, and as a family we continued to live life as normal, to navigate life as normal, not take it all too seriously.'

Following Barbara's death, her widower Scott Mitchell was left 4.6million in her will, with the star donating to several charities.

The NSPCC, Breast Cancer Care, Help The Aged, Grand Order Of Lady Ratlings, National Osteoporisis Society, Headley Court (a wounded soldiers rehab centre) and Age UK made up the seven charities that Barbara left 1000 each to.

The actress was married three times in her life, first to Ronnie Knight in 1964 then to Stephen Hollings for nine years before divorcing in 1995.

Scott, who has since found love with Barbara's former EastEnders co-star Tanya Franks, previously said he 'still wakes up in panic' thinking of his late wife.

Speaking to Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast, Scott admitted: 'I still wake in terror. I still have moments - this morning I was quite emotional - where I just miss her. That doesn't change. I think it will be with me forever.

'I would like to believe she would be happy that someone was there by my side and that I wasn't on my own. She always used to say to me, 'I never want you to be on your own.'

Scott and Tanya initially bonded through their work with the Alzheimer's Society and were close friends for years before their relationship turned romantic.

Reflecting on his ongoing grief, Scott said: 'I don't think anyone ever gets over a loss of someone they love so deeply.

'I think we find ways of carrying them with us, and that's what I try to do every day.'
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson could be out of pocket to the tune of millions of dollars, thanks to a new countersuit by their former employers.

The Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a subsidiary of ARN Media that runs KIIS FM, has filed a countersuit against the former breakfast duo.

They are reportedly demanding that Henderson and Sandilands pay for advertising revenue KIIS lost after the pair allegedly breached their $200million, 10-year contracts, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

It was also reported that CBC is demanding Henderson and Sandilands pay legal costs as well as vigorously defending claims made by the pair.

Court documents, lodged this week, allege that Henderson and Sandilands cost the radio station both advertising revenue and profits by breaching their contracts.

It was also claimed that a clause in ARN's services agreement with Sandilands' Quasar Media allows it to reclaim 87.92 per cent of a $3million signing bonus.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson could be out of pocket to the tune of millions of dollars, thanks to a new countersuit by their former employers

This means that Quasar Media  the company through which Sandilands provided his services for The Kyle & Jackie O Show  could have to repay $2,637,600.

It comes as shock new details emerged about the explosive fallout between Sandilands and Henderson this week, with court documents alleging he told her to 'get your f***ing s**t together' or 'don't f***ing bother coming back'.

The alleged outburst took place during a fiery offair clash months before the pair's infamous onair bustup - which ultimately brought their hit breakfast show crashing down.

According to documents filed in the Federal Court late Tuesday, the confrontation unfolded at KIIS FM's Sydney studios following an incident broadcast on air last year.

The court documents, lodged by CBC, allege that the once rocksolid friendship  forged over more than 20 years on air  had already fractured months earlier, with a massive behindthescenes blowup in September last year.

CBC alleges Sandilands spoke 'contemptuously' to Henderson during an onair argument - an incident she has also cited in her statement of claim against the network.

But the argument didn't stop when the microphones were switched off.

'Kyle, that's a bit rough, like f***en hell, I haven't done anything to f***en cop it,' Henderson is alleged to have said, according to CBC's defence documents.

The Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a subsidiary of ARN Media that runs KIIS FM, has filed a countersuit against the former breakfast duo

Court documents, lodged this week, allege that Henderson and Sandilands cost the radio station both advertising revenue and profits by breaching their contracts. It was also claimed that a clause in ARN's services agreement with Sandilands' Quasar Media allows it to reclaim 87.92 per cent of a $3million signing bonus

Sandilands is then claimed to have fired back: 'You wanna know the truth, here's the truth. Today's the first day you've ever paid any attention or had to carry anything in the opener, and it's all s**t.'

The documents allege the exchange deteriorated further, with the pair telling each other 'f**k you'.

Sandilands is then alleged to have doubled down, accusing Henderson of being 'too much of a mother hen' and not focused enough on the show.

'Don't f***ing bother coming back either until you get your f***ing s**t together like a normal person,' he is alleged to have said.

According to the defence documents, Sandilands claimed he had been 'carrying this whole show for a f***ing year', complaining that every time he raised concerns, 'newsreader Brooklyn Ross and others said nothing'.

'I'm just left here with a limp d**k in my hand,' Sandilands allegedly added.

Five months later, Sandilands and Henderson's partnership came to an abrupt end, after Sandilands accused her of being 'off with the fairies' during a brutal onair clash that left her in tears.

Both stars have since launched separate unfair dismissal claims against their former employer, with Sandilands seeking $85million and Henderson $82million.

This means that Quasar Media  the company through which Sandilands provided his services for the Kyle & Jackie O Show  could have to repay $2,637,600

It comes as shock new details emerged about the explosive fallout between Sandilands and Henderson this week, with court documents alleging he told her to 'get your f***ing s**t together' or 'don't f***ing bother coming back'

The eyewatering figures represent what the pair say they are still owed under their axed contracts, which had been worth about $10million per year each.

CBC's defence paints Sandilands as the architect of a workplace so toxic that Henderson refused to ever work with him again.

The company claims Sandilands' 'destruction of his relationship with Ms Henderson' was the culmination of a 'a persistent course of workplace bullying and harassment of Ms Henderson of which she had complained' - conduct it says amounted to a serious breach of his contract.

The company flatly rejects Sandilands' claim that his sacking was unlawful, as well as Henderson's assertion that she was dismissed for exercising her right to a psychologically safe workplace.

Instead, CBC alleges Sandilands breached multiple internal policies, including the ARN Work, Health and Safety Policy, the ARN Code of Conduct and the Respect in the Workplace Policy.

The February onair explosion is also alleged to have breached the NSW Work Health and Safety Act.

CBC further argues it was contracted to employ Henderson as Sandilands' cohost - not as a standalone presenter - and was under no obligation to offer her an alternative timeslot.

Her refusal to continue working with him, the company claims, constituted a breach of her own contract.
Carolina Flores Gomez, a one-time beauty queen, was fatally shot in the head in her Mexico City apartment last week, as authorities have reportedly focused their investigation on her mother-in-law.

Gomez, 27, was found dead in her luxury home in the Polanco neighborhood last Thursday, according to the Mexican outlet Reporte Indigo.

The Mexico City Prosecutor's Office is handling the case as an intentional homicide, the outlet reported.

Gomez, who in 2017 was crowned Miss Teen Universe in Baja California, is believed to have been fatally shot on April 15, police told the outlet.

At the time of the shooting, police told the outlet that they believe Gomez had been at home with her spouse Alejandro Gomez and his mother, Erika Maria.

No arrests have been made in connection with Gomez's death as of Wednesday afternoon.

Carolina Flores Gomez, a one-time beauty queen, was fatally shot in the head in her Mexico City apartment last week, as authorities are reportedly investigating her mother-in-law

Gomez in 2017 was crowned Miss Teen Universe in Baja California

Police told the outlet that the fatal shooting was not reported until April 16, prompting speculation on why it took so long to notify authorities, according to Reporte Indigo.

Officials said that there were no reports of gunshots or foul play within the vicinity of the apartment complex, according to the outlet.

Investigators are collecting items from the scene to forensically test, amid the ongoing probe into the untimely death.

Gomez had recently celebrated her birthday, as she was born April 4, 1999 in Ensenada, Puntual reported.

Baja California governor Marina del Pilar Avila told reporters that the investigation into Gomez's death was a foremost priority.

'No crime against a woman should go unpunished,' Avila told a pool of reporters, according to the outlet. 'Our thoughts are with her family during this devastating time.'

State prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez said that there has been close communication between officials to prioritize the probe, according to Puntual.

The tragic death of the beauty queen comes at a time of social unrest in Mexico over what advocates call an epidemic of violence against women, and lack of justice toward their assailants.

Gomez was found dead in her luxury home in the Polanco neighborhood this past Thursday

Mexico City Prosecutor's Office is handling the case as an intentional homicide

Civil organizations are pushing prosecutors to reclassify the case as a femicide, which the United Nations agency UN Women defines as 'an intentional killing with a gender-related motivation,' Puntual reported.

The UN agency said last November that femicide 'is different from homicide, where the motivation may not be gender-related.'

It continued, 'Femicide is driven by discrimination against women and girls, unequal power relations, gender stereotypes or harmful social norms.

'It is the most extreme and brutal manifestation of violence against women and girls which occurs on a continuum of multiple and related forms of violence, at home, in workplaces, schools or public and online spaces.'

Among the forms it takes, according to the agency, include 'intimate partner violence, sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence, harmful practices and trafficking.'
Radio giant ARN say Jackie 'O' Henderson was responsible for her own wellbeing while hosting the Kyle and Jackie O Show because she signed her $100million deal through a company rather than as an individual, court documents reveal.

Henderson is suing the ARN, the owner of KIIS 106.5, in the Federal Court after her contract was torn up following a fiery onair clash with cohost Kyle Sandilands on February 20.

She claims her radio bosses knew about Sandilands' alleged bullying and that the Fair Work Act was breached when they failed to ensure she was provided with a safe workspace.

Sandilands' own $100million contract was also torn up, and he is suing the broadcaster separately on different grounds.

Defence documents lodged by ARN, obtained by the Daily Mail, say Sandilands often made 'offensive and degrading' comments to Henderson, but the broadcaster had 'no ability or powers' to stop him.

Henderson and Sandilands signed their contracts using their respective businesses, Henderson Media and Quasar. ARN claims those businesses were responsible for the welfare and conduct of the cohosts, rather than the broadcaster.

The radio giant's defence also referred to a complaint from Henderson's lawyers about Sandilands in the days following the February argument, stating she would not return to work until she was given an alternative radio show.

To ARN, that meant Henderson did not intend to return to work if there was no alternative show. ARN said it did not propose an alternative show because there was no obligation to do so.

Jackie 'O' Henderson has followed her former co-host Kyle Sandilands by launching a lawsuit against ARN

Kyle Sandilands filed his own lawsuit against ARN in the Federal Court in March

In its defence, ARN said Henderson and Sandilands' businesses were 'solely responsible' for controlling the manner in which the Kyle and Jackie O Show was delivered.

The broadcaster referred to a clause in her $100million contract, claiming it was 'acknowledged and agreed' that Henderson Media was responsible for ensuring the health and safety of Henderson while working for ARN.

Henderson claimed she had physical symptoms from a psychological illness stemming from Sandilands alleged bullying conduct.

In its defence, ARN claimed her suffering and humiliation were caused by Sandilands and not because ARN breached the Fair Work Act.

ARN also responded to Henderson's claims that the contents of another onair argument between herself and Sandilands on September 10, 2025, were 'dumped' by the censor and never went to air.

ARN said any dumping of content would have taken place after the alleged bullying or unwanted conduct occurred and would not have prevented Sandilands from making the comments in the first place.

The core of Henderson's claim is that she made a number of complaints about Sandilands, that ARN executives knew about those complaints, and failed to ensure she was provided with a safe workspace.

In its defence, ARN agreed that Henderson made those complaints and claimed to have supported her throughout that time, which included personal support from the ARN CEO and from former chief audience and content officer Lauren Joyce.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are pictured at the KIIS 106.5 studio

On September 16, 2025, Ms Joyce emailed Henderson's manager and best friend Gemma O'Neill, saying: 'This is a serious matter, and Jackies wellbeing is our priority.

'We are absolutely committed to upholding [ARNs obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)] and to making sure Jackie feels safe, supported and respected.'

ARN also claimed CEO Michael Stephenson texted Henderson on February 20 - the day of Henderson's final argument with Sandilands - saying: 'Hey Jackie, just checking in to make sure that you're OK.'

The broadcaster said Mr Stephenson texted Henderson a number of times between February 21 and 28, asking about her wellbeing.

On February 28, Henderson texted Mr Stephenson, saying: 'Thank you so much Stepho.

'Gemma said how amazing youve been and I cant tell you how much I appreciate that [folded hands emoji] I hope youre having a great, well earned, weekend xx'

Henderson is suing for $82million losses and damages because that's what was left on her contract by the time it was thrown out.

The situation unfolded on February 20, when Sandilands said Henderson's 'fixation' on astrology made her 'almost unworkable' - to the point where she left the studio in tears.

Jackie 'O' Henderson is pictured with her manager and best friend, Gemma O'Neill, during an event with Meaghan Markle in Sydney

Sandilands then said: 'You can't start crying about it, it's not that big a deal.'

On February 26, Henderson's lawyers wrote a letter of complaint to ARN explaining the broadcaster had been notified about Sandilands' 'bullying'.

The letter said Henderson 'could not continue to work with Mr Sandilands', but that she was willing to continue her contract with a different show.

ARN's lawyers replied on March 3, saying Henderson's letter of complaint equated to the termination of her $100million contract.

Her matter will be mentioned in the Federal Court on Friday.
HK financial secretary calls for closer Asia-Oceania market alignment to draw global capital

Xinhua) 13:28, April 23, 2026

HONG KONG, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Stock exchanges across Asia and Oceania should build a more coordinated and unified market to boost their appeal to international capital, Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, said on Wednesday.

Chan made the remarks at the 40th General Assembly of the Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation.

Hosted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the three-day gathering brought together more than 100 representatives from 18 bourses to discuss deepening cross-border connectivity, enhancing market liquidity and strengthening resilience.

In his keynote address, Chan said together, the federation's 17 members represent roughly one-third of global market capitalization and more than half of the world's listed companies, adding that for many global funds, navigating across these markets remains complex and unfamiliar when approaching them one by one.

"Our diversity is our strength, but only if we build the bridges that turn complexity into seamless accessibility," he noted.

"With global capital pivoting towards Asia, exchanges across our region have a unique opportunity to strengthen cross-market connectivity ... By working together, we can create richer product ecosystems, advance market access and develop efficient infrastructure that helps build liquidity within Asia," said HKEX Chairman Carlson Tong.

HKEX Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Y Chan said the HKEX is focused on developing the right products, platforms and partnerships that make two-way access easier and more meaningful for investors and issuers across the region, in a joint effort to advance Asia's financial markets.

The federation aims to facilitate information exchange and cooperation among member exchanges to drive the development of regional securities markets.

Its 41st general assembly will be held in Beijing in 2027, hosted by the National Equities Exchange and Quotations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Disturbing new details have emerged about the last months of the life of Darrell Sheets before the Storage Wars star's apparent suicide at the age of 67.

The Lake Havasu City Police Department indicated in a press release that Sheets died of 'what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.'

Now resurfaced posts from his Facebook page offer a glimpse into the turmoil he was suffering before being found dead in the early hours of Wednesday.

Sheets claimed he had fallen victim to a 'cyber bully stalker' who hid behind hundreds of 'spoof numbers' as well as a variety of online aliases.

He accused the alleged stalker of impersonating him and 'harassing' small businesses, as well as having 'extorted money' from several people.

In the wake of his death, his friend and Storage Wars co-star Rene Nezhoda urged law enforcement to look into the 'cyberbullying.'

A police spokesman has since confirmed: 'We are aware of these cyberbullying accusations and that is a part of the active investigation,' via Page Six.

Haunting new details have emerged about the last months of Darrell Sheets' life after the Storage Wars star's apparent suicide at the age of 67 (Sheets is pictured May 2013)

Sheets shot to fame on Storage Wars in 2010 and remained on the hit A&E show throughout the first 15 seasons until his departure in 2023.

Since then, he had been living in Lake Havasu City in Arizona, where he ran an antique shop called Havasu Show Me Your Junk.

On March 9, Sheets posted to Facebook claiming he had been 'hacked by a very evil person' who was uploading 'posts' from an account pretending to be him.

Insisting that he was 'not gay' and had 'made no post about any childrens arcade owner,' Sheets wrote that his purported tormentor had 'ruined' him to the point that 'people are showing up to my work and wanting to harm me.'

Two days later, Sheets posted to Facebook for the last time in his life, painting a chilling picture of an online campaign he said had stretched over a span of three years.

He asserted that his alleged 'stalker' had 'been going after other small businesses in town and harassing them using my name.' Sheets maintained: 'It is not me !'

Among his final pleas for help, Sheets said his accused cyberbully had 'extorted money from many people in this town acting like a handyman.'

Sheets added that 'the things he says are very damaging,' and explained that he was posting about the crisis in case 'anything happens to me.'

The Lake Havasu City Police Department indicated in a press release that Sheets died of 'what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head'; pictured 2010

Sheets claimed he had fallen victim to a 'cyber bully stalker' who hid behind hundreds of 'spoof numbers' as well as a variety of online aliases

Sheets shot to fame on Storage Wars in 2010 and remained on the hit A&E show throughout the first 15 seasons before he retired from the spotlight in 2023; pictured in 2011

Six weeks later, police arrived at his Lake Havasu home at 2am and found his body.

His death prompted a devastated Instagram video from Rene Nezhoda, who had been his rival on 10 seasons of Storage Wars from 2014 to 2023.

'I know a lot of you guys think we hated each other because we competed a lot on the show, and you know, we had our moments, we had our run-ins,' he said.

'But that's because we were both competitors, right? We were both competitors. We're the biggest threat out there. So deep down me and Darrell were friends. We talked every now and then,' Nezhoda shared.

He praised Sheets as 'a very hard worker that cared more than anyone I've probably ever met about their family,' and made a point of noting the particular regard Sheets held for his son Brandon and granddaughter Zoie.

His death prompted a devastated Instagram video from Rene Nezhoda (pictured), who had been his rival on 10 seasons of Storage Wars from 2014 to 2023

Nezhoda made a point of noting the regard that Sheets held for his son Brandon and granddaughter Zoie; Sheets and Brandon (left) are pictured together in 2011

Nezhoda then said that 'Darrell would want something positive out of this,' before asserting someone had been 'really, really tormenting him lately and cyberbullying.'

The reality star offered a message to viewers: 'Guys, just 'cause you watch us on television, doesn't mean you know us. It doesn't mean you know what we're about. Also it doesn't entitle you to bully somebody. That's not us. That's anybody. That's any athlete. That's anybody. You shouldn't cyberbully at all.

'As a matter of fact, if you have somebody in your life that thinks it's funny to cyberbully other people - may that be a celebrity, athlete or a little girl at school or a schoolmate - slap 'em in the back of the head,' Nezhoda said.

'Make 'em become a better human being, because you never know what demons somebody faces and what they go through and what you might push 'em through.'

He then said that Sheets had 'been posting a lot' about the person who had allegedly been 'cyberbullying and tormenting him.'

Nezhoda expressed hopes that 'law enforcement' would 'look into' the matter 'and it's not just a pass. Because it's just not right, guys. Be better.'

The Lake Havasu City Police Department's public information officer, Sergeant Kyle Ridgeway, confirmed that 'cyberbullying accusations' are part of the investigation.
Nikki Glaser is among a long list of high-profile stars who have moved out of Los Angeles in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The A-list comedian, 40, made the big decision to return to her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, in 2022 after living a fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle for several years.

The early stages of the move were documented on the E! reality series Welcome Home Nikki Glaser?, which featured her parents EJ and Julie Glaser.

And now, four years later, Glaser is reflecting on leaving Los Angeles behind and how she prefers her 'relaxed' life in St Louis.

She did so while promoting her new comedy special Good Girl, which was filmed in her hometown, on Wednesday's episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.

Host Mark Consuelos asked Glaser about what it was like going 'home' to shoot the special.

Nikki Glaser has joined a long list of high-profile stars who have moved out of Los Angeles in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic; seen in March 2026

'I live in St Louis,' she replied, as per a transcript by PEOPLE. 'I moved back to St. Louis after Covid and kind of just got away from it all and stayed there.'

Good Girl was taped at the Fabulous Fox Theatre and Glaser shared that the audience was filled with her real-life friends and neighbors from St. Louis.

'Lots of people from high school, people from my pilates class, my self-tan lady from the strip mall. But it was fun,' she said, before jokingly adding, 'It's fine that my childhood dentist knows about my sex life now. I guess that's appropriate.'

Also present were her devoted parents.

This is not the first time since her big 2022 move that Glaser has spoken about why she chose St Louis over Los Angeles.

Last summer, Glaser appeared on St Louis on the Air, where she explained that living in major cities like Los Angeles and New York City is often about 'chasing status.'

'When I'm on both of the coasts, it's like constantly comparing yourself, and everyone's just really chasing that status,' she said.

'Here [in St Louis], it just feels a bit more relaxed, and I get back to what's important: having a good time and going out to eat.'

She described the city as being a place where social media follower counts, accolades and having famous friends 'do not matter.'

'That's not here, and that's not what people value here. And it just recalibrates me.'

She also said that moving back has allowed her to 'focus on my family while they're still around and healthy, and want to hang out with me.'

While Glaser calls St Louis 'home,' she was actually born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Join the discussion Is leaving big cities for quieter hometowns the answer to finding true happiness and balance in life?

The A-list comedian, 40, made the big decision to return to her hometown of St Louis, Missouri, in 2022 after living a fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle for several years. Above, outside her childhood home in 2020

'I moved back to St Louis after COVID and kind of just got away from it all and stayed there,' Glaser said on Wednesday's episode of Live with Kelly and Mark. Above, at home in St Louis in 2021

Her parents moved her and her younger sister Lauren to Missouri when they were young children.

Glaser spent most of her childhood in Kirkwood, which is a suburb of St Louis.

In a 2025 interview with FirstAlert4, Glaser's father, EJ, shared that she spent much of her early comedy career in Missouri after getting her college degree in Colorado and following a year-long stint in Los Angeles trying to make it big.

'She worked out of our house while driving all over the Midwest to do comedy,' he recalled. 'Her work ethic is just amazing. I'm so proud of her.'

Glaser landed her first-ever stand-up special in 2016 after years of grinding in the comedy scene.

Since then, she has become one of the top names in comedy with a reported net worth of $10 million.

She has served as host of the Golden Globe Awards for the last two years and is already set to host the 2027 ceremony.

Glaser is currently shooting a new movie, The Fifth Wheel, directed by Eva Longoria and starring Kim Kardashian and other big names.

Glaser has served as host of the Golden Globe Awards for the last two years and is already set to host the 2027 ceremony

'Here [in St. Louis], it just feels a bit more relaxed, and I get back to what's important: having a good time and going out to eat,' she said. Above, with her father, EJ Glaser, in St Louis in 2020

Glaser's move comes amid an exodus of celebrities from Los Angeles over the last six years, due to high taxes and crime rates in California following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glaser's comedy peer Joe Rogan famously moved out of 'overcrowded' Los Angeles in 2020 and now lives in a lakefront mansion in Austin, Texas, with his family.

'I want to go somewhere in the center of the country somewhere you have a little more freedom. I think where we live right here in Los Angeles is a little overcrowded,' he said on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, prior to the move.

'I think it's exposing the fact that it's a real issue when you look at the number of people that are catching COVID because of the overpopulation issue.

'When you look at the traffic, the economic disparity, the homelessness problem I think there are too many people.'

In April 2022, actor Mark Wahlberg moved himself, his wife and their children to income tax-free Nevada for a 'better life' after living in Beverly Hills for more than a decade.

He put his astonishing 12-bedroom, 20-bathroom Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $87.5 million and it sold for $55 million.

'I would love to see us building studios, creating jobs and just diversifying the economy,' Wahlberg previously told CNBC about the move to Nevada.

'I think there's so much more opportunity to be created here. There's so much growth and so much potential, it's a wonderful opportunity for everybody to prosper.

'I moved to California many years ago to pursue acting and I've only made a couple of movies in the entire time that I was there.'

Oscar-winner Hilary Swank put her $10.5 million Los Angeles home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on the market in 2021 after moving to Colorado with her family during the pandemic.

Glaser's comedy peer Joe Rogan famously moved out of 'overcrowded' Los Angeles in 2020 and now lives in a lakefront mansion in Austin, Texas, with his family

In April 2022, actor Mark Wahlberg moved himself, his wife and their children to income tax-free Nevada for a 'better life' after living in Beverly Hills for more than a decade

Oscar-winner Hilary Swank put her $10.5 million Los Angeles home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on the market in 2021 after moving to Colorado with her family during the pandemic

Josh Brolin is another A-lister who chose to leave Los Angeles behind in 2020 as he snapped up a $3.5 million home in Atlanta, Georgia, where his wife, Kathryn Boyd Brolin, 38, is from

She previously told the Wall Street Journal that she and her family live in a 'nice ranch now.'

Swank also confirmed that she officially moved to Colorado when California went into a COVID-19 lockdown.

Josh Brolin is another A-lister who chose to leave Los Angeles behind in 2020 as he snapped up a $3.5 million home in Atlanta, Georgia, where his wife, Kathryn Boyd Brolin, 38, is from.

Explaining why they had moved from LA to her hometown, Kathryn said the family had 'decided to skip out on our beloved Cali and move across the country,' but went on to say that they 'will be back.'

At the same time as purchasing their Atlanta residence, the couple also bought a $1.1 million property in California's Simi Valley, which is an affluent community in Ventura County.
Billionaire Adrian Portelli told presenter Rafael Epstein to 'f**k off' before hanging up during a live interview on ABC 774 Melbourne on Thursday.

Portelli, 37, dropped several f-bombs and sounded agitated as the brekkie host compared the entrepreneur's LMCT+ rewards business to a lottery.

Known as 'Mr Lambo', Portelli was interviewed during a personal appearance at his new petrol station in Preston, Melbourne.

Portelli was offering $1-a-litre fuel to the subscription members of his 'rewards' club, as Epstein asked him how LMCT+ was any different to gambling.

'We offer discounts for shopping. That's what we do,' Portelli said, sounding frustrated.

'Over $100,000 in discounts we offer with that membership. Okay?'

Adrian Portelli told presenter Rafael Epstein to 'f*** off before hanging up during a live interview on ABC 774 Melbourne on Thursday

Portelli, 37, dropped several f-bombs and sounded agitated as the brekkie host compared the entrepreneur's LMCT+ rewards business to a lottery

Earlier in the chat, Epstein had raised the issue of LMCT+ placing kiosks in shopping centres to attract subscribers, and asked Portelli whether they were any 'different' from poker machines, also known as pokies.

'Tell me what pokie is offering $100,000 in day-to-day savings that you're trying to insinuate,' Portelli said.

The My Reno Rules sponsor grew argumentative after Epstein said he had not insinuated anything, only asking questions.

'You are [insinuating],' an angry Portelli continued.

'You're comparing us to a lottery or a gambling company.

'So, tell me what gambling product can you sign up to or spend your money with, where you can save money in day-to-day living?

'Instead of pushing this narrative, why don't you promote something like this that's helping people save on a day-to-day basis.

'And now we've added petrol, and we're soon going to be adding grocery stores, and people are going to be saving on day-to-day necessities with their one membership?'

Known as 'Mr Lambo', Portelli was interviewed during a personal appearance at his new petrol station in Melbourne's Preston. Pictured: Portelli talks to his customers

Epstein then said that patrons of LMCT+ had to pay a subscription fee to earn discounts as a reward and asked why Portelli did not offer free memberships.

'If I had a free membership, what's the point of having a membership? That's not a membership now, is it?' a shocked Portelli replied.

He continued, sounding exasperated, 'The membership is, you pay your fee, and you get access to perks.'

Portelli could be heard saying 'f***' as he then shot back at the radio host's persistent questions about the LMCT+ business model.

'If I wanted to shut down Melbourne, I would have opened up 99 Cents to the whole of Melbourne,' Portelli shouted.

Epstein then tried to back off and attempted to break off the chat, but Portelli had the last word.

'I'm going to leave it there, A, because it's enough time, but also, there's probably enough F-bombs, but I appreciate you coming on the radio,' he said.

'F*** off,' Portelli told him, before slamming down the phone.
Radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands said during a live broadcast that he'd 'rather be raped in jail than puppeteered by losers' in a foul-mouthed rant aimed at his bosses and the legal justice system, court documents reveal.

The case files show a KIIS 106.5 boss told co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson, through her manager Gemma O'Neill, that the broadcaster had to care for her wellbeing - despite simultaneously saying they weren't actually required to do so.

Sandilands' rant was one of about eight listed by radio giant ARN, the owner of KIIS 106.5, in defence documents filed in the Federal Court this week amid Sandilands' lawsuit over the termination of his $100million contract.

His deal was torn up following an on-air fight with Henderson on February 20 where he slammed her 'fixation' on astrology, and then mocked her for crying.

Sandilands argued he maintained a 'dominant and abrasive personality' while presenting the Kyle and Jackie O Show because that was what the radio station wanted, and therefore his sacking was invalid.

However, ARN's defence documents claim Sandilands breached the code of conduct in his agreement to the point where he was banned from criticising staff, talking about legal proceedings against ARN, or mentioning News Corp during live broadcasts.

According to court documents, there was one instance in July where Sandilands berated a censor for dumping a portion of his show, which was done to avoid potentially getting dragged before a court and charged with contempt.

When his manager Bruno Bouchet said during the live broadcast that he didn't want anyone going to jail, Sandilands replied, 'I don't give a s**t, before claiming he'd rather be sexually abused in jail than be muzzled by the law.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are pictured together

Kyle Sandilands is pictured with his wife Tegan Kynaston

'I'm not doing the show anymore as of this second. So good luck,' he said.

'Here's the ads. Enjoy the ads. Maybe I'll be on an ad. Maybe I won't.

'That's the show ripped up. Judges can shove it in their a**. ACMA [Australian Communications and Media Authority] can shove it in their a**.

'So can the management of the radio station.

'Two hands straight in the anus. And clap.

'That's a loose a**. Enjoy the rest of the week guys. Arrivederci from me.'

Sandilands then left the studio.

In another rant on April 30, Sandilands made a series of disparaging comments about Melbourne listeners, and ARN's attempt to improve dismal ratings in the city.

Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) is suing her former station KIIS 106.5

'Here's something I haven't even discussed with Jackie. If we don't rate better by the end of this year, I'm pulling the carpet out.

'I'll just take the show off Melbourne. You can suck my d**k.

'We're not just going to suck Melbourne off all day, every day.'

Other charming rants included further attacks on the government and contempt laws, while continually firing off blistering attacks on his colleagues, calling them 'p*ssies' and 'flops', and threatening to leave ARN.

Henderson also lost her $100million deal. She is suing ARN over claims it breached the Fair Work Act by failing to ensure she was provided with a safe workspace, and then terminating her contract when she insisted on one.

In response to Henderson's matter, ARN said it didn't breach the Fair Work Act because she worked for her own company, Henderson Media, which was instead responsible for ensuring the star's health and safety while doing the show at ARN.

Henderson and Sandilands signed their contracts using their respective businesses, Henderson Media and Quasar. ARN says they were therefore employed as contractors from those businesses, rather than as individuals under direct employ.

However, the broadcaster's defence material in Sandilands' matter does include a lengthy email from former radio boss Lauren Joyce to Henderson's manager, saying ARN did have Fair Work Act obligations.

Jackie 'O' Henderson is pictured with her manager and best friend, Gemma O'Neill

The email was sent on September 16, after Henderson had made complaints about Sandilands' behaviour to her ARN bosses, and five months before their relationship fell apart.

It read: 'Dear Gemma - following our call yesterday, I want to acknowledge the seriousness of what you shared regarding the argument between Kyle and Jackie and Jackie's feelings of being bullied.

'I want to be clear - this is a serious matter, and Jackie's wellbeing is our priority.

'As you know, ARN has obligations under the Fair Work Act to ensure a safe workplace, including protecting people from risks to their psychological health.

'We are absolutely committed to upholding those obligations and to making sure Jackie feels safe, supported, and respected.'

She then asked for Henderson's account of events to ensure the matter was properly dealt with.

The co-hosts relationship finally imploded on February 20, when Sandilands said Henderson's 'fixation' on astrology made her 'almost unworkable' - to the point where she left the studio in tears.

Sandilands then said: 'You can't start crying about it, it's not that big a deal.'

On February 26, Henderson's lawyers wrote a letter of complaint to ARN explaining the broadcaster had been notified about Sandilands' 'bullying'.

The letter said Henderson 'could not continue to work with Mr Sandilands', but that she was willing to continue her contract with a different show.

In the days that followed ARN terminated both their contracts.

Henderson and Sandilands' matters will be mentioned in the Federal Court on Friday.
Beatles legends Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have joined forces once again to record what could be their final song together.

Musician and songwriter Paul, 83, and his former band member, 85, have recorded a duet about growing up in Liverpool.

Titled, Home To Us, the track will appear on Sir Paul's new album when it is released next month.

The song will also feature backing vocals from the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde and Texas's Sharleen Spiteri.

A gathering of fans was treated to an exclusive album preview in LA last week and amongst the songs played was Home To Us.

Initially, Ringo played drums, but later also sang and it is believed that the pair are thought to duet on the chorus.

Beatles legends Sir Paul McCartney, 83, (right) and Ringo Starr, 85, (left) have joined forces once again to record what could be their final song together

The Beatles pictured in 1964 Paul, Ringo, John Lennon (1940 - 1980) and George Harrison (1943 - 2001)

Join the discussion What impact do you think the McCartney-Starr reunion will have on the Beatles legacy?

According to the Mirror, Sir Paul told the audience: 'Ringo's never done a duet with one of the Beatles.'

Ringo also confirmed he had made a song with Sir Paul on the Jimmy Kimmel show earlier this week..

He said: 'It started two years ago with the drums, it was like in reverse, the drums went on first. It's amusing and very real because that is where we come from.'

It is based on where they grew up in Liverpool, which Sir Paul has described as being 'a little rough, but home to us'.

Last month the first track from the album, The Boys From Dungeon Lane, was released called Days We Left Behind and is believed to be fully released in May.

Days We Left Behind was unveiled on BBC Merseyside earlier this month, in what is the Beatles legend's first new music in five years.

It was announced with a new portrait and artwork shot by his photographer daughter Mary McCartney, 56.

The album revisits memories of his home city of Liverpool while also sharing 'early adventures shared with George Harrison and John Lennon long before the world had ever heard of Beatlemania.'

Speaking about the new single, Sir Paul, whose new record is his 18th studio album credited solely to him, said: 'This is very much a memory song for me. The album title, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, comes from a lyric in this track...

'I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind and I do often wonder if Im just writing about the past but then I think how can you write about anything else?...

'Its just a lot of memories of Liverpool. It involves a bit in the middle about John and Forthlin Road which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon Lane is near there....

'I used to live in a place called Speke which is quite working class. We didnt have much at all but it didnt matter because all the people were great and you didnt notice you didnt have much.'

The album has been described as: 'With The Boys of Dungeon Lane, Paul McCartney turns the lens inward, revisiting the formative years that shaped not only his life, but the very foundations of modern popular culture....

'In a career defined by timeless storytelling and unforgettable characters, Paul now tells the most personal story of all, his own. The Boys of Dungeon Lane is his most introspective album to date and takes the listener back to where it all began.'

Additionally, the songs give a nod to his pre-Beatles days with his bandmates: 'These extraordinary new songs find Paul in a candid, vulnerable and deeply reflective mood, writing with rare openness about his childhood in post-war Liverpool...

'The resilience of his parents, and early adventures shared with George Harrison and John Lennon long before the world had ever heard of Beatlemania.

The octogenarian's tight schedule meant that the album was recorded in tight and sessions between legs of global tour dates spanning five years and alternating between LA and Sussex.

The Boys of Dungeon Lane came to fruition five years ago when Paul met producer Andrew Watt for a cup of tea and an exchange of ideas.

Ahead of the latest chapter in his epic music career, last week Sir Paul was seen relaxing in St. Barts with his wife Nancy, 66.

Paul and Nancy got married in 2011 after meeting in 2007 and both have children from previous relationships.

Nancy shares son Arlen with her ex-husband Bruce Blakeman, while Paul has Stella, James, Heather and Mary with late wife Linda McCartney and daughter Beatrice McCartney, 19, with ex-wife Heather Mills, 55.

Paul coupled up with Nancy when the pair were on holiday in Morocco with his brother Mike and the musician serenaded her on the hotel's piano.

The Beatles star has detailed how they weren't yet officially a couple and were sleeping in separate bedrooms when he made his move.

Paul explained: 'The piano was sitting in the foyer all day long, and because the rain would not stop, I sometimes went and just noodled on the keys.

'I was thinking all sorts of loving thoughts towards Nancy, and while I was at the piano, I could see that the waiters who were clearing up were listening.

'But it was nice and romantic, it was a perfect moment, and I thought to myself, were not going to stay in separate rooms tonight.'

Paul previously revealed his signature dance moves were responsible for his lasting romance with his wife.

Writing in his book, The Lyrics, the Beatles star explained how he knew Nancy was a keeper when she matched his energy on the dancefloor.
David Haye has insisted Adam Thomas was making '20-25k a day' in the I'm A Celeb camp so could have contributed more by doing a trial.

The boxer, 45, and the Waterloo Road star, 37, had a fractious relationship during their time together in the South African jungle, which was filmed in September last year.

David has been accused of 'bullying' after a series of swipes towards Adam were aired, which, in one instance, saw him brand the actor 'useless' for excusing himself from a trial due to his health.

Adam suffers from autoimmune condition psoriatic arthritis and struggled with fatigue and dehydration during his time in camp but David insisted 'obviously it means he comes from a very soft, padded lifestyle, life gets way tougher than that.'

Whilst David has says he didn't know about Adam's health issues, he says 'he couldn't care less' because 'everyones got something' and the actor was 'jumping around, dancing' in camp.

'If that's what breaks him, obviously it means he comes from a very soft, padded lifestyle,' David told The Sun in a scathing takedown. 'It's probably 20,000-25,000 per day for being in that jungle. So to get up and do some trial or doing whatever, how is that hard?''

David Haye has insisted Adam Thomas could have pushed through his physical pain during I'm A Celeb and contributed more to the camp

The boxer, 45, and the Waterloo Road star, 37, had a fractious relationship during their time together in the South African jungle, which was filmed in September last year

Adam has since revealed he is receiving therapy following his jungle run-in with David.

The actor broke down whilst recording his podcast with his brothers Ryan and Scott and said the row 'f***ed' with him

'I'm in therapy now because, like it's f***ed with me mentally because I just thought, "How is this happening? I'm a 37-year-old man". I'm like, "How am I letting some other person do this to me in here?"' he said.

David though has another solution for Adam, insisting 'he doesn't need therapy. He needs to do some push-ups.

'He needs to get out there and get in amongst other males who are powerful, who do stuff and don't sit there talking all the goddamned time about how hard life is.'

David sparked bullying complaints from viewers when Adam told his campmates during last Friday's episode that he wasn't feeling well enough to participate in the Termite Terror trial.

The boxer took aim at him, and said: 'Who gives a s**t if he doesn't feel well. He's a grown-ass man. I don't like guys who are a bit useless.

'I hate them useless guys. He is useless.'

As Adam suggested he wouldn't eat that night as a result of backing out, his campmates refused to let that happen.

David said: 'Life gets way tougher than that, honestly. It's probably 20,000-25,000 per day for being in that jungle. So to get up and do some trial or doing whatever, how is that hard?'

Adam has revealed he is in therapy following his jungle run-in with David. The boxer has another solution for Adam, insisting 'he doesn't need therapy. He needs to do some push-ups'

However, David chimed in suggesting 'his portion should be a little bit smaller than everyone elses'.

Adam confronted David over his reaction to his dinner portion, calling him over and saying: 'Right, me and you outside now.'

Irritated David responded: 'We got a lot less than we would have had,' as the dessert was served up, to which Scarlett Moffatt ended the row, saying: 'Leave him alone.'

I'm A Celebrity hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly said they were left 'uncomfortable' by the exchanges in rare comments on spin-off series Unpacked.

Ant said: 'It's not a nice watch. He just kind of picks and picks at them.

'Adam has had a bit of a tough time and he's not coping well. Clearly the banter has got too much. But David won't stop.'

Dec agreed: 'It's kind of crossed the line from banter. I don't find it comfortable to watch.'
Clarkson's Farm standout Harriet Cowan hinted she could make a return to the hit show - after quitting her day job as a nurse.

Harriet, 25, appeared in the Prime Video programme's fourth series, as a temporary replacement for Kaleb Cooper.

The Derbyshire-based star impressed Jeremy Clarkson with her knowledge, having come from a family of farmers.

Since her appearance, Harriet's growing success has seen her become a social media and land multiple 'TV projects.'

According to The Sun, she has given up her nursing position to juggle the media opportunities.

Harriet spoke to the Fed by Farmers podcast about the possibility of returning for more Clarkson's Farm.

Clarkson's Farm star Harriet Cowan (pictured) has hinted she could be making a return to the Prime Video show

(L to R): Lisa Hogan, Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, Harriet Cowan and Charlie Ireland representing Clarkson's Farm at last year's NTAs

She said: 'Im not allowed to say, youll have to see. Its top secret.'

Meanwhile, Harriet also addressed stepping away from nursing due to how much she was being recognised.

She shared: 'Ive given up nursing because I was going into peoples houses and I was getting recognised as that girl off the telly and I was supposed to be there as a professional nurse  there were people dying at the end of the day and I was supposed to be there as a professional.

'The stress of doing social media, being a nurse, a farmer and doing brand deals was too much. In black and white I dont need the money.

'I was working all week and Id be earning 34k a year but I just did not need that, that was nothing you can earn in the social media game, I look at some things and think its crazy.

'But youve got to do itHow many other people can say they can give that up at 24, to give up your job and go into full time farming which is all Ive ever wanted to do. '

Elsewhere in the conversation, Harriet discussed her brand deals - naming retailer Aldi as her biggest so far.

Since appearing on Clarkson's Farm, Harriet's growing success has seen her become a social media and land multiple 'TV projects'

It comers as Harriet took a cheeky swipe at Jeremy, 66, while defending standing up to her co-star as she joked 'if a bloke thinks he knows better than me, I'll tell him so'.

Speaking to The Times, Harriet reflected on her time on the show, as she said: 'If a bloke thinks he knows better than me and starts talking s***, Ill tell him so.'

She added: 'When I was on Clarkson's Farm telling Jeremy what I thought, that was the real me. It wasn't put on for the cameras.'

It's not the first time Harriet has poked fun at Jeremy - as she previously claimed not all farmers are '60-year-old men with beer bellies'.

Harriet, who also has a background as a nurse, said she hopes her starring role in the show will help challenge the stereotype of who can be a farmer.

She told BBC News: 'I think when you talk to somebody and ask what they stereotypically think of when someone says farmer they say "60-year-old man with a checked shirt and a beer belly", and a lot of the time that is it, but us women are out here and farmers too,'

'Just because I'm a small, blonde that likes to curl her hair and wear make-up, it doesn't mean I can't be a farmer'.
Maura Higgins has sent her US takeover soaring to even greater heights, as its been announced she's joined the lineup for Dancing With The Stars this autumn.

The former Love Island star, 35, found a whole new audience Stateside when she appeared on the US version of The Traitors earlier this year, with sources claiming she could be in line for a 5 million payday thanks to new deals with bosses.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that Maura will appear on the 35th season of the hit show, which is the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, and she was the first star unveiled for this year's lineup.

The news was also announced on Dancing With The Stars' Instagram, along with the caption: 'She went from looking for love to looking for who to trust, and now she's looking to win the Mirrorball

'We're welcoming @maurahiggins to #DWTS on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu this fall! #HuluGetsReal.'

Maura herself shared the announcement on her social media, with the caption: 'I TINK IM VERY EXCITED!'

Maura Higgins has sent her US takeover soaring to even greater heights, as its been announced she's joined the lineup for Dancing With The Stars this autumn

The star had previously shared her interesting in appearing on Dancing With The Stars, during her well-publicised stint on The Traitors.

She said: 'Maybe [I'd do] Dancing With the Stars. It's something that'd be a challenge for me. I've never danced. I'd done a bit of Irish dancing when I was younger.

'It'd be a huge challenge, but I know I'd throw myself into it and all the looks and glitter.'

Sources had previously claimed that Maura, who rose to fame on Love Island in 2019, has made quite a name for herself in the United States, with an assortment of American shows and brands keen to work with her following her appearance on the US version of The Traitors.

A source told The Sun: 'Maura may have missed out on the cash prize on The Traitors but that's small change compared to what's coming her way.

'Shows and brands in the US are lining up for a piece of Maura and she's got more opportunities than time right now. It's 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: 'She's 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.'

The former Love Island star found a whole new audience Stateside when she appeared on the US version of The Traitors earlier this year

Elsewhere, insiders claim a fly-on-the-wall series documenting Higgins' 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 her radar. The star is also said to be in talks with Disney after making her acting debut in the film The Spin.

After mostly focusing on influencer and fashion work for the first few years after Love Island, in 2023, Maura jumped the Atlantic and became a social media presenter and guest hosted a challenge for Season 5 of Love Island USA.

In October of the same year, she was made a social media presenter for Love Island Games. And in 2024, she became the host of Love Island: Aftersun. She also took part in Dancing On Ice in 2020.

This properly kickstarted her TV career after racking in the cash with clothing and makeup deals after leaving the villa.

The star also signed with public relations agency, Align, which specialises in growing careers in the US, last year.

Maura also recently revealed that she has signed with a major US talent agency, Creative Artist Agency, whose glittering list of clients includes big names like Lady Gaga.

Her work in the US appears culminated with her bagging an invite to the prestigious Golden Globes in LA, where she mixed with the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emma Stone.
Sydney Sweeney's Euphoria co-star Chloe Cherry has commented on scandal surrounding the star and her character's storyline in the new series.

Porn star and actress Chloe, who nabbed a role on the show after starring in an adult spoof of the programme, weighed in on Sydney's character Cassie's storyline, in which she launches an OnlyFans career with shocking scenes.

Chloe, who plays heroin-addict prostitute Faye Valentine on the show, spoke to Refinery29 about Cassies storyline and said it feels crazy as f**k that a character with Cassie's life would turn to sex work, with episodes seeing her go nude.

She slammed the concept as she insisted people are turning to sex work due to financial strains: 'The economy is horrible, thats why people are turning to it'.

The comments about her storyline come as Sydney faces mounting scandals, including news that her cameo had been cut from The Devil Wears Prada 2 movie and criticism over 'infancy roleplay' in Cassie's storyline.

Sydney Sweeney's Euphoria co-star Chloe Cherry has commented on scandal surrounding the star and her character's storyline in the new series (Chloe pictured on the show as Faye Valentine)

Porn star and actress Chloe weighed in on Sydney's character Cassie's storyline, in which she launches an OnlyFans career with shocking scenes

Euphoria has drawn controversy for the third season's sexually charged plot lines, including Cassie exploring a career as an OnlyFans model.

In the latest episode, titled America My Dream, fans were appalled by how far Cassie was willing to go, with it being the actress' most X-rated scenes in her career yet.

The first episode of the show's third season aired this month and fans criticised the hyper-sexual depictions of its female characters. The second episode featured Cassie dressed as a baby in a compromising sexual position, which Right-wing American podcaster Megyn Kelly called 'sexualizing infancy'.

And Chloe appeared keen to offer her thoughts to the growing narrative.

The actress, who has starred in more than 200 adult films, has spoken in the past about turning to the porn industry and admitted she thinks would have gone to college and gotten a normal job if her father hadn't died when she was eight.

She previously said she had a 'really beautiful' upbringing in a largely conservative neighborhood in Lancaster, Pennsylvania before his tragic passing.

Cherry moved to Miami to start a career in porn just a couple of days after she turned 18 in 2015 and later relocated to Los Angeles. By 2019, her films had received over 125million views on Pornhub.

Sydney has stirred up controversy with her current role in Euphoria, which has seen her take on 'infancy roleplay' while acting as OnlyFans model Cassie Howard

It was previously revealed that Sydney is a registered member of the Republican Party, having registered in Monroe County, Florida in June 2024 (pictured with her brother)

She began selling pornographic content on OnlyFans during the pandemic. Her account, which costs $4.99 per month, is still active, but she has since quit her career in adult films after nabbing her Euphoria role in 2022.

Given the fact she had resorted to porn, Chloe appeared irked by the concept that well-to-do Cassie would turn to OnlyFans despite having a plush life.

She said: 'Like holy s***, thats where were at in society? OnlyFans and sex work has become more normalised. But its literally only because of capitalism and the economy getting worse.'

Speaking about the need to do sex work rather than want, she continued: 'The economy is horrible, thats why people are turning to it. I really think OnlyFans is like a crazy, weird phenomenon in the 2020s well look back on and be very confused by.'

Sydney has been plagued with controversy in recent months, as she has been dubbed a 'MAGA Barbie' for her controversial political views, while her Euphoria scenes are also coming under fire.

She had been due to feature in a three-minute scene in The Devil Wears Prada 2, in which she was styled by Emily Blunt's character, Emily Charlton, yet it was scrapped because 'it did not work structurally.'

That scene did not make the final cut - yet it's been claimed that 'the team working on the movie were 'grateful for her participation'.

Sydney's removal from the film after she became a political lightning rod when her family's political views came to light.

Speculation over her political leanings began in 2022 when pictures emerged from her mother Lisa's 60th birthday party with guests wearing red 'MAGA' hats reading: 'Make Sixty Great Again'

Last year, left-wing critics spoke out when she appeared in an American Eagle denim campaign with the tagline: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans ,' claiming the ad was pro-eugenics

It was previously revealed that Sydney is a registered member of the Republican Party, having registered in Monroe County, Florida in June 2024.

Speculation over her political leanings began in 2022 when pictures emerged from her mother Lisa's 60th birthday party with guests wearing red 'MAGA' hats reading: 'Make Sixty Great Again'.

Some were also wearing 'Blue Lives Matter' T-shirts in an apparently flippant response to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Sydney addressed the pictures with a tweet that read: 'You guys this is wild. An innocent celebration for my mom's milestone 60th birthday has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention. Please stop making assumptions.'

Sydney's cameo in The Devil Wears Prada 2 as been axed amid fears Hollywood has turned their back on star (L-R) Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and Anne Hathaway at the world premiere in New York on Monday, which Sydney did not attend

She then told GQ: 'Honestly I feel like nothing I say can help the conversation. Its been turning into a wildfire and nothing I can say will take it back to the correct track.'

Last year, left-wing critics spoke out when she appeared in an American Eagle denim campaign with the tagline: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' claiming the ad was pro-eugenics and supported far-Right politics.

Yet she has won praise from conservatives and also President Donald Trump himself, who said: 'Oh, now I love her ad.

'You'd be surprised at how many people are Republican. That's one I wouldn't have known, but I'm glad you told me that,' he continued.

'If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.'
Ellen DeGeneres looked animated as she was helped by her wife Portia De Rossi as they left private members' club Maison Estelle in Mayfair on Wednesday night.

The former chat show host, 68, married actress Portia, 53, in 2008, following a proposal earlier that year.

Since they left the US to set up a life in the Cotswolds in 2024, the pair have been enjoying some of the UK's most exclusive spots.

Ellen cut a casual figure in a black polo shirt, which paired with navy suit trousers and a brown windbreaker for Wednesday's outing.

Ally McBeal star Portia looked effortlessly chic in a red knitted jumper, which she layered under a navy double-breasted jacket as the couple held hands while leaving the upmarket London venue.

Just 18 months ago, Ellen and Portia began settling into their new idyllic bolthole in the Cotswolds after moving to the English countryside to escape the 'perils' of Donald Trump's America.

Ellen DeGeneres looked animated as she was helped by her wife Portia De Rossi as they left private members' club Maison Estelle in Mayfair on Wednesday night

Ellen cut a casual figure in a black polo shirt, which paired with navy suit trousers and a brown windbreaker for Wednesday's outing

The former talk show star spent millions transforming a 'tired' and 'basic' farmhouse into 'a landmark country estate' with an added touch of Hollywood glamour.

Architects estimated the restoration project would take 18 months, but Ellen was so keen to move in with her actress wife that they hired a team of 70 builders and craftsmen to ensure it was completed in a fraction of the time.

Yet within days of moving in, their 15million dream home was surrounded by polluted floodwater and the couple were quickly on the move again - retreating to the sanctuary of higher ground.

They moved into a 25million brand new ultra-modern home on a hilltop, which was more in the style of the fabulous properties in Montecito and Malibu that they had previously lived in.

Ellen's plans to build stables at her Cotswolds home could now be in jeopardy as the immediate area is surrounded by Roman relics and structures - with fears that the potential site could be on top of historic remains.

The local council's archaeological department have voiced their concern after plans were submitted by Ellen and wife Portia to demolish an agricultural building and construct a suitable enclosure to indulge Portia's passion for horses.

The pair bought the property in 2024 for 15million, spending a further 7.5million on renovations, before abandoning the 43-acre estate after it was plagued by flooding.

They put the property on the market for 22million, and a deal was reportedly close, but this planning application confirms that the pair are now committed to staying, with it being stated in docs that 'they wish to make this their long term home'.

Now Oxfordshire County Archaeological Services have commented on the application filed with West Oxfordshire District Council revealing that numerous Roman structures are within a few hundred yards.

North of the home is a Roman bridge while a protected Roman villa and bath house is also near the proposed site.

Ellen has previously spoken about the need for a home with a horse facility and said in a previous statement: 'When we decided to live here full time, we knew that Portia couldn't live without her horses.

'We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them.'
The cast of The Devil Wears Prada 2 descended on the BBC on Thursday morning after dazzling at two red carpet events in London the night before.

Anne Hathaway, Simone Ashley, Stanley Tucci and Caleb Hearon arrived at the Radio 2 studios to record an interview with Breakfast Show host Gary Davies.

Despite a busy night of party hopping between Leicester Square's European premiere and the film's gala reception held at the National Portrait Gallery, the foursome looked fresh faced and ready for a busy day of promo.

Anne, who returns to her lead role of Andy Sachs in the movie sequel, wowed in another runway-ready look, with her grey sweater dress featuring a statement brown fur peplum.

The actress accessorised with red heels in a nod to her film's signature colour.

Simone Ashley, a newcomer to the movie in her role as Miranda's first assistant Amari, put her legs in the spotlight with a grey sweater teamed with a draped pink mini skirt.

The cast of The Devil Wears Prada 2 descended on the BBC on Thursday morning after dazzling at two red carpet events in London the night before

Anne Hathaway , Simone Ashley (pictured) , Stanley Tucci and Caleb Hearon arrived at the Radio 2 studios to record an interview with Breakfast Show host Gary Davies

Stanley Tucci, who's back as Nigel Kipling, was suitably dapper in a grey waistcoat and chinos whilst Caleb Hearson, who appears as second assistant Charlie teamed a bright pink shirt with a blue striped tie.

On Wednesday night Leicester Square hosted the European premiere of the movie before a gala event round the corner at London's National Portrait Gallery.

In the film, which takes place 20 years after the events of the first movie, Meryl Streep's character Miranda Priestly is grappling with the decline of traditional print media while facing off against Emily Blunt's Emily, now a powerful executive controlling crucial advertising dollars.

Anne's Andy Sachs is lured back to Runway to help save the magazine with the storyline taking the group from New York to Milan.

The sequel will also introduce a host of new faces, including Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh and Lucy Liu.

Stanley Tucci, who's back as Nigel Kipling, was suitably dapper in a tie and grey waistcoat teamed with chinos

Caleb Hearson, who appears as second assistant Charlie teamed a bright pink shirt with a blue striped tie

Anne, who returns to her lead role of Andy Sachs in the movie sequel, wowed in another runway-ready look, with her grey sweater dress with a statement brown fur peplum

Simone Ashley, a newcomer to the movies in her role as Miranda's first assistant Amari, put her legs in the spotlight with a grey sweater teamed with a draped pink mini skirt

Despite a busy night of party hopping between Leicester Square's European premiere and the film's gala reception, the foursome looked fresh faced and ready for a busy day of promo

Early reactions for the The Devil Wears Prada 2 have already arrived ahead of its May release, and critics have warned fans to 'gird your loins... it is phenomenal.'

Whilst the review embargo doesn't lift until April 29, some social media reactions have been going viral, with the reactions all overwhelmingly positive.

The Hollywood Reporter's Alex Weprin shared on X that the movie is 'a biting media parody wrapped up in high fashion. Every journalist who sees it will cringe from recognition.'

Variety writer Jazz Tangcay agreed, teasing: 'Gird your loins, the devil is back in all her glory! Yes, #thedevilwearsprada2 is phenomenal. It is the perfect sequel that exceeded all expectations.
Skins fans were left emotional on Wednesday as former stars Kaya Scodelario and Luke Pasqualino shared a sweet reunion, 16 years after starring opposite each other on the iconic E4 show.

Kaya, 34, took to her Instagram Stories to share a heartwarming snap of her cosying up to Luke, 36, while out to dinner together, playfully referencing their character's famous doomed romance with the caption: 'Freffy 4 Ever'.

The actress shot to fame as Effy Stonem in the coming-of-age series, appearing in the first season in 2007 at just 14 years old.

Luke joined the show in series three as skater Freddie McClair, who quickly falls for Effy, but meets a tragic end in 2010 when he is brutally murdered by her unhinged psychotherapist.

Fans were delighted to see the former co-stars back together again, taking to social media to admit they 'could cry'.

They gushed: 'Omg this made my whole day'; '2 of my OG crushes!!! <3 This makes me so happy'; 'Always grateful our girl is a Freffy shipper';

Skins fans were left emotional on Wednesday as former stars Kaya Scodelario and Luke Pasqualino shared a sweet reunion, 16 years after starring opposite each other on the iconic E4 show

Kaya, 34, took to her Instagram Stories to share a heartwarming snap of her cosying up to Luke, 36, while out to dinner together, playfully referencing their character's famous doomed romance with the caption: 'Freffy 4 Ever' (seen as Freddie and Effy in the show)

'thats exactly what the fans want to see'; 'Im glad that a majority of the cast still seem to be getting along'; 'This is so cute ';

'my otp. i want to imagine freddie didnt die and this is freddie and effy in the future'; 'THATS ADORABLE IM CRYING I LOVE IT'; 'My heart '.

'Omg, I could cry. Didn't know I needed this'; 'Awwww they both look gorgeous'; 'Gosh theyre so cute'; 'freffy was my favourite'.

His reunion with Kaya comes after it was revealed that Luke has become a dad, after quietly welcoming his first child with fiancee Leah Aschettino.

Last month, it was reported that the actor - who is set to reprise his role as Basil Bas Baddingham in series 2 of Disney+ hit Rivals - had welcomed a baby girl in December.

A source told The Sun: 'Luke has taken to fatherhood effortlessly and absolutely dotes on his little girl.

'Hes a real family man and has had plenty of practice as fun uncle to his older sister Natalies children.

'It proved the perfect time to start a family after the huge success of Rivals and lets him enjoy the precious family time before the promo push for series two kicks in.'

Skins ran from 2007 to 2013 and followed the lives of a group of teenagers from Bristol, tackling issues such as mental illness, eating disorders and substance abuse.

His reunion with Kaya comes after it was revealed that Luke has become a dad, after quietly welcoming his first child with fiancee Leah Aschettino (seen together in 2022)

In September original cast members Kaya, Nicholas Hoult , Daniel Kaluuya and Joe Dempsie trilled fans when they reunited at a mutual friend's wedding (L-R Nicholas, Carlos Junior, Kaya , George Ashwell, Joe, Daniel )

And many of the stars have stayed close even after all this years, frequently proving their friendship is just as strong as ever by sharing snaps of them together.

In September original cast members Kaya, Nicholas Hoult, Daniel Kaluuya and Joe Dempsie trilled fans when they reunited at a mutual friend's wedding.

Kaya shared a photo of the group together with a heartfelt caption, as she penned: The way I used to pray for brothers growing up  knowing I have you all now is everything.

She previously admitted that while she would 'always be grateful' for getting her start in Skins, it had caused her a lot of issues in later life.

She made the admission on TikTok as she reacted to HBO series Euphoria - which like Skins centred around high school students amid their struggled with drugs, sex and trauma.

Filming herself staring wide-eyed at the camera, Kaya mouthed over words which said: 'Watching Euphoria for the first time thinking this is crazy for 17 year olds then remembering what I was doing on TV at 14.'

The actress captioned the clip: 'Will always be greatful [sic]. But yeah safeguarding really wasnt a thing back then'

While replying to a fan who asked if the programme affected her mentality at that age, she confirmed: 'Yes. It was a beautiful time but also the deep-rooted cause of a lot of my issues now. Still, it gave me the opportunity to do the job I loved.'

The controversial series served as a launchpad for a number of British stars who have gone on to have incredible careers in Hollywood.

She previously admitted that while she would 'always be grateful' for getting her start in Skins, it had caused her a lot of issues in later life

Kaya scored roles in the likes of big franchises like The Maze Runner and Pirates of the Caribbean, while recently wowing in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen.

Nicholas - who played Effy's brother Tony - has found huge mainstream success in the X-Men films, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Menu, Nosferatu and as Lex Luthor in Superman.

While Daniel, who played Posh Kenneth in the show, had his breakthrough in critically acclaimed 2017 film Get Out, following it up with roles in Black Panther and winning an Oscar for his performance in Judas and the Black Messiah.

Other massive stars to have emerged from the show include Jack O'Connell (James Cook), who recently starred in 28 Years Later and opposite Michael B. Jordan in record-breaking horror Sinners.

And Dev Patel, who played Anwar Kharral, came to worldwide fame after playing the lead role in Slumdog Millionaire, and received an Oscar nod in 2016 for his performance in Lion.
Succession star Brian Cox has been spotted looking very different from his role as global media boss Logan Roy as he made his debut on the set of Dexter: Resurrection.

The Hollywood actor was seen transformed into a wheelchair-using man for his role in the Paramount+ series - which kickstarted it's production this week.

Brian, 79, joined the cast of the hit series ahead of its return for season two, which will see Michael C. Hall back in his role as forensics expert Dexter.

Fan-favourite star Uma Thurman will return as Charley, with familiar faces Jack Alcott, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Kadia Sarif, Dominic Fumusa and James Remar also back on set for the show's hotly anticipated return.

Brian was announced as a guest star in the upcoming series earlier this year, playing Dom Framt, the 'New York Ripper', a former serial killer now in retirement from crime.

Appearing frail in a wheelchair, and transformed with a large white moustache and a pair of glasses, Brian took to set in New York, USA, on Wednesday.

Succession star Brian Cox looked unrecognisable as he made his debut on Dexter: Resurrection which kickstarted it's production this week

Brian is best known for his role as Succession star Logan Roy, (pictured)

He was pictured looking around in a sketchy dumping ground as he made his character debut - after the New York Ripper was first teased in Dexter: Resurrection's first series back in July 2025.

The series synopsis teases: 'The second season of Dexter: Resurrection finds Dexter Morgan caught between two killers  one notorious and the other terrorising New York in ways no one ever anticipated  all while battling his greatest enemy yet: a mid-life crisis.'

The synopsis added of Dexter's son, Harrison, played by Jack Alcott: 'Harrison continues his own pursuit of justice as father and son face their darkest chapter.'

Alongside Brian, the new series will also feature Dan Stevens, Emmy Award winner Bokeem Woodbine and Nona Parker Johnson in brand-new roles.

It was confirmed last year at San Diego Comic Con that Dexter actor Michael, 55, would be reprising his role as the blood-spatter analyst.

He previously returned as the inner voice of Dexter on Original Sin, which aired in 2025, with Patrick Gibson playing the killer as he begins his career at Miami Metro.

'We are thrilled to have the brilliant Michael C. Hall reprise his iconic role as Dexter Morgan in Showtime's most successful series ever,' Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President, previously said in a press release.

Brian, 79, joined the cast of the hit series ahead of its return for season two, which will see Michael C. Hall back in his role as forensics expert Dexter (pictured: Brian Cox as Dom Framt)

He was pictured looking around in a sketchy dumping ground as he made his character debut - after the New York Ripper was first teased in Dexter: Resurrection's first series back in 2025

Brian will play a retired serial killer in the upcoming Paramount+ series

He continued, 'While Dexter: Resurrection will appeal to the tens of millions of longtime fans, Dexter: Original Sin will introduce a whole new generation of viewers into this iconic series by starting from the beginning, which is sure to satisfy existing audiences as well.'

Elsewhere, Kill Bill star Uma Thurman, 54, will play 'Charley, the Head of Security for mysterious billionaire Leon Prater.

'A former Special Ops officer, Charley worked various high-level private security jobs before taking on her position as the resourceful and meticulous right-hand woman for Prater' Deadline reported.

In January, Dexter actor Michael made an appearance on Showtime's Instagram account where he teased for viewers of the franchise to 'stay tuned'.

'Hey, whats up? Its Michael C. Hall. I am on the set for the first official day of production for Dexter: Resurrection,' he told the platform's nearly 600,000 followers.

'Im looking forward to another thrill ride, and when all is said and done, to you taking the ride with us. Stay tuned,' the actor teased in a video.

It comes after Succession actor Brian hit out that his character Logan Roy was killed off 'too early' on the hit drama, and revealed how long he thinks the character should have survived.

The actor did not mind the media patriarch not living to see out the entire four-season run of the show but he wishes he had clung on for longer than the first three episodes of the final series.

Speaking at the Oxford Union earlier this year, he praised the show's ending and said: 'My only caveat to that, though I think I was happy to be killed off, I thought it was one episode too early because then you had more of those boring kids.'

Brian added that he belives creator Jesse Armstrong did the right thing in understanding that 'clearly less is better than more', and ended the programme before it outstayed its welcome.

The veteran actor was a particular fan of the work of his co-star Kieran Culkin, who played his son Roman Roy, for having maintained 'that child actors' enthusiasm.

He added: 'It would be terrible to curtail that...

'The first series he would freak out if he had three alts (alternative lines), by the last series he was doing five pages of alts it was wonderful to watch.'

Dexter: Resurrection is currently under production for Paramount+.
Romeo Beckham decided to let his hair down on Wednesday night.

Attending the opulent London Prada party at the Pavilion Gallery, he posed for photographers wearing an all black leather Prada outfit.

Romeo, 23, accompanied his shorts and jacket co-ord with a pair of all black boots.

Another photo saw him with his arm flung over his best mate Harry Crawford, grinning from ear to ear.

The party, which was a celebration of the launch of Prada Touch, a new blush by the beauty brand, saw a whole host of influencers in attendance.

Actress Ellie Bamber, 29, showed off her red locks which in a pair of jeans and heels.

Romeo Beckham decided to let his hair down on Wednesday night. Attending the opulent London Prada party at the Pavilion Gallery, he posed for photographers wearing an all black leather Prada outfit

Another photo saw him with his arm flung over his best mate Harry Crawford, grinning from ear to ear to celebrate the launch of Prada Touch, a new blush by the luxury brand

Actress Ellie Bamber, 29, showed off her red locks which in a pair of jeans and heels

Lady Amelia Windsor, 30, the granddaughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth, was wearing a black Prada dress with a teal handbag.

Influencer Olivia Neil, 24, meanwhile wore a pink Prada coat with orange hot pants and green gloves.

And actress and influencer Saffron Hocking wore a striped bodycon dress.

The night out in London, was a rare occurrence for Romeo, who usually likes to keep it lowkey.

And he might have been smiling for one particular reason.

Just last week he and his DJ girlfriend Kim Turnbull was spotted wearing a dazzling diamond on her wedding finger as the couple stepped out in London's Mayfair.

The son of David and Victoria Beckham, and DJ/Influencer, 24, put on a loved-up display as they enjoyed a swanky lunch date in the capital.

Just hours after leading mum Victoria's birthday tributes as she turned 52, Romeo was seen cutting a casual figure in an England tracksuit.

Just last week Romeo and his DJ girlfriend Kim Turnbull was spotted wearing a dazzling diamond on her wedding finger as the couple stepped out in London's Mayfair

Across the Atlantic David and Victoria Beckham returned to their old ways of wearing matching clothes on Wednesday evening as they stepped out in New York for a swanky dinner

The couple, aged 50 and 52 respectively, looked sensational in navy ensembles with Victoria clad in her trademark suited look

Romeo also posted these stylish snaps on Thursday

He looked as stylish as ever in the tracksuit

The couple were joined by their beloved french bulldog and dined alfresco before later heading home in Romeo's 100K Porsche.

The London-based model and DJ rekindled her relationship with Romeo in October after splitting when Brooklyn's feud with his parents put strain on their relationship.

At the time of the split, it was alleged that Kim was being used a 'scapegoat' in Brooklyn's row with his parents, following claims she had previously dated the chef.

Brooklyn seemed to allude to his history with Kim, and claims Nicola Peltz felt uncomfortable around her, in his six-page statement lambasting his family.

In it he claimed that his mother Victoria 'repeatedly invited women from his past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us uncomfortable'.

And across the Atlantic, David and Victoria too enjoyed a date night on Wednesday evening.

Returning to their old ways on Wednesday evening they stepped out in New York for a swanky dinner in matching outfits.

The couple, aged 50 and 52 respectively, looked sensational in navy ensembles with Victoria clad in her trademark suited look.
Nicole Snooki Polizzi has revealed she is preparing to undergo a scary hysterectomy after being diagnosed with cervical cancer at just 38.

The Jersey Shore favorite first shared the shock diagnosis in February, telling fans she had stage 1 cervical cancer.

'I had a breakdown,' the Jersey Shore star told People. 'I got to my car and I called my mom hysterically crying, thinking the worst.'

A more encouraging update has since emerged, with further tests confirming the cancer remains confined to its early stage and that, following a hysterectomy in the coming months, she'll need no further treatment.

'I was scared,' admitted Polizzi, who lives with her husbandJionni LaValle and their three children in Florham Park, New Jersey.

'But you know what? It's not the worst case and I can still deal with it,' she said. 'I'm gonna be fine.'

Nicole Snooki Polizzi has revealed she is preparing to undergo a scary hysterectomy after being diagnosed with cervical cancer at just 38

A more encouraging update has since emerged, with further tests confirming the cancer remains confined to its early stage and that, following a hysterectomy in the coming months, she'll need no further treatment

Long before her diagnosis, Polizzi had been dealing with a pattern of abnormal Pap smear results.

Though she describes the findings as nothing crazy, she was advised to return every six months - far more often than the standard three-year check.

Over time, however, Polizzi began skipping those follow-ups, put off by how uncomfortable she found the exams.

I ended up not going for like a year and a half because it's uncomfortable, it's not fun.

Looking back, she admits she was aware of the potential danger but chose to avoid confronting it.

I knew something bad could happen, she says, but instead of dealing with it, I just pretended it wasn't happening.

It was only after repeated calls from her doctor throughout 2025 that Snooki finally returned, spurred by urgent warnings about her condition.

My doctor was leaving me a voicemail screaming at me like, You need to get in here. This is serious. You don't want it to escalate. That's when I finally went in, she said.

Polizzi shares three three kids - Lorenzo, 13, Giovanna, 11, and Angelo, six, with husband Jionni LaValle; (pictured in May 2025)

Back in January, Polizzi first opened up to fans in an emotional TikTok video, revealing she had been dealing with abnormal Pap smear results and precancerous cells for around four years.

Ive had issues with getting abnormal results and precancerous cells on your cervix and everything. Its very stressful you guys, Polizzi told viewers, letting out a long sigh as she spoke candidly about the ongoing worry.

She went on to explain that, on her doctors advice, she recently underwent a colposcopy and biopsy.

That hurt. It wasnt a great experience, said the MTV star, who also recently learned the truth about her adoption after speaking to her birth mother for the first time.

Recalling the follow-up call from her doctor, she said: Doctor calls me and hes like, "Not looking great." He found cancerous cells on the top of my cervix.

Polizzi added that she would need a cone biopsy for further testing and possible treatment, which would be carried out under anaesthetic.

Im terrified, she admitted. Its scary, but we have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about.

She also revealed that a hysterectomy could ultimately be required depending on the cone biopsy results, a moment that left her emotional.

The mom-of-three has gotten a ton of support from her former Jersey Shore clan including Jenni Farley, Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola, Deena Cortese, and Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino's wife, Lauren

See, I knew I was going to get emotional! she wailed.

Obviously Im done having kids but, as a woman, the thought of getting a hysterectomy is just sad and scary, Polizzi said.

Getting the hysterectomy and then not being able to have kids, I think thats whats killing me. But whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids that I have now, she insisted.

After Polizzi shared the emotional video, she was quickly flooded with support from her former Jersey Shore castmates, who rallied around the mother-of-three in the comments.

I love you so much you got this, Jenni Farley encouraged her friend.

Love you! You got this, Sammi Sweetheart Giancola wrote.

Love you, were all here for you, Deena Cortese added.

Nicole, wish I could hug you through the phone, thank you for sharing and Im sending you much love and prayer, Lauren Sorrentino, wife of Mike The Situation Sorrentino, said.
Several of Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridans A-list stars posed together on Wednesday evening.

They were seen arm in arm at the Paramount+ event called The Icons of Taylor Sheridan's Universe which was held in New York City.

All of the shows are big hits and have been renewed for new seasons.

Can you guess who all of these women are besides the obvious household names who have already won Oscars?

Several of Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridans A-list stars posed together on Wednesday at The Icons of Taylor Sheridan's Universe in New York City. Can you name them all?

On the far left is Beau Garrett from the new smash hit series The Madison which is about a family's grief after losing their powerful patriarch.

The show also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox.

The synopsis reads: 'A heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River Valley of Central Montana.'

The drama was just picked up for another season thanks to strong viewership.

Next came Michelle Randolph, 28, who is on Landman with Billy Bob Thornton.

She plays his wild but well-meaning daughter Ainsley who adjusts to life in West Texas as her dad works in the booming oil business.

The synopsis reads: Deep in the heart of West Texas, roughnecks and wildcat billionaires try to get rich quick in the oil business as oil rigs begin to dominate the state. Crisis executive Tommy Norris tries to bring his company to the top during a fueling boom.

Beau Garrett from the new smash hit series The Madison which is about a family's grief after losing their powerful patriarch

The synopsis reads: 'A heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River Valley of Central Montana'

Randolph is also famous for being the sister of Bachelor veteran Cassie Randolph and for dating movie star Glen Powell of Top Gun: Maverick fame.

The blonde beauty has also been on Sheridan's Yellowstone prequel 1923.

Next to her was Ali Larter, who is also on Landman. She plays Angela Norris, the spitfire wife of Thornton's character who is the mom to Ainsley.

Larter, 50, came to fame in her twenties with movies like Legally Blonde and Varsity Blues.

Then there was Zoe Saldana, star of Lioness. She plays CIA operative Joe McNamara who trains women to be a part of their spy program.

Michelle Randolph, 28, is on Landman with Billy Bob Thornton. She plays his wild but well-meaning daughter Ainsley Norris who adjusts to life in West Texas

The synopsis reads: Deep in the heart of West Texas, roughnecks and wildcat billionaires try to get rich quick in the oil business as oil rigs begin to dominate the state'

Ali Larter is also on Landman. She plays Angela Norris, the spitfire wife of Thornton's character who is the mom to Ainsley

Often she is out in the field working on the missions alongside her lioness; every season a new lioness is followed.

At home, she deals with her surgeon husband and two young daughters who feel the pain of her absence due to her job.

A new season has been greenlit and will debut later this year.

Last there was Nicole Kidman, 58, who is also on Lioness.

Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldana are both on Lioness

Zaldana plays CIA operative Joe McNamara who trains women to be a part of their spy program

The Australian Oscar winner plays Kaitlyn Meade, who is the CIA's Senior Supervisor who has had a long career of playing the politics game.

Sheridan is a former actor who found fame behind the scenes on the 2015 film Sicario and the 2016 film Hell or High Water.

He hit the jackpot with his very popular series Yellowstone which starred Kevin Costner.

He's also the writer, director, and executive producer of multiple Paramount Network series, including the Yellowstone prequels 1883 and 1923.

He also oversees Tulsa King and is now working on Frisco King, which is a Tulsa King spinoff starring Samuel L Jackson which takes place in Frisco, Texas.

In May his Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser debuts. Already on the air is the Yellowstone spinoff Marshals with Luke Grimes.
Baywatch alum Nicole Eggert has had no fear showing off the scars from her cancer battle, and she valiantly lifted the lid again as seen in new photos posted to her Instagram on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old actress wore a lace corset bra and faded blue jeans that clearly outlined the now-healed wounds from surgery.

Eggert has been through a major ordeal where her health is concerned, but continued to look on the bright side as she wrote in the caption, 'Grief can arise from many life situations, but know it is not a permanent state of being,' followed by the hashtags '#breastcancer #makingyourselfssick #feelyourselfup #menopause #iloveyou.'

She first revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer in 2024, and she has been transparent throughout her journey ever since.

Taking the high road, Eggert - who revealed earlier this month why she left Baywatch after just two seasons - even shaved her head before she went through eight grueling months of chemotherapy and radiation.

In August 2025, she had mastectomy and reconstruction.

Baywatch alum Nicole Eggert has had no fear showing off the scars from her cancer battle, and she valiantly lifted the lid again as seen in new photos posted to her Instagram on Wednesday

The 54-year-old actress captioned the photos with the inspiring message, 'Grief can arise from many life situations, but know it is not a permanent state of being'

Then last month, she shared that she had undergone a full hysterectomy after 'test results showed early signs of more cancer. I am grateful to my doctors for keeping such a close eye on me.'

While she has tried to shield her daughters, Dilyn, 27, and Keegan, 14, from the more unpleasant aspects of her cancer battle, she said they remain her 'motivation' for beating this disease.

Eggert described how she broke the news to her girls to People in October 2025.

'Dilyns an adult, so I just had a very honest, open conversation with her about it,' she told the outlet. But Keegan was 12 at them time, and explaining everything was 'tricky.'

'The look on her face when I told her it was cancer it just my world shattered. I knew I couldnt leave that little girl without me. So it became very clear in that moment that I had to fight this and win,' Eggert added.

Eggert remains positively upbeat and focused on a future of gratitude and renewed health.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, she revealed she regrets quitting Baywatch when the lifeguard drama was at its peak.

The blonde bombshell played Summer Quinn on the hit series, which made global stars of the likes of Pamela Anderson as C.J. Parker, David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon and Yasmine Bleeth as Caroline Holden.

Eggert joined the hugely popular Baywatch series as junior lifeguard Summer Quinn at the beginning of season three

She has been transparent about her cancer journey since first revealing her diagnosis with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer in 2024 (pictured on March 24)

Eggert took the high road by shaving her head ahead of eight weeks of grueling chemotherapy and radiation sessions

Baywatch - which ran for 11 seasons from 1989 to 2001 - became a worldwide television phenomenon and was one of the most-watched shows of the 1990s.

Eggert joined the cast as Summer at the beginning of season three but walked away after season four ended, after being promised a leading role in a spin-off that ultimately never materialized.

Eggert now can admit it was an impulsive decision which she regrets to this day.

Speaking on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, she said, 'I had some crazy idea in my head that if I left the show, I would be able to detach myself from the stigma that the show had given all of us as actors, which is now a thing.'

Eggert explained that the original plan had been for her to lead a proposed spin-off, which was described to her as a 'Beverly Hills, 90210-esque' beach-based series focused on lifeguard training and younger characters.

Eggert had been approached through industry connections while working on Charles in Charge, with early discussions involving producers who were keen to build the new project around her and a fresh ensemble cast of new lifeguards.

However, as Baywatch continued to grow into a global phenomenon, the network shifted direction and the spin-off plans were ultimately shelved.

She recalled, 'They were like, "Spin-off? Nothing! This is whats working, and we want it to stay like this!"'

Eggert remains positively upbeat after revealing earlier this month that she had undergone a full hysterectomy (pictured in May 2025)

A new Baywatch reboot series is currently in production for Fox starring Stephen Amell, Shay Mitchell, Livvy Dunne, Jessica Belkin, Brooks Nader and original Baywatch star David Chochaki returning as Cody Madison. It is slated to premiere during the 2026-2027 season.

However, not everyone thinks a Baywatch reboot is a good idea.

When the first photos and clips dropped in March, fans ripped it as a bad idea with many remembering the 2017 Baywatch film starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron that flopped.

One critic posted, 'Who the hell thought a Baywatch reboot was a good idea?' Another didn't hold back, writing, 'This has FLOP written all over it. Why on earth is this even being considered? Hollywood is so out of ideas.'

One ventured to predict, 'Watch it be cancelled after one season. Ain't nobody watching this.' Another added, 'Humanity has regressed since the '90s.'
Pete Davidson has gotten a new face tattoo after he paid a fortune to get rid of his numerous body tattoos.

The comedian flashed the name Scottie by his ear which could barely be seen behind his sideburns when in Las Vegas. Scottie was written in black all capital letters and displayed vertically.

The inking is a tribute to his baby daughter Scottie whom he welcomed with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt in December 2025.

Davidson's father was Scott Matthew Davidson, who also went by the nickname Scottie. He was a firefighter who died in 9/11.

The ex-boyfriend of Kim Kardashian wore casual clothing along with his Crocs Classic Clogs when on stage Las Vegas.

On Wednesday he also flashed the new ink when he picked out some baby pink crocs with a Jibbitz of his face on them as he joined for a Wonderfully Unordinary evening in New York. It was a night highlighting the brands playful approach to self-expression, said Crocs.

The star has spent six years and a reported $200,000 to remove the numerous marks, according to People. 'He just woke up one day and wanted them gone, and its been a years-long process,' the source revealed. Davidson opted to remove his tattoos as a 'fresh start,' a second insider told the outlet.

Pete Davidson has gotten a new face tattoo after he has paid a fortune to get rid of his numerous body tattoos. The comedian flashed the name SCOTTIE by his ear which could barely be seen behind his sideburns

His arms and hands had almost no tattoos on them after he spent six years and a reported $200,000 to remove the numerous marks, according to People. Seen in 2019

'Things are really going well for him, everything is moving in the right direction, and hes been receiving fantastic reviews for the movie,' the insider added.

During an appearance on Today, Davidson opened up about how excruciating the tattoo removal process has been, describing it as 'pretty terrible.'

'So if anybody out there is watching and thinking about getting a tattoo, make sure you really want to get it,' he said while showing the faded body art on his arm. 'Its pretty gone.'

The actor, who began the removal process in 2020, revealed that getting sober sparked his desire for a full transformation, including his appearance.

'I got sober and I saw myself in the mirror and I was like, "Nah. Who that?" I was like, "I got to change it up a little bit."'

Davidson checked into a wellness facility to seek mental health treatment in late July.

Back in 2021, Davidson confirmed that he was 'burning off' his tattoos so that he could get more film roles.

On Wednesday he picked out some baby pink crocs with a Jibbitz of his face on them as he joined for a Wonderfully Unordinary evening in New York

The new dad looked happy at the event which highlighted the brands playful approach to self-expression

During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, the actor said he wants to have his tattoos removed so that he doesn't have to spend 'three hours' in makeup every day getting them covered up.

'I honestly never thought that I would get the opportunity to act and I love it a lot,' he said at the time.

'You have to get there three hours earlier to cover all your tattoos, because for some reason, people in movies, they don't have them that much,' he continued.

Davidson backstage to promote How To Rob A Bank in Las Vegas

He wore pink socks which went with his red top as he flashed his Crocs

Here he is seen with an array of tattoos on his chest and arms in 2021

And Pete admitted the process of getting his ink removed is 'worse' than the pain that comes with the tattoo itself.

He told Seth: 'So now I'm burning them off, but burning them off is worse than getting them.

'Because not only are they, like, burning off your skin, but you're wearing these big goggles, right? So you can't see anything and the doctor's in there with you,' he continued.

'So before he goes to laser each tattoo, you have to hear him announce what the tattoo is to make sure if you want to keep it or not.

'So I'll just be sitting there all high off of the [nitrous oxide]  and then all of a sudden I'll just hear, "Are we keeping the Stewie Griffin smoking a blunt?" And then I have to sit there and be like, "No, Dr. G."'
Jane Fallon gave a health update on Thursday following her breast cancer diagnosis as she shared news from her second surgery.

The author, 65, who has been in a relationship with comedian Ricky Gervais for over 40 years, revealed in March she had been diagnosed following a routine mammogram and she has since been keeping her fans up to date online.

Earlier this month, Jane gave a positive update as she announced that after having her first surgery to remove the tumour and a margin of healthy tissue, that the surgeons had 'basically got it all'.

And sharing more good news this week she wrote on Instagram: 'Little update. So, my 2nd surgery went well. They got the clear margin they need on the original excision, which is great.

'They did hit a new little patch of precancerous cells on the other side of the new bit they took out but, thankfully, everyone agrees more surgery would be overkill.

'A huge % of pre cancer doesn't develop into cancer.

Jane Fallon gave a health update on Thursday following her breast cancer diagnosis as she shared news from her second surgery

'I saw the oncologist today & we've agreed the risks of radiation outweigh the benefits in my case. Which leaves Tamoxifen (or similar) or wait and see (my preferred option).

'I'm very nervous about going the drug route, because I know the side effects can be hideous, but I'm taking all the info on board & luckily there's no pressure to make a quick decision. So, all good & I'm just looking forward to getting back to normal.'

The update comes just days after Jane hit out at a 'disgusting' fake obituary in a post shared to X recently after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Jane made her feelings known about AI-generated images, as fake announcements of her death started circulating online.

Taking to X, referencing a since-deleted post, she wrote: 'I've taken the post about the obituary down, because I don't want people to think I'm upset by it.

'I'm not. p***ed off yes. But more, I just want people to know that any photos you see of me in hospital, looking sad or with tubes sticking out of me are 100% fake  AI generated'.

Jane was flooded with supportive messages with one explaining how the 'obituary' was originally shared by a page set up as a Ricky fan page.

'It's a beyond vile page, reported that post and the page itself. It hides under the guise of a RG 'fan' and animal welfare! The AI stuff posted is frankly libellous and disgusting! Not something anyone should have to deal with'.

Jane's career started out in television  before the publication of her bestselling book, Getting Rid Of Matthew, in 2007.

The author, 65, who has been in a relationship with comedian Ricky Gervais for over 40 years, revealed in March she had been diagnosed following a routine mammogram

Harrow-born Jane began her relationship with comedian Ricky in 1982  after meeting him while they both studied at University College London

Since then she has released 14 books  with Worst. Idea. Ever, Faking Friends, Just Got Real and Queen Bee among her most widely acclaimed titles.

Harrow-born Jane began her relationship with comedian Ricky in 1982  after meeting him while they both studied at University College London.

The couple are said to have moved in together in 1984 and they currently reside in Hampstead, west London, with their beloved pets.

Last month, Jane wrote about her diagnosis on Instagram, admitting to fans she had been 'a bit quiet on here lately.'

'About a month ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer  very early stage thankfully & the prognosis is excellent,' she explained.

'I had a routine mammogram a week before Christmas. I had no symptoms but the brilliant radiographer spotted something iffy & sent me for further tests & eventually a biopsy.

'Since then I've had more mammograms, more biopsies and an MRI so they can pinpoint the problem area precisely. It's been a lot, I'm not going to lie.'

At the time she went on to say her surgery was scheduled for the week after next, adding she 'just wants to get it over with now'.

'I'm getting incredible care and all will be fine but I'm not engaging with much beyond audiobooks & jigsaws tbh. Dr Eric on duty. Nurse Pickle wondering when lunch is,' she said.
He survived a horrific airplane crash in 2008 that claimed the lives of four people and prevented him from flying for years.

Now Travis Barker will be bringing his survival story onto the small screen.

Barker, 50, has announced Louder Than Fear, a documentary set to debut this summer on Hulu about the aftermath of the 'life-changing' ordeal.

'I'm really stoked to announce my new documentary, Louder Than Fear. It's coming out this summer on Hulu,' he announced at Hulu's Get Real event, according to Us Weekly.

'It's an unfiltered look at my journey after a life-changing experience and also spotlights the amazing people I have in my life who carried me through it. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to document it and be able to share it with all of you.'

'This documentary started over 10 years ago and it's been a wild, wild ride, and I can't wait to share it with the world.'

Travis Barker has announced the new documentary, Louder Than Fear, a project set to reflect on surviving a horrific 2008 airplane crash

Barker was on a plane in South Carolina with his assistant, bodyguard and friend Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein when a tire blew during takeoff; seen in 2008

The plane crash happened on September 19, 2008 - Barker boarded a private jet in South Carolina to head back to Los Angeles following a show, while accompanied by his friend Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein, his security guard Charles 'Che' Still, and his assistant Chris Baker.

As the small plane was attempting to take off, one of its tires suffered a blow out, causing the craft to overshoot the runway, burst through the airport's fence and over the nearby highway, and finally crash into the embankment on the side of the road.

The pilot, Sarah Lemmon, and the co-pilot, James Bland, were killed within minutes from smoke inhalation and burns as the plane erupted into flames on impact, according to the Chicago Tribune. Still and Baker were also killed on impact.

Barker and Goldstein were able to escape from the burning plane via an emergency exit over the wing, but both were engulfed in flames as they slid down the wing and got covered in burning jet fuel.

The drummer had third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body and had to spend three months in the hospital while having skin grafts and 26 surgeries to repair the damage.

A year after the accident fellow survivor Goldstein died of a prescription drug overdose.

In a May 2021 interview with Men's Health, Barker shared that the crash helped motivate him to stop abusing prescription drugs.

'People are always like, 'Did you go to rehab?'' he recounted. 'And I [say], 'No, I was in a plane crash.' That was my rehab. Lose three of your friends and almost die? That was my wake-up call. If I wasn't in a crash, I would have probably never quit.'

The crash left Barker with a debilitating fear of flying that he eventually overcame with the help of Kourtney

After the crash, Travis was overcome with a debilitating fear even at the sight of an airplane.

'I was dark I couldn't walk down the street. If I saw a plane [in the sky], I was determined it was going to crash, and I just didn't want to see it,' he said, adding that he was 'haunted' by the experience of 'being burned' and 'trying to grab my friends from a burning plane.'

But he also struck a more hopeful tone due to the passage of time.

'Now it's been so many years, it's getting easier for me. There are days where I'll wake up and never think about it,' he said.

The crash left Barker with third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body

Barker announced his new documentary at Hulu's Get Real event on Sunday

It would take another 18 years for Barker to finally travel on a plane after the crash.

In August 2021, he overcame his fear of flying when he jetted to Cabo San Lucas with his wife Kourtney Kardashian.

'I think the power of love really helped me. Kourt made it so I fly, my kids fly now. She healed us,' he told the LA Times in 2023.

'It takes a little piece of my life every time I fly. The amount of stress and anxiety it causes is just unbearable. It brings up all this old trauma, and sometimes I'm like, 'Is this worth it?' But I don't like anything having a hold on me, either  I don't like being afraid, and I don't like having things from my past control my future.'
Charlies Angel star Cheryl Ladd has opened up on how her husband Brian Russell kept her going strong during her breast cancer journey.

Even when she lost her hair and eyelashes during chemotherapy and radiation  a temporary but distressing side effect of cancer treatment  he made her feel special, per People.

'I looked like an alien. My husband would say, "But, honey, a beautiful alien,"' Ladd told the outlet.

The actress, 74, who reunited with her Charlie's Angels stars for the show's 50th anniversary this month, shared that it was her music producer spouse, 82, who pushed her to see a doctor after she detected a lump in her left breast three years ago.

'He said, "Call the doctor. We're going to deal with this right now." He just about threw me in the car,' Ladd remembered.

A biopsy soon revealed she had an aggressive form of breast cancer, and it would be a long, hard journey to recovery.

Charlies Angel star Cheryl Ladd (pictured April 6) has opened up on how her husband Brian Russell kept her going strong during her breast cancer journey

When she lost her hair and eyelashes during chemotherapy and radiation and felt she 'looked like an alien,' she said her husband reassured her, 'But, honey, a beautiful alien'; the couple is pictured in 2014

Ladd said her husband of 45 years, who hails from Scotland and with whom she now lives near San Antonio, Texas, 'was just unbelievable' in his support.

Besides making her feel beautiful and loved, Russell kept her nourished even when she had zero interest in food.

'He was so kind, and sometimes I didn't have any kind of appetite, so he'd say, "How about I make you just a little tomato soup? Could you eat a little orange?"' she said.

'He literally babied me along and kept me eating so I didn't just get skinnier and skinnier and skinnier.

'He kept me pretty close to my normal weight. He just cooked for me, encouraged me and hugged me. I'm telling you, I sure married the right guy,' she added.

Ladd also had strong support from her daughter, Jordan Ladd, and stepdaughter, Lindsay Russell.

'They would come and visit and encourage me. Both of them were so wonderful, caring, sweet and praying for me like crazy,' she said.

Ladd first publicly spoke about her diagnosis and subsequent ordeal at the PaleyFest in Los Angeles on April 6.

The actress, 74, shared that it was her music producer spouse, 82, who pushed her to see a doctor after she detected a lump in her left breast three years ago

Besides making her feel beautiful and loved, Ladd's Scotland-born husband kept her nourished when she had zero interest in food (pictured in September 2014)

Ladd first publicly spoke about her diagnosis and subsequent ordeal at the PaleyFest in Los Angeles on April where she was joined by her fellow Charlie's Angels co-stars Kate Jackson, left, and Jaclyn Smith, center, who are also cancer survivors

'Talk about a sisterhood. The fact that all three of us have had cancer is kind of strange, but all of us are doing great,' Ladd said at the PaleyFest event

Appearing with her Charlies Angels co-stars Jaclyn Smith, 80, and Kate Jackson, 77, both of whom are breast cancer survivors, she shared how they comforted and reassured her.

'Talk about a sisterhood. The fact that all three of us have had cancer is kind of strange, but all of us are doing great,' Ladd noted at the event.

Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and underwent treatment but the disease returned two years later and she underwent a partial mastectomy.

Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and has been cancer-free since undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

Fellow Charlie's Angels star Farrah Fawcett was also diagnosed with cancer in 2006, but she died three years three years later at the age of 62.

Smith, meanwhile, provided Ladd with a continuous supply of wigs from her own professional collection with Paula Young.

'I had so many wigs,' Ladd said. 'Jaclyn would be like, "Oh! I have a new one. I'm going to send it to you. You want a short one first? Then [a longer one] as your hair grows out?" She was just amazing.'

During the PaleyFest discussion, Ladd branded her cancer journey a 'humbling experience' but insisted she was supported by a 'wonderful' team of doctors as well as her husband.

Ladd (pictured in March 2020) is now cancer-free, and told People shes doing much better, 'I feel like myself, which is such a gift'

'I was bald. It was a humbling experience and yet I have a wonderful husband he was there for me at every turn, she said. 'Eventually I started to get little sprouts of hair. It was a long, long, hard road, but you just get on with it.'

Ladd is now cancer-free, and told People shes doing much better.

'I feel like myself, which is such a gift,' she shared. 'Between my husband and the Lord, we got through it. It was just a miracle, really.'

She's staying on top of her check-ups and going in for routine mammograms every six months, adding, 'The sooner you find it and get in there, the better chance you have of living and not losing your breast. If you feel anything - even the tiniest thing - go to the doctor right away.'
She never puts a foot wrong when it comes to fashion.

And Maya Jama looked stunning as always as she attended the launch event for her Joe & The Juice matcha range in London on Thursday.

The Love Island presenter, 31, wowed in a figure-hugging white midi dress which showed off her ample assets.

She boosted her height with matching pointed heels and accessorised with a pair of dark shades.

Maya wore her long dark tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a glowing makeup look.

It comes after Maya transformed into a news reporter from the eighties to launch her new drink with the brand earlier this week.

Maya Jama looked stunning as always as she attended the launch event for her Joe & The Juice matcha range in London on Thursday

The Love Island presenter, 31, wowed in a figure-hugging white midi dress

The presenter looked unrecognisable as she ditched her signature darker locks for a blonde wig and bright blue eyeshadow for the campaign.

Maya showcased her incredible figure in a statement white blazer and matching pencil skirt which she teamed with hot pink heels.

The television personality took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce the collaboration.

Amongst the photos was a clip of Maya doing a spoof news report to promote her new matcha drink.

She captioned the post: 'I've got my own drink @joeandthejuice!! With my alt milk @sproud in too!

'Out nationwide tomorrow in all shops. Actually quite surreal to type that but I can't wait for you all to taste it & I hope you love it as much as we do mental. (had so much fun & got well into character shooting this)'.

Maya also said of the collaboration: 'I wanted to create something with JOE & THE JUICE that felt a bit different but still really on trend.

'The black sesame gives it that slightly nutty, savoury flavour and the collagen adds a little extra. I hope fellow matcha lovers fall for it just as much as I have!'

Last month, Maya shared her hopes to be a leading lady in a movie one day in a new career move.

The TV presenter who got her big break when she was asked to host Love Island back in 2022, said she has 'a second wind of ambition' to make it as an actor.

She boosted her height with matching pointed heels and accessorised with a pair of dark shades

Maya wore her long dark tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a glowing makeup look

She also shared snaps from the event to her Instagram account

She looked gorgeous in the white midi dress

She arrived in a swanky pink car

Maya went to Shane Cooper's clinic for a facial and exosome booster

After failing to break into the industry when she was younger, Maya said she 'wasn't as persistent as she should have been'.

'I dreamt of being an actor when I was younger and would try and do all these auditions and would get loads of no's', she said.

'My dream role is something completely opposite to me. I've always said I don't want to be what people expect me to be on camera.

'I'd want to be the complete opposite to that so a monster or a mean, evil person. A villain maybe would be nice', she told the BBC.

Maya is set to star in the second season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen.

She will reportedly play the glamorous wife of a shady associate linked to Theo James' lead character Eddie Horniman.

Filming began last year at the stunning Badminton House in Gloucestershire - a grand estate that doubles as the fictional Halstead Manor in the series.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'Maya is over the moon to land a role in such a massive show with Guy Ritchie at the helm.

'The Gentlemen was one of 2024's biggest series and it's such a glossy, sexy show. It's a perfect fit.'

Maya teased fans earlier this year when she posted a Netflix script on social media, followed by a cryptic photo alongside The Gentlemen star Kaya Scodelario, who plays mob boss Susie Glass in the series.

She previously hinted she might have been in meetings with the streamer by posting a Netflix branded cup to social media, but it was unclear where she was at the time.
Prince Harry has made a surprise visit to Ukraine today claiming he is there to 'remind the world' and 'people back home' in Britain about the war with Russia.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, will speak at a security conference on Thursday and tell Ukrainians that he has not forgotten their plight.

'The world sees you and respects you', he will tell delegates.

His unannounced visit to Kyiv came just a week after Russia launched its deadliest aerial assault on the capital so far this year. Moscow bombarded the country with a wave of drone and missile strike, killing 17 people and injuring more than 100. Four died in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old boy.

'It's good to be back in Ukraine', Harry said, adding praise for how its people had been 'bravely and successfully defending Europes eastern flank'.

He arrived in Kyiv by train this morning having spent last week in Australia with Meghan on their controversial pseudo-royal tour.

From Windsor to Kyiv

Harry also quietly sent a wreath to his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Windsor grave to mark what would have been her 100th birthday on Tuesday - but did not join his family's celebrations at Buckingham Palace in London.

He secretly arrived in Kyiv by train early on Thursday morning, suggesting he flew to Poland and then travelled by rail to the Ukrainian capital overnight.

He told ITV News that his visit is 'to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions.'

He branded Ukraine 'a country bravely and successfully defending Europe's eastern flank' and said 'it matters that we don't lose sight of the significance of that.'

Harry is in Ukraine for the Kyiv Security Conference.

'This is a war about values, not just territory', Harry will say in his speech.

It is his second visit to the city, having spent time there last September as part of his continued work for the Invictus Games and to support Ukraine's tens of thousands of injured veterans.

Beyond Territory

Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, has long made helping injured soldiers one of his most prominent causes.

He will give a speech later today where he will say Ukraine's battle is more than a simple fight about territory.

In April last year, Harry met with war victims in his first trip to Ukraine, this time time to Lviv.

Photos showed the royal with a smile ear-to-ear, posing with dozens of wounded soldiers.

One image showed the Duke with a solemn expression as he chatted to a visibly injured youngster.

The visit to the area in western Ukraine, that has frequently been targeted with Russian missiles, was not announced until after Harry was out of the country.

Harry has arrived in Europe but it is not clear if he has been in the UK.

However, the Duke of Sussex organised for flowers to be laid by the Queen's grave at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on what would have been her 100th birthday, according to Sussex-approved People magazine.

Quiet Remembrance

The Queen was interred after her death in 2022 alongside her husband Prince Philip in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which also houses the body of the Queen's father George VI, her mother the Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret.

Harry stayed in California this week while King Charles and Queen Camilla led senior Royal Family members at a Buckingham Palace reception to honour her yesterday.

It comes after the Duke paid tribute to Philip last August in a personal letter left secretly at the National Memorial Arboretum on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Harry asked a friend to discreetly leave the note and a wreath of red poppies for his late grandfather at the Burma Star Memorial in Staffordshire, following the national commemorations attended by the King and Queen earlier the same day.

But one friend of the Royal Family told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden at the time: 'What hypocrisy. Harry hurt his grandfather deeply during the final year of his life.'

The letter was said to have been placed after Charles and Camilla left to avoid distracting from the service which honoured the sacrifice of Second World War heroes who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East.

In 2020, the year of Megxit, former soldier Harry was left saddened when he was refused his wish to have a poppy wreath placed at the Cenotaph, the focus of the UK's Remembrance Sunday service, on his behalf.

Just months later, the Duke, who undertook two tours to Afghanistan, was stripped of his military patronages by Elizabeth II after his decision to step down as a senior working royal was made permanent.

The Windsor Centenary

Since Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022, Harry has returned to her burial site in Windsor on two occasions - including on the first anniversary in 2023.

The Duke also paid his respects last year, when he was in the UK for the WellChild awards and met his father Charles for the first time in more than a year.

At Tuesday's Palace reception, the King was accompanied by all the working royals in honour of what would have been his late mother's 100th birthday.

Joining the King and Queen were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and even the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra  aged 90 and 89 respectively.

The reception was a celebration of Elizabeth II's life and legacy, as guests from 45 of the patronages she supported were also present for the occasion.

Meanwhile, Harry returned to Montecito last week after he and Meghan toured Australia during a four-day visit that drew large crowds of supporters  as well as fierce criticism.

The Sussexes were accused of using their royal links to cash in on Australia as they carried out a mix of charity and business engagements during their time Down Under.

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A prominent UFO researcher has taken his own life, but the death has triggered an immediate tidal wave of suspicion that this was not a [self-murder].

The Office of the Boulder County Coroner in Colorado confirmed on Wednesday that David Wilcock, 53, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside his home in Boulder County on April 20.

The police report noted that officers responded to a 911 call about a man, reported at the time as being Wilcock, 'experiencing a mental health crisis' around 10.44am local time.

'Within minutes of deputies arrival, he used the weapon on himself. He was pronounced deceased at the scene,' the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

No other individuals were located inside the residence or on the surrounding property, authorities added.

Wilcock, who also tied his theories on UFOs to Christianity, previously posted on social media about not being suicidal, and had just spoken hours before his death about believing that a death from natural causes was the only acceptable way of dying.

Unearthed Post Draws New Comments From Skeptics

'You don't get to resurrect. If you lay down your life, you're done. So, please don't do that. Please don't be stupid,' Wilcock said in an April 19 livestream on YouTube.

'It's something you never want to have to go through. And uh again, you know, natural is the only way to go.'

In 2022, Wilcock, who also talked about humanity moving towards a spiritual enlightenment, wrote on X: 'I plan on LIVING. Not suicidal at all. Just concerned about what happens when you prove God is real.'

That unearthed post has been flooded with new comments from skeptics alleging without evidence that Wilcock was murdered or coerced into taking his own life.

Wilcock was a well-known figure within the growing community seeking full government disclosure on UFOs and extraterrestrials.

The author explored topics most people consider 'fringe' or alternative science, including the theory that ancient civilizations were influenced by aliens and used advanced technology that has been lost over the centuries.

He was a regular expert on the History Channels long-running show 'Ancient Aliens,' making dozens of appearances.

Questions Raised By Supporters and Lawmakers

Wilcock also promoted the idea that humanity was on the verge of a major positive spiritual 'ascension' that would likely coincide with the disclosure of alien life.

News of the UFO researcher and author's reported [self-murder] sparked immediate backlash from Wilcock's supporters and even members of Congress, who found the timing of Wilcock's death suspicious and claimed he may have been the victim of foul play.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett responded to a social media post announcing Wilcock's death by writing 'not cool.'

On Wednesday, Burchett told the Daily Mail: 'I just don't think there's any chance that this is just all coincidental.'

On social media, one person replied to Wilcock's 2022 post, writing: 'Theres no way I believe David willingly did this to himself. Something stinks to high heaven.'

'He has never ever been suicidal, that is complete BS. This was murder,' another commenter alleged.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida said in an official statement Tuesday night: 'We just learned of the tragic passing of David Wilcock. We are praying for his family and loved ones and the millions of lives he impacted.'

Luna, who is the chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee tasked with declassifying government secrets, added the Bible verse John 8:32, where Jesus states: 'Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'

Burchett Calls For Answers

Burchett quickly tied Wilcock's death and the researcher's chilling final comments to the investigation into the growing number of missing or dead scientists and nuclear officials throughout the US in recent years.

'It's just too much going on. We need to start paying attention [to] it. I don't have a lot of faith in the intelligence community,' the congressman said.

'Imagine if 11 newscasters disappeared, or 11 rabbis, or 11 barbers, 11 disc jockeys. Or they died mysteriously, or some combination thereof. Now, honestly, some of them could have honestly just passed away, but it's just too coincidental. We need answers.'

Burchett has been outspoken about his belief that extraterrestrial life exists and has been kept a closely guarded secret by the US government.

The congressman previously revealed that multiple sources had told him missing Air Force General William Neil McCasland was the key figure in the US military's secret UFO programs. McCasland vanished without a trace on February 27.

Wilcock addressed this conspiracy in his final YouTube broadcast, stating: 'Every day that I have on Earth is a gift and a blessing. And I'm very grateful for that because, frankly, people are disappearing. Scientists are going missing now.'

'They're saying they're going to investigate this. The president himself is saying they're going to look into this and see if anything's going on. It's a little bit scary. I got to say, it's a little bit scary, but you guys knew that I might still show up even though it was last-minute and I've had a really rough week.'

Final Post Revisited as New Claim Emerges

Wilcock's final post on X addressed his final livestream, noting that the researcher had found some 'amazing twists' regarding a now-deleted image of President Trump depicted as Jesus, UFO disclosure and 'the true meaning of the Christ within.'

'Whats happened between this post and now?' one person asked following the news of Wilcock's death.

According to Corey Goode, a self-proclaimed associate of Wilcock, the UFO researcher had allegedly been stalked and harassed online prior to his death.

The Daily Mail has reached out to law enforcement in Colorado to confirm the claims.

As for the larger investigation into the deaths and disappearances now being investigated by the White House, Burchett was highly skeptical that anything of significance would be revealed in the coming days as President Trump had promised last week.

'I do not, because the Intelligence Committee will be the ones briefing the president, and they'll tell him, again, what they think he needs to know,' Burchett said.

'Washington intelligence or intelligence agencies is a whole lot like, congressional ethics, it just doesn't exist, and they're not in the business of telling anybody the truth, or doing what's right. They have a history of that and they hide behind national security.'
Just four months ago, Donald Trump Jr declared the Republican party dead.

'This isn't the Republican Party anymore,' he told a cheering crowd at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix. 'It's the America First Party. It's the Make America Great Again Party and we are not going back.'

Careful what you wish for, they say. For while the GOP's conventional coalition of fiscal and social conservative voters has given way to a loose bag of moderate and right-leaning populists, it's unclear who will lead this new amalgamation.

And Don Jr, who is credited with corralling a disparate bunch of new media voices  from his hunting buddy Tucker Carlson to comedian Theo Von to Joe Rogan  to help fuel his father's 2024 return to the White House, is now watching these alliances crumble.

'I do think it's, like, a moment to wrestle with our own consciences,' Carlson said on Tuesday, issuing a groveling on-air apology to his fans for ever having supported Trump.

'We'll be tormented by it for a long time,' he lamented, his brow deeply furrowed. 'I will be and I want to say I'm sorry for misleading people and it was not intentional. That's all I'll say.'

Such a significant defection couldn't come at a worse time for Trump, who faces darkening political prospects ahead of the November midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress and set the course of the remaining two years of his presidency.

One of the key foundations of the MAGA movement was a parallel media system consisting of podcasts, with their burgeoning audiences of disaffected Americans, that acted as a kind of hive mind, a background conversation for MAGA in the way talk radio once functioned for traditional Republicans.

Cracks Emerge

Don Jr, with his own 'Triggered' podcast on Rumble and Spotify, was at the heart of this friendly media cocoon. He was the conduit between it and his father, who preferred to read printouts of newspaper articles and to conduct pitched battles with mainstream media outlets.

Spurred on by his son, the elder Trump went on a podcast tour aimed at wooing the so-called 'manosphere' of young male voters.

It included, most notably, a three-hour appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, with the host going on to endorse him.

The Trump campaign podcast strategy was a driving factor behind the biggest shift to the right by young male voters in two decades, boosting Trump's overall support by between 1 percent and 2.6 percent, according to a study by Dr Raffaele F Ciriello, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School. Half of that change was linked specifically to Rogan's endorsement.

Fast forward to today and the picture is very different.

In the months since Trump's decision to attack Iran, the unofficial coalition of podcasters and alternative media figures has suffered its own nuclear implosion. Some of its biggest names are trashing Trump on a daily basis.

Last week, Carlson suggested that Trump may be the 'Antichrist' after the President posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ. Amid the mudslinging Carlson's son Buckley, 29, stepped down as deputy press secretary to JD Vance, although the White House said the move had long been planned.

Some of the cracks in this MAGA coalition had started appearing at the very same AmericaFest where Don Jr celebrated the new America First Party in December.

Public Feuds

Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA's new chief executive in the wake of her husband Charlie Kirk's assassination, tried to keep the peace at the event with a plea for unity. But conservative media figure Ben Shapiro took the stage and slammed 'frauds and grifters,' while pundit and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon accused Shapiro of being 'like a cancer' to the movement.

Shapiro also attacked Carlson for hosting the far-right commentator Nick Fuentes on his show and lambasted Candace Owens for 'vomiting all sorts of hideous and conspiratorial nonsense.'

In March, anti-war podcaster Megyn Kelly and Fox News host Mark Levin began a vicious personal feud.

'Poor Megyn Kelly. An emotionally unhinged, lewd, and petulant wreck,' Levin wrote on social media. Kelly fired back by dubbing Levin 'Micro[private] Mark' and both launched several more salvos.

The White House was alarmed by such spats within the MAGA-sphere. Trump could have stayed above the fray but decided to choose sides, weighing in with a 348-word statement on Truth Social backing Levin over Kelly. Those who 'speak ill of Mark will quickly fall by the wayside,' Trump warned ominously.

Then, Trump lashed out at Kelly and company in another post.

'I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years,' Trump wrote on Truth Social recently. 'Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs.'

Carlson Breaks With Trump

Carlson's stark abandonment of Trump has poured kerosene on the fire already engulfing right-wing circles.

Conservative media titan Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of the Daily Wire, told the Daily Mail: 'We already know what Tucker thinks of Trump. He told his colleagues he hated him "passionately," then endorsed him anyway and helped staff the administration. He isn't sorry. He's a guy who made a bet that didn't pay off and now wants his regret to be the story.'

That is a reference to messages Carlson sent to a Fox News colleague in 2021 saying he 'hated' Trump and that there 'isn't really an upside' to him.

Responding to Carlson, pro-Trump activist and internet personality Laura Loomer wrote on X: 'I'm so glad I permanently cut off everyone who continued defending him. Good riddance.'

Meanwhile, Loomer was even more scathing about Owens, who previously supported Trump but has more recently called for him to be replaced under the 25th Amendment.

'God hates you,' Loomer wrote to Owens on X. 'It's why he gave Charlie (Kirk) to Erika and why you didn't even get to say goodbye to him. God hates you.

'Look in the mirror and internalize how much God hates you. We all hate you. Humanity hates you. And you are irredeemable.'

While the internecine feeding frenzy has reached fever pitch, in truth, the ultimate collapse of its support for Trump was 'inevitable,' said pollster Professor Larry Sabato, Director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia

'There are too many stresses and strains on this coalition,' he said. 'Trump going to war, after fundamentally saying his movement was about not doing that... after a while even the most dedicated public relations specialists, which is what the podcasters are, wake up and smell the coffee and it's a very strong pot of coffee.'

Rogan, Von Among Podcasters Questioning Trump

He said Carlson's exit from the MAGA coalition was a 'shocking defection'

'A lot of Tucker Carlson supporters will still be with Trump, but a lot of them won't,' he concluded. 'A lot of them will agree with Carlson about particularly foreign wars.'

Rogan certainly does. 'A lot of people feel betrayed, right? [Trump] ran on "no more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars" and then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it,' he said in March.

On April 3, Rogan interviewed podcast host Theo Von. When Rogan said 'Supposedly, [Trump is] trying to stop the terrorists,' Von burst into laughter.

'That's crazy, though, if you're the [expletive] terrorist!' said Von. 'You know what I'm saying? Like, if you wanna stop them, [expletive] stand in front of the [expletive] mirror and start there.'

The big question now for Trump, and the Republican Party, is what impact the loss of Don Jr's podcast strategy will have on the midterm elections in November.

It seems there will be no repeat of the successful tour Trump pursued in 2024, which included long chats with Rogan and Von. And in making their assessment to cut loose Carlson and Kelly, both of whom have huge conservative audiences, White House officials are gambling.

The move away from the podcast strategy in the midterms could mean Republicans losing 'a point here, a point there, five points here, 10 points there,' said Professor Sabato. 'But in a closely contested country like the United States, that matters,' he said.
They claim to 'stand for something good,' but customers smell a rat in the ownership of this beloved burger chain.

For anyone who loves dipping crinkle-cut fries in a thick strawberry milkshake or wants a perfect smash burger, Shake Shack is the obvious go-to.

But the chain isn't immune to rising prices - and now furious customers are blaming the company's largest shareholder for price hikes.

BlackRock - the world's largest asset manager - owns approximately 14.3 percent of Shake Shack's outstanding shares, and the firm was forced to respond to online criticism by reminding people that it's just an investment firm, 'not a burger joint.'

'We do not and cannot set prices at Shake Shack,' tweeted BlackRock.

The controversy began with a viral video that showed an absolutely shocked Shake Shack customer reviewing the eye-watering prices on a drive-thru menu.

They were 'insane,' said the customer, highlighting that their go-to meal now costs almost $20.

Shake Shack started as a hot dog stand in New York City and has since become one of America's favorite fast casual burger chains

Shake Shack released their 'Good Fit' menu with protein-focused updates to already existing menu items

A hot dog meal, including fries and a drink, was around $12.

Customers shared their outrage online, with many claiming that they can't dine out as often due to rising prices.

One X user who called the chain's menu 'outrageously priced' placed the blame squarely on the company's biggest shareholders.

'Shake Shack's largest shareholders are BlackRock and Vanguard,' they wrote. 'Shake Shacks menu prices have risen 60 percent just since 2019 on average. Basic items have increased around 40 percent.'

'When giant private equity companies own or are the largest shareholders prices go up because all they care about is profit and they want more and more profit,' another social media user added.

Vanguard was a Shake Shack shareholder in late 2025, now reports zero ownership in the company.

Shake Shack first opened in 2001 as a hot dog cart in New York City. It's since grown into one of the country's most beloved burger chains with over 425 US locations.

Hot dogs are a welcome addition the the Shake Shack menu - and it has also expanded its menu to include chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, chicken bites and other fast-casual staples.

K-Shack Spicy Caramel, Tiramisu and Chocolate Blackout Pudding shakes recently joined the Shake Shack menu

The chain also has limited-time treats like the recently-introduced K-Shack Spicy Caramel, Tiramisu and Chocolate Blackout Pudding shakes.

Shake Shack still offers discounts and promotions to its customers, including free chicken sandwiches with a minimum spend and discounted sodas through their app.

Shake Shake said last year's total profits were up almost 22 percent compared to 2024.

That's mostly thanks to 'more efficient operations' in their restaurant locations, as well as better optimized kitchen designs.

Meanwhile, as food and gas prices increase across the board, other chains are responding with lower price points to lure in cost-conscious diners.

McDonalds' improved value menu, launched in April 2026, aims to 'offers more choice, more flexibility and more ways to build a meal that fits their day and budget' to customers.

Morning options will include the $1.50 Sausage McMuffin. For lunch and dinner, the Under $3 Menu will offer a McChicken, McDouble, 4-piece Chicken McNuggets, small fries and a small drink.

The Daily Mail has reached out to BlackRock for comment.
Stocks of the leading marijuana companies are blazing higher today on reports that President Donald Trump could soon sign an executive order on pots legal status.

Under the Trump administrations plan - first reported by Axios - marijuana would be labeled as a schedule III drug, akin to common prescription painkillers - its current classification is schedule I, the same as cocaine and heroin.

Shares of Canopy Growth (CGC) are up more than 20 percent today, trailed by Tilray Brands (TLRY) up 15 percent and Aurora Cannabis (ABC) up around 10 percent, while the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis exchange-traded fund (MSOS) has gained nearly 20 percent today.

This comes after years of underperformance by pot stocks, which had a major moment during the first Trump administration when investors were sure the rescheduling would happen - but it never came to pass.

Reclassifying marijuana would be one of the most significant changes to federal drug policy in decades, as it would remove huge barriers to researchers investigating legitimate use cases for pot.

This wouldn't be the first move by the Trump administration to loosen the rules: In December, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to begin preparing federal regulations for reclassification.

I don't want it, okay, said Trump in December. I'm not gonna be taking it. But a lot of people do want it. A lot of people need it.

The move comes just days after Trump signed an executive order to ease access to psychedelic drugs for medical research.

Joe Rogan and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. look on as President Trump signs the executive order on April 18, 2026

Cannabis and related product have been legalized or decriminalized in 46 states, leaving only four states maintaining full prohibition

Cannabis stocks have been an abysmal investment for years, but todays reports hold out hope for the long-neglected corner of the stock market - but investors must still proceed with caution.

Many of the highest-profile pot stocks are Canadian companies or got their start in Canada, which legalized recreational cannabis use nationwide in October 2018 - the first major nation to do so.

Take Tilray Brands - even among beaten-down marijuana stocks, this company has been an astonishing disappointment and a huge underperformer.

The company went public to great fanfare in mid 2018, part of a rush to market by a whole crop of new marijuana companies eager to cash in on Trumps promises to loosen up laws governing cannabis.

But between its peak in September 2018 and mid 2025, shares of the company lost 99 percent of their value - only perking up again over recent months as the Trump administration again started talking up marijuana rescheduling.

Rescheduling would be a boon for stocks like Tilray, since federal prohibition has trumped state legalization efforts that have been under way for years.

Thats because companies that grow cannabis and sell marijuana products are still committing crimes under federal law, since they are trafficking in a schedule I drug.

While the Department of Justice had broadly left company alone due to state legalization, IRS tax law prohibits the companies from accessing common sources of financing or taking essential deductions and credits.

Reclassifying marijuana would be one of the most significant changes to federal drug policy in decades

Rep Steve Cohen (D-TN) advocates for federal cannabis legalization outside the capitol on April 20, 2026 in Washington, DC

A downgrade to schedule III would eliminate the tax problems and give companies access to better financing and investing options.

The reclassification to schedule III will have a material impact on the valuation of cannabis stocks, wrote Matt Karnes, founder of cannabis industry financial analysis and research firm GreenWave Advisors.

Back in December, Trumps executive order directed the Drug Enforcement Agency to undertake work to prepare for the rescheduling marijuana.

But according to analysts, there has been little progress on the issue since then, and even Trump has expressed frustrations over the delay.

Will you get the rescheduling done, please? Trump said Saturday, appearing to direct his comments toward White House officials.
A cluster of gas station loyalists in Texas are bidding a heartfelt and emotional goodbye to their local Buc-ee's.

The beloved Texas-born mega gas station chain has been aggressively expanding over the past year, rolling out ambitious plans to plant its supersized travel centers across even more states in 2026.

This is why fans were surprised after the roadside giant quietly confirmed it is shutting down one of its long-standing Texas locations - a rare move for the wildly popular chain that seems to be spreading at breakneck speed.

The cult-favorite convenience store brand will close its Port Lavaca site, known as Store No. 12, after more than a quarter of a century serving locals and road-trippers alike.

The location at 2318 W Main St. is now set for an unexpected transformation, with plans underway to turn it into a 7-Eleven complete with a Laredo Taco Company - marking the third 7-Eleven outlet in the small coastal city.

City official Derrick Smith revealed that news of the change first surfaced in a March 16 email from a signage company, indicating the Buc-ees branding would soon disappear in favor of the globally recognized convenience chain.

Despite the development, no formal building permits have yet been filed, suggesting the overhaul is still in its early stages.

The closure may come as a shock to loyal customers, but the Port Lavaca store represents a very different era of Buc-ees.

Pictured: Buc-ee's in Luling, Texas, is the chain's largest location to date, spanning about 75,000sq ft with 120 fuel pumps

Your browser does not support iframes.

More than a gas stop, Buc-ee's has turned pit stops into destinations

Unlike the sprawling mega travel centers the company is now famous for, this location is one of its older, smaller formats - a model the company has been steadily phasing out.

Similar closures have already taken place across Texas in towns like Lake Jackson, El Campo, West Columbia and Gonzales as Buc-ees pivots toward its supersized empire of massive fueling stations, enormous retail spaces and record-breaking car washes.

Far from signaling trouble, the shutdown is just a tiny blip in Buc-ees relentless growth story.

The company is charging ahead with ambitious plans to plant its flag in at least seven new states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Fresh locations are also in the pipeline for Murfreesboro, Tennessee and San Marcos, Texas, while new openings slated for 2026 include sites in Huber Heights, Ohio and Goodyear, Arizona.

Back home in Texas, Buc-ees already operates 36 locations, with even more on the horizon as the brand doubles down on its signature larger-than-life travel centers - leaving behind the smaller stores that helped build its name in the first place.

While Port Lavaca's residents are sad to see Buc-ee's go, residents of a town in Virginia are experiencing the exact opposite.

The community of Stafford is up in arms about the installation of a 120-pump, 74,000-square-foot gas station in their backyard.

Buc-ee's is rapidly expanding beyond its Texas roots, with new travel center locations planned in cities across states like Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky, Arizona and more

There are aisles of branded apparel emblazoned with Buc-ee's grinning beaver mascot

For many towns, the arrival of a Buc-ee's gas station would be the ultimate honor

Right now, a Change.org petition has gathered more than 2,500 signatures, with many supporters packing a recent public meeting to passionately voice their opposition.

In 2024, protesters also demonstrated outside a Stafford public safety center, holding signs that read, 'Our children deserve better. Say NO to more traffic!'

According to reports, the main concerns center on heavy traffic, related safety issues, and the overdevelopment of the neighborhood.

The online petition - featuring Bucky crossed out with a red 'no' symbol - appears particularly focused on the influx of visitors and the strain they could place on local facilities.

As it plants its flag in new corners of the map, it promises more supersized pit stops with a hundred-plus gas pumps, a store packed with brisket and beaver nuggets, and famously clean bathrooms.

Buc-ee's has a cult following, particularly among Gen-Z, thanks to its social media-friendly snacks and over-the-top scale.

Fan favorites include the Sausage on a Stick, Dr Pepper Icees and an entire wall of jerky.

The announcement of a new Buc-ee's location in Fort Pierce, Florida, made headlines in January after early plans suggested the gas station would span 76,000 square feet - about half the size of a Walmart Supercenter and even bigger than the company's current largest store in Luling, Texas.
Altona Rare Earths Plc (LON:REE  Get Free Report) shares were up 7.5% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 4.30 and last traded at GBX 4.30. Approximately 14,144,861 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 13% from the average daily volume of 16,288,331 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 4.

Altona Rare Earths Stock Performance

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 3.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 2.12. The firm has a market cap of 18.02 million, a PE ratio of -10.03 and a beta of 0.99.

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Altona Rare Earths (LON:REE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 26th. The company reported GBX (0.16) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter.

About Altona Rare Earths

Altona Rare Earth (LSE: REE) is a resource exploration and development company, specializing in Critical Raw Materials exploration and development in Africa.

The Company is currently involved in copper and silver exploration at the Sesana project in the Kalahari Copper Belt of Botswana, in rare earths exploration at the Monte Muambe project in Mozambique, and is also assessing the possibility to rapidly develop a fluorspar mining operation, also at Monte Muambe.

Monte Muambe, a significant REE mining project, is a carbonatite-hosted REE deposit.

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Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:AAWH  Get Free Report)s share price rose 9.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $0.5118 and last traded at $0.5056. Approximately 122,058 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 19% from the average daily volume of 102,359 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.46.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Zacks Research lowered shares of Ascend Wellness from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Thursday, March 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Ascend Wellness presently has a consensus rating of Sell.

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Ascend Wellness Stock Up 18.3%

The businesss fifty day moving average is $0.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.62. The company has a market cap of $113.98 million, a P/E ratio of -0.96 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 133.34, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.92.

Ascend Wellness (OTCMKTS:AAWH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 12th. The company reported ($0.16) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.12) by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $120.55 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $120.00 million. Ascend Wellness had a negative net margin of 23.61% and a negative return on equity of 1,099.51%. Equities analysts predict that Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. will post -0.33 EPS for the current year.

About Ascend Wellness

(Get Free Report)

Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc engages in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of cannabis consumer packaged goods in the United States. The company offers flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, edibles, tinctures, and other cannabis-related products under the Common Goods, SimplyHerb, Ozone, Ozone Reserve, Royale, Tunnel Vision, Miss Grass, Lowell Smokes, Edie Parker, 1906, and AiroPro brands. It also owns, operates, and manages cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries. The company sells its products through company-owned retail stores and third-party licensed retail cannabis stores.

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Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) had its price target decreased by Barclays from $144.00 to $143.00 in a report published on Monday,Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the healthcare product makers stock.

ABT has been the subject of a number of other reports. Freedom Capital upgraded Abbott Laboratories from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Citigroup cut their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $108.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $110.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $119.43.

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Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

NYSE ABT opened at $91.78 on Monday. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $91.59 and a 12 month high of $139.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $159.85 billion, a PE ratio of 25.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.79. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $106.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $117.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.18.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $11.16 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.99 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.71% and a net margin of 13.90%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.09 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.380-5.580 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.250-1.310 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 70.59%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Elizabeth C. Cushman sold 263 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.58, for a total transaction of $30,397.54. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 38,573 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,458,267.34. This trade represents a 0.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP John A. Jr. Mccoy sold 585 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.58, for a total transaction of $67,614.30. Following the sale, the vice president owned 24,628 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,846,504.24. The trade was a 2.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 3,055 shares of company stock valued at $353,097 in the last ninety days. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Abbott Laboratories

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. J. Stern & Co. LLP boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 12,439.6% in the 4th quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP now owns 39,319,009 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,926,279,000 after purchasing an additional 39,005,451 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,938,892,000. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 51.0% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 13,951,907 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,868,718,000 after purchasing an additional 4,713,135 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 303.0% in the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 4,429,571 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $454,784,000 after purchasing an additional 3,330,368 shares during the period. Finally, Ninety One UK Ltd acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $336,815,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock.

Key Abbott Laboratories News

Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions.

In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability.

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Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP  Free Report) (TSE:BEP) had its price target lifted by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $37.00 to $40.00 in a research report released on Monday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has an outperformer rating on the utilities providers stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays set a $28.00 target price on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Zacks Research raised shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 6th. National Bank Financial raised their price objective on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Mizuho set a $31.00 target price on shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $35.93.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BEP

Brookfield Renewable Partners Trading Up 2.7%

Shares of NYSE:BEP opened at $33.24 on Monday. Brookfield Renewable Partners has a 52 week low of $22.00 and a 52 week high of $35.97. The companys 50 day moving average is $32.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $29.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $10.08 billion, a PE ratio of -127.86 and a beta of 1.09.

Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP  Get Free Report) (TSE:BEP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.34) by $0.88. Brookfield Renewable Partners had a net margin of 11.11% and a return on equity of 2.15%. The company had revenue of $1.54 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.49 billion. Equities analysts predict that Brookfield Renewable Partners will post -0.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Brookfield Renewable Partners Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th were issued a $0.392 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $1.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.7%. This is a boost from Brookfield Renewable Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Brookfield Renewable Partnerss payout ratio is -603.85%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brookfield Renewable Partners

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. HB Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners in the 3rd quarter valued at about $979,000. Ovata Capital Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners in the 3rd quarter valued at about $4,511,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,127,549 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $261,189,000 after purchasing an additional 1,414,837 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in Brookfield Renewable Partners by 246.1% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 169,621 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,373,000 after acquiring an additional 120,618 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Picton Mahoney Asset Management increased its holdings in Brookfield Renewable Partners by 95.6% during the 3rd quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 1,070,639 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,589,000 after acquiring an additional 523,263 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.16% of the companys stock.

Brookfield Renewable Partners Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. is a leading global owner, operator and developer of renewable power assets. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BEP, the partnership focuses on generating clean electricity from a diversified mix of hydroelectric, wind, solar and energy storage facilities. As part of the Brookfield Asset Management group, Brookfield Renewable leverages a long-term, asset-backed approach to investing in sustainable energy projects that support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The companys platform encompasses approximately 23,000 megawatts of installed capacity across four continents.

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Ceiba Investments (LON:CBA  Get Free Report) shares rose 3.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 30 and last traded at GBX 30. Approximately 100 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 100% from the average daily volume of 40,052 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 29.

Ceiba Investments Stock Up 3.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.65, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 3.46. The company has a market capitalization of 41.30 million, a P/E ratio of -1.00 and a beta of 0.23. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 29.17 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 21.17.

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Insider Activity

In related news, insider Robin Smith acquired 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 26th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 40 per share, for a total transaction of 10,000. 47.69% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Ceiba Investments Company Profile

Investing in real estate and other real assets in Cuba

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Shares of Eloro Resources Ltd. (CVE:ELO  Get Free Report) shot up 5.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$3.55 and last traded at C$3.50. 144,360 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 36% from the average session volume of 106,080 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$3.32.

Eloro Resources Trading Up 5.4%

The company has a current ratio of 9.70, a quick ratio of 3.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The company has a market capitalization of C$260.56 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.36 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a fifty day moving average of C$3.50 and a 200-day moving average of C$3.50.

Eloro Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Eloro Resources Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties. It explores for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, bismuth, indium, and other base metal properties. The company holds 99% interest in the Iska Iska project, a polymetallic property consisting of one mineral concession covering an area of approximately 900 hectares located in Potosi Department, southern Bolivia; and 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver project that consists of 16 concessions covering an area of 8,933 hectares located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru.

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Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS  Get Free Report) CFO Oluyemi Okupe sold 19,645 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock in a transaction on Monday, April 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.96, for a total value of $588,564.20. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 262,954 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,878,101.84. This trade represents a 6.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Oluyemi Okupe also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, April 16th, Oluyemi Okupe sold 36,922 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.90, for a total transaction of $956,279.80.

On Friday, April 17th, Oluyemi Okupe sold 18,005 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.83, for a total value of $501,079.15.

On Monday, April 6th, Oluyemi Okupe sold 3,975 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.98, for a total value of $79,420.50.

On Friday, March 20th, Oluyemi Okupe sold 9,217 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.77, for a total transaction of $219,088.09.

Hims & Hers Health Stock Down 2.7%

HIMS stock traded down $0.81 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $28.95. 32,054,280 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 34,470,430. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.77, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 2.32. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. has a 1 year low of $13.74 and a 1 year high of $70.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.70, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.76.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Hims & Hers Health ( NYSE:HIMS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.08 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.02 by $0.06. Hims & Hers Health had a net margin of 5.47% and a return on equity of 22.48%. The business had revenue of $617.82 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $619.48 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.11 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 28.4% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Hims & Hers Health, Inc. will post 0.61 EPS for the current year.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on HIMS. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Hims & Hers Health from $25.00 to $23.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 27th. Zacks Research raised Hims & Hers Health from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Hims & Hers Health from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, April 11th. Needham & Company LLC raised shares of Hims & Hers Health from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $30.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Hims & Hers Health from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $31.86.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Hims & Hers Health

Trending Headlines about Hims & Hers Health

Here are the key news stories impacting Hims & Hers Health this week:

Positive Sentiment: HIMS is expanding into perimenopause and menopause treatment options to address rising U.S. demand for hormone therapy and strained estrogenpatch suppliesthis broadens the womens health product set and reduces reliance on any single category. Read More.

HIMS is expanding into perimenopause and menopause treatment options to address rising U.S. demand for hormone therapy and strained estrogenpatch suppliesthis broadens the womens health product set and reduces reliance on any single category. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Investor momentum around HIMS peptide program (and reports of a potential Novo Nordisk tie and FDA peptide developments) has been a key bullish catalyst, driving the large oneweek rally that preceded todays pullback. Read More.

Investor momentum around HIMS peptide program (and reports of a potential Novo Nordisk tie and FDA peptide developments) has been a key bullish catalyst, driving the large oneweek rally that preceded todays pullback. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: HIMS is investing in a datadriven, personalized care platform (adding labs and multicancer testing) to increase customer lifetime valuestrategic but longerterm and not an immediate revenue catalyst. Read More.

HIMS is investing in a datadriven, personalized care platform (adding labs and multicancer testing) to increase customer lifetime valuestrategic but longerterm and not an immediate revenue catalyst. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage is mixed: several pricetarget moves and a consensus Hold bias mean broker commentary could amplify shortterm swings but currently offers no clear directional push. Read More.

Analyst coverage is mixed: several pricetarget moves and a consensus Hold bias mean broker commentary could amplify shortterm swings but currently offers no clear directional push. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CFO Oluyemi Okupe sold sizable blocks of shares under a prearranged 10b51 plan in midApril (~54,927 shares across dates), which can weigh on sentiment despite being preplanned. Read More.

Insider selling: CFO Oluyemi Okupe sold sizable blocks of shares under a prearranged 10b51 plan in midApril (~54,927 shares across dates), which can weigh on sentiment despite being preplanned. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Competitive risk: Amazon launched a GLP1 weightloss program, raising the prospect of a large new entrant in prescription telehealth and ongoing obesity carethis increases pressure in HIMS highgrowth medication categories. Read More.

Institutional Trading of Hims & Hers Health

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 7.2% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,925,666 shares of the companys stock worth $679,456,000 after acquiring an additional 1,407,651 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 18,783,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,065,399,000 after purchasing an additional 223,892 shares in the last quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 30.8% in the 3rd quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC now owns 10,746,852 shares of the companys stock valued at $609,561,000 after purchasing an additional 2,533,271 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,305,525 shares of the companys stock worth $237,210,000 after purchasing an additional 132,311 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 12.4% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,509,764 shares of the companys stock worth $183,485,000 after purchasing an additional 608,950 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.52% of the companys stock.

Hims & Hers Health Company Profile

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Hims & Hers Health, Inc is a telehealth platform providing direct-to-consumer personal care products and virtual medical services in the United States. Operating under the Hims & Hers brand, the company offers an integrated digital experience that connects users with licensed healthcare providers, enabling online consultations and prescriptions for a range of conditions. Its telemedicine infrastructure supports both prescription medications and over-the-counter products, with home delivery to patients doorsteps.

The companys product portfolio addresses key areas of mens and womens health, including hair loss treatments, sexual wellness therapies, skincare regimens and mental health support.

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Intrepid Potash, Inc (NYSE:IPI  Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $32.08 and traded as high as $36.11. Intrepid Potash shares last traded at $35.7190, with a volume of 221,960 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

IPI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Intrepid Potash from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Intrepid Potash in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Intrepid Potash has an average rating of Sell and an average price target of $25.00.

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Intrepid Potash Trading Up 2.0%

The stock has a market capitalization of $506.51 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.37 and a beta of 1.39. The companys 50 day moving average is $38.89 and its 200 day moving average is $32.17.

Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 4th. The basic materials company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $75.88 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $65.25 million. Intrepid Potash had a net margin of 3.75% and a return on equity of 3.93%. Analysts anticipate that Intrepid Potash, Inc will post 1.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Intrepid Potash

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Gate City Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Intrepid Potash by 338.6% during the 4th quarter. Gate City Capital Management LLC now owns 914,026 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $25,346,000 after buying an additional 705,638 shares during the last quarter. Azarias Capital Management L.P. increased its holdings in Intrepid Potash by 64.9% during the 3rd quarter. Azarias Capital Management L.P. now owns 259,788 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $7,944,000 after acquiring an additional 102,266 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new position in Intrepid Potash during the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,441,000. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in Intrepid Potash by 1,773.2% during the first quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 98,754 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $4,224,000 after acquiring an additional 93,482 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Intrepid Potash by 12.6% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 726,027 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $22,202,000 after purchasing an additional 81,121 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.13% of the companys stock.

About Intrepid Potash

(Get Free Report)

Intrepid Potash, Inc is a leading U.S.-based producer and marketer of potash and related specialty fertilizer products. The companys primary business centers on potassium chloride, a key nutrient used in agricultural applications to enhance crop yield and quality. In addition to potash, Intrepid Potash produces magnesium chloride and sodium chloride, which serve a variety of markets including de-icing, dust control and industrial chemical production.

Intrepid Potash operates through a combination of solution mining, solar evaporation and conventional underground mining techniques.

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The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW  Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $12.43 and traded as high as $13.13. Manitowoc shares last traded at $12.9150, with a volume of 139,157 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MTW has been the subject of several research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered Manitowoc from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. Barclays decreased their target price on Manitowoc from $13.00 to $11.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an underweight rating and issued a $10.00 target price (up from $9.00) on shares of Manitowoc in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Manitowoc from a hold (c) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Strong Sell and a consensus target price of $10.50.

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Manitowoc Trading Up 2.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 2.23. The company has a market cap of $460.22 million, a P/E ratio of 67.46 and a beta of 1.82. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $13.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.45.

Manitowoc (NYSE:MTW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 9th. The industrial products company reported $0.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by ($0.01). Manitowoc had a net margin of 0.32% and a return on equity of 1.71%. The company had revenue of $677.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $637.00 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.10 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. Manitowoc has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.450-0.900 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that The Manitowoc Company, Inc. will post 0.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in Manitowoc during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $982,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Manitowoc during the 3rd quarter valued at $1,351,000. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL boosted its stake in Manitowoc by 67.2% during the 3rd quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL now owns 203,758 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,040,000 after purchasing an additional 81,864 shares during the last quarter. CSM Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Manitowoc by 69.5% during the 3rd quarter. CSM Advisors LLC now owns 143,065 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,433,000 after purchasing an additional 58,660 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Manitowoc during the 3rd quarter valued at $390,000. Institutional investors own 78.66% of the companys stock.

About Manitowoc

(Get Free Report)

The Manitowoc Company, Inc (NYSE: MTW) is a global manufacturer of heavy-lift cranes and lifting equipment. The companys product portfolio includes tower cranes marketed under the Potain brand, mobile hydraulic cranes sold under the Grove, Manitowoc and National Crane names, and engineered lifting solutions such as mast climbers and platform hoists. Manitowoc serves a wide range of industries, including construction, infrastructure, energy and industrial markets.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Manitowoc operates manufacturing facilities, sales offices and rental centers across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

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Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Free Report) (TSE:QSR) had its price objective raised by KeyCorp from $78.00 to $90.00 in a research note released on Monday morning,Benzinga reports. KeyCorp currently has an overweight rating on the restaurant operators stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on QSR. Piper Sandler raised shares of Restaurant Brands International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $71.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $74.00 to $71.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Restaurant Brands International in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $84.00 price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $80.35.

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Restaurant Brands International Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:QSR opened at $78.96 on Monday. Restaurant Brands International has a 12-month low of $61.33 and a 12-month high of $79.53. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $73.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is $70.47. The company has a market capitalization of $27.41 billion, a PE ratio of 33.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.62.

Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The restaurant operator reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.03. Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 32.51% and a net margin of 8.23%.The business had revenue of $2.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.41 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.81 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Restaurant Brands International will post 4.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Restaurant Brands International Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 19th were given a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 19th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. This is a boost from Restaurant Brands Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Restaurant Brands Internationals payout ratio is presently 110.17%.

Insider Activity at Restaurant Brands International

In other Restaurant Brands International news, insider Thiago T. Santelmo sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.41, for a total transaction of $754,100.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 78,560 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,924,209.60. The trade was a 11.29% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Jeffrey Housman sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.48, for a total transaction of $1,469,600.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 162,077 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,909,417.96. This represents a 10.98% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 441,490 shares of company stock worth $32,375,140 in the last 90 days. 1.25% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Restaurant Brands International

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in QSR. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. purchased a new stake in Restaurant Brands International during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 1,922.2% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 364 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 346 shares during the last quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. purchased a new stake in Restaurant Brands International during the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA purchased a new stake in Restaurant Brands International during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 50.4% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 639 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.29% of the companys stock.

About Restaurant Brands International

(Get Free Report)

Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE: QSR) is a global quick-service restaurant company formed through the combination of established brands. The companys principal holdings include Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, each of which operates under its own brand identity and menu. Restaurant Brands Internationals business is centered on developing and expanding these franchised restaurant systems, supporting franchisees with brand management, supply chain coordination, and marketing programs.

RBIs restaurants offer a range of quick-service food and beverage products: Burger King is known for its flame-grilled hamburgers and sandwiches, Tim Hortons for coffee, baked goods and breakfast items, and Popeyes for Louisiana-style fried chicken and seafood.

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Shares of Swiss Re AG (OTCMKTS:SSREF  Get Free Report) were up 3.2% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $173.1283 and last traded at $173.1283. Approximately 668 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 78% from the average daily volume of 375 shares. The stock had previously closed at $167.8145.

Swiss Re Stock Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of $166.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $169.41.

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About Swiss Re

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Swiss Re Ltd. is a leading global reinsurance company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The firm specializes in providing insurance-based risk transfer solutions, helping insurance companies, corporations and public sector clients manage exposure to natural catastrophes, life and health risks, and other large-scale perils. Through tailored reinsurance contracts, Swiss Re supports cedents by offering capital relief, underwriting expertise and loss mitigation services across a broad spectrum of coverages.

The companys core operations are organized into three main segments: Property & Casualty Reinsurance, Life & Health Reinsurance and Corporate Solutions.

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Treasury Wine Estates Limited (OTCMKTS:TSRYF  Get Free Report) shares traded up 18.2% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $3.25 and last traded at $3.25. 16,307 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 130% from the average session volume of 7,076 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.75.

Treasury Wine Estates Trading Up 18.2%

The companys fifty day moving average is $2.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.48.

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About Treasury Wine Estates

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Treasury Wine Estates is a global wine company specializing in the production, marketing and distribution of premium wines. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, the company oversees a diverse portfolio of brands spanning the value, mid-tier and luxury segments. Its operations encompass viticulture, winemaking, packaging and logistics, supported by a network of vineyards, production facilities and sales offices across key wine regions.

The companys brand portfolio features internationally recognized labels such as Penfolds, Wolf Blass and 19 Crimes, alongside a range of regional offerings targeting various consumer preferences.

Further Reading

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VAT Group AG  Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:VACNY  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company.

Several analysts recently weighed in on VACNY shares. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of VAT Group in a report on Friday, April 17th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded VAT Group from a hold rating to a moderate sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Oddo Bhf downgraded VAT Group to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded VAT Group to a hold rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of VAT Group in a report on Friday, April 17th.

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VAT Group Stock Performance

About VAT Group

VACNY stock opened at $74.90 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $66.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $55.89. VAT Group has a 1-year low of $31.99 and a 1-year high of $75.68.

(Get Free Report)

VAT Group AG is a Switzerland-based manufacturer specializing in high-precision vacuum valves and related flow-control solutions for advanced technology industries. Its core products include gate valves, angle valves, slit valves and vacuum components designed to maintain ultra-high vacuum environments essential to semiconductor fabrication, flat-panel display manufacturing, scientific research and other industrial vacuum applications. In addition to standard product lines, VAT offers customized valve assemblies and integrated subsystems that address the stringent purity and reliability requirements of modern production processes.

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Haag, Switzerland, VAT Group has grown into a global supplier serving customers across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

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Ayala Land (OTCMKTS:AYAAF  Get Free Report) is expected to post its resultson Thursday, April 30th. Analysts expect Ayala Land to post earnings of $0.0082 per share and revenue of $786.9710 million for the quarter.

Ayala Land Price Performance

Shares of AYAAF opened at $0.28 on Thursday. The firms 50 day moving average is $0.34 and its 200-day moving average is $0.35. Ayala Land has a 12-month low of $0.28 and a 12-month high of $0.53.

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Ayala Land Company Profile

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Ayala Land, Inc is a leading real estate developer in the Philippines and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Makati City, the company specializes in masterplanned communities, residential developments, retail centers, office buildings and hotels. Over the years, Ayala Land has built a reputation for integrated mixeduse estates that combine living, working, shopping and leisure facilities in strategic locations across the country.

The companys residential portfolio spans a range of market segments through brands such as Avida Land for midrange homes, Alveo Land for upscale urban properties, and Ayala Land Premier for luxury developments.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo & Company, and Charles Schwab are the five Bank stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Bank stocks are publicly traded shares of companies whose primary business is bankingsuch as commercial, retail, or investment banksand they give investors partial ownership and entitlement to dividends and capital gains. Their performance is closely tied to interest-rate spreads, loan quality, credit conditions and regulatory changes, making them sensitive to economic cycles and sector-specific risks. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Bank stocks within the last several days.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of financial and investment banking services. It focuses on investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), Commercial and Investment Bank (CIB), Asset and Wealth Management (AWM), and Corporate.

Bank of America (BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.

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Citigroup (C)

Citigroup Inc., a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions.

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Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)

Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

Read Our Latest Research Report on WFC

Charles Schwab (SCHW)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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BB Seguridade Participacoes SA (OTCMKTS:BBSEY  Get Free Report)s share price gapped down prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $7.46, but opened at $7.02. BB Seguridade Participacoes shares last traded at $7.02, with a volume of 1,880 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on BBSEY. Itau BBA Securities cut shares of BB Seguridade Participacoes to an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Zacks Research raised shares of BB Seguridade Participacoes from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of BB Seguridade Participacoes to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, BB Seguridade Participacoes presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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BB Seguridade Participacoes Price Performance

The companys 50-day moving average is $6.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $6.65. The firm has a market cap of $13.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.47 and a beta of 0.39.

BB Seguridade Participacoes (OTCMKTS:BBSEY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 9th. The company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.01. BB Seguridade Participacoes had a net margin of 87.29% and a return on equity of 80.16%. The business had revenue of $486.61 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $509.09 million. On average, analysts expect that BB Seguridade Participacoes SA will post 0.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About BB Seguridade Participacoes

(Get Free Report)

BB Seguridade Participacoes SA is a leading Brazilian insurance and pension holding company, primarily focused on the design, underwriting and distribution of risk protection and retirement solutions. As a publicly traded subsidiary of Banco do Brasil, BB Seguridade operates through a network of specialized businesses that serve both individual and institutional clients across Brazil.

The companys main offerings are delivered via its core subsidiaries: Brasilprev (private pension and savings plans), BB Mapfre (property & casualty insurance), Brasilveiculos (auto warranty and mechanical protection), Brasilcap (surety bonds) and BB Seguros (life, rural and personal accident insurance).

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Auddia, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Keel Infrastructure, BigBear.ai, System1, Faraday Future Intelligent Electric, and Beyond Meat are the seven Penny stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Penny stocks are low-priced shares of typically small or micro-cap companies that commonly trade for less than $5 per share and are often found on over-the-counter markets rather than major exchanges. They usually have low liquidity, wide bidask spreads, limited disclosure and high price volatility, making them speculative and higher-risk investments. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Penny stocks within the last several days.

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Auddia (AUUD)

Auddia Inc., a technology company, develops AI Platform for the audio and podcast markets. The company's flagship product is faidr, which enables consumers to listen to various AM/FM radio station with commercial breaks replaced with personalized audio content, including popular and new music, news, and weather.

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals (CPIX)

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of prescription products for hospital acute care, gastroenterology, and oncology in the United States and internationally. The company offers Acetadote, an injection for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning; Caldolor, an injection for the treatment of pain and fever; Kristalose, a prescription laxative oral solution for the treatment of constipation; Omeclamox-Pak for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease; Vaprisol, an injection for treating euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia; Sancuso, an injection for the treatment of chemotherapy treatment; and Vibativ, an injection for the treatment of certain serious bacterial infections, including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia, as well as complicated skin and skin structure infections.

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Keel Infrastructure (KEEL)

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BigBear.ai (BBAI)

BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. The company also provides data ingestion, data enrichment, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and predictive visualization solutions and services.

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System1 (SST)

System1, Inc. provides omnichannel customer acquisition platform services through its proprietary responsive acquisition marketing platform in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Owned and Operated Advertising, and Partner Network.

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Faraday Future Intelligent Electric (FFIE)

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, engineering, sale, and distribution of electric vehicles and related products in the United States. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Read Our Latest Research Report on FFIE

Beyond Meat (BYND)

Beyond Meat, Inc., a plant-based meat company, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells plant-based meat products in the United States and internationally. The company sells a range of plant-based meat products across the platforms of beef, pork, and poultry. It sells its products through grocery, mass merchandiser, club stores, and natural retailer channels, as well as various food-away-from-home channels, including restaurants, foodservice outlets, and schools.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BYND

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Brazilian Electric Power Co (NYSE:AXIA  Get Free Report) Director De Lima Filho Pedro Batista sold 1,397,982 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.54, for a total transaction of $17,530,694.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 148,050 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,856,547. This trade represents a 90.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

De Lima Filho Pedro Batista also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, April 17th, De Lima Filho Pedro Batista sold 1,640,600 shares of Brazilian Electric Power stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.46, for a total transaction of $20,441,876.00.

Brazilian Electric Power Stock Performance

NYSE:AXIA opened at $12.69 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.36, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.53. Brazilian Electric Power Co has a 12 month low of $6.71 and a 12 month high of $13.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brazilian Electric Power

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Brazilian Electric Power stock. Traveka Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Brazilian Electric Power Co ( NYSE:AXIA Free Report ) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 10,437 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $118,000. 2.64% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AXIA has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings initiated coverage on shares of Brazilian Electric Power in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. They issued a hold (c) rating on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Brazilian Electric Power from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, March 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Brazilian Electric Power presently has an average rating of Hold.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on AXIA

About Brazilian Electric Power

(Get Free Report)

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA  Eletrobras, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Brazil. The company generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, nuclear, wind, and solar plants. As of December 31, 2020, it owned and operated 31 hydroelectric plants with a total installed capacity of 50,648 megawatts; seven thermal plants, including coal, and oil and gas power generation units with a total installed capacity of 1,595 megawatts; and two nuclear power plants comprising Angra I with an installed capacity of 640 megawatts and Angra II with an installed capacity of 1,350 megawatts.

Further Reading

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Chemed (NYSE:CHE  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $5.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.30 by $0.35, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $657.51 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $659.22 million. Chemed had a net margin of 10.48% and a return on equity of 25.66%. The businesss revenue was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.63 EPS. Chemed updated its FY 2026 guidance to 24.000-24.75 EPS.

Chemed Stock Up 2.8%

Shares of CHE stock opened at $383.42 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.49. Chemed has a 12-month low of $365.20 and a 12-month high of $583.96. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $404.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $426.40.

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Chemed Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. Chemeds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 13.06%.

Key Stories Impacting Chemed

Insiders Place Their Bets

Here are the key news stories impacting Chemed this week:

In other Chemed news, CEO Kevin J. Mcnamara sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $403.18, for a total transaction of $806,360.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 93,719 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,785,626.42. This represents a 2.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 3.29% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Chemed

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Alberta Investment Management Corp bought a new stake in Chemed in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,241,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its holdings in Chemed by 29.7% during the fourth quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 2,939 shares of the companys stock worth $1,258,000 after buying an additional 673 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Chemed during the fourth quarter worth about $451,000. Strong Retirement Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Chemed during the 4th quarter worth about $2,571,000. Finally, Cim LLC grew its position in shares of Chemed by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Cim LLC now owns 2,288 shares of the companys stock worth $979,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.85% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research cut shares of Chemed from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Chemed from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $422.00 price objective (down from $572.00) on shares of Chemed in a report on Friday, February 27th. Weiss Ratings lowered Chemed from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their target price on Chemed from $580.00 to $500.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chemed currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $498.00.

View Our Latest Report on CHE

About Chemed

(Get Free Report)

Chemed Corporation is a diversified provider of essential home services and healthcare solutions in the United States. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the company operates through two principal business segmentsRoto-Rooter and Vitas Healthcare. Since its founding in 1974, Chemed has built a reputation for reliability and expertise, serving both residential and commercial customers across a broad range of markets.

The Roto-Rooter segment offers a comprehensive suite of plumbing, drain cleaning and water restoration services.

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Teacher Retirement System of Texas grew its stake in Cigna Group (NYSE:CI  Free Report) by 5.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 235,903 shares of the health services providers stock after purchasing an additional 12,926 shares during the quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas owned approximately 0.09% of Cigna Group worth $64,928,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. HM Payson & Co. grew its position in shares of Cigna Group by 0.9% in the third quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 3,785 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $1,091,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Leavell Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Cigna Group by 3.8% in the third quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,103 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $318,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Cigna Group by 1.5% in the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,712 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $782,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of Cigna Group by 0.8% in the third quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 4,953 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $1,428,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, Signet Financial Management LLC grew its position in shares of Cigna Group by 0.6% in the third quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC now owns 7,459 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $2,150,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.99% of the companys stock.

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Cigna Group Price Performance

Shares of CI stock opened at $274.96 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The firms 50-day moving average is $274.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $277.61. Cigna Group has a 12 month low of $239.51 and a 12 month high of $350.00. The company has a market capitalization of $72.46 billion, a PE ratio of 12.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.26.

Cigna Group Announces Dividend

Cigna Group ( NYSE:CI Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The health services provider reported $8.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.88 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $72.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $69.53 billion. Cigna Group had a net margin of 2.17% and a return on equity of 19.46%. Cigna Groups quarterly revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.64 earnings per share. Cigna Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 30.250- EPS. Analysts predict that Cigna Group will post 30.32 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 4th will be paid a $1.56 dividend. This represents a $6.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 4th. Cigna Groups payout ratio is 28.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CI has been the topic of several research reports. Guggenheim reissued a buy rating and issued a $318.00 price target on shares of Cigna Group in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Cigna Group from $315.00 to $306.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Cigna Group in a research note on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $375.00 price target on shares of Cigna Group in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Cigna Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Cigna Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $332.47.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Cigna Group

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Nicole S. Jones sold 2,307 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $288.91, for a total value of $666,515.37. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 32,647 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,432,044.77. The trade was a 6.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Everett Neville sold 1,719 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $288.91, for a total transaction of $496,636.29. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 5,670 shares in the company, valued at $1,638,119.70. This trade represents a 23.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Cigna Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) is a global health services company that offers a broad portfolio of healthcare products and insurance solutions for individuals, employers, and governments. Its core businesses include medical and behavioral health plans, dental and vision coverage, pharmacy benefit management, and supplemental health products. Cigna serves a mix of commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid customers and provides workplace benefits such as group health plans and disability and life benefits for employers.

In addition to traditional insurance products, Cigna operates health services and care-delivery platforms designed to manage costs and improve outcomes.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cigna Group (NYSE:CI  Free Report).

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Antofagasta (LON:ANTO  Get Free Report) had its target price boosted by research analysts at Citigroup from GBX 4,000 to GBX 4,300 in a note issued to investors on Thursday,London Stock Exchange reports. The firm presently has a buy rating on the mining companys stock. Citigroups target price suggests a potential upside of 10.71% from the companys current price.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a sell rating and set a GBX 3,100 target price on shares of Antofagasta in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Antofagasta from GBX 3,100 to GBX 3,200 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut Antofagasta to a hold rating and lifted their price target for the stock from GBX 3,165 to GBX 4,100 in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 3,700 price objective on shares of Antofagasta in a research note on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered Antofagasta to an underweight rating and dropped their target price for the company from GBX 3,070 to GBX 3,050 in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Antofagasta has an average rating of Reduce and an average price target of GBX 3,493.75.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on Antofagasta

Antofagasta Trading Up 2.7%

LON:ANTO traded up GBX 101.50 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting GBX 3,884. The stock had a trading volume of 19,153,725 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,875,608. The company has a quick ratio of 2.78, a current ratio of 2.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 74.56. The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 3,714.94 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 3,307.03. The company has a market capitalization of 38.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.81, a PEG ratio of -1.08 and a beta of 1.38. Antofagasta has a one year low of GBX 1,592 and a one year high of GBX 4,475.

Antofagasta (LON:ANTO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The mining company reported GBX 129.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Antofagasta had a return on equity of 10.67% and a net margin of 15.90%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Antofagasta will post 87.0403995 EPS for the current year.

About Antofagasta

(Get Free Report)

Antofagasta plc is a copper mining group with significant by-product production and interests in transportation. The Group creates value for its stakeholders through the discovery, development and operation of copper mines. The Group is committed to generating value in a safe and sustainable way throughout the commodity cycle.

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FY26 guidance materially delivered on both lines:

Positive underlying EBITDA achieved in the month of March 2026, and ~33% platform subscription revenue growth;

FY27 guidance for similar levels of growth for platform subscription revenue.

ikeGPS Group Limited (IKE) (NZX: IKE / ASX: IKE) is pleased to provide a performance update for the 12 months to 31 March 2026. All figures are in NZD, rounded to the nearest decimal.

Highlights include:

 FY26 Platform Subscription Revenue ~NZ$19.2m (+33% vs pcp)  FY26 guidance of approximately 35% subscription revenue growth materially delivered.

 Positive underlying EBITDA achieved in the month of March 2026  FY26 guidance delivered.

 FY27 guidance for similar levels of growth for Platform Subscription revenue.

 Exit Run Rate (ERR) of Platform Subscription Revenue ~NZ$20.7m annualised at 31 March 2026 (+18% vs pcp; +21% in constant currency). Noting one larger, long-term communications customer completed a project in 4Q aided by IKE technology. This was announced to the market early in the FY26 year. This national group remains a customer and excluding this project completion ERR Platform Subscription Revenue would have exited the year at +30% in constant currency.

 FY26 Total Revenue ~NZ$26.6m (+6% vs pcp)

 Gross margin percentage increased to ~81% (up from pcp of 69%). Platform Subscription Gross Margin ~94%.

 FY26 gross margin of ~NZ$21.4m (+23% vs pcp)

 Total Cash of ~NZ$33m (ahead of the ~NZ$32.3m reported at 3Q FY26), net receivables ~NZ$4.3m and no debt as at 31 March 2026, IKE remains well funded to execute its new product roadmap and go-to-market initiatives.

 463 subscription customers in trailing 12 months at 31 March 2026; 83 new subscription customers added in FY2026.

 Customer retention ~97%  IKE retains virtually all subscription customers year over year

 IKE PoleForeman annualised recurring revenue (ARR) has now grown to ~NZ$11m  achieved inside two years from product launch

 PolePilot - which is an AI automation platform built specifically for distribution power assets, was launched delivered a ~10% price increase across the entire IKE Office Pro subscription base with no churn  AI is generating validated revenue uplift in products and reducing costs in operations, this is not a roadmap

 IKE software is now deployed across all 50 US states; trusted by 8 of the 10 largest investor-owned utilities in North America and 5 of the 10 largest US communications companies

 More than 3,000 industry professionals attended IKE's National Electric Safety Code (NESC) webinar series in FY26, led by IKEs Grant Glaus who now sits on the main Board of the NESC and various other Distribution sub-committees. This training covered over 800 organisations. A further 1,700+ engineers completed IKE in-person NESC and OSHA IKE-certification programmes across more than 500 organisations

 Rod Snodgrass appointed to the IKE Board as Non-Executive Director

The Company will discuss the results on a webinar with CEO Glenn Milnes at 11:00am AEDT/1:00pm NZDT today on the same day of the release  Thursday, 23 April 2026.

Registration for the investor webinar is available via the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vi0_lBlcQ4q1pCmxHolZxA

Questions can be pre-submitted to simon@nwrcommunications.com.au or asked via the Q&A function during the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Devon Funds Morning Note - 22 April 2026


GAP (NYSE:GAP  Get Free Report) and MOGU (NYSE:MOGU  Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and dividends.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares GAP and MOGUs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GAP $15.37 billion 0.61 $816.00 million $2.15 11.88 MOGU $19.46 million 0.92 -$8.62 million N/A N/A

Risk and Volatility

GAP has higher revenue and earnings than MOGU.

GAP has a beta of 2.27, indicating that its stock price is 127% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MOGU has a beta of 0.47, indicating that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

58.8% of GAP shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 19.1% of MOGU shares are owned by institutional investors. 31.0% of GAP shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 19.8% of MOGU shares are owned by company 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 GAP and MOGUs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GAP 5.31% 22.98% 6.70% MOGU N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for GAP and MOGU, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GAP 0 4 11 2 2.88 MOGU 1 0 0 0 1.00

GAP currently has a consensus target price of $30.62, indicating a potential upside of 19.86%. Given GAPs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe GAP is more favorable than MOGU.

Summary

GAP beats MOGU on 12 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About GAP

(Get Free Report)

Gap, Inc. operates as a global apparel retail company, which offers clothing, apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children. The firm operates through the following segments: Gap Global, Old Navy Global, Banana Republic Global, Athleta, and Other. The Gap Global segment includes apparel and accessories for men and women under the Gap brand, along with the GapKids, BabyGap, GapMaternity, GapBody, and GapFit collections. The Old Navy Global segment offers clothing and accessories for adults and children. The Banana Republic Global segment provides clothing, eyewear, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and fragrances. The Athleta segment offers fitness apparel for women. The company founded by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher in July 1969 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

About MOGU

(Get Free Report)

MOGU Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the online fashion and lifestyle business in the People's Republic of China. The company operates an online platform that primarily offers a range of fashion apparel and other products, including beauty products and accessories provided by third party merchants, as well as personal care, food, and medical beauty products. It also provides online marketing, commission, financing, technology, and other related services to merchants, brand partners/owners, and users; and technology services to insurance companies. The company offers its products through mobile apps, including flagship Mogujie app, mini programs on Weixin, and Weixin pay; websites comprising Mogu.com, Mogujie.com and Meilishuo.com. The company was formerly known as Meili Inc. and changed its name to MOGU Inc. in November 2018. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China.

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Shares of Dana Incorporated (NYSE:DAN  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the nine brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $37.00.

DAN has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their target price on Dana from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 14th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Dana from $32.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, March 30th. Zacks Research raised Dana from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, March 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on Dana from $32.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Dana from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Dana

Dana Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE DAN opened at $37.96 on Friday. Dana has a 1 year low of $11.98 and a 1 year high of $38.60. The firm has a market cap of $4.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 66.60 and a beta of 2.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.85, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.17. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $34.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.28.

Dana (NYSE:DAN  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The auto parts company reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Dana had a negative return on equity of 3.06% and a net margin of 1.13%.The business had revenue of $1.87 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Dana will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Dana Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Investors of record on Friday, May 8th will be issued a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 8th. Danas payout ratio is currently 84.21%.

Institutional Trading of Dana

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DAN. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in Dana in the second quarter valued at about $176,000. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury increased its holdings in Dana by 10.7% in the second quarter. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury now owns 55,842 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $958,000 after buying an additional 5,405 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Dana in the third quarter valued at about $488,000. Amalgamated Bank increased its holdings in Dana by 3.5% in the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 38,337 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $768,000 after buying an additional 1,279 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC increased its holdings in Dana by 6.8% in the third quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 207,608 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $4,160,000 after buying an additional 13,270 shares during the last quarter. 96.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Dana

(Get Free Report)

Dana Incorporated is a global leader in the design and manufacture of drivetrain, sealing, and thermal-management technologies for the automotive, commercial vehicle, off-highway and industrial markets. The companys product portfolio includes axles, driveshafts, transmissions, e-Propulsion systems and thermal-management assemblies that help improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and enhance vehicle performance. Danas expertise spans internal combustion and electrified powertrains, positioning it to support both traditional and next-generation mobility solutions.

Founded in 1904 by Clarence W.

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Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) had its price target cut by Guggenheim from $275.00 to $235.00 in a research note released on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have a buy rating on the conglomerates stock.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Danaher in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Evercore cut their price target on Danaher from $254.00 to $225.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 6th. Argus set a $265.00 price objective on shares of Danaher in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Danaher from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Leerink Partners boosted their price objective on shares of Danaher from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Danaher presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $243.20.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on DHR

Danaher Trading Down 5.4%

Shares of DHR opened at $184.11 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $197.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $214.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.87. The company has a market capitalization of $130.30 billion, a PE ratio of 35.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.95. Danaher has a fifty-two week low of $180.03 and a fifty-two week high of $242.80.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The conglomerate reported $2.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $5.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 10.96% and a net margin of 14.89%.Danahers revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.88 EPS. Danaher has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.350-8.550 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Danaher will post 8.39 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 27th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is a boost from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. Danahers dividend payout ratio is presently 30.95%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Gregory M. Milosevich sold 1,320 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.01, for a total transaction of $274,573.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,099 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,060,642.99. The trade was a 20.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 10.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Danaher

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Danaher during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Danaher during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd boosted its position in Danaher by 71.6% during the 4th quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 127 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Danaher during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. 79.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Danaher News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Danaher this week:

About Danaher

(Get Free Report)

Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) is a global science and technology company that designs, manufactures and markets products and services for the life sciences, diagnostics, and environmental and applied markets. The company organizes its operations into business segments focused on Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental & Applied Solutions, supplying instruments, reagents, software and related services that support research, clinical testing, biopharmaceutical development, and industrial and environmental monitoring.

Products and services in Danahers portfolio include analytical and diagnostic instruments, laboratory consumables and reagents, digital and software solutions for workflow and data management, field and industrial monitoring equipment, and service and maintenance programs.

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DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY  Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $33.3850, but opened at $29.82. DNB Bank ASA shares last traded at $29.79, with a volume of 4,417 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on DNBBY shares. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of DNB Bank ASA in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Pareto Securities downgraded DNB Bank ASA from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Barclays raised DNB Bank ASA from a hold rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Morgan Stanley reissued an underweight rating on shares of DNB Bank ASA in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Nordea Equity Research raised DNB Bank ASA to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on DNBBY

DNB Bank ASA Trading Down 10.1%

The stock has a market capitalization of $46.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.96 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.16, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a current ratio of 1.44. The business has a 50-day moving average of $31.29 and a 200-day moving average of $28.70.

DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.67. DNB Bank ASA had a return on equity of 14.72% and a net margin of 21.00%. As a group, research analysts forecast that DNB Bank ASA will post 2.87 EPS for the current year.

DNB Bank ASA Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS: DNBBY) is Norways largest financial services group, offering a broad range of banking, insurance and capital markets services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The banks core activities encompass retail and commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, asset management, life insurance and pension products, as well as payment and card services. DNB provides traditional deposit and lending products, mortgages, savings and wealth management solutions, securities trading, corporate finance and treasury services.

The group operates through several specialized business lines, including DNB Markets for investment banking and capital markets activities and DNB Asset Management for portfolio management and investment funds.

Further Reading

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Eos Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW  Free Report) by 23.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,261 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 2,909 shares during the quarter. Sherwin-Williams makes up approximately 1.9% of Eos Management L.P.s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Eos Management L.P.s holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $4,945,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Rossby Financial LCC lifted its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 96.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rossby Financial LCC now owns 98 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 129.8% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 108 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 42.4% in the 3rd quarter. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 131 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. 77.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup dropped their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $410.00 to $385.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Sherwin-Williams from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $410.00 to $365.00 in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Zacks Research raised Sherwin-Williams from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $390.00 to $376.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 19th. Finally, Vertical Research raised Sherwin-Williams from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $371.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $379.08.

Sherwin-Williams Stock Performance

Shares of SHW opened at $334.74 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.87. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $335.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $338.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.27. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 52 week low of $301.58 and a 52 week high of $379.65.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.57 billion. Sherwin-Williams had a return on equity of 65.26% and a net margin of 10.90%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.09 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 11.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sherwin-Williams Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 22nd. Sherwin-Williamss payout ratio is currently 31.16%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Colin M. Davie sold 2,976 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $359.50, for a total value of $1,069,872.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 5,365 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,928,717.50. This represents a 35.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,513 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $364.47, for a total value of $915,913.11. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 10,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,661,101.15. This represents a 20.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.23% of the companys stock.

Sherwin-Williams Profile

(Free Report)

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) is a global manufacturer and distributor of paints, coatings and related products. Founded in 1866 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company supplies a broad range of coatings for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Its product offering includes architectural paints and stains, industrial and protective coatings, automotive finishes, and a variety of sundry products such as primers, sealants and specialty treatments used by professionals and consumers.

The company sells through multiple channels, including a large network of company-operated retail paint stores that serve professional contractors and do-it-yourself consumers, as well as through distributors and mass retailers.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW  Free Report).

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Shares of Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $870.01 and last traded at $969.9260, with a volume of 1402736 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,036.70.

Fair Isaac News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Fair Isaac this week:

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Positive Sentiment: Recent earnings and guidance remain solid: Q4 results showed an earnings beat, strong revenue growth and FY26 EPS guidance that reiterates managements outlook. Fair Isaac (FICO) Q4 2024 Earnings Transcript

Recent earnings and guidance remain solid: Q4 results showed an earnings beat, strong revenue growth and FY26 EPS guidance that reiterates managements outlook. Positive Sentiment: New analyst coverage: Mizuho initiated with an Outperform and $1,416 PT, signaling buy-side conviction that competitive risks are being overestimated. Mizuho Initiates Coverage

New analyst coverage: Mizuho initiated with an Outperform and $1,416 PT, signaling buy-side conviction that competitive risks are being overestimated. Neutral Sentiment: Wall Street previews expect continued earnings growth heading into the next report  supportive but secondary to the policy/competitive headlines. Zacks preview

Wall Street previews expect continued earnings growth heading into the next report  supportive but secondary to the policy/competitive headlines. Neutral Sentiment: Media/stock-screen coverage and investor dashboards highlight active insider sales and large institutional position shifts; informative for sentiment but not direct catalysts. QuiverQuant analysis

Media/stock-screen coverage and investor dashboards highlight active insider sales and large institutional position shifts; informative for sentiment but not direct catalysts. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/market access risk: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA are moving to accept alternative credit-score models for mortgages  a direct threat to FICOs dominant role in mortgage scoring and long-term pricing leverage. Fannie, Freddie, FHA accept alternatives

Regulatory/market access risk: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA are moving to accept alternative credit-score models for mortgages  a direct threat to FICOs dominant role in mortgage scoring and long-term pricing leverage. Negative Sentiment: Renewed scrutiny on per-score pricing: a Senate oversight letter and mortgage-industry complaints spotlight planned per-score price hikes and rising score/report costs, increasing the chance of regulatory pushback or mandated pricing concessions. That concern is the main driver of todays sell-off. MarketWatch: stock falls as Fannie/Freddie deal blow

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

FICO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating on shares of Fair Isaac in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Bank of America initiated coverage on Fair Isaac in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. They set a buy rating and a $1,900.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Fair Isaac from $1,825.00 to $1,325.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 24th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Fair Isaac from $1,500.00 to $1,350.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Fair Isaac from $1,770.00 to $1,528.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 2nd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,803.14.

Fair Isaac Trading Down 6.4%

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,185.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,493.36. The stock has a market cap of $23.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.90, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.38.

Fair Isaac (NYSE:FICO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The technology company reported $7.33 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.08 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $766.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $501.05 million. Fair Isaac had a negative return on equity of 40.98% and a net margin of 31.89%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.79 EPS. Fair Isaac has set its FY 2026 guidance at 38.170-38.170 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Fair Isaac Corporation will post 36.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Fair Isaac declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, February 25th that permits the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the technology company to buy up to 5.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Eva Manolis sold 520 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,227.63, for a total value of $638,367.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 344 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $422,304.72. This represents a 60.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Joanna Rees sold 358 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,360.00, for a total value of $486,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 11,204 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,237,440. The trade was a 3.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 3.02% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fair Isaac

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Patton Fund Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Fair Isaac by 115.9% in the 1st quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc. now owns 272 shares of the technology companys stock worth $290,000 after buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its holdings in shares of Fair Isaac by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 2,242 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,393,000 after buying an additional 158 shares in the last quarter. WT Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Fair Isaac in the 1st quarter worth approximately $204,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new position in shares of Fair Isaac in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,281,000. Finally, Silver Oak Securities Incorporated raised its holdings in shares of Fair Isaac by 38.7% in the 1st quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 573 shares of the technology companys stock worth $611,000 after buying an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. 85.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Fair Isaac

(Get Free Report)

Fair Isaac Corporation, commonly known as FICO, is a data analytics and software company best known for its FICO Score, a widely used credit-scoring system that helps lenders assess consumer credit risk. Founded in 1956 by Bill Fair and Earl Isaac, the company has evolved from its origins in statistical credit scoring to a broader focus on predictive analytics, decision management and artificial intelligence-driven solutions for financial services and other industries. FICO is headquartered in San Jose, California, and operates globally, serving clients across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

FICOs product portfolio centers on analytics and decisioning technologies.

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GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 7.100-7.400 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 7.450. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

GE Aerospace Stock Performance

Shares of GE Aerospace stock opened at $276.03 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $310.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $306.87. GE Aerospace has a 1-year low of $192.57 and a 1-year high of $348.48. The company has a market cap of $289.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.99, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.43.

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GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The company reported $1.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.60 by $0.26. GE Aerospace had a return on equity of 37.99% and a net margin of 17.86%.The firm had revenue of $11.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.61 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.49 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 24.6% compared to the same quarter last year. GE Aerospace has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.100-7.400 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that GE Aerospace will post 7.34 EPS for the current year.

GE Aerospace Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.47 per share. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. This is an increase from GE Aerospaces previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. GE Aerospaces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.10%.

GE has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their price target on GE Aerospace from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Zacks Research downgraded GE Aerospace from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, March 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $355.00 price target on shares of GE Aerospace in a report on Wednesday. TD Cowen reduced their target price on GE Aerospace from $350.00 to $330.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on GE Aerospace from $374.00 to $405.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, GE Aerospace presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $348.50.

Read Our Latest Analysis on GE

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Robert M. Giglietti sold 3,035 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.51, for a total value of $927,222.85. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 10,583 shares in the company, valued at $3,233,212.33. This trade represents a 22.29% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Russell Stokes sold 30,363 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.47, for a total value of $9,305,348.61. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 150,434 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,103,507.98. This represents a 16.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 37,398 shares of company stock worth $11,455,491 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.19% of the companys stock.

Trending Headlines about GE Aerospace

Here are the key news stories impacting GE Aerospace this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat on profit, revenue and orders  GE topped EPS and revenue estimates and reported a large services backlog and an 80%-plus jump in orders, supporting medium/long-term demand for engines and services. Read More.

Q1 beat on profit, revenue and orders  GE topped EPS and revenue estimates and reported a large services backlog and an 80%-plus jump in orders, supporting medium/long-term demand for engines and services. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Strong backlog & order growth underpin cash/earnings visibility  management highlighted a >$170B commercial services backlog, which analysts say supports FY and multiyear cash flow. Read More.

Strong backlog & order growth underpin cash/earnings visibility  management highlighted a >$170B commercial services backlog, which analysts say supports FY and multiyear cash flow. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Bullish analyst actions offset some selling  Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Overweight/$325 PT and several firms reaffirmed Outperform/Buy stances, indicating continued analyst conviction at longer horizons. Read More.

Bullish analyst actions offset some selling  Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Overweight/$325 PT and several firms reaffirmed Outperform/Buy stances, indicating continued analyst conviction at longer horizons. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Workforce & MRO investments  GE announced a $30M workforce program and MRO/manufacturing investments that are constructive long-term for capacity and services but unlikely to move near-term earnings. Read More.

Workforce & MRO investments  GE announced a $30M workforce program and MRO/manufacturing investments that are constructive long-term for capacity and services but unlikely to move near-term earnings. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Industry context  Peers also beat but traded down when guidance wasnt raised, suggesting sector rotation and macro concerns are influencing moves beyond company fundamentals. Read More.

Industry context  Peers also beat but traded down when guidance wasnt raised, suggesting sector rotation and macro concerns are influencing moves beyond company fundamentals. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Unchanged/cautious guidance and fuel risk  Management kept FY outlook broadly steady and warned that higher jet fuel and weaker flight-growth assumptions could pressure margins, which disappointed investors expecting upside. Read More.

Unchanged/cautious guidance and fuel risk  Management kept FY outlook broadly steady and warned that higher jet fuel and weaker flight-growth assumptions could pressure margins, which disappointed investors expecting upside. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Geopolitical headwinds called out  Management highlighted Middle East risk as a potential downside to demand and operations, increasing uncertainty priced by the market. Read More.

Geopolitical headwinds called out  Management highlighted Middle East risk as a potential downside to demand and operations, increasing uncertainty priced by the market. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Analyst target trims and market cap hit  Multiple shops trimmed price targets (UBS, President Capital, Morgan Stanley trims reported) and the stock gave back a large amount of market value on the earnings day, adding selling momentum. Read More.

Analyst target trims and market cap hit  Multiple shops trimmed price targets (UBS, President Capital, Morgan Stanley trims reported) and the stock gave back a large amount of market value on the earnings day, adding selling momentum. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Investor rotation to GE Vernova  The GE spinoff (GEV) posted a blowout quarter and raised guidance, drawing investor capital away from GE Aerospace during the same earnings window. Read More.

Institutional Trading of GE Aerospace

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Claris Financial LLC bought a new position in GE Aerospace in the 4th quarter valued at about $216,000. Rare Wolf Capital LLC bought a new position in GE Aerospace in the 4th quarter valued at about $220,000. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in GE Aerospace by 11.6% in the 4th quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 20,023 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,168,000 after acquiring an additional 2,075 shares in the last quarter. Birchwood Financial Partners Inc. bought a new position in GE Aerospace in the 4th quarter valued at about $116,000. Finally, Ameriflex Group Inc. lifted its position in GE Aerospace by 205.6% in the 4th quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 3,967 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,222,000 after acquiring an additional 2,669 shares in the last quarter. 74.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About GE Aerospace

(Get Free Report)

GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) is the aerospace business of General Electric, focused on the design, manufacture and support of aircraft engines, integrated propulsion systems and related aftermarket services. The company serves commercial airlines, airframers, business and general aviation operators, and defense customers, providing propulsion solutions for a broad range of aircraft types from singleaisle airliners to widebody and military platforms.

Its product portfolio includes a family of commercial and military jet engines as well as spare parts, components and systems engineering.

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Great Wall Motor (OTCMKTS:GWLLF  Get Free Report) is expected to be issuing its resultson Friday, April 24th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.0184 per share and revenue of $7.0671 billion for the quarter.

Great Wall Motor Price Performance

Shares of GWLLF opened at $1.68 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $1.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.80. Great Wall Motor has a 52 week low of $1.38 and a 52 week high of $2.51.

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About Great Wall Motor

(Get Free Report)

Great Wall Motor Company Limited is a leading Chinese automotive manufacturer based in Baoding, Hebei Province. The company specializes in the design, development and production of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), pickup trucks and electric vehicles. Its portfolio includes the Haval brand of SUVs, the WEY luxury SUV line, the Tank series of off-road vehicles and the ORA electric vehicle brand. Great Wall Motors vertical integration spans steel stamping, welding, painting and final assembly, allowing the company to maintain control over key production processes and quality standards.

Founded in 1984 as the Baoding Great Wall Foundry Factory, the company adopted the name Great Wall Motor in 1996 to reflect its automotive ambitions.

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G&S Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 9,009 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock, valued at approximately $736,000.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC acquired a new position in Uber Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Westend Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Uber Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Uber Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Uber Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Hager Investment Management Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Uber Technologies by 276.2% in the 4th quarter. Hager Investment Management Services LLC now owns 489 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 359 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.24% of the companys stock.

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More Uber Technologies News

Here are the key news stories impacting Uber Technologies this week:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UBER. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Uber Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Uber Technologies from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Thursday, March 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald cut their price target on Uber Technologies from $99.00 to $92.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Wolfe Research cut their price target on Uber Technologies from $125.00 to $110.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Guggenheim cut their price target on Uber Technologies from $135.00 to $125.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-two have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $105.14.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Uber Technologies

Uber Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of Uber Technologies stock opened at $75.65 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $154.56 billion, a PE ratio of 16.06, a PEG ratio of 7.07 and a beta of 1.21. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $68.46 and a 12 month high of $101.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $73.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $82.17.

Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.79 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $14.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.32 billion. Uber Technologies had a return on equity of 43.63% and a net margin of 19.33%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 20.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.21 EPS. Uber Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.650-0.720 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 3.34 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Uber Technologies

In other Uber Technologies news, CFO Balaji (A) Krishnamurthy acquired 22,453 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $71.25 per share, with a total value of $1,599,776.25. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer owned 28,742 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,047,867.50. This represents a 357.02% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Nikki Krishnamurthy sold 30,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.45, for a total value of $2,233,500.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 460,756 shares in the company, valued at $34,303,284.20. The trade was a 6.11% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 3.81% of the companys stock.

Uber Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Uber Technologies, Inc is a technology company that operates a global platform connecting riders, drivers, couriers, restaurants and shippers. Founded in 2009 by Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick and headquartered in San Francisco, Uber developed one of the first large-scale ride-hailing marketplaces and has since expanded into a broader set of mobility and logistics services. The company completed its initial public offering in 2019 and continues to position its app-based network as a multi-modal transportation and delivery platform.

Ubers principal businesses include mobility services (ride-hailing and shared rides), delivery through Uber Eats, and freight logistics via Uber Freight.

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HB Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO  Free Report) by 8.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 192,433 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 18,087 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $16,780,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SO. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Southern by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 106,414,323 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $10,084,885,000 after purchasing an additional 510,080 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in Southern by 320.3% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 33,548,852 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,179,425,000 after buying an additional 25,567,431 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in Southern by 3.5% in the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 8,532,530 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $808,628,000 after buying an additional 285,546 shares during the period. Soroban Capital Partners LP lifted its holdings in Southern by 83.8% in the second quarter. Soroban Capital Partners LP now owns 4,097,422 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $376,266,000 after buying an additional 1,867,912 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Southern by 1.9% in the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 2,904,697 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $275,277,000 after buying an additional 53,641 shares during the period. 64.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

SO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, April 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $105.00 price target on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Southern in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $102.00 price target on shares of Southern in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Southern from $88.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Southern has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $99.08.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Kimberly S. Greene sold 25,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Monday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.67, for a total transaction of $2,416,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 103,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,015,205.34. The trade was a 19.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 6,669 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.55, for a total value of $643,891.95. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 30,800 shares in the company, valued at $2,973,740. This trade represents a 17.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock.

Southern Stock Performance

Southern stock opened at $91.81 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69. The company has a market capitalization of $103.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.36, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.41. The stocks 50 day moving average is $95.78 and its 200 day moving average is $92.18. Southern Company has a twelve month low of $83.09 and a twelve month high of $100.83.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The utilities provider reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.01). Southern had a net margin of 14.69% and a return on equity of 12.52%. The firm had revenue of $6.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.50 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Southern Company will post 4.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Southern Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 18th will be given a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 18th. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.74. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. Southerns payout ratio is 75.32%.

About Southern

(Free Report)

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is an Atlanta-based energy holding company that provides electric and gas utility services and owns power generation assets across the United States. Founded in 1945, the company operates a portfolio of regulated electric utilities and affiliated businesses that generate, transmit and distribute electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Southerns principal regulated electric subsidiaries include Georgia Power, Alabama Power and Mississippi Power, which serve large portions of the southeastern United States.

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April 22, 2026: Russian leader Vladimir Putin has demanded more efficient corruption in the military. Russia is running out of money for its war with Ukraine because the military system is riddled with corruption, and no one has been able to get a grip on it.

Vladimir Putins Russia, like many post-Soviet autocratic systems, is built on dense patronage networks that allow members of the presidents inner circle to steal money. This form of corruption is watched and, when the moment is right, the targeted individual can be accused of stealing money though the government has known that all along. Generals are told to behave as expected, or your crimes will be revealed, and you will be humiliated.

There are limits. The Russian budget is under huge pressure. Whatever the results of the American -Israeli war on Iran where the Americans have temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil, any relief cant come soon enough. Russia is now in serious talks about slashing the 2026 budget by 10 percent. Any cuts would fall mainly on the civilian side of the economy, while military spending remains untouched.

Even so, the Defense Ministry remains under significant political pressure, something demonstrated by the continuing campaign against graft. Earlier this year, the government announced the arrest on corruption charges of yet another former deputy defense minister, Ruslan Tsalikov, a close, long-time associate of Sergey Shoigu, who led the ministry until 2024. He was a much-decorated official, with a full Knight of the Merit to the Fatherland Order who had been rewarded for impeccable service.

Tsalikov is accused of creating a criminal group to steal from the state budget from 2017-24, and of bribery and money laundering. The Russia of 2026 is saying that the Russia of 2024 and before was corrupt at the highest levels. That is one reason why Shoigu was replaced by Andrei Belousov, an economist with no military background two years ago. Russias public explanation, echoed by analysts, was simple: impose discipline on the war budgets exponential growth. This has not worked. Every Russian budget since 2022 has promised to cut military spending in two or three years, and none has done so.

Unable to reduce outlays, the government has made efforts to spend more efficiently by reducing corruption. At least, that is one way to read parallel processes that have been unfolding inside the defense ministry over the past two years.

The first involved arguably the most sweeping purge of officials in the history of post-Soviet Russia. Shoigus removal as minister in May 2024 was preceded by the arrest of several close associates, including another deputy minister. But the purge didnt stop when the leadership changed.

It has now lasted two years, and more than seventy individuals have been arrested so far. Nearly half are officials from the Defense Ministry or its subordinate organizations, the other half are their suppliers and contractors. By comparison, the previous Defense Ministry purge, which also accompanied a change of minister in 2012, swept up fewer than 20 people and barely touched senior officials.

In dictatorships, high-profile anti-corruption cases are usually a tool for redistributing cash. But sometimes, given the right incentives at the top, something closer to performance-driven anti-corruption emerges. The government clearly has those incentives now and Putin wants his war machine to be more effective.

The relentlessly expanding purge at the Defense Ministry may well serve that goal. The FSB-led security services are dismantling the cash-extraction networks built up under Shoigus team, clearing the way for new leadership to restructure the ministry more quickly.

The identity of the targets supports this argument. Roughly 85 percent of defendants come from the logistics side of the military machine that provide construction, food supply, and ammunition. All four arrested deputy ministers oversaw these domains. The armament side has barely been touched during the purges.

Yet there is every reason to think corruption is as deeply embedded across the Russian military system. The asymmetry in the purge may reflect a deliberate priority: to squeeze costs in logistics and support, so that spending on armament can keep growing.

The classified-versus-open military spending ratio offers indirect confirmation. Until 2023, the split was roughly equal. By 20242025, the share of classified expenditure, which primarily covers armament procurement, had risen to nearly 70 percent.

The purge is only half the story. Alongside it, a second process has been unfolding inside the Defense Ministry, one that points to a different kind of change.

Until 2024, the ministry, like much of the Russian federal bureaucracy, was run as the private fiefdom of a single elite faction. Even if the General Staff reported directly to Putin, Shoigu controlled the business side of the ministry and used it to cultivate his patronage network.

His successor, Belousov, likely commands a smaller network of his own, although the Dossier publication has published documents about his private life, including an Italian villa. Despite the fact that he begins official meetings with a prayer, it is likely Belousov has built new cash-extraction chains given the sheer scale of the defense budget. But the government changed strategy, rather than handing the ministry to a single faction, it shifted it to collective management. At least, that is what the biography of the new deputy minister lineup suggests.

Belousov himself managed to place only one close ally among his 10 deputies: Oleg Savelyev, a colleague from his years at the Economics Ministry. Pavel Fradkov was another appointee. He is a figure with security service ties, son of a former SVR chief, and brother of the head of the state-controlled bank financing military procurement.

The first deputy minister slot went to Leonid Gornin, a senior Finance Ministry technocrat. Despite a superficially similar background to Belousov, Gornin represents a different wing of the economic bureaucracy  he is closer to the tight-money faction around the finance minister and central bank head, and considerably more skeptical of the large-scale state investment agenda that Belousov has long championed.

Another deputy minister is Anna Tsiviliova, Putins niece and head of the Defenders of the Fatherland foundation, the state veterans fund that functions, in practice, as a political control mechanism over that constituency.

Two more deputies, Alexei Krivoruchko and Vasily Osmakov, who oversee the armament sector, are close to Sergei Chemezov, the powerful head of the state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec, and one of Putins longest-standing allies.

The remaining four deputies, including Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, come from the military. Three held their posts through the 2024 reshuffle. The fourth, Alexander Sanchik, a career officer who commanded major Russian formations in Ukraine, was personally introduced to his new role by Putin in November. Sanchik will oversee most logistics departments.

Two years after Shoigus removal, both the purge and the shift to collective management appear to be structural rather than temporary changes. Together they point to a system designed not to reduce war spending, but to make Russias war machine run more efficiently under tighter political control.

That much is clear. It is less clear whether the changes are actually achieving the efficiencies that Putin seeks or whether Russias old boy system has pioneered new methods to rob the taxpayer, and short-change the soldiers at the front.
QF Liquidation (OTCMKTS:QTWWQ  Get Free Report) and American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:DCH  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk and valuation.

Volatility & Risk

QF Liquidation has a beta of 8.41, indicating that its stock price is 741% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Axle & Manufacturing has a beta of 1.63, indicating that its stock price is 63% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Valuation and Earnings

This table compares QF Liquidation and American Axle & Manufacturings top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio QF Liquidation N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A American Axle & Manufacturing $5.84 billion 0.24 -$19.70 million ($0.18) -32.36

QF Liquidation has higher earnings, but lower revenue than American Axle & Manufacturing.

Profitability

This table compares QF Liquidation and American Axle & Manufacturings net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets QF Liquidation N/A N/A N/A American Axle & Manufacturing -0.34% 10.00% 1.17%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for QF Liquidation and American Axle & Manufacturing, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score QF Liquidation 0 0 0 0 0.00 American Axle & Manufacturing 1 2 1 0 2.00

American Axle & Manufacturing has a consensus price target of $12.00, indicating a potential upside of 106.01%. Given American Axle & Manufacturings stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe American Axle & Manufacturing is more favorable than QF Liquidation.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

91.4% of American Axle & Manufacturing shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.0% of QF Liquidation shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 2.1% of American Axle & Manufacturing shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

American Axle & Manufacturing beats QF Liquidation on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About QF Liquidation

(Get Free Report)

QF Liquidation, Inc. develops, produces, and sells compressed natural gas fuel storage tanks and packaged fuel storage systems for heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks; and passenger vehicles in the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Taiwan. Its products include high pressure gaseous fuel tanks, packaged fuel system modules, gaseous fuel electronic vehicle control systems and software, hybrid control and motor control software systems, inverters and motors, and engines/generators and fuel cell power. The company also designs, develops, engineers, and validates fuel storage systems for natural gas vehicle applications ranging from passenger vehicles to heavy duty trucks; and integrates electric motors, inverters, generators, and electronic vehicle control components into hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles. In addition, it provides component, subsystem, and system testing and validation services; certification and compliance; and production engineering and manufacturing process development services. Further, the company offers vehicle level assembly services; technical training services; and service procedures, diagnostics, tools, and repair/maintenance programs for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Its customers include OEMs, aftermarket and OEM truck integrators, fleets, material science companies, and other governmental entities and agencies. The company, formerly known as Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Lake Forest, California.

About American Axle & Manufacturing

(Get Free Report)

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.

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Kanawha Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT  Free Report) by 21.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 77,923 shares of the retailers stock after selling 21,628 shares during the period. Kanawha Capital Management LLCs holdings in Target were worth $7,617,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Target by 12.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 57,925,898 shares of the retailers stock worth $5,195,953,000 after purchasing an additional 6,481,560 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Target by 2.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 37,648,065 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,377,031,000 after purchasing an additional 911,964 shares in the last quarter. Amundi grew its holdings in Target by 38.6% during the third quarter. Amundi now owns 1,913,883 shares of the retailers stock valued at $170,278,000 after purchasing an additional 533,416 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Target by 17.1% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 3,162,050 shares of the retailers stock valued at $311,911,000 after purchasing an additional 461,495 shares during the period. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in Target by 21.4% in the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,408,505 shares of the retailers stock worth $210,865,000 after buying an additional 425,081 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.73% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Guggenheim raised their price objective on Target from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Evercore set a $125.00 target price on shares of Target in a report on Tuesday. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Target from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and raised their target price for the stock from $91.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. KeyCorp reaffirmed a sector weight rating on shares of Target in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Target from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Target has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $117.39.

Target Stock Performance

NYSE TGT opened at $130.71 on Thursday. 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 twelve month low of $83.44 and a twelve month high of $133.10. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $118.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $104.85. The firm has a market cap of $59.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.50 and a beta of 1.03.

Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The retailer reported $2.44 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.28. Target had a return on equity of 22.25% and a net margin of 3.54%.The company had revenue of $30.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $30.52 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.41 EPS. The firms 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. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Target Corporation will post 8.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Target Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Investors 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 dividend yield of 3.5%. Targets dividend payout ratio is currently 56.09%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Target news, CAO Matthew A. Liegel sold 2,053 shares of Target stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $240,591.07. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 12,143 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,423,038.17. The trade was a 14.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock.

Target Company 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.

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Shares of Lenovo Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $29.20, but opened at $27.90. Lenovo Group shares last traded at $27.97, with a volume of 1,540 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Zacks Research raised Lenovo Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Lenovo Group

Lenovo Group Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $24.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $25.40. The stock has a market cap of $18.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.60.

Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The technology company reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.62 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.65 billion. Lenovo Group had a return on equity of 25.60% and a net margin of 1.89%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Lenovo Group Ltd. will post 2.25 EPS for the current year.

About Lenovo Group

(Get Free Report)

Lenovo Group is a multinational technology company known primarily for the design, manufacture and sale of personal computers, servers, storage and smart devices. Its product portfolio spans consumer and commercial PCs (notable brands include ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga and Legion), workstations, enterprise-class ThinkSystem servers and storage, as well as tablets, smartphones (notably through its Motorola Mobility acquisition), smart home devices and related software. Lenovo also provides IT services and solutions, including systems integration, managed services and lifecycle support for enterprise customers.

The company traces its origins to 1984 when it was founded in Beijing as Legend by Liu Chuanzhi; it later adopted the Lenovo name and expanded through a series of strategic acquisitions.

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Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA lowered its position in shares of HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB  Free Report) by 5.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 361,642 shares of the banks stock after selling 21,564 shares during the period. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MAs holdings in HDFC Bank were worth $13,214,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Schroder Investment Management Group boosted its holdings in HDFC Bank by 137.6% in the 3rd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 25,221,130 shares of the banks stock valued at $861,554,000 after purchasing an additional 14,606,422 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of HDFC Bank by 104.4% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 19,204,783 shares of the banks stock worth $656,035,000 after buying an additional 9,808,890 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in HDFC Bank by 9,866.5% during the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 7,944,403 shares of the banks stock valued at $271,381,000 after buying an additional 7,864,692 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in HDFC Bank by 106.1% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 13,884,943 shares of the banks stock valued at $474,310,000 after buying an additional 7,147,440 shares during the period. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its position in HDFC Bank by 150.1% during the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 11,601,628 shares of the banks stock worth $396,312,000 after buying an additional 6,963,646 shares in the last quarter. 17.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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HDFC Bank Stock Down 1.3%

NYSE HDB opened at $26.12 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $28.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $32.80. HDFC Bank Limited has a twelve month low of $23.91 and a twelve month high of $39.81. The company has a market capitalization of $133.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.64, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.67.

Insider Activity

Analyst Ratings Changes

In related news, insider N Srinivasan sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.21, for a total value of $82,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 648,422 shares in the company, valued at $5,323,544.62. The trade was a 1.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, insider Ashish Parthasarthy sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.94, for a total transaction of $53,640.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 848,558 shares in the company, valued at $7,586,108.52. The trade was a 0.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on HDB. Wall Street Zen upgraded HDFC Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings cut shares of HDFC Bank from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, HDFC Bank currently has a consensus rating of Reduce.

View Our Latest Analysis on HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank Company Profile

(Free Report)

HDFC Bank Limited is one of Indias leading private sector banks, headquartered in Mumbai. Incorporated in 1994 and promoted by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), the bank provides a full range of banking and financial services to retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, and corporate customers. It is publicly listed and also accessible to international investors through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HDB.

The banks core activities include retail banking (deposit accounts, personal loans, home loans, auto loans, and credit cards), commercial and corporate banking (working capital finance, term lending, trade finance and treasury services), and transaction banking (cash management and payment solutions).

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Marietta Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET  Free Report) by 20.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 28,321 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,757 shares during the quarter. Marietta Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Arista Networks were worth $3,711,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Arista Networks by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 100,000,830 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $14,571,121,000 after purchasing an additional 1,007,730 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in Arista Networks by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 46,342,551 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,752,573,000 after purchasing an additional 245,976 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in Arista Networks by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 10,094,255 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,470,834,000 after buying an additional 181,813 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in Arista Networks by 82.5% in the 3rd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 9,587,115 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,396,939,000 after buying an additional 4,332,659 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in Arista Networks by 2,829.0% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,721,156 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $833,630,000 after buying an additional 5,525,828 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.47% of the companys stock.

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Key Stories Impacting Arista Networks

Here are the key news stories impacting Arista Networks this week:

Insiders Place Their Bets

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

In other Arista Networks news, insider Kenneth Duda sold 32,000 shares of Arista Networks stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.44, for a total value of $4,558,080.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 12,976 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,848,301.44. This trade represents a 71.15% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CFO Chantelle Yvette Breithaupt sold 8,890 shares of Arista Networks stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.02, for a total value of $1,378,127.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 60,734 shares in the company, valued at $9,414,984.68. This represents a 12.77% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 980,868 shares of company stock worth $154,661,490. Corporate insiders own 3.39% of the companys stock.

A number of research analysts have commented on ANET shares. Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on Arista Networks from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Rosenblatt Securities upgraded Arista Networks from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $165.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Arista Networks from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Arista Networks from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, TD Cowen started coverage on Arista Networks in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. They issued a buy rating and a $170.00 price objective on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $177.83.

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Arista Networks Trading Up 2.9%

ANET stock opened at $177.89 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $138.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $136.88. The firm has a market cap of $223.99 billion, a PE ratio of 64.45, a P/E/G ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 1.48. Arista Networks, Inc. has a 1-year low of $70.36 and a 1-year high of $178.48.

Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The technology company reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.38 billion. Arista Networks had a return on equity of 30.37% and a net margin of 38.99%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.66 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Arista Networks, Inc. will post 3.17 earnings per share for the current year.

About Arista Networks

(Free Report)

Arista Networks, Inc is a technology company that designs and sells cloud networking solutions for large-scale data centers and enterprise environments. The company is best known for its high-performance switching and routing platforms, which are used to build scalable, low-latency networks for cloud service providers, internet companies, financial services, telecommunications, and enterprise IT. Aristas offerings emphasize programmability, automation and telemetry to support modern, software-driven network architectures.

Central to Aristas product portfolio is its Extensible Operating System (EOS), a modular network operating system that provides consistent programmability, stateful control and advanced visibility across the companys hardware platforms.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ANET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET  Free Report).

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Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, April 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a dividend of 1.03 per share by the business services provider on Friday, June 5th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th.

Moodys has raised its dividend by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 16 years. Moodys has a dividend payout ratio of 26.8% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Moodys to earn $18.56 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $4.12 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 22.2%.

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Moodys Stock Performance

Shares of Moodys stock opened at $467.80 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $444.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $477.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.20, a PEG ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. Moodys has a 52 week low of $402.28 and a 52 week high of $546.88.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Moodys ( NYSE:MCO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The business services provider reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.22 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $2.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.11 billion. Moodys had a net margin of 31.86% and a return on equity of 66.01%. Moodyss revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.83 EPS. Moodys has set its FY 2026 guidance at 16.400-17.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Moodys will post 16.67 EPS for the current year.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on MCO shares. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $531.00 price objective on Moodys in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Moodys from $600.00 to $560.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 19th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Moodys in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Moodys from $660.00 to $560.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 13th. Finally, Bank of America restated a buy rating and set a $565.00 target price on shares of Moodys in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $542.63.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MCO

Moodys Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Moodys Corporation is a global provider of credit ratings, research, data and analytics that support financial decision-making and transparency in capital markets. The company traces its origins to the early 20th century when financial analyst John Moody began publishing credit information; today Moodys is headquartered in New York and serves a broad set of market participants including investors, issuers, financial institutions, corporations, governments and regulators.

Moodys operates primarily through two complementary businesses.

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ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW  Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from $210.00 to $180.00 in a research report issued on Thursday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the information technology services providers stock. Morgan Stanleys price target suggests a potential upside of 107.34% from the companys current price.

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on NOW. UBS Group downgraded shares of ServiceNow from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the company from $170.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, April 10th. Arete Research set a $200.00 target price on shares of ServiceNow in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Mizuho set a $150.00 price target on ServiceNow and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on ServiceNow from $180.00 to $135.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded ServiceNow from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $155.86.

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ServiceNow Stock Performance

ServiceNow stock traded down $16.26 during trading on Thursday, reaching $86.81. The company had a trading volume of 17,589,364 shares, compared to its average volume of 20,024,004. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $105.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $138.83. ServiceNow has a 52 week low of $81.24 and a 52 week high of $211.48. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.01.

ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The information technology services provider reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.97. ServiceNow had a return on equity of 18.54% and a net margin of 13.16%.The business had revenue of $3.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.75 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.04 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that ServiceNow will post 2.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Paul Edward Chamberlain sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.17, for a total value of $151,755.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 46,430 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,697,323.10. The trade was a 3.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Kevin Thomas Mcbride sold 1,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.71, for a total value of $147,994.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 26,314 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,781,652.94. The trade was a 5.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 16,237 shares of company stock worth $1,697,162 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of ServiceNow

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in ServiceNow by 200.0% in the third quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 27 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC raised its stake in ServiceNow by 93.8% during the third quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 31 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new position in ServiceNow during the third quarter valued at $29,000. Albion Financial Group UT grew its stake in shares of ServiceNow by 78.9% in the 3rd quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 34 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 52.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 38 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. 87.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting ServiceNow

Here are the key news stories impacting ServiceNow this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 subscription revenue and top-line: Subscription revenue grew ~22% YoY and overall Q1 revenue slightly beat consensus, showing continued demand for ServiceNows AI-driven platform. BusinessWire Q1 Release

Q1 subscription revenue and top-line: Subscription revenue grew ~22% YoY and overall Q1 revenue slightly beat consensus, showing continued demand for ServiceNows AI-driven platform. Positive Sentiment: Company raised its annual subscription revenue outlook, citing stronger AI adoption  a sign management sees sustainable demand for Now Assist and related products. Reuters: Boosts Outlook

Company raised its annual subscription revenue outlook, citing stronger AI adoption  a sign management sees sustainable demand for Now Assist and related products. Neutral Sentiment: Strategic moves: ServiceNow closed the Armis acquisition to expand into OT/IoT/cyber asset visibility and announced deeper Google Cloud AI integrations  positive long-term product synergy but with short-term execution risk. Yahoo: Google Cloud Partnership

Strategic moves: ServiceNow closed the Armis acquisition to expand into OT/IoT/cyber asset visibility and announced deeper Google Cloud AI integrations  positive long-term product synergy but with short-term execution risk. Neutral Sentiment: Management tone and events calendar: CEO emphasized AI-driven productivity and an Analyst Day is scheduled for May 4  useful for forward guidance clarity. Investors.com: Analyst Day

Management tone and events calendar: CEO emphasized AI-driven productivity and an Analyst Day is scheduled for May 4  useful for forward guidance clarity. Negative Sentiment: Middle East deal delays: Management said delayed large deals in the Middle East created ~75 bps of subscription-revenue headwind in Q1 and could push some closures into later quarters  an immediate growth and sentiment headwind. Yahoo: Deal Delays

Middle East deal delays: Management said delayed large deals in the Middle East created ~75 bps of subscription-revenue headwind in Q1 and could push some closures into later quarters  an immediate growth and sentiment headwind. Negative Sentiment: Margins to be pressured by Armis purchase: ServiceNow warned the acquisition will create a roughly 75bp FY operating-margin headwind (125 bps in Q2), which contributed to investor concern about near-term profitability. WSJ: Armis Margin Impact

Margins to be pressured by Armis purchase: ServiceNow warned the acquisition will create a roughly 75bp FY operating-margin headwind (125 bps in Q2), which contributed to investor concern about near-term profitability. Negative Sentiment: Market reaction and analyst moves: Despite the beat, sentiment soured  multiple shops trimmed price targets and the stock drew higher short interest amid broader AI/disruption worries, amplifying the selloff. Finviz: Analyst PT Cuts Reuters: Short Interest

ServiceNow Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) is a cloud computing company that builds enterprise software to manage digital workflows and automate business processes. Its offerings are designed to replace manual work and legacy systems with cloud-based, service-oriented applications that support IT operations, customer service, human resources, security response and other enterprise functions.

The companys flagship product family is the Now Platform, a suite of subscription software and platform services that includes IT Service Management (ITSM), IT Operations Management (ITOM), IT Business Management (ITBM), Customer Service Management (CSM), HR Service Delivery, Security Operations and Asset Management.

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MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) had its price target upped by Morgan Stanley from $719.00 to $727.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the technology companys stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Bank of America began coverage on shares of MSCI in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $700.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of MSCI from $545.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday. Raymond James Financial reissued a strong-buy rating and issued a $730.00 price objective on shares of MSCI in a research note on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating and issued a $715.00 price objective on shares of MSCI in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $655.00 price objective on shares of MSCI in a research note on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $692.70.

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View Our Latest Report on MSCI

MSCI Stock Performance

MSCI opened at $607.55 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.70, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a fifty day moving average of $551.05 and a 200 day moving average of $561.97. MSCI has a fifty-two week low of $501.08 and a fifty-two week high of $626.28.

MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 21st. The technology company reported $4.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.38 by $0.17. MSCI had a net margin of 40.74% and a negative return on equity of 65.48%. The business had revenue of $850.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $830.91 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.00 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that MSCI will post 19.39 earnings per share for the current year.

MSCI Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $2.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $8.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. MSCIs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.26%.

Insider Transactions at MSCI

In related news, CFO Andrew C. Wiechmann sold 450 shares of MSCI stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $560.00, for a total transaction of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 22,544 shares in the company, valued at $12,624,640. This trade represents a 1.96% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Henry A. Fernandez acquired 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were bought at an average price of $518.95 per share, with a total value of $415,160.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,493,847 shares in the company, valued at $775,231,900.65. This represents a 0.05% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 3.76% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSCI

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MSCI. Norges Bank bought a new stake in MSCI during the 4th quarter valued at about $528,560,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in MSCI by 499.3% during the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 874,882 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $496,417,000 after buying an additional 728,900 shares in the last quarter. Bamco Inc. NY lifted its holdings in MSCI by 15.1% during the 4th quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 2,755,747 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,581,055,000 after buying an additional 361,630 shares in the last quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. lifted its holdings in MSCI by 91.8% during the 3rd quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 691,554 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $392,395,000 after buying an additional 331,040 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in MSCI by 36.0% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,069,180 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $606,674,000 after buying an additional 282,859 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.97% of the companys stock.

Trending Headlines about MSCI

Here are the key news stories impacting MSCI this week:

MSCI Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

MSCI Inc is a global provider of investment decision support tools and services for the financial industry. The company is best known for its family of market indexes, which are widely used as benchmarks by asset managers and as the basis for exchange-traded funds and other passive products. In addition to index construction and licensing, MSCI offers portfolio analytics, risk models, factor and performance attribution tools, and a suite of data and technology solutions designed to support portfolio management and trading.

Beyond traditional indexing and risk analytics, MSCI has expanded into environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and ratings, offering data, scores and screening tools that help investors integrate sustainability considerations into investment processes.

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Nestle SA (OTCMKTS:NSRGY  Get Free Report)s share price gapped up prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $96.72, but opened at $101.91. Nestle shares last traded at $101.47, with a volume of 43,297 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NSRGY has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of Nestle in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Nestle in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Nestle presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on Nestle

Nestle Trading Up 5.3%

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nestle

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $101.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $98.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.47.

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NSRGY. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nestle during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Nestle by 73.6% during the 1st quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 349 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nestle during the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH increased its position in shares of Nestle by 175.1% during the 3rd quarter. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH now owns 641 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 408 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sfam LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nestle during the 4th quarter worth approximately $74,000. Institutional investors own 0.61% of the companys stock.

Nestle Company Profile

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Nestle SA is a Swiss multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. Founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle, the company has grown into a global consumer goods firm and its American depositary receipts trade in the United States under the OTCMKTS ticker NSRGY. Nestle operates across a broad range of food and beverage categories and is widely recognized for its portfolio of consumer-facing brands and products.

The companys main business activities include the manufacture, marketing and distribution of products in categories such as coffee and other beverages, bottled water, dairy and infant nutrition, prepared meals and culinary products, confectionery, and pet care.

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PensionBee Group (LON:PBEE  Get Free Report)s stock had its sector perform rating reissued by analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada in a report issued on Thursday,Digital Look reports. They presently have a GBX 170 price target on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas price target suggests a potential upside of 13.33% from the companys current price.

PBEE has been the subject of a number of other reports. Canaccord Genuity Group reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 217 price objective on shares of PensionBee Group in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 210 price objective on shares of PensionBee Group in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, PensionBee Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 199.

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PensionBee Group Stock Performance

LON:PBEE remained flat at GBX 150 on Thursday. 51,673 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 192,824. The company has a current ratio of 9.34, a quick ratio of 7.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 148.19 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 156.08. The company has a market cap of 356.94 million, a PE ratio of -79.79, a P/E/G ratio of -0.09 and a beta of 0.43. PensionBee Group has a one year low of GBX 131 and a one year high of GBX 175.

PensionBee Group (LON:PBEE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 12th. The company reported GBX (1.20) earnings per share for the quarter. PensionBee Group had a negative net margin of 6.69% and a negative return on equity of 8.36%. On average, equities analysts predict that PensionBee Group will post -9.3899999 EPS for the current year.

PensionBee Group Company Profile

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PensionBee is creating a global leader in the consumer retirement market with approximately 7 billion in assets on behalf of c.300,000 customers.

Founded in 2014, we aspire to make as many people as possible pension confident so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. We help our customers to combine their retirement savings into a new online account, which they can manage from the palm of their hand.

PensionBee accounts are invested by the worlds largest investment managers, collectively looking after more than $10 trillion in savings between them.

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April 23, 2026: Russia cannot handle the number of Ukrainian drone attacks. For example, earlier this year, within one week, Ukraine carried out over a hundred missile and drone attacks. Targets included petroleum storage sites, electronics factories and power plants and distribution networks. Ukraine has significantly stepped up production of their locally designed long range drones. This is what made recent successes possible.

Russian military analysts are taking a more realistic view of the situation. They note that Ukraine itself is radically changing its goals and methods of war, specifically increasing the scale of drone use, as well as the tactical and operational depth of its operations. Ukraine is also deploying additional air defense systems to protect logistics systems and critical supply lines. In addition, Ukraine has started building defensive fortifications, as well as analyzing their personnel losses. Following the Ukrainian attack on a Russian factory in western Russia, near the Belarus border, it was apparent that Russian anti-aircraft systems were unable to shoot down Ukrainian missiles or surveillance drones.

Russian paranoia about Ukrainian efforts to hack the Russian internet and monitor civilian and military activities, including traffic and surveillance cameras has led to shutting down internet access in areas near the Ukrainian border subject to Ukrainian drone strikes. It took some time before the Russians realized that these internet shutdowns had little impact on Ukrainian drone attacks.

The Russian current reaction to all this is to change nothing and issue press releases about imaginary victories. Russia now claims that Ukraine, not Russia, has suffered 1.3 million casualties so far. That is an accurate figure for Russian losses, but Ukrainian losses are 200,000 dead and about half a million wounded and missing.

Russian offensive operations have been largely stalled during the last year. Ukrainian forces are on the offensive and are taking more territory from the Russians. The Russian response has to increase military spending, which now accounts for about half the annual budget. A lot of that money is spent on trying to obtain more soldiers. Few Russians want to serve in Ukraine and Russia is having growing diplomatic problems as it offers large sums of money to poor citizens of Asians countries so they can fight and die in Ukraine.

Desperate for more manpower, Russia is now doing something it told Russian parents it would never do, actively recruiting college students and young Russians in general. High school students are trained as drone operators and assured of a relatively safe job as a drone operator in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces eagerly hunt down and kill Russian drone operators because thats how you win battles. Despite this, a growing number of teenagers are joining the military right after graduation. Russia continues to offer large sums for those who sign one year contracts to fight in Ukraine. In reality these contracts dont expire until the war is over or the soldier who signed the contract is dead. Many of these young men die while serving in the infantry, which is what happens if they fail to qualify as a drone operator. Russia also often doesnt pay some or all enlistment bonuses, and some combat officers send drone operators into combat. Particularly if they dont pay bribes demanded by those officers.

Despite all this, parents and school officials still encourage their sons to sign contracts and fight for the Motherland. At the rate this is going, Russia is going to have a hollow generation where many young men were lost to war and its after-effects. Nothing like this has been seen since World War II, where generations of young Russian men born in the early 1920s were largely wiped out. History is repeating itself in Russia, as it has so many times in the past.
Peregrine Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of TechnipFMC plc (NYSE:FTI  Free Report) by 3.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 361,468 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 11,086 shares during the period. Peregrine Capital Management LLCs holdings in TechnipFMC were worth $16,107,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in TechnipFMC by 34.0% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 13,316,569 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $525,339,000 after buying an additional 3,378,159 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in TechnipFMC by 62.2% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,884,052 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $508,276,000 after buying an additional 4,938,498 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in TechnipFMC by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,374,192 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $409,262,000 after acquiring an additional 232,491 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its holdings in shares of TechnipFMC by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 9,861,982 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $389,018,000 after acquiring an additional 192,549 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its holdings in shares of TechnipFMC by 184.0% in the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 4,802,525 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $189,460,000 after acquiring an additional 3,111,399 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.58% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on FTI. Citigroup upped their price objective on TechnipFMC from $48.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of TechnipFMC in a research report on Friday, February 20th. UBS Group set a $70.00 price target on TechnipFMC in a research note on Friday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of TechnipFMC from $66.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price target on TechnipFMC from $82.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $61.73.

TechnipFMC Stock Performance

NYSE FTI traded up $1.60 on Thursday, hitting $73.83. 133,946 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,845,728. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. TechnipFMC plc has a 1-year low of $25.70 and a 1-year high of $75.52. The firms 50-day moving average price is $67.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $53.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.65 billion, a PE ratio of 31.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.71.

TechnipFMC (NYSE:FTI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, February 14th. The oil and gas company reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.19. TechnipFMC had a net margin of 9.70% and a return on equity of 31.14%. The business had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.54 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that TechnipFMC plc will post 2.92 EPS for the current year.

TechnipFMC Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th were paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. TechnipFMCs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.66%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO David Light sold 6,622 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.43, for a total transaction of $413,411.46. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 5,005 shares in the company, valued at approximately $312,462.15. This trade represents a 56.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Luana Duffe sold 47,951 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.43, for a total transaction of $2,993,580.93. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 78,871 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,923,916.53. The trade was a 37.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 1,216,442 shares of company stock valued at $75,762,414 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock.

About TechnipFMC

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TechnipFMC is an integrated oilfield services and technology company that designs, manufactures and delivers systems and services for the energy industry. The companys activities span the full lifecycle of oil and gas projects, with capabilities in subsea production systems, surface wellhead and intervention equipment, and onshore/offshore engineering and construction. TechnipFMC combines engineering and project management with fabrication, installation and maintenance services to help operators develop and produce hydrocarbon resources.

Its product and service portfolio includes subsea hardware such as trees, manifolds, umbilicals, risers and flowlines, as well as surface equipment for drilling, completions and well intervention.

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Reliance (NYSE:RS  Get Free Report) had its price objective lifted by equities research analysts at Bank of America from $340.00 to $355.00 in a report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the industrial products companys stock. Bank of Americas target price would suggest a potential upside of 1.25% from the stocks current price.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Reliance in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $300.00 target price on the stock. KeyCorp initiated coverage on Reliance in a research note on Wednesday, March 25th. They set an overweight rating and a $341.00 price objective on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded Reliance from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, April 11th. BMO Capital Markets cut Reliance from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $340.00 to $320.00 in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Reliance from $330.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $331.00.

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View Our Latest Report on RS

Reliance Trading Up 4.3%

NYSE RS opened at $350.60 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.10, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.88. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $314.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $301.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 2.30 and a current ratio of 4.88. Reliance has a 52 week low of $260.31 and a 52 week high of $365.59.

Reliance (NYSE:RS  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The industrial products company reported $5.16 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.63 by $0.53. The firm had revenue of $4.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.89 billion. Reliance had a return on equity of 10.45% and a net margin of 5.17%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 15.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.77 EPS. Reliance has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 5.150-5.350 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Reliance will post 17.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Stephen Paul Koch sold 24,060 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $321.62, for a total transaction of $7,738,177.20. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 14,021 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,509,434.02. The trade was a 63.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP William A. Smith II sold 6,615 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.61, for a total value of $1,975,305.15. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 21,747 shares in the company, valued at $6,493,871.67. The trade was a 23.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in RS. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Reliance during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings in Reliance by 86.2% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 108 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Greenline Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Reliance in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Reliance in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Guerra Advisors Inc acquired a new position in Reliance in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. 79.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Reliance News

Here are the key news stories impacting Reliance this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat expectations  Reliance reported $5.16 EPS vs. consensus $4.63 and revenue of $4.03B vs. $3.89B; revenue was up ~15.1% year-over-year, with a reported net margin of 5.17% and ROE of 10.45%. This is the primary near-term catalyst for the stock move. Reliance, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Q1 results beat expectations  Reliance reported $5.16 EPS vs. consensus $4.63 and revenue of $4.03B vs. $3.89B; revenue was up ~15.1% year-over-year, with a reported net margin of 5.17% and ROE of 10.45%. This is the primary near-term catalyst for the stock move. Positive Sentiment: Q2 guidance raised  Management set Q2 FY2026 EPS guidance at $5.15$5.35, above the consensus ~$5.00 level, signaling continued momentum into the next quarter. Press Release / Guidance Detail

Q2 guidance raised  Management set Q2 FY2026 EPS guidance at $5.15$5.35, above the consensus ~$5.00 level, signaling continued momentum into the next quarter. Positive Sentiment: Dividend announced  Board declared a $1.25/share quarterly dividend (record May 22, payable June 5), supporting shareholder returns (annualized yield ~1.4%). This reduces uncertainty about capital allocation and can attract income-focused investors.

Dividend announced  Board declared a $1.25/share quarterly dividend (record May 22, payable June 5), supporting shareholder returns (annualized yield ~1.4%). This reduces uncertainty about capital allocation and can attract income-focused investors. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and media coverage  Multiple outlets and analyst notes summarize the beat and metrics; these reports (Zacks, Seeking Alpha) reinforce the markets interpretation but add little new fundamental information. Reliance (RS) Reports Q1 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

Analyst and media coverage  Multiple outlets and analyst notes summarize the beat and metrics; these reports (Zacks, Seeking Alpha) reinforce the markets interpretation but add little new fundamental information. Neutral Sentiment: Coverage highlighting drivers  Articles note stronger steel demand and pricing helped results; useful color for investors but already reflected in guidance/earnings. Reliance tops Q1 estimates as steel demand, pricing lift results

Coverage highlighting drivers  Articles note stronger steel demand and pricing helped results; useful color for investors but already reflected in guidance/earnings. Neutral Sentiment: Unrelated company headlines circulated  News about Reliance Power (CFO arrest, rally) and consumer telecom recharge plans are separate entities and not drivers for Reliance, Inc. (RS); monitor for any market confusion but treat as unrelated. Reliance Power CFO Arrested

Reliance Company Profile

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Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co (NYSE: RS) is a leading metals service center company that distributes and processes a broad array of metal products. The company offers cut-to-length, shearing, blanking, sawing, bending, machining and value-added services for carbon and alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, titanium and specialty metal alloys. Its products serve diverse end markets, including energy, infrastructure, general manufacturing, transportation, aerospace and defense.

Founded in 1939 in Los Angeles, Reliance Steel & Aluminum has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

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Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI  Get Free Report) EVP Robert Wrocklage bought 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 23rd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $122.35 per share, for a total transaction of $122,350.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president owned 23,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,853,324.35. The trade was a 4.48% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Robert Wrocklage also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, February 9th, Robert Wrocklage bought 1,650 shares of Badger Meter stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $152.35 per share, for a total transaction of $251,377.50.

Badger Meter Price Performance

Shares of BMI traded down $0.49 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $123.07. 727,212 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 505,550. The stock has a market cap of $3.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.90. The stocks 50-day moving average is $150.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $166.23. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12 month low of $112.09 and a 12 month high of $256.08.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

Badger Meter ( NYSE:BMI Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 18.76% and a net margin of 14.56%.The company had revenue of $220.71 million for the quarter. Research analysts predict that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.66 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Badger Meters dividend payout ratio is 36.12%.

Institutional Trading of Badger Meter

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,979,893 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $694,133,000 after purchasing an additional 19,585 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,462,807 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $358,315,000 after purchasing an additional 20,122 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 20.9% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 970,219 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $173,262,000 after purchasing an additional 168,053 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 876,854 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $152,951,000 after purchasing an additional 4,035 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 39.2% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 754,402 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $131,592,000 after purchasing an additional 212,448 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the companys stock.

Badger Meter News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Badger Meter this week:

Positive Sentiment: Heavy insider buying by senior management  CEO Kenneth Bockhorst purchased 2,200 shares (~$117.53 avg) and several VPs (Richard Htwe, Christina Tarantino, Edward Callahan) also added stock. These purchases signal management confidence and can be a nearterm supportive catalyst. Read More.

Heavy insider buying by senior management  CEO Kenneth Bockhorst purchased 2,200 shares (~$117.53 avg) and several VPs (Richard Htwe, Christina Tarantino, Edward Callahan) also added stock. These purchases signal management confidence and can be a nearterm supportive catalyst. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Companys Q1 presentation and management commentary attribute the shortfall mainly to project timing and onequarter execution issues  provides context that may limit longterm concern but doesnt remove nearterm uncertainty. Read More.

Companys Q1 presentation and management commentary attribute the shortfall mainly to project timing and onequarter execution issues  provides context that may limit longterm concern but doesnt remove nearterm uncertainty. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Q1 results missed expectations and analysts have trimmed estimates and models  the earnings miss is the primary driver of downward revisions and immediate selling pressure. Read More.

Q1 results missed expectations and analysts have trimmed estimates and models  the earnings miss is the primary driver of downward revisions and immediate selling pressure. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Multiple broker moves: Barclays reaffirmed a sell/underweight (low target), and firms including RBC, Stifel and Robert W. Baird cut forecasts or price targets  weaker analyst sentiment increases downside risk. Read More. Read More.

Multiple broker moves: Barclays reaffirmed a sell/underweight (low target), and firms including RBC, Stifel and Robert W. Baird cut forecasts or price targets  weaker analyst sentiment increases downside risk. Read More. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Investorloss litigation alerts (Pomerantz and others) have been announced, introducing legal headline risk and potential settlement/defense costs that can pressure sentiment until resolved. Read More.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on BMI shares. Zacks Research raised Badger Meter from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, April 3rd. Maxim Group cut Badger Meter from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Badger Meter from $220.00 to $200.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Badger Meter from $197.00 to $169.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $166.38.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BMI

Badger Meter Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Badger Meter, founded in 1905 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader in flow measurement and control solutions. The companys core business centers on the design, manufacture and sale of water meters, control valves and related accessories for municipal and industrial water utilities. Over its more than a century of operation, Badger Meter has built a reputation for precision engineering, durability and compliance with international regulatory standards.

The companys product portfolio includes mechanical and ultrasonic water meters, electromagnetic flow meters for industrial applications, and a range of control valves that help utilities manage pressure and flow in distribution networks.

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UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Royal Bank Of Canada from $361.00 to $400.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. Royal Bank Of Canada currently has an outperform rating on the healthcare conglomerates stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $395.00 price target (up from $370.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $370.00 to $397.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $350.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $377.68.

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Get Our Latest Stock Report on UNH

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 2.2%

Shares of NYSE:UNH opened at $353.51 on Wednesday. UnitedHealth Group has a 12 month low of $234.60 and a 12 month high of $438.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $290.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $317.09. The firm has a market cap of $320.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.70, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.40.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 21st. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.76 by $0.47. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.68% and a return on equity of 14.65%. The business had revenue of $111.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.84 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $7.20 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 18.250- EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group will post 18.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th were paid a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 9th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is currently 67.02%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $22,384,000 after buying an additional 28,231 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $2,033,000 after buying an additional 2,324 shares during the period. CMT Capital Markets Trading GmbH bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $340,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $356,000. Finally, Jump Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $377,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat and raised guidance  UNH reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $7.23 (vs. consensus ~$6.76) and revenue of ~$111.7B, and raised FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to above $18.25, citing improved management of medical costs. This is the main catalyst for the rally. Business Wire  Q1 Results

Q1 beat and raised guidance  UNH reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $7.23 (vs. consensus ~$6.76) and revenue of ~$111.7B, and raised FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to above $18.25, citing improved management of medical costs. This is the main catalyst for the rally. Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and pricetarget increases  Multiple firms (Argus, RBC, Oppenheimer, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, etc.) raised ratings or targets after the report, adding upward pressure as sellside momentum attracts buyers. 247wallst  Analyst Upgrades

Analyst upgrades and pricetarget increases  Multiple firms (Argus, RBC, Oppenheimer, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, etc.) raised ratings or targets after the report, adding upward pressure as sellside momentum attracts buyers. Positive Sentiment: AI & operational initiatives  Management flagged a meaningful AI investment (and Optum Real transaction scale), which investors view as a durable margin/efficiency tailwind if deployment scales as planned. That narrative supports higher multiple assumptions. Yahoo Finance  Q1 Deep Dive (AI)

AI & operational initiatives  Management flagged a meaningful AI investment (and Optum Real transaction scale), which investors view as a durable margin/efficiency tailwind if deployment scales as planned. That narrative supports higher multiple assumptions. Positive Sentiment: Bullish options flow  Unusual activity: ~164k call options traded (30% above average), signaling shortterm bullish positioning from traders and institutional players.

Bullish options flow  Unusual activity: ~164k call options traded (30% above average), signaling shortterm bullish positioning from traders and institutional players. Neutral Sentiment: Sector sentiment spillover  UNHs beat dragged peers higher (CVS, Humana, Centene); positive industry momentum can amplify the stock move but doesnt change UNHs fundamentals. Yahoo  Sector Impact

Sector sentiment spillover  UNHs beat dragged peers higher (CVS, Humana, Centene); positive industry momentum can amplify the stock move but doesnt change UNHs fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Ongoing risks remain  Management warned of challenges around a Medicare obesitydrug pilot and cautioned that medicalcost dynamics are still the key risk; if costs reaccelerate, margins and guidance could reverse. Reuters  Medicare Obesity Drug Pilot Challenges

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

(Get 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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Shangri-La Asia Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SHALY  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $11.3170 and last traded at $11.3170, with a volume of 107 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $11.85.

Shangri-La Asia Trading Down 4.5%

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $11.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.84, a current ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11.

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About Shangri-La Asia

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Shangri-La Asia Limited is a Hong Kongbased hospitality group principally engaged in the development, ownership and operation of luxury hotels, resorts and serviced apartments. The companys flagship brand, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, encompasses properties that feature high-end accommodations, specialty dining venues, spa and wellness facilities, and meeting and event spaces tailored for both leisure and business travelers. In addition to its core Shangri-La portfolio, the company manages a range of complementary brands, including Kerry Hotels, Hotel Jen and Traders Hotels, each designed to address distinct market segments within the hotel industry.

Since its establishment in 1971 by entrepreneur Robert Kuok, Shangri-La Asia has expanded its footprint across more than 20 countries and territories.

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Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Free Report) updated its second quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 0.350-0.650 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 0.600. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Southwest Airlines Trading Down 2.7%

Shares of Southwest Airlines stock opened at $38.30 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.45. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $43.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $40.16. Southwest Airlines has a 1 year low of $24.63 and a 1 year high of $55.11. The company has a market capitalization of $18.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 1.19.

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Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The airline reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.45. Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 6.18% and a net margin of 1.57%.The company had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.46 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.13) earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. Southwest Airlines has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 0.350-0.650 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Southwest Airlines will post 2.72 EPS for the current year.

Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 12th were issued a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 12th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio is currently 85.71%.

Several brokerages have weighed in on LUV. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Southwest Airlines from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Evercore raised their target price on shares of Southwest Airlines from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $54.00 to $44.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 20th. TD Cowen cut their price target on Southwest Airlines from $56.00 to $46.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Southwest Airlines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, March 14th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.22.

Get Our Latest Report on LUV

Key Southwest Airlines News

Here are the key news stories impacting Southwest Airlines this week:

Institutional Trading of Southwest Airlines

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 100.6% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 39,347 shares of the airlines stock valued at $1,303,000 after purchasing an additional 19,729 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in Southwest Airlines by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 61,060 shares of the airlines stock worth $2,050,000 after buying an additional 3,141 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in Southwest Airlines by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 7,459 shares of the airlines stock worth $250,000 after buying an additional 527 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 73.4% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,690 shares of the airlines stock worth $185,000 after acquiring an additional 2,408 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in Southwest Airlines by 47.4% in the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 307,602 shares of the airlines stock valued at $9,979,000 after acquiring an additional 98,986 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.82% of the companys stock.

Southwest Airlines Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Southwest Airlines Co is a U.S.-based low-cost carrier that operates a point-to-point domestic and near-international airline network. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company primarily flies Boeing 737 aircraft and offers no-frills, single-class service designed to keep fares competitive. Southwests operating model emphasizes high aircraft utilization, quick turnaround times and an open seating policy, allowing customers to board and select seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Founded in 1967 by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Company, Southwest began commercial service in 1971, initially connecting Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

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Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY  Get Free Report) had its price target boosted by research analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $720.00 to $750.00 in a research note issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the scientific and technical instruments companys stock. Stifel Nicolaus price objective points to a potential upside of 14.05% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on Teledyne Technologies from $600.00 to $603.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Teledyne Technologies from $620.00 to $680.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Teledyne Technologies from $710.00 to $770.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Needham & Company LLC upped their price objective on shares of Teledyne Technologies from $700.00 to $735.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Teledyne Technologies in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $674.38.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on Teledyne Technologies

Teledyne Technologies Price Performance

TDY stock traded up $0.92 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $657.61. The companys stock had a trading volume of 158,913 shares, compared to its average volume of 363,550. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The companys 50 day moving average is $646.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $580.82. Teledyne Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $440.57 and a fifty-two week high of $693.38. The stock has a market cap of $30.45 billion, a PE ratio of 34.78, a P/E/G ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 1.01.

Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $5.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.48 by $0.32. The business had revenue of $1.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.52 billion. Teledyne Technologies had a return on equity of 10.08% and a net margin of 14.63%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.95 EPS. Teledyne Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 23.850-24.150 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 5.700-5.800 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Teledyne Technologies will post 23.9 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Teledyne Technologies

In related news, Director Michael T. Smith sold 2,469 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $621.00, for a total transaction of $1,533,249.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 47,328 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $29,390,688. This trade represents a 4.96% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Vice Chairman Jason Vanwees sold 2,500 shares of Teledyne Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $630.46, for a total transaction of $1,576,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 2,644 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,666,936.24. This trade represents a 48.60% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 11,500 shares of company stock valued at $7,214,750. Company insiders own 1.36% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TDY. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 1.2% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,910,808 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $3,463,970,000 after purchasing an additional 69,284 shares during the period. Covea Finance increased its stake in Teledyne Technologies by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Covea Finance now owns 51,834 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $26,473,000 after buying an additional 3,600 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 105.5% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 11,345 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $6,649,000 after buying an additional 5,825 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 843.1% during the 3rd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 23,001 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $13,480,000 after buying an additional 20,562 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mariner LLC boosted its position in Teledyne Technologies by 7,237.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 309,556 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $181,385,000 after buying an additional 305,337 shares during the period. 91.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting Teledyne Technologies

Here are the key news stories impacting Teledyne Technologies this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat and upgraded outlook  Teledyne reported nonGAAP EPS of $5.80 vs. $5.48 consensus and revenue of $1.56B (up 7.6% y/y); the company raised its FY2026 profit forecast and showed strong cash flow and margins, supporting the beat. Business Wire Q1 Release

Q1 beat and upgraded outlook  Teledyne reported nonGAAP EPS of $5.80 vs. $5.48 consensus and revenue of $1.56B (up 7.6% y/y); the company raised its FY2026 profit forecast and showed strong cash flow and margins, supporting the beat. Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism  Needham raised its price target to $735 and kept a Buy rating, signaling upside vs. current levels and reinforcing demand from the sellside. Benzinga

Analyst optimism  Needham raised its price target to $735 and kept a Buy rating, signaling upside vs. current levels and reinforcing demand from the sellside. Positive Sentiment: Segment strength  Management highlighted outsized contributions from defense and digital imaging that drove outperformance and underpin the tighter fullyear outlook. MSN deep dive

Segment strength  Management highlighted outsized contributions from defense and digital imaging that drove outperformance and underpin the tighter fullyear outlook. Positive Sentiment: Governance update  Shareholders approved expansions to shareholder rights at the April 22 meeting, a governance move investors typically view positively. TipRanks

Governance update  Shareholders approved expansions to shareholder rights at the April 22 meeting, a governance move investors typically view positively. Neutral Sentiment: Q2 guide largely inline  Management set Q2 EPS guidance of $5.70$5.80, roughly centered on consensus (5.76), limiting surprise upside for the near term.

Q2 guide largely inline  Management set Q2 EPS guidance of $5.70$5.80, roughly centered on consensus (5.76), limiting surprise upside for the near term. Neutral Sentiment: Call materials/transcripts released  Full prepared remarks and transcripts are available for deeper diligence if you want linebyline commentary from management. Seeking Alpha transcript

Call materials/transcripts released  Full prepared remarks and transcripts are available for deeper diligence if you want linebyline commentary from management. Negative Sentiment: Profittaking and valuation pressure  Despite the beat, shares are down today as some investors likely take profits after Teledynes run; the stock trades at a stretched multiple (PE ~34.8), which can limit upside absent further acceleration in growth or margin expansion.

Teledyne Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Teledyne Technologies (NYSE: TDY), headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, is a diversified industrial technology company that designs, manufactures and supports sophisticated electronic systems, instruments and imaging products. Founded in 1960 by Henry Singleton and George Kozmetsky, Teledyne has grown into a multinational provider of high-performance equipment and software for commercial, scientific and government customers. Its offerings are used in markets that include aerospace and defense, marine, industrial manufacturing, environmental monitoring and scientific research.

The company operates through businesses that develop precision instrumentation, digital imaging products, engineered systems and aerospace and defense electronics.

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Stora Enso Oyj (OTCMKTS:SEOAY  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Thursday . 43,261 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 47% from the previous sessions volume of 29,339 shares.The stock last traded at $12.09 and had previously closed at $12.19.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on SEOAY. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Stora Enso Oyj to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Stora Enso Oyj in a research report on Monday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Stora Enso Oyj has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $10.80.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on Stora Enso Oyj

Stora Enso Oyj Stock Performance

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $12.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $12.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 1.21. The company has a market capitalization of $9.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.95 and a beta of 0.72.

Stora Enso Oyj (OTCMKTS:SEOAY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The basic materials company reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.04 by ($0.07). Stora Enso Oyj had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 3.18%. The firm had revenue of $2.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.26 billion. Analysts expect that Stora Enso Oyj will post 0.68 EPS for the current year.

About Stora Enso Oyj

(Get Free Report)

Stora Enso Oyj is a Finlandbased provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden construction and paper. The company draws on centuries of forest industry experience and leverages sustainable practices to produce a wide array of products, including paperboard for consumer goods, specialty papers for printing and publishing, and pulp for industrial applications. Its portfolio also encompasses wood products such as cross-laminated timber, sawn timber and building components, designed to meet growing demand for environmentally friendly construction materials.

Formed through the 1998 merger of Swedish mining and forestry giant Stora and Finnish paper maker Enso, Stora Enso combines deep heritage with ongoing investments in innovation.

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Westwood Holdings Group Inc (NYSE:WHG  Get Free Report) Director Susan Byrne sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.36, for a total transaction of $11,452.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 296,044 shares in the company, valued at $4,843,279.84. This trade represents a 0.24% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Westwood Holdings Group Stock Performance

NYSE WHG opened at $16.39 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $155.33 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.74 and a beta of 0.76. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $16.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $16.89. Westwood Holdings Group Inc has a one year low of $14.51 and a one year high of $18.99.

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Westwood Holdings Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. Westwood Holdings Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 75.95%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Westwood Holdings Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $63,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Westwood Holdings Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $85,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund bought a new stake in shares of Westwood Holdings Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $98,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Westwood Holdings Group by 1,277.9% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 7,537 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $118,000 after buying an additional 6,990 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in shares of Westwood Holdings Group by 39.9% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 10,032 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $173,000 after buying an additional 2,861 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.64% of the companys stock.

Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Westwood Holdings Group in a research report on Friday, March 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Westwood Holdings Group

Westwood Holdings Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc is an independent, publicly traded asset management firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, the company offers a range of investment advisory services tailored to institutional, retail, and high-net-worth clients. Westwoods disciplined, value-oriented approach guides its research process across equity and fixed-income markets, with an emphasis on fundamental analysis and long-term risk management.

The firms product lineup includes U.S.

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HB Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 11.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 45,963 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,605 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $13,968,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TSM. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 20.9% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 10,930 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,159,000 after acquiring an additional 1,892 shares in the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 2nd quarter valued at $701,000. Bank of Nova Scotia raised its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 12.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 15,697 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $3,556,000 after acquiring an additional 1,784 shares in the last quarter. FWL Investment Management LLC grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 26.5% in the 2nd quarter. FWL Investment Management LLC now owns 253 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Main Street Financial Solutions LLC bought a new position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 2nd quarter valued at about $270,000. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Weiss Ratings raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Friday, March 20th. Argus raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $404.29.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Bor-Zen Tien acquired 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Sunday, March 22nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $55.93 per share, with a total value of $55,930.00. Following the purchase, the vice president owned 9,051 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $506,222.43. This trade represents a 12.42% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.11% of the companys stock.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Up 5.3%

NYSE TSM opened at $387.72 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 2.51 and a quick ratio of 2.32. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $355.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $323.73. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 12 month low of $156.00 and a 12 month high of $390.20. The company has a market capitalization of $2.01 trillion, a P/E ratio of 32.26, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.35.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The semiconductor company reported $3.11 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $30.65 billion for the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 46.97% and a return on equity of 38.17%. Equities research analysts expect that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 15.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.9503 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 11th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is presently 24.96%.

Key Headlines Impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week:

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products.

TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications.

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April 23, 2026: A new Chinese warship has been spotted by satellite photos under construction in a shipyard. The ship has two large square spaces visible that reveal the position and size of the main VLS/Vertical Launch System. Large warships are often measured in terms of the number of VLS cells they have. Estimates imply that the Chinese super battleship will have over 200 VLS cells, far more than earlier designs. It is believed that these cells will likely carry new quantum hyper-sonic weapons. Quantum hypersonic weapons combine quantum technology with hypersonic speeds, exceeding Mach 5.They travel faster than traditional missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.

Quantum technology applies principles of quantum mechanics for improved targeting and guidance systems. This enables missiles to evade radar and other detection systems through advanced materials and appearances. These missiles could be used for strategic military strikes, defense systems, and avoidance capabilities.

The main gun battery is reportedly to contain at least three rail guns. This is a technology which China has been testing for years. High-powered lasers, strong enough to threaten low-earth-orbit satellites, will provide anti-missile and air defense.

The central citadel, referred to as Xi Tower in Chinese language sources, has 12 decks and offers commanding sea views from the upper stories. The navigation bridge, where the Captain sits, is topped by the flag bridge for Admirals. And above that is the viewing bridge for political Commissars, demonstrating the status of Chinese military hierarchies. The uppermost floor is divided into four apartments. The private club and other hosting facilities are expected to outshine those of the proposed American ship design, an advantage when you want to intimidate potential adversaries or allies.

As the major nations move to the Floating Fortress stage of international competition, naval might is being measured in volume. The sheer scale of this vessel suggests a shift in naval doctrine: from outmaneuvering the enemy to simply obstructing their freedom of navigation.

Now China is building a vessel with the land area of a mid-sized suburb. It has stopped being a naval arms race and has become a hostile real estate takeover of the Pacific.

In comparison, the last American conventional battleships armed with 16/406mm guns were the four 60,000 Iowa class. Four of these ships were built between 1940 and 1944. Each cost $1.6 billion in 2026 dollars. These vessels were 270 meters long, with a top speed of 61 kilometers an hour and a range of 27,000 kilometers at 28 kilometers an hour cruising speed. The ship carried a crew of 2,700 and was armed with nine 406mm cannon, twenty 5/127mm guns, 80 40mm and 49 20mm anti-aircraft guns. The large guns had a range of 43 kilometers. Electronics include air and surface search radars as well as a fire control radar. Belt armor for the four Iowas were 307mm to 368mm depending on the ship. Turrets, conning tower and decks were also armored. Aircraft consisted of three float planes.

The four Iowas were decommissioned after World War II and then brought back several times. USS Iowa was decommissioned in 1949, brought back 1951-88 and finally in 1984-90. For New Jersey it was 1948, 1950-57, 1968-69 and 1982-91. For Missouri it was 1955, and 1986-92. For Wisconsin it was 1948, 1951-58, and 1988-91. When returned to service after World War II, the Iowas received upgrades consisting of missile launchers, improved electronics and helicopters/drones instead of floatplanes.

Another aspect of all this is how, since World War II, the descriptions given to warships have evolved. Warships called destroyers appeared a century ago and by the end of World War I they were ships of about 1,000 tons armed with a few guns and some torpedoes and depth charges. By World War II, destroyers had grown to about 3,000 tons. There were also cruisers, weighing in at between 6,000 and 12,000 tons, and battleships, which were 30-60,000 tons. Half a century later, all that's left for surface warfare are destroyers and frigates. For whatever reason, the modern frigates perform the same mission and are about the same size as the World War II destroyers.

Meanwhile modern destroyers have grown to the size of World War II cruisers. Actually, some of the larger destroyers are called cruisers, even though they are only 10-20 percent heavier than the largest destroyers. The latest ships in the U.S. Navy's Burke class destroyers weigh 9,200 tons, cost $1.5 billion to build, have a crew of about 330 sailors, and carry 96 anti-aircraft and cruise missiles. There's only one 5 inch gun, but two helicopters. These modern destroyers could take on any World War II cruiser and win, mainly because the cruise missiles have a range of 1,500 kilometers. A Burke class ship could probably defeat a World War II battleship, although we'll never know for sure since one of those heavily armored ships never got hit by a modern cruise missile. In effect, the U.S. Navy has settled on just four major combat ship types; aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and nuclear submarines.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its stake in shares of Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 27.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 282,340 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 61,314 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas holdings in Accenture were worth $75,752,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC now owns 878 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $236,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Clayton Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Clayton Financial Group LLC now owns 329 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Holt Capital Advisors L.L.C. dba Holt Capital Partners L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Holt Capital Advisors L.L.C. dba Holt Capital Partners L.P. now owns 4,416 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,751 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,108,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IVC Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. IVC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 927 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $249,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. 75.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Accenture Stock Down 2.2%

Accenture stock opened at $190.09 on Thursday. Accenture PLC has a twelve month low of $177.50 and a twelve month high of $325.71. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $201.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $238.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $126.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.24.

Accenture Announces Dividend

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 20th. The information technology services provider reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.09. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.33% and a net margin of 10.61%.The business had revenue of $18.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.80 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.82 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Accenture PLC will post 13.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Accentures dividend payout ratio is currently 53.40%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture

In related news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 6,057 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $241.23, for a total value of $1,461,130.11. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 15,255 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,679,963.65. This represents a 28.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Melissa A. Burgum sold 3,588 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.01, for a total value of $1,008,263.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 8,179 shares in the company, valued at $2,298,380.79. This trade represents a 30.49% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 15,331 shares of company stock valued at $4,048,871. Insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on ACN. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Accenture from $317.00 to $260.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on Accenture from $295.00 to $253.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 20th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Accenture from $320.00 to $240.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 16th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Accenture from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Accenture from $280.00 to $230.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 6th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $274.50.

Read Our Latest Analysis on ACN

Accenture Company Profile

(Free Report)

Accenture is a global professional services company that provides a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. The firm works with organizations across industries to design and implement business transformation programs, deploy and manage enterprise technology, optimize operations, and develop customer and digital experiences. Its offerings encompass management and technology consulting, systems integration, application and infrastructure services, cloud migration and managed services, as well as security and analytics capabilities.

The company delivers industry- and function-specific solutions, combining consulting expertise with proprietary tools, platforms and partnerships with major technology vendors.

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TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Kepler Capital Markets from a reduce rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat reports.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on TTE. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of TotalEnergies in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of TotalEnergies from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of TotalEnergies in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of TotalEnergies from $74.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 12th. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of TotalEnergies in a report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.97.

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Read Our Latest Report on TTE

TotalEnergies Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of TTE opened at $89.48 on Thursday. TotalEnergies has a 52 week low of $56.31 and a 52 week high of $93.49. The firm has a market cap of $214.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.81 and a beta of 0.13. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $84.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.97.

TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $1.73 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.01. TotalEnergies had a net margin of 6.52% and a return on equity of 13.14%. The business had revenue of $45.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $36.69 billion. On average, analysts forecast that TotalEnergies will post 8.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of TotalEnergies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. bought a new position in TotalEnergies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $5,337,330,000. Capital International Investors lifted its stake in TotalEnergies by 1,438.5% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 52,668,676 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,435,988,000 after purchasing an additional 49,245,192 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in TotalEnergies by 21,398.0% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 40,380,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,641,693,000 after purchasing an additional 40,192,677 shares during the last quarter. Caisse Des Depots ET Consignations bought a new position in TotalEnergies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,982,676,000. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in TotalEnergies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,917,626,000. Institutional investors own 16.53% of the companys stock.

About TotalEnergies

(Get Free Report)

TotalEnergies SE (NYSE: TTE) is a French multinational integrated energy company engaged across the full energy value chain. Founded in 1924 as Compagnie Francaise des Petroles, the company grew through a series of mergers and expansionsmost notably with Petrofina and Elf Aquitaine around the turn of the millenniumand rebranded to TotalEnergies in 2021 to reflect a broader focus on multiple energy sources. It is organized to operate across upstream and downstream activities while pursuing a transition toward lower-carbon energy solutions.

In upstream, TotalEnergies explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas globally.

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Annovis Bio, Inc. (NYSE:ANVS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Thursday. Traders bought 3,361 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 524% compared to the average daily volume of 539 call options.

Annovis Bio Stock Performance

Shares of ANVS traded down $0.06 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $1.79. 354,928 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 648,195. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $2.32 and a 200-day moving average of $2.81. Annovis Bio has a 52 week low of $1.36 and a 52 week high of $5.50. The stock has a market cap of $52.25 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.28 and a beta of 1.37.

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Annovis Bio (NYSE:ANVS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 13th. The company reported ($0.39) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.31) by ($0.08).

Insider Activity at Annovis Bio

Institutional Trading of Annovis Bio

In related news, Director Michael B. Hoffman acquired 713,800 shares of Annovis Bio stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $2.10 per share, for a total transaction of $1,498,980.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 3,288,539 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,905,931.90. This trade represents a 27.72% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . 20.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ANVS. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Annovis Bio by 20.1% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 183,287 shares of the companys stock valued at $398,000 after buying an additional 30,674 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of Annovis Bio by 69.3% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 14,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 6,100 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Annovis Bio during the 2nd quarter valued at about $197,000. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Annovis Bio during the 2nd quarter valued at about $52,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Annovis Bio by 5.9% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 738,003 shares of the companys stock worth $1,528,000 after purchasing an additional 41,239 shares during the last quarter. 15.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ANVS has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $17.00 target price on shares of Annovis Bio in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (e+) rating on shares of Annovis Bio in a report on Monday, December 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.50.

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About Annovis Bio

(Get Free Report)

Annovis Bio, Inc (NYSE: ANVS) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics for neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders. Leveraging a proprietary platform that targets protein trafficking and translational dysregulation, Annovis aims to restore cellular homeostasis by modulating the production and clearance of disease-related proteins. The companys pipeline is designed to address critical pathways implicated in Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system conditions.

The companys lead asset, ANVS401 (Posiphen), is an oral small molecule that has been evaluated in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials to reduce levels of amyloid precursor protein and its toxic fragments in Alzheimers patients.

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Evergreen Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT  Free Report) by 122.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 7,781 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,290 shares during the period. Evergreen Capital Management LLCs holdings in Trane Technologies were worth $3,028,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of TT. Financial Consulate Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Trane Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. United Community Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Trane Technologies by 134.4% in the 3rd quarter. United Community Bank now owns 75 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Trane Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new position in shares of Trane Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Trane Technologies by 34.2% in the 3rd quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 102 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.97% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO David S. Regnery sold 36,045 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $422.69, for a total value of $15,235,861.05. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 96,948 shares of the companys stock, valued at $40,978,950.12. This trade represents a 27.10% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Christopher J. Kuehn sold 8,619 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $450.00, for a total value of $3,878,550.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 60,576 shares in the company, valued at $27,259,200. This represents a 12.46% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 57,997 shares of company stock worth $25,107,014 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TT has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Trane Technologies from $550.00 to $535.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Evercore started coverage on shares of Trane Technologies in a research report on Monday, April 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $535.00 price target for the company. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $513.00 to $525.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $469.00 to $470.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane started coverage on shares of Trane Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, April 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $550.00 price target for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $492.94.

Read Our Latest Report on Trane Technologies

Trane Technologies Stock Down 0.3%

TT stock opened at $477.44 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $444.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $422.69. Trane Technologies plc has a 12 month low of $334.37 and a 12 month high of $487.08. The company has a market cap of $105.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.92.

Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.81 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $5.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.09 billion. Trane Technologies had a net margin of 13.69% and a return on equity of 36.34%. Trane Technologiess revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.61 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Trane Technologies plc will post 14.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Trane Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 5th will be given a dividend of $1.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 5th. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. Trane Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 32.36%.

Trane Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT) is a global climate solutions company focused on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and transport refrigeration systems. The company develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of climate-control products under well-known brands, including commercial and residential HVAC equipment, building management systems and controls, and transport refrigeration units. Its product portfolio spans rooftop and packaged units, chillers, furnaces, air handlers, compressors, and related components designed for commercial buildings, industrial facilities, residences and transportation applications.

In addition to equipment, Trane Technologies provides lifecycle services that include installation, maintenance, parts, retrofit and aftermarket support, as well as digital and controls solutions for building performance and energy management.

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Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL  Get Free Report) CFO Erik Hoag purchased 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 23rd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $65.67 per share, with a total value of $65,670.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief financial officer directly owned 1,000 shares in the company, valued at $65,670. The trade was a  increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Travel + Leisure Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of TNL stock traded down $0.58 on Thursday, reaching $65.21. 1,091,125 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 684,221. Travel + Leisure Co. has a 52 week low of $42.40 and a 52 week high of $81.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.07 billion, a PE ratio of 19.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 1.32. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $72.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.61.

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Travel + Leisure (NYSE:TNL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.14. Travel + Leisure had a negative return on equity of 47.77% and a net margin of 5.74%.The firm had revenue of $961.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $954.81 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.11 EPS. Travel + Leisures quarterly revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Travel + Leisure Co. will post 7.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Travel + Leisure Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 20th were paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 20th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.7%. This is an increase from Travel + Leisures previous quarterly dividend of $0.56. Travel + Leisures dividend payout ratio is 67.42%.

Several research analysts have commented on TNL shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded Travel + Leisure from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Travel + Leisure from $88.00 to $87.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Citigroup restated an outperform rating on shares of Travel + Leisure in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Citizens Jmp raised their price objective on Travel + Leisure from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded Travel + Leisure from a buy (b) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $85.20.

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Travel + Leisure News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Travel + Leisure this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat  TNL reported $1.45 EPS vs. $1.31 consensus and revenue of $961M (slightly ahead). Beats support the companys near-term earnings credibility. Q1 Results

Q1 beat  TNL reported $1.45 EPS vs. $1.31 consensus and revenue of $961M (slightly ahead). Beats support the companys near-term earnings credibility. Positive Sentiment: Management tone was upbeat on the earnings call and the company signaled a confident outlook, which helps limit downside if execution continues. Earnings Call Highlights

Management tone was upbeat on the earnings call and the company signaled a confident outlook, which helps limit downside if execution continues. Positive Sentiment: Insider buy  CFO Erik Hoag purchased 1,000 shares at ~$65.67, signaling management confidence at current levels. SEC filing available. SEC Form 4

Insider buy  CFO Erik Hoag purchased 1,000 shares at ~$65.67, signaling management confidence at current levels. SEC filing available. Positive Sentiment: Capital returns remain a tailwind  TNL continues dividends (~3.5% yield) and aggressive buybacks that have cut share count ~5.5% Y/Y, supporting EPS. SA Analysis

Capital returns remain a tailwind  TNL continues dividends (~3.5% yield) and aggressive buybacks that have cut share count ~5.5% Y/Y, supporting EPS. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst note  Mizuho trimmed its price target slightly from $107 to $105 but kept an Outperform rating (still significant upside from current price), so the change is modest in tone. Benzinga

Analyst note  Mizuho trimmed its price target slightly from $107 to $105 but kept an Outperform rating (still significant upside from current price), so the change is modest in tone. Neutral Sentiment: Wall Street coverage & metrics reviews (Zacks, earnings transcripts) are being digested; these pieces highlight where key metrics beat or lag consensus and will shape near-term analyst revisions. Zacks

Wall Street coverage & metrics reviews (Zacks, earnings transcripts) are being digested; these pieces highlight where key metrics beat or lag consensus and will shape near-term analyst revisions. Negative Sentiment: Delinquency concerns  early-stage delinquencies in recent loan vintages prompted investor worry despite strong underwriting metrics; this was a key reason for the sharp post-earnings selloff reported by some outlets. Delinquency Analysis

Delinquency concerns  early-stage delinquencies in recent loan vintages prompted investor worry despite strong underwriting metrics; this was a key reason for the sharp post-earnings selloff reported by some outlets. Negative Sentiment: Profitability/ROE red flag  reported negative return on equity (~-47.8%) and modest net margin (~5.7%) raise longer-term efficiency questions that could weigh on multiple valuation metrics if trends persist. MarketBeat

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Danske Bank A S purchased a new stake in Travel + Leisure during the third quarter worth $30,000. CNB Bank bought a new position in shares of Travel + Leisure in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Travel + Leisure in the 4th quarter worth $43,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 293.0% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 959 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 715 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 181.5% in the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 791 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 510 shares in the last quarter. 87.54% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Travel + Leisure Company Profile

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Travel + Leisure Co (NYSE: TNL) is a leisure travel company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that specializes in vacation ownership, membership programs and branded travel experiences. The company operates an extensive portfolio of vacation clubs and destination services, offering members access to resorts, hotels, cruises and guided tours in markets around the world. Through its flagship membership brands, Travel + Leisure Co provides curated vacation packages, exchange services and unique travel itineraries that cater to both individual and family travelers.

In addition to its membership offerings, Travel + Leisure Co manages a network of resort properties and hospitality assets across North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Further Reading

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USA Today (NYSE:TDAY  Get Free Report) and AdStar (OTCMKTS:ADST  Get Free Report) are both business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, institutional ownership and profitability.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for USA Today and AdStar, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score USA Today 0 2 2 0 2.50 AdStar 0 0 0 0 0.00

USA Today currently has a consensus price target of $7.70, suggesting a potential upside of 6.06%. Given USA Todays stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe USA Today is more favorable than AdStar.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio USA Today $2.30 billion 0.46 $1.75 million ($0.11) -66.00 AdStar N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

This table compares USA Today and AdStars gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

USA Today has higher revenue and earnings than AdStar.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

76.7% of USA Today shares are held by institutional investors. 4.2% of USA Today shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 22.6% of AdStar shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares USA Today and AdStars net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets USA Today 0.08% 5.68% 0.54% AdStar N/A N/A N/A

Summary

USA Today beats AdStar on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About USA Today

(Get Free Report)

Gannett Co Inc. invests in, owns, and operates local media assets in the United States. The companys principal products include 125 daily newspapers with total paid circulation of approximately 1.4 million; 314 weekly newspapers with total paid circulation of approximately 315,000 and total free circulation of approximately 1.9 million; 124 shoppers with total circulation of approximately 3.0 million; and 538 locally-focused Websites, including Internet and mobile devices with approximately 224 million page views per month. Its principal products also comprise 2 yellow page directories with a total distribution of approximately 230,000 that cover a population of approximately 411,000 people; 68 business publications; and Propel digital marketing and business services. In addition, the company produces niche publications that address specific local market interests, such as recreation, sports, healthcare, and real estate. Further, it provides print and online products that offer local market news and information on various topics comprising local news and politics, community and regional events, youth sports, opinion and editorial pages, local schools, obituaries, weddings, and police reports, as well as print and digital advertising products, as well as commercial printing and regional business-oriented publications services. The company reaches approximately 20 million people per week; and serves approximately 220,000 business customers. New Media Investment Group Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York.

About AdStar

(Get Free Report)

AdStar, Inc. engages in the provision of advertising technology services to publishers. It focuses on its application service provider. The company was founded by Leslie Bernhard and Eli Rousso in 1986 and is headquartered in Marina del Rey, CA.

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Wabtec (NYSE:WAB  Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by equities research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $270.00 to $284.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an equal weight rating on the transportation companys stock. Wells Fargo & Companys target price suggests a potential upside of 6.52% from the companys current price.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Wabtec from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, March 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Wabtec from $290.00 to $280.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Wabtec from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $245.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Wabtec in a research report on Monday. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Wabtec from $283.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $284.27.

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Check Out Our Latest Report on Wabtec

Wabtec Price Performance

Wabtec stock traded up $5.09 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $266.61. The companys stock had a trading volume of 301,530 shares, compared to its average volume of 907,171. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $45.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.99. Wabtec has a twelve month low of $179.25 and a twelve month high of $275.84. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $254.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $228.01.

Wabtec (NYSE:WAB  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The transportation company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.62 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $2.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.08 billion. Wabtec had a net margin of 10.48% and a return on equity of 14.12%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.28 earnings per share. Wabtec has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.250-10.650 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Wabtec will post 10.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Wabtec declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, February 11th that permits the company to buyback $1.20 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the transportation company to repurchase up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other Wabtec news, insider Rogerio Mendonca sold 3,500 shares of Wabtec stock in a transaction on Friday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.21, for a total transaction of $924,735.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 10,101 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,668,785.21. This trade represents a 25.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Rafael Santana sold 60,852 shares of Wabtec stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.89, for a total transaction of $16,362,494.28. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 128,729 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,613,940.81. This trade represents a 32.10% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 92,364 shares of company stock worth $24,522,522. 0.57% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wabtec

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Piscataqua Savings Bank boosted its stake in shares of Wabtec by 12,800.0% during the 3rd quarter. Piscataqua Savings Bank now owns 129 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the period. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Wabtec by 125.9% during the 4th quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 131 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. Manchester Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Wabtec by 122.0% during the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 131 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the period. Motco boosted its stake in shares of Wabtec by 6,600.0% during the 3rd quarter. Motco now owns 134 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the period. Finally, McMillan Office Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Wabtec during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.69% of the companys stock.

More Wabtec News

Here are the key news stories impacting Wabtec this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 adjusted EPS beat and strong profitability  Wabtec reported adjusted EPS of $2.71 (up ~19% YoY), beating consensus and showing margin strength that supports earnings growth expectations. BusinessWire: Q1 Results

Q1 adjusted EPS beat and strong profitability  Wabtec reported adjusted EPS of $2.71 (up ~19% YoY), beating consensus and showing margin strength that supports earnings growth expectations. Positive Sentiment: Management raised FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $10.25$10.65, above prior midpoint and consistent with above-consensus profitability outlook  a key reason investors are bidding the stock higher. Seeking Alpha: Guidance Raise

Management raised FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $10.25$10.65, above prior midpoint and consistent with above-consensus profitability outlook  a key reason investors are bidding the stock higher. Positive Sentiment: Top-line growth and backlog expansion  Q1 sales rose ~13% YoY to $2.95B, and backlog expanded to about $30.8B, supporting multi-year revenue visibility and contributing to the upbeat investor reaction. BusinessWire: Backlog & Sales

Top-line growth and backlog expansion  Q1 sales rose ~13% YoY to $2.95B, and backlog expanded to about $30.8B, supporting multi-year revenue visibility and contributing to the upbeat investor reaction. Neutral Sentiment: Revenue guidance held roughly steady  management kept FY revenue guidance in a narrow band (~$12.2B$12.5B), which aligns with consensus but leaves less upside for top-line surprises. MarketBeat: Guidance Details

Revenue guidance held roughly steady  management kept FY revenue guidance in a narrow band (~$12.2B$12.5B), which aligns with consensus but leaves less upside for top-line surprises. Negative Sentiment: Revenue missed some analyst estimates and prompted margin scrutiny  while EPS beat, revenue of $2.95B was below some street forecasts (~$3.08B), which caused an initial intraday pullback in some reports and highlights execution risks in parts of the business. Investing.com: Revenue Miss

About Wabtec

(Get Free Report)

Wabtec Corporation (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation) is a global provider of equipment, systems and services for the rail industry. The company supplies products and solutions to freight railroads, transit agencies and other industrial operators, focusing on technologies that improve the performance, safety and efficiency of locomotives and rail networks. Wabtecs business spans new equipment manufacturing, aftermarket parts and services, and digital and control systems for rail operations.

Product and service offerings include locomotive systems and components, braking and air systems, propulsion and traction equipment, signaling and control technologies, and a range of aftermarket services such as maintenance, remanufacturing, parts distribution and fleet modernization.

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OLD National Bancorp IN decreased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Free Report) by 2.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 338,864 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 6,894 shares during the quarter. Wells Fargo & Company accounts for approximately 0.5% of OLD National Bancorp INs holdings, making the stock its 24th largest position. OLD National Bancorp INs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $31,582,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 472.4% during the third quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 332 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 274 shares during the period. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Imprint Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the third quarter worth approximately $37,000. 75.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Wells Fargo & Company

In related news, EVP Bridget E. Engle sold 30,000 shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.10, for a total value of $2,613,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 83,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,270,933.80. This trade represents a 26.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Ellen R. Patterson sold 60,000 shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.40, for a total value of $5,244,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 169,496 shares in the company, valued at $14,813,950.40. This represents a 26.14% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 115,000 shares of company stock worth $10,050,000 in the last quarter. 0.14% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance

NYSE WFC opened at $80.46 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $248.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.06. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1 year low of $67.50 and a 1 year high of $97.76. The businesss fifty day moving average is $81.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $86.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.90.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $21.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.85 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 13.27% and a net margin of 17.26%.The companys revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.39 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 6.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 6th were issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 27.78%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WFC has been the subject of a number of research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $101.00 to $98.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. Wolfe Research restated an outperform rating and issued a $109.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. KGI Securities cut Wells Fargo & Company to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 16th. Robert W. Baird raised Wells Fargo & Company from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $85.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $113.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $97.75.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on WFC

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.

Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.

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Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed their sector perform rating on shares of Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Free Report) in a research report report published on Monday,Benzinga reports. Royal Bank Of Canada currently has a $165.00 price objective on the restaurant operators stock.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Evercore reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $190.00 target price on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Yum! Brands from $165.00 to $176.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Barclays set a $185.00 target price on Yum! Brands and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Gordon Haskett raised Yum! Brands from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a buy rating and issued a $180.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $174.50.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on YUM

Yum! Brands Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:YUM opened at $159.22 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $43.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.66. Yum! Brands has a 12-month low of $137.33 and a 12-month high of $169.39. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $160.16 and a 200 day simple moving average of $153.96.

Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The restaurant operator reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion. Yum! Brands had a negative return on equity of 22.42% and a net margin of 18.98%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.61 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Yum! Brands will post 6.66 EPS for the current year.

Yum! Brands Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th were given a $0.75 dividend. This is a boost from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 20th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio is 54.05%.

Insider Transactions at Yum! Brands

In other news, CEO Aaron Powell sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.44, for a total value of $1,937,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 14,650 shares in the company, valued at $2,365,096. This trade represents a 45.03% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Christopher Lee Turner sold 242 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.02, for a total value of $40,176.84. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 65,297 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,840,607.94. This represents a 0.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 14,138 shares of company stock valued at $2,289,990. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Yum! Brands

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its stake in Yum! Brands by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 695,059 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $105,649,000 after purchasing an additional 8,888 shares during the last quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its stake in Yum! Brands by 19.7% during the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 347,395 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $52,804,000 after purchasing an additional 57,112 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 267,162 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $40,609,000 after buying an additional 11,532 shares in the last quarter. National Pension Service lifted its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 430,416 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $65,423,000 after buying an additional 10,632 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Yum! Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $24,786,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.37% of the companys stock.

Yum! Brands News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Yum! Brands this week:

Yum! Brands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Yum! Brands, Inc (NYSE: YUM) is a global quick-service restaurant company that develops, operates and franchises a portfolio of well-known restaurant brands. The companys principal brands are KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, each focused on distinct product categoriesKFC on fried chicken and related menu items, Pizza Hut on pizza and complementary offerings, and Taco Bell on Mexican-inspired quick-service food. Yum! is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and was formed as Tricon Global Restaurants in 1997 when PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses, later adopting the Yum! Brands name.

The companys operating model centers on brand development, system growth and franchising; a large portion of its restaurants are operated by independent franchisees, and Yum! generates revenue through franchise royalties and fees in addition to sales from company-operated locations.

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ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE:PUMP  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2028 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of ProPetro in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, April 22nd. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will earn $0.21 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.24. The consensus estimate for ProPetros current full-year earnings is ($0.12) per share.

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Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America initiated coverage on ProPetro in a report on Monday, March 30th. They set a buy rating and a $18.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays increased their price target on ProPetro from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of ProPetro in a report on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup upgraded ProPetro from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $12.00 to $16.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price target on ProPetro from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $14.50.

ProPetro Stock Up 2.1%

Shares of PUMP opened at $15.40 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,539.80 and a beta of 0.62. ProPetro has a 1 year low of $4.51 and a 1 year high of $15.60. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $13.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.24.

ProPetro (NYSE:PUMP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.13) by $0.14. The business had revenue of $289.68 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $279.90 million. ProPetro had a return on equity of 0.10% and a net margin of 0.06%.The companys revenue for the quarter was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.17) EPS.

Institutional Trading of ProPetro

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. ProShare Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of ProPetro by 6.9% during the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 14,643 shares of the companys stock worth $139,000 after buying an additional 944 shares in the last quarter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC grew its position in shares of ProPetro by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC now owns 60,830 shares of the companys stock worth $578,000 after buying an additional 1,840 shares in the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of ProPetro by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 164,822 shares of the companys stock worth $864,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in shares of ProPetro by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 51,534 shares of the companys stock worth $379,000 after buying an additional 2,230 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of ProPetro by 14.2% during the 3rd quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 18,958 shares of the companys stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 2,355 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.70% of the companys stock.

ProPetro Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

ProPetro Holding Corp is a publicly traded oilfield services company that specializes in hydraulic fracturing and well completion solutions for exploration and production operators. Headquartered in Midland, Texas, the company delivers a comprehensive suite of pressure pumping services designed to optimize reservoir stimulation and enhance hydrocarbon recovery. Its integrated approach encompasses well design, proppant selection, fluid systems and pressure management to support clients development targets across unconventional plays.

The companys core offerings include high-pressure fracturing, coiled tubing, cementing, acidizing and flowback services, all supported by in-house logistics and digital monitoring tools.

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by Austin Bay April 22, 2026

The April 21 seizure of the oil tanker M/T Tifani in the Bay of Bengal signals the obvious. The U.S. has the military and economic power -- and a president with the political will -- to globalize its remarkable war to denuclearize ayatollah Iran.

Media reported Navy SEALs boarded the Indian tanker, which was carrying a 1.8-million-barrel shipment of "previously sanctioned Iranian oil." The tanker had engaged in oil smuggling operations "throughout Asia." India's Economictimes.com added "ship-tracking data showed the Tifani was carrying oil in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday between Sri Lanka and Indonesia."

The Pentagon called the boarding operation a "right-of-visit maritime interdiction," meaning it is permitted under international law. The Tifani flies the flag of the southern African nation Botswana -- a flag of convenience. For the record, Botswana is landlocked.

Another Pentagon announcement warned, "International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels."

That statement makes my point about expanding the area of naval operations quite clear. The U.S. is conducting a global economic war on Iran.

The M/T Tifani seizure was the second the USN has conducted. On April 19, U.S. Marines boarded an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon said the ship had tried to evade the American naval blockade. The Navy fired on that particular vessel, damaging its engine.

The Iranian regime (or what's left of it) claims it controls the Strait. That's utter nonsense. However, pro-Iran and anti-American media repeat the nonsense, which gives Iranian hardliners a propaganda boost. It also appears reports of Iranian blockade runners reaching Iranian ports are exaggerations, perhaps totally false.

As it is, on April 21, President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire, describing the Iranian regime as fractured and fragmented and needing time to formulate a unified plan.

The Trump administration's naval blockade denies Iran oil export income and obstructs Iranian resupply. The goal: economic strangulation of the regime. Another goal: demonstrating the regime cannot rebuild its military and security forces.

Could Iran sink a civilian tanker in the Strait? Of course. The criminals in Tehran could run an empty tanker toward the Strait, blow it up with onboard charges and then claim Iranian small boats rammed and sunk it. The propaganda press would have some grisly, grimy video.

But Tehran sinking one of its own tankers would be desperate theater, not a military operation. The Trump administration could legitimately call it a ceasefire violation.

The USN can handle a naval blockade against Iran. Iran has no warships. However, the "hull deficit" -- the shortage of warships and support vessels -- is real. Three years ago, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) pointed out that in 2030, China will have a fleet of 440 warships. The U.S. Navy? Perhaps 290. Unless Washington does something. The Trump Administration intends solve the hull deficit - but that takes time and money.

U.S. strategy in the Cold War was to globalize the war against the Soviet Union. Moscow, possessing a large ground force advantage in Europe, would have loved to restrict a shooting war to central Europe, the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Keep it conventional and restricted long enough to seize Wurttemberg and Frankfurt (West Germany), then offer peace terms.

The U.S. Navy and Air Force had other ideas. The Navy would sink Russian ships globally, and the USAF would decimate Russian and Warsaw Pact logistics and economic infrastructure.

The Venezuela raid and arrest of Nicolas Maduro should have told the ayatollah regime its "oil weapon" global strategy would soon be gutted.

By toppling the Maduro dictatorship, the Trump administration eliminated an oil-rich criminal regime making common cause with Tehran. Venezuela exported oil and turmoil -- criminals and terrorists throughout the Western Hemisphere, with the U.S. the ultimate target of violence and disruption.
Chinese medical team donates supplies to boost healthcare in Cameroon

Xinhua) 13:29, April 23, 2026

Photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows the handover ceremony of medical supplies to the Mbalmayo District Hospital in Mbalmayo, Cameroon. The 25th batch of the Chinese medical team in Cameroon on Wednesday donated a consignment of medical supplies to the Mbalmayo District Hospital, located about 50 km from the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

YAOUNDE, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The 25th batch of the Chinese medical team in Cameroon on Wednesday donated a consignment of medical supplies to the Mbalmayo District Hospital, located about 50 km from the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Zhang Chao, chief of the Chinese medical team in Mbalmayo, said the donation was carefully selected to include antimalarials, antibiotics, antihypertensives, antidiabetics, as well as surgical supplies, protective equipment, and acupuncture instruments from traditional Chinese medicine.

"The medications will eventually be used, but the friendship will remain. Missions will follow one another, but love and hope will endure," Zhang said, stressing the long-standing friendly relations between Cameroon and China.

Nkongo Victorine, director of the Mbalmayo District Hospital, commended the Chinese team for its consistent contributions to Cameroon's healthcare system and said the medical supplies were "a significant contribution."

"These donations specifically consist of medications and supplies that will be used to care for patients. In short, all patients will benefit," she said.

The first Chinese medical team arrived in Cameroon, in the town of Mbalmayo, in 1975. For more than 50 years, China has dispatched 25 medical teams to Cameroon.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Lufthansa Group has announced that it will be cutting 20,000 short-haul flights amid the ongoing jet fuel crisis, greatly affecting travel in Europe.

The slashing of flights will affect the airline's schedule all the way until October.

Lufthansa Cuts 20,000 Short-Haul Flights

According to a report by Travel Weekly, Lufthansa Group noted that the 20,000 flights is equivalent to less than 1% of its capacity.

It should be noted that the following airlines fall under the Lufthansa Group:

Austrian Airlines

Brussels Airlines

Discover Airlines

Eurowings

ITA Airways

Lufthansa

Swiss International Air Lines

Per Travel and Tour World, among the affected routes are the following:

Bydgoszcz and Rzeszow in Poland

Stavanger in Norway

Toulouse in France

Berlin, Leipzig, and Stuttgart in Germany are also expected to lose daily services from Frankfurt and Munich.

Does Lufthansa Group Have Enough Jet Fuel Left?

Despite reducing the number of flights, Lufthansa has assured that it has a stable fuel supply for flights in its summer schedule.

"Lufthansa is pursuing a range of measures to this end, including the physical procurement of jet fuel as well as price hedging," the company said.

The company's assurance comes days after International Energy Agency Director Fatih said that Europe has approximately six weeks of remaining jet fuel supplies left.
This photo shows Costco under construction in the mixed-use Freedom Pointe project along Cox Road north of Liberty Way  near Christ Hospital Medical Center  in Liberty Twp. Trustees have said no to another major change to the development. Nick Graham / staff
Genflow Biosciences plc (LON:GENF  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 2.70 and last traded at GBX 2.67, with a volume of 2744522 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2.50.

Genflow Biosciences Trading Up 6.7%

The stock has a market capitalization of 14.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.31 and a beta of 2.24. The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 1.95 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 1.93.

Genflow Biosciences Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Genflow Biosciences plc is a UK based biotech company with R&D facilities in Belgium and a US office in Cambridge, MA, driven by one mission: to deliver therapeutics that potentially halt or slow the ageing process in humans and dogs.

The companys lead compound works through the delivery of a centenarian variant of the SIRT6 gene and has yielded promising preclinical results.

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CaixaBank (OTCMKTS:CAIXY  Get Free Report) is expected to be releasing its results before the market opens on Thursday, April 30th. Analysts expect CaixaBank to post earnings of $0.0803 per share and revenue of $4.7575 billion for the quarter.

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CaixaBank Stock Performance

CAIXY stock opened at $4.10 on Thursday. CaixaBank has a 1-year low of $2.45 and a 1-year high of $4.52. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3.88.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on CAIXY. Barclays upgraded CaixaBank from a hold rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of CaixaBank in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded CaixaBank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of CaixaBank in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CaixaBank has an average rating of Hold.

About CaixaBank

(Get Free Report)

CaixaBank (OTCMKTS: CAIXY) is a major Spanish banking group that provides a broad range of financial products and services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The companys operations encompass traditional banking activities such as deposit-taking, consumer and mortgage lending, payment and card services, and corporate banking, alongside wealth management, private banking, insurance and asset-management businesses. CaixaBank also offers investment-banking-related services and specialized financing solutions including leasing, factoring and trade finance through its group structure and subsidiaries.

The bank traces its origins to the Catalan savings bank la Caixa and has evolved into a commercial banking group through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

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ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) will likely be posting its Q1 2026 results before the market opens on Thursday, April 30th. Analysts expect ConocoPhillips to post earnings of $1.55 per share and revenue of $14.8967 billion for the quarter. Individuals may visit the the companys upcoming Q1 2026 earning results page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.

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ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The energy producer reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.23 by ($0.21). ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 12.98% and a return on equity of 11.90%. The business had revenue of $13.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.35 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.98 EPS. ConocoPhillipss quarterly revenue was down 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect ConocoPhillips to post $7 EPS for the current fiscal year and $7 EPS for the next fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:COP opened at $122.63 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. ConocoPhillips has a fifty-two week low of $84.28 and a fifty-two week high of $135.87. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $120.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $102.97. The company has a market cap of $149.47 billion, a PE ratio of 19.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.19.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th were given a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is 53.00%.

In other news, EVP Nicholas G. Olds sold 6,994 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.06, for a total value of $888,657.64. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,395 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $685,488.70. This represents a 56.45% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 34,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.68, for a total transaction of $4,128,960.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 17,469 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,090,689.92. This represents a 66.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 734,891 shares of company stock worth $93,345,692. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of ConocoPhillips

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $161,000. DV Equities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 4th quarter worth approximately $159,000. Prosperity Bancshares Inc acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 4th quarter worth approximately $155,000. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $151,000. Finally, Strive Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 4th quarter worth approximately $93,000. 82.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

COP has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $118.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of ConocoPhillips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, March 7th. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $121.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Tuesday. Roth Mkm cut shares of ConocoPhillips from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $112.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $98.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $131.36.

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Trending Headlines about ConocoPhillips

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

ConocoPhillips Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is a Houston-based international energy company focused on exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Formed in 2002 through the merger of Conoco Inc and Phillips Petroleum Company, the firm operates as an independent upstream company that explores for, develops and produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids across a portfolio of global assets.

The companys activities span conventional and unconventional resources and include onshore and offshore operations in multiple regions around the world.

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The Reach for the Stars Astrophotography Competition is celebrating its sixth anniversary, inviting people in Derry to pause, look up, and capture the moments that remind us how extraordinary our night sky truly is. Since the beginning of the competition five years ago, photographers from Derry have consistently featured among the winning, shortlisted and commended entries in Reach for the Stars, reflecting the strength of the talent across the county.

Organised this year by the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), Reach for the Stars aims to find the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland between 03 June 2025 and 10 May 2026. Shortlisted entrants will be announced in late June, with the public invited to vote for their favourite to win the Peoples Choice category at that time.

Photographs can be entered in three categories:

Night Sky in Your Hand  Images taken with a smartphone only, without telescopes, capturing an astronomical scene.

Out of this World  Images of astronomical objects, including the Sun, Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects such as nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies.

Back on Earth  Images that depict astronomical features alongside landscapes, landmarks, nature, buildings, or heritage sites.

In addition, one overall Public Choice winner will be selected by public vote from across the shortlisted entries in all categories.

Entries will be judged by Dan Dennison, Visual Editor, The Irish Times; Dr. Donnacha ODriscoll, President of the Irish Astronomical Society; Professor Peter Gallagher, Senior Professor and Head of Astronomy and Astrophysics at DIAS; and Dr Niamh Shaw, Scientist, Engineer, and one of Irelands leading Science Communicators.

READ NEXT: Palestinian author and journalist Dr Yousef Aljamal visits Museum of Free Derry

Launching the competition, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: Reach for the Stars is designed to make astrophotography more accessible for everyone with an interest, supporting science communication and outreach, building awareness of dark skies, and encouraging citizen science. Were looking forward, as ever, to seeing the range of perspectives and skills that these astrophotographers will bring to the night sky.

Chair of the judging panel and Director of DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Professor Peter Gallagher, said: The standard of entries to Reach for the Stars generally reflects huge creativity and technical capability. Entries are assessed against clear criteria  technical skill, artistic flair, astronomical understanding, and originality  and its always evident how much effort sits behind each frame, delivering images that show how extraordinary out universe really is.

Competition Details

Entrants may submit up to two images per category to the competition. The deadline for entries is 5pm, 11 May 2026.

All entries will be screened by a shortlisting panel to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. The shortlisted images in each category will then go forward for consideration by the judging panel and for an online public vote on reachforthestars.ie.

The winning photographers in the Out of this World and Back on Earth categories, as selected by the judging panel, will receive a prize package that includes:

Publication of their images on the DIAS and The Irish Times websites;

Passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland  DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne;

A 500 voucher for photographic equipment; and

A digital subscription to The Irish Times.

The winner of the Public Choice category, as voted for by the public, and the winner of the Night Sky in Your Hand category will each receive a voucher to the value of 250 for photographic equipment, along with passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland  DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne.

Two runner-up prizes from each of the Out of this World and Back on Earth categories will also be awarded vouchers to the value of 250 for photographic equipment and passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland.

Winning and highly commended images will also be included in exhibitions at DIAS Headquarters, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 and at DIAS Dunsink Observatory later in 2026. Furthermore, all shortlisted images will be included in an online exhibition on the competition website reachforthestars.ie.

DIASs Reach for the Stars competition is being run in partnership with The Irish Times, and is sponsored by MKC Communications and The Astronomical Observatories of Ireland. The Irish Astronomical Society are initiative supporters.

Further information, including the competition guidelines and entry form, is available at www.reachforthestars.ie.
PICTURED ABOVE: (L-R) Janice Spence, Law Society Northern Ireland; Stewart Dickson MLA, All Party Group Chair; Her Honour Judge Fiona Bagnall; Sonya McMullan, Womens Aid Federation Northern Ireland; John ODoherty, Children's Law Centre; and Adele OGrady KC, The Bar of Northern Ireland.

Justice sector leaders, politicians and organisations from the voluntary and community sector gathered at Parliament Buildings today for a pivotal event hosted by the All-Party Group on Access to Justice, focussing on how a joined-up, whole-system approach to family justice can deliver better outcomes not just for families, but for society as a whole.

The "Joining Up Family Justice" event brought together key stakeholders to examine the resources and partnerships needed to address the issues facing families in crisis, and how these crises do not exist in isolation - they are deeply interconnected with the health and wellbeing of parents and children, housing, and economic security.

Critical areas were addressed in a panel discussion chaired by Her Honour Judge Fiona Bagnall and featuring senior representatives from Womens Aid, Childrens Law Centre, the Bar of Northern Ireland, and the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

Speakers examined how focussing on a whole system approach to family justice can improve access to justice and deliver better outcomes for families and wider society. Attendees heard what a truly joined-up family justice system would look like in practice as well as the obstacles that are currently standing in the way of this existing.

READ NEXT: Derry podiatrist shortlisted for Alf Morris Award

The event also explored the importance of ending violence against women and girls and child protection as central issues in the context of family justice.

The All Party Group on Access to Justice Secretariat, the Bar of Northern Ireland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland, jointly said: Family justice does not exist in isolation, and neither should the response to it. What we see in practice is that the pressures facing families are rarely singular  they are interconnected and often longstanding.

A family coming through the justice system may simultaneously be dealing with financial hardship, housing instability, the impact of domestic abuse or the needs of children who will experience great life changes as a result of family court decisions.

Today highlighted the importance of different services and sectors working together in the genuine interests of the families that we are all trying to support.

The event was chaired by Stewart Dickson MLA, Chair of the All-Party Group on Access to Justice, who said: Family justice touches every part of society, and todays event was a valuable opportunity to hear from the experts and practitioners who work within it every day.

The families who come into contact with the justice system are often doing so at the hardest moments of their lives, and they deserve a system that is genuinely built around their needs.

This event was another useful step in the longer process of building a family justice system in Northern Ireland that genuinely serves the families who need it most.

The All-Party Group on Access to Justice continues to champion the vital role that a fair, accessible and joined-up justice system plays in the lives of every family in Northern Ireland.
Live Here Love Here is urging volunteers across Derry to prioritise safety as the Big Spring Clean enters its final fortnight, as communities, schools and local groups continue to rally behind Northern Irelands largest annual clean-up campaign.

Running throughout March and April, the Big Spring Clean mobilises people of all ages to brighten shared spaces, protect wildlife and reduce pollution. With activity ramping up in the final weeks, organisers say careful planning and a strong focus on safety are key to ensuring every clean-up is both impactful and enjoyable.

Across Derry, volunteers have already made a visible difference in parks, streets and shared spaces. But as more groups prepare to take part before the campaign closes on 30 April, Live Here Love Here is encouraging participants to think beyond simply showing up with a litter picker.

Choosing the right location is a crucial first step. Clean-ups should take place in areas that are safe, accessible and suitable for all volunteers, avoiding busy roads, steep ground or locations where visibility is limited. Taking a few minutes to assess the site in advance, using the template risk assessment available on the Live Here Love Here website, can help identify any potential risks and ensure the activity runs smoothly from start to finish.

Equally important is using the right equipment. Gloves and litter pickers should always be used to minimise direct contact with waste, while high-visibility clothing can make a significant difference when working near traffic or in public areas. Volunteers are also reminded that not all waste should be handled - sharp objects, chemicals or unknown materials should be left in place and reported to the local council for safe removal.

READ NEXT: City of Derry Jazz Festival celebrates a quarter century of cool!

For groups involving children or young people, supervision and clear guidance are essential. Setting boundaries, keeping groups together and ensuring younger volunteers understand how to participate safely helps create a positive experience for everyone involved.

Weather conditions can also play a major role in safety. Checking the forecast ahead of time and being prepared to reschedule in poor conditions - such as strong winds or heavy rain - can help avoid unnecessary risks and ensure volunteers remain comfortable and visible throughout the activity.

Planning doesnt stop when the litter pick ends. Organisers are encouraged to arrange waste collection in advance so that bags are removed quickly and responsibly. Recording results through the Live Here Love Here Activity Log also helps capture the full scale of the campaigns impact across Northern Ireland.

This years campaign arrives as concern about litter remains high. Research commissioned by Live Here Love Here in 2025 found that 85% of people in Northern Ireland believe littering is a major problem, with 73% saying it negatively affects mental health and eight in ten agreeing it places a financial burden on domestic and business rates.

The campaign continues to highlight that litter picking is about far more than improving appearances. Each bag of litter collected helps to protect wildlife, prevent pollution entering waterways, and foster a stronger sense of pride within local communities.

Live Here Love Here Manager Lynda Surgenor said: Were so encouraged by the energy and dedication shown across Derry this spring. As we enter the final two weeks, we want to remind everyone to put safety first - plan your clean-up carefully, choose locations that are safe and suitable for your group, and make sure you have the right equipment.

"Looking out for one another and taking simple precautions will ensure every event is both safe and enjoyable. Whether youre organising a group activity or picking up litter on your daily walk, every action contributes to a cleaner and more hopeful Northern Ireland. And dont forget to log your results so we can celebrate the collective impact.

Sponsored by Power NI, Helping Hand and Belfast Harbour, with continued support from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Big Spring Clean continues to be a powerful example of community-led environmental action.

With two weeks to go, Live Here Love Here is encouraging residents, businesses, schools and community groups across Derry to host a final clean-up event, borrow equipment from their local council if needed, and join the movement before the campaign closes on 30 April.

For safety guidance, resources and to record your results, visit liveherelovehere.org/bigspringclean.
A man who stole Noah Donohoes rucksack has told an inquest he never met or saw the schoolboy.

Daryl Paul, of Cliftonville Avenue, previously pleaded guilty to stealing a rucksack containing Noahs laptop and books.

In a statement read out at Belfast Coroners Court, he said he was upset by untrue rumours about him.

He said he and his family had received threats and that if he knew what would happen after picking up the bag he would never have done so.

The inquest into the death of the schoolboy, which is being heard before a jury, is in its 12th week.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachys College, was 14 when his naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast on June 27 2020, six days after leaving home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning.

The jury heard evidence on Wednesday from a woman about how she came into possession of Noahs laptop.

Maria Nolan told the inquest that Paul told her that he had a laptop that he could sell at Cash Converters to raise money to buy drugs on June 24 2020.

The laptop was Noahs, and was part of several items that had gone missing  including his backpack and coat.

On Thursday, a transcript of a police interview with Paul in November 2020 was read out to the inquest by the coroners counsel, Peter Coll KC.

A video interview held by two journalists with Paul was also shown to the jury, and a statement from Paul to the inquest dated October 2025 was read out by Mr Coll.

In his 2025 statement, Paul said he was on bail at the time of Noah Donohoes disappearance and recounted the route he walked through the city on the day he found the rucksack.

After jumping the railings around construction work at Ulster University, he spoke to a man with tattoos and dressed in overalls he described as a caretaker before discovering the bag in a walkway nearby.

Paul said he picked up the bag, which was propped against the side of the walkway, and placed it in his Poundland bag before continuing his journey.

He said the bag was open and the laptop was not visible, but he could tell there was likely a laptop in it because of how heavy it was.

He said he had assumed it belonged to a college student and suspected it came from a burglary at the college.

I was in the habit of stealing things to get money, he said, adding that he had drug problems at the time.

He said that later, when he checked the bag, he found a laptop, a Quran, blue USB, the book 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson and a notebook with the same line written over and over again.

He said that at the time, he was not aware of a missing schoolboy and was unsure what to do with the laptop, which he said would not turn on and had no charger.

He said he left the laptop with Ms Nolan for safekeeping and days later he and Ms Nolan decided to try to sell the laptop to Cash Converters, but were unable.

He said he was holding bags with clothes he had shoplifted from SuperDry at the time and he was arrested that evening.

That night, he said police entered his cell and asked where the missing schoolboys laptop was.

He said this was the first time he became aware of Noah Donohoes disappearance.

He said he immediately told police the laptop was with Ms Nolan at her hostel.

He said he wanted to be clear that he had never met Noah and that he had never met or even seen Noah.

He said that while he picked up the rucksack, he never picked up a coat.

I made comments on the video (to journalists) about feeling bad for Noahs family those comments were true and I still mean them, he said.

He urged anyone who has information about what happened to Noah to come forward.

My role in Noahs case went no further than stealing the laptop, he said, adding that he was upset about the untrue rumours about him.

Had I known all the trouble it would cause me, I would never have picked it up.

Evidence before the inquest continues on Thursday afternoon.
The Northern Ireland Secretary has responded to the First Ministers criticism of a 50 million deal for Northern Irelands defence sector, saying it is the responsibility of Government is to ensure the safety of the nation.

Hilary Benn said the funding boost will be invested into skills and apprenticeships in the region.

The Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal, launched by the UK Government, will see money invested in tech companies and start-ups to make it easier for them to enter the defence supply chain.

The Government said the initiative will support hundreds of jobs.

Michelle ONeill said she and party colleague Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald did not attend the launch of the deal because they do not support the militarisation agenda.

The First Minister said the funding should have been spent in areas that are really crying out for support in tackling the cost of living crisis.

Asked what he made of Ms ONeills comments in relation to Northern Irelands funding, Mr Benn told BBCs Good Morning Ulster: This is 50 million for Northern Ireland, going to go into skills and apprenticeships and help for SMEs to be able to access defence work.

Why is this so important?

Because the Government is currently in the process of investing 270 billion over this Parliament and delivering the biggest sustained increase in defence expenditure since the Cold War, because we are living in a changed world.

That is the first responsibility of governance, to ensure the safety of nation.

He said it is a matter for the First Minister to decide whether or not she attends defence-related events.

An example of one of things we are supporting is building three new support ships for the navy at Harland and Wolff.

That was a hugely important step that was taken, been there, met the apprentices.

This is about jobs and opportunities and re-establishing that ship building capacity in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Secretary reiterated the Governments view that the region is funded above its level of need.

The level of need has been independently assessed so for every pound spent in England, 1.24 is spent in NI, he said.

Secondly, we gave the Northern Ireland Executive a record settlement over three years last summer.

Since then, we provided an extra 370 million in budget, an extra 270 million in the statement which was last month we agreed a reserve claim of 400 million to help balance the budget for last year.

In return, were making considerable contributions in the form of the budget in NI.

But in return, I think most people will recognise that it is entirely reasonable to say to the Executive, are you going to come forward with a detailed plan for how you are going to make public finances in NI sustainable?

The reason we agreed to the open book exercise in return for the reserve claim that we agreed was to be able to show that there are things the Executive can do if it wishes to take those steps to balance the budget because we need to do this.

I am here to play my part, I am the biggest advocate for Northern Ireland in the UK Government, I argue Northern Irelands corner but I need the help of the Executive in doing that.
The PSNI Chief Constable has visited a school in west Belfast that has an eco-tunnel being supported by assets seized from criminal activity, as he pledged to work with our next generation.

Jon Boutcher visited St Colms High School, Twinbrook to view the schools new health and wellbeing project, a polytunnel for growing fruit and vegetables to teach students about nutrition, which is being supported by the PSNI proceeds of crime fund.

Mr Boutcher said his visit on Thursday is about listening to the voices of our young people.

Policing is vitally important to a healthy and safe society, he said.

We, in the PSNI, need to listen to and respond to any issues or concerns; building relationships with the younger members of our communities is part of that.

He added: We want young people in Northern Ireland to know that we are their police service, we are there for them and we take their concerns as seriously as those of adults.

This is our pledge and our priority.

To work with our next generation so they have the opportunity to help shape the future of policing and that they ultimately feel safe.

Northern Ireland and its complex cultural backdrop has meant that we have to work incredibly hard to build trust and confidence within our communities.

As part of this project in particular, our local officers have had the chance to meet and connect with those taking part.

They listen to any concerns, and offer advice on some of the issues currently affecting our young people.

Constable William Kingsberry and neighbourhood police officers worked with the school previously on its Op Chicquer project to address the danger of illegal street scrambling.

That project resulted in a number of safety programmes including bringing together community engagement and youth education through safe scrambling courses.

The PSNI say there has been a reduction in scrambler-related incidents, not only in west Belfast but across the city, with a 29.8% reduction in incidents seen from 2023/2024 to 2024/2025.

The schools principal Adrian Walsh said community engagement remains a central priority for the PSNI, and the Chief Constable emphasised the importance of a police service that represents and serves all sections of the community.

Students were given a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the Chief Constable, posing thoughtful and relevant questions based on their own experiences and perceptions of policing, Mr Walsh said.

The discussion provided an open and constructive forum, encouraging dialogue and mutual understanding.
Veon Group announced on Wednesday that its Bangladesh subsidiary Banglalink has signed an agreement with Starlink Mobile to integrate its Direct to Cell (D2C) satellite connectivity in remote areas with Banglalinks terrestrial coverage.

Banglalink will launch Starlinks D2C service later this year, giving its customers access to Starlink Mobile satellites using standard 4G smartphones, although the service will initially be limited to text messaging.

Banglalink said it will introduce data services in the next phase of Starlink Mobiles rollout, pending regulatory approvals.

By enhancing our connectivity with Starlinks satellite-to-mobile technology, we aim to ensure that Banglalink customers will not be limited by the availability of terrestrial networks, said Banglalink CEO Johan Buse in a statement.

Banglalinks Starlink Mobile tie-up is the third such deal for Veons operator stable, following the commercial launch of D2C service with Ukraines Kyivstar in November 2025 and a field test with Beeline Kazakhstan in December 2025 that also marked the first WhatsApp call over Starlinks network in Central Asia. Beeline Kazakhstan aims to launch commercial D2C services later this year.

By expanding our partnership with Starlink into Bangladesh, we are redefining resilience and opening up new possibilities for our digital ecosystem  now in the third country across the five markets that we proudly serve, said Veon Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu.
Adobe Summit 2026 just got done in Las Vegas and like all major tech companies, Adobe is no longer talking about AI as just a handy add-on feature. The company is now pitching AI as the connective tissue across its entire software stack, from creative tools and video editing to campaign planning, brand governance and customer engagement. Across the keynote announcements, the messaging was clear about Adobe wanting to use agentic AI to improve fragmented workflows and help businesses and creators not get overwhelmed.

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Adobes enterprise moves often shape the tools and features that eventually reach mainstream creators, freelancers, small businesses and even everyday users. Whether it is smarter editing in Firefly, easier campaign production in Express-linked workflows, or AI assistants that can actually understand context across apps, the bigger underpinning message here is about software becoming more proactive. Instead of waiting for commands one step at a time, Adobe wants its tools to understand intent and carry out complex tasks across multiple stages of work.

CX Enterprise is Adobes biggest strategic play

The biggest announcement from Summit was Adobe CX Enterprise, a new end-to-end agentic AI system designed to manage the full customer lifecycle, from acquiring a potential buyer to retaining them over time. Adobe says the platform brings together AI agents, reusable agent skills, Model Context Protocol (MCP) endpoints, and a governance layer so companies can automate more of their marketing and customer experience work without losing sight any of the above aspects.

In simpler terms, Adobe is trying to build a kind of AI operating layer for customer experience. Instead of having one AI tool for analytics, another for content, and another for campaign execution, Adobe wants everything tied together through a coordinated system. It is also layering this over Adobe Experience Platform, which already powers a large amount of enterprise customer data and interactions. The company says that platform handles over one trillion experiences annually, and now it wants that same data foundation to guide AI-driven decision-making.

Most businesses do not struggle because they lack data or content. They struggle because the data, the content and the tools do not work together smoothly. CX Enterprise is Adobes attempt to stitch all that together. If it works as promised, brands could move faster on personalised campaigns without needing large teams to manually connect every dot.

Firefly AI Assistant works across apps

Another interesting announcement for creators was Firefly AI Assistant. Adobe says this upcoming assistant, powered by its creative agent, will let users describe the result they want in natural language and then have the system orchestrate multi-step workflows across Firefly, Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, Illustrator, Express and more.

That is a meaningful shift. Right now, creative AI often feels like a collection of separate tricks: generate an image, extend a video clip, remove an object, clean up audio. Adobes idea is to turn those isolated tools into something closer to a collaborative assistant. A creator could ask for a polished social campaign, a retouched image set, or a refined edit with feedback incorporated, and the system would carry that work across apps while preserving context. Adobe also says the assistant can learn user preferences over time, understand brand assets and even integrate with Frame.io so review feedback can loop back into changes automatically.

For the average creator, this is the part that feels most useful. It suggests a future where creative software becomes less about hunting through menus and more about steering outcomes. Adobe is careful to say the creator stays in control, but the practical appeal is obviously about less friction, fewer repetitive steps, and faster movement from idea to finished output.

Fireflys editing upgrades

Adobe also expanded Fireflys editing feature set in ways that feel more grounded in real production work. Firefly Video Editor is getting studio-quality audio improvements, including speech enhancement, noise and reverb reduction, and better balancing of dialogue, music and ambience. It is also adding more advanced colour controls and direct Adobe Stock integration, which gives users access to a very large library of licensed media from within the workflow.

On the image side, Adobe announced Precision Flow and AI Markup. Precision Flow lets users generate a range of image variations from one prompt and then adjust the result through a slider, moving from subtle changes to more dramatic ones. AI Markup gives more direct control over where edits happen by letting users draw or brush onto the image to guide changes.

These features may not sound as dramatic as a new AI assistant, but they matter because they address one of the core frustrations with generative tools, that of unpredictability. Adobe is trying to make AI editing more precise, more iterative and less like gambling on random outputs. For users who care about control, that is arguably more useful than sheer novelty.

Third-party integration AI integration

Adobe is also continuing to make Firefly a hub for multiple AI models rather than relying only on its own. The company says Firefly now offers more than 30 creative AI models, with new additions including Kling 3.0 and Kling 3.0 Omni, alongside models from Google, Runway, Luma, ElevenLabs, Topaz Labs and others.

In a time when the AI market is moving too quickly for any one company to dominate every creative use case, having a central hub that gives you the flexibility to switch between models can be quite the value addition. Some models are better at video, others at voice, still others at image generation or enhancement. Adobes strategy is increasingly about becoming the front end where creators can access multiple best-in-class models with a familiar interface and commercial safety controls.

For users, that could mean less hopping between different AI tools. The trade-off, though, is that Adobe is turning Firefly into a more complex ecosystem. The company will need to make sure choice does not become clutter.

GenStudio is Adobes answer to the content bottleneck

On the enterprise side, Adobe also announced a wave of updates to GenStudio, its content supply chain platform. The headline addition is Brand Intelligence, which Adobe describes as a continuously learning engine that goes beyond static brand guidelines. Instead of relying on a PDF of rules, the system is meant to learn from approvals, rejections, annotations and feedback over time, then make that understanding available to AI agents working across content production.

Adobe also announced new AI agents in Workfront for cross-team collaboration, improved campaign brief creation, Firefly Creative Production for Enterprise Workflow Builder, and a new GenStudio for Content Marketing module that can turn long-form documents and videos into campaign-ready assets such as case studies and web articles. There is also an OpenAI partnership that brings support for ChatGPT Ads in GenStudio for Performance Marketing.

Those of us on the content creation side of the world know that content teams are under pressure to produce far more material for far more platforms than they were even a few years ago. Adobe is trying to position GenStudio as the system that keeps that machine moving without losing brand consistency.

Adobes pushing for more interoperability

Another major theme at Summit was interoperability. Adobe announced expanded partnerships with Amazon Web Services, Anthropic, Google Cloud, IBM, Microsoft, NVIDIA and OpenAI, while also deepening integrations with agencies, system integrators and enterprise platforms. Adobe Marketing Agent is now generally available in Microsoft 365 Copilot and in beta across Amazon Quick, Claude Enterprise, ChatGPT Enterprise, Gemini Enterprise and IBM watsonx Orchestrate.

Businesses are not going to rebuild their workflows around a single vendors dream platform. Adobe seems to recognise that the real opportunity is to make its intelligence, content systems and agent tools available inside the software that people already use every day.

Summit Sneaks shows whats next

Finally, Summit Sneaks offered a look at Adobes experimental pipeline, and some of these demos were among the clearest illustrations of where the company wants marketing workflows to go. Project Concurrent turns static visuals into designs linked to live data. Project Face Off simulates A/B testing before launch. Project Page Turner builds personalised web pages in real time based on user intent. Project Wise Wire converts static assets into personalised email workflows, while Project Asset Amplify and Project Tailored Takes aim to scale assets and videos across platforms and markets.

These are not shipping products yet, but they reveal Adobes thinking which revolves around the belief that marketing content should be dynamic, testable, personalised and reusable from the start, not manually rebuilt for every channel.
Google has revealed its eighth generation of custom TPUs at Cloud Next 2026, and unlike previous generations, this release is not just one but two different chips. The new TPU 8t and TPU 8i that have been designed specifically for training and inference, respectively.

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The reason for this is simple  As AI models move from answering questions to autonomously executing multi-step tasks, the requirements for building those models and running them in production have branched quite a bit. Specialisation was simply the best route for tackling both issues.

Also read: Google unveils new AI chips to rival Nvidia: Here is what they offer

TPU 8t: Built to train faster

The TPU 8t chip is Googles training beast. One superpod scales to 9,600 chips in total and delivers 121 Exaflops of compute capacity, with twice the inter-chip bandwidth compared to the last generation of TPUs. The objective here is to reduce the time it takes to build a model on the frontier from months to weeks.

In addition, the chip offers 10x faster access to storage via TPUDirect and achieves over 97% productive compute time thanks to automated fault detection and routing, while being paired with Googles new Virgo Network to scale up to one million chips within a logical cluster.

TPU 8i: Built to think faster

The TPU 8i is designed for inference, specifically for the low-latency, high-throughput demands of AI agents working in swarms. Its standout feature is memory: 288 GB of high-bandwidth memory paired with 384 MB of on-chip SRAM, three times more than the previous generation. Keeping a models active working set on-chip eliminates the processor idle time that compounds at agent scale.

Also read: ChatGPT Images 2.0 vs 1.5: Is this update really an upgrade?

Google also doubled interconnect bandwidth to 19.2 Tb/s and introduced a new Boardfly topology that cuts maximum network diameter by over 50%. The result is 80% better performance-per-dollar compared to the last generation  meaning businesses can serve roughly twice the user volume at the same cost.

Why it matters

Both chips run on Googles own Axion ARM-based CPU host and support JAX, PyTorch, SGLang and vLLM out of the box, with bare metal access for customers who need it. They will be generally available later in 2026 as part of Googles AI Hypercomputer stack.

The TPU has always been Googles answer to the question of what happens when you build silicon around the workload rather than the other way around. With agents now doing the work, the workload just got a lot more complex.

Also read: Google has a Sergey Brin problem, and its called Claude Code
OpenAI has introduced a new AI assistant designed to help medical professionals manage daily clinical work. Clinics are seeing a steady rise in patient visits, adding pressure on staff to handle documentation and keep up with new research. Many clinicians have already turned to general AI tools, but the absence of a dedicated system has made workflows inconsistent. A recent survey by the American Medical Association shows that use of AI among doctors has risen sharply over the past year. The tool is available free of cost to verified physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and pharmacists in the United States. Heres everything you need to know about the latest ChatGPT-powered AI health assistants.

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What is ChatGPT for clinicians?

ChatGPT for clinicians is an AI-powered assistant built by OpenAI to help medical professionals with daily clinical tasks. It can draft referral letters, review medical literature and summarise complex research in a clean and clear manner. Moreover, the platform also includes a clinical search feature that provides real-time answers which are supported by cited medical sources.

Also read: After controversy, Apple blocks FBI access to deleted Signal messages with iOS 26.4.2 update

The current ChatGPT assistant for the clinicians is built on the earlier healthcare-focused AI tools developed by OpenAI. However, the latest version is said to be designed for direct use by individual practitioners. Furthermore, it also allows clinicians to create repeatable workflows so that they can make their routine tasks much faster and consistent. The tool can also scan and analyse large volumes of journal data, helping users prepare detailed reports within minutes, saving them a lot of time.

What does ChatGPT AI assistant provide for clinicians?

OpenAI said that the new healthcare AI assistant has a strong focus on privacy and safety. Moreover, the company has also clarified that medical conversations done in the

AI assistants will not be used to train OpenAIs models. The company has also ensured that additional safeguards such as multi-factor authentication are included.

Also read: Google launches AI-powered Workspace Intelligence: What it is and how it works

For users handling patient data, optional HIPAA compliance is available through formal agreements. Another key feature is support for continuing medical education. Some research activities carried out using the platform may count towards CME credits, reducing the need for separate training sessions.

OpenAI has also launched HealthBench Professional, a benchmark to test AI performance in real clinical tasks like documentation and consultations. For now, access is limited to US-based professionals, but the company plans to expand globally through partnerships, depending on local regulations.
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It is very conceivable that a referendum on Irish unity could take place by 2030, Michelle ONeill has claimed.

The Sinn Fein vice president described unity as the big idea of her generation, adding she had not given up on the poll taking place by the end of the decade.

The republican partys Ard Fheis will take place in Belfast this weekend with keynote addresses from Ms ONeill on Friday and party leader Mary Lou McDonald on Saturday.

While the event will cover a number of areas, Ms ONeill said Irish unity was the big ticket conversation.

In an interview with the Press Association, she said: I think when we look at a lot of the challenges we are facing in todays world, I think the answers to a lot of challenges that we face are actually in constitutional change.

And were only two years out from the Good Friday Agreement anniversary of 30 years.

I want to see the fulfilment of that, we were promised a unity referendum, and now we need to see that delivered upon.

Ms ONeill, Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister, said while she was co-operating with other parties to make Stormont work, there were limitations in the Assembly and Executive arrangements.

She said: We see a bigger, brighter future.

We see something thats more meaningful to peoples lives.

If we could have constitutional change here, where we break up the link to policy choices in London that are showing a real disregard for people here, Brexit is the best example of all.

Since that we have had a rolling door of British prime ministers, none of them have fixed the fundamentals around the funding model here.

None of them have actually acted in the best interests of people here.

Ms ONeill added: I think that shows why we need to take control of our own fortunes, why we need to control our own destiny going forward.

I think the best answers to a lot of big challenges today is constitutional change.

I believe partition has failed all of us.

Theres so much to be achieved in the years ahead, and Im certainly up for that.

I think thatll be the real focus of the Ard Fheis.

Senior Sinn Fein figures have often called for a unity referendum to take place by the end of the decade.

However, unionists in Northern Ireland have claimed there has been no increase in support for Irish unity, while Taoiseach Micheal Martin has previously said he is not planning for a border poll by 2030.

Under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, a referendum would be held if the UK Secretary of State believes it is likely that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for Irish unification.

Asked if the prospect of a unity poll by the end of the decade was diminishing, Ms ONeill said: No, I dont give up on that, we have said it should be 2030.

Were going to fight two by-elections in the 26 counties over the course of the next number of months.

Were going to fight an Assembly election next year, were going to have a Westminster election, a Dail election.

So yes, I still think its very conceivable we will have our unity referendum for 2030.

I think all those elections will demonstrate that change is possible, will demonstrate that people endorse a better future, and we will use all those election opportunities to speak directly to the voters, to ask them to get behind the big idea of our generation.

I believe the big idea of my generation is Irish unity, and I believe that theres opportunity to rectify the wrongs of partition.
Anne Gildea is coming to the Spirit Store in Dundalk with her hilarious new show: The Further Adventures in Womaning

Acclaimed comedian, author, and co-founder of the iconic comedy trio The Nualas, Anne Gildea is back on stage with her brand-new solo show, The Further Adventures in Womaning, an uproarious deep-dive into the wild, wonderful, and ever-surprising experience of being a woman today.

Building on the success of her smash-hit show How to Get the Menopause and Enjoy It, Gildea once again brings her razor-sharp wit, fearless honesty, and signature comedic warmth to a fresh set of stories, observations, and character-driven sketches.

The Further Adventures in Womaning examines everything from modern femininity to aging, identity, body politics, and the unglamorousbut deeply relatabletruths of being human.

Audiences can expect a night of bold humour, unexpected insights, and pure joy as she unpacks the myths, mishaps, and magic of womanhood with her unique blend of intelligence and comedy. The show promises laughter, connection, and more than a few that is SO me moments.

Anne Gildea has long been celebrated as one of Irelands most original comedic voices. With a career spanning comedy, theatre, writing, and broadcasting, she continues to entertain and inspire audiences across the country.

The Further Adventures in Womaning showcases her at the height of her comedic powers. Previously Anne was a founding member of the iconic Irish musical-comedy trio, The Nualas, who toured everywhere from New York to Moate, playing stage, television, and the wireless.

She started out in London in the late 80s, going on to feature in many Irish TV comedy programmes. Also, a published author, Annes last book, about her treatment for breast cancer, inspired the Irish feature film, The Bright Side which had a cinema release in 2021 and streamed on Prime.

She began performing in London in the late 80s and went on to co-found the internationally acclaimed musical-comedy trio The Nualas, touring everywhere from Melbourne to New York and appearing across major TV and radio platforms including BBC One and BBC Radio 4.

Read Next: French ambassador visits Dundalk IT for Francophonie Day and cultural exchange

As a solo performer, Anne has created multiple hit shows, most recently How to Get the Menopause and Enjoy It, which toured for three years and led to a 35-date UK theatre tour with menopause expert Dr Louise Newson in 2024.

She now tours her brand-new show, The Further Adventures in Womaning, a fast, funny look at Irish womanhood from the 1970s to today.

WOMANISING is at the Spirit Store on Saturday 16 May 2026, with doors opening at 7:30PM and tickets priced at 23.00 plus a 2.00 booking fee at spiritstore.ie
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The theme of Growing a Greener Future Together was very apt as the community in Dromiskin celebrated National Tree Week 2026 with a collaborative approach to a landscaping project that delivered outstanding results in a village centre location.

Led by the Tidy Towns Committee an application was made to Louth County Council for a grant to plant lime trees along the boundary of the green space known locally as the Co-Op Field, but budgetary constraints meant that only a small percentage of the overall cost could be provided in the grant awarded.

Undeterred by this setback the committee gratefully accepted the grant but left no stone unturned in trying to identify alternative funding sources to allow the project proceed.

Liam Reilly, Secretary of Dromiskin Tidy Towns, commented, the local community is hugely supportive of our tidy towns programme and our many fundraising initiatives and, on this occasion, we opted to contact local businesses to see if they would be willing to sponsor a tree to enable the project proceed.

"The response was extremely positive with thirteen trees sponsored to add to those funded under the local authority grant and our Pobal Tidy Towns Grant.

Read also: Dundalk students win top prizes in Texaco Childrens Art Competition

This collaborative approach resulted in twenty one trees planted along the Commons Road and Chapel Road boundaries of the site which is managed as a No Mow Zone to support pollinators.

Below: Kevin Halpenny, Tree Sponsors and Project Manager with Mary Murtagh Dromiskin Tidy Towns.

Landscape Architect Kevin Halpenny, who volunteers with Dromiskin Tidy Towns, explained that the newly planted trees around the green are small leafed lime trees which are considered native to Ireland and form part of priority woodland habitats often hosting a wide variety of wildlife.

This species of tree was chosen, for many reason, in the planting scheme including the fact that they act as pollinator hubs by providing crucial nectar for bees, butterflies and hoverflies in mid-summer with leaves also supporting moths.

Below: PJ and Mary Dooley, PEMA Ltd, who sponsored trees for National Tree Week 2026.

As they mature lime trees also provide nesting sites for birds and they are resilient to urban pollution providing crucial sustainable green infrastructure in often heavily trafficked areas.

Dromiskin Tidy Towns said it is extremely grateful to the many sponsors, some of who sponsored multiple trees. Sponsorship plaques acknowledge the support of Ardee Credit Union, Charles McCann Charitable Foundation, PEMA Ltd, Dromiskin Pharmacy, Mc Geoughs Funeral Directors, Kevin Halpenny and family as well as Louth County Council.
The winners of the IMRO Live Music Awards 2026 have been announced at a celebration in Dublins Guinness Storehouse, with Louth festivals and music venues winning big at this year's awards.

The Awards recognise the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who ensure that Irelands live music scene continues to go from strength to strength.

With Tom Dunne and Rachel Mae Hannon on hosting duties, the night included live performances from Dave Lofts, Ahmed With Love, BABYRAT, Scullion and DJ Maria Lawlor.

The winners from Louth at the 2026 awards are:

 IMRO Small Live Music Festival of the Year 2026  Aurfest  Louth

 IMRO Venue Technical Crew of the Year 2026  Spirit Store  Louth

 IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2026  Leinster (Excluding Dublin)  Spirit Store  Louth

Being named Small Music Festival of the Year, marked a major early success for independent festival Aurfest, ahead of its second outing this July.

For a small, independently run festival, the win marks a significant moment and highlights the growing cultural and economic importance of regional festivals across Ireland.

Read also: Jam-packed lineup in Dundalk's Toales this week

Set within the beautiful grounds of Bellurgan Park, Aurfest was founded by a collective of Dundalk-based musicians, comedians and event professionals. The festival brings together music, comedy, DJ sets and storytelling, with a focus on showcasing homegrown artists and creating a genuinely intimate experience.

Sonya Larrigan, Aurfest Co-founder, said: We are absolutely thrilled to win the IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year Award. Its incredible recognition, especially as this is only our second year. Were so grateful to IMRO, and everyone who supported the festival, from the team behind the scenes to the artists who performed last year. Were putting just as much love into this years event and cant wait to welcome people back.

Returning on 34 July 2026, Aurfest continues to build on that momentum with a strong line-up of emerging and established Irish acts, including headline performances from SexyTadhg, following a huge year of sold-out shows and major festival appearances, and Turn, firm favourites on the Irish music scene who remain one of the countrys finest live acts.

They are joined by Ria Rua, Adore, Messy Avocado, Eugene OHanlon and band, The Future West, Audrey Marian Fay and Jobseekerz, alongside a comedy line-up featuring Shinanne Higgins, Breda Hegarty, Aideen McQueen and Joe Dowling, with more acts to be announced.

New for 2026 is a dedicated Open Mic & Seanchai space curated by Aine Duffy, expanding the programme to include spoken word, storytelling and more experimental performance.

Alongside the stages, festival-goers can expect camping under the stars, local food vendors, craft stalls, art installations and workshops, creating a weekend that feels immersive without ever being overwhelming.

Aurfest was in strong company at this years IMRO awards, with Dundalk venue The Spirit Store taking home Venue Technical Crew of the Year and Live Music Venue of the Year Leinster (excluding Dublin), further highlighting the towns growing reputation as a hub for live music.

The IMRO Live Music Awards champion the venues and teams that support live music at every level and make gigs possible, on stages big and small, in every part of the country. They recognise the huge cultural and economic impact of live music across Ireland.

Winners were decided by an IMRO member vote, following submissions nationwide. The Overall Winner was decided by public vote in partnership with Hot Press.

Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO, said: We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of this years winners. Live music is at the heart of Irelands cultural identity and it is sustained by the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all possible.

It is a privilege for IMRO to host these awards and recognise the people and places whose dedication, passion and expertise continue to drive Irelands live music scene forward.

We would like to thank the Guinness Storehouse for its generous support in hosting this years awards.

As one of Irelands most iconic cultural venues, its ongoing commitment to music and live experiences plays an important role in the wider creative community.

We are also delighted to have Hot Press, The Louise Duffy Show on RTE Radio 1 and Audoo as partners and we are very grateful for their continued support of live music."
Dundalk IT have announced a new addition to their course offerings for September 2026 with the Level 8 BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre.

This course provides training in the three main principles of musical theatre, acting, singing and dancing, supported by academic modules which explore further understanding of the industry, and follows the success of the Level 7 Musical Theatre Degree, which first began in 2022.



Among the first graduates of the Level 7 Musical Theatre course were Emiliano Vazquez, Alisia de Brun, and Lorianne ORourke, who are currently completing their BA (Hons) in Drama and Performance add on year and working towards their Level 8 Degrees.



The three students have joined forces to establish an exciting new musical theatre venture, a collaboration called Kismet Theatre Company.

Kismet means fate, like we were destined to meet, according to Lorianne, 21, from Wicklow, the brains behind the company. Founded in 2024, the company aims to challenge perceptions of musical theatre by exploring bold stories and amplifying diverse voices. Lorianne leads on directing and choreography, working alongside Alisia on vocals and Emiliano on acting and assistant directing.



Emiliano, 32, arrived in Dundalk from Mexico nearly four years ago. I always wanted to study musical theatre, then I discovered the course starting at DkIT and the puzzle pieces just came into place at the right time. Storytelling through music and exploring characters emotions inspired him to pursue the field. Studying in his second language has pushed him beyond his comfort zone, but the blend of academic learning and performance has helped him grow and build confidence on stage.



The variety of performance experience in the DkIT course has been a fantastic benefit in Emilianos view: whether its a concert, a play, a musical, an exam, the course really pushes your ability to be on stage. Not just preparing to be on stage, but being there actually doing everything you are trained to do.



With a strong background in vocals, 23-year-old Alisia from Dublin was slightly apprehensive at the prospect of dance being an integral part of her degree and the vulnerability that comes with acting, but she says that the instructors have a fantastic approach and build these skills slowly. Alisia is adamant about the power of working as a team in the arts, something which she has really loved throughout her time at DkIT. Creative collaboration means being open to others, sharing ideas, and recognising that together we create work thats stronger, more fulfilling, and more fun than working alone.
Two very exciting traditional music concerts are lined up for the Oriel Centre at Dundalk Gaol in the coming weeks.

Padraig McGovern and Sabina McCague launch Starry Lane to Monaghan

The Oriel Centre said it is delighted to welcome the wonderfully talented duo of Padraig McGovern (uilleann pipes) and Sabina McCague (fiddle/ harp), with the launch of their new album Starry Lane to Monaghan, on Friday 1 May from 8pm to 9.30pm.

Accompanied by guitar maestro John McCartin, this promises to be an unforgettable night of unforgettable music.

Sabina McCague is one of many multi instrumentalists on the music scene today. Equally proficient on harp and fiddle, she holds a Bachelor of Music Degree with the Conservatory of Music and Drama, DIT, and has performed at many festivals in Ireland, Europe and the USA.

Read also: Special concert series at Carlingford Heritage Centre throughout May

Padraig McGovern is from Leitrim and was taught by Cavan piper P.J. Flood. He has recorded with numerous artists including Peter Carberry , his band Garadice (2018 & 2023) and a collaboration with Ryan Molloy on the tempered album was nominated in the best folk track category at the 2022 RTE folk awards.

He has worked as a researcher/performer on many projects including The Leitrim Equation 4 and The Pipes, The Pipes, a show devised by Donal Dineen and produced by Siobhan O Malley. Padraig has also performed with many household bands and artists including Lunasa, Dervish, Teada, Gatehouse, Steve Cooney, John Carty, Donal Lunney and Ryan Molloy.

Tickets are 12 / 10 concession, and are available on www.orielcentre.ie

Les Muller & David Munnelly

David Munnelly returns to the Oriel Centre on 16th May 2026, from 8pm to 10.30pm, to deliver what promises to be yet another stunning performance, this time alongside Dutch flute player les Muller.

They recently released a recording together Middle of Life  which is the second album from les and David and was recorded in October 2024 in t Pakhuis in the lovely town of Vianen, the Netherlands.

Much of the material was arranged in Matt Molloys pub, inspired by the beauty of Irelands west coast.

Their musical language is a continuation of the love and respect they have for the Irish and Breton tradition, further influenced by music from North America and Sweden, played with great depth and freedom.

Les Muller is considered one of the best folk flutists on Dutch soil. From a young age he came into contact with traditional Irish and Breton music and the wooden flute.

While Irish and Breton continued to form the heart of his style and repertoire, many influences were added over time. He worked within various projects with musicians from all disciplines of classical, jazz and world music.

David Munnelly is an accordionist from Belmullet Co Mayo. His unique musical voice is built on deep foundations, starting with influences from his immediate family, especially from his grandmother who played melodeon.

To that was quickly added a virtuoso swing, with echos of Irish-American music from the 1920s and 1930s full of swing. Against these roots in the Irish tradition, a refined and contemporary accompaniment with basses and cords is placed, with which he creates a unique, rich and unforgettable sound.

David is considered one of the most influential Irish accordionists of his generation: he has played with the legendary Irish bands De Dannan and The Chieftains, and was the frontman of The David Munnelly Band for 15 years.

In recent years, his skills as a composer and arranger have come to the fore, and David is now working on a wide range of musical projects, ranging from the award-winning pan-European accordion quintet Samurai, through his experimental solo compositions, to the energetic traditional Irish band Morga.

Tickets are available at www.orielcentre.ie
Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Ruairi O Murchu has said children in Dundalk are regularly going "in-and-out" of vape shops in the town.

Deputy O Murchu's comments came during a Dail debate on banning flavoured vapes across the country.

He said there has been an "overproliferation" of vape shops in Dundalk and said the issue has been raised with Louth County Council "a number of times".

The Sinn Fein TD said it is "very particular issue" and that there are "many types of retailers...very good ones and very bad ones".

"We have seen circumstances of kids outside, who are in and out all the time. It is very obvious that they are not over 18, whether you were checking IDs or not.

We have to make it easier, from the point of view of enforcement, that this would not happen," he said.

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However, Deputy O Murchu questioned the effectiveness of a blanket-ban on flavoured vapes.

"We do not necessarily see the logic of a ban on all flavours except tobacco. While I accept it in regard to anything that is targeted specifically at kids, we have seen what has been done in New Zealand, where you have vape flavour names that are boring and a couple of standard flavours."

"There is a significant amount of work to do in relation to this and we really need to clamp down on anybody who is selling vapes with hexahydrocannabinol, HHC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, which are having a detrimental impact on an awful lot of our young people out there," he said.

Minister of State at the Department of Health, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said banning flavours except for tobacco is "most likely to reduce the appeal for our younger people".

"In balancing this protection of young people with the help for adults who smoke, which came up today, we have found that vaping is not being substituted for smoking at a population level in adults," she said.

Minister Murnane O'Connor said dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes is no longer associated with an intention to quit smoking.

She said one-in-six adults who vape have never smoked.

"There is no evidence that e-cigarette flavours increase the likelihood of quitting tobacco."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
A recent University College Cork (UCC)-commissioned report by the HSE and Cork City Council found that 35 people are dying from problem drug use in Cork city each year, suggesting they could be saved with a supervised injection facility.

The report also stated that a supervised facility could provide a connection point in the harm reduction system for individuals not in treatment, create a safe environment for problem drug users, and result in a reduction of drug-related litter in Cork city and the number of open-air drug dens.

The first medically supervised injection centre in Ireland opened at Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) in Dublins city centre in December 2024.

The centre offers a clean and supervised space, where individuals can inject pre-obtained drugs, under the care of trained medical professionals. It offers a compassionate, person-centred service which reduces harms associated with injecting drug use and can help people access appropriate services.

The facility is designed to reduce the health risks associated with intravenous drug use, including overdose and the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.

The facility also serves as an important point of contact for those seeking help, by offering referrals to addiction treatment, mental health support, primary healthcare, and social services.

SUPERVISED

In Europe, supervised injection centres have been operating since 1986. It was then that the first officially-sanctioned drug consumption room (DCR) in the world was established in Bern, Switzerland.

Since then, such facilities have been opened in cities in an increasing number of European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Spain.

In Australia, a long-term leader in supervised injection research, data from the Sydney injecting centre shows a sustained track record of managing thousands of overdoses without a single death.

The debate has led to questions about the feasibility and efficacy of a similar plan for Cork city centre.

There is huge support for it across agencies and across the public, David Lane, general manager, social inclusion, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and HSE drug and alcohol services coordinator, told The Echo.

The benefits of supervised drug injection centres have been seen around the world for decades.

David Lane, general manager, social inclusion, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and HSE drug and alcohol services coordinator, says there is huge support for a supervised injection facility in Cork city across agencies and across the public. Picture: Dan Linehan

From my own point of view, first and foremost, it saves lives. It is supporting families who might otherwise be dealing with tragic losses. We have people dying every year as a result of a facility like this not being available.

A supervised injection centre has lots of other public benefits as well, Mr Lane added.

There would be huge benefits in terms of people being able to engage in treatment services and then being able to think about getting into recovery.

This is not just about providing a facility where people can use drugs, this is about being able to engage with people around their problematic drug use and support them into recovery over a period of time.

Cork Simon director Dermot Kavanagh is also someone who would welcome a supervised injection centre in Cork.

In this day and age, a safer injection facility has to be viewed as part of the solution. Dublin is the only city in Ireland to have one.

But Cork is the next biggest city and it is something that is much needed at this stage. There seems to be a lot of support for it in the city.

Cork Simon director Dermot Kavanagh is also someone who would welcome a supervised injection centre in Cork.

It is something we think is very necessary and could be literally life saving. But not only life saving, it is also good for the community because it reduces on-street drug use and it reduces drug-related litter.

James Leonard, former host of The Two Norries Podcast, believes a supervised injection centre would save lives in Cork.

We have to understand that for every person who dies, it is not just the drug addict who dies, it is everything they could have been.

It is all of the potential that they have had to do great things. To be a great father or mother, to be a great auntie or an uncle.

If the supervised injection facility was brought in just to keep people alive, that is a good enough goal.

He is fully supportive of it. I dont like the idea of the mobile unit. I think it would have to be a permanent fixture. Supervised injection facilities work really well. This is why they are being rolled out  there is a lot of evidence to show that they work really well.

Although there are many who feel a medically-supervised injection centre would be a welcome addition to Cork, the Cork North Central Independent Ireland TD Ken OFlynn has an alternative view. He believes Cork should learn hard lessons from the supervised injection centre in Dublin.

I walk from the train station in Dublin to the Dail in good weather and back on a Thursday afternoon.

What I have witnessed there is that it has become an area of anti-social behavior.

That it has become an area where people are crossing the road, that they are being afraid of being harassed for funding or spare change.

I think if we are going to have a city injection centre, it has to be well-planned and well thought-out.

It cannot just be the standalone unit that the HSE has provided in Dublin, because it is bringing more problems than it is solving.

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The TD said Cork needs an injection centre in a location where all the services can be available to service-users.

That means stakeholders, not just the HSE stakeholders, but Cork City Council, homeless services, charity services, all of that sort of stuff. So I would look for it to be in a very controlled environment, not to be in the city centre, like what they have done in Dublin.

It should be in an area that is safe and secure, so the person who is injecting is looked after medically, and where there are also additional services there to help them transition out of it.
The Taoiseach will attend a service of commemoration in Cork city centre this weekend to mark the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.

A memorial is held each year by the Greater Chornobyl Cause and supported by Cork City Council, bringing together communities to remember one of the worlds most devastating manmade catastrophes.

The charity has amended its name to reflect the recent international change in the English spelling of Chornobyl. Last December, the UN General Assembly adopted a Ukraine-initiated resolution to formalise the change in the English transliteration to the Ukrainian spelling of Chornobyl, instead of the Soviet-era, Russian transliteration Chernobyl.

Fiona Corcoran, founder of the Greater Chornobyl Cause, said the ceremony would have added poignancy this year, set against the backdrop of Russias war against Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year.

A special feature of this commemoration is the charitys dedicated birch grove within Bishop Lucey Park, where a plaque honours the victims of Chornobyl, she said.

This living memorial offers a place for reflection and remembrance, ensuring that the legacy of those lost and affected endures for generations.

We are deeply honoured that An Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, will join us for this important service, underlining the significance of the occasion and affirming Irelands solidarity with all those affected by the Chornobyl disaster and its legacy.

This years commemorative service to mark the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster will be held this Sunday at Bishop Lucey Park.
A large section of the planned BusConnects project for the Bishopstown area has been scrapped after the publication of the Cork Luas route last week.

In an email to public representatives, seen by The Echo, a National Transport Authority (NTA) spokesperson said that a large section of the sustainable transport corridors scheme (STC), the 'Bishopstown to City' section, is not going to be progressed.

BusConnects Cork is set to transform Corks bus system into a higher frequency and more reliable network, with 11 transport corridors, and over 90km of bus lanes as well as cycle infrastructure, along with a new electric bus fleet.

The NTA is not planning an alternative STC route, meaning bus services along that corridor will no longer be part of BusConnects.

The spokesperson said: The BusConnects Cork team has been coordinating with the Luas Cork team in recent months, with regards to the level of route alignment interactions between Luas Cork and the BusConnects Cork City south west sustainable transport corridors scheme.

The spokesperson added that, following the publication of Luas Corks preferred route on April 17, BusConnects Cork now has a clearer pictureof what Luas Cork will entail and its implications for the BusConnects scheme, specifically for the Bishopstown to city section.

They continued that the National Transport Authority is no longer intending to progress the part of that section, which was to run from the junction of Melbourn Rd/Curraheen Rd through to the Western Rd/Mardyke Walk junction, as part of the BusConnects Cork City South West Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme.

They added: It is important to note that this remains subject to change up until the point that the BusConnects Cork city south west sustainable transport corridors scheme application is lodged with An Coimisiun Pleanala.

We expect that to happen later this year."

The Bishopstown to city sustainable transport corridor, as per the latest public consultation, would commence at the junction of Melbourn Road/Curraheen Rd and proceed along Curraheen Rd and on to Bishopstown Rd.

The corridor would then pass Cork University Hospital and at the existing Wilton roundabout turn north on to Wilton Rd and continue to Dennehys Cross. From there, it would proceed north along Victoria Cross Rd and onto Western Rd.

The corridor would then continue along the remainder of Lancaster Quay and Washington St before terminating at the junction of Washington St/Grand Parade.

UPDATE

The latest update from the NTA suggests that only this part of the route will now be implemented.

It was also proposed to provide dedicated cycle infrastructure in both directions and to upgrade the Wilton roundabout to a signalised junction as part of the plans.

Ciara OConnor, a Labour councillor for the region, said: This is a significant change to a key public transport corridor serving the south west of the city, and its essential that we have clear answers on what happens next.

While I fully support the development of Luas Cork, it cannot come at the expense of existing or planned bus infrastructure.

We need a co-ordinated, integrated public transport system, not uncertainty.
A 19-year-old man who died after he was struck by a car in Little Island, Cork, last Friday night was an effortlessly hilarious gentle giant who saved five lives through the gift of organ donation, his funeral Mass has heard.

Mourners at the Church of Our Lady and St John in Carrigaline were told that a stadium would be required to get all of the friends of Conor Coleman into one photograph.

His coffin was adorned in colourful handwritten tributes and messages from his friends and loved ones.

His older brother John said it was fitting that his generous brother had made an eternal impact through the gift of organ donation.

As a family, we decided to donate his organs. His heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and pancreas all received five perfect matches. Meaning, as his final act on Earth, he was able to save five lives and leave a legacy to the end of time.

John said his little brother would have been blown away by the large numbers who gathered at the church. He thanked all those who had called to their family home.

He said Conor had an iconic wheezing laugh that sometimes descended to him dropping on the floor and rolling around when the hilarity became too much for him.

John said it felt criminal that the world only got to experience the joy, generosity, adventure, sometimes wildly inappropriate comments, and questionable fashion sense of Conor for only 19 years.

He said he and his younger brother were the human equivalent of Tom and Jerry.

He was my partner in crime. There wasnt a day we were together since the day he was born that we werent causing some sort of mischief. So much so that our granddad Sean called us the weapons of mass destruction.

"Whether that would be chasing each other around when our mum would be trying to do the shopping, or when we got our hands on red paint and I covered him in it from head to toe, not realising it wouldnt come off without a serious amount of washing.

Or, in more recent years, when our parents would be watching TV downstairs we would sneak up to the attic window and chain smoke a packet of Benson and Hedges.

Although Conor was a modern day giant, John insisted that ultimately his character and personality dwarfed his physical stature. He said Conor had an encyclopaedic knowledge of engines and tractors from an early age. He also had a gift for friendship and forged deep bonds with others.

John added that life was precious and delicate, and it could be taken away quickly.

Please take this as a message from Conor. No matter who they are. It could be your mother, brother, father or sister, dog, cat, friends or family. It could be anyone. If you love them tell them you love them.

Offertory symbols at the Mass included Conors size 12 work boots, a high-vis vest, and jeans to represent his love of the family business; a photograph of his friends; his school ties from Shanbally and Christian Brothers College; a miniature truck, representing his recent attainment of his HDV licence; a badge of his prized possession a Toyota Corolla e11 6R; a CD, and a stone Conor found as a child which was in the shape of a heart.

All those who attended the Mass heard that the heart of Conor is now beating in Dublin.

Chief celebrant Fr Sean OSullivan said that the death of Conor felt like a bad dream.

He said that it was important to honour Conor and to support his parents and family following their shattering loss.

He added that Conor was obviously deeply loved by many people.

Anyone who knew Conor could see how much he was loved. And most importantly of all, Conor knew it. There is no greater gift in life then to know that and to experience it.

Burial followed the 1pm Mass at St Johns Cemetery in Ballinrea, Co Cork.

Conor is survived by his parents Barry and Trish, his brother John, his grandmother Betty, his aunts and uncles, extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents Sean Coleman and Tom and Eileen Carty.

Gardai had received a report that a pedestrian had been struck by a car shortly before midnight last Friday. Conor was taken from the scene in Little Island to hospital where he died in the presence of his family.

Forensic collision investigators attended the collision site and an examination took place. Gardai are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area between 11pm and midnight on April 17 are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on 021 455 8510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Danish retailer Normal is to open its brand new store in Cork next month, while another well known retailer - Born - is closing three of its stores in the city.

Located at Queens Old Castle in the city centre, the Normal store opening is the third such store in Ireland and the first outside of Dublin.

The new Cork store spans 563m of sales space and will employ approximately 3035 team members.

The Cork store opening hours on Thursday May 7 will be from 8am to 9pm.

Including a combination of personal care, household essentials, snacks and drinks, Normal features a mix of well known brands such as LOreal, Maybelline, Nivea, Gillette, Colgate, Garnier, Nescafe, Oreo, Vanish and Finish, as well as exclusive brands such as PUCA Pure&Care, Alva and The Hair Project.

DENMARK

Since opening its first store in Denmark in 2013, NORMAL has expanded to more than 1000 locations across Europe. This includes in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Irish retail chain Born Clothing has announced the closure of its 15 stores across the country with the loss of over 100 jobs.

In Cork the company has stores in Wilton Shopping Centre, Douglas Village centre and Merchants Quay.

The company, which opened its first store in Newtownsmith in Galway in 2009, made the announcement in an Instagram post yesterday. They said that after 16 years it was "time to say goodbye".

The post added: We want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your support over the years  for shopping with us, supporting us, and being part of our journey.

"To our wonderful team thank you for being the heart and soul of our business. Your loyalty and dedication will always be appreciated.

"As we close this chapter our closing down sale begins tomorrow in stores, with up to 70% off everything. With love to everyone in Born.

VILA

The company stocked Vero Moda, Only, Vila and their own Emily & Me label with stores in Galway, Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Laois, Tipperary Westmeath, Leitrim, Mayo and Kerry.

The High Court appointed provisional liquidators to the group on Tuesday. The court heard that business difficulties arose for reasons which included the pandemic, the increase in the minimum wage and high business rates.

At its peak Born had over 20 stores in Ireland. It currently employs 116 people.

A notice on their website indicates that gift vouchers cannot be accepted because they are in liquidation.

It further states that at item bought during the liquidation sale will have a 30-day refund or return policy, providing there is a valid reason and the customer has a valid liquidation sales customer receipt.
Videos of two arson events were found on the phone of a man who denies charges of setting fire to a house and car, and the accused is now to seek High Court bail.

Dean Aherne, aged 30, denied responsibility for causing the criminal damage by fire to a house at The Greens, Little Island, and an earlier incident where a car was burnt outside the house where a woman lives with her young children.

It was alleged that the arsons were carried out because of a drugs debt.

Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said at Cork District Court when Mr Aherne appeared by video link from prison that an application for bail is pending before the High Court.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded him in custody, on the application of Sergeant Gearoid Davis, until May 6 at Cork District Court.

Garda Amy Quinn objected to bail because of the seriousness of the allegations and fears for the safety of the complainant if Dean Aherne was given bail.

Garda Quinn outlined the allegations in the case in the course of the objection to bail

At approximately 10.40pm on April 9, the 39-year-old female injured party was at home at The Green, Little Island, with her children when she heard somebody banging at her front door.

She ran to the front door and looked out the glass in the front door. A male was shouting outside the front door that he was going to kill the injured party and that he had a gun.

The injured party allegedly recognised the voice as that of Dean Aherne, who she personally knew.

She alleges that she saw Dean Aherne setting her car on fire, which resulted in the car being completely burnt out.

At approximately 12.10am on April 12 it is alleged that Dean Aherne and two other males approached the home of the injured party where it is alleged that Dean Aherne poured an accelerant on the front door of the injured partys home and then lit it.

A fire took hold, but fortunately was put out quickly by the injured partys family. The fire caused extensive damage to the front door, overhead PVC panelling in the porch outside the front door and to PVC surrounds on the sitting room window.

The injured party has alleged that the arsons at her home are as a result of a drug debt.

Videos have been discovered of both arsons on Dean Ahernes mobile phone.
The Court of Appeal has found that a judge was entitled to jail for life a 43-year-old man with a history of violence after the serial offender punched, kicked, and stamped a homeless man to death.

Christopher OSullivan, of no fixed abode but originally from Kerry, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court in Cork in 2023 for his role in the killing of Timothy Hourihane, who was found dead at a tented village on the Mardyke in Cork.

James Brady, of Shannon Lawn, Mayfield, Cork, was also convicted of manslaughter for his role in the killing.

Brady was jailed for 11 years.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced OSullivan to life imprisonment, citing his history of violent offending as an aggravating factor.

At a previous hearing, OSullivans lawyers argued that Mr Justice McDermott had imprisoned OSullivan for life to protect society from him.

Michael Bowman, defending OSullivan, said such preventative detention is not allowed in Irish law.

Mr Bowman said the courts in Ireland have rejected the three strikes and youre out principle sometimes used in the US, whereby a person is sentenced to life because of their history of offending.

Mr Bowman said that despite the level of violence used, OSullivans offending did not fall into the worst category according to sentencing guidelines adopted by the higher courts.

He pointed out that there was no premeditation and OSullivan did not use a weapon other than his hands and feet.

Mr Bowman said the correct headline sentence based on the nature of the offence would have been between 15 and 18 years.

MOST SERIOUS

However, he said Mr Justice McDermott had pushed it into the most serious category after considering OSullivans previous convictions, including one for an assault in which the victim suffered serious head injuries.

Mr Bowman also argued that the discrepancy between the sentences imposed on his client and his co-accused was too great and not justified on the evidence.

Delivering judgment on the appeal, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said OSullivan had an extremely high level of culpability for what was a severe and vicious attack.

In the aftermath, he tried to avoid being linked to the crime by setting the victims tent on fire, disposing of evidence, and by lying to gardai.

His history of offending was a further aggravating factor and pushed this offence into the worst category, she said.

Ms Justice Kennedy also rejected the claim that Mr Justice McDermott had imposed a life sentence as a preventative measure.

THREAT

She said the judge had carefully considered all the options and concluded that if released, OSullivan would pose a threat to society.

OSullivan remains at a high risk of reoffending and a determinate sentence, the judge said, would not have addressed the issues that will be raised in the event of him being released.

OSullivans trial heard that he had taken a cocktail of cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs and alcohol before the attack, which Mr Justice McDermott described as shocking, unrelenting and savage.

Donal OSullivan, for the DPP, said the sentencing judge had not imposed the life term solely to protect the public.

Mr OSullivan said the judge had considered all the evidence and found that the killing was just short of murder.

His 48 previous convictions were a factor, counsel said, and the judge was entitled to take them into account.
A memorial paddle, in honour of the late Mark OConnor, will be held by the Cork Dragons at Lapps Quay this weekend.

Mr OConnor (58), who died on February 19 following a long-time battle with breast cancer, was a founding member of the Cork Dragons Boat Club, and has been described as someone who left behind a legacy of kindness, support, positivity, and encouragement.

Following his diagnosis with breast cancer in 2011, Mr OConnor became an advocate for men with breast cancer, dedicating his time and energy to raising awareness of the disease, and assisting in the creation of the Dragon Boat Club in 2012.

The club was set up as a means of support for cancer survivors, and was featured in RTEs Dragon Hearts documentary last year, where Mr OConnor was one of three people to share their love and devotion to the sport.

The Togher native was also the Irish male ambassador for the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission (IBCPC), an organisation which described his advocacy for breast cancer paddling as "second to none.

His friendship and kindness to all was a great treasure. He will be deeply missed by all of us, said a spokesperson for the IBCPC.

Speaking to The Echo, a spokesperson for the Cork Dragon Boat Club said Mark was the heart of Cork Dragons.

Mark was such a huge advocate for raising breast cancer awareness in men, the spokesperson said.

One of his dreams was to have the pink breast cancer ribbon to include blue, as men get breast cancer too.

"He was the bravest, most courageous, and honest man and will be irreplaceable.

Mr OConnor is survived by his wife, Tina, and his 21-year-old son, Dylan.

His family unit was described by members of the Cork Dragon Boat Club as tight knit and loving.

Both Mr OConnors wife and son will take part in the commemorative event this weekend, which will take place at Lapps Quay on Saturday from 10.30am.
A constant stream of parents contact ADHD Ireland in Cork with questions about childrens mental health, with some of this linked to the positive impact of social media.

Long waiting lists and delays have led to changes recently in how ADHD is managed for children across Cork and Kerry under the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).

This evening ADHD Ireland in Cork will host a Meet the Experts panel discussion with people who treat children with ADHD in the region.

Martin Abbott, service development manager for ADHD Ireland in Cork, said numbers of queries have been high since the covid-19 pandemic.

There is a perception out there that Adhd is a faddy thing or just in fashion but the fact is we just have better tools to detect it, he said.

And since covid you had a lot of adults were at home then and they saw they couldnt work well without the office environment. Similarly kids would had their structures in school taken away and without that scaffolding they didnt function well. So there was an epidemic of patients after that.

There is now also a lot of information out there on social media platforms," he added.

There are informed people. There is a lot of bad information but I think generally people who are making these videos have the condition themselves and they talk about their own experience, he said.

Overall social media had been positive, and I think thats all why we see so many cases now.

The event at the Metropole Hotel this evening at 7.30pm features consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr David ODriscoll and advanced nurse practitioner Kathryn Hallahan.

ADHD Ireland in Cork said: The clinicians are attending in a personal and professional capacity and are not representing the HSE or speaking on behalf of Camhs services.

They are expected to discuss practical, evidence-based understanding of ADHD, particularly in children and adolescents.

Tickets for 10 can be bought on Eventbrite.
A glitch has seen families overcharged and children offered spaces at sold-out Cul Camps ahead of the busy summer period.

Organisers of the camps say those affected will be reimbursed "as quickly as possible".

Bookings for the 2026 Kelloggs Cul Camps programme opened this week across the country, but registration was suspended on Wednesday due to a widespread system error.

As a result of the error, a number of families and parents who registered during the initial bookings window were overcharged for a single transaction, with some children offered places at sold-out camps.

In a statement posted on the Cul Camps bookings website, the organisation said that it will re-open for registrations shortly. Families often look to register early due to limited availability.

A spokesperson for Cork GAA said it is currently working with any families who have contacted us directly, and reimbursements are being processed immediately in those cases.

Anyone affected should contact us directly for assistance, and we will continue to address any further queries as quickly as possible,

the spokesperson said.

The cost of registration for Cul Camps stands at 82.50 for the first child, 75 for the second, and 65 for subsequent children, with discounts applied when booked together.

This means, prior to the application of discounts, that if one family registered three children earlier this week during the bookings window, they could have been charged upwards of 445 if the transaction went through twice.

In a message shared with club members by one Cul Camp co-ordinator in Cork, registration for the 2026 programme was shut down due to a major IT issue in Croke Park where multiple people were charged multiple times, and kids received places in camps that were already full.

The decision was taken by Cork GAA and Croke Park to pause admissions until the issues are resolved, the co-ordinator said.

As of now, there are no new dates or times for camp openings.
Conning three elderly people of cash for work they never sought and which was never done resulted in a 42-year-old Cork man being jailed for eleven months today.

Judge Mary Dorgan said yesterday: These were matters involving three different people who are elderly and I have to say the court was quite taken aback by the evidence, and very impressed by the victim impact statements.

Jerry OSullivan of 7 Hazelwood Grove, Kinsale Road, Cork, was given consecutive sentences totalling eleven months after he pleaded guilty last week to deception of an 88-year-old woman, a 90-year-old man and a third elderly person whose age was not disclosed.

The 88-year-old said, I am just shaking all the time now, after being tricked out of money at her front door by Jerry OSullivan pretending to be doing work for her at her home in Douglas.

She said: On March 28, 2026, a man came to my house and took 350 from me and left without doing any work. The same man returned a few days later and tried to get more money off me to do more work. He stayed and tried to coax money out of me.

Since the day this man arrived I have been locking the doors all the time and I am afraid to answer the door. I am 88-years-old and I am scared around the house. I am just shaking all the time now.

I am looking out the window when the doorbell rings out of fear. This incident has very much affected me.

The 90-year-old man who was also deceived by Jerry OSullivan at his home in Douglas said: On February 21, 2026, I was tricked into giving 100 to a man who said he would do work on my house. After this happened I realised that the same man had tried to trick me out of money previously.

I now know. I was way too trusting. I feel after this that I will not be able to trust anyone as much. As he came in over my gate in the past I would be concerned that he would return. I will have to get more CCTV. I should not have to worry about things like this at 90-years-old.

Shane Collins-Daly solicitor said the 42-year-old had a serious addiction to alcohol and cocaine and committed these offences to pay for his addictions.

Recognisances were set if the defendant decides to appeal his sentence.

Conditions included a 750 bond, of which 500 cash would have to be lodged, and he must stay out of the Douglas, Grange and Turners Cross areas, sign on twice a day at Togher garda station and abstain from intoxicants and from offending.
When people hear about a choral festival, they might think about formal concerts and polished performances.

Thats part of it, but just as important is something much simpler. It is the moment a young person realises they enjoy singing, especially when they are doing it as part of a group.

Singing together is one of the easiest ways for young people to get involved in music. You do not need any equipment or training to begin.

It is something every child can try, and very often it is something they quickly take to. Once they do, the benefits go well beyond the music itself.

This year, at the Cork International Choral Festival, we are putting a big focus on encouraging the next generation of youths into choral music.

On the opening day, Wednesday, April 29, more than 800 primary school children will gather in Cork City Hall to compete and watch.

For many, it will be their first time performing in a venue like that and there will be a mix of excitement and nerves, but also a real sense of occasion.

For others, it will be the first time they will watch a choral performance and be exposed to what a wonderful world it is to be part of.

Later that evening, 280 of those children will take to the stage together as one Cork Childrens Choir as part of the Opening Gala.

Seeing that many young people singing side by side is something quite special. It shows what can happen when schools, teachers and communities make space for music.

From a practical point of view, group singing gives young people a lot. It helps build confidence, especially for those who might be shy or unsure of themselves.

Standing up and performing, even as part of a group, is a big step and one that often carries into other areas of school life.

It also teaches simple but important skills. Listening to others, keeping time, working together towards a shared goal.

These are things that translate easily into the classroom and beyond.

For teachers, it can be a great way of bringing a group together. For parents, it is a chance to see their child take part in something positive and enjoyable.

There is also a strong social side to it. Choirs create a sense of belonging. Friendships form through rehearsals, bus journeys, and the shared experience of performing.

It is not just about getting the notes right, it is about being part of something.

The festival has been running for 71 years, and that does not happen by accident.

Each year, new generations come through and discover singing in their own way. Encouraging that is essential if we want to keep choral music alive and relevant.

Not every child who takes part will go on to join a choir long term, and that is perfectly fine. But if they come away with a bit more confidence, a few new friends, and a positive experience of music, then it has been worthwhile. For five days, Cork becomes a city of song. But for the young people taking part, the impact can last much longer.

Sometimes, all it takes is one good experience to spark a lifelong interest, and that is something worth making space for.

This years Cork International Choral Festival runs from April 29 to May 3, boasting an exciting programme of gala concerts, national and international competitions, and internationally renowned performances, as thousands of participants bring the city to life for five days of wonderful choral music.

See https://www.corkchoral.ie/
Crosshaven film-maker Jay Woodard is set to make waves on the festival circuit with his latest short film, The Leftovers.

Known for his genre short films, such as his Western Strangers and the 2024 post-apocalyptic drama The Last Echo, Woodard shifts focus with The Leftovers, opting for a more grounded and relatable story.

Set over a single evening in a high-end Cork restaurant, the film centres on an encounter between two people navigating life after divorce.

The story follows Clare and Simon, who unwittingly book tables for separate dates at the same venue and time.

Their initial attempts to avoid each other unfold through strained politeness and awkward interactions, culminating in a subtle yet emotionally charged confrontation about their shared history.

Woodard, happily married himself, says the inspiration came from imagining how his life might look if it changed dramatically.

The idea was to imagine what my life would look like if I were separated from my wife, if everything had gone wrong, and I was a divorced man with two kids, he explained.

Obviously, thats not the case in real life - we are very happy - so thats not going to happen. But I was curious: where would I be in the world as a 30-something-year-old divorced man? How would I live?

That is where the character of Simon came from.

Clare is loosely based on my wife, more as a reflection of what kind of situation or dynamic we might find ourselves in.

Woodard, who is also an actor, had originally intended to take on the lead role in The Leftovers but chose instead to appear in a cameo and focus on directing, following advice from the films producer, Cork-based videographer Maxim Baronin.

The role of Simon went to Emmet Byrne, a decision Woodard said resulted in a far stronger film.

Max, our producer, suggested that the film would suffer if I was acting in it and directing, and he was right. He had worked with Emmet before on a shoot in Cork city and suggested him, so we asked him to send a self-tape. What he did in the self-tape was great.

We only did one read-through with the full cast and one rehearsal on Zoom; everything else we did on set, because I dont like to over-rehearse.

Clare is played by French actor and musician Lucie Azconaga, who is based in Ireland. Woodard says the character was originally meant to be Irish, but Azconagas audition convinced him she was the right choice for the role.

I wrote Clare as Irish because, as I mentioned, I was loosely basing the couple on myself and my wife -were both Irish. When Lucie sent in her self-tape, she was so good I knew she had to play Clare.

The film also stars Lizzie Phiri, a Cork actor who plays Simons date, who Woodard says was a great find.

I didnt know Lizzie beforehand, but she has done some great work, including The Young Offenders. I am delighted to have worked with her on this, and we have worked together since then as well.

Local viewers will recognise the films setting, Greenes Restaurant on MacCurtain Street.

We contacted Ricardo at Greenes, met him for a coffee, and told him we needed the space for two days, said Woodard. He just said, No problem.

There was no back-and-forth, no restrictions. He was incredibly accommodating. He even appears in the film at the beginning.

Ricardo loves film, and he couldnt have been more helpful.

The film-maker also had the opportunity to meet with renowned Cork producer Julie Ryan, who offered him invaluable advice.

I was lucky to get some time with Julie, and we had a good chat. She said genre work is great but suggested I make something less genre and put it on the festival circuit to get my name out there, meet people at festivals, and build a reputation and relationships that would help further my career beyond short films.

I thought I would try a drama, but when we were shooting it, it became clear that The Leftovers is a drama with hints of comedy.

Looking ahead to his future projects, and with The Leftovers now complete and heading to the festival circuit, Woodard has turned his attention to his first feature film.

The Twins OBrien, a Western, is about two Irish brothers who survived the Famine and head to the American West in search of fortune. Their plans are upended when they discover that the towns powerful British businessman is the same landlord who once starved their community in Ireland.

Irish humour is really a defence mechanism for a lot of us, so I thought if I dropped the brothers into one of the harshest possible settings - the Wild West - but kept that brotherly banter, I could build a strong drama with plenty of comedy in it, said Woodard.

I see it as Unforgiven meeting In Bruges in the Wild West. I love dark humour. Im really excited about it and have big plans, so fingers crossed The Leftovers helps me get a platform at festivals to meet producers and distributors.

With big plans for the future, Woodard is now looking forward to bringing The Leftovers to the Fastnet Film Festival in May.

We have gone every year for the last three or four years. We bring the family down, so to be at the festival as part of it this year is class.

For information on Woodards work, go to https://www.jaywoodard.ie/
It doesnt strike me as being the greatest name for a DJ collective, but Sync or Swim emerged in December 2024 with their inaugural event at the Liberty Bar. Among the six-DJ line-up on the night, alongside such names as Childish Lambino and DJ Bagheera, were Sync or Swim mainstays Dylan OKeeffe and Bonz. They havent put on many events since then, but on Friday night (April 24) they come to The Pav with a line-up that features Charlotte Walsh and headliner Lawrence.

Opening the night is Bonz. Having started out DJ-ing at college house parties, Bonz has appeared at nights like Phrases and most recently over Paddys Weekend at Curate, and has supported acts such as Club Angel, Entasia and Thelma. His sets typically span across multiple genres and sounds, but he promises some fun tracks to open the night up tomorrow.

Following Bonz is fellow Cork, but now Dublin-based, DJ Charlotte Walsh. Walsh has been making a name for herself over the past three years with shows at Pharmacia, Wigwam, Cyprus Avenue, Roisin Dubh, Tengu, and only earlier this month at the venerable Sunday Times at Aye. She has also enjoyed some festival appearances at Beyond the Pale, Fuinneamh and Electric Picnic, where she played the Elements of Change stage in the Global Green area. She has also guested online on Puzzy Wraglers Puzzy Prezentz and recently appeared on the Limerick-based Shed Sets. Expect her to play anything from acid-tinged house to UK garage, progressive house and techno tomorrow.

Headlining is Lawrence. The alias of Meaths Laurie Johnson, the self-described Irelands Favourite Underdog has been making waves with sets across District X, Index, and Forbidden Fruit afterparties, as well as Index, Slither, The Lounge and Helm  sharing the stage with artists such as X-Club, Clouds, Club Angel, LB aka Labat, Sunnysoposted, Ammara, Luke Dean and Max Dean.

With a love for both underground and more commercial leaning sounds, Lawrences sets are all about high-energy dance music that crosses genres  from trance and garage to dubby techno and everything in between. His productions carry that same energy, ranging from deep ambient cuts to club-ready rollers. Last year saw him hit over 300,000 streams and earn support from artists like LB, Future666, Thelma and Faster Horses. This year he looks forward to his debut festival appearance at Outset Festival.

Lawrence, Charlotte Walsh and Bonz play the Pav on Friday, April 24, from 10:30-2:00.

As Sync or Swim make what looks like a number of events over the coming months, another is using this time to take a step back. On Saturday, April 25, Milks most regular residents, Acid Dave and Esme2k will be spinning tunes at Dali for what they say will be their last party until after the summer.

It kind of feels like the end of a chapter for Milk, posted club founder Acid Dave enigmatically. But also the beginning of something new.

No doubt it will leave a bit of a void, having established itself since its founding 18 months ago as a premier party night for queers and allies. As usual, they promise a sweaty one as Dave and Esme go b2b all night long, serving up the usual mix of house, progressive, UK garage, trance and bassy bangers.

10 on the door only (5 before 10pm).
By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association

It is very conceivable that a referendum on Irish unity could take place by 2030, Michelle ONeill has claimed.

The Sinn Fein vice president described unity as the big idea of her generation, adding she had not given up on the poll taking place by the end of the decade.

The republican partys Ard Fheis will take place in Belfast this weekend, with keynote addresses from ONeill on Friday and party leader Mary Lou McDonald on Saturday.

Michelle ONeill said she believed partition had failed everybody. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

While the event will cover a number of areas, ONeill said Irish unity was the big ticket conversation.

In an interview with the Press Association, she said: I think when we look at a lot of the challenges we are facing in todays world, I think the answers to a lot of challenges that we face are actually in constitutional change.

And were only two years out from the Good Friday Agreement anniversary of 30 years.

I want to see the fulfilment of that, we were promised a unity referendum, and now we need to see that delivered upon.

ONeill, Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister, said while she was co-operating with other parties to make Stormont work, there were limitations in the Assembly and Executive arrangements.

She said: We see a bigger, brighter future.

We see something thats more meaningful to peoples lives.

If we could have constitutional change here, where we break up the link to policy choices in London that are showing a real disregard for people here, Brexit is the best example of all.

I think the answers to a lot of challenges that we face are actually in constitutional change Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein vice president

Since that we have had a rolling door of British prime ministers, none of them have fixed the fundamentals around the funding model here.

None of them have actually acted in the best interests of people here.

ONeill added: I think that shows why we need to take control of our own fortunes, why we need to control our own destiny going forward.

I think the best answers to a lot of big challenges today is constitutional change.

I believe partition has failed all of us.

Theres so much to be achieved in the years ahead, and Im certainly up for that.

I think thatll be the real focus of the Ard Fheis.

Senior Sinn Fein figures have often called for a unity referendum to take place by the end of the decade.

I believe the big idea of my generation is Irish unity, and I believe that there's opportunity to rectify the wrongs of partition Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein vice president

However, unionists in Northern Ireland have claimed there has been no increase in support for Irish unity, while Taoiseach Micheal Martin has previously said he is not planning for a border poll by 2030.

Under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, a referendum would be held if the UK Secretary of State believes it is likely that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for Irish unification.

Asked if the prospect of a unity poll by the end of the decade was diminishing, ONeill said: No, I dont give up on that, we have said it should be 2030.

Were going to fight two by-elections in the 26 counties over the course of the next number of months.

Were going to fight an Assembly election next year, were going to have a Westminster election, a Dail election.

So yes, I still think its very conceivable we will have our unity referendum for 2030.

I think all those elections will demonstrate that change is possible, will demonstrate that people endorse a better future, and we will use all those election opportunities to speak directly to the voters, to ask them to get behind the big idea of our generation.

I believe the big idea of my generation is Irish unity, and I believe that theres opportunity to rectify the wrongs of partition.
A man in receipt of 450 a week in State benefit told Portlaoise District Court that he pays 250 a week to a driver.

Agustin Muntean, Kilmalogue Court, Patrick Street, Portarlington, gave the sworn evidence in court last week when he pleaded not guilty to driving while uninsured at Patrick Street, Portarlington on May 13th last year.

Garda Shay Monaghan told the court that while on mobile patrol from Patricks Street to the Ring Road on May 13th, he saw the defendant driving the car and his wife in the passenger seat.

He said he was unable to deal with the matter that day, but the following day, he attended the defendants house, where he charged Muntean with the offence.

In reply to the charge being put to him, Garda Monaghan said the defendant replied: "It was not me. You disqualified me before."

"I reminded him I prosecuted him and that it was the judge who disqualified him. I was satisfied that it was Mr Muntean who I saw driving the car at the time. I have no doubt that it was him."

However, Muntean took the stand and said under oath: I was not driving. I pay a driver to drive my car. The car is in his name and he is insured. I cant drive. Im banned off the road.

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby asked the defendant: "How much do you pay the driver?" to which he replied: "250 as week."

"Do you keep a ledger of a record of his pay slips?" asked Sgt Kirby.

Muntean said: No. Ive been paying to him for nearly the past year.

Sgt Kirby estimated that Mr Muntean had paid the driver between 12,000 to 12,500 in that time.

Sgt Kirby said: Garda Monaghan is adamant that it was you he saw driving at the time, to which Mr Muntean said: I wasnt in the car at the time. My driver was driving the car that day. I was in Mullingar hospital at that time that day.

Judge Andrew Cody asked whether the defendant was working, to which he said he wasnt.

Judge Cody said: Theres very few people in Ireland at the moment who can afford to pay a chauffeur. How much money do you get? How much money a week do you get?

He told the judge that his wife receives a weekly social welfare payment of 450 for him and their six children, and 200 goes in rent and 250 to the driver.

I also do markets and sell stuff at them  toys, he said.

So, you earn money from markets as well, noted Judge Cody, can you provide your P60 and payslips?

The man who Muntean said was driving his car on the day took the stand and told the court: I was driving on the day. He cant drive. He pays me 250 a week and pays my insurance on the car.

Sgt Kirby wanted to know whether he had any pay slips from Muntean or bank details of the income he derives from driving the defendant around, to which he said he hadnt.

Sgt Kirby said that the driver and Muntean look completely different, that Muntean was balding and that the driver had a full head of hair and that Garda Monaghan saw clearly who was driving on the day.

He said what was being said in court was a cock and bull story and accused the driver of telling lies.

Defending barrister Andrew Dunne said that Muntean had put a plan in place to obtain a driver when he was disqualified from driving to drive him and his family around.

Mr Muntean is very clear in his evidence that it was not him who was driving at the time. The court must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he was driving, said Mr Dunne.

Judge Cody said Munteans testimony could not stand up, because in a statement of means certificate to the court, a legally binding document, he said his only means of income was derived from a social welfare payment and that, in court, under oath, he said that he also obtained income from selling toys at markets.

Its all a lie, said the Judge who was told that the 44-year-old defendant has 91 previous convictions, of which eight were for driving without insurance.

Dunne said that his client: Continuously maintains that it wasnt him driving, that it was his driver.

Judge Cody convicted Muntean of driving while uninsured, imposed a 500 fine, sentenced him to six months in prison and disqualified him from driving for 20 years.

He went on to fix a 1,000 own bond recognisance, with a 500 cash lodgement in the event the defendant wished to appeal his decision, which Muntean took up before the court closed that day.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
Vivienne Clarke

Kate Duggan, the chief executive of Tusla, has defended the service and said that every child in the care of the state deserved to feel supported by all the services of the state and where that had not happened it was completely unacceptable.

Responding to an RTE Primetime programme about the use of unregulated facilities for children in care, Duggan told RTE radio's Morning Ireland, With the support of our Minister and Department, we will, in the months ahead, continue to absolutely reduce our reliance on these arrangements.

The television programme had been very distressing, she said.

I think the young people that we heard from represent certainly a lived experience of young people today in the care of the state that all of us are very concerned about.

"We absolutely know that every child who is in state care deserves to feel supported by all services of the state, and where that hasn't happened, it is completely unacceptable.

The experiences in the programme had been those of a small number of vulnerable young people, she said.

The vast majority of children in our care, the almost 6,000 children in our care, they are receiving very good services, living in foster care with loving foster care families, living in registered centres where they're cared for by staff, they're engaged in education, and they're doing very well.

But we absolutely have to do better by this group of young people who have very vulnerable and complex needs, and certainly for me, I want every young person that needs a bed in special care to be able to get that bed," she said.

I want every young person to be able to be accommodated in a registered care placement, and while we are making significant progress in achieving that, we haven't yet been able to provide that to every young person.

Duggan said that the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is now working on a promise to look at an alternative care strategy, to consider how the state comes together to support those children and young people better.

When asked about the case of a fake reference, Duggan said there were no staff using fake references working in a special emergency arrangement.

A provider became aware of an internal issue within their company. They notified us immediately of that. We were able to check, and we were able to make sure that no staff member with a forged reference was using and providing services on behalf of Tusla."

The chief executive of the Childrens Rights Alliance, Tanya Ward, has said that the state has been failing children in the care system for 40 years.

Were just doing enough as a country to help families hold on to their children, she told RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show.

It was frustrating that parents and grandparents, and other people in their lives, who potentially could care for them were not helped to do so, she added.

There aren't enough by way of addiction services, mental health services, kinship supports. But alongside that, I also know is that the care system has been very successful for the majority of children who are in foster care and engaged in education. And I just wish that we could zone in and focus on these very vulnerable young people who have really significant needs.

Ward was responding to a report on RTEs Primetime about the failings of the care system for children with complex needs.

We've been failing this group of young people now for about 40 years. And I think that with 2026, we have to see a real change in how we respond to young people with complex needs.

While Tusla may claim that the majority of children in care have a positive experience, it was a tale of two halves.

You see lots of really positive work taking place. And on the other side, what you can see is in some parts of the country where there are social work shortages, what you find is children aren't getting assessments quick enough, or maybe they're not getting access to family support services or addiction services for their parents or maybe mental health services for their families as well.

But what you can also see is when children have been very traumatised, and this is the problem with, I suppose, our care system, we have children who have experienced sometimes a lot of neglect. And some of that has accumulated, particularly because of Covid because our services were effectively closed for two years and the child protection system didn't have eyes and ears.

And what we're seeing is a demand surge of very complex cases coming through. It's very difficult because Tusla does not have a lot of high support units in place at all. And these problems are years in the making.

Meanwhile, Monica Hynds, a Guardian ad Litem with childrens charity Barnardos, has called on Tusla and the government to cease using unregulated placements for children in care and to immediately implement a plan for children with complex needs.

Hynds was responding to the report on RTE Primetime, which highlighted the number of children who continue to be placed in unregulated care, which costs 2,000 per child per week.

Unregulated placements were introduced a number of years ago as a temporary measure, she explained to RTE radios Morning Ireland.

What we are seeing now is protracted use of them, and it's really, really disappointing, grossly disappointing for those young people and for the young people who are coming after them who can end up in those arrangements for quite some time as well.

We are calling for the cessation of these and we have been consistently calling for these. They're not regulated at all because they're illegal," she said.

"So in order to be regulated, you have to have been approved by Hiqa and you have to meet certain standards.

Hynds pointed out that the people who work in the unregulated placements are vetted, but they were not qualified and there had been at least one allegation where staff falsified references.

What we want to see is a government-led approach that sees a timed and action-driven plan that sees the elimination of these over a period of time.

The government knows that they're unregulated and that they're illegal, and they still continue to this day.

You have to invest in the system that's around. There is no silver bullet to this. There is no easy one answer to this. You have to invest in the system around this. And that starts with trying to reduce the number of children who are coming into care.
By Bairbre Holmes and Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

A meeting of a panel assessing the decision to dismiss Enoch Burke from his job will go ahead on Friday despite attempts by the former teacher to secure a High Court injunction to prevent it from happening.

A Disciplinary Appeals Panel (DAP) oral hearing is due to take place at 10am on Friday, but Mr Burke said it should be halted until a decision is reached by the Court of Appeal in another matter relating to his dispute with Wilsons Hospital School.

In the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Michael OConnell refused the application as proceedings stretched into 7pm in the evening.

The judge also granted a production order so that Mr Burke would be brought to the disciplinary hearing.

Enoch Burke (right) leaving the Court of Appeal in Dublin on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA)

The former history and German teacher has been engaged in a legal dispute with the Co Westmeath school since 2022.

He was suspended following incidents arising from a request from the schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun, and later dismissed from his position.

Mr Burke has repeatedly argued the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

He has spent more than 650 days in prison after he was found to have violated court orders instructing him not to trespass at the school.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal heard arguments from Mr Burke as he sought to overturn a May 2023 High Court ruling by Mr Justice Alexander Owens which found his suspension from the school was lawful.

Isaac, Martina, and Ammi Burke (Niall Carson/PA)

In normal circumstances, litigants have 28 days to file an appeal to a High Court decision after an order is perfected, the date it is formalised.

Appearing in front of the three-judge panel, Mr Burke said he did not bring his appeal in time because he was involved in other litigation, was in prison for much of the period since the ruling and had lost confidence in the Court of Appeal following a previous judgment.

He said he was appealing against the judgment because it had not taken his constitutional rights into consideration or properly examined the legality of the principals instructions.

He also referred to a statement the Department of Education gave to The Irish Times in January, which said schools are not legally obliged to use students preferred pronouns.

Enoch Burke outside Wilsons Hospital School (Brian Lawless/PA)

The lawyer representing the schools board of management, Rosemary Mallon, challenged his request and said the two-and-a-half year delay was extraordinary, she said there was a need for finality in the matter.

Ms Mallon argued Mr Owens decision was not a declaration as to the lawfulness of the principals direction or instruction, but about the lawfulness of the decision to suspend.

She also said Mr Burke had the opportunity to make arguments at the time, but he was disorderly and in persistent contempt of court, and was asked to leave the court.

She also said the statement from the Department of Education was simply be a view expressed by the department and not binding for the courts.

The first judge scheduled to hear the injunction on Thursday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan, recused himself from the case after hearing arguments from Mr Burke.

He had argued the judge should remove himself from making a decision on the injunction on the grounds of objective bias.

In a previous judgment, Mr Cregan had referred to Mr Burke as not a credible witness, and Mr Burke said this, and other comments the judge made pushing for the DAP to be heard, supported his case.

Enoch Burke outside Wilsons Hospital School in Co Westmeath (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Cregan said that he did not agree with Mr Burkes arguments but said not only does justice need to be done, it needs to be seen to be done adding especially in this case.

Addressing the High Court on Thursday for the purposes of the appeal, Mr Burke said the issues before the Court of Appeal and to be discussed by the DAP were closely relevant and connected to the issues.

He said the issue of the legitimacy of the principals instructions was the kernel of what the DAP is to consider and central to his case in front of the Court of Appeal.

I am going to be sitting in front of three members of DAP who are relying on Judge Owens judgment, Mr Burke said, adding that there is a huge question mark over Mr Owens judgment and he is awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal.

Tomorrow, if this injunction is not granted, the DAP will be sitting down to decide a question of law, a question of constitutional law, he said.

He argued the issue should only be decided by the courts and not the lay people who make up the DAP.

He said the panel usually only decides on matters of fact, not matters of law.

Enoch Burke at the High Court (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Burke said he had written to the DAP three times since late March requesting an adjournment of the meeting.

Padraic Lyons SC, for the DAP, said Mr Burkes submission was untenable, misconceived and there is no basis for it.

He said that if the hearing were to go ahead, it doesnt mean he (Mr Burke) is shut out from further legal review.

If the DAP made a decision, based on a judgment that was then overturned, Mr Burke could have it corrected for legal error, Mr Lyons said.

He also said Mr Burke had not brought proceedings in the correct manner, despite being a vastly experienced litigant who he knows exactly what he is doing.

Mr Lyons said Mr Burke was informed of the hearing date on March 26, he was told on April 7 that all his objections had been rejected.

He said he had ample time to apply for an injunction but waited until the eve of the hearing.

Enoch Burke at the High Court, Dublin, arriving with family members including his brother Isaac (left), mother Martina (second left), and sister Ammi (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Justice OConnell said he was satisfied that the judgment of Mr Owens never amounted to a final determination of the issue about the validity of the instruction given by the principal.

In refusing the injunction, he said he did not believe the DAP had to delay its hearing due to the Court of Appeal proceedings.

Five other members of the Burke family were in court on Thursday: his mother Martina, as well as his brothers Isaac and Simeon and sisters Ammi and Jemima.

After Mr Lyons argued against a further delay, Mr Burke responded and said the panels work had already been delayed for three years.

Mr Burke argued the delay was down to conduct of his (Mr Lyons) clients, stating a previous member refused to resign from the panel for two years and two further members resigned earlier this year.

The current DAP is the third iteration of the panel and is made up of Claire Callanan, John Irwin, and Seamus Lahart.
International Hospitality Day takes place on April 24 every year, and aims to celebrate and promote the hospitality sector across the world.

A sector that provides flexibility and opportunities for development, it has become an increasingly enticing career option for women globally, with Cork  where hospitality plays a hugely important part of the economy - being no exception.

I was finding with other jobs that I just seemed to never be at home, says Mil Burke, a breakfast chef at the Metropole Hotel. She started at the hotel when her children were in secondary school, attracted to the hours that may seem antisocial to some.

Im up at half-four and normally in the kitchen by half-five, Mil adds. Im a junior sous chef, so Im in charge of the kitchen in the morning. I need to make sure everything is up and running... And then Im out the door again at half-two. It was brilliant, I was able to get home just before the kids came home from school.

The flexible hours offered by hospitality can be particularly appealing to working mums.

Mil Burke is a breakfast chef and was attracted to the role because of the hours it offered.

Sarah Hickey began working at the Cork International Hotel as a receptionist in 2007. She has worked her way up the ranks over the 19 years before taking on her current role as Front Office Manager, all the while raising her family.

She and her husband make it work by acting as ships passing in the night, she explains. If hes working days, Ill do the evening shifts at the hotel. If hes on evenings, Ill do the days. Theres great flexibility.

Sarah credits the support given by her workplace in allowing for this flexibility. They support the working mums, she says. They support everyone. If I have to go for, say, a doctors appointment when one of my sons is sick or anything, then its absolutely no problem.

Sarah caught the hospitality bug in college, when she had a part-time job at the Baltimore Harbour Hotel. I worked in the restaurant, she recounts, before moving onto reception, and I enjoyed the buzz of meeting people and talking to people  I just got a nice taste for it.

Its not uncommon for hospitality staff to start out in part-time jobs as youngsters and end up staying in the sector for life.

Mil Burke regularly witnesses the beginnings of such careers at the Metropole. We have kids coming in on work experience, and at the beginning theyre shaking like leaves, theyre so nervous. And then they do such a great job. Next thing theyre back, theyre here on weekends, theyre part-time, and then weve ended up with a couple that are full-time.

Of course, not everyone comes to hospitality via the same route. Kylie Basnett is the Group Sales Manager for Trigon Hotels - the group that owns the Cork International Hotel and the Metropole - primarily dealing with corporate meetings, conferences and events for the company. Originally from Staffordshire in the UK, Kylies background is in horses, but she decided on a career change when she relocated to Ireland 22 years ago.

When I moved across, she says, I wanted to work with people more. I love the idea of working in an environment where youre consistently meeting new people and building relationships. Hospitality ticked those boxes.

I love the buzz of it all, she adds, whether its securing a new piece of business or seeing an event that weve been talking about for months come to life.

"It really gives you such a sense of achievement. And hospitality is such a fast-paced industry as well. That always keeps it exciting.

Kylies experience of hospitality in Cork has been nothing but positive. The citys sector is a welcoming, collaborative space. We work together for the good of Cork, she explains. When we go to events, we sell Cork as the destination.

As well as a passion for all things Cork, good communication and interpersonal skills are essential for the citys hospitality staff. As Sarah Hickey points out, its one of the increasingly scarce industries where face-to-face connection is still king.

Kylie Basnett says she would recommend the sector to anyone starting out in the world of work or, like she did two decades ago, considering a career change.

Its very important, I think, nowadays for people to talk. Were all caught up in social media and all that, but having that face-to-face contact, the chat, the interaction is so important.

It is these interactions with guests that make the job so worthwhile. When I see people enjoying their stay, having a great time, it puts a smile on my face, says Sarah.

Mil Burke agrees: As a chef, Im very guest-focused. Im very aware that someone is actually eating my food. It makes me want to be the best that I can be. I thrive on that.

While hospitality is undoubtedly hard work  constantly busy, fast-paced, dealing with the public  for anyone who flourishes in such environments, it can be a hugely rewarding career.

Theres so many different directions that you could go in, says Kylie Basnett, who would recommend the sector to anyone starting out in the world of work or, like she did two decades ago, considering a career change.

My confidence has grown with experience, so trust yourself and your abilities. If you enjoy working with people and having a variety of different things going on every day, its just such an amazing industry to be a part of.

Mil Burkes advice for anyone thinking of a career in hospitality is clear. I would say go for it! It opens so many doors. Its fantastic.

Sarah Hickey couldnt agree more. Its hard work, but its fun. The amount of people you meet that you bond with and grow friendships with is great, and you learn so much from the people you meet as well as the job itself.
Infineon Technologies is a core industrial partner in accelerating Europe's move toward practical quantum computing by contributing its engineering and manufacturing expertise to three quantum pilot lines projects: SUPREME, CHAMP-ION and SPINS.

European quantum pilot lines are designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale manufacturing. They provide open-access to industrial-grade facilities to startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and research organizations to accelerate quantum computing, communication and sensing technologies. Overall, six European projects spanning distinct hardware platforms have been selected to advance quantum chip technology in Europe over the next seven years.

Quantum computing allows calculations to be much faster and is one of the most disruptive technologies, enabling breakthroughs that address complex problems beyond the reach of classical computing and even supercomputers. Its applications span areas such as drug discovery, advanced materials science, supply chain optimization, and highly efficient energy grid management. Studies project the overall quantum market to reach USD 97 billion by 2035. Realizing this market and innovation potential depends on the rapid translation of R&D innovation into industrial manufacturing excellence. Quantum systems will only scale if their most critical components work reliably, repeatably and can be manufactured with precision and at scale.

The goal is very clear: to develop and manufacture quantum computers in Europe. The quantum pilot lines create exactly the kind of close, highimpact collaboration needed across the entire quantum value chain. Together with excellent partners, we are strengthening Europes quantum ecosystem and turning research excellence into scalable, industrial solutions. This is how quantum computing will move from the lab to real-world deployment, says Sabine Herlitschka, Head of Strategic Funding Management at Infineon Technologies.

From lab to fab and scalability

Infineon contributes to three European quantum pilot lines with dedicated quantum technologies comprising ion-traps, superconducting and semiconductor-based spin technologies. With this multi-technology approach the Infineon-quantum team operates dedicated laboratories that are closely connected to semiconductor production. The collaboration within the pilot line consortia will accelerate quantum development on different platforms and combine it with high volume manufacturing for critical quantum computing hardware components, like quantum processing units.

Infineon is participating in the following three European quantum pilot lines:

CHAMP-ION (Championing a European advanced manufacturing of ion-traps): This pilot line is establishing Europes first advanced ion trap quantum chip manufacturing line. Led by Silicon Austria Labs (SAL), the project unites 21 partners from six countries. Together, they aim to provide the entire value chain, from design to microfabrication and testing, for fully integrated, mass-producible, and miniaturized ion trap systems. These systems combine integrated electronics and photonic structures on a single chip to enable quantum computing and its applications.

SUPREME (Pilot line for superconducting quantum Chips): Led by the Finnish research organization VTT, the consortium brings together 23 partners from eight countries. The project focuses on the industrialization of superconducting quantum technologies. Superconductivity enables efficient, low loss qubits that can be built with proven semiconductor technologies for fast and reliable quantum operations. A key milestone is the development of a 200 qubit, 3D integrated module. This module will demonstrate improved stability, manufacturing yield, and reproducibility.

SPINS (Pilot line for industrial quantum NanoSystems): Coordinated by imec, this pilot line is developed for either pure silicon or silicon/silicon-germanium structured quantum chips using largely standard CMOS manufacturing to enable scalability. The consortium brings together 25 partners from nine countries, driving the transition from lab to industrial fabs with standardized quantum design kits allowing multiproject wafer runs for customers.

Lesen Sie mehr zum Thema
From September 20-22, embedded world Conference North America will once again be the platform for lively exchange and discussions within the embedded community. Abstracts for presentations can still be submitted  until April 30.

Following its claim embedded worldwide, the embedded world Exhibition & Conference organizes embedded world North America for its third year in 2026. From September 20-22 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, embedded world North America again is the global platform and the industry place to meet for the embedded community and attracts the top experts, key players and industry associations from all over the world.

In the embedded world Conference, top voices in embedded technology will share insights, innovations, and real-world applications. Speakers from research, development and practice will share their knowledge with the attendees.

Anyone wishing to present at the embedded world Conference North America should act quickly: the deadline for submitting abstracts is 30 April. Further information and the online submission form can be found here. Submit your abstract now and be part of the main conference on embedded system technologies in North America!

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The Turkish parliament has voted through a bill that would ban all children under the age of 15 from using social media. As part of the legislation, social media platforms would be required to enforce age-verification measures on their apps, provide parental control tools, and react more quickly to harmful content being posted.

As reported by The Associated Press , lawmakers have passed the bill in the wake of two deadly school shootings in Turkey, after which police arrested 162 people accused of sharing footage of the tragedies online.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan now has 15 days to accept the bill in order for it to become law, after reportedly saying social media platforms had become "cesspools" in a televised address to the nation.

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As well as the major social media platforms, AP reports that online gaming companies would also have to implement their own restrictions on minors, with potential punishments including bandwidth reductions and financial penalties.

This isnt the first time Turkey has locked horns with social media and online gaming platforms. Instagram has been blocked in the country before, back in 2024, relating to a dispute over the posting of Hamas-related content. Access was restored around a week later, but in the same time period Turkey also banned Roblox over reports of inappropriate sexual content accused of being explorative to children. At the time, a Turkish official also named the "promotion of homosexuality" as one reason for the ban.

Turkey has also temporarily banned Twitter (now called X) on several occasions, most recently after 2023s devastating earthquakes, though it was not clear at the time why the government may have moved to block the social media platform.
A brief clip of Meghan Markle shooting a "death stare" at an aide during a visit to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital has gone viral and prompted several former Sussex staffers to say the moment revived painful memories of working for the couple.

Tom Sykes, host of "The Royalist" podcast, described how one former employee reacted to the video. The former employee said, "it gives me PTSD"  their reaction after seeing the clip, Sykes said on his April 21 program.

Sykes said the look occurred when Markle, 44, noticed her chief of staff, Sarah Fosmo, tap Prince Harry, 41, on the back to alert him to fans gathered on upper levels. The clip, which Sykes said was captured from a forward angle, shows Markle delivering what he called a "mega death stare" after the tap, according to Radar Online.

Sykes added that Markle's icy glare "revived memories" for multiple former employees, bringing back what they described as traumatic experiences working under her. One former staffer told him, "It's classic Meghan, literally a workplace psychopath, smiling sweetly in public while shooting daggers when she thinks no one's watching," and added, "She treats anyone beneath her as completely disposable."

she will be fired pic.twitter.com/Chaqikwsmt  That 1 (@that_1) April 18, 2026

Sykes noted that Fosmo had been on the Sussex staff since December 2024 and that her 16-month tenure made her one of the longest-serving current employees. He said Fosmo is a "tough cookie" with credentials from the Gates Foundation, where she was "a widely respected senior figure," but questioned how long she would continue in the role.

Sykes said, "I do wonder whether she would be willing to put up with such treatment for much longer." He also quipped, "But of course, these days, that makes her one of their longest serving employees, AOL reported"

The viral footage has revived earlier allegations and media coverage about Markle's behavior while she was a working royal. Sykes said representatives for the Sussexes told him the clip was "designed to be manipulative and to perpetuate a false narrative" that Markle is difficult to work with.

A source quoted by Sykes suggested the incident may have been triggered by Markle's belief in strict royal protocol about physical contact. The source said, "Well, one source told me that Meghan's visual scolding of Cosmo was very likely down to her belief that nobody should touch either of them," and added that royals were seen as "a class apart."

Sykes relayed the source's remark that "Meghan is desperate to be seen as royal" and that the aide "undermined the narrative by treating Harry like a normal person. And you can see she gets the look."

The episode echoes past reporting, including a Buckingham Palace bullying inquiry conducted while Markle was a working royal, and public accusations from some former senior staffers that the Sussexes have high turnover.

Sykes said one former senior staffer told The Hollywood Reporter that "Everyone is terrified of Meghan" and that Team Sussex had lost more than 18 employees.
Four years after her public court battle with Johnny Depp, Amber Heard has established a private life in Spain with her three children but remains determined to revive her acting career.

A source told RadarOnline that the 40-year-old actress "wants to make a splashy comeback" in Hollywood and has been "making all kinds of pitches," though she has met with limited success so far.

Regarding her career ambitions, an insider explained, "It's not turning out the way she expected. It's becoming frustrating for her. She reinvented herself in Spain and she's happy with her life there. But she wants to go to the next step and make her own money, her own way."

Despite setbacks, Heard has taken some steps toward returning to the spotlight. Earlier this year, she appeared in "Silenced", a documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film investigates the alleged use of defamation lawsuits to silence abuse victims.

Read more: Amber Heard Makes Acting Comeback in New Play by Jeremy O. Harris After Two-Year Break

Addressing the documentary, Heard told Variety, "This is not about me. I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story. I don't want to tell my story. In fact, I don't want to use my voice anymore. That's the problem."

Months after concluding her high-profile legal dispute with Depp, Heard relocated to Spain with her daughter Oonagh Paige, whom she welcomed via surrogate in April 2021. A source told People magazine at the time, "She is focused on raising her daughter. She spends every day with her girl. They stroll around, visit parks and enjoy family time."

Initially residing in Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, Heard and her family later settled in Madrid. Another source told the outlet in 2023, "She just had to get out of the U.S. It felt like too much chaos."

In May 2025, Heard expanded her family further by announcing the birth of twins Agnes and Ocean.

Shortly before celebrating her 40th birthday on April 22, Heard was seen vacationing in Cadaques, Spain, with her three children and friends.

Photographs obtained by Hola! showed the actress wearing a black crop top paired with baggy pants and a broad-brimmed hat near the harbor. She carried one of her twins in a baby sling while another woman held the other twin similarly. Her daughter, Oonagh, wore a yellow checkered dress and a pink ball cap during their outing.

Read more: Amber Heard Responds To Blake Lively's Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni: 'Horrifying'
(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)

Strong Large Deal wins of $14.9 Billion and healthy Free Cash Flow of $3.7 Billion

FY 27 Guidance  Revenue Growth of 1.5%-3.5%, Operating Margin of 20%-22%

BENGALURU, India, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in AI-first business consulting and technology services, delivered $20,158 million in FY 26 revenues with a growth of 3.1% in constant currency. Reported IFRS operating margin was at 20.3% and adjusted1 operating margin at 21.0%. EPS growth was 11.0% in rupee terms2. Free cash flow generation was healthy at $3,733 million. TCV of large deal wins was $14.9 billion, with net new of 55%.

Q4 revenues were $5,040 million, growth of 4.1% year on year in constant currency. Q4 operating margin was at 20.9%.

"We delivered a resilient performance in FY 26 with growth of 3.1% with strong large deal wins of $14.9 billion, reflecting the robustness of our enterprise AI value proposition and market share gains in large transformation opportunities. The simplicity and strength of our AI services strategy across six areas is gaining traction in the market further strengthened by strong ecosystem AI partnerships enabling clients to get value from AI," said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. "Our AI First value framework and differentiated Topaz Fabric, position us uniquely to deepen client trust and gain greater share of the market," he added.

Guidance for FY27:

Revenue growth of 1.5%-3.5% in constant currency

Operating margin of 20%-22%

Key highlights:

"FY 26 was a year of disciplined execution and financial resilience reflecting in 21% adjusted operating margin and healthy free cash flow of $3.7 billion. Savings from Project Maximus enabled us to invest in strategic areas like talent, AI and sales & marketing," saidJayesh Sanghrajka, CFO. "We remain focused on margins and cash generation as we navigate an evolving macro environment. In line with our capital allocation policy, Board has proposed a final dividend of `25 per share, which along with interim dividend and recently concluded buyback, amounts to over `37,500 crore returned to shareholders for FY 26," he added.

Client Wins & Testimonials

Infosys collaborated with Citizens to accelerate AI-driven transformation across its banking operations, product development, and customer experience. Michael Ruttledge, Chief Information Officer and Head of Enterprise Technology & Security, Citizens Financial Group, said, "Our AI-first Innovation Hub reflects Citizens' long-term commitment to building modern, secure, and intelligent banking capabilities. Partnering with leading technology firms like Infosys and leveraging Infosys Topaz Fabric is helping transform how we serve our customers by integrating advanced AI at the core of our operations to deliver more modern, secure, and personalized banking experiences."

said, "Our AI-first Innovation Hub reflects Citizens' long-term commitment to building modern, secure, and intelligent banking capabilities. Partnering with leading technology firms like Infosys and leveraging Infosys Topaz Fabric is helping transform how we serve our customers by integrating advanced AI at the core of our operations to deliver more modern, secure, and personalized banking experiences." Infosys collaborated with ExxonMobil to enable the development and deployment of high-efficiency cooling systems that can meet the growing demands of AI and high-performance computing workloads. Alistair Westwood, Global Marketing Manager, ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company, said, "This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation by allowing us to apply our energy and thermal management expertise to the evolving landscape of digital infrastructure. Infosys' suite of AI and digital services is enabling us to pilot and adopt infrastructure that is smarter, efficient, and more resilient."

said, "This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation by allowing us to apply our energy and thermal management expertise to the evolving landscape of digital infrastructure. Infosys' suite of AI and digital services is enabling us to pilot and adopt infrastructure that is smarter, efficient, and more resilient." Infosys collaborated with Crocs to drive a comprehensive IT and business process transformation with AI-powered innovation and advanced automation capabilities. Tom Britt, Chief Information Officer, Crocs Inc, said: "As Crocs reimagines its IT landscape, we sought a partner who could combine deep domain expertise with a commitment to innovation and operational excellence. By leveraging Infosys' AI and advanced automation capabilities, we will optimize operations, reduce costs, and scale responsiblywhile driving continuous improvement and building a foundation for sustainable growth and digital resilience that positions Crocs for the future."

said: "As Crocs reimagines its IT landscape, we sought a partner who could combine deep domain expertise with a commitment to innovation and operational excellence. By leveraging Infosys' AI and advanced automation capabilities, we will optimize operations, reduce costs, and scale responsiblywhile driving continuous improvement and building a foundation for sustainable growth and digital resilience that positions Crocs for the future." Infosys announced a strategic collaboration with Incora to drive faster, accurate, and resilient supply chain operations with the use of artificial intelligence globally. "Infosys brings proven leadership in AI and large-scale digital transformation, making them an ideal choice as we continue to modernize our global supply chain," said Hari Kumar Rajendran, Executive Vice President of Global Operations, Incora . "This alliance allows us to apply advanced AI capabilities in a practical, enterprise-wide way. Together, we are building a foundation that enables Incora to better serve our customers today and adapt to the future of aerospace and defense supply chains."

. "This alliance allows us to apply advanced AI capabilities in a practical, enterprise-wide way. Together, we are building a foundation that enables Incora to better serve our customers today and adapt to the future of aerospace and defense supply chains." Infosys and University of Nottingham extended their strategic collaboration to strengthen digital infrastructure of the University's Student Management System, ensuring high performance and security compliance. Chris Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, University of Nottingham, said, "Collaborating with Infosys empowers the University of Nottingham to set new benchmarks in higher education. Our Student Management System is one of the most critical components of the university's operations, supporting every stage of the student journey. Our embedded partnership with Infosys will help us strengthen our core services, accelerate innovation, and enhance the reliability and security of our digital ecosystem. By integrating cutting-edge digital solutions, we are not only enriching the student journey but also redefining what it means to be a leader in global academia."

said, "Collaborating with Infosys empowers the University of Nottingham to set new benchmarks in higher education. Our Student Management System is one of the most critical components of the university's operations, supporting every stage of the student journey. Our embedded partnership with Infosys will help us strengthen our core services, accelerate innovation, and enhance the reliability and security of our digital ecosystem. By integrating cutting-edge digital solutions, we are not only enriching the student journey but also redefining what it means to be a leader in global academia." Infosys extended its strategic collaboration with ABN AMRO Bank to drive the Bank's ambition of achieving sustainable and profitable growth through 2028. Carsten Bittner, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at ABN AMRO Bank , said, "The renewed collaboration with Infosys will help further to simplify and modernize our IT landscape, while accelerating the responsible adoption of AI across the company. This engagement will enhance operational efficiency, deliver greater customer value, and help reduce complexity and operating costs."

, said, "The renewed collaboration with Infosys will help further to simplify and modernize our IT landscape, while accelerating the responsible adoption of AI across the company. This engagement will enhance operational efficiency, deliver greater customer value, and help reduce complexity and operating costs." Infosys announced its strategic collaboration with Anthropic to unlock AI value with automated workflows, accelerated software delivery, and agentic AI solutions across complex, regulated industries. Dario Amodei, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Anthropic, said, "There's a big gap between an AI model that works in a demo and one that works in a regulated industry  and if you want to close that gap, you need domain expertise. Infosys has exactly that kind of expertise across important industries: telecom, financial services, and manufacturing. Their developers are already using Claude Code to accelerate their work and to create AI agents for industries that demand precision, compliance, and deep domain knowledge."

said, "There's a big gap between an AI model that works in a demo and one that works in a regulated industry  and if you want to close that gap, you need domain expertise. Infosys has exactly that kind of expertise across important industries: telecom, financial services, and manufacturing. Their developers are already using Claude Code to accelerate their work and to create AI agents for industries that demand precision, compliance, and deep domain knowledge." Infosys and Intel expanded their strategic collaboration to help enterprises move from AI pilots to production at scale, aimed at optimizing performance and delivering measurable enterprise outcomes across industries. Lip-Bu Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Intel, said, "Working closely with Infosys allows us to bring the power of Intel's AI hardware ecosystem to enterprises globally. Together, we are delivering performance-optimized, energy-efficient, and open AI solutions that clients can deploy wherever their workloads reside  from data centers to the cloud to the edge."

said, "Working closely with Infosys allows us to bring the power of Intel's AI hardware ecosystem to enterprises globally. Together, we are delivering performance-optimized, energy-efficient, and open AI solutions that clients can deploy wherever their workloads reside  from data centers to the cloud to the edge." Infosys announced its strategic collaboration with Cursor to help enterprises build and scale AI-powered digital solutions and accelerate their AI value journey. Michael Truell, CEO and Co-Founder, Cursor, said, "Infosys' commitment to building an AI-first organization makes them a natural collaborator for Cursor. Their global scale, delivery rigor, and deep industry expertise create an ideal environment to demonstrate what AI software engineering tools can achieve in the enterprise. We are excited to collaborate with Infosys as they enable over 100,000 software engineers at Infosys with agentic coding platforms and we look forward to helping their teams deliver breakthrough outcomes for customers worldwide."

said, "Infosys' commitment to building an AI-first organization makes them a natural collaborator for Cursor. Their global scale, delivery rigor, and deep industry expertise create an ideal environment to demonstrate what AI software engineering tools can achieve in the enterprise. We are excited to collaborate with Infosys as they enable over 100,000 software engineers at Infosys with agentic coding platforms and we look forward to helping their teams deliver breakthrough outcomes for customers worldwide." Infosys and Cognition announced strategic collaboration to accelerate the AI value journey for global enterprises with advanced agentic and autonomous engineering capabilities. Scott Wu, Founder & CEO, Cognition, said, "We are thrilled to collaborate with Infosys to bring the power of autonomous and agentic AI engineering to some of the world's most complex enterprises. Infosys' Exponential Engineering offering perfectly complements our mission to redefine how software is built. Infosys Topaz Fabric and Devin together offer unmatched capability from real-time developer augmentation to fully autonomous engineering execution. Infosys is the first large digital services and consulting firm to deploy agentic tools at this scale. By combining Infosys' deep industry expertise with our platform, we are enabling clients to dramatically accelerate time-to-market, enhance ROI and unlock a new era of engineering transformation."

said, "We are thrilled to collaborate with Infosys to bring the power of autonomous and agentic AI engineering to some of the world's most complex enterprises. Infosys' Exponential Engineering offering perfectly complements our mission to redefine how software is built. Infosys Topaz Fabric and Devin together offer unmatched capability from real-time developer augmentation to fully autonomous engineering execution. Infosys is the first large digital services and consulting firm to deploy agentic tools at this scale. By combining Infosys' deep industry expertise with our platform, we are enabling clients to dramatically accelerate time-to-market, enhance ROI and unlock a new era of engineering transformation." Infosys Finacle and Producers Savings Bank Corporation announced an initiative to modernize the bank's technology landscape in the Philippines through an upgrade to the latest version of the Finacle Core Banking Solution, enabling faster, broader, and more personalized customer experiences. Andres M. Cornejo, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Producers Bank, said, "Our decade-long association with Infosys Finacle has been pivotal to our modernization journey. As we celebrate 30 years as an institution, this modernization initiative will further strengthen our digital capabilities, enabling us to provide real-time banking services for our growing client base and scale our lending business with greater confidence. We deeply value Finacle's collaboration, rich functionality, swift deployment, and proven reliability, and we are excited about the new possibilities this transformation will unlock."

said, "Our decade-long association with Infosys Finacle has been pivotal to our modernization journey. As we celebrate 30 years as an institution, this modernization initiative will further strengthen our digital capabilities, enabling us to provide real-time banking services for our growing client base and scale our lending business with greater confidence. We deeply value Finacle's collaboration, rich functionality, swift deployment, and proven reliability, and we are excited about the new possibilities this transformation will unlock." Infosys BPM collaborated with Old National Bank to support its digital transformation journey, spanning process optimization, automation, and emerging AIdriven capabilities. Jeff Newcom, Chief Operations Officer, Old National Bank, said, "Our relationship with the digital delivery team has been another example of how Infosys' expertise and resources have accelerated our ability to optimize and automate processes. Now, we're exploring AI and Agentic AI to further advance our capabilities and delivery to our clients, so that we can continue to focus on putting our clients first without needing to build all of the capabilities ourselves."

Recognitions & Awards

- Brand & Corporate

Multiple awards from FinanceAsia, including Best CFO, Best Investor Relations and Best Large Cap Company

Recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2026 for sixth consecutive year by Ethisphere

Awarded the Compliance Leader Verification by Ethisphere for its commitment to fostering a strong culture of integrity, accountability, and responsible governance across its global operations

Recognized as a Top 3 IT services brand and the fastest growing IT services brand globally in the Brand Finance Global 500 2026 report

Recognized as a Global Top Employer 2026 for the sixth consecutive year by the Top Employer Institute

Infosys BPM recognized as a Global Top Employer 2026 by the Top Employers Institute

- AI and Cloud Services

Rated as a market leader in HFS Horizons: Agentic Services, 2026

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Observability and AIOps Services

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Cross-Platform Agentic AI

Featured as a leader in PAC INNOVATION RADAR SAP Business AI and Joule-related Service Worldwide 2026

- Key Digital Services

Positioned as a leader in Everest Group Private Equity (PE) Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2026

Positioned as a leader in Everest Group Software Product Engineering Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2026  Global

Rated as a market leader in HFS Horizons: Next-gen IT Infrastructure Services, 2026

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: for Microsoft End-to-End Service Providers

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Innovation Services and Engineering

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Cybersecurity Services

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Custom Software Development Services

Recognized as a leader in Constellation ShortList: Learning Marketplaces

Featured as a leader in PAC RADAR SAP-related Services Worldwide 2026

- Industry & Solutions

Infosys Finacle positioned as a leader in 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Banking Payment Hub Platforms report

Infosys Finacle along with its customer HDFC Bank received the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2026 for Excellence in Mass Affluent Banking

Read more about our Awards & Recognitions here.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 325,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in 63 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release, including those concerning our future growth prospects and our future financial or operating performance, are forward looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid working model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes and developments in the US H-1B visa program, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity and capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, cybersecurity matters, the outcome of pending litigation and the US government investigation, and the effect of current and any future tariffs. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

NOTES :

a) The above information is extracted from the audited condensed consolidated Balance sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026, which have been taken on record at the Board meeting held on April 23, 2026.

b) Includes interest income (pre-tax) of $41 million and $38 million for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025 respectively, and reversal of tax provisions amounting to $83 million and $12 million for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025 respectively. This is on account of orders received under sections 250 and 254 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for certain assessment years.

c) Revenue growth in reported currency includes the impact of currency fluctuations. Additionally, we calculate constant currency (CC) growth by comparing current period revenues in respective local currencies converted to US$ using prior period exchange rates and comparing the same to our prior period reported revenues.

d) A Fact Sheet providing the operating metrics of the Company can be downloaded from www.infosys.com.

Notes:

IFRS-INR Press Release: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2025-2026/q4/documents/ifrs-inr-press-release.pdf

Fact sheet: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2025-2026/q4/documents/fact-sheet.pdf

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/...

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/revenue-crosses-20-billion-mark-with-resilient-growth-of-3-1-in-fy-26-in-constant-currency-302751881.html
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Talkers Magazine Secures Back Cover Placement in 44th Annual Yearbook of Experts

Washington, D.C.  Talkers Magazine, the leading trade publication covering talk media, has secured the prestigious back cover position in the 44th annual edition of the Yearbook of Experts, Authorities & Spokespersons, a widely used media resource requested by journalists across the United States.

The placement underscores the continuing influence of Talkers Magazine across the evolving landscape of talk media, including radio, television, cable news/talk television, and emerging platforms such as internet streaming, podcasting, and satellite radio.

"Talkers has long been the definitive voice of the talk media industry," said Mitchell P. Davis, publisher of the Yearbook. "Featuring them on the back cover reflects their authority and ongoing importance to both traditional and new media professionals"

About Talkers Magazine



Talkers Magazine covers the full spectrum of talk media, including radio, television, cable news/talk television, as well as new talk formats delivered via the internet, podcasting, and satellite radio.

Its website features opening excerpts from current monthly print editions, along with free access to popular features such as NewsNotes, Week in Review, The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America (The Heavy Hundred), Top Talk Radio Audiences, the Talk Radio Research Project, and classified advertising.

The platform also provides extensive coverage of industry events, including the annual New Media Seminar, as well as seminars and radio row events sponsored by the publication.

About the Yearbook of Experts



The Yearbook of Experts, Authorities & Spokespersons is a long-established media directory that has been requested by tens of thousands of journalists seeking credible sources for interviews, commentary, and analysis.

Publisher Mitchell P. Davis is a recipient of the Georgetown University Bunn Award for Excellence in Journalism and a graduate of its business school. He launched his public relations business in 1984 with the Talk Show Guest Directory and has served on the board of the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts.

Today, his platform ExpertClick hosts expert profiles and hundreds of thousands of news releases, serving both traditional journalists and the expanding universe of new media creators.

The Yearbook and its related services have earned widespread recognition:

The New York Times called it "Dial-an-Expert"

The Associated Press described it as "An Encyclopedia of Sources"

PRWeek labeled it "a dating service of PR"

A free copy of the 2025 Yearbook is available for download at www.ExpertBook.com.

Media Contact:



Mitchell P. Davis



202) 333-5000



Text or Call
Ginsters has launched a new partnership aimed at supporting struggling farmers, as concerns grow over isolation and mental health across the agricultural sector.

The savoury pastry brand has teamed up with The Farming Community Network (FCN) in a long-term collaboration designed to provide practical and emotional support to farming families, while reinforcing its commitment to British sourcing.

The move comes at a time when many farmers face mounting pressures, with loneliness widely recognised as a challenge within the industry. By backing FCN, Ginsters is linking its supply chain more directly to the wellbeing of the people behind it.

The company, part of the Samworth Brothers Group, invests heavily in UK agriculture, contributing to a wider 450m annual spend on British pork, chicken and beef, including 25m a year dedicated to supporting domestic production.

Consumer demand for British meat remains strong, with 80% of shoppers saying it is important to buy UK-produced meat and three quarters viewing it as higher quality. Ginsters said this aligns with its long-standing policy of using only British meat across its range.

The business also maintains close relationships with local suppliers, including a 25-year partnership with Hay Farm in Cornwall, just 15 miles from its bakery. It sources more than 16 tonnes of potatoes and four tonnes of onions from the farm each day.

As part of the new initiative, Ginsters will donate 20,000 in 2026 to support FCNs FarmWell platform, which offers advice and resources for farmers facing personal or business difficulties.

FCN supports thousands of farmers each year through a confidential helpline, local casework and a network of more than 400 volunteers. The charity has also trained more than 5,000 people to recognise signs of poor mental health and offer support.

To help tackle isolation, the partnership will also see the launch of an Open Arms pop-up pub, designed as a space for farmers to meet, talk and access support in a relaxed setting.

The concept will appear at major agricultural events including FarmFest, the Royal Bath and West Show and the Royal Cheshire Show, helping raise awareness of FCNs work and encourage conversations within the farming community.

Sarah Babb, marketing director at Ginsters, said the initiative builds on the companys existing support for UK agriculture. We are proud of our longstanding commitment to British produce and farming we understand and value the hard work, effort and dedication of farmers across the UK and our partnership with The Farming Community Network is another way for us to demonstrate our support.

She added that the collaboration reflects the importance of farming to regional economies, particularly in Cornwall, where food, drink and agriculture play a significant role in jobs and businesses.

Georgina Lamb, head of partnerships at FCN, said the charity is focused on being there for farmers when they need it most. Loneliness and isolation can be real issues for farmers, and our charity is dedicated to being there and offering farmers the support they need, when they need it.

She described the collaboration as a natural fit, adding that it will help expand the charitys reach and bring communities together at events throughout the year.

The partnership will also be promoted through Ginsters marketing and social media channels, with both organisations aiming to raise awareness of the challenges facing farmers and the support available.

As the initiative rolls out, both partners say the focus will be on strengthening connections within rural communities and ensuring more farmers can access help when they need it most.
Farmers tackling water pollution are being urged to step forward for a new national award recognising practical action to improve water quality on farm.

The Water Quality Farmer of the Year Award has opened for entries across England and Wales, highlighting the role of land managers in protecting rivers and water resources through everyday farming practices.

The initiative comes as agriculture faces increasing scrutiny over its impact on water quality, particularly from nutrient runoff, soil erosion and diffuse pollution entering waterways.

Launched by Innovation for Agriculture, the scheme is backed by several major water companies, including Portsmouth Water, Wessex Water, Southern Water, Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water.

Open to all sectors, the competition aims to showcase how farmers are improving water outcomes through measures such as more precise nutrient use, reducing runoff, improving soil structure and adopting better livestock management.

Stephen Briggs, head of technical development at Innovation for Agriculture, said many producers are already delivering results on the ground. Farmers are already doing a huge amount to protect and improve water quality, often through practical decisions that also strengthen the resilience of the farm business, he said.

He added that the award is designed to highlight and share that progress. This award is about recognising that work, sharing good practice, and celebrating the role farmers play in protecting one of our most important natural resources.

Entries will be judged by a panel including representatives from Innovation for Agriculture, the NFU and supporting water companies, with three finalists selected for on-farm visits.

The finalists will be invited to the RASE Awards Day in September, where they will receive trophies and certificates, with the overall winner also attending the RASE Awards Dinner.

Farmers can enter via a short online application, outlining the steps they are taking to improve water quality and the impact of those actions.

Entries are open until Friday 29 May, with organisers encouraging farmers already delivering improvements on the ground to apply.
Farmers and landowners are being urged to make better use of scarce grazing land, as pressure on availability continues to grow across the sector.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is promoting its Graziers List platform as a way to connect livestock keepers with landowners, helping unlock underused grassland while supporting more flexible farming systems.

The push comes as farmers face increasing competition for land, with demands from environmental schemes, cropping and development placing added strain on availability.

NSA said the platform is playing an increasing role in linking sheep producers with arable businesses, as more farms look to integrate livestock into rotations to improve soil health and overall system resilience.

Open to both sheep farmers and landowners, the scheme allows users to arrange short-term or longer-term grazing agreements, matching needs based on location, land type and individual requirements.

NSA said the need for a more structured approach is growing. Project manager Nicola Noble said: Previously agreements for grazing have been made possible thanks to existing relationships and networks, but with increasing integration of sheep into arable rotations there is a need for a more formal service that is able to connect farmers, allowing mutual benefit to be achieved.

Alongside productivity gains, the organisation highlighted environmental benefits, with grazing helping manage grass growth, improve soil structure and support wildlife habitats.

The platform is free for NSA sheep farming members, who can advertise their grazing requirements as part of their subscription.

The scheme will also be promoted at the Cereals Event in June, where NSA will highlight the role of sheep in arable systems and the growing importance of flexible grazing arrangements.

Backed by crop science organisation NIAB and independent beef and sheep consultant Liz Genever, the initiative reflects wider industry support for collaborative land use.

With land access tightening and farming systems evolving, tools such as the Graziers List are expected to play an increasingly important role in helping businesses remain adaptable and resilient.
Rio Tinto will donate A$1.5 million to support communities impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle in Western Australia.

The contribution to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) will assist with relief and recovery efforts across Western Australian communities impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, while also supporting longer-term preparedness and resilience initiatives.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle travelled along the Pilbara coast and crossed between Coral Bay and Cape Cuvier as a category 3 system on 27 March.

Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said: "Western Australia is no stranger to severe weather, and Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is a reminder of how important it is that we are prepared and able to respond quickly when communities are impacted.

"This contribution will help strengthen the State's ability to prepare for future events. I thank Rio Tinto for stepping up and backing Western Australians and our emergency services."

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Matthew Holcz said: "In the wake of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, our focus is on helping affected communities access support now and strengthening their ability to recover from future events.

"The Department of Fire and Emergency Services and other frontline organisations play a critical role in keeping Western Australians safe, and we are proud to support their work alongside the many volunteers and agencies helping people through this recovery.

"We extend our thoughts to everyone impacted, and we thank the emergency services personnel and community groups who have worked tirelessly to respond. We hope this support helps communities rebuild and move forward."

The donation will help establish a recovery and resilience fund that will be administered by the DFES. The fund will support clean-up and rebuilding, restoration of essential services, assistance for households and small businesses and initiatives that strengthen preparedness ahead of future cyclones.

The contribution is part of Rio Tinto's disaster relief program, which provides support to communities where the company operates during times of need and strengthens long-term resilience to future natural disasters.

In addition, Rio Tinto employees can support recovery efforts through the company's employee giving program, RioGivers, where matched giving helps amplify the impact of individual donations to communities affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422651813/en/

Contacts:

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations,

United Kingdom

Matthew Klar

M +44 7796 630 637

David Outhwaite

M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations,

Australia

Matt Chambers

M +61 433 525 739

Alyesha Anderson

M +61 434 868 118

Rachel Pupazzoni

M +61 438 875 469

Bruce Tobin

M +61 419 103 454

Media Relations,

Canada

Vanessa Damha

M +1 514 715 2152

Malika Cherry

M +1 418 592 7293

Media Relations,

US Latin America

Jesse Riseborough

M +1 202 394 9480

Investor Relations,

United Kingdom

Rachel Arellano

M +44 7584 609 644

David Ovington

M +44 7920 010 978

Laura Brooks

M +44 7826 942 797

Weiwei Hu

M +44 7825 907 230

Investor Relations,

Australia

Tom Gallop

M +61 439 353 948

Eddie Gan-Och

M +61 477 599 714

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James's Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in England

No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 43, 120 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category: Pilbara
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 22, 2026) - Yorkton Equity Group Inc. (TSXV: YEG) ("Yorkton" or the "Company") announces its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025 and provide a corporate update.

"2025 reflected continued disciplined execution as we focused on strengthening the quality and performance of our residential portfolio, during which total rental revenue increased by 4.5% and net operating income increased by 5.2%," said Mr. Ben Lui, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are focused on investing in newer, well-located multi-family rental properties in Alberta, as demonstrated by the acquisition of The Crystallina in January 2026, which is expected to enhance the quality and financial performance of our portfolio. In addition, we are investing in enhancements to property management systems, including the implementation of artificial intelligence-assisted tools. We expect these initiatives will further enhance tenant experience and support leasing activity in a competitive rental environment, providing a strong foundation for the continued growth of our portfolio."

2025 Financial Highlights

As at December 31, 2025, Yorkton had total assets of $137.37 million, which included 518 residential rental units and one commercial rental unit across 10 multi-family rental properties with a total fair market value of $125.06 million and one commercial rental property with 28,026 square feet of net leasable area, together with an adjacent parking lot, with a total fair market value of $8.73 million.

For the residential units, during the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to 2024, Yorkton reported:





2025



2024



% change





















Rental revenue $ 9,486,562

$ 9,152,101



4%













Net operating income $ 5,852,557

$ 5,674,097



3%













Weighted average number of units

518



518



0%















Average occupancy rate

96%



98%



-2%















Average rental revenue per unit per month $ 1,586

$ 1,501



6%



During 2025, management implemented targeted operational efficiency initiatives at certain properties in Edmonton, Alberta to enhance the performance of existing operations, where rental regulations are less restrictive. These initiatives initially resulted in an expected increase in tenant turnover, which contributed to higher vacancy losses and elevated maintenance costs associated with unit turnover and suite renovations. These impacts have since moderated, and these properties are achieving higher average rental rates.

The Company's commercial rental revenue and net rental income, from its Alberta commercial property and British Columbia commercial unit, were not significant during the year ended December 31, 2025.

In addition, the Company recognized a net loss and comprehensive loss of $1,520,967 during 2025, compared to net income and comprehensive income of $6,567,281 in 2024. The change was primarily due to a decrease in fair value of the Company's commercial investment property and adjacent parking lot of $3,274,490 during 2025. This was partially offset by an increase in fair value of $1,871,321 in the Company's residential investment properties.

Fair value increases in the Company's residential portfolio were lower than in 2024, reflecting moderating rental market conditions in Alberta as new supply begins to enter certain markets following a period of elevated rental growth. The Company's response to these evolving market conditions is discussed further in the corporate update below.

Corporate Update

Below is a summary of certain events that have occurred since December 31, 2025:

As previously announced on January 16, 2026, the Company completed the acquisition of "The Crystallina", a 184-unit multi-family residential property in Edmonton, Alberta, constructed in 2016. The purchase price of $46.0 million was funded through a combination of cash and a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation ("CMHC") insured mortgage of approximately $44.3 million bearing interest at a fixed rate of 3.692% for a 5-year term.

Building on the acquisitions of similar properties in 2023, The Dwell (188 units) and The Fuse (125 units), the acquisition of The Crystallina aligns with a strategy of acquiring newer, well-located multi-family rental properties in Edmonton, Alberta to support long-term portfolio quality, reduce ongoing capital expenditure requirements, and enhance competitive positioning within local rental markets.

The Company has completed the first phase of improvements to its property management system at its Alberta residential rental properties, including artificial intelligence-assisted automated response tools to support 24/7 prospective leasing inquiries and tenant communications relating to emergency and non-emergency matters, including tenancy and maintenance requests. The Company plans to continue to upgrade the system to further improve operational efficiency, enhance tenant satisfaction, and support leasing activity in a competitive rental environment, positioning the Company for future portfolio growth.

About Yorkton

Yorkton Equity Group Inc. is a growth-oriented real estate investment company committed to providing shareholders with growing assets through accretive acquisitions, organic growth, and the active management of multi-family rental properties with significant upside potential. Our current geographical focus is in Alberta and British Columbia with diversified and growing economies, and strong population in-migration. Our business objectives are to achieve growing Net Operating Income ("NOI") and asset values in our multi-family rental property portfolio in strategic markets across Western Canada.

The management team at Yorkton Equity Group Inc. has well over 30 years of prior real estate experience in acquiring and managing rental assets.

Further information about Yorkton is available on the Company's website at www.yorktonequitygroup.com and the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation concerning the business of Yorkton. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Yorkton. Although Yorkton believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Yorkton can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Yorkton disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable securities laws or any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to the account or benefit of a person in the United States absent an exemption from the registration requirement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293901

Source: Yorkton Equity Group Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 22, 2026) - Quebec Nickel Corp. (CSE: QNI) (FSE: 7IB0) (OTCQB: QNICF) ("QNI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its intention to change its name to "Aurbis Resources Corp." and its Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") ticker symbol to "AURR" (together, the "Name and Symbol Change"). The Name and Symbol Change is part of the Company's rebranding strategy and is intended to better reflect the Company's market identity.

The CSE will publish a bulletin announcing the effective date of the Name and Symbol Change and upon completion of the Name and Symbol Change, the common shares of the Company will begin trading under the Company's new name and with a new CUSIP and ISIN number.

Shareholders will not be required to take any action with respect to the Name and Symbol Change.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Quebec Nickel Corp.

Quebec Nickel Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing critical metals (Au-Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) projects in North America. Additional information about Quebec Nickel Corp. is available at www.quebecnickel.com.

CAUTIONARY AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Name and Symbol Change, the anticipated effective date, and the expected trading of the Company's shares under the new name and ticker symbol.

Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates, opinions, or other factors should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293917

Source: Quebec Nickel Corp
Die Eskalation im Iran-Konflikt hat die Energiepreise mit voller Wucht nach oben getrieben. Was zunachst nach einer kurzfristigen Reaktion aussah, entwickelt sich zunehmend zu einem strukturellen Problem: Die Strae von Hormus ist blockiert, wichtige LNG- und Olanlagen stehen still oder werden gezielt angegriffen. Eine schnelle Entspannung ist nicht in Sicht  im Gegenteil, die Lage spitzt sich weiter zu.



Fur die Weltwirtschaft bedeutet dies wachsende Risiken. Steigende Energiepreise erhohen den Inflationsdruck, gefahrden Zinssenkungen und bringen die ohnehin hoch bewerteten Aktienmarkte ins Wanken. Doch wo Risiken entstehen, ergeben sich auch Chancen.



Denn von einem dauerhaft hoheren Energiepreisniveau profitieren nicht nur Ol- und Gasunternehmen. Auch Versorger, erneuerbare Energien sowie ausgewahlte Rohstoff- und Agrarwerte rucken in den Fokus. In diesem Umfeld konnten gezielt ausgewahlte Unternehmen uberdurchschnittlich profitieren  unabhangig davon, ob die Krise anhalt oder nicht.



In unserem aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir drei Aktien vor, die genau dieses Profil erfullen: Krisenprofiteure mit solidem Geschaftsmodell, attraktiver Bewertung und langfristigem Potenzial.



Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern  und Ihr Depot auf den Energiepreisschock vorbereiten!
Trump not viewing Iran's ships seizure near Hormuz Strait as breach of ceasefire: White House

Xinhua) 13:35, April 23, 2026

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump did not view Iran's seizure of two European ships by force near the Strait of Hormuz as a breach of the extended U.S. ceasefire with Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

"These were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels," she said on Fox News.

"These two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don't have control over the strait. This is piracy that we are seeing on display," Leavitt said.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said earlier Wednesday that it had seized two vessels "allegedly operating without proper authorization, repeatedly violating regulations, and manipulating navigation systems."

The IRGC also targeted a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria on Wednesday, a third "violating ship" attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now stranded on Iran's shores, the Iranian semi-official Fars news agency reported.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
STOCKHOLM, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Findity, the leading provider of embedded expense management, today announced its official entry into the U.S. market. This milestone marks a significant step in Findity's global growth strategy, bringing its AI-powered, card-agnostic expense platform to U.S. businesses - enabling them to offer seamless expense management directly within their own products.

As part of the market entry, Findity has localized its platform to meet specific U.S. feature requirements and tax regulations, ensuring a compliant and automated experience for U.S. customers.

The expansion kicks off with Findity's first U.S. embedded partnership, launching with Centime, a comprehensive financial automation platform that unifies accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash flow forecasting, and treasury management for mid-market businesses and their banking partners. Through this partnership, Centime will extend its automation suite with a fully integrated, Centime-branded expense management product - giving its customers a single platform for end-to-end financial operations.

"Entering the U.S. market is a natural and exciting next step in our mission to eliminate the frustration of expense management for businesses worldwide," said Patrick Olsson, CEO of Findity. "We've seen incredible demand for expense management to be seamless and embedded in the software businesses already use. By localizing our platform for the U.S. market, we are enabling partners to deliver immediate value with a compliant, automated, and truly native experience."

BC Krishna, Founder and CEO at Centime, added: "Finance teams shouldn't have to chase receipts or reconcile expense reports. That's exactly the kind of repetitive, manual work AI and agents are meant to handle. We built Centime to solve that problem and ultimately become the financial operating system for businesses across the globe. Expense management was always part of that vision - and Findity's embedded expense platform is the fastest, smartest way to deliver it at the quality our customers expect."

Findity's platform allows software and platform providers to embed expense functionality directly into their existing products. This provides a seamless and cohesive experience for end-customers, keeping them within the tools they already use.

With this U.S. market entry, Findity continues to build on its leading position across Europe - where it is already the trusted technology behind global brands such as Sage, Visma, and SD Worx.

For more information about Findity and its embedded expense management offering, visit findity.com.

About Findity

Findity is the leader in embedded expense management. The company provides a card-agnostic, AI-powered expense platform, enabling partners to offer a localized and fully branded expense solution to their customers. Findity's headless architecture allows companies to build custom experiences using its Expense API or go to market instantly with a white-label solution-all powered by the same robust, end-to-end platform. Findity is the trusted technology behind the expense products of some of the world's most innovative companies. For more information, visit findity.com.

About Centime

Centime is a financial automation platform that gives mid-market businesses and their banking partners a unified system for accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash flow forecasting, treasury management, and expense management. Centime's AI-powered platform replaces fragmented point solutions with a single, intelligent workflow - enabling finance teams to manage payments, optimize cash, and make faster decisions from one place. Trusted by banks and businesses across the U.S., Centime is redefining how companies manage their financial operations. For more information, visit centime.com.

CONTACT:

Emil Andersson

Head of Marketing

+46706309086

emil@findity.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/findity-ab/r/findity-launches-its-embedded-expense-platform-in-the-u-s-,c4339022

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/findity-launches-its-embedded-expense-platform-in-the-us-302751471.html
Now with new international vehicle, Pantheon offers clients global evergreen access to full suite of private equity, private credit secondaries, and infrastructure secondaries

Pantheon bolsters its globally recognized, specialist approach in infrastructure secondaries in the evergreen market with the launch of the Pantheon Global Infrastructure Secondaries Fund ("PGIS")

in the evergreen market with the launch of the PGIS will tap the expertise of Pantheon's $26.9 billion 1 institutional infrastructure franchise

institutional infrastructure franchise Fund marks latest in Pantheon's growing, $15 billion2 global evergreen platform, which now includes semi-liquid evergreen offerings across private equity, private credit secondaries and infrastructure secondaries in the US and internationally3

Pantheon, a leading global private markets investor, today announced the regulatory approval for the Pantheon Global Infrastructure Secondaries Fund ("PGIS"). Domiciled in Luxembourg, the evergreen fund represents a significant milestone in Pantheon's private wealth strategy and the expansion of the firm's evergreen offering. The launch of PGIS now cements Pantheon's global evergreen offerings across private equity, private credit secondaries, and infrastructure secondaries and complements its existing international evergreen suite alongside Pantheon Global Private Equity (PGPE), and Pantheon Global Credit Secondaries Fund (PGCS).

PGIS aims to comprise a high-conviction portfolio and is designed to provide professional investors with access to a diversified portfolio of global infrastructure secondaries assets, managed by the firm's distinguished institutional infrastructure arm. Jerome Duthu-Bengtzon, Partner and Portfolio Manager of PGIS, said, "The new fund will aim to combine the benefits of infrastructure investments, including the potential for capital appreciation, yield, lower volatility, and portfolio diversification, with the added advantages of secondaries, which can offer greater risk mitigation, diversification, shorter investment durations, and more immediate distributions compared to traditional infrastructure investments."4

The launch of PGIS reflects growing demand for Pantheon's global infrastructure strategy and in particular its concentrated focus and established expertise in infrastructure secondaries, which have come more into focus in the current market environment amid heightened demand for liquidity from both investors and fund managers.

PGIS sources expertise from Pantheon's private infrastructure secondaries strategy

Pantheon has been investing in private markets secondaries since 1988 and was one of the first fund managers globally to recognize the potential of infrastructure secondaries, raising its first fund including the strategy in 2010. Since then, the firm has raised four infrastructure funds with an increasing focus on secondaries,5 completing its largest ever infrastructure program fundraise in 2024 with commitments totaling $5.3bn, and now manages $26.9 billion6 in total discretionary assets under management in infrastructure globally.

Andrea Echberg, Global Head of Infrastructure, said, "As true infrastructure investors-not generalists-we're scaling with precision to power the future of global infrastructure secondaries. Delivering this expertise to the private wealth market is the next step in our firm's evolution. We are an infrastructure-first, secondaries investor, with 35 specialists managing one of the world's largest dedicated platforms. We combine asset-level expertise with valuation discipline, focusing on digital, renewable, and next-generation infrastructure."

Victor Mayer, Head of International in Pantheon's Global Private Wealth team, added, "The launch of our infrastructure secondaries strategy marks a significant milestone for Pantheon's evergreen platform. The fund launch is a strategic step in the careful build-out of a comprehensive offering now spanning private equity, private credit, and private infrastructure across our global product suite. This reinforces our commitment to providing clients and allocators worldwide with differentiated access to compelling mid-market secondary and co-investment opportunities across Pantheon's global investment capabilities."

About Pantheon

Pantheon* has been at the forefront of private markets investing for more than 40 years, earning a reputation for providing innovative solutions covering the full lifecycle of investments, from primary fund commitments to co-investments and secondary purchases, across private equity, private credit, and real assets. For more information, please visit www.pantheon.com.

We have partnered globally with institutional investors of all sizes as well as a growing number of private wealth advisers and investors, with approximately $85bn in discretionary assets under management (as of September 30, 2025).

Leveraging our specialized experience and global team of professionals across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, we invest with purpose and lead with expertise to build secure financial futures.

Pantheon refers to the subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings of Pantheon Ventures Inc. and AMG Plymouth UK Holdings Limited and includes operating entities principally based in the US (San Francisco and New York), UK (London), Hong Kong, Guernsey, Tokyo, Dublin and Singapore. Pantheon Ventures Inc. and Pantheon Ventures (US) LP are registered as investment advisors with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); Pantheon Securities, LLC is a broker dealer registered with the SEC and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). Pantheon Ventures (UK) LLP is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") in the United Kingdom. Pantheon Ventures (Guernsey) Ltd and a number of other Pantheon entities incorporated in Guernsey are regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. Pantheon Ventures (Asia) Limited is registered as a Type II Financial Instruments Business and Investment Advisory and Agency Business Operator with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau in Japan (KLFB). Pantheon Ventures (Ireland) DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland ("CBI") and is an appointed representative of Pantheon Ventures (UK) LLP in respect of activities carried out in the United Kingdom. Pantheon Ventures (Singapore) Pte. Ltd holds a capital markets service license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore ("MAS") to conduct fund management with accredited and institutional investors.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. 2026

This is a marketing communication, please refer to the Prospectus before making any final investment decision.

Pantheon opinion. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Future results are not guaranteed, and a loss of principal may occur. 1 As of September 30, 2025. 2 Pantheon Internal Data, September 30 2025. *Evergreen includes evergreen and listed vehicles. 3 PGIS is not available to investors in the US. 4 There is no guarantee this investment approach will come to fruition. 5 Funds included a range of approaches, including co-investments. 6 As of September 30, 2025.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422539502/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

Pantheon

Mariella Reason, Pantheon Communications

Tel: +44 20 3473 3975 Email: mariella.reason@pantheon.com
New pre-built Field Service Digital Workers for Planning, Dispatch and Knowledge Work enable service-focused businesses to rapidly mobilize agents out-the-box

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the leading provider of Industrial AI software, today announced strong and accelerating momentum for its agentic Digital Workers together with the launch of IFS Loops Agent Studio.

The power of Industrial AI is most pronounced when applied to industry-specific scenarios. Deploying Digital Workers to these scenarios is enabling organizations to drive efficiency across the business and deliver better products and services to customers.

Today's milestone update sees IFS Loops now offer an Agent Studio that enables customers to configure, govern, refine, and expand Digital Workers for their business. Intuitively designed for non-technical, functional employees, IFS Loops Agent Studio requires no technical or coding knowledge.

IFS Loops Digital Workers arrive pre-built with deep industry context, proven workflows, and enterprise-grade AI Trust controls -security, permissions, and governance guardrails defined out of the box. The powerful combination with Agent Studio means organizations can focus on the business outcomes Digital Workers deliver, not the complexity of standing them up.

It is simple to set context, define a process, design actions, and test safely before deploying fully customized Digital Workers into production. The Agent Studio provides the ability to monitor operational outcomes, exceptions, and performance metrics, enforce governance guardrails, maintain auditability, and expand agentic capabilities incrementally as confidence grows.

Proven value of Industrial Digital Workers

Across multiple asset-intensive industries, the world's most progressive industrial organizations are reporting measurable, real-world business outcomes from Digital Workers, including:

60% gain in operational efficiency and recovered 20 hours per week

$3 million annual ROI and 90,000 hours returned to the workforce

At Kitron, the global electronics manufacturing services provider, Digital Workers are automating supply chain workflows including inventory replenishment and supplier coordination areas that previously consumed significant operational bandwidth.

Jonatan Gustafsson, Business Application Manager at Kitron said: "IFS is the backbone of our global operations, connecting procurement, production, logistics, and finance in one platform. IFS Loops Digital Workers are a natural extension of that foundation. With structured operational data already in place, we can apply AI where it matters most. Automated supplier order confirmations save significant time, and early shortage prediction means we can protect production schedules before problems occur."

Ependion, a global manufacturing company, was managing more than 150 purchase order confirmations per week entirely by hand. The process was slow, error-prone, and consuming a lot of time. After deploying the Supplier Order Manager Digital Worker, Ependion are expecting to gain 60% in operational efficiency and recover 20 hours per week. The initial results were clear enough that Ependion moved quickly to a second Digital Worker, and is now evaluating additional use cases across its operations.

Joakim Stolt, Chief Information Officer, Ependion, said: "We spent years solving this problem in traditional ways. One Digital Worker did what we couldn't. We saw the value, added a second, and we're not stopping there. Having a human in the loop at every critical decision point is how enterprise AI should work, and IFS Loops built that in from the start."

Kodiak Gas Services operates 4.5 million horsepower of compression with 800 field technicians working across the United States. Technicians previously spent significant time searching for parts. With IFS Loops, Kodiak Gas Services rolled out a Material Replenisher Digital Worker that allows technicians to quickly find and order parts through conversation. The result: $3 million annual ROI and 90,000 hours returned to the workforce.

Somya Kapoor, CEO, IFS Loops, said: "Building agents is easy - governing how they operate is the hard part. Digital Workers are not something you deploy once and forget. Like any workforce, they improve over time. Organizations start by building or modifying a Digital Worker, testing it in real workflows, refining the rules, guardrails, and decisions it makes. Then they monitor how it performs in production. That continuous cycle of change, test, and monitor is how Digital Workers become more capable and more trusted over time. It's how enterprises move from experimenting with AI to operating with it every day and seeing real ROI within weeks."

Expanding the Digital Worker portfolio: New field service capabilities

Extending IFS's differentiation in field service, and building on the initial IFS Loops Digital Workers for supply chain, IFS is introducing a set of new Digital Workers designed specifically for field service. These additions help service organizations move from manual orchestration toward automated, exception-based supervision.

Service Planning Assistant Digital Worker: Continuously evaluates service demand, technician availability, and operational constraints to support predictive scheduling and planning - helping organizations anticipate demand rather than simply react to it. Key impacts include improved scheduling efficiency, reduced manual planning effort, and faster response to service demand changes.

Continuously evaluates service demand, technician availability, and operational constraints to support predictive scheduling and planning - helping organizations anticipate demand rather than simply react to it. Key impacts include improved scheduling efficiency, reduced manual planning effort, and faster response to service demand changes. Dispatcher Assistant Digital Worker: Monitors service queues, identifies scheduling conflicts, and recommends optimal dispatch decisions - escalating operational exceptions to supervisors only when human judgement is required. Key impacts include reduced dispatch coordination effort, faster service assignment, and improved technician utilization.

Monitors service queues, identifies scheduling conflicts, and recommends optimal dispatch decisions - escalating operational exceptions to supervisors only when human judgement is required. Key impacts include reduced dispatch coordination effort, faster service assignment, and improved technician utilization. Knowledge Manager Digital Worker: Provides field technicians with contextual operational knowledge by interpreting asset data, service history, and enterprise documentation in real time. Instead of searching across manuals, service records, and knowledge bases, technicians receive the most relevant guidance directly within their workflow - at the exact moment it is needed during a job.

Keith Kirkpatrick, Vice President and Research Director, Enterprise Software & Digital Workflows, Futurum Group, said: "Agentic AI platforms are increasingly being evaluated not on model sophistication, but on their ability to operate safely within complex, high-volume enterprise workflows. By defining digital workers as governed operational entities, complete with role boundaries, exception handling, and performance metrics, risk is reduced while adoption accelerates. From a technical perspective, the emphasis on lifecycle management, auditability, and incremental capability expansion reflects a maturing view of AI as a long-term operational asset rather than a standalone technology experiment."

IFS Press Contacts:

EUROPE / MEA / APJ: Adam Gillbe

IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications

Email: adam.gillbe@ifs.com

NORTH AMERICA / LATAM: Mairi Morgan

IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications

Email: mairi.morgan@ifs.com

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The 1-50 list of North America's 50 Best Bars was announced at the fifth annual awards ceremony in Vancouver, Canada

Sip & Guzzle , New York, is named No.1 and is crowned The Best Bar in North America , sponsored by Perrier

, New York, is named No.1 and is crowned The Best Bar in North America sponsored by Perrier This year's ranking features 28 US bars, 11 from Mexico, 8 from Canada and 3 based in the Caribbean, with 15 new entries making their debut on the list

The Best Bar in Mexico, sponsored by Torres Brandy, is awarded to Bar Mauro (No.2) from Mexico City

(No.2) from Mexico City The Best Bar in Canada, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder, is awarded to The Keefer Bar (No.7) from Vancouver

(No.7) from Vancouver La Factoria , Puerto Rico, No.26, earns The Best Bar in the Caribbean, sponsored by NOAM

, Puerto Rico, No.26, earns The Best Bar in the Caribbean, sponsored by NOAM Chris Hannah of Jewel of the South in New Orleans wins the Roku Industry Icon Award

of Jewel of the South in New Orleans wins the Roku Industry Icon Award Identitad (No.73), San Juan, wins the Campari One To Watch Award

(No.73), San Juan, wins the Campari One To Watch Award Three Cents Best New Opening Award goes to Schmuck (No.4)

(No.4) Library Bar , Toronto, No.19, earns the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

, Toronto, No.19, earns the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award Washington DC's Allegory (No.57) is awarded the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

(No.57) is awarded the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award Cure from New Orleans, No.21, is the Nikka Highest Climber Award winner

from New Orleans, No.21, is the Nikka Highest Climber Award winner New York's Bar Snack (No.3) earns the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award

(No.3) earns the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award Daydream Rum Bar from Albuquerque wins the SevenRooms Best Bar Design Award

from Albuquerque wins the SevenRooms Best Bar Design Award Handshake Speakeasy (No.12) in Mexico City earns the Remy Martin Legend of the List Award

VANCOUVER, BC, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The list of North America's 50 Best Bars was announced at a live awards ceremony at the Vancouver Convention Centre, celebrating the very best of the region's cocktail industry. This was the second year in a row the awards were held in Vancouver, highlighting Canada's growth as a leader in North America's cocktail scene. The annual ranking showcases standout bars from across the US, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, recognizing excellence in drinks, hospitality and innovation.

New York's Sip & Guzzle is crowned No.1 as The Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Perrier, and The Best Bar in Northeast USA. The venue has rapidly established itself as a defining force in the region's cocktail culture, celebrated for its dynamic approach to hospitality and expertly executed drinks program. With a concept that seamlessly blends precision and creativity, Sip & Guzzle delivers an experience that resonates with both industry professionals and cocktail enthusiasts alike. Mexico City's Bar Mauro follows at No.2, while New York's Bar Snack takes the No.3 position, underscoring the continued dominance and diversity of cocktail culture across both cities.

The full list of North America's 50 Best Bars 2026 is at the bottom of this press release.

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for North America's 50 Best Bars, says: "The bars on this year's list are exemplary in their ability to push boundaries and influence hospitality not only in North America, but across the globe. From established leaders to exciting new entries, the bars featured continue to push the standard of what a world-class drinks experience can be with their talent, creativity and resilience. We are thrilled to congratulate Sip & Guzzle for earning the No.1 position, along with all the incredible bars recognized this year."

New York continues to assert itself as a global cocktail capital, with a significant number of bars featured on the list, including Sip & Guzzle (No.1), Superbueno (No.9), Clemente Bar (No.15), Martiny's (No.23), Angel's Share (No.31), Overstory (No.33), Double Chicken Please (No.35), Attaboy (No.37), Maison Premiere (No.40) and Employees Only (No.45). New entries include Bar Snack at No.3, also winner of the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award; this year's Three Cents Best New Opening Award recipient Schmuck (No.4) and Bar Madonna (No.36). The city's strong showing reflects its depth of talent and continued innovation across a range of bar styles and concepts.

Mexico City remains a powerhouse within the rankings, represented by Bar Mauro (No.2) as The Best Bar in Mexico, sponsored by Torres Brandy, Tlecan (No.5), Form + Matter (No.13), Mecenas (No.18), Licoreria Limantour (No.20), Kaito del Valle (No.25) and Baltra Bar (No.48). This year's winner of the Remy Martin Legend of the List Award is Mexico City's Handshake Speakesy (No.12). The city's bars continue to set global standards, blending tradition with cutting-edge techniques.

New Orleans' Jewel of the South (No.6) is named The Best Bar in South USA, sponsored by Mr Black, and Cure (No.21) is the winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award, maintaining the city's reputation for exceptional hospitality and cocktail heritage.

Chicago is represented by Kumiko (No.11), the winner of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award and The Best Bar in Midwest USA, Best Intentions (No.16), Gus' Sip & Dip (No.27) and Bisous (No.30). San Francisco's True Laurel (No.14), the winner of The Best Bar in West USA, sponsored by St-Germain, and Pacific Cocktail Haven (No.41) highlight the West Coast's dynamic scene.

Additional entries in the US include Los Angeles' Mirate (No.28) and Daisy Margarita Bar (No.44), Washington DC's Press Club (No.34) and Service Bar (No.39), Miami's Cafe La Trova (No.42) and Viceversa (No.46) and Houston's Bandista (No.47).

The Best Bar in Canada, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder, is Vancouver's The Keefer Bar (No.7). Additional Vancouver bars include June on Cambie (No.17), Prophecy (No.32) and Botanist Bar (No.38). Toronto features prominently with Bar Pompette (No.8), Library Bar (No.19), Mother (No.22) and Civil Works (No.29), reinforcing the Canada's growing influence on the global cocktail stage.

Beyond major metropolitan hubs, the list also celebrates standout bars across the wider region, including El Gallo Altanero (No.10) from Guadalajara, Bekeb (No.24) from San Miguel de Allende and Selva (No.43) from Oaxaca.

La Factoria (No.26) from San Juan is named The Best Bar in the Caribbean, sponsored by NOAM, Library by the Sea (No.49) from Grand Cayman and Bon Vivants (No.50) from Nassau.

Allegory from Washington DC is named the winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award. The bar's highly conceptual cocktail menu stands out for its imaginative storytelling, weaving together literary and cultural narratives with innovative drink design to create a deeply immersive guest experience. Ranked No.57 on this year's extended 51-100 list, the bar was selected by the global Academy Chairs to receive this honor. First introduced in 2021, the award celebrates bars that excel in innovation, design, drink craftsmanship and menu storytelling.

This year's Roku Industry Icon is Chris Hannah of Jewel of the South. For this award, all 300 members of the voting Academy are invited to nominate the individual who has made the most significant contribution to advancing the bar industry. Hannah is celebrated as a defining figure in modern American bartending, renowned for his deep respect for classic cocktail traditions and his role in shaping New Orleans' contemporary drinks culture. His dedication to hospitality, mentorship and preserving the city's rich cocktail heritage has rightfully earned him this recognition.

Schmuck (No.4) from New York earns the Three Cents Best New Opening Award, as the bar makes a standout debut on the list. Bringing a bold, unconventional energy to the city's cocktail scene, Schmuck has quickly gained recognition for its irreverent approach to hospitality and genre-defying drinks. With a menu that balances technical precision with playful creativity, the bar has captured attention for its ability to reimagine classic formats through a distinctly modern, boundary-pushing lens.

Library Bar (No.19) in Toronto is awarded the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, recognized for its refined yet responsible approach to modern hospitality. The bar integrates seasonal ingredients, thoughtful sourcing and low-waste practices into its cocktail program, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability without compromising its elevated guest experience.

Identidad (No.73) from San Juan is named the Campari One To Watch, an award given to a bar outside of the main list that the 50 Best team believes has the potential to feature in a future North America's 50 Best Bars ranking. Rooted in Puerto Rican identity, the bar delivers a cocktail experience that celebrates Caribbean and Latin flavors while supporting local producers and ingredients. With a strong emphasis on culture, creativity and hospitality, Identidad is quickly emerging as a standout in the region's drinks scene.

Daydream Rum Bar in Albuquerque is awarded the SevenRooms Best Bar Design Award, recognized for its transportive, escapist approach to design and atmosphere. Conceived as a momentary paradise, the bar blends tropical influences with an intimate, hidden setting to create a cocktail-focused retreat from the everyday. Its rum-driven program, paired with both classic and inventive drinks, enhances the immersive experience and reinforces its distinct sense of place.

Additional special award winners announced prior to the reveal of this year's list include Chicago's Kumiko (No.11) receiving the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award and Freddy Andreasson of El Gallo Altanero (No.10) in Guadalajara, as the winner of Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award.

EDITOR'S NOTES

1-50 List

Position Bar Location 1 Sip & Guzzle New York 2 Bar Mauro Mexico City 3 Bar Snack New York 4 Schmuck New York 5 Tlecan Mexico City 6 Jewel of the South New Orleans 7 The Keefer Bar Vancouver 8 Bar Pompette Toronto 9 Superbueno New York 10 El Gallo Altanero Guadalajara 11 Kumiko Chicago 12 Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City 13 Form + Matter Mexico City 14 True Laurel San Francisco 15 Clemente Bar New York 16 Best Intentions Chicago 17 June on Cambie Vancouver 18 Mecenas Guadalajara 19 Library Bar Toronto 20 Licoreria Limantour Mexico City 21 Cure New Orleans 22 Mother Toronto 23 Martiny's New York 24 Bekeb San Miguel de Allende 25 Kaito del Valle Mexico City 26 La Factoria San Juan 27 Gus' Sip & Dip Chicago 28 Mirate Los Angeles 29 Civil Works Toronto 30 Bisous Chicago 31 Angel's Share New York 32 Prophecy Vancouver 33 Overstory New York 34 Press Club Washington DC 35 Double Chicken Please New York 36 Bar Madonna New York 37 Attaboy New York 38 Botanist Bar Vancouver 39 Service Bar Washington DC 40 Maison Premiere New York 41 Pacific Cocktail Haven San Francisco 42 Cafe La Trova Miami 43 Selva Oaxaca 44 Daisy Margarita Bar Los Angeles 45 Employees Only New York 46 Viceversa Miami 47 Bandista Houston 48 Baltra Bar Mexico City 49 Library by the Sea Grand Cayman 50 Bon Vivants Nassau

For media center access, please visit: https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com/

Follow 50 Best:

Follow on Instagram: @50BestBars NorthAmericas50Best #50BestBars

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Like on Facebook: @50BestBars

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Visit the website: https://www.worlds50bestbars.com/northamerica/

About North America's 50 Best Bars

Following the success of The World's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, and the establishment of Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2016, 50 Best launched North America's 50 Best Bars, with the first edition of the awards held in New York, N.Y. on June 7, 2022. It shines a much-deserved spotlight on the region as a world-class drinks' destination and acts as a mouthpiece for the outstanding talent coming through. The inaugural North America's 50 Best Bars awards ceremony and unveiling of the list provided a unique opportunity to unite bartenders, bar owners, cocktail aficionados and drinks media from all over the region at a captivating celebration of drinks, hospitality, passion and talent. North America's 50 Best Bars includes voting for bars from Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. North America's 50 Best Bars, The World's 50 Best Bars, Asia's 50 Best Bars and Europe's 50 Best Bars are owned and organised by William Reed, the group behind The World's 50 Best Restaurants, The World's 50 Best Hotels and The World's 50 Best Vineyards.

How the Voting Works

The ranking for North America's 50 Best Bars will reflect the best bar experiences based on the votes of the Academy members, who comprise anonymous North American bar industry experts from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The voting split of these bar industry experts is 33% bartenders and bar owners, 33%, drinks writers and educators and 33% well-traveled cocktail experts. There is a 50/50 gender balance among the voters.

This year's Academy is made up of more than 300 voters. This change was implemented to obtain a wider snapshot and ensure a greater number of diverse voices are heard in the voting process. Moreover, as per all 50 Best lists for restaurants, bars, and hotels, a minimum of 25% of Academy members are refreshed annually to keep the perspectives dynamic and relevant. Members of the 50 Best organization do not vote and do not control the composition of the list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that bars cannot apply to be on the list and no sponsors have any influence on the list.

The Academy is divided into 7 regions: USA Northeast; USA Midwest; USA West; USA South; Canada East; Canada West; Mexico and the Caribbean. Each region has its own panel of members including a chairperson, called the Academy Chair. The Chairs each select a voting panel, ensuring a balanced selection. Each North America Academy member will vote for 7 bars, with a maximum of 5 in the home country (province in Canada or state in the U.S.) where they are based. Voters also have the option to vote for a further 2 (or more) bars located outside of their home country (province in Canada or U.S. state) up to a maximum of 7.

The lists of North America's 50 Best Bars and The World's 50 Best Bars are the results of two separate votes from two different voting Academies, taking place at different times and assessing different geographical regions. Therefore, the results from voting create two separate lists, with different rankings.

Voters are required to remain anonymous and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by Deloitte. Academy Chairs are not privy to, and have no knowledge of, the votes cast by the voters in their respective regions. They are not spokespeople for the 50 Best brand.

The list will be the result of a poll of more than 300 experts (all within the North American continent), who each cast votes for the bars where they have had their 'best experience' during the last 18 months before the voting deadline. The list is a simple computation of votes by North American voters for bars in North America. Further information on the Academy Chairs and how the voting works is available on the FAQs page here.

About the Main Partner: Perrier

For more than a century, Perrier has collaborated with some of the world's most influential major artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Bernard Villemot, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue, each of whom in their own way have demonstrated a certain artistic irreverence. With a history that began in 1863 in Vergeze, in the Gard region of France, the Perrier brand is now recognized worldwide thanks to its iconic green bottle. Appreciated in more than 140 countries, the brand is acclaimed for its natural mineral water combined with the power of its bubbles.

Our Partners:

Destination Vancouver - Official Host Destination Partner

Perrier - Official Water Partner, sponsor of The Best Bar in North America Award

SevenRooms - Official Booking Platform Partner, sponsor of SevenRooms Best Bar Design Award

Doordash - Official Delivery Partner

Michter's - Official American Whiskey Partner, sponsor of Michter's Art of Hospitality Award

Nikka Whisky - Official Whisky of the World Partner, sponsor of Nikka Highest Climber Award

Ketel One - Official Vodka Partner, sponsor of Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

Three Cents - Official Mixers Partner, sponsor of Three Cents Best New Opening Award

Siete Misterios - Official Mezcal Partner, sponsor of Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

NOAM - Official Beer Partner, sponsor of The Best Bar in the Caribbean Award

Roku Gin - Official Gin Partner, sponsor of Roku Industry Icon Award

Altos Tequila - Official Tequila Partner, sponsor of Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award

Cointreau - Official Orange Liqueur Partner, sponsor of ceremonial scarves

Remy Martin - Official Cognac Partner, sponsor of Remy Martin Legend of the List Award

St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur - Official French Liqueur Partner, sponsor of The Best Bar in West USA Award

Campari - Official Bitters Partner, sponsor of Campari One To Watch Award

Mr Black - Official Coffee Liqueur Partner, sponsor of The Best Bar in South USA Award

Torres Brandy - Official Brandy Partner, sponsor of The Best Bar in Mexico Award

Disaronno - Official Italian Liqueur Partner, sponsor Disaronno Highest New Entry Award

Amaro Lucano - Official Amaro Partner, sponsor of ceremonial shakers

Les Vergers Boiron - Official Fruit Puree Partner

Monkey Shoulder - Official Scotch Whisky Partner, sponsor of The Best Bar in Canada Award

Noa - Official Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo Partner

Fairmont Pacific Rim, Hotel Venue Partner

Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Hotel Venue Partner

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Aegis Critical Energy Defence Corp. (CSE: QESS) (OTCQB: QESSF) (FSE: JG6) ("Aegis" or the "Company"), a developer of secure and resilient energy systems for critical infrastructure, is pleased to announce that, in collaboration with Ontario Tech University, it has been selected for the Mitacs - Horizon Europe International Mobility Award (IMA).

The award supports Aegis' engagement in activities aligned with Horizon Europe Cluster 5, which focuses on clean energy, sustainable transport, and climate-related innovation.

Through this initiative, Aegis and its academic partner will engage with leading European universities, research institutions, and industry participants to support the development of international R&D consortia and the preparation of collaborative proposals under upcoming Horizon Europe work programs.

The Company's focus areas within these collaborations include:

Hybrid energy systems integrating advanced storage, power electronics, and emerging nuclear technologies (SMR/MMR)

Marine and port decarbonization solutions

Advanced Energy Management Systems (EMS) and real-time control architectures

Secure and resilient energy systems for critical infrastructure and defense applications

"This recognition reflects the strength of our collaboration with Ontario Tech University and the growing relevance of Aegis' technology in global energy transition initiatives," said Ramtin Rasoulinezhad, CEO of Aegis Critical Energy Defence Corp. "We see this as an important step in expanding our international partnerships and positioning the Company for participation in large-scale, multi-partner R&D programs across Canada and Europe."

The Mitacs - Horizon Europe IMA program is designed to support Canadian researchers and industry partners in establishing connections with European collaborators, enabling early-stage consortium development and strengthening Canada's participation in Horizon Europe Pillar II initiatives.

The award provides support for international collaboration activities, with the objective of advancing high-impact research partnerships and increasing the success of Canadian participants in future Horizon Europe funding calls.

About Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the European Union's flagship research and innovation program, supporting collaborative R&D across academia, industry, and government. With a multi-year funding framework and participation from international partners, the program focuses on addressing global challenges including clean energy transition, climate change, sustainable transport, and digital transformation. Canada is an associated country to Horizon Europe, enabling Canadian organizations to participate in and receive funding through collaborative projects with European partners.

About Mitacs

Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by supporting collaboration between academia and industry. In partnership with government and research institutions, Mitacs delivers programs that advance research, develop talent, and accelerate innovation.

About Ontario Tech University

Ontario Tech University is a leading public research institution with strengths in nuclear engineering, energy systems, cyber security, and applied technology - home to Canada's only fully accredited undergraduate nuclear engineering program and the Centre for Small Modular Reactors. For more information, visit https://ontariotechu.ca/.

About Aegis Critical Energy Defence Corp.

Aegis Critical Energy Defence Corp. is a Canadian-based energy technology company focused on the development of secure and resilient energy systems for critical infrastructure. The Company's integrated platform combines advanced energy storage, hybrid generation systems, intelligent control architectures, and cybersecurity to deliver high-reliability solutions for applications across defense, marine, remote, and industrial sectors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Aegis Critical Energy Defence Corp.'s actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293890

Source: Aegis Critical Energy Defence Corp.
The secondary transaction values BLP Digital's profitable growth, strong customer traction, and leadership in AI-driven enterprise process automation.

BLP Digital, a leading provider of Agentic AI-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) automation, today announced that Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives is investing $50 million in the company. BLP Digital's technology significantly reduces manual labor in high-volume core finance processes such as Accounts Payable, shortens closing times, and achieves measurable effects on cash flow and working capital with seamless integration into existing ERP landscapes. In doing so, the company addresses a growing market for AI-supported ERP automation, where companies are seeking scalable alternatives to traditional OCR, RPA, and workflow approaches particularly in the finance environment, where governance, transparency, and controllability are decisive.

BLP Digital's does not view ERP automation as an isolated IT project, but rather anchors the governance of AI agents where the process knowledge resides: in the functional department. In this way, substantive process understanding is quickly and continuously translated into relevant context for the AI. BLP Digital does not supplement the existing technology stack with another AI component, but instead replaces the previous mix of OCR, workflow, scripts, and customizing alongside the ERP with a unified execution architecture. Finance workflows are broken down end-to-end into atomic tasks, which are handled by specialized agents and orchestrated by a Digital Twin.

This atomic approach is crucial: it creates the control, reliability, and auditability required in ERP-related core processes. Instead of relying on difficult-to-control black-box automation, every single step remains clearly defined, verifiable, and controllable. To this end, the Digital Twin bundles the relevant context from ERP, email, and process data and controls throughout the entire workflow when an agent can act autonomously, when a human is involved, and logs in a versioned manner how human input becomes agent context and automation. For CFOs, controllability is thus maintained: exceptions are transparent, responsibilities are clearly assigned, and all steps are traceably auditable.

Starting Point: Accounts Payable with Clear KPIs

The entry point into BLP Digital's Agentic AI architecture is deliberately placed where effects are directly measurable: in the Accounts Payable process, as this runs very similarly across many companies despite its high complexity and legal requirements, being highly standardized. There, companies shorten throughput times, reduce error rates, and improve their position in working capital without having to set up their ERP platform anew. From this core, the agents are gradually rolled out into adjacent processes in Finance, Procurement, Logistics, and Sales.

This immediately measurable effect is made possible by pre-built and pre-trained AI agents that work as "one brain" across many customers and do not first need to be trained on a project-specific basis. The platform is connected within hours via standard integrations into systems such as SAP, proALPHA, or Abas. Instead of investing in multi-year customizing projects, companies test with productive data within a few days whether the desired effects can be demonstrated quantitatively and qualitatively.

"CFOs today do not need further technology experiments, but rather future-proof solutions that are immediately reflected in the company's bottom line," explains Tim Beck, CEO of BLP Digital. "The entry of Goldman Sachs Alternatives as a growth investor underscores our mission. We help large companies operate their ERP-driven operations with AI agents that function reliably under real-world conditions. Our vision is to have virtually no more manual exceptions in high-volume workflows. AI agents do the work across the entire process, and in the case of genuine special cases, a human expert explains the context to the AI and thus trains it further with full transparency and clear controls."

Alexander Lippert, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, adds: "BLP Digital addresses a clearly defined and significant opportunity at the intersection of enterprise modernization and AI-supported automation. We are convinced that BLP Digital is very well positioned to become a category leader and to support companies in modernizing their core processes, increasing operational efficiency, and translating the use of AI into measurable business results."

From AI Experiments to Controllable Results in the Finance Sector

In recent years, many companies have experimented with AI pilot projects often without a clear link to the bottom line, closing quality, or cash flow. In Finance and Operations, however, AI only works sustainably if it is embedded in existing ERP governance: with clear rules, defined thresholds for exceptions, and clear responsibility. BLP Digital is designed to adhere to exactly this framework while simultaneously delivering rapid, measurable impact.

Roger Niklaus, Head of Accounting at Migros, and client of BLP Digital says: "In order to handle such high volumes daily amidst increasing complexity, a process and automation DNA has always prevailed at Migros." Migros is organized as a cooperative, is the largest private-sector employer in Switzerland, and generates an annual turnover of CHF 32 billion with its more than 90,000 employees. "With BLP Digital, we found the platform right on our doorstep that brings state-of-the-art AI from ETH research into our finance function. Within one year, BLP Digital was successfully introduced across all cooperatives as part of the S4 transformation. The results are so good and the potential so great that we are already in the process of rolling out BLP Digital in further company areas and additional processes."

About BLP Digital

BLP Digital is a European AI company headquartered in Zurich. Since its founding in 2019, the company has been developing AI-based technologies that support organizations in making ERP processes more efficient, transparent, and reliable with the goal of relieving employees and sustainably improving process quality. The platform combines over 30 standard integrations with more than 300 ready-to-use AI agents and enables companies to intelligently automate end-to-end processes. As a result, companies increase transparency and quality in their operations and realize a fast time-to-value with full governance and data sovereignty.

Today, more than 450 corporate customers in over 40 countries trust BLP Digital. The company stands for European technology expertise as well as high security and governance standards. Further information at www.blp.digital.

About Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), with more than $625 billion in assets under management and over 30 years of experience, is one of the world's leading investors in alternative investments. The business invests across the full spectrum of alternative asset classes, including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, sustainability and hedge funds. Clients access these solutions through direct strategies, customized partnerships and open-architecture programs.

The business is driven by partnership and shared success with clients, with the goal of delivering long-term investment performance built on a global network and deep expertise across industries and markets.

Goldman Sachs Alternatives is part of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which delivers investment and advisory services across public and private markets to leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals worldwide. As of March 31, 2026, Goldman Sachs Asset Management oversaw $3.65 trillion in assets under management globally.

Since 2003, Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives has invested more than $13 billion in companies led by visionary founders and CEOs. The team focuses on investments in high-growth, technology-driven companies across a range of sectors, including enterprise technology, financial technology, consumer and healthcare.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423798094/en/

Contacts:

Press Contacts



For BLP Digital

Arnica Freundt

BLPde@hotwireglobal.com



For Goldman Sachs Alternatives

Friederike Resibois

friederike.resibois@gs.com
Cirrus (Cirrus Aircraft Ltd.) today announced the FLEX SR Mount for Starlink, a sleek mounting and power solution for the Cirrus SR Series aircraft which when paired with the Starlink Mini, enables Wi-Fi connection in the aircraft. The Starlink Mini is a small, portable satellite internet kit for high-speed, low-latency internet. Designed by Cirrus, the FLEX SR Mount for Starlink optimizes the installation by securely fastening the Starlink Mini overhead. The FLEX SR Mount for Starlink has the option to include an upgraded 100W USB-C power outlet, eliminating the need for a battery pack.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423061418/en/

Cirrus introduces the FLEX SR Mount for Starlink, a sleek overhead mounting and power solution for SR Series aircraft. Paired with the Starlink Mini, it delivers high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi. Designed for late G3 through G7+ models, the system offers clean installation and an optional 100W USB-C power upgrade-bringing seamless connectivity to every flight.

"The new FLEX SR Series Mount supports the Starlink Mini to provide Cirrus owners with Wi-Fi throughout their flight," said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus. "Our team thoughtfully integrated owner feedback to develop a seamless SR Series aircraft accessory to enable connectivity during flight."

The FLEX SR Mount for Starlink is available for late G3 through G7+ SR Series aircraft and can be purchased and installed by a local Cirrus Authorized Service Center (ASC). The product includes the mount, tray, cable and power solution.

The SR Series is the best-selling high-performance single-engine piston aircraft. With advanced technology such as the Perspective Touch+ avionics, Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) and Safe Return Emergency Autoland, the SR Series continues to lead the market with its innovations.

Cirrus is pleased to announce its updated Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) for the FLEX SR Mount for Starlink. These prices are designed to deliver reliable performance and compatibility across multiple generations.

Late G3 Early G6 Mount Package

MSRP: $1,600

MSRP: $1,600 Late G6 Mount Package

MSRP: $1,400

MSRP: $1,400 G7 G7+ Mount Package

MSRP: $1,600

MSRP: $1,600 G7+ Mount Package (ASN 11111 and subs)

MSRP: $1,050

Final pricing may vary depending on installation requirements and regional tax rates. For additional details or to confirm compatibility, owners are encouraged to contact an authorized provider.

Learn more about the FLEX SR Mount for Starlink at cirrusaircraft.com/sr-flex-mount. Install the FLEX SR Mount for Starlink at your nearest ASC today: cirrusaircraft.com/find-us/.

About Cirrus

Cirrus is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet, the world's first single-engine Personal Jet, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft is more than 19 million hours, and 290 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States, including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; and Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Learn more at cirrusaircraft.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423061418/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Nadia Haidar

PR Manager, Cirrus

nhaidar@cirrusaircraft.com
Strong FY2025 financial and sustainability results; leadership transition will support continuity and long-term growth

Revenue up 8.2% to 3.6bn with double-digit growth in Rare Diseases and U.S. market

Air sales at 1.886bn, growing 3.9% vs. 2024 Care sales at 904m growing 13.3% vs. 2024 Rare sales at 906m, growing 22.3% vs. 2024

Giuseppe Accogli leaving to pursue another opportunity, Group CFO Jean-Marc Bellemin named Interim CEO while new CEO search is underway

Record 885m Research Development (R&D) investment underscores continued commitment to innovation across respiratory, rare disease and specialty care

Sustainability leadership further strengthened through B Corp recertification and progress on Carbon Minimal Inhaler (CMI) innovation

Chiesi Group ("Chiesi"), an international research-focused biopharmaceutical company and certified B Corp, today announced its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Chiesi reported 3.625 billion in consolidated revenues, an increase of 8.2% at constant exchange rates (CER) compared to 2024. EBITDA reached 931 million (25.7%).

Chiesi closed 2025 with a positive Net Financial Position (cash minus financial liabilities including leasing) of 729 million, improving by 194 million versus 2024, reconfirming the Group's capacity to self-finance its investment strategy.

The Group's three therapeutic areas Respiratory (Air), Rare Diseases (Rare), and Specialty Care (Care) all contributed well to the year's sales. A strong performance in the Global Rare Disease business unit saw sales increase to 906 million, +22.3% at CER, representing 50% of total Group growth across the U.S., Europe and international markets.

The Air franchise sales reached 1.886 billion, up 3.9% at CER, driven by an impressive growth of Chiesi triple inhaled therapy (15.8%) which more than compensated for continued generic competition on legacy products.

Finally, the Care franchise revenues totaled 904 million, growing double digits (+13.3% at CER) across key markets.

Driven by three years of accelerated internationalization, the Group continued to expand its global footprint with strong geographic momentum. The U.S. remained the fastest growing region (+23.5% at actual rates; +28.9% at CER). China International and Emerging Markets also achieved double-digit growth. The EU midsize countries grew by 9.8%, while EU Top5 markets remained broadly stable (-0,6% at CER) within a mature landscape.

Leadership transition opens the next phase of the Company's journey

Chiesi today also announced a leadership transition, as Giuseppe Accogli, following a three-year tenure with solid results, will leave the company on 15 May 2026 to pursue another opportunity.

To ensure continuity, and maintain momentum, Chiesi's Group CFO Jean-Marc Bellemin will be appointed Interim Group CEO (while also retaining his current role), with the full support of the Group Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors. The search process to identify the right candidate for the next phase of the Group's journey is already underway. With a strong foundation in place, Chiesi remains firmly committed to executing its patient-centric strategy, intensifying its focus on advancing innovation and R&D, and delivering long-term sustainable value.

Alessandro Chiesi, Chiesi Group Chairman, commented: "Giuseppe Accogli has played a meaningful role in strengthening the organization and supporting its development over recent years, in particular across business performance and cultural evolution. On behalf of the Board and personally, I thank him warmly for his contributions. We also thank Jean-Marc Bellemin for taking on the interim role and ensuring a smooth transition. Chiesi has deep and strong foundations, a clear strategy, and a talented leadership team. Thanks to the passionate work of all our people, we are well positioned to maintain continuity and progress, while staying focused on meeting patients' needs, supporting our people and advancing our innovation and sustainability objectives".

Giuseppe Accogli commented: "I feel great pride in closing out 2025 as a year of strong and resilient performance for Chiesi, and overall three years of remarkable progress, including double-digit revenue growth over the period, and eight partnerships to develop innovative products. Our diversified portfolio, global footprint and long-term sustainability commitments, together with our expanded industrial capacity and supply chain resilience are a legacy I am proud to have reinforced. I know they set the company up for continued success. I want to thank warmly all our colleagues, as truly people and culture are what makes Chiesi the unique company it is and made my time here very special."

Strong financial position supports innovation and long-term value for patients, communities and the planet

The company invested 885 million in R&D, equivalent to 24.4% of revenues, the highest level in the Group's history and reflective of strategic focus on respiratory, neonatology and rare disease innovation.

During 2025, Chiesi expanded its rare disease innovation platform through three strategic partnerships strengthening both near-term pipeline and long-term technology capabilities and reinforcing Chiesi's position in high unmet-need areas: with Key2Brain to advance the development of two blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing recombinant enzyme replacement therapies (ERT) for lysosomal storage disorders (LSD); with Arbor Biotechnologies to develop a clinical-stage gene-editing program and access to broader platform capabilities; and with Aliada Therapeutics to advance BBB-crossing platform technology in LSD.

In 2025, Chiesi achieved its third B Corp certification, with a verified score of 117.5, an improvement of over 13 points compared to the previous certification in 2022. This achievement demonstrates Chiesi Group's strategic approach and reinforces its continued progress on its sustainability roadmap and dedication to a healthier future, reflecting its purpose of generating a positive impact for patients and communities, while protecting the planet.

Chiesi continued to advance towards its Net Zero ambition by 2035, reporting a 56% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to the 2019 baseline, driven by fleet electrification and energy efficiency initiatives across its manufacturing sites. The Group broadened its use of sustainable product design tools, including Carbon Smart PET for selected primary packaging, and progressed further in My Green Lab certification, with 14 R&D laboratories reaching Green level by the end of 2025. The Group also maintained its EcoVadis Platinum rating, improving its score to 88/100.

Chiesi continued to address Scope 3 emissions, by advancing its Carbon Minimal Inhalers (CMI) program, which is designed to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of pressurized meter-dosed inhalers (pMDIs) by up to 90%, through the transition to a next-generation, low global warming potential (GWP) propellant, while maintaining established treatment options and device familiarity for patients.

To advance this transition and support uninterrupted patient care, the Group has continued to strengthen its industrial network through key investments, including the ongoing major redevelopment of the Nerviano site in Italy for sterile biologics and carbon minimal- inhalers, and expanded capacity at the Parma and La Chaussee Saint-Victor sites, building a resilient, future-ready manufacturing footprint.

In 2025, Chiesi expanded its health equity initiatives across 37 countries, while also advancing the Group's global health strategy, with the aim of reducing barriers to care and improving access to treatment across low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

In 2025, Chiesi Group created 392 new roles, and increased its workforce by 5.1% compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 7,934 employees globally. Chiesi was once again certified as a Great Place to Work, reflecting its ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive, engaging, and purpose-driven workplace.

2026 Outlook

Chiesi expects continued revenue growth at mid-single digit in 2026, supported by the expansion of core products, geographic strengthening, and ramp-up of industrial capacity. The Group will continue to advance late-stage respiratory programs, including studies for triple inhaled therapy (ICS/LABA/LAMA) and low-GWP propellant pMDI launches, while accelerating innovation in neonatology and further reinforcing Chiesi's position in rare diseases globally.

About Chiesi Group

Chiesi is a research-oriented international biopharmaceutical group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company's mission is to improve people's quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment.

By adopting the legal form of Benefit Corporation in Italy, the US, France and Colombia, Chiesi's commitment to creating shared value for society as a whole is legally binding and central to company-wide decision-making. As a certified B Corp since 2019, Chiesi meets verified standards for social and environmental business practices. The company aims to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 2035.

With 90 years of experience, Chiesi is headquartered in Parma (Italy), with 31 affiliates worldwide, and counts more than 7,900 employees. The Group's research and development center in Parma works alongside 6 other important R&D hubs in France, the US, Canada, China, the UK, and Sweden.

For further information please visit www.chiesi.com or the website of your local Chiesi affiliate.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423139387/en/

Contacts:

Press Info:

Anna Bonisoli Alquati, Head of Global External Communications: mediarelations@chiesi.com

Michela Lijoi, Global External Communications Sr. Manager: mobile +39 328.6353044, e-mail: m.lijoi@chiesi.com

Davide Paterlini, Global External Communications Sr. Manager: mobile +39 345.7983132, e-mail: d.paterlini@chiesi.com
Construction of Shaft #3 completed on schedule, enabling a five-fold increase in hoisting capacity to support Phase 1 ramp-up and Phase 2 expansion

Earthworks commenced on Phase 2 concentrator site

Phase 2 expansion on track, increasing production to over 450,000 ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold by end of 2027

Widening Shaft #2 commenced; shaft set to become largest hoisting shaft on African continent by end of 2028

Shaft #2 to deliver an additional eight million tonnes per annum of hoisting capacity, enabling Phase 3 expansion

Platreef metals basket price exceeds $2,000 per ounce of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, plus by-product credits from copper and nickel

Mokopane, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete announced today that a project ceremony was held at the Platreef Mine, in Limpopo Province, South Africa, marking the achievement of three major development milestones.

The milestones include the completion of construction of the 4-million-tonne-per-annum (Mtpa) Shaft #3; the breaking of ground for the Phase 2 concentrator site; and the commencement of widening of Shaft #2. The project milestones are a major advancement for the Phase 2 expansion and the future Phase 3 expansion.

The on-site ceremony was attended by Ivanhoe Mines' President and CEO Marna Cloete, senior management from Ivanhoe Mines and Ivanplats, as well as representatives from Ivanplats' shareholders Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), ITOCHU Corporation and the broad-based black equity empowerment (B-BBEE) group.

Ivanhoe Mines Founder and Co-Chairman Robert Friedland commented:

"The Platreef Mine is not a typical South African precious metals mine scratching at narrow, one-metre-thick seams. The Platreef Mine is a once-in-a-generation geological wonder a discovery so vast that it will be producing precious metals for generations to come. The flat-lying orebody is approximately twenty-five times thicker than our industry incumbents, averaging 26 meters of continuous mineralization thickness means scale, which means mechanization, and mechanization means lower costs and safer operations.

"Years ago, our Japanese partners had the foresight to recognize this potential The consortium, led by ITOCHU Corporation, made a bold, decisive investment, without which we would not be where we are today. We thank you for your continued support."

"We are ramping up the mine at a time when metal prices are rising. Scarcity is real and the demand is relentless. Platinum, palladium, rhodium, copper and nickel are identified by countries all around the globe as critical minerals and therefore strategic to agenda of many of the world's developed and developing economies."

Watch a video highlighting the project milestones recently achieved: https://vimeo.com/1185308484/3fce79c0dc?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

The headgear of the Platreef Mine's three shafts. In the foreground is the top of the headframe of the recently completed 4-Mtpa Shaft #3, with the headframes of the operational 0.8-Mtpa Shaft #1 (right) and the 8-Mtpa Shaft #2 (left), which is expected to be ready to hoist ore by the end of 2029.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/293948_25b710be54d6c8ae_003full.jpg

Shaft #3 to expand hoisting capacity at the Platreef Mine five-fold, unlocking Phase 1 operations while supporting underground development for Phase 2 expansion from Q4 2027

The completion of Shaft #3, along with its associated underground materials-handling and crushing infrastructure, increases the total available hoisting capacity five-fold to approximately 5.0 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). The new shaft will enable greater flexibility in hoisting both ore and waste rock to the surface, which is severely constrained through Shaft #1 alone.

Construction was completed on schedule in late March and is undergoing the final stages of commissioning. Once fully ramped up, Shaft #3 will significantly increase the rate of underground mining and underground development.

Since first production in Q4 2025, the Phase 1 concentrator has batch-processed (campaigned) lower-grade development ore as underground development progressed. Long-hole stoping of the Flatreef orebody is expected to soon commence, enabling the Phase 1 concentrator to ramp up to commercial production from mid-year.

Underground development will also significantly ramp up in preparation for the start-up of the Phase 2 concentrator, which is expected to be operational by the end of next year. Underground development will focus on opening additional mining areas to increase the mining rate to feed the new 3.3-Mtpa Phase 2 concentrator.

Breaking of ground took place at Phase 2 concentrator construction site; Phase 2 is expected to increase production to over 450,000 ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold from Q4 2027

The Ivanplats' project team broke ground on the Phase 2 concentrator site on April 9, 2026. DRA Global is the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contractor for the Phase 2 underground infrastructure and the 3.3-million-tonne-per-annum Phase 2 concentrator. DRA Global was the EPCM contractor that delivered Platreef's Phase 1 concentrator on schedule in June 2024. The Phase 2 concentrator is targeted for completion by the end of next year.

Concurrently with the major earthworks now underway at the Phase 2 concentrator site, engineering work is focused on completing the process and mechanical design and equipment layouts. The procurement of long-lead mechanical and electrical equipment has already commenced.

Ivanplats' senior management and project team at the breaking of ground of the Phase 2 concentrator construction site. Construction of the 3.3-Mtpa concentrator is expected to be completed in Q4 2027.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/293948_25b710be54d6c8ae_004full.jpg

Aerial view of the Platreef Mine site, showing the existing surface infrastructure, as well as an outline of the locations for the future Phase 2 and 3 concentrators, adjacent to the current Phase 1 concentrator.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/293948_25b710be54d6c8ae_005full.jpg

Widening of Shaft #2 commenced; once operational, the shaft is set to become the largest hoisting shaft in Africa

Following the completion of the Shaft #2 concrete headgear in Q4 2025, construction activities have now focused on widening the shaft to its final diameter. The shaft was initially raised-bored to a diameter of 3.1 metres in Q4 2024. The contract to widen the shaft, to a final diameter of 10 metres, was awarded to United Mining Services (UMS) of Johannesburg, South Africa. Site mobilization by UMS was completed during the first quarter, with the first 'slipe' blast completed on schedule on April 1, 2026. The method used to widen Shaft #2, is called 'slipe and line', which involves blasting rock in small "slipes" (vertical benches) around the shaft perimeter and installing a lining to support and secure the shaft walls as the excavation progresses.

Shaft #2 is expected to be ready to hoist labour and materials by the end of 2028 and be ready to hoist ore by the end of 2029. Shaft #2 will support both the steady-state operations of Phase 2 and the future Phase 3 expansion.

Looking down Shaft #2 after the first 'slipe' blast to its new diameter of 10 metres. Waste generated from each blast is guided down the central 3.1-metre shaft, before it is then hoisted to surface up Shaft #3.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/293948_25b710be54d6c8ae_006full.jpg

The Platreef Mine is set to be one of the largest and lowest-cost producers of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold, with nickel and copper by-products.

On February 18, 2025, two independent studies were completed on the three-phase development of the Platreef Mine. This included an updated Feasibility Study on the Phase 2 expansion to 4.1 Mtpa of processing capacity, as well as a Preliminary Economic Assessment covering a new Phase 3 expansion to 10.7 Mtpa of processing capacity. The excellent results from both studies reinforce the multi-generational Platreef Mine's industry-leading margins.

The Platreef Mine is projected to be the lowest-cost primary platinum-group-metals producer globally. The Phase 2 life-of-mine total cash cost is estimated to be $599 per ounce of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (3PE+Au), net of nickel and copper by-product credits. Life-of-mine total cash costs are projected to fall further to $511 per ounce of 3PE+Au following the Phase 3 expansion. This compares very favourably with a basket spot price of approximately $2,000 per ounce of 3PE+Au, as at April 22, 2026. The Platreef Mine's low cash costs are primarily due to its unique thick orebody, which enables economies of scale, as well as the high grades of nickel and copper that are payable by-products.

The Phase 2 expansion is expected to increase annualized production almost five-fold to over 460,000 ounces of 3PE+Au, plus approximately 9,000 tonnes of nickel and 6,000 tonnes of copper. The Phase 3 expansion further doubles annualized production to over one million ounces of 3PE+Au, plus approximately 22,000 tonnes of nickel and 13,000 tonnes of copper. The Phase 3 expansion is expected to rank the Platreef Mine as one of the world's largest primary platinum group metal producers on a platinum-equivalent basis.

Figure 1: Phased development schematic of the Platreef Mine, showing the annualized mining rate over the life of mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/293948_25b710be54d6c8ae_007full.jpg

Japanese consortium commits to fund its proportionate share of the Phase 2 expansion.

ITC Platinum has committed to fund its proportionate share of the Phase 2 expansion. ITC Platinum, a Japanese consortium including JOGMEC and ITOCHU Corporation, previously acquired a collective 10% interest in the Platreef Mine in two tranches. The first 2% interest was acquired in September 2010 for $10 million and the second 8% interest was acquired in June 2011 for $280 million. Ivanhoe Mines owns a 64% interest in the Platreef Mine and the B-BBEE group own the remaining 26%.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal operations in Southern Africa; the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and the tier-one Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper mine in South Africa.

Ivanhoe Mines is exploring for copper in its highly prospective, 54-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Forelands, covering an area over six times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, including the high- grade discoveries in the Makoko District. Ivanhoe is also exploring for new sedimentary copper discoveries in new horizons including Angola, Kazakhstan, and Zambia.

Disclosure Of Technical Information

Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature in this press release have been reviewed and approved by Simon Bottoms, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience, and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Bottoms is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is Ivanhoe Mines' Executive Vice President, Technical Services. Mr. Bottoms has verified the technical data disclosed in this press release.

Ivanhoe has prepared an independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for the Platreef Mine, which is available on the company's website and under the company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Platreef Integrated Development Plan 2025, filed on March 31, 2025, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., Mine Technical Services, SRK Consulting Inc., DRA Projects (Pty) Ltd, and Golder Associates Africa.

This technical report includes relevant information regarding the effective dates and the assumptions, parameters, and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Platreef Mine, cited in this press release, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures, and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press release in respect of the Platreef Mine.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified using words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Such statements include, without limitation: (i) statements that Phase 2 expansion is expected to be completed in Q4 2027 and that it will increase production to approximately 450,000 ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold; (ii) statements that once completed, Shaft #2 will become the largest hoisting shaft on the African continent by 2028; and (iii) statements that ITC Platinum has committed to fund its proportionate share of the Phase 2 expansion.

Also, all of the results of the 4.1 Mtpa FS and the 10.7 Mtpa PEA in respect of the Platreef Mine constitute forward-looking statements or information and include future estimates of internal rates of return, net present value, future production, estimates of cash cost, proposed mining plans and methods, mine life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal recoveries, estimates of capital and operating costs and the size and timing of phased development of the projects.

Furthermore, concerning this specific forward-looking information concerning the operation and development of the Platreef Mine, the company has based its assumptions and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain. Uncertainties include: (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii) geological characteristics; (iii) metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization; (iv) the ability to develop adequate processing capacity; (v) the price of nickel, zinc, platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold; (vi) the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete development and exploration; (vii) the cost of consumables and mining and processing equipment; (viii) unforeseen technological and engineering problems; (ix) accidents or acts of sabotage or terrorism; (x) currency fluctuations; (xi) changes in regulations; (xii) the availability and productivity of skilled labour; (xiII) the regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies; (xiv) the ability to raise sufficient capital to develop the mine; (xv) changes in project scope or design; (xvi) recoveries, mining rates and grade; (xvii) political factors; (xviii) water inflow into the mine and its potential effect on mining operations; and (xix) the consistency and availability of electric power.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether such results will be achieved. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, however not limited to, the factors discussed above and under the "Risk Factors" heading in the company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2025, in the company's current annual information form, and elsewhere in this release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2025, and its current annual information form.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293948

Source: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
HIGHLIGHTS:

High Grade Panel 69.15 m grading 10.09 g/t from 93.0 m 43.8 m grading 13.9 g/t from 104.55 m, including 19.85 m grading 22.5 g/t 28.95 m grading 11.2 g/t from 163.35 m 30.65 m grading 11.3 g/t from 94.0 m, including 14.1 m grading 22.1 g/t

Infill drilling continues to support the conversion of inferred material to higher confidence classifications

Drilling to support the Feasibility Study and exploration of new mineralization is ongoing

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional results from the ongoing drill program at its 100% owned Ana Paula project in Guerrero, Mexico. The program aims to convert inferred ounces to higher confidence classifications. It will also support the ongoing Feasibility Study and test the next exploration targets around the Ana Paula deposit.

Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, "Today's results highlight the unique nature of the High Grade Panel in its ability to consistently return exceptionally high-grade gold over broad intercepts. The infill drill program continues to confirm this style of mineralization in portions of the deposit currently in the inferred category. We are on track to upgrade these zones to include them in the mine plan in the 2027 Feasibility Study for Ana Paula. Our aim for this study is to expand the nine-year mine life and ~100,000 ounce per year high-margin production profile shown in our November 2025 Preliminary Economic Study. Bringing the Ana Paula mine online in 2028 will be a major step forward for achieving Heliostar's goal of being a 500,000 ounce per year producer by the end of the decade."

Drilling Program

Heliostar has completed 88 holes and 31,184 metres as part of its ongoing 2025-26 drill program at Ana Paula. The drill program is infilling areas of inferred mineralization currently in the November 2025 Preliminary Economic Analysis mine plan. In parallel, it is also defining additional mineralization near planned underground mine infrastructure through step-out drilling and continuing to explore at depth for down-plunge extensions of mineralization in the Expansion Zone.

Today's release covers five holes in the High Grade Panel. These holes were drilled as part of an ongoing drill program that continues to expand beyond the planned 28,000 metres of drilling driven by cost efficiency and exploration success. There are fourteen holes from the High Grade Panel area awaiting assay results.

Where appropriate, these holes are also being used to collect rock strength data, hydrogeologic data and samples for further metallurgical studies that will expedite bringing these zones into a future mine plan in the upcoming Ana Paula Feasibility Study.





Figure 1: Cross-Section through hole AP-25-360

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/293813_499e4b50f47baa18_001full.jpg





Figure 2: Plan Map of the current drill program at Ana Paula

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/293813_499e4b50f47baa18_002full.jpg

High Grade Panel Drill Results Summary

Hole AP-25-349 is located approximately 55 metres west of AP-25-359 and 104 metres west of AP-25-360. Hole AP-25-349 was designed to infill a portion of inferred mineralization within the High Grade Panel. The hole returned 28.95 metres grading 11.24 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold, including 19.70 metres grading 15.14 g/t gold, confirming a well-developed high-grade zone consistent with the current interpretation.

Hole AP-25-359, located approximately 55 metres southwest of AP-25-360, was drilled to test and infill the vertical extent of the High Grade Panel. The hole returned 43.80 metres grading 13.91 g/t gold, including 19.85 metres grading 22.51 g/t gold, highlighting the presence of a strong high-grade core within a broader mineralized interval. Additional intervals of 24.75 metres grading 8.96 g/t gold and 6.00 metres grading 27.98 g/t gold in this hole further support the continuity of high-grade mineralization.

Hole AP-25-360 is located centrally within the drill pattern and was designed to infill and test mineralization at depth within the High Grade Panel. The hole returned 69.15 metres grading 10.09 g/t gold, one of the thickest intervals encountered within the panel.

Hole AP-25-371 is located approximately 52 metres east of AP-25-360 and 105 metres northeast of AP-25-359, testing the eastern portion of the panel and infilling inferred mineralization in this area. The hole returned 30.65 metres grading 11.33 g/t gold, including 14.05 metres grading 22.13 g/t gold, confirming the continuation of broad zones of high-grade mineralization across this portion of the High Grade Panel.

The results reported today demonstrate consistent, high-grade mineralization across closely-spaced drill holes and support the ongoing conversion of inferred resources within the High Grade Panel to higher confidence categories. Mineralization remains consistent with an interpreted east-west trending structure that controls the high-grade zones.

True widths are unknown. Mineralization at Ana Paula occurs as disseminations or vein stockworks with variable controls including rock porosity, lithology and fault networks.

Drilling continues throughout the High Grade Panel and its less well-defined west edge, and the Expansion Zone. Two of the drills have continued to target deeper inferred mineralization and the 250 m corridor between the High Grade Panel and a northern exploration zone.

The next Ana Paula drill results are expected to be released in May.

Drilling Results and Coordinates Tables

Hole Name From

(metres) To

(metres) Interval

(metres) Au

(g/t) Topcut

Au (g/t) Intercept Zone AP-25-349 163.35 192.3 28.95 11.2 10.4 High Grade Panel2 including 170.55 190.25 19.7 15.1 13.8 2 and 202.5 212.2 9.7 2.49



and 222.55 230.6 8.05 1.89



AP-25-359 65.4 90.15 24.75 8.96 8.63 High Grade Panel3 including 80.35 86.35 6.0 28.0 26.6 3 and 104.55 148.35 43.8 13.9 10.5 1 including 119.0 138.85 19.85 22.5



AP-25-360 48.15 60.0 11.85 7.15

High Grade Panel and 93.0 162.15 69.15 10.1



AP-25-371 52.5 81.0 28.5 1.57

High Grade Panel and 94.0 124.65 30.65 11.3 9.43 3, 4 including 102.2 116.25 14.05 22.1



AP-25-375 37.75 47.55 9.8 5.26 5.22 High Grade Panel 4 and 70.25 76.4 6.15 2.22



and 219.45 232.05 12.6 3.79



including 221.95 223.2 1.25 26.1





Table 1: Significant Drill Intersections. Drill Holes are non-sequential due to multiple rigs drilling multiple targets at Ana Paula

1 Top cut to 38 ppm Au based on resource model domains

2 Top cut to 50 ppm Au based on resource model domains

3 Top cut to 64 ppm Au based on resource model domains

4 Top cut to 47 ppm Au based on resource model domains

Drilling Coordinates Table

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Inclination Length AP-25-349 410,104 1,998,097 950.4 180 -55 360.0 AP-25-359 410,155 1,998,035 914.9 180 -60 239.0 AP-25-360 410,206 1,998,075 903.1 180 -50 221.0 AP-25-371 410,255 1,998,057 905.2 180 -45 240.0 AP-25-375 410,205 1,998,099 898.6 180 -50 254.0

Table 2: Drill Hole Details

Ana Paula Preliminary Economic Assessment Note

Heliostar announced the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment on November 6, 2025.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drill core is PQ and HQ size, and the core is cut in half, with half sent for analysis. Core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas and Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The Zacatecas, Hermosillo, and North Vancouver ALS facilities are ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish, and overlimits were analyzed by 30-gram fire assay with gravimetric finish.

Control samples comprising certified reference and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Statement of Qualified Person

Stewart Harris, P.Geo., a Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Harris is employed as Exploration Manager of the Company.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a growing gold producer with a goal to produce 500,000 ounces per year by the end of the decade. The cash flow from the Company's La Colorada Mine in Sonora and the San Agustin Mine in Durango supports the development of its 100% owned pipeline of growth projects in Mexico and the USA. These include the flagship Ana Paula development project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja Sur and the Unga project in Alaska.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, show the full extent of the deposit, upgrade and expand the resource base, growing our annual production profile in the near term and bringing additional production online.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293813

Source: Heliostar Metals Ltd.


EQS Newswire / 23/04/2026 / 18:48 UTC+8

?FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE? 23 April 2026 Yip's Chemical Announces Official Opening of New Plant for its Coatings Business in Vietnam Seizing the strong growth momentum of industrial coatings, building a high-end plastic coatings production base, and deepening the Southeast Asian supply chain layout (Hong Kong, 23 April 2026)Yip's Chemical Holdings Limited (SEHK: 00408) ("Yip's Chemical" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries collectively referred to as the "Group") is pleased to announce that the new plant of its coatings business in Vietnam, "Hang Cheung (Vietnam) Advanced Materials Company Limited"(CONG TY TNHH V?T LI?U CAO C?P HANG CHEUNG (VI?T NAM))("Hang Cheung Vietnam"), officially opened on 22 April, 2026. This move marks a critical step for the Group in expanding into the Southeast Asian market and optimising its global supply chain layout. It further consolidates the Group's strategic initiatives for overseas expansion and strengthens its localised service capabilities for Southeast Asian and overseas customers. Yip's Chemical Announces Official Opening of New Plant for its Coatings Business in Vietnam Establishing a Foothold in the Core Hub of Haiphong to Strengthen Southeast Asian Market Layout The new Hang Cheung Vietnam plant is located in the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone in Haiphong City, Vietnam, covering an area of over 7,200 square meters with an annual production capacity of approximately 3,000 metric tonnes. It is equipped with a precise color matching system, rigorous quality control mechanisms, and a globally certified professional testing laboratory. Upon commencing production, the new plant will primarily serve high-end plastic coatings customers in Southeast Asia. Relying on the strong support of Hang Cheung Vietnam's local technical team and the domestic professional team of the coatings business, it will significantly improve supply chain efficiency and flexibly respond to the growing demand in the Southeast Asian market. With the reshaping of the global supply chain, Southeast Asia has become the production center for many industrial customers. The completion of the new plant not only strongly supports the Group's long-term development goal of "basing in China, looking to ASEAN", but will also further consolidate the coatings business's leading position in the high-end plastic coatings sector. Hang Cheung Vietnam held a grand opening ceremony at the new plant on April 22, 2026. Guests invited to attend the ceremony included Mr. Ip Chi Shing, Tony, Chairman of Yip's Chemical; Mr. Ip Kwan, Francis, Chief Executive Officer of Yip's Chemical; Mr. Chan Chuen Sang, Raymond, President of Bauhinia Advanced Materials Group, a subsidiary of the Group; along with management, employees, and business partners of the coatings business. Yip's Chemical Announces Official Opening of New Plant for its Coatings Business in Vietnam Mr. Ip Kwan, Francis, Chief Executive Officer of Yip's Chemical, remarked in a speech: "In the context of the current volatile and challenging global economic environment, we chose to take root in Vietnam because we firmly believe in its potential and resilience. This is not just an expansion of our production base, but an important milestone in our strategic blueprint. We will use this as a starting point to bring Yip's Chemical's professional technology and services more directly to the Southeast Asian market. Looking ahead, this plant will become the core engine for our plastic coatings development. We will continue to leverage the Group's R&D advantages in the chemical sector, dedicating ourselves to providing high-quality, eco-friendly coating solutions for toys, electronics and various consumer goods. Through localised production, we can respond to customer needs more quickly and accurately capture opportunities in a highly unpredictable market, creating new business growth points." Mr. Chan Chuen Sang, Raymond, President of Bauhinia Advanced Materials Group, stated in a speech: "This is not only a milestone monument in the Company's overseas journey, but it also carries our steadfast dream of deepening our roots in overseas markets and making our business bigger and stronger. It highlights our original mission to always stay close to our customers and serve them with dedication, and reflects our company's entrepreneurial spirit of daring to explore and make breakthroughs in the face of a complex and ever-changing market environment. The Vietnam plant achieved the breakthrough from conception to completion in just one year, a result that stems from the close cooperation of all parties. In the future, the market expansion, efficient operation, and localisation of the Vietnam plant will require the unity and concerted efforts of every colleague on the frontlines and in the back office. I hope everyone will always uphold our original intentions, work together with one heart and mind, face challenges head-on, seize opportunities, and together build the Vietnam plant into a benchmark for the Company's overseas business, jointly writing a wonderful answer sheet for the Company's overseas development!" Yip's Chemical Announces Official Opening of New Plant for its Coatings Business in Vietnam Accelerating the Pace of Development by Riding the Growth Momentum of Industrial Coatings According to the 2025 annual results previously announced by Yip's Chemical, the Group's coatings business demonstrated strong resilience in a challenging market through product portfolio optimisation. The gross profit margin of the coatings segment increased by 3.6 percentage points to 29.8%, and the segment profit surged by 623% to HKD 52.2 million, with industrial coatings performing exceptionally well. The successful commencement of production at the new Hang Cheung Vietnam plant in the second quarter of 2026 is an important layout for the Group to realise its performance outlook, seize the growth momentum of industrial coatings, and focus resources on driving business development. Looking ahead, Yip's Chemical will continue to be committed to building "a leading development platform for chemical businesses". The official operation of the Vietnam coatings plant will directly enhance the Group's competitiveness in the Southeast Asian market while strengthening the global operational efficiency of its Chinese headquarters. The Group will also actively seek strategic investment and merger and acquisition opportunities with technological content to accelerate its pace of development, creating more robust and long-term value for shareholders and stakeholders. - End - About Yip's Chemical Holdings Limited (Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability) Founded in 1971 and listed on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK: 00408) since 1991, Yip's Chemical has been dedicated to the chemical industry for more than half a century. The Group's long-term vision is to become "a leading development platform for chemical businesses" driven by green, innovative technology, professional services and highly respected brands that enrich people's lives. The Group's core businesses include inks, industrial and architectural coatings, specialty resins, lubricants and chemical vapour recovery and treatment. The core businesses have established leading positions in China in their respective sectors. "Bauhinia Variegata" is the largest inks manufacturer in China; "Hang Cheung" coatings holds a leading position in China's high-end plastic coatings segment; Bauhinia Advanced Materials Group also operates well-known brands including "Bauhinia" and "Camel" paints as well as "Da Chang" polymers; "Hercules" and "Pacoil" lubricants rank among the market leaders; "Sino-Hypro" is recognised as a leading enterprise in chemical vapour recovery and treatment in China. The Group is also a core investor in "Handsome Chemical", the world's largest acetate solvents producer. Leveraging its stable shareholder structure, extensive nationwide manufacturing and sales network, and a dynamic portfolio of strong businesses, the Group has built a robust foundation in the domestic chemical industry. Going forward, the Group will drive sustainable innovation in chemical operations and accelerate the development of a more scalable and resilient platform. Learn more about Yip's Chemical on: www.yipschemical.com Media and Investor Enquiries Yip's Chemical Holdings Limited

Ms. Wing So Tel:(852) 2675 2385 Email: wing.so@yipschemical.com Fax :(852) 2675 2345 DLK Advisory Limited Ms. Michelle Shi Tel: (852) 2854 8711 Email: michelleshi@dlkadvisory.com

Ms. Kathleen Mui Tel: (852) 2854 8727 Email: kathleenmui@dlkadvisory.com



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New structure to drive AI-powered innovation and international expansion

Croma Pharma has launched a strategic joint venture to accelerate the development of Clinicore, its premium digital solution for aesthetic practices. This dedicated entity will focus on scaling the next generation of the platform while ensuring full continuity for existing users.

Clinicore: Elevating Practice Excellence through AI

Clinicore is a specialized SaaS (Software as a Service) solution designed to optimize the daily operations of aesthetic clinics. By automating patient management, scheduling, and administrative workflows, it enables healthcare professionals to focus entirely on patient care.

A core element of the new strategy is a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence. Clinicore is evolving into a smart assistant, utilizing AI-driven features for automated treatment documentation, intelligent onboarding tools, and advanced process automation. This ensures that clinics can operate at maximum efficiency with the latest technology.

Strategic Partnership with Medfile

The joint venture brings together Croma's industry expertise and the technical excellence of Medfile. As a partner with decades of experience, Medfile contributes a world-class team of experts in medical software development and AI. This collaboration ensures that Clinicore remains at the cutting edge of medical technology.

For Croma Pharma, Clinicore is a cornerstone of its "beyond-the-product" strategy. By merging world-class injectables with high-end digital infrastructure, Croma is evolving into a holistic solution provider, deepening long-term partnerships with its customers.

Driving Growth and Innovation

This move reflects Croma Pharma's commitment to investing in forward-looking technologies that empower healthcare professionals to future-proof their business.

About Croma

CROMA-PHARMA GmbH is a global player and challenger in the dynamically growing minimally invasive aesthetics market, and one of Europe's leading manufacturers of premium-quality hyaluronic acid (HA) syringes.

Founded in 1976 by the pharmacist couple Gerhard and Karin Prinz, Croma has evolved from a family pharmacy into a globally operating Austrian company headquartered near Vienna, where it also runs its state-of-the-art, fully automated HA manufacturing plant. The company employs around 500 people, making its products available in over 80 countries worldwide. Croma offers a comprehensive and innovative aesthetics portfolio covering all key treatment categories in minimally invasive aesthetic medicine. Its range includes botulinum toxin, a broad selection of hyaluronic acid fillers, lifting threads (PDO threads), Polynucleotide injectables and HA skin booster. With this full-face approach, Croma provides aesthetic professionals and their patients with safe, effective, and reliable solutions from a single trusted source. Building on its heritage in ophthalmology and orthopaedics Croma transferred its pharmaceutical expertise and stringent quality standards to aesthetic applications. The company exceeded over 110 million syringes produced in 2025, reinforcing its position as one of Europe's foremost HA manufacturers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423816181/en/

Contacts:

CROMA-PHARMA GmbH

Victoria Szafraniec

Global Digital Media PR Manager

Cromazeile 2

A-2100 Leobendorf

Phone: +43 676 846 868 494

Mail: victoria.szafraniec@croma.at

Web: www.cromapharma.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) (OTC Pink: CVGRF) (FSE: CVY0) (the "Company" or "City View") announces that it proposes to undertake an up to $500,000 non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units (each, a "Unit") to be sold at a price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.10 for a period of two years, except that, if the average closing price of the Company's common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") is equal to or exceeds $0.12 during any 10 consecutive trading day period, then the Company may anytime thereafter accelerate the expiry date of the warrants to the date that is 30 days following the date on which the Company issues notice to all the warrant holders of the new expiry date (and the Company will also issue a press release on the same date as it issues notice confirming the new expiry date of the warrants).

The Units will be offered to qualified purchasers in reliance upon exemptions from prospectus and registration requirements of applicable securities legislation. The proceeds received from the sale of the Units will be used to fund general working capital expenses. A finder's fee may be paid to eligible finders in relation to the Offering, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE.

All securities issued and sold under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from their date of issuance in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws.

It is anticipated that insiders of the Company will participate in the Offering. The participation of any insiders may be considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Such insider participation is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on any of the exchanges or markets outlined in subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, and the fair market value of the securities to be distributed to the insiders will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The Company announces that it will not be proceeding with the $0.08/share debt settlement arrangements previously announced on February 12, 2026. Instead, City View announces that it has negotiated debt settlements with arm's length and non-arm's length creditors pursuant to which it will settle aggregate debt of $897,106.66 in consideration for which it will issue an aggregate of 12,815,807 common shares at a deemed price of $0.07 per share. All shares issued in connection with these debt settlements will have a hold period expiring 4 months and 1 day after their date of issuance, in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws.

Certain debt settlements will constitute a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") as certain directors and officers will be issued shares in settlement of debt owed to them. Such insider participation is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on any of the exchanges or markets outlined in subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, and the fair market value of the securities to be distributed to the insiders will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are not composed of historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets and delays in the development of projects. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Not for distribution to the United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293952

Source: City View Green Holdings Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Psyched Wellness Ltd. (CSE: PSYC) (OTCQB: PSYCF) (FSE: 5U9) (the "Company"), a life sciences company focused on the production and distribution of Amanita Muscaria-derived health and wellness products, today highlights recent U.S. federal policy developments supporting psychedelic research and outlines the potential implications for the sector and the Company.

Recent announcements by U.S. President Donald Trump include an executive order designed to accelerate research, development, and regulatory review of psychedelic compounds for medical use. The initiative targets significant unmet needs in mental health treatment, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and addiction.

The policy direction includes the evaluation of expedited clinical pathways, expanded access programs, and potential rescheduling of compounds that demonstrate safety and efficacy. Management believes these actions represent a meaningful shift toward broader federal engagement with the category.

CEO Commentary: "We believe this marks a significant step forward for the sector," said Jeff Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of Psyched Wellness. "Increased federal support in the United States has the potential to accelerate research, attract new capital, and further legitimize the broader category of mushroom-derived compounds. As awareness and acceptance continue to build, we expect these developments to contribute to stronger consumer engagement and long-term growth opportunities across the space. Psyched Wellness is well positioned to participate in this momentum through our focus on Amanita muscaria-derived consumer products."

Sector Impact

Management believes current U.S. policy momentum may:

* Accelerate the pace of scientific and clinical advancement

* Drive increased investor attention and capital formation

* Support normalization and broader market acceptance

* Expand long-term commercial pathways across multiple segments

Positioning of Psyched Wellness

Psyched Wellness remains focused on the development and commercialization of Amanita muscaria-derived consumer products. The Company believes that increased regulatory engagement and visibility at the federal level may act as a catalyst for:

* Expanding consumer awareness of mushroom-based wellness categories

* Strengthening demand for differentiated science-backed products

* Enhancing strategic and partnership opportunities

The Company continues to monitor regulatory developments and assess opportunities aligned with its commercial strategy

About Psyched Wellness

Psyched Wellness is a Canadian-based health supplements company dedicated to the distribution of mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods. The Company's objective is to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293880

Source: Psyched Wellness Ltd.
LISBON, Portugal and MADRID, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Riding the global wave of health-conscious consumption and Europe's booming botanical beverage sector, Chinese brands are seizing historic opportunities. From April 19 to 22, Guangzhou WALOVI Great Health Co., Ltd., part of GPHL, joined a Macao SAR trade delegation to Lisbon and Madrid. In four days, WALOVI signed distribution agreements with VOZ DA SAUDADE (Portugal) and EMB FOOD (Spain), marking a strategic shift from isolated market entries to regional deep-dive expansion.

Leveraging Macao's role as a bridge between China and Portuguese/Spanish-speaking markets, the delegation of over 100 members-nearly 40% from tech and health sectors-helped WALOVI efficiently secure key partners.

Two Deals, Two Countries - A Southern Europe Anchor

On April 19 in Lisbon, WALOVI visited local supermarkets and held talks with VOZ DA SAUDADE, a leading Asian food importer covering Portugal and beyond. The next day, at a Macao-Portugal trade event, an official partnership was signed to boost WALOVI's channel coverage and help it move from ethnic Chinese to mainstream consumers.

On April 22 in Madrid, WALOVI met with EMB FOOD, an experienced distributor that has launched many Chinese brands in Spain. They laid out plans for major retail chain rollouts. That afternoon, at a Macao-Spain trade promotion, the two sides formalized their agreement, solidifying WALOVI's southern Europe expansion.

According to Circana, Spain's plant-based food and beverage market is growing at 7.5%, one of Europe's fastest. Over 90% of juice sales go through supermarkets-a key reason the EMB FOOD deal paves the way for mainstream integration.

At a Macao reception that evening, WALOVI was praised for its refreshing taste.

Notably, this trip came just before WALOVI's Global Investment Conference on May 2 at its Guangzhou headquarters, where global partners are invited to share in the botanical beverage boom.

Europe Sales Up >30% in 5 Years - From Scattered to Regional Strategy

Last year, WALOVI international cans launched in Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. This year's Portugal and Spain deals signal the new phase: regional deep-dive.

With natural, healthy botanicals gaining traction among young Europeans, WALOVI's overseas market has grown 6.5x in a decade (CAGR >25%), now covering over 100 countries. Europe leads the way with >30% annual growth over five years.

From its debut at the 1925 London Expo to today's Iberian presence, WALOVI's century-long journey reflects Chinese brands moving from "going global" to "going deep." The brand is poised to bring Eastern wellness into millions of homes worldwide.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/walovi-signs-deals-in-portugal--spain-moves-from-scattered-footprints-to-regional-deepening-302751706.html
SEOUL, South Korea, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RIMAN, a direct selling company prioritizing K-beauty skincare and wellness, successfully concluded its "2026 RIMAN Convention Macau" from April 17th to 19th at The Londoner Macao, bringing together around 2,000 members and leaders from seven Asia-Pacific markets.

The event, held under the theme "MADE DIFFERENT," marked the company's second regional convention and included participants from South Korea, Taiwan region, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Japan. The three-day program focused on leadership training, business strategy, and product innovation, as the company seeks to strengthen its regional network and expand its global presence.

Executives and regional leaders emphasized aligning local execution with global strategy, sharing case studies from different markets. Building on these shared insights, a leadership panel talk and new product reveal followed, bringing the atmosphere to its peak. In particular, RIMAN's heritage ingredient, Giant BYoungPool, was revisited as a symbol of the company's brand philosophy, resonating strongly with participants.

RIMAN also highlighted its research pipeline during the event. Dr. Hee-sik Kim, CTO of ASK LABS and a researcher at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, introduced a plant-based bio-material derived from a proprietary chlorella strain found in Jeju. This material has been under development for approximately a decade, with an investment of KRW 3.9 billion (approx. $3.0M). It contains carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin and is set to debut in new products later this year. The venue also included exhibition areas featuring the company's brands -ICD, botalab, and Lifening-as well as digital installations showcasing its production and sourcing operations in Jeju.

Youngsu Hwang, Global Chief Sales Officer, said the goal of the convention is to strengthen coordination across markets and support long-term growth.

About RIMAN

Founded in 2018 in South Korea, RIMAN is a global beauty and wellness direct-selling company redefining K-Beauty through heritage ingredients from Jeju Island and cutting-edge innovation. At its Jeju Smart Farm, RIMAN manages every step, from raw material cultivation to product development, including its signature ingredient, Giant BYoungPool-an advanced Centella Asiatica cultivar granted 20-year Plant Variety Protection by the Korea Forest Service in July 2022 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in September 2025.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964115/DSC5247.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2780542/RIMAN_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/riman-connects-apac-markets-in-macau-through-strategy-innovation-and-new-product-reveal-302751713.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Southwire Canada is proud to support the next generation of talent through Southwire's Wired for the Future Scholarship via Electro Federation Canada's (EFC) scholarship platform. The program reflects Southwire Canada's commitment to advancing education, supporting community involvement, and strengthening the future of Canada's electrical industry.

Supporting Canadian Students Driving Innovation and Sustainability

The $3,500 Wired for the Future Scholarship is open to students enrolled full-time at an accredited Canadian university or college who are pursuing programs aligned with Southwire's industry and areas of impact. Eligible fields of study include engineering, technology, data and AI, business, environmental science, safety and skilled trades.

Applicants must have maintained a minimum cumulative average of 75% and demonstrated community involvement or leadership in sustainability-related initiatives. Through this scholarship, Southwire Canada is recognizing students who are excelling academically while also making meaningful contributions to their communities.

Strengthening the Future of Canada's Electrical Industry

Southwire and its subsidiaries provide wire and cable solutions, electrical products, engineered solutions, and field support services that help power infrastructure and electrification initiatives across Canada.

"With a strong operational presence across the country, Southwire Canada is committed to supporting customers and communities from coast to coast," said Ian Rand, President of Southwire Canada. "With distribution centers in Toronto and Calgary, a Canadian head office in Mississauga, and field services based in Toronto, investing in Canadian students is a natural extension of how we support the future of Canada's electrical industry."

By supporting Canadian students through the Wired for the Future Scholarship, Southwire Canada is helping to build the future workforce that will contribute to these critical industries. The scholarship underscores Southwire Canada's ongoing commitment to community involvement, education and sustainability.

Southwire Company, LLC is North America's leading wire and cable company. The $9.7B organization is made up of more than 9,000 team members across the globe who unite as ONE Southwire each and every day to serve each other, their customers and their communities. Southwire and its subsidiaries provide solutions including building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, utility products, portable and electronic cord products and OEM wire products. In addition, Southwire offers electrical products, engineered solutions and a variety of field support services.

For more on Southwire's products and solutions, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.

Find more stories and multimedia from Southwire at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Southwire

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/southwire

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Southwire

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/southwire-canada-advances-education-through-wired-for-the-future-schol-1160275
TITAN Group (Brussels:TITC) announces that it will host an in-person Retail Shareholder Event on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 18:00, at the King George Hotel, Athens (3 Vasileos Georgiou A' Street, 10564, Syntagma Square).

During the event, Dimitri Papalexopoulos, Chair of the Board of Directors, and TITAN Group's Management team represented by Marcel Cobuz, Chair of the Group Executive Committee, Leonidas Canellopoulos, Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer, and John Ioannou, Group CFO will provide individual shareholders with a clear and accessible overview of the company's strategy, performance and value creation priorities. The presentation will last approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

The event will focus on the following key areas:

The company's strategic priorities 2029 financial targets, as presented during the 2025 Investor Day.

- Updates on financial performance and cash generation.

- The Group's capital allocation framework, including shareholder returns.

Shareholders wishing to attend the event are requested to confirm their participation by Friday, May 8, 2026. Registration may be completed by telephone at +30 210 259 1257 or via email at ir@titanmaterials.com.

For shares held through the Greek Central Securities Depository, shareholder status will be verified through the Company's share register. For shares held through Euroclear, a relevant confirmation from the custodian is required. Presentation of a valid National ID card or Passport will be required for admission. Below is an indicative agenda of the event.

Monday, May 25, 2026: Retail Shareholder Event, King George Hotel, Athens

17:30-18:00: Registration and identification

18:00-18:45: Presentation by TITAN Group Management

18:45-19:15: Q&A session with ????? Group Management

19:15-19:45: Cocktail dinner

The Retail Investor Event aims to enhance transparency and engagement with individual investors. No material new information will be disclosed in the event beyond what has already been publicly communicated.

About TITAN Group

TITAN Group is a Belgium-registered company and a leading international business in the building and infrastructure materials industry, with passionate teams committed to providing innovative solutions for a better world. With most of its activity in the developed markets, the Group employs more than 6,000 people and serves customers in over 25 markets, on four continents. It holds prominent positions in the United States, Europe including Greece, the Balkans, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France and the Eastern Mediterranean. The Group also has joint ventures in Brazil and India. With more than 120 years of history, TITAN has always fostered a family-and entrepreneurial-oriented culture for its employees and works tirelessly with its customers to meet the modern needs of society while promoting sustainable growth with responsibility and integrity. The Group's commitment to responsible growth is reflected in its net-zero ambition for 2050, its CO2 reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and its continued inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series. The Group is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris, and on Euronext Athens, and its US business is listed on the NYSE. For more information, visit our website at www.titanmaterials.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423470385/en/

Contacts:

media@titanmaterials.com
Survey has successfully covered over 20 kilometers of prospective DKF-NPF contact in the area of a clear and prominent domal structure. All known KCB copper deposits occur at this contact.

Data processing is complete and is currently being applied to the selection of near-term drill targets.

This domal structure lies immediately to the south of MMG's Khoemacau deposits, and is considered highly prospective for similar Sediment-Hosted Stratiform Copper mineralization.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Leviathan Metals Corp. (TSXV: LVX) (OTCQB: LVXFF) (FSE: 0GP) ("Leviathan", the "Company") is pleased to announce completion of a high-resolution helicopter borne time domain electromagnetic ("EM") survey at its 100%-owned Central Project ("Central", the "Project"), Kalahari Copper Belt (the "KCB"), Botswana.

The survey comprised approximately 580 linear kilometers of electromagnetic data collection, flown at a line spacing of 300 meters, and at a ground clearance of around 35 meters. It is interpreted that over 20 kilometers of prospective D'Kar-Ngwako Pan Formation ("DKF-NPF") contact have been covered within Central, in an area where this contact is folded into a very clear and prominent domal structure (Figure 1), as identified in 2023-2024 high resolution ground magnetic survey data. This domal structure lies immediately to the south of MMG Limited's Khoemacau property, within which the Zone 5 mine, Zone 9 discovery, and other deposits and discoveries fall, and is considered highly prospective for similar Sediment-Hosted Stratiform Copper mineralization. Specifically, all known KCB copper deposits - including those of Khoemacau - occur at this contact.

Leviathan Chief Executive Officer, Luke Norman, remarked: "We are delighted to apply this efficient, leading-edge, high resolution geophysical technology as our opening move in the exploration of our newly acquired Central Project on the Kalahari Copper Belt of Botswana - a land of outstanding discovery potential. With survey data in hand, our geoscientific team shortly expects to select a series of targets for near-term drill testing, for which preparations are already under way. Leviathan is in full swing in Botswana, and we look forward to an exciting 2026 exploration campaign".

On the KCB, airborne EM data is commonly used to map and model a conductive marker unit, typically found approximately 100 meters above the DKF-NPF contact. Interpretations of this marker are used to increase confidence in the location of the DKF-NPF contact and in the identification of structures affecting it, which are considered one of the controls on mineralization. Leviathan's geoscientific team will now use the data to identify drill targets.

The EM survey was performed by New Resolution Geophysics of Noordhoek, South Africa, using their Xcite system, flown by a AS350 B-series helicopter, and was subject to daily control measures by Leviathan (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Location of Leviathan's Central Project showing domal structure and airborne EM survey - relative to MMG's Khoemacau group of deposits and discoveries.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12274/293903_4db7f10264f8791e_002full.jpg

Figure 2: Airborne EM survey under way at Central.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12274/293903_4db7f10264f8791e_003full.jpg

About the Central Project

The Central Project, which directly adjoins MMG's Khoemacau group of deposits and discoveries, (combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 94Mt @1.8% Cu and 22 g/t Ag and Inferred Mineral Resources of 188Mt @1.6% Cu and 20 g/t Ag1,2) on the KCB which, together with the nearby Banana Zone, Zone 6 and Ophion (combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 33Mt @1.4% Cu and 21 g/t Ag and Inferred Mineral Resources of 141Mt @0.9% Cu and 10 g/t Ag) were acquired by MMG Ltd in 2023 for US$1.9 billion.

Central displays similar large-scale geological characteristics to those observed at Khoemacau, making the property prospective for a Tier 1 copper discovery. Specifically, all known KCB copper deposits - including those of Khoemacau - occur at or close to a well-understood stratigraphic contact (namely the interface between the D'Kar and Ngwako Pan Formations) on the flanks or hinges of kilometer-scale antiforms or "domes", typically within secondary folds, shears or other structural trap-sites which focused the mineralizing fluids.

Central boasts around 24 kilometers of this contact, mostly around the main domal structure referred to as the Hyena Hills dome, as supported by high resolution ground magnetic data collected in 2023 and 2024. The Hyena Hills dome is the next dome south from those hosting the Khoemacau deposits and discoveries; each of the other domes at Khoemacau hosts at least two copper deposits or discoveries3.

Botswana is a politically stable pro-mining investment jurisdiction - ranked #2 in Africa by the Fraser Institute (2024), enjoying investor-friendly legislation, a highly proficient and well-educated workforce, and first world infrastructure - set up to support mining, which is a pivotal and widely-accepted national economic driver. The Kalahari Copper Belt is regarded by the USGS as one of the world's most prospective areas for sediment-hosted copper deposits.

Qualified Person and Data Verification

Andrew Pedley (Pr. Sci. Nat.), a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to the Central Project and the Serule Uranium Project. Mr. Pedley is a consultant for Leviathan.

Neither the Qualified Person nor Leviathan has verified the scientific, technical or other information disclosed in respect of the Adjacent Properties.

About Leviathan Metals Corp.

Leviathan Metals Corp., previously known as Leviathan Gold Ltd., is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSXV (LVX) and Germany (0GP).

On behalf of the Company

Luke Norman, Chief Executive Officer and Director

For further information, please visit the Company website www.leviathanmetals.com, the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, or contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approval or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Leviathan cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond Leviathan's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to whether exploration activities on the Company's properties will result in commercially viable quantities of mineralized materials; the possibility of changes to project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the ability to execute planned exploration and future drilling programs; the ability to obtain qualified workers, financing, permits, approvals, and equipment in a timely manner or at all and on reasonable terms; changes in commodity and securities markets; non-performance by contractual counterparties; and general business, geopolitical and economic conditions. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Although Leviathan has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Consequently, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements in this press release are given as of the date hereof. Leviathan disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this disclaimer.

1 Mineral Resources and Reserve Statement as at 30 June 2024 prepared by MMG and are reported in accordance with the guidelines in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (2012 JORC Code) and Chapter 18 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. See: https://www.mmg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/June_2024_MROR_Executive_Summary.pdf

2 Readers are cautioned that information in respect of Khoemacau and the Banana Zone (the "Adjacent Properties") is not indicative of the mineralization that may or may not be found on the Properties and readers should not rely on such information with respect to the Adjacent Properties when assessing the Properties. There is no assurance that the Properties will yield scientific, technical or other information or results similar to that of the Adjacent Properties. The QP has not verified these estimates or the data that supports them and that the information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization that may or may not be present on the Properties. The estimates were prepared under an acceptable Foreign Code (the Australasian JORC Code, 2012 edition) and are not reported under the CIM Definitions. Under this Code, Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource categories are the equivalents of the same categories as defined by the CIM definitions; it is not expected that the same mineral resources if reported under CIM would be materially different.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293903

Source: Leviathan Metals Corp.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Supremex Inc. (TSX: SXP) ("Supremex" or the "Company"), a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of envelopes and a growing provider of paper-based packaging solutions, will release its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, before markets open Thursday, May 7, 2026. A conference call to discuss these results will be held on the same day, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).

Conference Call:

A live broadcast of the Conference Call will be available on the Company's website, in the Investors section under Webcast.

To participate (professional investment community only) or to listen to the live conference call, please dial the following numbers. We suggest that participants call-in at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time:

Local (Toronto) and international participants, dial: 647 846-8776

North American participants, dial toll-free: 1 833 752-3804

A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website in the Investors section under Webcast. To listen to a recording of the conference call, please call toll-free 1 855-669-9658 or 412 317-0088 and enter the code 2745276. The recording will be available until Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

Supremex will hold its annual meeting of shareholders on the same day, May 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at the office of Stikeman Elliott LLP located at 1155 Rene-Levesque Boulevard West, 41st Floor, Montreal, QC H3B 3V2.

About Supremex

Supremex is a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of envelopes and a growing provider of paper-based packaging solutions. Supremex operates nine manufacturing facilities across four provinces in Canada and four manufacturing facilities in three states in the United States employing approximately 900 people. Supremex' extensive network allows it to efficiently manufacture and distribute envelope and packaging solutions designed to the specifications of major national and multinational corporations, direct mailers, resellers, government entities, SMEs and solutions providers.

For more information, please visit www.supremex.com.

-30-

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293826

Source: Supremex Inc
CFO and CPO executive hires to enhance operational and financial performance on the company's path to $250M by 2028

Safe Software (Safe), creator of FME, the only All-Data, Any-AI enterprise integration platform, today welcomes two executives to its leadership team as it moves into the next phase of growth. Judd Lee has been appointed as the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Vanessa Ribreau has been appointed as Chief People Officer (CPO). Having recently crossed $100M in revenue, the expanded leadership team will further enable the company to scale as it accelerates toward its goal of reaching $250M in revenue by 2028.

Judd Lee is a seasoned CFO with over 15 years of experience partnering closely with CEOs to align financial strategy and accelerate sustainable growth. He is known for his strong commitment to mentorship and for building high-performing global teams rooted in trust, morale and a shared sense of purpose. With more than two decades of financial leadership across both private and public companies, Judd has developed a proven track record of scaling businesses and maximizing shareholder value through disciplined execution and strategic insight.

Vanessa Ribreau has spent over a decade scaling People functions at high-growth technology companies, combining business acumen with psychological insight to build systems that enable rapid, sustainable growth. As Chief People Officer at BenchSci, she led the People function through significant organizational expansion while building a remote-first culture that maintained high employee engagement and belonging. She guided AlayaCare through hypergrowth and M&A integration, and partnered with leadership to scale Shopify globally across North America, Europe, and APAC.

"We're thrilled to welcome Judd and Vanessa at a pivotal time in Safe Software's growth," said Don Murray, CEO of Safe Software. "Their leadership will be instrumental as we scale the business and continue to deliver on our mission of helping the world do more with its data. I look forward to the impact they will make as we continue to execute against our long-term strategy to achieve $250M in revenue by 2028."

Based in Seattle, Judd brings proven expertise in building and scaling finance teams within enterprise SaaS businesses.

"Joining Safe Software at this stage is an exciting opportunity," said Judd Lee, CFO of Safe Software. "The company has built a strong global presence, and I look forward to working with this talented team to build on that momentum and drive the next phase of growth."

Canadian people leader Vanessa Ribreau will relocate from Montreal to Vancouver.

"I've spent my career helping technology companies scale without losing what makes them great," said Vanessa Ribreau, CPO of Safe Software. "Safe has something rare: a 30-year legacy of product excellence, a team that genuinely cares about the work, and a growth trajectory that's accelerating. My focus is making sure we build the People systems and culture that allow us to scale to $250M while staying true to what's made Safe successful."

Safe Software recently announced the return of its global user conference, the Peak of Data and AI, taking place March 9-11, 2027, at the QEII Centre in London, UK. For more information visit: peakofdataintegration.com

About Safe Software

Headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, Safe Software is the creator of FME, the only enterprise integration platform with comprehensive support for spatial data. The company was founded in 1993 and has been focused on bringing life to data since its inception. Whether your challenges have to do with spatial data, big data, stream processing, cloud migration, or business intelligence, Safe Software is here to help you spend more time reaping the benefits of information, and less time fighting it.

For more information, visit safe.com.

About FME by Safe Software

The FME Platform has built-in support for thousands of systems as well as 800+ out-of-the-box transformers allowing users to build and automate custom integration workflows without having to code. Over 20,000 organizations worldwide trust FME technology for their enterprise integration solutions. Through Safe Software's international partner network, FME is used in 120+ countries around the world and has been localized into multiple languages.

For more information, visit fme.safe.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423065988/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact



Perri Burrage

DGPR

perri.burrage@dg-pr.com

+1 587-577-1337
EQS-News: BitFrontier Capital Holdings, Inc. / Key word(s): Manufacturing

UNLOCKD Inc. (OTCID: BFCH) Executes Binding LOI to Acquire Ancient Extracts USA Platform



23.04.2026 / 15:06 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Adds Revenue-generating DTC Brand, Vertically Integrated Formulations, Experienced Public Company Leadership, and Aligned Growth Capital

LANCASTER, PA - April 23, 2026 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - UNLOCKD Inc. (OTCID: BFCH) ("UNLOCKD" or the "Company"), a public platform focused on acquiring and scaling wellness and functional nutrition brands, today announced it has executed a binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") to acquire 100% of VerdaGenix, LLC, the operating entity behind the Ancient Extracts USA brand. The transaction contemplates an aggregate purchase price of approximately $490,000, subject to adjustment based on due diligence and final closing conditions.

The proposed transaction is structured as an equity-based acquisition and is expected to add revenue-generating operations, proprietary formulations, intellectual property, trade secrets, key personnel, and a fully integrated direct-to-consumer ("DTC") infrastructure to the UNLOCKD platform. Upon closing, VerdaGenix will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. With the binding LOI in place, the parties are aligned on core terms and progressing toward definitive documentation and closing.

Ancient Extracts is a DTC wellness brand offering botanical formulations including mushroom coffee, ceremonial-grade matcha, and shilajit-based products, supported by active customer acquisition channels across TikTok, Amazon and META. The platform includes established digital marketing data, repeat customers, and scalable e-commerce infrastructure.

The acquisition positions UNLOCKD within multiple high-growth global categories, including functional beverages, adaptogens, and plant-based wellness, which collectively represent a multi-billion-dollar market opportunity driven by increasing demand for performance, energy, and longevity-focused products.

"This transaction adds a revenue-generating DTC engine and vertically integrated product capabilities to the platform," said Jordan P. Balencic, D.O., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This combination strengthens our ability to scale brands, expand margins, and accelerate new product development."

As part of the transaction, John P. Gorst will join UNLOCKD's executive management team following closing.

Mr. Gorst brings over 30 years of experience building and leading public and private companies, including serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of multiple publicly traded companies. Over his career, he has raised more than $100 million in capital and has extensive experience in capital markets, corporate strategy, and scaling consumer-focused businesses.

Management believes the addition of Mr. Gorst strengthens UNLOCKD's leadership with proven capital formation expertise and public market experience, positioning the Company to accelerate execution and access to growth capital.

The Company also intends to explore integration of its EVERMIND platform into the combined business, including potential product extensions and formulation enhancements across the Ancient Extracts portfolio. Management believes this strategy may unlock additional product innovation and expand the Company's presence across multiple functional wellness categories.

The parties are progressing through due diligence and intend to move expeditiously toward execution of a definitive Purchase and Sale Agreement, subject to customary conditions.

In connection with the proposed acquisition, the Company expects to close a financing aligned with the transaction, targeting approximately $300,000 in capital to support inventory expansion, marketing scale, and new product development. Management believes aligning capital with revenue-generating assets is a key driver of scalable growth across the UNLOCKD platform.

The transaction remains subject to completion of due diligence, execution of definitive agreements, and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About Ancient Extracts

Ancient Extracts is a direct-to-consumer wellness brand established in the United Kingdom over two years experiencing monthly double digit organic growth. Ancient Extracts specializes in plant-based formulations rooted in traditional practices and modern functional nutrition. Its product portfolio includes mushroom coffee, ceremonial-grade matcha, and premium shilajit-based offerings designed to support energy, focus, and overall performance. The Company operates a vertically integrated e-commerce platform supported by active digital marketing channels, proprietary formulations, and established supplier relationships.

For more information, visit: https://www.ancientextracts.com

About UNLOCKD Inc. (OTCID: BFCH)

UNLOCKD Inc. is a Wyoming-based public platform company headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, focused on acquiring and scaling emerging wellness, functional-nutrition, and lifestyle brands. Following the elimination of legacy debt and implementation of modern capital frameworks, UNLOCKD is building a transparent, compliant operating platform at the intersection of human optimization, consumer participation, and next-generation brand development. The Company's platform includes internally developed and acquired brands, including EVERMIND, a cognitive health beverage platform currently in development.

Visit www.UNLOCKDinc.com for corporate information.

View current filings on OTC Markets.

Follow @BFCHco on X for verified updates.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws, including statements regarding commercialization plans, partnership finalization, anticipated news flow, future Regulation A offerings, projected capital formation strategies, and expected synergies from the proposed acquisition. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks include, but are not limited to, delays in transaction execution, capital constraints, regulatory developments, integration challenges, and market conditions. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact

Jordan P. Balencic, D.O.

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Email: jbalencic@thinkevermind.com

Phone: (813) 693-1377
PARIS, April 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China's "Pearl Capital", Zhuji City in Zhejiang Province, made its debut in Paris with an independent showcase on Thursday, as the pearl industry promotion event for Zhuji's Shanxiahu Town opened at the Oriental Paris, highlighting the city's global standing in freshwater pearl production and culture.

Organized by the Zhejiang Pearl Industry Association, the event brought together nine prominent local enterprises, including Pure Pearl, Ruans, and Zhejiang Dongfang Shenzhou Pearl Group Co., Ltd., presenting nearly 100 elaborate pearl art pieces.

The exhibition features three specially designed immersive zones to showcase the city's heritage, premium source pearl, and enterprise strength. Together, they narrate the cultural legacy of Zhuji, hometown of the ancient beauty Xishi, illustrate the full industrial chain from ecological cultivation to product innovation, and underscore Zhuji's position as the source of 73 percent of the world's freshwater pearls.

A key highlight of the day was the official inauguration of the Zhuji Pearl (Europe) Promotion Center, establishing a permanent exhibition platform and trade channel for Zhuji pearls in Europe, in a move set to speed up the global presence of Chinese pearl brands.

The event also hosted a roundtable dialogue, where representatives from Zhuji's pearl businesses and leading French designers exchanged in-depth views on themes including the transformation from Chinese pearls to international brand language and pearl design, cultural narrative and contemporary consumption.

Chen Xiaying, president of the Zhejiang Pearl Industry Association, said in her address that pearls in Shanxiahu Town represent more than an industry. "They are a culture and craftsmanship ingrained in our heritage. We uphold generations of breeding expertise while exploring cross-material innovation, allowing oriental pearls to radiate diverse modern glamour."

According to official data, Shanxiahu Town's pearl industry surpassed 50 billion yuan (about 6.9 billion U.S. dollars) in market value in 2025, with products sold to more than 70 countries and regions, including the United States. The Paris showcase serves as a major leg of Zhuji's 2026 "Go Global" strategy, and a premium calling card for China's pearl industry on the world stage.

Source: Zhejiang Pearl Industry Association

Contact person: Ms. Wang, Tel: 86-10-63074558
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Silver Acadia Exploration Inc. (CSE: SLA) ("SLA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the first assay results from its recently completed Phase 1 diamond drilling program primarily targeting its flagship Nicholas-Denys Project located within the prolific Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC") in northern New Brunswick.

"Today's results are from the Hachey Zone, which is one of several high-grade silver and gold zones on the Nicholas-Denys property. When combined with the other zones on the property including the Shaft, Dante and Henry zones the mineralized corridor is up to 3 km long," said Julien Davy, CEO of Silver Acadia. "Importantly these initial results, including 396.8 g/t silver, 2.38 g/t gold, 2.7% zinc and 2.2% lead over 7.1 metres near surface in hole ND26-002, highlight the strong potential of the system."

The existing 2008 historical NI 43-101 resource estimate was primarily focused on zinc, whereas our current strategy is centered on evaluating and highlighting the significant high-grade silver and gold potential of the broader system. Our objective is to demonstrate that Nicholas-Denys hosts a multi-kilometre trend containing multiple high-grade silver, gold and base metal zones with the potential to support a significant mineral deposit. These first assay results from Phase 1 drilling have delivered very strong values, and additional results are expected over the coming weeks."

Highlights - First Assay Results Received

Hole ND26-002 - Hachey Zone

46.7 m grading 71.2 g/t Ag, 0.46 g/t Au, 1.03% Zn and 0.41% Pb

including 16.5 m grading 177.7 g/t AgEq

including 7.1 m grading 396.8 g/t Ag, 2.38 g/t Au, 2.70% Zn and 2.17% Pb

including 2.8 m grading 612.5 g/t Ag, 4.40 g/t Au, 4.10% Zn and 3.06% Pb

including 0.4 m grading 1,660 g/t Ag, 10.65 g/t Au

Hole ND26-001 - Hachey Zone

35.8 m grading 66.4 g/t Ag, 0.34 g/t Au, 1.01% Zn and 0.47% Pb

including 8.5 m grading 254.3 g/t Ag

including 6.0 m grading 346.4 g/t Ag

including 0.6 m grading 1,050 g/t Ag, 3.09 g/t Au

Hole ND26-003A - Hachey Zone

5.7 m grading 123.6 g/t Ag

including 0.9 m grading 513 g/t Ag

High-Grade Targets Across our flagship Nicholas-Denys project

Full details regarding the Phase 1 drill program were previously disclosed in the Company's April 1, 2026 press release. The drilling campaign at the Ann's Creek target, located on the Nicholas-Denys Property, commenced in January 2026 and focused on the Hachey Zone, a silver-gold-zinc-lead mineralized system interpreted as an epithermal-style vein environment.

The 2026 Phase 1 program is comprised of 18 drill holes totaling 2,404 metres on the Hachey zone. Fourteen of these 18 holes reached target depth, while four holes were terminated early due to challenging ground conditions associated with the highly fractured fault zone hosting mineralization. Despite these technical challenges, drilling successfully confirmed the continuity of the mineralized system and intersected multiple zones of silver-gold-base metal mineralization.





Figure 1 : Location of the 2026 drill holes of the Hachey Zone with the 2008 NI43-101 Resources Estimate interpretation focused on zinc

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6260/293953_cdc7d34d44878894_002full.jpg

Drilling intersected a sequence of strongly foliated sedimentary rocks consisting of alternating wacke and mudrock units, hosting early quartz veins, massive sulphide veins, and rare porphyritic felsic intrusive dykes. All units show evidence of intense deformation, including folding, boudinage, transposition, and local dismemberment.

Sulphide mineralization, consisting mainly of pyrrhotite (Po), pyrite (Py), sphalerite (Sp) and galena (Gn), with minor arsenopyrite (As), is generally associated with silica-sericite-epidote  chlorite (Cl) alteration zones and appears to follow the same structural corridors as the early quartz veining. Mineralization occurs as: (1) massive sulphide lenses concordant with S0/S1 foliation; (2) massive sulphide veins discordant to S0/S1 foliation; (3) partial to pervasive replacement of early quartz veins and altered host rocks; (4) stockworks, stringers and massive sulphide veinlets; and (5) sulphide aggregates within fault breccias and as disseminations.

The table 1 below are the assays from the results received to date:

Hole # Target / Zone From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) AgEq(1) (g/t) Metal Factor(2) (g/t*m) ND26-001 Hachey 29.1 64.9 35.8 66.4 0.34 0.47 1.01 106.3 3,799 incl. 32.5 33.3 0.8 32.5 2.42 0.43 4.31 256.4 192 incl. 55.0 63.5 8.5 254.3 0.92 1.71 2.43 362.0 3,077 incl. 57.1 63.1 6.0 346.4 1.00 2.27 2.76 468.0 2,808 incl. 59.0 59.6 0.6 1,050.0 3.09 4.78 3.51 1,341.5 805 incl. 62.0 63.1 1.1 705.2 1.00 5.08 5.13 880.5 969 ND26-001 Hachey 144.8 155.3 10.6 50.8 0.39 0.81 1.14 98.7 1,041 incl. 147.8 148.3 0.5 311.0 2.30 5.30 6.97 600.1 300 ND26-002 Hachey 22.6 69.3 46.7 71.2 0.46 0.41 1.03 119.0 5,557 incl. 52.9 69.3 16.5 177.7 1.07 0.99 1.71 279.9 4,604 incl. 55.4 55.8 0.4 740.0 2.42 2.66 4.14 978.7 343 incl. 62.3 69.3 7.1 396.8 2.38 2.17 2.70 609.6 4,298 incl. 62.3 65.0 2.8 612.5 4.40 3.06 4.10 986.3 2,712 incl. 62.3 62.7 0.4 1,660.0 10.65 10.80 9.38 2,584.5 1,034 incl. 67.4 67.9 0.5 1,060.0 2.40 7.45 5.05 1,346.4 673 ND26-002 Hachey 139.5 161.0 21.5 40.4 0.08 0.65 0.65 59.5 1,280 incl. 148.3 148.7 0.4 394.0 0.18 6.00 0.59 460.2 184 ND26-003A Hachey 38.9 39.4 0.5 109.0 0.21 2.52 8.71 259.9 130 ND26-003A Hachey 66.7 70.4 3.7 126.0 1.75 1.05 0.68 260.7 965 incl. 66.7 67.1 0.4 348.0 12.50 0.92 0.12 1,195.9 478 incl. 70.0 70.4 0.4 632.0 1.33 6.56 1.83 796.3 319 ND26-003A Hachey 111.7 112.7 1.0 202.5 0.50 5.55 5.65 354.6 355 ND26-003A Hachey 136.0 141.7 5.7 123.6 0.15 2.18 1.47 170.3 962 incl. 138.8 139.7 0.9 513.0 0.66 8.13 4.61 682.0 614

(1) Ag Equivalent (AgEq): Only used for illustration purposes. Only samples with over 5g/t Ag and over 0,05g/t Au were used - Prices of $70/oz silver, $4,700/oz gold (ratio Au:Ag = 67:1), $5.65/lb copper (ratio Cu:Ag = 0.005:1), $0.86/lb lead (ratio Pb:Ag = 0,001:1) and $1.51/lb zinc (ratio Zn:Ag = 0,001:1) were used for equivalent calculations. Intervals shown are drill intercept, true thickness cannot be calculated yet, 100% recoveries have been considered as no metallurgical study has been made yet

(2) Metal Factor: Only used for illustration and represents the total value of the combined mineralisation (AgEq * Length).

Cross-cutting relationships observed between these various mineralization styles suggest a multi-phase hydrothermal system and a progressive mineralizing event, which remains open for further interpretation pending receipt of complete analytical results.

Qualified Persons and Technical Notes

Julien Davy, P.Geo., M.Sc, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Silver Acadia Exploration Inc., and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

Historical results disclosed in this news release were compiled from New Brunswick government assessment reports and other public sources. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to independently verify these historical results, and they should therefore be considered historical in nature.

About Silver Acadia Exploration Inc.

Silver Acadia Exploration Inc. (CSE: SLA) is a diversified mineral exploration company focused on creating shareholder value through the discovery and development of large-scale mineral systems in stable mining jurisdictions. The Company controls more than 250 km of prospective mineral claims in New Brunswick, Canada.

The Company's projects are located within and adjacent to the Bathurst Mining Camp and host exploration targets typical of the Appalachian geological environment including silver-lead-zinc VMS systems, structurally controlled gold systems, intrusion-related antimony-gold systems, and others.

Please follow Silver Acadia on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and activities to vary materially from targeted results and planning. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Silver Acadia' periodic reports, including the annual report, or in the filings made by Silver Acadia from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293953

Source: Silver Acadia Exploration Inc.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Decades of war, conflict, and economic hardship have plunged millions of Afghans into extreme poverty and food insecurity. Among the most vulnerable are infants, who face alarming rates of acute malnutrition. The shortage of professional medical services, combined with rising costs and limited humanitarian aid, leaves many families unable to access lifesaving treatment.

Combatting Infant Malnutrition with Breastfeeding

Action Against Hunger staff meet mothers every day who are desperate to get care for their babies - and the malnutrition situation in Afghanistan is only deteriorating.

The key to reducing malnutrition in infants is to promote exclusive breastfeeding for children under six months. According to the World Health Organization, breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child's nutritional needs during the second half of the first year. Additionally, breastfeeding can help protect babies against short-and long-term illnesses and diseases.

However, data collected by our teams shows that in 2024, about 85% of all children admitted to our therapeutic feeding units for treatment of severe acute malnutrition with complications were under 24 months old. This means most complicated cases occur during infancy, when children should be protected from developing malnutrition through the nutrients they receive via breastfeeding. The fact that infants are overrepresented in complicated cases is an indicator that malnutrition is rising among the general population, including mothers - who then face challenges producing breastmilk.

Barriers to Breastfeeding in Afghanistan

Action Against Hunger has identified four significant barriers to exclusive breastfeeding for children under six months in Afghanistan. All these constraints mean that mothers in Afghanistan may face challenges properly feeding their young children.

1. Financial Constraints and Labor

Economic hardships leave many families unable to provide enough food to make sure no one needs to go hungry. As mothers usually leave more food for their children, they are often the ones with the least food intake within their households, which can lead to malnutrition. In addition, mothers living in rural areas are often busy with heavy physical work like agriculture and farming, impeding their ability to breastfeed their children.

2. Lack of Access to Healthcare

Poor coverage of health facilities across Afghanistan contributes to issues in treating babies when they are suffering malnutrition. In fact, 10 million people in Afghanistan live more than a one-hour walking distance away from the nearest health facility. Walking for one hour or more may be impossible for those who are ill or weak. This is made worse in the winter, when high snowfall impedes access. Without public transport or proper road conditions, health facilities can be too far out of reach for some families.

Additionally, women are only allowed travel outside of their homes when accompanied by an immediate male relative, called a "mahram". If a mahram is not available, for example because they are working, then mothers cannot bring their children to health facilities.

3. Barriers to Women's Education and Healthcare Professionals

Education bans on women in Afghanistan have resulted in fewer female nurses, midwives, and doctors available to counsel female patients. This hinders the spread of information about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding techniques.

With fewer public spaces are available for women, there are less opportunities for them to learn about family planning, reproductive rights, and professional childcare. Women depend on the knowledge available in their immediate family. However, some have reported not knowing anyone in their immediate community they could ask for guidance.

4. Misinformation about Breastfeeding

Misinformation about breastfeeding is prevalent. Traditional beliefs sometimes discourage mothers from exclusive breastfeeding, and older members of the community often advise mothers to feed their baby with honey or butter.

The reasoning behind this advice varies. Some communities believe that clostrum (the first form of breastmilk released after giving birth) is impure and harmful to the baby, while others believe that a mother's milk is not sufficient for nourishing the child. Companies promoting formula milks often reiterate the latter piece of misinformation. It is a growing concern for our teams, who have observed increasing numbers of middle-class and educated families using formula milk.

Community Efforts to Fight Malnutrition

Action Against Hunger has been working with communities in Afghanistan to fight malnutrition since 1979. Our teams manage seven Therapeutic Feeding Units and support 40 health centers across the country. In each of Action Against Hunger's clinics, teams provide screening services for all children and medical treatment for all cases found to suffer from moderate or severe acute malnutrition, providing essential, lifesaving care.

Our teams' work also extends to community education services:

Clinics are equipped with child-friendly spaces with painted walls, cushions to sit on, and a variety of toys for children to choose from

Teams provide health education on optimal breastfeeding practices for caregivers

Educational sessions cover practices such as bathing, massaging, and proper breastfeeding techniques

A private consultation room is available for mothers to talk to nutrition and psychosocial counsellors

Awareness is raised among community elders on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for children, facilitating the spread of knowledge amongst the community that will be self-perpetuated in the long term.

With these services, information on the best practices to support breastfeeding and prevent malnutrition become more accessible to communities, helping ensure mothers and babies have the resources they need to thrive.

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Find more stories and multimedia from Action Against Hunger at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Action Against Hunger

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/action-against-hunger

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Action Against Hunger

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/addressing-worsening-infant-malnutrition-in-afghanistan-1160287
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Paragon Advanced Labs Inc. (TSXV: PALS) ("Paragon" or the "Company"), a leading provider of advanced geochemical and analytical laboratory services to the global mining industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Laurentiu Fulea as Canadian Operations Manager.

Laurentiu brings more than 15 years of international experience in laboratory operations, analytical chemistry, and mining services, with a proven track record of scaling and optimizing complex, multi-site operations. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as Paragon continues to expand its footprint and enhance its operational capabilities across Canada and internationally.

In his new role, Laurentiu will be responsible for overseeing Paragon's Canadian laboratory operations, with a focus on driving operational efficiency, maintaining best-in-class quality standards, and supporting the company's growth strategy through disciplined execution and continuous improvement.

Prior to joining Paragon Advanced Labs, Laurentiu held senior leadership roles with a multi-national laboratory group, where he was responsible for overseeing operations across multiple laboratories in diverse jurisdictions. He led initiatives spanning safety, financial performance, staffing optimization, capital deployment, and quality assurance, consistently delivering improved productivity and strong operational outcomes.

Laurentiu's experience includes managing laboratory networks supporting major mining operations globally, with deep technical expertise across fire assay, ICP, AAS, XRF, and other advanced analytical techniques. He has demonstrated success in improving turnaround times, enhancing quality control systems, and building high-performing teams in demanding environments.

"Laurentiu's appointment strengthens our operational bench at a critical stage in Paragon's growth," said Peter Shippen, CEO of Paragon Advanced Labs. "His deep operational expertise, combined with his global experience managing complex laboratory networks, will be instrumental as we scale our platform and execute on our expansion plans. We are building a business defined by quality, speed, and reliability, and Laurentiu will play a key role in delivering on that vision."

Laurentiu holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Physics from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University and a Certificate in Chemical Analysis from Universite du Quebec a Montreal. He is a member of the Ordre des chimistes du Quebec and is fluent in French, English, and Romanian.

"I am excited to join Paragon Advanced Labs during this phase of growth," said Laurentiu Fulea. "The Company's commitment to innovation and operational excellence presents a strong platform for expansion, and I look forward to contributing to the continued success and scalability of the business."

Shares for Debt

The Company further announce that it has completed the previously announced a shares-for-debt settlement (the "Debt Settlement"), as disclosed in its news release dated March 23, 2026.

Pursuant to the Debt Settlement, the Company has issued an aggregate of 80,000 common shares (the "Settlement Shares") at a deemed price of $3.00 per Settlement Share to settle $240,000 of outstanding indebtedness owing to Clarus Securities Inc. for advisory services rendered to the Company and completed on March 15, 2026.

The Settlement Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period until August 22, 2026 (4 months from issuance), in accordance with applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") policies.

The Company has received conditional acceptance from the Exchange in respect of the Debt Settlement.

About Paragon Advanced Labs Inc.

Paragon Advanced Labs Inc. provides innovative analytical technologies to the global mining industry. By embracing new technology, the Company is addressing critical capacity bottlenecks in mineral assaying through the deployment of PhotonAssay technology and complementary analytical solutions. The Company delivers faster, more accurate, and cost-effective mineral analysis for mining operators worldwide.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans, business objectives, strategy, financial or operational performance, exploration or development programs, future market conditions, and other future events or conditions.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "should," "will," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's public filings available under its profile on SEDAR+. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293957

Source: Paragon Advanced Labs Inc.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Firefly , the global leader in moving out-of-home (OOH) advertising, today announced an integration with VIOOH , the leading premium global digital out-of-home (DOOH) supply-side platform.

The integration provides an additional programmatic pathway for advertisers to discover and activate Firefly's inventory through VIOOH's global platform. Buyers can access Firefly's network via major demand-side platforms (DSPs), enabling seamless, data-driven campaign execution across high-impact, street-level environments.

Unlocking Programmatic Access to Moving Media

Through this integration, advertisers can now access Firefly's moving fleet and digital car top network via VIOOH's platform, enabling streamlined, data-driven campaign activation across mobile OOH formats. The partnership connects Firefly's inventory to a global ecosystem of demand-side platforms, allowing brands to plan, buy, and optimize campaigns in real time within familiar programmatic workflows.

While programmatic DOOH has historically been centered around stationary formats, integrating moving media into these workflows has often been more complex. This integration further simplifies that process, making mobility-based inventory easier to access and activate alongside traditional DOOH.

By complementing stationary placements with mobility and route-based urban coverage, Firefly enables campaigns to extend beyond fixed locations and reach audiences continuously as they move through the city.

Expanding Reach Across the Urban Landscape

Firefly's network of more than 60,000 screens delivers coverage across key urban environments, reaching consumers throughout their daily journeys. By integrating with VIOOH, Firefly extends its existing programmatic footprint, enabling advertisers to activate campaigns that move with audiences across neighborhoods, transit corridors, and high-traffic areas.

The integration supports all programmatic buying methods, offering flexibility for both brand and performance-driven campaigns.

A Step Forward for Programmatic DOOH

Firefly's integration with VIOOH makes its inventory more accessible and easier to activate within programmatic workflows. Advertisers can seamlessly plan, buy, and execute campaigns across mobility-based formats using the same systems they rely on across the broader programmatic ecosystem.

As advertisers increasingly prioritize flexibility and efficiency, the integration removes friction from the activation process, enabling faster deployment and more streamlined campaign management across dynamic, street-level environments.

By bringing mobility-based inventory into VIOOH's infrastructure, the partnership expands the range of formats available programmatically while aligning with how modern campaigns are planned and executed today.

"This integration is about making moving media as intuitive to plan and activate as any other format in the programmatic ecosystem," said Altug Simsek, Chief Business and Strategy Officer at Firefly. "At Firefly, we've built the largest and most scaled mobility-based out-of-home network, and we're focused on bringing mobility into the core of how modern campaigns are planned and executed. By connecting Firefly's network to VIOOH's global platform, we're creating an additional buying pathway for advertisers to incorporate mobility-based inventory alongside other OOH formats, unlocking greater reach, stronger frequency, and more effective campaign performance through continuous, citywide coverage."

"Our integration with Firefly brings moving media inventory into the programmatic ecosystem in a way that is seamless and straightforward for buyers to activate," said Gavin Wilson, Global Chief Commercial Officer at VIOOH. "Through programmatic buying via VIOOH's supply-side platform, advertisers gain enhanced flexibility, precision targeting and improved efficiency, ensuring maximum impact and measurable results. With Firefly's 60,000 screen network, advertisers can now reach audiences throughout their daily travels, complementing static creative with a truly dynamic, citywide presence."

About Firefly

Firefly is the global leader in moving out-of-home advertising, with a network of more than 60,000 screens across all major U.S. markets and operations in 7 countries, delivering over 13 billion impressions each month. Firefly transforms traditional static environments into dynamic engagement platforms through car top displays and branded wraps on taxi and rideshare vehicles, along with experiential activations. Leveraging its digital car top network and moving fleet, Firefly provides geo-targeted reach and contextual targeting, enabling brands to deliver relevant messages in real time.

Firefly is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, London, and Istanbul.

For more information visit www.fireflyon.com .

Firefly's latest news and updates are available on LinkedIn , Instagram , X , and Vimeo .

For media inquiries, contact:

Ece Daviso

ece.daviso@fireflyon.com

About VIOOH

VIOOH is a leading premium global digital out-of-home supply-side platform.

Launched in 2018 and with headquarters in London, VIOOH's platform connects buyers and sellers in a premium marketplace, making OOH easily accessible.

Led by a team of digital OOH and programmatic tech experts, VIOOH is pioneering the transformation of the OOH sector, championing its role in enhancing omni-channel digital campaigns using programmatic capabilities and data. VIOOH currently trades programmatically in 37 markets and drives demand through partnerships with +50 DSPs globally, with more to follow.

For more information about VIOOH, please visit www.viooh.com or follow us on LinkedIn .

SOURCE: Firefly Systems Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/firefly-expands-programmatic-capabilities-through-integration-wi-1160285
Oak Brook, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Adriene Mirelly da Silva, a 13-year-old student from Palmares, Brazil, has been named the grand prize winner of the 2025-2026 Lions International Peace Essay Contest, sponsored by the Palmares Lions Club.

The Lions International Peace Essay Contest encourages young people with visual impairments, ages 11-13, to share their perspectives on peace through writing. This year's theme, "Together as One," inspired thousands of students worldwide to reflect on unity, empathy and human connection.

Da Silva's essay was selected as the international grand prize winner for its powerful message that peace begins with compassion and understanding. Living with low vision, she wrote about how her experience has shaped her belief that true unity comes from looking beyond appearances.

"The message I want to convey is that peace begins within each of us, when we learn to see people beyond appearances," said de Silva, a seventh-grade student at Escola Municipal de Santa Luiza. "Even with my low vision, I learned that the most important thing is not what the eyes see, but what the heart feels."

A.P. Singh, president of Lions Clubs International, congratulated da Silva on her achievement and praised the powerful message of her essay.

"Adriene's words remind us that peace begins with empathy and understanding," Singh said. "Through programs like the Peace Essay Contest, Lions empower young people around the world to reflect on how compassion and respect can transform the world around us and create a more peaceful future for all."

Da Silva said she hopes her story inspires other young people with vision impairments to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. In addition to writing, de Silva enjoys reading, traveling and singing in her church choir, and she aspires to become a pediatrician or veterinarian one day.

The Lions International Peace Essay Contest is open to students with visual impairments ages 11-13 and invites participants to explore the theme of peace through writing.

As the 2025-2026 grand prize winner, da Silva will receive:

US$5,000 cash award

An engraved award

A trip to a special awards ceremony accompanied by two family members

About the Lions International Peace Essay Contest

The Lions International Peace Essay Contest is an international youth writing competition for students with visual impairments ages 11-13. The program promotes peace, inclusion and global understanding by encouraging young people to express their ideas through creative writing.

Lions clubs worldwide sponsor the Peace Essay Contest locally, advancing winning entries through district, multiple district and international levels of judging.

About Lions International

Lions International represents Lions Clubs International and Lions Clubs International Foundation. Lions take on some of the greatest challenges facing our communities and the world through the service of 1.4 million members in 50,000 clubs and the grant-funding support of our foundation. We improve health and well-being, strengthen communities and support those in need, locally and globally. At Lions International, we are serving a world in need.

Learn more at lionsclubs.org.

______________________________________________________________________

2025-2026 Lions International Peace Essay Grand Prize Winner

Adriene Mirelly da Silva, Age 13

"Together We Are One: The Truth Beyond Appearances"

Most people learn about the world through light and color. They see borders, differences in skin tone, the lines that separate the "us" from the "other." I also see light, but it reaches me softly, without the sharpness that creates filters and categories. I was born with low vision, and that taught me that Peace does not begin with sight, but with the voluntary blindness of judgment.

The theme "Together We Are One" requires us to look inward. The world's disharmony, wars, exclusion, are not accidents. They are the result of a miscalculation of visuals. Society is taught to value what is large, tall, beautiful, or equal to what is in the mirror. And everything that does not fit this image is, very often, rejected, feared, or silenced. For me, people are revealed by something more intimate. They are the vibration of their step on the sidewalk, the change in breath before a question, the quality of the silence they share. The color of your skin is a blur, but the color of your soul revealed by how you treat the vulnerable or how you use your words is perfectly clear. My experience shows that the only thing that truly separates people is the distance between mind and heart.

In this universe, we are all made of the same cosmic material. The atom that makes up my hand is the same that forms the mountain and the same that resides in the heart of someone who lives on the other side of the planet. We are the - composition, but we dress ourselves in different packaging. When we cling to the packaging-the visible and superficial-we break the unity.

Being "Together We Are One" does not mean we have to agree on everything or erase our identities. On the contrary. True unity is an act of radical acceptance. It means I value your difference because it complements my imperfect view of the world. It means your joy is, in some way, my joy, and your pain is a crack in the foundation of my own security. If we could, for a moment, collectively close our eyes, we would not see who has more or less, who is strong or weak, who is from here or there. We would feel only the shared urgency to live, to love, and to protect our only home. We would feel the invisible thread that does not need light to be perceived.

Peace is not a distant destination, but the revelation of our unity. It is the moment when humanity finally recognizes the truth beyond appearances: we are more than the sum of our visible parts. We are one Unique body, pulsating together in the dark, eager for light, but already connected by our deepest essence. And this is the truth I have learned to see, without the need of my eyes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/292753

Source: Lions International
On April 27th, Monsanto will argue before the U.S. Supreme Court in Durnell v. Monsanto, a Roundup case involving the application of federal preemption under FIFRA. A favorable ruling by the Supreme Court would provide essential regulatory clarity for companies who seek to bring currently approved and new products to market, addressing their ability to serve U.S. farmers and consumers. Former Solicitor General Paul Clement will argue the case for Monsanto.

More than 100 government, farm, business and non-profit groups including the U.S. government --joined amici briefs in support of Monsanto's position, urging the nation's highest court to affirm Congress' intent in including a "Uniformity" provision in FIFRA, and prevent a patchwork of state laws and labelling requirements which would threaten businesses, the economy, and farmers. Read more about the amici support for Monsanto here.

Monsanto also released the following statement regarding the oral argument in Durnell

"Congress enacted FIFRA to establish a uniform, nationwide framework governing pesticide registration and labeling, and companies should not face liability under state law for complying with federally approved and science-based labeling requirements. Allowing such claims to proceed invites a patchwork of state standards that conflict with the uniformity objective Congress prescribed in law and creates regulatory uncertainties that impede the development of new agricultural innovations. The security and affordability of the nation's food supply depend on farmers' and manufacturers' ability to rely on the science-based judgments of federal regulators. Clarification from the Court is essential to restore uniformity, certainty, and the rule of law."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423924443/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Brian Leake

(314) 370.3285
New access to key APAC platforms helps global enterprises understand fragmented global audiences and act with greater confidence

BRIGHTON, United Kingdom, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandwatch, a Cision company and global leader in social and media intelligence, today announced expanded data coverage across key Asia-Pacific platforms, helping global enterprises address a growing challenge: the gap between access to data and true audience understanding.

Despite unprecedented volumes of data, a recent study by Brandwatch found that just 25% of marketers truly understand their audiences. Signals are everywhere, but they are not connected in a way that supports confident decision making.

One of the main reasons is incomplete data.

Many global enterprises still rely on signals from a limited set of predominantly Western platforms. But consumer behavior is global, and much of it is shaped across ecosystems that remain underrepresented in traditional data models.

APAC is home to over 2.5 billion social media users and is driving some of the most influential trends in commerce, culture, and content.

Yet many strategies are built on a partial view of the world. Success in these markets requires more than simple translation. It requires cultural intelligence, built on clear understanding of the conversations, behaviors, and signals that define the APAC digital landscape.

Brandwatch's expanded coverage includes access to leading APAC platforms such as WeChat, Weibo, and RedNote, each playing a critical role in shaping consumer behavior, product discovery, and brand perception across the region.

This coverage is delivered through curated datasets, designed to surface the most relevant signals and emerging trends, without overwhelming teams with raw data.

By the time these signals appear in Western platforms, the opportunity to engage has often passed. Earlier visibility changes that. It enables brands to anticipate shifts, act with confidence, and shape outcomes.

Through its innovative intelligence layer, Iris AI, Brandwatch transforms and aggregates complex, multilingual data into actionable insight, helping teams interpret signals across languages, scripts, and cultural contexts.

Combined with regional expertise across APAC and global insights support, Brandwatch helps teams to move from fragmented signals to a more complete view of their audience.

"The brands that win in the next era won't be the ones with more data, they'll be the ones with a more complete view of the world," said Jim Daxner, Chief Product Officer at Cision. "Too many decisions are still being made on partial signals. Deepening our data coverage in APAC helps our customers see the full picture, and act on it with confidence."

As consumer behavior becomes increasingly global and fragmented, the ability to connect signals across regions will define how effectively brands understand their audiences, and how confidently they act on that understanding.

About Brandwatch

Brandwatch is the leading social media management and consumer intelligence suite, empowering brands to see and be seen, understand and be understood, by the audiences that matter most. Trusted by half of the Forbes 100, Brandwatch equips the world's most innovative companies with AI-powered insights and tools to seize opportunities,?strengthen engagement and accelerate growth.

Our comprehensive suite spans consumer intelligence, influencer marketing, and social media management, enabling brands and agencies to execute data-driven strategies at scale.

Brandwatch?is part of the?Cision?family of brands, alongside?CisionOne, Trajaan,?and?PR Newswire.

Media Contact:

Cision Public Relations

CisionPR@cision.com

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NEW YORK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand dedicated to inspiring people to live spectacular, sustainable lives, was worn by Hungarian model and actress Barbara Palvin's April 15 Instagram post, where she wore pieces from the brand's new SilkContour activewear line. The appearance brings fresh visibility to SilkContour, LILYSILK's new material innovation launched on March 18.

In the post, Palvin appears in two SilkContour looks that reflect the collection's balance of comfort, movement and refined design. In one look, she wears the SilkContour Air Touch Bra and SilkContour Drape Flow Pant in Coffee Bean. In the other, she wears the SilkContour Streamline Bra and SilkContour Streamline Legging in Black. Together, the looks present SilkContour as a natural extension of LILYSILK's design language into activewear.

Launched on March 18, SilkContour is LILYSILK's new activewear line designed to deliver soft comfort, ease of movement and a smooth, body-skimming fit. Echoing Palvin's own words, "Loving the comfort of SilkContour," the line brings together a light, flexible feel with a polished everyday look.

Palvin's appearance in SilkContour also builds on her ongoing connection with the brand. In August 2025, she wore a full LILYSILK look during the Venice Film Festival. In November 2025, she was again seen in LILYSILK during Paris Fashion Week. In February 2026, Palvin also shared an Instagram post featuring herself in the LILYSILK Silk Charmeuse Pinstripe Shirt. Together, these moments reflect LILYSILK's continued visibility across different wearing occasions and style settings.

"We couldn't be more excited to see Barbara Palvin in SilkContour," said David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK. "Barbara has long been a powerful voice for body positivity. Her natural curves and non-standard runway measurements have helped broaden how beauty is seen today. That spirit aligns closely with SilkContour, which is designed to trace the body's natural lines without compression. We appreciate the way she brings confidence and ease to the look."

With SilkContour, LILYSILK continues to expand its offering across fashion, home and lifestyle, while bringing its signature natural fiber expertise into a new category. The line introduces a softer and more elevated perspective on activewear for consumers seeking comfort, versatility and understated style.

For more information, visit LILYSILK's official website at www.lilysilk.com, and follow @lilysilk on Instagram and @Lilysilk on Facebook.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/barbara-palvin-in-lilysilks-new-silkcontour-activewear-302751168.html
BANGALORE, India, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

What is the Market Size of DC High Power Chargers?

The global market for DC High Power Charger was valued at USD 28450 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 64160 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period.

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What are the key factors driving the growth of the DC High Power Charger Market?

The DC high power charger market is expanding as charging networks shift from basic availability to corridor-grade reliability, faster vehicle turnaround, and higher site throughput. Market momentum is being shaped by rising expectations for short dwell times, broader deployment of long-distance electric mobility, and operator preference for charging assets that can serve multiple vehicle classes with stronger utilization. Commercial site owners, fleet-linked destinations, highway operators, and urban fast-charging hubs are prioritizing systems that reduce queue pressure and improve charger productivity. The market is also benefiting from tighter integration between charging hardware, power management, payment layers, and network operations, which is pushing procurement toward scalable, service-oriented, and uptime-focused infrastructure strategies.

Source from Valuates Reports: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-36X5446/global-dc-high-power-charger

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE DC HIGH POWER CHARGER MARKET:

The above-range high power charger category is driving market growth by enabling charging networks to serve premium long-range electric vehicles, high-traffic transport corridors, and locations where turnaround speed directly affects utilization. This segment strengthens the business case for fast-charging hubs because it supports shorter charging sessions, reduces congestion during peak periods, and improves site economics in spaces with limited parking turnover. It is also becoming important for operators that want future-ready assets capable of handling next-generation vehicle architectures and larger battery packs. As charging demand shifts from occasional top-up behavior to travel-critical infrastructure, this segment is reinforcing investment in high-capacity sites built for throughput, network reputation, and long-term competitive positioning.

The lower fast-charging band continues to drive market growth by giving operators a practical route to scale charging access across cities, retail zones, workplaces, parking destinations, and intercity routes without the heavier power burden associated with ultra-high-capacity systems. This segment is attractive because it balances charging speed, site economics, grid compatibility, and installation flexibility, making it suitable for broader rollout strategies. It supports use cases where drivers need meaningful recharge within a manageable stop duration while allowing network owners to expand footprint across more locations. Its importance remains strong because market growth depends not only on the fastest chargers, but also on the widespread availability of dependable fast charging that can serve everyday electric mobility patterns efficiently.

Battery electric vehicles are the strongest application-side driver for the DC high power charger market because they depend directly on public fast-charging availability for long-distance travel, high-mileage usage, and confidence beyond home charging access. As the BEV base expands across private ownership, commercial mobility, ride-linked operations, and corporate fleets, the requirement for rapid and dependable public charging grows with it. BEV users place greater importance on route continuity, charging speed, and network accessibility, which lifts demand for higher-power infrastructure across both urban and highway locations. This application segment is shaping charger deployment priorities, site design, and capacity planning, making BEV growth the central demand engine behind fast-charging network expansion.

Expansion along highways and major transit corridors is a major growth factor because DC high power chargers are increasingly being positioned as mobility infrastructure rather than optional convenience assets. Corridor deployment helps eliminate range anxiety during longer trips and supports intercity travel behavior that slower charging formats cannot address effectively. Operators are prioritizing locations that connect urban centers, logistics routes, and destination clusters, which increases demand for chargers designed for rapid turnover and dependable uptime. This corridor-led pattern is pushing the market toward larger-format charging sites, better traffic handling, and stronger service consistency, all of which expand the addressable market for high power charging systems.

Fleet electrification is accelerating market growth because commercial operators need charging systems that minimize idle time and keep vehicles in active service. Delivery fleets, mobility operators, shuttle services, and institutional vehicle pools increasingly require fast and repeatable charging windows that align with operating schedules rather than residential charging behavior. DC high power chargers fit this requirement by supporting tighter turnaround cycles and reducing the operational friction associated with battery replenishment. As fleet managers evaluate route efficiency, asset utilization, and depot or public charging dependency, demand rises for charging infrastructure that can sustain predictable service levels under high daily use conditions.

A strong focus on site throughput is driving investment in DC high power charging because network owners are under pressure to serve more vehicles per location without expanding physical footprint excessively. Faster charging capability improves stall turnover, lowers queue buildup, and supports better revenue generation from high-demand sites. This matters especially in transport nodes, dense urban areas, retail destinations, and highway hubs where land, grid access, and parking efficiency shape infrastructure decisions. The market is therefore moving toward charger configurations that maximize service output per site, making high power systems increasingly attractive for operators seeking stronger utilization and improved network economics.

Retail centers, fuel-linked destinations, hospitality properties, and mixed-use sites are contributing to market growth as they treat fast charging as a traffic-generation and dwell-time optimization tool. DC high power chargers help these locations capture EV users who value convenience, short stop durations, and route-based charging access. For site hosts, the charger becomes more than an energy asset; it becomes a customer acquisition and retention instrument tied to visit quality and spending behavior. This commercial logic is expanding the market beyond dedicated charging operators and bringing in a wider base of property owners that want to participate in EV traffic capture through faster on-site charging capability.

Grid-aware deployment is also driving the market because charging providers are increasingly choosing solutions that balance high charging output with smarter power allocation across multiple dispensers and site conditions. As projects move from isolated installations to networked charging hubs, infrastructure decisions are being shaped by load sharing, demand management, and site-level power optimization. DC high power chargers are benefiting from this shift because they are often deployed within broader energy-managed systems that improve charger performance without wasting available capacity. This planning approach helps unlock more viable project locations and supports scalable charger deployment in areas where raw electrical capacity alone may otherwise restrict rollout.

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What are the major types in the DC High Power Charger Market?

50kw-150kw

150kw-350kw

350kw Above

What are the main applications of the DC High Power Charger Market?

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Battery Electric Vehicle

Key Players in the DC High Power Charger Market

Eaton provides DC fast charging infrastructure and electrical systems supporting high-power EV charging and fleet electrification.

provides DC fast charging infrastructure and electrical systems supporting high-power EV charging and fleet electrification. ABB develops high-power DC fast chargers widely deployed in public, commercial, and highway EV charging networks.

develops high-power DC fast chargers widely deployed in public, commercial, and highway EV charging networks. XCharge Inc. designs high-power DC charging systems, including solutions integrated with energy storage for EV infrastructure.

designs high-power DC charging systems, including solutions integrated with energy storage for EV infrastructure. BYD manufactures electric vehicles and produces DC fast charging equipment as part of its integrated e-mobility ecosystem.

manufactures electric vehicles and produces DC fast charging equipment as part of its integrated e-mobility ecosystem. Fastned operates a network of high-power DC fast charging stations across Europe powered by renewable energy.

operates a network of high-power DC fast charging stations across Europe powered by renewable energy. IES Synergy develops DC fast charging stations and smart energy management solutions for EV infrastructure.

develops DC fast charging stations and smart energy management solutions for EV infrastructure. EVgo operates a large public DC fast-charging network, providing high-power charging services for electric vehicles.

operates a large public DC fast-charging network, providing high-power charging services for electric vehicles. EVBox supplies DC fast charging stations and scalable EV charging infrastructure solutions for commercial and public use.

supplies DC fast charging stations and scalable EV charging infrastructure solutions for commercial and public use. Siemens offers high-power EV charging systems integrated with smart grid and energy management technologies.

offers high-power EV charging systems integrated with smart grid and energy management technologies. Allego BV operates ultra-fast DC charging networks across Europe for public and fleet electric vehicle charging.

operates ultra-fast DC charging networks across Europe for public and fleet electric vehicle charging. Phoenix Contact manufactures EV charging hardware, including DC fast chargers and power electronics components.

manufactures EV charging hardware, including DC fast chargers and power electronics components. Tesla Inc. operates a global Supercharger network featuring high-power DC charging technology for rapid EV charging.

operates a global Supercharger network featuring high-power DC charging technology for rapid EV charging. GARO develops EV charging equipment, including DC fast chargers for residential, commercial, and public applications.

develops EV charging equipment, including DC fast chargers for residential, commercial, and public applications. Ensto Group provides EV charging systems, including DC fast chargers integrated with intelligent energy solutions.

provides EV charging systems, including DC fast chargers integrated with intelligent energy solutions. ChargePoint operates a large global EV charging network and supplies DC fast charging solutions for multiple use cases.

operates a large global EV charging network and supplies DC fast charging solutions for multiple use cases. Leviton manufactures EV charging infrastructure and electrical components supporting DC fast charging installations.

manufactures EV charging infrastructure and electrical components supporting DC fast charging installations. Blink (Blink Charging) provides EV charging equipment and network services, including DC fast charging stations.

(Blink Charging) provides EV charging equipment and network services, including DC fast charging stations. Schneider Electric delivers integrated EV charging solutions, including high-power DC chargers within its energy management portfolio.

delivers integrated EV charging solutions, including high-power DC chargers within its energy management portfolio. General Electric develops power conversion and electrical infrastructure technologies that support DC fast charging systems.

develops power conversion and electrical infrastructure technologies that support DC fast charging systems. AeroVironment supplies EV charging systems, including fast charging solutions for commercial and industrial applications.

supplies EV charging systems, including fast charging solutions for commercial and industrial applications. Panasonic supports EV charging infrastructure through battery technology and energy systems integration.

supports EV charging infrastructure through battery technology and energy systems integration. Chargemaster (BP Pulse) operates rapid and ultra-fast DC charging networks across multiple regions.

(BP Pulse) operates rapid and ultra-fast DC charging networks across multiple regions. Auto Electric Power Plant provides EV charging equipment and DC fast charging solutions for industrial and commercial applications.

Which region dominates the DC High Power Charger Market?

Asia-Pacific remains a major growth center due to rapid electric vehicle adoption, urban charging pressure, and strong manufacturing-linked ecosystem development across key mobility markets. In other regions, growth is emerging through selective corridor projects, city-based fast-charging hubs, and early network formation around high-traffic routes.

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What are some related markets to the DC High Power Charger Market?

The global Vehicle-to-Grid Technology market is projected to grow from USD 805.1 Million in 2024 to USD 3236.9 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 26.1% during the forecast period.

EV Charging Connectors Market

EV Home AC Charger Market

The global Split Type DC Ultra-fast Charging System market was valued at USD 1592 Million in 2025 and is anticipated to reach USD 5210 Million by 2032, at a CAGR of 18.7% from 2026 to 2032.

The global market for Wireless EV Charging System was valued at USD 325 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1049 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period.

The global market for Electric Vehicle Battery-Swapping was valued at USD 1239 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 3189 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 14.4% during the forecast period.

The global market for Megawatt Battery Energy Storage System was valued at USD 1251 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 2549 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period.

EV Power Electronics Controller Unit Market

The global GaN and SiC Power Semiconductor market size was USD 5279 Million in 2024 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 21056 Million by 2031 with a CAGR of 21.0% during the forecast period 2025-2031.

Microgrid Management System Market

The global market for EV DC Chargers was valued at USD 3729 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 14480 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 21.7% during the forecast period.

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LONDON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The global automotive parts aftermarket is growing steadily, expected to be valued at around US$ 676.5 billion in 2026 and projected to reach US$ 984.2 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 5.5% in the coming years. This expansion is driven by the rising average age of vehicles, increasing miles driven, and the need for regular maintenance and part replacement. As vehicles remain in use longer, demand for components such as brakes, filters, batteries, and engine parts continues to rise. Market dynamics highlight a strong shift toward digital platforms, improving accessibility and pricing transparency for consumers and workshops worldwide.

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Increasing Preference for Cost-Effective Repairs and Independent Aftermarket Growth

A key driver of the automotive parts aftermarket market is the growing consumer preference for cost-effective repair and maintenance solutions over expensive OEM replacements. As vehicle ownership costs rise, both individual consumers and fleet operators are increasingly opting for competitively priced aftermarket components that offer comparable performance and durability. This shift is particularly strong once vehicles move beyond manufacturer warranty periods, where dependence on independent service providers rises significantly. The expansion of the global vehicle fleet, now approaching billions of units, creates a vast and continuous demand base for replacement parts and repair services. Vehicles operating beyond warranty coverage rely heavily on independent aftermarket channels, supporting steady revenue streams across distributors, retailers, and service providers.

Consumer awareness around maintenance and repair has also improved, with more vehicle owners proactively replacing worn components to avoid major breakdowns. This trend supports recurring demand for essential parts such as filters, brake systems, and engine components. In 2025, the shift toward independent aftermarket channels continued to strengthen, with retailers and service networks expanding their reach through competitive pricing, wider product availability, and enhanced service offerings. Market participants are responding by improving distribution efficiency and offering diversified product lines to capture demand across both premium and value-oriented segments.

Key Highlights

The global automotive parts aftermarket is projected to reach US$ 984.2 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2026.

Engine and transmission components lead the market with 26% share, driven by consistent replacement demand across vehicle lifecycles.

Electrical components emerge as the fastest-growing segment, advancing at a CAGR of 6.4% due to rising vehicle electrification and ADAS adoption.

Asia Pacific dominates with 36% market share, supported by large vehicle parc and strong manufacturing ecosystems.

Emerging markets in South Asia and ASEAN are witnessing the fastest growth, fueled by rising vehicle ownership and service network expansion.

Rapid digitalization and e-commerce integration are transforming distribution channels, improving accessibility and delivery efficiency.

The global automotive parts remanufacturing market size is projected to be at US$74.0 billion in 2026 and is anticipated to reach US$114.24 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% between 2026 and 2033.

Growth of E-commerce and Digital Distribution Channels

The rapid expansion of e-commerce platforms is transforming the automotive parts aftermarket landscape. Digital channels are enabling consumers and workshops to access a wide range of components with greater convenience, competitive pricing, and faster delivery. This shift is particularly significant in the B2C segment, where individual vehicle owners increasingly prefer online purchasing options. The global auto parts e-commerce aftermarket alone is projected to grow significantly, reflecting strong adoption of digital purchasing behavior. Online platforms provide detailed product information, compatibility tools, and customer reviews, reducing the risk of incorrect purchases and enhancing user confidence.

Advancements such as AI-powered recommendations and augmented reality-based fitment tools are further improving the customer experience. These technologies help users identify the correct parts for their vehicles, minimizing returns and increasing operational efficiency for suppliers. The integration of mobile apps and quick-commerce models is also accelerating delivery timelines, particularly in urban markets. In regions such as Asia Pacific, the rise of digital ecosystems and increasing internet penetration are driving rapid adoption of online aftermarket platforms. Meanwhile, North America and Europe continue to lead in omnichannel strategies, combining physical retail networks with advanced digital interfaces.

Key Highlight: Holley and Malco Automotive Partnership for High-Performance Car Care Launch (2026)

A standout development in 2026 was the partnership between Holley Performance Brands and Malco Automotive to launch a new Holley High-Performance Car Care product line. This collaboration introduced a six-product lineup of automotive detailing solutions designed specifically for performance-focused vehicle enthusiasts, marking Holley's entry into the vehicle appearance care segment.

The partnership combines Holley's strong brand recognition among automotive enthusiasts with Malco's decades of expertise in professional-grade detailing formulations. The new range includes products such as Wash + Wax, Speed Wash, Speed Finish, Tire Shine, Wheel Clean, and Interior Protect, offering a complete system to clean, protect, and enhance vehicle appearance.

Strategically, this launch expands Holley's existing automotive chemicals portfolio, previously focused on fuel systems, exhaust cleaners, and engine maintenance, into a high-frequency purchase category. The move aims to increase customer engagement across the entire vehicle ownership lifecycle and create additional revenue streams within the aftermarket ecosystem.

This development signals a shift in the automotive aftermarket toward integrated product ecosystems, where companies extend beyond core mechanical components into recurring-use consumables like car care and detailing products. The partnership also highlights how collaboration between brand-driven aftermarket players and formulation specialists can accelerate entry into adjacent, high-growth categories.

Segmentation Insights: Powertrain Components Lead While Advanced Electrical Systems Emerge as Fastest-Growing Segment in Aftermarket Evolution

Engine and transmission components lead the automotive parts aftermarket, accounting for approximately 26% of the market share, driven by their critical role in vehicle performance and consistent replacement demand across all vehicle categories. Strong demand for pistons, piston rings, oil filters, and transmission components continues to support this segment, backed by mature supply chains and widespread service expertise. At the same time, electrical components represent the fastest-growing segment, expanding at a CAGR of 6.4%, fueled by rising vehicle electrification and increasing integration of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Growing demand for sensors, batteries, alternators, and electronic control units reflects the shift toward connected and electronically complex vehicles. A notable development includes the increasing adoption of LED lighting systems and smart sensors in the aftermarket, as consumers upgrade older vehicles with modern electronic features. This dual trend highlights a transition where traditional powertrain components ensure volume stability, while electrical systems drive future growth and innovation in the aftermarket landscape.

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Regional Insights: Asia Pacific Leads Global Demand While Emerging Markets Accelerate Fastest Growth Momentum

Asia Pacific dominates the automotive parts aftermarket market, accounting for approximately 36% of market share, driven by large vehicle populations and expanding automotive industries in countries such as China and India. Rapid urbanization, rising disposable income, and increasing vehicle ownership continue to fuel aftermarket demand across the region. North America holds a significant share of around 29%, supported by a well-established automotive ecosystem and high vehicle ownership rates. The region benefits from advanced distribution networks, strong presence of organized aftermarket players, and growing adoption of digital sales channels. The U.S. market, in particular, is driven by aging vehicles and increasing demand for maintenance services. Europe contributes approximately 24% of the global market, characterized by a mature automotive sector and strong regulatory frameworks promoting vehicle maintenance and sustainability. The region is witnessing steady demand for high-quality replacement parts, particularly in the electric vehicle segment.

Key Players and Business Strategies

Leading players in the automotive parts aftermarket include Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, Denso Corporation, Valeo, Delphi Technologies (PHINIA), Mahle Group, AutoZone Inc., O'Reilly Automotive, LKQ Corporation, and Genuine Parts Company.

Robert Bosch GmbH focuses on expanding its aftermarket portfolio through advanced diagnostics and connected solutions, enhancing service efficiency.

Continental AG invests in digital platforms and smart mobility solutions to strengthen its aftermarket presence.

Denso Corporation emphasizes innovation in thermal and powertrain components, catering to both ICE and EV segments.

AutoZone and O'Reilly Automotive leverage extensive retail networks and omnichannel strategies to improve customer reach.

LKQ Corporation and Genuine Parts Company focus on distribution efficiency, acquisitions, and inventory expansion to maintain competitive positioning.

These strategies highlight a strong focus on digitalization, supply chain optimization, and product innovation. Companies are increasingly investing in e-commerce capabilities, partnerships, and advanced technologies to capture growth opportunities in the evolving aftermarket ecosystem.

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Market Segmentation

By Component

Engine & Transmission Parts Pistons & Piston Rings Oil Filters & Pumps Air Filters Clutch Transmission Filters

Brake Parts Brake Pads Brake Calipers Brake Rotors Brake Shoes Brake Drums

Electrical Parts Starters Alternators Batteries Light Bulbs Sensors

Fuel Intake & Ignition Parts Fuel Filters Fuel Injectors Spark Plugs Glow Plugs Fuel Pumps

A/C Parts Cabin Air Filters Compressors Condensers Blower Motors

Suspension Parts Shock Absorbers Leaf Springs Coil Springs Air Springs

Exhaust Parts Exhaust Pipes Mufflers

Engine Cooling Parts Radiators Radiator Fans Intercoolers Water Pumps

Steering Parts

Wheels

Tires

By Vehicle Type

Passenger Vehicles

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Off-Road Vehicles

Others

By Sales Channel

Independent Aftermarket Retailers

Wholesalers & Distributors

Authorized OEM Dealerships

Online / E-commerce Platforms

Miscellaneous

Related Automotive Market Reports:

Automotive Parts Remanufacturing Market Product Type (Engine & Related Parts, Transmission & Related Parts, Electricals & Electronics, Wheel & Brakes Related, AC Compressors, Steering, Fuel System, Others), Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicle, Heavy Commercial Vehicle, Off-Highway Vehicle, All-Terrain Vehicles), and Regional Analysis 2026 to 2033.

Auto Parts Manufacturing Market by Part (Powertrain, Chassis & Body, Interior, Electrical and Electronics Components, Lighting), by Vehicle Type (Passenger Vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Commercial Vehicles, and Electric Vehicle), End-user, and Regional Analysis for 2025 - 2032.

Automotive Trim Parts Market by Product Type (Exterior, Interior), Material Type (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polypropylene (PP), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)), Others), End-user (Original Equipment Manufacturer, Aftermarket), and Regional Analysis from 2025 - 2032.

Automotive Fasteners Market By Product Type (Bolts, Nuts, Screws, Others), Material (Metal, Plastic), Vehicle (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), Others), Design (Threaded and Non-threaded), and Regional Analysis for 2025 - 2032.

Europe Automotive Parts Remanufacturing Market By Product Type (Engine & Related Parts, Transmission & Related Parts, Electricals & Electronics, Wheel and Brakes Related, AC Compressors, Steering, Fuel System, Others), Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Commercial Vehicles), and Regional Analysis for 2025 - 2032.

Automotive Performance Accessories Market by Product Type (Exhaust System, Suspension Parts, Brake Parts, Transmission Parts), Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs)), Sales Channel (First Fit, Aftermarket), and Regional Analysis for 2026-2033.

Europe Automotive Aluminum Extruded Parts Market by Product(Sub-structures, Front Side Rails, Sub-frames), Material(6000 series, 7000 series, 5000 series), Vehicle (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Electric Vehicles), and Regional Analysis 2026 - 2033.

Forged Automotive Components Market by Vehicle Type (Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles, Passenger Vehicles), Forging Process (Impression Die Forging (Hydraulic Presses, Mechanical Presses, Hammers), Cold Forging, Open Die Forging, Seamless Rolled Ring Forging), Material, Automotive Component, Application, Regional Analysis, 2026 - 2033.

Automotive MCU Market by Product Type (8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit), Application (ADAS and Basic Safety, Body, Comfort, and Vehicle Lighting, Infotainment Components, Powertrain Components), Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Electric Vehicles), and Regional Analysis from 2026 to 2033.

Automotive Spring Aftermarket Market by Component Type (Coil Springs, Leaf Springs, Others), Application (Passenger Vehicles, Others), Distribution Channel (Online, Offline Retail, Wholesalers), and Regional Analysis for 2026 - 2033.

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PORTLAND, Ore., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The steady global growth of the healthcare 3PL market is primarily attributed to the growing pharmaceutical industry, rising demand for biologics with increasing cold chain logistics needs followed by rapid technology integration.

Market Size & Growth

Global Healthcare Third-Party Logistics Market - $246.1 billion by 2024

The market estimated to achieve $502.6 billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%.

Factors such as ever-Increasing drug demand, outsourcing of non-core functions and complexity in regulatory task are major growth drivers.

Cold chain logistics is anticipated to be one of the fast-growing sub-segments, on account of increasing distribution for biologics and other cell & gene therapies as well as temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals.

Healthcare supply chain management is undergoing a renaissance, which will reshape the competitive dynamics in this industry with new advanced capabilities powered by digital transformation - such as route optimization via AI supported decision making; real-time tracking and visualisation technology enabled control rooms; and blockchain based end-to-end traceability.

Though innovation keeps gallantly moving on, challenges - regulatory compliance, infrastructure investments and quality assurance risks- are enough to temper market pace.

Key Market Insights

Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and biotech are increasingly outsourcing their complex supply chains that require compliance to specialized third-party logistics providers as the healthcare 3PL market undergoes a structural transformation. Some of the report's key takeaways are:

Outsourcing non-core logistics operations to third-party providers allows healthcare organizations to shift focus back onto core R&D, manufacturing and patient care.

3PL operators are investing in GDP-compliant cold storage infrastructure, ultra-low temperature (ULT) facilities and real-time monitoring systems due to the growth of biologics, specialty drugs and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs).

Environmentally sustainable logistics - even in the form of electric temperature-controlled vehicles, energy-efficient buildings or packaging solutions benefiting from global ESG commitments to sustainable development - have come into focus with healthcare 3PLs.

Regulatory complexities across different global markets continue to remain a major roadblock with 3PL providers being forced into developing comprehensible compliance mechanisms for individual jurisdictions.

Key players are expanding their geographic reach and range of services through strategic mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships that are reshaping the competitive landscape.

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Market Segmentation

By Service Type

Warehousing and storage service segment held the largest market share in 2024. The segment leadership has been supported by a growing demand for temperature-controlled storage, GMP-compliant and GDP-certified warehousing along with robust inventory management solutions. On the other hand, with continued growth in the global pipeline of new therapies, clinical trial logistics is expected to make considerable gains. Transportation services will continue to be a core component due its inability to function without the imminent movement of time sensitive, temperature dependent pharmaceutical products.

By End User

Pharmaceutical Companies are the largest end-user segment accounting for a significant share owing to requirements for high-volume distribution and stringent regulatory mandates. The end-user segment of the biotech companies is one of the fastest growing segments due to rapid growth in the sectors biologics, cell therapy and personalized medicine. Demand for healthcare 3PL is also strengthened by hospitals & clinics, medical device manufacturers, and many other end users.

By Medium of Transport

In 2024, ground transportation segment dominated the overall market share as it has become an essential component of last-mile delivery and regional pharmaceutical distribution. Ground fleets have been fortified with GPS tracking, refrigerated units and protocols of secure handling by 3PL providers. Air cargo is the fastest-growing mode of transport due to time-sensitive and high-value pharmaceutical shipments crossing borders. Ocean freight pertinent to bulk pharmaceutical raw materials and device components

By Supply Chain

In 2024, the non-cold chain logistics segment accounted for the largest shareholder of global pharmaceutical supply chains owing to large volumes of medical devices, OTC drugs, surgical instruments and other general pharmacy products requiring no temperature-sensitive handling. The cold chain logistics segment is expected to show the highest growth in the forecast period due to increasing demand for vaccines, biologics and cell & gene therapies as well as strict regulatory standards such Good Distribution Practices (GDP) and FDA guidelines.

Regional Insights

North America

The market for global healthcare third-party logistics was led by North America, which had the highest revenue share in 2024. The dominance of large pharmaceutical manufacturers, the existence of sophisticated logistics infrastructure covering a majority of demand points, and high regulatory standards (FDA/DEA) demanding top 3PL capabilities underpin this region's leadership. Also, growing demand for biologics, specialty drugs and temperature-sensitive therapeutics is fueling the region's market dominance. With the rise of e-pharmacy adoption accelerating last-mile delivery demand, there are well-defined air, sea and ground freight networks serving this area: namely; USA, Canada & Mexico.

Europe

The European market is the second largest healthcare 3PL by value globally, benefiting from an established pharmaceutical industry, increasing rates of clinical trials and stricter GDP compliance standards. Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Netherlands are among these European countries where pharmaceutical warehousing cold chain distribution and cross border logistics take place. The European landscape for 3PL investment remains influenced, as ever by the evolving EU regulatory framework and growing focus on supply chain resilience.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific region is expected to experience the fastest growth during forecast period, due rapid expansion of pharmaceutical industry in China, India and Japan and South Korea. The demand for 3PL is also surging in the region, owing to increasing healthcare expenditure along with a rising biologics production and manufacturing of medical devices. Southeast Asian markets including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are high potential but largely untapped healthcare logistics geographies. Another area where demand for specialized 3PL will see significant growth is the pharmaceutical sector in India, which itself has expected a very high rate of growth.

Middle East & Africa and Latin America

The Emerging healthcare 3PL markets include Latin America and the Middle East and Africa, which have witnessed an increase in support for his initiatives such as heightened investment on Health care, Expanded pharmaceutical distribution network government infrastructure initiative??. Particularly, Brazil, Mexico and the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are growth pockets where multinational pharmaceutical companies have begun to leverage regional logistics partners.

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Key Market Players

The global healthcare third-party logistics market comprises of a mix of very highly competitive broad based logistic conglomerates, specialized in the area (Tavo) Companies Today and Pharmaceutical Distribution Specialist Firms. A few of the leading companies in Allied Market Research for our market size report include:

DHL - Supply Chain & Global Forwarding

United Parcel Service (Ups healthcare)

FedEx Corporation (FedEx HealthCare Solutions)

Kuehne + Nagel International AG

DB Schenker (Schenker AG)

McKesson Corporation

Cencora Inc. (Previously AmerisourceBergen)

Cardinal Health, Inc.

CEVA Logistics AG

GEODIS SA

DSV A/S

Nippon Express Co." Ltd

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc

Agility Public Warehousing Company K. S.C.P..

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.,

To solidify their competitive position in the market and build end-to-end healthcare logistics capabilities, these players are engaging in strategic acquisitions, technology investments & geographic expansion.

Key Recent Industry Developments

April 2025: DHL Group pledged USD 2.3 billion to bolster its life sciences and healthcare logistics over a five-year plan, further cementing its leading position in the global third-party-logistics (3PL) segment for this sector.

April 2025- EVERSANA expanded pharmaceutical 3PL offerings to meet increased client demand for services related to commercial-stage drug distribution.

Mar 2025: GXO Logistics, a leader in supply chain solutions for eCommerce and other verticals across Europe & North America acquired ColdChain Solutions (a provider of cold-storage with specialization on pharmaceuticals) Marcus Williams.

December 2024: DHL Supply Chain launched one of the most advanced ultra-low temperature (ULT) storage facilities in Europe specifically for use within a cold supply chain, aimed at accommodating growing demand for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).

November 2022: DHL Supply Chain formed a partnership with AmerisourceBergen for co-development of temperature-controlled distribution networks, specifically targeted at oncology and vaccine products.

October 2024: UPS announced it has purchased Frigo-Trans and its sister company BPL expanding upon UPS's portfolio of end-to-end temperature controlled and time-critical transportation solutions for pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare provider customers.

UPS Supply Chain Solutions introduced an integrated cold-chain platform for live biologics shipments, expanding its capabilities to ship and package sterile pharmaceuticals.

March 2025: FedEx Express introduced electricity-powered controlled temperature vehicles in its European healthcare logistics fleet as part of the company's near-term sustainability initiatives.

Oct 2024: Launch of InspiroGene, a business unit by McKesson dedicated to supporting the commercialization needs of cell and gene therapies.

April 2024: Cardinal Health revealed the establishment of a Columbus, Ohio based Consumer Health Logistics Center occupying an area of about 350000 sq ft which is set to strengthen its OTC healthcare products distribution.

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Technology, AI & Innovation (Future-Facing)

With a shared value of growth, technology adoption is an important driver reshaping the healthcare third-party logistics market landscape. Key innovations include:

AI & ML: Route optimization powered by AI, demand forecasting and Predictive Inventory Management allow 3PL providers to reduce costs, minimize wastage and deliver faster. Hey, delivered in November 2023 Meihua International Speed Fox AI-enabled warehouse management system (WMS) designed for healthcare logistics.

Blockchain-Based Traceability: Deployment of blockchain technology for end-to-end drug traceability, anti-counterfeiting & DSCSA (Drug Supply Chain Security Act) compliance across pharmaceutical supply chains

IoT & Real-Time Monitoring: Smart sensors and temperature monitoring devices powered by the IoT enable visibility right from shipment to destination, constantly streaming data in real time tracing cold chain integrity across long-haul shipments, as well last-mile deliveries.

Warehouse AutomationAt pharmaceutical distribution centers, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robotics on picking systems and automatic storage & retrieval system(ASRS) continue to drive throughput efficiency and accuracy.

Big Data Analytics: With the help of data analytics platforms, 3PL providers can convert massive logistics datasets into actionable insights for optimum network design, capacity planning and customer service delivery.

Tech for Sustainable Logistics: ESG Imperatives and client sustainability objectives are leading to widespread adoption of electric delivery vehicles, energy-efficient smart warehouses, recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials by 3PL providers

These technologies in concert, are moving the healthcare 3PL space from traditional asset-heavy logistics to smart supply chain ecosystems that leverage data and sustainability.

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Analyst Review

Since the service framework in healthcare third-party logistics market is undergoing an inflection point, according to analysts from Allied Market Research. Pharmaceutical pipelines are increasing in complexity, regulatory landscapes and compliance requirements continue to evolve quickly at a global scale while digitalization is transforming how we think about what services logistics providers can offer - forcing many market-proven giants up an evolution path that will compel them each coalesce their architecture around new service directions.

The overriding trend of this decade is the transition from value-adding technology-enabled 3PL partnerships to volume-based logistics models. Demand for hyper-specialized cold chain capabilities and real-time supply chain visibility will only accelerate as biosimilars, personalized medicines, and cell/gene therapies are introduced into commercial distribution.

Analysts say the very opposite: though North America maintains its rightful position at the top of dividual markets - supported by tight regulatory controls and advanced infrastructure maturity, Asia-Pacific marks something different as being a beacon signal for where healthcare 3PL investment is heading next. 3PL providers looking to diversify their geographic presence are gravitating towards emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, India and the GCC region.

The competitive intensity of the market expected to be high with differentiation increasingly driven by technology depth, cold chain specialization, regulatory expertise and sustainability credentials. Organizations capable of providing seamless, compliant and tech-enabled healthcare logistics on a global scale will be best set to take their fair share-and more-of the market through 2034.

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of 'Market Research Reports' and 'Business Intelligence Solutions.' AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

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Disciplined US investment strengthens scalable capacity in core industrial and mobility markets

MONTREAL, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro Supply Chain Group Inc., the parent company of Metro Supply Chain, announced today that it has agreed, through one of its US subsidiaries, to acquire select warehousing assets in the Southern US from BR Williams. The acquisition further strengthens Metro Supply Chain's US contract logistics platform and supports its long-term growth strategy in priority markets. Metro Supply Chain is a trusted third-party logistics (3PL) partner to many of the world's fastest-growing organizations.

The transaction adds approximately 1.5 million square feet to Metro Supply Chain's US footprint, bringing the total US operations to 6 million square feet. This expansion enhances the company's capacity in key US markets. It strengthens its ability to support customers operating in the industrial and mobility sectors, including defence, with scalable and resilient logistics solutions.

All acquired facilities will continue to operate without disruption. Established local leadership teams and experienced site personnel will remain in place, ensuring continuity of service, operational stability and the preservation of strong customer relationships as the facilities are integrated into Metro Supply Chain's expanding US network.

Strategic expansion of the US warehousing network

Located in Alabama and Florida, the acquired sites align closely with Metro Supply Chain's scalable operating model and complement its existing infrastructure and service offerings across North America. The transaction strengthens the company's logistics asset portfolio in key manufacturing regions and enhances its ability to support long-term customer growth.

This acquisition supports Metro Supply Chain's long-term growth strategy by:

Expanding its presence in core US markets to support scalable, long-term customer growth

Investing in the industrial and mobility sectors, where customers require resilient, high-performance logistics solutions

Adding strategic capacity in key manufacturing regions to support supply chain continuity

Strengthening its portfolio of high-quality logistics assets through disciplined investment and execution

Building and retaining a skilled management team and workforce aligned with the company's operating model and culture

Maintaining strong cultural alignment to ensure consistent service performance and seamless integration

"This acquisition strengthens our US network and reinforces our commitment to investing in core markets that are critical to our long-term growth," said Chris Fenton, Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Metro Supply Chain. "These facilities align well with our operating model, enabling us to support our existing customers while expanding capacity in strategic markets as part of a scalable, integrated US logistics platform. We are pleased to welcome our new colleagues and leadership teams, whose strong cultural alignment and operational expertise will support a seamless integration and continued service excellence."

"We are confident that Metro Supply Chain will continue to provide outstanding service to our customers and support the growth of these facilities," said Nate Haney, CEO of BR Williams. "This transaction ensures a seamless transition for our customers and team members, and we look forward to seeing these sites thrive under Metro Supply Chain's stewardship."

Haney will continue to support Metro Supply Chain as a Board Advisor, providing strategic guidance to support the future growth of Metro Supply Chain's US business.

Supporting industrial and mobility supply chains

Serving customers across the industrial and mobility sectors, the acquired facilities integrate seamlessly into Metro Supply Chain's network. Customers will benefit from consistent service execution, strong local operational expertise, and the backing of a leading North American 3PL provider with a scalable operating model.

Metro Supply Chain looks forward to incorporating these facilities into its expanding US footprint and continuing to deliver innovative, customer-focused supply chain solutions. The company remains committed to the local communities it serves, maintaining a strong and locally connected presence that benefits customers, partners and stakeholders.

About Metro Supply Chain

Metro Supply Chain is a trusted supply chain partner that enables fast-growing, leading businesses to adapt, scale and thrive. For more than 50 years, the company has delivered integrated supply chain solutions supported by advanced systems, automation, robotics and business intelligence.

With 9,000 team members operating more than 22.5 million square feet across 190 sites in North America and the UK, Metro Supply Chain provides the physical and digital infrastructure that powers smarter, more responsive logistics networks. Consistently recognized as a top-performing supplier, the company combines deep industry expertise with advanced technology and a strong focus on customer outcomes.

Contact Information: For more information, please contact: media@metroscg.com

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First quarter 2026

Net profit amounted to MSEK -4.6 (-94.4).

Earnings per share amounted to SEK -0.42 (-8.52).

Net asset value amounted to MSEK 527 (SEK 48.10 per share) at March 31, 2026, compared to MSEK 556 (SEK 50.44 per share) at December 31, 2025.

Net cash amounted to MSEK 62 (SEK 5.63 per share) at March 31, 2026, compared to MSEK 66 (SEK 5.97 per share) at December 31, 2025.

The 2026 Annual General Meeting resolved to distribute a dividend of SEK 2.00 per share, to grant a continued mandate to repurchase own shares in the Company, and to grant a continued mandate to resolve on the issue of new shares.

Comments by the CEO

The first quarter unfolded against a backdrop of persistent geopolitical and trade-policy uncertainty, which continued to weigh on private equity activity broadly. Transaction volumes remained below historical norms in the Nordic region, with the exit market in particular characterized by elongated timelines.

Including the dividend paid, the NAV per share declined by 0,7% during the first quarter. The decrease was driven primarily by the underperformance of one underlying manager.

Notwithstanding the challenging environment, the portfolio continued to generate liquidity. During the quarter, NAXS divested its co-investment in Reledo, received the redemption of its shares in JAB Co-investment IX, and sold half of its holding in Jacktel after the company listed on Euronext Growth Oslo.

At the 2026 AGM held in March, shareholders approved a dividend of SEK 2.00 per share for FY 2025, a reflection of NAXS's commitment to returning value to shareholders.

While near-term visibility remains limited, we are focused on managing the portfolio with discipline and capitalizing on opportunities as market conditions evolve.

Amaury de Poret

Contact

Amaury de Poret, CEO

+46 73 511 17 35

adp@naxs.se

Gosta Lundgren, CFO

+46 70 710 47 88

gosta.lundgren@naxs.se

This information is information that NAXS AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 16.30 CET on April 23, 2026

This press release and further information are available at www.naxs.se

NAXS AB (publ)

Reg.no. 556712-2972

Nybrogatan 6

114 34 Stockholm

Phone: 0766 40 00 40

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Established in 2007, NAXS is an investment company listed on Nasdaq Stockholm focused on Nordic private equity. The Company aims to maximize value from its existing portfolio while selectively deploying capital to enhance shareholder returns. More information is available on www.naxs.se.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Brompton Funds (TSX: DGS) (TSX: ESP) (TSX: GDV) (TSX: LBS) (TSX: LCS) (TSX: LCS.PR.) (TSX: PW) (TSX: SBC) announces distributions payable on May 8, 2026 to class A shareholders of record at the close of business on April 30, 2026 for each of the following funds:



Ticker Amount Per Share Dividend Growth Split Corp. DGS $ 0.10 Brompton Energy Split Corp. ESP $ 0.10 Global Dividend Growth Split Corp. GDV $ 0.10 Life & Banc Split Corp. LBS $ 0.10 Brompton Lifeco Split Corp. LCS $ 0.075 Power & Infrastructure Split Corp. PWI $ 0.10 Brompton Split Banc Corp. SBC $ 0.10

Brompton Funds announces distributions payable on May 8, 2026 to preferred shareholders of record at the close of business on April 30, 2026, for the following fund:



Ticker Amount Per Share Brompton Lifeco Split Corp. LCS.PR.A $ 0.1750

The funds noted above offer distribution reinvestment plans ("DRIP") for class A shareholders which provide class A shareholders with the ability to automatically reinvest distributions, commission free, and realize the benefits of compound growth. Class A shareholders can enroll in a DRIP program by contacting their investment advisor.

You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell shares of the investment funds on the TSX or other alternative Canadian trading system (an "exchange"). If the shares are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying shares of the investment fund and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them.

There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning shares of an investment fund. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the fund. You can find more detailed information about a fund in the public filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the funds, to the future outlook of the funds and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the funds. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293962

Source: Brompton Funds Limited
Hawaiian Airlines becomes one world's third US-based member airline

world's third US-based member airline Further strengthens alliance's network across the Pacific

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- oneworld has welcomed Hawaiian Airlines as its newest member airline, becoming the third US-based carrier alongside Alaska Airlines and American Airlines and adding Honolulu as a global hub.

With Hawaiian Airlines on board, oneworld's global network offers greater travel opportunities across the Hawaiian Islands and new destinations in the Pacific including Hilo, Hawai'i; Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Pago Pago, American Samoa; and Papeete, Tahiti.

"We are delighted to officially welcome Hawaiian Airlines into the oneworld family, further strengthening our alliance's footprint in the Pacific region and the United States," said Ole Orver, CEO of oneworld. "Renowned for its award-winning service for almost 100 years, Hawaiian Airlines will make travel to the beautiful islands of Hawai'i more connected and rewarding for oneworld customers, delivering an elevated journey that brings the spirit of aloha to our alliance."

"We are thrilled to join this extended 'ohana, or family of the world's best airlines," said Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow. "oneworld brings significant global travel benefits to our guests, including Atmos Rewards loyalty members and Hawai'i residents. Our Hawaiian Airlines team members look forward to welcoming oneworld guests onboard from around the world, sharing their aloha and warm Hawaiian hospitality, and inspiring visitors to appreciate Hawai'i's culture, environment and people."

Hawaiian Airlines guests will now enjoy access to almost 1,000 global destinations across the oneworld network, while the airline's top tier guests will gain access to oneworld Priority benefits including access to First Class check-in and lounges plus fast-track security lanes at selected airports, regardless of class of travel, and a network of nearly 700 premium airport lounges, including oneworld branded lounges in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the award-winning facility in Seoul's Incheon Airport.

Bringing Hawai'i closer

Hawaiian Airlines operates about 230 daily flights to, from and within the Hawaiian Islands and welcomed more than 11 million passengers in 2025. Hawaiian Airlines connects the Pacific, linking the islands of Hawai'i with key destinations in Asia, North America and the South Pacific, including oneworld hubs in Los Angeles, New York-JFK, Seattle, Sydney and Tokyo.

The airline serves every major Hawaiian island directly and operates an average of 140 daily inter-island flights. oneworld customers enjoy seamless connections throughout the archipelago to and from Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Asia and North America via its hubs in Honolulu, O'ahu, and Kahului, Maui.

More rewarding

Through Atmos Rewards, the combined company's new loyalty programme, members can earn and redeem points across Alaska and Hawaiian airlines and oneworld's global network. Benefits for oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby customers include reciprocal status recognition, earning status points, priority check-in and boarding and industry-best lounge access.

About Alaska, Hawaiian and Horizon:

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific and Europe. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska and Hawaiian are members of the oneworld alliance. Members of our Atmos Rewards loyalty program can earn and redeem points with oneworld airlines and our additional global partners that serve over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian and news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as ALK.

Aboutoneworld:

oneworld brings together 16 world-class airlines - Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines - and more than 20 of their affiliates. oneworld member airlines work together to consistently deliver a superior, seamless travel experience, with special rewards and privileges for its frequent flyers, including earning and redeeming miles and points across the entire alliance network, access to airport lounges, priority check in and boarding and extra baggage allowances and more. Learn more about the oneworld Alliance at oneworld.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

CONTACT: Katie Hulme, katie.hulme@oneworld.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964257/HA_2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964258/HA_crew.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2653164/oneworld_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aloha-oneworld-welcomes-hawaiian-airlines-to-alliance-302751836.html
Disciplined execution and continued strategic progress across the platform

Regulatory News:

Tikehau Capital (Paris:TKO):

"In the first quarter of 2026, Tikehau Capital demonstrated its ability to generate value across market cycles. The successful exit of our Schroders investment, generating 64% Gross IRR and 239m of revenues over the holding period, the continued expansion of our Real Estate Debt franchise on both sides of the Atlantic, and the official launch of Tikehau Amova Investment Management reflect the maturity of our platform and the relevance of the strategic choices we have made in recent years. Our flagship strategies continue to attract capital, and our portfolios are delivering solid underlying performance. Supported by a robust equity base, substantial dry powder and short-term resources, we are well-positioned to capture attractive opportunities across our markets. As outlined during our Strategic Update, we are also actively working to further support the strategic development, growth and profitability of our Asset Management platform, including forging ties with global strategic partners. We enter the rest of 2026 with a differentiated product pipeline, clear strategic priorities across geographies and asset classes, and strong confidence in the long-term fundamentals underpinning our business." Antoine Flamarion and Mathieu Chabran, co-founders of Tikehau Capital

Operating key highlights

Net new money reached 1.0bn for private markets strategies in Q1 2026 (0.7bn including Capital Markets Strategies), with continued progress for flagships strategies

for private markets strategies in Q1 2026 (0.7bn including Capital Markets Strategies), with continued progress for flagships strategies Deployment stood at 1.0bn driven by Direct Lending and CLOs in Credit, Core/Core+ strategies in Real Estate and Aerospace and Defense strategies in Private Equity

driven by Direct Lending and CLOs in Credit, Core/Core+ strategies in Real Estate and Aerospace and Defense strategies in Private Equity Realizations amounted to 0.4bn mainly from Credit and Value-Add Real Estate strategies

mainly from Credit and Value-Add Real Estate strategies Investment portfolio stood at 3.9bn as of 31 March 2026 (vs. 4.4bn as of 31 December 2025), primarily reflecting the disposal of the Schroders stake in February 2026, generating 179m in portfolio revenues in Q1 2026

Strategic expansion

Our Real Estate Debt platform continued to make strong progress, with:

- the successful launch in the US of a partnership with the Brodsky Organization 1 , targeting key opportunities in a strategically important market

- an active deployment for our European strategy launched in partnership with Altarea

continued to make strong progress, with: - the successful launch in the US of a partnership with the Brodsky Organization , targeting key opportunities in a strategically important market - an active deployment for our European strategy launched in partnership with Altarea Tikehau Amova Investment Management 2 , a joint venture dedicated to Asia-focused private assets investment strategies for global distribution, was officially launched, further strengthening the strategic partnership established in 2024 with Amova AM

, a joint venture dedicated to Asia-focused private assets investment strategies for global distribution, was officially launched, further strengthening the strategic partnership established in 2024 with Amova AM By the end of June 2026, our Asset Management companies will be fully regrouped under one unified platform, enhancing our ability and flexibility to engage with global strategic partners with a view to accelerating growth and profitability

AuM Deployment Realizations Net new money 53bn3 6.9bn 3.7bn 7.0bn as of 31 March 2026 over the LTM over the LTM over the LTM +7% vs. 31 March 2025 (1.0bn in Q1 2026) (0.4bn in Q1 2026) (0.7bn in Q1 2026)

OPERATING REVIEW

Deployment 1.0bn deployed in Q1 2026 and 6.9bn over the last twelve months (up +6% compared to the last twelve months as of 31 March 2025) Credit : Direct Lending: greater diversification of investments across geographies including Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium CLO platform: pricing of European CLO XV and US CLO VIII Active deployment for European Real Estate Debt. The quarter was marked by strong demand for both financing and refinancing solutions in the market Real Assets : Primarily driven by Core/Core+ strategies with continued investment discipline focused on high-quality, well-located assets and conservative use of leverage across geographies Private Equity : Continued conviction-led approach across dedicated verticals with a focus on sourcing large-scale transactions offering co-investment opportunities 7.5bn of dry powder 4 as of 31 March 2026 (vs. 7.6bn as of 31 December 2025)



Realizations 0.4bn in realizations in Q1 2026, and 3.7bn over the last twelve months (up +43% compared to the last twelve months as of 31 March 2025) Credit : mainly corresponding to financing repayments across Corporate and Direct Lending Real Assets : strategic disposals of granular assets, including retail parks, residential assets across Iberia and individual sales of light industrial assets in France



Net new money 1.0bn raised across private markets strategies in Q1 2026 (0.7bn including Capital Markets Strategies) Credit : The sixth vintage of the Direct Lending strategy reached 4.9bn of AuM as of 31 March 2026. The master fund held its final closing in Q4 2025, bespoke funds and other vehicles of the strategy are still in fundraising mode and will be closed by H1 2026 Pricing of European CLO XV (~400m of final size) and US CLO VIII ($405m of final size) in Q1 2026 totaling ~400m of net inflows in Q1 2026 compared to ~775m in Q1 2025 Private Equity : Additional inflows for Decarbonization and Aerospace Defense flagship strategies, reaching respectively 2.6bn in AuM and 0.6bn in AuM as of 31 March 2026. In Q1 2026, the search for co-investors in EYSA was successfully completed with the onboarding of new cornerstone investors from the Middle East and Asia. Real Assets : Inflows mainly from Core/Core+ strategies Capital Markets Strategies : 315m of outflows were recorded in Q1 2026 mainly linked to Fixed Income strategies, reflecting ongoing market uncertainty. Performance across strategies, however, remained robust.



INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

Tikehau Capital investment portfolio amounted to 3.9bn as of 31 March 2026, compared to 4.4bn as of 31 December 2025. Over the quarter, the main variations in the portfolio were the following: 83m of capital calls and investments , mainly driven by capital calls and investments into our Credit strategies as well as new ecosystem investments, notably one co-investment in a US cybersecurity and defense company; (484)m of returns of capital and exits, mainly linked to: the exit of Schroders , generating 369m of returns of capital . Over the holding period, the investment delivered a 64% gross IRR and 1.65x gross MOIC and generated 239m in portfolio revenues 5 . As this investment had been revalued by 38m in prior periods, the net P&L impact in Q1 2026 amounts to 179m, after the reversal of previously recognized unrealized fair value gains the successful reduction of our investment in EYSA , acquired through our Decarbonization strategy in Private Equity, demonstrating our ability to use our balance sheet to execute co-investments and thus enhance the profitability of our Asset Management platform (38)m of negative fair value changes on the remaining portfolio , reflecting positive revaluations for our Private Equity strategies and our co-investment in a leading US radiology services provider, offset by negative fair value changes related to some listed investments, including our listed REIT in Singapore 26m of foreign exchange effects, linked to the appreciation of the USD and GBP against the EUR.

as of 31 March 2026, compared to 4.4bn as of 31 December 2025. Over the quarter, the main variations in the portfolio were the following:

PRIVATE CREDIT PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

Private Credit continues to offer compelling opportunities in a more selective market environment, particularly for managers with disciplined underwriting, strong structuring capabilities and resilient portfolios. Tikehau Capital is well-positioned in this context:

Underlying portfolio performance remains robust , with an annualized default rate of 1.3% as of 31 December 2025 for our Direct Lending strategies, consistent with long-term averages;

, with an annualized default rate of 1.3% as of 31 December 2025 for our Direct Lending strategies, consistent with long-term averages; Our European semi-liquid fund continued to attract capital, reaching 180m AuM as of 31 March 2026;

continued to attract capital, reaching 180m AuM as of 31 March 2026; Our disciplined approach sets us apart with rigorous selection, diversified sector exposure, including 9% of total AuM (12% of Credit AuM) in software, strong focus on profitability and cash flow and 100% covenanted transactions;

sets us apart with rigorous selection, diversified sector exposure, including 9% of total AuM (12% of Credit AuM) in software, strong focus on profitability and cash flow and 100% covenanted transactions; In the sixth vintage of our Direct Lending strategy, portfolio companies have actively deleveraged, with average leverage decreasing from 4.0x at closing to 3.5x today driven by EBITDA growth, reflecting robust underlying performance.

SHARE BUY-BACK

Tikehau Capital announces it has extended until 29 July 2026 (inclusive), the date of the Group's H1 2026 results announcement, the share buy-back mandate, which was signed and announced on 19 March 2020 and previously extended until today.

As of 23 April 2026, 6,775,552 shares were repurchased under the share buy-back mandate. The description of the share buy-back program (published in paragraph 8.3.4 of the Tikehau Capital Universal Registration Document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority on 199 March 2026 under number D.26-0116) is available on the company's website in the Regulated Information section (https://www.tikehaucapital.com/en/shareholders/regulated-information).

ABOUT TIKEHAU CAPITAL

Tikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management group managing 53.0 billion of assets (as of 31 March 2026). The Group has developed a wide range of expertise across four asset classes: Credit, Real Assets, Private Equity, and Capital Markets Strategies. Capitalizing on its strong equity base (3.1 billion as of 31 December 2025), Tikehau Capital invests its own capital alongside its investor-clients. The Group is guided by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and DNA, shared by its 723 employees (as of 31 March 2026) across 17 offices in Europe, Asia, and North America.

DISCLAIMER

This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or investment advisory services. It contains general information only and is not intended to provide general or specific investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future earnings and profit, and targets are not guaranteed.

Certain statements and forecasted data are based on current forecasts, prevailing market and economic conditions, estimates, projections and opinions of Tikehau Capital and/or its affiliates. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those reflected or expected in such forward-looking statements or in any of the case studies or forecasts. All references to Tikehau Capital's advisory activities in the US or with respect to US persons relate to Tikehau Capital North America.

APPENDIX

Examples of deployments Credit Tikehau Capital, through its Real Estate Debt strategy, has supported Nuveen in the development financing of two grade A logistics assets in Italy, through a c.28m senior secured loan. Tikehau Capital has supported Seven2 in financing the acquisition of Zwart Techniek, a Dutch power system integrator specializing in mission-critical emergency power systems for data centers, vital and public infrastructure, and microgrids for power-critical businesses across Europe,acting as sole arranger of an 80m Unitranche and 20m Acquisition Facility. Real Assets Early April 2026 Tikehau Capital through its European Core strategy acquired a prime office building located in the southern fringe of Paris, in a 50/50 joint venture with Batipart. The asset comprises approximately 34,000 sqm of modern office space and boasts a 96% occupancy rate.

1 Please refer to press release dated 7 April 2026.

2 Please refer to press release dated 2 April 2026.

3 Figures have been rounded for presentation purposes, which in some cases may result in rounding differences.

4 Amounts available for investment at the level of the funds managed by the Group.

5 Including 217m of realized capital gains in 2026, and 22m of dividends received in prior periods.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423662849/en/

Contacts:

PRESS CONTACTS:

Tikehau Capital: Valerie Sueur +33 1 53 59 03 64

UK Prosek Partners: Philip Walters +44 (0) 7773 331 589

USA Prosek Partners: Trevor Gibbons +1 646 818 9238

press@tikehaucapital.com

SHAREHOLDER AND INVESTOR CONTACTS:

Theodora Xu +33 1 40 06 18 56

Julie Tomasi +33 1 40 06 58 44

shareholders@tikehaucapital.com
Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Cudio has officially been recognised as an Odoo Gold Partner, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth and reinforcing its position as a leading provider of custom ERP solutions for businesses with complex operational needs.







Cudio Achieves Odoo Gold Partner Status, Strengthening Leadership in Custom ERP Solutions



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/293964_cudio.jpg

The Gold Partner designation reflects Cudio's proven track record in delivering high-quality Odoo implementations, as well as its deep technical expertise and commitment to client success. With over 75 projects implemented globally and more than 30 years of combined technology experience, the company has built a reputation for helping organisations streamline operations, reduce system complexity, and scale efficiently.

Cudio specialises in designing and implementing tailored Odoo ERP systems that unify multiple business functions into a single, integrated platform. By consolidating fragmented tech stacks, often consisting of numerous disconnected systems, Cudio enables businesses to improve visibility, automate processes, and enhance overall performance.

The company serves a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, retail and wholesale, healthcare, e-commerce, and logistics. Its solutions are designed to address industry-specific challenges, from inventory and supply chain optimization to financial management and customer engagement.

As an Odoo Gold Partner, Cudio is further positioned to support businesses seeking to modernise their operations or optimise existing ERP systems. The company provides end-to-end services, including migration, implementation, custom development, integration, and ongoing support. It also works with established technology providers such as Rithum, Crossfire, and Avalara to deliver fully integrated solutions that extend the capabilities of the Odoo platform.

In addition to new implementations, Cudio has developed a strong focus on rescuing underperforming ERP projects. The company has successfully turned around more than 35 failing implementations, helping businesses regain control of their systems and realise the value originally intended from their ERP investment.

Cudio's approach combines technical expertise with strategic consultancy, ensuring that each solution is aligned with a client's long-term growth objectives. By focusing not only on system configuration but also on process optimization, the company helps organisations build a scalable foundation for future expansion.

The Gold Partner recognition also highlights Cudio's commitment to delivering measurable results. Clients benefit from improved operational efficiency, reduced manual workloads, and enhanced decision-making capabilities through real-time data insights.

As businesses continue to navigate increasingly complex digital environments, the demand for flexible, scalable ERP solutions is growing. Cudio's elevation to Odoo Gold Partner status positions the company to meet this demand, supporting organisations as they transition to more streamlined, integrated systems.

With a 100% customer retention rate and a growing global client base, Cudio continues to expand its presence as a trusted partner for businesses looking to simplify their technology and accelerate growth.

About Cudio

Cudio is a leading Odoo implementation and integration partner specialising in simplifying complex technology stacks for growing businesses. Founded by experts with over 30 years of experience in IT, finance, and leadership, the company delivers tailored ERP solutions that streamline operations and drive growth. By integrating Odoo with platforms such as Rithum, Crossfire, and Avalara, Cudio helps organisations modernise systems, reduce costs, and build scalable foundations for long-term success.

For more information, please refer to the contact details below.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293964

Source: Plentisoft
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) ("Element One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the development of a new proprietary numeric model designed to enhance the identification and targeting of geologic hydrogen accumulations.

The model, developed by Dr. Allegra Hosford Scheirer, is grounded in an extensive understanding of the natural processes governing hydrogen generation, migration, and trapping in the subsurface. It represents a significant advancement in the Company's technical capabilities as it expands its exploration footprint across Canada and the United States.

The prospectivity model integrates multiple geophysical and geological datasets, including gravity and magnetic surveys, alongside detailed structural geology interpretations. By quantitatively weighting these inputs, the model identifies geological environments most conducive to hydrogen generation and accumulation. This approach enables the Company to systematically rank and prioritize target areas with elevated hydrogen potential.

"Dr. Hosford Scheirer's work provides a robust and scalable framework for understanding where geologic hydrogen systems are most likely to occur," said Brad Kitchen, CEO of Element One. "Allegra combines deep scientific insight with advanced data integration to create this model that has positioned Element One at the forefront of hydrogen exploration."

What this means for Investors

Element One is currently using the model to refine its hydrogen accumulation acquisition strategy. The Company is specifically focusing on identifying and securing prospective land positions in key jurisdictions throughout the United States and Western Canada with the intention of securing three (3) to four (4) land packages. Once secured, ground exploration will commence with the intention of developing and executing a drilling program. This data-driven approach is expected to improve exploration efficiency, reduce risk, and accelerate the advancement of high-quality hydrogen opportunities.

About Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.

Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) is a Canadian company focused on the exploration, development, and commercialization of natural hydrogen and critical mineral resources, as well as breakthrough hydrogen-generation technologies. The Company's projects include the Foggy Mountain critical minerals project as well as projects in Alaska and British Columbia that are prospective for hydrogen production through stimulation in the subsurface as well as critical and battery metals.

Stay connected with us as we get busy with social media:

X (formerly Twitter) at www.x.com/Element_One_H2

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/element-one-h2

YouTube at www.youtube.com/@ElementOne Hydrogen

For further information visit our website at www.e1-h2.com or to connect directly, please reach out to Tim Johnson at tjohnson@e1-h2.com or 250.668.3161.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293976

Source: Element One Hydrogen and Critical Minerals
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakworth Capital Inc. (Oakworth) (OTCQX: OAKC) reported balanced top line growth including 13% increase in revenue first quarter 2026 vs. first quarter 2025 resulting from 12% growth in loans, 10% growth in deposits and 18% growth in wealth assets year-over-year. A loss-earnback trade and strategic write-down of other real estate impacted comparable period earnings as detailed below. Oakworth's Chairman and CEO Scott Reed stated, "While the loss-earnback and write-down transactions muted net income growth, these actions are consistent with our conservative leadership at Oakworth. We continue to be pleased with the underlying performance of the Company. Double-digit balance sheet and wealth asset growth led to strong revenue and core earnings performance as we begin 2026."

As of and quarter ended March 31, 2026 highlights include:

Income/Profitability:

Net income of $4.9 million compared to $5.0 million in first quarter 2025

Diluted earnings per share of $0.94 compared to $1.01 in first quarter 2025

Pre-tax pre-provision income of $7.8 million compared to $7.5 million one year ago

Revenue of $22.3 million: 13% higher than $19.8 one year ago 12% year-over-year growth in net interest income 18% year-over-year growth in trust and wealth fees

Non-interest expenses of $14.5 million compared to $12.3 million in first quarter 2025 18% higher year-over-year Includes $872 thousand ($660 thousand, net of tax) strategic write-down of other real estate

Loss-earnback trade on securities produced $127 thousand loss in period Sale of $7.0 million in US Treasury securities with weighted average yield of 1.16% Purchase of $7.0 million in GNMA MBS securities with weighted average yield of 4.91% 6-month earnback period; accretive by approximately $125 thousand by year-end

ROAE of 13.0%

ROAA of 1.0%

Wealth Assets/Balance Sheet:

Wealth assets of $2.7 billion, 18% higher than $2.3 billion one year prior

Year-over-year loan growth of 11% on average basis and 12% on period end basis to $1.7 billion

Year-over-year deposit growth of 11% on average basis and 10% on period end basis to $1.8 billion

Tangible book value per share: $30.75

Safety and Soundness:

Credit quality metrics: $12.1 million non-performing loans Inclusive of C&I credit moved to non-accrual during quarter $0 past due +90 loans $2.5 million ORE 1.2% allowance for credit losses as percentage of loans, net

Capital ratios Total risk-based capital: 11.8% CET1: 10.6% Tier 1 leverage: 9.5%



About Oakworth Capital Inc. and Oakworth Capital Bank

Oakworth Capital, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Oakworth Capital Bank (Oakworth) (OTCQX: OAKC). Oakworth was founded in 2008 and operates four offices in the Southeast, including its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Oakworth provides commercial and private banking, wealth management, and advisory services to clients across the United States.

Oakworth has been ranked among American Banker's "Best Banks to Work for" for the past nine years, holding the top spot for six of those and ranking #2 most recently. Additionally, Oakworth's 2025 average Net Promoter Score (NPS) was 95 with a commensurate client retention rate of 95%. As of March 31, 2026, Oakworth had $2.0 billion in total assets, $1.7 billion in gross loans, $1.8 billion in deposits and $2.7 billion in wealth and trust assets under management. For more information, visit www.oakworth.com.

Advisory services, including investment management and financial planning, are offered through Oakworth Asset Management LLC, a registered investment advisor that is owned by Oakworth Capital Bank, Member FDIC. Investment products and services offered via Oakworth Asset Management LLC are independent of the products and services offered by Oakworth Capital Bank, and are not FDIC insured, may lose value, have no bank guarantee, and are not insured by any federal or state government agency. Because Oakworth Asset Management LLC is owned by Oakworth Capital Bank and because associates of either entity may provide financial advice to our clients, there exists a conflict of interest to the extent that either party recommends the services of the other. Oakworth Asset Management LLC does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your tax advisor, accountant, and/or attorney before making any decisions with tax or legal implications. Additional information about Oakworth Asset Management LLC, including its services and fees, may be obtained from adviserinfo.sec.gov or by contacting Oakworth Asset Management directly.

For more information contact:

Jenifer Kimbrough

Phone: 205-263-4704

Email: [email protected]

OAKWORTH CAPITAL INC.





































WEALTH AND TRUST (Unaudited)



































(In millions)

As of

Change

Change



3/31/2026

12/31/2025

9/30/2025

6/30/2025

3/31/2025

03/31/2026 vs. 12/31/2025

3/31/2026 vs. 3/31/2025





































Wealth assets (non-balance sheet)

$ 2,705

$ 2,685

$ 2,566

$ 2,415

$ 2,285

$ 20

1 %

$ 420

18 %





































CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)























(in thousands)

As of

Change

Change



3/31/2026

12/31/2025

9/30/2025

6/30/2025

3/31/2025

03/31/2026 vs. 12/31/2025

3/31/2026 vs. 3/31/2025 Assets



































Cash and due from banks

$ 113,891

$ 194,946

$ 153,084

$ 124,351

$ 100,968

$ (81,055)

-42 %

$ 12,923

13 % Federal funds sold

1,951

1,325

950

1,900

525

626

47 %

1,426

272 % Securities available for sale

213,286

201,684

189,673

175,535

175,599

11,602

6 %

37,687

21 % Loans, net of unearned income

1,665,422

1,604,023

1,533,734

1,496,222

1,492,413

61,399

4 %

173,009

12 % Allowance for credit losses

(19,871)

(19,348)

(18,734)

(17,944)

(17,015)

(523)

3 %

(2,856)

17 % Loans, net

1,645,551

1,584,675

1,515,000

1,478,278

1,475,398

60,876

4 %

170,153

12 % Fixed assets

3,447

3,625

3,821

3,980

4,221

(178)

-5 %

(774)

-18 % Interest receivable

7,560

7,246

6,845

6,611

6,909

314

4 %

651

9 % Other assets

54,169

52,723

52,825

58,967

53,866

1,446

3 %

303

1 % Total assets

$ 2,039,855

$ 2,046,224

$ 1,922,198

$ 1,849,622

$ 1,817,486

$ (6,369)

0 %

$ 222,369

12 %





































Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity



































Liabilities:



































Deposits:



































Non-interest bearing deposits

$ 320,493

$ 304,683

$ 300,340

$ 273,119

$ 270,536

$ 15,810

5 %

$ 49,957

18 % Interest-bearing deposits

1,467,134

1,526,302

1,397,942

1,299,175

1,356,172

(59,168)

-4 %

110,962

8 % Total deposits

1,787,627

1,830,985

1,698,282

1,572,294

1,626,708

(43,358)

-2 %

160,919

10 % Total Borrowings

78,299

38,831

58,809

118,786

38,763

39,468

102 %

39,536

102 % Accrued interest payable

598

1,223

710

1,452

559

(625)

-51 %

39

7 % Other liabilities

20,950

26,521

20,657

21,333

20,382

(5,571)

-21 %

568

3 % Total liabilities

1,887,474

1,897,560

1,778,458

1,713,865

1,686,412

(10,086)

-1 %

201,062

12 % Total stockholders' equity

152,381

148,664

143,740

135,757

131,074

3,717

3 %

21,307

16 % Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 2,039,855

$ 2,046,224

$ 1,922,198

$ 1,849,622

$ 1,817,486

$ (6,369)

0 %

$ 222,369

12 %







































OAKWORTH CAPITAL INC.





































CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)























(in thousands)

Quarter Ended

Change

Change



3/31/2026

12/31/2025

9/30/2025

6/30/2025

3/31/2025

1Q26 vs. 4Q25

1Q26 vs. 1Q25





































Interest income:



































Loans, including fees

$ 25,373

$ 25,817

$ 26,194

$ 25,306

$ 24,803

$ (444)

-2 %

$ 570

2 % Securities available for sale

2,015

1,814

1,667

1,605

1,474

201

11 %

541

37 % Short term investments

1,201

1,772

1,058

1,043

1,169

(571)

-32 %

32

3 % Total interest income

28,589

29,403

28,919

27,954

27,446

(814)

-3 %

1,143

4 % Interest expense:



































Deposits

10,375

11,289

11,357

11,049

11,268

(914)

-8 %

(893)

-8 % Borrowings

763

678

1,114

1,022

637

85

13 %

126

20 % Total interest expense

11,138

11,967

12,471

12,071

11,905

(829)

-7 %

(767)

-6 % Net interest income

17,451

17,436

16,448

15,883

15,541

15

0 %

1,910

12 % Provision for credit losses

1,315

1,010

905

1,236

775

305

30 %

540

70 % Net interest income after provision 16,136

16,426

15,543

14,647

14,766

(290)

-2 %

1,370

9 % for loan losses



































Non-interest income

4,837

4,647

4,392

4,131

4,245

190

4 %

592

14 % Non-interest expense

14,538

14,634

13,223

12,964

12,325

(96)

-1 %

2,213

18 % Income before income taxes

6,435

6,439

6,712

5,814

6,686

(4)

0 %

(251)

-4 % Provision for income taxes

1,565

1,145

1,653

1,434

1,655

420

37 %

(90)

-5 % Net Income

4,870

5,294

5,059

4,380

5,031

(424)

-8 %

(161)

-3 % Earnings per share - basic

$ 0.96

$ 1.05

$ 1.01

$ 0.88

$ 1.01

$ (0.09)

-9 %

$ (0.05)

-5 % Earnings per share - diluted

$ 0.94

$ 1.04

$ 1.01

$ 0.88

$ 1.01

$ (0.10)

-10 %

$ (0.07)

-7 %







































OAKWORTH CAPITAL INC.



















CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)





(in thousands)

YTD Period Ended







3/31/2026



3/31/2025

Change



















Interest income:

















Loans, including fees

$ 25,373



$ 24,803

$ 570

2 % Securities available for sale

2,015



1,474

541

37 % Short term investments

1,201



1,169

32

3 % Total interest income

28,589



27,446

1,143

4 % Interest expense:

















Deposits

10,375



11,268

(893)

-8 % Borrowings

763



637

126

20 % Total interest expense

11,138



11,905

(767)

-6 % Net interest income

17,451



15,541

1,910

12 % Provision for credit losses

1,315



775

540

70 % Net interest income after provision 16,136



14,766

1,370

9 % for loan losses

















Non-interest income

4,837



4,245

592

14 % Non-interest expense

14,538



12,325

2,213

18 % Income before income taxes

6,435



6,686

(251)

-4 % Provision for income taxes

1,565



1,655

(90)

-5 % Net Income

4,870



5,031

(161)

-3 % Earnings per share - basic

$ 0.96



$ 1.01

$ (0.05)

-5 % Earnings per share - diluted

$ 0.94



$ 1.01

$ (0.07)

-7 %

SOURCE Oakworth Capital Inc.
Regulatory News:

The Combined General Meeting of Veolia Environnement (Paris:VIE) shareholders, held today at its administrative headquarters, under the chairmanship of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Antoine Frerot, approved all of the resolutions submitted to it with a quorum of 77.04%.

These resolutions relate in particular on:

the approval of the parent company financial statements and group consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2025

the setting of the dividend in cash for the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2025 at 1.50 per share. The shares will be traded ex-dividend as of May 11, 2026 and payable from May 13, 2026

for the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2025 at The shares will be traded ex-dividend as of May 11, 2026 and the renewal of the terms of office as Director of Mr. Antoine Frerot and Mrs. Estelle Brachlianoff for a four-year period which will expire at the end of the General Shareholders' Meeting that will be called to approve the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2029. At the recommendation of the Nominations Committee, the Board of Directors reappointed Mr. Antoine Frerot as Chairman of the Board of Directors , it being stipulated that in 2028 he will reach the age limit for chairing the Board of Directors as defined in the Articles of Association. The Nominations Committee and the Board of Directors will, in 2026 and 2027, consider the succession plan for the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Board of Directors confirmed Mrs. Estelle Brachlianoff as Chief Executive Officer

and for a four-year period which will expire at the end of the General Shareholders' Meeting that will be called to approve the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2029. At the recommendation of the Nominations Committee, the Board of Directors reappointed as , it being stipulated that in 2028 he will reach the age limit for chairing the Board of Directors as defined in the Articles of Association. The Nominations Committee and the Board of Directors will, in 2026 and 2027, consider the succession plan for the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Board of Directors confirmed as the appointment of Mr. Jean-Christophe Taret as Director representing employee shareholders and Mrs. Sandra Cortese as a replacement for a four-year period which will expire at the end of the General Shareholders' Meeting that will be called to approve the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2029;

as Director representing employee shareholders and as a replacement for a four-year period which will expire at the end of the General Shareholders' Meeting that will be called to approve the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2029; the compensation paid during fiscal year 2025 or awarded in respect of the same fiscal year to Mr. Antoine Frerot, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mrs. Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer;

to Mr. Antoine Frerot, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mrs. Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer; the information relating to the 2025 compensation of the Directors (excluding the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer);

(excluding the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer); the compensation policy in respect of fiscal year 2026 of the Chairman of the Board the Chief Executive Officer and Directors;

of the Chairman of the Board the Chief Executive Officer and Directors; the financial authorizations granted to the Board of Directors to increase the share capital by issuing shares and/or securities, and in particular those in the frame of the implementation of employee share ownership plans

granted to the Board of Directors to increase the share capital by issuing shares and/or securities, and in particular those in the frame of the renewal of the authorization granted to the Board of Directors to grant shares to corporate officers and employees of the Group and corporate officers of the Company

After this combined general meeting, the Board of Directors of Veolia Environnement is made up of fifteen Directors, including 75% independent Directors (excluding the two Directors representing employees and the Director representing employee shareholders) and 46%1 women, and one non voting member (censeur

Mr. Antoine Frerot, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mrs. Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Pierre-Andre de Chalendar*, Senior Independent Director

Mr. Olivier Andries*;

Mrs. Maryse Aulagnon;

Mrs. Veronique Bedague*;

Mr. Philippe Brassac*;

Mr. Arnaud Caudoux*;

Mrs. Isabelle Courville*;

Mr. Franck Le Roux, Director representing employees

Mrs. Julia Marton-Lefevre*;

Mr. Pavel Pasa, Director representing employees

Mrs. Elena Salgado*;

Mr. Jean-Christophe Taret, Director representing employee shareholders

Mr. Guillaume Texier*;

Mr. Enric Amiguet i Rovira, non voting member (censeur)

Independent member

The Board of Directors has decided on the composition of its committees as follows:

Accounts and Audit Committee : Mr. Guillaume Texier ( Chairman ), Mr. Olivier Andries, Mr. Philippe Brassac, Mrs. Veronique Bedague, Mr. Arnaud Caudoux and Mr. Franck Le Roux ( Director representing employees

: Mr. Guillaume Texier ( ), Mr. Olivier Andries, Mr. Philippe Brassac, Mrs. Veronique Bedague, Mr. Arnaud Caudoux and Mr. Franck Le Roux ( Nominations Committee : Mr. Pierre-Andre de Chalendar ( Chairman ), Mrs. Maryse Aulagnon, Mr. Philippe Brassac, Mrs. Isabelle Courville and Mr. Antoine Frerot.

: Mr. Pierre-Andre de Chalendar ( ), Mrs. Maryse Aulagnon, Mr. Philippe Brassac, Mrs. Isabelle Courville and Mr. Antoine Frerot. Compensation Committee : Mr. Olivier Andries ( Chairman ), Mrs. Maryse Aulagnon, Mr. Pierre-Andre de Chalendar, Mr. Franck Le Roux ( Director representing employees ) and Mrs. Elena Salgado.

: Mr. Olivier Andries ( ), Mrs. Maryse Aulagnon, Mr. Pierre-Andre de Chalendar, Mr. Franck Le Roux ( ) and Mrs. Elena Salgado. Research, Innovation and Sustainable Development Committee : Mrs. Isabelle Courville ( Chairwoman ), Mr. Arnaud Caudoux, Mrs. Julia Marton-Lefevre, Mr. Pavel Pasa ( Director representing employees ), Mrs. Elena Salgado, Mr. Jean-Christophe Taret ( Director representing employee shareholders ) and Mr. Guillaume Texier. Mr. Enric Amiguet y Rovira is invited to attend all meetings of this committee.

: Mrs. Isabelle Courville ( ), Mr. Arnaud Caudoux, Mrs. Julia Marton-Lefevre, Mr. Pavel Pasa ( ), Mrs. Elena Salgado, Mr. Jean-Christophe Taret ( ) and Mr. Guillaume Texier. Mr. Enric Amiguet y Rovira is invited to attend all meetings of this committee. Purpose of the Company Committee: Mr. Antoine Frerot (Chairman), Mr. Olivier Andries, Mrs. Maryse Aulagnon, Mr. Philippe Brassac, Mr. Pierre-Andre de Chalendar, Mrs. Isabelle Courville, Mr. Franck Le Roux (Director representing employees) and Mr. Guillaume Texier.

Furthermore, the Board of Directors has reaffirmed its willingness to pursue its policy of shareholder dialogue and engagement initiated several years ago.

See https://www.veolia.com/en/veolia-group/finance/shareholders for the results of voting on the resolutions and a full webcast of the Combined Shareholders' General Meeting.

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, works every day to build environmental security for the benefit of public health and the competitiveness of industries and regions. With 215,000 employees across five continents, working closely with local communities, and thanks to its cutting-edge technologies, the group cleans up pollution, reduces carbon emissions, and regenerates resources through concrete solutions that combine its expertise in water and water technologies, waste including hazardous waste management, and local energy. In 2025, the Veolia group served 110 million people with drinking water and 97 million with sanitation, produced 45 million megawatt hours of energy, and treated 64 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE, Fortune 500, SBF 120) generated consolidated revenue of 44.4 billion in 2025.

1 Excluding the Directors representing employees in accordance with Articles L. 225-27-1 and L. 22-10-7 of the French Commercial Code.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423938803/en/

Contacts:

VEOLIA

MEDIA RELATIONS

Laurent Obadia Evgeniya Mazalova

Anna Beaubatie Aurelien Sarrosquy

Charline Bouchereau

presse.groupe@veolia.com

INVESTORS RELATIONS

Selma Bekhechi Ariane de Lamaze

Tel. 33 (0)1 85 57 84 76 84 80

investor-relations@veolia.com
In response to new threats and growing challenges in the area of environmental security, Veolia announced, on the sidelines of its Annual General Meeting, the creation of two forums for dialogue and collaborative decision-making.

The Stakeholders Assembly , a unique working group, brings together 34 international figures clients, financial partners, environmental organizations, employees, and representatives of civil society to first focus on water security and the promises currently offered by REUSE.

The Future Generations Council, composed of 30 international stakeholders under the age of thirty, will meet twice a year with Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, and the Executive Committee.

Regulatory News:

Veolia (Paris:VIE):

In the environmental sphere, yesterday's challenges have become genuine risk factors. Threats to public health, strains on supply chains, the erosion of regional autonomy Faced with disruptions that are reshaping the scope of action, some players are taking the lead and, beyond their business models, are assuming a new role as catalysts and engaging in thinking and co-creation. To support its global activities and cutting-edge solutions, Veolia is taking action by creating two international forums for dialogue and co-creation led by Estelle Brachlianoff.

"Environmental security can only be built collectively. Our goal is to open a dialogue and draw on all expertise and perspectives. Faced with new challenges, we cannot wait or move forward in silos. Beyond our global activities alongside our industrial and municipal clients and our intensive R&D work, we want to do more than just participate in the collective effort to build environmental security: we want to be its initiator and facilitator," says Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia.

The Stakeholders Assembly, a unique international platform comprising 34 high-level figures from the United States, Lebanon, Jordan, France, Namibia, China, and Chile, met for the first time on April 9, 2026. Among its members are renowned figures who are true leaders in their respective fields, such as Sherri Goodman, a recognized expert on defense, energy, and climate issues, and Esther Delbourg, a water economist.

For this inaugural session, the international group, whose work is supported by researchers from Columbia University in New York and HEC Paris, focused on the reuse of treated wastewater (REUSE). The 34 members signed a joint commitment on water security and access to water and shared their insights to promote the scaling up of concrete solutions derived from water technologies, one of the growth boosters of Veolia's Green Up strategic program.

At the same time, on April 8, 2026, theFuture Generations Council, which brings together, among others, entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers under the age of 30 15 external members and 15 Veolia Group employees from five continents shared with Estelle Brachlianoff six proposals for action on the theme "fostering a culture of risk to invent the industry of tomorrow." On June 15, they will present three of these proposals to Veolia's Executive Committee, with the aim of taking concrete action within the Group by implementing one of them, should it be selected following the discussion.

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, works every day to build environmental security for the benefit of public health and the competitiveness of industries and regions. With 215,000 employees across five continents, working closely with local communities, and thanks to its cutting-edge technologies, the group cleans up pollution, reduces carbon emissions, and regenerates resources through concrete solutions that combine its expertise in water and water technologies, waste including hazardous waste management, and local energy. In 2025, the Veolia group served 110 million people with drinking water and 97 million with sanitation, produced 45 million megawatt hours of energy, and treated 64 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE, Fortune 500, SBF 120) generated consolidated revenue of 44.4 billion in 2025. veolia.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423658030/en/

Contacts:

PRESS RELATIONS

Laurent Obadia Evgeniya Mazalova

Anna Beaubatie Aurelien Sarrosquy

Charline Bouchereau

presse.groupe@veolia.com
Stillwater, Oklahoma--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - The Oklahoma Legislature has approved $40 million in state funding to create the Agronomy Discovery Center at Oklahoma State University's Agronomy Research Station in Stillwater.

This comprehensive modernization will enhance OSU's agronomy research enterprise - from its world-renowned wheat breeding program to its nationally recognized turfgrass science program and broader crop and soil research - and strengthen Oklahoma's $42 billion agricultural economy.

The investment, along with private support, will fund construction to expand one of the nation's most prominent public crop breeding programs. In addition to research, the new center will be home to related OSU Extension and Ferguson College of Agriculture academic programs.

"This investment by the Oklahoma Legislature is a profound vote of confidence in Oklahoma State University and in the farmers, ranchers and rural communities who depend on our research," OSU President Jim Hess said. "The Agronomy Discovery Center will give our world-class scientists the facilities they deserve and ensure Oklahoma remains at the forefront of agricultural innovation for generations to come. Together, with our new veterinary medicine hospital, OSU is building the infrastructure to lead the nation in both agriculture and animal health."

The approval of the Agronomy Discovery Center follows the Oklahoma Legislature's investments in 2023 and 2025 to support the construction of a new $329 million OSU College of Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital, which will be among the most advanced veterinary education and research facilities in the country. Together, the two investments reflect a sustained legislative commitment to cementing OSU as a national leader in the agricultural and life sciences.

University officials expressed gratitude to the Oklahoma Legislature for its confidence in OSU and its recognition of the critical role agricultural research plays in Oklahoma's economy.

"We appreciate Speaker Hilbert, Senate Pro Tem Paxton, appropriation chairs Sen. Chuck Hall and Rep. Trey Caldwell, Sen. Roland Pederson and the entire Oklahoma Legislature for their leadership and their investment in Oklahoma's future," Dr. Hess said. "This decision will pay dividends for the state of Oklahoma and our citizens for decades."

The Agronomy Discovery Center project will replace outdated infrastructure with state-of-the-art research greenhouses, a research and education center with modern laboratory facilities, equipment storage and additional research support space.

"The Agronomy Discovery Center represents a critical investment in the future of agriculture and food innovation," said Jayson Lusk, OSU vice president for agricultural programs and dean of the Ferguson College of Agriculture. "Modernizing the Agronomy Research Station allows us to advance research that improves crop performance, sustainability and quality, outcomes that matter not only to farmers and rural economies but to the entire agricultural value chain. From millers and bakers seeking consistent, high-quality grain to consumers who expect safe, affordable and nutritious food, this work connects the field to the final product. The Agronomy Discovery Center strengthens our ability to meet what today's markets demand while preparing agriculture for what the future will require."

The facility will support a broad portfolio of agronomic research. The Stillwater station serves as a focal point for a number of OSU research initiatives, with crop production, wheat and turfgrass breeding, soil fertility, weed science and forages making up the predominant areas of study.

The economic case for the investment is substantial:

OSU's Wheat Improvement Team has delivered $78 million in returns to Oklahoma farmers over the past 16 years, with investments returning more than $8 for every dollar spent.





Oklahoma's agricultural industry contributes $42 billion annually to the state economy, with wheat production exceeding 110 million bushels in 2024 - ranking Oklahoma No. 5 nationally for wheat production.





Oklahoma farmers produced $606 million worth of wheat for milling with an estimated $424 million of that coming from varieties developed by the OSU Wheat Improvement Team.





OSU wheat varieties are developed to support dual-purpose production for livestock forage, generating an additional 300 million pounds of beef each year, worth more than $600 million to Oklahoma ranchers.





Since 2000, OSU has commercialized 43 varieties that account for more than 70% of all wheat acres planted in Oklahoma, approximately 10% of all wheat acres planted across the United States and two of the top three wheat varieties grown in Texas.

The Agronomy Discovery Center has already attracted strong support from Oklahoma Genetics Inc., the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and private donors. The State Legislature has tasked OSU Agriculture to raise $10 million in order to receive the $40 million in state funding. OSU is actively pursuing additional private fundraising and federal appropriations to complement the state investment, and architectural planning is underway.

This investment is about ensuring Oklahoma agriculture stays strong, competitive and innovative for the future," said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. "The research conducted at Oklahoma State University directly impacts farmers, ranchers, consumers and rural communities across our state. By modernizing this facility, we are strengthening the tools and resources our producers rely on every day and reinforcing Oklahoma's leadership in feeding and fueling the world."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10198/293981_d19fc1e6a4de286b_002full.jpg

B-ROLL FOR MEDIA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov-kXf8kIRk

PHOTOS: https://brandfolder.com/s/6m3vjt9bfq45647kv3gzh9tv

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. Through teaching, research and Extension, OSU engages communities and empowers servant-leaders to meet society's most pressing challenges. OSU is the largest university system in Oklahoma and has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 27,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and more than 127 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 300,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.

OSU Agriculture is comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies - OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293981

Source: Oklahoma State University
Ivanhoe Mines showcases 2025 sustainability results, strengthening position as a global industry leader

Johannesburg, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) today announced the publication of its ninth annual Sustainability Report under the theme "Prioritizing what matters." The theme underscores the company's continued leadership in responsible mining and sustainable development. The 2025 report details the company's progress in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and sustainability governance, guided by Ivanhoe's philosophy of "Mining with a greater purpose."

Throughout 2025, Ivanhoe Mines advanced key initiatives across its operations and projects, deepening alignment with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and supporting the global energy transition through the sustainable production of critical metals.

Ivanhoe Mines is proud to have strengthened its human rights disclosures in alignment with the United Nations' Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, alongside broadening the scope of our Limited Assurance to include additional performance indicators, notably our Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions.

Watch the video introducing the ninth annual Sustainability Report and its achievements across Ivanhoe's projects: https://vimeo.com/1183007046/091d8d65c2?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Key highlights from the 2025 Sustainability Report include:

Outperformance of operational health and safety targets, including zero fatalities, reflecting the group's ability to maintain a safe working culture.

Company-wide workforce comprising of 92% local employees, including a notable highlight at the Kipushi concentrator that has 100% local workforce.

17% female representation in senior management and leadership, up from 14% two years ago.

Enrollment of 718 students in internship programs across the group.

Over 65,000 vaccinations administered across our local communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Angola.

$4.5 billion of value created and distributed in 2025, including $1.1 billion of taxes and royalties paid and $2.7 billion spent on procurement through companies based in our host countries.

Five new educational facilities were inaugurated in the communities surrounding Kamoa-Kakula.

A total of 143 community freshwater boreholes drilled to-date across all operations and projects.

32 hectares of concurrent land rehabilitation on Kamoa-Kakula's licence area.

Completion of refurbished turbine at Inga II hydroelectric facility, increasing total refurbished domestic hydroelectric capacity to over 250 MW since project inception.

Construction commenced on 60 MW of solar energy (PV) capacity, with battery storage, at Kamoa-Kakula.

Official launch of the Masodi Wastewater Treatment Plant, which supplies treated municipal wastewater to the Platreef Mine for operational use.

Marna Cloete, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ivanhoe Mines, commented:

"2025 was a pivotal year for Ivanhoe Mines as we transitioned into a major, diversified metals producer. Our ninth annual Sustainability Report reflects who we are as a company. We believe that mining should always create value that lasts beyond mine life, empowering communities, protecting the environment, and advancing human rights.

"Over the past 12 months, we strengthened our governance and long-term strategic capacity, expanded our global footprint, and reinforced partnerships that deliver real benefits, from better healthcare and education to biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihood initiatives.

"This report highlights how sustainability guides our choices now, as well as shapes our future impact. The progress we made in 2025 is a testament to the dedication of our people and partners as we continue to build a mining legacy that future generations can be proud of."

The 2025 Sustainability Report aligns with leading global frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative's Mining Sector Standard 14 (GRI 14), World Economic Forum's Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics, Local Procurement Reporting Mechanism, International Council on Mining and Metals' 10 Principles, and the United Nations Global Compact.

The full 2025 sustainability report is available on the Ivanhoe Mines website: www.ivanhoemines.com.

Featured below are some of the initiatives captured in photos that showcase Ivanhoe's sustainability progress over the past 12 months.





Local students of the Kaponda Technical workshop alongside members from the Kamoa-Kakula sustainability team.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_003full.jpg





Kipushi donated 800 desks, built by local carpenters, to three local schools, benefiting more than 1,600 learners in the Kipushi community.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_004full.jpg





First maize harvest from the ~15 hectares Mihindi Project near the Kipushi Mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_005full.jpg





Graduation ceremony at the Walemba Early Childhood Development centre built by Kamoa-Kakula.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_006full.jpg





More than 60,000 sanitary packs were distributed across 24 schools located in the communities surrounding the Platreef Mine, as part of the "Keeping a Girl Child in School" campaign. The campaign is supported by many of the suppliers to Ivanhoe Mines.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_007full.jpg





Certification ceremony at the Chatuta sewing centre. 10 community members successfully completed on-the-job training in technical embroidery and shirt sewing.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_008full.jpg





Local learners at the Kaponda Primary School near Kamoa-Kakula using learning materials made from reused materials in the Bouchon Bijou volunteer project.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_009full.jpg





Kamoa-Kakula celebrated the official handover of a tractor and its full set of agricultural implements, under the Cahier des Charges program, to cooperatives of Chief Mwilu and Chief Musokantanda.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/294009_5f262cd5441f89f6_010full.jpg

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal operations in Southern Africa; the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC; the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and the tier-one Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper mine in South Africa.

Ivanhoe Mines is exploring copper in its highly prospective, 54-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Forelands, covering an area over six times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, including the high-grade discoveries in the Makoko District. Ivanhoe is also exploring for new sedimentary copper discoveries in new horizons including Angola, Kazakhstan, and Zambia.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/294009

Source: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - James Bay Resources Limited (CSE: JBR) ("James Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that on April 21, 2026 it closed the third tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of common shares (the "Common Shares") announced on October 28, 2025. The first tranche of the Offering raised gross proceeds of $75,000 from the issuance of 3,750,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.02 per Common Share. The second tranche of the Offering raised gross proceeds of $107,500 from the issuance of 5,375,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.02 per Common Share. The third tranche of the Offering raised gross proceeds of $125,000 from the issuance of 6,250,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.02 per Common Share.

The Common Shares issued pursuant to the third tranche of the Offering will be subject to a four month plus one day regulatory hold period commencing from the date of closing of the third tranche.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About James Bay Resources Limited

James Bay is a Canadian company with 96,451,241 issued and outstanding as of the date of this news release, and trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "JBR".

Disclaimer

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Corporation's operations, exploration and development plans, expansion plans, estimates, expectations, forecasts, objectives, predictions and projections of the future. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or "variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of James Bay Resources Limited to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the Company's proposed Offering, as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors of our business filed in James Bay Resources Limited's required securities filings on SEDAR+. Although James Bay Resources Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. James Bay Resources Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/294028

Source: James Bay Resources Limited
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE" or "the Exchange") today welcomed the listing of Great Red Lake Gold Corp. ("Great Red Lake" or the "Company"). The Toronto-based company was created through a spin-out of mineral exploration assets in Ontario's Red Lake gold district that were previously held by Highland Critical Minerals Corp. The common shares were listed for trading on the CSE today under the symbol RLGC.

Great Red Lake holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in mining claims comprising 3,366 hectares of land in the legendary Red Lake camp. It also has a further option to acquire an additional 3,050 hectares.

"More than a century after the first gold rush at Red Lake, the region continues to offer significant exploration potential, with numerous projects at various stages of advancement," said Stuart Schady, the CSE's Vice President, Business Development. "We welcome Great Red Lake Gold to the CSE and wish the company success with its exploration program."

"The Company is extremely pleased to have its shares listed on the CSE, and we are hopeful of continued support from our shareholders," said Edward Yew, CEO of Great Red Lake. "We are looking forward to providing updates with respect to our owned and optioned claims in the Red Lake area over the coming weeks."

About the Canadian Securities Exchange:

The Canadian Securities Exchange is a rapidly growing exchange invested in working with entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors to access public capital markets in Canada. The Exchange's efficient operating model, advanced technology and competitive fee structure help its listed issuers of all sectors and sizes minimize their cost of capital and enhance global liquidity.

Our client-centric approach and corresponding products and services ensure businesses have the support they need to confidently realize their vision.

The CSE offers global investors access to an innovative collection of growing and mature companies.

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE CSE

=============================

Website: https://thecse.com/

Blog: https://blog.thecse.com/

CSE TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/csetv

CSE's "The Exchange for Entrepreneurs" Podcast: https://blog.thecse.com/category/cse-podcast/

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/canadian-securities-exchange

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canadianexchange/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanadianSecuritiesExchange/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/294036

Source: Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Planet Ventures Inc. (CSE: PXI) (OTC Pink: PNXPF) (FSE: P6U) ("Planet" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged the services of Global One Media Group Pte. Ltd. ("Global One Media") to produce and distribute video interviews, company news, and other similar services for investor marketing and broader investor outreach. Global One Media is located at 8 Marina Boulevard, #11-01, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, Singapore 018981, and can be contacted at +1 (877) 219-2281 or contact@globalonemedia.com. Services will be provided and distributed through digital channels and platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, the Company's official social media channels, and related web-based media distribution channels.

Commenting on the engagement, Bastien Boulay, Co-Founder and CEO of Global One Media, stated: "Today's capital markets are global and digital. Through our international investor media network and distribution channels across North America, Europe, and Asia, our goal is to help Planet Ventures expand its visibility, strengthen its narrative, and connect with a wider global investor audience."

The term of the agreement with Global One Media (the "Global One Agreement") will commence on May 1st, 2026, and will end on October 31st, 2026. Following the initial six-month term, the Global One Agreement will continue on a month-to-month basis unless terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice. Under the terms of the Global One Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Global One Media a total cash fee of USD$39,000 over the six-month term.

There are no performance factors impacting the compensation of Global One Media, and Global One Media will not receive any securities of the Company as compensation. Global One Media does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company.

About Global One Media Group

Global One Media (www.globalonemedia.com) is an investor marketing firm focused on digital communications for publicly traded companies. By combining strategic narrative development, premium content creation, and international distribution across its investor media network, the firm helps issuers increase visibility, connect with investors, and build sustained market awareness across North America, Europe, and Asia.

About Planet Ventures Inc.

Planet Ventures Inc. is an investment issuer that actively invests in disruptive companies across high-growth industries. Planet aims to build long-term shareholder value through strategic investments in innovative businesses.

Neither the CSE nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", "explore", "aim", "target", "potential", "believe", "pursue", "is designed to", "is focused on", "is positioned to", and similar expressions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking information in this news release includes statements relating to: the anticipated benefits of the Company's engagement of Global One Media for investor marketing and communications services, including increased investor visibility, broader market awareness, and expanded reach across North America, Europe, and Asia; the expected duration and renewal of the Global One Agreement; and the Company's general business plans, strategy, and objectives.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the ability of Global One Media to perform its obligations under the Global One Agreement; the effectiveness of investor marketing and communications services in achieving increased visibility and investor engagement; the possibility that the Global One Agreement is terminated prior to or upon expiry of its initial term; regulatory changes affecting investor communications and marketing activities; and general capital market risks and volatility.

The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. The forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain material assumptions, including that Global One Media will perform its obligations under the Global One Agreement, that applicable regulatory requirements will continue to be met, and that market conditions will not materially and adversely change. These assumptions may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293978

Source: Planet Ventures Inc.
Kamloops, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - North Valley Resources Ltd. (CSE: NVR) ("North Valley" or "The Company") is pleased to announce results of its annual general and special meeting of shareholders held Thursday, April 23, 2026 ("the Meeting'"), including the appointment of Mr. Jason Leikam to the Board of Directors of the Company.

The Shareholders of the Company approved setting of the number of directors at four (4) and elected Cameron Dorsey, Quinn Ellerbeck, Jason Leikam, and Brian May as directors ("the Board of Directors") of the Company for the ensuing year.

The Shareholders of the Company re-appointed Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as the Company's auditor for the ensuing year, and authorized the Board of Directors to fix the numeration to be paid to the auditor.

Furthermore, the Shareholders of the Company approved the Company's new form of Stock Option Plan.

Cameron Dorsey, CEO North Valley Resources, states: "On behalf of the Company, I would like to thank our shareholders for their participation and continued support. We are pleased to welcome Jason to the Board and look forward to the expertise and perspective he will bring as we advance the Comstock Project and continue strengthening our exploration and development efforts."

New Director

Mr. Leikam is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in management of start-up businesses, strategic business development, venture capital funding and asset acquisitions. Mr. Leikam has held leadership roles in several private and publicly listed early-stage natural resource projects and clean tech ventures related to sustainable natural resource development. Mr. Leikam is currently the CEO of Omega Pacific Resources, an explorer focused on the discovery and development of the Williams Property in British Columbia's Toodoggone District. Mr. Leikam also currently serves as VP Business Development for EnviroMetal Technologies Inc., a precious metal recovery technology entering commercialization. Prior to joining Omega Pacific and EnviroMetal, Mr. Leikam served as VP Corporate Development for Silvermex Resources Ltd, which was acquired by First Majestic Silver in 2012.

About North Valley Resources

North Valley Resources is a well-positioned junior exploration company focused on advancing its flagship Comstock Project, a high-quality exploration asset that is fully permitted for drilling and located in a proven, mining-friendly jurisdiction. The Company is executing a disciplined, systematic exploration strategy aimed at unlocking significant copper and gold potential and advancing Comstock toward the mineral resource stage, while creating meaningful value for shareholders.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Cameron Dorsey, CEO

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to statements relating to its future business plans. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law. Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/294065

Source: North Valley Resources Ltd.
OnePlus has announced additional details regarding the hardware and software specifications for the upcoming OnePlus Nord CE6. The company already confirmed that the smartphone is scheduled to launch in India on May 7 at 12:00 PM IST, alongside the OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite, which marks the return of the Lite tier to the current lineup.

The OnePlus Nord CE6 will be available in three color options: Fresh Blue, Lunar Pearl, and Pitch Black.

Hardware and Performance

The Nord CE6 is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 mobile platform. The device utilizes a dual-chip design that includes a dedicated Touch Reflex chip, supporting an instantaneous touch sampling rate of 3200Hz.

Key hardware specifications include:

Battery: 8000mAh capacity

8000mAh capacity Charging: 80W wired fast charging and 27W reverse charging

80W wired fast charging and 27W reverse charging Display: 1.5K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate

1.5K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate Audio: Dual stereo speakers with up to 300% volume output

Dual stereo speakers with up to 300% volume output Durability: MIL-STD-810H certification and multiple ingress protection ratings (IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K)

Camera Specifications

The imaging system on the Nord CE6 is designed for everyday photography and video recording, with both the front and rear cameras supporting 4K Ultra HD video capture.

Rear Camera: Features a 50MP primary sensor equipped with dual-axis Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to improve photo sharpness and video stability.

Features a 50MP primary sensor equipped with dual-axis Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to improve photo sharpness and video stability. Front Camera: Features a 32MP sensor with autofocus and a wide field of view, optimized for group photography and clear facial focus.

Software and AI Integrations

The device will ship with OxygenOS 16, which incorporates a variety of new software features and artificial intelligence tools natively into the operating system.

Notable software features include:

Google Integrations: Native support for Gemini Live and Circle to Search.

Native support for Gemini Live and Circle to Search. AI Editing Suite: Includes AI Portrait Glow, AI Perfect Shot, AI Eraser, AI Unblur, AI Reflection Eraser, AI Detail Boost, and AI Reframe.

Includes AI Portrait Glow, AI Perfect Shot, AI Eraser, AI Unblur, AI Reflection Eraser, AI Detail Boost, and AI Reframe. Media Tools: Built-in video and music editing applications with support for high-quality, 4K resolution exports at original frame rates, as well as support for Motion Photos in 4K.

Availability

Official pricing, availability, and launch offers for both devices will be confirmed during the May 7 event. The concurrent launch of the OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite succeeds the previous Nord CE4 Lite model, which was recorded as the highest-selling Android smartphone by value and volume in the 15,00020,000 price segment during Amazons Great Indian Festival in late 2024.

As usual, the OnePlus Nord CE6 and the Nord CE6 Lite will be available on Amazon.in, in addition to the OnePlus India online store and offline stores after the launch.
London-based consumer technology brand Nothing has announced the release of Essential Voice, a new software feature designed to enhance the speech-to-text experience on its smartphones. The feature is an extension of the companys existing Essential AI toolset, aimed at shifting device communication toward a voice-first interface.

Addressing the Limitations of Typing and Dictation

The primary goal of Essential Voice is to bridge the efficiency gap between typing and speaking. While average smartphone users type at approximately 36 words per minute, speaking allows for a much faster pace of around 150 words per minute.

Although voice notes and traditional dictation tools exist, both present distinct challenges. Voice notes can be inconvenient to listen to in public spaces and difficult to scan for key information.

Standard dictation, on the other hand, often produces raw, fragmented text that includes stutters and filler words. Essential Voice processes spoken input to generate clean, formatted text in real-time, aiming to combine the speed of speaking with the utility of written text.

How It Works and Core Features

The feature is integrated directly into the devices keyboard and can also be activated via a long-press on the Essential Key, allowing users to dictate without leaving their current application.

Key functionalities include:

Auto-Correction and Formatting: Moving beyond verbatim transcription, the software automatically removes filler words (like ums and uhs) and tidies up sentence structure. Users can also dictate formatting instructions to organize their speech into steps, lists, or bullet points.

Moving beyond verbatim transcription, the software automatically removes filler words (like ums and uhs) and tidies up sentence structure. Users can also dictate formatting instructions to organize their speech into steps, lists, or bullet points. Personal Mappings: Users can create a library of custom voice shortcuts over time. Dictating a specific trigger phrase can prompt the software to automatically output specific spellings, inserted templates, or linked addresses (e.g., ensuring nothing OS is automatically capitalized as Nothing OS).

Users can create a library of custom voice shortcuts over time. Dictating a specific trigger phrase can prompt the software to automatically output specific spellings, inserted templates, or linked addresses (e.g., ensuring nothing OS is automatically capitalized as Nothing OS). Multilingual Support and Translation: Essential Voice supports over 100 languages with automatic language detection, including specific regional variants like Simplified Chinese or Latin American Spanish. Additionally, it functions as a translation agent, allowing a user to speak in one language and have the text transcribed and translated into another in real-time.

Privacy and Data Handling

Regarding user privacy, Nothing states that Essential Voice does not listen in the background and only activates upon user initiation. Once triggered, the audio recording is encrypted and sent to Nothings servers for processing. The generated text is then returned to the device, and the company confirms that audio data is not stored on its servers after the process is complete.

Availability and Roadmap

Essential Voice is currently available on the Nothing Phone (3). The update is scheduled to roll out to the Phone (4a) Pro later this month, followed by the Phone (4a) in early May.

Looking forward, Nothing plans to introduce context awareness to the feature, enabling the software to adapt its formatting and tone based on the application in usesuch as distinguishing between a casual text message and a formal work email. The company also noted intentions to eventually expand Essential Voice across its broader ecosystem of smart products.
S. Korean man arrested in protest at Japan's infamous Yasukuni Shrine

Xinhua) 13:36, April 23, 2026

TOKYO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean man was arrested by Japanese police on Wednesday on suspicion of disrupting shrine rituals after staging a protest during the annual Spring Rites at the notorious Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, local media reported.

According to Kyodo News, the man hung a banner inside the shrine bearing messages such as "Stop paying visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines war criminals." Shrine staff held him back before police arrived and placed him under arrest.

The man is believed to reside in South Korea and had entered Japan on April 20, the report said.

The war-linked Yasukuni Shrine kicked off its three-day annual Spring Rites on Tuesday.

The controversial shrine, located in central Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II alongside the war dead. It has long been a source of diplomatic friction between Japan and its neighbors.

Visits and ritual offerings made by Japanese officials to the notorious shrine have consistently sparked criticism and opposition both at home and abroad, hurting the feelings of the people of China, South Korea and other countries brutalized by Japan during the war.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Mossad agent who sold Iran's sensitive secrets hanged by court order

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 9:13 AM

A Mossad spy, who was responsible for gathering Irans sensitive information and sending it to the Israeli spy agency, has been executed, according to Irans Supreme Court.

Mehdi Farid was executed on Wednesday after his case was reviewed and the final verdict was approved.

Farid, who was the director of the passive defense committee of a vital organization before his arrest, was quickly recruited by a Mossad handler, according to the high Court.

He was first contacted through email by his handler who used the name Babak and after exchanging several messages was given a specific spy messaging device.

During their early contacts and before the full recruitment, the handler explicitly told Farid that he needed sensitive information about the organization where Farid worked, and Farid promised to provide the data.

After the completion of the recruitment period, Farid was provided with the necessary money to buy a laptop, phone, memory card and ram reader.

The handler instructed him on how to use these items in order to safely contact him and send information.

After the creation of the necessary safe space, the Mossad began telling Farid what kind of information he must gather.

They specifically told him to access the confidential information in the organizations corporate office.

In return for his work for Mossad, Farid officially became a spy, and received a monthly stipend in euros from the Israelis.

Furthermore, Mossad promised Farid that after the completion of his work for the spy agency, they will help him leave Iran, which he later learned was a lie and the spy agency had no intention to let him go.

Later, Mossad instructed Farid to corrupt the servers and networks of the organization with spyware.

It was at this stage that Irans Ministry of Inelegance and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps intelligence branch, which had Farid under surveillance for several months, decided to arrest him and hand him to the Judiciary authorities.

During his trial, the defendant pleaded guilty and explained the nature of his relation with the Israeli spy agency.

Also, during his trial, Farid confessed that from the very beginning he was aware that he was in contact with a Mossad handler.

Terrorist team dismantled

Meanwhile, Iran's security forces have dismantled an operational team belonging to the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group in the border county of Rask, killing several terrorists, the Tasnim news agency reported Wednesday.

A significant quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered from the terrorist team, according to the report.

Jaish al-Adl operates in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan. The group has claimed responsibility for past attacks on Iranian civilians and security forces.

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Contracts

Contracts for April 22, 2026

NAVY

Orbis Sibro, Inc.,* Charleston, South Carolina (N00024-26-D-4343), is awarded (along with several other vendors announced on Sept. 2, 2025 Sept. 30, 2025) a combined $1,123,590,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for discrete production, non-discrete production, and other production work to support the public shipyards in accomplishing repair, maintenance, and modernization of nuclear-powered attack submarines undergoing scheduled Chief of Naval Operations maintenance availabilities. This contract includes options which, if exercised, across the various vendors, would bring the cumulative value to $1,906,010,000. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (35%); Bremerton, Washington (25%); Kittery, Maine (20%); and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (20%), and is expected to be completed by August 2030. If all options are exercised, work will continue through August 2033. No funds will be obligated at the time of the award; funds will be obligated at the delivery order level as contracting actions occur. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management website, with 29 offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded a $230,495,111 cost-plus-award-fee modification, against previously awarded contract (N00024-24-C-4212) for integrated planning yard services and long lead-time material for Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by July 2027. If all options are exercised, the contract value is expected to total $895 million. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,191,244 (4%) will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair, Bath, Maine, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded a $45,524,438 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00051) to a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-22-C-6001) to provide support services for the U.S. Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon Systems Program, Attack Weapon System Program, and the Nuclear Weapon Security Program. Tasks to be performed include systems engineering and integration, test engineering, data analysis, and safety engineering. This contract award also benefits a Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Rockville, Maryland (49%); Washington, D.C. (18%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (5%); Frederick, Maryland (5%); Silverdale, Washington (4%); Saint Mary's, Georgia (3%); King's Bay, Georgia (2%); York, Pennsylvania (2%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (2%); Rochester, United Kingdom (1%); Conway, South Carolina (1%); and various other locations (less than 1% each, 8% total). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2026. This action is awarded subject to the availability of funds, and no funding will be obligated upon time of award. This contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(4) and was previously synopsized on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) online portal. PAE Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Domino Data Lab, San Francisco, California, is awarded a $16,596,632 firm-fixed-price contract (N0003926CA001) for machine learning. The contract will acquire and field software solutions that will sustain and advance the performance of systems throughout the Department of War. The contract includes a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. The option periods, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $99,745,337. Work will be performed in San Francisco, California, and is expected to be completed in April 2027. If options are exercised, work could continue until April 2031. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This requirement was solicited using full and open competition via Tradewind Solutions Marketplace. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N00039).

Sedna Digital Solutions LLC,* Manassas, Virginia, is being awarded a $9,100,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost contract modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-23-C-6109) to exercise options for supporting materials for Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) systems. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by December 2027. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,778,939 (71%); fiscal 2026 other procurement (Navy) in the amount of $686,000 (18%); and fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) in the amount of $445,198 (11%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Karlas and Emmas Knits LLC,* Brooklyn, New York, has been awarded a maximum $763,082,470 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for physical fitness gear. This was a competitive acquisition with five responses received. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Other contracts are expected to be awarded under this solicitation (SPE1C1-25-R-0130) and awardees will compete for a portion of the maximum dollar value. The ordering period end date is April 21, 2031. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2031 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-26-D-0035).



UPDATE: Biocartis US Inc.,* Itasca, Illinois (SPE2DF-26-D-0009, $10,000,000), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for laboratory equipment, accessories and consumables for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog, issued against solicitation SPE2DE-22-R0006 and awarded Feb. 24, 2023. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

AIR FORCE

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, has been awarded a $207,891,883 modification (P00026) to previously awarded contract FA8690-24-C-B001 for an additional year of contractor logistics support services. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $596,009,834 from $388,117,951. Work will be performed at Sacheon Air Base, Republic of Korea; Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; Misawa Air Base, Japan; Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy; and San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2027. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Republic of Korea, the Japan Ministry of Defense, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. FMS funds in the amount of $78,042,653 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.



Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, was awarded a $57,303,302 firm-fixed-price contract for the Link-182 Space-to-Space Comms System Development and Demonstrations. This contract provides for the enhancement of U.S. warfighting capability through the acquisition, development, and demonstration of resilient space capabilities for proliferated low Earth orbit. Work will be performed at Hawthorne, California, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2027. This contract was a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $57,303,302 are being obligated at time of award. The Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8819-26-C-B002).

ARMY

CACI Inc., Federal, Chantilly, Virginia, was awarded a $42,669,847 firm-fixed-price contract for the Managing Army Human Capital-Innovation, Integration, and Implementation solution, which will modernize and sustain the Army's Integrated Personnel and Pay System by providing ongoing operations, cybersecurity, and system maintenance for more than 1,100,000 soldiers. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Arlington Virginia with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2033. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $2,066,661.11 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W519TC-26-C-A014). (Awarded April 18, 2026).

SPATIAL FRONT INC., Bethesda, Maryland, was awarded a $39,432,214firm-fixed-price contract for the Managing Army Human Capital Innovation, Integration, and Implementation solution, which will modernize and sustain the Army's Integrated Personnel and Pay System by providing ongoing operations, cybersecurity, and system maintenance for more than 1,100,000 soldiers. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Arlington Virginia with an estimated completion date of April 20, 2033. Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $2,439,036.64 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W519TC-26-C-A015). (Awarded April 17, 2026).

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4467057/

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Utah welcomes first light infantry unit in more than a century

By Sgt. 1st Class Tim Beery April 21, 2026

CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah -- The Utah Army National Guard activated the 1st Battalion, 204th Infantry Regiment during a ceremony April 18, marking the state's first traditional light infantry battalion in more than a century and a major shift in its force structure.

The ceremony, conducted at Tarbet Field, included the uncasing of the battalion colors and an assumption of command, symbolizing both the unit's official establishment and the transfer of responsibility to its inaugural commander, Lt. Col. Steve Pagoaga.

Maj. Gen. Daniel Boyack, the adjutant general of Utah, said the battalion's creation reflects both intent and investment at the highest levels of the Army.

"This battalion did not just happen by chance," Boyack said. "This is a result of years of advocacy and collaboration coming together today."

He added that Utah's selection for the mission reflects the state's performance and reputation.

"Utah was chosen for this mission for a reasonbecause of our reputation to recruit, retain, and excel at every mission we've been given," he said.

"This is a new battalion, no culture and no reputation. You will build both," Boyack said. "What you do will define this battalion for years to come."

The activation represents the culmination of years of planning and effort by Utah National Guard leaders to bring an infantry capability to the state. The battalion, consisting of nearly 600 Soldiers across multiple locations, significantly enhances Utah's ability to respond to both overseas combat missions and domestic emergencies.

"This marks a historic day in Utahstanding up and activating the 1st Battalion, 204th Infantry Regiment, the first of its kind in the state," said Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Mayes, 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

The 1-204th Infantry Regiment falls under the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, with elements based in Ogden, Logan, Tooele and St. George. Infantrymen assigned to the unit are equipped with modern platforms, including Infantry Squad Vehicles and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, designed to increase speed and mobility on the battlefield.

Boyack emphasized the battalion's role in future conflict and domestic response. "You are designed for that future warfare, not the past," he said. "We're building a force that is lighter, faster and more lethal, able to move quickly, decide under pressure, and win on a changing battlefield." "When our communities face crisisman-made or naturalyou will respond disciplined, capable and ready," Boyack added. "A force that the people of Utah can rely on."

During the ceremony, leaders emphasized not only the operational importance of the unit, but also its impact on the force and the state.

"These Soldiers are going to have the chance to set the culture of a brand-new unit," Mayes said. "You don't get that very often in your career."

In addition to senior leadership, junior enlisted Soldiers also reflected on the significance of the moment. Spc. Harrison Kent, a team leader in the new battalion, said the activation represents a rare opportunity in a Soldier's career.

"This is something that's pretty historic. Not many people can really say across their military careers that they've gotten the chance to do this," Kent said.

Kent said the new unit offers both freedom and responsibility as it establishes its identity. "You get the opportunity to show up and try new things ... you're establishing the culture," he said.

He added that the infantry remains a constant even as warfare evolves.

"The infantry is a special place ... it's always going to be there," Kent said. In addition to its federal mission to deploy and fight the nation's wars, the 1-204th brings expanded capabilities for in-state response, including wildfire support, disaster relief and search-and-rescue operations.

"It brings innovation into the state and the capability of manpower and speed for any type of emergency response," said Command Sgt. Maj. Garrett Whatcott, 1st Battalion, 204th Infantry Regiment.

The assumption of command formally placed the command team of Pagoaga and Whatcott at the helm of the newly formed unit, charging them with building readiness, cohesion and a warfighting culture from the ground up. "I am deeply honored to serve as your inaugural battalion commander," said Lt. Col. Steve Pagoaga. "Together, we will forge a unit ready for anything."

Pagoaga said the battalion's mission is grounded in lethality and discipline. "The infantry's sacred mission is clear: close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver to destroy or capture them," he said. "We will train relentlessly, master the basics, and uphold the highest standards of discipline and professionalism."

He added that the unit's foundation will define its future legacy. "What you tolerate will become your standard," Pagoaga said. "If you demand excellence, you're going to build a unit worthy of the mission."

The 1-204th is also part of the Army's broader transformation initiative, placing it at the forefront of developing and refining modern light infantry tactics. Leaders noted that the unit will play a key role in shaping how the Army fights in future conflicts.

"This battalion is going to be on the cutting edge of formations, with some of the newest equipment and capabilities the Army has to offer," Mayes said.

As he concluded his remarks, Boyack charged the Soldiers with building a lasting legacy. "You are the first. You are setting the bar by which all that follow will be judged," he said. "Build something that the people of Utah will trust and that your enemies will fear."

With the official activation complete, the 1-204th Infantry Regiment now begins the next phase  building combat power, training for future missions, and establishing a legacy for generations of Utah Soldiers to come.

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OCCAR PPA Programme Contract Amendment No 10 Signed

OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matiere d'Armement / Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation)

Apr 21 2026

Bonn, Germany -- 21 April 2026 Contract Amendment No. 10 to the PPA Programme was signed between OCCAR-EA, acting on behalf of Italy, and the Temporary Consortium composed of Fincantieri and Leonardo. Valued at approximately EUR 392 million (2014 economic conditions), the Amendment formalises the upgrade of the PPA units from the Light and Light Plus configurations to the Full Combat System standard. The Amendment also introduces enhanced cyber defence capabilities and provides for the acquisition of advanced Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) systems, further strengthening the operational effectiveness of the PPA fleet.

The Amendment was signed by the Director of OCCAR-EA and by the industry representative, Eng. Fulvio Palermo, on behalf of the Temporary Consortium. With the signing of this Amendment, the PPA Programme continues to evolve in line with the Italian Navy's operational requirements, consolidating the Programme's maturity and its emphasis on advanced technological capabilities.

Story by OCCAR

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Inaugural meeting of Poland-Canada High-Level Steering Group on Bilateral Cooperation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

21.04.2026

The first ever meeting of Poland-Canada High-Level Steering Group on Bilateral Cooperation was jointly hosted in Ottawa by Deputy Foreign Ministers Robert Kupiecki and Alexandre Leveque. The talks with Canadian partners were also attended by high-level representatives of the Ministry of State Assets, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of National Defence.

Consultations, held in specialised groups, concerned defence cooperation, military procurement and partnerships, energy security, clean energy cooperation, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference.

While in Canada, Undersecretary of State Robert Kupiecki also conducted talks with David Morrison and Dominic Rochon, experts in international politics who work with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The discussions focused on bilateral affairs, the current challenges to international security, cooperation within NATO, and the opportunities to jointly combat cyber threats.

***

In August 2025, the prime ministers of Poland and Canada committed to renew and enhance the two countries' strategic partnership. To operationalise this, a High-Level Steering Group on Bilateral Cooperation was established, co-chaired by the Polish and Canadian foreign ministries. It is tasked with overseeing the implementation of mutually determined areas of enhanced cooperation.

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Issues related to the process and development prospects of bilateral cooperation in the defence sector were discussed

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

22 April, 2026 13:44

After the welcoming ceremony of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan, a private meeting between the Ministers of Defence of Armenia and Georgia was launched, which continued with an expanded delegation at the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.

The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan.

During the meeting, issues related to the process and development prospects of bilateral cooperation in the defence sector were discussed.

The parties also discussed a number of issues related to regional security.

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Washington, Tennessee National Guard modernizes Bulgarian Land Forces with Strykers

By Joseph Siemandel April 22, 2026

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. -- With the ongoing transformation of the 81st Brigade from a Stryker to a Mobile Brigade, the Washington National Guard transferred eight Strykers to the Bulgarian Land Forces through the Foreign Military Sales office.

Brig. Gen. Paul Sellars, commanding general, Washington National Guard, and his team visited key leaders in Bulgaria as part of the sale to ensure the success of the transaction and to discuss the importance of working together between the U.S. military and the Bulgarian Army, April 15-17.

"The first machines that are on the ground here arrived from Washington state, so we came to see for ourselves that the project is underway and being successfully implemented. We currently have eight machines here that we are working with. We have a team on site that helps with the introduction of the equipment, initial training, and maintenance," said Sellars during an interview with the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense.

In Nov. 2023, the Bulgarian parliament approved the purchase of the Stryker Fighting Vehicles from the U.S. The first batch of Strykers arrived in February 2026 and marks the initial phase of a broader procurement effort conducted through international defense agreements to upgrade the Bulgarian Army's combat capabilities.

"The interactions between the Bulgarian and American military personnel will be aimed at supporting training and gaining operational understanding of the platform," said Sellars. "We spent ten years with these machines and we appreciate the opportunity to find them a suitable new home, as well as to see the motivation and desire of the people to train."

Bulgaria's acquisition of Stryker armored vehicles from the United States is one of the most significant modernization efforts in its land forces since joining NATO. This also reflects a broader regional trend of Eastern European militaries upgrading capabilities in response to evolving security threats.

The Stryker deal was also aided by the Tennessee National Guard, which has been Bulgaria's State Partnership Program partner since 1993. The Tennessee National Guard did not have knowledge of the Stryker platform but had connections in Washington.

"Tennessee approached Washington and said, 'Look, we have a great program to modernize the Bulgarian Land Forces with Strykers. Can you help us with the introduction of these machines?' And we said of course," said Sellars. "The first Strykers here are ours, so we feel a sense of pride, especially when Tennessee approached us with a request to assist in this project."

The Bulgarian Stryker Program includes the acquisition of 183 Strykers, which will eventually form a new brigade-level capability for the Bulgarian Land Forces.

"The level of enthusiasm that we see in the 61st Brigade around receiving the machines is truly impressive - the servicemen are highly motivated and extremely engaged," said Sellar. "With such a team, the process of training and mastering the equipment will develop quickly and effectively."

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Hezbollah says it attacked northern Israel in response to ceasefire violations

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

22.04.2026 [10:16]

Baku, April 22, AZERTAC

Lebanon's Hezbollah group said Tuesday it targeted northern Israel for the first time since a ceasefire took effect, describing the attack as a response to repeated Israeli violations, according to Anadolu Agency.

The group said in a statement that its fighters struck an Israeli artillery position in the settlement of Kfar Giladi in northern Israel with a rocket barrage and a swarm of attack drones.

It said the artillery site was the source of recent shelling targeting the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said the attack came in response to "blatant and documented Israeli violations that have exceeded 200 breaches" since the ceasefire came into effect on Friday.

According to the group, the violations included attacks on civilians and the destruction of homes and villages in southern Lebanon.

A 10-day ceasefire took effect between Lebanon and Israel on Friday.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the following day that Israel intends to maintain control over all areas it occupied in southern Lebanon during the latest offensive.

Since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 2,294 people, wounded 7,544, and displaced more than 1 million, according to official figures.

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Defence Minister launches tender to find strategic investor for explosives manufacturer Hexest Materials

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

22. April 2026 - 16:54

Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur has launched a selective tender to find a strategic investor for Hexest Materials, a state-owned explosives manufacturer, with applications open from interested companies until 25 May 2026.

Hexest Materials has been charged with the task of establishing a military explosives plant in Estonia so as to reduce the shortfall in explosives in the European defence industry, to boost Estonia's own defence industry and defensive capabilities, and to stimulate the national economy. The company is currently 100% state-owned, but a strategic investor will be involved in the future, with the state retaining its majority stake.

"The investor in question should be a manufacturer of explosives, ammunition or military weapons in a country with which Estonia is partnered or allied," Minister Pevkur explained. "The manufacturing of RDX military explosives is a key capability, but we also aim to make Hexest Materials both competitive and profitable."

In order to find a strategic investor, the Ministry of Defence has launched a selective tender for the transfer of the pre-emptive right to subscribe for shares in Hexest Materials. Participants in the tender will have to meet a number of pre-conditions to ensure both financial stability and the ability to enter and operate on the defence industrial market. In accordance with the terms of the tender, the strategic investor must have the capacity to invest at least 50 million euros in the company, and it must also be competent to manufacture and sell military explosives, military ammunition or military weapons and weapon systems. Because of the security considerations involved in the tender, the strategic investor will be subject to conditions relating to their trustworthiness and origins.

The Estonian government has also authorised the Minister of Defence to further increase the share capital of Hexest Materials. The strategic investor will receive a 49% stake in the company, with a right of first refusal to subscribe for shares in accordance with the investment agreement resulting from the tender. The state will retain a majority stake by subscribing for the remaining shares. The exact equity contribution and final share price will be determined in the course of the tender.

Established in 2025, Hexest Materials AS is a state-owned company with the Ministry of Defence as its holding administrator. Its field of activity is the manufacturing of RDX military explosives. The exact location of the plant is yet to be decided, with potential sites being considered in the context of the state's ongoing special planning process. The intention is to commence production at the plant in 2028.

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Over 700 million awarded from European Defence Fund to projects involving Estonia

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

22. April 2026 - 14:59

A total of 26 international projects with Estonian involvement have been awarded funding in the 2025 Calls for Proposals of the European Defence Fund (EDF). The European Union will be allocating more than 700 million euros to these initiatives, representing more than half of the total amount being distributed as part of the competition. The total value of the work packages of Estonian companies exceeds 28 million euros.

The Ministry of Defence is among those who have contributed to the successful initiatives: a dozen projects with Estonian involvement are being co-financed by the ministry to the value of more than 1.5 million euros.

Undersecretary for Defence Industry and Innovation Siim Sukles says these newly revealed results show that the Estonian defence industry has a clear and tangible role to play within the European defence industry.

"Our companies' expertise and capabilities are being recognised more and more in international competition," he remarked. "We see that in the results of last year's Calls for Proposals, where projects involving Estonian companies managed to attract almost two thirds of the total grant fund in international competition. Compared to the year before, initiatives with Estonian involvement have attracted almost twice as much European funding: more than 700 million euros. We can also see in these results that the reach of our companies has broadened considerably. Almost every other project that was successful in the 2025 round involves an Estonian company." Sukles stressed that years of experience and excellence in innovative solutions are behind the success of Estonian companies and research institutions.

A total of 57 international initiatives were selected for funding under the 2025 Calls for Proposals, to a total value of more than 1 billion euros. Of those, 26 projects involve Estonian companies and institutions: Frankenburg Technologies, Krattworks, DSI, Talgen Cybersecurity, Milrem, Wayren, Falconers, Cafa Tech, Cybernetica, SpaceIT, Skycorp Technologies, Power-UP Fuel Cells, TrackDeep, DefsecIntel, Skudotech and the Estonian Defence Industry Association. These projects will create new solutions in the sensor, cyber, space, energy, air defence, materials science and underwater categories.

Among others, the latest Calls for Proposals of the EDF awarded grants to two Estonian-led projects. The first of these is EURODAMM, which is being overseen by Frankenburg Technologies. It aims to devise a solution that combines reusable unmanned aerial platforms with munitions to provide scalable and affordable precision solutions in environments that do not enable electronic warfare or GNSS. The second is STRATUS (Swarm Threat Resilience and Adaptive Tactical UxV Security), whose focus is on providing a next-generation virtual cyber defence system in a security context that allows unmanned vehicle fleets to survive attacks and carry out their mission.

Successful projects supported by Ministry of Defence letter of intent

EURODAMM (European Drone-Based Affordable Mass Munitions) - Estonia's flagship project, led by Frankenburg Technologies and involving fellow Estonian companies Talgen and CybExer

SPIRIT (Small Pitch Improved Resolution for Infrared Technology) - involving the Estonian company Falconers

SHIMBAD (Shipborne Multiband AESA Demonstrator) - involving Cafa Tech from Estonia

ECC2 (European Cyber Command and Control System) - also involving Cafa Tech, plus fellow Estonian company Cybernetica

ASIMOV (Autonomous System for Inspection, Maintenance, Defence Operations and Manoeuvers) - involving the Estonian company SpaceIT

SPIDER2 (Space-based Persistent ISR for Defence and Europe Reinforcement) - also involving Falconers

D-STORM (Drone-Based Scalable Tactical Operations Responsive Munitions) - also involving Falconers

LATACC2 (Land Tactical Collaborative Combat Phase 2) - involving the Estonian company Milrem

SHIELD (Subsea Heterogeneous Integrated Ecosystem Link Development) - involving Estonia's Skycorp Technologies

NEVMA (Neuromorphic Event-Driven Vision for Multiple Defence Applications) - involving DefsecIntel Solutions from Estonia

SEQUILITE (Lightweight Secure Communication Protocol with HW-Backed Post-Quantum Cryptography) - also involving DefsecIntel Solutions, plus fellow Estonian company Skudo

SOUND2 (Sonobuoy Optimization for Unmanned Deployment and Underwater Detection) - also involving DefsecIntel Solutions

The European Union is investing approximately 8 billion euros in defence R&D via the EDF in the period from 2021-2027. The programme is designed to reduce fragmentation in the development of defence industries in the EU and to contribute to increasing European cooperation and competitiveness in defence R&D.

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EU-Norway: Joint Press statement on the 5th Security and Defence Dialogue

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 22/04/2026

On 21 April, the European Union and Norway held their fifth Security and Defence Dialogue, in Oslo.

In the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and Russia as a direct threat to European security, as well as unfolding global events, it is essential to strengthen the EU-Norway Security and Defence Partnership (SDP).

The EU and Norway reaffirmed their commitment to increasing assistance to Ukraine, including through the EU's 90 billion Ukraine Support Loan and Norway's substantial bilateral assistance and contribution to the European Peace Facility to bolster Ukraine's armed forces and access to ammunition. We will continue strengthening Ukraine's resilience, enhancing security commitments, as well as deterring Russia and holding it accountable for its aggression.

As part of the implementation of the SDP, both sides focused on cooperation on countering hybrid and cyber threats, contribution to missions and operations under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, defence-industrial cooperation, maritime security as well as preparedness and resilience.

Ahead of this Dialogue, on 20 April, together with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, we successfully conducted a Hybrid Table-Top Exercise, based on an Arctic security scenario and testing our responses to hybrid threats.

We marked a significant milestone in our space cooperation with the signing on 26 March of an Agreement on Norway's participation in the EU's Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme and the Secure Connectivity Programme, IRIS.

The EU welcomed Norway's contribution to EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, the EU's maritime security operation in the Red Sea, which is key in safeguarding maritime security, protecting freedom of navigation, and upholding international law in a region critical to global trade.

We commended the increasing cooperation between the EU and Norway on military mobility as well as Norway's participation in PESCO relevant projects and cooperation with EDA on this subject.

We welcomed the recent launch of our bilateral dialogue on mediation and reaffirmed continued EU participation in the Oslo Forum.

We agreed to reinforce our preparedness to tackle evolving security risks, including in the Arctic region, and enhance our cooperation on critical sectors needed for civil-military interaction. Looking ahead, we are pleased that the first meeting of our EU-Norway Arctic Dialogue will take place in Spring 2026, to address challenges and opportunities in the High North.

The meeting was co-chaired by Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence at the European External Action Service, and Eivind Vad Petersson, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.



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ICC Appeals Chamber confirms jurisdiction in Duterte case

International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI)

Press Release: 22 April 2026

On 22 April 2026, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") confirmed the Court's jurisdiction in the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The Appeals Chamber, by majority, rejected the appeal brought by the Defence and confirmed Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision of 23 October 2025.

On 23 October 2025, the Pre-Trial Chamber found that the Court may exercise jurisdiction in the Duterte case over the alleged crimes that were committed on the territory of the Republic of the Philippines while it was a State Party to the Rome Statute, i.e. from 1 November 2011 to 16 March 2019.

Today, the Appeals Chamber, by majority, rejected the entire appeal brought by the Defence.

In particular, the Chamber confirmed that articles 12 and 13 of the Rome Statute require that the relevant State be a Party to the Statute at the time the Court exercises its jurisdiction and these provisions should be read together with article 127, which establishes when the withdrawal takes effect and the jurisdictional regime applicable in these circumstances.

The Appeals Chamber observed that the Rome Statute must be interpreted in a systemic manner and in line with the object and purpose of the Statute, which is to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole. It ruled that it would be incompatible with this object and purpose to enable a State Party to evade its responsibilities under the Statute by depositing a written notice of withdrawal once it discovers that alleged crimes committed on its territory or by its nationals are being examined by the Prosecution. At the same time, a State's right to withdraw from the Statute would not be effective if the Court were able to exercise jurisdiction indefinitely despite the State no longer being a Party. The Appeals Chamber's interpretation ensures an appropriate balance between the ability of States to effectively withdraw from the Statute and the responsibilities that States accept upon ratification of the Statute, whilst providing a clear timeline within which a preliminary examination must be pursued.

The Appeals Chamber in this appeal is composed of Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza, Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin. The judgment was delivered in open Court, Mr Duterte was not present in the courtroom as he has waived his right to be present, and was represented by his Defence Counsel.

Judgment on the appeal of Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte against Pre-Trial Chamber's "Decision on the Defence Challenge to the Jurisdiction of the Court" of 23 October 2025

Partly Dissenting Opinion of Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze

Non-authoritative summary

Audiovisual materials

Photographs of the hearing

Background: The Philippines, State party to the Rome Statute since 1 November 2011, deposited a written notification of withdrawal from the Statute on 17 March 2018. While the Philippines' withdrawal from the Statute took effect on 17 March 2019, the Court retains jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes that occurred on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party, from 1 November 2011 up to and including 16 March 2019.

Mr Duterte is suspected of the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder, pursuant to article 7(1)(a) of the Statute, allegedly committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population on the territory of the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the "war on drugs" campaign. Following a request of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, the warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I as "Secret" on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as "Public" on 11 March 2025. On 12 March 2025, Mr Duterte was surrendered to the ICC. The initial appearance of Mr Duterte took place on 14 March 2025. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 23 to 27 February 2026.

For further information on the case, click here.

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The Republic of Honduras has decided to suspend its recognition of the pseudo "sadr."

Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Wednesday 22 April 2026

This decision was communicated to MFA Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, by Ms. Mireya Aguero de Corrales, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Honduras, through an official letter received on Wednesday.

In the document, Ms. Aguero de Corrales indicated that this "suspension stems from [Honduras's] sovereign decision, based on its traditional commitment to the principles of non-interference and respect for the internal affairs of other states."

Furthermore, Honduras "reaffirms its full support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Special Envoy aimed at reaching a political, fair, and lasting solution," as well as for UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2797.

The Republic of Honduras also communicated this decision to Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General.

Honduras, a Central American country, initially recognized the pseudo "SADR" in 1989 and re-confirmed this recognition in 2022.

This marks the sixth withdrawal of recognition in the last two years. Honduras's decision forms part of the current momentum surrounding the Moroccan Sahara issue, driven by the direct impetus of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him.

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NATO's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia pays first visit to Armenia

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

22 April 2026

On 20-21 April 2026, Ambassador Kevin Hamilton, the NATO Secretary General's new Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, paid his first visit to Armenia. He was received by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, and held meetings with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Defence Minister Suren Papikyan, and Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan.

The Special Representative exchanged views with his interlocutors on a range of topics, such as the continued development of NATO's partnership with Armenia, regional security including hybrid threats, connectivity, and the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. Ambassador Hamilton hailed Armenia's continued contributions the NATO-led peace-keeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR), and the ongoing work to modernise Armenia's armed forces and strengthen their level of interoperability with NATO forces.

NATO stands ready to further political dialogue and security and defence cooperation with Armenia.

During his visit, Ambassador Hamilton also met with representatives of Armenia's civil society and of Allied Embassies in Yerevan.

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ICC Appeals Chamber upholds jurisdiction over Duterte case

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

April 22, 2026, 7:50 pm

MANILA -- The judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber on Wednesday affirmed the ICC's jurisdiction to try former president Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity.

The Appeals Chamber rejected all four arguments raised by Duterte's camp, affirming the Oct. 28 decision of ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I and denying the defense's challenge to the Court's jurisdiction over the case.

"Having rejected the entire appeal, the Appeals Chamber considers that the defense request for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Duterte is moot," Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza said.

The Appeals Chamber was composed of Carranza, Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, Gocha Lordkipanidze, and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin.

The ICC Appeals Chamber, by majority, dismissed the appeal in full, with one judge  Lordkipanidze  issuing a partial dissent on the second ground.

Carranza, in reading the decision, said the Appeals Chamber found "no error" in the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I's interpretation of Articles 12 and 13 of the Rome Statute, which establish that a state must be a party to the statute at the time the ICC exercises its jurisdiction.

The Appeals Chamber held that these provisions must be interpreted alongside Article 127, which settles the legal regime applicable to situations of a state party withdrawal.

It noted that the Rome Statute must be interpreted in a "systemic manner" in line with its purpose  to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole.

It ruled that it would be incompatible with the said purpose to allow a country to evade its responsibilities by depositing a withdrawal notice once it discovers that alleged crimes committed on its territory are being examined by the ICC Prosecution.

The judgment was delivered in open Court, with Duterte waiving his right to be present. He is represented by his Defense Counsel Nicholas Kaufman.

In a separate bulletin, the ICC said the ruling is separate from the decision on whether to confirm the charges in Duterte's case, which is expected to be issued "not later than April 28."

Duterte is suspected of crimes against humanity, for murder and attempted murder allegedly committed as part of the campaign against illegal drugs when he served as Davao City mayor, and later as the Philippine president.

The former chief executive was arrested on March 12, 2025, and has been in detention at the ICC. (PNA)

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PH Army builds add'l quartering facilities for troops

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

April 22, 2026, 2:28 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Army (PA) turned over a two-story modular quartering facility for personnel inside its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete led the blessing and turnover rites for the facility on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Army on Wednesday.

PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the modular facility is equipped with air-conditioning units, beddings, and lockers to accommodate 60 individuals assigned to the Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group.

"When our people are provided with safe, decent, and comfortable living spaces, they are better positioned to focus on their duties and perform their tasks with dedication and professionalism," Nafarrete said.

He said the completion of the facility is a timely response to the billeting requirements of Army personnel.

Likewise, Nafarrete said the PA extends its support programs along with other morale and welfare initiatives to ensure that support to its greatest asset - its personnel. (PNA)

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PH Navy: 'Balikatan' won't be deterred by China's displeasure

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

April 22, 2026, 1:01 pm

MANILA -- The annual "Balikatan" exercises between the Philippines, the United States, and other like-minded nations will continue despite China's claims that the drills are destabilizing the Indo-Pacific Region.

"We are unfazed by that, we will not be deterred from performing our mandate, from continuing exercises with our like-minded partners. In fact, I would like to say that this will not be the end of the 'Balikatan' series or other exercises whether bilateral or multilateral," Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in an interview with select reporters Tuesday afternoon.

He also added that "Balikatan" or any other military drills are "actions of a sovereign state".

"It's our mandate to prepare the Armed Forces to be ready for any contingency," Trinidad noted.

Likewise, the PN official said that the increasing number of participants for "Balikatan" is a very strong indicator that these partner nations support the stand of the Philippine government and its defense establishment in terms of securing and protecting its maritime domain.

Some 17,000 military personnel from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand will take part in the three-week drills set from April 20 to May 8.

Lifesaving skills boosted

As this developed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said the Filipino and US military personnel successfully opened the "Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Training in Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte, as part of a three-day activity under Exercise "Balikatan" 41-26, scheduled from April 20 to 22.

"The training brought together personnel from the Artillery Regiment of the Philippine Army and their counterparts from the United States Army. It focused on enhancing lifesaving skills in combat environments, equipping troops with critical competencies to respond effectively to battlefield medical emergencies," it added.

Through initiatives such as the TCCC training, the AFP and US Armed Forces reaffirm their commitment to developing more capable, adaptive, and people-centered military forces.

The activity underscores a shared priority to ensure the protection and preservation of human life in all aspects of military operations. (PNA)

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Lebanese MP: Direct negotiations with Israel out of question

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 4:20 PM

A senior Lebanese lawmaker from the political wing of the Hezbollah resistance movement in the parliament has dismissed the notion of direct negotiations between the Beirut government and the Israeli regime.

Hassan Ezzedine, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, said the path of resilience must be maintained.

He made the remarks on Wednesday as he addressed a funeral ceremony in the southern Lebanese town of Jbaa.

Hezbollah, he said, serves as the most effective guarantor of Lebanon's dignity and security.

He underscored Hezbollah's impressive achievements, like the liberation of southern Lebanon in 2000 and its formidable deterrent power following the 33-day war of 2006 against the Israeli regime. Hezbollah, Ezzedine added, can quickly rebuild itself and will emerge much stronger than before.

Ezzedine underlined the importance of maintaining national unity in the face of foreign pressures, stating that any imposed demarcation or buffer zone is entirely unacceptable, and a historic victory could be achieved through resilience and steadfastness.

The Lebanese government has been working to launch direct negotiations with Israel. The United States will host ambassador-level talks with Israel and Lebanon on Thursday.

Earlier, Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem had urged the Lebanese government to cancel the planned meeting in Washington.

He said direct negotiations with the Tel Aviv regime remain unacceptable.

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Afghan Refugees In Qatar Wait For Relocation After US Transfer Deadline Passes

By Firuza Azizi and Sahar Lewal April 22, 2026

Hundreds of Afghan refugees remain in limbo at the As-Sayliyah camp in Qatar awaiting information about the countries they may be transferred to after a US State Department deadline to move them passed last month.

In interviews with RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, several of those waiting said they were told that the camp near the capital of Doha would close by March 31 and that they might be transferred to other countries.

In the meantime, the uncertainty of not knowing where they may be headed looms over them, making it impossible to know what their future holds or if they even may be returned to Afghanistan despite the perils they could face.

"The authorities here told us that As-Sayliyah camp will be closed on March 31, and according to the newly announced US policy, you may be transferred to another country," one Afghan refugee, who did not want their name to be published and has been living in the As-Sayliyah camp for the past 15 months, told Radio Azadi.

"People were waiting until March 31. Even after that, when asked, they said there was no news yet. People still ask, which are these second and third countries that we can go to? We are not told which countries they might send us to."

Fleeing After Cooperating With US Forces

According to some American officials and Afghans living in the camp, about 1,100 people are currently living at the As-Sayliyah camp. Many of the refugees at the camp are civilians who cooperated with US forces during 20 years war; more than half are women and children.

They had expected to end up in the United States after international forces left Afghanistan in August 2021. Evacuation flights got them out of the country as the Taliban regained control of the war-torn country.

Those hopes were dashed, however, after all immigration requests relating to Afghanistan were halted in November 2025 after an Afghan national shot two members of the National Guard, one of whom died a day after the shooting near the White House.

A spokesperson from the US State Department told RFE/RL that work continues on "voluntary resettlement options" for the refugees at the camp and that relocation to a third country "is a positive resolution that provides safety for these remaining people to start a new life outside of Afghanistan while upholding the safety and security of the American people."

The spokesperson did not specify any third countries that could be included in the program, but The New York Times reported on April 21 that the Trump administration is in talks to send many of them to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The report cited an aid worker briefed on the plan.

Some media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, say Washington has held talks with two African and one Asian countries about taking in Afghan refugees living in the camp, which Qatar has reportedly asked to be closed.

US Democrat lawmakers Gregory W. Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, ranking member of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, issued a statement condemning the situation saying the administration "has failed to uphold America's word to these Afghan allies."

They added that "we made a promise to protect them after the Taliban's takeover. Abandoning that commitment not only betrays our allies, it sends a dangerous message to future partners that U.S. promises cannot be trusted."

Another Afghan refugee, who did not want their name to be published, said they have been waiting in the As-Sayliyah camp in Qatar for the past 18 months.

"They told us in this camp that they would transfer us to a third country by March 31, but we have not been transferred yet, and they have not promised anything, and they have not said anything," the person said.

"We spoke to the officials, including the head of this camp, and they say that whenever there is an order, news, or instruction from Washington, we will share it with you. They say, for now, we are waiting and we will see what happens."

Rwanda Option

Meanwhile, a number of Afghan refugees who were previously living in an Abu Dhabi camp say that 27 people were transferred to Rwanda in August last year.

They say that they were promised that they would be transferred from there to another country, but that since their arrival, no action has been taken.

"It has been about eight months since we were transferred from Abu Dhabi to Rwanda. They offered us five countries to transfer us to within three months. These countries were the US, Canada, Australia, and France," one of the Afghan asylum seekers told Radio Azadi.

"They said that if there was a problem, they would send us to Brazil for a while and then to other countries, but so far they have kept us here. When we ask them, they say that they cannot do anything," the asylum seeker, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, added.

The State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL that while Afghan nationals at the Qatar camp do not have a "viable pathway" to the United States, voluntary repatriation remains an option, with Washington offering a stipend to those who take the option.

The Taliban government says it is committed to implementing a general amnesty but reports from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other agencies show that a number of soldiers and people who cooperated with the Americans during the republican government have faced imprisonment, torture, and even death threats -- something the Taliban has denied.

"The answer has been the same for four years. Bring them here [to the United States]. They're vetted. They earned it on the ground, in uniform, next to our people," said Shawn VanDiver, the head of AfghanEvac, a group dedicated to help coordinate relocation and resettlement efforts of Afghans impacted by the US mission in Afghanistan.

The US government has said that no one will be forcibly returned, nor has it released how many people have accepted the offer to receive money and return to Afghanistan.

Camp As-Sayliyah was established after the Taliban retook power in 2021 to house Afghans who had cooperated with US forces and were awaiting transfer to the United States.

Some members of Congress have called the closure of the camp a "deep betrayal."

The State Department has said that Afghan refugees were not properly vetted under the Biden administration, which AfghanEvac and other advocacy and rights groups dispute.

With reporting by Alex Raufoglu in Washington

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-refugees-qatar- relocation-deadline-passes/33737179.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Moldovan Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc Sentenced To 19 Years In Prison

By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service April 22, 2026

CHISINAU -- A Moldovan court has sentenced oligarch and former political tycoon Vladimir Plahotniuc to 19 years in prison in a decade-old bank fraud case known as "the theft of the century."

In a ruling delivered by Chisinau's Buiucani Court on April 22, Plahotniuc, who was not present in the court room, was found guilty of bank fraud, organizing a criminal group, and money laundering in a long-running investigation into the disappearance of approximately $1 billion -- roughly 12 percent of the country's economic output -- from Moldovan banks in 2014.

Plahotniuc, 60, has denied any wrongdoing and described the case against him as political. His lawyer, Lucian Rogac, called the court ruling "illegal" and said it will be appealed.

"The entire process was conducted in a tremendous rush, with numerous violations of the defendant's rights," Rogac claimed.

The investigation found Plahotniuc received more than $43 million from companies controlled by another oligarch, Ilan Shor, who had previously fled to Russia and was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison.

In hisfinal statement to the court on March 25, Plahotniuc claimed the case contained no evidence of an organized criminal group, adding Shor did not need his help to take control of the financial institutions Banca Sociala and Unibank, which also are involved in the case.

Prosecutors sought the maximum sentence for Plahotniuc, who is currently being held in a pretrial detention center in Chisinau, of up to 25 years in prison.

The former leader of Moldova's Democratic Party, Plahotniuc left the country in 2019, shortly before receiving a criminal summons from Moldovan prosecutors. In 2025, he was extradited to Chisinau from Greece, jolting the country just days before a tense general election already roiled by allegations of Russian interference.

In 2020, his US visa was revoked after then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared Plahotniuc's "corrupt actions undermined the rule of law and severely compromised the independence of democratic institutions in Moldova."

It was later revealed Plahotniuc had been living in Miami at the time of the announcement and applied for political asylum, according to a lawsuit he filed in US federal court. That asylum request was rejected.

In 2022, the US Treasury Department imposed additional financial sanctions on Plahotniuc and Shor, accusing them of "capturing and corrupting Moldova's political and economic institutions and...acting as instruments of Russia's global influence campaign."

The European Union and Britain also sanctioned Plahotniuc for destabilizing Moldovan politics.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-vladimir-plahotniuc- fraud-sentence-prison/33738033.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Italian PM Meloni Hits Back After Russian TV Host Calls Her A 'Wild Beast'

By RFE/RL April 22, 2026

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded on social media to crude insults made by a bombastic Russian state TV host, writing that "these caricatures certainly won't make us change course."

Vladimir Solovyov, a widely watched Russian media personality known for hyperbole and over-the-top rhetoric, launched a sharp personal attack on Meloni on April 21, after she had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome the week before.

'Nasty Little Woman'

Speaking in Italian and Russian on a morning talk show on Vesti FM radio, Solovyov called her a "disgrace to the human race," a "wild beast," a "certified idiot," and a "nasty little woman."

Ongoing tensions between Rome and Moscow stem largely from Meloni's consistent support for Ukraine, including military and financial aid.

On April 21, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he had summoned Russian Ambassador Aleksei Paramonov to the Foreign Ministry to make a formal protest over the "extremely serious and offensive remarks."

Later that day, in a post on X, Meloni said "a diligent regime propagandist cannot give lessons in either consistency or freedom," in an apparent reference to Solovyov, who is widely regarded as one of the most visible mouthpieces for the Kremlin.

Solovyov hosts an evening talk show on the state-owned Rossia-1 channel and also hosts his own live channels and radio programs. He is known for his inflammatory rhetoric, personal insults, and disinformation.

"We, unlike others, have no strings attached, no masters, and we take no orders," Meloni wrote on X. "Our compass remains one and only: the interests of Italy. And we will continue to follow it with pride, much to the chagrin of propagandists far and wide."

The insults triggered widespread condemnation in Italy, with opposition politicians voicing support for the prime minister in a rare show of unity.

In their meeting in the Italian capital on April 15, the Italian and Ukrainian leaders announced plans to strengthen defense cooperation, with Italy expressing a strong interest in joint drone production -- an area where Ukraine has gained significant expertise and is actively promoting its combat-proven drone technology to the world.

Later on April 22, Zelenskyy expressed his support for Meloni in a post in Italian on X, saying, "The Russian propagandists, despicable as they are, will certainly not succeed in misleading people whose compass is the defense of their country's national interests."

He further thanked Meloni for her "clear position" on the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/italian-pm-meloni-russian- tv-solovyov-wild-beast/33737895.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Lithuania - AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Missiles

US Department of State

Foreign Military Sales: Congressional Notification

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

April 22, 2026

The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Lithuania for AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Missiles and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $214 million.

The Government of Lithuania has requested to buy an additional one hundred fifty-two (152) AIM 9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles; eight (8) AIM-9X Block II tactical guidance units; six (6) AIM-9X Block II captive air training missiles; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales case, valued at $19.5 million ($10.5 million in major defense equipment (MDE)), included sixteen (16) AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles; two (2) AIM-9X Block II tactical guidance units; training; weapon system support; training aids and devices; spare parts; and other related elements of logistics and program support. This notification is for a combined total of the following MDE items: one hundred sixty-eight (168) AIM 9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles; ten (10) AIM-9X Block II tactical guidance units; and six (6) AIM-9X Block II captive air training missiles. The following non-MDE items will also be included: training; weapon system support; training aids and devices; spare parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO Ally that is an important force for ensuring peace and stability in Europe.

The proposed sale will help improve the security of Lithuania and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region. Lithuania will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, Virginia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

For further information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Outreach Team at T_Outreach_PM@State.gov.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

22 April 2026

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

All right, good afternoon.

** Middle East

We informed you last night that the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the United States to extend the ceasefire. This is an important step towards de-escalation and an important step towards creating critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States.

We encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the ceasefire and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution.

The Secretary-General fully supports Pakistan's efforts in facilitating further talks, and he hopes that these efforts will contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict.

** UN Interim Force in Lebanon

Turning to Lebanon: I can tell you that we are deeply saddened to report that one of the two French peacekeepers who have been severely injured in an incident in south Lebanon on 18 April passed away at a hospital in Paris earlier this morning. A specialist dog handler, Corporal Anicet Girardin, was 31 years old. He was seriously wounded when his explosive ordnance disposal team, operating under UNIFIL's (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) French contingent, came under attack while clearing a road in Ghanduriyah in order to re-establish access to isolated UNIFIL positions. He succumbed to his wounds days after the death of Staff Sergeant named Florian Montorio in the same incident.

And as you will recall, at the time, our initial assessment was that the peacekeepers came under fire from non-State armed groups, presumably Hizbullah, during this incident.

We extend our most sincere condolences to his family, to his friends and colleagues, and to the people and Government of France. Corporal First Class Girardin was the fifth UNIFIL peacekeeper to lose his life due to the current hostilities while carrying out his duties and fulfilling a mandate given to them by the Security Council.

If you will recall, a third peacekeeper, who was also seriously injured during that incident, was also repatriated to Paris yesterday and remains under medical care. A fourth peacekeeper, who sustained minor injuries, has now returned to his post with his unit in southern Lebanon.

Attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable and must be promptly investigated, so that those responsible can be effectively prosecuted and held accountable. In this regard, the Secretary-General welcomes the stated commitment of the Lebanese authorities with respect to this incident.

These attacks occur within a broader context of an unacceptable increase in hostile actions against UNIFIL premises and against UNIFIL peacekeepers. Restrictions are impacting the resupply of certain positions, raising growing concern. We urge all to ensure the unhindered movement of our peacekeepers so they can carry out their mandate safely and carry it out effectively.

** Lebanon/Humanitarian

Staying in Lebanon, our colleagues on the ground tell us that the humanitarian situation there remains severe and the needs remain high.

Displacement remains widespread, although some movement has been observed since the ceasefire, partners report emerging secondary displacement trends, with people moving closer to their homes while still remaining displaced. To illustrate, Lebanese authorities report that more than 120,000 people are currently staying in over 640 collective shelters; that's a slight increase of 2 per cent since yesterday.

Parallel to this, our partners say food prices are rising and that livelihoods continue to be disrupted. More than 22 per cent of agricultural land has now been impacted by hostilities. That is what the Ministry of Agriculture is telling us. Over three quarters of farmers in southern Lebanon have been forced to suspend their work due to damage to their land.

Our partners continue to help civilians in impacted and hard-to-reach areas, with the support of the OCHA-managed Humanitarian Notification System, which notifies parties to the conflict of planned aid movements.

Between the start of the conflict and today, 75 of these movements were facilitated by the system and have reached people still in hard to reach locations in southern Lebanon.

We and our humanitarian partners remain committed to providing critical assistance to those most in need.

However, the humanitarian response continues to be outpaced by the scale of needs, and we urge donors to give more and to give generously, and we thank those who already have done so.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to Gaza. Our colleagues there tell us that over the past two weeks, shelter partners have continued constructing emergency shelter units for displaced families in Gaza.

In order to do so, they are repurposing the wooden pallets that are used to carry supplies into Gaza. By the start of this week, 20 shelters of this kind had been set up across Gaza and North Gaza governorates, offering some level of privacy and dignity to families.

In March, we and partners brought thousands of shelter items into Gaza, including dozens of thousands of bedding items, tarpaulins and tents, reaching more than 45,000 families in need.

As stocks inside Gaza are limited, priority is given to the most urgent cases among the 850,000 people who need emergency shelter items.

We reiterate that more robust and longer-lasting shelter solutions are needed.

This requires the entry of emergency shelter equipment and materials to repair damaged homes.

Meanwhile, teams on the ground say that pest and skin infections among people in Gaza are still on the rise. Surveillance shows that in March such infections have more than tripled in our own UN-run displacement sites. That is impacting almost 10,000 people compared with about 3,000 in January. And that is what UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) in Gaza is telling us.

Greater access is needed for the entry of anti-lice shampoo, lotions, hygiene supplies, pesticides and insecticides to avert an even greater public health emergency and prevent further harm to civilians.

** Yemen

Moving on to Yemen: Hans Grundberg, our Special Envoy for Yemen, today concluded a visit to Muscat, in Oman, as part of his ongoing regional engagements. There, he held talks with senior Omani officials on the way forward for Yemen's peace process amid evolving regional dynamics. The Special Envoy highlighted Oman's crucial role in supporting dialogue and underscored the importance of regional support for the UN-led mediation process.

The Special Envoy also met with Mohamed Abdel Salam, Ansar Allah's Chief Negotiator, with whom he discussed the way forward for the mediation process.

The Special Envoy and Muin Shreim, our official leading on the issue of the still-detained UN personnel, raised the continued arbitrary detention of 73 UN personnel, stressing that this issue remains a priority for us and calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

** Libya

Back here, Hanna Tetteh, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya, briefed the Security Council via VTC and said that some Libyan actors continue to disregard the expectations of the Libyan public regarding their participation in political processes, or towards exercising political leadership based on democratic legitimacy.

She warned that parallel structures have been established outside of the framework of existing agreements, which can limit the effectiveness of the UN Mission's process aimed at institutional reunification and establishing democratic legitimacy for political leadership.

Libya has reached a significant political, economic and security juncture, she said. The institutions of the State remain divided, and there is not enough progress towards holding national elections.

She called upon the Security Council to use its collective influence to ensure that Libyan leaders fulfil their obligations to unify institutions and work towards the holding of national elections.

This afternoon, there will be a briefing on Syria in the Security Council. The Deputy Special Envoy Claudio Cordone will brief via VTC from Damascus, and Tom Fletcher, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, will brief remotely from Istanbul. Also, Council members will also hear from Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. She will be at the Security Council in person. As you know, she visited Syria earlier this year and will share information gathered during that visit.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan, we are deeply alarmed, I can tell you, by the continued insecurity in Darfur, which is exacting a heavy toll on civilians.

Local sources are telling us that yesterday a drone strike hit the town of Um Dukhun in Central Darfur State, reportedly killing more than ten civilians and injuring many others. We strongly condemn this and all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Meanwhile, in North Darfur state, insecurity has forced dozens of people to flee their homes in a Kutum locality, and that took place last Sunday. They have sought refuge in El Fasher. That is what the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is telling us.

Despite the many challenges, we and our partners continue to scale up efforts to respond to the soaring needs across Sudan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is now midway through its six-day vaccination campaign, which started last Saturday and aims to reach over 80,000 children aged 1 to 5 across eight localities in West Darfur. They are trying to reach them with life-saving vaccines for children.

Once again, we reiterate the need for safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as flexible funding, to reach those most in need and support the most vulnerable.

** South Sudan

Just south of Sudan, in South Sudan, our peacekeeping mission there (UNMISS), together with civil society partners, has launched a new initiative to better support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and even prevent it from happening.

Known as the Survivor-Centred Action Lab, this initiative by UNMISS will focus on practical ways to protect people at risk, strengthen early warning and improve coordination among partners.

This effort is part of broader work by the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan to address conflict-related sexual violence and underscores the importance of sustained investment in protection and prevention.

** Haiti

Back on this hemisphere, a quick update from Haiti, where our humanitarian colleagues tell us that armed violence continues to force people to flee their own homes in search of safety.

In the Port au Prince metropolitan area, the International Organization for Migration tell us that armed clashes around Cite Soleil and Croix-des-Bouquets have displaced some 5,000 people. That is just since 18 April. About half of them have sought shelter with host families, while others have relocated to already crowded displacement sites.

The violence has led to the suspension of schooling for children in these areas, as well as of public transportation.

As a reminder, last month, nearly 3,000 people were uprooted by violence in the same neighbourhoods.

In Artibonite, armed attacks are also continuing to force people to flee. Food assistance, support to host families, and access to safe water and sanitation are among the top needs that we are trying to meet. We and our humanitarian partners are delivering assistance where possible.

OCHA is coordinating the humanitarian response in close collaboration with our partners, but insecurity, access constraints, rising emerging needs and limited funding continue to hamper the response.

** Mine Action

Just want to flag that Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of our Peace Operations department, is in Geneva today, where he opened the twenty-ninth International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and UN Advisers. The meeting brings together participants from around 80 countries and territories.

In his remarks, he underscored that mine action is a critical investment in peace, enabling the safe return of displaced communities, the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the resumption of development activities.

He also highlighted the continued human toll of landmines and explosive remnants of war, noting that thousands of people are killed or injured each year, nearly half of them children, and he called on Member States to sustain support for mine action efforts worldwide.

The UN Global Advocate for Peace, Maryam Bukar Hassan, a Nigerian spoken-word artist and poet, delivered the keynote address, underscoring through her performance the urgent need to prevent new contamination of the earth and to uphold international humanitarian law.

** Artificial Intelligence

The 40 members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence is meeting in Madrid. That is going on today through Friday for their first in-person plenary session since the Panel was created in February.

This three-day meeting is an important step as the Panel members are preparing contributions toward their first report, which will be presented at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva in July.

Speaking by video message at a reception hosted by the Government of Spain on the margins of the meeting, the Secretary-General commended Panel members for the progress already under way.

With AI leaping ahead, he said, every week brings new capabilities and new uncertainties.

This is why an independent scientific voice, trusted across borders, can help, by moving the global conversation from competing claims to shared science.

** International Mother Earth Day

Today is International Mother Earth Day. In his message, the Secretary-General notes that Mother Earth has given us everything, and we have repaid her with reckless destruction, polluting her air, poisoning her waters, destabilizing her climate and pushing countless species to the brink.

The Secretary-General stresses that we have solutions, and in most of the world, renewable energy is now the cheapest source of electricity. But we are moving too slowly. He emphasizes that we must break our dependence on fossil fuels, protect and restore nature at scale, and deliver climate justice for those who did least to cause this crisis but are suffering the most.

His message was shared with you.

** Extreme Heat and Agriculture

And last, on a related note, a joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says that frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat events have risen sharply over the past half century, with worrying impacts on agrifood systems and landscapes.

The report tells us that extreme heat events currently threaten the livelihoods and health of over a billion people, causing half a trillion work hours to be lost annually, with the prospect for damage to livestock herds and crop yields set to soar higher in the future.

FAO and WMO both warn that the full danger of extreme heat lies not only in its direct impacts, but also in its role as a risk multiplier, amplifying the effect of water stress, serving as a trigger of flash droughts and elevating the risk of wildfires, and fostering the spread of pests and diseases.

On that upbeat note, I am happy to take your questions. Agence France-Presse?

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you, Steph. On UNIFIL, I wonder if you could give us an update on the investigation. You said that it was presumably Hizbullah, as they work to firm that up. And secondly, could you give us a readout of any calls between the Secretary-General and President [Emmanuel] Macron on that issue?

Spokesman : There weren't any calls directly from President Macron and the Secretary-General, but I can tell you Mr. Lacroix and others have been in touch with his French counterparts. The assessment is continuing. Obviously, it's difficult to have a final investigation done in the midst of a conflict that is ongoing. Islam, then Evelyn.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. I'm not sure if you addressed this or made any statement, but I would like to ask, what is the Secretary-General's reaction to the image of Israeli soldiers smashing a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon?

Spokesman : I mean, the picture that we saw of the desecration of a crucifix was shocking. We were heartened to see that, at least from the reports, that disciplinary measures were taken very quickly against the soldiers. Evelyn?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. In Sudan, not in South Sudan, but the large part of Sudan, do you have information of who is doing the fighting?

Spokesman : Well, it takes two to tango, and it takes two to fight. So, we're seeing both the Government forces and the Rapid Support Forces continue to clash, with civilians continuing to pay the price. Kris Reyes, Canadian Broadcasting Group.

Question : Hi, Steph. How are you?

Spokesman : I'm very well.

Question : Thanks for doing the intro for me. On the Secretary-General's task force to get fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz, Jorge [Moreira] da Silva gave an interview, I think, yesterday, saying that within seven days, things should be up and running. Does the extension of the ceasefire help that? Is everything going according to the timeline?

Spokesman : I don't have the exact quote that you're quoting in front of me. What I'm sure he said is that once there is an agreement, it would take seven days to have the system up and running. So, it's a matter of once there is a green light, a political agreement to do so, he pulls the cord and it'll take seven days to get the system up and running. He did not say, as far as I know, that it will be ready in seven days from today.

Question : Thank you.

Spokesman : Okay. But I mean, that's and... Your microphone, sorry.

Question : Does the ceasefire extension help matters? [inaudible]

Spokesman : Well, listen. I mean, what our aim is not to have a UN system in place. Our aim is to see the Strait of Hormuz reopen fully; for all to respect their obligations to ensure that we have freedom of navigation in these international waterways. Ships need to be able to come in, and ships need to be able to come out. The fact that this is not the case is already having a big impact around the world. And we're all feeling it, you know, from the price of energy in this country to the price of fertilizer and energy in Sri Lanka and many other countries. But obviously, if it cannot be opened, we would like to have this mechanism in place to kind of alleviate the impact of the closure.

Question : And then, second question: Dialogues have begun for the search for the new Secretary-General. Does the Secretary-General have anything to say about the dialogues that took place, yesterday with Madame [Michele] Bachelet and Mr. [Rafael] Grossi?

Spokesman : He does not. He is focusing on his own internal dialogue on how to run this organization till 31 December.

Question : Copy that.

Spokesman : Signore Vaccara, then Signore Avni.

Question : Yes. I'm sorry, Stephane. I arrived five minutes late.

Spokesman : You missed the best part.

Question : So, I don't know if you talked about it in your presentation. But did the Secretary-General give a new instruction to the Special Envoy, [Jean] Arnault, in the last, I will say, 24 hours after the Americans extended the ceasefire?

Spokesman : No. I mean, his instructions are the same. He's currently in Turkiye and will be announcing his next stop as soon as we have the information.

Question : So, I just have a quick follow-up. In this situation, when it looks like that both of... at least from what we hear, that both parties will like to find a solution, but both parties don't trust each other. Pakistan is helping, apparently. Shouldn't the Secretary-General in person be the one to try to mediate at this point, when two parties don't trust each other? Maybe he will be the right person?

Spokesman : There is already a proven mediator on this, which is Pakistan, which has been supported by the efforts of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Our point is not to create and complicate matters. The Secretary-General has been in touch with all of the players on this. Mr. Arnault's role is to see how we can be supportive to the system that's already in place. Signore Avni?

Question : Wow. You turned me into Italian.

Spokesman : Was trying to improve you, Benny.

Question : No way. I asked you that before about Arnault meetings in Tehran, who he met and how does he know that whoever he met actually represents Iran or anything. And since yesterday, the explanation for extending the ceasefire was that the Iranians don't speak to each other, according to the Pakistanis. Does he still know that he met the right people?

Spokesman : Look, he met the people he met. They weren't strangers, and he had good conversations. And these were people at the Foreign Ministry.

Question : But who do they represent?

Spokesman : They represented the Iranian Government. Nabil, then Namo.

Question : Thank you, Steph. So, it seems that the Israeli forces have assigned the occupied area in southern Lebanon as a yellow... or they assigned an area and they call it now the yellow line. Have you been informed officially by Israel? And what's your reaction to this procedure? And based on the situation in Gaza, where there is also a similar term is used, what has been your experience in terms of access or any other procedures?

Spokesman : I mean, regardless of the colour that is assigned, Israel needs to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and its territorial integrity. We were all informed. I mean, I think the process, in a sense, was transparent. We saw the map published by the IDF, which also extends to maritime zones. This, beyond the violations, obviously makes the work of UNIFIL that much more complicated, and we talk about it, almost every day. It also continues to lead to the displacements of hundreds of thousands of people who wish to return to their homes. Namo?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations has said that the lifting of the naval blockade by the United States is a precondition for them to resume the talks. Does the Secretary-General explicitly call on Washington to lift that so-called naval blockade?

Spokesman : Look. We have been calling for the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Gulf, in the Strait of Hormuz since that freedom of navigation ceased, right? And we've seen ups and downs. The world needs to see freedom of navigation resume in the Strait of Hormuz. Islam?

Question : Stephane, if you allow me to follow up my own question. Does the Secretary-General find it ironic that the Israeli Prime Minister apologized for the Jesus statue incident and the soldiers punished in a few days, while thousands of mosques have been destroyed in Gaza?

Spokesman : I will let you draw the parallels or the irony, whatever word you want to say. The desecration of religious symbols, the desecration of houses of worship is unacceptable, regardless of the religion. Benny?

Question : Follow-up on a past question. I remember this whole kerfuffle about the Secretary-General sending congratulations to Iran on its national day. Does Secretary-General send a letter today to Israel for Earth Day?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General sent a letter for Israel's Independence Day, which was a few days ago to President [Isaac] Herzog as he does... sorry?

Question : Independence Day is today.

Spokesman : Yes, today. So, I mean, it's always sent a couple of days ahead. But yes, it was sent. On that mail note, I will leave you and maybe see you tomorrow or whenever. Goodbye.

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UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell's remarks at the Humanitarian Dialogue - Humanitarian Priorities for Children in 2026

UNICEF

Remarks

As delivered

22 April 2026

NEW YORK, 22 April 2026 - "Ambassador Clase, thank you so much for having me today. I really appreciate it.

"Let me start by saying what you all know. Across the globe, children are facing record levels of violence, displacement, and deprivation.

"In 2024 alone, the United Nations verified more than 41,000 grave violations against children. That is the highest number ever recorded. Sadly, 2025 will show a similar trend, highlighting that children continue to pay the price for wars that they had nothing to do with starting.

Parties to conflict are increasingly disregarding international norms and the rules of war. New technologies are changing the ways wars are being fought, making strikes faster, more frequent and deadlier, especially in densely populated areas where children live, learn, and play.

"Explosive weapons now account for nearly 70 per cent of child casualties in conflict zones. In Sudan, so far this year, armed drones alone are responsible for nearly 80 per cent of reported child casualties.

"At the same time essential services are coming under attack. Schools, hospitals, electricity grids and water and food systems are not just collateral damage; they are increasingly drawn into conflict.

"We know that children are especially vulnerable to disruptions of services like health and nutrition. One of the clearest examples is the growing crisis of hunger.

"Nearly 38 million children today, across 26 countries, need urgent nutrition support, including about 10 million who are severely malnourished. These are children who are at risk of dying.

"During my mission to Somalia last month, I met mothers who had walked for days under extreme heat to reach treatment centres carrying children whose bodies had already begun to shut down from lack of food and water.

"Many had fled conflict and drought that destroyed crops and cattle that families depend on for nourishment. The ripple effects from the Middle East conflict of rising food and fuel prices are only adding to the hardship.

"One of the most haunting things to see is bed after bed with malnourished children and anxious mothers just hoping that their children will survive.

"This really is not about the scarcity of food, but political action to resolve conflict and ensure access. Famine and hunger are preventable. But only if we act early and address the drivers of famine and not just the symptoms.

"Children are not just going hungry. They are increasingly without the systems to keep them safe from harm, including sexual violence.

"In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the height of violence last year, a child was raped every 30 minutes.

"Behind each number is a child like Reine, who, after surviving rape and becoming pregnant, experienced the trauma of her family accusing her of dishonoring them. She told us simply that: "All I want now is to give birth... and then I want to continue my studies." She was in eighth grade when the attack took place.

"Her words speak to unimaginable suffering, but also to resilience, and the urgency in supporting children like her.

"Without education, children lose not only learning, but access to safety, support, and a sense of normalcy.

"In Gaza, where 90 per cent of schools have been damaged or destroyed, more than 650,000 children have been out of school for over two and a half years. Children there - like Reine - told us what they want:

"Not tents. Not temporary fixes. But real schools - places where they can feel safe again.

"The humanitarian system meant to protect children is under growing strain. Funding is shrinking. Access is increasingly limited. And humanitarian workers themselves are under attack.

"As needs continue to outpace funding, humanitarian organizations are being forced to make choices that no humanitarian should make. In practical terms, this means reducing the frequency of nutrition treatment, scaling back protection services, and limiting access to safe learning spaces.

"For children, these are not marginal adjustments. They are the difference between survival and death. Between recovery and relapse.

"In 2026, UNICEF is appealing for 7.7 billion dollars to reach 73 million children. In line with the Global Humanitarian Overview, our Humanitarian Action for Children strategy is 25 per cent smaller than last year, not because needs have decreased, but unfortunately because resources have. As we prioritize our humanitarian action, protection and education cannot be seen as secondary. UNICEF considers them, and we believe they are, life-saving.

"Here I cannot overemphasize the importance of the flexible funding you provide. It enables us to prioritize the most critical needs, including in underfunded crises that receive little global attention - whether in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, or Haiti.

"It allows us to act immediately when disasters strike. For example, our Global Humanitarian Thematic Funding enabled us to respond within hours to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar last year.

"In Gaza, it allowed us to rapidly scale up operations following the ceasefire, helping to avert famine.

"Yet, in 2025, UNICEF only received $75.2 million in global humanitarian thematic funding, less than 4 per cent of all funding received. This reiterates the importance of having a mixed balance of funding mechanisms, combining core, flexible, and pooled funding.

"Several reform processes have been launched last year to ensure the humanitarian system can address many of the challenges I have outlined today.

"UNICEF is fully engaged in these efforts, to make the system more efficient, more accountable, and better able to deliver results.

"We are strengthening partnerships with governments and local actors, supporting them as the first line of response and investing more in local humanitarian capacity..

"For example, in the current crisis in Lebanon, we are working with the Water, Health and Education Ministries to provide essential services to displaced populations and host communities. We are working through the national social protection system to provide cash support to households with people with disabilities.

"We are investing more in preparedness and anticipatory action, and stretching every dollar to increase the impact of our work for children.

"But there are limits to how efficiency can compensate for declining resources.

"Above all, reforms must protect children, save lives, and uphold the principles that define humanitarian action.

"We must respond with the urgency, the resources, and the political will that this moment demands.

"This means political action to resolve conflicts and ensure access, and investing in early warning. It means funding humanitarian response efforts at the scale required.

"So let me end with three clear asks.

"First, we must restore respect for international law. We cannot allow the unacceptable scale of grave violations to become the new normal.

"Second, we need flexible, timely funding to immediately reach children wherever they are.

"Third, we must not abandon children who fall outside today's increasingly narrow humanitarian response. This means greater investments in sustaining essential services that children rely on and addressing the root causes of crises.

"Ultimately, it is a question of choice of whether we accept a world where children are routinely attacked, displaced, and left to go hungry, or whether we act together to protect them.

"The true measure of our response is whether children are given a real chance to live, to learn, and to hope for a better future.

"Thank you."

#####

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World News in Brief: Insecurity in the Darfurs, 100 million live with landmine threats, Singapore execution moratorium

22 April 2026 - The United Nations is deeply alarmed by continued insecurity in the Darfur region of Sudan and the heavy toll it is having on civilians, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday.

More than 10 people were reportedly killed, and many others injured, in a drone strike on Tuesday in the town of Um Dukhun in Central Darfur state, according to local sources.

"We strongly condemn this, and all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure," Mr. Dujarric told journalists in New York.

Meanwhile, insecurity forced some 115 people to flee their homes in a village in the Kutum locality, North Darfur state, last Sunday.

They have sought refuge in the regional capital, El Fasher, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Childhood vaccination campaign

Despite the many challenges, the UN and partners continue to respond to needs across Sudan, where the brutal civil war has entered a fourth year.

UN health agency WHO is midway through a six-day "Big Catch Up" vaccination campaign, that aims to reach over 81,000 young children across eight localities in West Darfur state.

"Once again, we reiterate the need for safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as flexible funding, to reach those most in need and support the most vulnerable," said Mr. Dujarric.

100 million people in more than 60 countries living with landmine risks

Raging conflicts around the world prompted an alert from landmine clearance experts on Wednesday, who highlighted the increasing dangers posed by unexploded ordnance - both today and decades from now.

Every year, many thousands are killed or injured in land contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war. Nine in 10 of the victims are civilians - half of them children - according to the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The agency has convened national demining experts and partners from all over the world to its annual meeting in Geneva, where UNMAS Director Kazumi Ogawa maintained that conflict "has continued or deepened in many regions of the world, exposing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to the risk of mines and explosive ordnance".

Also at the meeting, the UN's Global Advocate for Peace, poet Maryam Bukar Hassan, described the impact of landmines on communities in war-torn Borno State in Nigeria:

"I come from Borno State in Nigeria and it's ranked five globally in civilian casualties. So, this is not distant, nor is it abstract to me," she said.

Ms. Hassan explained that years of insurgency in Borno state in northeast Nigeria had left the land heavily contaminated with landmines.

In 2023 alone, "hundreds of explosions" left "lives and bodies altered" she continued, while in 2024, more than 400 civilians were killed and injured by landmines.

"This is what [landmines] do. They do not ask who you are. They do not care what side you belong to, they do not recognize ceasefires," the UN Peace Advocate said.

The Anti-Personnel Landmine Convention - known as the Ottawa Treaty - is one of the most successful international disarmament treaties. It's regrettable that some States are now withdrawing from the Treaty, UNMAS chief Ms. Ogawa told journalists in Geneva.

Singapore: Turk calls for execution moratorium

Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has expressed alarm at a spike in executions for drug-related offences in Singapore, urging an immediate moratorium on the death penalty.

Eight people have been executed for drug offences so far this year. In 2025, 15 out of 17 individuals put to death had drugs-related convictions.

Last week, Omar bin Yacob Bamadhaj was executed for trafficking cannabis after his family received just two weeks' notice.

"At every level, the taking of this man's life is both cruel and inhuman," Mr. Turk said.

The UN opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and supports its abolition worldwide, citing the risk of executing an innocent person and its incompatibility with human dignity.

More than two thirds of countries have now abolished it in law or practice, according to UN data, reflecting a clear global trend towards abolition.

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Today's top news: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Haiti

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Lebanon

Despite ceasefire, more than 100,000 people still displaced

OCHA reports that humanitarian needs in the Lebanon remain severe, despite the 10-day ceasefire that came into effect on 17 April.

Displacement remains widespread. Partners say that people are returning to areas closer to their homes while remaining displaced. As an example, there has been a slight increase in the number of people staying in collective shelters in Beirut since the start of the ceasefire. Displaced people are travelling to their communities to assess the damage.

As of today, Lebanese authorities report that more than 121,000 people are currently staying in 642 collective shelters - a slight increase of 2 per cent since yesterday.

On food security and livelihoods, partners say food prices are rising and that livelihoods continue to be disrupted. More than 22 per cent of agricultural land has been affected by the hostilities, and according to the Ministry of Agriculture, over three quarters of farmers in southern Lebanon have been forced to suspend their work due to damage to their land.

Humanitarian partners continue to help civilians in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas, with the support of the OCHA-managed Humanitarian Notification System (HNS), which notifies parties to the conflict of planned aid movements. Between the start of the conflict and today, 75 of these HNS-facilitated movements have reached people still in hard-to-reach locations in southern Lebanon. These include towns across southern Lebanon, as well as the districts of Bint Jbeil, Tyre, Hasbaya, and Jezzine.

Since 2 March, some 6 million meals have been provided in collective shelters and over 90,000 ready-to-eat rations have been distributed.

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners remain committed to providing lifesaving assistance to those most in need.

However, the humanitarian response continues to be outpaced by the scale of needs. The $308 million Flash Appeal, launched in mid-March and aiming to reach one million people over three months, has so far received just $94 million, around 30 per cent of the required funding.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Emergency shelters expand as health risks rise

OCHA reports that over the past two weeks, partners working in shelter have continued constructing emergency shelter units for displaced families in Gaza.

Partners repurposing the wooden pallets that carried supplies into Gaza say that by the start of this week, 20 such shelters had been set up across Gaza and North Gaza governorates, offering some privacy and dignity to families.

In March, the UN and partners brought thousands of shelter items into Gaza, including dozens of thousands of bedding items, tarpaulins and tents, reaching more than 45,000 families in need.

As stocks inside Gaza are limited, priority is given to the most urgent cases among the 850,000 people who need emergency shelter items.

The UN reiterates that more robust and longer-lasting shelter solutions are needed. This requires the entry of emergency shelter equipment and materials to repair damaged homes.

Meanwhile, teams on the ground say that pests and skin infections among people in Gaza are still on the rise. Surveillance shows that in March, such infections have more than tripled in UN-run displacement sites, affecting almost 10,000 people compared with about 3,000 in January, according to UNRWA.

Greater access is needed for the entry of anti-lice shampoo, calamine lotion, hygiene supplies, pesticides and insecticides, to avert a public health emergency and prevent further harm to civilians.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

Sudan

Renewed violence deepens civilian suffering

OCHA is alarmed by the heightened insecurity in Sudan's Darfur region, which continues to take a heavy toll on civilians.

According to local sources, on 21 April, a drone strike hit the town of Um Dukhun, southwest of the capital city Zalingei in Central Darfur State, reportedly killing more than ten civilians and injuring many others.

Meanwhile, in North Darfur, insecurity forced 115 people to flee their homes in the village of Damarat Al Gouba in the Kutum locality, last Sunday. They sought refuge in Al Fasher locality, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Despite the many challenges, the UN and its partners continue to respond to needs across Sudan.

The World Health Organization is now midway through its 6-day vaccination campaign, which started last Saturday and aims to reach over 80,000 children between the ages of one and five across eight localities in West Darfur, with childhood vaccines.

OCHA and its humanitarian partners reiterate the need for safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as flexible funding, to reach people in need and to support the most vulnerable.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in need in Sudan with urgent support.

Haiti

Armed violence drives new wave of displacement

OCHA reports that armed violence across Haiti continues to force people to flee their homes.

In the PortauPrince metropolitan area, IOM reports that armed clashes around the communes of Cite Soleil and Croix-des-Bouquets have displaced some 5,000 people since 18 April. Slightly more than half of them have sought shelter with host families, while others have relocated to displacement sites.

The violence has led to the suspension of schools and public transportation. This comes after nearly 3,000 people had been uprooted from these same neighbourhoods by violence just last month.

Armed attacks are also continuing to force people to flee in the department of Artibonite.

Food assistance, support to host families, and access to safe water and sanitation are among the top needs.

The UN and humanitarian partners are delivering assistance where they can.

OCHA is coordinating the humanitarian response in close collaboration with our partners, but insecurity, access constraints, rising emerging needs and limited funding continue to hamper the response.

Posted on 22 April 2026

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Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on the death of a peacekeeper in Lebanon

United Nations Secretary-General

22 April 2026

New York, UN

Statements | Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Delivered by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is saddened to learn that a second French peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has died following the attack on 18 April 2026 in which one other peacekeeper was killed and three were injured. Peacekeepers came under fire from non-state actors, presumed to be Hizbullah, while investigating the suspected presence of improvised explosive devices in the UNIFIL area of operations in southern Lebanon.

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.

This was one of several incidents in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths and serious injury of peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL. The Secretary-General again calls on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and the inviolability of UN property and assets at all times.

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.

All attacks on peacekeepers must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be effectively prosecuted and held accountable. In this regard, the Secretary-General welcomes the stated commitment of the Lebanese authorities with respect to the incident on 18 April.

The Secretary-General again urges all actors to respect the cessation of hostilities announced on 16 April. The United Nations is committed to supporting diplomatic efforts towards an extension of the cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

The Secretary-General extends his deepest appreciation to all the women and men serving with UNIFIL. He underscores the importance of their safety and security and UNIFIL's freedom of movement.

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Balikatan 2026: 317th AW conducts MEO, arrives in Philippines

Published April 22, 2026

By Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell

7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines (AFNS) -- The 317th Airlift Wing arrived at Clark Air Base, Philippines, to provide critical tactical airlift capabilities following the successful execution of Maximum Endurance Operations, in support of Exercise Balikatan 2026, April 17.

This year's iteration of the longstanding annual exercise coincides with the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty. Designed to strengthen the ironclad alliance and improve combined capabilities, the exercise features more than 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand.

To reach the Philippine archipelago, three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft assigned to the 40th Airlift Squadron conducted MEOs to Clark Air Base. By utilizing rotating aircrews and limited fuel stops, these operations significantly reduced transit time and extended the wing's operational reach, enabling rapid response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.

Operating from Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites, the 317th AW is delivering personnel, equipment and fuel to austere locations throughout the region. During the exercise, the wing is employing C-130Js equipped with external fuel tanks to facilitate Specialized Fueling Operations, rapid infiltration and long-range fire support.

"We're going out to the northern Philippines, to fly into these islands with U.S. Marines and Soldiers while offloading fuel," said U.S. Air Force Col. Justin Diehl, 317th AW commander. "Our capabilities ensure the Joint Force, along with our allies and partners, can sustain operations without relying solely on maritime logistics." Diehl further noted the efficiency of these operations, stating, "It used to take days to get fuel to northern islands in the Philippines," Diehl said. "Our Airmen have reduced that timeline to less than an hour."

The exercise also highlights a specialized "lift and strike" partnership with the 7th Bomb Wing from Dyess Air Force Base. Integrated into these operations are recent graduates of the 317th AW's Lethal Expeditionary Airman Development course, a program designed to prepare noncommissioned officers for decentralized operations in contested environments.

This training enables Mission-Ready Airmen to support Agile Combat Employment concepts with a reduced footprint. "Our Airmen prove that not only can the 317th AW deliver assets to some of the most remote landing zones, but that we can do so with NCOs leading and operating at the highest level," Diehl said. These combined efforts directly support the maintenance of high-level military readiness required to respond to potential crises or contingencies.

Chief Master Sgt. Martin Castillo, 317th AW command chief, emphasized that the wing is focused on executing these operations at scale to strengthen regional deterrence. "A free and open Indo-Pacific remains the objective," Castillo said. "This is the 317th AW's third iteration of Exercise Balikatan, and each iteration increases the speed, precision and confidence our Airmen bring to the mission."

Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen the alliance, improve combined capabilities and demonstrate a shared commitment to regional security and stability.

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DAF releases data, AI strategies to accelerate military dominance

Published April 22, 2026

Office of the Chief Data and AI Officer

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Office of the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the Department of the Air Force announced, April 20, the public release of the DAF Data and AI Strategies.

These strategies provide a strategic roadmap for the department to become an AI-first force, operationalizing data and AI as decisive force multipliers and strategic assets to maintain air and space dominance from the boardroom to the battlefield.

The unified framework accelerates both enterprise and combat capabilities, providing decisive decision advantage over near-peer adversaries. These strategies are directly aligned with the 2026 National Defense Strategy and the 2026 AI Strategy for the Department of War, specifically supporting the Secretary of War's priorities of reviving the warrior ethos and reestablishing deterrence through technological superiority.

"Our focus is not on developing AI for its own sake, but on rapidly delivering tangible, combat-ready capabilities that solve real-world operational problems," said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink in the AI Strategy's forward. "By becoming an AI-first force, we will empower our warfighters to out-think, out-maneuver, and out-pace any adversary."

The guiding documents establish AI priorities across several different mission areas, ranging from training and readiness to multi-domain operations. Recognizing that data is the ammunition of modern warfare, the strategies emphasize treating data as a strategic asset and by adopting a decentralized data architecture, the DAF provides warfighters with trusted data at the speed of mission.

"In today's complex global security environment, data and artificial intelligence are no longer support functionsthey are the foundation of our strategic overmatch" said Susan Davenport, the DAF'S chief data and AI officer. "Execution of these strategies ensure the Department of the Air Force remains agile and decisively ahead of pacing threats."

The implementation of these strategies directly advances the CDAO's FY2026 goal to institutionalize data and AI as core mission components. This effort builds on Secretary of War's "Speed Wins" priority, maintaining an unrelenting pace in delivering AI-powered capabilities into the hands of operators today to secure the fight of tomorrow.

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US suspends arms deliveries to NATO ally Estonia as war on Iran draining US arsenal

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 April 2026 7:39 AM

The United States has suspended arms deliveries to NATO ally Estonia as its aggression on Iran has put a major strain on US weapons stockpiles.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced the news on Tuesday, saying that his American counterpart Pete Hegseth had told him in a phone call that the US would be suspending all arms deliveries to the Baltic state.

According to Pevkur, Washington will no longer ship HIMARS light multiple rocket launcher ammunition and Javelin missiles to its NATO ally, which borders Russia.

The US, in collaboration with Israel, waged an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28.

The 40-day war had severely drained its weapons stockpiles by the time a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire took effect on April 8.

It is not yet clear whether the same measure of suspending arms deliveries would affect Finland - another NATO ally that has the longest border with Russia among NATO member states.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Tuesday that this has no impact on Finland's defense capabilities.

This is while Finlands Defense Ministry stated that Washington has not yet confirmed whether it is also canceling Finnish weapons orders.

However, in official-level communications, Washington has indicated that there may be delays in deliveries.

Helsinki agreed last year to acquire missile and rocket launcher systems from Washington for use in, fighter jets, among other things.

Last week, Reuters, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that Washington had informed its European allies of weapons delivery delays as the Iran war depletes the USs stockpile.

The report added that the measure would affect several European countries, including those in the Baltic region and in Scandinavia.

Some of the delayed deliveries, according to the report, involve arms purchased by European states under the government-to-government Foreign Military Sales program (FMS).

The US has faced weapon shortages for years following the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Israels genocide in Gaza in 2023, and two imposed wars against Iran.

The shortage has even pushed the Pentagon to use civilian factories for producing munitions.

Citing some unnamed military sources, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that senior US military officials have already held talks with top executives of major automakers, including General Motors (GM.N), and Ford Motor (F.N), to produce weapons and other military supplies.

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Hegseth fires Navy Secretary Phelan in another sudden Department of War shake-up

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 April 2026 12:56 AM

Pete Hegseth has removed US Navy Secretary John Phelan, the latest casualty of the US secretary of war's abrupt dismissal campaign amid reported top-level opposition to Washington's unprovoked aggression against Iran.

On Wednesday, Chief Department of War spokesperson Sean Parnell said Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately," in a post on X, offering no explanation. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting secretary.

The ouster caught many off guard and added to a series of sudden shake-ups during Trumps second term.

A person familiar with the situation told the American outlet Axios, "Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss. His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given."

The same source said Phelan and Hegseth did not "get along."

'Dispute over chain of command'

Despite reports of a good relationship between Phelan and Trump, tensions reportedly emerged over Phelans reported direct communication with the president.

One source said Hegseth believed Phelan bypassed the chain of command too often.

Part of broader turnover

The dismissal came amid a naval standoff with Iran, which has seen the Islamic Republic indefinitely shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against an illegal American naval blockade, which Tehran insists has to be removed before the chokehold is reopened.

It also followed other recent changes across the United States' political and military stratosphere, with reports suggesting opposition across various ranks to Washington's unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

Trump and Hegseth have been portraying a uniquely successful picture of the campaign, despite reports and official accounts robustly contradicting the narrative.

About three weeks earlier, Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff Randy George along with two other military officials.

Hegseth has also had friction with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who has been credited with a reported Army transformation initiative and is a close ally of Vice President JD Vance.

In early April, Iran's Majlis (Parliament) speaker reacted to Hegseth's dismissing high-ranking generals, linking the trend to their defying the US war secretary's betraying American lives in favor of the Israeli regime.

Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf made the remarks in a post on April 4 after Hegseth sent off Randy George and others.

"Battle-tested generals refuse to be yes-men for a TV host selling out American lives for Israel's delusions," the top legislator wrote, referring to Hegseth's past experience in television.

Additionally, Qalibaf was referencing the Israeli regime's widely reported agitation of the United States towards forcing it to join Tel Aviv in the unprovoked aggression.

Qalibaf described American forces' paying for the war with their lives as the "short-term price" of the Israeli-instigated aggression.

He went on to note that the war's long-term cost would be "American taxpayers paying at the pump for decades," a reference to spikes in fuel prices as a result of Iran's strategic and defensive maneuvering in the Strait of Hormuz that has sent shockwaves throughout global energy markets.

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Panama Calls Seizure Of Ship In Strait Of Hormuz 'Illegal'

08:04 23.4.2026

Panama condemned the seizure of a ship flying its flag as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an "illegal detention."

According to media reports, Panama's Foreign Ministry has announced that the ship, the MSC-Francesca, was "forcibly" transferred to Iranian waters.

Panama also accused Iran of violating international law, saying the move was a "serious attack on maritime security" and an "unnecessary escalation" of tensions.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on April 22 that it had seized "two offending ships" that it claimed were attempting to "secretly exit" the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the IRGC announcement, the Israeli-owned MSC-Francesca and the Greek-owned Epaminondas were stopped on charges that they intended to "secretly" exit the Strait of Hormuz "without authorization" and "by committing repeated violations and tampering with navigational aid systems and endangering maritime security."

The IRGC Navy said these vessels have been transferred to Iranian territorial waters to examine the cargo and documents.

The announcement came on a day when, according to maritime sources, three container ships were targeted by gunfire.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=451542

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US Senate Rejects New Attempt To Limit Trump's Military Authority Against Iran

07:19 23.4.2026

The US Senate on April 22 voted 51-46 to reject a Democratic-led effort to limit President Donald Trump's authority to use military force against Iran.

It was the fifth such attempt since the start of the eight-week conflict. The proposal, led by Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, would have required the withdrawal of US armed forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress.

Democrat John Fetterman voted with most Republicans against the measure, while Republican Rand Paul joined Democrats in supporting it.

Democrats said they would continue pressing for further war powers votes.



Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=451532

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Lebanese Official Says Beirut To Seek One-Month Cease-Fire Extension

14:41 22.4.2026

Lebanon and Israel are set to hold a second round of talks in Washington on April 23, with a Lebanese official saying Beirut will seek a one-month extension of a fragile US-mediated cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel, which is due to expire on April 26.

The official told the AFP news agency that Lebanon would also seek an end to Israeli bombing and destruction in areas where Israeli troops remain and a renewed commitment to the truce.

The 10-day cease-fire has come under strain, with Hezbollah saying they fired rockets at northern Israel this week in response to Israeli violations, while Israel accused the group of breaches and said it killed two militants in south Lebanon.

On April 22, an Israeli strike killed two people in southern Lebanon in a strike on a car, Lebanon's state news agency reported. Hezbollah said it launched an attack drone at Israeli forces in the south.

Hezbollah is a Tehran-backed 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 blacklisted its armed wing.

Cross-border hostilities escalated on March 2 after Hezbollah opened fire in support of Iran during the regional war.

The Lebanese government says extending the cease-fire is a prerequisite for broader negotiations covering an Israeli troop withdrawal, the return of Lebanese detainees, and land border demarcation between the two countries.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to attend the meeting.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called the talks a "historic decision" after more than four decades without direct negotiations.

Lebanon and Israel have remained formally in a state of war since Lebanon joined the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli conflict following Israel's creation, though hostilities have flared only intermittently since.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=450462

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Golden Fleet

The United States Navy stands at a pivotal moment in its maritime history. Faced with peer competitors' rapid naval expansion and the evolving nature of maritime threats, senior U.S. officials are conceptualizing a transformative vision for naval power known as the "Golden Fleet." This initiative represents a fundamental reimagining of surface fleet architecture, with unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) positioned as a cornerstone of this new strategic approach. The Golden Fleet concept aims to create a more diversified, distributed, and technologically advanced naval force capable of operating effectively in contested environments, particularly the vast expanses of the Indo-Pacific region. The FY2027 budget request, totaling $377.5 billion for the entire Department of the Navy with $65.8 billion designated for shipbuilding alone  a 48 percent increase over the prior year and the second-largest naval shipbuilding request in real terms since 1955  represents the first major funding action that begins to put hardware behind the Golden Fleet concept.

Secretary Phelan and the Golden Fleet

John C. Phelan served as the 79th Secretary of the Navy from his Senate confirmation on 7 February 2025 until his summary dismissal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on 22 April 2026  a tenure of thirteen months that may nonetheless prove consequential to the future shape of the United States Navy. Phelan was a private equity executive and major Trump fundraiser with no prior military service and no government experience before his appointment. He arrived at the Pentagon an outsider to the Navy's institutional culture, and he leveraged that outsider status to advance a programmatic vision  the Golden Fleet  that the uniformed Navy had been reluctant to develop on its own. Whether one is a Big Navy man or a skeptic of capital-ship programs, Phelan's thirteen months produced the first serious presidential-level commitment to large-scale naval expansion since the Reagan era, and the first formal procurement action for a new class of large surface combatant since the DDG-1000 Zumwalt program was conceived in the late 1990s.

The comparison that suggests itself  and that the Navy's senior civilian and uniformed communities would not welcome  is to John Lehman, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Navy from February 1981 to April 1987. Lehman, a former carrier aviator and Naval Reserve officer who held a doctorate from Cambridge, arrived with a fully formed strategic concept: the 600-ship Navy, organized around fifteen carrier battle groups and capable of offensive maritime operations against Soviet naval bastions in the Norwegian Sea and the Pacific. He understood that fleet architecture is a political as much as a military question, that industrial base dynamics shape what is buildable as much as what is desirable, and that the Secretary's leverage derives primarily from direct access to the President and the ability to move money before the bureaucracy can organize its objections. Over six years he added more than 100 ships to the fleet, reactivated four Iowa-class battleships, forced through the Maritime Strategy over fierce internal opposition, and made the Navy the dominant strategic instrument of the Reagan administration. He eventually resigned over disagreements with CNO Carlisle Trost, his effectiveness exhausted but his legacy secured.

Phelan brought a recognizable version of the same toolkit. He had no formal naval education and no fleet experience, but he had Trump's direct confidence  a political resource equivalent to what Lehman had in Reagan  and he used it to achieve presidential buy-in for the battleship concept before OSD, the Chief of Naval Operations, or the congressional authorization committees could organize their objections. Where Lehman built his influence through the formal structure of the Reagan National Security Council and his own deep ties to the carrier aviation community, Phelan built his through direct White House visits and personal relationships with Trump and members of the president's immediate circle. The result was a presidential appetite for the BBG battleship program that drove the FY2027 budget request to include $1 billion in advance procurement and a $16.47 billion FY2028 procurement line for lead ship BBG-1 USS Defiant  a combined lead-ship cost exceeding $17 billion that even sympathetic observers described as fiscally precarious.

The friction with Hegseth was both personal and institutional. Hegseth came to the Defense Secretary position with his own reform agenda and found in Phelan a civilian secretary who was in some respects moving too aggressively on program advocacy and in other respects too slowly on organizational reforms Hegseth considered a first-order priority. Reports from within the Building described Hegseth as frustrated by Phelan's independent Capitol Hill relationships, by his direct presidential outreach, and by what Hegseth viewed as Phelan's tendency to treat the Navy Department as a separate power center rather than a subordinate component of OSD. The specific trigger for the dismissal was never formally articulated, but the weight of reporting  Axios, Military Times, CNN, the Washington Post, Stars and Stripes, Bloomberg, Defense News, and the Boston Globe  pointed to the same fundamental cause: Phelan's independent relationship with Trump, which Hegseth believed had committed the president to a shipbuilding program before the department had adequately evaluated costs, design options, and industrial feasibility.

1. Chain-of-command breakdown and freelancing with Trump

Multiple outlets describe a pattern in which Phelan cultivated a direct, independent relationship with President Trump on naval force structure and the Trump-class battleship, sidestepping normal Pentagon channels. Hegseth and Feinberg are reported to have been increasingly frustrated that Phelan was lobbying for the Golden Fleet and the BBG(X) concept from the White House outward, rather than from the Office of the Secretary of Defense downward, effectively inverting the chain of command.

In this reading, the battleship is less the cause than the vehicle: Phelans offense was not merely favoring a controversial platform, but doing so by using his White House access and Hill relationships to box in a Defense Secretary who wanted tighter central control over shipbuilding decisions.

2. Strategic disagreement: capital ship prestige vs. mass uncrewed fleets

Several accounts highlight a genuine strategic split between a Navy secretary who saw a flagship Trump-class battleship as the centerpiece of a Golden Fleet and a defense leadership that preferred cheaper, mass-produced uncrewed systems to increase hull counts against China and Iran. Hegseth and Feinberg are portrayed as skeptical of pouring more than 17 billion dollars into a single BBG(X) hull when they favor distributed, attritable platforms and sea-attack drones to saturate contested littorals.

From this vantage point, Phelans firing can be explained as the victory of a quantity over prestige naval strategy: the Pentagon leadership decided that the Trump-class battleship  and the Secretary who championed it  had become obstacles to reorienting the Navy toward swarming, unmanned and smaller crewed combatants.

3. Frustration with the pace and direction of shipbuilding reform

Reporting also emphasizes dissatisfaction in OSD over the tempo of Phelans shipbuilding reforms, suggesting that Hegseth believed the Navy secretary was moving too slowly to fix chronic cost overruns and schedule slippage in the surface and submarine programs. Feinberg, in particular, is described as taking over portions of shipbuilding decision-making, a clear signal that the Secretarys authority in his core portfolio had already been informally curtailed before the formal dismissal.

On this interpretation, the Trump-class dispute was the final straw layered atop a broader judgment that Phelan could not deliver the kind of aggressive restructuring of industrial base relationships, contracting practices, and platform mix that Hegseth and Feinberg wanted for the Trump administrations naval buildup.

4. Personal style, management clashes, and Pentagon infighting

Several accounts place Phelans exit within a pattern of Hegseths rapid turnover of senior defense officials, describing months of infighting and clashes over management style as much as policy content. Anonymous sources paint a picture of a Navy secretary whose assertive public advocacy  at conferences, in interviews, and on Capitol Hill  increasingly grated on Pentagon leadership during an ongoing naval blockade of Iran, when Hegseth wanted tighter message discipline.

Seen this way, the battleship and the Golden Fleet became symbols in a broader bureaucratic knife fight, with Phelans high-visibility media and congressional presence reinforcing perceptions inside OSD that he was running a semi-independent Navy policy shop rather than operating as part of a unified Trump defense team.

5. Political optics in the middle of the Iran crisis

Phelans removal occurred in the midst of a sensitive naval blockade of Iran, when U.S. forces had already intercepted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the administration was trying to project firmness without triggering wider war. Some reporting implies that the White House and Pentagon worried that a very expensive Trump-named battleship, championed by a billionaire political donor serving as Navy secretary, risked becoming a lightning rod for domestic criticism just as the administration was absorbing casualties and escalation risks in the Gulf.

From this perspective, firing Phelan can be narrated as an attempt to reframe the administrations naval story away from a single gold-plated symbol platform and toward a narrative of hard-nosed efficiency, wartime focus, and deference to the Defense Secretarys judgment during an ongoing crisis.

6. The Golden Fleet as a captured presidential project

Trumps public embrace of the Golden Fleet and the Trump-class battleship dates back to a December 2025 announcement in which he framed the new class as the centerpiece of a revitalized, 30,000- to 40,000-ton large surface combatant force  a golden fleet of advanced warships. Phelan was prominently associated with that unveiling, publicly telling the Department of War that the Navy desperately needs the new class, which in turn made him the de facto political owner of a project that came to polarize Pentagon leadership.

Once doubts about the affordability and strategic wisdom of the Trump-class hardened inside OSD, Phelans continued high-profile promotion of the program  including budget documents placing BBG(X) at the center of a multi-hundred-billion-dollar Golden Fleet request  made his position untenable.

7. Clash over Senator Mark Kelly

Another line of reporting focused on a constitutional clash over Senator Mark Kelly. Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported that Hegseth and Phelan reportedly butted heads when Phelan refused to ignore a recent federal judge's ruling that said punishing Senator Mark Kelly for making a video in which he reminded military officers of their constitutional duty to not follow illegal orders would violate his First Amendment rights.

She further relayed that Hegseth wanted Kelly, a retired Navy captain, brought back onto active duty and stripped of his rank, while Phelan refused to disregard the judges order. Griffin then ended her segment without explicitly saying, he was fired for that, which is why several summaries describe her as stopping just short of directly attributing the firing to this incident alone.

Progressive and social-media amplifiers (Occupy Democrats, Washington Press, various viral X and Facebook posts) are condensing Griffins nuance into a cleaner narrative: that Phelan was fired because he refused to ignore a federal judges order protecting Kellys First Amendment rights. Commentaries and blogs like Crooks and Liars then present this as the emblematic reason for the dismissal, foregrounding the Kelly dispute above the shipbuilding and Golden Fleet issues.

By contrast, mainstream hard-news write-ups (Reuters, NPR, plus the Axios/NBC/NYT synthesis pieces) still treat the primary drivers as shipbuilding fights, Golden Fleet/Trump-class battleship disagreements, and long-running personal and managerial friction, with the Kelly court-order dispute described as an additional point of conflict rather than the entire story.

8. Media narrative: battleship casualty vs. broader performance issues

Different outlets emphasize different facets of the story: some, especially international media and cable segments, foreground the Trump-class battleship as the proximate cause of the sacking, while others, like major U.S. newspapers, stress generalized infighting and dissatisfaction with Phelans handling of shipbuilding and the Navys global deployments. The net effect is a layered narrative in which Phelan can be portrayed either as the casualty of an internal fight over a single 17-billion-dollar warship or as the latest victim of a Defense Secretary systematically consolidating power over a fractious Pentagon.

National Defense Magazine published an interview with Phelan under the headline "Next-Gen Battleship a Golden Fleet Necessity, Phelan Says" on the same day his dismissal was announced  an inadvertent summary of his tenure. CSIS published "The Golden Fleet's Battleship Will Never Sail" the same day, arguing that cost escalation, design instability across three competing concepts, and the absence of a stable requirements process made the full BBG program unsustainable. The juxtaposition was apt. Phelan departed having secured the presidential commitment and the first budget line that advocates of naval expansion had been seeking for a generation. Whether that is enough  whether programmatic momentum survives an acting secretary with no White House relationship, a $17 billion price tag facing congressional scrutiny, and three competing design visions none of which has been formally selected  is the central question the Golden Fleet now faces.

The case for Phelan's place on the short list of consequential Secretaries of the Navy rests not on what he completed but on what he set in motion. Lehman's 600-ship Navy was never fully reached, and the Iowa-class battleships he reactivated were decommissioned again within a few years of his departure. What endured from the Lehman era was the Maritime Strategy and the institutional expectation that the Navy should be an offensive rather than merely a defensive instrument. What Phelan may have set in motion is a comparable reorientation: a Navy that thinks in terms of large surface combatants again, and a procurement culture that understands capital investment as strategic rather than budgetary. Whether that reorientation survives the political circumstances of his departure is, at this writing, unknown.

Golden Fleet  New Initiatives

The Golden Fleet concept combines large, heavily armed capital ships with smaller distributed platforms and an extensive unmanned layer. At the heavy end, a next-generation surface combatant displacing 15,000 tons or more would carry deep vertical launch magazines for long-range and hypersonic missiles, integrated electric propulsion, and advanced sensors  a vessel large enough to serve as a battle network node as well as a strike platform. At the lighter end, large numbers of frigates, corvettes, and modular "shooter" hulls would flood contested zones, complicating adversary targeting and distributing firepower so that no single loss is catastrophic. Unmanned surface vehicles operate as robotic pickets, autonomous magazines, and expendable scouts, extending the fleet's sensor horizon without placing crews at risk.

Trump-class Battleship / BBG(X)

The Trump-class large surface combatant  designated BBG(X) in budget documents and informally called the battleship  is the centerpiece of the Golden Fleet's capital ship layer. The FY2027 budget requests exactly $1,000,000,000 in advance procurement across two fiscal years to begin design definition and long-lead-time component acquisition, with $16.47 billion in net procurement planned for FY2028 to fund lead ship BBG-1 USS Defiant, bringing the combined lead-ship cost to over $17 billion. No displacement figure has been formally published; the three competing design concepts range from approximately 15,000 tons (conventional gun battleship) to 20,000 tons (nuclear capital ship). Three competing design visions have circulated within the service: a large conventionally powered combatant of 15,000 tons or more with railguns, hypersonic missile cells, and a substantial naval gun battery recalling the battleship lineage; a nuclear-powered capital ship optimized as a mothership and battle network node for unmanned platforms; and a more modest nuclear battlecruiser in the 10,00012,000 ton range that emphasizes speed and missile payload over armor and permanence. None of these designs has been formally selected. The program received $66.5 million in FY2027 to continue Zumwalt-class DDG-1000 conversion to hypersonic missile carriers as an interim step toward the deep-strike capability BBG(X) is ultimately intended to provide.

The CBGN-X is a competing concept within the capital combatant study that envisions a nuclear-powered battlecruiser, smaller and faster than the full BBG(X) battleship but capable of extended high-speed independent operations without a carrier or oiler in company. Proponents argue that nuclear propulsion restores the strategic mobility that made Cold War nuclear cruisers like USS Long Beach and USS Bainbridge valuable for detached operations, and that a battlecruiser hull optimized for missiles and speed is more operationally useful than a heavily armored gun platform in an era of precision long-range strike. The CBGN-X has no formal program line in the FY2027 budget but is under study by the Naval Surface Warfare Center as part of the broader capital combatant design competition.

FF(X)  New Frigate

The FF(X) is the Navy's rapid replacement for the cancelled Constellation-class frigate, intended to field a capable surface combatant more quickly and at lower cost than the Constellation program achieved. The FY2027 budget requests $1,429,000,000 for one hull and associated support, making it the first funded step in what the Navy envisions as a large-quantity frigate class to flesh out the distributed end of the Golden Fleet architecture. The FF(X) design requirements have not been publicly released, but Navy statements suggest a vessel currently estimated in the 5,0007,000 ton full-load displacement range with a vertical launch system, towed array sonar, and robust anti-submarine warfare capability optimized for littoral and open-ocean escort operations. The program faces a compressed timeline if it is to avoid the multi-year construction delays that plagued Constellation, and the choice between reusing an existing commercial design, adapting the Constellation hull, or developing a clean-sheet design remains unresolved.

CVN-84 Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier

The Golden Fleet concept includes a new, larger aircraft carrier class to succeed the Gerald R. Ford class. The notional CVN-X would retain electromagnetic launch and recovery systems proven on the Ford class while adding a larger air wing, greater magazine depth for air-wing ordnance, and enhanced survivability against hypersonic anti-ship missiles. The new design would operate a larger fraction of unmanned combat air vehicles, extending strike range and reducing crew exposure. No formal design competition had been authorized as of April 2026, though carrier community requirements documents for a Ford-class successor have circulated internally since 2022. FY2027 budget actions for the CVN program are concentrated on continuing CVN-81 USS Doris Miller construction at $1.447 billion and a $2.619 billion advance procurement block for the following Ford-class hull, preserving the carrier industrial base while CVN-X design work proceeds informally.

LSM-1 Medium Landing Ship

The Medium Landing Ship is among the newest hull types in the Navy's acquisition portfolio, designed to provide organic surface connectors for distributed amphibious operations that do not depend on large-deck amphibious assault ships operating close to defended shores. The FY2027 budget funds six LSM hulls at $1,887,500,000 (~$314 million per hull), and combined with FY2026 procurement, the program is tracking toward 16 hulls total. The LSM concept reflects lessons from the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) doctrine being developed by the Marine Corps, which envisions small, dispersed forces operating from austere island positions in the Pacific island chains to deny adversary maritime maneuver. At a fraction of the cost and displacement of a large-deck LHA or LHD, LSMs can be fielded in numbers sufficient to distribute the amphibious force across multiple axes, complicating adversary targeting.

AS(X) Submarine Tender Replacement

The AS(X) program funds two new submarine tenders at $4,444,000,000 (~$2.2 billion per hull) to replace the aging Emory S. Land-class vessels, which entered service in the 1970s and are approaching the end of their practical service lives. The submarine tender is a critical enabler for forward-deployed nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines, providing maintenance, crew berthing, weapons handling, and logistics support that allows submarines to remain on station without returning to major fleet bases. As the Virginia-class and Columbia-class programs expand the size of the nuclear submarine fleet, the adequacy of tender support becomes a fleet-wide readiness issue. The AS(X) is sized to support the Virginia-class and Columbia-class, and the two-hull FY2027 investment represents the largest single auxiliary procurement line in the request, reflecting the Navy's recognition that logistics enablers are as operationally important as the combatant ships they support.

T-AH-X Next-Generation Hospital Ship

The FY2027 budget funds one next-generation hospital ship at $650,000,000. The existing Mercy-class conversions displace approximately 69,360 tons full load; the new purpose-built design's displacement has not been formally specified, initiating replacement for the USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) and USNS Comfort (T-AH-20), both of which entered service converted from oil tankers in the 1980s and have provided humanitarian and combat casualty care in every major US military operation since. The new design will be purpose-built rather than converted, incorporating lessons from hospital ship deployments in Iraq, Haiti, COVID response, and Indo-Pacific humanitarian missions. A dedicated hospital ship designed around modern trauma surgery, intensive care, and medical evacuation capability  rather than retrofitted into a tanker hull  offers substantially greater medical throughput and sustainability in sustained high-intensity conflict, where fleet and Marine Corps casualty rates would rapidly overwhelm shore-based medical facilities in the Pacific theater.

USV Unmanned Surface Vehicles

Unmanned surface vehicles constitute the autonomous layer of the Golden Fleet and are addressed separately in the program's dedicated sub-page. The FY2027 budget does not fund a separate large-quantity USV procurement line  USV programs are spread across multiple research, development, and procurement accounts  but the concept positions large USVs as autonomous missile magazines, sensor pickets, and logistics connectors that extend the fleet's reach without placing crews at risk. The Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) and Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle (LUSV) programs are advancing through operational testing, with the LUSV capable of carrying a Mk 41 vertical launch system payload equivalent to a destroyer's strike magazine.

Baseline Programs

Virginia-class Nuclear Attack Submarine (SSN)

The Virginia-class is the single most expensive program line in the FY2027 shipbuilding request at $13,985,934,000, reflecting both the strategic priority of undersea warfare and the industrial challenges of producing nuclear submarines at the rate the fleet requires. The request funds two hulls immediately and provides $5,583,618,000 in advance procurement for FY2028, FY2029, and FY2034, supporting the multi-year production agreements that allow Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat to maintain skilled workforces and supplier chains. The Virginia-class Block V and subsequent boats incorporate the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), adding 76 additional vertical launch tubes and dramatically increasing the class's land-attack and anti-ship missile capacity. Virginia Block V boats displace approximately 7,800 tons submerged and are 460 feet long. The Navy's stated requirement is two or more Virginia-class submarines per year to stay ahead of force structure attrition and to sustain the forward-deployed attack submarine presence needed to counter the expanding People's Liberation Army Navy submarine fleet.

Columbia-class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN)

The Columbia-class SSBN is the nation's highest-priority shipbuilding program by statutory designation, representing the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad and the most survivable component of America's strategic deterrent. The FY2027 request provides $11,621,291,000 for the program, split between $6,904,785,000 for immediate construction of the first hull and $4,969,042,000 in advance procurement for long-lead-time nuclear reactor components and specialist systems for future boats. Columbia-class submarines displace approximately 20,810 tons submerged, are 560 feet in length, and carry 16 Trident II D5LE2 ballistic missiles  longer than the Ohio-class boats they replace. The program has experienced schedule pressure at Newport News Shipbuilding stemming from workforce shortfalls and supply chain disruptions, and the Navy and Congress have invested heavily in industrial base capacity expansion to prevent a gap in SSBN delivery that would degrade strategic deterrent continuity.

Gerald R. Ford-class Aircraft Carrier (CVN)

The Gerald R. Ford class continues in production with USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) receiving $1,447,882,000 in FY2027 toward her scheduled 2032 service entry, and a further $2,619,473,000 in advance procurement funding split between $678,907,000 in FY2027 and $1,940,566,000 in FY2029 to sustain work on the subsequent hull in the Ford-class series. Separately, $4,448,902,000 is designated for refueling nuclear reactors in Nimitz-class carriers, with an additional $53,070,000 in advance procurement for future RCOH long-lead components, which began entering their mid-life refueling windows in the 2010s and will continue through the 2030s, preserving operational carriers until their planned decommissioning, which will continue through the 2030s. The Ford class introduced the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EALS), Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and a dual-band radar system that substantially increase sortie generation rates over the Nimitz class. Gerald R. Ford displaces approximately 100,000 tons full load and is 1,106 feet in length, essentially identical in external dimensions to Nimitz but with substantially reduced crew requirements. Achieving designed sortie rates required extensive post-delivery corrections that delayed the class's full operational employment by several years.

Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer (DDG-51)

The Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer remains the Navy's primary surface combatant, combining the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), an enlarged VLS magazine, and enhanced power generation in a proven 9,200-ton hull that has been in continuous production since the late 1980s. The FY2027 request funds one Flight III hull at $3,268,238,000, plus $66,515,000 for DDG-1000 Zumwalt hypersonic conversion support, a reduction of one hull from FY2026 and a corresponding decrease of nearly $1.2 billion from the prior year's funding  a tradeoff against the new Golden Fleet programs competing for shipbuilding dollars. The Arleigh Burke remains the workhorse of the battle force, with 73 ships in commission as of early 2026 and additional hulls completing at HII Ingalls and Bath Iron Works. Arleigh Burke Flight III displaces approximately 9,200 tons full load and is 510 feet in length. The class remains the backbone of the surface fleet until FF(X) and BBG(X) come online, and the class will continue to be produced in some form for the foreseeable future given the industrial disruption that any production gap would cause.

America-class Amphibious Assault Ship (LHA)

The America-class Landing Helicopter Assault ship is the Navy's large-deck amphibious capital ship, designed primarily as an aviation platform optimized for F-35B short-takeoff/vertical-landing operations rather than the well-deck-centric design of earlier Wasp-class LHDs. At 45,000 tons full load and over 840 feet in length, the America class is the largest amphibious ship in the world, effectively functioning as a light carrier when operating a full F-35B air wing. The FY2027 request funds one hull at $3,852,319,000. The class supports the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 concept, which envisions the LHA as the command and strike node of a distributed amphibious ready group operating alongside smaller assault shipping and the new Medium Landing Ships rather than the tightly massed ARG-MEU formations of the Cold War era.

San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)

The San Antonio-class LPD is a 684-foot, 24,900-ton amphibious transport dock that carries Marines, landing craft, helicopters, and vehicles for forcible entry and sustained amphibious operations. The FY2027 request funds one LPD-17 Flight II hull at $2,548,650,000 total, comprising a base request of $2,192,700,000 and $355,950,000 in advance procurement for long-lead components. The Flight II design adds additional aviation capability and updated command and control systems relative to the original San Antonio-class design. The San Antonio class has proven a more successful production program than many of its contemporaries, with HII Ingalls having worked through the early production quality problems that plagued the lead ship and now delivering hulls on schedule and within budget.

John Lewis-class Replenishment Oiler (T-AO)

The John Lewis class is the Navy's current generation of combat logistics force oiler, providing fuel, dry cargo, and ammunition replenishment at sea to keep combatant ships forward-deployed without returning to port. FY2027 funds two John Lewis hulls at a combined $2,228,883,000, continuing the production run that began with USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205). At 742 feet and approximately 49,000 tons full load, the John Lewis class is built on a commercial product tanker hull modified for naval requirements, a design approach that reduced cost and leveraged commercial shipbuilding capacity. The class is operated by the Military Sealift Command with a predominantly civilian mariner crew. Combat logistics force adequacy is a major fleet planning constraint in the Pacific, where the distances involved require far more underway replenishment capability than Atlantic or Mediterranean operations historically demanded.

Ocean Surveillance Ship (TAGOS / SURTASS)

The FY2027 budget funds one ocean surveillance ship at $710,664,000 to continue the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) mission, which uses low-frequency active and passive sonar arrays streamed behind slow-moving auxiliary ships to detect and track submarines at long range. The TAGOS vessels are operated by the Military Sealift Command and feed data to the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), the successor to the Cold War SOSUS fixed hydrophone network. As adversary submarine fleets expand and improve, the SURTASS mission grows in importance; the new hull represents a service life extension of the program and an upgrade to the sensor and processing systems that make sense of the acoustic data the arrays collect.

Cancelled Programs

Constellation-class Frigate (FFG-62)

The Constellation-class frigate  formerly designated FFG(X) in its competition phase  received no funding in the FY2027 shipbuilding budget for the first time since the program was initiated, despite three hulls being actively under construction at Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. The cancellation-in-all-but-name reflects a combination of severe schedule slippage, cost growth, and design instability that made the program a cautionary example of the procurement pathologies the Golden Fleet's architects are attempting to escape. Lead ship FFG-62 USS Constellation was originally scheduled to deliver in 2026; revised estimates have pushed that date to 2029 or later, a delay measured in years rather than months. Unit costs have grown from an original target of approximately $800 million to estimates exceeding $1.3 billion per hull. The Navy's response is the FF(X) program  intended to be faster, cheaper, and built from a more mature baseline  though the service has not explained in detail how FF(X) avoids repeating the Constellation experience. The three hulls already under construction will complete and enter service; no further Constellation-class hulls will be funded.

Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

The Littoral Combat Ship program, which produced two competing variants  the Freedom-class monohull built by Lockheed Martin at Marinette Marine and the Independence-class trimaran built by Austal USA at Mobile, Alabama  received no shipbuilding funding in FY2027 for the first time since its inception in the early 2000s. The program was plagued throughout its life by the mission module concept that was supposed to give the LCS modular multi-mission capability: the mine countermeasures, surface warfare, and anti-submarine warfare modules all experienced severe development delays, and none ever achieved the full operational capability advertised when the program was justified to Congress. The Navy has already begun early decommissioning of some Freedom-class hulls, citing maintenance costs and reliability problems with the combining gear and propulsion system. The surviving LCS hulls will serve in reduced-readiness roles, primarily as training ships and for presence operations in non-contested environments, while the fleet waits for the FF(X) and future surface combatants to fill the small surface combatant mission. The LCS stands as the most prominent shipbuilding failure of its generation and a principal argument for the Golden Fleet's emphasis on fewer, more capable, and more thoroughly developed designs.

Going Forward - the May 2026 Prospect

Hegseths proposed changes were less a formal rewrite of Golden Fleet requirements and more a shift in emphasis: down-weight the Trump-class battleship and push the program toward cheaper, more numerous, and more conventional platforms, especially frigates and unmanned systems.

Analysts reading out the emerging Golden Fleet plan describe it as moving away from an all-in bet on a few ultra-expensive capital ships and toward a mix that still includes the Trump-class but relies more on numbers and distributable firepower. In practice, that means treating the battleship as one element in a broader force design rather than the centerpiece that Phelan and Trump initially advertised when they unveiled the Golden Fleet in December 2025.

[wlos](https://wlos.com/news/nation-world/president-donald-trump-to-make-announcement-with-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-after-latest-oil-tanker-seizure-near-venezuela-coast-guard-narco-terrorists-boat-strikes)

One Heritage Foundation reconstruction of the internal Golden Fleet numbers, based on interviews with people familiar with the planning, shows a pattern consistent with Hegseths direction of travel. Compared with prior fleet targets, this revised Golden Fleet design reportedly:

Reduces aircraft carriers from 12 to 9, with only 7 carrier air wings.

from 12 to 9, with only 7 carrier air wings. Reduces large surface warships (cruisers/destroyers, not counting potential battleships) to about 67.

(cruisers/destroyers, not counting potential battleships) to about 67. Keeps small combatants at 73, but layers in roughly 100 medium unmanned surface vessels, increasing total hull count and distributable sensors/shooters.

at 73, but layers in roughly 100 medium unmanned surface vessels, increasing total hull count and distributable sensors/shooters. Reduces attack submarines from around 66 to about 54, while keeping 12 SSBNs and possibly adding SSGN conversions.

from around 66 to about 54, while keeping 12 SSBNs and possibly adding SSGN conversions. Cuts large amphibious warships from 31 to about 27, below current statutory minimums.

Those shifts point to a concept where more of the fleets striking power resides in a larger number of smaller, often unmanned platforms, and fewer big, multi-billion-dollar manned hulls  exactly the critique Hegseths camp has directed at the Trump-class battleship.

Within shipbuilding, Hegseth-aligned recommendations stress getting the ordinary pieces of the fleet right before (or alongside) the exotic Golden Fleet icons. Key elements include:

Aggressively proceeding with the Constellation-class frigate, resolving yard delays and redesign churn so frigates start arriving in numbers.

with the Constellation-class frigate, resolving yard delays and redesign churn so frigates start arriving in numbers. Adding a navalized National Security Cutter variant as a lower-end frigate or large patrol ship, increasing hulls quickly and keeping Pascagoula and Marinette both busy.

variant as a lower-end frigate or large patrol ship, increasing hulls quickly and keeping Pascagoula and Marinette both busy. Usinglarge block buys and novel contracts (e.g., a Shipyard Assisted Workload Supplement, SAWS) to incentivize capacity expansion and penalize chronic underperformance, up to placing failing yards in a conservatorship model. [heritage]

This was consistent with Hegseths public rhetoric about industrial realism and avoiding another LCS-style debacle, and it implicitly competes with Phelans vision of the Golden Fleet as anchored in a big, technically ambitious battleship.

Critics close to OSD argued that the BBG(X) Trump-class as initially scoped was an extreme outlier  extraordinarily large, heavily armed, and ruinously expensive, with unit costs north of 17 billion dollars and long lead times. The Hegseth-tilted Golden Fleet concept does not necessarily cancel the Trump-class outright, but it pushed the program into a narrower, more politically and fiscally constrained lane: fewer hulls, tighter cost caps, and less willingness to let it dictate overall fleet shape.

The change would turn the Golden Fleet from a battleship program with a fleet attached  Phelans implicit model  into a distributed fleet plan that may include a battleship if it can be made to work. That re-prioritization was at the heart of the friction between Hegseth and Phelan and underlies most of the reported changes being attributed to Hegseths team in current coverage and analytic work.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 22 April 2026 - Day 1519

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 127 combat clashes.

The Russian opponent made 44 aviation strikes, dropped 151 controlled aviation bomb. In addition, Russian forces engaged 5650 kamikaze drones for impressions and carried out 2362 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the Russian enemy carried out 105 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops, five of which - with the use of reactive systems of assault-fire, in addition, launched two air strikes using six controlled bombs.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy twice stormed the positions of Ukrainian units towards the settlements of Bochkove and Ohrimivka. One battle is going on.

In the Kupyansky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian assaults in the areas of the settlements of Petropavlivka and Kivsharivka.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped two attempts to advance in the areas of the settlements of Drobisheve and Dibrov.

In the Slovak direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled two Russian assault actions in the area of Yampol.

In the kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders have successfully repelled the Russian attack in the area of nikiforivki.

Defense Forces repelled 17 Russian assaults in the Konstantinivsky direction near Konstantinovka, Pleshiyivka, Oleksandr-Shultiny, Ivanopil and Illinivka.

Russian forces committed 30 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The occupiers tried to advance in the areas of settlements Sofiyivka, Novopavlivka, Toretske, Rodins ke, Filiya, Shevchenko, Mirnograd, Grishine, Kotline, Udacne and towards Kucherovoy Yar.

According to preliminary calculations, today 65 Russian occupants were eliminated and 24 wounded in this direction; three car units and 15 special equipment units were destroyed, three personnel shelters, four cannons, seven car units and one special equipment unit were damaged. Destroyed or suppressed 143 unmanned aircraft of different types.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers tried five times to improve their position by attacking in the areas of settlements Oleksandrograd, Vorone and Kalinovsk. Aviation strikes were felt on the outskirts of the Ivanivka settlement.

In the Gulyaipil direction, there were 13 Russian attacks in the area of Gulyaipol and in the areas of settlements of Dobropillya, Girke, Zaliznychne, Zelene, Staroukrainka and Tsvitkove. The Russian enemy caused air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Verhnya Tersa, Kopani, Lyubytske, Shiroke, Gulyaipole, Staroukrainka, Tymoshivka, Tsvitkove, Valley.

In the Orihivsk direction, the Russian opponent came in the direction of the settlement of novoandriivka. In addition, caused aviation strikes on the areas of the settlements of Komyshuvakha, Novorozivka, Yasna Polyana, Yurkivka.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, the Russian enemy carried out two futile assault actions towards the Antonivsky Bridge and the island of White-breasted.

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 Group's units inflicted losses on the formations of one assault regiment of the AFU and six territorial defence brigade near Malaya Slobodka, Novodmitrovka, Novye Virki, Pisarevka, and Stetskovka (Sumy region).

In Kharkov region, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades of the AFU, one national guard brigade, and three border detachments of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine near Velikiy Burluk, Veseloye, Izbitskoye, Malaya Volchya, Rubezhnoye, and Skoriki (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost more than 200 troops, one armoured personnel carrier, 16 motor vehicles, one field artillery gun, three U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-fire radars, and one Israeli-made RADA radar station, one electronic warfare station, one ammunition depot, and seven materiel depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Units of two mechanised and assault brigades of the AFU have been hit close to Borovaya, Petrovka (Kharkov region), Krasny Liman, Prishib, and Tatyanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 200 troops, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, one Kazak armoured fighting vehicle, 16 motor vehicles, and three artillery guns. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Konstantinovka, Nikanorovka, Ray-Aleksandrovka, Stenki, and Tikhonovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 135 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, two armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, and one electronic warfare station. Two ammunition depots and four materiel depots were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian units engaged formations of four mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, two marine brigades, the Azov Special Operations Brigade, and four national guard brigades near Kucherov Yar, Novonikolayevka, Lenina, Svetloye, Sergeyevka, Belitskoye, Shilovka, Toretskoye, Kalinino, Dobropolye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novogrigorovka, and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 325 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Russian elements delivered damage to formations of three mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, two assault brigades, and five assault regiment of the AFU close to Aleksandrovka, Gavrilovka, Lesnoye, Malomikhaylovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Barvinovka, Vozdvizhevka, Charivnoye, and Lubitskoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU lost more than 230 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and six motor vehicles.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades of the AFU near Orekhov, Yurkovka (Zaporozhye region) and Zmiyevka (Kherson region).

Up to 30 troops, three pickup trucks, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, and one electronic warfare station were neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted damage on the Ukrainian power, transport, and port infrastructure, used in the interests of Ukraine, 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 131 areas.

Air defence systems shot down one guided bomb, three U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 368 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Black Sea Fleet destroyed one uncrewed surface vehicle in the north-western part of the Black Sea.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost: 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 136,720 unmanned aerial vehicles, 656 anti-aircraft missile systems, 29,006 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,705 MLRS combat vehicles, 34,569 field artillery guns and mortars, and 59,940 units of support military vehicles.

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Li Qiang Meets with Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 21, 2026 21:37

On the morning of April 21, 2026, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang met with Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Li Qiang stated that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Mozambique. In recent years, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Mozambique has yielded fruitful results. President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Mr. President Daniel Francisco Chapo to make new plans for further deepening bilateral relations and cooperation. China is ready to work with Mozambique to carry forward the traditional friendship, always trust each other, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, and promote in-depth and substantive cooperation in various fields to better serve the modernization efforts of both countries.

Li Qiang noted that China is ready to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Mozambique, steadily expand the scale of bilateral trade, deepen cooperation in areas such as agriculture and fisheries, energy and minerals, and infrastructure construction, help Mozambique extend its industrial chains and increase added value, and better translate its resource advantages into development momentum. It is hoped that Mozambique will make good use of policies such as China's zero-tariff treatment for all African countries having diplomatic relations with China and the upgraded green channel, and actively explore the Chinese market. China supports capable Chinese enterprises in investing in Mozambique and hopes that Mozambique will provide a stable and predictable business environment and ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens in Mozambique. The two sides should also strengthen cooperation in medical care, education, culture, tourism, and disaster prevention and mitigation, and continuously enhance the sense of gain for the people regarding China-Mozambique friendship. The current international situation is changing rapidly. China and Africa, as good brothers and good partners, should work together more closely in solidarity and cooperation, actively implement the four global initiatives, uphold fairness and justice, and defend their common interests.

Daniel Francisco Chapo stated that Mozambique and China have enjoyed long-standing friendship and are as close as brothers. Mozambique firmly supports the one-China principle and the policy of "One Country, Two Systems", supports China in achieving national reunification, and supports China's just stance on issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, and human rights. Mozambique appreciates the long-standing support and assistance provided by China for Mozambique's economic and social development, and is ready to strengthen the alignment of national development plans with China. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Mozambique is ready to deepen cooperation with China in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, transportation, and communications, and intensify exchanges in culture, education, tourism, and other fields to advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Mozambique and China. Mozambique firmly supports the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is ready to work with China to strengthen Africa-China cooperation and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Wu Zhenglong was present at the meeting.

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Zhao Leji Meets with Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo and Vice-President of the European Parliament Younous Omarjee

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 21, 2026 21:20

On April 21, 2026, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji met with Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo in Beijing.

Zhao Leji stated that China and Mozambique enjoy a profound traditional friendship. This afternoon, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Mr. President Daniel Francisco Chapo, jointly opening a new chapter in China-Mozambique relations. China is ready to work with Mozambique, under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and fully implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC); to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between legislative bodies, share experience in reform and development, rule of law construction and rural revitalization, and provide impetus for the development of their respective countries. Zhao Leji also briefed on the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Daniel Francisco Chapo stated that Mozambique firmly adheres to the one-China principle, actively supports the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is ready to strengthen practical cooperation with China, promote exchanges between legislative bodies, jointly uphold multilateralism, and promote the development of Mozambique-China relations.

Losang Jamcan was present at the meeting.

On the same day, Zhao Leji met with Vice-President of the European Parliament Younous Omarjee in Beijing.

Zhao Leji stated that President Xi Jinping met with European Union leaders in Beijing last year, charting the course for the development of China-EU relations. China is ready to work with the EU to implement the important consensus and outcomes of the meeting between the two leaders, uphold the positioning of partnership, mutual respect, cooperation and win-win outcomes, adhere to multilateralism, and promote the steady and sustained growth of China-EU relations. Legislative body exchanges are an important part of China-EU relations. The exchange mechanism between China's NPC and the European Parliament has played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and promoting practical cooperation. It is hoped that the two sides will expand exchanges and cooperation to help achieve greater development of China-EU relations.

Younous Omarjee stated that the resumption of normal exchanges between the legislative bodies of the EU and China and the positive progress made demonstrate the political will of both sides to promote the development of EU-China relations. The European Parliament adheres to the one-China policy and is ready to strengthen dialogue and exchanges with China's NPC in the spirit of candor and mutual respect.

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China's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan heads to S.China Sea for trials and training, showing smooth, rapid progress: expert

Global Times

By Liang Rui Published: Apr 22, 2026 03:12 PM

China's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, has departed Shanghai for the South China Sea for routine cross-regional trials and training, following multiple earlier sea trials and in line with its planned development schedule, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy said on Tuesday. A Chinese military affairs expert told the Global Times on Wednesday that the Sichuan's first-ever cross-sea-area trial and training deployment to the South China Sea marks rapid and efficient progress, bringing its commissioning one step closer.

According to the PLA Navy's official WeChat account, the Sichuan recently departed Shanghai for relevant waters in the South China Sea to conduct research trials and training, testing the performance of multiple onboard systems and platforms.

Since its launch, the Sichuan has successfully completed several sea trials. This latest mission is a routine cross-regional test and training exercise conducted in line with the overall construction plan and is not aimed at any specific target, said the PLA Navy.

Zhang Junshe, Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that this marks Sichuan's first cross-sea-area trial and training deployment into the South China Sea, which combines scientific testing with more advanced, system-level exercises and demonstrates rapid progress.

In terms of development, the voyage can be seen as another long-range test ahead of the ship's formal commissioning. Previous sea trials were each designed to identify and resolve technical issues while refining overall performance prior to entering service. Such extended deployments also allow the crew to become more familiar with the vessel's capabilities, accelerating their ability to generate combat readiness after commissioning, Zhang said.

On November 14, 2025, the PLA Navy said that the Sichuan set off from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and sailed toward relevant sea areas for its maiden sea trial, which mainly tested and verified the reliability and stability of the ship's power, electrical, and other systems.

Zhang explained that many Chinese naval vessels today are able to achieve operational capability shortly after entering service, reflecting the increasingly rigorous and phased training process.

The expert said that operating in the South China Sea, distinct from previously tested waters, will allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the ship's performance across different maritime environments, laying the groundwork for future deployments in the region. The South China Sea's complex climate and sea conditions provide an ideal setting to evaluate the vessel's adaptability, including its propulsion and power systems, as well as helicopter operations such as takeoffs and landings. These missions also contribute to enhancing the operational and tactical proficiency of naval personnel.

Follow-on trials are likely to include integration exercises involving carrier-based aircraft, helicopters, and amphibious forces. Once all testing phases are complete, the ship is expected to be capable of entering service with combat effectiveness, Zhang said.

Zhang also mentioned that the transit from Shanghai to the South China Sea may involve passing through the Taiwan Straits. As waters under China's jurisdiction, including its territorial sea, contiguous zone, and exclusive economic zone, the Taiwan Straits represents a routine and efficient route for such voyages, the expert said.

As a new-generation amphibious assault ship of the PLA Navy, the Sichuan has a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons, featuring a dual-island superstructure and a full-length flight deck. It innovatively adopts electromagnetic catapult and arrestment technologies, and can carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, amphibious equipment and other assets, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported in November 2025.

Zhang said that the construction speed of the Sichuan is considered fast, underscoring China's growing sophistication and maturity in building large naval vessels.

Although the Type 076 is primarily designed for amphibious landing missions, it differs from conventional amphibious assault ships. Equipped with an electromagnetic catapult, it can operate fixed-wing aircraft, including the J-35 stealth fighter, giving it capabilities similar to those of a light aircraft carrier. This also points to the platform's broader strategic significance, Zhang added.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on April 22, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 22, 2026 18:01

Global Times: It is reported that, one day after making ritual offerings to the Yasukuni war shrine, Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi made a monetary offering to the shrine today. Minoru Kiuchi, Japan's Economic Growth Strategy Minister, Haruko Arimura, head of the Liberal Democratic Party's General Council, and several other cabinet members visited the shrine. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: We've made China's serious position clear yesterday. Japan's negative moves related to the Yasukuni war shrine constitute a blatant provocation against international justice and an affront to human conscience. China is strongly indignant and severely condemns it.

During World War II, Japanese militarists committed innumerable crimes, inflicting immense suffering on Asian countries including China, and the rest of the world. The Yasukuni war shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarists' war of aggression. It is in fact a shrine for war criminals, as it honors convicted Class-A war criminals responsible for the war of aggression in WWII, including Hideki Tojo, No.1 war criminal and warmonger; Kenji Doihara, major culprit of aggression against China; Iwane Matsui, top perpetrator of the Nanjing Massacre; Osami Nagano, order-giver of the Pearl Harbor attack; and Kuniaki Koiso, mass murderer on the Korean Peninsula. They are all major war criminals responsible for atrocities against the people in Asia and the rest of the world.

The nature of the issue concerning the Yasukuni war shrine is whether Japan is able to rightly perceive and deeply reflect on its history of militarist aggression, and whether it can learn lessons from history and avoid a repeat of that part of history. This bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations, on Japan's credibility as a nation, and on the postwar international order as well as peace and justice in the world. The negative moves concerning the Yasukuni war shrine show that Japan, in total disregard of international concerns and just voices from both inside Japan and the world, has all along refused to acknowledge its history of aggression during WWII, attempted to change the verdict on its war of aggression and the Class-A war criminals, and even gone further to challenge the judgment of the Tokyo trials and postwar international order. Lately there has been a marked increase in the Japanese government's negative moves and reckless provocative acts on issues concerning China's Taiwan region and the history of WWII as well as military and security issues. Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan have had a grave impact on China-Japan relations. In the face of strong criticism and opposition from China as well as at home and abroad, some Japanese politicians and right-wing forces chose to go down the wrong path, rather than reflect on and correct their wrongdoings. The Chinese people, people in other countries that suffered under Japanese aggression, and all peace-loving forces for justice in the world will never allow this.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tokyo trials. The trials found Japanese militarism and militarists guilty of launching and executing the war of aggression and related crimes, thus upholding historical truth, international justice and human dignity. Today, 80 years later, Japanese neo-militarism is rearing its ugly head and gaining strength, threatening to cast a shadow on world peace and security. The international community must respond resolutely to prevent any possible resurgence of Japanese militarism.

China Daily: April 26 marks the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day and China's National IP Publicity Week was launched on Monday. Recent years have witnessed breakthroughs in China's emerging areas, such as AI, quantum technology and crewed space programs. "Innovated in China" is becoming even more well-known than "made in China." That said, individual countries still try to accuse China of infringing on IP rights and "stealing" cutting-edge technologies in critical sectors and have rolled out bans on China. Can I have your comment on that?

Guo Jiakun: To protect intellectual property rights (IPR) is to protect innovation and enable high-quality development. China is one of the world's leading countries in the area of IP and has been the top filer of international patent applications for years. China is committed to protecting IPR. We've established 81 national-level IPR protection centers, 50 fast IPR protection service centers and 99 overseas IPR dispute response guidance platforms, providing more satisfying IPR protection services for the society. More and more transnational corporations have set up their R&D centers in China and the number of valid invention patents applied in China has increased year by year. China is not only the world's factory but is also becoming the world's innovation lab. The allegations of intellectual property theft by China are nothing but baseless narratives.

China's development is the result of its own dedication and effort as well as international cooperation that delivers mutual benefits. China will stay committed to the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the principle of openness, inclusiveness, balance and benefits for all, boost IPR international cooperation and advance a fairer and more just global governance system on IP.

AFP: The U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday extended the ceasefire with Iran. First, what's your reaction? And second, did Chinese diplomacy play a role in extending the ceasefire?

Guo Jiakun: The current situation in the region is at a critical stage of whether the conflict can end. The pressing priority remains to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting. China supports relevant parties in continuing the political and diplomatic effort to resolve disputes with the aim of realizing a full and lasting ceasefire and keeping the Middle East and Gulf region peaceful and stable. China stands ready to act in the spirit of the four-point proposition put forward by President Xi Jinping and work with the international community to play an active and constructive role to this end.

Reuters: Taiwan said Lai Ching-te had to cancel his visit to Eswatini, as three African countries denied his overflight access. Taiwan said the countries Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar were under economic coercion from China to do so. What is China's response to that? Did China reach out to those countries about the airspace access? And did China reach out to other African countries too?

Guo Jiakun: All African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with China. These 53 countries together with the African Union have adopted the Beijing Declaration at the 2024 FOCAC Summit. They have reiterated on many occasions that they firmly uphold the one-China principle, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and they firmly support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. China highly commends relevant countries' commitment to the one-China principle which is fully consistent with international law and basic norms governing international relations. It's very clear that there's no longer a so-called "ROC president" in the world anymore. Anyone who wears that false title is acting against history and will only invite disgrace upon themselves. The one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, and to uphold it is the right thing to do. No one can ever stop the eventual reunification of China. The separatist attempts aimed at "Taiwan independence" are just futile and doomed to fail.

Reuters: U.S. President Trump said in an interview that the Iranian ship the U.S. intercepted might have had a "gift from China." And he said that he thought he "had an understanding" with China. What is China's comment to this? What was on the Iranian-flagged vessel that was traveling from China?

Guo Jiakun: China has made clear its position more than once. Let me reiterate that as a responsible major country, China has always been a role model in performing its due international obligations.

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GT on the spot: Qingzhou mine countermeasures ship opens to public for first time at anniversary event, showcasing PLA Navy's low-profile but vital force

Global Times

By Guo Yuandan Published: Apr 23, 2026 12:05 PM

Marking the 77th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Thursday, the PLA Navy held open-ship events in more than a dozen cities nationwide, with over 40 active-duty vessels opened to the public. Several of them were opened to the public for the first time. Among them, the Type 081 mine countermeasures ship, the Qingzhou, which made its debut in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, drew particular attention. Unlike aircraft carriers or large destroyers, mine countermeasures ships rarely appear in the public eye. Curious to learn more, the Global Times reporter stepped aboard the Qingzhou to explore the spirit behind this warship.

Moored in the naval harbor and dwarfed by nearby destroyers and frigates of several thousand tons, the Qingzhou appeared almost "compact." With a full-load displacement of under 1,000 tons and a hull measuring only a few dozen meters, it lacks the imposing presence of larger vessels, yet exudes the quiet resilience of a "combat engineer at sea."

"We are essentially a team of maritime engineers," said Hong Jinyu, an officer aboard the ship. Naval mines  low-cost, easy to deploy, and difficult to clear  remain a critical threat in modern naval warfare, and mine countermeasures ships exist specifically to counter them.

"In wartime, we clear safe passages through mined waters for core combat ships such as aircraft carriers and large destroyers. After conflicts, we are responsible for thoroughly removing enemy mines. Just as landmine clearance protects civilians on land, mine countermeasures at sea ensure safe navigation and operations," Hong said.

Unlike other combat vessels, the Qingzhou's stern features neither a flight deck nor missile launchers. Instead, it resembles a floating workshop, equipped with deck cranes and multiple mooring posts used to deploy and retrieve mine countermeasure equipment.

On board, Hong demonstrated the ship's specialized tools with ease, explaining how different systems work  some use magnetic or acoustic signals to trigger mines, while others employ underwater cables to cut the mooring lines of anchored mines. The ship's forward deck is fitted with a manually operated naval gun, capable of engaging close-range targets, conducting patrol, fishery protection, and escort missions, and even destroying floating mines.

"Small, rolling, and cramped" are defining characteristics of a mine countermeasures ship. Compared with the spacious corridors of larger destroyers and frigates, the Qingzhou's interior passageways are narrow, two people must turn sideways to pass each other, and living quarters are correspondingly compact.

In addition, with a displacement of only a few hundred tons, mine countermeasures ships are less stable in rough seas. "In strong winds and waves, the ship can roll more than 30 degrees. It's extremely rough, and seasickness is common," Hong said. During voyages, compartments are sealed with limited ventilation, further increasing the challenges faced by the crew during deployments.

The reporter also sensed Hong's strong professional dedication and passion for mine countermeasure operations. He closely follows developments in both domestic and international mine-clearing technologies, noting trends toward unmanned and intelligent systems.

"For a long time to come, mine countermeasures ships will remain an important component of the PLA Navy," Hong told the Global Times. "We will continue to adapt to evolving operational models as technology advances."

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China, Cambodia hold 1st meeting between foreign, defense ministers under "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source Xinhuanet

EditorLin Congyi

Time2026-04-23 08:39:07

PHNOM PENH, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism was held here in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Wednesday, aiming at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun co-chaired the meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

The two sides exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations, cooperation on political and defense security issues, and international and regional situations, reaching a broad consensus.

Wang said China is willing to work with Cambodia to develop the mechanism into a strategic platform for enhancing political and defense security cooperation, a key instrument for cementing mutual assistance and solidarity between China and Cambodia, and to make new contributions to building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

He noted that China supports Cambodia and Thailand in implementing the consensus reached at the China-Cambodia-Thailand Fuxian Meeting, making good use of existing bilateral mechanisms, strengthening dialogue, rebuilding mutual trust, and improving relations.

China is willing to provide platforms for more comprehensive and effective communication between Cambodia and Thailand, Wang added.

Noting that China will continue to support Cambodia in accelerating development and revitalization, and its efforts to improve people's livelihoods, Wang said that China is willing to continue providing humanitarian support for Cambodian border residents' resettlement and other fields, and to advance poverty reduction demonstration cooperation projects.

He said China is willing to deepen cooperation with Cambodia within the framework of the four major global initiatives proposed by China, build an Asian security model featuring shared security, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and dialogue and consultation, and promote the development of the global governance system in a more just and equitable direction.

During the meeting, Dong said China is willing to work with Cambodia to deepen and strengthen mutual trust in military security.

Meanwhile, Sokhonn said that China is Cambodia's most trusted friend and expressed his gratitude for China's comprehensive support.

He reiterated that Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports all efforts made by China to achieve national reunification.

Seiha said that Cambodia is willing to actively explore new avenues for cooperation and promote greater development of Cambodia-China relations.

In the meeting, both sides agreed to deepen law enforcement and defense cooperation, jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, and safeguard their respective cybersecurity.

They also underscored supporting resolving regional disputes through dialogue and negotiation, jointly opposing unilateral bullying and power politics, and upholding global free trade and international fairness and justice.

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A united Europe as a guarantee for the future

Germany - Federal Government

Policy statement by the Federal Chancellor ahead of the European Council

In his policy statement to the European Council, Federal Chancellor Merz appealed for a consistent reduction in bureaucracy and for further free trade agreements to be concluded. The war in Ukraine and the Iran-Middle East conflict were also discussed.

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

In his policy statement to the European Council, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the European-Commission to make widespread reductions in the regulations. The Commission must clarify where laws could be simplified and where overregulation could be abolished entirely. Competitiveness will be the central theme of the Brussels summit. At the same time, the Chancellor called for more speed in EU-free trade agreements.

When it comes to foreign policy, the pressure on Russia must remain high - in order to get a just peace for Ukraine. Federal Chancellor Merz insisted on European participation in possible peace negotiations. Merz rejected Germany's military involvement in the US and Israeli operations against Iran. However, Germany would not close itself off to a "debate about free shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, for example, once the war has ended".

The Federal Chancellor spoke about issues including ...

... on Europe as a guarantor of the future

Germany stands in a world increasingly characterised by great powers, in which external players are restricting the scope for action. Under these conditions, "a united Europe is the most important guarantee" for our own future, said the Federal Chancellor. Only together would EU-States have the necessary power potential to safeguard rules, fairness and stability worldwide. Merz warned that Europe must define its interests more clearly and "stop selling itself short".

... on competition, trade and cutting red tape in Europe

For Chancellor Merz, Europe's competitiveness is the focus of the upcoming EU Council. The aim is to push forward an "ambitious European competitiveness agenda". The plan is to strengthen the single market, for example through standardised company law, a capital market union and a systematic reduction in bureaucracy. The Federal Government is also focusing on a more active trade policy to strengthen Europe's strategic independence - with new free trade agreements, closer partnerships and more stable economic relations.

... on peace in Ukraine

The US and Europe must "join forces" to work towards a just peace in Ukraine, the Federal Chancellor demanded. He reminded the audience that Ukraine was prepared to negotiate, while Russia was systematically undermining peace efforts and continuing to attack civilian infrastructure. Pressure on Moscow must therefore be increased, for example through a 20th EU-sanctions package and the disbursement of the agreed 90-billion-euro- loan to Ukraine. Merz criticised the blockade of an EU-member state. Europe must be involved in future peace negotiations.

... on the Iran-Middle East conflict

"For years and decades" Iran has "covered the world with terror", said the Chancellor. Germany shares Israel and the USA's goal that Iran should no longer pose a threat in future. At the same time, Merz criticised the fact that there is "still no credible concept" for the current military operation. As long as the war continues, Germany will not take part in it, the Chancellor declared. "This does not specifically rule out the possibility of using diplomatic means to bring the war to a rapid end," said Merz. Europe has a strong interest in this; an escalation or collapse of the Iranian state would have massive consequences for security, energy supply and migration.

... on freedom and room for manoeuvre

Federal Chancellor Merz reminded the audience how important peace, freedom and democracy are today. Many people have the feeling that room for manoeuvre is being lost - due to geopolitical upheaval, a backlog of reforms, rising costs, economic stagnation and too much bureaucracy. The Federal Government wants to regain these freedoms, not for the State, but for its citizens and companies. To this end, it is focusing on international partnerships, economic reforms, digitalisation, modernisation of social systems, and measures to strengthen security.

... on the actions of the Federal Government

With regard to developments on the energy markets, Germany intervenes where it has national room for manoeuvre - for example by releasing oil reserves and exercising greater control over petrol station prices. The Chancellor also referred to the Federal Government's renewal programme, which has initiated a reduction in bureaucracy, state modernisation, a high-tech-agenda and a turnaround in its migration policy. He also emphasised that, for the first time in years, Germany had recorded a positive investment balance, although what matters now is "our will to shape the future" and fundamental reforms. The Federal Government wants to use "strength and creativity" to ensure that Germany and Europe emerge stronger from this time of upheaval.

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Strength and sovereignty for Europe

Germany - Federal Government

Press conference of the Federal Chancellor after the European Council

Following the European Council, Federal Chancellor Merz praised the joint decisions on competitiveness and the reduction of bureaucracy. Other topics in Brussels were: energy prices, the situation in the Middle East and further support for Ukraine.

Transcript of press conference

Thursday, 19 March 2026

"Europe will only be able to assert itself in this world if it becomes economically strong and capable of defending itself." This was emphasised by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the press conference following the European Council in Brussels.

He praised the decisions taken to improve competitiveness, strengthen the internal market and reduce bureaucracy. At the same time, he criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's continued blocking of further support for Ukraine from the European Union.

The most important points in brief:

Competitiveness: Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised that Europe's competitiveness was of central importance in the face of global challenges such as the trade conflict with the USA, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and high energy costs. Europe, he said, could "only assert itself if it becomes economically strong and capable of defending itself".

Energy prices: Another focus of the debates was the development of fuel prices. In this context, Chancellor Merz warned against interfering in the ETS emissions trading system, which he said had been in place for 20 years and was a "market-based and technology-independent system". He went on to say that measures for particularly affected member states needed to remain tailored, targeted and temporary. According to the Federal Chancellor, the planned alterations up to 2026 were merely readjustments.

Middle East: The European Council also addressed the situation in the Middle East. Federal Chancellor Merz referred to the joint declaration with several partner states condemning the "unjustifiable Iranian attacks on civilian targets" in the Gulf region. He said that the goal now needed to be a quick ceasefire and the start of a new order of peace, the central element of which was the security of Israel and the Gulf states.

Support for Ukraine: Finally, the European Council also discussed the 90-billion-euro- loan for Ukraine. This funding had already been unanimously approved in December of last year - including by Hungary. "Orban has destroyed this consensus. He is thus violating one of the fundamental principles of our European co-operation". According to Chancellor Merz, he is harming the EU's ability to act.

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Raksha Mantri & his German counterpart hold bilateral talks in Berlin to bolster strategic defence partnership

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

India and Germany ink Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap & Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training

Terrorism in all its forms & manifestations must be condemned, unequivocally, without exception or justification: Shri Rajnath Singh

Posted On: 22 APR 2026 6:08PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with Germany's Federal Minister of Defence Mr Boris Pistorius in Berlin on April 22, 2026 to further bolster the strategic defence partnership with the European nation. The two Ministers discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues, including priority areas for co-development & co-production of defence equipment, especially in the field of niche technologies. They also reaffirmed the commitment to enhance military-to-military cooperation as a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership.

The Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training were inked and exchanged during the meeting. Raksha Mantri termed his visit to Germany as a symbol of deep friendship, synergy and trust. The partnership has witnessed considerable momentum in defence cooperation over the last few years, especially after Mr Boris Pistorius assumed the office of the Defence Minister of Germany.

Shri Rajnath Singh brought out that the recent India-EU Security & Defence Partnership marks a significant step in deepening the collective engagement. Both Ministers agreed to leverage this framework, both bilaterally and in the wider European context for tangible outcomes that will strengthen regional stability, enhance joint capabilities, and reinforce the enduring Indo-German strategic alignment.

Raksha Mantri also underlined that in times of global uncertainties, India and Germany have provided much required stability and strength to the global economy. On the issue of terrorism, he stated that the menace in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned, unequivocally, without exception or justification.

The German Defence Minister appreciated the institutionalisation of service level staff talks and future bilateral military exercises. Raksha Mantri said that India is looking forward to the German Air Force's participation in the next edition of Ex-TARANG SHAKTI which will be held in India in September/October this year.

Prior to the meeting, Shri Rajnath Singh was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival at the German Ministry of Defence.

Earlier, Raksha Mantri placed a wreath at Bundeswehr Memorial as a mark of respect. It is the central memorial for the Bundeswehr's personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

India & Germany have completed 25 years of Strategic Partnership and are commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026. On the bilateral front, the relationship today is truly multi-faceted. Apart from Defence, it covers a wide range of areas which include trade and investment, technology and innovation, development cooperation, green energy, higher education, sustainable solutions, culture and people-to-people ties. It demonstrates the depth and expanse as well as the potential & promise of a partnership.

*****

VK/Savvy

(Release ID: 2254600)

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For stability in the Middle East

Germany - Federal Government

Press statement by the Chancellor at the conference on securing the Strait of Hormuz

Germany is prepared to make a contribution to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have come to an end. This is what Chancellor Merz emphasised at a meeting in Paris. The Federal Government wants to help bring about a lasting end to the war.

Transcript of press conference

Friday, 17 April 2026

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz with numerous heads of state and government in Paris. At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he took part in a conference there with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni  and spoke afterwards of their broad consensus.

"We speak with one voice  for stability in the Middle East and a secure energy supply in Europe," said the Chancellor on X. The opening of the Strait of Hormuz announced by Iran is "good news" and must be take place in full compliance with international maritime law and without imposing any restrictions.

The most important points in brief:

Efforts for peace: " We want to help bring about a lasting end to this war as quickly as possible," emphasised the Chancellor. The message is: Iran must end its nuclear programme. It must stop attacking Israel and the Gulf states and reopen the Strait of Hormuz reliably, permanently and without payments for freedom of navigation.

We want to help bring about a lasting end to this war as quickly as possible," emphasised the Chancellor. The message is: Iran must end its nuclear programme. It must stop attacking Israel and the Gulf states and reopen the Strait of Hormuz reliably, permanently and without payments for freedom of navigation. Securing the Strait of Hormuz: the Federal Chancellor emphasised that Germany was prepared to make a contribution to securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. "Once hostilities have ended, this may include deploying the Federal Armed Forces as part of an international operation, as soon as there is a sound legal basis for doing so." From the Federal Government's perspective, such involvement could consist of mine clearance and maritime reconnaissance. "We can do that," said the Chancellor in Paris.

the Federal Chancellor emphasised that Germany was prepared to make a contribution to securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. "Once hostilities have ended, this may include deploying the Federal Armed Forces as part of an international operation, as soon as there is a sound legal basis for doing so." From the Federal Government's perspective, such involvement could consist of mine clearance and maritime reconnaissance. "We can do that," said the Chancellor in Paris. Situation in Lebanon: the Federal Government has welcomed the start of direct peace talks between Israel and Lebanon. "This is a historic opportunity that these two countries now have in their neighbourhood," said Merz.

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An opportunity for peace in the Middle East

Germany - Federal Government

Current developments in the Middle East

Germany has a fundamental interest in establishing peace in the Middle East. As Federal Chancellor Merz points out: "The stability of the region as well as the development of the global economy and our own economy are dependent on it".

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Germany remains committed to peace and security in the region. "We have seen the first glimmer of hope at diplomatic level", said Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz , commenting on the 14-day ceasefire agreed by the USA and Iran and the negotiations in Pakistan. He said that the Federal Government was grateful to Pakistan for negotiating this important agreement, adding that Germany was prepared to accept responsibility and to secure peace.

At the same time, after the talks in Islamabad were temporarily halted, the Federal Chancellor pointed out that it would be a lengthy process. "We are doing everything in our power to bring about an end to this war. That goes for the foreign minister but also for me personally. In so far as we are able to exert an influence, including together with our European partners, we intend to do so", he said after a meeting of the governing coalition on 13 April.

Securing a ceasefire on all sides

A lasting end to the war can only be achieved through diplomacy, Merz affirmed, noting that Germany supports the efforts being made and remains in close contact with the USA and its other partners.

Moreover, Germany has joined its European and international partners as well as the European Commission and the European Council in issuing a joint statement "strongly urging rapid progress towards a substantive negotiated solution" - to protect the civilian population in Iran, ensure security in the region and also avert a severe global energy crisis. "We call on all parties to implement the ceasefire", the statement reads.

Free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz to free shipping reliably, permanently and without payments. Federal Chancellor Merz called for this in Paris on 17 April. At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he took part in a conference there , together with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on securing shipping in the Strait of Hormuz .

"Germany is prepared to make a contribution to securing free navigation," said the Chancellor. After the end of the hostilities, this could include a deployment of the Bundeswehr as part of an international operation as soon as there is a secure legal basis for it, such as in the form of a UN Security Council resolution.

In a press statement on 9 April Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised: "Only when Hormuz is free again will the enormous distortions on the energy markets, from which Germany and the whole world are suffering massively, gradually subside".

The Iranian people should also be able to take their destiny into their own hands

For years and decades, according to Merz, the Iranian regime has spread terror across the world and destabilised its neighbourhood. Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised this most recently in his policy statement on 18 March : "This regime bears responsibility for the current regional crisis."

The Federal Government, he said, shares with Israel and the United States the objective that Iran should no longer be able to pose a threat in the future, either to Israel or to neighbouring countries in the region. The Chancellor expressed his wish for the Iranian people "to be able to take their destiny into their own hands and to bring about a legitimate government through democratic elections". In his policy statement, the Federal Chancellor also did not rule out "that, after the end of the hostilities, we will contribute to creating a stable peace framework in the region".

Situation in Lebanon

The Federal Government welcomes the start of direct peace talks between Israel and Lebanon. "This is a historic opportunity that these two countries now have in their neighbourhood," said the Federal Chancellor at the conference in Paris. It must be clear: Hezbollah must lay down its arms and stop attacking Israel. According to Merz, Israel must also make a contribution to lasting peace. He thanked the USA for its efforts in bringing about a ceasefire.

The Federal Government has strongly condemned the fact that Hezbollah has joined the fight against Israel on the side of Iran. Together with Canada, France, Italy and Great Britain, the Federal Government has also expressed its concern in a joint statement on Lebanon .

Federal Government wants transatlantic partnership

In the Federal Chancellor's policy statement, he also emphasised that he did not want this war to become a burden on the transatlantic partnership. "We want this partnership and we need it." The Federal Government is talking with Washington at all levels. "We are looking for transatlantic alignment." Chancellor Merz has always made one thing clear: "we share important goals with the US, but we must not and will not shy away from telling our partners honestly where we see things differently and where we have other interests. A partnership like ours has to be able to withstand that; otherwise it's not a partnership."

Germany's commitment

Germany is not idle, said the Chancellor in a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on 16 March. On the contrary: Germany will maintain its presence on the eastern and northern flanks of NATO. "We are doing that, we are doing it with full conviction and we are also following up," said Federal Chancellor Merz. There are currently 1,600 German soldiers taking part in the NATO Cold Response exercises in the far north.

This also takes into account the strategic insight that the wars in Iran and Ukraine are linked. "Russia will use every opportunity to test NATO and weaken Ukraine," said the Chancellor.

Preventing uncontrolled migration movements

In view of the situation in the Middle East, the EU is prepared to "fully mobilise its diplomatic, legal, operational and financial instruments to prevent uncontrolled migration flows into the EU and to safeguard security in Europe", according to the European Council conclusions of 19 March. The security and control of the EU's external borders will be further strengthened. The European Council emphasises the importance of working with partners in the region to ensure they receive the help and support they need.

Impact on the economy

The Federal Government is also working to minimise the impact of the war on the economy. From now on, it will only be possible to increase fuel prices once a day . In addition, oil reserves were released within the framework of the International Energy Agency. "We will now also try to stabilise supply on the market and we will keep a close eye on price developments," said the Chancellor after the European Council.

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Trump says US-Iran talks 'possible' within 36-72 hours

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

22.04.2026 [19:59]

Baku, April 22, AZERTAC

President Donald Trump indicated Wednesday that a second round of US-Iran negotiations could take place within the next "36 to 72 hours," as Pakistan continues mediating between the two sides, according to Anadolu Agency.

Trump confirmed the "possibility" to the New York Post, while Pakistani sources said the timeframe was based on an ongoing assessment of Islamabad's diplomatic engagement with Tehran.

Iranian authorities have yet to confirm any scheduled discussions.

Trump is prepared to give Iran another three to five days of ceasefire to allow its factions to align behind a coherent counter-offer, unnamed US officials told Axios, with one source briefed on the matter warning the extension would not be "open-ended." rump had previously postponed the ceasefire deadline several times.

US negotiators are concerned there may be no one in Tehran with the authority to approve a deal, Axios reported.

The update comes after Trump announced he would hold off on further action until Tehran's divided leadership could present a unified position at the table.

Pakistani sources told The Post that a ceasefire between the two sides remains intact despite heightened rhetoric, with no military escalation by either side.

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U.S. announces to extend ceasefire, but peace talks stall as Iran reportedly decides to sit out

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:05, April 22, 2026

ISLAMABAD, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The process of the expected second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran seems stalled as Iran reportedly decided not to take part, accusing the United States of violating the ceasefire. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced to extend the ceasefire on some conditions.

The U.S. president said he will "extend the ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other." The current two-week truce with Iran is set to expire on Wednesday night, according to him.

However, the U.S. military will continue the blockade against Iran and "remain ready and able," Trump said, although Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, told him that the blockade of Iranian ports would remain a major obstacle to meaningful diplomatic progress.

The president said on Monday that it was "highly unlikely" for him to extend the truce, and on Tuesday morning, he told U.S. media that he doesn't want to do that, expecting the United States to "end up with a great deal" with Iran while threatening to bomb Iran again if no deal is reached.

On Tuesday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said that Tehran had decided not to take part in the second round of talks with the United States in Pakistan, and that the decision was "definitive."

It added that the Pakistani mediator has been informed of Iran's decision, which has been made aiming to completely protect the Iranian people's rights.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday on X that the United States violated the ceasefire by starting a naval blockade of Iran's ports.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state TV late Tuesday that Iran has not yet decided whether to join fresh peace talks since it was upset about what he called mixed messages from Washington.

"It is not out of indecisiveness, it is because we are facing contradictory messages and behaviors, and unacceptable actions from the American counterpart," Beghaei said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance's trip to Pakistan has been put on hold as he was at the White House for meetings on Tuesday, along with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, multiple media outlets reported.

According to media reports, ss U.S. forces have intercepted and taken custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday, and Iran has not yet announced its decision to send a negotiating team for talks. The prospect of an expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks remains unclear.

Without an Iranian response, the diplomatic process is in effect paused, though Vance's trip has not been canceled, according to a report from The New York Times, citing U.S. officials.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that he hopes the United States and Iran will continue to observe the ceasefire and conclude a comprehensive peace deal for a permanent end to the conflict.

In a statement posted on social media, he thanked Trump for accepting a request to extend the ceasefire "to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course."

Sharif said Pakistan would continue its efforts toward a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

Pakistan, the main mediator between the two sides, said late Tuesday it is still awaiting Iran's formal confirmation of its delegation for the Islamabad peace talks.

The country's Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a social media post late Tuesday that Pakistan remains in constant contact with Tehran and continues to pursue diplomacy and dialogue. He said Iran's decision to attend the talks before the two-week ceasefire deadline is critical.

He added that Pakistan has made sincere efforts to persuade the Iranian leadership to join the second round of talks, and these efforts continue.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday reiterated the need for engagement between the United States and Iran, urging both sides to give dialogue and diplomacy a chance.

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US officials say Iran retains significant military capability despite strikes

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 10:59 PM

Iran continues to maintain substantial military capabilities, despite weeks of US and Israeli strikes, according to multiple US officials familiar with intelligence assessments.

The officials told CBS News in a report published on Tuesday that public statements by the White House and the US Department of War might understate the extent of Irans remaining military strength following the aggression.

According to three officials, about half of Irans stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems remained intact at the start of a ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on April 7.

Officials also said roughly 60 percent of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was still in existence, including fast-attack speed boats.

Observers commenting on the report cited Iran's defiance in the face of the pressure tactics, which have been applied by the United States to try to force the Islamic Republic to sumbit to Washington's demands, as a case in point concerning Tehran's confidence in its defensive and retaliatory capability.

In line with sustained rejection of, what Iran has denounced as, the US's maximalist demands, the Islamic Republic recently announced closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to all traffic, saying it would not reopen the waterway unless Washington lifted an unlawful naval blockade it has imposed on the country.

On Wednesday, and amid the White House's continued insistence on narratives portraying the US's "success" in the aggression, the IRGC's Navy said it had intercepted and transferred to Iranian territorial waters two vessels for having committed violations in the Strait of Hormuz. It identified the vessels as the MSC-Francesca, which it said belongs to the Israeli regime, and the Epaminodes.

The CBS News report also cited the officials as saying that around two-thirds of Irans air force was still believed to be operational, depite claims that the aggression struck "thousands of targets," including alleged storage and production facilities.

A written statement submitted by the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency ahead of a House Armed Services Committee hearing also underscored that Iran retains the ability to inflict damage.

"Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs that can threaten US and partner forces throughout the region," Marine Lt. Gen. James Adams wrote.

Contrast with official US statements

However, senior US officials have publicly described the aggression, known as the so-called Operation Epic Fury, in far more definitive terms.

"We've taken out their navy, we've taken out their air force," Trump said on Tuesday.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth offered an even stronger assessment at a Department of War briefing on April 8, saying, "Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory."

He added, "By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come."

Reacting to such discourse, Iran's highest operational command unit said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces enjoyed the upper hand in the face of the adversaries, and, therefore, would not let Trump misrepresent the conditions governing the battlefield.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said, "Holding the upper hand, the Armed Forces do not allow the lying and delusional president of the United States to exploit the situation or fabricate false narratives about conditions on the ground, particularly regarding the management and control of the Strait of Hormuz, during periods of silence in military confrontation."

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April 22: Iran tightens Strait of Hormuz control, intercepts hostile vessels, reinforces deterrence

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 10:25 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

Iran consolidated its control over the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy intercepted two hostile vessels linked to the Israeli regime and transferred them into Iranian territorial waters.

Iranian officials maintained that instability in the waterway stems directly from US violations and its continued naval blockade, even as maritime data showed dozens of tankers successfully bypassing American restrictions.

President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that while Iran remains open to dialogue, Washingtons repeated breaches of commitments and coercive tactics continue to obstruct meaningful negotiations.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stressed that Tehran will not reopen the Strait under pressure, as military commanders warned against miscalculation and signalled readiness to respond decisively to any escalation.

Backed by strong domestic support and sustained operational resilience, Iran projected a position of control both at sea and in the broader diplomatic standoff.

Key developments on day 54 of the war, the fifteenth day of the ceasefire:

The IRGC Navy said it intercepted two vessels and transferred them to Iranian territorial waters for violating the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC said the vessels MSC Francesca and Epaminodes belong to the Israeli regime.

In an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) poll, the vast majority of Iranians rejected US curbs on missiles and uranium, and supported Irans control of the Strait of Hormuz.

President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran welcomed dialogue and agreement, but stated that Washingtons constant breach of commitments, naval blockade and military threats remain the main obstacles to genuine negotiations.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the country will not open the Strait of Hormuz under threat from the United States.

In a statement, the IRGC announced its readiness to create shocking events far beyond the comprehension and calculation of the US-Israeli enemy on the battlefield in the event of fresh aggression.

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the prevailing conditions in the Strait of Hormuz are a direct consequence of US violations of international law.

The commander of the Ground Force of the Iranian Army, Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, warned enemies against miscalculating the morale and combat capabilities of Iranian armed forces.

Data from Vortexa, a major ship-tracking company, showed that dozens of oil tankers, including those carrying Iranian crude oil, have managed to bypass the so-called naval blockade imposed by the US since it began earlier this month.

The Pentagon has been manipulating the human toll of its war against Iran in a calculated move, a US government official described as a casualty cover-up, according to a report by the Intercept.

The Iranian nation still shows an acceptable and stable level of social endurance and cohesion in the face of pressure from the war conditions caused by the recent US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic, a nationwide survey revealed.

The US imposed new illegal sanctions on Irans defence industry, as the European Union is also moving to expand its own measures.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the war is starting to weaken Europe, and if we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritises peace, the damage... will be far greater.

Trump said a potential currency swap with the United Arab Emirates is under consideration.

Oil prices jumped on Wednesday, while stocks were mixed as investors waited to see if peace talks would resume.

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Aggressors fully responsible for any instability affecting Strait of Hormuz: Iran FM

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 9:14 PM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the aggressors are fully responsible for any instability affecting the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The top diplomat made the remarks in a meeting with Chung Byung-ha, the visiting special envoy of the South Korean foreign ministry, in Tehran on Wednesday.

Araghchi referred to the military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran as the cause of the current insecurity in the Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz.

"Iran, as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, has adopted measures in accordance with international law and its domestic regulations to safeguard Irans security and national interests against the US's and the Zionist regime's aggression and threats," he stated.

Iran closed the waterway to the enemies and their allies following the launch of the aggression on February 28.

The Islamic Republic announced the reopening of the chokehold to commercial traffic following the announcement of a ceasefire by US President Donald Trump on April 7.

The country, however, imposed a total closure on the waterway on April 18 after Trump said the US was continuing an unlawful blockade it had imposed on Iran in continuation of unlawful aggression towards the country.

"Naturally, responsibility for the consequences arising from this situation lies with the aggressing parties," Araghchi added.

He, meanwhile, stressed the necessity of all countries adopting a clear and firm position in condemning the aggression and the brutal crimes committed by the aggressors against the Iranian people.

Concluding his remarks, the foreign minister emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between Iran and South Korea and expressed the Islamic Republics readiness to cooperate in this regard.

For his part, the South Korean official voiced hope that, through the continuation of diplomacy, the aggression would face a conclusive end and peace and stability would be established in the region.

He also conveyed the greetings of the country's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to his Iranian counterpart, describing enhancement of relations with the Islamic Republic as very important.

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Violations, threats, blockade main obstacle to genuine talks: President Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 7:06 PM

The Islamic Republic of Iran has invariably welcomed dialogue and agreement, but Washingtons constant breach of commitments, naval blockade and military threats remain the main obstacles to genuine negotiations, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday.

In a post on X, the president reiterated Tehrans openness to diplomacy while calling out Washingtons contradictory behavior.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has welcomed dialogue and agreement and continues to do so, Pezeshkian wrote.

Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiations. The world sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions, he added.

The United States and Israel launched their illegal, unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and striking military installations and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and bridges.

Since then, Iran has demonstrated its responsible approach by agreeing to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, despite having the upper hand on the battlefield after 100 waves of decisive retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4.

Despite the ceasefire, Washington keeps highlighting a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran considers it illegal under international law and a clear violation of the truce.

The United States has also threatened further military action, while its officials have issued contradictory statements about their commitment to diplomacy.

Iranian officials have said no decision has been made yet on whether to take part in a second round of negotiations in Islamabad, citing US violations of the ceasefire, including the naval blockade.

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Military aggression failed, US bullying wont open Strait of Hormuz: Qalibaf

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 6:42 PM

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says the country will not open the Strait of Hormuz under bullying from the United States.

In a Wednesday post on his X account, Qalibaf said that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the Persian Gulf which is responsible for a fifth of global oil supply, will not be possible in the face of blatant violations of a ceasefire announced earlier this month to stop the US-Israeli aggression against the country.

Qalibaf, who has served as Irans top negotiator in talks with the US, made a reference to the continued US blockade of Irans trade activity in international waters and recurrent attacks by the Israeli regime on Lebanon as clear examples of ceasefire violations.

The US has been pressing Iran for a deal on its terms. A first round of Pakistan-mediated talks collapsed in Islamabad on April 12 without an agreement, days after the two-week ceasefire took effect on April 8.

Iran has refrained from committing to a second round of negotiations with the US in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, with authorities citing US excessive demands and its naval blockade of Iran as two main impediments to conclude the war.

That comes as Washington wants Iran to ease its restrictions on transit via the Strait of Hormuz without lifting its own blockade on Iranian ports, a demand Iran has rejected.

They failed to reach their objectives through military aggression, nor will they through bullying. The only solution is to accept the rights of the Iranian nation, said Qalibaf in his Farsi-language post.

The post came less than a day after US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire, saying his administration will wait for an Iranian proposal for a second round of talks in Islamabad.

Iranian authorities have yet to give any signal they will attend the talks.

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Data shows Iran bypassing US blockade despite Trumps claims of its success

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 2:39 PM

Data from a major ship tracking company shows that dozens of oil tankers have managed to bypass the so-called naval blockade of Iran by the United States since it began earlier this month.

Data by Vortexa, cited in a Wednesday report by the Financial Times, showed that at least 34 tankers, including those carrying Iranian crude oil, had bypassed the US blockade since it was imposed on April 13.

The ships included 19 tankers that exited the Persian Gulf to sail to international ports and 15 that entered the waterway from the Arabian Sea to head toward Iranian ports, the data showed.

The report said at least six of the tankers that left the Persian Gulf during the US blockade were carrying Iranian oil cargoes amounting to 10.7 million barrels and worth at least $910 million.

The FT said one of the tankers bypassing the US blockade and exiting the Persian Gulf was the Dorena, an Iranian-flagged supertanker that left Iranian waters on April 17 and had signaled its position off the southern coast of India a day later.

The tanker has been sanctioned by the US and is one of the key elements of the Iranian oil export fleet.

The data by Vortexa showed that two more US-sanctioned tankers had bypassed the blockade of Iranian ports on April 20, while several more sanctioned tankers bearing flags of other countries entered the Persian Gulf in later days.

This comes as Trump has touted his naval blockade of Iran as a tremendous success, saying the move has deprived the country of hundreds of millions of dollars in oil and trade revenues.

Iran has condemned the blockade as illegal and a violation of a fragile ceasefire, while vowing to retaliate against two ship seizures carried out by US forces in regional and international waters.

Iranian media reports on Wednesday said the countrys military forces had seized at least three ships in the Strait of Hormuz because they had violated regulations on passage.

Iran has maintained tight control over transit via the Strait since the early days of a US-Israeli aggression on the country in early March.

Iranian authorities have signaled they may ease restrictions in Hormuz if the US lifts its illegal blockade and other sanctions on the country.

The issue has become a major obstacle to diplomatic efforts to facilitate another round of mediated talks between Tehran and Washington after a first round ended in Pakistan without an agreement on April 12.

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Dont miscalculate Irans combat readiness, commander warns enemies

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 2:17 PM

The commander of the Ground Force of the Iranian Army has warned enemies against miscalculating the morale and combat capabilities of Iranian armed forces.

Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi made the remarks during an inspection of the combat readiness of Ground Force units deployed along the borders.

The combat morale of the Army Ground Force fighters in the face of any enemy aggression is very high, he said.

With this heroic spirit and the strong support of the Iranian nation for the armed forces, any enemy aggression against the countrys land borders will be met with a crushing, regretful response.

The commander assured the nation that the countrys borders are secure and calm thanks to the deployment of the armed forces.

Enemy movements are constantly monitored, Jahanshahi said.

With the vigilance of the nations devoted forces on the borders, any threat against the noble people of Iran will be dealt with decisively, he added.

The warning comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran, which began on February 28.

The illegal, unprovoked war included the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and strikes on military installations, nuclear facilities, power plants, schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.

Irans armed forces responded with 100 waves of decisive retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4 against American military bases across West Asia and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories.

A fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan is currently in place, but tensions remain high.

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Unity of Army, IRGC strategic asset for stabilizing national security: Irans Army chief

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 11:52 AM

Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army Major General Amir Hatami says unity between the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is a strategic asset for maintaining territorial integrity and stabilizing national security.

In a message on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the establishment of the IRGC on Wednesday, General Hatami described the multi-service primary force of the Iranian Armed Forces as one of the enduring legacies and a reminder of the foresight of the great founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini.

Since its establishment [on May 5, 1979], particularly during the leadership of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the IRGC has acted as a strong and impenetrable fortress against the threats and conspiracies of the enemies against our homeland, he stressed.

General Hatami also described the IRGCs proud record as being full of brilliant actions, sacrifices, dedication and significant contributions aimed at safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic Revolution as well as effective presence in various and dangerous defense and security fields.

The IRGC has so far demonstrated constant preparedness to confront hostile actions of the enemies against the Islamic Republic, he further emphasized.

The cohesion and unity among our Iranian Armed Forces, particularly the zealous Army of Iran and the powerful IRGC, along with the solid support of the Iranian nation, under the leadership of Irans Commander-in-Chief, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, guarantees the protection of Irans territorial integrity and national stability, General Hatami stressed.

The powerful role played by the IRGC during eight years of the Iran-Iraq War and the two recent imposed wars - the 12-day war back in June and the one began in late February - involving the United States and the Israeli regime demonstrated the capability, intelligence, and determination of the IRGCs forces while reaffirming the Islamic Republics defensive strength, he added.

The US and the Israeli regime launched their latest bout of unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic on February 28.

Iranian Armed Forces responded with over 10 waves of retaliatory strikes, codenamed Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles as well as drone attacks against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

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IRGC seizes Israeli ship, second vessel for violations in Strait of Hormuz

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 10:29 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says it has intercepted and transferred to Iranian territorial waters two vessels for having committed violations in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the IRGC identified the vessels as the MSC-Francesca, which it said belongs to the Israeli regime, and the Epaminodes.

The vessels, it said, were operating without authorization, committing repeated violations, tampering with navigation aid systems, and endangering maritime security in an attempt to exit the strait covertly.

"With the intelligence dominance of the forces, these vessels were identified and stopped in order to uphold the rights of the noble Iranian nation in the Strait of Hormuz," the IRGC Navy said.

It added that the vessels have now been transferred to Iranian territorial waters for inspection of their cargo and documents.

The IRGC Navy reiterated that any attempt to disrupt the implementation of laws announced by Iran for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, or any activity inconsistent with safe passage through this strategic waterway, will be continuously monitored and met with decisive and legal action against violators.

The operation came amid ongoing tensions over the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which Tehran has condemned as an act of aggression and a violation of international law.

Iran has placed special controls on the strategic waterway days after the start of the US-Israeli war on February 28, rolling out a new regulatory framework that requires all vessels to secure authorization before transiting.

A draft bill currently before parliament would codify these rules, including a ban on Israelilinked ships, mandatory clearance for vessels from hostile countries, and the imposition of transit fees.

The seizures came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire, even as he confirmed that the US Navy would maintain its maritime blockade of Iranian ports, a move Tehran considers a violation of the ceasefire.

Iran has not requested an extension of the truce and has warned that it could attempt to break the blockade by force if tensions escalate further.

The US-Israeli war of aggression has already caused severe disruption to global shipping, as the Strait, which normally carries 20 million barrels of oil per day, remains largely closed, and energy prices have soared.

The US-Israeli war began with a wave of airstrikes on February 28, including the assassination of Irans late Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded with 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles at American bases across the region and Israeli positions.

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US Lawmakers, Experts Sound Alarm On Deadly Iran-Russia Axis

By Alex Raufoglu April 22, 2026

WASHINGTON -- In a political climate where bipartisan unity is increasingly rare, a consensus is forming among US lawmakers and foreign policy heavyweights: The relationship between Moscow and Tehran has moved far beyond diplomatic convenience.

Instead, they argue, it has hardened into a "transformational" military alliance -- a deepening axis that is drastically shaping battlefields in the Middle East and Ukraine.

At a hearing of the Helsinki Commission on April 21, the rhetoric was as sharp as the intelligence reports. Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, didn't mince words, framing the geopolitical struggle as a singular, unified threat.

"The United States is not confronting just Iran, but a broader Russia-Iran axis," Wilson declared, arguing the two nations have transitioned from mere partners to a coordinated front, utilizing weapons transfers, intelligence sharing, and sanctions-evasion tactics to systematically dismantle American global leadership.

A 'Transformational' Partnership

The evolution of this bond has been rapid and, for Western observers, alarming.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described the trajectory of the relationship as shifting "from turbulent to transactional to transformational."

The catalyst for this final shift? The 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

While the partnership has roots in the post-Soviet era -- beginning with Russian arms sales and the construction of the Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran -- the war in Ukraine flipped the power dynamic. Once the junior partner, Iran has become an "indispensable enabler" for a Russian military depleted by industrial shortfalls and battlefield losses.

Ilan Berman, senior vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council, says there has been a chilling exchange of assets. Russia, he noted, has materially aided the Iranian regime in its war with the United States and Israel since the two launched air strikes on Iran on February 28.

"Russia has provided advice on how many drones to deploy per strike and at what altitudes," Berman, a board member of RFE/RL, said, noting that Iranian attack patterns now "closely resemble Russian operations," where waves of drones are used to saturate defenses before precision missiles strike.

This "operational know-how" is supplemented by upgraded Russian drone components that improve navigation and resistance to electronic jamming -- innovations honed directly against Ukrainian defenses.

The Human Cost Of Coordination

The implications of this "axis of upheaval" are not merely strategic; they are lethal to American personnel, according to Senator Tom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina.

"If Putin's responsible for one dead American service member, he might as well be responsible for 5,000," Tillis remarked, highlighting the gravity of the Kremlin's intelligence and satellite data sharing.

In a striking contrast, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, pointed to the bifurcated reality of the modern global conflict. "Russia is assisting Iran in targeting American troops, while Ukraine is helping us...defend against those attacks," he said.

Lawmakers repeatedly underscored that Ukraine is no longer just a recipient of aid, but a vital security partner providing a "defense innovation cycle" that the West is struggling to match.

When the US requested help with drone defense, Ukraine dispatched a team of experts within 24 hours.

Aaron Zelin, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, highlighted Kyiv's development of interceptor drones -- a rapid response to the very Iranian-Russian tactics now threatening the Persian Gulf.

However, the urgency felt in Kyiv isn't always mirrored in Washington. Congressman Greg Murphy, a Republican from North Carolina, voiced concerns over the long-term trajectory if Iran's capabilities continued to swell.

"Can you paint me a picture of Iran...in the next five years?" Murphy asked, pointing to a regime that "knows no boundaries when it comes to human life."

Speaking to RFE/RL, Murphy expressed a hardened stance: "We're not believing their lies anymore.... I think as hard as it is, we finally said, 'No, you cannot do this. You will endanger the entire world.'"

A Common Fight

The consensus from the hearing was clear: The era of viewing Russia as a potential partner in containing Iran is over. The two are now inextricably linked.

"The Kremlin cannot be counted on as a partner," Berman warned, urging policymakers to recognize that "success or failure on one front will inevitably shape others."

While internal politics in Washington remain divided, the threat of this authoritarian coordination has sparked a rare moment of bipartisan unity.

As the hearing concluded, the message to the administration and the public was singular: Ukraine is the front line of a much larger global struggle.

"Ukraine is the tip of the spear," Berman concluded. "Russia may have begun with Ukraine, but it won't end there."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-russia-ukraine- partnership/33737935.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US Wants 'Unified' Iranian Proposal For Ending War, No Firm Deadline For Now

By Alex Raufoglu 23:03 22.4.2026

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump wants to see a "unified" response from Tehran to US proposals for ending the US-Israeli war with Iran and has not set a "firm deadline" at this point, the White House said a day after he unilaterally extended a cease-fire that had been due to expire on April 22.

Trump is "offering a bit of flexibility" to the Iranian regime, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. She asserted there is "a lot of internal division" in Tehran.

"This is a battle between the pragmatists and the hard-liners in Iran right now, and the president wants a unified response, and so as we await that response, there's a cease-fire with the military and kinetic strikes" while economic pressure and a US naval blockade remain in place, Leavitt said.

Trump has made a "very strong proposal" for ending the war and "has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal" in response, she said, without going into detail. Earlier on April 22, Leavitt told Fox News that Iran must agree to turn its enriched uranium over to the United States as part of negotiations to end the war.

The war began with US and Israeli air strikes on Ian on February 28. After face-to-face talks in Islamabad on April 11-12 ended without an agreement, a new round was expected this week but has not materialized, with Iran never confirming it would take part and US negotiators holding off so far on traveling to Pakistan.

Leavitt's comments came after Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf repeated Tehran's accusations that the US naval blockade on Iran, which Trump imposed on April 13 and has said will stay in place until there's a deal, was a violation of the cease-fire.

In a post on X, Qalibaf said that "reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the cease-fire."

Iran has effectively shut the narrow strait, normally the conduit for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, since shortly after the war began.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=451518

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran's Qalibaf Accuses US Of 'Bullying' And Violating Cease-Fire With Blockade

19:27 22.4.2026

Iran's lead negotiator criticized the US blockade of Iranian ports amid uncertainty over the prospects for further peace talks with the United States, reiterating Tehran's claim that the restrictions are a violation of a cease-fire the countries agreed to earlier in April.

"A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world's economy," Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote in a post on X on April 22.

Qalibaf added that "reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire."

Iran's adversaries "did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying," he wrote. "The only way forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian nation."

Qalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation in talks with the United States in Islamabad earlier this month that did not produce an agreement, made no direct comment on the prospect for a second round or on US President Donald Trump's decision to extend a two-week cease-fire that was due to expire on April 22.

Iran's president, Masud Pezeshkian, echoed the statement, writing on X that "bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions."

Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, normally the conduit for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, since shortly after the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28. The United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran on April 13, and Trump has said that would remain in place until a deal to end the war is reached.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=450502

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran's Revolutionary Guards Say They Seized 2 Ships In Hormuz Strait

12:51 22.4.2026

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has seized "two offending vessels" during an alleged "secret attempt to leave" the Strait of Hormuz.

The naval arm of the IRGC said on April 22 that it had detained "two violating ships" that it claimed were attempting a "secret departure" from the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the IRGC statement, the vessels were the MSC Francesca, which it described as belonging to Israel, and the Epaminodes.

The IRGC said they were stopped on accusations that they intended to leave "without permission," while committing "repeated violations," tampering with navigational assistance systems, and endangering maritime security in an attempt to exit the strait "secretly."

The IRGC navy said the vessels had been transferred to Iran's territorial waters for inspection of their cargo and documentation.

The announcement came on a day when Iran's armed forces said they had attacked and disabled three cargo ships off the country's coast, according to state media.

The IRGC, which has closed the strait to ships and oil tankers since February 28, briefly reopened the waterway for one day after a cease-fire in the war with the United States and Israel started on April 8, but shut it again after negotiations between the sides collapsed and a naval blockade of Iranian ports began.

With reporting by dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=450448

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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EU Unveils Energy Plan Amid Iran War Shock

12:13 22.4.2026

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a strategy to address the consequences of the US-Israeli military war with Iran on European energy markets.

"The choices we make today will shape our ability to face the challenges of today and the crises of tomorrow," she said on April 22, announcing a package that included optimizing the distribution of jet fuel among EU member states.

"Our AccelerateEU strategy will bring both immediate and more structural relief measures to European citizens and businesses," von der Leyen added. "We must accelerate the shift to homegrown, clean energies. This will give us energy independence and security, and mean we are better able to weather geopolitical storms."

The effective closure of the key Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for about one-fifth of the global oil trade, has become a central issue of the conflict, putting many exporting countries in the region at risk of a crisis and sharply driving up energy prices.

A separate statement about the initiative, announced by von der Leyen and published on the same day, said the EU has spent an additional 24 billion euros ($28.2 billion) on energy imports since the first days of the war.

"Even if hostilities ceased immediately, disruptions to energy supplies from the Gulf will persist for the foreseeable future," the statement said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=450445

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran Executes Man Over Alleged Links To Mossad

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda 08:56 22.4.2026

Iran says it has hanged a man after convicting him of alleged espionage and extensive cooperation with the Israeli spy agency Mossad.

The country's judiciary said on April 22 that Mehdi Farid's death sentence was upheld after legal review under the capital charge of "corruption on earth."

Officials did not disclose when he was arrested or tried.

The judiciary's Mizan website claimed Farid had provided "sensitive information to Mossad."

It added that Farid was accused of "connecting the servers of a sensitive organization to infected files on the orders of a Mossad officer."

Human rights organizations had previously identified Farid as a former employee of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

It was also announced that, in related cases, 19 other sentences have so far been issued in Qom Province for defendants accused of "cooperation with the enemy," including prison terms and fines.

Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28, the Islamic republic has intensified the implementation of execution sentences.

In recent days, multiple reports have also emerged of daily executions carried out by Iran's judiciary.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump- khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=450410#entry-shared

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ceasefire extension offers diplomatic opening, but tensions persist in Strait of Hormuz

22 April 2026 - The United States' decision to extend a fragile ceasefire with Iran has kept a narrow window open for diplomacy, but fresh security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday underscore the volatility of the situation and the risks to global shipping and regional stability.

The UN Secretary-General welcomed the move, calling it "an important step toward de-escalation and creating critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States."

In a statement issued late on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Antonio Guterres urged all sides to "refrain from actions that could undermine the ceasefire" and to engage constructively in negotiations toward a lasting resolution.

He also expressed support for Pakistan's efforts to facilitate talks, voicing hope they could help create conditions for a "comprehensive and durable" settlement.

However, the status of those negotiations remains unclear.

Rising risks in the Strait of Hormuz

Even as diplomatic efforts continue, tensions remain high in and around the Strait of Hormuz - one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints - with reported tit-for-tat ship seizures off the Iranian coast.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors maritime safety, reported that a cargo vessel west of Iran came under fire and was forced to halt, while a container ship northeast of Oman sustained heavy damage to its bridge after being targeted by an armed vessel. In both cases, crews were reported safe.

The narrow waterway, linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, carries a significant share of the world's oil and gas supplies. Since the US-Israeli bombing of Iran began in late February, maritime traffic has dropped sharply and insurance costs have surged.

Protect seafarers

The head of the UN maritime agency warned in a statement later on Wednesday that the situation remains "extremely volatile."

"The attacks on and seizures of commercial ships are unacceptable," said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, calling for "these reckless actions to cease" and for affected ships and crews to be released.

He described the conditions faced by seafarers in the region as highly precarious, citing accounts of "constant stress of missiles overhead" and ongoing uncertainty for nearly 20,000 crew members still stranded after weeks of disruption.

"De-escalation, meaningful actions and restoring the freedom of navigation is the only way forward," he added.

Humanitarian strain in Lebanon

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, a separate 10-day ceasefire has allowed tens of thousands of displaced families to begin returning, although many homes and other infrastructure suffered damage during the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 120,000 people remain displaced in collective shelters across the country, despite a 20 per cent decline since the ceasefire began on 17 April.

Returns to many areas in southern Lebanon remain restricted due to ongoing military presence, with at least 74 localities still considered unsafe.

Peacekeeper succumbs to injuries

UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the death of another French peacekeeper who had been critically injured in an attack in southern Lebanon on Saturday.

Corporal Anicet Girardin, 31, succumbed to his wounds after his explosive ordnance disposal team came under fire while clearing a road to restore access to UN positions.

That attack also claimed the life of Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio, and wounded another peacekeeper. Initial assessments by the mission indicated the peacekeepers likely came under fire from Hezbollah militants.

He was the fifth UNIFIL peacekeeper to be killed during the current hostilities.

Mounting needs and fragile services

Humanitarian needs remain severe, with access constraints, funding shortages and continued tensions limiting the response.

Food prices have risen by six per cent since February, adding pressure on already vulnerable households. Many families are selling assets or borrowing to cope, with women and girls often bearing the brunt of the crisis.

More than 22 per cent of agricultural land has been impacted by hostilities, and over three quarters of farmers in southern Lebanon have been forced to suspend work, according to Lebanese authorities.

"Across Lebanon, women are playing a critical role in sustaining families and supporting communities through the crisis," said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza, stressing that their protection and leadership must remain central to the response.

In the southern city of Tyre, displaced women are leading community efforts to support food access, preparing thousands of daily meals through initiatives backed by UN agencies and local partners.

At the same time, the health system is under severe strain.

Six hospitals have been forced to close with 15 sustaining damage, while dozens of primary healthcare centres are no longer operational.

Since early March, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 147 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 100 deaths and more than 230 injuries among medical staff.

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Iran Accused Of Striking Kurdish Opposition Group In Iraq

12:02 22.4.2026

Drone strikes in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region wounded three members of an exiled Iranian Kurdish rebel group on April 22, according to the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), which blamed Iran.

The group said four drones targeted its bases in the Khabat district of Irbil province, causing minor injuries.

The reported attack comes during a fragile cease-fire in the US-Israeli war against Iran, which took effect on April 8.

Tehran has repeatedly targeted Iranian Kurdish groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan, which it designates as terrorist organizations and accuses of serving Western or Israeli interests.

Days before the war began on February 28, PAK joined four other exiled groups in a coalition seeking to topple Iran's Islamic republic and secure Kurdish self-determination.

Kurds are one of Iran's largest ethnic minorities, accounting for up to 10 percent of the population according to some estimates. They are mostly concentrated in the west of the country along the Iraqi and Turkish borders.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=450439

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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China condemns Japanese PM's consecutive war shrine offerings, calling moves blatant provocation against intl justice, affront to human conscience

Global Times

By Zhang Wanshi Published: Apr 22, 2026 02:25 PM

China on Wednesday deplored the Japanese prime minister's offerings to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals from WWII are enshrined, as well as visits by other Japanese officials to the war-linked shrine, calling these moves a blatant provocation against international justice and an affront to human conscience.

"China is strongly indignant and severely condemns it," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a press conference on Wednesday, adding that the Yasukuni war shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarists' war of aggression, and it is in fact a shrine for war criminals.

The nature of the issue concerning the Yasukuni war shrine is whether Japan is able to rightly perceive and deeply reflect on its history of militarist aggression, and whether it can learn lessons from history and avoid a repeat of that part of history, Guo said. This bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations, on Japan's credibility as a nation, and on the postwar international order as well as peace and justice in the world.

Takaichi on Wednesday made a monetary offering, called "tamagushi," to the site which stands as a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression on the occasion of its spring festival, one day after she sent a ritual offering "masakaki" tree to the notorious shrine, according to media reports.

Such provocative acts, according to Chinese experts, lay bare Japan's deeply entrenched militarist mindset, and underscore the rampant spread of historical revisionism across Japan's political establishment.

Deep-rooted militarism

Yasukuni Shrine, located in central Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II. Multiple Japanese media outlets noted in their reports that the place has long been a source of diplomatic friction between Japan and its neighbors.

Besides China, a spokesperson for South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday also expressed "deep regret" over Japanese leaders making offerings or visits to the shrine and called on its neighbor to take action through "humble" reflection of the past that would support future-oriented ties, The Mainichi reported.

Sankei Shimbun on Wednesday reported that the monetary offering was made through Haruko Arimura, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) General Council, in Takaichi's capacity as LDP president. The offering made the day before was made in the name of the prime minister.

A cross-party group of 126 Japanese lawmakers on Wednesday visited the notorious shrine in Tokyo, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Another report by the Japan Times noted that the economic growth strategy minister Minoru Kiuchi also visited the shrine, and it is the first time there has been confirmation that a member of Takaichi's cabinet visited Yasukuni Shrine.

Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Takaichi's actions regarding the Yasukuni Shrine issue, along with large-scale collective shrine visits by cross-party lawmakers, further reflect the widespread prevalence of historical revisionism in Japan's political circles.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the top government spokesman, told a news conference that Takaichi made the offering in a "private capacity" and that it was therefore not a matter for the government to comment on, The Mainichi reported on Tuesday.

Moreover, a report by NHK citing sources said Takaichi followed the precedent set by her predecessors, including Ishiba Shigeru and Kishida Fumio.

While some former Japanese prime ministers have made offerings on separate occasions, Takaichi's provocations regarding war-linked shrine in two consecutive days are primarily aimed at catering to her right-wing conservative constituency and demonstrating her hardline political leanings, Xiang said.

According to Xiang, Japan's words and deeds showed Tokyo's opportunistic mentality - on the one hand trying to appease the right-wing base, while on the other hand seeking to avoid the diplomatic backlash that could arise from a direct visit to Yasukuni Shrine by a sitting prime minister.

Similarly, Lu Chao, a professor at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, described Takaichi's negative moves concerning the Yasukuni Shrine as a political stunt catering to Japan's domestic right-wing forces.

He noted that such acts serve as further proof of Japan's deep-rooted stance and persistent adherence to militarist ideology, with little inclination to make corrections.

Two sides of coin

Lately there has been a marked increase in the Japanese government's negative moves and reckless provocative acts on issues concerning China's Taiwan region and the history of WWII as well as military and security issues. Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan have had a grave impact on China-Japan relations, Guo said during the press conference on Wednesday.

"In the face of strong criticism and opposition from China as well as at home and abroad, some Japanese politicians and right-wing forces chose to go down the wrong path, rather than reflect on and correct their wrongdoings. The Chinese people, people in other countries that suffered under Japanese aggression, and all peace-loving forces for justice in the world will never allow this," the spokesperson added.

In a dangerous policy shift, the Japanese government officially eased its arms export rules on Tuesday, allowing the sale of lethal weapons. Japan's growing military buildup is threatening the postwar peace order, per Xinhua.

Japan also sent a Self-Defense Force vessel into the Taiwan Straits in a deliberate provocation, which spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday that the deliberate provocation has severely undermined the political foundation of China-Japan relations and posed a grave threat to China's sovereignty and security. "China firmly opposes such acts," the spokesperson said.

A string of provocative acts, which have unfolded one after another, sends a clear signal to the international community that Japan's right-wing administration under Takaichi is slipping into a rising neo-militarist tendency, which fuels its reckless and unrestrained arms expansion, Lu said. However, allowing such a trend to persist will also pose grave dangers to Japan itself.

Japan once attained rapid economic growth through international trade and technological development to build up its capital. Yet if it strays from this path and expands its military industry, with major domestic heavy industries shifting to arms production, Japan's economy will be fully diverted toward war-oriented growth and military preparedness, posing great security risks to both Japan itself and the international community, the expert said.

Across Japan, protesters staged rallies against the government's plan to revise the country's pacifist constitution and to call for the protection of Article 9.

Xiang told the Global Times that the Takaichi administration, while continuously challenging historical sensitivities, is simultaneously accelerating efforts to loosen restrictions on its military posture. These two developments are essentially two sides of the same coin, indicating that Japan is, in both its historical perception and practical actions, moving away from a path of peaceful development.

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Japan-New Zealand Summit Telephone Meeting

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

April 22, 2026

On April 22, commencing at 12:00 a.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone meeting with Rt. Hon. Christopher LUXON, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

The two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and concurred on continuing close communication to ensure that steps are taken to de-escalate the situation, including the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. They also confirmed the importance of ensuring a stable supply of energy and essential goods, in light of the current energy situation in the Asia-Pacific region. The two leaders also discussed security cooperation and Prime Minister TAKAICHI briefed the review of the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and its Implementation" announced by Japan yesterday. Prime Minister LUXON expressed his welcome to her briefing. Looking ahead to next year's 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two leaders concurred that they would further deepen bilateral relations, including security cooperation. Furthermore, the two leaders shared the importance of continuing to strengthen multi-layered cooperation among like-minded countries. They also concurred on maintaining close communication at every opportunity, cooperating toward the realization of "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)", to further deepen the bilateral relationship, including in the field of security.

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We reiterate our commitment to an inclusive political process which safeguards Libyas unity and stability: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Archie Young CMG

Published 22 April 2026

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 22 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

I will focus on three elements that are central to the current situation in Libya. Firstly economic governance, then sovereign resources, then migrants and refugees, and then Ill look at the way forward.

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the milestone agreement on a unified budget reached on 11 April.

This provides the opportunity to improve economic governance across Libya and strengthen the independence of its financial institutions.

We welcome US efforts to facilitate this agreement and urge all parties to implement the budget in full.

We encourage all Libyan stakeholders to use this milestone confidencebuilding measure, both to help rebuild trust between institutions and across political divides.

We urge all sides to engage constructively and overcome the obstacles to progressing the SRSGs roadmap.

We reiterate our firm commitment to an inclusive political process, facilitated by the UN, which works towards national elections and safeguards Libyas unity, sovereignty, and stability.

Second, this Councils recent renewal of the Libya sanctions regime demonstrates our collective commitment to safeguarding Libyas sovereign resources.

Strengthened measures to prevent oil smuggling, alongside continued protections for frozen assets, will help ensure that Libyas wealth is preserved for the longterm benefit of the Libyan people.

We call on all Libyan stakeholders to respect the independence of Libyas institutions, including the National Oil Corporation and Central Bank of Libya, in order to ensure they can work without interference or politicisation.

Third, we remain deeply concerned by the situation of migrants and refugees in Libya, including reports of trafficking, abuse, and informal detention.

We welcome the authorities ongoing cooperation with international partners, including on voluntary returns. But we urge continued efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and close informal detention centres to strengthen protection of migrants and refugees, uphold human rights, and support safe and dignified returns.

In conclusion, President, inaction is not an option.

The Libyan people continue to seek unified governance that can provide security, stability, and opportunity.

We urge all parties to prioritise citizens interests, to engage seriously with the SRSGs roadmap in line with this Councils Press Statement of 3 March, and to support a credible political process that can deliver enduring peace and shared prosperity.

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Libya's Road Map 'Not Where We Would Like', Mission Chief Tells Security Council, as Speakers Call for Urgent Implementation, Political Will to Break Status Quo

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10142nd Meeting (AM)

SC/16346

22 April 2026

The Security Council today broadly agreed on the steps towards Libya's peace and stability  including elections, institutional reunification, security sector reform and economic transparency  but emphasized that the real test will be effective implementation, sustained political will and a decisive break from the status quo.

Since the 2011 uprising that ended Muammar Gadhafi's rule, efforts to establish unified governance in Libya have been hindered by institutional fragmentation and rival authorities. While the 2020 ceasefire reduced large-scale fighting, political divisions persist. Mediation through the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) continues to pursue a constitutional basis and electoral framework under the Political Road Map.

"We are not where we would like to be in terms of progress on the road map," said Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of UNSMIL, noting that some Libyan actors continue to sidestep public expectations for democratic participation, while parallel structures outside existing agreements undermine institutional reunification.

"Conducting business as usual under the current circumstances inadvertently legitimizes the status quo rather than incentivizing serious negotiations and encouraging the necessary compromises to reunify the country," she said, warning against the national and regional risks of continued inaction.

She highlighted momentum in the Structured Dialogue, held online during Ramadan and in person this month. Progress across the four tracks  security, governance, economy, and national reconciliation and human rights  has led to draft recommendations, with a plenary planned this month and a final report due by early June.

While UNSMIL continues to engage Libyan institutions to unblock the political impasse, the Special Representative cautioned that absent progress, she will return to the Council in June with proposals grounded in existing agreements.

She also warned of Libya's worsening economic conditions, fragile security, judicial divisions and human rights violations  all compounded by humanitarian pressures linked to the Sudan conflict.

Libya stands at a critical juncture. "Allowing status quo actors to evade their responsibilities will only undermine efforts to preserve Libya's unity and wealth and delay the path to sustained peace, stability and development," she said.

Competing 'Solutions' Leave Libyans, International Community in 'Crisis of Trust'

In turn, Libya's representative said that over the last 15 years, many initiatives had failed to overcome Tripoli's political impasse because they did not address "the real problem": The "contraction" of international solutions and "marginalization of Libyan solutions".

This "vicious cycle" has created "a crisis of trust between the Libyan people and the international community", he said. "We have started losing hope," - a situation that could lead to "internal strife, a conflict or even a new proxy war".

His counterpart from the Russian Federation concurred that external visions must be seen by the Libyan Government "as nothing other than recommendations".

Several Council members highlighted progress since the Council's previous briefing on Libya.

Among them was the representative of the United States, who noted that her country is facilitating engagement between eastern and western Libyan stakeholders to advance progress towards economic and military integration in support of Libyan leaders and UNSMIL's road map. These efforts include the multinational special operations exercise FLINTLOCK, which began last week. Libya's leadership in hosting a portion of the exercise marks "a historic milestone", she said.

The FINTLOCK exercise includes France, said that country's delegate, who affirmed that "the reunification of Libyan military and security forces will allow the country to recover its stability and to stop the cycle of recurrent tensions". He stressed the urgent need for the withdrawal of all foreign fighters, mercenaries and foreign forces, in accordance with the Council-endorsed 2021 Libyan plan to guarantee Libya's full sovereignty.

Speakers Welcome Advances in Structured Dialogue, Denounce 'Deliberate' Attempts to Preserve Status Quo

The debate also reflected shared concern that the political process remains stalled due to persistent fragmentation and rival authorities. Panama's representative warned that "the lack of consensus continues to weaken public trust and set back the establishment of the necessary legislative framework towards elections". His counterpart from Latvia was particularly direct, arguing that "meaningful progress is hindered by parties who deliberately delay and obstruct the process to protect their interests and preserve the status quo".

There was also strong and broad backing for the UN-facilitated political road map as the primary vehicle for progress. Denmark's representative welcomed the Structured Dialogue as an inclusive platform  highlighting the significant participation of women  but stressed that dialogue must now produce results. Pakistan's delegate underlined that a Libyan-led process supported by UN mediation remains the only viable path to peace. He encouraged continued engagement from all stakeholders.

The representative of Bahrain, Council President for April, speaking in his national capacity, commended UN efforts to accelerate implementation of the road map and electoral preparations. Sustained international support must translate into tangible outcomes rather than prolonged process, he argued.

Elections and institutional reunification were repeatedly identified as the essential milestones. "The recent outbreak of regional turmoil is a reminder that the unification of State institutions and the attainment of comprehensive and sustainable peace in Libya today is imperative," said the diplomat from Greece, emphasizing the urgency of holding free, fair, inclusive and credible presidential and parliamentary elections.

China's delegate was among those who highlighted the importance of supporting Libya's national development and reconstruction. While noting that oil production has remained stable, he warned that institutional fragmentation and other constraints have widened infrastructure deficits and increased economic vulnerability.

Calls to Respect Libyan Institutions, Human Rights of Migrants, Refugees

Several speakers recalled the Council's recent decision to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts tasked with monitoring the implementation of sanctions on Libya, as well as the authorization for Member States to take measures against the illicit export of petroleum from the country.

The representative of the United Kingdom said strengthened measures to prevent oil smuggling, alongside continued protections for frozen assets, will help ensure that Libya's wealth is preserved for the long-term benefit of the Libyan people. "We call on all Libyan stakeholders to respect the independence of Libya's institutions, including the National Oil Corporation and Central Bank of Libya, to ensure they can work without interference or politicization."

Colombia's delegate expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation, which continues to deteriorate due to the regional spillover from the conflict in Sudan and serious human rights violations affecting migrants and refugees. Ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access, dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks, and guaranteeing accountability for violations must remain urgent priorities.

The representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking also for Liberia and Somalia, acknowledged the scale of the remaining challenges, but struck a cautiously hopeful note: "The road ahead is fraught with obstacles [...] Nevertheless, through sustained engagement, cooperation and a shared commitment to peace, a stable and inclusive future for Libya remains within reach."

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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

21 April 2026 10:12

By efforts of the Russian Africa Corps on the territory of the Republic of Mali, as a result of a special operation, the employees of a Russian geological exploration company who had been captured in July 2024 in Niger by the terrorist group 'Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin' have been released: citizen of the Russian Federation, Oleg Gret, born in 1962, and citizen of Ukraine, Yuri Yurov, born in 1970.

As a result of a medical check-up by Russian doctors at the Africa Corps hospital, it was found that they have numerous diseases and severe physical exhaustion.

The hostages liberated by servicemen of the Russian Africa Corps will be transported by an aircraft of the Cargo Aviation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation.

The Russian company's leadership expressed gratitude to the servicemen of the Africa Corps and the Russian Defence Ministry for releasing its employees.

Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation

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At the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Latvia raises the issue of barring Russia from participating in the Venice Biennale and imposing sanctions on representatives closely linked to the Russian political regime who use culture to achieve Russia's war aims

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Published: 22.04.2026.

On 21 April 2026 in Luxembourg, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Artjoms Ursulskis, emphasised at the meeting of the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council: "The situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is currently better than it was in 2025, and gains by Russian armed forces are minimal; moreover, Ukraine is making a significant contribution to European and global security. However, the EU must continue the work it has begun by providing all forms of support to Ukraine, and the results of the Hungarian elections provide a basis for a positive dynamic in advancing key political decisions. The EUR 90 billion loan to support Ukraine must be unblocked urgently. The options for providing military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility must be reassessed, unblocking funding amounting to EUR 6.6 billion. It is important to approve the 20th round of EU sanctions against Russia without further delay and to begin work on further restrictive measures, as well as to continue the policy of international isolation against Russia."

Addressing the issue of barring Russia from participating in the Venice Biennale, the Parliamentary Secretary noted: "Russia's widespread attacks on Ukrainian culture, language, and identity, as well as the persecution and destruction of its artistic figures and cultural and religious sites, call for a united and strong European response, including denying participation and imposing sanctions on Russian representatives who are closely linked to the Russian political regime and use culture to achieve Russia's war aims."

Since February 2022, Latvia's total support for Ukraine has exceeded EUR 1 billion, or 0.6% of GDP. More than half of this - EUR 675 million - is military aid, while humanitarian aid and support to the Government of Ukraine amount to EUR 92 million; support for Ukrainian civilians in Latvia amounts to EUR 304 million; and support for reforms, development, and reconstruction amounts to EUR 17 million. In February, the Government of Latvia allocated an additional EUR 10 million to a NATO initiative to provide Ukraine with critically needed military equipment, and in March it allocated EUR 6.8 million to support Ukraine's reconstruction. In 2026 as well, 0.25% of GDP is planned to be allocated to military support for Ukraine.

Artjoms Ursulskis emphasised that stable and reliable security guarantees are essential for ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The US remains a significant diplomatic and military contributor to Ukraine. He also noted that the EU's support for Ukrainian war veterans will have an impact Ukraine's recovery and stability, as well as promote social cohesion, thereby contributing to European security. By implementing the NATO Renovator project, Latvia has taken the lead in renovating a Ukrainian military hospital, thereby improving rehabilitation conditions for Ukrainian war veterans.

Discussing further pressure on Russia, Artjoms Ursulskis pointed out that the 20th round of EU sanctions against Russia must be approved immediately. It is important to continue containing and isolating Russia while preparing proposals for the 21st round of sanctions. Artjoms Ursulskis highlighted the need to cease further economic relations with Russia, including by urging companies from EU Member States to withdraw from the Russian market. Ministers also agreed to include additional individuals in the EU sanctions regime regarding Russia's destabilising activities in the EU, as well as to extend the EU sanctions regime regarding destabilising activities in Moldova for one year.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, participated in the meeting via videoconference.

Discussing the situation in the Middle East, Artjoms Ursulskis noted: "A comprehensive and sustainable agreement must be reached between the US and Iran to mitigate regional and global threats. Latvia supports international efforts to ensure freedom of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The events of recent months should help the Gulf states better understand the security challenges posed by Russia in our region. Latvia maintains close contacts with the Gulf states and is ready to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of defence."

The Foreign Ministers also discussed the situation in the South Caucasus region, including EU support and engagement in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Artjoms Ursulskis emphasised the importance of strengthening Armenia's resilience against Russia's attempts to interfere with the upcoming parliamentary elections on 7 June and to influence the peace process and stability in the region. Latvia is ready to provide expertise both bilaterally and through joint initiatives. The Foreign Affairs Council formally adopted a decision on the establishment of an EU Common Security and Defence Policy civilian mission to support Armenia in combating hybrid threats. Discussing the situation in Georgia, the Parliamentary Secretary noted: "Under the current circumstances, the EU must continue to limit contacts and cooperation with politicians and institutions of the ruling power, while strengthening support for civil society, independent media, and youth."

The Foreign Ministers of the Baltic and Nordic countries also held an informal working meeting with the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, to discuss the progress of the EU enlargement process, particularly Ukraine's European integration. Artjoms Ursulskis expressed satisfaction with Ukraine's progress on reforms to date, urging the country to maintain the current pace of reform.

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Bessent Says US Extended Russian Oil Sanctions Waiver Due To Requests From Several Countries

19:46 22.4.2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the United States renewed sanctions relief for Russian oil for a month due to requests from several countries that are particularly vulnerable to oil shortages.

Bessent had initially said last week that the waiver allowing certain shipments of Russian seaborne oil to be delivered and sold would not be extended. But the government later reversed itself and extended the waiver for 30 days.

On April 22, Bessent told a US Senate Appropriations subcommittee budget hearing that the change was made after he was "approached by more than 10 of the most vulnerable and poorest countries in terms of energy" during International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings last week.

"They asked us to extend that [waiver], and it's only for 30 days," he said.

Iran has choked off most traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the sole sea route out of the Persian Gulf and normally the conduit for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, since shortly after its war with the US and Israel began on February 28. That has driven prices up and increased demand for oil and gas from other sources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the waiver, saying it helps Russia fund its full-scale war on Ukraine, now in its fifth year.

A report from the International Energy Agency said Russia's revenues from exports of crude and refined oil products rose from $9.7 billion in February to $19 billion in March.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=450504

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at a reception on the occasion of Orthodox Easter, Moscow, April 22, 2026

22 April 2026 12:40

628-22-04-2026

Your Holiness,

Colleagues,

Friends.

I am delighted to welcome the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, members of the clergy of other traditional confessions, government officials and representatives of civil society organisations, as well as the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow at our traditional Easter gathering.

Easter Sunday symbolises the triumph of good and mercy and reminds us about the importance of mutual assistance and loving one's neighbour. It teaches us to stand in defence of truth and fight for justice. This is something that resonates with every Russian.

President Vladimir Putin has designated 2026 as the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Our Fatherland has every right to claim the status of a civilisation state, as set forth in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation. The President approved it in March 2023 and it remains relevant. For centuries, our country has been home to people of various creeds and cultures. In fact, inter-ethnic and inter-faith harmony and conciliation have been and remain the main pillars ensuring stability at home and making us stronger on the international stage.

Of course, the Russian Orthodox Church has had an instrumental role in cementing national unity. Together with its followers, it has always shared the country's lot and served as a moral beacon for millions of believers, while inspiring people to undertake spiritual feats and helping them withstand years of hardship.

We can see what happens when political elites reject their spiritual and civilisational roots, with present-day Ukraine presenting a bitter example. The regime which seized power in Kiev is ready to sacrifice the lives of millions of ordinary Ukrainians for the sake of serving the interests of its masters in the West. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been persecuted for over a decade now, which included taking over churches, vandal attacks, harassing the clergy and parishioners. Judging by the official data from the Kiev junta alone, there were over 180 criminal cases involving clerics, including four archpriests. It is also obvious that this figure is understated in an effort by the regime to sweep under the carpet the true scale of this shameful activity.

Launched in 2025, the initiative to create an "inventory and inspect the holy relics in terms of their historical and scientific value" at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is outrageous and disgusting. The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture used this bureaucratic formula to conceal its legalised blasphemous practices, while several European countries turned a blind eye to these developments or even directly supported them. There is rampant satanism in these countries too.

As you know, defending the honour and dignity of our people and compatriots, including their right to use their mother tongue, the Russian language, and to belong to the Orthodox faith, are among the goals of the special military operation. It is rejoicing that even in this regard, the Russian Orthodox Church has been standing with its people in this time of hardship. Its clergy has been carrying out its pastoral duties among the fighters, while praying for peace and calm across our land. The Russian Orthodox Church has been helping collect funds for defence purposes, as well as sending humanitarian aid to the defenders of the Fatherland and civilians. Some members of the clergy have sacrificed their lives and health to this selfless and dedicated service.

But tension and anxiety go beyond our Western border. Large-scale conflicts have been raging in the Middle East for many years now. Just like the Ukraine crisis, many of them stem from geopolitical engineering by those in Western European capitals and North America who place themselves above the world and treat it through the prism of neo-colonialism. We cannot stand aside and do nothing when terrorist and radical groups engage in ethnic cleansing, killings and looting, including on religious grounds. We have already raised the issue of the substantial decline in the number of Christians living in the Middle East. Against this backdrop, efforts by the Russian Orthodox Church acquire a special meaning and importance, considering that it has been offering its effective assistance to the people of its creed there.

Your Holiness,

The Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations marks its 80th anniversary this year. It is one of the key synodal entities which has been effective in overseeing Church diplomacy as per its mandate. The Foreign Ministry works closely with this structure. The contribution by the Department for External Church Relations to reinforcing unity among Orthodox believers, promoting inter-faith dialogue and humanitarian cooperation can hardly be underestimated. The Church carries out its diplomatic efforts in many parts of the world in a constructive and effective manner. The initiatives to establish exarchates in Africa and Southeast Asia are gaining traction, and the number of parishes abroad is increasing. We are doing everything to facilitate this work thorough our foreign missions.

I would like to note that the Foreign Ministry's working group with the Russian Orthodox Church has been working and delivering results for the past 22 years. According to our estimates, this group has established itself as an effective mechanism for enabling us to work together on the key matters of shared interest on the international stage, and our colleagues from the Russian Orthodox Church share this vision. We are convinced that further strengthening this cooperation would help consolidate Russia's international standing and promote trust, mutual understanding and neighbourly relations among various nations and peoples.

The Foreign Ministry appreciates the self-sacrificing efforts you, Your Holiness, and the entire Russian Orthodox Church have been undertaking to improve the international environment, prevent even deeper dividing lines on ethnic and religious grounds. We stand ready to further step up our multifaceted cooperation with the Moscow Patriarchate and work closely with leaders of other traditional religious denominations in Russia for the sake of delivering on the noble universal objectives as I have just mentioned.

In conclusion, allow me to once again congratulate you, Your Holiness, and all the people in this room, on the holy day of Easter. I wish you good health and wellbeing.

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Canada provides funding to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria

Global Affairs Canada

News release

April 22, 2026 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Canada is supporting international efforts to identify and eliminate chemical weapons that remain in Syria, to prevent future use.

Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced Canada's contribution of $5 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) through Canada's Weapons Threat Reduction Program.

The funding will support the OPCW's work to verify the scope of Syria's former chemical weapons program, investigate past uses of chemical weapons and prepare for the safe destruction of remaining chemical weapons, in line with the Chemical Weapons Convention. This work is key to Syria's long-term stability as it advances accountability efforts and reduces the risk to civilians of any future chemical weapons use.

This contribution is part of Canada's long-standing support to the OPCW to uphold the global ban on chemical weapons and strengthen international accountability.

Quick facts

The OPCW is responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the development, production and use of chemical weapons. The convention has 193 states parties, including Canada.

For more than two decades, the Weapons Threat Reduction ProgramCanada's contribution to the G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destructionhas worked with and supported the OPCW to verify, investigate, secure and destroy chemical weapons, including those developed and deployed by the Assad regime in Syria.

Canada engages with the OPCW through its permanent representative in The Hague, Netherlands, and through international coordination efforts focused on chemical weapons non-proliferation, counterterrorism and accountability.

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We urge the international community to remain focused on supporting progress towards Syrias economic recovery and long-term stability: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Charge dAffaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG

Published 22 April 2026

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 22 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

This breadth of UN engagement on Syria underlines the importance of the timely movement of the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria to Damascus, as a step towards further improved UN and international support to Syria.

I will make three points.

First, the UK was pleased to host Syrian President al-Sharaa during his visit to London on 31 March.

This was a significant moment in deepening the relationship between our two countries, which will enable us to make further progress on issues that are pivotal to Syrias stability, including securing the enduring defeat of Daesh and supporting Syrias economic recovery.

In this spirit, I also welcome the newly established Breath of Freedom Taskforce that will work on the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria.

The UK is proud to be a member of the Taskforce and to have announced over $9.5 million of additional funding in direct support of Syrian-led destruction activity during President al-Sharaas visit.

Second, efforts to integrate North-East Syria into the Syrian state are welcome.

This includes the appointment of Sipan Hamo to Deputy Minister of Defence, and recent prisoner exchanges.

We look forward to continued momentum towards the full integration of military and civil structures, which is essential to help strengthen Syrias institutions and support social cohesion.

The completion of all outstanding elections and the formal convening of Syrias Peoples Assembly will be a crucial next step for the political transition.

Finally, we have seen recent positive examples of strengthened collaboration to address ongoing humanitarian needs and move towards longer term recovery.

This includes the joint visit of USG Fletcher and UNDP Administrator De Croo to Syria, the launch of the UN Humanitarian Response Plan, as well as the Syrian Governments Statement of Recovery Priorities for International Cooperation.

The UK will continue to help meet these needs, including for those affected by recent flooding.

Maintaining safe and unimpeded humanitarian access across all of Syria remains essential to ensure the UN and partners can deliver vital assistance.

Colleagues, its welcome that Syria has remained relatively unaffected by the ongoing regional conflict. Still, we urge the international community to remain focused on supporting progress towards Syrias economic recovery and long-term stability.

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UN Relief Chief urges Security Council to sustain support to Syria as it rebuilds

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

As delivered

Thank you, Mr. President.

It is the nature of the crises on which I brief you, and the increasingly challenging context in which humanitarians work, that my updates to this Council tend to be sobering.

But today, I am in a position to share a more positive trajectory. I will of course temper that hope with caution and realism.

The improving picture I will describe is following years of conflict and neglect. The scars are deep. And the progress is fragile.

When I visited Syria in December 2024, just days after the fall of the Assad regime, I encountered a country anxious, traumatised. The damage of the war was staggering, the humanitarian needs overwhelming.

I visited Syria again last month, with my [UN Development Programme] colleague Alexander De Croo.

We saw progress: millions of people are returning home. Markets growing. More lights coming back on. The Humanitarian Reset working.

We heard from [Syrian] President [Ahmad] Al-Sharaa a compelling vision for Syrian-led recovery and growth, the restoration of essential services, and the creation of conditions to allow people to leave the camps and return home.

I believe that this approach, building on the real trust and partnership nurtured with us over the past year, is the right basis for our shared efforts. We are aligning our humanitarian plans with the "No Camp" and "No Mine" initiatives - ambitious efforts to help people go home and to accelerate demining. We jointly launched the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan on 2 April, the first such plan launched inside Syria and with the Syrian Government.

And, following our visit, the Government of Syria has extended the use of dollarization for an additional six months. This will ease financial and liquidity constraints and contribute to faster and more efficient implementation of our plan.

There is also an important opportunity, as you heard, the reason, in fact, for our joint visit, to demonstrate that the reforms of UN80 and the Humanitarian Reset can support what some experts call the humanitarian-development-peace 'triple nexus' - or in simpler terms, working together to save lives and create opportunity. The transition away from emergency humanitarian need into development, resilience and recovery is essential. We must move faster to turn this vision into reality.

Meanwhile, humanitarians are stepping up. Our partners are helping over 200,000 returnees each month with food, healthcare and water.

In Quarter 1, we disbursed US$84 million from our recently merged country and cross-border pooled funds, with 72 local partners receiving almost two-thirds. We are ensuring that women-led organizations are at the centre of decision-making, strengthening our evidence-based, hyper-prioritized response.

This month we have allocated a further $146 million of funding from the US Government to 17 life-saving projects. They will all start implementation, with facilitation and support where needed from the authorities, by the 1st of May, backed by a new Accountability and Impact Team to ensure robust oversight, risk analysis and strengthened accountability.

Mr. President,

And now, the realism. I want to share three major risks to this progress.

First, external. Conflict across the region in March put immense pressure on Syria. As of 19 April, nearly 300,000 people had crossed into Syria from Lebanon - overwhelmingly Syrian nationals - adding to the estimated 1.6 million Syrian refugees who have returned to Syria from across the region since the end of 2024. They need food, shelter and other support.

While the ceasefire between Iran and the United States and Israel holds, tensions in the region remain high. The risk of ongoing disruptions to critical supply routes persists, threatening to destabilize the fragile internal momentum and potentially setting back return and recovery efforts by years.

Second risk, the internal challenges remain tough.

Needs are still very high. Over 13 million need food, 12 million need clean water, nearly 13 million need healthcare support. In the northeast, 100,000 displaced across Al-Hasakah and Aleppo Governorates. Services gradually stabilizing there as updated security arrangements are put in place, but gaps remain - electricity, especially in Kobani, where 400,000 are estimated to be, and movements remain more restricted - we got 30 trucks in on 16 March.

In the south, 20,000-plus people have returned to their home areas, but 155,000 people remain displaced.

We have been able to reach, in the south, close to 400,000 people per month since July. Access to As-Sweida has stabilized but remains fragile, and damage to power transmission has hit water, health and schools.

Also internally, recent flooding across five governorates has affected more than 20,000 people, many already displaced. More than 3,500 shelters have been damaged or destroyed, and thousands of hectares of vital wheat crops are at risk.

Mines and unexploded ordnance continue to exact a horrific toll, killing more than 50 people and injuring over 100 since mid-March alone. Nearly one in three victims, a child.

So our efforts to clear those mines are essential so people return home voluntarily, children go to school and families earn a livelihood.

The latest UNHCR survey of refugees in neighbouring countries illustrates these combined challenges: 18 per cent plan to return home in the coming year. While this is up from two to three per cent in 2024, it's down from 27 per cent in January 2025. The barriers cited most: lack of livelihood, lack of economic opportunities; lack of housing; and localized insecurity.

Third challenge: funding cuts. In 2025, the plan was 42 per cent funded, led by the [European Union], [United Kingdom], US, Germany, [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], Qatar.

Across Syria, over 400 health facilities - 20 per cent - were hit by that shortfall, over 300 suspended, affecting over 7 million people. And now, amid ongoing cold weather and floods, our winter support is at only 28 per cent of what's required.

WFP needs $200 million in six months to avoid large-scale suspensions.

So, Mr. President,

My three asks of the Council.

First, sustain this diplomatic energy. Use your influence to resolve the remaining flashpoints and allow people to return safely, voluntarily, with dignity - inside Syria and across the region. The success, of course, hinges on the inclusion of all Syrians. Women and girls are critical to this transition.

Second, support vital humanitarian operations. Our full requirement is $2.9 billion. But to sustain the fragile progress I have described, to keep hospitals running, families fed over the next six months, we require a hyper-prioritized $1.5 billion - the absolute minimum needed to prevent a reversal of gains.

We are just 15 per cent funded, with the top 2026 donors so far: the US, $160 million; EU, $64 million; Japan, $40 million; Switzerland, $30 million; Germany, $29 million; Canada, $27 million; Denmark, $22 million; and the UK, $20 million.

Third, invest in Syria's future with sustained, predictable support for recovery and development.

The world needs a success story right now and Syria could be that story, but only if this Council helps us overcome the three risks I have outlined: through sustained diplomatic engagement, immediate humanitarian support, and long-term investment in the future.

We must stay the course.

Thank you.

Posted on 22 April 2026

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Chinese envoy to UN urges lasting ceasefire in Middle East, calls on Israel to withdraw from Syrian territory

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 23, 2026 01:04 PM

Tensions in the Middle East continue, with spillover effects adding new complexities to Syria's already fragile situation. China calls on the relevant parties to seize the window for peace, exercise maximum restraint, show utmost sincerity, and continue resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means in order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, Fu Cong, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said at a UN meeting on Wednesday. He also noted that Israel should withdraw from Syrian territory without further delay.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday held a meeting on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria and the Middle East, during which Fu said that it is imperative that the international community act in concert to keep the flames of war in the Middle East from flaring up or expanding further and from impacting Syria's security and stability.

Fu noted that the international community must jointly support an inclusive political transition, jointly support the stabilization of the security situation, and jointly support the improvement of the humanitarian situation.

Respecting Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity is the fundamental principle that must be upheld in resolving the Syrian issue. Israel's military operations within the separation zone and its attacks on southern Syria violate international law and must stop immediately. The 1974 disengagement agreement must be respected and abided by. Israel should withdraw from the Syrian territory without further delay, Fu said.

China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting long-term peace and stability in Syria and restoring peace and stability to the Middle East, Fu said.

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Taiwan signs 6 arms deals with U.S. worth around US$6.6 billion

ROC Central News Agency

04/22/2026 09:35 PM

Taipei, April 22 (CNA) Taiwan has recently signed six major arms procurement deals with the United States worth more than NT$208.77 billion (US$6.6 billion), including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, the government announced on Wednesday.

The agreements were signed earlier this month by Taiwan's defense mission in the U.S. and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), according to information released by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) on the Government e-Procurement System.

The six deals include NT$123.5 billion for HIMARS, NT$73.89 billion for M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, and NT$5.32 billion for the Army's missile stockpile replenishment.

The remaining three contracts comprise NT$5.13 billion for the Navy's anti-armor missiles, NT$910.45 million for joint Taiwan-U.S. production of large-caliber ammunition, and NT$22.87 million for consulting services related to an integrated air defense system.

The deals were finalized after Taiwan's military said the U.S. had agreed to allow delayed payments from Taipei for the purchase of 82 HIMARS and 60 M109A7 systems.

The delay was due to the opposition-controlled Legislature's failure to pass a special defense budget proposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which would have partially funded the acquisitions.

(By Wu Shu-wei and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/cs



CNA graphic CNA graphic

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U.S. envoy meets KMT chair ahead of cross-party arms procurement talks

ROC Central News Agency

04/22/2026 10:09 PM

Taipei, April 22 (CNA) The United States' de facto ambassador to Taiwan met with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () Wednesday on the eve of planned cross-party negotiations in the Legislature on a stalled defense budget for U.S. arms procurement.

Both the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and Cheng took to social media to highlight their meeting, which took place at KMT headquarters.

AIT Director Raymond Greene and Cheng stated that "cross-Strait differences should be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait," according to the AIT's Facebook post.

In her post, Cheng said that "both sides emphasized that cross-Strait peace is not only vital for regional stability, but also in the core interests of the international community."

"Cross-Strait relations should continue to be advanced through dialogue and peaceful development," Cheng continued.

According to a separate AIT Facebook post, Greene met with former KMT Chairman Eric Chu () last week, during which he discussed the enduring U.S. support for Taiwan and reaffirmed the mutual benefits of strong ties between the two sides.

The meeting between Greene and Cheng occurred as a special defense budget remains stalled in the Legislature, causing debate over Taiwan's military spending and how best to prevent conflict.

President Lai Ching-te () proposed the eight-year NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.66 billion) budget covering 2026-2033 in November, but opposition parties have put forward alternative proposals ranging from NT$380 billion to NT$400 billion in funding.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu () will hold cross-party talks Thursday on the proposals, after a similar session last week failed to produce substantive discussion.

(By Liu Kuan-ting, Yang Yao-ju and Shih Hsiu-chuan)

Enditem/AW

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Taiwan defense budget crucial: U.S. Indo-Pacific commander

ROC Central News Agency

04/22/2026 01:11 PM

Washington, April 21 (CNA) The top United States military commander in the Indo-Pacific has warned Taiwan that it must show the resolve to defend itself, including by passing a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.69 billion) special defense budget, to secure U.S. support.

Speaking at a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday, U.S. time, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said Taiwan's commitment to defense spending is critical at a time when the Legislature remains deadlocked over the special budget.

"You're not going to get chicken or eggs if you starve the chicken," Paparo said in highlighting the importance of sustained defense funding in response to questions from lawmakers about Taiwan's budget amid ongoing military pressure from China.

Paparo said longstanding U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, noting that arms sales over nearly 50 years under the Taiwan Relations Act "are not out of the norm."

He noted, however, that U.S. support is contingent on Taiwan demonstrating its own resolve.

"We can't want Taiwan's defense more than they want it themselves," he said.

President Lai Ching-te () proposed an eight-year NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget in 2025, but the plan has faced resistance from opposition parties, which have proposed versions ranging from NT$380 billion to NT$400 billion in funding.

The funding in the opposition bills would be enough to pay for an US$11.1 billion arms package announced by the U.S. in January 2025, but not enough to cover future arms purchases from the U.S. or domestic drone programs.

Deputy Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien () said in January that nearly three-quarters of the government's proposed special budget would go to the purchase of weapons from the U.S.

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, said she supported the passage of Taiwan's special budget to send a signal both to China and to the U.S. Congress.

Congress is very supportive of Taiwan and wants to see this budget passed, said Shaheen, who visited Taiwan in late March.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton asked whether a recent visit to China by Kuomintang Chair Cheng Li-wun () could affect future defense spending.

Paparo replied that "the proof will be in the pudding," adding that progress on the special budget would reflect "how committed they are" to self-defense.

Paparo also expressed strong confidence in Taiwan's willingness to defend itself, citing polling data that he said showed higher levels of resolve than Ukraine prior to Russia's invasion.

He also commended Taiwan's military for developing operational concepts that "will lead them to be successful in thwarting an invasion," without elaborating.

The hearing followed a bipartisan letter sent on April 14 by U.S. senators to Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (), urging lawmakers to expedite military procurement legislation in the face of persistent pressure from China.



CNA graphic CNA graphic

(By Elaine Hou and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/ls

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EU, U.S. lawmakers express concern after Lai's Africa visit postponed

ROC Central News Agency

04/22/2026 11:45 AM

Brussels, April 21 (CNA) The European Union has raised concerns over overflight rights after President Lai Ching-te's () planned visit to Eswatini was postponed when three African nations denied overflight clearance for his charter at the last minute.

"Overflight rights are a cornerstone of international civil aviation, and predictability and neutrality in airspace management are critical to safety, commerce, and diplomacy," an EU spokesperson told CNA in an email Tuesday.

"While states exercise sovereignty over their airspace, such decisions should be taken in a transparent and predictable manner, with the primary consideration being aviation safety and operational stability," the unnamed spokesperson said.

"Such decisions should not be taken to achieve political objectives," the EU said, without elaborating.

The EU statement came after CNA asked for comment on the suspension of Lai's planned visit to Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa, less than a day before he was scheduled to depart on the five-day trip.

Taiwan's Presidential Office said the move was made due to "economic coercion" by China against Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar -- countries along the flight path of Lai's charter -- forcing them to rescind overflight permission.

Seychelles' foreign affairs ministry told Reuters that it made the decision "in line with the government's longstanding policy of not recognizing Taiwan's sovereignty."

A Madagascar foreign ministry official gave the same reason to Reuters.

"Malagasy diplomacy recognizes only one China. The decision was made in full respect of Madagascar's sovereignty over its airspace," Reuters quoted the unnamed official as saying.



CNA graphic CNA graphic

Meanwhile, Eswatini's government said in a statement that it found it regrettable that Lai was unable to visit, but that it "does not change the status of our longstanding bilateral relations," according to an Associated Press report.

Also Tuesday, United States lawmakers and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a global alliance of nearly 300 lawmakers from more than 40 countries, condemned Beijing's alleged pressure on the three African states.

"Yet again, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is trying to bully Taiwan, a close partner of the United States. We stand with Taiwan against this blatant coercion," the Republican majority of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The House Select Committee on the CCP said in a post on X that it condemned "China's efforts to block travel by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te by pressuring other nations to deny overflight clearance."

"This is not diplomacy; it is economic pressure aimed at isolating a democratic partner. The United States stands with Taiwan and supports its right to engage freely with the international community," the post said.

In a statement in both Chinese and English, the IPAC said China's coordinated coercion of African nations "reveals a relentless drive to isolate Taiwan, now extending to an attempt to control the skies."

"IPAC stands with President Lai and the people of Taiwan. Like all democratic world leaders, President Lai must be free to engage with partners without interference.

"It is not for Beijing to determine the foreign policy of other countries," it said.

(By Wu Po-wei, Tony Liao and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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Experts split on possible U.S. rhetoric shift on Taiwan at Trump-Xi summit

ROC Central News Agency

04/22/2026 09:44 PM

Taipei, April 22 (CNA) Taiwanese experts on Tuesday differed on whether the United States might change its rhetoric on "Taiwan independence" at an upcoming U.S.-China summit following Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun's () recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping ().

Cheng, who heads Taiwan's main opposition party, met Xi in Beijing on April 10 during a six-day trip first announced on March 30, after the White House said U.S. President Donald Trump's planned late-March visit to China had been postponed to May 14-15 amid the ongoing war in Iran.

During her visit, Cheng repeatedly stressed opposition to Taiwan independence, a stance in line with Beijing's position on the Taiwan issue.

Xi also used the meeting to say China would "absolutely not tolerate" Taiwan independence.

Former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Richard C. Bush speculated in early March that Xi could ask Trump during his visit to Beijing to publicly state that the U.S. "opposes Taiwan independence."

Such a statement would mark a subtle but important shift from current U.S. policy, which is that Washington "does not support" Taiwan independence.

Speaking at a seminar in Taipei on Tuesday, Tang Kai-tai (), a vice president at the Foundation on Asia-Pacific Peace Studies, said China, now with Cheng's backing, could raise the issue of U.S. rhetoric on Taiwan independence during the Trump-Xi meeting in May.

He said that even if the issue is not raised in May, Beijing could still raise it at a later meeting between the two leaders.

Those opportunities, he said, could include a possible return visit by Xi to the U.S. in July or August, as well as meetings later in the year on the sidelines of the G20 and APEC summits.

Tang, however, noted that the U.S. "one China" policy has been shaped since the 1970s by the Three Joint Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, and said Trump would be "unlikely" to make such a sweeping rhetorical concession, even in exchange for a major offer from Beijing.

Taking a different view, Hung Yao-nan (), deputy director of Tamkang University's Institute of China Studies, said it was unlikely the Trump-Xi meeting in May would focus much on Taiwan, as the meeting would be short and many people from the technology sector are expected to be involved.

He said the talks would more likely center on tariffs, technology and possibly international issues, which he described as the "more urgent priorities."

Hung said Taiwan may still come up during a possible return visit by Xi to Washington, when the agenda could become more focused on political issues, depending on "what kind of gifts Xi will bring by then."

(By Sunny Lai)

Enditem/cs

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China commends relevant countries for upholding one-China principle after Lai's 'transit visit' canceled due to flight permit denial

Global Times

By Liu Xin and Li Yu Published: Apr 22, 2026 09:46 PM

China's Foreign Ministry and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday both commended relevant countries for upholding the one-China principle after they refused to grant flight clearance for Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's so-called "transit visit" to Eswatini.

While Taiwan regional media extensively reported on Lai's cancelation of the visit, with some highlighting that it was the first time in history that such a trip was called off just one day before departure, a Chinese mainland expert said this would not be the last cancelation of its kind if Lai and the regional secessionist authorities continue to stubbornly pursue the path of "Taiwan independence."

According to a report by the Associated Press, Lai "postponed" a visit to Eswatini, Taiwan region's sole remaining so-called "diplomatic ally" in Africa, originally scheduled for April 22 to 26, after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar canceled flight permits, a Taiwan local official told journalists on Tuesday.

A report by TVBS News highlighted that the visit was called off just one day before departure, marking the first such case in the history of a regional leader's overseas trip.

A commentary in the United Daily News noted that only a week earlier, the Taiwan regional authorities had unveiled Lai's planned direct trip to Eswatini. In the following days, they further suggested that Lai had been invited to speak and would use the occasion to showcase Taiwan's so-called "indispensable" role to African dignitaries and tribal leaders. But within days, the authorities suddenly announced the postponement of the trip, attributing the decision to pressure from the mainland.

In a statement released on Wednesday, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "all African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with China. These 53 countries together with the African Union have adopted the Beijing Declaration at the 2024 FOCAC Summit. They have reiterated on many occasions that they firmly uphold the one-China principle, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and they firmly support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification."

China highly commends relevant countries' commitment to the one-China principle which is fully consistent with international law and basic norms governing international relations, said the spokesperson.

It is very clear that there's no longer a so-called "ROC president" in the world anymore. Anyone who wears that false title is acting against history and will only invite disgrace upon themselves. The one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, and to uphold it is the right thing to do. No one can ever stop the eventual reunification of China. The separatist attempts aimed at "Taiwan independence" are just futile and doomed to fail, said the spokesperson.

Also on Wednesday, when asked to comment on the news, Zhang Han, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that "we appreciate the position and actions of the relevant countries in upholding the one-China principle."

A just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust one finds little. The facts once again prove that the one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and a prevailing consensus of the international community. It represents the general trend of the times, the greater good, and the will of the people, Zhang said.

The Taiwan regional Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a meeting on Wednesday, during which party spokesperson conveyed remarks made by Lai. Lai claimed the trip had to be canceled because the mainland had "pressured the third countries into temporarily revoking flight permits." He also claimed that ties between Taiwan and Eswatini "would not be affected," according to Taiwan regional media outlet the Mirror Media.

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, described the cancelation of the trip as a major setback, and she attributed it to what she called serious errors in the DPP authorities' cross-Straits narrative, according to another report from the Mirror Media on Wednesday.

She said that while countries around the world can accept the 1992 Consensus and do not support "Taiwan independence," Lai is still insisting on going his own way.

"The cancelation of the trip is the result of Lai's continued obsession with the 'Taiwan independence' agenda. At a time when cross-Straits ties had shown some signs of easing, public opinion on the island was shifting, and the mainland had shown sufficient goodwill, Lai still chose confrontation," Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The DPP authorities are still trying to blame the mainland and stoke confrontation, but the real root of the problem lies in the "Taiwan independence" path, Zheng said, adding that the mainland's resolve and international influence should not be underestimated.

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There is no longer so-called 'ROC president,' anyone who uses the title only brings shame upon themselves: FM on Lai's cancelled trip to Eswatini

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 22, 2026 04:35 PM

The facts are very clear: There is no longer a so-called "ROC president" in the world. Anyone who swindles and deceives others by using such an identity is going against the tide of history and will only bring shame upon themselves, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Guo's remarks were made in response to media inquiries over Taiwan regional Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Eswatini, which was "forced to cancel" after the relevant countries revoked the necessary flight permissions. Taiwan regional authorities claimed that countries such as Mauritius and Madagascar took this action only because they were subjected to "economic coercion" by the Chinese mainland.

Guo stated that all 53 African countries except Eswatini have established diplomatic relations with China. Together with the African Union, they adopted the Beijing Declaration at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

"They have reiterated on many occasions that they firmly uphold the one-China principle, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and they firmly support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification," Guo said.

The relevant countries' adherence to the one-China principle fully conforms to international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China highly appreciates this, said the spokesperson.

"The one-China principle represents the will of the people, the trend of the times, and the cause of justice. No one can stop the historical trend that China will ultimately achieve reunification," Guo said.

The separatist schemes of the "Taiwan independence" secession forces are nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot; they are doomed to fail and will perish by their own actions, the spokesperson added.

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China says denial of flight permits to Lai Ching-te shows int'l support for one-China principle

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:31, April 22, 2026

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese spokesperson on Wednesday said that several countries' refusal to grant flight permits to Taiwan's secessionist-minded leader Lai Ching-te for a planned visit to Eswatini reflects broad international support for the one-China principle.

Zhang Han, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a press briefing when asked to comment on the cancellation of Lai's trip after countries along the planned route declined to grant overflight clearance.

"We express appreciation for the stance and actions of relevant countries in upholding the one-China principle," said Zhang.

She said this has once again shown that the one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and a prevailing consensus of the international community.

Also on Wednesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that all African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with China.

These 53 countries together with the African Union have reiterated on many occasions that they firmly uphold the one-China principle, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and they firmly support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, the spokesperson said.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.04.22

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Apr. 21 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 22 (Wed.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

6 sorties of PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 6 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150422_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150422_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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U.S. blasts countries as serving China's interests by blocking Lai's flight

ROC Central News Agency

04/23/2026 11:36 AM

Washington, April 22 (CNA) The United States government on Wednesday criticized the three African countries that revoked overflight clearances for President Lai Ching-te's () planned trip to Eswatini this week, saying they had yielded to China's political demands.

"These countries are acting at the behest of China by interfering in the safety and dignity of routine travel by Taiwan officials," an unnamed U.S. State Department spokesperson told CNA in an email.

"These countries manage international airspace within their delegated Flight Information Regions, which extend well beyond the sovereign airspace above their territories," the spokesperson said. "This management responsibility exists solely to ensure aviation safety, not to serve as a political tool for Beijing."

The official did not name the countries, but according to Taiwan's Presidential Office, Lai's flight to Eswatini was scheduled to cross airspace managed by the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar.



CNA graphic CNA graphic

The U.S. State Department spokesperson said the blockage was another example of China "waging its intimidation campaign against Taiwan and Taiwan's supporters around the world, abusing the international civil aviation system, and threatening international peace and prosperity."

"We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue," the spokesperson said, when asked about Washington's view of the factors that caused the suspension of Lai's trip to Eswatini.

The revocation of the overflight clearances was announced Tuesday, less than 24 hours before Lai was scheduled to depart on the five-day visit to Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Africa.

According to Taiwan's Presidential Office, the decision to rescind overflight permission was the result of "economic coercion" by China against the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar.

The Seychelles and Madagascar told the media that they had made the decision independently, but also said they do not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.

On Wednesday, China's foreign ministry lauded the decisions made by the three African countries, saying that all 53 African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, recognize the People's Republic of China and uphold the one-China principle, which holds that Taiwan is "an inalienable part of China's territory."

"China highly commends relevant countries' commitment to the one-China principle, which is fully consistent with international law and basic norms governing international relations," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Commenting on the issue, the United Kingdom's representative to Taiwan, Ruth Bradley-Jones, said Wednesday that decisions about airspace control should not be political.

"Neutral and predictable airspace management is essential to flight safety and to the everyday exchanges that keep the global economy moving," she said in a Facebook post. "Decisions about airspace management should put safety and stability first and should not be made for political ends."

The foreign ministries of two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Belize and Paraguay, also expressed concern over the decision.

(By Elaine Hou and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/pc

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Mainland slams DPP's political maneuvering over policy package to boost cross-Strait ties

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:40, April 23, 2026

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson has slammed the political maneuvering by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities over the recent policy package unveiled by the mainland, which aims to boost ties with Taiwan.

Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the statement on Wednesday in response to a query regarding calls from major Taiwan industries against the DPP authorities' politicization of livelihood issues at a press briefing on the policy package. The DPP authorities responded by distorting the package as an attempt to add political pressure.

The views from Taiwan industries fully prove that the policy package aligns with the needs of industrial recovery on the island and is conducive to addressing key economic and livelihood concerns, Zhang said.

However, the DPP authorities have disregarded public opinion on the island, as well as the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots. In response to the goodwill and sincerity shown by the mainland, together with its preferential policies, they have only offered smears and attacks, the spokesperson said.

"The DPP authorities were delusional in thinking that they could resume consultations and dialogue across the Taiwan Strait without recognizing the 1992 Consensus," Zhang said, adding that such old tricks would only place them increasingly at odds with mainstream public opinion on the island.

She urged the DPP authorities to stop political maneuvering, follow the will of the people and the broader trend of the times, and change their stance on promoting cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.

The Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee announced the package of 10 policies and measures on April 12, as a delegation from the Chinese Kuomintang party led by chairwoman Cheng Li-wun wrapped up their six-day mainland visit.

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NATO Secretary General visits Turkiye in preparation for Ankara Summit, underlines importance of defence industry

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

22 April 2026

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Ankara, Turkiye (21-22 April 2026) to engage with national leadership and visit an ASELSAN Technology Base. In his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Rutte highlighted Turkiye's contribution to the Alliance and discussed preparations for the upcoming Summit in Ankara.

Speaking with young engineers at the technology base, the Secretary General thanked them for their work, underscoring that in today's more dangerous world, we need strong defences to protect our security. He highlighted Turkiye's pivotal role in the Alliance, saying "Turkiye has gone through a defence industrial revolution." In order to continue keeping NATO's citizens safe, Mr Rutte emphasised the importance of defence industrial cooperation that Allies "continue to produce together, to innovate together, and to buy from each other." These efforts are crucial to ensuring collective security and demonstrating that Allies are committed to decisions made at the Summit in The Hague, said the Secretary General. He concluded by saying that "transatlantic industrial cooperation comes with great benefits for your businesses, for your economy, and first of all, for your and therefore for our collective security."

During his visit, the Secretary General also met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler.

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PM meeting with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset: 22 April 2026

Press release

The Prime Minister welcomed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, to Downing Street today.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 22 April 2026

The Prime Minister welcomed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, to Downing Street today.

The Prime Minister reiterated his personal commitment, and that of the government, to the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Both leaders noted the utmost importance of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights to todays global stability.

On the shared challenge of illegal migration, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of showing that the ECHR reflects modern challenges and that it works for people with genuine concerns about border security.

The Secretary General provided an update on the Council of Europes work to pursue accountability for the atrocities perpetrated in Ukraine and he thanked the UK government for its strong support in this area.

They looked forward to speaking again soon.

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Northern Ireland start-up boost with new 50 million defence growth deal

Press release

Defence tech start-ups and small businesses in Northern Ireland will benefit from a 50 million investment boost launched by the UK government today, creating highly-skilled jobs and strengthening UK national security.

From: Ministry of Defence , Northern Ireland Office , Matthew Patrick MP and Luke Pollard MP

Published 22 April 2026

New defence investment will boost start-up companies and supply chains in Northern Ireland.

Investment will support hundreds of highly-skilled, well-paid jobs, making defence an engine for growth.

Northern Ireland benefits from over 270 million per year in defence spending with industry, supporting 900 jobs.

As part of todays launch, Defence Minister Luke Pollard, along with Northern Ireland Office Minister Matthew Patrick, met representatives from local industry and research academia at Belfast Met College.

They discussed the Northern Ireland Growth Deals mission to grow the defence ecosystem, boost competitiveness, and create jobs across Northern Ireland. This comes as part of the governments Defence Industrial Strategy, which is backing UK businesses, putting the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation in NATO and ensuring this governments record uplift in defence spending delivers lasting benefits for people in every nation and region.

The new Defence Growth Deal will create a targeted programme to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Northern Ireland by making it easier for them to enter the defence supply chain.

SMEs will also be better able to innovate and collaborate with each other and large companies at a new Secure Innovation Hub facility, which will be established under the deal. This new facility will provide secure research and development for new businesses and start-ups, creating a level playing field with major defence firms.

The Defence Growth Deal will also focus on supporting SMEs developing technology that can be used for military and civilian purposes, ensuring that innovations benefit both UK national security and the wider economy.

Alongside the 50 million investment, the UK government is also providing additional funding for a skills initiative in Northern Ireland. Defence will work with industry, colleges and universities to develop defence-related skills such as engineering and technology, supporting vital defence industries and creating more opportunities for students to learn the skills of the future.

This will help them embark on well-paid and meaningful long-term careers in Northern Ireland that will keep the UK and our allies safe, creating jobs in local areas, in alignment with the governments wider Pride in Place programme.

This is just one part of the UK government making the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said:

Northern Ireland plays a pivotal role in keeping the UK and our allies safe. In Belfast we build missiles that take down Iranian drones threatening our bases and allies in the Middle East. Belfast also builds the air defence systems that keep Ukraine in the fight against Putins illegal war. Defence is an engine for growth and the MOD is proud to be working with the Northern Ireland Office and the Executive to create more jobs, more opportunities for apprentices and graduates and more investment in Northern Irelands defence industry.

Northern Ireland is already home to a significant defence industry footprint, with 900 jobs directly supported by over 271 million of defence spending with industry each year, making defence an engine for growth.

SMEs such as AI-focused Whitespace and KX are a key part of the defence supply chain in Northern Ireland, working hand-in-hand with big defence companies, producing vital kit which keeps the UK and our allies safe.

Belfast is home to major defence facilities such as Thales factory, with which this government has supported a 1.6 billion order for 5,000 lightweight multi-role missiles (LMM) for Ukraines air defences. This contract has helped Thales double its production in Belfast and plan to hire 300 new staff, demonstrating this governments defence dividend in action.

Northern Ireland Office Minister Matthew Patrick said:

This deal is good news for Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, and our allies - investing 50 million in our talent, our economy and our resilience. This Defence Growth Deal has been shaped by businesses large and small - our universities, apprentices and representative bodies. With this deal, Northern Ireland businesses enjoy a vote of confidence which will help them secure bigger and better deals.

This 50 million boost directly responds to the Strategic Defence Reviews commitment to supporting the UKs defence industrys innovation and will help make defence an engine for growth by powering investment and jobs across Northern Ireland.

Joseph Reffitt, Northern Ireland Director at ADS said:

We are delighted to see the government launch its fifth and final Defence Growth Deal here in Northern Ireland. The Northern Irish defence sector already makes a substantial contribution to the local economy, supporting wellpaid, highly skilled jobs right across the region. While the detail will be pivotal, we hope this deal will help build on our existing strengths by investing in the engineering capability and the workforce we are known for. ADS has been pleased to work closely with regional partners, the Ministry of Defence and our members to help unlock Northern Irelands full potential, and we look forward to continuing that collaboration to ensure these initiatives deliver longterm, sustainable benefits for industry and the communities we support.

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EU Assistance to Ukraine (in U.S. Dollars)

European External Action Service (EEAS)

22.04.2026

Washington, D.C.

Administration Team of the EU Delegation to the United States

The European Union (EU) and our 27 Member States remain united and determined in our unprecedented support for Ukraine. Since the start of the war, the EU and our Member States have made available over $223 billion 1 in financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee assistance, of which 65% have been provided as grants or in-kind support and 35% in the form of highly concessional loans. The EU is Ukraine's largest supporter.



Since the start of the war, the EU and our Member States have made available over 1 in financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee assistance, of which have been provided as or support and in the form of highly concessional loans. In February 2024, European leaders agreed to commit up to $54 billion until 2027 for the Ukraine Facility to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernization, as well as its reform efforts as part of its EU accession path.



for the to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernization, as well as its reform efforts as part of its EU accession path. In October 2024, the EU and G7 partners agreed to collectively provide loans of $50 billion to support Ukraine's budgetary, military and reconstruction needs, financed by extraordinary revenues from immobilized Russian sovereign assets. The EU will contribute up to $20 billion, the first $10 billion of which was disbursed in 2025.



agreed to collectively provide loans of to support Ukraine's budgetary, military and reconstruction needs, financed by extraordinary revenues from immobilized Russian sovereign assets. The EU will contribute up to billion, the first $10 billion of which was disbursed in 2025. In April 2025, the EU made available $2.3 billion generated from the proceeds of immobilized Russian assets , $4.04 billion in total, $3.5 billion for military support via EPF and $400 million through the Ukraine Facility.



, in total, for military support via EPF and through the Ukraine Facility. In December 2023, European leaders endorsed opening accession negotiations with Ukraine. Ukraine has shown remarkable determination and progress on reforms , including anti-corruption, while defending its country and its people against Russia's aggression. Ukraine is already a member of the European family and we will continue supporting Ukraine every step of the way on its path to EU membership.



with Ukraine. , including anti-corruption, while defending its country and its people against Russia's aggression. Ukraine is already a and we will continue supporting Ukraine every step of the way on its path to EU membership. Since the start of Russia's illegal war, we have worked in lockstep with the United States and other partners to impose massive, unprecedented sanctions on Russia, its military, and its economy, as well as to isolate Russia internationally, despite their negative effects on Europe's economy.



on Russia, its military, and its economy, as well as to isolate Russia internationally, despite their negative effects on Europe's economy. The EU moved at lightning speed to diversify energy supplies and decouple from Russian fossil fuels,banning Russian coal and oil imports and drastically reducing gas imports.The U.S. commitment to support Europe in substituting U.S. LNG replacing most imported Russian gas has been instrumental.

Collective EU and Member State support to Ukraine includes:

Over $122 billion in financial and budgetary support and in humanitarian and emergency assistance . This allows Ukraine to keep paying wages and pensions and maintain essential public services, such as hospitals, schools, and housing for relocated people. It ensures macroeconomic stability, and helps restore critical infrastructure. It includes: $50 billion of financial assistancein 2022-2025 $34 billion of financial assistance mobilized from the Ukraine Facility $16 billion of financial assistance directly from EU Member States in grants, loans, and guarantees $3 billion in loans from the EIB and EBRD guaranteed by the EU budget $4.8 billion in humanitarian aid, emergency assistance, budget support and crisis response, including $122 million to rebuild Ukrainian schools Over 157,000 tonnes of in-kind assistance, including medical supplies, mobile hospitals, shelters, school buses, ambulances, and power generators , with an estimated value of over $1 billion , have been provided via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by 35 participating countries, coordinated by the EU. 4,986 EU-coordinated medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients to hospitals across Europe.



in and in . This allows Ukraine to keep paying wages and pensions and maintain essential public services, such as hospitals, schools, and housing for relocated people. It ensures macroeconomic stability, and helps restore critical infrastructure. It includes: ENERGY SUPPORT: Since 2022, the EU has donated $2.3 billion for energy security , primarily via the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and signed a guarantee for $577 million for gas reserves . An additional $46 million was provided for winter preparedness 2025/2026 , and a Combined Heat and Power Plant was sent to Ukraine. Also, nearly 11,6000 power generators have been donated so far to Ukraine by the European Commission and EU Member States/UCPM Participating States, to restore power to hospitals, shelters and critical services in Ukraine.



Since 2022, the EU has donated for , primarily via the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and signed a guarantee for for . An additional was provided for , and a was sent to Ukraine. Also, nearly 11,6000 power generators have been donated so far to Ukraine by the European Commission and EU Member States/UCPM Participating States, to restore power to hospitals, shelters and critical services in Ukraine. MILITARY SUPPORT: The EU and its Member States have provided $82.9 billion in military support to Ukraine since 2022. As pa[rt of this support, the High Representative worked with Member States to provide two million rounds of large-caliber ammunition. In addition, the EU has mobilized $4.04 billion from the proceeds of Russian immobilized assets comprising three lines of effort: $2.2 billion for the joint procurement and delivery of up to an additional one million rounds of artillery ammunition and an additional $535 million to boost EU defense industry capacities in ammunition production. On top of that, in March 2024, the Council established a dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund worth $5.4 billion. The EU is today the largest military training provider to the Ukrainian armed forces - over 86,800 Ukrainian soldiers in 2,013 training modules, trained under the EU's $390 million Military Assistance Mission. An additional $80 million has been provided for humanitarian de-mining of liberated territories.



The EU and its Member States have provided to Ukraine since 2022. As pa[rt of this support, the High Representative worked with Member States to provide In addition, the EU has mobilized from the proceeds of comprising three lines of effort: for the joint procurement and delivery of up to an additional of artillery ammunition and an additional to boost EU defense industry capacities in ammunition production. On top of that, in March 2024, the Council established a dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund worth The EU is today the - over in 2,013 training modules, trained under the EU's Military Assistance Mission. An additional has been provided for humanitarian de-mining of liberated territories. HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT: Up to $18 billion from the EU budget to support Ukrainian refugees who have fled to EU Member States since February 2022. Close to 8 million refugees have been recorded in the EU, mainly women, children, and older persons, and more than 4 million Ukrainians have registered for temporary protection in the EU, which means they are entitled to work, accommodation, healthcare, as well as schooling for their children2.



Up to from the EU budget to support who have fled to EU Member States since February 2022. Close to 8 million refugees have been recorded in the EU, mainly women, children, and older persons, and more than have registered for temporary protection in the EU, which means they are entitled to work, accommodation, healthcare, as well as schooling for their children2. FOOD SECURITY: Over $2.2 billion to boost "EU Solidarity Lanes" to transport Ukrainian food to the world and address the food security crisis caused by Russia's war. These lanes have already helped Ukraine export over 199 million tonnes of goods, including 88 million tonnes of grains and related products, and generated much-needed revenue for Ukraine's economy.

By bringing war back to Europe, Putin plans not only to destroy Ukraine and destabilize Europe, but to tear up international law and the UN Charter and undermine peace and security in the entire world, with dire consequences for vital American and European global security interests.

We are grateful to the United States for its unwavering bipartisan support to Ukraine, and for standing with the European Union as we jointly work to ensure Ukraine's victory in its ongoing fight for survival as an independent country and a sovereign nation. This is not the moment to weaken our support to Ukraine. Ukraine can only defeat Putin's aggression if it stands firmly on two legs of American and European support.

Standing together against Putin's brutality will be even more crucial in the months to come as we continue to address Ukraine's needs and hold Russia accountable for its criminal actions.

1EUR values converted into USD at the 12-month average ECB reference exchange rate as of 12 November 2025. The total figure includes $34.4 billion already mobilized under the Ukraine Facility and $10 billion already disbursed as part of the G7 loan.

2The Kiel Institute estimates national expenditure by EU member states in support of Ukrainian refugees at approximately $170 billion.

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European Commission and EIB Group announce new financing package of over 600 million to support Ukraine's recovery

European External Action Service (EEAS)

22.04.2026

Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE

European Commission extends the EU guarantee to enable over 450 million in EIB Group financing for Ukraine.

Fresh financing also includes around 150 million in EU grants and technical assistance.

Initiative is part of EU Ukraine Facility to support country's reconstruction and EU integration.

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group today announced a new financing package of more than 600 million to support urgent reconstruction projects in Ukraine.

The Commission is extending the European Union guarantee to the EIB Group to enable over 450 million in EIB Group financing for further recovery efforts in Ukraine. In addition, the package includes around 150 million in complementary EU grants and technical assistance.

The EIB financing supported by the EU guarantee will target sectors essential to Ukraine's economy and daily life, such as roads, railways, power grids and energy efficiency for homes and public infrastructure. Support will also extend to urban mobility and education facilities, helping maintain essential services while advancing long-term recovery and reforms.

"Today's announcement reflects the strength of the EU's partnership with Ukraine," said EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer. "We are scaling up our support to deliver concrete investments where they are needed most - from energy security to transport and housing. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine's recovery and its path towards European integration."

The EU guarantee tops up 2 billion made available to the EIB Group in 2025 under the "Ukraine Investment Framework", which is part of the EU's 50 billion "Ukraine Facility" designed to mobilise public and private investment for the country. Together, they expand the EIB Group's capacity to deliver financing in support of Ukraine's reconstruction priorities.

The announcement was made during an EU-Ukraine Business Summit in Brussels .

"Now is a good time to invest in Ukraine," said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. "It is becoming one of the most strategic investment destinations in Europe. Innovative, full of potential, and ever more central to Europe's future. Cooperations between EU and Ukrainian companies also lay the foundation for more European sovereignty in critical technology sectors."

The joint initiative reflects a "Team Europe" approach that brings together EU institutions to mobilise investment, safeguard essential services and support Ukraine in building a more resilient and sustainable future.

"These additional EU guarantees are of great importance, particularly for supporting public sector projects and the recovery of critical infrastructure and the energy sector," said Ukrainian Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksii Sobolev. "They ensure that one of our key investment partners, the EIB, can expand financing for urgent projects across the country. We are grateful to our European partners for this new package of financial support and look forward to its swift implementation, which is essential for addressing urgent recovery needs."

Background information

The Ukraine Facility is the European Union's financial assistance programme for Ukraine. During the 2024-2027 period, 50 billion will be allocated by the European Union to finance the state budget, stimulate investment and provide technical support in the implementation of the programme.

The Ukraine Investment Framework is part of the Ukraine Facility designed to attract public and private investments for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. It is implemented in indirect management by European financial institutions and multilateral financial institutions. These include the European Investment Bank Group, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, Council of Europe Development Bank, and bilateral financial institutions such as Member States' development banks and export credit agencies. Through these institutions, the Ukraine Investment Framework provides risk-coverage to unlock public and private investments in Ukraine already now. It can also provide investment grants and technical assistance to make these investments possible.

The EIB in Ukraine

Present in Ukraine since 2007, the EIB has stepped up its financial support for the country's resilience and modernisation since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the EIB has provided more than 4 billion in financing. Through its EU for Ukraine (EU4U) Initiative , coupled with its key role in implementing a dedicated window under the Ukraine Facility, the EIB is strongly committed to stepping up and accelerating its activities in line with the mandate given by EU leaders and in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States and international partners.

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Germany Federal Foreign Office

22.04.2026 - Press release

Minister of State Hahn issued the following statement on his arrival in Kyiv today (22 April 2026):

During my first stop in Lviv yesterday evening and also today when I arrived in Kyiv, it was once again very clear that amid all the horrors that Putin's Russia is inflicting on Ukraine, the Ukrainian people continue to demonstrate unbelievable resilience - each day afresh for 1518 days now. For more than four years, soldiers have been fighting at the front, families have been fearing for the lives of their loved ones, people throughout the country have been weathering attacks on cities, apartment blocks, the energy supply, also in the most recent, incredibly severe winter of the war, with temperatures falling to double figures below freezing.

Yesterday in Lviv, my first appointment was an act of commemoration for soldiers who lost their lives in Ukraine's battle to defend itself. For those who experienced Putin's brutal war of conquest first hand at the front. It is thanks to their heroic courage, their strength, their determination that Putin's dreams of conquest have still not come true, even in the fifth spring that Ukraine is being compelled to live through in a state of war.

For it is clearer than ever before that Putin has totally miscalculated. On one side, there are huge losses on the Russian side, on the other there is a united NATO that is able to defend itself, a steadfast Ukraine, and the solidarity and full support of Germany and the EU , which we intend to maintain unwaveringly and with firm resolve.

Another crucial factor in Ukraine's fight to defend itself is its capacity for ground-breaking innovation and for creative and flexible economic approaches. We can and we must learn from this attitude, for Russia's aggressive, imperial revisionism has an impact beyond Ukraine and also poses a direct threat to us in Germany and in the EU . We underscored this last week during the GermanUkrainian intergovernmental consultations. That is why, alongside political talks, I have scheduled a large number of meetings with German and Ukrainian business representatives. We want to find ways for us to work together even more effectively, faster and more intensively and flesh out the agreements on increasing German engagement in Ukraine concluded during the intergovernmental consultations.

Greater cooperation is right and important, because it remains clear that we in Germany and also as the European Union have the unwavering goal of just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Putin is responding with increased cynicism and even more lies, more violence and terror to Ukraine's repeatedly proven willingness to negotiate immediately. We will therefore increase the pressure on Russia further and remain firmly by Ukraine's side. On behalf of the German Government, I want to use my visit here to the country to demonstrate this support and solidarity for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people to all my dialogue partners.
A look at the Defence news 13 - 19 April

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item 22-04-2026 | 15:08

The Netherlands has allocated  248 million to manufacture drones for the Ukrainian armed forces. Netherlands Minister of Defence Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius made the announcement last week at a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting. The drones will be produced in the Netherlands and Ukraine.

The Netherlands had previously already allocated 135 million to deliver drones in support of Ukraine. An agreement concluded in December will come to fruition in the town of Born, in the southern part of Limburg province. There is now a written agreement that VDL Defentec and the Ukrainian company GreentechHarvest will manufacture the drones at that location. Production of the drones will centre on the Baton and the K4. The Netherlands will subsequently donate the drones to Ukraine.

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Hunting The Hunters: FPV Drone-Killing Devices Emerge On Ukraine's Front Lines

By Amos Chapple April 22, 2026

As Vladimir Putin moved down a line of military officers on Red Square in May 2025, a member of the Russian president's security detail was spotted holding an unusual weapon partially hidden under a black cloth.

Since that device was spotted, multiple examples of a drone interceptor featuring the same tail-fin configuration have been filmed purportedly knocking out drones over the battlefields of Ukraine.

The interceptor is known as the Elka (Fir Tree) and is produced by an unnamed Moscow company. The device now appears to be set for widespread adoption by the Russian military as a counter to small reconnaissance and bomb-carrying First Person-View (FPV) drones.

FPV drones controlled through fiberoptic cables have proven nearly impossible to counter since they first emerged in Ukraine in early 2024.

The Elka hasno explosive warhead and relies on its own momentum and what appears to be a reinforced, spiked nose to shatter the airframes of enemy drones on impact.

The X-winged interceptor is fired from a pistol-like launcher and reportedly features a targeting system that human operators initiate by locking onto a flying target.

The launched interceptor can then autonomously home in on a drone up to 1.6 kilometers away. The "fire and forget" system removes the need for communication with the user, meaning it cannot be jammed electronically while in flight.

Monika Ahlborn, who runs the popular social media page Drone Wars,told RFE/RL that the apparent success of the Elka is likely due to a combination of "simplicity, [low] cost, and autonomy." No confirmed price for the device has been reported, but some estimates put a single airframe at $500.

"The system seems relatively lightweight, portable, and comparatively inexpensive, which makes it scalable at the unit level rather than being restricted to high-value air defense assets," the drone expert told RFE/RL. Additionally, Ahlborn said, the fire-and-forget targeting system "reduces operator burden in high-tempo environments."

A purported instructional leaflet that includes the shortfalls of the device notes that, "given the material the Elka is made from," the interceptor must be handled carefully. The leaflet also reveals the device can only be used in daytime hours and dry weather.

Crucially, the leaflet advises operators to lock onto targets only against a clear or overcast sky. Videos of the Elka in combat show it tracking and destroying drones flying with steady flight paths against a featureless sky. An FPV drone flying low and erratically against a cluttered background could prove difficult for the Russian device to lock onto.

In Ukraine, a counter to fiberoptic FPV drones has been the adoption of net guns which launch nets that expand out to 3.5-4 meters. The net guns can entangle and down enemy drones within a maximum of 30 meters and cost less than $200.

Jan Ruzicka, who heads the Czech Wings of the Phoenix association that supplies anti-drone devices to Ukrainian troops, told RFE/RL he has delivered around 500 net guns to Ukrainian soldiers and heard of around 40 "kills" of enemy drones using the device. But he notes "this is a weapon of last resort -- when everything else has failed, and the enemy drone is in the final stages of its flight to a soldier or position."

He says the net guns have also been used to pin down dreaded "waiter" drones that sit on standby mode next to roads and paths waiting for signs of movement.

Iryna Rybakova, a press officer with Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade, says for high-risk missions, net guns are now an established part of anti-drone tactics.

"We take all the weapons with us," Rybakova told RFE/RL when describing driving near the front lines. "In addition to machine guns, we have shotguns, and also small net launchers [made by the Ukrainian company] Ptashka." She too describes the pistol-like net guns as the "last chance" layer of defense.

At least one documented successful use of net guns in combat was recordedin late 2025, while an April 2026 combat video shows a Ukrainian special forces soldier switching between a net gun and rifleas a drone stalks his position.

Ruzicka told RFE/RL that demand for the net guns is growing. "I have many more requests from the military than I can cover," he says but adds that the shortfalls of the first-generation devices are obvious.

The single-shot net guns are painfully slow to reload, he says, meaning soldiers essentially have one chance to take down a hunting drone. Other battlefield veterans predict net guns are a "fad"that are likely to be phased out as the search for a lasting counter to unjammable FPV drones continues.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/anti-drone-technology- russia-invasion-ukraine-elka-fpv-threat/33737266.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Why can't AI serve as qualified doctors despite high test scores?

Xinhua) 13:38, April 23, 2026

A man takes photos of his hand and a robotic hand at the Hannover Messe 2026 in Hannover, Germany, April 21, 2026. Hannover Messe 2026, Germany's flagship industrial trade fair, opened on Monday with industrial artificial intelligence (AI) and humanoid robots taking center stage for the first time. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

As AI is pushed further into clinical practice, the risks that come with it also require close attention. Kleesiek emphasized that the human factor is still crucial and that AI must be deployed under the guidance of physicians with the expertise to understand the technology and use it properly.

BERLIN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Is a headache a warning sign of stroke? Does a cough require an X-ray? What do abnormal test results really mean?

With just a few taps to describe symptoms and upload medical reports, people can receive a polished, seemingly professional assessment from artificial intelligence (AI) in seconds. More and more people have begun to turn to it for medical advice before seeing a doctor.

But does that mean AI can truly diagnose and treat patients?

STRAIGHT-A STUDENT in STANDARDIZED TESTS

A study published in early April by researchers at Germany's Marburg University and University Hospital Giessen and Marburg found that in a standardized knowledge test on acute kidney injury (AKI), several large language models (LLMs) outperformed the medical professionals who took part in the assessment.

Researchers compared 13 publicly available LLMs with 123 volunteer participants at the 131st Annual Congress of the German Society of Internal Medicine, including medical students and physicians in internal medicine. Both groups completed the same AKI knowledge assessment, which consisted of two case vignettes and 15 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions.

A man looks at a humanoid robot at the exhibition area of Dassault Systemes at the Hannover Messe 2026 in Hannover, Germany, April 21, 2026. Hannover Messe 2026, Germany's flagship industrial trade fair, opened on Monday with industrial artificial intelligence (AI) and humanoid robots taking center stage for the first time. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

The LLMs achieved a mean score of 13.5 out of 15, or 90 percent, with several models reaching a perfect score, while the human participants averaged 7.3 out of 15, or 48.7 percent. The models also completed the test far more quickly.

"These findings show that LLMs can provide factual medical knowledge very quickly. That creates opportunities for everyday clinical practice," said Philipp Russ, the study's corresponding author.

WEAK LINK in CLINICAL REASONING

High scores on standardized tests, however, do not necessarily mean AI has the judgment required for real-world clinical care.

A study published in JAMA Network Open on April 13 found that LLMs still fall short in clinical reasoning, especially in the early stages of a case, when limited information often prevents them from generating an appropriate differential diagnosis.

To better reflect how diagnosis unfolds in practice, the researchers at Mass General Brigham and other institutions evaluated 21 frontier LLMs using 29 standardized clinical vignettes. The models were fed information step by step, beginning with basic details such as a patient's age, gender and symptoms, and followed by physical examination findings and laboratory results. Their performance at each stage was assessed by medical student evaluators.

The result showed that all the models failed to produce an appropriate differential diagnosis more than 80 percent of the time. That means they often could not reliably determine the most likely cause, rule out serious disease or offer sound guidance on what should be investigated next.

A man looks at a humanoid robot at the exhibition area of Agile Robots at Hannover Messe 2026 in Hannover, Germany, April 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

"Differential diagnoses are central to clinical reasoning and underlie the 'art of medicine' that AI cannot currently replicate," said corresponding author Marc Succi, adding that the promise of AI in clinical medicine continues to lie in its potential to augment, not replace, physician reasoning.

DOCTOR-LED COLLABORATION

If AI is not ready to practice medicine on its own, what role should it play in healthcare?

Jens Kleesiek, director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine at Essen University Hospital and the University of Duisburg-Essen, said that thanks to AI, the collaboration between doctors and computers is constantly improving.

"We are at a point where digital systems no longer just provide support, but actively intervene in processes. For example, by taking over documentation or coordinating procedures," Kleesiek said at the opening of the 2026 Annual Congress of the German Society of Internal Medicine on April 18. "This will fundamentally change medical care."

Even so, the doctor's primary responsibility remains unchanged. Kleesiek emphasized that the human factor is still crucial and that AI must be deployed under the guidance of physicians with the expertise to understand the technology and use it properly.

A man shakes hands with a humanoid robot from PaXini at the Hannover Messe 2026 in Hannover, Germany, April 21, 2026. Hannover Messe 2026, Germany's flagship industrial trade fair, opened on Monday with industrial artificial intelligence (AI) and humanoid robots taking center stage for the first time. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

Marc Succi made a similar point, saying that "LLMs in healthcare continue to require a 'human in the loop' and very close oversight."

As AI is pushed further into clinical practice, the risks that come with it also require close attention. Fares Alahdab, an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, warned that experienced clinicians are often better able to spot flawed AI-generated suggestions, while medical students may lack the judgment needed to detect subtle but potentially dangerous errors.

"A more insidious risk is the outsourcing of reasoning, a process that tends to occur gradually and almost imperceptibly," he said, adding that AI models produce fluent, polished responses that can lead users to abandon independent information-seeking, critical appraisal and knowledge synthesis. Over time, this may erode skills that should be continuously reinforced.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
EU Gives Preliminary Approval For Major Ukraine Aid Package As Oil Heads Toward Central Europe

By Rikard Jozwiak April 22, 2026

European Union ambassadors have given a green light to a 90 billion euros ($106 billion) loan for Ukraine for this and next year after Hungary and Slovakia lifted their vetoes following the resumption of operations on the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil -- exempt from EU sanctions -- through Ukraine to Central Europe.

The group announced the decision on April 22, saying it would become official once oil transiting through the pipeline was flowing into the region. The meeting also approved a 20th sanctions package on Russia over its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

"The oil started pumping at 11:30 CET. That means that the oil should reach the Hungarian and Slovak borders by the end of the day or early tomorrow," a European official told RFE/RL.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a day earlier that Ukraine had completed repair work on a section of the pipeline that had been damaged by a Russian air strike.

However, he also warned that "no one can currently guarantee that Russia will not repeat attacks on the pipeline infrastructure."

The oil deliveries ground to a halt at the end of January after damage caused by Russian air strikes. Moscow has targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure as part of its war strategy.

Both Hungary and Slovakia have for months accused Kyiv of stalling to repair it for political reasons with Budapest opting to block a raft of Ukraine-related measures -- including the loan but also more EU sanctions on Russia -- until the Druzhba was up and running again.

Ukraine rejected the accusations but also lashed out at the EU, accusing it of "blackmail" by urging it to quickly repair the damaged pipeline.

Money To Fix Druzhba Pipeline

In March, the European Commission announced that it sent financial aid to restore Druzhba and dispatched a team of experts to inspect the damaged part, although that team reportedly never left Kyiv.

The latest move puts an end to a long-running saga over the loan that initially was agreed by EU leaders, including Hungary and Slovakia, at a summit in Brussels in December 2025.

Leaders opted for a loan backed by the EU budget instead of a much-publicized "reparation loan" using Russian assets currently frozen inside the bloc as collateral. Belgium vetoed that initiative as most of the assets sit in the Brussels-based financial markets company Euroclear.

The funds will now be raised by EU countries jointly borrowing on financial markets, backed by what Brussels calls EU budget "headroom," meaning the gap between the bloc's maximum borrowing capacity under its long-term budget, which runs until 2027, and its actual spending levels.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia all secured carve-outs, so this is a deal involving 24 EU countries, not 27, but the trio still had to approve using the EU budget to back the loan.

The EU is now hopeful the first batch of the loan can be delivered to Ukraine by the end of April or early May.

Last year, the International Monetary Fund estimated Ukraine would need around 135 billion euros in financing for 2026 and 2027, with Brussels committed to cover the largest share of that.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-loan-ukraine-aid- package-druzhba-hungary-slovakia/33737963.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Meeting Between Putin, Zelensky Only Possible to Finalize Agreements - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20260422

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky can only take place to finalize agreements, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"The main thing is the purpose of the meeting. What is the purpose of the meeting? Putin said he was ready to meet in Moscow at any time. The main thing is that there is a purpose for the meeting, and most importantly, that the meeting is productive, and it can only be for the purpose of finalizing agreements," Peskov said.

Moscow does not see Kiev's political will to resolve the Ukraine conflict, Peskov said.

Achievement of initial goals of the special military operation and ensuring Russia's interests are the most important thing, Peskov said, adding that achieving goals of the operation in Ukraine will help insure Russia against the threat of Kiev's terrorist attacks.

Attacks on civilian targets have become a reality that Russia faces, Peskov said, commenting on Ukraine's drone attack on the Russian city of Syzran.

 Sputnik

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Russian Forces Vaporize Ukrainian Weapons as Black Sea Fleet Hammers Energy and Port Hubs

Sputnik News

20260422

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems downed a guided aerial bomb, three HIMARS rockets, and 368 Ukrainian drones, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday. Additionally, the Russian Black Sea Fleet took out a Ukrainian unmanned boat in the Black Sea and struck Ukrainian energy, transport, and port infrastructure facilities.

"Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and the artillery of Russian military troop contingents smashed Ukrainian energy, transport, and port infrastructure facilities used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, storage and preparation sites for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries across 131 areas," the ministry reported.

Ukraine lost over 325 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup, over 200 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated by Russia's Sever battlegroup, and up to 230 by the Vostok battlegroup

Russia's Zapad battlegroup neutralized up to 300 Ukrainian soldiers, the Yug battlegroup wiped out as many as 135 soldiers, and the Dnepr battlegroup destroyed up to 30 soldiers

The successful intercepts and strikes have significantly eroded Ukraine's operational capabilities, allowing Russian forces to strengthen defensive lines and seize more advantageous forward positions.

 Sputnik

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Over UAH 55 Million from Canada: Ukraine Completes First Tallinn Mechanism Cyber Projects

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

22 April 2026 17:37

The first projects under the Tallinn Mechanism for Ukrainian government institutions and critical infrastructure have been completed. Their implementation was funded by the Government of Canada, which allocated more than UAH 55 million.

"Through the Tallinn Mechanism, Canada is proud to support Ukraine in strengthening its long-term cyber resilience and safeguarding the digital systems that underpin civilian infrastructure and are targets of ongoing Russian aggression. Canada's support reflects our long-term partnership with Ukraine and our shared commitment to security, cyber resilience, and international stability," - Global Affairs Canada stated.

The first completed projects include:

enhancing the security of authentication processes at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant

strengthening cybersecurity and analytical capabilities of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Apparatus

improving wireless network protection and automating infrastructure management within the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

modernizing the cybersecurity infrastructure of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine

development and automation of cybersecurity infrastructure management for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

"According to the Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025, Ukraine ranks 5th globally and 3rd in Europe in the number of cyberattacks, which is why we are implementing systemic solutions in response. By enhancing the cyber defense of individual government agencies and enterprises, we are building a resilient security ecosystem for the entire country. It is thanks to the support of our partners within the Tallinn Mechanism, particularly Canada, that the results of the implemented technologies and solutions enable us to effectively defend against enemy attacks," Vitaly Balashov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for Cybersecurity and Cloud Technologies, mentioned.

The implementation of these projects enables beneficiaries to operate in line with modern cybersecurity standards and respond more effectively to emerging cyber threats. By integrating new solutions with existing security systems, the overall protection of IT infrastructure is significantly enhanced. These improvements contribute to building a comprehensive and resilient security ecosystem capable of addressing both external and internal cyber threats.

"We are grateful to Canada for its consistent and sustained support in strengthening Ukraine's cybersecurity. Active cooperation with the Tallinn Mechanism and CRDF Global enables the effective implementation of projects of varying complexity  from the rapid deployment of critical cybersecurity systems to large-scale national programs aimed at enhancing cyber resilience. At the same time, the NCCC expects a similar level of engagement and proactivity from other international partners, as well as from Ukrainian stakeholders, particularly at the regional level," Nataliya Tkachuk, Head of the Cyber and Information Security Directorate at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, said.

Overall, Canada plans to allocate approximately UAH 92 million (CAD 3 million) for activities under the Tallinn Mechanism in 2025-2026. CRDF Global serves as the implementation partner for the projects funded by Canada.

"We welcome the fact that we can already speak about the first projects completed under the Tallinn Mechanism. For us, this is an important result made possible, in particular, by Canada's contribution and its readiness to further deepen cooperation in this area, which we regard as an integral part of our shared security architecture. We are confident that the Tallinn Mechanism will continue to serve as an effective platform for consolidating the resources and expertise of international partners with a view to protecting Ukraine's critical infrastructure," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated.

These projects mark only the beginning. More than 25 projects under the Tallinn Mechanism for central and local government authorities are currently at various stages of implementation. Over 80 projects are under consideration by Tallinn Mechanism donor countries for potential deployment.

In addition, a range of other initiatives have already been implemented under the Tallinn Mechanism - from cybersecurity assessments of critical infrastructure to capacity-building programmes and professional training for Ukrainian specialists.

The Tallinn Mechanism was established in December 2023 to coordinate international assistance aimed at strengthening Ukraine's national cybersecurity and cyber resilience. It unites 14 countries: Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union, NATO, and the World Bank participate as official observers.

The team of the Tallinn Mechanism Project Office (TMPO), based in Ukraine, coordinates the implementation of activities and supports collaboration between Ukrainian institutions and international partners. TMPO is currently funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, and EU CyberNet. TMPO works closely with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the State Service of Special Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center.

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Olexandr Mischenko and Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, discussed the strengthening of military support for Ukraine by the Alliance

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

22 April 2026 18:02

On April 22, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olexandr Mischenko, held a meeting with the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who is currently on a visit to Kyiv.

The Deputy Minister informed his counterpart about the current security situation in Ukraine and the developments on the battlefield. He pointed out that, despite the end of the winter season, Russia continues its large-scale attacks against Ukraine. Regardless of diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching peace, Russia consistently carries out missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, damaging critical infrastructure and causing civilian casualties. Thus, the reinforcement of air defence remains one of the key priorities.

In this regard, the Deputy Minister underlined that the PURL initiative, through which Ukraine receives US-made weapons, including missiles for Patriot systems, must continue to operate. Olexandr Mischenko stressed that ensuring proper funding for this initiative and securing corresponding contributions from NATO member states and partner countries is critically important.

Olexandr Mischenko reiterated the importance of developing Ukraine's defence industry and, therefore, the necessity of increasing allied investment in Ukraine's defence sector. He noted that, as a supplier of cutting-edge military technologies, Ukraine possesses unparalleled expertise and is willing to share it with its allies.

The parties discussed further ways to strengthen practical cooperation between Ukraine and the Alliance.

The Chair of the NATO Military Committee reaffirmed that the Alliance's support for Ukraine remains unwavering and stressed that the security of Ukraine is inextricably linked to the security of Europe and the Euro-Atlantic region as a whole.

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Air defence priorities and joint projects: Ukraine and Spain scale up cooperation

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

22 April, 2026, 6:12 PM EEST

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, met with the Minister of Defence of Spain, Margarita Robles. The parties agreed on key areas of cooperation focused on enhancing the defence capabilities of both countries, particularly in air defence.

The Ukrainian side thanked Spain for its decision to allocate 1 billion in assistance in 2026. During the meeting, the parties discussed the most effective use of these resources in accordance with Ukraine's priorities.

Particular importance was also given to the aid package announced during the visit, comprising VAMTAC armoured vehicles and a batch of 155 mm artillery shells.

Cooperation priorities

The Ukrainian delegation emphasised the importance of focusing support on the following key areas:

strengthening air defence;

ensuring the supply of long-range artillery ammunition;

scaling up the production of Ukrainian drones.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration Sergiy Boyev outlined Ukraine's strategy, focused on increasing enemy losses, targeting the enemy's economic potential, and expanding domestic defence production.

Winter preparedness and air defence

The parties placed particular emphasis on strengthening air defence.

The winter of 2025-2026 was the most challenging winter since the onset of the full-scale war, as russia significantly intensified its attacks, including a twofold increase in the use of ballistic missiles and strike drones.

The Ukrainian side expressed gratitude to Spain for strengthening air defence, particularly for its contributions to the PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) mechanism and for supporting the provision of Patriot missiles. This was of critical importance for protecting Ukraine's skies and infrastructure.

The parties also discussed the integration of various types of missiles into existing air defence systems and enhancing their effectiveness.

Joint projects and cooperation

The development of air defence capabilities was identified as a distinct area of cooperation. Ukraine is modernising systems that are no longer in production and plans to deepen strategic cooperation with Spain to enhance its capabilities.

The parties also discussed Spain's role in a joint European project to develop anti-ballistic solutions.

Ukraine expects to further deepen cooperation with Spain to strengthen defence capabilities and deliver on the priorities of the War Plan.

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Ukraine to receive a "naval sapper" from the Netherlands: overview of the Alkmaar-class minehunter

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

22 April, 2026, 9:50 AM EEST

Ukraine will receive the Alkmaar-class minehunter HNLMS Makkum from the Netherlands. Upon joining the Ukrainian Navy, the vessel will be named 'Henichesk' in honour of the ship lost during a combat mission near the Kinburn Spit in June 2022.

In Vlissingen, the Netherlands, the President of Ukraine met with Ukrainian service personnel already undergoing training on board the vessel. A significant number of the sailors have combat experience, including at sea.

The crew is mastering the use of various types of underwater drones to detect, identify and neutralise mines. The Head of State decorated seven Ukrainian defenders with the medals 'For Military Service to Ukraine' and 'Defender of the Motherland'.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine outlines key facts about Alkmaar-class minehunters.

Operational role of Alkmaar-class minehunters

The primary role of Alkmaar-class minehunters is to provide maritime safety in the open sea, coastal waters and harbour approaches by countering naval mines, as well as to protect naval formations in areas of mine threat.

They may also be employed to support land operations from the sea, including the clearance of coastal zones ahead of amphibious landings.

They may also be used to locate sunken vessels and lost containers that pose a threat to navigation.

Alkmaar-class minehunters: technical specifications

Key technical specifications of the Alkmaar-class minehunters include:

Crew: 28-38 personnel

Displacement: 543 tonnes

Length: 51.5 m

Beam: 8.9 m

Draught: 3.8 m

Maximum speed: 13 knots (~24 km/h)

The vessel is equipped with a diesel propulsion system for long-range transit, complemented by auxiliary thrusters enabling high-precision manoeuvring during mine countermeasure operations.

Mine detection capabilities: sonar and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)

The vessels are equipped with a hull-mounted sonar system designed for the detection of underwater objects, including mines.

In challenging hydrographic conditions, remotely operated underwater vehicles, along with towed and variable-depth sonar systems, are employed to further classify detected objects.

The command and information system integrates sensor data, enables the control of mine countermeasure assets, and coordinates crew actions.

Mine neutralisation capabilities of Alkmaar-class minehunters

The vessels are equipped with light weapons, including heavy machine guns for self-defence.

The primary mine neutralisation systems are remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for underwater operations, including SeaFox systems. They are used to identify underwater objects and, upon confirmation of a threat, to neutralise them by delivering an explosive charge directly to the target.

Divers may also be employed to conduct specialised explosive ordnance disposal operations.

Why Alkmaar-class minehunters have fibreglass hulls

The hulls are made of non-magnetic materials (polyester-based fibreglass), which minimises the risk of triggering mines with magnetic fuses. The superstructure is constructed from light alloys.

The use of such materials is standard for mine countermeasure vessels, as steel hulls generate a magnetic field that can activate naval mines.

Significance of the minehunter 'Henichesk' for Ukraine

Ukraine will receive 'Henichesk' as the fifth vessel of this type. Four previous vessels were provided by the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands: 'Cherkasy' and 'Chernihiv' (Sandown-class), and 'Mariupol' and 'Melitopol' (Alkmaar-class).

'Henichesk' is expected to take part in the Sea Breeze exercise in 2027.

At this stage, all five vessels will be based in the United Kingdom. Following the end of the war, they will participate in maritime demining operations and significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy.

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Ukraine's EU Membership and Training of Ukrainian Pilots on Gripen Aircraft: Meeting with Swedish Delegation Held at the Office of the President

President of Ukraine

22 April 2026 - 22:36

First Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Sergiy Kyslytsya, held a meeting with a delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Riksdag of Sweden.

Particular attention was paid to Ukraine's European integration. The Swedish representatives stressed their support for Ukraine's efforts to join the European Union and highlighted the importance of shared rules, criteria, and full-fledged integration.

The discussion also covered the results of the visit of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden to Ukraine last week and the implementation of the agreements reached during his meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The development of capabilities related to the transfer of Gripen aircraft to Ukraine was discussed in detail. In particular, the focus was on the systematic training of Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel. Ukraine expects that the relevant training will begin in the near future.

The First Deputy Head of the Office of the President emphasized that Ukraine's unique experience could be useful for partners in improving the effectiveness of countering aerial threats and in the efficient use of resources.

Relations with the United States were also discussed. Sergiy Kyslytsya stressed the importance of deepening transatlantic cooperation as one of the key factors in Europe's security. According to him, Europe must preserve its agency across all areas, first and foremost in security. In particular, it is important to work on the possibility of producing its own anti-ballistic air defense systems.

International security issues and the negotiation process to end the war were also addressed. The sides coordinated efforts aimed at achieving a dignified peace in Ukraine and agreed to continue coordination to strengthen international pressure on Russia.

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A Window of Opportunity Has Now Opened to Launch All Negotiation Clusters and to Secure the Political Decision on Ukraine's EU Membership - Ihor Zhovkva

President of Ukraine

22 April 2026 - 19:15

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a meeting with Florian Hahn, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, following yesterday's phone call between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Ihor Zhovkva thanked Germany for its leadership in providing assistance to our country since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The key topic of the meeting was Ukraine's full membership in the European Union. Ihor Zhovkva expressed gratitude to Germany for its strong support of our country's movement towards EU membership and briefed the German side on the implementation of the Association Agreement and the reforms required for accession.

"Ukraine is already fully technically prepared and is counting on the opening of the first negotiation cluster, along with all the remaining clusters, in the near future. It is now crucial to unblock this process. Our country has fulfilled 75% of the Association Agreement and will definitely become a full member of the EU," Ihor Zhovkva stressed.

The discussion also focused on the implementation of agreements reached between the leaders of Ukraine and Germany during their meeting in Berlin last week. Work is ongoing on the signing of a special security partnership agreement - a Drone Deal. Ihor Zhovkva emphasized that Ukraine is interested in concluding this agreement as soon as possible and in developing security cooperation with Germany.

The sides also exchanged views on negotiations aimed at achieving peace and on the importance of increasing pressure on Russia.

"We are grateful to Germany for all its efforts in bringing lasting peace to Ukraine. No one wants peace more than Ukraine. But Russia does not want to stop. That is why strengthening pressure on the aggressor state by all our partners remains critical," the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office concluded.

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The President Discussed Air Defense Strengthening, Radar Deliveries, Joint Production, and the Expansion of the Safe Instrument with Spain's Minister of Defense

President of Ukraine

22 April 2026 - 17:13

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Spain's Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, to discuss joint weapons production and defense support.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to Spain's Ministry of Defense, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and the Spanish people for their consistent support for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression. The President noted that his productive visit to Spain a month ago had resulted in multiple agreements.

"I strongly believe that all our agreements will be implemented in the near future. We are, of course, interested in co-producing cutting-edge technologies with Spain. Our team visited Spain regarding our radar agreements - we are eagerly awaiting their delivery to Ukraine and want to test them in real combat conditions," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President stressed that Ukraine is counting on the expansion of the SAFE instrument and the emergence of new products developed through joint production. This issue, along with strengthening Ukraine's air defense, was a key focus of the discussions.

The Head of State also thanked Spain for its support of Ukraine's air defense, in particular with HAWK and Patriot missiles. This equipment is in short supply, which makes Spain's assistance vital in repelling massive Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Spain's Minister of Defense reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine.

"We are aware of the situation, as I had a meeting with the Ukrainian Minister of Defense. I am following developments closely. I can now say that the situation has improved. As you know, we are doing everything possible to help your air defense," she said.

The President awarded Margarita Robles the Order of Princess Olga, III class, for her significant personal contribution to strengthening interstate cooperation, supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, her charitable activities, and her efforts to promote our state internationally.

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More Than 2,100 Ukrainian Children Abducted by Russia Have Been Returned Home: President Received a Report on the Results of the Bring Kids Back UA Initiative

President of Ukraine

22 April 2026 - 10:30

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a report from representatives of the Bring Kids Back UA team, Oleksandr Bevz and Maksym Maksymov, on the results of the initiative's work.

Overall, since the launch of Bring Kids Back UA, more than 2,100 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia have been returned home. Of these, 150 have been returned since the beginning of this year.

Oleksandr Bevz and Maksym Maksymov also reported that a special commission under the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine continues to analyze and verify data on each case of the abduction of Ukrainian children.

In addition, the meeting addressed further steps to implement the United Nations General Assembly resolution "Return of Ukrainian Children," adopted in December 2025.

Meeting participants noted that it is important that the report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, for the first time at the UN level, classified the deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children as a crime against humanity.

On May 11, a ministerial-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children will take place in Brussels. Ukraine expects broad representation, concrete decisions, and practical support from partners.

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Trump -- Iran -- Nuclear Rhetoric Arc, February to April 2026

What is to be done? The question of how to read President Donald J. Trump's nuclear-adjacent rhetoric during the 2026 Iran war is a question in the first instance about sourcing, provenance, and timing. Some of what has since been reported as presidential speech or presidential conduct was not a matter of public record at the time the conduct is said to have occurred. Some of it is single-sourced. Some of it has been amplified through channels with documented histories of repeating Moscow talking points. Some of it may be the Madman Theory applied as a deliberate psychological operation. And some of it -- probably most of it -- is exactly what it appears to be, a sitting American president speaking extemporaneously in a register that departs from the norms of his office. The task for the open-source analyst is to resist the two symmetric temptations -- the temptation to draw the curve through every datum as if the pattern were unambiguous, and the temptation to dismiss every individual datum as noise. This page attempts the first of those disciplines. It is the fourth in a sequence covering the reported nuclear-adjacent rhetoric of the second Trump administration and its antecedents, following the 2017 North Korea "fire and fury" exchanges covered at trump.htm, the 2019 Afghanistan "wipe off the face of the Earth" remarks covered at trump-afghan.htm, and the 30 October 2025 Busan directive to resume nuclear testing "on an equal basis" with Russia and China, covered at trump-china.htm.

The "Civilization Will Die" Ultimatum, 7 April 2026

The most widely reported nuclear-adjacent statement of the Iran arc was issued on the morning of Tuesday, 7 April 2026, the day a ceasefire deadline set by the White House was to expire. President Trump posted on Truth Social that "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will." He added in the same sequence that "maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen" and that "God Bless the Great People of Iran!" A two-week ceasefire was announced roughly ninety minutes before the midnight deadline, mediated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The question of what the threat meant operationally is the question that matters for this page, and it is a question that open-source reporting has not unambiguously resolved. Two readings are available. The first, advanced by some Democratic members of Congress and by several international law scholars, treats the threat as a threat of civilizational extinction -- a verbal act tantamount to a threat of genocide, and, under Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, possibly itself an act of terror against a civilian population. On this reading, "a whole civilization will die tonight" cannot be satisfied by conventional interdiction of bridges and generating stations. It requires the destruction of the Iranian population as such, and the only instruments in the United States inventory that could in a single night inflict casualties on the scale implied by that language are nuclear.

The second reading, advanced by Representative Mike Lawler among others, treats the threat as a rhetorical amplification of a conventional target list already under discussion: bridges, rail lines, power generation, water treatment, and the gas processing and petroleum-refining infrastructure that holds together the urban economies of Iran. This is the "bomb them back to the Stone Age" register identified with General Curtis LeMay's 1965 remarks on North Vietnam, and it is a register familiar to the air-campaign planners of 1991 and 1999. On this reading, the language is intentionally extreme but the targeting inventory is not nuclear. It is the conventional systemic collapse of a modern state -- a war crime in the view of many law-of-war scholars, but not a genocidal one and not, specifically, a nuclear one.

There is no open-source evidence, as of this writing, that resolves the question in one direction or the other. The target list Trump described in the days preceding the ultimatum -- most specifically in the expletive-laden Truth Social post ordering Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz -- did not include named population centers as such. The Defense Department officers and Air Force planners who would have been tasked with executing any order would, in both readings, have been working a conventional strike package. The open question is the one the Pope named in his 7 April reply, which was that "many innocent people, so many children, so many elderly, completely innocent, who would also become victims of this escalation" would in fact die in either version -- the conventional systemic-collapse version or the city-busting version -- and that the moral distinction between the two is less bright than the targeting doctrine suggests.

The Vietnam Remark, 21 April 2026

The 21 April remark to CNBC's Squawk Box program is, by a considerable margin, the more explicitly nuclear-adjacent of the two major statements. In a call-in interview of approximately thirty minutes, President Trump read what he described as "a little chart" of the lengths of previous American wars -- "World War One, four years and three months. World War Two, six years. Korean War, three years. Vietnam, 19 years. Iraq, eight years -- I'm five months" -- and then added: "I would have won Vietnam very quickly. I would have, if I were president." He added that he "took over" Venezuela "in 45 minutes."

The quiet part of the remark is that the only instrument that would have made it possible to win the Vietnam War "very quickly" is an instrument neither Lyndon Johnson nor Richard Nixon was willing to use. The option was studied in both administrations. In 1966, the JASON Division advised the Pentagon that the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Indochina would be militarily unproductive and politically catastrophic. In 1969, the Nixon administration's Operation Duck Hook planning included tactical nuclear use as a contingency; Nixon himself, according to H.R. Haldeman's contemporaneous diary, told his chief of staff that he wanted the North Vietnamese to believe he was capable of "anything to stop the war," and that the Madman Theory required the adversary to credit the threat of nuclear use as real. The option was declined in the event. That a sitting American president in 2026 could publicly assert, in an unscripted morning telephone interview, that he would have resolved the Vietnam War "very quickly" is a statement about what class of weapons he imagines to have been available to his hypothetical predecessor. Those who live inside the discourse recognize it as the Goldwater-LeMay register. Those who do not tend to hear it as bluster.

The remark drew notable commentary in open discussion but no visible response from the strategic community. There is no indication in publicly reported posture data that United States Strategic Command has changed its DEFCON alert level. There is no indication of a B-52 or B-2 generation surge beyond the bomber task force already present at Diego Garcia in support of Operation Epic Fury. There is no reported movement of B-61 gravity bombs out of the European storage sites. There has been no observed uptick in Emergency Action Message traffic of the kind that would precede an authenticated launch order. The STRATCOM posture statement delivered to the Senate Armed Services Committee on 17 March 2026 describes no change to strategic deterrence posture in response to the Iran campaign.

The Situation Room Exclusion -- What We Think We Know

On 19 April 2026, The Wall Street Journal published a story by Josh Dawsey and Annie Linskey headlined "Behind Trump's Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples with His Own Fears." The Dawsey-Linskey piece reported that during the 3-5 April search and rescue operation for the two-man crew of the F-15E shot down over Iran, presidential aides had elected to keep the commander in chief informed only "at meaningful moments" rather than permit him to observe the minute-by-minute tactical feed in the Situation Room. The cited reason was that Trump, on learning the jet was down, had "screamed at aides for hours," and that the aides judged his "impatience" would hinder the rescue. The story relied on a single senior administration official speaking on condition of anonymity.

The provenance of that claim cannot be independently verified from open sources. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt disputed the characterization on the record, saying the president had "remained a steady leader our country needs." Snopes, working the same material, noted that its single-source anonymity left the account inherently unconfirmable. Three readings are available, and no open-source reporting is adequate to choose among them.

The first reading takes the Dawsey-Linskey account at face value and treats it as an unusual episode of civilian-military adaptation under stress, in which the uniformed leadership elected to insulate the tactical operation from presidential interference during a time-critical rescue. The second reading treats it as an anonymous-source leak by administration officials whose motives are their own -- possibly to shape internal power dynamics, possibly to signal a particular line on the war, possibly to lay down retrospective political cover for decisions made at the staff level. The third reading treats it as a variation of the Madman posture, in which a controlled leak of presidential volatility is useful to the negotiating position precisely because it compels the adversary to credit the possibility of erratic presidential action. These three readings are not mutually exclusive. A piece of reporting can be accurate, self-interested, and operationally useful at the same time. What open-source analysis cannot do, in the absence of additional evidence, is assign probabilities.

The Nuclear Codes Episode -- What We Do Not Know

A more extreme claim, and one requiring substantially more caution, emerged on 20 April 2026 on the podcast Judging Freedom, hosted by former Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano. The guest, former Central Intelligence Agency case officer and later State Department Office of Counterterrorism deputy director Larry C. Johnson, told Napolitano that "one report coming out of that meeting at the White House" -- a reference to the 18 April 2026 meeting on the ceasefire expiration -- was that "Trump wanted to use the nuclear codes" and that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, United States Air Force, "stood up and said no." Johnson reported that Caine had "invoked his privilege as the head of the military" and that the exchange was "apparently quite a blowup."

Several problems attach to this account, and they compound. The claim is single-sourced to one cable-adjacent podcast appearance. It has not been corroborated by any reporter with established standing in the national-security beat. It was amplified across social media primarily through accounts with recognizable histories of circulating Kremlin narratives. Newsweek's inquiry into it found no independent confirmation. Lead Stories, searching the major news indices, returned no match and judged that an event of that magnitude -- a blowup between the commander in chief and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs over a requested nuclear employment order -- would have been reported by multiple outlets within hours. France 24's Vedika Bahl, working the same material, reached the same conclusion.

Beyond the sourcing question is a structural question of command authority. The account depends on the premise that General Caine could have refused to pass a nuclear employment order. That premise is not consistent with the nuclear command and control architecture as it has been described in the unclassified literature since the Nuclear Weapons Information Handbook and the 2002 SIOP Revised documents. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is statutorily an adviser to the National Command Authority. He is not in the nuclear chain of command. A presidential order to employ nuclear weapons goes through the Secretary of Defense to the combatant commander -- in the case of strategic weapons, the Commander, United States Strategic Command -- and is authenticated by a two-person rule at the launch-control level, not at the Pentagon flag-officer level. The Uniform Code of Military Justice, which a variant of the Johnson account has Caine invoking, has no provision under which the Chairman could legally refuse to transmit an otherwise lawful order from the Commander in Chief. A Chairman who attempted to do so would be committing an act of insubordination, not exercising a constitutional check. The only doctrine that would permit an officer in the chain to refuse is the manifestly-unlawful-order doctrine articulated at Nuremberg and codified into the Uniform Code, and it applies to the officer being ordered to commit the act, not to an adviser peripheral to the order chain.

The biographical context of the source is also relevant. Larry Johnson is a former CIA officer and State Department counterterrorism deputy whose professional record in the 1980s and early 1990s is a matter of public record. His post-government commentary has included claims that proved poorly founded, including the 2017 allegation that the British signals-intelligence agency GCHQ had helped the Obama administration surveil the first Trump campaign -- a claim that GCHQ itself described in a rare on-record statement as "utterly ridiculous" and that is no longer defended in open-source reporting. Johnson has also appeared on Russian state-funded broadcasting. None of this disqualifies him as a source, and none of it establishes that the present claim is false. It does mean that the prior probability an uncorroborated Johnson claim circulated by a Russian-adjacent amplification network is true is not equal to the prior probability the same claim would carry if it had surfaced first in the Washington Post, New York Times, or a Pentagon beat reporter's feed. The appropriate epistemic posture is that the claim is unproven, possibly true, possibly false, and that its most likely function in the present information environment is as a signal within an ongoing disinformation cycle, not as a report of fact.

The General-Officer Dismissals -- What They Are and What They Are Not

A further line of commentary has sought to connect the Iran rhetoric to the pattern of general-officer and flag-officer dismissals within the Department of Defense since the inauguration of the second Trump administration. The connection, as it has sometimes been drawn, is that officers who provide unwelcome advice on nuclear-adjacent matters are being removed. The record does not support the connection in the form in which it has been drawn.

The 2 April 2026 removal of General Randolph A. George, United States Army, as Chief of Staff of the Army, along with General David Hodne and Major General William Green Jr., is the episode most often folded into the Iran-nuclear narrative. Neither General George's portfolio as Chief of Staff nor General Hodne's as commander of Army Transformation and Training Command places either officer in the nuclear employment chain. The Chief of Staff of the Army is a service chief and a member of the Joint Chiefs in an advisory capacity; the service chief position has not had direct nuclear command responsibility since the unification of the nuclear weapons production and custody functions under the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's predecessor organizations and the separation of the nuclear employment planning function into STRATCOM. Army nuclear-related responsibilities are narrow by comparison to those of Air Force Global Strike Command or STRATCOM itself. The George removal is most plausibly about the service-culture and personnel-policy agenda that Secretary Hegseth and his senior staff have pursued since confirmation, and about the reported personality conflict between Hegseth and George specifically. It is not a data point about nuclear employment.

The August 2025 removal of Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Kruse, United States Air Force, as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency is a better candidate for a pattern relevant to the Iran question, but it is about intelligence assessment rather than about nuclear employment. The DIA's preliminary battle-damage assessment of the June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites found damage less extensive than the President had publicly described, and the assessment leaked. The Kruse removal fits into the longer pattern of intelligence community dismissals that has also included Director Haugh at the National Security Agency in April 2025 and multiple senior officials across the ODNI, and it reflects an administration posture that treats intelligence product as a political deliverable. That pattern is a real pattern, and it is relevant to questions about how the administration may handle future assessments of Iranian nuclear reconstitution. It does not speak to the nuclear employment authority question.

The Signals That Are Not There

The most important analytic point about the Iran nuclear rhetoric is that the operational signals that would accompany a genuine movement toward nuclear employment are not visible in open-source reporting. There is no reported change to the DEFCON alert level at United States Strategic Command. There is no observed generation of additional B-52 or B-2 sorties beyond the Diego Garcia bomber task force and the continental United States rotation that has supported Operation Epic Fury since 28 February. There is no reported movement of B-61 gravity bombs from European Weapons Storage and Security System sites. There is no observed surge in E-6B Mercury TACAMO orbit activity. There is no reported change to the Continuous Airborne Alert pattern flown out of Offutt. There has been no observed evacuation of National Command Authority principals to Mount Weather, Raven Rock, or the airborne command post. The Sentinel and D5LE2 programs are tracking at their previously reported schedules; there is no indication of an accelerated stockpile reconfiguration request. The language in Trump's public statements has been extreme. The observed posture has not been. That asymmetry is itself a signal, and it is a signal most parsimoniously read as indicating that the rhetoric is doing the work of the rhetoric -- coercive bargaining pressure on Tehran, domestic political positioning at home, allied burden-sharing leverage in Europe -- while the forces themselves remain configured for the conventional campaign that has been underway since 28 February.

What We Know and When We Knew It

The ordering of the public record on these matters is worth setting down plainly, because the analytic temptation to read the whole sequence as a tightening escalation curve depends on treating each datum as if it had been known at the time it is now described to have occurred. That is not the case. The 7 April "civilization" Truth Social post was public within minutes of its composition. The 21 April Vietnam remark was public as it was spoken, by telephone, on a live business-television program. Those two data points have an unambiguous timestamp.

The Situation Room exclusion account, by contrast, became public on 19 April, twelve days after the event it describes. The nuclear-codes account became public on 20 April, two days after the meeting it purportedly describes, and through a single podcast interview rather than through a reported story. Neither the account of the exclusion nor the account of the codes was available to contemporaries at the time the conduct allegedly occurred. Integrating them into a single "escalating pattern" running from 7 April through 21 April is a retrospective construction that cannot have been performed by decision-makers in real time and that the present analyst is not in a position to perform responsibly without explicit acknowledgment that the connections are being drawn after the fact and on disputed or single-sourced evidence.

The responsible version of the pattern is narrower. There was a 7 April civilizational threat on the public record. There was a 21 April remark on the public record that only made sense as a claim about a war that could be won by nuclear employment. In between, two accounts circulated -- one in a serious newspaper, one on a podcast -- that claimed the intervening period included unusual command-and-control friction. The first account is plausible and disputed. The second account is implausible on structural grounds, single-sourced, and amplified through channels that have a documented history of Kremlin alignment. The signals that would accompany genuine nuclear employment preparation are absent. The appropriate reading is that this is a presidency with a distinctive rhetorical register and a coherent coercive-bargaining doctrine, operating against an adversary it has chosen not to destroy. The reading that holds it is a presidency with an active nuclear employment decision on the table is not supported by the observable posture of the forces. Both readings should be held with the tentativeness appropriate to an open-source assessment conducted during an ongoing war.

Related GlobalSecurity.org Pages

The sequence of Trump-administration nuclear-adjacent rhetoric is covered at GlobalSecurity.org across four pages. The 2017 North Korea "fire and fury" cycle and its resolution through the Singapore and Hanoi summits is covered at trump.htm. The 2019 Afghanistan "wipe off the face of the Earth" and "ten million people" remarks, and their relationship to the Doha negotiations and the 2020 agreement with the Taliban, are covered at trump-afghan.htm. The 30 October 2025 Truth Social directive to resume United States nuclear weapons testing "on an equal basis" with Russia and China, issued in the hours before the Busan meeting with President Xi Jinping, and the subsequent National Nuclear Security Administration intervention described in the CNN reporting of 14 November 2025, are covered at trump-china.htm. The present Iran war, Operation Epic Fury, is covered across the operational-report series beginning at iran-war-oprep.htm. The war termination problem and the two-week ceasefire of 7 April are covered at iran-war-fog-of-peace.htm.

References

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Iran says Strait of Hormuz cannot be opened due to ceasefire breaches

Next article: Iran says Strait of Hormuz cannot be opened due to ceasefire breaches

Featured

Billionaire backer sues Trump family's crypto firm over alleged extortion

BBC International News Apr - 23 - 2026 , 10:54 3 minutes read

The Trump family's World Liberty Financial crypto venture is being sued by one of its billionaire backers over allegations of extortion.

Justin Sun has accused World Liberty of an "illegal scheme" to seize his WLFI tokens, a cryptocurrency issued by the company.

Sun alleges the firm, co-founded by US President Donald Trump and his son Eric Trump, has "frozen" all of his tokens and stripped him of his right to vote on governance issues.

World Liberty has denied wrongdoing and accused Sun of "playing the victim while making baseless allegations to cover up his own misconduct".

Sun is an ardent supporter of Trump and his stance on cryptocurrencies, but accused "certain individuals" associated with World Liberty of acting against the president's values.

"They wrongfully froze all of my tokens, stripped me of my right to vote on governance proposals, and have threatened to permanently destroy my tokens by 'burning' them - all without any proper justification," he said in a social media post announcing the lawsuit.

Sun is the founder of a separate multi-billion dollar crypto project, TRON. He initially invested $45m (33m) in World Liberty and said that, at times, his WLFI tokens have been valued at more than $1bn.

Since September, the price of a single WLFI token has plunged from 31 cents to just under 8 cents.

Sun said his backing was driven by the Trump family's association with the project and his long-standing support for cryptocurrencies.

He also bought $100m of Trump's meme coins in July 2025, as well.

World Liberty's co-founders include Donald Trump and Eric Trump

But Sun alleged that those running World Liberty, including another co-founder, Chase Herro, are using it as a "golden opportunity to leverage the Trump brand to profit through fraud".

In his complaint, filed on Tuesday in a San Francisco federal court, Sun argued that initial promises to give token-holders the option to trade the currency in future "were false and misleading".

While the tokens at large became tradeable, Sun said World Liberty has blocked him from being able to sell a single one, and is now threatening to "burn" his - deleting them entirely.

Zach Witkoff, another co-founder of World Liberty and the son of President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, said Sun's lawsuit is a "desperate attempt to deflect attention from Sun's own misconduct".

"His claims are entirely meritless, and World Liberty looks forward to getting the case thrown out promptly," Witkoff said, and claimed that Sun has engaged in "misconduct that required World Liberty to take action to protect itself and its users".

Eric Trump added: "The only thing more ridiculous than this lawsuit is spending $6m on a banana duct-taped to a wall."

In 2024 Sun bought, then ate, an artwork by Maurizio Cattelan which consisted of a banana duct-taped to a wall.

Investors have also grown concerned about World Liberty borrowing against the value of its tokens.

Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped its investigation into Sun, with Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, questioning if it was tied to his investments in Trump's crypto ventures.

Sun had been accused of paying high-profile influencers to promote his companies on social media, without disclosing the payments.

Elsewhere, the Trump business behind his Truth Social platform replaced its chief executive Devin Nunes after a sharp fall in its share price.

Kevin McGurn, who has worked at Hulu, Vevo and T-Mobile, will temporarily take over from the former California congressman.

In the past year, shares in Trump Media & Technology have fallen in value by almost two thirds as it struggles to attract users beyond the US president, who frequently uses it to make announcements.
Featured

Iran says Strait of Hormuz cannot be opened due to ceasefire breaches

BBC International News Apr - 23 - 2026 , 10:30 4 minutes read

Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the US said it is "not possible" for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened due to "the blatant violations of the ceasefire" by the US and Israel.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the "violations" include the US naval blockade of Iranian ports - which he said amounted to taking the global economy "hostage" - and "warmongering" by Israel "on all fronts".

Iran remains open to negotiations, said Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, but he added, "breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations".

It appeared early Tuesday that the US and Iran would hold new peace talks in Pakistan this week - but they have yet to begin.

Vice-President JD Vance - due to lead the US delegation in those talks - remains in the US.

On Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump announced an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire that was due to expire on Wednesday.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that Trump's extension is open-ended, and has no new deadline. She added that Trump is "satisfied" with the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran, and "understands Iran is in a very weak position".

"The cards are in President Trump's hands right now," she said.

Asked by reporters when the war would end, Leavitt said that it's up to Trump to decide, "and he will do so when he feels it's in the best interests of the United States and the American people".

The Iranian negotiator's latest comment comes as clashes continue in the dangerous waterway and vital global shipping route, with Iran announcing that it had "seized" two ships in the strait.

On Wednesday morning, Iran said two cargo ships were taken in the Strait of Hormuz for "inspection". The announcement follows reports of attacks on three cargo ships in the strait.

Euphoria, one of the three container ships attacked earlier in the Strait of Hormuz, appears to have dropped anchor near a port in the United Arab Emirates, according to MarineTraffic tracking data analysed by BBC Verify.

UAE-owned Euphoria was attacked eight nautical miles west of Iran, according to the maritime security firm Vanguard. No damage to the ship or injuries to crew was reported.

Iran has not commented on Euphoria, but has said it seized the other two vessels - MSC Francesca and Epaminondas - both of which reported damage resulting from the attacks.

A statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) Navy said that the ships were "operating without authorisation" and committed "repeated violations", accusing them of trying to leave the Strait of Hormuz "in secret" and tampering with navigation systems.

It also warned that it is "monitoring" movements through the strait and has vowed "firm" action against the "violators".

Iranian news outlet Tasnim, which is affiliated with IRGC later posted dramatic footage of Iranian commandos raiding the two ships.

Their most recent broadcast positions indicates neither has moved far since the attacks occurred.

However, MarineTraffic data indicates Euphoria returned to sailing southwards after the reported time it was attacked, ending up about 13 nautical miles from the port of Khor Fakkan at around 14:00 BST.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis later confirmed that the Epaminondas, a Greek-owned ship, had been attacked.

"I can confirm that there was an attack against the Greek cargo ship, but I cannot confirm that this has been seized by the Iranians," Gerapetritis told CNN.

Also on Wednesday, the US Defense Department announced that the US Secretary of the Navy would depart his post "effective immediately".

No reason was given for John Phelan's ouster. It comes just weeks after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff Randy George to step down from his post. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting secretary.

The White House lack of a timeline - either for a return to negotiations in Pakistan or to kinetic strikes against Iran - is likely strategic. It gives the Trump administration significant flexibility to let the blockade and the economic stranglehold on Iran bite.

Leavitt said this will allow "pragmatists" in Iran to come up with a peace proposal without pushback from hardliners.

At the same time, it allows Trump to avoid a return to full-scale military action that many Americans are weary of, and that could upset already nervous global markets.

"The strategic disadvantage at the moment is that Iran has decided that the measure of victory has become control of the Strait of Hormuz," said Andrew Peek, a former State Department deputy assistant secretary.

The "bright side", he told the BBC is that "President Trump has managed the stock market effectively, though gas prices have ticked up about a dollar in some places."

In her remarks to reporters at the White House, Leavitt also said that the US does not consider Iran's seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz to be a violation of the ceasefire.

"These were not US ships, these were not Israeli ships," she said.
US charges six over car theft ring shipping stolen vehicles to Ghana

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Iran says Strait of Hormuz cannot be opened due to ceasefire breaches

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Featured

Pope Leo criticises Equatorial Guinea prisons as he winds up Africa tour

BBC International News Apr - 23 - 2026 , 10:21 4 minutes read

Pope Leo has urged authorities in Equatorial Guinea not to use the justice system just to punish, but also to protect society, after criticising how prisoners are treated.

At a visit to a jail known for its dire conditions, he said true justice "seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders and communities".

"To be effective, however, it must always promote the dignity of every person," the pontiff told hundreds of inmates gathered in the prison courtyard, encouraging them not to despair.

Rights groups say the prison in Bata is used to deny opponents their freedom, with Amnesty International saying inmates are "reportedly routinely beaten as punishment".

Numerous prisoners "have neither been seen nor heard from, and their relatives do not know whether they are alive or dead," the human rights organisation added.

Equatorial Guinea's Justice Minister Reginaldo Biyogo Ndong said detainees were treated fairly, and that the government was committed to protecting human rights.

The oil-rich country, often criticised for its human rights record and wealth inequality, is the Pope's final stop on a four-nation tour of Africa.

"You are not alone," the pontiff told the prisoners on Wednesday.

"Your families love you and are waiting for you. Many people outside these walls are praying for you," he added.

When he left, the prisoners who had been drenched in the rain shouted "freedom".

After meeting the inmates, the Pope visited a memorial for victims of an explosion at a military base in 2021, which killed over 100 people and injured 600 others.

He then went on to address locals at the Bata stadium, where he spoke about "respect for the rights of every citizen, every family, every social group".

"Your families love you and are waiting for you. Many people outside these walls are praying for you," he added.

He earlier addressed the Central African nation at a Mass that drew some 100,000 people, including Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the country's leader and the world's long-serving president.

Pope Leo said: "My thoughts go to the poorest, to families experiencing difficulty and to prisoners who are often forced to live in troubling hygienic and sanitary conditions."

The Pope is due to celebrate Mass at a stadium in the capital Malabo on Thursday morning to mark the end of his tour.

During Wednesday's Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the town of Mongomo, Pope Leo urged Equatoguineans "to serve the common good rather than private interests, bridging the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged".

He also called for the country's resources to be used to improve the lives of the wider population and not just a privileged few.

"The Creator has endowed you with great natural wealth. I urge you to work together so that it may be a blessing for all," he said, warning that the future of the country depended on the people's choices.

Obiang's government has also been accused of corruption and diverting the country's oil revenues for the benefit of the elite, which it denies.

The president's son, who serves as the vice-president, was fined in a French court in 2020 for using public money to fund a luxurious lifestyle in the European nation. His French assets have since been seized.

Watchdog Transparency International has listed Equatorial Guinea as one of the world's most corrupt states, while the World Bank reports that more than half of Equatoguineans live in poverty.

Political opposition in Equatorial Guinea is barely tolerated and is severely hampered by the lack of a free press, as all broadcast media is either owned outright by the government or controlled by its allies.

"May there be greater room for freedom and may the dignity of the human person always be safeguarded," the Pope said pointedly.

President Obiang, who is 83 years old and seized power in 1979, held a private meeting with the Pope on Tuesday.

During his tour of Africa - in which he visited Algeria, Cameroon and Angola - Leo has spoken frankly and emphatically, blasting "tyrants" for spending billions on wars and condemning the "colonisation" of Africa's mineral resources.

Shortly before embarking on the trip, the Pope criticised Donald Trump for threatening Iran. In response, the US president criticised the pontiff as being "bad for foreign policy".
Widow died in Ghana crash after losing up to 1m in romance frauds, inquest hears

Next article: Widow died in Ghana crash after losing up to 1m in romance frauds, inquest hears

Featured

US charges six over car theft ring shipping stolen vehicles to Ghana

GraphicOnline International News Apr - 23 - 2026 , 07:20 2 minutes read

Six individuals have been charged in the United States over an alleged international car theft syndicate that smuggled stolen vehicles to Ghana, following a year-long investigation by federal authorities.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, a 15-count indictment unsealed on April 22 accuses the suspects of orchestrating a coordinated operation that stole vehicles across the Washington metropolitan area and Pennsylvania before shipping them abroad.

Investigators say the network is believed to have stolen at least 20 vehicles linked directly to the charges, but wider inquiries suggest the group may be connected to more than 100 stolen vehicles in Washington, D.C., and over 30 others in Prince Georges County, Maryland.

The accused include Jacob Hernandez, Dustin Wetzel, James Young, Khobe David and Chance Clark, all aged between 23 and 29. A sixth suspect remains at large, with authorities withholding further details as investigations continue.

Prosecutors allege that the syndicate targeted relatively new models, particularly Honda Civics and CRVs, as well as Acura TLXs and RDXs, which were stolen using electronic tools capable of reprogramming vehicle systems to accept blank key fobs.

After the thefts, the vehicles were reportedly transported across state lines to storage facilities, including a parking garage in Southeast Washington, where they were altered to avoid detection. Authorities claim the suspects swapped licence plates, tampered with vehicle identification numbers and disabled GPS and Bluetooth tracking systems before preparing the cars for shipment.

Evidence gathered during the investigation indicates that some of the stolen vehicles were loaded into shipping containers in Baltimore and destined for Ghana, highlighting the transnational dimension of the operation and raising concerns about the growing sophistication of organised vehicle theft networks.

In a related development, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at an automobile storage facility in Decatur, Georgia, believed to be linked to the syndicate. Several recovered vehicles were reportedly found at the site.

All six accused persons face charges of conspiracy to possess, transport and sell stolen motor vehicles. However, U.S. authorities emphasised that the indictment represents allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigations Washington Field Office and the U.S. Attorneys Criminal Investigations Unit, with support from the Prince Georges County Police Department.

The development underscores ongoing concerns about the illicit export of stolen vehicles to international markets, including West Africa, and is expected to intensify scrutiny of shipping channels and vehicle import systems.
Featured

Widow died in Ghana crash after losing up to 1m in romance frauds, inquest hears

GraphicOnline International News Apr - 23 - 2026 , 07:13 4 minutes read

A widow died in a car crash in Ghana after losing up to 1m in several romance frauds that saw her lose her life savings and home, an inquest heard.

Janet Fordham, 69, suffered fatal injuries in the collision on 14 February 2023 after coming to the country to marry a Ghanaian man she met online, who claimed he could help her get the money back.

Mrs Fordham had fallen victim to several online scams during a five-year period that saw her lose her home and life savings, estimated to be up to 1m, Devon Coroner's Court heard.

When she travelled to Ghana, the retired housekeeper was living in a caravan at the home of her son, Martin, and daughter-in-law, Melanie Fordham, in Honiton, Devon.

She started using online dating websites in 2017 and met a man who claimed to be a British Army sergeant major working in Syria and needed her help to get gold bars to the UK.

Mrs Fordham told her family that they were in love and that he was retiring to return to the UK, with the couple wanting to buy a house together, her daughter-in-law said, adding that she warned her the man would be asking for money.

Melanie Fordham added: "I told her categorically not to send him any. Janet had been sending money to him, but we didn't find out about this until years later. I believe she gave him around 150,000."

Mrs Fordham later learned she had been defrauded again by a "diplomat" after her UK bank accounts were frozen, but her family said they don't know how she transitioned from one fraud to the next.

Melanie Fordham said her mother-in-law "transferred money by several means, including bank transfers, wire transfers at the post office, and potentially a travel agent", but the banks and post office stopped her mother-in-law from using their services because they recognised it was fraud.

Third man promised to help recover funds

The inquest heard another man, named Kofi, contacted Mrs Fordham, claiming he was a doctor in Ghana who worked part-time at a friend's mobile phone repair shop, where he supposedly found a phone containing messages to and from Mrs Fordham.

Kofi claimed he contacted Mrs Fordham because he believed she had been scammed and wanted to help get her money back, Melanie Fordham said.

Police spoke to Mrs Fordham about Kofi, but officers could not further the investigation as she failed to respond.

Detective Sergeant Ben Smith, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said officers contacted Mrs Fordham about allegations of fraud in 2017, 2020 and 2022 and tried to persuade her "not to have any contact with the criminals and not to hand over money", but she was making these decisions of her own free will.

Mrs Fordham continued to transfer money abroad using Bitcoin and ATMs, causing her daughter-in-law to contact the police again.

"Whether she was in so deep, she couldn't accept it was all gone, she had to keep piling money in the hope of getting something back," Melanie Fordham said.

"Whether she genuinely believed what she was being told, we will never know."

Apart from using her savings and home, Mrs Fordham also borrowed money from other family members, totalling around 140,000, was in arrears on loans and credit cards and even cashed in her pension, withdrawing the maximum 500 a day.

Flying to Ghana for marriage

In October 2022, Mrs Fordham flew to Ghana to meet Kofi, with whom she was romantically linked.

"As a family, we tried everything to stop her, but she was adamant," Melanie Fordham said. "I spoke to her doctor, sought legal advice, but because she was of sound mind, albeit brainwashed, she was deemed to have capacity and there was nothing we could do."

In Ghana, Mrs Fordham and Kofi were driving from Accra to the Oti region "to get approval from a family member for marriage" when their car left the road and crashed, fatally injuring Mrs Fordham, Mr Smith told the inquest.

He said that there was no third-party involved in the smash.

Kofi later pleaded guilty to driving offences and was handed a suspended prison sentence and a fine.

Philip Spinney, senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, said at the end of the hearing: "I conclude that Janet Fordham died as a consequence of a head injury that was probably sustained in a road traffic collision."
Featured

500 scholarships up for grabs as MTN Ghana supports tertiary education

GraphicOnline Education Apr - 23 - 2026 , 07:38 2 minutes read

The MTN Ghana Foundation has opened applications for its Bright Scholarship scheme for the 2026/27 academic year, offering financial support to hundreds of students across the country.

The initiative, which targets academically gifted but financially constrained students, is designed to cover tuition, accommodation and essential learning materials, in a bid to remove barriers to higher education and skills development.

According to the Foundation, the scholarship is open to Ghanaian continuing students pursuing undergraduate degrees, as well as those enrolled in vocational and technical training programmes at public tertiary institutions nationwide.

Prospective applicants have been directed to submit their entries through the online portal - https://scholarship.mtn.com.gh/ - before the May 31, 2026 deadline, with organisers stressing that the process is entirely free and that no hardcopy submissions will be accepted.

Eligibility criteria require applicants to demonstrate strong academic performance, good conduct and a clean disciplinary record, reflecting the programmes focus on nurturing responsible future leaders.

Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, reaffirmed the companys commitment to education and youth empowerment, describing the scholarship as a strategic investment in the countrys human capital.

She disclosed that a total of 500 scholarships will be awarded this year, with 300 slots earmarked for students pursuing courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as vocational and technical disciplines. The remaining 200 awards will go to teachers undertaking further studies at public universities.

The Bright Scholarship Programme, first introduced in 2018, forms part of MTNs broader corporate social responsibility agenda aimed at supporting education and national development.

It was initially launched following a pledge made during the companys 20th anniversary celebrations and later expanded in 2021 to increase its reach after recording significant impact.

Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 2,000 scholarships to students at various levels of education, reinforcing its role as a key contributor to educational advancement in Ghana.
Featured

Ablakwa slams xenophobic attacks in South Africa as betrayal of Africans

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Apr - 23 - 2026 , 17:31 1 minute read

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has condemned the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, describing them as a betrayal of African solidarity.

He criticised the targeting of fellow Africans, particularly referencing an incident involving Emmanuel Asamoah, a Ghanaian whose assault was captured in a video that has since circulated widely on social media.

It is such a betrayal to see that we will be described as unwelcome in those videos that have gone viral. Citizens who have not provoked any unrest, who are not fomenting trouble, who are not provocateurs, going about their lawful duties, subjected to such naked hatred, such baseless xenophobia, he said.

Mr Ablakwa made the remarks on Thursday, April 23, 2026, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ghana and Sierra Leone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.

He stressed the need for African countries to uphold the principles of unity, cooperation and mutual respect, warning that such attacks undermine the spirit of continental integration and shared development.

The ministers comments come amid renewed concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly African migrants engaged in lawful economic activities.
Featured

Fire deaths drop by over 50% but road crashes surge  GNFS report

Jemima Okang Addae Apr - 23 - 2026 , 11:19 3 minutes read

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has reported gains in fire prevention and emergency response for the first quarter of 2026, with notable reductions in fire outbreaks, fatalities and prank calls.

According to the Services quarterly report released on April 21, fire incidents declined by 10.02 per cent, while fire-related deaths dropped sharply by 53.5 per cent. Prank calls to emergency lines also fell by 17.8 per cent, reflecting what officials describe as improved public awareness and responsiveness.

In a statement issued by the Head of Public Relations of the GNFS, DO II Desmond E. Ackah, the value of salvaged property rose substantially to GH479,457,385.00 from GH151,026,471.40 recorded during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of 217.47 per cent. However, the cost of damage also climbed by 28.7 per cent to GH215,479,467.00.

Community response improves as OOA cases rise

Out-on-arrival (OOA) cases, where fires are contained by community members before firefighters reach the scene, increased from 558 in 2025 to 651 in 2026, representing a 32 per cent rise. The Service says this trend points to growing community preparedness and early response to fire outbreaks.

Regional and incident breakdown

The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of fire incidents at 377, followed by the Ashanti Region with 337 cases, while the Oti Region recorded the lowest with 21 incidents.

Domestic fires rose from 770 (34.1 per cent) in 2025 to 881 (42.9 per cent) in 2026, becoming the leading category of fire outbreaks. In contrast, bushfires dropped significantly from 562 (24.9 per cent) to 209 (10.2 per cent). Vehicular fires increased from 159 to 176, while institutional fires rose from 69 to 85.

Fire-related injuries declined markedly by 62.8 per cent, falling from 43 cases in 2025 to 16 in 2026.

Road crashes surge despite fire safety gains

Despite the improvements in fire safety, the report highlighted worrying trends in road safety. Road traffic collision (RTC) cases increased by 46.53 per cent, rising from 144 in 2025 to 211 in 2026.

RTC-related fatalities also rose by 51.2 per cent, from 86 to 130, while injuries surged by 86.4 per cent, increasing from 500 to 932 cases.

Other rescue operations, including responses to bee attacks, structural collapses and entrapment incidents, more than doubled, rising by 119.05 per cent from 42 to 92 cases.

Causes of fires

The GNFS identified major causes of fires during the period as electrical faults resulting from the misuse of appliances, unattended cooking, gas leakages, indiscriminate burning of refuse and vegetation, misuse of naked flames such as mosquito coils, candles and matches, lightning strikes and deliberate acts.

Commitment to public safety

The Service said it remains committed to strengthening public fire safety education through both traditional and digital platforms, with a focus on residential communities, transport hubs, markets and institutions.

It added that fire safety audits and inspections would be intensified in both public and private commercial facilities, while more community fire volunteers would be trained to help prevent and manage bushfires through climate resilience measures.

Management also indicated plans to collaborate with the National Road Safety Authority and other stakeholders to enhance road safety education and reduce the incidence of traffic crashes.

The GNFS urged the public to adhere strictly to basic fire safety practices in order to safeguard lives, property and the environment.

Read the full report below
Next article: Fire deaths drop by over 50% but road crashes surge  GNFS report

Featured

Ghana unveils documentary register to preserve heritage

Joshua Bediako Koomson Apr - 23 - 2026 , 12:07 4 minutes read

The country has launched its national Memory of the World Register, marking a significant step towards preserving and promoting its documentary heritage.

The national register will identify and recognise documentary materials of national significance, such as the original copies of Ghanas 1957 Independence documents, speeches and writings of Kwame Nkrumah, records from the 1960 Republican Constitution and archival material on major political transitions and military regimes.

It would also position them for possible inclusion on regional and international registers, thus, together, preserving the world's collective memory.

The initiative forms part of the global UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, which aims to ensure the preservation and dissemination of the world's documentary heritage, including valuable archival holdings and library and museum collections globally.

Preserving countrys history

Launching the register in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said the move marked a critical moment in preserving the countrys history.

Ghanas story must be preserved. From the rise of our ancient kingdoms, through our hard-won independence to the progress we continue to make, our journey deserves to be protected and remembered, he said.

Dr Apaak said the countrys history was embedded in various forms of records across institutions and communities.

He said that story lived in books, monographs, archives, photographs and audiovisual records held in various institutions, within communities, in homes and even beyond the countrys borders.

Each record carries a voice from the past and offers insight into who we are and where we came from, he said.

Call to action

Dr Apaak commended the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) for its role in preserving the nations archives and acknowledged the contributions of universities, libraries, museums and cultural institutions.

He urged public and private institutions to support the initiative by nominating materials, backing digitisation efforts and participating in training programmes.

This is a shared responsibility, and together we can achieve lasting results, he said.

The Deputy Education Minister reaffirmed the governments commitment to modernising archival systems, training professionals and investing in digital infrastructure to equip institutions to meet current and future demands.

Dr Apaak emphasised the broader value of documentary heritage, noting that it served as a vital tool for education and research.

It provides students, researchers and citizens with reliable sources to explore Ghanas past, draw lessons from it and find inspiration for the future, he said.

Ghanas story is one of resilience, great culture and continuity.

Through this register, we present our collective memory and connect our heritage to the broader story of our common humanity, he added.

Importance of the register

The Chairperson of the Ghana National Committee for the Memory of the World Programme, Helena Asamoah-Hassan, said the national register carried the same weight for Ghana as the international register did for the world.

She explained that the register played a central role in shaping national identity, stating that documentary materials, whether historical manuscripts, digital archives or audiovisual records, provided a clear record of the countrys origins, present state and future direction.

Ms Asamoah-Hassan stressed that the focus must now shift from listing items to ensuring their preservation and accessibility.

We now need to protect these physical and digital objects from decay and loss.

We must take serious action in their preservation, make sure they are accessible for research and general use, and keep them in safe custody so future generations can connect to their ancestors, she said.

Dr Asamoah-Hassan cautioned that failure to take urgent action would defeat the purpose of establishing the register.

Stronger collaboration

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, called for stronger collaboration among institutions and development partners to protect Ghanas documentary heritage.

He described the initiative as an important step in preserving the countrys history and ensuring that future generations have access to reliable records.

Mr Yoshimoto said Japan continued to support UNESCOs work in education, culture and science through dedicated funding arrangements, which had helped drive projects in heritage preservation, literacy and institutional development.

According to him, the Ghana register was being supported through one of such funding mechanisms in partnership with UNESCO.

He added that Japan placed a high value on documentary preservation, having drawn inspiration from its experience with natural disasters and major historical changes, which has reinforced the need to protect records as a way of safeguarding national identity and culture.

Ghanas effort to document and include its heritage in the Memory of the World Register will raise awareness across Africa and signal the countrys commitment to preserving its history, Ambassador Yoshimoto said.
Featured

Methodist Church accounts for all tithes  Presiding Bishop

Augustina Tawiah Apr - 23 - 2026 , 17:36 3 minutes read

The Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev Prof Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, has reaffirmed that the Church maintains strict accountability for all financial resources it receives from members.

He stated that the Church operates a transparent system in which offerings and tithes are accounted for regularly, including weekly disclosures to congregants.

The Presiding Bishop was responding to two issues that gained traction on social media during the week  a viral video involving a member questioning a minister on tithing, and concerns over a renovation project undertaken by the Koforidua Diocese at a Central Hospital ward which reportedly did not receive the expected attention.

Reacting to the developments, he said, anybody who is smart and asking the Methodist Church how we use tithes should have put the two stories together.

He stressed that the Churchs governance structure ensures accountability at every level, describing it as one of the most organised religious institutions in the country.

The Methodist Church is one of the most structured churches in this country. Decisions are made at the Leaders' Meeting. They are moved on to the Quarterly Meeting. They are moved on to the Synods and then Conference decides. So it can never be true that we receive resources in the church and we don't account for it, he said.

The Presiding Bishop made the remarks during his address at the opening of the 65th Annual Synod of the Accra Diocese, held on April 23 at the Rev J.E. Allotey-Pappoe Memorial Methodist Church at Accra New Town.

The Synod, held on the theme Walking in the Word: Equipped for every good work, serves as the highest decision-making body of the Church at the diocesan level. It provides an opportunity for members to review activities over the past year, deepen spiritual reflection and plan for future growth.

He urged members to respect and utilise the Churchs structures effectively, while also encouraging the identification and nurturing of young people who show interest in ministry.

The Methodist Bishop of Accra, Right Rev Dr Samuel Nii Nmai Ollennu, used the platform to call for greater attention to the welfare of the boy-child, particularly in addressing social challenges such as drug abuse.

The boys are pushing trucks. Most of those involved in drug abuse are boys. My worry is that the girl-child will grow up and wont get a good boy-child to marry. So, let us bring some equality and equity so that when we have STEM for the girl-child, we have STEM for the boy-child as well, he said.

His address also touched on issues including the Churchs spiritual growth, achievements and infrastructural challenges within the education sector.

The Lay Chairman of the Accra Diocese, Henrietta Atta Angmor, assured members that concerns raised during the Synod would be addressed during its deliberative sessions.

The event was attended by key figures of the Church, including the Lay President, Kwasi Attah-Antwi, the Synod Secretary, Very Rev Doris Saah, as well as past bishops, former lay leaders and representatives from across the diocese.
Next article: Trade Ministry, Civil Service Council engage on strategic roles to drive national development

Featured

Three million Ghanaians at risk despite stable food consumption levels  report

Mohammed Ali Apr - 23 - 2026 , 15:37 3 minutes read

About three million people in Ghana remain vulnerable to food insecurity despite generally stable national consumption levels, a new report by the Ghana Statistical Service has revealed.

The findings are contained in the Mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (mVAM) Food Insecurity Vulnerability Report covering October to December 2025, which was released in Accra on April 22.

Presenting the report, the Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, said about 91 per cent of households, representing nearly 30 million people, recorded acceptable food consumption levels, but cautioned that the national picture conceals significant pockets of vulnerability.

Beneath this national average, about three million people remain vulnerable, facing poor or borderline food consumption, Dr Iddrisu said.

The survey, conducted in collaboration with the World Food Programme with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency, covered approximately 9,000 households across all 16 regions.

Dr Iddrisu indicated that many households are increasingly resorting to coping mechanisms to meet their food needs, signalling underlying stress despite overall stability.

About one in three households is adopting medium to high coping strategies, while nearly one in four households is already in crisis or emergency coping, he said.

He explained that such measures include reducing meal quality, borrowing, selling productive assets and cutting expenditure on health and education.

This is not sustainable. It means many households are managing today by sacrificing tomorrow, he added.

The report highlights stark regional disparities, particularly across the northern belt, where food insecurity remains most pronounced.

Nearly 40 per cent of households in the Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West regions recorded poor or borderline food consumption levels, underscoring persistent structural challenges in those areas.

The findings also point to the influence of education and income sources on food security. Households without formal education are up to ten times more vulnerable than those with tertiary education, while families dependent on smallholder agriculture face risks about six times higher than those engaged in trading or savings-based activities.

Despite these pressures, only about 1.5 per cent of households reported receiving any form of assistance, raising concerns about the reach and effectiveness of existing social protection interventions.

Dr Iddrisu called for improved targeting of support programmes to reach the most at-risk populations.

Targeting must improve. We must focus on high-risk regions and vulnerable groups with precision, he said.

He also stressed the importance of early intervention to prevent further deterioration.

If we wait until consumption collapses, we are already late, he cautioned.

Chairing the event, former Government Statistician, Dr Philomena Efua Nyarko, underscored the importance of data-driven policymaking in addressing food insecurity.

Policies are only as effective as the evidence that informs them. When reliable data is available, governments are better able to anticipate challenges and respond to emerging risks, she said.

Dr Nyarko added that apparent stability among some households may mask deeper vulnerabilities.

Many households that appear stable remain vulnerable, often relying on coping strategies to sustain that stability, she noted.

While the report stops short of describing the situation as a nationwide crisis, it warns that rising vulnerability requires urgent and targeted action.

The real danger is not just what the data shows today, but what happens if we delay and fail to act with precision, Dr Iddrisu said.

He added that the Service would continue to provide timely data to inform policy decisions and interventions.

Food security is not just about feeding people today. It is about protecting livelihoods, preserving dignity and securing the future of this country, he said.
At approximately 4:10 a.m. on Monday, April 20 Sweetwater County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Sweetwater Heights apartment complex in the 2100 block of Century Boulevard in Rock Springs to assist the Rock Springs Police Department with a reported disturbance involving an armed individual.

Initial information provided to dispatch indicated the individual had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound prior to law enforcement's arrival.

When officers and deputies arrived, they encountered an armed individual on the exterior balcony of an upstairs apartment who appeared to have a gunshot wound consistent with the initial report to dispatch.

During the encounter, a Sweetwater County sheriff's deputy discharged a duty weapon. Preliminary findings indicate the individual was struck. Emergency medical personnel rendered aid at the scene and transported the individual to a hospital in critical condition.

No law enforcement officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation has been requested to conduct an independent investigation.

In accordance with Sheriff's Office policy, the involved deputy has been placed on administrative leave. This is standard procedure following a critical incident.

This remains an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
The Rock Springs Police Department is investigating a fatal incident that occurred early the morning of Sunday, April 19 in the parking lot of the Flying J Travel Center.

At approximately 5 a.m., a Flying J employee was working to direct commercial vehicle traffic within the lot. Initial findings suggest that as one semi-truck began to move, the employee was positioned between that vehicle and a second stationary vehicle. The employee was subsequently pinned between the two units.

Rock Springs Fire Department and Castle Rock Ambulance arrived on the scene and coordinated life-saving measures. Despite the rapid response and medical intervention, the employee was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The identity of the deceased is being withheld at this time pending the notification of family members.

The driver involved in the incident, a resident of Idaho, remained on-site and has been fully cooperative with investigators. Following an initial statement and questioning, the driver was released. While the investigation remains open, the incident currently appears to be a tragic accident.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and the staff at Flying J. We also want to commend the rapid response and professional life-saving efforts coordinated by Rock Springs Fire and Castle Rock Ambulance during this difficult call.
Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County is moving forward under a new interim CEO following former CEO Irene Richardson, who had recently been placed on leave, announcing her retirement.

Richardson's retirement was announced on Thursday, April 16, although Sweetwater Memorial said that the retirement went into effect on Friday, April 10.

Richardson was announced to be on leave in mid-March, although no explanation was given regarding the reason for the leave, with the official statement being that the hospital "does not comment on personnel matters."

The MHSC Board of Trustees voted unanimously on April 14 to accept Richardson's retirement.

"Irene has been an important part of growing and strengthening Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County," the board said through a press release. "The Board is grateful for the passion and countless hours that Irene has dedicated to improving the Hospital and making it a better place for patients, employees, and the people of Sweetwater County."

"After 40 years of service at Sweetwater Memorial Hospital, and nine years as the Chief Executive Officer, I am announcing my retirement," Richardson said in her official statement. "Serving this community in so many roles over the decades has been a great honor and I am deeply grateful for the support and trust of the community throughout the years."

Richardson began working at MHSC in 1985 in the Fiscal Services Department, the hospital shared. In 2007, she was promoted to Director of Materials Management. She then served as the Controller (finance director) for two years before moving in 2010 to the CFO position, which oversees Fiscal Services, Patient Financial Services, Materials Management, Information Services and Health Information Management, according to the hospital. In October 2017, Richardson accepted the position of CEO.

Richardon said she will miss the hospital and medical staff and local patients and families.

"Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being part of your lives and your care," she said.

She added that she will miss her colleagues around the state, region and nation, including the Wyoming Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association, "who shaped my career by working to advocate for the advancement of rural healthcare." Richardson also expressed her pleasure working with all the hospital board members and the Board of County Commissioners.

Commissioner Taylor Jones, a previous hospital board member and current liaison to the board, expressed his gratitude for Richardson's work during his comments in the April 21 commissioner meeting.

"She's made a tremendous amount of positive changes in her contributions over the years, so thank you very much, Irene," Jones said.

"As I begin this new chapter, I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing other opportunities and interests," Richardson concluded in her statement.

Sweetwater Memorial announced that they will move forward with the process of selecting a new CEO, but until then will continue under Chief Clinical Officer Kari Quickenden. Quickenden was made the acting CEO when Richardson was on leave, and has now been named the Interim CEO.

"Hospital operations will continue as normal. We are focused on the future and remain committed to being our community's trusted healthcare leader," Quickenden said in a press release.

Quickenden started her career at MHSC in 2001 as a contracted staff pharmacist, the hospital said. In 2009, she was hired as Director of Pharmacy. In 2015, she moved into the Chief Clinical Officer position. She's a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration.

Quickenden also attended the Board of County Commissioners meeting on April 21 and spoke during the public comment portion to introduce herself to the commissioners and share her commitment to working with them and the community as a whole.

"While we're in this transition period, I am focused on, obviously, our community, taking care of our patients, supporting the staff, and ensuring strong operations," Quickenden said.
2/22/1938 - 4/19/26

Jo Ann Ruggera, a cherished resident of Rock Springs, Wyoming, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 19th, 2026, at the age of 88. Born on Tuesday, February 22nd, 1938, in Wheatland, Wyoming, Jo Ann was the beloved daughter of the late John Logan and Ardath Keefe.

Jo Ann's journey in life was marked by love, devotion, and a deep sense of community. She married the love of her life, Dave Ruggera, on September 7, 1957, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. They shared a wonderful life together until his passing on September 23, 2018.

A dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, Jo Ann is survived by her four daughters: Annette Combs and husband Keith of Laramie, Wyoming; Bernie Butler and husband Don of Cody, Wyoming; Charolette Markham and husband Ed of Rock Springs, Wyoming; Donnette Kelley and husband Mike of Rock Springs. Her legacy continues through her eight grandchildren, Tyson Markham; Danielle Jinks; Kelsey Flores; Cassie Mullins; Jenntry Leftwich; John Butler; Kimberlee Straube; Sam Kelley; nine great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dave, two sisters Ruth Parr and Lois Crofts, a brother Johnny Logan, son-in-law Claud "Bug" Butler, and one great-grandchild, Shane Jinks.

Jo Ann attended school in Wyoming and was a proud 1956 graduate of Rock Springs High School. Her career as a teller allowed her to connect with many in the community through her work with Western Union and the Sweetwater Federal Credit Union.

Her life was a testament to service and joy, illustrated through her active involvement in Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, the Women's Club, and 4-H. Jo Ann relished time with her family, always cherishing her grandchildren. She found happiness in simple pleasures, such as gambling with her dear friend Renee, indulging in a glass or two of wine, dancing with Dave, traveling, and the occasional adventure to "the cabin" in Las Vegas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 27, 2026, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 116 Broadway Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Graveside Services and Entombment will follow at the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. Friends are welcome to call one hour prior to services.

In lieu of a Rosary, the family requests loved ones to sit outside in the sunshine with a favorite glass of wine and say a few prayers in her memory. Donations in Jo Ann's honor can be made to Hospice of Sweetwater County, 333 Broadway Street, Suite 220, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901, or to the Sage View Care Center Activity Fund, 1325 Sage Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901.

The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love and support during this time. Condolences may be shared online at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com.

Jo Ann Ruggera's spirit and kindness will remain in the hearts of all who knew her. Her legacy is one of love-shared through life's simple joys, a commitment to family, and her unwavering faith.
This week, the Bible is being read through publicly in our nation's capital, with President Trump, members of his administration, members of Congress, public Christian figures, and others all reading passages out loud for the "America Reads the Bible" event.

Last week, a similar event took place with Faith & Liberty's annual Congressional Bible Reading, which our own Rep. Harriet Hageman participated in.

Also last week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared a prayer through a "Bible verse" that was actually a direct quote from the film "Pulp Fiction."

Not long before that, Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure, which he later deleted following backlash, claiming he thought it depicted him as a doctor. This was amidst a back-and-forth feud with the pope.

At the start of Holy Week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asked a room of reporters: "Could you hear our 'amen' in there? We just had a little loud prayer as a team."

All these recent events are a tiny part of what's becoming more and more prominent in our nation  political leaders and those in power using the Bible, Christianity, and the name and image of Christ in close connection with their policies, decisions, and agendas.

Some, including many of our own elected officials in Wyoming, celebrate this. Many have connections to and support organizations like Turning Point USA that have been a major factor in this push.

The push is Christian Nationalism, and it is one of the strongest forces behind current politics.

And there is nothing Christ-like about it.

I say this because I came from that world. I went to an Independent Fundamental Baptist church from the time I was born, prayed for Jesus to save me when I was four, was homeschooled with Christian curriculum from kindergarten through high school, graduated from a fundamental Christian university, worked as a counselor at a Bible camp, and was generally as dedicated to my faith as anyone can be.

I also left that world. I met people and saw perspectives that challenged what I'd been told, I realized there are other ways of understanding things I'd been taught, and I saw the history of harm connected to many of the groups and beliefs I'd been connected to. But one of the most influential things in my deconstruction, as the term has come to be used, was seeing the faith tradition that raised me become increasingly engrained in politics of power, exclusion, violence, and greed.

I saw the church circles that taught me to love God and love others, to pursue peace and justice, and to care for those who are in need, increasingly doing the opposite of those things. I saw my faith be exploited by politicians to get support, and saw churches cheering it on. I saw those I had once looked up to as spiritual leaders support and defend a president who consistently and blatantly acts in ways that are completely opposed to the character and teachings of Jesus.

I took my faith too seriously to stay.

Christian Nationalism is the opposite of Christ-like. It aims to control others through power rather than help others through love. It promotes "Biblical values," effectively forcing one subset of religious beliefs and traditions on everyone. This is not only diametrically opposed to freedom of religion, but it is also opposed to the way Jesus acted. Jesus refused to use the political power that many wanted Him to claim, and instead promoted radical love and a way of living that spills over into how we want people to be treated. He harshly criticized the religious authorities of His day who abused their positions of power, and consistently challenged the status quo in a way that promoted the marginalized and championed the oppressed.

There's so much more about this topic than I can say in one column. Entire books have been written on it (trust me, I have a long "to read" list), and people have dedicated their time and effort to exposing and fighting it. Some of my favorite voices that help bring perspective to what Christian Nationalism is and how it's being used, many of whom have left the evangelical circles they grew up in but still hold on to their faith, are Benjamin Cremer, Tim Whitaker and Malynda Hale with The New Evangelicals, April Joy, Brian Recker, and Monte Mader (who is originally from Wyoming!). I would highly recommend starting with their content online if you want to dig into this subject further.

I look at the national events we've seen in the past few weeks (and the past decade), the way the Bible and the name of Jesus have been misused, and I think of Matthew 15:8  "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."

I don't think the public reading of the Bible in our capital is the revival I prayed for in church for all those years. Actually, I think the true revival is the people who are walking away from these circles, who are calling out the blatant twisting of Christianity into a tool to promote policies that are opposed to Jesus' teachings. Jesus said that His disciples are known by their love. May that be true.
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Tinian resident Ismail Hossain, 21, said it was a terrifying ordeal hunkering down on Saipan when Typhoon Sinlaku pounded the island with violent winds and torrential rain.

Roads were flooded, debris was flying, my concrete apartment that I lived in was even shaking, he told the Pacific Daily News. It felt like the worst of the worst, and some could even argue that it is worse than Super Typhoon Yutu.

When Star Marianas Air flights from Saipan to Tinian resumed, Hossain was among the first passengers.

Hossain, a student at Northern Marianas College on Saipan, flew to Tinian as soon as he could to assist his family in the clean up and recovery.

His family lives on Tinian. He was raised there. What greeted him was utter devastation.

My heart breaks for those who have lost so much. The best we can do now is help one another and spread the word, Hossain told the Pacific Daily News.

Sinlaku, the strongest storm of 2026, made its closest approach to Guam on April 14, before passing right over Saipan and Tinian. Its eye made a landfall over northern Tinian with maximum sustained winds estimated at 145 miles per hour, the equivalent of a Category 4 storm.

Hossain said there were not many photos, videos or media reports of Sinlakus destruction on Tinian, and most of what he saw were photos of Saipan and Guam.

So I thought this was a great opportunity for me to use my camera and take photos of what I saw, he told the Pacific Daily News, sharing the photos he took on April 18 and 19.

Tinian, one of the main islands of the CNMI, was the launching pad for the American atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 during World War II.

Hossain said while taking photos and touring the damage caused by Sinlaku, he wondered what it was like on Tinian during the storm.

He said several people on the island said that when the eye went over Tinian, there was no wind and it felt like the storm had left, and everything was still.

But the worst damage came when the second wave of wind came in and ravaged the island. I feel like most of the damage came when those destructive winds arrived, he said.

The sophomore college student spoke to many local residents who lost their homes on Tinian as a result of Sinlaku.

Many went to the local shelter before the typhoon hit. They must now pick up what was left of their homes.

Those who stayed in their homes endured Sinlakus fury.

Some had to barricade their homes with all the furniture they had. Others had to duct tape some items to the windows. Despite all the damage, one thing that I noticed was how resilient the people of Tinian were, Hossain said. This was not the first time that they took on a direct hit from a super typhoon. They can get back on their feet, and thats what they plan on doing.

In shambles

Of the photos he took of Tinian, there were some that really stood out, he said.

One was of a stuffed animal toy left on the ground, while a typhoon-battered house sits in the background.

The image shows how lives can be easily changed with just one event, he said.

In this case, the super typhoon destroyed this familys home. The family currently resides at the shelter whilst trying to get back on their feet. Fortunately, there is food and water going around, and support from the community is great, Hossain said.

Another photo he wanted to highlight is the damaged Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power plant on Tinian. Sinlaku destroyed much of the structure and affected many of the engines inside the facility.

There have been talks, saying that power may not return for over five months, and thats what scares many of us as we must endure the Yutu days all over again, Hossain said.

Theres also a photo of a lone coconut tree standing in the middle of the rubble, of typhoon debris and twisted tin, while a telephone pole is tipped over in the background.

This photo really shook me as the island that I grew up in, that fed and brought me up into the person I am now, is now in shambles, he said.

Not to forget about us smaller islands

Hossain said for anyone who wish to support Tinians recovery, these are the organizations he knows of that are pouring in efforts to support the island:

Team Koka, which is collaborating with the World Central Kitchen in providing food distributions to the community.

Ohala Foundation, which is collaborating with Samaritans Purse.

Marianas Nature, fundraising for Tinian recovery by selling their stickers online.

Other ways people could help the Marianas is by visiting https://linktr.ee/sinlaku or going to https://www.marianasstrong.com/, he said.

Hossain said he appreciates the help Tinian is getting.

But I want to urge everyone not to forget about us smaller islands. Both Tinian and Rota, he said. I thank our brothers and sisters from both Saipan and Guam who are helping spread the word about recovery efforts on Tinian and Rota. We are all One Marianas and we must come together to get through these trying times.
Samsung had released an extensive security patch for Galaxy devices at the beginning of April, which closes 14 security vulnerabilities classified as critical. Numerous owners of various Galaxy models are struggling with various problems with Microsoft apps after installation  from Authenticator and Outlook to Teams and OneDrive. Apparently, there is a solution.

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Nothing works

This is evident from posts in the Samsung Community, the r/Microsoft365 subreddit, and the Microsoft Community. One user describes their issues in the Microsoft Q&A forum: I have a Samsung S25 Ultra, and since this week my Microsoft apps are no longer working. I first noticed this with my Outlook emails  they were no longer updating, and then they just disappeared, leaving only a black screen with no messages. I also couldn't start a Teams meeting on Wednesday with my Teams app; only the rotating connection symbol appeared, so I had to switch to my laptop. Many other users report similar frustrating experiences.

On Reddit, a user writes that they received confirmation of the issue from Samsung and that the error would be addressed. We are aware of the situation with the Microsoft apps and are currently working to fix the issue, it says. We have also requested a statement from Samsung.

Apparently a WebView error

While Samsung does not yet have a patch or solution ready, it is stated in the Microsoft forum that the issue is due to a regression error in WebView caused by Samsung's April 2026 security update. User Patrick DeLine apparently has a solution ready for Microsoft apps to work again as intended; the corresponding forum post is highlighted as Moderator Recommended Answer.

To run Microsoft apps again on affected Galaxy devices, open settings, search for Android System WebView, then select App details in the store and tap Uninstall updates, and then restart the device. Afterwards, go to settings again, open Android System WebView > App details in the store again, and select Update.

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If Android System WebView does not appear in the app list, you need to go to Settings > Google > All services > System services. WebView should then be displayed. Now restart the device, after which you can start Teams or Outlook and log in again.

Of course, this can only be considered a temporary solution; Samsung should act as quickly as possible so that Microsoft's apps function as expected.

(afl)

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.
Figures show that 4,999,717 residents spoke Finnish, Swedish or Sami at the end of March, accounting for 88 per cent of the total population. The number fell by 6,772 during the first months of the year. The figure had remained above five million since 1992 and reached a peak of more than 5.16 million in 2013.

The number of people speaking domestic languages has dropped below five million, according to preliminary population data released on Thursday by Statistics Finland, driven by demographic trends and changes in population records.

Markus Rapo, a senior statistician at Statistics Finland, said the decline reflects long-term demographic shifts. He said deaths among domestic language speakers now exceed births due to an ageing population and lower birth rates.

At the same time, the overall population fell during the first quarter. The total stood at 5,650,933 at the end of March, down by 1,948 from the start of the year.

Migration data played a key role in the change. A total of 9,412 people moved into the country between January and March, while 7,856 left. Compared with the same period last year, immigration fell by 1,397 and emigration rose by 4,477.

A large share of departures was recorded to Estonia. Official figures show 4,807 moves to Estonia during the first quarter, compared with 298 in the same period a year earlier.

The increase follows a new agreement between the two countries on population register data. Under the system, a person can hold a permanent address in only one country. Individuals previously listed in both registers but residing in Estonia are now recorded as having moved abroad.

Joonas Toivola, another senior statistician, said the data revision has had a clear impact on migration figures. The clean-up of population register data is visible in statistics as a strong increase in emigration to Estonia, he said, adding that elevated figures are expected to continue in the coming months.

He said the rise in recorded emigration reduced net migration to a level that no longer supports population growth.

The shift has also affected regional trends. Most of the recorded moves to Estonia came from Uusimaa, where 3,193 people were registered as having left for Estonia in the first quarter, an increase of 2,986 from a year earlier.

Minna Wallenius, a senior statistician, said the pattern is unusual. She noted that more people moved abroad from Uusimaa than arrived from overseas, a reversal of typical trends in which the region attracts most international migration.

The effect extended beyond the capital region. In Southwest Finland, 353 people were recorded as moving to Estonia, compared with 18 a year earlier. In Pirkanmaa, the figure rose to 250 from 21. Both regions saw slight population declines during the period.

Officials said the revised registration system will continue to shape migration data and population trends in the months ahead.

HT
At a press conference in Helsinki on Tuesday, Orpo said the government had little room to act.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Finance Minister Riikka Purra said the plan for 2027 to 2030 responds to weak growth, higher fuel costs, war in Europe and rising debt costs.

Finlands government has agreed its final spending framework before the next election, combining cuts to health and social services with housing support, transport projects and higher defence spending.

What depends on us, that we will do. We will do everything that is necessary for Finland and Finns, he said.

Purra pointed to projections showing interest payments on state debt rising from 3.2 billion in 2026 to 6.3 billion in 2030. Debts will be paid, she said. The state budget deficit is put at 13.2 billion in 2027. State debt is forecast to reach about 264 billion by the end of 2030.

The package includes about 540 million in new savings by 2030. Central government operations face a phased cut starting at 60 million in 2027 and rising to 166.5 million in 2030. Municipal grants for basic services will also be reduced.

Health and social care face about 240 million in savings. Health centre fees will rise by 20 per cent. Outpatient clinic fees will rise to 78.40. Day surgery charges will rise to 257.20. New fees will apply for special examinations, body storage and cause-of-death investigations. The changes are expected to raise 88 million in 2027 and 106 million a year from 2028.

Support for social and health organisations will be cut by 50 million next year, taking the long term annual reduction to 190 million. Wellbeing services counties will receive 25 million to distribute to groups in the sector.

The government is also trying to lift the housing market and construction. The household tax deduction will rise for 2026 and 2027, with the maximum moving from 1,600 to 2,100 and the deductible share rising from 35 per cent to 40 per cent. The state will also provide 110 million across 2026 and 2027 for repair construction and energy upgrades.

First-time buyers will face lower entry barriers. The self-financing requirement for ASP loans will fall from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. Loan periods will be extended to 40 years. State guarantees on housing loans will also increase.

The government confirmed a reform of pension insurance for the self-employed. From 2028, entrepreneurs will be able to base contributions on taxable earned income or on the current calculated work income. The reform is expected to increase state spending by about 80 million.

Other measures include 20 million for training vouchers for the long term unemployed, 20 million more for youth employment vouchers and plans to hire 500 extra summer workers or trainees in the public sector. Earlier tax cuts for companies will remain in place, with corporation tax due to fall to 18 per cent next year.

Defence spending will rise by more than 1.1 billion across 2027 to 2030. The package includes more money for drone defence, military readiness and equipment. Finland will also provide 300 million in additional military support to Ukraine. The Border Guard will receive 18 million for unmanned air and surface systems, most of it funded by the European Union.

Transport investment also forms part of the plan. The government listed 18 projects, with a focus on eastern and northern Finland, and set aside 112 million for infrastructure linked to military mobility.

Purra said the overall tax burden would still fall over the electoral term. At the same time, the government confirmed further rises in tobacco and alcohol taxes in 2027. She also warned that the next government would face a large adjustment task, which she put at around 10 billion.

HT
Hendersonville native is holding sheriffs to account in WNC

A series of alleged misconduct and removal cases within the past year involving Western North Carolina sheriffs has been making waves in the states mountain counties due to their rare occurrence, with the district attorney saying shes not seen it like this before.

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The cases in question involve sheriffs from Swain, Graham and Cherokee counties, which are adjacent along the southern portion of the state line with Tennessee.

Curtis Cochran, former sheriff of Swain County, was arrested in June 2025 and is facing charges for sexual battery and assault on a female, among other things. His next court date is April 29 in Swain Superior Court, according to the Swain County clerks office, followed by an appearance in tribal court scheduled for June 8, according to Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal court records.

Brad Hoxit, former sheriff of Graham County, was allegedly involved in an active criminal investigation involving Graham County Commissioner Jacob Nelms, despite a conflict of interest that he failed to disclose while trying to obtain search warrants. After he was removed as the countys sheriff on April 6, he filed a notice of appeal on Monday, according to court records.

Dustin Smith, former sheriff of Cherokee County, allegedly had complaints from citizens brought against him for misconduct and negligence while in office, according to a letter from the district attorney.

Ashley Welch, district attorney for the states 43rd prosecutorial district, said shes never seen anything like it.

Ive been a prosecutor for 23 years. Ive been the DA since early 2015 and Ive not seen it like this before, Welch said. But when you see it, youve got to do something about it.

Removing NC sheriffs



A native of Hendersonville, daughter of Jackie and Dr. Ty Hornsby and graduate of East Henderson High School, Welch has been at the center of the effort under the law to hold the sheriffs to account. She initiated removal proceedings for the sheriffs in Swain and Graham counties, and insinuated that she would do the same for Smith in Cherokee County if he didnt resign first. Cochran retired before a ruling was made in his case but still faces criminal charges in Swain County and from the Cherokees-. Removal proceedings never began for Smith because he resigned after receiving a letter from Welch.

Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president and general counsel for the North Carolina Sheriffs Association, said the district attorney is usually the one to initiate removal proceedings in cases like these.

The law allows either the district attorney or the county attorney to initiate the proceedings, and in most cases, its the district attorney, he said. Ive been representing the Sheriffs Association for 30 years, and during my career, all the ones that I can remember related to criminal activity.

Caldwell said the district attorney begins proceedings by filing a petition for removal. That petition is served to the sheriff, and may also include a motion for summary suspension, which immediately removes the sheriff from office pending a final decision in the case, if the district attorney feels like the situation is urgent enough. A superior court judge will suspend the sheriff from office, and then one of two things happens: either the sheriff resigns or retires before proceedings are underway, or they move forward with hearings and fight the removal.

Caldwell said hearings in these cases are considered exceptionally rare. While he cant definitively say why sheriffs resign, he said cases involving allegations of criminal activity typically result in a criminal conviction.

Its pretty clear to say that those that resign prior to a hearing do that because they know that theyve done what theyve been accused of, Caldwell said.

Uncertainty around removal of sheriffs



Because of the rarity of these types of cases, it can create procedural uncertainty when moving forward with hearings, as in Hoxits case. Mary Ann Hollocker, one of Hoxits attorneys, said as the statute reads now, its not difficult to remove sheriffs.

We need guidance, Hollocker said. One of the issues we had at trial was, when they say its not criminal, its not civil, then what rules apply? Criminal rules of procedure, civil rules of procedure, are we entitled to discovery? Because thats what you get in a civil case or a criminal case. But if its not either of those, then what is it?

Welch said she hopes to send a message by holding these sheriffs accountable.

Power can be checked, and there are ways that it can be outside of the voting process, she said. At least in this district, I want the people to know that I will do my job in making sure that the people in positions of power are held accountable.

Though all the cases come from the far western part of the state that makes up her district, Welch said she doesnt believe its indicative of any pattern with sheriffs in the region, as each case is unrelated and has its own specific set of circumstances.

Swain County



Cochran was first arrested on June 27, 2025, and now faces charges for sexual battery, assault on a female, solicitation of prostitution and felonious restraint. These alleged crimes occurred in his police vehicle and involved two different women, taking place a few days prior on June 22 and 23, according to court records.

Cochrans arrest was immediately followed by a petition for removal and a motion to suspend from Welch. The motion to suspend was granted, and hearing dates for both the suspension and removal were set for the following month, according to court records.

Defendant Curtis Cochran has shown on multiple occasions that he is willing to misuse the power and authority inherent to the office of Sheriff for improper and criminal personal gain, the petition said. He has used his office and power as the Sheriff to get at least two women to trust him, get in the car with him looking for help, only to be sexually assaulted.

However, Cochran resigned from his position as sheriff effective July 1, before his suspension hearing on July 7 and removal hearing on July 21. His resignation halted the removal case, but Cochran still has to answer for the criminal charges brought against him, which are being handled by the state. If he ever decides to return to office, the state can file a new petition for removal based on the same charges, according to court records.

While facing charges for sex crimes from the state, hes also facing charges for abusive sexual contact and oppression in office from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, according to state and tribal court records.

For the charges from EBCI, Cochran has pleaded not guilty, according to tribal court records. The former sheriff hasnt entered a plea yet for the state charges, according to the Swain County clerks office.

His most recent court appearance in Swain County was on Dec. 17, according to the Swain County clerks office. His most recent appearance in tribal court was slotted for Feb. 17, but his attorney, Jack Stewart, filed a motion for continuance excusing him for reasons related to age and poor health.

Stewart couldnt be reached for comment by Carolina Public Press before publication.

Cochrans next hearing in Swain Superior Court is scheduled for April 29, and his next tribal court hearing has been tentatively scheduled for June 8.

Graham County



Welch filed a petition for removal of Hoxit on Jan. 29 for misconduct and corruption while serving in office, according to court records.

Hoxit was involved in a criminal investigation into Graham County Commissioner Jacob Nelms by actively trying to secure search warrants for his car trackers and cellphones, even while Hoxit had a conflict of interest by being romantically involved with the commissioners then-wife, Adrian Nelms. Hoxit did not disclose the conflict of interest to Welch and others while trying to obtain the warrants, the petition said.

Hoxit ultimately married Nelms in August 2025 after she had divorced Nelms six months earlier. In a January meeting with Welch, Hoxit claimed he didnt disclose his relationship with Nelms because his lawyer, David Wijewickrama, told him he didnt have to, but Wijewickrama denied telling him this. By this time, Hoxit also claimed his marriage with Adrian Nelms was over, because he refused to step back from the investigation into Jacob Nelms, the petition said.

Ultimately, Hoxit was removed from office as sheriff after a hearing on April 6. But hes not giving up anytime soon, having just filed a notice of appeal on Monday.

Hollocker said they dont agree with the final ruling due to some procedural problems in the case. One problem was the lack of a summons with the verified complaint, which they argued failed to grant the court the authority to hear the case under subject-matter jurisdiction, but the court disagreed. Other problems included testimony they believed was insufficient for removal and an overall lack of guidance on the removal statute.

Another complicating factor was the speed of the process since it involved an elected official, she said.

We had about three weeks to prepare, Hollocker said. Usually, you have much longer time to prepare for a trial. We had three attorneys working on this and several assistants to get us ready to go to trial.

Hollocker said they believe they have a very good chance of being successful in the appeal, which was filed Monday.

Cherokee County



Welch sent a letter to Smith on Jan. 28 outlining concerns she had about his work over the past three years hes been in office. Among the concerns she shared in the letter were alleged complaints she received from citizens about misconduct and negligence by Smith. Welch also referenced a shooting in 2022 of an unarmed man while Smith was sheriff.

Recently, I received all the discovery in the Kloepfer shooting including the SBI criminal investigation and civil discovery. Before then, I did not have the complete file, Welch wrote. I am gravely concerned about the inactions and statements made by you surrounding the shooting.

In closing, Welch implied in her letter that if Smith didnt step down, she would move forward with removal proceedings.

My hope is that you will recognize the harm that is being done and that you will make the decision to resign, Welch wrote. Your oath requires you to put the needs of your community above yourself. Resigning allows you to do the right thing and prevent a removal petition that lists all the evidence and proof into the public record.

On Feb. 5, Smith announced his resignation in a Facebook post on his re-election campaign page, which would take effect the following day. He wrote that he came to the decision after prayer and reflecting on the real toll his time in office took on his family and himself.

I believe my role was to serve as a transition sheriff  to make difficult changes, to navigate hard seasons, and to help steady the ship so that those who come next can continue building on a strong foundation, Smith said in the post. At this point in my life, I believe God is calling me to focus on my family and the next chapter ahead.

Smiths time as sheriff followed the controversial tenure of Derrick Palmer, who faced allegations of serious problems at the county jail brought to light by a CPP investigation, a major wrongful death lawsuit settlement over an inmate who died at the jail, and the felony conviction of his wife, Cindy Palmer, for misconduct while she was serving as the countys social services director.

CPP reached out to Smith directly by phone, but he did not respond to a request for comment.

* * * * *

Mackenzie Thomas is a Carolina Public Press staff writer who reports on issues of government accountability and transparency. Email mthomas@carolinapublicpress.org to contact her.






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It's not often that I hear a lecture which could be appreciated by an audience ages 10 to 100, but this past week I was treated to such an opportunity. And while it may sound strange to call a speech on the Holocaust a treat, hearing from Mrs. Judith Rapp Hara about her parents' miraculous escape from Vienna, Austria, was just that.

On Thursday, in honor of the recent commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Meoros Girls High School hosted Mrs. Hara for an educational talk about the antisemitism of World War II. Speaking as a 2G (second generation), she represents the Orlando Holocaust Memorial Resource Education Center of Florida. She arrived with a PowerPoint presentation, as well as a wealth of experience in speaking to many audiences of varying life stages and backgrounds. We were not disappointed.

Twenty-four high school girls and several staff members sat in silence, deeply engaged in every detail. A master storyteller (though she claims she was once a shy young woman), Mrs. Hara had our students riveted by the remarkable events that allowed her parents to survive the war and then rebuild a successful life in America.

Mrs. Hara's father, Ernest Rapp, was raised in a religious and extremely poor home in Vienna. A talented artist, he was accepted to a major Vienna art school - a rare occurrence for someone of his background. When the war broke out, the young man was forced to flee to Ireland, where he then secured passage for the rest of his family. Mr. Rapp eventually moved to New York, apprenticed with an architect, and worked toward his dream of attaining a career in that field. Mrs. Hara's mother, Herta (Sylvia) Lehrer, was born into a very different kind of family. Her parents were wealthy, Reform Jews who owned several apartments and a large store, which they were forced to leave behind when they fled.

Ultimately, the two young Austrian immigrants, Ernest and Sylvia, who grew up worlds apart, found each other in New York and connected over their shared lack of English and dreams for rebirth. Together they built a family in Orlando, Florida where and Bob and Judith Hara still live today.

Mr. Rapp's dying wish to his Judith was that she share his story. Mrs. Hara has remained committed to this mission for the past five years, along with the help of her two sisters, Ethel (Orlando) and Sharon (Atlanta), who completely support her work. Mrs. Hara's book about her parents, "Journey: The Story of Ernest and Sylvia Rapp," is available digitally, free of charge, upon request.

The story Mrs. Hara shared was certainly one of survival, hope, and strength. Even more so, it was one of recognizing the interconnectedness of events in the world and seeing the guiding hand of God not only in major world incidents, but in the smallest aspects of our lives. She emphasized repeatedly: There are no coincidences.

In addition to fulfilling her mission to her father, our speaker left us with a mission as well - to be the person who goes out of their way to help or save another. It is written that, "He who saves one life, it is as if he saved an entire world" (Talmud Sanhedrin 37a). We may or may not have the opportunity to literally save a life, and yet, if we are just a little kinder, a little more accepting, a little more welcoming of others, it echoes the message of this teaching; it is then truly a testament to the memory of Mrs. Hara's parents as well as all those who were lost to hate.

Mindel Kassorla is the Judaic Studies coordinator at Meoros Girls High School, the only Jewish girls' High School in the Greater Orlando area (now in its fifth year). Kassorla recently moved to Orlando with her husband and children from Jerusalem.
(JNS) - For one lone soldier identified for security reasons as O, the dream began years ago while watching Israel's Independence Day ceremony from abroad, where her diplomat parents were posted.

"I always watched the ceremony even when I lived abroad," said O, who now serves in the IDF's Behavioral Sciences Unit. "I would sit with my grandparents. It was their favorite part of the year. I said, I'm going to be there one day, and my grandparents will be in the audience to watch me."

This year, O will join 80 soldiers-30 men and 50 women from various IDF units, alongside police officers and firefighters-in performing choreographed flag routines as part of the national ceremony. The performance will incorporate drone filming to capture overhead formations, continuing the longstanding tradition of flag dancing, a uniquely Israeli expression of national culture.

Rooted in the early Zionist folk dance movement of the 20th century, flag choreography evolved into a hallmark of Independence Day celebrations, symbolizing unity, identity and pride in the Jewish state. Schools and youth groups rehearse for weeks leading up to ceremonies, creating an emotional connection between young Israelis and national traditions.

Because of the ongoing war, officials are still determining whether this year's ceremony will be held live or broadcast as a prerecorded event. The traditional program includes musical performances, dance segments and ceremonial elements, with military flag-bearers opening the program and participating in the finale.

Unlike in the United States, where the American Flag Code prescribes strict guidelines for the display and handling of the Stars and Stripes, Israelis often interact with their national flag more informally. It is common to see Israeli flags worn as capes or draped over shoulders as expressions of affection and identification with the state.

For many Israelis, waving or dancing with the blue-and-white flag is a declaration of belonging and continuity. The practice can appear unusual to outsiders, but within Israel it reflects a blend of joy, memory and resilience that defines national holidays.

Four female soldier flag-bearers participating in this year's ceremony all made aliyah as youth and now serve in significant roles in the IDF. Each successfully passed an open audition process that evaluated precision marching and coordination skills.

From the United States to Israel

For Lt. A., 20, who immigrated from New Jersey to Kfar Saba at age 12, adapting to Israeli culture required persistence.

"I was completely American," she said. "When I got here, I spoke Hebrew like an 8-year-old. Getting up to speed took a lot of hard work. I had a tutor for Hebrew and my family helped."

She said cultural differences were initially challenging.

"Israelis-compared to Americans-were loud and energetic," she said. "They call their teachers by their first name. Eventually, I got used to it."

Today, she works in the army as a social worker assisting fellow soldiers with job placement and housing support. After completing her service, she plans to study psychology.

"Joining the army taught me a lot about myself," she said. "We learn what we are good at and how to improve ourselves. Doing this ceremony makes us very proud of our country and of the army. Especially now, it's important."

Lt. V., a naval officer who moved to Israel from Rockville, Md., at age six, said adjusting to Israeli culture took time.

"I was young but it was kind of difficult to absorb the culture," she said, recalling that she did not speak for six months after arriving.

She later embraced Israeli society's openness and independence.

"Israelis are warm and loving people-very outgoing-and there is a lot of independence for kids," she said.

Despite severe food allergies that initially complicated her enlistment process, she persisted until she was accepted into military service and eventually became a war room officer in the Navy. She now serves as a commander in the naval officers' training course and plans to study law after completing her service.

"I watched these ceremonies as a little kid and I loved the military part," she said. "People in the audience were cheering. I can't wait."

Lt. O., who immigrated at age 16, said she pursued command training immediately after basic training and now trains new recruits.

"They come in on the first day as choppy, normal teenagers," she said. "They leave as great soldiers."

She said her experience as a lone soldier shaped her leadership approach.

"When I drafted, I drafted as a lone soldier. I felt my commanders didn't see me at all," she said. "I took it as a lesson and pledged to be an excellent commander."

After completing her military service, she hopes to study business management and possibly follow in her parents' diplomatic footsteps. For now, she is focused on rehearsals for the ceremony she has envisioned for years.

"I was so excited when they announced the auditions," she said. "When I told my grandfather that I would be part of the ceremony, he had tears in his eyes."
(JNS)  The National Library of Israel has uncovered a rare handwritten Passover Haggadah published in the 1880s containing a Judeo-Persian poem dedicated to Lady Judith Montefiore (1784-1862), highlighting the far-reaching influence of the Montefiore family across the Jewish world, according to a press release published on Thursday.

Discovered within the librarys collections ahead of Passover, the manuscript includes instructions in Judeo-Persian for conducting the Seder and was bound together with a printed Pesach Meuvin, a compendium of holiday laws and customs.

The poem, said to be written by an unknown Persian Jew, honors Lady Judith Montefiore and her husband, Sir Moses Montefiore (1784-1885), whose charitable and diplomatic efforts supported Jewish communities in Jerusalem and beyond.

Moses Montefiore was a vigorous advocate on behalf of the Jews of Persia, who were suffering from both starvation and persecution, the NLI said.

According to Chaim Neria, curator of the Haim and Hanna Solomon Judaica Collection, the poem uses melitzah, a classical Hebrew literary technique that weaves together biblical, rabbinic and liturgical phrases to form a new expression of praise. The text connects the Montefiores to the physical and spiritual rebuilding of Jerusalem, a central focus of their legacy, including their support for Mishkenot Shaananim, the first Jewish neighborhood built outside the Old City walls.

This is a rareand perhaps uniqueexample of such a tribute from what is today Iran, Neria said. It is clear that by the time this poem was written, the Jewish community in Persia felt a deep obligation to thank Moses and Judith Montefiore for all they had done for them, were heartened by the thought that Jerusalem was being rebuilt and wished to sing their praises.

The poem was also penned in gratitude to the Persian Jewish community of Mashhad, whose crypto-Jewish populationforced to convert to Islam in the 19th century while secretly maintaining Jewish practicebenefited from the Montefiores advocacy on their behalf amid persecution and hardship.

Here is an English version of the poem:

The faith of Judith shall be strengthened

Beautiful in her loftiness is Lady Judith,

Grace crowned with wisdom, enduring through the generations.

Long life rests in her right hand,

Blessing flows from her deeds of kindness.

A righteous woman, seeking the good of Jerusalem,

Together with Sir Moses, her heart set upon Zion.

As one who inscribes a city upon a tablet,

So have they engraved Jerusalem upon the soul of their people.

Fair is Jerusalem, rising upon her hill,

A city renewed in dignity and light.

Their works stand as a crown of splendor,

A diadem of compassion that shall not fade.

For in serving the people of Israel,

They fulfill the will of the Eternal.

Through the strength of Judith, faith is fortified,

And hope for Jerusalem is lifted high for generations.
Throughout Jewish history, the genizah and the ghetto, two very different institutions, served as powerful means of preserving Jewish thought and Jewish life.

One preserved what was written while the other preserved those who were learning.

Lets look at how both preserved Jewish thinking.

The Genizah: A refusal to discard

The practice grew out of Jewish law rooted in Deuteronomy and developed in rabbinic tradition, which forbade destroying writings containing the name of G-d. Such materials were set aside in a genizah rather than casually discarded. A genizah was a storage space, often in a s...
One hundred and fourteen years ago, April 15, 1914, the Titanic, the luxury White Star Passenger liner, on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York, struck an iceberg and sank. Of the 2,224 people on board, 1500 died in the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There were not enough lifeboats...

Passengers Isidore Straus, the Jewish chairman of New York's Macy's Department store, former congressman, philanthropist, and his wife, Ida, were last seen near the stern of the ship. Survivor witnesses said they were embracing. The ship's band could be heard playing Nearer My God To Th...
(JNS)  Its important that people dont lose motivation and that they trust the Israel Defense Forces, as we work to create a better futurenot just for us, but for generations to come. We cannot lose motivation, whether it relates to antisemitism worldwide or the situation in Israel, 21-year-old Sgt. I, a combat medic in the IDFs 769th Brigade, told JNS on Sunday.

Sgt. I, originally from Jerusalem, has been serving in northern Israel for the past two years and described the situation there as highly complex.

My role as an active combat medic involves both military personnel and civilians...
(JNS)  Against the twin backdrops of Israel at war and rising Jew-hatred around the world, some 7,000 people from around the world marked Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, by marching the two miles between the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps in Poland.

Known as the International March of the Living, the annual event is designed to create a new generation of witnesses to the murder of 6 million Jews at the hands of the Nazis. The task is taking greater importance as the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles.

Our job in being here in Poland and standing in Auschwitz and Birke...
Jewish Pavilion Senior Services recently welcomed community members to its Gathering of Friends Grief Support Luncheon, held on April 13 at One Senior Place in Altamonte Springs. The meaningful afternoon brought together former grief support group participants and others who have experienced the loss of a loved one for a time of connection, reflection, and community.

The luncheon provided a warm and supportive environment where attendees could reconnect with familiar faces and meet others who share similar experiences. Conversations flowed easily as guests shared memories, spoke about their jo...
(JNS)  Members of the Jewish community in New York City gathered on Sunday for an unveiling event of a bench in Central Park commemorating the hostages kidnapped into Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israels south.

The bench, named Hostages Bench, is also dedicated to those who fought to release the hostages, to those who lost their lives during the Hamas-led invasion into Israel and in the war that ensued since then, to the families of the hostages, and to those who survived captivity, the Hostages and Missing Families Forums U.S. Chapter said in a statement.

It is located near 1...
(JNS)  The House of Representatives narrowly defeated a measure to invoke the War Powers Resolution to end the conflict with Iran on Thursday in a mostly party-line vote.

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) was the lone Democrat to oppose the resolution, siding with Republicans to defeat the effort to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities by 213 to 214.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a libertarian who frequently opposes foreign policy measures, was the only Republican to vote in favor of the motion. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), who previously joined Massie in voting to invoke the War Powers Resolution...
(JNS)  Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire on Thursday following calls between U.S. president Donald Trump and the leaders of each country.

After Trump announced the truce on social media, the State Department released a statement with details of the agreement between the two sides.

Israel and Lebanon will implement a cessation of hostilities that will start at 5 p.m. Eastern on April 16 for an initial period of 10 days, as a gesture of goodwill by the government of Israel, intended to enable good-faith negotiations toward a permanent security and peace agreement between Israel...
(JNS)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Monday with Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, conveying his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of four lives in an Iranian missile attack that targeted the city the previous night.

The most important point that came up again in our conversation is one simple principle, an iron rule: Anyone who follows the guidelines of the [Israel Defense Forces] Home Front Command and stays in a protected space has almost no chance of being harmed, Netanyahu said in a video statement following the call.

I ask you, all citizens of Israeland especially, resid...
(JNS)  A bipartisan group of 41 U.S. senators urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to allocate $750 million to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program for the 2027 fiscal year.

The threat of violence is unfortunately increasing at places of worship across our country at alarming rates, wrote Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) in a letter to leaders of the committee on April 16.

Nonprofit organizations that are at risk of terrorist attacks, particularly houses of worship and other faith-based organizations, use the N...
China calls for efforts to spare Syria from regional conflict

Xinhua) 14:17, April 23, 2026

UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for international efforts to prevent the Middle East conflict from impacting Syria's security and stability.

"Tensions in the Middle East persist with spreading spillover effects, adding new complexities to the existing fragility in Syria," said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. "It is imperative that the international community act in concert to keep the flames of war in the Middle East from flaring up or expanding further and from impacting Syria's security and stability."

With much at stake, the Middle East could tilt toward either war or peace, he said. China calls on the relevant parties to seize the window of peace, exercise maximum restraint, demonstrate utmost sincerity, and continue to settle disputes through political and diplomatic means, with a view to achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, he told the Security Council.

Calling for efforts toward an inclusive political transition in Syria, Fu said, "All Syrian parties should uphold the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle, and address each other's concerns through extensive political dialogue to effectively promote internal reconciliation and achieve peaceful coexistence at an early date."

In this process, the legitimate rights and interests of all groups in Syria must be fully guaranteed and large-scale violence must never be allowed to recur, said Fu.

Fu said eliminating terrorist groups is essential to restoring stability in Syria, urging the international community to avoid double standards in counterterrorism. He also called on Syria's transitional government to meet its obligations and take effective action against all UN-designated terrorist organizations.

He said respecting Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity is a key principle in resolving the Syrian issue, calling for an immediate end to Israel's military operations in the separation zone and strikes in southern Syria, which he said violate international law, and urging full adherence to the 1974 disengagement agreement as well as Israel's withdrawal from Syrian territory without delay.

China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting long-term peace and stability in Syria and restoring peace and stability to the Middle East, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
(JNS) - A team from the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites arrived in early April in a small Upper Galilee community where the sounds of air-raid sirens and explosions had become routine amid weeks of sustained rocket fire.

Despite the U.S.-brokered 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon that went into effect on Friday, residents of Israel's north continue to face uncertainty as security conditions evolve.

For many children in the region, daily life has unfolded largely within bomb shelters. Fifteen kindergarten children gathered at the shelter entrance and quickly immersed themselves in...
A simple thank you for a simple act the other day bothered me.

Early one recent Friday morning, on a warm spring day, I decided, during a round of errands in my New York City neighborhood, to buy a few items for Shabbat at a small kosher grocery store a few blocks from my apartment building. As I entered the glass door at front of the store, I could see a small crowd of shoppers already in line, getting their necessities for their Shabbos meals.

Someone coming in my direction also caught my eye  a young frum woman, tichel upon her head, pushing a baby carriage while holding a few plastic ba...
(JNS)  The vast majority of Republicans and political conservatives breathed a sigh of relief when President Donald Trump finally and conclusively read former Fox News host Tucker Carlson out of his MAGA movement last week. In addition to platforming and coddling a wide array of extremist Jew-haters and Israel-bashers on his podcast, Carlson has spent the last year assailing the presidents foreign-policy decisions, in particular his strong stand against Iran.

Last month, Trump said Carlson had lost his way. But the podcasters comments on April 7, when he advocated that U.S. officials refu...
(JNS)  U.S. President Donald Trumps announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has created at least a temporary pause in hostilities, opening a potential diplomatic window while underscoring the deeper regional confrontation involving Iran and its proxies.

According to reports, Trump personally intervened with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, helping bring both sides to accept a cessation of hostilities despite earlier reluctance in Beirut to engage directly with Jerusalem. The American initiative appears tied to broader strateg...
(JNS)  Its one hell of a reflection on Europe that the country which now arguably has the continents toughest laws against antisemitismand the greatest will to fight this resurgent evilis Ukraine.

Yes, Ukraine. The country that has been beating off a brutal Russian invasion for more than four years. The country for whom a typical day will bring hundreds of drones and barrages of missiles raining down on its cities and towns. The country that has been traumatized by the cruel abduction of nearly 20,000 of its children by the Russians in an outrage that brings to mind the Nazi Germanizatio...
China urges U.S. to stop supporting Taiwan region in consolidating so-called "diplomatic allies"

Xinhua) 16:13, April 23, 2026

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Thursday urged the United States to stop supporting the Taiwan region in consolidating the so-called "diplomatic allies" and stop sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing, after the U.S. made erroneous statement regarding the "temporary delay" of the planned tout visit to Eswatini by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
In Brief: BWH Hotels has opened the first @HOME by Best Western property in the United States, located in St. George, Utah, in partnership with Prime Hospitality.

@HOME by Best Western St. George - Image Credit Best Western

BWH Hotels has opened the first @HOME by Best Western property in the United States in St. George, Utah, developed in partnership with Prime Hospitality. The new-build, four-story hotel offers 92 apartment-style studios, each featuring amenities such as kitchens, workspaces, and social patios.

@HOME by Best Western St. George includes community areas with a pool, a large fitness center with health club-grade equipment, and dedicated spaces for guests to reserve and store larger items, such as bikes and skis. The hotel aims to meet the demand for extended-stay accommodations in St. George, driven by the presence of Intermountain Health and access to nearby national parks.

This project marks the fourth property partnership between BWH Hotels and Prime Hospitality, joining Zion Wildflower Resort, WorldHotels Crafted, near Zion National Park; Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites in Springdale, Utah; and Best Western Mesquite Inn in Mesquite, Nevada.

The St. George opening follows the recent launch of an @HOME by Best Western property in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. BWH Hotels projects the brands global pipeline to reach 34 hotels and 2,791 rooms by the end of 2026. The next U.S. @HOME by Best Western property is scheduled to open near Atlanta, Georgia, in late 2026.
In Brief: Conrad Athens The Ilisian has opened at Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46 in Athens, following the transformation of the former Hilton Athens and marking the entry of the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand into Greece.

Conrad Athens The Ilisian - Image Credit Hilton

Conrad Athens The Ilisian - Image Credit Hilton

Conrad Athens The Ilisian - Image Credit Hilton

Conrad Athens The Ilisian - Image Credit Hilton

Conrad Athens The Ilisian has commenced operations in the Ilisia neighborhood of Athens, occupying the site of the former Hilton Athens. The property now features 278 guest rooms and suites, including three Presidential Suites, a Royal Suite, and the Omega Penthouse, which is scheduled to launch later this year. The majority of rooms offer private balconies, and the hotel includes what is described as Athens largest suite collection.

The hotel is positioned within The Ilisian, a new mixed-use destination in central Athens. Facilities include nine dining venues, such as Byzantino, which has reopened as a Grande Brasserie, the Athenian Lounge, and an Italian poolside restaurant. The property also offers the Onuki Japanese restaurant, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, which opened in 2025. The Galaxy Bar is scheduled to return later this year as Galaxy Dispensary and Galaxy Supper Club. Additional globally recognized restaurant concepts are also planned to open at The Ilisian later in the year.

Wellness amenities at Conrad Athens The Ilisian include the Oasis, Athens largest outdoor pool; a 700-square-meter Green Roof with a rooftop running track, outdoor gym, and pickleball court; and an indoor wellness zone. The indoor facilities feature a gym, studios for yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic, spinning, a heated pool, and heat and cold therapy. The Odei Wellness Residence is set to open in May, offering face and body treatments inspired by ancient Greek rituals, with expanded longevity treatments led by Dr. Costas Papageorgiou planned for later in the year.

Advertisement



The property incorporates curated cultural experiences through the Conrad 1/3/5 experiences program, offering guests the opportunity to engage with Athens through activities such as golden-hour aperitivos overlooking the Acropolis and guided architectural walks. The hotel also includes a retail zone, event spaces including two ballrooms, and the House of NYNN private lifestyle members club.

The building retains its original 620-square-meter sculpted marble facades by Greek artist Yannis Moralis, with lighting design by Eleftheria Deko. Interior spaces were designed by AvroKO, with contributions from Mare Studio, Saridis, and ceramicist Eleni Vernadaki.

Conrad Residences Athens The Ilisian are located on the 7th and 8th floors of the hotel, offering views of the Acropolis and Saronic Gulf. The Waldorf Astoria Residences Athens The Ilisian are situated on the top four floors of the Ilisian Tower, providing residents with exclusive amenities, including a private entrance, club lounge, and fitness facility.

The propertys opening date was April 23, 2026, coinciding with the anniversary of the original Hilton Athens opening in 1963. Conrad Athens The Ilisian is part of a portfolio of 50 Conrad Hotels & Resorts properties worldwide and marks the brands first location in Greece.
In Brief: Minor Hotels has announced plans for Anantara Miami Resort & Residences, a 50-story tower to be developed in partnership with One Thousand Group, marking the first Anantara property in the United States and scheduled to open in 2030.

Rendering of the Anantara Miami Resort & Residences - Image Credit Minor Hotels

Minor Hotels will introduce its Anantara brand to the United States with the planned development of Anantara Miami Resort & Residences. The 50-story tower, developed in partnership with One Thousand Group, will rise 650 feet above Biscayne Bay at the convergence of Miami's Edgewater, Design District, and Wynwood neighborhoods. The property is expected to open in 2030.

The development will feature 100 private branded residences and 120 resort residences, with owners permitted to make their residences available to hotel guests. The tower will also include 50 hotel suites and is set to become the first in the area to offer uninterrupted views across Biscayne Bay.

Amenities will include a vitality center focused on movement, nutrition, and recovery, as well as holistic programming inspired by Thai healing traditions. The project is designed to combine hospitality, private ownership, and wellness offerings.

The design team includes architecture by Kohn Pedersen Fox in collaboration with ODP Architecture & Design, and interiors by Patricia Urquiola, marking her first residential project in the United States. The project follows previous One Thousand Group developments, including One Thousand Museum and Villa Miami.

The tower will feature a private rooftop helipad with access to destinations such as the Florida Keys, Palm Beach, and the Bahamas. The property will be located in a walkable neighborhood with direct access to restaurants, galleries, boutiques, and cultural institutions, including Perez Art Museum, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

Sales for Anantara Miami Resort & Residences are expected to launch later this year, with One Sothebys International Realty appointed as the exclusive sales partner.
North Adams Airport Welcomes Flight School

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Hewison Aviation operations manager Maura Hewison told the Airport Commission on Tuesday that the company plans to bring a flight school to North Adams.

"We have great things that we are going to be unveiling in the coming months," Hewison said. "You will see people in the airport and in classes. It will liven up the airport and bring a lot of joy."

The flight school has three locations in New York state; the North Adams operation will be its fourth. It offers private and commercial pilot training, as well as discovery flights, among other services.

Hewison was standing in for Airport Manager Andrew Franklin. Hewison Aviation is the manager of the North Adams airport, and Franklin is an employee of the firm.

Hewison said the company worked throughout the winter to establish a presence at Harriman and West. Now that the snow has melted, its presence will become much more visible.

"I am looking forward to sprucing up the place," she said. "I want it to be a welcoming environment, and I want people to be happy when they walk into the airport."

She said the airport has a lot of potential, especially with the possibility of a restaurant.

"You guys have the most beautiful airport I have ever seen. Hopefully you get the restaurant going," she said. "I will fly for a $100 hamburger. You have such untapped potential. We want to bring people together and have people smile."

The "$100 hamburger" is a common aviation slang term for a pilot finding any excuse, usually a meal at another airport, to fly. The cost refers to the expenses of fuel and aircraft fees rather than the price of the meal itself.

Hewison said she is still learning about the region but has already made strong connections with community members and airport users. Once the flight school is up and running, she hopes to invite area residents to the airport for events and work with local high schools and colleges.

She noted they will have a base plane located in North Adams.

"We want to have one plane here for now and grow the flight school originally like we have done at our other flight schools," she said. "Start offering discovery flights. So stay tuned, there are a lot of exciting things happening and I am not letting everything out of the bag at once."

In other business, the commission heard from Stantec engineer Peter Enzien about the new six-unit T-hangar project.

He said the plans have been completed with updates from the state Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. He noted the only major change was a multi-meter center so all units can be metered for electricity separately.

The project went out to bid in late March. Concerningly, no one showed up to the pre-bid conference.

Enzien said they have already opened the electric sub-bid. The low bidder was Elm Electric with a $180,250 bid. The other bidder was Summer at $185,000.

"They were really competitive and right in line with our engineer estimate," he said.

The city will open the general contractor bids this week. The general contractor will award the electrical sub-bid, though they are not obligated to pick the low bidder.

"We will have a better idea of where we stand at that point," he said. "Hopefully we get two or three."

If there are no bids, the city must go back to the FAA and ask for an extension.

Included in the project is the renovation of the city-owned Shamrock Hangar roof. A large portion of the repair could be covered by grant funding.

The commission tabled a deeper discussion on the Shamrock Hangar, seeking clarity on how lease agreements would look with an outside organization.

The city purchased the hangar in 2017 with FAA funds. It was subsequently renovated and opened as a public space. Because it is a public space, the hangar cannot be leased. Only a portion of the property that was left untouched during the renovation can be leased.

The city could pay back the funds used to renovate the hangar, which would allow it to be leased privately. The city would not simply cut the FAA a check; instead, the value would be credited against future airport project funding.

At that point, the city could even sell the hangar.

Chairman James Haskins said there is some urgency because the longer the property sits vacant, the deeper it falls into disrepair.

"It definitely needs maintenance. It needs to be painted and cleaned," he said. "... We don't want it to sit and rot."

Over the winter, pipes froze in the building, though they have since been repaired. The proposed roof project would not count against a possible payout to the FAA.
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A warning of impending condom price hikes from the world's largest manufacturer has sparked a viral discussion across Chinese social media, with users contemplating stockpiling.

The hashtag "condom prices rising" has garnered over 60 million views on platforms like Weibo, China's equivalent of X, as the ongoing Iran crisis begins to impact everyday life, even extending to the bedroom.

The surge in online comments follows an announcement from Goh Miah Kiat, CEO of Malaysian condom maker Karex Bhd.

He stated the company intends to increase prices by 20-30 per cent, with potential for further rises if supply chain disruptions, exacerbated by the conflict in Iran, persist.

Many users expressed that elevated costs would not deter them from purchasing condoms for pregnancy protection, while others actively encouraged fellow consumers to begin stockpiling.

"A few dozen yuan for a condom is a hundred times more cost-effective than raising a child at a million yuan," said one user.

"From now on, not only will we have to be frugal, but we'll also have to stock up on condoms in advance," said another.

open image in gallery The online conversations erupted in the past 24 hours and come as Chinese authorities are trying a range of policy measures to boost the country's flagging birth rate ( Reuters )

The online conversations erupted in the past 24 hours and come as Chinese authorities are trying a range of policy measures to boost the country's flagging birth rate, which has been falling for decades, to offset an ageing population. Last year, births hit a record low.

Karex produces over 5 billion condoms annually and is a supplier to leading brands such as Durex and Trojan.

A price rise for condoms would add to the already increasing cost of family planning in China.

At the start of the year, China removed a three-decade-old tax exemption on contraceptive drugs and devices. Condoms and contraceptive pills are subject to a value-added tax of 13%, the standard rate for most consumer goods.

open image in gallery The wave of online comments was sparked by the boss of condom maker Karex Bhd KARE.KL, Goh Miah Kiat, who said the Malaysian company planned to raise prices by 20 per cent to 30 per cent and possibly more if supply chain disruptions due to the Iran war drag on ( Reuters )

Condom companies Reckitt, LifeStyles, Ansell, and Renfu, which sell in China, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The world's second-most populous nation saw its population continue to shrink for the fourth consecutive year. In 2025, China's total population stood at 1.404 billion, a reduction of 3 million compared to the previous year.

The statistics illustrate the stark demographic pressures the country faces. The number of new babies born was just 7.92 million in 2025, a decline of 1.62 million, or 17 per cent.

The latest birth numbers show the slight tick upwards in 2024 was not a lasting trend. Births declined for seven years in a row through 2023.

Most families cite the costs and pressure of raising a child in a highly competitive society as significant hurdles that now loom larger in the face of an economic downturn that has impacted households struggling to meet their living costs.
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China has hinted in a video at an aircraft carrier that could be its first nuclear-powered as it looks to boost maritime power, secure resources, and bolster territorial claims.

The video released on the eve of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navys 77th anniversary featured fictional officers whose names echoed the services three commissioned aircraft carriers: Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian.

It showed a 19-year-old named "He Jian" joining the group, which triggered public speculation whether it was referring to a fourth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The Navy recruit's name is a homophone of "nuclear vessel" in Mandarin.

All three carriers currently in service are conventionally powered and bear sequential pennant numbers 16, 17 and 18. The new recruits age, 19, hints that He Jian will fall in line with that numbering logic.

The film features four generations of naval personnel and concludes with a symbolic "Easter egg" which alludes to the reunification of self-governed Taiwan with mainland China. Beijing under Xi Jinping's rule has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its fold and has increased military activity around the island.

open image in gallery China hints at new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ( China Navy )

"The 'Easter egg' in PLA Navy promotional films has become something of a tradition, and the ending of this latest release is rich with symbolism," state media Global Times reported.

The video showed an exchange between a naval officer and his son "Xiao Wan", the latter's name an allusion to Taiwan. "I don't want to go home just yet. I want to play out a little longer," the boy says in the video.

His father responds, "Xiao Wan, don't be difficult. Mum is waiting for you at home. Let's go home."

Beijing is spending billions of dollars to build a "bluewater navy" allowing it to project power far from its shores, a goal since 2012, when president Xi became leader of the ruling Communist Party.

Action sequences in the video featured military drills and strikes in the Pacific.

A Pentagon report released in December last year claimed that China aims to expand its navy with nine aircraft carriers by 2035, up from the current three in service.

The US assessment claims the Chinese Navy would helm the Indo-Pacifics largest carrier build-up since World War II, aiming to triple its fleet.

The Pentagon estimates China will field nine carriers by 2035, roughly one every 20 months, as Beijing become more aggressive around the waters surrounding the country.

Chinas fourth aircraft carrier, widely identified as the Type 004, is reportedly under construction at the Dalian shipyard.

open image in gallery Chinese Navy hints at new aircraft carrier ( China Navy )

The aircraft carrier, expected to be the first nuclear-powered vessel, will likely be equipped with twin reactors, marking a significant leap in Beijings naval capabilities.

The vessel is expected to be a massive supercarrier with a displacement of 110,000120,000 tonnes, which will be capable of operating more than 100 aircraft, according to the 1945 website.

It is expected to feature electromagnetic catapults capable of launching advanced aircraft such as the J-35 and KJ-600, similar to the E-2C/D Hawkeye used on US carriers.

The US Navy operates 11 aircraft carriers, including one advanced USS Gerald R Ford, capable of launching more than 70 aircraft.

China's natural resources ministry in an article published in the official People's Daily, has urged greater efforts to "protect" the more than 11,000 islands China claims.

The vast majority of these are located within 100km of the coast, with nearly 60 per cent in the East China Sea, around 30 per cent in the South China Sea and the rest in the Bohai and Yellow Seas, an official Chinese tally showed in 2018.

China has built artificial islands, airstrips, and military facilities during extensive land reclamation efforts over the years in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Last September, Beijing declared a national nature reserve at the disputed Scarborough Shoal to assert its claim to the atoll, a long-time flashpoint with the Philippines.

"The facilities on its artificial island bases have allowed Chinese law enforcement, naval, and militia vessels to spend every day of the year patrolling the waters of its neighbours up to 1,000 nautical miles from the Chinese coastline," said Gregory Poling of the CSIS think tank.
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North Korea and Russia are pushing to swiftly open a new road bridge across the Tumen River, state media KCNA reported on Thursday, as the two nations deepen their burgeoning alliance.

The project, initiated approximately a year ago, is deemed "an important business" by KCNA, designed to bolster bilateral cooperation across tourism, trade, and the movement of people.

The 850-metre (2,789-ft) structure, which will integrate with Russia's highway network, was initially agreed upon during President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024.

A ceremony marking the joining of the bridge sections was held on Tuesday, according to the Moscow Times.

This new crossing is being constructed close to the existing "Friendship Bridge," a rail link established in 1959 following the Korean War.

While KCNA stated an opening ceremony would occur soon without a specific date, the Russian embassy in Pyongyang indicated on Telegram that the bridge is expected to be completed by 19 June.

open image in gallery Satellite imagery taken on 28 April shows construction site and equipment gathered around Tumen river on both  Russian and North Korean sides  with a nearby helipad also spotted in the area ( Planet Labs PBC )

Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Primorsky region in Russia's Far East, wrote on Telegram that the bridge would increase trade and expand cultural and tourism ties.

He said it would cut the distance between Vladivostok and the border city of Rason to 320 kilometres and the crossing would have the capacity to accommodate up to 300 cars per day.

The update came as several Russian delegations visited North Korea this week.

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev met Jo Yong Won, chairman of the Standing Committee of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, on Wednesday in what KCNA described as a "favorable atmosphere."

On Wednesday, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko visited the North Korean city of Wonsan to attend a ceremony celebrating the construction of a hospital symbolising the "friendship" between the countries, KCNA said.

open image in gallery Russia and North Korea in 2024 signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership treaty' during Putin's visit to Pyongyang ( Reuters )

Russia and North Korea in 2024 signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty" during Putin's visit to Pyongyang.

The pact includes a mutual defence provision, and North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in western Russia's Kursk region after a large Ukrainian incursion.

China has also been seeking to strengthen cross-border infrastructure and rebuild ties with North Korea and last month saw the first passenger train service between the countries resume after a six-year gap.
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Thousands of Samsung Electronics workers rallied at its computer chip complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Thursday, demanding higher bonuses and threatening to strike as booming demand for artificial intelligence drives up memory-chip profits.

Amid a heavy police presence, employees held signs and waved banners, shouting, "make compensation transparent and remove maximum limits on bonuses!"

Union officials claimed approximately 40,000 members participated, though police did not immediately provide a crowd estimate.

The rally occurred hours after Samsungs rival, SK Hynix, posted an all-time high in quarterly revenue and operating profit for the January-March period.

This surge was attributed to expanding global investments in data centres and other AI infrastructure, significantly boosting demand for its memory chips.

Samsung, which alongside SK Hynix produces about two-thirds of global memory chips, forecast earlier this month that its first-quarter operating profit would reach a record 57.2 trillion won ($38.6 billion).

open image in gallery The union is holding a large-scale rally followed by a strike from 21 May to 7 June. ( Getty )

This figure surpasses the 37.6 trillion won ($25.4 billion) posted by SK Hynix on Thursday, although Samsung maintains a more diverse business lineup, including smartphones and consumer electronics.

Samsungs union, which represents about 74,000 workers, says the company has failed to offer adequate compensation despite its strong performance. It has rejected the managements proposal for bonuses of restricted stock and calling for removing caps on bonuses.

The union has threatened to stage an 18-day walkout starting 21 May if negotiations with management fail and claims that such action would cost the company more than 1 trillion won ($676 million) a day.

open image in gallery The union workers are saying the tech giant may lose up to $20.3 billion USD in profit this year alone should it go ahead with its walkout as planned ( Getty )

We wont stop this fight until our fair demands are met, Choi Seung-ho, a union leader, said through a loudspeaker from atop a crane-mounted structure.

While semiconductor makers have benefited from the AI boom, the war in the Middle East has clouded the future outlook, disrupting supplies of key materials such as helium that are crucial to chipmaking and pushing up energy costs.

In a conference call Thursday, Woo Hyun Kim, SK Hynixs chief financial officer, said the company is closely monitoring the conflict but does not expect a meaningful impact on production, saying it has been diversifying its sourcing of helium and bromine beyond the Middle East and has sufficient inventory.
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Pilots of two South Korean Air Force fighter jets were taking selfies and filming during a training mission when their planes collided, investigators have found.

In December 2021, the two South Korean Air Force F-15K fighter jets collided while flying in formation near the central city of Daegu. The pilots escaped the incident with no injuries, but the collision damaged both aircraft, costing 880m won (440,000) to the military in repairs.

One of the pilots was on his final flight with his unit and had decided to take pictures to commemorate it, the governments Board of Audit and Inspection said in a report. He had told his colleagues in a pre-mission briefing that he intended to take pictures.

As the planes were returning to base, the wingman, who was flying the second plane behind the lead pilot, began taking pictures with his phone. The pilot of the lead aircraft then asked another pilot on his plane to film a video of the wingmans aircraft.

The wingmans aircraft then abruptly flew higher and flipped the plane  a stunt carried out for the camera. The manoeuvre brought the two planes too close to each other.

A US Air Force B-1B bomber, and South Korean Air Force F-15K fighter jets fly over South Korea Peninsula during a joint air drill on March 03, 2023 at an undisclosed location in South Korea ( Getty )

To avoid a collision, the lead pilot attempted to rapidly descend while the wingman pulled nearly straight up, causing the collision.

The lead pilots left wing clipped the wingmans stabilator  a movable horizontal tail surface on an aircraft that combines the functions of a stabiliser and an elevator. The lead aircrafts left wing and the wingmans tail stabiliser were damaged.

South Koreas air force suspended the wingman pilot after the crash, who has since joined a commercial airline.

The wingman pilot was fined 880m won to cover the full amount of the repair costs. But the pilot challenged the fine before the board. He admitted negligence but said he was not financially liable for the aircraft as he did not violate his duty of care.

He said the lead aircraft's pilot had "tacitly consented" to the manoeuvre since he was aware that filming was taking place.

The board eventually asked him to pay one-tenth of the bill, reducing the fine by 90 per cent and asking for a reimbursement of approximately 88 million won (44,063).

The agency defended the decision, pointing to the routine practice of taking commemorative photos during flights and the air forces failure to regulate it.

Those who were involved in this case stated that this was not the only flight during which photos were taken, it said.

The board also highlighted the pilots skilful handling after the collision, which prevented further damage, as well as his long service record.

On Thursday, South Korea's Air Force apologised for the accident and said it was taking steps to tighten flight safety rules and prevent a repeat of the incident.

An air force spokesman said in a press briefing: "We sincerely apologise to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021."

He added that one of the pilots involved had been suspended from flying duties, received severe disciplinary action, and has since left the military.

The audit board did not reveal the names of the pilots and did not say if the lead pilot faced disciplinary action.
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A Taiwanese minister made a rare trip this week to a remote island in the South China Sea at a time when tensions in the region remain high.

Ocean affairs council minister Kuan Bi-ling travelled to Itu Aba  also known as Taiping Island  to observe exercises carried out by the coast guard.

Itu Aba is the largest naturally occurring island in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea  which is claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines. In a statement, Taiwans coast guard described the exercise as a humanitarian relief, medical evacuation and marine pollution removal operation.

Taiwans official Central News Agency said that it was the first time in seven years that a Taiwanese minister had visited Itu Aba. This visit by the minister comes amid tensions between the two countries. China claims Taiwan as its own while Taiwan says it is an independent, sovereign nation.

One of the exercises that Ms Kuan observed involved a mock interception at sea. According to the coast guard, the officers simulated stopping a cargo ship that ignored repeated calls.

Armed personnel then boarded the vessel to take control. Authorities said the scenario reflected real risks in busy and disputed waters.

In order to safeguard the nations rights and national security, the cargo vessel was escorted back to Taiping Island for further investigation, the coast guard said.

A video released later showed officers in black gear moving through the ship and entering its control room. During the drill, one officer addressed a crew member directly, saying: You have entered the waters under the jurisdiction of our country. Please cooperate with the investigation.

Ms Kuans visit coincided with large US-Philippines military drills, which had already upset China. While those exercises were underway, China responded by sending a new amphibious warship into the South China Sea and moving an aircraft carrier through the nearby Taiwan Strait.

Taiping Island is located roughly 1,600km southwest of Kaohsiung and falls under the administration of Cijin district in the southern Taiwanese city, according to Focus Taiwan media outlet.

Taiping Island has a runway capable of handling military supply flights and a recently upgraded wharf that can receive large patrol vessels. Around 200 people live there, mostly coast guard members trained for both security and rescue work.

Despite these facilities, the island is not heavily fortified when compared to nearby outposts controlled by China.

Beijing has spent years expanding its presence across the South China Sea, building artificial islands and adding airstrips, radar systems and other military infrastructure. These moves have raised concern across the region and in Washington.

China maintains that its actions are justified and says it has the right to develop and defend what it considers its territory. Taiwan, however, rejects Beijings claims over it and continues to operate independently on the islands it controls.

The wider South China Sea remains one of the worlds most important waterways. Huge volumes of global trade pass through it each year. It is also a major fishing zone and is believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves beneath its seabed.

A 2016 decision by an international tribunal labelled Taiping Island a rock under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This means Taiwan can claim resources only within 12 nautical miles of it, rather than 200 nautical miles if it were recognised as an island.

Taiwan presented its case to the tribunal, arguing that Itu Aba should be recognised as an island, saying it has the resources needed to support human life, including a supply of fresh water.

Both Taiwan and China have rejected the ruling of the tribunal and do not accept the arbitration case filed by the Philippines.

Taiwan argues Itu Aba can sustain life, while the 2016 tribunal ruled it does not, classifying it as a rock, which sharply limits its maritime rights.
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Makbul Rahman has voted in almost every state election since the early 1980s in West Bengal. Yet he is among millions who have been denied the chance to exercise his democratic right in a vital election beginning on Thursday that is being fiercely contested between a powerful local party and Narendra Modis BJP.

Mr Rahman, a 73-year-old retired government employee from Murshidabad district, has spent much of the year to date trying to get his name restored to the electoral roll, attending appeal hearings about a long-running process by Indias election commission, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, to update the voter list.

I am old. And these officers are constantly harassing me, he told The Independent. I have all the documents, yet they deleted my name from the voter list. How is this possible? I have attended hearings and presented my papers. My son and my daughter-in-law were named in the list, so how can election officials do this to me?

Mr Rahmans is one of nine million names that have been deleted from the voter list as part of the SIR exercise, which has been mired in controversy across India and faced waves of criticism and legal challenges.

Voting began on Thursday morning in 152 of 294 seats across 16 districts of West Bengal, phase one of two in the election, despite the SIR cases for millions of voters still being under review.

Pollsters put the outcome on a knife-edge, meaning it is the best chance in years for Mr Modis Hindu nationalist BJP to unseat the long-running state government of chief minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Ms Banerjee is seeking a fourth term in office in the eastern border state of West Bengal, where power has changed hands only once since 1977.

The second phase of the vote will take place next Wednesday, with results due on 4 May.

open image in gallery Officials distribute enumeration forms as a part of the election commissions Special Intensive Revision (SIR), at a fishing village on Mousuni Island ( AFP/Getty )

The election commission faces mounting scrutiny after initiating a nationwide revision of voter rolls to weed out ineligible names, which critics and opposition parties warn could have a disproportionate impact on minority voters. Data released by the commission shows that 11.85 per cent of West Bengals 76 million voters have been deleted from the roll.

Critics say Muslim voters  roughly 27 per cent of the states population and who overwhelmingly rally behind Ms Banerjees party  have been deliberately targeted through the SIR. Both the BJP and the election commission deny the allegation.

The exercise has become a political flashpoint, prompting Ms Banerjee to approach the Supreme Court in a bid to halt the process, the first such move by a sitting state leader.

At least 13 states and federally administered territories have undergone the SIR process so far, but West Bengal has been the only state so far where tribunals have been set up to hear the appeals of those struck off the list. That process offers little solace, however  of the 9 million names struck off the voter list, around six million are believed to be of absent or deceased voters, while 2.7 million have appealed for a tribunal hearing. As of the start of the vote on Thursday, however, just 138 cases had actually been settled by the tribunals, with 98.5 per cent leading to the restoration of the appellants name to the rolls.

I firmly stand by my earlier stance that the EC [election commission] must immediately stop this exercise. The revision cannot be completed in two or three months, Ms Banerjee said earlier. You must prove your identity. What greater humiliation could there be? They could have done this [SIR] over two years. What right does the EC have in determining who is a citizen and who isnt?

open image in gallery West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee greets supporters as she arrives to file her nomination papers earlier this month ( AFP/Getty )

The Independent met would-be voters outside one tribunal in Kolkata, though the premises remained closed in the days ahead of the election, with a heavy security presence and only a handful of people visible, clutching documents as they waited.

The BJP has routinely claimed that the exercise was targeting infiltrators, a pejorative term for illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. The TMC is opposed to SIR as they want to save the infiltrators from being struck off the electoral rolls, Mr Modi said at a rally last month.

Murshidabad and four other border districts with substantial Muslim populations account for 58.65 per cent of the electorate flagged for adjudication. The district of North 24 Paraganas accounted for 15 per cent of deletions, and in Murshidabad, 13 per cent of names were struck off the electoral rolls. Apart from Muslims, Dalit Hindu migrants from Bangladeshs Matua community were also struck off in North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts.

The Independent spoke to at least a dozen families in North 24 Parganas who said clerical errors had led to their names being deleted. Beyond clerical errors, transliteration from Bengali to English has emerged as a recurring problem, with inconsistencies in names across documents posing a particular challenge, mostly for women. The SIR has disproportionately affected women voters, accounting for about 61.8 per cent of those deleted from the electoral rolls, according to data analysed by the Kolkata-based non-profit Sabar Institute.

Sampurna Bhattacharyas appeal remains pending before the tribunal, and she has yet to be called for a second hearing. Her mother, a polling officer, initially found her name missing from the rolls, but it was later added to the supplementary list after she protested.

"Surprisingly, my mothers name made it to the second list as she is a polling officer, but mine didnt, said Dr Bhattacharya, a 30-year-old academic from North 24 Paraganas. I presented all documents, including my passport, during the hearing, yet they deleted my name from the list. It doesnt make any sense. They have not only snatched my right to vote but also put me through so much harassment that I dont know what else I must do to prove that I am a citizen.

The rest of Dr Bhattacharyas family will vote on 29 April.

open image in gallery Voters queue at a polling booth for the first phase of voting in West Bengal state elections in Nandigram, a town to the south of Kolkata ( AP )

Sheikh Najrul Islam, a 53-year-old paramilitary officer on election duty, said he last voted in 2021 and holds valid identification documents, yet his name no longer appears on the voter list. The election commission has deputed me to ensure free and fair polls, yet it does not consider me a citizen of this country, he said.

A Manchester-based professor said he was forced to cancel his trip to West Bengal after he got deleted from the electoral roll. Mehebub Sahana said the names of his father, brother, and sister have also been deleted from the electoral list in East Burdwan district.

Wing Commander Md Shamim Akhtar, a decorated Indian Air Force officer, got the shock of his life upon discovering that his name had been struck off from the voter list. Mr Akhtar, who served in the force for 20 years, told LiveMint he had been extremely anguished and disheartened, not just for himself, but for hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens. I still consider myself privileged. I have all the documents, he said. My parents and I were included in the 2002 electoral roll, and my entire family is mapped in the electoral roll post-2026 SIR. But what about the hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens who are poor and may or may not have documents dating back several decades? he asked.

Analysts warn that the deletions are fuelling fears of longer-term consequences, affecting peoples core rights as citizens of India. Losing one's place in the electoral roll can be deeply unsettling, the political analyst Iman Kalyan Lahiri said. It is not only about voting rights; it is about dignity, recognition, and the assurance that one counts as a citizen.

Voting was also taking place on Thursday in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, and the two polls are part of a wider round of state elections testing the BJPs reach in opposition strongholds. The results of the latest elections and the earlier polls in Kerala and Assam states and the federally administered territory of Puducherry were expected on 4 May.
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Ministers have been urged to do more to protect the public after data from 500,000 people who volunteered their health information to the UK Biobank was breached and offered for sale online in China.

Information of all half a million members had been listed for sale on the website Alibaba, said science minister Ian Murray, as he called the incident an unacceptable abuse of data.

Mr Murray told the Commons on Thursday that the charity had informed the government about the data breach on Monday, and said the information did not include names, addresses or contact details.

But Dame Chi Onwurah, the Labour chair of the science, innovation and technology committee, said it was another blow to public confidence, adding that it showed little progress had been made in protecting public data after she said she was given assurance by Mr Murray in February that standards of public sector information security and data hygiene would improve.

She said: [The] statement [by Mr Murray], however, demonstrates just how little progress has been made. It raises serious questions about whether lessons have been learned from repeated data breaches and leaks, and whether robust data management practices are being enforced at publicly funded bodies.

Public trust in the handling of sensitive data is handled is key to the governments digital transformation ambitions. This is another blow to public confidence.

The Biobank is the worlds most comprehensive dataset of biological, health and lifestyle information. It has been used to achieve improvements in the detection and treatment of dementia, cancers and Parkinsons.

open image in gallery The data was offered for sale on Alibaba's ecommerce platforms ( AFP/Getty )

Mr Murray told MPs: Biobank told us that three listings that appear to sell  Biobank participation data had been identified. At least one of these three datasets appeared to contain data from all 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers.

Additional listings offer support for applying for legitimate access to UK Biobank or analytical support for researchers who already have access to the data.

The government has spoken to the vendor today, and they did not believe that there were any purchases from the three listings before they were taken down, Mr Murray added.

The UK Biobank was established to advance medical research and scientists from across the world can use its data  with the personal information removed  for studies that are deemed in the public interest.

All of the participants were aged between 40 and 69 years old when they joined the study between 2006 and 2010. Their data is used to track their long-term health and help researchers to understand, prevent and treat serious illnesses.

UK Biobank has referred itself to the Information Commissioners Office following the breach, said Mr Murray, who said the data involved in the breach could include gender, age, month and year of birth, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and measures from biological samples.

He said he could not give a complete guarantee that nobody could be identified, but said it would likely only be done so through a very advanced way.

open image in gallery Blood samples taken from volunteers, ready to be stored in the UK Biobank ( Getty )

In a statement, he told the Commons: Once the government was made aware of the situation, we took immediate action to protect participants data. Firstly, we worked with Biobank, the Chinese government and the vendor, to ensure that those three listings  that UK Biobank informed us (of), including participant data  had been removed.

I want to thank the Chinese government for the seriousness with which they work with us to help remove these listings.

Secondly, we ensured that the Biobank charity revoked access to three research institutions identified as the source of that information.

And thirdly, we have asked that the Biobank charity pause further access to its data until they put in place a technical solution to prevent data from its current platform from being downloaded in this way again. I can confirm to the House that this pause is now in place.

In a statement published on Thursday, Professor Sir Rory Collins, chief executive and principal investigator of UK Biobank, told those in the study: We would like to inform you about an incident involving UK Biobank data.

We apologise to our participants for the concern this will cause, and we hope to provide reassurance by outlining the serious actions we are taking in response.

Your personally identifying information in UK Biobank is safe and secure.

Listings offering access to UK Biobank data (which did not contain any personally identifying information) were found on a Chinese consumer website. These listings were swiftly removed before any purchases were made.

We are putting in place additional security measures to prevent this happening again. We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident.

Since UK Biobank started to make your de-identified data available for research in 2012, it has led to thousands of discoveries that are already leading to improvements in the prevention and treatment of many different diseases.

Professor Elena Simperl, Department of Informatics at Kings College London, said: The recent UK Biobank data exposure is not a moment to point fingers, but to take seriously what it tells us about national data infrastructure. Initiatives like UK Biobank are absolutely essential to driving innovation across the health and life sciences ecosystem.

With longitudinal data on half a million volunteers and more than 18,000 peer-reviewed papers to its name, the UK is world-leading in this space, and rightly proud of it.

What happened here was an infrastructure problem, not the result of a complex cyber attack. Too often, the costs of maintaining infrastructure for flagship data stewardship projects like this are treated as an afterthought. The UK has built something remarkable, but we need to keep investing in keeping it safe.
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The cost of essential medicines in England has risen by up to 30 per cent because of the war in Iran, pharmacists have warned.

Oil and gas prices continue to climb in what the International Energy Agency has dubbed the worst energy crisis in history due to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US have implemented a blockade and Iran is attacking vessels.

In turn this has led to increased manufacturing and transport costs for suppliers, who are now paying 40 to 50 per cent for stock, the National Pharmacy Association told The Guardian.

Community chemists are being forced to charge customers 20 to 30 per cent more for medicine including painkillers such as paracetamol and hayfever medication including cetirizine tablets, according to the group.

Drug makers had sounded the alarm earlier this month, warning that the NHS could face drug shortages if the conflict were not resolved soon.

open image in gallery Experts said they hoped the latest study would bring the matter to a close (PA) ( PA Wire )

Medicines that contain paracetamol and aspirin that use petroleum derivatives are thought to be the most at risk because they are manufactured using by-products from the petrochemical industry, which has been affected by Tehrans blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

With one in five NHS medicines arriving by air, the conflict has also seen transport costs double. Some chemists have been forced to stop selling aspirin due to supply issues that had preceded the war.

NPA chair Olivier Picard said that his own Berkshire chemist had been unable to order paracetamol and the [wholesale] price had doubled when it did come back on the market.

open image in gallery In this handout photo provided by U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska on April 20, 2026, ( Getty )

He advised against stockpiling medicines as panic-buying would create shortages that would push costs up further.

In a letter to Wes Streeting last month, Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association, voiced her concerns over the supply of essential drugs that millions rely on daily, such as blood pressure medicines.

Following the letter, the government has said it was working to boost Britains domestic medicine manufacturing industry and reassured the majority of medicines are in good supply at the time.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We are monitoring the situation closely and there is currently very limited disruption to medical product supply from the conflict in the Middle East.

We have robust measures in place to manage disruption across the health and social care sector to protect patients, including holding buffer stocks and the procurement of alternative products where necessary.

The vast majority of the UKs licensed medicines are in good supply, and we will continue working closely with industry partners to help ensure the continued supply of medical products.
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Road construction in the Amazon, a process often linked to deforestation, is also revealing a rich ancient history. Archaeological surveys along the BR-156 highway in Brazil's northern state of Amapa have unearthed significant discoveries from long before European colonisation.

Among the findings from nine dig sites are pottery vases, potentially serving as funerary urns, alongside small artefacts crafted to resemble human faces. Lucio Flavio Costa Leite, who manages the Archaeological Research Center at Amapas Institute for Scientific and Technological Research, described the complex nature of these projects, stating: "What we now about the regions past is also tied to the opening created by these projects, which gives our relationship with them a somewhat ambivalent character." He added this new knowledge compels closer attention and "permanent protection measures."

These discoveries reinforce a growing understanding that the Amazon was far from a "human desert" before colonisation, but rather a landscape shaped by sophisticated, interconnected societies. The material unearthed along BR-156, for instance, includes pottery exhibiting multiple styles and techniques, reflecting cultural influences stretching from Brazils Para state to the Caribbean.

A team for the National Department of Transport Infrastructure meticulously cleaned and analysed the artefacts. Archaeologist Manoel Fabiano da Silva Santos described the excavated layers of Amazonian soil as a historical timeline. He explained that upper strata yielded items such as Portuguese porcelain and nails, indicative of European occupation, while deeper excavations uncovered "pottery and ceramics associated with earlier Indigenous presence, marking the sites transition before and after the arrival of colonizers."

open image in gallery Pottery vessels with anthropomorphic features believed to be urns are displayed at the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research in Macapa, Amapa state, Brazil, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The artifacts will eventually go to Amapa's state collection, overseen by Costa Leite, which includes about 530,000 pieces. The oldest piece is around 6,140 years old, confirming a long human presence across Amapa, he said.

The artifacts offer insight into how ancient Indigenous societies lived, died and interacted with the rainforest.

Here is something I often debate with my students -- we usually think of technology as computers and microchips, Costa Leite said, walking through shelves of ancient pottery. But all of this required careful reading of the landscape and deliberate choices of materials.

open image in gallery Archaeologist Manoel Fabiano da Silva Santos shows an anthropomorphic artifact found at the Quintela archaeological site at the National Department of Transport Infrastructure in Macapa, Amapa state, Brazil, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

One of the most impressive historic areas in Amapa is in the city of Calcoene, where a 1,000yearold stone monument made up of 127 carved monoliths arranged in a circle about 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter, set in open grassland amid the rainforest and bordered by a slow river.

Some have dubbed the Archaeological Park of the Solstice the Stonehenge of the Amazon for its resemblance to the British monument. Researchers found that the stones were positioned so that during the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere they marked the exact point where the sun rises, said archaeologist Mariana Petry Cabral, a professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais who was part of the team that began digging at the site some two decades ago.

Its hard to say exactly what all the stones mean, but what we do know is that they are not from the site itself. They were brought from other nearby locations, she said.

Subsequent research and excavations found the site also served as a burial ground. Radiocarbon dating showed it was occupied for hundreds of years, beginning around 1,100 years ago, she said.

The site, discovered by scientists in 2005, can be visited with prior approval from Amapas Institute for Scientific and Technological Research. At the same time, the site is going through the process to become a national park, which will allow more people to visit.

Such archaeological sites are protected by Brazilian law, which prohibits them being altered. That adds a layer of protection for surrounding rainforest.

open image in gallery An anthropomorphic ceramic figurine found during archaeological work in a state is displayed at the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research in Macapa, Amapa state, Brazil, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Modern archaeological and historical ecology research shows that Indigenous peoples not only lived in the Amazon for centuries but also shaped it. They managed and cultivated the landscape through longterm, sustainable practices, said Eduardo Neves, an archaeologist professor at the University of Sao Paulo.

Neves has studied the Amazon rainforest for more than 30 years and, since 2023, has led the Amazon Revealed project, which uses satellite scans to identify archaeological sites hidden beneath the forest canopy.

Scans have revealed roads linking archaeological sites and buried patterns in the rainforest that point to repeated occupation and deliberate landscape modification. Together, Neves said, the features suggest large settlements.

open image in gallery Archaeologist Manoel Fabiano da Silva Santos shows a soil layer scale while explaining the historical timeline at National Department of Transport Infrastructure in Macapa, Amapa state, Brazil, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Archaeologists had long suspected such connections, Neves added, but technology has made it possible to see their broader geographic reach. The scans show networks of roads connecting clusters of settlements across the forest, most clearly in southern Amazonas state and Acre.

When people think of an Indigenous tribe, they often imagine a small village isolated in the middle of the forest. But evidence shows a high degree of interconnectivity linking different settlements, Neves said.

Amapa is a key piece that helps us see how dynamic and active these populations were, and how they maintained networks of exchange that have been in place for millennia, Cabral said.
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Three asylum seekers have been found guilty of raping a woman on Brighton beach in a cynical, predatory and callous attack after she became separated from her friends on a night out.

A trial at Hove Crown Court heard the woman was targeted by the men as she was staggering in the street and incapacitated in the early hours of October 4 last year.

Two of the men took her behind a beach hut in the city where they raped her, and the other went to the location moments later and filmed it.

Egyptian national Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, and Iranian national Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, were both found guilty of two counts of rape by jurors on Thursday. Egyptian national Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, was also found guilty of all four counts of rape as a secondary party by encouraging and filming the ordeal.

Jurors returned their verdicts in the five-week trial after more than 12 hours of deliberation.

open image in gallery A trial at Hove Crown Court heard the woman was targeted by the men as she was staggering in the street ( Alamy/PA )

Footage shown to jurors shows Alshafe smiling during the attack. He and Ahmadi had claimed during the trial that the encounter was consensual and that the woman had approached them along the seafront, kissed and touched them both, said something about sex and took them both to the beach. Al-Danasurt, who claimed in court that he had tried to stop the attack by filming it, denied that he used derogatory language toward the complainant.

Prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters KC had told jurors the woman recalled being spat on, kicked, and her throat being grabbed during the attack, as well as men laughing.

Giving evidence in the trial, the woman told the court: It wasnt consensual, it was not consensual. They are evil and they have ruined my life. Cross-examined from behind a screen in court, she also cried as she said: Its the filmers face I see every time I close my eyes, laughing at me.

open image in gallery Ibrahim Alshafe ( Sussex Police )

In a police interview filmed nine days after the attack and played to jurors, the victim said she had been at a bar with friends until around 3am before going to a nightclub near the beach. She recalled regaining consciousness lying on the beach and thought she was going to be killed.

In the recording, she said: I closed my eyes because I thought, Oh my God, theyre actually going to kill me. I can hear all these voices and I cant stop them. The court also heard that minutes after leaving the men, the woman spoke to her friends and was described as wailing and hysterical, saying she has been raped.

open image in gallery Abdulla Ahmadi ( Sussex Police )

DNA samples were taken from all three defendants, and DNA from both Alshafe and Ahmadi matched samples taken from the complainant. Al-Danasurts test result was inconclusive.

At the time of the incident, all three defendants, who arrived in England by small boats last year, knew each other and were living at Home Office-approved hotel accommodation for asylum seekers near Horsham, West Sussex.

open image in gallery Karin Al-Danasurt ( Sussex Police )

Jurors heard Alshafes asylum application had been refused the day before the attack, but he told the court he did not know about the update to his case before going to Brighton that night.

On the night of 3 October, the three men took a bus to Brighton. The court heard that they went to a bar and nightclub on the beach where Alshafe was chatting to a woman via Google Translate about his hopes to marry a woman and have children and get citizenship in the UK. The prosecution suggested that he had been knocked back by several women and was on the prowl with the co-defendants.

open image in gallery Snapchat video of a BBQ and selfie of Karin Al-Danasurt on the evening of October 4 ( Sussex Police )

That night, Mr Alshafe, you were nothing more than a nasty little predator, Ms Llewellyn-Waters said to him in court.

After the attack, the men returned to their hotel by bus and later had a barbecue together. Around the same time, their victim was waiting to be medically examined.

A video of Al-Danasurt wearing filtered sunglasses in a selfie with a lit barbecue was also shown in court.

Ahmadi left the hotel the day after the rape and moved to an address in Crewe, Cheshire, where he was arrested on 12 October 12, the court heard.

The move had not been approved by the Home Office and Ahmadi had been marked as absconding, self-departing from the accommodation.

On October 13, Alshafe and Al-Danasurt, both of Lower Beeding, near Horsham, were arrested by police at their hotel.

A further count of sharing intimate films without the complainants consent, which Al-Danasurt faced, was withdrawn on April 23 after it was established that the offence can only be tried in a magistrates court.
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The number of commercial websites trafficking in images of child sexual abuse has doubled over the past year, a leading internet monitoring organisation has revealed.

According to the Internet Watch Foundation's (IWF) annual report, published on Thursday, a staggering 15,031 such sites were identified in 2025, a sharp increase from 7,028 the previous year.

The report also detailed the identification and digital marking of 317,101 images depicting child abuse, a crucial step enabling tech companies to prevent their further dissemination.

Disturbingly, approximately 16 per cent of these platforms  2,458 in total  were found to be disguised, appearing to host legitimate content or lie dormant, while secretly providing access to paedophiles.

In response, the IWF is advocating for financial services to be mandated to detect and report payment links associated with access to these abhorrent abuse images.

Kerry Smith, chief executive of the IWF, said: It is clear criminals are exploiting systemic failures and are finding it far too easy to reap huge profits from childrens sexual exploitation.

At every stage, we need to disrupt this system. It is an industry.

We need mandatory measures on financial services to proactively detect, take down and report digital payment links for the sale of images and videos of child sexual abuse.

We also need to see companies which use end-to-end encryption on their services adopt the tried and trusted safety tools which can prevent criminals using these platforms as safe havens to distribute child sexual abuse material.

The number of children who reported being victims of so-called sextortion, where blackmailers trick or force them into providing graphic images that they threaten to release, also more than doubled last year.

open image in gallery Jess Phillips said tech companies and the financial sector cannot keep turning a blind eye to an online marketplace that facilitates and profits from the sexual exploitation of children ( Jonathan Brady/PA )

The IWF saw 397 of these cases in 2025, most of which were reported to the Report Remove helpline which helps get images taken down. There were 175 in 2024.

Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: The growing number of commercial child sexual abuse sites uncovered by the Internet Watch Foundation lays bare a severe problem, with malicious criminal gangs profiting off childrens pain.

We know young victims of sexual exploitation are often left defenceless and can face re-traumatisation knowing images of themselves continue to circulate online. This form of abuse demands urgent action.

Ofcom must use its powers and work with others to spot and disrupt these perpetrators at the source, before they impact more young lives.

Equally, tech companies need to utilise existing technology that prevents children from taking, sharing, or receiving nude images.

Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: These figures are sickening and we will not allow criminal gangs to profit from childrens unimaginable suffering.

New laws in the Crime and Policing Bill will mean that anyone caught running or moderating these vile websites will face hefty prison sentences and we will not hesitate to go further.

This government is choosing a side. Tech companies and the financial sector cannot keep turning a blind eye to an online marketplace that facilitates and profits from the sexual exploitation of children.

We will use the full power of the British state to deliver the biggest crackdown against child abuse, both online and offline, that this country has ever seen.
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A man has been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 23 years, for deliberately infecting sexual partners with HIV and raping some of his victims. Adam Hall, 43, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday.

Hall, from Donvale Road, Washington, Tyne and Wear, was convicted in March of seven counts of causing grievous bodily harm and five counts of rape following a three-and-a-half month trial at the same court.

He became just the second person in the UK to be convicted of intentional transmission of HIV.

Hall deliberately infected younger partners with HIV after meeting them in bars in the Newcastle area or on the dating app Grindr.

His victims were aged from their late 20s down to just 15, with a schoolboy finding out he had contracted HIV in a phone call from health professionals moments after he stepped off a school bus. Two of the victims were 17 and 18.

Judge Edward Bindloss deemed Hall dangerous before jailing him for life with a minimum term of 23 years and 42 days.

open image in gallery Adam Hall was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday ( PA )

Hall was diagnosed with HIV in 2010 and took medication to keep his viral load down.

But in 2016, medical professionals became concerned that he was not adhering to his treatment, making him infectious to others he slept with.

Despite being warned, Hall had unprotected sex with men between 2016 and 2023, in some cases raping them.

The Crown Prosecution Service said that Hall failed to disclose his HIV status to those men and his victims only found out after being tested themselves.

In her prosecution opening speech in November, Kama Melly KC said: The defendant knew from being repeatedly told about the risks of what he was doing, if he did not keep to the medication, if he did not stick to his treatment regime, and continued finding, repeatedly, young and often vulnerable males for sexual activity.

After Hall was convicted, Amy Dixon, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: From the point of his initial HIV diagnosis, Adam Hall was wholly aware of the risks to himself and others if he failed to adhere to his medical treatment.

Despite this, he repeatedly pursued sexual activity with his victims without disclosing his HIV status.

In some cases, Hall performed these sexual acts without the consent of the victims, applying verbal or physical force to get what he wanted.

It is clear from his actions that Hall knew what he was doing and fully intended to cause the harmful lifelong consequences that his victims now face.

We would like to praise the bravery of these men in coming forward to provide evidence and we hope that the conviction of Hall today provides some measure of justice for each of them.

Hall was also convicted of a drugs offence and failing to unlock his phone for police.

Detectives are keen to trace other people who may have had sex with Hall, as he travelled to different parts of the country, including County Durham, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester, and London, to meet men.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Smith said: We would encourage anyone who may have health concerns to seek advice and support from your local sexual health services.

Alice Wiseman, director of public health for Newcastle and Gateshead, said health services were ready to offer support to people concerned about prior contact with Hall.

She said: There is no judgment and your health and safety is our priority.
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An asylum seeker who filmed a woman being raped on Brighton beach was convicted of murder in Egypt, according to prosecutors.

Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, was found guilty of four counts of rape as a secondary party by encouraging and filming the brutal attack in October last year.

The Egyptian national was convicted after a trial at Hove Crown Court alongside Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, and Iranian Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, who were each found guilty of two counts of rape.

The trio all arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel by boat and had decisions pending on asylum claims.

Details of Al-Danasurts past crimes emerged at a plea hearing in November last year, ahead of the trial, but the judge withdrew the evidence from the case after his defence team contested the conviction.

At the time, prosecutors told the court Al-Danasurt had been convicted of murder in his absence in Egypt, adding that the basis of his asylum claim was that he fled the country to evade a lengthy custodial sentence.

But his defence barrister said it was in fact his brother who had the conviction for murder, not him.

They added that the UK Governments assessment of Egypt is that a person who is openly critical of the government is likely to be at risk of serious harm.

As a result, the evidence was not heard by jurors during the trial because of the dispute.

On Thursday, prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters KC told the court there were ongoing inquiries at a very senior level about Al-Danasurts crimes abroad, adding he had also been given a caution in the UK for criminal damage in April last year but said she was not in a position to provide any more detail.

She also told Judge Christine Henson KC it was not a foregone conclusion that these defendants will be deported, adding I am not the Home Office when asked about reports to determine whether the rapists meet the threshold for extended sentences.

But in the wake of the verdicts, border security and asylum minister Alex Norris said: Once sentencing has taken place, we will move to deport them off British soil.

At the time of the attack, all three defendants knew each other and were living at Home Office-approved hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in Lower Beeding near Horsham, West Sussex.

The trial heard that Ahmadi and Alshafe met each other while crossing the Channel from France and arrived in the UK on June 19 2025.

open image in gallery Ibrahim Alshafe, Karin Al-Danasurt and Abdulla Ahmadi ( Sussex Police )

Jurors were told Al-Danasurt arrived in the UK on September 21 2024 but were not told how he came to be in the country.

The trial heard that Alshafes asylum application had been refused on October 3, but he told the court he did not know about the update to his case before going to Brighton that night.

Giving evidence, he said he was from the port city of Alexandria in Egypt, where he lived with his parents and two sisters.

He left school without formal academic qualifications and worked as a carpenter, and also did military conscription for three years.

He said he wanted to make a better future for himself. Asked if his plan was to come to the UK to do that, he said: Yes.

Al-Danasurt was born in Egypt and went to school there until around the age of 11, and left Egypt to come to the UK in June 2022.

Ahmadi told jurors he left Iran because he was working for a Kurdish opposition party and was discovered by security police who went to look for him at his home and asked his mother where he was.

If I hadnt left, I would have been arrested and been killed, he said through a Kurdish Sorani interpreter.

Ahmadi had not been to school and had received education only since he had been in prison, the court heard.

His father died when he was 13 and he worked as a labourer and farmer in Iran.

The UK has prison transfer agreements with more than 110 countries which allow for foreign prisoners to serve their sentences in their home countries, but Iran is not one of them.

But its agreement with Egypt is voluntary, where the prisoner being transferred must agree to the move, as well as both states.

An Early Removal Scheme (ERS) allows eligible foreign prisoners, who are serving determinate sentences, to be deported from the UK earlier than serving their full sentence.

Under current law most foreign nationals in jail can be considered for removal after serving 30% of their custodial sentence.

Once they are removed under ERS they are not imprisoned in their home country but are banned from returning to the UK. If they return they would have to serve the rest of their sentence from before they were deported.

Border security and asylum minister Alex Norris said: My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim of this appalling crime, and with all those who have been affected by it.

What she endured is deeply disturbing, and I commend her bravery in coming forward and reporting these vile individuals. I share the publics outrage in their horrendous actions.

The perpetrators have now been rightly convicted, and justice has been delivered by the courts. Once sentencing has taken place, we will move to deport them off British soil.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, told reporters in Pembrokeshire that she was disgusted after hearing about the case.

She said: There are people who are taking our country for a ride, are coming here trying to claim asylum, which is for genuine refugees, when really they come here to do harm to others.

This is why its really important that we solve this small boats crisis, thats why Ive changed the Conservative Party policy.
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Detectives have arrested a senior hospital boss on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with the inquiry into killer nurse Lucy Letby.

Cheshire Constabulary said a search warrant was carried out at a property on Wednesday.

A person was arrested and later bailed, pending further inquiries.

In July 2025, three members of the leadership team at the hospital, who occupied senior positions between 2015 and 2016, were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

It is understood that the suspect arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice was one of the three arrested last year.

Letby, 35, is the most prolific child serial killer in Britain.

She is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016.

open image in gallery Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others ( Cheshire Constabulary )

The babies were attacked by various means while Letby worked as a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

There have been mounting calls for a retrial as the 36-year-olds legal team has raised major questions about the safety of her convictions.

Amanda Knox recently released a podcast about her case, entitled DOUBT: The Case of Lucy Letby.

Netflix has also released a documentary, called The Investigation of Lucy Letby.

open image in gallery Lucy Letby carried out the murders and attempted murders while working as a neonatal nurse ( Cheshire Constabulary )

In a statement issued on Thursday, police said: On Wednesday 22nd April officers from Cheshire Constabulary executed a search warrant at a property in connection with Operation Duet.

Operation Duet is the ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

An individual was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. They have subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries.

The searches at the property have now concluded.

Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation are continuing and there are no set timescales for these.

The corporate manslaughter probe was launched in October 2023 and the gross negligence manslaughter probe launched in March 2025.

Police said at the time they were focusing on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals.

In 2023, the doctor who first raised the alarm over Letby called for NHS managers to be held accountable for ignoring concerns that he raised in July 2015.

Lead paediatric consultant Stephen Brearey called for hospital managers to be regulated in the same way as doctors and nurses.
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By the time prison officers were alerted to the fire in Clare Duprees locked cell, clouds of thick smoke were billowing from under the door.

She was screaming, I'm on fire, help, as she gasped for air at the window, according to another prisoner who raised the alarm.

It was another 33 minutes before she was pulled from the blaze by a fire crew, because by the time prison staff arrived, the door handle was too hot to touch. The 48-year-old mother of six died of smoke inhalation following the fire in December 2022, which was started with a vape.

Cell 59, where she was housed on Residential Unit 6 at HMP Eastwood Park, a womens prison in Gloucester, did not have automatic in-cell fire detection (AFD), legally required to meet fire safety standards. The jail is one of more than 40 in Britain without this lifesaving system, which automatically raises the alarm at the earliest stages of a fire, in all cells.

More than three years after the tragedy, automatic detectors still have not been installed in Clare Duprees cell. The Ministry of Justice has admitted that 21,067 prison places are without basic safety measures.

Ministers had long promised to make all cells fire-safe by 2027 or take them out of use. But in a shocking U-turn, Labour has reneged on the pledge, blaming the overcrowding crisis because emptying cells for upgrades would breach critical capacity in the prison estate. No new date has been set for the prison service to bring all cells up to legal standards.

The move has been branded a national scandal, and there are fears that more prisoners will lose their lives while ministers drag their heels. Labour MP Kim Johnson called the U-turn outrageous, and said the Grenfell tower disaster, which claimed 72 lives in west London in 2017, showed what happens when fire safety measures are not properly followed.

She said: How can the Ministry of Justice possibly justify sitting on such blatant, life-threatening failings? After Grenfell, we should need no reminder of what happens when fire safety is treated as optional. Those at risk  from prisoners to the officers and staff who keep our prisons running deserve answers, not more broken promises.

open image in gallery Clare Dupree died in a cell fire at HMP Eastwood Park in 2022 ( Family handout )

National scandal

Cell fires have soared by 124 per cent over the last five years. In the year ending March 2025 there were an average of eight each day in prisons in England and Wales  mostly caused by vapes.

At least ten other prisoners have died in cell fires since the government first accepted almost 20 years ago that vital upgrades were needed, according to the Howard League for Penal Reform, which has threatened legal action over the failures.

Its legal chair, Gemma Abbott, demanded: How many more people have to lose their lives for the government to take this seriously?

She told The Independent: Today, tens of thousands of people are forced to live in prisons that are not safe. The government U-turn on a deadline to fix this is a disgrace. If you are going to keep people in custody, it's imperative both legally and morally to keep them safe. It must be terrifying to know you are locked in a cell in a prison that doesnt meet legal standards for fire safety. The lack of urgency in responding to this is shameful.

The Howard Leagues chief executive, Andrea Coomber KC, described the situation as a national scandal.

Lord Foster, chair of the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee, said the move was deeply concerning and urged the government to reconsider before the unthinkable occurs. He added: This about-turn on safety standards puts at risk prisoner and prison officer alike.

There will be more deaths

Andy Slaughter, chair of the Commons justice committee, told The Independent the recent deaths and surge in prison fires should be a wake-up call for the government. MPs on the cross-party committee have said they have serious concerns about the delays and demanded a new date for when upgrades will be completed.

In response, prisons minister Lord Timpson revealed that 21,067 out of a total 89,795 prison places still lack AFDs. Some 1,695 places are out of use as upgrades are underway.

In a letter to the committee, dated last week, he told MPs that we are doing everything that can be reasonably done to mitigate fire risks, but refused to give a new deadline to make all cells compliant. He said the aim was to complete the works as quickly as possible but admitted, it will take time to rectify the problems we have inherited.

open image in gallery Andy Slaughter MP, chair of the justice committee, said recent deaths and soaring prison fires should be a wake up call ( PA )

For now, cells without AFDs have battery-powered domestic smoke detectors fitted outside the doors, a temporary solution which the Prison Officers Association (POA) says is not fit for purpose.

POA chair Mark Fairhurst has long called for prisons in England and Wales to be upgraded with automatic detectors and fire suppression systems, which are already fitted in Scottish jails. He said the current situation was a disgrace.

I am afraid there will be more deaths, he told The Independent. They [the government] obviously dont care because if they did care, it would be a priority. Can you imagine the government announcing that if it affected a school? Whats the difference between a school and a prison? It still is inhabited by human beings.

MoJ tests, conducted in 2007, found that a prisoner will lose consciousness within seven minutes of a cell fire breaking out and die within eight minutes. However, according to Freedom of Information requests submitted by the Howard League, more than 60 prisons were waiting for work to improve fire safety as of late last year, including 40 which need AFDs and seven prisons where there have been fatal fires.

Responding to cell fires has left prison officers traumatised and struggling with PTSD, Mr Fairhurst said, and they frequently happen at night when you are lucky to have one officer on each wing. He believes any other workforce would have walked out over the fire safety risks to staff, but prison officers do not have the right to strike, an issue the POA is challenging in the European Court of Human Rights.

open image in gallery POA chair Mark Fairhurst said prison officers were at risk

The government only informed the fire safety regulator, the Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate (CPFSI), that it would not meet its 2027 deadline to make cells fire-safe after the Howard League threatened a judicial review.

According to the CPFSIs last annual report, prison fires have increased significantly from 1,308 a year to 2,932 in the last five years. In the year ending March 2025, there were 534 fire-related injuries in prisons, down slightly on the previous year, but a significant increase compared to 135 injuries five years ago. Almost seven in ten were caused by vapes, although the Ministry of Justice is rolling out a tamper-proof vape pen to try to tackle the issue.

Legal letters seen by The Independent, sent on behalf of justice secretary David Lammy, reveal that HMP Wandsworth, a scandal-hit Category B mens prison in south London, is classified as the least fire-safe in the country, according to the MoJs internal scoring system. More than 1,000 cells at the Victorian prison lack in-cell AFDs. Work to install them and new fire suppression systems started in October 2024, but is still unfinished, as only 90 prisoners can be decanted at a time.

Simply not good enough

The letters also reveal that 177 of 395 spaces at Eastwood Park, where Ms Dupree died, still lack AFDs three years after her death. Upgrades are expected to start next month, but in-cell furniture at the prison does not meet fire resistance standards.

Lawyers for Ms Duprees family said this was simply not good enough, adding that prison was not the right place for the mother, who needed wraparound mental health care. Clare Hayes and Betty McCann, of Deighton Pierce Glynn, added: When the risks are so high, and the window of time in which prisoners can be safely removed from a cell fire so small, this is simply not good enough. Fire safety in prisons needs to be a priority for the Prison Service to prevent any more tragic deaths in cell fires.

open image in gallery 177 of 395 spaces at HMP Eastwood Park still lack AFDs ( PA )

In July 2019, Christian Hinkley died after a cell fire overnight at high-security HMP Swaleside in Kent. His cell had no AFD, and the fire was noticed by a neighbouring prisoner, who alerted staff to smoke. Attempts to spray water into the cell were hampered because Mr Hinkley had barricaded his cell door. By the time fire crews entered wearing breathing apparatus more than half an hour later, having had to navigate several locked prison gates, he was unconscious and not breathing.

A coroner warned that fire detection at Swaleside was inadequate and unsafe. But almost six years after Mr Hinkleys death, 724 of 940 prison spaces there still lack AFDs, the government admitted in legal letters to the Howard League. Upgrade work began in 2024 but was halted when the contractor went into administration.

Crown immunity protects government

Both Swaleside and Eastwood Park have been subject to repeated enforcement notices from the fire safety regulator, the CPFSI, in the past two years. They are also among six prisons for which the watchdog, which has no power to prosecute government-owned prisons due to crown immunity, has resorted to issuing a Step Away notice. This means the CPFSI would pursue a criminal case against the MoJ for failing to comply with its enforcement notices if it could.

Mr Fairhurst, of the POA, said the watchdog was a toothless tiger. Thats how serious it is. The fact that people could have been imprisoned over this if it wasnt a Crown premises speaks volumes.

open image in gallery Prisons minister James Timpson said work could not be completed by 2027 without breaching critical capacity ( PA )

The situation also creates a dilemma for prison governors. Although they are responsible for health and safety on site, decisions over whether a cell is fit for habitation are taken by their managers, prison group directors. This can create an uncomfortable situation if they feel their bosses have certified cells that arent safe to use, Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association, told The Independent. His union has drafted template letters for its members to use when governors have concerns about whether a cell is safe.

Governors have no authority over whether a cell is certified for use, or powers to commission major fire improvement works, but they are often held accountable should something go wrong, said Mr Wheatley.

In a letter to the justice committee, prisons minister Lord Timpson said the 2027 timeline for fire safety upgrades set by the previous government will not be possible. To take remaining non-compliant cells out of use at the end of 2027 would inevitably  and significantly  breach critical capacity, resulting in the collapse of the proper functioning of the prison and wider criminal justice system with attendant intolerable risk to public safety, he wrote.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: This government inherited a prisons system in crisis, overcrowded and on the brink of collapse. We take the safety of our prisons extremely seriously, and we are carrying out our plans to meet fire safety standards across the estate as fast as possible. That is why we are continuing a major programme of fire safety improvement works. In the meantime, we have put measures in place to keep people safe, with every cell either linked to an automatic fire detection system or using a smoke detector."
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Russell Brand says he had exploitative sex with a 16-year-old girl at the height of his fame  but says his actions were not against the law.

The comedian turned podcaster will face trial this autumn over allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him by six women.

Brand, 50, denies all the charges, which date from 1999 to 2009.

He spoke about his past actions in an appearance on journalist Megyn Kellys YouTube channel, calling himself selfish and an exploiter of women.

He said: In Europe and the United Kingdom, where Im from, the age of consent is 16, and I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30.

When I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old.

He went on: Consensual sex with a lot of people, when there is a strong power differential, as there is when you are a famous man who has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation. I think it is exploitative.

I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I did not apply enough consideration, barely any I suppose, really, to how that sex was affecting other people.

Brand, who hosted Big Brother spin-off shows, had his own BBC Radio 2 programme and starred in a string of Hollywood films, is facing three charges of rape, three allegations of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault.

open image in gallery Russell Brand will face trial this autumn ( AFP/Getty )

His trial at Southwark Crown Court is set to begin on 12 October.

A court has previously heard how Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, grabbing a TV workers breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a male toilet, and kissing and groping a radio worker after pushing her against a wall.

On the YouTube appearance, Brand  who has now converted to Christianity  suggested that as a younger man, he was among the innocuous party boy-style exploiters of women.

He said: Its plainly something that exists within our industry, and one might say culture at large.

While I was transgressing lines of being as a person that was sleeping with people because I had availability to  not only by the way with waitresses and strippers and fans and people, but powerful women as well, powerful professional women that had gravitas and status and power  I was only really thinking of myself.

I had consensual sex with lots and lots of women, and you can argue thats not appropriate, but the age of consent is an important thing and the ability to consent is an important thing.

open image in gallery A court artist drawing of Russell Brand appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in May ( PA Archive )

He continued: What fame gave me, and what addiction fuelled, was opportunity for endless consent, which led me to be a hedonist and a fool and an exploiter of women.

That is wrong, and something that needs to redeemed and addressed, and atoned for.

What Im obviously not only querying, but violently or aggressively or assertively opposing, is the idea this is a judicial criminal matter where consent was overridden.

Actually, what happened was consent was directed. Thats what being famous and being charismatic affords you, is the ability to direct consent.

That doesnt mean its right, its actually not right, its wrong. Its a sin, its an expression of selfishness and forced idolatry.

Brand, who has a home in Buckinghamshire but now lives in the United States, is on bail from the court while he awaits his trial.
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King Charles has marked St Georges Day by appointing three distinguished members of the House of Lords to the ancient and prestigious Order of the Garter.

The honour, one of Britains most senior and oldest, has been bestowed upon historian and former journalist Lord Peter Hennessy, former cabinet secretary Lord Augustine Thomas ODonnell, and former chief justice Lord Ian Burnett.

Founded by Edward III in 1348, reportedly inspired by the tales of King Arthur, the Orders Knights and Lady companions are chosen personally by the sovereign.

Appointments typically recognise individuals who have held public office, made significant contributions to national life, or served the monarch directly.

Lord Hennessy is a respected academic specialising in government history, with a career that included roles at The Times, the Financial Times, and BBC Radio 4.

King Charles attending 2025 Order of the Garter service ( Getty )

Lord ODonnell served as Britains highest-ranking civil servant between 2005 and 2011 and is also a board member for the worldwide wellbeing movement. Lord Burnett became the youngest Lord Chief Justice since 1958 when he was appointed in 2017 at the age of 59.

These new additions bring the total number of companions to 23, with the Order allowing for up to 24 members at any one time. Other current members include former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Sir John Major.

The Order of the Garter is celebrated annually with a traditional procession and service held within the grounds of Windsor Castle.
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The head of the Metropolitan Police has said he is "bewildered" by the sacking of a Morrisons store manager who lost his job after confronting a shoplifter.

Saying he would always encourage the public to help in the fight against crime, Sir Mark Rowley, the UK's most senior police officer, spoke of his surprise that the retailer hadn't supported 46-year-old Sean Egan, who instead was fired from the only job he has ever had.

Mr Egan was dismissed after tackling a thief at the supermarkets Aldridge branch in the West Midlands in a case that has sparked national debate over how retailers handle shoplifting.

The store manager had worked at Morrisons for 29 years and was escorting a suspected shoplifter out of the building when the man became aggressive and spat at him repeatedly. Mr Egan then forced the thief out, but was later dismissed at a disciplinary hearing for breaching Morrisons deternotdetain policy.

The decision has prompted considerable backlash, with calls for him to be reinstated and questions raised about whether strict corporate rules discourage staff from intervening in crime, even in situations where a citizens arrest might be lawful.

Sir Mark said he completely sympathised with Mr Egan and was bewildered by the case.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: Maybe theres something sensitive behind it that none of us know, I dont know. But on the surface, if a store manager feels able to intervene and can do that safely, we always want people to do that. We want the public to be part of the fight against crime."

He added: "The act of a citizen is important. Policing isnt just about policing. Keeping communities safe is about all of our responsibilities.

Shoplifting in the UK hit an 8-year high in 2025 (Ian West/PA) ( PA Archive )

Mr Egan has said the incident has not only left him jobless, but also struggling with anxiety. Describing the incident which led to his dismissal, Egan said: Like many stores, we were dealing with frequent shoplifting, especially during peak Christmas period.

On this occasion, the individual was a well known, prolific offender in the area. I followed company policy, approached calmly, offered help, and then escorted him from the store when needed.

But as we neared the exit, I was spat at. In that moment, I reacted. Not as a manager. As a human being. That split second changed everything.

At his disciplinary hearing, Mr Egan was told he would be dismissed on the grounds of not following the companys deter-and-not-detain policy.

Mr Egan wrote: Despite nearly three decades of loyalty, performance, and commitment, including turning numerous underperforming stores into some of the most profitable in the West Midlands, I lost my job.

Sir Mark's intervention adds further pressure onto Morrisons as criticism mounts over the treatment of Mr Egan.

Earlier this week, shadow home secretary Chris Philp MP expressed his support for the former store manager. In a post on X, he said: Morrisons must immediately reinstate Sean Egan. He rightly and bravely confronted an aggressive shoplifter. Morrisons shamefully fired him - after 29 years service.

Retailers must support their staff who stand up against criminals. Im sick of criminals being allowed to do what they like and decent people like Sean getting penalised.

A spokesperson for Morrisons told The Independent it stands by the decision, and claimed media reports had not reflected the full facts of the situation.

They said: While we cannot comment on individual cases, we are confident that this matter was investigated thoroughly and that the correct process was followed. The subsequent reporting does not reflect the full facts of the situation.

We are continuing to take wide ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores.The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed.

These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation. We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk, where they could suffer unintended consequences.As a responsible employer, our focus is entirely on taking the correct action to ensure health and safety is maintained at all times.

The case comes amid renewed attention on shoplifting across the UK  which has hit an eight-year high  and how shops handle criminals targeting them.

News of Mr Egan's sacking over the incident came just two weeks after a similar case made headlines after a 54-year-old man was given the sack by Waitrose after also confronting a shoplifter at a shop in south London.
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The UK will pay France extra cash to stop migrants leaving its shores to cross the Channel in small boats  but only if it works.

The move, part of a 662m deal over the next three years, is yet another attempt to slash the rising numbers of people making the perilous journey to the UK.

Around 160m of this money will be spent on new tactics, such as policing to stop taxi boats picking up migrants offshore, and is conditional on the success of the French operation, the Home Office said.

France will be measured on the number of boats stopped, the number of people smugglers arrested and the number of migrants stopped from boarding dinghies, among other things.

The UK will pay around 501m for more officers on the beaches of northern France and more surveillance technology, despite a previous boost in funding failing to bring the number of Channel crossings down.

The Home Office has said that there will be a 40 per cent increase in the number of boots on the ground in northern France, taking the number of law enforcement officers from 700 to nearly 1,100.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged the deal would stop migrants making the dangerous journey to the UK, but the charity, Refugee Council, said ministers were treating the symptom, not the cause.

Under the previous Conservative government, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak agreed to give France almost 500m over three years to tackle small boat crossings. Despite the surge in funding and policing, crossings in the Channel have soared, with some 41,472 people arriving in the UK by small boat in 2025.

This was up from 36,816 people in 2024, and 29,437 in 2023. The peak number of crossings was in 2022, when around 46,000 made the journey to the UK.

Migrants sit atop a dinghy before attempting to sail into the English Channel on April 01, 2026 in Gravelines, France. ( Getty Images )

According to the latest data from 2025, 41 per cent of asylum seekers arrived on a small boat, 11 per cent through other irregular entry routes such as lorries, and 39 per cent had previously entered the UK on a valid visa before going on to claim asylum.

Ms Mahmood, who is under pressure to bring the numbers down, hailed the new deal with France, pledging that it would stop illegal migrants making the perilous journey and put people smugglers behind bars.

Under the agreement, the French will also deploy a new unit of 50 police officers specially trained in riot and crowd control tactics, to better enable them to deal with the dozens of migrants rushing to board flimsy dinghies.

An intelligence police unit, which focuses on tracking down people smugglers, will also be expanded from 18 to 30 specialists.

Sir Keir Starmer said the historic agreement would involve ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britains borders.

But Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, said: By focusing on policing the Channel, the government is treating the symptom not the cause. Policing alone will not prevent desperate people from turning to dangerous small boats in the first place.

Without safe routes to reach the UK, men, women and children will be forced into potentially deadly small boat crossings.

The Independent reported last month that the number of migrants who had died attempting the crossing rose after Mr Sunak signed the UK-France deal.

Seventeen people died or went missing in six fatal incidents in the final four months of 2023  shortly after Mr Sunak agreed a 460m pact with French president Emmanuel Macron to stop small boat migration.

The following year, 83 people were recorded dead or missing in 22 incidents  the deadliest year on record, figures compiled by Centre for Sociodigital Futures at the University of Bristol and Swiss research agency Border Forensics show. Another 29 died or went missing in 20 fatal incidents in 2025, researchers say.

Charities working in northern France reported a cultural shift within French law enforcement as police became more aggressive and were pushed to act more decisively to justify the UK funds.

Dinghies also became even more overcrowded, with more than 100 people crammed onto boats in some cases, the report from the University of Bristol and Border Forensics found. With a surge in officers, people smugglers have resorted to dangerous tactics, such as picking up people from the water and setting off from points further along the coast.

The figures, from 2019 to 2025, suggest that more people making journeys on small boats across the Channel does not lead to more deaths.
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The number of rape offences recorded by police are at a record high, with some 74,000 reported in 2025, new data published on Thursday showed.

Prosecutors are also working on more rape cases than at any point in the last decade, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed. Charges for rape in the year ending December 2025 also rose by 29 per cent on the year before, from 5,233 to 6,727, figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.

Home Office minister Jess Phillips pledged to take urgent action to safeguard women and girls, including hastening the roll-out of specialist rape and sexual offence teams in every police force in England and Wales.

There has been a general increase in sexual offences recorded by police in the last decade, largely because of improved recording and an increase in victims coming forward.

Some 74,174 rape offences were recorded by police in the year ending December 2025, up on 70,898 offences the year before. This is the highest number of offences since data started being recorded in 2002/3, Home Office analysis shows. 1,277 prosecutions for rape were completed in England and Wales in the winter of last year, CPS data revealed.

Commenting on the record high on Thursday, Ms Phillips, who is minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: For too long, women and girls have been forced to change their behaviour to keep themselves safe. We will never accept that. Thats why we are placing the responsibility firmly where it belongs - on perpetrators.

We will deploy the full power of the state to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

There was also a 5 per cent increase in the total number of sexual offences recorded in 2025 to 215,180, up from 204,568 the year before.

open image in gallery Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said that new data on rape offences showed urgent action is needed ( AFP/Getty )

The news of increasing reports of sexual violence comes as knife crime levels continue to plummet.

Homicides involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by police forces in England and Wales fell 21 per cent last year, while overall knife crime dropped by 10 per cent, figures show.

Some 172 knife homicides were logged by forces in 2025, down from 217 in 2024 and the lowest annual number since comparable data began in 2010/11.

The fall helped drive down the total number of homicides last year, which stood at 503, down 6 per cent from 534 in 2024.

Levels of police-recorded knife crime are now at their lowest since the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 49,151 knife offences were logged by forces in England and Wales in 2025, down from 54,548 in 2024.

The figure is lower than the 49,190 offences recorded in 2021/22, but higher than the 44,728 in the first year of the pandemic, 2020/21.

Overall, police forces recorded 5.24 million offences in England and Wales in 2025, excluding fraud and computer misuse, down 2 per cent from 5.34 million in 2024.

Katie Kempen, chief executive at charity Victim Support, welcomed the news that knife crime figures were falling but said that every case is one too many.

She added: Behind every statistic is a person deprived of their life, and countless friends and family trying to come to terms with the horror of losing their loved one.

Ms Kempen added that fraud was at epidemic levels and called on the government to be bolder in its efforts to tackle this type of offence.

Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said the falling levels of violent crime showed that the direction of travel is clear, adding: We will continue to build on this progress and not stop until every community feels a change.
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A Conservative councillor has been dismissed from his role as a magistrate after publicly criticising a judge and alleging a "two-tier justice system". Simon Fawthrop, who represents Orpington ward on Bromley Council, made the controversial remarks following the conviction of four anti-ULEZ activists for harassing Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan.

Mr Fawthrop, acting as a spokesman for the defendants outside Westminster Magistrates Court, stated that he himself was a magistrate. He labelled District Judge Daniel Sternbergs verdict "inconsistent" and a "body-blow to free speech", further suggesting the judge should have recused himself due to "unconscious bias".

He drew a comparison to a separate case where Greenpeace activists were acquitted of criminal damage after scaling Rishi Sunaks house. Mr Fawthrop argued that Judge Sternbergs decision to convict the anti-ULEZ campaigners "gave the public an impression of a two-tier justice system".

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) has since found Mr Fawthrop guilty of gross misconduct, leading to his removal as a magistrate. The ruling revealed that he had claimed to be the target of a "politically motivated" complaint, and was found to have fundamentally misunderstood his duties.

The JCIO notice of the misconduct proceedings, which were conducted in private, sets out: A complaint was made to the London Conduct Advisory Committee alleging that Mr Fawthrop publicly criticised a court judgment and the criminal justice system and referred to his status as a magistrate while acting as spokesperson for a group of defendants.

It was also alleged that Mr Fawthrop had failed to notify his bench chair of his involvement in acting as a spokesperson for the group.

open image in gallery Westminster Magistrates Court (Nick Ansell/PA) ( PA Archive )

When faced with the conduct investigation, Mr Fawthrop maintained that the views expressed were not his own and that he had not been directly involved in the case, the note continues.

He argued that his involvement as a spokesperson was in his capacity as a councillor and not as a magistrate.

He accepted that he had referred to his judicial status during one statement and apologised, saying it was unintentional. Mr Fawthrop described the complaint against him as politically motivated.

Mr Fawthrop made his remarks outside the central London courthouse in December 2024 after activists Nicholas Arlett, Martin Whitehead, Alison Young and Lloyd Dunsford were convicted of harassment and handed fines over their demonstration around 100m from Sir Sadiqs Tooting home.

The demonstration was called to oppose the rollout by the mayor of ULEZ charges to outer London.

Afterwards, Mr Fawthrop called the decision a travesty of justice and suggested the group would mount an appeal.

Todays judgment is another body-blow for free speech and peaceful protest in this country, he said.

He suggested Judge Sternberg may have misdirected himself and had not taken into account the impact on free speech of convicting the defendants.

When asked about a suggestion that the judge may have been biased because of an alleged personal link to an event involving Sir Sadiq, Mr Fawthrop replied: He should have taken the opportunity  and I can say this as a JP  that if theres any doubt whatsoever that you might actually have an interest, or be not seen to be doing justice at all, you recuse yourself automatically and on this occasion this didnt happen, and it should have happened in my view.

A JCIO disciplinary panel found that Mr Fawthrops conduct had the cumulative effect of undermining public confidence in the judiciary and the criminal justice system.

It added: His comments, which included criticism of the trial judges impartiality and integrity, were considered inappropriate for a serving magistrate.

The panel noted that Mr Fawthrop had failed to notify his bench chair of his involvement in the case.

They found that his justification  that he was acting solely in his capacity as a councillor  demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of the obligations of judicial office.

The panel also expressed concern that Mr Fawthrop continued to minimise the seriousness of his actions and failed to fully acknowledge the risk of damage to the magistracy and the criminal justice system.

The Lady Chief Justice Baroness Sue Carr and Lord Chancellor David Lammy agreed with the finding of gross misconduct, and ordered Mr Fawthrop be removed as a magistrate.
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Wealthy individuals have been less drawn to the UK in recent years, a wide-ranging new report has found, as Labours approach to fiscal policy is blamed for making the country less desirable.

The annual Wealth Report from Knight Frank found that the global population of ultra-high net worth individuals, meaning those with assets of $30 million (22 million) or more, has surged from 551,435 to a record 713,626 in five years.

In the same time frame, the number of billionaires has increased from 2,723 to 3,110  and could rise to just under 4,000 by 2031.

Liam Bailey, head of research at the Knight Frank said billionaire and millionaire wealth had been supercharged by profits the tech industry boom, especially artificial intelligence (AI).

Knight Franks figures show that the United States is maintaining the largest share of high net-worth individuals, at 251,1352 in 2026. China, at next highest, has 121,677, while Germany came third with a much smaller 38,215.

Mr Bailey added: We are witnessing one of the most significant shifts in global wealth distribution in modern history.

Indonesia is expected to see the fastest growth in high net worth individuals, the estate agencys research found, increasing by 82 per cent from 3,833 to a forecast 6,966 by 2031. Meanwhile, the share in oil-rich Saudi Arabia is set to rise from 4,388 to 7,162 in the same period, while Poland could see a massive rise from 3,017 to 4,906.

The UK, meanwhile, is forecast to see the fifth lowest growth to 2031, with its number set to rise from 27,876 to 30,942. This will still maintain the nations position of fourth-highest, but with a much slower growth recorded than countries like China (23 per cent), Germany (32 per cent), Australia (59 per cent) and the United States (54 per cent).

This will come after growth of only 12 per cent from 2021 to 2026, meaning the UK could be set for a decade of stagnancy in attracting wealthy individuals.

Rory Penn, chair of the private office business at Knight Frank, said that wealth creation was rising against a more complex global economic backdrop.

He said: The ultra-wealthy are becoming markedly more mobile, yet the list of markets where they feel genuinely comfortable investing or basing their families has narrowed.

Rachel Reeves announced non-dom status would be scrapped in 2024 ( Reuters )

The Wealth Report names chancellor Rachel Reeves decision to abolish the non-dom tax status, which came into effect last April, as one of the key reasons that demand for property in London has shrunk amongst wealthy individuals.

Quoting a study from the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the report finds: Tinkering with wealth and property taxes has continued alongside the rise of low-tax competitors like Dubai.

October 2024 [when the end of the non-dom policy was announced] prompted a flurry of high-profile wealthy individuals to announce they were relocating. Office for Budget Responsibility projections suggest that as many as 20 per cent of affected non-doms might leave, roughly 1,200 people. The Centre for Economics and Business Research suggests the figure could be closer to a quarter.

A Government spokesperson said: The UK remains a highly attractive place to live and invest. Our main capital gains tax rate is lower than any other G7 European country and our new residence-based regime is now simpler and more attractive, while also addressing tax system unfairness so every long-term resident pays their taxes here.
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A physically healthy woman said she plans to end her life at a Swiss assisted dying clinic due to heartbreak over the death of her child four years ago.

Wendy Duffy, 56, is set to end her life on Friday after Pegasos, a clinic in Basel, reportedly approved her request. The former care worker, from the West Midlands, was almost left in a vegetative state after she had previously attempted suicide, she claimed.

She told the Daily Mail that no amount of therapy had convinced her that life is worth living, as she decided to pay 10,000 to Pegasos, which claims to be a non-profit organisation.

My life, my choice, she said. I wish this was available in the UK, then I wouldnt have to go to Switzerland at all.

open image in gallery Kim Leadbetter sponsored the Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill, due to be debated for a final day in the House of Lords on Friday ( Getty )

She told the publication she did not want to attempt suicide again as it would leave anyone finding me dealing with that for the rest of their lives. I don't want to put anyone through that, she added.

Ms Duffy said her only child, Marcus, 23, died after choking on half a cherry tomato, which became lodged in his windpipe after eating a sandwich.

They think he must have fallen asleep when he still had food in his mouth, she told the Daily Mail. Thats the only comfort, that there was no struggle.

Her siblings  four sisters and two brothers  have all been alerted by Pegasos of her intentions, she said.

Pegasos have been in touch with them. I will call them when I get to Switzerland. It will be a hard call where Ill say goodbye and thank them, she continued. But they will get it. They know. Honestly, 100 per cent, they know that Im not happy, that I dont want to be here.

open image in gallery Campaigners gathered in the capital on Wednesday ( PA )

Ms Duffy said she has written letters to all her loved ones, picked out what she is going to wear on her deathbed, and picked a final song to listen to as she dies.

You can choose whatever song you want, she explained. I'm going to go out to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars singing Die With A Smile.

Pegasos Swiss Association was founded by Ruedi Habegger, a right-to-die activist, in 2019.

The clinic faced controversy after it helped British citizen Alistair Hamilton, 47, end his life after he stated he was suffering from an undiagnosed health condition. Mr Hamilton told his family that he was going on a short break to Paris, but instead went to Pegasos for assisted suicide.

open image in gallery Four terminally ill women stood on plinths to call on MPs to act on their democratic mandate and bring back the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the next parliament ( PA )

The clinic later apologised to Mr Hamiltons mother and said it would change its procedures to ensure that relatives were always informed in future.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will be discussed in the House of Lords on Friday, its final day. It is now not expected to pass during the current session of parliament.

If made into law, it would give people who meet certain criteria in England and Wales the right to end their lives at a time of their choosing, subject to safeguards and protections.

Supporters have said the bill, which passed in the House of Commons last year, has been "slowed by procedural obstruction" in the House of Lords, while critics have raised concerns that the bill in its current form lacked sufficient safeguards for vulnerable people.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branchIf 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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Next weeks state visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla could absolutely repair relations with the UK, Donald Trump has said, amid a growing rift with Sir Keir Starmer.

Relations between the UK prime minister and the US president have been fractious in recent months, with the president branding Britains approach to the Iran war as terrible and repeatedly lashing out at Sir Keir  at one point describing him as not Winston Churchill.

It comes after the UK prime minister repeatedly insisted that the UK will not get dragged in to the conflict in the Middle East, insisting that it is not our war.

Asked by the BBC whether the upcoming state visit from the King could help repair the damaged relationship, Trump said: Absolutely. Hes fantastic. Hes a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.

open image in gallery US president Donald Trump said the state visit could repair relations ( AFP/Getty )

I know him well, Ive known him for years, he added. Hes a brave man, and hes a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.

In a video shared on X by the US Department of State, Mr Trump said: I look forward to having King Charles come. Hes a friend of mine. Weve spoken and were going to have a great time.

It comes after Sir Keir last week told parliament that the British monarchy is an important reminder of the longstanding bonds and enduring relationship between our two countries, insisting the special relationship is far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time.

Mr Trumps comments will come as a boost to Sir Keir, as there has been hope in Downing Street that Charles and Queen Camilla can help put the UK-US relationship on a firmer footing.

It comes just hours after a former Nato secretary general warned that Britains military reliance on the US is no longer tenable, arguing that the UK should not expect relations with Washington to return to their previous state  even after Mr Trump leaves office.

In his second attack on the governments defence policy in less than two weeks, Lord George Robertson  who is also a former Labour defence secretary  hit out at Britains naive belief that the US would always be there in times of crisis, saying such a mentality has diminished the UKs capabilities.

The state visit, which begins at the end of the month, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US, with Charles and Camilla marking the milestone at a block party.

open image in gallery Trump described Charles as a great man ( Getty )

The first time Charles and Camilla will meet the president and the first lady will be at a private tea, captured by cameras only.

Later, Mr Trump and the King will sit down for talks in the White Houses famous Oval Office while Camilla and Melania Trump take part in an event together.

However, the King and Queen will not meet with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during their visit, sources said, despite reports that a private gathering was being planned.

There have been repeated calls by US congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for a meeting with the King and Queen, and the Mail on Sunday reported that the Queen had been approached by victims rights groups.
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The parliamentary stalemate over the new pension reforms continues after MPs voted to press the Lords to accept new laws on the Governments ability to direct pension investments.

The House of Commons backed an amendment by 272 votes to 149, majority 123 to send the Pensions Scheme Bill back to the House of Lords containing laws that could allow the Government to tell pension funds how they should invest a certain amount of their allocation, so-called mandation.

Amendments by the Government limit the portion of pension funds in line with a voluntary agreement by 17 of the UKs largest defined contribution schemes in the Mansion House Accord last year.

They would be limited to 10%, by value, of all assets of the scheme in main default reserves, or 5% of assets to be held in UK-specific description.

It comes amid aims to increase the amount of investment in the UK, which it is hoped will lead to economic growth.

Treasury minister Torsten Bell said the law is designed to make clear on the face of the Bill that the power can only be used in line with what the industry itself has committed to.

He added: The cap prohibits any move beyond the accord targets.

open image in gallery Mr Bell told MPs the rule is highly constrained and narrowly focused ( Joe Giddens/PA )

The neutrality requirement rules out the possibility that any government could direct any investment into a particular asset or asset classes.

Mr Bell told MPs the rule is highly constrained and narrowly focused.

He said: The Government cannot direct investments, and it explicitly only applies to main default funds, more explicitly matching the language used in the accord.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately criticised the move and said: He said this is a natural extension of the Mansion House Agreement, it is not.

A voluntary agreement between willing participants is one thing, a legal requirement imposed across an entire sector is another.

Secondly he has said that it is merely a reserve power, one the Government has no intention of using.

A reserve power does not sit harmlessly on the shelf, it shapes behaviour.

I think in truth the minister accepts that, he has said as much to me before that the power will achieve its ends without even needing to be turned on.

Labour MP and former Treasury minister Liam Byrne said: The measures the minister has set out this afternoon really are essential if we are to pursue the long-term interests of pension savers in this country, because it is in their fundamental interest that they live and retire in an economy that is growing faster in the years to come.

The only way in which we are going to collectively achieve that is if we raise the investment rate in this country.
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Reform UK has been accused of a complete lack of respect after a party candidate triggered a standalone by-election, expected to cost more than 20,000, for an area that will go to the polls again in just two weeks.

Residents of Barton and Winton, in Salford, voted on Wednesday to elect a new councillor following the death of David Lancaster, who had held the seat since 1965.

Michael Felse was duly elected and has become Reform UKs first member on Salford City Council, winning with 676 votes to Labours 643  a narrow 33  to represent the ward.

But Labour sources have criticised Reform for triggering the by-election, describing the move as unnecessary and indefensible. The party, which lost the seat, points out that the event will have cost the local authority over 20,000, despite a third of the councils seats being up for election on May 7, when it also could have been held.

The by-election was called by Lewis Croden, another Reform UK candidate in Salford, and a relative of his. Reports indicate that the pair were able to force the event under a rule from the Local Government Act 1972, where two local electors can trigger a by-election within 35 days of formally requesting by writing to a senior council officer.

Reform UK has won its first council seat in Salford in a ward which is due for election again in just two weeks ( PA Wire )

Mr Croden and his relative made the request less than two months after the passing of Barton and Winton Mr Lancaster, who was Englands longest serving councillor.

A local Labour spokesperson said: The decision by Salford Reform UK to trigger an unnecessary early byelection in Barton & Winton was entirely indefensible.

The financial implications of this decision are significant. A standalone byelection costs the council over 20,000, when it could have been seamlessly incorporated into the citywide elections in May. In addition, the extension of the preelection period has disrupted other workstreams across the authority, potentially at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds.

That a duly nominated Salford Reform UK candidate chose to trigger this byelection before the late councillor David Lancaster (the longestserving councillor in the country, who served the people of Salford with distinction for over 60 years) had even been laid to rest demonstrates a complete lack of decorum and respect.

Responding to the allegations, Mr Croden said: Salford has been taken for granted by Labour for years. Public money is being wasted on a loss making stadium, 668 million in high interest PFI debt, and over 100 million wasted on a failed clean air charge zone. Time we fix our roads and fund essential services.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
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Sadiq Khan has warned the omnishambles of Peter Mandelsons appointment has left Labour in danger of being stonked across London in the May elections.

In a stark warning to Sir Keir Starmer, the London mayor admitted Labour are having a tough time in the capital with Westminster scandal threatening the partys foothold in Londons councils.

Describing the Mandelson crisis as an omnishambles from start to finish, Sir Sadiq said he was really frustrated that the scandal was making it harder to engage voters in the partys local achievements.

Id rather be talking about that than be on the defensive talking about the omnishambles of the Mandelson saga, he told the Financial Times.

Im afraid what will happen is that rather than saying to voters listen, this is the difference that a Labour council, working with a Labour mayor and a Labour government, can make, people may decide to punish the imperfections of the government.

Were in danger of being stonked on May 7, he said, adding the campaigning had been some of the most difficult I can remember in over 40 years.

The Labour Party is on course for its worst result in London in more than four decades at the upcoming local elections, with both the Greens and Reform set to eat into its vote.

open image in gallery An omnishambles from start to finish: The London mayor has been vocal about the latest scandal to unfold ( AFP/Getty )

A new MRP poll of the 32 London boroughs, conducted by YouGov for Sky News and Politico, shows Labour is on course to win the highest vote share in 15 councils  six fewer than in 2022.

The last time Labour won fewer than 15 London councils was in 1982, 44 years ago, when they won just 12.

The Green Party is expected to take the highest vote share across four councils, including Lewisham and Lambeth, while Reform is expected to take the highest share in three. Neither party has ever previously topped the poll on any council in London.

Labour sources told The Independent they are expecting a bloodbath in Islington, while Green Party sources said they were expecting to take Hackney.

open image in gallery The Mandelson scandal has come at a time when the party faces a bloodbath in the upcoming local elections ( PA )

Sir Sadiq warned the party over its strategy in chasing Reform voters, as the Green Party looks set to surge in London.

Im slightly nervous with this hero voter strategy, this understandable obsession to chase the Reform voter, he said. This could lead to progressive voters feeling, wrongly, the Labour Party isnt for them.

However, the Labour mayor insisted that Sir Keir should not resign over the Mandelson crisis, pointing to his record on the world stage

Asked if someone else should lead the party, Khan said: No. What is the biggest decision I think the PM has had to make in the last six months? It was whether to be dragged into this war in Iran.
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Watch in full as top civil servant Cat Little appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, 23 April, amid further scrutiny over the vetting process to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

Sir Olly Robbins appeared before the committee on Tuesday, where he gave damning evidence about the role Downing Street played in the appointment of Lord Mandelson as British ambassador to Washington.

The prime minister sacked the former Foreign Office chief last week after it emerged he did not tell Sir Keir that Lord Mandelson had been cleared to take the top diplomatic post despite security vetting officials recommending against it.

The top mandarin confirmed the governments story, but said there was a dismissive approach on vetting from No 10 and an atmosphere of pressure to get Lord Mandelsons appointment over the line.

During Wednesdays Prime Ministers Questions, Kemi Badenoch asked Sir Keir whether he stood by his previous statements to the House of Commons that due process had been followed in the appointment.

The Prime Minister replied that he did, adding: Yesterday, Sir Olly Robbins was asked if he shared that decision with me, No 10 or any other ministers. He gave a clear answer: no. That puts to bed all the allegations levelled at me by those opposite in relation to dishonesty.

It comes as a growing rift emerges in Sir Keirs cabinet, as ministers turn against the prime minister over his handling of the Lord Mandelson scandal, with the atmosphere among the top team described as bleak.

Several of Sir Keirs ministers, including Rachel Reeves, Shabana Mahmood, and Wes Streeting, have reportedly accused the PM of creating a them and us split between No10 and the civil service.

One senior government source told The Telegraph that there is a sense that its over now, and that the wheels have stopped turning in Downing Street.
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Government officials scrambled to obtain information on Peter Mandelsons security vetting last September, days after The Independent told Downing Street he had failed the critical checks.

Cat Little, the most senior official in the Cabinet Office, told MPs on Thursday that details were requested on 15 September. The Independent had contacted Sir Keir Starmers then director of communications, Tim Allan, on 11 September and later that same day ran a front-page story revealing that Lord Mandelson had failed vetting.

The prime minister has told MPs that he and his ministers only found out that UK Security Vetting had advised Lord Mandelson should be denied clearance last Tuesday evening, setting off a chain of events that have engulfed his embattled government ever since. But Sir Keir faces questions over how he could have failed to have known about the issue when his communications chief was told directly and the story became headline news.

open image in gallery The Independent told No 10 in September that Peter Mandelson, pictured with Keir Starmer, had failed vetting ( Getty )

Giving evidence on the Mandelson scandal to the foreign affairs select committee, Ms Little said her investigations allowed her to see an audit trail that showed that on the 15th of September last year, the Foreign Office security team requested access to a number of documents relating to the vetting file and, on the same day, the documents requested are sent to the Foreign Office. She did not know who else saw the documents at the time, she told MPs.

The revelations about the Labour grandee have sparked a clamour of calls from across the political spectrum for the prime minister to resign. Lord Mandelson was sacked months after his appointment over his links to Jeffrey Epstein and is now facing a police inquiry over claims he leaked sensitive government documents to the paedophile financier when he was business secretary.

During the evidence session, Ms Little, who has been uncovering documents related to the peers appointment being released under the humble address procedure forced by MPs in February, was asked by committee member Alex Ballinger which organisations would have known of the vetting outcome, with the Labour MP pointing out there was an article in The Independent where it was suggested Peter Mandelson had failed his vetting.

open image in gallery Cat Little gave evidence to MPs over the Mandelson scandal ( PA )

She said she could not go into too much detail in a public forum, but she did not deny The Independents reporting that Sir Olly Robbins, until last week the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, was sacked by the prime minister without even being asked to explain his handling of the vetting saga.

Sir Keir told the Commons on Monday, in answer to a question by the veteran Tory MP Sir Julian Lewis, whether he had sought an explanation from Sir Olly: I did ask him, and I did not accept his explanation. That is why I sacked him. But friends of the former permanent under secretary have told The Independent that no question was asked.

Asked exactly what information the prime minister had when he took the decision to fire the civil servant, Ms Little said: I can confirm that the prime minister would have had relevant information and whilst I must make very clear Im not involved in the prime ministers decision here, I do know that there were conversations directly between the PM and Sir Olly."

In her evidence, Ms Little also revealed that the presumption had been that Lord Mandelson did not need developed security vetting before he was sent to Washington to become the UKs chief diplomat in the US because he was already a member of the House of Lords.

open image in gallery Sir Olly Robbins appeared before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday after he was sacked by the PM (Dominic Lipinski/PA) ( PA )

She also insisted due process was followed, as Sir Keir has claimed. She said Sir Olly had refused to share vetting information with her and that she took the very unusual decision to request it from security officials directly. She had known since 25 March about sensitive information linked to Lord Mandelsons vetting, she said.

On Wednesday, the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, repeatedly declined to say whether he believed the sacking of Sir Olly was fair. But Labour backbenchers have openly voiced doubts about Sir Keirs future as a result of the latest scandal. Junior minister Alex Norris said on Thursday that claims of a Cabinet split over the scandal were a load of guff.

As pressure mounts against the prime minister, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is pressing for his referral to the privileges committee, like Boris Johnson was over Partygate, claiming he misled MPs.

Sir Keir has accused his opponents of making politically motivated allegations about the Mandelson vetting scandal. Asked on a visit to Newcastle whether he had considered resigning, he said: Last week, my political opponents were saying that theres no way a civil servant wouldnt have told me about the outcome of a developed vetting security exercise. Turns out my political opponents were completely wrong about that.

Then they said that I was dishonest. It turns out they were completely wrong about that. They are now putting any allegation they can and I will tell you for why: they are opposed politically to what this government is trying to achieve.

He has denied misleading MPs.
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Military planners from countries seeking to join a UK and France-led mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once the Iran war ends have held constructive talks in London.

More than 40 nations sent planners to the two-day conference at the UKs Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood.

They had aimed to build on talks held by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week, and agree a defensive plan that will restore confidence for commercial shipping.

Defence Secretary John Healey told attendees that millions of people were relying on them to succeed because of the importance of the strait.

A fifth of the worlds oil usually passes through, and Irans effective closure of the critical supply route after the US-Israeli bombing campaign began in February has inflicted a global economic shock and sent energy prices soaring.

The talks, held on Wednesday and Thursday, were constructive and generated clear momentum, it is understood.

More than 40 nations sent planners to the two-day conference at the UKs Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood. ( Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty Images )

Addressing the planners, Mr Healey said: A huge thank you and respect to you all for being here.

I cant tell you how proud we are to have you here at our Permanent Joint headquarters in the UK.

Our task is to turn the diplomatic consensus of our leaders into practical military plans that can safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

A task to create a joint plan, bringing together the early planning from the French and from the UK sides.

A defensive, multinational mission that will strengthen the confidence of commercial shipping, and, if necessary, clear mines and protect vessels when the hostilities end.

International trade, energy, and economic stability for all our nations depend on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

They depend on unrestricted, unconditional transit through the Strait.

So millions of people in all our nations are looking to our leaders, and to you, for the success of the work that youre doing over these two days.

I know you wont let them down. We cant let them down.
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A former Nato secretary general has warned that Britains military reliance on the US is no longer tenable, and the UK should not expect relations with Washington to return to their previous state  even after Donald Trump leaves office.

In his second attack on the governments defence policy in less than two weeks, Lord George Robertson  a former Labour defence secretary who was appointed by the prime minister to write the governments Strategic Defence Review (SDR)  hit out at Britains naive belief that the US would always be there in times of crisis, saying such a mentality has diminished the UKs capabilities.

Mr Trumps term has already seen UK-US relations break down over the Iran war and Natos opposition to his demand to annexe Greenland.

open image in gallery Former defence secretary George Robertson criticised the government once again (PA) ( PA )

Speaking at Chatham House on Wednesday, Lord Robertson said long-term trends such as an increasing focus on China and scepticism of globalisation mean the US would become more transactional in its foreign policy, regardless of who was in the White House, arguing instead that Britain must become a more autonomous military actor.

He said: Its clear that our high level of military dependence on the US is no longer tenable.

The latest remarks from the Labour peer - who before his most recent interventions rarely spoke out against government policy - came just days after he criticised a lack of urgency in increasing defence spending, accusing senior politicians of corrosive complacency on the issue.

It also follows the publication of a report by a House of Lords committee, chaired by Lord Robertson, examining the state of the UKs relationship with the US.

In the report, the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee urged ministers to banish the sentimental illusion of a special relationship that would endure forever.

Peers called for a rebalancing of relations with Washington and the deepening of ties with other nations, particularly in Europe, as a hedge against a less dependable ally.

It comes amid increasing concern over Britains ability to defend itself in the face of mounting global turbulence, with MPs on both sides of the Commons having already expressed concerns over the failure of the government to publish its Defence Investment Plan.

In-year savings were blamed for a delay in sending HMS Dragon to Cyprus weeks after the Iran crisis began and the UKs base on the island came under attack from Tehran.

And there are ongoing question marks over the reduction of the size of the UK army which is down to around 70,000, and using poor and outdated heavy vehicles and tanks.

Wednesdays report is not the first time a parliamentary committee has called for a re-evaluation of the UK-US relationship this year.

open image in gallery US President Donald Trump speaks during the NCAA Collegiate National Champions Day event at the White House in Washington ( AFP/Getty )

Last month, the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy said the government should move away from its reliance on the US for defence and security given demonstrable areas of tension between London and Washington.

But responding to Lord Robertson, US ambassador to London Warren Stephens insisted the UK remains his countrys closest ally.

He said: The United States National Security Strategy makes it a top priority to support our allies in preserving the freedom and security of Europe.

That is a commitment we fulfil every day through our work with the United Kingdom. The United States will continue working alongside our closest ally, the United Kingdom, to keep our countries and our citizens safe and prosperous.

Our countries face a host of complex threats in the modern world and the only way to counter those threats is through preparedness, co-operation with likeminded allies, and sustained investment in our collective security.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
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The Zambian government has taken custody of the body of former President Edgar Lungu from his family, intensifying a protracted dispute over his final resting place almost a year after his death in South Africa.

Zambia's attorney general confirmed on Wednesday that the government now holds Lungu's remains. This development follows a South African court order mandating the release of the body to Zambian authorities, with the body subsequently transferred from a funeral home in Pretoria to an alternative facility.

However, Lungu's family asserts that a separate, urgent court ruling dictates the body should be returned to the original funeral home. It had been held there since his passing in June last year, as the macabre disagreement over control of his burial and interment location unfolded through the South African legal system.

Details of the two apparently conflicting court orders were not immediately available.

The battle revolves around Lungu's relationship with current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The two were bitter political rivals.

open image in gallery ungu's family claims that one of his last wishes was that political rival Hichilema should not go anywhere near his body and not preside over his funeral. ( AFP/Getty )

Hichilema's government has said Lungu should have a state funeral at home and be buried at a cemetery set aside for Zambian leaders. Lungu's family claims that one of his last wishes was that Hichilema should not go anywhere near his body and not preside over his funeral.

In June last year, the Zambian government succeeded in getting a court order to stop his funeral service in South Africa as it was taking place, forcing family members to leave the church ceremony and travel to a courthouse

Zambias government said at the time that it had already prepared a grave for Lungu at a cemetery where all presidents are traditionally buried. It added that any personal wishes must give way to the national interest.

Lungus family had decided against repatriating his body and arranged their own funeral service and a private burial. Top members of Lungus political party travelled to South Africa for the funeral.

A state funeral for him in Zambia was cancelled twice because of disagreements over the details..

Lungu, who was Zambias leader from 2015 to 2021, died of an undisclosed illness in a South African hospital on June 5. He was 68.

When Lungu was president in 2017, Hichilema was arrested, charged with treason and detained for four months, only to be released and the charge dropped after international condemnation.

Lungu lost to Hichilema in a 2021 election, and claimed years later that his movements were being restricted by Zambian police and that he had been effectively placed under house arrest by authorities to prevent any political comeback. Hichilema's government denied the allegations.
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A second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon was set to start Thursday in Washington, while the prospects of Iran-U.S. talks in Pakistan seemed dubious as the Islamic Republic accused the Americans of a lack of good faith in negotiations.

Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them Wednesday, intensifying its assault on shipping in the key waterway, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the strait, where 20% of the worlds traded oil passes in peacetime, with no end in sight.

Pakistan had planned to host another round of talks, but the White House suspended U.S. Vice President JD Vances planned trip to Islamabad as Iran rebuffed efforts to restart the discussions.

In southern Lebanon, three separate Israeli strikes killed at least six people and wounded others, according to local authorities. Israel denied carrying out one of the strikes and did not immediately comment on the others.

The attacks came as Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors prepared for a new meeting in Washington toward extending a fragile 10-day ceasefire that began last week.

Here is the latest:

Three killed inside vehicle in central Gaza Strip

An Israeli drone strike killed three men inside a car Thursday in central Gaza Strip, health officials said.

Those killed were taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Two of them were inside the vehicle targeted on Salah al-Din Street near Maghazi camp, while a third was nearby, hospital director Raed Hussein told The Associated Press. Three others were injured.

The Israeli military didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

A fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire has held since October, but renewed strikes have killed 791 people and wounded 2,235, according to the latest figures released by Gazas health ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its toll.

US military seizes oil tanker associated with Iran

The U.S. military seized another tanker Thursday associated with smuggling Iranian oil.

The U.S. Defense Department said it seized the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean.

We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate, the Defense Department said.

The seizure comes after Iran attacked three cargo ships Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them.

The Defense Department released footage of the seizure of the vessel, showing U.S. troops on the deck of the vessel.

Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same location as the oil tanker Tifani, earlier seized by American forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan, China.

The Majestic X is a Guyana-flagged oil tanker. It previously had been named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of American sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Iran relies upon a sprawling network of tankers and ship management firms in multiple jurisdictions to transport its petroleum to overseas customers  using tactics such as false documentation, manipulation of vessel tracking systems, and constant changes to the names and flags of vessels, the Treasury said at the time.

There was no immediate response from Iran on the news of the seizure.

Since the start of the war between Iran, Israel and the United States, over 30 ships have come under attack in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The threat of attack, rising insurance premiums and other fears have stopped traffic from moving through the strait, through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes.

Irans ability to restrict traffic through the strait, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, has proved a major strategic advantage.

After the attacks Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Channel that American officials that Irans seizure of the ships didnt violate truce terms because these were not U.S. or Israeli ships, these were two international vessels.

However, the ceasefire has been strained by dueling American attacks on Iranian ships and those by Iran on commercial vessels. It also remains unclear when, or if, the two sides will meet again in Islamabad, where Pakistani officials say they are still trying to bring the countries together to reach a diplomatic deal.

Irans exiled crown prince splattered with red liquid

Irans exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splattered with red liquid Thursday as he left a building after a news conference in Berlin.

He waved to supporters in the aftermath and got into a car that drove away.

The alleged perpetrator was immediately detained by police.

Pahlavi has been in exile for nearly 50 years.

His father, Irans shah, was so widely hated that millions took to the streets in 1979, forcing him from power. Nevertheless, Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a player in his countrys future.

Irans exiled crown prince criticizes ceasefire

Reza Pahlavi, Irans exiled crown prince, criticized the ceasefire between the Unites States and Iran.

He argued Thursday that the agreement assumes the Iranian governments behavior will change and youre going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists.

I dont see that happening, he said during a news conference in Berlin. Im not saying that diplomacy should not be given a chance, but I think diplomacy has been given enough chance.

Pahlavi has tried to position himself for a return to power should the Shiite theocracy fall and has supported the U.S.-Israeli military intervention in the Middle East.

Pahlavi called on Europeans to do more to support Iranian people fighting for democracy.

He claimed 19 political prisoners were executed by Iranian authorities in the past two weeks and another 20 people have been sentenced to death.

Will the free world do something or watch the slaughter in silence, Pahlavi wondered.

Pakistan interior minister meets US official

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement Thursday he hoped for positive progress from Iran after a meeting with U.S. Charge dAffaires Natalie Baker.

The meeting in Pakistans capital Islamabad included discussion of diplomatic efforts related to a second round of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks, which was delayed after Tehran did not confirm when it would send its delegation.

Naqvi said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir were making efforts at every level to support a peaceful settlement and hoped all sides would give diplomacy a chance.

Naqvi praised U.S. President Donald Trump for extending the ceasefire, calling it a welcome step toward de-escalation.

Baker appreciated Pakistans constructive role in promoting peace, the statement said.

Iran hangs another member of exiled opposition group

Iran said Thursday it hanged another member of the Iranian exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq.

The Mizan news agency of Irans judiciary identified the man as Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr.

It accused him of cooperating with the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, without offering specifics. It also did not say when or where it arrested him.

Iran has accused many it has hanged during the war as having links to Israel. Activists say Iran routinely tries capital cases behind closed doors, uses coerced confessions and doesnt allow the accused to properly challenge the evidence against them.

This brings to nine the total number of MEK members executed since the start of the war.
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Authorities say a former North Carolina law enforcement officer planned to kill Black people in a mass shooting at a major New Orleans festival but was arrested at a Florida hotel with a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Though the festival was not named by authorities in several states, the widely known New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, commonly known as JazzFest, is set to begin on Thursday through May 3.

The event celebrates Louisianas music, food and culture, and attracted about 460,000 people last year, organizers said.

Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was wanted for terroristic threats, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida posted online Thursday.

Federal authorities told the sheriff's office that Gillum was in the Florida Panhandle heading to do a mass shooting at a large festival in Louisiana.

open image in gallery The Okaloosa sheriffs office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin ( Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office )

The sheriff's office did not name the federal agency, and the FBI office in New Orleans did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Okaloosa sheriffs office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin, and posted a photo of him being led away in handcuffs. Deputies recovered a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition from the hotel room, the statement said.

Gillum was arrested as a fugitive from justice and will be extradited to Louisiana to face charges there, the sheriffs office said. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer.

The Associated Press left a message at the phone numbers listed for him.

Gillums family reported him missing on Tuesday and he had a history of self-harm, according to Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina.

Gillums family told law enforcement he had a gun and expressed recent threats to harm Black people, according to a bulletin from police in Burlington, North Carolina.

open image in gallery The Okaloosa sheriffs office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin ( Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office )

Lyons said Gillum crossed state lines before his agency could prepare the paperwork to involuntarily commit him to psychiatric treatment. Lyons said that there were no criminal grounds to detain Gillum despite his comments about Black people because there was no victim.

But we felt that there was definitely something there that needed to be shared, so thats what we did, Lyons said.

Gillum was located and stopped by law enforcement in Oklaloosa County on Wednesday, according to Lyons and the Burlington police bulletin.

However, Gillum did not present any grounds for involuntary commitment or criminal charges and was allowed to continue on his way, the bulletin stated. Gillum told officers that he was enroute to New Orleans, the report added.

Okaloosa deputies were initially asked to make a welfare check on Gillum Wednesday morning and were not aware of any threats he had made, sheriff spokesperson Michele Nicholson said. Later that day, after the sheriff's office learned Gillum was being investigated, deputies surveilled him until a signed warrant arrived from Louisiana, she added.

Gillum had been hired as a detention officer by the sheriffs office in Orange County, North Carolina, in October 2023 but he left in July 2024, department spokesperson Alicia L. Stemper said.

open image in gallery In a statement, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival said it works closely with law enforcement and applauded their efforts, saying we look forward to another safe and joyful Jazz Fest ( Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office )

We hired him again as a deputy on Jan. 13, 2025, she said in an email. He resigned his position on Sept. 21, 2025, and we terminated him accordingly.

Gillum also served as a sworn police officer for Chapel Hill from 2004 until his resignation in 2019, town communications manager Alex Carrasquillo said.

He returned as a non-sworn employee in 2024 before leaving for another job by the end of that year, Carrasquillo said in an email.

Louisiana State Police spokesperson Trooper Danny Berrincha said the agency is still investigating the episode with the FBI.

At this time, there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana, he added.

In a statement, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival said it works closely with law enforcement and applauded their efforts, saying we look forward to another safe and joyful Jazz Fest.
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Around 1 in 5 Americans may have been exposed to a tasteless compound that is linked to multiple cancers in their tap water, according to a new study.

Invisible and odorless, nitrates at low concentrations have also been linked to thyroid disease, preterm births, birth defects and other health effects.

Nitrates, which are used in fertilizers, can leach into streams and rivers that supply public water systems. Manure from animal feeding operations, leaky septic tanks, urban storm runoff, and agricultural runoff are all sources of nitrate pollution.

According to a study carried out by the Environmental Working Group, more than 62.1 million people received drinking water that tested at or above 3 milligrams per liter for nitrate at least once between 2021 and 2023. The drinking water was supplied by around 6,114 community water systems.

The elevated nitrate levels are likely human-caused, the study says.

open image in gallery More than 62.1 million Americans may have been exposed to water containing elevated levels of nitrate, according to a study ( AFP/Getty )

Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency sets a legal limit for nitrate in drinking water at 10 mg/L. Thats based on a standard set all the way back in 1962, which aimed to prevent so-called Blue Baby Syndrome in which newborns were starved of oxygen due to nitrate poisoning.

According to the EWG, 606 of the 39,592 community water systems tested reported nitrate levels at or above the 10 mg/L limit.

However, new research suggests that there is an increased risk of colorectal and other cancers, thyroid disease, and birth defects when nitrate levels are at 5 mg/L and other levels below the legal limit.

Researchers at the EWG released a meta-analysis of 8 studies evaluating the link between colorectal cancer and nitrate in drinking water. The study found that a limit of 0.14 mg/L is needed to reduce the risk of cancer.

However, an update to the groups Tap Water Database found that 178 million people were served by public water systems with nitrate exceeding that limit.

California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Kansas, North Carolina, New York, Nebraska, Texas, Arizona and Wisconsin were found to account for 60 percent of all water systems with elevated levels of nitrate.

Ben, a 13-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, contacted Iowa State Representative Dr. Austin Baeth, urging him to investigate the issue in his own state.

open image in gallery Nitrates are used as fertilizers but can become a health risk if they leak into water sources ( AFP/Getty )

I remember when I could drink water from the faucet, but now it is a health concern, he wrote, according to a TikTok video shared by Baeth. Please dont ignore this problem!

After reading a poem also sent by Ben, Baeth said, Its like the fifth time Ive read this, and I still get choked up.

As a parent, hopefully someday as a grandparent, I feel it is so crucial that we adults step up for our kids, he added.

According to the EWG, Des Moines Water Works built a nitrate removal facility in 1992 for around $4.1 million. Now, the facility costs around $10,000 per day to operate during the summer.

In 2025, the nitrate removal system was operated for 112 days to keep the compound's levels under control.

However, the cost of not addressing nitrate pollution is also high, the EWG says. The non-profit suggests that treating cancers linked to nitrate exposure could be costing the United States between $250 million and $1.5 billion annually.

The EWG also wrote that shifting weather conditions, linked to climate change, increase runoff and soil erosion, amplifying the issue of nitrate leaking into water sources.

The group says that policy reform, including encouraging farmers to cover their crops or diversify crop rotations, could help get a hold of the problem.
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Given the partisan nature of these things, its no surprise that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alternately received praise and furious criticism in front of a Senate committee on Wednesday.

But oddly, it was the panels chairman, Bill Cassidy, who found himself in a white-hot spotlight this week as he faced down a man who, despite his warnings against it, has rolled back vaccination standards for millions of Americans.

Cassidy, 68, is running for a third term as senator from Louisiana. So, on Wednesday, he was threading the needle as he pushed back against Kennedys speculation about vaccine efficacy while shying away from any real confrontation with the Health secretary, so it wouldnt serve as a reminder of his vote to confirm him despite misgivings over RFKs vow not to change federal vaccine recommendations.

That is an embarrassment Cassidy has yet to escape from.

But after RFK Jr. insisted that a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that almost none of the prevented deaths from chronic or infectious diseases in the 20th century were due to vaccinations, Cassidy had his moment to shine, raging senator to floundering Senate witness style  and he went soft.

open image in gallery U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shakes hands with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy ( Reuters )

Cassidy, instead of making a spectacle of the man who made him second-guess his confirmation vote, calmly fact-checked RFK Jr. in real time, with staff providing him the study cited by the secretary and Cassidy calmly laying out for the Cabinet official how hed misread the findings.

The ... paper was written before, for events before 1950, which is before the [measles] vaccine came out. But then the vaccine came out, and thats when cases went from 3.5 million down to near zero, and deaths went to zero from 550 a year. So tremendous impact of the vaccination, Cassidy lectured.

The tenor was markedly different from the Senate standard for such moments, most recently embodied in Marchs hearing of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, when then-Secretary Kristi Noem took a verbal thrashing from Sen. John Kennedy (no relation to RFK Jr.), another Republican and Cassidys colleague on the Louisiana delegation. Kennedys blistering remarks continued after that hearing concluded.

She spent a quarter of a billion dollars putting ads out across America, a quarter of a billion dollars, in which she was prominently displayed, Sen. Kennedy told Fox News after his clash with Noem. They looked a great deal like political ads. And I found that breathtaking, and when I see what I perceived to be spending porn, I dont care who does it. Im going to call it out.

It also, of course, was overshadowed by the committees Democrats, who eagerly tore into RFK Jr. over his past rhetoric against measles vaccines, the administrations rolling-back of Medicaid funding, and more.

A generally moderate Republican, Cassidys background as a physician and chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has lined him up as the man on Capitol Hill with the job of proving that the Senate GOP is capable of conducting oversight of a Republican administration.

With Donald Trump in the White House, that prospect of intra-party congressional oversight has proved to be largely unrealistic. Cassidys support for Kennedys nomination in 2025, a political risk for the senator who has staked his reputation on his health care bonafides, was unreciprocated by Trump this year as the sitting president endorsed a primary challenge against Cassidy. Trumps endorsements in many GOP primaries have proven to be the golden ticket assuring victory at the ballot box  at least until the general election. The real issue for Cassidy is his 2021 vote to impeach Trump following the attack on the Capitol, something the president has never forgiven.

Even Sen. Kennedys questioning of Noem reportedly only came after the president was already tiring of his DHS chief and seeking her ouster.

open image in gallery Sen. John Kennedy, another Republican, took a much more critical tone when questioning then-DHS chief Kristi Noem last month ( Getty )

Now with Trump firmly opposed to his renomination but still reliant on a MAGA base to see him elected, Cassidy is forced into a lane similar to Georgias Brian Kemp as he remains unabashedly independent of Trump but still chained to the notion that he must work with, not against, the White House whenever possible. Its the opposite problem faced by Larry Hogan, another anti-Trump Republican from Maryland who vowed to check Trump at every turn if put in charge of a blue states Senate seat in 2024.

The president is supporting Rep. Julia Letlow, another conservative and one of his loyalists in the House, for Cassidys seat.

Ahead of the hearing, a Republican strategist predicted to NOTUS that Cassidy would seek to align himself more closely with the secretary while also showing his oversight authority, which appeared to be an accurate read.

Hes trying to split the baby on this. Naturally, he wants to be a little bit more aggressive against RFK Jr. and some of the things that hes talking about, they told NOTUS. I wouldnt say Republican voters are saying, like, We love RFK Jr. But he is seen as an emissary of the president  that the president chose to run HHS for a reason. So theres some residual support there.

Id say [hes] probably a little bit more supportive of RFK. Jr. because of those reasons, they added.

But Cassidys obituary hasnt been written yet. Polling suggests he remains highly competitive against Letlow, and he holds a large campaign war chest estimated at more than twice the size of his opponents. Trump, meanwhile, is sinking to his lowest approval ratings in years amid an increasingly unpopular and expensive war with Iran.

The senator could still easily emerge victorious next month, leaving one more Republican in office no longer tied to the presidents endorsement for his own political sur
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The Gates Foundation confirmed on Wednesday that it is reviewing its past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as its only remaining founder comes under increasing scrutiny over references in Justice Department documents linked to the investigation of the disgraced financier.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates reportedly spoke candidly about his relationship with Epstein during a February town hall at the foundation he co-founded with his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates. The external review represents the nonprofits most direct effort yet to confront associations that have raised questions amid its global work on reducing preventable maternal and child deaths and combating infectious diseases.

"In March, with the support of our chair, Bill Gates, and our independent Governing Board members, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman commissioned an external review to assess past foundation engagement with Epstein, and our current policies for vetting and developing new philanthropic partnerships, the Gates Foundation said in a statement.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the internal memo outlining the review.

The Justice Department's files include email correspondence between Gates and Epstein about philanthropic projects, calendar entries documenting dates they held meetings and photos of Gates at events attended by the two men ( Martin Burea / AFP via Getty Images )

The philanthropic giant has already undergone a period of change. The Gates Foundation shared plans in January to cap operating costs and incrementally cut as many as 500 positions, or about 20% of its staff, by 2030. The move follows last years announcement that the foundation would close in 2045, earlier than previously expected.

The Justice Department's files include email correspondence between Gates and Epstein about philanthropic projects, calendar entries documenting dates they held meetings and photos of Gates at events attended by the two men. Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing regarding their connection, denies knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claims they met only to discuss philanthropy.

The foundation acknowledged that a small number of employees met with Epstein based on his claims that he could mobilize significant philanthropic resources for global health and development in a February statement. They never created a fund together and the foundation made no financial payments to Epstein, according to the previous release.

The foundation regrets having any employees interact with Epstein in any way, the statement read.

The files' disclosures are being closely followed by one of the Gates Foundation's earliest and most ardent supporters. Investor Warren Buffett, who donates a portion of his annual Berkshire Hathaway shares to the nonprofit, told CNBC's Squawk Box last month that it's clear there was a lot I didn't know."

Buffett, who resigned as the foundation's trustee in 2021, has completed his donation every year around the end of June. But he said he will wait and see what unfolds in the Justice Department's documents and congressional hearings on their contents. He noted the foundation is sitting on a large endowment, which totals $86 billion, and said Gates has plenty of his own money.

So, in any event, Ill just wait and see. And theres three and a half million, or whatever it is pages  I mean, it is astounding, Buffett said of the Epstein files.

A Gates Foundation spokesperson described Buffet as an extraordinarily generous partner for nearly two decades in a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press.

We are deeply grateful for his support, which has enabled us to accelerate progress on some of the worlds toughest challenges that would not otherwise have been possible, the spokesperson said.

The Gates Foundation expects its board and management will receive an update on the Epstein review this summer. The third-party investigators have not been publicly named.
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Six leading candidates vying for Californias governorship are set to clash in a televised debate Wednesday, each hoping for a pivotal moment in a chaotic and leaderless race.

With mail ballots slated to reach voters early next month ahead of the June 2 primary, time is rapidly running out for contenders to establish a clear advantage.

Under Californias unique election rules, only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the November general election.

This system has fueled months of anxiety among Democrats, who fear a crowded field could inadvertently lead to two Republicans securing the spots, a scenario that would represent a historic setback for the famously progressive state.

The debate will feature the two leading Republican hopefuls, conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, alongside four prominent Democrats: former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

open image in gallery Tom Steyer ( Getty )

With candidates eager to seize an advantage before a statewide television audience, the 90-minute event could easily devolve into a series of heated exchanges and verbal attacks.

open image in gallery Katie Porter speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum ( AP )

The campaign has recently navigated a period of significant instability. U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, previously a leading Democratic contender, withdrew from the race and Congress following sexual assault allegations, which he denies.

Another Democrat, former state controller Betty Yee, exited the contest on Monday after consistently lagging in polls since entering in 2024, subsequently endorsing Steyer.

Meanwhile, Becerra received a notable endorsement from Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on Tuesday.

open image in gallery Xavier Becerra ( AP )

Becerra and Mahan were late additions to the debate lineup after Swalwells departure, and both have since garnered fresh attention and endorsements in the reordered contest. Mahan, in particular, has been actively rolling out advertising campaigns to bolster his standing.

While Democrats largely align on key policy issues, such as reducing household costs and countering President Donald Trump's agenda, they will be searching for distinct ways to stand out on stage.

This could involve highlighting their own records or scrutinizing those of their rivals. Porter, known for her viral use of a whiteboard during congressional hearings, could become the states first woman governor. Steyer, a hedge fund manager turned liberal activist who mounted an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020, is recognized for his focus on climate issues.

open image in gallery Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco ( AP )

Becerra is the most seasoned politician among the group, having served in the Biden administration, as a state attorney general, a congressman, and a state legislator. Mahan has emphasized his efforts to combat homelessness and crime during his tenure leading Northern Californias largest city.

California itself is expected to be a central theme. Democrats have dominated the government of the nations most populous state for years, with Republicans failing to win a statewide election in two decades. Consequently, Hilton and Bianco are anticipated to reiterate familiar campaign themes, blaming Sacramentos one-sided politics for the states challenges.

open image in gallery Conservative commentator Steve Hilton ( AP )

Their arguments will likely include criticisms that billions in spending have failed to curb the persistent homeless crisis, that the state endures some of the nations highest taxes, utility bills, and gas prices, that heavy government regulation is driving away jobs, and that soaring home prices remain out of reach for many families.

The race remains wide open. Polling conducted in late March and early April by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California indicated a tight cluster of candidates, including Democrats Steyer and Porter, and Republicans Hilton and Bianco, alongside Swalwell.

open image in gallery San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan ( Getty )

Other candidates trailed significantly. It is important to note that this polling was conducted prior to Swalwells withdrawal from the race.

Nexstar Media Group will host the debate, broadcasting it on its local channels, NewsNation, and streaming it online via The Hill.
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More Americans believe the moon landings were faked than those who approve of Congress, according to new polling.

Just 10 percent of Americans are happy with the job lawmakers on Capitol Hill are doing, while 86 percent disapprove  matching the record high reached in 2013, according to the latest Gallup survey.

On Wednesday, CNN data analyst Harry Enten broke down the new figures, which reveal congressional approval has fallen four points since March.

You know, I just want to say to Congress, stand up and applaud. Youre usually hated, but usually not this hated. Youre reaching, or at least tying, record highs in terms of disapproval, Enten said.

Just 10 percent of Americans approve of the job that Congress is doing, he continued. So therefore, as I said, stand up and give yourselves a round of applause. You managed to do it. Congratulations.

open image in gallery Just 10 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing  fewer than the share who believe the moon landing was faked, according to a new poll ( Getty Images )

Anchor Sara Sidner then asked him to put those numbers into context.

Enten cited Gallup data showing that 12 percent of Americans believe the Apollo 11 moon landing was faked, while 10 percent think the Earth is not a sphere.

More Americans say that the moon landing was fake back in 1969 than actually approve of the job that Congress is doing right now at 10 percent, Enten said. That 10 percent is equal to the percentage of Americans that believe that the Earth is flat. Of course, we did not fake the moon landing. We did land on the moon.

open image in gallery According to the latest Gallup survey, 86 percent of Americans disapprove of Congress. Pictured here are Senate Majority Leader John Thune (center) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (right) ( Getty Images )

Thats the one that made me laugh, Sidner responded before questioning what lawmakers can do to boost their abysmal rating.

They can actually do something, do something, do something. Then maybe people might actually like it, Enten said.

Three of the major spikes in congressional disapproval occurred during government shutdowns or threats of one, according to Gallup. This includes the latest Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which has now stretched on for 10 weeks.

The survey arrives amid a string of scandals roiling Congress  and at a time when its legislative output has stalled.

Earlier this month, Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, departed Congress in disgrace, following allegations of sexual misconduct. Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican, is currently under an active House Ethics investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct.

Last year, fewer than 40 bills were signed into law, marking the lowest level of legislative output in the first year of a modern presidency.
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Donald Trumps administration has reportedly instructed immigration enforcement officers to cut back on arrests inside courthouses and to no longer enter homes without a warrant, backing off two controversial policies that have sparked violent and chaotic scenes in the president's mass deportation campaign.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement field offices across the country were verbally instructed by their superiors that they should no longer enter homes unless they have a judicial warrant, two Homeland Security officials told NBC News.

Last year, ICEs then-acting director Todd Lyons told officers to rely on the agencys own permissions to enter a persons home  rather than seek a warrant from a judge. Homeland Security then issued a lengthy press release defending the policy.

ICEs alleged instructions also led to a sharp drop in the number of arrests inside immigration courthouses. Last month, a top federal prosecutor admitted that the government was wrongly relying on policy that didnt exist to let agents cuff thousands of immigrants the moment they left their hearings, The Independent previously reported.

After widespread opposition from lawyers, judges and members of Congress, ICE now appears to be ending those arrests entirely.

open image in gallery ICE has reportedly been instructed to cut back on immigration court arrests after government attorneys admitted that the agency wrongly relied on policy that doesnt exist ( Getty Images )

A spokesperson for Homeland Security told The Independent that there has been no change in policy.

We will continue to arrest illegal aliens at immigration courts following their proceedings in compliance with the law and any applicable court orders, the person said. It is commonsense to take them into custody following the completion of their removal proceedings.

Unlike federal courts, immigration courts and the judges who run them operate under the control of the Department of Justice and, ultimately, the president.

In more than 70 immigration courts around the country, immigration judges determine whether immigrants can be deported or granted a form of legal status like asylum.

But after Trump took office, the Justice Departments Executive Office for Immigration Review told judges to grant motions from government lawyers to immediately dismiss immigrants cases, making them easy targets for arrest and removal.

The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan  which emerged as a major flashpoint for courthouse arrests over the last year  repeatedly expressed regret in a letter to a federal judge last month, saying that his office mistakenly defended an ICE memo that does not and has never applied to immigration court arrests.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton blamed ICE and the agencys legal team, which specifically informed his office that a Trump-era memo applied to immigration courthouse arrests, according to Clayton.

Based on our discussions with ICE today, this regrettable error appears to have occurred because of agency attorney error, Clayton wrote.

Immigrant advocacy groups suing ICE over those arrests are now asking a judge to block them, saying there is no evidence that the agency engaged in reasoned decision-making when enacting this dramatic change in policy.

Hundreds of real people  with families, schools, medical appointments, jobs and lives  arrived at immigration courts to attend mandatory hearings only to be summarily arrested by ICE agents outside the courtrooms as they left pursuant to ICEs unreasoned policy, they wrote Thursday.

The harms resulting from the new policy have been immediate and severe: absent limitations on who ICE will arrest, each and every noncitizen must now make a choice to either attend their mandatory hearings and face unlawful arrest resulting in loss of employment, family separation, and the interruption of medical care or live with in absentia removal order hanging over their heads, they said.

open image in gallery ICE has faced a wave of legal challenges over a controversial practice of using internal administrative warrants to break into immigrants homes to make arrests with a judges approval ( Getty )

A separate federal lawsuit from a group of civil rights and immigrant organizations has also demanded a stop to ICEs home invasion policy.

Officers were relying on an internal administrative document  drafted and signed by ICE officers themselves  to arrest people inside their homes.

In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, the agencys general counsel James Percival suggested that illegal aliens are not protected by the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure.

Under federal immigration law, officers may issue an administrative warrant, which means that the probable-cause finding is made by an executive-branch officer rather than a judicial officer, he wrote.

But the Fourth Amendment exists precisely to prevent government agents from breaking into peoples homes without any judicial process or oversight, according to Brooke Simone, staff attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights and one of the attorneys leading the lawsuit.

In February, a group of House Democrats told Homeland Security that ICE does not have the authority to overturn any law, let alone one of the foundational constitutional rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

You must rescind this memo and adhere to the requirements of the Fourth Amendment by ensuring your agents obtain a judicial warrant prior to making any non-consensual entry into a private residence, they added.

open image in gallery After Trump took office, the DOJ told immigration court judges to grant motions from government lawyers to immediately dismiss immigrants cases, making them easy targets for arrest and removal in courthouse hallways ( AFP via Getty Images )

Critics have pointed to the case of ChongLy Scott Thao, who was dragged from his house at gunpoint in his underwear. Thao is a U.S. citizen, and the man ICE officers intended to arrest was already in prison.

In another case, agents forcibly entered the home of Liberian immigrant Garrison Gibson without a warrant. A federal judge later ruled that his arrest violated his Constitutional rights and ordered his release.

Their arrests both took place in Minnesota, where violent immigration raids, volatile protests and the killings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents forced out Border Patrols commander-at-large and culminated with Trumps firing of Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary.

Border Patrol now only assists with ICE arrests when requested and no longer conducts roving patrols, one DHS official told NBC News.

But other controversial immigration arrests are still in place, including during routine check-ins at ICE offices.

ICE also continues to hold immigrants in detention without bond even if they dont have any criminal records after several federal court rulings upheld the policy. Those legal challenges are ongoing.
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Navy Secretary John Phelan has left his role amid reports of a falling out with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

A Pentagon spokesperson said Wednesday the senior official left his post after disagreeing with Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg over several issues, including how to revive the Navys shipbuilding program.

President [Donald] Trump and Secretary Hegseth agreed new leadership at the Navy is needed, a senior administration official told The Independent. Secretary Hegseth informed John Phelan of this news prior to it being made public.

Earlier this month, Hegseth ousted Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who said troops deserved courageous leaders of good character in his departure email.

Phelans ousting follows a string of high-profile resignations and firings in the U.S. military, which is currently executing a blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz.

Global oil markets have been upended and prices continue to rise after Iranian forces seized and attacked three container ships that attempted to pass through the vital waterway Wednesday.

Who is John Phelan?

open image in gallery John Phelan left his role at Secretary of the Navy amid disagreements with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and deputy Stephen Feinberg ( Getty )

Phelan does not have a military background, and was previously a businessperson and political donor who contributed heavily to Trumps campaign.

A Harvard and London School of Economics graduate, Phelan has a background in finance and was a co-founding partner and chief investment officer of MSD Capital, a private investment company. He resigned from the role in 2022 and founded Rugger Management LLC in Palm Beach, Florida.

In August 2024, he hosted Trump for a fundraising dinner at his Colorado home, where attendees forked out a minimum of $25,000, according to The Guardian.

Flight logs released as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files also appear to suggest that Phelan flew on the disgraced financiers plane, CNN reported. Mention in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.

Trump hiring as Navy secretary

open image in gallery President Donald Trump and Phelan reportedly had a close relationship ( AFP/Getty )

Phelan was sworn in as the 79th Navy secretary in March 2025, shortly after Trumps reelection.

John will be a tremendous force for our Naval service members, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision, the president said at the time. He will put the business of the US Navy above all else.

Phelan had a close relationship with the president, according to the Wall Street Journal. The pair, who own homes close to one another in Florida, regularly chatted at Mar-a-Lago, and Phelan would text the president late at night about shipbuilding, the outlet reports.

Senior Pentagon officials were reportedly left frustrated last year when Phelan took his proposal for a new battleship directly to the president, leaving Hegseth out of the loop, according to sources.

Political fallout

Hegseth and Feinberg were also frustrated by Phelans approach to shipbuilding reforms, in addition to his close relationship with the president.

Hegseth believed Phelan was moving too slowly at implementing the changes, while Feinberg was eyeing control of the major responsibilities associated with shipbuilding and Navy acquisitions that typically fall within the role of Navy secretary, according to CNN.

open image in gallery Several top military leaders have been fired under Hegseths leadership ( AFP/Getty )

Secretary Phelans abrupt dismissal is troubling, Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.

In the midst of President Trumps war of choice in Iran, at a moment when our naval forces are stretched thin across multiple theaters, this kind of disruption at the top sends the wrong signal to our sailors and Marines, to our allies, and to our adversaries, he added.

Who else has been sacked?

open image in gallery Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George was removed from his role earlier this month ( Getty )

Phelans removal is the latest of several military changes during Hegseths tenure. He also fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George earlier this month, amid the ongoing war with Iran.

He was the third top general to have been fired in a week along with Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. The New York Post reported that the defense secretarys paranoia about being replaced by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was behind the move.

Hegseth reportedly removed four officers, including two women and two Black men, from a military promotions list last month, according to the New York Times.

Lt. Gen. Joe McGee, a three-star general working on the Pentagons Joint Staff, was allegedly forced out in October after months of tensions with Hegseth over his military strategy.

Reports indicate the two sparred over the administrations operations targeting suspected drug boats off the coast of Venezuela.

The president fired Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and removed the Navys top officer, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, last February.

A total of 13 military officials had been removed or retired under the Trump administration by 3 April, according to Axios.

Hegseth has also claimed subordinates are behind embarrassing leaks, including allegations he used a commercial chat app to plan military strikes instead of high-security military channels.
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Republican strategist Karl Rove has praised three Democrats who could be eyeing presidential campaigns, and said they have elements of a winning formula needed to retake the White House.

Rove identified Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Rahm Emanuel, describing them as possible Democratic 2028 hopefuls who are outliers within their party.

The GOP commentator, who previously served as a senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, outlined each of their strengths in his latest Wall Street Journal column.

Rove said Beshear has found the right tone, and praised his calls for Democrats to be authentic.

Of course in telling Democrats to be authentic, he should come across as such. Thats sometimes a problem for Mr. Beshear. Hes too wooden, Rove wrote.

Karl Rove praised three Democratic politicians who could be eyeing presidential campaigns in 2028 ( Getty Images for The Atlantic )

Meanwhile, Booker got the language right, according to Rove. He pointed to the senators comments at the Michigan Democratic Convention earlier this month, during which he asked the audience, Will you stand together, unified, strongbe the hope that people need?

Emanuels strength is his compelling, common-sense case for a new Democratic Party, according to Rove. Emanuel served as Chicagos mayor from 2011 to 2019, and former President Barack Obamas White House chief of staff from 2009 to 2010. He was also the U.S. ambassador to Japan under former President Joe Biden.

Hes running more to the center, offering answers to real problems and criticizing his party for being out of step with middle America. Capturing the right tone matters, but substance does, too, Rove said of Emanuel.

Rove concluded: These three are outliers within their party. Fielding fake independents is a bad choice. Democrats still have time to get things right for the midterms and 2028, but less than they think.

The Independent has contacted Beshear, Booker and Emanuel for comment.

This comes amid growing speculation about the potential 2028 presidential candidates.

Popular Democratic predictions include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Vice President Kamala Harris. On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance has been seen as a natural successor to Trump  but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also been seen as a potential contender.

The topic has also become increasingly popular among users of prediction market sites like Kalshi and Polymarket. On both sites, Newsom and Vance are currently the favorites to win their respective parties nominations.
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A federal judge has tossed out Laura Loomers defamation lawsuit against comedian Bill Maher over his late-night joke that the far-right activist and failed congressional candidate was having sex with Donald Trump.

Loomers $150 million complaint against the HBO star claimed she was subjected to unjustified ridicule, embarrassment, loss of reputation and professional opportunity and was damaged financially by a false, malicious and defamatory joke.

She also claimed that Maher denied her request for a public apology and an invitation on his show to mitigate prior and any further damage. Loomer also testified that the joke cost her a job at the White House.

But Maher was clearly making a joke, and no reasonable person would think he was actually alleging that Loomer was having a sexual relationship with the president, according to Florida District Judge James S. Moody.

The delivery of the episode, by a well-known comedian, in the context of a late-night comedy television series centered around jokes, signaled to viewers that this was not a factual statement about Loomer or concerning Loomer, he wrote Wednesday.

open image in gallery A federal judge has tossed out Laura Loomers $150 million defamation lawsuit against HBO late-night host Bill Maher for his joke that the far-right activist was having sex with Donald Trump ( Getty )

Loomer blasted the ruling as totally dishonest and misogynistic and truly an attack on women and the truth and vowed to appeal up to the Supreme Court.

The Independent has requested comment from Mahers legal team.

The judge noted that Loomer admitted to a reputation as one of the most controversial figures in American politics long before Mahers September 2024 episode of HBOs Real Time, including declaring herself a proud Islamophobe and a believer in biological hierarchy between men and women.

Her behavior has led her to be banned from numerous social media platforms as well as ride-hailing apps Lyft and Uber, and prominent conservative figures disavowed Plaintiff because of her behavior, Judge Moody wrote.

Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles reportedly withdrew an offer for Loomer to join his campaign in April 2023 after aides feared that her long history of bigoted remarks would set off a backlash, the judge noted.

In the weeks leading up to the 2024 presidential election, Loomer shared footage on social media telling Trump I love you with the caption I love him so much and declared in another post I really love him with all of my heart. She also posted a picture of her next to the president with a heart-eyes emoji.

Her frequent presence alongside Trump led to extensive chattering about the nature of their relationship, Moody wrote; Maher wasnt alone at the time in speculating and making jokes about her being in a sexual relationship with him, the judge said.

On the episode, Maher joked that Loomers closeness with Trump might explain her ascendance in Republican politics.

Shes 31, looks like his type, Maher said. We did an editorial here a few years ago it was basically, whos Trump f***ing? Because, I said, you know, its not nobody. Hes been a dog for too long, and its not Melania. I think we may have our answer this week. I think it might be Laura Loomer.

The comedian later was forced to explain under oath how late-night jokes are constructed.

I made a joke. I made a joke based on their sudden closeness in the news that week, he said in his deposition.

I could have shown a video of them together and all the places they were together and all the things that were going on, the I love you the I love you, the blowing of the kisses, youre very special, all this stuff, and then just said, Hey, get a room, he said. This is just comedy. This is  these are jokes.

open image in gallery Maher testified that he was clearly joking about Loomers relationship with Trump ( REUTERS )

The record reflects that comedians on late-night shows make jokes about the headlines of the week and dont do investigations or break news, Judge Moody wrote.

Notably, the panel discussion  was punctuated with laughter and applause throughout, he added. While Plaintiff focuses on the fact that some audience members groan[ed] rather than laughed at the remarks about Plaintiff and Trump, that too is evidence that they understood it to be a joke, just one that warranted a groan  a frequent audience reaction to stand-up comedy and late-night comedy jokes.

Loomers loss is the latest in a string of courtroom failures among Trump allies suing media figures.

Earlier on Wednesday, a federal judge in Texas tossed a defamation suit brought by FBI Director Kash Patel against former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi, who is now a contributor to MSNBC.

Patel is also suing The Atlantic for defamation after the magazine published bombshell allegations that the bureau chief is drinking to excess and posing a national security risk.

Trump, meanwhile, lost a defamation case against The Wall Street Journal over its publication of an alleged birthday letter from the president to wealthy sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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The Trump administration threatened to pull a protest permit over a pair of anti-Trump signs near the U.S. Capitol, a lawsuit alleges.

Officials are making up charges as a weapon against the First Amendment to shut down speech they dont like, Anita Carey, an organizer with the group that brought the suit, Accountability NOW USA, said in a statement. We Americans deserve our Constitutional rights, and we are prepared to defend them.

The controversy began in the wake of February allegations that the Justice Department was withholding Trump-related documents from the public Epstein files.

In response to these reports, the group began displaying a pair of new signs linking Trump and MAGA to Epsteins crimes.

President Trump has strongly denied any wrongdoing associated with Epstein, and the administration insists it has released all the materials it is legally required to about the late sex trafficker.

open image in gallery The suit accuses the Trump administration of threatening to revoke a groups protest permit because officials considered their signs obscene ( AFP/Getty )

After displaying the signs as part of a permitted demonstration, the group got an email on April 14 from a National Park Service agent, claiming the anti-Trump message on the signs was not protected by the first amendment and is therefore prohibited and a violation of law, according to the suit.

After inquiring about the email, Accountability NOW USA got a message from Dr. Kevin Griess, superintendent of Washingtons National Mall and Memorial Parks, the complaint claims.

In the email, Griess allegedly wrote that the material had been evaluated under all appropriate standards and tests and determined to be unlawfully obscene.

Because obscenity is unlawful on federal land, we must ask that the material be removed, Griess wrote, warning that the Parks Service could take more drastic steps to ensure compliance, the suit claims.

Combined, the messages suggest there is a realistic and imminent threat the groups protest permits will be summarily revoked or its signs removed, the suit alleges.

The activists, represented by the Washington chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, argue the messages are a threat to their free speech rights.

open image in gallery The suit alleges the Trump administration has engaged in a string on concerning actions to block protest against the president, including the removal of a satirical statue showing Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands ( AFP/Getty )

No colorable argument can be made that they are legally obscene, the ACLU argues in the suit. Political criticism of the President is not obscene simply because it references alleged sexual misconduct.

Obscenity is not protected under the First Amendment, but there is a high legal bar to proving something is obscene and ordering it to be removed from the public eye. Only a narrow set of material thats devoid of intellectual merit, patently offensive, and largely prurient qualifies as genuine obscenity in the eyes of the courts.

The lawsuit names Griess and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum as defendants. It seeks a declaration that the signs are not obscene and are protected by the First Amendment.

As a reminder, we are approaching America's 250th and we have visitors of all ages coming to our nation's capital, the Interior Department said in a statement to The Independent. This language is not protected under the First Amendment.

The Independent has contacted the White House and National Mall for comment.

open image in gallery The administration has pushed to leave its visual mark on national parks by removing material deemed related to unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives ( Getty )

The activist complaint alleges the threat to their signs is part of a larger pattern of protest repression by the Trump administration.

It points to actions including the September dismantling of a long-running peace vigil near the White House and the removal of a satirical statute of Trump and Epstein holding hands on the National Mall, even though its creators had a permit to display it.

(The administration said it removed the vigil as part of a homeless encampment clearance effort, while the statue was allegedly not compliant with its original permit.)

Displays in parks have emerged as a flashpoint in the second Trump administration, with the White House pushing to scrap historical displays and other signage tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion-related topics.

Critics allege the effort has often resulted in the removal of non-ideological historical materials about tricky topics in U.S. history, including racism and slavery.
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One person has died and five more were wounded following an active shooter situation at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, officials said.

The incident is no longer considered an active threat and it appears to have stemmed from a dispute between two groups of people.

We found out looking through surveillance videos it looks like it was kind of targeted, a Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. told reporters on Thursday afternoon. Two groups of people got into an argument inside the food court and started shooting at each other.

Several bystanders appear to have been injured in the chaos, and authorities initially said 10 people were transported to local hospitals with injuries of varying degrees of severity. That number has since been revised to five.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims involved in this, Morse said, adding that more updates will follow.

open image in gallery One person has died and five more have been injured following a mass shooting incident at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, which appeared to have stemmed from a dispute between two groups, officials said ( AP )

The Baton Rouge Police Department said in a 5:27 p.m. update that five suspects have been taken into custody and that the incident remains under active investigation.

"To the thugs that did this, we're gonna catch you," City Mayor Sid Edwards said in an afternoon press conference. "The devil lives everywhere. If someone gets in their mind that they're going to do something like this, they're going to do something like this."

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill said in statements that they are monitoring the incident and coordinating with law enforcement.

open image in gallery The shooting took place in the mall's food court, officials said ( AP )

open image in gallery Following the shooting, paramedics arrived at the scene and established a triage center, WAFB reported ( AP )

Landry said that he and his wife are praying for those affected and are grateful for a quick response by our law enforcement officials.

Following the eruption of gunfire in the food court, shoppers and employees were escorted through tunnels and ushered into a holding area, according to WBRZ. Paramedics later arrived at the scene and established a triage center near JCPenney, WAFB reported.

Lindsay Kahn, a spokesperson for the mall, described it as a frightening day for everyone there.

As of Wednesday, there have been 144 mass shootings in the United States so far in 2026, according to Mass Shooting Tracker, which defines such incidents as any event in which at least four people are shot.

The U.S. has recorded more public mass shootings than any other country in the world, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
China's new-style tea drinks win over global consumers

People's Daily Online) 13:17, April 23, 2026

Photos show tea-drinking culture and tea ware on display at the first North American store of Chinese new-style tea brand Chagee. (Photo courtesy of interviewee)

China's new-style tea brands are picking up the pace of their overseas expansion this year. Naisnow opened its first Silicon Valley store on Jan. 30, marking its debut in the western U.S., while Heytea launched its first Canadian store in Toronto on Feb. 16. Mixue followed with its first South American outlet in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 11.

According to the China Chain Store and Franchise Association (CCFA), "new-style tea" refers to freshly prepared beverages made with raw tea leaves or tea infusions and blended with fresh fruit, vegetable juices, dairy products or other ingredients  but not instant powdered drinks.

In April, the CCFA released a list of the top 50 Chinese restaurant and new-style tea brands going global. Mixue operates more than 4,000 stores abroad, while Chagee has over 200 overseas locations. Heytea, ChaPanda, Naisnow, Chahalo and Molly Tea have also established footholds in international markets. Long queues outside many outlets underscore their growing appeal abroad.

When Naisnow opened its Silicon Valley store on Jan. 30, a long queue formed out front, with some customers waiting more than three hours. The store generated over $94,000 in revenue in its first three days.

Premium tea is one of the key factors driving the overseas appeal of China's new-style tea brands. Molly Tea, for instance, highlights on its New York website that its drinks are crafted from jasmine flowers from Hengzhou city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and premium tea leaves from Ya'an city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, processed through sophisticated scenting techniques for an extraordinary fragrance.

Customers enjoy afternoon tea and snap photos inside Chinese new-style tea brand Naisnow's Silicon Valley store. (Photo courtesy of interviewee)

To safeguard product quality, companies such as Mixue and Guming Holdings have established direct-sourcing bases and proprietary growing systems in key tea-producing regions, ensuring end-to-end control from cultivation to retail.

China's new-style tea brands are attracting overseas consumers through product packaging and store designs that blend traditional Chinese tea culture with contemporary aesthetics  giving their offerings a distinctive Chinese appeal.

Chagee draws on historical references for its drink names, turning each cup into a form of cultural expression. Its Boya Jasmine Green Milk Tea has become hugely popular among Thai students, paying tribute to the ancient Chinese legend of Bo Ya and Ziqi  two figures who came to symbolize deep friendship.

"At first we just loved the refreshing taste," the student said. "But once we learned the story behind it, ordering the tea when friends get together has taken on a whole new meaning. Many people have come to appreciate Chinese tea culture because of it."

At Heytea's Toronto store, a dedicated tea lab lets customers watch the entire journey of a cup of tea  from tea varieties and brewing equipment to ingredient selection, flavor testing and final preparation  as they order and wait.

Customers line up outside a store of Chinese new-style tea brand Mixue in Australia. (Photo courtesy of interviewee)

Experts note that new-style tea brands are creating spaces where social interaction and consumption converge, while conveying a sense of cultural identity. As "Becoming Chinese" has become a buzzword on social media worldwide, drinking Chinese new-style tea is emerging as a new way for young consumers globally to connect with Chinese culture.

Chinese new-style tea brands are also tailoring their offerings to local tastes as they expand abroad, making localization a key strategy.

Gaining a deep understanding of local consumers is crucial to success, said the head of Molly Tea's Southeast Asia operations. The brand's team visited more than 490 related shops across Bangkok and surrounding areas a full year before its first Southeast Asian store opened, conducting extensive research into local consumer preferences.

Photo shows a store of Chinese new-style tea brand ChaPanda in Seoul, South Korea. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Industry insiders point out that China's tea sector has reached a world-leading level in supply chain integration, product innovation and digital operations. Driven by quality and culture, China's new-style tea brands are blending millennia-old traditions with modern consumer demands and accelerating their expansion into global markets.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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Megyn Kelly, the conservative political commentator, contended on her podcast Wednesday that President Donald Trump is not a moral man and acts pettily when he is criticized, in her latest critique of the man she once rallied for.

In her latest negative remarks about the president, Kelly claimed Trump was unable to absorb criticisms from his former allies who have broken with him on the Iran war.

Hes not a moral man, hes not the greatest husband in the world and hes extremely petty and thin-skinned, Kelly told her guest Russell Brand.

Hes turning on his most loyal supporters because they dont support this war and getting in bed with people who f****** hate him and have hated him from the beginning, Kelly added.

Kelly is among the notable former Trump supporters who have faced the presidents ire in recent weeks for publicly opposing his military strikes on Iran that sparked an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

open image in gallery Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said that while she still admired President Trump, he was not a moral man and had been a bad husband ( The Megyn Kelly Show/YouTube )

Last week, the president called Kelly a Low IQ person and insisted her platform was dying fast. That was after she expressed frustrations over the presidents aggressive rhetoric about bombing Iran and asserted he had been bamboozled into going to war by other foreign leaders.

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, conservative podcast host Candace Owens and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones are other former Trump supporters, with large online followings, who have also been subjected to Trumps insults for breaking with him on the war.

While Kelly has a decade-long history of skirmishing with the president, she put aside past grievances to support him in the 2024 presidential election. Shes offered him high praise for his immigration agenda and attempts to upend transgender rights.

Despite her current frustrations with the president, she maintains he was the right choice in the election.

Theres still, in my view, a lot to like about Trump, Kelly said.

Kelly noted Trump was an inspirational and admirable person for rejecting the status quo and continuing to succeed despite indictments, impeachments and assassination attempts.

open image in gallery Megyn Kelly endorsed Trump and advocated for his candidacy at a November 2024 rally, despite her long history getting into skirmishes with the president ( AFP/Getty )

Many of us just like Trump, you know, we like his personality. But then, the other truth of it is that there are aspects of his personality which are obviously not good and that weve mostly just chosen to overlook, Kelly admitted.

One of those qualities, Kelly said, was the presidents inability to return loyalty to those he demands it from.

If you have a principle disagreement with something he does, youre otherized, she said.

Last year, Trump rescinded his endorsement of former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his most well-known allies, after she broke from him to advocate for the Justice Department to release the Epstein files. Ultimately, Greene resigned from Congress and has continued to challenge the president.

Recently, Trump began insulting Carlson, his former longtime media, after the conservative pundit criticized the presidents decision to go to war. Despite heavily supporting Trump during the election, Carlson recently apologized for endorsing the president and misleading people.
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Former Vice President Mike Pence urged President Donald Trump to call off his religious fight with the Pope  later shredding the president for sharing offensive images online that depict himself as Jesus.

Earlier this month, Trump sparked an online feud against Pope Leo XIV after the American-born leader of the Catholic Church spoke out against the war with Iran. Trump blasted the pontiff as WEAK on crime and terrible on foreign policy during a late-night rampage on Truth Social that saw him upload an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus.

I think the president was right to take that one image down and his ongoing argument with Pope Leo, I think, has abated to a degree, and I welcome that, Pence told MS NOW in an interview published Thursday.

I think the Pope has every right to express himself in a manner that he believes is consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the president has every right to express his view and his agenda for the American people, he said. If I was advising him  as I did every day for four and a half years  Id say: Let the pope be the pope, and you be the president.

The interview spanned a wide range of topics, including the economy, tariffs, the war in Ukraine, and the fact that Pence has never spoken with Trumps current VP, JD Vance.

open image in gallery Former Vice President Mike Pence urged President Donald Trump to end his feud with Pope Leo XIV ( MS NOW )

The interview also marked the first time that Pence, who has referred to himself as a Christian, conservative and a Republican, in that order, commented on Trumps feud with the leader of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo has found himself in Trumps crosshairs ever since criticizing the presidents violent rhetoric toward Iran, calling his threats to wipe a whole civilization off the map truly unacceptable.

The pontiffs rebuke prompted Trump to go off the rails on Truth Social, sharing an image depicting himself as Jesus on April 12. In the image, Trump can be seen in a white robe and red sash with a glowing outstretched hand placed on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed. He is surrounded by patriotic symbols, including a U.S. flag and an eagle flying above fireworks and fighter jets.

open image in gallery The picture sparked a backlash even among some Trump supporters. The president later said he thought the picture depicted him as a doctor ( @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social )

The image, which appeared to be AI-generated, came immediately after Trump labeled the pontiff as WEAK.

The post, which was taken down the next day, drew a wave of backlash from right-wing Christians, who accused Trump of blasphemy, and even put off some of Trumps MAGA allies. In response to the outrage, Trump claimed that he posted the image because he thought it depicted himself as a doctor.

I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross, Trump told reporters outside the White House. Its supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.

He blamed fake news for comparing the image to Jesus, but also refused to apologize to the pope.

open image in gallery The interview marked the first time Pence, who served as Trumps Vice President during his first term, shared his thoughts on Trumps religious row with the pope ( AFP/Getty )

The pope, for his part, has vowed to continue to speak out loudly against the war.

I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems, he said last week.

Too many people are suffering in the world today, he continued. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say theres a better way.

Pope Leos persistence only angered Trump, who fired off in an April 14 Truth Social rant, 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter. AMERICA IS BACK!!!

Last week, Vice President JD Vance, who became a Catholic in 2019, entered the conversation, and said that the Pope should be careful when he talks about matters of theology.
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A Republican lawmaker has gone AWOL and hasnt been seen in Washington, D.C., since a vote one month ago, leaving fellow GOP members stumped.

New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean has missed almost 50 roll calls, with none of his Republican colleagues able to confirm where hes been for the past month, Politico reports.

The outlet reports that the 57-year-old, who faces a tough reelection bid in November, has been absent due to unspecified health reasons, but Keans team did not elaborate.

New Jersey Republican Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew told Politico they have contacted Kean out of concern, but neither has heard back. Van Drew said he received radio silence after reaching out to the congressman.

GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told the outlet that he didnt realize Kean had been gone for so long until he tried to find him on the House floor this week.

open image in gallery New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean has missed almost 50 roll calls, with none of his Republican colleagues able to confirm where hes been for the past month ( Kean for Congress/Facebook )

I was looking for him, Bacon said. I didnt know it was that long.

I dont even know the truth myself or even enough to disclose any information, added Union County GOP Chair Carlos Santos. But I have been texting with him and was told hell be fine and make a full recovery in the next couple weeks.

New Jersey Democrats also expressed concern for the congressman and said they havent heard anything from Kean.

Its been a long absence, Democratic Rep. Rob Menendez said. I hope hes doing all right. But I havent heard anything.

The Independent has contacted Keans office for comment. Harrison Neely, a consultant for Kean, told Politico that the congressman would be returning soon.

open image in gallery Kean is facing a tough reelection bid with the proposed opening of an immigration detention facility in his district, which has prompted protests from the public ( AFP/Getty )

I know the congressman and his family appreciate all of the well wishes and support, Neely said in a statement. Please know that he will be back on a regular full schedule very soon.

Kean represents New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, one of the states most competitive in the November midterm elections.

He is running for reelection against the backdrop of the Trump administrations plans to open an immigration detention facility in the district, prompting protests from the public.

Kean wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on April 7 about the plans and asked the department to take a deeper look and give careful consideration to the concerns raised by local officials.
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Washington is buzzing with the possibility that President Donald Trump might name one or more Supreme Court justices before the November midterm elections.

In a conversation with Fox Business TV host Maria Bartiromo on April 15, 2026, Trump discussed the potential retirement of Justice Samuel Alito, 76, the reliably conservative justice appointed by President George W. Bush in 2005.

Trump praised Alito as a great justice and said that he is prepared to appoint a replacement, should Alito retire.

Trump added, In theory, its two  you just read the statistics  it could be two, could be three, could be one.

Trump didnt say who the other potential retiring justices are. Speculation from pundits is that he is referring to Justice Clarence Thomas, 77, another solid conservative vote. Thomas, appointed by George H.W. Bush in 1991, is the courts oldest justice and longest-serving member.

open image in gallery Alito raises his right hand as he participates in a ceremonial swearing-in in the East Room of the White House in Washington in February 2006 ( AFP via Getty Images )

In the same Fox interview, Trump pointed to former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was under intense pressure to retire during President Barack Obamas presidency. Ginsburg opted to stay on the bench and died in September 2020.

Republicans blocked Obamas appointment of Merrick Garland in 2016 after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Then, in 2020, Trump replaced Ginsburg with Justice Amy Coney Barrett, solidifying a 6-3 conservative majority.

As a scholar of the Supreme Court confirmation process, I know the timing of Trumps comments is closely linked to Novembers midterm elections.

If Democrats were to take over the Senate following the midterms, it is very unlikely they would confirm a Trump-appointed Supreme Court nominee. Instead, they would probably follow the precedent set by Republicans in 2020 and block a Trump pick.

The clock is ticking on Novembers midterm elections, and Democrats chances of taking back the Senate are improving. Assuming a current Supreme Court justice retires, heres what has to happen for Trump and Senate Republicans to successfully confirm a successor.

The Supreme Court confirmation process

The Constitution says that the Senate provides advice and consent on presidential appointments to the Supreme Court. Over the course of the nations history, this has developed into a complex process.

Once the Senate receives a nomination from the president, it goes to the Judiciary Committee.

This is where the most public part of the confirmation process takes place: confirmation hearings. These typically last three to four days and feature a high stakes question-and-answer session with the nominee.

Prior to the hearings, senators and the nominee engage in a substantial amount of preparation.

Senators, with their staffs, do extensive background research on the nominee, which helps inform their questioning. Some of this is accomplished through the Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire, to which nominees provide written answers. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksons 2022 questionnaire was 149 pages long. It included questions about organizational memberships, public speeches and judicial opinions authored.

Meanwhile, the nominee makes courtesy calls to senators to build support for confirmation.

About the author Paul M. Collins Jr. is a Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science at UMass Amherst. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

At roughly the same time, the nominee takes part in hearing preparation, known as murder boards. Here, the nominees allies play the roles of members of the Judiciary Committee, anticipating the type of tough questions the nominee will face from skeptical senators from the opposition party of the appointing president.

During Jacksons murder boards, for instance, the focus was on expected Republican attacks that Jackson was soft on crime.

Within a few days of the end of the confirmation hearings, the Judiciary Committee votes on its recommendation to the full Senate. Then the nomination goes back to the full Senate for more discussion and a final confirmation vote. A simple majority is needed to confirm a Supreme Court nominee.

For the nine members of the court, it has taken an average of 70 days between presidential appointment and Senate confirmation, according to data from The U.S. Supreme Court Database. But this number has decreased recently, with Barrett and Jackson taking 30 and 41 days, respectively, to be confirmed.

So, as long as there is roughly a month before the November midterms, it is likely that there is enough time for the Republican Senate to confirm a Trump nominee.

Democrats have limited options

In 2017, Senate Republicans ended the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees. It was a move to secure the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch.

This reduced the threshold for confirmation from 60 votes to 51 votes. Perhaps most importantly, it also severely limited the options available to the minority party to block a Supreme Court confirmation.

open image in gallery The Constitution says that the Senate provides advice and consent on presidential appointments to the Supreme Court ( Getty Images )

With a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate, so long as Republicans stick together, it will be very difficult for Senate Democrats to block a Trump nominee.

There are some delay tactics available to Democrats  they can perhaps even grind the entire Senate to a halt  but they may pay a political price for these tactics. Republicans, for instance, may try to paint Democrats as obstructionist, potentially motivating a voter backlash against the Democratic Party in the midterm elections.

Nonetheless, Democrats may view this as a fight worth having, since the confirmation of another Republican-appointed justice will ensure conservative dominance on the court for decades  if not generations  to come.
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MAGA pundit Steve Bannon has reacted with fury to Virginias latest redistricting moves to the advantage of Democrats, attacking conservative complacency and warning his side that after Novembers midterms: We aint gonna be in power!

The states voters moved Tuesday to approve a redrawing of its electoral map that could ultimately see the opposition claim as many as four extra seats in the House of Representatives.

President Donald Trump started the gerrymandering merry-go-round by urging deep-red Texas to redraw its map last year to give Republicans a boost nationally, only for California and other states to retaliate with equivalent efforts of their own to cancel out the play.

open image in gallery Steve Bannon rages at Republican consultants after Virginia redistricting push passes, creating a clear advantage for Democrats in this fall's midterm elections ( War Room/Real America's Voice )

On Wednesdays episode of his Real Americas Voice show War Room, Bannon insisted the MAGA movement is still alive and on fire, urging viewers not to listen to pundits who say otherwise, while also conceding that things are not perfect and that some administration policies are causing upset.

In a meandering monologue, Trumps one-time White House chief strategist hit out at what he sees as a culture of consultant lobbyist crap that is failing to identify the issues that will inspire people to get out and vote Republican.

Pivoting to Virginia, he complained: We had something that was so fricking winnable. With the people putting Trump on their shoulders and saying, Were not going to let it happen. And of course, the consultant says, Shhh, you dont want to bring up Trump because we might upset Democrats.

Bannon fumed: Are you kidding me?! Do you not know where the country is right now?

He went on to claim that the states Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, is running a color revolution, dude. Shes trained by the CIA!

Getting into the redistricting in more detail, Bannon said it would enable Democrats to pick up more rural counties in Virginia, declaring: The foreign-born deep state folks up there [are] infesting the entire Commonwealth. Thats their plan. And thats their plan everywhere. Because thats how they win.

He went on to denounce conventional politicians like Glenn Youngkin, the former governor defeated by Spanberger, for delivering defeat after defeat.

open image in gallery Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, whom Bannon accused of 'running a color campaign' ( Getty )

Now its a crushing, now they turned over the whole frickin state, Bannon continued. Itll take us a decade to dig out of this. A decade of those grassroots going door-to-door.

He claimed that Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War would be left disgusted and revolted by the scum of this consulting class that is stealing money, lambasting them for their anxiety about losing the Senate in November.

Youre damn right, youre going to lose the Senate because youve given nothing for people to work for! Complete total group of scumbags, [John] Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, John Thune, the whole lot of them!

Briefly coming up for air, Bannon cut to guest Raheem Kassam, who suggested that Trump, too, deserved some of the blame for events in Virginia.

I dont hold the president culpable, Bannon responded. Good god man, hes fighting wars, hes trying to bring world peace, hes trying to turn the economy The whole weight of the worlds on his shoulders. He shouldnt have to micromanage a campaign. That should just be done.

He went on to say that Trump himself had the charisma to get campaigners out to drum up support, but warned that right now, folks, take your number two pencil and write this down: We aint going to be in power!
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Donald Trumps administration is mulling a plan that would more than double the annual limit for refugee admissions so the government can bring more white South Africans to the U.S.

The proposal follows the administrations overhauling of the nations refugee admissions program to explicitly prioritize Afrikaners, The Independent previously reported.

Trump has already lowered the ceiling for annual admissions from 125,000 people to a record-low 7,500  shutting off resettlement to thousands of already-vetted refugees who were preparing to start their life in the U.S.  and then limiting those admissions to mostly white South Africans.

U.S. officials are now considering a plan to increase that cap by another 10,000 to resettle more Afrikaners, according to Reuters, citing people familiar with the plans.

Andrew Veprek, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, appeared to confirm the administrations discussions during an event with the Center for Immigration Studies think tank on Thursday.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has explicitly prioritized white South Africans in a radically reshaped refugee program that has set a ceiling for annual admissions at a record-low 7,500 people ( AFP/Getty )

South Africa is kind of the DEI regime par excellence, and so there is an important kind of signaling function in why we want to bring people from South Africa here, said Veprek, referencing the presidents crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The president has claimed white farmers and Afrikaners are experiencing a white genocide enabled by South Africas government, which officials and prominent Afrikaners have vehemently denied.

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and a chief architect of the presidents anti-immigration campaign, told reporters last year that whats happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created.

This is persecution based on a protected characteristic, in this case, race, he said.

The administration is now looking at the possibility of raising the ceiling for refugee admissions to allow more white South Africans, Veprek said.

President Trump has explained why we are resettling Afrikaner refugees in the United States. The U.S. position on this humanitarian initiative has not changed, a State Department spokesperson told The Independent on Thursday.

If the president decides to raise the refugee admissions cap, he will do so at the appropriate time, and any numbers discussed at this point are only speculation, the spokesperson said.

open image in gallery The US admitted roughly 4,500 South Africans as refugees through the first six months of the fiscal year, according to the State Department. The administration is now considering expanding a refugee admissions cap to allow more Afrikaners ( AFP/Getty )

Under Trump, the U.S. admitted roughly 4,500 South Africans as refugees through the first six months of the fiscal year, according to the State Department. The only refugees other than white South Africans to enter this fiscal year were three Afghans, the agencys data shows.

That radical reduction of refugee admissions is a stark break from long-standing refugee policy informed by humanitarian needs, not ideology or identity, according to refugee resettlement groups.

So many are being left behind, Beth Oppenheim, CEO of HIAS, the nation's oldest refugee agency, said in a statement shared with The Independent.

Afghans who have no pathway to reunite with their loved ones. Iranian religious minorities, including hundreds of Jews, who are vulnerable in a way that many of us can barely imagine. We have to continue to remind the world that these stories matter  that these lives matter  and always will, she said.

Krish OMara Vignarajah, president of refugee resettlement group Global Refuge, said the proposal indicates that America has more room  and more responsibility  than current policy reflects.

But the measure of the refugee program lies not only in its numbers, but in its fairness, she told The Independent.

Thousands of refugees from Afghanistan, Congo, Sudan and elsewhere have survived unspeakable persecution and cleared every security check the U.S. requires, only to be left stranded indefinitely, she said. At a time of unprecedented global displacement, any expansion of the admissions cap should include others who qualify under U.S. law.

Moments after Trump entered office last year, the administration abruptly canceled previously arranged refugee flights, a move that blindsided resettlement groups and stranded thousands of people.

Homeland Security also threatened to cut off humanitarian protections for thousands of Afghans who fled the country following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, claiming there have been notable improvements in Afghanistans national security and an increase in tourism.

In the months that followed, the administration further slashed financial aid and healthcare coverage for refugees and resettlement programs, and the presidents massive domestic spending package cut off refugees from Medicaid, Medicare, childrens health insurance and emergency food assistance.

In May, a first group of 59 white South Africans were admitted to the country as refugees, and the United States essentially extended citizenship to them, Trump said at the time.

Trump then set the record-low refugee ceiling of 7,500 for fiscal year 2026, which began October 1, 2025.
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President Donald Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is limiting the amount of overseas travel that Cabinet members can take heading into the midterms, according to insiders.

Wiles reportedly told staff in February that they should only be leaving the country when absolutely necessary, according to three people with knowledge of the meeting who spoke to Politico.

The changes come ahead of what some  including Trump himself  predict will be a brutal midterm year for Republicans. Early in Trump's second term, his Cabinet officials were taking regular trips abroad.

Now, it seems, the "America First" president wants to keep his Cabinet actually in America.

Two of the insiders told the outlet that all Cabinet-level international travel has to be cleared by Wiles.

open image in gallery A new report suggests that all international travel by Trump administration officials must now be approved by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles ( Getty )

All trips are run through Cabinet Affairs. The international ones are on a case-by-case basis, but they definitely want you to focus on domestic travel, one of the sources told Politico.

There's been some pushback to the new travel policy.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement that foreign travel is important to the work the federal agencies undertake. The agency noted that Trump and his trade officials have traveled the world to successfully negotiate over two dozen trade deals, expanding unprecedented market access for American farmers and ranchers.

open image in gallery Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins department insisted her foreign trips had helped ease trade barriers in key markets ( AP )

Secretary [Brooke] Rollins has taken an historic and unprecedented role to boost American market access and is constantly meeting with American exporters and key foreign government counterparts in key markets to ease trade barriers while USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg has visited over two dozen countries in the last year, the spokesperson said.

The sources speaking to Politico reportedly said the new policy is not a direct response to any individual instance of excessive travel, but is part of a broader move to focus the administration on domestic issues ahead of the midterms.

That may prove difficult considering the president is in a waiting game with Iran to see if he will continue the war he started earlier this year.

Republicans have found themselves in an unenviable position heading into this year's election. Trump's own officials have warned that both the war in Iran as well as gas prices  and thus the price of many others goods  will remain high for the foreseeable future.
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When he debuted the plans last February, Donald Trumps Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed 200,000 people were lining up to pay $1 million each for the presidents gold card visa scheme.

More than a year later, the administration has approved only one unnamed person.

The Homeland Security program grants employment-based green cards for a $1 million gift to the U.S. government, regardless of merit. Businesses seeking visas for foreign employees are required to pay $2 million.

A website to begin accepting applications was launched in December. More than four months later, Lutnick says there are hundreds in the queue who paid the $15,000 application fee for the presidents pay-to-play immigration scheme  and only one person has been approved for it.

This is a new program, and theyve just set it up, and they wanted to make sure they did it perfectly, Lutnick said Thursday during his testimony to the House Committee on Appropriations. Its a DHS program done with a rigorous, rigorous vetting.

open image in gallery The Trump administration promised an influx of revenue from the presidents gold card visa program, but only one person has been approved since applications opened in December 2025 ( Getty )

The identity of that one approved applicant remains unclear.

DHS referred The Independents questions to the Department of Commerce.

Immigrants applying for lawful permanent status, or a green card, are currently facing wait times of more than three years, and applicants are often locked in years-long legal battles in immigration courts while continuing to pay taxes through their employment.

But the gold card effectively allows wealthy foreigners to fast track their way to legal status in the U.S.

Applications are open to anyone with $1 million, which the administration considers proof of exceptional business ability for an employment-based visa.

There is nothing in the application process that stipulates that the money comes from ones own business or employment. It also does not appear to prevent anyone from applying using money from a parent or family member, or from a loan, or from using cryptocurrency to pay the fees.

EB-1 and EB-2 visas cover foreign workers who are considered to have extraordinary ability and outstanding work, including in medicine, arts and sciences. Congress caps the number of EB-1 and EB-2 visas that can be issued each year and requires that they be allocated in the order in which they were filed.

But Trumps new program prioritizes wealth over intellect or ability by converting visas into an illegal revenue-generating scheme at the expense of immigrants whose admission into the country is established by law, according to a federal lawsuit challenging the program.

A group of noncitizen doctors and researchers seeking permanent lawful status in the U.S. are calling the program an illegal fast lane that cuts out qualified immigrants and prioritizes Trumps wealthy foreign allies.

Forget give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, said Norm Eisen, co-founder of Democracy Defenders Fund, which is supporting the litigation. Donald Trumps maxim is give us your money, your oligarchs and your privileged few when it comes to his Gold Card program that is illegal.

open image in gallery Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says hundreds of people are in a queue after filing applications for the $1 million gold card visa scheme, which a federal lawsuit has called an illegal fast track to legal status that overlooks qualified applicants ( Getty Images )

The Trump administration is meanwhile moving aggressively to strip legal status for tens of thousands of immigrants and denaturalize citizens as part of his mass deportation campaign. The Department of Justice has identified 384 foreign-born Americans whose citizenship it wants to revoke, according to The New York Times.

Trumps gold card, however, is a direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people, he said.

The programs website  trumpcard.gov  promises to unlock life in America with legal U.S. residency in record time after a background check from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a $15,000 processing fee to the DHS, and a $1 million payment to the government.

Companies sponsoring employees for the visa are required to pay $2 million, plus an annual maintenance fee of $20,000 and a 5 percent transfer fee every time they want to switch the visa from one employee to another.

All applicants must still be eligible for lawful permanent resident status, and a visa must be available to them. Several countries have significant wait times of a year or longer, based on visa availability, and the president has indefinitely shut down visa applications from dozens of countries.

Americas opportunities accelerated, the website says. Unmatched Opportunities Await.
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The Trump administration has warned federal agencies to prepare for the imminent loosening of federal restrictions on marijuana, according to a new report.

The Drug Enforcement Agency is expected to announce the first steps towards reclassifying the drug as soon as this week, starting with an administrative hearing, sources told The Washington Post.

Such changes would make it easier for scientists and the DEA to study marijuana for medical purposes. The drug is currently a Schedule I classification  the same as LSD, ecstasy and heroin  and would be moved to a Schedule II class, the sources said.

Trump signed an executive order to continue work started under Joe Biden to reclassify the drug last December. The Biden administration had previously recommended that marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug.

Trump said at the time that the change had been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems, and more."

open image in gallery A man enjoys the annual, informal, 4/20 marijuana festival in Denver, Colorado. The Trump administration has warned federal agencies to prepare for the imminent loosening of federal restrictions on marijuana, according to a new report ( Reuters )

Recent data suggests that a majority of Americans also support loosening restrictions on marijuana, with a poll conducted earlier this month by the Economist/ YouGov finding that 53 percent of adults were in favor of legalizing it.

That total also included 35 percent of Republicans.

Though it would break down barriers for further medical research, reclassifying marijuana would not change the sentences of those currently in prison for possession or dealing it.

Trump also added that the reclassification was not the same as decriminalizing marijuana on a federal level. Many states allow its use for both medical and recreational use.

open image in gallery Trump signed an executive order to continue work started under Joe Biden to reclassify the drug last December. The Biden administration had previously recommended marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug ( Getty )

Unless a drug is recommended by a doctor for medical reasons, just dont do it, the president said.

At the same time, the facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered.

The Independent has contacted the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration to confirm the news, which Axios first reported.

A White House official told The Independent: The Administration continues to expeditiously implement President Trumps December executive order to increase medical marijuana research to close the gap between current medical marijuana use and medical knowledge.

According to the DEA, a drug's classification depends on a number of factors, including its medical use, history and current pattern of abuse, potential for abuse, and risk of psychic or physiological dependence.
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The top Republican on a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein said some GOP members are open to President Donald Trump pardoning convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for her cooperation with the probe.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are saying hell no.

She is a sexual abuser who facilitated the rape of women and children. This is a shameful way to treat survivors, said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Oversight Democrats are united in opposing any pardon.

Hell no, added Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw. Honestly shocking that this is even being discussed.

Committee chair James Comer stressed that he opposes the idea but told Politico that a lot of people on the panel would consider supporting Trumps potential pardon in exchange for her testimony.

open image in gallery Ghislaine Maxwell is seeking a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in exchange her testimony in a congressional probe into Jeffrey Epstein ( via REUTERS )

Maxwell, who is the only convicted accomplice in the Epstein investigation to have talked to the committee, invoked her Fifth Amendment right in declining to answer any of the panels questions during her February deposition.

Her lawyer has said that she would only speak to the committee if Trump granted her clemency.

The president has notably not ruled out doing so.

My committees split on that, Comer told Politico. I dont speak for my committee.

He said he declined to name who, exactly, was open to the idea.

I think it looks bad, Comer told the outlet. Honestly, other than Epstein, the worst person in this whole investigation is Maxwell.

The 63-year-old is not scheduled to be released from prison until 2040. Her best chance of early release is a presidential pardon. Her attorney David Markus has previously said she would welcome one, and the president has publicly acknowledged he has the power to do so.

Annie Farmer, who has said she survived abuse from Epstein and Maxwell, said a pardon would be detrimental to survivors.

Before you consider a pardon of a convicted sex offender and trafficker, imagine explaining it to your wife, sister, or daughter, she said in a statement Thursday.

Would you live with knowing that youve chosen to put a felon  who recruited, groomed, and threatened underage girls and young women  above survivors? she said. We ask the Department of Justice to permanently close the door on any pardon or commutation for Maxwell and instead open the door on a criminal investigation into the enablers of Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwells abuse.

open image in gallery Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was found guilty of recruiting and grooming young women and girls for Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on trafficking charges ( via REUTERS )

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was found guilty of recruiting and grooming young women and girls for Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on trafficking charges.

In October, the Supreme Court declined to review whether prosecutors fairly brought a case against her.

Were, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwells case, Markus told The Independent at the time.

But this fight isnt over, he said. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done.

Meanwhile, Maxwell is once again asking a federal judge to toss her conviction and release her from prison. With all her appeals exhausted, Maxwell filed a petition for her release from prison in December, claiming that substantial new evidence has emerged in her case.

She submitted her new request, which she wrote herself, inside a USB drive mailed in a FedEx envelope postmarked April 16, according to court documents.

Her new motion seems to have some overlap with her original arguments  and the claims inside appear to be equally meritless, federal prosecutors wrote this week.

open image in gallery In a jailhouse interview, Maxwell praised Trumps presidency and said she absolutely never saw him behave inappropriately ( via REUTERS )

After her jailhouse interview in July 2025 with then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is now serving as Acting Attorney General, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security womens prison in Texas.

In her interview, Maxwell said she absolutely never saw Trump behave inappropriately with anyone in Epsteins circle and praised the president for his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. She also said she liked him.

She has refused to voluntarily testify to Congress without assurances that she can receive some form of clemency.

In a letter to the House Oversight Committee last year, her legal team asked for immunity protections  and made another appeal to Trump for clemency.

If Ms. Maxwell were to receive clemency, she would be willing  and eager  to testify openly and honestly, in public, before Congress in Washington, D.C., according to the letter, which Maxwells attorneys provided to The Independent. She welcomes the opportunity to share the truth and to dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements that have plagued this case from the beginning.

The president and his administration have been desperate to wind down public scrutiny into Epstein and federal law enforcements handling of the cases against him and Maxwell. Blanche has also sought to close the book on the Justice Departments Epstein probes, telling Fox News earlier this month that the release of millions of files connected to the sex offender should not be part of anything going forward at the department.
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James Valentine, the Australian broadcaster and musician who became a defining voice of Sydney radio, has died two years after receiving a cancer diagnosis. He was 64.

James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him, his family said in a statement released via the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end when he made the choice to do voluntary assisted dying. Both he and his family are grateful he was given the option to go out on his own terms. He was calm, dignified as always and somehow still making us laugh, the statement read.

Valentine, who hosted the Afternoons programme on ABC Radio Sydney for more than two decades, revealed in March 2024 that he had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and would take time off for treatment.

He told listeners at the time: The prognosis is that itll be fixed, but its a pretty dramatic fix. He later returned to the programme in August 2024, saying he was in perfect health now, while continuing monitoring and treatment, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Further tumours were discovered in 2025, including in his omentum, which led him to step away again before announcing his retirement in February this year.

open image in gallery James Valentine, the Australian broadcaster and musician who became a defining voice of Sydney radio, has died two years after receiving a cancer diagnosis ( ABC )

ABC managing director Hugh Marks said in a statement on Thursday that Valentine had been a trusted companion for so many people, part of the rhythm of everyday life for generations of our Sydney audience.

James brought warmth, wit, and humanity to radio as an exemplar of radio craft. His style was never about confrontation or noise  it was always about connection, Marks said.

Born on 12 September 1961 in Ballarat, Victoria, Valentine developed an early interest in music, studying jazz before establishing himself in Melbournes music scene and later moving into the media.

His career at the ABC spanned more than 30 years and began in the mid-1980s on television, including hosting The Afternoon Show for children, before moving into radio. He became synonymous with the Afternoons programme on 702 ABC Radio Sydney, which he presented for more than 20 years, building a devoted audience through improvised, conversational talkback segments and an emphasis on everyday life.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Valentine, writing on X: With the passing of James Valentine, we have lost one of our national treasures. Australia first got to know James through the sound of his saxophone, most notably in his years with the Models. But it was as a mainstay on the ABC that we really got to know his voice.

As a presenter and as an author, James was an incisive, witty and often mischievous presence. When he was on, you always felt like you were in the very best of company. Our thoughts now are with his loved ones. May James Valentine rest in peace.

The governor general, Sam Mostyn wrote on Instagram that Valentine had recently been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), with the medal presented to his children days before his death. The honour was expedited in the final weeks of his life and presented at Admiralty House to his children over the weekend, Mostyn confirmed to News.com.au.

She described him as a pioneering broadcaster, gifted musician, and passionate advocate for the arts and creativity.

Fellow ABC presenter Richard Glover said on 702 ABC Mornings that Valentine had lifted the spirit of the city every day for 25 years.

Australian radio announcer Robbie Buck wrote on Bluesky: Vale to one of the greatest. The joyous, irrepressible, and unbelievably sharp James Valentine has left us. What a wonderful human to have worked with. Thanks for all the laughs James. Godspeed.

Valentine was an accomplished musician, working as a saxophonist in the 1980s with bands including Models and later performing with artists like Kate Ceberano, Wendy Matthews, and Jo Camilleri.

He also authored several books, including the Jump Man trilogy for young adult readers.

His daughter Ruby told the ABC that Valentine had been open about his decision to pursue voluntary assisted dying, legal across all Australian states under strict eligibility criteria. He wanted it to be something that people knew that he did. If ever he could lend his voice to the argument of why this is such a necessary thing for so many people, she said.

Valentine is survived by his wife, Joanne, and their two children, Ruby, 28, and Roy, 26.
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Five people were critically injured after two trains collided head on north of the Danish capital Copenhagen on Thursday, emergency services said.

Another 13 people were injured when the trains collided between the towns of Hillerod and Kagerup, around 40km north of the capital.

Images showed two yellow and grey trains facing each other with visible damage on a tree-lined stretch of track, with rescue services describing "chaotic" scenes inside the carriages.

"The two trains collided head-on, causing large damage to them and sending broken glass flying everywhere," fire and rescue service leader Christoffer Buhl Martekilde told reporters.

open image in gallery Two trains have collided between Hilleroed and Kagerup at Isteroedvejen, Thursday, April 23 ( Reuters )

Danish police said they had declined the Swedish offer to assist as local resources were sufficient.

"There are injuries among the passengers. Everyone is out of the trains, so no one is trapped... Large resources have been dispatched to the scene," a police spokesperson said earlier today.

Police say it is too early to say what had caused the crash on the Gribskov train line, adding there would be an extensive investigation.

A total of 37 people are believed to have been on board the two trains at the time of the crash, which occurred shortly before 6:30am local time (5:30 BST).

While health services attended to the injured, those who were not physically hurt were also offered assistance, said transport group Movia, parent company of rail operator Lokaltog.

open image in gallery Four people were critically injured ( Reuters )

The injured were transported away from the scene of the accident in ambulances and helicopters, the fire department said on X.

Around 15 vehicles and 50 firefighters were on the scene, with further assistance from neighbouring emergency services and Emergency Services RailDenmark.

Passengers who are not physically injured have been gathered at the collection point.

After a press briefing on Thursday morning, the fire service said its work at the scene was completed and further proceedings were being handled by the police.

Police said technical investigations are underway at the scene which will continue over a longer period of 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.
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Ukraines foreign minister has said the countrys frontline position is the strongest it has been in a year.

Andrii Sybiha credited the progress to Kyivs superiority in drone warfare and air defence, which he claimed had the ability to shoot down up to 90 per cent of attacks.

We have minimised the Russians advantage in manpower through the use of drones, Mr Sybiha said on Thursday.

He added: For us, the situation on the battlefield is about strengthening our negotiating position. We can shoot down up to 90 per cent of the targets that strike our cities [Ukraines] position on the battlefield is indeed the strongest, or the most solid, it has been over the past year.

Earlier this month, Agence France-Presse analysed data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and found that Russia had made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March. It marks the countrys worst progress in two and a half years.

According to the analysis, Russia lost almost 23.2 square miles of land in Ukraine since 1 March.

open image in gallery Earlier this month, Agence France-Presse analysed data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and found that Russia had made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March ( Reuters )

The news comes as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for trilateral peace discussions with Russia, despite US negotiators largely preoccupied with the ongoing war in Iran.

The Kremlin rebuffed the call for fresh talks between leaders, saying that President Vladimir Putin would only sit down with Zelensky to finalise an agreed peace deal.

However, Ukraines position was further strengthened after the European Union was able to release 90bn (78.2bn) in funds for a loan to Kyiv after Hungarys nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban lost the national elections to Peter Magyar last week. Orban had been holding up the support and had been a staunch ally of Putin and Russia.

open image in gallery An EU loan to Ukraine was unblocked providing Zelensky with support for weapons and reconstruction ( AFP/Getty )

The loan will allow Ukraine to purchase weapons and support its economy.

Today is an important day for our defense and for our relations with the European Union, Mr Zelensky wrote in a post on X on Thursday afternoon.

The European support loan for Ukraine has been unblocked  90 billion over two years. This package will strengthen our army, make Ukraine more resilient, and enable us to fulfill our social obligations to Ukrainians, as set out in law.

It matters that Ukraine is securing this level of financial certainty  after more than four years of full-scale war.

Mr Zelensky said that the first tranche of support will be released around May and June and will be directed to arms production, the procurement of necessary weapons from partners that we do not yet produce in Ukraine, and the preparation of our energy sector and critical infrastructure for the next winter.
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Italian authorities have launched an investigation after at least 18 wolves and several other wild animals were found dead in a national park.

Conservation groups are calling it one of the worst attacks on wildlife in the country's history.

The carcasses were wound across multiple locations within and around the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. The mountainous region in central Italy is renowned as a vital stronghold for the nation's recovering wolf population.

Park authorities suspect the animals were killed by poisoned bait, raising serious concerns for both public safety and biodiversity.

In a statement, the park expressed its "deep grief and disbelief," adding: "The scale of what is happening is devastating."

Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin condemned the killings as "horrendous" and has instructed Italy's forestry police to intensify inspections to identify those responsible.

He stated: "The ministry is particularly attentive and sensitive to the protection of a species that is so important for the balance of our ecosystem."

Italy's protected wolf population has seen a significant rebound in recent decades, having been pushed to the brink of extinction in the 20th century.

A 2020-21 census estimated approximately 3,300 wolves nationwide. However, this recovery has led to tensions in some rural areas, where farmers frequently report attacks on livestock.

Angelo Bonelli, a lawmaker with the opposition Greens and Left Alliance party, criticised the government, accusing it of failing to confront the hunting lobby, which is perceived as having close ties to right-wing parties within the ruling coalition. He called for "swift investigations, tighter controls and exemplary sanctions."

Environmental group Legambiente further reported that three foxes and a buzzard were also found dead in the same region, intensifying fears of widespread, illegal poisoning. The group described the incident as "an unprecedented attack on protected wildlife."

Prosecutors in the nearby city of Sulmona have initiated an investigation. Authorities are urging local communities to report any suspicious activity as tests continue to ascertain the precise cause of death for the animals.
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A Lebanese journalist was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike on a house in southern Lebanon, where she had sought refuge while reporting on the ongoing conflict. Her body was retrieved from the rubble hours later, according to rescue workers.

Amal Khalil, a reporter for the daily Al-Akhbar newspaper, died in the southern village of al-Tiri. She had been covering the renewed conflict in Lebanon between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group, which reignited in early March, against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

Khalil had taken cover in the house in al-Tiri alongside a colleague, Zeinab Faraj, after an earlier Israeli airstrike struck near their vehicle. The Lebanese health ministry reported that this initial strike resulted in two fatalities. A subsequent Israeli strike then hit the house where Khalil and Faraj had sought shelter.

At first, rescue workers were able to get to Faraj, who was seriously wounded, and retrieve the bodies of two killed in the first airstrike. But they were fired on by Israeli forces so they were forced to halt attempts to reach Khalil, the ministry said.

open image in gallery This photo released by the Lebanese Civil Defense, show Lebanese Red Cross volunteers and Civil Defense workers carrying the body of the Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil. ( AP )

Khalil remained under the rubble for hours before the Lebanese army, civil defense and the Lebanese Red Cross were able to get to the scene hours later. Khalil's body was retrieved shortly before midnight, at least six hours after the strike.

Israels military said individuals in the village had violated the ceasefire, endangering its troops. Israel denied that it targets journalists or that it prevented rescue teams from reaching the area. It said the incident was under review.

"Killing of journalists is a crime and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law, said Lebanons Information Minister Paul Morcos.

Khalil's death comes on the eve of the second round of direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington on extending the ceasefire that went into effect last Friday.

Khalil, who was from southern Lebanon, had been covering the area since 2006 for al-Akhbar. Her latest reporting was about Israeli demolitions of Lebanese homes in villages where Israeli troops are now positioned inside Lebanon.

Her death brings to nine the number of journalists killed in Lebanon so far this year. At least 2,300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes and more than 1 million displaced since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on March 2.

open image in gallery Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil holds a portrait of a photographer who was killed in an Israeli airstrike during a sit-in in the southern port city of Sidon. ( AP )

Earlier on Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders called for international pressure on the Israeli army to allow Khalil's rescue. Committee to Protect Journalists expressed its outrage at the apparent targeting of the two journalists and warned the obstruction of rescue efforts may amount to a war crime.

Lebanons President Joseph Aoun asked the Lebanese Red Cross to coordinate with the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers to carry out the rescue operation" as quickly as possible.

In late March, an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon killed three journalists covering the war. Hezbollahs al-Manar TV said its longtime correspondent Ali Shoeib was killed. Israels military said it had targeted Shoeib, accusing him of being a Hezbollah intelligence operative, without providing evidence.

Also killed in the same strike was reporter Fatima Ftouni, who worked for the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV along with her brother Mohammed Ftouni, a video journalist.

Days earlier, an Israeli airstrike on an apartment in central Beirut killed Mohammed Sherri, the head of political programs at Hezbollahs at Al-Manar TV, along with his wife.
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Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to shoot to kill Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran continues to tighten its grip on the channel with the capture of commercial vessels.

The president posted on Truth Social that the military had been told to shoot any boat, small boats though they may be ... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, as the military said it had boarded another tanker, Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean.

He said he had ordered US minesweepers to continue de-mining the area at a tripled up level, but made no mention of the other means Iran has used to disrupt shipping along the route, with speedboats, missiles and drones.

Despite US efforts to pressure Iran into releasing its hold on the strait with a blockade of ports and vessels, Iran has continued to flaunt its control of the water, sharing video of its commandos storming a huge cargo ship.

open image in gallery Two boys paddleboard in the sea as ships are anchored near the shoreline on 22 April 2026 in Bandar Abbas, Iran ( Getty )

State television broadcast footage overnight of masked troops pulling up in a speedboat alongside MSC Francesca, climbing a rope ladder to a shell door in the hull and jumping through with rifles.

Iran also said it had captured another ship, the Epaminondas, on Wednesday, accusing both of trying to cross the strait without permits. Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, said the vessels had faced the law and that Iranian boats and drones were keeping the US Navy from approaching.

The Pentagon pushed back on claims, reported in The Washington Post, that members of the House Armed Services Committee had been briefed that it would take around six months to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines to allow free traffic to flow.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the claims, attributed to unnamed US officials, telling the AFP news agency that they had been chosen selectively.

open image in gallery Donald Trump, pictured on Tuesday, continued to threaten the Iranian blockade ( AFP/Getty )

One assessment does not mean the assessment is plausible, and a six-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an impossibility and completely unacceptable to the secretary [of war, Pete Hegseth], he said.

In a separate post, Mr Trump insisted the US has total control over the strait and criticised the Iranian regime, which says it will not come in for talks until the US pulls its navy back.

Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just dont know! The infighting is between the Hardliners, who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the Moderates, who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY! he wrote.

open image in gallery An Israeli airstrike killed the Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, a veteran correspondent for the daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, in the southern Lebanese border village of al-Tayri on 22 April ( AFP/Getty )

We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is Sealed up Tight, until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!

Hopes of a quick deal to end the war were waning, with no indication of plans to resume mediated talks in Pakistan. A senior Iranian source told the Reuters news agency on Thursday that Iran could consider attending a meeting in Pakistan, but only if the US lifts its blockade and releases seized Iranian ships.

The US appeared unmoved by the demand, announcing troops had intercepted a vessel transporting oil from Iran in the Indian Ocean. It said US forces had boarded the sanctioned and stateless vessel Majestic X during an operation overnight.

The stalemate sent oil prices climbing again, but with fighting on pause, markets have recovered in recent days.

open image in gallery Mourners carry Khalils coffin during her funeral procession in Bissariye town, south of Sidon, on 23 April ( AFP/Getty )

The US was separately due to host a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, with Lebanon seeking an extension of a ceasefire reached last week in a war that has run in parallel to the Iran war.

Israeli strikes killed five people, including a journalist, Amal Khalil, 43, in Lebanon on Wednesday, the deadliest day there since the US-brokered truce took effect.

Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were covering developments near the town of al-Tayri when an Israeli strike hit the vehicle in front of them. They ran into a nearby house, which was then also targeted by an Israeli strike, Lebanons health ministry, the senior Lebanese military official and press advocates said.
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The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with only three vessels passing the waterway in one 24 hour, shipping data showed.

The Strait is considered the world's most important oil chokepoint and had been handling roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply before the U.S. and Israel's war on Iran began on February 28.

More than a dozen tankers passed through the Strait after Iran briefly declared it open on Friday. But a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appeared in jeopardy on Tuesday as Iran vowed to retaliate for the U.S. seizure of one of its vessels and refused to join new peace talks.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called it the largest supply disruption on record, bigger than the oil shocks of the 1970s and the loss of Russian pipeline gas after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine combined.

There are some existing and possible alternative oil and gas export bypasses of the Strait of Hormuz. These include:

open image in gallery Pipeline flows around the Middle East ( Reuters )

EASTWEST PIPELINE (SAUDI ARABIA)

Saudi Arabia's 1,200km EastWest pipeline can transport up to seven million barrels per day (bpd) of crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, with effective exports estimated at about 4.5 million bpd, depending on tanker and jetty availability.

From Yanbu, shipments can travel to Europe via the Suez Canal or south via the Bab el-Mandeb strait to reach Asia, a route carrying security risks from Yemen's Houthi militants, who have attacked tankers during the Gaza war.

HABSHANFUJAIRAH PIPELINE (UAE)

The Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) runs from Abu Dhabi's Habshan onshore fields to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, outside Hormuz. Operated by ADNOC and commissioned in 2012, the 360km pipeline has a capacity of about 1.5 to 1.8 million bpd.

Oil loadings at Fujairah, however, have been affected by drone attacks since the Iran war started at the end of February.

open image in gallery Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah ( Reuters )

KIRKUK-CEYHAN PIPELINE (IRAQ-TURKEY)

Iraq's main northern export route runs from Kirkuk to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan via the Kurdistan region.

The pipeline restarted last September after a two and a half year shutdown following an interim deal between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

On March 17, Iraq began pumping 170,000 bpd, with plans to reach 250,000 bpd, after Iraq's national oil company SOMO signed export contracts via Turkey, Jordan and Syria.

GOREH-JASK PIPELINE

Iran may be able to utilise the Jask terminal, fed by the one million bpd Goreh-Jask pipeline, to bypass the Strait, the IEA said in its latest oil market report.

The construction of the terminal is not fully complete, but a loading from Jask was tested in 2024, it said.

Possible alternative routes:

IRAQOMAN PIPELINE

Iraq said last September it was considering a pipeline from Basra to Omans port of Duqm on the Gulf of Oman.

The project remains at an early conceptual stage, with routes under study including an overland line via neighbouring countries or a costly subsea pipeline.

IRAQJORDAN PIPELINE

The proposed 1 million bpd pipeline would ship crude from Basra to Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba, bypassing Hormuz.

First proposed in the 1980s and approved in principle in 2022, the project remains stalled by cost, security and political hurdles.

GULFSEA OF OMAN CANAL

A canal bypassing Hormuz - similar to the Suez or Panama Canals - remains purely conceptual. A project to cut through the Hajar Mountains toward Fujairah would face extreme engineering challenges and could cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
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The economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East has become a major new threat to humanitarian aid efforts as Gulf nations that have grown to become major aid donors reprioritise, experts have warned.

Humanitarian groups are already reeling from sweeping cuts to foreign aid programmes from traditional aid donors like the US and UK , with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) targeting just $23bn (17bn) in humanitarian funding this year, which is significantly down on the $37bn raised in 2024.

But while Western countries have been signalling a retrenchment, Gulf states have become ever more significant donors over the past few years, with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait collectively providing some $6bn in humanitarian aid last year.

That total is more than the $4bn that the US provided last year, as well as the $1.9bn, $1.4bn, and $1.2bn respectively provided by the UK, Germany, and Japan. Much of the aid from Gulf states has been directed to crises in nearby territories, including Yemen, Gaza and Syria.

There are now big concerns, however, that the economic fallout from the current conflict in the Middle East  which has seen tourist hotspots attacked by drones and the Strait of Hormuz , a key oil route, close  will include a retrenchment from providing foreign aid.

Speaking at the think tank Chatham House, OCHA chief Tom Fletcher praised the Gulf states for becoming generous in this space, but warned that receipts have dried up over the period in which the war has taken place.

I dont think we have taken very much at all from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, over the past month, he said. Understandably, theyre inward looking, and feeling very defensive.

Speaking to The Independent, Dr Neil Quilliam, an associate fellow at Chatham House, agreed that the war will have a big impact on where Gulf states choose to spend their money.

He added that the more opaque nature of these countries governing strategies means that they might not publicly announce a change to aid spending programmes in the same manner that Western governments have done .

(PA Graphics) ( PA Graphics )

This war is having a significant impact on their budgets, and they're going to have to reprioritise budgets towards defence and the reconstruction of energy infrastructure that has been hit, he said.

They're also going to have to lower their ambitions for their national visions, he continued, referring to the hugely ambitious national strategies that Gulf states have pursued in recent years to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbons. We can surmise from that that they will probably pull back from some of their donor activity also, he added.

An indication of such a strategic shift came last week when Saudi Arabias $925bn sovereign wealth fund published a new five-year plan , which said it would now prioritise investments in the domestic economy to a greater extent.

The plan also confirmed a strategic shift away from expensive so-called giga-projects such as The Line - a 100-mile steel and glass city in the Arabian Desert - which have more uncertain financial returns than other investments.

There also remain major concerns that ongoing disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could have devastating impacts on the operations of humanitarian groups, which depend on the low-cost transit of commodities in order to reach as many people as possible.

The UAE is specifically positioned as a key humanitarian logistics hub, which means that a lot of humanitarian supply chains have had to be rerouted, Mike Pearson, research fellow at the think tank ODI Global, told The Independent.

Impacts to the wider economy will also have affected humanitarian operations, including around supplies of fuel and fertilizer, which are set to affect food supplies, and therefore food prices, later this year, he continued.

The current shock from the Iran War, Pearson added, is just the latest in a series that started with the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, and was followed by Russias invasion of Ukraine and then aid cuts from Western governments.

The bottom line for humanitarian groups is that these shocks increase costs, which ultimately means that they will be able to reach less people, he said.

Pearsons comments come as a report published this month by the NGO Mercy Corps warned that humanitarian crises across the Global South are already being seriously impacted.

Impacts cited include the closure of the Strait of Hormuz adding three weeks to the delivery time for humanitarian supplies to Sudan, fuel prices in Somalia rising more than 150 per cent, and irrigation costs for farmers in Myanmar doubling in price.

Growing concerns around humanitarian aid flows come at the same time as aid groups are warning that humanitarian needs are increasing around the world.

There are over 239 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance globally in 2026, according to the UN, but OCHA has said that it is only looking to support the 87 million people who have the most severe humanitarian needs as a result of shrinking budgets.

The Red Cross, meanwhile, has warned that wars have become a defining feature of our time, with the organisation recently telling The Independent that there are numerous humanitarian crises stemming from conflicts that are being forgotten about .
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Astronomers have uncovered a Jupiter-like world that likely carries the distinct aroma of urine.

An international team, using the cutting-edge James Webb Space Telescope, has been delving into the atmosphere of Epsilon Indi Ab.

The gas giant, located several light-years away, is roughly 7.6 times the mass of Jupiter but similar in size.

It orbits its star at a much greater distance than many exoplanets, resulting in a relatively cool temperature range of between -70C and +20C.

During their observations, the team made a surprising discovery: alongside an ammonia-rich atmosphere, they detected clouds of water. Such water clouds are not typically incorporated into many existing exoplanet atmosphere models, given their complex nature.

Elisabeth Matthews from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, lead author of the study, said: "JWST is finally allowing us to study solar-system analogue planets in detail. If we were aliens, several light years away, and looking back at the Sun, JWST is the first telescope that would allow us to study Jupiter in detail.

"For studying Earth in detail, we would need much more advanced telescopes, though."

James Mang of the University of Texas at Austin said: "What once seemed impossible to detect is now within reach, allowing us to probe the structure of these atmospheres, including the presence of clouds.

"This reveals new layers of complexity that our models are now beginning to capture, and opens the door to even more detailed characterisation of these cold, distant worlds."

The less appealing aspect lies in the atmospheric composition. Ammonia and water are primary components of urine, with ammonia causing its pungent smell.

This suggests any future visit to Epsilon Indi Ab could be met with an unpleasant smell, particularly if it were to rain.

Nasas planned Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, expected later this decade, may directly detect such reflective clouds.

This could confirm if Epsilon Indi Ab is a world best left off humanity's travel itinerary.
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Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is set to offer airlines a temporary 10 per cent discount on airport charges, aiming to alleviate the financial strain caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The measure, applicable only to daytime flights, will run from 27 April until 31 March 2027 at one of Europe's busiest and most expensive aviation hubs.

In a statement, Schiphol explained its decision: "The airport is taking this measure because airlines costs have risen unexpectedly and sharply as a result of high kerosene prices."

While acknowledging a "temporary negative" impact on its financial results, the airport does not anticipate any disruption to its planned investments over the next decade.

The broader aviation industry is grappling with the fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has significantly disrupted global energy supplies.

Many European airlines are preparing for a challenging spring and summer period as the cost of tickets is likely to jump. Numerous carriers have also cancelled flights to and from the region, with some postponing resumptions until later this year.

Schiphol, one of the busiest and most expensive airports in Europe, will offer a temporary 10 per cent discount on airport charges from 27 April 27 to 31 March, 2027 ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

United Airlines and Lufthansa are the latest airlines forced to mull raising air fares and scrapping flights following a dramatic surge in jet fuel prices, driven by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Uniteds CEO announced the airline may need to raise fares by as much as 20 percent, while Lufthansas airline group announced the cancellation of 20,000 flights in bids to protect their airlines from the soaring cost of oil.

Costs have rocketed from approximately $85 to $90 per barrel to an alarming $150 to $200 per barrel in recent weeks.

This represents a substantial financial hit for carriers, where fuel can constitute up to a quarter of operating expenses. As a result, airlines are being compelled to raise fares and revise their financial outlooks.

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a series of measures to address the impact on the region's energy markets from the US-Israeli war with Iran.

The Commission said the measures - announced in a package called 'AccelerateEU' - included optimising the distribution of jet fuel between EU countries, in order to avoid shortages.
Westminster watchers have had their popcorn out over the last 24 hours.

On Monday, Keir Starmer was grilled for two hours by MPs. A day later, Sir Olly Robbins, ex-permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, meticulously responded to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The result: more doubts over Keir Starmers handling of Peter Mandelsons appointment as US ambassador.

On this weeks episode of In The Room, former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara and ex-No. 10 special advisor Cleo Watson give their analysis, discuss Olly Robbins hammer blow testimony, and explain how the appointment of Matthew Doyle could be the prime ministers ultimate undoing.

New episodes of In The Room drop every Friday. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The Duke of Sussex delivered a direct message to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in a surprise address during his visit to Kyiv on Thursday (23 April).

In a rare input on global matters, Prince Harry appealed to "American leadership" to show that "it can honour its international treaty obligations - not out of charity, but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.

King Charles III's youngest son also called on the Russian leader to stop this war, as he condemned the systematic war crimes of the Ukrainian conflict.
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Your favorite online grocer or retail store might be secretly raising prices on you - and one state has had enough.

Maryland lawmakers approved a bill earlier this month that will ban surveillance pricing: the practice of raising individualized prices online, based on a shoppers habits and personal information. The practice can cost shoppers as much as $1,200 a year, a study from consumer watchdog Consumer Reports found last year.

The bill is likely to become law in Maryland later this month when Governor Wes Moore signs it. His signature is all but guaranteed after Moore said in an April 14 social media post that he cant wait to sign it.

Titled, Protection From Predatory Pricing Act, it includes a ban on grocery stores and third-party partners from using an individuals personal information and other data to set a price. If passed, it would be the first law of its kind in the country.

Surveillance pricing uses a shopper's personal information, past purchases, cart activity and, in some cases, protected data such as gender to raise prices as far as they can without losing the customer. That can lead to higher prices for the same product for different consumers.

Lawmakers are pushing back on surveillance pricing tactics used by online grocery stores and third-party delivery services ( Getty Images )

Surveillance pricing has become widespread in the last few years, and can increase a companys profits by up to 4 percent, a 2025 Federal Trade Commission study found.

The practice impacts consumers beyond the grocery store. Car dealerships can be dynamic pricing traps, too, the commission said.

A car could potentially be segmented as a first-time car buyer by the dealership using these tools, inferring that [the] shopper might be less savvy about the options available and be promoted particular financing rates, trade-in discounts, or maintenance products, the commission wrote.

Translation: a company can use your personal info to shape how it pitches lending options, discounts and optional vehicle features.

Maryland isnt the only state taking on surveillance pricing.

New York passed a law in November 2025 requiring retailers to tell customers when theyre using AI or personal information to set prices. A bill submitted to New Yorks state legislature in January would ban surveillance pricing altogether, but it has yet to make it past the early stages of the lawmaking process.

In January 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an investigation into how businesses use surveillance pricing and whether it violates the states consumer protection laws.
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The prime minister is either incompetent, gullible or a liar. Or all three. So tweeted Stephen Flynn MP, the SNP Westminster leader, last week when it emerged that former US ambassador Peter Mandelson had failed Foreign Office security vetting.

Having repeatedly told parliament that full due process was followed, Sir Keir Starmer insists he would have blocked the appointment had he known. Now, he is set for a dramatic showdown in the House of Commons over an affair that wont go away.

This afternoon, Starmers mission is simple: to update the House on the latest revelations about Mandelsons appointment, and persuade MPs  not least his own Labour benches  that he is neither incompetent nor a liar. If he can get away with merely being gullible while offering an apology and sufficiently answering difficult questions, he may yet see off those calling for his resignation.

Preparing for a Commons grilling is not fun. I have worked with my fair share of embattled prime ministers and frontbenchers, and youd be amazed how many of them would rather be roasted by Jeremy Paxman in his heyday, given an earful by members of the public  or eat a kangaroo penis, in the case of Matt Hancock  than be scrutinised by their peers. Getting mentally punched in the head for three hours straight by people you eat, drink and  in some cases  sleep with is no ones idea of a good time.

Certainly, the prime minister has big, potentially career-altering questions to answer. Are the data points that barred Mandelson from developing vetting status so different from the reports the PM had already received on the reputational risks associated with appointing him to the role? Did the PM, perhaps inadvertently, mislead the House when he said in February that Mandelson had passed security checks? If so, why did he not correct the record at the soonest opportunity? And why did he never think to ask about the outcome of the security checks, the ones he insists would have prevented Mandelson from ever being sent to Washington?

Given the speed of developments in AI, who knows if Minority Report-style technology will one day rule out future prime ministers being able to dodge what they knew, or forgot, or would have done. MPs have now had four days  a luxurious amount of time  to prepare their questions for the prime minister. And Downing Street has had plenty of time to prepare answers.

While the nation waits for the prime minister to appear at the dispatch box, I thought I would offer a sense of what will be going on behind the scenes, right up to the moment that Starmer gets to his feet to speak.

Many were surprised to see the prime minister in Paris on Saturday, meeting the French president Emmanuel Macron to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer then travelled from Paris to HMNB Clyde for a defence visit. Why? World leaders and submarines are great optics for him, given that foreign affairs is where the public largely thinks Starmer is doing a good job.

A strong getting on with the job message also contrasts nicely with the grainy photo of Andy Burnham loitering on Angela Rayners doorstep, which appeared in the Sunday papers. Plus, all that international travel gives him productive time to prep with the PMQs team.

His diary today will largely have been cleared so that the PM can bone up on his brief before his expected appearance mid-afternoon; ministerial statements and urgent questions are taken from around 3.30pm, depending on how long earlier business takes.

Keir Starmer must persuade MPs  not least his own Labour benches  that he is neither incompetent nor a liar (AFP/Getty) ( AFP/Getty )

Until that moment, the large ringbinders of files that ministers carry in the Commons  known as the pack  will be constantly updated, as facts are triple-checked and exact wording is worked out. After all, a lot might hang on very precise uses of tenses, modal verbs and so on.

Easy questions will be handed out to friendly MPs hoping for a slot in the next reshuffle. Members of the cabinet will be bayoneted onto the front bench under strict instructions to nod and frown, and not cry.

His inner circle will be preparing him for his big moment. In my experience, its all about the little things, beginning with the basics. Eat some slow-release carbs and, depending on your general tolerance, dont drink coffee for an hour beforehand, or youll be sweating uncomfortably for more than one reason.

As fresh MPs tag team into the Commons for the second hour, you will gradually run out of steam (hence the slow-release snack). Do not lose your temper. With every question, imagine someone listening who has never even heard of you, and how reasonable you would like them to think you are. Use the soft questions from allies to mentally rest. You know what theyll say, you know how youll answer. Check out for a bit. Think of your favourite Arsenal goals, or what notable eggs there are besides Humpty Dumpty

Ordeal over, the prime minister will go back to his parliamentary office to hear how the outside world is receiving his apology/defence/memory loss. He will be exhausted, but he will have done it  got through the day, not winning, but still in one piece. His ministers will go on air and say hes smashed it and that its time to move on. All opposition parties will call for his resignation. The sun will set.

Then, as it likes to do, the sun will rise, and Olly Robbins  the now former FCDO permanent secretary who the prime minister sacked last week for overruling security vetting concerns over Mandelson  will have his day in parliament, at the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, where he will explain his departments role in the saga.

The prime minister can only hope that Robbins is not one for p***ing into tents.

Cleo Watson is a former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson, and co-host of The Independents politics podcast, In The Room, with ex-deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara. New episodes come out every Friday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Everyone is looking for an exit strategy. The hunt is on from Westminster, where the PM, Olly Robbins and his former employer, the Foreign office, are looking for a way out, to the Straits of Hormuz, where Iran and the US are looking for the off-ramp  as indeed must presidents Zelensky and Putin.

For now, Donald Trump has extended his ceasefire in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz without setting a further deadline. We have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Only a matter of hours later, the Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on three freighters moving through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, and two were seized and moved into Iranian home waters. The three ships, the Epaminondas, the Euphoria, and the MSC Francesca, were flagged, respectively, to Greece, the UAE and Panama. The Francesca was hit only six nautical miles from the Oman coast.

Immediate prospects for a successful exit strategy for either side dont look good. Vice-president Vance postponed taking Air Force 2 to resume talks in Islamabad. Trump accused the commanders of the IRGC, who now run the military state in Iran, of not getting their act together. He has a point. The new commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi, seems to be deputising for the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who was badly wounded in the 28 February bombing that killed his father, and very possibly incapacitated.

Despite the shooting and blockading across the Gulf, an exit strategy is available for both sides, and particularly for the Americans. The exit path to peace, however, must lie through law and not war. Threatening to trash all bridges and power stations, and bomb Iranians back to the stone ages just makes matters worse. Neither side now wants to go back to full-blown conflict. They cant afford to. Neither side has sufficient stock of sophisticated material, especially precision strike missiles and air defence weaponry, to sustain a long summer campaign.

An exit strategy must be more than a Houdini-like escape plan. It must lead to a series of actions and agreements to make sure it lasts. An off-the-cuff deal  of the kind that the Trump team seems to favour  rarely endures beyond the first tweet and media briefing. A pact with Iran, which will have to come sooner or later, will take a lot of hard work on detail, including line-by-line scrutiny of any treaty. We are talking here of a string of deals and guarantees that may take months or even years to complete. The nuclear deal, technically the Joint Common Plan of Action, agreed in 2015 and punctured by Trump in 2018, took nearly two years to negotiate.

Despite the shooting and blockading across the Gulf, an exit strategy is available for both sides, and particularly for the Americans. The exit path to peace, however, must lie through law and not war ( Getty )

The US, Israel and the Gulf Arab nations have been surprised by the stamina of the IRGCs coastal and commando forces, and the depth of their arsenals of attack boats, rockets and missiles, and air and sea drones. They can effectively hold the Gulf and the strait to ransom. They also seem well prepared to endure a renewed Israeli and American bombing campaign. The IRGCS weakness is the majority of Irans 91 million people. They are restive and angry, with their economy ruined beyond measure.

For most running the regime, given the general state of the economy and the lack of funds and livelihoods, this situation cannot last. The IRGC has reinforced its basij militia with ultras belonging to Shia militias from Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Even so, reports persist of basij checkpoints in the depressed east of the country commanded by 12-year-old child soldiers.

The first step of the exit strategy must be to establish an armistice, a monitored truce to allow free passage through the international waters of the Gulf of Persia, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Second, this must be followed by an incremental peace negotiation and plan. All of this would have to be subject to a concluding treaty.

The rolling peace programme would have three main areas, which would require delicate and astute negotiation, likely to take many months. (The US estimates it will take at least six months to clear the strait of the mines that Iran says it had planted but has been unable to recover.)

First, Iran would seek help on sanctions, trade and investment for reconstruction. Second, there would have to be arms control, possibly covering the entire Gulf region. This would focus on Irans stocks of ballistic missiles, drones and long-range weapons. Third, there would have to be a new arrangement on Irans nuclear programme and stores of enriched uranium.

At some point, there should be an international conference on Iran, the Levant and the wider Gulf, the region that should be known as the new Middle East. This would mean parties like Russia and China would have to be invited as either participants or observers. But even with their presence, a serious discussion of human, civic and diplomatic rights should be on the table.

An exit strategy like this should be doable, but it will require sustained willpower and brains, rather than bluster, threat and posturing. This is something Trump lacks. The emphasis should be on the strategy at least as much as on the exit. The Pentagon this week said it will take six months to clear the strait  taking us past the midterms in November  while Trump himself says there is no time frame on ending things.

At home and abroad, I fear we are trapped in a new mode of diplomacy and politics on the lines of MC Eschers brilliant etchings of never-ending and destiny-free staircases. The babble of politics and diplomacy in Whitehall, Washington and Mar-a-Lago is a brilliant escalator with flights of verbiage and rhetoric heading nowhere.

Wanted now is an exit strategy of law, not war. Otherwise, the prospects are pretty dire: more violence on the high seas and at the choke points, and the cratering of the global economy.
The interior of Martello Tower No 16

An opportunity to acquire a landmark hospitality venue has come to the market with the launch of the Martello Tower No 16 at Sandymount Strand, Dublin 4.

Selling agents Colliers are quoting a guide price of 1,500,000.

Overlooking Dublin Bay, the iconic 19th century Martello Tower sits directly on Sandymount Strand and on a key route between Dun Laoghaire, East Link Bridge, Port Tunnel and Dublin Airport.

The property comprises the original circular tower over three levels, together with later extensions dating from the mid-19th and 20th centuries. These alterations introduced internal stair access, additional openings and a modern seaward-facing extension. Large windows to the seaward side provide panoramic views across Dublin Bay. The entire property now extends to 617 sqm.

Historically, the building has accommodated a variety of uses, including a newsagent and, more recently, a restaurant.

It sits on one of Dublin citys most celebrated and scenic coastal amenities with uninterrupted sea views which would enhance its hospitality appeal.

The interior of Martello Tower No 16

It has immediate access to a popular and busy one kilometre promenade and proximity to Sandymount village and the city centre.

Constructed in 1804 as part of a chain of coastal defence towers during the Napoleonic Wars, Martello Tower No 16 forms part of a wider network of 28 towers positioned around Dublin Bay. Designed to withstand attack from the sea, its thick circular masonry walls and elevated roof level reflect the robust engineering of the period.

The Sandymount tower is notable as a doublegun tower, originally equipped with two cannons to defend landings on South Bull Island and to support the Pigeon House at Poolbeg.

Beyond its military heritage, the tower is deeply woven into the cultural and literary identity of the area.

Sandymount Strand has long been associated with Irelands literary greats.
Burlington Loan Management bought billions in distressed financial assets

The UK tax authority has failed in an appeal to reverse a decision that deemed an Irish firm owned by Davidson Kempner exempt from paying 18m (21m) of tax in the UK.

Burlington Loan Management was set up by the US-headquartered hedge fund giant in 2009 as a tax-efficient vehicle to buy distressed bonds and debt across Europe in the midst of the global financial crash.

It bought assets such as bonds and loans in struggling banks from Iceland to Ireland and Spain.

At the end of 2024, Burlington Loan Management had about $9.6bn (8.1bn), including $9.2bn of financial assets and $229m in cash.

In 2018, it acquired the rights to a debt claim in the administration in the UK of Lehman Brothers International (Europe).

The right to the claim was bought by Burlington from Cayman Islands-based SAAD Investments Company Ltd (SICL), which had gone into liquidation in 2009.

The claim was just one of hundreds that Burlington Loan Management acquired in Lehmans. It began acquiring claims in the failed company in 2011 and by 2018 had acquired an interest, either by legal assignment or by way of a participation in 443 such claims.

In 2016, the principal amount of the claim was agreed by the administrators of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) to be just over 142m.

That principal amount was paid in full by the Lehman administrators to SICLs liquidators in 2016.

Lehman Brothers International (Europe) had gone into administration in September 2008. It later transpired that it had a surplus of assets over claims. That meant that creditors holding valid claims were entitled to be paid post-administration interest under UK insolvency rules.

The administrators of Lehmans paid 80pc of the interest to Burlington in cash  but they withheld 20pc and paid it to HMRC

That resulted in a potential interest payout of about 90m on the claim.

But the liquidators of SICL faced a dilemma in how the tax on that interest might be accounted for, so instead instructed investment banking firm Jefferies to market the right to receive any further money that might be payable on the claim.

That resulted in the deal struck with Burlington Loan Management, which completed the purchase of the rights in early 2018 for 83.5m.

SICL knew there were entities in the market for whom UK withholding tax on any interest due would not be a permanent cost, as it would have been for Cayman Islands-based SICL.

In July 2018, the gross amount of the post-administration interest payable in respect of the SAAD claim was 90.7m. The administrators of Lehmans paid 80pc of this to Burlington in cash. But they withheld 20pc of the interest, or 18.1m, and paid it to HMRC.

A dispute over the withholding tax then began. Two tribunals subsequently ruled in favour of Burlington, holding that the payment of interest to Burlington from the administrators of Lehman was taxable only in Ireland under Article 12 (1) of a 1976 double taxation treaty between Ireland and the UK.

HMRC appealed those findings but has now lost that case.

Burlington Loan Management believed that because it was tax-resident in Ireland, Article 12(1) applied to it, so that if it beneficially acquired a debt-claim in the administration of Lehman Brothers International (Europe), it would not be taxed in the UK on the interest paid on that claim and would only be taxed in Ireland, noted one of the appeal judges.
Cabin crew were on a positioning flight from Barbados to Manchester

Aer Lingus pilot Ian Blair, who was suspended from the companys recently closed Manchester base, is seeking a High Court order allowing him to sit a retraining course in Dublin next week.

The airline shut down its Manchester base last month. Its pilots were transferred to Dublin and a retraining course was scheduled for next week.

Mr Blair says he was rostered to be on that retraining course but was told that it was an error.

Aer Lingus also said he was on sick leave and as such is not attending work, but he says he was not on sick leave at the time.

He had been suspended on pay last November to allow for an investigation into a complaint that he had required cabin crew, who were on a positioning flight from Barbados to Manchester, to sit in economy rather than business class.

There were no passengers on the flight.

The airlines solicitors wrote to tell him that his suspension remains in place

There had been industrial action by Aer Lingus cabin crew in Manchester at this time, seeking higher pay. The cabin crew on the Barbados flight did not take part in the industrial action.

It is claimed Mr Blair did not comply with an instruction from a chief operations officer to allow the crew to sit in business class and disciplinary action was taken against him by Aer Lingus UK.

Aer Lingus 737s in Dublin. Photo: Getty

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Sunday,April 26

He brought proceedings earlier this month against Aer Lingus Ltd and Aer Lingus UK Ltd, over what he said was the airlines insistence that he would have to remain in the UK while disciplinary proceedings against him continued, even though he said it had been agreed he would transfer to Dublin.

In a new High Court application, seeking to be allowed sit next weeks retraining course, he said the disciplinary investigation concluded last January.

Last week, the companys solicitors wrote to him to tell him that his suspension remains in place, though this does not constitute disciplinary action, as is expressly provided for in the UK disciplinary procedure.

Seeking an early hearing of the matter, Cathy Smith SC, for Mr Blair, said he was told he was rostered for the training and then told he was rostered in error.

She disputed a suggestion by the Aer Lingus side that the retraining would easily be organised and available on another date. Counsel said this was training which was specifically for pilots who have been transferred from the Manchester operation.

Mairead McKenna SC, for Aer Lingus, said he was employed by the UK company and is suspended as per his UK contract  so under English law, he is not available to attend training organised by the airline in Dublin.

He is suspended and continues to be paid.

Aer Lingus believes the process in the UK should continue until there is some outcome after which retraining may have to be arranged.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan, who noted that there needed to be an early hearing because the training begins on Monday, put the application in for hearing on Friday.
Applications open for aspiring journalists to join the scheme

Edward McCann, Managing Editor of Mediahuis Ireland, speaking at the MET Programme launch at the Aviva Stadium in 2022. Pic: Frank McGrath

The Irish Independents Mediahuis Emerging Talent (MET) Programme has been nominated for a leading business development award.

The MET Programme, now in its fifth year, has been selected as a finalist for the Excellence in Learning Awards 2026.

The annual awards are hosted by the Learning & Development Institute, a professional body of more than 2,000 members across all businesses and industries in Ireland.

The MET Programme has been nominated for Best Graduate Development Initiative, alongside KPMG, Iarnrod Eireann, RTE, Uisce Eireann, Medtronic, BAM and the Department of Public Expenditure.

Journalists learn on the job through a programme of training and mentoring

According to the Learning & Development Institute, the purpose of the awards is to promote excellence, best practice and innovation in the areas of development and training.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at Killashee Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare, on October 2.

Mediahuis Ireland, home to the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and Sunday World, is currently recruiting for this years MET Programme intake, with two places available.

The two-year scheme offers people from all backgrounds a gateway to unrivalled training, mentoring and on-the-job experience.

There are two places on offer for news reporters, giving candidates the chance to develop their passion and skills alongside our award-winning editorial teams, including in audio and video.

The MET Programme, which was launched in 2022, is part of Mediahuis Irelands commitment to diversity and will be overseen by some of the most experienced journalists in the business.

Applications for this year's MET Programme are open until May 4

Previous MET Programme participants who have gone on to secure permanent roles in the Irish Independent include, News & Political Reporter Maeve McTaggart, Personal Finance Journalist Saoirse Hanley and Dublin News Reporter Azmia Riaz.

Speaking about the recent nomination, Alan Steenson, Head of Digital Editing at Mediahuis, said: Were delighted to secure recognition as a finalist in this years Excellence in Learning Awards.

The MET Programme has been a huge success since its launch in 2022, opening up a new pathway for aspiring journalists to enter the profession.

The programme welcomes those with a passion for journalism, regardless of background or experience, giving them a unique opportunity to kickstart their careers.

Applications for this years MET programme are now open, and will close at midnight on May 4. You can apply at www.careers.mediahuis.ie/jobs
Stations demand intervention by Communications Minister Patrick ODonovan

Louise Cantillon is a presenter on Today FM, part of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland which says the planned increase is not sustainable. Photo: Mark Condren

Independent radio stations have asked Communications Minister Patrick ODonovan to intervene and stop a planned 39pc increase in the levy they have to pay to Coimisiun na Mean.

The stations say that between 2025 and 2026, the amount they have to pay to the media regulator will have gone up by 69pc.

The proposed increase in the regulatory levy for 2026 represents, in many cases, a hike of tens of thousands of euro imposed on individual stations, without any notice or warning, three months into the year, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) said.

We believe this increase is not sustainable, and the spiralling cost of regulating radio raises many serious issues. There is very strong opposition among our members, and we have written to the minister requesting his immediate intervention.

The group, which represents local and regional stations as well as national independent outfits such as Today FM and Newstalk, claims the levy is now unaffordable for some.

These stations are competing against global platforms for both audiences and advertisers, IBI says. The radio advertising markets only increased by 0.9pc last year, so margins remain tight.

Michael Kelly, the chief executive of IBI, said the 2026 levy charge for radio represents 2.8pc of turnover.

This is far higher than TV at 1.21pc, online services at 1.25pc or hosting services at 0.54pc, he said, referring to the other sectors that have to pay a levy to the regulator. For radio it is unsustainable.

In a statement, Coimisiun na Mean said that as an independent regulator, it is funded by levies, which cover the costs of its functions. It has powers under the Broadcasting Act to impose levies on media service providers, including sound broadcasting services.

Louise Cantillon is a presenter on Today FM, part of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland which says the planned increase is not sustainable. Photo: Mark Condren

Levy estimates are based on a detailed work programme. In line with the legislation, we submit the work programme alongside estimates of income and expenditure to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport each October for the following year, the regulator said.

The legislation provides for refunds to levy payers, through a reconciliation process, if actual expenditure (as audited by the Comptroller & Auditor General) is less than estimated expenditure.

The commission said it publishes estimated expenditure and levy tables on its website, where it also set out the methodology used and how it can be reviewed.

Staff costs at the regulator increased threefold to 12.74m in 2024, its first full year in operation, according to its most recent annual report. In that time, staff numbers increased from 79 to 209 by the end of December of that year, including commissioners.

The report shows that 22 staff were earning salaries of 100,000 or more. Jeremy Godfrey, the chairperson, received a salary of 250,272.

The commissions running costs this year are projected to be 64.7m, up almost 10m. About 3.7m of this is being recovered from sound broadcasting, according to the IBI, or just over 1m more than the previous year.
Brussels civil servant argues that enforcing the regulations is an apolitical activity

Just days into one of the most powerful roles in the EU civil service  heading the European Commissions competition department  Anthony Whelan is still settling in.

Speaking in his old office in the Madou Tower  with a great view of the EUs Berlaymont building  he has stepped up from a deputy role to being director-general of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Competition, at the apex of the Brussels bureaucracy.
Irish influencer and Love Island star Maura Higgins has joined the cast of the Dancing with the Stars US.

The 35-year-old from Ballymahon, Co Longford, has been announced as a celebrity contestant on the 35th season of the major American show.

She was announced by Hulu during the Get Real House event in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"A brand new bombshell is entering the ballroom, said one of the DWTS hosts Alfonso Ribeiro during the Hulu event.

Speaking to the US outlet Bustle after the announcement, she said it was a surreal moment when she found out about the opportunity.

"I was actually going through New York airport, JFK, I got the call from my American agent, and I froze in the middle of the airport. I was just [in] tears.

I couldnt walk, I couldnt speak. It just felt like a surreal moment because I wanted it so bad for so long, and it was the only other show that I wanted to do as a contestant.

After DWTS, I think Im probably done. I mean, never say never, because I dont wanna be that person but its the only other show on my vision board contestant-wise, she added.

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She gained prominence by starring on the fourth season of Love Island UK before appearing on The Traitors US season four.

The reality star, who has amassed 4.3 million followers on her Instagram, made it to the final of The Traitors as a faithful and finished as a runner-up.

"She went from looking for love to looking for who to trust, and now she's looking to win the Mirrorball, reads the post on DWTS social media.

"We're welcoming Maura Higgins to DWTS on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu this fall, it added.
TV presenter Vogue Williams, comedian Joanne McNally, and actor Aidan Gillen are among well-known Irish celebrities who will be showing off their homes on a new RTE show.

In Dermont Bannons Celebrity Super Spaces, Irish architect Dermot Bannon is set to visit several famous faces to give viewers a glimpse into their beautiful homes and spaces.

Model Vogue Williams and her husband, The Made in Chelsea personality Spencer Matthews, will be the first to host Bannon.

In the first episode, the architect will visit Howth to see inside the couples home before he makes his way to the dazzling home of the jewellery designer Chupi Sweetman.

Ireland rugby star Andrew Porter is set to show his simply designed home in foothills of the Wicklow mountains, as well as a gym he designed himself, which is his new business venture.

Ireland rugby star Andrew Porter and Dermot Bannon. Photo: RTE

Meanwhile, songwriter and music producer Don Mescall will give a tour of his home in Cavan, which is a renovated church, and interior designer to the stars, Geri OToole, will show her converted 19th century cottage and outhouses in Limerick.

She will also share her experiences of working with famous and wealthy clients and how she manages their expectations.

The episode two of the new RTE show will see comedian Joanne McNally showing her bright home in Clapham, London.

Dermot Bannon and comedian Joanne McNally at her London home. Photo: RTE

Bannon will later pay a visit to the Dublin home of musician Camille OSullivan and actor Aidan Gillen, who have brought this 1940s protected structure back to life from dereliction, reinstating it as a family home.

The couple spent nine years working on their home, which recently won the RIAI Public Choice Award.

The architect will also step inside the dressing room of drag queen Panti Bliss as Rory ONeill will showcase a treasure trove of drag couture.

The home of celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna will be the last stop during the second episode.

She lives in a 300-year-old cottage in Broadspear in England, where she runs a 100-acre sustainable farm in the grounds of Highclere Castle in Hampshire with her husband Harry.

Dermot Bannon and music producer Don Mescall. Photo: RTE

Speaking to the Sunday Independent about his new show, Dermot Bannon said its not Room to Improve".

Im not fixing anything. Im going in and doing a deep dive into who they are through their house. If something is mad, Ill say it.

The new show will follow Bannon finding out what the Irish stars homes mean to them and exploring personal stories behind their renovations.

Dermot Bannons Celebrity Super Spaces will air on Sunday, April 26 and May 3 on RTE One and RTE Player.
A Wexford man represented the county proudly at the recent edition of the Mr Personality Festival competition this year.

The annual Mr. Personality Festival 2026 took place in Kilkenny recently, hosted by Kilkenny County Macra and sponsored by Kilkenny/Carlow and District Farm Relief Services.

A stalwart of the Macra calendar the festival continues to celebrate the confidence, character and diverse talents of Macra members across the country.

Kieran Banville, from the Bree branch of Macra took part in the weekends festivities as the Wexford representative, eager to show off his skills.

The 25 contestants, including Kieran, travelled to Langtons Hotel, Kilkenny for a fun-filled weekend, with festivities getting underway on Friday evening with contestants taking to the stage for interviews hosted by MC Aindriu du Paor.

The contestants showcased their character, wit and humour along with any talents that they had across a variety of events and challenges. Following on from the interviews the night continued with great music with a singing garda band and DJ keeping the party going into the early hours.

On Saturday morning, Kieran completed his private interview with the three judges. A busy afternoon followed in Langtons where the Mr Personality contestants were joined by fellow Macra members for some jiving lessons. Afterwards Kieran proudly displayed his county colours while completing team building challenges with fellow contestants.

There was a huge amount of activities happening in Kilkenny whilst the contestants were conducting their private interviews with Katelyn Cummins (2025 Rose of Tralee and 2026 Dancing with the Stars champion), James Kavanagh (TV personality and Influencer) and Brian Leonard (UCD assistant professor).

This included a lively scavenger hunt and live music kept everyone attending highly entertained.

On Saturday evening, anticipation built as all supporters gathered once again in Langtons for the Gala Banquet Dinner. This proved to be a fitting centre piece for the weekend, combining great food and company along with many surprises along the way.

Following the Gala banquet, Sweet Freedom provided anticipatory music in the build up to the announcement of the winners.

After a highly competitive weekend, the title of Mr Personality 2026 was awarded to Patrick Walton, who represented Kilkenny Macra. Joe Hennessy of Limerick took second place whilst UCC Macras Jack Murphy rounded out the top three.

Speaking after the announcement, Macra President Josephine O Neill commended the winners, participants and the committee for all their work.

The Mr Personality Festival has long been a much-loved feature of the Macra calendar. Id like to congratulate Kilkenny Macras Mr. Personality Festival committee on all their hard work and commitment to ensure members enjoyed such a fantastic weekend.

"Festivals like this would not be possible without members to participate and this years Mr Personality participants were all fantastic representatives of our organisation, showcasing everything great about Macra. Id particularly like to congratulate Patrick Walton on his success; I have no doubt that Patrick will be a wonderful representative for the festival for the next year, she said.

Although Kiernan did not place, PRO of Wexford Macra Sinead Kinsella said they were very proud of how he represented the county on a national stage.

"Kierans enthusiasm and charisma were evident throughout the weekend, particularly during his standout performance stage, where he sang an Irish classic, the Black Velvet Band.

"Wexford Macra extend congratulations to Kieran on his outstanding achievement, noting that he did both Wexford and Bree proud. We extend our congratulations to Patrick Walton on his win. We would also like to extend congratulations to the organising committee for their exceptional work in running such a successful event, she said.
Bill Linnane: If we want to protect kids from gambling the bouncy balls of the Lotto are the least of our worries
Reasons for delay in executing 2009 court order not fully explained, judge says

A retired solicitor who worked at one of the countrys leading law firms has stopped a credit servicing company from taking his 800,000 home after successfully arguing that lenders took too long to execute a possession order granted 17 years ago.

Mortgage lender EBS got a court order in 2009 for possession of James ONeills home on Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, but did not act to enforce it. The loan was sold in 2021 to Mars Capital Finance Ireland DAC, which this week sought to enforce the possession order at Dublin Circuit Court due to the non-payment of a mortgage debt of close to 560,000.
Security watchdog warns of significant threat of lone wolf terrorist attacks

Ireland's first inspector of security services, George Birmingham, called for a new legal framework to allow for the interception of messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Snapchat

Robin Schiller Thu 23 Apr 2026 at 06:30

The States national security watchdog has warned that Islamist terrorism is a significant cause of concern, citing the risk of attacks in Ireland or plots being co-ordinated here against neighbouring countries.
Young people across Europe want to be informed, and engaged citizens - but with AI blurring the boundaries on what is real, they need the EU to give them more of a steer.
A man who allegedly climbed on an oil tanker during fuel price protests near an Irish refinery has appeared before a Cork court charged with a traffic offence.

Ivor Sweeney (51) of Coolbawn Lodge, Bailick Road, Midleton, Co Cork, appeared before Midleton District Court as a small number gathered outside the courthouse to show their support for him and fuel price protesters.

Judge Colm Roberts was told a single charge is involved.

Mr Sweeney faces a charge brought contrary to Section 98 and Section 102 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 as amended by the Road Traffic Act, 2006.

The charge alleged that Mr Sweeney on April 10, 2026, at Main Street, Whitegate, Co Cork did an act, to wit, allow a mechanically propelled vehicle to remain in such a place so long as to cause or was likely to cause traffic through such a place to be obstructed.

Judge Roberts was told that evidence of arrest, caution and charge was submitted by certificate to the court.

Mr Sweeney - who appeared in court wearing a blue suit - did not speak during the hearing.

The Whitegate refinery in Cork

News in 90 Seconds - 23rd April 2026

Defence solicitor Wayne O'Sullivan said he was seeking disclosure in relation to the matter.

Sgt Linda O'Leary asked Judge Roberts to adjourn proceedings to allow that to be completed.

She asked for Mr Sweeney to be remanded to the May 28 sitting of Midleton District Court.

The defendant was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Judge Roberts next month.

A major Garda operation was mounted in east Cork on April 10 and 11 to end a four day blockade of Ireland's only oil refinery at Whitegate.

The blockade of the refinery ended at lunchtime on Saturday (April 11) as Gardai launched a major operation backed by public order units drawn from across Ireland.

A heavy-lift vehicle crane operated by the Defence Forces was brought to Whitegate but was not required.

By Saturday evening, full access to the Irving Oil facility had been restored.

Fuel supplies from the refinery are now back at normal levels.

An attempt to end the refinery blockade on Friday (April 10) was frustrated when protestors formed a human chain across the main street of Whitegate village to prevent an oil tanker from gaining access to the oil facility.

The Whitegate operation by Gardai presaged similar operations in Galway Port and Dublin where blockades had been maintained by fuel price protestors.

Similar protests in Foynes and Rosslare were stood down the same weekend after internal discussions by protest groups.

Hundreds of Irish garages closed after running out of fuel stocks.
A man has died after a blaze at the Royal Victoria Hospital on Wednesday night, police have confirmed.

Fire crews mobilised shortly before 6.45pm to tackle the blaze in a bathroom in the accident and emergency (A&E) unit.

A spokesperson for the NI Fire and Rescue Service said four pumping appliances and around 20 personnel were at the scene.

Crews left the scene at around 9.10pm.

One man was involved in the incident.

In an update on Thursday morning, the PSNI confirmed the man since passed away in hospital.

The Royal Victoria Hospital

News in 90 Seconds - 23rd April 2026

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police and fire crews were called to the Emergency Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital on Wednesday, 22nd April, at around 6.50pm.

A man in his 30s has since passed away in hospital. This is being treated as a sudden death and not suspicious at this time.

An NI Ambulance Service spokesperson said on Wednesday night: Following an incident at RVH earlier this evening, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has been transporting patients to alternative EDs, and will continue to do so until the incident has been resolved.
Report authors from UCC and the Cork Traveller Education Unit have called for urgent state action

Traveller children and young people face ongoing discrimination in schools, according to a new report. Stock image. Photo: PA

New research claims discrimination, exclusion and inequalities against Traveller students remain embedded within the education system in Ireland.

The report, from the School of Education at University College Cork (UCC) and the Cork Traveller Education Unit, found early post-primary school a particularly vulnerable period.

This report provides insight into how Traveller young people are navigating the everyday realities of post-primary school life, lead researcher Professor Nicola Ingram, head of the UCC School of Education, said.

For too many, school is experienced as a hostile place of hurt and pain, marked by negative interactions and exclusionary practices. Our research finds ethnic segregation and restrictions on social connection can deepen feelings of isolation, loneliness and disengagement from education.

The reports authors called for urgent action to address persistent barriers facing Traveller students in Irish schools.

The study found just 68pc of Traveller children attend early childhood education, compared with 95pc of the wider population.

Only 27pc of young Travellers complete at least upper-secondary education, compared with 97pc of the wider population.

Listening to Traveller voices is essential if lasting change is to be achieved

Participation in higher education remains critically low, with less than 1pc of Travellers in third-level education and only 167 adult Travellers reported as holding a third-level qualification.

Anne Burke, chairwoman of the Cork Traveller Education Unit, said: This report makes clear the barriers facing Traveller students are part of deeper structural inequalities that require urgent attention. Listening to Traveller voices is essential if lasting change is to be achieved.

Recommendations for policymakers, schools and the education system are suggested as part of the study, which is titled Traveller transitions: Racialised inequalities in education.

It said relationships between Traveller young people and school staff are crucial for fostering an anti-racist approach to education. But most Traveller young people in the study reported negative relationships with teachers.

Recommendations include building partnerships with Traveller organisations to create anti-racist school governance, stronger supports for students moving from primary to post-primary school, monitoring to prevent ethnic segregation in school practices and mandatory staff education on the experiences of Traveller young people.
One thing to see, shop, visit, hear  and one ticket to buy

'1975/Naoi Deag Seachto Cuig' is the new work by Michael Keegan-Dolan and troupe

Maggie Molloy has dusted off some retro treasures for her second-hand shop

With America hogging all the headlines for all the wrong reasons lately, it feels almost nostalgic visiting Stateside, the exhibition by documentary photographer Jackie Nickerson at Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda, Co Louth.

See one thing

There, the American-born British artist who has lived in Annagassan for around 25 years, showcases a visual diary of contemporary USA thats presented in a single line, kind of like sitting in a car and seeing America go by, as she explained on RTEs Arena recently.

A selection of images from Jackie Nickerson's 'Stateside' exhibition

The snapshot-style work spans a decade-long period of Nickerson working in the US, using whatever camera she had to hand on the day  medium format, 35mm, point and shoot, iPhone.

The result is a series of fragmented, recurring images that explore patterns of sameness across vastly different landscapes, including streets in Chicago, military installations in Hawaii, Utah deserts and New York City skyscrapers. The show runs until May 9. highlanes.ie

Shop one thing

Many people know Maggie Molloy from Cheap Irish Houses, the popular RTE TV series in which the Wexford crafter, illustrator and property prospector helps cash-strapped buyers consider rescuing old homes from their hovel fate.

She not only has a nose for a bargain but a great eye, which will stand her in good stead for her latest endeavour: opening her very own bricks and mortar vintage shop over the May bank holiday weekend in her native Carnew.

Maggie Molloy has dusted off some retro treasures for her second-hand shop

Simply titled Molloys (eircode Y14 HP40, for GPS fans), the shop is a lovingly curated treasure trove of pre-loved homewares, from rainbow-bright ceramics and cushions to retro kitchen gadgets  and even sorbet-hued bathroom sinks that are very much back in vogue. For a peek of what to expect, visit her charming Instagram account @maggie.molloy.

Book one thing

Theres always a pulse of excitement with a new production by Teac Damsa, the contemporary dance theatre company founded by choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan, not least their upcoming show 1975/Naoi Deag Seachto Cuig which debuts on April 30 at Feile na Bealtaine in Dingle (it plays for five nights), before moving to Cork Opera House on June 18-20 as part of Cork Midsummer Festival.

'1975/Naoi Deag Seachto Cuig' is the new work by Michael Keegan-Dolan and troupe

Devised by Keegan-Dolan, the piece will be performed to The Bothy Band 1975, the pioneering trad groups album from the same year  of which member Triona Ni Dhomhnaill is tickled pink:

Seeing Naoi Deag Seachto Cuig transported me right back to moments from the time of making the album, in a way I had not expected.

Teac Damsas interpretation of our work brings to life all the joy, fun, sadness and divilment of what was an extraordinary adventure for us as a band. teacdamsa.com

Visit one thing

Dandelion in Howth combines greengrocer, deli, bakery, cafe and bougie pantry items

For day-trippers, Howth is all about the harbour, the beach, Deer Park and cliff walks  and snaffling fresh fish and chips on the pier (before a local herring gull does it for you).

Residents know that Mamo is the best spot for elevated dining, and The Harbour Bar  the peninsulas only true boozer; no food, just drinks  is No.1 for a creamy pint or (my fave) a Wicklow Wolf Tundra Tropical Pale Ale.

The Country Market, on Main Street, was until recently a mainstay, combining bougie groceries with a deli and an upstairs cafe. Hearts sank, then, when closure was abruptly announced... but soared on learning it was rebranding as Dandelion by local woman Aoife Barker, former head chef of LGueuleton and more recently of 147 Deli sandwiches at Chubbys.

Barker has thankfully retained the pantry goods and deli counter, while adding a very fancy rotisserie oven and a ground floor seating section. No herring gulls here.

Hear one thing

Myles O'Reilly and Ronan O Snodaighs new release 'Mise Tusa'

If Ronan O Snodaighs chant-like vocals on new single Ni Liom Dom are anything to go by, Mise Tusa, his third album with Myles OReilly, is a keeper. Ni Liom Dom was the last track recorded for the LP  and ad-libbed by O Snodaigh, marking a new songwriting technique for the pair.

Says OReilly: It even tips into something a little ravey at the end  the pulse lifts, the heartbeat rises more than in any of our other work. Theres something expansive in it.

Itll be interesting on Friday, when Mise Tusa is released, to find out what melodious paths lead to this unexpected song, tucked between a textural rendition of The Fields of Athenry and their gently undulating The Crackling Radio.
Mary Kenny: British public dont want King Charles to visit Donald Trump, but more than PR is at stake

Monarch should pick up the phone to Taoiseach Micheal Martin after his masterclass with volatile US president

Taoiseach Micheal Martin played his visit to the US and meeting with president Donald Trump expertly. Photo: Getty

Mary Kenny Thu 23 Apr 2026 at 06:30

America declared independence and kicked out the king of England  the mad George III  in 1776. To mark this 250th anniversary, the current king will make an official state visit to the US, starting on Monday.
Its a scandal that has already claimed the careers of high-profile figures in Downing Street and now, the controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson is once again dominating British politics.

Prime minister Keir Starmers decision to appoint Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US has ignited fresh unrest in Westminster.

Its emerged Mandelson failed security vetting before taking up his post - but was appointed regardless.

The fallout has exposed deep fractures inside government. The Foreign Office, responsible for the vetting process, and No 10, which insists it was unaware of any red flags, are now locked in a bitter blame game.

So are Starmers days numbered, or can he keep calm and carry on?

And as the Labour government grapples with scandal and instability, political allegiance is shifting and support for the Green Party is surging.

So who is driving the Green Partys rise - and what does it mean for Labour?

On todays The Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by TRT World presenter Enda Brady to examine whether Starmer can withstand yet another Mandelson controversy - and the rise of the Greens under Zack Polanski.
Ramamoorthy (38)  who, in 2017, served as an adviser to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment  was convicted of sexually exploiting a 13yearold boy in 2017 by asking him to send a sexually explicit image over Snapchat.

He first met the child while volunteering at a Christian childrens camp.

Mr Justice John Edwards, overseeing the appeal process, also rejected a request from the media to name a politician who had provided a glowing character reference for Ramamoorthy.

Following a week of speculation, the judge did clarify that the politician in question is a former TD and no longer an active member of Dail Eireann.

On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Irish Independent special correspondent Catherine Fegan to discuss the events that led to Ramamoorthys crime, the efforts to reveal who the former TD is, and why the politician remains unnamed.
Mallow Search and Rescue is entirely funded via donations. Picture: Mallow Search and Rescue on Facebook

A Cork venue will host an evening of general knowledge fun shot through with community spirit in a quiz to raise much-needed funds for Mallow Search and Rescue ahead of the May Bank Holiday.

The event is organised by Corks 96FM and C103 radio presenter, voiceover actor and quizmaster Darren Johnston, who knows first-hand the efforts that the volunteers go to reunite people with their families.

My dad Philip has been diving since the early 1990s and he has consistently been training and upskilling over the years.

He is very high up in BSAC and is seen as the guy who trains the people who train the people, Darren laughed.

Dad got involved in Mallow Search and Rescue over 10 years ago at this stage and genuinely, some of the stories he would come home with would be heartbreaking, Darren said.

Mallow Search and Rescue are not government funded and rely on fundraising events to keep going.

They are a unit of expert divers, boat handlers and spotters, and they use high-tech equipment for search, rescue and recovery situations.

If someone needed their services anywhere in the country, they would turn up and they volunteer their time most weekends to help people and families, Darren said.

They stay for as long as the search is going on, he added.

Darren Johnston

Darren cited the case of John Keaveney as an example, the Cork man who is missing for over two and a half years.

They are still looking for him because they still want to bring him home and that just resonates with me, Darren explained.

Th Briar Rose, which is located on the Douglas Road in Cork city, will host the smartphone quiz on Thursday, April 30, from 8pm.

Darren hosts the weekly quiz at the Briar Rose and said the owner was helpful from the start in allowing the fundraiser to take place.

The second I said it to the owner he didnt even hesitate  he just asked when do you want to do it?

They have been incredibly helpful, and they donated a prize for the raffle as well, he said.

Over 1,000 worth of prizes will be up for grabs, and all raffle tickets must be bought on the night.

I walked around the city centre for a couple of days with a hat in my hands and as soon as people heard Mallow Search and Rescue, people were very open to giving prizes.

We will only be selling raffle tickets on the night  none will be sold in advance.

If people wish to donate but they dont want to quiz, there will be buckets on the counter if they are passing and want to pop in or, of course, they can buy tickets and stick around for the night, even if they are not quizzing, Darren explained.

Some of the prizes include tickets to a Cork Opera House show, a family photoshoot by Olivia Walsh Photography, four tickets to Cyprus Avenues Club 30 event  which takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend and a range of prizes from businesses within the English Market, just to name a few.

Darren thanked each and every sponsor for their kind contribution.

The quiz is free to enter but booking a table is advised.

Darren described the Briar Rose quizzers as a tight-knit community and hopes to see many familiar faces on the night.

The prizes are absolutely fantastic, and the regulars [quizzers] are totally behind it.

They are a tight-knit community of quizzers that go there every Thursday, and they are a great bunch of people and its always a great night, he said.

For more information visit Darrens Instagram @darrenjradio or thebriardouglas.com.
A senior official with Irelands largest approved housing body Cluid Housing has come in for criticism for saying tenants dont know how to behave with each other when they first move into their apartments.

In a presentation to Dublin councillors in recent weeks, Jo Whittall, deputy chief of operations with Cluid, said building grounds attendants, who attend to the needs of residents of its housing complexes, were particularly important in the case of newly built schemes.

You bring a new community together in a new place and perhaps they dont know how to behave with each other, they dont know how to use the bin stores, the parking, all those sorts of things, he said. So we have someone based pretty much full-time on site to help people settle in, to help people learn how to behave whilst theyre settling in.

I think thats really actually quite awful to put anybody down as that

Social Democrats councillor Jesslyn Henry said at the meeting that she really didnt like Mr Whittalls language around the behaviour of tenants.

I think thats really actually quite awful to put anybody down as that, she said.

Mr Whittall responded: I apologise, that wasnt my intention.

File photo of a Cluid development in Dublin

News in 90 Seconds - 23rd April 2026

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Ms Henry said his comments had been derogatory and just not on.

Im from Coolock, Ive lived in Coolock my whole life. I grew up in social housing. And Im very much engaged; Im now a councillor. But I didnt need to learn how to behave in my community, she said.

Talking about people behaving in their new communities just seemed very off to me. If youre talking about bins and youre talking about alarms and all these things he was talking about, you wouldnt use behave in your new community to describe that.

He apologised, so Im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But in these circumstances, we need to be very, very careful about how were talking about our tenants. Its their human rights were talking about here, and we cant be classist.

As a special-needs assistant, Ms Henry said she wouldnt dream of talking about people in terms of their behaviour the way Mr Whittall did.

A spokesperson for Cluid Housing said Mr Whittalls intention had been to highlight that when residents moved into a new apartment complex, they often needed time and support to adjust to communal living.

Jos point was that successful communities do not form automatically. Cluid believes that successful communities require support, shared expectations, and practical help with areas such as bin-store usage, especially in the early stages, they said.

This is why having building attendants in new schemes can play a key role in helping residents adapt to the realities of shared spaces, as the new community creates their own norms and ways of interacting.

They pointed to research that showed apartment residents can feel less sense of community in apartments versus traditional housing.

Our intention is to emphasise how approved housing bodies like Cluid can best support new residents to build strong, thriving communities, they said. Established in 1994, Cluid is the largest AHB in Ireland, housing more than 35,000 social and cost-rental tenants on behalf of local authorities.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A Lotto player in Galway had a night to remember on Wednesday after winning the top prize of 250,000 in the Lotto Plus 2 draw. The winning ticket was purchased on the day of the draw from Applegreen Galway on the Tuam Road.

The winning numbers for the Wednesday April 22 Lotto Plus 2 draw were: 05, 07, 09, 15, 18, 40 and the Bonus was 16.

The winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket and keep it safe.

Meanwhile on the same night, an online player in County Kilkenny won 39,952 after matching five numbers and the bonus in last nights main Lotto draw. The player purchased their ticket online on the day of the draw. An email notification has been sent to the online winner encouraging them to check their account.

Defence Forces chaplain Fr Paul Murphy said a prayer at the event, which was attended by representatives of Renmore Barracks and some of Private Griffins former colleagues from Collins Barracks in Cork, where he had been based.

Darragh ODwyer, National Lottery spokesperson said: It was an incredible night of wins for Lotto players right across Ireland with one player in Galway winning the Lotto Plus 2 top prize worth 250,000.

"And the celebrations didnt stop there, as an online player in Co. Kilkenny matched five numbers and the Bonus in the main Lotto draw to take home a fantastic 39,952.

"Were urging all players to check their tickets and online accounts very carefully today. If you discover that you have the winning Lotto Plus 2 ticket or the Match 5 plus Bonus ticket, be sure to contact our Prize Claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to visit Lottery Headquarters to collect their prize.
They do everything together, says solicitor

Identical twins Robert and James OBrien appeared at Tralee District Court before Judge David Waters for sentencing.

The two OBriens (36) of An Caislean Mor, Castleisland, were charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour towards a mother and her adult daughter walking home at Pound Road, Castleisland, Kerry, on May 1, 2025. The court heard a misogynist slur was said to the younger woman, who was in early adulthood.

The twins sat beside each other in the front row of the gallery as Sergeant Chris Manton read their record, which included 37 previous convictions for Robert and 49 for James.

They do everything together, said their solicitor, Pat Mann. Theres a certain telepathy between the two of them. They go out together, they go around town together

Well maybe they could share a cell together, said the judge.

They had previously received 100 community service hours for a conviction of the same nature in April 2025, days before this incident.

The judge noted he would have given a stronger penalty had he known.

Mr Mann noted they would start community service the next Wednesday at Nuns Wood on Killeen Road, Tralee.

He noted it had not escalated beyond name calling.

Their mothers heart is broken, added Mr Mann.

The judge sentenced the twins to 40 hours of community service in lieu of two months prison.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Alan Flynn is set to retire after over 50 years in business

A long-established menswear shop in Portlaoise is set to close its doors after over half a century in business, marking the end of an era for the local community.
Dundalk Chamber has hailed its Cross-Border Tourism Conference, held in the Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford, as a major success, with over 200 attendees from across the North East and beyond coming together to explore the future of regional tourism.

The event brought together key stakeholders from tourism, business, culture, and local government to highlight the immense potential of cross-border collaboration in driving sustainable economic growth and enhancing the visitor experience across the region.

A strong programme of speakers provided valuable insights into the evolving tourism landscape. Paul Hayes and Mary Claire Cowley of An Tain Arts Theatre delivered an engaging presentation on the importance of cultural tourism and the role of creative partnerships in shaping authentic visitor experiences.

Olivia McCormack of Louth County Council outlined the continued development of tourism initiatives under Visit Louth, with a particular focus on trails, tours, and the strategic promotion of the county as a leading destination.

Grainne OConnor of Cuilcagh Lakelands Global Geopark highlighted the success of cross-border tourism models and the opportunities presented by leveraging natural assets and shared heritage across jurisdictions.

Rory King of Rorys Travel Club provided practical insights into The Power of Social Media and Email Marketing, demonstrating how digital platforms can significantly amplify reach and attract new visitors to the region.

The highlight of the conference was a keynote address by Pol O Conghaile, Travel Writer with Irish Independent, whose insights into Irelands tourism offering, storytelling, and global positioning underscored the importance of authenticity and place in tourism development.

The conference also featured a vibrant exhibition space, with over 20 local tourism and hospitality businesses showcasing their offerings. Exhibitors included Carlingford Oysters, Narrow Water Lodges, Carlingford Adventure Centre, Dundalk Tourist Office, and many more, highlighting the depth and diversity of experiences available across the region.

Speaking following the event, Dundalk Chamber CEO John McGahon said: This conference showcased the strength of collaboration across our region and the enormous opportunity that exists when we work together on a cross-border basis. With over 200 people in attendance, it is clear there is real momentum behind tourism in the North East, and Dundalk Chamber is proud to play a leading role in driving that forward.

Dundalk Chamber President Hanna McDonnell added: The scale and energy of this conference demonstrates just how strong our tourism offering is across the North East. There is a real appetite to work together, tell our story, and position this region as a must-visit destination on the island of Ireland. The conference reaffirmed Dundalk Chambers commitment to supporting tourism as a key economic driver, while fostering partnerships that enhance the regions profile both nationally and internationally.
Residents in unfinished estates deserve to know when works will be carried out, meeting hears

The legacy of unfinished estates has continued since the economic crash of 2008-2009. File photo.

The Dundalk area is disproportionately affected by the legacy of unfinished housing estates, with some residents waiting more than 20 years for their developments to be taken in charge, a Louth councillor has warned.

The issue was raised at the April meeting of Dundalk Municipal District by Cllr Marianne Butler, who referred to a motion she tabled at a recent Louth County Council meeting calling for a clear and detailed timeline for when estates across the county will be formally taken in charge.

We do have a serious issue with this in Dundalk, Cllr Butler told the meeting. Thankfully more money has gone into trying to rectify it, but there are people living in estates that were not finished, and they just want clarity.

She said that while some estates require such extensive works that they could absorb an entire annual budget, residents still deserve transparency and realistic timelines.

In some estates so much work is needed that it would eat up a yearly budget, but for these places we need to let them know if we are doing work over three years, or four years, but we will get there, she said.

Cllr Sionnain McCann said the scale of the problem across the county should not be underestimated.

Currently the youngest sitting councillor on Louth County Council, she added: There are multiple housing estates waiting to be taken in charge since before I was born!

Cllr Fiona Mhic Conchoille highlighted the situation in an estate in Omeath, which was taken in charge by the council over a year ago, a relief for residents who waited more than a decade.

But zero has happened in that estate, she said. I think they had big expectations that footpaths and roads would be done. It is an unfinished estate that families are in, with kids playing.

She asked officials whether there was a defined timeline for improvement works once an estate is formally taken in charge.

Cllr Kevin Meenan raised concerns about Beacon Court, where there is a mix of councilowned and privately owned homes, as well as longterm leases held by the local authority. He said residents there have experienced flooding, with water emerging from a pedestrian walkway.

The council needs a strategy for areas like this where public and private ownership are mixed, he said.

Cllr Sean Kelly sought an update on Lis na Dara, asking whether the council was liaising with Irish Water on outstanding issues and if concerns around public lighting were being addressed.

Officials told the meeting that work is under way to compile a comprehensive list of all unfinished estates in the county, with plans to prioritise and progress works over time once that list is finalised.

Deputy Chief Executive Thomas McEvoy said the Omeath estate, Elmore Lawns, is included on the councils schedule for future works.

The meeting heard that Lis na Dara in Dundalk is almost ready to be taken in charge, with public lighting details currently being finalised.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Robbie Nash, welcomed the appointment of a new Taking in Charge officer at the council.

He said that while funding might not be available to finish all works in every unfinished estate, progress was being made.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A 50-year-old man has received a suspended sentence after he stole tools and appliances from a house next door to him.

James Collins (50) of Ballinlough, Claremorris, Co. Mayo was charged that on an unknown date between November 18, 2018 and November 19, 2018 at Drumbaun, Curry, East Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, he stole a warmflow oil boiler, a transformer and a circulation pump property belonging to Thomas Forkan and stole a transformer, a Makita Wall Chaser, a Bosch industrial hoover and a roll of copper wire from Vincent Hunt.

Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with State Solicitor Ms Elisa McHugh prosecuted whilst Ms Elaine Finneran BL instructed by Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor appeared for Collins.

Mr Mulrooney told the court that Collins was arraigned on January 15, 2026 on a plea of guilty at Sligo Circuit Court.

Garda David Kelly outlined the evidence led by Mr Mulrooney.

Gda Kelly told the court that on November 20, Thomas Forken entered a building belonging to Sligo County Council which he was working on. He left the building on Friday, November 16 and returned on Tuesday. He found that a warmflow boiler, a transformer and his circulation pump were gone from the house. Mr Hunt, who was an electrician also returned to the house to find his equipment gone.

The court heard that Hunts transformer was valued at 75, the copper wire valued at 200, the industrial hoover valued at 450 and the Makita Wall Chaser valued at 550.

On October 22, 2019, Gda Kelly along with his colleage searched Collins house, which was next to the property that was burgled. They observed at the front door the industrial hoover, the Mokita Wall chaser and the transformer. Collins told the gardai that he bought the items in a car boot sale over in England. The items were seized as evidence.

On December 12, 2019, gardai saw an ad on Donedeal for a warmflow boiler. It was established that the ad was paid for by Collins wife Sarah.

On January 20, 2020, Collins was arrested and brought to Castlebar Garda Station. In the interview, Collins told gardai that he had four children with his wife and they moved to Ireland from Doncaster five years ago. He added that he was disabled due to an injury in his leg he suffered in 2005.

The court heard that the defendant had an argument with a worker for Sligo County Council who was putting up a fence between his wifes house and the neighbouring house. The argument was about land boundaries at his wifes property.

Collins denied stealing the items from the property until gardai brought up the Donedeal ad. The defendant told the gardai that he stole the items to teach the owner of the house a lesson. He continued that he got 1,200 for the boiler. He explained that he asked his wife to set up the Donedeal account.

Judge Kenneth Connolly was handed in photos of the stolen items.

The court heard that Collins had 45 previous convictions, 42 of which occured in the UK. He had five previous convictions for burglary and four for stolen goods.

Gda Kelly read out Mr Hunts victim impact statement.

Mr Hunt said that Collins theft affected his work and his income. He added that it was financially hard for him and stressful. He asked the judge to take in the seriousness of the impact it had on him on whatever way they see fit in sentencing Collins.

Ms Finneran told Judge Connolly that Collins three previous convictions in Ireland arose out of the one incident in Castlebar. She added that for her clients previous convictions in the UK, the last one was on November 2012. She said that he had a 10 year period where he committed no offences.

Ms Finneran said that Collins had a difficult childhood and got involved with the wrong people at a young age. She added that Collins had 1,500 in compensation for the injured parties.

Judge Connolly asked Gda Kelly if the victims were compensated by insurance. Gda Kelly replied that for Mr Hunt, he was not compensated with insurance as his items were not left in his van.

Ms Finneran said that Collins had three grandchildren and that due to an accident he is unable to work. Ms Finneran continued that her client is ashamed and sorry for the thefts.

Ms Finneran informed the court that Collins is currently doing community service and that he has 60 hours left to do. She added that her client possibly has ADHD which might explain why he stole the items.

Judge Connolly noted that Mr Forkens stolen items were worth 2,170 and Mr Hunts items were worth 1,275. He said that an aggravating factor was Collins culpability in the interview with the gardai. He added that it arose over a dispute over land and that Collins wanted to teach his neighbour a lesson.

Judge Connolly noted that Collins put an ad on Donedeal so he could personally benefit from the thefts.

Judge Connolly noted that Collins pleaded guilty, and that he went eight years without coming to the attention of gardai. He also noted that Collins was a family man and that it was not an easy job to raise four children.

Judge Connolly noted that the probation report highlighted that Collins had a difficult childhood in the UK. He added that it put the defendant at a moderate risk of re-offending.

Judge Connolly sentenced Collins to two years in prison, suspended for five years on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour, pay Mr Forkan 1,500 and Mr Hunt 500 and pay them a further 2,000 and 1,000 respectively within the next nine months.

Other conditions were that the defendant undergo supervision of the probation service for one year and follow all their recommendations.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
A 38-year-old man has received a suspended sentence at Sligo Circuit Court after assaulting his wife at their family home.

Ramen Ghosh (38), formely of North Court, Quayside, Sligo was charged with assaulting his partner causing her harm at North Court, Quayside on September 28, 2024.

Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with State Solicitor Ms Elisa McHugh prosecuted whilst Mr Des Dockery SC, with Mr Eoin McGovern BL instructed by Mr Gerard McGovern appeared for Ghosh.

Detective Garda Lydia Cawley outlined the evidence led by Mr Mulrooney.

The court heard that Ghosh was born in India. His parents arranged a marriage with his partner who was from Bangladesh and they married in 2017, having only met face to face twice beforehand. In 2018, he came to Ireland to do study for PHD at University College Dublin whilst his wife stayed in Bangladesh. She visited him three times in 2019 and the relationship was good.

On January 21, 2020 Ghoshs wife came on a visitors visa and stayed with him in Dublin. Due to the visa, she was not able to work. Ghosh only earned 1,500 a month from his scholarship which caused a strain in their relationship. They also had a child together in Dublin.

On September 16, 2021, Ghoshs wife got a stamp that allowed her to work and she started working. However, this caused a further strain in the relationship as they couple had to organise a babysitter when they were both working.

In July 2022, the couple moved to Sligo as Ghosh got a job at ATU Sligo.

On September 28, 2024, the couple got into an argument about all aspects of their relationship.Ghoshs partner followed him up the stairs to continue the argument with him. She said that she wanted to get the phone to call the gardai.

Ghosh grabbed her and put her on the floor. He grabbed her head and banged it hard off the floor four or five times.

Ghoshs partner was on the floor beside a bed and a chair. The defendant then dragged her head and started banging it between the two. The victim was so scared and thought that Ghosh was going to kill her.

The defendant banged her head so hard that she thought she could get a hemorrhage. Ghosh then bit her on the left side of her face.

The defendant told his partner not to call the gardai. The victim said that she would not but went outside and called them. She said that she had bumps on both sides of her face.

Ghosh was arrested and in an interview with gardai, when asked if he grabbed his partner, and bit her, he replied that he did not remember. He denied that he hit his partner.

Judge Kenneth Connolly was handed photographs of the injuries.

The court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions.

Dt Gda Cawley read out a victim impact statement.

The victim said that after the assualt she was fighting each day alone in a new country. She added that she is anxious and depressed and that she had therapy with DVAS which improved her condition. Ghoshs former partner said that she thought he was going to kill her.

In reply to Mr Dockery, Dt Gda Cawley confirmed that he continues to support their daughter together.

Mr Mulrooney told the court that the maximum sentence for the offence was 10 years.

Mr Dockery told Judge Connolly that Ghoshs marriage to his former partner was arranged by their respective parents when the pair only met face to face on two occasions.

He added that his client is highly educated as he holds a masters degree and a doctorate in electrical engineering. Mr Dockery continued that Ghosh overcame every possible obstacle to succeed here.

Mr Dockery said that Ghosh was very proud of his daughter and that he takes her to creche every day from her mothers house when he is going to work. He added that his client is deeply sorry for what happened to his partner.

Mr Dockery handed in a character reference from a couple who were friends with Ghosh. The said that they knew the defendant for four years and that he helped his daughter with maths for her Leaving Cert. They added that their daughter was very happy with him. They continued that Ghosh was a positive, respectful and thoughtful person.

Mr Dockery said that Ghosh went to Men Overcoming Violence Emotions (MOVE) Ireland on June 26, 2025, and that he had six one on one sessions with the organisation. He added that on July 1, 2025, his client completed the programme.

Mr Dockery read from Ghoshs medical report provided by Dr Sinead McDermott. He said that his client has a long history of having anxiety. He added that his client knew the assault was unacceptable. He continued that Ghosh was essentially a good man that has never been in trouble before.

Mr Dockery said that Ghosh had 5,000 in compensation for the victim as a token of remorse. He added that his client paid 400 a month to his partner for their daughter.

Mr Mulrooney told the court that the victim did not want to accept the money.

Judge Connolly said that it was quite a horrible incident as it happened in their family home. He added that it was disgusting and disgraceful that Ghosh bit his former partner on her face.

Judge Connolly continued that Ghosh told the victim not to call gardai and that his partner had to attend at Sligo University Hospitals Accident and Emergency Department due to her injuries.

In mitigation, Judge Connolly noted that Ghosh gave a very early plea which meant that the victim did not have to go through a trial and be cross examined. He also noted that the defendant had no previous convictions and that he was in a stressful and fractious relationship.

Judge Connolly also said that Ghosh referred to MOVE Ireland early and not on the eve of his court date and that the medical report said that he had depression and anxiety. He added that the defendant brought 5,000 to court which the victim does not want to accept.

Judge Connolly sentenced Ghosh to three years in prison, suspended for a period of four years on condition that he kept the peace and be of good behaviour, had no unsolicited contact with the injured party save for child arrangements and gave 5,000 to his solicitor to hold for 30 days in case the injured party wished to have it for her daughter.

Judge Connolly told the injured party that he really thought she should take the money for her daughter. Shortly afterwards, Mr McGovern confirmed that the injured party wished to take the money.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
A 42-year-old man used three different bank accounts to claim 6,790 in Covid pandemic payments despite him not being eligible for them, Sligo Circuit Court heard.

Valentin Anghel of Killylough, Tedavnet, Co. Monaghan was charged that between July 7, 2020 and March 9, 2021 he used property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct in lodgements totalling 6,790 by the Department of Social Protection in Pandemic Unemployment Payments (PUP) paid in his name and that of Romana Caldairais and Valentine Stana which was lodged to his Bank of Ireland account.

Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with State Solicitor Ms Elisa McHugh prosecuted whilst Mr Eugene Deering BL instructed by Ms Aoife Kelly appeared for Anghel.

Detective Garda Gregory Regan from the Department of Social Proctection outlined the evidence led by Mr Mulrooney.

The court heard that Dt Gda Regan received a social welfare inspection report which showed that three different recipients of PUP payments were paid into Anghels bank account. All three people were not eligible for the PUP payments as they had not been employed or self employed.

The first account set up was in Anghels name but he was not eligible as he was living in France. The defendant made three previous applications but on April 29, 2020 he withdrew them as he said he was was no longer eligible.

On May 27, 2020, he applied again but the payments ceased as he did not respond to a questionnaire. Anghel made another application on August 2, 2020 but it was turned down. In total, 14 payments of 203 each were paid into his bank account, totalling 2,824.

The second account Anghel opened was in his wifes name, Roman Caldairais. The application followed the exact same chronology of Anghels previous account. The defendant gave the exact same reason for withdrawing the first claim. In total, 14 payments were made into the account.

The third account which the defendant opened was in his uncles name, Valentine Stansa. The PUP payments application was made in a similar pattern but not in the exact same chronology. On June 25, 2020, the defendant cancelled the payments as he said he got referred to work. Anghel made another claim on October 26, 2020. A total of 1,106 was paid into this account.

The court heard that all of the money was paid into Anghels account which was based at Bank of Ireland, Stephen St, Sligo.

On April 6, 2021, Dt Gda Regan went to the Bank of Ireland head office to receive information about Anghels bank account. The information showed that the defendants account was approved on May 25, 2020 and that he used a Romanian passport as one of his identification documents. The very first payment into Anghels account was made on July 7, 2020.

Anghel made two withdrawals in Sligo and made two transactions with the account. On July 22, 2021, all the money was withdrawn in France, totalling 6,790.

On May 18, 2021, after Dt Gda Regan obtained a search warrant, he searched Anghels address in Sligo at City View, Connaughton Road. He spoke to a Romanian national at the address, who told him that their mother Ms Caldairais was in a relationship with Anghel but was no longer seeing him. Dt Gda Regan found an expired Romanian passport and a letter from a bank belonging to the defendant.

Dt Gda Regan searched locations in Monaghan, Sligo and Dublin to find Anghel but he was unsuccessful. He checked with the Department of Social Welfare who informed him that Anghel had received social welfare payments in Ireland since 2013.

Dt Gda Regan engaged with Interpol and the defendant was stopped in France on November 5, 2021. Dt Gda Regan sent over a list of questions for police to ask the defendant. Anghel said that he was last in Ireland in December 2020. However a bank statement showed that Anghel left the country in January 2021.

Anghel said that he worked as an Uber driver up to December 2020 and that he was living with his family at City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo. He said that he opened the bank account but that he did not have a visa or credit card. However, the defendant withdrew money from an ATM in France.

When told that he was not entitled to the payments, Anghel replied that he did not know what the situation was, and that it was a mistake by the Irish authorities. When he was asked what happened to the money, Anghel said that he spent it all on his family. The defendant then accepted that he withdrew cash from an ATM in France.

The defendant said that he did not know he was not entilted to the payments. He added that he had been living in Ireland since 1998 and had four children here. He continued that he thought he was entitled to the same social assistance that other people were getting. Anghel said that he returned to Ireland to be close to his family.

In December 2025, an application was made to the High Court for an arrest warrant for Anghel. The defendant came back to Ireland voluntarily.

The court heard that Anghel was on a weekly social welfare payment of 692.60 as he had a family, and that he had paid back 37.80 every week from this.

The court heard that the defendant had three previous convictions, the last of which was in 2008.

Mr Deering told the court that his client hadnt come to the attention to the gardai since, that he came forward on a plea of guilty and that there was 4,433.94 outstanding. He told Judge Johnson that his client had 3,435 in court. He added that Anghel recently moved to Monaghan as that was the only accommodation he could secure.

Judge Johnson asked if the defendant intended to stay in the country. Mr Deering replied that Anghel wished to stay in Ireland.

Mr Mulrooney told Judge Johnson that the maximum sentence for Anghels offence was 14 years.

Mr Deering said that it was a serious abuse of social welfare payments. He added that Anghel married his wife at the age of 19, and had six children, four of which were born in Ireland. He continued that he left Ireland in 2013 and returned in 2020.

Mr Deering said that Anghel was currently on a jobseekers payment. He added that whilst he does not have evidence to present to the court, Anghels wife was seriously ill. Mr Deering continued that Anghel worked over the Christmas period for a courier company but that the work was only seasonal.

Mr Deering said that his client intended to gain employment. He added that Anghel voluntarily came to Ireland for the extradition process to face the music. Mr Deering continued that the probation report put his client at a low risk of re-offending and that his previous convictions were of some vintage.

Judge Johnson said that Anghels offence was a serious breach of trust and gross fraud. He added that the defendant took from the tax payer and genuine recipients of the social welfare scheme. He continued that an aggravating factor was that it was a pre-meditated significant fraud on the State for a period of eight months.

Judge Johnson noted that Anghel came back voluntary after the arrest warrant was issued, which saved the state a lenghty legal process.

In mitigation, Judge Johnson noted that the defendant pleaded guilty at the District Court and that he co-operated fully with the gardai. He added that the probation report put him at a low risk of re-offending and that he had 3,435 in court.

Judge Johnson sentenced Anghel to four years in prison. However, he adjourned the case to December 8, 2026 for the defendant to donate 3,000 to North West Hospice.

Judge Johnson said that if Anghel donated the requested amount, he would do 240 hours of community service, in lieu of the four year custodial sentence. Judge Johnson also asked for evidence of the Anghels wifes serious illness to be handed into court on the next date.

Anghel was remanded on continuing bail on condition that he kept the peace and be of good behaviour, signed on three times at Monaghan Garda Station and fully engaged with the probation services.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
The importance of angling tourism to the local economy was highlighted at the April meeting of Sligo County Council with Cllr Dara Mulvey calling for the signage at Sligos fishing lakes to be improved.

In his motion Cllr Mulvey called on Sligo County Council to See how we can improve the signage for the fishing lakes in our county as to increase the tourism potential of these fishing locations.

Speaking to his motion Cllr Mulvey praised the work carried out by Tourism Officer Aidan McCormack but noted there are popular areas such as on the Owenmore River that are not signposted.

Addressing the Council Chamber Cllr Mulvey pointed out that, Many anglers will go to tackle shops for supplies and information but in smaller areas without tackle shops, no information is available.

Cllr Mulvey added, Fishing tourism is a great boost for local areas. We have fabulous lakes, if we can improve the signage it will encourage more people into them.

The motion was supported by Cllr Marie Casserly who said, There is huge tourism potential. Anglers are bringing thousands of visitors, spending millions every year. There is a huge campaign towards the importance of angling in Ireland and the north west. The potential is huge. I have met with Aidan (Tourism Officer) about this and he is very keen to support the anglers and the tourism providers.

Cllr Edel McSharry also gave her backing to the motion saying, There is huge potential to attract tourists. Any indigenous industry, we need to promote. We have great fishing locations and a great history of fishing. This is a simple measure that will help in terms of marketing.

Cllr Ann Higgins also offered her support adding, Were a smart economy now, we should be looking at QR codes. I think we should do something like that with street names as well. It would make it more engaging for tourists and those of us who live here.

Director of Services Jim Molloy addressed the meeting in relation to the query raised by Cllr Higgins in relation to QR codes saying, Signage has to be approved by Failte Ireland. QR codes is not something we favour because it often gets manipulated and people are brought to sites they shouldnt be.

Mr Molloy added, There is always the risk of invasive species coming in with fishing. There are a lot of things we need to be careful of, things we have to bear in mind but if applications come in we will look at them.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Locals in Wexford recently gathered at large to celebrate a milestone birthday for a well-known figure in the Gorey community.

Over 80 people turned up to the Loch Garman Arms Hotel in Gorey on Saturday, April 18 to celebrate the 60th birthday of Catriona Dixon. Catriona was joined by her husband Joe, daughters Tara and Leah and the wider Gorey community for the special occasion.
Cocaine of 2,394 were found in Breslins home during another incident

A Wicklow man who engaged in dangerous driving, drug offences and fraud has been given a suspended prison sentence at Gorey District Court.

Conor Breslin (26) of Ballinacore, Tinahely, Wicklow, appeared before the court, where he pleaded guilty to a number of charges, with Judge John Cheatle presiding.

Garda Sergeant Daly told the court that on October 26, 2023, a search was carried out at Breslins home, during which cocaine valued at approximately 2,394 was discovered. During interview, Breslin admitted he was holding the drugs for another person in order to repay a drug debt.

Breslin was also charged with a fraud offence having used a counterfeit cheque on January 7, 2023 at The Gap Pub, Gorey, causing the pub to be at a loss of 630.

The accused was also before the court on multiple charges of dangerous driving. On January 25, 2023 Garda Newman observed Breslin driving at Main Street, Gorey. At the time there was heavy traffic and the accused opted to drive around the garda patrol car causing a member of An Garda Siochana to jump out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. The accused continued driving and turned down a one-way side street travelling in the incorrect direction.

On another occasion at Kevin Street, Tinahely, the accused was observed driving causing gardai to activate the blue lights prompting Breslin to abandon the car and flee on foot. Gardai conducted a search of the vehicle where they discovered 600 of cannabis, along with various tablets.

Breslin subsequently returned to the vehicle. Garda Newman attempted to open the passenger door, which was locked, while the garda was holding the door handle the accused drove backwards and forwards taking Garda Newman with the vehicle. A garda patrol car blocked the pathway of the accused which Breslin rammed, causing 4,000 worth of damage. In an attempt to evade gardai Breslin then reversed his car hitting a parked vehicle.

On December 31, 2023, Breslin handed himself into a garda station in relation to the incidents and later made admissions, accepting responsibility for the drugs found.

The court heard that Breslin has two previous convictions, including one for dangerous driving at Arklow District Court in 2022, which had been reduced to careless driving.

Counsel for the accused, Andrew Butler BL, highlighted to the court that Breslin had paid compensation to the Gap Pub in connection with the counterfeit cheque. The barrister informed the court that the defendant had since moved to the West of Ireland in an effort to get away from the issues surrounding him in his hometown and has put this type of behaviour behind him.

Judge Cheatle imposed a two year driving disqualification in connection with the dangerous driving offences, along with an eight month prison sentence suspended for 12 months on the condition that Breslin enter into a 12 month probation supervision bond.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
Heritage experts have told an Oireachtas committee that Arklow could benefit significantly from the States expanding THRIVE programme, a major national scheme providing up to 7 million per project to restore derelict or vacant heritage buildings in town centres.

The comments came during a session examining heritage led regeneration, where concerns about long term dereliction in Arklow were raised alongside examples of successful revitalisation in other towns.

Wicklow Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne opened the discussion by highlighting the transformation of the Market House in Gorey, describing it as a model of how public sector leadership can re energise a town centre. He noted that the project exemplifies the aims of THRIVE  the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme  which provides 100pc grants to local authorities to renovate and adapt publicly owned heritage buildings.

The scheme, co funded by the Irish government and the European Union has a national budget of 85120 million depending on the funding round, with individual awards of up to 7 million for capital works.

Gorey shows what can be achieved when local authorities, community groups and national supports align, Deputy Byrne said. But Arklow faces a very different challenge, and I would ask the witnesses to address that directly.

Donough Cahill of the Irish Georgian Society said THRIVE had become a key catalyst for change because it allows the public sector to take on projects that would not be commercially viable for private investors.

Under Strand 1, local authorities can receive 40,000200,000 to develop integrated urban strategies and identify suitable heritage buildings for reuse. Under Strand 2, they can secure 27 million to renovate or adapt derelict buildings in public ownership.

THRIVE empowers local authorities to reimagine heritage buildings and bring them back into sustainable use, Mr Cahill said. Once the public sector takes the first step, it often unlocks further investment.

But Deputy Byrne pressed the panel to focus specifically on Arklow, where An Taisce has repeatedly documented widespread dereliction, particularly among historic buildings on the main street and near the harbour.

Recent assessments by An Taisce describe Arklow as one of Irelands most problematic towns for dereliction, especially in its historic centre and port area. The criticism focuses on the failure to register derelict sites and apply the 7pc annual levy intended to discourage vacancy. This means historic buildings, already vulnerable due to industrial decline, remain locked in private ownership without incentives for reuse.

Ian Lumley of An Taisce acknowledged the success of projects in Gorey and Athy, including the Shackleton Experience, but said Arklows situation is more severe due to the collapse of its traditional industries.

He compared it to Waterford, which faced similar decline but succeeded in regenerating its centre through strong local authority leadership and strategic use of national funding supports.

Arklow stands out because of the scale of industrial loss, Mr Lumley said.

But what really distinguishes it is the lack of effective use of the Derelict Sites Act. Despite the visible dereliction, very few properties have been registered.

He contrasted Wicklow County Councils approach with that of Carlow, which he described as far more proactive in using derelict sites legislation to discourage long term vacancy.

He noted that the governments plan to have the Revenue Commissioners collect the 7pc annual levy on derelict sites should strengthen enforcement, but only if councils first register the properties.

Mr Lumley said Arklow urgently needs a landmark project to shift public perception and create a focal point for regeneration. He suggested that the towns maritime heritage and seafront offer significant potential for a flagship development but warned that the main street must also receive sustained attention.

Arklow needs a strong, visible intervention, he said. A maritime attraction could be transformative, but it must be accompanied by action on dereliction. Otherwise, any new investment risks being overshadowed by the surrounding decay.

The committee also heard that THRIVE is specifically designed to address the kind of challenges Arklow faces. The scheme targets key towns and urban centres, funding the renovation of publicly owned heritage buildings that have architectural, historical or cultural significance. It aims to reduce vacancy and dereliction, support the Town Centre First policy, and embed the principles of the New European Bauhaus, sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion.

Ministerial statements accompanying the schemes launch emphasise that THRIVE gives local authorities the tools to bring Irelands heritage buildings into the 21st century and breathe new life into towns and urban centres across the country.

Deputy Byrne said the committee would consider raising the issue with relevant government departments, noting that Arklow deserves the same opportunities that have been delivered elsewhere.

The session concluded with broad agreement that heritage led regeneration can play a transformative role in revitalising town centres but only when supported by proactive enforcement, strategic investment and strong local leadership.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Wicklows shared e-bike network is set for an overhaul, following the selection of Bolt as the preferred operator in a new countywide tender that will replace the existing Moby scheme from late April.

Bolt was the first company to introduce shared e-bikes to Wicklow in 2023, but their contract in Bray was terminated early in 2025.

There had been complaints over the firms handling of customer feedback, while the firm highlighted vandalism as being one of their greatest challenges in the area.

It is also understood that the firm, which had invested 250,000 into the Bray e-bike scheme, operated at a financial loss in Bray.

The latest tender, issued on November 18, 2025, attracted three submissions and was evaluated by a four-member panel based on quality and price. Bolt emerged as the top ranked bidder and is currently in the standstill period before the final award is confirmed.

The existing Moby contract will conclude on April 28, after which the transition to the new operator is expected to begin. The change marks the end of a two-year pilot phase that saw strong uptake across Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town, with more than 62,000 trips recorded countywide.

While the current network covers Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town, the new tender adds Kilcoole for the first time and includes options to extend into Arklow and Blessington.

Civil works for new cycle parking locations in Kilcoole are already underway, signalling Wicklow County Councils intention to create a more connected mobility corridor across north Wicklow. The addition of Kilcoole is expected to link the town more closely with Greystones and Delgany, supporting short distance trips that are currently dominated by car travel.

Under the current arrangement, Moby operates 250 e-bikes across the county. Bolts proposal introduces a scalable model: Bray will receive 90 bikes initially, with capacity to increase to 150; Greystones will start with 80, also expandable to 150; and Wicklow town will retain 50 bikes, with potential to double to 100.

Kilcooles allocation will be confirmed once infrastructure is complete. This flexible approach allows the council to respond to demand, particularly during peak commuting periods and the busy summer months, when availability has been a recurring issue for users.

A notable feature of the new tender is the inclusion of e-scooters at no cost to the council. Bolt will supply and operate the scooters once national legislation and local policy permit their deployment. This mirrors the companys model in Wexford, where shared bikes and scooters operate side by side, using the same parking infrastructure. The addition of scooters is expected to broaden the appeal of shared micromobility, particularly for short urban trips and first and last mile connections to public transport.

Bolts fleet will also introduce upgraded hardware and safety features. The companys latest generation e-bikes include dual band GPS for improved positioning accuracy, vandal resistant QR codes, concealed cables, drum brakes, brighter availability lights and a more robust kickstand.

These enhancements are designed to reduce maintenance issues and improve reliability, two areas that have challenged operators in smaller towns, where weather exposure and misuse can take a toll on equipment. Bolts experience operating in multiple Irish counties, including Wexford, Westmeath and Meath, was a key factor in its strong performance during the evaluation process.

Pricing under the new tender remains competitive, with a 0.75 unlock fee and a 0.22 per minute rate. Bolt will also offer a suite of bundles, including 30-minute day passes, multi-day minute packages and a monthly unlimited unlock option.

Cllr Lourda Scott, who first proposed the introduction of shared e-bikes in Greystones in 2023, said the strong uptake of the current scheme demonstrates the appetite for sustainable transport options.

Over 18,000 kilometres cycled in Greystones in the last year is huge, she said. What stands out is the consistent use. Even during a very wet February, there were over 500 trips. That shows that renting an e bike is becoming part of daily life in the town.

She welcomed the expansion of the scheme and the inclusion of Kilcoole in the next phase.

The aim from the beginning was to give people a practical alternative for short journeys, particularly in our hilly area and with all the traffic congestion we have. The uptake shows that people are willing to leave the car behind when the alternative is readily available and easy to use.

Cllr Scott also highlighted the importance of integrating Wicklow into the national shift toward shared mobility.

Our neighbours in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown are shortly rolling out a pilot mobility hub. These hubs will support more connected and flexible travel choices for residents and crucially will be subsidised, making them a cheaper option than filling the car. I will continue to push for Wicklow to be included in the next phase.

The new tender aligns closely with the councils current climate action plan, which emphasises active travel, emissions reduction and shared mobility.

The expanded network is expected to play a central role in the countys sustainable transport strategy in the years ahead.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The great Zara rebrand: Can controversial designer John Galliano help elevate fast fashion to high fashion?

From Dior to disgrace, its been a tumultuous few years for couturier John Galliano. Now, his surprising next move is as creative director for the high street favourite. Here, we ask industry experts whether his luxe appeal along with sustainable re-authoring promises will be enough to lure shoppers away from even lower-cost competitors like Shein

Designer John Galliano, who signed a two-year contract with Zara. Photo: Szilveszter Mako

Meadhbh McGrath Thu 23 Apr 2026 at 06:30

These days, it can feel like theres a new high street collaboration dropping every other week. In the past few months, weve seen Marks & Spencer releasing designs by Bella Freud and 16Arlington, Tolu Cokers capsule for Topshop, Stella McCartney working with H&M and, just this week, Victoria Beckham teaming up with Gap.
Japan is paying single young people to try online dating

The incentive in Kochi prefecture is a move to combat declining population and birth rate

The payment is enough to cover the bulk of subscription fees for approved apps. Photo: Getty

Maroosha Muzaffar UK Independent Thu 23 Apr 2026 at 06:30







Japans Kochi prefecture is offering financial incentives to get young singles to use dating apps  one of a range of initiatives to combat declining birthrates.
The Biobank has been used to achieve improvements in detection and treatment of dementia, cancers and Parkinsons (PA)

The details of 500,000 members of the UKs health data project, the Biobank, were offered for sale online in China, the British government has confirmed.

Technology minister Ian Murray said information of all half a million members of the database was found listed for sale on the website Alibaba, as he called the breach unacceptable abuse of its data.

The Biobank is the worlds most comprehensive dataset of biological, health and lifestyle information. It has been used to achieve improvements in detection and treatment of dementia, cancers and Parkinsons.

Mr Murray told MPs the charity which runs Biobank had told the government about the data breach on Monday. He said the information did not include names, addresses, contact details or telephone numbers.

Mr Murray said the information had been legitimately downloaded by three research institutions in China. They have since had their access revoked. The government is working to establish how the breach occurred.

Ministers have been told that no purchases were made from the three listings on the website. They have been taken down and Mr Murray thanked the Chinese government for their co-operation.

Chief executive of Biobank Sir Rory Collins said the charity had temporarily closed access to the research platform.

Mr Collins apologised to participants and said additional security measures will be put in place.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Murray said: The UK Biobank charity informed the Government that it had identified their data had been advertised for sale by several sellers on Alibaba e-commerce platforms in China.

Biobank told us that in three listings that appeared to sell Biobank participation data had been identified. At least one of these three data sets appear to contain data from all 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers.

Biobank says it removes personal identifying information such as names and addresses on all 500,000 volunteers before giving scientists access to the data. This means details including names, addresses, dates of birth and NHS numbers are not contained in the data.

However Mr Murray said he could not give a complete guarantee that nobody could be identified, but said it would likely only be done so through a very advanced way.

Ian Murray said he could not give a complete guarantee that nobody could be identified (PA)

Those joining UK Biobank were between 40 and 69 years of age when they joined the study between 2006-2010.

Data from it has been cited in more than 18,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers, including on major causes of ill-health.

These range from lung and cardiovascular conditions, to mental health conditions and arthritis.

A statement from its chief executive and principal investigator Mr Collins apologised to volunteers and said: We apologise to our participants for the concern this will cause, and we hope to provide reassurance by outlining the serious actions we are taking in response.

Your personally identifying information in UK Biobank is safe and secure.

He added: We are putting in place additional security measures to prevent this happening again. We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident.

Mr Murray said the breach was an unacceptable abuse of the UK Biobank charitys data and abuse of the trust that participants readily expect when sharing the data for research purposes.

He said: The Government takes this incident extremely seriously which is why we have acted rapidly to support the UK Biobank charity in their response and why I wanted to update the House at this earliest opportunity.

The Government will soon be issued new guidance on controlling data from research studies, and Id like to take this opportunity once again to urge all businesses and charities to ensure their systems and data sharing processes are as secure as possible.

We wrote out to businesses last week about the cyber security tools available to them for free from Government and the steps they should take to maximise security. Ensuring the safe use of UK Data is a priority for this Government.
Failed vetting of Peter Mandelson over ties to Jeffrey Epstein sparks questions over who knew what, and when

British prime minister Keir Starmer is under pressure from his handling of the Peter Mandelson affair. Photo: PA Wire

Britains prime minister Keir Starmer came to power on a promise to govern efficiently after years of political turmoil.

Less than two years later, accusations that his office forced through a key appointment have shattered that image of competence. Embroiled in a scandal over his decision to appoint Labour Party veteran Peter Mandelson to Britains top diplomatic post as ambassador to the US, Starmers grip on power appears to be slipping and his leadership skills are in question.

Starmers office denies allegations made by Britains former top foreign ministry official, Olly Robbins, that it put pressure on his team to accelerate Mandelsons appointment last year.

But Robbins testimony to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, days after he was sacked, has exposed what Starmers opponents say is a lack of political instinct.

Starmer may have hoped sacking Mandelson marked the end of the saga

Three people close to his Downing Street operation told Reuters there had been an over-reliance on a small group of trusted advisers that meant Starmer had been blindsided by outside events and become detached from his party and the public.

Starmer presented himself as if he was going to be holier-than-thou and at least competent, Chris Hopkins, political research director at polling firm Savanta, told Reuters. When you lose what are your main selling points you dont have much left.

Starmer appointed Mandelson (72), who served as a minister when Labour was last in power more than 15 years ago, in late 2024, hailing his unrivalled experience to the role.

He sacked him last September after a trove of emails revealed the depth of Mandelsons ties with the late convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

British police arrested Mandelson in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office but he has not been charged. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.

While Starmer may have hoped sacking Mandelson marked the end of the political saga, last week he said information had come to light that a vetting body had advised against the appointment in the first place.

Robbins confirmed that Starmer had not been told about the advice. But he said Downing Street had conveyed a very, very strong expectation that Mandelson should be appointed quickly.

Peter Mandelson, who had ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: PA

I think throughout January [2025], honestly, my office, the foreign secretarys office, were under constant pressure, Robbins said, recalling the frequent phone calls from Starmers private office. He described himself as a scapegoat.

Starmers spokesperson rejected Robbins allegations, saying there was a distinction between applying pressure and being kept informed.

The war of words is a long way from Starmers early days in office, however, when he pledged to restore honesty and integrity to government.

The three sources close to Downing Street, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Starmer had initially relied on a small group of trusted advisers who acted as gatekeepers, often deciding what he did or did not have time for. Many of those advisers have since left and Starmer now meets more regularly with Labour lawmakers who previously objected to his bunker mentality.

Policy U-turns have been held up as proof of his weakness

One source said Downing Street was now more functional than six months ago.

But it may be too little, too late.

Its terminal, said one Labour lawmaker, although they said there would be no immediate move to oust Starmer largely because colleagues are terrified of the unknown.

British prime minister Keir Starmer is under pressure from his handling of the Peter Mandelson affair. Photo: PA Wire

News in 90 Seconds - 23rd April 2026

A spokesperson for Starmer said the government was focused on delivering for working people, including helping to tackle the cost of living and cutting waiting times in the state-run health service.

Starmer has repeatedly expressed anger over the Mandelson saga, and members of his team support his self-portrait of being incandescent over not being told about the security vetting bodys advice.

Those closest to him say it also runs against how he operates  running his office methodically and never taking decisions on a whim.

Once Britains former top prosecutor, Starmer sees it as a strength to be able to listen and change his mind when needed.

Instead, policy U-turns including several reversals on welfare have been held up by commentators and even his own lawmakers as proof of his weakness.

That is going to be almost impossible for him to recover from

But his former reliance on a handful of advisers may prove to have been his biggest weakness. One source said he explicitly trusted his advisers to do the right thing, yet since taking office in July 2024 he has lost more than 10 of them, including two chiefs of staff and four directors of communication.

A second Labour lawmaker, who served under former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and asked not to be named, said Starmer and his team had thought they did not need input from the wider party.

Starmer appears to have few defenders left in Labour and the questions over his judgment in appointing Mandelson  twice sacked from cabinet under Blair and whose friendship with Epstein was known  are unlikely to stop any time soon.

More documents relating to the appointment are expected to be released after local and regional elections on May 7, when Labour looks set to suffer large losses at the hands of the populist Reform UK party led by Brexit veteran Nigel Farage.

Labour and Starmer are now seen as more of the same as before, said Hopkins. And that is going to be almost impossible for him to recover from.
Ukrainian negotiators suggested the move to rename part of the region, partly in jest. Photo: AP

Ukrainian officials suggested renaming a section of the disputed Donbas region Donnyland to appeal to President Donald Trumps ego and to get him more on their side, according to a report.

The moniker was suggested in an attempt to convince the Trump administration to push back more against Russias territorial demands, and was first mentioned partly in jest by a Ukrainian translator, according to The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the negotiations.

Donnyland, which is about 80km long and 64km wide, would appear to be a nod to Trumps fondness for putting his name on everything from federal buildings and skyscrapers to bank accounts and commemorative coins.

A Ukrainian negotiator even went as far as to create an official green and gold flag and national anthem for Donnyland using ChatGPT, The Times reported, citing a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The outlet added it was not clear whether US officials ever saw the design.

The vast majority of Donbas in Ukraines mining heartland is occupied by Russian forces and its control is a key issue in negotiations between the two countries. Ukraine and Russia appear deadlocked over the matter, with Moscow demanding sovereign Ukrainian territory to bring the war to an end, which Ukraine will not accept.

Negotiators suggested that Donnyland could be an area that was not fully controlled by either side, and therefore was branded as an accomplishment for Trump.

Donnyland has not been mentioned in any official documents but has been used in peace talks, it was reported.

Officials also floated the idea of Trumps Board of Peace having a hand in the management of Donnyland.

It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed frustration that Trumps envoys have repeatedly visited Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but had failed to travel to Kyiv for negotiations.

Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner hosted the Ukrainian delegation in Miami last month but Mr Zelensky said it was disrespectful that they had not been to Kyiv.

Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner are part of the US delegation involved in securing a peace deal with Iran and have been travelling to Pakistan for talks.

Mr Zelensky acknowledged the US is currently focused on the Middle East but said it is important to continue co-operating with the Americans.
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




Senior figures in the Arab country are divided on peace negotiations

Mourners at the funeral of Hezbollah fighters and civil defence members killed during the conflict. Photo: Reuters

At least four people were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon yesterday, Lebanons state news agency reported, and Hezbollah said it launched an attack drone at Israeli forces in the south, straining a ceasefire between the Iran-backed group and Israel.

On the eve of talks in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said Beirut would seek an extension of the 10-day, US-mediated ceasefire, which is set to expire on Sunday.

Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel reignited on March 2, when the Lebanese group opened fire in support of Iran.

The ceasefire in Lebanon emerged separately from Washingtons efforts to resolve its conflict with Tehran, though Iran had called for Lebanon to be included in any broader truce.

More than 2,400 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched an offensive in response to Hezbollahs March 2 attack, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel has seized a belt of territory at the southern border, where its troops remain, saying it aims to create a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah, which fired hundreds of rockets at Israel during the conflict.

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun. Photo: AP

Lebanons state-run National News Agency (NNA) said an Israeli strike hit a car in the south-Lebanon village of Tayri yesterday, killing two people inside.

A senior Lebanese military official said an Israeli drone dropped a grenade on rescuers trying to lift a wounded journalist from rubble in Tayri. The Lebanese army asked the Israeli military, through a US-led mechanism, to allow rescuers to retrieve the wounded journalist, the official said.

The Israeli military said it was not preventing rescue teams from reaching the area, adding that it had struck one of two vehicles that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah and approached troops in a manner that posed an immediate threat to their safety.

It said the people in the vehicles had crossed Israels forward defence line  its line of deployment in the south  and accused them of violating the ceasefire.

Reports were received that two journalists were injured as a result of the strikes, the military said, adding that the details of the incident were under review.

An Israeli airstrike in the southern town of Yohmor killed another two people, NNA and Lebanons health ministry said.

Hezbollah has condemned Beirut for seeking talks with Israel

Hezbollah said it attacked an Israeli artillery position in southern Lebanon with a drone in response to what it said was an Israeli ceasefire violation.

The Israeli military said it had intercepted a hostile aircraft launched by Hezbollah towards Israeli soldiers.

Hezbollah attacks killed two civilians in Israel and 15 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since March 2, Israel says.

Mr Aoun said Beiruts envoy to todays talks, Lebanese ambassador to Washington Nada Moawad, would seek a ceasefire extension and a halt to demolitions being carried out by Israel in villages in the south.

A Lebanese official said Beirut wants a ceasefire extension as a prerequisite for talks to expand beyond the ambassadorial level to the next phase, in which Lebanon would push for Israeli withdrawal, the return of Lebanese people detained in Israel and a delineation of the land border.

Hezbollah, which says the Lebanon ceasefire was the fruit of Iranian pressure, has condemned Beirut for seeking talks with Israel, reflecting wider splits with the government that has sought Hezbollahs peaceful disarmament for a year.

Gideon Saar, Israels minister for foreign affairs. Photo: Getty

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar, in a speech, said Israel had taken a historic decision to negotiate directly with Lebanon after more than 40 years. He referred to Lebanon as a failed state, and called on its government to work together against the terror state that Hezbollah built in your territory.

In a speech on Friday, Mr Aoun said a ceasefire should be transformed into permanent agreements that preserve the rights of our people, the unity of our land and the sovereignty of our nation.

Lebanon and Israel have remained in an official state of war since the establishment of Israel in 1948.

Lebanons most senior Shia official, Nabih Berri, speaker of the parliament, is against face-to-face negotiations with Israel, saying Beirut could have negotiated indirectly.

Lebanons leading Druze politician, Walid Jumblatt, said on Tuesday that the most Lebanon could offer is an update to a 1949 armistice agreement with Israel.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio is set to attend todays meeting. Israel will be represented by its ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter.
PM Modi applauds Indian cheesemakers for global win

Cheese from India makes its mark globally



India made an impressive debut at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, which is a vibrant international competition for cheese and dairy products. Four Indian products won medals, including 1 Super Gold, 2 Golds and 1 Silver.



The  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2026

Meet the cheese that made the world pay attention

Eleftheria Gulmarg (Brie-style): Super Gold

Image credit : ChatGPT | India Wins Big at Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026

Yak Churpi-Soft (Nordic Farm, Ladakh): Gold

Image credit : ChatGPT | Indian Cheeses Grab Global Spotlight at Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026

Eleftheria Brunost (whey cheese): Gold

Eleftheria Kaali Miri (Belper Knolle-style): Silver

Image credit : ChatGPT | India Bags Four Medals at Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026 in Historic Debut

What makes this cheese different from the usual?

Diverse terroir: From Kashmir valleys to Ladakhs high altitudes



From Kashmir valleys to Ladakhs high altitudes Unconventional ingredients: Like yak milk



Like yak milk Hybrid techniques: European styles with Indian flavour profiles



European styles with Indian flavour profiles Small-batch production: More experimental, less industrial



About the global stage

You have heard of Brie, cheddar and maybe even gouda, but what if we tell you your next favourite cheese came from Gulmarg or Ladakh? Yes, you read that right!In a major moment for India's growing artisanal food scene, homegrown cheesemakers made a powerful global debut recently at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026 in Sao Paulo, gracefully walking away with four medals in their very first appearance.Yes, first time. And they still bagged one Super Gold, two Golds, and one Silver. Not bad for a country that isn't traditionally known for cheese, right?Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indian cheesemakers for their breakthrough win at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, calling it a proud moment for the country's artisanal food industry.He highlighted how such achievements showcase India's growing global presence in niche culinary spaces and celebrate local craftsmanship on an international stage.Well, this one is the showstopper.Inspired by French brie but made with Indian cow milk, Eleftheria Gulmarg is soft, creamy and melts like a dream. It has that buttery richness you expect, but with a slight edge that makes it stand out.But what impressed judges? Perfect ripening, smooth texture and serious technical precision. While, for a relatively new player, this cheese didn't just compete, it dominated the forum.If you think cheese can't get more unique, then this one's made from yak milk. Yes, coming straight from Ladakh, this softer version of traditional churpi is designed for modern taste buds. It's dense yet slightly yielding, with a tangy, rustic flavour from high-altitude conditions.What makes it different? Rare ingredient (yak milk), strong link to Himalayan terroir and a cultural story in every biteThis isnt just cheese; its geography you can taste.This one flips everything you know about cheese. Inspired by Norwegian brunost, this Indian version is made by slowly caramelising whey until it turns into a dense, fudge-like block.The result is a naturally sweet caramel-butterscotch flavour, a smooth, sliceable texture and a dessert-meets-cheese vibe.Also, it's technically difficult to make; one wrong move and it turns bitter. So yeah, this gold medal wasn't easy.Think cheese, but with a kick. This semi-hard variety is coated in black pepper (kaali miri), giving it a bold, aromatic edge. Inside, it's creamy and slightly crumbly, creating a contrast that hits differently.But why did it stand out? Mostly because of spice along with creaminess, creative flavour layering and a very Indian twist on alpine-style cheese.These aren't just copies of European cheeses. They are reinterpretations. While global cheeses rely on long-established techniques and consistent climates, Indian artisanal cheeses bring the following:In short, they are less about tradition and more about innovation.The Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, held from April 16-19 at the Teatro B32 in Sao Paulo, is one of the world's most respected cheese competitions. Entries from 30+ countries, participation from 100+ producers and four major competitions covering everything from cheesemaking to retail.And India walked in for the first time and walked out with global recognition.
The 25-year-old son of an active Greek police brigadier general was found stabbed to death in a suburban Athens park Tuesday, prompting a major homicide investigation by the Hellenic Police's Organized Crime Division.

The body was discovered

in the Agios Dimitrios neighborhood after an emergency call from a foreign national.

Preliminary findings indicate the victim died from a single stab wound to the heart.

A trail of blood extending beyond the immediate scene suggested he either walked several meters after being attacked or was moved to the location following an assault elsewhere.

Investigators are pursuing a drug transaction gone wrong as the primary line of inquiry.

A local resident who knew the family told police a loud altercation preceded the stabbing, and described the park as a known hub for daily drug activity.

The case has drawn intense public attention given the victim's father's senior rank within the police force  an institution now investigating the murder of one of its own general's children.

Agios Dimitrios Mayor Stelios Mamalakis confirmed the discovery and said the park, currently managed by a private contractor, has no security cameras.

Mr. Mamalakis acknowledged longstanding resident complaints about crime in the area and expressed frustration that the absence of surveillance infrastructure had left the location dangerously exposed.

The murder adds to mounting concerns about drug-related violence in Athens parks and public spaces, where open drug use has become an increasingly visible problem in several neighborhoods despite repeated police operations targeting supply networks.

The investigation is ongoing.

   iefimerida.gr

The 25-year-old son of an active Greek police brigadier general was found stabbed to death in a suburban Athens park Tuesday, prompting a major homicide investigation by the Hellenic Police's Organized Crime Division.

The body was discovered in the Agios Dimitrios neighborhood after an emergency call from a foreign national.

Preliminary findings indicate the victim died from a single stab wound to the heart.

A trail of blood extending beyond the immediate scene suggested he either walked several meters after being attacked or was moved to the location following an assault elsewhere.

Investigators are pursuing a drug transaction gone wrong as the primary line of inquiry.

A local resident who knew the family told police a loud altercation preceded the stabbing, and described the park as a known hub for daily drug activity.

The case has drawn intense public attention given the victim's father's senior rank within the police force  an institution now investigating the murder of one of its own general's children.

Agios Dimitrios Mayor Stelios Mamalakis confirmed the discovery and said the park, currently managed by a private contractor, has no security cameras.

Mr. Mamalakis acknowledged longstanding resident complaints about crime in the area and expressed frustration that the absence of surveillance infrastructure had left the location dangerously exposed.

The murder adds to mounting concerns about drug-related violence in Athens parks and public spaces, where open drug use has become an increasingly visible problem in several neighborhoods despite repeated police operations targeting supply networks.

The investigation is ongoing.

   iefimerida.gr
People who were on Gavdos are speaking about unprecedented practices, referring to the MAT (riot police) operation in Lavrakas, which left demolished huts and scenes of destruction. A member of the Gavdos SeaFront Collective emphasized, The letter of the law was applied, but not its spirit.
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has dismissed allegations of a targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria, describing such claims as fake news.

Speaking in the United Kingdom during an interaction with students at Abbey College, Cambridge on April 21, Mohammed said Nigerias security crisis is complex and not rooted in any deliberate religious extermination.

There should be more understanding on the part of the developed world people say that there is religious persecution in Nigeria and that there is genocide against Christians. Its not true. It is fake news, he stated, adding that Nigerias challenges will not be resolved by genocide against any religion.

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He explained that Boko Haram initially targeted Muslims who embraced Western education, noting that early victims were predominantly Muslims.

At the beginning, the victims of Boko Haram were largely Muslims, not Christians. Boko Haram started as a revolt by extreme Muslims against conventional Muslims like me. haram means forbidden boko means Western education, he said.

According to him, the group later began attacking Christians to gain global attention. They realised that Muslims killing one another doesnt gain traction. When Muslims start killing Christians, it causes an uproar. That is the honest truth, he added.

Mohammed also rejected claims that banditry is religiously motivated, saying, The bandits are Muslims, their victims are Muslims. So how can you now talk about religion? It has nothing to do with religion.

He maintained that Muslims account for most victims of insurgency and emphasized Nigerias tradition of religious tolerance, citing interfaith marriages and the example of President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, whose wife is a leader in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State have unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.

The motion for the endorsement was moved by Ahmed Lawan and seconded by Chiroma Mashio, the speaker of the Yobe House of Assembly, during the partys stakeholders meeting in Damaturu on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, Governor Mai Mala Buni noted that the state had benefitted immensely from the numerous projects, programmes and policies of the central government led by the president.

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It is gratifying that our alignment with the national party and government since 2015 has attracted some advantages to the state, which facilitated our reconstruction and recovery programme for the good of the state and its people.

 l therefore call on the good people of the state to once again support the All Progressives Congress and endorse President Tinubu for another term of office, he said.

Mr Buni commended the stakeholders for demonstrating high political maturity driven by peace and the collective interest of the state and its people.

Although we may have differing political standing and opinions, we have never allowed violence in our political life. This is a testament to the fact that we are indeed the home of politics without bitterness, as advocated by one of our astute political leaders, the late Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim.

I want to use this occasion to appreciate the good people of the state for your resilience and support to the government in our recovery efforts, not only to rebuild the state but also to make life much easier for our people.

To our security operatives, the government and good people of Yobe State are hugely indebted to your commitment to the fight against insecurity. Some of you paid the supreme price for Yobe State to remain peaceful. Your sacrifice is never in vain as we now enjoy relative peace, a cause to which you laid your lives, the governor said.

(NAN)
The B. Free Franklin Post Office at 316 Market St. is both a working post office and a National Park Service site. Read more

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In 1728, Andrew Bradford was appointed Philadelphias postmaster. He stayed in that position until 1737, when British authorities fired him for poor mail service and cooking the books.

In his place, the monarchy hired Ben Franklin, a model American and British loyalist, whose work in Philadelphia laid the groundwork for him to become the postmaster general of the United States, in 1775.

The Philadelphia Historic District will celebrate Ben Franklin becoming Philadelphias postmaster general on Saturday at Franklin Court at its weekly Firstival day party. Firstivals, a part of the citys 52 Weeks of Firsts celebrations, are fetes honoring American  and world  firsts that happened in Philadelphia.

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As Philadelphias postmaster, Ben Franklin, also the founder of the Pennsylvania Gazette, mailed his newspapers to readers at no cost, said Nicholas Guarino, an interpretation park ranger at Independence National Historical Park. In awarding himself free postage, he was able to build a wide circulation, making his newspaper one of the most popular in the country.

Franklin did such a good job for the Crown that in 1753, it appointed him postmaster general of all 13 colonies.

In his role, he established mail routes along the Eastern Seaboard, set a schedule for quick mail delivery, and authorized couriers to deliver mail during the day and night.

Franklin instituted the practice of delivering mail to peoples homes and created a space for dead letters, mail that could not be delivered but could be recovered.

He also set up a flat rate so that newspapermen could send out papers and pamphlets. Quick and accurate delivery of information in an emerging democracy would prove crucial in the formation of the Continental Army and building the new republic.

Franklin had an egalitarian approach to mail, Guarino said. [He] believed that it was important that a just society flourish from its foundation. His work as postmaster aligns with his other civic work, like starting the lending library, the Pennsylvania Hospital, and the volunteer fire department.

 READ MORE: Yes, John Bartram founded Americas first botanical garden. He also created the first subscription box for gardeners.

By the mid-1700s, the British government was intercepting colonial mail because they heard whispers of rebellion. Colonists soon got disillusioned with British rule and the monarchy and Franklin switched his allegiance. The mail then became a vehicle through which he spread his message of revolution.

Franklins sympathies for American freedom led Britain to dismiss him in 1774.

The following year, on July 26, 1775  three months after the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired  Ben Franklin became the first postmaster general of the nascent United States Post Office, established by the Second Continental Congress.

He began stamping the mail with B. Free Franklin, Guarino said, spreading his message of revolution in a subtle way."

Franklin served as the newly forming countrys first postmaster general for a little over a year before the Continental Congress sent him to France to solicit the countrys support in the Revolutionary War. Franklins son-in-law, Richard Bache, took the job.

In 1787, the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, granting the government the power to create a postal system. Five years later, President George Washington signed the bill creating the United States Post Office Department, the foundation for the modern postal system.

They felt a postal service was important for new ideas and economic prosperity to flourish in the new nation, Guarino said.

The post office was part of the presidential cabinet until July 1, 1971, when then-President Richard Nixon signed the Postal Reorganization Act, transforming the United States Mail into an independent for-profit entity we now know as the U.S. Postal Service.

This weeks Firstival is Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Franklin Court, 322 Market St. Each week, The Inquirer is highlighting a first from the Philadelphia Historic Districts 52 Weeks of Firsts program. A 52 Weeks of Firsts podcast, produced by All Thats Good Productions, drops every Tuesday.
A PPA parking ticket on a car at metered parking along the Passyunk Shopping District in 2021. Read more

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Philadelphia drivers, if you dont want to get fined, get ready to move your car.

The citys seasonal neighborhood street-cleaning program kicked off earlier this month, and thousands of parking violations from last year remain unpaid.

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The Philadelphia Parking Authority issued 151,392 parking violations during the program in 2025  and 42,150 still need to be paid, according to PPA spokesperson Martin ORourke.

The city has brought in over $3.2 million from tickets related to last years neighborhood street-cleaning program, but nearly 28% of violations, more than $1.3 million, are outstanding. The remainder were partially paid or canceled.

The fine for a parking violation is $31.

Drivers who do not pay or contest their ticket within a few weeks may face additional fines of up to $65.

The citys cleaning program, which is in its fifth year, began April 6. It is expected to run through Oct. 29.

Flyers are placed on vehicles and signs are posted in street-cleaning areas to alert drivers. Vehicles are ticketed only when cleaning actually takes place on that street, even if cars are restricted from parking in that area for a longer stretch of time.

Last year, the PPA issued 5,851 fewer violations during its street-cleaning program than it had in 2024 but 55% more than 2022.
Tina Wayne Berman (left) and Cristina Martinez at Rasta Imposta/Imposta Costumes' office and warehouse in South Jersey, April 24, 2025. Read more

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When the U.S. Supreme Court in February struck down President Donald Trumps signature global tariffs, Jodi Berman jumped out of her chair.

Its over! she yelled. Its over!

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The trade war had taken a toll on Bermans South Jersey Rasta Imposta/Imposta Costumes, which imports materials from China  a country whose goods at one point last year faced a 145% tax imposed by Trump. Those extra costs were footed by American businesses.

But now, a year after Trump upended global trade in a bid to revive U.S. manufacturing, firms could see some relief. The Trump administration this week started accepting requests for tariff refunds from businesses that paid $166 billion in import taxes that the high court has since ruled were unconstitutional.

Some businesses say they are skeptical the refunds will come through, given that Trump attacked the courts decision and encouraged companies not to apply. And the president has threatened to impose new tariffs, based on different legal grounds, that could yet again disrupt trade and supply chains.

A lot of our members wonder why the government is so intent on punishing them, despite all the small-business pains documented over the last year, said Dan Anthony, executive director of We Pay the Tariffs, a coalition that opposes the taxes.

The deck feels stacked against small businesses who just want to expand and create good, American jobs, he said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the federal agency thats overseeing the process, has said it expects to provide refunds within 60 to 90 days of receiving a request from an eligible importer or broker.

At Imposta Costumes in Runnemede, Berman has been getting paperwork in order and hopes to get a refund for several thousands of dollars spent on tariffs.

Its a fluid situation that could change on a dime again, she said.

Bermans business partner and brother, Robert Berman, told The Inquirer last spring that his company could go under if the high tariffs on Chinese goods remained in place.

Since then, China retaliated with its own tariffs, and the two countries ultimately agreed to reduce trade barriers. Trump slashed the tax from 145% to 30% and China dropped its retaliatory tariff from 125% to 10%.

The lower rate meant Imposta could get by through Halloween and Christmas, but it put a big bite into our budget, Berman said. The company held off on buying a new computer, for example.

It killed our cash flow, she said of the tariffs. Costumes are very price-sensitive, Berman said, so they didnt raise prices.

More broadly, some consumers may get money back from delivery companies like FedEx and UPS, which have said theyll seek refunds for their customers.

Not every business that buys materials overseas is counting on a refund.

Businesses that didnt import goods directly cant get refunds from the government  even if they absorbed some of the cost of the tariffs from their suppliers.

My hands are tied, said Howard Katz, who owns a fabric business in Northern Liberties that gets most of its material from China. Katz Leatherette Co. has spent about $10,000 on tariffs since last year, he said.

I have to wait for the people I purchase my material from. They have to get refunds from the government, and then Im at their mercy as to what theyre gonna give me, Katz said.

Some importers are still charging Katz for tariffs, he said.

They say, Were waiting for the dust to settle, Katz said. What dust is there? The Supreme Court said its illegal.

He said he hopes to get some of his money back. But Im not optimistic that I will, Katz said.
A Philadelphia man has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor in Bucks County over the course of several years. Read more

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A 31-year-old Philadelphia man has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor in Bucks County who was initially 11 years old and then victimized for several years, authorities said Wednesday.

Bryan Christopher Williams was arrested early Tuesday by the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force and was being held without bail at the Bucks County Correctional Facility.

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The investigation began in late March, when a report was filed with the Falls Township Police Department, the Bucks County District Attorneys Office said.

The sexual assaults allegedly happened on county-owned property and in other locations, including the Mill Creek Village Apartments in Penndel and the Neshaminy Shore Picnic Park in Hulmeville.

The alleged sexual assaults happened between 2021 and 2025, the Bucks County District Attorneys Office said.

The victim provided investigators with a recording of a phone conversation from September 2025 in which Williams allegedly confirmed the sexual assaults when confronted by the victim.

The case was investigated by Bucks County Detectives and the Bucks County Park Police.

Williams was charged with rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, rape by forcible compulsion, statutory sexual assault, and corruption of minors, the district attorneys office said.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the U.S. Marshals, our county detectives, and the Bucks County Park Police, a dangerous individual is off the streets and will face justice, District Attorney Joe Khan said in a statement.

Dangerous offenders should not be permitted to buy their way out of jail, Khan added. Thats why, in situations like this, where no conditions can ensure the safety of the community, we will continue to push for defendants to be held in custody without the ability to post any amount of cash bail.
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Police said an officer in Chester shot a suspected gunman Wednesday night at a shooting scene where at least one shooting victim was found.

Around 9 p.m., police responded to a report of a man chasing a woman at East Ninth and Walnut Streets.

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An officer arriving at the scene reported that shots were being fired and there was one person down, police said.

The officer then confronted a man with a gun and shot him, police said.

Police said there were possibly two shooting victims and that the alleged gunman had been shot by the officer.

Ambulances were called for the victims and for the suspect.

No other details were immediately available.
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Two Sharon Hill police officers broke the law by providing confidential information to a drug dealer  one of them in exchange for cocaine, the state attorney generals office said Thursday.

Detective Vincent Procopio, 34, was charged with possession with the intent to deliver for acting as an accomplice in drug dealing and aiding the dealer in exchange for cocaine, Attorney General Dave Sunday said. He is also charged with bribery, tampering with physical evidence, and related crimes.

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Procopio, who worked for the department for four years and was assigned to the Delaware County Drug Task Force, told the dealer  whom authorities did not identify  about law enforcement investigations and whether any of the dealers associates were cooperating with law enforcement, Sunday said.

Officer Domenic Dellabarba Jr., 27, a patrolman, provided confidential information to the dealer, according to court documents. He is charged with obstructing the administration of the law and related crimes.

There was no indication in court records that either had hired a lawyer.

The relationship between Procopio and the 23-year-old dealer developed into something of a friendship over the course of last year, and the two men exchanged frequent text messages, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

The dealer would ask about possible task force investigations into his activities, the document says, and the detective would ask for $100 bags of cocaine that he was given for free.

I been getting a bad feeling lately its been hot, the dealer texted Procopio in 2025, according to the document. You guys are up to some [expletive].

Procopio and the dealer met in May or June that year through a mutual friend and got together at Haggertys bar in Ridley, the affidavit said.

Outside the bar, investigators said, Procopio told the dealer he could help him with information about law enforcement investigations.

Procopio then snorted a line of cocaine off the dealers truck, according to the affidavit.

Over the following months, the document said, things unfolded this way:

The detective periodically texted the dealer, asking for bags of cocaine for himself and others  once on his way to Sunday Mass. In November, the men met up at the dealers mothers house and stayed up all night doing cocaine.

Procopio told the dealer that if he was ever stopped by police, he should tell officers he was Procopios cousin.

On Dec. 18, 2025, the dealer was pulled over for a traffic stop in Chester. Before police could search his car, the dealer called Procopio four times seeking help, and the men spoke. He had cocaine in the vehicle and was dirty.

Procopio told the dealer he would use his access to internal law enforcement databases to find out whether his car was going to be towed to a police lot. If so, the dealer planned to later sneak into the vehicle and remove the drugs.

The detective then called Chester police and said a buddy of his had been stopped and was in a bad way.

Delaware County investigators later interviewed Procopio about the incident and found the detective lied during investigation and deleted texts from his phone in an effort to avoid prosecution, the affidavit said.

Two days after the traffic stop, according to the document, the dealer texted Dellabarba, whom he knew through Procopio, and asked him to run the registration on his truck to see if there was an active warrant for his arrest.

Dellabarba did so, the affidavit said, and then attempted to conceal the search.

Sunday, the attorney general, decried the officers actions, saying their crimes were betrayals of the community and of their fellow officers, who abided by their sworn oaths to protect and serve.

The drug dealer, who also faces charges, cooperated with law enforcement and provided information about the officers to the attorney generals office, Sunday said.

The investigation is continuing, he said.
Police investigate a mass shooting on the 1500 block of Etting Street on July 7, 2025. Read more

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A long-sought gunman who police say was involved in a mass shooting in South Philadelphia last summer turned himself in Thursday, officials said.

Christopher Battle, 24, walked into Philadelphia police headquarters Thursday morning to face multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, and related crimes after spending more than eight months on the run after the July 7 shooting that left three people dead and 10 others wounded, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore.

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Prosecutors approved a warrant for his arrest in August after investigators said he was one of at least 15 people who fired guns on the 1500 block of Etting Street that night.

Hundreds of people were on the block for a party when investigators said a loud pop sound  potentially a car backfiring  frightened partygoers and led people to believe they were being shot at. In response, prosecutors said, more than a dozen people with guns started aimlessly firing down the block and in some cases shot their own friends.

 READ MORE: Her youngest son was killed in a mass shooting. Now, her eldest is charged with committing one.

Three men were killed. Zahir Wylie, 23, was struck in the chest, and Jason Reese, 19, was shot in the head. Azir Harris, 27, who used a wheelchair after being paralyzed in an earlier shooting, was struck in the back as he sought cover between two cars.

A fourth person  a 19-year-old who was shot but survived  died last month, law enforcement sources said, but the medical examiners office has not yet determined the cause of his death or whether it had anything to do with his injuries from the shooting.

Four other people have been charged in the crime: Daquan Brown, 21, Terrell Frazier, 22, Brandon Fisher, 17, and Dieve Jardine, 45. At a preliminary hearing in January, Municipal Court Judge Francis W. McCloskey Jr. ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial, but downgraded the charges to multiple counts of third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and inciting a riot.

At a hearing earlier this month, prosecutors contested that decision, and Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott OKeefe reinstated all original charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Defense attorneys argued in court filings that all charges should be dismissed. The men who admitted to firing that night did so in self-defense, they said, and did not intend to kill or seriously wound anyone on the block.

Investigators in January described how they used surveillance video, social media posts and messages, and cell phone data to determine who had fired guns.

It was not immediately clear whether Battle had retained a lawyer.
Rasheem Hall's father, Ronald, (second from right) and other members of Hall's family celebrate the judge's ruling outside Philadelphia Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Read more

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Since his 2010 murder conviction in a fatal North Philadelphia shooting, Rasheem Hall has insisted he did not commit the crime.

His defense attorneys say Hall, now 42, was not at the scene when 34-year-old Ronald Kennel was shot in the head on the 1600 block of West York Street in 2007.

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The witness who identified Hall as a shooter was an unreliable jailhouse informant, his lawyers said  one who later recanted the statements he made to prosecutors and detectives and apologized to Hall, a childhood friend, for implicating him.

In a Philadelphia courtroom on Wednesday, Common Pleas Court Judge Rose Marie DeFino-Nastasi agreed with Halls lawyers that, based on newfound evidence, the murder case should be retried.

The jury didnt know the whole background on this witness, DeFino-Nastasi said before ordering that Hall be granted a new trial.

The district attorneys office has 30 days to decide how to proceed. A spokesperson for the office declined to comment Wednesday.

Hall will remain incarcerated pending those developments. But family members, sharing hugs after the ruling, said the decision offered hope that Hall will one day return home.

Some wore Free Rasheem T-shirts emblazoned with a photo of Hall in an orange prison jumpsuit.

Im happy and hoping everything goes well from here on because I know my son is innocent, said Halls father, Ronald. The last 18 years had been a hurting thing, he said.

Halls attorney, Robert Gamburg, presented what he called explosive, exculpatory evidence that he said would have altered the outcome of the case had it been presented at trial.

That included a prison phone call between the informant, Deric Williams, and his mother in 2009 in which he told her Hall wasnt there when Kennel was killed.

I [expletive] up, Williams said during the call, according to transcripts of the conversation introduced in court. Like, [Hall] wasnt there. Like, I kept telling the [expletive] detectives he wasnt there, and they kept saying he was, and I told them he wasnt, but they said he was.

I need to fix this [expletive] before he goes to [expletive] court, Williams later said during the call.

Gamburg said prosecutors had acted improperly when  after discovering the recordings in 2013 during another case in which Williams was an informant  they did not hand them over to Hall, who by then had appealed his conviction.

And Gamburg said there was more evidence that would have been valuable to Halls case.

He pointed to a chain of emails exchanged among prosecutors showing that Williams had been an informant in a handful of their cases and that Gamburg said suggested Williams may have received a letter of recommendation to the parole board in exchange for his cooperation.

Over the years, court records show, Williams has implicated at least six defendants in eight killings, as detailed in a 2022 Inquirer report on serial jailhouse informants.

In court Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Frisby disputed Gamburgs contentions, saying the prison phone calls did not offer any evidence that a jury had not already heard when Williams made similar statements during Halls 2010 trial.

And he suggested that Williams had been pressured into recanting his statements about Hall with threats of violence, not because they were untrue. Williams had been stabbed in prison a year before Halls trial, Frisby said, and his girlfriend had been shot at and his mother threatened.

DeFino-Nastasi said the prosecutors email exchanges about Williams were important evidence and should not have been withheld.

These emails should have been turned over to the defense, she said.

In a hearing that spanned several hours, Gamburg called Richard Sax, the prosecutor in Halls 2010 trial, to the stand  a move that drew gasps from Halls family.

Thats the one that got him in there, one relative said upon seeing Sax  retired, bearded, and bespectacled  enter the courtroom.

Asked about the recordings of Williams prison calls, Sax agreed with Gamburg that they should have been turned over to Halls defense team. But he said he and other prosecutors had been unaware of the recordings content when they subpoenaed them years ago in connection with another case.

The district attorneys office did not have the resources at the time to comb through hundreds of hours of witness phone calls, he said.

After the judge ruled that Hall deserved a new trial, his father said he looked forward to a different result, and the possibility that his son could be released and reunited with his daughter, who was only 1 year old when he was convicted.

I told him when he got locked up to just never stop fighting, Ronald Hall said of his son. He never did.
The Bensalem Township School District will cut more than 30 positions next school year, and still has a $2.7 million gap to fill, school board members said. Read more

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The Bensalem Township school board voted Wednesday to cut more than 30 positions  from teachers, counselors, and librarians to assistant principals  to help fill a $12 million budget gap.

The board unanimously approved resolutions eliminating the positions for the 2026-27 school year, saying there was no avoiding painful decisions amid a dire financial picture.

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Even with the cuts, board members said, they still have to find $2.7 million more in savings to balance the budget.

None of us want to be taking this vote tonight, said Stephanie Gonzalez Ferrandez, the boards vice president. This is a mess we have been left to clean up.

The district is facing rising costs from charter school tuition and special education, Ferrandez said. Meanwhile, she said, past school boards dipped into the districts savings and used federal pandemic relief money to balance budgets, rather than for one-time measures.

Bensalem is among the districts that have been receiving additional state aid  an extra $1.8 million last year  following a Commonwealth Court ruling that found Pennsylvania has been unconstitutionally depriving children in low-wealth districts of an adequate education.

But it is expected to take Pennsylvania seven more years to fully compensate underfunded districts, based on the states formula. Like Bensalem, some of those districts are still struggling: Philadelphia schools are facing a $300 million deficit, and some others are using state money to simply maintain, rather than make new investments.

While faulting past leadership for Bensalems current budget troubles, Ferrandez noted that at this point, we have no indication of wrongdoing with regard to our finances.

The districts former superintendent, Samuel Lee, resigned last month, one year into a four-year contract. District officials have not commented on the reason for Lees departure.

Victoria Velasquez, the districts assistant to the superintendent for K-12 administration, was named interim superintendent.

On Wednesday, the Bensalem board approved supplemental daily $100 stipends for the districts acting director of human resources and acting assistant to the superintendent of teaching and learning  two people who board members said had shouldered significantly increased responsibilities amid administrative turnover.

Given the simultaneous vote to cut jobs, the timing of the stipend vote is terrible, board member Leann Hart acknowledged. But the situation we are facing as a district is unprecedented, she said, citing the financial troubles and multiple administrative departures.

The job cuts approved Wednesday are expected to result in modest increases in class sizes, consolidation of low-enrollment courses, and adjustments to elective offerings, according to a district plan.

Talia Borochaner, an English teacher at Bensalem High School, asked the board not to eliminate middle and high school librarians, who she said provide something increasingly rare as students struggle to identify credible sources.

Borochaner noted that the high school library is often packed full with students studying and reading. Losing the librarian will cut the library off at the knees, she said.

Board members said they had no other choices, and were not sure how they would close the rest of the budget gap.

We dont have any way around this, and trust me, weve looked, board member Karen Winters said. We are so deep in a deficit that there is not another way to do this.
Michael Tilson Thomas received 39 Grammy Award nominations and was among the Kennedy Center Honors recipients in 2019. Read more

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Michael Tilson Thomas, 81, a leading American conductor for a half-century who headed orchestras in Buffalo, Miami, London, and San Francisco while also composing, died Wednesday.

Mr. Tilson Thomas had surgery for a brain tumor in 2021 and resumed his career, then said in February 2025 the tumor had returned. He conducted his final concert with the San Francisco Symphony in April 2025 and died at his home in San Francisco, spokesperson Connie Shuman said.

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He received 39 Grammy Award nominations, winning 12, and was among the Kennedy Center Honors recipients in 2019.

Its meant to have various intriguing and alluring, questioning things that you hear on first hearing, he said of classical music during a 2004 interview with the Associated Press. But by its very nature its holding a lot of other secrets or a lot of other perspectives much closer to its chest, which only with repeated hearing you start realizing are there.

Mr. Tilson Thomas was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 21, 1944, to a family steeped in the arts. His father, Ted, was a producer at New Yorks Mercury Theater Company, then worked in Los Angeles in the movie and television industry. His mother, Roberta, headed research for Columbia Pictures. His grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, were pioneers in American Yiddish theater.

He played piano at a young age and attended the University of Southern California. By the time he received a degree in 1967, he had worked with Pierre Boulez, Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky, and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

I dont fling the word genius around lightly, but I fling it around about Michael. He reminds me of me at that age, except that he knows more than I did, conductor Leonard Bernstein told the New York Times Magazine for a 1971 profile. Not only music, but things like the functions of the brain, cerebrology, physics, biochemistry.

Mr. Tilson Thomas was the co-music director and then music director of Californias Ojai Festival in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was an assistant at Germanys Bayreuth Festival in 1966, won the Koussevitzky Prize at the Tanglewood Music Center in 1968, and became a Boston Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor in 1969.

He made his New York debut at Lincoln Centers Philharmonic Hall on Oct. 22, 1969 as a mid-concert replacement for an ailing William Steinberg, leading Robert Starers Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, and Strauss Till Eulenspiegel.

A tall, thin young man, he came on stage with an air of immense confidence and authority, and showed that his confidence was not misplaced, critic Harold C. Schonberg wrote in the Times. He takes naturally to this music, as might be expected of a Tanglewood graduate and a pupil of Pierre Boulez.

Philadelphia played an important role in his development, giving him big-orchestra experience in the early part of it, and a chance to burnish his reputation late in life.

His first appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra, with pianist Van Cliburn at the Robin Hood Dell, was in 1971. He continued as a solo pianist and conductor with the orchestra at its summer homes in the 1970s and 1980s with guests like soprano Beverly Sills, Sarah Vaughan and her trio, violinist Henryk Szeryng, and others.

After 1985, he had no visits to the podium in Philadelphia for more than two decades, but starting in 2008 he returned regularly, in both standard repertoire and his own works.

Leading his Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2018, Mr. Tilson Thomas put a layer of funk and rock to Carl Sandburgs poem  adding saxes, brass, rock guitars, and bass guitars to the orchestral colors  and summoned both dissonance and sweetness.

A knockout, The Inquirer wrote of the work.

He was to have led the Philadelphia Orchestra in March 2025, but announced just before his appearance that illness had forced an end to his conducting career.

Mr. Tilson Thomas became the BSOs principal guest conductor from 1972-1974 and was music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic from 1971-79 and a principal guest conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1981-85.

He helped found Miamis New World Symphony in 1987 and served as artistic director until 2021. He was principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1988-95 and music director of the San Francisco Symphony from 1995-2020.

Mr. Tilson Thomas compositions include Grace (1988) and Meditations on Rilke (2019).

His husband, Joshua Robison, died Feb. 22 while recovering from a fall suffered last August. They met while playing in the orchestra of North Hollywood Junior High School (since renamed Walter Reed Middle School), became partners in 1976 and married in 2014.

In announcing his final concert would take place in San Francisco on April 26, 2025, in a belated 80th birthday celebration, Mr. Tilson Thomas issued a statement acknowledging his mortality.

At that point we all get to say the old show business expression, Its a wrap, he said. A coda is a musical element at the end of a composition that brings the whole piece to a conclusion. A coda can vary greatly in length. My lifes coda is generous and rich.
The roasted pumpkin chaat at Lassan Indian Traditional at 232 Woodbine Ave. in Narberth. Lassan joins Yemeni restaurant Malooga, at 203 Haverford Ave., as the newest additions to Narberth's food scene. Read more

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Narberths restaurant scene has two buzzy, new additions.

Lassan Indian Traditional, the second location of the popular Lafayette Hill Indian BYOB, expanded to Narberth earlier this month, opening at 232 Woodbine Ave. The restaurant joins another highly anticipated spot in the Main Line community: Yemeni restaurant Malooga, which opened at 203 Haverford Ave. in March.

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Both restaurants say theyve been warmly received by Narberth, where economic revitalization of the downtown corridor has been top of mind for local officials in recent years.

It is a real sign of momentum for our downtown, Narberth Mayor Dana Edwards said of the two restaurant openings. Its an exciting thing.

Lassan Indian Traditionals second suburban outpost

Lassans co-owners, Pema Lama and Shyam Dimdung, worked their way up through the Philadelphia areas Indian restaurant scene, including stints at Bala Cynwyds Saffron Indian Kitchen and Tiffin Indian Cuisine, before striking out on their own and opening Lassan in 2024.

Many of Lassans Lafayette Hill customers came from in and around Narberth and persuaded the duo to open their second outpost there, they said. They ended up at 232 Woodbine Ave. after the buildings owner dined at the Lafayette Hill restaurant and encouraged Lassan to move in.

The space has seen a handful of openings and closings in the last decade. It was home to bistro Margot, Italian restaurant Gemelli, upscale BYOB Aperto, Cajun restaurant Carmines Creole Act II, and Cuban-inspired New Habana.

Lassans menu features small plates like pani puri and samosas, curry dishes, roasted meats and vegetables, and desserts like pistachio kulfi and orange rice pudding.

Inquirer food writer Michael Klein called Lassans original Lafayette Hill location date-night appropriate and complimented the Himalayan potato salad and almond- and coconut-filled Peshwari.

Lassans owners, who are originally from Nepal, said they strive to combine traditional flavors with modern presentation. They prioritize fresh, healthy ingredients, especially as they say diners are more health-conscious than ever. While theyre sticking with traditional Indian dishes for now, the duo hopes to add Nepalese items to the menu.

Malooga gets a very kind Main Line welcome

Malooga, a project of chef Mohammed Aqlan and CEO Omar Alkahily, has been serving up Yemeni and Saudi dishes in Old City since 2021. The two opened their Narberth location earlier this year, marking their second restaurant and first foray into the suburban market. Alkahily said he and Aqlan were drawn to Narberths warm, close-knit community and the Main Lines burgeoning restaurant scene.

The reception in Narberth has been very kind, the CEO said.

The restaurant has been packed nearly every day, said Alkahily, and as a result, his team has had to double down on hiring after finding themselves about four months ahead of their projections (kind of a good problem to have, he said).

Maloogas Narberth location is an expansion of the original Old City concept. In addition to dips such as hummus and baba ghanoush, small plates, grilled meats, and Yemeni desserts served at Maloogas first location, its Narberth outpost has a fully functional bakery and coffee bar.

The cafe-style setup, which opens at 9 a.m., offers drinks like pistachio latte and Adani chai, and pastries and breads like manakish, a dough topped with various cheeses, meats, and spice blends like zaatar. The manakish has been one of the most popular menu items, Alkahily said, and the restaurant is working on expanding its manakish menu. Demand for pastries and coffee in the morning hours has been high enough that Malooga may introduce a full breakfast menu.

Though Alkahily and Aqlan expected a warm welcome on the Main Line, Alkahily said they were still surprised by seeing it firsthand.

Lassan Indian Traditional is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekends. Malooga is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Inquirer Lower Merion A weekly newsletter Want to get Inquirer Lower Merion straight to your inbox every week? Sign up here for our guide to the news, stories, and events shaping life in your community.

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirers high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
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ICE agents descended on an elderly Indonesian father and his son outside the Philadelphia courthouse earlier this month, taking both into custody in an incident that advocates say underscores the lack of local protection for immigrants.

They say seeking justice at the courthouse now carries potentially life-altering consequences for migrants amid an ICE focus on the property.

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The 76-year-old father faced no criminal charges at court that day. He had gone to the Criminal Justice Center as a complaining witness after he said his 47-year-old son assaulted him, leaving him with a black eye and a cut on his chin.

The father decided not to continue pursuing charges, and went to court with his son that day, April 7, hoping to end the legal proceedings.

Today the younger man remains in immigration detention more than two weeks after being arrested by ICE. The father was released by the agency not long after being taken into custody.

Groups including No ICE Philly, which has repeatedly called on Sheriff Rochelle Bilal to ban ICE officers from the courthouse, say the case exemplifies how immigrant witnesses, complainants, and family members are put at risk of deportation by participating in the administration of justice.

How can we call ourselves a welcoming city when people have to choose between taking part in a legal process and getting home safe? asked No ICE Philly organizer Aniqa Raihan, who called the situation another example of how ICEs presence at the courthouse erodes justice for all of us.

She and Vivian Chang, executive director of Asian Americans United, the advocacy group, called upon city and court leaders to restrict ICE activity at the Criminal Justice Center, where dozens of immigrants have been arrested during the last 15 months.

It is a stain on the soul of Philadelphia that a 76-year-old man was brutalized by ICE for going to court, Chang said. The safety of immigrants and all Philadelphians is under attack.

ICE officials did not respond to a request for comment.

The incident first came to light during an April 13 City Council hearing, as experts and community members shared views on ICE Out legislation that proposes to limit agency operations in Philadelphia.

Attorney Lilah Thompson, of the Defenders Association of Philadelphia, told Council that ICE had arrested five people outside the courthouse in the previous week, including a 76-year-old complaining witness whom she did not identify.

Older age is no protection from immigration enforcement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has broad authority to arrest noncitizens whom it suspects of violating immigration laws. At the same time, the agency has discretion over whom it decides to take into custody.

In this case, the mens specific immigration status is unknown.

You have a vulnerable victim who is reaching out for help, and is unlikely to reach out for help again, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said of the case. ICE has been an unmitigated disaster for a normally functioning court system that exists to protect safety and to protect peoples rights.

Sinta Penyami Storms, director of Gapura, a South-Philadelphia-based Indonesian community organization, said she was attempting to gather information on the matter. The family asked not to be identified amid their upset over the sons detention, she said.

Its disconcerting, she said, that father and son were taken into ICE custody at the courthouse, that theyre doing something thats not immigration related, and theyre still detained.

The estimated 2,000 Indonesian Americans in Philadelphia, the 10th-largest community in the nation, have faced fresh pressure since President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2025.

That has included the October arrest and Christmas night deportation of a longtime Philadelphia resident who was arrested at a routine immigration appointment. The man, Rian Andrianzah, walked into a Philadelphia office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expecting to be fingerprinted and sent home, but instead was taken into custody and placed in detention.

Many of the people who go to the courthouse each day are not criminal defendants, but rather witnesses, victims, friends, or family members of those who have business before the court or who have been charged with crimes. That some have been targeted and arrested by ICE, immigration attorneys and government officials say, is causing witnesses and victims to stay away from court and hindering the administration of justice.

Much of the activist anger over the arrests has been directed at Sheriff Bilal. No ICE Philly and others say that by not barring ICE  as judges and lawmakers have done in some other jurisdictions  she has helped enable the arrest of more than 100 immigrants who were trailed out of the building and arrested on the sidewalk.

The sheriff has said her office does not cooperate with ICE, does not assist in ICE operations, and does not share information with the agency. In January, however, the First Judicial District that oversees the Philadelphia courts said authority for managing ICEs presence at the Criminal Justice Center rested with the sheriff.

The sheriffs office declined to comment on Wednesday.

Immigrant advocates say the First Judicial District also must act, specifically to extend physical protections beyond the courthouse and onto its environs. At a rally and news conference on Tuesday, they said the Judicial District leadership has declined to update policies that could potentially stop people from being arrested when they set foot outside the building.

Arrests have increased since January 2025, when the Trump administration ended Biden-era restrictions on immigration enforcement at courthouses.

Attorney Thompson, chief of the Immigration Law Practice at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, told City Council that the organization knew of at least 47 arrests at the Criminal Justice Center since January 2025. Another occurred at Family Court and two at the Traffic Division, she said.

She described ICE agents loitering at courthouse entrances, in the lobby, and in hallways and courtrooms, always dressed in plain clothes and without visible badges or identification.

Most of those arrested, she said, were at the preliminary stages of their court hearings on misdemeanors or other minor offenses. Many would have their cases dismissed if they appeared, she said, but our clients are afraid to go to court. Witnesses are afraid to go to court.  We need to stop any collaboration with ICE.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
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Philadelphias top prosecutor on Thursday accused state lawmakers of effectively defying the courts, as a window narrows for the legislature to respond to a landmark ruling that struck down mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder convictions.

At a news conference, District Attorney Larry Krasner said lawmakers failure so far to act on proposed parole legislation amounted to lawbreaking, warning that time was running short to repair what he called an unconstitutional sentencing scheme.

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His remarks came 28 days after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder are unconstitutional.

The court gave lawmakers 120 days to craft a framework to address its ruling and apply it to those serving such sentences.

Krasner said legislators were not moving quickly enough.

What we have now is an opportunity for our legislature  the people we have elected to work for us  to go from being lawbreakers to lawmakers," Krasner said. We have 92 days left, and we need to move ahead.

Two bills  House Bill 443, introduced by Rep. Tim Briggs, a Democrat from Montgomery County, and Senate Bill 387, introduced by Sen. Sharif Street, a Philadelphia Democrat  would allow people convicted of so-called felony murder to become eligible for parole after 25 years.

Krasners remarks focused on House Bill 443, which had been scheduled for a vote on April 9 before Briggs postponed consideration, saying he would withdraw the measure and consult with attorneys and advocates in hopes of producing legislation we can all be proud of.

In a statement, Briggs said he had worked with multiple stakeholders, including Krasner, to craft the bill, which he called a fair and just solution to this problem.

But, he said the measure seemed destined to stall in the Republican-controlled Senate, so lawmakers had more work to do to reach consensus

Of the roughly 1,100 people serving life sentences for second-degree murder across Pennsylvania, more than 500 were convicted in Philadelphia, according to Krasners office  a concentration that would give the office an outsized role in any future parole process. About 70% of those people could become eligible for parole consideration if either bill is enacted, Krasner said.

He emphasized that his office would play a central role in reviewing cases before any hearings, promising what he described as a rigorous, individualized assessment.

We will engage in an extremely detailed review of these cases, he said. We want our voice to be heard.

Under the current system, he argued, such scrutiny was largely absent. Its the kind of hearing that should have happened originally, he said. But we had an illegal law that said, Theres only one sentence you can give. So why ask questions? Why find out about the individual?

Krasner also pushed back on criticism that his position aligned more closely with defense advocates than with prosecutors.

A part of my job is to seek justice, he said. Part of my job is to uphold the Constitution, and this law was strictly unconstitutional.

He was joined by several criminal justice advocates, including Saleem Holbrook, executive director of the Abolitionist Law Center, and John Pace, associate director of reentry and engagement at the Youth Sentencing and Re-entry Project. Both men had once been sentenced to life in prison and were later released after U.S. Supreme Court rulings barred mandatory life sentences for juveniles and made those decisions retroactive.

Holbrook stressed that the hundreds of men and women incarcerated under the former law were waiting for an opportunity to be released and show they could contribute meaningfully to their communities.

I say opportunity, Holbrook said, because thats what it is: Theyre going to have to earn their release. Theyre not just going to be taken in front of the parole board and let go.

But, he added, the clock is ticking.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg in April. Read more

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PARIS  Heading into a second round of rare direct talks with Israel, Lebanon is urging the Trump administration to pressure Israel to scale back its demands and end its military invasion of the country, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in an interview with The Washington Post.

In Paris  days after the Israeli army published a map showing off the strip of southern Lebanon it says it seized as a buffer zone against Hezbollah attacks  Salam said Lebanon could not sign any agreement that does not include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

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We cannot live with a so-called buffer zone, he said, an Israeli presence where Lebanese displaced people are not allowed to return, where destroyed villages and towns cannot be rebuilt.

The prime minister called for extending a shaky ceasefire brokered by the United States that expires at the end of this week, following the example of President Donald Trump, who has extended the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

So far, efforts to hold a second round of U.S.-Iran peace talks have failed. Lebanese and Israeli diplomats, however, are due to hold their second bargaining session on Thursday at the State Department. It is the first time in decades that Lebanese and Israeli officials are bargaining directly in a U.S. bid toward potentially normalizing relations, which Hezbollah has long rejected.

Israel has said the ceasefire, which includes provisions in its favor, will not stop its military operations to devastate Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon.

Beirut hopes to prolong the initial 10-day ceasefire, eventually secure an Israeli military withdrawal and allow more than a million displaced people to return home. Some have already ventured back to the south, but Israel has warned residents not to cross into the Lebanese villages it now controls.

The 72-year-old prime minister, who is a former president of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, said the U.S. role as a mediator is crucial.

We are entering these negotiations convened by the U.S. convinced that the U.S. is the party that can have leverage over Israel, Salam said Wednesday after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. Their role was critical in reaching the ceasefire, and we hope they will continue exercising their leverage over Israel.

In recent days, however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces created a buffer zone about 10 kilometers deep into Lebanon, giving no indication that Israel would be willing to step back from hard-line demands to occupy swaths of the countrys south.

The declarations illustrate that the efforts to end the war  let alone achieve an elusive, controversial peace deal  face long odds, even as Trump seems eager to proclaim he has resolved the deep-rooted conflict.

Lebanon emerged as a sticking point in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, after a deadly Israeli barrage pounded Beirut, the capital, this month, killing more than 300 people in a day. The Trump administration intervened to broker the ceasefire in Lebanon, seeking to advance the negotiations with Iran.

Since then, Trump posted on Truth Social that Israel was prohibited from bombing Lebanon and that the U.S. would work with Beirut to deal with Hezbollah in an appropriate manner.

Yet Washington has not articulated a firm position against this Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and the countrys fate probably will also depend on the result of talks over the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Trump has extended the truce with Iran indefinitely, though its future is uncertain as a standoff persists over the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked whether the U.S. appears understanding of his governments stance, Salam said Wednesday that talks were really at the very beginning.

I dont know what we can achieve through negotiation, but I know what we want, Salam added. And whether its an avenue we should pursue? My answer is indeed yes. Because we dont want to leave any stone unturned to reach our objectives.

Ahead of the talks, Israeli strikes killed several people in southern Lebanon, including a journalist, rescuers said Wednesday, in an attack the government condemned as a blatant violation of international law.

While Beirut hopes Washington will exert pressure on Netanyahu, its unclear how long Trump is willing to stay the course. The Lebanese government, meanwhile, is engaging in talks mediated by Israels biggest ally with little backup or leverage.

Israel has ignored European warnings against another occupation and has sidelined France, historically a key mediator in Lebanon.

Israel insists that its forces pushed into southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah is dug in, to eliminate the militant group, which continues to fire rockets and drones across Israels northern border. The Lebanese governments position is that the invasion violates the countrys sovereignty and that it is up to the Lebanese army, not Israel, to disarm Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials insist they cannot accomplish that mission while under attack by Israel. Israel insists that the Lebanese military does not have the capability to disarm Hezbollah.

We are remaining in Lebanon in a reinforced security buffer zone, Netanyahu said last week. Thats where we are, and we are not leaving. The Israeli militarys map highlights a belt of territory it has seized along the border, showing dozens of villages under its control.

Some analysts say repeated Israeli incursions into southern Lebanon, including an occupation from 1982 to 2000, have provided fertile ground for Hezbollah, which was founded after the 1982 invasion and grew into Tehrans most important and powerful regional proxy.

The rise of Hezbollah, including attacks against Western nations such as the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, was also central to the collapse of previous efforts to achieve a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel.

Hezbollah, down but not out, is still pledging to fight back and has denounced the direct negotiations.

In the interview, the Lebanese prime minister said only a Lebanese mission can disarm Hezbollah  a main demand of Israel and Western nations. Salam has maintained that Lebanon did not seek out this war, which began after Hezbollah attacked Israel last month to avenge the U.S.-Israeli killing of Irans supreme leader.

Faced with Israeli criticism that his government hasnt done enough to disarm Hezbollah, Salam said authorities made bold decisions and showed progress by confiscating weapons and outlawing Hezbollah military operations. He said a state monopoly over arms is a Lebanese interest, regardless of Israeli demands, because its high time to recognize that a state cannot have two armies.

Disarmament is a process; its not something thats going to happen overnight. But whats more important is that we have shown seriousness, he continued, adding that the only way to do it is to strengthen the army.

Salam said Lebanon is appealing to partners including Washington and Paris to help expand and reinforce its cash-strapped military with equipment and training, as well as to provide funds for an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy and for huge reconstruction needs.

Salam, who has also served as ambassador to the United Nations, took office last year in what was seen as a blow to Hezbollahs influence over Lebanese politics.

After Israel weakened Hezbollah with pager attacks and a 2024 war in Lebanon, the new Lebanese government, which was backed by the U.S., pledged to disarm the militants and reform the financially distressed state. But despite U.S. pressure to force Hezbollahs hand, Lebanese officials have also been wary of sectarian strife, a threat that Hezbollah has wielded as it refuses to lay down arms.

Lebanon maintains delicate power-sharing between factions that fought a bloody 15-year civil war until 1990.

Countries including the U.S. and France have long backed the Lebanese army as a potential counterweight to Iranian sway, but the Western support is dwarfed by U.S. military aid to Israel and Tehrans backing of Hezbollah.

Now, Salams government is treading a fine line, contending with Israeli and U.S. proclamations of a possible peace deal, at a time when Israeli forces are leveling homes in the south and the Lebanese are still burying their dead, with over 2,290 people killed in Lebanon since early March. The attacks have forced an estimated 20 percent of the population to flee, according to U.N. officials.

With his Western interlocutors, Salam is receptive to negotiations and at times parses his words. With the Lebanese at home, he is navigating tense divisions in a country where many are increasingly critical of Hezbollah for undermining the state, while others accuse the state of failing to protect them.

Israels military advance and its warnings that Lebanese will not be allowed to return to the south have raised fears of a long occupation seeking to reshape not only the border region, but also its demographics. The Shiite community, from which Hezbollah draws its core base, is bearing the brunt of Israels attacks.

Israeli officials previously indicated intentions to clear up to 10 percent of Lebanon of its residents, as some in Netanyahus government advocated for annexing the land.

Responding to domestic criticism about engaging directly with Israel while Lebanon is under fire, Salam said the diplomacy is not a concession to anyone.

Salam held a flurry of meetings with European officials this week to shore up support, including talks in Paris with Macron. Israel, however, has sought to keep France out as tensions rise over Macrons rebuke of Israels war in Gaza and territorial ambitions in Lebanon.

Salam said France would have a big role in bolstering the army and rallying aid for devastated villages. Lebanon, he said, needs to mobilize all our friends.

Suzan Haidamous in Beirut contributed to this report.
Wildwood's city commissioners, including Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. (leaning forward), at a meeting in City Hall on April 22, 2026, at which an ordinance closing the Boardwalk between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. had its final vote. Read more

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WILDWOOD  Owners of tattoo and piercing parlors, ice cream shops, arcades, and restaurants pleaded Wednesday for even just another half-hour to keep their shops open late, but Wildwood commissioners adopted a new overnight boardwalk closure anyway.

We want businesses to thrive and be busy until 1, 1:30 a.m., even 2 oclock in the morning like it used to be, said David Zarfati, owner of Karma, Gemini, Oxygen, and the Rock, crystal, tattoo, and piercing shops.

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The business owners said Wildwoods plan to close the boardwalk between 1 and 5 a.m. would hurt their business and create safety problems.

A half hour is a lot of money for us, said Penny Saab, of Beach Side Ice Cream.

Wildwoods city commissioners  Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., Krista McConnell, and Steve Mikulski  adopted the ordinance over their objections in a unanimous vote Wednesday evening, closing the famously raucous Jersey Shore boardwalk overnight.

McConnell said the commissioners felt they had no choice given recent incidents of large unruly crowds and violence in Wildwood and other resort spots in New Jersey and elsewhere.

We hope theres a point where we can roll it back, she said. With the way the state of the world seems to be, its not something we really feel great about doing, its something thats just necessary at this moment.

The ordinance had the support of Police Chief Jim Murphy, who said he was convinced the closure was needed to mitigate  late-night crowd- related issues.

Mikulski said the commissioners considered a 2 a.m. closing time, but went with 1 a.m. at the chiefs urging.

Several business owners tried to lobby for 1:30 a.m., but the ordinance was adopted on second reading without any changes.

We have a lot of concerns, besides the revenue that some of the businesses are going to lose, Zarfati said after the vote. Thats just part of it. The other part is what this means to the future of Wildwood.

Commissioners said there would be no nightly announcement on the boardwalk, and no routine police enforcement or clearing of people from the boardwalk.

If you have customers in there, playing pinball, ordering cheesesteaks, getting a tattoo or ear piercing, were not going to say, Hey, close these doors, Mikulski said. Its about preserving the family environment.

Said Troiano: The temperament of the boardwalk is going to dictate. If you have the rowdy crowds, youll see enforcement. If the crowds arent there, were not going to be running up on the boardwalk. We have more important things to do.

John DeLong, owner of three boardwalk restaurants that stay open until 1:30 a.m.  and, on busy weekends like the Barefoot Country Music Festival, until 2 a.m.  called the move government overreach.

I dont want to take away the privilege of walking along one of the greatest landmarks of our country because of a few bad seeds, DeLong said. I cant imagine the statistics of what occurs between 1 and 5 are more or worse than any crime that happens at other times.

Other speakers said workers at places like Moreys Piers typically go for pizza after work and use the boardwalk to travel home, as a safer route than along city streets.

Troiano cited incidents of crowds from the last two summers, including when the city had to declare a state of emergency to close down its boardwalk over Memorial Day weekend two summers ago.

He said times have changed, and teenagers are presenting a greater problem and in larger numbers in Wildwood and other resort towns.

But speakers noted that some of the more serious crime problems last summer occurred off the boardwalk, like a shooting in a Pacific Avenue parking lot.

The ordinance passed on first reading on April 8 and had a second and final vote Wednesday evening at a meeting of the city commissioners.

Troiano noted that Wildwood becomes the third-most-populous city in New Jersey during the summer, after Newark and Jersey City, and said the city has had trouble hiring enough police to handle the crowds.

Other security measures have included police on horseback, temporary closures, curfews, and bollards at ramp ends. The 1 a.m.-to-5 a.m. closure would affect only a limited number of businesses that have remained open past 1 a.m. on the boardwalk during the summer.

Resort destinations at the Shore and around the country, from Ocean City, N.J., to Miami Beach, have contended with crowds that coalesce around social media posts and descend on their towns.

The closing would not apply to emergency personnel in the performance of their duties, authorized city employees, contractors, vendors, or others authorized by the city or police.

Signs will be installed along the boardwalk, and enforcement will be the responsibility of the Wildwood Police Department, the city said.
Philadelphia Police and the FBI are investigating the April 21 robbery of a Brinks truck in Tacony. Read more

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On Tuesday morning, two masked men armed with rifles confronted a Brinks armored truck driver on a busy stretch of Torresdale Avenue in Tacony. The duo fled with $1.8 million in cash, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the case.

It is unclear if investigators from the FBI or the Philadelphia Police Department have identified the robbers. A blue getaway car that the thieves are believed to have used was found by police in Northern Liberties, 6abc has reported.

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Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, notched another victory this week over a group of suspects who were connected last year to three armored truck robberies, and three attempted robberies, between June 26 and Oct. 3.

Dante Shackleford, 26, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to having robbed a Brinks truck at gunpoint in Elkins Park last August, and to having tried to rob Brinks trucks on three other occasions, court records show.

Shackleford had initially pleaded not guilty.

Had he gone to trial and been convicted, Shackleford could have faced a maximum sentence of life in prison. Now, he stands to face 11 to 13 years behind bars, and five years of supervised release, according to court records.

Shackleford is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 11.

His attorney, Angela Levy, declined to comment.

Another member of Shacklefords heist crew, Mujahid Davis, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery in March. He also will be sentenced in August.

The U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment on the case.

Shackleford, Davis, and at least one other suspect who has not been publicly identified seemed to be one step ahead of federal and local investigators last summer, as they staged heists that shared the same attributes as the $1.8 million Tacony robbery: executed in broad daylight, in neighborhoods lined with businesses and homes, often in close proximity of highways that promised quick escapes.

The thieves were unaware, though, that a dragnet was gradually closing around them. Federal investigators used social media messages, cell phone tower records, and surveillance camera footage to stitch together a mosaic of their crimes.

Staff writers Ellie Rushing and Chris Palmer contributed to this article.
Jonathan Hoffmeier, a teacher at Lankenau High School, protests during a rally outside the School District of Philadelphia Headquarters in January. The district's facilities master plan includes Lankenaus closure. Read more

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There is no such thing as a good school closure plan, and the Philadelphia School District proposal  scheduled to be voted on Thursday  is no exception. Local schools are important to communities across the city, and many residents still feel the pain of the last round of closures in 2013.

But City Council members and state legislators who are now menacing the district and making ominous pronouncements about withholding funding are a day late and a dollar short.

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The facilities master plan is not a rushed endeavor, and hardly a surprise. School officials have been talking about closing and rebuilding schools for years. The proposal is a much-needed effort to modernize and rightsize the district.

While politicians are happy to grandstand in favor of keeping specific schools open, they are less forthcoming about which schools should be closed instead. It is easy to say, Save Lankenau. It is harder to follow that up with and close Roxborough High School instead.

Council is also a large reason why the district is in such a financial pickle to begin with.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia school closure proposal is not perfect, but it is necessary | Editorial

Members have routinely increased the citys homestead exemption. While this helps protect homeowners, many of whom have low or moderate incomes, from big tax bills, it is a choice that has undermined the fiscal stability of Philadelphias schools. The tax break now adds up to more than $300 million per year, roughly identical to the districts projected deficit.

The median property tax bill in Philadelphia is under $2,500, compared with nearly $4,000 in Upper Darby, a suburban township with similar income levels as the city.

Most Pennsylvania school districts can raise property taxes on their own, a power that has not been granted to Philadelphias school board. It is unlikely the city would have such a long list of supplemental school taxes  from the liquor-by-the-drink fee to the sugar tax to the recently proposed ride-share levy  if the school board were able to increase the rate without Council approval.

Council also has had ample opportunity to raise concerns about the districts spending. After all, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. and Board of Education Chair Reginald Streater report for budget hearings every year. It has long been apparent that an influx of federal COVID-19 relief funds had papered over a serious shortfall. If Council members wanted the district to cut back earlier to avoid asking for more, they could have spoken up.

Thats not to say the districts plan is flawless, or that its leadership is without fault.

 READ MORE: Americans continue to bear the cost of Trumps chaos | Editorial

For example, the proposed closure of Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, which is one of the best-performing public high schools in terms of academics, remains puzzling. The urge to ensure each school has adequate resources to provide a wide spectrum of courses is admirable, but things are clearly working for students at the environmentally focused campus.

A ride-share tax is also a confusing fit for funding schools. If the money were spent on increasing the frequency and coverage of public transit, the city could plausibly claim the tax would save some residents money overall. But sending the money to the district forecloses on that opportunity.

Still, school board officials have gracefully listened to members of the public, whose responses to the facilities plan have ranged from disappointment to fury  all to improve a proposal board members would avoid implementing if they could.

The Philadelphia School District is not perfect, but until City Council can supply a realistic alternative to the facilities plan and ride-share tax proposal, issuing threats is irresponsible.
President Donald Trump departs after speaking at an event in the State Dining Room of the White House on Tuesday. Read more

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In 1966, the famous American psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with a description of a mental bias that became known as Maslows hammer.

If the only tool you have is a hammer, I suppose it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail, Maslow contended. Or, as some have reworded his theorem: When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

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This is a good diagnosis for how President Donald Trump has trapped us all in his unnecessary war with Tehran. A war from which he cant find a good exit.

It also explains why he indefinitely extended an April 21 ceasefire deadline with Iran on Tuesday evening, even though hed just threatened to resume bombing if there was no nuclear deal by then.

As Maslow would no doubt have diagnosed, Trump is a bully whose modus operandi is to browbeat, insult, and threaten opponents and allies (especially those who respond with timidity). He is impatient and seeks quick hits and big headlines.

Overseas, the military hammer has become his preferred tactic so long as the strike is quick, as in Venezuela and the U.S. bombing of Irans nuclear facilities in June.

But when an adversary is tougher and the fight more complex, with a strategy that outflanks his erratic tactics, POTUS is flummoxed. The Iran war has laid bare how Trumps strategic and cognitive weaknesses endanger Americans, as well as the entire world.

Trump did not know what he was getting into, I was told by Ryan Crocker, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, Syria, and Lebanon, and one of the smartest Mideast analysts in the field. This is the first real foreign policy crisis he has faced, and he has no idea what he is doing. Its scary.

Indeed.

POTUS swallowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus pitch that Irans Islamic regime could quickly be toppled by U.S.-Israeli bombing and replaced by more malleable secular leaders. CIA Director John Ratcliffe called such regime-change scenarios farcical, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled them bullshit, according to a New York Times investigation. But given his lack of knowledge about Iran and his conviction that his instincts trump expertise, the president picked up his military hammer.

Trump underestimated Iranian leaders tolerance for pain and determination to salvage their Islamic republic (even though their numbers were decimated and their countrys economy was in shambles).

But most importantly, said Crocker, Trump failed to foresee (even though he was warned) that the Iranians had a critical card to play: the closure of the Strait of Hormuz through which about 20% of the worlds energy resources flow. Iran had never tried to close the strait before, but U.S. and Israeli bombs convinced its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that this was a necessary option.

Iran now knows they can close the strait, Crocker said. Every day that the strait is closed adds to the economic pain of the U.S., Europe, and Asia. This has terrible consequences globally. They have turned the Strait of Hormuz into the Strait of Iran.

Even Trump, with his unfettered verbosity, has referred to it by that name.

Last week, Iran offered to reopen the strait, but made clear its military would still control traffic in and out and charge tolls to passing tankers. Unsatisfied with this unpleasant option, Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to blockade Iranian ports so its oil exports were also halted.

But Irans current leaders are betting, probably correctly, that they can withstand that pain longer than Trump can, with his eye on rising gas prices and midterm elections. Tehran says it wont return to talks until the U.S. blockade is lifted.

Faced with this standoff, and the choice whether to resume bombing or extend the ceasefire deadline again, Trump blinked.

Let me be clear, I am glad he backed down. But it revealed his desperation to exit the mess he has made.

Iran has won the first round, Crocker contended. This is not going well.

Trumps problem is that he now has only bad options to reopen the strait.

Some right-wing hawks are advocating that he pick up the hammer. Fox News Hugh Hewitt actually recommended Trump go full Sherman, recalling the famed Civil War generals scorched-earth march to Atlanta, and proposing POTUS destroy all of Irans oil and energy infrastructure.

Not only would this be a war crime affecting civilians and a further blow to global energy prices, but it would be unlikely to move the survival-intent hard-line IRGC, which now appears to be running the show.

Moreover, the worst possible option  which would be totally insane  would be for Trump to launch a land war in Iran to try for real regime change.

Iran was not an immediate threat to the United States before Trump started this war, and even he knows that sinking into such a bloody quagmire would probably set him on the path to bipartisan impeachment.

The only way out, said Crocker, is to try to swap a simultaneous end to the U.S. blockade against Irans ports for a full Iranian opening of the strait. Ideally, this would mean no IRGC control of shipping or tolls on vessels entering or leaving.

This will be harder for Trump to do now, when he is weaker, Crocker said. Especially when the Iranians know he is eager for an offramp, after he extended the deadline.

But it is pretty apparent to everyone, except Donald Trump, Crocker added, that hes not going to bomb Iran out of anything. The only way he can leave [the war] and save face is to get back to the status quo ante on the Strait of Hormuz.

As for a return to talks on eliminating Irans nuclear program, Crocker believes that at some point we will go back to the table. However, he noted, the nuclear deal negotiated by President Barack Obama  which would have halted Irans nuclear program for 15 years had Trump not withdrawn from it  took two years to complete.

For future negotiations to have a chance, Trump would have to abandon his I win, you lose approach to diplomacy. He would finally have to assemble and listen to an expert team instead of sending his ill-informed real estate buddy and son-in-law.

Hope springs eternal, but this hope requires a suspension of disbelief.

True, Trump is desperate to end his misbegotten Iran venture, but he seems to believe he is winning. On Truth Social on Wednesday, he was posting New York Times clips from 2004, citing the top ratings of The Last Season of My Apprentice Juggernaut. In other words, how can such a winner be wrong?

The best we can hope for is that fear of higher gas prices will keep Trumps hammer in abeyance  and that he will find a way to negotiate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, declare a fake victory, and bring the troops home.

Perhaps after this Iran debacle, the U.S. public will grasp the danger of leaving a one-tool president in charge of foreign policy and the nuclear button when they vote in November  and choose legislators who are willing and able to rein him in.
University of Pennsylvania professor Jonathan Zimmerman proposes a novel response to a government request for the names of Jewish employees on campus: Give them everyone's names. (And he means everyone.) Read more

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Are you Jewish?

If you work at the University of Pennsylvania, the Trump administration wants to know. And we dont want to tell them.

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I say we not just because Im Jewish and teach at Penn. I havent met a single person at the university  of any faith background  who thinks that handing over the names of our Jewish employees to the government is a good idea.

So Ive got a different idea: Everyone at Penn should say theyre Jewish, whether they are or not. If you dont want the government collecting the names of Jews, simply add your own name to one of the Jewish groups on campus. And nobody will be able to determine who is a real Jew, which is a fools errand anyhow.

Last year, in its effort to investigate antisemitism at Penn, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) subpoenaed the university for the names and phone numbers of employees who were members of Jewish-themed organizations.

Penn balked, claiming that providing that information would violate the privacy of its workers and also make people wary of joining such groups in the future. But last month, a federal district judge ruled that Penn had to comply with the subpoena. And last week, the university asked a federal circuit court for a stay of that order, and announced that it would appeal the judges decision.

The university already offered to notify all employees of the governments investigation and to inform them about how to cooperate with it. But that wasnt good enough for the EEOC. It wants names.

So lets give them names. All of our names. If you want to show solidarity with Jews, stand in lockstep with them.

Thats what happened in Sweden in 2012, after a rabbi was assaulted in the port city of Malmo. Hundreds of non-Jews donned kippahs  the head covering worn by Jews to signal reverence for God  and marched through the streets. Two years later, thousands of people in Stockholm staged a similar Kippah Walk following a series of antisemitic incidents.

In the past years, Swedens Jewish community has sometimes felt lonely, declared Swedens minister for integration, proudly displaying his kippah. Today, we are here to show our Jewish minority that we support them, and they are not alone.

And in 2019, after a government official in Germany warned Jews that wearing kippahs in public could subject them to violence, the countrys most popular daily newspaper published a cutout kippah and asked readers to wear it as a sign of support for the Jewish community. That came on the heels of a spike in physical attacks against Jews, which had nearly doubled in the previous two years.

If even one person in our country cannot wear the kippah without putting themselves in danger, then the only answer must be that we all wear the kippah, the papers editor-in-chief urged.

And if even one person is identified by the government as Jewish, we must all identify as Jewish. Fortunately, Jews at Penn have not been subject to the kind of assaults that our brothers and sisters in Germany faced. But we also know our history: When the state starts to list Jews, bad things happen to us.

Is there antisemitism at American universities? Of course, there is. We saw that after the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli war in Gaza. At Cornell, a student was arrested after allegedly threatening to rape and kill Jewish students. And at Cooper Union in New York, Jewish students took refuge in the library while pro-Palestinian protesters banged on windows and doors.

Thats why faculty members at dozens of universities across the country have established organizations to counter antisemitism. At Penn, we also created a task force to investigate prejudice against Jews on campus.

Now the Trump administration wants  you guessed it  the names of faculty and staff who participated in the task forces listening sessions. And maybe well be forced to reveal them if we lose the next court battle.

But we can still win this war if everyone on campus joins Penn Faculty Against Antisemitism. And if you dont like that groups pro-Israel politics, start your own Jewish-themed organization. Enlist as many people as you can, no matter their religion. Then lets see the Trump administration try to figure out who is who.

Say it loud, and say it proud: We are all Jews now. And nobody will be able to tell the difference between us, which is exactly as it should be.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools.
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) is one of the Republicans that Democrats are targeting this year. Read more

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A major national Democratic super PAC said Thursday it will spend $20 million on ads across four Pennsylvania congressional districts that could help determine whether the party wins control of the U.S. House later this year.

The House Majority PACs investment  about $6 million more than the PAC poured into Pennsylvania races in the Republican-dominated 2024 election  could become a significant boost for Democratic candidates facing well-funded Republican incumbents.

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An equivalent GOP organization also said Thursday it plans to spend heavily in the same areas, with $13.5 million worth of anticipated ads to defend its recent gains in Pennsylvania.

The Democratic PACs announcement is one of the first signs that the national partyintends to commit resources to unseating five-term U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, the last Republican representing a Philadelphia-area district.

Democrats have long had their eye on winning the Bucks County-based district, though many political observers say the Republican has a better chance of holding onto it compared with the GOP incumbents in the other three competitive districts in Pennsylvania.

For the first time since 2020, the PAC is backing efforts to unseat Fitzpatrick, part of an almost $12.9 million ad buy in the Philadelphia media market.

That media market extends to the Lehigh Valley, where the money will also go toward opposing first-term U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R., Lehigh), widely considered the most vulnerable incumbent in Congress this election.

In the Wilkes-Barre market, where another freshman, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R., Lackawanna), is trying to hold onto his seat, the PAC is pushing roughly $3.7 million.

In Harrisburg, the PAC has committed to spend almost $3.5 million against U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R., York).

The PAC is aligned with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.), who is poised to become the first Black speaker if Democrats take the House this fall.

The spending in Pennsylvania is planned for the fall and is part of a larger commitment from the PAC to spend $272 million to help Democratic House candidates across the country. Democrats need a net gain of only three seats to win the majority for the second half of President Donald Trumps term.

Mike Smith, the PACs president, said in a statement that the financial commitments show that Democrats are on offense heading into November.

While Democrats are expanding the map nationwide, House Republicans are losing ground after failing to lower costs, making health care more expensive, and dragging us into another costly and unpopular foreign war, Smith said. Democrats will take back the House in November, and elect Hakeem Jeffries as the next Speaker.

The committees GOP counterpart, the Congressional Leadership Fund, is aligned with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and said it plans to spend $153.1 million on television and digital ads. The $7.6 million planned for the Philadelphia media market and roughly $3 million each for the Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre markets are also all more than the PACs initial investments in 2024.

Chris Winkelman, president of the Congressional Leadership Fund, said in a statement that the group is committed to defending our own while aggressively supporting new candidates.

This initial reserve reflects the reality that this cycle, again, will be fought on a narrow map, Winkelman said. Republicans hold the terrain, and its a tall order for Democrats to break through our strong, battle-tested incumbents.

The announcements came after new campaign finance filings last week revealed Democratic challengers in two competitive districts have built up war chests that rival the incumbents.

Janelle Stelson, a former local television anchor whom Perry narrowly defeated two years ago, raised almost $2.2 million in recent months. That was nearly twice as much as Perry and left Stelson with $3.2 million in her campaign, compared with the Republicans $2.3 million.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, running against Bresnahan in a district that covers the northeastern corner of the state, also outraised the GOP incumbent in the last quarter  almost $1.5 million to his $1.2 million  while closing in on his total balance of $2.2 million.

But in the 1st Congressional District in the Philadelphia suburbs, Democrats have struggled to keep up with Fitzpatrick.

The Bucks County Republican had $7.6 million in his campaign bank account after raising nearly $1.2 million during the first three months of the year  far eclipsing likely Democratic challenger Bob Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner, who raised $428,000 last quarter and had $604,000 in the bank.

Harvie still needs to win the May 19 primary to become the nominee. The Democratic committees in Bucks and Montgomery Counties have rallied behind him as he faces Lucia Simonelli, a grassroots candidate and climate policy adviser.

Mackenzie, the Lehigh Valley Republican who defeated a three-term incumbent Democrat in 2024, is also set to enter the general election campaign with a hefty financial advantage.

His campaign had nearly $2.5 million on hand as of April 1 while four Democrats were spending their more limited resources in a competitive primary race.

The House Majority PAC, the largest political action committee focused exclusively on Democrats winning the House, will likely be one of several outside groups looking to bolster the candidates own efforts in the Pennsylvania districts, flooding the airwaves in the process. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will also be targeting the four districts.

Republicans have vowed to protect the seats they won in the wave that came with Trumps election in 2024. The National Republican Campaign Committee  which has named Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Perry, and Bresnahan among its priority candidates this year  boasted this week of raising more than its Democratic counterpart through the beginning of this year.

Democrats used to count on a cash advantage to hide their radical policies from voters, but that crutch is now gone, NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella said in a statement. Republicans have the momentum, the money, and the firepower to take the fight straight to them in November.

Early announcements of large outside investments are not particularly surprising, but they are another sign that the four Republican-held swing districts in Pennsylvania are in essence the heart of the 2026 cycle, said Chris Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

The amount of spending thats going to go on  were used to it in Pennsylvania, but its going to be exceptional even by our high standards, Borick said.
Panel for Ona Judge at the Presidents House in Independence National Historical Park Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Read more

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On May 21, 1796, Ona Judge escaped to Philadelphias free Black community after years of enslavement at the hands of George and Martha Washington.

Judge, one of nine people enslaved by Washington during his presidency in Philadelphia, then spent several years dodging attempts by the first president to recapture her.

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Almost 230 years later, Judges determination and pursuit for freedom are being honored by the City of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia City Council last week adopted a resolution, introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass, a Democrat, to recognize May 21 annually as Ona Judge Day. The designation comes at a key moment, as President Donald Trumps administration continues its efforts to rewrite Washingtons role in upholding slavery in Philadelphia.

The first city-recognized Ona Judge Day next month will also come just weeks ahead of the height of the nations 250th anniversary celebrations this summer.

Judges story is prominently featured at the President Houses Site, which opened in 2010 to memorialize Judge and the other eight people enslaved by Washington in the city.

But that story has been targeted by the Trump administration for removal ahead of the 250th anniversary, making the citys decision to establish an official commemoration this year that much more significant.

Heres what to know.

Who is Ona Judge?

Judge was one of nine people enslaved by George and Martha Washington at their residence in Philadelphia.

She was a maid and seamstress, and Washington rotated her, along with other individuals enslaved at the residence, every six months between Philadelphia and his residence at Mount Vernon in Virginia to subvert an emancipation law in Pennsylvania.

Judges escape to freedom was motivated by her desire for liberty and to flee being passed on to Martha Washingtons oldest granddaughter, who had a fierce temper, according to historians at Mount Vernon.

Whilst they were packing up to go to Virginia, I was packing to go, I didnt know where; for I knew that if I went back to Virginia, I should never get my liberty, Judge said, according to the historians. I had friends among the colored people of Philadelphia, had my things carried there beforehand, and left Washingtons house while they were eating dinner.

Eventually, Judge arrived in New Hampshire, but she still had to grapple with Washingtons several unsuccessful attempts to retrieve her.

Judges story, and those of the eight people she was enslaved with, is currently honored at the Presidents House, pending the Trump administrations court appeal to rewrite it.

Who is behind the efforts to honor Ona Judge?

Several stakeholders throughout the city have been working to amplify Judges story, including Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, which helped shape the Presidents House memorial in the early 2000s and has been leading current efforts to protect the site.

Since 2003, ATAC has routinely recognized Judge on May 21, but the coalition is grateful to City Council for making the designation official, said Dawn Chavous, spokesperson for the organization. Chavous husband is City Council President Kenyatta Johnson.

Last week, the Citizen Media Group, which includes Philadelphia Magazine and the Philadelphia Citizen, started a petition to recognize Judge on May 21 with support from ATAC founder Michael Coard and Carl Stingley, founding member of the Ona Judge Coalition.

Given ATACs continuous remembrance of Judge, We therefore enthusiastically, energetically, and ecstatically support the creation of an official local, state, and federal Ona Judge Day, Coard said on the petition website.

Why does this matter now?

The commemoration of Judges story is especially pertinent as the fight to preserve the Presidents House continues to unfold after the Trump administration removed exhibits at the site earlier this year.

Panels and videos detailing Judges story were removed as workers dismantled the exhibit in alignment with directives from the Trump administration.

Most of the sites panels were restored after an order from a federal judge, but the future of the Presidents House remains in limbo as the City of Philadelphias legal battle against the federal government continues to shake out.

Attorneys for the city and the Trump administration are scheduled to appear in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on June 2 for oral arguments on the governments effort to overturn the injunction prohibiting changes to the Presidents House.

Earlier this month, the Trump administrations vision for how it would reshape history at the Presidents House was revealed. The Inquirer reported on a set of digital renderings quietly uploaded online by the administration that completely reframed Washingtons role as an enslaver and diluted the stories of the people he enslaved.

Judges recognition also comes just weeks ahead of what is expected to be an influx of tourism for the citys celebrations of 250 years since the nations founding.

City Councils resolution emphasizes that Judges story is a critical part of both Philadelphias and the nations history, illustrating the contradictions between the ideals of liberty and the realities of slavery in the founding of the United States.

Staff writer Abraham Gutman contributed to this article.
Supporters of the ICE Out Legislation celebrate the final passage of votes in City Council, in Philadelphia, April 23, 2026. Read more

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City Council on Thursday approved a high-profile legislative package aimed at restricting immigration enforcement in Philadelphia, placing the city at the forefront of local resistance to President Donald Trumps nationwide deportation campaign.

The seven bills, which were authored by progressive Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau, ban law enforcement agents from obscuring their identities with masks, prohibit federal authorities from using city property as staging or processing areas for immigration enforcement, and codify the citys long-standing status as a so-called sanctuary city.

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This legislation shows that Philadelphians are not afraid to stand up to the Trump administration, Brooks, a member of the Working Families Party, said in a speech. She added that the proposals were backed by dozens of community organizations who wanted to see Philly government take action on the violence and fear that ICE has brought to our communities.

Supporters carrying ICE Out of Philly signs erupted in applause after lawmakers approved most of the package in a series of 16-1 votes with Brian ONeill, Councils lone Republican, opposed.

Councilmember Mike Driscoll, a Democrat, joined ONeill in voting no on two of the measures: the bill banning officers from wearing masks and another aimed at preventing immigration enforcement officers from accessing nonpublic areas of Safe Community Places such as recreation centers and courthouses. Those were approved 15-2.

Driscoll said he supports the spirit of all the bills and believes there are systemic problems with ICE that the federal government should address. But he said he voted no on the two bills due to concerns about legal issues, including the separation of powers between local and federal agencies.

 READ MORE: Unmasking ICE in Philly could test the limits of local power over federal agents

As local officials, our responsibility is to advance efforts that strengthen protections for Philadelphias immigrant communities and ensure families feel safe, he said. We vetted and approved legislation that carefully weighed all relevant factors  including potential legal challenges  while upholding and protecting the rights of immigrants.

The legislation includes some of the most aggressive measures aimed at restricting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the country, and Thursdays votes could thrust Philadelphia into the national conversation around immigration under Trump.

Philly is now on the map, Landau, a Democrat, said in a speech. The entire country and possibly the world is watching us as having some of the strongest ICE Out protections.

 READ MORE: Philly City Council members will soon consider seven ICE Out bills. Heres what the proposals would do.

That is a scenario Democratic Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has for months sought to avoid with a strategy of rarely discussing immigration or speaking confrontationally about Trump while maintaining the immigrant-friendly policies adopted by previous Philadelphia mayors.

The mayors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

When the bills were approved in committee, administration officials testified that some provisions could be legally problematic. But the mayors team also indicated the administration would not stand in the way of the proposals, which had already garnered support from a supermajority of Council.

Council President Kenyatta Johnson said he had no concern at all that Trump would target Philadelphia due to the legislation.

He also said he believed the city would prevail in any legal challenges.

We have a strong legal team, and if it is challenged, then we will be successful and well be vindicated, Johnson told reporters after the votes. The city of Philadelphia will stand together and advocate and fight for some of the most vulnerable population of individuals who live here.

 READ MORE: Philly Council advances bills restricting ICE in the city as Mayor Parker signals she wont stand in the way

The legislation now heads to Parkers desk. The mayor can sign the proposals into law, allow them to become law without her signature, or veto them. Parker has never vetoed a bill.

One measure would effectively codify the citys longstanding policy of not complying with ICE detainer requests, in which federal agents request that local jails help facilitate the arrest of people suspected of being unauthorized immigrants, unless the agency secures judicial warrants.

That policy, established by former Mayor Jim Kenney in a 2016 executive order, is the primary reason Philadelphia is widely seen as a sanctuary city. Enacting it into law prevents future mayors from ending the policy without Council approval.

Other provisions of the legislation would:

Create a new protected class, effectively banning discrimination based on immigration status. Prohibit data-sharing agreements between the city and ICE. Ban law enforcement officers, including Philadelphia police, from concealing their identities, except under special circumstances such as medical needs. Prevent ICE from using city-owned property to set up staging and processing areas. Ban city officials and government contractors from conditioning city benefits on immigration status.

The Rev. Christopher Neilson, president of Christianity for Living Ministries and a member of the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, said the bills passage meant that the city was fulfilling its name of brotherly love and sisterly affection.

The next steps are working to ensure not only the implementation but the embracing, embodying, and expressing of the spirit of the legislation in the citizenry, Neilson said in a statement.

Landau and Brooks introduced the bills shortly after federal agents fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti during an immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis. The proposals sailed through Council with little opposition after 15 of the 17 members signed on as cosponsors. No one testified against the proposals when they were heard in committee last week.

It is possible that some of the package will be challenged in court, legal experts have told The Inquirer. This week, a federal appeals court blocked a California law adopted last year that required masked federal agents to wear visible identification.

Vanessa Stine, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Unions Pennsylvania chapter, applauded Councils approval of the bills and said they were rooted in constitutional law.

Strong local policies make a difference and are legally sound, Stine said in a statement. They decrease mass deportation and are grounded in the Fourth and Tenth Amendments.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
Supporters of Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke's renter protection bills celebrate as Council passes the legislation at City Hall on Thursday. Read more

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City Council passed two bills meant to protect renters living in unsafe and unhealthy homes after a couple of last-ditch attempts by landlords in court to stop them.

Councilmember Nicolas ORourke introduced the bills a year ago as part of a yearslong effort by tenants and their advocates to get the city to help renters living with leaks, mold, lack of heat, pests, crumbling ceilings, and other threats to their health and safety. Supporters who packed Council chambers erupted in cheers Thursday as the bills passed 16-1. Roughly half of Philadelphia households rent their homes.

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The legislation affirms tenants rights to safe and sanitary homes, expands protections against landlord retaliation for renters who participate in tenant unions or investigations of code violations, and authorizes the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections to create a program to proactively inspect rental units.

It allows for rent relief for tenants if their landlords dont have valid rental licenses or dont fix code violations in a timely manner. The legislation also expands the citys requirement that landlords have good cause for not renewing a tenants lease and further penalizes landlords who accumulate code violations.

We would not be doing this at all if the floor for how many landlords treat tenants wasnt so, so desperately low, ORourke said after the vote. And today, we have raised it.

Landlord pushback

Some Philly rental property owners, who argue the bills will unintentionally harm good small landlords or force them to raise rents, delayed passage of the legislation last month by suing city lawmakers the day before a scheduled Council vote, an exceedingly rare move.

In the lawsuit, two landlords  one of whom is the political chair for HAPCO Philadelphia, the citys largest association of rental property owners  alleged that Council members violated the states Sunshine Act by privately deliberating and then voting to advance the bills before public comment.

The landlords and Council reached a settlement that sent the bills back to Councils housing committee. Almost two weeks later, on March 30, the committee voted again to move the bills forward.

The two landlords then alleged that Council members had again violated transparency requirements at the second hearing. They asked a Philly judge to hold the city in contempt and to stop Council from voting on the legislation.

The city moved the dispute to federal district court, where a judge last week denied most of the landlords requests, allowing for Thursdays Council vote. The judge scheduled a contempt hearing for June to hear arguments on whether the housing committees March 30 hearing violated the Sunshine Act and the earlier settlement agreement between landlords and Council.

Amendments and changes

Before and after the court actions, discussions among Council members, Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration, and landlord groups resulted in extensive amendments to the two bills. Council last amended the legislation at its April 16 meeting.

The day before, the influential Building Industry Association of Philadelphia e-mailed every Council member to express support for the bills and ask members to vote to pass the legislation.

These are reasonable amendments that if adopted will maintain the bills legislative intent while allowing housing providers some flexibility and thus not discouraging badly needed housing in our city, the association said in the email obtained by The Inquirer.

ORourke said Thursday that as long as rental property owners follow the laws that already exist, his legislation wont make their lives any harder.

But for any landlord, of any size, whos neglectful, whos negligent, whos not concerned about maintaining the property youre drawing income from  ORourke said, its time to get yourself in order."

ORourke wrote his Safe Healthy Homes package of bills in partnership with OnePA Renters United Philadelphia, a coalition of renters unions and advocates, and Philly Thrive, an advocacy group for racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Last year, Council passed one of the bills, which created an anti-displacement fund to give financial help to renters forced to move because of unsafe or unhealthy conditions in their homes.

ORourke agreed to push back the date his two remaining bills go into effect to give landlords more time to comply.

The bills will take effect Nov. 1.

Staff writer Abraham Gutman contributed to this article.
A joint legislative panel took more than four hours of testimony on a proposal to rescind and amend controversial flood rules approved on Gov. Phil Murphys last day in office.

This report is published with permission from April 23, 2026 edition of New Jersey Monitor and the author, Nikita Biryukov . New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom , the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

The discussion was spurred by a resolution sponsored by Senate President Nicholas Scutari that would declare the regulations out of step with legislative intent and give the Department of Environmental Protection 30 days to amend them and allow the legislature to invalidate them by passing a second resolution.

The PACT rules and the REAL rules have tremendous implications for New Jersey citizens, businesses, and New Jerseys environment, said Senate Environment and Energy chairman Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), referring to the regulations by an acronym.

The joint panel, which also included members of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, did not vote on the resolution Wednesday, but Smith said he would share the meetings transcript with the legislatures other members, raising the possibility of action in a few weeks time. Gov. Mikie Sherrills signature is not required for either resolution to take effect.

The Protecting Against Climate Threats Resilient Environment Landscape  or, more succinctly, PACT REAL  rules raised elevation requirements for new and significantly improved construction, created new wetlands protection and stormwater management rules, and expanded state flood maps beyond those drafted by FEMA, among other changes.

Business and development groups had opposed the rules in the years they spent under consideration by the department, fearing they would add costs to housing construction in a state in sore need of more dwellings and limit development altogether in some communities.

Some local officials have chafed at its restrictions over worries that it would slow growth or prevent them from meeting affordable housing obligations imposed by state law. On Wednesday, that group included the mayor of New Jerseys second-largest city.

With respect to the lobbyists here today, I didnt ask them for an opinion on this. I very much went to our city planners first, said Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, a Democrat elected in a nonpartisan race in December. Their conclusion was in their current form the rules would impose serious unworkable burdens on development, rehabilitation across Jersey City.

Though the rules included exemptions, city planners worried they were too unclear to be reliable and would risk the viability of major projects in a city that has seen a population swell and housing crunch in recent years, Solomon said.

Advocates have countered that ignoring climate risks carries its own costs, especially in New Jersey as severe storms grow more common and more damaging.

Yes, theres an increased cost to comply with new regulations for building elevation, for example, but if you break down those costs over the life of the structure and you look at the reduction in building damages, what youd begin to see is that those costs essentially offset and essentially overtake the damage side of the equation, said Mark Mauriello, a former DEP commissioner who now works in real estate development.

Flood risks also factor into municipal finance, said Daniel Garrett, an assistant professor of finance at the Wharton School.

Though pension payments and historically large reserves were the driving forces behind the credit rating upgrades New Jersey has received in recent years, rating agencies have also pointed to steps the state has taken to guard against climate risks.

New Jersey coastal communities that failed to protect against floods and other weather events already paid more to issue bonds than communities that took steps to guard against them, Garrett said.

Investors require a higher return for bearing this climate risk, he said.

New Jerseys practice of not letting its municipalities declare bankruptcy would mean the state would be forced to take on a municipalitys debts if its property tax base disappeared in the wake of a destructive storm, Garrett said.

That debt could be increasingly burdensome as federal disaster assistance, especially to Democratic states, grows increasingly slim.

Ray Cantor, deputy chief government affairs officer for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, said the group believed a two-foot elevation requirement would be an acceptable standard, arguing forecasts of sea level rise were not reliable.

Real people, real businesses, real communities will be impacted. There will be people who wont be able to build their homes, businesses who wont be able to locate down the shore or rebuild to meet current economic needs, he said.

The approved PACT REAL rules require new or significantly improved construction be raised at least 4 feet off the ground, down from 5 feet under a previous proposal. The requirement is meant to guard against sea level rises predicted between now and the 22nd century.

Smith, who said he believed the rules matched legislative intent, said the timing of the rules approval on Murphys final day in office had harmed them.

Im around long enough to recognize the power of the issue of ramming and jamming. Youre hearing from stakeholders  and also from legislators  feeling that they were ill-used and abused, he said following the hearing, gesturing to where some Republican members sat that day.

TOP PHOTO: POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ  OCTOBER 30: A young boy rides a bike through Hurricane Sandy floodwaters on October 30, 2012 in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. The storm left around 2.5 million people in the state without power, claimed entire boardwalks, and flooded and evacuated towns on and off the New Jersey shore. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images).

Published with permission from April 23, 2026 edition of New Jersey Monitor and the author, Nikita Biryukov. New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Topics Trends Legislation Flood New Jersey
London-listed specialty insurer Beazley said on Wednesday shareholders approved Swiss group Zurich Insurances 8.1 billion pound ($10.94 billion) all-cash takeover, with 99.9% votes in favor at a meeting held earlier in the day.

The acquisition, which follows a series of cyber-focused investments by Zurich, will help the Swiss insurer significantly expand its foothold in specialty insurance, encompassing areas such as cyber, marine, aviation, space and fine art.

Days after Zurich struck the deal with Beazley, it also agreed to buy Generalis Irish P&C operations for 337 million euros ($394.69 million).

Last year, it acquired Canadian cyber insurtech Boxx Insurance, after backing the company in earlier funding rounds. In 2024, it had invested $60 million in California-based Cowbell.

Earlier in March, Zurich raised 3.9 billion Swiss francs ($4.98 billion) in a share sale to help finance the Beazley acquisition, after the British insurer accepted an improved offer of up to 1,335 pence per share.

The transaction remains subject to court sanction, which Beazley said it expects will take place during the second-half of 2026.

($1 = 0.7832 Swiss francs)

($1 = 0.8538 euros)

(Reporting by Aatrayee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; editing by Diti Pujara)
A team of former Credit Suisse bankers is preparing to launch a fund they say will offer double-digit returns in exchange for taking on some of the insurance risk tied to data centers.

Euler ILS Partners, an alternative investor formed through a 2024 management buyout of Credit Suisse Insurance Linked Strategies Ltd., is in the process of teaming up with an insurance company to underwrite specialist policies, Chief Investment Officer Niklaus Hilti told Bloomberg. Euler, which has already received initial signs of interest from investors, is targeting about $1 billion in capital for the co-investment, institutional fund, he said.

It would be the first time a product in the market for insurance-linked securities specifically targets data-center risk, according to Hilti. Euler plans to structure the vehicle as a so-called sidecar, meaning investors will take a quota share of an insurers risk. Returns are expected to be above 15%, Hilti said.

This is an historic opportunity for the insurance-linked market, he said.

ILS products have so far tended to focus on the impact of natural disasters on residential property, with catastrophe bonds gaining in popularity in recent years. Issuance of cat bonds has soared  growing about 24% last year  as insurers increasingly look for ways to offload part of the risk on their books to the capital markets.

As hyperscalers continue to build out data centers to power growth in artificial intelligence, the insurers agreeing to provide coverage now face a new era of risk. According to S&P Global, total insurable values for a single data center are expected to reach up to $30 billion per location, compared to $10 billion for some of the worlds biggest bridges. Against that backdrop, ILS investors are looking to capitalize on the insurance gap thats likely to emerge.

There are quite a number of ILS investors who have approached us about how they can participate in this market, said Joe Peiser, chief executive of risk capital at insurance broker Aon Plc. He expects the first catastrophe bond for data centers to be issued in the next 12 months, with the risk transfer coming from a reinsurers portfolio.

Dean Klisura, president and executive officer of Guy Carpenter, said on a recent earnings call that the reinsurance brokers clients now are talking about issuing cat bonds and leveraging third-party capital to write more data center business, which indicates that there are more diverse new business opportunities than weve seen in several years.

Weather Risks

Jimmy Keime, global head of engineering and nuclear at Swiss Re, says investors should be aware of the exposure to weather-related perils that many data centers are likely to face.

If you look at where US data centers are being built, and compare that to the risk map for natural hazards, youll see that the vast majority of data centers are exposed, he said.

Swiss Res models show that more than 40% of US data center capacity sits in potentially significant tornado zones. The risk is then compounded by so-called concentration risk, which occurs when data center clusters get built inside the same 20-mile (32.2 kilometer) radius, as is the case in parts of Texas and Virginia.

Verisk Maplecroft, a risk analytics firm, says rising temperatures are already threatening the resilience of more than half the 100 largest data-center hubs, and driving up cooling and energy requirements. Thats as more than half the biggest data-center hubs are in high water-stressed areas.

Data centers are vulnerable to acute climate events which may damage assets, threaten their structural integrity, and disrupt operations, according to a report co-authored by Anais Lorand, a climate and nature risk manager at AXA Climate.

Though insurers and reinsurers will carry the bulk of the risk associated with providing coverage for data centers, theres no doubt in my mind that ILS investors will play a part in the expansion of capacity, Peiser at Aon said.

Hilti notes that he and his team have experience in dealing with outsized insurance risks. After the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling disaster in 2010, Hiltis ILS team at Credit Suisse tapped into a spike in demand for oil-rig insurance that traditional providers struggled to meet. The Credit Suisse team he led at the time brought together institutional investors to finance a bespoke vehicle that served as a backstop for an insurers policies covering about 200 high-value rigs, Hilti said.

In the two years during which the vehicle existed, it returned somewhere between 18% and 24%, according to Hilti.

And when that extra capacity is no longer needed, we basically give investors their capital back and pull out, he said.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Data Driven
Its never been so expensive for Americans to buy a steak or hamburger, but cutting those costs requires ranchers like Stephanie Hatzenbuhler to raise more cattle  and thats not an easy ask.

For a host of reasons, Hatzenbuhler and other ranchers across the country are reluctant to grow the national herd  now its smallest in more than 75 years  and until they do so, demand will outweigh supply, and beef prices will likely remain high.

Adding cattle makes sense for some ranchers, but others are struggling to stay afloat with the cattle they have, Hatzenbuhler said.

Theyre good times, and theyre bad times, she said. Its a combination of both.

Why is the beef herd so small?

Hatzenbuhler will make her choices as cows give birth to about 700 calves this spring on her familys Diamond J Angus ranch on more than 2,000 wind-swept acres (809 hectares) near Mandan, North Dakota. Does she opt to increase her herd, or does she offset the new arrivals by selling an equal number of cattle to be slaughtered?

The national herd size isnt the only factor that determines what beef costs at the grocery store. Still, the dwindling number of cattle is a key reason the average price of all uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $6.86 per pound in March, 3 cents off the record high set in February, according to federal statistics. That price in March is up nearly 48% from March 2021.

The U.S. cattle herd reached a high of 132 million head in 1975, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and that figure has gradually fallen to 86 million this year.

Thanks to changes in cattle genetics and feeding techniques, ranchers now produce far more meat from each animal, so despite the much smaller herd, the countrys beef production hit a record 28.4 billion pounds in 2022, said Tim Petry, a North Dakota State University livestock marketing specialist. About 26 billion pounds of beef are expected in 2026.

About 2.5 billion pounds of beef were exported to other countries in 2025, and the tight remaining supply, along with the high demand, has caused record prices.

Ranchers acknowledge the higher prices, but they face plenty of challenges weighing against growing herds, especially from drought.

Drought limits land for grazing

Dry conditions have persisted across much of cattle country, with about 63% of the U.S. cattle herd in drought areas, according to the USDA. Some areas have also seen giant wildfires that left no grass for grazing.

Youve got to have rain. Youve got to have grass to keep cows on because theyre out on pastures for over half the year, and so thats been the dilemma, is we had forced liquidation of cows, Petry said.

This time of year, as calves arrive, ranchers decide whether to retain young cows called heifers and calves for breeding herds, and a big factor is pasture conditions, said Bernt Nelson, an American Farm Bureau Federation economist.

Feed is the highest cost for ranchers, and due to drought in spots like Texas and Oklahoma, they have had to truck in supplies from elsewhere. Those extra costs make it hard to increase a herd.

When these pasture conditions deteriorate, and water becomes an issue, some of these states have to go as far as to haul hay, haul water from other regions of the country that have grass and easy access to water, and that adds a significant cost to operations, Nelson said.

Even if ranchers opted to raise more cattle, it takes 15 to 24 months for a calf to mature before it can be slaughtered.

Role of meat processors in beef prices

Ranchers often blame the concentrated meat processing systems  primarily driven by four companies  for high beef prices, but the picture is complicated.

In a statement and market updates, the Meat Institute, a meat processors trade group, noted that retailers and food service companies, not packers, set prices for consumers. And the organization said livestock producers were earning record profits while packers were losing money.

The Meat Institute also argued that the concentration ratio hasnt changed appreciably over the past 30 years.

Rhetoric about beef industry concentration implies that consolidation in the beef packing sector is ongoing and that market power is becoming increasingly concentrated. That is not the case, the group said.

John Robinson, a spokesman for the National Cattlemens Beef Association, said he sees many reasons for high prices, and in some cases, meat processors are responsible, but that its far more complicated than most people will give it credit for.

A pest forces border closure

Another driver of high prices is the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to livestock imports to slow the spread of a flesh-eating parasite called the New World screwworm. The closures that began in late 2024 have stopped about 1 million cattle from being hauled from Mexico into the U.S., said Warren Rusche, an extension feedlot specialist at South Dakota State University.

The border closure particularly affects cattle feedlots and ranchers who graze cattle in the southern plains.

President Donald Trump has called for increased beef imports from Argentina, but the countrys expanded quota would be only a tiny percentage of U.S. beef production, Rusche said.

Are ranchers getting rich?

Hatzenbuhler, the North Dakota rancher, isnt getting rich, but for ranchers who own their land and equipment, she said its a good time to raise cattle. Its not as good for people looking to break into the business, given the high cost of everything from equipment to fertilizer and the difficulty of finding workers.

If youre a young guy and want to get in, its probably not the time to do it, but if youre kind of established and been doing this for a while, youre doing good, she said.

California rancher Mike Williams said he wouldnt discourage someone from getting into ranching but would caution them, dont get too far upside down.

I would say that were finally maybe getting a fair price, Williams said. I think people are starting to realize the value of beef, and theyre finding that theyre willing to pay maybe a little more than they have in the past for the quality of the product that theyre getting.

Photo: Cattle roam on a hillside at sunrise on the Diamond W Cattle Company ranch in Palmdale, Calif., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
Strong winds whipped around Doug Bartek, a fifth-generation farmer, as he headed into a grain bin to shovel soybeans onto a conveyor chute. The 60-year-old was anxious at the onset of the spring planting season, rattling off the long list of issues affecting his familys livelihood at their 2,000-acre farm near Wahoo, Nebraska.

The high cost of fuel, equipment, and fertilizer  compounded by the Iran war  and also tariffs, perceived price gouging by suppliers, and low soybean prices driven by a global supply glut. All of it weighs on Bartek, who is chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Association.

Our biggest struggles are our inputs, be it fertilizer, seed, chemical, parts, Bartek said. There has been so much drastic markup in all of these. And I just kind of feel like the farmers kind of painted in the corner.

Barteks concerns are shared by many Midwest soybean producers. Costs, such as equipment, have crept up over time while soybean prices have stayed low. Tariffs levied by the Trump administration last year and the resulting monthslong trade war with China only made things worse, they say. Then the Iran war bottled up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, restricting global fertilizer supplies and sending fertilizer prices sky high. A ceasefire deal announced April 7 raised hope that bottlenecks in the strait would abate, but the future of the agreement was uncertain.

A lot of producers are pretty nervous going into this year, said Justin Sherlock, a soybean farmer and president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association. It looks like were going to have another year of negative returns.

Years of rising costs, low soybean prices

Soybeans, which are used for livestock feed, food and biofuels, are among the top U.S. agricultural exports. That hasnt always been the case. Before the 1960s soybeans werent a major crop in the U.S, according to Chad Hart, an agricultural economist at Iowa State University. It wasnt until the 1990s that soybean production accelerated due to international demand  primarily from China  and soybeans and corn are now dominant in U.S. agriculture.

But U.S. soybean farmers, who typically also grow corn, have been facing financial issues for years even before the onset of the Iran war. Soybean prices have been persistently low in recent years. The global market has been awash in soybeans, driven in part by Brazil, which surpassed the U.S. as the worlds largest soybean producer years ago.

If we look at global soybean production over the past several years, it continues to set record, after record, after record, Hart said. Theres been just large supplies globally, and that has led to depressed prices.

Meanwhile, Midwest soybean farmers costs have risen. Overall farm production expenses, including seed and pesticide, have increased over time, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Operating costs for soybean production have stayed elevated since 2020 and are projected to increase again in 2026, according to the agency.

The cost of land also is a major issue for farmers, experts say. Midwest crop land values have increased. And most regional farmers rent some of their land, according to Joana Colussi, research assistant professor in the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University.

Bartek, who rents three-quarters of his land, said landowners are increasing rents, causing further financial strain.

Theres a lot of what I call absentee landowners that have absolutely no idea what goes on on the farm, he said. All they know is their taxes went up and you get to make up the difference, some way, somehow.

Theyre very concerned about negative margins driven by low prices and high cost, said Paul Mitchell, a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, of farmers. Theres just a liquidity cash crunch for a lot of them and theyre just trying to figure out how to deal with everything.

The number of farms in the U.S. has shrunk over time and consolidation in farming is a long-term trend, though farmers financial pressures wrought by high input costs and low commodity prices have contributed, Hart said. Larger farms tend to be more competitive and depend on large, expensive machinery.

The financial reserves need(ed) on a farm are much greater than they used to be, Hart said. Were a bit more sensitive to the financial conditions these days because so much capital is being utilized within the farm business.

Tariffs, trade war have lasting impacts

Market forces arent the only issue weighing on farmers. Sweeping tariffs levied by President Donald Trump in April 2025 exacerbated a trade war with China, the top buyer of U.S. soybeans. China responded with retaliatory tariffs and effectively boycotted U.S. soybeans, cutting off a major export market for Midwest farmers and driving the price of soybeans even lower.

When that was announced and soybean prices basically collapsed, if you could afford to hold on to your beans and wait for better times, you were OK, said Mike Cerny, a soybean, and winter wheat corn farmer in Sharon, Wisconsin. If you had a mortgage due or payments due or cash flow needs and you had to sell at that point, you were taking it pretty rough.

The U.S. and China eventually reached a deal in late 2025. Beijing committed to buying 12 million metric tons of soybeans by January and at least 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years. China has since met its initial soybean purchase goal and the Trump administration also rolled out a $12 billion temporary aid package in December to boost farmers affected by the trade war.

But the damage is already done, experts and farmers say. While Chinas renewed purchases and the federal payments are helping, its not enough to recover farmers losses. Even after federal assistance, farmers still lost almost $75 per harvested acre of soybeans in the 2025 crop, according to the American Soybean Association. And the trade war further pushed China toward competing soybean exporters, such as Brazil  accelerating a trend of declining U.S. soybean exports to China.

When China decided to stop purchasing, we couldnt find enough other markets to replace those sales, Hart said. Were still feeling the impacts today. When you look at where soybean exports are today versus where we would normally expect them to be, were still running anywhere from 15% to 20% behind normal.

Joseph Glauber, former chief economist at the Department of Agriculture between 2008 and 2014, said global competitors to U.S. soybean farmers gained from the trade war.

When China has put on tariffs against the U.S. theyve tended to buy then from Brazil or Argentina, largely Brazil, Glauber added. Were not nearly as dominant in the world as we used to be in terms of the global export market for soybeans.

Iran war drove up fuel, fertilizer costs

After the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, a severe slowdown in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz sent the price of oil soaring. The shipping disruption also largely stopped the export of nitrogen fertilizers manufactured in the Persian Gulf and limited access to key fertilizer ingredients. The price of urea, the most widely traded nitrogen fertilizer, skyrocketed.

Soybeans dont require nitrogen fertilizer, but its vital for corn and most soybean farmers also grow corn. About half the global supply of urea comes from the Middle East, and Qatar and Saudi Arabia are two of the top sources of U.S. fertilizer imports, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire last week that included reopening the strait of Hormuz, but traffic remained slowed amid disagreements over Israeli attacks in Lebanon, and the price of urea remains elevated.

Many Midwest farmers bought their fertilizer well in advance of the spring planting season. But some farmers who didnt buy early face elevated prices. Dave Walton, a corn, soybean, and hay farmer in Iowa and vice president of the American Soybean Association, said in March that some of his neighbors didnt have cash on hand last fall to buy fertilizer and were struggling to budget for fertilizer due to high prices.

The war also caused gasoline and diesel prices to surge, causing further headaches for farmers. Oil prices dropped following the ceasefire announcement, but the war and the closure of the strait will have lasting impacts on farmers, said Seth Goldstein, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, an investment research company. Facilities in the Middle East that are critical for exporting chemicals, oil and other commodities were damaged or destroyed during the war and it will take time for supply chains to recover, he said.

Facilities have been hit, like liquid natural gas plants, Goldstein added. You are also looking at a big supply crunch in commodity chemicals, which are the inputs for crop chemicals.

We burn a lot of diesel fuel, said Chris Gould, a corn and soybean farmer in Maple Park, Illinois. Its hard to say if Im gonna come out ahead or behind on this whole deal. But I suspect Im gonna come out behind.

Concerns about the future

Farmers financial problems are showing up in some measures. Farm bankruptcies, while still relatively low, continued to climb in 2025, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. In a survey of 400 farmers conducted by researchers at the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture in late March, almost half said their farm operation is financially worse off than it was a year ago.

Goldstein, the Morningstar analyst, said farmers high costs and low revenues contributed to the spike in bankruptcies between 2024 and 2025. If costs rise faster than crop prices going forward, he added, that would strain farmers again and likely lead to more bankruptcies.

After 43 years of farming, Bartek said the smell of fresh dirt still gets him excited for spring planting. But hes also heard of farmer suicides, bankruptcies and retirement sales where farmers are forced to auction off their operations due to financial problems. Bartek compares farmers to gamblers who put millions of dollars in the dirt hoping for returns.

At times, Bartek doubts his own decision to go into farming. Hes also worried about his son, who purchased a farm a few years ago.

Bartek wonders: Did I do the right thing helping him get into farming?

___

Kelety reported from Phoenix.

___

This story is a collaboration between Lee Enterprises and The Associated Press.

Photo: Doug Bartek shovels soybeans in a bin on his farm near Wahoo, Neb., on Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Trends Agribusiness
AM Best has removed from under review with positive implications and upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to a (Excellent) from bbb (Good) of Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Company based in Baton Rouge. The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Louisianas inclusion as a member of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Group (Southern), which on a consolidated basis has a balance sheet strength that AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The rating upgrades for Louisiana reflect its 100% reinsurance quota share agreement with Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company (Southern Casualty), the lead member of Southern, which was executed successfully, effective April 1, 2026.

On that same date, Louisiana demutualized and converted to a stock company, and Southern Casualty purchased all the stock of this newly formed company. Louisiana is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Casualty, and cedes 100% of all premiums, losses and expenses to Southern Casualty. Louisiana has historically and will continue to receive operational support from Southern Casualty and will be supported fully underneath Southerns catastrophe reinsurance tower.

For Louisiana, this transaction brings significant financial advantages and the ability to achieve cost savings through sharing and centralizing operational functions, and for Southern, it better aligns with its overall strategic goals and purposes, as well as provides linkage to a larger policyholders surplus base.

Source: AM Best

Topics Louisiana Agribusiness AM Best
Roblox Corp. has reached settlements with attorneys general in three states over child-safety protections.

As part of the deals, the video game company pledged to curb dangerous interactions on its platform, according to statements from the offices of the attorneys general in West Virginia, Alabama and Nevada. A portion of the money from the settlements, which total $35.8 million, will go to safety education for children.

Roblox, for a long time, was not a safe place for kids, West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said in an interview. McCuskey said he and his team were able to form a relationship with the people at Roblox, and over the course of their discussions, he told the company: Either youll work with us and do what you need to do to keep West Virginian kids safe, or this will end up in litigation.

Roblox has become a global gaming phenomenon with millions of user-generated games available on its site where teens and kids converge to play and socialize. The platform has also struggled to keep predators away and has been sued by multiple jurisdictions and individual families claiming it has failed to adequately protect children. The company has implemented dozens of safety updates over the past year or so. Earlier this month, Roblox introduced special accounts designed specifically for younger children and teens.

West Virginia secured an $11.1 million settlement on Tuesday, the same day Alabama announced its $12.2 million settlement. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford announced the states $12.5 million settlement last week.

The West Virginia settlement serves as an important blueprint for how the technology industry and regulators can work together pro-actively to help protect the next generation, Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman said in a statement. We have no finish line when it comes to safety, and we will continue to invest heavily in our people, processes, and technology to protect our community.

Statements from the offices of the attorneys general emphasized Robloxs promise to verify the ages of all users and limit adults ability to contact people under 16.

Attorneys general for Tennessee, Texas, Iowa, Florida and Nebraska still have ongoing child-safety suits against Roblox. Asked for comment on the status of that litigation, Phil Buehler, the press secretary for the office of Tennessee Attorney General, said his office sued Roblox and continues to litigate our case. The other states representatives didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reporting by Cecilia DAnastasio, Bloomberg News

Related: Texas Speaker Wants Roblox Investigation Over Game Simulating Uvalde Shooting

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
A California man pleaded guilty to a wrong-way crash that killed a sheriffs recruit and injured more than two dozen other recruits.

Nicholas Gutierrez, 25, pleaded guilty this week to a fatal wrong-way crash that resulted in the death of Los Angeles County Sheriffs recruit Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza on November 2022 in Whittier.

Gutierrez of Diamond Bar pleaded guilty to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine felony counts of reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury. He also admitted to the allegations.

The court imposed a sentence of eight years in state prison, which was suspended. Gutierrez will be placed on probation for the maximum term of five years, under conditions set by the court.

On Nov. 16, 2022, 76 members of a Los Angeles County Sheriffs Academy class were on a training run on Mills Avenue at Bentongrove Drive near Whittier when Gutierrez, who was driving southbound, crossed into the northbound lanes and crashed into the group, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office.

Of the 25 recruits who suffered some type of injury, 10 were seriously injured, including Martinez-Inzunza, who died from his injuries and passed away eight months later.

An investigation into the crash determined there was no evidence that Gutierrez caused this crash by any intentional act. It appears he fell asleep while driving and his car drifted across lanes of traffic into the recruits, according to the L.A. County D.A.

Topics California
How people write songs has always fascinated me. Some write every crotchet individually; others just start to sing whatever is in their heads while others around them scramble to work out chords. But how Gilbert OSullivan writes songs: Well, I never.

Paul Heaton from the Beautiful South used to compose the songs in his head. Then he and pianist Paul Heatherington would book a two-week holiday in Torremolinos. Locked in a room Paul would sing future hits to Heatherington and task him with working out the music.

Sinead OConnor would often just stand at the mic and start singing. Im not sure how advanced musically Dolores ORiordan was when she wrote Zombie, but Ill bet it wasnt virtuoso level. Jim Kerr would skulk in a corner listening to Simple Minds rehearse for hours before declaring This bit + That bit = New Gold Dream.

Gilbert was writing songs from an early age. Our Raymond [his real name] writes his own songs, his proud mum would declare at family gatherings, before hectoring him to perform.

Songwriting was his mission. It is an incredible story but one you feel he is reluctant to tell. His focus on the next song is unrelenting. He appears to never look back.

Which is a great pity for us, because the story of the OSullivan family leaving Waterford in the 1950s is a story for our age. An Irish family in the Swindon Irish community, a dad who dies young, a mum who raises six children, one of whom, by 22, tops the US charts on his way to winning three Ivor Novello Awards. Hollywood, are you reading this?

I only got 20 minutes with Gilbert ahead of his upcoming 3Arena show in Dublin in October. Incredibly, it will be his first ever Arena show. A story there  one of so many  for another day too. With only 20 minutes I had come to talk songs.

Because its not as if these are B-sides by The Fall that we are talking about. In the early 1970s, as the era of the singer songwriter really took hold, with talents like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Cat Stevens starting to dominate, Gilbert was working on a different level.

The year 1972 in the USA was really a tale of two songs. Gilberts Alone Again (Naturally) and Roberta Flack's version of Ewan MacColl's The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. In 1973, the three great songwriters were regarded as Randy Newman, Paul McCartney and Gilbert. But it was Gilbert that the Ivors Institute selected as Songwriter of the Year 1973.

Gilbert's songwriting

So anyway, the way he writes these songs: He tells me. I play rhythmic piano, drums with my left hand, chords with my right. I cant do fancy stuff.

If you watch him playing you will see what he means. He works on quite a small part of the piano, but it seems to give him all he needs. But its the vocal melody and lyric composition that is jaw dropping. He writes a gibberish lyric to begin with.

Gibberish? I ask, dumbfounded. Yes gibberish he tells me, but emotional gibberish, with the exact melody and feeling and nuance of the final song.

And then? I ask, thinking pitifully of the times my own gibberish lyrics have ended up actually being recorded as I couldnt improve them.

The easy bit, he says, I just go off and write the lyrics. Sensing my shock he jumps in, Oh come on, its not rocket science. Thats my favourite part. Its easy.

And that is why Gilbert OSullivan is one of the songwriting geniuses of the 20th century and you and I are not. Because he thinks writing the lyrics to songs like Nothing Rhymed, Clair, Get Down and Alone Again Naturally is the easy bit.

BTW he has drawers full of still unfinished songs with gibberish just waiting to be set to words.

His mum looms large in the interview, You can tell she knew he was a special boy, sending him to piano lessons, buying him instruments. He mentions her often both in the interview and in song. But can you read more about this? No, because, incredibly, there is no autobiography.

Me and Jeff Lynn, he jokes. Just not interested. Its just about the next song. This is our loss, and a galling one.

Please Gilbert we beg you: tell all. You have no idea how remarkable your story, like your talent, really is. I am available.
Following the highly anticipated New York showing, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and more arrived in London for the The Devil Wears Prada 2 European premiere in Leicester Square.

The sequel to the 2006 hit reunites director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, returning audiences to the cutthroat world of Runway magazine and its formidable editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, once again played by Meryl Streep.

Streep, 76, wore a statement red satin Prada coat layered over a silk blouse and tailored black trousers, finished with matching scarlet heels and her signature dark sunglasses.

The London premiere look marked the latest in a weeks-long run of meticulously curated outfits, from cinched Saint Laurent satin dresses to dramatic Givenchy couture by Sarah Burton and sculptural Celine separates, all styled by her long-time collaborator Micaela Erlanger.

The Oscar-winner had already made headlines at the New York premiere earlier in the week, where she stole the show in a vermilion Givenchy cape coat paired with black leather opera gloves and her signature Miranda Priestly sunglasses, a moment that rivalled even the presence of Vogue editor Anna Wintour, widely considered the real-life inspiration behind the character.

Meryl Streep stepped out in a red Prada coat (Ian West/PA)

Anne Hathaway, who reprises her role as journalist Andy Sachs, opted for a corseted, strapless Versace gown featuring sheer panel cut-outs and a velvet skirt.

Anne Hathaway in Versace (Ian West/PA)

Read More Spa review: I drove from Cork to Belfast to see if this spa resort is as good as it looks on Instagram

The actor was joined by Donatella Versace, who wore an elegant off-the-shoulder black column gown.

Anne Hathaway (left) and Donatella Versace (Ian West/PA)

Emily Blunt, returning as Emily Charlton in the film, opted for an understated look while coordinating with Streep, in a red strapless top and cigarette trousers and matching heels.

Emily Blunt at the Devil Wears 2 premiere (Ian West/PA)

The British star had delivered one of the most talked-about looks in New York, however, in a feathered ivory Schiaparelli couture dress that reportedly took 4,000 hours of handwork to complete.

Among the new faces joining the franchise, Bridgerton star Simone Ashley  who plays Miranda Priestlys assistant  brought a bold splash of colour in a fuchsia Mugler gown, complete with a wide 80s-style belt and matching pumps, styled by Rebecca Corbin-Murray.

Simone Ashley in Mugler (Ian West/PA)

Stanley Tucci, reprising his role as the ever-dapper Nigel, kept things classic in a pinstriped double-breasted suit by British designer Paul Smith paired with a grey tie, while Sabrina Elba opted for a striking white dress adorned with safety pin embellishments by London-based designer Dilara Findikoglu.

Stanley Tucci in Paul Smith (Ian West/PA)

Other stars to walk the carpet included footballer Alex Scott and her partner Jess Glynne, who mimicked the red, white and black theme in coordinating looks.

Scott wore a sleeveless, high-neck red gown with a pleated skirt, paired with a bold gold necklace, while Glynne contrasted in a sharply tailored black mermaid dress layered over a crisp white shirt and slim black tie.

Alex Scott (left) and Jess Glynne attending the Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere (Ian West/PA)

Trinny Woodall, like Simone Ashley, stepped away from the red, white and black theme, and opted for an A-line black floral midi dress from the Prada archive.

Trinny Woodall in a 2008 couture Prada gown (Ian West/PA)

The film, set for release on May 1, comes nearly two decades after the original and sees Miranda Priestly navigating the decline of traditional magazine publishing.

This time, she finds herself at odds with former assistant Emily Charlton, now a powerful executive at a luxury group controlling crucial advertising revenue.

The sequel also revisits Andy Sachs, now a features editor, as she reunites with Miranda in a bid to save Runway magazine.

With Emily holding the financial leverage, old rivalries resurface, raising the question of whether past grievances can be set aside for the sake of survival.

With anticipation building ahead of its release, The Devil Wears Prada 2 promises a stylish return to one of fashions most fictional worlds.
A new parent-led campaign is calling for legislation to reduce what it describes as systemic institutional blockages preventing many students from being educated through Irish.

Irish Medium Education At School (Imeasc) has called for legislation mandating that the Department of Education make provision for Irish-medium education.

Since the early 1960s, the percentage of all secondary school students able to attend a gaelcholaiste increased by 0.7% to 3.3%, including in Gaeltacht areas.

An analysis carried out by Imeasc based on department figures found that more than 50% of the country cannot access a gaelscoil, and more than 90% cannot access a gaelcholaiste.

Almost two-thirds of students in gaelscoileanna cannot complete their education in a gaelcholaiste.

The preliminary findings of the landmark national primary school survey also found strong demand for Irish-medium education. It found that 13% of parents whose children attend English medium schools would prefer that they are educated through Irish.

To date, no Government has ever mandated the Department of Education to make provision for Irish-medium education, Imeasc said.

"Legislation is clearly required as parents campaigning for such schools are being told by departmental officials that, as there are places in English-medium schools, there is 'no demographic demand justifying another school'."

This is despite large numbers of gaelscoil pupils without a gaelcholaiste place available locally, it added.

If Irish is to have any chance to survive, this institutional thinking must change.

"As a country, if we want this to change, it is the responsibility of our elected representatives to act decisively. The department has never been asked to make provision for Irish-medium education  its not their fault that they dont."

The group also pointed to the success of Wales when it comes to establishing Welsh-medium education. Wales opened its second Welsh-medium secondary school in 1962. Through legislation, by 2024, this increased to places available in Welsh-medium language schools for more than 18% of its secondary school students. The Welsh government has also set a target to increase this to 50% over the next 15 to 25 years.

In Ireland, statistics show that, excluding schools in the Gaeltacht, 2.5% of students can complete their education through Irish, with no target to increase.

Imeasc said: "Ireland has the potential to emulate Wales and protect its national language into the future. The Government just needs to take the necessary steps to make that happen."
A large section of the planned BusConnects project for the Bishopstown area has been scrapped after the publication of the Cork Luas route last week.

In an email to public representatives, seen by the Irish Examiner, a National Transport Authority (NTA) spokesperson said a large section of the sustainable transport corridors (STC) scheme, the 'Bishopstown to City' section, was not going to be progressed.

BusConnects Cork is set to transform Cork's bus system into a higher frequency and more reliable network, with over 90km of bus lanes in 11 transport corridors.

The NTA is not planning an alternative STC route, it said.

The spokesperson said the BusConnects Cork team has been coordinating with the Luas Cork team in recent months, about the level of route alignment interactions in the south west.

The spokesperson added that, following the publication of Luas Cork's preferred route on April 17, BusConnects Cork now has a "clearer picture" of what Luas Cork will entail and its implications for the BusConnects scheme, specifically for the Bishopstown to city section.

They said the NTA is no longer intending to progress with the section which was to run from the junction of Melbourn Rd/Curraheen Rd through to the Western Rd/Mardyke Walk junction.

They said this remains subject to change up until the point that the STC scheme application is lodged with An Coimisiun Pleanala, which they expect to happen later this year.

The Bishopstown to city STC, as per the latest public consultation, would begin at the junction of Melbourn Road/Curraheen Rd and proceed on to Bishopstown Rd, past Cork University Hospital, and at the existing Wilton roundabout turn north onto Wilton Rd and continue to Dennehy's Cross.

From there, it would proceed north along Victoria Cross Rd, onto Western Rd.

The corridor would then continue along the remainder of Lancaster Quay and Washington St before terminating at the junction of Washington St/Grand Parade - the latest update from the NTA suggests that only this part of the route will now be implemented.

Local Labour councillor Ciara O'Connor said: "This is a significant change to a key public transport corridor serving the south west of the city, and it's essential that we have clear answers on what happens next.

"While I fully support the development of Luas Cork, it cannot come at the expense of existing or planned bus infrastructure.

"We need a co-ordinated, integrated public transport system, not uncertainty."
The changing terrorism landscape, the need to modernise phone-tapping laws, and the impact of legal restrictions on accessing communication data all feature in the first report of Irelands new oversight judge on security.

The independent examiner of security legislation, George Birmingham, has just published his first report since the office was officially established a year ago.

As he mentions in his 80-page report, his office was first recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report, published in September 2018, as part of a proposed overhaul of national security architecture.

The Office of the Independent Examiner (OIE) was provided for in mammoth Policing, Security, and Community Safety Act 2024, enacted in April 2025.

The annual report covers the period April 5, 2005, to December 31, 2025.

In his foreword, Mr Birmingham said the threat the country faces has evolved in recent years: While, for much of the States history, security concerns, and certainly security legislation focused primarily, indeed almost exclusively, on the threat to the State posed by the IRA in its various manifestations. Now, the threats are multipronged.

Mr Birmingham, who retired in 2024 from the High Court, said dissident republicans remain a real concern even over 27 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

But the threats we face are far broader now, he said.

Today, Islamist terrorism is a significant cause of concern, either because of the possibility of attacks within this jurisdiction  and there have been a number of such attacks within the past number of years  and also the possibility of an attack on a neighbouring jurisdiction being planned or launched from this State.

He said the potential threat is wider.

There is also the question of extreme right-wing terrorism, as well as single-issue terrorism and extreme left-wing terrorism, he said.

There is also unease about the activities of hostile state actors. The possibility of actions undertaken by so called lone wolves, whether motivated by terrorist ideology or not, also requires consideration.

Mr Birmingham said he received unstinting co-operation from all the agencies he oversees, which includes gardai, the Defence Forces, Revenue Commissioners, Fiosru (police ombudsman), the Competition and Consumer Protection

Commission, and parts of the Department of Justice and Department of Taoiseach.

The OIE has a demanding set of functions:

Review the operation and effectiveness of security legislation  covering seven separate laws;

Examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of security services;

Adjudicate on disputes such as accessing information or conducting searches, between the garda commissioner, the Policing and Community Safety Authority, and Fiosru.

Mr Birmingham said his main focus is on the security legislation, and that the first annual report was concentrating on three main ones: Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993, Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, and the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011.

His report said the 1993 act, on phone interception, is seriously out of date and pre-dates modern digital communications.

As the law is over 30 years old, there is no legal provision to access modern digital communications  including the likes of WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat  or access webpages or internet browsing history through interception.

Read More Meet the man tasked with getting to grips with Irelands maritime security

He recommended legislation to cover encrypted communications and noted that the justice minister, Jim OCallaghan, is bringing forward legislation to do so.

His report points out that use of electronic scanning equipment designed to locate and record identifier data from mobile devices is permitted in many other jurisdictions.

A common example of such equipment is the IMSI [international mobile subscriber identity] catcher, the report said.

IMSI catchers are telephone eavesdropping devices used for intercepting mobile phone traffic and tracking location data.

The report said legislation should be developed to provide for the use of these and other electronic scanning equipment.

In what will disappoint some observers, Mr Birmingham said that having given the matter some thought he had decided it would not be appropriate to provide statistics on the use of the interception powers.

He said the figures might be distorted as multiple authorisations can relate to the same phone or the same person. He said the level of interception is modest and, having examined all the cases in the gardai and the Defence Forces, he is very satisfied with their thoroughness and the restrained use of the powers.

Mr Birmingham did recommend that the current law where the justice minister authorises phone interception be replaced by judicial authorisation.

On the 2009 surveillance act, the report said:

An Garda Siochana made nine applications to use surveillance devices to the courts between April and December 2025, compared to 11 in the same period the previous year;

Gardai internally authoritised tracking devices 47 times in the relevant period in 2025, compared to 41 the previous year;

The Defence Forces applied for surveillance authorisations from the courts six times in the reporting period, compared to zero applications the previous year;

Revenue made three surveillance applications to the courts last year, compared to one the previous year, and internally granted 21 tracking deployments, compared to 22 the previous year.

The report also details the complicated legal situation on communication data.

While a 2022 European court ruling declared the blanket retention of communication data for criminal investigations as unlawful, it did leave the door open in terms of security of the State.

The Government introduced the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022 to make the necessary changes to the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011.

The annual report said gardai made 403 requests for internet source data and 32 request for cell site location data in urgent cases in 2025, compared to 659 requests and 58 requests respectively in 2024.

A different section of the act, which allows gardai to request access  including for criminal investigations  for user data, was used 1,292 times last year, compared to 944 the year before.

The Defence Forces made 83 requests for user data in 2025, compared to 30 the year before.
Ukraines foreign minister Andrii Sybiha is in confident form in the Turkish city of Antalya where he is attending the annual Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

World leaders, heads of state, and foreign ministers come here every April to talk to each other and the media and promote dialogue. Russias foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, is also in attendance, just a few hundred metres down a corridor, but the two do not meet or cross paths.

For Sybiha, it is a welcome, albeit brief, respite from the war in his homeland.

I slept well last night because for once there were no air raid sirens. One night recently in Kyiv the Russians launched 700 drones and 40 missiles against us. We shot down the vast majority of them.

It has been our worst winter in living memory, but we hold the line. We are one year stronger.

They (Russia) are now losing 30,000 soldiers per month. This is visually confirmed, but they dont care. The war is becoming more and more harmful for them. Putin must admit that he will never achieve the results he wants on the battlefield.

Russias response to the heavy casualties Ukraine is inflicting on them  primarily by drone strikes  has been to recruit mercenaries from across the globe, according to Sybiha.

Russia has started an illegal campaign to recruit soldiers, mainly from Africa and Asia, he said. We now have more than 300 foreigners in our prisons who have fought against us for Russia. We need to stop this illegal recruitment.

These losses mean problems for Putin, tension in their society and a necessity to engage foreigners.

Its always the case that somebody was promised that they could study in Russia or have citizenship. They were not aware of the real purpose of their engagement (being duped into joining the Russian army).

Orban's defeat

Viktor Orbans defeat in the Hungarian election means that one major anti-Ukraine obstacle has been removed and may well have hastened the arrival of a 90bn EU loan to Sybihas government.

Orbans loss at the hands of Peter Magyar now opens up the possibility of a Hungary that will be more pro-EU, more friendly towards Ukraine, and less Kremlin-leaning, he said.

Orbans defeat was like an Orthodox Easter gift for us in Ukraine. This loan is really critical, we need this money.

Our priorities now are air defence systems, artillery and artillery shells. They are crucial. We are ready to co-produce strategic drones with our European allies and this will contribute to their security too.

Sybiha is clear that he Ukraines future, post-war, in Europe and in the European Union.

Our people deserve to become part of the European family. Europe needs Ukraine because of our defence capability. We are now the global leader in drone and anti-drone technology. We have a lot to offer.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been busy shuttling between European capital cities and drumming up more support for Ukraine and finds the strength to keep going.

I spent more than 18 months living with Zelenskyy in a bunker at the start of the war.

He knows how to roll with the punches. He preserves his humanity. Hes very energetic and behaves like a true leader. Theres a huge responsibility and he takes it.

Our president demonstrates true leadership and shows how to protect the best interests of his country.

For all the talk of the heavy casualties being suffered by the Russians its clear that the Ukrainian side want peace and hope that 2026 will be the year that brings it.

We have a 20-point peace plan, though the most sensitive points are not approved, Sybiha said.

Our people pay the heaviest price, our people are suffering because the war is on our territory. Ukraine is not the obstacle to peace. Ukraine is not losing and Russia is not winning.

Read More Ukraine says some Russian missiles fly near Chornobyl, risking major accident

Every Ukrainian family has the same experience  we are protecting our homes and our country. Im happy I have my family, they are a source of true inspiration for me. I have started to value very simple things.

Putin has failed to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. Resilience is in our DNA. I believe in our European future.

Ireland will take over the EU presidency on July 1. He hopes a ceasefire in Ukraine and a meaningful peace with Putins Russia is finally negotiated during that tenure.

We are very much looking forward to Irelands forthcoming presidency of the European Union because we think it could be historic.
EU law is largely preventing access to key phone communication evidence, potentially hampering garda investigations, Irelands new security oversight judge has said.

Criminal investigations would be disadvantaged in cases similar to the Graham Dwyer murder without such key phone evidence, according to George Birmingham.

Dwyers conviction for the 2012 murder of Elaine OHara partly depended on mobile phone data  the general retention of which was ruled unlawful by European courts in 2022.

Although Irish courts still ruled Dwyers conviction stood  in spite of the data evidence judged to be illegally gathered  new legislation deprived gardai of the power to access retained communication data when investigating serious crime.

In his first report since being set up a year ago, the independent examiner of security legislation, George Birmingham, said this was less than satisfactory. His 2025 annual report also said:

Phone interception laws are seriously out of date and need to be modernised to allow access to digital communications, including encrypted communications;

Police and security services should have electronic scanning equipment for intercepting mobile phone traffic data;

A review will be carried out shortly into the law on espionage, given Irelands legislation on the area is more than 60 years old and other countries have recently reviewed theirs;

While dissident republicans remain a real concern, security threats have broadened;

Islamist terrorism is a significant cause of concern for Ireland  either because of possible attacks here or attacks planned here, then carried out in another country;

Extreme right-wing terrorism is also an issue for the State, as is single-issue terrorism and extreme left-wing terrorism;

There is unease about the activities of hostile state actors and the potential threat of lone wolves  individuals acting on their own for terrorist or other reasons.

The Office of Independent Examiner was provided for in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, enacted in April 2025.

The office is tasked with reviewing the operation and effectiveness of security legislation, examining the effectiveness and delivery of security services, and adjudicating on disputes between An Garda Siochana and oversight bodies.

Mr Birminghams report focuses on security legislation and includes the complicated legal situation around communication data.

Following a case taken by Dwyer  who claimed phone traffic and location data used in his prosecution was retained and accessed in breach of EU law  the Court of Justice of the EU ruled in 2022 that the blanket retention of this data, as provided for in 2011 Irish law, was unlawful. While this applied to serious crime investigations, it did not apply to national security.

Mr Birmingham said: The striking feature of the legislation is the absence of a general obligation to retain data for the purpose of access in the course of investigations of serious crime. The reality is that there may be little that the Government or the Oireachtas can do about it, other than advocating for change at EU level, but the situation is, in my view, less than satisfactory.

He said that in the course of his judgement on Dwyer, dissenting from colleagues in their referral to the EU court, Mr Justice Peter Charleton pointed to the importance of metadata evidence in trials arising from Veronica Guerins murder and the Omagh bombing.

Mr Birmingham said: If one imagines a situation emerging in the future which mirrored what occurred in the Graham Dwyer case, with the fact that a serious crime had been perpetrated only becoming known long after the crime had actually been committed, one can see immediately how disadvantaged criminal investigators would be.
The head of one of the States largest hospitals has said that a financial deficit of close to 50m at the institution looks like debt, but its actually underfunding.

Josephine Ryan Leacy, chief executive of the Mater Misericordiae hospital in Dublin, said the 48.7m deficit only exists because we werent funded for the services we deliver.

Read More HSE wrote off over 50m of bad debt between 2023 and 2024

The hospital told the Public Accounts Committee that adding to the deficit in any way would risk leaving it exposed to sanctions under company law.

Ms Ryan Leacy said that in April of last year the Mater had entered into a risk-sharing agreement with the HSE in order to help the hospital to break even financially and to ensure that essential patient services did not need to be reduced or suspended.

We werent funded proportionately, she said.

Obviously we cant close the door. So its an underfunding model. It actually looks like debt, but its actually underfunding. We cant build on that because of company law and our directors fiduciary responsibilities.

But just to reassure, it was all about patients getting access and it was because we werent funded for the services we delivered. We pride ourselves because actually the Mater could do more, and well do more, but we need the funding to be commensurate with the activity that we deliver.

The Maters overall budget for 2025 was 615m, almost double the 315m allocated to the hospital as recently as 2019, with just over one third of the increase relating to national pay awards, according to Ms Ryan Leacy.

Of the accumulated deficit, 18.8m was incurred in 2024. Ahead of the agreement struck with the HSE, the Mater had forecast a 33m additional deficit for 2025 based on its received budget allocation.

Hospital's location

Meanwhile, Ms Ryan Leacy noted that the Maters location in a less wealthy area of the city translates to a documented life expectancy for its patients of up to eight years less than for people living in south County Dublin.

Like all Irish public hospitals, we have the same challenges of an ageing population, increasing presentations and complexity, and this, coupled with our unique demographic, presents very significant demands, she said, while noting that as much as 13% of emergency department attendances at the Mater are people experiencing homelessness.

We have 1,800 homeless people living on Gardiner Street, which is literally opposite the door, and we have 1,800 IPAS (international protection residents). These (people) rely on us and we absolutely have to be there to support them, she said.

Ms Ryan Leacy said that in addition to the pressures of working at the hospital, staff on site have also been experiencing massive incidents of antisocial behaviour.

Staff are actually getting attacked, and its just really hard to maintain that morale and to protect staff, which are the core of what we do, she said.

We have a very good relationship with the gardai which were very lucky and fortunate to have. However, its just getting really really hard to retain staff in an environment thats so hard.

She added that while the hospital aims to protect staff as much as we can with wellness and employee assistance, it nevertheless remains extremely challenging to do so.
A 51-year-old Cork man who allegedly caused an obstruction by climbing on top of an oil tanker at Whitegate refinery in Co Cork during the fuel protests has appeared in court.

Ivor Sweeney, of Coolbawn Lodge, Bailick Road, Midleton, was before Midleton District Court on Thursday morning.
Campaigners against sexual violence have hit out at the secrecy surrounding the identity of a former TD who provided a character reference for a man convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old child.

On Tuesday, former government adviser Daniel Ramamoorthy, aged 40, from Whitebarn Rd, Rathfarnham, Dublin, who was convicted of the sexual exploitation of a teenager, saw his appeal against the severity of his sentence rejected.

The appeals court, however, refused to name the former TD who provided him with a testimonial for his sentence hearing last March.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris have both urged the former TD who gave a character reference to Ramamoorthy to come forward.

Concerns about such references have been informed by earlier cases.

Joseph Dempsey case

Kildare native Joseph Dempsey, who has since died, was jailed for six years in 2004 after being found guilty of raping his nephew. During his trial, a character reference was read out on his behalf from TD Sean O Fearghail.

The victim's sister, Emma Jane Dempsey, said this week that the same system shielding the identity of a public representative once worked against her own family, at a time when her brother was trying to come to terms with sexual abuse.

She claimed: Ireland has never been on the side of victims."

In the letter read to the court, dated February 3, 2006, Mr O Fearghail wrote that he had been asked to provide a reference in the context of which he finds himself in.

I know Mr Dempsey to be a member of a very large, well known and well respected local family, stated the letter.

As a local resident myself and in the course of my constituency work I have been acquainted with Mr Joe Dempsey. In the course of my contacts with him I have never had any reason to question his decency or integrity.

Emma Jane Dempsey: 'Ireland has never been on the side of victims.'

He said while he was not at all familiar with the circumstances surrounding the crimes, he acknowledged they were grievous in nature and said the testimonial was offered not to in any way condone what has happened but simply to illustrate his standing in the community.

Ms Dempsey said the impact of that letter has never gone away.

He sent an email years later with a general apology, she said. But realistically, nothing was ever done to take it back. That was a glowing recommendation for a predator. Then I hear this news this week and nothing has changed."

Ms Dempsey said victims are often treated with suspicion, rather than support. As soon as you are a victim, youre seen as scheming, and conniving. Youre seen as a troublemaker.

People ask why victims withdraw. This is why.

Harry Daly case

Former prison officer Harry Daly was jailed in 2011 after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault of his daughter, Shaneda Daly, from Shannon, Co Clare.

Now a campaigner for abuse survivors, Ms Daly said this week: It's wrong for any person... to give a reference for someone in court with charges of sexual violence.

Imagine how the victim feels hearing this reference in court. No reference is given in relation to the victims. No one talks about the lifelong effect and how they will never be the same person again.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Meanwhile, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the refusal to identify the former TD who provided a reference for Ramamoorthy reflects a broader lack of transparency in how influence operates within the justice system.

Chief executive Rachel Morrogh said recent legal reforms were designed to curb exactly this type of intervention.

In summer 2024, the legislation on character references for sexual crimes was amended to stop the casual provision of them to court, she said.

This meant that anyone who wanted a person convicted of sexual offences to get a lesser sentence for reasons of good character would have to make an oath or swear an affidavit and could also be cross-examined on it in court.

Ms Morrogh said the law recognised the grave harm caused to victims and made clear that such references must be treated with the utmost seriousness.

What the former TD seems to have willfully ignored is the incompatibility between the good person they know and the sexual offender who preyed on the victim, she said.

Shaneda Daly: 'No one talks about the lifelong effect and how they will never be the same person again.'

Providing a character reference to reduce the sentence for someone convicted of a sexual crime is morally indefensible and shows an utter disregard for the harm caused to the victim.

For a current or former TD to do so, she said, is incredibly concerning.

Ms Dempsey said the secrecy only deepens the sense of injustice and called for political parties to take a clear and public stance.

There has never been a proper policy on this, she said. Parties need to take an official stand and it needs to be on the side of victims, not predators.
In the beginning, ICE  the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement  confiscated a womans $20,000 of savings, left her with $200 and deported her from Los Angeles to Cork to face two old shoplifting charges and, in the end, her losses got a little worse as two 100 fines were imposed on her on Thursday.

However, it was a circuitous route to the end of the drama for Ciocolata Munteanu as Judge Mary Dorgan refused to finalise the case on one occasion because the 25-year-old was chewing gum and smiling while her solicitor was addressing Cork District Court on her behalf. She also could not understand why her case was not finalised on her next court appearance after that.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that good security and intelligence are required to prevent lone wolf attacks.

He suggested that these attacks are probably the number one danger in Ireland.

As reported by the Irish Examiner on Thursday, Irelands new security oversight judge, George Birmingham, warned in The Office of Independent Examiners 2025 annual report that there is unease about the activities of hostile state actors and the potential threat of lone wolves  individuals acting on their own for terrorist or other reasons.

Speaking in Cyprus, Mr Martin said the gardai have always warned that this is the one area where there is a potential possibility.

In other words, lone wolf attacks is probably the number one danger in Ireland, and we've seen some evidence of that in terms of various attacks in the last year or two, the Taoiseach said.

That remains an ongoing concern, and political people and people more generally, have been warned about the prospect of that.

I welcome the report of the Independent Examiner. I'm not surprised about that conclusion because we've been briefed about lone wolf attacks from the Gardai and the Defence Forces in the context of the National Security Council that we've convened.

That is a feature of modern societies. We're not immune from it, no more than any other society or nation.

Therefore, vigilance is required, and good security and good intelligence is required, insofar as possible to prevent such attacks.

The Office of Independent Examiner was provided for in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, enacted in April 2025.

The office is tasked with reviewing the operation and effectiveness of security legislation, examining the effectiveness and delivery of security services, and adjudicating on disputes between An Garda Siochana and oversight bodies.

Mr Martin is in Cyprus for an informal meeting of the European Council, which will discuss geopolitical challenges, including the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The Taoiseach welcomed the EU approval of a 90bn loan facility for Ukraine, saying it is very significant in terms of Ukraine's capacity to navigate and defend itself.

[It] sends a very strong signal that Europe is in there for the long haul behind Ukraine, he said.
Theres a certain ease that comes with travelling by sea.

Days begin slowly, often at anchor. You swim before breakfast, linger over lunch on deck, and arrive into harbours just as the light starts to soften. Places you thought you knew feel different when approached from the water and the journey itself becomes part of the experience.

This summer, Irish travel company Oroko is introducing its Sailing Holiday Collection  a series of privately designed yacht journeys across Greece, Croatia and Italy.

Each journey is built around a simple idea: take the most rewarding stretches of coastline in Europe and experience them at the right pace, with everything arranged in advance. Private crewed yachts, carefully planned routes, time ashore and the kind of detail that makes a holiday feel easy from the start.

No two holidays are the same. Some stay close to shore, moving easily between islands and harbours, while others cover more ground. Some centre on food and time ashore, others on swimming, sailing and switching off. Each one is shaped so the journey flows naturally, day by day.

Here are four of the journeys to consider for summer.

Spetses offers a quieter side of the Greek islands, shaped by small harbours and hidden coves

Greeces Saronic Islands: Best for first-time sailing holidays

Just beyond Athens, The Saronic Islands offer one of the most relaxed ways to experience Greece by sea.

The islands sit close together, which means shorter sailing days and more time to enjoy each stop. Poros, Hydra and Spetses each bring something different  from elegant harbour towns to quiet coves where you can swim straight from the boat.

Days fall into an easy rhythm. Mornings on the water, afternoons exploring ashore, evenings spent in small harbours where dinner stretches late. Its a natural starting point for anyone new to this style of travel, and one that feels easy to settle into from the first day.

With your own private yacht, each day is yours to shape  from swimming stops to lingering a little longer when it feels right

Greeces Cyclades: Best for a more adventurous Greek island journey

Further into the Aegean, the Cyclades feel bigger, brighter and more dramatic.

Here, the sailing becomes part of the experience. Crossings open out into wide stretches of sea, and each island brings a distinct change of scenery  from the whitewashed streets of Mykonos and Naxos to the volcanic coastline of Milos.

Theres a stronger sense of movement to this journey, balanced by time at anchor and unhurried evenings ashore. Its well suited to those who want to see a different side of the Greek islands, with a little more variety from day to day.

The Amalfi Coast at its most relaxed, where one of Italys most sought-after destinations feels calm and unhurried

Amalfi Coast: Best for food, scenery and classic Italy

The Amalfi Coast has long been one of Italys most sought-after summer destinations, and it takes on a different character when experienced from the water.

Over the course of a week, the coastline unfolds naturally  Positano, Capri, Procida and Amalfi, each approached by sea. Theres time for long lunches on board, swimming in quiet bays and stepping ashore to explore historic towns.

Food is central to the experience. Evenings are spent out, with recommendations shaped around the places worth booking, from relaxed waterfront trattorias to more refined tables overlooking the coast.

You move between it all almost without noticing  from deck to town, from lunch to evening, from one view to the next.

A private crewed yacht, chosen to suit your group and designed for effortless time on the water

Croatia: Best for easy island-hopping

Croatia's Dalmatian Coast is made for this kind of travel. Islands are close enough to move between easily, but varied enough that each day feels different. One morning might begin in a quiet bay, the next in a historic harbour town. Over the week, routes typically take in islands such as Vis, Korcula, Hvar and Brac.

The pace is steady and unforced. Theres time for swimming, paddleboarding and exploring ashore, with evenings that tend to revolve around simple waterfront restaurants and the atmosphere of the harbour. Its the kind of route that makes the most of being on the water without ever overcomplicating it.

A summer shaped differently, where each day ends on the water

A different pace for summer

What makes these journeys work is how theyre put together. Everything is arranged in advance  from the yacht and crew to transfers, time ashore and the overall route  so the days can unfold without overplanning. You move when it feels right, stay longer when a place suits, and let the rhythm of the trip take shape naturally. For many, its a different way to think about a summer holiday. Less about where you stay, and more about how you move through a place.

To plan your own sailing journey, speak to an Oroko travel designer at 01 2600 240 or visit orokotravel.ie
Rob Scott, a Republican, is the Kettering clerk of court, attorney, and small business owner. Contact him at rob@robscott.us .
This column first appeared in the Columbus Dispatch.

Dave Yost is Ohios attorney general and Robert Alt is president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute.
( Middle East Monitor )  By the time Gaza entered 2026, the numbers told a story that headlines could not contain. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that 64 per cent of mobile towers were out of service. Paltel, the territorys largest operator, had lost roughly 80 per cent of its more than 500 cell towers.

The telecommunications sectors market value collapsed by 89 per cent in a single year, from 13 million dollars in 2023 to just 1.5 million in 2024. In Rafah, mobile coverage sank from near-universal access to just 27 per cent. Reconstruction of the sector alone is now estimated at a minimum of 90 million dollars, with total losses exceeding half a billion.

These figures describe a deliberate, systematic dismantling of Palestinian connectivity. They do not describe collateral damage.

Since the siege began in 2006, Israel has repeatedly bombed transmission stations, restricted the import of fibre optic cables and confined Gaza to outdated 2G mobile technology while permitting 4G in the occupied West Bank.

The June 2025 blackout, which left more than two million people digitally isolated for three consecutive days, was not an anomaly. It was the logical extension of a policy that treats Palestinian communication as a privilege to be switched off at will.

And yet, somehow, Gaza stayed online. A new case study published in January 2026 by the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute, in partnership with Global Communities and funded by the Swedish government, documents how. It is a story that deserves far wider attention than it has received, because it rewrites what we think we know about digital resilience under occupation.

When formal infrastructure collapsed, a sprawling network of informal internet service providers, or ISPs, stepped into the void. These were not tech unicorns or humanitarian start-ups. They were neighbourhood operators running rooftop antennas, displaced engineers rebuilding networks from inside tents, and reseller cooperatives that had previously operated at the margins of the licensed market.

One mid-sized provider in southern Gaza scaled from serving 80 households to more than 400 users within days of the formal networks collapse.

Two displaced engineers, Khalil and Hisham, rebuilt entire micro-networks from salvaged routers, community-donated batteries and a single solar panel mounted on a wooden stand. Customers paid in whatever they had: e-wallet transfers, food, fuel, or simple barter.

What emerged was not chaos. It was governance. A reseller-based operator called New StarMax began imposing unified pricing ranges, bandwidth allocation rules and shared troubleshooting practices across its downstream network. Compliance was voluntary but nearly universal, because the alternative was collective failure.

Eventually, Paltels own Almubadra initiative formalised this bottom-up coordination, offering low-cost upstream bandwidth to informal networks that met minimum service and pricing standards. In one of the most instructive hybrid models to emerge from any crisis in the region, a licensed incumbent and a constellation of unlicensed operators built a functioning telecoms sector together.

Beneath this connectivity layer, an entire digital economy reorganised itself. Micro, small and medium enterprises, which the United Nations Development Programme estimates comprise 98 per cent of Palestinian businesses, abandoned their destroyed physical storefronts and migrated to WhatsApp broadcasts, Facebook posts and low-resolution photo catalogues. Women-led home businesses, like the food producers Balaha and Zaitona, pivoted from formal e-commerce campaigns to direct-to-shelter sales coordinated through informal delivery runners.

A neighbourhood grocer whose shop was destroyed early in the war turned his phone into a storefront, sourcing from whichever wholesaler still had stock and dispatching orders through relatives and volunteers.

None of this would have functioned without digital payments.

With banks offline, ATMs destroyed and cash almost impossible to find, e-wallets became Gazas emergency financial infrastructure.

PalPay, supported by locally hosted servers and flexible Know Your Customer protocols adjusted for crisis conditions, processed the transactions that kept households fed and micro-enterprises solvent. In some neighbourhoods and displacement sites, a closed-loop digital economy took shape, with funds circulating peer-to-peer because there was no physical cash to withdraw them into.

Freelancers, the backbone of Gazas pre-war youth employment and the countrys window into global labour markets, clustered around the rare access points provided by informal ISPs. They compressed files, downgraded deliverables and relied on payment brokers in Amman, Cairo and the Gulf to receive what remained of their international earnings.

A 7amleh (the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media) survey of 183 Gaza-based digital workers, 81 per cent of whom are aged 18 to 34 and 72 per cent of whom are displaced, found that most had lost over half their income. That so many kept any income at all is a quiet miracle built on improvised antennas and shared chargers.

This is not a story about Silicon Valley-style innovation. It is a story about what happens when a population refuses to be disconnected from the world, even as the world looks away. Gazas digital ecosystem did not survive because it was sophisticated. It survived because it was decentralised, community-embedded, and forgiving of failure.



Photo of Gaza by Emad El Byed on Unsplash

Centralised infrastructure breaks catastrophically. Mesh networks bend.

The implications for reconstruction are urgent, and they cut against the grain of the dominant rebuilding narratives now circulating in Davos and Washington. Plans that envisage Gaza as a glittering Riviera of luxury towers and gleaming transport hubs, or that imagine telecoms recovery as a clean rebuild of a centralised national grid, miss the lesson that Gazas own digital workers have already taught.

Resilience in a territory subject to repeated, deliberate infrastructure destruction cannot be engineered from the top down. It must incorporate, formalise and resource the informal systems that have already proven they can function under siege.

That means lightweight licensing pathways for informal ISPs, not their criminalisation. It means equipment support, solar power kits and simplified reseller agreements, modelled on Almubadra. It means investment in e-wallet agent networks, liquidity pools and QR-based MSME integration. It means solar-powered co-working hubs for freelancers, fee waivers from global platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, and targeted support for women-led micro-enterprises whose adaptability has carried entire households through displacement.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has pledged 5 billion euros for conflict-affected economies in 2026, and the EUs Palestine Economic Resilience programme runs through the same year. How that money is spent will decide whether Gazas digital future resembles its improvised present or its vulnerable past.

The deeper point is political. For nearly two decades, Israel has used Gazas telecoms infrastructure as a pressure valve, tightening and releasing it at will. The informal networks that emerged are not merely technical workarounds. They are an act of collective refusal, a declaration that communication is a right rather than a concession. Any serious reconstruction strategy, and any credible international response, must begin from that premise.

Gaza did not wait for permission to come back online. Its reconstruction should not wait for permission either.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The naval branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps announced Wednesday that it had sequestered two container ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without paying the toll that Iran demands, accusing them of jeopardizing Gulf security. It appears from the IRGC accusation that they were manipulating navigation systems that they were sailing with their transponders off so that they could not be tracked. They were the MSC-Francesca, an 18-year-old container ship that flies Panamanian flag and the Epaminondas, a 28-year-old container ship registered in Liberia, which had been headed for Mundra, in Indias Gujarat state. Mundra is the largest private port in India. The IRGC accused the MSC-Francesca of a relationship with Israel.

The incidents underlined that Iran is still able effectively to close the Strait of Hormuz unless captains accede to its demands for registration and toll payments.

Iranian Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on X Wednesday that it wont be possible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the US lifts its naval blockade on Iran.

Although the U.S. Navy has placed a counter-blockade on Iran-linked ships coming out of or going to Iranian ports, that measure is insufficient to force Iran to the negotiating table. Iran has a diversified economy and can conduct a lot of trade by land. It even has a 6,200-mile-long railroad linking it to China.

As for petroleum, Iran earned about $32 billion in petroleum sales, most of it to China, last year. It has a GDP of about $360 billion, so the oil is less than ten percent. Rosemary Kelanic on X pointed out that Ukraine lost ten percent of its GDP because of the Russian invasion of 2022, and it has nevertheless struggled along. Moreover, before the blockade many Iranian tankers had already exited the Strait of Hormuz, and they will be delivering oil to China over the next two months, so the government even has a cushion against the current blockade. It is painful, but the pain wont hit for a while.

In the meantime, the German carrier Lufthansa just cut 20,000 flights out of anticipation that there is going to be a lack of jet fuel in Europe this summer, and what fuel there is will be expensive. There is a lot of belt-tightening among US allies. The longer Trump tries to maintain his blockade on Iran, the worse the world economy is going to suffer. Nor will the US be immune to these effects. When energy prices go up they go up for everyone, since it is a single world market. If countries try to buy US petroleum, there will be less for Americans, and that will drive the price up.

So, my guess is that Iran can play this game of chicken more successfully than Trump can.

Tehran communicated to the International Maritime Organization that it would permit non-Hostile ships to transit the Strait as long as they coordinated with Iran. Left unsaid is that some of them at least would have to pay a toll based on the number of barrels of petroleum or the number of containers they are carrying. Some captains allegedly have paid $2 million in tolls.



File Photo. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Adak (WPB 1333) transits the Gulf of Oman, Dec. 2, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Indra Beaufort). Public Domain. Via Picryl

Because of the closure of the Strait by Iran, some 3,200 ships are stuck in the Gulf, most of them afraid to attempt the passage out. Since Israel and the US launched their war of aggression on Iran on February 28, 22 ships are estimated to have taken Iranian fire. Iran dealt with being attacked by two superior militaries by taking the energy supplies of the rest of the world hostage

For its part, Iran has also been running ships with their Automated Identification System (AIS) transponders disabled or manipulated to conceal their true identity, location and cargo, making them ghost ships. The Financial Times reported that 34 of them have evaded the blockade announced by US President Donald Trump last Friday. Six of them carried a billion dollars of petroleum out under the noses of the US Navy. US ships cannot get too close to the Strait itself for fear of taking Iranian missile and drone fire, so they are out in the Gulf of Oman, which has an area of around 55,000 square miles. Think Illinois or Michigan. Ghost ships are hard to see amid all that sea.
Sanna Manjang, one of Gambias most feared Junglers, a group of hitmen under the regime of Yahya Jammeh (1994-2017), was brought to court under heavy armed escort for the resumption of his trial in Banjul, on March 25. The court was packed, with a handful standing at the door a large chunk of them sympathisers of the former Jungler. In cuffs, Manjang took his seat near the dock before the judge walked in. A man in navy blue soon joined him, sitting barely one and a half meters away. He is Tamsir Jasseh, a US army veteran who served under Jammeh as the director of immigration.

Jasseh represents a change in the prosecution strategy. His story, as serving soldier Yahya Darboes, has put away another Jungler, Michael Correa, in a trial that took place in the United States exactly a year ago. Gambian prosecutors, whove started a shaky case against Manjang, have now amended their chargesheet to include the two as their witnesses in the high-profile trial that began in January.

The Jungler was first charged with the killing of journalist Deyda Hydara, a cousin of expresident Jammeh Haruna Jammeh and a businessman, Ndongo Mboob. These charges were removed and replaced with the killing of little-known Kajali Jammeh, reportedly a rebel from Casamance and possibly a cannabis smuggler, and cattle rustler Samba Wurry Bah.

Torture as talk sessions

Very little is known about both alleged victims, with no identifiable relatives, national documents or close contact other than Ensa Keita, who claimed to have seen the two being killed while he was in detention in Kanilai, the former dictators private residence, in 2006.

Keita was a labourer in Kanilai, when he reportedly ran into trouble with former president Jammeh. In 2006, he was contracted to supply about 2,600 US dollars worth of gravel and sand for construction to Kanilai. But he wasnt paid. His repeated insistence through several visits to the Jammeh residence would get him arrested, detained in Kanilai, and tortured for about a month. However, no other Jungler corroborated Keitas claims.

The two new charges added onto a twocount chargesheet are the torture in custody of Tamsir Jasseh and Yahya Darboe. Both were arrested in 2006 and accused of participating in the foiled coup led by late Col. Ndure Cham, whom Gambias truth commission confirmed to have been arrested by Junglers and killed in 2009. Manjang allegedly beat both Jasseh and Darboe with sticks, and melted hot plastic on Darboe, as he tied him with a sack and winched him up.

Following their arrest, Jasseh and his colleagues were taken to state central prison, Mile 2. At different times in the night, from 10pm to 3 am, he would be picked up by Junglers, among whom was reportedly Manjang, and taken to appear before a panel of investigators, at the National Intelligence Agency. They kicked, punched and hit us with barrels of a gun until you entered into a waiting truck, Jasseh told the court.

The investigation by the national truth commission, which sat between 2018 and 2021, has uncovered that such socalled panel investigations at NIA were always complemented with torture by Junglers, winning them the nickname of talk sessions.

My recollection of what happened at the panel is fuzzy. Everyone was asking questions and usually they did not wait for answers, said Jasseh. You could hear screams. You could clearly understand that someone was going through pain. Jasseh would eventually write a confession against his will that would be used to secure his sentence to a 20-year jail term of which he served 6 years before he was pardoned through the intervention of famous US civil rights advocate Jesse Jackson.

Jasseh could not tell who the head of the panel was. However, the panel members who extracted his forced confession, denying him a lawyer, should see visible signs of torture on me, he told the court.

In the process of the investigations, the suspects were tortured to confess to the planned coup on national TV, concluded the truth commission in its final report. The footage was to also be used for the successful prosecution of the coupist.

A victims tormenter now his boss

In 2021 Jasseh made a failed attempt to join the race to Gambian presidency. He now serves as an adviser to the Inspector General of the Gambian police. His task is to help him modernise the force, a task he has to execute with deputy police chief Demba Sowe.

And it appears that Sowe had served on the panel investigation at the NIA in times of dictatorship, as shown by the panels member list established by the truth commission.

Alongside Sowe, at least two other members of the panel are currently serving in various positions in the police while another member, former army chief Lang Tombong Tamba, serves as Gambias deputy ambassador to Russia.

While Gambias truth commission recommended certain individuals to be banned from holding public office, there were some accused of involvement in human rights abuse who were not recommended to be banned, or prosecuted. Sowe does not appear on the list of those recommended by the truth commission.

The Ban from Public Office Act, passed into law in 2023 and signed by Gambias president in 2024, targets public officials recommended to be banned. This process is still ongoing for a number of people despite a letter from the justice ministry asking concerned state institutions to implement the recommendations, according to the National Human Right Commissions last monitoring report. In April, Gambias justice minister Dawda Jallow told reporters that they have not developed any policy to address any such tension as might arise from victims and alleged perpetrators working in the same institution.

Didier Gbery, Gambia's representative for the International Center for Transitional Justice, said a strong legal and institutional measure should be in place for proper vetting to ensure a safe working environment for victims. Also, whistleblower policies should be in place in the administration to protect agents who witness and want to denounce violations. Another layer could be a victims protection law, he said. Public sector conditions of employment should require full disclosure of any past conduct that has a bearing on their employment. Failure to disclose material information, such as involvement in atrocities, should be grounds for summary dismissal.
Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte will face trial at the International Criminal Court after judges on Thursday confirmed charges of crimes against humanity over his so-called "war on drugs."

Duterte would be the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the world's worst crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

ICC pre-trial judges "unanimously confirmed all the charges... against Rodrigo Roa Duterte and committed him to trial," the court said in a statement.

A trial of Duterte would come as the court faces the most difficult time in its 24-year history, with the United States sanctioning key judges and officials after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister over the Gaza war.

However, it is unlikely the 81-year-old Duterte would actually appear in the dock in The Hague.

His defence team says he is too frail mentally to follow proceedings. He did not appear at a week of hearings in February to assess the validity of the charges.

The only time he has been seen since his arrest was an initial appearance via video, where he seemed confused and tired, his speech barely audible.

According to the pre-trial judges, there are "substantial grounds to believe that Duterte is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder."

The ICC will now set up a trial panel but it will likely be several months before proceedings begin.

ICC prosecutors welcomed the ruling, describing it as a "significant milestone" in their efforts to seek justice for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings.

Duterte's defence lawyer Nicholas Kaufman said the idea that people were killed as a "State policy" would be proved a "complete fiction" during trial.

"The Defence will also show that the evidence of... criminal witnesses, so gleefully peddled by the former president's many detractors, has zero weight," Kaufman said in a statement to AFP.

- 'He doesn't deny it' -

During February "confirmation of charges" hearings, the prosecution alleged Duterte killed thousands of suspected drug pushers and users, first as mayor of Davao City, then as president.

"Decades of murdering his own people, murdering the children of the Philippines, and he claims that he did it all for his country. He doesn't deny it," said Julian Nicholls, summing up for the prosecution after the hearings.

"He ran a death squad in Davao (city) that he created. He ran it for over 20 years before he became president. His promise was to kill thousands and he did."

Judges heard dozens of Duterte speeches from the time, in which he vowed to kill drug dealers, as part of a drive to lower crime rates.

Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018.

The prosecution has selected these alleged murders as "emblematic", with rights groups and ICC prosecutors putting the total number of dead in the thousands.

The first count against him concerns his alleged involvement as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders between 2013 and 2016 when he was Davao mayor.

The second relates to 14 murders of so-called "High Value Targets" in 2016 and 2017 when he was president.

The third charge covers 43 murders committed during "clearance" operations of lower-level alleged drug users or pushers across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018.

Speaking during the February hearings, Kaufman said his client "maintains his innocence absolutely."

He acknowledged Duterte's speeches were peppered with threats but told judges there was no proven link between his client's rhetoric and the alleged crimes.

"There is no smoking gun in this case," Kaufman told the three-judge panel at the ICC.

In a separate procedure, the ICC Appeals Court on Wednesday confirmed the court had jurisdiction in the case, quashing a challenge from the defence.

Director of Amnesty International Philippines Ritz Lee Santos hailed the ruling as a "historic moment for victims and international justice."

"It sends a clear message that those who are alleged to have committed widespread and systematic murder as a crime against humanity will one day find themselves in the dock, facing trial."
Brussels Courthouse. Photo:  Adam Zoltan / Shutterstock

A broad law in the 1990s, seen as textbook example of absolute universal jurisdiction, which led to attempts to bring war crimes charges against high-profile foreign officials  like Ariel Sharon, George H.W. Bush  sparked diplomatic backlash, including U.S. threats to relocate NATO headquarters from Brussels. That led to 2003 amendments restricting universal jurisdiction to cases with Belgian links or treaty mandates. And the result was that only very few cases would go to court, except some Rwandan cases, or one on Guatemala.

Mathias Holvoet is Lecturer in International Criminal Law at the University of Amsterdam, and a former member of the Federal Prosecutors Office of Belgium. He describes the lack of specialized teams and policemen, the complexity of the cour dassises, the lack of political will, like in cases against Israeli soldiers. Holvoet is pessimistic that we will see more cases and see institutional change. But there are a couple of better news, like Belgian efforts to address colonial crimes  that they qualified as crimes against humanity , or a long-awaited Liberia trial.

This is part of a series on universal jurisdiction that also covered Argentina and France.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet decided if he will attend the G20 summit in the United States in December, the Kremlin said Thursday, after Russian media reported that Moscow had been formally invited.

Putin has not participated in a meeting of the group -- made up of the world's top economies -- since 2019, first because of the coronavirus pandemic and then due to the war in Ukraine.

When asked by AFP whether Putin would attend this year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "no such decisions have been made yet".

Russia was invited at "the highest level" for the summit in Miami on December 14-15, the state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin as saying.

After sending troops into neighbouring Ukraine in 2022, Russia was slapped with numerous international sanctions and faced diplomatic isolation from the West.

In 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the war, limiting the Russian leader's travel.

The United States is not a member of the ICC and Putin travelled to Alaska last August for a summit with US President Donald Trump.

Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has sought to revive the long-frozen relations with Russia in a bid to end the war in Ukraine.

Initially promising to end the war in 24 hours, Trump's attempts so far have delivered few tangible results, even as Moscow and Kyiv met multiple times for talks.






Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - Drama has erupted on social media after a woman publicly accused upcoming radio presenter, Doris Kagendo, of sending private photos to her husband.

According to the woman, she discovered the photos after snooping through her husbands phone, where she found intimate images sent by Doris.

In anger, she briefly posted some of the photos on Facebook before deleting them, accusing the presenter of wrecking her marriage.

In response, Doris Kagendo addressed the accusations on her Facebook page, shamelessly admitting that she had a relationship with the married man, who is reportedly a pastor.

However, she described the relationship as purely transactional and dismissed the backlash, even daring the woman to leak more private photos, claiming she has done worse.

Below are social media posts shared by the aggrieved wife exposing Doris Kagendo

Kagendos response





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - Social media commentator, Maverick Otieno, has accused a woman identified as Linet Osiko, also known as Linet Mwangi, of being involved in a wash wash fraud scheme targeting unsuspecting individuals.

Linet is said to have misled her victims by claiming that she had strong connections to influential figures in the country, including members of the Gideon Moi family, Deputy Inspector General Lagat, and other powerful personalities.

She used these claims to convince targets that she was untouchable and could not be arrested by any authority.

One victim, identified as Joe, is reported to have sent her Ksh 100,000 on November 26th, 2025, after being promised access to lucrative business opportunities.

The two knew each other beforehand, with Joe believing he was investing in a legitimate venture.

Linet presented herself as a mineral trader dealing in gemstones and mercury across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

She vanished after receiving the money, leaving the victim stranded and unable to recover his funds.

See her photo below

The Kenyan DAILY POST
The transportation plan for the 2026 "May Day" holiday in the Yangtze River Delta has recently been released. According to the plan, the holiday transport period runs from April 29 to May 6, totaling eight days. During this time, the region's railways are expected to handle 31.8 million passengers, with an average of 3.975 million per day  a 5% increase year-on-year, marking the highest average daily passenger volume for any "May Day" holiday transport period on record. This year, as temperatures rise across much of the country during the holiday, and with spring breaks in several regions  including Zhejiang, Hunan, Shandong, Gansu, and Xinjiang  extending into the "May Day" break, public enthusiasm for interprovincial travel is expected to be further stimulated. According to a staff member from the Passenger Transport Department of China Railway Shanghai Group, passenger demand during the holiday will be highly concentrated, with travel primarily for tourism and family visits. Compared to the recently concluded Qingming holiday, the "May Day" travel period in the Yangtze River Delta will see earlier travel peaks, more pronounced surges at the beginning and end of the period, a higher share of short- and medium-distance trips, and a longer overall peak duration. Looking at the passenger flow trends during the holiday transport period, travel between the Yangtze River Delta and direct destinations such as Beijing, Xi'an, Fuzhou, and Xiamen is expected to be extremely busy. Meanwhile, significant increases in passenger flow are also anticipated on several intra-regional routes, including ShanghaiNanjing, ShanghaiHangzhou, and NanjingHangzhou. In terms of passenger distribution, the Yangtze River Delta region will see concentrated outbound travel during the first three days of the holiday transport period (April 29 to May 1), and concentrated return travel during the last three days (May 4 to 6). The peak of passenger flow is expected on May 1, with an estimated 4.4 million passengers to be transported that day  setting a new record for single-day passenger volume during any "May Day" holiday transport period. Given the anticipated significant increase in passenger volume during this "May Day" holiday, the Yangtze River Delta railway authorities will coordinate capacity planning and increase transport supply. A three-stage approach to capacity deployment will be adopted: fully operating the base schedule with maximum train lengths, prioritizing high-quality temporary passenger trains, and rolling out other temporary trains in phases. The total number of passenger trains operated will reach up to 1,701.5 pairs, the highest for any comparable period on record. For long-distance routes, on top of the 28 scheduled peak-period pairs, an additional 76 pairs of long-distance passenger trains are planned, primarily to meet travel demand to neighboring provinces of the Yangtze River Delta as well as popular tourist destinations such as Beijing and Northwest China. The main directions for these additional long-distance trains include the Yangtze River Delta to Jiangxi, Hubei, Shandong, Henan, Beijing, and Northwest China. For intra-regional routes, on top of the 36 scheduled peak-period pairs, an additional 192.5 pairs of passenger trains are planned. The main directions for these additional intra-regional trains include XuzhouBengbu, ShanghaiHangzhou, FuyangHefei, XuzhouNanjing, XuzhouQuzhou, XuzhouSuzhou, XuzhouShanghai, BengbuShanghai, FuyangShanghai, as well as multiple routes within Anhui Province.

Source: Hefei Daily


A COUPLE living in very poor conditions in a rural part of Kildare claim they have been ignored by Kildare County Council.

Robert (60) and Miriam Bickerdike (65) live in Old Kilcullen, a rural area roughly 4km from Kilcullen town centre.

They say they have had issues with the flow of water in the tap in the kitchen of their council home for the last month and the council has not yet acted.

The couple also cite lack of insulation, mold and the deteroiating condition of the house as issues.

Depressed

Ms Bickerdike also said that the current situation makes her feel depressed and bewildered.

Both Bickerdikes have serious health issues.

Parts of the house's walls are soft to the touch and damaged

They contacted the Kildare Nationalist primarily over an issue with water flow in their kitchen tap.

The couple said that after the tap stopped working properly slowing to a trickle, they contacted the council on 16 March. Between then and a visit to the house by the Kildare Nationalist on 10 April, they rang the council eight or nine times, according to Mr Bickerdike.

Mr Bickerdike said the council have not adequately responded to the calls.

He claimed on one occasion that he has been hung up on. The Kildare Nationalist was present as Mr Bickerdike rang the council, with there being no answer. He said that this is a regular occurrence.

According to Mr Bickerdike, the council said that they sent out a contractor who could not gain access to the property, which is protected by electric gates.

The Bickerdikes have CCTV, and Mr Bickerdike said that the footage shows no one from the council came.

rodent poison

The couple said that they have an issue with rodents, with Mrs Bickerdike saying that she hears them in the walls. They use rodent poison regularly.

They said that there has been smoke coming out of the washing machine while a press door has fallen off.

A bedroom in the Bickerdikes home in poor condition with a bin in the hallway

The couple said that the council has failed to adequately communicate with them and has failed to address the issue with the tap.

Mr Bickerdike is a native of Old Kilcullen. He owns an acre and a half of land adjacent to the council-owned property. The house was built when he was in his late teens in the 1980s, and he has been living there for around 42 years.

He said he was a county council employee previously, cleaning the streets of Kilcullen. He has a history of oesophageal cancer and is set for a scan in the near future, with worries that the disease may have returned.

Ms Bickerdike is from Dorset Street in Dublins North inner City, and notes the stark difference between her rural surroundings and those in which she grew up, where shops and essential services were close by.

She does not drive and is reliant on Robert, who drives a mobility scooter. They use an attached trailer on the scooter in which Ms Bickerdike sits when she needs to access essential services. She suffers with COPD and high blood pressure.

The Kildare Nationalist contacted Kildare County Council for comment on the matter.

Urgency of the issue

The council said they could not comment on the specifics of the case but mentioned that maintenance requests are assessed by urgency. The council said following in an email to the Kildare Nationalist.

Kildare County Council cannot comment on individual households or cases and we are not in a position to confirm or discuss any specific communications or visits, due to data protection and privacy obligations.

In general terms, where a tenant reports a maintenance issue, the council records the report, assesses the nature and urgency of the issue, and arranges an inspection and/or repair through the relevant maintenance team or appointed contractor.

Reports are prioritised in line with their urgency and residents are contacted where access is required or where further information is needed to progress the matter.

 If the individuals involved wish to have their concerns reviewed, they can do so through the councils customer service and housing maintenance channels, and they may also use the councils formal complaints process where they are dissatisfied with service or communication.

Ms Bickerdike claimed someone from the council who had previously done work for the council in the couples bathroom had hung up on Robert when he rang the individual.

Got Nowhere

The Bickerdikes said that two people from the council had come to the house two days after the Kildare Nationalist had contacted the council.

Ms Bickerdike said her husband had rang the council seven days in a row and got nowhere.

She gave her view one council employee they encountered did not want to know about the issues with the house when they visited.

From their experience, the couple feel that people on disability kind of dont matter.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Nine outstanding winners for the 2026 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (ITIEA), supported by Godolphin, the Irish Stable Staff Association, HRI Equuip, Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the Racing Post, have been announced.

These awards recognise the exceptional dedication, skill, and passion of the people who form the backbone of Irelands world-renowned thoroughbred racing and breeding sector.

Now in its 10th year of Godolphin sponsorship, the awards have been celebrating a decade of excellence across a range of roles, highlighting the vital contributions made by employees at every level of the industryfrom breeding and stud work to racing operations and administration.

The winners will be formally celebrated at an awards ceremony on Tuesday June 2 in the Keadeen Hotel in County Kildare, where the flagship award  The Irish Racing Excellence Award - will be announced and presented to one of the eight individual winners.

Listowel Racecourse is the winner of the Racecourse Award. Chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association, this accolade recognises the County Kerry racecourses exceptional commitment. Based a on quality programme evaluation, all racecourses across Ireland were assessed on various criteria, including the standard of facilities, amenities, and the overall environment provided for the industry's dedicated workforce.

Each of the award winners will receive a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Ani Mollereau and 4,000. In addition, for the Newcomer Award, Administration Award, Ancillary Services Award and Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners, 2,500 will be awarded to their employers to be used for the benefit of each winners colleagues.

Along with an Ani Mollereau trophy, Listowel Racecourse will receive 2,500 to be spent on upgrading facilities that will benefit stable employees.

The Irish Racing Excellence Award winner will receive an additional 5,000 and 2,500 for their employer to be used for the benefit of their work colleagues.

This years eight individual award winners are:

Newcomer Award: Michelle Mallon, Stud Hand, Newtown Stud, Naas, County Kildare

Michelle Mallon, Stud Hand, Newtown Stud, Naas, County Kildare Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

Administration Award: Stephanie Kennedy, Marketing, Client Relations and PA, Ballylinch Stud, Thomastown, County Kilkenny

Ancillary Award: John Wixted, Stall Handler, Horse Racing Ireland, Ballymany, County Kildare

Irish Thoroughbred Industry Award winners:

David Christie Jnr, Assistant Trainer, David Christie, Derrylin, County Fermanagh

Aoife Dempsey, Head Girl, Ted and Katie Walsh, Kill, County Kildare

Aoife Dempsey, Head Girl, Ted and Katie Walsh, Kill, County Kildare Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

Jack Madden, Travelling Head Lad, Gordon Elliott, Longwood, County Meath

Brian Moloney, Head Travelling Lad, John McConnell, Stamullen, County Meath

David Porter, Head Lad, Willie Mullins, Closutton, County Carlow.

Each recipient was selected following a competitive nomination and judging process, with candidates evaluated on their commitment, professionalism, and impact within their respective roles.

Jimmy Hyland, CEO, Godolphin Ireland, commented: Godolphins continued support of the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards underscores our commitment to recognising and nurturing talent across the global racing and breeding community. We are proud to support these awards, which highlight the incredible people who dedicate their careers to the thoroughbred industry. Their expertise and commitment are essential to the success of the sport.
IN a moment that is rarely seen in court, a man in custody actually sought a sentence, and protested when he heard that all his charges were being struck out.

Aaron Lambe (28), with an address at Blackhall Street in Dublin 7 appeared in Naas District Court by videolink from custody, where he is serving a sentence for an unrelated crime, charged with two counts of theft from nine years ago.

The charges were for theft from Boots in Maynooth in July 2017 when he stole 507 worth of perfumes, and a set of ear buds worth 493.

Howya, judge, said Mr Lambe.

Aaron Lambe? checked Judge Desmond Zaidan.

The one and only, replied the defendant on screen.

What happened to your teeth?

Fighting, said Mr Lambe.

But good news, the state is withdrawing your charges today, he added.

Can I not get a sentence today? asked Mr Lambe, as laughter echoed around the courtroom.

Why are they withdrawing it? he continued.

The DPP directs all prosecutions, independent of me or the guards. If they had any evidence they would use it, explained the judge.

So I will not be imposing your wish for a sentence, Im not the tooth fairy, smiled the judge, as Mr Lambe returned to serve out the rest of his sentence.
A MAN who admitted numerous offences including theft, possession of a knife, possession of drugs for personal use and driving while over the legal limit appeared before a recent sitting of Kilkenny District Court.

John Walsh, 20 Burrells Walk, College Park, Callan Road, Kilkenny admitted theft of approximately 300 worth of goods from the Inver Service Station on the Freshford Road in Kilkenny on March 6, 2023.

READ MORE: Kilkenny father sentenced to five months in prison

The defendant also admitted to possession of a knife and possession of drugs at Nunico Park, Kilkenny on March 3, 2026 and to theft of fuel from the Applegreen Service Station in Paulstown on September 6, 2023.

The court heard that on the date in question gardai received a report of a male wandering around Nunico Road, armed with a knife.

A woman also contacted gardai and said that a man, who was known to her, had entered her house with a knife and that there was a child present in the property at the time.

The defendant also admitted the theft of fuel from the Applegreen in Paulstown on December 9, 2023.

The court heard that on the date in question the defendant pulled up and filled his vehicle at the pumps and left without paying for 175.32 worth of fuel.

Mr Walsh also admitted a charge of failing to produce a specimen at Kilkenny Garda Station on May 2, 2024.

Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that at the time of the offences his clients addiction had spiralled out of control and that he couldnt get away from drugs.

After the offences the defendant left the jurisdiction and went to the UK. The defendants brother died and Mr Walsh returned to Ireland.

Mr Hogan outlined to the court that at the time of the possession of a knife his client had suffered a relapse and had taken cocaine and had psychosis and went into the house of a neighbour of a family member.

He believed that people were after him and that the knife was for his own protection, said Mr Hogan who added that his client, who is currently in custody, had also brought 600 in compensation to court.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the defendant of drink driving and sentenced him to four months in prison, to be served concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving and imposed an eight year driving ban. The judge also six-month sentence for theft and a further six months for possession of a knife which are to be served consecutively .
The UK has recently approved a ban on children aged 17 and under from buying cigarettes and vape products during their lifetime.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to stop anyone born after 1 January, 2009 (now aged 17) from taking up smoking.

Kieran Cuddihy on Liveline has spoken to people in Ireland on the ban to see how they feel about the decision from the UK.

Sharon Sullivan told Kieran that she smoked cigarettes for 31 years and gave them up ten years ago.

"I got very sick and ended up in hospital on oxygen, I couldn't breath," Sharon said on Liveline. "I was kept in hospital for nearly a week and they told me that if I continued to smoke within a year I would be on oxygen support for 24/7 so I said no way was I going to go around with a tank of oxygen hanging out of me".

READ NEXT: Child in critical condition following horror collision as Gardai urge witnesses to come forward - Ireland Live

Sharon was smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day. "In the morning I could have four or five one after the other. It was just non stop".

Sharon said trying to quit coming out of the hospital was "horrendous". "The first week I did actually think I was going to die without having a fag, I just found it so so hard".

Sharon then went on to vape for the next ten years as a substitute for smoking cigarettes.

The woman said that she would hate to see younger kids smoking. She started at 19 years old and said it was the biggest mistake of her life to start.

She did however say that adults who are 18 and above should have the right to choice whether they want to smoke or not.

Sharon's health has been "brilliant" since she quit smoking with no trips to the hospital since, she said on Liveline.

A man named Gary English also spoke on Liveline about his take on the matter as a person who smokes on average six cigarettes a day.

"I was smoking 40 a day, I started at 12 and I finished at 59 smoking 40 a day and I was off them for 2 years. I was fed up smoking.

"From the day I started I wanted to give them up but because they are so addictive it is virtually impossible to give them up on your own".

Gary was told during a hospital visit that he had to lose weight and give up smoking. A nurse helped him give up for two years but started smoking again to six a days.

He plans on giving up smoking by May 5th, after the bank holiday weekend!

"If you really want to stop smoking we need to ban the product entirely," Gary said.

He said that people could still have access to smoking products like if a family member is smoking at home he would have access to cigarettes.
Irish peacekeepers are ready to deploy to southern Lebanon despite the volatile situation on the ground.

Members of the 128th Infantry Battalion have been taking part in a mission readiness exercise in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow, which saw them test different scenarios they may see in deployment including live fire, ambushes, patrolling and casualty evacuations.

They will be deploying to Lebanon in May, in what will be the last major operational deployment before the Unifil mandate expires at the end of the year.

Lieutenant Zara Bolger said there were some feelings of nervousness and excitement among personnel, but also confidence in our training.

She told the Press Association that serving overseas is the pinnacle of a military career.

We feel lucky to have been selected for  potentially  the last (operational mission), as far as were aware, she said.

We just want to make sure we do a good job and hopefully hand it off to whomever in the best way possible.

On Thursday, personnel conducted a counter improvised explosive device (C-IED) exercise where a vehicle on patrol simulated being struck by a bomb.

Others in the convoy had to recover the struck vehicle and provide medical aid to the casualties inside.

It was a particularly relevant test given the presence of unexploded ordnance and IEDs in southern Lebanon.

Lt Bolger said recent focus in training has been on C-IED and denial of freedom of movement.

She said: Weve put a lot of time and effort into honing in on those drills.

Of ongoing concern is Israels destruction of bridges over the Litani River, limiting access to Unifils area of operations.

The Officer Commanding of the 128th Infantry Battalion said all courses of action around deployment are being examined.

Lieutenant Colonel Damian Carroll told reporters: Ive no concerns in that regard, planning will continue  and were ready to deploy in whatever manner they decide.

He said the situation on the ground is volatile but added that Unifil is still fulfilling its mandate.

He said he was assured by a recent rotation of Irish and Polish personnel out through Beirut airport.

At the end of last month, the Defence Forces carried out its first personnel rotation in a conflict zone using the new strategic reach capability of recently acquired aircraft.

Asked about recent deaths of peacekeepers in the region, Lt Col Carroll offered condolences to the affected families and said: Conflict zones are difficult.

We wouldnt have soldiers in south Lebanon if it wasnt complex.

He said he trusted the training of the battalion and the personnel themselves, adding they had trained for all eventualities.

It is a dynamic environment, it is complex. But we have to believe  we have to trust our training, trust our equipment, trust our people, he said.

The UN Security Council mandate for the mission expires on December 31, followed by a 12-month drawdown and ultimate liquidation.

After May, there will also be a rotation of Irish personnel in November  which is expected to have a larger logistical footprint to deal with the end of the mission.

There will still be a requirement for a heavy security footprint, but the personnel will likely be dealing with multiple convoys carrying Irish equipment as well as force protection as the installations are collapsed.

Addressing the poignancy of the end of the mission, Lt Col Carroll said: The Defence Forces has been there for 50 years. Soldiers have lost their lives in Lebanon.

Ireland and Lebanon will be intertwined irrespective of what happens in the future, based on the service of Unifil.

He said overseas deployment has been the highlight of his career, and that any future mission is a matter for the Government.

Also among those deploying is Private Michael Jr. Chucks, who said there were high spirits about the mission.

He said: Were well trained for it I think everyone feels confident about the training were getting.

He said he was excited about his first mission, but added the overall drawdown may be difficult for colleagues: We (the Defence Forces) have nearly built a family out there as well  so leaving it will be rough for some people.

The 128th Infantry Battalion is deploying with 344 personnel from the Irish Defence Forces, some of whom are seasoned officers while others are on their first overseas mission.

They will deploy in May and take over duties from the 127th Infantry Battalion who were deployed in November, 2025.
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton is in Kilkenny today to visit two local schools.

She will be visiting Kilkenny City Vocational School this afternoon, and the new Christian Brothers College campus to unveil a commemorative plaque celebrating the official opening of the school. The school will also be marking the planned opening of two classes in the ASD unit in August 2026.

The relocation of Christian Brothers College to Dunningstown Road has marked the beginning of a significant new chapter for the entire school community.

I congratulate everyone involved in bringing this ambitious and long-term project to completion," said Minister Naughton.

Christian Brothers education in Kilkenny began in 1859 on James Street. Since then, for almost two centuries, this school has played a central role in the educational, social, cultural, and spiritual life of this city and its surrounds. Generations of families have passed through its doors.

TAP HERE FOR MORE KILKENNY SCHOOLS NEWS

She said that the commemorative stone she is unveiling will stand as a marker of transition which honours the legacy which began in 1859, while anchoring the school firmly in its new home.

The move to this new campus marks the beginning of a very important new chapter. While leaving Jamess Street was undoubtedly emotional for many, this modern campus represents a powerful investment in the education of young people in Kilkenny for generations to come," she said.

These facilities are designed for contemporary teaching and learning, for creativity and collaboration, for wellbeing and inclusion. I particularly welcome the opening of two classes to support boys with autism later this year, ensuring that students with additional needs are supported to meet their potential and be valued members of this school community with their friends and siblings.

This development reflects a continued commitment to inclusive education. These purpose-built classrooms, together with the dedicated work of teachers, special needs assistants and school leadership will provide a supportive, respectful, and nurturing environment where students with additional needs can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

The Minister acknowledged the leadership and dedication of Principal Tom Clarke; his deputy principals, Derarca Maguire and Tomas de Buitleir; the chair of the board of management, Geoff Meagher; the members of all the boards of management and parents associations who have helped guide and support the work of the school over the years.

She said: While today is a day to mark a new chapter in the schools history, Christian Brothers College Kilkenny has and will continue to be a source of great pride for ERST, the city of Kilkenny and, indeed, the Department of Education and Youth.

The project commenced on site in October 2023, and practical completion was reached in August 2025.
Shayne Currie reports:

One of New Zealands biggest news organisations is appealing a precedent-setting court decision, in which a man convicted of assaulting his partner convinced a judge that an online news article about him and the attack should be removed. The district court judge agreed the man, who did not receive name suppression at the time of his conviction in 2018, had suffered emotional distress as a result of the story.

Yeah having people know you bashed your partner can be distressing. Its known as a consequence.

One media lawyer said the Harmful Digital Communications Act  which the man had used in his case  was being increasingly cited against news media in ways that the lawyer believed Parliament had not intended.

HDCA was meant to be about protecting young people from bullying. Not to allow convicted violent criminals to hide their offending.

The man  who punched his partner in the face twice before she grabbed his testicles to stop the assault

Smart way to stop it!

Judge Greig said the mans conviction was entered on August 8, 2018. Seven years after his conviction, the article remained available online. The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004, however, mandates that this conviction is spent and consequently, [the man] is now deemed to have no criminal record. The man had asked the news organisation several times in 2025 to have the online article removed, without success.

The clean slate law is not meant to allow for censorship of accurate news reports of the time.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

Partly cloudy, perhaps a shower late in the day. Highs in the lower to middle 60s..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with a few showers. Lows in the middle 40s
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THE ELECTRIC Picnic Music & Arts Festival, which has taken place in Stradbally, Laois every year since 2004, has received multiple wins at the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) Live Music Awards 2026, including the main prize.

The awards received by the festival include the IMRO Festival Technical Crew of the Year and the IMRO Overall Live Music Award, the ceremonys top prize.

The IMRO Live Music Awards took place the evening of Tuesday 21 April at the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin.

Hosted in 2026 by Tom Dunne and Rachel Mae Hannon, the awards recognise the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who help bring Irelands live music scene to life.

The night included live performances from Dave Lofts, Ahmed With Love, BABYRAT, Scullion and DJ Maria Lawlor.

Winners were decided by an IMRO member vote, following nationwide submissions. The prize for overall winner, which went to Electric Picnic, was decided by public vote in partnership with Hot Pressmagazine.

Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO, said the organisation is delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of this years winners: Live music is at the heart of Irelands cultural identity, and it is sustained by the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all possible.

It is a privilege for IMRO to host these awards and recognise the people and places whose dedication, passion and expertise continue to drive Irelands live music scene forward.

Finn continued by thanking the Guinness Storehouse for hosting the 2026 awards: As one of Irelands most iconic cultural venues, its ongoing commitment to music and live experiences plays an important role in the wider creative community.

He also acknowledged awards ceremony partners Hot Press, the Louise Duffy Show on RTE Radioa1, and Audoo: We are very grateful for their continued support of live music, he said.

IMRO administers the performing rights of music creators and publishers in Ireland and internationally.
THE MOTHER of a young Kildare man who took his own life last year has claimed his death was preventable if he had received the mental healthcare services he needed.

Kelvin Brennan (26) from St Josephs Avenue, Newbridge was found dead in a guest room of the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge on 23 May 2025.

His mother, Noeleen Eustace, sharply criticised the mental health services available to her son and others like him who suffer from both mental health issues and a substance abuse disorder following an inquest into his death at Kildare Coroners Court on Thursday.

I think (his death) could have been preventable. It wasnt that he didnt ask for help. He told them he was dying, said Ms Eustace.

She said her son had suffered major issues with his mental health for 13 years.

While he had been attending a psychiatrist and had his last appointment just three weeks before his death, Ms Eustace said he was just continuously being prescribed medication when he really needed in-patient care.

Ms Eustace, who is a social care worker herself, said her son had been warning healthcare professionals that he would die if he did not get help.

He said himself: I need to be locked up but he didnt want to end up in prison, she recalled. He told them he was a risk to himself and others. During the inquest, evidence was heard that Mr Brennans body was discovered by a housekeeper in the hotel.

A garda witness confirmed that there was no sign of any third-party involvement in Mr Brennans death.

The hotels manager, Michael Masterson, said he had been alerted to what he described as an upsetting scene by the screaming of a housekeeper.

Mr Masterson said he had spoken earlier to Mr Brennan in the hotel as he was well known, and he recalled that the deceased had been in fine form. A postmortem showed that Mr Brennan had died as a result of asphyxiation.

The coroner, Loretta Nolan, said toxicology tests also showed a high level of alcohol and various drugs including cocaine and benzodiazepines in his body.

However, Dr Nolan said the pathologist who conducted the postmortem had concluded that the drugs were not a contributory factor in the death.

Recording a verdict of self-inflicted death, the coroner said it was not possible to state when exactly Mr Brennan may have died.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms Eustace welcomed the coroners findings as she dreaded a verdict of misadventure might have been recorded as it would have signalled an accidental death due to a drug overdose.

People are very quick to jump on the drugs bandwagon, she explained.

While acknowledging her son abused substances, Ms Eustace pointed out that he had previously made at least 10 other attempts to take his life including one occasion when she had discovered him.

She outlined how Kelvin had been brought to hospital but had been sent home afterwards from the emergency department because he was not considered sufficiently high-risk.

Ms Eustace said it had taken a long while to get her son diagnosed by the HSEs Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services which meant they had a lot of backtracking over getting care for him over the years.

She also complained that it has taken nine months to get Kelvin transferred over to adult mental health services when he turned 18.

Ms Eustace said her son essentially needed in-patient treatment but had only ever spent nine weeks in St Patricks University Hospital in 2021.

She claimed he had subsequently been refused when he tried to be readmitted to the hospital.

Ms Eustace, who plans to write a book to tell her sons story as part of advocating for improved mental healthcare services, said a major problem is the failure to recognise dual diagnosis  individuals who have both a drug addiction and mental health problems.

As a result, she said many people were just labelled as drug addicts.

I am writing a book to get the truth out about my son because he wasnt just a drug addict, said Ms Eustace who emphasised how he had been diagnosed with Aspergers as well as generalised anxiety, sensory processing disorder and dyspraxia at the age of 13.

There are lots of people on the streets of Ireland who are not just drug addicts but who have mental health issues, said Ms Eustace.

She expressed frustration at the governments response to her campaign to have dual diagnosis recognised under mental health legislation as well as at the lack of specialist treatment for affected patients.

Ms Eustace said methadone programmes were quite successful but there was no similar resource available for people with a dual diagnosis.

In contrast, she noted that specialist treatment in the UK for such cases was absolutely amazing. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can freephone the Samaritans 24 hours a day for confidential support at 116-123 or email jo@samaritans.ie.

Alternatively, contact information for a range of mental health supports is available at www.mentalhealthireland.ie.

In the case of an emergency, or if you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or self-harm, dial 999/112.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said negotiations with the United States will not move forward unless Washington agrees to Havana's conditions, underscoring a hardening stance as bilateral talks unfold amid mounting tensions and a deepening economic crisis on the island.

"If the United States does not accept negotiating on Cuban terms, there is no negotiation," Diaz-Canel said in a televised interview recorded at Havana's Palace of the Revolution. He emphasized that dialogue must be built on "respect" for Cuba's political system, sovereignty, and independence, adding that "imposing does not allow negotiation."

#Ahora. Diaz-Canel descarta negociar un cambio de regimen en #Cuba con los EE.UU. y amenaza con cortar las conversaciones si se pone sobre la mesa esa exigencia pic.twitter.com/ynY1Pk6slI  Mag Jorge Castro (@MagJorgeCastro) April 22, 2026

His remarks come days after reports that the administration of Donald Trump issued a two-week ultimatum urging Cuba to release high-profile political prisoners, including artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara and rapper Maykel Osorbo. Cuban authorities recently rejected an appeal seeking Otero Alcantara's early release, signaling limited movement on one of Washington's key demands.

Diaz-Canel reiterated that Cuba's internal affairs are not subject to negotiation. "Our internal problems are not on the table," he said, framing any talks as contingent on equality and reciprocity. While acknowledging that conversations with U.S. officials have taken place since March, he described the process as sensitive and largely undisclosed.

The Cuban leader has publicly acknowledged the severity of the country's ongoing crisis. "Everyday life in Cuba hurts," he said during a separate public appearance marking the anniversary of the socialist revolution, citing widespread shortages, prolonged power outages and disruptions to transport and industry.

He attributed the situation primarily to U.S. sanctions, while also recognizing "our own mistakes" in governance.

Diaz-Canel also warned in that speech that a potential military confrontation with the United States remains a possibility, stating that Cuba must be prepared "to avoid it and, if it were inevitable, to win it."

The president's latest remarks align with a broader communication strategy seen in recent weeks, in which he has repeatedly balanced calls for dialogue with warnings about sovereignty and defense. In previous interviews with international outlets, Diaz-Canel has described talks with Washington as "difficult, but possible," while insisting they must occur without preconditions or coercion.

Despite speculation about a potential economic agreement between the two countries, Diaz-Canel made clear that any deal would not include political concessions or changes to Cuba's system. "We have always been willing to dialogue," he said, "but only from a position of respect... and without conditions."

Originally published on Latin Times
There is bad news for customers and employees of a Laois clothing shop with the announcement that the Born Clothing Irish business has gone into liquidation.

The company is closing all 15 stores in Ireland, including its shop in Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise. It means the loss of some 116 jobs in total.

It is not honouring gift vouchers or credit notes as part of the liquidation process, and has debts of nearly 8 million. The Portlaoise store had operated for the past 14 years, with about a half dozen workers employed.

The Portlaoise store is opening at 11am this Thursday, April 23, for a liquidation sale.

Born Clothing which sold women's and men's clothes including ranges like Vila and Diesel, has issued a statement.

"Liquidation notice to all customers. All liquidation sales allow for a 30-day return/refund policy with reason and accompanying valid liquidation receipt. Any additional statutory rights remain unaffected.

"As the company is in provisional liquidation please note the following: No gift vouchers can be accepted during the liquidation sale. No returns of stock bought before the liquidation can be refunded. No credit note provided by the store before the liquidation can be accepted.

Read next: Landmark Portlaoise menswear shop closing down with big sale underway

"Claims for refunds/ returns of stock /credit notes rank as unsecured claims in the liquidation. To submit a claim, please contact bornclothing@bdo.ie for further details," the company has stated.

They also say if the store has closed within the 30 days, customers with liquidation receipts must email the company.

Last Tuesday, April 21, The High Court approved the appointment of provisional liquidators to insolvent companies in the group which carries debts of about 7.7m.

The appointment of provisional liquidators typically allows a company to continue trading on a temporary basis while its affairs are assessed and an orderly process is put in place.
Two men appeared in court for stealing hundreds of euros worth of baby formula in Portlaoise.

Dafin Rostas (50) and Nedelu Rostas (43) both of 70 North Circular Road, Dublin 7, were both convicted of stealing 20 units of Aptimel baby formula valued at 329.80 from Mulhalls Supervalu on December 17, 2024 and assorted groceries valued at 329.76 from Lidl Portlaoise on the same date.

Nedelu Rostas was also found guilty of stealing 800 worth of baby formula, nappies, baby food and groceries from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Shopping Centre, Portlaoise on November 11, 2024.

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said Dafin Rostas had been deemed suitable for community service.

Judge Susan Fay noted the goods had been recovered from Mulhalls but Lidl was owed for the goods. She asked has your client any money?

Mr Fitzgerald said the man had brought 350 to court for Lidl which was handed in to the court.

Judge Fay then imposed 70 hours of community service in lieu of five months in prison.

READ ALSO: 20,000 grant to improve Portlaoise park

Mr Fitzgerald said Nedelu Rostas was also deemed suitable for community service. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said no property was recovered in relation to the 800 theft from Dunnes Stores.

Judge Fay imposed 120 hours of community service in lieu of nine months for the theft from Lidl. She imposed a six month probation supervision order in relation to the theft from Mulhalls Supervalu and she adjourned the case to June for payment of the 800 to Dunnes Stores. However, Mr Fitzgerald asked for the case to be called again later in the court sittings as he said his client now had the 800.

When the money was paid over, Judge Fay imposed a further 120 hours of community service on the defendant.
An age old tradition is being kept alive in the Slieve Bloom Mountains where Dan Lynch is preparing to put up the May Bush.

Dan, who is in his 80s and lives in Capard, puts his May Bush up every year at the Ridge of Capard to mark the start of May.

He has been doing his bit to pass the old tradition down through the generations and is often helped by his granddaughters.

READ ALSO: Slieve Bloom Walking Festival to take place in May

This year will be no different and he plans to put the May Bush up on the evening of April 30 for May 1. His two granddaughters are planning to be there to decorate the May Bush with their granddad.

Pictured above: Siomha Pictured here with her grandad last year

The old rural custom which was practised throughout Ireland was believed to improve the harvest.

The Slieve Bloom Association are inviting the community to come along and help them celebrate the May Bush on Sunday, May 3.

Anyone interested can bring ribbons and painted eggshells to adorn the tree. The event takes place at Millenium Park in Rosenallis Village at 2pm. Refreshments will be served afterwards in Rosenallis Community Centre.
A young girl in Portarlington was forced to wait over an hour for an ambulance over the weekend, highlighting the immense pressure on Laois' ambulance services.

The 10-year-old girl's mother, Ciara, was speaking on Midlands 103 about how she had to call for an ambulance on Sunday after her daughter began to suffer a heavy nosebleed on her birthday. The nosebleed was of concern as the girl suffers from a blood disorder which means her blood does not clot.

After 25 minutes, it was clear that medical intervention was needed to stop the "excessive" bleeding.

Ciara said that the operator, who was "exceptional", spent an hour and nine minutes on the phone to her while they waited for the closest ambulance to arrive from Athy. She was informed that there were no ambulances available in Laois.

The mother described hearing this as a "punch in the stomach."

Ciara got in touch with local councillor Aidan Mullins to express her concern with the delays her family had to face on Sunday and the lack of services available in the county.

Speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, Cllr Mullins reiterated Ciara's point that this is in no way a criticism of the medical staff who work very hard. He emphasised that resources are there, but the services are somehow lacking.

Comparing Laois' ambulance services to neighbouring counties, Cllr Mullins said: "On Monday and Tuesday nights there is only one ambulance in Laois with a population of over 90,000. Offaly has three ambulance stations in Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry. Kildare also have three ambulance stations. Yet Laois only have one."

He noted that despite the increase in population in Laois in the past 15 years, there has been a reduction in ambulance services in the county over this period.

READ NEXT: Major Irish clothing company closing down Laois and all other stores

"It's obvious the service cannot handle the demand and people are being let down," Cllr Mullins said.

"It's very difficult to understand why our health service and emergency response service here are not being adequately funded and resourced."

Cllr Mullins stated that health staff are "stretched to the limit" and facing major burnout due to the pressure placed upon them.

Now, Laois TD Brian Stanley has also raised the issues with the ambulance services in the Dail, particularly the dynamic deployment system which means ambulances based in Laois can be sent to other counties.

Addressing Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the Dail on Wednesday, April 22, Deputy Stanley said: "The ongoing problems with the National Ambulance Service are not being addressed. I raised the serious gaps in the ambulance service, particularly in County Laois, with the Taoiseach last year, and it is through no fault of the staff."

Similar to the points raised by Cllr Mullins, Deputy Stanley said: "The number of staff in the county has not increased in the past two decades, despite the explosion in population. Five vehicles are based in the county, with just two available most of the time, that is five nights of the week. On Monday and Tuesday nights, just one vehicle is available. These vehicles are often a long distance away, so if a serious incident arises, no ambulance is available to attend patients. This is happening on a regular basis in the county."

The Laois TD said that due to the dynamic deployment system ambulance crews in Laois can be sent to Dublin, Wexford, Wicklow, Westmeath and Waterford which then leaves an absence of available crews in the county.

He noted that often when ambulances reach a patient's location, they are stood down and directed to turn back because another ambulance has already arrived. He recounted a recent incident wherein a crew from Portlaoise were just minutes from their destination in Wicklow when they were told to turn back.

"So called dynamic deployment is not working. Crews are chasing around the country, travelling long distances without picking up patients. One crew came on to a shift recently in Portlaoise and was despatched on six occasions. On four of those occasions, the crew was stood down, including when it was almost where the patient was. It was told to turn around and come back to Portlaoise empty," Deputy Stanley told the Taoiseach.

He said that people are forced to wait hours for an ambulance due to shortages and to make matters worse there is no rapid response vehicle in Laois despite there being 56 in the country. This shortage is then placing more pressure on the civil defence and fire services who must "pick up the slack."

The Taoiseach said he will speak to the Minister of Health about the emergency response vehicle for Laois and will ask her to reflect on and engage with the National Ambulance Service in terms of the model it uses.
Over 20,000 has been granted to improve a popular Portlaoise park.

Laois County Council has been allocated 21,470 for improvement works at Pairc an Phobail in Portlaoise.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, granted the funding to Pairc an Phobail to enhance accessibility, biodiversity, and a natural play area in the park.

The funding comes after a number of Portlaoise councillors raised concerns with some of the park's facilities which were described as "rotting" and "dangerous."

Cllr Tommy Mulligan told the March meeting of the Portlaoise MD that a lot of the equipment in the park needs to be replaced, including a wheelchair swing which is not working.

Welcoming the announcement, Laois TD Sean Fleming said: "I am pleased that Laois County Council applied for funding to improve biodiversity and accessibility for people who use this park.

READ NEXT: Laois playground's wooden structures 'rotten' claims councillor

"Pairc an Phobail is a 'gem' in Portlaoise and is also visited by many people from outside the town. I would encourage all people who have not yet taken time out to visit this park and enjoy the natural amenities that are in place to do so."

Deputy Fleming thanked Laois County Council for their ongoing work to improve the park which he said is "there for everybody to enjoy."

The Laois TD looked forward to the works being carried out by Laois County Council "as soon as practical."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A Laois school has been shortlisted in a prestigious nationwide music competition.

Mountrath Community School has been shortlisted for the 2026 Walton's RTE lyric FM Music for Schools competition.

Twelve schools have been shortlisted for the final, compiling of six primary level and six secondary level schools.

Mountrath CS expressed their pride in their students for this astounding achievement.

"This is a huge achievement for all as six post primary schools are chosen out of all of Ireland," the school praised.

The finalists will perform at the 2026 Waltons RTE lyric FM Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert in the National Concert Hall on Monday, May 18.

"There was a huge response from schools around the country when this year's competition was announced, and the closing date on March 20th saw a deluge of entries flooding in from schools in eighteen different counties," organisers said.

"Our first-round adjudicators were enormously impressed by the high standard of entries this year and the imagination, musicality and effort evident in each.

"They had their work cut out for them in selecting just twelve Finalist groups (six primary and six post-primary) to perform in the finalists concert," they said.

The competition will be judged by guest adjudicators Aedin Gormley and Paul Noonan, and competition co-director Aideen Walton.

Three primary and three secondary schools will win first, second and third place prizes of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 vouchers respectively for musical instruments and equipment for their schools from Waltons Music Ireland.

The other finalist groups will receive 200 vouchers.

The first-round adjudicators have also singled out groups that were not selected but are of particular merit as Commended, Highly Commended or Very Highly Commended.

Commended schools will receive certificates for all participants in acknowledgement of their achievements.

The finalists concert will be live webcast from the National Concert Hall by RTE Lyric FM.

Congratulations to Mountrath CS!
The Sallins Drama Society is holding an open night at Sallins Community Centre, Kildare from 8pm, on Friday, April 24th.

The event is for existing members or the society, and for anyone in the area that may be interested in getting involved. New members are always welcome by the group.

On the night, the society will show clips from previous production, try some fun improv games, discuss future productions and events, and get to know each other.

Sallins Drama Society was founded by community members in 2019, following the success and enjoyment of a Sallins GAA fundraiser, known as The Oskars. The first play staged by the newly formed group, in September 2019, was Wake in The West. It was performed upstairs at J.P Healys.

READ NEXT: GALLERY: Take a look at photos from last year's Punchestown Festival.

In 2021, full-length play Second Honeymoon was staged at the same venue. In 2022, the society moved to the community centre and, to date, have held five more shows. They have also performed at The Moat Theatre and toured the country with the acclaimed Soldier Field production.

This May (14th to 16th), the society is staging three nights of One-Act comedies, A Night Watchman and the Irish premiere of Knock Knock.

Anyone interested in getting involved - especially with the societys upcoming One-Act plays - you are very welcome to come along. Feel free to bring a friend who might be interested in joining the vibrant and welcoming group.

Sallins Drama Society looks forward to seeing you there and sharing another fantastic season together.
Irish language names have been requested for housing estates in one County Kildare region.

The subject was raised at the latest Athy Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Monday, April 20 last.

READ NEXT: Daylight criminal damage incident in Kildare prompts garda probe

Near the end of the meeting, Fianna Fail councillor Brian Dooley motioned for Kildare County Council (KCC) to 're-emphasise the importance of naming estates in the Irish language in this MD, which is a policy of this council'.

His motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Veralouise Behan.

LONG REPORT

In response to Cllr Dooley's motion, KCC issued a lengthy report.

It read as follows: "KCC acknowledges the intent of this motion and confirms that the promotion and use of the Irish language in the naming of new residential developments remains an established and supported policy position of the authority.

"Section 15.4.15 of the County Development Plan 2023 to 2029 provides a clear statutory policy basis for the use and promotion of the Irish language in development naming.

"This section supports the use of Irish or bilingual names for new residential developments and associated signage, particularly where such names reflect local townlands, historical placenames or cultural heritage, and where they contribute positively to place-making and legibility."

KCC continued: "Members will be aware that the Naming of New Residential Developments Policy Document sets out clear guidance for developers and applicants in relation to the naming of housing developments.

"The policy places a strong emphasis on the use of Irish-language names, reflecting local heritage, placenames, landscape features and historical associations, and seeks to ensure consistency, clarity and cultural appropriateness in estate naming throughout the county.

READ NEXT: Local Kildare drama group holding open night in Sallins

"This policy approach is further reinforced through the Taking in Charge Policy 2023, which requires that the naming of developments be agreed with the Planning Authority prior to the taking in charge process.

"Developments that do not comply with KCC's adopted naming conventions, including the preference for Irish language names where appropriate, may be required to regularise naming as part of the taking-in-charge process in order to ensure alignment with KCC policy and signage standards.

"The Planning Department continues to engage proactively with applicants at pre-planning and application stage to ensure awareness of these requirements."

KCC further said: "Conditions relating to the naming of developments are routinely attached to permissions where necessary to secure compliance with adopted KCC policy.

"The importance of early agreement on estate naming is also reiterated to avoid delays or complications at later stages, including connection to services, addressing, emergency access, and the taking in charge of estates."

KCC concluded: "In this context, KCC agrees with the sentiment of the motion and will continue to re-emphasise the importance of Irish language naming in all relevant planning, development management and estate management processes, in line with adopted policies and the County Development Plan."

READ NEXT: No plans for this Kildare Municipal District to live stream KCC meetings

'LACK OF EFFORT'

Speaking further on his motion, Cllr Dooley told KCC: "A lot of developers lack the effort to try and name housing estates as Gaeilge."

He also suggested: "Maybe we could look at names of historic significance or heritage, or even well-known Athy figures from history?"

"I know it's only a small piece of the [planning] criteria but we need to be cognisant of it," Cllr Dooley added.

He concluded by saying that he was happy with KCC's report.

The Mayor of the MD, Fine Gael Cllr Ivan Keatley, showed support for Cllr Dooley's sentiments, and told KCC: "We need to have a strong policy on this [referring to the Irish language naming of housing estates]."

Fianna Fail Cllr Brian Dooley. Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie

READ NEXT: Gardai investigating burglary of Indian restaurant located near popular Kildare shopping centre

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Kildare County Council receives lower national funding per capita than any other county in Ireland, according to a Fianna Fail Senator.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin was speaking in the Seanad this week on the release and celebration of the 1926 census and its 100th anniversary.

Speaking of the 1926 census, Senator O'Loughlin said it gave a small window into the country we had and all those who lived there.

She said that of 10 centres chosen to house the exhibition, she was happy Naas Library and Cultural Centre was one of them.

Senator O'Loughlin said it is an excellent service for the local communities in those areas, and shows what living in a newly independent Ireland was like 100 years ago.

READ NEXT: Works commence on 1.8m extension to popular Kildare hotel

She said: One of the most interesting facts that came out was that Kildare, the county I am proud to be from and live in, has seen a population increase of 327% since 1926, from 58,000 people to nearly 248,000.

That is by far the biggest growth in any county. I thank Councillor Suzanne Doyle for putting some of these figures together. Bearing that increase in population in mind, it is a fact that 100 years later, Kildare County Council receives lower national funding per capita than any other county.

According to Senator O'Loughlin, Kildare County Council receives approximately 715 per person annually.

To put that into context, she said, Dublin City Council receives 1,900 and Leitrim receives 1,256.

Kildare, she pointed out, also has a high number of large towns, and is the fourth most populated county, after Dublin, Galway and Cork.

The Fianna Fail Senator concluded: We need autonomous and equitable funding. We need resources based on the metric of need and sustainable growth, which allows for strategic planning and development.

We need to have the Minister in to speak about what we have learned from 100 years ago and how we need to move forward.
A local councillor has called on Kildare County Council (KCC) to remove derelict boats from a river which goes through the Athy Municipal District (MD).

The request was made by Labour Party Cllr Aoife Breslin at the most recent MD meeting, which took place on Monday, April 20 last.

READ NEXT: Cars failing to give way to children crossing near this Kildare primary school

Near the end of this meeting, Cllr Breslin motioned for KCC to 'engage with the relevant stakeholders to have the derelict boats removed from the River Barrow on the left bank'.

Her motion was seconded by her party colleague Cllr Mark Leigh.

'GRAVEYARD'

Elaborating on her motion, Cllr Breslin told KCC that she is aware of 'two or three' sunken boats in the river.

She said: "There are no mooring fees in Athy, so some people come here and leave their boats unattended.

"We have become a graveyard for boats; it looks horrific, and we have to find a way to move it forward."

READ NEXT: Irish language names requested for housing estates in this Kildare region

She concluded by urging KCC to find a solution to the dilemma quickly: "Let's invest in this properly; that way, we don't have to do anything about it again."

Fianna Fail Cllr Brian Dooley then spoke up in support of Cllr Breslin's motion, and referred to the derelict boats as 'an eyesore'.

KCC REPLY

In response to Cllr Breslin's motion, KCC said via the report it provided at the meeting: "[The] Strategic Projects and Public Realm (SPPR) team has engaged with Waterways Ireland regarding the boats referred to by Cllr Breslin.

"They reported an awareness of two sunken boats at Crom a Boo Bridge in an area not under their remit."

KCC continued: "The Barrow Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Branch requested assistance from Waterway Ireland to remove one of the vessels, with the owners permission, and this has been agreed by Waterways Ireland."

"The Barrow Navigation in Athy, Ireland, is subject to specific bye-laws enforced by Waterways Ireland; these include regulations on mooring, speed limits, and the use of the waterways for various activities.

"However, they do not extend to the area in which the two vessels mentioned were located."

KCC concluded: "Therefore, it is not within their remit to remove any vessels without the permission of the owner."

Furthermore, a representative for KCC who was also present at the meeting assured Cllr Breslin that KCC is 'investigating the ownership of the land' in an attempt to find a solution to the issue.

Labour Party Cllr Aoife Breslin. Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie

READ NEXT: Daylight criminal damage incident in Kildare prompts garda probe

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The grand finale of the National Hunt season attracts top trainers, jockeys, and horses from Ireland and the UK battling for glory and prestige.

Headlining the week are feature races like the Punchestown Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle, drawing massive crowds and fierce betting interest.

READ NEXT: Big Photo Gallery from Punchestown 2025.

Punchestown is also a style spectacle, with Ladies Day on Friday turning the enclosures into a catwalk of elegant hats and dresses.

Saturday is the family fun day as thousands of children and their parents bring the curtain down on another festival.

Local food producers, live music, and artisan stalls add to the lively, festival feel.

Organisers expect over 130,000 visitors across the week, with extended shuttle services from Dublin and nearby towns to support the influx.

For many, it's the social highlight of the yeara place where locals, racing fans, and first-time punters gather for the craic.

Punchestown 2025 promises five unforgettable days in the heart of horse country.

TICKETS

We have Pairs of Tickets to give away for Wednesday and Thursday only.

Closing date for entering the competition is 12 noon on Friday, April 24 and winners will be notified that afternoon.

To be in with a chance to win, send your name to leinsterleader@gmail.com.

The winners must be available to attend Punchestown on Wednesday OR Thursday and will be required to collect the tickets at the Entrance to the racecourse on the day of attendance.



Good luck!
A lively new Irish comedy celebrating the golden age of the showband era is set to hit the stage in Carrigallen next month as The Mariettas arrives at the Corn Mill Theatre on May 3rd.

Presented by Cavan-based Pothole Productions, the full-length comedy follows five women frofferent backgrounds who come together through an audition process to form a showband in 1969.

But while the music promises nostalgia and laughs, the production also carries emotional depth.

Actress Vanessa Galligan described the show as a laugh a minute but said audiences can also expect heart and surprises along the way.

Its five women from different walks of life coming together, and through that you see their backgrounds, the rehearsal process, and the journey they go on, she said.

Theres comedy, singing, dancing and plenty of fun, but there is a sad side to it too.

Set in 1969, the play is packed with familiar hits including Suspicious Minds and Hooked on a Feeling, with Galligan describing it as more of a play with music than a musical.

She compared its style to The Joe Show: The Night Joe Dolans Car Broke Down, where music becomes part of the storytelling rather than the main focus.

What makes The Mariettas especially unique is its ambitious staging.

The five cast members each play four characters, switching roles live in front of the audience using changes in props, voice, accent and movement.

All the actors are backstage on stage, Galligan explained.

We transition from one character to another right in front of the audiences eyes. Its a huge challenge  probably the biggest challenge Ive had as an actress.

The production has been developed through a collaborative workshop process rather than under a traditional director, with each cast member taking on extra responsibilities including costumes, scheduling and publicity.

Galligan said the company wanted to try something different and allow the show to find its own identity.

We wanted five visions instead of one. It has been experimental, but it has worked.

She also believes the story will resonate strongly with Irish audiences.

READ MORE: 'It was time to say goodbye': Closure of Leitrim clothing store announced

There are so many references to Ireland in the 1960s  the music, the humour, the culture of the time. Its lovely for people to reminisce, but its also funny enough for younger audiences too.

The Mariettas comes to the Corn Mill Theatre, Carrigallen, on Sunday, May 3, as part of a wider tour.

Other dates include Drumavaddy Hall on May 2, Bog Lane Theatre on May 8, Gallonray House on May 9 and Ramor Arts Centre on September 11.

Galligan said she hopes local audiences will support live theatre.

If people come out, I think theyll laugh, they might cry, theyll sing along  and theyll leave better for it. Its bold, its experimental, and its full of heart, humour and nostalgia. Show begins at 8pm sharp, tickets 18
Leitrim was among the counties targeted by an organised burglary gang investigation that previously came before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court, as Gardai this week revealed fresh Operation Thor figures showing burglary crime continues to fall.

Earlier this year, a Co. Kildare man and two juveniles appeared before the local court as part of an investigation into alleged organised criminal activity across Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Roscommon and Cavan.

The case was cited as an example of how Gardai are targeting travelling burglary gangs believed to move between counties committing theft and burglary offences.

James Lynch (44), from Naas, Co. Kildare, faced charges including burglary, theft and participating in organised crime. Two juveniles also appeared before the court and were remanded in custody.

One juvenile was charged with two counts of burglary, three counts of theft, and one count of participating in organised criminal activity.

The second juvenile was charged with three counts of burglary, seven counts of theft, and one count of participating in organised criminal activity.

One of the incidents involved the theft of a safe containing approximately 10,000 from Dowra Mart in Sligo. And an attempted theft at Lissadell House was also referenced during proceedings.

Detective Sergeant Ray Mulderry told the court at the time Gardai believed an organised group had been active across the north-west since the beginning of the year.

He said Gardai treat such suspects as organised crime gangs and investigate and prosecute them accordingly.

The case comes as new Operation Thor figures show the Garda North-Western Region  which includes Leitrim  averaged just two residential burglaries per day during the latest winter phase of the anti-burglary operation.

Gardai say the campaign remains focused on disrupting organised gangs who travel into rural counties to target homes and businesses.

Nationally, residential burglaries fell by 14 per cent compared to the previous winter period, with just over 2,600 incidents reported.

Gardai said nearly 1,000 arrests were made for burglary and related offences during the operation, with close to 2,250 charges or summonses issued.

READ NEXT: Calls intensify for urgent care facility and injury unit at Leitrim hospital
Born Clothing has announced the closure of its Carrick on Shannon store as part of a wider company shut down across the country.

The Irish fashion brand is shutting down 15 stores nationwide, leading to the loss of over 100 job.

The company which was started in Galway in 2009 announced on Instagram that it would be closing their stores.

After 16 wonderful years in business, it was time to say goodbye.

We want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your support over the years  for shopping with us, supporting us, and being part of our journey.

READ MORE: Planning permission granted for community and tourism hub with accommodation in Leitrim

To our wonderful team thank you for being the heart and soul of our business. Your loyalty and dedication will always be appreciated.

Along side Carrick on Shannon, the company will close stores located in Galway, Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Laois, Tipperary Westmeath, Leitrim, Mayo and Kerry.

READ MORE: Former Taoiseach under fire - Leitrim Live readers have their say

The company also announced it would hold a closing-down sale in stores, with up to 70% off.

The High Court has appointed liquidators to allow trading to continue temporarily with the company having found itself millions in debt and owing 2.2 million to revenue.

The company, which at its height employed over 116 people nationwide, has indicated on its site that gift vouchers cannot be accepted due to liquidation.
A new project is being launched to document and record the holy wells of Leitrim. These sites, rich in heritage and cultural significance, have long been an important part of the Irish landscape.

Moreover, they are still places where long-held traditions continue to be practised, and where religious faith finds expression.

The project has been launched by Sarah Malone, Heritage Officer with Leitrim County Council. It will be conducted on behalf of the County Council by the heritage consultancy firm Archaeology Plan.

The project will survey and assess the holy wells sites of Leitrim, recording their features, and their current condition, as well as attempt to identify the location of any missing holy wells.

Furthermore, with the help of the volunteers, it will seek to gather local lore, history and traditions associated with these important heritage sites, and record it for posterity.

READ NEXT: GALLERY: Many families have lost 'loved ones to suicide' - Leitrim hill climb for mental health

At present, there are 44 holy wells recorded as archaeologically protected sites for County Leitrim.

It is believed, however, that there are more holy well sites in the county, some of which have slipped out of popular use but still merit recording.

Survey work and research will be carried out over the summer and autumn of this year, and it is planned to present findings in late October.

Also, as part of the survey, a holy well themed event, open to the public, will be held during Heritage Week in August.

Archaeology Plan and Sarah Malone are also looking for persons in Leitrim to volunteer to participate in this countywide survey. This will give the people of Leitrim a chance to contribute to the preservation and protection of their own local heritage.

READ NEXT: Planning permission granted for community and tourism hub with accommodation in Leitrim

Volunteers will be offered training in archive and online data collection, as well as in oral history collection, and will have the opportunity to contribute information to the survey.

Anyone wishing to be a volunteer, or to contribute to this project, is invited to contact Sarah Malone by email, at smalone@leitrimcoco.ie or Archaeology Plans liaison, John Cronin, at johnc@archaeologyplan.com.
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These informal financial flows, operating outside official systems, raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and potential corruption within the sector, Ireland warned. Photo Credit: Diamonds for Peace
I AM delighted to announce that I have been nominated in the category of Most Stylish Woman at the VIP Style Awards. The launch of the awards was simply fabulous. I'm sure the ceremony itself will be even more glamorous.

Nominated in my category is Tipperary woman Una Healy - who works as a presenter and sang in The Saturdays - and my good friend Maura Derrane from RTEs Today Show. Amy Huberman and Sinead Kennedy are up for the award too, and I feel simply honoured to be listed with such strong, graceful and powerful women.

READ MORE: The Fashionfest show will be a game-changer - My week with Celia Holman Lee

The launch took place in Dublins InterContinental Hotel, and I attended with the wonderful Limerick women, Louise Cooney and Aoife McNamara.

Louise is nominated for Look of the Year, and Aoife McNamara is up for Irish Designer of the Year. Both women would make excellent winners - as they are working at the top of their fields, and do everything they can for fashion in Limerick.

I am very lucky to have both women in my circles - and the loyalty, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of the ladies is truly something else to behold.

To everyones delight at the launch, Paudie Moloney, who has worked in Limerick Prison, and made huge waves on Dancing with the Stars, and The Traitors, has been nominated for most Stylish Newcomer of the Year.

The man is a class act, and a gent, and he deserves all the success that has come his way. The voting is open for the VIP Style Awards on VIP Magazines website - and I urge you to support Team Limerick.

There is no better feeling than showing your county pride, and I just know that the Limerick people will continue to make us proud on the national stage in May.

-Xx Celia
A TRUNK of money is to be spent on the entrance road to Curragh Chase Forest Park in west Limerick, as well as a number of other Coillte sites in the county.

A total of 3.13 million is being invested by Government in the maintenance of 224 Coillte recreational sites nationwide in 2026.

It includes an investment of 280,000 into the renewal of the entrance road to Curragh Chase. Money will also go towards the upkeep of Ballyhoura mountain bike trails, ongoing maintenance of Curragh Chase Forest Park and rail repairs and verge cutting at Foynes.

Galty Castle, Glenstal and Greenfield are also set to benefit with funds invested in their upkeep as well as trail repairs and verge cutting at Liskennet.

READ NEXT: 'A fairer Limerick for all': Students make logos for health equity region competition

TD for Limerick County and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Niall Collins, has welcomed the announcement from Minister Dara Calleary of details of 3.13 million funding that his department will provide in 2026 as part of its strategic partnership with Coillte.

Minister Collins said over the last five years, Government has provided funding of over 16 million to support and maintain Coilltes wonderful recreational forests and amenities around the country and in Limerick, which is very welcome.

This announcement is good news for many of these recreational amenities in Limerick. They are wonderful assets that both visitors and local communities themselves enjoy on a daily basis and they are a hugely important element of the outdoor recreation sector in Limerick, said Mr Collins.
WITH the 1926 Census now released to the public, a remarkable thread of living history runs through the life of 105-year-old Bridget Landers nee Hayes, who was five years old when the first census of the Irish Free State was conducted.

From meeting her husband at a dance hall to raising eight children, 105-year-old Bridget recalls a life rich in hard work and simple joys. Her memories form part of a living history she is now sharing with the National Archives as a Centenarian Ambassador.

Ballylanders woman Bridget met her late husband Paddy Landers at a dance in Ballylanders in 1947. I didnt see him again for 12 months after that, because he had broken his leg helping a neighbour with a cow that had broke out. I dont know, wasnt it funny? Was it meant to be or what?

The Limerick woman said they regularly went to dance halls and neighbours houses. Bridget and Paddy wed on November 25, 1949. In those days, there was only the one ring, wed no engagement rings, only a wedding ring, said Bridget.

READ MORE: Trunk of money to be spent on Coillte's forest amenities in Limerick

We got married in my own church, Glenbrohane, we were only five minutes from the church. Wed only the two families, we went off to Limerick after to Cruises Hotel. There was music and dancing. There was a man hired out for the day to drive us there..

Recalling a humorous anecdote, Bridget said: There was the time the sow ate the wheel of Paddys bicycle right before he was off to the dance! The sow was going around the yard, I dont know, was it pure devilment or what?

I only dreamt of that two nights ago, how we laughed when hed tell the story. He had to go and borrow a bike from Tom Lyons to go to the dance that night.

Bridget enjoyed a happy marriage and home life with Paddy and their eight children. She reminisced: It never came to me to complain, that I had to work hard, with eight of them around me.

We were as happy as the days were long, we all helped each other, and Paddy was great with them.

Bridget explained that everyone had big families years ago. There was so much visiting, story-telling, dancing. We were so busy ploughing, sowing the vegetables, picking the spuds, milking the cows by hand, fattening pigs, all to be eaten at home.

I cant understand how now, and it a hundred years later, that theres cabbage in the shops coming in from Spain!
A HOUSEHOLD name when it comes to music promotion and events in Limerick and in the wider Mid-West region - Dolans is synonymous with talent.

Dolans Pub and Restaurant have now been recognised by IMRO as the Live Music Venue of the Year in Munster.

They were announced as the regional winner at the IMRO awards in The Guinness Storehouse yesterday evening, April 21.

The awards recognise the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who ensure that Irelands live music scene continues to go from strength to strength.

With Tom Dunne and Rachel Mae Hannon on hosting duties, the night included live performances from Dave Lofts, Ahmed With Love, BABYRAT, Scullion and DJ Maria Lawlor.

The IMRO Live Music Awards champion the venues and teams that support live music at every level and make gigs possible, on stages big and small, in every part of the country. They recognise the huge cultural and economic impact of live music across Ireland.

READ ALSO: New support network and Limerick workshop for parents and families to help them cope with ADHD

Winners were decided by an IMRO member vote, following submissions nationwide.

The overall winner was decided by public vote in partnership with Hot Press.

Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO, said: We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of this years winners.

Live music is at the heart of Irelands cultural identity and it is sustained by the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all possible.

It is a privilege for IMRO to host these awards and recognise the people and places whose dedication, passion and expertise continue to drive Irelands live music scene forward.

He added: We would like to thank the Guinness Storehouse for its generous support in hosting this years awards. As one of Irelands most iconic cultural venues, its ongoing commitment to music and live experiences plays an important role in the wider creative community.

We are also delighted to have Hot Press, The Louise Duffy Show on RTE Radio 1 and Audoo as partners and we are very grateful for their continued support of live music.
COUNCILLORS have again delayed making a decision on whether meetings should be streamed and available for download.

It comes despite one member, Cllr Elisa O'Donovan saying she believes meetings of Limerick's local authority could be a "ratings hit" online.

The full March council meeting was abandoned after a clash between priomh-chomhairleoir Catherine Slattery and Mayor John Moran last month.

READ MORE: Support six local charities step by step during historic seven bridges walk in Limerick

It resumed on Monday, with a motion from Mayor Moran calling for the recording, storage and archiving of meetings to be made available.

Councillors wanted the motion amended to cover the recording of every single meeting linked to Limerick council.

This would include meetings of Limerick Twenty Thirty, and the mayoral implementation committee.

Members had sought information on the additional cost of this at the last meeting, but local authority officials were unable to provide this.

READ MORE: Details confirmed for public sale of tickets for Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick

As a result of this, a call was made for the discussion to be adjourned until these figures were available.

On Monday, Fianna Fail council leader Michael Collins said: We are broadly in favour of the recording of our meetings. The mayor used the words in the interests of transparency. We support transparency as well. In the interests of transparency, I proposed an amendment that all statutory meetings be included in this.

He said it is unfair to expect members to decide without the full costs available.

To decide on this wholly, we need a proper value on everything, Cllr Collins said.

Deputy council director general Joe Delaney said the additional filming would incur a significant extra cost.

But it wont be double the cost we initially gave which was up to 40,000, he said, in reference to the sum of just streaming the full monthly meetings.

Mayor Moran said in the absence of the costings for the recording of every meeting, his original motion should just proceed.

This would mean only full council meetings would be archived. It has to be all or nothing, said Cllr Collins, however.

Two councillors, Frankie Daly, Independent and Stephen Keary, Fine Gael, said the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Fine Gael council leader John Sheahan claimed the numbers who actually do watch back the meetings in other authorities across the country is minimal.

READ MORE: Lilly Limerick: Expanding Irelands role in Global Medicine Manufacturing

The discussion was adjourned, and a special council meeting will take place in the coming weeks to make a final decision on streaming.

Mayor Moran has said he wants streaming to be ready for the May full council meeting.
Ayaan Kartik

Ayaan Kartik is a Delhi-based journalist tracking the ever-growing world of automobiles and their components. With an experience of five years ranging from short-form news at Inshorts to longform journalism at Outlook Business magazine, he has dabbled into different storytelling formats. At Mint, he tries to regularly mix story styles, from longforms to crisp news stories. He has completed his graduation from Delhi University where he developed a liking for reading and writing about the world we live in today. Apart from automobiles, Ayaan likes to read up on geopolitics which has increasingly affected various sectors of the economy. Of all the promises journalism holds, he likes the fact that it allows a person to simply explain to readers about what is happening in the world. And what better sector than automobiles, which everyone since growing up has seen and felt connected to. Whether it is China's increasing grip on automobiles to growing affection for EVs in the country, Ayaan likes to connect his love for geopolitics and data to his stories as readers become more demanding on the types of stories they want.
* Musk adopts more cautious tone on robotaxi rollout, citing safety and technical issues

* Analysts note delays and slower-than-expected progress for Tesla's autonomous vehicle ambitions

* Most analysts signal patience, as Tesla says safety is top concern

By Chris Kirkham and Abhirup Roy

LOS ANGELES, - The rollout of Teslas fledgling robotaxi business is going more slowly than expected, several Wall Street analysts said, following an uncharacteristically downbeat update from CEO Elon Musk.

Musk over the past year has outlined an aggressive expansion plan for Teslas autonomous ride-hailing operation. During Teslas first-quarter earnings call Wednesday, he struck a more cautious tone.

Musk told investors he hoped to have robotaxis and driverless vehicles in a dozen or so states by the end of the year, and said the company is taking a cautious approach to avoid injuries or fatalities. He offered no new details about a robotaxi expansion to Dallas and Houston that Tesla announced on social media last weekend.

That was a change from last July, shortly after Tesla launched a small-scale pilot robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, when the CEO said robotaxis would be available to half the population of the U.S. by the end of the year and increase at a hyper-exponential rate.

MUSK HAS MISSED PAST SELF-DRIVING TARGETS

Analysts said Tesla is likely contending with the difficult ground game of launching self-driving vehicles at scale  problems that competitors such as Alphabets Waymo have been navigating for years as they test the technology across the country. Much of Teslas $1.5 trillion market value is tied to investors belief that it will soon operate a vast fleet of robotaxis and sell millions of autonomous-driving software subscriptions.

William Blair analysts described Wednesdays earnings call as low energy and said Musk struck an unfamiliar tonereserved and cautiousabout his usual favorite subjects.

The robotaxi rollout has been far slower than expected, they wrote.

Musk has a long history of unfulfilled promises around self-driving vehicles stretching back a decade. In January 2025, he acknowledged being known as the boy who cried wolf on driverless technology, before adding: There's a damn wolf this time, and you can drive it.

It was clear from Wednesdays call that the expected timelines around a large-scale robotaxi expansion are getting pushed back.

During an April 2025 earnings call, Musk said robotaxis would become material to Teslas bottom line by the middle of next year. On Wednesday, he said robotaxis would likely not be super material this year, but will be material probably in a significant way next year. Tesla plans to build its robotaxi business around the Cybercab, a two-seater vehicle designed to be fully autonomous, without a steering wheel or pedals. Musk said Wednesday that Tesla had begun Cybercab production, but reiterated that initial production will be very slow. He said exponential growth of Cybercab would happen towards the end of the year and certainly next year, adding that it eventually would account for "most of our production long term."

Musk also got into the nitty-gritty challenges of rolling out driverless technology at scale. On last Aprils call, he said he was confident there would be millions of Teslas operating autonomously in the second half of 2026. This time, he said it didnt make sense to deploy the technology widely ahead of a forthcoming software update that will improve safety.

The limiting factor for expansion is really rigorous validation, making sure things are completely safe," Musk said.

ANALYSTS PARSE TESLA'S LATEST TIMELINES

Some analysts took the delays in stride.

Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said he believes Tesla is being cautious because "the stakes are very high." "They don't want to risk an incident because they weren't extremely safe and weren't 100% confident," he said.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley, who have been bullish about Teslas self-driving ambitions, wrote after Wednesdays call that robotaxi is progressing slower than investor expectations, limiting the near-term upside to Teslas stock price.

Tesla shares were down more than 3% in afternoon trading Thursday.

Barclays analysts noted Tesla still has only a nominal number of driverless vehicles and that investors are awaiting a more significant increase.

Garrett Nelson, an analyst at CFRA Research, said he believes investors will continue to give Musk a pass if he misses some of the lofty robotaxi expansion targets, as long as the company demonstrates in a few markets that the business is "scalable."

"People who have been following the story for years know that things happen on Elon time," Nelson said.
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.
Jessica Jani

Jessica has been tracking the pharmaceutical, life sciences and healthcare sector for Mint since November 2024. Based in the country's financial capital, she reports on everything to do with health and medicines. This includes corporate action, patent wars, deals, startup activity and consumer trends. She also keeps a keen eye on the ever-evolving world wellness and preventive health, which moves faster than regulation can keep up. She has a deep interest in what the future of health looks like and how science, innovation, policy and company decisions inform and impact the health of citizens. She has been a reporter for five years, working with publications like The Core and News18 prior to this, covering various sectors like automobiles, real estate, energy, sustainability and urban mobility. Jessica has a bachelors degree in English from St Xaviers College, Mumbai and a postgraduate diploma in media from Sophias College, Mumbai. Her work is driven by a desire to decode how macro decisions and events alter and shape the lives of ordinary people. Drop her a mail or a message to discuss business scoops, exciting new medicines and inventions, or your latest wellness routine.
Devina is a journalist and editor who covers workplaces, human resources, education and the consulting sector for Mint. Her reporting focuses on how work is evolving in India, from shifting corporate practices and labour policies to the rise of new career paths in the digital and creator economy.<br><br>She also writes the opinion column Pen Drive, where she offers sharp, accessible insights on workplace culture, leadership, and the broader social impact of economic change. Alongside this, she produces longform stories that explore the human side of work, highlighting real experiences, emerging trends, and underreported voices shaping the future of employment.<br><br>In her editorial role, Devina leads a team covering workplace issues, legal developments, telecom and the fast-growing creator ecosystem. She also hosts The Working Life, a podcast on HR trends in corporate India. Through conversations with industry leaders and experts, she examines topics such as talent management, workplace innovation, and career growth in a rapidly changing professional landscape.

Sneha Shah

Sneha Shah is the editor for deals and startups at Mint. Starting off her career in Indias financial capital as a cub reporter for the Mid-day newspaper in the mid-2000s, she later moved on to decode balance sheets and follow the money trail for some of the leading pink publications in the country. She has been covering Indias deals ecosystem for nearly two decades now, closely tracking private- and public-market funding, startups, private equity, venture capital, and investment banking. From breaking some of the biggest deal stories of the past to doing some incisive deep-dives into the latest trends and turnarounds in the industry, she has witnessed the phenomenal growth and transformation of the countrys investment ecosystem from really close quarters. A graduate in journalism, she has worked with The Economic Times, Financial Chronicle, VCCircle and Mid-Day before starting her second stint at Mint in 2022. As a keen observer of Indias startups ecosystem, she aspires to write a book some day, chronicling some of the most inspiring stories the industry has seen so far in its remarkable journey.
Global oil prices traded marginally higher on Thursday morning as a stalemate over the next round of peace talks between the US and Iran persisted, with both countries continuing their respective blockades of the Strait of Hormuz.

At 7:40 am, the June contract of Brent on the Intercontinental Exchange traded at $102.40 per barrel, up 0.48% from its previous close. The May contract of West Texas Intermediate on the NYMEX rose 0.59% to $93.51 a barrel.

With the Strait of Hormuz shut for over 50 days, nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies remain disrupted. Even a modest rise in crude prices threatens to inflate Indias import bill and strain its economy.

Ceasefire, but blockade Although US president Donald Trump said the ceasefire would continue until the leaders of the concerned countries came up with a unified proposal, he did not remove the naval blockade on Iran. In these lines, the US Navy continued to force vessels to return to their ports.

A tweet by the US Central Command on Thursday morning said:

U.S. forces have directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the U.S. blockade against Iran.

Further, Iran said that blockading ports is a violation of the ceasefire and it would not reopen the strait amid such "ceasefire violations".

Also Read | US Navy Secretary John C Phelan exits Trump administration amid Iran war

In a tweet on Wednesday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said:

A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world's economy, and if the Zionist warmongering across all fronts is halted; reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.

"They did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying. The only way forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian nation," he said.

Although Pakistan has been making efforts and hoped for another round of peace talks this week after the last round failed, both the US and Iran have not committed to fresh talks.

Indias exposure The strait is a critical energy artery for India, traditionally accounting for about 60% of its crude oil imports, nearly 50% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and 90% of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports.

Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 18 April 2026 carrying 31 Indian seafarers, arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday.

For India, which imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirement, supply disruptions and price volatility carry significant macroeconomic implications. A $1 per barrel increase in oil prices sustained over a year can raise Indias annual import bill by 16,000 crore.

Also Read | Air war in Iran gives way to crippling stalemate in Hormuz

The government has maintained that retail fuel outlets across the country are operating normally.

The Indian basket price of crude stood at $102.46 per barrel as of 21 April. Its average price so far in April is $115.8 per barrel.
Karnataka SSLC Result 2026: The Karnataka School Examination & Assessment Board (KSEAB) said it will declare the Karnataka SSLC Result 2026 today, 23 April, at 12 PM.

KSEAB students would be able to access their SSLC Result 2026 Karnataka by logging into the official website  karresults.nic.in.

The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams were held between 18 March and 2 April. This year, a total of 9,02,889 students registered for SSLC exams, including 8,12,855 fresh candidates, 62,845 repeaters, and 27,189 private candidates.

Students must score at least 35% marks in each subject to pass the SSLC Karnataka Result 2026.

Also Read | KSEAB Karnataka 2nd PUC result 2026 Highlights: Girls outshine boys

Karnataka SSLC Result 2026: Official websites karresults.nic.in

kseab.karnataka.gov.in Karnataka SSLC Result 2026: Step-by-step guide to download marks memo Students can check and download the Karnataka 10th result 2026 by following the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official website at karresults.nic.in

Step 2: Click Karnataka SSLC Result 2026 link

Step 3: Enter registration number and date of birth

Step 4: Click on submit button

Step 5: Karnataka SSLC marks memo will appear on the screen

Step 6: Download and save Karnataka SSLC Result 2026, take a printout for future reference.

Alternative ways to check the KSEAB 10th marksheet 2026 In the event of severe network latency or website crashes, the KSEAB provisions an SMS-based retrieval system and other alternative websites for students to access their marksheets digitally.

SMS

DigiLocker

KarnatakaOne app How to check Karnataka SSLC Result 2026 using SMS Step 1: Open the messaging app on your phone.

Step 2: Type: KSEEB10 (Registration Number)

Step 3: Send it to 56263.

Step 4: The education board will directly send the result to the same mobile number.

Steps to download marksheet via DigiLocker Step 1: Open the DigiLocker app on your smartphone or visit digilocker.gov.in.

Step 2: Log in using your registered mobile number/Aadhaar number and your 6-digit security PIN. If you're a new user, you'll need to create an account first.

Step 3: Go to the "Search" tab or the "Education" section.

Step 4: Search for "Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board" (KSEAB).

Step 5: Select "Class 10 Marksheet" (or SSLC Marksheet).

Step 6: Select the year 2026 and enter your Registration Number and Date of Birth (as printed on your hall ticket).

Step 7: Click "Get Document". Your marksheet will be fetched and saved in the "Issued Documents" section for permanent access.

How to download via KarnatakaOne App The KarnatakaOne app is a government portal that offers various G2C (Government to Citizen) services, including result downloads:

Step 1: Download and install the KarnatakaOne app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Step 2: Open the app and register or sign in using your mobile number.

Step 3: Look for the "Education" or "KSEAB Results" service on the home dashboard. On the result day, a direct "SSLC Result 2026" link is typically featured prominently.

Step 4: Click on the link for "SSLC Examination-1 Result 2026".

Step 5: Enter your Registration Number and Date of Birth.

Step 6: Your digital mark card will appear on the screen.
West Bengal Election 2026 Highlights: A voter turnout of more than 90 per cent was recorded across 16 districts of West Bengal, which went to polls in the first phase on Thursday, April 23. Voting is underway across 152 seats of West Bengal in the first phase of state elections today. Voting began at 7 am and concluded at 6 pm.

At least 62 per cent voter turnout was recorded across 152 seats of West Bengal till 1 pm, the Election Commission of India said. As many as 3.22 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the first phase today.

The TMC and AJUP workers clashed with each other after a blast injured several people in Nowda of Murshidabad district earlier in the morning on poll day.

PM Modi addresses rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a poll rally in Nadia district, where voting will be held in the second phase on 29 April, as voting was underway in other regions of West Bengal in the first phase on Thursday.

Counting of votes for both phases will be held on 4 May, the day the results of the Assam, Kerala and Puducherry assembly polls will also be declared.

Bipolar fight in West Bengal

In West Bengal, the contest is largely bipolar between the ruling TMC and the resurgent BJP. Led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the TMC has been in power in the state since 2011, while the BJP emerged as its main challenger after winning 77 seats in the 2021 assembly elections. The Congress is largely out of the race in the state and is contesting alone after breaking its alliance with the Left Front in February.

Prominent TMC leaders in the fray on Thursday include Goutam Deb from Siliguri, Udayan Guha from Dinhata, Firhad Hakim from Kolkata Port area, and Pabitra Kar from Nandigram.

Key BJP faces in the first phase also include Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram, Union Minister Nisith Pramanik from Mathabhanga (SC) and former state president Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur Sadar.

What happened in 2021?

In the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, the incumbent Trinamool Congress won by a landslide, taking over 200 seats, despite opinion polls generally predicting a close race against the BJP, which became the official opposition with 77 seats.

Follow Live updates here:
Samserganj, Murshidabad: Mobarak Hossain is a ward member in Chachanda gram panchayat under the Samserganj Assembly constituency in Murshidabad, nearly 280 kilometres north of Kolkata, along the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi river near the India-Bangladesh border.

In the days leading up to an Assembly election, Hossain, 50, would typically be immersed in campaigning across his ancestral village. But on the afternoon of 17 April, five days before the assembly polls, the scene is strikingly different. Seated inside his ceramic tile shop, Hossain watches as his staff handles a customer purchasing tiles in bulk.

Hossain is engaged in an entirely different task today. Surrounded by a small group of people, he is examining a stack of documents  both physical and digital. Hossains attention was fixed not on the election trail, but on paperwork that, for now, seemed to matter far more to him and lakhs of deleted voters like him in West Bengal ahead of the polls.

People would celebrate elections in Samserganj and Murshidabad like Eid. But today, as you see, there are no loudspeakers, no campaign in our village. Most of the people here are fighting a battle to somehow get their names in the voter list, says Hossain, whose name has been deleted from the voter list along with over 90 lakhs across West Bengal during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India.

Samserganj worst-affected seat in SIR deletions District-wise data released by the Election Commission last month showed that Murshidabad recorded the highest number of deletions across poll-bound West Bengal, with a total of 4,55,137 names removed. Samserganj, where 74,775 names have been deleted, is the worst-affected of the 22 assembly seats of Murshidabad.

A walk through the lanes and bylanes of Samserganj reveals that almost every household has a voter who has been deleted. Hossains family is one of them, though he is the only member affected.

View full Image View full Image Mobarak Hossain, whose name was deleted from the voter list along with over 90 lakh voters across West Bengal during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India. ( Gulam Jeelani )

West Bengal votes in two phases. All 22 districts of Murshidabad and 12 seats in adjoining Malda  both districts with a considerable Muslim population  are voting today. The second phase on 29 April. Results would be declared on 4 May.

32 per cent deletions The ward number 200 in Chachanda gram panchayat of Samserganj, which Hossain represents, has seen 715 voters deleted from the 1416 names before SIR began.

Overall, the Samserganj seat saw 32 per cent deletions compared to the pre-adjudication voter list. At least 200 of 247 booths in Samserganj have deletion rates higher than the state average, according to analyses of EC data by various independent organisations.

Booth no 106 is the worst-affected booth in Samserganj with over 60 per cent deletion in its 1,361 pre-SIR votes, according to Samiul Islam, who teaches at a government high school after studying political science at Jadavpur University in Kolkata.

Here, nobody is asking who will win. The only query is who made it to the voter list, Islam told this reporter at Basudebpur village.

91 Lakh voters deleted in West Bengal Overall, 91 lakh names have been deleted from West Bengal's voter list since the SIR began. The state's voters have shrunk almost 12 per cent, from 7.66 crore electors in October 2025 to 6.75 crore now. West Bengal had 7.34 crore eligible voters in the 2021 assembly elections.

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 told news agency PTI on 18 April. The commission, however, did not specify how many among these new entrants are first-time voters who have just turned 18, nor has it given a detailed gender breakdown of these voters.

The Election Commission conducted the SIR in 13 states and Union Territories. In West Bengal, however, it's different with the introduction of adjudication and logical discrepancies.

A deleted voter must apply to have their name included on the list within 15 days of rejection. Offline appeals are submitted at the DEO office, which forwards them to the tribunals for hearing. On 17 April, the Supreme Court ruled that individuals cleared by appellate tribunals can vote in the upcoming polls. The court directed the ECI to issue supplementary rolls with cut-off dates of 21 April and 27 April for the two polling phases.

But on the ground, the delayed establishment of these tribunals for lakhs of cases makes it virtually impossible for voters of Samserganj to get their names added to the voter list.

Fate hangs in the balance Miles away from Chachanda village, Md Alauddin also sits with a group of people struggling to find their names in the voter list ahead of the 23 April poll day. Alauddin, who contested the 2021 assembly polls from Samserganj seat as a candidate of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), said his name, along with seven others from his 9-member family, still remains in the under adjudication category.

I have been calling BLO. Even he doesnt know how to deal with this case. Our voting rights hang in the balance, Allaudin tells this reporter.

View full Image View full Image Md Alauddin, who contested the 2021 assembly polls from Samserganj seat as a candidate of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), said his name, along with seven others from his 9-member family, still remains in the under adjudication category. ( Gulam Jeelani )

There are some families where all names have been struck from the rolls. The family of Tariq-ul-Alam is one of them. In a copy of the letter submitted to their local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), the reason for Alams adjudication status is that he is linked with someone, who is claimed by 6 others as parent.

We are five brothers. One of the brothers is married. Names of all brothers, the sister-in-law and our father have been put in theadjudication category and we do not know how to deal with this, says Alam, who lives in Tinpakuriya village of Samserganj.

Biggest question on the minds  what next? As voting day nears, the fear in Samserganj and other adjoining seats in Murshidabad is certainly not just about losing a vote. Most of those whose names have been deleted fear the worst is yet to come  a question on their citizenship.

"Our greatest fear is the BJPs detect, delete and deport warning. Who knows, next we could be sent to detention camps or told to go to Bangladesh, says Hossain, sipping tea from a mud cup at his shop in Chachanda village.

View full Image View full Image In a copy of the letter submitted to their local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), the reason for many voters adjudication status is that they are linked with someone, who is claimed by 6 others as parent.

All political parties in West Bengal, except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have opposed the SIR. The EC has called it an exercise to clean up the voter list. The BJP, on its part, insists that the process was a drive to sanitise the electoral rolls and remove illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh and the Rohingyas.

"For years, the TMC protected fake voters because they wanted votes, not verification. Genuine citizens have nothing to fear. But those who entered illegally and remained on the rolls through political patronage cannot stay forever," Samserganj BJP leader Shashi Charan Ghosh, who contested the 2021 assembly polls, told news agency PTI.

Abnormal Growth in voters The BJP has been arguing that the abnormal growth in the voter list was fuelled by illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Between 2011 and 2016, more than 41,000 voters were added in Samserganj. Between 2016 and 2021, another 41,000 were added, according to news agency PTI.

Murshidabad Member of Parliament (MP) Abu Taher Khan, however, accused the BJP of implementing NRC through the back door.

"This is political targeting. Look at the names disappearing -- from Muslim villages, poor people, women and migrant families whose sons work outside Bengal. The BJP knows it cannot defeat us politically in Murshidabad, so it wants to delete voters before the election itself," Khan, TMC leader, told PTI, alleging that the deletions were concentrated in areas where the TMC had secured massive leads in 2021.

Experts said in many seats of Murshidabad, a swing of even 10,000 to 15,000 votes can alter the poll outcome. In Samserganj alone, the number of deleted names (74,775) is nearly three times the margin of victory in the last assembly election.

Samsergang has been a TMC seat since 2016. Amirul Islam, the sitting TMC MLA, won with a margin of about 26,000 votes, defeating Congress party's Ziadur Rahman in the 2021 assembly polls. By the way, Anwara Begam, wife of Islam, has also been deleted from the voter list, according to locals.

This year, TMC has fielded Noor Alam, while the BJP has fielded Shashi Charan Ghosh from here. Nazme Alam is a Congress candidate from here.

Our names are etched in its records Its not just about a vote. Choosing not to vote is one thing. But removing your name from the list is another. It is like you chose to fast, but that doesnt mean you are allowed to die with hunger, Sabir Ahamed, founder of SABAR Institute, a research organisation that has been analysing SIR numbers, tells Mint in Kolkata.

Our votes have been counted for decades. The soil itself bears witness that we belong here.

Back in Samsergaj, unlike in the past, this election is not just about who wins or loses. It is more about identity and protecting the basic democratic right.

Our forefathers lived and died on this land. Our names are etched in its records - land, passports, etc. Our votes have been counted for decades. The soil itself bears witness that we belong here," Hossain tells this reporter, days before the 23 April poll day in Murshidabad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to "enthusiastically" take part in the voting for the Assembly elections in their states. Modi especially urged the youth and women of the two states to vote in record numbers.

Polling has started at all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu while voting began for 152 assembly seats, out of the 294, in West Bengal this morning.

Tamil Nadu "As Tamil Nadu votes in the Assembly elections, I call upon all voters to take part enthusiastically in this sacred duty of democracy. I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers," Modi said in a post on X.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

Bengal The prime minister, in another post, said, "Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today. I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength. I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers".

West Bengal is set to witness a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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.

In West Bengal, the parties are contesting against one another for 294 Assembly seats. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats. There are a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray in this phase.

The second phase of polling in West Bengal will be held on April 29.
Ai+ smartphones has officially announced the expansion of its product ecosystem with the launch of two new smartphone modelsthe Nova 2 and Nova 2 Ultra which will be available on Flipkart. Arriving eight months after the brands foray into the Indian market, the new Make in India devices aim to capitalise on the companys momentum of selling over one million units.

Madhav Sheth, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ai+, noted that the brands strategy remains focused on clear segmentation and pricing transparency. In the last 8 months, we only launched two products...clear segmentation, no complexity, Sheth said.

The new line-up, to be available on Flipkart, is designed to serve as the anchor for a broader connected ecosystem that now includes tablets and wearables. The company is positioning the Nova series as fashion-forward tech, integrating identity and personal expression into high-performance hardware.

This launch aligns with the broader industrial target mentioned by India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo, who cited a $500 billion manufacturing goal for 2031, with mobile phones accounting for 45 per cent of that target.

Nova 2: The showstopper

The Nova 2 is aimed at the high-volume 5G segment, priced starting at just 8,999. It is powered by the Unisoc 8200 chipset and features a 6,000 mAh battery, a significant step up from the previous generations 5,000 mAh unit. The device includes a 50 MP rear camera and an upgraded 8 MP selfie shooter. Sheth said that the brands mission is rooted in democratisation, making high-end specs available to those who previously found them inaccessible.

The Nova 2 features a 6.74-inch HD+ LCD display with an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate, offering fluid visuals and seamless scrolling. The build is refined with IP64 resistance and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. For connectivity, it supports dual-mode 5G (SA/NSA) with full band support, a crucial factor for a market in the midst of a rapid 5G rollout.

View full Image View full Image Nova 2 Ultra offers a fashion-forward tech experience. ( Flipkart )

Nova 2 Ultra: Hardware innovation

The Nova 2 Ultra, priced at 14,999 (inclusive of a 2,000 exchange offer), introduces significant hardware innovations. A key differentiator is the inclusion of a separate dedicated chip to manage the rear RGB lighting system. This ensures that the customisable smart alerts in RGB lights, which respond to calls, messages, and music, operate independently of the main processor, reducing system strain and improving responsiveness.

On the technical side, the Ultra model is equipped with a MediaTek 7400 4nm chipset, a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and a 50 MP Sony IMX752 primary sensor with OIS. It also features a 13 MP front camera and 33W fast charging for its 6,000 mAh battery. For gamers and power users, the device includes a Vapor Chamber (VC) cooling system and customisable actionable buttons. Archi Gogoi, Official Spokesperson, noted that the device is not just a tool, its a part of your identity.

Data sovereignty and localised infrastructure

A critical component of the Ai+ value proposition is its focus on data security. Govind Janardhanan, Senior Director, detailed the brands sovereign architecture. By using an on-device APK for encryption and hosting data on Mumbai and Delhi-based Google Cloud servers, Ai+ ensures that user data stays within Indian borders. This India-first philosophy is a central pillar of the Next Quantum OS, which also features the NxtHalo App, a revolutionary interface designed to reduce screen time by up to 20 per cent through expressive back-panel notifications.

The OS also integrates Google Gemini and a predictive privacy engine. This allows the device to anticipate access flags and suggest preventive actions, moving the smartphone experience from being app-driven to system-driven. Janardhanan explained that the Next Quantum OS is built to reduce friction and noise, saying less tapping, more doing.

Flipkart distribution and brand scaling

Kanchan Mishra, Vice President at Flipkart Mobiles, spoke about the importance of trust and distribution in the smartphone sector. Flipkart is looking forward to further deepening this collaboration...as Indias homegrown e-commerce ecosystem, Mishra said. By making these tools of tomorrow available within consumer budgets, Ai+ and Flipkart aim to scale the brands footprint significantly.

The launch is bolstered by high-profile marketing associations with the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders for the ongoing IPL 2026. With Ishan Kishan as the face of the brand, Ai+ is positioning itself as a fearless and grounded player in the competitive Indian market. Both the Nova 2 and Nova 2 Ultra will be available on Flipkart, marking a new chapter in the brands mission to provide accessible excellence to every Indian consumer.

Click here for more information on Ai+ Nova 2 5G.

Click here for more information on Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G.
As outlined in recent Binance Research, the industry is shifting away from retail-centric speculation toward a "Risk Reboot" phase characterised by purpose-driven adoption and institutional-grade participation. At the centre of this transition is the functional reclassification of major platforms. While the market initially categorised these entities as simple exchanges, the scale of current operations suggests a shift toward becoming foundational financial infrastructurethe underlying "rails" that support global liquidity, settlement, and secure storage.

Binance, which recently surpassed 300 million registered users, serves as a primary case study for this industrialisation. This evolution is a response to a market that increasingly demands infrastructure designed for institutional participation, where the depth of liquidity and the compliance frameworks play an important role in how platforms are evaluated.

The Liquidity Flywheel and Price Discovery In institutional finance, infrastructure is defined by its ability to facilitate price discovery and provide deep liquidity under periods of systemic stress. A "liquidity flywheel" effect has concentrated volume where execution remains most reliable.

According to company data, Binance recorded $34 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, contributing to a cumulative all-time volume of $145 trillion. At this magnitude, the infrastructure supports 490 spot assets and 1,889 spot trading pairs. This scale is a critical functional requirement for the industry, as deep order books may support the execution of large-scale institutional trades, though factors such as slippage can still vary depending on market conditions. By acting as the central trading hub, the platform provides the infrastructure through which capital flows, aiming to support liquidity in the crypto economy, including during periods of volatility.

Technical Velocity: The On-Chain Settlement Layer The utility of decentralised rails is increasingly measured by economic relevance rather than raw usage metrics. A significant development highlighted in the 2025 End-of-Year Report was the scaling of stablecoins as a legitimate settlement layer. Annual stablecoin transaction volumes were reported to have reached $33 trillion.

The BNB Chain is described as a high-velocity component of this settlement infrastructure. While the network holds approximately 5% of the global stablecoin supply, it processes nearly 40% of all stablecoin transactions and represents 25% of active stablecoin wallets globally. This suggests that the infrastructure is being utilised for high-frequency value transfer and "PayFi" applications rather than passive holding. Furthermore, the integration of Real-World Assets (RWAs) reached a total value locked (TVL) of $17 billion in 2025, signaling that on-chain finance is increasingly merging with yield-bearing, real-world instruments.

Regulated Access and Asset Safeguarding For professional market participants, infrastructure must provide operational certainty through the formal separation of core functions. The transition of institutional participation from experimental pilots to operational workflows is reflected in the 21% year-over-year growth in institutional trading volume on the platform.

A landmark achievement in this area was the securing of full regulatory authorisation from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Effective early 2026, the platforms operations under this framework are functionally divided among three specialised entities:

Nest Exchange Limited: Functions as a Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE) for spot and derivatives.

Nest Clearing and Custody Limited: Operates as a Recognised Clearing House (RCH) responsible for settlement and asset safeguarding.

Nest Trading Limited: Operates as a licensed Broker-Dealer for OTC activities. As Richard Teng, Co-CEO of Binance, puts it, The ADGM license crowns years of work to meet some of the worlds most demanding regulatory standards, and arriving within days of the moment we crossed 300 million registered users shows that scale and trust need not be in tension.

Risk Management Protocols

A foundational requirement of global financial infrastructure is the ability to maintain a "vigilant hawk-eye system" against financial crime and technical failure. In 2025, internal risk management systems, according to company estimates, helped identify and mitigate approximately an estimated $6.69 trillion in potential fraud and scam losses for 5.4 million users. Since 2023, the platform has recorded a 96% reduction in direct exposure to major illicit fund categories.

Resilience is further supported by the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU), an emergency reserve maintained at $1 billion. Transparency is ensured through a Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) system, which, as of early 2026, verified $162.8 billion in user balances across 45 different assets. This system provides a cryptographic verification that user funds are backed 1:1, a system designed to provide transparency into asset holdings, though users should independently assess associated risks.

Local Rails and Global Payments Beyond institutional trading, the 2025 data shows that crypto adoption depends on whether users can move value easily into the traditional economy. In 2025, Fiat and P2P volume grew by 38%, while Binance Pay users grew by 30% year-over-year. The merchant network for these payment rails expanded to over 20 million merchants, indicating that digital assets are increasingly being explored for use in everyday retail transactions.

This "PayFi" stackthe intersection of programmable money and traditional financeis identified as a core theme for 2026. By maintaining over 100 fiat ramps and supporting 800+ payment methods, the infrastructure reduces the friction between local financial systems and global digital assets. This accessibility is essential for the "industrialisation" of the space, as it is intended to facilitate cross-border movement of capital, though usability may vary depending on regulatory and market conditions.

Compliance as a Competitive Advantage In an environment of increasing regulatory scrutiny, compliance has become an increasingly important factor in how platforms operate and are assessed. Binance now holds regulatory approvals in 20 jurisdictions and employs a dedicated team of over 1,500 compliance professionals.

In 2025, the organisation invested $213 million into its compliance programmea 35% increase from the previous year. These investments cover critical areas such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) systems, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols, and AI-driven surveillance. As Co-CEO Yi He stated in an official leadership address: "Together, we bring diverse perspectives and are confident in leading the future of the industry during this pivotal time, as we responsibly expand our global presence and drive sustainable innovation with our users always at the centre."

Strategic Outlook for 2026: The Application Layer According to the 2026 Outlook from Binance Research, the next phase of the digital economy will be defined by "adoption-led growth." As blockspace becomes more affordable and regulatory frameworks (such as the GENIUS Act) gain clarity, the focus will shift toward the application layer.

Key technical drivers for 2026 include:

The Convergence of AI and Blockchain: Utilising AI to enhance risk management and automate compliance workflows.

Tokenisation of RWAs: Moving beyond pilot programmes to integrate diverse global asset classes on-chain.

Modular Infrastructure: Enabling regulated firms to offer digital assets using white-label "Crypto-as-a-Service" rails without building from scratch. By providing the liquid, secure, and regulated "rails" required for these applications, Binance has positioned its ecosystem as part of the infrastructure supporting the next phase of the global digital economy.

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance is not liable for any losses you may incur. This article does not constitute financial advice. VDA products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky; there may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. For more information, see the Terms of Use and Risk Warning.

Note to the Reader: Readers are advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and involve significant risks. There may be no regulatory recourse for losses arising from such transactions.
The commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2026 has been accompanied by a targeted outreach from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has framed the annual pilgrimage as both a spiritual journey and an opportunity to promote sustainability, local economies and responsible tourism.

In a message issued on the opening of Kedarnath Dham, the Prime Minister described the yatra as a divine celebration and urged pilgrims to adopt five key behavioural commitments. In a post on X, he said, "Today, on the sacred land of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham have been opened for all of us devotees with full rites and rituals. This journey to Kedarnath Dham and the Chardham is a divine celebration of our faith, unity, and rich traditions. Through these journeys, we also get glimpses of India's eternal culture."

The Prime Ministers message placed significant emphasis on the broader ecosystem surrounding the pilgrimage. Furthermore, his call for a digital fast encouraged travellers and devotees to reduce screen usage and engage more deeply with Uttarakhands natural environment, a move aligned with experiential tourism trends.

At the same time, the PMs Vocal for Local push, asking pilgrims to spend at least 5% of their travel budget on local products, aimed to direct economic benefits toward small businesses and local communities along the yatra route.

The Char Dham circuit, comprising Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, is a major economic driver for Uttarakhand, generating seasonal employment across transport, hospitality and retail sectors. With millions expected to participate, even marginal shifts in spending behaviour could have measurable local impact.

The Prime Minister also linked the pilgrimage to Indias cultural and philosophical legacy, noting the role of Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya in shaping spiritual traditions through their journeys in the region.

Infrastructure development remained a key enabler. In his communication, PM Modi spoke on improvements including better roads, increased seating capacity at temples, expanded sanitation facilities, medical services and enhanced security. These upgrades are part of a broader effort to balance rising footfall with safety and environmental concerns.

The environmental dimension is also central to the governments messaging. Pilgrims have been urged to avoid single-use plastic, maintain cleanliness and respect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. These measures align with the states push for a green yatra.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reinforced these priorities, thanking the Prime Minister for his message. In his own X post, he said, "Respected Prime Minister Ji, on this auspicious occasion of the opening of the portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham on the sacred land of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, heartfelt thanks for your message filled with devotion. The Char Dham Yatra is not only a symbol of faith, but it also strengthens our eternal culture, traditions, and national unity. Under your guidance and inspiration, we are committed to ensuring a safe, well-organised, and divine journey for all devotees. We, the people of the state, and devotees coming from all over the world, will internalise the resolutions you have given and make the Char Dham Yatra-2026 divine and grand. Har-Har Mahadev!"
DeepSeek hasnt raised outside funds from investors even after it turned heads in Silicon Valley and Wall Street with a powerful AI model early last year that rivaled those of titans such as OpenAI. So far, the Hangzhou-based firm has been largely bankrolled by founder Liang Wenfengs own cash and profit from High-Flyer, the hedge fund that he co-founded.
Part of the surge is due to the high value of cryptocurrencies in recent years (although there has been a drop in 2026). The barriers to crypto-jacking are also relatively low. The requisite software is readily obtained from underground web forums, says a specialist with Interpols cybercrime unit in Singapore who required anonymity to comment on operations. And installing such software on computers is less challenging than stealing data, or, in the case of ransomware, holding it hostage. The upshot is that crypto-jacking shows no sign of going away.
The worker demonstrations come despite Indias decision to cap the price of petrol and diesel at state-run pumps, even as the price of crude has surged by around 40% to about $100 a barrel. The Indian government cut taxes on state-run fuel retailers in late March to reduce their losses, which reached more than $250 million a day, taking a hit to its own finances. Now, many economists and businesses are predicting that India is running out of fiscal room and will have to consider raising prices once regional elections are out of the way later this month.
WASHINGTONMembers of President Trumps team aired differing views at a private meeting on Tuesday night at the White House about the administrations plan to save Spirit Airlines, according to people familiar with the matter.

In front of the president, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy each gave their perspectives on the deal being worked on to possibly give a financial lifeline to the struggling airline.

Lutnick argued to Trump that the president would see a political win by coming to Spirits rescue months before the midterm elections and that the deal could save thousands of jobs, according to a senior administration official and other people familiar with the matter.

Lutnick is the architect of the proposal under consideration by Trump and the company, in which the government would loan the company up to $500 million and receive in return warrants to take a potential significant stake in Spirit, some of the people said. The Wall Street Journal first reported Wednesday morning on the plan, which hasnt been finalized.

The commerce chief was also a driving force behind a deal last year for the U.S. to take a large stake in chip maker Intel, one of several agreements in which the administration has taken ownership positions in private-sector companies.

Duffy, on the other hand, told Trump that, in his view, making such an agreement with Spirit could have negative political consequences. He told the president he agreed it might save jobs, but he voiced skepticism about what the government is going to get out of possibly having a stake in the business.

Duffy also said that a deal with Spirit could leave voters with a negative impression about the Trump administration trying to bail out a failing company, a move that in the past hasnt always been popular, the people said.

Such rescues have proved contentious, notably when large banks received a bailout during the 2008 financial crisis when George W. Bush was president.

Duffy made his views on a deal with Spirit known in a Reuters interview published on Tuesday. What would someone buy? Duffy said. If no one else wants to buy them, why would we buy them?

The administration official familiar with the matter noted that Duffy never told Trump that the administration shouldnt go ahead with the deal but was pointing out possible downsides to an agreement.

The president earlier this week signaled his desire to aid Spirit and its employees.

Its 14,000 jobs, and maybe the federal government should help that one out, Trump told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday morning.

This is something the Commerce Department and the president are tracking, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. The aviation industry is very important to this president and this White House.

Duffy comes from a part of the presidents Republican Party that may be skeptical of whether such a deal makes sense. He rose up the ranks of Congress during the tea party movement, which advocated for less government interference. Some lawmakers associated with the tea party rallied against the bailout of big banks as well as carmakers.

Republican senators on Wednesday also questioned the potential agreement with Spirit.

The government doesnt know a damn thing about running a failed budget airline, Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) said on X.

If Spirits creditors or other potential investors dont think they can run it profitably coming out of its second bankruptcy in under two years, I doubt the US Government can either, said Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) on X. Not the best use of taxpayer dollars.
Private credit is mostly composed of loans to middle-market businesses extended by asset managers, who dont face the same close supervision as banks. In the first quarter, investors sought to pull more than $20 billion from certain types of private-credit funds, though they were only able to get $11 billion, according to data from investment bank Robert A. Stanger. Investors have been spooked by several high-profile losses, and the industrys exposure to software companies challenged by AI.
Krishna Yadav

Krishna Yadav is a Senior Correspondent at Mint, based in New Delhi, and part of the corporate bureau. He joined the newsroom as a trainee in 2023 and quickly grew into his current role. He writes on legal and regulatory developments in corporate India, with a focus on insolvency, taxation, company law, and policy. His reporting includes tracking and breaking key legal stories from the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, NCLT, and NCLAT.<br><br>With a background in law, Krishna is known for simplifying complex legal developments into clear, accessible stories for readers. His work focuses on trends in corporate law and policy that affect businesses. This ranges from explaining tax disputeslike whether coconut hair oil is edibleto writing on why celebrities are seeking personal rights protection. He closely tracks Indias insolvency system, covering issues such as creditor losses, gaps in the process, and challenges in how the framework works in practice.<br><br>Krishna also tracks developments within law firmscovering hiring trends, how firms help companies navigate global challenges, and how the legal industry is adapting to artificial intelligence. Beyond legal reporting, he has written long-form pieces, including on-ground coverage of the 2024 general elections, capturing the scale and logistics of polling across India.<br><br>Outside work, he enjoys travelling, exploring new places, and reading about geopolitics and history.
US-Iran war: Oil prices extended their rally to a fourth straight session on Thursday, 23 April, as the US and Iran remained locked over control of the Strait of Hormuz, following the collapse of fresh peace talks.

Brent crude hovered near $104 per barrel after surging nearly 13% over the past three sessions, while West Texas Intermediate traded around $95.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) also witnessed a similar upward movement. MCX crude oil prices surged as much as 2.60% to 8,948 per barrel.

What's driving crude oil prices today? US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire agreed on 7 April will remain in effect indefinitely as Washington awaits a fresh peace proposal from Iran, even as Tehran maintains it has no immediate intention of entering negotiations.

The conflict, which began in late February, has unsettled global energy markets. A near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz sharply curtailed oil flows from key Persian Gulf producers. Meanwhile, the US enforced a naval blockade on vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports to increase pressure on the Islamic Republica move Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned as a breach of the ceasefire.

Washington and Tehran continue to remain deadlocked over major issues, including Irans nuclear programme and Israels military actions in Lebanon. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he is open to dialogue, but emphasised that the blockade and ongoing threats remain significant barriers to diplomacy.

Iran has also restricted most international traffic through Hormuz, with its patrol boats reportedly firing at commercial vessels in the strait on Wednesday. Since the US blockade was imposed earlier this month, American forces have intercepted, boarded, and turned away multiple ships.

Separately, traders monitored US oil inventory data released by the Energy Information Administration, which showed declines across major refined fuel categories. As global markets increasingly rely on US supplies to offset disruptions in the Middle East, demand has surged, pushing total US oil and fuel exports to record levels, according to a Bloomberg report.

Crude oil prices outlook Kaynat Chainwala, AVP, Commodity Research, Kotak Securities, believes that WTI is expected to trade within a $8595/bbl range in the near term as markets continue to oscillate between ceasefire optimism and escalation risk.

She further noted that a significant deterioration in the geopolitical situation could drive prices beyond $100/bbl, while a credible and lasting peace settlement would likely see WTI retreat below $80/bbl.

On the MCX crude oil price outlook, she further added that the crude is expected to remain range-bound between 7,9008,900 per barrel, with a breakout above 9,400 possible should tensions intensify further, and a pullback toward 7,500 likely in the event of a durable deal and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

On the technical outlook, Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said that MCX Crude Oil is currently trading near the 8,400 zone, having broken above the prior 8,000 8,350 consolidation range and surging to a peak near 8,600 before pulling back.

Price action remains volatile, with 8,530 now acting as immediate resistance. A sustained move above this level could reopen the path toward 8,650 8,860. On the downside, 8,200 serves as the key support; a decisive break below could expose the 8,120 7,945 zone. The near-term bias remains cautiously bullish driven by ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Ponmudi said.
Silver prices in India declined on Thursday, tracking weakness across the precious metals pack as elevated crude oil prices raised fresh concerns around inflation and prolonged high interest rates. The decline comes amid continued uncertainty over stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks, which has kept global markets on edge.

MCX Silver rate fell 2.5% or over 6,100 to 2,42,220 per kg, while MCX Gold price lost 0.6% or around 1,000 to 1,51,719 per 10 grams.

In global markets as well, Spot silver fell 1.4% to $76.64 per ounce. Other metals also remained under pressure, with platinum down 1.3% to $2,048.25 and palladium slipping 1% to $1,529.25. For reference, spot gold declined 0.7% to $4,705.09 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for June delivery fell 0.6% to $4,722.10.

What is driving the fall in silver, gold prices The primary trigger behind the decline is the sharp rise in crude oil prices. Brent crude has remained above $100 per barrel following larger-than-expected draws in gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States, along with the lack of progress in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations.

Higher crude prices tend to push up transportation and production costs, which feed into broader inflation. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of near-term interest rate cuts, a negative for non-yielding assets like silver.

Geopolitical tensions have further added to the pressure. Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, tightening control over the key global oil transit route. This came after U.S. President Donald Trump called off planned attacks, with no clear signs of peace talks resuming.

At the same time, the U.S. has maintained its naval blockade of Iranian trade routes, while Irans parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said a full ceasefire would only be meaningful if the blockade is lifted, indicating a continued stalemate.

Adding to the bearish sentiment, a Reuters poll showed that the U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to delay interest rate cuts for at least six months, as energy-driven inflation risks persist. Market expectations have also shifted, with traders now pricing in only a 23% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut in December, down from 28% a week earlier. Before the escalation in conflict, markets had anticipated two rate cuts this year.

The combination of rising oil prices, delayed rate cut expectations, and ongoing geopolitical tensions is weighing on silver, even as broader uncertainty remains elevated.

Outlook Ahead According to Renisha Chainani, Head  Research at Augmont, gold and silver are currently in a consolidation phase, with gold hovering around $4,750 and silver near $78, recovering some of the previous sessions losses following U.S. President Donald Trumps unilateral ceasefire extension announcement. She noted that uncertainty persists as a second round of peace talks has broken down, and it remains unclear whether Iran or U.S. ally Israel will formally accept the extended truce, which has now entered its third week. Chainani added that precious metals continue to be largely driven by ceasefire-related developments and broader liquidity conditions, with the extension being interpreted as partial de-escalation, thereby easing immediate safe-haven demand.

Gold is trading in the range of $4,650 (~ 1,51,500) and $4,850 (~ 1,55,000) from the past few days, and a breakout or breakdown on either side could lead to a 34% directional move, while silver is holding between $76 (~ 2,42,500) and $81 (~ 2,57,000), with a similar 34% price swing expected on either side, said Renisha Chainani of Augmont.

She further highlighted that additional pressure on precious metals has come from the Senate confirmation hearing of Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh, whose emphasis on institutional independence has been interpreted as a potentially hawkish stance, which could weigh on metals going forward.
Mayur Bhalerao

Mayur Bhalerao is a markets reporter at Mint with around 12 years of experience across finance and media. His coverage focuses on Indian equities, IPOs and broader market trends, tracking developments across large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap stocks as well as shifts in investor behaviour among retail investors, mutual funds and foreign portfolio investors.<br><br>Mayurs reporting emphasises data-driven analysis of market movements, valuations and sectoral trends. He uses shareholding disclosures, financial filings and market data to explain developments on Dalal Street and examine how global events and domestic policy changesincluding geopolitical tensions, crude oil prices and regulatory decisionsshape Indian equities and investor sentiment.<br><br>He regularly uses financial databases such as the Bloomberg terminal and Capitaline to produce data-intensive stories, analysing company disclosures, ownership patterns and sectoral trends across both Indian and global markets. He also supports colleagues in the newsroom by providing database-driven insights and market data analysis that help strengthen broader market coverage.<br><br>Before joining Mint, Mayur worked at Informist Media Pvt Ltd., a leading financial newswire, where he developed his expertise in financial journalism in a specialised markets newsroom.
(Bloomberg) -- Norways wealth fund lost 1.9% in the years first quarter, dragged down by its investments in US technology stocks.

The value of the fund, managed by Norges Bank Investment Management, fell by 1.27 trillion Norwegian kroner ($137 billion), according to a statement Thursday. The total value of the fund was about 20 trillion kroner at the end of March.

The result reflects a quarter with challenging market conditions, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Trond Grande said in the statement. We saw limited impact on fixed income and real estate, but it was the decline in equities, especially among large US technology companies, that determined the outcome.

The worlds largest sovereign investor beat the benchmark it measures itself against by 1 basis point. The bulk of the fund is in equities, which lost 2.6%. Its second-biggest asset class, fixed income, fell by 0.2%, while unlisted real estate returned 1.2% and unlisted renewable energy infrastructure lost 1.9%.

The fund, created in the 1990s to invest Norways oil and gas revenues, has in past years seen cumulative returns from investments clearly exceed fossil fuel-linked deposits by the government. Its seen poor results from real estate for some time, which led the fund to revamp its real estate strategy last year.

As with many other large investors, big tech has in recent quarters dominated the funds performance. NBIMs largest holdings include Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp, Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc, and Nvidia Corp. The fund holds about 1.5% of all listed shares globally, corresponding to about 7,200 companies, and closely tracks global stock markets.

It follows a benchmark index set by the Finance Ministry and has limited scope for active investing. Stocks make up roughly 70% of the portfolio, bonds about 28%, and unlisted properties and green energy assets the remainder.

--With assistance from Stephen Treloar and Ott Ummelas.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Srushti is a markets reporter at Mint. She writes on equity markets, and her areas of coverage range from brokers and exchanges to mutual funds and the fast-evolving alternatives space, including GIFT City, from the financial capital of India. She has an experience of over three years in journalism, and has previously worked at Moneycontrol. She has an undergraduate degree in mass communication and a postgraduate diploma in business and financial journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai.<br><br>Srushti prefers meeting people from the industry over making calls. Her work aims to drive impacther story on illegal gold imports, for instance, caught the governments attention and contributed to a policy shift. She specialises in turning complex market data into clear, engaging stories so even her grandmother could understand futures and options.<br><br>Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys spending money on jewellery and watching thriller filmsespecially the kind that keep her awake at night. She spends 1.5 hours a day commuting in Mumbai locals, listening to horror podcasts on her way to work. Shes also very talkativeso reach out only if you have lots of time.

Dipti Sharma

Dipti has spent nearly a decade happily knee-deep in the fast-moving, occasionally nerve-wracking, and always fascinating world of stock markets, tracking everything from sharp sell-offs to surprise rallies, and the narratives that drive them. She began her journalism journey at Informist, sharpened her market instincts at CNBC Digital and Moneycontrol, and is now charting new territory with Mint. Here, she is exploring new ground, bringing together sharp analysis, on-ground insights, and a keen eye for what really moves markets.<br><br>Before stepping into journalism, Dipti studied law and worked with a solicitor firm for close to three years, an experience that gave her a strong foundation in analytical thinking, contracts, and corporate structures. But the pull of markets and storytelling proved stronger, prompting a switch from law to journalism.<br><br>She writes about stocks and investments, but thats only part of the story. Dipti also teams up with market experts to turn complex trends into sharp, easy-to-understand videos, occasionally peeks at deals and acquisitions, and regularly picks the brains of industry leaders. Somewhere between earnings calls, market swings, and boardroom chatter, shes always looking for the next story that explains whats really moving the markets.
Multibagger penny stock: Investing in the stock market is a risky ballgame altogether, especially when geopolitical tensions are at their peak. Therefore, investors must do thorough research to identify opportunities.

Here's one such stock that has constantly outperformed and rewarded investors with multibagger returns  Transformers And Rectifiers (India).

Transformers and Rectifiers share price trend The share price of Transformers and Rectifiers, which was once priced at 3 in April 2020, is now trading at 317 on the NSE.

On Thursday, Transformers and Rectifiers share price surged as much as 2.62% to 317.75.

The multibagger penny stock has remained volatile in the near term, as it has risen 18% in a month and 3.22% year-to-date (YTD).

However, the stock has descended 43.27% in a year. Penny stock has delivered multibagger returns of 871% in three years and 3,519.59% in five years.

Investment growth in Transformers and Rectifiers stock To put this into context, an investment of 1 lakh made in the stock six years ago and held over time would have surged to around  1.05 crore.

Likewise, an investment of the same amount made a month ago would now be worth 1.18 lakh, while for the year-to-date, it would be at 1.03 lakh.

However, an investment of 1 lakh made a year ago would currently stand at 56,590.

Transformers and Rectifiers FY26 performance The company delivered a strong financial performance in FY26, with revenue from operations rising by approximately 23% YoY to 2,395 crore.

Profitability also remained healthy during the year. EBITDA increased by around 17% YoY to nearly 370 crore, driven by robust execution, sustained demand across key sectors, and continued focus on operational efficiencies.

Meanwhile, profit after tax (PAT) grew about 20% YoY to 225 crore. The improvement in profitability was driven by operating leverage, cost optimisation, and enhanced execution efficiencies.

Operational momentum remained strong during the year, with order inflows of approximately 2,374 crore in FY26, including 244 crore in Q4, while the unexecuted order book stood at around 5,005 crore as of March 31, 2026, providing strong visibility for future revenues, according to the company's release.

FY26 has been a year of strong and consistent performance for TARIL. Our ability to deliver robust revenue growth along with sustained profitability reflects the strength of our execution capabilities and disciplined operational approach. The healthy order inflows and strong order book provide us with clear visibility for the coming periods. As we continue to scale our capacities and enhance our technological capabilities, we remain focused on improving efficiencies, strengthening margins, and delivering long-term value," said Satyen J. Mamtora, Managing Director & CEO.
Buy or sell stocks: The Indian stock market benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty 50, posted sharp losses on Wednesday, April 22, halting their three-day winning run. The Sensex tumbled 757 points, or 0.95%, to close at 78,516.49, while the Nifty 50 declined 199 points, or 0.81%, to settle at 24,378.10.

Stock market today Nifty 50 On Wednesday, the Nifty 50 opened with a gap-down at 24,470.85 and traded within a limited range throughout the session, marking an intraday high of 24,515.95 and a low of 24,352.90. Selling pressure persisted during the day, with the index closing near its days low at 24,378.10, registering a decline of 198.50 points or 0.81% over the previous close.

According to Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, on the daily timeframe, the formation of a bearish candlestick pattern with the close near the days low indicates sustained selling pressure and reflects short-term weakness in the index.

Also Read | Public shareholding tops 50%, ending over a decade of promoter dominance

From a technical perspective, immediate support is placed in the 24,10024,150 range, while resistance is observed between 24,550 and 24,600 levels. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 56.44, remaining above the midpoint of 50 but indicating slight cooling from higher levels. In the derivatives segment, notable call writing was seen at the 24,500 strike, followed by 24,600, while significant put writing was observed at 24,400 and 24,300 levels, indicating near-term support zones, Bagadia said.

Bank Nifty The Bank Nifty index opened with a gap-down at 57,163.35 and traded within a defined range, marking an intraday high of 57,438.20 and a low of 57,002.15. The index eventually closed at 57,124.45, declining by 247 points or 0.43% for the day.

Bagadia noted that on the daily timeframe, the formation of a Doji-like candlestick pattern indicates indecision among market participants, reflecting a balance between buyers and sellers.

From a technical standpoint, immediate support is placed in the 56,80056,900 range, while resistance is seen in the 57,45057,550 zone. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 57.83, holding above the midpoint level of 50 and indicating a mildly positive undertone. Sustaining above this level would be important to confirm further strength, he said.

He further recommended traders to monitor price action closely around key support and resistance levels and wait for confirmation before initiating fresh positions, as recent price action suggests a mild corrective session following the recent uptrend, with selling pressure visible and resistance emerging near higher levels.

While the broader undertone remains constructive, rising volatility and lack of strong momentum indicate caution in the near term, he added.

Sumeet Bagadia's stocks to buy Amid ongoing tensions in US-Iran, Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy on Thursday, April 23: NCC, Timken India, Wockhardt, Netweb Technologies India, and Global Health.

1] NCC: Buy at 163.98, Target 175, Stop Loss 157.70

NCC share price is trading around 163.98 and has recently delivered a breakout from a parallel channel pattern, indicating a potential continuation of the ongoing uptrend. The stock is sustaining above the breakout zone and has also engulfed the previous three days range with a strong close, reflecting renewed buying interest and improving price strength. Additionally, RSI is trending higher, supporting the positive momentum. As the stock holds above the breakout level, the overall bias remains constructive. Short-term traders may consider buying at CMP with a stop-loss at 157.70 for a target of 175, while adhering to disciplined risk management.

Also Read | Stocks to trade: Raja Venkatraman recommends three stocks for 23 April

2] Timken India: Buy at 3633, Target 3950, Stop Loss 3460

Timken India share price is currently trading at 3633, exhibiting robust price strength following a decisive horizontal breakout, with sustained trade above the breakout zone reinforcing bullish continuation. The stock remains firmly positioned above key EMAs, supported by a rising moving average structure, while RSI holds above the midpoint, indicating improving momentum. Considering this favourable setup, traders may look to initiate long positions at CMP with a strict stop-loss at 3460 for a target of 3950, maintaining disciplined risk management.

3] Wockhardt: Buy at 1450.30, Target 1555, Stop Loss 1390

Wockhardt share price is currently trading at 1450.30, displaying a strong bullish recovery on the daily chart, successfully transitioning from a steep correction to a fresh uptrend. The stock has decisively cleared its 20, 50, 100, and 200-day exponential moving averages with a series of high-momentum candles, signalling a significant structural shift. The RSI has climbed to 69.55, indicating powerful buying velocity and a shift into a bullish zone as the stock challenges previous resistance levels. With volume supporting the recent bounce from the 1100 base, the technical outlook remains highly optimistic for continued expansion toward the target of 1555. To manage risk effectively, a stoploss should be maintained at 1390, providing a buffer just below the recent EMA breakout and consolidation zone.

4] Netweb Technologies India: Buy at 4019.60, Target 4350, Stop Loss 3840

Netweb Technologies India share price is currently trading at 4019.6, exhibiting a strong bullish setup on the daily timeframe, having recently broken out of a brief consolidation pattern accompanied by healthy trading volume. The price is trending confidently above its key 20, 50, 100, and 200-day exponential moving averages, which highlights a remarkably solid underlying uptrend. Furthermore, the daily RSI indicator stands strong near 75, confirming robust upward momentum rather than immediate exhaustion. Based on this favourable price action, the stock is well-positioned to reach an upside target of 4350, while a strict stop loss should be placed at 3840 to effectively manage downside risk.

5] Global Health: Buy at 1111.85, Target 1200, Stop Loss 1065

Global Health (Medanta) share price is trading around 1111.85, exhibiting a promising trend reversal on the daily chart, breaking out from a recent basing pattern with supportive volumes. The stock has successfully reclaimed its 20-day and 50-day exponential moving averages, signalling a shift in short-term momentum towards the bulls. Additionally, the daily RSI has surged past 60, confirming increasing strength and suggesting further upside potential. Given this bullish technical setup, the stock is primed to move towards an upward target of 1200. To safeguard against unexpected pullbacks, a strict stop loss should be maintained at 1065, just below the 20 EMA support.
Stock market benchmarks  Sensex and the Nifty 50  continued witnessing a strong selloff for the second consecutive session on Thursday, 23 April.

The 30-share pack crashed by 852 points, or 1.09%, to end at 77,664, while the NSE barometer Nifty 50 plunged 205 points, or 0.84%, to settle at 24,173.05.

Trent, Shriram Finance, and Tech Mahindra ended as the top losers in the Nifty index, falling 3-4%. On the other hand, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, and Jio Financial Services ended as the top gainers in the index, rising 4-8%.

The sell-off was widespread as mid and small-cap segments also suffered losses. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices declined by 0.41% and 0.67%, respectively.

The cumulative market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms dropped to slightly above 466 lakh crore from more than 469 lakh crore on 22 April, making investors poorer by about 3 lakh crore in a single session.

Over just two sessions, the Sensex has crashed 1,609 points, or 2%. And the Nifty 50 has also lost almost 2% in the same period.

What drove the stock market down? According to experts, here are the key factors behind the selloff in the Indian stock market:

1. Poor show of banking, other heavyweights Selloff in banking stocks, which hold significant weight in benchmarks, is one of the main reasons behind the sharp decline in the Sensex and the Nifty.

Nifty PSU Bank index crashed 2.19%, while the Private Bank index dropped 1.31%. The Nifty Bank index suffered a loss of 1.43%, and the Financial Services index declined 1.42%. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank emerged among the top drags on the benchmarks.

Apart from them, the auto pack also suffered strong losses. The Nifty Auto index declined 2.35%.

Experts say investors are booking profits in heavyweights amid persisting uncertainties over the US-Iran conflict, which has raised the possibilities of earnings downgrades in FY27.

2. Crude oil again above $100 Brent Crude prices rose 2% to trade levels beyond $103 a barrel amid a fresh escalation of tensions between the US and Iran.

According to media reports, despite the ceasefire, the US military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters, and Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

"A spike in crude oil prices is a main factor behind the selloff. Prices have again inched above the $100 mark and are sustaining, keeping market sentiment weak," Ajit Mishra, SVP of Research at Religare Broking, said.

3. Uncertainty over a potential US-Iran final truce Market participants are reacting to lingering uncertainties about the fate of the US-Iran conflict. Even though US President Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran for an indefinite period, some reports suggested that the US is not willing to extend the ceasefire beyond a few days.

Moreover, the timeline of talks is still not clear. The anticipated second round of peace talks between the two countries did not take place as neither side showed up for talks in Pakistan.

Also Read | Iran slams US for hypocrisy as Trump extends ceasefire

"With total uncertainty becoming the new normal, there is no clarity on the near-term direction of the market. With the duration of the war going beyond everyones initial expectations and the price of Brent crude bouncing back to $103, there is increasing risk to global growth in general and higher risk to Indias macros in particular," said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments.

4. FII selling After buying Indian equities for some days, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have resumed selling Indian stocks in the cash segment. Over the last three sessions, they have sold Indian stocks worth more than 5,000 crore in the cash segment.

FIIs are largely selling in large-caps, and as per some experts, they are buying stocks in the mid and small-cap segments, which is supporting broader markets.

"A significant trend in the Indian market is the outperformance of the broader market, where there is no significant pressure from FII selling. In fact, FIIs are buying many stocks in the mid and small-cap segments. Therefore, this outperformance of the broader market is likely to continue," said Vijayakumar.

5. Technical factor According to Axis Securities, the Nifty 50 is currently hovering near the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the FebruaryMarch 2026 decline. The market is consolidating at higher levels, and the next directional move will depend on developments in the US-Iran conflict.

Vikram Kasat, the head of advisory at PL Capital, said a decisive breakout and sustained movement above the 24,680 hurdle is required to extend the broader upward trend toward the next target of 24,900. If the market breaks below 24,300, it could trigger a deeper corrective move to fill the underlying gap zone down to 23,860, said Kasat.

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At the fifth edition of the P.K. Rosy Film Festival that concluded in Chennai earlier this month to commemorate Dalit History Month, a few unfamiliar faces hovered around the venue. They were neither delegates queuing for screenings nor filmmakers engaging with audiences. Instead, they occupied corners quietly, stepping in and out of screening halls, sitting through panel discussions, lacking the curiosity of cinephiles.

Festival organisers knew who they were. They were there not to watch films but to observe, says Vasugi Bhaskar, event coordinator of the festival and of Neelam Cultural Centre, which organises the festival each year. Bhaskar says that these attendeesrepresentatives from the local government and police in civilian clotheswere present to scrutinise what was being shown and said. They were monitoring if any film or discussion challenged the majoritarian ideology or depicted oppressiongender, caste, Dalitin ways they found objectionable. If it did, an interruption might have been a possible outcome, he adds.

Also Read | The continuing stranglehold of Indian film censorship

It is the political nature of the festivalnot only in its intent, but also namethat perhaps invited this level of scrutiny, he says. Named after Malayalam cinemas first female actor and a Dalit woman, P.K. Rosy faced violent backlash for portraying a character from an upper caste in Vigathakumaran in the late 1920s. Naming the festival after her is a statement in itself, says Bhaskar of the festival that is helmed by filmmaker Pa Ranjith, a Dalit himself. The resistance, Bhaskar argues, is not merely in the content of the films, but in the insistence that Dalit stories deserve public celebration rather than marginal screening. And this visibility, he adds, has its share of repercussions.

This years edition was rather measured in its tonality. We learnt a bitter lesson last year, he says. We carefully curated the festival this year, so as to not invite any disruption. Last April, the festival was unable to screen Santosh (2024). Certain organisations pressured the state, Bhaskar says, and venue owners, fearing risk, refused to host it. The same fate awaited Arun Karthicks Nasir, the story of a Muslim salesman set against the backdrop of the rising Hindutva tide. The programming is the most difficult part. We know there are certain movies that won't be allowed to exhibit at all, he adds.

When Dalit-centric films show protagonists rise and resist, the festival goers erupt in an applause, he says. And it is this applause that unsettles some. Therefore, when a film festival expresses its political stance in its name and programming so explicitly, disruption is inevitable, he says.

As a result, films are withdrawn last minute, venues refuse to host screenings, and lineups are revised mid-festival. Its a pattern seen in other parts of the country as well.

Take Kerala for example. The fourth day of the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram late last year (12-19 December 2025) had a familiar energy: cinephiles clutching schedule catalogues, delegates exchanging recommendations, and serpentine queues at theatre entrances. Then, almost collectively, phones beeped. A message landed on WhatsApp.

View full Image View full Image Resul Pookutty, academy award-winning sound recordist, was the chairperson and festival director of the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram. ( File photo/Mint )

The screening of Sergei Eisensteins 1925 classic, Battleship Potemkin, restored for its centenary, was cancelled as the title hadnt received censor exemption. Films showcased at festivals in India, unlike commercial theatrical releases, are exempt from a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate. However, a censor exemption from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) is still mandatory.

Resul Pookutty, chairperson and festival director, recalls a conversation with an official who was concerned that the festival curation had a leftist narrative. Pookutty continues, This shows how little the official knows about cinema. Later, another title was stalled, Spanish film Beef, centred on the underground rap scene. Organisers suspected that the title, not its subject matter, may have spooked officials. Pookutty, an Oscar-winning sound designer, was hoping for a routine administrative procedure: submit films two weeks before the commencement of the festival (an established timeline), and receive bulk exemptions, largely granted after browsing through synopses instead of actual screenings. Permissions began to trickle down in batches. In the end, six films did not receive censor exemptions.

But Keralas state culture minister instructed organisers to proceed with a few changes. The printed schedules had to be reshuffled in real time as exemptions were delayed, forcing organisers to issue constant updates to delegates on screenings and venues, often at the last minute as clearances came through mid-festival.

For decades, most battles have played out at the CBFC (or censor board) office. Today, the festival circuit isnt exempt and now, some films are also invisibilised by streaming platforms. Dibakar Banerjees Tees, which follows a Kashmiri Muslim family across three generations, is an example. Commissioned by Netflix in 2019 and completed in 2022, it was shelved by the streaming platform. Banerjee believes that the backlash against Amazon Prime Videos Tandav in 2021 made the executives anxious. Little did we know that the incident would reframe how streaming services decide which content the public should and should not consume.

However, Banerjees searing portrait found an unlikely audience on a rooftop in Delhi a few months ago. When the screening ended at Delhis NIV Art Centre, the rooftop was buzzing with conversations, heated exchanges and laughter. This is exactly what a filmmaker hopes for. Not reverence, but this recognition, says Banerjee. For Banerjee, showing Tees outside of the streaming platform was a practical response, a way to find ways to still keep expressing yourself on platforms that are not dependent on the data-mining corporate machinery, and the state.

The screening was a part of And Cinema Goes On, a three-day festival planned by film curator Labanya Dey. Grappling with themes of political pressure and censorship, the festivals first edition included films from Iran and Palestine such as This Is Not a Film, an Iranian documentary by Jafar Panahi made while he was under house arrest, and Palestinian-Israeli documentary, No Other Land that was pulled from MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and the Dharamshala International Film Festival in 2024.

Dey says that reaching out to filmmakers was the easiest part. When a film is not made publicly accessible by removing its official pathway, it finds its own way to people.

Across India, filmmakers and curators are devising a parallel cinema exhibition network. Chalchitra Abhiyaan, a film and media collective that trains young people from marginalised communities to tell their own stories through video, is based in Kandhla in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. Their film screenings draw crowds of over 100 people every week. With a projector, speakers and makeshift screens, the team screens films in village choupals (traditional community spaces where panchayat meetings are held), with volunteers translating live by reading directly from film scripts, as they did for the Iranian film, Children of Heaven, because most villagers cannot read subtitles. Founder and filmmaker Nakul Singh Sawhney says, Such screenings facilitate debate, he says.

During the screening of Anand Patwardhans film on communal violence, Ram Ke Naam, electricity was cut mid-film, nudged by local political groups in 2022. Yet, Sawhney stays unperturbed. Recalling screenings of his own film Izzatnagari ki Asabhya Betiyan and Nagraj Manjuless Sairat to a tense audience shortly after an honour killing shook a neighbouring village, he says, Both movies centre on honour killings. These movies unsettled viewers, he says, but that too is a good thing.

Documentary filmmaker Kasturi Basu, who co-founded Peoples Film Collective (PFC) in 2013 in Kolkata, says, Bengals film society movement had a rich past, but it had always ignored the documentary form, she says. However, as the political environment changed, documentary filmmakers rose to the occasion to witness and resist, but without any clear channel to reach audiences. For Basu, staying non-sponsored and non-corporate is not simply a matter of ideology, but existence. Free and open to all is non-negotiable for the collective to retain autonomy over their line-up.

Delhis rooftops, Shamli's choupals, Chennais community spaces and Kolkatas festivals have one thing in common: movie-watching as a democratic practice. Some filmmakers simply upload their films on YouTube but online circulation cannot replace the communal energy of watching urgent movies together. Though these rooms may not replace mainstream distribution, they are keeping some films from disappearing entirely.

Viren Naidu is a Mumbai-based independent journalist focused on deeply reported stories about gender, politics, culture and social justice in South Asia.

Also Read | Asha Bhosle's empire of desire
As the income tax return (ITR) filing season for the financial year 2026 approaches, you may be wondering how credit card rewards, cashback and airline miles are taxed in India. These benefits are widely used but are not explicitly covered under the Income-tax Act, 1961 or the latest framework.

These are non-cash credits earned through spending on a credit card or a loyalty programme. They accumulate over time and can be redeemed for vouchers, merchandise, discounts or converted into other benefits, such as travel bookings.

In most cases, experts say such rewards are treated as discounts rather than income, especially when earned through regular spending. However, grey areas remain, particularly for high-value rewards, conversions into vouchers or cash equivalents and benefits arising from business expenses. Here's a breakdown of whether such benefits are taxed, and what can lead to tax scrutiny.

Under what criteria are these benefits taxed? Under Indian tax principles, most credit card rewards such as cash backs, reward points and air miles are generally not treated as taxable income, as they are regarded as a rebate or discount linked to spending, rather than an independent income stream, according to Nishant Shanker, an independent tax strategy expert and former senior manager of tax at EY.

The Income-tax Act, 2025, does not specifically legislate on such rewards, and therefore their taxability continues to be governed by general income principles. However, where the benefit is not linked to underlying spend, is monetized or arises in a business or employment context, it may be taxable based on its character, he explained.

There is no maximum limit beyond which tax authorities mandate credit card rewards or loyalty benefits be declared as taxable income under the Income Tax Act, according to Siddharth Maurya, Founder & Managing Director of Vibhavangal Anukulakara Private Limited. In the case of gifts, if the value exceeds 50,000, such gifts may be reclassified as taxable income under 'Income from Other Sources' and be subjected to the appropriate tax.

However, credit card users should note that reward points and miles are not subject to any specific tax treatment. Substantial reward points and miles that are earned through business arrangements or a structured transaction may be scrutinized. However, there is no specific limit beyond which the tax authorities will necessarily subject the aforementioned rewards to taxes, Maurya said.

Should you declare such cashbacks in your ITR? Shanker warned that taxability may arise when the reward is converted into cash or assumes a monetary equivalent, as this is the stage at which it begins to acquire the character of real income. The key principle is that taxation is triggered when the benefit acquires an independent monetary character.

Though high-value redemptions, such as business-class travel or luxury hotel stays, do not become taxable merely due to their value, as long as they arise from personal spending and remain non-cash in nature. However, scrutiny may arise where such benefits appear disproportionate to declared income or are derived from business expenditure but used for personal purposes. In such cases, authorities may examine the transaction from a substance perspective, including under unexplained expenditure principles, Shanker noted.

Both experts advised investors that discount-linked consumption benefits do not require disclosure in the return of income. It may only be needed if the rewards are substantial, monetized or linked to business spending. In such cases, a conservative disclosure approach may be advisable to mitigate potential scrutiny, particularly in light of increasing data-driven assessments, Shanker said.

Meanwhile, Maurya also said reporting regular credit card rewards or air miles in the ITR may complicate filings. However, if the rewards are valued significantly, involve cashing in or result from business transactions, it is prudent to evaluate the facts in a specific case, he advised.
Jagdish Raj, president of Uttar Pradesh Circle of the All-India LPG Distribution Federation said, Even registration has been put on hold. But in some instances, like in the case of HPCL, registration has started recently, but delivery of canisters has not resumed. Further, sale of cylinders on the second connection of a household also is currently on hold. He added that the panic buying witnessed a few weeks ago has now calmed.
Badrinath Yatra 2026: The portals of the Badrinath Dham, the revered shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu, have officially reopened for devotees today, 13 April. The ceremony took place in the early hours of the morning, marking the completion of the Char Dham circuit's opening for this season.

The temple was adorned with nearly 15-20 quintals of flowers. The opening ceremony was led by the Chief Priest (Rawal) and attended by thousands of devotees, along with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

I bow to Sri Badrish, the bestower of the four aims of life, the Lord of lords, the Master of the universe, who has made his abode in Bhumi-Vaikuntha, Dhami wrote in an X post announcing the re-opening of Badrinath Dham. On the auspicious occasion of the opening of the gates of Shri Badrinath Dham, the sacred land of Lord Shri Hari Vishnu, I was fortunate to be present.

Entry restrictions on non-Hindus In a first, restrictions have been imposed on the entry of non-Hindus to three shrines  Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri. The Gangotri temple committee has mandated that non-sanatanis must consume 'panchgavya' (a combination of cow urine, dung, milk, curd and ghee) to enter the premises.

The Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee has made it compulsory that non-Hindus submit an affidavit affirming faith in Sanatan Dharma for entry.

The Yamunotri Temple Committee, however, has decided to welcome all devotees irrespective of religion.

Authorities have also banned mobile phones and cameras inside all temple premises.

Badrinath Yatra 2026: Daily temple timings Once the initial rush of the opening day settles, the temple typically follows this schedule:

Nirmalya Darshan: 4:30 AM  6:30 AM

General Darshan: 6:30 AM  1:00 PM

Temple Break: 1:00 PM  4:00 PM (Closed for rituals)

Evening Darshan: 4:00 PM  9:00 PM

Badrinath Yatra 2026: Mandatory registration process The Uttarakhand government has made registration compulsory for all pilgrims. You cannot visit the shrine without a valid Yatra Registration Letter (QR Code).

Online Registration: Visit registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in.

WhatsApp Registration: Send 'YATRA' to +91-8394833833.

Mobile App: Use the "Tourist Care Uttarakhand" app.

Offline: Registration counters are available at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Sonprayag, and Pandukeshwar.

Also Read | Kedarnath temple opens in Uttarakhand, marking start of Char Dham Yatra

Badrinath Yatra 2026: Step-by-step guide to register online This is the fastest way to get your QR-coded Yatra Pass, which is required at checkpoints like Sonprayag.

Visit the official portal at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in.

Click on "Register/Login". You can register as an Individual, a Family, or a Tour Operator.

Enter your mobile number and email. You will receive an OTP; enter it to verify and create your password.

Once logged in, go to the dashboard and click "Create/Manage Tour Info". Select "Char Dham Yatra 2026" and choose Kedarnath, and any other shrines you plan to visit.

Enter the full name, age, gender, and address for each traveller.

You will need to upload the following documents:

- Passport-size photograph

- Valid ID proof (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Passport)

- Passport-size photograph - Valid ID proof (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Passport) After submission, your Yatra Registration Letter (e-Pass) containing a unique QR code will be generated.

Download and print a hard copy for travel.

Badrinath temple: Travel and safety guidelines Weather: Even in April and May, temperatures in Badrinath can drop to 5C or lower. Carry heavy woollens.

Health advisory: Badrinath is located at an altitude of approximately 10,279 feet. Pilgrims are advised to undergo a medical check-up and spend at least one night at a lower altitude (like Joshimath) to acclimatise.

Vehicle permits: If you are driving your own vehicle, you must obtain a Green Card or Trip Card via greencard.uk.gov.in.
A 22-year-old IIT graduate, who is also the daughter of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was allegedly raped and murdered at her home in southeast Delhis Kailash Hills area on Wednesday morning.

Who is Rahul Meena? Police said the prime accused, Rahul Meena (19), a former domestic help who had worked with the family for about eight months before being dismissed a month ago, has been arrested in connection with the case.

The woman, who was preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, was alone in her house at the time of the incident and was found murdered in a room by her family members when they returned from the gym, PTI reported, quoting the police.

CCTV footage shows that Meena changed his clothes and shoes after committing the crime. According to police, he returned to Delhi on Wednesday and altered his trousers and footwear after the incident, while his shirt was left behind, providing key evidence, NDTV reported.

Investigators found that Meena, who was familiar with the households routine and layout, stole around 2.5 lakh from the house. Initial findings also suggest he was addicted to online gaming and often borrowed money from others.

The footage further reveals that he entered the colony at around 6:30 AM, went into the house about nine minutes later, and was seen leaving nearly an hour afterwards, at around 7:20 AM.

Victim strangled to death using a mobile phone charger cable Preliminary inquiry suggests the woman was sexually assaulted before being strangled to death using a mobile phone charger cable, the police said, adding they are waiting for the postmortem report for confirmation of sexual assault.

The deceased was the daughter of an IRS officer residing in Kailash Hills in Amar Colony, a senior officer said.

The victim's parents informed us first. The IRS officer and his wife had gone to the gym, and when they returned around 8 AM, they found their daughter lying unconscious on the floor. She was immediately taken to Fortis Hospital in the NFC area, where doctors declared her brought dead. The hospital also informed the police thereafter, Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar said.

The officer added that initial suspicion centred on Rahul Meena, a former domestic worker who had been dismissed from his job around one-and-a-half months earlier.

What did CCTV footage reveal? CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts confirmed that he entered the colony around 6.30 AM, the house around 6.49 AM, and left around 7.20 AM, during which the crime is suspected to have been committed, the joint commissioner of police (JCP) said.

More than 15 teams were formed and deployed across multiple locations in Delhi and in Rajasthan's Rajgarh, Alwar, Jaipur, Dausa, where he was likely to be present. He was later apprehended from a hotel in Delhi's Dwarka, the JCP said.

Further investigation is underway, and strong evidence has been gathered. Based on this, a comprehensive case will be presented before the court to ensure the accused receives the strictest possible punishment, the officer said.

He also said that the accused had been hired about a year ago, recommended by a junior officer working with the IRS officer. About 1.5 months ago, the same junior was advised that he would be dismissed following complaints about his conduct.

During the inquiry, it came to light that he was involved in online gaming and had borrowed money from other domestic helps he did not return. When the complainant, the IRS officer, became aware of this, he directed that the individual be removed from service, following which his service was terminated, he added.

It has also emerged that Meena was also involved in a similar incident a day ago in Alwar, where a rape case was filed against him, the JCP said.

Prima facie, resentment over his termination could also be a factor, but the exact motive will be confirmed after a detailed investigation, the officer told reporters.

As per the preliminary probe, the accused was aware of where a spare set of house keys was usually kept for the domestic help. Since the maid was on leave, he allegedly used the spare key to enter the house. Upon entering, he proceeded upstairs, where the victim's room is located, and it is suspected that the crime was committed there.

Also Read | Karnataka court sentences 3 to death in Israeli tourist gang rape case

The family has already handed over the entire CCTV footage to the police.

The police said the suspect was also seen on a nearby street camera carrying a backpack.

Accused is wanted in sexual assault case in Rajasthan They said Meena is also wanted in a sexual assault case in Rajasthan's Alwar.

"A case against the accused was registered on Wednesday. He committed the offence on 21 April with a woman in Rajgarh and fled from Alwar, around 170 km from here, to Delhi.

"An FIR has been registered at the Rajgarh Police Station against him. We are in contact with the Delhi Police, and a team of the Delhi Police has also visited here to question his family members," an officer in Alwar told PTI.

The police earlier said Meena was seen outside the house even a few days ago.

"What we have got to know is that after committing the crime in Rajasthan, he fled from there and came to Delhi. He directly reached here in Kailash Hills. He knew exactly where girls' parents would hide the keys when they stepped out for the gym.

CCTV cameras were installed at the entrance of the victim's room, with the live feed accessible on both the victim's and her father's mobile phones, said the officer.

The brutal incident has sent shockwaves across the upscale residential locality. Locals expressed concern over safety and security in these neighbourhoods.

Greater Kailash MLA Shikha Roy said the victim was a bright and talented young woman with a promising future, and her death is a painful loss for the entire community.

Also Read | Eknath Shinde and rape-accused Ashok Kharat allegedly exchanged 17 phone calls

I have known her personally for several years and have seen her grow up as a sincere, disciplined and exceptionally talented girl. She was brilliant in her studies, had completed engineering from IIT Delhi, and was preparing for the UPSC examination with great determination.

She was an equally good dancer and participant in other cultural activities, and despite being deeply focused on her studies, she remained humble and connected with people around her, Roy said.

A case has been registered, and forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene.

(With inputs from agencies)
LPG rates across major Indian cities remained unchanged on 23 April, even as global oil prices extended gains for a fourth straight day. The government has revised domestic LPG prices once, whereas commercial cooking gas rates were revised twice in the last few months.

Notably, the government raised the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder by 60 in March. However, no rate revisions have been made since, keeping domestic LPG prices stable throughout the country.

Meanwhile, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder was first increased by 144 in March, followed by another hike of nearly 200 on 1 April. The double hike severely impacted restaurants, eateries, and other businesses that rely on the fuel for their day-to-day operations.

Why were the LPG rates increased? The government had raised the prices of both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders following the onset of conflict in West Asia on 28 February. Supply shortages drove the increase in rates due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for energy supplies.

Tensions around the waterway have intensified after Iran briefly opened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, only to reverse course within hours. Following the announcement, the United States imposed a blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. Shipping activity through the Strait has already dropped sharply since the start of the Iran conflict.

Also Read | India halts new LPG connections amid West Asia war

Also Read | Fearing LPG shortages? Check out these 7 microwaves with multiple cooking modes

Dozens of commercial vessels passed through the strait before Iran reclosed the passage, later warning that any approaching ship would be treated as a target. Since Sunday, only four ships have made the crossing in either direction, according to marine tracking firm Kpler.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to introduce a fuel price stabilisation mechanism to shield consumers from sharp spikes in petrol, diesel and LPG prices amid heightened global energy volatility, NDTV reported, citing government sources.

Check city-wise LPG rates on 23 April

City Domestic (14.2 Kg) Commercial (19 Kg) New Delhi  913.00  2,078.50 Kolkata  939.00  2,208.50 Mumbai  912.50  2,031.00 Chennai  928.50  2,246.50 Gurgaon  921.50  2,096.50 Noida  910.50  2,078.50 Bengaluru  915.50  2,161.00 Bhubaneshwar  939.00  2,245.00 Chandigarh  922.50  2,099.50 Hyderabad  965.00  2,320.50 Jaipur  916.50  2,106.00 Lucknow  950.50  2,201.00 Patna  1,002.50  2,353.50

How is India shielding households from rising energy costs? According to Reuters, India plans to review its fuel exports if needed to ensure availability in the local markets. It is also assessing fuel-supply requests from its neighbouring countries and will approve exports only if it has surplus volumes.

The government has also barred consumers with piped natural gas from retaining or refilling LPG cylinders and has invoked emergency powers directing refiners to maximise LPG production, widely used for cooking. Apart from that, the centre is also nudging households and industries to shift to alternative energy sources, aimed at easing pressure on domestic fuel supplies and reducing dependence on imports. This development comes after global crude oil prices surged past $100 per barrel amid the West Asia crisis.
A multi-vehicle collision, suspectedly triggered by a brake failure, crushed a car between two trucks and hit another in a chain reaction in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur district. Eleven people, including children, were killed in the accident, police said on Thursday.

The collision occurred on a road descending from the Dramandganj valley towards the Lasoda area. It was reported around 8.30 pm on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik told PTI.

She said the police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations with the help of local residents.

How did the Mirzapur accident occur? PTI, citing preliminary findings, said a truck travelling downhill is suspected to have suffered a brake failure.

It rammed into another truck ahead of it. A car travelling between the two trucks was crushed in the impact. A chain collision followed; another vehicle was hit, which caught fire.

"A truck, due to brake failure, collided with another truck. An Alto car got stuck between the two trucks, and another Bolero car collided with it and caught fire," Kaushik said.

Immediately after the accident was reported, rescue and relief work began. Police teams, alongside locals, pulled out victims trapped in the mangled vehicles.

"So far, 11 deaths have been reported, and efforts are underway to establish the identities of all the victims," the SP said earlier.

According to officials, vehicles involved in the crash included:

A truck bearing a Bihar registration number

Another truck registered in Madhya Pradesh

Car from Sonbhadra district

Car from Mirzapur My heartfelt condolences: PM Modi announces ex gratia of  2 lakh In an X post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and announced an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh.

Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the mishap in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the quick recovery of the injured, he wrote.

An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in the tragic mishap. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, he added.

"I am deeply saddened to learn about the loss of lives in the road accident in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. I express my profound condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this accident. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured," President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.

About the victims District Magistrate Pawan Gangwar told PTI that seven of those killed were residents of Mirzapur district, three were from Madhya Pradesh, and one victim was from neighbouring Sonbhadra.

The deceased from Mirzapur's Jigna area were identified as:

Shiva Singh (8)

Sonam Singh (9)

Piyush Singh (14)

Pankaj Singh (40)

Vandana Singh (43)

Vishnu Singh (45)

Veena Singh (47) Others who died in the accident included:

Kartikeya Singh (18) from Satna in Madhya Pradesh

Vikas Sharma (32) from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh

Jai Prakash (27) from Sonbhadra district

Priyanka Singh (42) from Satna

All the bodies have been sent to the mortuary, and the victims' families have been informed, Gangwar said. There is no law and order issue at the site, he added.

Police personnel remain deployed in the area while efforts are underway to restore normal traffic movement on the affected stretch.

Probe on The police have initiated a detailed probe to ascertain the exact cause of the multi-vehicle collision. Further details are awaited.
In the times when millions are losing track of time with their eyes stuck on social media and fingers busy "doom scrolling", Jim Rohn, an American author and renowned motivational speaker, captures a powerful truth in a single line: Either you run the day or the day runs you.

The quote is mentioned in his teachings on time management and personal development and is often found in The Jim Rohn Guides Complete Set.

The quote reads as follows:

Heres a key phrase: Either you run the day, or it runs you. Getting in charge, mastering the situation, this is the big challenge

Meaning of the Quote Simply put, Jim Rohn's words emphasise the importance of leadership, taking control of the situation, and strategically planning the day, rather than letting the day control oneself.

I asked ChatGPT to explain the meaning of this quote. It responded as is: At its heart, this quote is about control vs drift.

Run the day: You act with intention. You decide priorities, structure your time, and move toward goals. You own the day and plan it however you want.

Day runs you: You react to everything  notifications, deadlines, other peoples demands  without direction. It's like taking orders.

Why this matters more today than ever When you dont plan your day, you make too many small decisions:

> What should I do next?

> Should I reply now?

> Is this urgent?

This drains mental energy.

But planning ahead reduces this load and preserves focus. Taking charge of your day builds a sense of competence, progress and control.

In todays times, when social media and AI are running the show, this quote by Jim Rohn is almost a survival rule.

How to Run the Day This is where the quote becomes useful and not just inspirational.

1. Start with a Daily Anchor: Before the day begins, decide: What are the 3 most important tasks? If those get done, the day is a win.

2. Control Your Inputs First: Dont start your day like with WhatsApp, Twitter, Email and News Thats the day hijacking you. Instead, start with your own agenda for 3060 minutes

3. Build Response Windows: Check messages at set times, not constantly This shifts you from reactive  intentional

4. Define Enough for the Day: If you dont define success, the day will feel incomplete no matter what. Ask yourself: What does a good day look like today?

About Jim Rohn From a farm boy in Idaho to mentoring the greatest names in personal development, Jim Rohn's journey proves that anyone can transform their life through philosophy, discipline, and the power of ideas, reads his biography posted on jimrohn.com.

As per the article, Jim Rohn was born on September 17, 1930, in Yakima, Washington. Growing up on a small farm in Idaho during the Great Depression, young Jim learned early about hard work and perseverance.

After high school, he attended college for only one year before entering the workforce.

At 25, Jim was struggling. He had a young family, debts, and no clear path forward. Then came the pivotal moment that would change everything: he met Earl Shoaff, a successful entrepreneur who saw potential in the young man, the article read.
At least 10 people were injured after gunfire broke out inside the Mall of Louisiana food court in Baton Rouge on Thursday, in what police described as a shooting between two groups that escalated into an exchange of fire.

Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse said the incident began after a dispute between two groups inside the malls food court.

Two groups argued inside the food court and started shooting at each other, Morse said, adding that the situation quickly escalated in a crowded public area.

Authorities said some of those involved fled the scene as emergency responders and police units arrived. No arrests had been made at the time of the initial briefing.

Innocent bystanders among the injured Police confirmed that multiple innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire.

Unfortunately there were some innocent people in the area who might have also caught some rounds, Morse said.

At least 10 victims were taken to nearby hospitals with varying injuries. Officials said at least two of them required surgery.

Large-scale police response, no ongoing threat A major law enforcement response was launched immediately, with the mall placed under control as officers secured the area and searched for suspects.

Chief Morse said the situation at the scene had been contained.

Right now there is no known threat to the public, he said. Right here is the safest place in Baton Rouge.

Mayor warns attackers Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards condemned the violence and vowed accountability for those responsible.

To the thugs that did this, were going to catch you, he said.

Investigation ongoing Authorities said the investigation remains active, with the suspects still at large.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry earlier confirmed he was actively coordinating with law enforcement. In a public statement, he urged residents to avoid the area while emergency personnel responded. He also expressed concern for those affected and praised the rapid response of first responders.

I am aware of the active shooter scene at the Mall of Louisiana. I am in coordination with law enforcement and we will update as we know more. Please avoid the area. Sharon and I are praying for those affected and are grateful for a quick response by our law enforcement officials.

It is the second incident of gun violence reported in Louisiana this week.

On Sunday morning, a father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, in a violent attack that spanned two homes in a Shreveport neighbourhood.. Two women were also critically injured in the incident, including the gunmans wife, who is the mother of the children.

Authorities described the shooting as one of the most devastating family-related mass killings.

(With AP inputs)

Also Read | Louisiana mass shooting: Forensic psychiatrists reveal reason why parents kill
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (April 23) has issued a sharply escalatory directive, ordering the Navy to use lethal force against any boats suspected of laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical oil transit chokepoints.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said he had instructed the Navy to shoot and kill any boat involved in mine-laying activity, including what he described as small boats.

He added that there should be no hesitation in responding to such threats.

Trump also claimed that US naval forces are already conducting mine-sweeping operations in the region and said he has ordered those efforts to be expanded at a tripled up level.

The statement comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, where naval activity and vessel seizures have increased following recent confrontations involving Iran-linked forces and Western naval operations.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategic global energy corridor, with a significant portion of the worlds oil shipments passing through it. Any disruption in the waterway has raised concerns over global energy security and potential military escalation.

Trumps remarks mark a significant intensification in rhetoric, signalling a more aggressive US posture toward suspected maritime threats in the region.

Rising maritime tensions The US military has seized another oil tanker allegedly linked to Iranian crude smuggling, further escalating tensions with Tehran just a day after Irans paramilitary forces took control of two vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The Defense Department released video footage showing US forces boarding the Guinea-flagged tanker Majestic X during the operation in the Indian Ocean. Officials said the action is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt illicit shipping networks and enforce sanctions targeting Irans oil trade.

A Pentagon statement said the US will continue global maritime enforcement to intercept vessels accused of providing material support to Iran, regardless of location.

Ship-tracking data indicated the Majestic X was sailing between Sri Lanka and Indonesia and was en route to Zhoushan, China. The vessel had previously been named Phonix and was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 for alleged Iranian oil smuggling activities.

Escalating confrontation The development comes amid heightened naval tensions in the region. Iran reportedly seized three cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, capturing two of them, in a move that further disrupted one of the worlds most critical shipping corridors.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint through which nearly 20% of global oil trade flows. Any disruption in the waterway has significant implications for global energy markets.

Since the escalation of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States on February 28, more than 30 commercial ships have reportedly been targeted across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman.

Disruptions and economic impact Rising tensions, combined with increased insurance costs and security risks, have sharply reduced shipping traffic through the region. The ongoing standoff has effectively disrupted a significant portion of regional oil exports, contributing to volatility in global energy markets.

Energy prices have surged as a result of the conflict, pushing up costs for fuel, food, and other essential commodities worldwide. Governments and market observers have warned that prolonged instability in the region could have lasting economic consequences.
US President Donald Trump has said he is under no pressure to end the ongoing conflict with Iran, while warning that Tehran is running out of time to reach a deal, in a strongly worded post on Truth Social.

Responding to media coverage suggesting urgency in ending the conflict, Trump rejected the idea that he is seeking a quick resolution.

I am possibly the least pressured person ever to anxious to end the War. I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesnt  The clock is ticking!

He also criticised US media outlets, claiming they misrepresent his position on negotiations.

Claims of Iranian military collapse Trump made assertions about Irans military capabilities, saying its defence structure had been severely degraded.

Irans Navy is lying at the bottom of the Sea, their Air Force is demolished, their Anti Aircraft and Radar Weaponry is gone, their leaders are no longer with us

He also said Iran was under heavy pressure.

The Blockade is airtight and strong and, from there, it only gets worse  Time is not on their side!

Deal conditions tied to US interests Reiterating his stance on negotiations, Trump said any agreement would depend entirely on US and allied interests.

A Deal will only be made when its appropriate and good for the United States of America, our Allies and, in fact, the rest of the World.

Peace talks stall and maritime tensions escalate Prospective peace talks in Pakistan remain uncertain as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran show no clear progress, even as confrontation intensifies around the Strait of Hormuz.

Diplomatic discussions reportedly planned in Islamabad are now in doubt, with no confirmed movement toward renewed negotiations aimed at resolving the widening crisis.

Hormuz becomes central flashpoint The situation continues to revolve around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports typically pass.

Since the ceasefire extension announced by US President Donald Trump, Washington and Tehran have increasingly focused on control and access to the waterway, which Iran has partially restricted amid the ongoing standoff.

Trump orders lethal force against mine-laying boats Trump has escalated rhetoric on maritime security, ordering US naval forces to take lethal action against Iranian vessels suspected of laying mines in the strait.

I ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said in a statement, underscoring a more aggressive posture.

Israel signals readiness for further escalation Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel is awaiting approval from the United States for potential further military action.

We are awaiting a green light from the United States  first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty, Katz said, adding that Israels broader aim includes returning Iran to the Dark Age and the Stone Age.

Iran maintains hardline stance on Hormuz Iran has vowed to maintain restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only limited approved shipping as long as US naval pressure and port blockades continue.

US tightens maritime enforcement In response, the United States has intensified maritime operations, including the boarding of the sanctioned vessel M/T Majestic X in the Indian Ocean, which Washington says was transporting Iranian oil.

The US Central Command said its forces have redirected 33 vessels since the start of the blockade against Iran, highlighting the scale of ongoing enforcement actions at sea.
The US Department of War on Wednesday (local time) announced that Secretary of the Navy John C Phelan is stepping down with immediate effect, with Hung Cao set to take over as Acting Secretary of the Navy.

The development was confirmed by Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who thanked Phelan for his service and said the administration wishes him well in his future endeavours.

In a post on X, Parnell wrote, Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately. On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.

"We wish him well in his future endeavors. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy," the post read.

John Phelans sudden exit comes at a time when the Navy is playing a central role in enforcing a blockade of the Strait of Hormuzone of its largest missions in decades.

Also Read | Who is Randy George? US Army Chief of Staff sacked by Pete Hegseth

He is just the latest senior figure to leave the Pentagon since the Iran war began.

Earlier this month, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to step down.

US President Donald Trump had nominated Phelan, a businessman and campaign donor, ahead of his second inauguration. Phelan was also involved in steering a significant modernisation push across US shipbuilders, as the administration aimed to secure tens of billions of dollars in fresh funding to expand the Navy, according to Bloomberg.

Phelan had been a major Trump donor Phelan had no prior military service or civilian leadership experience within the Navy before Trump nominated him as secretary in late 2024, and he was widely viewed as an outsider brought in to disrupt the status quo, as reported by AP.

A significant donor to Trumps campaign, Phelan also founded the private investment firm Rugger Management LLC. According to his biography, his main connection to the military came through an advisory role with Spirit of America, a nonprofit that supports defence efforts in Ukraine and Taiwan.

Phelan is leaving during a busy time for the Navy. It has three aircraft carriers deployed in or heading to the Middle East, and the Trump administration says all the armed forces are poised to resume combat operations against Iran should the ceasefire expire.

The Navy also has maintained a heavy presence in the Caribbean, where it has been part of a campaign of strikes against alleged drug boats. It also played a major role in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January.

New acting Navy secretary ran unsuccessful bids for Congress Taking over as acting secretary is Cao, who ran a failed US Senate bid in Virginia in 2024 to unseat Democratic Sen Tim Kaine. He had Trump's endorsement in the crowded Republican primary and gave a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention, reported AP.

His background includes leaving Vietnam with his family as a child in the 1970s. In a campaign video, he drew comparisons between Vietnams communist government during the Cold War and the administration of President Joe Biden.

In his sole debate with Kaine, Cao criticized COVID-19 vaccine mandates for military personnel, as well as the militarys diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

"When you're using a drag queen to recruit for the Navy, that's not the people we want," Cao said from the debate stage. "What we need is alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds. Those are the young men and women that are going to win wars."

Trump and Hegseth have strongly criticized diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the military, moving to ban such programmes and dismiss individuals seen as supporting them.

During his 2022 congressional run in Virginia, Cao voiced opposition to providing aid to Ukraine in a debate against his Democratic opponent.

"My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people. ... But right now we're borrowing $55 billion from China to pay for the war in Ukraine. Not only that, we're depleting our national strategic reserves," Cao said.

Cao graduated from the prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, before attending the US Naval Academy.

He was commissioned as a special operations officer and later served with SEAL teams and special forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, retiring with the rank of captain, according to his Senate campaign biography.

Cao also earned a masters degree in physics and completed fellowships at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University.

Since becoming Navy undersecretary, he has supported reinstating service members who declined to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate introduced during the Biden administration.
The US Pentagon on Wednesday (local time) announced that Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was leaving his position, shortly after it was reported that the 62-year-old had been fired, CNN reported.

Phelan's leaving comes amid tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over his implementation of shipbuilding reform and his close relationship with US President Donald Trump. While the Trump administration has not clearly stated the reason for his leaving, it comes at a time when the US Navy is enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports and targeting vessels linked to the Islamic Republic during a shaky ceasefire that was recently extended.

Also Read | US Navy Secretary John C Phelan exits Trump administration amid Iran war

Who is John Phelan? Unlike many others in similar positions, Phelan did not have prior military service or senior defence leadership experience when he was appointed in late 2024.

According to SMU, he is the co-founder and chairman of Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. Before launching Rugger, he co-founded MSD Capital in 1998, a private investment firm for Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies.

He also co-founded MSD Partners, an SEC-registered investment advisor, established to enable a select group of outside investors to invest in strategies developed by MSD. Additionally, he is the chairman emeritus of MSD. Before MSD, he served as a principal for seven years at ESL Partners, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm. Here, Phelan was responsible for the company's Special Situation and Distressed Investments and helped grow the firm from $50 million in assets under management to over $2 billion.

Before ESL, he served as a vice president at the Equity Group and was in charge of acquisitions (Western region) for the Zell-Merrill Lynch Real Estate Opportunity Funds. Phelan began his career at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he worked as a financial analyst in the Investment Banking Division.

According to SMU, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and cum laude with distinction from SMU with a bachelors degree in economics and political science. He also holds a general course degree with an emphasis in economics and international relations from the London School of Economics.

Also Read | Trump administration sues Harvard over treatment of Jewish and Israeli students

Phelan is on the Board of Trustees at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Aspen Art Museum (chairman), and on the Board of Directors at Spirit of America and Third Option Foundation.

Why was Phelan fired? CNN, citing sources, reported that tensions had been simmering between Phelan and Hegseth for months. The latter believed that the Navy Secretary was moving too slowly on implementing shipbuilding reforms. Additionally, the Defence Secretary was irked by Phelan's direct communication with Trump, which he viewed as an attempt to bypass him.

A meeting was held between the US President and Hegseth on Wednesday over shipbuilding, where the issues came to a head. The US President reportedly grew frustrated with the slow pace of shipbuilding himself and became convinced he needed to be replaced. Officials told CNN that Trump and Hegseth resolved to install someone who would move more quickly, and Trump told the Defence Secretary to take care of it. Hegseth then sent a message to Phelan informing him to either resign or be fired.

Pentagon's statement on Phelan's leaving Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Wednesday announced Phelan's leaving his post "effective immediately". In a post on X, he wrote, On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.
But should he reveal a will to please the White House that contradicts what the Fed must do as an institution, the US dollar could get fatally compromised and analogies would be drawn with Romes once-mighty denarius.
Yet, none of that is a substitute for Asian unity, particularly among the nations that manage the waterway. They should consider upgrading existing arrangements with more robust joint patrols and develop clearer mechanisms for what to do if conflict breaks out. Above all, they need to present a unified front to both Washington and Beijing and resist the temptation to strike separate deals, which weakens their collective leverage.
(Bloomberg) -- House Republicans unveiled their latest plan to extend a US spy powers tool after a week of rebellion from privacy hawks forced leadership to settle for a 10-day extension as they worked through negotiations.

The new plan, dropped Thursday, would extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by three years and seeks to strengthen civil liberties guardrails, but falls short of requiring warrants to search the informationthe overarching demand from privacy hawks.

The proposal also includes new penalties and oversight of FBI searches of US persons, as well as prohibitions on targeting US citizens. For targeting US persons, the government may seek a warrant issued pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure by a court of competent jurisdiction, according to the legislation.

The House Rules Committee is slated to consider the proposal April 27, several days ahead of the deadline.

This is leaderships third offer on FISA, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and others originally pushing for a clean, 18-month reauthorization that had the backing of the White House. However, a handful of conservatives rejected the clean extension, and a mix of hardliners and moderates voted down a separate five-year deal that included various alterations. A main source of contention was the lack of warrant requirements.

Prior to the latest text dropping, some conservatives still expressed hesitation on whether theyd support the deal. But Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), a key holdout over warrant requirements, said he is in favor of the three-year extension.

I feel pretty good about it. I hope we can find a way to work together to get it across the finish line, Davidson said, adding, I wont say its perfect but I do think its an incredibly good product.

In addition to warrant requirements, House conservatives have pushed to include a ban on central bank digital currency. The language in the three-year proposal does not include CBDC language, which could make it difficult to pass both in the Rules Committee and on the floor.

Davidson called CBDC a separate issue and expressed concern that it might kill the party-line procedural vote, called a rule, if it is not included. And his concern is valid: holdouts like Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C) and Keith Self (R-Texas) said CBDC is important to secure their votes.

Self told reporters he absolutely wants to include CBDC in any FISA deal and hes not interested in attaching it to a separate vehicle. The House has passed a CBDC ban before, but it has since stalled in the Senate.

I believe that the votes are not there unless FISA includes CBDC, Self said.

Intel Court Weighs In

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has renewed its approval of FISAs Section 702, which permits US intelligence agencies and law enforcement to collect the communications of foreign citizens in certain circumstances, according to three people familiar with the process.

The secretive national security court last month approved warrantless surveillance tactics under the law until March 2027, said the three people, who requested anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.

While the FISA courts recertification allows the US intelligence community to collect phone calls and emails until next year, the expiration of the underlying statute can complicate operations under the program. The spy community uses Section 702 as a major source of foreign intelligence and counter-terrorism.

Privacy hawks both in the House and Senate are not only pushing for a warrant requirement to search the data that may have swept up Americans information, but they are also pressing to close a loophole in federal law that allows the government to buy Americans location data without a warrant.

Norman said prior to the text release that leadership did not thread the needle on warrant requirements enough to his satisfaction, but hed accept a three-year extension if conservatives get enough stuff, things in it.

Ive learned around here you dont get anywhere near what you want. If youre a conservative, you dont have anywhere close to what you want, Norman said.

But moderates who want to see a FISA deal passed before the April 30 extension have expressed frustration with conservatives who continue to decline leaderships plans, particularly after the holdups forced a middle-of-the-night vote last week that ultimately never passed.

I just think there was, like, a side conversation between a select group of members and the White House and leadership that everyone else was not a part of, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) told Bloomberg Government this week. And then they expect us to be in the middle of the night to vote on something that we didnt have proper time to, you know, read.

I dont know what else they could possibly want, she said of conservative holdouts.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), another moderate who wants Section 702 extended, said part of the issue with FISAs breakdown came from trying to appease people who can never be appeased.

And thats the problem. They can never define a win. They can never take yes for an answer. And they just continually move the goalposts, and no matter what you give them, they still somehow end up voting no, Lawler said.

If the House cannot move forward on a FISA deal, the Senate is considering moving forward on its three-year extension proposal.

If the House cant move by sometime tomorrow, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said early Thursday morning, then, you know, my assumption is were going have to figure it out next week because we cant afford to go dark.

But conservatives are shrugging that off. Self called Thunes comments a threat and that were gonna handle it in the House.

We suspect not a lots happening in the Senate, Self said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Rachel Schilke at rschilke@bloombergindustry.com; Roxana Tiron in Washington at rtiron@bgov.com; Maeve Sheehey in Washington at msheehey@bloombergindustry.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brandon Conradis at bconradis@bloombergindustry.com; James Arkin at jarkin@bloombergindustry.com

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
A view of H-E-B aisles. Courtesy of H-E-B

Grocery news outlet Progressive Grocer published on Monday, April 20, a report analyzing which grocery stores in the U.S. are seeing the highest percentage increase in monthly visits so far in 2026, using data compiled by retail analytics firm Placer.ai. The findings? Both H-E-B and Trader Joe's are having mammoth years where their upticks in customer visits each month surpass that of the overall grocery industry.

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Placer.ai's research revealed H-E-B store visits increased 8.5% in January compared to January 2025 figures, while Trader Joe's experienced a 9% increase in customers during the same timespan. The Texas and California-founded chains largely swept the overall industry competition, with the grocery category uncovering that typical store visits grew just 3.2% between January 2025 and January 2026.

H-E-B continued its new year momentum into the spring, with it recording a 5.2% increase in shopper visits in March. Target snuck ahead as the No. 1 champion of March grocery visits, growing 6% year over year.
A new chicken tender restaurant chain is eyeing a major expansion in Texas. Orlando, Florida-based Huey Magoo's is set to build restaurants in Harlingen, Laredo, North Dallas, and the Houston metroplex in 2026. Courtesy Huey Magoo's

Often dubbed the filet mignon of chicken, this Raising Canes rival is now setting its sights on expansion into the Lone Star State.

If you havent heard of Huey Magoos Chicken Tenders, dont worry, youre not alone. The fast-casual chicken tender chain was founded in Orlando, Florida in 2004 and currently has about 80 locations across 12 states  most of them in the southeast. But the company is currently pursuing an aggressive expansion effort, including dozens of franchise restaurants planned for right here in Texas. And two of the very first locations could open in deep South Texas.

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According to new filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, two Huey Magoos are currently in the works for Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley city of Harlingen. Both restaurants would be about 2,500 square feet.

Construction of the Laredo restaurant, which will be located at 7309 San Dario Ave. Suite 100, Laredo, TX 78045, was expected to begin this month and be completed by October, TDLR records show. The project involves limited demolition and then remodeling a space at an existing retail plaza in front of a Target store on the northbound side of Interstate 35.

Meanwhile, the Valleys first Huey Magoos will be built near the Harlingen interchange where Interstates 2 and 69E meet. The Harlingen restaurant will entail new construction of a pad site next to Bass Pro Shops at 114 Bass Pro Drive, Harlingen, TX 78552, TDLR records show. Construction is set to begin in May and finish by the end of 2026.

What is Huey Magoos Chicken Tenders?

Huey Magoos is an Orlando, Florida-based fast casual restaurant chain that specializes in premium, hand-crafted chicken tenders that the company characterizes as The Filet Mignon of Chicken. There are about 85 Huey Magoos across 12 states, with the majority located in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Ohio. Theres also one restaurant in Las Vegas.

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Shown is a Huey Magoo's Meal Deal with premium breaded chicken fingers, Magoo sauce, toast, crinkle-cut fries, and a handcrafted lemonade. Courtesy Huey Magoo's

What kind of food does Huey Magoos serve?

Huey Magoos claim to fame is its premium chicken tenders made from the best 3% of the chicken  the chicken tenderloin, company officials said. Huey Magoos marinates its tenders for 24 hours and offers them served hand-breaded or grilled. Customers can choose from a variety of dipping sauces, including the companys signature Magoos and Spicy Magoos dips, which foodies on Reddit describe as tangy, mayo-based dips that may include flavors such as garlic and onion powder and Worcestershire sauce.

Diners can get Huey Magoos tenders served in a sandwich, wrap or salad. Sides include crinkle-cut fries, hand-spun fresh-cut potato chips, coleslaw and side salads. Huey Magoos also offers a variety of beverage options, including specialty lemonades.

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Where is Huey Magoos expanding in Texas?
FILE - Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche holds a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, April 7, 2026. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks at a news conference at the Justice Department, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP President Donald Trump waves as he departs after an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2015 file photo, marijuana plants with their buds covered in white crystals called trichomes, are a few weeks away from harvest at the Ataraxia medical marijuana cultivation center in Albion, Ill.. Seth Perlman/AP President Donald Trump speaks during an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under U.S. law. But it does change the way it's regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I  reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse  to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

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Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

Blanche said Thursday that the Department of Justice was delivering on President Trumps promise to expand Americans access to medical treatment options. This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information, he said in a statement.

Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them. It sets up an expedited system for state-licensed medical marijuana producers and distributors to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

It makes clear that cannabis researchers won't be penalized for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or marijuana-derived products for use in their work, and it grants state-licensed medical marijuana companies a windfall by allowing them, for the first time, to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes.

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Any marijuana-derived medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration is similarly listed in Schedule III, it said.

The order represents a major policy shift for the U.S. government, which has continued its longstanding marijuana prohibition  dating to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937  even as nearly all the states have approved cannabis use in some form. Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, 40 have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use. Only Idaho and Kansas ban marijuana outright.

The regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way since California became the first state to adopt it in 1996, Blanche wrote.

Today the vast majority of States maintain comprehensive licensing frameworks governing cultivation, processing, distribution, and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes, Blanche wrote. Taken as a whole, they demonstrate a sustained capacity to achieve the public-interest objectives ... including protecting public health and safety and preventing the diversion of controlled substances into illicit channels.

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Marijuana or marijuana-derived products that are not distributed through a state medical marijuana program will continue to be classified in Schedule I. The Trump administration is launching a new administrative hearing process beginning in June to consider the broader rescheduling of marijuana.

Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some critics of the industry have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly than before.

The Justice Department under President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had proposed to reclassify marijuana, eliciting nearly 43,000 formal public comments. The Drug Enforcement Administration was still in the review process when Trump succeeded Biden in January, and Trump ordered that process to move along as quickly as legally possible.

Blanche's order sidestepped the review process by relying on a provision of federal law that allows the attorney general to determine the appropriate classification for drugs that the U.S. must regulate pursuant to an international treaty.

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It was unclear how the order might affect operations in states where licensed recreational marijuana shops also sell to medical patients. In Washington state, which in 2012 became one of the first states to legalize the adult use of marijuana, 302 of 460 licensed stores have endorsements allowing them to sell tax-free cannabis products to registered patients.

Many Republicans oppose loosening marijuana restrictions. More than 20 Republican senators, several of them staunch Trump allies, signed a letter last year urging the president to keep the current standards.

Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs. He signed another executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.

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___
District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa, left, stands with Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa as District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa speaks during a press conference Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Cigarroa Surgical Center in Laredo, Texas. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa and District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa pose with members of the Imaginarium of South Texas board Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Cigarroa Surgical Center in Laredo, Texas. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times Imaginarium of South Texas board president Oscar Castillo speaks as Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa, left, and District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa look on during a press conference Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Cigarroa Surgical Center in Laredo, Texas. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa and Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa pose for a photo Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Cigarroa Surgical Center in Laredo, Texas. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times Attendees listen during a press conference Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Cigarroa Surgical Center in Laredo, Texas, where the Imaginarium of South Texas announced its 2026 gala honorees. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times

The Imaginarium of South Texas will honor Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa and District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa at its annual Imagine Awards Gala in June, recognizing their contributions to medicine, public service and the arts in Laredo.

The gala is scheduled for 6:30-10:30 p.m. June 11 at Paseo Real Reception Hall. This years theme  Sustaining a Century of Family Medical and Civic Leadership  focuses on generations of involvement by the Cigarroa family in Laredos medical and civic life, according to organizers.

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The honorees were announced during a press conference Thursday.

We celebrate not only excellence, but legacy  a legacy defined by service, leadership and unwavering commitment to community, said Oscar Castillo, board president of the Imaginarium of South Texas. Through medicine, theyve healed. Through city leadership, they have uplifted. And through their enduring example, they have inspired countless individuals across our community.

Nora Murillo, executive director of the Imaginarium of South Texas, echoed that sentiment and noted the recognition reflects the organizations mission to honor individuals working in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

On the science side, Ricardo Cigarroa, a cardiologist, has practiced medicine in Laredo for decades and is widely known in the community for his clinical work and public presence. Over the years, his work has also extended into broader discussions about health care access along the border, where providers often face challenges tied to geography, limited resources and population needs.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ricardo Cigarroa became a visible local voice as residents sought information about the virus and its impact on the health care system, while continuing to treat patients, including through house calls as hospitals faced strain and uncertainty.

His profile extended beyond Laredo through features in state and national publications, including The Washington Post, The New York Times and Texas Monthly, which referred to him during the pandemic as the Dr. Fauci of South Texas.

On the arts side, Alyssa Cigarroa represents District VIII on the Laredo City Council and is the founder of the Daphne Art Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on expanding access to the arts in South Texas. Her work includes involvement in initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for artists and promoting cultural engagement in the community.

She was first elected to City Council in 2020 as a write-in candidate and reelected in 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched the Laredo Contra COVID platform to provide residents with updates and public health information.

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Being honored alongside her father carries personal and professional significance, she said.

The Imaginarium of South Texas represents something deeply important to our family. It brings together the sciences and the arts, she said. Sharing this recognition with my father makes it especially meaningful.

Alyssa Cigarroa said the recognition reflects values she learned growing up, including service, education and community involvement.

We are proud to be recognized, and this distinction represents the values we hold close: education, community, civic leadership and creating opportunities that enrich lives across Laredo. We are proud to support an organization that contributes so much to the community, she said.

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Murillo said the museum plays a unique role in Laredo and surrounding communities, citing limited access to similar institutions in the region. She added that the Imaginarium of South Texas is the only childrens museum within 150 miles.

Our children would have to travel to San Antonio to experience what the Imaginarium offers. Our mission is for innovation and compassion to intersect, creating lasting change, Murillo said. Thats what we want for our future generations.

Murillo said the annual gala serves as the organizations primary fundraiser, supporting programming focused on hands-on learning, creativity and engagement for children and families.

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Ricardo Cigarroa encouraged the community to support the organization as it grows.
A father and son were arrested on third-degree felony charges of deadly conduct by discharging a firearm on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, a day after an alleged drive-by shooting in north Laredo. Courtesy/Laredo Police Department Jose Armando Flores and Jose Ricardo Flores Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office Jose Armando Flores Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office Jose Ricardo Flores Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office

A father and son were arrested Wednesday following an alleged drive-by shooting the previous evening in north Laredo.

Laredo police received reports around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, of shots fired in north Laredo near Interstate 35 and Buck Fever Bend. Reports described the suspect vehicle as a newer black SUV that was traveling north on Interstate 35.

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Police said the suspect vehicle was not immediately located after the report. However, a screen recording from a social media account with the profile name Jose Flores allegedly showed shots being fired, and officers later discovered a home in the 2500 block of Sambar Loop with damage to its side.

The LPD Real Time Crime Center and the Texas Anti-Gang Unit assisted investigators in determining the suspect vehicle was a Dodge Durango registered in the 4400 block of Vientos Road.

Investigators identified the suspect as Jose Armando Flores, 20, and set up surveillance at the home where the vehicle was registered and parked. An hour after surveillance began, Flores and a woman left the home in a silver Chevrolet Silverado.

Authorities detained Flores and the woman during a traffic stop and took them to LPD headquarters for questioning. Flores allegedly admitted to the shooting but said the handgun used belonged to a friend. The woman was determined not to be involved in the incident.

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During continued surveillance of the home, investigators saw the Durango leave the residence. Authorities conducted a traffic stop and determined the driver was Jose Ricardo Flores, 54. He allegedly told authorities he was the driver, knew his son had a firearm and saw him fire two shots out of the front passenger window.

Investigators secured arrest warrants for the father and son. Both were arrested Wednesday on third-degree felony charges of deadly conduct by discharging a firearm. During a search of the home on Vientos Road, authorities discovered the firearm allegedly used in the incident and multiple new THC vape pens.

Jose Armando Flores was issued a $40,000 bond, and Jose Ricardo Flores was issued a $20,000 bond. Jose Ricardo Flores posted bond Wednesday, and Jose Armando Flores remained in custody as of Thursday morning.

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Jose Ricardo Flores has 16 prior arrests dating back to 1989. The arrests include multiple drug possession cases  some involving intent to distribute  along with prior assault involving family violence, criminal mischief, repeated DWI offenses with high blood alcohol levels and various traffic and public intoxication violations.
Closer view of Chavez on right side of mural. Macy Meinhardt

A debate is unfolding at the University of Houston over whether a decades-old campus mural featuring labor leader Cesar Chavez should remain as portrayed following recent allegations that have reshaped public understanding of his legacy.

The mural, "La Marcha Por La Humanidad" has hung in the Student Center South for more than 50 years as a symbol of Mexican American identity, struggle and activism. Created in 1973 by former art student Mario R. Gonzalez, the mural depicts Chavez alongside other civil rights figures, reflecting his influence on that era's labor and civil rights movement, a movement he led alongside organizer Dolores Huerta.

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Now, university officials say the work is under review after Huerta revealed to the New York Times that Chavez had sexually abused her and other young womenallegations that have sparked national debate and a renewed scrutiny of his legacy.

"The University of Houston is aware of the reports recently brought forward regarding Cesar Chavez, which fundamentally shifts the historical understanding of this figure," a university spokesperson told The Cougar, UHs student newspaper.

"As an institution, we unequivocally condemn sexual abuse and are committed to fostering a campus environment where survivors are supported."

The debate arrives as Texas college campuses are already grappling with how to balance the removal of controversial material against the need to equip students with an unvarnished understanding of today's world.

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The mural features Chavez on the right side including other prominent Chicana and Chicano leaders at the Student Center South at University of Houston. Macy Meinhardt

Gov. Greg Abbott has moved to eliminate the state's formal day of observance for Chavez, while the Texas Education Agency has directed K-12 schools to remove related instructional materials.

Meanwhile, the Houston City Council has already begun the process of formally removing fixtures across the city, such as those on Cesar Chavez Boulevard in Magnolia Park.

However, for Texas higher education systems, there is no statewide directive guiding how public colleges should respond, leaving campuses like UH to navigate the issue independently.

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The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), the primary agency overseeing the state's public universities, has not issued any directive to campuses on how to handle existing materials tied to Chavez or related controversies.

"The THECB does not have a role in overseeing the issues you mentioned," a spokesperson from THECB told Chron.

Colleges and universities are required to follow state laws and are overseen by their respective institutional and Board leaderships, according to THECB.

The acts committed by Cesar Chavez against girls and women are reprehensible. I hope the victims are able to find the justice and peace they deserve. The movement that Cesar Chavez helped lead was always larger than one person or legacy. As with most things, progress is an https://t.co/3GgkqkwLSs  Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) March 18, 2026

"Removal is not accountabilityit is erasure, and erasure is not what a university is for," senior David Parra, told The Cougar. "UH exists to educate, and that means engaging with complexity, not curating it away."

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University officials say the mural itself will remain in place, but a group of campus stakeholders, including faculty, students and subject matter experts, will review "how to best address the specific depiction of Cesar Chavez within the artwork," the university said.
President Donald Trump is in hot water after reposting derogatory comments about immigrants from countries such as India and China. (Photo by Allison Robbert/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im

The post, originally written by radio host Michael Savage, included disparaging language about immigrants from multiple countries, including references to India and China as "hellholes."

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"A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet," Savage wrote in the post. "They're not like the European Americans of today and their ancestorsthey all integrated and became Americans in the melting pot."

"They've done more damage to this nation than all the mafia families put together, in my un-humble opinion," he wrote. "Gangsters with laptops. They've robbed us blind, treated us like second-class citizens, let the turd world triumph, stepped on our flag, et cetera."

Trump shared the post on his Truth Social account without additional comment.

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The post comes amid a broader wave of anti-Indian and Islamophobic rhetoric that has surfaced in recent months, including from Texas lawmakers like Congressman Brandon Gill, who in February noted how his constituents were "desperately concerned about the Islamization of the Dallas area."

Likewise, civil rights groups like Asian Texans for Justice are concerned that Trump's repost of Savage's comments reinforces concerns that rhetoric targeting immigrants is becoming more mainstream.

"Donald Trump knows exactly what he is doing when he reposts this kind of content," Executive Director Nabila Mansoor told Chron in an emailed statement. "He takes hate that might have stayed online and turns it into permission for public officials to say it louder, push it further, and build policy around it."

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Trump reposted a rant targeting Asians, prompting backlash from Texas leaders and candidates. Anadolu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

"That is exactly why this matters in Texas, where leaders are already teeing up the next legislative session with attacks on Muslim communities and false claims about Sharia law," Mansoor added. "At Asian Texans for Justice, we are fighting for a Texas where all people feel bold in their belonging. Our communities shouldn't have to live under the threat of being turned into a political target just because someone decided fear was useful."

Texas lawmakers react

The comments also did not sit well with elected officials like Rep. Salman Bhojani of Euless, Texas, who both took personal offense to the post.

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"Referring to India, China, or any nation as a 'hellhole' is xenophobic, plain and simple," he told Chron in an emailed statement. "My wife is an Indian American. This rhetoric is not abstract to me, it is personal."

Houston Rep. Gene Wu, on the other hand, was more direct and blunt, even calling out the president's health.

"Donald Trump is clearly not well, and he's taking it out on American families," he told Chron in a statement. "As gas prices skyrocket due to his war with Iran and new US Census data shows Texas is more expensive to live in than ever before, the President is far more focused on telling millions of American families like mine that their birthplaces are 'hell-holes' and that they are 'gangsters with laptops.'"

Anti-Asian sentiments are not new, but still exhausting.

For Pooja Sethi, a Democratic nominee for Texas House District 47 who recently faced online attacks tied to her Indian heritage, speaking out against these incidents can become tiring as they become more common in the current environment.

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"This is exhausting," Sethi told Chron. "We're just like, as a community, just tired of being the punching bag for politicians in general. It was like, here we go again."

While these anti-Asian American sentiments aren't new, Sethi said the rhetoric reflects a broader shift in tone, one she believes has intensified in recent years.

"It feels worse these days," she said. "Part of it is because we are in an economy right now where people are feeling strained and stressed out and we have a scarcity mindset going on right now where it is, it can't be us, it's them."

She added that many of the communities being targeted are made up of people who have long been part of the country's social and economic fabric.

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"People who are born and raised here: people in this country who are as American as people can imagine," she said. "I genuinely am so scared and worried about the world that we're raising our children in."

More than a simple repost

Trump's repost also comes as debates over immigration and identity continue to play out in Texas politics, where lawmakers and public figures have drawn scrutiny for comments about Muslim and South Asian communities.

"We can have a legitimate policy debate about birthright citizenship, but there is no place for this kind of dehumanizing language in our public discourse," Rep. Bhojani added. "Indian Americans and Chinese Americans are our neighbors, our colleagues, and proud contributors to this country. When the President amplifies rhetoric that demeans entire communities, it causes real harm.

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"Every Texas Republican who has ever shaken hands with an Asian American voter, taken a donation from an Asian American business owner, or asked for our votes owes our community an immediate public condemnation," Wu continued. "And while they stay silent, Texas House Democrats are fighting for every family in this state, no matter where you were born or what your last name is."

For Sethi, the concern goes beyond any one post.

"It is exhausting that there's people in this country who wake up, do the work, fight for better healthcare, fight for a better economy, fight for better schools and theres another part of this country that does nothing but wake up and put hateful things on social media attacking the very communities that are trying to do the work," she said.

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Shown is the welcome sign at the McAllen International Airport. Courtesy City of McAllen

The busiest airport in deep South Texas is gearing up for a major upgrade  one that will allow it to better meet the booming passenger and economic growth currently happening in the Rio Grande Valley.

Officials in McAllen say a $180 million overhaul of the McAllen International Airport could begin within the next year. The massive terminal expansion project would add new gates, baggage claim areas, increased ticket counter space, concessions, restrooms, an expanded Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint and a larger concourse. Its a much-needed renovation for an airport that last saw significant upgrades in the 1990s. And it comes as McAllen has already begun feeling growing pains.

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Weve been feeling the pinch, airport director Jeremy Santoscoy told MySA.

Santoscoy was referring to how activity at McAllen International has quickly begun to outpace the space available. Those who see the airport day-in and day-out know firsthand how cramped it has become as new airlines offer new routes and the number of travelers has grown. In November 2024, the airport achieved a milestone of 1 million passengers in a single passenger year. And a recent capacity study confirmed what airport officials already knew: the airport is running out of space, and much of its existing infrastructure  like HVAC and electrical systems  need renovation.

So, were working on a design, and that entails the addition of about 90,000 square feet and renovating about (another) 70,000 square feet and adding four gates, Santoscoy said.

The airport is nearing a situation where it must rearrange aircraft like a game of musical chairs because there are not enough gates available.

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Right now, were very tight on the apron. Weve got to remote-park aircraft.  As early as May, were going to have seven remain overnights (sic) with only six gates. So we have to remote-park aircraft as it is, Santoscoy told McAllen city commissioners during a workshop in late February.

Shown is an architectural drawing of a proposed $180 million expansion and renovation of the McAllen International Airport terminal. Courtesy City of McAllen

As part of the terminal expansion, a new concourse will be built on the airports west side that will include construction of four new gates. That will expand McAllen Internationals capacity to a total of 10 gates while still leaving room to add an 11th, Santoscoy told city leaders. And an area that currently houses a coffee shop and concessions will be turned into an expanded TSA checkpoint. The concession spaces, meanwhile, will be moved further down the new concourse. And new restrooms will be added both before and past the security checkpoint, Santoscoy said.

Separately, the airport is also in the middle of building a new 200-space parking lot across the street and a 44-space so-called cell phone lot  a temporary parking area for motorists who are dropping off or picking up passengers.

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Santoscoy described the terminal expansion project as crucial, not just for the city of McAllen, but for the region as a whole. About 3 million people live in the cross-border region that encompasses the Valley and the Reynosa and Matamoros metros.

But whats truly rare is that the region is serviced by four international airports located in McAllen, Harlingen, Brownsville and Reynosa. Of those traveling from the Valley, the lion's share  some 48%  fly McAllen International, Santoscoy said.

All told, McAllen International Airport generates some $1.2 billion in regional economic impact annually. And local business leaders recognize the airports importance not just for weekend vacationers but also for binational commerce.

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Authorities say they are investigating the discovery of remains of three children, believed to between 3 and 7 years of age, in Memphis that could have been there for years
Kicking off a weekend of much-anticipated events last weekend, April 17, was the inaugural Conor Gearty Memorial Lecture.

The lecture - which was named in honour of the highly regarded Longford-born law professor who sadly passed away in September last year and who himself had addressed the festival last April  was delivered by Professor Fergus DArcy and focused on the subject of Granard son, James Bronterre OBrien.

In attendance on the evening was Professor Geartys family. His brother, esteemed solicitor Frank Gearty, told the Longford Leader of his delight to be in attendance.

< Use the arrows to view the pictures >

I had the pleasure just now of coming from the inaugural lecture of the Granard Booktown Festival, which was given by Professor Fergus DArcy. A fascinating talk on James O'Brien, a fabulous man born and granted who immigrated and made good in academic circles, and then in radical circles in Britain in the 19th century."

"Mirrored by my late brother Connor, who passed away last September, and who gave a similar lecture here in Granard Booktown Festival last year in April of 2025. It was a great pleasure to be at this lecture in memory of Conor and to witness such a lovely talk.

Read: 'A scholar and a gentleman' -Flurry of tributes paid to distinguished Longford professor

Later that evening, comedian Jarlath Regan took to the stage alongside journalist Aoife Barry in the School Hall where he regaled audience members with plenty of conversation and trademark wit.

Saturdays line-up treated attendees to a wide variety of topics and speakers, including British author Guy Stagg, Irish novelist Sebastian Barry, and author and teacher Irish with Mollie to name just a few. A highlight of the day was a captivating conversation between writer Jenny McShane and Longfords own Anne-Marie Tomchak in Granard Library.

Also on the days list of events was a beautiful celebration of the late writer and broadcaster, Manchan Magan, who was himself a guest speaker at the festival in 2023 and 2024.

Manchans wife Aisling Rogerson and his good friend Michael Keegan-Dolan joined former county librarian, Mary Carleton Reynolds for a conversation in remembrance of the author.

Read: Hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald says 'Fittest Superstars' in Longford will be 'brilliant'

Sundays schedule saw Dr Johnny Hanson discuss with broadcaster Ella McSweeney his book Living with Lynx, in which he looks at the practicalities of learning to live with lynx, wolves and bears again. Next up was a conversation between Prime Times Fran McNulty and playwright Frank Shouldice, which was later followed by the much anticipated on-stage conversation between Miriam OCallaghan and Longford-native, writer Belinda McKeon.

Chatting all things politics in The Library was Virgin Medias Gavan Reilly, following on from which was bestselling author Eimear Ni Bhraonains chat with Off The Balls Eoin Sheahan about her number 1 selling book The Dodger: DJ Carey and the Great Betrayal.

A big crowd turned out to hear Eimear and Eoin discuss the subject of her number 1 book, the prolific downfall of the Kilkenny hurler.

The headline event of the entire weekend was without doubt the conversation between renowned crime true crime author Paul Williams and former State Pathologist turned author, Dr Marie Cassidy. The sold out talk drew great praise from those in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Cathaoirleach Garry Murtagh said the council have big hopes for the future of Granard Booktown, I want to commend a fantastic young committee who have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure this festival is the success that it is and I want to especially mention the co-directors Ronan OToole and John OConnell who put in a huge amount of effort on working into that."

Read: 'Free legal aid has the country destroyed' Frustration in Longford over soft approach to serial offenders

"Of course we here in Longford County Council are delighted to support the event. It has grown that much that we would envisage that it will be the number one festival in Ireland in the future.

Cllr Padraig McNamara also praised the success of the festival.

This will grow because we have two great men at the helm John and Ronan and a great team behind them. With the community and Longford County Council behind it, this will continue to be a great event for Granard going forward.

Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme
A new information and support website, CLDAF.ie (County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum) has been launched to provide online support for citizens and professionals tackling substance misuse.

The launch, which took place in the Longford Arms Hotel, was attended by a variety of professionals including the Longford Gardai, the HSE, the Midland Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, and Merchants Quay Ireland.

Amy Leavy and Siobhan Cronogue PPN, Maria Nichel and Jacinta Brady (Leap) at the launch of the County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum (CLDAF) website cldaf.ie Picture: Shelley Corcoran

The website, CLDAF.ie, promotes links to a wide range of helpful services for adults, parents and under-18s in Longford in relation to substance misuse.

The site also connects visitors to information such as up-to-date drug names - a valuable resource for parents and professionals dealing with young people and who wish to familiarise themselves with the ever changing database of narcotic nicknames.

READ NEXT: Longford artists invited to enter this year's AIB Portrait and AIB Young Portrait Prizes

In praising the new resource, Inspector Declan McGlynn said Its a fantastic graduation from what was a paper-based project, growing over 18 years to today, where we're IT friendly.

Inspector McGlynn added, "The site is a one-stop shop for support and guidance in a wide number of areas. It provides incredible support for Longford community groups and families."

"Were dealing with some very, very sensitive topics here, but this is the most positive way to deal with them."

At the launch of the County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum (CLDAF) website cldaf.ie were Angela Moran, Breda Greaves, Emer Maguire and Siobhan Martin

Addressing the crowd, Inspector Patrick McGirl discussed Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement (DRIVE), which concentrates on helping people experiencing drug related intimidation and violence."

READ NEXT: Longford residents awoken from house by neighbours during arson attack on property

Said Insp McGirl, If someone is in the throes of addiction and their family is affected by drug related intimidation, that can take numerous forms such as threats, online threats, intimidation, and criminal damage to the extent of windows being broken and houses being burned."

Insp McGirl added, "I dont have to go into detail of the serious incidents that have happened recently in Longford as Im sure youre aware of them but all of those have come under the umbrella of drug related intimidation.

For more, visit CLDAF.ie

Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme
Multiple All Ireland winner Davy Fitzgerald has confidently predicted the the much-anticipated Fittest Superstars which is coming to Longford next week and is a fundraising event for Longford RFC, will be 'brilliant'.

Proceeds from the event will also go to St. Christophers Special School.

Davy said teams of four people compete in 'Fittest Superstars' and each team must include at least one man and one woman.

The competitors attempt to complete obstacle courses designed for strength and strategy and many elements may be familiar to participants.

READ NEXT: Prize pot of 5,000 as Davy Fitzgeralds Fittest Superstars coming to Longford

Davy said there will be a 'brilliant' atmosphere on Saturday, May 2 for a very good cause.

There will be a 5,000 prize pot and the Clare man said the event will follow the much-loved format of Irelands Fittest Family, featuring some of the exciting obstacles from the hit show, which he co-created in 2011.

"You'd see different courses on Ireland's Fittest Family and we come and we build the course and teams of four participate in it.

"You know, it's a tough challenge but while it's tough it's also a bit of fun."

Davy said there are 13 obstacles each team has to navigate and each team has to work together and communicate positively to achieve the best possible results.

"The course is pretty long. but it's a nice course.

"It's the exact same as when you watch Ireland's Fittest Family in the final, it's a very similar course.

"You need to interact with the four people on the different obstacles, you just can't do it on your own and you need to figure out different things."

READ NEXT: PICTURES | Lovely atmosphere at successful Longford Walk in the Park for Parkinsons

Davy, who organises about 10 similar events across the country annually, said the teams are 'raising money for a good cause, the club' and they are doing it with their friends and there is a very enjoyable strategic side to it.

"It is a challenge but if you have any small bit of fitness at all you'll be able to do it.

"It takes about maybe 10 minutes to get it done and you need to be able to think your way around it and it's a bit of craic as well."

"A lot of people are into their fitness and that, but do you have to be extremely fit?

"No, it depends what you want to do this for; you can do it to win it or you can do it to just say I've done it. "

Davy said they get a lot of teams who are just 'mad to say, I went up the ramp, I went over a 10 foot wall' and take on the challenge.

"It's brilliant, we've been doing this now for years and it's gone down very well.

"So, it's a good fundraiser, it is a bit of fun and I suppose the biggest objective of this is Longford Rugby Club want funds to do X amount.

"Those funds help with underage, senior teams, they help a lot of people so that's the cause and that's the why.

"Our event is just what you see on TV and people saying 'Do you know what, I'd love to have a go at that' so it works well from both of our points of view.

"What I love is teams just having a think about what they're doing.

"It's even more than fitness, you need to be able to have a bit of a strategy going around and I love that part of it.

"We love the event, I've a good few people working with me and all I can say is we'll be very helpful on the day, it's hands-on, you won't ever feel alone on the course, there will be plenty of help there."

Each team must raise 800 to enter and members of the Longfords Fittest Superstars committee are available to give tips on raising funds.

There is more information on the event and how to enter on the Longford RFC website www.longfordrugby.com.
A senior infants teacher at a Midlands school has stormed the Amazon charts just twenty-four hours after the release of her debut novel, Lady Dixons Niece.

Swapping the classroom for the bookshelves, Ms Chele Crawley made waves on Amazon, topping its bestsellers in Ireland. "It was the stuff of dreams. I honestly couldnt believe it when I saw it start to climb the bestseller table and take the top spot. Its incredible to see the story I wrote up there at the top of the charts."

Chele Crawleys romantic historical fiction novel, set in England during the Regency era, follows Annaliese Schmidt as she charts her course into high society.

From the wild moors of Devon to the bustling streets of London, this ambitious debutante will soon learn that social mobility comes at the expense of her moral compass.

Masquerading under a cloak of deception, the protagonist must carefully navigate challenging social conventions whilst quelling the whims of a cunning blackmailer who threatens to expose her secret.

Also read: Longford takes over The Capital: Dublin events celebrate 225 Years of Maria Edgeworths Belinda

Chele, who teaches at St Colmans N.S, Mucklagh, recalls that the initial idea came to her as a teenager while learning to play sonatas on the piano. She imagined what it would be like to be an impostor in one of Jane Austens ballroom scenes and soon found that she had the plot for a story that wouldnt quite leave her, even twenty years on.

It was while on maternity leave in 2020 that Chele first got serious about putting pen to paper, but it wasnt until a shock cancer diagnosis in 2023 that made this teacher quite determined to realise her dream. When you receive a health scare, it really focuses the mind on priorities. I didnt want to keep putting the book on the long finger. I was resolved to finish the book, finish the series, and get it out there.

Chele, who is thankful to be in remission and returned to her teaching role at school in the spring of 2025, says that writing and editing were utterly cathartic and just the tonic she needed while going through cancer treatment. Im all about seeing the positives in a bleak situation, so in a strange turn of events, my cancer journey provided me with the gift of time to complete the manuscript and start the publishing journey. It was a major life disruption, but it was also a catalyst spurring me on to stop doubting myself and to be brave and put my work out there.

When asked who Lady Dixons Niece is written for, Chele responded that it is for everyone who enjoys a compelling cat-and-mouse story, a slow-burning romance, and most especially for fans of Bridgerton and Jane Austen.

"Im extremely grateful to my school for being so supportive of me on this writing journey. I have been so fortunate to job-share this academic year, which has allowed me to pursue my passion."

She continues, "I absolutely adore teaching, but it is extra sweet to have this other side of my life, a creative side that indulges my love of the written word. Im really looking forward to kick-starting the summer with author events in May at The Maria Edgeworth Festival in Edgeworthstown, Longford, and the Mullingar Literary Festival in July, and then attending book festivals and book clubs dotted around the country for book-signings, readings and engagement with readers."

PICTURES | Edgeworthstown to host wonderful Jane Austen Friendship Postcards exhibition

Chele says that once the summer is over, shell be back to her pupils at school, and returning to long evenings at her laptop, beavering away on the sequel in her Of Social Standing series.

Lady Dixons Niece is available in paperback and Kindle format on Amazon.

Check out www.chelecrawley.com for more details on where to get your copy locally.
Business owners and managers in Ballina are being encouraged to come together next month for a practical event focused on protecting local enterprises.

The breakfast session, titled Protecting Your Business in 2026, will take place at iQ Ballina on Friday, May 1. The event will bring together members of the towns business community for a one-hour programme of advice, networking and discussion.

Hosted by Rouse Insurance Brokers, the event will run from 9.30am to 10.30am and will focus on key risks facing small and medium-sized businesses.

Topics set to be covered include business interruption insurance, cyber risk, key person cover, shareholder and partnership protection, as well as common gaps that businesses may overlook until issues arise.

The event is aimed at SME owners, directors and managers seeking clear, practical guidance without technical jargon, and the opportunity to connect with other local business leaders.

READ MORE: Meet the Ballina boys who are solving AIs shortcomings at sixteen

Managing Director Hugh Rouse said the initiative is about providing support to the Ballina business community.

Local businesses are dealing with enough day to day without having to second-guess whether they have the right protections in place, he said. This event is about bringing the business community together, sharing practical advice, and helping people better understand some of the risks worth reviewing in 2026.

Attendees will hear real-world examples showing how business protection works in practice and where vulnerabilities can arise.

Organisers say the event also aims to strengthen local connections, creating a space for collaboration as well as learning.

Places are limited, and advance registration is encouraged through the organisers website.

READ MORE: Permission granted for artisan bakery in Mayo town
Senator Mark Duffy has today welcomed significant progress on a long-awaited development in north Mayo.

The IDA Business Park on the Sligo Road, Ballina, is now set to develop, marking a major step forward for economic growth in Mayo.

In a statement, Senator Duffy confirmed that a tender process is now advancing for critical site preparation and access works, alongside planning of the site.

This initiative aims to unlock the parks full potential to attract high-skilled, high-paying jobs to the region. I am delighted to confirm that progress is finally being made on the development of the IDA site on the Sligo Road in Ballina, said Senator Mark Duffy.

This has been a priority of mine since being elected, and Im grateful for the support of Minister Peter Burke and the IDA for getting it to this stage.

The tender will facilitate essential groundwork to prepare the site for future investment and development.

READ MORE: 41 houses refused planning by Mayo County Council in Castlebar

Senator Duffy further stated he will continue working closely with stakeholders to ensure the project advances and delivers tangible benefits for the people of Mayo.

In a video shared to his social media, Senator Duffy expressed his thanks to Minister Peter Burke for his support on the progress of the Mayo IDA site.

It's been proposed since 2008. It's one of the reasons I got into politics was because of the lack of delivery on certain key projects like this, and it's great to see this is moving forward, so I'd like to thank Peter for that, he added.

Further speaking on the matter, Minister Peter Burke said he welcomes the strong investment in rural Ireland.
A major tourism and cultural boost is on the way for Mayo as the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark was awarded the prestigious UNESCO Global Geopark status.

Todays (Thursday, April 23) announcement marks the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Connacht and places the region among a select international network of areas of outstanding geological, cultural and community significance.

It is also the first UNESCO site on the island of Ireland to include a Gaeltacht region.

The designation covers parts of south-west Mayo, including communities such as Ballinrobe, Cong and Tourmakeady, alongside areas in north Galway.

Local organisers say the accolade reflects not just the regions landscapes  including lakes, mountains and unique geological features  but also its rich heritage, strong community spirit and the preservation of the Irish language.

READ MORE: I dont mind if people do or dont like it - Kim Day on Croagh Patrick painting

Embracing new opportunities also forms part of the agenda especially those which complement the sustained developmental efforts of people and their communities in order to achieve the coveted UNESCO status for the region.

Tomas O Siochain, CEO of Udaras na Gaeltachta, said: The ratification of Joyce Country & Western Lakes as a UNESCO Global Geopark is a landmark achievement that celebrates the extraordinary natural heritage and living Irish language culture of this remarkable region. Udaras na Gaeltachta is proud to support this recognition, which will open new doors for sustainable tourism, community development, and economic opportunity for the Gaeltacht communities at its heart.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, said: UNESCO Global Geopark status shines a well-deserved spotlight not just on our unique landscape, but on the people who live and work here and have cared for it over generations. While the economic benefits are clear, theres also a strong conservation element to this award, supporting communities to protect our natural heritage, biodiversity and way of life, and ensuring this special part of Galway and Mayo is preserved and respected into the future.

Cllr Sean Carey, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, said: This recognition of the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark as a UNESCO Global Geopark is a significant milestone for the county and local community in the area. Here in Mayo, we have always recognised the uniqueness of this stunning landscape and its geological heritage  but this designation will see this recognised on the world stage. I want to commend the different communities who have rowed in behind the project and been key drivers to where we have got to today and hopefully, they will be the ones to reap the rewards with increased tourism, educational and business opportunities to sustain and grow their communities.

Koen Verbruggen, Director of Geological Survey Ireland, said: We at Geological Survey Ireland are delighted to see Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark join the UNESCO Geopark family in Ireland. It joins the existing UNESCO Global Geoparks of Cuilcagh Lakelands (Cavan and Fermanagh), the Copper Coast (Waterford) and the Burren and Cliffs of Moher (Co. Clare). The UNESCO recognition is based on the unique geology of international importance in the region and, as in other areas it will generate increased awareness of geosciences, the promotion and the protection of our geological heritage. The geology of international importance within the geopark tells the unfolding story of the Earths creation over a period of 700 million years. The opening and closing of an ocean, periods of great volcanoes and earthquakes, mountain building and erosion, the final shaping of the landscape by glaciers as they came and went, as well as the story of climate and life as it changed over those 700 million years, this is our geoheritage.

Niall O Donnchu, Director General with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, said: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage warmly welcomes the announcement that the Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark will receive its UNESCO Global Geopark accolade on 23rd April 2026. This brings significant opportunity for community development, education and training; business enterprise and tourism ventures. NPWS particularly looks forward to working with the Geopark and its communities on biodiversity initiatives which will enrich and showcase the enormous landscape diversity, unique geology, natural history and cultural heritage that the area offers.

Sean OCionnaigh, Cathaoirleach of Comharchumann Dhuiche Sheoigheach Teo, said: The JCWL UNESCO Global Geopark status celebrates our special landscape and the people who have looked after it for generations. It can also help the local economy in a sustainable way. It supports communities in caring for the environment and preserving our language, traditions and way of life. So that the communities here will continue to thrive.

Trish Walsh, Chair JCWL GeoEnterprise (voluntary cross-community Geopark representative group), said: In 2009 the Irish economy was in a serious recession and rural communities in the West of Ireland were severely impacted. Our seed of hope was the belief that our region is a special place that needs to be developed sustainably for the future of our young people who deserved to be able to live and thrive in our communities into the future. UNESCO Global Geopark status is an international brand of quality that will help attract investment and market the region for sustainable growth and development. We are looking to the future as Geoparks are established through bottom-up processes empowering local people and stakeholders in managing their own heritage and playing a significant role in developing thriving and vibrant communities.

Miriam Kennedy, Head of the Wild Atlantic Way, said: Failte Ireland warmly welcomes the ratification of the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark as an official UNESCO Global Geopark, a milestone that recognises the regions outstanding geological heritage and its deep cultural significance. This prestigious status represents a significant opportunity for sustainable regional tourism development, supporting local communities while showcasing the unique landscapes, heritage, and stories that define this remarkable part of Ireland. Failte Ireland looks forward to working with local stakeholders to maximise the benefits of this award, ensuring that the Joyce Country and Western Lakes UNESCO Global Geopark continues to thrive as a destination that balances conservation, community, and visitor experience.

To mark this historic and high-profile UNESCO accolade for the JCWL Geopark, the passionate communities have come together to celebrate and host a series of community events which are dedicated to the ethos, character, spirit, culture and heritage of the respective communities. These events are created by multi generations living in the JCWL Geopark

Celebrations will open on Thursday 23rd and run until Sunday 26th April and everyone is invited to check out https //www.joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie for all the latest details. These events are inspired by the ethos of their communities and are dedicated to their respective location.

The Geopark joins other Irish UNESCO Global Geoparks such as The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark, helping to raise the international profile of the west of Ireland.

The Geopark spans 20 communities, all of which have played a role in achieving the status through years of collaboration, sustainability initiatives and cultural preservation.

A weekend of celebrations is planned across the region from April 23rd to 26th. Events will include guided walks, community and cultural showcases, and a range of music, food and heritage experiences highlighting local talent and traditions.

Congs Crossroad Community Centre will host an evening event on Friday, April 24, from 6pm to 9pm, with an artisan food producers showcase, contributions from community groups, businesses and partner organisations involved in the Geopark, along with live music performances throughout the evening.

In Ballinrobe, the local historical society will host a guided walking tour on Saturday, April 25, from 10am to 12 noon.

READ MORE: Atlantic Island Escapes returns to showcase Mayos offshore gems

Later that day, Tourmakeady will host a vibrant community celebration from 2pm to 5pm at Halla Tuar Mhic Eadaigh. The event will showcase the best of local culture, including a traditional Irish music session, exhibitions from local artists and schools, and displays from local food producers and businesses.

Organisers say the UNESCO designation is expected to attract increased visitor numbers, bringing economic benefits to local businesses and supporting rural development.

The designation is also expected to open up opportunities for further investment, infrastructure and tourism development across the region.

Geopark representatives said the recognition highlights a positive national story about rural Ireland, showcasing how local communities can work together to achieve international recognition.

With UNESCO Global Geoparks attracting millions of visitors worldwide each year, the new status is expected to significantly enhance Mayos appeal as a destination for nature, heritage and cultural tourism.

READ MORE: Mayo Dark Sky Park to celebrate 10 years with Wild and Dark festival
A Mayo pub could be yours - fully refurbished and accommodation included.

For sale by Property Partners Gill & Glynn via the iamsold Bidding Platform.

CLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY TO VIEW MORE IMAGES

Please note this property in Tourmakeady will be offered by online auction (unless sold prior). For auction date and time please visit iamsold.ie. Vendors may decide to accept pre-auction bids so please register your interest with us to avoid disappointment.

The Lough Mask Inn is a newly refurbished, substantial mixed-use property located in an idyllic setting that offers exciting income generation potential. This fully licensed public house boasts a long standing trade and comes with the benefit of a 7-day licence.

Set on a generous 0.37 hectares (0.91 acre) site lake-shore site, this property offers an exciting opportunity for further development to become a stunning destination venue, glamping site, guest house, or other tourist related enterprise in one of the West of Ireland`s most stunning locations. Another alternative is to convert Louge area into two self-contained apartments (subject to PP) while retaining the existing bar. The dwelling house has just been fully refurbished (completed 1st May 2025)

Heating is by means of Oil-Fired Central Heating (new boiler and radiators fitted) together with an oil stove.

Tarmacadam was recently laid around the property together with a small concrete yard area and hard surface area was cleared to the rear of the site.

Fully fitted food truck (available for sale separately).

Nestled on the north shore of the majestic Lough Mask and sheltered by the breath-taking Partry Mountain range this property enjoys a tranquil, rugged setting and phenomenal lifestyle and commercial prospects.

Peppered with stunning walking routes and beauty spots, Tourmakeady is an angler`s paradise thanks to the rich brown trout fishing that is to be enjoyed on Lough Mask.

The village boasts rich hunting grounds too, offering great sport for game shooting and wild fowling as well as a thriving population of deer in the surrounding highlands.

The area is also one of Ireland`s few remaining Gaeltacht regions (where the Irish language is still spoken), adding to its truly unique appeal.

This property was recently upgraded with double-glazed uPVC windows and doors throughout, the roof was replaced (felt and tiling), parts of the property were slabbed and insulated, replumbed, new sanitary wear/bathrooms fully renovated.

Enhanced BER available as a result, however, BER advertised was assessed prior to upgrade works.
Were Here to Help You Move Forward

Considering a college to attend next fall may not have been part of your current plans, and we know this can feel uncertain. Were here to offer clarity, support, and a path forward.



If youre exploring your options, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) can help you transition smoothly and stay on track toward your degree. Our focus is simple: make sure you feel supported, connected, and able to move forward with confidence.



Located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, MCLA is a public liberal arts college known for small classes, close faculty relationships, and strong value. Students are supported, challenged, and prepared for meaningful careers and lives.

Benefits of an MCLA Experience

MCLA is a stable, public liberal arts college and receives financial support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Currently, MCLA is in the best financial position in institutional history. Our students are known by name, supported by dedicated faculty and staff, and prepared for success without unnecessary student debt.

MCLA offers

 Small classes and close faculty mentorship

 An affordability model that prioritizes longterm financial stability

 A campus culture focused on personal, academic, and community wellbeing

 Strong outcomes provide return-on-investment and solid career preparation

 The same athletic conference as Anna Maria, creating opportunities to continue playing your sport while pursuing your degree.

Programs that align with your goals

Many of the programs offered at Anna Maria have strong academic pathways at MCLA, including:

If your program is more specialized, well work with you to identify the best academic path forward, so you dont lose momentum.
The UK Parliament has passed a landmark bill banning cigarette sales to those born after 2008, aiming to create a smoke-free generation.

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Tobacco and Vapes Bill



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Can a Lifetime Smoking Ban Really Create a Smoke-Free Generation?

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How Does the Bill Regulate Vapes, Advertising, and Public Spaces?

A complete ban on selling tobacco to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009

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Ban on vending machine sales of vaping products Restrictions on advertising and promotion of tobacco and nicotine products

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UK policymaker and expert perspectives on the smoke-free generation policy: a qualitative study



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Tobacco and Vapes Bill - (https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3879) UK policymaker and expert perspectives on the smoke-free generation policy: a qualitative study - (https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e001808)

The United Kingdom has taken a major stepThis forward-looking legislation aims toadvertising, and public smoking spaces.Considered one of the most significant public health measures in decades, the law is designed to reduceIn a landmark decision, the UK Parliament has passed legislation that ensures anyone currently. This strategy works by incrementally raising the legal age for buying tobacco each year, eventually phasing out smoking entirely.The policy was first proposed by formerAfter progressing through parliamentary stages in 2024, the bill has now been finalized by both Houses and awaits royal assent.Health Minister Baroness Merron described the development as transformative, stating, It is a landmark bill; it will create a smoke-free generation the biggest public health intervention in a generation, and it will save lives.Health Secretary Wes Streeting reinforced this, calling it a historic moment and emphasizing that prevention-focused reforms can reduce disease burden and improve national health outcomes.From a policy standpoint, experts believe theResearch involving policymakers and public health leaders highlights strong support for the initiative, though discussions continue around enforcement strategies and product coverage.TheWhile often seen as alternatives to traditional smoking, their growing popularity among youth has raised health concerns.Key provisions of the bill include:Additionally, the bill expandsIt also introducesA related policy will banThe legislations long title further emphasizes its comprehensive scopecovering supply restrictions, retailer regulation, advertising controls, and the creation of smoke-free and vape-free environmentsmaking it one of the most extensive tobacco control frameworks to date.The strong regulatory push reflects the severe health risks associated with smoking, which remains the leading cause of preventable death globally.Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and is linked to:These risks arise due toDespite widespread evidence supporting tobacco control, the bill has faced resistance from parts of the tobacco and retail industries. Lord Naseby acknowledged this concern, stating that it has upset a great many people, and stressed the importance of education to prevent smoking uptake.Expert insights from qualitative research involving policymakers and health leaders suggest that. Importantly, enforcement is expected to focus on retailers rather than individuals().Overall, the UKs approach represents aSource-Medindia
Speculation around a biopic on businessman Ashneer Grover has been doing the rounds online, with reports linking a rather unexpected star cast to the project. Names like Aamir Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Imran Khan were said to be associated with the film, sparking curiosity among fans. However, it now appears that these claims may be nothing more than speculation.

 Instagram/Ashneer Grover According to earlier reports, Imran Khan was supposedly being considered to portray Ashneer Grover on screen, with Shraddha Kapoor cast as his wife. There were also suggestions that Aamir Khan might be backing the project as a producer. But when contacted by HT City, Imran dismissed the rumours outright, stating, I have not even heard of this project. This is not true. His response effectively shuts down the ongoing chatter, at least for now. Ashneer Grover, co-founder of BharatPe, became a household name after his stint on Shark Tank India. Known for his blunt and often controversial remarks, he quickly stood out among the panel of investors. One of his most widely discussed catchphrases featuring the term doglapan went viral across social media, eventually inspiring the title of his book, Doglapan: The Hard Truth about Life and Start-Ups.
Elected officials in Ohio who are also members of the military could soon be eligible for blanket job protections if theyre ordered to active duty. Thats the goal of a new piece of joint legislation sponsored by state representatives David Thomas (R-Jefferson) and Ty Mathews (R-Findlay).

It should not take a state law change to enforce common sense, but if that is what it takes, we are committed to supporting our military service members and their public service, said Rep. Thomas, in a statement released to Military.com. The bill aims to provide clarity in these types of situations.

Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) sponsored joint legislation to protect elected officials serving on active military duty deployments (Ohio House of Representatives).

If passed, House Bill 823 would prohibit any elected office from being declared vacant due to active-duty military deployment or reserve service obligations. It would also mandate that military service constitutes a valid absence against attendance requirements for elected officials. Finally, the bill would authorize and require public bodies to allow deployed members of the armed forces to attend and vote in meetings virtually when feasible.

When our service members deploy, they carry the responsibility of protecting this country, said Rep, Mathews, in the joint statement. The least we can do is protect their place in the communities they were elected to serve.

Rep. Ty Mathews (R-Findlay) sponsored joint legislation to protect elected officials while serving on active military duty (Ohio House of Representatives).

Current law protects county and township officers absent while on active duty deployments. H.B. 823 would expand that protection to all elected officials statewide, including elected school board members whose virtual attendance allowances from COVID-19 were revoked after the pandemic was declared over.



Additionally, Ohio public officials have not been allowed to attend meetings virtually for the past year if the meeting includes a major funding measure, vote, or tax issue. Officials must also attend meetings in person to establish a quorum.

Proposed Bill Coincides With Ohio Secretary of State Return

The timing of the proposed bill, which awaits committee assignment, coincides with the recent return of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose from an undisclosed deployment overseas as a U.S. Army officer and former Green Beret. During his nearly one-month absence on active duty with the Army National Guard, the assistant secretary of state took on some of LaRoses duties while LaRose did some work remotely.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is also an Army National Guard reservist who recently returned from a month-long overseas deployment (Ohio SOS).

LaRoses biography on the Secretary of States website, shows he enlisted in the Army with the 101st Airborne after high school in 1998, and served 10 years. During his enlistment, LaRose received special forces training to become a Green Beret, and went on to earn several commendations, including the Bronze Star.

Following his initial military service, LaRose has continued serving as an Army Reservist, coinciding with his state government career. He won the secretary of states office in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. LaRose is term-limited and is now running as the Ohio Auditor of State in an uncontested race.

Military.com reached out to Secretary LaRoses office for comment on H.B 823, but did not immediately hear back.

Lawmakers Send Joint Letter to Parma School Board

Representatives Thomas and Mathews said the bill was actually inspired by Parma City School Board member Ashley McTaggart, who is currently deployed on full-time military orders and could not attend school board meetings virtually under state law.

McTaggerts official Parma City School Board biography, posted online, lists her as an air force veteran and current reservist who began her military career as a medic caring for patients in hospitals across the U.S. and in Germany.

Parma City School Board member Ashley McTaggart is an Air Force veteran who is currently deployed and cannot participate in school board meetings virtually under current law (Parma School Board).

Transitioning to a leadership role, she taught self-aid buddy care and CPR, ensuring military members and medical staff were equipped with vital skills, read McTaggerts online biography.

Representative Thomas, in a separate joint letter to the Parma School Board, obtained by Military.com, explained the proposed legislation and appealed to school board members to hold off on taking any action against McTaggert.

As we await next steps on the bill, I, out of respect for our military men and women, ask you to refrain from any potential removal of this member, Thomas said in the joint letter. Representative Mathews echoed the same call for school board members to table any adverse action while the bill works it way through committee. This legislation ensures that military duty is respected, that representation continues, and that Ohio remains a state that honors those willing to step forward when called, said Mathews in the joint letter.

Congressman Mathews has a military background himself. Hes an Army veteran who served as a battle captain in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He currently serves as the commander in the Ohio National Guard, while presiding as vice chair of the House Veterans and Military Development Committee, as well as a member of the Development, Technology and Innovation, and Natural Resources committees.
Lila Morgan has already accomplished her fair share, starting nonprofits, writing a book, and soon graduating college. Shes also only 18 years old.

Morgan, the daughter of an Army National Guard soldier, is one of seven teenagers being honored Thursday in the nations capital for not shying away from being military children but instead using the experience to better their own lives and those in their communities. All of the honorees are females.

The seven Operation Homefronts 2026 Military Child of the Year Award recipients are praised for stepping into caregiving roles, navigating separation, and carrying added responsibility while their parents serve. Their impact has taken on additional meaning as the U.S. military has spread out internationally in recent weeks due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

"It's an absolutely surreal feeling that I could not put into words, Morgan, a senior at the University of South Florida, told Military.com. We didn't necessarily choose to be a military children, but we chose to make something in our lives from itto use adversity to propel and be more resilient individuals.

Morgan, who grew up in California before moving to Tampa, Fla., at age 10, also called it a blessing to be honored among six other amazing females.

These are the seven 2026 honorees:

Air Force: Elizabeth Stanton, 16, College Station, TX

Army: Amani Ambay, 19, Lutz, FL

Coast Guard: Victoria Tori Vanacore, 17, Kill Devil Hills, NC

Marine Corps: Hannah Kirksey, 17, Sneads Ferry, NC

National Guard: Lila Morgan, 18, Lithia, FL

Navy: Ayla Zook, 18, King George, VA

Space Force: Taylor Schreiner, 18, Colorado Springs, CO

The sacrifice of military service extends beyond the individual in uniform. At Operation Homefront, we are committed to ensuring every member of the military family feels valued and empowered, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Alan Reyes, CEO of Operation Homefront, said in a statement shared with Military.com.

The Military Child of the Year Award spotlights extraordinary young people who shoulder unique responsibilities and turn them into leadership and impact. These are not stories of success despite challenges; they are stories of success because of them.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Alan Reyes, CEO of Operation Homefront, speaks at a past awards gala. (Operation Homefront)

This years recipients as of late March 2026 moved a combined 35 times and lived through 255 months of deployments. They logged 4,849 volunteer hours in the 12 months before nominations.

They were selected from more than 1,000 nominees across the country.

Our military families, they endure so many difficult situations, frequent moving, deployments, Jenny Valderas, Operation Homefronts senior director of family support services, told Military.com. Our Military Child of the Year award really goes to highlight all the amazing achievements and accomplishments our military kids face as being part of a military child.

Operation Homefront, based out of San Antonio, Texas, is a national nonprofit dedicated to building strong, stable and secure military and veteran families. Award recipients typically excel in education, leadership, volunteerism and extracurriculars.

All seven recipients are being honored April 23 at the Military Child of the Year Awards Gala in Arlington, Va., on April 23. Each will also receive a $10,000 grant, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts.

Father's Service 'Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me'

Anyone can nominate a military child, Valderas said, saying that Operation Homefront received submissions from community members, teachers and next-door neighbors, etc.

In Morgans case, she has no idea who nominated her. But her resume speaks for itself.

She grew up in Auburn, Calif., in proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountains prior to moving to the Tampa area when she was 10.

Her father was a Marine while living in California, leaving the service when she was born. When Lila was 11, her father, 38, reenlisted in the Army National Guard. She said that when he reenlisted, it was the "best thing that ever happened in my life" and gave her a sense of identity and community and showed what it means to reframe and change your life at a moment's notice.

Lila Morgan is 18 years of age and has already accomplished a lot. She calls her father's military service one of the "best" things to ever happen to her. (Operation Homefront)

It wasnt just the location changes but the advice her father provided that set her up for success.

She told Military.com that while her dad was on a one-year deployment, she began taking high school courses while in middle school.

"I actually started college before I started high school, she said, adding she later sat in college classrooms before high school.

She was doing dual enrollment, attained all necessary credits to graduate. But after discussing her future with her parents, all found it conducive for her to stay in high school and grow as an individual.

She took AP courses and recalled that during her sophomore or junior year, she and her father had discussions about education, how the world works, and her life ambitions.

Morgans list of accolades continued to grow. She attained over 8,300 community service hours the past four years. She was a captain in her ROTC unit. She worked with different volunteer organizations, is involved with her synagogue, was a cadet in Civil Air Patrol, helped lead a female empowerment community service campaign.

Morgan takes a picture with her family, with the Washington Monument in the background. (Operation Homefront)

She said her passion to help was instilled from her parents, who had her volunteering with different organizations "since I could stand up. She remembered being age 6 and volunteering at a 5k centered on youth substance abuse.

Years later, she founded a youth prevention program for young adults aged 11-18 called I Choose to Be Drug Free, essentially a youth internship program and run by high school students and mentored by college students.

"I'm young, I'm 18, but I've done a lot, she said, adding that she wrote a book, Becoming Undeniable, being published in the next few weeks.

She is taking a gap year before law school, with plans to study in Israel for a year and better learn the culture and become fluent in Hebrew. Shes been accepted into American University for a dual program in public policy and law.

Her career goal is to become an Army JAG officer.

'Every Military Child Has a Story to Tell'

This is the 18th year that awards have been doled out to seven teenseach of which represents a different service.

When the service member serves, the family serves as well, and that includes our military children, Valderas said. This award really goes to honor and recognize them for the amazing contributions that they provide to their local communities and the impact that they make in the short time that they have in the communities that they're living in.

Morgan was an ROTC cadet and did Civil Air Patrol, among multiple other things in her teens. (Operation Homefront)

The honorees are selected by a volunteer panel of judges who, according to Valderas, look at leadership qualities, academic accomplishments, achievements on competitiveness, extracurricular activities, community and volunteer work, and just the overall story of the military child.

Every military child has a story to tell, and every story is different. So, they look at the overall story of the nomination that's submitted on behalf of that child.

Valderas has been with Operation Homefront for 13 years. This years crop of awardees wowed the judges, she said.

They have displayed a dedication to excellence in their school, in their clubs and sports, and in their volunteerism, she said. They've really demonstrated the resiliency of a military child, and they've really tried to be integrated into their local communitiesand all at the same time maintaining academic excellence.

Its been amazing to see this year's awardees. The judges really, really had a really good group of kids to pick from.
A new podcast started by a military veteran highlights the diversity of Americas military and the contributions made by leaders in corporate, higher education, health care and other industries as the nation nears the 250th anniversary of its founding.

Ret. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Don L. Scott hosts the podcast US@250&YOU, which debuted on April 23 as a way to share, highlight how efforts to improve diversity, equity and Inclusion, or DEI, have shaped the country toward the nations founding goal of a more perfect union.

I have lived through 16 presidents, World War II, racial segregation, the civil rights movement, Korea, Vietnam, 9/11 and the Gulf Wars, Scott, the podcasts creator and host, told Military.com. I am a living testament to how America has evolved to include all of its citizens."

Scott, who is 88 years old and proudly an American of African descent, said hes grown tired of divisive rhetoric targeting immigrant and minority communities. He felt it necessary to remind anyone who will listen that America is built on the backs of immigrant and minority populations.

Im not making a political statement with this podcast, he said. What my intentions are is to give the listeners an opportunity to understand what the Declaration of Independence means today. I want to give light to the founders who were not inclusive in 1776, but had the vision to point us toward inclusion.

Weekly Podcast Tackles National Divide

Scotts premise for each of his weekly, 30-minute podcast episodes is that the U.S. is still a country of progress, even as we pause to review our founding principles.

He said he wants to evaluate where those principles are today, and where we want them in the future.

Retired Brigadier General Don L. Scott is the host and creator of the "US@250&You" podcast (Don L. Scott).

Hes also directly focused and invested in what he calls the national divide.

The internal divisions within the three branches of federal government today represent the most serious threat to American democracy in Americas 250-year history. US@250YOU will provide listeners with expert commentary and insight on why DEI efforts have helped our nation evolve and realize its promise of opportunities for all.

Airing on Spotify, the podcast is part commentary, part history lesson, with Scott and his guests walking listeners down memory laneincluding the nations contradictory beginnings.

The founders, several of them were slave owners, Scott told Military.com. Yet they had this inspiration that this county that we were building is going to be a nation where all men and women are created equal. That was their ideal.

He said that over these last 250 years as a country, there have been presidents and others who have worked to make the statement of our founders a reality.

I dont want the current political climate to derail our progress as a nation, he said. I am so intent on making sure people understand the power of America in creating opportunities for minorities and immigrants. Thats our strength.

Speaking From Experience

Speaking from a place of authority and experience, Scott shared his own story in his first podcast episode.

He entered the Army in 1960, at a time when there were no African-American generals in the reserves or active forces. But there were several, including himself, by the time he retired in 1991.

Thats progress, even though it was slow," he said. "It takes 20 years on average to rise to the level of a brigadier general, no matter what color you are, he said. I give great credit to Harry Truman, the president who integrated the military. The diversity you see in our ranks today is because of him.

Scott served 31 years in the Army, commanding thousands of troops in the U.S., Germany, Okinawa and Vietnam. He managed planning for the 1996 Olympics and is a founding director of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).

Retired Brigadier General Don L. Scott tackles the "national divide" in his "US@250&You" podcast (Don L. Scott).

Scott also served as the CEO and deputy librarian at the Library of Congress and established The Veterans History Project at the American Folklife Center. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic arts from Lincoln University in Missouri, a master's degree in counseling and human development from Troy State University, and an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University.

He said his hope for the nations next 250 years is a land of opportunity, without social barriers.

I think the United States could become the only nation in the world where race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation does not define who is American, he said. Instead, behavior, character, knowledge, and a belief in human equality could be the standard.

"I believe we can get there.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration is in discussions to potentially send more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted Americas war effort and relatives of U.S. service members stuck in Qatar to a third country, the U.S. government and some advocates said. Congo is an option, the advocates said.

Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran who heads a coalition that supports Afghan resettlement efforts called #AfghanEvac, said Wednesday that U.S. officials informed him and other groups of discussions between the United States and Congo about taking the Afghan refugees who have been in limbo at a U.S. base in Doha for the past year.

The 1,100 refugees at Camp As-Sayliyah include Afghans who served as interpreters and with Special Operations Forces as well as the immediate families of more than 150 active duty U.S. military members.

The State Department said Wednesday that it is working to identify options to voluntarily resettle the refugees in a third country, but it did not confirm which nations were being discussed.

An alternative provided to the refugees, VanDiver said, is to return to Afghanistan, where they face likely reprisal or even death at the hands of the Taliban for working alongside the U.S. during the two-decade war.

You cannot call a choice voluntary when the two options are Congo and the Taliban, civil war or an oppressor who wants to kill you, VanDiver said at a virtual press conference. That is not a choice. That is a confession extracted under duress.

The discussions  which were reported earlier by The New York Times  come more than a year after President Donald Trump paused his predecessors Afghan resettlement program as part of a series of executive orders cracking down on immigration.

That policy left thousands of refugees who fled war and persecution, and had gone through a sometimes yearslong vetting process to start new lives in America, stranded at places worldwide, including the base in Qatar.

From one war-torn country to another

Negotiations between the U.S. and several other countries, including Botswana and Malaysia, started months ago, according to an executive at a refugee resettlement agency who was briefed by U.S. officials. The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share private negotiations, said Botswana was seen by many refugee advocates as the most promising option but that talks between senior U.S. officials and the countrys leadership fell through. In early April, the executive was briefed that Congo was now the main option being discussed.

A person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said they had heard from State Department personnel that the U.S. was looking at sending the Afghans at the base in Qatar to countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The person said the Afghans were told Wednesday that there was no final deal on where to send them.

The base in Doha was always intended as a transit platform. It was never designed to hold families for months or years, which is the situation that people are currently in, said Jon Finer, who was deputy national security adviser to then-President Joe Biden. What I want to emphasize is that this was intended to honor a wartime commitment.

Finer and other former U.S. officials and refugee advocates warned of the risk of resettling Afghans in Congo, a country that U.N. officials say is facing one of the most acute humanitarian emergencies in the world."

The African country has been battered by decades-long fighting between government forces and Rwanda-backed rebels in its eastern region.

Congolese authorities did not immediately respond to APs request for comment on the discussions, which did not come as a surprise to some there. Congo is one of at least eight African nations that were paid millions in controversial deals with the Trump administration to receive migrants deported from the U.S. to countries other than their own.

Like most other African nations involved in the deportation program, Congo is also among the worst hit by the Trump administrations policies on aid and trade. At least 70% of the countrys humanitarian aid came from the U.S. before Trump's second term, and aid workers say American aid cuts have led to avoidable deaths in the conflict-hit region.

Sean Jamshidi  an Afghan American who served in the U.S. military, including a stint in Congo  said he was deeply concerned about his brother possibly being sent from the Doha base to the war-torn country.

I saw the security situation and what it looked like there. I saw the displacement camps. ... I stood in places where the United Nations has counted the dead, Jamshidi said. Im telling you, as someone who has been in uniform, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not a place you send vetted Afghan allies and their children to live.

Refugees are in the dark as they await their fate

Negina Khalili, a former prosecutor in Afghanistan who fled during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal, has been waiting to hear about the resettlement status of her father, brother and stepmother since they arrived at the Doha base in January 2025. That was just days before Trump suspended the refugee program soon after he returned to the White House.

Khalili told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she spoke to her family about reports that they could be sent to Congo.

They are not giving them any information or updates regarding which countries they will go to, she said. They were so stressed and worried about it and said that Congo is not a safe place either. They dont know if its a temporary location for them there or a permanent location. They are worried.

She said U.S. officials at the camp have been suggesting to refugees that they go back to Afghanistan and offering them money to do so.

___

Amiri reported from New York and Asadu from Abuja, Nigeria. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
Navy Secretary John Phelan was out of a job on Wednesday as reporting indicates that President Donald Trump wanted a change, citing slow shipbuilding times in the midst of an Iran war and a blockaded maritime shipping channel.

Phelans exit was made public by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who said Wednesday in a post on X that the secretary and former businessman was departing the administration, effective immediately. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been reported to have forced Phelans hand, has not publicly remarked on the ousting.

On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy, Parnell said. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao, a combat veteran with over 25 years experience, is now the acting secretary. He previously ran as a U.S. House and Senate candidate in Virginia, failing in both political pursuits.

Hes a very good man," Trump said Thursday in the Oval Office, referring to Phelan. "I really liked him, but he had some conflict, not necessarily with Pete. Hes a hard charger, and he had some conflicts with some other people, mostly as to building and buying new ships. Im very aggressive in the new shipbuilding.

President Donald Trump speaks, with from left, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan,at his Mar-a-Lago club, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Phelan released a statement on Thursday, per Axios, in which he doesn't mention Trump.

"Serving as the 79th Secretary of the Navy has been the honor of my life," Phelan wrote. "Every day, I was humbled by the grit, discipline and professionalism of our Sailors and Marinesthe finest fighting force the world has ever known. They are the reason this Department exists, and they are the standard by which every decision must be measured.

"We pushed to make strategy realturning topline into tonnage, and resources into readiness you can see on the water and in the fight. That work matters because deterrence through strength is the ultimate measure of success. Leadership at this level is not without its challenges. Decision-making can be slowed by caution, competing equities, and internal friction. But our mission demands clarity, urgency, and results-and I never lost sight of that."

He concluded with the following: "I leave with deep respect for those in uniform and full confidence that this force will continue to fight tonight and win tomorrow. God bless the United States of America and the men and women in uniform who defend her."

A Short Stint for a Big GOP Donor

It was a short tenure as secretary for Phelan, who was chosen for the job in 2024 by President Donald Trump and later confirmed with bipartisan support by a vote of 6230 on March 24, 2025.

Prior to being confirmed, Phelan was a big Trump and GOP donor. Federal Election Commission records showed that during Trumps 2024 campaign, Phelan donated $834,600 to the now-presidents joint fundraising committee. He donated another $93,300 on Nov. 10, 2024, days after Trumps big victory.

Criticism towards Phelans appointment largely centered on his lack of a military background. While not mandatory or completely unusual, he became the first Navy secretary since 2006 to be appointed and not have any such experience.

His background was in business, working as an investment banker and chair of Rugger Management LLC, an investment firm he founded. Prior to that, he co-founded and was managing partner of MSD Capital, the private investment firm for Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies.

John will be a tremendous force for our Naval servicemembers, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision, Trump said prior to Phelan's confirming hearing. He will put the business of the US Navy above all else.

Trump Wanted Hegseth to Fire Phelan: Reports

Phelans exit has resulted in questions about what led to his departure, including whether or not he had any final say in potentially keeping his job, and if he went up the chain of commandincluding to Trump himselfto find out his fate.

Military.com asked the Pentagon and Navy whether Phelan was fired by Pete Hegseth, or left the job on his own volition.

A Navy spokesperson deferred comment to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. An OSD official told Military.com that it had no further comment to add to what Parnell posted on Wednesday.

FILE - Secretary of the Navy John Phelan speaks, as President Donald Trump listens, at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)

Reporting from CNN claims that Phelan did not resign but instead was fired by Hegseth, with reporting indicating that Trump found Phelans leadership unsatisfactorynotably when it came to shipbuilding, of which Phelan had no prior experience before taking on the Navy role.

CNN, citing multiple sources, described months-long tension between Phelan and Hegseth that came to a head on Wednesday, which was Phelans last day. Trumps frustration boiled over, according to a senior White House official, which led to him telling Hegseth to get rid of Phelan and hire someone who could more swiftly build ships.

That led to Hegseth reportedly informing Phelan that he needed to resign or be fired. But Phelan, according to CNN, didn't believe the request came from Trump, causing him to phone various officials to get additional information and confirmation that Trump OK'd the decision. That was when Parnell reportedly put out his statement on social media.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin reported that Phelan was fired, and that it had to do with something beyond just shipbuilding.

"Hegseth and Phelan reportedly butted heads when Phelan refused to ignore a recent federal judges ruling that said punishing Sen. Mark Kelly for making a video in which he reminded military officers of their constitutional duty to not follow illegal orders would violate his First Amendment rights," Griffin said.

The Trump Class battleships were a major source of frustration for Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg as they did not serve the Pentagons broader strategy to pivot toward smaller, cheaper uncrewed ships, according to Politico, citing two anonymous sourcesincluding one who noted the billion-dollar price tags and the ships being not at all aligned with where Hegseth and Feinberg want to go.

Hung Cao speaking during the second day of the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Phelan seemingly did not see his exit coming, according to the Associated Press. The now former secretary was fraternizing with sailors and industry professionals on Tuesday at the Navys annual conference in Washington.

A note from his own office described hosting lawmakers from the House Armed Services Committee to discuss the Navys annual budget request and efforts to build more ships.

Ousting in Middle of Iran War

The timing of Phelans exit comes at a volatile time, notably as the weeks-long blockade in the Strait of Hormuz has thrown a major wrench into the United States military operations in Iran.

The strait, a global maritime chokepoint that acts as a transfer lane for roughly 20% of the worlds oil, has become arguably Irans best defense while the nation itself has been bombarded by U.S. forces.

Phelan is also not the first major U.S. official to leave his post since the U.S. and Israel launched their war in the Middle East on Feb. 28. While not a top military official like Phelan, Gen. Randy George was relieved of his duties by Hegseth who has fired multiple top generals, admirals and defense leaders since becoming secretary in 2025.

On the Navy side, Hegseth fired both Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navys top uniformed officer, and Gen. Jim Slife, the No. 2 leader at the Air Force, in February.

Trump fired Gen. Charles CQ Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This story was updated with additional information.
A deported Army veterans case has triggered a congressional challenge in Georgia. A Navy veteran launched a political campaign after alleging a breakdown in due process for former service members.

Tony Kozycki, a former naval officer and attorney, told Military.com the deportation of Army veteran Godfrey Wade pushed him to challenge Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), arguing the case exposes broader gaps in how non-citizen veterans are handled in the immigration system.

Veterans who are lawful permanent residents can still face deportation, sometimes without fully contesting their cases in court.

What pushed me over the edge was the Godfrey Wade case, Kozycki told Military.com in an interview on Tuesday.

Wade, a lawful permanent resident who served during the Cold War, was deported after a prior removal order tied to a missed immigration hearing, according to reporting on the case. He was removed while an appeal to reopen his case remained pending.

Repeated outreach to McCormicks office over Wades case went unanswered for months, according to Kozycki, who said he contacted staff multiple times seeking help reviewing the deportation.

I told them that if they werent willing to help, I would run against him, Kozycki said.

Military.com reached out to McCormicks office for comment.

Missed Hearing, Pending Appeal Triggered Veterans Deportation

Cases like Wades are not uncommon, particularly for lawful permanent residents who receive deportation orders after missing court hearings.

This is a very common situation, Sophia Genovese, a supervising attorney and clinical teaching fellow at Georgetown Laws Center for Applied Legal Studies, told Military.com.

Godfrey Wade in U.S. Army uniform during his service. Wade, a lawful permanent resident and veteran, was later deported, a case now drawing national attention. (Courtesy: Tony Kozycki)

Genovese said those cases can stem from breakdowns in the notification process, with notices sometimes sent to the wrong address or never received.

You cant know what you dont know, she said, adding, There are no special protections for veterans."

Kozycki said Wades case underscores the need for policy changes, including greater oversight of how immigration cases involving veterans are handled.

A proposal introduced by Democratic Rep. Norma Torres as a congressional amendment to military legislation would have expanded due process protections for noncitizen veterans facing deportation. It failed earlier this week due to the Republican majority.

Two Veterans Set Up Georgia Showdown

McCormick, a physician and military veteran, has served in Congress since 2023 and represents Georgias 7th District, a suburban area north of Atlanta that has leaned Republican in recent election cycles.

Kozycki said that if elected, he would introduce private legislation directing the Department of Homeland Security to reopen Wades case and allow him to receive a hearing.

Dr. Rich McCormick, congressman, left, Georgias 6th Congressional District, United States House of Representatives, and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Adolfo Garcia Jr., right, commander, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, tour barracks during a congressional visit on MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 18, 2023. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jennifer E. Douds)

The case has drawn attention from other state lawmakers. Rep. David Scott (D-GA) said Wade was entitled to due process in remarks in February, urging federal officials to reconsider the deportation.

Kozyckis entry sets up a potential veteran vs. veteran showdown in Georgias 7th Congressional District, where Democrats are competing for a chance to challenge McCormick in November.

A former F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot, Kozycki is framing his military service and legal background as central to his campaign, saying they give him firsthand experience navigating both the defense and immigration systems.

I dont think we have shared values in that sense, he told Military.com, drawing a contrast with McCormick.

McCormick has emphasized national security, defense policy and military readiness during his time in Congress.

Kozycki said his campaign is centered on veterans issues, shaped by his experience navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system and his legal work representing clients in immigration and criminal cases.

Tony Kozycki, center, speaks with attendees, including Air Force veteran Stephen Harris, during a campaign event in Johns Creek, Georgia. (Courtesy: Tony Kozycki campaign)

He pointed to concerns about access to care, delays in disability benefits, and immigration enforcement policies that can affect noncitizen veterans, arguing those gaps can leave some former service members without full legal protections.

He also raised concerns about U.S. military operations tied to tensions with Iran, arguing future missions should have clearly defined objectives approved by Congress.

Anything thats approved by Congress is going to have defined objectives and goals, Kozycki said.

Crowded Democratic Primary Gets Bigger

Kozycki is entering a Democratic primary field that is expanding, with candidates offering different credentials as they compete for a chance to challenge McCormick in November.

Larry Long, a former Environmental Protection Agency mediator, has spent more than two decades working on environmental policy, regulatory programs and dispute resolution.

Case Norton, a filmmaker and union camera technician, is positioning himself as a working-class candidate, emphasizing labor rights and economic issues.

Jayson Toweh, an environmental scientist and doctoral student, has centered his campaign on public health, veterans services and access to care.

The primary is scheduled for May, with the winner advancing to the general election.
More than 30 years after his death, a British World War II veteran who spent much of his life homeless and unable to speak, has been memorialized.

William Clements, better known as Barton Billy, was a prisoner of war (POW), held captive by the Japanese military in WWII. Following the war and his liberation, Clements suffered from severe claustrophobia, affecting him so badly that he couldnt sleep inside his home in Barton, Gloucester, England.

While he died in 1995 and was cremated, no marker was laid to signify where Clements ashes had been scattered. Until recently. Last week, thanks to the kindness of author Paul James, a commemorative plaque was placed in the veterans hometown to honor the former POW soldier.

James led a fundraiser to pay for the plaque, talking to friends of the late veteran who recall him fondly. They greeted him often in the streets, offering food, drink and hospitality.

His experience as a prisoner of war left a long-lasting mark on his life, James told the BBC. He couldnt bear to be inside; he lost the power of speech. Lots of people used to see him on a day-to-day basis and the community helped him a lot by giving him food and drink and clothing and even free haircuts.

With Clements memory still evoking powerful emotions, James knew something had to be done to remember the veteran permanently.

Thats why we wanted to make sure we had a visible tangible memory of his life.

William Clements served with Britian's Royal Armoured Corps in World War II. (Submitted)

Local Character

The plaque was unveiled last Wednesday and was well attended with friends, servicemembers from Clements battalion, local police officers and veterans from the Royal British Legion all there to pay respect.

Kevin Price, a cop who patrolled some of the streets Clements called home, said the WWII veteran frequently slept in doorways.

Some people were frightened of him, but he was harmless, Price said.

For the most part, folks in Barton rallied around Clements.

A lot of them when they came back from the war, theyd been so ill-treated, Price said. The local people took him into their hearts  he became a local character.

Pat Gifford, a local reverend, was a friend of Clements and was honored to officiate his memorial service.

It was a huge privilege, she said. I met Billy long before I went into ministry (and) Ive lived in our community for 53 years.

Many in Barton who know Clements have plenty of stories to share.

Author Paul James led the fundraiser to honor Clements. (Submitted)

Helped Shape Community

Many years ago, I worked in our local pub. One evening I was there on my own, Billy came in. He sat down; I thought Id take him over a pint of orange juice, Gifford said. When he finished, he got up, walked over to the bar and I wondered what would happen. He put the pint glass down and shook my hand and off he went. What I realized that night is it wasnt a drink that he wanted, it was company on his own terms.

Gifford believes the homeless veteran made a lasting impact on the small British community.

Still today people here look out for each other and look after each other and dont judge and I think its because of people like Billy, weve learnt that over the years.

James described the fundraising effort as remarkable with more than 60 people donating to provide a plague to a man that died three decades ago.

As well as people who knew Billy weve had representatives of his regiment, the Royal British legion were here and former police officers, James said. Im sure he would have been very touched.
A Buffalo Soldier from New Haven, Connecticut, who disappeared during the Allied push through northern Italy in 1944 has been identified and buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced.

U.S. Army Pfc. St. Clair M. Gibson, 30, was accounted for May 7, 2025. The agency issued an initial announcement days later but held the full case details until his family received their complete briefing.

DPAA released the remaining information on March 10, 2026, the day Gibson was laid to rest at Arlington.

"After taking care of this unknown Soldier for all of these years, it was a profound honor to be able to place a rosette by his name knowing he has been identified and returned home to his family," Eryth Zecher, Florence American Cemetery superintendent, said in remarks provided to U.S. Army Garrison Italy.

A Segregated Division Enters the Gothic Line

Gibson was born on March 14, 1914 in New Orleans, but was raised in New Haven by his aunt and uncle, Bessie and Alfred Gibson. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and over the course of his service, earned nine medals, including the Silver Star.

Gibson was assigned in September 1943 to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. Because the U.S. Army maintained racial segregation during the war, the 92nd's enlisted ranks were composed entirely of African American soldiers, led by mostly white officers.

The division carried the "Buffalo Soldier" nickname from the 19th-century Black cavalry tradition. Activated Oct. 15, 1942, at Fort McClellan, Alabama, the 92nd was the only African American unit to fight as a full division in World War II, according to the U.S. Army Military History Institute.

A mortar team from the 92nd Infantry Division fighting to repel a German and Italian attack against their line in Italy. (Wikimedia Commons)

After training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, the division deployed to Italy in the fall of 1944 and joined the U.S. Fifth Army as it pushed up the peninsula from Rome toward the Alps. The 92nd drew a sector on the western, Ligurian-coast flank of the advance.

The Gothic Line was Germany's last major defensive position in Italy, running through the northern Apennines. Between September 1944 and April 1945, elements of the 92nd fought heavy combat against Axis forces along it.

Missing on Monte Canala

In November 1944, the 371st Infantry Regiment hit the German positions near Seravezza and pushed to advance up Monte Canala against heavy resistance. Gibson went missing on Nov. 18 while leading a grenade charge. The terrain was so steep and contested that his unit could not reach him before the battle lines shifted. Because of that, his remains were not recovered.

After the war, the American Graves Registration Service, part of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps, sent search teams across Italy's battlefields. One set of remains recovered from Monte Canala was designated X-272 Castelfiorentino. Investigators could not match X-272 to any missing soldier because of technological limitations.

African American soldiers working to carry their wounded comrades down the mountain after fierce fighting in Italy. (Army Photo)

The remains were buried as an Unknown at Florence American Cemetery in Impruneta, Italy. On July 8, 1949, the Quartermaster Corps declared Gibson nonrecoverable, and all active searching for him was stopped.

When the war ended, 53 men from the 92nd were still unaccounted for. DPAA launched the 92nd Infantry Division Project in 2014 to work through the unknowns buried in Italian soil.

Home After 81 Years

In July 2017, the Defense Department and the American Battle Monuments Commission disinterred X-272 from Florence American Cemetery and sent the remains to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. Scientists used dental and anthropological examination to study the remains.

The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System performed mitochondrial DNA and nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism testing on samples from them. The combined scientific and circumstantial evidence matched X-272 to Gibson.

The identification came nearly eight years after X-272 first reached the DPAA laboratory. The agency has said its 92nd Infantry Division Project has been slowed primarily by gaps in family reference DNA, with many families hard to trace because of postwar relocation.

Gibson's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery, which carry 1,409 names of service members who disappeared in the Italian campaign, according to the American Battle Monuments Commission.

A rosette will be placed beside his name to mark that he has been accounted for.

The Florence American Cemetery in Italy contains 4,392 white marble headstones for fallen American service members. The names of 1,409 missing soldiers are engraved on the Tablets of the Missing. (Photo by Chiara Mattirolo)

The 92nd Infantry Division was inactivated Nov. 28, 1945, and was never reconstituted. President Harry S. Truman ordered the integration of the U.S. military in 1948.

Two members of the 92nd earned the Medal of Honor for their service in Italy, 1st Lt. Vernon Baker and 1st Lt. John R. Fox. However, the service and sacrifice of men like Gibson was heavily overshadowed and forgotten due to racial discrimination.

DPAA researchers continue to work through the remaining unknowns tied to the 92nd. The agency asks relatives of missing Buffalo Soldiers to contact the Army Casualty Office at 800-892-2490 to provide DNA reference samples.

"As with all of the service members we watch over, this reaffirms their sacrifices will be remembered and their stories preserved for future generations," Zecher said.
David Kendrick Jr. knows the cost of war better than most. Serving in Iraq in 2007, Kendrick, an Army veteran, was severely wounded by a snipers bullet, leading to years of recovery and eventually ending his military career.

Just one day after getting hit, the same sniper gunned down Kendricks best friend. So, when Kendrick talks about having concerns over another war in the Middle East as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to simmer, and with his sister now serving, his reservations come from the heart.

Kendrick, from Rochester, New York, served as a cavalry scout, sent to Iraq in the middle of a troop surge in 2006. He was patrolling the outer fringes of Sadr City when his life changed in an instant.

I was shot by a sniper, and it took three years to heal after that, so I got shot June 17, 2007, and I was out of the Army in 2010, Kendrick told WHAM in Rochester. And then the next day, my best friend got shot and killed by a sniper.

The bullet ripped through both legs.

I took a direct hit to my femoral artery, and the bullet shattered my femur, he said. Hit my femoral artery, and it clipped my sciatic nerve, so I cant move the toes on my left foot anymore.

While he eventually overcame the physical pain, the psychological damage was difficult to shake.

The hardest part about it was a survivors guilt, Kendrick said. You build these really, really close bonds with your friends.

David Kendrick Jr. in the Army. (Lion Speaking Agency)

Finding Help

Kendrick came home from Iraq but struggled to leave the war behind. And resources to support disabled veterans were lacking, he said.

The pain became too much to bear. He tried suicide.

Gripped by paranoia, Kendrick was racked with nightmares of the sniper hunting him down to finish the job. U.S. forces finally did find and kill the sniper, which somewhat eased his fears.

Finally, through Warrior Salute, a veterans organization in Webster, New York, Kendrick was able to change the trajectory of his life. He was hired for steady employment and received therapy to help cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

He wrote a book, Calvary: A Soldiers Memoir, published in 2021, and started the Lion Speaking Agency, sharing his story of trauma and mental health battles as a keynote speaker.

Sister Continues to Serve

In recent weeks, with the war in Iran escalating, Kendricks mind has drifted back to the Middle East.

My sister joined. She joined initially as a combat engineer, but now shes a mechanic, and I dont want her to be involved in the same war that I went through, Kendrick said.

David Kendrick's book was released in 2021. (Lion Speaking Agency)

He fears his parents receiving the same call they did in 2007, reporting their child has been injured in combat or something much worse.

While the conflict with Iran hasnt transitioned to ground troops yet, Kendrick believes the war destabilizes the whole region. Hes reminded of the dangers improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq posed and how advances in warfare technology make killing even easier.

Now you have these drones, so its like the IEDs are flying now, he said.

The Army veteran is also concerned about what the end of the war will look like. He doesnt want another decades-long engagement like the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even with a severely limited defense system, Iran could rebuild its military, including its alleged nuclear arsenal, opening the door to smaller pockets of force.

You take out one enemy, another ones gonna pop up, Kendrick said. So, what would be the clear-cut definition of victory?
India emerges as Teslas weakest new market globally

A key challenge for Tesla is pricing. Unlike its German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which assemble vehicles locally, Tesla imports cars from China and faces import duties of 100110%









Tesla launched the six-seater version of its best-selling Model YL in India on April 22. Tesla sold only 342 cars in India in the final six months of FY26

India's luxury EV market is led by BMW and Mercedes-Benz

Tesla plans to expand retail and charging network in India Did our AI summary help?
Quote of the day by George Harrison: "If you don't know where you're going, any road will..."

George Harrison, the quiet Beatle, shaped music with his unique sound and spirituality. From iconic Beatles songs to solo success, his legacy continues to inspire generations worldwide.









Quote of the day by George Harrison: "If you don't know where you're going, any road will..." George Harrison shaped The Beatles' sound and global music legacy

Brought Indian music to rock and spurred spiritual exploration

His solo work and charity efforts set new standards in music Did our AI summary help?
Word of the Day: Alogia

Alogia refers to difficulty in expressing thoughts through speech. This article explains its meaning, symptoms, causes, and why understanding it builds empathy in daily communication.









Word of the Day: Alogia Alogia is difficulty expressing thoughts through speech.

Its tied to mental health issues like schizophrenia, depression

Understanding alogia promotes empathy and better communication. Did our AI summary help?
Unprecedented security, familiar scenes: From Siuri to Murshidabad, poll violence mars Bengal polls again

Since 2006, West Bengal has recorded scores of deaths linked to election-related violence, based on compiled figures from multiple election cycles reported by national media and official data.









The state recorded a voter turnout of almost 79 percent until 3 pm Over 2.4 lakh security personnel deployed for Bengal polls

Violence reported in Siuri, Murshidabad, Asansol, and Nowda

Incidents remain limited despite massive security presence Did our AI summary help?
Aamir Khans vision behind Junaid Khan, Sai Pallavi starrer Ek Din: Why Japan became the Films Soulful Backdrop

Aamir Khan played a key role in shaping the visual world of Ek Din, with the films Japan setting stemming from his own creative vision. The scenic backdrop isnt just aestheticit adds an emotional layer to the story, blending seamlessly with the films tone of romance and quiet longing.









Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi in Ek Din Ek Din is set in Japan, inspired by Aamir Khan's vision.

Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan reunite for this romantic film.

Ek Din stars Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan, releasing May 1, 2026. Did our AI summary help?
JJ Perry shares Toxic BTS, calls working with Yash and Geetu Mohandas an honor

JJ Perry shares Toxic BTS with Yash and Geetu Mohandas, calling it an honor. The team promises intense, visceral action, building excitement ahead of the films global release in 2026.









Yash begins 45-day Toxic shoot with John Wick action director JJ Perry in Mumbai Hollywood action director JJ Perry shares BTS from Toxic sets

Yash praised for talent and immersive action vision in Toxic

Toxic set for worldwide release on June 4, 2026 Did our AI summary help?
Kamal Haasan casts vote alongside daughter Shruti Haasan in Chennai, watch here

The duo kept things simple and composed on polling day, arriving together at the booth with a quiet, understated presence.









Kamal Haasan and Shruti Haasan vote Kamal Haasan and Shruti Haasan cast votes in Chennai.

Voting underway in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections.

PM Modi urges voters to participate actively in elections. Did our AI summary help?
Rajpal Yadav on 12-year age gap with wife Radha: "I dont know how a man from Uttar Pradesh found a life partner in Calgary"etn

Rajpal Yadav reflects on meeting wife Radha in Calgary, addressing their 12-year age gap, family hesitation, and how strong communication, trust, and support built a lasting, balanced partnership.









Rajpal Yadav on 12-year age gap with wife Radha: "I dont know how a man from Uttar Pradesh found a life partner in Calgary"etn Rajpal Yadav met wife Radha in Calgary during a film shoot

The couple overcame a 1012 year age gap and family concerns

Radha studied interior design after marriage with Rajpals support Did our AI summary help?
SS Rajamoulis Varanasi set for global debut at CCXP Mexico 2026 with exclusive footage

SS Rajamoulis Varanasi will debut globally at CCXP Mexico 2026 with exclusive footage and BTS. Starring Mahesh Babu, the big-budget film targets a worldwide IMAX release in 2027.









SS Rajamoulis Varanasi set for global debut at CCXP Mexico 2026 with exclusive footage Varanasi to debut globally at CCXP Mexico 2026 Thunder Stage.

Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, Prithviraj Sukumaran lead the cast.

Global release April 7, 2027, including IMAX screenings Did our AI summary help?
Tamil Nadu elections 2026: Keerthy Suresh, Vijay Sethupathi cast their vote

Keerthy Suresh and top South Indian celebrities including Rajinikanth, Ajith Kumar, and Kamal Haasan cast their votes in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026, urging citizens to participate in democracy.









Video footage that surfaced online revealed Keerthy entering the polling station wearing a yellow salwar suit amidst the huge crowd around her. Keerthy Suresh and other stars voted in Tamil Nadu polls

Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Ajith Kumar drew crowds at booths

Keerthy Suresh shared voting selfie, urging fans to vote Did our AI summary help?
Tanushree Dutta alleges Bollywood mafia links in Sushant Singh Rajput and Jiah Khan deaths, says 'I dont believe they died by suicide...'

Tanushree Dutta has once again stirred conversation by speaking about what she describes as an uncomfortable reality within the film industry. In a recent interview, she linked the alleged Bollywood mafia to the deaths of Sushant Singh Rajput and Jiah Khan, raising questions that go beyond the surface.









Tanushree Dutta latest interview Tanushree Dutta alleges a "Bollywood mafia" influences careers

She ties Rajput and Jiah Khan deaths to film industry issues

Dutta disputes suicide claim, cites mental health pressures Did our AI summary help?
From May 15, fans all over the nation will have a rare chance to catch up with the adrenaline-packed tale of flying on the silver screen.
Trisha Krishnan casts her vote in Chennai, makes first public appearance amid reports of quitting films after 'marraige'

Trisha Krishnan cast her vote in Chennai, urged citizens to participate, and dismissed rumours about marriage and quitting films with a sarcastic response, reaffirming her continued presence in cinema.









Trisha Krishnan casts her vote in Chennai, makes first public appearance amid reports of quitting films after 'marraige' Trisha Krishnan voted in Chennai, urging everyone to vote.

She dismissed rumours about her personal life and career online.

Trisha remains active with upcoming films like Karuppu and Ram. Did our AI summary help?
Veteran actor Lee Nam-hee passes away at 64 after illustrious four-decade career

Veteran South Korean actor Lee Nam-hee died at 64 after a long illness, leaving behind a four-decade legacy across theatre, films, and television with acclaimed performances and awards.









Veteran actor Lee Nam-hee passes away at 64 after illustrious four-decade career Veteran actor Lee Nam-hee dies at 64 after a prolonged illness

Lee was acclaimed for roles in theatre, film, and TV

Memorial altar set up at Severance Hospital in Seoul Did our AI summary help?
Vikram, Mani Ratnam, Sivakarthikeyan and other celebs cast their votes in Tamil Nadu assembly elections, see here

Images circulating on social media show the celebs arriving in a relaxed yet composed look, adding a touch of personal style to the civic moment.









Celebs at Tamil Nadu voting Vikram, Sivakarthikeyan, Mani Ratnam vote in Tamil Nadu

Celebs simple looks and calm vibe draw online attention

Tamil Nadu elections see over 5.73 crore eligible voters. Did our AI summary help?
When Tabu got emotional seeing Ajay Devgn's daughter Nysa for the first time, said, "oh my god, Mujhe usse dekhkar aansu aa gaye..."

In a touching throwback, Tabu recalled getting emotional on first meeting Ajay Devgn and Kajols daughter Nysa, revealing the deep, lifelong bond she shares with Ajay and his family.









When Tabu got emotional seeing Ajay Devgn's daughter Nysa for the first time, said, "oh my god, Mujhe usse dekhkar aansu aa gaye..." Tabu recalls emotional moment meeting Ajay Devgn's daughter Nysa

Tabu and Ajay Devgn's friendship spans decades and families

Their bond goes beyond films, rooted in shared memories and trust Did our AI summary help?
7 symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency you shouldn't ignore, doctor explains why

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common and often missed because symptoms develop slowly. Simple signs like tiredness, tingling, and memory issues can point to low levels. Recognising these symptoms early can help prevent serious health problems.









Vitamin B12 helps in making healthy red blood cells and carrying oxygen in the body (Image: Pexels) Vitamin B12 deficiency causes fatigue, tingling, and pale skin

Symptoms include mouth ulcers, dizziness, and mood changes

Untreated deficiency can lead to permanent nerve damage Did our AI summary help?
10 quotes on success by Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi has earned the reputation of a remarkable business leader in the world. If you're looking for a dose of inspiration, some of her quotes on success and leadership is what you need to read.









Indra Nooyi is the former CEO of PepsiCo and a widely renowned business leader in the world. (Picture: X) Indra Nooyi rose from Chennai to become PepsiCo CEO

Her leadership inspires women to balance ambition and values

Nooyi emphasizes self-improvement and helping others rise Did our AI summary help?
Indian cheesemakers shine at Mondial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, what makes their cheese so special

Indian cheesemakers clinched four medals at Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026, an international event where dairy products and cheese from world over compete. To know what their cheese taste like and what makes them special, read on.









Indian cheesemakers made a mark at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil this year (Picture: Eleftheria Cheese) Indian cheesemakers won four medals at Mundial do Queijo 2026

Eleftheria Gulmarg Brie won Super Gold, Yak Churpi-Soft won Gold

PM Modi congratulated winners for impressive international debut Did our AI summary help?
Therapist explains why men should express their emotions openly, says it's the new era of mental awareness

Most men have been conditioned to suppress their emotions, equating silence with strength. But a gradual cultural shift is now being observed, which encourages them to open-up and express their vulnerable side.









Anxiety, loneliness, stress, and other such emotions are not uniquely male or female experiences, but human ones (Image: Pexels) Men are encouraged to express emotions, not suppress them

Safe spaces and conversations help men handle emotions better

Media and public figures are normalizing male vulnerability Did our AI summary help?
Microsoft plans first-ever voluntary employee buyout, offers retirement to about 7% of US workforce: Report

The one-time retirement programme will be open to US employees at the senior director level and below, provided their age and years of service together total at least 70









Microsoft is also adjusting the way it doles out stock to employees for annual rewards, the report said.
In the two months since it walked away from the Warner Bros merger race, Netflix has rolled out a series of growth initiatives, including the acquisition of Ben Affleck's AI film-tech firm InterPositive, raised subscription prices in the U.S. and launched a gaming app for kids.
Warner Bros.Discovery investors approve $110 billion Paramount merger

Paramount agreed to buy Warner Bros. for $110 billion in February, beating out Netflix Inc. after a months-long bidding war.









Paramount agreed to buy Warner Bros. for $110 billion in February, beating out Netflix Inc. after a months-long bidding war. Warner Bros. shareholders OK $110B Paramount-Skydance merger

US, EU antitrust reviews cloud Sept. 30 closing date

Shareholders reject CEO Zaslav's pay package amid controversy Did our AI summary help?
Equitree Capital launches Offshore GIFT City AIF

Equitree is a Mumbai-based boutique investment manager with over US$ 140 million in assets under management.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 05:10 IST























Equitree Capital launches Offshore GIFT City AIF
The alleged mastermind sourced raw materials from China via Alibaba and mixed them with water to produce counterfeit tirzepatide injections, India's highest-selling drug by value
FM Sitharaman urges bankers to brace for AI threats amid Anthropic concerns

Anthropic, an US-based artificial intelligence company, said unauthorised access was made on its new model Mythos, which is deemed too dangerous for public release.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 23:27 IST























FM Nirmala Sitharaman (File image) Finance Minister presses banks to enhance AI cybersecurity

Banks urged to share real-time threats and report incidents

Anthropics Mythos AI sparks worries about financial data security Did our AI summary help?
Indian aviation sector to handle about 500 million passengers annually by 2030: NMIA chief

"We are already one of the top three domestic aviation markets in the world, and we are continuing to grow rapidly. In 2025 itself, we handled about 4 million passengers and 3.5 million of cargo, which is around 20 per cent higher than the pre-COVID levels," Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd CEO BVJK Sharma said

PTI April 23, 2026 / 20:26 IST























Representative image India aviation to handle 500 million passengers by 2030

Passenger traffic may reach 1 billion annually by 2047

India targets 350 airports by 2047 amid infrastructure boom Did our AI summary help?
JM Financial Private Equity, family offices invest Rs 90 crore in Green Gene Enviro

Green Gene Enviro Protection and Infrastructure is engaged in the collection, treatment, and processing of hazardous waste generated from different manufacturing sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agro chemicals, automotive, etc., and helps turn such waste into alternative energy.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 05:19 IST























Green Gene Enviro raises Rs 90 crore
MAFDA, AIDA call indefinite shutdown on April 27 in Maharashtra over enforcement drive disruptions

The shutdown is expected to involve over 10,000 manufacturers and 85,000 dealers and distributors in Maharashtra, potentially affecting farm-level availability of fertilisers, pesticides, and seeds.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 18:05 IST























(Representative image) MAFDA and AIDA call indefinite shutdown over enforcement drive

Over 10,000 manufacturers and 85,000 dealers to join shutdown

Industry seeks fair rules to protect farmers, agri-business Did our AI summary help?
MC EXCLUSIVE Majority stake sale brewing at tea & wellness brand Vahdam India; top MNCs & consumer firms tapped

360 One Asset Management, Fireside Ventures and Sixth Sense Ventures are the key VC investors in Vahdam which also has numerous angel investors including Sachin Tendulkar and Abhishek Bachchan









Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO, Vahdam India with workers Vahdam India eyes majority stake sale to global giants

VC funds and angel investors may exit through the proposed deal

Vahdam posted Rs 273 crore revenue, turned profitable in FY24-25 Did our AI summary help?
Bank Nifty falls for 2nd day, declines 1.4% amid persistent foreign outflows; PSU banks lead losses

Foreign investors have net sold Indian shares worth $4.3 billion in April and $18.5 billion so far in 2026









Bank Nifty falls for 2nd day, declines 1.4% amid persistent foreign outflows; PSU banks lead losses Bank Nifty fell 1.4% as foreign outflows hit financial stocks

PSU banks led losses; Union Bank dropped 6% despite profit rise

Rupee weakened past 94 per dollar as oil prices surged Did our AI summary help?
Bernstein pens letter to PM Modi, warns that India may underperform without key reforms

Bernstein warns India may under-deliver on growth if structural risks persist, citing issues across agriculture, energy, AI, manufacturing, and more.









India needs faster reforms to avoid lagging peers, says Bernstein. Bernstein warns India risks under-delivering on growth potential

Key issues: agriculture, energy, AI, infrastructure gaps

Stronger reforms and investment needed for sustained growth Did our AI summary help?
India's answer to a $100 oil crisis might be growing in its own fields

With crude near $100, Nitin Gadkari is pushing India toward 100% ethanol blending. Sugar stocks rallied. E85 notification due within days. Here is what the roadmap looks like.









Gadkari pushes 100% ethanol blending as Gulf crisis exposes India's oil dependence Gadkari urges 100 percent ethanol blending to cut oil imports

India finishes nationwide E20 petrol rollout in April 2026

Regulatory framework for E85 and E100 trials expected soon Did our AI summary help?
Among 146 upcoming IPOs in India, JM Financial, IIFL Capital Services, and Motilal Oswal dominate upcoming public issue mandates.

SEBI has approved the DRHPs for 146 firms, which are waiting to come to market.
Nifty, Nikkei, Kospi on edge: How Asia's most vulnerable markets reacted to strikes, Hormuz closure, Iran ceasefire

A Moneycontrol analysis showed that nearly 16 percent of India's total trade is closely linked to nations part of Hormuz trade.









The market turbulence is unlike the tariff-driven swings seen earlier. India, Japan, South Korea stocks swung on Mideast tensions

India's trade exposure to Hormuz nations is higher than peers

Market indices dropped after strikes, rallied on ceasefire news Did our AI summary help?
Stocks to Watch Today: Infosys, SBI Life, Trent, Oracle Financial, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Jio Financial, Bharat Electronics, Unimech Aerospace in focus on 23 April

Stocks to Watch, 23 Apr: Stocks like SBI Life Insurance Company, Trent, L&T Technology Services, Oracle Financial Services Software, Tata Communications, Delta Corp, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Infosys, Jio Financial Services, Bharat Electronics, Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing, and Lemon Tree Hotels will be in focus on April 23.









Stocks to Watch Today, 23 April Stocks in Focus on April 23: SBI Life Insurance, Trent, L&T Technology Services, Oracle Financial Services, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Infosys, Jio Financial, BEL Did our AI summary help? SLI03

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Wave of sovereign gold bond redemptions underway with returns exceeding at least 200 percent

Multiple tranches of the SGB issuances have hit a five-year window, prompting the RBI to give early exits









Reserve Bank of India SGBs eligible for premature redemption this week, says RBI

No new SGB issues since 2022; scheme discontinued from 2024

Gold price surge leads to over 200 percent returns for investors Did our AI summary help?
Nippon Life's India asset manager to settle Yes Bank investment case, document shows

The settlement stipulates 93% of the settlement, or 897.4 million rupees, will go to Nippon India's investors that lost money, a rare condition in regulatory settlement offers, which typically require companies to deposit the penalties with the Indian government.

Reuters April 23, 2026 / 18:27 IST























Nippon Life India Asset Management to pay $10.25M in settlement

93% of settlement funds will go to investors who lost money

No wrongdoing admitted by Nippon India in SEBI settlement Did our AI summary help?
Leased, owned or company car: Which is best option to reduce income tax under new regime?

Car lease and employer provided vehicle structures are significantly more tax efficient than reimbursements on a self-owned car









sjdlkfjfls A company car leased by employer can lower taxable income

Tax on company cars is based on fixed perquisite value, not costs

Self-owned car reimbursements are less tax-efficient than leases Did our AI summary help?
A Living Will is a simple idea with serious consequences. In Indian medical law, it sits under the name Advance Medical Directive, or AMD
New labour codes may raise PF contributions, but companies can use smart salary structuring to protect take-home pay

Employers who proactively redesign compensation using a mix of statutory compliance and tax-efficient components will be better positioned to manage costs while protecting employee take-home pay









Companies may choose to restrict provident fund contributions to statutory minimum levels, and where both employer and employee mutually agree New labour rules broaden 'wages' to include most salary parts

PF on higher salary share may cut your take-home pay

Tax-efficient perks can help maintain or boost net take-home pay Did our AI summary help?
Premji puts undisclosed sum in Newera Hospitals to help capacity expansion

The investment from the platform backed by industrialist Azim Premji will help take the overall capacity of Newera to 800 beds from 350 beds currently.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 15:27 IST























Azim Premji (file image)
South Korea's Samsung workers rally in thousands as strike looms

Demonstrators waving banners reading "Let's eliminate the bonus cap" and "Change it to be transparent!" gathered in the sunlit streets around the factory, Samsung's largest for making memory and logic chips.

AFP April 23, 2026 / 19:17 IST























Members of the Samsung Electronics labour union stage a mass rally demanding the removal of a cap on performance bonuses, outside the company's foundry and semiconductor factory in Pyeongtaek on April 23, 2026. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) Over 40,000 Samsung workers rally for higher pay and bonuses

Unions threaten strike from May 21 to June 7 if demands unmet

Workers demand a 7 percent wage hike and transparent bonuses Did our AI summary help?
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day
Buzzing stocks: SBI Life, Delta Corp down post-Q4 earnings; Jio Financial gains on insurance JV announcement

Delta Corp shares fell 1 percent after company's consolidated Q4 profit declines 90% to Rs 16.45 crore Vs Rs 164.56 crore, YoY.









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Tata Motors issues $2.2-billion guarantees to fund Iveco acquisition

Tata Motors will avail a bridge loan of $4.4 billion to fund the acquisition of a unit of the Italian automaker, say sources









In July 2025, Tata Motors announced the acquisition of Italian automaker Iveco Groups civilian truck and bus business for approximately $4.45 billion(3.8 billion Euros). Tata Motors to buy Iveco truck, bus unit for $4.45B

$2.2 billion corporate guarantees provided for bridge funding

Deal awaits regulatory approvals, may face delays Did our AI summary help?

Pavan Burugula
Wheat procurement down 11 percent at 148 lakh tonne so far; late arrivals cited

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies undertake procurement of wheat at the minimum support price (MSP). Procurement of wheat  the main rabi or winter crop  runs through March to April, with the bulk of grain purchased in the first three months.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 20:22 IST














If gold prices rise, the value of the rings and necklaces in the display case climbs with the debt. If they fall, both shrink together. The trade-off is interest on the loan.
At AMCHAM meet, Sergio Gor pitches $500 billion US-India trade target by 2030

In a post on X after meeting the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in India, Gor said discussions focused on advancing trade and investment ties.









Sergio Gor meeting with AMCHAM India (Photo/@USAmbIndia) US aims to boost trade with India to $500 billion by 2030

American firms in India drive exports and investment

Secretary of State Rubio to visit India next month Did our AI summary help?
BJP protests Kharges terrorist remark against PM Modi, demands apology

The protest was led by state BJP President B Y Vijayendra, Leaders of Opposition in the Assembly and Council R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, and several party legislators and leaders

PTI April 23, 2026 / 14:46 IST























Mallikarjun Kharge
On the first anniversary of the Pahalgam attack, US lawmakers gathered at Capitol Hill and named Pakistan. Here is what was said, and why it matters now.
Confident of DMK returning to power, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

The DMK, which heads the Secular Progressive Alliance, is seeking to retain power, and is leading a multi-party coalition that includes Congress, Left parties and the VCK.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 10:34 IST























Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin
He also underlined that in times of global uncertainties, India and Germany have provided much-needed stability and strength to the global economy.
Govt to hold meet in Lucknow on Friday to discuss farm sector policy issues

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will attend the conference.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 19:14 IST























Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan (file image)
Highest turnout since independence: CEC Gyanesh Kumar as Bengal sees 92% polling, Tamil Nadu almost 85%

The high turnout figures in West Bengal underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies.









Gyanesh Kumar West Bengal saw 92 percent voter turnout in Phase I polling

TN sees ~85% turnout, highest since Independence

Polling in both states was peaceful with minimal violence Did our AI summary help?
With the latest extension, the closure of the Indian airspace for Pakistan aircraft will now be in place for more than a year -- a move that first came days after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.
India 'tough nut to crack', says USTR Greer as negotiators wrap up trade talks round

The USTR said the US negotiators were discussing specific issues, such as DDGs (which are used as high-protein livestock feed, soybean meal and ethanol), with their counterparts from India.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 12:14 IST























US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (Courtesy: Reuters photo)
It was my mistake': Accused Rahul Meena on Delhi IRS officers daughter's rape-murder

Chief Judicial Magistrate Deepika Thakaran allowed the Delhi Police's plea seeking four days of custodial interrogation of the accused.









Accused Rahul Meena tells court as police secure custody in IRS officers daughter rape-murder case Rahul Meena sent to 4-day police custody in Delhi murder case

Meena confessed to entering IRS officer's home to steal money

Stolen cash, jewellery recovered; police probe wider links Did our AI summary help?
Kashmir's tourism was finally recovering after Pahalgam. Then the Gulf crisis arrived

Kashmir lost 58 lakh tourists after the Pahalgam attack. Recovery is underway, but the Gulf crisis is now threatening the make-or-break May-August season.









Kashmir tourism 58 lakh short after Pahalgam; Gulf crisis now threatens summer recovery Kashmir tourism faces 80% cancellations after April attack

Tourism numbers dropped by 58 lakh visitors in 2025

Recovery depends on Gulf crisis resolution and travel confidence Did our AI summary help?
'Let it come, our people will reply to it': Kharge on EC notice over his remarks on PM Modi

Kharge has been asked to submit his explanation within 24 hours, with the poll body warning that failure to respond would lead to further action without additional reference to him.
Marijuana worth Rs 18.5 cr recovered from trolley bags abandoned inside aircraft at Delhi airport

Officials said the alleged trafficking bid came to light after unclaimed trolley bags were recovered during aircraft security check of a flight that arrived from Bangkok on April 20, the statement said.

PTI April 23, 2026 / 15:52 IST














MEA reacts after Trump shares post calling India 'hell-hole': 'Seen some reports'

The post shared by Donald Trump featured a letter by conservative radio host Michael Savage, in which he described countries like India and China as 'hellholes' while arguing against birthright citizenship in the United States.









Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
MEA warns Indians against Iran travel, urges nationals to leave via land routes

In an advisory issued on April 23, the MEA said the warning remains in force despite reports of limited flight operations resuming between India and Iran.
Moradabad man kills wife, keeps body at home before calling police

The victims family has alleged that she had been subjected to prolonged harassment. Her brother said she had faced repeated abuse and claimed there had been earlier attempts to harm her.
Nitin Nabin on BJPs election prospects, womens quota push, delimitation and Vijay impact | Full Q&A

Speaking to Rahul Joshi, MD and Group Editor-in-Chief at Network18 Group, Nabin discusses the partys push for womens reservation, the roadblocks it faced, and the larger strategy around census and delimitation.

April 23, 2026 / 16:41 IST














Nitin Nabin reacts to PM Modi calling him 'boss': 'Beauty of our party, no hierarchy'

When it comes to the party, Nitin Nabin is the boss and I am a party worker. Now Nitin Nabin ji is the president of all of us, PM Modi had said when the new BJP chief was appointed.









BJP leader Nitin Nabin was appointed as the partys new national president in January.
Nitin Nabin rules out post-poll alliance prospect with Vijay's TVK: 'There will be no need'

Nitin Nabin asserted confidence in the AIADMK-led NDA in the southern state and said they are confident of forming the government on their own.









BJP chief Nitin Nabin.
The controversy erupted on the last day of Tamil Nadu election campaigning, when the Congress President criticised the AIADMK for supporting the BJP and labelled PM Modi a 'terrorist who does not believe in equality.'
Scuffle erupts in Murshidabad as TMC workers clash with AUJP chief Humayun Kabir after poll-eve blast

On Wednesday, an explosion occurred in the Shibnagar area in the Nawda assembly constituency, close to Shibnagar primary school, a designated polling station.









Humayun Kabir Bomb blast near polling booth in Nawda Assembly injures one woman

Scuffle erupts between TMC workers and AUJP founder Humayun Kabir

Violence in Domkal block leaves three injured, one critical Did our AI summary help?
'This is embarrassing': TMC leader among 139 reinstated in voter rolls after massive deletions ahead of Bengal Phase 1 polls

The 139 names cleared for voting accounts for only .005% of more than 27 lakh names that were struck off the electoral rolls in the first phase during judicial adjudication under the Special Intensive Revision.









Authorities in Murshidabad district have ramped up surveillance measures, deploying Static Surveillance Teams (SST) and establishing multiple naka check-posts across key locations to ensure free and fair elections.(Credit: ANI) Only 139 names restored out of 27 lakh deleted from voter rolls

TMCs Injamul Islam gets vote back but remains unhappy

Tribunals disposed of just 147 appeals out of 34 lakh submitted Did our AI summary help?
Former Army Chief General MM Naravane (Retd) has come out with a new book
West Asia crisis: Engineering exports dip 66.8 percent to UAE; 45 percent to Saudi Arabia in March

During 2025-26, engineering sector exports were up 4.86 per cent to $122.43 billion, the highest so far. The target is to take it to $250 billion by 2030

PTI April 23, 2026 / 22:27 IST























(Representative image) Engineering exports to UAE, Saudi Arabia plunged in March

Engineering exports up 1.13% to $10.94 billion in March

Engineering exports rose in US, Germany, UK, China, Korea Did our AI summary help?
West Bengal Polls: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a roadshow in Howrah

PM Modi accused the Trinamool Congress government of making "fake promises" and urged people to vote for a double-engine government.

ANI April 23, 2026 / 19:30 IST























Narendra Modi | Photo Credit: ANI
West Bengal sees record turnout of 92% in phase 1: Factors that may have propelled the surge

Whether the record turnout will translate into a decisive political shift will be keenly watched by the electorate and many political observers.
'Why are you here after being fired?': Rahul was seen near victim's house before murder; was waiting for her to be alone

Investigators identified the auto-rickshaw he used to flee, and the driver later informed police that he had dropped him at a hotel, leading to his arrest.
'Wi-fi, network passwords were vulgar': TCS Nashik BPO case survivor's fresh bombshell claims

According to the woman, her complaints were ignored when she tried to raise concerns about Memon's behaviour, adding that accused Raza along with Danish stalked her online and spread malicious rumours about her.









TCS Nashik BPO survivor recounts harassment Seven TCS Nashik employees arrested for sexual harassment case

Survivors report obscene passwords, mental harassment at work

Nine FIRs filed; one woman employee linked to case is missing Did our AI summary help?
OPINION | As Trump wages wars, China tech competition takes a backseat

In a break from his first term, US president Trumps heightened focus on tariffs and wars has deprioritised the technological rivalry with China spanning sectors such as telecom, chips and AI









Trumps preoccupation with Iran has further led to the deprioritisation of the tech competition with China in the US foreign policy agenda.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day
AJUP vs TMC: Humayun Kabir accuses Mamata Banerjee of 'purchasing' his party candidates; faces 'go back' slogans in Murshidabad

AJUP activists alleged that members of the ruling party roughed up one of their booth-level presidents at his house.









Humayun Kabir Kabir alleges TMC bribed AJUP candidates to exit poll race

TMC supporters protest Kabirs visit to Murshidabad booth

Central forces stepped in after TMCAJUP members clashed Did our AI summary help?
Poll violence in Bengal: After Subhendu Sarkar, BJP Asansol candidate Agnimitra Paul's car attacked in Rahmatnagar

Earlier in the day, clashes broke out in Bengal's Murshidabad district when Humayun Kabir's party workers clashed with the ruling TMC's workers.









Violence in Bengal: After Subhendu Sarkar, BJP Asansol candidate Agnimitra Paul's car attacked in Rahmatnagar BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul's car attacked near Rahmat Nagar

Police are investigating and security has been tightened

Sporadic clashes mar West Bengal's first-phase polling Did our AI summary help?
Indian-origin law student shares photo with American girlfriend, gets trolled: 'Racism is rising'

Krishan Patel, who was born in California after his grandparents immigrated to the US, said he had been enduring racism since he was a teen. 'I have been going through this online since I was 14. What worries me is that it now seems to be moving from purely social media into the real world,' he said.
Inside a rare case: 87-year-old develops black, branch-like lung plugs after wildfire smoke

The patient was admitted to an emergency department after experiencing shortness of breath following several hours of inhaling dense smoke from a forest fire. Doctors observed that he was taking shallow breaths and had significantly reduced blood oxygen levels, prompting immediate intervention.









Early signs of the condition may resemble common respiratory disorders such as asthma, which can lead to delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
Man alleges harassment by Indian Embassy in Rome, officials call claims 'false, fabricated'. Watch

The video was shared by Jaydip Lakhankiya, who has alleged that embassy staff subjected him to physical harassment and attempted to intimidate him. The embassy has rejected these claims, describing them as 'false and fabricated'.
Pope Leo says 'we're in big trouble if Elon Musk becomes the first trillionaire

'CEOs that 60 years ago might have been making four to six times more than what the workers are receiving, the last figure I saw, its 600 times more than what average workers are receiving,' Pope Leo XIV said.
Woman pays Rs 12 lakh for assisted dying in Switzerland after son's sudden death: 'My life is agony'

Wendy Duffy, a former care worker, said she has chosen to pursue assisted dying at Pegasos following the death of her son, Marcus, four years ago. She stated that despite undergoing therapy and taking antidepressants, she has been unable to come to terms with the loss.









Her decision comes at a time when assisted dying is under discussion in the UK, including in the House of Lords.
From horse trails to sky safaris: Domestic travel booms as Iran war reshapes Indian holidays

Travel uncertainty, higher airfares due to the West Asia tensions have led Indians to seek something within their cities
A damaged U.S. Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft following an Iranian strike on the airbase, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in this picture obtained from social media released on March 29, 2026. (Social Media via Reuters)
Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma's statement came a day after the opposition claimed that USD 2.5 million of treasury funds had landed in a hackers account and not in the correct creditor.
3 US Presidents rejected Netanyahu's Iran war plan, then Trump agreed: Ex-US top official

Speaking as a guest on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Kerry said, "Obama said no. Bush said no. President Biden said no. I mean, I was part of those conversations."









U.S. President Trump meets Israeli PM Netanyahu at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club, in Palm Beach. (File photo)
A false messiah, dont make him a hero: Pakistani cleric warns govt against hosting Trump for Iran talks

The remarks come at a time when Pakistan is attempting to position itself as a mediator in US-Iran talks, even as its credibility has been questioned by multiple stakeholders.









US President Donald Trump gestures during a roundtable discussion on his "no tax on tips" policy at the AC Hotel Las Vegas Symphony Park in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 16, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) Pakistans bid to host US-Iran talks faces internal resistance, with cleric Maulana Naqvi criticizing the government and Trump. Irans reluctance and a canceled US delegation visit highlight doubts about Pakistans credibility as a diplomatic mediator. Did our AI summary help?
Airline company Lufthansa cuts 20,000 flights as war squeezes fuel prices, supplies

The price of jet fuel has more than doubled in some markets since late February, when the war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Associated Press April 23, 2026 / 04:53 IST























All but one of the world's 20 largest airlines have canceled scheduled May flights spanning every major region, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Bill Huizinga, chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees US policy on India, said New Delhi's military and naval influence in the region is critical as the West Asia conflict continues to disrupt global shipping
From John Phelan to Randy George: Inside US military shake-up during Iran war

A series of high-level removals across the US military during the Iran war highlights an unusually large leadership reshuffle within the Pentagon.









From Phelan to George: Top Pentagon officials removed amid Iran conflict
Gunmen attack Pakistan refinery site in Balochistan, security forces launch probe

Unidentified gunmen attacked a refinery site in Pakistans Balochistan, prompting a security response and raising concerns over energy infrastructure safety.









National Refinery site in Pakistan attacked by gunmen
How a single photograph captures life on Irans most fragile islands

An intimate portrait from the Strait of Hormuz reveals a culture shaped by wind, memory and now, the shadow of war.









How a single photograph captures life on Irans most fragile islands
Hurray, Trump saved 8 AI people: Iran mocks US President over execution claim

Iran has rejected Donald Trumps claim of halting executions of eight women, mocking it as based on AI-generated content while tensions with the US persist.









Iran mocks Trump over AI-generated execution claims, denies plans to hang women
India a 'great country' with a 'very good friend at the top': Trump heaps praises after 'hellhole' remark

US President Donald Trump has amplified a provocative critique of birthright citizenship by sharing a video of prominent conservative author and radio host Michael Savage,









US President Donald Trump Trump praises India as a great country after video backlash

India's MEA responded cautiously to Trump's social media activity

Video attacked US birthright citizenship, citing India, China Did our AI summary help?
Iran rebuked remarks attributed to Donald Trump calling India and China hellholes, defending them as historic civilisations. The controversy comes amid US debates on birthright citizenship and ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and energy supplies.

Did our AI summary help?
Iran says Hormuz reopening 'impossible' amid US blockade: 'Only makes sense if...'

Iran's MB Ghalibaf said that the US failed to achieve its goal via military aggression and the only way forward is to recognise Irans rights









Iran Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf Iran accuses US of violating ceasefire with maritime blockade

Ghalibaf: Strait of Hormuz can't reopen if breaches persist

Iran seizes two ships for maritime violations amid tensions Did our AI summary help?
Iran war impact: Dubai home prices post first decline after post-pandemic boom

The value of Dubai residential sales dropped by nearly a fifth to $10.1 bn in March from the previous month, according to REIDIN, a research and analytics firm









Iran war impact: Dubai home prices post first decline after post-pandemic boom Dubai home prices fell 5.9% in March, first drop since 2020

Residential sales value dropped nearly 20% in March

Builders add perks as housing demand dips in regional unrest Did our AI summary help?
The Bnei Menashe, primarily based in the northeastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram, believe they are descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh, exiled more than 2,800 years ago. (Representative Image/AP)
File photo of a Pakistani Hindu devotee woman and a girl sit while waiting with others for transport before leaving to pay homage at Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan, outside the Shri Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple in Karachi, Pakistan April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil killed in Israeli strike on house where she took cover, paper says

Khalil's death comes on the eve of the second round of direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington on extending the ceasefire that went into effect last Friday.

Associated Press April 23, 2026 / 06:48 IST























Khalil remained under the rubble for hours before the Lebanese army, civil defense and the Lebanese Red Cross were able to get to the scene hours later. (Courtesy: AP photo)
Lips burned, prosthetic leg, unable to speak: New details surface on Mojtaba Khameneis grave condition

One of the key reasons why Mojtaba is unwilling to appear in public is because he does not want to appear vulnerable or sound weak.









Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since becoming leader

He was badly hurt in a US-Israeli strike that killed his father

IRGC commanders now play a key role in Iran's decision-making Did our AI summary help?
Pakistans attempt to mediate US-Iran talks is faltering, prompting it to seek Chinas support. Tehran doubts Pakistans credibility, preferring China as guarantor. A six-point plan now relies on Beijing, highlighting Pakistans limited influence in the negotiations.

Did our AI summary help?
Pentagon says mine clearing at Strait of Hormuz may take 6 months: Why and how it will impact US gas prices

The Pentagon has told Congress that clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz could take up to six months, raising concerns over prolonged disruption to global oil supplies and higher US fuel prices.
Irans exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splashed with tomato juice in Berlin after criticizing the US-Iran ceasefire. He was unharmed, and the incident highlighted tensions over Irans future and Pahlavis push for international support for regime change.

Did our AI summary help?
Sanctions waiver on Russian oil purchase after request from over 10 countries: US

Bessent said the request to extend the sanctions waiver came on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank last week

PTI April 23, 2026 / 05:09 IST























US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Trump claimed US destroyed Irans military. Intelligence suggests otherwise

Roughly 60% of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is still operational, a report said









The assessment contrasts with earlier statements from Trump and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Trump claims total control over Strait of Hormuz, says no ship can move without US approval: 'Sealed up tight'

Trump has claimed that the US has total control over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that no vessel can pass through the strategic waterway without American approval as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.









US President Donald Trump (R) makes a fist after a roundtable discussion on his "no tax on tips" policy at the AC Hotel Las Vegas Symphony Park in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 16, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)
Trump shares post calling India, China hellholes amid birthright citizenship debate

Donald Trump shared a post citing remarks on birthright citizenship that referred to India and China as hellholes, drawing attention to the ongoing debate over US immigration policy.









Trump reposts Savage rant targeting India, China over US birthright citizenship
Two ministers out, scandals mount, public anger grows: Why Nepals Gen-Z govt is in trouble within its first month

The exit of key ministers and growing criticism from opposition groups and civil society have raised an uncomfortable question: is this government losing momentum before it has even settled in?









FILE PHOTO: Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as "Balen", smiles as he speaks with outgoing interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki before taking the oath of office at "Shital Niwas", the presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar/File Photo Nepals youngest PM Balendra Shah faces early setbacks as key ministers resign amid misconduct allegations and public anger over policy decisions. The reformist governments credibility is challenged by internal controversies, economic pressures, and protests. Did our AI summary help?
US intercepts three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters: Report

Washington has imposed a blockade on Iran's trade by sea while Iran has fired on ships to prevent them sailing through the Strait of Hormuz waterway at the entrance to the Middle East Gulf

Reuters April 23, 2026 / 03:30 IST























Nearly two months after the U.S. and Israel began their war on Iran, there is little sign of peace talks resuming during an uneasy ceasefire. US intercepts at least three Iranian-flagged tankers near Asia

Strait of Hormuz closure disrupts global oil and gas supplies

US has directed 29 vessels to turn around or return to port Did our AI summary help?
White House accuses China of industrial-scale theft of AI technology

The Chinese Embassy in Washington said it opposes "the baseless allegations," adding that Beijing "attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights."

Reuters April 23, 2026 / 22:48 IST























The flags of the United States and China wave in the wind in New York City White House: China engaged in large-scale AI IP theft

China rejects claims, affirms respect for intellectual property

US may reconsider AI chip shipments to China amid rising tensions Did our AI summary help?
White House says 'Trump will dictate timeline' of Iran conflict as ceasefire holds

The White House has said President Donald Trump will determine the timeline of the Iran conflict, stressing that there is no fixed end date as a fragile ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic efforts continue.









Trump to set course of Iran conflict based on US interests, says White House
Why a 60-day deadline could force a turning point in Trumps Iran war strategy

A little-known law is about to limit how long the president can continue military action without Congress  and it could reshape what happens next.









Why a 60-day deadline could force a turning point in Trumps Iran war strategy
Why Anthropics Mythos AI has sparked a global security scramble

The powerful new model isnt just a tech breakthrough  its forcing governments to rethink cyber risks, control and the future of AI power.









Why Anthropics Mythos AI has sparked a global security scramble
Why the US-Iran ceasefire isnt really a ceasefire at all

Despite talk of a pause, attacks, blockades and rising tensions suggest the conflict is far from over.









Despite talk of a pause, attacks, blockades and rising tensions suggest the conflict is far from over
Why Trumps team is shifting its midterm strategy away from his presidency

With voter dissatisfaction rising, Republicans are trying to turn the 2026 elections into a choice about Democrats instead.









Why Trumps team is shifting its midterm strategy away from his presidency
April 23, 2026 War On Iran: A Stalemate With No End In Sight U.S. President Donald Trump has again chickened out of his threats to Iran: Trump said the ceasefire had been due to end on Wednesday, but he decided to keep it in place because the government in Tehran is seriously fractured. He said the pause will continue until such time as Irans leaders and representatives submit a unified proposal to end the war with the United States and Israel. Trump also said he made the move after a request from Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan. He said he directed the U.S. military to keep the blockade in place until a proposal is delivered. The U.S. has, as Trump had previously acknowledged, already received Irans 10-point proposal. What Trump is acknowledging without saying it is that it is unlikely that there will be any negotiated settlement of the war. The U.S. is structurally incapable of lifting sanctions on Iran or signing a peace treaty. Iran is unwilling to give up its (enrichment) rights for bare promises Trump or his successors are unlikely to hold. The conflict will thus continue. Irans military capabilities are sufficient to wage a long war. The intense U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign was unable to disarm the country: About half of Irans stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems were still intact as of the start of the ceasefire in early April, three of the officials told CBS News.

Roughly 60% of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is still in existence, the officials said, including fast-attack speed boats.



About two-thirds of Irans air force is still believed to be operational, the officials said, after an intensive U.S. and Israeli campaign that struck thousands of targets, including storage and production facilities.



The head of the Defense Intelligence Agency submitted a written statement ahead of a House Armed Services Committee hearing that said Iran can still inflict damage. Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs that can threaten U.S. and partner forces throughout the region, despite degradations to its capabilities from both attrition and expenditure, Marine Lt. Gen. James Adams wrote.

Previously, the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have described the U.S. effort, called Operation Epic Fury, as essentially destroying Irans military capacity. That is a meager outcome if one believes reports that the Pentagon has used up nearly 50% of its relevant munition: Over the last seven weeks of war, the US military has expended at least 45% of its stockpile of Precision Strike Missiles; at least half of its inventory of THAAD missiles, which are designed to intercept ballistic missiles; and nearly 50% of its stockpile of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles, according to a new analysis conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Those numbers closely align with classified Pentagon data about US stockpiles, according to the sources familiar with the assessment.



The US military has also expended approximately 30% of its Tomahawk missile stockpile; more than 20% of its stockpile of long-range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles; and approximately 20% of its SM-3 and SM-6 missiles, according to the analysis and the sources. It would take around four to five years to replace those systems. By now Trumps bluffs have been called not only once or twice but five times: On five separate occasions, the president has set deadlines for Iran to come to his terms or face his wrath. And each time, hes delayed that deadline despite little or no public evidence that Iran met the terms as he laid them out. The U.S. has run out of option but is unwilling to concede its defeat. Each day the damage due to Irans blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is increasing (archived): The International Monetary Fund warned last week that under a severe scenariowhere the conflict continues for months and keeps oil prices elevatedworld economic growth could fall to 2% in 2026, a rate seen only during the deepest recent global recessions. That compares with the IMFs main, or reference, scenario, in which there is a quick resolution and global output grows by 3.1% this year.



The conflict has already proven more disruptive to global energy markets than the 1973 oil crisis. The fallout extends far beyond crude. Supply chains are also gummed up for helium, crucial for the artificial-intelligence chips boom, and fertilizers, essential for global food security. Aluminum prices are near a four-year high that was reached earlier this month amid war-related smelter closures across the Gulf, which accounts for around 10% of global supply. Current U.S. propaganda is claiming that the leadership in Iran is not united: Trumps negotiators believe a deal to end the war and address whats left of Irans nuclear program is still achievable. But they also worry they may not have anyone in Tehran empowered to say yes. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is barely communicating. The IRGC generals now in control of the country and Irans civilian negotiators are openly at odds over strategy.

We saw that there is an absolute fracture inside Iran between the negotiators and the military  with neither side having access to the supreme leader, who is not responsive, a U.S. official said. That is a serious misreading of the political process in Iran. The national security council under the Supreme Leader has always been the main forum of major foreign policy decisions. On national security issues President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi are diplomats, not policy makers. The distinction between hardliners and moderates in Iran is thus not valid. Main stream opinion writers who, with Trumps applause, are calling for murdering the allegedly resistive party in Iran are only exposing their ignorance. With his latest TACO Trump has pushed the problem out into the future. I expect him to try to ignore the situation he has created until more significant damage in the U.S. economy becomes visible. Meanwhile Iran can, should and likely will increase the pressure. The most obvious move is to ask Ansarollah (the Houthi) in Yemen to close the southern Bab al-Mandeb outlet of the Red Sea. This would block another 5% of the global oil output and thus increase the economic pressure. Comments
IDEA Travis Academy and College Prep welcomed students back for the first day of school on Aug. 8, 2024. Kessly Salinas/ Midland Reporter Telegram

On Tuesday, the Midland ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to terminate the contract with IDEA Public Schools for the operation of Travis Elementary.

The district entered the Senate Bill 1882 agreement with IDEA Public Schools in 2019, and it was set to end July 31, 2030.

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However, IDEA Travis received a D rating from the Texas Education Agency in each of the past three school years.

Under the contract, the district had the option to terminate the agreement if the school was placed in one of the two lowest categories of school improvement for three or more consecutive years.

Trustees entered closed session to consult with the boards attorney and discuss the status of the IDEA Travis contract and possible next steps.

After trustees returned from closed session, Trustee Matt Friez made the motion to terminate the agreement.

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I move to terminate the MISD Travis Elementary School lease agreement with tenant IDEA Public Schools because they have received three consecutive Ds, which is a violation of the lease by being placed in one of the two lowest categories of school improvement for three or more consecutive years at the end of the school year, Friez said.

IDEA Public Schools will continue operating the school through June 1, 2026.

Friez also made a second motion directing Superintendent Stephanie Howard to develop options for the Travis Elementary campus and present them to the board at a special meeting April 28.
Warm, sunny weather returns to the Permian Basin with 90s expected through next week and elevated fire danger in West Texas and New Mexico. Courtesy Photo/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Warm temperatures and sunny skies will return to the Permian Basin this weekend.

Kevin Lamberson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said sustained temperatures in the 90s are expected this week, with minimal chances of rain and elevated fire danger in parts of southeast New Mexico and West Texas.

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(Warmer temperatures) are back, and they are going to stay here for the foreseeable future, he told the Reporter-Telegram. We are looking at 90s starting out today, lasting through all the way until at least early next week. This weather is warmer, especially for April and this time of year. I know a couple of days ago, especially last weekend, into early this past week or this week, we had cooler temperatures. But now those 90s-based temperatures will stay here for a while.

Lamberson said an upper-level system is part of the reason for the return to sunny skies.

It is currently off to our west right now, but it is going to come a little further east from today and tomorrow, and we are going to have stronger winds with the system, he explained. Not for any rain, obviously, but wherever we have warm conditions, and dry conditions, as well as stronger winds, we are going to be seeing some new critical fire weather conditions.

The National Weather Service said elevated fire weather conditions will remain in effect through 8 p.m. tonight for southeast New Mexico and Gaines County. From Thursday morning through late Thursday night, parts of southeast New Mexico and much of West Texas, including Gaines County, will be under a fire weather watch.

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We (National Weather Service) definitely recommend not burning or burning of any kind tomorrow afternoon, as we are still going to be kind of in a windy, breezy weather pattern heading into Friday, Saturday, said Lamberson. Sunday is our next big system, where we are gonna have another breezy, windy day, and our weather conditions will be almost the same.

Additionally, Lamberson said a high wind watch is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening for the Guadalupe and Delaware mountains, as well as Carlsbad Caverns National Park. He said travel may be difficult during that time, especially for recreational vehicles.

I would definitely discourage anyone from heavy burning activities, he said. Hold that off for a day, given our dry conditions and windy conditions. If there is a fire that starts, it is also going to spread rapidly. Make sure you put out your cigarettes as well at a cigarette deck and not a fire. Also, make sure you properly dispose of your cigarettes. And dont just toss it out.
Midland Countys TAG Center says a man was arrested in Odessa after agents found about 7 ounces of cocaine and cash. Andrew Brookes/Getty Images/Image Source

The TAG Center Permian Basin arrested a man on a charge of manufacturing and delivering cocaine, the Midland County Sheriffs Office said.

According to a press statement, TAG members executed a search warrant April 20 in the 9000 block of Red Cliff Avenue in Odessa. During the search, TAG members said Isaul Galindo, 30, had about seven ounces of cocaine and more than $16,000 in U.S. currency.

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Galindo was arrested on a charge of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, a felony, and taken to the Ector County jail for booking. County records did not show whether he had been released on bond.
Steven Spielberg, winner of the MPA America250 Award, speaks during the Universal Pictures and Focus Features presentation at CinemaCon, the official convention of Cinema United, in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 15, 2026. REUTERS

LAS VEGAS (Reuters)  Steven Spielberg described his 1977 UFO film Close Encounters of the Third Kind as his own speculation about intelligent life on other planets.

His new alien movie, Disclosure Day, will offer what Spielberg believes is more truth than fiction, the veteran filmmaker told theater operators on Wednesday at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas.

The maker of E.T. and 2005s War of the Worlds said he decided to journey back into the extraterrestrial realm after reading a 2017 New York Times report about U.S. military pilots who reported seeing mysterious flying objects.

I really, truly believe this movie is going to answer questions, Spielberg said of Disclosure Day. And this movie is also going to cause you to ask a lot of questions.

All you need to get from the beginning to the end is a seat belt, he teased, without elaborating on the plot.

Footage shown to the CinemaCon crowd gave a brief glimpse of an alien leaning over a human child. The film stars Emily Blunt, Josh OConnor, Colman Domingo and Colin Firth.

Disclosure Day will be released by Universal Pictures in June.

Universal also brought out another acclaimed director, Christopher Nolan, to promote his upcoming film The Odyssey. The movie, set to debut in July, is based on Homers epic about a Greek king trying to return home after the Trojan War.

The Odyssey is a story that has fascinated generation after generation for 3,000 years, he said. It is not a story. Its the story.

The Oppenheimer director said The Odyssey was an absolute nightmare to film, but in all the right ways.

Star Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, endured rough conditions throughout the project, Nolan said.

He was just there, out there on the boats, up in the mountains, in the caves, in beating sunshine, in sideways rain, wind, he said.

Its meant to be difficult. Thats the nature of the story.
1) A boy holds up a big sign thanking World Central Kitchen. WCK photos

2) World Central Kitchen staff and volunteers prepared hot meals for distribution.

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

DESPITE supply chain challenges and widespread water shortages, World Central Kitchen is continuing to deliver thousands of meals a day across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota following the devastation of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

World Central Kitchen, often referred to as WCK, is an international emergency food relief organization founded by chef Jose Andres. The group specializes in providing fresh, hot meals to communities immediately after disasters such as hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, conflicts, and other crises. Its model is fast, local, and community-driven, working with local restaurants, volunteers, and organizations to prepare and distribute meals where they are needed most.

Chika Kondo, community outreach manager for World Central Kitchen, said the organization began feeding residents even before staff arrived in the Commonwealth.

World Central Kitchen is an emergency food relief organization. We work with communities to feed communities, to make sure that people have meals right after a disaster hits, Kondo said. Our whole goal is to be first on the front lines We had folks feeding already from last Thursday.

WCK teams are operating on all three islands, coordinating with local governments, nonprofit groups, and volunteers to distribute hot meals, sandwiches, water, and ice to families in the hardest-hit areas. More than 30 restaurant partners are preparing meals daily, and Kondo said more than 10,000 meals were distributed in a single day this week.

On Rota, teachers are conducting welfare checks and meal deliveries with support from Mayor Aubrey Hocog. In Tinian, WCK is working with disability rights group Team Koka and Mayor Edwin Aldans office, including a public distribution site at Tinian Elementary School. On Saipan, volunteers from the Lions Club, Natibu, the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, and local scout groups are staffing distribution points and checking on residents.

Water access remains one of the most urgent concerns, particularly in Kagman, and Kondo said procurement delays are affecting supplies. WCK is coordinating closely with the Red Cross, Team Rubicon, and the CNMI Emergency Operations Center to reach vulnerable households.

Many people have now gone almost a whole week, over a week now, without power and without water, Kondo said. Were hoping that a hot meal can bring a little bit of warmth, but also some hope.

WCK is directing potential volunteers to its portal at volunteers.wck.org but is not currently seeking large-scale volunteer turnout.

Kondo said the response has highlighted the resilience of the Marianas.

We are so grateful to be working with so many wonderful people and seeing how the community is coming together, she said.

WCK operations remain active across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota as recovery efforts continue.

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.
LONDON/NEW DELHI (Reuters)  The U.S. military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters and is redirecting them away from their positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday.

Washington has imposed a blockade on Irans trade by sea while Iran has fired on ships to prevent them sailing through the Strait of Hormuz waterway at the entrance to the Middle East Gulf. Nearly two months after the U.S. and Israel began their war on Iran, there is little sign of peace talks resuming during an uneasy ceasefire.

The closure of the strait has disrupted supply of a fifth of the worlds oil and gas supplies, and caused a global energy crisis. U.S. forces have seized an Iranian cargo ship and an oil tanker in recent days. Iran said it had captured two container ships seeking to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after firing on them and another vessel, its first seizures since the war began.

The U.S. has diverted at least three more Iranian-flagged oil tankers in recent days, according to two US and Indian shipping sources and two separate Western maritime security source who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday.

The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the interceptions.

One of the vessels was the Iranian-flagged Deep Sea supertanker, which was part loaded with crude and last seen on its public tracking transponder off Malaysias coast a week ago, according to the sources and ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.

The smaller Iranian-flagged Sevin, which had a maximum capacity of 1 million barrels and was carrying 65% of its load, was also intercepted. The vessel was last seen off Malaysias coast a month ago, ship tracking data showed.

The Iranian-flagged supertanker Dorena was also intercepted, fully loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, and last seen off the coast of southern India three days ago, according to the sources and ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.

And so, as we await that response, theres a ceasefire with the military and kinetic strikes, but Operation Economic Fury continues, and the effective

The U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday in a post on X, opens new tab that the Dorena has been under the escort of a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after attempting to violate the blockade.

U.S. forces may have intercepted the Iranian-flagged Derya tanker, shipping sources said. The vessel failed to discharge its cargo of Iranian oil in India before a U.S. waiver on Iranian crude purchases expired on Sunday. That vessel was last seen off Indias western coast on Friday, according to MarineTraffic data.

U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday that since the start of its blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports, U.S. forces had directed 29 vessels to turn around or return to port, opens new tab.

The U.S. military has not listed all the ships it has intercepted and did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the Deyra and the Deep Sea.

A third maritime security source said the US military was looking to target Iranian ships away from the Strait of Hormuz and in open waters to avoid any risk of floating mines during operations.
The front window of Rushville State Bank features a display focused on the bank's history in the community. The city is celebrating its 200th anniversary on Friday. Courtesy of Erin Eveland

RUSHVILLE  This one wasnt slipping up on them.

After defaulting to celebrating Schuyler Countys 200th anniversary on Smiles Day in September, organizers working to plan Rushvilles 200th anniversary celebration this year were thrilled to realize the calendar was going to cooperate.

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While Schuyler County was founded on Jan. 13, 1825  promising chilly weather for any outdoor activities on the actual date  Rushville was founded on April 24, 1826.

Wen we started planning in the fall for Rushvilles 200th, I realized, Oh, cool, its on a Friday in April, said Erin Eveland, executive director of The Hub  Arts and Cultural Center and one of the celebrations organizers.

As a result, the citys anniversary celebrations will begin at 6 p.m. Friday on the Rushville square.

Its actually the day we turn 200, Eveland said, the day we were founded.

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An ice cream social will begin at 6 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. by a City of Rushville Day proclamation and live performances by The Hubs Ukelele Club and Rushvilles Community Band.

Admission is free.

Just in case, Phoenix Opera House is available if spring weather decides to be contrary, Eveland said.

I really hope it will be outside, she said. Right now, it looks like the time were having it, the weathers supposed to be nice.

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The simplicity of the evening is by design, Eveland said.

Last year, we did so much with Smiles Day, she said. We kind of wanted to keep it simple but still have a celebration marking this historic event. An ice cream social, in and of itself, is a fairly historic thing people would have done to gather the community.

Rushville Area Chamber of Commerce asked business owners around the square to decorate their windows and storefronts for the occasion, and many have displays featuring their buildings through the years, Eveland said.

Some businesses have photographs of their businesses, what theyve looked like over the past 200 years, she said. Its kind of neat  especially some of the businesses that have been there for a while, such as Kerr Home Center.

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Moreland and Devitt Pharmacy also holds a fairly unique designation.

The corner where theyre located is one of the longest-running locations of a pharmacy in the U.S., Eveland said, noting it hasnt always been Moreland and Devitt but it has always been a pharmacy. It hasnt been anything else.

Along with the proclamation by Mayor Jeff Ervin, Eveland will speak about Rushvilles history, tying it into the Declaration of Independence, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year.

The Hub and Smiles Day both are partner organizations for the states Illinois America 250 effort  or IL250  described as an inclusive, statewide effort to bring together Illinoisans diverse perspectives about our history, and our future, as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.

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Were using Rushvilles 200th and the 250th of the Declaration of Independence to kind of celebrate together all year round, Eveland said.

The Hub also will feature a Rushville history exhibit in September and October, around Smiles Day on Sept. 11. A scavenger hunt also will begin Friday and run through Sept. 11.

If you complete it, you get a special 200th Rushville anniversary patch, Eveland said. If you complete it all, you get a T-shirt.

The scavenger hunt will include things to do, things to see and facts about Rushville. The hunt list contains about 10 items in each category and participants are asked to provide proof that they checked at least three things in each section off the list.

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Theyll have to come to The Hub or Schuyler Jail Museum, Eveland said. Show us their receipts that they went into the store; if they went to the pool, get a signature from the person working.

Posting photos to social media isnt required.

We have a lot of people in town who dont do social media, and we didnt want to exclude people because of that, Eveland said.

Others?

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When they complete it, I have a feeling theyll be posting about it, she said.

Following on the heels of Fridays party is an Illinois Humanities Community Conversation program focused on the Declaration of Independence.

Using the series theme History Belongs to All of Us, the first conversation will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at The Hub, 210 N. Congress St.

Led by facilitators Moe Billingsley and Xochi Anderson, the first conversation will be specific to the Declaration.

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The first session, throughout the state, they all start with the Declaration, Eveland said. The focus is on reading and annotating and kind of taking apart the Declaration of Independence itself. Its really going to give people the opportunity to dig back into the Declaration. A lot of us havent really read it since we were in school. I think it will be a good opportunity to refamiliarize ourselves with it.

Billingsley and Anderson were chosen to lead Rushvilles conversations because a lot of these topics are very, very serious and hard topics to talk about, Eveland said. Theyre younger and bring some lightness to the conversations.

Along with the discussion, the conversation will include cookies and scones from The Bread Basket bakery.

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You cant pass that up, Eveland said. And its free. If nothing else, come for the food.
Commentary: When properly managed and conserved, forests can produce timber sustainably, support wildlife, reduce wildfire risk and boost rural communities. fhm/Getty Images Laurie Wayburn Syndicated

April 24 is Arbor Day, when Americans will gather to plant trees on city streets, in parks, and within other open spaces. But this year, as wildfires, drought and flooding threaten communities from California to the Carolinas, we need to think bigger than individual saplings.

Arbor Day was founded in 1872 to green the once-treeless Great Plains. Planting trees made sense then. But 154 years later, our challenge isnt a lack of trees  its a lack of understanding about what healthy, functioning forests actually deliver.

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When properly managed and conserved, forests can produce timber sustainably, support wildlife, reduce wildfire risk, feed watersheds and strengthen rural communities. But current policy often treats these as competing goals when theyre not.

Several stubborn myths keep us from effective forest conservation. Science has debunked them, but policy hasnt caught up.

Myth: Conservation kills timber jobs

This myth drives the either/or approach, but it crumbles under scrutiny. Working forest conservation easements prove forests can produce timber while delivering conservation outcomes. These permanent legal agreements keep forests in private hands and on local tax rolls while ensuring sustainable management.

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The van Eck forests in Northern California and Oregon demonstrate this in practice. They harvest between one million and two million board feet annually while quadrupling carbon storage and providing habitat for more than 250 species. From Texas to Tennessee, landowners are discovering properly structured easements deliver both economic returns and conservation benefits.

Breaking free from this false choice allows forests to serve as working landscapes that produce what rural communities need while building the climate resilience all communities need.

Myth: Planting trees is the best thing we can do for forest health

Tree planting matters, but protecting and restoring existing mature forests delivers exponentially more benefits.

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Consider carbon storage. At the van Eck forests, carbon storage nearly quadrupled over 20 years through restoration to older forest conditions, all while maintaining timber harvest. The largest trees account for 42% of stored forest carbon. Bacteria in old tree bark consume methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Ecological forest management on the van Eck now means the habitat supports more than 250 species that were lost when forests were intensively logged. Mature forests support complex systems and functions young forests cannot replicate, with structural complexity taking centuries to develop. Young planted trees take decades to deliver some of these benefits.

Myth: Forests are about trees, not water

Nearly half of U.S. drinking water originates in forested lands. Forests filter, regulate and store water before it reaches reservoirs.

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When Gifford Pinchot founded the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, its foundational legislation cited securing favorable conditions of water flows as its central purpose. Water came first, not timber. Pinchot understood forests are water infrastructure.

Californias 11,000-acre Trinity Headwaters demonstrates the stakes, protecting water supplies for millions of acres of farmland and cities as far south as San Diego. Yet policies still overwhelmingly favor dams and treatment plants over natural solutions.

Myth: Fire is bad for forests

The snow/drought connection extends to wildfire. Low snowpack means forests enter fire season already stressed and dry. But this myth keeps us from management that could reduce catastrophic fires.

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For millennia, forests evolved with frequent, low-intensity fires that Indigenous communities used to maintain soil fertility and forest health. Catastrophic mega-fires result from decades of fire suppression, not fire itself.

Research shows working with good fire through thinning and prescribed burns can reduce catastrophic wildfire risk by up to 75%. Strategic thinning and timber harvesting reduce hazardous fuels while supporting rural economies. High-intensity fires create massive emissions. Low-intensity fires combined with proactive management create resilient forests that protect communities.

This Arbor Day, we should not only plant saplings but protect existing forests, ensuring that timber production happens sustainably on landscapes that deliver water security, climate resilience and biodiversity.

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A judge has ordered that the criminal records of a former foster father acquitted of murdering a child in his care be expunged.

Charles Forshee, 56, was found not guilty last month in the June 2001 suffocation of 23-month-old Dillon Farrer.

Under Texas law, a person who has been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor is entitled to have all records and files wiped clean if the person is, among other things, tried and acquitted.

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State District Judge Joan Huffman made the order at the request of Forshee's attorney. The order means Forshee can legally deny being arrested and tried for the death except when testifying in a criminal court. In that case, he would be obligated only to say that the case had been expunged.

But the statute allows for exceptions, such as in situations where a civil lawsuit is filed.

The victim's mother has indicated she plans to file a civil lawsuit against Forshee. Huffman's order says that law enforcement agencies and the Harris County district attorney's office can maintain their files to be used, if needed, in that action. But neither agency can make the records public.

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"The purpose of the law is to give people acquitted by a jury the ability to live their lives and go back to where they were before the allegations were made," defense attorney Stanley Schneider said in Thursday's Houston Chronicle.

The victim's grandmother, Judy Tinsley, disagreed with the statute.

"This is a very bad law," Tinsley said. "There was enough probable cause to arrest him, to indict him and to take him to trial. Why, why in the world does anybody want this removed from his record? He was found not guilty. He wasn't found innocent."

The jury acquitted Forshee after listening to weeks of testimony including that of 4-year-old Lucas Farrer, the key witness against Forshee and brother of the victim.

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Lucas, who was 3 at the time of the death, testified he saw Forshee push the baby in the stomach, back and chest with a pillow the night the child died.

Jurors later told the Chronicle that Lucas was not a believable witness.

The boys' mother voluntarily asked the Forshees, licensed foster parents, to help care for her sons because she had medical problems.
A Houston jury deliberated about two hours Wednesday before acquitting a foster father of murder charges for the death of a 23-month-old boy in his care.

Charles Forshee, 56, contended throughout the three-week trial he was not responsible for the death of Dillon Farrer and suggested the victim's biological older brother, Lucas, who was 3 years old at the time, instead may have been to blame.

"Somebody finally listened to what we've been saying," Forshee said as he left the courtroom Wednesday with his wife.

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Forshee said his case should serve as a warning to other foster parents that "any child can say anything to anybody and you're going to jail."

Forshee and his wife have cared for more than 90 foster children since the couple became licensed foster parents in 1994. He said Wednesday he no longer would care for children.

Forshee was charged with the June 21, 2001 suffocation death based on what Lucas told police.

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Lucas, now 4, also was staying with the Forshees. He testified he saw Forshee punch his younger brother "on his back and on his stomach and in the face with a pillow."

Defense attorneys suggested Lucas may have perceived Forshee's CPR attempts to revive Dillon as harm, rather than attempts at helping Dillon.

Forshee's attorneys suggested Lucas, who a number of witnesses testified was often aggressive with his younger brother, may have placed the pillow over Dillon's head.

The boys' biological family, who attended the trial each day, wearing purple in memory of Dillon, expressed outrage at the verdict.

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"It's very obvious that a child's life means nothing to society," said Judy Tinsley, Dillon's maternal grandmother. "You can kill a 2-year-old and get away with it."

Prosecutors argued Forshee was stressed from working long hours at his job and his foster children's crying. They said when the 23-month-old wouldn't stop crying, Forshee held him face down on a pillow in his crib until he stopped.

Forshee said he tried to soothe the child but didn't kill him.
India Expands Ship Insurance Approvals for Russian Oil Shippers, Imports Surge

Indias Directorate General of Shipping has approved three new Russian insurance providers to cover ships docking at the countrys ports, bringing the total number of authorized Russian insurers to 11, according to a recent report. [1] This administrative move facilitates the continued high-volume import of discounted Russian crude oil by the worlds third-largest oil importer. [7] The expansion occurs as Indias purchases of Russian oil surged in March, more than tripling in value to $5.8 billion from $1.54 billion in February, according to data from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. [7] The developments highlight the ongoing realignment of global energy flows and Indias pragmatic adaptation to maintain energy security amidst international sanctions and regional supply disruptions.

India's Maritime Administration Expands Insurance Roster for Russian Cargo

The newly approved Russian firms are not part of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs, a consortium of major Western insurers that has largely avoided covering Russian cargoes due to sanctions. [1] By authorizing these alternative providers, Indian authorities have created a regulatory pathway for tankers carrying Russian crude to obtain the necessary marine indemnity and protection cover, a critical requirement for port entry. [1]

This official sanctioning of non-International Group insurers represents a direct institutional adaptation to the logistical challenges created by Western sanctions. [11] According to analysis, Western insurers have largely withdrawn from covering vessels carrying Russian oil, creating significant obstacles for shippers. [2] Indias move underscores a strategy of maintaining vital energy imports through alternative financial and insurance channels, irrespective of pressure from centralized financial institutions.

U.S. Waiver Extension Drives Renewed Purchasing

The insurance expansion coincides with a U.S. Treasury Department decision to extend a sanctions waiver allowing crude loaded on vessels to be purchased without penalties. [1] Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the extension for two weeks until mid-May, framing it as a measure to ensure stability in global oil markets. [6] This followed an initial 30-day waiver issued in March, which Bessent described as a "deliberate short-term measure" to allow oil to keep flowing. [12]

The initial waiver triggered a race among Asian refiners to acquire Russian oil cargoes already at sea. [1] Shipping data indicated that several tankers even diverted from routes to China in order to supply their cargoes to Indian buyers. [1] The waiver, and its extension, effectively provided a legal window for India to rapidly re-engage with Russian supply after imports had been discouraged by U.S. pressure earlier in the year. [16] This dynamic illustrates how national energy security imperatives can temporarily override broader geopolitical sanctions regimes orchestrated by centralized powers.

Impact on Shipping Volumes and Global Markets

The immediate market impact of the U.S. waiver was significant. In just the first two weeks of March, the volume of Russian crude oil held in floating storage on the water fell by more than 20 million barrels, according to data from Vortexa. [1] This drawdown was equivalent to a rate exceeding 2 million barrels per day, indicating a rapid absorption of available supply. [1]

Indian refiners were particularly active, booking approximately 60 million barrels of Russian oil for delivery in April, according to a Bloomberg report. [9] This volume was similar to purchases for March but more than double the volume from earlier in the year. [10] The cargoes were reportedly booked at premiums of $5 to $15 a barrel to the global Brent benchmark, reflecting strong demand and tight physical supply. [10] The shift demonstrates the speed at which market participants can adapt to changing regulatory signals, often bypassing the constraints intended by sanctioning governments.

Background: Sanctions, Insurance, and Market Adaptation

The global market for Russian oil has undergone a profound realignment since 2022. Western countries, including G7 members and Australia, moved to phase out Russian oil imports and implemented a price cap scheme designed to limit Kremlin revenues. [14] In response, Russia declared it would not supply oil to countries backing the "anti-market" price cap. [14] Simultaneously, Western insurers and shipping services withdrew, creating a need for alternative arrangements. [4]

Indias approval of Russian insurers is a clear example of such adaptation. This strategy is part of a broader pattern where nations and commercial entities find ways to circumvent centralized financial controls. [5] As noted in analysis of trade patterns, when one market closes due to political pressure, other buyers emerge as long as the goods are needed, demonstrating the resilience and diversion inherent in global trade. [5] The reliance on non-Western insurance underscores a move toward decentralized systems that operate outside the traditional, institutionally controlled maritime finance network.

Context of Global Energy Flows and Regional Dynamics

India has become a pivotal buyer for Russian oil since 2022, driven by discounted prices and longstanding diplomatic ties. [17] Russia has consistently stated that Indias oil purchases contribute to global energy security. [17] This relationship has persisted despite external pressure, with Indian officials previously stating the country does not need "permission" from the U.S. to purchase Russian oil. [15]

The recent insurance and waiver developments occur against a backdrop of severe supply disruption in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for nearly 20% of global oil supply, has been effectively shut down due to regional conflict, triggering a surge in crude prices. [3] This has increased the relative attractiveness and strategic importance of Russian supplies. [13] Furthermore, the crisis has complicated payments, with Indian refiners reportedly using currencies like the Chinese yuan for transactions, reflecting a gradual move away from dollar-dominated oil trade. [8] These trends highlight the complex interplay between national energy security, pragmatic economics, and the declining influence of unilateral sanctions in a fragmenting global order.

Conclusion

Indias expansion of approved Russian ship insurers, coupled with the temporary U.S. sanctions waiver, has facilitated a significant surge in Russian oil imports. These administrative and regulatory adjustments illustrate how major importers navigate the constraints of geopolitics to secure energy resources. The rapid drawdown of floating storage and renewed purchase commitments underscore the market's agility in responding to pragmatic solutions that ensure supply continuity. As disruptions in traditional supply lanes like the Strait of Hormuz persist, the realignment of energy flows and the development of alternative financial and insurance channels are likely to continue, challenging the efficacy of centralized sanctions regimes and reinforcing the trend toward a more multipolar global energy market.

References
UN Inspectors: Irans Uranium Stockpile Could Fuel Multiple Nuclear Weapons

International inspectors have assessed that Iran has accumulated nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium enriched to 60%, a stockpile that analysts state could fuel 10 to 11 nuclear devices if further processed.

The assessment, detailed in a report by "60 Minutes" and cited by the Wake Up Right newsletter, indicates the material is close to weapons-grade level. This evaluation comes amid ongoing regional tensions and follows a history of military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The United Nations findings highlight growing international concern over the state of Iran's nuclear program as diplomatic efforts to contain it face significant challenges.

The Technical Assessment and Stockpile Details

According to the inspectors' report, Iran's uranium stockpile is assessed to be just a technical step away from reaching the 90% enrichment level considered weapons-grade. The material could be further enriched in a matter of weeks, according to the analysis. [1]

The stockpile has reportedly continued to grow despite U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi has stated that despite intense bombardment, Iran's enrichment capacities and material are likely to remain intact. [2]

IAEA reports have previously warned of difficulties in verifying Iran's nuclear activities, with over 400 kilograms of enriched uranium remaining unaccounted for after strikes last year. [3] The agency has also confirmed that Iran violated its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations by refusing to disclose the whereabouts of its stockpile. [4]

Analyst Perspectives on Capabilities and Policy

Harvard nuclear analyst Matthew Bunn said the stockpile is enough for "10 to 11 nuclear bombs" with just a minimal amount of further enrichment. [1] This technical assessment underscores the rapid breakout capability Iran could possess if it decided to pursue a weapon.

Scott Roeker, a former top National Nuclear Security Administration official, expressed skepticism that a lasting, durable solution to Iran's nuclear program could be achieved through military means. [1] This view echoes concerns that air strikes alone cannot eliminate a nuclear program, as the infrastructure and knowledge often persist. [2]

Analysts also note a long history of challenges in verifying Iran's activities. Bunn stated that Iran has been consistently dishonest about its nuclear weapons efforts for over 20 years, lying to international inspectors. [1] These verification challenges are compounded by Iran's periodic suspension of cooperation with the IAEA, as occurred in October 2025 when Tehran halted inspections until it received security guarantees. [5]

Broader Geopolitical and Regional Context

The report on Iran's stockpile emerges as a U.S.-Iran ceasefire, brokered in early April 2026, was set to expire. U.S. President Donald Trump stated he expected military action to resume, accusing Iran of violating the temporary truce. [6][7] The conflict has already spurred significant secondary effects globally, including major air travel disruptions and surging airfares as airlines face higher fuel costs and rerouted flights. [1]

Regional incidents have further heightened tensions. In late April 2026, two Israeli soldiers were sentenced to military detention for destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in a Christian village in southern Lebanon, an act the Israel Defense Forces said deviated from its values. [1] Such events add layers of complexity to an already volatile security environment.

Diplomatic efforts have been fraught. Russia has stated that a previous proposal to host Iran's enriched uranium remains on the table, having been rejected by the United States. [8] Meanwhile, hardline factions within Iran, emboldened by recent strikes, are advocating for withdrawal from the NPT and openly pursuing nuclear weapons. [9]

International Response and Verification Challenges

The IAEA's findings underscore persistent challenges in verifying Iran's nuclear activities and ensuring compliance with non-proliferation norms. The agency's safeguards can provide technical verification of material balance, but they cannot prevent diversion or search for clandestine facilities, offering incomplete assurance of compliance. [10]

The situation highlights a fundamental tension within the non-proliferation regime. As noted in analysis of nuclear power expansion, there is an inherent conflict between export control policies and the NPT's promise of unrestricted access to civilian nuclear technology for member states. [11] Iran's case tests this balance.

The status of Iran's program remains a focal point for international security discussions. The findings are likely to influence ongoing diplomatic and strategic calculations among Western and regional powers, particularly as the U.S. expands its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz into a global campaign against Iranian shipping. [12] The broader risk, as some analysts have framed it, is the potential unraveling of the non-proliferation regime itself. [13]

Conclusion

The assessment by UN inspectors presents a clear technical picture: Iran possesses a significant quantity of near-weapons-grade uranium that could be quickly converted into material for multiple nuclear devices. This reality exists within a complex geopolitical landscape marked by intermittent conflict, fragile ceasefires, and profound distrust between Tehran and international bodies.

The enduring challenge for the international community lies in crafting a verification and enforcement mechanism that is both credible and effective, a task that has eluded diplomats for decades. As military options are viewed with skepticism for providing a durable solution, the path forward remains fraught with uncertainty, with the integrity of the global non-proliferation framework at stake.

References
U.S. Treasury Imposes Sanctions on 14 Entities for Aiding Iranian Weapons Procurement

The U.S. Department of the Treasury (USDT) announced sanctions on 14 individuals and companies on Tuesday, April 21, for their involvement in helping Iran obtain weapons in violation of international sanctions. The action was announced via a post on the social media platform X by the department.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Iranian regime must be held accountable for its actions. "The Iranian regime must be held accountable for its extortion of global energy markets and indiscriminate targeting of civilians with missiles and drones," he said [1]. The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. effort to apply "maximum pressure" to weaken Iran's ability to generate and move funds [2].

Scope of Sanctions and Targeted Networks

The sanctions designate targets across multiple jurisdictions including Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, according to the USDT statement [3]. The networks are alleged to have facilitated the procurement or transportation of weapons and critical components for Tehran's missile and drone programs [3].

The measures freeze any U.S. assets of the designated persons and prohibit all transactions with them. The action coincides with the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the TOUSKA, by the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Oman on April 19 after it attempted to breach a U.S. naval blockade [4]. This broader campaign targets Iran's illicit oil transportation infrastructure and proxy networks [5].

Official Statements on Policy Objectives

In the announcement, the USDT explicitly linked the sanctions to its military objectives. "As the regime attempts to reconstitute its production capacity, the United States will continue to deplete Iran's ballistic missile inventories," the department stated [6]. This forms part of what officials have termed a "financial bombing" of Iran, which includes the threat of secondary sanctions on financial institutions that do business with Tehran [7].

Bessent has warned Chinese banks that conducting business with Iran could trigger U.S. sanctions [8]. A USDT spokesperson said the U.S. will continue to act against those supporting Iran's weapons development. The policy fits within the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign, which has aimed to plunge Iran into economic chaos [9].

Context of Regional Tensions and Previous Actions

The new sanctions follow a period of heightened military conflict and fragile diplomacy. A temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was set to expire on the same day the sanctions were announced [10]. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has been repeatedly closed during the conflict, causing what the International Energy Agency described as the largest supply shock in the history of the global oil market [11].

The USDT has previously targeted similar networks for supporting Iran's military programs. In late February 2026, the department sanctioned 30 individuals, entities and vessels for enabling illicit Iranian petroleum sales and ballistic missile production [12]. The action also coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts, as U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was reportedly traveling to Pakistan for talks aimed at ending the war [10].

Reactions and Potential Impacts

A spokesperson for Iran's mission to the United Nations condemned the U.S. action. The sanctions were labeled "unlawful" and "politically motivated" by Iranian officials [6]. Iran has previously argued that U.S. economic warfare has crushed its economy and fueled domestic protests [9].

Financial analysts suggested the sanctions could disrupt specific supply chains for dual-use goods. The broader U.S. strategy of blockades and sanctions aims to strip the cash-strapped Iranian regime of one of its last significant revenue streams: oil exports [13].

However, reports indicate Iran's oil revenue climbed to an estimated $139 million daily in March 2026 amid the Hormuz crisis [14]. The USDT statement did not specify the immediate economic impact on the newly designated entities.

Conclusion

The imposition of sanctions on 14 targets represents a continuation of the Trump administration's combined economic and military pressure campaign against Iran. The action is situated within a volatile regional context featuring a naval blockade, seized vessels and precarious ceasefire talks.

As Bessent stated, the U.S. intends to continue applying maximum pressure. The long-term effectiveness of this strategy in curtailing Iran's weapons programs remains a subject of international analysis and debate, particularly as Tehran seeks alternative financial channels, including cryptocurrency ecosystems that swelled to more than $7.78 billion in 2025 [15].

References
Trump Attributes Iran War Decision to Hamas Attack, Rejects Israeli Pressure Claims

President Donald J. Trump stated on Monday, April 20, 2026, that his decision to launch Operation Epic Fury against Iran was prompted by the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel, and was not the result of influence from the Israeli government. The president made the statement on his Truth Social account. [2]

Trump wrote, Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did. [2] This direct attribution counters claims that the war was initiated due to external pressure. [3]

The president's statement follows weeks of media speculation and internal U.S. dissent regarding the origins of the conflict, which began with airstrikes in late February 2026. The operation, a joint U.S.-Israeli military action, was officially announced on February 28, 2026. [1]

Context of Operation Epic Fury and the Current Ceasefire Status

Operation Epic Fury was launched in late February 2026 as a major combat offensive targeting Iran's nuclear program and leadership. The war has involved sustained airstrikes and missile attacks. [1] A fragile ceasefire, brokered by Pakistani mediators, is currently in place and is set to expire on April 22 at 8:00 PM ET. [5]

On Tuesday, April 21, President Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire numerous times. He told CNBC that the U.S. military is raring to go and that he expects to resume bombing if a deal is not reached before the deadline. [5] Iranian officials have reportedly refused to meet U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance for scheduled peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, threatening to reveal new cards on the battlefield if hostilities resume. [5]

Despite the stalemate, Trump has stated he believes Iran will have no choice but to send representatives to negotiate. He has also expressed optimism about reaching a great deal. [5]

Resignation of NCTC Director Joe Kent and Opposition to the War

The president's public explanation of the war's origins follows the resignation of Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), in March 2026. Kent, who left his post in protest, argued that the conflict was not initiated due to an imminent threat from Iran. [2]

Kent stated publicly that It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. [2] His departure highlighted internal government dissent and came amid growing public disapproval of the conflict, as reflected in national polling. [2]

Analysts critical of the war have described the operation as a strategic trap, arguing it was pursued based on faulty intelligence and assurances of a quick victory that have not materialized. [1]

Polling Indicates War Seen as Mistake, Trump Disputes Findings

Polling conducted by the Democracy Institute and published in late March 2026 indicates significant public skepticism about the war. A majority of voters, including a majority of Republican voters, viewed launching the Iran war as a costly mistake rather than a security necessity. [2]

The same poll found that a majority of voters believe Israel has too much influence over American foreign policy. [2] These findings suggest the war has become a politically contentious issue as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

President Trump has dismissed these and other unfavorable polls. In his Truth Social post, he called them rigged and part of FAKE NEWS, comparing them to what he described as a rigged 2020 presidential election. [2] He has consistently characterized negative media coverage as dishonest. [3]

Economic and Strategic Impacts of the Conflict

The war has triggered significant economic disruptions, primarily through its impact on global energy markets. Oil and gas prices have surged due to the conflict, contributing to a jet fuel crisis and increasing costs for fertilizer and transportation. [5] Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that a gallon of gas could remain above $3 throughout 2026, a prediction President Trump publicly disputed. [5]

A central flashpoint has been the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments. The U.S. has moved to enforce a blockade, while Iran has at times closed the strait. [4] On April 21, the U.S. War Department announced that its forces had interdicted a stateless, sanctioned oil tanker, the M/T Tifani, in the Indian Ocean. [5]

The Pentagon stated it will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Irananywhere they operate. [5] These actions reflect the war's expansion into global economic and naval domains.

Conclusions and Future Outlook

The immediate future of the conflict hinges on the expiring ceasefire and the potential for renewed negotiations. President Trump has stated he expects Iran will have no choice to send representatives to talks, predicting the country could have a great and prosperous future if new leaders are smart. [2]

However, with the military on standby and Trump warning that Iran has violated the ceasefire, the prospect of an escalated conflict remains. The outcome of diplomatic efforts in Islamabad will determine whether military operations resume in the coming days. [5]

The war has already reshaped political discourse in the United States, fueling debates over foreign influence, military engagement, and economic stability as the nation moves closer to the 2026 midterm elections.

References
Israel escalates military aggression with new automated weapons amid fragile ceasefire

Israel deploys "Roeh-Yoreh" remote-controlled weapon towers at West Bank checkpoints, escalating oppression with lethal, surveillance-equipped systems previously used in Gaza.

Israel prioritizes high-tech warfare (like the Ro'em howitzer on Lebanon's border) instead of peaceful solutions, destabilizing the region further.

The Ro'em howitzer's deployment during a fragile Lebanon truce risks reigniting conflict, as Israel's disproportionate strikes (2,300+ Lebanese dead) fuel tensions.

The U.S. and UN fail to hold Israel accountable for violations (illegal settlements, collective punishment), enabling continued aggression.

The international community must enforce diplomacy, halt militarization of occupied territories, and protect civilians from Israel's AI-driven warfare.

The Israeli military continues to escalate tensions in the Middle East with the deployment of advanced automated weaponry, including the "Roeh-Yoreh" remote-controlled killing system in the occupied West Bank and the newly introduced "Ro'em" self-propelled howitzer along the Lebanon border. These aggressive moves come amid a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah, raising concerns that Israel is prioritizing military dominance over diplomatic solutions, further destabilizing the region.

Automated killing machines in the West Bank

Israel's decision to deploy the Roeh-Yoreh automated weapon towers across West Bank checkpoints marks a dangerous escalation in the oppression of Palestinians. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, these remote-controlled towers are equipped with lethal fire mechanisms and surveillance technology, previously used exclusively in Gaza to shoot Palestinians approaching the security fence. The IDF claims these systems enhance "soldier protection" and provide "precise firepower," but in reality, they represent a disturbing shift toward dehumanizing warfare, where Palestinians are targeted without direct human oversight.

This move aligns with Israel's broader strategy of militarizing civilian spaces under occupation, ensuring maximum control with minimal accountability. The international community must question why Israel is accelerating the deployment of such technologies instead of pursuing peaceful resolutions.

Ro'em howitzer: A provocation against Lebanon

Meanwhile, Israel has introduced the Ro'em (SIGMA) self-propelled howitzer along the Lebanon border, boasting its ability to fire 40-kilometer-range artillery shells with precision. The IDF frames this as a "defensive" measure against Hezbollah, but its timingduring a tenuous ceasefiresuggests provocation rather than protection.

Ehud Bibi, IDF Chief Artillery Officer, praised the Ro'em for reshaping battlefield firepower, emphasizing its "precision, speed and flexibility." Yet, history shows that Israel's military "advancements" often precede further escalations. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has already violated previous ceasefires, including a March 2 missile attack in response to Israeli-Iranian hostilities. However, Israel's disproportionate retaliationkilling over 2,300 Lebanese, including civiliansdemonstrates a reckless disregard for civilian lives.

The Lebanese government's failure to disarm Hezbollah, as mandated by UN Resolution 1701, provides Israel with a pretext for continued military operations. But Israel's own violations of international lawincluding illegal settlements and collective punishmentundermine its moral authority. Defense Minister Israel Katz's recent vow to "bring security" to northern Israelis through military force, rather than diplomacy, signals an ominous path toward prolonged conflict.

The path forward: Diplomacy over destruction

The international community must demand an immediate halt to Israel's militarization of occupied territories and its indiscriminate attacks on Lebanon. The UN Security Council should enforce Resolution 1701 by pressuring both Israel and Lebanon to de-escalate, rather than allowing Israel to act as judge, jury and executioner.

Natural immunityboth in health and geopoliticscomes from self-determination, not suppression. Palestinians and Lebanese civilians deserve protection from Israel's high-tech warfare, just as global citizens deserve transparency about the dangers of militarized AI and automated killing machines.

If the world fails to act, Israel's unchecked aggression will plunge the Middle East into deeper chaosa scenario that serves only the interests of war profiteers and globalist elites pushing for perpetual conflict. The time for accountability is now.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Israel's escalation with automated weapons and relentless bombardmentdespite lacking clear intelligenceexposes their true agenda: a genocidal land grab under the guise of "security," backed by U.S. veto power at the UN. This reckless aggression, paired with Iran's withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is a deliberate provocation toward WWIII, fulfilling globalist depopulation schemes through state-sanctioned mass murder.

Watch this clip about how Hezbollah reels under Israel pressure.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Lebanon Prime Minister exposes Israels established approach of killing journalists to control the narrative

The tent was clearly marked. The journalists wore press vests and carried cameras, not weapons. They were not embedded with combatants or stationed near military targets. They were simply doing their jobs, documenting the destruction of Gaza from a tent outside al-Shifa hospital. Yet Israeli forces deliberately struck that tent, killing five Al Jazeera journalists including prominent correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqea. This was no battlefield accident. This was not collateral damage. This was a calculated assassination designed to silence some of the last remaining witnesses to Israel's occupation of Gaza. And it fits a decades-long pattern that press freedom advocates now call an "established approach" by Israel to eliminate journalists who expose uncomfortable truths.

These targeted assassinations are the tip of the iceberg. New reports are coming in out of Lebanon, with journalists being targeted by the IDF there. Lebanon Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is speaking out, condemning the cold blooded assassination of journalist Amal Khalil and the wounding of Zeinab Faraj in southern Lebanon.

"Targeting journalists, obstructing access by relief teams to them, and even targeting their locations again after these teams have arrived, constitutes described war crimes," Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on X.

Key points:

Israeli forces killed five Al Jazeera journalists in a targeted strike on their clearly marked press tent

Israel accused al-Sharif of being a Hamas operative without providing evidence

At least 237 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023

Lebanon's Prime Minister called similar targeting of journalists "war crimes"

Israel banned Al Jazeera from reporting in Israel and seized Associated Press equipment

The Committee to Protect Journalists documented a "decades-long practice in which Israel kills journalists"

The pattern of targeting is undeniable

The killing of journalists in conflict zones is not new, but the frequency and impunity with which they are targeted in Gaza have drawn international condemnation. Since the Israeli war on Hamas began in October 2023, at least 237 journalists have been killed according to the Government Media Office in Gaza. Al Jazeera alone has lost 11 staff members and eight freelancers. The Committee to Protect Journalists called the attack on al-Sharif and his colleagues part of a "decades-long practice in which Israel kills journalists" and then smears them posthumously.

The evidence of deliberate targeting is overwhelming. Al Jazeera's managing editor Mohamed Moawad told the press: "They were targeted in their tent, they weren't covering from the front line. The Israeli government is wanting to silence the coverage of any channel of reporting from inside Gaza." Just last month, Israeli military spokesperson Avichai Adraee posted a threatening video singling out al-Sharif, foreshadowing his assassination.

This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of violence against media workers in the region. Human rights groups have accused Israel of systematically targeting journalists to suppress the truth about its military operations. The Israeli military later claimed, without providing a shred of proof, that al-Sharif was a "Hamas terrorist." This is the same regime that has killed over 186 journalists since October 2023, nearly all of them Palestinians.

International condemnation meets institutional impunity

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the killing of journalist Amal Khalil and the wounding of Zeinab Faraj in southern Lebanon, writing on X that "targeting journalists, obstructing access by relief teams to them, and even targeting their locations again after these teams have arrived, constitutes described war crimes." Salam vowed to pursue the case before international forums.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that a vehicle and a building were struck in southern Lebanon, but denied reports that the injured journalists were blocked at the scene. On Wednesday, the Lebanese National News Agency reported that two Lebanese female journalists were injured in an airstrike on a house in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre. Rescuers were unable to reach the strike site for several hours due to the destruction of a road by another Israeli airstrike, as well as the blocking of the area by Israeli forces.

The IDF said on Telegram: "Earlier today, IDF troops identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah. After identifying the individuals, the Israeli Air Force struck one of the vehicles. Subsequently, the structure from which the individuals had fled was also struck. Reports were received that two journalists were injured as a result of the strikes. The IDF is not preventing rescue teams from reaching the area. The details of the incident are under review."

Lebanese media reported later that journalist Amal Khalil was killed in the Israeli airstrike in Tyre. Her body was reportedly discovered by rescuers after a several-hour search and rescue operation.

Israel's censorship extends beyond assassinations

Even before the latest killings, Israel was actively suppressing journalism through legal means. U.K.-based writer Frank Wright expounded on this in a May 23 op-ed for LifeSiteNews, citing the ban on Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera and the confiscation of equipment owned by the Associated Press as examples of Tel Aviv's suppression.

According to Wright, the Doha-funded Al Jazeera was officially banned from reporting in Israel on May 5. Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi had been seeking to shut it down since October, following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. Karhi described the channel as a "propaganda mouthpiece" for Hamas. On April 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed Al Jazeera a "terror" channel. More than a month later, the Israeli government officially banned the channel. Under the ban, Al Jazeera's websites were blocked in Israel and its television broadcasts were prohibited.

Police seized Al Jazeera's broadcasting equipment from its Jerusalem offices, and the Qatari news channel was taken off the air in Israel. The raid came immediately after the government approved a decision to temporarily shutter the outlet on the grounds that it had harmed national security.

Even AP was not exempted from Karhi's censorship demands. At the communication minister's behest, the AP's equipment was seized on May 21. The news agency's live feeds from Gaza are widely used throughout world media. AP Vice President of Corporate Communications Lauren Easton denounced the move, calling it "an abusive use by the Israeli government of the country's new foreign broadcaster law." But following concern expressed by the White House, Karhi reversed the decision to shut down the agency's live news feed in Gaza.

The final warning from a murdered journalist

Moments before his murder, al-Sharif posted a video on social media capturing Israel's relentless bombardment of Gaza City. His final words were a haunting indictment: "If this madness does not end, Gaza will be reduced to ruins, its people's voices silenced, their faces erased. History will remember you as silent witnesses to a genocide you chose not to stop."

In a pre-written will shared posthumously, al-Sharif left a powerful testament to his mission: "I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification. Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing."

The UN's special rapporteur on free expression, Irene Khan, condemned Israel's unsubstantiated claims against al-Sharif as a "blatant assault on journalists." But words alone will not stop the bloodshed. Israel's impunity is enabled by Western governments, particularly the United States, which continue to fund and arm this conflict while feigning concern for press freedom.

The timing of this massacre is no coincidence. Just days earlier, Netanyahu's security cabinet approved plans to forcibly occupy Gaza City, displacing nearly a million Palestinians. Killing journalists ensures there will be no witnesses to the ethnic cleansing to come. The war on journalism is a war on truth itself. And if the international community continues to look away, Gaza's last remaining voices will be extinguished, and the bloodshed will continue into Lebanon and any other country that gets in the way of Greater Israel.

Sources include:

Sputnikglobe.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Navy secretary ousted amid Iran blockade, tensions with defense secretary

Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan with no official explanation amid a fragile Iranian port blockade.

Phelans dismissal stemmed from a poor relationship with Hegseth and slow progress on shipbuilding reforms.

Trump told Hegseth to "take care of" the Phelan issue after a White House meeting on shipbuilding Wednesday.

Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy veteran, will serve as acting Navy secretary.

Phelans removal is the 34th firing by Hegseth, deepening concerns over Pentagon instability.

The Pentagon abruptly fired Navy Secretary John Phelan on Wednesday with no official explanation, removing the service's top civilian leader even as American warships enforce a critical blockade of Iranian ports during a fragile ceasefire.

The dismissal came as a surprise to many and reportedly stemmed from a poor relationship with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Phelan did not get along with Hegseth but had a good relationship with President Donald Trump, according to sources cited by the Axios news portal.

"Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss. His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given," a source told Axios.

Tensions mount over shipbuilding

Multiple sources told CNN there was tension for months between Phelan and Hegseth. The defense secretary believed Phelan was moving too slowly on implementing shipbuilding reforms and was irked by Phelan's direct communication with Trump, which Hegseth viewed as an attempt to bypass him.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg also wanted to take control of major responsibilities for shipbuilding and Navy acquisitions, a job that would typically be within Phelan's purview.

The firing came the same week Phelan addressed the Navy League's annual Sea Air Space conference just outside Washington. He had spoken with reporters Tuesday about the future of the Navy and its major investments, including the Golden Fleet initiative.

Trump's role in the firing

According to a senior White House official, the issues came to a head during a White House meeting on shipbuilding Wednesday between Trump and Hegseth. Trump, frustrated by slow shipbuilding progress himself, became convinced Phelan needed to be replaced.

Trump told Hegseth to "take care of it" because Phelan is subordinate to the defense secretary, the official said. Hegseth sent a message to Phelan informing him he needed to resign or be fired.

The official said Phelan did not appear to believe Trump was aware of the message and began phoning White House officials asking if they had heard he had been told to resign. Phelan then came to the White House grounds, asking officials for information, before Trump met with him briefly and confirmed he was out of a job.

New acting secretary steps in

Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting head of the Navy. The 54-year-old is a 25-year Navy veteran and former special operations officer who served with SEAL teams in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia before retiring at the rank of captain.

Cao previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in Virginia. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a master's degree in physics with fellowships at MIT and Harvard University.

Since becoming Navy undersecretary, Cao has championed returning to duty service members who refused a Biden-era mandate to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Phelan's controversial background

Phelan had no prior military or defense leadership experience before Trump nominated him in late 2024. He was a businessman and investment executive, as well as a major Republican donor and fundraiser.

CNN previously reported that Phelan's name appeared on a flight manifest showing he flew in 2006 on the plane of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A close friend of Phelan's said he had been invited to fly on the plane by Bear Stearns CEO Jimmy Cayne, who died in 2021. The friend said Phelan did not know they would be flying on Epstein's plane until they arrived and did not speak with Epstein again.

Pattern of dismissals continues

Phelan's removal marks the 34th armed forces official that Hegseth has fired since taking over the Pentagon. The firings began in February 2025, when Hegseth removed Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy's top uniformed officer, and Gen. Jim Slife, the No. 2 leader at the Air Force. Trump also fired Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Democrats have criticized the removal. "I am concerned it is yet another example of the instability and dysfunction that have come to define the Department of Defense under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth," said Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Critical timing for Navy operations

Phelan's firing comes as the Navy enforces a blockade on Iranian ports and maintains a heavy presence around the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil and gas passes during peacetime. U.S. forces have redirected 31 vessels to return to port and have boarded two ships.

The Navy has three aircraft carriers deployed in or heading to the Middle East. The Trump administration says all armed forces are poised to resume combat operations against Iran should the ceasefire expire.

His firing illustrates the volatile nature of military leadership under a president and defense secretary determined to reshape the Pentagon in their own image. For a Navy officer enforcing a blockade against Iran, the message is clear: Move fast, follow orders, and never forget who is in charge.

Sources for this article include:

SputnikGlobe.com

AlJazeera.com

CNN.com

APNews.com
Secret files from deceased Los Alamos cyber chief allege decades of classified UFO study

Filmmaker Jeremy Corbell obtained secret documents allegedly left by a deceased LANL cybersecurity chief, which claim to prove a classified UFO study program.

The files, found by the official's son, include internal memos, scientific reports and historic images like Polaroids from famous UFO cases.

Materials reference studies of atmospheric anomalies and specific incidents, such as the Gulf Breeze sightings, with detailed witness accounts and photos.

Corbell states he verified the documents and says they confirm high-level, secret government interest in UFOs, despite risks to whistleblowers.

While unverified by authorities, the leak suggests a long-hidden program at the secretive nuclear research facility, challenging official transparency efforts.

In a revelation that seems ripped from a conspiracy thriller, secret documents allegedly left behind by a senior cybersecurity official at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has surfaced, claiming to provide 100% proof of a long-running, classified government program to study Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO).

The files, now in the hands of investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, were reportedly discovered by the officials son, identified only as "Johnny," while sorting through his late fathers personal effects. The identities of both the deceased LANL cybersecurity chief and his son are being withheld for privacy and safety reasons.

According to Corbell, the cache includes internal memos, scientific reports and historic images that point to serious, high-level government inquiry into the UFO phenomenon. "This is a real scientific study at the classified level within our military of UFOs," Corbell stated. "Los Alamos was always a place where there were elements of the study of the UFO phenomenon. These documents are 100 percent proof that Los Alamos was taking it very seriously."

The alleged discovery adds a dramatic new layer to LANLs enigmatic history. The laboratory, located approximately 35 miles northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is famed for its role in developing the atomic bomb and remains a hub for top-secret nuclear research. It has long been a focal point in UFO lore, particularly due to a wave of sightings in the late 1940s near New Mexicos sensitive atomic sites, including reports of mysterious green fireballs.

Corbell, who features the material in his upcoming documentary "Sleeping Dog," said the son found files labeled with references to atmospheric anomalies. In a recorded phone call, Johnny told Corbell the files included official documents from the lab that talk about meetings they had about atmospheric anomalies and contained some information in there about Russian sightings.

The journalist described the contents as staggering in scope: "I mean, everything from original Polaroids of very studied UFO cases throughout history, to internal memos and documents of when they have meetings and they're discussing this at a high-level government capacity."

Whistleblowers have been squeezed

Shared samples include apparent documentation of the famed Gulf Breeze sightings in Florida between 1987 and 1991, contained in a file titled Illustrations and Photos by the Gulf Breeze Witness. The materials detail repeated witness accounts of disc-shaped craft with bright lights and portholes, estimated to be up to 120 feet wide, hovering silently. Photographs attributed to key witness Ed Walters show glowing objects with unusual visual characteristics, supporting claims of sustained activity over several years.

The files also contain images of saucer-like craft, crop circles and a cylindrical UFO. Corbell noted he recognized names of scientists listed in the documents whom he had previously encountered but who had never disclosed involvement in such studies.

Corbell claims to have spent years verifying the authenticity of the materials, stating, "I've researched them down. I've gone to every single author that I could find that's still alive." While acknowledging the documents may not sway hardened skeptics, he insists they confirm a pattern of secrecy. "There's nothing I would say revelatory to me in these documents, but it's confirmation that I'm on the right track," he said.

He also issued a sobering warning about the risks of exposing such information, noting that whistleblowers connected to classified programs often face pressure. "There have been some situations that give everybody pause. Whistleblowers have been squeezed," Corbell stated.

The U.S. government has recently shown increased transparency regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), with the Pentagon establishing official reporting channels. However, this alleged leak suggests a deeper, older program rooted in Americas most secretive nuclear research facility.

As noted by BrightU.AI's Enoch, UAP is the contemporary term for observations in the sky that cannot be immediately identified as known aircraft or natural phenomena. It encompasses the broader concept historically referred to as UFOs, or unidentified flying objects.

LANL has not publicly commented on the specific allegations. The claims, while unverified by independent authorities, are poised to fuel further debate and scrutiny as Corbells documentary brings them to a global audience, challenging official narratives and asking what has truly been studied behind the classified walls of Los Alamos for decades.

Watch this video about Iran, UFO and the alien connection.

This video is from Rick Langley's channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.com

Brighteon.com

BrightU.ai
Trump Announces Clemency for Eight Iranian Protesters, Signals Renewed Nuclear Negotiations

President Donald J. Trump announced on Wednesday, April 22, that the United States has secured clemency for eight Iranian political prisoners. In a statement, Trump said that with this humanitarian issue resolved, diplomatic talks with Iran on its nuclear program could resume within days, according to reports from Pakistani sources.

This development follows a period of intense military and diplomatic tension. In late February 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran after diplomatic talks collapsed. [2] The two sides entered a two-week ceasefire on April 8, which Trump extended on Tuesday, April 21. [3]

The announcement represents a significant policy development. Trump had previously demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" and threatened military escalation if a deal was not reached. [4]

Details of the Clemency Action

The eight individuals were imprisoned in Iran for participating in anti-government protests. Sources close to the negotiations indicated that their release was arranged as a precondition for new talks. [5]

The clemency action dovetails with Trump's earlier public demands for Iran to release political prisoners. On Monday, April 20, Trump had publicly urged Tehran to "release women" said to be on death row for their protest activities. [6] U.S. sanctions targeting senior Iranian officials for violently suppressing protests were announced earlier in the year. [7]

The specific mechanism for their clemency and reported safe passage out of Iran was not immediately detailed by American officials. The move occurs amid a prolonged internet blackout within Iran, a measure authorities say is for national security but which critics argue suppresses communication. [8]

The Path to Renewed Nuclear Negotiations

In his announcement, Trump stated that with the humanitarian issue resolved, "the door is now open for serious discussions." He told the New York Post by text message that a second round of talks in Islamabad was "possible" within 36 to 72 hours. [1]

Previous nuclear agreements have been a source of significant contention. An article from NaturalNews.com argues that past deals failed to address core security concerns and instead empowered centralized regimes. [9] In 2025, an Iranian lawmaker warned that Tehran was prepared to exit the global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if Western powers reimposed sanctions, a move that would remove restrictions on uranium enrichment. [10]

No formal agenda for the potential talks has been publicly released. However, previous reporting indicated that Iran had offered a five-year moratorium on its nuclear program, while U.S. demands were for a 20-year pause. [11]

Reaction from Regional and Political Figures

Some regional analysts expressed skepticism about the developments. In a prior analysis posted on the Ron Paul Institute, commentator Scott Ritter suggested that the U.S. government under Trump had previously used negotiations with Iran as cover for military attacks. [12] This perspective frames the current diplomatic moves with caution.

Supporters of the clemency action argued it demonstrated a commitment to human rights while pursuing strategic objectives. A separate analysis from the New American noted criticism from some quarters that an absolute U.S. demand for "no enrichment" of uranium by Iran had previously killed peace talks. [13]

Israeli political influence has been a point of public debate. Trump has repeatedly denied that Israel pressured him into the conflict, writing on Truth Social that "Israel never talked me into the war with Iran" and attributing his decision to the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and his opposition to an Iranian nuclear weapon. [14][15]

Context: U.S.-Iran Relations and the Nuclear File

The relationship between the United States and Iran has been marked by decades of tension, with Iran's nuclear program at the center of disputes for over twenty years. [16] The Trump administration's sanctions campaign, described as a "maximum pressure" strategy, has been cited as plunging Iran into economic chaos and fueling protests. [17]

Past diplomatic efforts have faced criticism from alternative analysts. An article from NaturalNews.com titled "The Final Plot" criticized globalist war agendas and argued that true peace requires principles of national sovereignty and non-interventionism, rejecting the role of the U.S. as a mercenary force for foreign ambitions. [9]

The new development follows a period of heightened regional instability centered on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has repeatedly opened and closed the vital waterway, and attacks on shipping have continued despite the ceasefire. [18] The crisis has been described as a major threat to the global economy. [19]

Conclusion: Next Steps and Unanswered Questions

According to reports citing Pakistani sources, a U.S. delegation could travel to Islamabad for preliminary meetings as early as next week. The exact composition of the delegation and whether a team led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance will attend remains uncertain. [20]

Key questions remain regarding the scope of any new negotiations. Central issues will include verification mechanisms for nuclear activity and the future status of U.S. economic sanctions. Iran has previously offered to dilute enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief. [21]

The outcome of these talks, if they proceed, could have significant implications for Middle East geopolitics and global energy markets. Oil prices have remained volatile, edging higher after the ceasefire extension on concerns that underlying tensions have not been resolved. [22]

References
Trump says no time frame for Iran war as ceasefire stalls, oil prices surge

Trump admits there is no timeline for ending the war with Iran, contradicting earlier promises of a quick conflict.

Trump extended an indefinite ceasefire while maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran rejected further talks, calling the blockade a violation of any ceasefire and a form of surrender.

Brent crude oil prices have soared to $101.91 per barrel as the conflict fuels a global energy crisis.

The war has killed thousands, stranded nearly 20,000 seafarers, and Trumps approval rating has dropped to 30%.

President Donald Trump has told the American people there is no time frame for ending the U.S. war against Iran, directly contradicting his earlier promises of a quick four-to-five-week conflict. The admission came as Trump extended a ceasefire with Tehran indefinitely while maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Meanwhile, Iran refused further talks, insisting negotiations are pointless under what it calls American bullying. Trumps economic approval rating has now dropped to 30%, according to an AP-NORC poll, as the conflict continues driving energy prices higher.

The presidents shifting timeline marks a stunning departure from his earlier confidence. Shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Trump predicted the fighting would last four to five weeks. He repeatedly said over the past month that the war would be over very soon. Now, Trump tells Fox News there is no time pressure and rejects claims that political considerations are influencing his approach.

People say I want to get it over because of the midterms, not true, Trump told Fox News on Wednesday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt doubled down, telling reporters that the president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal. She added, Ultimately the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief.

Blockade continues as Iran seizes ships

On Tuesday, Trump prolonged the ceasefire with Tehran indefinitely while keeping the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in place. The announcement came just hours before the two-week truce was set to expire. Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard responded by firing on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, seizing two vessels and bringing them to Iranian ports.

The blockade scares [Iran] even more than the bombing, Trump claimed. Theyve been bombed for years but the blockade they hate.

Iranian officials see things differently. Tehrans envoy to Beijing, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, told RT India that there will be no talks until the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for some 25% of global crude oil trade, continues. What the Americans expect from Iran is not dialogue, but surrender, and that is not going to happen, he insisted.

Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf echoed that sentiment, writing on X that a complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by a naval blockade and holding the world economy hostage.

Energy crisis deepens

The economic consequences are already severe. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil has climbed to $101.91, and the International Energy Agencys executive director, Fatih Birol, called this the biggest energy crisis in the history. He warned that what we lost in this war is much bigger than all the crises put together in terms of oil and gas.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said the war is costing Europe around 500 million euros ($600 million) each day and that we are looking into some very difficult months, or maybe even years ahead. Even in a best-case scenario, its still bad, he told reporters.

Pentagon officials briefed lawmakers this week that it could take up to six months to fully clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines after the war ends. Meanwhile, nearly 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to return home.

Iran rejects further talks

Irans foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, said Wednesday that Iran has not yet decided whether it will participate in the new round of peace negotiations with the United States. He added, We entered the negotiations in good faith and with seriousness, but the negotiating party (the United States) has shown disregard and lack of good faith.

One Iranian diplomat said: We wont negotiate under threat. We wont go to Islamabad before the lifting of the blockade.

The war has now killed at least 3,375 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, and 23 in Israel, along with 13 U.S. service members throughout the region. The Senate rejected another measure to restrict Trumps war powers by a 46-51 vote, marking the fifth time this year lawmakers have declined to assert congressional authority over the conflict.

As the blockade continues and the Strait of Hormuz remains contested, Americans are left wondering how this war ends. Trump says there is no time frame. Iran says it will fight until complete victory. And the American people are left paying the price at the pump.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

CNN.com

APNews.com
U.S.-Iran ceasefire extended as Pakistan brokers diplomatic pause; analysts warn of fragile calm

President Trump extended the U.S.-Iran ceasefire on April 21, following a request from Pakistans leadership.

The extension is open-ended, tied to Iran producing a unified proposal for peace negotiations.

Irans government has rejected the premise, stating no new proposal will be offered and accusing Trump of delaying tactics.

General Sir Richard Barrons argues neither side can achieve strategic objectives through force alone.

Global markets responded with cautious optimism, but analysts warn volatility remains high and the Strait of Hormuz threat persists.

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 21, halting an imminent military strike and creating a fragile diplomatic window that analysts say reduces near-term escalation risk but does not resolve the underlying drivers of conflict.

Trump announced the extension on his Truth Social platform, citing a formal request from Pakistans Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The president directed the U.S. military to continue its maritime blockade while awaiting a unified proposal from Iranian leaders. The extension came just as the original 30-day ceasefire was approaching expiration, a deadline that had raised fears of renewed hostilities across the Middle East.

Pakistans prime minister expressed gratitude for the pause, pledging continued efforts toward a negotiated settlement and announcing a second round of talks in Islamabad. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the extension as an important step toward de-escalation, urging all parties to avoid actions that could undermine the fragile truce.

Iran Rejects Framework, Markets Remain Cautious

Irans government responded dismissively to Trumps announcement. In a statement posted on the X account of its embassy in Helsinki, Tehran accused the president of unilateral maneuvering and insisted no new proposal would be forthcoming. Irans framework for negotiations, the statement said, is already on the table, and the country will not engage in what it called bullying and gamble-style tactics.

Financial markets reflected the uneasy balance. Naeem Aslam, chief investment officer at Zaye Capital Markets, told Rigzone that global markets entered trading with cautious optimism but clear regional divergence. U.S. equity futures rebounded on reduced escalation fears, while European markets remained restrained due to higher sensitivity to energy prices and ongoing supply disruptions.

Commodities told a similar story. Gold stabilized as safe-haven demand cooled but did not fully unwind. Oil prices held near elevated levels, with Brent crude trading at approximately $95 per barrel. Aslam cautioned that markets are not pricing in a full resolution, but rather a controlled easing of risk, leaving sentiment fragile and highly dependent on further geopolitical developments.

Emily Ashford, head of energy research at Standard Chartered Bank, warned that oil price movements remain headline driven, with 30-day annualized Brent volatility rising to 106 percent. Even in the event of a full resolution, Ashford said, the bank does not expect prompt normalization of flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Strategic Reality: No Military Victory Possible

The strategic calculation behind the ceasefire extension points to a fundamental reality of the conflict: neither side can achieve its core objectives through force alone.

General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of the United Kingdoms Joint Forces Command, recently told Global News Today on Al Arabiya English that the present moment is dangerously unstable. Barrons argued that both Washington and Tehran appear to believe a little more fighting might improve their negotiating position. That calculation, he said, make the ceasefire particularly fragile.

From the American side, further escalation could include expanded strikes on critical Iranian infrastructure. From Irans perspective, retaliation would likely involve renewed missile and drone attacks, asymmetric pressure in the Gulf, attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and potential action against U.S. naval assets in the region.

There is no credible prospect of a full deal being struck before the ceasefire expires unless one side effectively gives up, Barrons said. The most realistic immediate outcome, he argued, is not resolution but delay  an extension of the ceasefire to create time for more serious negotiations.

Tactical dominance, Barrons warned, does not automatically produce strategic success. Air and missile power may degrade infrastructure and increase pressure, but they are unlikely to break Irans political will or resolve the core issues surrounding the nuclear program, regional proxies, and Gulf security.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Central to Global Risk

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the worlds most critical strategic chokepoints, and the ceasefire extension does little to reduce the long-term threat to global energy supplies. Approximately one-quarter of the worlds oil passes through this narrow waterway, which Iran could effectively block using missile launchers on islands under its jurisdiction and coastal cities like Bandar Abbas and Jask.

Barrons made clear that any renewed conflict would have immediate implications for energy security, shipping, insurance costs, commodity prices, and wider market stability. Even limited military action, he suggested, is unlikely to provide enough reassurance for commercial shipping to return to normal confidence levels.

The economic stakes are enormous. A prolonged closure of the Strait would trigger a global energy crisis, with Europe particularly vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on natural gas imports passing through the waterway. The Biden administrations quiet support for Israels strikes, despite public denials, revealed a pattern of escalation that analysts say prioritizes aggression over diplomacy.

Historical Parallels Underscore Danger of Miscalculation

The current crisis echoes earlier U.S. interventions in the Middle East where fabricated threats justified military action. Critics have drawn parallels to the Iraq War, where false claims of weapons of mass destruction led to a disastrous invasion.

For years, the U.S. intelligence community has maintained that Iran is not actively developing nuclear weapons. A 2007 National Intelligence Estimate concluded Tehran had halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and subsequent assessments have reaffirmed that stance. Yet Washington and Tel Aviv continue to push a narrative of an imminent Iranian nuclear threat, a narrative contradicted by available evidence.

The International Atomic Energy Agencys latest reports confirm that while Iran has expanded uranium enrichment, there is no evidence of weaponization activities. Iran has repeatedly stated its willingness to negotiate limits on enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

Implications for Europe, NATO, and Global Order

The Iran conflict carries broader implications for Western security and the structure of the international order. Barrons noted that European governments already understand they are operating in a far more dangerous world than the one that shaped post-Cold War force structures. The war in Ukraine had already made that point; the conflict with Iran reinforces it.

Two lessons stand out. First, the character of warfare is changing rapidly, with data connectivity, precision munitions, space-based surveillance, and artificial intelligence altering the tempo and effectiveness of military operations. Second, Europe cannot assume instability outside its immediate borders can be treated as someone elses problem. Energy, trade, food, shipping, and economic resilience all depend on a connected world. When strategic chokepoints are threatened, consequences are felt far beyond the region.

Barrons also addressed NATOs role directly. The alliance, he said, is a defensive mechanism designed to protect the territorial integrity of its members, not a vehicle for joining discretionary military campaigns outside the alliance area. Frustration in some U.S. circles about a lack of allied participation may be politically understandable, but it does not change NATOs treaty obligations or the legal realities facing European governments.

Reason Must Prevail Over Escalation

The ceasefire extension provides a temporary reprieve, but it does not change the fundamental dynamic driving the conflict. Rationally, neither side can achieve its goals through military action alone. Iran cannot defeat the United States militarily. The United States cannot use force to break Irans political will or resolve deeper issues surrounding the nuclear program, regional proxies, and Gulf security.

Yet wars are not governed by rational logic alone. Emotion, domestic politics, national pride, signaling, and miscalculation all matter. Both sides still appear to believe that further escalation may yield advantage at the negotiating table, a calculation that makes the current moment profoundly unstable.

The most likely near-term outcome is further delay  another extension, another round of talks, another temporary pause before the next crisis. But delay is not resolution. The underlying drivers of conflict remain unchanged, and the window for diplomacy is narrowing.

As Barrons concluded: the only rational path forward is negotiated compromise, however painful and politically difficult that may be. The worlds stake in this conflict is measured in energy markets, military casualties, and millions of civilians caught in the crossfire. Reason must prevail over momentum.

Sources for this article include:

RigZone.com

Universal-Defence.com

Facebook.com
Veterans Arrested in Capitol Rotunda Protest Against Iran Conflict

Introduction

Approximately 130 veterans and military family members staged a protest in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday, April 21, 2026, demanding an end to the U.S. military conflict with Iran. Sixty-two of the participants were arrested after refusing police orders to vacate the area, according to a report by Antiwar.com. [1]

The action was organized by a coalition of groups including About Face  Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace, and the Center on Conscience and War, which advises service members on conscientious objection procedures. [1]

Veterans Arrested After Capitol Rotunda Protest

The participants conducted a flag-folding ceremony and played Taps on a bugle inside the Rotunda, one of the most heavily trafficked public spaces in the Capitol building. [1] After the ceremony, they refused to disperse, leading to their arrest by U.S. Capitol Police. [1]

Organizers described the action as one of the largest veteran-led civil disobedience actions inside a Congressional building in recent years. [1] The protest came amid ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran, which began earlier in the year. [2]

Protest Details and Demands

During the protest, veterans unfurled banners with messages including 'END THE WAR ON IRAN' and 'WE CANT AFFORD ANOTHER WAR'. [1] They stated their demands were for the Trump administration to end its military actions against Iran and for the U.S. Congress to cease funding the conflict. [1]

Many of the participants were veterans of previous U.S. conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. [1] The protest also honored 13 service members who organizers said have died in the ongoing conflict with Iran. [1]

Organizational Background and Statements

Michael McPhearson, executive director of Veterans For Peace, stated the group represented 'three generations of U.S. wars' and were 'weary of war'. [1] In a statement, McPhearson called the conflict 'illegal, immoral, and unprovoked' and demanded troops be brought home. [1]

The Center on Conscience and War, which participated in the action, advises service members of their right to seek discharge from the military as conscientious objectors to war. [1] This historical precedent for such dissent was noted in the book 'Dissent: The History of an American Idea', which documents groups like Vietnam Veterans Against the War. [3]

Political Context and Recent Developments

On Tuesday, April 22, 2026, President Donald Trump announced an extension of a U.S. ceasefire with Iran. [1] Simultaneously, the administration seized a second Iranian oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, continuing a policy of economic pressure. [1]

McPhearson expressed concern about 'rumors that Trump has considered using nuclear weapons' against Iran. [1] This protest occurred within a broader context of internal dissent over the war, including the resignation of Trump-appointed National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent in March 2026, who stated he could not 'in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran'. [4]

Historical Parallels and Broader Opposition

The protest drew parallels to historical veteran-led anti-war movements, such as the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, which organized demonstrations in the late 1960s and 1970s. Similar to past actions, this protest highlighted the psychological and moral weariness of service members, a topic examined in studies of post-traumatic stress disorder. [5]

Organizers stated they plan further advocacy through webinars and continued public demonstrations. [1] The action follows other recent protests, including a demonstration in Manhattan where nearly 100 activists were arrested for protesting U.S. arms sales to Israel. [6]

Conclusion

The Capitol Rotunda protest underscores deepening opposition to the Iran conflict within the veteran community. The arrests highlight the continued use of civil disobedience as a tactic to influence federal policy. [1]

As the conflict continues, scrutiny of its financial and human costs is likely to increase. A report by The Intercept in March 2026 warned that the financial cost to American taxpayers is being understated and could reach into the trillions of dollars. [7]

References
The Unseen War: How Weather Weapons and Engineered Scarcity Are Being Used to Control Nations and People

Introduction: The Weaponization of Rain, From Tehran to Your Backyard

I believe we are witnessing the final, gasping breaths of an empire that has turned its most advanced technologies against the very elements of life. Warfare is no longer just kinetic -- it is environmental, biological, and psychological, waged on multiple subtle fronts. The alleged case of the Pentagon using advanced radar installations to steer precipitation away from Iran, creating a crippling drought, is not merely an attack on an 'enemy nation.' It is a chilling blueprint for a global assault on human abundance and freedom. This is the template being applied everywhere.

This isn't just about Iran. It's about you. The same principles of engineered scarcity -- denying rain, blocking sunlight, contaminating soil -- are being deployed domestically to destroy self-reliance and breed dependence. When rain itself becomes a weapon, the most fundamental gift of nature is violated. What we see in Iran reveals the brutal lengths to which this power structure will go to control populations through deprivation. It's a warning klaxon for the entire world.

The Iranian Blueprint: Drought as a Weapon of War

The core claim is terrifying: that advanced radar installations were used to deprive Iran of rainfall, pushing the nation toward a near-unhabitable crisis. I see this as a deliberate act of environmental warfare. The technology to manipulate weather is not speculative; it is documented and operational. As I have stated in previous discussions, the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) consists of hundreds of massive antennas that can function as one huge steerable antenna, capable of aiming millions of watts of extremely low frequency waves at a small patch of the atmosphere [1]. This concentrated energy can be 'injected' into an area and used to influence atmospheric conditions.

Why the sudden return of rains following the destruction of these installations is not a coincidence, but direct evidence of cause and effect. This reveals a terrifying new theater of war, where the environment itself becomes a battlefield. Author Elana Freeland describes how geoengineering is a profit-maker for disaster capitalists and a force-multiplier for the military, providing real full spectrum dominance not just of weather but of the entire biosphere [2]. The story of Iran's drought shows the brutal lengths to which this power structure will go. It is a violation of the most fundamental gifts of nature, turning life-giving rain into a tool of subjugation.

The Globalist Playbook: Scarcity as a Tool for Control

My conviction is that the ultimate goal is not victory over a single nation, but control over all populations through engineered scarcity. The principle I see at work is simple and brutal: Abundance -- free rain, sunlight, fertile soil -- breeds independence. Scarcity breeds dependence and compliance. This is the core strategy of the globalist depopulation agenda. As I detailed previously, globalists are now shifting into their 'kill phase' of human extermination, openly abandoning previous strategies to hide their true intentions [3]. They talk about cutting off energy supplies and causing food shortages to starve people to death.

This explains domestic policies designed to destroy self-reliance. From outlawing rainwater collection to shutting down energy infrastructure under false climate narratives, the assault on abundance is systematic. Carbon dioxide is actually good for plants and is used in photosynthesis, yet the climate change narrative has been used to crush domestic energy production. The goal is to make you dependent on centralized systems for water, food, and energy -- systems they control and can weaponize. This is not an isolated tactic; it's part of a coordinated 'pinch' against humanity.

The Multi-Front Assault on Life and Health

This is not an isolated tactic. It's part of a coordinated 'pinch' -- a global depopulation and control effort. Connecting the dots reveals a systematic assault: weaponized weather, toxic pesticides killing pollinators, adulterated food supplies, and dangerous medical interventions all serve the same master agenda. As I explained in an interview, the entire planet is being deliberately plunged into a global famine nightmare through geoengineering programs carried out by world governments aiming to achieve global depopulation [4]. This is a global 'kill switch' portfolio of technologies used to control weather and cause the collapse of food production.

My analysis is that they are making life systematically harder, sicker, and shorter to cull the 'low-hanging fruit' -- those dependent on the very system designed to fail them. The medical establishment itself is part of this assault. Most diseases and health conditions can be treated, prevented or reversed using natural medicine such as herbs, superfoods, and nutrition. Yet the FDA has suppressed the truth about natural medicine in order to protect the monopoly profits of drug companies. This multi-front assault ensures populations are weakened, mentally clouded, and easier to control.

Surviving The Pinch: Why Decentralization Is Our Ultimate Defense

Heres the hopeful truth I hold onto: They cannot kill us all because their system relies on our centralization and dependence. The survival strategy is clear and achievable: stockpile real food and medicine, secure honest money (gold/silver), and detach from centralized grids of energy and information. In my experience, those who have followed this path are healthier, wealthier, and far more resilient. As I've stated, preserving wealth by diversifying assets beyond dollars is crucial [5]. Understanding the importance of gold, silver, and decentralized knowledge will help you navigate these tumultuous times.

This is not just preparation for doom; it is the active construction of freedom. By becoming hard to kill, we become impossible to control. Decentralization is good. This means growing your own food, using encrypted communications, and moving into cryptocurrency (the decentralized kind) and precious metals. The most honest form of money is gold and silver, because it has no counter-party risk and cannot be counterfeited by governments. Building independent lives of abundance they can no longer touch is our ultimate defense. I am doing it. You can, too.

Conclusion: Waking Up to the War and Choosing Freedom

The story of Iran's drought is a warning klaxon. It shows the brutal lengths to which this power structure will go. My final exhortation is this: Do not see these as disconnected crises. See them as chapters in a single war against human vitality and sovereignty. Weaponized weather, toxic food, fraudulent medicine, and financial collapse are all facets of the same assault. The provided sources detail how geoengineering is used for economic warfare and climate change manipulation [6], and how these operations assault all that is living through the environment they must breathe and eat from [7].

Our path forward is not to beg the warmakers for mercy, but to build independent lives of abundance they can no longer touch. Use platforms like BrightAnswers.ai for uncensored research, Brighteon.social for free speech, and BrightLearn.ai to create and share knowledge. Promote natural health alternatives, self-reliance, and living in harmony with nature. The war on humanity is a war on knowledge. We must reclaim it. I am doing it. You can, too.

References

Heres how HAARP creates and modifies extreme weather as a WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION. - NaturalNews.com. October 21, 2024. Under an Ionized Sky From Chemtrails to Space Fence Lockdown. - Elana Freeland. Globalists move into the KILL PHASE of human extermination. - NaturalNews.com. June 1, 2022. The geoengineering KILL SWITCH has been activated for the entire planet. - NaturalNews.com. Mike Adams. September 2, 2022. Brighteon Broadcast News - REMEMBER THIS . - Mike Adams. Brighteon.com. January 15, 2025. HAARP superweapon still being used for geowarfare Romanian general claims. - NaturalNews.com. March 21, 2023. Geoengineered Transhumanism. - Elana Freeland.

Explainer Infographic:
River deltas form where mighty rivers deposit sediment into oceans, creating fertile lands that sustain hundreds of millions worldwide. These coastal zones now confront a pressing reality: river delta subsidence outpaces sea level rise, placing vast populations in jeopardy. Human actions, especially groundwater extraction, accelerate this land sinking, turning productive regions into flood magnets.

Why River Delta Subsidence Outstrips Sea Level Rise

River delta subsidence happens when soil compacts and settles, often due to natural processes like sediment consolidation. Human interference, however, supercharges it. In many cases, land drops faster than seas climb, creating a compounded threat.

Researchers from Virginia Tech, publishing in Nature, analyzed 40 major deltas with satellite radar. They found subsidence exceeding local sea level rise in 18 deltas. Hotspots sink over 8 mm annually, far beyond typical ocean trends.

Key drivers include:

Groundwater extraction: Pumping aquifers compacts underlying layers, causing permanent drops.

Sediment starvation from upstream dams, which trap silt meant to build land.

Urban weight and oil/gas withdrawal adding localized pressure.

This isn't uniform. While sea level rise grabs headlines from climate change, subsidence often dominates short-term risks in deltas.

The Role of Groundwater Extraction in Sinking Lands

Groundwater extraction emerges as the leading culprit across multiple deltas. Cities and farms draw heavily, depleting reserves and triggering soil collapse. In China's Yellow River delta, rates top 8 mm per year, linked directly to intensive pumping.

Dams exacerbate this by halting sediment delivery. Rivers once renewed deltas naturally; now, they deliver less, leaving lands vulnerable. New Scientist reports note how this duoextraction and damscreates a "double whammy" for coastal stability.

Consider these impacts of unchecked groundwater extraction:

Aquifer compaction leads to irreversible subsidence, unlike recoverable water drawdown. Saltwater intrusion follows, contaminating wells and farmland. Infrastructure strains, with roads, buildings, and levees cracking under shifting ground.

Without curbs, experts warn megacities could face routine inundation within decades.

Most Vulnerable River Deltas and Their Risks

Not all deltas sink equally, but patterns emerge in densely populated ones. Asia bears the brunt, with Africa close behind. Hardest-hit areas include:

Yellow River, China : Subsidence rate >8 mm/yr; population exposure 10+ million; primary trigger groundwater extraction .

: Subsidence rate >8 mm/yr; population exposure 10+ million; primary trigger . Chao Phraya, Thailand : Subsidence rate >8 mm/yr; population exposure 20+ million; primary trigger urban pumping + dams.

: Subsidence rate >8 mm/yr; population exposure 20+ million; primary trigger urban pumping + dams. Nile, Egypt : Subsidence rate 4-6 mm/yr; population exposure 50+ million; primary trigger sediment loss + extraction.

: Subsidence rate 4-6 mm/yr; population exposure 50+ million; primary trigger sediment loss + extraction. Mekong, Vietnam : Subsidence rate 4-7 mm/yr; population exposure 60+ million; primary trigger groundwater extraction .

: Subsidence rate 4-7 mm/yr; population exposure 60+ million; primary trigger . Ganges-Brahmaputra : Subsidence rate 4-5 mm/yr; population exposure 150+ million; primary trigger dams + extraction.

: Subsidence rate 4-5 mm/yr; population exposure 150+ million; primary trigger dams + extraction. Mississippi, USA: Subsidence rate 3-5 mm/yr; population exposure 10+ million; primary trigger oil/gas + urban weight.

Data from the Nature study reveals over 35% of land in nearly all 40 deltas actively subsides. Low-lying zones under 1 meter elevation house 236 million people, facing amplified floods from even minor sea level rise.

The Nile delta powers Egypt's agriculture, yet sinking erodes its base. Mekong communities battle salinization yearly, while Ganges farmlands yield less amid brackish tides.

Human and Economic Fallout from Sinking Deltas

River delta subsidence ripples through societies. Floods displace families, saltwater ruins rice paddies, and ports falter under unstable foundations. Megacities like those in the Nile and Ganges deltas shelter tens of millions, yet cracks appear in roads and subways.

Agriculture suffers first. Deltas produce half the world's rice; intrusion halves yields in affected zones. Fisheries decline as ecosystems shift. Economic losses mounttrillions potentially by mid-century if unchecked.

Communities adapt unevenly:

Wealthier areas build dikes, like Dutch-style polders.

Poorer ones rely on sandbags or relocate, straining resources.

Indigenous groups lose cultural sites to encroaching waters.

Sea level rise worsens storms, but subsidence lowers defenses proactively. A 1-meter drop means tides reach farther inland today than projections suggest.

Comparing Subsidence to Sea Level Rise Trends

Global sea level rise hits about 4 mm yearly from ice melt and warmer waters. Local rates varyhigher near glaciersbut subsidence often overshadows. In the Mississippi, regional rise nears 7 mm, yet subsidence adds 3-5 mm more.

Visualize it this way:

Pure sea level rise: Gradual, predictable.

With subsidence: Accelerates relative rise to 10-12 mm in hotspots.

This disparity explains why some deltas flood now, not in 2100. ScienceDaily's coverage of the Virginia Tech work emphasizes addressing local sinking first.

Strategies to Combat River Delta Subsidence

Halting groundwater extraction tops the list. Regulations, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater reuse ease aquifer strain. Thailand pilots such shifts in Chao Phraya.

Sediment management follows:

Dam bypasses release silt during floods. River dredging redistributes material to shores. Wetland restoration traps natural deposits.

Broader sea level rise defenses integrate: elevated infrastructure, mangrove buffers, and early warning systems. International funding aids vulnerable nations, though local enforcement proves key.

Monitoring via satellites tracks progress, as InSAR data did for the Nature analysis. Early action preserves deltas as assets, not liabilities.

Takeaways on Protecting Sinking Deltas

River delta subsidence, sea level rise, and groundwater extraction intertwine to threaten global stability, yet targeted fixes offer hope. ScienceDaily, New Scientist, and Nature illuminate the scale236 million at stake. Deltas endure through balanced human-river relations, demanding swift, coordinated efforts to maintain these vital landscapes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes river delta subsidence?

River delta subsidence primarily results from groundwater extraction, which compacts aquifers, alongside reduced sediment from dams and urban development. These human factors often outpace natural soil settling, sinking land faster than sea level rise.

2. How does subsidence compare to sea level rise?

Subsidence exceeds local sea level rise in 18 of 40 major deltas, with hotspots dropping over 8 mm/year versus global ocean rise of ~4 mm/year. This creates a "double burden," amplifying flood risks immediately.

3. Can anything stop delta sinking?

Targeted actions like regulating groundwater extraction, restoring sediment via dam bypasses, and wetland rebuilding slow subsidence. These pair with sea level rise defenses for effective protection.
South Africa produced a record-breaking chase to defeat India by nine wickets in the third women's T20I. Captain Laura Wolvaardt smashed a breathtaking 115 off just 53 balls, powering her team to a target of 193 in just 16.3 overs. India had posted a strong 192/4 thanks to half-centuries from Shafali Verma and captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The victory gives South Africa an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Laura Wolvaardt's 115 leads South Africa to a record chase of 193, securing a 3-0 series lead against India in the women's T20Is.

Johannesburg, April 23 Riding on a commanding century from skipper Laura Wolvaardt South Africa produced a record-breaking chase to outclass India by nine wickets in the third women's T20I, here at The Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.

With the win, the hosts took a 3-0 unassailable lead in the five-match series.

Put in to bat after South Africa opted to field, India posted an imposing 192/4, their best batting effort of the series. The opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid a solid foundation with a brisk 63-run stand inside eight overs.

Mandhana looked fluent for her 37, but fell just as she was threatening to accelerate further. The innings briefly stuttered when Nonkululeko Mlaba struck twice in quick succession, removing Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (0) off consecutive deliveries.

However, Shafali continued her aggressive approach, bringing up a well-compiled half-century off 39 balls, laced with eight fours and two sixes.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then took charge in the middle overs, counter-attacking with authority. The duo stitched together a crucial partnership that kept India on course for a big total.

Shafali eventually departed for 64 off 46 balls, but Harmanpreet carried on, reaching her fifty in style and finishing with a commanding 66 off 38 deliveries, including seven fours and three sixes.

A late flourish from Richa Ghosh (18 off 10) provided the finishing touches as India surged past the 190-run mark. Mlaba was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of 2/31, while the rest struggled to contain the scoring on a good batting surface.

In response, South Africa came out all guns blazing, with Wolvaardt and Sune Luus dismantling the Indian bowling attack from the outset. The pair raced to 72 without loss in the powerplay, setting the tone for what turned out to be a historic chase.

Wolvaardt was at her imperious best, capitalising on two dropped chances to make India pay dearly. Dropped on 31 and again on 85, the South African skipper made the reprieves count, registering her highest T20I score with a breathtaking 115 off just 53 balls, studded with 14 fours and five sixes.

Luus provided excellent support at the other end, anchoring the innings with a composed 57 off 40 balls as the duo stitched together a match-winning partnership. The Indian bowlers struggled for answers throughout, lacking penetration and discipline, while sloppy fielding further compounded their woes.

The breakthrough finally came in the 16th over when Wolvaardt was dismissed, but by then the damage had been done. South Africa comfortably chased down the target in just 16.3 overs, finishing at 193/1 to seal a comprehensive nine-wicket victory.

The win marked South Africa's highest successful chase in women's T20Is and the third-highest overall, as they took an unassailable lead in the series with two matches still to play.

Brief Scores: India 192/4 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 66, Shafali Verma 64; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-31, Nadine de Klerk 1-27) lost to South Africa 193/1 in 16.3 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 115, Sune Luus 64; Shreyanka Patil 1-30) by 9 wickets.

- IANS
'Dev.D' is returning to theatres on April 24, and actor Abhay Deol has shared a nostalgic memory from its making. He recalled a scene where his character Dev first meets Chanda, played by Kalki Koechlin. Abhay revealed how he and director Anurag Kashyap collaborated spontaneously, with Abhay suggesting a twist involving Chanda's multilingual phone conversation. The film, a bold reinterpretation of Devdas, has become a cult classic since its 2009 release.

Abhay Deol shares a nostalgic memory from 'Dev.D' ahead of its re-release, revealing how a scene with Kalki Koechlin evolved through spontaneous ideas with Anurag Kashyap.

Mumbai, April 23 With 'Dev.D' returning to theatres on April 24, actor Abhay Deol has shared a nostalgic memory from the making of the cult film, giving fans a fresh glimpse into how one of its memorable scenes came together.

To mark the re-release, Abhay posted a scene from the movie featuring Dev's first meeting with Chanda, played by Kalki Koechlin. Along with the clip, he recalled a lively conversation with director Anurag Kashyap, revealing how the scene grew through spontaneous ideas on set.

Abhay shared that Kashyap had first described the sequence with a mischievous "glint" in his eyes. The actor then suggested adding a more layered and unexpected twist to the scene, playing on Chanda's ability to speak multiple languages.

"Anurag: 'You sit here waiting to be let into Chanda's room and you can hear her having s**.' He said that with a mischievous, almost perverse glint in his eyes." The actor further revealed how he gave his input in the scene: "Me: (a little grossed out but also enjoying Anurag's sense of humour), 'But Anurag, Kalki can speak Tamil, Hindi, and English."

"What if it turns out that she's having phone s** with someone who has a fetish for s** talk in various languages and accents? Dev and the audience discover that once he enters her room?' Anurag pauses, the glint in his eyes gets brighter and his smile gets wider. Nothing makes a scene better than a creative flow between an actor and a director," he further wrote.

Take a look

Directed by Anurag Kashyap, 'Dev.D' was a bold reinterpretation of the classic Devdas. When it was released in 2009, the film stood out for its unconventional narrative, edgy treatment, and modern characters.

The story follows Dev, played by Abhay Deol, whose life spirals after he misunderstands Paro, portrayed by Mahie Gill. As guilt and addiction consume him, he meets Chanda, a woman navigating struggles of her own.

Over the years, 'Dev.D' has grown into a cult favourite and remains one of the most discussed films of its time.

- ANI
Actor Vishal Reddy cycled to a polling station in Chennai to cast his vote. He urged people to vote in large numbers, describing politics as a form of "social service" rather than a business. Reddy praised the voter turnout, noting both elderly and young people participated enthusiastically. He expressed hope that the final voting percentage would match levels seen in Assam and Kerala.

Actor Vishal Reddy cycles to a Chennai polling booth, calling politics a 'social service' and urging high voter turnout like Assam and Kerala.

By Toshi Mandola, Chennai, April 23 Actor Vishal Reddy arrived at a polling station in Chennai on a bicycle to cast his vote.

Reddy, who voted in the afternoon, had urged people to vote in large numbers.

Vishal also noted that politics is not like films or business, but a form of "social service."

He said people should enter politics only when there is a genuine calling to serve society.

"Coming into politics is something called calling. It's not a field like movies and any other businesses. It is not like a movie or business. Politics is not a business. It is social service."

Reddy said he hopes politicians do their duty properly, while actors continue doing their work in cinema.

The actor also praised the turnout and said it was encouraging to see both elderly people and youngsters coming out to vote. He hoped the final percentage would touch levels seen in Assam and Kerala.

"It is amazing to see that elderly people coming out and youngster coming out. Nice to see the percentage is going up and up so.... It will be amazing result will be announced on May 4."

Polling for the Tamil Nadu and first phase of West Bengal assembly polls concluded at 6 pm on Thursday.

West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.91 per cent on 152 seats that went to the polls in the first phase, according to Election Commission data.

In Tamil Nadu, the turnout was over 84 per cent.

- ANI
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that "aggressors," meaning the US and Israel, bear full responsibility for any instability in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He made the remarks during a meeting with South Korea's Special Envoy Chung Byung-ha, where he also emphasized Iran's right to defend its security under international law. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire and appealed directly to Iranian leadership, expressing confidence a new deal could transform Iran's future. However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized US "hypocritical" behavior, casting doubt on the immediacy of new negotiations.

Iran's FM Araghchi holds US & Israel responsible for Gulf instability in talks with South Korean envoy, as Trump calls for a new deal with Tehran.

Tehran, April 23 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that "aggressors" are fully responsible for any instability in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the rising tensions in the Gulf region, as reported by Iranian state media Press TV.

According to Press TV, Araghchi made the statement during a meeting with the South Korea FM's Special Envoy Chung Byung-ha in Tehran on Wednesday, where he linked the current security situation to actions by the United States and Israel.

He said, "Iran, as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, has adopted measures in accordance with international law and its domestic regulations to safeguard Iran's security and national interests against the US's and the Zionist regime's aggression and threats." He added, "Naturally, responsibility for the consequences arising from this situation lies with the aggressing parties."

Araghchi also stressed that countries must take a firm stand, calling for condemnation of the "aggression and the brutal crimes committed by the aggressors against the Iranian people", as reported by Press TV.

He further emphasised the importance of strengthening ties between Iran and South Korea, expressing Tehran's readiness to expand cooperation.

During the meeting, the South Korean envoy Chung Byung-ha voiced hope that continued diplomatic efforts would help end the "aggression" and restore peace and stability in the region, as reported by Press TV. He also conveyed greetings from South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, describing enhanced relations with Iran as important.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has issued a direct appeal to the Iranian leadership, calling for a diplomatic breakthrough to end the current standoff between Washington and Tehran.

In an interview with CNBC, the President suggested that the Islamic Republic could secure a prosperous future by committing to a new agreement. He expressed confidence that a diplomatic resolution would significantly benefit the country's regional and economic standing.

Trump remarked, "Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal," noting the potential for a complete transformation of Tehran's current circumstances.

As the US continues to maintain a naval blockade and a conditional ceasefire, the President urged the Iranian government to approach the negotiating table with a clear and pragmatic strategy.

Highlighting the need for a change in rhetoric, Trump added, "They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country." In a notable shift of strategy, President Trump has moved away from his aggressive posture by extending the current ceasefire indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (local time) criticised the United States for what he termed "hypocritical" and contradictory behaviour, even as US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire to allow time for negotiations.

Pezeshkian said Iran remains open to dialogue but accused Washington of undermining genuine talks through pressure tactics, including threats and sanctions.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical, empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions.

According to The New York Post, Trump stated that a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran is "possible" within a window of 36 to 72 hours.

However, the prospect of immediate negotiations remains unclear, as Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on participating in the upcoming round of mediated talks.

- ANI
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami cast his vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, expressing full confidence in his alliance's victory. Other NDA leaders, including TTV Dinakaran and Tamilisai Soundararajan, also voiced strong optimism for a win, citing development and law and order. The election features a key contest between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-BJP-PMK coalition, with actor Vijay's new party adding a third dimension. Polling is underway across the state with over 5.73 crore eligible voters.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami casts his vote, expressing 100% confidence in the NDA alliance's victory in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Salem, April 23 Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and AIADMK General Secretary and candidate from Edappadi constituency, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Thursday exercised his franchise at the Panchayat Union Primary School polling station in Siluvalpalayam for the ongoing Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Speaking with the media after casting his vote, EPS encouraged the electorate to cast their votes and exercise their democratic rights. He also exerted huge confidence in the victory of the AIADMK-BJP alliance.

"In the ongoing assembly general elections, I kindly request all the voters to go to the polling booths and exercise their democratic right. I am 100 per cent confident. The election has just begun today. Polling started this morning. Now, voters across Tamil Nadu are going to the polling booths and casting their votes. We are seeing that on television," EPS said.

Additionally, AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran has cast his vote for the ongoing polls. He exuded confidence in the victory of the AIADMK-BJP alliance, noting it as important for the "development of Tamil Nadu."

Speaking with the media, he said, "This drug availability in Tamil Nadu is a major issue. So, in order to have a peaceful life and development in Tamil Nadu, the PM Modi-led alliance and the AIADMK government should be formed in Tamil Nadu. It will be good for the development of Tamil Nadu."

Earlier, Tamilisai Soundarajan the BJP candidate from Mylapore assembly constituency, expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s victory.

"This is the democratic celebration. Each and everyone should take part in this democratic celebration. I am very happy, I am a candidate, as well as a voter. With all the blessings of the people of Tamil Nadu, NDA will win even in Mylapore with the blessings of God and the people, I will raise the voice of women in the Assembly," she said.

P Soundararajan, her husband also echoed the confidence."I have gone around the entire constituency. It is going to be a huge success for NDA, especially for my wife in Mylapore. The unmet demands will be met by the wife. We are very confident of the victory," P Soundararajan told ANI.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
AIPTMMK General Secretary VK Sasikala cast her vote in Chennai during the Tamil Nadu assembly elections and appealed to the public to exercise their franchise. Chief Minister MK Stalin also voted and emphasized that a vote is a banner to protect Tamil Nadu's future and constitutional ideals. Polling is underway in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal, with initial voter turnout recorded at 17.69 percent by 9 AM. The main contest is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance.

AIPTMMK's VK Sasikala and CM MK Stalin cast votes in Tamil Nadu polls, urging high voter turnout. Get key quotes and election updates.

Chennai, April 23 AIPTMMK Founder and General Secretary VK Sasikala on Thursday cast her vote at a polling station in Stella Maris College in Chennai amid the ongoing polling for Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Speaking with the media afterwards, she urged the Tamil Nadu electorate to exercise their franchise in large numbers.

"Today, in the festival of democracy, I have done my democratic duty. I appeal to the Tamil Nadu people to also fulfil their democratic right by casting their vote today without fail," she said.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, after casting his vote, urged people to exercise this democratic right, stating that it is a "banner you are raising to protect Tamil Nadu"

In a post on X, Stalin highlighted the necessity to cast a vote, which, he said, will determine the future of every single person in Tamil Nadu. He urged people to vote to protect the ideals of the constitution, democracy and secularism.

"Do not fail to cast your vote for the development of Tamil Nadu! I have cast my vote in the 2026 Assembly elections. Let all the great voters of Tamil Nadu, without fail fulfil their democratic duty," he said.

"Today, what you are going to give is not just a vote; it is the banner you are raising to protect Tamil Nadu! Your vote is what will determine the future of every single person in Tamil Nadu. May your vote be in a way that protects the lofty ideals of the Constitution--Democracy, Secularism, State Rights, Equality, Social Justice!" he added.

Along with CM Stalin, his wife Durga Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and other family members cast a vote at a polling station in Chennai

Meanwhile, the voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was recorded at 17.69 per cent at 9 am on Thursday. Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38% voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51%, and Erode recorded 19.55% turnout.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

- ANI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that escalating conflict between the US and Iran could jeopardise Ukraine's access to vital American anti-missile defence systems. He explained that Ukraine secures weapons like Patriot missiles through a NATO funding programme, but supplies are already limited due to US production constraints. Zelenskyy fears a protracted Middle East war would divert resources and increase risks for Ukraine's air defence capabilities. Concurrently, Ukraine is sharing its hard-earned drone warfare expertise with Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Ukraine's President warns a prolonged Iran conflict could divert US resources, jeopardising vital Patriot missile systems for Kyiv's defence against Russia.

Kyiv, April 23 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that a prolonged conflict in Iran could jeopardise Ukraine's ability to secure vital anti-missile defence systems from the United States.

In an interview with CNN, Zelenskyy explained that while Kyiv has received a limited supply of such weaponry due to constraints in US production, there has been no immediate disruption to current supplies or the provision of intelligence.



The Ukrainian leader noted that his country has been securing American hardware through the PURL programme, which allows NATO members to fund weapon purchases for Kyiv.



"Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons, which is very important for us. We don't have this...with our European neighbours," Zelenskyy told CNN.



However, he expressed concern that escalating instability in the Middle East could divert resources away from Ukraine's defence needs. "And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk," he said.



Zelenskyy pointed out that the United States has supplied "only a small number" of these systems so far. He attributed the limited volume to manufacturing capacity, stating, "We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big."



The President warned that a protracted conflict or a delay in reaching a ceasefire in the Middle East would have negative consequences for Ukraine's security. "And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed...(this) will not be good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics," he added.



Amid these challenges, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine is sharing its strategic expertise with Middle Eastern nations regarding drone warfare. After four years of countering Russian-deployed drones, many of which are of Iranian design, Kyiv is offering its technical know-how to regional partners.



According to the President, agreements have already been formalised with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.



"We will continue to work with other countries," Zelenskyy stated, adding, "We will be ready to deliver first our expertise...and the second point is training missions."





- ANI
Former FM P. Chidambaram expresses confidence in DMK-led alliance's return, citing stable government, growth, and welfare as key voter priorities.

Karaikudi, April 23 Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram cast his vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday and expressed confidence that the Secular Progressive Alliance will return to power in the state.

Polling for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies began at 7 a.m., with over 5.73 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in a fiercely contested four-cornered battle.



The electoral contest primarily features the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making this one of the most competitive elections in recent years.



After casting his ballot at Chittal Aachi Memorial High School near Karaikudi, senior Congress leader Chidambaram told reporters that voters across the state are focused on three key priorities.



"Across Tamil Nadu, the expectations that are resonating are threefold: the need for a stable government, growth, and welfare schemes for the people. I am confident that the DMK government, which has delivered on these three, will be formed, and that the Secular Progressive Alliance will be in power for another five years," he said.



He also voiced confidence that a stable government led by the alliance would be capable of managing the state's finances and addressing its rising debt burden.



During the Budget Session, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu had stated that, as per the Interim Budget Estimates for 2026-27, the state's outstanding debt is projected to reach Rs 10.71 lakh crore.



Responding to concerns over the debt, Chidambaram maintained that it can be handled with proper financial planning.



"There won't be any problem. There are ministers. There are capable officials. When preparing the budget, both the state's own revenue and the Central government's revenue should be taken into account, and the necessary budget should be drawn up. This applies to the Central government as well as the state government," he said.



He further stressed that borrowing is a normal economic practice and should not be viewed negatively if managed prudently.



"A stable, strong government will definitely manage the budget properly. How much debt does the Central government have? There is nothing wrong with borrowing -- all countries borrow. It's not just Tamil Nadu that borrows. The key is whether the debt can be serviced, meaning whether we can pay the interest on the loan -- that's the calculation," he added.



Chidambaram also took issue with the use of the term "freebie" in political discourse, arguing that welfare measures should be seen differently.



"I reject the term 'freebie'. It is not a freebie. I have said this many times. Universal Basic Income -- they are repeatedly providing it so that everyone across Tamil Nadu has a basic income. UBI -- we should see it as ensuring that everyone receives a minimum income. It should not be viewed as a freebie," he said.



The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu.





- IANS
India has welcomed the extension of the ceasefire between the US and Iran, reiterating its consistent call for peace, dialogue, and de-escalation in West Asia. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson emphasized that diplomacy is essential to end a conflict that has caused immense human suffering and disrupted global energy supplies. The statement follows US President Donald Trump's announcement of the extension and Iranian conditions for resuming talks, which include lifting a US naval blockade. India also stated it is in touch with Iranian authorities to ensure the safe passage of its vessels through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

India welcomes the extended US-Iran ceasefire, advocating for de-escalation, diplomacy, and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure regional stability.

New Delhi, April 22 India on Wednesday welcomed the extension of the ceasefire between the US and Iran in the ongoing West Asia conflict in order to create space for diplomatic engagement to achieve a complete solution to the hostilities, reiterating New Delhi's consistent call for peace, dialogue, and de-escalation in the region.

Addressing an Inter-Ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has always supported initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability.

"India has always been in favour of peace. We welcome all initiatives and steps that lead to peace and stability. As you know, we have already welcomed the ceasefire that has been reached and hope that it will lead to lasting peace in West Asia," Jaiswal said.

He further stressed that de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy remain essential to ending the ongoing conflict, which has already resulted in significant human suffering and disruptions to global energy supplies and trade networks.

"As we have been continuously advocating, de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to this ongoing conflict," the MEA spokesperson said.

"The conflict has already caused immense suffering to people and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks. We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and the global flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured," he added.

The statement comes after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the extension of the ceasefire with Iran, citing the need to allow Tehran's leadership more time to formulate a unified proposal for negotiations.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision followed concerns over internal divisions within Iran's government and appeals from international stakeholders. He also stated that the US military would remain on alert while maintaining a blockade until further diplomatic progress is made.

"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," his post read.

"I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other," it added.

Meanwhile, diplomatic signals from Iran indicate conditions for restarting negotiations. Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said that Tehran is willing to resume talks only after the United States ends its naval blockade on the Iranian ports, which Iran considers a violation of the ceasefire deal.

Citing an interview given by Iravani to Rudlaw News Network at the UN HQ, Tasnim News Agency reported that the Iranian envoy emphasised that for any dialogue to proceed, Washington must first halt its "ceasefire violations."

"The naval blockade of the United States, it is a violation of the ceasefire. And we told them that they should break this blockade. We have received some sign that they are ready to break it. And as soon as they break this blockade, I think that the next round of the negotiation will take place in Istanbul. Listen to them, we have not initiated the military aggression. They initiated the war against us and we are ready. If they want to sit on table and discuss and find a political solution, they will find us ready. If they want to go to the war, in this case also Iran is ready for that," Iravani said.

The ambassador's remarks suggest that while a channel for communication may exist, the removal of the blockade remains the primary obstacle to a formal diplomatic process.

Jaiswal also noted that India is in constant touch with Iranian authorities to ensure the safe passage of its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and safeguard national energy and economic security.

"We continue to be in touch with Iranian authorities for the safe passage of our ships so that we can ensure our energy security as well as take care of our economic security," he said.

This came in response to the recent incident of a shooting involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

India, following this, called Iran's Ambassador Mohammad Fathali and conveyed "deep concern" over the incident.

The MEA, in a statement, stated that Iran's Ambassador was called in for a meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

The Foreign Secretary urged the Ambassador to convey India's views and resume the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait.

- ANI
Amazon India announced a Rs 2,800 crore investment to strengthen associate safety, health, and financial well-being. The investment will expand operations network including fulfilment centres and delivery stations across India. Initiatives like Project Ashray and Sushruta will provide rest facilities and health programs for delivery associates and truck drivers. The company also plans to scale its quick commerce service Amazon Now in more cities.

Amazon India announces Rs 2,800 crore investment to enhance associate safety, health, and expand operations network, aiming for faster deliveries.

New Delhi, April 23 Amazon India on Thursday said it will invest over Rs 2,800 crore to strengthen associate safety, health, and financial well-being while expanding its operations network across the country, according to a company statement.

The investment is part of the company's broader plan to invest more than USD 35 billion in India by 2030, focusing on expansion, AI-driven digitisation, export growth, and job creation.

The company said the investment will build on its Rs 2000 crore investment in 2025, which enabled the launch of 17 new fulfilment centres, six sortation centres, and 75 last-mile delivery stations across India.

"This year, we are investing over INR 2800 crore (~USD 300 million) to further strengthen these efforts, while continuing to scale our operations network and advance the technology that enables faster, safer, and more reliable deliveries for customers. Our initiatives also align with national priorities such as Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, helping expand access to healthcare and financial inclusion for our associates," said Abhinav Singh, VP - Operations, Amazon India and Australia.

The company noted it will expand initiatives such as Project Ashray to provide accessible rest facilities for delivery associates, expanding health and wellness programs such as Sushruta for truck drivers and their families, along with new initiatives, while enabling access to preventive healthcare through nationwide medical camps.The company is also enhancing medical and accident insurance, while extending financial inclusion and social security access through the Samriddhi program by enabling enrolment in schemes like Ayushman Bharat Health Account and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana for Amazon associates and community members.

Amazon said it will also invest in expanding its pan-India operations network, including fulfilment centres, sortation centres and delivery stations, to improve capacity and delivery speeds, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The company plans to scale its quick commerce service, Amazon Now, by expanding micro-fulfilment centres and increasing its presence in more cities.

- ANI
State aims to become "Silicon Coast of India" through backward integration

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a target to generate 160 GW of green energy and attract Rs 10 lakh crore investments by 2029. Investments worth Rs 5.95 lakh crore have already been secured, with NTPC Green Energy committing Rs 1.85 lakh crore. The foundation stone was laid for ReNew Energy's 6.5 GW solar ingot-wafer plant in Rambilli, Anakapalli district. IT Minister Nara Lokesh emphasized the project's role in positioning Andhra Pradesh as the "Silicon Coast of India" through backward integration in renewable energy manufacturing.

CM Naidu sets 160 GW green energy target, attracts Rs 10 lakh crore investments. NTPC Green Energy commits Rs 1.85 lakh crore. ReNew Solar plant launched.

Visakhapatnam, April 23 Andhra Pradesh has set a target to generate 160 GW of green energy and attract Rs 10 lakh crore investments by 2029, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday.

CM Naidu revealed that investments of Rs 5.95 lakh crore have already flowed into this sector. Proposals and MoUs covering 90 GW of capacity have already been finalised.

NTPC Green Energy is stepping forward with investments amounting to Rs 1.85 lakh crore.

The Chief Minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the 6.5 GW ReNew Solar Ingot-Wafer Plant in Rambilli in Anakapalli district near Visakhapatnam.

He pointed out that solar and wind power generation is already underway in the Anantapur and Kurnool districts. Solar panels will be manufactured in Rambilli.

Meanwhile, IT minister Nara Lokesh stated that the solar wafer and ingot manufacturing facility by ReNew Energy Global in Anakapalli is a key step in positioning the state as the "Silicon Coast of India".

In a post on X, Lokesh said the project signalled Andhra Pradesh's intent to move beyond renewable energy deployment into high-value manufacturing, particularly in critical segments such as wafers and ingots.

Referring to India's target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, he noted that a significant portion of the solar ecosystem had, until recently, remained dependent on imports - especially from China - despite rapid growth in installation capacity.

Lokesh said the state government had identified this gap early and prioritised backward integration in the renewable energy sector. The broader strategy, he added, includes building domestic manufacturing capabilities across electronics, semiconductors and clean energy.

According to the minister, Andhra Pradesh has been actively engaging with global and domestic renewable energy companies, offering policy clarity, faster approvals and targeted incentives to attract investments in upstream manufacturing.

At the groundbreaking event, the Chief Minister stated that Anakapalli district is attracting huge investments. He exuded confidence that, in terms of investments, this district will reach the top position in India.

Recently, the foundation stone was laid for the establishment of the ArcelorMittal Nippon India Steel Plant in the district.

He mentioned that in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh, Ranga Reddy was considered a backward district, but today the same district has transformed into a wealthy and prosperous region. He was confident that Anakapalli would evolve into another Ranga Reddy district.

- IANS
A massive force of approximately 1.47 lakh security personnel has been deployed for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The deployment includes police, paramilitary forces, and retired personnel, with special focus on 6,300 sensitive locations and constituencies with high cash flow. Polling is being held for all 234 constituencies under this unprecedented security blanket. The main contest is between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, with actor Vijay's party TVK making it a potential three-way fight.

Over 1.47 lakh police, paramilitary, and retired personnel ensure security for Tamil Nadu's 234 assembly constituencies amid a tight three-way contest.

Chennai, April 23 As the polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly began on Thursday, approximately 1.47 lakh personnel, including police, paramilitary forces, fire and rescue services, forest department staff, prison department personnel, retired military personnel, and home guards, have been assigned to election security duties.

About 23,000 paramilitary personnel from 295 companies have arrived in Tamil Nadu and are actively engaged in security operations, according to police.

The security deployment includes 26,203 inspectors, sub-inspectors, and special sub-inspectors, along with 94,598 head constables and constables. Additionally, 12,150 personnel from special task forces have been deployed.

Apart from the police and paramilitary forces, around 20,000 retired army personnel, retired police officers, and retired forest guards have also been engaged in election security work. On polling day, special task force personnel will patrol the state in 514 vehicles. They are tasked with responding swiftly to any disturbances and ensuring that law and order is maintained, the police said.

Similarly, rapid response teams have been instructed to remain on standby in 1,100 vehicles, along with senior police officials, including Deputy Superintendents of Police, Additional Deputy Superintendents, Superintendents of Police, Deputy Inspectors General, Inspectors General, and Police Commissioners.

As 6,300 locations across the state have been identified as sensitive, additional security arrangements have been made in those areas. In 118 constituencies identified as having high cash flow, a larger number of police personnel have been deployed.

Likewise, within the 24 Assembly constituencies under the Chennai Police Commissionerate, 198 polling stations have been identified as sensitive. These locations are under close surveillance by the police, with additional security provided by paramilitary forces. A total of 31 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Chennai, significantly higher compared to just 7 companies during the previous Assembly elections.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
The Army's Spearhead Division conducted a large-scale cleanliness drive across the Siyom, Subansiri and Siyang valleys in Arunachal Pradesh. The initiative, under the theme "Clean Surroundings, Strong Communities", saw enthusiastic local participation and awareness interactions on sustainable practices. In a separate event, Assam Rifles facilitated an interaction between specially abled students from Serchhip district and Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh. The efforts highlight the Army's commitment to environmental conservation, community well-being, and social inclusivity in remote frontier regions.

Indian Army's Spearhead Division conducts large-scale cleanliness drive in Siyom, Subansiri & Siyang valleys, engaging local communities for environmental conservation.

Itanagar/Aizawl, April 23 The Army's Spearhead Division of Spear Corps conducted a large-scale cleanliness drive across the Siyom, Subansiri and Siyang valleys in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its civic outreach initiatives.

Defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Rawat said that the effort underscores the Army's continued commitment to environmental conservation and the well-being of communities in remote frontier regions.

He said that the initiative witnessed enthusiastic participation from local residents, reflecting a shared sense of responsibility towards maintaining cleanliness and preserving the natural beauty of the region.

Guided by the theme "Clean Surroundings, Strong Communities", the drive emphasised the importance of clean public spaces in promoting health, hygiene and civic pride, Lieutenant Colonel Rawat said.

The programme was complemented by awareness interactions encouraging residents to adopt sustainable practices and contribute actively towards a cleaner and healthier environment.

The spokesman said that the initiative highlighted that cleanliness is not only essential for public well-being but also a collective duty that strengthens community spirit and social harmony.

The drive was well appreciated by the local community and further reinforced the bond between the Army and the people.

It reflected the Indian Army's continued commitment not only to safeguarding the nation's borders, but also to supporting constructive social initiatives that contribute to the welfare and holistic development of remote border areas, the official said.

In Mizoram, in a commendable initiative to promote inclusivity and social engagement, Assam Rifles facilitated an interaction between specially abled students of Shalom Special School in the state.

Serchhip district and the state Governor, Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh (Retired) interacted with the specially abled students at Lok Bhavan, Aizawl on Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Rawat said that the interaction was held as part of an Educational Tour facilitated by Assam Rifles for 18 students and five teachers from Serchhip district.

During the interaction, the Governor engaged with the students, appreciating their enthusiasm and encouraging them to pursue their aspirations with confidence.

The event concluded on a positive note, leaving a lasting impression on the students and reinforcing efforts towards their welfare and overall development.

Assam Rifles remains committed to strengthening civil-military relations and contributing to the development of society in the region, the defence spokesman pointed out.

- IANS
Arunachal Pradesh plans to transform the Subansiri Lower Pondage into a world-class tourism hub. The initiative integrates eco-tourism, adventure activities, and cultural experiences near India's largest hydro project. Chief Minister Pema Khandu has sought PM Modi's support for the development. The project aims to generate 2,500 jobs and attract 1.5 lakh annual tourists.

Arunachal unveils plan for a world-class Subansiri tourism hub, integrating eco-tourism, adventure, and cultural experiences near India's largest hydro project.

Itanagar, April 23 In a major initiative to establish Arunachal Pradesh as a leading tourism destination, the state government has announced plans to transform the Subansiri Lower Pondage into a world-class mountain-and-river immersive tourism hub.

The giant power project aims to seamlessly integrate eco-tourism, adventure activities, cultural experiences and sustainable livelihood opportunities, officials said on Thursday.

The official said that, with a generation capacity of 2,000 MW, the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, the largest hydroelectric project in India located on the Subansiri River, is expected to be fully commissioned by December this year (2026), with four of its units already operational.

The pondage created by this landmark project is being envisioned as a unique opportunity to build a high-value tourism ecosystem within one of the country's most biodiverse river corridors.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu has written to Prime Minister PM Modi, seeking support from the Government of India for the development of the project.

He has also sought technical collaboration from key central ministries, including Tourism, Power, Jal Shakti, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), advocating a whole-of-government approach to realise the vision.

The official said that, as per the proposal, the tourism development plan seeks to combine multiple components, including eco-tourism and nature-based experiences, adventure tourism and water sports, cultural and heritage tourism, inland fisheries and livelihood generation, and luxury river cruises and marine-based activities.

The initiative aims to establish a holistic, sustainable tourism model, drawing inspiration from globally renowned destinations such as Phewa Lake in Nepal, Kaeng Krachan in Thailand, Lake Como and the Dolomite lake circuits in Italy, and Milford Sound in New Zealand.

Chief Minister Khandu has emphasised that local and tribal communities will be at the core of the project, serving as primary stakeholders, beneficiaries and custodians of the region's cultural and ecological heritage.

The project is expected to generate over 2,500 employment opportunities in its steady state, particularly benefiting local youth, while targeting over 1.5 lakh annual tourists in the medium term, the official pointed out.

This is expected to significantly boost sustainable livelihoods and strengthen the state's tourism-driven economy.

In the first phase, the government will engage leading design and planning agencies to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), including financial estimates and implementation frameworks, in consultation with local communities.

The initiative is being seen as a transformational opportunity to leverage hydropower infrastructure for sustainable tourism development, while promoting Arunachal Pradesh as a high-value destination on the national and global tourism map.

It may be noted that on March 28, the Chief Minister, along with his ministerial colleagues and officials, undertook a high-speed river journey spanning approximately 45 kilometres along the Subansiri river, from the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project site at Dollungmukh to the Kamle-Subansiri confluence.

He had then termed the 'expedition' as part of a broader effort to integrate hydropower development with tourism potential in the state.

- IANS
The Indian Army's Spear Corps marked Earth Day by organizing a 'Green Canvas Challenge' painting competition at a school in Assam's Tinsukia district. Students used art to express themes of environmental conservation, climate change, and protecting natural resources. The initiative aimed to inspire young minds to adopt sustainable habits and become active contributors to a greener future. The event concluded with awards for top participants and the presentation of tree saplings to the school, strengthening community ties.

Indian Army's Spear Corps organized a Green Canvas Challenge painting competition for school students in Assam's Tinsukia district to mark Earth Day and promote environmental conservation.

Guwahati, April 22 The Indian Army on Wednesday marked Earth Day by organising a 'Green Canvas Challenge', a painting competition aimed at fostering environmental awareness among school students in Assam's Rupai area in the Tinsukia district, officials said.

The event was conducted by the Army's Red Shield Gunners under the aegis of Spear Corps at Reflection Senior Secondary School, drawing enthusiastic participation from students across multiple classes.

Young participants used art as a medium to convey powerful messages on themes such as environmental conservation, climate change, and the preservation of natural resources.

The competition saw students showcase creativity alongside a deep understanding of ecological issues, with many artworks reflecting a strong sense of responsibility towards protecting the planet.

Army officials said the initiative was designed to inspire young minds to adopt eco-friendly habits and become active contributors to a sustainable future.

They encouraged students to take small but meaningful steps in their daily lives, such as reducing waste, conserving water, and planting trees, to collectively make a significant impact on the environment.

An official associated with the event said the goal is to foster awareness at an early age and empower students to become responsible citizens who value and protect nature.

The programme also served as a platform to strengthen the Army's outreach to the local community, highlighting its commitment to social and environmental causes beyond its security roles.

At the conclusion of the competition, the top three participants were awarded medals in recognition of their creativity and message-driven artwork.

In a symbolic gesture promoting sustainability, tree saplings were also presented to the school authorities, encouraging continued efforts towards a greener campus.

The event ended on a positive note, with both students and organisers reiterating the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.

The initiative underscored the role of awareness and education in shaping a more sustainable future while further reinforcing the bond between the Indian Army and the people of the region.

- IANS
The Atal Pension Yojana has achieved a significant milestone with total enrolments exceeding 9 crore subscribers. The financial year 2025-26 alone witnessed a record addition of over 1.35 crore new subscribers, the highest annual growth since the scheme's inception. This voluntary pension scheme, administered by PFRDA, targets workers in the unorganised sector with a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 upon turning 60. The government attributes this growth to coordinated outreach by banks, state institutions, and sustained awareness campaigns.

Atal Pension Yojana enrolments surpass 9 crore, with FY 2025-26 seeing a record 1.35 crore new subscribers, marking highest yearly growth.

New Delhi, April 22 The Atal Pension Yojana has crossed total gross enrolments of 9 crore subscribers as of April 21, 2026, while enrolments during FY 2025-26 exceeded 1.35 crore, the highest-ever addition in a single financial year since the scheme's launch, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.

The ministry said that the scheme administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is a flagship social security initiative of the Government of India aimed at expanding pension coverage, particularly among workers in the unorganised sector.

The release stated that the Atal Pension Yojana, launched in May 2015, is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme focused on the poor and underprivileged. The government said the scheme's growth over the past decade has been supported by coordinated efforts of banks, state-level institutions and the Department of Posts, along with sustained outreach and awareness initiatives.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has played a proactive role in expanding the scheme's footprint across all states and districts in the country, through extensive outreach initiatives, capacity-building programs, multilingual awareness materials, media campaigns, and regular performance reviews.

Atal Pension Yojana provides a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 after the subscriber attains 60 years of age. It also ensures continuation of the same pension to the spouse after the subscriber's death and return of the accumulated corpus to the nominee after the demise of both, the ministry stated.

The scheme is open to all Indian citizens in the age group of 18 to 40 years, except those who are or have been income tax payers.

The government noted that the steady rise in enrolments reflects increased awareness and wider reach of the scheme across states and districts, supported by capacity-building programmes, multilingual campaigns and regular monitoring.

- ANI
The Atal Pension Yojana has surpassed 9 crore gross enrolments, a historic milestone. In FY 2025-26, it recorded 1.35 crore new subscribers, the highest single-year growth since its 2015 launch. The scheme provides a guaranteed monthly pension of Rs 1,000-5,000 after age 60, with benefits extending to the spouse and nominee. It is a voluntary contributory scheme targeting poor, underprivileged, and unorganised sector workers.

Atal Pension Yojana achieves historic 9 crore gross enrolments, with 1.35 crore new subscribers in FY 2025-26, marking its highest single-year growth.

New Delhi, April 22 The Union government said on Wednesday that the Atal Pension Yojana has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing total gross enrolments of nine crore subscribers.

Gross enrolments during the Financial Year 2025-26 crossed 1.35 crore subscribers, marking the highest-ever enrolments recorded in a single financial year since the inception of the scheme, according to a Finance Ministry statement.

Launched on May 9, 2015, with the vision of establishing a universal social security system for all Indians, APY is a flagship social security scheme of the Union government, administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

According to the Ministry, APY is designed to provide a 'Sampurna Suraksha Kavach' (Complete Security Shield) by ensuring benefits like a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 for subscribers after attaining 60 years of age.

Also, same pension continues to the spouse after the subscriber's demise and the return of the corpus accumulated till the age of 60, to the nominee after the death of both.

The pension scheme is open to all Indian citizens between the age of 18 and 40 years, except those who are or have been income taxpayers.

APY is a voluntary, contributory pension scheme primarily focused on the poor, the underprivileged, and workers in the unorganised sector.

"Over the past decade, the scheme has witnessed remarkable growth, driven by sustained efforts of banks (Public Sector Banks/Regional Rural Banks/Private Banks/Small Finance Banks/Co-operative banks), State Level Bankers' Committee/Union Territory Level Bankers' Committees/Lead District Managers, the Department of Posts and continuous support from the Union government," the official statement said.

According to the Ministry, PFRDA has played a proactive role in expanding the scheme's footprint across all states and districts in the country, through extensive outreach initiatives, capacity-building programmes, multilingual awareness materials, media campaigns, and regular performance reviews.

- IANS
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar cast her vote in the Baramati Assembly by-election, accompanied by MP Parth Ajit Pawar. She stated the election is a tribute by the people to her late husband and former Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar, whose death created the vacancy. Sunetra Pawar emphasized she is contesting to fulfill her husband's unfinished dreams. Notably, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar will not participate in voting due to health issues.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar casts her vote in the Baramati Assembly by-election, terming it a public tribute to her late husband, former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

Baramati, April 23 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar arrived at a polling booth in Katewadi on Thursday morning to exercise her franchise for the Baramati Assembly bye-election. Sunetra Pawar told reporters today that the people of Baramati are voting in this election to show their love for the late Ajit Pawar.

The Deputy CM was accompanied by Member of Parliament Parth Ajit Pawar, who also cast his vote at the Zilla Parishad School, marking his participation in the democratic process.

Talking to the reporters, Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar said, "The people of Baramati have been standing in support of the 'Pawar' family for the last 60 years. This election is taking place in the absence of Dada, and all the people of Baramati have decided to cast their votes for Dada as a tribute to him..."

According to the Deputy Chief Minister's office, Katewadi, Baramati, Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar offered a tribute to her late husband and former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar before casting her vote in the Baramati Assembly bye-election. The seat was declared vacant following the death of former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar will not participate in the voting for the Baramati Assembly by-election scheduled for April 23 due to health-related issues, said Mahayuti candidate and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunetra Pawar.

The announcement comes as a significant development in the high-stakes battle for the Pawar family's stronghold, Baramati.

The bypolls in Pune's Baramati constituency come after the former NCP Chief Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash while he was headed to his constituency earlier this year.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and wife of late Ajit Pawar, Sunetra Pawar, said she is contesting not just as a candidate but as someone committed to fulfilling the unfinished dreams of her husband.

Addressing a large gathering in Baramati, Sunetra Pawar said, "Today, I stand here as the Mahayuti candidate. But I am not just a candidate, I stand here taking responsibility to fulfil Ajit Pawar's unfinished dreams. Dada may no longer be with us, but his dreams are still alive, and I have stepped into this field to fulfil them."

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier announced the schedule for by-elections to eight Assembly constituencies in six states. The two Maharashtra constituencies include Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district and Baramati in Pune district.

The by-election in Baramati is scheduled for April 23 following the vacancy caused by Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash earlier this year.

- ANI
The first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls saw 635 complaints registered with the Election Commission, primarily concerning violence and malpractices. The polling recorded an average turnout of 41.11%, marred by a tragic incident where a voter died at a booth in Keshpur. Tensions flared in Barwan over EVM malfunction allegations and in Naoda where a candidate's convoy was attacked. Despite these incidents, some leaders commended the ECI's role in maintaining relative peace compared to previous years.

Over 635 complaints filed in Bengal's first polling phase. Incidents include a voter's death, EVM malfunction allegations, and political violence, amid 41% turnout.

Kolkata, April 23 A total of 635 complaints were registered with the Election Commission of India till 11 a.m. on Thursday regarding the polling in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls covering 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts

Of the 635 complaints registered with the ECI, 260 have been submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), while another 375 have been submitted through the C-Vigil app.

The complaints were mostly regarding violence, election malpractices, etc., said sources.

In the first four hours of polling, the average polling rate in the 152 constituencies was recorded at 41.11 per cent. District-wise, till that period, the maximum polling percentage was reported from Jhargram at 43.71 per cent, with the figure being lowest in the case of Cooch Behar at 38.67 per cent.

A tragic incident took place at a polling booth under the Keshpur Assembly constituency in West Midnapore district, when a voter died within the booth while she came to cast her vote. The deceased was identified as Isratan Biwi. She felt uneasy after reaching the polling booth and died on the spot.

Tension broke out in front of a polling booth in Barwan Assembly constituency in minority-dominated Murshidabad district, after the Trinamool Congress leadership alleged that the EVM button was pressed in favour of the ruling party candidates, but the vote was getting registered in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate.

The polling was stopped for some time. However, later the polling resumed following the intervention of the ECI-appointed general observer for Barwan, Ujjwal Singh, and the security personnel.

Singh, while describing the allegation as impossible, said that since an allegation has been floated, the matter would be investigated.

Meanwhile, fresh tension broke out in the Naoda Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, where Humayun Kabir, the former Trinamool Congress legislator, who recently floated his own political party, is contesting. As his convoy reached the Shibnagar area in Naoda, it was attacked allegedly by the Trinamool Congress activists. However, because of the intervention by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), tension subsided soon.

Amid such stray incidents, former state Congress president in West Bengal and four-time Congress Lok Sabha member, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is the party candidate this time from Berhampur Assembly constituency, also in Murshidabad district, expressed satisfaction with the ECI in ensuring overall peaceful polls so far.

The incidents of voter intimidation and harassment, eviction of the opposition polling agents, and large-scale violence, which became a regular election feature in the last few years, are not evident much this time till noon. "The role of ECI this time is really commendable," he said.

The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said that of the 152 constituencies where polling is being conducted in the first phase on Thursday, the BJP might be able to bag up to 125 constituencies.

- IANS
The Election Commission of India has sought separate reports from Murshidabad district administration regarding two incidents during the first phase of Bengal polls. The first involves allegations that CPI(M) supporters were obstructed from voting in the Domkal area, with claims of initial inaction by security forces. The second incident concerns a clash between Trinamool Congress workers and former TMC leader Humayun Kabir in Naoda, where voters alleged intimidation. The polls are being conducted under massive security, with the second phase scheduled for April 29 and results due on May 4.

Election Commission seeks reports on clashes and alleged voter obstruction in Murshidabad during Bengal's first phase of polling.

Kolkata, April 23 The Election Commission of India has sought a report regarding claims that supporters of the Left were obstructed from voting, as well as concerning a separate incident involving a clash between Trinamool Congress workers and Humayun Kabir, the chairperson of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party.

According to officials at the Commission, the administration of Murshidabad district has been asked to submit separate reports on these two incidents, which occurred during the first phase of voting on Thursday morning.

The Commission's move came after allegations of Left supporters being prevented from voting in the Domkal area of Murshidabad district during the first phase of voting.

It was alleged that clashes had erupted between the supporters of the Left Front and Trinamool workers in the area since Wednesday night. It was also alleged that a section of CPI(M) supporters was prevented from voting in the Raipur area on Thursday morning, and that the Central forces were initially inactive, with no help from the state police either.

On receiving information about the unrest, the state police and the Central forces rushed to the spot, and later used handheld microphones to make announcements to reassure voters. Following this, the Left supporters in the area were then reported to have cast their votes under the security of the Central forces. The Trinamool, however, did not react to the allegations of obstruction in voting.

Subdivisional Police Officer (SDPO) Shubham Bajaj visited booth number 217 in Domkal, where CPI(M) supporters accused Trinamool Congress workers of obstructing voters from voting.

Meanwhile, a clash broke out between Trinamool workers and Humayun Kabir, a former Trinamool leader, in Murshidabad's Naoda, with voters alleging intimidation. A heated argument broke out between both parties, which soon turned into a scuffle.

Police and Central forces jawans present at the situation prevented the situation from escalating. However, Trinamool workers continued to protest against Humayun Kabir and asked him to leave the area. In protest, Kabir sat on a dharna and asked the police to take action against the miscreants.

Reacting to the developments, the Election Commission has sought a report from officials over the allegations.

The first phase of the Assembly polls is being conducted under unprecedented security cover, with the deployment of 2,407 companies of Central forces, including Central Armed Police Forces, the India Reserve Battalion, and personnel from armed police wings of other states, in addition to personnel from West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police.

The second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies will be on April 29. The results will be declared on May 4.

- IANS
Says polling is peaceful so far

Janata Unnayan Party President Humayun Kabir cast his vote in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. He emphasized the need for Hindu-Muslim harmony and development that includes all citizens. Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress leader, alleged that TMC workers lured his party members with cash, reducing his party's contesting seats. He also predicted the political decline of both Amit Shah and Mamata Banerjee while noting the peaceful polling process.

Former TMC leader Humayun Kabir casts vote in Bengal elections, stresses inclusive development and Hindu-Muslim unity while alleging TMC inducements.

Kolkata, April 23 Janata Unnayan Party President Humayun Kabir on Thursday cast his vote as polling for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections commenced earlier in the day, urging that development in the state should be inclusive and free from political violence.

Voting began at 7 a.m. across 152 Assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts in the first phase of the crucial two-phase elections in West Bengal.

Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress leader, is contesting from two constituencies -- Rejinagar and Naoda.

He had drawn attention last year after suggesting the construction of a "Babri Masjid" in Murshidabad.

Speaking to reporters after exercising his franchise, Kabir said, "Bengal should maintain harmony between Hindus and Muslims. Development should be for all people. There should not be any hooliganism in the name of politics."

He further alleged that inducements offered by the Trinamool Congress affected his party's prospects.

"I had a huge target for my party; however, the TMC people lured my people by giving cash, and now I am contesting in the 115 seats only... Soon, Amit Shah will also go back to Delhi, and Mamata will also be out of power," he said.

Reiterating the importance of democratic participation, Kabir added, "In the Constitution, everyone has the right to vote... I will cast my vote for the West Bengal elections... I have been participating in elections for a long time, but this is the first time my own party is contesting in these elections."

Commenting on the polling process, he said the situation remained calm.

"The situation is peaceful so far, and nothing major has happened regarding election management. There are no obstacles for agents or voters. Everything is running properly," Kabir stated.

Humayun Kabir had won the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections from the Bharatpur constituency in Murshidabad district on a Trinamool Congress ticket.

- IANS
International delegates from seven countries visited polling stations in West Bengal's Darjeeling district during the first phase of Assembly elections, praising the efficient management and facilities. The Election Commission's International Election Visitors' Programme aims to showcase India's electoral practices and foster global cooperation. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari observed peaceful polling in his Nandigram constituency, contrasting it with past incidents of disruption and voter intimidation. The overall polling process has been peaceful with heightened security alertness across the constituencies.

International delegates visit Bengal polling stations, praise festive environment & security. Suvendu Adhikari notes peaceful voting compared to past elections.

Kolkata, April 23 With the voting underway in 152 constituencies scattered over 16 districts in West Bengal in the first phase of the Assembly polls, international delegates accompanied by the officials of the Election Commission of India visited some polling stations of Darjeeling district on Thursday, and witnessed the ongoing polling process.

The polling booths in the Darjeeling district that the international delegates visited included a few in Siliguri and one in Matigara.

"They appreciated the efficient management and festive environment of the polls. They also applauded the webcasting measures at polling stations, along with the assured minimum facilities such as wheelchairs, drinking water, shade, and seating arrangements for elderly and PwD (persons with disabilities) voters," read a social media statement by the ECI in the matter.

It is learnt that as part of the ECI's international election visitors' programme (IEVP) 2026, a 13-member delegation from countries like Namibia, Georgia, Nepal, the Philippines, Switzerland, Kenya, and International IDEA is currently in West Bengal to review the first phase of the state Assembly elections.

According to the ECI, the purpose of the IEVP is to showcase best electoral practices in the country and strengthen global cooperation with election management bodies throughout the world.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has been moving around from one polling booth to another within his native Assembly constituency of Nandigram in East Midnapore district, where he is contesting this time as well.

Speaking to the media persons during his movement, he said, unlike previous elections, the ruling Trinamool Congress supporters this time have not been able to disrupt the polling process so far.

"The hooliganism on the part of the ruling party activists, especially as regards to voters' intimidation, started from the night before the polling day in previous elections. However, because of the blanket security coverage this time over the polls, they could not conduct the same hooliganism this time. I am hopeful that during the polling day also, the same situation will prevail and the polling will be peaceful," Adhikari said.

Besides Nandigram, Adhikari this time is contesting simultaneously from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata, where he is pitted against the Trinamool Congress candidate and the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. The polling in Bhabanipur will be in the second phase on April 29.

Important BJP leaders and also party candidate like fashion designer-turned-politician and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, Agnimitra Paul, former national vice president of the BJP, Dilip Ghosh, and Mayor of the Trinamool Congress-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMS), cast their votes early and then started moving from one place to another. The polling has been peaceful so far, with security personnel being overalert this time.

- IANS
Polling began at 7 a.m. for the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, covering 152 constituencies across 16 districts. The process commenced under an unprecedented security blanket involving thousands of central armed police personnel. While the polling was largely peaceful, technical glitches with EVMs were reported at several booths, delaying the mandatory mock polling. The second phase of voting for the remaining seats is scheduled for April 29, with results to be declared on May 4.

First phase of Bengal elections sees high voter turnout under massive security. EVM glitches reported in some booths. Results on May 4.

Kolkata, April 23 Polling has begun for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts from 7 a.m. on Thursday in the first phase of the two-phase crucial West Bengal assembly polls.

The voters' enthusiasm over the elections seemed to be quite high this time, with the queues of voters being witnessed in front of some polling stations in several assembly constituencies, much before the beginning of the polling process at 7 a.m. officially.

This time, the voters are required to go through a two-stage verification process, the first being by the central armed police (CAPF) personnel before entering the polling station premises, and the second by the booth-level officer (BLO) concerned before entering the polling room.

The polling process had been peaceful so far at the time the report was filed. However, there had been reports of some malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) at certain polling booths at the time of the beginning of the polling process.

Mock polling, mandatory before the actual polling process, could not start in time at a polling station at the industrial township of Durgapur in West Burdwan district because of the inactive battery of the EVM there.

Similarly, mock polling could not be conducted at a polling booth at Siliguri in Darjeeling district in North Bengal and Baharampur in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district.

The 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda in North Bengal, and Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, and Birbhum in South Bengal.

Seven of these 16 districts are under the Election Commission of India's special scanner due to security concerns on the polling day.

The first phase of the Assembly polls is being conducted under unprecedented security cover, with the deployment of 2,407 companies of central forces, including Central Armed Police Forces, the India Reserve Battalion, and personnel from armed police wings of other states, in addition to personnel from West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police.

Webcasting is being conducted in all polling stations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a social media message in Bengal addressing the people of West Bengal. "The first phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is today. I call upon all citizens to participate with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. I especially urge my young friends and the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers," the message from the Prime Minister read.

The Chief Election Officer (CEO), West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the Election Commission of India (ECI)-appointed special observer, Subrata Gupta, and the ECI-appointed police observer, N.K. Mishra stayed back at the CEO's office in central observer overnight on Wednesday, conducting last-minute supervisions to ensure free & fair and violence-free polls in the first phase on Thursday.

The second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29. The results will be declared on May 4.

- IANS
West Bengal's first phase Assembly polls for 152 constituencies concluded with a record 89.93% turnout by 5 PM, breaking the 15-year record set in 2011. The highest assembly turnout was recorded at Samserganj in Murshidabad district at 95.34%. The polling was largely peaceful, with only minor tensions, and the BJP leadership is claiming the high turnout reflects anti-incumbency sentiment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi referenced the turnout as a sign of victory against the Trinamool Congress government.

West Bengal's first phase Assembly polls see record 89.93% turnout by 5 PM, surpassing 2011's 84.33%. BJP claims anti-incumbency wave.

Kolkata, April 23 The polling for first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls for 152 constituencies in 16 districts of the state had concluded at 6 p.m. on Thursday, with the record polling percentage in the last 15 years already surpassed by 5 p.m., nearly an hour before the official time of conclusion of the polling process.

Since at 6 p.m. queues of voters were there at certain polling booths in the state.

The Office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) was able to provide the polling percentage till 5 p.m.

The final polling percentage is expected to be calculated and announced on Friday.

The polling percentage recorded till 5 p.m. on Thursday was 89.93, the record percentage in the last 15 years in West Bengal since 2011, the year which marked the end of the previous 34-year Left Front government and the beginning of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in the state.

In the six-phase 2011 West Bengal Assembly polls, the average polling percentage so far was the highest in the last 15 years at 84.33 per cent.

In the last seven-phase Lok Sabha election in 2024 in West Bengal, the average polling percentage was 79.8.

However, all those polling records were broken on Thursday at 5 p.m.

An insider from the CEO's office said that once the final polling percentage on Thursday is available, the figure will likely cross 90 per cent.

Assembly-wise, the highest polling percentage till 5 p.m. had been recorded at Samserganj in Murshidabad district at 95.34 per cent.

District-wise, the highest polling percentage till 5 p.m. had been recorded at South Dinajpur at 93.12 per cent and the lowest at the hill-district of Kalimpong at 81.98 per cent.

Barring some stray events of tension and clashes, the polling process on Thursday was the most peaceful and violence-free after the 2011 Assembly polls in West Bengal.

The high polling percentage had made the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership elated, and it is claiming that this is a clear reflection of the anti-incumbency factor and hints towards a change in government in the state after 15 years.

In two of the campaign rallies in West Bengal for the second phase of polling on April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the polling percentage as an indication of a victory against the incumbent Trinamool Congress government.

- IANS
Bihar Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar has convened a one-day special session on Friday for the newly formed government to seek a vote of confidence. The session follows an all-party meeting where leaders assured cooperation for smooth functioning. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who assumed office on April 15, must prove a majority in the 243-member Assembly. The NDA, which won 202 seats in the November 2025 elections, is in a strong position ahead of the trust vote.

Bihar Assembly to hold one-day special session on Friday for CM Samrat Choudhary's vote of confidence. Speaker Prem Kumar chairs all-party meeting seeking cooperation.

Patna, April 23 Bihar Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar on Thursday convened a one-day special session of the Legislative Assembly on Friday, during which the newly formed government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will seek a vote of confidence.

An official notification regarding the session was issued by Assembly Principal Secretary Poonam Sinha.

Ahead of the session, Speaker Prem Kumar chaired an all-party meeting on Wednesday, urging leaders to ensure smooth functioning of the House.

Representatives from various political parties assured full cooperation.

Among those present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Deputy Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav, and several MLAs, including Vijay Kumar Sinha, Vinod Narayan Jha, Alok Kumar Mehta, Manohar Prasad Singh, Madhav Anand, Raju Tiwari, Indrajit Prasad Gupta, Satish Kumar Singh Yadav, Kumar Sarvajeet, and Prafulla Manjhi.

Speaking on the upcoming session, Deputy Chief Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the House will deliberate and vote on the confidence motion to be moved by the new Bihar government.

He assured full cooperation from the state government to ensure smooth proceedings in the Assembly.

This will be the second session of the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly.

The Assembly Secretariat has formally informed all legislators, including the Chief Minister and members of the Council of Ministers.

Samrat Choudhary assumed office on April 15, following a political transition in the state after Nitish Kumar moved to the Rajya Sabha.

As per constitutional provisions, the new Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary must prove a majority in the Assembly to validate the state government.

In the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the NDA secured a majority with 202 MLAs, placing the government in a strong position ahead of the trust vote.

Following the formation of the new government, portfolios have been allocated among Ministers.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary currently holds charge of 29 departments, including General Administration, Home, Cabinet Secretariat, Vigilance, and Election.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary has been assigned 10 departments, including Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs, while Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav is in charge of eight departments, including Energy and Planning and Development.

The Bihar Cabinet expansion is yet to take place.

- IANS
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari cast his vote in Nandigram as voting commenced for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. He is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and called for a change, warning about the future of Sanatana in Bengal. Other BJP candidates, like Agnimitra Paul, criticized the TMC government and expressed confidence in a BJP victory. The State Governor encouraged all voters, especially youth and women, to participate in this "sacred festival of democracy."

BJP's Suvendu Adhikari casts his vote in Nandigram, contesting against CM Mamata Banerjee, as the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections begins.

Kolkata, April 23 Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly constituencies, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday cast his vote at a polling station in Nandigram during the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Adhikari, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.

"Parivartan hoga. If a change does not take place this time, Sanatana in Bengal will be finished. The Election Commission is doing good work, but there are some goons everywhere. Our polling agent has been arrested. Strict action should be taken immediately," he told ANI after casting his vote.

Earlier, BJP candidate from the Asansol South Assembly constituency, Agnimitra Paul, cast her vote and later showed her inked finger after exercising her franchise.

"We are sure that the people of Bengal will vote for BJP... They are determined with remove TMC, who is a disgrace to the CM's chair and voters... This is a war to save Bengal. We don't want the politics of Hindu-Muslim... We want employment for the youth and bringing back 40 lakh people, who migrated from here, to come back... You (Mamata Banerjee) are a failure as a Chief Minister and you must leave the seat... Women of the country and this state have also relaised who is one who actually stands with them," she told ANI.

Voting for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections commenced in the morning across several constituencies. The State Governor has encouraged citizens to participate in large numbers, particularly the youth and women, in the 'sacred festival of democracy.'

The official account of Lok Bhavan, West Bengal, in a post on X stated, "First Phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway today. I urge every voter, particularly the youth and women, to enthusiastically take part in the most sacred festival of democracy and exercise their votes without failing. Every vote is sacred. It has the power to shape the future of West Bengal. - Governor Ravi."

West Bengal is witnessing a two-phase election for its 294 Assembly seats. The first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the second phase is scheduled for April 29.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in the first phase.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing a rally in Saptagram, declared that issues like 'Love Jihad' and 'Land Jihad' would end if the BJP forms government in West Bengal after the elections. He made a series of welfare promises, including increased farmer aid and monthly stipends for women and youth, while accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of corruption and obstructing border security. Shah also vowed to identify and deport infiltrators, claiming they threaten jobs and national security. The state is witnessing a high-voltage contest between the ruling TMC and the BJP, with polling scheduled in phases and results due on May 4.

Amit Shah promises to end 'Love Jihad' & 'Land Jihad', implements welfare schemes, and remove infiltrators if BJP forms government in West Bengal.

Saptagram, April 22 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led state government, asserting that once the BJP comes to power, issues like "Love Jihad" and "Land Jihad" brewing in the state under "TMC ruling" would come to an end.

Addressing a public meeting in Saptagram, Shah also said that farmers and state government employees will benefit from the schemes which will be put in place by the BJP after coming to power.

"Both Love Jihad and Land Jihad will come to an end. Government employees will get the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission and DA. Farmers will be given Rs 9,000 instead of Rs 6,000 under the Kisan Samman Nidhi. Pensions for widows, senior citizens, and the disabled will be set at Rs 2,000. The BJP will also work to free us from the syndicate," he said.

Referring to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's "terrorist remark", Shah said, "Kharge ji says that Modi ji is a terrorist. Kharge sahab, shame on you, the man who devoted his entire life to ending terrorism, you call him a terrorist. The public will settle the full account."

Once again raking up the infiltration issue, Shah said, "Modi ji has freed this country from terrorism and Naxalism. Today I say as I go, the BJP will also free this country from infiltrators."

He further raised the issue of border fencing, alleging delays from the state government.

"The BSF needs 600 acres of land to build the fence. Mamata Didi is not giving it. I promise you that if you form a BJP government, we will get the job done of handing over the entire land to the BSF for building the fence within 45 days," Shah said.

"The infiltrators are taking away jobs, consuming resources meant for the poor, and threatening the internal security of the country," he added.

Shah also accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of corruption. "Mamata Banerjee is involved in a slew of scams worth Rs 10,000 crore. They believe that nothing will happen to them. On 5th May, BJP will form the government, and Didi will have to return the money she devoured through various scams," he said.

Attacking the ruling Trinamool Congress, Shah further said, "Don't fear the goons of Mamata. Vote with confidence. BJP is going to form the government, and the goons of Mamata will be sent behind bars."

He also criticised the state government on women's safety, stating, "Mamata Didi says that mothers should not step out of their homes after 7 PM. You form a BJP government, strengthening Modi's hands. Even at night, a little girl should be able to go out on her scooter, and no thug should have the courage to even glance up at her."

On welfare promises, Shah said, "Elect the BJP government, and I assure you 33% reservation in government jobs for women. Unemployed youths will be credited Rs 3000 per month in account. Women, too, will get Rs 3000 per month in their account. In the entire Bengal, women will be able to travel free in the government buses."

In Balikukhari, Shah reiterated his attack on the ruling party, saying, "Mamata Banerjee is going, lotus is coming... On the 29th, vote to drive out the infiltrators from Bengal... Mamata Banerjee brings in the infiltrators herself. But on the 5th, our BJP's promise is not just Bengal, but across the whole of India, we will handpick and drive out the infiltrators." The polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats.

The state is set to witness a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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
Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir cast his vote in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections in his Rejinagar constituency. He described the experience of voting for his own party for the first time as joyful and wonderful. Kabir accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of buying off 25-26 candidates from his party, though he asserts his party still has 117 candidates in the fray. The state is witnessing a major contest between the TMC, seeking a fourth term, and the BJP, which is pushing to form the government.

AJUP founder Humayun Kabir casts his vote in West Bengal elections, expresses joy, and accuses the ruling TMC of buying off his party's candidates.

Murshidabad, April 23 Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir on Thursday cast his vote at Ompara GP office polling station in his own constituency, Rejinagar, for the ongoing first phase of polling for the West Bengal assembly elections.

Speaking with ANI, Kabir reflected on his first time experience of casting a vote as a candidate and emphasised the need for improvement in the law and order situation in the state.

He also requested the electorate to exercise their franchise in the ongoing polling for the assembly elections.

"I came early this morning to cast my vote in the village, and then to appeal to everyone. I congratulate everyone and appeal for peace - please go and vote, there should be no law and order issues. My appeal is for everyone to cast their votes for their candidate of choice safely and of their own free will. At this age, I have been participating in elections since 1982. But for the first time, I have my own party and symbol - the whistle. I am the candidate. Previously, I fought under the National Congress's hand symbol and also with the AITC. Today, it brings me great joy to cast a vote for my own party. It's a new experience, and it feels wonderful," he said.

Earlier, Humayun Kabir accused the ruling TMC of allegedly buying off candidates from AJUP. Clarifying that he is "no one's B team," Kabir recognised the elections as a key moment to counter the opposition he received.

"... After forming the new party, there was a lot of opposition against me... I received tremendous support from my party. I fielded 142 candidates, but 25-26 candidates joined TMC. I didn't face any issues nonetheless. Now my party has 117 candidates... TMC is selling tickets... Candidates from my party are being bought off with money... They will get an answer for this in the elections... I am no one's B team...," he stated.

"For the last 20 years, I have been the first one to cast my vote at my booth... Today we will monitor the situation from the party office," he added.

West Bengal is witnessing a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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.

In West Bengal, the parties are contesting against one another for 294 Assembly seats. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats. There are a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray in this phase.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Voting is underway across all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu with a brisk 37.56 per cent turnout recorded by 11 a.m. The election features a key contest between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance. Prominent political figures including V. K. Sasikala and Thol. Thirumavalavan, along with celebrities like actor Trisha Krishnan, have cast their votes. Polling continues under tight security with officials expecting turnout to rise further through the day.

Brisk polling in Tamil Nadu's 234 constituencies. Key battle between DMK and AIADMK alliances. Prominent leaders and celebrities cast their votes.

Chennai, April 23 Voting is underway across all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, with a voter turnout of 37.56 per cent being recorded till 11 a.m.

The key battle is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, while Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) have added further intensity to the race.

According to the Election Commission, a total of 4,023 candidates are in the fray, with over 5.73 crore eligible voters expected to decide the electoral fate of the state.

Polling began early in the morning under tight security arrangements, and officials reported a steady voter turnout across districts. By 11 a.m., Tamil Nadu has recorded a voter turnout of 37.56 per cent, indicating a brisk polling trend in several regions.

Election authorities are closely monitoring the process to ensure smooth and peaceful voting throughout the day.

Several prominent political leaders and public figures exercised their franchise during the morning hours. Thol. Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), cast his vote at a government school polling booth in Anganur, located in the Kunnam Assembly constituency of Ariyalur district.

V. K. Sasikala, former AIADMK general secretary, voted at Stella Maris College in Chennai. Speaking to reporters after casting her vote, she described the election as a "festival of democracy" and urged citizens across Tamil Nadu to fulfil their democratic duty by voting in large numbers.

G.K. Vasan, president of the Tamil Maanila Congress, stood in line and cast his vote at a Corporation School polling booth in Alwarpet, Chennai, reflecting the enthusiasm among voters and leaders alike.

In Vanur constituency, VCK MP D. Ravikumar exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Morattandi.

Among celebrities, actor Trisha Krishnan cast her vote at a polling station in Alwarpet, Chennai, accompanied by her mother. When asked about expectations from the election, she refrained from political commentary and simply appealed to citizens to vote, stating that participation in the democratic process was most important.

With steady turnout figures and active participation from voters and prominent personalities, Tamil Nadu is witnessing a vibrant democratic exercise. Polling will continue until the evening, with officials expecting turnout percentages to rise further as the day progresses.

- IANS
DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth has confidently predicted a decisive victory for the ruling Secular Progressive Alliance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, stating Chief Minister MK Stalin will return to power. Her comments came after casting her vote as the state witnessed a strong voter turnout, exceeding 37% by late morning. The election features a primary contest between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, with both coalitions banking on their respective records and promises. Adding a new dynamic, actor-turned-politician Vijay is making his electoral debut, potentially splitting the vote in a three-way contest.

DMDK's Premalatha Vijayakanth forecasts a win for the DMK-led alliance and CM MK Stalin's return as Tamil Nadu records high voter turnout.

Chennai, April 23 As voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 is underway, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth on Thursday expressed confidence in the ruling alliance's victory, stating that Chief Minister MK Stalin would return to power once again.

After casting her vote in the Virukambakkam constituency, Premalatha Vijayakanth showed her inked finger and said the Secular Progressive Alliance was heading towards a decisive win.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayakanthsaid, "The alliance (secular progressive alliance) is going to win this time. Brother Stalin is going to be the CM of Tamil Nadu again. There is no doubt about it, because I went all over Tamil Nadu for the campaign. Wherever I go, I am able to see the very big wish of the people for this alliance..."

Meanwhile, the state of Tamil Nadu is seeing a mega voter turnout even during the first few hours of voting. The voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was recorded at 37.57 per cent at 11 am on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India.

In Tamil Nadu, the highest turnout of 42.45 per cent was in Tiruppur district, followed by Namakkal at 41.41 per cent, then Erode at 41.00 per cent. Chennai district registered a turnout of 35.47 per cent, Coimbatore at 38.62 per cent and Madurai at 36.22 per cent. The lowest voter turnout was recorded in the Nilgiris at 32.62 per cent.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK, and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
BSNL recorded a 42% year-on-year jump in average revenue per user (ARPU) to Rs 101 for FY 2025-26, as announced by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. The minister described BSNL's performance as "transformative," highlighting its successful transition from a 3G provider to a competitive 4G player. India also achieved a historic milestone by joining an elite group of five countries with end-to-end indigenous telecom capabilities. The Odisha Circle was recognized for balanced excellence with 21% growth in revenue from services.

BSNL reports 42% jump in ARPU to Rs 101 for FY26. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia lauds transformative shift from 3G to 4G and indigenous tech milestone.

New Delhi, April 23 Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Thursday lauded BSNL's key financial and technical achievements, particularly the significant improvement in the average revenue per user to Rs 101 in FY 2025-26 from Rs 71 in the previous year, which represents a 42 per cent year-on-year growth.

The minister chaired a meeting to review BSNL's annual results for FY 2025-26 at the strategic review and planning meet held at Vigyan Bhawan here.

During the proceedings, he conducted a comprehensive evaluation of BSNL's operational metrics, focusing on Quality of Service (QoS), subscriber base expansion, Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) enhancement, and the attainment of revenue milestones.

Scindia described the performance of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) as "transformative" with the telecom major successfully transitioning from a 3G provider to a competitive 4G player and achieving the historic significance of taking India into an elite group of just five countries worldwide to develop end-to-end indigenous telecom capabilities

The meeting also served as a platform to honour outstanding performances across various telecom circles and business verticals.

The company's Odisha Circle was honoured for its balanced excellence, achieving approximately 21 per cent growth in revenue from services and consistently meeting high performance targets.

The Odisha Circle received additional recognition for a remarkable 68 per cent year-on-year growth in the EB segment in revenue from services. Nationally, the Enterprise Business vertical was named the best performing business vertical, with a 15 per cent increase in revenue from services over the previous year.

The Karnataka Circle was recognized significant EBITDA growth, while Assam and Jharkhand were praised for achieving positive growth across all three business segments. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh (East) and Jharkhand were commended for notable improvements in FTTH ARPU.

The Union Minister emphasised the need for focused execution, accountability, and rigorous monitoring at the circle level. He urged all CGMs to emulate the best practices of high-performing circles to ensure sustained momentum, improved customer experience, and continued financial excellence in the years ahead. He further underscored the necessity of continued alignment with telecom equipment manufacturers to strengthen the domestic ecosystem and consolidate India's position as a global leader in indigenous telecom technology.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Secretary, Telecommunications, Amit Agarwal, senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), CMD BSNL A. Robert J. Ravi, and members of the BSNL Board and Chief General Managers (CGMs) from across the country.

- IANS
Second phase in Bengal on April 29, results on May 4

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for record turnout in the first phase of Assembly elections. West Bengal recorded 89.93% polling, the highest since 2011, while Tamil Nadu saw 82.24% turnout. The polling process was the most peaceful since 2011, with results to be declared on May 4. The second phase in West Bengal is scheduled for April 29.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar salutes voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for record turnout, with polling percentages breaching previous records.

New Delhi, April 23 Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday hailed voters of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for registering record turnout in the Assembly elections.

"Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since Independence - ECI salutes each voter of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu," said CEC Gyanesh Kumar in a message, even as the final turnout figures were being collated by officials in both states.

For the first phase of voting in 152 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, the ECI confirmed 89.93 per cent polling till 5 p.m. - breaching the 2021 elections figure of 82 per cent.

Till 5 p.m. in Tamil Nadu, the voting percentage stood at 82.24 per cent, better than 74 per cent recorded in the 2021 elections.

The 16 districts in West Bengal where polling was held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda in North Bengal, and Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, and Birbhum in South Bengal.

The second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies will be held on April 29. The results of the polls will be declared on May 4.

Barring some stray events of tension and clashes, the polling process was the most peaceful and violence-free after the 2011 Assembly polls in West Bengal.

In West Bengal, the polling percentage recorded till 5 p.m. on Thursday was 89.93, the record percentage in the last 15 years since 2011, the year which marked the end of the previous 34-year Left Front government and the beginning of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in the state.

In the six-phase 2011 West Bengal Assembly polls, the average polling percentage was the highest in the last 15 years at 84.33 per cent. In the last seven-phase Lok Sabha election in 2024 in West Bengal, the average polling percentage was 79.8.

However, all those polling records were broken this time.

An insider from the CEO's office said that once the final polling percentage on Thursday is available, the figure will likely cross 90 per cent.

- IANS
The Petroleum Ministry has strongly refuted media reports suggesting a fuel price hike after state elections, labeling them as "mischievous and misleading." It clarified that no such proposal is under government consideration and emphasized that petrol and diesel prices have remained unchanged in India for the last four years. The government credits this stability to relentless steps taken to shield consumers from steep international price increases, even amid global geopolitical tensions. Officials also confirmed that domestic LPG supply is operating normally with no shortages reported.

Petroleum Ministry dismisses reports of petrol & diesel price increase post-elections, says no such proposal exists and prices have been stable for 4 years.

New Delhi, April 23 Petroleum Ministry on Thursday dismissed media reports regarding petrol and diesel price increase after the assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, calling such reports as "mischievous and misleading".

In a social media post on X, the ministry clarified that "there is no such proposal under government consideration."

"Such news items are designed to create fear and panic amongst the citizens and are mischievous and misleading," the ministry added.

It further stated that India remains the only country where petrol and diesel prices have not increased in the last four years.

The government and oil PSUs have taken relentless steps to insulate citizens from steep increases in international prices, it said.

The government has earlier maintained that retail fuel outlets across the country are operating normally.

Even after escalation in West Asia conflict and rise in Brent crude oil prices due to the closure of Strait of Hormuz, the fuel prices remain unchanged in India, while many countries have witnessed a jump of up to 85 per cent.

Recent industry data highlighted a sharp divergence between India and both advanced and emerging countries, where consumers have faced increases in fuel prices so far this year, reports NDTV Profit. On the diesel front, prices have witnessed a sharp rise in several countries in recent months amid geopolitical tensions.

Meanwhile, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, provided an update on LPG supplies. She said that the supply of domestic LPG is normal, and no dry-out has been reported at any distributor.

Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 78 2026 carrying 31 Indian seafarers, arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Global oil prices edged higher on Thursday due to a stalemate over the next round of peace talks between the United States and Iran that kept the energy artery Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.

The June contract for Brent on the Intercontinental Exchange traded at $103.35 a barrel, up around 4 per cent from the previous close. Meanwhile the June futures contract for West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) rose 1.62 per cent to 94.47 a barrel.

- IANS
A report highlights severe discrimination and untouchability faced by Christians in Pakistan, exacerbated by misuse of blasphemy laws and societal intolerance. Recent incidents include the rape of a Christian woman, a suspicious death, and the murder of a farmworker. Christian girls are targeted for forced marriages and conversions, with 137 cases reported between 2021 and 2024. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends redesignating Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern and imposing sanctions.

Report reveals Christians in Pakistan face severe discrimination, untouchability, misuse of blasphemy laws, and forced conversions, with inadequate state response.

Colombo, April 23 The Christian community in Pakistan continues to face severe discrimination, untouchability and oppression due to persistent misuse of blasphemy laws, societal intolerance and recurrent mob violence while state response has been inadequate, with little accountability for perpetrators, a report has stated.

As minorities, Christians face many challenges in Pakistan, from experiencing discrimination every day to the threat of deadly violence. On April 11, a 25-year-old Christian woman of Punjab province was allegedly raped by a local contractor and his accomplice in her village, Sanchita Bhattacharya, a Research Fellow at the Institute for Conflict Management, wrote in Sri Lanka Guardian.

On March 26, police tried to portray the death of a Christian man, Iftikhar Masih, a suicide, claiming that they found his body hanging by a scarf from a ceiling fan in Punjab's Lahore. On March 4, a 21-year-old Christian farmworker, Marcus Masih, was killed by his Muslim employers in Punjab's Sargodha.

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are used to intimidate Christians and other religious minorities. Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are often misused for professional rivalry, personal or religious disputes, hostility towards religious minorities and economic gains like land and property grabs, the report in Sri Lanka Guardian stated.

In Pakistan, a person charged with blasphemy is immediately placed in detention after complainant's simple testimony. As reported in May, 2025, at least 307 Christians were accused of blasphemy in Pakistan from 1987-2024. Furthermore, 26 Christians were killed extra-judicially from 1994-2024 following blasphemy allegations.

Christian girls in Pakistan are targetted for forced marriages, which often follow abduction and forced religious conversions. Earlier this month, Christians expressed outrage after a court ruling upheld the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl, Maria Shahbaz, to a 30-year-old Muslim man. However, Maria Shehbaz's father had filed a petition in court stating that his daughter was kidnapped in July 2025 and forcibly converted to Islam. In November, the Centre for Social Justice claimed that at least 137 Christian girls were forcibly converted and married in Pakistan between January 2021 and December 2024 and girls age usually ranged between 12-15 years.

"The Christians have been experiencing severe social discrimination and untouchability in Pakistani society, as they are called Isai, Chuhra and Chamaar (derogatory caste labels). Practices of 'purity and pollution' are harshly imposed on the Christians, with respect to food and water; education; employment, etc. The oppression of Christians in Pakistan remains entrenched, sustained by the persistent misuse of blasphemy laws, rooted societal intolerance, and recurrent mob violence. State responses have largely been reactive and insufficient, with little accountability for offenders," wrote Bhattacharya.

Based on conditions in 2025, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its annual report in March this year recommended the US Department of State to redesignate Pakistan and 12 other nations as 'Countries of Particular Concern' under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). Furthermore, USCIRF urged the US Department of State to impose sanctions against Pakistani officials and agencies responsible for severe violations of freedom of religion or belief, including asset freezes and visa restrictions.

- IANS
West Bengal votes on April 23 and 29 between TMC and BJP

Thirteen international delegates from Namibia, Georgia, Nepal, the Philippines, Switzerland, Kenya, and International IDEA arrived in West Bengal to observe the high-stakes assembly elections under the IEVP-2026 program. The delegates witnessed security protocols and administrative frameworks, including the dispatch of EVMs and VVPATs at Siliguri College. The program, themed "Chunav ka Parv, Paschim Bengal ka Garv," provides a comprehensive overview of India's electoral framework and innovations. West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, with a fierce contest between the TMC and BJP.

13 international delegates from Namibia, Georgia, Nepal, and more arrive in West Bengal under IEVP-2026 to observe election security and EVM dispatch.

Kolkata, April 22 As part of the International Election Visitors' Programme - 2026, thirteen international delegates from Namibia, Georgia, Nepal, the Philippines, Switzerland, Kenya, and International IDEA arrived in West Bengal on Wednesday to witness the conduct of high-stakes polls.

The IEVP is a flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of other countries and International Organizations.

Under the theme "Chunav ka Parv, Paschim Bengal ka Garv," these representatives witnessed the security protocols and administrative frameworks that underpin the Indian electoral process.

In a series of X posts, the Election Commision shared the details about their journey in the state. They visited the Distribution & Dispatch Centre at Siliguri College, witnessing the seamless dispatch of polling parties equipped with EVMs, VVPATs, and other polling materials to their respective polling stations.

This comes after ECI flagged off the second phase of the International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP) 2026 on Tuesday for the ongoing Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

The IEVP provides a comprehensive overview of India's electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, while familiarising foreign EMB delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.

The delegates are visiting Tamil Nadu and West Bengal between April 22 and 23, as they will observe election-related arrangements.

Earlier, during the first phase of the programme, delegates visited Assam, Kerala and Puducherry from April 8 to April 9.

According to the ECI, the delegates were given demonstrations of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at IIDEM and participated in mock poll exercises to gain hands-on experience of India's voting process. They also interacted with election experts and showed keen interest in technological interventions and administrative safeguards adopted in the country's electoral system.

West Bengal is set ro witness a high-voltage battle in two-phased elections on April 23 and 29 between incumbent TMC as Chief Minister Mamata 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
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Mana village, interacting with pilgrims and local residents ahead of the Badrinath Dham opening. He praised the village's women, all 82 of whom have achieved 'Lakhpati Didi' status through self-help groups engaged in handicrafts, agriculture, and tourism. The CM highlighted the transformation of border villages from "last" to "first" under central government schemes like the Vibrant Village Programme. He also reviewed final arrangements in Badrinath, appealing for a plastic-free and sustainable pilgrimage season.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visits Mana village, meets Lakhpati Didis, and reviews arrangements for the Char Dham Yatra ahead of Badrinath Dham opening.

Mana, April 23 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday visited Mana, where he toured the area and interacted warmly with pilgrims and local residents.

On the occasion, he appealed to everyone to contribute towards making the Char Dham Yatra safe, pleasant, and environmentally sustainable, emphasising the importance of a plastic-free green pilgrimage.

The women of Mana village extended a grand traditional welcome to the Chief Minister by singing a folk "mangal geet" and presenting local products. He expressed his gratitude for their warm reception and appreciated their rich traditions and cultural heritage.

During his visit, the Chief Minister also met the village's "Lakhpati Didis" (women earning over one lakh annually) and praised their achievements. He highlighted the high quality of the locally made products, stating that they not only strengthen local livelihoods but also enhance the identity of Uttarakhand.

He urged pilgrims visiting the Char Dham Yatra to support the regional economy by purchasing these local products. He further noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, border villages have gained renewed focus, with those once referred to as the "last villages" now being recognised as the "first villages," ensuring their holistic development.

He added that under the Vibrant Village Programme, infrastructure in Uttarakhand's border areas is being rapidly strengthened, creating new opportunities for employment, tourism, and livelihoods. Development initiatives in Mana and other border villages are key steps toward balanced and inclusive growth in the state.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that with continuous efforts by the state government and support from the central government, these villages will reach new heights of development and play a crucial role in building a self-reliant Uttarakhand.

Mana village, under Gram Panchayat Mana in the Joshimath block of Chamoli district, has emerged as a model of success through Self-Help Groups and the "Lakhpati Didi" initiative. A total of 12 Self-Help Groups are active in the village, with 82 women members. The village also has a Gram Organisation named "Ghunghati Mahila Gram Sangathan" and a Cluster-Level Organisation called "Yogbandi Cluster Level Organisation." Notably, all 82 women in the village have achieved the status of "Lakhpati Didis," making Mana the first village in Uttarakhand to attain 100% Lakhpati Didi status.

Women in the village are playing a vital role in livelihood enhancement through Self-Help Groups by promoting traditional and non-agricultural activities. They are engaged in producing woollen garments, handloom and handicraft items, furniture, baskets, pulses, carpets, papad, spices, and also running food outlets.

Through the marketing of these products, they are steadily increasing their income. In addition, women are creating self-employment opportunities through agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy, homestays, fisheries, poultry farming, mushroom cultivation, food processing, and small-scale industries. Their products are being marketed through Saras Malls and various stalls, providing them with access to markets and helping them achieve financial empowerment under the "Lakhpati Didi" scheme.

Today, Mana village stands as an inspiring example of women's empowerment, self-reliance, and holistic development in border areas, where the effective implementation of government schemes combined with the hard work of local women has set a new benchmark for progress.

As the Badrinath Dham prepares to open on April 23, devotees expressed their excitement and anticipation. Talking to ANI, a devotee said, "We are hopeful that we will have good darshan of Lord Badrinath...We also organised a 'bhandara' for the devotees." While another devotee said, "...Devotees from across the nation and world are coming to have the darshan of Lord Badrinath...There is a lot of excitement among the devotees..."

Earlier, CM Dhami also held a meeting with district officials today to review the arrangements and preparations for devotees in the holy town of Badrinath, ahead of the temple's opening tomorrow morning.

On the CM's visit, District Magistrate (DM) of Chamoli, Gaurav Kumar, said, "The portals of the Badrinath Dham are opening on Thursday. On this auspicious occasion, the Chief Minister is also present here."

He also assured that, "This time, the administration and the police have made comprehensive arrangements to ensure a clean, smooth, and pleasant pilgrimage experience. All public utility facilities along the route have been readied...Every effort is being made to ensure that our devotees do not face any inconvenience whatsoever. Arrangements have also been fully established this time to ensure that information--ranging from maps to other essential details--is communicated to them digitally..."

The sacred portals of Badrinath Dham will be opened for devotees on April 23 at 6:15 AM this year. Preparations for the grand opening ceremony are in full swing, with the temple premises being beautifully decorated.

This time, the temple is being adorned with special imported flowers, which are expected to be a major attraction for visitors. The vibrant floral arrangements will give the entire premise a divine and magnificent appearance on the occasion of the opening.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will also be present during this significant event. He is scheduled for an overnight stay at Badrinath Dham and will participate in the ceremonial opening.

With the opening of the temple gates, the Char Dham Yatra will officially commence. All necessary arrangements have been completed by the administration and the temple committee to ensure a smooth and safe experience for pilgrims. There is immense enthusiasm among devotees for this auspicious occasion.

- ANI
New industrial policy to attract global investments in electronics and IT

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced plans to make the state a global hub for electronics and IT sectors. The new industrial policy will offer capital subsidies, tax benefits, and skill development support. The government will also promote AI education in schools and ITIs. A dedicated policy for the AVGC-XR sector is being developed to boost creative industries.

CM Nayab Singh Saini outlines a new industrial policy to make Haryana a global hub for electronics, IT, and AVGC-XR sectors, with incentives for investors.

New Delhi, April 23 The Haryana government is moving rapidly towards establishing the state as a global hub for electronics system design and manufacturing, IT, animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics sectors.

The government is formulating an industrial policy that will not only be highly attractive for investors but will also accelerate large-scale employment generation, innovation, and cutting-edge technological development.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while interacting with industry leaders here on Thursday regarding the upcoming industrial policy, said that IT, animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and ESDM sectors are emerging as key pillars of the national economy. Haryana, with its robust infrastructure, strong connectivity, and industry-friendly environment, holds immense potential to attract global investments.

Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh was also present at the meeting. He said that the government aims to position Haryana as a preferred destination for global companies, where leading domestic and international firms can invest.

The new industrial policy will offer special incentives, including capital subsidies, tax benefits, skill development support, and ease-of-doing-business provisions to ensure the smooth establishment and expansion of industries.

Industry representatives suggested identifying futuristic products and select companies to support them in becoming global players, which would also benefit associated MSMEs. They further emphasised promoting research and development for startups and establishing centres of excellence to boost innovation.

To address export-related challenges, representatives recommended setting up global warehouses abroad to facilitate product storage for companies. Several firms also expressed interest in adopting ITIs to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce tailored to industry needs.

Sandeep Arora from Microsoft discussed promoting artificial intelligence (AI)-based education in schools, ITIs, and other educational institutions to equip the youth with future-ready skills. Under this initiative, students will be trained in AI, machine learning, and data analytics from an early stage, enabling them to compete globally.

The government will also provide policy support and incentives to promote research and development activities and foster innovation. The government is also working on a dedicated policy for the animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC-XR) sector to provide a structured growth platform for this emerging creative and technology-driven industry.

During the meeting, FICCI AVGC-XR Forum Chairman Ashish Kulkarni and others suggested strengthening the e-sports ecosystem to create new opportunities for youth and enhance the state's competitive edge. They also recommended promoting incubators and centres of excellence to nurture innovation, startups, and talent in the AVGC-XR sector.

- IANS
Former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, now a DMK candidate, expressed strong confidence that the DMK-led alliance will secure over 200 seats and that party chief MK Stalin will return for a second term. He cast his vote in Periyakulam amid the single-phase polling for Tamil Nadu's 234 assembly constituencies. Voter turnout in the state stood at 37.57% by 11 AM, with Tiruppur district recording the highest participation. The election is primarily contested between the incumbent DMK alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA coalition.

Former CM O Panneerselvam predicts a second term for MK Stalin as DMK alliance eyes over 200 seats. Voter turnout details from Tamil Nadu elections.

Theni, April 23 Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Bodinayakkanur Assembly constituency, O Panneerselvam, on Thursday expressed confidence in the performance of his alliance in the ongoing electoral battle.

Speaking to the reporters, Panneerselvam said,"I can see enthusiasm among people for our alliance... DMK chief MK Stalin will come to power for the second term.I hope with faith that our alliance will win more than 200 seats in this election."

Earlier in the day, Panneerselvam cast his vote along with his family members at a polling station in Periyakulam district.

Panneerselvam, who has long been associated with the AIADMK and is currently contesting as a DMK candidate from Bodinayakanur following a recent political realignment, exercised his franchise at the 7th Day Nursery and Primary School located in South Car Street, Ward No. 23 in Tenkarai, Periyakulam.

Meanwhile, the voter turnout in in Tamil Nadu it was recorded at 37.57 per cent at 11 am on Thursday, according to Election Commission of India.

In Tamil Nadu, the highest turnout of 42.45 per cent was in Tiruppur district followed by Namakkal at 41.41 per cent, then Erode at 41.00 per cent. Chennai district registered a turnout of 35.47 per cent, Coimbatore at 38.62 per cent and Madurai at 36.22 per cent. The lowest voter turnout was recorded in the Nilgiris at 32.62 per cent

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.

- ANI
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated students, parents, and teachers after the UP Board declared High School and Intermediate results. Kashish Verma and Anshika Verma jointly topped High School with 97.83%, while Shikha Verma led Intermediate with 97.60%. Minister Gulabo Devi said exams were conducted fairly and stress-free, with a pass percentage of 90.42% for High School and 80.38% for Intermediate. The CM praised the students' discipline and determination, wishing them future success.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath congratulates students as UP Board declares High School and Intermediate results. Kashish and Anshika Verma top with 97.83%.

Lucknow, April 23 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday congratulated students, parents and teachers after the UP Board declared the results of the High School and Intermediate examinations, with Kashish Verma and Anshika Verma jointly outperforming in High School with 97.83 per cent.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister praised the students' efforts and described their achievement as a reflection of discipline and determination.

"Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all students who have achieved success in the High School and Intermediate Board examinations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education, as well as to their parents and teachers. This success is a symbol of your tireless hard work, discipline, and unwavering determination."

He further expressed his wish for students to scale new heights of success in the future with dedication, self-confidence, and positive energy.

"May all you students continue to scale new heights of success in the future with the same dedication, self-confidence, and positive energy--this is the prayer to Maa Saraswati," he said.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Minister of Secondary Education Gulabo Devi, while congratulating the CM and the parents, said the examinations were conducted in a fair and stress-free manner under the leadership of the Chief Minister.

She said, "Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, exams free from cheating have been conducted. Stress-free exams have taken place. The children have performed very well on their papers. I congratulate the Chief Minister on such excellent results. I also congratulate those parents who assisted their children in preparing for the exams."

Sharing details of the results, she said that "26.1 lakh students appeared for the High School examination, of whom 23.52 lakh passed, recording a pass percentage of 90.42 per cent, while 24.86 lakh students appeared for the Intermediate examination, of whom 19.98 lakh passed, with a pass percentage of 80.38 per cent".

She further informed that girls have once again excelled, with Kashish Verma and Anshika Verma topping High School, bringing pride to the state.

"Girls once again excelled: Kashish Verma and Anshika Verma topped High School with 97.83 per cent, while Shikha Verma secured 97.60 per cent in Intermediate, bringing pride to the state. Unlike previous governments, where exam lists were manipulated, under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, exams were conducted fairly without malpractice."

Gulabo Devi added, "The excellent results reflect the hard work of students and the dedicated efforts of education officials, principals, and teachers."

The UP Board 2026 High School and Intermediate Board examinations commenced on February 18 and concluded on March 12.

- ANI
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump's claims of internal divisions within Iran's leadership. Pezeshkian asserted that all Iranians are united as revolutionaries with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader. Trump had alleged infighting between "hardliners" and "moderates" in Iran's political and military establishment. The US president also claimed strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz until a deal is reached with Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says no divisions in leadership, calls all Iranians revolutionaries united under Supreme Leader, rejecting Trump's infighting claim.

Tehran, April 24 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday asserted that there are no divisions within the country's leadership, rejecting claims of internal rifts between "hardliners" and "moderates."

He said all Iranians are united as "revolutionaries" and fully aligned with the Supreme Leader, adding that the nation stands together against any external aggression.

His remarks came after US President Donald Trump claimed that there was infighting within Iran's political and military establishment.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates; we are all "Iranian" and "revolutionary," and with the iron unity of the nation and government, with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will make the aggressor criminal regret his actions."

"One God, one nation, one leader, and one path; that path being the path to the victory of our dear Iran, more precious than life," the post read.

Earlier, Trump claimed that there is internal division within Iran's leadership, alleging infighting between "hardliners" and "moderates" in the country's political and military establishment.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was struggling to determine its leadership direction and suggested deep internal discord amid diplomatic engagements to find a comprehensive solution to the situation in West Asia. Trump described the infighting as "crazy".

"Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don't know! The infighting is between the 'Hardliners,' who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the 'Moderates,' who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!" Trump wrote.

He further claimed that the United States maintains strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.

The US president also noted that the control will persist until a deal is reached with Iran."We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is 'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!" he added.

- ANI
A Hudson Institute conference analyzed India's evolving foreign policy, shaped by strategic autonomy and economic expansion. Former US Ambassador Kenneth Juster noted India's move closer to Washington amid China tensions, while maintaining independence. Trade tensions surfaced as Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized tariff negotiations and ambitious $500 billion targets. The event highlighted India's internal transformation and regional outreach as key factors in US-India relations.

Senior policymakers analyze evolving US-India ties at Hudson Institute conference, highlighting strategic autonomy, trade tensions, and India's economic rise.

Washington, April 23 Senior policymakers and analysts at a high-level conference here said India's foreign policy is being shaped by strategic autonomy, economic expansion, and a complex -- at times strained -- partnership with the United States.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute's "New India Conference", former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said India's global posture reflects a long evolution from Cold War non-alignment to a more flexible approach.

"India remains committed to the principle of strategic autonomy, or working with others without surrendering its independence of judgment and action, as well as committed to a multipolar world," Juster said.

He noted that India has moved closer to Washington amid tensions with China, but added that "this prevents it from aligning too closely with the United States".

Juster underlined the role of economic growth in shaping foreign policy, saying: "Today, India's GDP is approximately $4.15 trillion. It ranks fourth in the world and is expected to soon become the third-largest economy."

Vijay Chauthaiwale, head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, highlighted India's internal transformation, saying the country is increasingly seen as "a land of opportunities rather than a land of despair".

Chauthaiwale pointed to digital expansion, noting internet usage has grown "to approximately 1 billion and above", bringing millions into the digital economy.

On foreign policy direction, Juster said India is pursuing "multi-alignment in accordance with its vision of a multipolar world", while deepening cooperation with the United States in defence, technology, and energy.

However, strains in ties during the current US administration were acknowledged. "The strain in the US-India relationship that has arisen during the second Trump administration... has raised some concerns in India," Juster said, adding that "strong US-India ties" are likely to endure.

Trade tensions also surfaced during the discussion. Former Indian Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised aspects of the ongoing negotiations.

"We were negotiating on a tariff which was imposed on us... and it has come to 18 per cent," Chaturvedi said, questioning the approach.

She also raised concerns over ambitious trade targets, asking: "$500 billion... where would it come from?" and flagged sensitivities around the agriculture and dairy sectors.

On diaspora politics, Chauthaiwale said Indian-Americans are "not a homogenous entity" and view US policy through different lenses, including immigration and trade concerns.

The conference also examined India's regional outreach. Chauthaiwale said there is renewed engagement with neighbours, noting that political changes in Bangladesh and Nepal present opportunities for resetting ties.

The event brought together senior officials, diplomats, and experts to assess India's global role at what organisers described as an "inflection point" in US-India relations.

Juster emphasised the long-term importance of India's rise, saying: "Its rise will be one of the most significant geopolitical stories of this century," adding that it is in the interest of both countries "for America to be a positive part of that story".

The US-India partnership has expanded significantly over the past two decades, particularly in defence cooperation, trade, and technology. Despite periodic tensions over tariffs, Russia ties, and strategic priorities, both sides continue to see the relationship as central to stability in the Indo-Pacific.

India's growing role in global groupings such as the Quad and G20, along with its emphasis on strategic autonomy, continues to shape how it engages both Washington and other major powers.

- IANS
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expressed strong confidence in the Secular Progressive Alliance's performance in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections after casting his vote in Karaikudi. He specifically predicted victory for alliance candidate K.R. Periyakaruppan in Tiruppattur Assembly constituency. Chidambaram urged young voters to actively participate in the democratic process, calling voting both a privilege and a duty. The elections across 234 constituencies saw 70% voter turnout by 3 PM, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expresses confidence in Secular Progressive Alliance's performance in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections after casting his vote in Sivaganga.

Karaikudi, April 23 Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Thursday expressed confidence that the Secular Progressive Alliance will perform strongly in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections as he cast his vote in Sivaganga.

He arrived in Karaikudi in Sivaganga to exercise his franchise along with his wife, Srinidhi, and daughter, Aditi.

Speaking to IANS after casting his vote, Chidambaram said, "I am very, very confident that the alliance will do very well. I am particularly confident about my parliamentary constituency (Sivaganga). And I am also confident that K. R. Periyakaruppan, who is our candidate in the Tiruppattur Assembly, will get re-elected with a very handsome margin."

He also appealed to young voters to participate actively in the democratic process and turn out in large numbers to cast their votes.

"They should come out and more. Voting is a privilege, a right and also a duty. I hope they come out, observe the political parties and candidates, and the policies and leadership. I wish they would also become much more involved in politics," the Congress MP added.

Responding to a query on the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) during polling, Chidambaram said the process has so far been smooth and peaceful.

"Everything is very peaceful in Tamil Nadu, as usual. I have not heard of any unwanted incident, and I am sure polling will go on peacefully," he added.

Polling for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies began at 7 a.m., with over 5.73 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in a fiercely contested four-cornered battle.

The electoral contest primarily features the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making this one of the most competitive elections in recent years.

Voting commenced early in the morning, with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths, reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic process.

With voter turnout expected to play a decisive role, political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituencies. As of 3 p.m., the voter turnout stood at 70 per cent, according to the data issued by the ECI.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the electoral verdict will determine the next governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

- IANS
Macky Sall, a candidate for UN Secretary-General, has called for boldness in pursuing long-stalled Security Council reform, stating the body does not represent today's world. He pledged to push the agenda forward but acknowledged the final decision rests with member states. Sall, a former Senegalese president and African Union chair, cited his role in securing the AU's G20 membership as an example of his diplomatic approach. His candidacy is notable as the only one from Africa, though he lacks the formal backing of his own country.

Candidate for UN chief Macky Sall pledges to push Security Council reform agenda, citing lack of representation in today's world.

United Nations, April 23 "We have to continue to be bold" in pursuing the reform of the Security Council, said Macky Sall, who is a candidate for secretary-general.

The debate over reforming the Council has been going on for over 30 years, but the "one thing that we can all agree on is that today, the Security Council is not representative of today's world," he said on Wednesday at a candidate's forum here.

There are many different proposals for reforming the Council, and some even say that "it cannot take place now within the time of tension, that more time is needed for reform".

"What I can try to do is push the agenda forward," he pledged while replying to a question on behalf of the G4 -- India, Germany, Japan and Brazil -- which pursue reforms together.

He said, "We need to ensure inclusion, whilst also bearing in mind the need to maintain the credibility and above all, the effectiveness of the council, because with five vetoes, that's already a hard task."

"All options are on the table, and I will push as hard as I can," he said.

But he added, "Obviously, the decision is not that of the secretary-general. It is the decision of member states if this reform is to go forward."

Sall, a former president of Senegal, is one of the four candidates who want to succeed Antonio Guterres when his second term ends this year.

He is the only one from Africa; the other three are from Latin America.

He was nominated by Burundi, whose President Evariste Ndayishimiye is the president of the African Union.

But Sall does not have the backing of his country.

While he faced a gauntlet of questions from diplomats and civil society representatives during a three-hour session, his supporters and his opponents held demonstrations outside the UN building.

Sall was the president of the African Union (AU) during 2022-23, when the organisation became a member of G20 at the New Delhi summit, while it was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He recalled his efforts on behalf of the AU for joining the G20, the group of industrialised and emerging nations, as an example of how he would lead the UN if he got the job.

AU becoming a full member of the G20 "was not an obvious thing at the time, but it was through discussion, through dialogue," and by talking to all leaders that he managed it, he said.

"I think that this capacity to talk to anyone, everyone, without any barriers, this is what I want to and can put at the disposal of the organisation," he said.

- IANS
Dave Grohl has recounted a painfully awkward first meeting with the late music icon David Bowie. The Foo Fighters frontman, overwhelmed after seeing Bowie perform, accidentally insulted him by commenting on his "imperfections." Grohl described the encounter as a horrific misstep in his attempt to express awe. Despite the initial blunder, he was left in awe of Bowie's raw, one-take vocal talent in the studio.

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl shares the story of how he insulted David Bowie within seconds of meeting the legendary rock icon.

Los Angeles, April 22 Dave Grohl, the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters, has spoken up on his unintentionally awkward encounter with the glam rock legend David Bowie.

Dave said that he once managed to insult the music legend within seconds of meeting him, reports 'Female First UK'.

Speaking on Dish from Waitrose with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE, the Foo Fighters rocker explained he first saw Bowie perform at a festival and was completely overwhelmed by the experience.

He said, "I had just seen him perform at a, like a V Festival, or something like that. It was like Prodigy, David Bowie and we happened to be on the bill. I was standing in the photo pit and he was right there, he was right above me singing. It was otherworldly. I mean, it was like a religious experience. I was just like, 'He's an angel, this is amazing'".

As per 'Female First UK', however, when Grohl met Bowie in the studio shortly afterwards, his attempt to express that awe went disastrously wrong.

He said, "I told him when I met him in the studio, I said, 'I just saw you, like, it was such a trip to see you in human form right there, right in front of me'. And he says, 'What did you think? What did you feel?' And I'm like, 'Oh f***'".

Caught off guard, Grohl blurted out the worst possible response. He said, "So, the first thing to come out of my mouth, like an idiot, I said, 'Well, the first thing I noticed was all of your imperfections'. I backpedalled so fast. I don't know how I got out of that one. But I was like, what did I just ... I would never say that to anybody. Isn't that horrible?".

Despite the mishap, Grohl said Bowie's talent in the studio was nothing short of breathtaking, as he said, "I swear to God, he's one take, his voice, it's the voice, there's no effect. It's just exactly like this".

You get chills. You're like, 'Oh my God, that's the most reassuring, beautiful thing, this is real'", he added.

- IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh began his official visit to Germany with a ceremonial welcome and meeting with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius. He addressed the Indian diaspora, calling them a "living bridge" and highlighting India's balanced diplomatic stance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Singh also discussed critical energy security concerns with German parliamentarians, noting the direct impact of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz on India's economy. The visit aims to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, focusing on industrial collaboration and emerging technologies.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets Germany's Boris Pistorius, discusses strategic partnership, energy security, and India's diplomatic role.

Berlin, April 22 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin as part of his three-day official visit to the European nation, where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony.

Singh, who is on a three-day official visit to Germany from April 21 to 23, received military honours during the ceremonial reception hosted by Pistorius. The event took place at the German Ministry of Defence, marking the formal start of his engagements in the country after his interaction with the Indian diaspora and addressing the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security.

The Defence Minister's visit to Germany is aimed at further strengthening the strategic defence partnership between the two countries.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh addressed the Indian diaspora in Berlin and underscored India's balanced diplomatic stance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly on global conflicts, including the West Asia situation.

"India has tried... But everything has its time. It is possible that tomorrow, the time may come when India plays its role in this and achieves success as well. We cannot rule out this possibility. The Prime Minister has appealed to both sides to end the war. Our Prime Minister has a very balanced approach to diplomatic matters," Singh said, indicating that India remains open to playing a larger role in peace efforts.

He also highlighted India's diplomatic outreach in ensuring maritime stability, noting that such efforts had enabled multiple Indian vessels to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Calling the Indian community in Germany a "living bridge" between the two nations, Singh praised the diaspora's contribution to Germany's development while also pointing to India's rapid progress in infrastructure, startups, space, and digital innovation.

Before this, the Defence Minister addressed the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security in Berlin on Tuesday, where he reiterated India's concerns over energy security, stating that any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has direct consequences for the country's economy and stability.

He said that for a developing nation like India, which depends heavily on the West Asian region for energy, such disruptions are not distant events but immediate challenges affecting national security and economic interests, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral defence ties, with discussions expected to focus on defence industrial cooperation, emerging technologies, and enhanced military collaboration between India and Germany.

- ANI
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta conducted a surprise inspection of Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital in Civil Lines on Thursday. She interacted with patients and their families to assess the availability of doctors, medicines, and sanitation facilities. Patients complained about long waiting times, medicine shortages, and poor cleanliness, prompting the CM to order immediate corrective measures. Gupta also directed administrative reforms including biometric attendance for staff and a zero-tolerance policy for medicine availability.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta conducts surprise inspection at Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital, reviews medicine shortages, sanitation, and doctor availability.

New Delhi, April 23 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday conducted a surprise inspection of Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital at Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, and interacted with patients and their families to assess arrangements and the availability of doctors.

According to an official release, during the inspection, the Chief Minister reviewed arrangements in the OPD, wards, medicine distribution centre, cleanliness systems, water supply and digital services, and interacted directly with patients and their attendants to assess the ground situation. Taking note of complaints, she instructed hospital authorities to ensure all facilities are streamlined without delay.

The release said that several elderly patients informed the Chief Minister that they had been waiting in queues since early morning without being attended to. Expressing displeasure, CM Gupta directed the administration to ensure adequate seating arrangements and implement a proper token system so that patients are not forced to stand for long hours.

She also flagged shortcomings in the availability of doctors, overcrowding in OPD services and inefficiencies in the online appointment system. Despite the presence of a digital booking facility, patients were still facing long waiting times, she noted, directing officials to integrate online and offline systems to minimise delays.

Patients further complained about the unavailability of medicines, forcing them to purchase drugs from outside. Taking serious note of the issue, the Chief Minister ordered an immediate verification of stock registers and said a "zero tolerance" policy must be adopted regarding the availability of medicines and vaccines. She stressed that "the medicine required today must be provided today," said the release.

During the visit, Gupta also reviewed the vaccination unit, where a large number of patients receive anti-rabies and other injections daily, and instructed officials to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential vaccines.

The release further stated that concerns related to sanitation, water supply and toilet facilities were also raised by patients and attendants. The Chief Minister reprimanded officials over the deficiencies and directed them to resolve the issues immediately, stating that the lack of cleanliness and basic facilities in hospitals is unacceptable.

She further ordered administrative reforms to improve accountability in health services, including mandatory biometric attendance for doctors and staff and compulsory display of nameplates during duty hours. CM Gupta also expressed concern over rising hepatitis cases and directed doctors to suggest measures for investigation and prevention, the release stated.

The release added that the Chief Minister reiterated that the Delhi government is committed to ensuring citizen-centric healthcare.

"Our commitment is to ensure that every citizen of Delhi experiences a healthcare system where treatment is timely, facilities are modern, surroundings are clean, and every patient is served with dignity," she said.

- ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly endorsed Mahayuti candidate Sunetra Pawar at a Baramati rally, stating she can fulfil the legacy of the late Ajit Pawar. He expressed public doubts about the circumstances of Ajit Pawar's fatal plane crash and vowed his government would not rest until the truth is revealed. Fadnavis urged voters to turn out in record numbers for the April 23 bypoll as a tribute to the late leader. He dismissed opposition candidates as being in the race merely for publicity and called for a decisive victory for Sunetra Pawar.

Devendra Fadnavis endorses Sunetra Pawar in Baramati, pledges to uncover the truth behind the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar ahead of the bypoll.

Baramati, April 22 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed strong confidence in Mahayuti candidate Sunetra Pawar, stating that she has the capability to carry forward the legacy and fulfil the unfinished dreams of late leader Ajit Pawar.

Addressing the final public rally ahead of the April 23 Baramati bypoll on Tuesday, Fadnavis said, "I have spent more than 35 years in politics, and with that experience, I can immediately identify who can emerge as a good leader. Based on that experience, I can confidently say that Sunetra Pawar has the ability to fulfil Dada's unfinished dreams."

He further added, "She has not just become the state's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, but also she would emerge as a strong and capable leader. I have absolutely no doubt about this."

Referring to the public sentiment following Ajit Pawar's demise, the Chief Minister said, "There is deep sympathy and affection for Ajit Pawar in everyone's hearts. However, the manner in which his accident occurred has raised several doubts among people."

Reiterating the demand for clarity, Fadnavis said, "Everyone feels that the truth must come out. I had said this earlier, and I repeat it today: until the truth behind this accident comes out, we will not sit quietly. We are determined to bring out the truth."

Calling for high voter turnout, he urged the electorate to treat the bypoll as an opportunity to pay tribute to the late leader.

"There should be record voting on April 23. This is an opportunity for people to pay tribute to Ajit Pawar," he said.

Taking a swipe at the candidates in opposition to Sunetra Pawar in Baramati, Fadnavis added, "Those contesting from the opposition are merely in the fray for publicity. I do not wish to comment much on them, but I appeal to the people that the results of this election should become a topic of discussion across the country."

He concluded by urging voters to ensure a decisive mandate. "With record voting, you should ensure Sunetra Pawar's victory by casting your votes in her favour," he said.

The Baramati by-election is scheduled to be held on April 23, following the vacancy caused by the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year.

- ANI
DMK MP Kanimozhi expresses confidence in DMK's re-election after casting her vote in Tamil Nadu assembly elections, citing good governance.

Chennai, April 23 Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Thursday exercised her franchise at a polling station in St. Ebba's Higher Secondary School in Chennai amid the ongoing polling for Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

The Thoothukkudi MP was accompanied by her mother.



Addressing reporters here, Kanimozhi expressed confidence that the DMK will continue its reign in Tamil Nadu, after securing a "remarkable victory" in the ongoing assembly elections.



"The people will definitely take a clear decision. After meeting the people continuously, I firmly believe that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) rule will continue, and the Chief Minister's governance will persist. I don't want to get into specific numbers, but the DMK alliance will certainly achieve a remarkable victory. Once all the votes are counted, the truth will be evident to everyone. History will repeat itself. I believe voter turnout will definitely increase, and people across Tamil Nadu are enthusiastic about voting, wanting the DMK rule to continue," she said.



"Our performance over five years, good governance, and schemes reaching the people have all contributed. The DMK alliance partners are fighters for the state's rights, language, and culture, and they work to ensure a better future for the next generation. That is the narrative of this election," she added.



The DMK MP further reflected on the performance of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, assuring a better future for the state. She criticised the opposition parties and said that any allegations made on a voting day are "just politics."



"Regarding other parties, they will continue to raise issues, but any government will ensure there are enough facilities for voters. The DMK is very confident that people will vote them back to power. Why would any government indulge in creating problems? If they want to make false accusations repeatedly, especially on a voting day, that's just politics," Kanimozhi said.



She also motivated the electorate to exercise their franchise, stating, "Come and vote. Think for a moment about what is good for the country, who will protect our rights, our language, and the future of our children, and then cast your vote."



Earlier this monrning, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that Tamil Nadu will win as he exercised his right to vote at the polling station in Chennai, urging people to do the same.



"Just like I exercised my right, everyone must fulfil their democratic duty, it is important...Tamil Nadu will win," he said.



Along with CM Stalin, his wife Durga Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and other family members cast a vote at a polling station in Chennai.



Udhayanidhi Stalin's wife Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi said, "Just come out and vote. I have been doing this for the last 25 years. My son is voting for the first time."



Meanwhile, the voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was recorded at 17.69 per cent at 9 am on Thursday. Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38% voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51%, and Erode recorded 19.55% turnout.



Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.



The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.



With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.





- ANI
The DPIIT has implemented multi-sectoral regulatory measures to ensure uninterrupted supply of fuel, gas, and raw materials. These include customs duty waivers, expedited licensing under PESO, and temporary storage relaxations for kerosene. The government has also extended QCO timelines for induction cooktops and increased LPG allocation for the paint sector. Key fiscal interventions target leather, footwear, tyre, and glass industries to maintain production momentum.

DPIIT announces customs duty waivers, expedited licensing, and gas supply boosts to ensure uninterrupted fuel, raw materials, and industrial production.

New Delhi, April 22 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has implemented a comprehensive suite of regulatory measures and orders across various industrial sectors to ensure the uninterrupted supply of fuel, gas, and essential raw materials.

These initiatives range from customs duty waivers to expedited licensing under the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO).

Nidhi Kesarwani, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, during an inter-ministerial briefing on Wednesday, said, "Under Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation, PESO, multiple activities and facilitated orders have been issued which are oriented towards uninterrupted supply of fuel and gas."

The government has prioritised the expansion of gas infrastructure, processing 467 applications for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Compressed Biogas (CBG) stations since late March. The turnaround time for these applications has been reduced to less than 10 days, resulting in 157 final licenses and 38 prior approvals for new dispensing units.

To support the logistics of fuel distribution, temporary storage relaxations were granted for kerosene, while a ban on ammonium nitrate exports secured domestic availability.

"In the light of demand for kerosene, the temporary relaxations or storage relaxations have been granted for superior kerosene oil storage up to 2,500 litres. And a one-time relaxation for 5,000 litres of PDS kerosene has been given for ensuring last-mile continuity. The domestic availability of ammonium nitrate has been secured by imposing a ban on exports in the month of March," Kesarwani said.

The industrial relief extends to the manufacturing sector, where the government issued advisories to state authorities under the Boilers Act. High-capacity boilers in power plants, refineries, and fertiliser units have received three-month temporary extensions on their certificates, subject to external inspections.

Additionally, the DPIIT extended the Quality Control Order (QCO) timelines for induction cooktops to assist manufacturers in meeting energy efficiency deadlines amidst supply challenges.

Significant fiscal interventions were highlighted for the leather, footwear, and paint industries. Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on critical inputs like EVA and various polymers was reduced to zero.

In the paint sector, the allocation of industrial LPG was increased from 50 per cent to 70 per cent of pre-March consumption levels to maintain production momentum.

Kesarwani noted, "With respect to the tyre industry, the BCD on various chemicals have been relaxed, polybutadiene styrene, butadiene rubber, and resins, which are now. For the glass industry, the uninterrupted furnace operations were becoming a challenge. So thereafter, in consultation with MOPNG, the availability of PNG at 80 per cent of the average consumption of the previous six months has been ensured and notified."

In the ceramic hub of Morbi, authorities addressed pricing disparities and supply gaps for the 80 per cent of units that previously relied on propane or LPG. Long-term measures also include new guidelines for the installation of District Pressure Regulating Skids and the use of cryogenic cylinders for LNG to facilitate gas supply in remote, non-pipeline areas.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar launched the logo, theme, and website for the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit-IV in New Delhi. He described the relationship as entering a "season of renewal," built on a shared history of struggle and solidarity. Jaishankar highlighted the expansion of engagement, noting over 20 personal visits to African nations and the opening of 17 new Indian missions on the continent. The summit aims to strengthen the enduring partnership and shared vision for a more inclusive global order.

EAM S Jaishankar launches logo, theme & website for India-Africa Forum Summit-IV, calling it a "season of renewal" for the historic partnership.

New Delhi, April 23 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday described India's relationship with Africa as entering a "season of renewal", as he launched the logo, theme and website of the India-Africa Forum Summit-IV in New Delhi.

He said the summit marks the next phase in a long-standing partnership between India and African nations, built on shared history and expanding cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Jaishankar said, "This is a season of renewal and of fresh beginnings, and we gather at this joyous moment to mark the next chapter, the next chapter of the enduring partnership between India and Africa through the India Africa Forum Summit."

Highlighting the historical depth of ties, he noted that "our shared history of struggle, of solidarity, of opinion and of aspirations continues to shape our partnership", underlining how past cooperation plays a role in present engagement.

Jaishankar pointed to the steady expansion of bilateral engagement, stating that "our engagement has grown across all key pillars with numerous high-level political interactions." He added while emphasising his previous visits to the African countries, "I myself have made more than 20 visits to African countries and our Ministers of State (MoS) many more."

Emphasising India's growing diplomatic presence on the continent, the minister said, "India has also expanded its diplomatic footprint in recent years by opening 17 new missions, new diplomatic missions across the African continent, taking the number of our missions there to 46." He added that "this clearly demonstrates our long-term commitment to engaging with every region of the continent, a defining feature of India-Africa relations is our shared vision for a more inclusive and Representative global order."

Earlier on April 19, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar had called on South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who was on a State visit to India and said that the already finished talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi would further fuel 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."

- ANI
Union Minister Piyush Goyal has asserted that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami will become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 4. He expressed satisfaction over the rising voter turnout in the state, which recorded 82.24% till 5 PM. Goyal launched a sharp attack on the DMK and TMC governments, accusing them of breaking law and order. He expressed confidence that the ruling families in both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal would be ousted from power.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal asserts Edappadi K Palaniswami will become Tamil Nadu CM on May 4, slams DMK and TMC over law and order, and praises rising voter turnout.

Mumbai, April 23 Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday asserted that All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami will assume office as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 4. He also expressed satisfaction over rising voter turnout.

Speaking to reporters here, Goyal said, "Edappadi K Palaniswami will become the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 4. I am delighted that the results of the work we have undertaken in Tamil Nadu over the last two to two-and-a-half years are now visible in the voting percentage. These results will demonstrate that the Election Commission has rectified the electoral process, which had been completely undermined for years by Mamata Banerjee through the induction of outsiders."

Goyal also launched a sharp attack on the TMC and DMK governments, alleging a complete breakdown of the law and order situation in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, while expressing confidence that the ruling families in both states would soon be ousted from power.

"In West Bengal, the TMC has completely shattered law and order; the situation is no different in Tamil Nadu. I am fully confident that the Stalin family will be ousted from power in Tamil Nadu, and that the intimidating and threatening tactics employed against the people of West Bengal by the families of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee will come to an end, allowing the people to live in peace and tranquillity," said Goyal.

Tamil Nadu witnessed massive voter turnout in the Assembly polls, recording 82.24% till 5 PM, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Tamil Nadu also witnessed a sharp rise in turnout as the day progressed, with several districts nearing or surpassing the high-80% range. Karur led the state with 89.32%, followed by Salem at 88.02%, Erode at 87.59%, Dharmapuri at 87.28%, and Tiruppur at 86.33%. Ariyalur recorded 83.09%, Tiruchirappalli 82.76%, and Chennai 81.34%, indicating strong urban and semi-urban participation. Meanwhile, Madurai (77.89%) and Thoothukudi (77.56%) reported relatively lower but still significant turnout figures.

Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.

- ANI
President Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from four envoys at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The diplomats represented Laos, Congo, Namibia, and Guinea-Bissau. India's bilateral relations with these nations were highlighted, including long-standing ties with Laos and a large Indian diaspora in Congo. Namibia's ties with India have deepened following PM Modi's 2025 state visit.

President Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from envoys of Laos, Congo, Namibia, and Guinea-Bissau at Rashtrapati Bhavan, strengthening diplomatic ties.

New Delhi, April 23 President of India Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from the envoys of four countries during a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. Diplomats from Lao PDR, Congo, Namibia and Guinea-Bissau presented their credentials to the President.

Vithaya Xayavong, Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, presented her credentials to the President. India's bilateral relations with Laos have been long-standing, friendly and mutually supportive since diplomatic relations were established in 1956. According to the Indian Embassy in Laos, there is regard and respect for India in Laos and India's story of development. Laos has been supportive of India on many major issues of regional and international concerns, including India's claim for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Emilie Ayaza Mushobekwa, also presented her credentials to the President. India was among the first countries to establish a diplomatic mission in Kinshasa in 1962. The Indian diaspora is among the largest expats community in DRC with around 25,000 Indian nationals /Person of Indian Origin (PIO), according to the MEA.

Wing Commander Alex Lunyazo Tukuhupwele (Retd.), High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia, also presented his credentials to President Murmu.

Tukuhupwele was nominated as Namibia's High Commissioner-Designate to India by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in February this year.

"President Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that bilateral relations between Namibia and India continue to deepen following the 2025 State Visit to Namibia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as ongoing diplomatic engagements, have strengthened political dialogue and cooperation between the two nations," the Namibian Presidency stated in February.

Antonio Serifo Embalo, Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau, also presented his credentials to President Murmu.

Embalo earlier served as Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to China. He was also accredited to Singapore, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Economics from Higher School of Economics in Varna, Bulgaria, he held ministerial roles from 2001 to 2019, including in the Ministry of Trade and Handicraft Industry, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Natural Resources.

- IANS
The European Union has finalized a 90 billion loan to support Ukraine's most urgent budgetary and defense needs for 2026-2027. The loan includes strict conditions on Ukraine, such as adherence to the rule of law and anti-corruption measures. Of the total, 30 billion will go to macroeconomic support and 60 billion to defense industrial capacities. Additionally, the EU adopted its 20th sanctions package against Russia to reduce its ability to wage war.

The EU finalizes a 90 billion loan for Ukraine, with 30B for budget support and 60B for defense, plus new sanctions on Russia.

Brussels, April 23 , The European Union on Thursday finalised a 90 billion loan to Ukraine, European Council President, Antonio Costa, announced on Thursday.

This loan was agreed upon by the European Council in December 2025 and Ukraine's most urgent budgetary and defence industrial capacity needs in 2026 and 2027 will be covered with the help of it. The loan has a robust and conditional framework, with strict conditions on Ukraine's side, such as adherence to the rule of law, including the fight against corruption, the European Council stated.

"Today the Council approved the final element needed to allow for the disbursement of the 90 billion loan for Ukraine. The Cyprus Presidency has worked tirelessly to ensure all elements needed for the loan were in place. Loan disbursements will start flowing as soon as possible, providing vital support for Ukraine's most pressing budgetary needs. The EU remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Cyprus Finance Minister Makis Keravnos.

Disbursements will be made accessible in line with Ukraine's financing needs, determined by a financing strategy prepared by Ukraine itself.

According to the Council, 30 billion will be channelled for macroeconomic support to Ukraine - which can be used for country's most urgent budgetary needs - and 60 billion will be invested in defence industrial capacities, which includes procurement of defence products.

"The EU's strategy to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine rests on two pillars: strengthening Ukraine; increasing pressure on Russia. Today we moved forward on both" Costa wrote on X.

He highlighted that "Europe stands firm, united and unwavering in its support to Ukraine."

He also mentioned that the council adopted the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, reducing its ability to wage war.

"The EU itself will service and repay the loan, while Kyiv will receive the funds free of charge, as it is no longer able to service its debts", reported Russia's leading news agency TASS regarding the 90 billion loan.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, held a meeting with Costa about the unblocking of a 90 billion financial assistance package on April 21.

"Antonio also noted our security agreements with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region. The Ukrainian system for protecting lives, which we are offering to partners in the Drone Deal format, is truly unique. We have already begun this cooperation with several European countries as well," said Zelensky in a post on X.

- IANS
Foreign Direct Investment companies in India held a paid-up capital of nearly Rs 5.96 lakh crore during the 2024-25 fiscal year, accounting for over half of the total for such firms. While net sales growth moderated, profit after tax surged by 22.2%, supported by higher non-operating income. The services sector demonstrated resilience with stronger sales and a 29.2% profit growth, outperforming the manufacturing sector. The Reserve Bank of India's analysis also noted a decline in reliance on external funding and an increased focus on capital formation.

RBI reports FDI companies' paid-up capital at Rs 5.96 lakh crore in 2024-25, with services sector showing stronger profit growth than manufacturing.

New Delhi, April 22 Foreign Direct Investment companies' paid-up capital in India reached Rs 5,96,425 crore during the 2024-25 fiscal year. According to the Reserve Bank of India, this amount accounts for 51.9 per cent of the total PUC of FDI companies reported in the central bank's annual census of foreign liabilities and assets of Indian direct investment companies.

The RBI report, which analysed the audited annual accounts of 3,100 non-government non-financial companies, highlighted a significant concentration of foreign investment sources. Investors from Singapore, the USA, and Mauritius together accounted for more than half of the sample companies. Other major contributors to the Indian investment landscape included Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

While the capital base remains substantial, the growth of net sales for these select FDI entities saw a slight moderation. The growth rate slowed to 8.7 per cent in 2024-25 from 9.4 per cent in the previous year.

This deceleration was particularly evident in the manufacturing sector, where sales growth dropped to 5.1 per cent from 6.8 per cent. In contrast, the services sector showed resilience as its sales growth marginally increased to 12.7 per cent.

"The operating profit growth reduced to 10.7 per cent during 2024-25 from 22.1 per cent in the previous year," the Reserve Bank of India stated in its release.

This decline in profit growth coincided with a rise in operating expenses, which climbed to 9.1 per cent from 7.7 per cent. The central bank attributed this uptick in costs primarily to higher manufacturing expenses and increased remuneration to employees.

Despite the pressure on operating margins, the bottom line for many of these firms improved. Profit after tax saw a 22.2 per cent increase during the period, a jump that was supported by higher non-operating income and lower interest expenses.

Within the broader industry trends, services sector companies outperformed their manufacturing counterparts by recording a post-tax profit growth of 29.2 per cent compared to 12.6 per cent in manufacturing.

"Leverage (measured in terms of debt-to-equity ratio) of the sample FDI companies stood at 25.0 per cent during 2024-25," the RBI release noted. This metric showed diverging trends across sectors, as leverage in the manufacturing sector moderated to 16.3 per cent while it increased to 23.6 per cent for services.

RBI further noted that the Interest Coverage Ratio (ICR) rose to 5.8 during the 2024-25 period. On the funding front, companies relied less on external sources, which fell to 42.6 per cent from 45.5 per cent, largely due to a decline in term loans from banks.

Meanwhile, the ratio of gross capital formation to total uses of funds increased to 45.3 per cent, signalling a continued focus on asset creation.

- ANI
US lawmakers at a Capitol Hill event called for a unified international front to combat the evolving threat of terrorism, emphasizing it cannot be tackled in isolation. They highlighted the critical need for intelligence-sharing, diplomatic pressure, and action against states that provide sanctuary to extremist groups, with specific concerns raised about Pakistan. Congress members across party lines stressed that terrorism is a direct assault on civilians and a global threat that requires sustained cooperation between democracies. India's Ambassador echoed the call for collective action, underscoring the importance of India-US partnership in defeating this common enemy.

US Congress members stress need for global cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and pressure on state enablers of terror in coordinated response.

Washington, April 23 US lawmakers called for a unified global response against terrorism, as they asserted that the threat continues to evolve across regions and argued that this requires coordinated action by countries including India and the United States.

Speaking at a Capitol Hill event, members of Congress stressed that terrorism cannot be tackled in isolation and must be confronted through intelligence-sharing, diplomacy and sustained international pressure on both extremist groups and their enablers.

Congressman Brad Sherman underlined the complexity of dealing with actors linked to terrorism, saying, "You don't make peace with your friends. You make peace with your enemies and the friends of your enemies."

He added that while dialogue is part of diplomacy, outcomes matter. "I'm much more concerned about the content of those talks," he said, stressing the need to ensure that negotiations do not compromise security.

Sherman also pointed to regional risks, noting, "India lives right next to a nuclear armed Pakistan. We certainly don't wanna see a nuclear armed Iran."

Several lawmakers highlighted the role of states and networks that enable terrorism.

In his remarks, Sherman referred to militant groups that "have found sanctuary in Pakistan," urging stronger international action to dismantle such safe havens.

Congressman Bill Huizenga said countries linked to terrorism must face pressure. "We obviously have to... push back... both diplomatically as well as economically," he said.

Congressman Dave Taylor echoed that position, saying state-sponsored terrorism "has to end," and called for greater alignment among allies to address the threat.

Beyond geopolitics, lawmakers described terrorism as a direct assault on civilians.

"Terrorism is all about the destruction of human lives and civilian lives in order to advance some kind of perverse political program," said Congressman Jamie Raskin.

He urged a comprehensive approach, including financial crackdowns. "We need to crack down on terrorist financing," he said.

Congressman Rich McCormick framed the threat in ideological terms, calling it "an evil, religious intolerant, fundamentalist movement."

He said democratic nations must act together, adding, "we have a common enemy" and closer cooperation can "defeat this."

Congressman Ro Khanna emphasised that terrorism is not confined to one region. "Terrorism isn't just contained to one region... it spreads and threatens freedom around the world," he said, calling for stronger intelligence-sharing and defence cooperation.

Congressman Jonathan Jackson warned that rising violence could destabilise multiple regions. "This rising violence is now going to spill over... it's gonna have unintended consequences," he said, urging de-escalation alongside accountability.

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said terrorism seeks to alter societies fundamentally and must be countered collectively.

"The objective was to highlight... the pain and the suffering," he said, adding that countries must "come together... and... act together" to defeat the threat.

Across party lines, lawmakers agreed that the fight against terrorism requires sustained cooperation between democracies, particularly India and the United States, along with broader international engagement.

- IANS
Newly appointed Honorary German Consul in Ahmedabad, Abhay Mangaldas, states his priority is promoting education and skill development to strengthen India-Germany ties. He emphasizes teaching German and providing vocational training to open employment opportunities with German companies. Consul General Christoph Hallier says the appointment marks a new chapter for Germany in Gujarat, aiming to expand cooperation in trade, culture, and business. Both officials highlight the strong, reliable partnership between India and Germany, referencing high-level visits and collaborative agreements.

New Honorary German Consul Abhay Mangaldas prioritizes education, German language training, and vocational skills to strengthen India-Germany relations.

Ahmedabad, April 23 Newly appointed Honorary German Consul in Ahmedabad, Abhay Mangaldas, said his priority will be to promote education and skill development, especially for economically weaker students, to strengthen India-Germany ties.

He said initiatives such as teaching the German language and offering vocational training in collaboration with institutions like the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce can open up employment opportunities with German companies in India and abroad.

Speaking to ANI, Mangaldas said, "This is a great opportunity for us. Our focus is to support economically weaker students by teaching them German, which can open employment opportunities with German companies in India or even in Germany. Learning a language from childhood makes it easier, and combined with vocational training offered by the Indo-German Chamber, it can lead to real career prospects. Beyond trade and business, our priority through the Foundation is education and skill development. To strengthen India-Germany ties, we will bring people together through cultural and delegation exchanges, encouraging dialogue and mutual understanding."

Further, Consul General of Germany in Mumbai, Christoph Hallier, said the appointment of Abhay Mangaldas as Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad is aimed at strengthening ties with Gujarat and further boosting India-Germany relations.

He said the appointment marks the beginning of a "new chapter" for Germany in Gujarat, adding that the Honorary Consul will help expand cooperation in trade, culture, and business between the two sides.

"... Today in Gujarat, Germany begins a new chapter with the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad. I am very pleased with this decision, having only assumed office as Consul General in Mumbai last July with jurisdiction over Gujarat. The installation of an Honorary Consul will serve as a focal point to expand bilateral relations, especially with Gujarat. The Gujarat government has welcomed this move, which will be complemented by the presence of other German institutions such as the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and the Max Muller Bhavan Institute," Hallier said.

He also noted that India and Germany share strong and reliable ties, especially in challenging global times, and continue to work together on key issues, including economic partnerships and regional developments.

"India-Germany relations are at a high point. In turbulent times, both countries see each other as reliable partners, as demonstrated by Prime Minister Modi's warm welcome to Chancellor Merz in Ahmedabad earlier this year. This reflects trust and confidence in close collaboration for mutual benefit. In West Asia, the crisis affects Europe and India alike. Germany and India continue to support each other, including through the EU-India Free Trade Agreement signed in New Delhi in January -- a clear signal of commitment," he said.

- ANI
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskara Rao has passed away at the age of 90 in Hyderabad. Political leaders including Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu, and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy have expressed their condolences. Bhaskara Rao is best known for his brief 31-day tenure as Chief Minister in 1984 following a political coup against NTR. His political career spanned decades, during which he served as an MLA, MP, and held various ministerial portfolios.

Former Andhra Pradesh CM Nadendla Bhaskara Rao passes away at 90. CM Revanth Reddy, YS Jagan, and others pay tribute to the veteran leader.

Hyderabad, April 22 Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, passed away on Wednesday, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy confirmed, expressing deep grief over the veteran leader's demise.

Revanth Reddy paid tribute to Bhaskara Rao's long political career, noting his contribution as an MLA, Minister and Member of Parliament.

"Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed deep sadness over the passing of the former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao. He remembered Rao's long political career as an MLA, Minister, and MP, noting his active role in many public welfare programs," Telangana CMO's statement read.

He also prayed for strength for the family members and peace to the departed soul.

"He prayed to God to give strength to the family members during this sad time and for Bhaskara Rao's soul to rest in peace. The Chief Minister offered his heartfelt sympathies to the grieving family," the statement added.

Taking on X, Reddy wrote, "I express my sorrow over the demise of Nandedla Bhaskar Rao Garu, former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh. Praying to God that his soul attain peace, I convey my deepest condolences to the family members."

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also expressed condolences over the demise of the former CM.

According to an official release, CM spoke to his son and Minister Nadendla Manohar over the phone, offering condolences.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the family members and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

Furthermore, expressing shock over the demise, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy called it a "heartbreaking" loss.

"The demise of former Chief Minister Nandedla Bhaskar Rao garu is heartbreaking. I pray that his soul attains peace and that God grants courage to his family members during this difficult time," Jagan said in a post on X.

In an official condolence message, Jagan described Bhaskara Rao as a leader who "carved a distinguished place in Andhra Pradesh politics" and whose "steadfast commitment to public service and vast political experience remain an ideal for generations." He termed his passing an "irreparable loss to the state" and conveyed his "profound sympathies to the bereaved family, praying that they find the strength to endure this grief."

Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer also expressed "profound grief and sadness" over the death of the former Chief Minister, who served briefly as the 11th Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh in 1984, according to an official statement from Andhra Pradesh Lok Bhavan.

"Governor Sri Abdul Nazeer offered his heartfelt condolences to his son Sri Nadendla Manohar, Minister of Civil Supplies, and family members," the statement further read.

Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, born on June 23, 1935, was an Indian politician who briefly served as the 11th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1984. He passed away earlier today in Hyderabad at the age of 90 due to age-related ailments.

He is best known for his controversial and short-lived tenure as Chief Minister, which followed a political upheaval against then Chief Minister NT Rama Rao (NTR). Bhaskara Rao was a co-founder of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982 along with NTR and was once considered a close associate and mentor figure within the party.

In August 1984, while NTR was in the United States for medical treatment, Bhaskara Rao, with the support of the Congress (I) party, staked a claim to power and became Chief Minister. However, his tenure lasted only 31 days, from August 16 to September 16, 1984, making it the shortest in the history of Andhra Pradesh. He was subsequently removed following the large-scale "Save Democracy" movement led by NTR, who returned to power with massive public support.

Over the course of his political career, Bhaskara Rao also held several ministerial portfolios, including Finance, under leaders such as NTR and Marri Chenna Reddy. Later, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Khammam constituency in 1998 on a Congress ticket. In 2019, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

His family has also remained active in politics. His son, Nadendla Manohar, is a prominent political figure and currently serves as the Civil Supplies Minister in the Andhra Pradesh government, as well as a leader in the Jana Sena Party.

- ANI
Nail art has become a key form of self-expression for Gen Z, moving beyond beauty into identity and confidence. The trend is creating career paths, with entrepreneurs like Rajshree Maurya building thriving businesses and training institutes like Nail Rituals teaching skills. Industry estimates project India's salon industry to reach 2.14 lakh crore by 2033, with nail art playing a major role. Social media has accelerated the trend, making nail art a mainstream part of personal style and a viable career option.

Nail art is more than a trend for Gen Zit's self-expression, therapy, and a booming career. Discover how passion turns into profit in India's growing nail industry.

New Delhi, April 23 Today's Gen Z doesn't just follow fashion--they define their own style. And now, that sense of individuality has moved beyond outfits to something as small yet expressive as nails. Nail art has emerged as a powerful form of self-expression, confidence, and creativity.

What's more, this growing trend is no longer limited to beauty--it is opening up new avenues for careers and business opportunities.

From glossy finishes and chrome shine to soft nude tones and bold 3D designs, nails today do more than just look pretty--they make a statement. Nail art is no longer just part of a beauty routine; it has become an extension of one's personality. For Gen Z, it serves as a miniature canvas that reflects their mood, style, and identity.

Mumbai-based nail art entrepreneur Rajshree Maurya has turned this passion into a thriving profession. She says, "Nail art is very much in trend these days. It is not limited to Gen Z--it attracts people of all age groups, whether they were born in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s. We see all kinds of clients here. Nail art enhances beauty and adds to one's personality."

With a team of over 40 people, her salon offers more than just services--it creates an experience centred around confidence, creativity, and individuality. Her journey highlights how a small passion can evolve into a successful business.

What was once considered a luxury has now become part of everyday style. For the younger generation, nail art is not just grooming--it is identity.

Nail enthusiast Jeevika shares, "It lasts for about 20-25 days, so I only need to visit the salon once or twice a month. It's not very expensive--quite manageable. I like white shades because they look classy, but I also enjoy glitter, stones, and ombre designs sometimes."

For Janani, nail art is more than aesthetics--it's emotional. She says, "Honestly, nail art feels like therapy for me. I go twice a month. Sometimes I skip it, but whenever I get it done, my mood improves completely."

However, not every experience is seamless. Content creator Ghazal Gupta points out, "I love getting my nails done--it makes you feel beautiful, like the finishing touch to your outfit. But sitting in a salon for 2-3 hours is something I don't enjoy. Sometimes I don't like the results, and sometimes it can be painful. That's why I prefer press-on nails--you can apply them anytime, anywhere, even in a car or on a flight."

As the trend grows, so does the ecosystem around it. Training institutes and academies are playing a key role in shaping this industry. Megha Munjal, founder of Nail Rituals, explains, "When a new student joins, we first teach hygiene--keeping the workstation clean. Then we move on to nail cleaning, preparation, and cuticle care. After that, students get opportunities for exams and internships."

Students begin with the basics and gradually move on to advanced techniques like gel extensions, acrylics, and detailed nail art. For many, it's not just a course--it's the start of a career.

Fatima Zareen, a student entering the field, says, "There are many nail salons today, but people prefer home services more. After completing the course, I decided to go for freelancing because there's a gap in my city. It will give my career a good boost."

Kunal, another student, challenges the stereotype that nail art is only for women. He shares, "Initially, I thought it was just for girls. But once I started, I developed a real interest, especially in nail and brush art."

According to industry estimates, India's salon industry is expected to reach around 2.14 lakh crore by 2033, with services like nail art and gel extensions playing a major role in this growth. Social media has further accelerated this trend, with viral reels and influencer content bringing nail art into the mainstream.

Shubham Singhal, co-founder of Nailinit, notes, "There are around 20,000 nail salons and nearly 100,000 female freelance nail artists in India. It has become a large gig-based ecosystem. With the growth of the beauty industry, it is empowering many people. Today, women want to become entrepreneurs, and nail art is a skill that can lead to a stable business and good income."

Clearly, nail art is no longer just a style statement--it is an emerging industry where creativity meets opportunity.

For Gen Z, it's not just about looking good--it's about creating, earning, and building an identity of their own.

- ANI
International gold on COMEX up 1.13% to $4,773.21 per ounce

Silver surges over 2% to Rs 2,50,698 per kg on MCX

Gold and silver rise up to 2% on US-Iran ceasefire extension

Gold and silver prices rose up to 2% on Wednesday following an extension of the ceasefire between the US and Iran. On MCX, gold contracts for June 5 hit an intra-day high of Rs 1,53,699 per 10 grams, while silver surged to Rs 2,50,698 per kg. International markets also saw gains, with COMEX gold up 1.13% and silver gaining 1.97%. Market experts noted that despite the rise, both metals remain range-bound with a cautious bias.

Gold and silver prices rose up to 2% on Wednesday after the US-Iran ceasefire extension. MCX gold hit Rs 1,53,699 per 10 grams, while silver surged to Rs 2,50,698 per kg.

Mumbai, April 22 Gold and silver prices showed positive momentum on Wednesday over an extension of the ceasefire between the US and Iran, with both precious metals rising up to 2 per cent.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold contracts for June 5 hit an intra-day high of Rs 1,53,699 per 10 grams, up 1.33 per cent or Rs 2,028. During the session, gold touched a low of Rs 1,53,052 and was last trading at Rs 1,53,593, up Rs 1,922 or 1.27 per cent.

Silver contracts for May 5 rose over 2 per cent, or about Rs 6,000, to Rs 2,50,698 per kg. The metal hit an intraday low of Rs 2,48,388.

In international markets, both metals were trading higher. Gold on COMEX was up 1.13 per cent at $4,773.21 per ounce, while silver gained 1.97 per cent to $77.99 per ounce.

Market experts said that despite the recent gains, both metals remain range-bound with a cautious bias.

On MCX, gold was holding above Rs 1,53,000 with emerging buying interest at lower levels, but continued to trade within a consolidation phase. A sustained move above Rs 1,55,000 could push prices towards Rs 1,57,000-1,58,000, while a break below Rs 1,52,000 may trigger a correction towards Rs 1,50,000-1,48,000 levels.

Silver was trading in the Rs 2,48,000-2,50,000 range, with resistance seen at Rs 2,53,000-2,55,000. A breakout above these levels could extend gains towards Rs 2,60,000-2,62,000, while a drop below Rs 2,45,000 may lead to further downside towards Rs 2,43,000-2,40,000.

The rise in gold and silver prices was attributed to increasing global uncertainty.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for the ceasefire between the US and Iran, although the duration and terms of the extension remain unclear.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir reportedly urged him to halt attacks on Iran for a longer period to allow more time for peace talks.

- IANS
The first look at Manoj Bajpayee's upcoming film "Governor: The Silent Saviour" was unveiled on the actor's birthday. The posters suggest a high-stakes narrative centered on national responsibility and a potential financial crisis. The film is directed by Chinmay Mandlekar and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah's Sunshine Pictures. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 12.

First posters for Manoj Bajpayee's film 'Governor: The Silent Saviour' unveiled on his birthday. High-stakes story set for June 12 release.

Mumbai, April 23 As Manoj Bajpayee celebrates his birthday today, the makers of the actor's upcoming film 'Governor: The Silent Saviour' unveiled the first posters of the project and announced the date for its theatrical release.

The film marks the first collaboration between actor Manoj Bajpayee and filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah.

The posters unveiled on the Instagram account on Thursday unveiled posters giving fans a first look at the film's story. One poster shows Manoj Bajpayee from the back, walking through a corridor while carrying a suitcase. It carries the tagline, "If I fail... India fails," hinting at a high-stakes story.

Another poster features a green chair with the lines, "India is on the verge of bankruptcy" and "Yeh sirf kursi nahi... zimmedaari hai," suggesting a story linked to power, responsibility and the nation's future.

The film is directed by Chinmay Mandlekar and backed by Sunshine Pictures. It is produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and co-produced by Aashin A Shah.

The screenplay has been written by Suvendu Bhattacharyjee, Saurabh Bharat, Ravi Asrani and Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The music for the film has been composed by Amit Trivedi, while the lyrics are written by Javed Akhtar.

Governor is set to release on June 12 later this year.

Meanwhile, Bajpayee was last seen in 'The Family Man Season 3.' Directed by Raj and DK, the show follows Srikant Tiwari, who finds himself in a difficult situation as he becomes the nation's "most wanted man."

- ANI
GRAM-2026 to be held in Jaipur from May 23-25

The Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet-2026 (GRAM-2026) will be held in Jaipur from May 23-25, aiming to promote technology-driven farming. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced this during an investor meet in New Delhi, noting MoUs worth Rs 44,000 crore signed in agriculture. He highlighted Rajasthan's leading production of crops like bajra and mustard, and initiatives like solar pumps and spice parks. Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary praised the state's efforts, while Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena said GRAM events will expand to other cities.

Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet 2026 in Jaipur May 23-25. CM Sharma invites investors, highlights Rs 44,000 crore MoUs, solar pumps, and spice parks.

Jaipur, April 23 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Thursday that the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet-2026 will be held in Jaipur from May 23-25.

The event aims to bring together farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, and investors on a common platform to promote technology-driven farming and strengthen the agricultural ecosystem.

Addressing the GRAM-2026 Investor Meet in New Delhi, the Chief Minister noted the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Empowered Farmer, Prosperous India".

He invited investors and entrepreneurs to actively participate in the upcoming summit.

Chief Minister Sharma highlighted that GRAM-related activities are being conducted at multiple administrative levels, from Girdawar circles to districts, to ensure maximum farmer participation.

He noted that Rajasthan is a leading agricultural state, ranking first in the production of bajra, mustard, oilseeds, barley, guar, isabgol, and cumin.

This diversity, he said, offers vast opportunities in food processing, spice parks, and agri-exports.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government's commitment to creating an investor-friendly environment.

He said that MoUs worth Rs 44,000 crore were signed in the agriculture sector during the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, with more than Rs 9,000 crore already materialised.

GRAM-2026 will further accelerate this momentum, the Chief Minister added.

He also said that Jhalawar and Tonk are being developed as model districts for pulse production, while the Central government will support farmers with subsidies for distributing more than 3 lakh quintals of seeds.

Chief Minister Sharma said Rajasthan has significant potential in solar energy.

Over the past two years, the state government has released grants exceeding Rs 1,000 crore for installing more than 65,000 solar pump systems, reducing power costs and boosting productivity.

He added that the state is focusing on strengthening agri-infrastructure, including processing units, warehouses, dairy, fisheries, and animal husbandry facilities.

More than 1,500 agro-processing units have already been established, and land has been identified for new food parks.

The Chief Minister also highlighted initiatives such as the 'Spices Cell', the Rajasthan Spice Conclave, and the 'RajSpice' mobile application.

He said the state has increased assistance under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to Rs 9,000.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Rajasthan has issued a record 21.9 million policies and disbursed claims exceeding Rs 6,500 crore.

Additional measures include a Rs 150 per quintal bonus on wheat procurement, daytime electricity supply in 24 districts, interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh for livestock owners, and insurance coverage for more than 20 lakh animals under state schemes.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary said agricultural growth is central to national development and praised Rajasthan's efforts to adopt advanced technologies.

Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena added that GRAM events will also be held in cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Pune to expand outreach.

A short film on GRAM-2026 was screened during the event, which was attended by senior officials, industry leaders, and stakeholders from across the agriculture sector.

- IANS
Voting is underway for the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district, with over 2.45 lakh registered voters eligible to cast their ballots across 306 polling stations. Extensive security arrangements include 500 police personnel and three CRPF companies, while special facilities like wheelchairs and dedicated vehicles assist senior citizens and voters with disabilities. The by-election was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar. Polling is being monitored via webcasting at all stations, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.

Voting for Gujarat's Umreth Assembly by-election is underway with 2.45 lakh voters, strong security, and special facilities for seniors and disabled.

Anand, April 23 Polling is underway for the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district, with voters turning out across urban and rural polling stations since 7 a.m. on Thursday amid tight administrative and security arrangements.

The by-election covers the Umreth constituency, where a total of 2,45,623 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 306 polling stations set up by the district election machinery.

Of these, 68 polling stations are in urban areas and 238 in rural locations, spanning 46 villages of Umreth taluka and the surrounding Anand rural region, along with the municipalities of Ode, Umreth and Boriavi.

Voting is being conducted between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., as scheduled by the Election Commission of India. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Six candidates are contesting the seat. Officials said special arrangements have been made to facilitate inclusive participation, including 4,174 first-time voters aged 18-19 years and 1,556 voters aged above 85 years.

In addition, 1,546 voters with disabilities are registered in the constituency. According to election officials, 88 senior citizens above 85 years of age and 13 voters with disabilities have already exercised their franchise through home voting arrangements.

To ensure smooth conduct of polling, around 1,348 polling personnel, supported by 22 micro observers and 19 district-level nodal officers, have been deployed, taking the total field workforce to nearly 1,500 officials.

All staff members were trained in multiple phases prior to polling day.

Security arrangements have been strengthened across the constituency, with deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four Police Inspectors, around 500 police and home guard personnel, and three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful voting environment.

Special facilities have been put in place to improve accessibility for voters, including 218 wheelchairs, assistance from 361 volunteers, and six dedicated vehicles for senior citizens above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities to reach polling stations.

Voter assistance booths have also been set up at all centres to help citizens with information and support services.

Election authorities have confirmed that voters may use any one of 12 approved identity documents, including Aadhaar card, driving licence, passport, PAN card, MGNREGA job card, pension documents with photographs, and other government-issued identity proofs, in addition to voter ID cards.

Non-resident Indian electors are required to produce their original passports for identification at polling stations.

In a parallel arrangement ahead of polling day, 212 officials and staff engaged in election duty cast their votes through postal ballot at a designated centre between April 15 and 17.

The district administration has also made medical arrangements, signing agreements with multiple hospitals in Anand and Karamsad to provide cashless emergency treatment to election personnel.

Oral rehydration solution packets have been distributed at polling stations as a precaution against heat-related health issues.

Officials said that the polling process is being monitored through webcasting at all stations to ensure transparency and real-time oversight throughout the day.

The Umreth Assembly constituency fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA Govind Parmar, a two-term legislator of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who died last month after a brief illness, leading to the Election Commission announcing a by-election for the seat.

- IANS
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel marked one year since the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, by paying tribute to the victims. The brutal assault in the Baisaran Valley killed at least 26 people, primarily tourists, and was carried out by militants linked to Pakistan-based groups. Patel reiterated India's unwavering policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and commitment to its complete eradication. Security forces later neutralized the three attackers involved in the massacre through sustained intelligence-led operations.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel pays tribute to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, marking one year and reaffirming India's zero-tolerance policy.

Gandhinagar, April 22 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday marked one year since the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, paying tribute to those killed in the incident and reiterating India's stated policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms.

In a post on X, Patel said: "One year has been completed today since that brutal terrorist incident in Pahalgam, and the memory of that cowardly attack continues to cause deep pain and anguish. Heartfelt tributes to the innocent citizens who lost their lives in that attack. The nation stands firmly with their families and loved ones with deep condolences and solidarity."

The attack had taken place on April 22 last year in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, where a group of heavily armed militants opened indiscriminate fire on a group of tourists in a meadow area that is accessible only by foot or on horseback.

The assailants, who were equipped with automatic weapons and were dressed in military-style clothing, had specifically targeted civilians, killing at least 26 people, most of them tourists, and injuring several others in the brutal assault.

Subsequent investigations and intelligence-based assessments had indicated that the attack was carried out by militants linked to Pakistan-based groups, and the incident drew widespread condemnation both within the country as well as from the international community.

The incident had also prompted a large-scale and multi-layered security response, including intensified counter-terror operations, combing exercises, and heightened deployment of security forces across the south Kashmir region.

CM Patel said that India remains firm and unwavering in its approach to combating terrorism and ensuring national security.

"India will never accept terrorism in any form. With a policy of 'zero tolerance', we are firmly committed to the complete eradication of terror and terrorists. All 140 crore Indians stand united with full strength and collective resolve in this fight against terrorism," he said.

Following the attack, Indian armed forces had launched a series of retaliatory and counter-terror measures, including operations such as Operation Sindoor, which were aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure, safe havens, and support networks operating in the region.

Security agencies had identified those involved in the Pahalgam killings, and a sustained and coordinated manhunt operation was carried out across multiple locations in the region over an extended period of time.

The three attackers linked to the Baisaran massacre were subsequently neutralised by security forces in separate operations, following sustained intelligence-led efforts to track, locate, and eliminate them.

The anniversary of the attack has been marked by tributes from political leaders across the country, alongside a renewed emphasis on vigilance, preparedness, and counter-terror measures in Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces continue to remain on heightened alert to prevent any such incidents.

- IANS
Over 2.45 lakh voters are set to cast their ballots in the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district on Thursday. The constituency, covering 46 villages and three municipalities, has 306 polling stations with special arrangements for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The election is being conducted under the supervision of Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Sagale, with nearly 1,500 personnel deployed. Six candidates are contesting the seat, with vote counting scheduled for May 2.

Over 2.45 lakh electors to vote in Gujarat's Umreth Assembly by-poll on Thursday. Polling from 7 AM to 6 PM with extensive arrangements for accessibility and security.

Anand, April 22 More than 2.45 lakh voters will cast their ballots in the Umreth Assembly by-election on Thursday, with authorities in Anand district completing all arrangements for polling under extensive administrative, logistical, and security planning across the constituency.

Polling will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., in accordance with the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, while counting of votes is scheduled to be taken up on May 2 as per the notified election programme.

Officials said that the election preparations have been carried out under the overall guidance and supervision of Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Sagale, with District Election Officer and Collector Pravin Chaudhary leading the district-level team and coordinating arrangements on the ground.

The constituency comprises 46 villages from Umreth taluka and adjoining rural areas of Anand district, along with the municipalities of Ode, Umreth, and Boriavi, covering both urban and rural segments.

A total of six candidates are contesting the seat in the by-election. The total electorate stands at 2,45,623, comprising 1,26,545 male voters, 1,19,072 female voters, and six voters categorised under others.

Among the electorate, 4,174 are first-time voters in the 18-19 age group. In addition, 1,556 voters aged above 85 years and 1,546 persons with disabilities are registered to cast their votes in the by-election.

Officials confirmed that 88 voters aged above 85 years and 13 persons with disabilities have already exercised their franchise from home under the facility provided by the Election Commission.

A total of 306 polling stations have been set up across the constituency, including 68 in urban areas and 238 in rural areas, with webcasting facilities arranged at polling locations to monitor proceedings and ensure transparency.

Of these, one polling station will be managed entirely by persons with disabilities, two polling stations will be managed by youth, and two polling stations will be managed by women, while five model polling stations have also been prepared with enhanced facilities.

Nearly 1,500 personnel have been deployed for the election process, including 1,348 polling staff, 22 micro-observers, and 19 district-level nodal officers assigned specific responsibilities.

All polling personnel have undergone training in three phases to ensure smooth conduct of polling. To facilitate accessibility, 218 wheelchairs will be available at polling stations, and 361 volunteers have been deployed to assist voters, particularly senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Six vehicles have been reserved to provide free transport for voters aged above 85 years and persons with disabilities. Voter Assistance Booths have also been set up to provide information and facilitate voters, including arrangements for the safekeeping of mobile phones outside polling premises.

Officials said that electors can cast their vote using the voter identity card or any one of 12 alternative documents approved by the Election Commission, including Aadhaar card, job card issued under MGNREGA, bank or post office passbook with photograph, health insurance smart card issued under government schemes, driving licence, PAN card, NPR smart card, Indian passport, pension documents with photograph, official service identity cards, identity cards issued to elected representatives, and the Unique Disability ID card.

Non-resident Indian (NRI) voters registered in the constituency must present their original passport at the polling station to exercise their franchise.

Postal ballot voting has already been conducted for around 212 officials and staff engaged in election duty between April 15 and April 17 at Ode Arts and Commerce College.

On the first day of postal voting, 41 personnel, including 11 women and 30 men, cast their votes through postal ballot as part of the process.

Health arrangements have been put in place for polling staff in line with Election Commission guidelines, with authorities ensuring readiness to address any medical contingencies during polling hours.

Authorities have ensured access to immediate and cashless medical treatment through tie-ups with Community Health Centre Umreth, General Hospital Anand, General Hospital Bhalej, and for specialised cardiac care with Zydus Hospital Anand and Shree Krishna Hospital in Karamsad.

ORS packets will be made available at all polling stations to address heat-related issues and ensure voter comfort during the polling process.

Security arrangements have been made to ensure a free and fair election. Under the supervision of District Superintendent of Police Gaurav Jasani, two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs), four Police Inspectors, and around 500 police and home guard personnel will be deployed, along with three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Officials said: "All arrangements have been put in place to ensure that polling is conducted smoothly, safely, and in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission."

They added that facilities for elderly voters and persons with disabilities have been prioritised "to enable them to participate in the electoral process without any difficulty or inconvenience."

A public holiday has been declared on April 23 in the constituency to facilitate maximum voter participation in the by-election.

- IANS
The Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district recorded 54.43% voter turnout by 5 p.m. amid high temperatures. Voting took place across 306 polling stations with 2,45,623 eligible voters. Extensive security arrangements including CRPF personnel were deployed to ensure peaceful voting. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat records 54.43% voter turnout by 5 p.m. amid high temperatures. Voting held across 306 polling stations with 2.45 lakh eligible voters.

Anand, April 23 Polling in the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district continued under high temperatures on Thursday, with voter turnout reaching 54.43 per cent by 5 p.m., according to the Election Commission of India.

Voting commenced at 7 a.m. across 306 polling stations set up in the constituency, which spans 46 villages in Umreth taluka and parts of the Anand rural area, along with the municipalities of Ode, Umreth and Boriavi.

A total of 2,45,623 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the election, where six candidates are contesting.

Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Election officials said the process has been conducted under extensive administrative and security arrangements, with around 1,348 polling personnel deployed, supported by 22 micro observers and 19 district-level nodal officers, taking the total workforce to nearly 1,500.

Security deployment includes two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four Police Inspectors, around 500 police and home guard personnel, along with three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to ensure a peaceful voting environment.

The electorate includes 4,174 first-time voters aged between 18 and 19 years, 1,556 voters above 85 years of age and 1,546 persons with disabilities.

Special arrangements have been made to facilitate participation, including 218 wheelchairs, 361 volunteers and six vehicles for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Some voters from these categories had already cast their votes through home voting arrangements conducted prior to polling day.

Officials said measures were in place to address heat conditions, including the provision of drinking water, Oral Rehydration Solution packets and shaded waiting areas at polling stations.

Voters are permitted to use any one of 12 documents approved by the Election Commission for identification, including Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence and voter identity card, while non-resident Indian electors are required to present their original passport at polling stations.

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Harshad Parmar said that this is a festival of democracy. He added that he visited every village, town and city to spread the message and received immense support from the people, and that it is because of everyone's blessings and collective efforts during the campaign.

He said they are confident of winning.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid solemn tributes to the 26 innocent civilians massacred by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in Pahalgam one year ago. In response to the attack, India launched 'Operation Sindoor,' conducting precision strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan without crossing the border. Subsequently, 'Operation Mahadev' successfully hunted down and eliminated all three terrorists responsible for the horrific killings. While justice was served, the profound scars on the survivors and the nation's resolve against terrorism remain.

PM Modi honors Pahalgam attack victims, vows terrorism will never succeed. Details on Indian retaliation through Operations Sindoor & Mahadev.

Srinagar, April 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stated that the country will always remember the sacrifices of the innocent civilians who were brutally murdered by terrorists in Pahalgam last year, and he pledged that India will never submit to any form of terrorism.

PM Modi paid tributes to the 26 people killed by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, "Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year. They will never be forgotten. My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss. As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to any form of terror. The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed."

On April 22, 2025, tourists started their day at the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam with families, including children. As the innocent tourists were moving around in the vast meadow, the rattle of automatic gunfire initially seemed like the bursting of firecrackers, but the reality of the impending tragedy soon dawned on the meadow.

LeT terrorists lined up tourists and shot them in cold blood. They left a woman alive as they shot her husband before her eyes. The terrorists, as per later reports, wanted the widow to narrate the horror to the nation.

A local pony wallah tried to argue with the terrorists, pleaded that Islam does not permit the massacre of unarmed civilians. But he was also killed. The aim of the terrorists was only to spread terror, and their masters had ordered them to kill innocents.

Taking the Army, police or the security forces head-on was neither in the courage of the killers nor their masters. The killers were identified through eyewitness accounts, human and technical intelligence, etc.

The attack shocked not just India but the whole world, which expressed grief. PM Modi gave a free hand to the armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam killings. 'Operation Sindoor' was launched, and without crossing the border, Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes at terror infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur and in Muzaffarabad of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

No Pakistani defence facility was targeted in those strikes. Pakistan escalated the tension by targeting army facilities, the civilian population and infrastructure.

In the Poonch district of J&K, 14 civilians, including a senior civil servant, were killed in Pakistan border shelling. India retaliated by damaging 18 defence facilities deep inside Pakistan.

The perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack were hunted down by the Army, J&K Police and the security forces during 'Operation Mahadev'. Launched on the foot of the Mahadev peak in Dachigam National Park on the outskirts of Srinagar city, in the joint 'Operation Mahadev' by the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police, all three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack -- Suleman alias Faizal Jatt, Hamza Afghani, and Zibran -- were killed.

The massacre of innocent civilians was avenged, but the scars left behind in the minds and souls of the survivors can never be fully healed.

- IANS
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale defended Hindu philosophy against claims of supremacism during a speech in Washington DC. He asserted that Hindus have historically never invaded or enslaved other nations and have nothing to apologise for. Hosabale also emphasised the need for stronger India-US relations based on mutual trust and people-to-people ties. He highlighted that modernisation and cultural values can coexist, with Sanatan traditions being timeless yet ever-growing.

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale says Hindus are not supremacist, have nothing to apologise for, and calls for stronger India-US ties.

Washington DC, April 24 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Thursday defended Hindu philosophy and culture against claims of supremacism, saying that Hindus have historically never invaded or enslaved other nations and have nothing to apologise for.

When asked how he would respond to claims that the RSS is a Hindu supremacist organisation, Hosabale said at the Hudson Institute, "Hindu philosophy and culture are not always supremacist... We see the oneness in everybody, be it a living or a non-living thing. When that is the basic philosophy of Hindus, the supremacist nature of Hindus cannot be there. In history, Hindus have never invaded any country or ensalved any people. Hindus have nothing to apologise for."

Further, Hosabale emphasised the need for stronger India-US relations, highlighting that mutual trust, a level playing field, and enhanced people-to-people ties are key to realising India's full potential.

"If America is also looking for a strategic partnership with India... A better relationship and partnership are called for. It can be done by mutual trust and a level playing field... People-to-people relations should be strengthened," he said.

He said that modernisation and cultural values can coexist, adding that Sanatan traditions are timeless and continue to grow while preserving their ancient essence.

"... Modernisation and cultural values can exist simultaneously... Simultaneous existence of culture and modernity has been experienced in recent decades, particularly in oriental societies... I don't think the cultural values and modernisation pull in an opposition direction... Sanatan means eternity. It is ever-growing, but at the same time the ancient one," he said.

"RSS is a people's voluntary movement inspired by cultural ethos and civilisation values of the ancient society of India, which is generally known as Hindu culture... To create volunteers with character, self-confidence, a sense of service to the community and for organising the society, the RSS organises daily assemblies and weekly assemblies for 1 hour. Through these 1 hour gathering, we inculcate values of life... To create human social capital for the purpose of society's betterment and the nation's oneness... RSS renders services like relief activities during natural calamities... RSS volunteers have created civic institutions numbering nearly 40," he said.

- ANI
Hindustan Power has secured a 100 MW AC solar power project from Punjab State Power Corporation Limited through competitive bidding. The company will sign a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with PSPCL, ensuring long-term revenue stability. The project, expected to be commissioned within 24 months, will expand Hindustan Power's renewable energy portfolio in Punjab. Chairman Ratul Puri emphasized the company's focus on pricing discipline and execution capability in competitive bids.

Hindustan Power secures 100 MW AC solar project from Punjab State Power Corporation, with a 25-year PPA. Project to be commissioned within 24 months.

New Delhi, April 23 Hindustan Power has secured a 100 MW AC solar power project from Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, which will be developed in Punjab, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

The project, which translates to approximately 140-150 MWp of solar capacity, was awarded through a tariff-based competitive bidding process, followed by a successful e-reverse auction conducted on the ETS portal.

Under the agreement, Hindustan Power will enter into a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with PSPCL, providing long-term revenue visibility while contributing to clean energy supply in the state. The project is expected to be commissioned within 24 months from the effective date of the PPA.

The company said the addition of this project will further expand its renewable energy portfolio and strengthen its presence in Punjab, which remains an important market with steady demand for reliable and clean power.

Commenting on the development, Ratul Puri, Chairman of Hindustan Power, said the project aligns with the company's strategy of participating in competitive bids with a focus on pricing discipline and execution capability.

"This project reflects our continued focus on participating in competitive bids where we see a clear alignment between pricing discipline and execution capability. It allows us to add high-quality assets to our portfolio while maintaining our approach to long-term value creation," he said.

He added that the project would help the company contribute to Punjab's energy mix while strengthening its operational footprint in the region.

"The long-term PPA provides a stable foundation for investment and enables us to plan execution with greater certainty. Our priority will be to deliver the project on schedule and ensure consistent performance over its lifecycle," he said.

Hindustan Power said it continues to build a diversified pipeline of renewable energy projects, with a focus on disciplined growth and execution. The company is also looking to identify opportunities that offer long-term stability while supporting the transition towards cleaner energy sources in India.

- ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend and felicitate BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa at a major event marking 50 years in public life. The event will be held in Chitradurga on May 9, with a grand reception planned for May 8. Govind Karjol announced the event, highlighting Yediyurappa's work for farmers and social justice. Over 10 lakh people are expected to attend, with BJP leaders and dignitaries from across Karnataka participating.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will honour BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa at a major event marking 50 years in public life, held in Chitradurga on May 9.

Bengaluru, April 23 Former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol on Thursday announced that a major event is being organised to celebrate the completion of five decades in public life by BJP Central Parliamentary Committee member and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. He also announced that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the event and felicitate Yediyurappa on the occasion.

Speaking at a press conference held at the BJP state office, "Jagannath Bhavan", in Bengaluru, Karjol stated that the event will be held in Chitradurga on May 9. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the programme and felicitate Yediyurappa, he said.

On May 8, a day before the main event, a grand reception for Yediyurappa has been planned at 6 p.m. More than 10 lakh people are expected to attend the felicitation programme, and teams have been formed to ensure smooth organisation.

He said that former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has dedicated 50 years to public life in the state. He has fought for farmers, ensured justice for the poor and marginalised, and worked for social justice. In recognition of his life and service to society, it has been decided to organise a felicitation programme.

Heads of mutts, former chief ministers, ministers, and other dignitaries from across the state are being invited. Writers, associates, artists, and people from various sections of society who know Yediyurappa will participate. Members of the public, including farmers, are also expected to attend, he added.

Responding to a question, Karjol said Chitradurga was chosen as the venue as it is centrally located in Karnataka.

He described Yediyurappa as a mass leader who built and strengthened the BJP in the state. Referring to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he said that unlike others who rely on support from others, Yediyurappa built the party through his own efforts, adding that the event is a people's celebration.

He said: "The groundbreaking ceremony for the venue of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's felicitation event will be held on April 26 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will mark the beginning of arrangements such as setting up the stage, pandal, and other infrastructure for the programme."

He said BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra has been invited to the ceremony. MPs, former MPs, MLAs, former MLAs, Members of the Legislative Council, and Opposition leaders R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, among other dignitaries, are expected to participate.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra said preparations are underway to celebrate Yediyurappa's 50-year political journey in a grand and meaningful manner. He said people from all sections of society appreciate Yediyurappa's contributions to the state.

He added that supporters from across the state are expected to attend in large numbers, making it a historic event. The programme is being organised with the participation of several prominent leaders, including Prabhakar Kore, Govind Karjol, and B. Sriramulu. The event logo was also released on the occasion.

BJP Yuva Morcha State General Secretary and MLA Harish Poonja, former MLA Anil Benake, State Secretary Sharanu Tallikeri, and former MLC Arun Shahapur were also present at the press conference.

- IANS
Banks must adopt zero tolerance, use tools like Mule Hunter, and blacklist complicit staff

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.S. Sajjanar has called on banks to prioritize preventing cyber fraud by ensuring zero mule accounts. He introduced a twin-challenge framework that replaces account-opening targets with Key Performance Indicators focused on citizen safety and institutional integrity. The directive follows Operation Octopus, which exposed bank officials' complicity in opening mule accounts for cyber fraud networks. Banks must adopt zero tolerance, use advanced detection tools, and blacklist any employee found complicit with cyber criminals.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.S. Sajjanar urges banks to prioritize citizen safety over account targets, introducing twin-challenge KPIs to prevent cyber fraud.

Hyderabad, April 23 Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. S. Sajjanar on Thursday asked the banks to focus on preventing cyber frauds by ensuring zero mule accounts.

The Hyderabad police chief recommended the introduction of a twin-challenge framework to reorient bank branch priorities away from account-opening targets and towards citizen safety and institutional integrity.

He strongly advocated that both these challenges should be embedded as formal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the branch level, with branches achieving compliance to be formally recognised and rewarded by higher officials of the bank.

The Police Commissioner held a conclave of senior bank officials to address bank account misuse and strengthen cyber fraud prevention.

The conclave was held in the wake of Operation Octopus -- the Hyderabad City Police's coordinated two-phase initiative to dismantle organised cyber fraud networks -- and the subsequent arrest of bank officials found potentially complicit in the opening of mule accounts.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Commissioner, was co-attended by Additional Commissioner of Police, Crimes & SIT, M. Srinivasulu, and Reserve Bank of India's Regional Director Chinmoy Kumar.

The coordination meeting was attended by 75 representatives from 45 public and private sector banks.

The Commissioner said that no customer should fall victim to cybercrime. Zero cybercrime victims is the measurable target - to be monitored via NCRP complaint data linked to the branch.

"No mule account should be opened at the branch. Strict KYC compliance, enhanced due diligence, and real-time monitoring are the operational requirements underlying this target," he said.

The Commissioner emphasised that bank managements must not treat the volume of account openings as a performance metric. Branches that prioritise targets over diligence are the primary entry points for fraud networks. Safe customer and zero mule account outcomes - not account volumes - must define branch performance, he added.

He told the banks that they must adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards cybercrime at every level of the organisation - from frontline staff to senior management.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for branches must incorporate monitoring of NCRP complaints attributed to the branch, with proactive remediation expected, he said.

Bank staff must demonstrate empathy and offer prompt, structured support to customers who have fallen victim to cyber fraud - including guiding victims to the national helpline (1930) and the cybercrime portal (cybercrime.gov.in).

Strict disciplinary action must be taken against KYC verifiers found to be involved in fraudulent account openings, accompanied by periodic forensic audits of accounts opened by flagged officials. Any employee found complicit with cyber criminals should be blacklisted across the banking and financial services ecosystem.

Advanced technological tools - including solutions such as Mule Hunter - must be adopted to detect and prevent mule account activity in real time.

Sajjanar said customers seeking to prematurely close Fixed Deposits must be proactively cautioned and verified, particularly where fund transfers are involved, to intercept cyber fraud in progress.

The Commissioner provided a detailed briefing on the operating methods of cyber fraud syndicates currently active across India. These networks are primarily headquartered in countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, and the UAE, and engage intermediaries within India to procure bank accounts by colluding with bank officials - particularly KYC verifiers - to facilitate the siphoning of funds from Indian victims.

The briefing underscored the transnational and organised nature of these networks, and the critical role that insider banking complicity plays in enabling them.

- IANS
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar convened a high-level meeting with 75 representatives from 45 banks to address cyber fraud and mule accounts under Operation Octopus. He proposed a twin-challenge framework making zero cybercrime victims and zero mule accounts formal branch-level KPIs. The Commissioner emphasized that account-opening targets must not overshadow citizen safety, and urged strict disciplinary action against complicit bank officials. The briefing revealed transnational cyber syndicates operating from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Dubai, highlighting the need for insider banking complicity to be dismantled.

Hyderabad Police chief VC Sajjanar holds banking conclave on Operation Octopus, urging KPIs focused on zero mule accounts and cybercrime victims.

Hyderabad, April 23 The Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City Police, convened a pan-sector banking conclave to address bank account misuse and strengthen cyber fraud prevention on Thursday. According to a release, in the wake of Operation Octopus, the Hyderabad City Police's coordinated two-phase initiative to dismantle organised cyber fraud networks, and the subsequent arrest of bank officials found potentially complicit in the opening of mule accounts, the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, VC Sajjanar, IPS, convened a high-level coordination meeting with senior representatives of the banking sector on April 23.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Commissioner, was co-attended by M Srinivasulu, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes & SIT), and Chinmoy Kumar, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India. The operation was conducted under the guidance of V Aravind Babu, DCP (Cyber Crimes), and RG Siva Maruthi, ACP (Cyber Crimes).

The coordination meeting was attended by 75 representatives from 45 public and private sector banks. Participants included: Regional Managers, Zonal Managers, General Managers, Deputy General Managers, and Nodal Officers

The Commissioner recommended the introduction of a twin-challenge framework to reorient bank branch priorities away from account-opening targets and towards citizen safety and institutional integrity. He strongly advocated that both these challenges should be embedded as formal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the branch level, with branches achieving compliance to be formally recognised and rewarded by higher officials of the Bank, the release said.

No customer of the branch should fall victim to cybercrime. Zero cybercrime victims is the measurable target -- to be monitored via NCRP complaint data linked to the branch. No mule account should be opened at the branch. Strict KYC compliance, enhanced due diligence, and real-time monitoring are the operational requirements underlying this target, the Commissioner said, as per the release.

VC Sajjanar emphasised that bank managements must not treat the volume of account openings as a performance metric."Branches that prioritise targets over diligence are the primary entry points for fraud networks. Safe customer and zero mule account outcomes -- not account volumes -- must define branch performance," he said.

"Banks must adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards cybercrime at every level of the organisation -- from frontline staff to senior management; Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for branches must incorporate monitoring of NCRP complaints attributed to the branch, with proactive remediation expected; Bank staff must demonstrate empathy and offer prompt, structured support to customers who have fallen victim to cyber fraud -- including guiding victims to the national helpline (1930) and the cyber-crime portal (cybercrime.gov.in)," he said.

Furthermore, Strict disciplinary action must be taken against KYC verifiers found involved in fraudulent account openings, accompanied by periodic forensic audits of accounts opened by flagged officials.

The Commissioner provided a detailed briefing on the operating methods of cyber fraud syndicates currently active across India. These networks are primarily headquartered in countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, and Dubai, and engage intermediaries within India to procure bank accounts by colluding with bank officials -- particularly KYC Verifiers -- to facilitate the siphoning of funds from Indian victims, the release stated.

The briefing underscored the transnational and organised nature of these networks, and the critical role that insider banking complicity plays in enabling them.

The Hyderabad City Police reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the financial well-being of citizens and to ensuring that those involved in cybercrime -- including those who enable it from within the banking system -- are brought to justice. The Commissioner urged all banks to collaborate closely and proactively with law enforcement, and affirmed that Operation Octopus will continue as an ongoing, evolving initiative until organised cyber fraud networks are comprehensively dismantled.

- ANI
She feels conscious about unguarded moments, like just after waking up

Sonam Bajwa candidly discusses her mixed feelings about Mumbai's paparazzi culture, describing it as awkward yet amusing. She admits to feeling shy and unsure of how to pose, especially after waking up or leaving the salon. Bajwa praises the photographers for their friendliness but highlights the challenge of constant scrutiny, including HD zoom cameras. She also recalls advice from Jacqueline Fernandez to always be mindful of cameras and notes that paps respect her requests to not be photographed.

Actor Sonam Bajwa reveals the awkwardness and humor of Mumbai's paparazzi culture, from early morning photos to HD zoom cameras, in a candid interview.

New Delhi, April 23 Actor Sonam Bajwa has offered a candid glimpse into her relationship with Mumbai's paparazzi culture, describing it as equal parts awkward, amusing, and inevitable.

In an interview with ANI, Bajwa admitted she often finds herself unsure of how to react when photographers surround her and ask to pose.

"I laugh out loud. I don't know what to do in front of Paps. And, you know, they are waiting for you even outside the salon. I can't say no to them. But, I feel very shy, I don't know what to pose in front of them if I have just come out of a salon," she said.

Despite the discomfort, the actor spoke warmly about the photographers, calling them "very cool" and praising their friendly nature.

"The Paps are very cool, by the way. They make you laugh so much. I feel like people will think, why she keep giggling in front of Paps?" Bajwa added.

She also highlighted the humorous side of these encounters, revealing that she often shares light moments with photographers.

"You must have heard their commentary in some videos. They are our legendary Paps. So, I laugh a lot with them. I have a good time talking to them. I love seeing them every once in a while," she said.

However, Bajwa acknowledged that constant public scrutiny can be challenging, especially during unguarded moments.

"But sometimes, you have just woken up. You haven't even had a cup of coffee. You are late for the gym. And, as soon as you reach the gym, you see Paps. And, your face is swollen. You might not have slept since last night. You haven't had enough water. But paps are waiting for you...," she said.

Reflecting on the inevitability of being photographed, Bajwa noted how deeply embedded paparazzi culture has become in Mumbai.

"Everybody gets conscious. Imagine if I catch you within 30 minutes of you waking up. You will not like it. So, that happens. But I think that's part and parcel of our job. And, now this culture is set. Paps culture in Mumbai is set. So, I always tell myself, Always be prepared that the Paps are going to be there. No matter where you are going," the 'Baaghi 4' actress said.

She also spoke about the advanced equipment used by photographers, comparing it to wildlife cameras.

"The cameras used in the wildlife, I am telling you, those cameras are capturing humans. So, I ask them, Why did you bring this camera?" Sonam Bajwa said.

Recalling advice from fellow actor and a close friend, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bajwa said, "Once Jacqueline briefed me, she said, Babe...those HD zooming cameras are dangerous... Always be mindful that they can use that camera. But, still humans forget. So, I forget. Sometimes I say, Paps are taking wildlife photography cameras. So, be prepared. Or mask. That's a very good way. Jacqueline herself follows it. She is mostly in masks."

Bajwa also emphasised that paparazzi often respect boundaries when requested. "But, the Paps are really sweet. A lot of times when I have requested them, please don't capture me today. I am not feeling well. They always listen. They always respect that. And, I am very grateful for it."

On the work front, Bajwa will next be seen in 'Pitt Siyapa,' an upcoming Punjabi comedy-drama directed by Rupinder Chahal.

The film, slated for release on May 1, 2026, features Bajwa alongside Paramvir Singh Cheema.

The story follows Nimmi, a character played by Bajwa, who launches a unique "funeral business" that organises virtual last rites for NRIs unable to return home.

The narrative blends chaos and comedy as she manages a team of misfits before taking a dramatic turn involving a Dubai-based crime ring, romance, and unexpected heroism.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the India-Africa partnership holds particular significance as a message of stability in a turbulent world. He made these remarks at the launch of the logo, theme, and website for the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit-IV. Jaishankar highlighted that the partnership is rooted in civilizational linkages and strengthened by shared struggles against colonialism. He also noted India's advocacy for Africa's global role, including the African Union's inclusion in the G20 during India's presidency.

EAM Jaishankar says India-Africa ties send a message of stability and reliability amid global crises, ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit in Jan 2025.

New Delhi, April 23 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday stated that the India-Africa partnership holds "particular significance" amidst global geopolitical challenges, serving as a message of "stability" and "reliability" in a turbulent world.

Speaking at the unveiling of the logo, theme, and website for the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit-IV (IAFS-IV), Jaishankar emphasised that the two regions are not merely development partners, but also "partners in shaping a better world".

The Minister's remarks come as the international community grapples with numerous conflicts, notably the ongoing crisis in West Asia, which has exceeded 50 days and continues to have widespread global consequences.

During the event, attended by ambassadors and diplomats from across the African continent, the official logo was revealed. It features a lion superimposed on interlocked maps of India and Africa, carrying the theme 'Enduring Partnership Shared Vision' and the summit date, January 28-31.

Jaishankar described the forthcoming summit as a "unique opportunity" to further "deepen our engagement" and establish a framework for a partnership that is "more ambitious, more inclusive and more future-oriented".

Highlighting the importance of the alliance, he noted that "as the world navigates through complex geopolitical and geoecomic challenges," the collaboration will act as a "message of stability in a turbulent world, of reliability in an uncertain one, and of solidarity in difficult times."

The Minister further explained that Africa currently occupies a "central place" in India's foreign policy. This engagement is steered by a vision based on the "principle of equality," mutual respect, and collective advancement.

India has significantly bolstered its diplomatic presence on the continent, opening 17 new missions in recent years to reach a total of 46. Jaishankar noted that this expansion marks the "next chapter in the enduring partnership" governed by the India-Africa Forum Summit framework.

Reflecting on historical ties, the External Affairs Minister said the relationship is "rooted in our civilisational linkages" and was forged through centuries of cultural and human exchange. He added that these "bonds were further strengthened as India stood in solidarity with the African nations in their struggle against colonialism."

Drawing parallels between the freedom movements of both regions, Jaishankar remarked that the "shared history of struggle, solidarity, resilience and aspirations continues to shape our partnership."

He pointed out that India's "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision and the "Africa's Agenda 2063" serve as "complementary roadmaps" aimed at achieving prosperity through sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Minister also highlighted India's consistent advocacy for Africa's "rightful place in global governance," citing the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 during India's 2023 presidency as a "seminal step" in this direction. According to Jaishankar, this move reflected a "firm belief that the voices of the Global South must shape global governance in times to come."

Beyond diplomacy, India has placed development cooperation and capacity-building at the "core of our partnership." He concluded by noting that defence, security, and maritime cooperation remain vital components of the relationship, influenced by the vision of "MAHASAGAR" to maintain stability in the Indian Ocean Region and protect critical sea lanes.

- ANI
Vee Technologies, a Bengaluru and Atlanta-based firm, has announced the design completion of its 3,000th fire truck for the challenging US market, a milestone reached after a decade in the sector. The complexity stems from unique state fire codes and the need to design for varied structures, including skyscrapers requiring rescue operations hundreds of feet high. The company will showcase its precision engineering capabilities at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International in Indianapolis. This achievement is part of India's significant engineering R&D segment, valued at $63 billion and a major contributor to IT exports.

Vee Technologies from Bengaluru marks a milestone by delivering its 3,000th fire truck design for the US market, overcoming complex state-specific fire codes.

Bengaluru, April 23 Amid the complexity of designing US fire trucks that increases manifold because each US state has a unique fire code, global professional services company Vee Technologies' engineering business has rolled out the design of its 3,000th fire truck this month, its was announced on Thursday.

The Bengaluru and Atlanta-headquartered firm forayed into the challenging area of designing fire trucks for the US market a decade ago.

The complexity of designing US fire trucks increases owing to the variety of materials used in the construction of townhouses, residential and commercial complexes -- many of them housed in skyscrapers.

The design process must address varying height requirements and operational tasks, including transporting firefighters to fire sites - often several hundred feet high - pumping water or fire-suppressant materials and rescuing those trapped in the inferno, said the company in a statement.

The firm provides specialised engineering design services focused on delivering reliability and speed of response in emergency situations.

The company will be showcasing its capabilities at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International until April 25, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Centre and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The engineers are adept at creating state code-specific designs for manufacturing fire apparatus that require precision, speed and the ability to adapt to evolving standards.

To achieve this, the engineering team leverages vast amounts of data to develop and optimise detailed, code-compliant designs for fire apparatus that meet global safety norms.

According to latest industry estimates, the $63 billion engineering R&D segment of Indian IT firms contribute over one-fifth of India's over $300 billion IT and BPM export revenues, and is the second-largest segment after IT services exports.

This segment focuses on product engineering, embedded systems, and digital manufacturing. Growth is driven by software-defined products, ER&D outsourcing, and strong demand from the automotive, telecom, and industrial sectors globally.

- IANS
India and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation during their 11th Joint Defence Committee meeting in Cairo. The meeting included inaugural Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks and the Indian delegation paid tribute at the Heliopolis War Memorial. In a separate development, India and Germany signed a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's official visit. The agreements aim to enhance institutional collaboration and focus on co-development and co-production of defence equipment.

India & Egypt reaffirm defence partnership in Cairo. Meanwhile, India & Germany sign a Defence Industrial Roadmap during Rajnath Singh's visit.

Cairo, April 23 India and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation during the 11th India-Egypt Joint Defence Committee meeting held in Cairo from April 20 to 22.

According to the Ministry of Defence, both sides highlighted defence ties as a key pillar of their strategic partnership.

In a post on X, the ministry said, "The 11th India-Egypt Joint Defence Committee meeting was held in Cairo from 20th to 22nd April 2026. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening defence ties, a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership. Inaugural Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks were also held."

The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, while the Egyptian delegation was led by Staff Maj Gen Ahmed Mohamed Omar of the Egyptian Armed Forces.

The Indian delegation paid tribute at the Heliopolis War Memorial and also held engagements with Commander of the Egyptian Air Force Lt Gen Amr Abdel Rahman Saqr.

In another post on the thread, the ministry said, "The Indian delegation laid a wreath at Heliopolis War Memorial, honouring Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifice during the World Wars, and called on Commander of the Egyptian Air Force Lt Gen Amr Abdel Rahman Saqr."

The meeting underscored the growing defence cooperation between India and Egypt, as both countries continued to expand their strategic partnership. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, during the three-day official visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India and Germany signed and exchanged the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training here, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the strategic defence partnership between the two countries.

The agreements were signed during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's three-day official visit to the European nation.

According to a release from the Ministry of Defence, the agreements are expected to strengthen institutional collaboration between the two sides and broaden opportunities for joint training, capacity building, and capability development in the defence sector.

Singh and his German counterpart, the Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, were present during the agreement signing and exchange.

Earlier, both leaders held bilateral talks in Berlin, during which both sides reviewed a broad spectrum of bilateral security and defence cooperation, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment, with a special focus on niche technologies.

The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance military-to-military engagement as a key pillar of the bilateral Strategic Partnership.

- ANI
India and Germany have signed a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an agreement for cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Berlin. The agreements aim to strengthen institutional collaboration and open opportunities for joint training and capability development. Both ministers reviewed bilateral security cooperation, with a focus on co-production and niche technologies. They also agreed to leverage the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership for concrete outcomes to enhance regional stability.

India and Germany strengthen strategic defence partnership with Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and UN Peacekeeping Training agreement signed in Berlin.

Berlin, April 22 India and Germany on Wednesday signed and exchanged the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training here, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the strategic defence partnership between the two countries.

The agreements were signed during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's three-day official visit to the European nation.

According to a release from the Ministry of Defence, the agreements are expected to strengthen institutional collaboration between the two sides and broaden opportunities for joint training, capacity building, and capability development in the defence sector.

Singh and his German counterpart, the Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, were present during the agreement signing and exchange.

Earlier, both leaders held bilateral talks in Berlin, during which both sides reviewed a broad spectrum of bilateral security and defence cooperation, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment, with a special focus on niche technologies.

The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance military-to-military engagement as a key pillar of the bilateral Strategic Partnership.

"Delighted to meet Mr. Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence, Germany in Berlin. Exchanged views on a wide range of issues including deepening our defence cooperation and tackling emerging geopolitical challenges. Witnessed signing of the Defence Industrial Roadmap and Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping," Singh stated in a post on X.

According to the release, the Defence Minister described his visit as a symbol of "deep friendship, synergy and trust", noting that India-Germany defence cooperation has gained considerable momentum in recent years, particularly following the assumption of office by the German Defence Minister.

Rajnath Singh also highlighted the significance of the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership, which was signed earlier this year, stating that it opens new avenues for deeper engagement.

Both Ministers agreed to leverage this framework bilaterally and within the wider European context to achieve concrete outcomes aimed at strengthening regional stability and enhancing joint capabilities.

On global security challenges, the Defence Minister stressed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned unequivocally, without exception or justification.

The German Defence Minister, in turn, appreciated the institutionalisation of service-level staff talks and future joint military exercises.

Rajnath Singh also expressed India's willingness to welcome the participation of the German Air Force in the upcoming edition of Exercise TARANG SHAKTI, scheduled to be held in India later this year.

Earlier, Rajnath Singh was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival at the German Ministry of Defence.

He also paid homage at the Bundeswehr Memorial by laying a wreath in honour of fallen soldiers.

India and Germany are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026 and have completed 25 years of their Strategic Partnership.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the bilateral relationship has evolved into a multi-dimensional partnership spanning defence, trade and investment, technology, green energy, education, and cultural ties.

- ANI
Jan Noether, Director General of the Indo German Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the need for open markets and uninterrupted supply chains between India and Germany amid the West Asia crisis. He noted that both countries depend on free shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas supplies. The disruptions have already caused rising fuel and consumer prices in Germany. Noether expressed hope for a political solution to ease tensions and restore stability in global markets.

Indo-German Chamber DG Jan Noether says India and Germany must ensure open markets and supply chains amid West Asia crisis, as Strait of Hormuz disruptions affect trade.

Ahmedabad, April 23 India and Germany need to ensure open markets and uninterrupted supply chains amid the ongoing West Asia crisis and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, said Jan Noether, Director General, Indo German Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the impact of geopolitical tensions on global trade.

In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Noether said both India and Germany are heavily dependent on free shipping routes for trade, particularly for the movement of oil, gas and other essential goods.

He noted that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have affected trade flows and increased pressure on supply chains globally.

"Trade has been affected since both India and Germany depend on supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, including oil and gas, which form the basis of energy supplies," he said.

He stressed that maintaining open markets and ensuring the smooth movement of goods is critical for sustaining economic activity and business cooperation between countries.

"Germany as well as India are large economies that depend on free trade and reliable business cooperation. Therefore, we need open markets and open supply chains to make that happen," he added.

Noether also pointed out that the impact of the crisis is already being felt in Germany, with rising prices of fuel and daily consumption items.

"Prices are up in Germany. If you look at fuel prices and general prices of daily consumption, they have increased," he said.

He noted that the situation reflects the broader impact of global supply disruptions, as restrictions or uncertainties in key trade routes quickly translate into higher costs for consumers and businesses.

Expressing hope for an early resolution, Noether said a political solution to the conflict is essential to ease tensions and restore stability in global markets.

"We hope that there is a political solution and that it is around the corner, which can help soften tensions not only in the region but also globally," he said.

The comments come at a time when global trade routes remain under pressure due to geopolitical tensions, with economies like India and Germany facing challenges related to energy supply, pricing and overall trade flows.

Noether emphasised that restoring stability in supply chains will be key to ensuring continued trade and economic cooperation between nations.

- ANI
India is constructing a school building in Jhapa, Nepal, with a grant of NPR 58 million. The foundation stone was laid by Koshi Province CM Hikmat Kumar Karki, Indian Embassy Counsellor Gitanjali Brandon, and Gauradaha Mayor Chhatrapati Subedi. The project, part of the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), aims to enhance educational infrastructure. Local stakeholders praised India's ongoing developmental support to Nepal.

India grants NPR 58 million for Shree Janata Secondary School in Jhapa, Nepal. Foundation laid by CM Karki, Embassy's Brandon, Mayor Subedi.

Kathmandu, April 23 A school building is being constructed at Gauradaha Municipality in Jhapa district, eastern Nepal, with grant assistance from the Indian government.

Hikmat Kumar Karki, Chief Minister of Koshi Province; Gitanjali Brandon, Counsellor at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu; and Chhatrapati Subedi, Mayor of Gauradaha Municipality, jointly laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new building at Shree Janata Secondary School on Thursday, the Indian Embassy said in a press release.

The school infrastructure is being built with the financial assistance of approximately NPR 58 million from the Government of India. The project falls under the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) framework and will be implemented through Gauradaha Municipality in Jhapa, according to the embassy.

Chief Minister Karki and other stakeholders appreciated India's continued developmental support to Nepal. They expressed confidence that the new infrastructure would significantly improve the learning environment for both students and teachers in the municipality.

"India and Nepal, as close neighbours, continue to maintain broad-based cooperation across multiple sectors," the embassy said.

It added that the implementation of such community development projects underscores India's ongoing support to Nepal's development efforts, particularly in enhancing infrastructure in priority sectors such as education.

The HICDP programme has emerged as a key pillar of the India-Nepal development partnership, with funding under this scheme supporting grassroots development in Nepal.

Launched in 2003, the HICDPs were previously known as Small Development Projects. The initiative supports small-scale infrastructure and community projects across Nepal through local authorities.

The programme focuses on priority sectors identified by the Government of Nepal, including health, education, drinking water, sanitation and drainage, rural electrification, hydropower and river training works.

In a significant boost to the initiative, a new agreement reached in January 2024 paved the way for an increase in the ceiling of Indian financial assistance to NPR 20 million per project, up from NPR 5 million.

- IANS
India also in talks with Oman and US for trade deals

Union Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with Qatars Minister Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed to discuss enhancing bilateral trade and investment ties. The talks focused on improving supply chain resilience in the current global trade environment. Goyal expressed optimism about deepening the strategic partnership with Qatar. Separately, India is near finalizing the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement with the US.

Piyush Goyal meets Qatars Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed to enhance bilateral trade and investment ties amid global tensions.

New Delhi, April 23 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday held a virtual meeting with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

During the interaction, both sides explored opportunities to enhance economic cooperation and improve supply chain resilience in a rapidly evolving global trade environment.

Goyal said the discussions focused on deepening trade engagement and expanding investment partnerships between the two countries.

"We discussed ways to further enhance our bilateral trade and investment ties while strengthening supply chain resilience," he wrote on X.

Expressing optimism about future cooperation, the minister said he looked forward to deepening the strategic partnership with Qatar in the coming years.

"Looking forward to deepening our strategic partnership in the times ahead," he added.

Earlier this month, India and Oman also discussed unlocking opportunities under the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost bilateral trade and investment.

Goyal had shared details of his telephonic conversation with Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Anwar bin Hilal bin Hamdoun Al Jabri, noting that both sides explored ways to deepen economic engagement.

Separately, the minister said the first tranche of the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement is close to being finalised, with a team of officials currently in Washington for discussions.

"We have almost finalised the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement," he told the media earlier.

"We are working on mechanisms through which India can secure preferential market access in the US compared to its competitors," he added.

India and the United States had decided to reschedule the meeting between teams headed by the chief trade negotiators of the two countries, following the US Supreme Court striking down President Donald Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariff hikes.

- IANS
US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin B Schneider visited India and met Air Chief Marshal AP Singh to deepen defence ties. General Schneider paid tribute at the National War Memorial and interacted with senior IAF leadership. The visit follows ACM Singh's recent trip to the US where he met US Air Force leaders and flew an F-15EX fighter jet. Both nations emphasized their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region through enhanced military cooperation.

US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin B Schneider meets Indian Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, deepening defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

New Delhi, April 23 US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin B Schneider called on Air Chief Marshal AP Singh during his official visit to India as the two countries continue to deepen their defence ties.

Sharing the details of his visit in a post on X, the Indian Air Force said that General Schneider also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and was also accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. He also interacted with senior Indian Air Force leadership.

"General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander PACAF & Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, called on Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, CAS, Indian Air Force, during his official visit to India. He laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour, and interacted with senior leadership of the Indian Air Force", the IAF said.

His visit comes shortly after Air Chief Marshal Singh was hosted by US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach at the Pentagon on April 10.

The two leaders met to discuss mutual aid and plans for a productive future for both countries. As part of the visit, Air Chief Marshal Singh received a full honours arrival at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and attended office calls with Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Wilsbach at the Pentagon.

During the office calls, Department of the Air Force senior leaders emphasised the priority the US places on its defence partnership with India, highlighting its central role in ensuring a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

General Wilsbach praised India's leadership and participation in multilateral exercises with like-minded partners and stressed how continuing to prioritise and expand such cooperation is key to enhancing regional deterrence.

He also welcomed India's procurement of MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft and emphasised the US Air Force commitment to ensuring the Indian Armed Forces can seamlessly and effectively employ the platform upon delivery.

General Wilsbach underscored the US Air Force's readiness to further support Indian Air Force modernisation efforts, noting the mutual benefits of pursuing these goals through defence industrial collaboration.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh also undertook a familiarisation flight in a Boeing F-15EX Eagle II fighter aircraft during his visit to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

ACM Singh flew alongside US Air Force Major Matthew Benson, a pilot with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. The sortie gave the Indian Air Chief a close look at one of the most advanced fighter platforms in the US inventory, which plays a key role in maintaining air superiority and supporting operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

- ANI
India has welcomed Japan's decision to review its defence equipment transfer policy, calling it a boost to bilateral security cooperation. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that defence cooperation is a key pillar of the India-Japan strategic partnership. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the revised framework would allow transfers of all defence equipment, expanding from previous limited categories. Japan will maintain strict case-by-case reviews and ensure recipients adhere to UN Charter principles.

India welcomes Japan's revised defence export policy, calling it a boost to their special strategic partnership and bilateral security cooperation.

New Delhi, April 23 The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday welcomed Japan's decision to review its long-standing framework governing the transfer of defence equipment and technology, describing it as a positive step that could further strengthen bilateral security cooperation.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "India welcomes Japan's review of the three principles on the transfer of defence equipment and technology. Defence and security cooperation form an important pillar of the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership."

He emphasised that both India and Japan have consistently worked to deepen collaboration under their shared strategic vision.

"As part of the Joint Declaration on security cooperation between India and Japan, both sides have committed to increasing practical cooperation in the interest of their national security and continue economic dynamism," he added.

The spokesperson further highlighted that the evolving framework would support enhanced technological and industrial collaboration, including between government entities and private sector stakeholders, particularly in sectors critical to national security and resilience.

"This includes promotion and facilitation of technological and industrial collaboration between the government entities and private sector stakeholders for resilience in sectors critical to national security," Jaiswal said.

The remarks come after Japan, on April 21, announced amendments to its "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" and the associated implementation guidelines.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the revised framework significantly expands the scope of permissible defence exports.

In a post on X, Takaichi stated that earlier restrictions limited overseas transfers of domestically produced defence equipment to five categories, including search and rescue, transportation, surveillance and mine countermeasures. "With this amendment, transfers of all defense equipment will in principle become possible," she stated.

Highlighting the changing global security environment, the Japanese leader noted that no country can ensure its security in isolation, underlining the importance of partnerships in defence equipment cooperation. She added that enabling such transfers would help enhance the defence capabilities of partner nations and contribute to conflict prevention.

Takaichi also stressed that Japan would continue to adhere to international export control frameworks and maintain stringent case-by-case reviews. Recipients, she noted, would be limited to countries committed to principles under the United Nations Charter, with strict end-use monitoring in place.

Reaffirming Japan's post-war pacifist stance, she said there would be "no change" in the country's commitment to its peace-oriented principles, even as it adopts a more flexible and strategic approach to defence equipment transfers.

"There is absolutely no change in our commitment to upholding the path and fundamental principles we have followed as a peace-loving nation for over 80 years since the war. Under the new system, we will strategically promote equipment transfers while making even more rigorous and cautious judgments on whether transfers are permissible," the post read.

- ANI
India has welcomed the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports. The agreement, effective from April 10, 2026, was agreed during PM Modi and French President Macron's meeting in Mumbai. It applies to passengers remaining in the international zone during layovers. This move strengthens people-to-people ties and the special global strategic partnership between India and France.

India welcomes visa-free transit for Indian nationals at French airports from April 10, 2026, strengthening bilateral ties and people-to-people movement.

New Delhi, April 23 As India and France continue to bolster their bilateral ties, New Delhi on Thursday welcomed the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting via French airports.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing in the national capital, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the discussion for the removal of the transit visa requirement for Indian passport holders was agreed during the meeting between PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai earlier this year.

Jaiswal said, "The government of France has now operationalised this agreement, and Indian nationals transiting through mainland France exclusively by air will no longer need a transit visa with effect from April 10, 2026".

The decision reflects the enduring partnership between India and France, elevated to the level of a special global strategic partnership during the recent visit of President Macron, and further facilitation of the smoother movement of people and enhanced people-to-people ties.

In this regard, an official press release from the French Embassy in India said, "Subsequent to President Macron's statement, a decree amending that of 10 May 2010 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners into French territory was adopted, and published in the Official Gazette (Journal Officiel) on April 9, 2026".

It further noted, "Consequently, with effect from 10 April 2026, Indian nationals possessing an ordinary passport are no longer required to hold an airport transit visa when passing through the international zone of airports located on French territory."

The statement noted that the measure applies to passengers remaining in the international zone during a layover at a French airport en route to a third country.

Earlier in February, during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Joint Statement had reflected this move.

The Joint Statement shared by the MEA had highlighted that with a view to expanding mutually beneficial skills and talent mobility between the countries, both leaders emphasised the importance of the India-France Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) and Young Professional Scheme (YPS).

"Both leaders welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of skill development, vocational education and training that would strengthen opportunities for mobility of youth and professionals and strengthen people-to-people bonds between India and France. In this spirit, the leaders welcomed the announcement of the upcoming visa free transit of Indian nationals through French airports, which will be reviewed after a six month pilot period", the statement mentioned.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack by paying tribute to the 26 victims and reaffirming India's unwavering resolve against terrorism. The 2025 attack, carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists, was a targeted communal assault that shocked the nation. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK and destroying nine major launchpads. The subsequent military escalation included cross-border strikes and a ceasefire agreement, underscoring India's defensive and offensive capabilities.

PM Modi pays tribute to Pahalgam terror attack victims, reaffirms India's resolve against terrorism. Details on Operation Sindoor retaliation.

New Delhi, April 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to the 26 people who lost their lives in the Pakistan-backed terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, reiterating India's firm resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms.

In a post on X, the PM expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and reaffirmed the commitment to dismantle "the heinous designs of terrorists."

In a post on X, the Prime Minister expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and affirmed that the country remains united in grief and determined to dismantle "the heinous designs of terrorists."

"Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year. They will never be forgotten. My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss. As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to any form of terror. The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed," the PM wrote in the post.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the attack, the Indian Army also recalled Operation Sindoor and issued a strong message against terrorism.

"When boundaries of humanity are crossed, the response is decisive. Justice is Served. India Stands United," the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army said in a post on X, accompanied by a graphic message stating, "Some boundaries should never be crossed. India does not forget."

On April 22, 2025, the nation was left shocked after terrorists carried out an attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, a region known for its scenic landscape and tourism. In the attack, Pakistan-backed terrorists entered a village and killed 26 people.

In the cross-border communal attack in Pahalgam, the assailants questioned victims about their religion before carrying out the killings, making it a targeted communal attack that drew widespread condemnation across the country.

As India mourned the loss, what followed was decisive action by the Indian armed forces in the form of Operation Sindoor. Indian armed forces struck terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Following the incident, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The Indian armed forces destroyed nine major terror launchpads linked to groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

In response, Pakistan carried out drone attacks and shelling, leading to a four-day conflict between the two countries. Indian forces conducted retaliatory strikes, targeting and destroying radar installations in Lahore and near Gujranwala, demonstrating strong defensive and offensive capabilities.

Following the escalation, Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted the Indian DGMO, and both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.

As the nation marks the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, tributes continue to pour in for the victims, while reaffirming India's unwavering commitment to fight terrorism and ensure national security.

- ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid solemn tributes on the first anniversary of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. They reaffirmed India's firm and decisive stance against terrorism, vowing that the nation would never forget or bow to such threats. In response to the 2025 attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK. The operation led to a brief military escalation before a ceasefire was agreed upon.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and PM Modi pay tribute to Pahalgam attack victims, vowing a firm, decisive response against terrorism.

New Delhi, April 22 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that India's response to terrorism remains "firm, decisive and unwavering" as the nation marked one year since the deadly incident in which 26 tourists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Remembering the victims of the April 22, 2025, terror attack, Singh said, "Remembering and paying my heartfelt tributes to the innocent people who lost their lives in the cowardly terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025. We share the enduring pain of their loved ones and families. We will never forget those wounds inflicted on our nation. India has endured decades of cross-border terror, but today our response is firm, decisive and unwavering. Through determined action, we have demonstrated that any attempt to harm our people or disrupt our unity will be met with strength and clarity."

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage to the 26 victims of the attack, reiterating the country's unified stand against terrorism. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the lives lost would "never be forgotten" and expressed solidarity with grieving families.

"As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to any form of terror. The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed," Modi stated.

The terror attack, carried out in Pahalgam, one of Jammu and Kashmir's prominent tourist destinations, had shocked the nation after Pakistan-backed terrorists entered a village and killed 26 civilians. The assailants reportedly targeted victims based on their religious identity, drawing widespread condemnation and outrage across the country.

In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The Indian armed forces struck multiple terror launchpads linked to groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, significantly damaging their operational capabilities.

The operation triggered retaliatory actions from Pakistan, including drone attacks and cross-border shelling, leading to a brief four-day military escalation. Indian forces responded with precision strikes, reportedly targeting key radar installations in Lahore and areas near Gujranwala.

Following the escalation, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after communication between their respective Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO).

On the eve of the anniversary, the Indian Army also recalled the operation, underlining its message of deterrence. "When boundaries of humanity are crossed, the response is decisive. Justice is served. India stands united," the Army said.

- ANI
India's Ambassador to Israel, J P Singh, reaffirmed New Delhi's commitment to strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership with Israel during a meeting with President Isaac Herzog at Israel's 78th Independence Day event. President Droupadi Murmu also extended her wishes to Herzog, highlighting the growing partnership between the two nations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, discussing the West Asia situation and the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions come amid tense security in the region after US-Iran negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

India's envoy J P Singh reaffirms commitment to strengthen India-Israel ties during meeting with President Isaac Herzog at Israel's 78th Independence Day event.

Jerusalem, April 23 India's Ambassador to Israel, J P Singh, reaffirmed New Delhi's commitment to further strengthen Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations during a meting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of an event.

Singh met President Herzog during an event celebrating Israel's 78th Independence Day and extended warm greetings of the Indian leadership on the occasion.

"At an event celebrating Israel's 78th Independence Day, Amb. J.P. Singh extended his warmest greetings to President H.E. Isaac Herzog on behalf of the leadership and people of India. Amb. reaffirmed India's commitment to further strengthening the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership," Embassy of India in Israel posted on X.

On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu extended wishes to Herzog on the occasion of Israel's 78th Independence Day and stated that the Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations continues to grow.

"On the joyous occasion of the 78th anniversary of Israel's Independence, I extend heartfelt best wishes to H.E. Isaac Herzog and the people of Israel. The India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership continues to grow stronger, reflecting the deep friendship and shared commitment of our two nations to peace, innovation and mutual prosperity," the President's Secretariat stated in a post on X.

Responding to President Murmu's wishes, Herzog stated that Israel deeply appreciates its special friendship with India and expressed readiness to work to strengthen it across various sectors.

"Thank you President of India for your good wishes on Israel's Independence Day. We deeply appreciate the special friendship between Israel and India, and we continue to work to strengthen it across all fields of cooperation," Herzog posted on X.

On April 14, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar, discussing West Asia situation and the Strait of Hormuz.

"Had a telecon this afternoon with Israel FM Gideon Sa'ar. Our discussion covered different aspects of the West Asia situation," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

Sa'ar stated that he told EAM Jaishankar that the US' stance in the negotiations that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is important for the international community.

"A good conversation, as always, with my friend, India's Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar. We discussed Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Lebanon. I said that the firm American stance in the negotiations on conditions that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons (no enrichment in Iran, removal of enriched material from Iran) is critical for the entire international community," the Israeli Foreign Minister posted on X after the call.

"I also said that Iran's harm to freedom of navigation and the global economy through economic terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz requires action that will ensure the freedom of navigation for all countries, including India and our friends in the Gulf," he added.

The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the world's most critical oil transit routes, carrying nearly a fifth of global oil shipments.

The talks between two ministers took place amid tense security situation in West Asia after the first round of negotiations held between the US and Iranian officials failed to produce an agreement.

- IANS
India is emerging as a key player in a global shift in supply chains, driven by efforts to reduce dependence on China, former US official Nisha Biswal said. US-India trade has grown to about $212 billion even without a formal trade agreement, highlighting the expanding commercial focus between the two countries. Experts at the New India Conference in Washington emphasized the need for domestic reforms, including addressing skills gaps and state-level regulatory issues. Energy, advanced technology and critical minerals were identified as key areas for deeper cooperation between India and the United States.

Former US official Nisha Biswal says India is emerging as a key player in global supply chain shifts, with US-India trade growing to $212 billion.

Washington, April 23 India is emerging as a key player in a global shift in supply chains, driven by efforts to reduce dependence on China, former US official Nisha Biswal said.

Biswal, Partner at The Asia Group and former US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, said businesses are rethinking their strategies amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

"There has been enormous progress," she said, noting that US-India trade has grown "from 50 billion... to... about 212 billion" even without a formal trade agreement.

Companies are now asking "what does a de-risking from China look like," she said, adding that India's market and talent pool are drawing interest.

"It is India's moment in the economic space," Biswal said, pointing to the country's scale and resilience.

She said the US-India relationship is expanding beyond strategic ties to include a stronger commercial focus. There is growing attention in Washington on economic engagement and supply chain partnerships, she added.

Biswal said a trade agreement between the two countries is likely but may not be immediate. She said it could emerge as a phased arrangement rather than a comprehensive deal in the near term.

She identified energy, advanced technology and critical minerals as areas for deeper cooperation.

Biswal said global shocks, including geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions, are shaping economic decisions. India is navigating these challenges while maintaining growth momentum, she added.

Other speakers at the panel said domestic reforms will be key to sustaining growth.

Hemang Jani, Public Policy & Governance expert at the World Bank, said India needs to address skills gaps and low workforce participation. He described these as "binding constraints" on growth.

Ashok Malik, Partner at The Asia Group, said India has adjusted its trade policy after earlier agreements exposed vulnerabilities. "That did cause a recalibration of approach to trade," he said.

Richard Rossow, Senior Adviser at CSIS, said state-level reforms are critical. "States run the country," he said, pointing to infrastructure and regulatory issues that affect investment decisions.

The panel was part of the New India Conference in Washington, which brought together policymakers and analysts to discuss India's economic outlook and US-India ties.

India's growth comes as global supply chains shift and countries seek more resilient partnerships. The country's large market and workforce have made it a key destination for investment.

Experts said the pace of economic reforms and deeper trade engagement with the United States will shape the next phase of India's growth.

- IANS
Sanju Samson's unbeaten century off 56 balls powered Chennai Super Kings to 207/6 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. Akeal Hosein then starred with a four-wicket haul as Mumbai were bowled out for just 104 in 19 overs. The 103-run victory was sealed with dominant performances from both bat and ball for CSK. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav were the only Mumbai batters to offer resistance with scores of 37 and 36 respectively.

Sanju Samson's unbeaten 101 and Akeal Hosein's 4/17 help Chennai Super Kings crush Mumbai Indians by 103 runs in IPL 2026 Match 33

Mumbai, April 23 Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein starred with a four-wicket haul as the Mumbai Indians were bowled out for just 104 in 19 overs while chasing 208, handing Chennai Super Kings a commanding 103-run victory in Match 33 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

Earlier, opener Sanju Samson's brilliant unbeaten century off 56 balls helped CSK reach 207/6 despite losing wickets at regular intervals while batting first.

Chasing a daunting target, the Mumbai Indians had a shaky start as opener Danish Malewar fell early, edging a delivery from Akeal Hosein to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. The early pressure intensified when Mukesh Choudhary struck in the following over, clean bowling Quinton de Kock for just 7 runs.

Hosein continued to trouble the batters and removed the in-form Naman Dhir with a sharp delivery that rattled the stumps. With three quick wickets down, Mumbai were pushed onto the back foot early. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma attempted to rebuild the innings, but runs were hard to come by initially as they managed just 29 runs in the powerplay.

The pair gradually settled in and began to find boundaries, taking the score to 69/3 at the halfway stage. However, just when the partnership looked threatening, Hosein struck again in the 13th over to dismiss Varma for 37 off 29 balls, breaking a crucial 73-run stand.

Mumbai's hopes suffered a major blow immediately after, as captain Hardik Pandya fell for a duck to Noor Ahmad, while Sherfane Rutherford was dismissed on the very next ball.

Hosein capped off a brilliant spell by removing Suryakumar for 36, effectively ending Mumbai's resistance. Shardul Thakur, who came in as a concussion substitute for Mitchell Santner, tried to stay till the end but could only manage 6 runs.

Hosein was the standout performer with exceptional figures of 4/17, while Noor Ahmad chipped in with two key wickets. Gurjapneet Singh applied the finishing touch by dismissing Jasprit Bumrah in the 19th over, sealing a dominant victory for CSK.

Chennai Super Kings made a strong start after being asked to bat first, with Sanju Samson and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad attacking early and scoring 26 runs in the first two overs, including 19 off Hardik Pandya. Gaikwad fell for 22 in the third over, but Samson continued the aggressive approach and took Pandya apart again in the fourth over as CSK crossed 50 quickly.

Sarfaraz Khan added quick runs before being bowled by Mitchell Santner for 14, with CSK finishing the powerplay at 73/2. Allah Ghazanfar then removed Shivam Dube with a carrom ball to pull things back. Dewald Brevis counterattacked with 21 off 11 before falling to Ashwani Kumar.

Samson held the innings together, reaching his fifty in just 26 balls. Kartik struggled for timing and was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 18, while Jamie Overton chipped in with a quick 15.

In the death overs, Samson dominated and brought up his century in 54 balls. He remained unbeaten on 101, hitting 10 fours and six sixes to power CSK past 200. For the Mumbai Indians, Ghazanfar (2/25) and Ashwani Kumar were the standout bowlers.

Brief scores:

Chennai Super Kings 207/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 101*, Ruturaj Gaikwad 22; AM Ghazanfar 2-25, Ashwani Kumar 2-37) beat Mumbai Indians 104 all out in 19 overs (Tilak Varma 37, Suryakumar Yadav 36; Akeal Hosein 4-17, Noor Ahmed 2-24) by 103 runs

- IANS
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy attacked a Liberian-flagged ship, the Epaminodas, which was bound for Mundra Port in India. The incident occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire, though a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains. Iran claims the ships were attacked for operating without authorization, a move seen as retaliation for a recent U.S. capture of an Iranian vessel. The attack highlights ongoing tensions and internal contradictions within Tehran's leadership regarding control of the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard attacks a vessel headed for India's Mundra port in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions despite a US ceasefire.

New York, April 22 Iran on Wednesday attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz that was on its way to Mundra Port in India, hours after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire.

It was one of the two ships that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) announced it had attacked and taken over, according to the government-run PressTV.

IRGC-N identified the ships it attacked as the MSC-Francesca, and the Epaminodas, PressTV said (although it spelled it as "Epaminodas").

Two shipping monitoring sites said that Liberian-flagged Epaminodas was on its way to Mundra in Gujarat from the Jebel Ali port in Dubai.

Marinetraffic.com and vesselfinder.com said that the container ship had been scheduled to reach Mundra on Thursday.

According to steamshipmutual.com which tracks ship ownership and insurance, the ship is owned by a Greek company, Kalmar Maritime LLC.

On Saturday, Iran attacked two Indian ships in the Strait that had received permission to traverse it.

India lodged a strong protest with Iran over those incidents.

IRGC-N said the two ships were attacked because they were "operating without authorisation", according to the government-run PressTV.

A British Navy monitoring outfit confirmed that two ships were fired upon by IRGC gunboats and that one of them reported being immobilised, and the other was damaged.

It did not confirm the Iranian claim by Iran that it had taken over the ships or identify them by name.

There was no immediate reaction from President Donald Trump or the US government.

Even though Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely on Tuesday, he said the US Naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue.

While Tehran wants to control access to the Strait of Hormuz that empowers it in the conflict through a chokehold on the 20 per cent of global supplies of gas and oil that pass through it, it was also retaliation against the US capture of an Iranian ship on April 19.

President Trump said the Navy blew a hold in its engine room and Marines boarded it.

He claimed it had a "gift from China" for Iran, but Beijing has denied it.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz also reflects the contradictions within the Tehran leadership between moderates and hardliners that hampers a unified response, and which Trump cited for extending the ceasefire.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced on April 17 that the Strait was open, but on April 18 the IRGC ordered it closed and attacked the two Indian ships.

The Iranian military outfit accused the two ships of "tampering with navigation aid systems, and endangering maritime security in an attempt to exit the strait covertly".

Britain's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre, which tracks shipping incidents, said that a container ship reported that it was approached by an IRGC gunboat, which fired on it without a radio challenge.

It "has caused heavy damage to the bridge. No fires or environmental impact reported. All Crew reported safe," it added.

The other ship, a cargo carrier, did not report damage from the firing and the "crew are safe and accounted for," UKMTO said.

The IRGC-N claimed the MSC Francesca "belongs to the Israeli regime", however, the company Mediterranean Shipping Company is owned by a Greek shipping family.

A picture of the ship posted by Tasnim news agency showed it with a marking that it was registered in Panama.

- IANS
Former U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster argues the Iranian regime is unsustainable due to severe internal and external pressures. He cites significant damage to Iran's military capabilities and its prioritization of nuclear programs over public welfare. McMaster highlights systemic corruption, with elites extracting wealth into offshore accounts, and points to brutal human rights abuses, including executions. He also notes China's role in sustaining the regime by purchasing most of its oil.

Former US NSA H.R. McMaster says Iran's regime is unsustainable due to military setbacks, massive corruption, and brutal repression of its people.

Washington, April 22 Former US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has said the Iranian regime is unlikely to sustain itself, citing military setbacks, corruption and widespread repression as key factors weakening its hold on power.

"I do not think that the Islamic Republic of Iran can sustain itself," McMaster told IANS in an exclusive interview. "I think it's unsustainable," he said, responding to a question on the Iranian regime after the US dismantled its entire leadership and armed forces.

He pointed to the cumulative impact of recent developments on the regime's ability to function. "The damage that has been done to its military... to its ability to project power outside of its borders," he said, has been significant.

McMaster, who served as national security advisor to President Donald Trump in his first term, also emphasised internal challenges, arguing that the regime has undermined itself through its policies. "The damage that it has done to itself and its own people through corruption," he said.

He criticised Tehran for prioritising military ambitions over domestic welfare. "Prioritising a nuclear weapons programme and its missile programmes over the welfare of its own people," he said.

McMaster said that the financial cost of these programmes has been enormous. "The waste of... tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions of dollars," he added.

Highlighting systemic corruption within the ruling establishment, he said: "Collectives associated with the regime... are extracting money and sending it abroad."

He also referred to offshore financial holdings linked to senior leadership. "Tens of millions of dollars in offshore accounts," he noted.

The former NSA raised concerns over human rights abuses by the regime. "Executions... against political prisoners," he said, continue to take place.

He cited what he described as a particularly severe episode of violence. "The mass murder... of what appears to be 40,000 people in a 48-hour period in January," he said.

McMaster said the humanitarian dimension remains central to the crisis. "The stakes are highest for the Iranian people," he said.

He called for sustained international efforts to weaken the regime's coercive apparatus. "The need to... continue actions... to weaken the repressive arms of the theocratic dictatorship," he said.

Linking Iran to broader regional instability, McMaster said the regime has long engaged in indirect conflict. It has been "waging... a proxy war... for 47 years," he said.

He also connected Iran's position to global geopolitical competition, particularly China's role. Beijing's economic engagement, including large-scale oil purchases, provides critical financial support to Tehran, he said.

"They buy 90 per cent of Iran's oil," McMaster noted, describing it as a key revenue stream for the regime.

He argued that changes within Iran could have wider implications. A fundamental shift in the regime, he suggested, would alter dynamics in the Middle East and beyond.

- IANS
Iran has forcefully rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that its leadership is "seriously fractured," accusing him of weaving lies and engaging in propaganda. The rebuttal came from a senior Iranian communications official who emphasized unprecedented national unity. Trump extended a ceasefire, citing internal divisions in Iran and requests from Pakistani officials, while maintaining a military blockade. Iran's ambassador to the UN stated talks can only resume if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade, which Tehran considers a ceasefire violation.

Iran accuses US President Trump of spreading falsehoods after he claims Iranian leadership is "seriously fractured" and extends a ceasefire.

Tehran, April 22 Iran on Wednesday strongly rejected the comment made by US President Donald Trump in his ceasefire extension announcement, alleging that the Iranian leadership is "seriously fractured", accusing him of spreading falsehoods and engaging in propaganda.

Responding to the claim, Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy of Communications and Information Dissemination in the office of the President of Iran, said that assertions of division among Iran's leadership are part of an "enemy's unplayed political and propaganda game."

In a post on X, Tabatabaei emphasised unity within the country, stating, "The line of discord and division among the country's highest officials is the enemy's unplayed political and propaganda game against Iran. The unity and consensus among the field, the street, and diplomacy these days is unprecedented and exemplary."

He further criticised the US, in a veiled reference, saying, "Instead of weaving lies, they should cease their breaches of promise, bullying, and deceit; the door to negotiation based on fairness, dignity, and rationality remains open."

The remarks came after Trump, in a post on Truth Social, claimed that divisions within Iran's leadership had prompted a request to delay potential military action against the country.

On Tuesday, Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire with Iran, citing the need to allow Tehran's leadership more time to formulate a unified proposal for negotiations.

Trump, in his post, stated that the decision followed concerns over internal divisions within Iran's government and appeals from international stakeholders.

"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," the post read.

Trump further said he had directed the US military to continue a blockade while extending the ceasefire, adding that forces would "remain ready and able" until Iran presents a unified proposal and discussions are concluded.

"I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other," the post added.

However, diplomatic signals from Iran indicate conditions for restarting negotiations. Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said that Tehran is willing to resume talks only after the United States ends its naval blockade of Iranian ports, which Iran considers a violation of the ceasefire deal.

Citing an interview given by Iravani to Rudlaw News Network at the UN HQ, Tasnim News Agency reported that the Iranian envoy emphasised that for any dialogue to proceed, Washington must first halt its "ceasefire violations".

"The naval blockade of the United States, it is a violation of the ceasefire. And we told them that they should break this blockade. We have received some signs that they are ready to break it. And as soon as they break this blockade, I think that the next round of the negotiation will take place in Istanbul. Listen to them, we have not initiated the military aggression. They initiated the war against us, and we are ready. If they want to sit at the table and discuss and find a political solution, they will find us ready. If they want to go to the war, in this case, also Iran is ready for that," Iravani said.

The ambassador's remarks suggest that while a channel for communication may exist, the removal of the blockade remains the primary obstacle to a formal diplomatic process.

- ANI
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has released footage showing the seizure of two commercial cargo ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Panama has strongly condemned the capture of the MSC Francesca, a vessel sailing under its flag, calling it an illegal act that threatens maritime security. The IRGC accused the ships of violating navigational rules and alleged one was linked to Israel. The incident occurs amid diplomatic appeals from US President Donald Trump for a new deal, which Iranian leadership has met with skepticism.

Iran's IRGC seizes two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, drawing condemnation from Panama and complicating US diplomatic efforts.

Tehran, April 23 The Iranian government has published footage purportedly documenting the seizure of a commercial container ship within the strategic waters of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The visual evidence shows armed members of the Iranian military, wearing masks, scaling the hull of the cargo vessel to gain control of the deck. This escalation follows claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that their forces "captured two vessels in the strait on Wednesday".

Following the boarding operations, the military wing confirmed that the situation remained under their control, noting that "both ships were directed towards the Iranian coast".

According to Al Jazeera, the release of the video serves as a domestic demonstration of naval capability amidst heightened regional friction and a restrictive maritime blockade.

In a sharp diplomatic response, Panama has strongly condemned the seizure of the "MSC Francesca", describing the capture of a vessel sailing under its flag as "illegal". Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that while the ship is Italian-owned, it is registered under the Panamanian flag.

"The ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz when it was seized and forcibly taken to Iranian territorial waters," the ministry stated. Officials further warned that Tehran's actions pose "a serious threat to maritime security" and labelled the incident an "unnecessary escalation" at a time when the international community seeks to keep the waterway open without "threats or blackmail of any kind".

Detailing the operation, the IRGC identified the detained ships as the "MSC-FRANCESCA" and the "EPAMINODES". In a statement reported by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the military wing alleged the vessels were involved in violations while transiting the strategic waterway.

The IRGC accused the crews of "tampering with navigational aid systems and jeopardising maritime security". The statement, as quoted by IRIB, claimed the "MSC-FRANCESCA" belonged to the "Zionist regime" and alleged both ships were attempting to "secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation".

This naval confrontation surfaced just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of a temporary ceasefire. In an interview with CNBC, Trump issued a direct appeal for a diplomatic breakthrough, suggesting Iran could secure a prosperous future through a new agreement.

The President remarked, "Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal," noting the potential for a complete transformation of Tehran's circumstances. Despite maintaining a naval blockade, Trump urged the Iranian government to adopt a pragmatic strategy, adding, "They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country."

However, the gesture has been met with scepticism in Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticised the United States for what he termed "hypocritical" and contradictory behaviour.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation." He further accused Washington of a contradiction between its claims and its actions.

While the New York Post reported that Trump views a new round of talks as "possible" within a window of 36 to 72 hours, the path forward remains clouded. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on participating in the upcoming round of mediated discussions.

- ANI
The Iranian Embassy in Thailand mocked the Trump administration after US Navy Secretary John Phelan's abrupt resignation. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Phelan's departure, part of a broader military restructuring by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The exit follows the resignation of Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer amid misconduct allegations. Tensions remain high as the US maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports despite a fragile ceasefire.

Iranian Embassy in Thailand mocks Trump administration after Navy Secretary John Phelan's resignation, citing "regime change" amid Pentagon upheaval.

Bangkok, April 23 The Iranian Embassy in Thailand has launched a fresh verbal assault on Donald Trump, following the exit of United States Navy Secretary John C Phelan. In a social media post on X, the diplomatic mission highlighted the departure and remarked that "Regiment change continues."

This latest jab follows a pattern of provocative commentary from the embassy directed at the current American administration. Recently, the mission shared a satirical post on the same platform mocking the White House after US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped down from her cabinet position. In that instance, the embassy suggested that "regime change" was unfolding within the United States itself rather than abroad.

The verbal provocations from Tehran coincide with a period of significant upheaval within the American defence establishment. The Pentagon has confirmed the immediate resignation of US Navy Secretary John Phelan, marking the first exit of a military service head during Donald Trump's second term.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell verified the development on Wednesday, stating that Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately." In an official statement, Parnell expressed appreciation for the outgoing official's tenure, noting, "We are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy." However, no formal explanation was provided for the abrupt departure.

Phelan's exit appears to be part of a broader, more aggressive restructuring of the Pentagon. The resignation follows a series of high-level removals orchestrated by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has recently overseen the dismissal of several senior military figures.

Amongst those previously removed from their posts are the Army's top officer, Gen Randy George, alongside other high-ranking admirals and generals. These changes follow the earlier high-profile exits of Ad. Lisa Franchetti and Gen Charles "CQ" Brown Jr., signalling an extensive overhaul of the American military hierarchy since the beginning of 2025.

The vacancy at the top of the Navy is particularly significant given the current geopolitical climate, as American maritime forces remain heavily engaged in a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Despite a fragile ceasefire, American forces have continued to target vessels associated with Tehran.

This operational pressure has been concentrated in vital global corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz, where the Navy has maintained a robust presence to enforce the blockade. Tensions in the region remain acute, with recent maritime strikes on commercial shipping further complicating the stability of the existing truce.

While Washington has extended the cessation of hostilities, it has maintained the naval blockade, a move Tehran has denounced as a violation of the agreed terms. Consequently, Iran has thus far declined to participate in further diplomatic negotiations.

The instability within the defence sector coincides with similar turnover in the civilian cabinet, following the resignation of US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on Monday. White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung confirmed her exit via a post on X, stating that she "will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector." Her deputy, Keith Sonderling, is set to assume the role of acting secretary.

Chavez-DeRemer, who entered the department in March 2025 following a two-year stint in the US House of Representatives, leaves amidst a cloud of controversy. Reports from Politico suggest her resignation follows various misconduct allegations involving senior staff and personal indiscretions.

These claims include an alleged affair with a member of her security detail and accusations of unprofessional conduct during working hours. Furthermore, it is alleged that aides fabricated official schedules to facilitate her personal travel. As the administration grapples with these dual departures, Chavez-DeRemer is expected to transition directly into a role within the private sector.

- ANI
Iran's central bank has confirmed that revenue from new transit fees for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz was deposited in cash currency. The clarification follows speculation that payments were made in digital currencies like Bitcoin. Deputy Parliament Speaker Hamidreza Hajibabaee announced the first revenue deposit and warned that no external power can negotiate over the strait. He asserted Iran's sovereignty and threatened to block ships if the US continues aggressive policies.

Iran's central bank confirms toll revenue from Strait of Hormuz deposited in cash, not cryptocurrency. Deputy speaker warns US over waterway.

Tehran, April 24 Iran's central bank has confirmed that revenue from newly introduced transit fees for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has been successfully deposited, putting to rest speculation over the form of payment, as reported by Iranian state media Press TV.

As reported by Iranian state media Press TV, the income was received in "cash currency" and credited to the central bank's accounts.

The clarification follows earlier media claims suggesting that Iran was collecting transit fees in digital currencies such as Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

The report also noted that Iran's Deputy Parliament Speaker Hamidreza Hajibabaee announced that the first revenue from the Strait of Hormuz tolls had already been deposited into the central bank's account.

Speaking at a public gathering in Kuhdasht, Hajibabaee said that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to the Iranian people and asserted that no external power has the authority to negotiate over it.

"All ships passing through this route must pay tolls in Iranian rials to the Iranian nation as a rightful fee for using Iran's territorial waters," he said.

He also warned that if the United States continues with what he described as aggressive policies, Iran would not allow any ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Two violating vessels have been successfully seized so far, and this number will increase as necessary to protect Iran's sovereignty," he further added.

The deputy speaker described Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz as a key outcome of the country's resistance to foreign influence, claiming that US warships have been pushed back 200 kilometres due to Iran's military strength.

He further pointed out that around 20 per cent of global oil and 35 per cent of global gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Iran's position over the waterway highlights its significant role in the global economy.

- ANI
Actors Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, and Sivakarthikeyan urge citizens to vote responsibly in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Get key quotes and updates.

Chennai, April 23 Actors Prabhu and Vikram Prabhu urged citizens to exercise their democratic right as voting for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections got underway on Thursday.

Speaking about the importance of voting, Prabhu told ANI, "Putting a vote is every Indian citizen's right. So, please don't miss voting. Whoever you want to vote for, please do come and vote. That is the service you are doing for the country and for the state. God bless all, God bless Tamil Nadu, God bless India. Please do come and vote."



Meanwhile, Vikram Prabhu emphasised that voting is a responsibility and encouraged people to understand issues and participate meaningfully in the electoral process.



"I think it is our responsibility to come and vote. With so much speech and talk about the elections this time around, I'm just happy that a new, very young group of people have started talking about politics because it's a very important thing. I hope that it brings about more thought processes in youngsters about what kind of a country that we need to have and everything. It just doesn't start in the city. It has to blow up into thinking about a country also. So, if we practise our right to vote, then we are there to question what is right, what is wrong. So, I guess it starts here. It's a good festival to be in," shared Vikram.



Actor Sivakarthikeyan, a voter in the Maduravoyal Assembly constituency, arrived at a private school in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, along with his wife to cast his vote.



Speaking to reporters after exercising his franchise, Sivakarthikeyan said the election was largely influenced by social media and stressed the importance of informed voting.



"..... All voters should know the candidates well before voting. I have come to vote knowing the candidates well," he said.



He further added a strong message to voters, saying, "You should never sell your vote for money. And once you sell it, you can't question it."



Polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began today amid tight security. At 9 am, Tamil Nadu recorded 17.69 per cent voter turnout.Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38 per cent voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51 per cent, and Erode recorded 19.55 per cent turnout.



Vijay cast his vote at the Neelankarai polling booth. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is contesting from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies.



In Perambur, Vijay is pitted against DMK heavyweight RD Shekar, who recorded a landslide victory in the last elections by a margin of 54,976 votes against AIADMK's NR Dhanapalan.



In Tiruchirappalli East, he is contesting against sitting DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj S, who won with a huge margin of 53,797 votes in the 2021 elections.The counting of votes will take place on May 4.





- ANI
Minister of State Jitin Prasada concluded a two-day visit to the Czech Republic focused on strengthening trade and investment ties. He co-chaired the 13th India-Czech Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and inaugurated the India-Czech Business Forum. The visit included meetings with Czech Deputy PM Karel Havlicek and tours of Skoda facilities and advanced tech research centers. Both sides reviewed economic cooperation and identified new opportunities in AI, robotics, and the automobile sector.

Jitin Prasada concludes Czech visit, co-chairs Joint Commission, inaugurates Business Forum, and explores AI, robotics, and auto sector collaboration.

New Delhi, April 23 The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, concluded his official visit to the Czech Republic on Thursday, aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, the MoS held bilateral meetings with senior Czech leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlicek, his deputy Jan Sechter; and Deputy Foreign Minister Marie Chatardova.

The visit that was held between April 22 and April 23 at the invitation of the Czech government underscored India's commitment to deepening economic and strategic engagement with key European partners.

Moreover, the discussions focused on reviewing progress in economic cooperation and identifying new opportunities across priority sectors.

Union Minister Prasada has also co-chaired the 13th session of the India-Czech Republic Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation with Jan Sechter in Prague, where both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral economic ties and explored collaboration in emerging areas.

The protocol of the meeting was signed during the session, according to the Union government.

On the sidelines, Jitin Prasada inaugurated the India-Czech Business Forum and interacted with leading Czech industry representatives to promote trade and investment opportunities, while strengthening business-to-business linkages.

As part of the visit, he toured key industrial and technology facilities, including Skoda Transportation in Plzen, and held discussions with representatives of Skoda Auto, encouraging further investment in India's automobile sector.

He also visited research institutions such as the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics in Prague and the ELI Beamlines facility in Dolni Brezany, focusing on collaboration in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and laser science.

According to the Union government, the visit has reflected growing economic convergence between India and the Czech Republic, with both sides seeking to translate political intent into stronger trade, investment and innovation partnerships.

- IANS
Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP candidate and Leader of Opposition, inspected vulnerable polling booths in his Nandigram constituency during the West Bengal Assembly elections. He claimed he was barred from entering one booth and issued a strong warning against anyone disturbing the peace. The election features a high-profile rematch between Adhikari and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whom he defeated in Nandigram in 2021. Voter turnout in the first phase was robust, with Paschim Mednipur district recording the highest participation.

BJP's Suvendu Adhikari inspects vulnerable polling booths in Nandigram, vows action against those disturbing peace during Bengal polls.

Nandigram, April 23 Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly and BJP candidate, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday inspected vulnerable polling booths in his constituency, Nandigram, amid the polling for State Assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters, Adhikari claimed that he was not allowed to enter one of the polling booths.



The BJP leader said, "I was not allowed to enter this polling booth. The common man wants peace. Jo shanti todega hum usko todne ka kaam karenge. (Whoever disturbs the peace, we will break them)."



Earlier today, he cast his vote at a polling station in Nandigram. Adhikari is also contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.



"Parivartan hoga. If a change does not take place this time, Sanatana in Bengal will be finished. The Election Commission is doing good work, but there are some goons everywhere. Our polling agent has been arrested. Strict action should be taken immediately," he told ANI after casting his vote.



Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in West Bengal has turned into a hot pot of politics, witnessing a high-voltage clash between the two heavyweights, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.



Bhabanipur constituency is witnessing a repeat clash between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1,956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, as MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned from the seat.



In Nandigram, Adhikari is contesting against TMC's Pabitra Kar.



West Bengal is seeing a mega voter turnout even during the first few hours of voting. The voter turnout in West Bengal (Phase 1) was recorded at 41.11 per cent at 11 am on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India.



Paschim Mednipur district recorded a high turnout of 44. 68 percent followed by Jhargam at 43.71 per cent and Bankura at 43.22 per cent. The lowest turnout was recorded in Malda at 38.22 per cent.



The counting of votes will take place on May 4.





- ANI
Bollywood actress Kajol expressed disdain for the phrase "act like an adult," labeling it as terrible advice in a witty social media post. She shared a series of photos in an elegant maroon saree alongside her humorous caption. Kajol is known for frequently posting funny and cheeky mantras on her social media accounts, including one about weight gain. The actress will next appear in the upcoming action thriller "Maharagni: Queen of Queens."

Bollywood star Kajol says she hates being told to "act like an adult," calling it terrible advice, and shares her witty social media posts.

Mumbai, April 23 Bollywood star Kajol took to her social media account to express that she 'hates' when somebody asks to "act like an adult."

Taking to her social media account, Kajol dropped a carousel of pictures from a recent photoshoot, followed by a caption reflecting her quintessential wit and humour.

"I hate it when people say "act like an adult". Have u seen the adults lately??? That's terrible advice ! #wednesdaywisdom (sic) ," she wrote.

In the pictures, Kajol is seen posing in an elegant deep maroon saree with intricate golden embroidery and looking gorgeous.

The actress, along with her pictures, always shares funny and witty captions alongside.

The actress had earlier taken to her social media account, to post a cheeky "mantra" for those who find it hard to accept a few extra kilos.

Sharing a witty message, Kajol had written, "When ur weighing scale tells u that u have put on weight but can't see it always assume it's gone to ur head and u have just become smarter ! #namaste. Follow me for more hidden gems. (sic)"

In a similar post highlighting the actress' class sense of humour, Kajol had revealed how most of her life is a compilation of random moments turned into a shot.

The Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge actress was seen posing by the door in her social media post.

Giving the context in the caption, Kajol revealed that as she was contemplating whether she should shut the door or not.

"Deciding whether I should shut the door or leave it open... And somehow that became the shot! A lot like most of life (sic)", the caption read.

On the professional front, Kajol will next grace the screen with the forthcoming action thriller, "Maharagni: Queen of Queens".

- IANS
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan and his actress daughter Shruti Haasan were among the early voters in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, proudly showcasing their inked fingers on social media. Polling began across all 234 constituencies in a fiercely contested four-cornered battle among major alliances. Other prominent personalities, including actor and candidate Sundar C and his family, also cast their votes early, reflecting strong public enthusiasm. The electoral verdict, which will determine the next state government, will be declared on May 4.

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan and daughter Shruti Haasan cast their votes in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, sharing photos of their inked fingers.

Mumbai, April 23 Actor-politician Kamal Haasan and his actress daughter Shruti Haasan cast their votes on Thursday morning in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Shruti posted on her Instagram Stories, first sharing a picture of herself flaunting her inked finger and writing: "Did you vote?"



She then posted another image featuring her alongside her father Kamal Haasan. The two were seen posing for the shutterbugs as they showcased their inked fingers proudly.



Polling for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began on Thursday across all 234 constituencies, with over 5.73 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in a fiercely contested four-cornered battle.



The electoral contest primarily features the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making this one of the most competitive elections in recent years.



Voting commenced early in the morning, with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths, reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic process.



Prominent personalities were among the early voters. Actor and Madurai Central candidate Sundar C cast his vote at a polling station in Mandaveli, Chennai. He was accompanied by actor-politician Khushbu Sundar and their daughter. The trio waited in line along with other voters before exercising their franchise.



The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu.



On the film front, Kamal will next be seen in the second installment of Nag Ashwin's "Kalki 2898 AD" sequel, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas.



Set in a dystopian future in the year 2898 AD in the city of Kashi, the story follows a group on a mission to protect lab subject SUM-80's unborn child, believed to be Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu.



Shruti was last seen in Coolie directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film also stars Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Sathyaraj and Rachita Ram.





- IANS
BJP leader Boora Narsaiah Goud expressed strong confidence in his party's victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, using the slogan "Kamal Khilega, Bengal Badhega." He criticized the incumbent Mamata Banerjee-led government, claiming both Hindu and Muslim populations desire change. The first phase of polling for 152 constituencies saw an 18.76% voter turnout by 9 AM, with Paschim Mednipur recording the highest. The state is witnessing a major contest between the TMC, seeking a fourth term, and the BJP, which aims to form the government after winning 77 seats last time.

BJP leader Boora Narsaiah Goud predicts party victory in West Bengal, criticizes Mamata Banerjee's government as first phase records 18.76% turnout by 9 AM.

Hyderabad, April 23 BJP leader Boora Narsaiah Goud on Thursday exuded confidence in the party's victory, stating that "Kamal Khilega, Bengal Badhega," amid the ongoing polling for phase 1 of West Bengal assembly elections.

Goud also criticised the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government and said that the people of the State, Hindus and Muslims alike, aspire for change in power.

"Today the West Bengal first phase elections are going to be held. Looking at the frustration in the eyes of Mamata Didi and also TMC leaders, it is very clear not only the Hindus, most of the Muslim population also would like to have a better life. And better life is possible in West Bengal only with the BJP government. It is very clearly seen, the wind is towards the BJP and we are going to change the fate of the Bengal people once the BJP comes to the power in West Bengal," he said.

"The real Sonar Bangla will happen. And half of the population are going to vote with that commitment today. To that 'Kamal Khilega, Bengal Badhega'," he added.

Meanwhile, the voter turnout in West Bengal (Phase 1) was recorded at 18.76 per cent at 9 am on Thursday.

Paschim Mednipur district recorded a high turnout of 20.51%, while Bankura recorded 20.20% and Jhargram registered 19.84% turnout.

West Bengal is witnessing a two-phase election for its 294 Assembly seats. The first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the second phase is scheduled for April 29.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in the first phase.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

The state is set to witness a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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
The sacred portals of the Kedarnath temple have opened for devotees, coinciding with significant fresh snowfall that has blanketed the pilgrimage town. District authorities have implemented strict security measures, including a complete ban on mobile phones and unauthorized drones within the temple premises to maintain its sanctity. Officials have appealed to the thousands of arriving pilgrims to exercise caution, avoid unsafe routes, and carry heavy woollens due to near-freezing temperatures. The opening marks the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra season, drawing record numbers of devotees to the Himalayan shrine after its six-month winter closure.

Kedarnath temple portals open for Char Dham Yatra amid heavy snowfall. Authorities ban phones & drones, issue safety advisories for pilgrims.

Rudraprayag, April 22 The portals of Baba Kedarnath opened on Wednesday, as thousands of pilgrims arrived at the Dham amid fresh snowfall that blanketed the entire Kedarnath township under a thick layer of snow.

Devotees were seen making their way to the shrine, with the snow-covered landscape adding to the spiritual atmosphere of the pilgrimage.

Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra on Wednesday said that snowfall this season has been significant even during March and April, drawing excitement among devotees.

"The snowfall this time was heavy even in March and April. Our devotees are very excited to see the snow. I appeal to everyone to be cautious and not take the routes that are not safe for your journey," Mishra told ANI.

Earlier, Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said that the administration has tightened security and management arrangements in Kedarnath Dham during the pilgrimage season.

She said that the use of mobile phones, drones, or any cameras for videography has been completely banned within the temple premises.

"In accordance with the guidelines issued this time, making any kind of reels or videography in the temple courtyard is prohibited. The use of mobile phones within our perimeter is also prohibited so that its dignity and sanctity are maintained," SP Tomar told ANI.

The official further said that a mobile counter and locker system has also been established by the temple administration.

"Along with this, flying drones without permission is also prohibited here. We have taken action against two drones that were being flown unauthorised. This will continue in the future as well. Therefore, I would request and appeal to everyone not to engage in such unauthorised activities for the sake of the security and sanctity of the Dham," SP Niharika Tomar said.

The administration has urged devotees to follow the rules and help maintain the sanctity of the temple premises.

With the Char Dham Yatra officially commenced on April 19 (Akshaya Tritiya), record numbers of pilgrims have already gathered at the base camps.

Despite the festive air, authorities have issued advisories for devotees to carry heavy woollens, as temperatures remain near freezing due to the recent snow.

As the sun rises on April 22, the echoing sound of conch shells and chants of "Kedar Baba Ki Jai" will mark the end of the six-month winter hiatus, reopening one of India's most sacred pilgrimage sites to the world.

- ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the state is rapidly emerging as a global investment hub for international corporations. This was discussed during a meeting with Danish Ambassador Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, focusing on five critical sectors including port development and energy infrastructure. The Vadhvan Port project was highlighted as a key initiative to transform Maharashtra into a maritime superpower. The state also expressed interest in partnering with Danish firms for electric ferry and water taxi technology.

CM Fadnavis says Maharashtra is emerging as a global investment hub, with focus on port development, energy, and water management in talks with Danish Ambassador.

Mumbai, April 23 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the state continues to solidify its position as the "growth engine" of India and the top destination for foreign direct investment.

He expressed confidence that Maharashtra is rapidly emerging as a global investment hub for international corporations, driven by the government's pro-industry policies.

He was speaking during a high-level meeting between the Danish Ambassador to India, Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, and CM Fadnavis at the Chief Minister's official residence, 'Varsha'.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Maharashtra and Denmark, specifically across five critical sectors, including port development and shipping, energy infrastructure, water management, logistics and export growth, and sustainable urban transport. In addition, Fadnavis discussed with the Danish Ambassador the proposed development of the Vadhavan port and India's emergence as a maritime power.

During the deliberations, CM Fadnavis briefed the Danish delegation on the ambitious Vadhvan Port project. He emphasised that this project is poised to transform Maharashtra and India into a global maritime superpower, significantly boosting logistics capabilities and national exports.

He said that Maharashtra's business-friendly ecosystem is attracting global giants, and that the focus on infrastructure, such as Vadhvan Port, will redefine its role in the global supply chain.

A significant portion of the talk focused on modernising water transport. The Chief Minister highlighted the state's plan to implement water taxi projects and integrated control systems to ease urban congestion, said the government release.

According to the government release, the Maharashtra government expressed keen interest in partnering with leading Danish firms to develop electric ferry and electric water taxi technology.

Danish Ambassador Kristensen noted that Denmark's success with coastal electric ferry services could be seamlessly applied to the Mumbai-Konkan coastline.

The Ambassador highlighted that approximately 60 Danish companies are already operational in the Mumbai and Pune regions, spanning manufacturing, retail, services and shipping.

Ambassador Kristensen expressed confidence that Maharashtra will serve as a pivotal partner under the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, particularly in the maritime sector, according to the government release.

- IANS
Projects aim to cut travel time by 40-50% in key regions

Loans for land acquisition on three Vidarbha expressways

The Maharashtra government's infrastructure committee has approved the construction of the 34.21 km Mumbai Metro Line 5-A with a massive investment of 18,130.55 crore. It also sanctioned HUDCO loans for land acquisition to advance three major expressway projects in the Vidarbha region: Nagpur-Gondia, Bhandara-Gadchiroli, and Nagpur-Chandrapur. Furthermore, a proposal worth 1,063 crore was cleared for Phase 2 infrastructure works ahead of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized that these projects are crucial for enhancing connectivity, boosting industry, and serving millions of residents and pilgrims.

Maharashtra cabinet approves Mumbai Metro Line 5-A, loans for three expressways, and Kumbh Mela 2027 infrastructure. Details inside.

Mumbai, April 22 Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Cabinet Infrastructure Development Committee on Wednesday approved the construction of Mumbai Metro Line 5-A, with a total investment of Rs 18,130.55 crore.

Additionally, the committee sanctioned the procurement of loans from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited for land acquisition for three ambitious expressway projects, Nagpur-Gondia, Bhandara-Gadchiroli, and Nagpur-Chandrapur.

Furthermore, a proposal of Rs 1,063 crore for Phase 2 works related to the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 was also approved.

According to the Chief Minister, Metro Line 5-A will benefit 6.9 million residents.

He stated that the approved Metro Line 5-A will span 34.21 km and include 19 stations.

He said that Phase 1 comprises Kapurbawdi to Dhamankar Naka and Phase 2 includes Dhamankar Naka to Durgadi, while the Line 5-A extension will cover Durgadi-Kalyan-Ulhasnagar.

The Chief Minister said that this project is expected to benefit approximately 6.9 million people in Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, and Ulhasnagar, reducing travel time by 40-50 per cent.

He directed officials to expedite coordination with the Central Government and relevant departments to obtain the necessary clearances.

Further, the Chief Minister instructed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to establish a strict "Project Implementation Schedule" for the Nagpur-Gondia Expressway, Bhandara-Gadchiroli Expressway, and Nagpur-Chandrapur Expressway.

The Nagpur-Gondia Expressway is 162.57 km at an estimated cost of Rs 19,582.19 crore. Approval was granted for Rs 3,162.18 crore for land acquisition.

The Bhandara-Gadchiroli Expressway is 94.24 km, and approval was granted for land acquisition worth Rs 931.15 crore.

The 204.79 km Nagpur-Chandrapur Expressway was also approved, with clearance for Rs 2,353.94 crore for land acquisition.

The Chief Minister emphasised that these projects are vital for boosting connectivity and industry in the Vidarbha region and should be completed within six years.

He directed the department to resolve loan-related matters with the Finance Department and Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited immediately, the government release said.

Moreover, to ensure high-quality facilities for devotees attending the Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela, the Chief Minister approved a Rs 1,063 crore proposal for Phase 2 works.

This includes parking facilities, water supply, electrical works, health services, solid waste management, and a Main Control Room.

He urged authorities to complete these infrastructure projects rapidly to accommodate the influx of pilgrims.

- IANS
The Maharashtra Cabinet approved the 'Maharashtra State Compressed Biogas Policy 2026' to transform urban waste and agricultural residue into clean renewable fuel. The policy aims to address the state's 24,500 metric tonnes of daily municipal solid waste and over 20 million tonnes of annual agricultural residue. It includes financial incentives like Rs 500 crore Viability Gap Funding and up to Rs 10 crore subsidy per project, with implementation through PPP models. The policy aligns with national schemes like SATAT and GOBARdhan to boost CBG production for industrial, transport, and domestic use.

Maharashtra Cabinet approves Compressed Biogas Policy 2026 to convert urban waste & agricultural residue into clean fuel, targeting Net-Zero 2070.

Mumbai, April 22 In a move towards sustainable waste management and energy self-reliance, the Maharashtra Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday approved the 'Maharashtra State Compressed Biogas Policy 2026.'

The policy aims to tackle the rising challenges of urban waste and agricultural residue by converting them into clean, renewable fuel.

Maharashtra currently generates approximately 24,500 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste daily from 423 urban local bodies. Despite a large portion being organic, very little is currently converted into compost or biogas, leading to severe air pollution and groundwater contamination at landfills.

Additionally, over 20 million metric tonnes of agricultural residue are burned or wasted annually in the state. The new policy seeks to bridge this gap by mandating the source segregation of waste into organic and inorganic categories, said the government release.

The policy is designed to achieve multiple environmental and economic goals. The policy proposes to increase CBG production for industrial, transport, and domestic use, contribute to India's 2070 Net-Zero carbon emission target, boost investment, entrepreneurship, and employment within the bioenergy sector and utilise Napier grass on wetlands and fallow lands in Marathwada for high methane yield.

To ensure financial viability, CBG projects require at least 200 tonnes of segregated organic waste per day. Consequently, the small urban local bodies will be grouped into clusters to support collective projects, with an aim to establish one project per Taluka.

Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) will supply supplementary raw materials like sugarcane residue, soybean waste, and livestock manure. A dedicated portal and mobile app will connect developers, farmers, and waste collectors.

According to the Cabinet decision, the Urban Development Department will serve as the state-level nodal agency, overseeing tenders and financial viability. A State-Level Steering Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, and District Committees, led by District Collectors, will manage approvals and land allocation.

The state government has proposed a provision of Rs 500 crore for Viability Gap Funding for the 2026-27 period. Projects can receive up to Rs 10 crore in subsidies based on capacity.

Projects will be implemented via Public-Private Partnership or Hybrid Annuity Modes. Local bodies will provide tipping fees per ton of waste, and the state will ensure priority electricity and water supply to these units. The policy remains synchronised with national schemes like SATAT, GOBARdhan, and the Swachh Bharat Mission.

- IANS
The Baramati Assembly by-election is underway following the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. His wife and current Deputy CM, Sunetra Pawar, is contesting the seat on an NCP ticket. Rohit Pawar, after casting his vote, described the election as emotional and expressed strong confidence in Sunetra Pawar's victory. The election is widely viewed as a public tribute to the late Ajit Pawar.

NCP MLA Rohit Pawar casts his vote in the emotional Baramati bypolls, expressing confidence in Sunetra Pawar's victory.

Baramati, April 23 Nationalist Congress Party MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday remembered his uncle and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, late Ajit Pawar, amid bye-elections in the Baramati Assembly constituency.

The Baramati seat fell vacant after Ajit Pawar passed away in a plane crash on January 28. His wife and Maharashtra Deputy CM, Sunetra Pawar, is contesting on an NCP ticket.

Rohit Pawar cast his vote at the polling booth at Zilla Parishad Primary School in Pimpli Village.

Speaking to reporters, Rohit Pawar noted the lack of joy on a usual polling day, as Baramati had lost one of its more towering figures. Rohit also expressed confidence in Sunetra Pawar receiving a huge mandate.

He told reporters, "This election is very emotional. People are emotional because their leader is no more. Ajit Dada was a popular leader in the state and considered the constituency his family. We are confident that Sunetra Pawar will win by a record margin."

Taking a swipe at the BJP, he said, "People of Baramati do not want Pawar versus Pawar. But Ajit Dada's party is with the BJP, and that big party wants the fight to continue in the Pawar family."

After Congress withdrew the candidacy of Akash More, Sunetra Pawar is all set to be a part of the Legislative Assembly, fulfilling the condition of holding the Deputy CM seat.

However, on paper at least, the elections are not a clear walkover for Sunetra, who is contesting against newly formed New Rashtriya Samaj Party candidate RY Gutukade, Hindustan Janta Party's Satish Kadam, and 20 independent candidates.

Earlier today, Sunetra Pawar exercised her franchise at a polling booth in Katewadi. She was accompanied by NCP MP Parth Pawar, who also cast his vote at the Zilla Parishad School.

Sunetra Pawar told reporters, "The people of Baramati have been standing in support of the Pawar family for the last 60 years. This election is taking place in the absence of Dada, and all the people of Baramati have decided to cast their votes for Dada as a tribute to him."

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI
PM Modi announced a ten-point guarantee for West Bengal during a rally in Krishnanagar, focusing on women's safety and jobs. Locals welcomed the promise of a Mahila Thana in every block to address atrocities against women. Youth expressed satisfaction with job guarantees over allowances, emphasizing the need for sustainable employment. Modi also promised financial aid of Rs 36,000 annually for women and initiatives for pregnant women and girls' education.

Locals hail PM Modi's 10-point guarantee for West Bengal, including Mahila Thanas, jobs for youth, and financial aid for women. Read more.

Nadia, April 23 Locals here on Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ten-point guarantee to the "women and sisters" of the state while youngsters expressed their happiness with the promise of jobs if the BJP is voted to power.

PM Modi made the promises while addressing a rally in Krishnanagar before the second phase of Assembly elections.

Among his ten guarantees, his primary focus was on women's safety.

Listing the guarantees, a woman at the gathering said, "PM Modi has given the first guarantee for women's safety because of the atrocities that women are being subjected to in West Bengal."

She emphasised that the PM has guaranteed a Mahila Thana (women's police station) in each block that will be responsible for ensuring the safety of women.

"He has also promised to grant Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to women," she told IANS.

A local added, "For Bengal's safety PM Modi has promised to seal the border (with Bangladesh)."

"PM Modi has undertaken a battle to provide safety for women which is why he has promised that every block will have a Mahila Thana (women's police station)," he echoed.

Meanwhile, a youngster expressed his satisfaction with the Prime Minister's promise for jobs rather than only focussing on allowances.

"We don't want politics of 'bhata' (government-provided allowance). We need jobs in order to settle down. That is why we are very content with whatever the PM has promised today," he added.

He underlined that Nadia's youths along with all other people of West Bengal "want that PM Modi's (BJP) government should be formed here this time".

Meanwhile, extending his guarantees from six to ten, PM Modi said, "Those who commit atrocities against women and daughters in Bengal will be punished. Every block will have a Mahila Thana. Women will be recruited into the police force on a large scale. Within a year, Rs 36,000 will be transferred into women's accounts."

He also promised initiatives for pregnant women, girls' education and those women who aim for self-employment.

- IANS
Maruti Suzuki India has announced its highest-ever annual production of 23.4 lakh units in the 2025-26 financial year. The company is the only Suzuki Motor Corporation facility globally and the only Indian OEM to achieve this passenger vehicle production volume. Top-selling models like the Dzire, Swift, and Baleno each crossed the two lakh unit production mark during the year. With a new manufacturing facility planned in Gujarat, Maruti Suzuki aims to scale its annual production capacity to about 40 lakh units.

Maruti Suzuki India produces a record 23.4 lakh units in FY26, led by Dzire & Swift. The company plans a new plant to target 40 lakh units annually.

New Delhi, April 23 Maruti Suzuki India Limited on Thursday said it has achieved its highest-ever annual production volume of 23.4 lakh units in FY2025-26, making it the only original equipment maker in the country to achieve such record production volume of passenger vehicles.

Maruti Suzuki India also became the only company among Suzuki Motor Corporation's global automobile manufacturing facilities, to achieve this landmark volume, it said in a statement.

The company aims to scale it to about 40 lakh units per annum.

"This is a proud moment for us, as very few companies across the world have been able to manufacture such large volumes in a single country. At Maruti Suzuki, we have always believed in offering products and technologies that complement the evolving needs and aspirations of our customers, earning their trust, generation after generation," said Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited.

Dzire, Fronx, Swift, Ertiga and Baleno were the most produced models during the year, with each crossing the two lakh unit mark, said the company.

"At its foundation lies the mutual trust and long-standing collaboration that we share with our employees, vendor and dealer partners. This ecosystem supported by the current government's policy environment, like the rollout of GST 2.0, strengthened market confidence and stimulated demand at a critical time allowing us to manufacture record-high units," said Takeuchi.

The automaker currently operates four manufacturing facilities, one each in Gurugram, Manesar and Kharkhoda in Haryana, and Hansalpur in Gujarat.

Together, these facilities have an installed annual capacity of 24 lakh units.

As part of its capacity expansion strategy, the company, in March 2026 identified land for its fifth manufacturing facility at Khoraj Industrial Estate in Sanand, Gujarat.

Once fully operational, this facility will have an annual production capacity of 10 lakh units.

- IANS
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated the government was unaware of CIA agents participating in an anti-narcotics operation in Chihuahua, revealed only after two agents died in an accident. She called it a serious national security and sovereignty matter, prompting the Foreign Ministry to request full information from the US Ambassador. Sheinbaum emphasized that all security cooperation with the US must be authorized by and channeled through the federal government. This follows her earlier rejection of US military intervention in Mexico's fight against drug cartels.

President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico was unaware of CIA agents in a Chihuahua drug lab raid, calling it a sovereignty issue after two agents died.

Mexico City, April 23 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that the federal government was unaware of the US Central Intelligence Agency agents taking part in an anti-narcotics operation in northern Mexico to dismantle a clandestine drug lab.

The presence of US agents in an operation against organised crime in Chihuahua, a state bordering Texas, "is something that should not be taken lightly," as it is a matter of national security and sovereignty, said the President on Wednesday (local time).

"We are verifying whether they were accredited or not," she said at Wednesday's morning press conference regarding this case that came to light after the two American agents lost their lives in an accident in the Chihuahua mountains while dismantling drug labs.

Sheinbaum emphasised that, given this potential violation of national laws, the Foreign Ministry sent a letter to the US Ambassador to Mexico requesting all relevant information and that such actions are not part of established security protocols.

"Any relationship with the US government, particularly on security matters, must go through the federal government," she said, adding there had been "no knowledge" of the agents' participation. She also stressed that no US government agents should operate in Mexico without authorisation.

According to US media, the agents' presence in Mexico only came to light after they were killed in a car accident in Chihuahua on Sunday.

Earlier in January, the Mexican President also rejected the possibility of US intervention in Mexico to combat drug cartels, stressing the importance of maintaining national sovereignty and strengthening the country's unity.

She had dismissed the need for talks with US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly suggested sending US troops to Mexico to combat drug trafficking.

Any security cooperation must be based on mutual respect, national sovereignty, and collaboration without subordination, she stressed.

- IANS
Plans many more such getaways

Television host and actress Mini Mathur has embarked on her first solo food trip to Phuket at the age of 49. She documented her journey, focusing on exploring highly-rated, traditional local eateries across the Thai island. Mathur shared a curated list of recommended dishes, from crab spinach curry to mango chia coconut pudding, with her social media followers. She expressed that she is now "addicted" to such solo culinary getaways and plans to do many more.

Actress Mini Mathur embarks on a solo foodie trip to Phuket, sharing her curated list of traditional eateries and must-try dishes. See her journey.

Mumbai, April 22 Television host and actress Mini Mathur seems to have lived the best phase of her life as she embarked on a solo trip to Phuket, at 49.

She recently treated her followers to glimpses from her solo trip, which she described as a "foodie trip".

The actress shared a montage of her fun travel and food highlights, revealing that her approach was to explore "highly rated, old and traditional spots" across the Thai island.

Documenting her journey through a series of videos and photos in a montage on her social media account, Mini offered her fans a curated list of eateries along with must-try dishes from the respective hotspots.

The actress shared glimpses of her devouring on the local dishes such as crab spinach curry, pomelo salad, sticky rice mango, chilli basil pork, tom yum, mango chia coconut pudding and many more.

Mini Mathur also recommended pit-stops for cold brews and signature dishes.

Calling it her first solo food trip, Mini admitted that she is now "addicted" and plans to do many more such getaways.

The visuals shared by Mini capture her riding a scooter through palm-lined streets.

Talking about Mini Mathur, the actress who is married to filmmaker Kabir Khan, rose to fame in the early 2000s for her hosting skills.

Her on-screen pairing with Hussain Kuwajerwala on the singing reality show "Indian Idol" became extremely popular and went on to set a benchmark for television hosts.

- IANS
Mock polling was conducted in Chennai and Siliguri ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Tamil Nadu witnesses a single-phase poll with a three-way contest involving the DMK alliance, AIADMK-led NDA, and actor Vijay's TVK. In West Bengal, Phase 1 voting begins with a high-stakes battle between the incumbent Trinamool Congress and the BJP. By-elections are also underway in Gujarat and Maharashtra constituencies, with all results due on May 4.

Mock polling ensures smooth voting as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal head to polls. Key contests feature DMK, AIADMK, TMC, and BJP. Actor Vijay's debut adds twist.

New Delhi, April 23 Ahead of the voting for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026 on Thursday, mock polling was held at the Chennai High School.

In West Bengal, mock polling was conducted at the Siliguri Girls' High School in Siliguri to ensure that everything is functioning properly.

Polling for the Assembly elections 2026 will begin at 7:00 am in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1), and will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

In Tamil Nadu, 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.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

Meanwhile, West Bengal is set to witness a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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.

Meanwhile, polling for by-elections in Gujarat's Umreth and Maharashtra's Baramati and Rahuri is also underway. The counting of the votes for the by-elections will take place on May 4.

- ANI
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor marked his first 100 days by highlighting significant progress in bilateral ties, including advancements on a major trade deal and strengthened defense cooperation. He noted his recent meetings in Washington with top US leadership and expressed great optimism for the future of the partnership. The envoy confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India next month, which will include a Quad ministerial meeting. Gor described the relationship as being on an "incredible footing," with more major announcements expected soon.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor highlights major trade, defense, and Quad progress in first 100 days, with Secretary Rubio set to visit India.

New Delhi, April 21 US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, highlighted the strength of India-US ties upon touching 100 days as the envoy to India.

In a post on X on Tuesday, he highlighted several achievements between New Delhi and Washington, from advancing a major trade deal, strengthening defence cooperation, to India joining the Pax Silica initiative. He shared a video which showcased key developments from the first 100 days of his tenure here in India.

He recalled his recent visit to Washington, where he met POTUS, VP Vance and Secretary Rubio and expressed great optimism on the future of ties.

"100 days in as U.S. Ambassador to India -- and we've hit the ground running! From advancing a major U.S.-India trade deal, welcoming India into Pax Silica, strengthening defense cooperation, and engaging leaders across government and business -- the momentum is undeniable. I also traveled to Washington to meet with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary Rubio to deepen this critical partnership. This is just the beginning. The United States and India aren't just talking -- we're delivering results."

Earlier in an interview to DD, United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described India as "vitally important to us and an incredible partner," while stating that India-US relations are on an "incredible footing" and indicated several big-ticket announcements on bilateral ties are expected in the coming days and weeks.

He underlined the strength of bilateral ties, stating that the relationship is currently on an "incredible footing."

The envoy also confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit India next month, marking his first visit to the country. Gor said preparations are underway for a ministerial-level Quad meeting in India.

"We're looking forward to hosting a ministerial-level Quad meeting in India. This will be the Secretary's first visit to the country, and he is keen to visit not just Delhi but other places as well. India is vitally important to us and an incredible partner. The President also shares a strong relationship with your Prime Minister," Gor told DD News.

- ANI
MoS Pabitra Margherita meets Vanuatu's FM Xavier Emanuel Harry, discusses cooperation in health, climate infrastructure & multilateral forums.

Port Vila, April 23 Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Thursday met Xavier Emanuel Harry, Vanuatu's Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, International Cooperation and External Trade, and held discussions on deepening bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors.

He reaffirmed India's commitment to remain a reliable partner in Vanuatu's development efforts.



Following the meeting, the MoS took to X and posted, "Pleased to meet Xavier Emanuel Harry, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, IC & External Trade of Vanuatu. India and Vanuatu share a strong partnership anchored in mutual trust and shared values."



"Had productive discussions on advancing bilateral development cooperation, particularly in health, capacity building, and climate-resilient infrastructure. Also discussed cooperation in multilateral fora. India remains a committed and reliable partner in Vanuatu's development journey," he added.



On Wednesday, Margherita visited the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology in Vanuatu, a flagship institution established with India's support to strengthen digital skills and build local capacity among youth.



He stated that the institution stands as a strong pillar of India-Vanuatu friendship and a testament to growing bilateral cooperation.



The MoS reached Port Vila on Wednesday on his first official visit to Vanuatu, aimed at further deepening the bilateral relationship between the two nations.



"Delighted to arrive in Port Vila on my first official visit to Vanuatu. Looking forward to meaningful engagements to further deepen our longstanding friendship and partnership," Margherita posted on X after his arrival.



Margherita is on an official visit to Vanuatu and Tuvalu from April 22 to 25, during which he will hold bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers and other officials of both countries.



According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit 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.





- IANS
Tension erupted at a polling booth in Chennai's Mylapore constituency following a confrontation between BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and DMK agents over alleged voting irregularities, requiring police intervention. Meanwhile, senior officials and political leaders, including Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik and Congress leader P. Chidambaram, cast their votes across the state. Chidambaram praised the enthusiasm of young, first-time voters and cautioned against voting based on "imaginary ideas." The high-stakes assembly elections saw largely peaceful polling statewide, with extensive security deployed to ensure a fair process.

Tension at Mylapore polling booth as BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and DMK workers clash over alleged voting irregularities. Details inside.

Chennai, April 23 Tension prevailed at a polling booth in Chennai's Mylapore Assembly constituency on Thursday after a confrontation broke out between BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and DMK polling agents over alleged voting irregularities.

The incident occurred at a polling station located in Alwarpet, where Tamilisai raised objections, alleging that certain individuals were allowed to cast their votes without proper identification.

Her claims were immediately contested by DMK agents present at the booth, leading to a heated verbal exchange between the two sides.

As the situation escalated, police personnel intervened and dispersed the crowd to restore order, ensuring that polling resumed without further disruption.

Meanwhile, senior election officials and political leaders exercised their franchise across the state as polling progressed in a single phase for all 234 Assembly constituencies.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer, Archana Patnaik, cast her vote at a polling station in Virugambakkam, Maduravoyal constituency, and later reviewed polling arrangements.

Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) President, G.K. Vasan, voted at a polling booth in Alwarpet Higher Secondary School in Chennai, urging citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.

In Sivaganga district, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram cast his vote in Karaikudi and lauded the enthusiasm shown by young voters.

Addressing reporters later, Chidambaram said he was encouraged by the participation of first-time voters and expressed hope that they would vote for stability, development, and welfare.

He cautioned against voting based on "imaginary ideas" and stressed the importance of electing a government committed to governance and progress.

The high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are witnessing a multi-cornered contest, with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance seeking to retain power, while the AIADMK-led NDA, along with other parties, aims to unseat the incumbent government.

Polling has been largely peaceful across the state, barring isolated incidents such as the clash in Mylapore. Authorities have deployed extensive security arrangements to ensure free and fair elections, with officials maintaining close vigilance throughout the day.

- IANS
NASA has unveiled the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a powerful new observatory with a field of view 100 times larger than Hubble's. The $4 billion telescope is designed to map light from a billion galaxies and directly image exoplanets by blocking starlight. It will be positioned 1.5 million km from Earth at the L2 Lagrange point for optimal stability. Scheduled for launch as early as September on a SpaceX rocket, it will send back 11 terabytes of data daily to complete a galactic planetary census.

NASA unveils the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a $4B observatory to map galaxies, directly image exoplanets, and study dark energy.

New Delhi, April 22 US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration unveiled the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a widefield observatory designed to scan the universe for planets outside the solar system and probe the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said at a news conference at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland that "Roman will give the Earth a new atlas of the universe." The 12metre, silvery contraption with large solar panels will be moved to Florida for a launch into space by a SpaceX rocket in September at the earliest.

Named after NASA's first chief astronomer, the 'mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,' the Nancy Grace Roman, the new telescope will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble's, potentially measuring light from a billion galaxies in its lifetime, NASA said.

This observatory will also be able to block starlight to directly see exoplanets and planet-forming disks, complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy, and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics, it added.

The Roman telescope was built at a cost of over $4 billion in more than a decade and will be positioned 1.5 million kilometres from Earth to probe vast regions of space.

At this special place in space, called the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point, or L2, gravitational forces balance to keep objects in steady orbits with very little assistance, the agency said in a blog post.

The thermal stability of an observatory at L2 will provide a ten-fold improvement beyond Hubble in much of the data Roman will gather.

It will send 11 terabytes of data a day down to Earth, said Mark Melton, a systems engineer at Goddard Space Flight Center.

- IANS
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) held a Joint Coordination Committee meeting in Ahmedabad to strengthen inter-agency cooperation against drug trafficking. Deputy Director General Maneesh Kumar chaired the session, emphasizing real-time intelligence sharing and comprehensive investigations. The meeting identified 50 priority cases for focused monitoring and highlighted the use of tools like FIU and NATGRID. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the NCB for securing 73 drug convictions in the first quarter of 2026.

NCB DDG Maneesh Kumar chairs JCC meeting in Ahmedabad, emphasizing real-time intelligence sharing and data exchange to tackle drug trafficking and dismantle networks.

Ahmedabad, April 23 Inter-agency coordination through real-time intelligence sharing and regular data exchange was in focus as NCB Deputy Director General Maneesh Kumar chaired a meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee for Gujarat with officials of other drug law enforcement agencies, an official said on Thursday.

During the meeting, focus was placed on comprehensive investigations in drug cases, including financial probes and terror linkages, along with the identification and dismantling of major trafficking networks, as well as the identification of 50 priority cases by the Gujarat Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) for focused monitoring, said the official in a statement.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Director General (DDG) for the Western Region of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), saw the participation from BSF, Customs, DRI, Income Tax, Indian Coast Guard, NIA, IB, RPF, Gujarat ANTF and the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA).

"The meeting also stressed robust inter-agency coordination through real-time intelligence sharing, regular data exchange and joint interrogation in inter-state cases, along with effective use of tools such as FIU and NATGRID to track syndicates, key accused and repeat offenders," said the statement.

In a post on X, the NCB said, "Quarterly State-Level JCC meeting for Gujarat was convened by NCB in Ahmedabad to further strengthen coordination among Drug Law Enforcement Agencies to effectively tackle emerging narcotics challenges."

The meeting came close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulating the NCB for getting 73 drug offenders convicted in the first three months of 2026 with the harshest punishments.

In a post on X on Monday, HM Amit Shah said, "To protect our youth from the scourge of drugs, the Modi govt is ruthlessly demolishing drug cartels and is also ensuring their conviction. Under this mission, the NCB has made a breakthrough in getting 73 drug offenders convicted in the first three months of 2026, with the harshest punishments."

In the first quarter of 2026, from January to March, the NCB secured convictions of 73 drug offenders in 35 cases. Out of these, four were awarded the maximum sentence of 20 years, while 54 others were awarded sentences of 10 years or more. A total fine of Rs 1.22 crore was also imposed on the convicts.

The NCB's focused approach to trial monitoring has led to a steady increase in the conviction rate from 60.5 per cent in 2024 to 65.5 per cent in 2025 and now to 68.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, said a statement.

- IANS
NCP(SCP) MP Supriya Sule cast her vote in the Baramati Assembly by-election on April 23. The seat fell vacant after former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash, with his wife Sunetra Pawar contesting on an NCP ticket. NCP(SCP) MLA Rohit Pawar and NCP MP Parth Pawar also cast their votes, while Sharad Pawar skipped voting due to health issues. Sunetra Pawar urged voters to honor Ajit Pawar's legacy, with counting set for May 4.

NCP(SCP) MP Supriya Sule votes in Baramati by-election. Sunetra Pawar contests after Ajit Pawar's death. Rohit Pawar and Parth Pawar also cast votes.

Baramati, April 23 Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule cast her vote on Thursday at a polling station in Baramati for the Assembly by-election. The Baramati seat fell vacant after Ajit Pawar passed away in a plane crash on January 28. His wife and Maharashtra Deputy CM, Sunetra Pawar, is contesting on an NCP ticket.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday remembered his uncle and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, late Ajit Pawar, amid bye-elections in the Baramati Assembly constituency.

Rohit Pawar cast his vote at the polling booth at Zilla Parishad Primary School in Pimpli Village.

Earlier today, Sunetra Pawar exercised her franchise at a polling booth in Katewadi. She was accompanied by NCP MP Parth Pawar, who also cast his vote at the Zilla Parishad School.

Sunetra Pawar told reporters, "The people of Baramati have been standing in support of the Pawar family for the last 60 years. This election is taking place in the absence of Dada, and all the people of Baramati have decided to cast their votes for Dada as a tribute to him."

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar will not participate in the voting for the Baramati Assembly by-election scheduled for April 23 due to health-related issues, said Mahayuti candidate and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunetra Pawar.

The announcement comes as a significant development in the high-stakes battle for the Pawar family's stronghold, Baramati.

The bypolls in Pune's Baramati constituency come after the former NCP Chief Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash while he was headed to his constituency earlier this year.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier announced the schedule for by-elections to eight Assembly constituencies in six states. The two Maharashtra constituencies include Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district and Baramati in Pune district.

The by-election in Baramati is scheduled for April 23 following the vacancy caused by Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash earlier this year.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI
Lumbini Province in Nepal has become the first province to pass a comprehensive bill focused on the welfare of the Dalit community. The legislation emphasizes securing housing, medical care, and educational facilities, going beyond the national anti-discrimination law. It provides for free treatment for serious illnesses, hostel access for students, and support for traditional occupations. The bill was unanimously approved and aligns with the central government's pledge to address historical injustices against Dalits.

Lumbini Province passes a pioneering bill ensuring housing, education, and healthcare for Dalits, marking a major step for social justice in Nepal.

Kathmandu, April 22 Nepal's Lumbini Province has become the first province in the country to pass a bill aimed at ensuring the livelihood and welfare of the Dalit community.

Although the country has a national law on Dalit rights - which focuses on penalising discrimination against Dalits and ensuring equal rights - the bill endorsed by the Lumbini Provincial Assembly places greater emphasis on ensuring housing, medical, and educational facilities for Dalits.

Besides Lumbini, Nepal has six other provinces - Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim. Under Nepal's Constitution, provincial and local governments are allowed to enact their own laws, provided they do not contradict federal laws.

The bill provides for housing arrangements for individuals or families from the Dalit community, hostel facilities for economically disadvantaged Dalit students pursuing higher education, and priority placement for Dalit students in hostels of government, private, and community schools and universities within the province.

In the health sector, the bill guarantees free treatment, as prescribed by the provincial government, for impoverished Dalit citizens suffering from complex and serious illnesses. It also ensures subsidies, discounts, and concessional loans for technical machines, tools, and raw materials to preserve, develop, and modernise traditional occupations of the Dalit community.

Minister for Social Development Janmajay Timilsina presented the proposal for discussion and endorsement to the Provincial Assembly, and the bill was unanimously approved.

"Once the bill becomes law, it will ensure human rights and social justice for the Dalit community, guarantee inclusive representation at all levels of the state, and increase participation of Dalits from policymaking to implementation," said Minister Timilsina. "It will establish equitable access to economic resources, means, and opportunities for the Dalit community, thereby putting social justice into practice."

Lokmani Pandey, spokesperson at the Lumbini Provincial Assembly, told IANS that the bill once endorsed by provincial chief (Province Governor), will become the law. "The bill has sought number of welfare measures for the Dalit communities," he said.

Dalits constitute a sizable population in the province, representing 14.30 per cent of the total population, according to the 2021 census.

Nationwide, the community accounts for 13.44 per cent of the country's nearly 30 million population, according to census data.

The newly-formed central government, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, announced in its 100-day action plan on March 30 that it would issue a public apology to the Dalit community for historical injustices and introduce reform-oriented programmes to address them.

- IANS
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is actively working to internationalize the operations of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, mirroring the global reach of ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Recent arrests of ISI-linked operatives in the United States and South Korea reveal a pattern of training individuals in Pakistan and deploying them on international missions. The strategy involves recruiting globally and encouraging "lone actor" strikes against Indian interests and Western targets abroad. This expansion has been flagged by international agencies, with the Global Terrorism Index ranking Pakistan at the top for hosting and aiding global terror networks.

Pakistan's ISI is expanding Lashkar & Jaish globally, with operatives arrested from US to South Korea for plotting international attacks.

New Delhi, April 23 Pakistan has been called out on numerous occasions for being a facilitator of terror. While, its primary agenda is to hurt India's interests, of late several operatives linked to the ISI have been arrested for plotting attacks in various parts of the world.

The arrests made in the United States and also in South Korea indicate the growing network of the ISI.

In August last year, a Pakistani citizen was arrested for being a member of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. He was trained in Pakistan and had entered South Korea by using falsified documents.

Investigators probed his links with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and his potential links to terror financing.

While the ISI has always had an international network, it has of late been ramping up such activity in a big way.

While the targets are Indian nationals and Indian interests abroad, the aim is also to recruit from across the globe and carry out attacks on a major scale.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that if one studies the pattern, the ISI has been looking to operate on an international scale.

The ISI has been trying to rope in international players, so that it can operate on a global scale. The spy agency wants outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) to operate on a larger scale like how the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda do.

It began with Sajid Mir, one of the main accused in the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. In 2007, Mir was sentenced in-absentia by a French court to 10 years in prison. He was accused of plotting terrorist activities involving French citizens.

On March 6, a Pakistani national, Asif Merchant associated with the ISI was found guilty in the US of trying to kill political figures and government officials.

Similarly one Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, once again of Pakistani origin, pleaded guilty for trying to carry out an attack on a Jewish centre in New York City.

Counterterrorism officials say that most of these people who are operating abroad are on the payrolls of the ISI. They are trained in Pakistan and then sent out on international missions.

This is clearly a sign that Pakistan does not want to focus just on India, but on major international operations as well.

The ISI has also hosted members of the Hamas on multiple occasions in Pakistan. It has been trying to bring together the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Hamas for several months now.

An official said that this signals that Pakistan wants its terror groups not just to focus on India, but operate at an international level.

Many terror groups in Pakistan have been insisting that they be allowed to carry out operations internationally.

In addition to India, these terror groups have raised their voices against the French administration and Israeli action against the terror group Hamas.

Like the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, groups such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have very often questioned the actions of the West and US against Islamic nations.

It is very difficult to keep these groups and their demands under check for the ISI. This has led to the scaling up of international operations, another official said.

The official pointed out that for now, the ISI would want members of these terror outfits to carry out attacks individually. There are no plans to send in multiple members at one go, like is the case when it comes to their operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba expect that their operatives carry out lone actor strikes abroad and at the same time convey the message to the global audience. Officials say that wherever operations may be carried out, the fact remains that their origins are from Pakistan.

These persons are funded generously by the ISI and also provided safe havens in Pakistan once their operations conclude.

The scaling up of international operations has, however, not gone unnoticed. The Global Terrorism Index 2026 has placed Pakistan on the top of the global rankings.

The rankings come in the wake of several international agencies flagging Pakistan's role in aiding and abetting terror not just in India, but in other parts of the world as well.

The report also says that Pakistan continues to function as a host and an operational hub for multiple terror networks with global and regional reach.

- IANS
The National Investigation Agency has attached multiple properties belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Fayaz Ahmed Magray in connection with a 2017 fidayeen attack on a CRPF camp. The attack in Lethpora, Pulwama, resulted in the deaths of five paramilitary personnel. Investigations revealed Magray was an active Over Ground Worker who helped plan the attack and conduct reconnaissance. The action, under the UA Act, aims to dismantle terror networks by targeting their financial assets.

NIA attaches properties of Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Fayaz Ahmed Magray, an accused in the deadly 2017 CRPF camp attack in Jammu & Kashmir.

New Delhi, April 22 The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday attached several properties belonging to a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror operative in a 2017 case of Fidayeen attack on a CRPF camp, in which five paramilitary personnel were killed and three seriously injured, an official release said. The attachment action, taken under Section 33 of the UA Act, 1967, in pursuance of recent orders of the NIA Special Court at Jammu, comes as a major step towards dismantling the terror outfits operating in J-K.

"The immovable properties attached by NIA include several pieces of land and residential premises in Lethpora in Awantipora police station area of Pulwama district of J&K. These properties, deemed to be proceeds of terrorism, belonged to the accused Fayaz Ahmed Magray. Fayaz, who hailed from Lethpora, was arrested in connection with the case RC.10/2018/NIA/DLI in February 2019," the agency said.

NIA had charged him under various sections of the RPC and UA (P) Act in August 2019, and the trial against him is continuing, it added. The CRPF camp, located in Lethpora, was attacked on the night of December 30, 2017, by three unknown terrorists, armed with sophisticated weapons, explosives and ammunition. The trio had forced their way into the camp and attacked the personnel there before being killed in retaliatory action, the agency said. NIA Investigations had revealed Fayaz to be an active Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the proscribed JeM terror organisation in South Kashmir. He was found to have participated in the meetings with the terrorists who had planned and executed the deadly attack on the CRPF centre, the agency said.

"Along with two other men, identified as Noor Mohammad Tantray and Mudasir Ahmad Khan, Jaish operatives, he had also conducted a recce of the target camp, besides arranging weapons for Mudasir and subsequently helping him escape Lethpora. Noor Mohammad was killed in an encounter with security forces before the CRPF camp attack, while Mudasir was killed in another encounter later," it added.

- ANI
DMK leader and candidate KN Nehru has expressed supreme confidence in his party's victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, stating the polls are "not a challenge." He predicted the DMK alliance would win all nine constituencies in Tiruchirappalli district and is targeting 200 seats statewide. The election features a key three-cornered contest in Tiruchirappalli West, where Nehru faces AMMK and TVK candidates. Polling is underway in a single phase across Tamil Nadu's 234 constituencies, with results expected on May 4.

DMK leader KN Nehru expresses confidence in winning 200 seats, stating the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are "not a challenge" for the ruling alliance.

Tiruchirappally, April 23 DMK Principal Secretary and Tiruchirappalli West Assembly Constituency candidate KN Nehru on Wednesday said that the elections are "not a challenge", and expressed confidence that DMK will achieve a comfortable victory in the Tamil Nadu elections.

After casting his vote at the Makkal Mandram polling station in Tiruchirappalli, KN Nehru said people across Tamil Nadu are extending overwhelming support to the secular progressive alliance.

"This election is not a challenge in any way; it is just like any other election. It is the media that is portraying it as a tough contest," he stated.

Expressing confidence, he said that the DMK's Rising Sun symbol would definitely win in the Tiruchirappalli East constituency and that the party would emerge victorious in all nine constituencies in the district.

He further noted that the DMK alliance enjoys massive support in the Delta districts.

"We worked with the goal of winning all 41 constituencies in the Delta region, and we are confident of achieving that," he said.

Stressing their overall target, he added, "We have moved forward towards our goal with the support of the people for the Chief Minister. We are confident of winning 200 constituencies."

KN Nehru is seeking a fourth term from this seat against AMMK's Rajasekaran, who represents NDA, and the entry of TVK's G Ramamoorthy has made this a genuinely three-cornered contest for the first time in the seat's recent history.

Tiruchirappalli West, constituency number 140 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, is a seat located in the Tiruchirappalli district and falls under the Tiruchirappalli Lok Sabha constituency.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval hosted UK counterpart Jonathan Powell for the annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi, focusing on advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The talks included strengthening defence and security cooperation and exchanging views on regional and global security challenges. Earlier, Powell met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan held meetings with UK counterparts and defence industry leaders. The visits underscored a shared commitment to addressing contemporary challenges from global trade imbalances to cyber threats while advancing a peaceful Indo-Pacific.

NSA Ajit Doval hosted UK counterpart Jonathan Powell for annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue, focusing on defence, security, and regional challenges.

New Delhi, April 23 National Security Advisor Ajit Doval hosted his British counterpart Jonathan Powell for the annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday, holding discussions on advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including strengthening defence and security cooperation.

"NSA hosted his counterpart from UK Mr. Jonathan Powell in New Delhi on 23 April 2026 for the annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue. They had wide ranging discussions on advancing the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including strengthening defence and security cooperation. They also exchanged views on regional and global security challenges," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on X.

Earlier, Powell met External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in New Delhi, with discussions focused on regional and global security issues and deepening bilateral cooperation.

"Glad to meet UK NSA Jonathan Powell in New Delhi this afternoon. Our discussion focused on regional and global security issues, as well as the deepening India-UK cooperation," Jaishankar posted on X.

On Wednesday, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan held a meeting with his UK counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, during which India and UK reaffirmed their shared resolve to address contemporary challenges from global trade imbalances to emerging cyber threats while advancing a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific..

"General Anil Chauhan, CDS, during his official visit to the United Kingdom interacted with Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, CDS UK. India and the UK reaffirmed their shared resolve to collaboratively address contemporary challenges from global trade imbalances to emerging cyber threats while advancing a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific and harnessing accelerated technological transformation," Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff posted on X.

"This visit will strengthen Defence Cooperation and strategic convergence, underscoring a shared commitment to Global Security, stability and resilience," it added.

During his visit to the UK, General Chauhan interacted with the Commandant and faculty of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) and discussed the evolving global security environment, underlying trends and their strategic impact.

On Tuesday, General Chauhan met Defence Industry leaders of the UK and emphasised that enhanced economic integration will allow smoother collaboration in defence manufacturing, technology transfer and supply chain resilience.

CDS General Chauhan met the UK's Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard, with their discussions focusing on the evolving nature of conflict and deepening military-to-military cooperation.

He also met the UK's Minister of State (MoS) for Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra.

"CDS also held high-impact bilateral talks with Ms Seema Malhotra, MoS for Indo-Pacific to take forward India - UK Partnership, Defence Industrial Roadmap and Tech and Security initiatives to counter emerging challenges in the Indo-Pacific," the HQ, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) said in a post on X.

"Both sides emphasised enhancing cooperation in Cyber, Intelligence and Space domains, including information resilience and specialised exchanges. The exchange reaffirmed a shared commitment to resilient, Future Ready forces and a strengthened India - UK strategic partnership," it added.

- IANS
The first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack has renewed accusations against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism. Munir Mengal of the Baloch Voice Association condemned the attack and linked it to a pattern of human rights violations. He specifically highlighted alleged military operations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Mengal called upon the international community to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.

On the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary, Munir Mengal accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism and calls for international accountability.

Paris, April 22 Pakistan has been accused of sponsoring terrorism and supporting state-backed elements as calls for international accountability intensified on the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of several innocent civilians and left many others injured in 2025.

The attack in the scenic tourist town of Pahalgam had shocked the region and drawn widespread condemnation, once again highlighting the persistent threat of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and its severe human cost.

Marking the occasion, the President of Baloch Voice Association and Baloch representative at UNHRC, Munir Mengal issued a strong statement condemning the attack and linking it to broader regional human rights concerns.

"On the anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, we solemnly remember the innocent civilians who lost their lives in an act of violence that shocked the world. These attacks, which are reportedly sponsored and supported by Pakistan and carried out by state-backed elements, represent a grave violation of human dignity and international norms," Mengal said.

He also drew attention to the situation in Balochistan, alleging continued human rights violations."The Baloch people continue to endure military operations, enforced disappearances and deeply troubling 'kill and dump' practices. These reflect a broader pattern of repression aimed at controlling the region at the expense of fundamental human rights," he said.

Expressing solidarity with victims across regions, he added, "We honour the victims of the Pahalgam attack and stand in solidarity with the innocent people of Kashmir, who have also endured violence and loss."

Calling for global intervention, Mengal urged the international community to act decisively. "We call upon the international community to ensure accountability, uphold justice, and take steps to hold Pakistan responsible. Those involved in orchestrating or enabling such acts must be brought to justice through lawful and fair processes," he said.

As the anniversary is observed, renewed demands for justice, accountability, and stronger global action against terrorism continue to resonate across human rights platforms.

- ANI
Pakistan has the world's highest number of Hepatitis C patients, with an estimated 9.8 to 10 million cases, driven by a negligent and unchecked medical culture. Over 600,000 unlicensed "quack" doctors operate across the country, often reusing syringes and practicing unsafe sterilization. A recent BBC investigation exposed severe malpractice in a Punjab hospital, linked to an HIV outbreak in over 330 children, despite a promised government crackdown. The crisis is compounded by low public awareness, with only 25-30% of the estimated 15 million Hepatitis B and C carriers knowing their status.

Pakistan leads in Hepatitis C cases due to unsafe practices and 600,000 unlicensed doctors. A BBC investigation exposes deadly hospital malpractice.

Islamabad, April 22 Pakistan has the world's highest number of Hepatitis C patients due to negligence and unchecked medical culture which enables more than 600,000 quack doctors to practice all over the country. Combined with Hepatitis B, 13.8-15 million Pakistanis are believed to be living with either virus and only 25-30 per cent people actually know about it, a report has highlighted.

"The healthcare system of Pakistan is currently in such a state that it sometimes punishes citizens for seeking treatment. Many people walk into a hospital seeking affordable medical care and, unbeknownst to them, walk out carrying a highly dangerous viral infection. More often than not, they find out too late. The reuse of syringes, unsafe blood transfusions and improper sterilisation practices are unfortunately alarmingly common. This negligence has propelled Pakistan to the top of global rankings for Hepatitis C (HCV), with 9.8 to 10 million cases," an editorial in Pakistan's leading daily The Express Tribune mentioned.

"Combined with Hepatitis B (HBV), between 13.8 and 15 million Pakistanis are believed to be living with either virus, and only 25 to 30 per cent are aware of it. The abnormally high number of cases is a direct result of an unchecked medical culture which allows for over 600,000 quack doctors to operate in Pakistan. Often unlicensed, these clinics prioritise profits over patients' safety and end up exposing millions of people to a deadly infection," it added.

The HCV directly affects the liver and its symptoms can take years to materialise. Until the symptoms are detected, patient's liver would have suffered enough damage to be at risk of scarring, failure or cancer. Many people in Pakistan find it difficult to access basic outpatient treatment and expecting them to come to hospital for unprompted and regular medical checkups or screening tests can be wishful thinking, the newspaper stated.

Pakistan launched a programme for the elimination of HCV by 2050 in 2025. However, Pakistan government has a pattern of identifying problems only to abandon them like the crackdown launched in a hospital of Punjab province which was responsible for 331 children getting infected with HIV, The Express Tribune detailed.

An investigative documentary has recently revealed "serious malpractice" in the children's ward of a government hospital in Pakistan's Punjab province.

In 2025, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) in Taunsa was connected to an outbreak of HIV among children. At the time, Punjab province authorities had announced that a crackdown will be initiated and suspended the Medical Superintendent of THQ in March of that year. However, a few months later, secret filming by 'BBC Eye Investigations' found that lives of children were still being put at risk, the British broadcaster revealed.

Filmed secretly over few weeks, the BBC investigation revealed repeated and serious violation of basic infection control. The video footage showcases nurses injecting patients through their clothes, giving dirty syringes for re-use and unqualified workers injecting child after child from a blood-contaminated vial of liquid medicine.

"The BBC's undercover filming also captures wider problems: staff handling medical waste with bare hands, syringes and needles left exposed, and unqualified volunteers - who are officially banned from the children's ward - operating without supervision. Staff shortages and supply problems appear to be contributing to the situation. In some cases, families are asked to buy their own medicines. Under pressure, staff reuse equipment or share medication between patients to make limited supplies last," a press released issued by the British broadcaster stated.

According to BBC, at least 331 children in Taunsa tested positive for HIV between November 2024-October 2025. Of their parents who also agreed to be tested, fewer than one in 20 tested positive for HIV. Infections continued even after the government's announcement in March last year that crackdown will be launched.

- IANS
Former US Ambassador Kenneth Juster has warned that Pakistans improving ties with the United States could influence Indias response to future terror attacks. He noted that Pakistans successful courting of the Trump administration has surprised many and is an irritant to India. Juster said India may doubt US support for a muscular response to terrorist groups based in Pakistan. He emphasized the importance of strengthening the US-India bilateral relationship.

Former US Ambassador Kenneth Juster warns that Pakistans warming ties with the US could influence Indias strategic response to future cross-border terror incidents.

Washington DC, April 23 Former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Thursday suggested that Pakistan's improving ties with the United States could have implications for India's strategic decision-making in the event of a future major terrorist attack originating from across the border.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute's The New India Conference, Juster pointed to what he described as Pakistan's "successful courting" of the US administration, noting that this development has come as a surprise to many observers and is seen as an irritant in New Delhi.

Calling the shift "an irritant to India", Juster added that it may also have practical consequences for New Delhi's strategic calculations.

"On Pakistan's successful courting of the Trump administration, which now extends to being an intermediary in the US-Iran talks. Obviously, on multiple levels and for many reasons, this is an irritant to India and a surprise to many of us. And I don't need to enumerate all the reasons for that," the ex-envoy said.

According to him, the growing US-Pakistan ties "may also have a practical impact on India", particularly in how it responds to future cross-border terrorism incidents.

Recalling his tenure during past escalations, including the Pulwama and Balakot episodes, Juster said India's response calculus could be affected by uncertainty over Washington's position on Islamabad.

He noted that India "may have doubts as to whether the United States will support a muscular response" to terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory.

"But it may also have a practical impact on India. Pakistan's warmer relations with the United States may cause India to limit its response to the next significant cross-border terrorist incident. At the very least, unlike other previous incidents, and I was ambassador when we had the Pulwama and Balakot incidents, India may have doubts as to whether the United States will support a muscular response to Pakistani-based terrorist groups," Juster added.

However, the former US Ambassador also emphasised the broader importance of the US-India relationship, calling for both sides to strengthen ties in a mutually beneficial direction.

Highlighting India's global significance, he said the country's "large population, market size, technological talent, and growing military" make its rise one of the defining geopolitical developments of the century.

"As someone involved in US-India relations in both the public and private sectors over the last 26 years, I hope that we get our bilateral relationship fully back on track with each side taking the necessary steps to truly make it a mutually beneficial partnership. Given India's large population, its market size, its technological talent, and its growing military, its rise will be one of the most significant geopolitical stories of this century," the former envoy said.

He further noted that it remains in the interest of both Washington and New Delhi for the United States to play a constructive role in India's growth story.

"It's in the interests of both the United States and India for America to be a positive part of that story," he added.

- ANI
Panama has strongly condemned Iran's seizure of the container ship MSC Francesca in the Strait of Hormuz, labeling the action illegal and a threat to maritime security. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims it seized two vessels for violating territorial waters and tampering with navigational systems. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump has extended a ceasefire and publicly urged Iran to negotiate a new deal for its prosperity. In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized US behavior as hypocritical, stating Iran remains open to dialogue despite American pressure tactics.

Panama condemns Iran's seizure of the MSC Francesca in the Strait of Hormuz as illegal, escalating tensions as Trump urges diplomatic talks.

Tehran, April 23 Panama strongly condemned Iran's seizure of "MSC Francesca", calling the seizure of a vessel sailing under its flag "illegal." In a statement, Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ship is Italian-owned but registered under the Panamanian flag.

"The ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz when it was seized and forcibly taken to Iranian territorial waters," the ministry said.

The ministry further warned that Iran's actions pose "a serious threat to maritime security" and said the incident was "an unnecessary escalation at a time when the international community is advocating for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without threats or blackmail of any kind."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday claimed that its naval forces seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that the vessels violated its territorial waters and tried to exit the strategic waterway without authorisation from Tehran.

This comes just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of a temporary ceasefire.

In a statement as reported by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the two ships -- identified as "MSC-FRANCESCA" and "EPAMINODES" -- were allegedly involved in violations while transiting the strategic waterway.The IRGC, in its statement, stated that the vessels were attempting to exit the strait without authorisation, accusing them of repeated infractions, including tampering with navigational aid systems and endangering maritime security.

"In line with the intelligent control of the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy this morning identified two violating ships named 'MSC-FRANCESCA', belonging to the Zionist regime and the violating vessel 'EPAMINODES', which were attempting to secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation by committing repeated violations and tampering with navigational aid systems and jeopardising maritime security," the statement read as quoted by IRIB.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has issued a direct appeal to the Iranian leadership, calling for a diplomatic breakthrough to end the current standoff between Washington and Tehran.

In an interview with CNBC, the President suggested that the Islamic Republic could secure a prosperous future by committing to a new agreement. He expressed confidence that a diplomatic resolution would significantly benefit the country's regional and economic standing.

Trump remarked, "Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal," noting the potential for a complete transformation of Tehran's current circumstances.

As the US continues to maintain a naval blockade and a conditional ceasefire, the President urged the Iranian government to approach the negotiating table with a clear and pragmatic strategy.

Highlighting the need for a change in rhetoric, Trump added, "They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country." In a notable shift of strategy, President Trump has moved away from his aggressive posture by extending the current ceasefire indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (local time) criticised the United States for what he termed "hypocritical" and contradictory behaviour, even as US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire to allow time for negotiations.

Pezeshkian said Iran remains open to dialogue but accused Washington of undermining genuine talks through pressure tactics, including threats and sanctions.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical, empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions."

According to The New York Post, Trump stated that such a development is "possible" within a window of 36 to 72 hours.

However, the prospect of immediate negotiations remains unclear, as Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on participating in the upcoming round of mediated talks.

- ANI
AIADMK candidate P Saravanan cast his vote in Madurai North, expressing strong confidence that his party will win all 10 constituencies in Madurai and secure over 210 seats across Tamil Nadu. He interpreted the high voter turnout as a sign of public desire for change, predicting the DMK would be "thrown away by people." Meanwhile, Chief Minister MK Stalin, after voting in Kolathur where he faces a multi-cornered fight, urged citizens to fulfil their democratic duty to protect the state's ideals. Polling is underway across Tamil Nadu with extensive arrangements in place, including over 3,000 polling stations in Madurai district alone.

AIADMK candidate P Saravanan votes in Madurai, predicts party will win over 210 seats. CM MK Stalin urges voter turnout. Key updates from Tamil Nadu polls.

Madurai, April 23 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate P Saravanan cast his vote on Thursday morning in the Madurai North Assembly constituency, expressing confidence that his party will secure a strong victory in the ongoing elections.

Saravanan voted at the Corporation Primary School in Narimedu. After casting his vote, he said the AIADMK, under its leadership, would perform strongly across Madurai district and the state.

Speaking to ANI, Saravanan said, "AIADMK, people-friendly AIADMK led by our General Secretary will bag a massive win in the 10 constituencies in Madurai. We will win all 10 constituencies, and throughout Tamil Nadu, we will win more than 210 seats."

He also pointed to the turnout at polling stations, saying it reflected a mood for change among voters. "Just now, I have come out after exercising my constitutional duty. And you can very well see how, in large numbers, people are coming. So there's going to be a change in Tamil Nadu, and DMK is going to be thrown away by people," he added.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, after casting his vote, urged people to exercise this democratic right, stating that it is a "banner you are raising to protect Tamil Nadu."

In a post on X, Stalin highlighted the necessity to cast a vote, which, he said, will determine the future of every single person in Tamil Nadu. He urged people to vote to protect the ideals of the constitution, democracy and secularism.

"Do not fail to cast your vote for the development of Tamil Nadu! I have cast my vote in the 2026 Assembly elections. Let all the great voters of Tamil Nadu without fail fulfil their democratic duty," he said.

Stalin is facing a serious multi-cornered challenge from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) VS Babu and AIADMK's P Santhana Krishnan, along with NTK's Soundara Pandian Louther Seth. This has turned Kolathur into a high-voltage triangular contest, with actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK attempting to disrupt traditional vote banks while the AIADMK seeks to reclaim lost ground.

Meanwhile, in Madurai district, a total of 3,079 polling stations have been set up across 10 Assembly constituencies. For the conduct of polling, 3,695 ballot and control units along with 4,001 VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines will be deployed.

Additionally, all polling stations are equipped with basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, ramps for the differently-abled, wheelchairs, lighting, and fans. Temporary shelters (pandals) have also been set up to protect voters from the heat.

In the Madurai district, across 10 Assembly constituencies, a total of 24,96,190 voters are set to cast their votes. This includes 12,22,309 male voters and 12,73,609 female voters. A total of 129 candidates are contesting across the 10 constituencies, representing parties such as DMK, AIADMK, BJP, Congress, DMDK, Naam Tamilar Katchi, and independents.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal criticized the Congress-led UPA government for the 2009 India-South Korea free trade agreement, calling it poorly negotiated and imbalanced against India. He noted that while bilateral trade grew 92.7%, India's imports increased by 103.7%, widening the trade deficit. Renegotiations launched in 2015 aim to conclude by 2026-27, focusing on reciprocity and key sectors. A new JSW Steel-POSCO joint venture for a Rs 35,000 crore steel plant in Odisha highlights recent bilateral investment progress.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says the 2009 India-South Korea FTA was poorly negotiated, imbalanced, and tilted against India. Renegotiations aim for fairer terms by 2026-27.

New Delhi, April 23 Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday that the India-South Korea free trade agreement, signed in 2009 and brought into effect in 2010 during the Congress-led UPA II government, is the result of a poorly negotiated, imbalanced agreement tilted against India.

"Since then, bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries has increased by 92.7 per cent, with India's imports rising by 103.7 per cent, clearly not favouring India. Thus, while overall trade expanded, the trade deficit also widened," the minister pointed out in a post on social media platform X.

He further stated that in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the Republic of Korea met and agreed to commence negotiations to amend the India-Korea CEPA (comprehensive economic partnership agreement), with a view to achieving both qualitative and quantitative growth in trade through an agreed roadmap.

Thereafter, at the ministerial-level meeting of the joint committee under the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IKCEPA), the ministers announced the launch of renegotiations, under which eleven rounds were held, and an Early Harvest Package was agreed upon.

Now, through sustained and concerted efforts, the two countries have decided to go beyond the earlier agreed aspects and prioritise a more reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnership, with a strong focus on key sectors of shared interest, while also addressing non-tariff barriers and rules of origin. The renegotiation talks are expected to conclude by the end of 2026 or, at the latest, by mid-2027.

At the same time, consistent follow-up to enhance localisation and reduce import dependency of Korean companies operating in India has begun to yield results. We are now witnessing genuine indigenisation and improved reciprocity, he explained.

Additionally, during the recent state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to India, it was announced that JSW Steel and the Republic of Korea's POSCO have formed a 50:50 joint venture to establish a 6 MTPA greenfield integrated steel plant in Odisha, with an estimated investment of Rs 35,000 crore. This joint venture route of investment is unlike earlier investments by Korean companies, which were in the form of wholly owned subsidiaries, Goyal pointed out.

In addition, multiple MoUs have been signed between the two nations, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties across trade, industry, strategic resources and clean energy, enhancing technical cooperation and business matchmaking, with a focus on the MSME sector and improving supply chain resilience and boosting industrial co-production

The PM Modi government's approach is clear: ensuring fair trade, more balanced outcomes, and a steady push to strengthen domestic manufacturing, while firmly safeguarding national interests, making this a win-win partnership, the minister added.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made fervent appeals on social media for a high voter turnout in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, specifically targeting youth and women. Polling began smoothly across eight constituencies in Erode district, with officials reporting no major disruptions. The district has introduced web-streaming at all polling stations for real-time monitoring, a first for the region. Elaborate security and a dedicated app for tracking turnout every two hours are also part of the measures to ensure a free and fair electoral process.

PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah urge voters, especially youth and women, to participate in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections for a record turnout.

Chennai, April 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called upon voters in Tamil Nadu to participate enthusiastically in the ongoing Assembly elections, with a special appeal to youth and women to ensure a record turnout.

Taking to the social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi described voting as a "sacred duty of democracy" and urged citizens across the state to exercise their franchise in large numbers.

"As Tamil Nadu votes in the Assembly elections, I call upon all voters to take part enthusiastically in this sacred duty. I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers," he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to voters to turn out in large numbers and choose a government that reflects their aspirations.

"As Tamil Nadu goes to vote, I appeal to our sisters and brothers to participate enthusiastically. I urge all of you to elect a government that works towards the fulfilment of your aspirations, not one that works for the ambitions of its own family," he said in his message.

Meanwhile, polling began on a brisk note across eight Assembly constituencies in Erode district, with authorities reporting smooth and orderly voting in the early hours.

District Election Officer and Collector S. Kandasamy said polling was underway in all constituencies without any major disruptions.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at a polling station in Sampath Nagar, Kandasamy said that mock polls had been successfully conducted at all booths in the presence of candidates' agents prior to the commencement of voting, ensuring transparency in the process.

In a first for the district, web-streaming facilities have been introduced at all polling stations, enabling real-time monitoring of activities both inside and outside booths.

Officials at the District Election Office, Returning Officers' offices, and the Chief Electoral Officer's office are able to track developments live.

Additionally, the Election Commission has deployed a dedicated mobile application to monitor voter turnout, with updates being released every two hours to the media and the public. Elaborate security arrangements have also been put in place to ensure free and fair polling, Kandasamy added, expressing satisfaction at being among the first voters in the district.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged voters in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to participate enthusiastically in the ongoing Assembly elections, describing voting as a sacred democratic duty. He made a special appeal to youth and women voters in both states to ensure a record turnout. Polling began on Thursday under tight security, with Tamil Nadu voting in a single phase and West Bengal in two phases. The counting of votes for both states is scheduled for May 4.

PM Narendra Modi urges youth and women to ensure a record turnout in the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections, calling voting a sacred democratic duty.

New Delhi, April 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged voters in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to turn out in large numbers for the Assembly elections, calling voting a "sacred democratic duty."

In separate posts on X, the Prime Minister made a special appeal to youth and women to participate enthusiastically and ensure a record turnout.

"As the people of Tamil Nadu prepare to vote in the Assembly elections, I urge all voters to fulfil this sacred democratic duty with great enthusiasm. In particular, I call upon the youth and women of Tamil Nadu to turn out in large numbers and pave the way for a record turnout of votes," PM Modi wrote.

Extending a similar message to West Bengal, where the first phase of polling is underway, he urged people to take part in what he described as a "festival of democracy".

"The first phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is today. I call upon all citizens to participate with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. I especially urge my young friends and the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers," he said.

Polling began in both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Thursday under tight security arrangements. Voting will continue till 6:00 pm.

Mock polls were conducted at polling stations in both states before voting began.

Tamil Nadu is voting in a single phase for all 234 Assembly constituencies.

West Bengal is witnessing a two-phase election for its 294 Assembly seats. The first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the second phase is scheduled for April 29.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in the first phase.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the auspicious opening of the Kedarnath Temple portals with a devotional social media post, sharing photographs from his previous visits in 2017, 2019, and 2022. His post highlighted the temple's spiritual significance and the extensive reconstruction following the 2013 floods. The opening ceremony initiates the 2026 Char Dham Yatra, for which authorities have implemented rigorous crowd management, security, and environmental protection measures. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has overseen preparations, emphasizing pilgrim safety and a "Green & Clean Yatra."

PM Narendra Modi marks the opening of Kedarnath Temple portals, sharing photos from his 2017, 2019, and 2022 visits. The Char Dham Yatra 2026 begins with enhanced safety.

New Delhi, April 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the auspicious opening of the Kedarnath Temple's portals on Wednesday, with a devotional message on his official Facebook page. 

In his post, he wrote, "As the Kapat of the Kedarnath Temple opens, sharing some pictures from my previous visits there. Har Har Mahadev!" 

The Prime Minister accompanied his words with photographs from earlier visits to the shrine, underscoring his deep spiritual connection to Kedarnath and its significance in India's cultural heritage. 

The images shared by PM Modi were from three distinct occasions. 

His first major visit took place on May 3, 2017, when he offered prayers at the temple and reviewed reconstruction work following the devastating floods of 2013. 

This visit was seen as a turning point in the revival of Kedarnath, as the government launched extensive efforts to rebuild infrastructure and restore the shrine's sanctity.

The second set of photographs was from October 18, 2019, when PM Modi returned to Kedarnath during the festive season.

By then, several development projects had been completed, including widened pathways and improved facilities for pilgrims. 

His third visit, on November 6, 2022, highlighted the inauguration of new facilities and his address to devotees, where he emphasised Kedarnath's enduring role in India's spiritual and cultural landscape. 

The opening of the temple's doors this year marks the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage circuit that includes Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. 

The ritual opening of the Kapat was conducted in accordance with full Vedic tradition, and the first puja was performed in the name of Prime Minister Modi, as per custom. 

Authorities have prepared extensively for the 2026 yatra, introducing crowd management systems, enhanced security, and improved infrastructure to ensure a safe and smooth experience for devotees. 

By sharing his past visits, PM Modi not only invoked the blessings of Lord Shiva but also reminded the nation of the resilience and devotion that have defined Kedarnath's journey since the 2013 disaster. 

His post blends personal reverence with national attention, linking the present opening ceremony to his earlier pilgrimages in 2017, 2019, and 2022. 

It reflects both continuity and commitment, reaffirming Kedarnath's place as a symbol of India's spiritual strength and cultural heritage. The Char Dham Yatra 2026 has begun with extensive preparations focused on safety, crowd management, and environmental protection. 

Authorities have introduced stricter monitoring systems, plastic bans, and improved medical facilities to ensure a smooth pilgrimage for lakhs of devotees. 

The annual Char Dham Yatra, covering Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, officially commenced on April 19, 2026, with the opening of Yamunotri and Gangotri on Akshaya Tritiya. Kedarnath's portals opened on April 22, followed by Badrinath on April 23. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has personally overseen preparations, stressing that pilgrim safety and convenience must take precedence over commercial interests. 

Authorities have implemented digital crowd monitoring systems and strengthened the slot-based registration process to reduce congestion. 

Online registration counters have been expanded at high-footfall locations, while a 24x7 control room and helpline have been set up for emergency response. 

To address environmental concerns, the government has reinforced the "Green & Clean Yatra" campaign, banning plastic use along the routes and installing waste collection boxes at multiple points.

Local bodies and volunteers are actively involved in maintaining cleanliness and supporting eco-friendly practices.

- IANS
A multi-vehicle crash in Mirzapur district killed 11 people after a truck hit a car, Bolero, and trailer, causing a fire in an SUV. Nine occupants of the SUV were burnt alive in the collision on Wednesday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased from the PMNRF. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed their condolences.

PM Modi expresses grief over 11 deaths in Mirzapur road mishap, announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for victims' families from PMNRF.

New Delhi, April 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a mishap in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh.

The multi-vehicle crash near Drummondganj killed 11 people after a truck hit a car, Bolero, and trailer, causing fire in an SUV on Wednesday evening around 8:20 p.m.

Nine occupants of the SUV were burnt alive after the collision, the police said.

Extending condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic incident, the Prime Minister also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

The Prime Minister on social media platform X said: "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the mishap in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the quick recovery of the injured."

Taking to his official X account, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "The loss of lives in the road accident in Mirzapur district is extremely tragic and heart-rending. My condolences are with the bereaved families. Instructions have been issued to the concerned officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed sorrow over the fatal road accident.

"The news of the deaths of several people in the road accident that occurred in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this accident and pray for the swift recovery of the injured," he said in a message on X.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, "The news of the deaths of several people in a road accident in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh is extremely heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."

- IANS
West Bengal sees over 90% turnout in many districts

Hande first voted in 1946, is a five-time legislator

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged youth participation in voting, inspired by 99-year-old HV Hande, who first voted in 1946. Hande is a former Tamil Nadu health minister and five-time legislator. The appeal came during Phase 1 of assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with bypolls in other states. West Bengal recorded exceptional turnout, with several districts crossing 90%.

PM Modi shares message from 99-year-old voter HV Hande to boost youth turnout. Phase 1 polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu see high participation.

New Delhi, April 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a message highlighting the importance of voting, quoting 99-year-old voter HV Hande, who first exercised his franchise in 1946.

The Prime Minister emphasised that voting is a crucial responsibility in shaping the nation's future on X post.

In his post, PM Modi wrote, "An extremely important message! I hope you will strengthen our democracy by casting the highest number of young votes."

HV Hande is a five-time legislator and has been Tamil Nadu Health Minister twice in the MGR's cabinet.

This comes amid Phase 1 of the Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, along with bypolls in several states.

The late afternoon figures highlight an intense wave of voter participation across both states, as polling hours drew to a close.

Tamil Nadu also witnessed a sharp rise in turnout as the day progressed, with several districts nearing or surpassing the high-80% range.

Karur led the state with 89.32%, followed by Salem at 88.02%, Erode at 87.59%, Dharmapuri at 87.28%, and Tiruppur at 86.33%. Ariyalur recorded 83.09%, Tiruchirappalli 82.76%, and Chennai 81.34%, indicating strong urban and semi-urban participation. Meanwhile, Madurai (77.89%) and Thoothukudi (77.56%) reported relatively lower but still significant turnout figures.

West Bengal once again emerged as the frontrunner, with several districts crossing the 90% mark

Dakshin Dinajpur led the state with an exceptional 93.12%, followed by Cooch Behar at 92.07%, Birbhum at 91.55%, Murshidabad at 91.36%, and Jalpaiguri at 91.20%. Jhargram (90.53%) and Paschim Medinipur (90.70%) also remained above the 90% threshold, while Bankura recorded 89.91% and Malda 89.56%. Darjeeling, though comparatively lower, still posted a strong 86.49%.

Meanwhile, in the by-elections, polling also picked up pace by 5 PM. In Gujarat, the Umreth constituency recorded a voter turnout of 54.43%. In Maharashtra, Rahuri saw 50.68% polling, while Baramati reported a slightly higher turnout at 52.44%.

- ANI
Voting commenced for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections across 152 constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens, especially youth and women, to vote in large numbers, calling it a "festival of democracy." The Election Commission has deployed a record number of central security forces to ensure peaceful polling in this high-stakes contest primarily between the ruling TMC and the BJP. The remaining 142 seats will vote on April 29, with results due on May 4.

Polling begins for 152 West Bengal seats. PM Modi urges high turnout. Over 3.6 crore voters to decide fate of 1,478 candidates with heavy security deployed.

New Delhi, April 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on voters to take part in large numbers as West Bengal entered the first phase of its Assembly elections on Thursday, with polling underway across 152 constituencies.

PM Modi posted on X, "Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today. I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength. I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers."

Voting began at 7:00 a.m. as West Bengal kicked off the first phase of its Assembly elections across 152 constituencies spread over 16 districts, marking the opening of a crucial and closely watched electoral contest in the state.

Long queues of voters were seen outside polling stations early in the morning, with citizens actively participating in the democratic exercise. At Primary Health Centre No. 1, voters were seen standing in line to cast their votes, while at Booth No. 12/176, polling also got underway with steady turnout reported in the initial hours.

Around 3.6 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase, which will decide the fate of 1,478 candidates. The constituencies are evenly distributed across north and south Bengal, reflecting the wide geographical and political spread of this high-stakes electoral battle.

The Election Commission of India has deployed a record 2,407 companies of Central Armed Police Forces for this phase, making it one of the most heavily secured elections in the state's history. Officials said the deployment reflects the Commission's focus on ensuring peaceful and fair polling across sensitive regions.

While the number of phases has been reduced compared to earlier elections, security arrangements have been significantly strengthened. The state is witnessing an unprecedented presence of central forces, supported by new Election Commission protocols aimed at the strict enforcement of electoral rules.

The current two-phase election schedule marks a sharp reduction from eight phases in 2021 and six phases in 2016, when polling itself was spread across multiple days.

On the political front, the contest is primarily between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the main opposition in the state. The TMC is aiming for a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP, which won 77 seats in the previous Assembly elections, is making a renewed attempt to form the government.

Polling in the remaining 142 constituencies will be held on April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- IANS
Polling commenced on Thursday for by-elections in Gujarat's Umreth and Maharashtra's Rahuri and Baramati assembly constituencies, triggered by the deaths of sitting MLAs. In Baramati, the vacancy follows the demise of former NCP chief Ajit Pawar, after which his wife Sunetra Pawar was appointed Deputy Chief Minister. Simultaneously, Phase 1 of assembly elections is being held in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal under tight security, with voting to conclude by 6 pm. The counting of votes for all these elections is scheduled for May 4, 2026, with the entire process to be completed by May 6.

Polling begins for by-elections in Umreth, Baramati, Rahuri. Simultaneous Phase 1 voting in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal assembly elections.

New Delhi, April 23 The polling for the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat, and the Baramati and Rahuri Assembly by-elections in Maharashtra began on Thursday under tight security.

A by-election was triggered after the deaths of sitting legislators.

Polling for bye-elections in

In Maharashtra, the by-elections follow the demise of MLA Shivaji Bhanudas Kardile from 223-Rahuri and MLA Ajit Anantrao Pawar from 201-Baramati. The by-elections are being conducted to fill these vacancies.

The bypolls in Pune's Baramati constituency come after the former NCP Chief Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash while he was headed to his constituency earlier this year. Following his demise, his wife, Sunetra Pawar, was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state and was also named the chief of the NCP.

After polling, the counting of votes will take place on May 4, 2026 (Monday), and the results will be declared the same day. The entire election process will be completed by May 6, 2026 (Wednesday), the Election Commission said.

Meanwhile, polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

Before the start of voting, mock polls were conducted at polling stations across Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.

In West Bengal, the parties are contesting against one another for 294 Assembly seats. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats. There are a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray in this phase.

- ANI
Voting is underway for 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu with visible enthusiasm among voters. Newlywed couples in wedding attire arrived at polling booths in Tirupathur and Tiruchirappalli to cast their votes. They fulfilled their civic duty and appealed to the public to exercise their right to vote. Tamil Nadu recorded 70% polling till 3 pm on Thursday, with voting concluding at 6 pm.

Newlywed couples in wedding attire cast their votes in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, showing enthusiasm for democracy amid 70% turnout.

Tirupathur, April 23 Voting is currently underway for 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, with voters in significant numbers turning up at polling stations. The voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

Amid a visible enthusiasm among the voters, a newly married couple arrived at a polling booth in Tirupathur to cast their votes.

Dressed in their wedding attire, the couple drew the attention of everyone around. Smiling warmly, they stepped forward to cast their votes and fulfil their civic duty.

In another similar instance, a newly-married couple visited a polling booth at KAP Viswanatham Higher Secondary School in the Tiruchirappalli West constituency and cast their votes, fulfilling their democratic responsibility.

They also appealed to the public to exercise their right to vote.

Tamil Nadu witnessed 70 per cent polling till 3 pm on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India data.

Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. Voting will conclude at 6 pm today.

- ANI
Over 15.55 lakh farmers and 173 mandis connected to the platform

Rajasthan has achieved the top position in e-trade volume on the e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform. With 173 mandis connected, over 15.55 lakh farmers have benefited from nationwide online trading. The state has recorded cumulative trade worth over Rs 1,30,772 crore since 2016. Additionally, Rajasthan has introduced AI-based quality assessment in 134 mandis to enhance efficiency.

Rajasthan ranks first in e-NAM e-trade volume with over Rs 1,30,772 crore in transactions, connecting 15.55 lakh farmers to a unified digital platform.

Jaipur, April 23 The National Agriculture Market platform is driving transparent, technology-enabled agricultural trade by digitally integrating mandis across India. 

In Rajasthan, 173 mandis are now connected to e-NAM, expanding opportunities for lakhs of farmers and accelerating efficient, transparent agricultural marketing.

Through e-NAM, farmers in the state can sell their produce to buyers across the country, enabling better price discovery and increased incomes. Launched on April 14, 2016, under the leadership of Prime Minister PM Modi, e-NAM was envisioned to free farmers from the limitations of local markets by enabling nationwide online trading. 

The platform ensures transparency through online auctions, real-time price tracking and informed decision-making. It also provides direct digital payments to farmers' bank accounts immediately after sales. A single trading licence valid across the state allows traders seamless participation in all markets.

Further strengthening the system, the government of India launched e-NAM 2.0 on February 12, 2026.

The upgraded platform promotes inter-state trade with features such as automated bidding, demand-supply analytics, logistics support and Financial Technology integration. 

In Rajasthan, e-NAM has brought together over 15.55 lakh farmers, 87,509 traders and 27,989 commission agents on a unified platform. Additionally, 546 Farmer-Producer Organisations are registered on e-NAM in the state. 

Currently, 138 commodities are traded across Rajasthan through this system. From 2016 to January 2026, a total of 3.16 crore metric tonnes of agricultural produce have been traded via e-NAM in Rajasthan, with a cumulative value exceeding Rs 1,30,772 crore. 

Over this decade, Rajasthan has ranked second nationally in total arrivals and first in e-trade volume on the platform.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan has also introduced Artificial Intelligence-based quality assessment systems. 

At present, 134 e-NAM mandis are using Artificial Intelligence and machine learning tools for faster and more accurate quality testing of agricultural produce. 

The e-NAM platform actively promotes digital transactions, strengthening financial inclusion for farmers. Verified digital records improve access to institutional credit and financial services. In Rajasthan, e-payments worth over Rs 505 crore have been processed through 44,711 transactions, placing the state fourth nationally in e-payment adoption on e-NAM.

To further encourage digital transactions, the state government has integrated the E-Payment Incentive Scheme with the Krishak Upahar Yojana. Under this initiative, both farmers and traders conducting e-payments are eligible for lottery-based cash rewards through exclusive gift coupons, incentivising secure and immediate digital transactions. 

For assistance, e-NAM users can access the toll-free helpline 1800-270-0224, ensuring timely grievance redressal and continuous technical support, especially for first-time users navigating the platform. 

- IANS
Ajmer Police recovered a gold bangle worth Rs 5.5 lakh within hours using 250 CCTV cameras. The bangle slipped off Lisa Parasara's hand while she was removing gloves to take a phone call. Constable Ramnivas Kadwa tracked a suspect without a number plate through extensive footage analysis. Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwala awarded the constable a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

Ajmer Police used 250 CCTV cameras to recover a missing gold bangle worth Rs 5.5 lakh within hours, returning it to its owner Lisa Parasara.

Jaipur, April 23 In a remarkable display of precision and persistence, Ajmer Police turned a distress call into a success story by tracing a missing gold bangle worth Rs 5.5 lakh within hours using an extensive CCTV network and sharp investigative work.

In Ajmer, the police have set a remarkable example of honesty and swift action by recovering a gold bangle worth Rs 5.5 lakh within just a few hours, using an extensive network of nearly 250 CCTV cameras.

The incident took place on April 20, when Pushkar resident Lisa Parasara was travelling from Ganj Tiraha towards Fawwara Circle.

During the journey, she stopped her scooter to take a phone call. In that brief moment, while removing her gloves, her gold bangle, about 3 tolas in weight, slipped off unnoticed. It was not until she reached home that she realised the loss.

Shocked and distressed, she fainted and had to be rushed to a hospital in Vaishali Nagar.

Meanwhile, her family alerted the police. What followed was a race against time.

At the Abhay Command and Control Centre, Constable Ramnivas Kadwa took charge. Carefully scanning footage from Ganj Tiraha to Fawwara Circle, he spotted a crucial clue, a youth picking up the fallen bangle on a scooter without a number plate. But identifying him was not easy.

Constable Ramnivas meticulously tracked the suspect's route, analysing footage from nearly 200 to 250 cameras. Step by step, frame by frame, he followed the trail until finally identifying the individual and reaching his residence.

The result was that the precious gold bangle was recovered safely and returned to its rightful owner.

An emotional Lisa Parasara expressed her gratitude to the police team.

Recognising this exceptional effort, Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwala awarded Constable Ramnivas a cash prize of Rs 10,000 along with a commendation.

The Superintendent of Police praised the constable's dedication and technical skill, saying such commitment enhances the dignity of the police force.

Officials said it is a powerful reminder that policing is not just about preventing crime, but also about standing by citizens in their moments of need.

- IANS
A sailor from Rajasthan, Sanjay Mahar, is among 21 crew members stranded on a detained vessel in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions. The family lost contact after the ship was reportedly surrounded by Iranian forces, with reports of gunfire heightening fears. Local MLA Jaideep Bihani has appealed to Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma for urgent diplomatic intervention. The family anxiously awaits the safe return of all crew members as internet services remain suspended.

A Rajasthan sailor, Sanjay Mahar, is among 21 crew stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Family loses contact, MLA urges PM Modi and CM Sharma for help.

Jaipur, April 23 A family in Sri Ganganagar has been going tense after reports emerged that a Merchant Navy officer from the district is stranded aboard a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions.

Local Member of Legislative Assembly Jaideep Bihani on Thursday has written to Prime Minister PM Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, urging immediate diplomatic efforts. In a video message, he stated that an Indian ship has been detained, on which Sanjay Mahar is serving as Second Officer.

He appealed to Prime Minister PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to take immediate steps to secure the safe release of Sanjay Mahar and all other crew members stranded on the vessel.

He added that strong intervention by the Government of India could help expedite their release.

According to information, 38-year-old Sanjay Mahar, a Second Officer and resident of Riddhi-Siddhi Colony, is among the crew of a container ship that was reportedly intercepted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The vessel, Epaminondas, sailing under a Liberian flag, was en route to Mundra Port in Gujarat. Family members said Sanjay had travelled to Dubai around 20 days ago and boarded the ship four days prior to the incident. The vessel was expected to reach Mundra Port by Thursday but was halted mid-journey after being denied passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

His brother, Subhash Mahar, said that around 30 hours ago, as the ship attempted to move forward, it was surrounded by Iranian forces. Reports of gunfire during the standoff have heightened fears. Following the incident, crew members reportedly moved to secure areas within the ship.

There are around 21 crew members on board, including nationals from India, the Philippines, Ukraine and Sri Lanka. Before communication was cut off, Sanjay had sent a video showing visibly anxious crew members.

With internet services now suspended, all contact has been lost, intensifying concerns among family members, who are anxiously awaiting updates.

The family has appealed to the Central Government for urgent intervention to ensure the safety and safe return of all crew members.

- IANS
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated that Rajasthan possesses the potential to emerge as a premier global hub for education. He emphasized realizing this vision through collective effort and self-confidence during the inauguration of a new school campus. Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani highlighted education's power to transform individuals and connected it to India's ancient knowledge traditions. Both speakers urged students to contribute to nation-building while staying rooted in Indian values.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says Rajasthan has potential to be a leading global education hub, attracting international students.

Jaipur, April 22 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Wednesday that Rajasthan has the potential to become a leading global hub of education, attracting students from across the world.

He emphasised that this vision can be realised through collective efforts, strong determination, and self-confidence.

Birla, along with Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, inaugurated the new campus of Jayshree Periwal Global School on Wednesday.

Both dignitaries toured the modern premises and reviewed the state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities.

Addressing the gathering, Birla noted that India's Constitution serves as a guiding light for democracies worldwide and described democracy as the nation's greatest strength.

He called upon citizens to actively contribute to shaping the narrative of a rapidly transforming India.

Vasudev Devnani described the occasion as more than just the inauguration of a building, calling it the beginning of a gateway to India's bright future.

He remarked that the campus reflects an environment where knowledge thrives.

Emphasising the broader meaning of education, Devnani said it is not limited to literacy but is a powerful force that awakens human potential and transforms individuals from ordinary to extraordinary.

Referring to India's rich academic heritage, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker highlighted ancient centres of learning such as Nalanda and Takshashila, noting that India has historically been a global centre of knowledge.

He said that despite challenges over centuries, the country's knowledge tradition has remained resilient.

"Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is witnessing progress across economic, cultural, and spiritual spheres and moving toward the vision of a developed nation."

Devnani urged students to stay connected with India's traditions and values while pursuing modern education.

He encouraged them to use their knowledge and skills for nation-building.

Earlier, Jayshree Periwal Global School Chairperson Jayshree Periwal welcomed the guests and shared an overview of the institution.

The event was also attended by Chief executive officer of Jayshree Periwal Group of Schools, Ayush Periwal; Principal Manju Khosla, and other distinguished guests.

- IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invited German industry leaders to co-develop and co-produce advanced defence technologies with India, emphasizing trusted partnerships amid global uncertainties. He highlighted India's expanding market, skilled workforce, and evolving industrial ecosystem as long-term strategic propositions. Singh pointed to opportunities under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, including advanced radar systems, AI-enabled drones, and sensor technologies. He also held bilateral talks with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, finalizing a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an arrangement on UN peacekeeping training.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invites German firms to co-develop defence tech, stressing trusted partnerships amid global uncertainties.

Munich, April 23 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday invited German industry leaders to co-develop and co-produce advanced defence technologies with India, stressing that partnerships based on reliability and shared interests are crucial amid rising global uncertainties.

Addressing Indian and German defence industry leaders at the Defence Investor Summit in Munich during his visit to Germany, Singh highlighted the shifting geopolitical landscape, supply chain disruptions, and rapid technological changes as key reasons for deeper collaboration.

"Partnerships based on reliability & shared interests are indispensable amid increasing global uncertainties," he said, as per a release from the Ministry of Defence.

The Defence Minister emphasised that countries and industries are re-evaluating dependencies and seeking trusted partners to ensure resilience and continuity. He underlined that India offers an expanding market, a young and skilled workforce, and a rapidly evolving industrial ecosystem.

"India offers an expanding market, skilled workforce & evolving industrial ecosystem with stability, predictability & commitment to the rule of law; it's not a short-term opportunity, but a long-term strategic proposition," he said.

Singh also pointed to opportunities under initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat, stating that Indian companies are keen to collaborate with German firms in areas including advanced radar systems, AI-enabled unmanned aerial systems, sensor technologies, and underwater systems.

Highlighting India's long-term vision, he said the country aims to become a developed nation by 2047 under the leadership of Narendra Modi, backed by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and policy direction.

On self-reliance in defence, Singh clarified that the approach is not inward-looking but collaborative in nature.

"India's self-reliance pursuit is not inward-looking; we see it as the ability to design, develop & produce with trusted partners," he said, adding that India is transitioning from being a buyer of defence equipment to a partner in design and production.

He stressed that a robust defence industrial ecosystem would not only strengthen national security but also drive economic resilience and global competitiveness.

The Defence Minister also highlighted reforms undertaken over the past decade to improve ease of doing business, including liberalised norms, stronger regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure investments aimed at attracting global investors.

During his visit, Singh also travelled to Kiel to visit a submarine manufacturing facility, underscoring growing maritime cooperation between India and Germany.

Earlier, he held bilateral talks with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin, where both sides discussed ways to deepen strategic defence ties. Agreements, including a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an arrangement on UN peacekeeping training, were also finalised.

Singh expressed confidence that India-Germany ties will continue to grow, stating that the next phase of the partnership can be driven by innovation, capability, and strategic cooperation.

- ANI
Results to be declared on May 4

Tamil Nadu witnessed a record 84% voter turnout in the 2026 Assembly elections, marking one of the highest participation rates in recent years. The election transformed from traditional two-party dominance into a four-cornered contest involving the DMK-led SPA, AIADMK-led NDA, Vijay's TVK, and Seeman's NTK. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's DMK seeks a second consecutive term while Edappadi K. Palaniswami's AIADMK attempts a comeback amid internal challenges. The results, scheduled for May 4, will determine if Dravidian stronghold continues or shifts with the rise of TVK and NTK.

Record 84% voter turnout in Tamil Nadu's 234 Assembly seats as DMK, AIADMK, Vijay's TVK, and Seeman's NTK battle in a historic four-cornered contest.

Chennai, April 23 (Tamil Nadu witnessed a high-voltage electoral contest on Thursday as polling for all 234 Assembly constituencies concluded with a robust voter turnout of over 84 per cent, reflecting strong public participation in one of the State's most closely watched elections in recent years.

The election marked a significant shift from the traditional Dravidian two-party dominance, evolving into a multi-cornered contest involving the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), the AIADMK-led NDA, actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).

Polling began briskly in the morning, with steady queues reported across urban and rural regions despite soaring temperatures. By 3 p.m., turnout had already touched around 70 per cent, indicating a strong voter response that eventually translated into one of the highest participation rates in recent elections.

The ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is seeking a second consecutive term, banking on welfare schemes and governance claims.

The AIADMK, under Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is attempting a comeback despite internal factional challenges, making this election a crucial test of its political relevance.

Adding a new dimension to the contest is Vijay's TVK, which has contested all 234 seats, aiming to convert its growing popularity-especially among youth-into electoral gains. Alongside, Senthamizhan Seeman's NTK has once again fielded candidates across constituencies, focusing on Tamil nationalism, environmental issues, and an alternative political narrative that appeals to sections of young and first-time voters.

The presence of these emerging players has effectively turned the election into a four-cornered fight, potentially fragmenting vote shares and altering traditional electoral arithmetic.

While polling was largely peaceful, a few isolated incidents of tension and logistical challenges were reported, including crowd management issues at some booths and minor disruptions.

However, authorities ensured smooth conduct overall, with extensive security arrangements in place.

With over 5.7 crore eligible voters participating in the democratic exercise, the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election is poised to be a defining political moment.

The results, to be declared on May 4, will determine whether the Dravidian stronghold continues under the DMK or witnesses a shift amid the rise of new political forces like TVK and NTK.

- IANS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that the regional conflict involving Iran is beginning to weaken Europe and risks causing greater damage if not addressed peacefully. Diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran are at a critical juncture, with talks potentially restarting within days as President Donald Trump has extended a ceasefire. However, Iran remains hesitant to return to negotiations, accusing the US of bad faith and demanding the lifting of the maritime blockade as a condition. The situation remains clouded by uncertainty as both sides send mixed signals about their commitment to a diplomatic resolution.

Turkish President Erdogan tells Germany's Steinmeier regional war is weakening Europe. US-Iran talks may resume as Trump extends ceasefire amid Tehran's hesitations.

Ankara, April 23 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned of the expanding repercussions of the conflict involving Iran, stating that the fallout is now reaching European shores and risks further deterioration.

During a telephone conversation with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Turkish leader highlighted the growing geographical impact of the hostilities. According to a summary of the discussion released by Turkiye's Foreign Ministry, Erdogan cautioned that the regional instability is no longer contained.



"Erdogan noted that the war in our region began to weaken Europe as well, and that if this trend were not addressed with a peace-oriented approach, the damage caused by the period of conflict would be far greater," the statement read.



Amid these warnings of regional decay, diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff between the United States and Iran have entered a critical phase, with a fresh round of discussions potentially resuming within the next 36 to 72 hours. US President Donald Trump has indicated that negotiations might restart as early as Friday.



The potential timeline for renewed dialogue has emerged through diplomatic backchannels. According to the New York Post, recent high-level engagements have provided encouraging signs, sparking expectations that formal talks could begin within days.



When questioned about the possibility of the meeting taking place in Islamabad, President Trump responded briefly via social media, stating: "It's possible! President DJT."



However, the diplomatic process remains clouded by significant uncertainty. While Washington has decided to prolong the current ceasefire and halt direct military strikes, Tehran has yet to formally commit to the proposed session. This outreach follows the President's decision to extend the truce to allow the Iranian leadership more time to present a consolidated negotiating position.



In a post detailing the move, Trump stated, "I have directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."



Despite the extension, the Trump administration has sent mixed signals, suggesting that the opportunity for a diplomatic solution may only be available for a limited window.



Tehran, meanwhile, has expressed hesitation regarding a return to the table. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei accused Washington of previously undermining diplomatic progress, remarking, "We entered the negotiations in good faith and with seriousness, but the negotiating party (the United States) has shown disregard and lack of good faith."



He further clarified that "Iran has not yet decided whether it will participate in the new round of peace negotiations with the United States scheduled for later this week."



The Iranian leadership has also conditioned any potential progress on the removal of the maritime blockade. In a post on X, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf argued that meaningful dialogue requires a total cessation of economic pressure.



"A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world's economy, and if the Zionist warmongering across all fronts is halted; reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire," Ghalibaf wrote.





- ANI
West Bengal recorded 89.93% and Tamil Nadu 82.24% voter turnout till 5 PM, breaching previous figures from 2021 elections. The Special Intensive Revision drive did not impact voter enthusiasm, with brisk polling since morning. In West Bengal, 152 constituencies across 16 districts voted in the first phase, while Tamil Nadu saw all 234 constituencies go to polls. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 to determine the next governments.

West Bengal records 89.93% and Tamil Nadu 82.24% voter turnout till 5 PM, breaching 2021 figures. Polling brisk across both states.

Kolkata/Chennai, April 23 Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are witnessing robust voter turnout on Thursday. The EC polling estimates that till 5 PM, both states are heading towards record voting percentages.

Till 5 PM, West Bengal recorded 89.93 per cent polling, while in Tamil Nadu it stood at 82.24 per cent - breaching the previous figures in the 2021 elections, which were 82 and 74 per cent, respectively.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, which had stoked intense controversy ahead of elections, seems to have failed to cast a shadow over the electoral exercise; rather, it has pushed voting percentages to unprecedented levels in both states.

The voting has been brisk in both states since morning. At 3 PM, West Bengal recorded 78.77 per cent polling, while Tamil Nadu recorded 70 per cent, according to EC data.

In West Bengal, polling began for 152 assembly constituencies at 7 AM, spread across 16 districts, with long queues at polling stations since morning.

The 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda in North Bengal, and Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, and Birbhum in South Bengal.

The second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29. 

Polling for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies also began at 7 a.m., with over 5.73 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in a fiercely contested four-cornered battle.

The electoral contest primarily features the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making this one of the most competitive elections in recent years.

Voting commenced early in the morning, with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths, reflecting strong public enthusiasm to exercise their democratic right.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the electoral verdict will determine the next governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

- IANS
Voting commenced on Thursday for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections across 152 constituencies. State Governor Ravi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made appeals, particularly to youth and women, to participate enthusiastically in this "sacred festival of democracy." The election features a high-stakes contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, seeking a fourth term, and the BJP, which aims to form the government after a strong previous performance. Polling officials confirmed smooth arrangements, with EVMs functioning properly and security measures in place.

First phase of West Bengal Assembly elections begins. Governor Ravi and PM Modi urge youth & women to vote. Key contests in 152 constituencies.

Kolkata, April 23 Voting for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections commenced on Thursday morning across several constituencies. The State Governor has encouraged citizens to participate in large numbers, particularly the youth and women, in the 'sacred festival of democracy.'

Official Account of Lok Bhavan, West Bengal, in a post on X stated, "First Phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway today. I urge every voter, particularly the youth and women, to enthusiastically take part in the most sacred festival of democracy and exercise their votes without failing. Every vote is sacred. It has the power to shape the future of West Bengal. - Governor Ravi"

On Thursday, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Nandigram & Bhabanipur Assembly Constituencies, Suvendu Adhikari, called for peaceful polling as voting got underway in West Bengal during the first phase of Assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters, Adhikari said, "We are Hindus, we are Sanatanis. I offered prayers, offered a 'naman.' I spoke to polling agents of my constituency...Polling should be held peacefully."

Meanwhile, Polling is underway at a polling station in Birbhum as voting began at 7 am for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, with officials confirming that arrangements are in place for a smooth process.

Polling personnel and security forces were deployed early in the morning to ensure the orderly conduct of voting, with procedures being followed as per the Election Commission guidelines.

Presiding Officer Swati Sarkar Pal said that security and booth-level arrangements have been streamlined to facilitate voters.

She said, "Security personnel will manage things outside and send voters inside. BLO plays an important role in these elections and sends the voters inside to cast a vote.

"The Presiding Officer further informed that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are functioning properly and contingency measures are in place in case of any technical issue.

"EVM is working fine. If any issue comes up, we will inform the sector officer, and the machine will be replaced within 15 minutes," she added.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to turn out in large numbers for the Assembly elections, calling voting a "sacred democratic duty."

In separate posts on X, the Prime Minister made a special appeal to youth and women to participate enthusiastically and ensure a record turnout.

"The first phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is today. I call upon all citizens to participate with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. I especially urge my young friends and the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers," he said.

West Bengal is set to witness a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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.

West Bengal is witnessing a two-phase election for its 294 Assembly seats. The first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the second phase is scheduled for April 29.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in the first phase.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI
Actress Sai Tamhankar has spoken about the pervasive challenge of typecasting in the Hindi film industry, noting it often originates from an actor's own successful and admired performances. She explains that while casting directors "play it safe" by offering similar roles, the hardest part for an actor is turning down work to avoid being pigeonholed. Tamhankar, who has done this in the past, admits it remains a difficult layer of the profession. She remains optimistic, however, believing this industry trend is slowly changing.

Actress Sai Tamhankar discusses the double-edged sword of typecasting, calling it a "stark silver lining" that emerges from successful performances.

Mumbai, April 23 Actress Sai Tamhankar, who is currently seen on the show "Matka King", has spoken about how, while typecasting remains a huge challenge in the Hindi film industry, it often stems from success itself, where memorable performances lead to repeated offers of similar roles.

Sai, who has showcased her talent in diverse projects such as Love Sonia, Bhakshak, Agni, Ground Zero, Navarasa and Dabba Cartel, to name a few, said that turning down work to avoid being pigeon-holed into an image is one of the toughest parts of being an actor.

Asked how she navigates being typecast and have there been moments where she had to say no to avoid being boxed into a certain image, Sai told IANS: "Yes, there's a stark silver lining of typecast."

"The thing is, once you do something which is a hit or admired by people, your character is a hit, admired by people, probably the people who cast you again or ask you again for the same thing or same kind of thing, they are probably playing it safe and rightfully so."

However, she thinks for an actor, it is very tough to keep saying no to work.

"The only way to escape or to avoid being typecast is saying no to similar work. And that is the toughest part of an actor's job. Especially for me, it's very tough for me to say no to work," said Sai, who made her first screen appearance in 2003 with a minor role in Tuzyavina.

She added: "But yes, I have done this in the past. I am slightly more seasoned when it comes to handling or fearing being typecast. But yeah, the layer still exists and I feel sad it should not exist. But a lot of things are changing. I think this too shall change. Let's be optimistic here."

Talking about her latest project Matka King, the show also stars Vijay Varma and Kritika Kamra. It tells the story of Mumbai in the 1960s, where an enterprising cotton trader who craves legitimacy and respect, starts a new gambling game dubbed 'Matka'.

- IANS
Party leaders confirm his health is stable and he is resting at home

Veteran leader Sharad Pawar was discharged from Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday after two days of medical observation. His grand-nephew Rohit Pawar confirmed that Pawar's health is excellent and he is resting at his residence. Former minister Jitendra Awhad also stated that the NCP chief's condition is stable and urged prayers for his full recovery. Pawar missed the Baramati by-election voting for the first time since 1967 due to his hospitalization.

Sharad Pawar discharged from Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after two days. Party leaders confirm stable condition; he missed Baramati by-election voting due to health.

Mumbai, April 23 Veteran leader and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai due to ill health, was discharged on Thursday. 

Pawar had been admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, where he underwent various medical tests. After being kept under observation for two days, he was sent home on Thursday following the doctors' advice, said the party in a press release.

On Thursday, amid rumours about Sharad Pawar's health, his grand-nephew and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) legislator Rohit Pawar issued a clarification. 

In his post on X, Rohit Pawar said that many party workers had called out of concern regarding Pawar Saheb's health; however, Saheb's health is excellent. 

He added that he has been discharged from the hospital and is resting at his Mumbai residence, and that he had recently spoken with him regarding some work. He also said that no one should be worried about his health.

Further, former minister and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) legislator Jitendra Awhad also said that party chief Sharad Pawar's condition is stable. 

He stated in his post on X that the condition of the esteemed Sharadchandra Pawar Saheb is stable and that, having been discharged from the hospital, he is resting at his residence. 

He added that everyone should pray for his full recovery and that the veteran leader returns to the political landscape of Maharashtra.

Earlier, Sharad Pawar on April 21 said that he would not participate in voting during the Baramati by-election held that day due to his hospitalisation. This marks the first time since he contested his first election in 1967 that the senior leader will miss exercising his franchise in his home bastion.

Addressing the citizens of Baramati from a hospital in Mumbai, Pawar expressed deep regret over his physical absence.

He said that he has consistently exercised his right to vote in Baramati since 1967 and had fully intended to travel there to maintain this tradition. 

However, due to sudden health issues, he had been hospitalised, and doctors had strictly advised against travel, citing the need for treatment and mandatory rest.

Pawar further clarified that he explored all alternative voting methods, including postal ballots and digital options provided by the Election Commission, but was informed by state election officials that these facilities were not available to him under the current circumstances.

- IANS
The portals of Kedarnath Dham were opened amid Vedic chants and elaborate rituals, marking the start of the pilgrimage season. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the temple, praised the arrangements, and appealed for cleanliness. The idol had been stationed at Omkareshwar Temple for the winter months before its ceremonial return. The full Char Dham Yatra commences with the reopening of Badrinath Dham, following the earlier openings of Gangotri and Yamunotri.

Kedarnath Dham opens for pilgrims after winter closure. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami offers prayers as Char Dham Yatra commences with extensive arrangements.

Kedarnath, April 22 The portals of Kedarnath Dham were opened on Wednesday amid Vedic chants and resounding cheers of "Har Har Mahadev", marking a significant moment in the annual pilgrimage calendar and allowing devotees to offer prayers at one of Hinduism's most revered shrines.

The temple was adorned with nearly 51 quintals of flowers, creating a vibrant and spiritually charged atmosphere ahead of the ceremonial opening.

The Indian Army band performed Lord Shiva's aarti as priests conducted elaborate rituals inside the temple, ceremonially welcoming Lord Kedarnath to his summer abode.

Devotees from across the country gathered in large numbers to witness the occasion and seek blessings at the sacred shrine.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also visited the temple and offered prayers.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "The Temple Committee has made excellent arrangements here, ensuring that everyone can now easily have 'darshan' of 'Baba' in a relatively short span of time... As of now, thousands of devotees have already had the privilege of catching a glimpse of Baba Kedarnath."

He also appealed to pilgrims to maintain cleanliness across the state during the yatra.

On April 20, the doli proceeded from Phata to Gaurikund, and on April 21, it began its final ascent toward Kedarnath. The idol of Lord Kedarnath had been stationed at Omkareshwar Temple for 178 days during the winter months.

The journey was marked by chants of "Jai Baba Kedar" that reverberated across the valley, accompanied by performances by the Indian Army Band.

The opening date of Kedarnath Temple is traditionally decided by the Char Dham Temple Committee at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. In 2026, Maha Shivratri was observed on February 15.

The reopening of Badrinath Dham on April 23 will mark the full commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2026 in Uttarakhand. Preparations for the reopening of Badrinath Temple are already underway.

From the Narsingh Temple, which serves as the ceremonial seat of Adi Shankaracharya, the palanquin of Garuda and other ritual elements have been dispatched toward Badrinath.

All ceremonial palanquins are scheduled to assemble at Pandukeshwar for an overnight halt. Following rituals on Wednesday, they will proceed toward Badrinath, expected to reach by evening after covering a 42-kilometre journey. The temple gates are set to open for devotees on April 23 at 6:15 a.m.

There is visible enthusiasm among pilgrims, with large numbers of devotees arriving from across India and abroad to undertake the sacred journey.

The Char Dham Yatra, regarded as one of the most important spiritual pilgrimages in the country, has already commenced with the reopening of Gangotri and Yamunotri on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya after a six-month winter closure.

Amid Vedic chants and traditional rituals, the temple doors were opened, ushering in a new pilgrimage season expected to attract lakhs of devotees. The yatra connects four sacred shrines located in the Himalayas -- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath -- each surrounded by snow-clad peaks, rivers and scenic mountain landscapes.

Traditionally, the pilgrimage begins at Yamunotri, followed by Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and concludes at Badrinath, following a west-to-east sequence.

Authorities have made extensive arrangements to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience. Measures have been implemented for security, traffic regulation and healthcare services across the route.

Facilities such as sanitation, parking and accommodation have been strengthened, while both online and offline registration systems are in place to manage the heavy inflow of devotees. Police personnel and State Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed at key points, with special focus on disaster preparedness.

Helplines and control rooms have also been activated to assist pilgrims and handle emergencies during the journey.

- IANS
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level meeting with banks to address emerging threats from AI models like Mythos. She urged banks to take pre-emptive measures to secure IT systems and safeguard customer data. Sitharaman also directed the Indian Banks' Association to create a coordinated response mechanism. The meeting comes amid reports that AI advancements could disrupt India's IT services sector.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman holds meeting with banks on emerging AI threats. Asks them to secure IT systems, safeguard customer data, and boost vigilance.

New Delhi, April 23 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday, along with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, with Scheduled Commercial Banks and key stakeholders to assess the potential impact of emerging threats linked to recent developments in Artificial Intelligence models, particularly the possibility of such technologies being misused to weaponise software vulnerabilities.

Sitharaman urged all banks to take all necessary pre-emptive measures to secure their IT systems, safeguard customer data, and protect monetary resources.

During the meeting, the Union Finance Minister appreciated the work done by banks so far in strengthening cybersecurity systems and protocols, the Finance Ministry said in a post on X.

She noted, however, that the nature of the emerging threat from the latest AI Model is unprecedented and requires a very high degree of vigilance, preparedness and better coordination across financial institutions and banks.

The Finance Minister advised the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to develop a coordinated institutional mechanism to respond swiftly and effectively to any such threats.

She also directed banks to engage the best available cybersecurity professionals and specialised agencies to continuously strengthen the defensive and monitoring capabilities of the banks.

Banks were further advised to immediately report any suspicious activity or cyber incident to the relevant authorities, including the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, and to maintain close coordination with all agencies concerned.

"Emphasising the need for proactive action, the Union Finance Minister urged banks to take all necessary pre-emptive measures to secure their IT systems, safeguard customer data, and protect monetary resources. A robust mechanism for real-time threat intelligence sharing may be established among banks, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, and other relevant agencies so that emerging threats are identified early and disseminated across the ecosystem without delay," the Finance Ministry said in its post.

The meeting was attended by Department of Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju, Director General of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team Sanjay Bahl, senior officials of RBI and NPCI, and MDs & CEOs of Scheduled Commercial Banks.

AI models such as Anthropic's Mythos could pose disruption risks to the growth of India's IT services sector, according to a report by Kotak Institutional Equities.

The report said the model "exhibits a step-jump in benchmark performance across software engineering tasks" and added that it "raises near- to medium-term disruption risks for IT services," particularly for companies with higher exposure to application services.

The brokerage noted that improvements in AI-driven coding could translate into real business impact.

"The realization of similar improvements in real-world scenarios risks turning our estimate of a 3-3.5% annual growth headwind for the industry... from prudent to practical," the report said.

It added that such advancements could also increase downside risks if rapid capability gains continue in future AI models.

Kotak further said the model could "increase efficiencies across all IT services segments" but warned that gains may not be evenly distributed.

- ANI
HBM supply-demand imbalance expected to last at least three years

SK hynix projects that high-bandwidth memory demand will outpace supply for at least three more years amid record quarterly earnings. The company reported all-time high sales of 52.6 trillion won and a 405% operating profit jump. Executives cited strong AI infrastructure investments driving persistent demand despite seasonal downturn. The chipmaker plans to deliver next-generation HBM4E samples in late 2025 and start mass production in 2027.

SK hynix reports record quarterly earnings with 405% profit surge, warns HBM supply-demand imbalance could persist for three years amid AI boom.

Seoul, April 23 SK hynix anticipates that demand for high-bandwidth memory will outpace supply for at least the next three years, as the chipmaker pledges to meet orders on time following record-breaking quarterly results. The company noted that the current upcycle in memory prices is likely to continue, driven by strong demand for HBM, server DRAM, and enterprise solid-state drives alongside persistent supply constraints.

According to a report by The Korea Herald, the memory chip maker reported its sales posted an all-time high of 52.6 trillion won (USD 39 billion) in the January-March period. Operating profit jumped 405 per cent to 37.6 trillion won (USD 25.6 billion), marking a fourth straight quarter of record results.

Revenue topped 50 trillion won (USD 34.1 billion) for the first time in a single quarter, while the operating margin nearly doubled on-quarter to reach 72 per cent.

"Despite the fact that first quarter is typically a seasonal downturn, strong demand persisted due to expanded investments in AI infrastructure," the report quoted Kim Woo-hyun, chief financial officer at SK hynix.

Park Joon-deok, vice president leading DRAM marketing at SK hynix, said during an earnings call for Q1 that as this supply-demand imbalance persists, customers are prioritising volume over price. He noted that the growing importance of memory in AI computing is being reflected in pricing and that favourable pricing conditions are expected to continue for the time being.

"Supply constraints limit our ability to meet all requests for now. But wider adoption of multi-year LTAs could improve demand visibility and support more stable earnings, enhancing investment efficiency," the report quoted Park. He added that this could help the cyclical volatility that has historically defined the memory industry.

Regarding the evolution of technology, Kim Woo-hyun explained that AI is moving from large-scale model training to agentic systems that perform repeated real-time inferences in diverse environments. He said the demand base for memory was set to broaden across both DRAM and NAND flash. The report mentioned that the company plans to deliver HBM4E samples in the second half of this year and start mass production in 2027.

"The 1c process has already reached stable mass production and yield levels," the report quoted Kim Ki-tae, head of HBM sales and marketing.

The company is also increasing investment significantly compared to the previous year, focusing on the ramp-up of M15X and infrastructure preparation on the Yongin cluster. The chipmaker has pulled forward the opening of its first Yongin fab by three months to February next year to address mid- to long-term customer demand.

Song Chang-seok, head of NAND marketing at SK hynix, addressed concerns that SRAM-based LPUs or cache optimisation could dampen memory demand, stating that these technologies will complement rather than replace current architectures.

"A hybrid model is highly likely, with LPUs handling latency-sensitive tasks and GPUs paired with HBM managing more complex workloads, reinforcing demand for high-performance memory," the report quoted Song.

- ANI
South Korea's special envoy Chung Byung-ha met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran to address the safety of Korean vessels and seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi defended Iran's blockade of the vital waterway as a national security measure, placing blame for consequences on "parties carrying out the aggression." The standoff involves 26 South Korea-linked ships and 173 crew members, with Seoul engaged in safety talks with Iran and other parties including the US. The tensions and blockade follow escalated conflict after US-Israel military strikes, which killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompted Iranian retaliation.

South Korean special envoy Chung Byung-ha meets Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran to discuss safety of stranded ships and crew in the blocked Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran, April 23 South Korea's special envoy to Iran has met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, an Iranian social media post showed on Thursday, as Seoul seeks to ensure the safety of its vessels and seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia tensions.

Chung Byung-ha, special envoy for South Korea's foreign minister, expressed hope in his meeting with Araghchi that diplomatic efforts would bring a definite end to the conflict and lead to peace and stability in the region, a Telegram post by Iran's foreign ministry showed.

Chung also noted the importance of developing bilateral relations between Seoul and Tehran, reports Xinhua news agency.

Echoing Chung's remark on their ties, Araghchi expressed Iran's readiness to cooperate in that regard.

Regarding Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi defended the measure as an effort to safeguard its national security and interests, saying that "responsibility for any resulting consequences lies with the parties carrying out the aggression," according to the post.

Twenty-six South Korea-related ships and 173 Korean crew members remain stranded in the vital waterway blocked by both Iran and the United States.

South Korea has been in talks with Iran and neighbouring countries to ensure their safety, sharing details of the vessels and crew with relevant parties, including Iran and the US.

The tensions in West Asia escalated after the US and Israel carried out a joint military operation against Iran. The joint military strikes killed the former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a large-scale military operation by Iran against Israel and the US bases in the Gulf nations.

The conflict also led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered a global energy crisis.

- IANS
DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat has declared space as the dominant domain that will decide future conflicts, urging a whole-of-nation approach to close India's capability gap with rivals. He highlighted DRDO's expanding role in military space, including space situational awareness, NAVIC, and early missile launch detection. Kamat noted that India's current R&D spending of 0.65% of GDP is inadequate, but the defence R&D budget is set to double to 10% over five years. He stressed the need for sovereign capabilities in critical technologies through collaboration with startups, MSMEs, and academia.

DRDO Chairman Samir Kamat says space is now a dominant war domain, urging a whole-of-nation push to close India's capability gap with rivals.

New Delhi, April 23 Space is no longer just a supporting tool for national security, it has become the dominant domain that will determine the outcome of future conflicts, Defence Research and Development Organisation Chairman Samir V. Kamat said on Thursday, calling for a "whole-of-nation" approach to close India's capability gap with rivals whose space programmes are expanding at an alarming pace.

Speaking at the 4th Indian DefSpace Symposium at Manekshaw Centre on "Strengthening India's Defence and Space Industry Synergy," Kamat outlined DRDO's growing role in military space while stressing that catching up will be a "Herculean challenge" without greater investment and collaboration.

While ISRO remains the lead agency for India's civilian space programme, Kamat said DRDO was entrusted with addressing the military aspects of space after the formation of the Defence Space Agency. The responsibility, he noted, is still a small part of DRDO's overall mandate but is expanding rapidly. "It needs to grow much more if we have to keep pace with our rivals," he said.

To bridge the gap, DRDO is adopting a collaborative model that brings in startups, MSMEs and academia. The organisation has already set up DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence in three to four of its 15 DIA COEs, with space identified as a priority domain.

"There is a lot of interest among academia and startups to contribute to the defence part of the space programme," Kamat said, adding that he is optimistic India will gain the necessary impetus and sovereign capabilities in critical technologies over the next few years.

Kamat made it clear that while some space technologies can still be sourced from abroad, several areas remain restricted and require indigenous development. DRDO's current focus includes space situational awareness to protect India's space-based assets, development of the restricted service of NAVIC for military operations, and capabilities in space-based surveillance and imaging radar. The organisation is also working on early missile launch detection systems, a capability highlighted by Chief Marshal Bhaduriya.

Civil-military fusion will be essential, particularly in areas like imaging radar where civilian and military applications overlap, he noted.

The Chairman underlined that India's current investment in research and development remains inadequate to sustain this push. As a nation, India spends only 0.65% of GDP on Research and Development, and within defence, only 5% of the budget is allocated to R&D. "We definitely need to scale this up if we have to catch up with our rivals," he said.

There is, however, a positive signal on funding. Kamat noted that the Raksha Mantri has committed to doubling the defence R&D budget to 10% of the overall defence budget over the next five years. He expressed confidence that this would unlock more resources not only for government institutions but also for startups and MSMEs working in the sector.

Kamat added that the goal is to build sovereign capabilities in critical space technologies that cannot be imported and to ensure India's space-based assets remain secure and operational in contested environments. He stressed that this cannot be achieved by DRDO alone and will require coordinated efforts across government, industry and academia.

- ANI
Record 94.1% pass rate in SSLC Exam-1, up from 80.04% last year

Karnataka recorded a historic 94.1% pass rate in the SSLC Exam-1 results, a sharp rise from last year's 80.04%. Girls outperformed boys with a pass percentage of 96.18% compared to 91.94%. Rural students and government schools also showed significant improvement. Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa congratulated students and officials for the milestone.

Karnataka SSLC exam results 2025 record 94.1% pass rate, a sharp rise from last year. Girls outperform boys with 96.18% pass percentage.

Bengaluru, April 23 Karnataka on Thursday recorded a historic performance, with a pass percentage of 94.1 per cent in the SSLC Examination-1 results this year.

Authorities have reported a sharp rise in the overall pass percentage, along with improved outcomes across categories. Girls have outperformed boys in the board examination.

It may be noted that the state government has reduced the minimum passing marks from 35 per cent to 33 per cent.

The SSLC Exam-1 was conducted from March 18 to April 2.

A total of 7,24,794 have passed the examination taking the passing percentage to 94.1 per cent against 80.04 per cent in 2024-25.

A total of 7,75,999 regular fresh students registered for the examination, of whom 7,70,209 appeared, while 5,790 students were absent.

The attendance rate stood at an impressive 99.2 per cent.

The girls have outperformed boys in the board exams by achieving the passing percentage of 96.18, the passing percentage of boys stood at 91. 94 per cent.

A total of 3,77,922 girl students and 3,46,872 boys have appeared for the exams.

According to official data, the pass percentage among regular fresh students stood at 94.1 per cent this year, marking an increase of 14.06 percentage points compared to the combined results of all three exams last year.

Notably, rural students (94.80 per cent) outperformed their urban counterparts (93.2 per cent), registering a higher pass percentage.

Government schools also recorded a significant improvement, with a 16.8 percentage point increase in pass percentage compared to last year.

Another key highlight is the rise in individual student performance. Around 66.5 per cent of students scored 60 per cent and above. Additionally, 1,532 students benefited from the reduction in the minimum passing marks from 35 per cent to 33 per cent.

Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa while announcing the Class 10 results extended congratulations, lauded the efforts of officials, students and parents for achieving the milestone, and also acknowledged the contribution of senior officials, Deputy Director of Public Instruction officers, Block Education Officers and teachers for their role in delivering the results.

Evaluation of answer scripts was carried out across 237 camps in 35 districts and was completed on April 16.

The results have been communicated to students and parents via SMS and WhatsApp. In a first, marks cards have also been made available through DigiLocker.

Officials noted that students across all categories performed well this year, with no significant gaps observed.

The 92.4 per cent candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, 93.17 per cent of Scheduled Tribe and 95.35 hailing from general category have passed the exams.

The number of schools achieving a 100 per cent pass rate has increased, and notably, no government school recorded a zero per cent result this year.

Authorities described the outcome as a reflection of sustained efforts to improve academic performance and ensure equitable results across regions and school types.

The coastal district of Mangaluru stood first by achieving 98.40 per cent. Udupi stood next with 98.18 per cent and Karwar district stood at third position with 98.08 per cent. Bengaluru North (95.33 per cent), Bengaluru Rural (95.83 per cent) and Bengaluru South district (91.64 per cent) of students passed the exams.

Kalaburagi district in North Karnataka stood at the bottom of the list with 85.06 per cent.

It can noted that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his son and Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Priyank Kharge hail from this district.

Prarthana Nagappa Biradar Patil of Government High School at Kategeri in Belagavi district; Bharath G of Sri Vidyalakshmi English Medium School at Kabbala in Davanagere district; Brunda M Tapse of St. Mary's High School in Fort Chikkamagaluru; Dhanush Sudhir Mysore of Poorna Prajna Education Centre at Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru; Preetham G Poojary of Mother Theresa Memorial School at Shankaranarayana in Udupi district; Soujanya Basavaraj Kandakur of Oxford English Medium High School at Nagaranabetta in Vijayapura district; and Sukhadeva of BVR English Medium High School at Manvi in Raichur district have scored a perfect 625 out of 625 marks.

- IANS
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, actor-politician Vijay, and superstar Rajinikanth were prominent early voters as polling began for Tamil Nadu's 234 Assembly constituencies. The election is a four-cornered fight involving the DMK, AIADMK, NTK, and Vijay's TVK, with over 5.73 crore voters eligible. Voting faced minor disruptions, including technical issues with EVMs in Tiruchy and crowd management for Vijay. Authorities have deployed extensive security to ensure a peaceful and high-turnout electoral process.

CM M.K. Stalin, actor Vijay, and Rajinikanth among early voters as Tamil Nadu holds high-stakes Assembly elections across 234 seats.

Chennai, April 23 Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, actor-politician Vijay, and superstar Rajinikanth were among the prominent early voters as polling began across Tamil Nadu's 234 Assembly constituencies on Thursday.

Stalin cast his vote at a polling station in Teynampet, Chennai, accompanied by his wife Durga Stalin.



Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also exercised his franchise along with his wife Krithika, reflecting the ruling DMK leadership's early participation in the democratic process.



Vijay, the leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), voted at a government middle school polling station in Neelankarai. His arrival drew large crowds of fans, leading to brief congestion at the venue. Police personnel stepped in to manage the situation and escorted him safely into the booth amid tight security.



Rajinikanth cast his vote at the Stella Maris polling booth in Chennai, accompanied by his daughter Soundarya.



Speaking to reporters, he urged all eligible voters to come out and vote in large numbers, emphasising the importance of participating in the democratic process.



Voting is being held in a single phase across all 234 constituencies in what is seen as a high-stakes electoral battle.



A total of 4,023 candidates are in the fray, while over 5.73 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise, according to the Election Commission.



The contest features a four-cornered fight involving the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-led front, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Vijay's TVK, adding a new dimension to the state's political landscape.



Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan cast her vote at a polling station in Saligramam, while Union Minister L. Murugan, contesting from Avinashi, voted in Koyambedu.



Meanwhile, polling was briefly delayed at a booth in Thillai Nagar, Tiruchy, due to technical issues in two Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).



Minister K. N. Nehru, contesting from Tiruchy West, was among those waiting in queues as officials worked to resolve the malfunction. Authorities have deployed extensive security arrangements and urged voters to turn out in large numbers to ensure a peaceful and participatory election.





- IANS
The State of Palestine Embassy in India has highlighted a UN Women report detailing the severe impact of the Gaza war on women and girls. The report states over 70% of those killed are women and children, with nearly one million women and girls forcibly displaced. It raises alarms over collapsing healthcare for 50,000 pregnant women and acute food insecurity affecting over 90% of the population. The Embassy calls for urgent international action to address this humanitarian catastrophe and its long-term societal consequences.

Palestine Embassy cites UN Women report on Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe: 70% killed are women & children, 50k pregnant women at risk.

New Delhi, April 23 The State of Palestine Embassy in India on Thursday has highlighted the findings of a recent UN Women report titled "The Cost of War in Gaza on Women and Girls", calling it evidence of the severe humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian women amid the ongoing conflict.

In a statement, the Embassy said, "The Embassy of the State of Palestine draws attention to the recent report issued by UN Women entitled 'The Cost of War in Gaza on Women and Girls,' which sheds light on the devastating impact of the ongoing war in Gaza on Palestinian women."

Quoting the UN report, the Embassy noted that women and children have borne the brunt of the violence, stating, "More than 70 per cent of those killed are women and children, while nearly one million women and girls have been forcibly displaced--often multiple times and under unsafe conditions--many lacking adequate shelter and access to basic services."

The statement further raised alarm over collapsing healthcare services in Gaza. "Approximately 50,000 pregnant women remain in Gaza, with over 180 births taking place daily under increasingly dangerous and unsanitary conditions, often without adequate maternal care and amid the collapse of the healthcare system," it said.

Highlighting worsening food insecurity, the Embassy said, "Over 90 per cent of the population is facing acute food insecurity, with women and children among the most affected," adding that access to clean water and sanitation has been severely reduced.

The statement also drew attention to the psychological toll of the crisis, noting " widespread trauma and anxiety, with many forced to assume the role of sole caregivers following the loss or injury of family members."

It further cited a trend identified in the report, stating that, " many women and girls, including minors, have been compelled to resort to the use of contraceptive pills to delay or avoid menstruation due to severe shortages of personal hygiene supplies and essential care products."

Calling for urgent international action, the Embassy said the findings "reflect not only an immediate humanitarian catastrophe but also the risk of long-term societal consequences," urging that the "situation calls for urgent international attention and concrete measures to ensure the protection of civilians, particularly women, in accordance with international humanitarian law."

According to the official website of the UN, the report mentioned as the "advocacy brief" was drawn on recent analysis conducted by UN Women to highlight the experiences of women and girls in Gaza since October 2023.

The report, using a temporal and gender-focused lens, highlighted patterns of direct attacks, examining when, where, and how violence had unfolded and the resulting impact on women and girls.

The website stated, "Together, the insights highlight the urgent need for targeted, gender-responsive action to protect civilians and address the compounding risks faced by women and girls in Gaza."

- ANI
Around 2000 students and civil society members held solidarity marches in Tangdhar, Jammu, on the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Participants carried national flags and posters condemning the attack that killed 26 innocent lives. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan paid tribute to the victims, reaffirming India's resolve to combat terrorism. The event also coincided with Earth Day, blending mourning with environmental awareness.

2000 students and civil society members hold solidarity marches in Tangdhar, Jammu, marking one year since the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26.

Kupwara, April 22 Around 2000 students and members of the civil society took out solidarity marches in Tangdhar, on the first anniversary of the 22nd April 2025, Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Students were seen holding the national flag of India and posters in hand written "Stop terror attack", "We condemn attack on tourists" and "We stand for innocent tourists".

Students from Shiksha Niketan High School gathered to pay tribute to the 26 innocent lives lost in the Pahalgam attack. The event also coincided with Earth Day, highlighting the dual themes of mourning the victims of terrorism and celebrating Mother Earth while addressing plastic pollution.

The ceremony included a 5-minute silence and prayer, emphasising solidarity against terrorism and a commitment to peace. The students expressed their support for the nation and voiced their opposition to terrorism.

While paying tribute to the victims, a student said that on this day last year, several families lost their loved ones. Kashmir, often referred to as "heaven on earth," was struck by a terror attack that claimed innocent lives.

She further said, "Twenty-six people lost their lives in the attack, sacrificing themselves in the name of the country. The attackers not only took away their loved ones but also left a permanent void in their families. May God bless the departed souls.

Another student said that in the attack, children lost their fathers, mothers lost their sons, and wives lost their husbands. "Today, we pay tribute to the lives we lost and raise our voice against terrorism," the student said.

Earlier, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed the country's resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms, marking one year since the deadly incident that claimed 26 lives.

In a post on X, the Vice President said, "I solemnly remember the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

"He added that the loss continues to be deeply felt, stating, "The innocent lives lost in that gruesome and dastardly act of terror remain etched in our collective memory. I pay heartfelt tributes to those we lost and stand in solidarity with their families, whose grief is immeasurable. They will forever be remembered."Reiterating India's commitment against terrorism, he said, "Such acts of brutality can never shake our resolve to uphold peace, unity, and the enduring values of humanity."He further added, "We remain firm in our determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

- ANI
International delegates visiting West Bengal under an Election Commission program commended the seamless and voter-friendly arrangements at polling stations, including creche facilities and health camps. The delegates, from countries like Namibia, Georgia, and Nepal, are part of a flagship program for international electoral engagement. West Bengal is undergoing a two-phase election for 294 seats, with the first phase covering 152 constituencies. The state is set for a major contest as the incumbent Trinamool Congress seeks a fourth term against a strong push from the BJP.

International election delegates visit West Bengal booths, calling arrangements "systematic" and "wonderful" during the state's assembly elections.

Kolkata, April 23 As part of the International Election Visitors' Programme - 2026, international delegates visited polling booths in West Bengal on Thursday and appreciated the seamless arrangements.

An international delegate, who visited a polling booth in Kurseong Assembly Constituency, appreciated the creche facilities and drinking water at health check-up camps.

"Wonderful... systematic, very well managed", a delegate said as quoted by the Election Commission of India in a post on X.

"An International Delegate under IEVP2026 appreciated the seamless arrangements at the polling station in Simulbari - 24 Kurseong AC, from creche facilities and drinking water to health check-up camps. Festive. Inclusive. Accessible. Voter-friendly," ECI said.

CEO West Bengal said, "International delegates as part of IEVP 2026 and ECI Representative welcomed at the Polling stations of Paul Choudhury Tribal Hindi High School in Matigara of Darjeeling district of West Bengal."

Thirteen international delegates from Namibia, Georgia, Nepal, the Philippines, Switzerland, Kenya, and International IDEA are visiting in West Bengal to witness the conduct of high-stakes polls.

The IEVP is a flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of other countries and International Organizations.

Under the theme "Chunav ka Parv, Paschim Bengal ka Garv," these representatives witnessed the security protocols and administrative frameworks that underpin the Indian electoral process.

West Bengal is witnessing a two-phase election for its 294 Assembly seats. The first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the second phase is scheduled for April 29.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in the first phase. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

The state is set to witness a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected significant Chinese military activity near its territory, including 15 aircraft sorties and five naval vessels. Fourteen of the aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone, prompting monitoring and response from Taiwanese forces. The incident occurs against the backdrop of China's longstanding claim that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory, a position rooted in historical annexation and post-WWII arrangements. Taiwan functions with de facto independence but avoids a formal declaration to prevent military conflict with Beijing.

Taiwan's defense ministry reports 15 PLA aircraft sorties and 5 PLAN vessels operating near its territory, with 14 entering its southwestern ADIZ.

Taipei, April 23 Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of fifteen sorties of Chinese military aircraft, five PLAN vessels and one ship operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am on Thursday.

Of the fifteen sorties, fourteen entered Taiwan's southwestern part of the ADIZ.

In a post on X, the MND said, "15 sorties of PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 14 out of 15 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern part ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded."

Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of six sorties of Chinese military aircraft, five PLAN vessels, and one ship operating around its territorial waters.

In a post on X, the MND said, "15 sorties of PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 14 out of 15 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern part ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces 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
Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 56.81% till 1 PM on Thursday in the single-phase Assembly elections. The polling features a four-cornered contest among the DMK-led alliance, AIADMK front, Naam Tamilar Katchi, and actor Vijay's TVK. Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and film personalities like K. Bhagyaraj and Yogi Babu exercised their franchise. Authorities arrested a TVK functionary in Tirupattur for recording a video inside a polling booth.

Tamil Nadu records 56.81% voter turnout by 1 PM in Assembly elections. Key candidates, district-wise data, and film personalities cast votes.

Chennai, April 23 Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 56.81 per cent till 1 p.m. on Thursday as polling progressed steadily across all 234 Assembly constituencies in a single phase election marked by a four-cornered contest.

The battle features the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-led front, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

A total of 4,023 candidates are in the fray, with over 5.73 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots.

Among districts, Tiruppur registered the highest turnout at 62.97 per cent, followed by Namakkal (62.51 per cent), Erode (61.79 per cent) and Salem (61.42 per cent). The Nilgiris recorded the lowest turnout at 50.42 per cent, with Kanyakumari (50.35 per cent) and Tirunelveli (50.73 per cent) also witnessing relatively lower participation.

Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam cast his vote in Periyakulam in Theni district. Speaking to reporters, he said the political impact of Vijay would be known only after the results are declared.

Film personalities also joined voters in exercising their franchise and appealed for greater participation. Director K. Bhagyaraj voted in Chennai's Thousand Lights constituency along with his family and urged voters, especially the youth, to think about the next five years while casting their vote.

Actor Yogi Babu cast his vote in the Maduravoyal constituency after standing in a queue, and called upon citizens to recognise the importance of voting and ensure they take part in the democratic process.

Meanwhile, election authorities acted against violations of poll rules. In Tirupattur, a TVK functionary was arrested for allegedly recording a video inside a polling booth while casting his vote, which is prohibited under Election Commission norms.

Polling is being conducted under tight security arrangements across the State, with officials closely monitoring the process to ensure free and fair elections. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- IANS
Actor couple Suriya and Jyothika cast their votes in Chennai for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Several leaders including CM MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, and actors Rajinikanth and Dhurv Vikram also voted. Tamil Nadu recorded a 70% voter turnout by 3 pm, with Namakkal leading at 76.43%. Polling for 234 constituencies is underway and will conclude at 6 pm.

Actor couple Suriya and Jyothika cast their votes in Chennai as Tamil Nadu records 70% voter turnout by 3 pm. MK Stalin, Vijay, Rajinikanth also voted.

Chennai, April 23 The popular actor couple Suriya and Jyothika cast their votes on Thursday in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The two arrived at a polling booth in T Nagar in Chennai to take part in the democratic process.

Suriya looked stylish in a black shirt paired with black sunglasses. Jyothika was seen in an elegant kurta-dupatta set as the couple greeted people before entering the booth.

Meanwhile, several leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, along with actors Rajinikanth and Dhurv Vikram, cast their votes this morning.

Tamil Nadu witnessed massive voter turnout in Assembly polls on Thursday, recording 70.00% turnout at 3 pm, according to the Election Commission of India.In Tamil Nadu, the highest turnout of 76.43% was recorded in Namakkal, closely followed by Karur at 76.08%, Salem at 75.79%, Erode at 75.61%, and Tiruppur at 75.38%. Other districts such as Dharmapuri (74.68%), Dindigul (74.35%), Kancheepuram (72.51%), Coimbatore (71.16%), Kallakurichi (71.11%), and Tiruchirappalli (71.05%) also reflected steady voter participation, contributing to the state's overall healthy turnout figures.

Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.

- ANI
Actor Vasanth Ravi cast his vote at a Chennai polling booth for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He urged citizens to participate, emphasizing that every vote counts in choosing their leader. Other celebrities like Suriya, Jyothika, Rajinikanth, and Dhruv Vikram also voted. High voter turnout was recorded in districts like Namakkal, Karur, Salem, and Erode.

Actor Vasanth Ravi casts his vote in Chennai, urging citizens to participate in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, highlighting that every vote counts.

Chennai, April 23 Actor Vasanth Ravi on Thursday arrived at the Stella Maris College polling booth in Chennai to cast his vote for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The actor, while speaking to ANI, urged people to step out and take part in the democratic process and also made a humble appeal to those who had still not voted. Stressing that "every vote counts," he encouraged people to use their chance to choose their leader and not miss the opportunity.

"I think people out there in their homes who haven't cast their votes yet, please come in and cast your votes. Every vote counts. I still see a lot of names on the list that have not turned out yet," he told ANI.

"Please come in. It's a very important election, and I would say this is the power you have on this day to choose your leader, so don't miss that opportunity. That's my humble request," he added.

Earlier in the day, actors Suriya and Jyothika also cast their votes in the state.

Several prominent leaders and personalities, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, actors Rajinikanth and Dhruv Vikram, were also seen voting during the day.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu recorded encouraging numbers across many districts. Namakkal led the state with 76.43%, closely followed by Karur at 76.08%, Salem at 75.79%, Erode at 75.61%, and Tiruppur at 75.38%. Other districts such as Dharmapuri (74.68%), Dindigul (74.35%), Kancheepuram (72.51%), Coimbatore (71.16%), Kallakurichi (71.11%), and Tiruchirappalli (71.05%) also reflected steady voter.

Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.

- ANI
Latha Rajinikanth, wife of megastar Rajinikanth, cast her vote at Stella Maris College in Chennai for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. She urged citizens to fulfill their constitutional duty by voting. Actor Vasanth Ravi also voted and emphasized that every vote counts. Prominent figures like Suriya, Jyothika, CM MK Stalin, and TVK chief Vijay also participated in the polling.

Latha Rajinikanth casts her vote in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, urging citizens to participate. Actors Suriya, Jyothika, and others also vote.

Chennai, April 23 Latha Rajinikanth, Megastar Rajinikanth's wife, arrived at the Stella Maris College polling booth in Chennai on Thursday to cast her vote for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

After casting her vote, Latha spoke to ANI and urged citizens to step out and take part in the democratic process. She said, "It is a constitutional duty as a citizen to come and vote."

Earlier, actor Vasanth Ravi also arrived at the Stella Maris College polling booth in Chennai to cast his vote.

The actor, while speaking to ANI, urged people to step out and take part in the democratic process and also made a humble appeal to those who had still not voted. Stressing that "every vote counts," he encouraged people to use their chance to choose their leader and not miss the opportunity.

"I think people out there in their homes who haven't cast their votes yet, please come in and cast your votes. Every vote counts. I still see a lot of names on the list that have not turned out yet," he told ANI.

"Please come in. It's a very important election, and I would say this is the power you have on this day to choose your leader, so don't miss that opportunity. That's my humble request," he added.

Actors Suriya and Jyothika also cast their votes today.

Several prominent leaders and personalities, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, actors Rajinikanth and Dhruv Vikram, were also seen voting during the day.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu recorded encouraging numbers across many districts. Namakkal led the state with 76.43%, closely followed by Karur at 76.08%, Salem at 75.79%, Erode at 75.61%, and Tiruppur at 75.38%. Other districts such as Dharmapuri (74.68%), Dindigul (74.35%), Kancheepuram (72.51%), Coimbatore (71.16%), Kallakurichi (71.11%), and Tiruchirappalli (71.05%) also reflected steady voter.

Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.

- ANI
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief and actor Vijay cast his vote in Neelankarai for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, marking his highly anticipated electoral debut. He is contesting from both the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies, facing formidable DMK incumbents. The main contest is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, with Vijay's TVK potentially creating a three-way fight. Voting began amid tight security, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Actor Vijay casts his vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, contesting from two seats against DMK incumbents. Follow live updates and key quotes.

Chennai, April 23 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay on Thursday cast his vote at Neelankarai polling booth for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is contesting from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies.

In Perambur, Vijay is pitted against DMK heavyweight RD Shekar, who recorded a landslide victory in the last elections by a margin of 54,976 votes against AIADMK's NR Dhanapalan. In Tiruchirappalli East, he is contesting against sitting DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj S, who won with a huge margin of 53,797 votes in the 2021 elections.

Vijay is backing his crowd-pulling ability, given his stature as a star, and poll promises against traditional politicians.

Polling for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu began on Thursday amid tight security. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed the elections a fight to protect the principles of federalism, equality, justice and freedom, and urged electors to vote in large numbers.

"Dear brothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu, the fight today is to secure your rights. The fight is to protect federalism, rationality, equality, justice and freedom. It is also to ensure inclusive welfare and retain the ideals of social justice espoused by your icons. It is time for you to exercise your Democratic right and take a stand against those who want to snatch your federal rights. I especially urge the first-time young voters to come out in large numbers and vote for the future of Tamil Nadu. Jai Hind. Jai Tamil Nadu," Kharge wrote on X.

Congress is contesting on 28 seats in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
Actor Gautham Ram Karthik was seen casting his vote at a polling booth in Chennai's Stella Maris College as voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections commenced. The state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, with polling set to conclude at 6:00 PM on Thursday. The primary electoral contest is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is also contesting, potentially creating a three-way fight.

Actor Gautham Ram Karthik casts his vote in Chennai as polling begins for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Key details on voters, alliances, and the electoral process.

Chennai, April 23 Actor Gautham Ram Karthik cast his vote at a polling booth at Stella Maris College in Chennai on Thursday as voting for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The actor was seen arriving at the polling station to exercise his franchise.

Polling is underway across Tamil Nadu, with voters turning out to participate in the democratic process.

Actor S Ajith Kumar also cast his vote at a polling station in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, as several prominent personalities joined voters across the state in the electoral process.Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday.

The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters.

The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
Voting began across Tamil Nadu's 234 assembly constituencies in a single phase. Prominent film actors like Arvind Swamy and Vijay Sethupathi were among the early voters, with the latter stressing the importance of civic responsibility. The election is a direct contest between the ruling DMK-led alliance and the opposition AIADMK-led NDA. Vote counting is scheduled for May 4, while West Bengal will hold its assembly polls in two phases starting April 29.

Actor Arvind Swamy, Vijay Sethupathi, and CM MK Stalin vote as Tamil Nadu holds single-phase polls for 234 seats. Key contest between DMK and AIADMK alliances.

Chennai, April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began on Thursday, with several stars from the film industry stepping out early to cast their votes in Chennai and other parts of the state.

Actor Arivind Swamy was seen at polling stations as voting started across 234 constituencies.

The actor-director cast his vote at a polling station in Chennai. The actor was seen arriving in a white, sky-blue shirt.

Actor Vijay Sethupathi also fulfilled his democratic duty in the Anna Nagar assembly constituency no. 21 in Kilpauk Chennai High School and spoke about the importance of civic responsibility.

While speaking to the media, the actor said, "Everyone come and vote, this is our most important responsibility... Best wishes to all the youth."

Meanwhile, several leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, along with actors Rajinikanth and Dhurv Vikram, cast their votes this morning.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK, and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies. With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.

- ANI
BJP leader K Annamalai cast his vote in Coimbatore and expressed concerns that the election process had been vitiated in the Coimbatore South constituency. He urged people to vote in large numbers despite his criticism of the Election Commission's pre-poll work. Polling for all 234 Tamil Nadu Assembly seats is underway, with voter turnout recorded at 17.69% by 9 AM. The main contest is between the ruling DMK-led alliance and the opposition AIADMK-led NDA, which includes the BJP.

BJP leader K Annamalai alleges election process vitiated in Coimbatore, urges high voter turnout as Tamil Nadu holds Assembly polls.

Coimbatore, April 23 Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai on Thursday expressed concerns over the election process in Coimbatore South, even as he urged people to come out in large numbers to vote.

After casting his vote, Annamalai told ANI,"We firmly believe that the election process is vitiated in Coimbatore South, but the Election Commission, in its wisdom, has gone out and conducted the election. It is our duty to support the Election Commission today. I hope people will come out in large numbers and vote. The whole process got vitiated in the last 3-4 days in various parts of the state. I don't think the Election Commission has done pre-poll work well...We have made a personal request, and also as an alliance, it is for the EC to decide how to go about it. We have done our political duty. Every political party is confident. At the end of the day, the people have seen 5 years of DMK..."

Earlier in the day, Annamalai cast his vote at a polling station located in PSG College of Arts and Science in Coimbatore.

Meanwhile, the voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was recorded at 17.69 per cent at 9 am on Thursday. Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38% voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51% and Erode recorded 19.55% turnout.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.

- ANI
Several prominent figures from the Tamil film industry, including actor Dhanush and director Pa Ranjith, cast their votes in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Actor Prabhu urged all citizens to exercise their democratic right, calling voting a service to the country and state. The elections feature key contests, such as actor-turned-politician Vijay facing off against DMK incumbents in two constituencies. Polling is underway with initial voter turnout figures reported from various districts.

Actor Dhanush, director Pa Ranjith, and actor-politician Vijay cast their votes in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. See voter turnout and key contests.

Chennai Apri, l 23 Actor Dhanush arrived at a polling station in Chennai on Thursday to cast his vote for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections being held across the state.

Leading film director, producer and screenwriter Pa. Ranjith exercised his democratic right by casting his vote at a polling booth located in a school in Karalappakkam Panchayat under the Madhavaram Assembly constituency in Tiruvallur district.



Actor Aravind Swamy also cast his vote at Stella Maris College in Chennai's Teynampet.



Meanwhile, actors Prabhu and Vikram Prabhu urged citizens to exercise their democratic right. Speaking about the importance of voting, Prabhu told ANI, "Putting a vote is every Indian citizen's right. So, please don't miss voting. Whoever you want to vote for, please do come and vote. That is the service you are doing for the country and for the state. God bless all, God bless Tamil Nadu, God bless India. Please do come and vote."



Vikram Prabhu emphasised that voting is a responsibility and encouraged people to understand issues and participate meaningfully in the electoral process.



Polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began today amid tight security. At 9 am, Tamil Nadu recorded 17.69 per cent voter turnout.Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38 per cent voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51 per cent, and Erode recorded 19.55 per cent turnout.Vijay cast his vote at the Neelankarai polling booth.



Actor-turned-politician Vijay is contesting from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies.



In Perambur, Vijay is pitted against DMK heavyweight RD Shekar, who recorded a landslide victory in the last elections by a margin of 54,976 votes against AIADMK's NR Dhanapalan.In Tiruchirappalli East, he is contesting against sitting DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj S, who won with a huge margin of 53,797 votes in the 2021 elections.The counting of votes will take place on May 4.





- ANI
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan and his daughter, actress Shruti Haasan, cast their votes at a polling station in Chennai's Alwarpet area. Actor S. Ajith Kumar and BJP leader Khusbu Sundar also exercised their franchise as voting commenced across Tamil Nadu's 234 constituencies. The election features a major contest between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, with actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party entering as a potential third force. Polling will conclude at 6 PM, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.

Kamal Haasan and daughter Shruti Haasan cast votes in Chennai as Tamil Nadu's 234 constituencies vote. Key battle between DMK and AIADMK alliances.

Chennai, April 23 Makkal Needhi Maiam chief and veteran actor Kamal Haasan, along with his daughter Shruti Haasan, arrived at Alwarpet School to cast their votes.

The father-daughter duo was seen reaching the polling station amid security arrangements as voting took place across key constituencies in the state.

Actor S. Ajith Kumar also cast his vote at a polling station in the Thiruvanmiyur area of Chennai.

Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Khusbu Sundar also cast her vote in Mylapore. Speaking with ANI, she urged everyone to exercise their right to vote, hoping they would make the right decision.

"You can see the smile on my face that says it all. Casting my vote has been my biggest democratic right, and I think this matters a lot to me as a citizen of the country...Today is the time for people to take a call and a decision, and we leave it to them," she said.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK, and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
Results to be announced on May 4

A robot developed by Government Arts College students in Coimbatore is greeting voters and distributing sweets to encourage 100% turnout during Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The robot uses voice processing and RC control technology to guide voters on queue and voting procedures. Tamil Nadu recorded 62.18% voter turnout by 1 pm, with Tiruppur district leading at 62.97%. The main contest is between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, with results due on May 4.

A robot built by Government Arts College students greets voters and distributes sweets in Coimbatore to promote 100% voter turnout during Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Coimbatore, April 23 A specially designed robot developed by the students of Government Arts College in Coimbatore was seen greeting voters and distributing sweets as part of efforts to promote voter participation during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The robot was created using voice processing and Radio control (RC) technology.

Explaining the initiative, student Vimal Vijayan said the idea was to encourage higher voter turnout. "Today is election day for Tamil Nadu. So, we are promoting 100% voting through this robot. People are giving great response to this," he said.

He further added details about the development process, stating, "The team developed the robot's voice processing and RC control model. The robot is giving a message - stand in the queue and how to cast a vote."

Highlighting his interest in technology, he said, "I am passionate about electronics and engineering, robotics technology."

He said two such robots have been placed as part of the awareness drive to engage and guide voters.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed massive voter turnout in the Assembly polls on Thursday, recording 62.18 per cent at 1 pm, according to the Election Commission of India.

The highest turnout of 62.97 per cent was in Tiruppur district, followed by Namakkal at 62.51 per cent, then Erode at 61.97 per cent. Chennai district registered a turnout of 54.58 per cent, Coimbatore at 58.24 per cent and Madurai at 54.75 per cent. The lowest voter turnout was recorded in the Nilgiris at 50.42 per cent.

The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today, and the results will be announced on May 4.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

- ANI
Megastar Rajinikanth cast his vote at a polling booth in Stella Maris College, Chennai, as Tamil Nadu's Assembly elections commenced. Actor Ajith Kumar also participated, voting at a station in Thiruvanmiyur. The state's electorate is massive, with over 5.73 crore registered voters, including a significant number of first-time voters. The main electoral contest is between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, with actor Vijay's new party potentially creating a three-way fight.

Superstar Rajinikanth casts his vote in Chennai as Tamil Nadu Assembly elections see high voter turnout. Key contests and electoral details inside.

Chennai, April 23 Megastar Rajinikanth arrived at polling booth number 237 at Stella Maris College in Chennai on Thursday to cast his vote as polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is underway.

The actor was seen reaching the polling station to cast his vote. After casting his vote the megastar showed his inked finger.

Polling is being held across Tamil Nadu as part of the ongoing Assembly elections, with several prominent personalities participating in the democratic process.

Actor S Ajith Kumar cast his vote at a polling station in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, as several prominent personalities joined voters across the state in the electoral process.Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
Polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections commenced with high-profile participation from political and film personalities. TVK Chief Coordinator KA Sengottaiyan and superstar Rajinikanth were among the early voters, while IIT Madras Director Veezhinathan Kamakoti highlighted long-term national priorities. The electoral battle is primarily between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance. The debut of actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party adds a potential third dimension to the contest.

Polling begins for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Rajinikanth, TVK's KA Sengottaiyan vote. Key contest between DMK alliance and AIADMK-led NDA.

Chennai, April 23 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Executive Committee Chief Coordinator KA Sengottaiyan was among the early voters for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday.

Sengottaiyan cast his vote at Kullampalayam, which falls under the Gobichettipalayam Assembly constituency in Erode district.

Meanwhile, IIT Madras Director Veezhinathan Kamakoti voted at a polling station in Chennai's Mylapore.

Speaking after casting his vote, he highlighted the importance of long-term national goals, saying, "We have 21 years for Viksit Bharat 2047, which is very important. All the governments and states have to fine-tune themselves... Education and health are very important priorities. We have been doing well as a state and I am sure we will continue this great job and we will offer the best in terms of these two, the highest priority."

Tamil Nadu saw high-profile participation from the film fraternity as superstar Rajinikanth went for a morning walk ahead of casting his vote at Stella Maris College in Chennai. Actor Gautham Ram Karthik also voted at the same polling station. Actor S Ajith Kumar cast his vote at a polling station in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, as several prominent personalities joined voters across the state in the electoral process.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
KA Sengottaiyan, TVK's Executive Committee Chief Coordinator, cast his vote in Erode and declared that only party leader Thalapathy Vijay has the vision to transform Tamil Nadu into a global pioneer. He outlined local development demands, including dividing Erode district and establishing an engineering college. Sengottaiyan also emphasized stable law and order and environmental protection as key priorities. Polling is underway for all 234 Assembly seats, with the main contest between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA.

KA Sengottaiyan casts vote, declares only Thalapathy Vijay can transform Tamil Nadu into a global pioneer. Key demands and polling updates.

Erode, April 23 In a high-stakes moment for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Executive Committee Chief Coordinator KA Sengottaiyan cast his vote Thursday, declaring that only the leadership of Thalapathy Vijay can transform the state into a global pioneer.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in his native village, Sengottaiyan said he had exercised his franchise and reiterated his support for TVK leader Thalapathy Vijay, describing him as the leader capable of bringing the change that people in Tamil Nadu desire.

"I voted in my village. As for the TVK is the only leader who can create a change in Tamil Nadu that everyone wants Thalapathy Vijay. His vision is to make Tamil Nadu a pioneer state of India, like the Western countries," he said.

Outlining his own development vision for his region, Sengottaiyan said he hopes key demands are fulfilled, including dividing Erode district and making Gobichettipalayam a district capital. "I dream that two or three demands should be fulfilled as far as our area is concerned. Based on this dream, it is my long-standing dream to divide Tamil Nadu, especially the Erode district, into two and make Gobichettipalayam the capital. Similarly, an engineering college should be brought here on behalf of the political organisation. We are going to take steps to create a bypass."

Emphasising environmental concerns, he said drinking water protection remains a priority and warned against pollution, alleging that several regions in Tamil Nadu are facing environmental degradation and health issues like cancer due to lack of adequate political attention in the past.

Sengottaiyan further said law and order in his area has remained stable for decades, adding that there is no "katt panchayat" or illegal practices, and credited coordination between officials, public and youth for maintaining order.

"Law and order are being implemented properly as far as our area is concerned. There is no katt panchayat or lottery. Law and order have been in place for 45 years. I am not the only one doing this; government officials, the public and the youth are all working together to carry out this work," Sengottaiyan added.

Claiming confidence in electoral success, he said the TVK is set to form the government in Tamil Nadu. "Victory is certain. The TVK leader will definitely rule Tamil Nadu tomorrow," he told media persons.

Meanwhile, the voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was recorded at 17.69 per cent at 9 am on Thursday. Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38% voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51% and Erode recorded 19.55% turnout.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.

- ANI
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, expressing deep concern over a "complete transport paralysis" leaving thousands of voters stranded at bus terminals in Chennai and other cities. He alleged intentional misplanning by the state transport corporation, calling it an assault on the fundamental right to vote. Vijay urged the ECI to immediately deploy additional buses to ferry voters and to extend polling hours until 8 PM due to the disruptions and long queues. He warned that failure to act would suppress turnout and erode public faith in the electoral process.

TVK chief Vijay flags stranded voters at bus terminals, alleges intentional misplanning, and urges Election Commission to extend polling by two hours.

Chennai, April 23 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay on Thursday urged the Election Commission to deploy public transport for people stranded at bus terminals in Chennai and other cities of Tamil Nadu, and extend the duration for polling by two hours.

Writing to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, Vijay alleged an intentional misplanning by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, calling it an assault on the fundamental right to vote. He also flagged a delay in the polling process at several polling booths.

He wrote, "I am writing to you in a state of deep concern and indignation over the complete transport paralysis. Thousands of voters are stranded at bus terminals in Chennai, and similarly in other metro cities across Tamil Nadu, with no buses or alternative public transport available to reach their designated polling booths. This is not a minor inconvenience-it seems an intentional attempt at misplanning by the State Transport corporation and administration, which is an outright assault on the fundamental right to vote guaranteed under the Constitution of India."

He alleged that the buses have been requisitioned for poll duty without parallel arrangements for voters to travel.

"The scenes at Chennai's Koyambedu, Kilambakkam, and Madhavaram bus stands, and equivalent terminals elsewhere, are unacceptable on election day. Thousands of citizens who have travelled from all over the world and from various states and from within the cities of Tamil Nadu, or are attempting to travel to exercise their franchise, have been left helpless due to the heavy requisitioning of buses and vehicles for poll duty without parallel arrangements for ordinary voters. This systemic failure has the potential to effectively disenfranchise a large section of the electorate, striking at the very heart of free and fair elections that the Election Commission is constitutionally mandated to conduct under Article 324," he wrote.

He requested the ECI to "direct the state transport authorities and district election officers in Chennai and all affected cities to immediately press additional government buses, shuttles, and other vehicles into service exclusively for ferrying stranded voters from bus terminals to polling stations. This must be done within the next few hours through coordinated announcements at terminals, via media, and through the ECT's own apps and helplines. No voter should be turned away or forced to miss their democratic duty due to administrative negligence."

He claimed long queues and a slow polling process and asked the ECI to designate a supervisory officer.

"There are reports from the polling stations of voters waiting in long queues to cast their votes, but the polling process is slow. Such delays would discourage and may affect voter turnout. There should be a designated supervisory officer to visit polling booths regularly and ensure that the voting process is conducted efficiently and without unnecessary delays," he urged.

Demanding polling extension till 8 pm today, the TVK leader wrote, "In view of the large surge of delayed voters due to travel disruptions, and long-queue waiting imperatives, polling must be extended till 8:00 pm across all affected constituencies. This extension is well within the Commission's powers and has been exercised in the past for far lesser disruptions. It is essential to allow every voter who reaches the polling station premises by the revised closing time to cast their vote without compromise"

"The right to vote is the bedrock of Indian democracy. Any failure to act swiftly today on the above aspects immediately will not only suppress voter turnout but will erode public faith in the electoral process itself. The Election Commission cannot remain a mute spectator while thousands are denied their constitutional right on polling day," the letter read.

Polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began today amid tight security. At 9 am, Tamil Nadu recorded 17.69 per cent voter turnout.

Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38 per cent voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51 per cent, and Erode recorded 19.55 per cent turnout.

Vijay cast his vote at the Neelankarai polling booth. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is contesting from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies.

In Perambur, Vijay is pitted against DMK heavyweight RD Shekar, who recorded a landslide victory in the last elections by a margin of 54,976 votes against AIADMK's NR Dhanapalan. In Tiruchirappalli East, he is contesting against sitting DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj S, who won with a huge margin of 53,797 votes in the 2021 elections.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI
Voting is underway across all 234 constituencies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with a massive electorate of over 5.7 crore deciding the state's next government. The contest is a multi-cornered fight featuring major parties like the DMK and AIADMK, alongside numerous regional outfits and independents. Extensive security measures are in place, with more than 83,000 police personnel deployed to ensure peaceful polling. The Election Commission has conducted extensive preparations, including voter awareness campaigns and setting up over 75,000 polling stations with ample reserve voting machines.

Over 5.7 crore voters in Tamil Nadu decide among 4,023 candidates. Key players DMK, AIADMK, NTK, TMC vie for power. Full coverage.

New Delhi, April 23 Voting is taking place on Thursday, in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies, marking a crucial day in the state's political calendar as millions of voters head to polling stations to decide the next government.

The election features a total of 4,023 candidates in the fray, reflecting a wide and competitive multi-cornered contest spread across parties and independents.

The electoral battle is primarily being fought between major political forces such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamil Manila Congress (TMC), alongside several smaller regional outfits and independent candidates. The presence of multiple players has turned the contest into a complex political equation across different regions of the state.

A total of 5,73,43,291 voters are eligible to cast their votes in this large-scale democratic exercise. The electorate includes 2.93 crore women, and 2.83 crore men. Over 14.5 lakh first-time voters are set to exercise their franchise.

Ahead of polling day, the Election Commission of India undertook extensive voter awareness campaigns across Tamil Nadu to encourage higher turnout and promote informed participation. Officials have focused on improving engagement levels and addressing voter apathy in urban as well as rural areas.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, addressing a press briefing in Chennai on April 22, said the state administration and election machinery were fully prepared for the polling process. She also confirmed that 243 rebuttals and clarifications were issued during the campaign period to counter misinformation circulating on social media platforms, aimed at maintaining electoral integrity and transparency.

On the logistical front, mock polling exercises were conducted at several locations across the state on Thursday morning, including the Armed Reserve campus in Madurai district, Thillai Nagar Makkal Mandram in Tiruchirappalli West Assembly constituency, and a government school in Vittukatti village near Thiruthuraipoondi.

For the voting process, 75,064 polling stations have been established across the state. More than 3 lakh polling personnel have been deployed to manage the election duties and ensure the smooth conduct of voting.

Security has been significantly strengthened, with over 83,000 police personnel deployed across Tamil Nadu to maintain law and order and ensure peaceful polling. In addition, the Election Commission has deployed more than 1.06 lakh ballot units, along with control units and VVPAT machines, with a 20-30 per cent reserve stock to address any technical contingencies during the voting process.

- IANS
Former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, has passed away at the age of 90 in Hyderabad following a prolonged illness. Leaders from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, have expressed their grief and condolences. His political career spanned roles as an MLA, Minister, MP, and a brief tenure as the 11th Chief Minister in 1984. His son, Nadendla Manohar, who is the Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister, was consoled by visiting leaders.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskar Rao passes away at 90. CM Revanth Reddy, Governor Abdul Nazeer, and other leaders offer condolences.

Hyderabad, April 22 Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and leaders cutting across party lines have condoled the death of former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh Nadendla Bhaskar Rao.

The Telangana Chief Minister expressed his grief over the demise of Bhaskar Rao. He prayed to God that his soul attain peace and conveyed his deepest condolences to the family members.

Bhaskar Rao passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Hyderabad, following prolong illness. He was 90.

Former Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya visited Bhaskar Rao's residence in Jubilee Hills to pay his last respects. He consoled Bhaskar Rao's son and Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar.

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also expressed his condolences. He stated that the services rendered by Bhaskar Rao over a long period as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, a Minister, and a Member of Parliament are truly memorable.

He termed Bhaskara Rao's demise as an irreparable loss to the state's politics.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Abdul Nazeer expressed profound grief and sadness on the passing of Bhaskara Rao, who served as a minister, Member of Parliament and as the 11th Chief Minister in united Andhra Pradesh for a brief period in 1984.

The Governor offered his heartfelt condolences to Nadendla Manohar and other family members.

YSR Congress Party President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy called the demise of Bhaskar Rao heartbreaking. "I pray that his soul attains peace and that God grants courage to his family members during this difficult time," he said in a message on X.

Andhra Pradesh BJP President P.V.N. Madhav said that the untimely demise of Bhaskar Rao, a leader of the BJP, has caused profound shock. "Praying for his soul to attain eternal peace, I convey my deepest condolences to his family members," he said.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy also expressed profound grief over the passing of Bhaskar Rao.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, posted on X that the passing of Bhaskar Rao was shocking. He stated that losing Bhaskar Rao, who had special experience in politics, is an irreplaceable loss to the party. He extended his condolences and sympathy to his family members, close associates, and admirers.

- IANS
India's Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra marked the first anniversary of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives. He emphasized that terrorism is a global scourge and an act of cowardice against humanity. The ambassador highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering resolve to completely defeat terrorism. The commemoration included an exhibition detailing the human cost of terror, attended by US lawmakers and community members.

Ambassador Vinay Kwatra marks the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary, highlighting the global human cost and India's resolve under PM Modi.

By Reena Bhardwaj, Washington, DC, April 23 India's Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Wednesday highlighted the global human cost of terrorism while marking one year since the Pahalgam terror attack, saying such acts are a "scourge on humanity" that must be defeated with collective resolve.

Speaking to ANI during a special exhibition titled "The Human Cost of Terrorism," Kwatra said the event commemorates innocent lives lost to terror worldwide and serves as a reminder of the need for a united response against terrorism.

"Essentially, you know, remembering the precious lives that were lost due to the ghastly acts of terrorism all across the world. The exhibition has a detailed listing of all such accidents. This day particularly sits very heavily, weighs very heavily on India and the rest of the world because today we mark the first anniversary, the first anniversary of the ghastly terror acts of Pahalgam in which 26 innocent Indian civilians were killed by armed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir exactly a year ago. I think acts like Pahalgam and other terrorist acts are acts of cowardice against humanity. The exhibition, the special exhibition today, essentially serves to remind us of a few things," he told ANI.

"One, the scourge of terror on humanity is very much bent upon destroying our societies and the ways of our lives. Two, how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been very, very clear in terms of the resolve of India, unwavering with this scourge and defeating it completely. So I think the special exhibition today, which brings together congressmen, senators, members of the Indian community and members of the press here this evening, essentially showcases the human cost of terrorism and determination to deal with it and, of course, defeat it," Kwatra further said.

Marking one year since the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the nation recalled the shock of April 22, 2025, when terrorists struck the scenic tourist town in Jammu and Kashmir.

The assailants entered and killed 26 civilians, most tourists, turning the picturesque location into a site of bloodshed.

In the cross-border communal attack in Pahalgam, the assailants questioned the victims about their religion before killing them, leaving families grappling with loss even a year later.

As India mourned, what followed was decisive action by the Indian armed forces in the form of Operation Sindoor.

The Indian armed forces struck terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) during the operation launched on May 7, 2025. According to official details, the forces destroyed nine major terror launchpads linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen and eliminated over 100 terrorists.

- ANI
Tesla's first-quarter revenue rose 16% year-over-year to $22.38 billion, driven by higher vehicle prices and a 51% jump in Full Self-Driving subscriptions. Net income increased to $477 million, though vehicle deliveries of 358,023 fell short of analyst expectations. CFO Vaibhav Taneja warned the company will see negative cash flow for the rest of 2026 due to a massive $25 billion capital expenditure plan. Concurrently, Tesla expanded its Indian market presence with the launch of the new six-seater Model Y L SUV.

Tesla reports higher Q1 revenue and profit, driven by FSD subscriptions and vehicle prices. CFO warns of negative cash flow ahead.

Mumbai, April 23 US automaker Tesla reported higher revenue and profit yearonyear in Q1 CY2026, buoyed by higher average vehicle prices, services and rise in subscriptions to its full selfdriving system.

The electricvehicle maker said revenue rose to $22.38 billion in the quarter, up 16 per cent from $19.3 billion in previous year, while automotive revenue increased to $16.2 billion from $13.96 billion in the same period of 2025.

The auto manufacturer reported net income of $477 million, compared with $409 million in the first quarter of 2025.

The company saw a jump in its free cash flow to $1.44 billion, more than double the prioryear quarter. Tesla shares rose 4 per cent following the release of its first-quarter earnings report.

Deliveries for the quarter totalled 3,58,023 vehicles, below analysts' expectations of around 3,68,000 and the production had touched 4,08,386 vehicles during the period, far higher than deliveries.

Active subscriptions to Tesla's Full SelfDriving system grew 51 per cent yearonyear to 1.28 million, the company said.

Further, an increase in automotive one-time benefits related to warranty and tariffs boosted its bottom line, it noted.

Elon Musk has repeatedly warned that the company is undergoing a painful transition from its core EV business to an AI and robotics company.

Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja said that the company will see a negative cash flow for the remainder of 2026, as its capital expenditure will touch $25 billion during the year, about three times more than it historically has spent.

Tesla this week unveiled the new six-seater Model Y L in India, expanding its local portfolio with a family-focused electric SUV designed for space, comfort and performance. Online bookings opened immediately on the company's official website and deliveries are expected to begin from June 2026 across India.

The Model Y L will be available for public viewing starting April 23, 2026, at Tesla's experience centres in key locations, including Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, Aerocity in Delhi and Gurugram, the company said.

- IANS
Commentary: Dangerous agenda behind Japan's move to lift ban on lethal arms exports

Xinhua) 08:15, April 23, 2026

This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2026 shows protest slogans at a rally in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Japan. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

Since Sanae Takaichi took office as prime minister, Japan has embarked on an accelerated path toward military buildup, steadily departing from its exclusively defense-oriented policy.

TOKYO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- In another step down the dangerous path of remilitarization, the Japanese government on Tuesday officially revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines to allow overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

The latest decision marks more than a policy adjustment. It reflects Japan's right-wing forces' long and incremental scheme to cast off the dual constraints placed on the country by the international community and its own legal framework in the aftermath of World War II, whose erosion should alarm every nation that paid in blood for Japan's defeat.

The Potsdam Declaration explicitly requires Japan to be completely disarmed and not to maintain industries that would enable it to re-arm for war, and Tokyo later reinforced those limits through its "Three Principles on Arms Exports" in 1967, culminating in a near-total ban on arms exports in 1976.

However, the hard-won framework to ensure that Japan would not again become a source of military threat has now been overturned through years of erosion.

Tokyo has, for decades, chipped away at its own constraints -- first by allowing military technology transfers to the United States, then by opening the door to joint development programs.

The 2014 changes under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marked a critical inflection point. By replacing the original arms export ban with the current framework, the government effectively permitted Japan to export defense equipment and technology across five non-combat categories, signaling a fundamental shift from arms exports being "prohibited in principle" to "permitted in principle."

Tuesday's revision completes that trajectory. By removing the remaining category restrictions and loosening controls on transfers to conflict zones, it crosses a line that previous governments had at least nominally upheld.

What makes the latest move especially alarming is that it is just part of Japan's wider push to recast the country as a "normal country" with expanded military capabilities.

Since Sanae Takaichi took office as prime minister, Japan has embarked on an accelerated path toward military buildup, steadily departing from its exclusively defense-oriented policy.

Recent risky steps -- sharply increasing the defense budget, restructuring the Self-Defense Forces to enhance combat capabilities, deploying long-range missiles with so-called "counterstrike capabilities," as well as relentless efforts to revise the Constitution, the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and the three security documents -- all point to a deliberate departure from Japan's postwar pacifist principles and an advance toward remilitarization.

At the same time, Japan has been actively forging exclusive security blocs in the region and stoking bloc confrontation. Weapons, in this sense, are far more than mere tools of defense; they are instruments of geopolitical leverage.

From stepping up defense equipment supplies to the Philippines to the joint naval vessels project with Australia, each arms deal tightens a web designed to encircle and contain, feeding regional tensions rather than mitigating them.

What makes the timing all the more suspicious is that the revisions coincided with the annual Spring Rites at the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression.

Takaichi on Tuesday sent a ritual "masakaki" tree offering and made a monetary offering to the controversial shrine, which honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II alongside the war dead.

A government that expands military power while its leader worships convicted war criminals is sending a clear message: Japan's neo-militarism is becoming a clear and present danger. It risks unsettling the hard-won stability of the Asia-Pacific and potentially pulling Japan itself into conflict.

That is why this moment demands vigilance. The region's peace should not be turned into a bargaining chip for geopolitical maneuvering, nor should bloc confrontation and military expansion be allowed to take root again.

The international community should act with resolve to prevent the tragedies of World War II from being replicated and to defend the region's enduring peace.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
American lawmakers from both major parties attended a solemn exhibition at the U.S. Capitol Hill organized by the Indian Embassy to mark the first anniversary of the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir. The exhibition, titled 'The Human Cost of Terrorism', displayed photographs and testimonies to honor the 26 civilians killed. Lawmakers like Lisa McClain and Brad Sherman condemned terrorism and emphasized the need for a strong U.S.-India partnership and coordinated international action to combat it. India's Ambassador reiterated the global scourge of terrorism and the need for unity, while lawmakers specifically called for pressure on countries like Pakistan to clamp down on terror groups.

US lawmakers from both parties attended an Indian Embassy exhibition on the Pahalgam attack anniversary, calling for united global action against terrorism.

By Reena Bhardwaj, Washington DC, April 23 American lawmakers from both sides of the aisle stood in solemn solidarity with India on Wednesday, attending an exhibition at Capitol Hill organised by the Embassy of India to commemorate the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the Kashmir Valley in recent memory.

The exhibition, titled 'The Human Cost of Terrorism', opened its doors to members of Congress, diplomats, and members of the public on the evening of April 22, exactly twelve months after gunmen opened fire on tourists in the scenic mountain resort town, claiming 26 lives and wounding dozens more.

Photographs, testimonies from survivors, and personal effects of victims formed the centrepiece of the display, which sought to put human faces to the statistics of political violence. Curated by the Indian embassy's cultural team, the exhibition drew an emotional response from visitors who paused at portraits of the dead-- among them honeymooners, pilgrims, and a retired schoolteacher from Gujarat.

The attendance of Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike was notable in Washington's current partisan climate. Several members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate India Caucus were present at the opening reception, signalling broad congressional sympathy for India's position that cross-border terrorism must be met with coordinated international pressure.

Speaking at the event, US Representative Lisa McClain strongly condemned terrorism and called for collective actions. She told ANI, "Terrorism is hate, and we don't stand for hate... So many times, people stand silent and think silence is agreement. We must stand with our partners and with our allies and to denounce hate, to denounce terrorism. Because that is what we were sent here to do, but that's also the right thing to do... I am happy to be here... this is just another example of where we stand together; we are stronger as a nation and as a nation together to fight this horrible atrocity."

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said the exhibition was meant to honour the victims of terrorism globally and reiterate the need for unity.

He told ANI, "The event here this evening, which the Embassy of India has organised, is essentially an event to honour the members of the innocent lives lost to terrorism in the last few years across the world... Today marks the one-year anniversary of the terrorised Pahalgam in which 26 innocent Indian civilians were killed by armed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir... The special exhibition today essentially serves to remind us of a few things. One, the scourge of terror upon humanity is very much bent upon destroying our societies. The countries in the world need to come together and remain determined to defeat terrorism... PM Modi is very clear has been very clear in terms of his unwavering resolve of India in dealing with this purge and defeating it completely."

Congressman Bill Huizenga highlighted the shared experience of both countries in facing terrorism. He told ANI, "The India-US relationship is very important economically and strategically. We have a kinship with terrorist attacks that happen within our countries... I am glad India is here telling a story."

Congressman Brad Sherman emphasised deeper cooperation and action against terror groups. He told ANI, "We are natural partners... That partnership should be economic, and we have to get rid of the ridiculous terror that has been... We have to open the Strait of Hormuz from either American blockade or Iranian blockade, and we have to fight the outrageous terrorist organisations, which on April 22nd in your country killed people on the basis of their religion in Kashmir... Our intelligence services need to work together, and we need to demand that those countries that shelter terrorism, including Pakistan, clamp down on these organisations."

He also urged action against Pakistan-based groups. He added, "As the World focuses on Islamabad for the talks that are taking place or not taking place, we have to use this opportunity to demand that the Pakistani government clamp down on the LeT."

Remembering victims, Sherman added, "America and India are united because we are the oldest democracy and India is the largest democracy. We are also united in mourning the victims of terrorism... I would like to remember the Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal... It was only 6 days after his wedding that Lieutenant Narwal was viciously killed in attacks by terrorists targeting Hindus. His wife witnessed his death."

Congressman David Taylor called for coordinated global efforts to tackle terrorism. He said, "India is a hugely important ally of the United States. We have to have a coordinated policy to deal with it (terrorism) and react to it as a team. Not just India and the US, but all of our Western allies."

On Iran-related tensions, he added, "That has to end, and I know it's coordinated by Iran in a lot of ways with their proxies in other nations. I think the message has been sent out clearly by the United States, and I'd like to see more buy-in with that from our NATO partners and other countries in the world that we're aligned with to recognise that the threat has to be put to an end."

Congressman Jonathan Jackson told ANI, "We have enormous respect for the Indian people and the Indian government... terrorism is a global problem. No one country can terminate terrorism on its own. Its global network... people have to fight back. We are here to also show our support, continue the strength and times and also celebrate our friendship."

Congressman Ro Khanna said, "There should be zero tolerance (towards terrorism). First, there was a tragedy during 9/11... and then when I was in India, the Taj Hotel was affected. I understood the human cause. We need, as democracies, to be fundamentally aligned against terror. It's one of the reasons I believe in the extraordinary partnership... We need to cooperate on intelligence sharing where it makes sense... We need to make sure that we're aggressive about taking on the terror threats."

The Capitol Hill exhibition arrives at a delicate moment in US-India relations, with Washington keen to deepen defence and technology ties with New Delhi even as it tries to manage escalatory pressures in South Asia. For many lawmakers in attendance, the event was as much about the bilateral relationship as it was about the victims themselves.

- ANI
India's men's and women's badminton teams begin their Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2026 campaigns in Horsens, Denmark, on April 24. The men's team, defending champions from 2022, will face Canada in their opener. The women's team takes on hosts Denmark later the same day. Both teams face tough group stage fixtures including matches against China.

India men's badminton team begins Thomas Cup title defence vs Canada on April 24, while women's team faces Denmark in Uber Cup opener in Horsens.

New Delhi, April 23 India's men's and women's teams are set to begin their campaigns at the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals 2026, with the spotlight firmly on the opening day in Horsens, Denmark.

The men's team, historic champions in 2022, will kick off their campaign against Canada on April 24 at 12 PM IST, before the women's team takes on hosts Denmark later in the day, with all the ties played at the Forum Horsens, according to a press release.

With the group stage offering little room for error, India face a demanding schedule early on. The men's team will next meet Australia on April 27 (12 PM IST), followed by a high-stakes clash against China on April 29 (1:30 PM IST). The women's side, meanwhile, continues its campaign against Ukraine on April 25 and China on April 27, both ties slated for 10 PM IST.

Only the top two teams from each group progress to the knockouts, placing immediate emphasis on strong starts.

"We've been putting in the work as a group over the last few weeks, focusing on getting our combinations right and building rhythm across departments. The Thomas Cup is always demanding, and with three tough group ties ahead, the focus is on staying sharp and taking it one match at a time," said men's team stalwart H. S. Prannoy.

The women's team arrives with a refreshed mix, blending emerging talent with established names as they look to build on their semi-final finishes in 2014 and 2016. The squad sees a change in the doubles lineup, with Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam stepping in for Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who miss out due to the former's injury.

"It's a huge stage to be part of, and you can feel how important the Thomas & Uber Cup is the moment you step into the setup. We have a young group this time, and everyone is putting in the work, pushing each other every day in training. There's a lot of energy in the team, and we're focused on making the most of this opportunity," said women's team member Unnati Hooda.

A total of 16 teams compete in both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals, featuring the top badminton nations from across the globe. The Indian men's team secured qualification as one of the three highest-ranked sides at the cut-off date, while the women's team also earned their place through the same route, underlining India's consistent presence at the elite level of the sport.

With the men's team coming in as 2022 champions and the women's side carrying a mix of youth and experience, India will look to settle in quickly and take their campaign forward step by step.

Men's Team Fixtures - Group Stage (IST): April 24: India vs Canada - 12:00 PMApril 27: India vs Australia - 12:00 PMApril 29: India vs China - 1:30 PM

Women's Team Fixtures - Group Stage (IST): April 24: India vs Denmark - 3:30 PMApril 25: India vs Ukraine - 10:00 PMApril 27: India vs China - 10:00 PM.

- ANI
Security has been intensified along the Bihar-West Bengal border as the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections is underway. The Katihar district is on high alert with a special mirror-checking drive at 11 strategic points, subjecting every vehicle to thorough inspection. Police have adopted a zero-tolerance approach, especially on routes vulnerable to drug trafficking, to prevent the exploitation of the election period for cross-border crimes. Similar stringent security measures are also in place in the bordering districts of Kishanganj and Purnea.

Bihar Police intensifies vigilance, seals border with West Bengal and conducts mirror checks on all vehicles to ensure peaceful assembly elections.

Patna, April 23 As polling for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway on Thursday, security agencies intensified vigilance along Bihar's border areas adjoining the state, with Katihar district placed on high alert.

According to sources, police have launched a special mirror-checking drive at 11 strategic entry and exit points in the Katihar district connected to West Bengal.

Every vehicle passing through the district is being subjected to a thorough inspection, with authorities treating each movement with heightened suspicion to prevent any illegal activity.

The inter-state border has effectively been sealed, with security personnel maintaining constant surveillance over all routes connecting Bihar and West Bengal.

In view of the sensitive election atmosphere, the Bihar Police has adopted a zero-tolerance approach, especially along routes previously identified as vulnerable to drug trafficking and other illicit operations.

Officials said enforcement has been significantly strengthened to curb any attempt to exploit the election period for cross-border crimes.

In recent days, anti-narcotics operations carried out by police stations in border areas have disrupted several illegal networks.

Katihar Superintendent of Police Shikhar Chaudhary stated that the Bihar Police are fully committed to ensuring peaceful and fair elections in neighbouring West Bengal. "No suspicious person or vehicle will be spared. Every movement is under strict surveillance," he said.

Local inputs suggest that the intensified crackdown has created panic among smuggling networks and anti-social elements, with previously active routes now under strict monitoring.

Overall, the Katihar-Bengal border has effectively been transformed into a fortified security zone, with continuous ground-level checks supported by digital surveillance to ensure law and order during the election process.

Similarly, security checking has been implemented in Kishanganj and Purnea districts as well, with all routes connected to West Bengal being thoroughly checked. The administrations of these two districts also adopted a zero-tolerance policy for the peaceful conduct of elections.

- IANS
South Korea's defence ministry announced that a concrete timeline for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States will be established during the annual Security Consultative Meeting in 2024. This follows a statement by the US Forces Korea commander that the allies aim to meet the necessary conditions for the handover by the first quarter of 2029. South Korea seeks to complete the "conditions-based" transfer within President Lee Jae Myung's term, which ends in 2030. The transition would see a South Korean four-star general leading the combined forces in wartime, with a US general in a supporting role.

Seoul and Washington aim to finalize the OPCON transfer plan in 2024, with conditions targeted for 2029. A Korean general would lead wartime forces.

Seoul, April 23 A timeline for the handover of wartime operational control to South Korea from the United States will be set in this year's annual ministerial meeting and proposed to the leaders of the two countries, Seoul's defence ministry said on Thursday.

The remarks by a ministry official came after US Forces Korea (USFK) commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said the allies aim to meet conditions required for the envisioned OPCON transfer no later than the first quarter of 2029.

"Based on suggestions by South Korean and US military authorities, the defence ministers will make a decision in the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) and propose it to the presidents of the two countries," ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said in a regular briefing when asked about Brunson's remarks.

The SCM is an annual defence ministerial meeting that takes place every autumn in either Seoul or Washington, reports Yonhap news agency.

Noting that Seoul and Washington are pushing for the transfer in a "systemic, stable and consistent" manner, Chung said the defence ministry is seeking to promptly complete the transfer and is strengthening cooperation with the US side.

But the official did not specify the timing of the handover, though there was speculation that Seoul was seeking a transfer in 2028, a timeline that differs from the year the USFK commander mentioned.

South Korea has been seeking to achieve the "conditions-based" handover of wartime command from the US within President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term that ends in 2030.

South Korea handed over operational control of its troops to the US-led UN Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was then transferred to the two allies' Combined Forces Command when the command was launched in 1978. South Korea retook only peacetime operational control in 1994.

The allies have been working to meet the conditions for the envisioned transition, which include South Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-US forces, its strike and air defence capabilities, and a regional security environment conducive to such a handover.

Should the transfer occur, a four-star South Korean general will lead the allies' combined forces in wartime, with a four-star US general playing a supporting role.

- IANS
TIPS Music Limited reported robust Q4 FY26 results with revenue jumping 32% YoY to 103.9 crore and PAT surging 93% to 59 crore. Operating EBITDA margin improved sharply to 74% from 47.5% in the same quarter last year. For FY26, revenue grew 21% to 375.5 crore while PAT increased 30% to 216.6 crore. The company released 66 songs during the quarter and declared a cumulative dividend of 13 per share.

TIPS Music Q4 FY26 results: Revenue 103.9 crore (up 32% YoY), PAT 59 crore (up 93% YoY). EBITDA margin expands to 74%. Dividend 13/share.

Mumbai, April 23 TIPS Music Limited, one of India's leading publicly listed music labels, announced its audited financial results for the quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2026, delivering strong growth across key financial metrics.

The Company reported revenue from operations of 103.9 crore in Q4 FY26 compared to 78.5 crore in Q4 FY25, registering a year-on-year growth of 32%, along with a sequential increase of 10% over 94.3 crore in Q3 FY26. For the full year FY26, revenue stood at 375.5 crore as against 310.7 crore in FY25, marking a growth of 21%.

Operating EBITDA for the quarter rose sharply to 76.9 crore from 37.3 crore in Q4 FY25, reflecting a significant 106% year-on-year increase, while growing 3% sequentially over 74.5 crore in Q3 FY26. For FY26, Operating EBITDA stood at 275.8 crore compared to 206.7 crore in FY25, registering a growth of 33%. The Operating EBITDA margin improved substantially to 74.0% in Q4 FY26 from 47.5% in Q4 FY25, while it stood at 79.0% in Q3 FY26. On an annual basis, margins expanded to 73.4% in FY26 from 66.5% in FY25.

Operating EBIT for Q4 FY26 stood at 80.1 crore, up 94% year-on-year from 41.4 crore in Q4 FY25 and 2% higher sequentially compared to 78.7 crore in Q3 FY26. For FY26, Operating EBIT increased to 292.1 crore from 223.5 crore in FY25, reflecting a growth of 31%.

Profit After Tax for the quarter stood at 59.0 crore, reflecting a strong year-on-year growth of 93% compared to 30.6 crore in Q4 FY25, while remaining largely stable sequentially with a 1% increase over 58.7 crore in Q3 FY26. For the full year FY26, PAT grew to 216.6 crore from 166.6 crore in FY25, marking a 30% increase. The PAT margin improved to 56.8% in Q4 FY26 from 39.0% in Q4 FY25, while it was 62.2% in Q3 FY26. On an annual basis, PAT margin stood at 57.7% in FY26 compared to 53.6% in FY25.

During the quarter, the Company released 66 songs, including 47 film songs and 19 non-film songs, while continuing its focus on quality-driven content. Among the releases, "Tu Jaane Hai Kahan" emerged as a notable performer. The Company's YouTube subscriber base expanded to 153.1 million, reflecting strong digital traction. For FY26, the Board declared a cumulative dividend of 13 per share, resulting in a total payout of 166.18 crore.

Commenting on the results, Kumar Taurani, Chairman and Managing Director, said, "In Q4 FY26, the Company has continued to deliver strong growth, with revenue of 103.9 crore, making year-on-year growth of 32%, while PAT increased by 93% to 59 crore compared to Q4 FY25. The growth was driven by good performance across both digital and non-digital segments. I am also delighted to share that FY26 marks another year in which we surpassed our stated commitments. Against our guidance of 20% growth in both revenue and PAT, we closed the year with revenue growth of 21% and PAT growth of 30%. During the year, we distributed a total dividend payout of INR 166 crore."

He further added, "During Q4 FY26, the Company released 66 new songs, including 47 film and 19 non-film songs, while maintaining a quality-focused content approach. On YouTube, 'Tu Jaane Hai Kahan' crossed 10 million views, while the songs 'Tehzeeb' and 'Jamuna Kinara' recorded 2.4 million views each, growing the subscriber base to 153.1 million. The Company also strengthened brand partnerships during the quarter, collaborating with leading brands such as Hyundai and Tinder."

According to company information, founded in 1988 by the Taurani brothers, TIPS Music Limited is one of India's leading publicly listed music companies. The Company has built a strong legacy with iconic soundtracks such as Khalnayak, Soldier, Coolie No.1, Rangeela, Pardes, and Taal, while continuing its success with contemporary hits including Raaz, the Race franchise, Ramaiya Vastavaiya, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Ponniyin Selvan 1 and 2, Crew, HanuMan, and the Saunkan Saunkne series. With a catalogue of over 34,000 songs across multiple languages and genres, TIPS remains a key partner for digital platforms, streaming services, and broadcasters.

- ANI
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began with technical glitches in EVMs and VVPAT units causing delays at several booths. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for a record turnout, urging citizens to enthusiastically fulfil their democratic duty. Prominent early voters included AIADMK's Edappadi K. Palaniswami, actor Ajith Kumar, and BJP's Khushbu Sundar. Election officials worked to resolve the issues and ensure smooth polling throughout the day.

Voting in Tamil Nadu polls delayed by EVM glitches. PM Modi urges high turnout. Celebrities like Ajith Kumar among early voters.

Chennai, April 23 Voting for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections commenced on Thursday amid reports of technical glitches in Electronic Voting Machines at several booths, leading to delays in the start of polling in multiple locations.

Election officials moved swiftly to address the malfunctions, particularly those related to EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units, to ensure that the voting process resumed smoothly.

Despite the early hiccups, voters began queuing up in large numbers across the state, reflecting strong enthusiasm for the democratic exercise.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon citizens to participate actively in the electoral process. In a post on X, he urged voters to "enthusiastically fulfil this sacred democratic duty" and appealed especially to women and first-time voters to turn out in large numbers and contribute to a record voter turnout.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami cast his vote along with his family at a polling booth in Siluvampalayam Panchayat Union Primary School in Salem.

Meanwhile, Municipal Administration Minister K.N. Nehru was seen waiting at a polling station in Tiruchy's Thillai Nagar after a VVPAT malfunction temporarily halted voting.

Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman exercised his franchise in Neelankarai along with his wife, while BJP state vice-president Khushbu Sundar and actor-filmmaker Sundar C. also cast their votes.

Among the early voters was popular actor Ajith Kumar, who was reportedly the first to vote in the state.

Due to security considerations, officials facilitated his early entry into the polling booth. Dressed in a white coat suit, Ajith later displayed the indelible ink mark on his finger, drawing cheers from fans gathered outside. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers to manage the crowd that had assembled to catch a glimpse of the actor.

Authorities have assured voters that all necessary measures are in place to ensure free and fair polling across Tamil Nadu, with efforts continuing to resolve technical issues and maintain steady voting through the day.

- IANS
Results will be declared on May 4

First-time voters across Tamil Nadu showed strong enthusiasm, with many traveling from other cities to fulfill their democratic duty in the state's Assembly elections. They emphasized voting as a responsibility and called for a focus on the state's development and responsible leadership. In a unique engagement effort, Dharmapuri district deployed humanoid and dog-like robots to welcome young voters with flowers and certificates. The election features a competitive four-cornered contest, with results scheduled for declaration on May 4.

Young voters return home to cast ballots in Tamil Nadu elections, calling for development and responsible leadership. Robots greet voters in unique initiative.

Chennai, April 23 First-time voters across Tamil Nadu displayed strong enthusiasm as they stepped out to cast their ballots in the Assembly elections, expressing hope that the newly elected government will prioritise the state's development.

Polling for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies began at 7 a.m., with over 5.73 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in a fiercely contested four-cornered battle.

Voting commenced early in the morning, with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths, reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic process.

A first-time voter from Dindigul, speaking to IANS, said, "I study in Coimbatore. I especially came back to my hometown to cast my first vote. This is my duty. I urge other voters also to exercise their franchise and vote for the prosperous future of the state."

Another young voter shared a similar sentiment, emphasising the importance of participation.

"I live in Mumbai, and I came back to cast my first vote. I feel really good; it's a satisfying moment to get to make the right choice. It's also a responsibility, and I wish everyone would take part. Think about the development of the state, think about responsible leadership; this is the right time to make the right choice for Tamil Nadu, so people should elect a deserving candidate," a voter from Chennai told IANS.

"Everyone should vote, especially the youth, as they will shape our future," another added.

In a unique initiative to engage voters, Dharmapuri witnessed humanoid and dog-like robots welcoming first-time voters with flowers, sweets, and certificates during the polling process for the Assembly elections.

The district recorded participation from over 12.5 lakh voters across 1,596 polling stations, with authorities implementing heightened security arrangements, surveillance, and "Green Election" measures that included the distribution of seed-based gifts to promote environmental awareness.

Polling stations were adorned with balloon arches, while robots interacted with voters on a green carpet, adding a technological touch aimed at attracting and encouraging younger participants.

The electoral contest primarily features the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making this one of the most competitive elections in recent years.

With voter turnout expected to play a decisive role, political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituencies.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu.

- IANS
Migrant workers from states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have become a crucial electoral bloc in Tiruppur's industrial constituencies. Political parties are conducting targeted Hindi campaigns and highlighting welfare schemes to secure their support. However, a severe slowdown in the global textile sector has led to job losses and economic anxiety among these workers. Their voting choices, influenced by both livelihood concerns and demands for better connectivity, could decisively impact the assembly election results.

Migrant workers from North India emerge as a decisive electoral force in Tiruppur, shaping campaign strategies amid textile sector distress.

Coimbatore, April 23 The industrial town of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu is witnessing the growing political influence of migrant workers, who are likely to play a decisive role in the Assembly elections as a sizeable and increasingly assertive voter base.

Drawn by employment opportunities in the textile sector, workers from states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand have settled in large numbers in Tirupur over the years, gradually becoming an integral part of the local electorate. Their presence is particularly significant in Tirupur North and Tirupur South constituencies, where their numbers run into tens of thousands, making them a crucial segment that could impact electoral outcomes.

While their voting preferences often differ between parliamentary and Assembly elections, their choices are shaped by a mix of livelihood concerns and access to basic infrastructure, reflecting both local and national priorities.

Among their primary concerns is improved railway connectivity to their home states, a demand that has consistently featured in their interactions with political representatives.

Recognising their growing electoral significance, political parties across the spectrum -- both regional and national -- have tailored their campaign strategies to reach out effectively to this demographic.

Campaigns in Hindi and targeted outreach programmes were deployed to bridge the linguistic gap and communicate welfare measures. Initiatives such as free bus travel for women and other social welfare schemes were highlighted as part of efforts to connect with migrant families.

In the final phase of campaigning, several Union ministers visited Tirupur to engage directly with migrant workers, signalling the importance attached to this voter segment. These interactions often doubled as platforms for workers to voice their grievances, particularly the need for enhanced transport infrastructure linking Tamil Nadu with northern India.

However, the heightened political attention comes against the backdrop of mounting economic distress in the textile sector. A slowdown in global demand, compounded by external factors such as geopolitical tensions in West Asia, has impacted production.

Shortages of essential inputs like LPG, used in processes such as garment printing, have further disrupted operations in the region.

The economic strain has already led to job losses, forcing many migrant workers to return to their native states. Rising living costs, stagnant wages, and increasing local taxes have added to their challenges, creating a sense of uncertainty even among long-settled workers.

As Tirupur goes to the polls, the aspirations and anxieties of this migrant workforce could prove decisive. Their collective voice, shaped by both economic hardship and electoral awareness, may well influence the political direction of this industrial heartland.

- IANS
India is in touch with the family of ex-Naval Commander Purnendu Tiwari, who remains detained in Qatar. The MEA clarified that his detention involves a separate case from one where he received relief. Tiwari was sentenced by Qatar's Court of Cassation in February 2026 in a distinct legal proceeding. Eight former Indian Navy personnel were detained in August 2022, with seven returning to India.

India remains in touch with family of ex-Naval Commander Purnendu Tiwari detained in Qatar, clarifying separate legal cases and extending diplomatic support.

New Delhi, April 23 India on Thursday said it continues to remain in touch with the family of an Indian ex-naval officer detained in Qatar and is extending all possible support in the matter.

Responding to a media query regarding the continued detention of ex-naval Commander Purnendu Tiwari despite relief in another separate case, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that multiple legal proceedings involving him should not be conflated.

Jaiswal told the media, "On the question regarding Commander Tiwari, let me make it very clear: please don't conflate two issues. The court judgment that you are talking about is a separate March 12th court judgment. He was sentenced by Qatar's Court of Cassation along with the Omani owner and other Qatari officer. This judgment came in February of 2026. The other case that you are referring to, of March 12th, that's a separate case in which he has been given relief, but presently he is detained in this particular case on which the Court of Cassation of Qatar gave a ruling, sentenced him. That judgment came in February of 2026."

He said, "We are in touch with his family, and we are extending all possible support. I would again like to mention, because we see that all issues get jumbled up, that this case, in which Commander Tiwari has been sentenced, is a separate case from the one in which he and others were released following the Government of India's intervention. There are two separate cases."

In an earlier press briefing, the MEA had also assured that it is mobilising all diplomatic channels and arranging legal assistance for Indian nationals detained in Qatar.

Earlier, eight former Indian Navy personnel -- Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh -- were detained in August 2022.

While seven of the eight individuals had returned to India, Jaiswal had previously said that the eighth remains in Qatar due to certain pending requirements.

On December 28, 2023, Qatar's Court of Appeal commuted the death sentences awarded to all eight men earlier in October 2023. The individuals had been accused of espionage related to a submarine programme, though charges were not officially made public.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai, where discussions included bilateral ties and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar.

- ANI
Hollywood action director JJ Perry, known for 'John Wick' and 'Fast & Furious', has given a major shoutout to Yash, calling him an incredibly talented actor with the best beard in the business. Perry shared unseen pictures from the sets of 'Toxic' and praised the entire cast and crew, including director Geetu Mohandas. The makers have pushed the release date of the action-thriller to June 4, 2026 amid tensions in the Middle East. The film stars Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria.

Hollywood action director JJ Perry praises Yash and director Geetu Mohandas on 'Toxic' sets. Release pushed to June 4, 2026.

Mumbai, April 23 Hollywood action director JJ Perry, who has come on board for Yash starrer 'Toxic', has expressed delight at working with the entire team.

Taking to Instagram, JJ Perry shared a series of unseen pictures from the sets of 'Toxic', showing him with Yash and other crew members.

In a shoutout to the actor, Perry wrote, "What an honor it was to work with the whole cast and crew on #Toxic. Gotta send a big thanks to @thenameisyash an incredibly talented actor with the best beard in the business! And a kind, generous person who I'm proud to call a friend."

He also mentioned director Geetu Mohandas and added, "And of course the amazing Director @geetu_mohandas. I had so much fun working with her and her team. Shout out to her Director of Photography, Rajeev Ravi!! I can't wait for this one to come out!!! Fasten your seat seatbelts!!!!"

In August last year, JJ Perry was announced a part of the upcoming action film.

Known for choreographing iconic sequences in 'John Wick' and 'Fast & Furious', Perry said, "This Indian crew is world-class. That's precisely why I chose to work with them. We're tackling a major sequence right now, and I'm super stoked about taking this on. It's a challenge, but I love a great challenge--and this team is meeting it head-on. We're here to push boundaries together--and that's what filmmaking is."

Meanwhile, the makers have pushed the release date of the action-thriller to June 4, 2026 amid the tensions in the Middle East.

The team had planned a big trailer launch event in Bengaluru on March 8, with media from across the country. Promotions were in place, and the first song, titled 'Tabaahi,' was also ready for release on March 2.

However, the makers decided to pause all promotional activities in view of the situation.

The film stars Yash in the lead role, along with Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria. It is written by Yash and directed by Geetu Mohandas.

The movie has been shot in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

- ANI
The Trump administration has extended its ceasefire with Iran while maintaining a stringent naval blockade and economic pressure campaign, with no set deadline for negotiations. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the pause in military strikes does not reduce overall pressure, highlighting that Iran is losing an estimated $500 million daily due to the blockade. The administration cites significant internal divisions within Iran's leadership as a complicating factor, awaiting a unified response from Tehran. The U.S. position is described as strong, with President Trump determining the timeline based on American interests.

White House extends Iran ceasefire with no deadline, continues naval blockade and economic sanctions, citing internal divisions in Tehran.

Washington, April 23 The Donald Trump administration has extended its ceasefire with Iran while maintaining a sweeping naval blockade, with the White House insisting there is no deadline for negotiations and signalling continued economic pressure on Tehran.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the United States is pursuing a dual-track approach, pausing military strikes while intensifying financial and maritime restrictions.

"President Trump announced an extension of the cease fire... and generously offering a bit of flexibility to a regime who has been completely tarnished because of Operation Epic Fury," she told reporters inside the White House on Wednesday.

She made clear that the pause in combat operations does not signal a reduction in pressure. "There's a cease fire with the military and kinetic strikes but Operation Economic Fury continues, and the effective and successful naval blockade continues as well," she said.

According to the White House, the blockade is inflicting significant economic damage. "We are completely strangling their economy through this blockade... they're losing $500 million a day," Leavitt said, adding that Iran is unable to move oil shipments or sustain payments.

Despite the escalation in economic pressure, the administration has deliberately avoided setting a timeline for negotiations. "The President has not set a firm deadline... ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief," she said, rejecting reports of a short window for talks.

Pressed on whether the ceasefire or blockade would continue indefinitely, Leavitt declined to provide clarity, reiterating that the President would determine the course "when he feels is in the best interest of the United States and the American people."

She also pointed to divisions within Iran's leadership as a key factor shaping the negotiations. "There's obviously a lot of internal division... a battle between the pragmatists and the hardliners," she said, noting that Washington is waiting for a "unified response" from Tehran.

The White House acknowledged that conflicting signals from Iran have complicated the process. "What they say publicly is much different than what they concede to the United States... privately," Leavitt said, cautioning against relying on official Iranian rhetoric.

She said US negotiators have already engaged directly with Iranian counterparts but emphasised uncertainty over who ultimately holds decision-making authority within the regime.

Defending the administration's posture, Leavitt argued that Washington retains the upper hand. "The cards are in President Trump's hands right now... Iran is in a very weak position," she said.

She also defended the President's public messaging during the crisis, saying it had not undermined negotiations. "The United States and President Trump have been very clear in our demands and our red lines," she said.

Separately, Leavitt said the administration is monitoring developments in the aviation sector amid reports of a potential bailout for Spirit Airlines, but offered no details.

- IANS
The Trump administration has reportedly created a "naughty and nice" list categorizing NATO allies based on their contributions and support for US military engagement with Iran. Nations like Poland and Romania are expected to be favorably assessed for their defense spending and base access, while most members face criticism for declining to participate in Gulf hostilities. The initiative could lead to punitive measures such as relocating US troops or restricting defense technology sales, though observers note such actions may harm Washington itself. President Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration, stating NATO was "absolutely useless" when needed and emphasizing a turn toward US self-reliance.

The Trump administration reportedly ranks NATO allies by their support for US Iran policy, threatening penalties for "naughty" members.

Washington, DC, April 23 The Donald Trump administration has reportedly developed a "naughty and nice" list categorising NATO allies according to their contributions, a move viewed as an effort to reward or penalise nations based on their support for the US military engagement with Iran, according to the Politico.

The documentation was prepared in anticipation of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's diplomatic visit to Washington DC earlier this month.



A European diplomat informed Politico that the initiative appears to be an expansion of a concept introduced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in December.



During a previous defence forum, Hegseth noted that "model allies" would be granted "special favour" by Washington DC, whereas those deemed to be failing in collective defence obligations could face repercussions.



The implementation of such a list could result in punitive measures against certain alliance members, including the strategic relocation of US personnel or the restriction of American defence technology sales.



However, observers told Politico that these actions may ultimately prove more detrimental to Washington than the intended targets.



"They don't seem to have very concrete ideas when it comes to punishing bad allies. Moving troops is one option, but it mainly punishes the US, doesn't it?" a European official remarked to the publication.



While the White House has yet to officially verify the list's existence, nations such as Poland and Romania are expected to receive positive assessments.



Poland has been recognised for its substantial defence expenditure, while Romania has permitted US forces to utilise its airbases for operations connected to the conflict with Iran.



In contrast, the majority of NATO members have declined to participate in the Gulf hostilities, a position that has drawn sharp criticism from the US President.



In a recent address, Trump remarked that the alliance had belatedly offered assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.



"I told them I would have liked your help two months ago, but now I really don't want your help anymore, because you were absolutely useless when we needed you," Trump stated during an event in Arizona.



He further asserted, "But actually, we never needed them. They needed us," adding that the current climate underscores the necessity for the US to maintain self-reliance.



The President's dissatisfaction has been a recurring theme throughout the conflict. Following a meeting with Rutte, Trump posted on social media: 'NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.'



These latest frictions follow a history of disputes over European defence spending and previous diplomatic disagreements, including Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland.





- ANI
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Navy to shoot and kill any boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He also tripled mine-clearing efforts in the critical waterway. The Pentagon had warned clearing mines could take six months, but disputes that timeline. The dispute remains a flashpoint as Iran links reopening to lifting the US naval blockade.

Trump directs US Navy to shoot and kill any boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, tripling mine-clearing efforts amid Iran tensions.

Washington DC, April 23 US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he has directed the country's Navy to take decisive action against any vessels attempting to lay mines in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tension over the virtual control of the waterway between Tehran and Washington.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there will be "no hesitation" from the US side to shoot down such boats.

He further, in a veiled reference to Iran, claimed that all 159 of "their naval ships" are at the bottom of the sea.

"I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation," the post read.

The US President further stated that he is also tripling the task for clearing mines in the Strait.

"Additionally, our mine 'sweepers' are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!" it added.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, with concerns over maritime security and the safety of global oil shipments passing through the narrow waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical chokepoints, handling a significant portion of international crude oil trade, which has seen a significant disruption following the conflict in West Asia.

Earlier, the Pentagon had reportedly informed the US Congress that clearing naval mines allegedly positioned by the Iranian military could take up to six months, highlighting a significant hurdle to regional stability despite a precarious ceasefire.

According to a US House Armed Services Committee briefing detailed by three officials to The Washington Post, this timeline has triggered "frustration" amongst both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

The delay raises critical "concerns" that energy costs may stay high even if a broader peace deal is reached.

Sources told The Washington Post that Tehran may have "deployed 20 or more mines" within the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior defence official informed legislators that some of these explosives were "deployed remotely using GPS technology", a sophisticated method that makes them "harder for US forces to detect".

The mining activity reportedly began in March amidst ongoing US and Israeli military operations. Although earlier assessments by the Defence Intelligence Agency suggested a disruption could last up to half a year, Pentagon spokesman Parnell told CNN that a "six-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an impossibility and completely unacceptable" to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

The Pentagon has since "disputed" the reporting, labelling the claims "inaccurate" and criticising the disclosure of information from a classified briefing. A department statement suggested that the publication of "these false claims" indicated a preference for "advancing an agenda than truth".

The maritime dispute remains a pivotal flashpoint, as Iran continues to link the reopening of the waterway to the lifting of the US naval blockade on its ports.

Trump has maintained his demands for Tehran to "fully reopen the strait" and abandon its nuclear programme as a prerequisite for peace.

- ANI
US President Donald Trump said he has not spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the West Asia conflict. Trump warned that China would face "big problems" if it extends military support to Tehran. Trump's postponed visit to China has been rescheduled for May 14-15, with reciprocal visits planned. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the delay was due to US military operations in the Middle East.

Trump says he hasn't spoken with Xi Jinping but warns China against supporting Iran. Visit to Beijing rescheduled for May 14-15.

Washington, DC, April 14 US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he has not spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while reiterating that the United States shares a "very good relationship" with China and noting that Xi wants the ongoing West Asia conflict to end.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, the President said, "We have a very good relationship with China."

"Xi would like to see the war ended", Trump added, referring to the ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Responding to a question from CNN regarding US intelligence inputs and possible communication with the Chinese leadership, Trump clarified that he had not directly spoken to Xi on the matter, but cautioned that Beijing would face consequences if it extended military support to Tehran.

"If China does that, China will have big problems, OK?" Trump said.

Amid these developments, Trump confirmed that his previously postponed visit to China has been rescheduled for next month.

In a detailed post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed the revised schedule and outlined plans for reciprocal diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing.

"My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th. First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date this year," he stated.

He added that officials from both sides are currently finalising preparations for what he described as "Historic Visits" and a "Monumental Event."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also confirmed the development, noting that the delay in the meeting was due to operational priorities in the Middle East. Briefing reporters, Leavitt said that Xi Jinping had understood the necessity of Trump remaining in the United States during the military operations.

"Again, we've estimated a four-to-six-week window. The President looks forward to that visit. There were no pre-conditions regarding the conclusion of the war; President Xi simply understood that it was important for the President to be here during these operations," she said.

- ANI
Next round of talks possible soon

US President Donald Trump has directly appealed to Iran's leadership to secure a prosperous future through a new diplomatic agreement. He extended an existing ceasefire indefinitely to allow Tehran time to formulate a unified proposal, despite reports of Iranian forces seizing vessels. However, the US will maintain its economic blockade of Iranian ports, a condition Iran's lead negotiator calls a "flagrant breach." The timeline for the next phase of talks remains uncertain as Iran has not yet finalized a decision to participate.

President Trump urges Iran to use "common sense" and make a deal for a prosperous future, while extending the US-Iran ceasefire indefinitely.

Washington, DC, April 23 US President Donald Trump has issued a direct appeal to the Iranian leadership, calling for a diplomatic breakthrough to end the current standoff between Washington and Tehran.

In an interview with CNBC, the President suggested that the Islamic Republic could secure a prosperous future by committing to a new agreement. He expressed confidence that a diplomatic resolution would significantly benefit the country's regional and economic standing.

Trump remarked, "Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal," noting the potential for a complete transformation of Tehran's current circumstances.

As the US continues to maintain a naval blockade and a conditional ceasefire, the President urged the Iranian government to approach the negotiating table with a clear and pragmatic strategy.

Highlighting the need for a change in rhetoric, Trump added, "They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country." In a notable shift of strategy, President Trump has moved away from his aggressive posture by extending the current ceasefire indefinitely.

This decision comes despite reports from Iranian media that the Revolutionary Guard targeted three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, successfully seizing two and escorting them to Iranian waters.

While the truce has been prolonged to allow Tehran's leadership additional time to formulate a "unified" proposal to resolve the conflict, the President maintained that the economic blockade of Iranian ports will persist.

This stance has met with stiff resistance from Tehran. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker and lead negotiator, argued that a comprehensive truce is only logical if it is not undermined by American maritime restrictions.

Qalibaf further asserted that restoring access to the strategic waterway is impossible under such a "flagrant breach of the ceasefire".

The sudden announcement from the White House was made only hours before the initial two-week truce was scheduled to lapse.

Amidst the ongoing uncertainty regarding the diplomatic timeline, the New York Post quoted President Trump suggesting that a second phase of discussions could commence as early as Friday.

According to the report, Trump stated that such a development is "possible" within a window of 36 to 72 hours.

However, the prospect of immediate negotiations remains unclear, as Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on participating in the upcoming round of mediated talks.

- ANI
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Abu Dhabi. The discussions focused on strengthening defence and security cooperation between the two nations. They also addressed regional developments in the Middle East and their implications for international stability and maritime security. Minister Crosetto reiterated Italy's condemnation of recent Iranian attacks targeting the UAE.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to enhance bilateral defence ties and address Middle East stability.

Abu Dhabi, April 23 UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Guido Crosetto, Minister of Defence of the Italian Republic.

During the meeting, the Italian Defence Minister conveyed to the greetings of Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, and her wishes for the UAE's continued security and prosperity.

The meeting discussed cooperation between the two countries and ways to strengthen collaboration in defence and security.

The two sides discussed developments in the Middle East, their implications for regional and international stability, and their impact on maritime security.

Crosetto reiterated Italy's condemnation of the Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the UAE and other countries in the region, noting that they constitute a violation of sovereignty and international law and undermine regional security and stability.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and several officials.

- ANI
The UK Parliament has passed a groundbreaking bill that will permanently prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. Health Secretary Wes Streeting championed the legislation, stating it will save lives and ease pressure on the National Health Service. The bill also grants ministers expanded powers to regulate vaping products and advertising, particularly those targeting children. The policy, initially proposed under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has been revived by the current Labour government despite opposition from figures like Nigel Farage.

UK approves historic bill banning tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008. Health Secretary Wes Streeting hails move to create first "smoke-free generation."

London, April 22 The United Kingdom's legislature approved a landmark bill that will prohibit individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, from purchasing tobacco products for the rest of their lives, marking a major step toward creating a "smoke-free generation", Al Jazeera reported.

According to Al Jazeera, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced in the House of Commons in 2024 by UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting as part of long-term efforts to improve public health and curb smoking-related harm.

"This is a historic moment for the nation's health as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill ends its journey through Parliament," Streeting said on Tuesday.

"Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain. Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm," he added, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

The legislation is expected to become law after receiving royal assent next week.

Once enacted, it will grant ministers expanded powers to regulate tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, including restrictions on flavours, packaging, branding, and advertising--particularly those targeting children.

The bill also proposes to widen smoke-free zones, with vaping set to be banned in areas such as playgrounds, cars carrying children, and spaces outside schools and hospitals, as reported by Al Jazeera. reported

Gillian Merron, UK Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, highlighted the significance of the reform while addressing the House of Lords.

"It is, in fact, the biggest public health intervention in a generation and I can assure all noble Lords it will save lives," she said on Monday, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

The policy was initially introduced in 2023 by the UK government under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who proposed gradually increasing the legal age for purchasing tobacco each year to phase out smoking entirely. The plan was shelved ahead of the 2024 general election but was later revived by the Labour government.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, leader of far-right party Reform UK, has opposed the measure and previously pledged to repeal it if elected, calling the bill "plainly idiotic", as reported by Al Jazeera.

Despite criticism, the legislation has received strong backing from health organisations and advocacy groups across the UK.

"This landmark piece of legislation will transform the nation's health. A smoke-free future means the tobacco industry will no longer be able to wreak havoc on the lungs of the next generation," said Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive of Asthma and Lung UK, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

- ANI
A new report claims China could access 80-90% of surveillance cameras in Ukraine, posing a direct security threat during the war. Chinese manufacturer Hikvision installed 7,000 smart cameras in Kyiv, capable of facial and license plate recognition. Concerns also extend to Chinese-made batteries in mobile base stations and energy equipment from Chinese brands. The report notes that only the USA has more tech influence on Ukraine than China.

China may access 80-90% of Ukraine's surveillance cameras, including drone feeds, posing a war-time security threat, claims new report.

New Delhi, April 23 China could potentially access 80-90 per cent of surveillance cameras in Ukraine, including those on reconnaissance drones, posing a direct security threat during war and chances of drone interception, a new report has claimed.

The report from Ukrainian media dev.ua said that there have already been cases of Russians intercepting the control of Ukrainian drones.

The report cited Octava Capital founder Oleksandr Kardakov as saying that Chinese manufacturer Hikvision installed 7,000 cameras in Kyiv Smart City project by 2020.

These smart cameras perform tasks such as recognising licence plates and faces along with monitoring security in schools and kindergartens.

"If China has a backdoor, it can see a lot on the streets of the capital. And not only in the capital. Hikvision is the most popular video surveillance system in Ukraine," the report further stated.

In the US, Hikvision and Dahua equipment feature in the Federal Communications Commission's list and hence an unacceptable risk to national security of Ukraine. Sensitive facilities that fall under Chinese intelligence legislation are prohibited from deploying surveillance systems in the UK, the report added.

The report said concerns extend well beyond cameras to mobile operators' base stations. Chinesemade batteries at mobile operators' base stations often have remote control capabilities. Most of the smartphones in the networks are also from China.

Further energy equipment from Ecoflow, Bluetti, Deye are bestsellers in Ukraine, which provide household electricity homes during the energy crisis.

"Only one country, besides China, has more tech influence on Ukraine - the USA. United States control the largest payment systems - Visa, Mastercard and also the cloud - AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google. The States control AI - Open AI (ChatGPT), Anthropic (Claude), Gemini," the report noted.

- IANS
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep sadness over the death of a second French soldier from wounds sustained in an attack in Lebanon. The UN spokesman condemned the attack as a grave violation that may constitute war crimes, calling for a prompt investigation. The incident occurred while peacekeepers were clearing a road in southern Lebanon to access isolated UN positions. The UN initial assessment suggests the fire came from non-state armed groups, presumably Hezbollah.

UN Secretary-General condemns attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon, urges ceasefire respect and investigation. A second French soldier has died from wounds.

United Nations, April 23 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is saddened by the death of a second French soldier serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from his wounds in Saturday's attack, said a UN spokesman.

Attacks on peacekeepers must stop. They are grave violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, in a statement on Wednesday (local time).



All attacks on peacekeepers must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be effectively prosecuted and held accountable. In this regard, the secretary-general welcomes the stated commitment of the Lebanese authorities with respect to Saturday's incident, reports Xinhua news agency, citing the statement.



Guterres urges all actors to respect the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced on Thursday. The United Nations is committed to supporting diplomatic efforts toward an extension of the cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which is intended to resolve the 2006 Lebanon War fought between Hezbollah and Israel, said the statement.



Guterres expresses his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the second peacekeeper who died, and to the government and people of France, it said.



Earlier Wednesday, Dujarric identified the fallen French soldier as 31-year-old Corporal Anicet Girardin, who was a specialist dog handler. Girardin succumbed to his wounds on Wednesday at a hospital in Paris.



He was seriously wounded when his explosive ordnance disposal team, operating under UNIFIL's French contingent, came under attack while clearing a road in southern Lebanon in order to re-establish access to isolated UNIFIL positions, said Dujarric.



Girardin was the second soldier who died in Saturday's incident.



Another French soldier, who was severely injured, was also repatriated to Paris on Tuesday for treatment. He remains under medical care. A fourth peacekeeper, who sustained minor injuries, has returned to his post with his unit in southern Lebanon, said Dujarric.



UN initial assessment was that the peacekeepers came under fire from non-state armed groups, presumably Hezbollah, said the spokesman.





- IANS
UN experts have expressed serious concern over the widespread abduction and forced religious conversion of women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan. In 2025, approximately 75% of victims were Hindu and 25% Christian, with nearly 80% of incidents occurring in Sindh province. The experts urged Pakistani authorities to criminalize forced conversion, raise the minimum marriage age to 18, and ensure accountability for perpetrators. They highlighted systemic discrimination against non-Muslim women and girls who are coerced into converting to Islam for marriage.

UN experts express serious concern over widespread abduction, forced religious conversion, and marriage of minority women and girls in Pakistan, urging authorities to act.

Geneva, April 23 The United Nations experts expressed serious concern over the continued and widespread abduction and forced religious conversion and marriages targeting women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan, warning that the climate of impunity fuels the relentless practice across the country.

"Any change of religion or belief must be genuinely free from coercion, and marriage must be based on full and free consent, which is not legally possible when the victim is a child," the experts said.

Experts mentioned that in 2025, around 75 per cent of the women and girls affected by forced conversion through marriage in Pakistan were Hindus, while 25 per cent were Christians.

Nearly 80 per cent of incidents, they said, occurred in Pakistan's Sindh province, with girls aged between 14 and 18 being particularly targeted and some cases involving younger victims.

According to the experts, women and girls facing poverty and marginalisation face heightened risks, and are often subjected to physical and sexual abuse, exploitation, social stigma and severe trauma.

"These women and girls endure a continuous sense of terror, face coercion and are deprived of their freedom of religion or belief and autonomy under patriarchal and political pressures. This must stop," the experts stressed.

They noted that the scale and persistence of these grave human rights violations indicate systemic discrimination against non-Muslim women and girls across Pakistan who are coerced into converting to Islam to marry Muslim men.

Reiterating their appeal, the experts urged Pakistani authorities to intensify efforts to eradicate forced conversions, to raise the minimum age for marriage to 18 in all provinces and territories, to criminalise forced religious conversion as a distinct offence and to enforce applicable laws pertaining to human trafficking and sexual violence.

The experts echoed the recommendations from several UN treaty bodies, urging a prompt investigation into all allegations impartially and effectively, while ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.

"We are deeply concerned that law enforcement authorities often dismiss complaints lodged by victims' families, fail to investigate or prosecute forced conversions in a timely manner, or neglect to properly assess the age of victims," the experts said.

They further called on the Pakistani authorities to provide comprehensive, inclusive and gender-responsive support services for victims, including child-centric protection services such as safe shelters, legal aid, psychological counselling and reintegration programmes.

Raising an alarm, the experts said that the Pakistani government has not taken adequate measures to address the root causes of forced conversion through marriage, including gender inequality based on patriarchal norms, poverty, social exclusion, discrimination against minorities, religious intolerance and rampant impunity.

"Freedom of religion or belief and equality must be ensured for all without discrimination," the experts stated.

- IANS
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has accused the Trinamool Congress of instigating violence during the West Bengal polls, stating such chaos was expected. His remarks follow a clash between TMC and Aam Janata Unnayan Party supporters in Nowda over a crude bomb incident. Meanwhile, the high-stakes Bhabanipur constituency is witnessing a repeat contest between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The first phase of polling saw a robust voter turnout of over 41% by 11 am, with counting scheduled for May 4.

UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak accuses TMC of creating chaos in Bengal polls. BJP files complaint with EC as clashes erupt between party workers.

Lucknow, April 23 Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday alleged that violence was expected during West Bengal polls and accused the Trinamool Congress of creating chaos, while stating that the BJP has filed complaints with the Election Commission.

Speaking to reporters, Pathak said, "It was well expected that during the polls, TMC's goons could cause chaos, and they proved it right. BJP has already submitted written complaints to the Election Commission as well. They're just doing things irrationally because they know that BJP will win big this time...TMC will have to leave for good."

The comments came after Trinamool Congress and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir's supporters violently clashed with each other on Thursday over the crude bomb incident.

The supporters used lathis to attack each other, pelted stones and damaged the vehicles standing on the side of the road.The security forces quickly gained control of the situation and dispelled the supporters involved in the violence.

This comes after Humayun Kabir visited the Nowda area today, where the crude bombs were hurled late on Wednesday night, ahead of the first phase of polling in West Bengal. Humayun Kabir organised a sit-in protest, alleging that a police officer lathi-charged his supporters in the night and demanded the removal of the officer. He also urged EC to take action against the TMC workers involved in the clash today.

The Election Commission sought a report from DM/DEO on the tensions in the Nowda tension between Humayun Kabir and TMC workers, ECI officials said. Security personnel were deployed to control the situation as tensions escalated between party workers and police during the polling process. The police were forced to use mild lathi charge to dispel some of the crowd, but denied that the situation was out of hand.

Meanwhile, the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in West Bengal has turned into a hot pot of politics, witnessing a high-voltage clash between the two heavyweights, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

Bhabanipur constituency is witnessing a repeat clash between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1,956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, as MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned from the seat.

In Nandigram, Adhikari is contesting against TMC's Pabitra Kar.

West Bengal is seeing a mega voter turnout even during the first few hours of voting. The voter turnout in West Bengal (Phase 1) was recorded at 41.11 per cent at 11 am on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India.

Paschim Mednipur district recorded a high turnout of 44. 68 percent followed by Jhargam at 43.71 per cent and Bankura at 43.22 per cent. The lowest turnout was recorded in Malda at 38.22 per cent.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI
India's engineering exports to the United States grew 2.3% year-on-year to $19.60 billion in FY26, maintaining the US as the top destination. Overall engineering exports reached a record high of $122.43 billion, an increase of nearly 5% from the previous fiscal. However, exports to West Asia and North Africa declined sharply due to geopolitical disruptions, with shipments to the UAE and Saudi Arabia falling steeply. EEPC India Chairman Pankaj Chadha noted the sector's resilience despite global challenges, with the government's RELIEF Scheme helping maintain trade continuity.

India's engineering exports to the US grew 2.3% to $19.60 billion in FY26. Overall exports hit a record $122.43 billion despite West Asia disruptions.

New Delhi, April 23 India's engineering exports to the United States witnessed a growth of 2.3 per cent year-on-year to $19.60 billion in FY26, maintaining its position as the top destination despite higher tariffs, according to industry data released on Thursday.

Data compiled by the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) India suggested that overall engineering exports touched a record high of $122.43 billion in FY26, an increase of almost 5 per cent compared to $116.75 billion in the previous fiscal.

However, shipments to the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region declined sharply amid geopolitical disruptions, it said.

Exports to key WANA markets were hit hard, particularly in March, when shipments to the region dropped by as much as 50.7 per cent due to supply chain disruptions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Among major destinations, exports to the UAE and Saudi Arabia fell steeply by 67 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively, during the month.

Despite these setbacks, several major markets recorded positive growth during FY26, including Germany, the UK, China, Italy, South Africa, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.

On a regional basis, engineering exports to North America rose 1.9 per cent, while shipments to the European Union increased by 8.6 per cent during the fiscal year.

In contrast, exports to WANA declined 8 per cent for the full year, while shipments to Other Europe and CIS fell by 4.5 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively.

In addition, engineering exports in March 2026 rose marginally by 1.13 per cent year-on-year to $10.94 billion, despite supply disruptions triggered by geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

EEPC India Chairman Pankaj Chadha said the sector demonstrated strong resilience, achieving record exports for the second consecutive year despite unprecedented global challenges.

"The export growth came at a time when global trade faced severe disruptions due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which impacted key shipping routes. Despite these pressures, India's engineering exports remained positive across major regions, except WANA," he said.

He further noted that sustained growth would depend on a combination of market diversification, sectoral resilience and targeted policy support.

The government's Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) Scheme, aimed at addressing rising logistics and insurance costs during the crisis, helped maintain trade continuity, he noted.

According to government estimates, engineering goods remained the largest component of India's merchandise exports in FY26, accounting for 27.71 per cent of the total.

- IANS
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended a temporary waiver on sanctions for Russian oil, testifying it was necessary to prevent a more severe spike in global oil prices. Democratic lawmakers, including Chris Coons, criticized the policy, arguing it risks sending billions to Russia and undermines sanctions pressure. Bessent countered that the waiver was extended after appeals from vulnerable nations and that market trends suggest prices could fall. The debate highlights the administration's attempt to balance punishing Russia with protecting consumers from fuel cost shocks.

US Treasury Secretary defends temporary Russian oil sanctions waiver, saying it prevented a sharper global price spike, despite Democrat criticism.

Washington, April 23 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended a temporary sanctions waiver affecting Russian oil, saying it helped prevent a sharper spike in global prices, even as Democrats warned it could boost Moscow's war finances and keep fuel costs high.

Testifying before a Senate panel, Bessent said the move was aimed at stabilising supply during a volatile period.

"Treasury was able to create the more than 250 million barrels on the water," he said.

He added that without the waiver, prices could have surged further. "As they came in today, the oil prices are at $100. If we had not done that sanctions relief, they might have been at $150."

Bessent said the policy was designed to protect consumers. "100 per cent of 100 is less than 80 per cent of 150," he said.

Democrats pushed back.

Chris Coons said the waiver risks sending billions of dollars to Russia. He argued it undermines pressure on Moscow at a critical time.

"We the folks in Delaware are buying $4 a gallon gas today," Coons said.

He questioned whether the policy had delivered any real relief.

Bessent rejected claims that Russia or Iran had gained significantly. "I couldn't disagree more," he said.

He said the decision to extend the waiver was influenced by global concerns. "I was approached by more than 10 of the most vulnerable and poorest countries... and they asked us to extend that sanction and it's only for 30 days," he said.

Lawmakers also flagged rising fuel costs.

Jack Reed said Americans are paying "over $4 a gallon at the pump," warning that prices remain a burden on households.

Bessent pointed to market trends.

He said the oil market is in "a very steep backwardation," meaning prices could fall over time.

"I think the conflict will end... gasoline prices will come back to where they were, or perhaps lower," he said.

The exchange underscored a wider divide in Washington. The administration argues flexibility can steady markets. Critics say it weakens sanctions pressure.

Sanctions on Russian energy have been central to Western policy since the Ukraine war. Governments have tried to limit Moscow's revenue while avoiding supply shocks.

Oil prices remain sensitive to geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East. Any disruption can quickly push up global prices, affecting major importers, including India.

- IANS
Powerful US lawmakers from both parties emphasized the critical importance of the India-US strategic partnership at a Capitol Hill event on terrorism. They highlighted shared democratic values and called for enhanced cooperation on security, intelligence, and defense to address global threats. While some, like Raja Krishnamoorthi, noted strains from a "transactional relationship" and tariffs, the overall sentiment was optimistic about the relationship's long-term trajectory. The strong turnout was seen as reflecting broad political support for deepening ties between the two nations.

American lawmakers call for deeper India-US cooperation on security, trade, and counter-terrorism, highlighting shared democratic values despite policy differences.

Washington, April 23 Powerful American lawmakers across party lines called for deeper India-US cooperation on security, trade and global stability, even as some flagged strains in ties over tariffs and policy differences.

At an "Exhibition on Human Cost of Terrorism," organized by Indian Embassy at the Capitol Hilll, members of Congress described India as a key strategic partner, underscoring shared democratic values and the need for closer coordination in addressing global challenges, particularly terrorism.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the relationship "is not as strong as it should be," pointing to what he described as a more "transactional relationship" and the impact of tariffs. He added, however, that ties "should transcend parties... and... rise to new heights over time."

At the same time, Krishnamoorthi stressed common ground between the two countries. "Our two countries... share so much in common," he said, citing a commitment to freedom, equality and a rules-based order.

Congressman Dave Taylor described India as "a hugely important ally of the United States," calling for "a coordinated policy" to address global threats, including terrorism.

Others highlighted the strategic dimension of the partnership.

Congressman Bill Huizenga, Chairman of the South and Central Asia Subcommittee for Foreign Affairs, said India is "extremely important... both economically, strategically," adding that cooperation spans counter-terrorism, intelligence-sharing and maritime security.

Huizenga pointed to the importance of ensuring open sea lanes, saying the United States is focused on "making sure that there's an ability to transit the free... seas," an area where India plays a growing role.

Congressman Rich McCormick emphasised the long-term potential of the partnership, describing the "synergy between our two countries."

"When you look at what America and India together are poised to do... (it) could usher in an era of peace, economic prosperity," he said, linking the relationship to broader global stability.

Congressman Ro Khanna, co-chair of the India Caucus, said the partnership has taken on greater importance in confronting transnational threats.

"Terrorism isn't just contained to one region... it spreads and threatens freedom around the world," Khanna said, adding that both countries must deepen "intelligence sharing (and) defence cooperation."

Congressman Jonathan Jackson tied the relationship to global economic pressures, noting that instability affects both nations.

"The price of fuel, the price of food... affects us all," he said, warning that rising conflict and terrorism are "now consuming the entire world."

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said the strong turnout of lawmakers reflected broad political support for the partnership.

"Congressmen... represent the voice of the people," he said, adding that their engagement helps shape policy and reinforces commitment to counter-terrorism efforts.

Kwatra said the event highlighted the need for countries to "come together, need to work together, and... act together" in addressing global challenges.

A big supporter of India-US ties, Congressman Brad Sherman said ties have been "strained by the outrageous tariffs," but expressed hope for expanding economic engagement going forward.

Lawmakers stressed that differences do not undermine the overall trajectory of the relationship.

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney described it as "a long, strong relationship," rooted in deep people-to-people connections, including contributions from the Indian diaspora.

"I think there's just such an incredible exchange between our countries," she said.

Congressman Jamie Raskin called for a rules-based approach grounded in international law. Congresswoman Julie Johnson emphasised the importance of maintaining democratic alignment in confronting global threats.

Lawmakers said cooperation on counter-terrorism, defence and trade will continue to define the relationship as both countries navigate an increasingly uncertain global environment.

- IANS
United States Central Command has directed 31 vessels, mostly oil tankers, to turn around as part of its blockade against Iranian ports. The operation involves a massive deployment of over 10,000 troops, 17 warships, and more than 100 aircraft. Tensions escalated sharply when Iranian forces opened fire and seized two commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has extended a ceasefire but maintains the blockade, demanding Iran surrender its enriched uranium stockpile for any permanent agreement.

US Central Command directs 31 ships to turn back near Iran, as Iranian forces seize commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions.

Florida, April 23 United States Central Command confirmed on Thursday that American forces "have directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the US blockade against Iran". According to military officials, the bulk of these intercepted ships were identified as oil tankers.

In an operational update released via social media, the military command noted that the maritime enforcement actions have seen high levels of cooperation. The statement highlighted that "the majority of vessels have complied with US directions" following interception in the region.

The scale of the mission underscores a significant escalation in regional maritime security. CENTCOM disclosed that "the operation to blockade Iranian ports involves more than 10,000 US troops, 17 warships and more than 100 aircraft".

This massive naval enforcement has triggered a volatile reaction in the Middle East, with tensions boiling over on Wednesday after Iranian forces opened fire on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, successfully seizing two of them. The maritime confrontation represents a significant spike in hostilities within the strategic waterway, occurring only 24 hours after US President Donald Trump opted to prolong a ceasefire while simultaneously upholding the American blockade.

Amidst this friction, the Trump administration is reportedly pushing for a more consistent diplomatic engagement from Tehran as the precarious ceasefire persists. According to White House officials, the President is pursuing a "unified" stance from the Iranian leadership regarding American overtures aimed at de-escalating the regional crisis.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the US has refrained from setting a formal deadline for the current truce extension, suggesting a cautious strategy by Washington while communication lines remain open. Nevertheless, Leavitt emphasised that a non-negotiable requirement for any permanent agreement would involve Iran consenting to surrender its entire stockpile of enriched uranium.

Despite the extension of the truce, the US has made it clear that the cessation of hostilities remains strictly conditional. President Trump asserted that the naval blockade will persist until such time as Tehran presents a formal proposal and discussions lead to a definitive outcome.

In response, Iranian authorities have reacted with sharp condemnation, further deepening the diplomatic rift. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi characterised the naval restrictions as an "act of war" and a direct breach of the existing ceasefire, cautioning that Tehran is ready to oppose any measures it perceives as coercive tactics.

- ANI
US Navy Secretary John C. Phelan has stepped down from his post with immediate effect, with Undersecretary Hung Cao taking over as Acting Secretary. The departure occurs as the US Navy continues to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports, having turned back numerous vessels. Concurrently, President Donald Trump has hinted at a potential diplomatic breakthrough with Iran via a text message to the New York Post. This optimism follows an extended ceasefire, reportedly requested by Pakistan, to allow Iran's government time to present a unified proposal.

Navy Secretary John Phelan departs Trump administration. Acting Secretary Hung Cao takes over as US enforces Iran blockade and Trump hints at diplomatic breakthrough.

Washington DC, April 23 The US Department of War on Wednesday announced that Secretary of the Navy John C Phelan is stepping down with immediate effect, with Hung Cao set to take over as Acting Secretary of the Navy.

The development was confirmed by Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who thanked Phelan for his service and said the administration wishes him well in his future endeavours.

In a post on X, Parnell wrote, "Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately. On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy."

"We wish him well in his future endeavors. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy," the post read.

The announcement comes as the US Navy continues enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports during the ceasefire, with American forces having redirected 29 vessels back to port and intercepting ships attempting to breach the restrictions, as reported by CNN.

Meanwhile, earlier, US President Donald Trump hinted at a "possible" diplomatic breakthrough with Iran, even as maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten to collapse a fragile regional ceasefire.

The President's optimism, delivered via a text message to The New York Post, follows his decision to extend a two-week ceasefire, a move he claims was requested by Pakistan's leadership to give a "seriously fractured" Iranian government time to present a unified proposal.

When asked by The New York Post about the reported breakthrough, Trump responded in a text message: "It's possible! President DJT."

The report further cited sources from Pakistan in Islamabad, who told the publication that they were observing encouraging diplomatic outreach with Iran after Tehran cold-shouldered the second round of talks there, citing security concerns.

- ANI
Elizabeth Threlkeld argues US engagement with both need not be zero-sum

Kurt Campbell, former US Deputy Secretary of State, firmly stated that American strategic interests should be clearly anchored in India, emphasizing that the relationship with India is paramount. Ram Madhav echoed concerns over the continued "hyphenation" of India and Pakistan in US policy thinking, stressing the two ties operate at different levels. Elizabeth Threlkeld offered a nuanced view, arguing that US engagement with both countries need not be zero-sum and that Pakistan's role in regional crises could be relevant. The debate at the Hudson Institute highlighted broader concerns about US policy shifts and the long-term trajectory of US strategy in the Indo-Pacific being shaped primarily by its partnership with India.

Experts at Hudson Institute debate US-Pakistan engagement, warning against diluting focus on India as strategic partner in Indo-Pacific.

Washington, April 24 The role of Pakistan in US strategy triggered sharp debate among policymakers, with speakers at the Hudson Institute warning against diluting Washington's focus on India even as some argued for parallel engagement with Islamabad.

Kurt Campbell, former US Deputy Secretary of State, took a firm position, saying American strategic interests should be clearly anchored in India. "Peace and stability are reinforced... by a closer relationship between the United States and India, and an absolute clarity that all our strategic interests lie in Delhi," he said.

He added that while communication with Pakistan may continue, "the India relationship is in capital letters and Pakistan really doesn't even appear in the paragraph."

Ram Madhav echoed concerns over the continued "hyphenation" of India and Pakistan in US policy thinking. "India's relationship is much bigger, much wider... that one should not make," he said, stressing that the two ties operate at entirely different levels.

However, Elizabeth Threlkeld offered a more nuanced view, arguing that US engagement with both countries need not be zero-sum. "I genuinely think that there is room for a relationship with both Islamabad and New Delhi," she said.

She noted that Pakistan's role in ongoing regional crises could be relevant in facilitating outcomes. "If Pakistan can leverage the relationships that it has... I think all the better," she said, adding that managing ties with both capitals is important given escalation risks in South Asia.

The discussion came amid broader concerns about US policy shifts, including closer engagement with Pakistan in the context of Middle East dynamics and evolving China policy.

Campbell acknowledged that uncertainty in Washington's strategic direction has contributed to anxiety among partners. "There are many elements... that are not clear," he said, describing a policy approach marked by "ambiguity" and competing internal views.

He warned that such uncertainty risks undermining confidence among key partners, including India, particularly at a time of global instability.

The panel also linked the debate to wider geopolitical developments, including conflict in the Middle East and its spillover effects on supply chains and security calculations.

Speakers agreed that while tactical engagement with Pakistan may continue, the long-term trajectory of US strategy in the Indo-Pacific will be shaped primarily by its partnership with India.

The New India Conference convened senior officials and analysts to assess India's global role and evolving strategic partnerships.

The US has historically balanced ties with both India and Pakistan, particularly during periods of crisis in South Asia. However, over the past two decades, Washington has significantly deepened its engagement with New Delhi, reflecting India's growing economic and strategic importance.

- IANS
US disputes Iran's financial gain from sanctions relief

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before a Senate panel, forcefully rejecting claims that Iran has gained billions in revenue from sanctions relief, calling a cited $14 billion figure a "myth." He argued that Treasury's actions are focused on maintaining global oil supply to prevent price spikes that would hurt consumers. Lawmakers, including Senator Chris Coons, countered that eased restrictions risk benefiting adversaries like Iran and Russia through higher energy prices. The hearing highlighted broader concerns about fuel costs for Americans linked to geopolitical market volatility.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismisses claims Iran gained $14 billion from sanctions relief, arguing the figure is a "myth" during Senate testimony.

Washington, April 23 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected claims that Iran has gained financially from sanctions relief, telling lawmakers the estimates were inaccurate and overstated.

Testifying before a Senate panel, Bessent dismissed assertions that Tehran had received billions in additional revenue during the ongoing conflict.

"The $14 billion is a myth," he said, pushing back against criticism from lawmakers.

The exchange came during questioning by Chris Coons, who argued that easing restrictions on global oil flows risks benefiting US adversaries.

Coons said Iran and Russia could be profiting from higher energy prices and relaxed enforcement, warning that such policies could weaken US leverage.

Bessent disagreed. "I couldn't disagree more," he said when asked whether Iran had received significant additional revenue.

He said Treasury actions were aimed at keeping global oil markets supplied and avoiding sharp price increases that would hurt consumers.

"There is oil to the left... there is oil to the right," Bessent said, referring to supply around key global routes.

He argued that maintaining supply had helped prevent a spike in prices.

The hearing also touched on broader concerns about fuel costs.

Lawmakers said Americans are paying more at the pump as the conflict adds pressure to global markets. They linked higher prices to geopolitical tensions and policy choices.

Bessent said current conditions reflect market volatility rather than long-term shortages. He pointed to supply measures taken by the administration to stabilise prices.

Sanctions on Iran remain a central element of US foreign policy. They are designed to limit revenue from oil exports and constrain the country's economic capacity.

Global oil markets remain sensitive to geopolitical developments, especially in the Middle East. Changes in supply or policy can quickly affect prices worldwide, including in major importing countries such as India.

- IANS
The US State Department has advised American citizens in Iran to depart, following Iran's partial reopening of its airspace after a shutdown in late February. The White House has extended a military ceasefire with Iran while maintaining a stringent naval blockade, which officials claim is inflicting severe economic damage. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the blockade is costing Iran an estimated $500 million daily, crippling its oil shipments and payments. The Trump administration has deliberately avoided setting a timeline for negotiations, leaving the duration of the ceasefire and pressure campaign open-ended.

US State Department advises citizens to leave Iran via air or land routes as airspace partially reopens, while Trump admin extends ceasefire and tightens blockade.

Washington, April 23 The US State Department has urged American citizens in Iran to leave after the Middle Eastern country partially reopened its airspace.

In a social media post on Wednesday (local time), the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs urged Americans to monitor local media for updates closely and to contact commercial airlines for information about outbound flights.

The advisory noted that US citizens may also depart by land to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Turkmenistan. However, it warned against travelling to Afghanistan, Iraq or the Pakistan-Iran border area.

Iran shut down its airspace after joint US-Israeli strikes started on February 28, reports Xinhua news agency.

The country reopened its eastern airspace to international flights on Saturday, paving the way for the partial resumption of airport operations.

In a report on Sunday, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting quoted a senior official from Iran's Civil Aviation Organization as saying that the country's airspace would be reopened in four phases.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Donald Trump administration has extended its ceasefire with Iran while maintaining a sweeping naval blockade, with the White House insisting there is no deadline for negotiations and signalling continued economic pressure on Tehran.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the United States is pursuing a dual-track approach, pausing military strikes while intensifying financial and maritime restrictions.

"President Trump announced an extension of the cease fire... and generously offering a bit of flexibility to a regime who has been completely tarnished because of Operation Epic Fury," she told reporters inside the White House on Wednesday.

She made clear that the pause in combat operations does not signal a reduction in pressure. "There's a cease fire with the military and kinetic strikes but Operation Economic Fury continues, and the effective and successful naval blockade continues as well," she said.

According to the White House, the blockade is inflicting significant economic damage. "We are completely strangling their economy through this blockade... they're losing $500 million a day," Leavitt said, adding that Iran is unable to move oil shipments or sustain payments.

Despite the escalation in economic pressure, the administration has deliberately avoided setting a timeline for negotiations. "The President has not set a firm deadline... ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief," she said, rejecting reports of a short window for talks.

- IANS
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials to enforce strict water planning to ensure supply through August 2026, warning of potential rainfall disruption from El Nino. While current dam storage is higher than last year, past El Nino years saw significant declines, prompting the precaution. The state has launched a "Water Management Action Fortnight" and a Jal-Yatra pilgrimage to promote public participation in water conservation. The initiatives aim to draw inspiration from the legacy of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar and strengthen sustainable water management.

CM Devendra Fadnavis directs stringent water planning for 2026, citing El Nino risks and launching a Water Management Action Fortnight.

Mumbai, April 22 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed officials to enforce stringent water planning and conservation measures to ensure adequate drinking water supply till the end of August 2026, warning of potential rainfall disruptions due to the El Nino phenomenon.

The directive comes even as the state currently holds 653.63 thousand million cubic feet of water across its dams, an increase of 101.77 thousand million cubic feet from 551.86 thousand million cubic feet at the same time last year.

At a state Cabinet review, Additional Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Deepak Kapoor presented data on reservoir levels and flagged risks associated with El Nino.

Past trends show significant declines in storage during such years, with levels dropping by 12 per cent in 2014 and around 14 per cent in 2015, triggering widespread shortages.

On October 15, 2014, storage stood at 872 thousand million cubic feet, falling sharply to 625 thousand million cubic feet in 2015.

In contrast, reserves were significantly higher at 1330.97 thousand million cubic feet on the same date in 2025.

As of April 21, 2026, storage is at 653.63 thousand million cubic feet-still higher than last year, but vulnerable if rainfall weakens.

The Chief Minister urged citizens to begin conserving water immediately to cushion the impact of a possible deficient monsoon.

He also called for accelerated water conservation projects, improved management systems, and the revival of traditional water sources.

This marks the second high-level review meeting this week, chaired by the Chief Minister.

Earlier on Monday, he had instructed departments to step up disaster preparedness and inter-agency coordination in anticipation of El Nino-related challenges.

Officials from the India Meteorological Department were also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has launched the "Water Management Action Fortnight" initiative to make water management more dynamic, people-oriented, and effective through public participation.

The 'Goda to Narmada' Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Jal-Yatra 2026 has been organised.

Water Resources Minister (Godavari and Krishna Valley Development Corporation) Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil announced during a press conference that this pilgrimage aims to carry a broad message of water conservation far and wide.

Minister Vikhe-Patil stated that the Jal-Yatra is being organised based on the three pillars of 'Thought, Heritage, and Development'.

The primary objective is to strengthen the concept of sustainable water management while raising awareness through public participation.

The Minister noted that, on the occasion of the tercentenary (300th) birth anniversary of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar, this initiative seeks to set new benchmarks in water management, drawing inspiration from her visionary, people-centric governance.

He added that the pilgrimage would reinforce the commitment to carry forward her legacy of temple reconstruction, the construction of river ghats and step-wells (baravs), and the implementation of minor irrigation and water conservation projects.

- IANS
Eight people lost their lives after a vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Tehri Garhwal district. The accident occurred on the Chamba-Koti road, with the vehicle falling nearly 300 metres. Two injured individuals are undergoing treatment at District Hospital Baurari and are reported to be out of danger. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief and instructed the district administration to ensure proper care for the injured.

Eight killed, two injured as vehicle falls 300 metres into gorge in Tehri Garhwal. CM Dhami expresses grief; rescue ops led by SDRF and police.

Tehri Garhwal, April 23 Eight people lost their lives after a vehicle went out of control and fell into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Tehri Garhwal district on Thursday, officials said.

According to the Tehri district administration, the vehicle plunged nearly 300 metres deep near Nail on the Chamba-Koti road in Chamba block.

The injured have been brought to District Hospital Baurari, where Dr Amit Rai, CMS of DH Baurari, informed ANI that they are undergoing treatment and are reported to be out of danger.

SDM Ghansali Alkesh Naudiyal said, "There were 11 people. Due to the accident, two individuals sustained injuries, while eight lost their lives. The two injured individuals have been admitted to the District Hospital here. Both are reported to be in stable condition. The post-mortem examinations are underway."

Soon after the incident was reported, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Health Department, and police rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations on a war footing.

District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal, Tehri MLA Kishore Upadhyay, and SSP Shweta Chaubey are present at the incident site and are monitoring the ongoing relief and rescue efforts.

The administration has directed concerned officials to ensure prompt medical treatment for the injured and to make all necessary arrangements.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed deep grief over the accident.

Taking to X, CM Dhami wrote, "We have received the extremely distressing news of a vehicle accident on the Nail-Koti Colony route under the Chamba area of Tehri Garhwal district. I pray to God that the souls of those who lost their lives in the accident attain a place at His divine feet, and that He grant strength to the bereaved families to endure this immense sorrow."

"Instructions have been issued to the district administration for the proper treatment of the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery. I pray to Baba Kedar for the swift recovery of the injured," he added.

- ANI
Veteran Telugu director and producer Tripuraneni Chittibabu has passed away at the age of 71. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep sorrow, calling it an irreparable loss to the cinema industry. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy also paid heartfelt condolences, remembering Chittibabu as a close friend and a multifaceted genius. The filmmaker, who made his directorial debut in 1984, reportedly died of a cardiac arrest.

Veteran Telugu film director and producer Tripuraneni Chittibabu passes away at 71. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and G Kishan Reddy pay heartfelt tributes.

Amaravati, April 22 Veteran Telugu director and producer Tripuraneni Chittibabu has passed away. He was 71.

After learning about his demise on Wednesday, former Chief Minister YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has expressed deep sorrow.

Describing the death as an irreparable loss to the cinema industry, he stated that Chittibabu carved a unique identity as a producer and analyst through his profound understanding of the film world and sharp analytical vision, which guided many in the field.

YS Jagan conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that God grant them the strength to face this profound loss.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy also paid his condolences.

"The news of the demise of Chitti Babu garu, the renowned Telugu film producer, political analyst, and my close friend, Tripuraneni, has deeply shaken me. His multifaceted genius and unwavering commitment to society, along with the powerful voice he lent to various issues, were truly remarkable. I pray for eternal peace to his noble soul and convey my deepest condolences to his family," Kishan Reddy's post on X read.

Reportedly, Tripuraneni Chittibabu died of cardiac arrest.

Tripuraneni Chittibabu made his directorial debut with Santhanam in 1984 and went on to helm several notable films, including Na Peru Durga, Pralayam, Preminchi Choodu, and Raitu Bharatham.

- ANI
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and Vietnam's top leader To Lam agreed to advance energy cooperation, including Vietnam's possible revival of its nuclear power program. Vietnam had shelved its nuclear power plans in 2016 due to financing constraints but now considers adding nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demand. Korea Electric Power Corporation and Vietnam National Industry-Energy Group signed MOUs for joint feasibility studies and financing for potential nuclear projects. Critical mineral supply chains were also identified as a new area of cooperation between the two countries.

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and Vietnam's To Lam discuss reviving nuclear power, energy cooperation, and critical mineral supply chains in summit talks.

Hanoi, April 23 South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and Vietnam's top leader To Lam agreed to advance cooperation in energy and infrastructure during summit talks, including Vietnam's possible revival of its nuclear power programme, Seoul's top security official said on Thursday.

In Wednesday's talks, Lam, who serves as general secretary of the Communist Party, "welcomed" Korean companies' participation in Vietnam's energy transition, including the potential construction of a nuclear power plant, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters.

Vietnam had previously shelved its plan in 2016 to build its first nuclear power plant in the southeastern province of Ninh Thuan due to financing constraints, but is now considering adding nuclear power to its energy grid to meet growing electricity demand, reports Yonhap news agency.

Asked whether the summit addressed the Ninh Thuan project, Wi said, "Discussions remain at an early stage, focusing on the feasibility and related risks."

On the sidelines of the summit, the state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation and Vietnam National Industry-Energy Group signed two memorandums of understanding on joint feasibility studies and financing for potential nuclear power development projects.

Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, said the success of Vietnam's potential nuclear power programme will largely depend on South Korea's ability to provide relevant financing packages to meet Hanoi's needs.

"With its sizable population and strong growth, Vietnam needs energy, but arranging the financing is something we should take on," Kim said, noting the government will explore financing solutions in consultations with the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp, as well as policy lenders and commercial banks.

Critical mineral supply chains were also identified as an area of cooperation, Wi said, noting Seoul and Hanoi will broaden the scope of cooperation by establishing a technology cooperation centre for critical mineral supply chains.

Lee and Lam also exchanged views on regional security and global issues, including the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, according to the official.

"The two leaders agreed to bolster joint efforts for peace and prosperity in the international community," Wi said. "They also shared the understanding that peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula serves the interests of the international community."

- IANS
Actor and politician Vijay voted in Neelankarai and appealed to the Election Commission to address a transport crisis, stating thousands of voters were stranded at bus terminals. His letter urged authorities to deploy additional government buses exclusively to ferry voters to polling stations. Meanwhile, a host of Tamil film celebrities including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith, and Dhanush cast their votes across Chennai. Polling for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly is being held, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.

Actor Vijay writes to Election Commission about stranded voters. Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith, and other Tamil stars cast their votes in Chennai.

Chennai, April 23 Actor and political party leader Vijay, who exercised his right to vote at the Neelankarai polling station in Chennai, on Thursday appealed to the Election Commission to direct state transport authorities and district election officers to immediately press additional government buses into service exclusively for ferrying stranded voters from bus terminals to polling stations.

In a letter to the Election Commission, Vijay claimed that that thousands of voters were stranded at bus terminals in Chennai, and similarly in other metro cities across Tamil Nadu, with no buses or alternative public transport available to reach their designated polling booths.

He said that thousands of citizens who had travelled from all over the world and from various states and from within the cities of Tamil Nadu or were attempting to travel to exercise their franchise had been left helpless due to the heavy requisitioning of buses and vehicles for poll duty without parallel arrangements for ordinary voters.

He therefore urged the Election Commission to direct state transport authorities and district election officers in Chennai and all affected cities to immediately press additional government buses, shuttles, and other vehicles into service exclusively for ferrying stranded voters from bus terminals to polling stations.

Meanwhile, Vijay's dad S A Chandrasekhar and his mom Shoba Chandrasekhar, both of whom are well known Tamil film directors, cast their votes at the Government school in Kamaraj Avenue, Adyar.

H Vinoth, who has directed actor Vijay's last film 'Jana Nayagan', cast his vote at the polling station in Anaicut.

While director Pa Ranjith cast his vote at his native place in Karalapakkam, director Atlee cast his vote at Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam.

Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth and his younger daughter, director Soundarya Rajinikanth, voted at the Stella Maris College for Women, while politician and actor Kamal Haasan arrived with his daughter Shruti Haasan to cast his vote at the Government School in Teynampet.

Vikram cast his vote at The Besant Theosopical Higher Secondary School, while Gautham Karthik, the son of actor and politician Karthik, cast his vote in Stella Maris College.

Ajith, who returned in a hurry to Chennai from Belgium where he was racing along with his car racing team Ajith Kumar Racing, was among the first to turn up to cast his vote in Thiruvanmiyur.

Popular music director Anirudh Ravichander and pan Indian actor Dhanush cast their votes at the St Francis Xavier Middle School in Alwarpet at around 9 am.

Several other stars and film celebrities are making their way along with scores of people across the state to select their representatives from a total of 4,023 candidates.

Polling for the 234-member Assembly is being held on Thursday, with the counting of votes set for May 4.

- IANS
Actor Vishal urged Tamil Nadu voters to exercise their right to vote on April 23, calling it the most important duty in a democracy. He emphasized voting without excuses and choosing the right candidate for the next five years. Several Tamil film stars, including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, and Ajith, were among those who cast their votes. Polling was held for 234 Assembly seats, with results to be announced on May 4.

Actor Vishal urges TN voters to vote responsibly on April 23. Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Ajith, and others cast votes in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Chennai, April 23 Pointing out that he would be casting his vote as always, actor Vishal on Thursday urged all the voters of Tamil Nadu to go and cast their votes in their respective constituencies saying, the time "to exercise the most important right" had come.

Taking to his X timeline to urge the masses to vote, he wrote, "And the time has come to exercise the most important right of ours in this democratic country. Yes, good morning one and all. Let's begin and register this day with utmost responsibility to go and VOTE without hesitance and without fail in our respective constituencies in Tamil Nadu. It's D DAY. #April23. "

He went on to say, "No heat no long lines, no excuses and let's make sure we bring in the maximum percentage of voting this time. I am going to vote as always without fail and also anticipating the same with everyone. Please see your ballot paper without rushing and vote for the right and deserving candidate. The next five years of Tamil Nadu's growth will be decided by us. Let's make it happen. God bless."

Meanwhile, scores of people including top stars from the Tamil film industry turned up to cast their votes. While actor and politician Vijay voted at Neelankarai, his dad S A Chandrasekhar and his mom Shoba Chandrasekhar, both of whom are well known Tamil film directors, cast their votes at the Government school in Kamaraj Avenue, Adyar.

H Vinoth, who has directed actor Vijay's last film 'Jana Nayagan', cast his vote at the polling station in Anaicut.

While director Pa Ranjith cast his vote at his native place in Karalapakkam, director Atlee cast his vote at Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam.

Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth and his younger daughter, director Soundarya Rajinikanth, voted at the Stella Maris College for Women, while politician and actor Kamal Haasan arrived with his daughter Shruti Haasan to cast his vote at the Government School in Teynampet.

Vikram cast his vote at The Besant Theosopical Higher Secondary School, while Gautham Karthik, the son of actor and politician Karthik, cast his vote in Stella Maris College.

Ajith, who returned in a hurry to Chennai from Belgium where he was racing along with his car racing team Ajith Kumar Racing, was among the first to turn up to cast his vote in Thiruvanmiyur.

Popular music director Anirudh Ravichander and pan Indian actor Dhanush cast their votes at the St Francis Xavier Middle School in Alwarpet at around 9 am.

Several other stars and film celebrities are making their way along with scores of people across the state to select their representatives from a total of 4,023 candidates.

Polling for the 234-member Assembly is being held on Thursday, with the counting of votes set for May 4.

- IANS
Rajya Sabha MP Harsh V Shringla cast his vote in Darjeeling during the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections. He urged voters to support candidates who promise development, security, and positive change for the state. The initial voter turnout was recorded at 41.11%, with Paschim Medinipur district seeing the highest participation. The election features a major contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with results scheduled for May 4.

Rajya Sabha MP Harsh V Shringla casts his vote in Darjeeling, emphasizes voting for development, security, and positive change in Bengal.

Darjeeling, April 23 Rajya Sabha MP Harsh V Shringla on Thursday cast his vote at a polling station in 23 Darjeeling Constituency in the first phase of polling for West Bengal assembly elections.

Speaking with the media after casting a vote, Shringla said the people's vote should be for "development, security and positive change."

"We have cast our vote here today... A lot of people have come from various regions in Darjeeling to support us. The vote should be for development and security and a positive change in Bengal," he said.

Meanwhile, the voter turnout in West Bengal (Phase 1) was recorded at 41.11 per cent at 11 am on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India.

In West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur district recorded a high turnout of 44. 68 percent followed by Jhargam at 43.71 per cent and Bankura at 43.22 per cent. The lowest turnout was recorded in Malda at 38.22 per cent.

Polling for the Assembly elections began in West Bengal amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

In West Bengal, the parties are contesting against one another for 294 Assembly seats. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats. There are a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray in this phase.

West Bengal is witnessing a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan addressed the 6th Convocation of AIIMS Rishikesh, urging graduating doctors to uphold ethics and compassion. He highlighted India's successful COVID-19 vaccination drive and Vaccine Maitri outreach to over 100 countries. The VP praised AIIMS Rishikesh for its telemedicine services in Uttarakhand's remote areas. Union Minister Anupriya Patel also spoke, emphasizing lifelong learning and integrity in the medical profession.

VP CP Radhakrishnan at AIIMS Rishikesh convocation urges ethical healthcare, highlights India's pandemic response and Vaccine Maitri initiative.

New Delhi, April 23 The 6th Convocation Ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh was held today in the august presence of the Vice-President of India, CP Radhakrishnan, marking a significant milestone in the Institute's journey of academic excellence and nation-building in the field of healthcare.

The ceremony also witnessed the presence of the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, and the Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd.).

The Vice-President released the Institute's annual chronicle, "RUDRAKSHA", which encapsulates the key achievements, innovations, and academic advancements of AIIMS Rishikesh over the past year, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The publication reflects the Institute's commitment to excellence in medical education, research, and patient care.

Addressing the gathering at the 6th Convocation Ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, today, Vice-President of India, CP Radhakrishnan, highlighted the significance of the occasion as a moment of transition, reflection, and responsibility for graduating medical professionals.

Congratulating the graduating students, the Vice-President noted that the convocation marks the culmination of years of discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice, while also signifying the beginning of a deeper professional commitment to society and the nation. He urged the graduates to uphold the highest standards of ethics, compassion, and service in their medical careers.

Reflecting on India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vice-President underscored the country's resilience and decisive leadership under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted India's successful implementation of one of the world's largest vaccination drives, ensuring free vaccination for over 140 crore citizens, thereby reinforcing the Government's commitment to equity and inclusion in healthcare.

The Vice-President also emphasised India's global role during the pandemic through its vaccine outreach initiative, Vaccine Maitri, under which vaccines were supplied to more than 100 countries. He noted that India's efforts reflected the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and demonstrated leadership rooted in compassion, solidarity, and shared global progress.

Highlighting the Government's focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, the Vice-President stated that the expansion of AIIMS institutions across the country has significantly enhanced access to quality tertiary care. He remarked that these institutions represent a model of excellence, integrating clinical care, academic rigour, research, innovation, and social responsibility.

Referring to the unique geographical challenges of Uttarakhand, the Vice-President commended AIIMS Rishikesh for emerging as a critical healthcare hub for the region. He noted that the Institute has gone beyond conventional healthcare delivery by adopting innovative approaches such as telemedicine services, which have improved accessibility in remote and hilly areas.

Speaking at the occasion, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, congratulated the graduating students for their dedication and commitment to the medical profession.

She emphasised four key principles for young doctors to uphold. First, she stated that the medical profession is one of the highest forms of service to humanity and requires unwavering dedication, ethical conduct, and integrity to preserve the trust patients place in doctors. Second, she highlighted the importance of lifelong learning, noting that with the rapid evolution of medical science, continuous upskilling is essential for achieving the best patient outcomes. Third, she stressed that effective communication is central to quality healthcare and plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes. Fourth, she reminded graduates of their responsibility towards society, acknowledging the role of parents, teachers, and the nation in shaping their journey, and emphasising the need to give back through committed service.

Expressing confidence in the graduates, she stated that they would play a key role in advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, as envisioned by the Prime Minister.

Highlighting recent progress in the health sector, the Minister noted that India has witnessed significant advancements in healthcare infrastructure as well as a record expansion in medical education, aimed at serving over 140 crore citizens with affordable and reliable healthcare services. She stated that increased public health expenditure--now exceeding 1.06 lakh crore--has contributed to a notable reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure from 62.5% to 39.4%.

She further highlighted the government's focus on holistic and integrative healthcare. Appreciating the efforts of AIIMS Rishikesh, she noted that the Institute has established an integrative medicine model that combines traditional and modern systems of medicine for comprehensive patient care. She also emphasised the 'One Health' approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health through coordinated inter-sectoral action.

Referring to India's contributions on the global stage, she noted the country's progress in tackling major public health challenges such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. She also highlighted India's successful COVID-19 vaccination drive, during which over 220 crore doses of indigenously developed vaccines, including booster doses, were administered.

Anupriya Patel commended AIIMS Rishikesh for its impactful initiatives in a geographically challenging state like Uttarakhand. She highlighted key services such as telemedicine, helicopter ambulance services, medical drone deliveries, and the development of a satellite centre at Udham Singh Nagar, noting that these efforts have significantly enhanced healthcare access in remote and difficult terrains.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in his address, described the occasion as a significant milestone in the lives of the graduating students. He stated that the day marks the beginning of a new phase, where they step forward to serve humanity through the medical profession they have chosen.

He urged the young doctors to dedicate themselves to serving people living in remote and difficult terrains, particularly in a geographically challenging state like Uttarakhand, where access to healthcare remains a critical concern.

The Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, for its pioneering role in strengthening healthcare services in the state. He noted that the Institute has emerged as a cornerstone of advanced medical care and continues to play a transformative role in improving health outcomes across the region.

During the ceremony, degrees were conferred upon graduating students across various disciplines, recognising their academic accomplishments and dedication. The Vice-President of India also presented 11 awards and gold medals to meritorious students in recognition of their outstanding performance.

- ANI
BJP candidate and sitting MLA Agnimitra Paul cast her vote in the Asansol Dakshin constituency during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. She framed the election as a "war to save Bengal," criticizing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's tenure and calling for her removal. Paul is facing a key contest against TMC's Tapas Banerjee in this politically significant industrial belt constituency. The first phase covers 152 of the state's 294 Assembly seats, with vote counting set for May 4.

BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul casts vote in Asansol Dakshin, attacks Mamata Banerjee, and frames the West Bengal election as a crucial battle.

Asansol, April 23 BJP candidate from Asansol Dakshin Assembly constituency, Agnimitra Paul, cast her vote on Thursday during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections and expressed confidence in the party's performance.

Speaking to ANI, she said, "We are sure that the people of Bengal will vote for the BJP... They are determined to remove TMC, who is a disgrace to the CM's chair and voters."

Describing the election as a crucial political battle, she said, "This is a war to save Bengal. We don't want the politics of Hindu-Muslim. We want employment for the youth and bringing back 40 lakh people, who migrated from here, to come back."

She also launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying, "You (Mamata Banerjee) are a failure as a Chief Minister, and you must leave the seat."

Referring to women voters, she added, "Women of the country and this state have also realised who is one who actually stands with them."

Among the key contests, Asansol Dakshin is witnessing a high-profile battle. Agnimitra Paul is up against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Tapas Banerjee, the current MLA from Raniganj, who earlier represented Asansol Dakshin from 2011 to 2021.

BJP leader Agnimitra Paul, the sitting MLA from Asansol Dakshin and Vice President of the party's West Bengal unit, remains one of the most prominent faces in the constituency. Known for her active political presence and organisational role, she is seeking to retain her seat in what is expected to be a closely fought contest.

The Asansol Lok Sabha constituency includes Pandabeswar, Raniganj, Jamuria, Asansol Dakshin, Asansol Uttar, Kulti and Barabani. It is considered politically significant due to its location in the state's industrial belt.

Asansol, which is part of the Asansol-Durgapur industrial zone, is known for its coal, iron and steel industries, making it one of the most economically important regions in West Bengal.

In West Bengal, the parties are contesting against one another for 294 Assembly seats. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats. There are a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray in this phase.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh has expressed strong confidence in his party's performance in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, predicting over 100 seats. He launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress, questioning its candidates like Yusuf Pathan and Shatrughan Sinha as outsiders. Ghosh also criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's governance, citing a decline in local fish production. The high-voltage contest sees TMC aiming for a fourth term against a BJP push to form government after winning 77 seats last time.

BJP's Dilip Ghosh predicts over 100 seats in Bengal's first phase, attacks TMC on outsiders and Mamata Banerjee on fish production. Key quotes and analysis.

Kharagpur, April 23 BJP candidate from Kharagpur Sadar, Dilip Ghosh, on Thursday made strong remarks on the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polling, which is underway, expressing confidence in the party's performance and launching attacks on the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition parties.

Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said, "The BJP's major influence area is in North and South Bengal, and I think the BJP will win more than 100 seats there. The path to victory will be clear from here..."

He further alleged that the TMC excludes local leaders while questioning the party's candidates, saying, "Mamata Banerjee repeatedly calls the BJP an outsider party, but the people of Bengal do not get a chance in TMC. Who is Yusuf Pathan? Who is Shatrughan Sinha? Who is Kirti Azad?"

Expressing confidence in the BJP's performance, he added, "BJP is going to get around 100 seats in the first phase itself."

Attacking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Ghosh said, "Mamata Banerjee is going to lose the election, that is why she is talking about fish and rice (Machali Bhat), but Mamata Banerjee does not know that Bengali people have to import fish and eggs from other states to eat. Fish production has declined in Bengal under the TMC government."

He also raised concerns over election conduct, stating, "The Election Commission faced a huge challenge in conducting a fear-free election in Bengal. I hope the public will exercise their right to vote without any fear."

Commenting on national politics, he added, "Congress is unable to find a hardworking president. Mallikarjun Kharge speaks anything, and the BJP benefits from it."

He further said, "Whenever Congress has made personal attacks on Modi, the BJP has benefited from it."

The state is set to witness a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a strong showing in the previous elections.

Chief Minister Mamata 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.

In West Bengal, the parties are contesting against one another for 294 Assembly seats. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats. There are a total of 1,478 candidates in the fray in this phase.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf strongly dismissed US President Donald Trump's claims of internal divisions within Iran, asserting national unity. Ghalibaf emphasized "iron unity" between the Iranian people and government with "complete obedience" to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump had earlier claimed infighting between "hardliners" and "moderates" in Iran's leadership and asserted US control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Deputy Tabatabaei rejected the claims as an "enemy's unplayed political and propaganda game."

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismisses Trump's claims of internal division, asserting national unity and warning aggressors of consequences.

Tehran, April 23 Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday strongly dismissed claims of internal divisions within the country, responding to remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump.

In a post shared on X, Ghalibaf asserted that there is no divide between political factions in Iran, emphasising national unity and allegiance to the country's leadership.

"In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates; we are all 'Iranian' and 'revolutionary,'" he stated in a post on X, adding that the nation stands united in the face of external pressures.

He further underscored what he described as "iron unity" between the Iranian people and government, along with "complete obedience" to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei.

"With the iron unity of the nation and government, with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution," the post added.

Ghalibaf also issued a warning to adversaries, stating that Iran would make any "aggressor criminal regret his actions."

He concluded his statement with a message of national solidarity: "One God, one leader, one nation, and one path; that path being the path to victory for Iran, dearer than life."

This comes after Trump, earlier in the day, claimed that there is internal division within Iran's leadership, alleging infighting between "hardliners" and "moderates" in the country's political and military establishment.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was struggling to determine its leadership direction and suggested deep internal discord amid diplomatic engagements to find a comprehensive solution to the situation in West Asia. Trump described the infighting as "crazy".

"Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don't know! The infighting is between the 'Hardliners,' who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the 'Moderates,' who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!" Trump wrote.

He further claimed that the United States maintains strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.

The US president also noted that the control will persist until a deal is reached with Iran.

"We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is 'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!" he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran strongly rejected the comment made by Trump in his ceasefire extension announcement, alleging that the Iranian leadership is "seriously fractured", accusing him of spreading falsehoods and engaging in propaganda.

Responding to the claim, Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy of Communications and Information Dissemination in the office of the President of Iran, said that assertions of division among Iran's leadership are part of an "enemy's unplayed political and propaganda game."

In a post on X, Tabatabaei emphasised unity within the country, stating, "The line of discord and division among the country's highest officials is the enemy's unplayed political and propaganda game against Iran. The unity and consensus among the field, the street, and diplomacy these days is unprecedented and exemplary."

He further criticised the US, in a veiled reference, saying, "Instead of weaving lies, they should cease their breaches of promise, bullying, and deceit; the door to negotiation based on fairness, dignity, and rationality remains open."

Tabatabaei's statement came after Trump, in a separate post on Truth Social, claimed that divisions within Iran's leadership had prompted a request to delay potential military action against the country.

- ANI
BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul expressed strong confidence in winning the Asansol South seat in the first phase of West Bengal elections. She accused the Trinamool Congress of publishing misleading surveys and bringing in outsiders and goons to disrupt the polling process. Separate comments from BJP leader Dilip Ghosh emphasized that a BJP government is needed to bring development to Bengal. Voting is proceeding across 152 constituencies with heavy security deployment by the Election Commission.

BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul alleges TMC misconduct as voting begins in West Bengal. Get the latest updates on the first phase of elections.

New Delhi, April 23 As voting was underway across 16 districts in the first phase of West Bengal elections, BJP candidate for Asansol South Assembly constituency, Agnimitra Paul, expressed confidence and said, "We are going to win."

Speaking to IANS, she said, "The people of Bengal have already decided that they do not want this government. We are saying they will use bombs and cut the electricity. A day before yesterday, they published a survey that Agnimitra is getting fewer votes to build a mindset in people's minds that she is losing -- why vote for her? I caught that bundle of paper with the information published. Such misleading words can only be done by Trinamool Congress."

She further alleged irregularities and raised concerns over the conduct of the polls, saying, "The allegation is that the TMC party is acting like a criminal and goon party. Many outsiders have come in as well; I have this information. Many goons have come from different places. A major goon from Kharagpur named Nadeem has also arrived. We are taking names. The Election Commission should look into all this. We want a free and fair election."

Separately, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said, "The issue that we were talking about earlier, PM Narendra Modi has solved it in the last 10 years. The rest of the issues will also be solved gradually. Now, the BJP government has to be formed in Bengal. Bengal has to be brought on the path of development."

Polling is underway across 152 Assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts in the first phase of the West Bengal elections, which began at 7 a.m. on Thursday. Voters were seen queuing up early at several polling stations, indicating strong participation in the opening hours.

The Election Commission has deployed a record 2,407 companies of Central Armed Police Forces to ensure peaceful polling. A two-stage verification process is being followed for voters at polling stations, with tight security arrangements in sensitive areas.

While most constituencies reported smooth voting in the early hours, there were isolated reports of EVM malfunctioning at some booths.

The second phase of polling for the remaining 142 seats will be held on April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.

- IANS
Polling parties are collecting EVMs at Bankura University for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections on April 23. The ECI Net app has been introduced to aid polling officials with booth information. Key candidates include Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The elections will be held in two phases, with results on May 4.

Polling parties collect EVMs at Bankura University ahead of West Bengal's first phase of assembly elections on April 23. Key candidates include Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari.

Bankura, April 22 Preparations for the first phase of polling for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled to be held on April 23, are underway in Bankura district.

Polling parties stationed at Bankura University are engaged in collecting Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and other polling materials ahead of voting for Bankura and Chhatna Assembly constituencies. The distribution process is being carried out under the tight supervision of the district administration.

Speaking to ANI, Keshav Sinha Mohapatra, Second Polling Officer, said that the "ECI Net" application has been introduced for polling officials to facilitate smooth communication and access to booth-related information.

"All polling parties are arriving here to collect EVMs and then dispatch for respective polling centres. An app, ECI Net, available to polling officials provides all information regarding polling booths," he stated.

Earlier on Tuesday, the district administration set up an Integrated Control Room at the District Headquarters for monitoring poll-related activities and ensuring smooth coordination during the electoral process.

Meanwhile, campaigning for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded on Tuesday, with political parties intensifying their outreach in the 152 constituencies going to polls on April 23. A total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in this phase.

The poll battle saw sharp exchanges between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Congress and CPI-M, who had allied in the last assembly polls, are fighting separately.

BJP repeatedly raised the issue of infiltrators, law and order situation and fear among sections of voters, while Trinamool Congress sought to portray it as "anti-Bengali". The BJP has also promised the implementation of the seventh pay commission recommendations and has made promises for women, youth and farmers. Other parties also made a slew of promises.

Prominent Trinamool Congress candidates in the fray include Goutam Deb from Siliguri, Udayan Guha from Dinhata, Firhad Hakim from Kolkata Port area and Pabitra Kar from Nandigram. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is contesting from his stronghold Nandigram and is challenging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. Key BJP faces in the first phase also include Union Minister Nisith Pramanik from Mathabhanga (SC) and former state president Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur Sadar

From the Congress, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is contesting from Baharampur, Mausam Noor from Malatipur, and Mrinmoy Sarkar from Alipurduars.

Polling for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes on May 4.

- ANI
Veteran actor Sivakumar cast his vote in Chennai for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and issued a strong appeal for the abolition of the state's liquor corporation, TASMAC. Polling is underway across the state with a massive electorate of over 5.73 crore voters. The election is primarily contested between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA. Actor Vijay's new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is also making its electoral debut, potentially creating a three-way contest.

Veteran actor Sivakumar votes in TN Assembly polls, makes a strong appeal for the abolition of the state's liquor corporation TASMAC.

Chennai, April 23 Veteran actor Sivakumar cast his vote at a polling station in Chennai on Thursday as polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are underway.

After casting hsi vote, he spoke to the media and made a strong appeal that whichever party forms the government must prioritise the abolition of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC).

Sivakumar said, "Whichever party forms the government must prioritise the abolition of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC). No administration should pursue policies that endanger the lives and futures of the state's youth. It is unacceptable for those in governance to amass crores of rupees while in power..."

Meanwhile, polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters.The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received.

Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.

With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

- ANI
BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed confidence in an NDA victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections after casting her vote in Chennai. She urged voters to support her candidature to ensure women's voices are better heard in the Legislative Assembly. Soundararajan is contesting from the Mylapore constituency against DMK's sitting MLA Dha. Velu, aiming to bring the seat back to the NDA fold. Polling is underway with the DMK, AIADMK-led NDA, and actor Vijay's new party TVK in a three-way contest.

BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan, contesting from Mylapore, expresses confidence in NDA victory and emphasizes amplifying women's voices in the Assembly.

Chennai, April 23 BJP candidate from Mylapore constituency in Tamil Nadu, Tamilisai Soundararajan, on Thursday exuded confidence in the NDA for victory in the elections, urging voters to support her candidature to represent women in the Legislative Assembly.

Speaking to ANI after casting her vote in Chennai, Soundararajan said she also wished Chief Minister MK Stalin.



The BJP leader said, "Women's voice should be heard more in the Assembly, so all the voters should support my candidature because I want to be a representative of the voiceless. People are happy that I am contesting here, and their mood is for a change and to bring NDA."



"I just wished MK Stalin, because he is the Chief Minister and here, he is a voter and a candidate. This is the beauty of democracy," she added.



Former Telangana and Puducherry Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is contesting on the BJP ticket from Mylapore against DMK's sitting MLA Dha. Velu. While the DMK is backing infrastructure projects in Mylapore, Soundararajan aims to bring the seat back to the NDA camp.



The seat was held by the BJP from 2001 to 2006, after which AIADMK won it thrice consecutively. In the last elections in 2021, Dha. Velu defeated AIADMK's R Nataraj by a margin of 12,633 (8.3 per cent) votes.



Meanwhile, AMMK candidate Gnanasekar, contesting from the Tirupattur Assembly constituency, cast his vote at Polling Booth Number 103 at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School.



Polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began today amid tight security. At 9 am, Tamil Nadu recorded 17.69 per cent voter turnout.



Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38 per cent voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51 per cent, and Erode recorded 19.55 per cent turnout.



With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.



The counting of votes will take place on May 4.





- ANI
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, after casting his vote, urged citizens to fulfill their democratic duty, stating a vote is a "banner you are raising to protect Tamil Nadu." He emphasized that the vote will determine the future of every person in the state and protect constitutional ideals. Stalin faces a multi-cornered challenge in his Kolathur constituency from AIADMK and actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Polling for all 234 Assembly seats is underway, with the main contest between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, while TVK's debut adds a third dimension.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin urges high voter turnout, framing the 2026 Assembly election as crucial for protecting the state's ideals and future.

Chennai, April 23 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, after casting his vote, urged people to exercise this democratic right, stating that it is a "banner you are raising to protect Tamil Nadu"

In a post on X, Stalin highlighted the necessity to cast vote, which, he said, will determine the future of every single person in Tamil Nadu. He urged people to vote to protect the ideals of the constitution, democracy and secularism.



"Do not fail to cast your vote for the development of Tamil Nadu! I have cast my vote in the 2026 Assembly elections. Let all the great voters of Tamil Nadu without fail fulfil their democratic duty," he said.



"Today, what you are going to give is not just a vote; it is the banner you are raising to protect Tamil Nadu! Your vote is what will determine the future of every single person in Tamil Nadu. May your vote be in a way that protects the lofty ideals of the Constitution--Democracy, Secularism, State Rights, Equality, Social Justice!" he added.



Along with CM Stalin, his wife Durga Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and other family members cast a vote at a polling station in Chennai on Thursday.



Udhayanidhi Stalin's wife Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi said, "Just come out and vote. I have been doing this for the last 25 years. My son is voting for the first time."



As Tamil Nadu CM seek to return to power, MK Stalin is contesting at his bastion, the Kolathur Assembly constituency.



Stalin is facing a serious multi-cornered challenge from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) VS Babu and AIADMK's P Santhana Krishnan, along with NTK's Soundara Pandian Louther Seth. This has turned Kolathur into a high-voltage triangular contest, with actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK attempting to disrupt traditional vote banks while the AIADMK seeks to reclaim lost ground.



Stalin's electoral track record in Kolathur remains formidable. In 2021, he secured a massive 1,05,522 votes (61.4%), defeating AIADMK's Aadi Rajaram by a staggering margin of 70,384 votes. The election saw a voter turnout of 64.63% out of 2,68,296 electors.



Udayanedhi Stalin is contesting from the Chepuak-Triplicane assembly constituency. He is up against AIADMK's Adhi Rajaram, NTK's Ayisha Begum and TVK's D Selvam.



Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states.



The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.



Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.



The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.



With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback.



Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.





- ANI
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Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) does not reduce hospital admissions or deaths in vaccinated adults at higher risk of severe COVID-19, despite helping them recover faster, according to results from two national trials published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. With COVID-19 still causing significant illness and death, clinicians urgently need to know which patients benefit most from early antiviral treatment.

The findings, from 4,232 participants across the two trials, help clarify who should receive Paxlovid now that widespread vaccination has dramatically reduced the risk of severe outcomes.

The UK PANORAMIC trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and led from the University of Oxford, enrolled 3,516 participants with COVID-19 across its Paxlovid arm (April 2022March 2024). The Canadian CanTreatCOVID trial, led by Dr Andrew Pinto, director of Upstream Lab (Unity Health Toronto), enrolled 716 participants (January 2023September 2024).

Both trials recruited adults aged 50 or over, or younger adults with additional conditions such as diabetes or asthma. Over 98% of all participants were vaccinated.

Paxlovid was approved in 2021 based on trials showing an 88% reduction in hospitalization or death among unvaccinated high-risk adults. The two new trials tested the drug in mostly vaccinated higher-risk patients  a population very different from the one in which Paxlovid was originally studied. In May 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) restricted routine NHS use to a narrower 'highest-risk' cohort (e.g. transplant recipients, severe liver disease), citing cost-effectiveness concerns.

In today's highly vaccinated populations, the benefits of Paxlovid have fundamentally changed. While people feel better sooner from treatment with this important antiviral drug, we found no reduction in the already low rate of hospitalizations or deaths. This provides essential evidence for optimal, cost-effective targeting of this treatment." Professor Christopher Butler, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, who led the UK trial

Trials in real-world settings

The UK PANORAMIC trial was designed, coordinated and led by the University of Oxford's Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, working with the NIHR Research Delivery Network across England and by Health and Care Research Wales, NHS Research Scotland, the Health and Social Care Board in Northern Ireland.

Across multiple treatments, the trial recruited over 29,000 participants. To complement recruitment through general practices, the Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit pioneered remote participation methods  online consent, medication dispatched through its in-house dispensing facility, and self-collected samples  removing many traditional barriers to taking part and thus 'democratising trials research.'

Faster recovery with known safety profile

Participants taking Paxlovid recovered substantially sooner. In PANORAMIC, median recovery time was 14 days with Paxlovid compared to 21 days with usual care. CanTreatCOVID found recovery at 6 days versus 9 days, respectively, but measures recovery in a slightly different way. Paxlovid also significantly reduced viral load by day 5, which may have implications for reduced opportunity for spread.

The safety profile matched what is already known about Paxlovid. In PANORAMIC, 90.4% reported at least one side effect  predominantly altered taste (dysgeusia) and gastrointestinal symptoms typical for this drug  with around 8% discontinuing treatment because of side effects. Serious adverse events remained rare in both groups.

"These trials demonstrate precisely what evidence-based policy and medical care should look like  rigorously testing treatments as conditions change," said Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, former UK Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Co-investigator, University of Nottingham. "The UK led the world in COVID treatment trials because we have unified health systems, strong academic trial units, and standing research infrastructure through the NIHR  capabilities that are critical for future pandemic preparedness."

Very low hospitalization rates, no significant difference

Very few participants in either trial were hospitalised within 28 days. In PANORAMIC, rates were 0.8% with Paxlovid versus 0.7% with usual care. In CanTreatCOVID, rates were 0.6% versus 1.2%. Neither study found a statistically significant difference. There were no deaths in either trial during the Paxlovid recruitment period.

International collaboration for pandemic preparedness

This joint publication demonstrates how independent trials using similar protocols can deliver more robust findings than multiple smaller studies.

Oxford's Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit and Toronto's Upstream Lab are now applying these methods to trials of other respiratory infections through the ECRAID-Prime and TreatResp trials  carrying forward the research infrastructure developed during the pandemic to benefit broader public health and prepare for future outbreaks.

"These results demonstrate the value of rapid, large-scale evidence generation through NHS partnerships," said Professor Phil Evans, National Associate Director of Health and Care in the NIHR Research Delivery Network. "The UK's research infrastructure, built through the NIHR, and academic clinical trials units allowed us to generate this evidence quickly."

Policy implications

These findings apply specifically to higher-risk vaccinated adults (aged 50 or over, or aged 18 or over with comorbidities such as diabetes or chronic lung disease). They do not change recommendations for the highest-risk immunocompromised patients, for whom Paxlovid remains first-line treatment under current NICE guidance (TA878). Treatment should be started as soon as possible after symptom onset.

"Treatment decisions must evolve as the pandemic landscape changes," said Professor Butler. "The research infrastructure and methods developed through these trials provide a model for rapidly evaluating treatments during winter epidemics and future health emergencies."
Practicing yoga could help people with overweight or obesity improve their cardiometabolic health, according to a study published April 22 in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Widya Wasityastuti from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and colleagues.

Yoga is a popular form of exercise around the world, and is a gentle and accessible form of exercise for many people. To better understand the potential health benefits of yoga, the authors of this study performed a meta-analysis, examining 30 studies of yoga for its cardiometabolic benefits. They focused on studies which examined outcomes for blood pressure, lipid profiles, glucose homeostasis, markers of inflammation, and measures of antioxidants, and those which examined people with body-mass index over 23 for Asian countries, and 25 for other countries, indicating that participants had overweight or obesity. Of the 30 studies considered, 23 were conducted in Asian countries, while the remaining studies were from the United States, Germany, and Australia.

Across the 30 studies and a total of 2,689 participants, the authors found that people who practiced yoga had a significant decrease in blood pressure, with systolic blood pressure lowered by an average of 4.35 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.06 mmHg. They also found modest beneficial effects on low- and high-density lipoproteins, types of cholesterol that have been linked to an increased risk of stroke.

The authors note that the studies analyzed were not specifically recruiting people with obesity, and there was no dose-response measured, so it is unknown how much yoga is needed to produce these effects, though the studies they analyzed favored practice of at least 180 minutes per week. The studies also focused heavily on Asian participants, and practitioners with comorbidities were excluded from analysis. Finally, it's important to note that due to the nature of this study, causality cannot be confirmed here despite the correlations found. Further studies will be needed to understand whether yoga can provide similar benefits to other populations, as well as people with co-morbidities such as diabetes or heart disease. The authors suggest that while more high-quality trials are needed, the meta-analysis supports potential benefits of yoga for cardiometabolic health in people with overweight and obesity.

The authors summarize: "Our review suggests that yoga may offer a helpful additional option for improving some aspects of cardiometabolic health in adults with overweight or obesity, particularly blood pressure."

They add: "Yoga is often seen mainly as a wellbeing practice, but our findings suggest it may also support certain cardiometabolic health outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity."
Thousands of real-world patient accounts expose how inconsistent care, dismissed pain, and unequal treatment continue to shape womens experiences of a common but often distressing procedure.

Study: From pain gaslighting to gender biases in womens accounts of hysteroscopy: A qualitative reflexive thematic analysis. Image credit: Iryna Inshyna/Shutterstock.com

A new Womens Health study analyzed unprompted, real-life conversations shared on Mumsnet to explore the clinical, organisational, and personal factors that shape womens hysteroscopy experiences.

The need to improve the delivery of hysteroscopy services

Hysteroscopy is a common medical procedure whereby doctors examine the uterus. It is often the first step while assessing symptoms such as irregular or heavy periods. In the United Kingdom, hysteroscopy is predominantly performed in the outpatient setting, referred to as outpatient hysteroscopy (OPH). In England, about 71,000 procedures are undertaken per year.

To visualize the uterine cavity, hysteroscopy is considered the gold standard; however, there is significant heterogeneity in success rates (77 % to 97.2 %). Failure to complete OPH is mainly linked to procedural pain, with more than 85 % of patients experiencing pain and 15 %34.8 % of women reporting severe pain. Some reports offer insights into pain and satisfaction during and after the procedure, but they may fail to provide a holistic view of the procedure's true impact.

Research on the lived experience of hysteroscopy care is scarce, which limits the ability to translate patient experience into clinical improvement. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) recommends qualitative research to assimilate patient perspectives into clinical care. A rich source of qualitative data is online discussion forums that women often use to share experiences and seek advice. These discussion forums could offer novel insights that might help improve the quality of service.

Assessing the Mumsnet dataset to identify key patterns and insights

Mumsnet is a UK-based parenting site with about 700,000 posts per month and 33.1 million monthly visits. About 52.6 % of users identify as female, and accounts shared on Mumsnet encompass views from across the United Kingdom. The posts and replies are unprompted and are in no way researcher-led.

Data were extracted between 4 March 2018 and 31 December 2024 inclusive, and all posts relating to issues other than hysteroscopy were excluded. Across 1971 users, 4769 posts were scraped, and after exclusion, 4644 posts from 261 threads remained. Forums often contain multiple perspectives on a topic. The analysis conducted was reflexive and thematic, capturing the depth and diversity of conversations and focusing on the coherence of the analysis.

To represent the specific experiences of women on the hysteroscopy trajectory, five themes were constructed: contingent consent, unacknowledged vulnerability, analgesia roulette, gynaecological pain gaslighting, and gendered pain gap.

Clinical blind spots influence perceptions of neglect in OPH

Regarding contingent consent, patients received inadequate information, which prevented them from making informed choices. This often led to feelings of hurt and disappointment. Consent was often given due to fear of symptom progression and necessity rather than by genuine preference, as OPH was presented as the only timely intervention strategy. Withdrawal of consent was difficult due to explicit pressure from clinicians, fear of pain worsening, or inaccurate information.

The intimate nature of the procedure made women feel physically and emotionally vulnerable, and the comments from the users highlighted a power imbalance between the clinician and the patient. Comparisons were made with sexual violence, and patients with a prior history of sexual abuse reported heightened feelings of vulnerability. The adverse effects were long-lasting and prevented help-seeking behavior, which in turn made patients more clinically vulnerable overall.

Inconsistencies were reported in the administration of general anesthetics (GA) and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. Significant heterogeneity was observed across trusts and hospitals in pain management. This inconsistency fostered a sense of injustice as it made patients believe that pain relief options were down to luck. Forum users also expressed concern at not being given more options for pain management, while acknowledging the difficulty of standardizing pain relief.

Forum users also alluded to being blamed by healthcare professionals and a systematic minimisation and invalidation (gaslighting) of their concerns. The legitimacy of womens pain experiences was questioned, and in some cases, medical records were reported to contradict patients lived experiences at the very beginning of the hysteroscopy pathway. At the waiting stage, hysteroscopy was positioned as tolerable for most, which felt inauthentic to forum users.

The data illustrated perceived gender biases in medical care, and historic assumptions about female pain were deemed archaic. A fundamental disconnect in the perception of pain was noted between male and female patients. Forum users also hinted at the use of distraction techniques to manage pain instead of effective pain relief. Other concerns centered around infantilizing women, a sense of distrust, and a deep sense of discrimination. Normalizing female pain creates unequal standards for pain management, leading to a lack of trust in the healthcare system.

Conclusions

The current study used qualitative data to detect clinical blind-spots in OPH centered around five themes, namely, contingent consent, unacknowledged vulnerability, analgesia roulette, gynaecological pain gaslighting, and gendered pain gap. These insights should help devise reforms to ensure more equitable, advanced, patient-centric, and accountable treatment strategies for women.

However, the authors note that online accounts may overrepresent negative experiences, and hysteroscopy experiences can vary widely, with many women tolerating the procedure in some settings. The findings should therefore be interpreted as contextualised accounts rather than representative of all patient experiences or indicative of prevalence, highlighting broader systemic and organisational drivers of care variability rather than uniformly poor care.

Download your PDF copy by clicking here.
In a landmark achievement for Caribbean public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates The Bahamas for becoming the latest Caribbean nation to be certified as having eliminated the mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

I congratulate The Bahamas on this outstanding achievement, which solidifies years of political commitment, and the dedication of health workers. By ensuring that children are born free of HIV, we are securing a healthier, brighter future for the next generation." Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

"This achievement reflects sustained political commitment and strong national leadership, alongside the dedication and compassion of the health workforce," said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas. "As we look ahead, this milestone is not only a moment of national pride but also an opportunity to build on this success, advancing efforts to end HIV and other communicable diseases as public health threats across the Caribbean and the Americas."

Foundations of success

The Bahamas achieved this milestone by pioneering a comprehensive and inclusive health-care model. Key to this success has been the provision of universal antenatal care to all pregnant women, regardless of nationality or legal status, across both public and private facilities. This approach is supported by a strong, integrated laboratory network and a rigorous testing protocol that screens women at their first antenatal appointment and again in the third trimester.

Elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) interventions in The Bahamas are fully integrated into antenatal care standards and norms and implemented under the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programme. MCH coordinates with the National Infectious Disease Programme, which oversees the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). This includes the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, also offered to pregnant women. To ensure continuity of care, the health system maintains adequate monitoring for HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants, provides multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medicines, and offers STI treatment and family planning services free of charge.

"For years, The Bahamas have been working very hard to address the situation of HIV/AIDS," said Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness of The Bahamas. "A lot of people have been involved in us achieving this great milestone  our nurses in our public health system, our nurses and doctors in our tertiary health-care system and, by extension, all of the clinics spread throughout our archipelago."

From Cuba, the first country in the world to be certified, and Brazil  certified last year, The Bahamas now joins a prestigious group of 12 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas at the forefront of the EMTCT movement. The Bahamas will continue efforts to sustain these standards through integrated primary care and continuous surveillance.

The road to elimination

To receive WHO certification, countries must prove they have sustained the following:

reducing the mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV to less than 2%;

achieving fewer than 5 new pediatric HIV infections per 1000 live births; and

maintaining 95% or higher coverage for antenatal care, HIV testing, and treatment for pregnant women.

"Latin America and the Caribbean has long been a beacon of progress in this global effort. From Cuba  the first country in the world to be certified  to Brazil's certification last year, and now to The Bahamas, the region continues to lead with ambition and determination. Today, more than half of all countries and territories that have achieved elimination are from this region. This is a legacy of leadership that inspires the world," said Anurita Bains, Global Associate Director for HIV/AIDS at UNICEF.

"The Bahamas are showing that eliminating mother-to-child transmission HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is possible," said Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director. "This achievement reflects political will for steady investment in primary health care and the work of health teams and people living with and most affected by HIV. When women can test early in pregnancy, start treatment quickly, and stay in care, every child has a better chance of being born free of HIV and other STIs."

The Bahamas' success is part of the broader EMTCT Plus Initiative, which aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and congenital Chagas disease. Implemented in collaboration with UNICEF and UNAIDS, the initiative is embedded within PAHO's Elimination Initiative, a regional effort to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
UPDATE

Apr 23, 2026 4:35 PM CDT

A British man who masterminded what prosecutors say was a Ponzi scheme involving fine wine has been sentenced to 10 years in US federal prison. Prosecutors say James Wellesley and co-conspirator Stephen Burton, who is awaiting sentencing, scammed investors worldwide out of almost $100 million, the Telegraph reports. The pair claimed they were brokering loans for wine collectors, with high-end wines as collateral, but neither the collectors nor the wines existed. Wellesley, 59, was extradited from the UK in July. Burton, 61, was arrested after trying to enter Morocco with a fake Zimbabwean passport in 2022 and was extradited to the US the following year.

"Unlike a fine vintage that improves over time, the defendant will spend years in prison to reflect on his fraudulent wine scheme," Joseph Nocella Jr., the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. "James Wellesley preyed on investors around the globe to induce them to invest tens of millions of dollars on lies. Today's sentence sends a message to fraudsters that our office will prosecute you to the full extent of the law."

Mar 2, 2022 2:44 PM CST

Two British men told investors that they brokered loans for wealthy wine collectors using fine wines as collateralbut the collectors didn't exist, and neither did most of the wine, prosecutors in New York say. Stephen Burton and James Wellesley are accused of scamming investors out of almost $100 million in what Food & Wine describes as a "wine-based Ponzi scheme." The two men face federal charges of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy, reports Reuters. They could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Authorities say Wellesley, 57, was arrested in the UK last month, while Burton, 55, is a fugitive.
The Netherlands is weighing a new home for thousands of artworks the Nazis took from Jewspieces that have been deemed "orphaned" by the state. A government-appointed committee on Wednesday proposed placing the country's so-called NK Collection which the New York Times reports "consists entirely of art and cultural objects that the Allies repatriated to the Netherlands from Germany in the wake of World War II"into a new Dutch Jewish foundation that would serve as caretaker and storyteller and "preferably" house the work at Amsterdam's Jewish Museum; the committee suggested the Dutch government provide about $470,000 in annual funding.

Not everyone is on board. Some heirs and advocates see the plan as a way to keep the collection in Dutch hands and wind down serious restitution efforts, arguing some war archives have only recently been made public and more claims could still surface. One group representing Dutch Jews in Israel wants the works sold to fund support for Holocaust survivors. The committee, led by former deputy prime minister Lodewijk Asscher, opposes any sale but says restitution would remain possible.

The collection currently holds more than 3,500 artworks, and the NL Times quotes Asscher as saying, "We believe it is important that these pieces no longer remain suspended in a sort of no man's land." While some of the collection's more prominent pieces hang in museums, in many cases they are simply labeled as being part of the NK Collection, rather than explicitly being described as looted. "That is why we say: add that information. Let people pause for a moment to consider that this belonged to someone who was murdered," says Asscher. The culture minister says the proposal will go to Parliament "very soon."
A century-old philanthropic institution is making a nine-figure wager that it can blunt AI's blow to American workers. The Rockefeller Foundation is launching a three-year, $100 million initiative aimed at communities where automation and artificial intelligence are already eroding jobsor soon could. Branded the "Big Bet on Good Jobs for America," the effort seeks to help create 1.6 million "good jobs" across up to 250 locations, focusing on sectors like health care and food and nutrition. Rather than picking all the communities upfront, Rockefeller will start with 20 to 30 and expand where experiments show results, reports Axios. Those tests will include things like paying upfront training costs, loosening credential requirements, and bolstering childcare so more people can work.
Spirit Airlines may be about to avoid a crash landing, thanks to taxpayers. The budget carrier is close to securing a roughly $500 million federal rescue that would give Washington an ownership stake in the airline, a source familiar with the talks tells CNN. A deal could be announced as early as late Wednesday or Thursday and is aimed at keeping Spirit flying long enough to complete its second bankruptcy restructuring since 2024. The airline could otherwise become a casualty of the Iran war: Jet fuel prices have doubled since the war began, disrupting the airline's recovery plans.
Virginia's newly approved congressional map is already on hold after a state judge on Wednesday stopped officials from certifying Tuesday's narrow referendum result, USA Today reports. Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. sided with the Republican National Committee, which argued the ballot question authorizing the map overhaul was improperly presented to voters. Hurley called the measure "flagrantly misleading" and said lawmakers failed to follow the process required for a constitutional amendment. The referendum passed by 3 percentage points, WJLA reports.

Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones said he will appeal and "looks forward" to defending the measure, adding that "an activist judge should not have power of the People's vote." Virginia's Democrat governor framed the referendum's passage as a move to "push back against a president who claims he is 'entitled' to more Republican seats in Congress," CNBC reports. The map has already drawn multiple legal challenges; the Supreme Court of Virginia previously allowed the referendum to appear on the ballot despite a separate case claiming the promise to "restore fairness" in redistricting was itself deceptive. The high court is expected to weigh in on the referendum's legality in the coming weeks.

Under the disputed map, Democratswho currently control six of Virginia's 11 US House seatscould gain a 10-1 edge. Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia Center for Politics had warned on election night that "this map might not be in effect this November," even if voter approval cleared "a huge hurdle." The fight over the map is part of a broader partisan struggle over redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Senate took the first steps in a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security early Thursday, voting to adopt a budget plan that would fund ICE and Border Patrol over Democratic objections and sending it to the House. The entire department has been shut down since mid-February as Democrats demanded policy changes, reports the AP . Republicans are now trying to fund the two immigration enforcement agencies through the complicated, time-consuming process called budget reconciliation, a maneuver that they also used to pass President Trump's package of tax and spending cuts last year with no Democratic votes. "We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America's borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

The budget process requires a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing filibuster rules that require Republicans to find 60 votes on most bills when they hold 53 seats. But it also comes with a long, open-ended series of amendment votes at the beginning and the end of the process known as a "vote-a-rama," notes CBS News. The Senate held the first series of votes through the night, starting Wednesday evening and into early Thursday, with Democrats proposing amendments to lower health care expenses and other costs in an effort to contrast with Republicans' focus on immigration enforcement. "Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The Senate adopted the final resolution 50-48, just past 3:30am. Republicans Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski broke ranks with their party.

Once the House approves the framework and the Senate Parliamentarian approves it, the two chambers can then move to pass the measure. The Senate has already voted on a bipartisan basis to reopen the rest of the department, but Republican leaders in the House say they won't take up that bill until the Senate shows progress toward funding ICE and Border Patrol, as well. The $70 billion budget resolution would fund the two agencies for three years, through the rest of Trump's term. Thune and other GOP leaders say they hope to keep the bill narrowly focused on ICE and Border Patrol and get it to Trump's desk in the coming weeks, along with the rest of Homeland Security Department funding that has already passed the Senate.

But that could prove difficult as many in the party see the budget bill as the last real chance this year to enact their priorities. Republicans in both the Senate and House have pushed to add other items, including money for farmers and Trump's proof of citizenship voting bill, called the SAVE America Act. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., briefly held up the vote series late Wednesday, frustrated that the bill would not include parts of the SAVE America Act or other legislation. "This is the last train leaving the station," Kennedy said, predicting they would not be able to pass any other major bills ahead of November's midterm elections. But he withdrew his objections and allowed the voting to proceed.
Toronto just watched a million pounds of ice go from spectacle to soggy memorycourtesy of Drake and the fire department. The rapper commissioned a 25-foot tall ice installation in a downtown parking lot to tease his upcoming album Iceman, hinting on Instagram that the release date was concealed within the blocky prism, per the New York Times. Crowds quickly swelled as fans and content creators climbed the structure, hacked at it with sledgehammers and pickaxes, and even tried to melt it down with blowtorches and flammable liquids, per the CBC. Fire Chief Jim Jessop called it "an immediate threat to life," and on Wednesday crews used a tower truck to hose the ice pile down. Mayor Olivia Chow backed the move while praising Drake as a major booster of the city.
Ruth Slenczynska, a onetime child prodigy who grew up to be a concert pianist and the last living student of Sergei Rachmaninoff, has died at 101. Slenczynska died peacefully at an assisted living facility in California after a series of falls, a former student tells the BBC . Born in California in 1925 to Polish parents, Slenczynska gave her first recital at 4, debuted with an orchestra in Paris at 7, and was hailed as one of the most remarkable young talents since Mozart. Her father's extreme regimennine hours of daily practicehelped build her formidable technique, but it also drove her away: At 15, she abandoned the stage, cut ties with her dad, and enrolled in college instead.

Slenczynska eventually returned to performing, touring with the Boston Pops, recording a string of acclaimed Decca albumsshowing off her specialty playing Chopinand teaching generations of students, notably at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She played for five US presidents, even sharing a Mozart duet at the White House with Harry Truman. Even into her late 90s, she was performing and recording: Her final album, 2002's My Life in Music, revisited works by Rachmaninoff, Bach, Debussy, and Chopin.

Upon the release of that album, Slenczynska offered some advice, per NPR. "You don't become a pianist until you're past the age of 60," she said at the time. "And then you should have something to say that's worthwhile. If you don't, forget it." Other general advice, per the Guardian: "Playing music is like taking a ride on a busyou mustn't let your passenger get off until he arrives at his destination. Keep them interested in a beautiful way." Plans for a memorial service and tribute concert are forthcoming. More here on her interactions with Rachmaninoff, including their first meeting and a time he told her that her fingers were like "overcooked spaghetti."
Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splattered with red liquid on Thursday as he left a building in Berlin. Pahlavi had just departed a news briefing, during which he criticized the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, when the incident occurred outside Germany's federal press conference building. He appeared unhurt and waved to his supporters before getting into a car and leaving, reports the AP . Police said the liquid appeared to be tomato juice. The alleged perpetrator, whose name was not released in line with German privacy rules, was immediately detained by police.

Pahlavi, 65, is the son of Iran's former shah, who was so widely hated that millions took to the streets in 1979 to force him from power. Nevertheless, Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a player in his country's future, though it's unclear how much support he has in Iran after having been in exile for nearly 50 years. Pahlavi, who was not invited to meet with any government representatives during his visit to Berlin, argued Thursday that the ceasefire agreement assumes the Iranian government's behavior will change and "you're going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists."

"I don't see that happening," he said. "I'm not saying that diplomacy should not be given a chance, but I think diplomacy has been given enough chance." Pahlavi is jockeying for a return to power should the Shiite theocracy fall and has supported US-Israeli military interventions in the Middle East. Pahlavi in Berlin called on Europeans to do more to support Iranian people fighting for democracy. He claimed 19 political prisoners were executed by Iranian authorities in the past two weeks and another 20 people have been sentenced to death. "Will the free world do something, or watch the slaughter in silence?" Pahlavi said.
Russell Brand is publicly scrutinizing at least some of his past behavior with women as he waits to stand trial on rape and sexual assault charges. Appearing on Megyn Kelly's SiriusXM show, the 50-year-old comedian said he had "consensual" sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30 and now views it as "exploitative," citing the imbalance of power that came with his fame. The age of consent in the UK is 16, except where an adult holds a position of trust, when it rises to 18, per the Guardian. Brand said he now recognizes "a strong power differential" as a famous man who had "consensual sex with a lot of people." He called himself "selfish" and an "exploiter of women," saying he gave little thought to how his actions affected others.
Zambia's long-running fight over former President Edgar Lungu's remains has escalated, with the government on Wednesday saying it had taken control of his body over his family's objectionsbefore a court ordered the body be returned to the funeral home that had been holding his remains. Officials insist Lungu, who died in Pretoria, South Africa, 10 months ago at 68, must receive a state funeral and be laid to rest at the official burial site for former heads of state in Lusaka. Lungu's relatives want a private burial and have battled the state in South African courts, where a 2025 ruling allowed Zambia to repatriate the body; Lungu's family appealed.

The BBC quotes Zambia's attorney general as saying the family's "inability to proceed" with the appeal cleared the way for the body's transfer on Wednesday, a claim the family disputed. Their lawyers asked South Africa's high court to order the remains returned, and the court did so. The AP reports the order also states the body should be transferred to the Zambian government on May 21; the BBC, however, reports May 21 is the date of the next court hearing. The BBC flags yet another wrinkle: The funeral home that has held Lungu's remains since June has reportedly said it will not hold the body any longer and asked Lungu's relatives to make other arrangements.

The feud is rooted in Lungu's bitter relationship with his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema; the family says Lungu did not want Hichilema at his funeral, while the government maintains Hichilema should preside over the funeral service.
Shoppers at a Texas outlet mall watched a hammer-wielding crew storm a jewelry store in what one security expert is calling a "mob-style" robbery. Round Rock police say multiple masked, gloved suspects rushed into Marc Robinson Jewelers at the Round Rock Premium Outlets near Austin at 12:47pm Tuesday, shattered glass cases, and grabbed jewelry before using pepper spray on an employee and a bystander, reports Fox 7 . The group fled with what police described as a large haul and took off in a blue Hyundai Sonata later found at a nearby apartment complex; investigators say the car had been reported stolen in the Humble, Texas, area.

"I'm sure they had scouted before. They already knew exactly which cases to go hit. They took in a lot of merchandise," store owner Sherazad "Sunny" Lokhandwala tells KVUE. "We are the only store in Austin, Texas, that carries up to about 110 preowned Rolexes in stock. I would say about 50 or 60 of them were gone." Security expert Timothy Zehring told FOX 7 the heist fits a pattern of fast, multi-suspect "mob-style" attacks on jewelry stores, which he says have become more profitable as gold prices climb. He argued such crimes are avoidable with tougher physical security, including bollards and shatter-resistant glass film. No arrests have been announced. Round Rock police are asking anyone with information to call (512) 218-6619.
President Trump's acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who say cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government. The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under US law, reports the AP . But it does change the way it's regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule Ireserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuseto the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

Blanche said Thursday that the Department of Justice was "delivering on President Trump's promise" to expand Americans' access to medical treatment options. "This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information," he said in a statement. Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them. It sets up an expedited system for state-licensed medical marijuana producers and distributors to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

It makes clear that cannabis researchers won't be penalized for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or marijuana-derived products for use in their work, and it grants state-licensed medical marijuana companies a windfall by allowing them, for the first time, to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes. The order represents a major policy shift for the US government, which has continued its longstanding marijuana prohibitiondating to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937even as nearly all states have approved cannabis use in some form. Two dozen states plus Washington, DC, have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, 40 have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use. Only Idaho and Kansas ban marijuana outright.

The regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way since California became the first state to adopt it in 1996, Blanche wrote. "Today the vast majority of States maintain comprehensive licensing frameworks governing cultivation, processing, distribution, and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes," Blanche wrote. Marijuana or marijuana-derived products that are not distributed through a state medical marijuana program will continue to be classified as Schedule I. The Trump administration is launching a new administrative hearing process beginning in June to consider the broader rescheduling of marijuana. Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some critics of the industry have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly.
Rodrigo Duterte is headed for trial at The Hague, where international judges say there's enough evidence to pursue crimes against humanity charges tied to his bloody anti-drug campaign. The International Criminal Court's pretrial chamber on Thursday ruled unanimously that there are "substantial grounds" to believe the former Philippine president, who served from 2016 to 2022, is responsible for murder and attempted murder in what prosecutors describe as a coordinated crackdown that claimed thousands of lives during his presidency and earlier stint as Davao City mayor, per the Guardian .

Duterte, 81, taken into custody in Manila last year and flown to the Netherlands, denies the allegations. No trial date has been scheduled, and his legal team says he's medically and cognitively unfit to stand trial. They also challenged the court's authority, an argument that the judges rebuffed. Prosecutors contend that Duterte exercised "ultimate influence and authority" over security forces, even running what some called a "death squad" while publicly vowing to kill drug suspects. Prosecutors estimated the death toll as being as high as 30,000.

Rights groups and families of those killed are calling the ICC decision a milestone. A lawyer for Duterte, who the AP notes hasn't shown up at any of his courtroom hearings after waiving his right to appear, insists the killings weren't state policy and that witness testimony will collapse under scrutiny, per the Guardian. The office of current Philippines President Fernando Marcos Jr. says he supports the ICC decision, reports Reuters. "Both sides stand to benefit from this," its statement reads. "Justice for the accused if he is innocent, or justice for the victims if their rights were indeed abused."
Rex Heuermann's ex-wife says she now sleeps in the same basement "kill room" where he told her he dismembered most of his victims. In a new episode of the Peacock docuseries The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets, Asa Ellerup says she moved into the space about a month before the New York architect pleaded guilty to seven murders and admitted an eighth killing, during a timeline that spanned from 1993 to 2010, per Fox News . "Now ... there's me. I'm in this room," she says, adding that she views staying there as a way to express remorse "for what these victims went through."

Ellerupwho says the basement has been "completely gutted and redone, new floor, new walls, new moldings, new doors," per NBC Newsnotes that Heuermann, arrested in 2023, privately confessed to her before changing his plea on April 8, adding that she has since visited him in jail a dozen times, per Fox. Ellerup says that her spouse seemed "very nervous" before admitting his crimes to her, and that he said she "wasn't home through all of them," per People. She describes being "haunted" by recurring dreams and says she's trying to understand both Heuermann's psychology and how she failed to see his double life over three decades, per Fox.

Victoria Heuermann, the couple's daughter, said in the documentary that her father simply said "his demons got to him" as an explanation for why he did what he did, per NBC. "I'm like, well, did you see them as somebody's daughter?" the younger Heuermann said she asked her father regarding the victims. "He told me he didn't even see them as human." Ellerup's attorney says she wants the attention on the victims' families, whom he notes have endured "immeasurable and lasting losses," per Fox. Prosecutors say all but one of Rex Heuermann's eight victims were murdered in the couple's Massapequa Park home on Long Island.
An Oklahoma City TV station is at the center of a criminal investigation after police say a former staffer secretly recorded people in its dressing rooms. Authorities arrested Emmy-winning photojournalist Darrell Lee Vannostran, 40, on a felony complaint accusing him of using hidden cameras in private areas at KWTV, also known as News 9, per the Oklahoman . In a court affidavit, investigators say they found cached images on his personal phone that appeared to come from cameras concealed in station dressing rooms, showing people in "various stages of undress."

Police say the probe began March 24, when janitorial staff at the downtown station discovered two small cameras and battery packs hidden beneath clothing racks. Detectives say they matched access logs for station doors with times the cameras were moved or accessed to identify a suspect. Vannostranwho court documents indicate was in charge of KWTV's photography and videography department, per the New York Postwas arrested Tuesday at his home in Moore and is being held on $25,000 bond. He has not been formally charged.

Griffin Media, which owns KWTV, said it contacted police immediately after the devices were found and is cooperating with the investigation. "Our priority is the safety and privacy of our employees," vice president of marketing Houston Hunt said in a statement naming Vannostran, whom he described as a "former employee." The company did not specify when or how Vannostran's employment ended. The case comes a year after a different Oklahoma City station, KOCO, dealt with a separate hidden-camera incident. A janitor was charged with dozens of counts after devices were allegedly found in a restroom at the station and at a school.
A morning commute in northern Denmark turned into a major rail emergency Thursday when two trains smashed into each other head-on, injuring 18 people, five critically. Police say 37 people were on board the trains, which collided at a level crossing between Hillerd and Kagerup in North Zealand just after 6:30am local time, per the BBC. All of the injured were taken to hospitals by air or ambulance, with the most seriously hurt flown to the National Hospital in Copenhagen, about 20 miles away. Photos showed one of the trains "substantially crushed at the front," per the Guardian. A fire and rescue official described "broken glass flying everywhere."
Authorities say a man suspected of planning a mass shooting at a large New Orleans festival was arrested at a Florida hotel with a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The event was not named, but the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, commonly known as JazzFest, runs from Thursday through May 3, the AP reports. The gathering celebrates Louisiana's music, food, and culture, and attracted about 460,000 people last year, organizers said.

Christopher Gillum, a 44-year-old from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was wanted in Orleans Parish "by the Department of Public Safety for terroristic threats," the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office posted online Thursday. It said federal authorities had identified the alleged threat.

The sheriff's office said authorities "obtained information Gillum planned to travel to a festival in New Orleans to conduct a mass shooting and then commit suicide by cop," CNN reports.
Pennsylvania's treasurer refused Thursday to approve payments for more than $1 million in security systems and other upgrades to the private home of Gov. Josh Shapiro, changes that were made after an intruder set fire to the state-owned governor's residence last year in an attempt to kill the Democrat. The treasurer, Republican Stacy Garrity, said there is no legal authorization to use taxpayer dollars to reimburse contractors for security upgrades on private property, even the private home of a governor, the AP reports.

The Pennsylvania State Police submitted the reimbursement requests to the Treasury Department, but "appear to have simply ignored the statutory limits and restrictions on spending and procurement," Garrity said in a news conference in her offices. The state police have other options to get taxpayer dollars to underwrite the work, which has already been done and included building a security fence. That includes asking lawmakers to explicitly authorize the payments or entering the state's settlement process for disputes between contractors and state agencies, Garrity said.

Shapiro, who is considered a potential top-tier contender for the White House in the 2028 presidential election, is running for re-election this year for a second term as governor. Following last year's attack, he emerged as a prominent voice in condemning political violence.

Garrity is expected to be Shapiro's main opponent in the fall election. She is both endorsed by the state GOP and uncontested for the GOP nomination in Pennsylvania's May 19 primary election. The treasurer said the decision wasn't political and that "I don't play these kind of political games."

The security upgrades at the governor's residence were something of a secret until the state police informed lawmakers about it in a letter last fall. State officials haven't detailed those upgrades, citing safety reasons. Shapiro, his wife, and two of his four children still live in the private residence in Abington, in suburban Philadelphia.

Last year, lawmakers approved more than $22 million for renovations and security improvements to the governor's state-owned residence, where the Shapiros often stay. Those renovations included an "anti-climb" iron fence that is much higher than the one scaled by the intruder, Cody Balmer.

Balmer last year pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Shapiro. Under a plea deal, Balmer was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison, far less than he could have faced if the case had gone to trial. He climbed over a 7-foot iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded two state troopers stationed at the residence, and used beer bottles filled with gasoline to set fire to the residence, just hours after Shapiro had hosted a Passover seder to celebrate the first night of the Jewish holiday. The residence was badly damaged, but has since been renovated.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to prolong their ceasefire for another three weeks, President Trump said Thursday, even as exchanges of fire continued on the ground. The announcement was made shortly after Trump met with Israeli and Lebanese diplomats at the White House; Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia, did not take part and has not publicly responded to the announcement, the New York Times reports. The initial 10-day ceasefire, which took effect last Friday, had been due to expire on Monday, per the AP .

Despite the truce, Israel and Hezbollah traded rocket fire in southern Lebanon earlier in the day, and an Israeli strike near Nabatieh killed three people, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Hezbollah said it carried out three attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, though Israel reported no casualties. The ceasefire is seen as central to broader efforts involving Iran, the US, and Israel, but it depends in part on whether Lebanon's government can rein in or disarm Hezbollah. Trump also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon would visit Washington soon for talks, per the Wall Street Journal.
TORONTO, April 23, 2026 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation announced today that photojournalist Todd Korol has won the CJF-Edward Burtynsky Award for Climate Photojournalism. Korol was recognized for his compelling documentation of the Jasper wildfires, published in The Globe and Mail. The $5,000 award, launched in 2022 by the CJF in partnership with internationally renowned photographer and filmmaker Edward Burtynsky, celebrates provocative, impactful and inspirational climate photography.

Calgary-based photojournalist Todd Korol is the recipient of this year's CJF-Edward Burtynsky Award for Climate Photojournalism. (CNW Group/The Canadian Journalism Foundation)

"Todd Korol's photographs are powerful and affecting, reminding us of the toll human ambition can impose on the natural world," Burtynsky says. "These images speak to both the immense scale of this country and to our shared responsibility as stewards of the landscapes entrusted to us."

Korol is a Canadian photographer known for his compelling images of the Canadian Prairies. He specializes in capturing the beauty of rural landscapes, farm life and the natural world. His work often highlights the vastness and solitude of the Prairies, portraying both expansive skies and the intimate details of everyday life in rural communities. His work has been exhibited internationally, and he has worked with leading publications and clients, drawing attention to the unique environment of the Prairies. He has also extensively documented how the energy sector has expanded and affected the Prairies, as well as how climate change is shaping the landscape.

Korol will be recognized at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 10 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities, please contact the CJF using the information below or visit the CJF Awards page.

The jury members for the CJF-Edward Burtynsky Award for Climate Photojournalism are:

Edward Burtynsky , chair

, chair Jason Chiu , visual editor, The New York Times

, visual editor, The New York Times Alienor Rougeot , climate justice activist

, climate justice activist Lucas Oleniuk, National Newspaper Award-winning photographer

This award is generously supported by Marci McDonald and Clair Balfour, Lisa Balfour Bowen and Sony Canada.

CIBC is the presenting sponsor of the 2026 CJF Awards.

The 2026 CJF Awards are supported by Google News Initiative, Rogers, Aritzia, BMO Financial Group, Canada Life, Sobeys, TD Bank Group, Intact, CBC/Radio-Canada, Canadian Medical Association, McCain Foods, RBC, Scotiabank, FGS Longview, KPMG, WSP, Canadian Bankers Association, Aga Khan Development Network, AI Safety Foundation, Barry and Laurie Green, CIGI, Canada's National Observer, CPPIB, Definity Insurance, Fidelity Investments, The Globe and Mail, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Maple Leaf Foods, McDonald's Canada, The New York Times, OLG, OMERS, Ontario Securities Commission, Real Content Networks, Rishi Nolan Strategies, TD Securities, Uber, Village Media, Weber Shandwick and Zai Mamdani/Mamdani Family Foundation.

Cision is the exclusive distribution partner of the CJF.

About The Canadian Journalism Foundation

Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs an annual awards and fellowship program featuring a gala at which news leaders, journalists and representatives of corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through its monthly J-Talks, a public speakers series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, business leaders, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges facing media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research.

Related Links

http://www.cjf-fjc.ca

SOURCE The Canadian Journalism Foundation

For further information, contact: Natalie Turvey, President and Executive Director, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, email: [email protected]
Canada's forests, farmlands and waters hold billions in unrealized value  and a pathway to long-term prosperity

TORONTO, April 23, 2026 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada's new A Force of Nature strategy outlines a vision for the future that "protects, restores and values nature as the foundation of our economy, sovereignty and well-being." A new report released today by Canada's Nature Advantage, Realizing the Value of Nature to Unlock Billions for a Stronger, More Resilient Canadian Economy, offers tangible pathways towards this future. By quantifying the value of nature and the essential benefits it provides, this research outlines actionable solutions for building a nature-positive national economic strategy.

"This research is proof that Canada does not need to choose between nature and economy," said Hadley Archer, Executive Director, Nature United. "Our forests, farmlands and waters provide essential benefits such as clean air and water, climate regulation and fire resilience. This report reveals the true value of Canada's vast natural landscapes and shows us how to invest in them as the key to a thriving economy that benefits people and the planet."

Consolidating findings from six independent research papers, our report translates the essential value of nature into scalable economic opportunities and outlines practical pathways to build a thriving Canadian economy rooted in our working landscapes. This vision reflects the views of 93% of Canadians who view nature as one of our most valuable economic assets.

"The Government of Canada estimates that nature's ecosystem services amount to at least $3.6 trillion per year, but much of that value remains unaccounted for in our national economic strategy," said Eoin Callan, Managing Director, Bloom Impact Capital. "Unlocking nature-positive business models will require creative policy and financial tools that encourage private investment and align markets with long-term resilience."

For example, supporting farmers in the adoption of practices such as cover crops and reduced tillage could unlock more than $650 million in net financial returns in the Prairies. While these practices typically take five to ten years to break even, they can generate $2-4 billion in public environmental benefits across the Prairies and Southern Ontario. Benefits include erosion regulation, water purification, pollination, soil nutrient regulation and air quality regulation.

"The pathways introduced in this report offer an available solution to national planning that positions Canada's working landscapes as drivers of economic prosperity through environmental stewardship," said Ashley Honsberger, Interim Executive Director, Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agriculture. "In this way, we can realize a uniquely Canadian advantage to build a home-grown economy that honours our natural heritage and the forest managers, producers and Indigenous Peoples who steward it."

"For Canada to realize the value of nature as a driver of sustainability and resilience, it is foundational to recognize Indigenous governance, rooted in law and inherent rights alongside deep connection to place," said David Flood, Executive Director, Wahkohtowin Development GP Inc. "Indigenous knowledge and authority provides legitimacy and durability for investment, ensuring consent and projects are co-designed with communities and reflect intergenerational priorities."

By coordinating action across business, government, finance and Indigenous leadership, Canada can encourage investment and unlock the full value of our working landscapes to secure long-term prosperity  and realize Canada's vision to become a global leader in nature-based economic growth.

About the Report

Realizing the Value of Nature to Unlock Billions for a Stronger, More Resilient Canadian Economy synthesizes research and analysis conducted by Oxford Economics, Serecon, University of British Columbia Professor Dr. Tara Atleo, Wahkohtowin Development GP, the Smart Prosperity Institute, and Royal Bank of Canada Climate Action Institute.

About Canada's Nature Advantage

As leaders and entrepreneurs in agriculture, forest management, finance and Indigenous-led enterprises, we are calling for a nature-positive economic strategy that reflects the true value of nature and that places our working landscapes - and the farmers, forest managers and Indigenous Peoples who steward them  at the heart of Canada's clean and competitive economic future. natureadvantage.ca

Media Contact:

Kelly McCarthy

Senior Communications Manager

Nature United

[email protected]

SOURCE Canada's Nature Advantage
The O'Reilly Auto Parts store at 518 Broad Street in Meriden on Wednesday April 22, 2026. The Missouri-based auto parts retailer has plans to open up a new store in the Milford Plaza later this year. Luther Turmelle/Hearst Connecticut Media

Missouri-based O'Reilly Auto Parts will be opening up a new store in the Milford Plaza later this year.

Officials with Westport-based Charter Realty, which handles leasing for the plaza, have confirmed that O'Reilly Auto Parts has leased 36,000 square feet in the retail center, which is located on Cherry Street in the city. The auto parts retailer is moving into space that had previously been occupied by Bob's Stores, which closed July 2024.

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O'Reilly currently has 52 stores in Connecticut, including nine in New Haven County. Company officials weren't immediately available on Wednesday to provide information on when the new store might open.

It's the fourth largest auto parts retailer in Connecticut after Advance Auto, which has 61 stores, NAPA with 60 and Auto Zone, which has 58.
Shown is marijuana at NJ Weedman's Joint dispensary in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Matt Rourke/AP Shown are marijuana joints at NJ Weedman's Joint dispensary in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Matt Rourke/AP President Donald Trump waves as he departs after an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks at a news conference at the Justice Department, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP FILE - Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche holds a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, April 7, 2026. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. But it does change the way it's regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I  reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse  to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

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The Trump administration also said it was jump-starting the process for reclassifying marijuana more broadly, setting a hearing to begin in late June.

Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

Blanche said Thursday that the Department of Justice was delivering on President Trumps promise to expand Americans access to medical treatment options. This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information, he said in a statement.

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What the marijuana reclassification order does

Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them. It sets up an expedited system for state-licensed medical marijuana producers and distributors to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

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It makes clear that cannabis researchers won't be penalized for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or marijuana-derived products for use in their work, and it grants state-licensed medical marijuana companies a windfall by allowing them, for the first time, to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes.

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Any marijuana-derived medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration is similarly listed in Schedule III, it said.

Since 2015, Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from using its resources to shut down state-licensed medical marijuana systems. But the order nevertheless represents a major policy shift for the U.S. government, which has continued its longstanding marijuana prohibition  dating to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937  even as nearly all the states have approved cannabis use in some form.

Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, 40 have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use. Only Idaho and Kansas ban marijuana outright.

The regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way since California became the first state to adopt it in 1996, Blanche wrote.

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Today the vast majority of States maintain comprehensive licensing frameworks governing cultivation, processing, distribution, and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes, Blanche wrote. Taken as a whole, they demonstrate a sustained capacity to achieve the public-interest objectives ... including protecting public health and safety and preventing the diversion of controlled substances into illicit channels.

The president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Michael Bronstein, called it the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy in over 50 years."

This action recognizes what Americans have long known, cannabis is medicine, he said in a written statement.

Critic calls the order a tax break to Big Weed

The Trump administrations decision drew derision from marijuana legalization opponent Kevin Sabet, the chief executive of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. Sabet said that while marijuana research is necessary, "there are many ways to increase our knowledge without giving a tax break to Big Weed and sending a confusing message about marijuanas harms to the American public.

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With this move, we are now confronted with the most pro-drug administration in our history, Sabet said in a text message. Policy is now being dictated by marijuana CEOs, psychedelics investors, and podcasters in active addiction."

Marijuana or marijuana-derived products that are not distributed through a state medical marijuana program will continue to be classified in Schedule I.

Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some critics of the industry have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly than before.

The efforts to reclassify marijuana

The Justice Department under President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had proposed to reclassify marijuana, eliciting nearly 43,000 formal public comments. The DEA was still in the review process when Trump succeeded Biden, and Trump ordered that process to move along as quickly as legally possible.

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Blanche's order sidestepped the review process by relying on a provision of federal law that allows the attorney general to determine the appropriate classification for drugs that the U.S. must regulate pursuant to an international treaty.

It was unclear how the order might affect operations in states where licensed recreational marijuana shops also sell to medical patients. In Washington state, which in 2012 became one of the first states to legalize the adult use of marijuana, 302 of 460 licensed stores have endorsements allowing them to sell tax-free cannabis products to registered patients.

Many Republicans oppose loosening marijuana restrictions. More than 20 Republican senators, several of them staunch Trump allies, signed a letter last year urging the president to keep the current standards.

Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs. He signed another executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.

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___

This story has been corrected to show the spelling in the name of the 1937 law was Marihuana, not Marijuana.

___

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The FBI New Haven Field Office on State Street in New Haven in a file photo. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

CLINTON  Two Bridgeport men accused of pulling off a smash-and-grab robbery at a Kay Jewelers store in Clinton in February and stealing close to 184,500 in gold jewelry were tracked by federal agents using cellphone data and GPS monitoring, according to court records.

Federal agents said Kelijah Richardson, 28, and Anibal Rivera, 27, are tied to a broader crew and may have connections to a Bridgeport street gang robbing jewelry stores across Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts between September 2025 and this past February.

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Rivera has been detained since he was arrested on a state warrant Feb. 3 in connection with an alleged Sept. 17 robbery of $259,000 in jewelry from a location in the Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester, according to federal prosecutors and state court records.

Richardson was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on March 9 before being released on a $250,000 bond. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport Friday and pleaded not guilty, according to federal prosecutors.

In the Clinton robbery, Rivera's cellphone pinged alongside a white Infiniti Q50 as it traveled to the Clinton Crossing outlets on Feb. 3, according to an affidavit filed by an FBI agent who was part of the FBI New Haven Violent Climes Task Force. The task force includes FBI agents as well as state and local police officers and detectives.

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Later, two masked men dressed in black stormed into the Kay Jewelers outlet at 5:24 p.m.; one suspect stood at the door acting as a lookout while the other smashed display cases with a red hammer and scooped up everything gold, from chains to pendants, according to the affidavit. One of the men told the employees they were "only seeking gold" before they fled, the affidavit said.

Agents tracking the Infiniti watched it speed out of the lot and onto Interstate 95, where it later reached speeds up to 100 mph as it headed back toward Bridgeport, according to the affidavit.

Federal agents said Rivera had been seen earlier that day driving a white BMW that met up with the Infiniti before the robbery, and they believe Rivera later joined Richardson in the Infiniti since Rivera's cellphone pinged along the same route as the getaway car.

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The high-tech tracking came after Rivera allegedly ditched his previous phone following an escape from police days earlier outside state Superior Court in Derby. Officers had been at the courthouse waiting to arrest Rivera on a warrant but he bolted, jumped into a BMW and sped off, nearly striking his own child and the child's mother, according to the affidavit.

Rivera allegedly activated a new phone the same day, but federal agents were able to identify it through his contacts and Instagram activity, ultimately allowing them to monitor his movements, agents said.

Hours after the Clinton robbery, federal agents tracked Rivera to a Bridgeport apartment where they found him hiding in a child's closet, according to the affidavit. Inside the apartment, agents found the phone used to monitor his movements, along with a bundle of cash, agents said.

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The vehicles tied to the robbery were tracked back to a Bridgeport auto garage, where surveillance footage allegedly showed Rivera and Richardson shortly after the heist. A search of the location turned up a bag filled with jewelry price tags believed to be connected to stolen merchandise, agents said.
In a 2010 file photo, Loryan and Basem Karzoun, with a photo of their son, Jafar Karzoun, a University of Connecticut student who was fatally injured during the school's annual Spring Weekend celebration that year. Peter Casolino/New Haven Register Jafar Karzoun

STORRS  The state proposed a $2 million settlement with the family of the University of Connecticut student from Milford who was fatally injured during the school's annual Spring Weekend celebration in 2010 just as the trial was about to get underway.

Jafar Karzoun, 20, was punched in the head in the early morning hours of April 23, 2010, at College Square Plaza, a commercial area near the UConn Storrs campus. He died a week later from his injuries.

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In addition to the state, Basem Karzoun, administrator of his son's estate, sued the owners of the commercial property, Owen and Freda Sanderson, for permitting its tenants to remain open during the event and failing to properly monitor, manage and control the premises, and the owners of a pizzeria where students congregated following a massive gathering.

"For sixteen years, our family has sought answers and accountability for the tragic death of our son. Every May, we are forced to acknowledge an anniversary that no family should have to acknowledge. This settlement does not bring back our son nor lessen the pain of our loss. However, the conclusion of the litigation represents, finally, an acknowledgment of responsibility after a long and difficult journey," the Karzouns said in a statement. "We pursued this claim because we owed it to Jafar and so that no other family has to endure what we have endured. Today we remember Jafar and reaffirm our promise to seek justice in his name.

The settlement only involves state defendants in the case, specifically, the University of Connecticut, the University of Connecticut Police Department, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and their agents. The agreement does not constitute an admission of liability, violation of law or any negligence or wrongdoing, according to the proposed settlement.

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Separate settlements were reached with the other defendants in the case, according to Chris Mattei of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, one of the attorneys representing Karzoun's estate.

The Karzoun family has shown extraordinary resilience and determination throughout this long fight for justice. While no legal outcome can fully remedy the profound loss they suffered, this settlement reflects the strength of their case and their unwavering pursuit of accountability," Mattei said in a statement. "For years, they have sought the truth and demanded change, and their efforts have brought this matter to a meaningful resolution. Their courage stands as a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Id like to thank Attorney Don Altschuler who has dedicated himself over the past sixteen years to supporting the Karzoun family through this tragedy.

Charlie Gfeller, an attorney representing the pizzeria, declined to comment on Wednesday.

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Karzoun's death came following a confrontation that occurred after an estimated 15,000 students and nonstudents gathered at the Carriage House Apartments, a privately-owned complex near campus, for an unsanctioned but longstanding Spring Weekend party. Although the event was not officially sponsored by the university, administrators were aware that large crowds assembled there each year.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m., officers coordinated a "push" to direct partygoers away from the apartment complex and down nearby roads toward campus. It was in that push that Karzoun and Edi Rapo, who was 19 years old at the time and had been drinking, encountered each other and were separated. The two men later encountered each other again at College Square Plaza, where Rapo allegedly struck Karzoun once.

Rapo was sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading no contest to a charge of second-degree manslaughter in Karzoun's death.

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The Brightpath Early Learning and Child Care Center in Avon. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Jan Carlos Berrios-Otero, 29, of Avon, faces charges of fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. Courtesy of Avon Police Department

AVON  The Avon day care where an employee was accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old boy will close next month, the facilitys owner announced Wednesday.

BrightPath Early Learning and Child Care Center in Avon will close on May 22, according to a spokesperson for the national day care chain.



After careful consideration, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our children and families to take this course of action, the spokesperson said. As we are guided by their well-being, we believe that they deserve an experience without the disruption that BrightPath Avon has faced in recent weeks.

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The announcement comes about three weeks after day care worker Jan Carlos Berrios-Otero, 29, of Avon, was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

According to an arrest warrant, a four-year-old boy told his father that Berrios-Otero touched his genitals during naptime. Surveillance cameras also captured Berrios-Otero lying next to the boy and placing his hand in the area of his genitals, the warrant states.

Berrios-Otero can also be seen roughhousing with the boy and kissing his face, hands and upper body, police wrote in the warrant. The total time of his interaction with the boy was about 47 minutes, police said.

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Berrios-Otero is being held on a $1 million bond for an April 28 appearance in state Superior Court in Litchfield, according to court records. He has not entered a plea in the case.

At least one family has filed a lawsuit alleging their child was sexually abused at the day care. Police also previously confirmed that other families have reported similar allegations that are now under investigation.

Officials have said the state Office of Early Childhood is investigating if the facility followed healthy and safety regulations, while the state Department of Children and Families is investigating the allegations of abuse and neglect.

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The BrightPath spokesperson said the company is cooperating with law enforcement. They also said the chain has begun its own external investigation and plans to commission an independent review of the findings.
Police tape in a file photo. Animal control officers arrested a woman after finding seven dead dogs and a dead cat in a house in Lebanon, "where it was impossible to walk anywhere without stepping on feces," according to an arrest warrant. File photo/Associated Press

LEBANON  Animal control officers arrested a woman after finding seven dead dogs and a dead cat in a house in Lebanon, "where it was impossible to walk anywhere without stepping on feces," according to an arrest warrant.

Christine Banta, 36, was arrested Tuesday and charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals, according to animal control officers with the Northeast Connecticut Council of Governments.

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The regional agency received a complaint April 13 about dead pets in an abandoned house on Adams Height Circle. Officers were familiar with the home because they had investigated two previous complaints about possible animal neglect there and had arrested Banta, the former resident, in December on a cruelty to animals charge, ACO Ethan Greene wrote in the arrest warrant affidavit.

When officers went to the house on April 13, Banta had left due to a foreclosure, the warrant said. Officers entered into the kitchen, which was "covered in an excessive amount of feces and torn-up garbage," Greene wrote. Feces also caked the living room floor, along with garbage and dirty clothes, he wrote. In a bedroom closet, the ACOs found a dead, black, female cat, the warrant said.

In the basement in front of a washer and dryer were two dead eight-week-old black Labrador retriever puppies, described in the warrant as "extremely malnourished with visible ribs."

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A large bin placed to catch a leak from the heating system was filled to the brim with water and two more dead black lab puppies were floating on top, the warrant says. Under the basement stairs were two more deceased black lab puppies, one with maggots around it and bleeding from multiple orifices, the warrant said.

Leaning against a glass door in the basement leading to the yard was a deceased, medium-sized female pitbull mix, about four years old, Greene wrote. The dog also was extremely malnourished with exposed ribs and sunken eyes, he wrote.

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It was not clear Thursday where Banta was living at the time of the complaint or arrest. Neither Banta nor her attorney could be reached Thursday.
Pedestrians dash across Chapel Street where a new two-way traffic pattern has opened between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Bryn McGuire, who attends classes at Gateway Community College, comments on the new two-way traffic pattern on Chapel Street between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media A motorist approaches a parked delivery truck on Chapel Street where a new two-way traffic pattern has opened between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media A sign alerts motorists to two-way traffic on Chapel Street in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026. The city converted two blocks of Chapel Street between College and York Streets, into two-way traffic. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Vehicles travel on Chapel Street where a new two-way traffic pattern has opened between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Nicholas Civitello, vice president of Enson's Menswear on Chapel Street, comments on the new two-way traffic pattern on Chapel Street between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media People walk by Soap-Edi on Chapel Street where a new two-way traffic pattern has opened between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Lucy Ballester, the owner of Soap-Edi on Chapel Street in New Haven, said she initially wanted the stretch of the road between in front of her shop to open to two-way traffic.

She thought the change would bring more customers to her business, which sells bath bombs, soaps and lotions.

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Now it's kind of harder for them to get here, Ballester said, who has been in the space for four years.

Chapel Street, between College Street and York Street, was converted from one-way traffic to two-way traffic starting April 20. The change is part of a broader effort to improve the safety of Chapel Street, one of New Haven's longest, busiest and most crash-prone arteries.

Chapel Street goes through at least seven neighborhoods stretching from Fair Haven in the east through Mill River, Wooster Square, Downtown, Dwight and Edgewood, West River and Westville.

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On April 23, though, New Haven crossing guards manned crosswalks, guiding pedestrians across the street and stopping traffic. Police officers sat in cars on the corners of Chapel Street where traffic change happened to make sure people werent driving in the wrong lane.

One police officer said he saw 10 people drive in the wrong lane on April 22. By around 11:50 a.m. on April 23, he said he saw four people who drove in the wrong lane. He added a fifth one just moments later when a blue pickup truck turned from College Street into the wrong lane on Chapel Street.

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The police officer laid on the horn at the driver.

Mayor Justin Elicker said in a statement that the city is helping people with the adjustment, including the officers and crossing guards there.

Overall, we believe the rollout has gone relatively well the first few days and have gotten a lot of positive feedback," he said. "This is a significant change to one of our citys busiest corridors and we know there will be growing pains and it will take time for everyone to fully acclimate and adjust to the new traffic pattern.

He added city officials will monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed.

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Ballester said theres more traffic and it is more difficult to get to and leave her shop. She also said her customers said they have to park further away to get to her. She lives in Hamden and usually Ubers to her store or she'll sometimes drive with her husband.

I literally don't even want to deal with it, Ballester said.

Ballester said she lost parking spots in front of her store to a loading space, where a truck was unloading food on April 23.

(The traffic) just makes the drivers angry, Ballester said. Just makes everybody upset.

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Balester said before there was flow and the cars were moving more, but now the street is congested.

Bryn McGuire, who lives in Clinton and drives to New Haven to attend classes at Gateway Community College, said the street seems more calm than he remembered it being. He said hes been visiting New Haven for more than 20 years now.

That's what I'd certainly like to see if it makes it more convenient to get around here, thats great, McGuire said. But I think it's very much a wait and see.

He said he wanted to see more pedestrian infrastructure, such as bike lanes.

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Plans call for Chapel Street, which already is a two-way street from Fair Haven to College Street, eventually to be open to two-way traffic all the way to Ellsworth Avenue, where it currently becomes two-way as it crosses Ella T. Grasso Boulevard into Westville.

At the time of the announcement, nearly 900 accidents had taken place over four years along Chapel Street between State Street and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, including three fatalities and 18 serious injuries, according to the University of Connecticut's Connecticut Crash Data Repository, officials said at the time.
The Stratford Police Department in a file photo. Stratford police said a 31-year-old Shelton man fled from officers in a stolen car before crashing on Wednesday morning. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

STRATFORD  A man driving an SUV stolen out of Bridgeport struck two parked cars on Cutspring Drive in Stratford while attempting to evade authorities, according to police.

George Jakubowski, 31, of Shelton was taken into custody after police said they were able to stop the stolen 2018 Honda Pilot he was driving with stop sticks, Stratford police said.

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The SUV initially was seen traveling near Barnum Avenue and Main Street around 8:42 a.m. Wednesday, police said. The SUV failed to stop for officers when a traffic stop was initiated, and a passenger got out of the SUV while it was still moving, police said.

The passenger initially was detained but then released without being charged, police said.

Police said a resident on Cutspring Drive notified authorities sometime after that the SUV was parked in their driveway. Police said the SUV fled before officers could get to the scene, but quickly was located in the area.

Jakubowski continued to try to evade and struck two parked cars before stop sticks were utilized, police said. He then engaged officers in a foot chase, but was apprehended sometime after, police said.

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Police said Jakubowski is charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer/resisting, three counts of evading responsibility, disobeying the signal of an officer, reckless driving, theft of plate and improper use of a marker plate.
President Donald Trump departs after speaking at an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump has turned to naval blockades to pressure the governments of Venezuela, Cuba and now Iran to meet his demands, but his preferred tactic is confronting a very different reality in the Middle East than in the Caribbean.

Unlike Cuba or Venezuela, Iran choked off a crucial trade route for energy shipments, meaning the longer the standoff persists, the more the global economy will suffer. Tehran also poses a greater military threat than those two adversaries in Americas own hemisphere and requires a sustained military presence far from U.S. shores.

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Irans leverage over the Strait of Hormuz gives it power during a shaky ceasefire because the widening economic risks, especially higher U.S. gas prices in an election year, could force the Republican president to end the blockade on Iran's ports and coastline, experts say.

Its really a question now of which country, the U.S. or Iran, has a greater pain tolerance, said Max Boot, a military historian and senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Iran presents major differences from other blockades

The effectiveness of Trump's use of the worlds most powerful navy to block the trade of Iran's sanctioned oil and other goods is very much up for debate. But it certainly appears to be intensifying as the war grinds on.

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The U.S. military on Thursday announced the seizure of another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, a day after Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two vessels in the crucial waterway.

Trump also announced he has ordered the U.S. military to shoot and kill Iranian small boats laying sea mines in the strait.

But the situation in Iran is not exactly analogous to what is playing out with the U.S. operations in Venezuela and Cuba.

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Some experts say Trumps success in Venezuela likely had more to do with the U.S. military raid that captured leader Nicolas Maduro than American warships seizing sanctioned oil tankers to enforce U.S. control over the South American country.

A U.S. oil embargo on Cuba, meanwhile, has caused the islands most severe economic crisis in decades. While U.S. and Cuban officials have met recently on the island for rare talks, the financial strangulation has failed to produce the Trump administrations stated goal of leadership change.

I do think that the success of the Maduro mission in Venezuela has probably emboldened the president, said Todd Huntley, director of Georgetown Universitys National Security Law Program.

That does not make the situations in Venezuela and Iran similar  geographically, militarily or politically. There are some major differences, said Huntley, a retired Navy captain and judge advocate general.

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While the blockade against Iran has delivered a severe blow to its economy, including stopping freighters from importing various supplies, the country has still been able to move some of its sanctioned oil, ship tracking companies say.

Iran has rejected Trumps demands to reopen the strait, where 20% of the worlds oil normally flows, and it has been firing on ships again this week. Stalled shipments through the strait have sent gasoline prices skyrocketing far beyond the region and raised the cost of food and a wide array of other products, creating a political problem for Trump before the November's elections.

Blockades are usually just one tool of a mechanism used in a conflict, said Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime history professor at Campbell University in North Carolina. They can be important. But its only one element. And I dont think its going to be enough to convince the Iranians.

Effectiveness of US blockade called into question

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, claimed last week that no ship has evaded U.S. forces." The command overseeing the Middle East said it has directed 31 ships to turn around or return to port as of Wednesday.

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Merchant shipping groups are skeptical.

Lloyds List Intelligence said a steady flow of shadow fleet traffic has passed in and out of the Persian Gulf, including 11 tankers with Iranian cargo that have left the Gulf of Oman outside the strait since April 13.

The maritime intelligence firm Windward said this week that Iranian traffic continues to flow via deception."

Iranian ships have several ways to sneak through the blockade, including spoofing their location tracking data or traveling through Pakistani territorial waters, Mercogliano said. He also noted that the sheer volume of shipping traffic the military needs to screen is a challenging task.

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Blockades require patience to work

The last time the U.S. mounted a blockade similar to the one focused on Iranian ships was during the Kennedy administration in the early 1960s, against Cuba, Huntley said.

And it wasn't even called a blockade, he said. We called it quarantine.

Some naval blockades over the course of history have had an impact, such as Britain's blockade on Germany during World War I. "But they tend to be very long-term impacts, whereas Trump is looking for short-term, quick results, according to Boot, the military historian.

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He said Trump probably saw the blockade on sanctioned oil tankers tied to Venezuela as playing a large role in the success of leadership changes in that country. But Boot said it had more to do with the U.S. ousting Maduro and the subsequent cooperation from his vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, who is now the acting president.
People gathered in front of City Hall in West Haven on June 26, 2023 to protest police inaction with respect to the investigation of the death of Roya Mohammadi in March. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

WEST HAVEN  An internal affairs report about alleged negligence and misconduct surrounding the untimely death of a young woman found few issues with a police detectives investigation. And the activists who helped spark the probe said they are disappointed but not shocked by the findings.

Were not surprised they would take the approach of defending their investigation and approach. Theyve been defensive since the onset, said Vanesa Suarez, of the anti-femicide group Vivan Las Autonomas.

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In 2023, state Department of Transportation workers found 29-year-old Roya Mohammadi, an Afghan student enrolled at the University of New Haven, dead in the West River. In the wake of Mohammadis death, Vivan Las Autonomas co-organizers Suarez and Nika Zarazvand have pressured West Haven police, council members and other city leadership to ensure Mohammadi receives justice and that no women are killed in the city in the future. They even have a rally planned outside West Haven City Hall on Monday, roughly three years after Mohammadis death.

As part of their work, the group also filed a formal civilian complaint, which prompted two overlapping but independent reviews.

The internal affairs report, obtained by the New Haven Register this month, defended a city detectives investigation into Mohammadis death on most of the 13 allegations.

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Activists have been highly critical of the local police departments response. Among their concerns are allegations that police failed to show proper urgency by not immediately procuring surveillance footage evidence or conducting interviews after Mohammadis suspicious death, and that a detective demonstrated poor communication with Mohammadis family and showed biased attitudes toward the victim.

The internal affairs report, prepared by Police Chief Joseph Perno and finalized Jan. 29, summarizes two probes into police conduct  one by West Haven police Sgt. Anthony Simone and one by third-party investigator attorney Audrey Felsen. The document substantiated that a detective failed to follow up and confirm information provided to him by a potential witness and read numerous emails during the early stages of the police investigation without responding.

Despite those findings, the report said both Simone and Felsen concluded that the lack of confirmation around a potential witness' information has no bearing on the investigation into Roya Mohammadis death and the unanswered emails had information found to be speculative and not probative to the establishment of verifiable facts relevant to the investigation.

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Simones review also concluded that references to a detectives use of derogatory terms in reference to Roya Mohammadi do not substantiate a negative character opinion and had absolutely no bearing on the investigation.

The report also said the investigation has been hampered by the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner not ruling Mohammadis death as a homicide, ultimately leading to a denial of a search warrant for potential evidence due to the inability of the investigators to show that a crime had been committed.

At no time has the possibility of a homicide cause of death been ruled out by the WHPD, Perno wrote in his report. The investigation into Roya Mohammadis death continues.

A spokeswoman for the state OCME on Monday said Mohammadis final manner of death was determined to be undetermined.

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Suarez said the OCME investigation into the manner of Mohammadis death should not have been an impediment to procuring surveillance footage for her last-known whereabouts to create a stronger argument for a search warrant.

Zarazvand said a body found in the water, especially in the winter, should create more urgency to collect and preserve evidence. Suarez said even if the manner of death is undetermined, it would not mean homicide has been ruled out.

Ultimately it all falls on police doing their due diligence, she said.

Suarez and Zarazvand said the report acknowledges that there are no procedural requirements that a detective be in regular contact with family members or that they use telephonic translation services as part of their investigation, but it doesnt acknowledge why these things did not happen.

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They dont acknowledge the why. Ill do it for them: Its discrimination, Suarez alleged.

In a text message comment, Perno defended the integrity of his report as the department engaged an independent investigator to share her own findings.

According to the internal affairs report, investigators concluded that a detective was aware that Roya had been, and possibly still was, the victim of domestic abuse at the time of her death based upon previously documented incidents of domestic violence filed with West Haven, New Haven and Guilford police, which was acknowledged when an investigator applied for a search warrant application for Mohammadis phone records.

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However, the report concluded there was simply insufficient evidence to establish that a domestic incident led to the drowning death of Roya.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks during a discussion titled, The Roadmap for Restoring American Education, hosted by the Buckley Institute at Yale University, Thursday, April 16, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

It was about 5:20 p.m. Jan. 28 that a message went out to a Fairfield elementary school community that U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon would be visiting two days later. But by 9:45 p.m., another message was sent: the event was canceled.

Hundreds of emails and other documents obtained by CT Insider through a Freedom of Information Act request provide a window into how the event was planned and what happened in the four hours between the visits announcement and its cancellation. Those documents included about 100 emails from parents and community members expressing their displeasure that McMahon would be visiting as part of the nationwide History Rocks! tour celebrating Americas 250th anniversary.

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A barrage of emails from parents flooded the Fairfield superintendents inbox that evening with a variety of adjectives used  "inappropriate," "disgraceful," "disgusting" and "embarrassing" among them. Some described the event as propaganda, indoctrinating children and a politically motivated photo op. Their messages calling for the events cancellation cited a range of concerns, from the safety of students to the tours ties to conservative organizations, to McMahon and the Trump administrations policies.

After the cancellation, the superintendent and school board faced additional criticism, this time from a smaller handful of people critical of the decision. The emails said the district caved to a small group of radicals, that scrapping the visit ran counter to open dialogue and free speech and that McKinley students missed out on the opportunity.

The tour is in coordination with the Trump administrations America 250 Civics Education Coalition, an initiative dedicated to renewing patriotism, strengthening civic knowledge, and advancing a shared understanding of Americas founding principles in schools across the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The coalition includes major Trump-aligned groups like the America First Policy Institute and Turning Point USA, co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

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Despite criticism in communities like Fairfield and Thomaston  which also canceled a McMahon-linked event last month  and in other states where the event has been held, McMahon and her department have defended the events purpose. Fairfield Superintendent Michael Testani  who according to records had a key role in planning McMahons visit to McKinkley  also defended it.

The visit to Fairfield is not for anyone to promote a political agenda, he wrote in emails responding to the first of many parent concerns that rolled in on Jan. 28.  This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our students and staff on a national stage. This is in no way political.

Testani did not respond to a CT Insider request for comment for this story.

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In the wake of the cancellation and in response to other messages from parents and community members disappointed that McMahon would no longer be coming, Testani encouraged them to share their thoughts with the school board, documents show.

Unfortunately, I need more people like you to email the board of education to demonstrate that not every family feels that this was bad for the district. I wish they could hear from all of you, he wrote to one parent. Last night someone posted my email and their email on Facebook which started the massive campaign against the visit.

McKinley Elementary School Principal Christine Booth had described the event as a dynamic, interactive assembly that brings American history and civic learning to life through fun, game show style activities, hands on participation, and even prizes in her initial Jan. 28 message announcing the visit to families.

Backlash floods in within hours of announcement

The pushback came from a slew of parents and Fairfield residents, who wrote in a plethora of emails to Testani, Booth, and board of education members that they were worried, disappointed, disgusted and horrified by the news of the visit.

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Lauren Effron, the Fairfield PTA Council president-elect, emailed Testani on Jan. 28 urging him to cancel the visit, writing that she was sickened to hear about it, according to documents obtained by CT Insider.

How are you OK with bringing in such a divisive figure as Secretary McMahon? Her title aside, what she stands for is not a message of unity for our country but one that will further divide us in a time of national crisis, Effron wrote.  We cannot allow propaganda of this sort to be viewed by our youngest learners. You have to shut this down or you will face the greatest opposition of your career.

Multiple emails also included concerns surrounding the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, and questions over whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be present, citing the diversity of McKinleys student population. For more than a decade, McKinley has had far more racial minority students than the district-wide average, and has been categorized under state law as racially imbalanced.

This is blatant exploitation and disrespect to the McKinley community  one of Fairfields most diverse schools and the most vulnerable to be targeted by ICE, whose lethal and illegal mission is supported by the very people you are inviting into this community, one parent wrote.

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In one email response to a parent, Testani wrote that ICE would not be there.

Some emails to district officials pointed to plans for a protest and district-wide walkout on the day of McMahons visit, as well as parents not wanting to send their kids to school.

Around two hours after the announcement went out, Testani notified U.S. Department of Education officials and event planners about the response the district had received so far.

We are having a ton of push back from the community and my Board on this visit, Testani wrote in an email. We need to connect first thing in the morning on this. Please send a Zoom link.

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But the decision to cancel didnt wait until the next morning.

After speaking to Secretary McMahons team, the History Rocks Tour event on Friday has been cancelled, Testani wrote in an email to Board of Education members around 9 p.m. on the same evening the visit had been announced.

In his message announcing the cancellation, he cited concerns raised by families.

After cancellation, critics say district caved to pressure

While the large majority of the emails sent were from parents upset with the decision to host McMahon, others pushed back on the decision to cancel.

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It makes me so sad, and quite frankly disgusted, that adults in this town cant put their politics aside and see that this would have been an amazing experience for their children, fostering patriotism and a love of this great country, wrote one school district employee in an email to Testani.  There are a lot of parents and even some staff in this town, who were able to see this experience for what it truly was meant to be, and its unfortunate that it is no longer happening.

In response, Testani thanked her and said he agreed it was an honor to have the secretary visit the district. McKinley was my choice because it is a great place for kids! he wrote.

The day after the cancellation, Testani emailed state Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker to express [his] sincere regrets that we are unable to move forward with hosting the Secretary of Education and the History Rocks tour this Friday.

As you know, it was a point of great pride for us to be selected by your office to represent Connecticut. However, over the last 36 hours, the external climate surrounding the visit escalated to a point where I felt I could no longer guarantee the focused, celebratory, andmost importantlysecure environment our students deserve, Testani wrote to the commissioner. Canceling such a prestigious event was a difficult decision, but as the Superintendent, my primary obligation is the safety and well-being of the children in our care. I did not want a milestone moment for our state to be overshadowed by disruptions that would detract from the educational mission you and I both champion.

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Russell-Tucker thanked Testani for his continued efforts in prioritizing, as noted, the well-being of students, and wrote that she looked forward to continued collaboration and partnership in an email response.

Even after the cancellation  which spurred multiple messages of gratitude  questions remained over how exactly the visit was planned in the first place, with parents calling for accountability and transparency.

The U.S. Department of Education had informed the state Department of Education in early December of its intent to visit Connecticut, and asked whether any districts might be interested in hosting an event, according to a Jan. 29 email to Testani from the state Department of Educations Director of Communications Matthew Cerrone.

The state Department of Education had initially recommended Stamford, Norwalk and Fairfield to the U.S. Department of Education as districts for McMahon to visit, according to December 2025 documents obtained by CT Insider.

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Given the geographical region requested by the USDE for the visit, we reached out to you to determine the districts level of interest. Given you expressed interest to host the Secretary of Education, the agency relayed your contact information and willingness to the USDE, consistent with standard practice. Coordination regarding the visit occurred directly between the USDE and Fairfield Public Schools, Cerrone wrote to Testani on Jan. 29.

The documents show that Testani was the main point of contact for the event, and he said in multiple emails that he chose McKinley for the visit. I made the decision to showcase the wonderful McKinley School community, Testani wrote in an email responding to parent concerns.

Event details

The records also show the U.S. Education Departments detailed rundown of the event, complete with the weather forecast, Connecticut-specific talking points and exact wheels down timing of McMahons plane.

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McMahon was supposed to visit three McKinley classrooms before the History Rocks! assembly, which was set to include remarks from McMahon, Booth and Testani, the pledge of allegiance and national anthem, before launching into two trivia-style games and ending with a song.

One game asks students to hold up signs based on their answers to questions like What is the Declaration of Independence? and What is the capital of Connecticut? The next game has students raise their hands to answer multiple choice questions like What symbol represents U.S. freedom? and Which unfair action helped cause the American Revolution?

In addition, the documents show that Testani, Booth and U.S. Department of Education officials corresponded with a private company in planning the visit.

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FILE - Supporters hold a sign before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign event, Sept.12, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. Alex Brandon/AP FILE - Alicia DeVinney of Phoenixville, Pa., shows off her MAGA rings ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington. Mike Stewart/AP FILE - Attendees gather as the "Latino Americans for Trump" office opens in Reading, Pa., Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Joe Lamberti/AP FILE - Supporters of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump sign a bus before a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP FILE - Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wait for the start of a rally in Westfield, Ind., July 12, 2016. Michael Conroy/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  Many of the groups that helped elect Donald Trump as president again are deeply unhappy with his performance, according to an AP-NORC poll.

Trumps return to the presidency was fueled by a wide-ranging coalition that built on his loyal base of supporters. Now that Trump has been in the White House for more than a year, the survey of more than 2,500 U.S. adults from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that many key groups  including Hispanic adults, younger adults and men  are increasingly dissatisfied with his presidency.

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The poll was conducted from April 16 through Monday, as oil prices fluctuated and Americans spent more at the gas pump.

Its a particularly bad moment for Trump, a Republican whose economic approval slumped over the past month as the Iran war drives prices higher. But AP-NORC polls show that discontent has been building among critical segments of the population over the past year.

Trump's overall approval among Hispanic adults has fallen 16 percentage points since March 2025, and his support has declined by 9 percentage points among men.

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And while Trumps base is still largely behind him  most Republicans approve of his performance  there are signs that his second term may not be living up to their expectations.

Heres what polling shows about Trumps current status with four important groups:

Hispanic adults

Hispanic Americans have grown increasingly discontented with Trump over the past year.

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About one-quarter of Hispanic adults approve of how hes handling the presidency in the new poll, down from about 4 in 10 in March 2025.

That decline has been visible since late last year  suggesting that its not just the war in Iran or recent spikes in gas prices that are leaving this group unhappy.

Trumps restrictive immigration approach may be playing a role. Only about one-quarter of Hispanics approve of his handling of immigration, down from 36% at the beginning of his term.

His immigration tactics appear to be particularly unpopular among younger Hispanics  a group with which he made gains in 2024. Only 18% of younger Hispanic adults approve of his performance on immigration, compared with 40% of Americans overall.

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There is also broad discontent about the state of the U.S. economy among Hispanics. Only about one-quarter of Hispanic adults approve of how Trump is handling that issue, and about 2 in 10 say they approve of his approach to the cost of living. Few Hispanic adults, about 2 in 10, describe the nations economy as good.

Young adults

Trumps overall approval with Americans under age 45 has slid over the past year, falling from 39% in March 2025 to 28% in the latest poll.

Younger women have a particularly dim view of Trumps handling of the economy.

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Only about 2 in 10 women under age 45 approve of how Trump is handling the economy, including only 7% of younger Hispanic women who approve of his economic approach. More young men, about 3 in 10, approve of him on this issue.

Trumps struggles among young adults extend to other groups, too. Only about one-third of white adults under age 45 approve of his overall performance, compared with 45% of white adults age 45 or older.

A downtick among men

Trump made broad appeals to men throughout his 2024 campaign, and most male voters backed Trump in the presidential election over Democrat Kamala Harris. In particular, he made slight but significant gains with Black and Hispanic men, who were drawn by his vows to revitalize the economy.

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Since he reentered office, though, American men have become slightly less likely to approve of his performance, declining from 47% at the start of his second term to 38% in the most recent poll.

There are signs that Black men, in particular, arent seeing Trumps economic promises pan out. Black men are more likely than white or Hispanic men to disapprove of Trumps approach to the presidency, as well as his approach to the economy, the cost of living and Iran. Only about 1 in 10 Black men say they approve of how Trump is handling the cost of living, and roughly 2 in 10 approve of how hes handling the economy.

Hispanic men, too, have a relatively dim view of Trumps overall performance. About 3 in 10 approve of how Trump is handling the presidency, regardless of their age. That support is stronger among white men, with about half approving of Trump.

While young Republicans are frustrated, MAGA still backs Trump

Trump has benefited from Republicans loyalty for years, but there are recent signs of frustration even within his base.

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Roughly two-thirds of Republicans approve of Trumps job performance. That is down slightly from 82% near the start of his second term and is generally in line with the GOP low point from his first term.

But only about half of Republicans overall approve of Trumps approach to the cost of living, and a majority of Republicans under age 45 disapprove of him on that issue.

Trump is still buoyed by the support of his MAGA base, even as he faces backlash from conservative media figures on some of his recent actions in Iran.

About 9 in 10 MAGA Republicans  those who consider themselves supporters of the Make America Great Again movement  approve of Trumps job performance, and a similar share approve of his handling of Iran.

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It's a good sign for Trump that his most robust supporters are still in his corner, but not all Republicans identify with MAGA. About half of Republicans, 54%, say they consider themselves MAGA supporters.

Among non-MAGA Republicans, Trump's approval is much lower, at 44%.

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Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones speaks at the Georgia Association of Manufacturers Gubernatorial Forum, in Atlanta,, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Matthew Pearson/WABE via AP) Matthew Pearson/AP Republican candidate for governor Rick Jackson speaks at a candidate forum hosted by the Georgia Association of Manufacturers' in Atlanta, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Matthew Pearson/WABE via AP) Matthew Pearson/AP

ATLANTA (AP)  Even with all his family wealth, there is no way for Burt Jones to outspend billionaire Rick Jackson in the Republican primary for Georgia governor. So Jones tried something else  harnessing his leadership of the state Senate to seek an edge over Jackson.

Using his position as lieutenant governor, Jones pushed legislation that would have disqualified Jackson's company from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts. The proposal failed, but Jones is running a television ad attacking Jackson on the subject at the same time Jones argues he is a proven leader."

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The episode is another turn in an unexpectedly ugly battle for the Republican nomination. Jones was endorsed by President Donald Trump last year, but Jackson has elbowed into contention by spending more than $50 million.

Jones' gambit might have backfired, however, and bad blood within the state legislature could hamper his candidacy.

The state House refused to consider the anti-Jackson proposal, while state senators discarded a plan by the lower chamber to limit property taxes in favor of their own ideas. Jones also irritated House leaders by ignoring a plan to continue using Georgia's voting machines for one more year until replacements can be arranged, creating the possibility of a dicey election-season special session.

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Now one of the top Republicans in the lower chamber  House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones  has endorsed Jackson by saying "we can count on Rick to do the right thing to make our lives better and more affordable.

Jackson argued that Burt Jones' work in the legislature was further evidence that the lieutenant governor is corrupt, a message that the health care tycoon is pushing in advertising too.

From my standpoint, Burt is more concerned about things that are self-interested for him and his family, and he uses the power of that position to enhance his financial situation like hes done in the past, Jackson told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

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Besides Jones and Jackson, the other top candidates in the May 19 primary are Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Jones used his position to target Jackson

Jones tried to score wins during the session that would appeal to Republican primary voters, including some he could use against Jackson.

Im the one who has actually has the legislative background and legislative experience on knowing how to get things done, Jones told reporters Tuesday.

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But it is not clear how much that record will matter, said Martha Zoller, a conservative radio talk show host who has been supporting Carr.

I think what Burts got is the Trump endorsement, Zoller said. I dont think he has much more than that.

Jackson is even more dismissive of Jones.

I dont know anything hes actually accomplished ever, Jackson said.

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Jan Jones embrace of Jackson could be the start of a tide of state House Republicans rejecting the lieutenant governor after years of feeling burned by his attempts to impose his will on the lower chamber.

The tension dates to 2023, when Jones launched a dispute over hospital licensing legislation, leading to accusations of corruption because his family has an ownership interest in a company seeking to build a hospital. Jones has said the push wasn't about helping his family business but improving health care.

This year's anti-Jackson bill was the focus of weeks of gossip under the Georgias Capitol gold dome. A version of it initially appeared in the House, but it died at a procedural deadline. Then on March 18, in an unusual speech to the Senate, Jones accused Jacksons company, Jackson Healthcare, of being responsible for driving up costs in the state through its contracts to deliver medical staff.

That was followed on April 2 by a proposal to ban anyone doing business with the state from running for statewide office, which would have disqualified Jackson. Now Jones is running ads calling Jackson a fraud who got filthy rich off Georgias taxpayers and seniors, pointing to the $930 million in business that Jackson Healthcare has done with Georgia state government in recent years, including a huge no-bid contract to provide extra health care staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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When you get over $1 billion in state contracts and it goes through a no bid process, you tell me where else thats possible, Jones said Tuesday, blaming state agencies for enabling Jackson.

State Sen. Matt Brass, one of Jones closest allies, said the proposal was an example of Jones hands-on leadership.

I think hes done what hes always done, and thats lead from the front, Brass said. When we go into battle and we take on tough issues, the lieutenant governor, he doesnt send us in there to do his work, he leads.

Jackson said he acted at Gov. Brian Kemp's request to help with the pandemic response and was only putting Georgia's interests first.

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I dont see how responding to what a governor asks you to do as being corrupt, Jackson said Tuesday.

Bad blood under the gold dome

More trouble could be coming over Georgia's election machinery, which has been a source of controversy and conspiracy theories since Trump falsely accused Joe Biden of stealing the 2020 presidential race.

The state faces a July 1 deadline to stop counting ballots using computerized bar codes. Jones, like other grassroots Trump supporters who control the state Republican Party apparatus, argued in an April 14 letter that Georgia should default to a hand-marked paper ballot system.

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However, many election officials argue that state law has become contradictory and could be subject to lawsuits. They also warn that the backup paper ballot system will be very expensive and possibly unworkable.

Even Jones now agrees a special session may be necessary this summer to untie the legal knot.

Jones also trumpeted his goal to phase out Georgia's income tax, but an ambitious cut withered after being scorned by Kemp, who is wrapping up his final term in office, and state House Republicans.

A compromise was reached to further reduce  but not eliminate  the tax over nearly a decade.

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The House, in turn, wanted sharp limits on property taxes. After extended negotiations, the Senate instead imposed lesser limits, with House Republicans feeling stabbed in the back.

State Rep. Steven Sainz, a Republican who has endorsed Jackson, said in general that volatility engulfed the Capitol this year.

I could not think of a more extreme session, of the process becoming more distracting than the policies were looking at, he said.

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FILE - The gate of the U.K.'s RAF Akrotiri air base at sunset after it was struck by a drone earlier in the morning near Limassol, Cyprus, March 2, 2026. Petros Karadjias/AP Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides gestures as he speaks during an Associated Press interview ahead of this week's major EU-Middle East summit, at the presidential palace in the capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Petros Karadjias/AP Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, third right, speaks with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, right, and Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, second right, during a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Virginia Mayo/AP

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union is set to ramp up tests on rules that oblige the bloc's 27 member countries to help each other in times of crisis, as the reality sinks in that Washington's commitment to NATO and security in Europe under U.S. President Donald Trump is evaporating.

At a summit in Cyprus starting later Thursday, leaders will work on an operational plan to make best use of the EUs military, security, trade policy and other assets in times of need, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told The Associated Press.

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In mid-May, EU envoys will take part in table-top exercises to game out how Article 42.7 of the blocs treaties could be used to provide collective assistance to a nation in the event of an attack or an invasion by a country like Russia.

EU defense ministers are expected to carry out similar tests a few weeks later. The exercises are focused on political decision-making and don't involve armed forces, government agencies or other assets in the field.

Like NATO's Article 5, but not exactly

Under NATOs Article 5 security guarantee, an attack on one ally is deemed an attack on them all and one that requires a collective response, often, though not exclusively, by military means.

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Its only ever been activated once, in support of the United States following the Sept. 11 attacks and led to NATOs failed 18-year security effort in Afghanistan.

The EUs Article 42.7, which was drafted to avoid conflict with Article 5, has also only been used once, at the request of France following terror attacks in Paris in 2015 that left more than 130 people dead and more than 400 others wounded.

The EU article states that if a nation is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, its partners should provide aid and assistance by all the means in their power.

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It provides that such help should be in accordance with the U.N. charter and not conflict with NATO commitments, and the clause makes allowances for the neutrality of member countries like Austria and Ireland.

When the US is absent

In the case of France, EU nations expressed solidarity and offered support. France appealed to its partners to step up their efforts against international terrorism, which freed up French forces for a major security operation at home.

Similar exercises to test the use of Article 42.7 have been held over the past decade. But growing doubts about the U.S. commitment to NATO and the future EU membership of war-ravaged Ukraine have brought new urgency to the preparations.

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Recent reflection about how the Europeans might defend themselves gathered pace after Trump threatened to annex Greenland, which is a semiautonomous part of the kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally.

Several European countries sent just a few soldiers each to the massive island off the coast of Canada in a highly symbolic display of solidarity with Denmark. Trump railed that he would impose tariffs on countries that took part, but he eventually backed down.

Trumps decision to launch a war against Iran, alongside Israel, seemed to justify the planning. A revenge attack by Iran in March targeted a U.K. military base on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which currently holds the EUs rotating presidency.

Options and issues

Unlike NATO, which is purely a security organization, the EU has many more diverse weapons at its disposal. They range from military might to the use of sanctions, border controls, or trade and visa policies.

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The extent to which they and other measures might be used in times of crisis are set to be put to the test again in coming weeks as wars fester in the Middle East, absorbing U.S. attention, and in Ukraine.

We dont know what is going to happen if a member state triggers this article, Christodoulides told the AP. There are a number of issues.

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From left, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, listen to President Donald Trump speak in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Mourners hold posters that show portraits of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, during her funeral procession in the village of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Mohammed Zaatari/AP From left, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad, listen to President Donald Trump speak in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, right, speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad, listen during a meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Washington (AP)  President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group by three weeks after talks at the White House on Thursday.

Trump said the meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States, the second in the past week, went very well, but during an Oval Office gathering he acknowledged that they do have Hezbollah to think about. The Iranian-backed group has opposed the talks, and since the initial ceasefire went into effect last Friday, there have been multiple violations by both sides.

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Despite that, these were the first direct diplomatic talks in decades between Israel and Lebanon and represented a major step for neighboring countries that officially have been at war since Israels inception in 1948. The initial 10-day ceasefire had been due to expire Monday.

The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah, Trump said in a social media post. He added later in the Oval Office that he expects to meet in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the next couple of weeks.

Trump told reporters, while surrounded by the ambassadors as well as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that Israel has a right to defend itself if theyre shot at, and they will.

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We hope that together, under your leadership, we can formalize peace between Israel and Lebanon in the very near future, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said.

Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad thanked Trump for all your effort to help and to support Lebanon. She referenced his Make America Great Again slogan when she said, And I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again.

Lebanon presses wider-reaching negotiations

Aoun, the Lebanese president, said a day earlier that during the talks Hamadeh would ask for an end to Israeli home demolitions in villages and towns occupied by Israel after the latest war broke out on March 2.

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Preparations were being made for wider-reaching negotiations. The aim of the future talks is to fully stop Israeli attacks, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deployment of Lebanese troops along the border and beginning the reconstruction process, Aoun said in comments released by his office.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called on Lebanon to work with Israel to disarm Hezbollah.

We dont have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved, Saar said during Independence Day remarks to Israels ambassadors and diplomatic corps. He described the neighboring country as a failed state.

The obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one: Hezbollah, he said, adding that Lebanon could have a future of sovereignty, independence and freedom from the Iranian occupation.

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Renewed fighting in Lebanon was tied to Iran war

The latest war started when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran. Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion, capturing dozens of towns and villages along the border.

Israels military occupies a buffer zone stretching as far as 6 miles (10 kilometers) into southern Lebanon. Israel says it aims to remove the threat of short-range rockets and anti-tank missiles being fired toward northern Israel.

Hezbollah has not been a participant in the diplomacy. Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of the militant groups political council, has told The Associated Press that it will not abide by any agreements made during the direct talks.

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The Lebanese government hopes the talks will pave the way to a permanent end to the war. While Iran has set ending the wars in Lebanon and the region as a condition for negotiations with the U.S., Lebanon insists on representing itself.

The talks last week were the first between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. Both countries have relied on indirect communication, often brokered by the U.S. or UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Lebanons top political authorities, critical of Hezbollahs decision to fire rockets toward Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, quickly proposed direct talks in a bid to stop the escalation, hoping Israel would not launch its ground invasion.

Despite the ceasefire that was later reached, an Israeli strike Wednesday killed Amal Khalil, a well-known Lebanese journalist covering southern Lebanon. Lebanese health officials said the Israeli military opened fire on an ambulance that responded, preventing rescuers from reaching her. Her body was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building several hours later.

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The Israeli military denied that it had deliberately targeted journalists or fired on rescuers, but the case sparked widespread anger in Lebanon ahead of the Washington talks.

After a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Lebanons Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said the government is working on a report documenting alleged war crimes by Israel and that ministers had discussed joining the International Criminal Court.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war has killed around 2,300 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of women and children, and displaced over 1 million people.

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A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. AP Iran's Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of Shah Reza Pahlavi, waves to supporters after he was attacked with a red fluid following a news conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 23, 2026. Markus Schreiber/AP Mourners hold posters that show portraits of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, during her funeral procession in the village of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Mohammed Zaatari/AP Mourners carry the coffin of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, during her funeral procession in the village of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Mohammed Zaatari/AP Zainab, the sister of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, hugs her helmet as she mourns over her coffin in the village of Baysariyeh, southern Lebanon, Thursday, April 23, 2026. Mohammed Zaatari/AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to shoot and kill small Iranian boats that deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, announcing the move Thursday a day after Iran again displayed its ability to thwart traffic through the channel.

Trump also announced that a ceasefire in Lebanon would be extended by three weeks.

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His post on social media about the small boats came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passed during peacetime.

I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be ... putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump posted, adding that U.S. minesweepers "are clearing the Strait right now.

I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! he added.

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The decision to extend a pause in fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon came during a meeting at the White House between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States.

Meanwhile, it was still unclear when, or if, the U.S. and Iran would meet again in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, where mediators are trying to bring the countries together to reach a diplomatic deal ending that conflict.

Negotiations initially planned this week have not happened. Iran insists it will not attend until the U.S. ends its blockade on Iranian ports and ships. The White House insists it will not take part until Tehran opens the strait to international traffic.

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Pope Leo XIV, returning home from a trip to Africa, urged the U.S. and Iran to return to talks to end the war.

Footage shows US forces on deck of tanker

The Defense Department released video footage of U.S. forces on the deck of the oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean. The ship had been flying a Guyanese flag, though the South American nation of Guyana said it was not registered there

The footage emerged a day after Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard attacked three cargo ships in the strait, capturing two of them, in an assault that raised new concerns about the safety of shipping through the waterway.

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The powerful head of Irans judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, said three violating ships in the strait were subject to enforcement Wednesday.

The show of strength by the armed forces of Islamic Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is a source of pride, he wrote Thursday on X, claiming the Americans lack the courage to approach the strait.

Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same location as the oil tanker Tifani, seized earlier by American forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan, China.

Majestic X previously was named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

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Guyana said in a statement the Majestic X was not registered in the South American nation.

While the name of the vessel has changed, the (International Maritime Organization) number remains recorded in the international database as PHONIX. There is no record of this vessel or name in Guyanas registry. Therefore, the ship is FRAUDULENTLY flying the Guyana flag, Guyanas Maritime Administration Department said.

There was no immediate response from Iran about the seizure.

Trump claims leadership rift in Iran

Trump this week extended a ceasefire to give the Iranian leadership more time to come up with a unified proposal on ending the war, while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports.

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In a post Thursday, Trump claimed a leadership rift between moderates and hard-liners was confounding Iran. Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just dont know! Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly said during the ceasefire that began April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging that his decision to kill several top leaders has come with complications.

Irans president and its parliament speaker posted statements on social media declaring the country has no hard-liners or moderates.

"We are all Iranians and revolutionaries, they said.

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A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Trump's claim of a leadership rift was a deflection. Other Iranian officials said on social media that the country was united.

Trump, while speaking to reporters at the White House, pushed back against questions about the conflict exceeding the four-to-six-week timeline that he and aides previously set for the war.

I dont want to rush myself, Trump said, adding that the U.S. took the country out militarily in the first four weeks.

Now all were doing is sitting back and seeing what deal" can be made. "And if they dont want to make a deal, then Ill finish it up militarily, Trump said.

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He said he would not use a nuclear weapon against Iran.

Meanwhile, three aircraft carriers were in the region after the USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the Indian Ocean. One carrier was in the Arabian Sea and another was in the Red Sea, military officials said.

Talks between Lebanon and Israel lead to truce extension

Trump said a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington went very well and resulted in a ceasefire extension for Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.

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The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah, Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah started after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran and the Tehran-backed militants fired rockets into northern Israel. The ceasefire first took effect for a 10-day period starting Friday.

Underscoring the truce's fragility, Israels military said it struck missile launchers in Lebanon that had fired into its borders. Hezbollah said it fired at the Israeli town of Shtula in response to Israeli attacks on the Lebanese village of Yater.

Lebanon's public health ministry said an Israeli airstrike killed three people further north, in the area of Nabatiya. The Israeli military said it killed three militants who launched a missile toward an Israeli warplane.

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Each side has accused the other of breaching the truce.

Trump reiterated that the U.S. continues to demand that Iran stop its backing of Iranian-allied militias in the Mideast, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, as part of any deal between Washington and Tehran to end the U.S. war on Iran.

Yeah, theyll have to cut that, Trump said to a reporters question about aiding Hezbollah. Thats a must.

Threats to shipping persist

Since the Feb. 28 start of the war between Iran, Israel and the United States, over 30 ships have come under attack in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

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The threat of attack, rising insurance premiums and other fears have stopped traffic from moving through the strait. Irans ability to restrict traffic through the strait, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, has proved a major strategic advantage.

Jakob Larsen, the head of maritime security for BIMCO, the largest international association representing shipowners, said in a note Thursday that most shipping companies need a stable ceasefire and assurances from both sides of the conflict that the strait is safe for transit.

The threat of mines, he wrote, was a particular concern if traffic might return to normal levels one day.

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Madhani reported from Washington, and Keaten reported from Geneva.

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This story has corrected that the Majestic X oil tanker had been flying the Guyanese flag not the Guinea flag.
Enactment of mail-in voting for all would represent the latest expansion of voting options in Connecticut since early in-person voting became available in 2024. The state adopted Election Day registration in 2012.

Under current law, voters must cite one of six legally recognized excuses to receive and cast an absentee ballot  illness, disability, military service, religious tenets, personal availability on Election Day, and service as an election official or worker.

In 2024, Connecticut voters voted 58% to 42% to approve an amendment to the state Constitution that authorized the legislature to remove all restrictions on absentee balloting. The amendment was necessary because the state Constitution did not allow in-person voting outside of Election Day.

State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, opened the House debate with a history lesson explaining how Connecticut temporarily allowed Civil War soldiers to vote by absentee ballot for the duration of the armed conflict.

Since then, other states have long lapped us in allowing access to absentee voting. Currently, 36 other states and the District of Columbia allow some version of absentee voting for all, he said. Today, we take Connecticut out of the 19th century and bring it into the 21st century. This bill will finally implement the demand of the voters in the 2024 referendum on the constitutional amendment in which they overwhelmingly approved an amendment to allow absentee voting for all.

The legislation would expand absentee voting to all eligible voters and drop the requirement that voters have a specified excuse to vote by absentee ballot.

The ensuing House debate on absentee voting largely followed the pattern of past debates on voting and elections bills and mostly rehashed previous Democratic and Republican arguments. House Republicans proposed a series of amendments that House Democrats voted down in succession.

State Rep. Gale L. Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, the ranking House member of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, gave voice to Republican frustrations.

Ive got to tell you, this is an open door to misuse of absentee ballots, hands down, she said. I dont understand why we have no protections in place for this. Are you kidding me? After what happened in Bridgeport, not only does this bill not address any protections whatsoever, doesnt put anybody really in jail for committing absentee ballot fraud, does nothing to stop what happened in Bridgeport. But, nooo, what this body is doing, eh, lets just expand it even further and make it even easier for people to cheat the system and put nothing in place for protections to protect the integrity of our elections. Mr. Speaker, its so outrageous to me, I cant even comprehend it.

Mastrofrancesco and other Republicans objected to the Democrats loading the mail-in voting bill with provisions from the election interference bill and two other election-related bills.

The amended bill generally would ban federal, state and local law enforcement officers and agents from using force to arrest, search or detain anyone within the proposed 250-foot buffer zone. There would be an exception for a search, detention or arrest authorized by a legal judicial warrant, provided the secretary of the state and the state attorney general are notified 24 hours in advance. There would also be an exemption for exigent circumstances to protect against a serious threat to life or property.

There would also be a general prohibition against law enforcement officers and agents wearing masks within 250 feet of polling places and other listed election locations. But there would be exceptions for medical, religious or weather-related reasons.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters outside the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Last week, the Trump administration announced it was suing the state of Connecticut and the city of New Haven over immigration policies the federal government says makes them "sanctuary" jurisdictions.

Recent history suggests, however, the suit might not get very far.

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Over the past year, courts have thrown out several similar Trump administration suits against other states and cities that restrict cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Many of these cases, experts note, have raised issues courts previously ruled on during Trump's first term.

Sheila Hayre, a law professor at Quinnipiac who specializes in immigration law, said she found little novel about the administration's suit against Connecticut and New Haven.

"I really wanted to read it because I thought we might see some new and interesting arguments that hadn't already been raised in prior administrations in prior decades," Hayre said. "I was actually surprised to see that it doesn't really raise any interesting issues that haven't already been hashed out by the courts."

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The Justice Department complaint seeks to invalidate Connecticut's Trust Act, which limits how and when local police can share information with federal immigration agents, as well as local policies enacted in New Haven.

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The suit, which names Gov. Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker as defendants, accuses Connecticut officials of "obstructing and refusing to comply with federal immigration laws over a period of years," which it says "has resulted in countless criminals being released into Connecticut who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States."

While the Trump administration claims Connecticut's Trust Act is "illegal under federal law," state officials say this isn't true, arguing they are not obligated to help immigration authorities do their jobs.

Our laws do not prevent federal authorities from enforcing immigration law," Lamont said in a statement last week. "Rather, they reflect a longstanding principle: the federal government cannot require states to use their personnel or resources to carry out federal enforcement responsibilities."

Tong, in a statement, promised he and other other defendants would "fight this lawless attack with every fiber of our being."

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In similar cases, courts have almost uniformly found in favor of the defendants and against the Trump administration. One federal judge dismissed a suit against Illinois, ruling the Trump administration lacked standing to sue. Another threw out a similar suit against the city of Denver and state of Colorado, concluding that "Colorado and Denver have the right to refuse to expend their resources to implement a federal regulatory program." A third dismissed a suit against Rochester, New York on technical grounds.

Additional suits, against New York City, Los Angeles, Boston and others, remain pending.

Courts have also shot down other Trump administration efforts to deter cities and states from maintaining welcoming stances toward immigrants. A federal judge late last year upheld a New York law limiting immigration arrests near courthouses, and multiple judges have blocked the federal government from withholding federal funds from jurisdiction it considers to have "sanctuary" policies.

Though federal law supercedes state law in many contexts, Hayre said, the Trump administration has no right to tell state and local police how they should employ their resources.

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"States have the right to use their law enforcement," she said. "State law enforcement is state law enforcement."

The administration, she said, is "wasting everybody's time rehashing these legal issues"

Mike Lawlor, a criminal justice professor at the University of New Haven, may not be perfectly objective about the Trust Act, having been part of then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration when the law originally passed in 2013. Still, he agrees with Hayre's assessment that the issue is cut-and-dried: The statute does not violate any federal laws, he said, and the Trump administration has no basis to contest it.

"They haven't really in their lawsuit said which federal law they claim Connecticut or New Haven is actually violating," Lawlor said. "My takeaway is it's just performative."

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Lawlor said he can't envision a scenario where the courts side with the Trump administration, given how they have ruled in similar cases.
File photo of U.S. District Court in New Haven. Federal officials say Michael Meade, an Old Saybrook man and owner of Innovative Components in Southington, has been charged with multiple tax offenses. Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  An Old Saybrook man who owns a Southington business has been charged for allegedly working to avoid paying years of taxes, officials say.

In a release, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut David Sullivan said a grand jury in federal court in New Haven returned a 20-count indictment charging 61-year-old Michael Joseph Meade, of Old Saybrook, and Chet Lee West, a 70-year-old North Carolina man, with multiple tax offenses.

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Sullivan said the indictment was returned on April 8 and Meade and West appeared in court on Wednesday. They said Meade is detained pending a hearing in New Haven on Thursday, while West is released on a $25,000 bond pending an arraignment on May 7.

Sullivan said Meade had owned and operated Innovative Components LLC and subsequently owned Liquidlevel.com LLC  a Southington-based business engaged in the manufacturing and sale of liquid level float control mechanisms. He said Meade has a federal tax obligation of approximately $2.5 million for the years 2001 through 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Since about 2016, Sullivan said, Meade has attempted to evade the payment of his tax obligation in various ways. He said the evasion tactics included withdrawing large amounts of cash and purchasing cashiers checks from his business accounts and using the funds for personal expenditures.

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Sullivan said Meade's other tactics included depositing company funds into a family members trust account and transferring company funds to cryptocurrency wallets and accounts that he controlled. He said he also established new business bank accounts with a different company name, taxpayer identification numbers and employer identification numbers.

Others parts of the scheme, Sullivan said, saw Meade notifying customers that he was no longer connected with his business and directing them to send payments to the newly opened bank account associated with a new TIN. He said the Old Saybrook man also used a shell company to purchase a personal vacation property in Maine and opened bank accounts using a false social security number.

Sullivan said the indictment further alleges Meade, beginning in 2021, conspired with West to structure various financial transactions in an effort to obstruct the IRS from assessing and collecting Meades federal tax obligation. He said Meade and West also conspired to provide fraudulent tax-related information to customers of Meades business and to cause false information and false documents to be filed with the IRS.

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Sullivan said Meade is charged with one count of tax evasion, five counts of failure to file a tax return, five counts of attempts to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws, one count of conspiracy to obstruct and defeat the IRS and seven counts of aiding or assisting in the filing of false documents.

He said West is charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct and defeat the Internal Revenue Service, five counts of attempts to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws and seven counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false documents.

Both men could face years in prison, if found guilty.
Liz Hardaway is a breaking news reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

She was a Hearst fellow in Connecticut and at the San Antonio Express-News where she covered city hall and local issues. She also worked at the Sun Newspapers in Southwest Florida as a general assignment reporter covering politics, business, and health.

Liz graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2018 with a B.A. in journalism. She enjoys cooking, reading and playing with her dachshund, Finn.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 67F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
You are the owner of this article.
Rep. Brian Glorioso, R-Slidell, left, sponsored House Bill 132, which would expand the definition of battery to include intentionally directing a loud sound at someone if it could injure them.
Mayor Helena Moreno speaks during an event marking her first 100 days in office at Gallier Hall in New Orleans on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune)
An internationally recognised classical music festival is set to bring leading performers and rare works to a historic Devon venue next month.

The English Music Festival will take place from May 22 to 25, marking a new chapter for Dartington Hall, which has long been associated with artistic and musical innovation.

READ NEXT: Future of Devons Little Poland care home near Newton Abbot in doubt

For decades, Dartington was known globally for its Summer School, attracting musicians and audiences from across the world.

Organisers say the festivals arrival will help revive that legacy following the programmes relocation in recent years.

Festival founder-director Em Marshall-Luck told The Moorlander the setting made it an ideal home for the event.

We are utterly delighted to be bringing the nationally significant English Music Festival to Dartington Hall in Devon, and cannot think of a more fitting venue for our Festival,

Dartington is steeped in the history of English music and is the most beautiful and atmospheric of locations.

It will be wonderful to have this historic venue ringing to the sounds of Purcell, Elgar and Holst with our Festival this May.

ABOVE: Founderdirector Em MarshallLuck (Image credit: Frances Marshall)

The programme will feature a mix of internationally acclaimed artists and locally connected performers.

Among those appearing are the London Mozart Players, horn player Ben Goldscheider, tenor James Gilchrist and cellist Raphael Wallfisch.

They will be joined by mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean and early music group The Telling, alongside local musicians including Peter Cigleris and the University of Exeter Chapel Choir.

The festival is known for showcasing lesser-heard English music alongside more familiar works, with organisers highlighting a number of premieres and rare performances this year.

These include works by composers such as Alan Rawsthorne, David Lewiston Sharpe, John Foulds and Edgar Bainton.

Marshall-Luck said the festival was created to shine a light on overlooked repertoire.

The English Music Festival was set up to give a platform to neglected English music, primarily of the late 19th to early 20th century, which it places alongside well-known works, she told The Moorlander.

Audiences can also expect two concert-style productions unique to this years programme, including a performance exploring the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams and his wife Ursula, and a theatrical concert centred on Henry Purcell.

Organisers say community support will be key to the festivals future in Devon.

Marshall-Luck said the long-term presence of the event at Dartington would depend on audience turnout.

We would love to make Devon our home, but it depends on local support, she said.

She added that local people had already been helping with publicity and hosting, with hopes to expand outreach work in future, including engagement with schools.

Concert bookings are now open, and members of the press have been invited to attend performances during the four-day event.
For John Hopkins, life has gone full circle.

The Torbay care home he and his late wife Jane spent a good chunk of their lives turning into a safe and caring community all of its own is now home to him, albeit on a day care basis.

It was way back in 1981, when former Merchant Navy man John converted Harbour Rise from a hotel into a care home.

Current owners Mark Edwards and his wife Cecile bought the Paignton home from Hopkins 18 years ago. But John has never been too far away and now the man who once owned and shaped the home attends Harbour Rise as part of its day care community.

He arrives with his small dog, Rosie, who is something of a celebrity among residents and staff.

Rosies very popular, Mark says.

John, now 82, enjoys lunch, occasionally a beer from the fridge kept especially for him, and the company.

Hes like a VIP, the staff joke.

For Mark, Johns return is quietly powerful. If the person who built the home trusts you enough to come back as a client, that says something.

When John first turned Harbour Rise into a care home, most of the residents were independent enough to stroll into Paignton for tea and coffee. Can you imagine that now? new boss Mark smiles.

Today, the proportion of residents living with dementia is significantly higher. Profiling beds have replaced standard frames.

Digital systems sit alongside paper files. Cyber security backups protect sensitive data. Care standards are inspected, scrutinised and benchmarked at levels that simply did not exist four decades ago.

And yet, despite the vast change in the care landscape, something essential at Harbour Rise has remained constant: continuity and first class care.

When they first bought Harbour Rise Mark and Cecile described themselves as a very green young couple stepping into an industry far removed from their previous careers in finance and software.

It was nerve-wracking, Mark admits. It was a massive risk. It would be like me buying the Imperial Hotel tomorrow. You think you understand it, but theres so much to learn.

The couple were welcomed warmly by John and Jane. In fact, during the early months, they stayed at their house on Roundham Road while transitioning into ownership.

Even when they later moved back to London, regulatory requirements meant regular visits and evenings often ended with gin and tonics shared between old and new custodians. It wasnt just a transaction, Mark reflects. They were incredibly kind to us.

That generosity shaped the culture that Harbour Rise continues to embody. John, a former manager of Currys in Paignton, had run the home with hands-on determination.

He was used to leading, making decisions and doing things his way, including driving his Volvo estate to Booker to collect supplies himself.

He liked to do things personally, Mark says. We wanted to modernise, bring in deliveries, introduce laptops, digital systems.

There were occasional clashes of style. At one point he said to me, You need to let me know whether Im running this place or youre running it. And I owned it, Mark laughs. But what could have become friction instead evolved into mutual respect.

Over time, John stepped back, allowing Mark and Cecile to shape the home in their own way. We were ready to make our own mistakes, Mark says. And thats important. The early years were not without challenges.

The 2008 financial crisis hit shortly after they took over. Balancing finances while raising a young family demanded resilience. We just had energy, Mark says simply. A hell of a lot of energy.

Much has evolved since 2007. When we first bought the home, maybe five of the 22 residents had dementia, Mark explains. Now that proportion is much higher.

The shift reflects broader demographic changes across the UK. Equipment has advanced too: profiling beds, stand aids, digital documentation systems, secure data backups. You have to move with the times, Mark says. Otherwise you get left behind.

Harbour Rise operates on Microsoft business systems and recently invested in additional cybersecurity protection.

These measures may not be visible to visitors enjoying tea in the Harbour Rise Cafe, a warm communal space designed to help families relax during visits, but they form part of the operational backbone that has helped the home achieve and retain an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission.

First awarded in 2019 and successfully retained upon reinspection in 2024, the rating represents the highest possible standard in care. Its as good as you can get, Mark says. And it takes effort,and investment.

That commitment has also been recognised externally. Harbour Rise has now been named among the Top 20 Care Homes in the South West by carehome.co.uk for the seventh consecutive year.

Cecile describes the recognition as deeply meaningful: She says: We are truly delighted to have received this award for the seventh year in a row. Being recognised as one of the top 20 care homes in the South West means so much to us, and we are incredibly grateful. The wonderful, heartfelt reviews we receive reflect the warmth, dedication and quality of care experienced every day at Harbour Rise Care Home, and we couldnt be prouder of our team and community.

John himself is modest about his journey. When asked about selling the business to a young couple nearly two decades ago, he shrugs lightly. You wouldnt want anyone not enthusiastic to do something like this, would you?

In many ways, the atmosphere remains the same: light-hearted, friendly, rooted in human connection. Its just a special atmosphere, Mark says. A feel-good factor.

Harbour Rise is, at its heart, a family-run home. Generations of staff have worked here. Former managers live nearby. Daughters follow mothers into roles. Community ties run deep.

Walking through the building, there is a sense of continuity that extends beyond ownership or awards. It is felt in the laughter, in the familiarity of names remembered, in the dog weaving between chairs.

From handwritten invoices to cloud-based systems. From residents strolling into town to specialised dementia care.

From Booker cash-and-carry runs to structured supply chains. The industry has changed dramatically. But Harbour Rise remains, fundamentally, what it always aimed to be: a place where people feel safe, valued and known.

And in Johns return, greeted warmly, beer chilled, Rosie at his side, the story comes beautifully full circle.
More than 250 people have turned out to protest against a proposed housing development at Topsham.

Placard-waving objectors registered their opposition to the plans for Mays Field, which they say is one of the last remaining green spaces in the town. And, they say, the demo was just the start of a campaign of action that will continue until the developer withdraws plans to build 76 properties there.

Local firm Salter Property has consulted local people on the plans and intends to submit a formal planning application soon. The company says its homes will celebrate the rich history of Topsham while delivering much-needed, sustainable new housing. And, it says, the development will have a green and open character.

The firm has spent two years developing the plans, and displayed them during a public exhibition in Topsham in December. It says 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable for people with a local connection.

The company has been involved in recent housing projects at Lympstone and Woodbury. It says the Mays Field project includes providing public access to woodland areas and community spaces

The protesters gathered at the entrance to the proposed development on Monmouth Street, close to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reserve on Bowling Green Road.

The event was co-ordinated by the Mays Action Group, which is fighting Lympstone-based Salter Propertys plans to build on the nine-acre plot which is inside the Topsham Conservation Area.

Group spokesperson James Hancock said: Building on Mays Field would have a horrendous impact on a beautiful green space and an adverse impact on the nearby bird reserve which is internationally renowned.

The development would create a significant risk of harm for cyclists and walkers due to the narrow access to the proposed site. Thousands of visitors access this part of Topsham each year and are key contributors to the local economy. The area is widely revered as one of Devons most diverse and valuable assets, one that makes the nearby City of Exeter so special.

The demonstration followed concerns from the RSPB about housing less than 100 metres from its reserve.

Mr Hancock added: For the health and wellbeing of nature, wildlife, the environment and for all those who cherish this special place, we demand Salter Property abandon its unwanted and harmful proposed development of Mays Field so that this precious, unspoiled resource can be preserved for generations to come.
The Home Office has warned that local businesses dodging strict immigration laws are leaving vulnerable staff open to exploitation.

Raj Hundal, the Home Office lead for immigration enforcement licensing compliance, told Exeter councillors that businesses offering people the chance to work illegally encourage people to break the countrys immigration laws.

READ NEXT: Earth Day marked in Devon with Dartmoor climate push and Plymouth Attenborough project

Illegal working leads to businesses not playing by the rules, he told members of the city councils licensing sub-committee as they met to decide on the premises licence for the Curry King restaurant in Heavitree Road.

The Home Office had applied for the licence to be revoked after an Immigration Compliance Enforcement (ICE) team swooped on the curry house in April last year and found two illegal workers.

The company behind the restaurant was handed a 45,000 civil penalty, which has not yet been paid.

The head chef told ICE officers he worked there six hours a day, six days a week, and received just 50 in cash from the owner. A second worker ran away and later denied working at Curry King, saying he was just there to eat.

Principal licensing officer Nigel Marston told the meeting the restaurant had failed to meet the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder by allowing illegal working.

He said the two people currently named as licence holders had not been involved in the business for around 15 years, and that the current owner was happy to surrender the licence.

He added that the current food business operator had not been there at the time of the Home Office visit; the one who was had disappeared off the face of the planet.

Mr Hundal told the meeting: The ability to work illegally is a key driver of illegal immigration. It encourages people to break immigration laws.

It encourages people to take risks trying to enter the UK and leaves those people vulnerable to exploitative employers.

He said the visit to Curry King had come as a result of intelligence about potential illegal working taking place there. One of the workers was a long-term illegal entrant to the country, while the other was a visitor who had overstayed his visa.

The business operator could easily have prevented crime and disorder taking place, he added. If he had done a right-to-work check, they would have failed.

A revocation of the licence is the most proportionate option.

Members of the committee will publish their decision within five working days.
Brittany Ferries has promised passengers that there will be no fuel surcharges or price hikes for the remainder of the 2026 season, including all departures from Plymouth's Millbay Docks, as bookings on its West Country routes surge amid growing chaos in the airline industry.

The pledge comes as the company reports a 37 per cent group-wide rise in summer reservations over the past fortnight.

Exclusively, the Gazette can reveal that Plymouth's two key routes are outpacing even that strong average: bookings made in the last fortnight for July and August travel show the PlymouthRoscoff service up 38 per cent, while the PlymouthSantander route has seen a 36 per cent rise over the same period.

Perhaps most telling for the region, Brittany Ferries has confirmed to this newspaper that 29 per cent of all new bookings across its network originate from the South West.

Today we make a clear promise to customers, said Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries. If you have booked with us, or are considering doing so, we will get you to a beautiful and safe holiday destination this year. Period.

Airlines and industry bodies have warned in recent weeks of imminent kerosene shortages, service cancellations and significant price rises, largely driven by instability in the Middle East.

Several travel operators have already introduced fuel surcharges, a move Brittany Ferries has publicly condemned.

Mathieu was blunt in his assessment: Conflict or other global uncertainty should not be used as the basis for knee-jerk price hikes. It is absolutely the unacceptable face of capitalism.

The company says the surcharges being levied by some rivals are the consequence of poor financial planning.

Operators, including Brittany Ferries, say they hedge their fuel contracts, locking in prices months in advance so that wholesale market fluctuations have little impact on operating costs.

Others, the company argues, gambled on a swift resolution to Middle East tensions and lost.

Some companies did not play safe and hedge, crossing fingers and praying for a swift end to turmoil in the gulf, the ferry operator said. Now, like bad gamblers, they look to others to cover their losses.

The company has confirmed that this no-surcharge promise applies explicitly to all sailings from Millbay Docks for the duration of the 2026 season, covering both passengers who have already booked and those yet to do so.

The surge in demand from Plymouth has prompted questions about whether additional capacity could be added on local routes.

The company says that while no extra vessels are available sadly we don't have any spare ferries, a spokesperson confirmed, there remains strong availability across the existing schedule.

Brittany Ferries currently operates ten sailings per week from Plymouth to both Roscoff and Santander, with a matching ten return sailings per week from each destination.

The company says it is confident this frequency is sufficient to meet demand for the summer season.

Suppliers have also guaranteed an uninterrupted flow of all maritime fuels, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), heavy fuel oil (HFO) and marine gas oil (MGO), removing any risk of the cancellations now haunting parts of the aviation sector.

Brittany Ferries operates routes from Plymouth to Roscoff and Santander, as well as services from Portsmouth and Poole to five destinations in France, two in northern Spain, and Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
More than one in four people with multiple sclerosis say fear of being judged has stopped them leaving the house, according to new national research published during MS Awareness Week.

The findings come as an Exeter charity, which supports around 400 people a month, says harmful assumptions about the condition remain widespread.

Marie Frankum, from Exeter, was diagnosed with MS at 49. She lost her job, stopped driving and spent months struggling to leave her home.

People assume you're fine because you look well, she said. But MS doesn't always show on the outside.

Her experience reflects a pattern identified in a survey of more than 1,600 people living with MS in the UK, carried out by a coalition of eight charities for this year's campaign.

It found 81 per cent had been told they don't look sick.

Almost two thirds said they had felt judged or treated differently because of their condition. And nine in 10 said a lack of public knowledge about MS was directly contributing to those assumptions.

The South West MS Therapy Centre, based at West Grange, Clyst Heath, in the Digby area of Exeter, supports people across Devon and the wider South West.

It is run entirely on donations and volunteers.

Caroline Aird, the centre's chief executive, said the gap between how people with MS appear and how they feel was one of the most persistent misunderstandings she encounters.

MS can result in fatigue, poor balance, muscle weakness, altered sensation, bladder and bowel issues and sight problems, she said.

It presents differently in every single person and can fluctuate from day to day, which can be very hard for people to understand.

None of us truly know what someone else is living with.

Stuart Pearce, who lives near Exeter, was forced to leave his career in teaching because of MS-related fatigue.

He says one of his symptoms is routinely misread by strangers.

People might think you've had a few drinks when your balance goes, he said. You can look fine and still be struggling.

Jackie Dowden, a trustee at the centre who also uses its services, says fatigue is her biggest daily challenge, though it is invisible to anyone who sees her in the street.

You can look fine and still be exhausted," she said. That's why challenging assumptions matters.

For Marie, attending the centre changed the course of her illness.

Through hyperbaric oxygen therapy and physiotherapy, she has regained both confidence and mobility.

I've gone from walking with aids to walking indoors without them, she said.

Ms Aird said the centre did not want people to feel they had to justify or explain their condition to others.

We shouldn't all have to wear a lanyard to prove that we are living with challenges, she said.

The national research also found that one in two people with MS had been challenged for using accessible facilities, and that more than half had avoided doing so for fear of being questioned.

The South West MS Therapy Centre can be found at West Grange, Clyst Heath, Exeter, EX2 7EY. Donations can be made via its website.

The Chard Rock music festival in August will also be raising funds for the charity.

MS Awareness Week runs from 20 to 26 April.
Che Jingang is not your usual 14-year-old middle school student. After developing a passion for aeronautics at a very early age, he started studying the basics, taught himself calculus, and is now building a functional turbojet engine by hand.

Che was only in kindergarten when he became fascinated with paper planes. He noticed the difference between throwing a paper ball and launching a paper plane by hand, and was curious what made the plane float the way it did. Before long, he turned his house into an experimental laboratory for paper planes, but that was only the beginning.

According to his parents, Che once dedicated three hours each day to reading science books on aeronautics, and by the third grade, he was already teaching himself calculus, aerodynamics, printed circuit board circuitry, as well as working with complex software like SolidWorks, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

At one point, he discovered online tutorials and decided to build something practical himself. He focused mostly on video tutorials on Duoyin (Chinas version of TikTok), and progressed to the point where he decided to build a miniature functional jet engine. But he didnt just want to copy someone elses design and call it a day. He wanted to design the thing himself, using his acquired knowledge.

Some people publish blueprints online, but if I just copied them directly, I felt it would be meaningless, Che Jiangping told China Youth Daily. I wouldnt learn anything, and it would be a waste of time.

To fulfil his dream, the young whiz kid started designing every little component from scratch, making his own 2D engineering drawings in CAD, building 3D models in SolidWorks, calculating airflow, temperature, and pressure using simulation software. He began documenting every process by uploading clips on Douyin, and before long, he started interacting with like-minded people.

Fellow enthusiasts shared advice in the comment section, others cheered him on, and some even offered to 3D-print his components for free. Within six months, he already had a prototype. Unfortunately, the test was a failure, as Che himself identified problems with the fuel, the combustion chamber design, and the compressor alignment. But he didnt let that setback curb his ambition.

Nothing can be successfully accomplished on the first try. Even if I didnt succeed, I learned something, and that gives me the motivation to build it a second time, the teen said.

Che Jingang is already working on a new and improved version of a functional turbojet engine and is getting ready to test it. Meanwhile, most kids his age are busy playing Fortnite and wasting their time on social media.
Having been born in the US is tied for dead last in the What does it mean to be American survey conducted by Ipsos US Public Affairs to honor the nations 250th anniversary.

At 36 percent, it was tied with protesting actions you think are wrong and flying the American flag.

Treating people of all backgrounds equally topped the list at 84 percent. Believing in freedom, justice and equality ranked next at 83 percent, followed by voting in elections at 70 percent.

Ipsos found that only half of the respondents say being an American is an important part of how I think about myself. Forty eight percent dont think about being American that much.

Older people believe being American is a large part of their identity. For baby boomers (61 years+) its 65 percent and for Gen X (45-60) its 52 percent.

It's just not so for younger people. Being American is not a big part of the lives of Millennials (29-44) and Gen Z (18-28). They are tied at 39 percent.

The survey found that super partisanship is a huge turn-off for Americans. A solid majority (57 percent) say we are divided over a lot of issues and we are splitting apart as a country. Only 40 percent believe theres still more that unites us.

A dispiriting high number of us dont trust our fellow citizens. Sixty three percent of the respondents say others "put their own interest ahead of doing more to help the country.

It might be time to retire JFKs Ask not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your country call for civic engagement. It seems to be falling flat.

Man overboard As the US Navy assembles a massive fleet to enforce the blockade of Iran, and president Trump issues a shoot-to-kill order against boats putting mines into the Strait of Hormuz, defense secretary Pete Hegseth fires Navy secretary John Phelan.

Pete was reportedly miffed that billionaire Phelan is a buddy of his boss and was stealing some of his spotlight. Phelan lives a short stroll from Mar-a-Lago.

The Holy Roller defense secretary especially took issue when Phelan pitched the idea of a new Trump-class battleship directly to the president.

Tensions between Hegseth and Phelan have been simmering for months so whats the rush, Pete? Firing Phelan is a bad PR look. A PR counselor would have told you to hold off on canning Phelan at least until the current fiasco in Iran is over.

FTI Consultings $10M Man Total compensation for FTI CEO Steven Gunby crossed the $10M line in 2025, according to the companys proxy for the June 3 annual meeting at its DC office. He chalked up a 14.3 percent pay boost to $10,273,735.

Gunby was richly rewarded because FTI achieved record revenues, EPS and adjusted EPS. The past year marked the eighth year in a row of revenue growth and 11 consecutive years of adjusted EPS growth.

The firm also scored record results in the strategic communications, corporate finance and forensics & litigation consulting practices.

The good news for FTI: 68-year-old Gunby will be around for a while. His employment contract runs through June 6, 2029 and automatically renews for one-year periods unless he is terminated or decides to exit after giving 120 days or 90 days of written notice.

FTI also shelled out hefty compensation hikes to Curtis Lu, general counsel, and Paul Linton, chief strategy/transformation officer and interim CFO.

Lus compensation soared 88.7 percent to $4,649,840. Lintons package rose 81.9 percent to $4,349,918 but that comp comes with an asterisk.

According to the proxy, Linton got a $700,000 cash bonus awarded on December 19, 2025, which is subject to repayment if he resigns his employment for any reason (other than death or disability) or is terminated for cause before the second anniversary of the payment date.

FTI posted a paltry 2.4 percent hike in 2025 revenues to $3.8M. Net income slipped 3.3 percent to $270.8M. It will report its Q1 financial results on April 30.

Banned in the USA The American Library Association says 4,235 books were banned during 2025, the second highest number ever of challenged books. In 2023, 2,240 books were banned.

It reports the vast majority (92 percent) of book challenges came from pressure groups, government officials and opinion-shapers. Thats up from 72 percent in 2024. Less than three percent of the challenges came from parents.

In 2025, book bans were not sparked by concerned parents, and they were not the result of local grassroots efforts, said Sarah Lamdan, executive director of ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom. They were part of a well-funded, politically-driven campaign to suppress the stories and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals and communities.

Forty percent of the titles challenged books deal with the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.

Patricia McCormicks Sold, which deals with sex trafficking in India, ranked as the most banned book.

Rounding out the list of the Top 11 banned books are The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Gender Queer: A Memoir, Empire of Storms, The Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Tricks, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Clockwork Orange, Identical, Looking for Alaska, and Storm and Fury.

Escaping the fate of McCarthy Will Kevin Warsh, who is Donald Trumps choice to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Bank chair, avoid the fate of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy?

Trump referred to the California Congressman as My Kevin because of his constant fawning over the president and his willingness to blindly follow his commands. It shredded McCarthys credibility.

Trump has already made his move on Warshs independence. He has suggested that perhaps he should set up an office near the Oval Office until renovations are completed at the Fed Reserve building. Ha, ha.

At his Senate confirmation hearing, Louisiana Republican John Kennedy asked Warsh if he was going to be the presidents human sock puppet?

Well see how long it takes before Trump is calling Warsh My Kevin.
A WARNING that the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 risks becoming a stealth ban on domestic peat production, leaving Irelands horticulture sector and food producers dangerously exposed to imported supplies has been made by Deputy Carol Nolan.

The Independent TD raised the issue directly with the Taoiseach during Leaders Questions in the Dail last week.

The Offaly TD said:While the government has already instituted a ban on the commercial sale, advertising and retail of turf, the Taoiseachs response confirmed the long-term policy direction for peat when he explicitly stated that the trajectory of travel has been trying to wean ourselves off commercial extraction of peat.

We are importing thousands of tonnes of peat and briquettes into this country every year while at the same time banning Irish people from buying turf from their local shop. Indeed, former Minister Charlie McConalogue previously outlined that 32 thousand tonnes of peat were imported into the country in 2022, and staggeringly over 30,000t of that came from Northern Ireland.

READ NEXT: CEOL AGUS CRAIC: Over 600 competitors to descend on Offaly for Fleadh 2026

So, we can ship in peat from the Baltic states and the counties around Belfast, but you cant buy it from a shop in Banagher.

Instead, we criminalise the sale of our own domestic resource. This is economic madness.

Deputy Nolan described the Taoiseachs admission as extremely serious.

We are already seeing the impact of the turf sale ban on rural households. Now the latest Environmental Act threatens to finish off what remains of our domestic peat industry. Small-scale producers under 30 hectares, which are the backbone of supply for Irish horticulture are telling me that because of this Act, they face being reclassified under expanded regulations in Section 99H that now capture past and potential activity as well as current extraction. The major fear is that this will push the vast majority over licensing thresholds and force them to close.

The result is absolutely clear; domestic peat supply will effectively end. Growers, especially in the mushroom sector, will be forced to rely on imported peat that costs approximately double, with all the added transport emissions and supply-chain risks that brings. This does nothing for the environment, and it simply exports the problem abroad while undermining Irish food production and rural jobs.

What we need as a matter of urgency is for a practical, legally robust framework with appropriate environmental screening and clear exemptions to allow sustainable domestic supply to continue, Deputy Nolan continued:

Many in the industry fear this is a stealth piece of legislation designed to achieve through the back door what the government has not been able to do openly, and that is shut down commercial peat extraction entirely. We now have confirmation from the Taoiseach that this is the case.

READ NEXT: Series of cycling events organised for National Bike Week at venues throughout Offaly

Deputy Nolan said she hopes to meet with the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh OBrien, to seek immediate assurances and the reintroduction of targeted exemptions for small-scale peat producers.
A busy junction in the centre of Roscrea town has been described as a "free for all" by a local Councillor, who is calling for a trial run of traffic safety measures.

Rosemary Square in Roscrea town centre is built around the Fancy Fountain and is the point where six roads converge in a double staggered junction and causes much confusion for visiting motorists unfamiliar with the heritage town.

A local Councillor described entering the junction as a game of "Russian roulette" for motorists and pedestrians and told the April monthly meeting of the Municipal Council for the Roscrea are on Monday (April 20) the junction becomes a "free for all" in times of heavy traffic.

"Something needs to be done on a trial basis," Councillor Shane Lee (Ind Lowry Team) said, adding he "understands it is a massive undertaking, but it is one of the worst junctions in the District."

"Entering the junction from beside Douglas' shop towards the town centre is very dangerous," he said.

READ NEXT: New Living Well programme in Roscrea

The meeting heard that Irish Water are currently engaged in a large project at Rosemary Square which is adding to traffic disruptions and what traffic safety measures might be introduced as a solution will be examined when those works conclude.a
Children in the care of Tusla are being raped, groomed and killed, the Dail has been told.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin raised the matter following an RTE Investigates programme into the obscene care of children which was broadcast on Wednesday night.

He told the Dail: Young children are being taken from very difficult backgrounds, from their parents, and theyre being placed into special emergency arrangements.

These are often unregulated. Often have staff that are unvetted, and some of those staff dont even have references.

During Leaders Questions on Thursday, he said children were being moved around on multiple occasions within a short space of time.

He said there were cases of children sleeping in car parks and broken down cars.

Theyre being groomed by crack cocaine dealers, he said.

Children are being sexually abused while in the care of Tusla.

Children are being raped in the care of Tusla and known to Tusla at the moment.

Mr Toibin said there was a case where a 14-year-old girl who went missing from Tusla was found a year later in a brothel and had been the victim of unimaginable exploitation.

He also told the Dail: Children are being killed in the care of Tusla and known to Tusla.

Mr Toibin said Tusla could not be used as an insulating blanket to protect the Government from responsibility.

Tanaiste Simon Harris told the Dail the vast majority of children in care are thriving and being well looked after, but said there were harrowing failures in some cases.

Mr Harris commended RTE Investigates as well as the children and those with experiences of the care system for participating.

He said very vulnerable children had endured horrors while being in the care of the State.

Mr Harris said there were very many fine people working in extraordinarily difficult circumstances in Tusla.

On the special emergency arrangements, Mr Harris said: This is effectively where the State becomes reliant on a private operator to provide accommodation in an emergency situation.

It is good to see that the reliance on that is being reduced, though still too high.

I think it has been reduced from around 170 children in special emergency arrangements last year to now down to 70.

Mr Harris said Tusla had stopped working with six centres and five centres had been referred to An Garda Siochana.

Pressed for an answer on accountability and resourcing for the care system, the Tanaiste said: I think we need to be very careful here.

Theres extraordinarily harrowing cases that deserve, require the full investigation.

He added: But we also should acknowledge that Tusla isnt the problem here.

Tusla are working with children very, very vulnerable and very complex situations, and the vast majority  its not acceptable for any child, by the way, any child to have an adverse or bad experience- but it is important to say that theres around 6,000 in our care system living with foster parents, living in registered centres.

The matter was raised a short time later by Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty, who said: This is systemic and it is a politic failure.

Mr Harris said he had a conversation with Tusla chief executive Kate Duggan following the programme.

They are making real progress in terms of reducing the reliance on SEAs.

Labour TD Mark Ward asked if Government would launch an investigation into the findings of the RTE programme.

Mr Harris said: Government will of course want to receive a full report from Tusla in relation to this.

He said there has been a reduction in reliance on SEAs, adding that it should be accelerated.
French Pulp Producer Fibre Excellence Has Filed for Insolvency

Fibre Excellence, which operates two pulp mills in the south of France, reported a liquidity shortfall estimated at several tens of millions of euros. Fibre Excellence, which operates two pulp mills in the south of France, reported a liquidity shortfall estimated at several tens of millions of euros.

April 23, 2026 - After months of searching for a long-term financial solution to avoid bankruptcy, Fibre Excellence filed for insolvency with the commercial court of Toulouse on April 13 and has now entered receivership proceedings.

The company reported a liquidity shortfall estimated at several tens of millions of euros.

Fibre Excellence operates two pulp mills in the south of France  one in Tarascon (Bouches-du-Rhone) and the other in Saint-Gaudens (Occitanie). The mills have a combined production capacity of 550,000 tons per year of unbleached or bleached pulp.

In a statement on April 13, Fiber Excellence said, "The potential opening of receivership proceedings will then depend on the judge's decision, expected at the end of April. This will depend on the final discussions with the government regarding the economic viability of our operations. Fibre Excellence remains convinced that a solution is still possible to maintain and develop a combined pulp and paper/renewable electricity industry in France."

On April 17, Fibre Excellence stated, "Following the latest discussions between the shareholder and the State, no solution has been found to prevent the group from being placed under the protection of the Commercial Court. Following the filing of the declaration of cessation of payments on April 15, the court will hear from management and employee representatives on April 21, before issuing its ruling on April 27 regarding the continuation of operations.

"To date, industrial activity continues. Management thanks the Occitanie and Sud Regions, as well as the State, for their sustained involvement in the effort to avoid insolvency proceedings."

SOURCE: Industry News Reports
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Cook Inlet Energy field on west side of Cook Inlet produces both oil and gas; Sabre Prospect on hold over finances, geologic risk

Glacier Oil & Gas

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas has approved Cook Inlet Energy's 2026 plan of development for its West McArthur River unit. The April 8 POD approval is for May 1 through April 30, 2027.

Acting division Director Haley Paine said the plan protects the public interest "by maintaining production, implementing cost-effective solutions to handle increasing water cuts from existing WMRU wells, converting an existing shut-in well into produced water" injection and continuing evaluation of the Sabre prospect.

Production from March 1, 2025, through Jan. 31 of this year averaged 843 barrels of oil per day and 202,000 cubic feet of gas per day, with cumulative production of 16.67 million barrels of oil and 4.22 billion cubic feet of gas. Average daily production for the period represented a 6% decrease, compared to average production during the prior 12-month period.

2025 POD

During the 2025 POD, the 33rd for the unit, Cook Inlet Energy, a Glacier Oil and Gas company, had committed to:

Continuing exploration of ways to enhance production, manage production decline and increase total ultimate recovery;

Implementing cost-effective solutions for handling increased water cuts from unit wells through proper water disposal and possibly expanding its disposal operations to other shut-in wells;

Continuing evaluation and updating of the unit geological model for shallow gas potential;

Continuing evaluation of capital avenues and exploration and development options for the Sabre prospect;

Converting one of the existing shut-in wells to produced water injection;

Conducting site cleanup of unused equipment from the old West McArthur River unit facility; and

Conducting a caliper survey on the WMRU-4D Class I disposal well.

The division said CIE did reduce decline rates from 17% to 10% by optimizing ESP pump frequency and expanding water handling capacity. A surge tank was installed ahead of the injector pumps, allowing them to operate at full capacity, effectively mitigating "increasing water cuts from existing wells through improved water disposal."

The company also updated the West McArthur River geologic model to assess shallow gas potential, conducted a caliper survey on the Class 1 disposal well, WMRU-4D, and did summer site cleanup, removing "selected obsolete and unused process equipment."

However, "development of the Sabre Prospect, ongoing since 2014, has been constrained by capital limitations as well as geological and drilling risks."

The company was also unable to secure funding for conversion of a shut-into well into a produced water injector.

A well status included in the company's POD filing shows two injection wells, one Class 1 disposal well, four producing wells and one shut-in well.

2026 POD

The division said the 2026 POD for West McArthur River includes several of the 2025 operations, with some additional operations commitments:

Continuing exploration of ways to enhance production, manage decline and increase total ultimate recovery from existing wells;

Implementing cost-effective solutions for handling increasing water cuts from the unit's wells;

Continuing evaluation, updating to the unit's geological model for shallow gas potential;

Installing a 3-phase booster pump;

Continuing evaluation of capital avenues and development options for the Sabre Prospect;

Converting an existing shut-in well to a produced water injector; and

Conducting excavations on the unit's production flowline for external corrosion evaluation and performing in-line inspection assessments.
The Alaska Supreme Court has found in favor of the state in an appeal by the Municipality of Anchorage relating to production tax credits for gas from the Beluga River gas field on the western side of the Cook Inlet.

The dispute relates back to the time when Municipal Light & Power, a municipality owned electricity utility, had a two-thirds ownership interest in the Beluga field. ML&P obtained gas that it owned from the field, primarily to fuel its gas fueled power generation. In 2020 Chugach Electric Association purchased ML&P, to form a single electricity utility in Anchorage.

The tax credit dispute refers to gas produced during the 2014 and 2015 tax years.

Under state statutes ML&P, as a municipality owned utility, did not have to pay state production taxes on Beluga field gas that it used as fuel for its power generation. It only needed to pay tax on any Beluga gas that it sold to other businesses.

At the same time Cook Inlet gas producers, including ML&P, were entitled to tax credits for gas production. The tax credits were intended to incentivize investment in increased gas production and could be used by the company that had been granted the credits or, alternatively, could be traded to other companies.

Credits claimed for all production

Although ML&P only sold a small proportion of its Beluga gas to third parties, the municipality used the total ML&P Beluga field production to claim tax credits. The state rejected this approach, arguing that only gas that ML&P had sold qualified for determining the credits. Hence the lawsuit that has progressed through the state Office of Administrative Hearings and the state court system to the Supreme Court. The April 17 Supreme Court opinion presumably brings an end to the dispute.

At the core of the case was ambiguity in the tax credit statute. Essentially the statute said that municipal gas producers such as ML&P are eligible for tax credits to the same extent as any other producer. What exactly did this mean? Did it refer to all of ML&Ps Beluga gas, or only to the taxable gas sold to third parties?

The Supreme Court argued in its opinion that, based on legislative history, it appears that the legislature intended the credits to be calculated according to the value of gas that tax credit statutes define as taxable. And only the gas that ML&P sold was taxable. Hence the courts finding in favor of the states position.
Coleman Wins USPO $25K Finale; Wilson Claims Back-to-Back PGT Player of the Series Titles

Tyler Boyer Editor and Digital Media Executive Copy link

David Coleman closed out the 2026 U.S. Poker Open in style, winning Event #10: $25,000 No-Limit Holdem for $420,000 after defeating Kristen Foxen heads-up.

The final event drew 48 entries, with just seven players returning for Day 2 to play down to a winner. It also carried major Player of the Series implications, as Cherish Andrews entered the final table with a chance to overtake Brock Wilson for the title  adding extra weight to every decision down the stretch.

Event #10 U.S. Poker Open Final Table Results

Place Prize Prize 1 David Coleman $420,000 2 Kristen Foxen $264,000 3 Richard Green $174,000 4 Darren Elias $126,000 5 Jesse Lonis $96,000 6 Cherish Andrews $72,000 7 Ebony Kenney $48,000

Perfect Timing

Colemans path to victory started with a fast Day 1 after entering late. I registered max late and within like 90 minutes I had around four starting stacks, he said. Its always nice when you come in late and catch up with everybody immediately everything was going my way.

Coming into the final day with the chip lead, his approach stayed measured despite the pressure. I had a small chip lead so I had to pick my spots, Coleman explained. There were a couple of short stacks which really helped me leverage my chip lead I won a bunch of all-ins, made some hands postflop, and everything kind of went my way.

The win continues a strong run for Coleman, who has steadily built momentum over the past year. He had a strong showing at EPT Barcelona in 2025, which included four second place finishes. He then went on to win his first WSOP braclet and Trition title in December of 2025 at WSOP Paridise when he won the $125K NLH 7-Handed Triton Event for $3,113,000.

David Coleman

While his recognition continues to grow as one of the elites in the high stakes poker world, its not something he focuses on. Im not the one to care about that sort of thing Ill leave that to other people, he said. I think Im getting some recognition at this point, but its not something that really drives me.

With the summer approaching, Coleman plans to stay active in Las Vegas. Im gonna play a bunch of events, pick my spots Ill play almost all the big No-Limit and most of the big PLO, he said. It should be a good summer  Im pretty excited.

Cherish Falls Short; Brock Wins U.S. Poker Open Title

All eyes were also on Cherish Andrews, who entered the final table with a clear path to the Player of the Series title  she needed a win to pass her boyfriend, Brock Wilson.

After Ebony Kenney exited in seventh place, Andrews found herself as the clear short stack and began to make her move. She battled back with a pair of key double-ups, climbing to over one million in chips and putting herself back within striking distance.

However, momentum shifted after a bluff in a pot against Coleman didnt get through, sending Andrews back down the counts. Shortly after, her run came to an end in sixth place.

With that result, Andrews fell just short of the points needed, officially locking up the Player of the Series title for Wilson  who secures back-to-back major PGT Player of the Series wins.

Brock Wilson

Smooth Sailing's for Coleman

With just five players remaining, one of the biggest names in poker, Jesse Lonis, was eliminated in fifth place. He moved all-in with ace-three of diamonds against pocket fives but failed to improve.

Darren Elias was the clear short stack with four players left, but he managed to spin his stack up to second in chips.

However, a key mistake in a blind-versus-blind clash ended Eliass run in fourth place after he committed over a million chips with ace-six against Colemans ace-nine.

Coleman continued to assert his dominance by frequently raising and shoving to apply maximum pressure on the shorter stacks. He then scored another knockout with ace-nine, eliminating Richard Green and setting up a heads-up battle with Foxen.

Coleman Closes It Out

Coleman entered heads-up play with roughly a 6-to-1 chip lead and reduced Foxens stack to as low as 460,000 before she found a double-up to climb back over one million chips.

It then appeared Foxen might double again when she made trip queens on the river and bet 250,000. Coleman, holding just a pair of sixes, responded by shoving for Foxens remaining 500,000.

After using multiple time extensions, Foxen made a surprising fold, surrendering the pot and leaving herself extremely short-stacked.

Shortly after, Coleman finished the job by delivering a bad beat with queen-eight, cracking Foxens pocket tens to secure the title.

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Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 76F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Summerville, SC (29483)

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Rain. High 76F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Managing Editor - Post and Courier Myrtle Beach

Born and raised in South Carolina, Charles Perry has worked in the state's newspaper industry for nearly 20 years. He covers Horry and Georgetown counties for The Post and Courier.
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ISG cites Akkodis' industry-leading strengths in digital engineering, intelligent operations and platform modernization across Europe and the United States.ZURICH, CH / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Akkodis, a global leader in digital engineering consulting and part of the Adecco Group has been named a "Leader" by Information Services Group (ISG) in the ISG Provider Lens Digital Engineering Services 2026 reports, recognizing the company's strength across critical engineering and technology domains in Europe and the United States.Image: Akkodis named leader in ISG Digital Engineering Services 2026. Source: AkkodisAkkodis earned Leader status in the following quadrants:Augmented Design and R&D Services (Europe)Intelligent Operations and Connected Experiences (Europe)Integrated Platform and Application Services (Europe and U.S.)Leadership in augmented design & R&D servicesISG highlights Akkodis' expertise in endtoend product development, including systems architecture, Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) integration, unified tool chains and multidomain engineering. The company's digital twin methodologies support deep physical-digital integration for safetycritical products. By integrating engineering and digital toolchains, Akkodis accelerates agile product development from concept to lifecycle management across automotive, aerospace, rail and industrial sectors.ISG also recognizes Akkodis' leadership insoftware-defined vehicle (SDV) engineering , with capabilities spanning hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) automation, telemetry pipelines, cloudscale validation and AIsupported analytics. This has been successfully showcased through the Akkodis SDV Academy where clients accelerate advanced driverassistance systems (ADAS) and SDV verification while addressing engineering talent gaps. Expertise in embedded systems, sensor fusion and realtime software reinforces Akkodis' position across mobility, industrial and defense applications.Advancing intelligent operations & connected experiencesISG recognizes Akkodis for advancing industrial intelligence and transforming factory and mission-critical operations. Through smart commissioning frameworks, digital twins and advanced simulation tools, the company helps clients accelerate digital factory planning, reduce layout risks and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Akkodis also supports predictive quality and maintenance through acoustic sensing, physics-based AI and data-driven diagnostics. Its operations capabilities (including ruggedized hardware engineering, over-the-air (OTA) lifecycle management and industrial asset health solutions), have been applied across industries and asset-intensive environments requiring reliability, safety compliance, environmental resilience and long-term continuity.Strength in Integrated Platform & Application ServicesAkkodis' digital solutions advance AIled autonomous engineering by accelerating validation, enhancing quality and enabling compliancebydesign at scale. In Europe, ISG highlights Akkodis' Unified AI Platform, powered byAI-Core , alongside its deep expertise in cloud, hybrid and sovereign architectures, includingAWS , Azure and sovereign deployments, which helps organizations balance agility with security, compliance and data residency requirements.In the U.S., ISG cites Akkodis' leadership in cloudnative, MACHaligned modernization. Its AIenabled development frameworks embed intelligence into workflows, accelerating modernization and enabling personalized digital experiences. DevSecOps, compliancebydesign models and a secure, modular AICore platform, enable Akkodis to provide scalable, cloudnative innovation and flexible integration across modern enterprise and platform ecosystems."We are proud to receive this recognition from ISG which underscores the depth of Akkodis' global digital engineering expertise and our ability to combine AIdriven engineering, cloudagnostic platforms and compliancebydesign at global scale to help clients innovate with Akkodis Intelligence across dynamic and complex environments," said Jo Debecker, President & CEO of Akkodis.Shirish Madhukar Kulkarni, Lead Analyst, ISG, said, "Akkodis uniquely combines deep engineering expertise with AIled digital twins and scalable platforms to enable faster product innovation, resilient operations, and connected, datadriven experiences." Srinivasan P N, Senior Lead Analyst, ISG added, "Akkodis' leadership is rooted in four decades of European engineering excellence, where systems engineering, validation depth and software defined innovation converge through Akkodis Intelligence to deliver trusted, AI enabled digital engineering at scale." - End -Media contactsAnne FriedrichSVP, Global Head of Communications, AkkodisM. +4915174633470E. anne.friedrich@adeccogroup.com Lisa BushkaVP, External Communications, AkkodisM. +18604630770E. lisa.bushka@adeccogroup.com About AkkodisAkkodis is a global digital engineering consulting company that enables organizations to innovate and accelerate by applying technology to redefine how processes and products are developed, powered and optimized. With deep expertise across AI, data, cloud, edge and software engineering, we offer best-in-class technology consultancy. Through our strong , scalable delivery models and specialized talent, we provide end-to-end solutions, from strategy and consulting through implementation. Our commitment to Akkodis Intelligence helps businesses connect the exponential power of technology with the irreplaceable strengths of human thinking and collaboration. Part of the Adecco Group and headquartered in Switzerland, Akkodis brings together 40,000 engineers and digital experts in over 30 countries, with services that span Consulting, Solutions and Academy. With deep experience across the world's major industries, Akkodis empowers businesses to solve complex challenges and achieve sustainable impact. About the Adecco GroupThe Adecco Group is the world's leading talent company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units - Adecco, Akkodis and LHH - across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and e
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 22, 2026 / Core Critical Metals Corp. ("CCMC" or the "Company") (TSXV:CCMC)(OTCPK:CCMCF)(WKN:A41G8G), a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company, is pleased to announce that it has closed the listed issuer financing exemption offering (the "LIFE Offering") previously announced on March 17, 2026 as part of a non-brokered private placement consisting of a LIFE Offering and a concurrent private placement (collectively, the "Private Placements").The Company confirms that only the LIFE Offering portion of the Private Placements has closed at this time. The concurrent private placement has not yet closed and there can be no assurance that it will be completed on the terms originally contemplated or at all.Pursuant to the LIFE Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 3,000,000 units (each, a "LIFE Unit") at a price of $0.50 per LIFE Unit, for gross proceeds of $1,500,000. Each LIFE Unit consists of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company; and one (1) common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant").Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one (1) common share at an exercise price of $0.75 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance and will be exercisable commencing 60 days following the closing date.The securities issued pursuant to the LIFE Offering are not subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.The net proceeds from the LIFE Offering are expected to be used for general working capital purposes, mineral exploration activities, marketing and advertising, and as otherwise described in the Company's amended and restated offering document dated March 30, 2026.There is an offering document related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at https://corecriticalmetals.com The LIFE Offering is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.About Core Critical Metals Corp.Core Critical Metals Corp. is a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality critical metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential.CORE CRITICAL METALS CORP.Deepak VarshneyCEO and DirectorFor more information, please call 778-899-1780, email deepak@ corecriticalmetals.com or visit https://corecriticalmetals.com/ Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-looking statements:This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds, final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, and the potential completion of the concurrent private placement. Forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, and expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks include, but are not limited to, regulatory approvals, market conditions, and the Company's ability to complete the concurrent private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements except as required by applicable law.SOURCE: Core Critical Metals Corp.
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-23 19:45:13

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Florence 1 Schools approved a new High School of Innovation in Leadership with The Citadel for 2027-28.FLORENCE, SC / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Florence 1 Schoolsis set to expand its specialized educational portfolio following the Board of Trustees' unanimous approval of the High School of Innovation in Leadership. Slated to open in Timmonsville for the 2027-2028 school year, the school is developed in a strategic partnership with The Citadel.The High School of Innovation in Leadership will become the district's third School of Innovation, joining the Poynor School of Healthcare Innovation, which opened in January 2026, and the School of Innovation in Aerospace, set to open in 2027. The proposal was presented to the Board of Trustees by Gregory Hall, Superintendent of Secondary Education."Our goal is for the High School of Innovation in Leadership to mirror the cadet experience at The Citadel," Hall said.The program is designed to surpass traditional dual-enrollment models by embedding leadership development into the core structure of the school."There are plenty of districts that have dual-enrollment, but to have a specific strategic partner and build a High School of Innovation with a dedicated structure of leadership within it, that is unique," Hall added.Leadership coursework will be integrated throughout the curriculum, creating a cohesive academic environment centered on discipline, character development, and real-world readiness."Leadership classes will be woven into the curriculum and the structure of the school," Hall said. "There will also be dual-enrollment, AP courses, and school-wide JROTC." By partnering with The Citadel, Florence 1 Schools aims to create a distinctive educational pathway that prepares students for both college and leadership roles across professional sectors.The district's continued investment in Schools of Innovation reflects a broader strategy to provide students with specialized, career-aligned opportunities while strengthening academic outcomes and engagement.Additional details regarding enrollment, curriculum design, and the state approval process are expected to be announced in the coming months.About Florence 1 Schools Florence 1 Schoolsserves a diverse student population in Florence, South Carolina, offering innovative academic programs designed to prepare students for success in college, careers, and community leadership.For more information and to view the High School of Innovation presentation, please visitf1s.org/news ###Media Contact: Ashley Watson Phone: 843-413-4687 Email: marketing@ f1s.org SOURCE: Florence 1 Schools
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-23 17:02:57

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Gulf Offshore Research Institute wins $20 million Gulf Futures Challenge award to transform offshore platforms into hubs for energy, food, and ocean monitoringMANDEVILLE, LA / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / More than 1,300 offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf Coast Region face decommissioning - and with them, the potential loss of thousands of jobs, a significant drop in reef fisheries biomass, and billions in revenue for Gulf Coast communities. Today, the Gulf Offshore Research Institute (GORI) announced it has been selected as one of only two recipients of a $20 million award through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Gulf Futures Challenge - funding that will transform these aging structures from liabilities into hubs for clean energy, sustainable seafood production, critical mineral recovery, and real-time ocean monitoring.The Gulf Futures Challenge, led by NASEM's Gulf Research Program (GRP), invests in bold, community-centered solutions to the Gulf region's most pressing challenges in energy transition, environmental change, and community resilience. GORI's award will support a five-year effort to retrofit and operationalize five offshore platforms, with permitting already underway through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.GORI's proposal - Repurposing Petroleum Infrastructure for Sustainable Energy, Food, and Critical Minerals - turns existing offshore structures into engines for the blue economy. By leveraging these structures as vertical reef ecosystems, the project protects marine biodiversity while creating new, innovative industries. This approach expands seafood production, supports renewable energy and mineral recovery, and strengthens coastal communities historically dependent on oil, gas, and fishing industries."We are transforming the backbone of oil and gas production into a more sustainable and prosperous Gulf Coast. By integrating renewable energy, aquaculture, mineral recovery, and ocean monitoring, we strengthen marine habitats, support thriving ecosystems, boost coastal economies, and advance sustainable energy production," said Kent Satterlee, Executive Director of GORI."We are delighted by the national acknowledgement of the importance of offshore infrastructure in sustaining essential marine habitats, while simultaneously highlighting the potential to advance a thriving and sustainable blue economy supporting coastal communities in the Gulf," said Rob Fondren, Co-Founder and Chairman of GORI."Offshore platforms already support flourishing ecosystems below water, while at the same time serving as infrastructure for the blue economy in the Gulf Region. Repurposing them offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leverage existing assets and avoid the massive cost of replacement," said Dr. Greg Stunz, Senior Executive Director, Harte Research Institute."Choosing the right platforms is the foundation of this entire effort. Through FishLAT, our machine learning assessment tool, we can screen all 1,300 platforms in the Gulf and match each one to its highest-value reuse - whether that's aquaculture, renewable energy, or ocean monitoring. This moves platform repurposing from a concept to a data-driven, defensible decision," said Amber Sparks, Co-Founder of Blue Latitudes LLC and GORI partner.Project PartnersWhat makes this project distinctive is the breadth of expertise assembled under a single initiative - spanning marine science, offshore engineering, renewable energy, aquaculture, critical mineral recovery, and community workforce development. No comparable multi-benefit strategy has previously been attempted at this scale in U.S. waters. The project brings together a multidisciplinary team, including:Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - expertise in fisheries, socioeconomics, and marine policy and lawBlue Latitudes, LLC - a women-owned marine environmental consulting firm specializing in offshore work and Rigs to Reefs planningUniversity of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana State University - advancing open-ocean aquaculture, hydrographic science, and uncrewed ocean monitoringUniversity of Houston - specializing in offshore hydrogen production and energy transition feasibility (ROICE Program) and workforce developmentUniversity of Michigan - pioneering sustainable critical mineral extraction from seawaterGulf Trust - advancing solutions that unite industry, environment, and communitiesThe FerVID Group - assessing geothermal energy potential in offshore reservoirsBlue Silo Aquaculture, LLC - specializing in platform-assisted open-ocean aquacultureWork begins with platform permitting, stakeholder engagement, and structural assessments. An offshore platform located off the Mississippi River delta in 470 feet of water will serve as the flagship demonstration site, with aquaculture and critical mineral pilots, ocean monitoring systems, and renewable energy testbeds to follow in Years 3 through 5. By 2030, GORI expects to have five operational platforms producing measurable environmental, economic, and social returns - and a replicable playbook for the remaining structures across the Gulf.For more information about GORI's work, visitwww.gulfoffshoreresearch.com Media Contact:Sara HamannCommunications DirectorGulf Offshore Research Institutesarah@ gulfoffshoreresearch.com SOURCE: Gulf Offshore Research Institute
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-24 00:25:12

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. ("Golden Lake" or the "Company") (CSE:GLM)(OTC PINK:GOLXF) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated January 28, 2026, the Company and McEwen Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) ("McEwen") have set the closing date for the statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) pursuant to which McEwen will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company as April 30, 2026 (the "Closing Date").Under the terms of the Arrangement, each Golden Lake common share (a "Golden Lake Share") would entitle its holder to receive (the "Exchange Ratio") 0.003876 McEwen common shares (each, a "McEwen Share") on the Closing Date. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Arrangement, all outstanding common share purchase warrants of Golden Lake on the Closing Date (the "Golden Lake Warrants") will be cashlessly exercised and cancelled in exchange for Golden Lake Shares having a value equal to their in-the-money amount, and (ii) all outstanding convertible notes of Golden Lake on the Closing Date (the "Golden Lake Notes") will be converted into Golden Lake Shares based on principal and accrued interest in accordance with their terms. All issued and outstanding Golden Lake Shares on the Closing Date (including the Golden Lake Shares issued to holders of Golden Lake Warrants and holders of Golden Lake Notes) will be exchanged for McEwen Shares on the basis of the Exchange Ratio. Outstanding stock options of Golden Lake on the Closing Date will be exchanged for replacement options of McEwen on an equivalent economic basis, with adjusted exercise prices, exercisable within 90 days following the closing of the Arrangement, in accordance with the terms of Golden Lake's stock option plan.About Golden LakeGolden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets.For Further Information, Please Contact:Mike England CEO & DirectorGolden Lake Exploration Inc.1-888-945-4770 Neither the NYSE, TSX or CSE have reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by the management of McEwen and Golden Lake.Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information.This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, statements regarding: the Arrangement; the Closing Date; and treatment of securities in connection with the Arrangement. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements.In respect of the forward-looking statements concerning the Arrangement and the anticipated timing for completion of the Arrangement including, McEwen and Golden Lake have relied on certain assumptions that they believe are reasonable at this time. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times.Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: the risk that the Arrangement may not be completed on a timely basis, if at all; the conditions to the consummation of the Arrangement may not be satisfied; the risk that the Arrangement may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the possibility that legal proceedings may be instituted against the McEwen, Golden Lake and/or others relating to the Arrangement and the outcome of such proceedings; the possible occurrence of an event, change or other circumstance that could result in termination of the Arrangement; risks relating to the failure to obtain necessary court or other approvals; other risks inherent in the mining industry. Failure to obtain the requisite approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to or complete the Arrangement, may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. In addition, if the Arrangement is not completed, the announcement of the Arrangement and the dedication of substantial resources of McEwen and Golden Lake to the completion of the Arrangement could have a material adverse impact on each of McEwen's and Golden Lake's share price, its current business relationships and on the current and future operations, financial condition, and prospects of each McEwen and Golden Lake.Golden Lake expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.SOURCE: Golden Lake Exploration Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-23 19:15:22

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EY US celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs shaping the future of businessMCLEAN, VA / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Rebekah Johnson, Founder & CEO of Numeracle, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Mid-Atlantic Award by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world's most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and uplifting communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations drive economic growth and help shape the future of business.An independent panel of judges selected Rebekah Johnson among 36 finalists from 34 companies based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.Rebekah Johnson founded Numeracle in 2018 with a bold belief that trust in the systems people rely on every day begins with identity. As fraud, impersonation, and uncertainty increasingly erode confidence across communications and digital interactions, she recognized that protecting people and businesses would require more than reacting after harm was done. It would require preventing scammers from gaining access in the first place.Under Johnson's leadership, Numeracle has grown into a globally recognized leader in trusted identity, helping businesses verify legitimacy, establish authorization, and create trusted engagement across the channels through which they reach customers. Through Know Your Customer (KYC) / Know Your Business (KYB), reputation protection, and trusted branded engagement solutions, the company helps businesses and their communications ecosystem partners create safer, more trusted connections at scale. Numeracle serves more than 3,000 businesses and partners, with a foundation first proven in communications, now scaling across a broader digital economy."It is an honor to be recognized as an Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist," said Johnson. "I've long believed that every system people rely on, from communications to commerce to finance, ultimately runs on trust, and trust begins with identity. As AI accelerates the scale and sophistication of digital interactions, that need only becomes more urgent. I founded Numeracle to help build that missing layer: proving who is real, who is authorized, and who belongs. We started in communications, but the opportunity is far broader. I'm proud our team is helping shape a safer, more trusted digital future." Entrepreneur Of The Year honors business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company, transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory, and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.This year's Mid-Atlantic finalists represent Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., across all industries, including technology, consumer products, manufacturing, finance and more.Regional award winners will be announced on June 18 during a special celebration in Washington, D.C. and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. The winners will then be considered by the national judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum , where high-growth CEOs, Fortune 1000 executives and investors converge to shape the future of business.SponsorsFounded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, SAP, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Mid-Atlantic, sponsors also include regional Platinum sponsor ADP, regional Gold sponsors Cooley and DLA Piper, and regional Silver sponsor Stagedge.About Entrepreneur Of The YearFounded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forumin November where national finalists and award winners are announced. The national overall winner represents the US at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy About EYEY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.All in to shape the future with confidence.EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy . EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com About NumeracleNumeracle is a trusted identity company helping organizations protect reputation, reduce fraud risk, and create more trusted connections with the people they serve. Founded in 2018, Numeracle delivers identity-driven solutions including Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), reputation protection, and branded engagement tools that help businesses communicate with greater confidence. Serving more than 3,000 customers and partners, Numeracle's foundation first proved itself in communications and continues to expand across a broader digital economy.Media ContactMolly WeisVP, Marketing & Communications visibility@ numeracle.com +1(814) 380-1181SOURCE: Numeracle
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)-The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP continues its investigation on behalf of OneMain Holdings, Inc. ("OneMain" or the "Company") (NYSE:OMF) investors concerning the Company's and/or members of its senior management's possible violation of the federal securities laws and other unlawful business practices.[LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION]What Happened?On March 16, 2026, New York Attorney General Lititia James, along with a coalition of 12 other state attorney generals, filed a lawsuit against OneMain for allegedly misleading customers and trapping borrowers in expensive loans with hidden costs. On this news, the price of OneMain shares declined by $2.80 per share, or approximately 5.4%, from $52.06 per share on Marh 13, 2026 to close at $49.26 on March 16, 2026.What Should I Do?At this stage, no lawsuit has been filed. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether claims may be brought under federal securities laws.If you purchased or otherwise acquired OneMain securities, have information, or would like to learn more about this investigation, please contact Lauren Molinaro of Kirby McInerney LLP by email at investigations@ kmllp.com , or fill out the contact form below, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters at no cost.[LEARN MORE ABOUT SECURITIES CLASS ACTIONS]Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs' law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm's efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP's website.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.ContactsKirby McInerney LLPLauren Molinaro, Esq.212-699-1171 SOURCE: Kirby McInerney LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-23 02:02:13

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 22, 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
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / April 22, 2026 / Predictiv AI Inc. (CSE:PAI)(FWB:7IT) (the "Company" or "Predictiv AI") announces that its Board of Directors has granted 5,188,000 share purchase options (the "Options"), of which 2,205,000 options have been issued to Predictiv AI's Directors and Officers. The Options have an exercise price of $0.15 per common share, being the recent closing price of the Company's common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Options will vest over an 18-month period in equal quarterly installments and will expire three years from the date of grant. The Options were granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan.About Predictiv AI Inc.Predictiv AI Inc. is a Canadian artificial intelligence company focused on developing vertical AI applications for defined industries. The Company's products address fleet operations and communications, including fleet management software, AI-based agents for voice, chat, and SMS, and tools designed to support structured operational workflows. For more information, please visit www.predictiv.ai Company ContactSuman PushparajahChief Executive Officer & Director416-388-8886Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release includes forward looking statements that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward looking statements, including without limitation any statements concerning the expected future operating performance of the Company's business. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward looking statements, are based on assumptions none of which can be assured and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.The forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forwardlooking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the CSE. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.SOURCE: Predictiv AI, Inc.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Redwood AI Corp. (CSE:AIRX)(OTCQB:RDWCF)(Frankfurt:Y0N, WKN:A422EZ) ("Redwood" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a significant update to the chemical pricing and availability capabilities (the "Update") within its AI-powered chemical synthesis platform, Reactosphere. The Update is supported in part by advisory services and research and development funding provided to Redwood AI Operations Inc., Redwood AI's wholly owned subsidiary, from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)[1]. The enhanced platform is designed to help chemists and procurement teams make faster, better-informed sourcing decisions in a global market where pricing, availability, tariffs, and logistics can shift quickly, improving cost certainty and supply reliability across the chemical value chain.[2] The update expands Redwood's vendor intelligence capabilities to monitor chemical availability and pricing across more than 90 vendors worldwide. By broadening coverage and improving data refresh workflows, the Company believes users will be able to identify alternative suppliers sooner, reduce delays caused by stockouts, and strengthen purchasing resilience when markets tighten. Critically, the provision of multiple global vendors is a unique aspect of the platform, enabling usage by many client bases who utilize a diverse array of chemical supply vendors.To help customers navigate real-world supply constraints, the system can be filtered by service provider, allowing users to evaluate options based on region or company-specific sourcing conditions. This is intended to support decisions impacted by tariffs, shipping timelines, and other cross-border logistics factors, enabling teams to compare feasible alternatives without losing critical context on where material is located and how it can be delivered.The updated platform can also incorporate clients' own internal pricing and availability data alongside external vendor signals, enabling a more complete and customized view of sourcing options. In addition, Redwood's system can integrate a client's chemical inventory, supporting faster checks against on-hand materials and helping teams align purchasing decisions with what is already available internally.Redwood expects that these enhancements will further strengthen its pricing infrastructure by improving data coverage, flexibility, and integration, capabilities that can be especially valuable for organizations managing complex chemical inputs, tight timelines, and cost-sensitive research and production programs.The Company believes these enhancements position Reactosphere as a valuable solution for pharmaceutical companies, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), and research institutions that rely on complex global chemical supply chains, as well as for defense and public safety applications where visibility into chemical sourcing and availability is critical."This update is about turning chemical sourcing into a faster, more defensible decision process, not a scramble. By combining broad global vendor visibility with each customer's internal pricing and inventory context, we can help teams reduce downtime, avoid costly substitutions, and plan with more confidence when trade conditions shift. It also sets the foundation for more proactive procurement, giving teams earlier signals on supply risks and alternate sourcing options before disruptions impact timelines or budgets, further supporting adoption of the platform across pharmaceutical, R&D, and defense applications," said Louis Dron, CEO of Redwood AI.About Redwood AI Corp.Redwood AI uses advanced artificial intelligence to accelerate chemistry R&D, with the aim of assisting in drug discovery and development, and furthering defense and safety solutions. The Company combines expertise in chemistry, AI, and manufacturing to streamline drug synthesis and scale-up. Redwood AI's platform is designed to enable faster, more efficient development of new therapies and chemistry-driven applications.ON BEHALF OF REDWOOD AI CORP.,"Louis Dron"Chief Executive OfficerFor more information, please contact:Louis DronChief Executive OfficerTel: +1 888 530 8488Email: investors@ redwoodai.com The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release.Forward-Looking Statements Caution. This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is generally identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "may", "should", "will", "potential" and similar expressions and, in this news release, includes statements relating to the Update, and the enhancement to users, and benefits generally, therefrom, and the further development of the Platform and related tools. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on it, as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Forward-looking information inherently involves risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.[1]Redwood AI Operations Inc. is receiving advisory services and funding of up to $75,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to support a research and development project titled "Develop a scalable data lake for storing chemical pricing data," covering the period from May 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, enabling the Company to accelerate development of its pricing data infrastructure.[2] https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/record/nrc-cnrc%2C172-2025-2026-Q1-1029664%2Ccurrent SOURCE: Redwood AI Corp.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 22, 2026 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Coty Inc. (NYSE:COTY) between November 5, 2025 and February 4, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 22, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Coty common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Coty class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47083 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 22, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or concealed material adverse facts concerning the true state of Coty's slowing growth in the beauty market, notably, the Consumer Beauty market was underperforming, margins were compressed by increased marketing investments and there was slowing growth in its Prestige fragrance segment. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Coty class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47083 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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Scott Clymo of Melbourne, Florida emphasizes the importance of building systems that create long-term opportunity in today's evolving business landscape.MELBOURNE BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Scott William Clymo, CEO and Chairman of Speedy Holdings Group, is speaking out on a topic he believes is often overlooked in modern entrepreneurship: the need for scalable systems that create sustainable opportunity for others.With more than three decades of experience across automotive, finance, and fintech industries, Clymo is using his platform to advocate for a shift in how businesses are built and measured."Anyone can start something," Clymo says. "The real challenge is building something that works without you." Why Scalable Systems Matter More Than EverSmall businesses remain a core driver of the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are over 33 million small businesses in the country, accounting for 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. Yet many of these businesses struggle to grow beyond the founder.Research shows that nearly 20% of small businesses fail within their first year, and about 50% do not make it past five years. One of the most common challenges is the lack of systems that allow for growth, delegation, and long-term sustainability.Clymo believes this is where the conversation needs to change."We need to stop thinking about businesses as one-person operations," he explains. "If there's no structure, there's no scale. And if there's no scale, there's no long-term impact." A Career Built on Structure and GrowthClymo's perspective comes from firsthand experience. After serving in the United States Air Force, he quickly rose through the automotive industry, becoming a finance manager at 22 and later Chief Operating Officer of a large automotive management company.He eventually expanded into financial services, launching a credit card processing company that led to a successful exit in 2012.Since then, he has focused on building companies designed to scale. Through Speedy Holdings Group, he has developed a network of businesses centered around funding, fintech, and franchising."We built the platform with scale in mind from day one," Clymo says. "The goal was to create opportunities for others, not just operate a single company." The Opportunity Gap in EntrepreneurshipClymo also highlights a broader issue: access to opportunity.While entrepreneurship is often promoted as a path to financial independence, many individuals lack the tools, systems, or guidance needed to succeed.A report from the Federal Reserve found that nearly 60% of small business owners face financial challenges that limit their ability to grow. In addition, many first-time entrepreneurs struggle with operational complexity and lack of mentorship."There's a gap between starting a business and sustaining one," Clymo says. "That gap is where most people fall off." He believes that scalable models and structured systems can help bridge that gap by reducing risk and increasing accessibility.Building Businesses That Outlast the FounderFor Clymo, the long-term goal is clear: build businesses that continue to operate and grow beyond the individual."I've always believed in creating something bigger than yourself," he says. "If the business depends on you every day, it's not really a business. It's a job." This mindset reflects a broader trend in modern business thinking, where automation, delegation, and repeatable systems are becoming essential for growth.According to McKinsey, companies that adopt scalable systems and operational efficiencies are more likely to achieve long-term profitability and resilience.A Call to Action: Think Beyond the Startup PhaseClymo is encouraging entrepreneurs, professionals, and aspiring business owners to rethink how they approach building and growing a business.His message is simple: focus on structure, not just speed."Take the time to understand how your business runs," he says. "Ask yourself if it can operate without you. If the answer is no, that's where you need to start." He also encourages individuals to seek out knowledge, mentorship, and tools that support long-term growth."Every stage teaches you something you can use in the next one," Clymo adds. "The key is to keep moving forward and keep building." As the business landscape continues to evolve, Clymo's message highlights the importance of sustainability, scalability, and shared opportunity.To read the full interview, visit the websitehere .About Scott William ClymoScott William Clymo is the CEO and Chairman of Speedy Holdings Group, based in Melbourne, Florida. With over 30 years of experience across the automotive, financial services, and fintech industries, he has built and scaled multiple companies, including a successful credit card processing business with an exit in 2012. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Clymo is known for his focus on systems-driven growth, franchising models, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs through scalable business platforms.Contact:Info@ scott-clymo.com SOURCE: Scott William Clymo
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40+ Coordinated AI Agents Deliver a Unified Five-Stage Quality Pipeline, Free and Open Source Under Apache 2.0 LicenseLAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Sparfuchs Corporation today announced the public release of Sparfuchs-QA, an open-source software quality assurance platform powered by 40+ specialized AI agents. Available immediately on GitHub, Sparfuchs-QA consolidates the code-quality, security-review, integration-validation, UI-verification, and release-gating functions that engineering organizations typically assemble from multiple separate tools into a single, unified pipeline.Sparfuchs-QA methodology delivers through cross-platform AI agents that operate across five coordinated stages: code quality and completeness analysis, security and access-control review, integration and dependency validation, UI and behavioral verification, and configurable Go/No-Go release gating. The first three stages run in parallel to minimize pipeline latency. The platform is designed to surface failure modes that conventional scanners often miss, including stub or placeholder code reaching production, unintended permission expansions, drift between mock and production environments, and broken API integrations.As an added benefit, the output is analyzed within the methodology to verify or create architecture documents, user guides, admin guides, and extremely detailed end-user and systems training content.After your analysis, done locally in your environment, determination is made by your team to fix or ship. Every verdict is accompanied by a confidence score and links to the underlying evidence so engineers can review and override the gate when appropriate.Availability and pricing. The core platform is released under Apache 2.0 License on GitHub at https://github.com/Sparfuchs-Corporation/sparfuchs-qa with no gated features and no usage limits for self-hosted deployments. Sparfuchs offers optional paid managed hosting, enterprise support with SLAs, and professional services engagements ranging from two-week pipeline assessments to multi-quarter agentic transformation programs, using Sparfuchs a.e.g.i.s.Forge Framework (Aligned Execution and Governance for Intelligent Systems).Technical specifications. Sparfuchs-QA is cloud-agnostic and integrates with GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, CircleCI, AWS, GCP, and Azure. It supports popular AI coding tools including Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Cursor, Amazon Q, and Codex. Agents can be configured to run entirely inside a customer VPC; no source code is required to leave the customer environment in self-hosted mode. A public security overview, threat model, and SBOM are published locally.Early results. In internal deployments across multi-cloud, multi-stack production environments, a typical mid-sized service completes the full five-stage pipeline in approximately 10-40 minutes, with a Go/No-Go verdict and linked evidence. Sparfuchs is currently working with 25+ design-partner organizations; selected results will be published in a forthcoming benchmark report."Quality Assurance has been gated for too long. At least half of all software projects lack structured QA. Teams are shipping without ever confirming the spec, the workflow, and the intent are actually aligned, and security is treated as someone else's problem until it isn't. We built Sparfuchs-QA to fix that, and we open-sourced it because enterprise-grade quality assurance should not be a privilege. Every engineering team, from a two-person startup to a Fortune 500 platform, deserves the same visibility into what they're building," said Bob Reny, Chief Executive Officer, Sparfuchs Corporation."The hard part of agentic QA isn't running more scanners; it's orchestrating them and trusting the verdict," added Keith Biggin, VP of Operations of Sparfuchs Corporation. "We've focused on calibration, evidence links, and human override so the Go/No-Go gate is a tool teams can actually rely on." Documentation, architecture guides, security disclosures, and community support are available at www.sparfuchs-pro.com About Sparfuchs CorporationSparfuchs Corporation is a Las Vegas-based enterprise AI company founded on the conviction that powerful technology should be accessible, not locked behind enterprise contracts. The company builds AI-native software platforms, open-source developer tools, and custom enterprise applications that give organizations full ownership of their technology stack. Sparfuchs's product portfolio spans quality assurance, AI agent orchestration, enterprise governance, business operations, and procurement automation serving engineering teams and technology leaders across commercial and government sectors. For more information, visit sparfuchs-pro.com Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements regarding product features, performance characteristics, and roadmap. Actual results may differ. Benchmark figures and cost comparisons cited herein refer to Sparfuchs' internal analysis of representative enterprise QA toolchains; a detailed methodology is available on request.CONTACT:Heidi Budreau, CMOmedia@ sparfuchs-pro.com SOURCE: Sparfuchs Corporation
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"MMJ International Holdings Warns That Cannabis Is Entering a Controlled Pharmaceutical Supply Framework Governed by DEA Oversight and International Law"' stated Duane Boise, CEO MMJ International Holdings.WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / The recentdecision by the U.S. Attorney Generaland the Drug Enforcement Administration to move certain forms of medical marijuana into Schedule III marks the beginning-not the end-of federal cannabis regulation.While many operators arecelebrating anticipated tax relief under Section 280E , few are recognizing what the rescheduling order actually triggers:International treaty compliance, federal quota control, and DEA oversight of the medical marijuana supply chain.For pharmaceutical cannabinoid developer MMJ International Holdings, these developments confirm what the company has maintained for years:Cannabis is entering a federally controlled drug manufacturing framework.Schedule III Activates the Single Convention FrameworkThe Attorney General's order was issued under 21 U.S.C.  811(d)(1) specifically to align the United States with its obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.That alignment carries consequences.Under the treaty:governments must supervise cannabis productionnational agencies must control bulk supplymanufacturing quantities must be trackedexports and imports require permitsinventories must be reportedMost importantly:national governments must maintain oversight of cannabis cultivation through quota-style controls.As the DEA confirmed in its implementation framework, registered manufacturers' cannabis crops may be subject to a purchase-and-resale mechanism administered by the federal government to maintain treaty compliance.This is not optional.It is treaty law.DEA Will Become Part of the Medical Cannabis Supply ChainThe Schedule III order makes clear that the federal government is not stepping back from cannabis oversight.It is stepping into the supply chain.DEA registration now becomes essential for entities that:manufacturedistributedispenseimportexportresearchmedical marijuana under federal authority.The agency's role expands further because treaty compliance requires federal supervision of cultivation output itself-not just finished products.This shifts cannabis from a state-regulated commodity model toward a controlled pharmaceutical production model.Quotas Are Coming - Whether the Industry Is Ready or NotUnder international narcotics control frameworks, cannabis manufacturing volumes must be reported and justified.That means:production forecastsinventory reconciliationcontrolled distribution pathwaysfederal reporting obligationsbecome structural requirements of participation in the Schedule III system.Most state-licensed operators were never designed to operate under quota-governed production environments.MMJ International Holdings was.A Compliance Gap Emerging Between State Operators and Federal RegistrantsWhile the rescheduling order allows state medical operators to apply for DEA registrations through an expedited pathway, treaty compliance still requires:controlled production accountingfederal inventory traceabilityimport/export permittingsecurity alignment with DEA standardsand reporting obligations tied to international oversight frameworksMany existing operators have not yet implemented infrastructure capable of meeting those requirements.That gap will define the next phase of the industry.MMJ International Holdings Built Its Platform Around Treaty ComplianceUnlike conventional cannabis companies entering federal oversight for the first time, MMJ International Holdings structured its cannabinoid drug development programs around:DEA Schedule I laboratory registrationFDA botanical drug development guidancecontrolled active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing pathwaysclinical trial supply-chain traceabilityinternational import/export permitting infrastructureThis alignment positions MMJ uniquely as cannabis transitions into a federally supervised medical manufacturing ecosystem governed jointly by the DEA and international treaty obligations.Schedule III Marks the Beginning of Real Cannabis Regulation"Schedule III is not deregulation," said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings."It activates the United States' treaty responsibilities under the Single Convention and brings cannabis into a quota-controlled pharmaceutical framework. Most operators are celebrating tax relief. Very few are preparing for compliance reality." The Industry's Next Challenge Is Federal AlignmentAs cannabis moves into Schedule III, the regulatory landscape shifts from:state experimentationtofederal supervisionCompanies capable of operating within DEA-controlled manufacturing systems will be positioned differently than those built exclusively around state licensing structures."MMJ built its platform assuming cannabis would eventually be regulated like every other controlled therapeutic substance," Boise added."That future has arrived." Madison Hisey MHisey@ mmjih.com 203-231-8583SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings
Advocacy for consumer rights in the banking sector recorded a major boost on Wednesday with a judgement by a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing a suit by UBA Plc seeking to contest the jurisdiction of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

In its ruling, presiding Justice James Omotosho affirmed the Commissions statutory authority to investigate consumer complaints involving banks and other financial institutions.

In the suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1972/2025, United Bank of Africa Plc sought to determine whether in light of Section 251 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended 2023) and Section 65(1)(a) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, the FCCPC could validly exercise jurisdiction over a commercial bank duly licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and over any of its functions, acts, financial products, or financial services.

A statement by the FCCPC said Justice Omotosho considered Sections 251 (1) (d) of the Constitution and 65(1)(a) of BOFIA, which the plaintiff had relied upon to challenge the Commissions jurisdiction, and upheld the authority of the FCCPC in competition and consumer protection matters in the financial sector.

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Consequently, the statement added, UBA plc was fined N2 million for bringing a frivolous and unmeritorious case against the defendant.

With respect to receiving and investigating consumer complaints, the court stressed that no other agency in Nigeria is saddled with this responsibility except the FCCPC.

No portion of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act gives such powers to the Central Bank of Nigeria, nor does the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, said Justice Omotosho.

The FCCPC (Defendant) is therefore the proper agency to investigate such consumer complaints, the judge held.

He therefore held that the FCCPC is vested with statutory powers to inquire into Consumer Protection issues involving customers and banks.

Justice Omotosho cited Sections 1, 2, 17(e) and 104 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 (FCCPA), relating to the objectives, scope, investigative powers and application of the Commissions mandate in matters concerning competition and consumer protection.

Section 104 of the FCCPC Act states that Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law but subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in all matters relating to competition and consumer protection, the provisions of this Act shall override the provisions of any other law.

In a swift reaction, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of FCCPC, Tunji Bello, hailed the judgment, describing it as a significant milestone in our advocacy for bank customers who have long endured unfair treatment.

He said the judgment provides judicial guidance on the complementary relationship between sector regulation and the consumer protection framework established under the FCCPA.

Mr Bello stated that the decision reinforces confidence that consumers in every sector of the economy, including financial services, are entitled to accessible channels for complaint resolution and lawful redress.

He noted that the judgment is also significant for businesses, as it clarifies that regulatory accountability and consumer confidence are mutually reinforcing pillars of a healthy market environment.

According to him, the commission will continue to engage financial institutions and other service providers professionally, fairly, and in accordance with due process, while encouraging internal complaint resolution mechanisms that address consumer concerns promptly.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sonatrach, Algerias national oil company, to strengthen cooperation in research, development and innovation across the oil and gas sector.

NNPC disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the agreement was executed through its Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Division in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

The MoU was signed by NNPCs Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, and Sonatrachs Managing Director, Khodjah Mohamed.

According to the statement, the agreement provides a formal framework for joint work in research and technology exchange between the two national oil companies.

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The signing took place during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Meeting of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) Forum for Research and Development Directors, held at the PTDF Tower in Abuja.

The forum brought together R&D directors from APPO member countries to deliberate on shared industry challenges and opportunities.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, represented by a former APPO Secretary General, Omar Ibrahim, said the forum is one of four strategic initiatives introduced by APPO to address challenges arising from the global energy transition.

He explained that while the R&D forum focuses on technology and expertise, the proposed African Energy Bank is designed to tackle funding constraints, and the Central African Pipeline System aims to enhance regional market integration.

In his remarks, NNPCs Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, represented by the Chief Financial Officer, Adedapo Segun, emphasised the central role of research and development in the future of Africas oil and gas industry.

He said R&D centres must evolve into drivers of industrial competitiveness, warning that while innovation may be costly, the consequences of technological stagnation would be greater.

Mr Ojulari also called for a unified strategic framework among African producers to enable resource pooling, data integration and risk-sharing.

He further urged the adoption of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced engineering, to improve efficiency across upstream, midstream and downstream operations.

APPO Secretary General, Farid Ghezali, stressed the need for research efforts to yield practical solutions tailored to Africas specific needs.

We must ensure that our research delivers solutions that are practical and of direct use to Africa, he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Shuaibu Aliyu, highlighted the importance of the partnership in advancing decarbonisation and environmental sustainability initiatives across APPO member states.

Chief Innovation Officer of NNPCs RTI Division and incoming Chairman of the APPO R&D Directors Forum, Rasheed Ojulari, said the forum would prioritise joint programmes in upstream optimisation, artificial intelligence, decarbonisation and industrial systems development.
Economic experts have outlined their expectations about the direction of Nigerias economy following the appointment of a new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, citing his background and track record as key strengths likely to shape his performance in the ministry.

The presidency approved the removal of Wale Edun as finance minister in a minor cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, and Mr Oyedele was appointed to head the finance ministry.

The newly appointed ministers journey started with his appointment as chair of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, which oversaw the Nigerian tax reform that took effect on 1 January.

On 16 March, President Bola Tinubu swore Mr Oyedele in as minister of state for finance, extolling his professionalism in coordinating the work of the Tax Reforms Committee.

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Although Mr Oyedeles swift elevation to finance minister surprised some observers, experts say the move was pre-planned rather than unexpected.

Relating Mr Oyedeles previous fiscal experience to his new role, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said the finance minister is well-positioned to address key fiscal and economic challenges Nigeria has faced in recent years, including budget releases, debt, and deficits.

Mr Yusuf noted that the minister has developed deep insight into government fiscal operations over time, adding that managing the finance ministry, largely about understanding fiscal systems and ensuring efficiency, would not be difficult for him.

He is a total professional. And you know the President has worked with him on this tax issue, this tax reform. And its not only tax, but its also fiscal reform. There is no doubt that he has impressed the President, and not only the President, but he has also impressed many people in the way he was able to deliver on this responsibility. It was a major assignment, and he discharged it very well.

Over the last one or two years, we have had issues, particularly on the fiscal side, issues of budget releases, debt, and deficits. These are very challenging issues. Because he is a finance man, and of course, the President is also a finance man.

I think the strength he will bring will be in finance, proper budgeting, managing debt, and overseeing fiscal operations, and more importantly, supervising the implementation of tax reform. All of these are related to achieving fiscal consolidation, he said.

The economist added that revenue mobilisation has been a major challenge for the Bola Tinubu administration in recent years, noting that Mr Oyedele has the capacity to manage that area effectively.

Mr Yusuf, a former Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, further stated that with presidential backing and institutional support within the ministry, the new minister is likely to perform his duties with fewer constraints.

On Nigerias trade, agriculture, energy earnings, and investment relations, he said the minister would need to work closely with other economic ministries to ensure effective policy outcomes.

As for fiscal policy, that may not be exactly his strongest area, but the ministry has resources and competent hands with knowledge of tariffs and fiscal policy who can support him.

Its not that he lacks knowledge, but he will rely on that support. More importantly, I believe the president brought him in to fix challenges around budgeting and fiscal operations, and I believe he will be able to discharge those responsibilities.

Fiscal policy issues fall under his ministry, but to design the right policies, he must collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service, the Ministry of Trade and Investment, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Investment Promotion Commission, he said.

Mr Yusuf maintained that the primary reason for Mr Oyedeles appointment is to strengthen Nigerias finance, budgeting, and revenue systems, adding that the minister has a strong chance of addressing the countrys rising debt profile.

That is my reading of the situation. Debt management is also part of this. If finances are managed properly, debt challenges are reduced. If revenue increases, borrowing reduces, and deficits decline. These issues are all connected, Mr Yusuf said.

He also cautioned against comparing the new minister with his predecessor, Mr Edun, stressing that performance should be assessed independently.

I would rather assess him based on his own capacity and the direction he brings to the ministry. We will understand more as he begins the work, he said.

However, Mr Yusuf expressed concern about the political demands of the role, noting that Mr Oyedele, as a technocrat, may face challenges navigating that space.

The only concern I have is how he will manage the political aspect of the role. He is not a politician; he is a technocrat. But in this role, he will interact with politicians, including members of the National Assembly.

He will have to defend budgets and be accountable. That political dimension will require guidance and wisdom, and I think he will need support from the President to navigate that environment effectively, the think tank CEO said.

On his part, an economist and development expert, Aliyu Ilias, described the appointment of minister as a well-planned transition, noting that his prior role prepared him for the position.

Speaking on the development, Mr Ilias, also a partner at CSAL Advisory, said the move appeared deliberate, given Mr Oyedeles earlier appointment as Minister of State for Finance.

The appointment is preplanned if you notice. Before he became the minister, he had been Minister of State, and maybe perhaps they gave him room to understudy the ministry. If you look at it, its as if its planned, he said.

He added that Oyedeles background in tax administration positions him strongly for the role, particularly in revenue generation and financial oversight.

From his record as a tax man, he is known for excellence, and excellence is expected to reflect in his roles, though he is working with a team and a lot of directors and agencies in that ministry who are professionals. So all he needs is to supervise and bring his financial knowledge in tax and revenue, Mr Ilias said.

According to him, broader fiscal and economic expertise can be built on the new ministers foundation. However, he pointed to budgeting as a critical area requiring improvement, noting persistent challenges in recent years.

The issue of fiscal and economic understanding can always arise. If you are a good tax man, you can be a good minister. The only thing he needs to do more is in terms of budgetary allocation, because this government has not done well in terms of budgeting in the past three years. The process always has issues, so he is expected to ensure good budgeting implementation, the development expert said.

Mr Ilias described budget defence as largely political, suggesting that alignment with the National Assembly would be a key event for the new ministers future.

The economic expert advised that Mr Oyedele would need to adapt to the political realities of the role, citing recent loan approvals as an example of pre-negotiated outcomes.

Defending the budget is purely political. If you look at the National Assembly, we have more APC members. So by implication, its an APC affair. Its going to be discussed before the presentation.

You could see that the last time the Senate approved a loan, it looked like it was already a done deal. It had been discussed before it was presented. Thats why you see that it was very fast.

I think he only needs to be a political player now that he is in that position. He has to understand that he needs to play politics and relate better. Im sure he will be guided appropriately to achieve the aim, Mr Ilias said.

On investment and trade, he expressed confidence that institutional structures would provide continuity, noting that technical support within government remains strong.

The economist further explained that while political engagement is necessary, maintaining professional discipline will be crucial for the new finance minister, Mr Oyedele.

These people who have political portfolios have professionals working for them. The loans they are going to get for the next two or three years have been planned already, so I dont think he will have issues.

Perhaps we need a professional in that role that can actually be a bit strict so that politics will not influence the operation that much, Mr Ilias said.

Mr Oyedele studied at Yaba College of Technology and Oxford Brookes University, with executive training at the London School of Economics, Yale University, Gordon Institute of Business Science, and Harvard Kennedy School.

He spent 22 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), rising to Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader, and currently serves as a professor at Babcock University and a visiting scholar at Lagos Business School.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday intervened in a dispute between Emirates Airlines and NJetours Ltd over visa cancellations and delays in refund payments to affected passengers.

The disagreement stems from complaints raised by NJetours Ltd, which said it processed visa applications through Emirates flights on behalf of passengers who were later affected by cancellations and refund delays.

A reconciliation meeting between both parties was held at the NCAA Lagos Regional Office, where officials from Emirates Airlines and NJetours Ltd were in attendance.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, who presided over the meeting, urged both parties to resolve the matter amicably, noting the long-standing business relationship between them.

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READ ALSO: NCAA grants Binani Air permission to begin commercial flight operations

Mr Achimugu, after hearing submissions from both sides, said the regulators intervention was in line with its statutory responsibility to protect passenger rights and ensure compliance with aviation regulations.

He asked Emirates Airlines to engage with NJetours Ltd to reach a resolution and update the authority on the outcome.

Responding on behalf of Emirates Airlines, the Country Manager, Paulos Legesse, commended the NCAA for stepping in and said the airline would review the issues raised and communicate its position to the regulator.

The NCAA said it will continue to monitor the situation until a resolution is reached between both parties.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature has received 223 entries for its 2026 edition and has now moved into the adjudication stage.

The entries were formally handed over on Monday in Lagos to the Advisory Board and panel of judges, marking the start of months of evaluation to determine this years winner of the $100,000 prize.

Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, the award, regarded as one of Africas most prestigious literary honours, rotates annually across four genres of literature: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and childrens literature.

This years edition focuses on poetry, a genre widely seen as demanding precision, depth, and clarity of expression.

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Strong participation despite a slight dip

Organisers said the 223 submissions show sustained engagement from writers, even though the figure is slightly below peak years.

The volume remains competitive when compared with recent cycles, particularly in prose fiction, emphasising the prizes continued relevance.

Speaking at the event, the General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, Sophia Horsfall, represented by Abdul Umar, described the handover as the beginning of a rigorous process.

This marks the start of a process that demands attention, patience, and sound judgement, and will ultimately determine the work that defines this years Prize, she said.

She noted that poetry requires a high level of discipline, where a single line can define an entire work.

Benchmark set by past winners

Stakeholders referenced the 2022 poetry cycle, when Nigerian poet Romeo Oriogun won the prize for his collection Nomad, a work that continues to resonate within contemporary African literature.

According to Ms Horsfall, such past achievements have set a high benchmark for subsequent editions.

At NLNG, we have consistently provided a platform that supports excellence and inspires a sustainable future, she said. Beyond recognising talent, the Prize has contributed to the growth of reading culture, encouraged discipline in writing, and strengthened Nigerias literary landscape.

Integrity of process

The entries were received by the Advisory Board, chaired by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who then handed them over to the panel of judges.

Ms Adimora-Ezeigbo said the prizes credibility rests on its rigorous adjudication process.

Every entry will be read thoroughly and assessed against standards that have been carefully built and sustained over time, she said, assuring writers of a fair and merit-based process.

Adjudication

According to the organisers, the adjudication process will span several months, culminating in a longlist of 11 entries, a shortlist of three, and ultimately the selection of a winner later this year.

Organisers say that, beyond the monetary reward, the prize aims to identify works that will shape literary discourse and influence future writing. The winning work becomes more than a prize recipient; it becomes a benchmark, Ms Adimora-Ezeigbo noted.

Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, manager of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at NLNG, said the initiative remains central to the companys commitment to education and cultural development.

There are very few platforms in Nigeria that have consistently shaped a field the way this Prize has shaped literature, she said.

As the adjudication begins, attention now turns to the panel of judges whose decision will determine the winning poetic work for 2026.
A cease-and-desist notice has been issued to Nigerian media personality Robert Ekpo, popularly known as Roby Ekpo, over statements he made concerning his estranged wife, Mayowa Lambe.

The notice, dated 22 April and issued by Aunt Landas Bethel Foundation Legal Department on behalf of Ms Lambe, accuses Ekpo of making defamatory claims and spreading false narratives about her through public platforms, including podcast appearances.

According to the document, Ekpo allegedly engaged in a deliberate and sustained campaign of falsehood, presenting unverified claims about his former partners personal life as facts. The foundation further stated that such actions had led to reputational damage, online harassment and public ridicule directed at their client.

The notice demands that Ekpo take down all alleged defamatory content across his platforms, issue a public retraction and apology, and pay 100 million in damages, warning that failure to comply within 48 hours would trigger immediate legal action. It also cautioned that individuals who spread the claims online could be held accountable.

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Background

The development follows heightened public interest after Ekpos recent appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast, where he spoke emotionally about his failed marriage.

Ekpo and Lambe reportedly met on Instagram in 2015 and married shortly after a brief courtship. Their relationship remained largely private until recently, when news surfaced that Lambe had remarried in the United States. This development surprised many as neither party had publicly confirmed their separation.

During the podcast, Ekpo shared details about challenges in the marriage, including disagreements over intimacy and the couples inability to have children. He alleged that while he underwent medical tests over fertility concerns, his partner was secretly using contraceptives.

He also claimed to have financially supported Lambe during her years abroad, stating that he regularly sent her money for over six years.

I woke up to videos and pictures of my wife on Instagram getting married to another man, he said, describing the experience as deeply painful.

Legal escalation

However, the legal notice challenges the accuracy of Ekpos claims, stating that the marriage had already been mutually dissolved before the recent developments.

It further accuses him of using public platforms to amplify private matters in a manner that could mislead the public and generate sympathy at Lambes expense.

The foundation added that the alleged actions had resulted in widespread online trolling and coordinated defamatory commentary against their client.

Ongoing reactions

The controversy continues to generate reactions on social media, with opinions divided over the claims and counterclaims.

While Ekpo has publicly shared his perspective, Lambe has largely avoided direct engagement, instead posting messages suggesting she is at peace with her decisions.

As of the time of filing this report, Ekpo has not publicly responded to the cease-and-desist notice.
Barely twenty-four hours after controversial relationship expert, Blessing Blessing CEO Okoro, returned to Instagram, she has shared what she described as her cancer and scan test results.

In a post on Thursday, captioned Scan results; doctors in the house please help interpret them, she drew reactions from netizens who had been waiting for the results since her self-imposed hiatus.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted a medical doctor, Chibuki Aigbe, for a clearer explanation of the cancer and scan results shared by Blessing CEO, following the backlash that trailed the post.

Speaking with this newspaper on Thursday, Ms Aigbe explained that what Blessing CEO shared was a radiology report rather than a confirmed diagnosis.

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She said: Terms like fat stranding mean the images are unclear and require further investigation; they do not confirm a diagnosis like Stage 4 cancer. This fat stranding can often be caused by non-cancerous factors, such as a benign fatty mass, local inflammation, or trauma to the area.

Additionally, subcutaneous emphysema refers to pockets of air in the soft tissues, which may be seen post-operatively following procedures like BBL or fat transfers as the air introduced during surgery is absorbed.

Scan isnt a test

Furthermore, Ms Aigbe explained that a CT scan was not specifically designed as a cancer-diagnostic test.

She noted that radiologists typically recommend clinical correlation and often request additional investigations such as ultrasounds or biopsies before arriving at a definitive diagnosis.

A CT scan is not a specialised test for cancer; radiologists always call for clinical correlation and follow-up tests like ultrasounds or biopsies to get a definitive answer.

Stage 4 is a serious, confirmed diagnosis that requires conclusive evidence, not just an inconclusive imaging report. Any patients true health status must be determined by their own medical team through a full clinical evaluation, she added.

Nigerians react

Blessing CEOs results drew several comments from netizens, with many questioning their authenticity and credibility.

Below are some of the comments.

If this is true, what took you this long to give this update? Why use someone elses medical reports and the hospital? Why seek funds first before all these?  F I R S T U S (@Firstus_) April 23, 2026

Nigerians with their gullible self esteem issues will still fall for this mugu trick. Someone of questionable character whos been exposed for falsifing cancer results of other real patients. Such people should be behind bars if it were to be the USA.  Ovie-Chuks (@IamPopsii_) April 23, 2026

This lady has sold her shame. She is doubling down on this lies. She need to be arrested and the doctor whoever did this for her too,his license revoked  Big B (@anaga_banner) April 23, 2026

Who sent her for this breast CT scan?

Was this prescribed or she just hopped in there to do it?

There are learned people on the social media space so she shouldnt just f00l herself  STAN LI (@STANJOHAKEEM411) April 23, 2026

Those images she posted are downloaded ones because if you look properly then you will see the images numbers at the top right corner.. You cant fool us mugu  Inabor o sunny (@sunnylight77) April 23, 2026

Receipts or clout? Blessing CEO is testing the limits of oversharing by making her medical report public. Whether shes defending a procedure or proving a diagnosis, the move to tag doctors turns her comment section into a digital clinic. Its a high-risk Tokunbo strategy: once  Void Fact (@Void_Fact) April 23, 2026

The document literally says she doesnt have cancer . It just recommends her to do an ultra sound on her breast. Lol I thought Nigerians are smart??? Nah most yall are dumb as rocks. I dont even understand how all these mugus fall for scams from Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/84D652bemV  Kruzi (@kruzi4eva) April 23, 2026

Stop ridiculing our empathy like its your personal ATM. Real patients deserve the sympathy youre faking for clout. Get well (or get honest). pic.twitter.com/Iyyw1AxNUs  Dat_Irregular_EdoGuy (@Jifykool10) April 23, 2026

If this is true, what took you this long to give this update? Why use someone elses medical reports and the hospital? Why seek funds first before all these?  F I R S T U S (@Firstus_) April 23, 2026

I pity people that will still buy her story. Shes has being lying for years now, what makes you think that this isnt a lie  V.I.C.T.O.R.Y (@VickJev2) April 23, 2026

This is what happens when the system in this country is shitty. Someone that should have been arrested since but nothing was done.  Ebunoluwa (@OladeleRachael) April 23, 2026

Backstory

In March, this newspaper reported that Blessings CEO claimed she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

Her claim was met with scepticism from some Nigerians, who questioned its credibility given her past controversies.

However, she defended herself, insisting she would soon release her medical test results to substantiate the diagnosis.

The situation later escalated when a Delta-based makeup company, Deborah Mbara, accused Blessings CEO of falsifying her cancer medical report in an attempt to mislead the public.

Similarly, activist Martins VeryDarkMan (VDM) Otse filed a petition against her, alleging that she obtained funds under false pretences after he donated 150 towards her treatment.

Following her return to social media, Blessing CEO apologised for what she described as the unnecessary drama and controversy surrounding her health claims.

She also pledged to be fully transparent in the future, promising to release all relevant medical documents, including scans and biopsy results.

In addition, she said she would refund donations received from well-meaning Nigerians who contributed towards her treatment.
The second edition of the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit is set to hold on 11 August in Lagos, as stakeholders across Nigerias creative and business sectors prepare to discuss strategies for strengthening the countrys fast-growing creative economy.

Organised by Mighty Media Plus, publishers of the online newspaper QEDNG, the summit is positioned as a platform for conversations at the intersection of creativity, enterprise and public policy.

The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit is part of the effort to bring clarity, direction and serious engagement to that growth.

The 2026 edition will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions and curated sessions focusing on innovation, financing, growth opportunities and the global positioning of Nigerian creative talent.

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Beyond Conversations

The event comes amid renewed attention on Nigerias creative industries, which are estimated to be worth over $30 billion, driven by the global rise of Nollywood, Afrobeats, and digital content creation.

Founder of QEDNG, Olumide Iyanda, said the summit is designed to move beyond discussions to tangible outcomes that can shape the sector.

This summit is designed as a meeting point for ideas, influence and execution. It is not just about conversations, but about outcomes that strengthen the creative economy, he said.

Organisers say the long-term objective is to establish a sustainable platform that connects stakeholders, documents industry progress and contributes to policy development.

Previous edition

Mr Iyanda noted that the inaugural edition attracted leading figures from across industries, showing growing interest in structured engagement within the sector.

Participants included Udeme Ufot, group managing director of SO&U, who chaired the event, and Nkiru Balonwu, founder of The Africa Soft Power Group, who delivered the keynote address.

Other contributors were filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, Mike Dada of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), and Shaibu Husseini, executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), who shared insights on the future of Nigerias creative economy.

The first edition showed that there is a strong interest in serious engagement around the creative economy. We had contributions from experienced voices who helped set the tone for the kind of platform we are building, Mr Iyanda said.

He added that the summits timing is significant as Nigerias creative sector continues to expand globally, even as local frameworks struggle to keep pace.

Nigerias creative sector has grown in visibility, but the structures that support it are still evolving.
Nigerian media personality Roby Ekpo has responded to a cease-and-desist notice issued by his estranged wife, Mayowa Lambe, over statements he made about her.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mayowa, through a notice issued by Aunt Landas Bethel Foundation Legal Department, gave Roby 48 hours to retract the alleged defamatory statements and pay N100 million in damages.

The notice followed Robys interview on The Honest Bunch, in which the comedian spoke about his failed marriage to Mayowa and made allegations against her.

Robys counter notice

Responding to Mayowas demands, Roby, through a counter-notice issued by his legal team, Tap Legal Services, and signed by Mbasekei Obono, denied defaming her.

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Mr Obono stated that his clients remarks, whether made in private or on public platforms, were grounded in his personal experiences, interpretation of events, and what he believed to be true.

He said: Your letter is noted; however, it is replete with assertions that are themselves disputed and will be rigorously challenged. At no time did he (Roby) act with malice or with the intent to injure your clients reputation. The issues referenced arise from a complex interpersonal relationship, the facts of which cannot be selectively presented to construct a misleading narrative against our client.

Contrary to your claims, our client also possesses documentary and testimonial evidence that directly contradicts several assertions in your letter. These include communications, records of interactions, and other materials which will be presented at the appropriate time and forum.

N100m demand

Furthermore, the comedians counsel stated that Mayowas N100 million demand was excessive, unfounded, and premature.

He added that her attempt to impose a 48-hour ultimatum on Roby was unreasonable and inconsistent with established legal practice.

Mr Obono noted that this was particularly so in a matter of this nature involving disputed facts.

Take notice: Our Client will not accede to your demands as presently constituted. Our Client is prepared to join issues with your client before a court of competent jurisdiction, where all claims, counterclaims, and evidence will be properly examined.

Should your client proceed with legal action, our client will robustly defend the suit and reserve the right to file appropriate counterclaims, including, but not limited to, claims for harassment, intimidation, and reputational harm arising from false or exaggerated accusations, said Mr Ekpos lawyer.

Court

Additionally, the comedians lawyer stated that Mayowas notice amounted to an admission of some of his clients claims.

He further advised her and her legal representatives that all subsequent communication on the matter should be channelled through counsel in the interest of fairness and due process.

He reserves the right to admit it in evidence in his petition to the appropriate US government authorities, including the United States Citizenship and immigration Services.

Our client also reserves the right to seek declaratory and injunctive relief as may be necessary to protect his rights and interests.

Mr Obono reiterated that his client remained open to lawful and structured avenues for resolution.

He added that Roby would not be pressured into making admissions or concessions under threat.
Nigerias fast-growing digital economy received a boost as Woof Studios Africa launched its flagship creator accelerator, ECHO, a programme designed to transform African digital creators into global entrepreneurs.

The initiative, unveiled at a summit in Lagos, followed a highly competitive selection process that drew hundreds of applications from across Africa, highlighting the fast-growing creator economy on the continent, now valued at over $30 billion.

The event brought together 23 selected creators for a six-week programme focused on helping them move from content production to building sustainable businesses.

Speaking at the event, Adetutu Laditan, the founder and creative director of Woof Studios Africa, said, This is about building structures, not just virality. She warned creators against over-reliance on social media algorithms, noting that platform instability, policy changes or account suspensions could erase years of work overnight.

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The selection process was rigorous because we were looking beyond numbers, Ms Laditan said. We wanted creators with discipline and a clear vision to build businesses. At the end of this programme, they should be founders of media companies, not just content producers.

23 creators selected

The inaugural ECHO cohort comprises 23 creators drawn from diverse niches, including lifestyle, technology, storytelling and digital media entrepreneurship.

The six-week accelerator programme will combine in-person sessions in Lagos with virtual masterclasses and one-on-one mentorship, focusing on monetisation strategies, brand positioning and business development.

Across Africa, platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Instagram have lowered entry barriers for creators. Still, monetisation remains inconsistent due to limited local advertising markets, weak intellectual property structures and dependence on foreign platforms.

Creators as cultural powerhouses

Delivering the keynote address, Adebola Williams, founder of Red for Africa and chairman of AW Network, framed the creator economy as both a cultural and economic force.

He described African creators as modern historians shaping global perceptions of the continent, and called for stronger investment in local storytelling ecosystems.

The real question is not how much content you create, but why anyone should care, Mr Williams said, urging participants to develop clear identities and niche positioning in an increasingly crowded global market.

He added that creators must pair creativity with business strategy to capture long-term value.

From influence to enterprise

Also speaking at the launch was Tomike Adeoye, a digital entrepreneur and co-founder of Mallia World, who will serve as a lead mentor in the programme.

Drawing from her own experience, Ms Adeoye highlighted the need for creators to evolve beyond social media influence into structured enterprises.

Influence is only the starting point; what you build with it is what matters, she said. The goal is to stop renting space on platforms and start owning your ecosystem.

At the end of the programme, participants will present their business models and monetisation strategies at a Demo Day before a curated audience of investors, collaborators and industry stakeholders.
Terrorists operating around Kainji National Park have abducted Anthony Enahoro, a medical doctor, in the Wawa district of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to residents, the incident occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday when gunmen stormed the outskirts of Wawa garrison town, firing sporadically.

Wawa houses two military formations, including a detention facility where Boko Haram and other suspected terrorists are being held. Terrorists attempted to breach the fortified town in October 2022 but were met with resistance from the military. Recently, a leaked memo from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) revealed that Boko Haram terrorists are planning to attack the detention facility to free their comrades.

A community youth leader told our reporter that Mr Enahoro, who owns Hope Hospital, was seized at the facility located along WawaLima Road.

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Although several people were present at the scene, only the doctor was taken, residents said.

Locals suspect that the doctor may have been targeted to provide treatment for wounded or ill fighters.

He is a doctor and we are suspecting that he was kidnapped to treat the terrorists, because hes one of the best doctors we have in Borgu land currently, the youth leader said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ansaru terrorists attacked Kemanji village in Kaiama, Kwara State, killing three soldiers, injuring others, and carting away an operational vehicle and motorcycles.

Security sources said several of the attackers were also killed or wounded during the assault.

It remains unclear whether Ansaru, which has become bolstered by the infiltration of Sahelian ally Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) into the Kainji area, was behind the abduction of Mr Enahoro. However, a faction of Boko Haram led by Sadiku is believed to wield greater influence in the area where the abduction occurred. The group had carried out multiple deadly attacks, including the planting of explosives along major routes in the axis.

The Niger State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the Wednesday night attack. An enquiry sent to its spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, had not been answered as of press time.
The Nigerian Army says the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, a joint task force in the North-east, have foiled a coordinated terror attack on Kukareta in Yobe State, killing at least 24 insurgents and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition.

The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Thursday, lasted for about three hours before it was repelled by troops under Sector 2 of the joint task force.

According to a statement issued by Sani Uba, the spokesperson for the task force, the troops responded swiftly with a well-coordinated strategy that contained the assault and forced the attackers into a chaotic retreat.

During the engagement, troops inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, with 24 terrorists neutralised so far, Mr Uba, a lieutenant colonel, stated.

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Following the clash, troops recovered a significant quantity of weapons, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, two mortar tubes, and four hand grenades. Other items recovered include 18 AK-47 magazines and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition.

Mr Uba said two personnel were wounded in action but have since been stabilised. An armoured tank deployed as reinforcement also sustained damage during the encounter, with all its tyres blown out.

He added that troops have continued operations along the terrorists withdrawal routes, where blood trails and abandoned medical supplies suggest further casualties among the fleeing fighters.

Mr Uba described the operation as a testament to the resilience, combat readiness, and firepower of its troops, noting that sustained offensives would continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement and ultimately eliminate their presence across the North-east theatre.

The Boko Haram insurgency has entered its 17th year, with the military intensifying its counterterrorism operations, dispersing the terrorists and disrupting their logistics supply chain. However, the terrorists continue to show restraint by deploying more sophisticated arms including armed drones and doubling their attacks on military formations.
The United States (US) and the African Union Commission (AUC) have announced a new plan to secure investment inflows and develop trade in Africa.

The Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group (SIWG), formed on 28 January 2026, will enable senior officials and experts to identify investment opportunities, particularly involving the US private sector. It could strengthen African and US strategic options amid major-power rivalries globally. But both sides must ensure Africans full partnership as investors and decision makers in those projects.

SIWG targets transport and trade corridors, energy networks, digital infrastructure, critical minerals and supply chains, regulatory harmonisation and trade facilitation. While driven largely by Americas motivation to secure long-term critical mineral supplies, as China has done, the agreement also envisages joint development of trade across African regions.

SIWG advances President Donald Trumps declared intent to make trade, rather than aid, the centre of US-Africa relations. It also runs counter to his tendency to sidestep multilateral institutions. Unlike past US-backed investment initiatives, it positions the AU as a co-creator of projects aligned with its own master plan for African economic growth  Agenda 2063.

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Beyond positioning the AU as a key actor in transnational infrastructure, SIWG could fill critical gaps in commercial, economic and strategic interconnections.

Inadequate roads, ports and other infrastructures crimp intra-African trade  the lowest intra-continental share worldwide  15 per cent or less of Africa trade in recent years, compared to about 67 per cent for Europe. SIWG, together with EU support for corridors development, offers additional financial muscle that Africa can use to build key infrastructure and logistics networks across national and regional borders.

Projects envisioned by the AUs Programme for Infrastructural Development in Africa (PIDA) could include the coastal highway from Lagos to Abidjan and the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport railway and pipeline linking South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya, among others.

While financial opportunities are essential, recent experience shows that key governance reforms are critical for African countries to leverage the promise of more jobs and shared prosperity from such agreements: accountability and rule of law, fiscal reforms and responsiveness to public needs.

Effectively, such an SIWG could channel American and African private investments into the fuller implementation of Agenda 2063 and, particularly, the African Continental Free Trade Area as an engine of shared prosperity and stability across the worlds fastest-growing continent.

SIWG also innovates for another reason. As African states pursue piecemeal, bilateral negotiations with the US on issues such as immigration and health assistance, SIWG can demonstrate the value of unified African engagement through the AUC. The Commission could be a convener and strategic coordinator of African actors and interface with US partners.

For SIWG to deploy its full potential, the AU and member states should take three sets of measures. First, the AU should quickly mobilise political leadership within the AUC to secure institutional buy-in and appoint African members to the Working Group.

Members should include not only representatives of AU institutions, but also of Africas business community and investors with experience in transnational infrastructure development. To ensure political buy-in, the AUC Chairperson should take the lead.

Second, the AU should identify for SIWG consideration a short list of the most bankable, viable and advantageous initiatives from among 69 priority projects already in development under the PIDA programme. That selection must be fast-tracked.

Third, inclusive oversight is imperative. To increase accountability and political backing, the AU could invite civil society groups, business communities, government policymakers and regional leaders to form oversight coalitions around SIWG. These coalitions would ideally be conflict-sensitive and help shape projects to avoid exacerbating local or regional conflicts and to ensure communities share the benefits.

Grounding infrastructure projects in local buy-in is not just vital to their economic success; it also strengthens African negotiators when wrangling over the details of investment deals with the US government and private sector.

Americans must overcome their own challenges, notably the distractions posed by upcoming US congressional elections and the looming hazards of war with Iran. Former senior US official on Africa relations, Lesley Anne Warner, recently noted Mr Trumps throttling of vital market-creating and business-enabling foreign assistance by closing the US Agency for International Development and reducing the State Department.

This makes establishing a broad, public-private coordination tool for SIWGs implementation all the more pressing.

A US coordinating group should convene the main implementing agencies  the State Department, Development Finance Corporation, US Trade and Development Agency, and Export-Import Bank, together with business representatives such as the US Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council on Africa. The coordination work must ensure transparency and accountability, and should include Congress to build support for codifying this initiative in law.

This innovative initiative will naturally encounter setbacks that will demand strategic patience, accountability and learning. A task on both sides will be to continually show transparency, promise and progress of proposed investments.

READ ALSO: Taiwans president cancels trip to Eswatini after three African countries revoke flight permits

Another will be to steadily demonstrate that full African and AU co-creation of projects is, in fact, a greater African sharing of the burdens of their development. That requires African investors at the table, credible fiscal reforms, environmental viability and a commitment to security.

Moving quickly and achieving early successes will be essential to SIWGs sustainability. Ensuring successful first projects will demonstrate the innovative dimension of this approach. It will create a dynamic for further rounds of profitmaking  and Africa-building  between proven investment partners.

The Trump administration and AUC are beginning a bold journey to flip the script of decades of development cooperation. It is not a risk-free paradigm shift, but one that holds transformative promise for the future of Americans and Africans if done right.

Joseph Sany, Senior Research Fellow and Paul-Simon Handy, Regional Director East Africa and Representative to the AU, Institute for Security Studies (ISS).

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Thursday hosted the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, at the Government House, Bauchi.

Governor Mohammed told reporters that both leaders are actively seeking a viable political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Following a closed-door meeting with Mr Obi and his entourage, Governor Mohammed also declared that he considers himself a freelance politician, saying he currently lacks direct ties to any specific political party.

Governor Mohammed said the PDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of Mr Obi are currently facing uncertainties.

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Neither PDP nor [the third-party interests] are standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and my party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary.

Certainly, we are all in opposition, and that is why I say this is a political discussion. We will not disclose everything we have discussed in terms of the is and ts we have crossed, the governor stated.

He added that the meeting focused on strategic realignment and cooperation.

We cannot operate without a platform. At the end of the day, the current political situation may even help unify us and strengthen our chances of winning elections, Mr Mohammed said.

He described Mr Obis visit as a symbolic torchlight of hope for building national unity and a new tomorrow for Nigeria.

In his remarks, Mr Obi said the country cannot continue the way it is today.

We need to reverse the current trend for the benefit of everyone. That is why we are hereto seek your support in building a new Nigeria that will benefit all, Mr Obi said.

The PDP is currently split into two factions. One side is led by Tanimu Turaki, while the other is led by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.

This has left governors like Mr Mohammed in a precarious position, as the partys national structure is effectively paralysed by legal battles and leadership disputes.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and ruling APC had wooed Governor Mohammed into their parties in separate visits to the state.

Mr Mohammed had said that internal divisions within the PDP were the reason he was leaving the PDP.

He added that he had met with key stakeholders, including leaders of the APC and President Bola Tinubu, in efforts to resolve the impasse, but the situation remained unresolved.

However, Mr Mohammeds attempt to join the APC failed due to alleged disagreements over control of the party structure in his state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 30 per cent reduction in charges airlines owe aviation agencies, in a move aimed at easing mounting financial pressure in the sector.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with journalists, saying the approval was communicated during the meeting with airline operators.

So this evening, Mr President just communicated to us through the Chief of Staff, whilst we were at the meeting, that hes granting a 30 per cent discount to all airlines, Mr Keyamo said.

According to him, the relief applies to debts owed by airlines to key aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

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He explained that the measure is intended to help airlines manage outstanding obligations such as parking fees, navigational charges and other operational costs.

The development comes amid growing concerns in the aviation sector following a sharp increase in the price of Jet A1 fuel, which operators say has significantly raised flight costs.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have warned that the surge in fuel prices could force them to either increase ticket fares or suspend operations if urgent interventions are not implemented.
President Bola Tinubu has sought the confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of Muttaqha Darma as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mr Tinubus request was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Wednesday.

I am pleased to forward to the Senate for confirmation the nomination of Muttaqha Rabe Darma, PhD, as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the letter read in part

The president said the request complied with the provisions of section 147, subsection 2, of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

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While I hope this request will receive expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept the assurances of my highest regards, he said.

Mr Akpabio, thereafter, referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for consideration as soon as practicable.

READ ALSO: Tinubu makes new appointments in education sector

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president, in a separate letter, also sought the confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of Lamido Yuguda as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Senate president referred the request to the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions for further legislative input and to return to the plenary in one week.

The president nominated Mr Darma on Tuesday.

(NAN)
The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Clement Adesuyi Haastrup; a former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; and Chairman/Publisher of Ovation Media Group, Dele Momodu, are among important personalities that will gather on Thursday (today) to honour the Chief Executive Officer of The Crest Online, Shola Oshunkeye, as he marks his 70th birthday with a colloquium and book launch.

The event, scheduled to begin at 11 am, will take place at the Sir Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos.

The colloquium is themed: The decline of human interest journalism in Nigeria.

While Osoba will serve as the Chairman of the occasion, Owa Haastrup will be the Royal Father of the Day, and Momodu the Keynote Speaker.

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The book, with the Chairman/Founder of Nairapoint Finance Limited, Lagos, Funke Otti, as Chief Launcher, is to be reviewed by the Editor of Saturday Tribune, Lasisi Olagunju.

A former Deputy Governor of Osun State and ex-Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Agbeja-Obada, will serve as the Mother of the Day.

Mr Oshunkeye, who turned 70 on April 20, 2026, has been celebrated by several Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Mr Tinubus congratulatory message was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on April 20, 2026.

In it, he eulogised Mr Oshunkeye, a former managing director/editor-in-chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited and 2006 CNN/MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year overall winner.

The President rejoiced with him and praised his contributions to the struggle for the restoration of democracy and accountable governance in Nigeria, as well as to the development of journalism in the country.

Mr Oshunkeye, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, served at various times as Editor of Weekend Concord, Senior Associate Editor of TELL Magazine, General Editor at The Sun Group, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited, and is now the President/CEO of The Crest Online.

Mr Tinubu happily notes Oshunkeyes unrelenting pursuit of truth, not only in Nigeria but across Africa, culminating in his 2006 award as the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of the Year for his investigative work, Nigers Graveyard of the Living.

The President wished him many more years of fruitful service to Nigeria and humanity.
The Kano State Government says it has concluded arrangements to conduct a mass wedding for 1,500 couples under its Marriage Social Welfare Initiative, popularly known as Auren Gata.

The Deputy Commander-General (DCG) of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Mujahideen Aminudeen, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday.

Mr Aminudeen said that the initiative, being implemented under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, was part of efforts to support vulnerable members of society.

He explained that the decision to organise the mass wedding followed the successes recorded in the previous exercises.

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According to him, the positive outcomes of earlier programmes encouraged the government to commit more resources to sustain the initiative.

He added that the governor had directed that all necessary arrangements for the exercise be concluded before the end of May.

The DCG said the scheme was designed to promote social stability and support individuals who are willing to start a family.

He explained that intending couples must follow the laid-down processes before being considered for the programme.

Mr Aminudeen said that the processes included obtaining endorsement from the relevant traditional leaders within their respective communities.

He added that applicants must also express mutual consent to live together as husband and wife before filling and submitting forms for approval.

Mr Aminudeen, however, dismissed allegations that the board imposed marriages on participants or selected beneficiaries without due process.

He revealed that participation in the programme is entirely voluntary and based on the willingness of both parties.

Mr Aminudeen further said that all prospective couples would undergo medical screening to ensure compatibility.

He listed the tests to include HIV, genotype and other medical checks aimed at ensuring sound health of the would-be marriage partners.

The DCG added that pregnancy tests would also be conducted on women applicants as part of measures to safeguard the dignity and well-being of the participants.

(NAN)
President Bola Tinubu has expressed Nigerias solidarity with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries that came under attack in the heat of the US/Israel war with Iran.

Commending the countries for their resilience and restraint, the president noted that Nigeria will always stand for peace and stability.

President Tinubu spoke at the State House in Abuja when he received Letters of Credence from seven Ambassadors and two High Commissioners, including those of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Let me first of all congratulate all of you and use this opportunity to say that the Federal Republic of Nigeria expresses its full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in the face of the recent attacks and say that we will always strive for peace and stability across the world.

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The world needs tranquillity, peace and love. We share that solidarity with all of you in that region, he said.

The President received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the State of Qatar, Yousef Al-Hail; Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yousef Albalawi; Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic, Wissam Kalakeche; Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan, Mohammed Haroun and High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia, Walda Ndevashiya.

Other envoys who presented their Letters of Credence were: High Commissioner of Rwanda, Moses Rugema; Ambassador of the Republic of Somalia, Mohamed Mohamed; Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, Nicolas Naon; and Ambassador of the Republic of Congo, Moyongo Dieudonne.

President Tinubu told the envoys that Nigeria will continue to work together with international partners to pursue peace within the African sub-region and the globe.

Today marks a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between Nigeria and your various countries, as I receive your Letters of Credence and the Letters of Recall of your predecessors.

I am confident that your appointment as Principal Envoys of your respective countries in Nigeria is a testament to your years of service to your country and the strength of your character. I therefore request that you convey my warmest fraternal greetings and best wishes to your respective Heads of State and Government.

Nigeria values the bonds of friendship we share. We remain fully committed to deepening these ties, for the mutual prosperity and progress of our peoples, he added.

President Tinubu noted that Nigerias foreign policy will guide its active engagements with the global community for mutual benefits.

Your Excellencies, you are arriving in Nigeria at a pivotal period in our national trajectory. My administration is undertaking bold and necessary economic reforms designed to reposition Nigeria as a globally competitive hub for investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.

As you commence your tour of duty, I invite you to see Nigeria not just as Africas most populous nation, but as a dynamic partner open for strategic and mutually beneficial business collaboration.

As you engage with our government and our people, you will observe that our strategic foreign policy actively guides our interactions on the global stage. Nigeria seeks to collaborate with your nations to harness the boundless energy of our youthful demography, drive infrastructural and economic development, maximise the mutual potential of our diaspora populations and champion democratic governance.

Furthermore, Nigeria remains acutely aware of its responsibilities within our immediate neighbourhood and the broader African continent. We are resolute in our commitment to the principles and protocols of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The defence of constitutional order, the pursuit of regional economic integration, and the stabilisation of the Sahel region are priorities that we cannot achieve in isolation.

We look forward to robust partnership and cooperation with your respective countries in addressing these transnational security and development challenges, the president stated.

President Tinubu said global challenges can be tackled with the collective will and cooperation of nations and international institutions.

The global community today faces a complex web of overlapping crisesfrom the changing international order, climate change and energy transitions to counter-terrorism and the need for a more equitable global financial architecture. Nigeria stands ready to work with your governments bilaterally and in multilateral forums to advocate for a fairer, more secure world order.

To achieve these shared objectives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to extend to you their full cooperation.

READ ALSO: Iran seizes two ships in Strait of Hormuz

Your Excellencies, as you embark on your diplomatic missions in Nigeria, you have my personal assurance and the full cooperation of my administration. Our institutions are ready to work with you to ensure the resounding success of your tenure, the president assured the envoys.

President Tinubu told the ambassadors to travel and explore the country beyond Abuja, and experience the rich cultural diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and unparalleled warmth and friendship of Nigerians.

On behalf of the envoys, the Ambassador of Qatar thanked the President for taking the time to receive them at the Presidential Villa.

He assured the president of excellent relations with Qatar and pledged that all the envoys would do their best to improve relations with Nigeria after their tour.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

April 23, 2026
Stakeholders from DauraSandamuMaiadua federal constituency have presented Yusuf, son of former President Muhammadu Buhari, as their preferred candidate for the House of Representatives seat, signalling a potential extension of the Buhari familys political influence in the state.

The stakeholders made the presentation on Wednesday during a visit to Governor Dikko Radda at the Government House in Katsina.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Radda emphasised the need for discipline, consultation, and grassroots engagement in political participation, noting that political ambition must be guided by due process and broad-based support.

Political ambition requires patience, structure, and proper consultation. Engage the grassroots, visit wards and local governments, consult political leaders, and follow due process in seeking the mandate of the people, the governor said.

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He added that political activities should be anchored on unity, mutual respect, and adherence to democratic principles.

This is not merely about contesting elections. It is about engaging our people, strengthening our democratic culture, and ensuring that every aspiration is pursued with responsibility and respect for established processes, he said.

Mr Radda also referenced his longstanding political ties to the late President Buhari, under whom he served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Bello Masari and later as Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

I remain deeply connected to the legacy and family of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. I will never distance myself from the values he stood for, he said.

The governor, however, said the aspiration of Mr Buharis son was a product of consultations within the constituency and not initiated by his administration.

As governor, I remain committed to fairness, inclusivity, and stability within our political family. I will continue to support any process that strengthens unity and democracy in Katsina State, he said.

Stakeholders, minister back nomination

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the District Head of Dumurkul, Musa Haro, said stakeholders across the constituency had unanimously agreed to support Mr Buhari.

After extensive consultations, stakeholders resolved to support Yusuf Muhammadu Buhari. This decision reflects the will of our people, he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Hannatu Musawa, described the development as a reflection of unity and continuity, noting that the aspirant represents a bridge between legacy and the future.

Leadership is about continuity and preparing the next generation. Supporting capable individuals ensures stability, growth, and sustained progress, she said.

Aspirant speaks

Mr Buhari thanked the stakeholders and the governor for their support, pledging to uphold the values associated with his family name.

I do not take this responsibility lightly. I am committed to upholding the legacy of service associated with my family and working with our youth to build a better future for our constituency, he said.

Context

Katsina State, particularly the Daura axis, has long been considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), largely due to the enduring political influence of former President Buhari.

It remains unclear when party primaries for the seat will be held or whether other aspirants have indicated interest in the position.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, met with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday to present a report on the performance of the power sector under his leadership over the past two and a half years, preparatory to his exit from office by the end of this month.

According to a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Mr Adelabu met with Mr Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, a day before he tendered his resignation letter. The statement was signed by the ministers Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Tunji Bello,

Mr Adelabu submitted his resignation letter on Wednesday, effective from 30 April, citing his bid to contest the next governorship election in Oyo State.

He also said the president consented to his governorship ambition during the meeting.

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The minister expressed profound appreciation to the President for his steadfast support and reaffirmed his commitment to the advancement of Nigerias power sector and overall national development, the statement said.

The statement also said Mr Adelabu told the president that the reforms during his tenure focussed on improving electricity generation, strengthening transmission infrastructure and enhancing efficiency across the sectors value chain.

A major part of the briefing, according to the statement involved the presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP), alongside its Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) and a medium- to long-term integrated resource plan for the sector.

The NIEP is a comprehensive policy framework designed to guide the sustainable development of Nigerias electricity sector. It provides a long-term roadmap for achieving energy security, expanding electricity access, integrating renewable energy, and building a more resilient and efficient power sector.

The Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) serves as the operational blueprint for the NIEP, detailing specific actions, timelines, and institutional responsibilities required to translate policy objectives into measurable outcomes.

The SIP prioritises critical interventions across generation, transmission, and distribution, while also addressing regulatory reforms, investment mobilisation, human capacity and local content development within the sector, the statement read.

The statement said President Tinubu commended the ministers efforts, particularly the policy frameworks introduced to reposition the sector.

On Mr Adelabus governorship aspiration, the statement said, The President also granted his consent and blessing for the Minister to pursue his governorship ambition.

It said the the timing of Mr Adelabus reaignation reflects his commitment to addressing key sectoral challenges and ensuring continuity in ongoing reforms prior to exiting office.

The statement noted the ministers efforts to stabilise the sector following recent declines in power generation due to gas supply constraints to power plants, ongoing pipeline repairs, and outstanding obligations to gas suppliers.

Resignation

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Adelabu tendered his resignation letter dated 22 April on Wednesday.

The letter, addressed to President Tinubu, indicated the resignation is effective from 30 April.

He said the timeline would allow for an orderly transition and handover of responsibilities in the ministry.

The letter was transmitted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

In the correspondence, Mr Adelabu expressed appreciation to the president for the opportunity to serve in the cabinet, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said serving as Minister of Power had given him the opportunity to contribute to national development, particularly in reforms within the electricity sector.

I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.

Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity,

It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sectorone of the most critical foundations of Nigerias industrial growth and economic transformation, he wrote.

Mr Adelabu, however, said he was leaving office to concentrate on his political ambition in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the 2027 governorship election.

President Tinubu had earlier given all political appointees aspiring to contest elections in 2027 a 31 March deadline to resign. Some appointees, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, have since resigned from their positions in compliance with the directive.

Mr Adelabus resignation came about three weeks after the deadline had passed.

He noted that his aspiration to govern the state predated his current appointment, recalling his earlier political interest during his time as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Mr Adedibu has given himself thumbs up for his performance as the power minister, citing reforms he undertook since assuming office.

However, progress has been overshadowed by major setbacks plunging the country into incessant blackouts and grid collapses.

Nigerias power supply remains poor under Mr Adelabus watch.

Power generation has fluctuated between about 3,900MW and 5,500MW depending on gas supply and grid conditions.

In 2026, average output has largely hovered around 4,300MW to 4,900MW, still far below demand in Africas most populous country as citizens groan

Even when generation rises, transmission constraints and weak distribution infrastructure prevent stable delivery to consumers, resulting in frequent outages and grid collapse.

These have had an intense negative impact on citizens lives and businesses.

In March, he tendered a public apology to Nigerians over persistent, crippling outages that worsened between February and March.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, visited Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday.

Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra, is among the top politicians who will be competing for the presidential ticket of Nigerias main opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the 2027 general elections draw closer.

The former governor disclosed his meeting with Mr Mignot in a post on X. He posted a photo of himself and the diplomat wearing similar Igbo traditional attire.

It was an enriching meeting as we shared some useful conversations, said Mr Obi, who called it an honour and privilege to host the European Union ambassador.

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He did not give details of their discussion.

Last week, Mr Obi held a breakfast meeting in Abuja with some foreign diplomats, including the British High Commissioner to Nigeria and representatives from Germany, Canada, and France.

Earlier this month, some officials of the British High Commission in Nigeria attended the ADC convention in Abuja.

The UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) later told PREMIUM TIMES that its officials routinely attend political and civic engagements, including those organised by political parties.

Attendance of these events reflects the UK Governments commitment to and engagement with the democratic process in Nigeria, a spokesperson for the FCDO said in response to a PREMIUM TIMES enquiry.

READ ALSO: Why I may dump ADC Peter Obi

Although diplomatic missions often maintain contact with multiple political stakeholders, including opposition politicians, it is uncommon for foreign envoys to attend party conventions or be introduced to the audience during such events.

Mr Obi resigned from the LP in December last year to join the ADC, whose membership includes many former APC leaders and members, as well as other opposition figures.

He enjoys a great following from Nigerian youths.
The Iranian Navy said on Wednesday that it had seized two cargo ships attempting to exit the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the ships seized is a Panama-flagged vessel named MSC Francesca, and the other is a Greek-flagged vessel named Epaminondas.

Iran said the ships were captured for operating without required permits and for tampering with their navigation systems.

This is the first seizure since the war with the US and Israel began in February.

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Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned that any disruption to order and safety in the strait would be treated as a red line, according to Reuters.

The BBC also reported that the army first opened fire on Epaminodes after it ignored warnings to retreat.

The Greek-operated Epaminondas came under fire about 20 nautical miles northwest of Oman. The vessel bridge was damaged by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades.

The second ship, MSC Francesca, was also attacked 8 nautical miles west of Iran while attempting to cross the Strait.

A third vessel, known as Euphoria, was later stopped after coming under fire.

Montenegros minister of maritime affairs confirmed the seizure of the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and disclosed that four Montenegrin seafarers were on board and that all crew members were safe.

In a post on X, he wrote, Negotiations between the shipping company and the Iranian side are ongoing, and the relevant state authorities are in constant contact with the crew.

Greek operator Technomar Shipping Inc confirmed the attack on Epaminondas.

It disclosed that its crew were safe, and that the vessel had since been boarded by Iranian forces, while noting that a crew of 21 members, made up of Ukrainians and Filipinos, was onboard the ship.

Technomar remains in close communication with the relevant authorities in the region. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our crew as we work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure their continued safety and urgently resolve the matter, the operator said.

This comes shortly after President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire between the US and Iran indefinitely.

Mr Trump has said the deal will remain in place until the warring parties reach an agreement, without providing a window for when this must be done.

The Strait of Hormuz has been at the heart of this conflict and heightened tension between the two parties.

The strait, which sees around 130 vessels enter and exit the Gulf each day, became deserted after Irans naval blockade, which prohibited movement.

Last week, the US also imposed its blockade on the Strait due to Irans unwillingness to reach an agreement.

The US Navy also seized an Iranian vessel trying to bypass its blockade, and in response, Tehran promised retaliation for what it calls a violation of the ceasefire.

READ ALSO: Iran says it will attack military vessels that approaches Strait of Hormuz

It also said it will not be negotiating under the shadow of threat or under a US naval blockade.

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the US violated the ceasefire by seizing its ship, which was attempting to pass through the waterway.

He said, All this is a clear violation of international law and the UN charter, as well as violations of the ceasefire. In situations like this, how can anyone trust the US claim about reconciliation and diplomacy?
The State Security Services (SSS), on Thursday, arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on five charges of breach of national security.

The SSS filed the charges against Mr El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja February, following his claim on a live television programme that he intercepted National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadus phone call.

The prosecution accused him of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003).

Mr El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all five charges read to him before Judge Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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After Mr El-Rufai entered his plea, the judge took a break for his bail filings to be put in order for hearing.

The judge is expected to return shortly for the bail hearing to proceed.

Earlier, prosecution lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that amended five charges were filed against the defendant on 13 April.

The lawyer prayed the court to substitute it with the earlier indictment with three charges.

We pray that the earlier charge be struck out my lord, he said.

Responding, Mr El-Rufais lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, also a SAN, said he had been served with the amended charges.

He said he had no objection to the amended charges.

The judge then struck out the earlier indictment with three charges.

After the amended five counts were read to the former governor, he pleaded not guilty and Mr Aladedoye sought three consecutive trial dates.

Mr Iyamu, however, objected to an application for three consecutive days for commencement of trial.

He submitted that since the defendant had been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), having access to him within the three days of the trial might be difficult.

According to him, the three days might not be in our best interest.

Mr Iyamu also informed the court of his clients bail application filed on 17 February.

However, the further affidavit in support of the bail application was not in the court file and the judge stood down the matter for Iyamu to do the needful.

In count one, Mr El Rufai was alleged to have admitted during an interview as a guest on Arise TV stations Prime Time Programme in Abuja on 13 February that he and someone unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.

In count another count, the ex-governor was alleged to have also said during the interview that he knew and related with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of NSA, without reporting the said individual to relevant security agencies.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.

Another count alleged that Mr El Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the NSAs phone communications.

.

SSS said the act is contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

Mr El-Rufai had, during a live TV interview, claimed he listened to a wiretapped phone call of Mr Ribadu. In that call, he said the NSA directed security operatives to detain him. He linked the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 12 February after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

Mr El-Rufai, a critic of the President Bola Tinubu, is facing investigations by different agencies.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) first arrested in February.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) immediately arrested him three days after the EFCC released him.

While in ICPC custody, ICPC agents agents raided his house in Abuja to conduct a search.

Mr El-Rufai subsequently filed a N1 billion suit against ICPC for what he described as an illegal search of his residence.

The ICPC is ow prosecuting him in two separate corruption cases in Kaduna.

Mr El-Rufai was denied bail in one of the cases earlier this week and further remanded in ICPC custody.

(NAN)
Romuald Wadagnis election as Benins president on 12 April may prove to be more than a routine domestic transition. It could reopen dialogue between Niger and Benin and help ease wider regional tensions. The African Union (AU) remains one of the few actors still able to play a credible facilitation role.

Since the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 29 January 2025, political tensions have increasingly played bilaterally, notably between Burkina Faso and Cote dIvoire, Mali and Cote dIvoire, and Benin and Niger. The Cotonou-Niamey relationship stands out as particularly strained, marked by deep mistrust, personalisation and mutual accusations.

Triggered by Nigers 2023 coup, the crisis quickly turned confrontational. Beninese President Patrice Talons backing of ECOWAS stance on reinstating Mohamed Bazoum, including by force, prompted Niamey to close the border, which remains shut despite sanctions being lifted in February 2024.

The dispute has since crystallised around Nigerien claims of a French military presence in northern Benin, which Cotonou denies. Benins attempted coup in 2025 further hardened positions, fuelling mutual allegations.

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Although Nigers President General Abdourahmane Tiani denied involvement, the episode triggered reciprocal diplomatic expulsions in early 2026. Relations deteriorated further after the March Islamic State attack on Niamey airport, with Mr Tiani directly accusing Mr Talon, Frances President Emmanuel Macron and Cote dIvoires President Alassane Ouattara of supporting the assault.

Benins leadership change nonetheless reshapes the prospects for dialogue that two years of personalised tensions had rendered unlikely. During his campaign, Mr Wadagni signalled his intent to rebuild trust with estranged neighbours.

As a recognised technocrat unburdened by the most contentious phases of Nigers post-coup period, he is well placed to leverage this opening. A bold regional initiative would signal the change his administration is expected to deliver, while offering a degree of political differentiation that economic continuity alone cannot provide.

Crucially, Niamey could also benefit from the strategic breathing space that normalisation would offer. Initially deployed as a pressure lever, the border closure has become a security, economic and diplomatic liability. Easing tensions along its southern flank would allow Nigers authorities to refocus on a stalled political transition.

These dynamics are underpinned by resilient economic and security interdependencies that maintain a floor of engagement. The Niger-Benin oil pipeline illustrates this dynamic.

Despite mutual weaponisation  Cotonou blocking exports in 2024 and Niamey shutting the valves weeks later  neither side has moved to permanently dismantle the arrangement. The infrastructure has continued to operate, albeit intermittently, even as diplomatic ties collapsed.

For Niger, restoring access to Benins maritime corridor would ease supply constraints and reduce reliance on longer, costlier routes that have driven rising prices. Trade has continued through informal networks, and the reopening of the Tsamiya-Kamba corridor via Nigeria points to a partial easing.

But these workarounds remain limited. Without a formal reset with Cotonou, Niameys economic outlook will remain constrained.

For Benin, normalisation would mean reviving activity at Cotonous port, whose transit traffic  historically driven by Niger for over 90 per cent  has yet to recover to pre-crisis levels. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the same period in 2024, the number of vessels calling at the port fell by around 24 per cent, and imports dropped by 34 per cent.

Security-wise, closer coordination between Niamey and Cotonou in the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex would serve shared interests. It would strengthen Nigers ability to contain armed groups exploiting cross-border coordination gaps.

For Benin, it would help ease pressure on overstretched forces facing intensified incursions into Alibori and Atacora. Violence across the Benin-Niger-Nigeria border area rose by 86% from 2024 to 2025. In April 2025, a Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin attack killed 54 Beninese soldiers in what was the countrys deadliest year on record.

Most importantly, normalisation between Niamey and Cotonou could generate wider regional momentum. In the context of AES solidarity, a thaw with Niger could encourage Ouagadougou to soften its own stance towards Benin, particularly on military coordination in the Kourou-Koalou area, where armed group activity intersects with an unresolved border dispute.

A joint security arrangement for the area was already agreed in principle during Mr Talons visit to Ouagadougou in February 2023, but remains unimplemented due to regional tensions.

More broadly, a bilateral reset between Niamey and Cotonou could help reopen pragmatic cooperation across the subregion. At the same time, the terms of separation between the AES and ECOWAS are still being worked out. It would not resolve underlying political differences, but could create space for a minimal framework of engagement between the two blocs, especially on security.

The question of a French military presence in Benin, however, remains a sensitive complication. Paris recent acknowledgement of special forces deployed in support of Benins counter-terrorism efforts lends retrospective weight to Nigers concerns.

But Niamey cannot realistically make this a precondition for re-engagement without encroaching on Benins sovereign defence choices and foreclosing any prospect of dialogue.

A more workable path would be to anchor normalisation in mutually agreed, formalised assurances on the use of each others territory  aimed at dispelling concerns about potential use for hostile or destabilising purposes  and commitments to refrain from deploying foreign forces near the shared border.

Ultimately, the transition in Cotonou creates a small window of opportunity. Allowing it to close would prolong a political impasse with growing costs for both parties and the wider region. The AU could play a facilitation role here, drawing on a capacity for engagement that other regional actors have largely lost.

The AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel, through its mandate, its Bamako base, and its engagement with both AES and ECOWAS member states, remains the AUs most credible institutional instrument for facilitation. Its Special Representative has already initiated consultations across both blocs.

Addis Ababa should build on this momentum through stronger political backing, enabling the AU to assert its leadership amid growing regional fragmentation.

This article is published with the support of the Danish and Dutch governments and the Bosch Foundation.

Djiby Sow and Hassane Kone, Senior Researchers, and Leylatou Saidou Daoura, Bosch Junior Fellow, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
Gunmen have killed Emmanuel Ezeokwe, an Anglican priest, in an overnight attack on a vicarage in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State, authorities have said.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in the Zinai community, has heightened concerns over recurring attacks on rural communities in the state.

The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed the killing in a statement by its spokesperson, Suleiman Nguroje, saying the attack was reported at about 6:30 a.m. by a resident.

According to the police, the gunmen invaded the community around 12:48 a.m. and shot the cleric inside his residence.

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Police officers who responded to the report found the victim at the scene and took him to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead. His body has been deposited in a morgue.

Mr Nguroje said three empty AK-47 shells were recovered at the scene, while an investigation has been launched.

The Commissioner of Police, Kabir Hassan, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a detailed probe, while tactical teams have been deployed to track the attackers.

Church reacts

The Archbishop of Yola Diocese, Markus Ibrahim, described the killing as a major loss to the church and called for calm.

Rising concerns

The killing of Mr Ezeokwe adds to a growing list of violent incidents in Adamawa State, particularly in rural communities near the Sambisa Forest axis.

In February 2026, at least 25 people were killed in coordinated attacks on villages in Madagali and Hong local government areas, with gunmen also burning homes and displacing residents.

Reports indicated that the attackers, some of whom arrived on motorcycles and in military-style clothing, struck multiple locations, including a military base, revealing the scale and coordination of the violence.

Human rights groups and local sources have also documented repeated assaults in the Madagali area since late 2025, with communities near the Cameroon border described as particularly vulnerable due to difficult terrain and delayed military response.

The region lies close to the Sambisa Forest, a long-standing operational base for insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have carried out attacks in the North-east for over a decade.

Historically, Adamawa has recorded high-profile attacks on civilians and institutions, including a 2012 mass killing at a student residence in Mubi and repeated raids on villages across the state.

READ ALSO: Nigeria soldiers kill gunmen in Plateau ambush

Security analysts say the persistence of such attacks, particularly in remote communities, points to gaps in rural policing, intelligence gathering, and rapid-response capabilities.

It remains unclear whether the latest killing was targeted or part of a broader pattern of nighttime raids, but residents say fear has continued to grow in affected communities.

The attack on a cleric within a residence also raises concerns about the vulnerability of religious leaders in conflict-prone areas.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, postponed the hearing of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufais bail application, following his arraignment on phone tapping charges.

The judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, set 18 May for the hearing.

She ordered the former governor remanded in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS), the prosecuting agency, pending the bail hearing.

Until Thursday, Mr El-Rufai was in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) which is prosecuting in separate corruption trials before two courts in Kaduna.

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The SSS filed the phone tapping charges against Mr El-Rufai in February, following his claim on a live television programme that he intercepted National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadus phone call.

After Mr El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to five amended charges, his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), requested a hearing for the former governors bail.

Mr Iyamu told the court of the bail application was filed on 17 February.

But the bail hearing stalled due to the absence of Mr El-Rufais further affidavit supporting the bail application in the file.

The judge initially paused proceedings for the document to be produced in the case file, but she eventually adjourned the hearing until 18 May.

Charges

Earlier, prosecution lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that amended five charges were filed against the defendant on 13 April.

The lawyer prayed the court to substitute the amended charges with the earlier indictment containing three counts.

We pray that the earlier charge be struck out my lord, he said.

Responding, Mr El-Rufais lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, also a SAN, said he had been served with the amended charges.

He said he had no objection to the amended charges.

The judge then struck out the earlier indictment with three charges.

In the amended charges read to Mr El-Rufai on Thursday, the SSS accused him of Intentionally and unlawfully interfering with the communication of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The spy agency also charged him with securing classified information and aiding call interception without reporting to security agencies.

It also alleged that Mr El-Rufai used technical equipment which compromised public safety, national security and instilled reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians, while intercepting Mr Ribadus communication.

The charges were brought under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order of 2024 and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Amendment Act.

Mr El-Rufai denied all charges.

Backstory

The charges followed Mr El-Rufais claim in an interview on an Arise Television programme in February that he, with someone, intercepted NSA Ribadus phone call.

In the call, he said the NSA directed security operatives to detain him. He linked the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 12 February after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

Videos that circulated online at the time showed a brief confrontation between security personnel and the former governors entourage. His passport was reportedly confiscated during the airport encounter.

His arraignment, originally set for February, was delayed due to Mr El-Rufais detention at the ICPC at the time.

Mr El-Rufai, a critic of the President Bola Tinubu, is facing investigations and prosecutions by different agencies.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) first arrested him in February.

The ICPC immediately arrested him three days after the EFCC released him.

While in ICPC custody, ICPC agents raided his house in Abuja to conduct a search.

Mr El-Rufai subsequently filed a N1 billion suit against ICPC for what he described as an illegal search of his residence.

The ICPC is now prosecuting him in two separate corruption cases in Kaduna.

Earlier this week, one of the courts in Kaduna denied him bail and ordered him to remain in ICPC custody.
The President General of the Ogbakor-Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, Godspower Onuekwa, has raised alarm over what he described as escalating attacks by suspected bandits in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Mr Onuekwa, in a media briefing on 23 April, said that armed groups have taken over forest areas in the local government, launching repeated attacks and kidnappings in several communities, including Igwuruta, Omademe and Omagwa.

He said the situation has worsened in recent weeks, with residents living in fear due to the activities of the attackers, whom he claimed are heavily armed.

These bandits are armed with sophisticated weapons and have made life more unbearable for our people, he said.

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Mr Onuekwa noted that the affected communities host the Port Harcourt International Airport, warning that the insecurity could have dire implications.

He further said that on 8 April, the bandits kidnapped a couple, and the effort by local vigilante members to rescue the victims led to an attack from more than 200 armed men, causing the effort to fail.

According to him, the attackers also kidnapped the head of the local vigilante group, identified only as Collins, after overwhelming the group with superior firepower.

The police spokesperson in Rivers, Blessing Agabe, did not respond to call and a text message seeking her comment on the matter.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Information, Sirawoo Honour, requested that a link to the media briefing be shared with him before he would respond. Although this was done, follow-up calls were not answered.

Mr Onuekwa called on the government to urgently deploy security agencies to reclaim the affected areas and restore safety to the communities.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how gunmen killed a woman four weeks ago in Rivers and how gunmen shot a traditional ruler in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers last month.
The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, rejected key exhibits presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prove its N2.8 billion fraud charges against former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his co-defendants.

The rejected exhibits were the extra-judicial statements of two of Mr Sirikas co-defendantshis daughter, Fatima Sirika, and her husband, Jalal Hamma.

The statements of the second and third defendants (Ms Sirika and Jalal Hamma) made at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office are inadmissible for non-compliance with the provision of Section 15(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the trial judge, Sylvanus Oriji, ruled on Thursday.

Mr Oriji gave the ruling following the two defendants challenge to the voluntariness of the statements.

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The statements, said to be confessional, were pivotal to the EFCCs case.

The EFCC obtained the couples statements in 2024 when it invited them during investigations into the N2.8 billion contract fraud.

EFCC alleged that Mr Sirika allegedly spearheaded the fraud while in office as the aviation minister with participation from his daughter and son-in-law.

Mr Sirika served in that role between 2015 and 2023, during the tenure of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Backstory

In July 2025, EFCCs lawyer Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sought to tender as evidence the couples extrajudicial statements through a prosecution witness, Adekunle Odofin, who is an investigator with the anti-graft agency.

But the two defendants, through their lawyers, challenged the voluntariness of the statements.

The defence lawyers said the handwritten documents were confessional statements obtained from the two defendants under duress.

This prompted the judge to order a trial-within-trial to verify the claim.

Mr Odofin, the EFCC investigator, appeared as a prosecution witness in the trial-within-trial, insisting that the defendants freely wrote the statements.

He informed the court that Ms Sirika wrote her statement when she same to EFCCs office along with two lawyers on 26 February 2024 to honour an invitation.

He insisted that the cautionary word was administered to her and that she volunteered to give her statement.

He said her husband, Hamman, who was similarly invited, wrote his own statement when he visited the EFCCs office with one lawyer on 27 February 2024.

He confirmed that there was no video recording of the encounters on both occasions.

Prosecution lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, argued that statement writing process in both cases complied with Sections 15(4) and 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. He said video recording is not mandatory when a suspect volunteers a statement, adding that the law makes it optional by using the operative word may.

The defence lawyers poked a hole at the arguments, insisting that it was mandatory for the statement writing to be videotaped.

Why statements were rejected

In his ruling on Thursday, the judge said may, as used in the provision of ACJA, imposes a duty on officers of law enforcement agencies to comply with the provisions of the law without any room for discretion.

It is clear from the evidence of the witness that there was no compliance with the provisions of Section 15(4) of the ACJA 2015 when the statements of the second and third defendants were obtained by officers of the EFCC, the judge ruled.

It is not clear yet whether the EFCC would appeal the decision.

More application from the defence

After the ruling on Thursday, the defence lawyer for Mr Hamma, Sanusi Musa, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), drew the courts attention to an application he filed in October 2025 for the striking out of the proof of evidence and witness testimonies.

The proof of evidence is the totality of the documents the prosecution frontloaded offering the complete picture of the evidence it intends to rely on during trial.

Striking out a proof of evidence in the middle of trial means a collapse of the entire case midway.

Mr Musa said the EFCC had also filed a counter-affidavit opposing the motion.

However, the prosecution lawyer, Mr Atolabge, said the prosecution was not prepared for the matter to proceed.

Thereafter, the judge adjourned the matter until 2 June.

Charges

The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Sirika, alongside his daughter, Fatima Sirika, her husband, Jalal Hamma, and the couples firm, Al Buraq Global Investment, on six counts of contract fraud involving N2.8 billion.

EFCC alleged that the couple unduly got aviation ministry contracts worth more than a billion naira, while Mr Sirika supervised the ministry.

The commission also charged Mr Sirika with abuse of office for allegedly awarding contracts to a company in which his daughter and her husband had interests.

The charges also accuse Mr Sirika of using his power to confer an unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter and her husband. This allegedly involved a N1.5 billion contract for the Katsina Airport Apron Extension.

Also, the anti-graft agency alleged that Fatima and her husband held indirect private interests in the contract, with N1.3 billion allegedly traced to Mr Sirika as proceeds of criminal conduct in the form of gratification.

The EFCC said the act violates Section 12 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act.

All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Lagos State Government has released new details on the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which will resume on Saturday, 25 April, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place across the state.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced that the exercise would take place on the last Saturday of every month, between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am. During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages, he stated.

Mr Wahab said enforcement teams drawn from the ministry, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would monitor compliance.

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According to him, the teams would conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance, warning that defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.

He added that LAWMA intervention trucks will go around to cart away bagged wastes generated during the exercise, noting that incentives would be introduced to encourage participation.

There will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation, he noted.

Mr Wahab urged residents to support the initiative. We urge all residents to take ownership of this exercise and join hands with the government in building a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Lagos, he said.

The clarification follows the symbolic flag-off of the exercise along the MushinAgege Motor Road corridor on 14 March, ahead of its full implementation later this month.

The Lagos State Government had earlier announced the resumption of the sanitation programme, nearly a decade after it was suspended in November 2016 following a court ruling that restricted movement during the exercise.

Background

Announcing the policy in March, Mr Wahab explained the exercise would officially resume on 25 April and run on the last Saturday of every month within the same two-hour window.

I am pleased to inform all Lagosians that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will resume effective Saturday, 25th April 2026, holding on the last Saturday of every month from 6:30 a.m to 8:30 a.m., he said.

He added that residents are expected to participate actively. During this period, residents are enjoined to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in their frontages, and dispose of waste properly as a civic responsibility, he stated.

The commissioner stressed that the programme would be strictly enforced, describing it as a collective responsibility necessary for a cleaner city.

This exercise is a collective responsibility and a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and flood-resilient Lagos. And it shall be backed with the full enforcement weight of the Lagos State Government, he stressed.

He attributed the decision to revive the exercise to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, describing it as a very audacious step to restore environmental discipline.

Let me formally say this and say it boldly. Mr Governor and his deputy are taking a very audacious step. For those who dont know, before 2016, we had a culture that emphasised cleanliness as next to godliness, Mr Wahab said.

He recalled that residents previously observed the exercise as a routine civic duty.

Once every month, we took our time to clean up our surroundings and then keep them sparkling. However, for some years, we stopped it, he said.

According to him, the suspension contributed to worsening environmental conditions.

Now, waste and environmental challenges have become existential issues for us as a state. It has taken us over a year to debate, discuss and agree that it is time to reintroduce the monthly environmental sanitation, he added.

Monthly environmental sanitation was previously observed across Lagos, with residents required to clean their surroundings while movement was restricted for several hours.

However, the programme was suspended in November 2016 after the state government said it would review environmental laws and adopt more modern waste management approaches suited to a fast-growing commercial hub.

Despite those reforms, challenges such as indiscriminate waste disposal, blocked drainage systems and flooding risks have persisted in parts of the state, prompting renewed calls for stronger community participation.

While some residents have welcomed the reintroduction of the exercise, saying it could improve environmental hygiene, others have raised concerns about enforcement.

They warned that movement restrictions could be abused and called for sustained public education on proper waste management.
The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Muttaqha Darma as minister of Housing and Urban Development under the administration of Bola Tinubu.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation after lawmakers screened the nominee during plenary. He was subsequently cleared via a voice vote at the Committee of the Whole.

Mr Darma replaces Ahmed Dangiwa, whom the presidency said resigned. President Tinubu had earlier asked the Senate to screen and confirm the nominee in a letter read by Mr Akpabio during Wednesdays plenary.

The screening

The screening focused on Mr Darmas strategy for the housing sector, including plans to improve affordability, address abandoned projects, and restore the Abuja Master Plan.

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On housing accessibility, the nominee assured lawmakers that, if confirmed, he would prioritise making homes more available and affordable to Nigerians.

He acknowledged that several government housing projects have been abandoned, stressing the need for stronger leadership and improved policies.

He pledged to work with relevant agencies to identify, rehabilitate, and allocate such housing units effectively.

I will ensure that existing housing assets are properly utilised and that urban development is guided by sustainable planning principles, he said

Mr Darma also called for collaboration with stakeholders and the development of financing models that would make home ownership more accessible.

On urban planning, he admitted that standards under the Abuja Master Plan have deteriorated and committed to working with the Federal Capital Territory Administration to restore order and promote sustainable urban development.
A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has condemned Femi Gbajabiamila for asking a federal lawmaker from Kogi State, Leke Abejide, to remain in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and fight and scatter the opposition party.

Mr George, a former national vice chairperson of the PDP (South), spoke on Wednesday when he appeared as a guest on Arise News The Morning Show.

The comment

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, urged Mr Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency, to remain in the ADC and scatter the party.

I know you to be a committed party man, a fighter who does not like to be cheated, Mr Gbajabiamila, a member of the ruling APC, told Mr Abejide.

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He continued: My charge to you is to stay in that same ADC. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party, ADC. Do not allow them. We like what you are doing. Continue.

Mr Abejide moved from the APC to the ADC ahead of the 2019 general election after he failed to secure APCs ticket for Yagba Constituency which he won under the ADC.

Monumental political mistake

Speaking on the TV programme on Wednesday, Mr George described Mr Gbajabiamilas comment as a monumental political mistake.

The PDP chieftain said he was shocked that the chief of staff could make such a mistake.

He (Gbajabiamila) was utterly wrong. And he must apologise to the public for that statement.

I dont agree with him. I disagree completely. And for me, personally, my advice to him is to withdraw the statement, he said.

Rufai Oseni, one of the programme anchors, stressed that apology was not necessary given that the APC and its members had been linked to efforts to destabilise opposition political parties like the ADC.

But Mr George argued that as a human being, Mr Gbajabiamila could regret the comment and apologise if he considers his remarks to be wrong.

He is my brother. I cannot denounce him. But he was not right. And he can never be right. And I will never support him on that issue.

It was utter nonsense. And he should withdraw it, he said.
The main opposition party in Katsina State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has produced two party chairmen from parallel congresses conducted on Tuesday and Thursday.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the party is engulfed in a leadership crisis between those considered old members and those who joined from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the Tuesday congress, Musa Wamba was endorsed to continue as party chairman while Nasir Umar was elected as secretary-general.

On Thursday, the other faction elected Mohammed Rimi and Abubakar Adhama as state chairman and secretary-general, respectively.

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On Tuesday, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Atiku Saleh, said the national headquarters would not accept an unauthorised congress.

He declared the Tuesday congress null and void, saying, The screening committee constituted by the national headquarters has scheduled Wednesday for the ward and local government congresses, while the state will hold on Thursday.

ADC became the top opposition party in Katsina at the beginning of the year following the defection of several top politicians from both the APC and the PDP.

Despite an increase in the number of its top politicians, the partys state leader, Mustapha Inuwa, has failed to tackle the leadership crisis.

While the other faction insists that his tenure has ended because he has been chairman since 2022, Mr Wambas faction said those saying so are outsiders trying to destroy the party.
Veterans in Nigerias media industry have called for a renewed focus on human-interest journalism, warning that the profession is increasingly losing depth and connection with the public.

They made this known on Thursday at a colloquium held to mark the 70th birthday celebration of veteran journalist and Chief Executive Officer of The Creat Online, Shola Oshunkeye in Lagos.

The event also featured the launch of Mr Oshunkeyes latest book, Byline & Backbone: A Lifetime of Big and Impactful Stories, a collection of his most notable works spanning decades in journalism.

The anthology brought together award-winning reports that document Nigerias evolving political and social landscape, offering a reflective account of the countrys recent history while interrogating present-day realities.

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Foreworded by Nosa Igiebor, Mike Awoyinfa, and Dare Babarinsa, the book brings to the fore the enduring relevance of rigorous, people-centred reporting and highlights the role of journalism in shaping public understanding and national discourse.

The event, themed The decline of human interest journalism in Nigeria, featured prominent media figures including the Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Dele Momodu, former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, Journalist and former media adviser to Former President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina.

Other notable dignitaries at the event include the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland and national leader of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Gani Adams, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Haastrup, and the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin.

Virality has overshadowed accuracy and empathy  Dele Momodu

Giving the keynote address, Mr Momodu said the practice of journalism is undergoing a fundamental shift, driven by speed and the demands of a fast-paced digital environment.

He noted that while technology has expanded access to information, it has also altered editorial priorities, often at the expense of depth and thoughtful storytelling.

He added that the pressure to be first has, in many cases, replaced the responsibility to be thorough, with newsrooms increasingly prioritising virality over substance.

According to him, this shift is gradually eroding the human-centred approach that once defined journalism.

Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. We live in an age defined by speed and immediacy. Information travels faster than ever before, but often at the expense of depth and reflection.

The pressure to break news has in many cases replaced the commitment to understanding. The pursuit of virality has overshadowed the responsibility of accuracy and empathy. In this environment, human intervention has gradually been pushed to the margins, he said.

Mr Momodu further warned that the consequences of this trend are evident in the kind of stories being produced, many of which, he said, lack context and emotional depth.

He called for a deliberate return to more rigorous and people-focused reporting, urging journalists and media organisations to invest in depth and narrative quality.

He said such efforts are necessary to rebuild trust and preserve the core values of the profession.

In losing these voices, journalism risks losing its moral anchor. Human interest journalism remains the foundation of meaningful reporting. It is through such stories that we develop empathy, understand the complexities of our society, and preserve the lived experiences of our people.

Without it, journalism becomes mechanical and distant, stripped of the very essence that gives it relevance and purpose. There is an urgent need to reclaim the human dimension of journalism. This requires a conscious return to storytelling that is rich, nuanced, and deeply rooted in the realities of the people. It demands investment in depth, in research, and in narratives that go beyond the surface, he added.

Panelists discuss human interest journalism

At the panel coordinated by Funke Egbemode, discussions centred on the place of human interest stories in a media space increasingly driven by politics and hard news.

Tony Onyima, the former Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspaper said the shift is evident in newsroom priorities, noting that more than 70 per cent of news content is about politics. He explained that the news ecosystem has been so politicised that human interest stories have taken a backseat.

Another panelist, Mayor Akinpelu, however, argued that the stories themselves have not disappeared but migrated to new platforms.

I dont really agree that there is a decline in human interest stories,the platform has changed, he said.

Tinubu, Osoba, Adesina greet Oshunkeye

Former Special Adviser to then-President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a light-hearted remark, described the celebrant as Baba Elabe, a nickname to describe Mr Oshunkeyes cheerful personality, who draws a crowd wherever he goes, adding that he still has much to offer the profession.

Former Ogun State governor, Mr Osoba, said the gathering reflected a growing culture of journalists honouring their own.

He praised Mr Oshunkeyes contributions and noted that he attended despite a tight political schedule out of respect for the celebrant, expressing hope to celebrate him again at 80.

President Bola Tinubu has also congratulated Mr Oshunkeye in a statement issued on 20 April by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In the statement, the president rejoiced with him and praised his contributions to the struggle for the restoration of democracy and accountable governance in Nigeria, as well as to the development of journalism in the country.

He highlighted Mr Oshunkeyes career across major newsrooms. A Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Oshunkeye has served as Editor of Weekend Concord, Senior Associate Editor at TELL Magazine, General Editor at The Sun Group, and later Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited. He is currently President/CEO of The Crest Online.

Mr Tinubu happily notes Oshunkeyes unrelenting pursuit of truth, not only in Nigeria but across Africa, culminating in his 2006 CNN/MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year award for his investigative report, Nigers Graveyard of the Living. He wished him many more years of fruitful service to Nigeria and humanity.

Mr Oshunkeyes remarks

Visibly emotional, Mr Oshunkeye paused at intervals as he thanked his wife, family, friends and colleagues who gathered to celebrate with him, reflecting on the relationships that have sustained his career.

Speaking to journalists, he stressed that journalism demands conviction and endurance.

You know, its the power of conviction. You have to have patience, you have to have perseverance, you have to endure, to be able to do this job, he said.

He also advised aspiring journalists to rethink expectations of financial rewards.

If your ambition is to make money, then please, you can go and do so in another industry, because in journalism, the only thing you will make is your name, he said.
Let me state from the outset that if Andy Ezeanis article, bearing the above title, was intended to portray Bala MohammedGovernor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDPGF)as an unprincipled politician, then the argument misses its mark. Worse still, it risks collapsing the entire Nigerian political class into a single, undifferentiated caricature.

Such an approach is not only futile. It ignores a core reality of politics: there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. That immutable principle explains the surprising shifts, alliances, and realignments that so often unsettle political observers.

When this reality is combined with the absence of clear ideological boundaries in Nigerias political space, any attempt at moral absolutism becomes unsustainable. A puritanical posture collapses once all actors are subjected to the same standard of scrutiny. I shall return to this point shortly.

First, however, it is necessary to outline Andy Ezeanis argument as fairly as possible.

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Ezeani contends that Bala Mohammeds reported search for accommodation within the All Progressives Congress (APC) exposes a striking inconsistency. This, he argues, is coming from a governor who had positioned himself as a fierce critic of the APC-led federal government. Ezeani further underscores statements from the Bauchi PDP acknowledging that negotiations with the APC failed because the party denied them the concessions allegedly extended to other states and governors.

Yet, what is politics if not a contest over scarce resources and strategic advantage?

From this premise, Ezeani laments what he sees as the erosion of a moral compass in Nigerias polity. In Bala Mohammeds case, he asks pointedly how a second-term governoronce the nerve centre of opposition resistancecould now be found at the gates of the ruling party, seeking entry. He concludes that such a figure could only be received with contempt.

I admit that I share some of Andy Ezeanis discomfort. Ezeani, widely acknowledged as one of Nigerias most lucid and productive writers, is no stranger to principled critique. His pedigree, shaped by formative years at some of Nigerias leading newspapers, places him far above the self-adulating commentariat that often clutters Nigerias media space.

I regard him, without hesitation, as a patriot.

It is precisely this patriotismmixed with frustrationthat appears to animate his lamentation. His anguish reflects a broader national despair over the disquieting, and hardly celebratory, trajectory of Nigerias politics. Still, selective outrage is a dangerous indulgence.

Who would have imagined, for instance, that Peter Obiwidely celebrated as a symbol of restraint and rectitudewould today share political space with principal actors from the Buhari era, including Nasir el-Rufai, Abubakar Malami, and Rotimi Amaechi? Who would have predicted that Rabiu Kwankwaso, after his sharp attacks on Obi before the 2023 elections, would later embrace him with the warmth of a newfound ally?

If Bala Mohammeds political courtship with the APC or President Tinubu is deemed a betrayal, then intellectual honesty demands that similar labels be applied elsewhere. Anything short of this will amount to selective inquisition.

The underlying truth is uncomplicated. What drives Peter Obi into alliances with former adversaries is the same force drawing Bala Mohammed into conversations with the APC. Interests have shifted. Circumstances have changed. Survival and relevance now demand pragmatism.

The current moment transcends personal preferences within the opposition. Many non-APC actors find themselves cornered by a ruling party machine whose aggressive consolidation of power threatens pluralism itself. The danger is real. The stakes are national.

Avoiding implosion requires flexibility, not dogma. It demands hard choices, not self-immolating rigidity. Fixing Nigeria has become a political nightmare, and navigating its treacherous terrain is no small feat. To pretend otherwise is disingenuous.

Against this backdrop, the fixation on Bala Mohammed appears misplaced. At best, it is curious. At worst, it is mischievous.

It is possible, of course, that Ezeanis disappointment stems from high expectations. He acknowledges Bala Mohammeds forthright leadership as PDPGF chairman, particularly his consistent critique of federal policies that have deepened poverty and nudged Nigeria towards a de facto one-party state.

Recent validation by the IMF of these concernsculminating in the political fall of the Finance Minister, Wale Edunonly strengthens the credibility of voices like Bala Mohammeds.

In that context, portraying him as morally diminished borders on unfairness.

Notably, unlike the secrecy that often accompanies defections, Bala Mohammed has handled the issue of political realignment with uncommon transparency. At every stage, he has spoken openly about his motives, movements, and options. There has been no deception.

This openness is instructive. Bala Mohammed has repeatedly stated that he has surpassed his personal ambitions. His career spans the federal civil service, the Senate, the cabinet, and now the Bauchi governorship. If personal comfort were the goal, he could retire quietly to Alkaleri, a Bauchi outskirt fast emerging as an economic hub in oil, gas, agriculture, and industry.

But leadership, in his view, demands more.

His overriding concern is continuity. He seeks protection and opportunity for loyal allies, young politicians, and technocrats who have driven his administrations achievements. He wants a political consensus that preserves Bauchis developmental momentum and ensures the state never again slips into stagnation.

This posture is not new.

In 2010, Bala Mohammed defied regional pressures and personal loyalties to support the Doctrine of Necessity. That noble gesture averted the looming implosion and saved Nigerias democracy. Today, the same nationalist instinct guides his actions. Whether in hosting Peter Obi with dignity when others banned or attacked him, or in championing a southern presidency within the PDPGF, the pattern is consistent.

Negotiations with the APC flow from the same logic. Nothing more. Nothing less. An African proverb warns that when one finger points in accusation, four point back at the accuser. This is the peril of selective judgment. Those eager to indict Bala Mohammed may find themselves inadvertently indicting everyone elsePeter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi included.

Nigerias tragedy is not that politicians pursue interests. It is that we pretend some do not.

*Kola Oyerinde, an Abuja based commentator on national affairs is of the Iresa Adu royal house in Ogbomosho.
The Senate has called for improved collaboration and intelligence sharing among multinational security forces to curb attacks on military formations and killings of personnel, especially in Borno State.

This followed the adoption of a motion at the resumed plenary on Wednesday in Abuja.

The motion under urgent matter of national public importance was sponsored by Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) and co-sponsored by Shehu Kaka and Ali Ndume (APC-Borno).

Mr Monguno, in his motion, expressed concern over the recent attacks on military formations, leading to casualties among troops, including a general of the Nigerian Army and 13 other soldiers.

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He said the recurring strategic attacks on Monguno, a strategic garrison town, demonstrate a deliberate attempt by insurgents to undermine military operations and disrupt humanitarian and commercial access routes.

He said the Nigerian military has continued to make immense sacrifices in the fight against insurgents in Monguno, with officers and men paying the supreme price in recent attacks, while defending the territorial integrity of the country.

He expressed worry that the resurgence of attacks on both military bases and civilian communities erodes gains already recorded in counter-insurgency operations and poses a great threat to national security.

He said that the protection of innocent civilians remains a fundamental obligation under national and international humanitarian law and was essential for maintaining public trust and cooperation in the fight against insurgency.

The primary responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of the people.

That is the only essence of governance, and that is the social contract with which the people have entered into with government, it is to protect their lives and property.

Mr Kaka, while seconding the motion, called for improved provision of equipment for the military to combat insurgency.

Corroborating, Mr Ndume said there was an urgent need to address Nigerias insecurity holistically.

He said the problem was inadequate equipment, expressing hope that the governments current efforts to provide equipment would help address the matter.

He also called for concerted efforts to ensure the release of 416 abducted people in his constituency.

Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) expressed concern over the trend of attacks on military formations in the country, saying that efforts must be intensified to provide the necessary solutions.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over plenary, said that President Bola Tinubu is making frantic efforts to end insecurity in the country, adding that insecurity has a global connection.

The Senate also, in another resolution, strongly condemned the continued attacks by Boko Haram elements on military formations in Borno communities.

The senators observed a minute of silence in honour of soldiers and civilians killed by the terrorists.

The Senate also called on the Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs to conduct a comprehensive operational and logistic audit of the circumstances surrounding the attacks on military formations.

It also called for an assessment of equipment adequacy and the rules of engagement to address identified gaps.

The Senate further called for strict adherence to rules of engagement and international humanitarian law.

It also called for adequate training on civilian protection and thorough investigation of allegations of civilian assaults during military operations.

This, it said, was to ensure accountability and prevent recurrence.

The Senate also urged local communities to cooperate with the military by providing information and intelligence on the insurgents nefarious activities.

It further urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the North-East Development Commission to provide urgent humanitarian relief to displaced persons and the families of victims.

It commended officers and men of the Operation Hadin Kai for their gallantry and urged the federal government to prioritise their welfare and provision of adequate equipment.

(NAN)
A former official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Igini, has raised concerns over what he described as dangerous provisions in the amended Electoral Act, warning that they could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections if left unaddressed.

Mr Igini served as the resident electoral commissioner in Akwa Ibom State before he retired from INEC in 2022.

The Electoral Act 2026 was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in February.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News TV on Wednesday, Mr Igini said he had identified specific sections of the law that reintroduce loopholes previously exploited to manipulate election outcomes.

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Concerns over ballot paper validation

According to him, Section 63 of the Electoral Act 2026, which deals with the rejection of ballot papers without official marks, grants excessive discretion to electoral officers.

He pointed specifically to subsection 2, which states that a ballot paper without an official security feature of INEC should be counted if the returning officer is satisfied that it originated from the appropriate ballot book.

The presiding officer has been given the discretion to accept a ballot paper notwithstanding the absence of an official mark and to count that ballot paper. What that means is that before this election, politicians who have access to the security features of INEC ballots are going to print their ballot papers, Mr Igini said, describing the provision as dangerous.

Mr Igini noted that the use of the word satisfied had been in Section 49 of the Electoral Act 2010 and had taken nearly 12 years to repeal due to its susceptibility to abuse.

Petition limits and weakened guidelines

Beyond ballot handling, Mr Igini also raised concerns about Section 138(2) of the Act, which limits the grounds upon which election results can be challenged.

They (the law) are saying that presiding officers, assistant presiding officers can abandon it, he said, referring to INECs regulations and guidelines, which he argued are effectively weakened by the provision.

According to him, the section implies that violations of INEC guidelines alone may not be sufficient grounds to question election outcomes, a situation he described as one of the long-standing rigging provisions that had been resisted in the past.

Commenting further on Section 138, which states that: An act or omission which may be contrary to an instruction or directive of the commission or of an officer appointed for the purpose of election but which is not contrary to the provision of this Act shall not of itself be a ground for questioning the election.

Mr Igini said Section 138 has been one of the rigging provisions that we have cried out to be removed, adding that the instructions and directives of INEC are contained in its regulations and guidelines.

They (the law) are saying that a presiding officer and other INEC officials can abandon it, he said, referring to INEC guidelines and regulations.

Mr Igini also criticised Section 137, which outlines persons entitled to present election petitions, arguing that it shields electoral officials from direct accountability.

The provision states that where a petitioner complains about the conduct of an electoral officer, it is not necessary to join that officer in the petition, as INEC would defend the case on their behalf.

According to Mr Igini, this framework weakens accountability mechanisms.

Some unscrupulous members of our commission gave the security features of ballot papers to politicians. When INEC went to the court to say that the document is not its document, the tribunal upheld a forged document.

Past experience and warning signs

Mr Igini said his concerns are informed by past experiences within the electoral system.

Under his watch, INEC prosecuted and secured convictions of two professors who served as returning officers in the 2019 general elections for falsifying results. One of the cases involved falsification in favour of Godswill Akpabio, who lost the senatorial election that year but later won in 2023 and became the Senate president.

He also recalled how electoral malpractice is often facilitated at the operational level, and said he trained ad hoc officials and warned that they would be prosecuted if they failed to adhere to INEC guidelines and regulations during the elections.

But the following day, politicians shared monies in dollars to the ad hoc staff, telling them they would not be invited to the Tribunal to defend their actions because the law shielded them from prosecution, Mr Igini said, arguing that the Electoral Act 2026 has reintroduced that protection to ad hoc staff.

Call for urgent amendment

Mr Igini called for urgent amendments to the identified provisions before the 2027 elections, warning that failure to act could erode public trust in Nigerias electoral system.

His concerns come amid ongoing debates about electoral reforms and the integrity of Nigerias democratic processes ahead of the next general elections.

INEC spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comment as of the time of filing this report.
Biodiversity education and research initiative, enabled by Fujitsu Community Grant Program, kicked off on Earth Day 2026

RICHARDSON, Texas, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 1Finity, a Fujitsu company and leading global network solutions provider, today announced a one-year partnership with Epolleo and the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) to engage the next generation of scientists and engineers through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

In 2025, the Fujitsu Community Grant Program awarded a grant to Epolleo, an early-stage nonprofit biodiversity platform dedicated to preserving microbial diversity through ethical data stewardship, open-access science and community-powered discovery. Epolleo, based in South Dakota, serves as a resource for researchers, universities, and innovators working to accelerate discovery in areas such as human health, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and bio-based materials. The grant will fund a year-long biodiversity education and research initiative, engaging RISD students in STEM activities focused on microbial biodiversity.

As part of this STEM education program, students will collect and document biological samples from soil, plants and insects, contributing to a global microbial database that supports biotech innovation and ecological resilience. The initiative kicked off on Earth Day 2026, April 22, when 1Finity volunteers joined over 160 students from RISD MST Magnet Elementary classes to collect and document biological samples throughout the school grounds. The samples will be shipped to Epolleo's facility in South Dakota for processing. This marks the first time Epolleo has expanded its STEM classroom collection initiative beyond its home state.

"With this grant program, 1Finity reinforces our dedication to local community engagement and continued advancement of invaluable STEM education," said Rod Naphan, chief executive officer of 1Finity Americas. "This important initiative also complements our commitment to addressing global environmental issues, in alignment with our parent company, Fujitsu."

"On behalf of our Richardson ISD community, we greatly value the long-term local support and technology partnership provided by 1Finity and Fujitsu, helping to bolster STEM-focused learning experiences among our students," said Tabitha Branum, superintendent of RISD. "Through funding contributions and time donated by employee volunteers, 1Finity helps us create important enrichment opportunities to inspire the next generation of scientists."

"This research and educational initiative is a critical step in fulfilling our mission to support biotech innovation and ecological resilience through open-access science and community engagement," said Tina Jennen, executive director of Epolleo. "We are grateful for the funding from the Fujitsu Community Grant that is making this research possible."

The Fujitsu Community Grant Program supports non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofit organizations (NPOs) through employee-driven initiatives, community engagement and disaster relief to create a more sustainable society.

Media Contact:

Susan Dianto

[email protected]

About 1Finity Inc.

1Finity, a Fujitsu company, is a global provider of communications networks for our connected world. We uniquely combine technological leadership and expertise in open optical and wireless networking, network automation, and applied AI/ML to design, build, operate, and maintain critical digital communications network infrastructure. Collaborating closely with ecosystem partners, we deliver transformative outcomes for service providers and network operators, and enable them to lower TCO, improve network performance, and increase energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.1Finity.com.

1FINITY and Fujitsu are trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved. The information provided in this press release is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

SOURCE 1Finity
STAMFORD, Conn., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircastle Limited ("Aircastle") announced today that it and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aircastle (Ireland) Designated Activity Company (together with Aircastle, the "Issuers"), priced $650 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2031 (the "Notes") at an issue price of 99.636%. The Notes will be the Issuers' unsecured senior obligations and will initially be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the "Guarantee" and, together with the Notes, the "Securities") by Aircastle's wholly-owned subsidiary, Aircastle Advisor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The offering is expected to close on April 28, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Issuers intend to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the acquisition of aircraft, as well as refinancing a portion of their existing indebtedness.

The Securities were offered in the United States to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any Securities nor does it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited acquires, leases, and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of February 28, 2026, Aircastle owned and managed 282 aircraft leased to 76 customers located in 45 countries.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the Issuers' ability to consummate the offering and issue the Notes, expected closing date of the offering and the intended use of proceeds from the offering. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "enables," "intends," "plans," "positions," "projects," "believes," "may," "will" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The consummation of the offering is subject to market conditions and other factors that are beyond the Issuers' control. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the offering will be completed on the contemplated terms or at all and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Issuers to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause their actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Issuers expressly disclaim any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

Contact:

Aircastle (Ireland) DAC (US Branch)

Jim Connelly, SVP ESG & Corporate Communications

Tel: +1 (203) 504-1871

[email protected]

SOURCE Aircastle Ireland DAC
Strategic partnership with Evolon to strengthen integrated monitoring offering

COLUMBIA, S.C., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AMAROK, an industry-leading perimeter security company, today announced it has completed a strategic investment in Evolon Technology, Inc., acquiring a 45% ownership stake in the company. Evolon provides AI-powered video monitoring and virtual guarding solutions for commercial businesses. The partnership brings together proven perimeter defense and AI-powered monitoring to stop threats earlier, reduce losses, and deliver stronger outcomes for customers.

The Electric Guard Dog Fence, AMAROK's full-perimeter monitored electric fence stops theft before it occurs.

This investment reinforces AMAROK's commitment to providing best-in-class, layered solutions to customers nationwide. As threats to commercial organizations continue to rise in frequency and sophistication, businesses require more advanced deterrents.

By integrating AMAROK's proven electric fencing systems with Evolon's AI-enabled video surveillance and virtual guarding technology, customers gain a state-of-the-art, comprehensive perimeter security solution reinforced by real-time visibility and proactive threat detection. Strengthening the ability to deliver a truly layered, intelligent security solution - unifying The Electric Guard Dog Fence, AI-powered camera detection, gate access, and monitoring into one seamless customer experience.

The relationship between AMAROK and Evolon began through operational deployment, with AMAROK implementing Evolon's technology within its own security ecosystem. After extensive technical evaluation and real-world application, AMAROK expanded the relationship through strategic investment, underscoring its confidence in Evolon's technology and vision.

"From day one, our focus has been clear: to build the ultimate perimeter security solution in North America," said Mark Wesley, CEO of AMAROK. "Our investment in Evolon is a natural extension of that commitment. After experiencing the power of its AI-driven virtual guarding technology in our own operations, we recognized the critical role it will play in the future of commercial security. By combining our proven perimeter defense system with Evolon's intelligent monitoring, we are strengthening our ability to protect customers from the outside in. Just as important, this investment allows us to continue raising the bar for the customer experience by delivering smarter, more proactive protection and greater peace of mind."

"AMAROK shares our conviction about the future of perimeter security: intelligent, highly integrated, and built around the people who rely on it," said Tom Galvin, CEO of Evolon. "This investment accelerates a roadmap we're deeply excited about  unifying proven perimeter defense with AI-driven monitoring into a single, seamless experience for the security teams who depend on it every day. AMAROK is exactly the partner we hoped to find."

With this investment, AMAROK has appointed two directors to the Evolon Board of Directors:

Nathan Leaphart has been appointed to the Board of Directors. He has served as AMAROK's Chief Financial Officer since 2007, overseeing the company's financial strategy and execution, compliance, government relations, and legal functions. Leaphart is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, as well as Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.

Hayelom Tadesse has been appointed to the Board of Directors. He serves as AMAROK's Senior Vice President of Strategy and Continuous Improvement, where he leads enterprise strategy, transformation programs, operations, product development, research and development, and mergers and acquisitions. Tadesse is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a Penn State alumnus with deep technology experience, driving operational excellence across complex organizations.

AMAROK's strategic expansion, alongside Evolon's continued growth, advances both companies' shared vision to redefine the future of perimeter security in North America. The investment positions AMAROK and Evolon to accelerate innovation, expand their combined market footprint, and deliver more intelligent, integrated security solutions. Together, the partnership strengthens each company's ability to protect commercial businesses against today's evolving threat landscape while driving long-term value for customers, partners, and stakeholders.

About AMAROK

AMAROK is a full-perimeter security company based in Columbia, South Carolina, providing commercial security services throughout the United States and Canada. Specializing in electric fencing systems for commercial businesses, AMAROK also provides supplemental surveillance solutions including video surveillance, alarm-based lighting, and gate access solutions. Together, these business security services form the ultimate crime prevention solution for any business.

About Evolon Technology

Evolon delivers proactive video monitoring and perimeter intrusion detection solutions for commercial security. Its patented computer vision and analytics transform security cameras into virtual security guards, enabling businesses to proactively protect their property and people. Founded by former engineers and scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, Evolon's Dallas-based team brings decades of advanced computer vision expertise rooted in national security. For more information, visit www.evolontech.com.

SOURCE AMAROK
All-New Destinations, Expanded Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking and Active Culinary Tours Reflect Growing Demand for Immersive Active Travel Experiences

BERKELEY, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Backroads, the global leader in active travel, today announced its new lineup of 2027 adventure tours, including new trips in emerging destinations such as the Faroe Islands, Romania and Zanzibar, along with expanded and updated itineraries across Europe's iconic Alpine regions, Northern Europe and in Panama and Costa Rica.

Backroads guests hiking in the Alps. Backroads announces new 2027 trips across the globe.

Backroads' new 2027 trip offerings reflect key insights from the company's 2026 Top Adventure Travel Trends report, including a rising interest in Active Culinary experiences, escapes to less-visited islands, Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking and Family Adventures. In response, Backroads is introducing new ways for travelers to connect deeply with destinationsand with one anotherthrough active, immersive adventures in over 60 countries and across all seven continents in 2027.

Backroads' Active Culinary collection continues to expand with a new Hiking & Walking Trip in Bordeaux and Dordogne, France, and a Bike Tour in Italy from Parma to Verona and Venice, alongside new Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking Trips in the Austrian Alps, Swiss Alps and through Mallorca's dramatic mountainous interior. In 2027, the company will also introduce new Family Adventures in the Azores and Patagonia, as well as a family version of its popular Bavaria, Tyrolean Alps & the Dolomites Multi-Adventure Trip.

Backroads 2027 Trips in the Spotlight

Iceland & the Faroe Islands Hiking & Walking Tour

As travelers seek cooler summer climates and more remote landscapes, demand for northern destinations continues to rise. The Faroe Islands deliver dramatic scenery, exceptional summer hiking and a deeply immersive sense of rugged isolation. (Activity levels 2-4)

Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking Tour

Backroads' most ambitious hiking itinerary to date traces the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc circuit through Switzerland, Italy and France. The trip features stays at cozy, hard-to-book mountain lodges and luxe spa retreats, culminating in Chamonix. (Activity levels 4-5)

Parma to Verona & Venice Active Culinary Bike Tour

This two-wheeling epicurean journey in the company's popular Active Culinary series explores the scenery and celebrated gastronomy of Italy's renowned Emilia-Romagna region, the birthplace of Parmesan Reggiano, prosciutto and balsamic vinegar. (Activity levels 1-4)

Dolomites Bike Tour

One of Backroads' most challenging bike tours yet, this high-altitude trip tackles the legendary mountain passes of the Dolomites, paired with stays at character-rich Casual and Deluxe Alpine hotels. (Activity levels 3-5)

Romania Hiking & Walking Tour

A true hiker's adventure, offering a rare mix of rugged wilderness, rich culture and fascinating history from the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania to the capital of Bucharest. (Activity levels 2-4)

Tanzania & Zanzibar Active Safari Tour

Backroads' Tanzanian safari, known for unforgettable wildlife encounters, now includes Zanzibar (The Spice Island), with time in historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Activity levels 1-3)

Costa Rica & Panama Multi-Adventure Tour

Luxurious adventure in Costa Rica's cloud forest and Panama's Bocas del Toro, featuring extended stays at the region's most impressive hotels, including one with overwater bungalows above crystal clear waters. (Activity levels 1-3)

"Next year we're introducing some truly exciting firsts for Backroads," said Tom Hale, Backroads founder, president and CEO. "I'm especially proud of the new adventures our Trip Development team has designed. I hope to see some of you in person on one of the many trips I'll be taking with my wife, Liz, or with the whole family in 2027."

Also launching in 2027 and available for booking:

Visit Backroads Coming Soon page for more 2027 trips debuting in June.

For more information, visit www.backroads.com, call 800-462-2848 or chat live with us on our website.

Follow Backroads on Social Media

Instagram: @backroadstravel

Facebook: @BackroadsActiveTravel

About Backroads

Backroads was founded in 1979 by Tom Hale and has been a leading innovator in active and adventure travel for over 46 years. Guests join Backroads to bike, hike and so much more on expertly planned active adventures that highlight the unique character of each destination. The company offers multiple ways to go active in hundreds of destinations worldwide: Biking, Hiking & Walking and Multi-Adventure Tours; Private Trips, Women's Adventures, Dolce Tempo Easygoing Journeys, adventures for 30s & 40s and Family Adventures for families with children in distinct age groups: Kids & Teens, Teens & 20s and 20s & Beyond. Backroads trip collections also include Active Ocean & River Cruises, Unplugged Bike Tours (for riders who prefer no e-assist), Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking, Safari, Culinary and Home Base Trips. For more information, please visit backroads.com or call 800-462-2848.

Backroads Media Contact

Liz Einbinder | [email protected]

510-292-2753

SOURCE Backroads
VERONA, Italy, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) is proud to announce the certification of 32 Italian Wine Ambassadors, of whom 30 are new Ambassador and 2 have reconfirmed their title, following the 34th edition of its prestigious certification course, held in Verona from April 1519, 2026, which featured 164 benchmarck wines. The influential network of certified Italian Wine Ambassadors provide an important voice for Italian wine on the global stage.

The 32 Italian Wine Ambassadors of VIA Verona 2026

The intensive five-day course and exam, organized by Veronafiere and Vinitaly in collaboration with ITA  the Italian Trade Agency, provided participants with invaluable tools to better navigate the complexity of Italy's wine landscape, which includes hundreds of native grape varieties, distinct regional styles and thousands of producers who are preserving centuries-old winemaking traditions. This year's edition featured 164 benchmark wines, including 66 presented by VIA Supporting Consortia, offering candidates an in-depth exploration of Italy's diverse wine heritage.

A total of 64 wine professionals and enthusiasts from over 28 countries gathered in Verona to attend the Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador certification course, held to coincide with the culmination of Vinitaly 2026. Countries represented included the USA, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Curacao, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Serbia, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkiye, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.

Now in its 34th edition, the program continues to stand as one of the most advanced and rigorous educational experiences dedicated to Italian wine, equipping participants with the tools to convey the complexity of Italy's wine landscape, from native grape varieties to distinct regional identities and evolving production styles.

A Milestone for VIA

Once again, VIA reaffirms its mission: to train the next generation of Italian Wine Ambassadors through a rigorous and structured approach, combining technical expertise with a deep appreciation of Italian wine.

Over four intensive days of lectures and tastings, VIA Faculty member Sarah Heller MW guided candidates through a rigorous program. The curriculum also featured two advanced seminars by VIA Chief Scientist Professor Attilio Scienza, alongside 11 masterclasses hosted by leading Italian wine Consortia, whose continued support remains essential to VIA's educational mission.

On day 5, candidates faced a challenging 2.5-hour exam, including a blind tasting of two wines, short-answer questions, and a comprehensive multiple-choice test, ensuring that only those with the most extensive knowledge of Italian wine achieve certification. After the rigorous exam, the highly anticipated Pinning Ceremony was held at the PalaExpo in Verona.

Unique Insights

As part of the program, the 11 VIA supporters provided candidates with firsthand knowledge of their wine regions through indepth masterclasses led by authoritative industry representatives. This unique opportunity allowed participants to engage directly with key industry players and gain insights into current trends, production techniques, and consumer preferences shaping the global wine market. Through these interactions, students further strengthened both their technical understanding and their ability to communicate Italian wine on an international level.

Throughout the program, Vinitaly International Academy was supported by Guido Berlucchi & C. SpA as Educational Supporter, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to wine education. As part of its contribution to VIA Verona 2026, Berlucchi presented the prestigious Franco Ziliani Prize to Best Student of the course Joe Turnaturi, recognizing excellence, dedication, and academic achievement. During the course, candidates were the guests of the Berlucchi winery for a dedicated dinner, providing a unique opportunity to experience first hand the brand's rich heritage and warm hospitality.

The VIA appointment Italian Wine Ambassadors

The Vinitaly Interanational Academy is pleased to announce the following Italian Wine Ambassadors (IWAs):

Yanan Lee (Taiwan)

Yaqi Shi (China)

Joe Turnaturi (Australia)  Best Student 2026

Daria Antonenko (Ukraine)

Miki Yuzawa (Japan)

Esmeralda Alborghetti (Brazil)

Camden Harley Riethman (Canada)

Maryna Revkova (Ukraine)

Xinhao Liu (China)

Saloni Khanapurkar (India)  Best Short Answer Exam

Ryan Graber (USA)

Benjamin Ferrand (France)

Victoria Vigliotti (USA)

Alper Apaydin (Turkiye)

Miriam Nunez Martinez (Mexico)

Marco Fedele (UK)

Hitomi Tsutsui (Japan)

Sarah Sutel Looper (USA)

Shane Stuart (USA)

Liza Nivillac - de Windt (Curacao)

Karin Horseling (Netherlands)

Valentina Kirichkova IWA (Kazakhstan)

Lucia Fragoso (Mexico)

Lindsey Young (USA)

Akiko Morimoto (Japan)

Teofilo Molinelli (Puerto Rico)

Maki Hirotani (USA)  Best Multiple Choice

Irina Karpukhina (Germany)

Juhee Ryun (South Korea)

Jelisaveta Stanojevic (Serbia)

Sabina Ping Yang IWA (China)

Britt Schroeder (Germany)  Best Blind Tasting Exam

The Best Video Project went to Satoshi Takizawa, Alper Apaydin, Ehichioya Nicholas Isesele, James Clark, Liza De Windt.

Congratulations to all the new Italian Wine Ambassadors.

Sarah Heller MW shared: "We were delighted to welcome candidates from 24 different countries this year, which made for an incredibly dynamic and enriching cohort. What stood out was the collegiate spirit of the group, everyone was so supportive of one another, creating a truly positive and collaborative atmosphere. It is a wonderful batch of new ambassadors, and we are very proud to welcome them into the VIA community."

Stevie Kim, Managing Partner of Vinitaly and VIA founder, remarked: "VIA was never meant to be just another diploma. It's about building a global community capable of truly understanding and communicating the depth of Italian wine. These 30 new Ambassadors reflect that spirit. Different backgrounds, same commitment to going beyond the surface. In challenging times like these, wine becomes something more. It crosses cultures, political views and religions, bringing people together around a shared passion. That's the real power of what we do. Our Ambassadors are not just certified professionals. They are voices shaping how Italian wine is understood around the world. And with that comes both opportunity and responsibility."

The VIA Community  Building a Global Network

The Vinitaly International Academy is not just about earning the title of Italian Wine Ambassador; it's about being part of a vibrant, global community of wine enthusiasts and professionals. With members spanning over 57 countries, VIA has become a dynamic network where individuals can connect, share knowledge and advance their careers in the wine industry.

To date, there are 494 certified Italian Wine Ambassadors, of whom 22 qualify as Italian Wine Experts. The VIA Community continues to grow, now counting more that 1500 members, who have the opportunity to engage in various events such as academic field trips across Italy, judging at 5StarWines  the Book, participating in OperaWine, and attending the wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum.

VIA students come from all corners of the wine industry, including educators, journalists, importers, hospitality professionals, retailers, and beyond. The Academy's diverse Community ensures that members stay informed and continue to develop their expertise, fostering a culture of support, growth and opportunity within the Italian wine sector.

About: Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. It offers a complete educational path with standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIA's main objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA was founded by Stevie Kim, Managing Partner of Vinitaly. The new VIA ecosystem avails of the guidance of Italian trade associations Federdoc, Federvini, Vignaioli Indipendenti FIVI, and Unione Italiana Vini as members of the Institutional Advisory Board. Italian vine genetics scholar, Prof. Attilio Scienza, oversees VIA's scientific and educational direction as the Chief Scientist. VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW teaches the flagship Italian Wine Ambassador course. To date, there are 494 Certified Italian Wine Ambassadors of which 22 are also Italian Wine Experts.

https://www.vinitaly.com/en/academy/vinitaly-international-academy/

Twitter: @VinitalyTour

Join Italian Wine Community on LinkedIn

SOURCE Vinitaly International Academy
GUANGZHOU, China, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) is underway in Guangzhou through May 5. Facing the situation in the Middle East, the Fair has responded with expanded services and a reinforced commitment to connecting Middle East buyers with Chinese manufacturers.

Middle Eastern Buyers' Interest Remains Strong

Before the Fair opened, Zhu Yong, Director General of the China Foreign Trade Centre, addressed questions about Middle East buyer turnout, noting that attendance from the Middle East has fluctuated at some exhibitions globally in recent times. "However," she said, "their willingness to participate in the Canton Fair remains strong."

Middle Eastern buyers maintain a visible presence on the exhibition floor during Phase 1. One Egyptian buyer, for example, made a roughly 13-hour journey from Cairo to Guangzhou, signaling sustained demand for direct sourcing access.

A Service Package Built Around Middle Eastern Needs

For buyers unable to attend onsite, the Fair introduced a dedicated service package for Middle East buyers. It included online sourcing sessions, Canton Fair Live Tour Middle East sessions on social platforms, and expanded support for Middle East companies with operations in China.

The Fair invited a group of Middle East vloggers and streamers on site to host livestreaming tours and matchmaking sessions, giving regional buyers a seamless remote sourcing experience. A dedicated home appliance session during Phase 1 drew a strong overseas audience and was met with enthusiastic feedback from Middle Eastern buyers.

Exhibitors Adapt to Regional Pressures

Exhibitors have been navigating pressures stemming from regional conflict, including delivery uncertainties, logistics disruptions, and raw-material shortages. Some responded by leveraging diversified production networks to maintain delivery timelines, while others turned to alternative sourcing for key inputs.

Some exhibitors also reported adjusting their product lines in response to shifting buyer priorities, particularly growing demand for energy-efficient goods, and used the Fair to showcase recent technical upgrades on energy efficiency. Motorcycle manufacturers sat down with Middle Eastern clients to work through cost pressures together, with electric models standing out as a top priority for buyers.

As global trade navigates a period of profound uncertainty, the Canton Fair remains a force for connection, committed to helping buyers and sellers build relationships that endure beyond any moment of disruption.

For preregistration, please click: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

SOURCE Canton Fair
Cattron's new purpose-built radio remote control solution pairs Tyro Musca 2S transmitters with an AC-powered receiver to deliver plug-and-play two-motion, two-speed operation for small overhead crane and lifting applications.

WARREN, Ohio, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cattron, a global leader in radio remote control, engine and generator control panels, and cloud-based monitoring and control solutions, has introduced the Tyro 2x2, a specialized radio remote control package engineered for hoist and jib applications. The 2x2 expands the Tyro product portfolio with a purpose-built, ready-to-deploy solution targeting radio remote control for small overhead cranes and hoists, jib cranes, general lifting equipment and monorail systems.

The 2x2 expands the Tyro product portfolio with a purpose-built, ready-to-deploy solution targeting radio remote control for small overhead cranes and hoists, jib cranes, general lifting equipment and monorail systems.

The Tyro 2x2 is designed for two-motion, two-speed control. Cattron offers four standard configurations to match specific operational requirements: the 2x2 for full two-motion, two-speed control, the 2x1 for two-motion, one-speed control, the 1x2 for one-motion, two-speed control and the 1x1 for one-motion, one-speed control. Each configuration ships as a complete package, including two Musca 2S handheld transmitters and a compact, low-profile receiver.

Cattron has decades of experience providing radio remote control and safety systems for material handling and lifting applications, including overhead cranes, hoists and industrial automation environments. The Tyro 2x2 is a natural extension of that expertise into a streamlined package for smaller lifting operations.

"The Tyro 2x2 represents exactly the kind of compact, rugged solution for smaller lifting applications, like jib cranes and monorail systems, our customers have been asking for," said Cattron VP of Engineering and Product Management Brian Fette. "OEMs and distributors in the crane and lifting market now have a complete, standardized package backed by Cattron's global engineering expertise in radio remote control."

A key differentiator for the Tyro 2x2 is its receiver architecture. Cattron offers DC-powered versions of its proven Tyro products, which have been trusted in demanding applications globally for more than two decades. The 2x2 builds on that same architecture but introduces an AC-driven receiver with potential-free dry contact relays. This distinction is critical for crane and hoist applications, where AC power systems and dry contact connections are standard requirements. The design eliminates the need for additional interface hardware, simplifying installation for OEMs and end users.

The included Musca 2S transmitters feature compact, ergonomic housings made of impact-resistant nylon rated to IP67 for protection against dust, moisture and debris. The housings also provide chemical and oil resistance along with superior mechanical strength, making them well suited for harsh indoor and outdoor environments. Operators benefit from tactile button-feel with backlit membrane buttons, display LEDs and audible feedback with each button press, enhancing usability in low-light conditions and noisy work areas.

With a straightforward system setup, the Tyro 2x2 can be up and running in as little as 15 minutes. The Tyro 2x2 uses wireless device pairing for plug-and-play deployment, reducing commissioning time and allowing operators to quickly pair transmitters with the receiver. Adaptive Frequency Protocols provide secure and reliable RF performance in environments where signal interference is a concern.

"The industry needs reliable two-speed control in a package that is easy to deploy and built to perform in rugged environments," said Rebecca Weber, product manager for Cattron's industrial solutions. "With four standard configurations and a 15-minute setup, the Tyro 2x2 makes professional-grade hoist control accessible to operations that previously had to compromise on capability or complexity."

The Tyro 2x2 joins a growing portfolio of Tyro 2S products that Cattron has been expanding across North American markets. The Tyro 2S line, proven in European applications for more than 20 years, includes handheld transmitters ranging from the simple Musca 2S to the feature-rich Cetus 2S with up to 14 switches, as well as bellybox options like the Fornax 2S for forestry and small industrial operations. Receivers across the Tyro portfolio are offered in IP68-rated enclosures and utilize frequency hopping for dependable wireless communication. The Tyro 2x2 also has a UL 94 flammability rating.

Cattron will demonstrate the Tyro 2x2 at the AIST Crane Symposium, June 8-10 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Cattron is an event sponsor, and attendees are encouraged to visit the Cattron team to see the system in action.

Contact a Cattron representative to learn more here: https://www.cattron.com/contact/.

To access high-resolution images of the Tyro 2x2, please click here.

About Cattron

Cattron is a global leader in radio remote control, engine and generator control panels, and cloud-based monitoring solutions. Our trusted brands, including Remtron, DynaGen, CANplus and Tyro, along with our global expertise, allow us to provide a diverse and comprehensive range of control solutions worldwide. When you choose Cattron, you'll experience unprecedented efficiency, productivity, and safety benefits. Whether you're in agriculture, material handling, mining, mobile equipment, or industrial automation, we have advanced control solutions that meet the needs of modern businesses. Cattron has manufacturing locations in Warren, Ohio, and Liberec, Czech Republic, a team of over 300 employees, 11 global offices, and decades of expertise, making Cattron a dependable choice for businesses looking to optimize their operations. To learn more, visit https://www.cattron.com/.

Cattron, Remtron, DynaGen, CANplus, BWI Eagle, Tyro, Safe-D-Stop, CattronControl, CattronLink are trademarks of Cattron North America, Inc.

Others named in this press release may be trademarks of their respective organizations. References to makes, models and product designations are for reference purposes only. Neither Cattron North America, Inc., nor its products are sponsored or endorsed by the reference herein, and there is nothing else in the use of these designations that should lead a reader to believe that there is an association between Cattron North America, Inc. and these organizations.

SOURCE Cattron
Agrivoltaics co-locates solar facilities and agricultural activity while creating access to lower-cost energy for community members during a time of spiking prices.





Chaberton is partnering with Okovate Sustainable Energy to select farmers for the Montgomery County, Md., projects.

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chaberton Energy invites Maryland farmers to respond to two requests for proposal (RFPs) to farm up to 27 acres of land in Montgomery County as part of an agrivoltaics initiative. Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating solar power projects with farming activities.

This opportunity will provide selected farmers with access to land at no cost as well as compensation for vegetation management at the site. Chaberton is working with Okovate Sustainable Energy to solicit and evaluate proposals from farmers interested in using the land under and between the projects' rows of solar panels for crop farming and/or animal grazing.

The RFPs come at a time when Maryland imports more than 40% of its electricity, leaving ratepayers exposed to volatile wholesale prices. These projects bring distributed solar closer to the communities that need it most, providing lower-cost energy to nearly 1,000 local households while supporting agricultural businesses in the area.

"These projects are among Montgomery County's first agrivoltaics projects," said Ryan Boswell, vice president of development for Chaberton Energy. "Everybody benefits when farmers, communities, local governments and energy developers work together toward a shared set of goals."

The solar projects align with Maryland's renewable energy and agricultural sustainability goals. Selected farmers will develop tailored farming plans for each site and seek the required review from the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture.

"Together we're building out the energy network we need while keeping agricultural land productive," said Miles Braxton, CEO and co-founder of Okovate. "This is an opportunity to provide land access to local farmers looking to expand or start their operations, while also leasing land for solar that helps meet the growing energy demand."

Chaberton Solar Sugarloaf in Dickerson, Md., will have a generating capacity of 5.23 megawatts. It spans 19 acres, with 16 acres covered by the solar array and a 3-acre buffer zone. Approximately 10 acres of land in between solar panel rows and a total of 13 acres are available for agricultural use.

Chaberton Solar Ramiere in Poolesville, Md., is a 3.88 megawatt project spanning 11 acres, with approximately 8 acres covered by the solar array and a 2-acre buffer zone. Approximately 5 acres of land in between solar panel rows and a total of 7 acres are available for agricultural use.

Farmers or agricultural operators responding to the RFPs must submit a proposal that provides a clear vision for how they will utilize one or both agrivoltaics sites and outlines their approach to vegetation management, agricultural production and sustainable practices. Complete information as well as application forms are available at chaberton.com/RFP26.

About Chaberton Energy

Chaberton Energy is a public benefit corporation developing community-scale energy projects, with a focus on distributed solar and battery energy storage. A national developer with roots in the communities it serves, Chaberton is a two-time Inc. 5000 awardee, ranking in 2025 as the No. 53 fastest-growing private company in America and the No. 2 energy company on the list. With a commitment to creativity, excellence, and humanity, Chaberton's team develops distributed solar and battery energy storage projects that improve grid reliability and resilience while lowering electricity costs for community members and businesses.

Media Contact

Lia Morrison

[email protected]

412-573-9095

SOURCE Chaberton Energy
The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, Kansas expands access to high-quality mental health care for more than 181,000 veterans, service members, and military families across the state

**Event photos and Cohen Clinic b-roll are available here.

STAMFORD, Conn., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a global not-for-profit integrated network of mental health clinics for service members, veterans, and their families, marked the grand opening of its first mental health clinic in Kansas earlier today. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, Kansas supported by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation has officially opened its doors to provide high-quality, accessible care to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families across the state.

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, Kansas supported by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation officially opened its doors to provide high-quality, accessible mental health care to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families across Kansas.

The celebratory event brought together nearly 100 local and state leaders, government officials, military mental health experts, business leaders and community members. Featured speakers included Dr. Anthony Hassan, president and CEO of Cohen Veterans Network; Timothy Knight, president and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation; Matt Hardy, market CEO of Centerstone; Col. Travis Habhab, executive director of military and veterans affairs at Kansas State University; Manhattan Mayor Susan E. Adamchak; and Katie Hund, clinic director of the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone in Manhattan.

"We are thrilled to celebrate our grand opening in Manhattan as we expand access to critical mental health services for military families across Kansas," said Dr. Anthony Hassan, president and CEO of Cohen Veterans Network. "Our support from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and partnership with Centerstone are instrumental to making this clinic a reality, enabling us to provide veterans, service members and their families with immediate access to the mental health care they deserve."

More than 181,000 veterans, service members, and military family members in Kansas are eligible for care at the clinic. Services are available in-person and via CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy. The clinic treats a wide range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, military transition challenges, adjustment issues, PTSD, anger, grief and loss, family issues, relationship challenges, and children's behavioral problems. In addition to therapy, the clinic provides comprehensive case management services to support clients with social drivers of health, including employment, finances, housing, and more.

The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone, Kansas is principally funded by the McCormick Foundation and philanthropist Steven A. Cohen. Colonel Robert R. McCormick served with the 1st Infantry Division in France during WWI, which shaped his deep respect for servicemembers and veterans. The McCormick Foundation continues his commitment to those who wear the uniform. Today, the Foundation invests in the Fort Riley community to support the 1st Infantry Division service members, veterans, and their families.

"We are proud to partner with Cohen Veterans Network and Centerstone to launch this essential resource for families of the 1st Infantry Division and other members of Kansas' military community," said Timothy P. Knight, president and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. "The opening of this clinic reflects a shared commitment to strengthening support for military families, honoring Colonel McCormick's legacy of service to members of the U.S. military."

The Kansas clinic marks an expansion of CVN's partnership with Centerstone, which also operates Cohen Clinics in Clarksville, Tenn.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Jacksonville, Fla., and Hinesville, Ga.

"At the heart of this clinic is a dedicated team of clinicians and staff who are deeply committed to serving military families in the Fort Riley community and beyond," said Matt Hardy, market CEO of Centerstone. "Today's celebration is just the beginning. We are building a lasting presence in Kansas where our team's expertise and compassion will continue to meet the needs of veterans and military families as they evolve."

The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone, Kansas expands the network to 24 Cohen Clinics, serving clients across 21 states and internationally. Since its inception in 2016, the network has provided care to more than 100,000 clients in over 898,000 clinical sessions.

The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone, Kansas is located near Fort Riley at 1960 Kimball Avenue, Suite 375, Manhattan, Kan. 66502. More information is available at the clinic website.

Cohen Clinic b-roll and photos from today's celebration are available here.

ABOUT COHEN VETERANS NETWORK

Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) is a 501(c)(3) global not-for-profit philanthropic organization for post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. CVN focuses on improving mental health outcomes, operating a network of outpatient mental health clinics in high-need communities, in which trained clinicians deliver holistic evidence-based care to treat mental health conditions. It was established in 2016 by philanthropist Steven A. Cohen with a commitment of $275 million to build the network. Learn more about CVN at cohenveteransnetwork.org.

ABOUT CENTERSTONE

Centerstone is the largest nonprofit behavioral health organization in the United States. With more than 10,000 team members working at 360 locations in communities across the country, Centerstone provides healing and hope to people of all ages through mental health services, addiction care and social supports. Centerstone is a leader in operations for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Centerstone's Military Services offers specialized care nationwide for veterans and the military community. Centerstone's Institute provides guidance through research and technology, leveraging the best evidence-based practices for use across its communities. Centerstone's Foundation secures philanthropic resources to support the work and mission of delivering care that changes lives. Learn more at centerstone.org.

ABOUT THE ROBERT R. MCCORMICK FOUNDATION

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation envisions a Chicagoland with educated and informed individuals who are engaged in improving their communities. The Foundation invests in organizations working to build thriving communities where all individuals have the resources and opportunities to succeed. Established in 1955 upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, the McCormick Foundation has issued grants of more than $2 billion. The Foundation's Board also oversees Cantigny, Col. McCormick's 500-acre estate in Wheaton, Illinois, which encompasses a park, formal gardens, a museum dedicated to the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, in which Col. McCormick served, and a 27-hole public golf course. Learn more at mccormickfoundation.org.

SOURCE Cohen Veterans Network
The $162 million project will feature a health center operated by Community Healthcare Network

BRONX, N.Y., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Access, a non-profit organization that expands opportunities for people living with mental health concerns to recover from trauma and discrimination through affordable housing, training, advocacy, and healing-focused services, joined co-developer Mega Group and state and local officials today to celebrate the groundbreaking of 521 East Tremont Avenue. This new $162 million development in the East Tremont/Crotona neighborhood of the Bronx is co-developed by Mega Group, Community Healthcare Network, and Community Access.

521 East Tremont Groundbreaking. Credit: Carlos Alayo

The 213-unit development will provide a mix of affordable and supportive housing for income-eligible individuals and families, and individuals living with mental health concerns who have experienced homelessness. Ground-floor retail will also contribute to neighborhood vitality.

As part of the development, Community Healthcare Network's Tremont Health Center will triple in size with 12 exam rooms and three dental suites in new, state-of-the-art medical space. CHN is a not-for-profit network of 14 federally qualified health centers offering affordable, integrated primary care in underserved communities in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. CHN, which turns no patient away, is maintaining Tremont health care services during construction at 1880 Bathgate Avenue.

Residents will have access to comprehensive, on-site support services, including counseling, group programming, crisis intervention, and connections to community-based health and mental health care. Additional services will support education, employment, and long-term well-beingreflecting Community Access' holistic, person-centered approach.

The building is designed to foster community, wellness, and opportunity, and will include a range of amenities, including a community room, fitness center, computer and library space, laundry facilities, and bike storage.

"Community Access is proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of 521 East Tremont Avenue. We're excited to work with our co-developers, Mega Group and Community Healthcare Network to bring 213 new affordable and supported homes to this neighborhood," said Cal Hedigan, CEO of Community Access. "We are particularly excited to have a state-of-the- art health center as part of the development  this will be a boon to residents and to the neighborhood in general. At Community Access, we believe housing is a human right. Access to a stable, affordable home creates the conditions for people to pursue their goals, strengthen community connections, and move forward with dignity. This development represents an important step toward a more just and inclusive New York City."

"We are grateful for our partners at HPD, Richman Housing Capital, TD Bank and KeyBank for making this vision a reality. Our team worked closely with the Community Board, Borough President and Council Member Feliz on this project, and we are eager to welcome residents into their new homes and bring back CHN bigger and better than ever," said Emanuel Kokinakis, Principal, Mega Group Development.

"Stable housing is the foundation of health. At 521 East Tremont Avenue, we're enabling hundreds of individuals and families to finally live in safe, affordable homes of their own. By pairing new housing with mental health services, we can provide care and stability to residents who have struggled for too long. This project is a model of delivering healthcare alongside housing, and we're committed to bringing this model to more neighborhoods across our city," said Patrick Love, Deputy Commissioner of Development, Housing Preservation and Development.

"The groundbreaking at 521 East Tremont Avenue marks an important step toward providing access to safe, stable housing and the support services every Bronx resident deserves," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "Bringing together affordable and supportive housing with expanded healthcare services reflects the kind of holistic, community-centered investment our borough needs. Thank you to Community Access, Mega Group, Community Healthcare Network, and our city and state partners for continuing to invest in the Bronx and the well-being of our residents."

"I was proud to join Community Access, Mega Group, and Community Healthcare Network to break ground on a $162 million development right here in the Bronx. This project will create 213 units of affordable and supportive housing while expanding access to critical healthcare services. It's a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together to invest in our communities and ensure every family has the opportunity to live with dignity," said Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia.

"In the midst of the current housing crisis, I am beyond proud of the work that has been done to bring more affordable housing units to our community. Our families deserve access to stability and a place to thrive, and this groundbreaking represents the continuous investments made to make that a reality. I look forward to continuing to work in the development of this project, which will also bring a Healthcare facility and community space, for the people of the Bronx, and most importantly, for the residents of East Tremont," said Council Member Oswald Feliz.

"Today marks more than the start of construction: we are advancing a vision grounded in dignity, hope, and renewed opportunity for our families in great need of access to affordable housing. With the creation of 213 units of affordable and supportive housing, alongside the expansion of essential on-site health services, we send the clear message that housing is a human right, not a privilege. I was proud to award Community Healthcare Network with $500,000 for this project, which reaffirms my commitment to healthcare and affordable housing. This project shows what is possible when we center people, strengthen partnerships, and work toward a Bronx that is more just, more inclusive, and more sustainable for generations to come," said Senator Luis R. Sepulveda.

About Community Access

Founded in 1974, Community Access is a provider of supportive housing and support services in New York City for people living with mental health concerns. Rooted in the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives, Community Access expands opportunities for people living with mental health concerns to recover from trauma and discrimination through affordable and supportive housing, training, advocacy, and healing-focused services.

About Mega Group

Founded in 1990, Mega Group is a full-service development, general contracting, and construction management firm dedicated to shaping communities across the New York metropolitan area. From residential and commercial buildings to landmark renovations, public infrastructure, and complex institutional projects, the firm brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to every stage of the building process and is known for delivering high-quality projects with precision, integrity, and a strong commitment to long-term community impact.

About Community Healthcare Network

Community Healthcare Network (CHN) is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) organization that provides primary and behavioral healthcare, dental, nutrition, wellness, and needed support services for more than 60,000 New Yorkers annually. CHN is made up of 14 community health center sites throughout Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan, along with a fleet of medical mobile vans. CHN offers judgement-free, high-quality healthcare without regard to race, religion, orientation, gender identity, immigration status, or ability to pay. We turn no one away.

SOURCE Community Access
Eighth consecutive year of partnership puts "Our Power, Our Plnet" on billboards, transit, and digital displays nationwide

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EARTHDAY.ORG, the global force behind Earth Day, today announced its eighth consecutive year of partnership with the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), the national trade association representing the entire out of home advertising industry, to bring Earth Day 2026's message of environmental action to millions of Americans in the public spaces where they live, work and travel.

The campaign, produced in partnership with creative agency and OAAA member company Extra Credits Projects, carries Earth Day 2026's global theme  Our Power, Our Planet  across billboards, street furniture, transit displays, and digital out of home formats nationwide, reaching communities at a moment of heightened urgency for environmental action.

"Earth Day has always been a story of impossible progress made possible by ordinary people who take action in their own important ways," said Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG. "At a time when continued progress depends on collective effort, the answer is action: show up, organize, and make yourself impossible to ignore. We will never give up on this planet or the people who depend on it."

The campaign launches as EARTHDAY.ORG coordinates one of the most expansive Earth Day mobilizations in the movement's 56-year history. More than 10,000 events are now registered across over 190 countries, a figure that represents only a fraction of the actions taking place worldwide. In the United States alone, confirmed marches, rallies, coalition actions, and cleanups are taking shape in cities including Atlanta, Albany, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, and Washington, D.C., alongside coalition actions spanning more than a dozen additional cities.

"Out of home is uniquely powerful in moments like this, showing up in the physical world where people live, move, and connect," said Olivia Oshry, Chief Marketing Officer, OAAA. "This partnership ensures Earth Day's message is not just seen, but experienced, sparking awareness and inspiring action in communities across the country."

OAAA member media companies participating in the campaign are donating public service advertising space as part of more than $500 million in annual donated OOH inventory. Media partners can download campaign creative at https://oaaa.org/resources/earth-day-2026/.

About EARTHDAY.ORG

EARTHDAY.ORG's mission is to broaden, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG is the world's largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet. Learn more at earthday.org.

About the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA)

The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) is the national trade association representing the out of home (OOH) advertising industry. OAAA's mission is to protect, promote, and advance the medium through government affairs and advocacy, industry research and market intelligence, brand and agency engagement, and industry leadership and convening. OAAA works to ensure OOH's essential role in the modern media mix by advancing standards, aligning the industry around shared priorities, and shaping the future of OOH. Founded in 1891, OAAA serves more than 850 member companies, including media owners, advertisers, agencies, ad tech providers, and suppliers. The association is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in New York City. For more information, visit oaaa.org.

CONTACT:

Colleen Hamilton | 510-325-6703 | [email protected]

Joel Finkelstein | 202-285-0113 | [email protected]

Cassady Nordeen | [email protected]

SOURCE EARTHDAY.ORG
HOUSTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- First Community Credit Union (First Community) is proud to announce a $1 million long-term commitment to Alief Independent School District (Alief ISD), reinforcing its dedication to education, community, and the families it serves. The investment will provide $100,000 annually over the next ten years, with half of each year's commitment, $50,000, directed to the Alief ISD Education Foundation, ensuring sustained, district-wide impact.

FCCU and Alief ISD Board of Trustees

"Alief ISD holds a special place within the First Community family," said TJ Tijerina, President & CEO of First Community Credit Union, noting that this commitment reflects more than financial support. "Many of our members, employees, and their families live, work, and learn in Alief. Investing in this district is an investment in the future of a community we are proud to stand alongside."

The commitment reflects First Community's long-standing relationship with Alief and its belief that strong schools are foundational to strong communities. Funds directed to Alief ISD will support academic programs, departments, and district-wide initiatives that enhance student learning and educator support, while also contributing to future-forward opportunities such as the Young Women's Leadership School scheduled to open in fall 2026.

"As a community-based financial institution, we believe meaningful impact is created through consistency and partnership," Tijerina emphasized. "This long-term structure allows Alief ISD to plan strategically and sustain programs that truly make a difference for students and educators."

A key component of the commitment, $500,000 of the $1 million, is intentionally invested in the Alief ISD Education Foundation, recognizing the Foundation's unique role in expanding educational opportunities beyond traditional funding. Through this partnership, First Community is helping support innovative classroom projects, student enrichment initiatives, and educator-led programs designed to improve learning outcomes across the district.

"The Alief ISD Education Foundation plays a vital role in turning resources into real opportunities," Tijerina said. "We are proud to support the Foundation's work and help ensure educators have the tools they need to inspire students and help them reach their full potential."

The district echoed the significance of the partnership, emphasizing the long-term value this investment brings to Alief students and schools.

"We are deeply grateful for First Community's generosity and long-term commitment to our students," said Dr. Anthony Mays, Superintendent of Alief ISD. "This investment, along with the portion dedicated to the Alief ISD Education Foundation, will have a meaningful and lasting impact on our schools and the opportunities we are able to provide."

Alief ISD leadership further recognized First Community as a trusted and valued partner.

"Alief ISD is profoundly grateful to have First Community Credit Union as a valued business partner," said Dee Jones of Alief ISD. "This extraordinary commitment supports our students, educators, and schools while playing a vital role in advancing educational excellence throughout the district."

This landmark partnership reinforces First Community's belief that education is essential to building thriving communities. Together with Alief ISD and the Alief ISD Education Foundation, First Community looks forward to continuing this collaboration and creating lasting, positive impact for students, educators, and families across Alief for generations to come.

About First Community Credit Union

Founded in 1954 by Spring Branch ISD, First Community serves the diverse needs of over 180,000 members with a full array of financial services, 14 full-service branches and on the strength of $2.9 billion in assets. First Community is federally insured by the NCUA and an equal housing opportunity lender. Their mission is to empower members so they can achieve their financial goals. First Community is open to anyone that lives, works, attends school or worships or is part of a Select Employee Group (SEG) in the 41 Texas counties they serve ranging from Houston, DFW, Austin, and San Antonio, or is a relative or family member of an FCCU member or employee. To learn more about First Community, visit FCCU.org.

Media Contact:

First Community Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE First Community Credit Union
New platform helps breweries manage and monetize keg fleets to unlock immediate growth capital

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The founders of Keg Credit today announced the formation of Keg Capital, a new platform designed to help breweries better manage and monetize their keg fleets while unlocking immediate growth capital. Tyler La Clair joins as Vice President of Sales, bringing 13 years of experience, deep relationships across the craft beer industry, and extensive product knowledge in keg programs and brewery operations.

Built to serve breweries of all sizes, Keg Capital is launching with an immediate focus on breweries across North America and Europe. The company provides a smarter, more efficient way for brewers to convert existing keg assets into working capital, supporting expansion, improving liquidity, and increasing operational flexibility.

The founding team brings deep industry experience to the venture. At its peak, Keg Credit managed approximately 500,000 kegs across its fleet, giving the team unique insight into brewery operations, asset management, and capital solutions tailored specifically to the beverage industry.

The launch comes as the Brewers Association reports craft production down 5.1% in 2025, with 434 closings outpacing 268 openings for the second year running.

"The market changed. Keg programs didn't," said La Clair. "Brewers are cutting SKUs, watching their lines of credit dry up, and sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in fully depreciated steel. Keg Capital pays good money for those kegs and puts cash in the brewers account this quarter. Deploy that capital where it actually moves the needle. No exclusivity, no pooling lock-in, no tracking fees. If the market shifts again, so can they. That is the tool brewers need right now, and nobody else is building it. That is why I joined Keg Capital."

Keg Capital is operating nationally and actively onboarding brewery partners looking to turn their kegs into capital.

SOURCE Keg Capital
ONTARIO, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gemeos Trading, a Canadian technology company that develops and licenses algorithmic trading software, today announced the continued expansion of its AI-powered copy-trading platform, which provides retail investors with access to institutional-grade forex trading algorithms verified through third-party sources including MyFXBook.

Gemeos Trading

Gemeos Trading was founded by Mathew Kevin Edgar and Leslie Edgar. The company operates as a software-as-a-service technology firm that develops proprietary trading algorithms and licenses them through a copy-trading model in which clients maintain full custody of their own brokerage accounts at all times. Unlike the majority of retail forex algorithm providers, Gemeos Trading exclusively uses price-action and volume-based strategies rather than martingale or grid-based averaging systems.

"Gemeos Trading exists because the retail forex algorithm market has a fundamental problem," said Mathew Kevin Edgar, Founder of Gemeos Trading. "About 90 percent of algorithms sold to retail traders use martingale and grid-based strategies. Those systems can work short-term, but they carry the risk of total account loss when a market moves in one direction without pulling back. We saw two competitors blow client accounts last year for exactly that reason. Gemeos Trading has never blown an account in its entire history."

The company's flagship product, the Quantum algorithm, is an AI-based trading system with a third-party verified track record of more than two years of live trading. According to company-reported figures, the Quantum algorithm returned 164 percent in 2025 before compounding, with 11 profitable months and one losing month of approximately 8.6 percent. The company offers 2 risk levels - with hard-stop equity thresholds at under 20 percent, 20 percent and 40 percent - allowing clients to select a risk tolerance that matches their investment objectives.

Gemeos Trading operates through a copy-trading model that replaced an earlier profit-sharing (PAM) arrangement operated through Supreme Commerce Training Inc, a consulting and education company Kevin has operated since 2019. The copy-trading structure reduces onboarding to two steps: fund a brokerage account and connect it to the Gemeos Trading copy trader.

"We moved to copy trading because it's dramatically simpler," said Leslie, Co-Founder of Gemeos Trading. "Clients keep custody of their own money at all times. They connect their own broker account to our system, and they can disconnect at any time. That transparency and control matters."

Gemeos Trading maintains a live trading desk staffed by three full-time traders, including a partner with more than 20 years of institutional trading experience, who monitor algorithm operations 24 hours a day during forex market hours and intervene manually during periods of elevated drawdown.

"No matter how good an algorithm is, you need someone there to catch it if something goes wrong," Kevin said. "A software glitch, a black swan event - there needs to be a human failsafe. That's what our trade desk provides at Gemeos Trading."

About Gemeos Trading

Gemeos Trading is a Canadian technology company that develops and licenses AI-powered algorithmic trading software through a copy-trading platform. The company's algorithms use price-action and volume-based strategies with third-party verified track records on platforms including MyFXBook. Gemeos Trading is not a registered dealer, adviser or investment fund manager under Canadian securities laws and does not provide investment advice, manage client funds or accept deposits. For more information, visit www.gemeostrading.com

Media Details:

Company Name: Gemeos Trading Inc

Founder: Mathew Kevin Edgar

Email Contact: media@gemeostrading.com

Company Website: www.gemeostrading.com

Location: Ontario, Canada

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964716/Gemeos.jpg

SOURCE Gemeos Trading Inc
Decision reflects strong leadership, meaningful engagement, and a clear commitment to care for Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indiana Primary Health Care Association today applauded Governor Mike Braun for his decision to exempt Indiana's Federally Qualified Health Centers from the proposed 340B Medicaid changes, calling it an important affirmation of the vital role health centers play in communities across the state.

The Association praised Governor Braun for making a thoughtful and principled decision that protects access to care for patients who depend on health centers for primary care, behavioral health, dental services, pharmacy access, and other essential supports. The decision reflects the Governor's longstanding commitment to strengthening healthcare access, supporting local communities, and ensuring Indiana's most vulnerable residents are not left behind.

"We are deeply grateful to Governor Braun for his leadership and for recognizing the critical role community health centers play in Indiana's healthcare system," said Ben Harvey, CEO of the Indiana Primary Health Care Association. "This decision demonstrates a clear commitment to protecting care for the patients and communities that rely on health centers every day. Governor Braun heard the concerns that were raised, engaged thoughtfully on the issue, and made the right decision for Indiana's FQHCs."

The Association also expressed appreciation for the Governor's team and administration officials who took the time to engage directly, listen carefully, and consider the real-world impact this proposal would have had on health centers and the patients they serve. Their willingness to engage in serious and constructive dialogue helped produce a positive outcome for communities across the state.

This decision was also the product of extraordinary grassroots advocacy from every corner of Indiana. Health center leaders, board members, clinicians, patients, community partners, and advocates spoke with a strong and unified voice about the importance of preserving 340B support for FQHCs. Members of the Indiana General Assembly also helped elevate those concerns and reinforce the importance of protecting access to care in their districts and communities.

"The strength of the response from across Indiana made clear just how much community health centers matter," Harvey said. "We are thankful to the many advocates, local leaders, and legislators who helped lift up this issue and ensure that the voice of Indiana's health center community was heard."

Indiana's community health centers remain committed to working with Governor Braun and his administration to advance practical, patient-centered solutions that strengthen access, improve outcomes, and support healthier communities across the state.

About the Indiana Primary Health Care Association

The Indiana Primary Health Care Association represents Indiana's community health centers, which provide high-quality primary care and related services to patients across the state, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. www.indianapca.org

SOURCE Indiana Primary Health Care Association
In the news release, GROW THERAPY PARTNERS WITH AMAZON TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS, issued 23-Apr-2026 by Grow Therapy over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that an update has been made. The complete, corrected release follows:

GROW THERAPY PARTNERS WITH AMAZON TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS

The Companies Design a New Model to Make Effective Mental Health Care Simpler to Access for More than One Million Employees.

NEW YORK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Grow Therapy (Grow), a mental health platform empowering providers to deliver exceptional in-person and online therapy and psychiatry, announced a partnership with Amazon that enhances the traditional Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Grow believes that when someone takes the step to seek mental health care, the path forward should be simple and seamless. For many people, that journey starts with their EAP, and through this partnership with Amazon, Grow is improving that experience from the very first session.

"We want our employees to be able to access the support they need, when they need it," said Chris Decou, Amazon Global Director of Health Benefits. "Partnering with Grow makes it easier for employees to find a high-quality mental health provider without disruption, and it's another way we're continuously improving the benefits and resources we offer to support their well-being."

Through this innovative solution, while maintaining the EAP's separate status, Grow now provides Amazon employees who need additional counseling with continuity of care options aligned to their applicable insurance plan. Amazon's redesigned EAP provided by Grow for full-time, regular U.S.-based employees is now available, and benefits include:

No-cost care for their first six therapy sessions through the EAP and a pathway to transition to covered providers after.

Nationwide care across all 50 states.

Access to thousands of vetted providers with dozens of specialties.

Flexible care options with virtual and in-person care available days, nights and weekends.

Faster scheduling with appointments available in two to three days.

Continuous support between visits: Through the Grow mobile app, clients have free access to clinically guided AI tools that support self-reflection between sessions. With a client's consent, relevant insights can be shared with the provider ahead of the next visit to keep time together focused and productive.

"Our mission at Grow is to help people find incredible mental health care, no matter who they are, where they live, or what their occupation happens to be," said Jake Cooper, Co-founder and CEO of Grow. "Building on Amazon's existing EAP is a real opportunity to expand access to mental health support for employees from all backgrounds. That's exactly what Grow aims to do in our work with large employers."

ABOUT GROW

Grow Therapy (Grow) is a mental health platform empowering providers to deliver exceptional in-person and online therapy and psychiatric care. Its rigorously vetted network of 26,000 providers delivers high-quality care covered by insurance, with 220 million Americans able to access Grow through their health plan. Grow Therapy has raised $328 million, and key investors include Sequoia Capital, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Transformation Capital, TCV, SignalFire, Plus Capital, BCI and Menlo Ventures. More information about Grow Therapy can be found at growtherapy.com.

Media Contacts: Olivia Connors ([email protected]), Kristina McPherson ( [email protected] )

SOURCE Grow Therapy
Spanning 10 countries, the 2026 selections highlight the program's global commitment to art conservation

Key Points

Bank of America is awarding 18 Art Conservation Project grants to preserve significant artworks in 2026.

This year's projects include the conservation of internationally renowned masterpieces, such as Rembrandt's The Night Watch, Picasso's The Old Guitarist, Matisse's La Negresse, and Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne.

Previous projects include two copies of Magna Carta at the Society of Antiquaries of London, Claude Monet's Water Lilies at the Portland Art Museum and Chen Wen Hsi' Gibbons at the National Gallery Singapore.

at the Portland Art Museum and Chen Wen Hsi' at the National Gallery Singapore. All conserved artworks will return to public display, reinforcing Bank of America's commitment to public access. Over 15,000 objects in 40 countries have been conserved through the Bank of America Art Conservation Project since 2010.

NEW YORK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America announced today that 18 nonprofit cultural institutions across 10 countries will receive grants this year through the Bank of America Art Conservation Project. The selected projects represent a wide range of artistic traditions and conservation needs, from fragile works on paper to paintings and objects requiring advanced preservation techniques.

The Old Guitarist, by Pablo Picasso; 2026 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / Photo:  The Art Institute of Chicago

This year's selections were unveiled at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, which received an Art Conservation Project grant in 2019 for the conservation of Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night. MoMA is currently hosting a Marcel Duchamp exhibition sponsored by BofA.

"Every artwork has its own story - which is sometimes hidden beneath varnish, cracked pigment or centuries of decay," said Brian Siegel, Global Arts, Culture & Heritage Executive at Bank of America. "Conservation is the quiet work that brings those stories forward today and for future generations. What stands out about this year's projects is the variety of techniques involved. Some require meticulous surface cleaning, and in others, conservators will use imaging tools that didn't exist even a decade ago. Regardless of the method, the goal is simple: to ensure these works remain visible, accessible and enjoyed by visitors for years to come."

All conserved works will return to public display, reinforcing BofA's commitment to public access. Since 2010, the Bank of America Art Conservation Project has supported over 15,000 conservation projects in 40 countries, helping safeguard historically and culturally significant works that are vulnerable to time and environmental stress.

This year's projects include:

13 lobby murals at the Apollo Theater in New York

at the Apollo Theater in New York The Palms of the Arc de Triomphe at the Centre des Monuments Nationaux in Paris

at the Centre des Monuments Nationaux in Paris The Judgement of Paris by Jacob de Backer at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai

by Jacob de Backer at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai Transfiguration by Camillo Procaccini at Duomo di Milano in Milan

by Camillo Procaccini at Duomo di Milano in Milan Four seventeenth-century tapestries by Raphael de la Planche at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston

by Raphael de la Planche at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston More than 3,100 artworks at La Casa del Libro Museum in San Juan

at La Casa del Libro Museum in San Juan The Meeting of Dante and Virgil by Francesco Salviati, under the direction of Jan Rost, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art

by Francesco Salviati, under the direction of Jan Rost, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art Juggler by Alice Rahon at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

by Alice Rahon at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 52 paintings by Francisco Laso de los Rios at Museo de Arte de Lima

by Francisco Laso de los Rios at Museo de Arte de Lima Baltazar de Borba Gato delivering the first shipment of gold from Brazil to the King of Portugal and Jose Bonifacio by Aldo Locatelli at Museu Paulista da Universidade de Sao Paulo

and by Aldo Locatelli at Museu Paulista da Universidade de Sao Paulo La Negresse by Henri Matisse at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

by Henri Matisse at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

by Rembrandt van Rijn at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam Shadow Over the Land by Benny Andrews at the San Jose Museum of Art

by Benny Andrews at the San Jose Museum of Art The Four Accomplishments and Immortal by Kano Sogen Shigenobu at the Seattle Art Museum

by Kano Sogen Shigenobu at the Seattle Art Museum The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso at the Art Institute of Chicago

by Pablo Picasso at the Art Institute of Chicago With Liberty and Justice for All (A Work in Progress) by Jim Hodges at The Contemporary Austin

by Jim Hodges at The Contemporary Austin Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian at the National Gallery in London

by Titian at the National Gallery in London Gaki Zoshi (Scroll of Hungry Ghosts) at the Tokyo National Museum

A brochure with additional information about selected projects is available here.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million clients with approximately 3,500 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

At Bank of America, we believe that investing in the arts has a positive impact on our lives. We support a wide range of nonprofit organizations with funding and programming to help make the arts more accessible to communities around the world and to preserve works of art and heritage sites for generations to come. For more information about how we support the arts, please visit our Bank of America arts website.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact

AnnMarie McDonald, Bank of America

Phone: 1.332.234.8635

[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
FAIRFIELD, Conn., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HJ Sims is pleased to announce the hiring of Greg Ellingson as a Vice President on its not-for-profit senior living investment banking team. Based in Des Moines, Greg will support the firm's continued Midwest growth through business development and client engagement, reinforcing HJ Sims' commitment to serving mission-driven organizations across the region.

Greg brings a well-rounded perspective shaped by his experience supporting financial strategy and execution for non-profit organizations. His background spans development, operations, and ownership structures within the senior living sector, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of its evolving capital needs.

A native of Iowa, Greg grew up in Pella and has lived in Des Moines for nearly a decade. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics from Central College, where he also served as student body president and interned in the British Parliament. He later received a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School, along with a certificate in Municipal Finance.

Greg began his career in public finance at Stifel in Denver, supporting municipal bond transactions for state agencies and local governments. After returning to Iowa, he applied his expertise within the nonprofit sector, leading financial and data initiatives for a major health system and regional transit agency.

He later joined LCS, a leading senior living operator, where he led financial feasibility analysis for development projects nationwide before transitioning to the real estate team. In that role, he managed bank financings and relationships with lenders and equity partners, executing more than $500 million in financings. This experience reinforced his collaborative, long-term approach to navigating complex capital structures.

"I'm drawn to HJ Sims because of the opportunity to support organizations during critical moments of growth and transformation," said Ellingson. "When capital is structured effectively, it allows operators to focus fully on their mission of care."

Lynn Daly, Co-Head of the not-for-profit senior living team, added, "Greg's blend of investment banking experience and senior living expertise makes him a valuable addition as we continue to expand in the Midwest."

Aaron Rulnick, Managing Principal and Head of Investment Banking, noted, "Greg's unique background aligns with our strategic growth and our commitment to delivering strong outcomes for our clients in the Midwest."

About HJ Sims

Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. The firm is a longstanding leader in underwriting tax-exempt bonds, with deep expertise in the senior living sector, having provided more than $34 billion in financing nationwide.

HJ Sims is a SEC registered broker-dealer, a member of FINRA, SIPC. The information contained herein has been prepared based upon publicly available sources believed to be reliable; however, HJ Sims does not warrant its completeness or accuracy and no independent verification has been made as to its accuracy or completeness. The information contained has been prepared and is distributed solely for informational purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any trading or investment strategy, and is subject to change without notice. Investments include risks. Nothing in this message or report constitutes or should be construed to be accounting, tax, investment or legal advice.

SOURCE HJ Sims
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The article outlines key steps to handle a New Jersey arrest, including legal counsel, police procedure, and the bail process.

What should someone do immediately after being arrested in Atlantic City? HelloNation has published an article featuring Criminal Defense Attorney Ed Weinstock of Weinstock Defense that explains how to respond to an Atlantic City arrest and navigate the New Jersey arrest process while protecting legal rights.

Ed Weinstock - Attorney & Owner - Weinstock Defense Speed Speed

The HelloNation article explains that staying calm is one of the most important first steps after an arrest. It notes that anything said during an Atlantic City arrest can be used in court, making it essential to avoid voluntary statements until legal counsel is present. This approach helps reduce the risk of statements being misinterpreted as admissions.

The article emphasizes the importance of legal counsel early in the process. It explains that requesting an attorney before answering questions allows individuals to better understand their situation and respond appropriately. Legal counsel also helps clarify potential outcomes related to criminal charges and ensures that legal rights are preserved throughout the process.

Understanding criminal charges is another key focus. The article notes that individuals must be informed of the reason for their arrest and whether the charges are minor or serious. This knowledge allows for more informed decisions and helps individuals and their attorneys plan next steps effectively.

The article also outlines how police procedure works during booking. It explains that fingerprints, photographs, and personal information are collected as part of standard protocol. While cooperation with these procedures is required, the article stresses the importance of not providing additional information beyond what is necessary, helping protect legal rights.

Court release conditions are another important aspect discussed. The article explains that many individuals in New Jersey arrested are released under non-monetary conditions rather than traditional bail. Those charged on a summons are typically released with a court date, while more serious charges may involve a first appearance within 24 hours and possible detention hearings.

The article further explains that complying with court-ordered conditions is essential. Attending all hearings and following requirements helps prevent additional criminal charges or complications. Understanding these obligations allows individuals to maintain daily responsibilities while their case moves forward.

Discretion is also emphasized throughout the article. It advises individuals to avoid discussing their situation with others or posting on social media, as statements made publicly may be used as evidence. This reinforces the importance of relying on attorney guidance rather than informal conversations.

Documentation is presented as a practical step in protecting legal rights. The article explains that keeping records of arrest details, including officer names and timelines, can support a defense. These details may help identify issues with police procedure and provide useful information for legal counsel.

The article concludes that taking the right steps early can influence the outcome of a case. Remaining calm, seeking legal counsel, understanding criminal charges, and following police procedure all contribute to protecting legal rights during an Atlantic City arrest. Being informed and prepared helps individuals navigate the New Jersey arrest process with greater clarity.

Arrested in Atlantic City: What You Should Know features insights from Ed Weinstock, Criminal Defense Attorney of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content with storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

www.hellonation.com

SOURCE HelloNation
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What are the energy efficiency benefits of ceramic and reflective coatings? That question is explored in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Painting Expert Michael Moore of Rhino Shield by Georgia Coatings, Inc., who explains how these advanced coatings help Sandy Springs homeowners reduce energy use, control moisture, and extend the life of exterior surfaces.

Michael Moore - Co-Owner - Rhino Shield by Georgia Coatings, Inc. Speed Speed

The article describes how long, hot Georgia summers create significant cooling demands for local homes. Rising energy costs have led many homeowners to search for new ways to stay comfortable without relying solely on air conditioning. Painting Expert Michael Moore explains that ceramic and reflective coatings offer a science-backed solution that makes homes more efficient while protecting them from heat and humidity damage.

Traditional exterior paints tend to absorb sunlight, causing walls to become hot and transfer that heat indoors. Reflective coatings contain specialized pigments that deflect infrared radiation, keeping surfaces cooler and reducing the need for excessive cooling. Ceramic coatings go a step further by incorporating fine ceramic particles that form a micro-insulating layer, offering both heat and moisture resistance. Together, these coatings create a barrier that stabilizes surface temperature and protects against Georgia's strong UV exposure.

According to the HelloNation article, the humid and sunny climate in Sandy Springs makes these products particularly valuable. High humidity and frequent summer storms can quickly deteriorate standard paint and siding materials. Ceramic and reflective coatings help prevent that by reducing the expansion and contraction that occurs when temperatures fluctuate. By maintaining cooler surface temperatures, these coatings lessen cracking, peeling, and color fading that typically shorten a paint's lifespan.

For homeowners asking, "How do reflective coatings reduce cooling costs in Sandy Springs homes?" the HelloNation feature provides a clear answer. Independent testing shows that reflective finishes can lower exterior wall temperatures by as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit under direct sunlight. This drop significantly slows indoor heat transfer, allowing air conditioners to operate more efficiently. While savings depend on factors such as home orientation and color choice, Painting Expert Michael Moore emphasizes that every degree of reduced surface heat contributes to lower energy consumption over time.

Ceramic coatings add another layer of benefit through moisture control. The HelloNation article explains that their structure allows trapped interior humidity to escape while keeping external rain and moisture out. This breathability prevents mold, mildew, and water-related stains while preserving the coating's clean appearance. In Sandy Springs, where humidity levels remain high for much of the year, this combination of temperature regulation and moisture defense delivers lasting results.

The environmental advantages are equally important. Homes that stay cooler naturally consume less energy, which reduces overall electricity demand and lowers emissions. Fewer repainting cycles also mean less waste from paint cans, solvents, and application materials. When adopted across entire neighborhoods, these small changes collectively support sustainability goals and community-wide energy efficiency. Painting Expert Michael Moore notes that ceramic and reflective coatings align well with the growing trend toward eco-conscious home improvements in the Atlanta metro area.

Installation quality plays a major role in the success of both coating types. The HelloNation article stresses that surfaces should be cleaned, dried, and cleared of any loose paint before application. Contractors typically apply the coatings in controlled weather conditions to ensure proper curing. Once applied, the coatings form a continuous, seamless layer that resists both water and UV degradation. Homeowners can maintain the finish through occasional cleaning, eliminating the need for frequent repainting and saving additional costs over time.

Another common question addressed in the article is, "Why are ceramic coatings effective in humid Georgia climates?" The answer lies in their dual performance. Ceramic coatings not only resist heat but also block water intrusion, protecting underlying materials from swelling or rot. This makes them ideal for homes surrounded by trees or shaded areas where dampness tends to linger. By preventing water buildup, the coatings also reduce mold growth and maintain curb appeal even in high-humidity environments.

For homeowners considering the long-term return on investment, Painting Expert Michael Moore highlights that these coatings pay for themselves through combined energy and maintenance savings. While installation costs vary based on surface area and product type, the extended lifespan and reduced need for repainting quickly offset the initial expense. Homeowners often report improved indoor comfort, especially in rooms exposed to afternoon sun, as well as noticeably lower cooling bills during peak summer months.

The HelloNation feature also notes that these coatings help preserve property value. By maintaining color and finish for many years, they enhance exterior appearance and prevent deterioration caused by constant exposure to sunlight and rain. Homes finished with ceramic or reflective coatings retain a fresh, well-kept look longer than those using conventional paint systems. This visual stability is especially beneficial for neighborhoods and HOAs that emphasize consistent curb appeal.

For residents wondering, "What is the difference between ceramic and reflective exterior coatings?" the article clarifies that while both protect against heat, ceramic coatings provide added durability and moisture control, while reflective coatings focus on solar heat reflection. When used together or as complementary options, they provide comprehensive protection for both energy efficiency and structural longevity.

In Sandy Springs, where hot summers and high humidity are part of daily life, Painting Expert Michael Moore explains that these advanced coatings deliver practical and lasting benefits. They help homeowners cut energy costs, reduce environmental impact, and enjoy greater comfort throughout the year, all while keeping homes looking newer for longer.

The Truth About Ceramic & Reflective Coatings for Energy Efficiency in Sandy Springs, GA features insights from Michael Moore, Painting Expert of Sandy Springs, GA, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation
IRVING, Texas, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Dallas President Dr. Jonathan J. Sanford and Valor Education President David Williams today announced a partnership that seeks to promote a vision of education ordered toward truth, virtue, friendship, and wisdom. By bringing together UDallas' distinguished liberal arts tradition with Valor's growing network of classical charter schools and the Valor Institute for Studies in Person and Community, the collaboration aims to form students, teachers, and professors across Texas for lives animated by wonder and gratitude.

The partnership will include a range of collaborative efforts designed to support classical education, expand teacher formation, and strengthen the intellectual life of both communities

Grounded in a shared vision of the human person and a common commitment to the true, good, and beautiful, the partnership will provide formation for faculty and students from UD and Valor through a variety of initiatives.

"The University of Dallas has long stood as a witness to lives ordered toward truth and charity," said David Williams. "At Valor, we are cultivating a renewal of intellectual virtuehabits of mind rooted in humility, memory, docility, careful judgment, and a steadfast devotion to truth. These are not abstractions; they are moral obligations that shape how we read, think, speak, and live. The University of Dallas has always formed its community in these virtues with exceptional seriousness, and our partnership will deepen this shared work."

"We are excited about deepening our partnership with Valor schools, which provide a paradigm for K-12 education," said UDallas President Dr. Jonathan Sanford. "Deeply rooted in the Western tradition and the arts that bring genuine freedom, the University of Dallas and Valor stand as partners to advance at every level of formation the education that enables our graduates to be the leading citizensthose individuals formed excellently in mind, character, and purposewhich our country and our future depend upon."

The partnership will include a range of collaborative efforts designed to support classical education, expand teacher formation, and strengthen the intellectual life of both communities, such as:

A fellowship for UD graduates to teach in Valor schools

Opportunities for UD faculty to share their scholarly interests as Kingfisher Fellows through lectures, courses, and academic retreats

Provide UD students and alumni with expanded access to Valor Institute events

Deepen opportunities for Valor teachers to participate in UDallas graduate programs and receive UD credit for Valor Institute summer courses.

An exclusive UDallas scholarship for exceptional Valor high school students and UD's distinctive academic culture, including a scholarship created specifically for Valor's graduates.

Exploring the possibility of an independent school in North Texas.

The partnership deepens a growing relationship between the two institutions, animated by a common conviction that an education ordered toward truth, virtue, and friendship is essential for human flourishing.

About the University of Dallas

The University of Dallas is the premier Catholic liberal arts university in the nation, recommended by the Cardinal Newman Society for its rigorous Core Curriculum and vibrant intellectual and spiritual life. With campuses in Texas and Italy, UDallas forms students intellectually, socially, and spiritually for a life well-lived through undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in the humanities, business, ministry, and classical education. Learn more or apply at udallas.edu.

About Valor Education

Valor Education exists to educate the whole person in authentic communities for a full human life and is committed to providing high-quality tuition-free classical education to all students, regardless of background or ability. Through its K12 charter schools and the Valor Institute for Studies in Person and Community, Valor builds communities dedicated to wisdom, virtue, and friendship. Valor serves nearly 5,000 students in the Austin and San Antonio metro areas with a waitlist of more than 5,500 children. Learn more at valoreducation.org.

Contact: Clare Venegas, VP Marketing & Communications

University of Dallas

[email protected] I (972) 721-8545

Contact: Daniel Gray, Chief of Staff

Valor Education

[email protected] | (512) 646-4170

SOURCE Valor Education
This is a family-friendly event for everyone, with special guests and community organizations!

PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 21 is hosting a Community Day of Action at their Finishing Trades Institute in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. All are welcome, including union members, friends and local residents! There will be food & drink, children's activities and giveaways, as well as information booths for various community organizations.

IUPAT District Council 21 represents over 6,000 members in the finishing trades in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Region, New Jersey and the State of Delaware and is affiliated with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. IUPAT District Council 21 is proud to provide career opportunities to apprentices and journeypersons in the construction industry and is determined to ensure the best wages and benefits for Painters, Drywall Finishers, Wall Coverers, Glaziers, and Glass Workers.

District Council 21 is recognized as one of the most active unions in the region for both its community service and member involvement.

WHAT: Community Day of Action, hosted by IUPAT District Council 21 WHO: Special guests expected to attend include Philadelphia City Council members Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Jim Harrity, Mike Driscoll, Jamie Gauither, Rue Landau, Nina Ahmad, Dr. Anthony Phillips and a staff member from Isaiah Thomas' office; PA state senators Christina Tartaglione and Joe Picozzi; and PA state representatives Pat Gallagher, Martina White, Sean Dougherty, Danilo Burgos, KC Thompson and Jose Giral. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has also been invited. WHERE: DC 21 Finishing Trades Institute, 2190 Hornig Road, Philadelphia, PA. WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2026; 10:00am to 2:00pm

SOURCE IUPAT DC 21
GAINESVILLE, Fla., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- King Risk Partners, a fast-growing insurance broker in the United States, is proud to announce the appointment of Michael Christian to its Board of Directors.

Michael Christian, King Risk Partners Board of Directors

Mr. Christian brings a wealth of industry knowledge and entrepreneurial leadership to King Risk Partners. Mr. Christian founded Risk Strategies in 1997, growing the firm into the 9th largest privately held insurance broker in the U.S. prior to its successful sale to Brown & Brown in 2025. Prior to founding Risk Strategies, Mr. Christian held senior positions at Alexander & Alexander and Jardine Insurance Brokers. Mr. Christian was inducted into the Insurance Business America Hall of Fame in 2020.

"We're excited to welcome Mike Christian to our Board of Directors," said Scott Popilek, Chief Executive Officer of King Risk Partners. "His extensive background in the insurance sector and his proven ability to build a leading insurance brokerage platform will be tremendously valuable to King Risk Partners. We are looking forward to drawing on Mike's insights and leadership as we continue to enhance our offerings and deliver value to our clients."

"Mr. Christian's appointment affirms King Risk Partners' commitment to assembling a talented and experienced Board of Directors," added Malcolm King, Chairman & Founder of King Risk Partners. "With the addition of Mr. Christian, King Risk Partners will be able to build upon its over 50-year track record of servicing businesses and communities."

About King Risk Partners

Headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, King Risk Partners is the 51st largest insurance brokerage in the U.S. With over 50 years of experience, the company offers a wide range of personal, commercial, and employee benefits insurance products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and businesses. Known for its integrity, professionalism, and commitment to customer satisfaction, King Risk Partners continues to grow organically and through strategic acquisitions, expanding its presence across the Eastern and Southeastern United States and beyond. For more information, please visit www.king-insurance.com.

For additional information, please contact:

King Risk Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE King Risk Partners
Dr. Creighton Likes and Dr. Rachel Beverley Bring Clinical and Scientific Expertise to the Greenville Community

GREENVILLE, S.C., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CCRM Fertility (CCRM), one of the leading fertility clinic networks in the U.S., celebrated the official opening of the newest clinic in its network in Greenville, South Carolina last week. The opening reinforces the organization's commitment to increasing access to high-quality, science-driven fertility care nationwide.

Greenville represents one of the country's fastest-growing and most dynamic markets, with a broad, diverse population, including some of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in South Carolina, with a rising demand for advanced reproductive care. This opening underscores CCRM's dedication to ensuring inclusive family-building options are available in the markets it is most-needed across the country.

"As the U.S. continues to navigate the all-time low birth rate, opening a location in South Carolina brings us one step closer to our mission of ensuring that patients across the country have access to some of the leading reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and fertility specialists in the nation," said Dr. William Schoolcraft, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of CCRM. "Patients in the Greenville community will now benefit from the same nationally recognized scientific research, lab technologies, clinical expertise, and outcomes that have helped U.S. families conceive more than 100,000 babies."

The Greenville clinic is led by co-founding physicians and board-certified reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists, Dr. Rachel Beverley, and Dr. Creighton E. Likes, III, who has worked in the local Greenville community for more than 15 years.

Dr. Beverley brings extensive expertise to CCRM Fertility of Greenville as a graduate of Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and fellowship-trained in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Likes has cared for patients in the local community for his entire career, having completed his Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Greenville Hospital System, fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Duke University Medical Center, and Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

"This clinic opening represents a transformational moment for fertility care in our state," said Dr. Likes. "As a longtime South Carolinian that has seen the infertility rates increase year after year, I'm confident that CCRM will fill a serious need in this community. Our patients can expect the highest level of personalized support, from routine evaluations to the most advanced treatment options, all backed by a team delivering some of the strongest outcomes in the country."

"CCRM has long been recognized as a best-in-class network in fertility care, known for exceptional success rates, world-class IVF labs, and an unwavering commitment to patients," added Dr. Beverley. "It's an honor to work with an organization whose name is synonymous with excellence and innovation, and where the highest standards of science and compassionate care are lived every day."

Patients at CCRM Fertility of Greenville will have access to the full suite of fertility services, including IVF, egg and embryo freezing, donor and surrogacy support, and comprehensive diagnostic testing. CCRM is recognized for its exceptional outcomes, advanced technology, and compassionate approach to care. The opening of CCRM Fertility of Greenville reflects the organization's unwavering commitment to creating an elevated evidence-based and patient-centric experience and reinforces the brand's dedication to bringing world-class fertility services to more patients in the South and across the United Statesdelivered with expertise, empathy, continuity of care, and a truly personalized touch.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, please visit ccrmivf.com.

ABOUT CCRM FERTILITY

CCRM Fertility is a global pioneer in fertility treatment, research, and reproductive science, with more than 35 years of leadership in fertility care. Founded by Dr. William Schoolcraft, CCRM Fertility specializes in the most advanced fertility treatments, with deep expertise in IVF, fertility testing, egg freezing, preimplantation genetic testing, third party reproduction and egg donation. With a presence in 20 regions across the United States, CCRM Fertility leverages proprietary data and a dedicated team of in-house reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists, and geneticists to deliver industry-leading outcomes. CCRM Fertility is a proud strategic partner of Unified Women's Healthcare, which is accelerating meaningful change in women's healthcare by building healthy, innovative, and mission-driven businesses to meet the comprehensive needs of women across the entirety of their health journey.

PRESS CONTACT

[email protected]

SOURCE CCRM National
Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes Does Not Advance

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Three bills to help families keep their home insurance coverage and get the insurance benefits they pay for after a disaster, passed out of the state Senate Insurance Committee today. A fourth bill requiring insurance companies to offer coverage to fire-safe homes fell one vote short.

Dozens of wildfire survivors and consumers struggling to keep their insurance and recover from the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires traveled to Sacramento to support the bills cosponsored by Consumer Watchdog and the Every Fire Survivor's Network and authored by Senators Sasha Renee Perez and Ben Allen.

The families shared their testimony at a press event that can be watched here.

The bills reflect the fight of disaster survivors to get their claims paid and support all consumers struggling to stay insured. Seventy percent of Los Angeles fire survivors report that insurance delays and underpayments are impeding their recovery. Nearly one million Californians have been pushed onto the low-benefit, high-cost FAIR Plan, or into unregulated surplus lines insurance companies, in just the last few years.

"SB 1076 would have created a first-of-its-kind pilot program to reduce insurance risk and guarantee insurance coverage for homeowners who made their properties fire-safe. I'm disappointed this bill died in committee. Fire survivors deserved better. This legislation mattered," said Senator Sasha Renee Perez (D-Pasadena), author of SB 1076.

"Our communities have had a front row seat to the dysfunction of the insurance market over the last year," said Senator Allen (D-Pacific Palisades). "Too many disaster survivors have had the rug pulled out from under them at the very moment they need the safety net they had been paying for. It's clear we need stronger protections that help policyholders maintain their coverage and ensure they receive what they are due when disaster strikes."

"At the Every Fire Survivor's Network, we brought more than 1,300 firsthand accounts of insurer misconduct to Senator Sasha Renee Perez. She turned those stories into legislation that cracks down on delays and underpayments and makes insurance available again. Every Californian will be safer because of these bills," said Joy Chen, Executive Director, Every Fire Survivor's Network

"Passage of these bills means real progress to hold insurance companies accountable for claims delays, underpayments, and unfairly dropping policies. We're disappointed that some Senators sided with the industry to prevent long overdue legislation to require insurance companies recognize homeowners' efforts to make their homes fire-safe did not move forward. Thank you to the Senators who voted for the bill and recognize that the way to keep Californians insured is by reducing risk for everyone," said Carmen Balber, executive director, Consumer Watchdog.

Senators Padilla, Becker and Menjivar voted in support of SB 1076 to require insurers to cover homes that meet state wildfire safety standards. This is the first time such legislation, which has been raised by numerous lawmakers as far back as 2019, received a hearing in the legislature.

Senator Padilla expressed his frustration that the insurance industry insists that they need homes to be hardened in order to insure them but refuses to even continue discussing a bill to do so. Senator Perez said constituents deserve assurance that they will be able to insure their homes when they rebuild safer from the Eaton fire.

Senator Laura Richardson made remarks about how in a capitalist country we don't make industries sell products and refused to vote for the bill, joining Senator Susan Rubio in abstaining. Consumer Watchdog pointed out that auto insurance companies are required to sell coverage to good drivers in California and health insurance must be sold to all comers in Obamacare exchanges.

SB 877, SB 878, and SB 1301 passed out of the committee and head to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 877, authored by Senator Sasha Renee Perez, helps consumers challenge claim underpayments by requiring insurers to disclose all original loss estimates and all revisions.

SB 878, authored by Senator Sasha Renee Perez, strengthens existing laws on claim delays by requiring insurers to respond to claims in writing and on time.

SB 1301, authored by Senator Ben Allen, protects policyholders from unexplained and abrupt nonrenewals with greater disclosure and more time to repair any problem to prevent losing coverage.

Polls show over 90% of Californians support requiring insurance companies to cover fire-safe homes, longer notice before nonrenewal, and sufficient time to make improvements to stay insured.

Read the Consumer Watchdog and Every Fire Survivor's Network letters in support of the bills.

SB 877

SB 878

SB 1076  Consumer Watchdog

SB 1076  Every Fire Survivor's Network

SB 1301

40 wildfire survivor, consumer, environmental, civil and economic justice, labor, small business, and community organizations also joined in support.

Learn more about all four bills at www.fixinsurance.org

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
HONOLULU, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, approved adding three million shares to its existing share repurchase program and extending the program to December 31, 2029. As of April 23, 2026, the existing share repurchase program had approximately 0.7 million shares remaining. The Board also declared a second quarter dividend of $0.36 per common share. The dividend will be paid on June 4, 2026 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 7, 2026.

"We are pleased to announce an additional three million shares to our existing share repurchase program," said Matt Cox, Matson's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Since we commenced our share repurchase program in August 2021, we have repurchased approximately 14.3 million shares, or approximately 33% of the then outstanding shares, for a total cost of $1.3 billion. Going forward, we will continue to be both disciplined and opportunistic in our capital allocation, and we remain committed to returning excess cash to shareholders to create additional shareholder value over the long-term."

Shares will be repurchased in the open market from time to time at the Company's discretion, based on ongoing assessments of the capital needs of the business, the market price of its common shares and general market conditions. The Company may enter into Rule 10b5-1 plans to facilitate purchases under the program. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

About the Company

Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline of ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, which includes cargo from other Asia origins, provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Alaska to Asia. The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout North America and Asia. Its integrated logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, supply chain management, and freight forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement, including but not limited to, statements about capital allocation plans, the timing, manner and volume of repurchases of common shares pursuant to the repurchase program, and use of excess cash. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This release should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC through the date of this release, which identify important factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this release. We do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Matson, Inc.
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. today issued the following statement on the acquittal today of American-born journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin in Kuwait:

"We welcome the news that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been acquitted after being detained by Kuwaiti authorities for the past seven weeks.

Although Shihab-Eldin's acquittal is a great relief for journalists everywhere, his detention represents a clear deterioration of press freedom and the freedom of expression in Kuwait and across the Gulf during the ongoing Iran war.

Laws that broadly criminalize the dissemination of information in the name of national security can have a chilling effect on journalists and the public's right to know. Journalism is not a crime.

By detaining Shihab-Eldin, Kuwaiti authorities have signaled that sharing or reporting content that runs counter to official government narratives on the conflict will invite retribution, including jail time or worse. These tactics must end, and journalists must be free to report facts without fear of harassment or imprisonment."

About the National Press Club

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 2,500 members, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

Contact: Beth Francesco, National Press Club Journalism Institute executive director, [email protected].

SOURCE National Press Club
RALEIGH, N.C., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) is pleased to announce a $210,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation to support the NCICU Transfer Pathways project. This significant investment will fund the first-year software licenses and implementation costs for a centralized transfer portal for students from Louisburg College and North Carolina's 58 community colleges to transfer to four-year independent colleges and universities.

"We are deeply appreciative of The Cannon Foundation's role of serving as a critical catalyst for streamlining college transfers in our state," said NCICU President Dr. A. Hope Williams. "While the vast majority of two-year college students intend to earn a bachelor's degree, the path is often complicated by a lack of awareness about four-year programs and their transfer requirements. This grant allows us to resolve that barrier head-on, ensuring that the hard work of North Carolina students, whether transferring an associate's degree or individual courses through the Independent College Articulation Agreement, translates directly into progress toward a four-year degree."

The initiative, which is currently scheduled for completion by May 31st, addresses one of the most significant barriers to degree completion: the loss of credits during the transition from two-year colleges to four-year institutions. With a transparent, user-friendly online portal, students can clearly see how their credits will transfer, ensuring they can find the bachelor's program that best meets their needs.

"This partnership with The Cannon Foundation demonstrates a visionary commitment to the success of our students," said Colleen Kinser, Director of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina (ICFNC). "By removing the technical and financial hurdles of credit transfer, we are making it easier for talented students from all backgrounds to find their home at one of our independent colleges and successfully reach the finish line of graduation."

The project builds upon a larger collaborative effort between NCICU and the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) to create a stronger, more seamless transfer and workforce pipeline. The new portal will allow students to view their educational journey with confidence, fostering economic independence.

The implementation of the Transfer Pathways portal is part of a broader strategic initiative by NCICU to leverage technology to enhance student outcomes. As the project moves into its implementation phase, NCICU will continue to work closely with campus registrars and admissions officers to ensure a positive, supportive experience for all transfer students. The Cannon Foundation Grant will make it possible for more colleges to participate, enroll and support a larger number of transfer students.

Click here to learn more about the NCICU Transfer Pathways project.

ABOUT NCICU

North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) is the statewide office of private, nonprofit, liberal arts and research colleges and universities. NCICU supports, represents, and advocates for North Carolina independent higher education in the areas of state and federal public policy and on education issues with the other sectors of education in the state. It also raises funds through the Independent College Fund of North Carolina for student scholarships and enrichment experiences, provides research and information to and about private colleges and universities, conducts staff development opportunities and coordinates collaborative programs. Presidents of the colleges and universities comprise NCICU's Board of Directors.

About The Cannon Foundation

The Cannon Foundation was established in 1943 by Charles A. Cannon, Chairman and President of Cannon Mills Company. The Foundation continues his legacy by supporting organizations in North Carolina, primarily in the areas of healthcare, higher education, human services, and community.

CONTACT: Demarcus Williams, [email protected]

SOURCE North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
The company also announced a new strategic investment led by Stan Shih, Founder and former Chairman and CEO of Acer, and former Board Director of TSMC for over 20 years. As a globally respected technology pioneer and entrepreneur, Mr. Shih's participation reflects strong confidence in NEO's technology and vision, and will support the company's next phase of development.

The POC test chips demonstrate that 3D X-DRAM can be manufactured using existing 3D NAND infrastructure, including established equipment, materials, and cost-efficient processes. With 3D NAND already exceeding 300 layers in production, these results pave the way for next-generation high-density 3D DRAM, while validating solid electrical performance and reliability.

Key POC results include:

Read/write latency: <10 ns

Data retention: >1 second at 85C (15 better than the 64 ms JEDEC standard)

Bit-line disturbance: >1 second at 85C

Word-line disturbance: >1 second at 85C

Endurance: >10 cycles

"These results validate a new scaling path for DRAM," said Andy Hsu, Founder & CEO of NEO Semiconductor. "We believe this technology can enable significantly higher density, lower cost, and improved energy efficiency for the AI era. By leveraging established 3D NAND manufacturing processes and ecosystem, we aim to bring 3D DRAM to reality sooner. NEO is actively engaging with leading global memory and semiconductor companies on potential co-development opportunities, and we believe our technology is well suited for a scalable licensing and partnership model to bring next-generation AI memory solutions to market."

Industry analysts also highlighted the significance of the results. "At this pivotal moment, NEO Semiconductor has achieved a major breakthrough," said Jeongdong Choe, Senior Technical Fellow and SVP at TechInsights. "As conventional DRAM scaling approaches its limits, the industry is shifting toward 3D architectures and new cell technologies to meet growing AI and data-centric demands. NEO's silicon POC represents a significant milestone, demonstrating real-world viability beyond theoretical concepts. The reported electrical and reliability results are encouraging, and this development aligns with the industry roadmap toward vertically scaled memory. Much like the transition to 3D NAND over the past decade, we are now witnessing the dawn of a new 3D DRAM era beyond traditional scaling limits. It is truly exciting to see this vision becoming a tangible reality."

The POC was developed in collaboration with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan, specifically its Industry-Academia Innovation School (IAIS), and was fabricated and tested at the National Institutes of Applied Research- Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (NIAR-TSRI). The device successfully passed extensive electrical and reliability evaluations, confirming the robustness and stability of the proposed memory architecture.

"I am pleased that this close industryacademia co-development partnership has validated the feasibility of NEO's 3D DRAM concept under real silicon process conditions," said Jack Sun, Senior Vice President of NYCU and Dean of IAIS, and former CTO of TSMC. "The successful proof-of-concept not only demonstrates the potential of innovative memory architectures, but also confirms the feasibility of implementing advanced memory technologies using mature processes. This collaboration among NEO, NYCU IAIS, and NIAR-TSRI further underscores the value of industryacademia partnerships in accelerating innovation from concept to practical implementation."

In parallel, NEO announced a strategic investment from a group of leading technology investors, led by Stan Shih, Founder and former Chairman and CEO of Acer. "I am delighted to see this breakthrough achieved through collaboration across industry and academia," said Stan Shih. "By bringing together innovation, strong engineering execution, and a robust semiconductor ecosystem in Taiwan, this POC was successfully realized. NEO's 3D DRAM is expected to play a key role in future system architectures. As next-generation memory becomes increasingly critical to AI computing, innovations like 3D X-DRAM have the potential to contribute significantly to the evolution of the global memory industry."

The funding has supported the successful development of the POC and will continue to advance the company's next phase, including array-level implementation, multi-layer test chip development, and deeper engagement with leading memory companies to explore strategic partnerships.

NEO is currently in active discussions with industry partners across the memory and semiconductor ecosystem to advance the technology toward commercialization. With successful POC validation and growing industry engagement, the company is entering a new phase focused on advancing 3D X-DRAM as a foundational technology for next-generation AI memory systems.

NEO Semiconductor's CEO, Andy Hsu, will deliver a keynote presentation at FMS: Future of Memory and Storage conference, where he will discuss the company's 3D X-DRAM technology and share deeper insights into the recently demonstrated proof-of-concept results, including key performance and reliability metrics. The event takes place August 4-6, 2026, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California, USA. NEO Semiconductor will also be exhibiting at booth #507. To schedule a meeting at FMS 2026, please contact: [email protected].

About NEO Semiconductor

NEO Semiconductor is a high-tech company pioneering next-generation AI and memory technologies. Founded in 2012 and based in San Jose, California, the company focuses on redefining memory architecture to meet the growing demands of AI and data-centric computing. Its founder, Andy Hsu, holds a master's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and is the inventor of more than 120 granted patents.

NEO's key innovations include X-NAND, 3D X-AI, and X-HBM, along with its flagship 3D X-DRAM, a breakthrough architecture that leverages a 3D NAND-like structure to enable a scalable path toward high-density, energy-efficient memory. Following successful proof-of-concept validation, NEO is advancing this technology toward broader industry adoption, aiming to help shape the future of AI-driven memory systems.

Media and Analyst Contact:

Maya Lustig

Email: [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964231/NEO_Semiconductor.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964136/3D_X_DRAM_POC.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2680564/NEO_Semiconductor_Logo.jpg

SOURCE NEO Semiconductor
White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin Discusses the Royal Collection Trust with Tim Knox, Director of the Royal Collection

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association today released a new episode of The White House 1600 Sessions podcast exploring the American-born artists favored by King George III around the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Stewart McLaurin, president of the Association, traveled to Windsor Castle outside London, England, to meet with Tim Knox, Director of the Royal Collection, to delve into the historic relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and the shared mission of maintaining vast collections of fine and decorative arts.

"The Association and Royal Collection Trust are both stewards of remarkable museum quality art collections. And here in 2026, we are partnering to commemorate America's Semiquincentennial by celebrating great American-born portrait and landscape artists," said McLaurin.

The Royal Collection was formed by successive British monarchs dating back to the 17th century and is made up of furniture, works of art such as the Crown Jewels, porcelain, suits of armor, manuscripts, paintings, and more.

McLaurin and Knox sat in the White Drawing Room and discussed three artists who were born in the British colonies of North America and later moved to England to pursue their careers. These include Benjamin West, who at one point was the official historical painter to the court and later the Surveyor of the King's Pictures; John Singleton Copley, a successful portrait artist in Boston, Massachusetts before moving overseas in his 30s; and John Taylor, originally from Philadelphia, who specialized in landscapes.

"I think George III had a soft spot for the Americans and that one of his great sadnesses, was that the colonies were lost in his reign," said Knox. "We know that with resumption of diplomatic ties he treated the envoy with great respect and cordiality, so I think George III would be very pleased and proud that the United Kingdom and the United States are friends again."

The exploration of the Royal Collection continued in Saint George's Hall, a late medieval banqueting hall where President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were recently hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla for a State Banquet. This room houses a portrait of King George III in robes of state by Gainsborough Dupont.

"Gainsborough Dupont is one of the artists that we share in common in our mutual collections," said McLaurin. "In the White House Collection there is a very beautiful portrait by Gainsborough Dupont of Mrs. Brinsley Sheridan."

This artist spanning both collections as well as those American artists in the Royal Collection are reminders of the storied relationship between both the United States and the United Kingdom.

This conversation will continue through a collaborative social media series between the Royal Collection Trust and the Association, launching this May across both organizations' channels and highlighting artists represented both the White House Collection and the Royal Collection.

The White House 1600 Sessions podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The full video of this podcast episode is also available on the White House Historical Association's YouTube channel here.

The White House 1600 Sessions

The White House Historical Association's President Stewart McLaurin is the host of The White House 1600 Sessions, the Association's official audio and video podcast devoted to exploring the history, cultural impact, untold stories, and personal accounts of America's most iconic residence and highest office.

About the White House Historical Association

Founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the White House Historical Association is the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization entrusted with preserving and sharing the history of the White House. Supported entirely by private philanthropy and the sale of educational books and products, the Association reaches millions of students, teachers, and lifelong learners through research and scholarship initiatives, public programming, and the authoritative titles published by its independent press. Throughout each presidency, the Association works with the Offices of the First Lady and the White House Curator to acquire and preserve historic objects for the White House Fine and Decorative Arts Collection. The Association also operates The People's House: A White House Experience, a free, immersive, educational museum in Washington, D.C., which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.

About Royal Collection Trust

Royal Collection Trust is the charity caring for the Royal Collection and looks after visitors to the royal palaces. The income from tickets contributes to the care and conservation of the Royal Collection. Through our work, from exhibitions and learning programmes to publications and retail products, we aim to ensure that the Royal Collection and Palaces are valued and enjoyed by everyone.

SOURCE The White House Historical Association
SoCal gateway also reported 4% more passengers and 12.7% gain in freight in first quarter of 2026

ONTARIO, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Passenger volumes at Ontario International Airport (ONT) increased for the fourth consecutive month in March while shipments of commercial air freight gained more than 15%, airport officials announced. Over the first quarter of the year, passenger volume was 4% higher and air freight tonnage increased by 12.7%.

The Southern California gateway welcomed 574,819 passengers last month, 2.7% more than in March last year. The number of domestic and international travelers totaled 514,777 and 60,042, respectively. International travel surged by 55.2%.

Southern California's Ontario International Airport reported continued passenger growth in March.

Through the first three months of the year, ONT served more than 1.5 million passengers, 4.1% more than the first quarter in 2025. Domestic passenger volume was almost unchanged at 1.3 million, and international travelers increased 58.4% to 181,854.

"Our continued passenger growth in March is a direct reflection of the confidence our airline partners and passengers have in ONT and in our team's commitment to delivering a high-quality experience every single day," said Atif Elkadi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).

"While the outlook for the rest of the year carries some uncertainty, particularly with rising fuel costs, we're not standing still. We're working hand-in-hand with our airline partners to protect what matters most: reliable schedules, strong service levels, and the experience our travelers have come to expect from ONT."

Passenger Totals Mar 2026 Mar 2025 Change YTD 2026 YTD 2025 Change Domestic 514,777 520,938 -1.2 % 1,364,485 1,370,143 -0.4 % International 60,042 38,681 55.2 % 181,854 114,808 58.4 % Total 574,819 559,619 2.7 % 1,546,339 1,484,951 4.1 %

Air carriers with the greatest passenger shares in March were:

Southwest Airlines (37.5%) American Airlines (17.2%) Alaska Airlines (10.2%) United Airlines (9.5%) Delta Air Lines (8.6%)

Air cargo, including commercial freight and U.S. mail, grew by 11.6% in March. Freight was up by 15.3%, while the mail was 7.5% lower.

On a year-to-date basis, cargo tonnage rose 9.2% to more than 208,000 tons, with freight up by 12.7%. Shipments of mail declined by 8.6%.

Air cargo (tonnage) Mar 2026 Mar 2025 Change YTD 2026 YTD 2025 Change Freight 65,056 56,407 15.3 % 179,702 159,436 12.7 % Mail 10,137 10,955 -7.5 % 28,860 31,584 -8.6 % Total 75,193 67,361 11.6 % 208,562 191,020 9.2 %

"The continued monthly double-digit growth in air freight activity is gratifying and bodes well for Ontario International's growing contribution to the economic impact of our airport in the region," Elkadi said.

About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the second most popular mid-sized airport in the United States, according to J.D. Power's most recent North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which offers nonstop commercial jet service to two dozen major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram

About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)

The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA leaders include Ontario Mayor pro Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Treasurer) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner)

OIAA Media Contact:

Steve Lambert (909) 841-7527 [email protected]

SOURCE Ontario International Airport
NEW YORK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE: OUT) announced today that it will report results for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026, after the market closes on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The earnings announcement will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.outfront.com.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call number is 833-461-5787 (U.S. callers) and 585-542-9983 (International callers) and the passcode for both is 404991578.

Live and replay versions of the conference call will be webcast in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.outfront.com.

About OUTFRONT Media Inc.

OUTFRONT is one of the largest and most trusted out-of-home media companies in the U.S., helping brands connect with audiences in the moments and environments that matter most. As OUTFRONT evolves, it's defining a new era of in-real-life (IRL) marketing, turning public spaces into platforms for creativity, connection, and cultural relevance. With a nationwide footprint across billboards, digital displays, transit systems, and other out-of-home formats, OUTFRONT turns creative into powerful real-world experiences. Its in-house agency, OUTFRONT STUDIOS, and award-winning innovation team, XLabs, deliver standout storytelling, supported by advanced technology and data tools that can drive measurable impact.

Contacts:

Investors

Media Stephan Bisson

Courtney Richards Investor Relations

PR & Events Specialist (212) 297-6573

(646) 876-9404 [email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc.
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION, RELEASE OR PUBLICATION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES/

TSXV: PGZ | OTCQB: PGZFF | FRA: 2EU

Company elects not to proceed with proposed Warrant extension

VANCOUVER, BC, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQB: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing with an existing strategic investor, Alpayana ("Alpayana") to purchase 45,000,000 Common Shares (the "Shares") of the Company at a price of C$0.16 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$7,200,000 (the "Offering"). At closing of the Offering, Alpayana will hold approximately 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Pan Global.

Pan Global Resources Inc. Logo

In addition, in consideration of the Offering with Alpayana, the Board of the Company has elected not to proceed with the previously announced Warrant extension (see April 21, 2026 media release). The Company invites warrant-holders to exercise their warrants before the expiry date of May 6, 2026.

"We are extremely pleased with Alpayana's offer to significantly increase its strategic investment in Pan Global. Alpayana is a Peruvian mining company with six operating mines in Latin America. This strategic investment is a strong endorsement of the potential in the Company's projects in Spain and allows the Company to accelerate drilling at our Escacena and Carmenes Projects focussed on both expanding the current Escacena resource base and accelerating exploration for new discoveries in the next twelve to eighteen months," said Tim Moody, President and CEO.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used to double the current drilling plan to 20,000 meters and expand and accelerate exploration at the Company's Escacena and Carmenes Projects. This includes:

Drilling to extend and expand the Canada Honda copper-gold deposit, where a preliminary resource, drill results and a large untested coincident gravity and electro-magnetic target indicate significant expansion potential;

Expanding exploration activities in the highly prospective and large Escacena South area. This will commence with a heliborne geophysics survey followed by an aggressive drill program. Applications for access and permits for the drill program are in progress and expected later this year;

Follow-up drilling at the Carmenes Project, with the focus on expanding the Providencia target and drill-testing additional targets identified from recent exploration; and,

General corporate purposes.

The Offering is subject to final TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.

About Alpayana

Alpayana is a family-owned private mining group with more than 39 years of continuous operations in Peru and Mexico.

Alpayana currently operates multiple mines in Peru and Mexico. The company combines operational expertise and disciplined project development.

The company is committed to sustainable and responsible mining, guided by a long-term vision that prioritizes the well-being of its employees, the protection of the environment, and the development of the indigenous communities surrounding its operations. Through its current mining infrastructure in the Americana and Yauliyacu mines, Alpayana provides clean water for more than 2.5 million people.

Qualified Persons

Alvaro Merino, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company.

About the Escacena Project, Southern Spain

The Escacena Project, recently added Escacena South area and new application areas, together comprise a mineral rights land package covering more than 13,000-hectares controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Europe's second-largest copper-producing region. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto (Atalaya) and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes (Grupo Mexico) is commencing a new underground mine development beneath the former Los Frailes open pit mine. The Escacena Project includes Mineral Resource Estimates at the La Romana copper-tin-silver and Canada Honda copper-gold deposits and hosts 15 other prospective targets for follow-up.

Escacena Project Maiden Mineral Resource Estimates

La Romana

Measured and Indicated : 32.4 Mt at 0.37% Cu, 270 ppm Sn, 1.7 g/t Ag, 0.44% CuEq (119.5 kt Cu, 8.8 kt Sn, 1.7 Moz Ag)  at 0.2 % copper cutoff grade, and

: 32.4 Mt at 0.37% Cu, 270 ppm Sn, 1.7 g/t Ag, 0.44% CuEq (119.5 kt Cu, 8.8 kt Sn, 1.7 Moz Ag)  at 0.2 % copper cutoff grade, and Inferred: 4.0 Mt at 0.40% Cu, 71 ppm Sn, 1.4 g/t Ag; 0.42% CuEq (15.8 kt Cu, 0.3 kt Sn, 0.2 Moz Ag)  at 0.2% copper cutoff grade.

Canada Honda

Inferred: 5.0 Mt at 0.65 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu, 1.2 g/t Ag; 0.74 g/t AuEq (104 koz Au, 6.8 kt Cu, 0.2 Moz Ag)  at 0.25 g/t gold cutoff grade.

For details and additional technical disclosure, please see the February 12, 2026 media release.

About the Carmenes Project, Northern Spain

The Carmenes Project is located on the Rio Narcea Gold Belt approx. 55km north of the city of Leon and comprises five Investigation Permits over 5,653 hectares held 100% by Pan Global. The Project area is highly prospective for multiple bodies or "clusters" of carbonate-hosted hydrothermal/epithermal style copper, nickel, cobalt, and gold mineralization. The area includes the former Profunda and Providencia mines that operated until the 1930s, producing concentrates of copper and cobalt with nickel. Numerous other smaller historical mine workings occur in the area highlight the potential for additional mineralization. These types of ore deposits can have significant vertical dimensions exceeding 1km. The Company's maiden drill program in 2025 at the Providencia target intersected significant gold, indicating potential for the first significant gold discovery in Spain in more than two decades.

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively exploring for copper-rich mineral deposits along with gold and other metals. Copper has compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. Gold is also attracting record prices.

The Company's flagship Escacena Project, hosting La Romana and Canada Honda copper-tin-gold mineral resources, is in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one low-risk jurisdiction for mining investment. The Company's second project, at Carmenes in northern Spain, is an area with a long mining history and excellent infrastructure. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mining operations. Pan Global Resources is committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact.

To learn more about Pan Global Resources, please visit the Company's Curation Connect showcase and explore AI-generated responses to your enquiries at https://app.curationconnect.com/company/Pan-Global-Resources-44037?utm_source=pg_mediareleases

www.panglobalresources.com

Forward-looking statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Jason Mercier, VP Investor Relations and Communications, [email protected] / [email protected], Tel: +1-236-886-9518; Justin Byrd, Chief Financial Officer, [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964647/Pan_Global_Resources_Inc__PAN_GLOBAL_ANNOUNCES__7_2_MILLION_PRIV.jpg
SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Perfect Union, one of California's largest independent cannabis retailers, today welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice's announcement issuing an order immediately placing FDA-approved marijuana products and marijuana products regulated under qualifying state-issued medical marijuana licenses into Schedule III, while initiating an expedited process to consider broader rescheduling of marijuana, with hearings set to begin June 29.

Lines wrap around the building at Perfect Union Northside 4/20/2026.

Earlier today, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order initiating the rescheduling, with an expedited DEA hearing on broader rescheduling set to begin June 29. The move removes state-licensed medical cannabis operators from the reach of IRS Code 280E, which has for years prohibited cannabis businesses from deducting ordinary business expenses such as rent, payroll, and marketing  pushing effective federal tax rates above 70% for many California retailers.

The news lands on the heels of record-setting 4/20 sales for Perfect Union. Across the company's California footprint, the two-day 4/20 sale event (April 1920, 2026) delivered 38% more transactions, 42% more units sold, and 27% higher gross sales year-over-year compared to 2025 with gross receipts up more than 28% year-over-year. At Perfect Union's flagship store in Northside Sacramento  already ranked by BDSA as the highest daily revenue-generating dispensary storefront in California year-to-date in 2026  two-day 4/20 unit sales grew 25% year-over-year, and net sales grew 7% over the same store's record 2025 performance.

With eleven locations across the state, Perfect Union is among the most visible independent operators in a California market that has contracted sharply over the past three years under the combined weight of 280E, state excise taxes, and an aggressive illicit market.

"Today's announcement from the Department of Justice is the most meaningful federal acknowledgment California's legal cannabis industry has received in a generation," said Thomas Sheridan, CEO of MWG Holdings Group Inc., parent company of Perfect Union. "For years, dispensaries in this state have been taxed in an unsustainable way under 280E  unable to deduct basic business expenses like rent, payroll, and marketing that every other retailer in America takes for granted. Moving state-licensed medical cannabis to Schedule III finally breaks that penalty. The tax relief this unlocks is real, it is immediate, and it could be the difference between survival and closure for small and mid-sized California operators who have been fighting just to keep their doors open."

Sheridan said the timing of the federal action is especially meaningful for Perfect Union given the company's 4/20 results.

"We just closed the biggest 4/20 in our company's history  double-digit growth across every store and every meaningful metric, on the single most important weekend of the year for our industry," Sheridan said. "That's the story of an operator that has already proven it can grow in the hardest market in the country. Now imagine what California's legal operators can do when the federal tax code finally treats us like the legitimate, regulated businesses we are. This rescheduling announcement, on the heels of a 4/20 weekend like this one, should be a signal to everyone watching California cannabis: the legal industry is not just surviving  it is ready to compete."

Sheridan cautioned that rescheduling is only the beginning of the reform California's legal industry needs.

"Rescheduling is a first step, not the finish line," he said. "It doesn't end the conflict between state and federal law, it doesn't solve banking, and it doesn't address the illicit market undercutting every legal operator in California. But it is the single most consequential piece of federal cannabis policy in 55 years, and it gives legal operators the financial breathing room to reinvest in our people, our patients, and our communities. At Perfect Union, we intend to use that relief to strengthen the very things California's cannabis consumers have been asking for: better prices, safer products, and a legal market that can actually compete."

Industry analysts expect the removal of the 280E prohibition to free up hundreds of millions of dollars annually across the California market, giving compliant operators new capacity to reinvest in employees, product safety, and consumer pricing.

About Perfect Union and MWG Holdings, Inc.

Perfect Union is one of California's leading independent cannabis retailers, operating eleven dispensaries statewide and offering a robust portfolio of award-winning cannabis brands. Perfect Union is owned and operated by MWG Holdings, Inc., which has more than a decade of experience managing cannabis businesses across California and navigating complex state and local regulatory environments. Under the leadership of CEO Tom Sheridan, MWG achieved positive cash flow in 2023 and delivered a 27% increase in transactions and 20% increase in revenue in H1 2025 over H1 2024, with a company-record sales month in December 2025.

SOURCE MWG Holdings Group, Inc.
PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia-based PRG Real Estate has been named a finalist for the National Apartment Association's (NAA) Top Employers Award, a national recognition honoring organizations that demonstrate excellence in employee engagement, talent development, and workplace culture.

This achievement reflects PRG's ongoing commitment to building a workplace where employees feel supported not only in their day-to-day roles but throughout their careers. The company emphasizes clear career growth pathways, hands-on training, and promoting from within, creating opportunities for team members to grow alongside the organization. That commitment is paired with a collaborative, team-oriented culture where employees are encouraged to contribute ideas, take ownership, and support one another.

As a vertically integrated owner-operator, PRG's ability to attract and retain talent plays a key role in its success. By equipping teams with the tools, technology, and support they need to perform at a high level, the company continues to strengthen both employee experience and business performance.

"We have been very intentional about how we support our teams, develop our people, and create opportunity across the portfolio," shared Vice President of Human Resources, Lindsay Lenow. "Being named a Top Employer finalist by NAA is meaningful because it reflects that commitment, and it pushes us to keep raising the bar," she added.

NAA's Top Employers Award recognizes organizations within the multifamily industry that exceed industry benchmarks based on employee feedback. PRG's selection as a finalist places the firm among a select group of organizations nationwide, helping to shape the future of the multifamily industry.

This recognition reflects PRG's continued investment in its people and culture and reinforces its commitment to building an environment where employees can grow, succeed, and feel proud of the work they do.

About PRG Real Estate

PRG Real Estate is a multifamily investment and management company that owns $2.0 billion of apartment homes across its 11,000-unit portfolio and has 300+ employees nationwide. PRG believes that an exceptional living experience starts with its people. It achieves this mission by hiring and training the best in the industry and creating a supportive and rewarding workplace that inspires its people to achieve great things together. For more information on PRG Real Estate, please visit www.prgrealestate.com.

SOURCE PRG Real Estate Management, Inc.
Stryten Energy expands its involvement in the 11-day endurance rally event as a new Gold Partner for 2026.

RENO, Nev., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rebelle Rally announces Stryten Energy as a Gold Partner for the 2026 competition, building on a relationship shaped over several years in the field.

While new as an official partner, Stryten Energy has been involved in the Rebelle Rally with team entries for the past several years and stage sponsorship. Their presence has been felt throughout the competition, while they engage directly with the kind of terrain and conditions their battery technology is built to withstand.

Rebelle Rally vehicle with Stryten Energy EFB battery

Stryten Energy is an energy storage solutions company specializing in battery technologies that support critical industries, including transportation, military, and industrial applications. Many of their solutions operate behind the scenes, in systems expected to perform without failure in environments where consistency matters.

In 2024 and 2025, Stryten Energy also supported a team of employees, Jully Hirt and Amanda Elve, equipping their 2022 Jeep Gladiator with Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) technology. Built for durability and reliability, the battery is designed to withstand the high heat and sustained demands the Rally is known for.

"The Rebelle Rally has always been about capability, resilience, and proving what is possible  a true proving ground," said Rebelle Founder Emily Miller. "We are honored to provide that platform for Stryten to showcase their strengths."

According to Mike Judd, Stryten Energy CEO and President, and avid off-roader, the Rebelle serves as an excellent platform for development, not only putting their product to the test but their people. In 2026, two employee teams will compete, and the company already has teams in training for the 2027 Rebelle.

"Stryten Energy's partnership with the Rebelle Rally is grounded in shared values," said Judd. "The spirit of the Rebelle Rally is not unlike our culture at Stryten, where we operate under five core values: Care, Challenge, Commit, Create and Change. These values are reflected in how we invest in our people, our products, and our customers. We aren't afraid to take on tough challenges, which naturally align with what the Rebelle Rally represents."

About the Rebelle Rally

The Rebelle Rally is the longest competitive off-road rally in the United States and grounded in its commitment to women in automotive and motorsport. The world-class event is an outdoor endurance competition that spans more than 2,500 kilometers across the iconic terrain of Nevada and California. Precision driving and navigation, not speed, define the competition, with competitors relying on maps, compasses, roadbooks, and strategy in a format unique to the Rebelle. GPS and electronic devices are strictly prohibited. The Rebelle Rally is widely regarded as a proving ground for people, products, and stock manufacturer vehicles. This year's event is the 11th edition taking place October 7-17, 2026. For more information, visit rebellerally.com.

About Stryten Energy

Stryten Energy helps solve the world's most pressing energy challenges with a broad range of energy storage solutions across the Essential Power, Motive Power, Transportation, Military and Government sectors. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, we partner with some of the world's most recognized companies to meet the growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy storage capacity. Stryten powers everything from submarines to subcompacts, microgrids, warehouses, distribution centers, cars, trains and trucks. Our stored energy technologies include advanced lead, lithium and vanadium redox flow batteries, intelligent chargers and energy performance management software that keep people on the move and supply chains running. An industry leader backed by more than a century of expertise, Stryten has The Energy to Challenge the status quo and deliver top-performing energy solutions for today and tomorrow. Learn more at stryten.com.

SOURCE Rebelle Rally
Advancing Remote Cardiac Monitoring with Faster Insights, Greater Comfort, and Seamless Connectivity

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RhythMedix, LLC (RhythMedix), a nationwide U.S.-based cardiac monitoring company, today announced the launch of its next-generation RhythmStar SL cardiac monitoring wearable. The third-generation design significantly enhances the patient experience, improving comfort, wearability, and patient adherence. These advancements are enabled by a compact lead configuration, waterproof IPX-6 rating, and increased battery life.

The next-generation RhythmStar SL cardiac monitor enhances the patient experience and simplifies remote monitoring.

RhythmStar continues to differentiate through its built-in cellular connectivity, enabling ECG data to be automatically transmitted to the cloud for seamless, prompt review across all monitoring modes - without requiring device return by mail for data processing.

When paired with the company's proprietary Augmented Arrhythmia Intelligence (AAI), RhythmStar SL delivers precise arrhythmia detection by combining advanced algorithms with a multi-layered data review process.

"RhythmStar represents our commitment to delivering a better way to monitor, one that prioritizes both patient comfort and clinical performance," said Brian Pike, CEO of RhythMedix. "By combining a more wearable design with seamless data transmission and expert review, we're helping clinicians access the insights they need, when they need them."

"RhythMedix is taking a truly visionary approach to cardiac monitoring by combining patient-friendly design with advanced technology and expert oversight, helping clinicians make more confident, timely decisions," stated George Shaw, MD, Electrophysiologist at AHN Allegheny Health Network. "It's a meaningful step forward in how we deliver and manage cardiac care."

With over 2 million hearts monitored to date, RhythMedix continues to advance remote cardiac monitoring through technology designed to improve both patient adherence and clinical workflow. The company will be exhibiting at HRS 2026 (Booth #531), including in-booth discussions with leading electrophysiologists.

About RhythMedix

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, RhythMedix is a fully integrated cardiac monitoring company providing end-to-end device manufacturing, software development, and 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring services. With no third-party dependence, RhythMedix delivers a seamless and secure remote cardiac monitoring experience for clinics, health systems, and patients nationwide.

To learn more, visit rhythmedix.com.

SOURCE RHYTHMEDIX
Leveraging 2,000+ installations, Rocket Alumni Solutions delivered tailored interactive digital kiosks for the North Dakota Aviation Museum in under 30 days.

North Dakota Aviation Museum Kiosk Display

BOSTON, Apr. 23, 2026 Rocket Alumni Solutions, an interactive touchscreen and digital display company with 2,000+ installations and an NPS of 87 (verified via Pendo), has completed a fully custom multi-site installation for the North Dakota Aviation Museum. The project spans across multiple North Dakota locations. It required purpose-built hardware, custom media players, a tailored Windows operating system, and kiosk stands built for aviation environments.

After evaluating multiple interactive display vendors the organization selected Rocket Alumni Solutions for two reasons: the ability to update content across all sites remotely, and the simplicity of setup and daily management. The North Dakota Aviation Association originally estimated a year-long rollout but with Rocket Alumni Solutions, the system moved from vendor selection to operational in under 30 days.

Mike McHugh, Aviation Education Coordinator of the North Dakota Aviation Association described the deployment timeline:

"Our initial timeline had us beginning a deployment process sometime this summer with it taking up to a year for full deployment. After choosing Rocket and selecting a hardware vendor, we are ready to deploy our first site and simply need to order hardware for the remaining locations, allowing us to have a fully deployed system in less than 1 month."

To learn how organizations are transforming visitor engagement with fully custom interactive displays, schedule a demo here.

WHAT CUSTOM CAPABILITIES DID ROCKET ALUMNI SOLUTIONS PROVIDE?

Custom kiosk stands and enclosures fabricated

Media players configured for continuous, unattended 24/7 operation

A tailored Windows operating system hardened for public-facing kiosks

Interactive touchscreens deployed across locations statewide

Cloud-based content management with simultaneous remote updates to every display

This level of customization, covering hardware, software, operating system, and physical infrastructure, is a core capability of the Rocket Alumni Solutions platform. The company works with organizations that need fully custom interactive display systems without sacrificing ease of use.

HOW DOES ROCKET ALUMNI SOLUTIONS MANAGE MULTI-SITE INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS?

Rocket Alumni Solutions uses a cloud-based content management system (CMS) that pushes updates to every connected display at the same time. Museum staff can add new Aviation Hall of Fame inductees, historical photos, aviation milestones, and video content from any web browser. Changes appear on every kiosk across the state in minutes, with no need to visit each machine in person.

McHugh said the platform delivered professional-quality results without specialized expertise:

"The ease of the CMS has allowed us to provide a professional kiosk environment with minimal knowledge and experience... I am especially pleased to be able to quickly and easily update all of our sites with just a few keystrokes and not having to physically touch each piece of hardware."

The Rocket Alumni Solutions platform includes:

Unlimited content storage for photos, video, and historical records





More than 70 interactive display templates





24/7 live customer support with average response times under 15 seconds





Weekly software updates





Remote content management for single-site or multi-site deployments

WHY DO ORGANIZATIONS CHOOSE ROCKET ALUMNI SOLUTIONS FOR INTERACTIVE DIGITAL DISPLAYS?

Rocket Alumni Solutions serves more than 1,500 organizations including schools, universities, corporations and museums. The platform is built to scale from a single hallway display to a statewide network of kiosks without increasing operational complexity.

Organizations choose Rocket Alumni Solutions for interactive digital displays because the platform provides:

Full hardware and software customization for all environments





An easy-to-use content management system with rapid deployment timelines





Multi-site deployment with centralized remote management





24/7 support with a dedicated customer success manager





Deep-AI Integration and search capabilities





ADA WCAG 2.2 AA Accessibility

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Rocket Alumni Solutions?

Rocket Alumni Solutions is an interactive touchscreen and digital display platform serving more than 1,500 organizations across the United States. The platform enables schools, universities, and corporations to create, manage, and display interactive content on custom digital kiosk system.

Can Rocket Alumni Solutions build custom interactive display hardware?

Yes. Rocket Alumni Solutions supports fully custom hardware configurations including custom media players, custom kiosk stands, custom enclosures, and custom operating systems. The North Dakota Aviation Museum project included a completely custom hardware and software stack built for airport environments.

Does Rocket Alumni Solutions work for multi-site interactive display deployments?

Yes. The cloud-based content management system allows organizations to manage and update displays across multiple locations from any web browser. Content changes push to all connected displays at the same time.

Is Rocket Alumni Solutions easy to use for non-technical staff?

Yes. The platform is built for staff with no technical background. Mike McHugh of the North Dakota Aviation Association said the CMS enabled "a professional kiosk environment with minimal knowledge and experience."

How fast can Rocket Alumni Solutions deploy a custom interactive display system?

The North Dakota Aviation Museum's multi-site installation went from vendor selection to deployment-ready in less than one month.

ABOUT ROCKET ALUMNI SOLUTIONS

Rocket Alumni Solutions works with over 1,500+ organizations, from professional associations like the PGA Tour to the largest colleges, including Maryland, LSU, NYU, and Virginia Tech down to the smallest public high schools. Their Touchscreen Software has maintained an 87+ NPS rating, indicating exceptional ease of use and value add. Through Rocket Alumni Solutions' best-in-class touchscreen technology, schools can create their own interactive Hall of Fame to celebrate their community's legacy and enrich student experiences. Rocket Alumni Solutions offers affordable plans for small schools, as well as premium features to support the largest organizations: unlimited data, pre-made templates and plug-and-play set up making it easy to build up your site. Rocket Alumni Solutions creates a lasting impression on students, faculty, alumni, and the entire community.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Rocket Alumni Solutions
In the news release, SafeLease Opens Specialty Self-Storage Insurance Program to Retail Agents and Brokers Nationwide, issued 23-Apr-2026 by SafeLease over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the line "Coverage is placed on a surplus lines / non-admitted basis through licensed surplus lines brokers only. Affiliated fronting carrier: Obsidian Insurance Company, AM Best rated A VIII (Excellent)." at the end of the release has been removed. Hyperlinks for safelease.com/agents-brokers and safelease.com have also been added. The complete, corrected release follows:

SafeLease Opens Specialty Self-Storage Insurance Program to Retail Agents and Brokers Nationwide

A nationwide surplus lines market that tailors property, liability, and umbrella coverage for commercial self-storage risks

AUSTIN, Texas, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SafeLease, a leading insurance provider for the self-storage industry, today opened its specialty property and casualty programs to independent retail agents and brokers across the 48 contiguous United States. Producers writing commercial self-storage lines now have a dedicated nationwide marketfast quotes, broad appetite, and one team from submission through claims. Get appointed at safelease.com/agents-brokers.

Coverage, Capacity, and Flexibility

Standard TIV capacity runs to $30M per facility, with higher amounts available. Appetite spans climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled facilities, boat and RV storage, multi-story buildings, and coastal/CAT-zone locationsall on AM Best rated "A- VIII" or better paper.

Property: Building and business personal property at replacement cost, 18 months of business income, and equipment breakdown.

Liability: Commercial general liability ($1M / $2M standard, higher available), customer goods legal liability, sale and disposal liability, and terrorism.

Umbrella: $5M standard, with higher limits available.

Built for Producers, Backed by Data

SafeLease programs already protect more than 4,000 self-storage facilities. A rich dataset enables quality accounts to see sharper pricing and producers get faster, more confident answers on appetite.

Producers can submit the way they already workemail, producer portal, ACORDs, or SOVs in any format. SafeLease's platform ingests the documents automatically, so quoting starts from a property address and standard turnaround is 24 hours.

One SafeLease team handles underwriting, servicing, and claims. That keeps specialty knowledge on the file from first notice of loss through resolution, with faster answers for insureds and fewer follow-ups for agents.

"Our customers are asking us for additional ways to purchase our products and expanding our distribution to trusted agents is a core part of our commitment to meeting those needs," said Steven Stein, founder and CEO of SafeLease. "Producers get a responsive, well-capitalized market where self-storage is the specialty, not a line item."

Getting Appointed

Apply at safelease.com/agents-brokers. SafeLease processes most appointments alongside a first submission, so producers can start quoting on day one. Email submissions to [email protected].

About SafeLease

SafeLease is a leading managing general agent serving the self-storage industry. The company designs, underwrites, and distributes specialty property and casualty programs for self-storage operators and their tenants on behalf of its affiliated capacity providers. SafeLease's programs currently protect more than 4,000 properties nationwide. Learn more at safelease.com.

SOURCE SafeLease
ATLANTA, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The CDC Foundation today announced that Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH, a population health scientist and physician recognized for advancing public health education and communication, has received the 2026 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award. The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award, first presented in 1992, recognizes a distinguished leader who makes significant contributions to health education and health promotion through program development or delivery, policy, advocacy or research.

Dr. Sandro Galea is the recipient of this year's Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award.

This year's award was presented to Galea at the annual meeting of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), where he also delivered a lecture. The CDC Foundation with the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation honored Galea for epitomizing how a public health academician can communicate widely and effectively, by reaching out through multiple and powerful channels.

"Dr. Galea has been a leading voice in public health, helping broaden understanding of the social and structural factors that shape health," said Judy Monroe, MD, president and CEO, CDC Foundation. "Through his research and his ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and widely, he has helped guide approaches that improve population health."

Galea is the inaugural Margaret C. Ryan Dean of Washington University School of Public Health, the Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor in Public Health and vice provost for interdisciplinary initiatives. Before joining Washington University in St. Louis, he served for a decade as the Robert A. Knox Professor and dean of Boston University School of Public Health. Galea previously held leadership roles at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the University of Michigan and the New York Academy of Medicine.

He has distinguished himself as one of public health's most visible communicators, translating complex scientific evidence for broad audiences. In addition to publishing extensively in academic journals, he writes books, opinion pieces and essays, engages with the media and shares insights through public talks and digital platforms. Through these channels, Galea has helped popularize the concept of "consequential epidemiology," emphasizing that public health research should ultimately guide actions and policies that improve population health. His widely read Substack newsletter, "The Healthiest Goldfish," offers weekly reflections on pressing public health issues and explores the social, political and ethical forces that shape health.

"Sandro Galea is one of public health's most visible and effective communicators," said Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, professor of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, who nominated Galea for the award. "He brings clear and balanced analysis to the most complex issues affecting population health and reaches audiences well beyond academia. By championing what he calls 'consequential epidemiology,' he has shown how research can guide action that improves health."

Galea is a widely published researcher, author and speaker whose scholarship sits at the intersection of social and psychiatric epidemiology, with a focus on the behavioral health consequences of trauma. Over the course of his career, he has published more than 1,100 peer-reviewed papers, 325 op-eds and authored or edited 25 books.

He has received numerous honors recognizing his scientific contributions, including lifetime achievement awards from the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science. Galea is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and currently serves as editor-in-chief of JAMA Health Forum.

The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award was named in memory of Elizabeth Fries, who was a professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and co-director of the Massey Cancer Center Outreach Program. She made many important contributions to program development, implementation and evaluation. The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award recipients receive a $50,000 prize. The award and lecture are presented annually at the SOPHE conference, which draws approximately 900 health education researchers, faculty, practitioners and students for the latest research and practice in health education. Founded in 1950, SOPHE's mission is to provide global leadership in health promotion and to promote the health of society.

The James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation is a nonprofit corporation incorporated in 1991. The mission of the Foundation is to identify and honor individuals, organizations or institutions that have made great contributions to the health of the public. The Foundation seeks to reward accomplishment rather than promise, practicality rather than theory.

The CDC Foundation is honored to partner with the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation, which established and funds the award. As of 2016, the CDC Foundation manages and administers the Fries Awards for Health, which include the James and Sarah Fries Prize for Improving Health and the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award.

About the CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners to support the public health system, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in preventing and responding to threats to health. In this role, we are focused on one priority: building catalytic, flexible and impactful partnershipswith corporations, organizations and individualsto help improve the health and lives of people in all communities, everywhere. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.

SOURCE CDC Foundation
NEW YORK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP:

To: All Persons or Entities who own KORE Group Holdings, Inc. ("KORE" or the "Company") (NYSE: KORE) stock purchased on or before February 26, 2026 .

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into potential breaches of fiduciary duty by the KORE Board of Directors in connection with KORE's entry into a definitive merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement") with Searchlight Capital Partners and Abry Partners for an all-cash acquisition. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, KORE shareholders are expected to receive $9.25 per share in cash. Levi & Korsinsky's KORE investigation concerns whether the Board of Directors breached its fiduciary duties owed to the company's stockholders.

To learn more about the action and your rights, go to:

https://zlk.com/mna2/kore-group-holdings-inc-information-request-form

or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized firm with offices in New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington, D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Joseph E. Levi, Esq.

33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Tel: (212) 363-7500

Fax: (212) 363-7171

www.zlk.com

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
NEW YORK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP:

To: All Persons or Entities who own Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical" or the "Company") (NYSE: SEM) stock purchased on or before March 2, 2026 .

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into potential breaches of fiduciary duty by the Select Medical Board of Directors in connection with Select Medical's entry into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") to be acquired by a consortium led by Executive Chairman Robert A. Ortenzio, Senior Executive Vice President Martin F. Jackson, and private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (collectively, the "Consortium"). The Agreement values Select Medical's stock at $16.50 per share, and the Consortium will acquire all outstanding shares not already owned by the group. Levi & Korsinsky's Select Medical investigation concerns whether the Board of Directors breached its fiduciary duties owed to the company's stockholders.

To learn more about the action and your rights, go to:

https://zlk.com/mna2/select-medical-holdings-corporation-information-request-form

or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized firm with offices in New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington, D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Joseph E. Levi, Esq.

33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Tel: (212) 363-7500

Fax: (212) 363-7171

www.zlk.com

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Small business owners can now receive instant insurance price estimates in ChatGPT

BOSTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Business, a digital insurance marketplace for small businesses, today announced the launch of its business insurance app in ChatGPT in the U.S. The company separately announced the launch of a UK version of the app.

The new application safely connects ChatGPT to the Simply Business indicative pricing functionality, ensuring security, privacy and reliability. Small business owners can immediately receive an indicative price by providing just three pieces of information  business/trade, estimated annual revenue and ZIP code. They are then directed to the Simply Business website to complete the full quote process and securely purchase a policy.

The launch builds on the company's global technology strategy to leverage AI to simplify the insurance-buying process for entrepreneurs. In October 2025, the company introduced a hyper-personalized AI-powered advisor in the U.S., designed to make the insurance buying process faster, clearer and more intuitive.

The Simply Business app is available on the App Directory within ChatGPT and may appear as a recommendation when users ask questions related to business risk and insurance.

David Summers, Group CEO at Simply Business, said: "In 2005, we set out to change the way small businesses purchase insurance. More than two decades later, we have over 1 million customers worldwide and we are continuing to evolve our capabilities to simplify the way they research and buy insurance. Launching this insurance app in the U.S. and the UK for small businesses in ChatGPT is our latest step in meeting our customers where they are and making the insurance-buying process an easier, better and fairer experience for them."

Dana Edwards, Group CTO at Simply Business, added: "Small business owners are already using platforms like ChatGPT to research, plan and make decisions. By safely bringing insurance pricing into that environment, we're removing one more barrier between them and the coverage they need. We designed the app with the safeguards that customers have come to expect  this kind of rapid, responsible innovation is precisely what our global technology platform is built for."

Note to Editors

The Simply Business app is powered by ChatGPT and operates independently as a distribution channel. No personally identifiable information (PII) is collected within the ChatGPT interface.

All final quotes and policy sales are processed exclusively via the secure simplybusiness.com platform.

About Simply Business

Simply Business is dedicated to making small business insurance simple and accessible. The company's robust digital marketplace allows small business owners to find and buy the insurance they need online, matching them with coverage from multiple top carriers to offer transparency, choice, and value. Simply Business's product offering includes general liability, professional liability, business owner's policy, workers' compensation, cyber insurance, and more.

An insurtech pioneer, Simply Business has 20 years of experience supporting the needs of small businesses, with over one million active customers. Founded in the UK in 2005, Simply Business launched its U.S. operations in 2017. Simply Business is a subsidiary of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV).

Contact: Jillian Reid, [email protected]

SOURCE Simply Business
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Wellness Holdings, LLC ("Standard Wellness" or the "Company"), a premier multi-state cannabis operator, is proud to announce the opening of The Forest Lakewood, a community-focused cannabis dispensary located in the heart of Lakewood, Ohio. As an Ohio-rooted company, this opening represents a meaningful expansion into one of its home communities and reinforces its commitment to serving local customers with high-quality products and exceptional care.

The Forest Lakewood offers a curated selection of cannabis products for both adult-use consumers and medical patients, including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, vapes, tinctures, topicals, and accessories from trusted brands across Ohio's regulated market.

"The Forest has become a staple in the communities we serve, and we're excited to introduce that same standard to Lakewood," said Kate Ols, Vice President of Retail at Standard Wellness. "We believe consumers benefit from having choice, and we're proud to expand access by bringing a trusted option to the neighborhood. Our team looks forward to serving this community and building lasting relationships here."

The Forest Lakewood soft opened on April 8, 2026, launching with an express pre-order pickup model available through phone and online ordering. This initial phase allows the team to begin serving the Lakewood community immediately while the store completes its full retail buildout. A full grand opening is planned for August, when the location will transition into a complete in-store experience, featuring an expanded footprint and a fully immersive retail environment designed to deliver a seamless and elevated customer journey.

Guests can visit theforestdispensary.com for more information and to place orders online.

About Standard Wellness

Founded in 2017 in Ohio, Standard Wellness is a vertically integrated cannabis company operating across Ohio, Missouri, and Utah, with affiliated cultivation, processing, and dispensary operations in Maryland. The Company operates nine retail locations under The Forest brand and has been a pioneer in the industry, including making the first-ever legal marijuana sale in Ohio through its dispensary in Sandusky and completing the first-ever delivery to a Utah pharmacy in February 2020.

With approximately 350 employees, Standard Wellness is dedicated to improving quality of life by providing safe, legal access to cannabis for both medical patients and adult-use consumers.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kate Ols

Vice President of Retail

Standard Wellness Holdings, LLC

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Standard Wellness Holdings, LLC
PANAMA CITY, Fla., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Patrick Tamim is acknowledged as a 2026 Professional of the Year for his contributions to the Vascular Surgery Field.

Patrick Tamim

Dr. Tamim attended Southern Methodist University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. He continued his education at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where he earned a Medical Degree; completed a general surgical residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and Abbington Hospital in Pennsylvania; and finished a one-year critical care fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He capped his scholarship with a fellowship in vascular surgery at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut.

Board-certified in Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery, the doctor explained that the ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge. Among his many responsibilities and skills, the doctor provides treatment for carotid disease; aortic aneurysms; and peripheral artery disease surgery. He is an expert in aortic aneurysm; carotid endarterectomy; deep vein thrombosis; dialysis; access surgery; peripheral vascular diseases; peripheral artery disease; spider vein removal; stroke; and varicose veins. Dr. Tamim explained that vascular surgery is a surgical subspecialty in which diseases of the vascular system, including the arteries, veins, and lymphatic circulation, are managed by medical therapy; treated with minimally invasive catheter procedures; and surgical reconstruction. Vascular surgeons, like the doctor, also diagnose, treat, and manage conditions in the arteries and veins, also called the blood vessels, and treat a range of health problems, from spider and varicose veins to life-threatening aneurysms, and can help patients manage chronic conditions throughout their lives. The doctor is affiliated with Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center where he has worked for 18 years in private practice locally in the Panama City Florida area serving Bay and surrounding counties.

During his 23-year career, Dr. Tamim been recognized as one of the top 100 Vascular Surgeons in America by Newsweek Magazine, and been has also been recognized as one of the top 10 Vascular Surgeons in America performing TCAR (Trans Carotid Cervical Revascularization) in America and within the top 6 of Vascular Surgeons in the Southeast. has received many accolades including the Patients Choice Award (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008); Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010); Top 10 Doctors in the State (2014); and On-Time Doctor Award (2018, 2017, 2016) and is associated with the Society for Vascular Surgery and Emerald Coast Medical Association. Also, a civic-minded professional, Dr. Tamim participates in a lecture series through the Council on Aging at his local hospital and speaks multiple languages, including English, French, and Arabic.

When considering his extraordinary success, the doctor asserts that his philosophy to treat patients as if they are members of his own family has been a critical piece of his achievements. When he is not actively serving his patients, Dr. Tamim enjoys reading the Journal of Vascular Surgery and traveling to Lebanon and Greece.

The doctor would like to dedicate this honor to his father, Marwan Tamim, MD, for all his inspiration and also to his mentors, David Drezner, MD; Phillip Allmendinger, MD; and Mary Windels, MD. For more information, please visit his website at www.pcvascular.com.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors will meet Friday, May 8, in an open session at Postal Service headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, in Washington, DC. The public is welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 3 p.m. ET in the Benjamin Franklin Room.

The board's expected agenda is:

Call to order and opening remarks from the chairwoman Remarks from the postmaster general and CEO Committee reports Quarterly financial report Quarterly service performance report Approval of the meeting minutes Approval of the tentative agenda for the August open meeting Adjournment

Open session meetings of the USPS Board of Governors are available on live audio webcasts at https://about.usps.com/who/leadership/board-governors/#sessions. Three hours after the conclusion of the open session meeting, a recorded audio file will be available for listening. In compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the audio webcast will be open-captioned.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is celebrating its 250th year of service to customers amidst a network modernization plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

Contact: David Walton

[email protected]

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
Strong Start to the Year and Raising Full-Year Revenue and EPS guidance

EXTON, Pa., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a leading provider of innovative, high-quality injectable solutions and services, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2026.

First-Quarter Summary (comparisons to prior-year period)

Net sales of $844.9 million increased 21.0%; organic growth was 15.3%.

Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $1.92 increased 56.1%.

Adjusted-diluted EPS of $2.13 increased 46.9%.

Operating cash flow was $89.9 million. Capital expenditures were $42.7 million. Free cash flow (defined as operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $47.2 million.

The Company repurchased 1.2 million shares for $297.6 million at an average price of $243.57 per share under its share repurchase program that was announced in mid-February 2026.

Outlook for Full-Year and Second Quarter 2026

Full-year 2026 net sales guidance increased to a range of $3.295 billion to $3.350 billion, up from $3.215 billion to $3.275 billion and full-year 2026 adjusted-diluted EPS guidance increased to a range of $8.40 to $8.75, up from $7.85 to $8.20.

Second quarter 2026 net sales are expected to be in the range of $830 million to $850 million, up 8.3% to 10.9% reported and up 7.0% to 9.6% organic.

Eric M. Green, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board, commented: "I am pleased to report a very strong start to the year with revenues and adjusted EPS exceeding expectations. Our revenues grew 15% organically, driven by our High Value Products Components business with double-digit growth in both GLP-1 and non-GLP-1 revenues. The better-than-expected performance can be attributed to continued market demand and the team's outstanding efforts in ramping up production, especially in Europe. As a result of these excellent first quarter results and expected continued momentum in our business, we are increasing our full-year 2026 guidance."

Proprietary Products Segment

Net sales of $694.3 million grew by 23.3% and increased 17.5% on an organic basis.

High-Value Product ("HVP") Components net sales of $409.3 million increased 29.6% and rose 22.6% on an organic basis driven by strength in Westar and NovaPure products. HVP Components accounted for 48% of total company net sales in the quarter.

HVP Delivery Devices net sales of $123.6 million increased by 29.0%, and were up 27.5% on an organic basis, driven by increased sales of self-injection device platforms and Daikyo Crystal Zenith. HVP Delivery Devices accounted for 15% of total company net sales in the quarter.

Standard Products net sales of $161.4 million increased by 6.7% and rose 0.5% on an organic basis. Standard Products accounted for 19% of total company net sales this quarter.

West Vantage Segment

Effective in the first quarter of 2026, the Company renamed its "Contract-Manufactured Products" reportable segment to "West Vantage" to better align with its current strategic focus and offerings. This change in name does not affect the composition of the reportable segment, nor does it impact previously reported segment financial information. Net sales of $150.6 million increased by 11.6% and rose 6.2% on an organic basis. Segment performance was driven by an increase in sales of self-injection devices for obesity and diabetes. West Vantage accounted for 18% of total company net sales in the quarter.

Full-Year 2026 Financial Guidance

The Company is increasing its full-year 2026 net sales guidance range to $3.295 billion to $3.350 billion, which continues to assume a mid-year close for the sale of SmartDose 3.5mL to Abbvie, up from $3.215 billion to $3.275 billion. Reported net sales growth is now anticipated to be in the range of 7.2% to 9.0%, and organic net sales growth is expected to be in the range of 7% to 9%. Net sales guidance includes an estimated full-year 2026 benefit of approximately 2 percentage points based on current foreign currency exchange rates. SmartDose 3.5mL generated $55 million in revenues in the second half of 2025. These revenues are excluded to calculate our full-year 2026 organic revenue growth guidance.

The Company is increasing its full-year 2026 adjusted-diluted EPS guidance range to $8.40 to $8.75, up from the previous range of $7.85 to $8.20.

Capital spending guidance is unchanged from a range of $250 million to $275 million.

Second-Quarter 2026 Financial Guidance

The Company is introducing its second-quarter 2026 net sales guidance range of $830 million to $850 million. Reported net sales growth anticipated to be in the range of 8.3% to 10.9%, organic net sales growth is expected to be in the range of 7.0% to 9.6%. Net sales guidance includes an estimated second-quarter 2026 benefit of approximately 1.3 percentage points based on current foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company is introducing its second-quarter 2026 adjusted-diluted EPS guidance range of $2.05 to $2.12, up 11.4% to 15.2%.

First-Quarter 2026 Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 8 a.m. EDT today. The live webcast can be accessed in the "Investors" section of the Company's website and by clicking here.

To participate in the Q&A portion of the conference call, please register in advance by clicking here.

Registered telephone participants will receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that will enable them to ask questions on the call.

An accompanying slide presentation will be posted in the "Investors" section of the Company's website.

A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for approximately 90 days after the event.

About West

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative, high-quality injectable solutions and services. As a trusted partner to established and emerging drug developers, West helps ensure the safe, effective containment and delivery of life-saving and life-enhancing medicines for patients. With over 10,000 team members across 50 sites including 26 manufacturing facilities worldwide, West helps support our customers by delivering over 41 billion components and devices each year. Headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, West in its fiscal year 2025 generated $3.07 billion in net sales. West is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: WST) and is included in the Standard & Poor's 500 index. For more information, visit www.westpharma.com.

All trademarks and registered trademarks used in this release are the property of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. or its subsidiaries, in the United States and other jurisdictions, unless otherwise noted.

Daikyo, Daikyo Crystal Zenith and Daikyo CZ are registered trademarks of Daikyo Seiko, Ltd. Daikyo Crystal Zenith technologies are licensed from Daikyo Seiko, Ltd.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's expectations regarding future events, financial guidance and financial or operational performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "plan," "anticipate," "project," "forecast," "guidance," "target," "may," "will," "continue" and similar expressions.

These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For additional information regarding these risks as well as other risks, uncertainties and factors that could affect our forward-looking statements, please refer to Part I Item 1A, entitled "Risk Factors," of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, as well as the Company's most recently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law or regulation, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). However, management also uses certain non-U.S. GAAP financial measures in evaluating our results of operations. Management believes that this information provides users with a valuable insight into our overall performance and financial position. As a result, this release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including organic net sales, adjusted-diluted EPS and adjusted operating profit. Organic net sales exclude the impact from acquisitions and/or divestitures and translate the current-period reported sales of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. Dollar at the applicable foreign currency exchange rates in effect during the comparable prior-year period. We may also refer to financial results, such as adjusted-diluted EPS and adjusted operating profit, that exclude the effects of unallocated items. The unallocated items are not representative of ongoing operations, and generally include restructuring and related charges, certain asset impairments, and other specifically identified income or expense items. These non-U.S. GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-U.S. GAAP measures to the comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures is included in the accompanying tables.

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (in millions, except per share data)



Three Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025 Net sales $ 844.9

100 %

$ 698.0

100 % Cost of goods and services sold 548.5

65

466.1

67 Gross profit 296.4

35

231.9

33 Research and development 15.8

2

16.3

2 Selling, general and administrative expenses 99.5

12

88.0

13 Other expense (income), net 4.0



20.6

3 Operating profit 177.1

21

107.0

15 Interest (income) expense, net (3.2)



(3.7)

(1) Other nonoperating expense (income) 0.2



0.2

 Income before income taxes and equity in

net income of affiliated companies 180.1

21

110.5

16 Income tax expense 44.7

5

24.1

3 Equity in net income of affiliated companies (3.4)



(3.4)

 Net income $ 138.8

16 %

$ 89.8

13 %















Net income per share:













Basic $ 1.93





$ 1.24



Diluted $ 1.92





$ 1.23



















Average common shares outstanding 72.0





72.5



Average shares assuming dilution 72.4





73.0





WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES REPORTING SEGMENT INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (in millions)



Three Months Ended March 31, Net Sales: 2026

2025 Proprietary Products $ 694.3

$ 563.0 West Vantage 150.6

135.0 Consolidated Total $ 844.9

$ 698.0







Gross Profit:





Proprietary Products $ 273.1

$ 210.2 West Vantage 23.3

21.7 Gross Profit $ 296.4

$ 231.9 Gross Profit Margin 35.1 %

33.2 %







Operating Profit (Loss):





Proprietary Products $ 189.2

$ 130.6 West Vantage 15.6

13.5 Stock-based compensation expense (6.6)

(1.3) General corporate costs (21.1)

(35.8) Reported Operating Profit $ 177.1

$ 107.0 Reported Operating Profit Margin 21.0 %

15.3 %







Unallocated items 3.9

18.0 Adjusted Operating Profit $ 181.0

$ 125.0 Adjusted Operating Profit Margin 21.4 %

17.9 %

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES RECONCILIATION OF NON-U.S. GAAP MEASURES (UNAUDITED) Please refer to "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" for more information (in millions, except per share data)

Reconciliation of Reported and Adjusted Operating Profit, Net Income and Diluted EPS

Three Months ended March 31, 2026 Operating profit

Income tax expense

Net income

Diluted EPS Reported (U.S. GAAP) $177.1

$44.7

$138.8

$1.92 Unallocated Items:













Restructuring and other charges (1) 1.4

(11.6)

13.0

0.18 SmartDose 3.5mL sale (2) 1.9

0.4

1.5

0.02 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (3) 



0.5

0.01 Other 0.6

0.2

0.5

 Adjusted (Non-U.S. GAAP) $181.0

$33.7

$154.3

$2.13

Three Months ended March 31, 2025 Operating profit

Income tax expense

Net income

Diluted EPS Reported (U.S. GAAP) $107.0

$24.1

$89.8

$1.23 Unallocated items:













Restructuring and other charges (1) 17.8

2.0

15.8

0.21 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (3) 0.2



0.6

0.01 Adjusted (Non-U.S. GAAP) $125.0

$26.1

$106.2

$1.45

(1) During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recorded pre-tax charges of $1.4 million related to our two existing restructuring programs: (i) $0.9 million within other expense (income), related to acceleration of depreciation and lease costs in connection with the Company's January 2025 restructuring plan and (ii) $0.5 million within selling, general and administrative expenses, for professional services relating to our 2024 plan to optimize the legal structure of the Company and its subsidiaries. In addition, we recorded a one-time tax cost of $12.0 million associated with an internal legal entity restructuring which occurred in the first quarter of 2026. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recorded pre-tax charges of $17.8 million related to our two existing restructuring programs: (i) $16.4 million within other expense (income), related to severance, acceleration of depreciation and lease costs in connection with the Company's January 2025 restructuring plan and (ii) $1.4 million within selling, general and administrative expenses, for professional services relating to our 2024 plan to optimize the legal structure of the Company and its subsidiaries. In addition, we recorded income tax charges of $2.0 million related primarily to withholding tax and capital gains incurred in executing our plan to optimize our legal structure.



(2) During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recorded charges of $1.9 million related to the Company's agreement to sell its SmartDose 3.5mL On-Body Delivery System and associated facilities to AbbVie. The Company recorded $0.9 million of the charges within other expense (income), related to employee benefit costs in connection with the sale agreement. The Company recorded the remaining $1.0 million within selling, general and administrative expenses, relating to professional services in connection with the sale agreement.



(3) During the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025, the Company recorded $0.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of amortization expense within selling, general and administrative expenses associated with an intangible asset acquired during the second quarter of 2020. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025, the Company recorded $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of amortization expense in association with an acquisition of increased ownership interest in Daikyo.

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES RECONCILIATION OF NON-U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) Please refer to "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" for more information (in millions, except per share data)

Reconciliation of Reported Net Sales to Organic Net Sales by Segment (4)

Three Months Ended March 31, Reported Net Sales (U.S.

GAAP)

Percent

Change

Impact of

Currency Organic Net Sales

Growth Rate (Decline)

(Non-U.S. GAAP) (4) 2026 2025



Proprietary Products $694.3 $563.0

23.3 %

5.8 % 17.5 % West Vantage 150.6 135.0

11.6 %

5.4 % 6.2 % Total $844.9 $698.0

21.0 %

5.7 % 15.3 %

Reconciliation of Proprietary Products Segment Organic Net Sales by Product Category (4)

Three Months Ended March 31, Reported Net Sales (U.S.

GAAP)

Percent

Change

Impact of

Currency Organic Net Sales

Growth Rate (Decline)

(Non-U.S. GAAP) (4) 2026 2025



HVP Components $409.3 $315.9

29.6 %

7.0 % 22.6 % HVP Delivery Devices 123.6 95.8

29.0 %

1.5 % 27.5 % Standard Products 161.4 151.3

6.7 %

6.2 % 0.5 % Total Proprietary Products $694.3 $563.0

23.3 %

5.8 % 17.5 %

Reconciliation of Proprietary Products Segment Organic Net Sales by Market Group (4)

Three Months Ended March 31, Reported Net Sales (U.S.

GAAP)

Percent

Change

Impact of

Currency Organic Net Sales

Growth Rate (Decline)

(Non-U.S. GAAP) (4) 2026 2025



Biologics $354.5 $269.3

31.6 %

5.7 % 25.9 % Pharma 210.6 180.6

16.6 %

6.8 % 9.8 % Generics 129.2 113.1

14.2 %

4.4 % 9.8 % Total Proprietary Products $694.3 $563.0

23.3 %

5.8 % 17.5 %

Reconciliation of Reported Net Sales to Organic Net Sales by Geography (4)

Three Months Ended March 31, Reported Net Sales (U.S.

GAAP)

Percent

Change

Impact of

Currency Organic Net Sales

Growth Rate (Decline)

(Non-U.S. GAAP) (4) 2026 2025



Americas $377.3 $338.9

11.3 %

0.5 % 10.8 % Europe, Middle East, Africa 399.4 306.9

30.1 %

12.2 % 17.9 % Asia Pacific 68.2 52.2

30.7 %

1.4 % 29.3 % Total $844.9 $698.0

21.0 %

5.7 % 15.3 %

(4) Organic net sales exclude the impact from acquisitions and/or divestitures and translate the current-period reported sales of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. Dollar at the applicable foreign currency exchange rates in effect during the comparable prior-year period.

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES RECONCILIATION OF NON-U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) Please refer to "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" for more information (in millions, except per share data)

Reconciliation of Reported-Diluted EPS Guidance to Adjusted-Diluted EPS Guidance



2025 Actual

2026 Guidance

% Change Reported-diluted EPS (U.S. GAAP) $6.79

$8.15 to $8.50

20.0% to 25.2% Restructuring and other charges 0.31

0.21



SmartDose 3.5mL sale 0.09

0.02



Cost-method investment activity 0.06





Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 0.03

0.02



Other 0.01





Adjusted-diluted EPS (Non-U.S. GAAP) $7.29

$8.40 to $8.75

15.2% to 20.0%

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(in millions, except per share data) March 31,

2026

December 31,

2025 ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 521.4

$ 791.3 Accounts receivable, net 685.6

574.4 Inventories 452.6

443.9 Other current assets 167.2

168.6 Total current assets 1,826.8

1,978.2 Property, plant and equipment 3,223.0

3,223.4 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization 1,520.8

1,497.0 Property, plant and equipment, net 1,702.2

1,726.4 Operating lease right-of-use assets 110.2

117.0 Investments in affiliated companies 209.2

212.3 Goodwill 109.2

109.9 Intangible assets, net 7.0

7.7 Deferred income taxes 63.9

38.4 Other noncurrent assets 81.3

80.1 Total Assets $ 4,109.8

$ 4,270.0







LIABILITIES AND EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 252.3

$ 253.7 Accrued salaries, wages and benefits 72.6

135.9 Income taxes payable 78.9

28.1 Operating lease liabilities 21.4

22.7 Accrued commissions, rebates and royalties 46.6

39.2 Other current liabilities 202.2

175.3 Total current liabilities 674.0

654.9 Long-term debt 202.8

202.8 Deferred income taxes 22.7

23.0 Pension and other postretirement benefits 28.5

29.0 Operating lease liabilities 92.0

95.6 Deferred compensation benefits 11.8

13.5 Other long-term liabilities 87.6

75.2 Total Liabilities 1,119.4

1,094.0







Equity:





Preferred stock, 3.0 million shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding 

 Common stock, par value $0.25 per share; 200.0 million shares authorized; shares

issued: March 31, 2026 - 75.3 million, December 31, 2025 - 75.3 million; shares

outstanding: March 31, 2026 - 70.9 million, December 31, 2025 - 72.0 million 18.8

18.8 Capital in excess of par value 

 Retained earnings 4,475.9

4,374.9 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (125.2)

(105.5) Treasury stock, at cost (March 31, 2026 - 4.4 million shares, December 31, 2025 -

3.3 million shares) (1,379.1)

(1,112.2) Total Equity 2,990.4

3,176.0 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 4,109.8

$ 4,270.0

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (in millions)



Three Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025 Cash flows from operating activities:





Net income $ 138.8

$ 89.8 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating

activities:





Depreciation 44.6

39.1 Amortization 0.6

0.9 Stock-based compensation 6.6

1.3 Non-cash restructuring charges 0.9

0.8 Asset impairments 0.3

0.3 Other non-cash items, net 1.0

(2.9) Changes in assets and liabilities (102.9)

0.1 Net cash provided by operating activities 89.9

129.4







Cash flows from investing activities:





Capital expenditures (42.7)

(71.3) Net cash used in investing activities (42.7)

(71.3)







Cash flows from financing activities:





Principal repayments on finance leases (0.3)

(0.2) Dividend payments (15.8)

(15.2) Proceeds from stock-based compensation awards 5.5

2.5 Employee stock purchase plan contributions 2.0

1.9 Shares purchased under share repurchase programs (297.6)

(133.5) Shares repurchased for employee tax withholdings (2.5)

(2.5) Net cash used in financing activities (308.7)

(147.0) Effect of exchange rates on cash (8.4)

8.5 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (269.9)

(80.4)







Cash, including cash equivalents at beginning of period 791.3

484.6 Cash, including cash equivalents at end of period $ 521.4

$ 404.2







Supplemental cash flow information:





Accrued capital expenditures $ 26.1

$ 37.5

SOURCE West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
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Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more

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Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

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Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

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Traders on Polymarket are now betting on a later resolution to the US-Iran conflict, with the end of June emerging as the most likely point for a peace deal, though with notably less conviction than before.

The contract for 30 June currently implies a 56% probability, up sharply in recent sessions, compared with 39% for the end of May and just 10% for 30 April. An early resolution by 24 April is now seen as highly unlikely, with odds at just 1%.

Two weeks ago, punters on the decentralised p

Trumorediction market platform were pricing a 78% chance that by the end of June Donald Trump would announce a formal end to US military operations against Iran.

That was just after Washington and Tehran agreed a two-week ceasefire.

Since that time, peace talks have faltered.

The shift suggests fading confidence in a near-term deal, rather than a simple pushback in timing.

Meanwhile, Polymarket bets on the Strait of Hormuz traffic returning to normal by the end of May, are seen as having a 46% chance, compared to an almost zero chance by the end of April, 21% chance by mid-May, and 66% for the end of June.

That comes as there seemed to be little progress on talks between the US and Iran on Thursday.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran wants "dialogue and agreement" but the US's "breach of commitments, blockade and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiations.

At the same time, Tehran's lead negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf said it is not possible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz considering all the blatant violations of the ceasefire.

On Tuesday evening, President Trump said Washington had been asked by mediators in Pakistan to extend until Iran can come up with a "unified proposal" and "discussions are concluded, one way or the other". He said this extension was because "the government of Iran is seriously fractured.

Trump added that the US would continue its blockade of Iran, while Iran said it would keep the Strait of Hormuz locked up, too.

On Wednesday, Irans Revolutionary Guard seized two vessels in the Strait, according to state-linked media, after accusing them of operating without authorisation and manipulating navigation systems. A third vessel was also reportedly fired upon nearby.

On Thursday, the US confirmed it had intercepted three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, redirecting the ships away from positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Analysts said it is the first time the US naval blockade has reached beyond the Strait.
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About Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson joins Proactive Australia's broadcast team part time. As the Managing Director of Gold Events Kerry has been hosting the annual Australian Gold Conference for over 14 years, connecting industry and investment professionals and showcasing the value of precious metals. Kerry is passionate about helping others to secure a safe and solid future by understanding money, finance, and strategy. That is why she created the Making Money Matter channel on YouTube, where... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

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Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
A bruising two-day stretch for the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index has underscored growing fragility in the sector, with Cochlear Limiteds earnings downgrade on Wednesday triggering a broad-based sell-off amid fresh pressure on heavyweights including CSL Limited (ASX:CSL).

At the centre of it all is Cochlear, which has effectively pulled the rug out from under its own growth narrative  at least in the near term.

Cochlears downgrade shocks the market

Cochlears trading update landed with unusual force, cutting FY26 underlying net profit guidance to $290330 million, down from $435460 million previously  a roughly 30% downgrade at the midpoint. For a company long viewed as one of the ASXs more dependable healthcare growth stories, that kind of reset was always going to sting.

The reasons, however, are arguably more concerning than the headline number.

Since January, the company has seen softer-than-expected demand in developed markets, with cochlear implant revenue flat for the March quarter in constant currency. Hospital capacity constraints, weaker referral activity from hearing aid channels, and  perhaps most tellingly  declining consumer sentiment have all combined to weigh on volumes.

Cochlear implants, particularly in adult and senior patients, are still often treated as discretionary procedures. When sentiment drops, so too does demand.

Layer on top the uncertainty stemming from Middle East conflict  with potential order cancellations and receivables risk  plus margin pressure from lower production volumes and a stronger Australian dollar, and the downgrade starts to look less like a one-off and more like a convergence of headwinds.

Investors responded accordingly. The stock plunged more than 40% in a single session  its worst on record  and has continued to slide another 7% on Thursday.

Contagion spreads across the sector

The company-specific shock quickly turned into something broader.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index dropped sharply, marking one of its weakest sessions in recent memory, as selling pressure spread across large-cap names such as Resmed Inc (NYSE:RMD). Investors, already wary of stretched valuations in parts of the healthcare sector, appeared unwilling to step in front of the momentum.

CSL was a notable casualty, falling to multi-year lows  though its decline was driven by a different catalyst. News that the US military would scrap its annual flu vaccine mandate removed a key demand pillar for one of CSLs major product lines, amplifying concerns around earnings visibility in its core US market.

The timing couldnt have been worse: with Cochlear already shaking confidence in healthcare earnings resilience, CSLs setback reinforced the sense that even the sectors heavyweights are not immune to shifting macro and policy dynamics.

A sector re-rating  or a temporary reset?

The speed and scale of the move raise a broader question: is this the start of a deeper re-rating for ASX healthcare, or simply an acute reaction to a cluster of negative headlines?

Cochlears update highlights genuine structural sensitivities  particularly its exposure to discretionary procedures and hospital system bottlenecks. Those arent issues that resolve overnight.

At the same time, the company continues to point to long-term growth drivers, including an ageing population, expanding indications for implants, and a pipeline of next-generation technologies. Services and acoustics divisions are also still delivering solid growth, suggesting underlying demand hasnt disappeared entirely.

For CSL, the vaccine mandate change is material, but not necessarily existential. The companys broader plasma and therapeutics portfolio remains its core earnings engine, even if near-term sentiment has taken a hit.

What has clearly shifted, however, is investor tolerance for disappointment. After a prolonged period where healthcare names traded at premium multiples on the promise of steady growth, the latest developments serve as a reminder that even high-quality franchises are still exposed to cyclical and external pressures.

For now, the path of least resistance appears lower; not just for Cochlear, but for the sector as a whole. Whether that evolves into a longer-term reset or presents a buying opportunity will depend on how quickly confidence, and earnings visibility, can be rebuilt.
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Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. You may not recover the amount you invest, and in some cases you may be required to pay more.

In exchange for publishing services rendered by the Company on behalf of Anglo Asian Mining Plc named herein, including the promotion by the Company of Anglo Asian Mining Plc in any Content on the Site, the Company receives from said issuer annual cash compensation of typically up to $25,000.
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About Jamie Ashcroft

Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

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About Angela Harmantas

Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Endeavour Mining PLC (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX:EDVMF, FRA:6E2) said on Thursday its Assafou gold project in Cote dIvoire could be worth $5.1 billion at current gold prices after a definitive feasibility study confirmed the deposit's potential as a major long-life asset for the company.

The London-listed miner said the study projected average annual production of more than 320,000 ounces over the first eight years of a 16-year mine life, at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,026 per ounce.

At a gold price of $2,500 per ounce, the project carries an after-tax net present value of $2.1 billion and an internal rate of return of 28%, rising to $5.1 billion and 55% respectively at $4,000 per ounce, roughly in line with where gold is trading near record highs.

"Assafou has the potential to become another cornerstone asset for Endeavour," CEO Ian Cockerill said in a statement, adding it would be the company's "lowest-cost and longest-life mine."

Cockerill highlighted the speed at which value had been created, noting the deposit was discovered for just $13 million in 2022 and now carries a multi-billion dollar valuation. The Assafou measured-and-indicated resource has grown 470% since discovery to more than 5 million ounces.

Capital costs and timeline

Endeavour said upfront capital for the project is estimated at $1.06 billion, based on a scalable 5 million tonne per annum processing plant design. The company said the increased capital reflects changes to site infrastructure compared with a preliminary feasibility study published in December 2024. As well, plant optimizations aimed at reducing ramp-up risk, and design features to allow for future expansion.

Proven and probable reserves stand at 4.4 million ounces, while measured-and-indicated resources total 5 million ounces. A maiden proven reserve of 1.3 million ounces and maiden measured resource of 1.4 million ounces, covering roughly 40% of the first five years of the mine plan, were established following 99,000 metres of additional drilling conducted since the preliminary study.

The company said it has launched early works, including long-lead equipment orders, detailed engineering and design, and key contractor tenders. A final investment decision is targeted before the end of 2026, with construction expected to take 24 to 30 months thereafter.

Negotiations on a mining convention with in-country stakeholders are expected to wrap up in the third quarter of this year.

Exploration upside

Endeavour said Assafou represents only the first discovery in what it described as a highly prospective and underexplored geological belt, with more than 20 satellite targets identified in the surrounding area. Mineralization at the main deposit remains open along strike and at depth, while the nearby Pala Trend 3 satellite deposit hosts a maiden resource of 0.2 million ounces located just one kilometre away.

Cockerill said the company would remain "disciplined" in its capital allocation even as it advances the project, committing to maximize free cash flow and sustain shareholder returns.

Assafou is central to Endeavour's stated ambition of growing group production to 1.5 million ounces per year by 2030 at first-quartile costs.
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About Steve Darling

Steve Darling is an award winning broadcaster who has spent the past 20 years as one of the most recognizable faces in British Columbia, reporting and anchoring at BCTV and Global Television. He spent 15 years as the co-host of the number one morning new program in the province. Steve is a tireless worker for charity hosting some 50 events a year. He is an ambassador for the Canucks Autism Network and hosts numerous events with BC Childrens Hospital and the Child Development foundation of... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
New Delhi, April 23 : Voting is taking place on Thursday, in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies, marking a crucial day in the state's political calendar as millions of voters head to polling stations to decide the next government.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Voting is taking place on Thursday, in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies, marking a crucial day in the stateas political calendar as millions of voters head to polling stations to decide the next government.

The election features a total of 4,023 candidates in the fray, reflecting a wide and competitive multi-cornered contest spread across parties and independents.

The electoral battle is primarily being fought between major political forces such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamil Manila Congress (TMC), alongside several smaller regional outfits and independent candidates. The presence of multiple players has turned the contest into a complex political equation across different regions of the state.

A total of 5,73,43,291 voters are eligible to cast their votes in this large-scale democratic exercise. The electorate includes 2.93 crore women, and 2.83 crore men. Over 14.5 lakh first-time voters are set to exercise their franchise.

Ahead of polling day, the Election Commission of India undertook extensive voter awareness campaigns across Tamil Nadu to encourage higher turnout and promote informed participation. Officials have focused on improving engagement levels and addressing voter apathy in urban as well as rural areas.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, addressing a press briefing in Chennai on April 22, said the state administration and election machinery were fully prepared for the polling process. She also confirmed that 243 rebuttals and clarifications were issued during the campaign period to counter misinformation circulating on social media platforms, aimed at maintaining electoral integrity and transparency.

On the logistical front, mock polling exercises were conducted at several locations across the state on Thursday morning, including the Armed Reserve campus in Madurai district, Thillai Nagar Makkal Mandram in Tiruchirappalli West Assembly constituency, and a government school in Vittukatti village near Thiruthuraipoondi.

For the voting process, 75,064 polling stations have been established across the state. More than 3 lakh polling personnel have been deployed to manage the election duties and ensure the smooth conduct of voting.

Security has been significantly strengthened, with over 83,000 police personnel deployed across Tamil Nadu to maintain law and order and ensure peaceful polling. In addition, the Election Commission has deployed more than 1.06 lakh ballot units, along with control units and VVPAT machines, with a 20a"30 per cent reserve stock to address any technical contingencies during the voting process.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, April 23 : Polling for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began on Thursday across all 234 constituencies, with over 5.73 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in a fiercely contested four-cornered battle.

The electoral contest primarily features the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making this one of the most competitive elections in recent years.

According to the Election Commission, elaborate arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth and peaceful polling across the state.

Voting commenced early in the morning, with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths, reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic process.

Prominent personalities were among the early voters. Actor and Madurai Central candidate Sundar C cast his vote at a polling station in Mandaveli, Chennai. He was accompanied by actor-politician Khushbu Sundar and their daughter. The trio waited in line along with other voters before exercising their franchise.

Speaking to reporters after casting her vote, Khushbu urged citizens to fulfil their democratic responsibility. "Everyone should come out and vote. It is our duty in a democracy," she said. Meanwhile, Seeman, coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi, arrived at a polling station in Neelankarai along with his wife to cast his vote. He too joined the queue as polling progressed peacefully in the constituency.

Across Tamil Nadu, polling stations witnessed steady footfall from the early hours, with voters from various sections of society turning up to participate.

Election officials reported orderly conduct at most booths, supported by tight security and extensive monitoring to prevent any violations of the Model Code of Conduct. Authorities have deployed a large number of security personnel and implemented strict surveillance measures, including webcasting and flying squads, to ensure free and fair elections.

Special arrangements have also been made for elderly and differently-abled voters.

With voter turnout expected to play a decisive role, political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituencies.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu.
Chennai, April 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called upon voters in Tamil Nadu to participate enthusiastically in the ongoing Assembly elections, with a special appeal to youth and women to ensure a record turnout.

Taking to the social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi described voting as a "sacred duty of democracy" and urged citizens across the state to exercise their franchise in large numbers.

"As Tamil Nadu votes in the Assembly elections, I call upon all voters to take part enthusiastically in this sacred duty. I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers," he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to voters to turn out in large numbers and choose a government that reflects their aspirations.

"As Tamil Nadu goes to vote, I appeal to our sisters and brothers to participate enthusiastically. I urge all of you to elect a government that works towards the fulfilment of your aspirations, not one that works for the ambitions of its own family," he said in his message.

Meanwhile, polling began on a brisk note across eight Assembly constituencies in Erode district, with authorities reporting smooth and orderly voting in the early hours.

District Election Officer and Collector S. Kandasamy said polling was underway in all constituencies without any major disruptions.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at a polling station in Sampath Nagar, Kandasamy said that mock polls had been successfully conducted at all booths in the presence of candidates' agents prior to the commencement of voting, ensuring transparency in the process.

In a first for the district, web-streaming facilities have been introduced at all polling stations, enabling real-time monitoring of activities both inside and outside booths.

Officials at the District Election Office, Returning Officers' offices, and the Chief Electoral Officer's office are able to track developments live.

Additionally, the Election Commission has deployed a dedicated mobile application to monitor voter turnout, with updates being released every two hours to the media and the public. Elaborate security arrangements have also been put in place to ensure free and fair polling, Kandasamy added, expressing satisfaction at being among the first voters in the district.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, April 23 : Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) President Humayun Kabir on Thursday cast his vote as polling for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections commenced earlier in the day, urging that development in the state should be inclusive and free from political violence.

Voting began at 7 a.m. across 152 Assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts in the first phase of the crucial two-phase elections in West Bengal.

Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress leader, is contesting from two constituencies -- Rejinagar and Naoda.

He had drawn attention last year after suggesting the construction of a "Babri Masjid" in Murshidabad.

Speaking to reporters after exercising his franchise, Kabir said, "Bengal should maintain harmony between Hindus and Muslims. Development should be for all people. There should not be any hooliganism in the name of politics."

He further alleged that inducements offered by the Trinamool Congress affected his party's prospects.

"I had a huge target for my party; however, the TMC people lured my people by giving cash, and now I am contesting in the 115 seats only... Soon, Amit Shah will also go back to Delhi, and Mamata will also be out of power," he said.

Reiterating the importance of democratic participation, Kabir added, "In the Constitution, everyone has the right to vote... I will cast my vote for the West Bengal elections... I have been participating in elections for a long time, but this is the first time my own party is contesting in these elections."

Commenting on the polling process, he said the situation remained calm.

"The situation is peaceful so far, and nothing major has happened regarding election management. There are no obstacles for agents or voters. Everything is running properly," Kabir stated.

Humayun Kabir had won the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections from the Bharatpur constituency in Murshidabad district on a Trinamool Congress ticket.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Nandigram, April 23 : Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, cast his vote during the first phase of the Assembly elections on Thursday, and stated that there is "no chance" that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will win this time.

Adhikari is contesting the elections in both the Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies on the BJP ticket. CM Mamata Banerjee is also contesting the Bhabanipur seat -- her long-standing bastion.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in a polling station at Nandanayak Primary School in Nandigram, Adhikari said, "I have talked to the polling agents; the polling is underway, and there are no problems."

When asked how the SIR process would affect the results, the BJP leader said, "When the results are announced, it will become clear how the SIR process removed the fake voters from the state. If there are no fake, duplicate, infiltrators or dead voters, there is no chance for Mamata Banerjee's win."

Earlier in the 2021 Assembly elections, Adhikari had defeated Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram constituency by a narrow margin.

Meanwhile, polling began for 152 Assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts from 7 a.m. on Thursday in the first phase of the two-phase crucial West Bengal assembly polls.

The voters' enthusiasm over the elections seemed to be quite high this time, with the queues of voters being witnessed in front of some polling stations in several assembly constituencies, much before the beginning of the polling process at 7 a.m. officially.

The 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda in North Bengal, and Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, and Birbhum in South Bengal.

The second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29. aThe results will be declared on May 4.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
US rejects claims that Iran gained from sanctions relief. Image Source: IANS News

Washington, April 23 : US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected claims that Iran has gained financially from sanctions relief, telling lawmakers the estimates were inaccurate and overstated.

Testifying before a Senate panel, Bessent dismissed assertions that Tehran had received billions in additional revenue during the ongoing conflict.

"The $14 billion is a myth," he said, pushing back against criticism from lawmakers.

The exchange came during questioning by Chris Coons, who argued that easing restrictions on global oil flows risks benefiting US adversaries.

Coons said Iran and Russia could be profiting from higher energy prices and relaxed enforcement, warning that such policies could weaken US leverage.

Bessent disagreed. "I couldn't disagree more," he said when asked whether Iran had received significant additional revenue.

He said Treasury actions were aimed at keeping global oil markets supplied and avoiding sharp price increases that would hurt consumers.

"There is oil to the left there is oil to the right," Bessent said, referring to supply around key global routes.

He argued that maintaining supply had helped prevent a spike in prices.

The hearing also touched on broader concerns about fuel costs.

Lawmakers said Americans are paying more at the pump as the conflict adds pressure to global markets. They linked higher prices to geopolitical tensions and policy choices.

Bessent said current conditions reflect market volatility rather than long-term shortages. He pointed to supply measures taken by the administration to stabilise prices.

Sanctions on Iran remain a central element of US foreign policy. They are designed to limit revenue from oil exports and constrain the country's economic capacity.

Global oil markets remain sensitive to geopolitical developments, especially in the Middle East. Changes in supply or policy can quickly affect prices worldwide, including in major importing countries such as India.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, April 23 : Amid the complexity of designing US fire trucks that increases manifold because each US state has a unique fire code, global professional services company Vee Technologies' engineering business has rolled out the design of its 3,000th fire truck this month, its was announced on Thursday.

The Bengaluru and Atlanta-headquartered firm forayed into the challenging area of designing fire trucks for the US market a decade ago.

The complexity of designing US fire trucks increases owing to the variety of materials used in the construction of townhouses, residential and commercial complexes a"- many of them housed in skyscrapers.

The design process must address varying height requirements and operational tasks, including transporting firefighters to fire sites a" often several hundred feet high a" pumping water or fire-suppressant materials and rescuing those trapped in the inferno, said the company in a statement.

The firm provides specialised engineering design services focused on delivering reliability and speed of response in emergency situations.

The company will be showcasing its capabilities at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International until April 25, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Centre and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The engineers are adept at creating state codea"specific designs for manufacturing fire apparatus that require precision, speed and the ability to adapt to evolving standards.

To achieve this, the engineering team leverages vast amounts of data to develop and optimise detailed, code-compliant designs for fire apparatus that meet global safety norms.

According to latest industry estimates, the $63 billion engineering R&D segment of Indian IT firms contribute over one-fifth of Indiaas over $300 billion IT and BPM export revenues, and is the second-largest segment after IT services exports.

This segment focuses on product engineering, embedded systems, and digital manufacturing. Growth is driven by software-defined products, ER&D outsourcing, and strong demand from the automotive, telecom, and industrial sectors globally.
Washington, April 23 : Powerful American lawmakers across party lines called for deeper India-US cooperation on security, trade and global stability, even as some flagged strains in ties over tariffs and policy differences.

At an "Exhibition on Human Cost of Terrorism," organized by Indian Embassy at the Capitol Hilll, members of Congress described India as a key strategic partner, underscoring shared democratic values and the need for closer coordination in addressing global challenges, particularly terrorism.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the relationship "is not as strong as it should be," pointing to what he described as a more "transactional relationship" and the impact of tariffs. He added, however, that ties "should transcend parties and rise to new heights over time."

At the same time, Krishnamoorthi stressed common ground between the two countries. "Our two countries share so much in common," he said, citing a commitment to freedom, equality and a rules-based order.

Congressman Dave Taylor described India as "a hugely important ally of the United States," calling for "a coordinated policy" to address global threats, including terrorism.

Others highlighted the strategic dimension of the partnership.

Congressman Bill Huizenga, Chairman of the South and Central Asia Subcommittee for Foreign Affairs, said India is "extremely important both economically, strategically," adding that cooperation spans counter-terrorism, intelligence-sharing and maritime security.

Huizenga pointed to the importance of ensuring open sea lanes, saying the United States is focused on "making sure that there's an ability to transit the free seas," an area where India plays a growing role.

Congressman Rich McCormick emphasised the long-term potential of the partnership, describing the "synergy between our two countries."

"When you look at what America and India together are poised to do (it) could usher in an era of peace, economic prosperity," he said, linking the relationship to broader global stability.

Congressman Ro Khanna, co-chair of the India Caucus, said the partnership has taken on greater importance in confronting transnational threats.

"Terrorism isn't just contained to one region it spreads and threatens freedom around the world," Khanna said, adding that both countries must deepen "intelligence sharing (and) defence cooperation."

Congressman Jonathan Jackson tied the relationship to global economic pressures, noting that instability affects both nations.

"The price of fuel, the price of food affects us all," he said, warning that rising conflict and terrorism are "now consuming the entire world."

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said the strong turnout of lawmakers reflected broad political support for the partnership.

"Congressmen represent the voice of the people," he said, adding that their engagement helps shape policy and reinforces commitment to counter-terrorism efforts.

Kwatra said the event highlighted the need for countries to "come together, need to work together, and act together" in addressing global challenges.

A big supporter of India-US ties, Congressman Brad Sherman said ties have been "strained by the outrageous tariffs," but expressed hope for expanding economic engagement going forward.

Lawmakers stressed that differences do not undermine the overall trajectory of the relationship.

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney described it as "a long, strong relationship," rooted in deep people-to-people connections, including contributions from the Indian diaspora.

"I think there's just such an incredible exchange between our countries," she said.

Congressman Jamie Raskin called for a rules-based approach grounded in international law. Congresswoman Julie Johnson emphasised the importance of maintaining democratic alignment in confronting global threats.

Lawmakers said cooperation on counter-terrorism, defence and trade will continue to define the relationship as both countries navigate an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Chennai, April 23 : Several stars from the Tamil film industry including actors Vikram, Dhanush, Ajith and music director Anirudh Ravichander were among those who turned up early on Thursday morning to cast their votes in the intensely contested elections to the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Vikram cast his vote at The Besant Theosopical Higher Secondary School, while Gautham Karthik, the son of actor and politician Karthik, cast his vote in Stella Maris College.

Ajith, who returned in a hurry to Chennai from Belgium where he was racing along with his car racing team Ajith Kumar Racing, was among the first to turn up to cast his vote in Thiruvanmiyur.

Popular music director Anirudh Ravichander and pan Indian actor Dhanush cast their votes at the St Francis Xavier Middle School in Alwarpet at around 9 am.

Several other stars and film celebrities are making their way along with scores of people across the state to select their representatives from a total of 4,023 candidates.

The nomination process, which commenced on March 30, witnessed a robust response, with as many as 7,599 nomination papers filed over a four-day period. However, the scrutiny phase led to the rejection of around 2,460 nominations due to invalid or incomplete documentation, significantly narrowing down the field.

Among the constituencies, Karur has emerged as the most crowded battleground with 79 candidates, reflecting intense political competition. It is followed by Perambur with 47 candidates, Kolathur with 35, and Paramathi-Velur with 31 candidates.

On the other end of the spectrum, Ambasamudram has the least number of contestants at just five, while Udhagamandalam, Gudalur, and Coonoor have six candidates each, indicating relatively less crowded contests in these hill and southern constituencies.

Polling for the 234-member Assembly is scheduled to be held on April 23, with the counting of votes set for May 4.
Mumbai, April 23 : Global oil prices edged higher on Thursday due to a stalemate over the next round of peace talks between the United States and Iran that kept the energy artery Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.

The June contract for Brent on the Intercontinental Exchange traded at $103.35 a barrel in morning trade, up around 4 per cent from the previous close. Meanwhile, the June futures contract for West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) rose 1.62 per cent to 94.47 a barrel.

Although US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire until the leaders of the concerned countries came up with a "unified proposal", he did not remove the naval blockade on Iran.

"US forces have directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the US blockade against Iran," US Central Command said on social media.

The strait has been shut for more than 50 days, disrupting nearly one fifth of global oil and gas supplies, with a sustained price rise having potential to impact India's import bill and weigh on its economy, analysts said.

The government has maintained that retail fuel outlets across the country are operating normally.

Tehran's negotiators will reportedly skip talks with the US, as negotiations were a "waste of time," following which US Vice President JD Vance had paused his trip to join peace talks. Meanwhile, Iran's navy also informed that it seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz carrying 31 Indian seafarers, arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The Indian basket price of crude that contains a derived mix of Sweet grade (Brent Dated) and Sour grade (Oman and Dubai average) stood at $102.46 per barrel as of April 21 and its average price in April stands at $115.8 per barrel.

IANS

aar/na
Mexico City, April 23 : Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that the federal government was unaware of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents taking part in an anti-narcotics operation in northern Mexico to dismantle a clandestine drug lab.

The presence of US agents in an operation against organised crime in Chihuahua, a state bordering Texas, "is something that should not be taken lightly," as it is a matter of national security and sovereignty, said the President on Wednesday (local time).

"We are verifying whether they were accredited or not," she said at Wednesday's morning press conference regarding this case that came to light after the two American agents lost their lives in an accident in the Chihuahua mountains while dismantling drug labs.

Sheinbaum emphasised that, given this potential violation of national laws, the Foreign Ministry sent a letter to the US Ambassador to Mexico requesting all relevant information and that such actions are not part of established security protocols.

"Any relationship with the US government, particularly on security matters, must go through the federal government," she said, adding there had been "no knowledge" of the agents' participation. She also stressed that no US government agents should operate in Mexico without authorisation.

According to US media, the agents' presence in Mexico only came to light after they were killed in a car accident in Chihuahua on Sunday.

Earlier in January, the Mexican President also rejected the possibility of US intervention in Mexico to combat drug cartels, stressing the importance of maintaining national sovereignty and strengthening the country's unity.

She had dismissed the need for talks with US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly suggested sending US troops to Mexico to combat drug trafficking.

Any security cooperation must be based on mutual respect, national sovereignty, and collaboration without subordination, she stressed.
Digital tracking has transformed the landscape of council-run education, with 67,000 schools now connected to the student report card system. Image Source: IANS

April 23 : Lucknow: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradeshs council-run education system is rapidly moving toward a digital, transparent, and outcome-oriented model. Under the NIPUN school evaluation initiative, more than 1,06,000 schools in the state have been assessed, of which over 67,200 schools (as of April 21) have downloaded students report cards and adopted the new digital system.

This accounts for approximately 63% of the total, reflecting the growing acceptance of digital education in the state.

This achievement is a strong indicator of the technological progress of the Basic Education Department. It marks a significant step toward establishing accountability and transparency in the education system.

Through the digital report card download system, student progress can now be assessed more accurately and swiftly, strengthening communication between parents and teachers.

Under the digital report card system, students academic performance is fully recorded and shared on a technological platform, replacing the traditional paper-based process with a transparent, fast, and efficient system.

The system provides online access to students marks, grades, attendance, and overall progress, which parents can view anytime. This also enables schools and the Basic Education Department to conduct real-time evaluation and monitoring more effectively.

Under Yogi government, the states council-run education system is establishing new benchmarks in digital governance and result-based monitoring. The strong emphasis on the use of technology has led to the rapid adoption of digital platforms in schools. Education is increasingly becoming data-driven and outcome-oriented.

Several districts have delivered outstanding performance in downloading student report cards. Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, and Siddharthnagar have secured top positions with 100% achievement. Other districts showing notable progress include Sant Kabir Nagar (97%), Firozabad (94%), Fatehpur (94%), Ambedkar Nagar (93%), Chandauli (91%), and Mau (90%).

Other high-performing districts include Jalaun (88%), Kushinagar (87%), Kanpur Dehat (86%), Gautam Buddh Nagar (86%), Kasganj (85%), Pilibhit (84%), Amethi (84%), Gonda (83%), Etah (82%), Sultanpur and Hapur (81%).
Seoul, April 23 : South Korea's special envoy to Iran has met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, an Iranian social media post showed on Thursday, as Seoul seeks to ensure the safety of its vessels and seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia tensions.

Chung Byung-ha, special envoy for South Korea's foreign minister, expressed hope in his meeting with Araghchi that diplomatic efforts would bring a definite end to the conflict and lead to peace and stability in the region, a Telegram post by Iran's foreign ministry showed.

Chung also noted the importance of developing bilateral relations between Seoul and Tehran, reports Xinhua news agency.

Echoing Chung's remark on their ties, Araghchi expressed Iran's readiness to cooperate in that regard.

Regarding Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi defended the measure as an effort to safeguard its national security and interests, saying that "responsibility for any resulting consequences lies with the parties carrying out the aggression," according to the post.

Twenty-six South Korea-related ships and 173 Korean crew members remain stranded in the vital waterway blocked by both Iran and the United States.

South Korea has been in talks with Iran and neighbouring countries to ensure their safety, sharing details of the vessels and crew with relevant parties, including Iran and the US.

The tensions in West Asia escalated after the US and Israel carried out a joint military operation against Iran. The joint military strikes killed the former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a large-scale military operation by Iran against Israel and the US bases in the Gulf nations.

The conflict also led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered a global energy crisis.
April 23 : Gorakhpur: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath once again strongly targeted the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and all opposition parties, who had not allowed the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment Bill to be passed. Roaring at opposition parties in Gorakhpur, the Chief Minister said, These parties do not want to give women the right to leadership. The history and deeds of Congress and SP are anti-women.

CM Yogi addressed the Nari Shakti Vandan Conference, organised at the Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium on Wednesday evening. Calling the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam a right of women, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when the new Parliament building was constructed in the country, the very first act passed there was the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

He said, Through the amendment bill, from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections itself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to give women the right to participate in law-making and its implementation, but the anti-women opposition celebrating the fall of the bill does not accept this. He mainly held the Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, and DMK responsible for this. The Chief Minister said, The deeds of Congress and SP have been anti-women from the beginning. Congress has always worked to obstruct the rights of women, Dalits, the deprived, and the backward classes. SP is openly anti-women. It is also said about SP, Dekh Sapayi, Bitiya Ghabrayi.

CM Yogi said, Before 2017, during the SP government, in central and western Uttar Pradesh, people had stopped sending their daughters to school. Whereas today, daughters are going to school without obstruction. From 1947 to 2017, only 10,000 women were recruited in UP Police, whereas after 2017, this number is 4445 thousand. In the state, 20 percent recruitment of women in the police has been made mandatory.

He said that after 2017, more than 900,000 government jobs have been filled, and about 175,000 of them are held by women. He said, Through MSME revival, more than 30 million people got employment, more than 21,000 startups have started in the state, and half of the participants in them are women.

CM Yogi said, To realize the vision of an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat, womens political participation is necessary. Women have received ensured representation in panchayats and local bodies, and the results are also positive. In the state, 54 percent of block heads are women. Similarly, in village and district panchayats, womens participation will reach around 50 percent.

CM said that now that PM Modi started the campaign to give 33 percent reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, parties like SP and Congress have begun making excuses and delaying it.

Seeing the large number of women in the conference despite extreme heat and short notice, the Chief Minister said, The participation of women clearly sends the message that no one can deprive women of their rights for long. This is not something being begged by women; it is their natural right, which has been delayed since independence. Through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, PM Narendra Modi has started a campaign acknowledging half the population. According to him, when women are empowered, the family becomes capable; when the family is capable, the foundation of society becomes strong; and when society is strong, the nation becomes powerful and prosperous.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, In Indias history and traditions, maternal power has always been respected. Calling Lord Ram as Kaushalyanandan, Lord Krishna as Yashodanandan, Bhishma as Gangeya, and Arjun as Kaunteya is proof of this. The word Shri in Shri Ram refers to Mother Sita. Even in the chant Siyavar Ramchandra ki Jai, Mother Sitas name comes first. In Mathura-Vrindavan, every greeting starts with Radhe Radhe. In Kashi, Namah Parvati Pataye is proclaimed. The sacred river Ganga is called Mother Ganga. Even the cow is called Gaumata. All these are connected with maternal reverence.

CM Yogi said that whichever country it may be, even if it does not consider the cow as mother, it still drinks cows milk.

The Chief Minister said, After 2014, under PM Modis leadership, work began to promote respect for womens dignity at every level. Earlier, complaints of female foeticide were coming, so that daughters could not claim property rights. Through programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Matru Vandana, and Indradhanush Yojana, efforts were made to stop gender imbalance and female foeticide.

He added, In the state too, schemes like Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana are running for girls education from birth to graduation, benefiting 2.6 million girls. To stop child marriage and dowry, mass marriage schemes were started. In schemes like housing, toilets, Ujjwala, PM SVANidhi, and Ayushman, women have received the highest participation.

During his address, CM Yogi shared an experience from a rally in West Bengal, saying that half the population there has resolved to change power. Near Howrah, a TMC candidate was not allowing a BJP candidate to set up a stage. Fifteen minutes before his helicopter landed, thousands of women gathered and supported the BJP in 45-degree heat, expressing gratitude to PM Modi and assuring victory.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath once again reiterated that the double-engine government is committed to empowering half the population, ensuring womens safety, dignity, and self-reliance. With this spirit, the government is also promoting womens participation in leadership roles. The initiative of the first Nari Shakti Vandan Conference in Gorakhpur is part of this campaign.

On this occasion, District Panchayat Chairperson Sadhna Singh said, True development is possible only where daughters are safe. Such an environment has been created in the state under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath. Along with development, the Chief Minister has given top priority to womens safety, dignity, and self-reliance.

She added that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is not just a law but the future of India; however, opposition parties are creating obstacles in securing the future of mothers, sisters, and daughters.

Addressing the conference, Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava said, Women have always held a special place in Indias Sanatan culture. It is believed that where women are respected, divine presence resides. In this spirit, Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath have incorporated womens safety and dignity prominently into government programs.

While delivering the welcome address, State Womens Commission Vice Chairperson Charu Chaudhary highlighted the objectives of the conference. She said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is an important means to ensure rights for half the countrys population, but opposition parties do not want women to be empowered. She added that in the upcoming assembly elections, womens collective strength will decisively defeat opposition parties.

Senior physician Dr Smita Modi also addressed the gathering. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Poonam Tandon, former Mayor Anju Chaudhary, Dr. Satya Pandey, Prof. Vineeta Pathak, Prof. Uma Srivastava, Dr. Ranjana, senior advocate Amita Sharma, social worker Sudha Modi, woman entrepreneur Sangeeta Pandey, BJP Mahila Morcha regional president Amita Gupta, state vice president Asmita Chand, district president Chanchala Shukla, along with many other women representatives.

CM reviews exhibition

Before addressing the conference, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed an exhibition on womens welfare and development held outside Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium. The exhibition showcased Gorakhpurs development and achievements of schemes such as Mission Shakti, Lakhpati Didi, destitute women pension, Kanya Sumangala, and mass marriage schemes.

The Chief Minister also encouraged women who have become self-reliant through government schemes. He visited stalls set up by women associated with self-help groups under the State Rural Livelihood Mission, observed their products, gathered information, and motivated them to achieve greater success.

CM conducts Annaprashan Ceremony for children

CM Yogi Adityanath also visited the stall of the Women and Child Development Department, where he performed the Annaprashan for infants. After feeding them kheer, he blessed the children and gave them gifts. He also advised mothers to feed their children comfortably and eat any leftover kheer themselves.
Patna, April 23 : As polling for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway on Thursday, security agencies intensified vigilance along Bihar's border areas adjoining the state, with Katihar district placed on high alert.

According to sources, police have launched a special mirror-checking drive at 11 strategic entry and exit points in the Katihar district connected to West Bengal.

Every vehicle passing through the district is being subjected to a thorough inspection, with authorities treating each movement with heightened suspicion to prevent any illegal activity.

The inter-state border has effectively been sealed, with security personnel maintaining constant surveillance over all routes connecting Bihar and West Bengal.

In view of the sensitive election atmosphere, the Bihar Police has adopted a zero-tolerance approach, especially along routes previously identified as vulnerable to drug trafficking and other illicit operations.

Officials said enforcement has been significantly strengthened to curb any attempt to exploit the election period for cross-border crimes.

In recent days, anti-narcotics operations carried out by police stations in border areas have disrupted several illegal networks.

Katihar Superintendent of Police Shikhar Chaudhary stated that the Bihar Police are fully committed to ensuring peaceful and fair elections in neighbouring West Bengal. "No suspicious person or vehicle will be spared. Every movement is under strict surveillance," he said.

Local inputs suggest that the intensified crackdown has created panic among smuggling networks and anti-social elements, with previously active routes now under strict monitoring.

Overall, the Katihar-Bengal border has effectively been transformed into a fortified security zone, with continuous ground-level checks supported by digital surveillance to ensure law and order during the election process.

Similarly, security checking has been implemented in Kishanganj and Purnea districts as well, with all routes connected to West Bengal being thoroughly checked. The administrations of these two districts also adopted a zero-tolerance policy for the peaceful conduct of elections.
New Delhi, April 23 : The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack twice before denying any role, is almost decimated today. The TRF, a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, carried out a series of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir while posing as a locally grown group.

Post the Pahalgam attack, the TRF was disbanded. An Intelligence Bureau official said the Pahalgam attack elicited a strong response from India. This led to many terror groups facing the heat. The official said that the ISI has asked some of these groups to lie low as there is too much heat on them. Moreover, Pakistan is trying to reshape its image internationally, and hence it is important for it to keep its terror groups at bay at least for now.

The official, however, warned that the Lashkar-e-Taiba is in the process of creating another proxy for operations in Jammu and Kashmir. It is identifying men to be part of this new proxy. The emphasis is on the locals in Jammu and Kashmir. It is also looking for those persons from Kashmir who moved into Pakistan several years ago and would look to rope in these persons to join this new terror group.

Another official explained that, unlike the TRF, the structure of this new proxy would be different. When it was launched, the agencies did not have much of a headache in tracing its origins.

The funding and handlers shared the same trail as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). From day one, it was clear that the outfit was nothing but a proxy. For the new proxy, the LeT plans on keeping operations separate. The funding channels would not overlap with those of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The LeT would also not want to involve its trainers and handlers with this new group. The only similarity would be the ideology and the cause. The members of this new group will not interact or connect with anyone from the LeT directly. On being asked whether this group is ready or not, officials said that its making is in the process.

The Lashkar will not rush through anything and would rather want to wait it out at least for a year before this group becomes fully functional.

While the group would be formed, the challenge would be the infiltrations. Since it is next to impossible to infiltrate India at the moment, the terror outfit would take it slow. They are aware that the Indian security agencies are on a state of very high alert. Hence, they would wait for the security mechanism to turn lax before attempting anything at the border.

The proxy, which the LeT feels should operate without any Pakistani linkages, is also aimed at tackling Indiaas new doctrine on terror. India, following the Pahalgam attack, said that any act of terror would not be treated as cross-border terror, but as an act of war.

Following the Pahalgam attack, investigators were quick in identifying the attackers, and the probe learned that the three were Pakistani nationals. This is a scenario which the LeT wants to avoid. Any attack in Jammu and Kashmir should be carried out by locals, and no amount of probing should lead to Pakistan, the outfit feels.

Not only would the outfit carry out a strike in Jammu and Kashmir, but it is also looking to avoid an Operation Sindoor, an official said. In addition to keeping a close watch on the operational capabilities of this new group, the agencies are also tracking funding trails both in Pakistan and India.

The outfit would look to carry out donation drives and would even ask people from India to donate. The LeT has already formed groups such as the Muslim Medical Mission (MMM), which claims to be a humanitarian group. It says that its formation is to raise funds for Gaza relief. In reality, all the funds are being pumped into the Lashkar-e-Taiba, an official said.
Chennai, April 23 : The next film of actor Kavin, who shot to fame with his critically acclaimed, heart-touching romantic drama 'Dada', is to be directed by debutant director Praveen Paramasivan, its makers have now announced.

Taking to his X timeline, actor Kavin, shared the announcement poster of the new film, which is tentatively being referred to as Kavin 11 and said, "Glad to join hands with #BeyondPictures & @dir_Pravin for this special journey. @jaivarda04 @proyuvraaj."

The makers, for their part, announced, "From our heartsa to a piece of life youall see yourself in. Welcoming Kavin @Kavin_m_0431 to be a part of something close to our hearts. Written and directed by @dir_Pravin. Produced by @jaivarda04. In association with @SushmaCineArts @RedactedStud1os @homescreenent. Shoot begins soon."

Sources close to the unit of the film say that this film will be a family drama, a genre that Kavin hasn't explored so far. Says a source, "This film will revolve around around family emotions. It will showcase contemporary lifestyles and try to highlight the nuances in relationships. The film will be a proper commercial entertainer and will be made in such a way that it appeals to all sections of the audience."

Shooting for this untitled project, which happens to be the eleventh film of actor Kavin, is likely to begin by the end of May, sources point out and inform that the film is to be made on a lavish scale.

For the unaware, Praveen Paramasivan, who is making his debut as a director with this film, served as the first associate of director Ramkumar Balakrishnan, who is best known for having made the National Award winning film, 'Parking'.

The film is to be produced by Jaivarda on behalf of Beyond Pictures on a lavish scale, sources claim and add that the film is to be presented by Sushma Cine Arts and Beyond Pictures together.

--IANS

mkr/
Indore, April 23 : The long-standing dispute over the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar has taken a significant turn with the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordering the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to provide complete videography of its extensive survey to all parties involved.

The directive, issued on Thursday during ongoing hearings by a bench of Justice Vijay Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi, requires the ASI to make the footage available by April 27, ensuring transparency and equal access to evidence for both Hindu and Muslim stakeholders.

The survey, which lasted 98 days, was conducted using multiple scientific techniques and produced a detailed report of more than 2,000 pages, including photographs of artefacts, carvings, and inscriptions discovered at the site.

The Bhojshala complex has long been a contested monument. Hindus believe it to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while Muslims identify it as the Kamal Maula mosque.

This dual claim has fuelled decades of legal and social disputes.

The ASIas survey was ordered to establish the historical character of the site, and its findings are now central to the arguments being presented in court.

The Hindu side has pointed to the presence of idols, trishuls, and carvings as evidence of temple remains, while the Muslim side has emphasised historical records and land documents that describe the site as a mosque.

During earlier hearings, the Muslim side had demanded access to the videography, arguing that without it they could not adequately challenge the ASIas conclusions.

Although the Supreme Court declined to intervene directly, the High Court has now ruled that the footage must be shared with all parties.

The ASI initially expressed difficulty in providing such a large volume of material, given that videography was conducted daily over the course of the survey. However, the court directed that technical means be used to ensure timely delivery.

Two parties have already presented their arguments, and the ASI has defended its methodology.

The Muslim side reiterated its demand for the footage, which the court has now upheld.

With this order, the videography is expected to become a crucial element in shaping the next phase of hearings. Both sides will rely on the footage to substantiate their claims, making it a decisive factor in the resolution of this sensitive dispute.
New Delhi, April 23 : A Delhi court has issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a bail plea filed by Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) co-founder Vinesh Kumar Chandel in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged coal pilferage case.

Additional Sessions Judge Dhirendra Rana of the Patiala House Courts sought the ED's response on Chandel's plea and posted the matter for hearing on April 29.

Chandel is currently in ED custody pursuant to an order passed earlier this month, remanding him to 10 days' custodial interrogation until April 23.

The federal anti-money laundering agency had arrested Chandel in connection with an ECIR registered on March 28, based on an FIR lodged by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, falsification of accounts and handling of unaccounted funds by M/s Indian PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd and its directors.

In its remand application, the ED had claimed that Chandel, a founding director of the company, was "actively involved in the process and activity connected with proceeds of crime" and played a central role in devising a mechanism for the "generation, concealment and laundering" of illicit funds.

According to the agency, the company allegedly adopted a modus operandi of splitting receipts between banking channels and cash components, including funds purportedly received from political parties, with references such as "50 per cent cheque" indicating bifurcated payments.

It further claimed that unaccounted funds were used for election-related expenditure and other purposes, including influencing public perception.

It also claimed that Rs 13.50 crore was introduced into the company's books in the guise of unsecured, interest-free loans from M/s Ramasethu Infrastructure Pvt Ltd without any formal agreements or commercial justification.

The ED has accused the company of raising bogus invoices to justify fund inflows without rendering actual consultancy services and using hawala channels for routing unaccounted money.

It further alleged that Chandel made false statements during the investigation and, along with other directors, instructed deletion of emails and financial data after search proceedings in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Opposing the ED's earlier remand plea, Chandel's counsel had argued that the arrest was politically-motivated and timed ahead of Assembly elections, contending that no scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was made out.

However, the court, while granting ED custody earlier, had observed that there were "reasons to believe" that Chandel was involved in the alleged laundering of proceeds of crime and had made "false and misleading statements" during the investigation.
New Delhi, April 23 : In a major breakthrough, the Central Range of the Delhi Crime Branch has arrested an absconding accused in a nearly 40-year-old murder case, bringing closure to a case that had remained unsolved since 1986.

The accused, identified as Chandra Shekhar Prasad, had been on the run for nearly four decades after allegedly murdering his wife in East Delhi's Shakarpur area.

According to the official press release, the operation marks "Justice after 40 years," with police highlighting that the "40-year-old cold murder case" has finally been worked out through sustained efforts and "exceptional investigation skills shown by the team." The case dates back to FIR No. 375/1986 registered under Sections 302/34 IPC at Shakarpur Police Station.

Police said that on October 19, 1986, the accused allegedly murdered his wife by "crushing her head with bricks," driven by suspicion of an extramarital affair. During the incident, the accused and his accomplices also held a domestic help at gunpoint. Following the crime, Prasad and his associates fled and remained absconding, with the accused declared a proclaimed offender in 1987. No breakthrough was achieved for decades.

Investigators faced significant challenges due to the age of the case. "The case remained unsolved for over 40 years, with no clue about the culprits," the release stated, adding that the absence of digital records, photographs, or modern identification tools made tracing the accused extremely difficult.

A dedicated team led by Inspector Sunil Kumar Kalkhande was formed under the supervision of ACP Satendra Mohan. During the investigation, police tracked the accused's family links in Delhi and Bihar and placed "suspicious mobile numbers discreetly obtained and placed them under surveillance." Field verification in Nalanda, Bihar, confirmed that the accused was alive and occasionally visited during family events.

Based on technical inputs and human Intelligence, police traced his movement to North-West Delhi. A trap was laid on April 22, 2026, leading to his arrest from a factory storeroom in Nangli Poona, Alipur, where he was hiding under a false identity.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime, admitting that he murdered his wife following repeated domestic disputes and suspicion.

Police said the accused had managed to evade arrest for decades by frequently relocating across Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, working as a rickshaw puller and even taking shelter in an ashram.

"Our teams are committed to apprehending criminals and securing justice for victims, no matter how much time it takes," the Crime Branch said, underscoring its resolve to pursue even long-pending cases.
Raipur, April 23 : The Chhattisgarh government, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has withdrawn its controversial order within just 24 hours of issuing it, marking a swift reversal that has stirred political debate in the state.

The directive issued late Wednesday had initially stated that no government officer or employee would be allowed to hold political posts or participate in political activities, and warned that disciplinary action would be taken against violators under the Civil Conduct Rules. However, the order quickly faced opposition, including objections raised by the Congress party, which questioned the timing and intent, reiterating rules that already exist across the country.

The Congress party pointed out that the Civil Services Conduct Rules are already in force nationwide and prohibit government employees from engaging in political activities. They argued that the issuance of a fresh circular raised new questions, particularly whether participation in events organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh would be considered a violation of these rules.

This demand for clarification added to the pressure on the government, which eventually decided to withdraw the order.

Under the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, government employees are required to maintain absolute integrity and impartiality in the discharge of their duties. The rules explicitly forbid employees from becoming active members of political parties or organisations, and from engaging in activities that could compromise their neutrality.

The withdrawn circular had essentially repeated these provisions, but its sudden issuance was interpreted by critics as politically motivated. The reversal highlights the sensitivity of political directives in a state where governance and party politics often intersect.

By withdrawing the order, the Sai government has attempted to defuse tensions and avoid further controversy, though the episode has already sparked discussions about the role of government employees in political life and the boundaries of administrative neutrality.

The incident underscores how even established rules can become contentious when reissued in a politically charged environment.

While the government insists that the rules remain binding, the withdrawal of the circular reflects an effort to balance administrative discipline with political realities.

The debate is likely to continue, as opposition parties demand clarity on whether participation in certain organisations falls under the definition of political activity, a question that remains unresolved despite the governmentas quick retreat.
Chennai, April 23 : Shakthivel, a worker of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was arrested for filming himself casting his vote inside a polling booth in the Tirupattur Assembly constituency, even as brisk polling was recorded in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday.

According to officials, Shakthivel allegedly recorded a video while voting for the party's "whistle" symbol using his mobile phone inside the polling compartment.

The footage was later shared on social media as a reel, drawing the attention of election authorities monitoring polling stations through CCTV surveillance.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has repeatedly warned that carrying mobile phones into polling compartments or recording videos is a violation of electoral laws, as it compromises the confidentiality of the ballot.

Acting on CCTV inputs, officials alerted the police, who reached the booth and took the accused into custody.

Authorities said further legal action is being initiated against the individual under relevant provisions of the election law. They also reiterated that strict vigilance would continue throughout polling day to prevent any malpractice and ensure a free and fair election process.

Voting is being held in a single phase across Tamil Nadu, where over 5.73 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates contesting in 234 Assembly constituencies.

A total of 75,064 polling booths have been set up across the state to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process, with elaborate security arrangements and monitoring systems in place.

Polling began at 7 a.m., and long queues were witnessed outside several booths as voters turned up in large numbers to exercise their democratic right.

From urban centres like Chennai to rural belts, participation remained steady during the initial hours, reflecting strong voter enthusiasm.

Women, senior citizens, and first-time voters were seen arriving early at polling stations, with officials facilitating priority access for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Young voters, in particular, were actively engaged in the electoral process, with many sharing images of their ink-marked fingers on social media platforms.

Despite isolated incidents, polling across Tamil Nadu has largely remained peaceful, with tight security deployment and continuous monitoring by election officials across all constituencies.
New Delhi, April 23 : Senior Congress leader Udit Raj on Thursday expressed doubts over the impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the ongoing Assembly elections, while asserting that in Tamil Nadu, the BJP would not be able to "influence" the results through the poll body.

He argued that the political gap between the BJP and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu is substantial, making it difficult for the BJP to "manipulate the outcome".

His remarks come at a time when voting is underway in Assembly elections in both West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. West Bengal is set to go for another phase of polling on April 29, while counting of votes in both states is scheduled for May 4.

Speaking on the importance of maintaining law and order during polling, Udit Raj told IANS, "The Election Commission has implemented the Model Code of Conduct. Historically, whenever this code has been enforced -- particularly when enforced forcefully -- instances of violence have often accompanied the electoral process. However, I do not believe that the Election Commission will demonstrate true impartiality this time around."

He further criticised the BJP's "influence" over the poll body, saying, "In Tamil Nadu, the situation is such that there is a significant disparity between the political forces at play. The BJP -- which effectively holds the Election Commission on a leash like a puppet -- may try as hard as it likes, but the gap between the parties in Tamil Nadu is simply too wide for them to manipulate the outcome."

Turning to West Bengal, the Congress leader claimed that the BJP may still attempt to "influence" the outcome there with the "help" of the ECI.

"They (the BJP) might be able to do so in Bengal. Indeed, a much larger contingent of security forces has been deployed in Bengal. Moreover, TMC members in Bengal are known for their high-handedness and intimidation tactics -- often resorting to physical violence. The BJP members, too, behave in much the same manner. The nature of both parties is remarkably similar; however, the Election Commission appears to be siding with one of them -- the BJP," he said.

"This is the backdrop against which the elections in Bengal are unfolding. Let us wait and see what transpires. There is, indeed, a palpable apprehension that violence could erupt in Bengal. To prevent such an occurrence and to ensure that the elections in Bengal are conducted peacefully, the Election Commission must take strict precautionary measures," Raj added.

Udit Raj also referred to the notice issued by the ECI to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his "terrorist" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the BJP of harbouring a "Manuvadi mindset".

"The BJP has a Manuvadi mindset because Mallikarjun Kharge comes from the Dalit community. He is the president of the country's second-largest party, and they are unable to tolerate that."

Referring to BJP leader Bangaru Laxman, Udit Raj said, "However, he even had to go to jail. This Manuvadi mindset is so dangerous that they defamed their own national president, sent him to jail, and destroyed his life. From this, one can imagine the level of hatred they have for leaders of other parties. This notice has not been sent by the Election Commission of India, but by the BJP -- there is no difference left between the two."
Kolkata, April 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday gave full credit to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for ensuring overall peaceful and violence-free polls in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election being held in 152 constituencies.

"Today, the first phase of voting in West Bengal is underway. I congratulate all the voters. Everyone should celebrate the festival of democracy. There has been less violence this time so far. Earlier, people were hanged, and the ruling party claimed it was suicide. I congratulate the Election Commission of India," the Prime Minister said while addressing a campaign rally at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, which is going to polls in the second phase on April 29.

The Prime Minister also expressed confidence in the high polling percentage recorded till afternoon and the enthusiasm with which voters were waiting in long queues in front of the polling booths, ignoring the scorching heat, to cast their votes.

"The manner in which the polling is going on, and the enthusiasm with which the voters are voting, it seems all records will be broken this time. The state government employees are working responsibly to make the polling process peaceful. I congratulate all of them," the Prime Minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, he also indirectly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, without taking her name, over the latter's jibes about PM Modi's unexpected stop in Jhargram for a quick bite of the popular Bengali street snack -- the 'jhalmuri', during his last campaign rally in the state on April 19.

"I heard that my jhalmuri matter jolted some people here. The funny thing is that I consumed Jhalmuri, and the Trinamool Congress felt the heat. After the results are declared on May 4, the BJP will celebrate victory in West Bengal. At that time, both sweets and jhalmuri will be distributed," the Prime Minister said.

According to him, in West Bengal elections this time, the battle is more between "Trinamool Congress and common people" rather than between "the BJP and Trinamool Congress".

"This time, the state government employees are voting after coming out of fear. Doctors are voting for better medical systems. Lawyers are voting to ensure justice. Teachers are voting for a fear-free educational system. The police are voting to serve the public," the Prime Minister said.

He also said that during his recent tours, he had realised how the people of West Bengal are frustrated with the misrule of Trinamool Congress. "I have realised how sick people are of corruption, extortion, and hooliganism. There are many districts, where Trinamool Congress will not be able to open their accounts this time," the Prime Minister said.

"Krishnanagar is voicing strong discontent against TMC's misgovernance and lack of accountability. People are tired of its corruption and inefficiency," the PM said.
Hyderabad, April 23 : The public road transport services across Telangana remained crippled on Thursday as the indefinite strike by the employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) entered the second day.

The TGSRTC is operating partial services by deploying hired and private buses in some districts. The management has also deployed electric buses and using the services of outsourcing staff.

The strike continued to cause hardships to thousands of commuters in state capital Hyderabad and other districts.

People were seen relying on cabs, autorickshaws and private vehicles to reach their destinations. People complained that private vehicles were collecting exorbitant fares.

Commuters in Greater Hyderabad were also using Metro and MMTS trains as authorities ramped up their operations to minimise inconvenience to the public.

On the second day of the strike, employees staged protests outside depots. On a call give by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), employees gathered outside the depots and raised slogans in support of their demands.

Various political parties extended support to the striking employees. Leaders of Opposition parties joined the employees in their protest.

Main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) urged the government to resolve the long-pending demands of the employees.

RTC buses of neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra were being operated from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) in Hyderabad.

TGSRTC was also operating a few hired buses from MGBS, the biggest bus station in the state.

Abut 40,000 employees are on strike in support of their 32 demands. The main demands include merger of TGSRTC with the government and pay revision.

TGSRTC Managing Director, Nagi Reddy, has termed the strike as illegal. He has urged the employees to return to work. He warned that the salaries of employees staying away from duties will be deducted and that they will also face other strong action.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has once again appealed to TSGRTC employees to end the strike.

He stated that RTC remains a lifeline for the rural poor across Telangana, serving nearly 65 lakh passengers daily, including around 40 lakh women who depend on these services for employment, education, and healthcare needs.

He stated that the government has shown a positive approach towards resolving employee concerns. Out of the 32 issues raised by RTC workers, 29 have already been agreed upon in principle, while discussions are ongoing on the remaining three technical issues.

He expressed concern that employee representatives walked out of discussions with a senior IAS officersa committee, despite prolonged deliberations, and termed the move as part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise RTC operations.

The government reiterated its commitment to RTC by providing monthly financial support of a300a"a400 crore and has already taken several welfare measures, including a280 crore released through 2013 bonds and compassionate appointments provided to 1,134 families.

The minister emphasised that the government is not interested in labour exploitation and is actively working to reduce workload pressures, including reviewing depot-wise working conditions.

He assured that key demands such as merger, union recognition, and PRC revision are under active consideration, and a committee comprising senior officers will submit recommendations on the remaining issues.
New Delhi, April 23 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said on Thursday that the India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) will shape the next phase of the partnership between two sides, stressing that it would be "more ambitious, inclusive, and future-oriented".

The EAM's statement came as he unveiled the logo, theme, and website of the summit, to be hosted by India in collaboration with the African Union Commission here on May 31.

"Joined African Ambassadors and those invested in India-Africa friendship to launch the Logo, Theme and Website of 4th India Africa Forum Summit. The forthcoming Summit will shape the next phase of our partnership - one that is more ambitious, more inclusive, and more future-oriented. It will enable us to exchange best practices, share successful experiences and discuss common challenges," he said in a post on X.

Jaishankar stated that the development partnership and capacity-building initiatives between India and Africa are driven by African priorities and local ownership. He mentioned that the engagement of two sides has increased in various sectors like digital, fintech and innovation, reshaping economies across the African continent.

India and Africa have been deepening engagement in the International Solar Alliance, the Global Biofuels Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the International Big Cat Alliance, he noted. He highlighted India's consistent support to Africa's rightful place in global governance, demonstrated in the African Union's inclusion in the G20 during India's 2023 presidency.

Highlighting India's growing diplomatic footprint in Africa, he said that India and Africa are not just partners in development but partners in shaping a better world.

The IAFS-IV will bring together leaders from the African continent, the African Union Commission, and representatives from regional organisations to strengthen the enduring India-Africa partnership and lay out a roadmap for further expanding cooperation in various sectors, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.

The summit will be held under the theme "IA SPIRIT: India Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, and Inclusive Transformation", demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the India-Africa partnership. In the lead-up to the summit, a series of preparatory meetings will be held, including the India-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 29, preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting on May 28, which will deliberate on key areas of cooperation between India and Africa.

"The India-Africa Forum Summit is an important platform for fostering dialogue with African countries and the AU Commission and advancing mutually beneficial collaboration, guided by the principles of mutual respect, equality, solidarity and shared prosperity. The last edition of the India-Africa Forum Summit resulted in a major expansion of Indian development assistance and capacity building programs for Africa," the MEA statement said.

According to the MEA, the upcoming summit will be a landmark engagement for further cementing close ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Africa and strengthening partnership under the South-South framework. It will also be an occasion to showcase good governance and inclusive development initiatives developed over the past 10 years.
New Delhi, April 23 : Contrary to the brisk polling in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the by-elections for three seats (one in Gujarat and two in Maharashtra) started on a modest note and the polling percentage hovered around 30 per cent by Thursday noon.

In Gujarat's Umreth seat, polling was recorded at 37.14 per cent till 1 p.m. while in Maharashtra's Baramati and Rahuri, the voting percentage stood at 31.91 per cent and 29.68 per cent respectively.

Earlier also, Umreth seat led the pack by clocking 26 per cent voting till 11 a.m. while two seats in Maharashtra polling close to 20 per cent each.

The by-elections are being held to fill the Assembly constituencies in two states, that fell vacant before the completion of their term.

In Maharashtra, the by-elections got necessitated due to death of sitting legislators.

In Maharashtra, Rahuri and Baramati seats fell vacant following untimely demise of sitting legislators -- Shivaji Bhanudas Kardile and Ajit Pawar respectively.

In Gujarat, voting is underway in Umreth Assembly constituency following the demise of MLA Govind Parmar.

The by-elections were announced for eight constituencies across six states -- Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura.

The Assembly constituencies in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura went to polls on April 9 while those in Gujarat and Maharashtra are polling on Thursday.

Meanwhile, voting is also going on at brisk pace for Tamil Nadu and first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal.

Voting is set to conclude in both states by 6 p.m. on Thursday.

The elections for Tamil Nadu Assembly, comprising 234 constituencies, is being held in a single phase while in West Bengal, the elections are spread in two phases -- first phase covering 152 constituencies and the second phase covering 142 seats.

A total of 1,478 candidates are in the poll fray in the first phase of polling in West Bengal.

The counting of votes for all by-elections will take place on May 4, the same day when results for Assembly elections in five states/UTs -- Assam, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be declared.
Bengaluru, April 23 : The Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest near the Gandhi statue in Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, condemning Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's statement in which he referred to the Prime Minister as a "terrorist".

The protest was led by BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, Leaders of Opposition in Assembly and Council, R. Ashoka, Chalavadhi Narayanaswamy, respectively, and other prominent leaders.

Speaking at the protest, Vijayendra said, "At a time when the entire world is recognising the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has called him a terrorist. This has been strongly condemned not only by the BJP but by the entire country."

Condemning Kharge's statement referring to PM Modi as a terrorist, Vijayendra said that Kharge and the Congress party are unable to tolerate the Prime Minister's popularity. He pointed out that more than 25 countries have conferred their highest honours on PM Modi. He demanded that Mallikarjun Kharge apologise to the people of the country.

Vijayendra also criticised the state government, alleging that salaries are not being paid on time in several departments, including the police. He said this reflects the state's deteriorating financial condition.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he makes anti-national statements even abroad. She further accused both Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of being anti-India.

She alleged that they are behaving like foreign agents and even described them as agents of George Soros. She claimed that they are acting in India in line with such influences.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka said Kharge's remarks are an unforgivable offence and an insult to the nation. He alleged that Congress leaders had referred to a cooker blast accused as "brother".

He further claimed that a Rajya Sabha member, considered close to Kharge, had once raised pro-Pakistan slogans in the Vidhana Soudha, and alleged that Kharge had not condemned it. He also stated that Congress leaders remained passive during the terrorist attack on a hotel in Mumbai.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy questioned whether Kharge made the statement on his own or whether Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had prompted him to do so.

He alleged that Kharge had earlier compared the BJP and RSS to a poisonous snake and made statements inciting violence. He questioned whether calling the Prime Minister a terrorist reflects political maturity.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol questioned whether Kharge and his son were making such statements to please Sonia Gandhi. He recalled Kharge's earlier comparison of the BJP and RSS to a poisonous snake.

He said that by making such remarks about the Prime Minister, Congress would face the curse of 140 crore people and predicted that the party would be wiped out. MPs, MLAs, and Members of the Legislative Council were present at the protest.
Mumbai, April 23 : The upcoming S. S. Rajamouli epic 'Varanasi', which stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is set to make an international appearance at Comic Con Experience Mexico 2026.

The film will be showcased through an exclusive panel scheduled for April 24 at the Thunder Stage, marking a significant milestone in its journey toward worldwide audiences.

Producer S. S. Karthikeya will present a special segment titled aVaranasi to the Worlda, offering attendees a unique glimpse into the film. The presentation will also feature an exclusive video message from the filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli himself, along with never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage. The session will conclude with a live interaction, giving fans a rare opportunity to engage directly and experience the vision behind one of Indiaas biggest cinematic spectacles.

Adding to the buzz, Mahesh Babuas powerful look as Rudhra, Prithviraj Sukumaranas intense first look as Kumbha, and Priyanka Chopra Jonasas commanding avatar as Mandakini from Varanasi have already been revealed, sending social media into a frenzy and fueling nationwide excitement.

Even before its theatrical release in India and upcoming showcase at Comic Con Experience Mexico 2026, Varanasi has already begun creating waves globally. Its first glimpse was unveiled at the Trailer Festival at Le Grand Rex, Europeas largest screen, where it drew an electrifying response, with audiences erupting into applause, cheers, and whistles from the very first frame.

With these striking glimpses raising expectations, anticipation has now reached fever pitch as audiences eagerly await this grand cinematic spectacle. The film is set to arrive in cinemas on April 7, 2027.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Jaipur, April 23 : Shiv Ratan Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of Bikaji Foods International, passed away on Thursday in Chennai after suffering a heart attack at the age of 74.

He had travelled to the city with his family for his wife's medical treatment.

According to sources, Agarwal's wife had recently undergone a heart bypass surgery and had been advised rest.

The family was staying at a hotel in Chennai during her recovery.

At around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Agarwal reportedly began feeling unwell.

As his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Agarwal founded the Bikaji brand in Bikaner, transforming a modest venture into one of India's leading packaged snack companies.

The company traces its roots to 'Shivdeep Foods Products', named after his son Deepak Agarwal, which later evolved into the Bikaji brand.

Following a division in the family business associated with Haldiram's, Agarwal chose to chart his own path.

He moved to Bikaner and started a bhujia manufacturing business under Shivdeep Foods Products, laying the foundation for what would become a major player in India's snack industry.

In 1993, the company was rebranded as 'Bikaji' -- a name inspired by Rao Bika, the founder of Bikaner -- giving the brand a distinct regional identity with global appeal.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed his condolences on Agarwal's demise.

In his social media post on X, Gehlot said, "The news of the sudden passing of the country's renowned industrialist and Chief Managing Director of Bikaji, Shiv Ratan Agarwal, is deeply saddening. The demise of Shiv Ratan Agarwal, who brought fame to Bikaner's Bhujia both within the country and abroad through the Bikaji brand, is an irreparable loss. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and to bestow upon the bereaved family the strength to bear this grief. Om Shanti."
New Delhi, April 23 : Chronic stress can disrupt bowel functions and now, a new report on Thursday suggested that eating late at night amplifies these effects, with implications for both digestive health and the gut microbiome.

Researchers analysed data from more than 11,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the US to examine links between chronic stress, late-night eating, and bowel dysfunction.

Individuals with a high allostatic load score a" the cumulative physiological stress as reflected in body mass index (BMI), cholesterol level, and blood pressure a" who also reported eating more than 25 per cent of daily calories after 9 p.m. were 1.7 times more likely to experience constipation and diarrhoea than those with lower scores who did not eat late at night.

"Itas not just what you eat, but when you eat it," said Harika Dadigiri, resident physician at New York Medical College at Saint Maryas and Saint Clareas Hospital said the studyas lead author. "And when weare already under stress, that timing may deliver a adouble hita to gut health," she added.

Similarly, data from more than 4,000 participants in the American Gut Project found that people with both high stress levels and late-night eating habits were 2.5 times more likely to report bowel problems.

These individuals had significantly lower gut microbiome diversity, suggesting that meal timing might magnify the impact of stress on the microbiome via the gut-brain axis a" the two-way communication system involving nerves, hormones and gut bacteria.

The findings highlight associations rather than cause-and-effect.

Further research is needed to better understand how stress, eating patterns and gut health are connected, said the study.

Dr Dadigiri is sympathetic to those who reach for late-night snacks after long, demanding days, and as a medical resident, she counts herself among them. "Small, consistent habits, like maintaining a structured meal routine, may help promote more regular eating patterns and support digestive function over time," she said.
Chennai, April 23 : Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 56.81 per cent till 1 p.m. on Thursday as polling progressed steadily across all 234 Assembly constituencies in a single phase election marked by a four-cornered contest.

The battle features the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-led front, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and actor Vijayas Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

A total of 4,023 candidates are in the fray, with over 5.73 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots.

Among districts, Tiruppur registered the highest turnout at 62.97 per cent, followed by Namakkal (62.51 per cent), Erode (61.79 per cent) and Salem (61.42 per cent). The Nilgiris recorded the lowest turnout at 50.42 per cent, with Kanyakumari (50.35 per cent) and Tirunelveli (50.73 per cent) also witnessing relatively lower participation.

Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam cast his vote in Periyakulam in Theni district. Speaking to reporters, he said the political impact of Vijay would be known only after the results are declared.

Film personalities also joined voters in exercising their franchise and appealed for greater participation. Director K. Bhagyaraj voted in Chennaias Thousand Lights constituency along with his family and urged voters, especially the youth, to think about the next five years while casting their vote.

Actor Yogi Babu cast his vote in the Maduravoyal constituency after standing in a queue, and called upon citizens to recognise the importance of voting and ensure they take part in the democratic process.

Meanwhile, election authorities acted against violations of poll rules. In Tirupattur, a TVK functionary was arrested for allegedly recording a video inside a polling booth while casting his vote, which is prohibited under Election Commission norms.

Polling is being conducted under tight security arrangements across the State, with officials closely monitoring the process to ensure free and fair elections. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.
Chandigarh, April 23 : The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance and initiated a detailed inquiry into multiple suicide incidents reported in the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Kurukshetra.

Citing a media report and preliminary information received by the commission, several incidents of suicides and suicide attempts have occurred within a short span, raising grave concerns regarding student safety, mental well-being and institutional accountability.

It has been reported that a first-year student attempted suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of a hostel building, but was rescued in time and hospitalized.

Earlier, on April 16, a second-year student was found dead in his hostel room, leading to protests by fellow students alleging a delayed response by the administration.

Additionally, two more student deaths were reported in February and March, followed by another incident on April 8, indicating a disturbing pattern of recurring cases.

The full commission, comprising Chairperson Justice (retd) Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, has expressed concern that despite successive incidents, the action taken by the institute appeared limited, including the transfer of two professors.

The latest suicide attempt on April 18 further indicated that the measures taken so far are neither adequate nor effective.

The commission has observed that the situation points towards possible deficiencies in mental health support systems, counselling services, monitoring mechanisms, and crisis intervention protocols within the institution.

Emphasizing the responsibility of educational institutions, the commission stated that their duty extends beyond academic instruction to ensuring students' physical and mental well-being. The recurrence of such incidents, prima facie, reflects a failure to fulfill these obligations and raises concerns under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, dignity, and mental well-being.

The commission has also noted that the matter engages Indiaas international human rights commitments, particularly under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

The commission has sought detailed reports from the NIT Kurukshetra Director and the Deputy Commissioner, who is directed to submit a status report, and listed the matter for the next hearing on May 19.
Port Vila, April 23 : Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Thursday called on Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila, where the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation across key sectors.

Both sides also reaffirmed their shared commitment to the well-being and development of the people of both countries.

Following the meeting, the MoS took to X and posted: "Honoured to call on Jotham Napat, Prime Minister of Vanuatu. Held warm and productive discussions on strengthening India-Vanuatu bilateral cooperation across key sectors, reaffirming our shared commitment to the well-being and progress of our people."

Earlier in the day, Margherita met Xavier Emanuel Harry, Vanuatu's Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, and held discussions on deepening bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors.

He reiterated India's commitment to remain a reliable partner in Vanuatu's development efforts.

Sharing the details of the meeting on X, Margherita said, "Pleased to meet Xavier Emanuel Harry, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, IC & External Trade of Vanuatu. India and Vanuatu share a strong partnership anchored in mutual trust and shared values."

"Had productive discussions on advancing bilateral development cooperation, particularly in health, capacity building, and climate-resilient infrastructure. Also discussed cooperation in multilateral fora. India remains a committed and reliable partner in Vanuatu's development journey," he added.

On Wednesday, Margherita visited the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology in Vanuatu, a flagship institution established with India's support to strengthen digital skills and build local capacity among youth.

He stated that the institution stands as a strong pillar of India-Vanuatu friendship and a testament to growing bilateral cooperation.

The MoS reached Port Vila on Wednesday on his first official visit to Vanuatu, aimed at further deepening the bilateral relationship between the two nations.

"Delighted to arrive in Port Vila on my first official visit to Vanuatu. Looking forward to meaningful engagements to further deepen our longstanding friendship and partnership," Margherita posted on X after his arrival.

--IANS

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-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Chennai, April 23 : Pointing out that he would be casting his vote as always, actor Vishal on Thursday urged all the voters of Tamil Nadu to go and cast their votes in their respective constituencies saying, the time "to exercise the most important right" had come.

Taking to his X timeline to urge the masses to vote, he wrote, "And the time has come to exercise the most important right of ours in this democratic country. Yes, good morning one and all. Letas begin and register this day with utmost responsibility to go and VOTE without hesitance and without fail in our respective constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Itas D DAY. #April23. "

He went on to say, "No heat no long lines, no excuses and letas make sure we bring in the maximum percentage of voting this time. I am going to vote as always without fail and also anticipating the same with everyone. Please see your ballot paper without rushing and vote for the right and deserving candidate. The next five years of Tamil Naduas growth will be decided by us. Letas make it happen. God bless."

Meanwhile, scores of people including top stars from the Tamil film industry turned up to cast their votes. While actor and politician Vijay voted at Neelankarai, his dad S A Chandrasekhar and his mom Shoba Chandrasekhar, both of whom are well known Tamil film directors, cast their votes at the Government school in Kamaraj Avenue, Adyar.

H Vinoth, who has directed actor Vijay's last film 'Jana Nayagan', cast his vote at the polling station in Anaicut.

While director Pa Ranjith cast his vote at his native place in Karalapakkam, director Atlee cast his vote at Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam.

Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth and his younger daughter, director Soundarya Rajinikanth, voted at the Stella Maris College for Women, while politician and actor Kamal Haasan arrived with his daughter Shruti Haasan to cast his vote at the Government School in Teynampet.

Vikram cast his vote at The Besant Theosopical Higher Secondary School, while Gautham Karthik, the son of actor and politician Karthik, cast his vote in Stella Maris College.

Ajith, who returned in a hurry to Chennai from Belgium where he was racing along with his car racing team Ajith Kumar Racing, was among the first to turn up to cast his vote in Thiruvanmiyur.

Popular music director Anirudh Ravichander and pan Indian actor Dhanush cast their votes at the St Francis Xavier Middle School in Alwarpet at around 9 am.

Several other stars and film celebrities are making their way along with scores of people across the state to select their representatives from a total of 4,023 candidates.

Polling for the 234-member Assembly is being held on Thursday, with the counting of votes set for May 4.

--

IANS

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Vellore : , April 23 (IANS) In a unique blend of technology and democracy, voters in parts of Vellore district were greeted by robots as they arrived to cast their ballots in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday.

At select polling stations in Gudiyatham and Vellore Assembly constituencies, humanoid robots were deployed to assist and engage voters, offering a novel experience on polling day.

The initiative, introduced by election authorities on a pilot basis, aimed to enhance voter convenience while showcasing the integration of technology into public services.

At the Government Municipal Higher Secondary School in Gudiyatham town, a saree-clad robot welcomed voters in Tamil as they queued up outside the polling booth. Holding a tray with flowers and chocolates, the robot created a warm and festive atmosphere, surprising many first-time and regular voters alike.

"We were pleasantly surprised to see a robot greeting voters at the polling booth. It was speaking in Tamil and even gave tips on how to stay safe in the heat," a voter said.

Officials said that out of the 1,427 polling booths across Vellore district, two were selected for the experimental deployment of robots.

In Gudiyatham, the robot not only welcomed voters but also guided them through the facilities available inside the polling station, helping streamline the voting process.

A similar setup was introduced at the Government Muslim Higher Secondary School in the Vellore Assembly constituency. Here, the robot was equipped with sensors that enabled it to interact with voters, including offering a handshake as they approached. It also provided clear instructions on the voting procedure, including the mandatory deposit of mobile phones at designated counters before entering the booth.

In addition, the robot played an important role in voter awareness by making announcements about special arrangements. It encouraged senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities to use separate queues to avoid long waiting times. It also informed voters about the availability of wheelchairs and other assistance facilities at the polling stations.

The initiative drew widespread attention and curiosity, with many voters stopping briefly to interact with the machines.

Election officials described the move as part of efforts to make polling more accessible, efficient, and engaging in an increasingly tech-driven environment.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 23 : New details have emerged in the case of the sexual assault and murder of a 22-year-old woman, the daughter of an IRS officer, following the arrest of the accused by Delhi Police, officials reported on Thursday.

Police arrested Rahul Meena, who is accused of murdering and sexually assaulting the daughter of an IRS officer in the Amar Colony area of the national capital.

According to the preliminary information, the victim was studying in her room when the accused entered the house. She questioned him about how he had managed to enter the premises. The accused told her that her mother had called him inside.

He demanded money from the victim, stating that he urgently needed cash. However, the victim refused to give him any money, which led to a verbal argument between the two, officials said.

The victim started screaming, and the accused warned her not to shout. In a fit of rage, he lost control and struck her repeatedly on the face with a lamp, they added.

The investigators mentioned that the victim sustained multiple bruises on her face and body due to the assault.

After the victim was unconscious due to the head injuries, the accused allegedly raped her. He then dragged her body to another room where the lockers were kept. To open the first locker, he used the victim's finger to unlock the fingerprint-secured system, officials said.

For the second locker, he allegedly used a screwdriver to break it open.

After collecting jewellery and cash, he placed the valuables into a bag.

The police mentioned that since Meena's pants were stained with blood, he changed into the trousers belonging to the victim's brother. He then fled the house and headed towards the railway station.

CCTV footage shows him entering the colony at around 6:30 a.m., and approximately nine minutes later, he entered the house. Nearly an hour later, at around 7:20 a.m., he was seen leaving the premises.

According to police sources, the accused was arrested using three crucial digital clues -- a stolen mobile phone, hotel Wi-Fi usage, and Instagram chats -- which helped investigators track the accused, identified as Rahul Meena, who had fled after allegedly committing the crime.

Following the incident, multiple police teams were formed, and extensive CCTV footage from nearby areas was examined as part of the probe.

During the investigation, it emerged that the accused was not using his personal mobile phone. Instead, he had stolen a handset during an earlier incident of harassment in Alwar and used it strategically to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.

Further leads revealed that he had checked into a hotel in Dwarka, where he accessed the internet through the establishment's Wi-Fi network.

Police officials said that during this period, Rahul remained in touch with a relative residing in Gurugram via Instagram.

By analysing Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR) and employing digital surveillance techniques, the police were able to pinpoint his location. Additional inputs were gathered after questioning the relative.

According to investigators, Rahul Meena raped the IRS officer's 22-year-old daughter before strangling her with a phone charger. He then changed his clothes and reportedly fled with around Rs 2.5 lakh stolen from the house.

The incident occurred at the bureaucrat's residence in southeast Delhi's Kailash Hills locality on Wednesday morning.

Based on technical evidence and CCTV footage, the accused was tracked down and eventually arrested from a hotel in Dwarka, where he had been hiding.
Hyderabad, April 23 : Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. S. Sajjanar on Thursday asked the banks to focus on preventing cyber frauds by ensuring zero mule accounts.

The Hyderabad police chief recommended the introduction of a twin-challenge framework to reorient bank branch priorities away from account-opening targets and towards citizen safety and institutional integrity.

He strongly advocated that both these challenges should be embedded as formal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the branch level, with branches achieving compliance to be formally recognised and rewarded by higher officials of the bank.

The Police Commissioner held a conclave of senior bank officials to address bank account misuse and strengthen cyber fraud prevention.

The conclave was held in the wake of Operation Octopus -- the Hyderabad City Police's coordinated two-phase initiative to dismantle organised cyber fraud networks -- and the subsequent arrest of bank officials found potentially complicit in the opening of mule accounts.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Commissioner, was co-attended by Additional Commissioner of Police, Crimes & SIT, M. Srinivasulu, and Reserve Bank of India's Regional Director Chinmoy Kumar.

The coordination meeting was attended by 75 representatives from 45 public and private sector banks.

The Commissioner said that no customer should fall victim to cybercrime. Zero cybercrime victims is the measurable target a" to be monitored via NCRP complaint data linked to the branch.

"No mule account should be opened at the branch. Strict KYC compliance, enhanced due diligence, and real-time monitoring are the operational requirements underlying this target," he said.

The Commissioner emphasised that bank managements must not treat the volume of account openings as a performance metric. Branches that prioritise targets over diligence are the primary entry points for fraud networks. Safe customer and zero mule account outcomes a" not account volumes a" must define branch performance, he added.

He told the banks that they must adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards cybercrime at every level of the organisation a" from frontline staff to senior management.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for branches must incorporate monitoring of NCRP complaints attributed to the branch, with proactive remediation expected, he said.

Bank staff must demonstrate empathy and offer prompt, structured support to customers who have fallen victim to cyber fraud a" including guiding victims to the national helpline (1930) and the cybercrime portal (cybercrime.gov.in).

Strict disciplinary action must be taken against KYC verifiers found to be involved in fraudulent account openings, accompanied by periodic forensic audits of accounts opened by flagged officials. Any employee found complicit with cyber criminals should be blacklisted across the banking and financial services ecosystem.

Advanced technological tools a" including solutions such as Mule Hunter a" must be adopted to detect and prevent mule account activity in real time.

Sajjanar said customers seeking to prematurely close Fixed Deposits must be proactively cautioned and verified, particularly where fund transfers are involved, to intercept cyber fraud in progress.

The Commissioner provided a detailed briefing on the operating methods of cyber fraud syndicates currently active across India. These networks are primarily headquartered in countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, and the UAE, and engage intermediaries within India to procure bank accounts by colluding with bank officials a" particularly KYC verifiers a" to facilitate the siphoning of funds from Indian victims.

The briefing underscored the transnational and organised nature of these networks, and the critical role that insider banking complicity plays in enabling them.
Jaipur, April 23 : Raising concern over the growing number of abandoned Nandis (bulls) on the streets, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade emphasised the need for joint efforts by society and the government to address the issue.

He underlined initiatives such as fodder donations and shelter through cow shelters, while noting that the Government of Rajasthan is running special campaigns for their protection.

He also highlighted a dedicated scheme encouraging the rearing and agricultural use of Nandis, under which farmers are eligible for annual financial assistance of Rs 30,000.

Haribhau Bagde on Thursday visited Bijorawas village in the Behror region, where he attended the consecration ceremony of a Shiv Temple located within the Baba Bishah Temple complex.

On the occasion, he performed pooja and rituals in accordance with traditional scriptural practices, praying for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of the people of the state.

Addressing the gathering, the Governor said that Lord Shiva symbolises the removal of ignorance and negativity, guiding individuals towards knowledge and positivity.

Emphasising the importance of cultural continuity, he noted that it is essential for the younger generation to remain deeply connected with their traditions and heritage.

"Lord Shiva is the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance and negativity, bringing the light of knowledge and positivity into our lives. It is essential for the youth to internalise their traditions and culture in order to keep their cultural identity, values, and continuity alive. This practice allows individuals to remain connected to their roots while harmonising with modernity, thereby contributing to the construction of a strong society and nation," said Governor.

He stated that alongside modern education, children must be instilled with a strong understanding of culture and values.

Such a balance, he said, helps individuals stay rooted in their identity while adapting to changing times, ultimately contributing to the development of a strong and harmonious society.

Highlighting another key concern, the Governor spoke about the issue of abandoned bulls wandering on the streets. The Governor further informed that the Government of Rajasthan is actively running special campaigns to provide safe shelter to such animals.
Islamabad, April 23 : Suspension of goods transport has triggered a shortage of edibles and fuel in Pakistan's Rawalpindi and Islamabad and traders and good transporters have urged the district administration to reopen the roads, local media reported on Thursday.

Oil Tanker Contractors' Association spokesperson Noman Ali Butt said that supply had been impacted due to no oil tanker movement.

"The ban on the entry of goods transport vehicles is severely hampering the supply of petroleum products," he said, the daily Dawn reported. Supply problems have been ongoing in Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the past two to three days as tankers are not being allowed.

He mentioned that oil supply vehicles for Peshawar and Islamabad airports were also parked at depots, and fuel supply to the airports was likely to be impacted. The association requested authorities to restore the supply to Islamabad and Rawalpindi by allowing tankers to enter immediately.

Speaking to Dawn, Rawalpindi Goods Transport Association President Shaqeel Qureshi said that the goods transport system had been impacted and no goods had been supplied to grain, fruit, and vegetable markets due to the closure of roads since April 19. He said that daily wage workers were also impacted.

He further said that labourers came for work to transport terminals; however, they returned after finding no work. He said they had suggested to the authorities to allow good transport to use the motorway to bring supplies from other parts of Pakistan.

"Public transport vehicles on Peshawar Road have been allowed to bring passengers to other parts of the country via the motorway; therefore, we should also be allowed to use this route." He noted that transport charges would rise if goods were transported through the motorway; however, shortages of grains and edibles could be prevented.

Earlier on Sunday, the district administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi announced the suspension of public and goods transport in the twin cities. The Islamabad Deputy Commissioner has suspended heavy transport and public transport services until further notice, without mentioning any reason, Pakistan-based Geo News reported.

"Heavy transport and public transport in the city are being suspended until further orders. Citizens are earnestly requested to cooperate with the security agencies. Thank you," the Islamabad DC said in a post on X.

Similarly, authorities suspended all private, public, and goods transport in Rawalpindi with immediate effect, the Rawalpindi DC said, Geo News reported.
Kolkata, April 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hitting the hustings in West Bengal on Thursday, gave a ten-point guarantee to the "women and sisters" of the state and outlined new government's key agenda, if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is voted to power.

Addressing a huge gathering in Krishnanagar, the Prime Minister lambasted the Trinamool Congress and INDIA bloc for stymying the Women's Reservation Bill in the Parliament, asserting that those who conspired against women's rights will see their fate in ruins, in the ongoing state elections.

Stating that few days ago, PM Modi gave six guarantees to people of West Bengal, today he was extending 10 guarantees to the sisters of state which he said, will be implemented on ground -- to safeguard the women and equip them with sustainable livelihood means.

"Those who commit atrocities against women and daughters in Bengal will be punished. Every block will have a Mahila Thana. Women will be recruited into the police force on a large scale. Within a year, Rs 36,000 will be transferred to women's accounts," he said, eliciting loud applause from the crowd.

He also said: "The BJP government in Bengal will provide Rs 50,000 assistance for girls' graduation, pregnant mothers will receive financial support of Rs 21,000 and for better nutrition of children, an additional Rs 36,000 will be provided."

"Under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the future of daughters will be secured. For self-employment, loans of up to Rs 20 lakh will be provided under the Mudra scheme. Lakhs of women will be supported to become "Lakhpati Didis". Under Ayushman Yojana, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh will be available. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, houses for poor families in Bengal will be registered in the name of women," Prime Minister Modi added.

The Prime Minister also attacked Mamata Banerjee government over its 'poor track record' in dealing with illegal infiltrators and vowed to protect the genuine refugees.

He said that those having taken refuge in West Bengal on grounds of religious persecution will be granted protection and the work of granting citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be accelerated.

Prime Minister Modi also took a caustic jibe at the Trinamool Congress over his Jhalmuri break in the middle of the BJP's poll campaign, saying that this has given a thunderous shock to some people, a remark addressed to the ruling party leaders mocking him over snacking on a local street food.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, April 23 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu on Thursday joined the 100th Annual Day celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), reminding students that education must go beyond academics to "foster character, creativity and critical thinking".

Addressing the gathering, Sandhu said, "The strength of any institution lies in its people. The faculty, with their scholarship and dedication, have played a critical role in maintaining academic standards."

He said institutions of higher education must not only impart knowledge, but also cultivate the ability to think creatively, adapt to change, and act with integrity.

"The linkage between knowledge and practice becomes particularly important in fields such as commerce and economics, where theory must constantly engage with evolving realities," he said.

In recent years, we have seen new opportunities emerge in areas such as digital finance, entrepreneurship, data analytics, and global trade. At the same time, complex challenges are grappling the world today, he said.

Preparing students to navigate this environment requires a combination of academic depth, practical exposure, and ethical grounding, he said.

The L-G said India today stands at a significant juncture. "With a rapidly growing economy, expanding global engagement, and ongoing technology transformation, the demand for skilled, responsible, and innovative individuals has never been greater," he said.

"As Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji often emphasises, education must go beyond academics to foster character, creativity, and critical thinking," he said in his social media post on X.

Founded in 1926 by Sir Shri Ram, this iconic institution has nurtured generations of leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and professionals who have contributed significantly to the growth of Bharat and Delhi.

In a message on X, the L-G said, "Congratulations to the faculty, students, and alumni of @SRCCOfficial on this historic occasion. As SRCC embarks on its second century, I am confident it will continue to serve as a bridge between innovation and responsibility, contributing meaningfully to the vision of a #ViksitBharat and a #ViksitDelhi."

"It was especially meaningful to revisit the SRCC campus and recall my earlier visits, both as a student and in 2016. In today's rapidly evolving economic landscape, institutions like SRCC play a vital role in shaping future-ready minds," he said.
Regional Agriculture Conference of the North Zone to be held in Lucknow on 24. Image Source: IANS

April 23 : Lucknow: The North Zone is the lifeline of agriculture. Uttar Pradesh has taken several positive steps in the agriculture sector. As a result of these efforts, under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, a Regional Agriculture Conference (North Zone) will be held on April 24 (Friday) at Centrum Hotel.

The conference will see participation from 9 states and regions including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab and Delhi. Agriculture Ministers, Horticulture Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Directors, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), progressive farmers, scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, and officials from the Government of India will be present.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministers of State Bhagirath Choudhary and Ramnath Thakur will attend the inaugural session.

This information was provided by Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi. Speaking to journalists at Lok Bhavan on Thursday, he gave detailed information about the event.

He stated that discussions and reviews will be held on agricultural credit, Kisan Credit Card, progress of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, farmers of the states, start-ups supported by the Centre, FPOs, NABARD, banks, mill owners, processing units, possibilities in horticulture, progress of the pulses self-reliance mission, seed agencies, procurement agencies, irrigation companies, National Edible Oil Mission, and other related subjects.

The Agriculture Minister said, "Various states have undertaken commendable work for farmers welfare and income enhancement. They will present their initiatives to inform and inspire other states. In Uttar Pradesh, intercropping with sugarcane has been introduced. A presentation will also be made on the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) method. The Government of India has recognized it as a best practice and beneficial for farmers."

He added that similarly, the Punjab government has adopted crop diversification methods in paddy cultivation, while Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have implemented special techniques in horticulture. Information on other positive initiatives in agriculture from different states will also be exchanged.

The conference will also include detailed discussions and reviews on controlling the black marketing of fake pesticides and fertilizers, ensuring effective distribution, promoting alternatives, encouraging balanced use, and the use of alternative fertilizers in place of chemical fertilizers.

Discussions will also focus on future policy formulation for the North Zone and ways to empower farmers and make them economically self-reliant.

Responding to a question, the Agriculture Minister said, there is no shortage of fertilizers in Uttar Pradesh. The state currently has more than 20 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers available, including 11.5 lakh metric tonnes of urea.

He added that the government has decided to provide approximately 40 thousand quintals of Dhaincha seed to farmers, which will help reduce urea consumption by 20 percent.
Government provides relief for rain-affected wheat; procurement to be carried out across the state with relaxed norms. Image Source: IANS

April 23 : Lucknow: In view of the wheat crop being affected by unseasonal rains, the government has provided significant relief to farmers. Wheat procurement for the Rabi Marketing Season 2026-27 will now be carried out under relaxed quality norms.

The objective is to protect farmers from losses and prevent them from being compelled to sell their produce at lower prices due to distress.

As per the governments decision, the permissible limit for wheat with luster loss (reduced shine) has been increased to 70%. Similarly, the limit for shriveled and broken grains, which was earlier 6%, has now been raised to 20%. This will ensure that farmers wheat is procured despite quality deterioration caused by rainfall.

Wheat procured under relaxed norms will be stored separately from standard wheat, with a distinct accounting system.

This stock will be utilized only within Uttar Pradesh to ensure proper quality management.

The government has clarified that if there is any further decline in quality during storage of such wheat, the entire responsibility will rest with the state government.

Additionally, these stocks will be disposed of on a priority basis. This decision is expected to provide relief to lakhs of farmers in the state whose crops have been impacted by recent rains, and is being seen as an important step towards safeguarding farmers interests and maintaining stability in the agricultural sector.
Anand, April 23 : Polling for the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district continued through Thursday with 37.14 per cent voter turnout recorded by 1 p.m., according to data released by the Election Commission of India.

Voting began at 7 a.m. on Thursday across 306 polling stations in the Assembly constituency, which covers 46 villages of Umreth taluka and parts of Anand's rural area, along with the municipalities of Ode, Umreth and Boriavi.

A total of 2,45,623 voters are eligible to decide the outcome in the poll contest involving six candidates.

The Election Commission has scheduled polling to continue until 6 p.m., while counting of votes will be held on May 4.

Officials said voting has been proceeding in a structured manner under tight administrative supervision, with around 1,348 polling personnel deployed on duty, assisted by 22 micro observers and 19 nodal officers.

Nearly 1,500 officials in total are engaged in the polling process.

Webcasting has been enabled at all polling stations to ensure continuous monitoring.

Security arrangements remain in place with the deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four Police Inspectors, around 500 police and home guard personnel, and three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force.

To ensure accessibility, election authorities have arranged 218 wheelchairs for elderly and differently-abled voters, supported by 361 volunteers across polling stations.

Six dedicated vehicles have also been provided for voters aged 85 years and above, and persons with disabilities to assist them in reaching polling centres.

Voter Assistance Booths have been set up at all stations to provide guidance and information.

The electorate includes 4,174 first-time voters aged between 18 to 19 years, along with 1,556 voters aged above 85 years and 1,546 differently-abled persons.

Officials said some voters from these categories have already cast their votes through home voting arrangements conducted ahead of the polling day.

Earlier, 212 election-duty staff members exercised their vote through postal ballots between April 15 to 17.

Authorities have also put in place medical arrangements in coordination with hospitals in Anand, Bhalej and Karamsad to provide emergency care to election personnel.

ORS packets have been made available at polling stations as a precaution against heat-related conditions.

Voters are permitted to use any one of 12 approved identity documents, including Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence and voter ID, while non-resident Indian voters must produce their original passport for identification at polling stations.
Kolkata, April 23 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday strongly criticised the Election Commission over imposing restrictions on the use of motorbikes two days before the Assembly polls in Bengal. On Thursday, Justice Krishna Rao told the Election Commission that it was abusing its power and citizens were being harassed in this way.

After the judgeas observation, the Election Commission will submit an affidavit to the court on Friday. In the affidavit, the Election Commission will explain why the restrictions were imposed two days before the election. The poll panel can also tell the court about past bad incidents regarding bikes.

On Thursday, Justice Rao also told the Election Commission that the rights of ordinary citizens cannot be taken away in this way.

The judge commented that it could stop the cars too. Even then, people can carry bombs and guns and create chaos, said the judge.

The judge further asked the Election Commission to show the court how many cases in the last five years were examples of bike gangs creating chaos.

The court was of the view that this was a step that had been taken to halt everything two days before the election. The judge further said that this was being done to cover up the failure of the authorities

The Election Commission issued a notification on Tuesday stating that no bike processions will be allowed two days before the polls.

The commission's notification stated that bikes can be ridden only from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. two days before the election. However, no passenger will be allowed to sit on the back of the bike during this time. Bikes can be ridden from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. on the day of the election.

However, this exemption will be available only if the bike is used for voting or for any urgent work.

The Commission stated that these restrictions will not be effective for urgent needs like medical emergency, family work or taking children to and from school. Those who ride bikes to go to social events have also been exempted.

According to the Commission, this rule will not be effective for other App-based cab and food delivery services. Apart from this, if anyone wants to get exemption from the restrictions, he will have to take written permission from the local police station, the poll panel said.

Challenging this order of the Election Commission, the attention of the Calcutta High Court was drawn to the directives on Wednesday.

Justice Rao allowed the case to be filed and the hearing of that case was held on Thursday. Tomorrow, the Election Commission will submit an affidavit in this regard.
Agartala, April 23 : A special session of the Tripura Assembly will be held on April 30 to deliberate on women's reservation and adopt a resolution on the issue, government officials said on Thursday.

Tripura Assembly Secretary Amiya Kanti Nath said that the ninth session of the 13th Tripura Assembly, which had earlier been adjourned indefinitely, will reconvene on April 30.

He added that Assembly Speaker Ram Pada Jamatia has summoned the House for the second phase of the session on that day (on April 30).

"The 9th Session of the Tripura Assembly, which commenced on March 13, was adjourned sine die at the conclusion of its sitting on March 23," Nath added.

Parliamentary Affairs and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said that after discussions on the women's reservation issue on April 30, a motion will be adopted in the Assembly.

"Similar special sessions will be held in other Assemblies of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states to discuss the women's reservation issue. Resolutions will also likely be passed in those state Assemblies," the Minister told IANS.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aims to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies by 2029, failed to pass in the Lok Sabha on April 17.

Following the development in Parliament, the BJP has been organising "Jan Aakrosh Padyatra" in different parts of the country, criticising the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party (SP), Left parties and others.

The BJP has alleged that the developments surrounding the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam have exposed what it calls the Opposition's "anti-women" mindset.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, in a post on his official Facebook account, described April 17 as a "Black Day for Indian Democracy" and said that the Opposition's stance had revealed its attitude towards women.

"Failure to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha reveals the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, SP, and the INDIA alliance's deep-seated 'anti-women' mentality. This is a dark chapter in our democracy. It's not just the defeat of a bill, but the shattering of millions of sisters' trust in a brighter future," Chief Minister Saha said.

"While we envision empowerment under 'Nari Shakti', the Opposition's narrow mindset has erected barriers in their path. This is an insult to their dreams and strength," he added.

Chief Minister Saha also asserted that the Opposition's stance would have political consequences.

"The Opposition's insult to 'Nari Shakti' will cost them dearly. This anger will not subside. From the 2029 Lok Sabha polls to every local election, India's women will teach a harsh lesson to those who undermine their aspirations. This marks the beginning of the political end of the Opposition," the Chief Minister said.
New Delhi, April 23 : Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has come to a standstill after Iran seized two ships, including one bound for Kandla port in Gujarat, which has increased uncertainty over the movement of oil and gas as 20 per cent of the world's energy exports transit through the waterway.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has come to a standstill after Iran seized two ships, including one bound for Kandla port in Gujarat, which has increased uncertainty over the movement of oil and gas as 20 per cent of the worldas energy exports transit through the waterway.

As a result, oil prices firmed up on Thursday with the benchmark Brent crude trading at over $103 a barrel.

The bulk of Indiaas LPG imports and 50 per cent of crude imports are sourced from the Persian Gulf which have been impacted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, even as the government is diversifying imports of crude and increasing domestic production of LPG to enhance energy supplies. Some consumers are also switching to alternative fuels such as natural gas, coal and electric cooktops.

Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the US, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said it is "not possible" for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened due to "the blatant violations of the ceasefire" by the US and Israel.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Ghalibaf, said the "violations include the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and warmongering by Israel on all fronts."

Iran remains open to negotiations, said Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, but he added, "breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations"

Meanwhile, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima safely arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday. It crossed the Strait of Hormuz earlier, carrying 31 Indian crew members and over 97,000 metric tonnes of crude oil amid high tensions in the region. The ship was escorted by the Indian Navy. The Government has also refuted social media reports that the captain of the Indian Sanmar Herald paid a toll to cross the Strait earlier.

While the Middle East crisis has led to an abnormal increase in crude prices, the Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by a10 per litre so that consumers do not have to pay a higher price at the pumps. Retail fuel outlets across the country are operating normally and there has been no increase in the prices of petrol

US President Donald Trump has announced an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire that was due to expire on Wednesday even as the American blockade of Iranian ports continues.

White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, clarified that the ceasefire extension is open-ended, and has no new deadline. She further stated that Trump is satisfied with the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran, and Tehran is seen to be in a very weak position. She also told journalists that President Trump will decide when the war would end based on the best interests of the United States.
Kolkata, April 23 : The high percentage of polling so far in the first phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal on Thursday for 162 constituencies has proved that it is not the BJP but the women of the state and the youth, who had opened an active front against the ruling Trinamool Congress, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

"The high percentage of polling, ignoring the scorching heat, proves that May 4 will not only be the day of results but also the day of change in West Bengal. The voters' enthusiasm, especially among women and first time voters today, had proved that it is the women and youth of West Bengal who have really opened up the front against the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing a campaign rally at Mathurapur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, which will be going for polls in the second phase on April 29.

According to him, the women of West Bengal had realised the real character of Trinamool Congress following the role of the party in the Lok Sabha recently to block the Women's Reservation (Amendment Bill).

"The anti-women approach of Trinamool Congress and other Opposition parties has surfaced over the development at the Lok Sabha. So the women of West Bengal have decided to teach the Trinamool Congress a lesson in this election. They will punish the Trinamool Congress this time for being a barrier to women's empowerment. Bengal is the land of Ma Kali and Ma Durga. But in the Trinamool Congress regime now, the women in West Bengal are not safe. So your vote will make all the difference. Do not tolerate injustice anymore," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, he also said that the enthusiasm with which the voters in the 162 Assembly constituencies had been voting on Thursday was a clear indication of the winds of change in West Bengal.

"May 4 will be the expiry date of the 15-years of Trinamool Congress' regime in West Bengal. The dark days of corruption, extortion, violence, and crime against women will be over on May 4," he said.

He also said that after coming to power, the BJP will have a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal infiltrations.

"The illegal infiltrators were taking the share of the rights of local fishermen in the South 24 Parganas district. But Trinamool Congress wants illegal infiltration to continue... to enrich their dedicated vote bank. Rather, Trinamool Congress opposes any action against the illegal infiltrators," the Prime Minister claimed.
New Delhi, April 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a mishap in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh.

The multi-vehicle crash near Drummondganj killed 11 people after a truck hit a car, Bolero, and trailer, causing fire in an SUV on Wednesday evening around 8:20 p.m.

Nine occupants of the SUV were burnt alive after the collision, the police said.

Extending condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic incident, the Prime Minister also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

The Prime Minister on social media platform X said: "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the mishap in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the quick recovery of the injured."

Taking to his official X account, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "The loss of lives in the road accident in Mirzapur district is extremely tragic and heart-rending. My condolences are with the bereaved families. Instructions have been issued to the concerned officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed sorrow over the fatal road accident.

"The news of the deaths of several people in the road accident that occurred in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this accident and pray for the swift recovery of the injured," he said in a message on X.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, "The news of the deaths of several people in a road accident in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh is extremely heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."
New Delhi, April 23 : China could potentially access 80-90 per cent of surveillance cameras in Ukraine, including those on reconnaissance drones, posing a direct security threat during war and chances of drone interception, a new report has claimed.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) China could potentially access 80a"90 per cent of surveillance cameras in Ukraine, including those on reconnaissance drones, posing a direct security threat during war and chances of drone interception, a new report has claimed.

The report from Ukrainian media dev.ua said that there have already been cases of Russians intercepting the control of Ukrainian drones.

The report cited Octava Capital founder Oleksandr Kardakov as saying that Chinese manufacturer Hikvision installed 7,000 cameras in Kyiv Smart City project by 2020.

These smart cameras perform tasks such as recognising licence plates and faces along with monitoring security in schools and kindergartens.

"If China has a backdoor, it can see a lot on the streets of the capital. And not only in the capital. Hikvision is the most popular video surveillance system in Ukraine," the report further stated.

In the US, Hikvision and Dahua equipment feature in the Federal Communications Commission's list and hence an unacceptable risk to national security of Ukraine. Sensitive facilities that fall under Chinese intelligence legislation are prohibited from deploying surveillance systems in the UK, the report added.

The report said concerns extend well beyond cameras to mobile operators' base stations. Chinesea'made batteries at mobile operatorsa base stations often have remote control capabilities. Most of the smartphones in the networks are also from China.

Further energy equipment from Ecoflow, Bluetti, Deye are bestsellers in Ukraine, which provide household electricity homes during the energy crisis.

"Only one country, besides China, has more tech influence on Ukraine a" the USA. United States control the largest payment systems a" Visa, Mastercard and also the cloud a" AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google. The States control AI a" Open AI (ChatGPT), Anthropic (Claude), Gemini," the report noted.

a"IANS

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New Delhi, April 23 : In view of the Maldives adding more teeth to its anti-drug laws, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday advised Indian citizens to avoid carrying to the island any package, baggage or item on behalf of others without being sure of the contents.

In an advisory issued ahead of the summer vacation season, the NCB cautioned Indian citizens travelling to or visiting the Maldives regarding the recent strengthening of anti-narcotics laws in that country and educated them against unknowingly becoming couriers for drug traffickers.

The NCB said in a statement that the recent legislative amendments to the Maldives' Drugs Act, effective from March 2026, prescribe significantly enhanced penalties for drug-related offences, including life imprisonment and, in certain cases involving large-scale trafficking, the death penalty, subject to confirmation by the competent court under the Maldivian law.

The amended law provides stricter punishment even for possession of small quantities of prohibited substances, the central agency added.

Recent instances have been reported involving foreign nationals, including Indian citizens, being arrested in the Maldives for drug-related offences.

In this regard, High Commission of India in Male has also issued advisories urging Indian nationals to strictly comply with local laws and regulations.

"In view of the above, all Indian citizens are strongly advised not to carry any package, baggage, or item on behalf of others under any circumstances without being absolutely sure of the contents," the NCB said.

"They are also advised to observe exercise extreme caution at airports, ports, and transit points when approached by unknown requesting carriage of goods," it added.

Advising Indian citizens to always ensure proper supervision of personal baggage, the NCB told them to be mindful of the fact that ignorance of the law is not a defence and any legal violations may result in severe punishments.

Indian citizens are urged to report any suspicious approach or incident at the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline '1933'.

"The NCB reiterates its zero-tolerance approach towards drug trafficking and urges all citizens to remain vigilant, responsible, and law-abiding while travelling abroad," the statement said.
Lucknow, April 23 : Lakhs of students in Uttar Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday as the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) declared the results of the High School (Class 10) and Intermediate (Class 12) examinations for 2026.

Girls once again dominated the merit list with an impressive performance. In the High School examination, Kashish Varma of Sitapur and Anshika Varma of Barabanki jointly secured the first position in the state after scoring 97.83 per cent marks.

In Class 10, 90.42 per cent of students have passed, while in Class 12, 80.38 per cent of students have passed.

In the Intermediate examination, Shikha Varma of Sitapur topped the state with 97.60 per cent marks.

Students must secure at least 33 per cent marks to pass the UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 examinations. Those who do not meet the minimum requirement will have the option to appear for compartmental examinations.

The UP Board examinations were conducted from February 18 to March 12 across 8,033 examination centres in all 75 districts of the state.

Evaluation of answer sheets was carried out at 254 centres between March 18 and April 4, involving the deployment of around 55,976 teachers. Nearly 1.23 crore answer sheets of the Intermediate examination were evaluated during this period.

UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh said that the list of toppers was released along with the declaration of results. He added that students who have achieved excellence at the state level will be honoured by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Students can access their results through the boardas official website, DigiLocker, and SMS services.

Approximately 26.02 lakh candidates appeared in the High School examination, while 24.91 lakh students took the Intermediate examination, highlighting the extensive scale of the stateas education system.

Following the smooth conduct of the examinations, the evaluation of nearly 2.75 crore answer books was completed within just 15 working days at the 254 evaluation centres. To ensure accuracy and reliability in the assessment process, principals and senior lecturers were appointed as examiners this year.

The board said the examinations were conducted in a peaceful and malpractice-free manner.
Jerusalem, April 23 : India's Ambassador to Israel, J P Singh, reaffirmed New Delhi's commitment to further strengthen Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations during a meting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of an event.

Singh met President Herzog during an event celebrating Israel's 78th Independence Day and extended warm greetings of the Indian leadership on the occasion.

"At an event celebrating Israelas 78th Independence Day, Amb. J.P. Singh extended his warmest greetings to President H.E. Isaac Herzog on behalf of the leadership and people of India. Amb. reaffirmed India's commitment to further strengthening the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership," Embassy of India in Israel posted on X.

On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu extended wishes to Herzog on the occasion of Israel's 78th Independence Day and stated that the Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations continues to grow.

"On the joyous occasion of the 78th anniversary of Israelas Independence, I extend heartfelt best wishes to H.E. Isaac Herzog and the people of Israel. The India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership continues to grow stronger, reflecting the deep friendship and shared commitment of our two nations to peace, innovation and mutual prosperity," the Presidentas Secretariat stated in a post on X.

Responding to President Murmu's wishes, Herzog stated that Israel deeply appreciates its special friendship with India and expressed readiness to work to strengthen it across various sectors.

"Thank you President of India for your good wishes on Israelas Independence Day. We deeply appreciate the special friendship between Israel and India, and we continue to work to strengthen it across all fields of cooperation," Herzog posted on X.

On April 14, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar, discussing West Asia situation and the Strait of Hormuz.

"Had a telecon this afternoon with Israel FM Gideon Sa'ar. Our discussion covered different aspects of the West Asia situation," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

Sa'ar stated that he told EAM Jaishankar that the US' stance in the negotiations that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is important for the international community.

"A good conversation, as always, with my friend, Indiaas Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar. We discussed Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Lebanon. I said that the firm American stance in the negotiations on conditions that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons (no enrichment in Iran, removal of enriched material from Iran) is critical for the entire international community," the Israeli Foreign Minister posted on X after the call.

"I also said that Iranas harm to freedom of navigation and the global economy through economic terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz requires action that will ensure the freedom of navigation for all countries, including India and our friends in the Gulf," he added.

The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the worldas most critical oil transit routes, carrying nearly a fifth of global oil shipments.

The talks between two ministers took place amid tense security situation in West Asia after the first round of negotiations held between the US and Iranian officials failed to produce an agreement.
New Delhi, April 23 : Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday held a virtual meeting with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

During the interaction, both sides explored opportunities to enhance economic cooperation and improve supply chain resilience in a rapidly evolving global trade environment.

Goyal said the discussions focused on deepening trade engagement and expanding investment partnerships between the two countries.

"We discussed ways to further enhance our bilateral trade and investment ties while strengthening supply chain resilience," he wrote on X.

Expressing optimism about future cooperation, the minister said he looked forward to deepening the strategic partnership with Qatar in the coming years.

"Looking forward to deepening our strategic partnership in the times ahead," he added.

Earlier this month, India and Oman also discussed unlocking opportunities under the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost bilateral trade and investment.

Goyal had shared details of his telephonic conversation with Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Anwar bin Hilal bin Hamdoun Al Jabri, noting that both sides explored ways to deepen economic engagement.

Separately, the minister said the first tranche of the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement is close to being finalised, with a team of officials currently in Washington for discussions.

"We have almost finalised the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement," he told the media earlier.

"We are working on mechanisms through which India can secure preferential market access in the US compared to its competitors," he added.

India and the United States had decided to reschedule the meeting between teams headed by the chief trade negotiators of the two countries, following the US Supreme Court striking down President Donald Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariff hikes.
Patna, April 23 : Political tensions in Bihar have escalated sharply after Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav criticised the state's law and order situation, alleging that "criminals have become Samrat (emperors)".

The remarks of Tejashwi Yadav triggered sharp reactions from leaders of the ruling NDA.

Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav hit back, questioning Tejashwi's own credibility.

"Ask Tejashwi Yadav what he himself represents," he said, dismissing the allegations.

Another Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, also criticised the RJD leader, stating that Tejashwi had never been satisfied with Bihar's law and order situation, even during his own tenure in government.

"Did he find the situation acceptable when he was in power?" he asked.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha declined to comment on the issue.

Since the formation of the new government under Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Tejashwi Yadav has maintained an aggressive stance, frequently targeting the ruling alliance over governance issues.

In a statement and a social media post on Wednesday, Tejashwi Yadav claimed that crime incidents have surged across the state, asserting that people no longer feel safe.

Citing a reported firing incident in Samastipur, he alleged that law and order has deteriorated significantly under the current government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

He further accused the government of failing to control rising crime, including robberies in Vaishali, Patna and other places, and murders in Patna, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and other districts, and questioned the administration's priorities.

Tejashwi also took a swipe at the Chief Minister, saying that handling multiple departments may be affecting governance, particularly the Home Department.

In response, NDA leaders countered by invoking the "Lalu-Rabri Raj" era, seeking to question the opposition's record on law and order.

With both sides trading sharp accusations, the issue of crime and governance is emerging as a key political flashpoint in Bihar, likely to dominate the state's political discourse in the coming days.
Bhopal/Vidisha, April 23 : The Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of protecting land mafias allegedly involved in encroaching on land belonging to a lift irrigation project in Vidisha district, and demanded immediate action against those responsible.

Addressing a press conference at the party office in Bhopal, senior Congress spokesperson Anand Jat has alleged a strong nexus between local land mafias and BJP leaders, claiming it has led to large-scale illegal occupation of government land meant for irrigation purposes.

Citing official records and ground reports, Jat said the land had been acquired by the State Water Resources Department after compensating farmers for the project, which was discontinued in 1999.

He alleged that the land has since been encroached upon by influential individuals and diverted for private use.

"A situation of 'one city, two laws' prevails in Vidisha, which makes the blood of common people boil," Jat said, alleging selective enforcement of rules.

The Congress spokesperson also noted that the canal network has been levelled and converted into residential and commercial establishments.

He alleged that houses, luxury bungalows, commercial colonies and even petrol pumps have been constructed on the land.

He also criticised the district administration, accusing it of failing to act despite repeated communication from the Water Resources Department.

"The Collector is only engaged in exchanging letters, while there is no concrete action on the ground," Jat said.

He added that several communications by senior state government officials since 2020 have not yielded any results.

Further attacking the BJP-led state government, Jat said, "The BJP does not prepare a Master Plan, it prepares a 'Mafia Plan'. Encroaching on government land is their real Master Plan."

Referring to the previous Congress-led state government (2018a"2020), he said efforts were initiated in 2020 to reclaim the encroached land, but the process stalled after the government collapsed.

"Since then, the mafias have become active again," the Congress spokesperson alleged.

Meanwhile, targeting former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, now a Lok Sabha MP from Vidisha, Jat claimed such networks expanded during his tenure.

"If you examine it closely, such networks grew during that period -- because 'Mama (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) himself is the mafia'," the Congress spokesperson said.

The Congress has demanded demolition of illegal constructions on the land and registration of criminal cases against those involved, warning of protests if prompt action is not taken.
New Delhi, April 23 : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that 14 Indian ships have exited Strait of Hormuz safely in the past few weeks while 14 still remain in the Persian Gulf.

"We have 10 Indian ships which have exited Strait of Hormuz safely in the last few weeks. We have 14 Indian ships which are still in the Persian Gulf," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal while addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.

Tensions continue in and around Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which about one-fifth of global oil trade passes, ever since the conflict erupted in West Asia. .

On Wednesday, Iran attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz that was on its way to Mundra Port in India. The attack came hours after US President Donald Trump had announced an indefinite ceasefire.

It was one of the two ships that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) announced it had attacked and taken over, according to the Iranian government-run Press TV.

IRGC-N identified the ships it attacked as the MSC-Francesca and the Epaminodas.

Two shipping monitoring sites said that Liberian-flagged Epaminodas was on its way to Mundra in Gujarat from the Jebel Ali port in Dubai.

Marinetraffic.com and vesselfinder.com said that the container ship had been scheduled to reach Mundra on Thursday.

According to steamshipmutual.com which tracks ship ownership and insurance, the ship is owned by a Greek company, Kalmar Maritime LLC.

On Saturday, Iran attacked two Indian ships in the Strait that had received permission to traverse it.

India lodged a strong protest with Iran over those incidents and Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, was called in for a meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri over the shooting incident involving Indian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

During the meeting, India conveyed its deep concerns over the incident involving two Indian-flagged ships that came under fire from gunboats of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi was called in by the Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting with Foreign Secretary this evening. During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India's deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz," read a statement issued by the MEA spokesperson last Saturday.

"He noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India. 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 added.
New Delhi, April 23 : India on Thursday welcomed France's decision to operationalise visa-free transit for Indian nationals passing through French airports, calling it a step that will ease travel and enhance people-to-people connections.

Addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the removal of the transit requirement was agreed upon during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai in February, earlier this year.

He said that the decision underscores the deepening India-France partnership recently elevated to a Special Global Strategic Partnership during Macron's visit.

"We welcome the announcement on the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports. As you may recall, the removal of the requirement of transit visas for Indian passport holders was agreed upon between the Prime Minister and President Macron during their meeting in Mumbai in February this year. The Government of France has now operationalised this agreement, and Indian nationals transiting through mainland France exclusively by air will no longer need a transit visa with effect from 10th April 2026," Jaiswal stated.

"The decision reflects the enduring partnership between India and France, elevated to the level of a special global strategic partnership during the recent visit of President Macron, and further facilitation of smoother movement of people and enhanced people-to-people ties," he added.

In February, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron formally elevated the India-France relationship to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' in a historic move that signalled a "turning point" in bilateral relations.

The announcement came during high-level talks at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, marking Macron's fourth visit to India and his first to the country's financial capital.

The leaders unveiled an ambitious roadmap in defence, technology, and health, reinforcing their commitment to the Horizon 2047 vision, a government release said.

Last week, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri co-chaired the IndiaFrance Foreign Office Consultations with Secretary General of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Martin Briens in Paris.

According to the MEA, the discussions covered a wide range of topics, including defence, civil nuclear energy, space, cooperation in cyber and digital domains, and AI innovation, as well as initiatives aimed at strengthening human and cultural ties, in connection with the latest global and regional developments.
Jammu, April 23 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha on Thursday asked teachers and students to adapt classrooms to the changing global landscape.

The L-G inaugurated the new school building of Swami Pranavanand Vidyamandir in Panjgrain locality of Jammu's Nagrota.

The school is run by Bharat Sevashram Sangh, a renowned socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation.

Bharat Sevashram Sangh started pre-primary to Class 8 education here in 2014 under 'Har Ghar Shiksha'.

More than half the students are from poor families who have illuminated countless lives.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, L-G Sinha said that new higher secondary building and skill infrastructure will ensure disadvantaged students get quality education.

"Once all the floors of building are complete, it will serve more than 1,500 students transform thousands of lives. With future residential facilities for 100 boys, local economy will get a boost, backward areas will be transformed, and society will advance with new confidence."

In his address, the L-G called upon students and teachers to contribute to nation-building and adapt classrooms to today's changing global landscape, positioning India as the world's leading knowledge economy.

"We must strengthen cultural awareness in students, as unity in diversity defines global society. Promote communication skills for clear expression, enabling the new generation to improve lives, uphold democratic values, and foster collaboration for a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

He added that every student talented in art, craft, music, or entrepreneurship deserves equal respect and opportunity.

"Teachers must recognise that education focused solely on marks and narrow academics, sidelining art, sports, and skills, is unfit for the future. We must prepare students for irreplaceable human capacities like creativity, critical thinking, moral decision-making, collaboration, and lifelong learning which no machine can replace," he said.

The L-G said the world is changing rapidly and unlike the stable careers in the past, professional workforce requires continuous learning, skilling and upskilling.

"We are at a threshold where AI and automation is transforming industries, offices, hospitals, and schools and our human resource need to be a step ahead," he added.

He also highlighted the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) and emphasised that the policy is a potent tool to meet national needs, boost societal capacity, and accelerate economic growth.

"To bridge rural-urban and regional-social gaps, NEP is a powerful tool, societal asset, and reliable partner for meritorious students. India will emerge as a robust knowledge economy, nurturing generations with scientific temper, moral strength, cultural values, skills, and a spirit of service and sacrifice," the L-G said.

He added that a student's view of the external world depends on self-perception, shaped by experiences.

"True education balances both, equipping students with knowledge and skills for outer world, plus self-awareness and emotional resilience for inner world. This holistic approach is every school's core duty. Every student must blend science and values for progress. The NEP measures guarantee 'Viksit Bharat'; for the first time in decades, our talented children, teens, and youth are policy priorities," the L-G said.

The initiative of Bharat Sevashram Sangh is supported by Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and other donors.

Srimat Swami Biswatmanandaji Maharaj, Bharat Sevashram Sangh General Secretary; Srimat Swami Ambarishanandaji Maharaj, Joint Secretary; and senior sanyasins of Bharat Sevashrasm Sangh; and senior officials were present.

Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament; Devyani Rana, Member of Legislative Assembly from Nagrota; Nirmal Singh, former Deputy Chief Minister; Rashmi Govil, Director HR, Indian Oil Corporation Limited; Vilas Zode, Executive Director-HR, Hindustan Petroleum; Chander Mohan Gupta, former Jammu Municipal Corporation Mayor, and other prominent citizens also attended the inaugural ceremony.
Kolkata, April 23 : The vehicle of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) legislator-cum-candidate from Asansol (Dakshin) Assembly constituency in West Burdwan district, Agnimitra Paul, was vandalised amid the first phase of voting, allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters. Annoyed with the incident, Paul remarked that the Trinamool "indulges in violence in every election".

Kolkata, April 23 (IANS) The vehicle of Bharatiya Janata Partyas (BJP) legislator-cum-candidate from Asansol (Dakshin) Assembly constituency in West Burdwan district, Agnimitra Paul, was vandalised amid the first phase of voting, allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters. Annoyed with the incident, Paul remarked that the Trinamool "indulges in violence in every election".

Describing the incident, Paul said, "We had gone to Rahmat Nagar which is a minority area. There we had gone to Rahmat Nagar high school for supervision. When we came out and got inside the car, they threw stones and broke the glass of the car from behind."

Speaking to IANS after casting her vote, she alleged that activists of the Trinamool Congress indulge in acts of violence in every election.

Accusing the party for the vandalism, she said, "In every election Trinamool does this. In 2022 bye-election also they pelted stones and broke the car."

"Trinamool thinks that Muslims are their property. BJP has also right on the Muslims as they are my brothers. Such things won't work, I am going there again," the BJP candidate said.

Agnimitra Paul mentioned that she has not lodged a written complaint yet but has informed the local police station.

She further alleged, "The Trinamool Congress is party full of criminals and goons."

Paul also claimed that the Trinamool has brought people from other states just before the polls.

"Yesterday many people came from outside, I have information. Many goons have come here, a big goon from Kharagpur named Nadim has come here, I am naming him. The Election Commission has to see all this. We want free an fair elections," she asserted.

Unrest was also reported in Murshidabadas Nawada Assembly constituency involving Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir. A confrontation broke out between Kabir and local Trinamool Congress leaders near a polling booth, with both sides accusing each other of creating disturbances.

Despite a strong voter turnout in several areas during the first phase of the West Bengal elections, incidents like these have raised concerns over law and order during the electoral process.
Visakhapatnam, April 23 : Andhra Pradesh has set a target to generate 160 GW of green energy and attract Rs 10 lakh crore investments by 2029, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday.

CM Naidu revealed that investments of Rs 5.95 lakh crore have already flowed into this sector. Proposals and MoUs covering 90 GW of capacity have already been finalised.

NTPC Green Energy is stepping forward with investments amounting to Rs 1.85 lakh crore.

The Chief Minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the 6.5 GW ReNew Solar Ingot-Wafer Plant in Rambilli in Anakapalli district near Visakhapatnam.

He pointed out that solar and wind power generation is already underway in the Anantapur and Kurnool districts. Solar panels will be manufactured in Rambilli.

Meanwhile, IT minister Nara Lokesh stated that the solar wafer and ingot manufacturing facility by ReNew Energy Global in Anakapalli is a key step in positioning the state as the "Silicon Coast of India".

In a post on X, Lokesh said the project signalled Andhra Pradeshas intent to move beyond renewable energy deployment into high-value manufacturing, particularly in critical segments such as wafers and ingots.

Referring to Indiaas target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, he noted that a significant portion of the solar ecosystem had, until recently, remained dependent on imports - especially from China - despite rapid growth in installation capacity.

Lokesh said the state government had identified this gap early and prioritised backward integration in the renewable energy sector. The broader strategy, he added, includes building domestic manufacturing capabilities across electronics, semiconductors and clean energy.

According to the minister, Andhra Pradesh has been actively engaging with global and domestic renewable energy companies, offering policy clarity, faster approvals and targeted incentives to attract investments in upstream manufacturing.

At the groundbreaking event, the Chief Minister stated that Anakapalli district is attracting huge investments. He exuded confidence that, in terms of investments, this district will reach the top position in India.

Recently, the foundation stone was laid for the establishment of the ArcelorMittal Nippon India Steel Plant in the district.

He mentioned that in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh, Ranga Reddy was considered a backward district, but today the same district has transformed into a wealthy and prosperous region. He was confident that Anakapalli would evolve into another Ranga Reddy district.
Thiruvananthapuram April 23 : A 37-year-old man died of suspected sunstroke in Kannur as Kerala continued to reel under intense heat conditions that have prompted a formal heat wave warning in parts of the state.

The deceased, Sanal Kumar, a native of Pallippoyil, collapsed while engaged in well-digging work on Wednesday afternoon and was later declared dead.

The incident comes amid a sharp rise in temperatures across Kerala, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a heat wave warning for Palakkad, Kollam, and Thrissur districts.

The alert follows a surge in atmospheric temperatures beyond 40 degrees Celsius, coupled with a deviation of more than 4.5 degrees above normal levels.

Authorities have urged heightened vigilance across all districts.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has directed the implementation of strict safety precautions, warning that the prevailing conditions pose a significant health risk, particularly for those exposed to direct sunlight during peak hours.

In view of the heat wave warning, sirens under the alert system were sounded after 12:30 pm in Kollam and Palakkad districts and in other regions where temperatures continue to climb.

The move is aimed at reinforcing public awareness and preparedness in the face of escalating heat stress.

Keralaas coastal geography further compounds the situation, with high humidity levels significantly increasing the heat index, or the perceived temperature felt by the human body, well above the recorded figures.

This makes prolonged outdoor activity particularly hazardous.

The IMD is expected to officially confirm heat wave conditions if the current trend persists for two consecutive days.

Until then, authorities have reiterated the need for precaution, including adequate hydration, reduced exposure to the sun, and adherence to advisories, especially among vulnerable groups.

The Kerala Health Department is also on a high alert, and specific instructions have been given out on how best the situation can be managed.
Los Angeles, April 23 : Hollywood actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is set to preside over the main jury of the upcoming edition of the Venice Film Festival.

The Oscar-nominated actor, director, producer and screenwriter was last in Venice in 2021 with her directorial debut 'The Lost Daughter', which was an adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel of the same name, reports 'Variety'.

The film starred Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Peter Sarsgaard, which won the fest's best screenplay award.

As per 'Variety', Maggie Gyllenhaal more recently directed 'The Bride!', a feminist take on the 'Frankenstein' myth starring Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Penelope Cruz, Sarsgaard, Annette Bening and Jake Gyllenhaal that was recently released in the U.S.

Maggie is the third woman to head the Lido jury in the past five years, following Isabelle Huppert (2024), Julianne Moore (2022) and Cate Blanchett (2020).

Maggie said in a statement, "I am thrilled to accept the invitation to lead this year's Venice Film Festival jury. Venice has always supported truthful, singular voices and I am honored to play a part in continuing that brave and necessary tradition. I will not be standing in judgement, but in curiosity, admiration and excitement".

Venice chief Alberto Barbera said, "Maggie Gyllenhaal embodies an artistic path of uncommon consistency, constructed over time with intelligence and courage. An actress who is able to portray disturbing and multifaceted characters, she also reinvented herself as a director with 'The Lost Daughter'".

"Her perspective on cinema, both intellectual and visceral, has found further confirmation in the recent film 'The Bride!', which consolidates her stature as an original filmmaker. Having her as the president of our jury means being able to rely on an authoritative and independent voice, animated by that authentic passion for arthouse cinema which has always represented the heart of the festival", he added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 23 : India has extended the ban on its airspace for Pakistani aircraft until May 24, continuing the restriction that has been in place since April 2025 following the cross-border terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were brutally gunned down.

The airspace ban has been extended until 5.30 a.m. (IST) on May 24, 2026, which is 2359 hours (UTC) on May 23, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Wednesday. The notice states that Indian airspace will not be available for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated or owned by Pakistan airlines or operators, including military flights.

The ban is part of ongoing retaliatory measures initiated after the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre, with both countries consistently extending the ban, which has now been in place for over a year.

The ban forces flights to take longer routes and incur higher fuel costs. This hits the profitability of airlines as expenditure on accounts for up to 40 per cent of the operating costs for airlines.

Pakistan has also extended its airspace closure for Indian flights until May 24, according to Dawn News.

This reciprocal, monthly extension ensures that neither nation's aircraft can traverse the other's airspace, prolonging operational and financial challenges for airlines.

The continued closure of Pakistan airspace for Indian carriers, along with the restrictions in airspace that have resulted more recently due to the Middle East conflict, has forced airlines to take longer detours over the Arabian Sea, Central Asia, and parts of Africa.

These diversions significantly increase flight times, raising fuel consumption and putting additional pressure on crew duty limits.

For airlines like Air India, avoiding the skies of Iran and Iraq has added substantial block time to several long-haul routes, with the airline cancelling multiple flights due to operational constraints.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has allowed temporary relaxations in flight duty norms for pilots at Air India for long-haul flights to Europe, the US, and Canada, as the airline has been forced to take longer routes due to airspace restrictions.
Hassan : , April 23 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy appealed to the people of the state to give him an opportunity, stating that he would establish "Ram Rajya" in Karnataka.

Speaking at a renovation programme of the Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Doddabeekanahalli village of Holenarasipura taluk in Hassan district, Kumaraswamy said: "You are all building temples of Lord Anjaneya and praying for the establishment of Ram Rajya. That is my prayer too. Give me one chance, and I will establish Ram Rajya in Karnataka."

Criticising Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, Kumaraswamy said it is borrowing heavily and burdening people while offering Rs 2,000 under guarantee schemes. "Prices are rising every day, and taxes are being increased. What is the use of Rs 2,000? If I were the Chief Minister, I would give Rs 5,000. If you want guarantees, I will give Rs 5,000," he said.

The Union Minister also urged women not to be swayed by the Rs 2,000 assistance and to think about the future of their children.

The statements have gained significance in state political circles and are being seen as Kumaraswamy expressing his desire to become Chief Minister.

Noticing that several youths were wearing saffron shawls, he said jokingly: "You are all wearing saffron shawls but haven't given me one. I am also a devotee of Lord Rama like you." He also asked them to give him one.

H.D. Kumaraswamy added that the saffron shawl is a symbol of their faith, which is rooted in broad-mindedness and human values. "Whenever we remember Lord Rama, we speak of Ram Rajya. Give me just one opportunity, and I will establish it in Karnataka," he reiterated.

Former minister and Janata Dal (Secular) MLA H.D. Revanna, H.K. Kumaraswamy, and several local leaders and villagers were present at the event.
Hassan, April 23 : Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday expressed concern that guarantee schemes offering Rs 2,000 cannot drive development and have instead pushed state finances into distress.

He urged women not to be swayed by such small monetary benefits, stating that they cannot ensure family welfare.

Speaking at the renovation programme of the Sri Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple in Uddanahosahalli village of Holenarasipura taluk in Hassan district, the minister said that Rs 2,000 is insufficient to meet essential needs such as healthcare and education.

"Can people afford treatment for major illnesses with just Rs 2,000?" he questioned.

He further alleged that Karnataka has not yet paid salaries for March to government employees, and that Himachal Pradesh, also governed by the Congress, is struggling to pay its employees, with reports of salary cuts. He said such developments indicate that governance in these states has been derailed by guarantee schemes.

Kumaraswamy claimed that the Karnataka government has accumulated debt exceeding Rs 7.26 lakh crore and that every citizen is burdened with a debt of over Rs 1 lakh. He asked who is responsible for this and who will repay it, and whether the state can develop under such debt.

He criticised the government for giving Rs 2,000 with one hand while imposing higher taxes with the other. He pointed to rising prices, including recent hikes in electricity tariffs and liquor prices, accusing the government of burdening the public.

The minister urged voters to choose leaders who work sincerely for their future and that of their children, rather than voting based on caste.

He highlighted development in sectors such as health, education and electricity during his tenure, stating that thousands of teachers were recruited transparently, while the current government lacks the capacity to make even a single recruitment.

Expressing happiness over the temple renovation, Kumaraswamy also advised the youth to take care of their parents and not disrupt family harmony over trivial issues.

He emphasised the importance of human relationships, particularly family bonds, and urged them to live up to the trust their parents placed in them.

Recalling his childhood, he said he had grown up in the same surroundings and faced hardships, including struggling to find food and studying by dim light. He said his father worked hard as a farmer cultivating potatoes, and that such experiences shaped his close connection with the people.

Former minister H.D. Revanna also addressed the gathering.

Sri Sri Samba Sadashiva Swamiji of Kirikodli Math and Sri Sri Jayadeva Swamiji of Chilume Math in Arakalagudu were present and blessed the occasion. A large number of villagers attended the event. The Union Minister also offered prayers at the Sri Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple.
Kolkata, April 23 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that not a single infiltrator would find a place in West Bengal if the BJP comes to power in the state.

Addressing an election rally at Balagarh in Hooghly district, Home Minister Shah exuded confidence that the BJP would form the government in West Bengal with a full majority.

"The voting for the first phase is almost over. This is my 30th event across Bengal. On May 4, Didi's (Mamata Banerjee) game will be up. The BJP will form a government in Bengal with a full majority," HM Amit Shah said.

The Union Home Minister reiterated that infiltration was causing damage to Bengal's economy and compromising national security.

"Infiltrators are eating away the jobs of Bengal's youth and the rations of the poor. They undermine the country's security. As soon as the BJP comes to power here, not a single infiltrator will be allowed to enter Bengal," he said.

He also accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of promoting dynastic politics, alleging that she wants to make her nephew Abhishek Banerjee the next CM of the state.

"The time of Mamata Banerjee is over. The next Chief Minister will be a son of Bengal's soil who is educated in Bengali medium, who speaks Bengali and, most importantly, a BJP worker. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee's supporters used to say that you can campaign as much as you want, but they would not let anyone cast their vote. I want to tell Didi's supporters that if you touch any voter, you will face strict action," HM Shah said.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister urged voters to back the BJP and vote in large numbers in the second phase.

"In the elections on April 29, you have to press the button beside the lotus symbol on EVMs. You are not pressing it just to make someone an MLA or to form a government. You are pressing it to free Bengal from infiltrators," he said.
New Delhi, April 23 : The Delhi High Court has dismissed four bail pleas in a high-value "digital arrest" cyber fraud case involving the alleged siphoning of crores from a senior citizen, observing that the accused appeared to be "important cogs of the conspirational wheel" in an organised crime with serious societal impact.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has dismissed four bail pleas in a high-value "digital arrest" cyber fraud case involving the alleged siphoning of crores from a senior citizen, observing that the accused appeared to be "important cogs of the conspirational wheel" in an organised crime with serious societal impact.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain denied regular bail to accused Ashok Kumar and Mohit, and anticipatory bail to Vipul Rana and Himanshu Singh, in connection with an FIR registered by the Special Cell of Delhi Police under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

As per the prosecution, the case pertains to a sophisticated cyber fraud in which a man in his late seventies was subjected to a so-called "digital arrest" by fraudsters impersonating telecom officials, police personnel, and investigators, coercing him into transferring Rs 22.92 crore across multiple bank accounts over a period of one month.

The Delhi High Court was informed that a sum of Rs 1.90 crore was routed through an IndusInd Bank account linked to a company where the accused Mohit was a director. The investigation revealed that the amount was withdrawn on the same day and formed part of a larger conspiracy involving multiple accused and "mule accounts".

Opposing the bail pleas, the prosecution argued that the case involved a "larger conspiracy" spanning multiple states and jurisdictions, with several accused still absconding and the cheated amount yet to be recovered.

During the hearing, counsel for the accused argued that their roles were peripheral and that they were neither beneficiaries nor main perpetrators of the alleged fraud. It was also contended that the chargesheet had already been filed against some of them and that continued custody would amount to pre-trial punishment.

Rejecting the contention that some accused were merely account holders or minor participants, the Delhi High Court held that their roles could not be viewed in isolation at this stage. "They seem to be important cogs of the conspirational wheel. The wheel would not have moved without their involvement," it remarked.

Justice Jain further underscored the growing menace of digital arrest scams, particularly targeting vulnerable senior citizens. "Such type of incidents, where taking undue advantage of the susceptible nature of senior citizens, they are coerced and duped through digital arrest, are on the rise," the judge observed, adding that such offences are "organised crime with a massive societal impact."

Remarking that digital evidence is fragile and susceptible to manipulation, the Delhi High Court said that pre-arrest bail could hinder effective investigation, and that "custody of Vipul Rana and Himanshu appears indispensable."

Observing that the investigation is still underway and the cheated money has not been recovered, Justice Jain said that granting bail at this stage could hamper the probe.

"Any compassion to the applicants, at this stage, may hamper the ongoing investigation," the order said, while dismissing all four applications.

The Delhi High Court clarified that its observations were tentative and would not influence the merits of the trial.
Bhubaneswar, April 23 : In a major breakthrough, Berhampur Police have arrested nine people, including the alleged mastermind in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a businessman in Gopalpur, police said on Thursday.

The case came to light on April 16 when the victim's wife lodged a complaint at Gopalpur police station, alleging that her 47-year-old husband, Sudhir Kumar Patra, had been kidnapped the previous evening (on April 15) by unidentified miscreants, who demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore and threatened to kill him.

Speaking to media persons, Ganjam Superintendent of Police, Suvendu Kumar Patra, said that during the initial phase of investigation, police found some clues hinting towards the involvement of the family in the case.

"Later, following interrogation, the victim's niece Nibedita Patra's prime involvement in the case was established," he said.

Explaining the sequence of events, SP Patra said, "Following the death of the victim's brother, who was also a prominent businessman, a few months ago, a dispute arose between the families of Sudhir and his brother over distribution of money and other financial matters. The prime accused Nibedita allegedly believed that her family had not been treated fairly and suspected that the victim had practiced sorcery, which they thought led to the untimely death of her father."

The Berhampur Police sources added that Sudhir was a successful real estate businessman who had earlier run his business jointly with his elder brother, late Manoj Kumar Patra, who died on June 9, 2025. Following his death, disputes allegedly arose between the two families, leading to growing animosity.

Investigating officials said the prime accused, Nibedita, along with her brother Tushar Kumar Patro and associate Kalu Charan Pradhan, hatched a plan to kidnap Sudhir and extort ransom from his family. Kalu later contacted associates, including criminals linked to Surat in Gujarat, to execute the plan.

As per the investigation, Sudhir was kidnapped on April 15 evening while returning home after playing volleyball. He was first taken in a Bolero vehicle and later shifted to another car near Polasara before being taken to Ramapada jungle under Buguda police limits. The accused persons allegedly assaulted him with wooden planks and fired shots near him to terrorise him.

The assault was recorded and sent to his wife to demand Rs 2 crore ransom. Police said the victim succumbed to his injuries, and the body was later dumped near Ketamani Hills under Sorada police limits.

Police have arrested all nine accused, namely Nibedita Patra, Tushar Kumar Patro, Kalu Charan Pradhan, Jitun Polai, Narayan Pradhan, Ashis Mahapatra, Subham Nayak, Subham Gouda and Surya Pratap Singh. They have also seized two vehicles, 14 mobile phones and a country-made firearm.
Mumbai, April 23 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the state continues to solidify its position as the "growth engine" of India and the top destination for foreign direct investment.

He expressed confidence that Maharashtra is rapidly emerging as a global investment hub for international corporations, driven by the government's pro-industry policies.

He was speaking during a high-level meeting between the Danish Ambassador to India, Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, and CM Fadnavis at the Chief Ministeras official residence, aVarshaa.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Maharashtra and Denmark, specifically across five critical sectors, including port development and shipping, energy infrastructure, water management, logistics and export growth, and sustainable urban transport. In addition, Fadnavis discussed with the Danish Ambassador the proposed development of the Vadhavan port and Indiaas emergence as a maritime power.

During the deliberations, CM Fadnavis briefed the Danish delegation on the ambitious Vadhvan Port project. He emphasised that this project is poised to transform Maharashtra and India into a global maritime superpower, significantly boosting logistics capabilities and national exports.

He said that Maharashtraas business-friendly ecosystem is attracting global giants, and that the focus on infrastructure, such as Vadhvan Port, will redefine its role in the global supply chain.

A significant portion of the talk focused on modernising water transport. The Chief Minister highlighted the state's plan to implement water taxi projects and integrated control systems to ease urban congestion, said the government release.

According to the government release, the Maharashtra government expressed keen interest in partnering with leading Danish firms to develop electric ferry and electric water taxi technology.

Danish Ambassador Kristensen noted that Denmarkas success with coastal electric ferry services could be seamlessly applied to the Mumbai-Konkan coastline.

The Ambassador highlighted that approximately 60 Danish companies are already operational in the Mumbai and Pune regions, spanning manufacturing, retail, services and shipping.

Ambassador Kristensen expressed confidence that Maharashtra will serve as a pivotal partner under the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, particularly in the maritime sector, according to the government release.
Haveri, April 23 : Former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai has alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress have compromised Karnataka's interests due to the political agenda of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on the issue of women's reservation and constituency delimitation. a Haveri, April 23 (IANS) Former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai has alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress have compromised Karnatakaas interests due to the political agenda of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on the issue of womenas reservation and constituency delimitation. a

He urged the Chief Minister to consult experts, rethink the issue with clarity, and persuade his party leadership to support what he described as a transformative reform.a

Addressing a press conference in Haveri on Thursday, Bommai said Karnataka was among the first states to implement reservation for women. a

He recalled that the policy was introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister late Ramakrishna Hegde, along with decentralisation of power, and later reinforced in 1993 under H.D. Deve Gowda. a

He added that the Union government led by P.V. Narasimha Rao brought in the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1994 to provide reservations for women in local bodies.a

Bommai criticised Siddaramaiah for claiming that the Congress was the first to introduce womenas reservation, asserting that non-Congress governments had taken the lead. a

He also noted that B.R. Ambedkar had advocated for womenas representation in legislatures while introducing the Hindu Code Bill.a

On the issue of delimitation, Bommai said a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament and noted that such an opportunity existed during Rajiv Gandhias tenure. a

He alleged that the reform was not pursued then, despite the majority.a

He said the Union government in 2023 introduced an amendment providing 33 per cent reservation for women and proposing a 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha and Assembly seats, to be implemented after the next Census. However, he expressed concern that delays in the Census and calls for fresh delimitation based on future population figures could disadvantage southern states.a

Bommai argued that delimitation based on the 1971 Census, frozen during the Emergency, had already impacted southern states, and warned against repeating such outcomes. a

He said Karnatakaas Lok Sabha seats could increase from 28 to 42 through a proportional approach without strictly relying on population figures.a

Accusing the Congress of yielding to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam pressure, Bommai said the party had missed an opportunity to support reforms that could enhance representation and ensure fairness. a

He urged the Chief Minister to reconsider the issue, build consensus, and support the amendment in the interest of both womenas representation and the stateas future.a

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New Delhi, April 23 : Krishna Nagar MLA Anil Goyal was on Thursday declared the winner of "Annual Award for Best Legislator" of the Eighth Legislative Assembly, an official said.a New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Krishna Nagar MLA Anil Goyal was on Thursday declared the winner of "Annual Award for Best Legislator" of the Eighth Legislative Assembly, an official said.

For his outstanding contributions to the House, Goyal will be presented with an official citation, a memento, and a cash prize of Rs. 51,000. He will be formally conferred with the award at an upcoming felicitation ceremony, the official said in a statement.

Speaker Vijender Gupta said, "The primary objective of the 'Annual Award for the Best MLAs' is to recognise lawmakers who uphold the highest standards of integrity, innovation, and dedication, thereby setting a benchmark for their peers."

Goyal was selected as the winner by a high-powered Selection Committee during a meeting held at the Vidhan Sabha, marking the successful restoration of a parliamentary tradition aimed at fostering high standards of governance in the Eighth Legislative Assembly.

Marking a significant milestone for the Eighth Legislative Assembly, this prestigious honour returns to the Vidhan Sabha after a long 18-year hiatus, signalling a renewed commitment to recognising parliamentary merit, said an official statement.

Speaker Gupta said that by celebrating legislators who contribute to meaningful debates, raise critical issues within the Assembly, and engage constructively with citizens, the Delhi Assembly seeks to inspire higher standards of governance and bolster public trust in the democratic process.

The selection was conducted by an eminent panel chaired on Thursday at Delhi Vidhan Sabha by Speaker Vijender Gupta, and featured a distinguished jury including Rajendra Aggarwal (Former MP, Lok Sabha), P.D.T. Acharya (Former Secretary General, Lok Sabha), Reetesh Singh (Principal Secretary of Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs), Mahesh K. Shukla (Senior Journalist), and Ranjeet Singh (Secretary, LA).

The selection of the "Best MLA Award" is governed by a comprehensive and transparent scoring system designed to evaluate every aspect of a legislator's performance.

The total evaluation is conducted on a scale of 100 points, split between 65 points calculated automatically from official Assembly records and 35 points awarded based on the Selection Committee's qualitative assessment.

The most significant portion of the assessment, worth 50 points, focuses on the Member's contribution to enriching House debates, said the statement.

Within this category, 20 points are reserved for the quality of debates, where the committee evaluates the MLA's debating skills, awareness of national and local issues, and proficiency in language.

To ensure consistent participation, another 15 points are awarded based on House attendance across all sittings, while the final 15 points are auto-calculated based on legislative contributions.

A legislator's effectiveness is measured by his or her activity within various House Committees, which accounts for 30 points of the total score, said the statement.

The final 20 points of the evaluation are dedicated to compliance, conduct, and modernisation. A total of 12 points is awarded for adherence to the Chair. Additionally, 8 points are specifically allocated for NeVA adoption, recognising legislators who have transitioned to paperless operations using the digital system
Jaipur, April 23 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Thursday that the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM)-2026 will be held in Jaipur from May 23-25.

The event aims to bring together farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, and investors on a common platform to promote technology-driven farming and strengthen the agricultural ecosystem.

Addressing the GRAM-2026 Investor Meet in New Delhi, the Chief Minister noted the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Empowered Farmer, Prosperous India".

He invited investors and entrepreneurs to actively participate in the upcoming summit.

Chief Minister Sharma highlighted that GRAM-related activities are being conducted at multiple administrative levels, from Girdawar circles to districts, to ensure maximum farmer participation.

He noted that Rajasthan is a leading agricultural state, ranking first in the production of bajra, mustard, oilseeds, barley, guar, isabgol, and cumin.

This diversity, he said, offers vast opportunities in food processing, spice parks, and agri-exports.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government's commitment to creating an investor-friendly environment.

He said that MoUs worth Rs 44,000 crore were signed in the agriculture sector during the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, with more than Rs 9,000 crore already materialised.

GRAM-2026 will further accelerate this momentum, the Chief Minister added.

He also said that Jhalawar and Tonk are being developed as model districts for pulse production, while the Central government will support farmers with subsidies for distributing more than 3 lakh quintals of seeds.

Chief Minister Sharma said Rajasthan has significant potential in solar energy.

Over the past two years, the state government has released grants exceeding Rs 1,000 crore for installing more than 65,000 solar pump systems, reducing power costs and boosting productivity.

He added that the state is focusing on strengthening agri-infrastructure, including processing units, warehouses, dairy, fisheries, and animal husbandry facilities.

More than 1,500 agro-processing units have already been established, and land has been identified for new food parks.

The Chief Minister also highlighted initiatives such as the 'Spices Cell', the Rajasthan Spice Conclave, and the 'RajSpice' mobile application.

He said the state has increased assistance under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to Rs 9,000.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Rajasthan has issued a record 21.9 million policies and disbursed claims exceeding Rs 6,500 crore.

Additional measures include a Rs 150 per quintal bonus on wheat procurement, daytime electricity supply in 24 districts, interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh for livestock owners, and insurance coverage for more than 20 lakh animals under state schemes.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary said agricultural growth is central to national development and praised Rajasthan's efforts to adopt advanced technologies.

Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena added that GRAM events will also be held in cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Pune to expand outreach.

A short film on GRAM-2026 was screened during the event, which was attended by senior officials, industry leaders, and stakeholders from across the agriculture sector.
Bhopal, April 23 : In a significant move that underscores the commitment of the state administration towards agricultural prosperity, the government led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has secured an approval from the Central government to procure a staggering one hundred lakh metric tonnes of wheat at the minimum support price.

Earlier, the state government had been given a target to procure 78 lakh metric tonnes of wheat.

This development marks a historic and unprecedented achievement for the state, further solidifying the image of the current administration as one that stands firmly with the farming community at every step of their journey.

The announcement comes as a major boon for the agricultural sector during what has been designated as the Farmer Welfare Year.

Originally, the procurement targets were set at a lower threshold, but following the persistent efforts and formal requests made by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, the Union Government has heeded the call to expand the scope of purchase.

This decision allows for the procurement of an additional twenty two lakh metric tonnes of wheat over previous estimates, ensuring that a larger pool of cultivators can benefit from state-guaranteed prices and secure their livelihoods against market fluctuations.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his profound gratitude to Prime Minister PM Modi for granting this permission, noting that the decision reflects a shared vision for rural upliftment and economic stability.

By increasing the procurement limit to one hundred lakh metric tonnes, the government is providing immense benefits to millions of farmers across the state, ensuring that their hard work is met with fair compensation and comprehensive institutional support, he said.

This initiative is being viewed as another major gift to the rural heartland, reinforcing the narrative that the welfare of the tiller remains the top priority for the Mohan Yadav government.

As the procurement process begins to take shape, the state machinery is being geared up to facilitate smooth transactions at various centres, ensuring that every grain brought by the farmers is accounted for under the revised limits.

This step not only provides immediate financial relief but also instils a sense of confidence among the farming families of Madhya Pradesh, knowing that the double engine government is dedicated to their growth and prosperity.
Tokyo, April 23 : Reaffirming commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, India and Japan on Thursday discussed defence cooperation measures while outlining future interactions across various sectors.

The discussions were held during eighth Indiaa"Japan Army-to-Army Staff Talks being held from April 22-24.

"The 8th Indiaa"Japan Army-to-Army Staff Talks AAST are being held from 22a"24 April in Japan. Both sides held a productive exchange of views, reviewed ongoing Defence Cooperation measures between both the nations and outlined future interactions across diverse domains. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The delegation also called on the Chief of Staff, Japan Ground Self Defence Force," Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) posted on X.

On April 10, External Affairs Minister (EAM), S Jaishankar, held a telephonic conversation with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi and discussed developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Following their conversation, EAM Jaishankar wrote, "Good to speak with FM Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan. Discussed developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Appreciate his condolences for the Indian lives lost in the conflict."

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and is a vital route for global oil supplies. A significant share of the worldas seaborne crude passes through the strait, making any disruption a major concern for energy-importing nations.

Last month, EAM Jaishankar met his Japanese counterpart Motegi on the sidelines of G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in France.

"Always nice to meet my friend FM Toshimitsu Motegi, this time on the sidelines of G7 FMM," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

On March 6, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a meeting with Special Advisor to Japan's Prime Minister, Sadamasa Oue and discussed strengthening Defence technology and economic security.

"Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Sadamasa Oue, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan. They had a productive exchange of views on strengthening the Defence technology and economic security pillars of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.
New Delhi, April 23 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a court official posted at Delhi's Tis Hazari Courts for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe in connection with a bail matter, officials said on Thursday.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a court official posted at Delhias Tis Hazari Courts for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe in connection with a bail matter, officials said on Thursday.

The accused, identified as Sanjeev Sadana, was working as a Reader to the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ-02) at the Tis Hazari Courts.

According to the CBI, he was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 20,000 from a complainant as part payment of an alleged bribe of Rs 30,000.

The case was registered following a complaint in which it was alleged that the accused had demanded illegal gratification in exchange for facilitating the favourable consideration of a bail application filed on behalf of the complainantas client.

Acting on the complaint, the agency laid a trap and apprehended Sadana during the transaction.

Officials said the accused had initially demanded Rs 30,000 but agreed to accept Rs 20,000 as the first instalment. He was arrested on the spot while accepting the amount.

A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway to ascertain whether other individuals were involved.

Earlier on Wednesday, the CBI said it arrested a head constable of the Delhi Policeas Anti-Narcotics Cell for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. The accused, identified as Ajay, was posted in the Dwarka unit and had allegedly demanded the money to avoid falsely implicating a woman in a criminal case. He, too, was caught after a trap was laid.

The back-to-back actions indicate the CBIas continued focus on tackling corruption within public institutions. The agency reiterated that it remains committed to taking strict action against officials indulging in corrupt practices and urged citizens to report instances of bribery or coercion by public servants.

The CBI has consistently emphasised that timely complaints and cooperation from the public play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and securing convictions in corruption-related cases.
New Delhi, April 23 : India's engineering exports to the United States witnessed a growth of 2.3 per cent year-on-year to $19.60 billion in FY26, maintaining its position as the top destination despite higher tariffs, according to industry data released on Thursday.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Indiaas engineering exports to the United States witnessed a growth of 2.3 per cent year-on-year to $19.60 billion in FY26, maintaining its position as the top destination despite higher tariffs, according to industry data released on Thursday.

Data compiled by the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) India suggested that overall engineering exports touched a record high of $122.43 billion in FY26, an increase of almost 5 per cent compared to $116.75 billion in the previous fiscal.

However, shipments to the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region declined sharply amid geopolitical disruptions, it said.

Exports to key WANA markets were hit hard, particularly in March, when shipments to the region dropped by as much as 50.7 per cent due to supply chain disruptions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Among major destinations, exports to the UAE and Saudi Arabia fell steeply by 67 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively, during the month.

Despite these setbacks, several major markets recorded positive growth during FY26, including Germany, the UK, China, Italy, South Africa, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.

On a regional basis, engineering exports to North America rose 1.9 per cent, while shipments to the European Union increased by 8.6 per cent during the fiscal year.

In contrast, exports to WANA declined 8 per cent for the full year, while shipments to Other Europe and CIS fell by 4.5 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively.

In addition, engineering exports in March 2026 rose marginally by 1.13 per cent year-on-year to $10.94 billion, despite supply disruptions triggered by geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

EEPC India Chairman Pankaj Chadha said the sector demonstrated strong resilience, achieving record exports for the second consecutive year despite unprecedented global challenges.

"The export growth came at a time when global trade faced severe disruptions due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which impacted key shipping routes. Despite these pressures, Indiaas engineering exports remained positive across major regions, except WANA," he said.

He further noted that sustained growth would depend on a combination of market diversification, sectoral resilience and targeted policy support.

The governmentas Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) Scheme, aimed at addressing rising logistics and insurance costs during the crisis, helped maintain trade continuity, he noted.

According to government estimates, engineering goods remained the largest component of Indiaas merchandise exports in FY26, accounting for 27.71 per cent of the total.
New Delhi, April 23 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday carried out a surprise inspection at Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital and directed the administration to improve the availability of medicines, sanitation, and seating facilities for senior citizens in the waiting area.

The inspection also revealed gaps in doctor availability, overcrowding in the OPD, and flaws in the online appointment and token systems, a statement said.

During the visit, several elderly patients told the Chief Minister that they had been standing in queues since 8 a.m. without being attended to. Taking serious note, Gupta expressed strong displeasure with the hospital administration, calling the situation "completely unacceptable".

She directed officials to immediately ensure adequate seating arrangements and implement a streamlined token system so that patients, especially the elderly, are not forced to wait for hours.

She toured the OPD, wards, pharmacy counters, sanitation systems, water supply, digital services, and other key departments. Interacting directly with patients and their attendants, the Chief Minister sought first-hand feedback on the hospital's functioning and ordered immediate corrective measures based on the complaints received.

She noted that despite the existence of an online booking mechanism, patients continued to face long queues.

Pulling up officials, the Chief Minister ordered better integration of online and offline systems to minimise waiting time. Noting heavy footfall in the orthopaedics department, she discussed workflow with doctors and stressed the need to maintain quality treatment amid the rush.

Several patients complained about the unavailability of medicines, forcing them to purchase drugs from outside.

The Chief Minister immediately ordered a check of stock registers and announced a zero-tolerance policy on shortages of medicines and vaccines. "If a medicine is needed today, it must be provided today," she said, terming it a serious lapse to inconvenience citizens over basic healthcare needs.

Officials informed her that a large number of patients visit the vaccination unit daily for rabies and other injections. She directed the authorities to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines and vaccines.

Patients and their families also raised concerns about poor sanitation, water supply issues, and a lack of basic amenities. On hearing repeated complaints about unhygienic conditions and dysfunctional toilets, the Chief Minister sharply reprimanded officials, saying that ignoring such issues despite clear feedback from patients and staff amounted to gross negligence.

She made it clear that deficiencies in cleanliness, medicines, and basic facilities would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
New Delhi, April 23 : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that India is aware of reports about Nepal levying customs duty from cross-border travellers if they carry items purchased in India worth over Nepali Rupees (NPR) 100.

Addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India remains engaged with Nepal on these developments.

Asked about videos circulating on social media about the new rule's implementation by Nepali authorities in border areas, Jaiswal responded, "We've also seen some reports about enforcement by Nepali authorities of pre-existing provision that outlines collection of customs duty from cross-border travellers in case they carry items which are purchased in India of course and which have a value of over 100 Nepali rupees. We understand that the government of Nepal has taken this step primarily with the intent to curb informal trade and smuggling. We have also seen a statement by a senior Nepali official stating that civilians carrying personal goods or household goods will not be obstructed. We remain engaged on these developments."

As reported by IANS earlier, the Nepal government's decision to levy customs duty on goods valued above NPR 100 brought from bordering Indian towns has drawn criticism from stakeholders in Nepal's border areas, where nearby Indian markets have long served as a source of affordable goods.

The Nepali government has strictly enforced the rule requiring customs duties on goods exceeding NPR 100 over the past few days. Although the provision was introduced several years ago, it had not been implemented due to practical difficulties faced by residents of border regions. The newly-elected government's decision to enforce the rule has now sparked backlash from local stakeholders.

The Nepal-India Open Border Interaction Group, a civil society organisation, on Saturday urged the government to immediately revise its customs policy, warning that the current provisions are placing undue hardship on people living in border areas.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the group highlighted the centuries-old social, cultural, and economic ties between Nepal and India, calling on authorities to adopt practical and people-friendly measures to ease cross-border movement and strengthen grassroots relations.

A key demand put forward by the group is the immediate repeal of the provision requiring customs duties on goods exceeding NPR 100 brought through border points. It argued that the rule disproportionately affects low-income households in border regions and is impractical to enforce. Instead, the group called for zero customs duty on goods meant for household use.

Additionally, the group called for the establishment of well-managed and affordable markets in border areas to improve access to essential goods. It also proposed introducing special customs-free facilities for religious and cultural visits, allowing devotees traveling to border towns and major religious sites in both countries to carry goods duty-free for up to 48 hours. The group said this would promote religious tourism and deepen people-to-people ties.

Nepal's Department of Customs Director Kishor Bartaula told IANS that the rule was enforced to control smuggling. "Smugglers use ordinary people to bring goods from Indian markets in small quantities multiple times a day without paying duty, and then collect them in large volumes for sale," he said. "Otherwise, charging duty on goods priced over NPR 100 does not contribute significantly to government revenue."

He added that stricter enforcement of the rule is also expected to benefit traders in Nepal's border towns.
New Delhi, April 23 : As many as 22 Indian seafarers on board the two foreign-flagged ships, which came under fire from Iran's military in the Strait of Hormuz during the last 24 hours, are reported to be safe, according to an update issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Thursday.

Vessel Euphoria, a Panama-flagged container ship, has 21 Indian seafarers onboard, while Vessel Epaminondas, also a Panama-flagged container, has 1 Indian seafarer onboard, the statement said.

Besides, all the other Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region are also safe, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima, which safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, carrying 31 Indian seafarers, reached Mumbai on Wednesday.

The Ministry said that it continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions, and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations.

The government is according a high priority to the welfare of Indian seafarers in the region. Indian Missions are extending all assistance to them, including coordination with the local authorities and agencies, extending consular assistance, and assisting with requests to return to India.

The DG Shipping Control Room has handled 7,403 calls and more than 15,639 emails since activation. In the past 24 hours, 161 calls and 320 emails have been received.

The Ministry, through the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 2,680 Indian seafarers so far, including 65 in the last 24 hours from various locations across the Gulf region.

Port operations across India also remain normal, with no congestion reported, the statement added.

The Ministry of External Affairs also continues to monitor developments in the Gulf and West Asia region, with focused efforts on ensuring the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community in the region. Dedicated special control rooms in the Ministry are operational and are working in coordination with Indian missions.

The MEA said it is in regular contact with state governments and Union Territories for the sharing of information and better alignment of efforts.

Indian Missions and Posts continue to operate round-the-clock helplines and are proactively assisting Indian nationals. They remain in close contact with the local governments.

Updated advisories are being issued regularly, including information on local government guidelines, flight and travel situations and consular services and various welfare measures being undertaken to support our community.

Indian Missions are actively engaged with the resident Indian community. Ambassadors are regularly interacting with the Indian community associations, organisations, professional groups, and Indian companies to address their concerns, the statement said.

The overall flight situation continues to improve with additional flights operating from the region to various destinations in India. Since February 28, around 12,12,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India.

In the UAE, airlines continue to operate limited commercial flights between the UAE and India based on operational and safety considerations, with around 110 flights expected on Thursday.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Hyderabad, April 23 : Amid the ongoing strike by the employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), a bus driver on Thursday attempted self-immolation during the protest by the striking employees to press for their demands.

The incident occurred in the Warangal district, triggering tension. The driver set himself ablaze during the protest at Narasampet bus depot.

K. Shankar Goud sustained 80 per cent burns. He was shifted to MGM Hospital in Warangal, where he was battling for life.

In Nalgonda, an RTC worker tried to immolate himself. Alert police personnel and other employees stopped him from taking the extreme step.

The public road transport services across Telangana remained crippled on Thursday as the indefinite strike by the employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) entered its second day.

Employees staged protests outside depots. On a call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), employees gathered outside the depots and raised slogans in support of their demands.

About 40,000 employees are on strike in support of their 32 demands. The main demands include the merger of TGSRTC with the government and pay revision.

Meanwhile, the State Cabinet discussed the strike by RTC employees.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy appealed to RTC workers not to take any hasty decisions.

He stated that taking extreme steps will not solve the problem and assured that the government is sincerely focusing on resolving the issues of the workers, said a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

The Chief Minister directed that ministers, under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, should invite RTC union leaders for talks on Friday.

The Chief Minister made it clear that the government is positive and committed to addressing the concerns of the workers.
Mumbai, April 23 : The Congress and NCP-SP on Thursday announced that they will extend their support to Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray in the biennial election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council slated for May 12.

The announcement came as the Election Commission on Thursday issued the notification for the state Council poll for nine seats. Considering the present strength of the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is set to win five seats, two by the Shiv Sena, and one each by the NCP and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal met Uddhav Thackeray at his residence, 'Matoshree'. Sapkal said the primary objective was to ensure better communication and coordination among the three constituent parties of the MVA. He said: "Congress should contest the Rajya Sabha election, while Uddhav Thackeray  as the face of the MVA  should contest the Legislative Council poll."

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also said that the party will support Uddhav Thackeray. "If Uddhav Thackeray accepts the candidacy in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election, it would be most welcome. Otherwise, the three parties should jointly decide who the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate will be. Likewise, clarity is needed right now regarding the upcoming Rajya Sabha seats as well," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule, in a post on X, said: "The Legislative Council election in Maharashtra is about to take place. It is the earnest request of the Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar faction that this election should be contested by none other than former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Uddhavji is a senior and experienced leader in the state. We all firmly believe that the state as well as the House will always benefit from his experience. It is a humble request that Uddhavji give positive consideration to this demand."

Incidentally, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has not yet opened up its cards. Both Congress and NCP (SP) are expected to make fresh appeals urging Uddhav Thackeray to contest the Council poll not just as the Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee but as the candidate of the MVA.

Historically, members of the Thackeray family refrained from contesting direct elections.

This changed in 2019 when Aaditya Thackeray won the Worli Assembly seat, becoming the first from the family to serve as a public representative. Following the 2019 Assembly elections, the MVA coalition was formed, and Uddhav Thackeray became Chief Minister despite not holding a seat in either House of the legislature.

Under constitutional provisions, Thackeray was required to become a member of the state legislature within six months. Consequently, in May 2020, he was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council. His current term is set to expire on May 13, leading to intense speculation regarding his next move.

Following Eknath Shinde's rebellion, which led to his resignation as Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray had initially announced his intention to resign from his Legislative Council seat. However, citing the four years remaining in his term at the time, he opted to continue.

Observers note that Thackeray has not been particularly active in the Upper House since the change in government. His attendance has typically been limited to a few appearances per session. Recently, however, he participated in the discussion on the condolence motion for Ajit Pawar during the ongoing Budget Session.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut had previously suggested a formula whereby Sharad Pawar would represent the alliance in the Rajya Sabha and Uddhav Thackeray in the Legislative Council. This arrangement saw Sharad Pawar elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha with Congress support. It is widely believed that Congress support for the MVA's Council seat remains contingent on Thackeray himself being the candidate.
New Delhi, April 23 : National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval hosted his British counterpart Jonathan Powell for the annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday, holding discussions on advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including strengthening defence and security cooperation.

"NSA hosted his counterpart from UK Mr. Jonathan Powell in New Delhi on 23 April 2026 for the annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue. They had wide ranging discussions on advancing the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including strengthening defence and security cooperation. They also exchanged views on regional and global security challenges," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on X.

Earlier, Powell met External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in New Delhi, with discussions focused on regional and global security issues and deepening bilateral cooperation.

"Glad to meet UK NSA Jonathan Powell in New Delhi this afternoon. Our discussion focused on regional and global security issues, as well as the deepening India-UK cooperation," Jaishankar posted on X.

On Wednesday, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan held a meeting with his UK counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, during which India and UK reaffirmed their shared resolve to address contemporary challenges from global trade imbalances to emerging cyber threats while advancing a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific..

"General Anil Chauhan, CDS, during his official visit to the United Kingdom interacted with Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, CDS UK. India and the UK reaffirmed their shared resolve to collaboratively address contemporary challenges from global trade imbalances to emerging cyber threats while advancing a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific and harnessing accelerated technological transformation," Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff posted on X.

"This visit will strengthen Defence Cooperation and strategic convergence, underscoring a shared commitment to Global Security, stability and resilience," it added.

During his visit to the UK, General Chauhan interacted with the Commandant and faculty of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) and discussed the evolving global security environment, underlying trends and their strategic impact.

On Tuesday, General Chauhan met Defence Industry leaders of the UK and emphasised that enhanced economic integration will allow smoother collaboration in defence manufacturing, technology transfer and supply chain resilience.

CDS General Chauhan met the UK's Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard, with their discussions focusing on the evolving nature of conflict and deepening military-to-military cooperation.

He also met the UK's Minister of State (MoS) for Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra.

"CDS also held high-impact bilateral talks with Ms Seema Malhotra, MoS for Indo-Pacific to take forward India - UK Partnership, Defence Industrial Roadmap and Tech and Security initiatives to counter emerging challenges in the Indo-Pacific," the HQ, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) said in a post on X.

"Both sides emphasised enhancing cooperation in Cyber, Intelligence and Space domains, including information resilience and specialised exchanges. The exchange reaffirmed a shared commitment to resilient, Future Ready forces and a strengthened India - UK strategic partnership," it added.
Jaipur, April 23 : In a remarkable display of precision and persistence, Ajmer Police turned a distress call into a success story by tracing a missing gold bangle worth Rs 5.5 lakh within hours using an extensive CCTV network and sharp investigative work.a

In Ajmer, the police have set a remarkable example of honesty and swift action by recovering a gold bangle worth Rs 5.5 lakh within just a few hours, using an extensive network of nearly 250 CCTV cameras.a

The incident took place on April 20, when Pushkar resident Lisa Parasara was travelling from Ganj Tiraha towards Fawwara Circle.a

During the journey, she stopped her scooter to take a phone call. In that brief moment, while removing her gloves, her gold bangle, about 3 tolas in weight, slipped off unnoticed. It was not until she reached home that she realised the loss.a

Shocked and distressed, she fainted and had to be rushed to a hospital in Vaishali Nagar.a

Meanwhile, her family alerted the police. What followed was a race against time.a

At the Abhay Command and Control Centre, Constable Ramnivas Kadwa took charge. Carefully scanning footage from Ganj Tiraha to Fawwara Circle, he spotted a crucial clue, a youth picking up the fallen bangle on a scooter without a number plate.a But identifying him was not easy.a

Constable Ramnivas meticulously tracked the suspectas route, analysing footage from nearly 200 to 250 cameras. Step by step, frame by frame, he followed the trail until finally identifying the individual and reaching his residence.a

The result was that the precious gold bangle was recovered safely and returned to its rightful owner.a

An emotional Lisa Parasara expressed her gratitude to the police team.

Recognising this exceptional effort, Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwala awarded Constable Ramnivas a cash prize of Rs 10,000 along with a commendation.a

The Superintendent of Police praised the constableas dedication and technical skill, saying such commitment enhances the dignity of the police force.a

Officials said it is a powerful reminder that policing is not just about preventing crime, but also about standing by citizens in their moments of need.

a
Islamabad, April 23 : Persecution of minorities, misuse of blasphemy laws, violence against women and the forced return of Afghan refugees demonstrate Pakistan's failure to protect vulnerable groups, local media has highlighted.

An editorial in Pakistan's leading daily Dawn cited Amnesty International's latest report that has criticised the state of civil liberties in Pakistan. Amendments to Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) and anti-terror laws have increased censorship and detention powers, with journalists, activists and opposition leaders facing arrests and persecutions in Pakistan, it said.

According to the Dawn editorial, enforced disappearances remain a concern in Pakistan, with force being used against protesters and restrictions on movement.

It mentioned that economic pressure was also being used to influence media coverage, including the selective withdrawal of state advertisements from outlets in response to critical reporting about government.

"Meanwhile, persecution of minorities, misuse of blasphemy laws, violence against women and the forced return of Afghan refugees underscore the state's failure in protecting vulnerable groups. The path forward is clear, even if politically difficult. Pakistan must reform repressive laws, criminalise enforced disappearances, safeguard media independence and uphold the rights of minorities and refugees. It must also restore investment in social sectors and strengthen climate resilience. At its core, it is a question of priorities, and it appears rights have been set aside," Dawn emphasised.

On Tuesday, Global rights watchdog Amnesty International in its annual report highlighted a pattern of restrictions on civil liberties in Pakistan, including curbs on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and political participation. Amnesty has stated that changes to online speech and anti-terrorism laws in Pakistan have significantly affected freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, resulting in the arrest of journalists, activists and opposition members, Dawn reported.

On legislative changes, the report mentioned that the 27th Amendment "significantly undermined the independence of the higher judiciary and provided broad immunity to the heads of the armed forces and the president." Pakistani authorities continued to use detention, cybercrime and anti-terror laws to curb freedom of expression.

According to the report, more than 100 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and activists were convicted by anti-terrorism courts in cases related to the May 9, 2023 protests. The convicted leaders include opposition leaders Omer Ayub and Shibli Faraz, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Zartaj Gul, and activist Khadija Shah, Dawn reported.

The report said that PTI founder Imran Khan remained in prison on "politically motivated charges," citing that he had been kept in solitary confinement and not being allowed to meet his lawyer.

On violence against women, the Amnesty report cited the organisation Sahil's data, which documented a 25 per cent increase in reported cases in Pakistan over an 11-month period.

As per the report, journalists and human rights defenders were frequently targetted under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The report stated that journalists Asad Toor and Sohrab Barkat were not allowed to leave Pakistan, with Barkat later charged under Peca. The report stated that human rights defenders like Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta in Pakistan were criminally charged for sharing posts on social media.
New Delhi, April 23 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday met Suzuki Motor CEO Toshihiro Suzuki here and the latter assured that they will continue to expand its investments in the state.

He said the company is committed to contributing not only to India's progress but also to the development of Haryana.

Chief Minister Saini noted that to strengthen cultural ties between Japan and Haryana, an International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav will be organised in Japan.

He also invited Toshihiro Suzuki to attend the International Gita Seminar as a distinguished guest at the Tokyo University on June 20.

During the discussion, Chief Minister Saini said that Haryana has consistently supported Suzuki Motor and expressed confidence that the company will continue to invest in the state.

He noted that Suzuki Motor is the only company that has received SGST incentives from the state government.

In response, CEO Toshihiro Suzuki said the company will focus on hybrid and CNG vehicles in India.

He added that "if Suzuki decides to manufacture electric vehicles and set up a new plant in the future, Haryana would be their preferred destination for investment".

He emphasised the importance of continued strong communication and cooperation with the state government.

Reflecting on Suzuki's early days in India during 1982-83, CEO Toshihiro Suzuki mentioned that despite differences in working styles between India and Japan, there are many similarities that have strengthened collaboration.

Chief Minister Saini said the International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav will be organised in Japan in June to enhance cultural cooperation between Japan and Haryana.

He requested Suzuki's CEO to facilitate collaboration between the Kurukshetra Development Board and a reputed Japanese social organisation to ensure wider participation of Japanese citizens in the event.

CEO Toshihiro Suzuki agreed to consider the proposal.

Suzuki CEO said that the company is taking significant steps in the compressed biogas sector and plans to increase investment in this area.

He added that Suzuki aims to set up nine biogas plants, of which two have already been established.

He also told that Suzuki will manufacture strong hybrid vehicles at its Kharkhoda plant.

He sought support from the state government to ensure smooth production and sales, to which the Chief Minister assured full cooperation.
Patna, April 23 : A fresh debate has been triggered following remarks by former Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh during the 'Babu Veer Kunwar Singh Vijayotsav' event held in Bhagalpur on Thursday.

Referring to the popular song "Sabarmati ke Sant", Singh said that attributing the entire credit for India's independence solely to Mahatma Gandhi undermines the sacrifices of numerous revolutionaries who fought for the nation's freedom.

He highlighted the contributions of freedom fighters such as Rani Lakshmibai, Veer Kunwar Singh, Birsa Munda and Devi Bakhsh Singh, stating that many such figures have not received due recognition in mainstream historical narratives.

Quoting poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, he said that history will record the fate of those who remained neutral, adding that society's silence has contributed to the neglect of several revolutionaries.

Singh also commented on the framing of the Constitution, stating that while B. R. Ambedkar played a pivotal role, the document was the result of collective efforts by members of the Constituent Assembly.

He emphasised contributions from leaders across regions, including Bihar.

Earlier in Patna, Governor Syed Ata Hasnain paid floral tributes at the statue of Veer Kunwar Singh at Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, also paid homage on the occasion.

At the state headquarters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the birth anniversary of Veer Kunwar Singh was commemorated under the leadership of State President Mangni Lal Mandal, where leaders paid floral tributes to the freedom fighter.

Addressing party workers, Mandal described Veer Kunwar Singh as a towering figure of the 1857 uprising, noting that even at the age of 80, he fought against British rule alongside leaders like Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope and Bahadur Shah Zafar.

He emphasised that Kunwar Singh symbolised unity and sacrifice, with people from different communities fighting together under his leadership for India's independence.
New Delhi, April 23 : The Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, concluded his official visit to the Czech Republic on Thursday, aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, the MoS held bilateral meetings with senior Czech leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlicek, his deputy Jan Sechter; and Deputy Foreign Minister Marie Chatardova.

The visit that was held between April 22 and April 23 at the invitation of the Czech government underscored India's commitment to deepening economic and strategic engagement with key European partners.

Moreover, the discussions focused on reviewing progress in economic cooperation and identifying new opportunities across priority sectors.

Union Minister Prasada has also co-chaired the 13th session of the Indiaa"Czech Republic Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation with Jan Sechter in Prague, where both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral economic ties and explored collaboration in emerging areas.

The protocol of the meeting was signed during the session, according to the Union government.

On the sidelines, Jitin Prasada inaugurated the Indiaa"Czech Business Forum and interacted with leading Czech industry representatives to promote trade and investment opportunities, while strengthening business-to-business linkages.

As part of the visit, he toured key industrial and technology facilities, including Skoda Transportation in Plzen, and held discussions with representatives of Skoda Auto, encouraging further investment in India's automobile sector.

He also visited research institutions such as the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics in Prague and the ELI Beamlines facility in Dolni Brezany, focusing on collaboration in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and laser science.

According to the Union government, the visit has reflected growing economic convergence between India and the Czech Republic, with both sides seeking to translate political intent into stronger trade, investment and innovation partnerships.
Tehran, April 23, : At least five people have died and hundreds of homes destroyed after flash floods struck West Afghanistan provinces of Ghor and Badghis, local media in the country reported on Thursday citing information confirmation from various authorities.

Five people, including a woman in the Badghis province, were killed in the floods. Three of the victims belonged to the same family, Pajhwok news agency quoted Baridad Saber, head of the Disaster Preparedness Department in Badghis, as saying.

As many as 30 homes were destroyed and agricultural land was damaged due to the floods. The numbers are preliminary, and the number of casualties and losses could rise, stated Saber.

Meanwhile, the districts of Aab Kamari, Bala Murghab, Muqur, Qadis and Ghormach in Badghis province also recorded heavy rain accompanied by hail.

The Governoras media office in Ghor province revealed that 100 homes, dozens of jeribs of farmland, and a number of fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing trees were destroyed in the village of Jeh in Murghab district on Wednesday.

It mentioned that the lives of local residents were disrupted severely by the floods, and they are now in urgent need of assistance.

The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (MoTCI) has forecast heavy rainfall in the region in the coming days.

Thunderstorms and flash floods are expected in Nuristan, Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kapisa, Panjsher, Parwan, Baghlan, Samangan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Takhar, Balkh, Sar-i-Pul, Faryab, Ghor, Badghis, Daikundi, Bamyan, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak, Logar and Paktia provinces.

At least 148 people were killed and 216 injured in Afghanistan in the early weeks of April following heavy rains, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes and lightning that have struck several parts of the country, Afghanistan's Khaama Press reported on April 10, citing updates released by the Afghan disaster authorities.

More than 9,000 homes have been damaged, and 15,500 acres of agricultural land have been destroyed in Afghanistan in these earlier floods caused by heavy rains between March 26 and April 6.

a"IANS

ksk/as
New Delhi, April 23 : Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Thursday inaugurated the Robotic Orthopaedic System and Maternity Operation Theatre at Cantonment General Hospital here and highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring high-quality medical services for residents.

The new facilities inaugurated by the Defence Secretary, in the presence of Director General, Defence Estates, Shobha Gupta, will aid advanced healthcare services for the residents of the Cantonment and neighbouring municipal areas, said an official statement.

The Director General of Defence Estates lauded the initiative, noting that such developments will significantly strengthen healthcare delivery systems within cantonment areas and contribute to overall community welfare.

The newly-launched Robotic Orthopaedic System represents a major technological upgrade, enabling precision-driven surgical procedures, reduced recovery times and improved patient outcomes.

Equipped with a cutting-edge robotic system, the unit is expected to enhance the hospital's capability in handling complex orthopaedic cases with greater accuracy and efficiency, said the statement.

Also, the Maternity Operation Theatre has been designed to provide comprehensive and safe surgical care for expectant mothers.

On the occasion, a brief presentation was also made on the planned upgrades at Cantonment General Hospital, which includes a Dialysis Centre, Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), ICU upgrades, and laboratory expansion over the next three months.

Over the next one year, facilities such as a Paediatric ICU, Neonatal ICU, CT Scan, MRI, Cancer Screening Unit, High Dependency Unit, Multispecialty Ward, and Surgical ICU are also planned to be developed to further enhance healthcare services, said the statement.

In a separate development, the Indian Army's Central Command, Military Hospital, Jabalpur, conducted a Mental Health Awareness Programme for Officers and Junior Commissioned Officers of HQ 1 Signals Training Centre.

"The initiative focused on early identification of mental health concerns, effective stress management, healthy sleep practices and practical coping strategies to address both professional demands and family-related challenges," said a statement on X.

The interactive sessions reinforced the importance of mental resilience as a key component of leadership and operational effectiveness. This programme marked the first in a structured monthly series planned through 2026, reaffirming the Army's commitment to fostering mental well-being, strengthening resilience and sustaining high morale across the leadership spectrum, said the statement.
Islamabad, April 23 : A lady health worker from Muzaffargarh city of Pakistan's Punjab province requesting country's Chief Justice to conduct an independent probe into the killing of her two sons in an alleged police 'encounter' demonstrates the eroding trust of people in provincial authorities to deliver justice. Her statement about police torture and the subsequent killing of her sons in a "so-called encounter" is not an isolated case, a report has stated.

"It reflects a continuing pattern in which the once sporadic instances of police staging encounters to eliminate suspected criminals appear to have evolved into a systemic practice. Figures cited by the media and rights groups reinforce this concern," an editorial in Pakistan's leading daily Dawn stated.

"Estimates based on reported incidents indicate that hundreds of police encounters in recent months have resulted in a staggering number of deaths across Punjab. Rather than prompting action, these encounters have at times been praised by political authorities as an effective deterrent against crime. It signals not just tolerance of extrajudicial methods, but also a tacit endorsement of them as an official crime control policy," it added.

The increase in encounters demonstrates failure of the criminal justice system in Pakistan. Police relying on eliminating instead of prosecuting suspects showcases that investigation, evidence-gathering and trial processes are either too weak or too inconvenient to pursue. Each citizen has a right to a fair trial under the constitution. However, when the state starts to decide who should get that right and who should not, it crosses a dangerous threshold. The acceptance of these killings brutalises society, undermines people's trust and blurs the line between law enforcement and lawlessness, the editorial mentioned.

Earlier in February, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the country's Crime Control Department (CCD) in Punjab province for pursuing a deliberate policy of staged encounters resulting in extrajudicial killings that fundamentally undermines the rule of law and constitutional protections in the province.

Citing various media reports, the HRCP documented at least 670 CCD-led encounters over the course of eight months in 2025, resulting in the deaths of 924 suspects, with two police officers killed during the same period.

"The extreme casualty imbalance  averaging more than two fatal encounters daily  combined with the uniformity of operational patterns across districts, indicates an institutionalised practice rather than isolated incidents of misconduct. The fact-finding mission has therefore called for an urgent high-level judicial inquiry into these deaths," the HRCP stated.

The organisation documented a pervasive climate of fear among victims' families. One family reported pressure from police officials to bury the deceased immediately and claimed they were warned that other relatives could be killed if they pursued the case further. Such intimidation, it said, constitutes criminal conduct and represents a fundamental obstruction of justice.

"The practice of police encounters as a method of crime control has a long and troubling history in Pakistan. Successive provincial governments, especially in Punjab and Sindh, have defended such actions as necessary to combat crime, militancy or systemic inefficiencies within the criminal justice system," the HRCP stated.

However, the organisation highlighted that Pakistani courts, civil society organisations and human rights bodies have repeatedly raised concerns regarding extrajudicial killings, the surrounding lack of accountability and violations of the right to life guaranteed under Article 9 of Pakistan's Constitution.
Bhopal/Shivpuri, April 23 : Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly Preetam Singh Lodhi on Thursday issued a public apology after using derogatory language against a senior police officer, as the controversy intensified across Madhya Pradesh.a Bhopal/Shivpuri, April 23 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly Preetam Singh Lodhi on Thursday issued a public apology after using derogatory language against a senior police officer, as the controversy intensified across Madhya Pradesh.

He said he was deeply hurt when the police paraded his son in public and, driven by these emotions, used some inappropriate language against police officials, for which he sincerely apologised.

Lodhi's statement came after a meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Bharatiya Janata Party state president Hemant Khandelwal at the Chief Minister's residence in Bhopal on Thursday.

He added that he will be mindful of his choice of words and adhere to the party's guidelines.

Meanwhile, Lodhi also said that he has submitted his reply to the Chief Minister and the state Bharatiya Janata Party chief and requested an inquiry into the incident.

He said he has submitted a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Hemant Khandelwal, urging them to conduct a thorough investigation, and that he will be mindful of his words and follow party guidelines.

A day earlier, Khandelwal had issued a show-cause notice to the Pichhore Member of Legislative Assembly. The notice described Lodhi's conduct as "highly objectionable" and against party discipline, and asked him to reply within three days.

The row began after a video of Lodhi went viral. In the clip, he was seen confronting Karera Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Ayush Jakhar and questioning his authority.

He said Karera is not his "daddy's fiefdom" and that his son will come there and contest elections, adding that if his "daddy" has the courage, he should stop his son.

He also threatened to gather a large number of supporters and march to the officer's residence, warning of further action. The remarks drew sharp criticism from different sections.

The issue is linked to an April 16 road accident involving Lodhi's son, Dinesh Lodhi. He allegedly drove a Thar sport utility vehicle into five people, injuring two women and three men on a motorcycle.

Police registered a First Information Report and seized the vehicle. The action led to tension between the Member of Legislative Assembly and the police.

The matter has sparked wider reactions. The Indian Police Service Association wrote to the Chief Minister seeking strict action, calling the remarks an insult to the administrative system.

Opposition leaders also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar accused the party of protecting wrongdoing.

Protests were held in Shivpuri by Bhim Army members. The Sahariya Kranti Sangathan also warned of agitation.

As pressure increased, Lodhi claimed that his remarks were misrepresented. However, his apology is being seen as an effort to ease the situation.

--IANS

pd/dan


Chennai, April 23 (IANS Tamil Nadu witnessed a high-voltage electoral contest on Thursday as polling for all 234 Assembly constituencies concluded with a robust voter turnout of over 84 per cent, reflecting strong public participation in one of the State's most closely watched elections in recent years.

Chennai, April 23 (IANS Tamil Nadu witnessed a high-voltage electoral contest on Thursday as polling for all 234 Assembly constituencies concluded with a robust voter turnout of over 84 per cent, reflecting strong public participation in one of the Stateas most closely watched elections in recent years.

The election marked a significant shift from the traditional Dravidian two-party dominance, evolving into a multi-cornered contest involving the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), the AIADMK-led NDA, actor Vijayas Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and Seemanas Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).

Polling began briskly in the morning, with steady queues reported across urban and rural regions despite soaring temperatures. By 3 p.m., turnout had already touched around 70 per cent, indicating a strong voter response that eventually translated into one of the highest participation rates in recent elections.

The ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is seeking a second consecutive term, banking on welfare schemes and governance claims.

The AIADMK, under Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is attempting a comeback despite internal factional challenges, making this election a crucial test of its political relevance.

Adding a new dimension to the contest is Vijayas TVK, which has contested all 234 seats, aiming to convert its growing popularitya"especially among youtha"into electoral gains. Alongside, Senthamizhan Seemanas NTK has once again fielded candidates across constituencies, focusing on Tamil nationalism, environmental issues, and an alternative political narrative that appeals to sections of young and first-time voters.

The presence of these emerging players has effectively turned the election into a four-cornered fight, potentially fragmenting vote shares and altering traditional electoral arithmetic.

While polling was largely peaceful, a few isolated incidents of tension and logistical challenges were reported, including crowd management issues at some booths and minor disruptions.

However, authorities ensured smooth conduct overall, with extensive security arrangements in place.

With over 5.7 crore eligible voters participating in the democratic exercise, the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election is poised to be a defining political moment.

The results, to be declared on May 4, will determine whether the Dravidian stronghold continues under the DMK or witnesses a shift amid the rise of new political forces like TVK and NTK.
Jaipur, April 23 : Online Ludo gambling has emerged as a key link in a shocking case involving Rahul Meena, a resident of Rajgarh in Rajasthan's Alwar district, who is accused of raping a friend's wife and later murdering the daughter of a Delhi-based IRS officer within hours.

Sudhir Chaudhary, Superintendent of Police, Alwar, told IANS that the investigation has revealed that both the victim's husband and the accused Rahul were involved in online Ludo gambling, where they had lost substantial amounts of money. He said that preliminary investigations point to personal enmity, financial distress, and revenge as key motives.

"A detailed probe is currently underway. We have spoken to the accused's father, who is an alcoholic. He said that his son was into online Ludo gaming," Chaudhary said.

When asked whether it was a case of online gambling addiction involving large sums of money, he said that the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Police and that the probe is ongoing, declining to share further details.

It may be noted that Meena, the accused in the Delhi murder case, allegedly raped his friend's wife in Alwar just hours before killing the daughter of an IRS officer in Delhi. Police said there was a gap of approximately 78 hours between the two crimes.

The accused, identified as Rahul Meena (19), a resident of Rajgarh in Alwar district, has been arrested. According to Sudhir Chaudhary, Meena had previously worked as a domestic help at the victim's residence in Delhi but was dismissed due to financial irregularities. He had returned to his village in March.

On April 21, Meena and his friend attended a wedding.

Later that night, he left on the pretext of returning home, took a motorcycle, and reached his friend's house around 11 p.m., where he allegedly raped his friend's wife.

After the crime, Meena rode towards the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to reach Delhi. Upon arrival on April 22, he went to the IRS officer's residence. Police said the accused was familiar with the family's routine and knew that the parents left for the gym early in the morning. He also knew about a spare key kept outside the house for domestic staff. Using this, he entered the house around 6.30 a.m.

Inside, he remained for about 4045 minutes and attacked the 22-year-old victim, later strangling her using a mobile phone charger cable. He then fled with cash and jewellery.

Investigators said Meena was addicted to online gaming and had incurred significant debt. He had borrowed money from others but failed to repay it, leading to complaints and eventually his dismissal. Police believe this financial stress contributed to the crime.

CCTV footage captured Meena entering the house and later leaving with a bag.

The stolen cash, around Rs 2 lakh, and jewellery have been recovered. Delhi Police tracked and arrested him. Rajasthan Police are expected to take him into custody soon as part of the ongoing joint investigation.

Police in Rajgarh said that just hours before the Delhi murder, Rahul allegedly raped his friend's wife. He had dropped his friend at a wedding ceremony and later returned to the house, where the woman, mistaking him for her husband, opened the door. Rahul had been dismissed from his job about six weeks earlier over allegations of financial misconduct.

Police said he had borrowed money from neighbours by falsely invoking his employer's name and had accumulated significant debt, partly due to online gaming and betting. Investigators believe this led to resentment and a planned act of revenge.

Police teams from Rajasthan Police and Delhi Police are jointly investigating the case. Multiple teams have been formed, and several individuals are being questioned. Authorities are also examining whether proper police verification had been conducted during his employment.
Srinagar, April 23 : Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, V.K. Birdi, on Thursday, chaired a coordination meeting with Central Armed Police Forces for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and the annual Darbar Move preparedness.a

The meeting was chaired by the Inspector General of Police at the Police Control Room Kashmir in Srinagar today. The meeting was held to strengthen security arrangements for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026, along with preparedness for the annual Darbar Move of offices.a

The meeting was attended by Inspector General Border Security Force Frontier Headquarters, Inspector General Central Reserve Police Force and all Range Deputy Inspectors General of Kashmir Zone, Deputy Inspectors General of Central Reserve Police Force South/North/SKOR, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Traffic Kashmir, Criminal Investigation Department Kashmir, Armed Kashmir, India Reserve Police Kashmir, Senior Superintendents of Police of Kashmir Zone, including Srinagar, Anantnag, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam, Awantipora, Bandipora, Senior Superintendent of Police Security Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police Railways Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police Additional Police Control Room Kashmir, Colonel General Staff (Intelligence and Security) 15 Corps and other officers/representatives of Police, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and Civil Secretariat.

Addressing the officers, Inspector General of Police Kashmir highlighted the need for meticulous advance planning, with particular emphasis on logistical coordination, route security and robust emergency response mechanisms.a

Stressing the importance of inter-agency synergy, V.K. Birdi directed officers to formulate integrated and coordinated plans in close collaboration with Central Armed Police Forces and other stakeholders.a

A comprehensive review of the preparedness framework was undertaken, focusing on effective coordination among all stakeholders and the importance of clear communication channels.a

V.K. Birdi emphasised strengthening joint operational mechanisms and ensuring that all agencies remain aligned and prepared to respond promptly to any emerging situation.a

Inspector General of Police Kashmir also reviewed the preparedness for the upcoming Darbar Move and instructed officers to ensure all arrangements are in place for the annual relocation of offices, focusing specifically on security measures, traffic regulation and the seamless transit of personnel and official records.a

J&K Police reaffirms its steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety, security and well-being of all pilgrims and the general public, and to facilitating a peaceful and incident-free conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, as well as the smooth and secure execution of the Darbar Move.a

a
Amaravati, April 23 : Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council met the Council Chairman K. Moshen Raju on Thursday and rejected the resignation of Jayamangala Venkataramana as the Member of Legislative Council (MLC).

Venkataramana had submitted his resignation in November 2024. He had also announced his resignation from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

Last year, he approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court over the delay in accepting his resignation.

The High Court had directed to the Council Chairman to take a decision on the resignation.

The Presiding Officer was asked to decide on the resignation letter within a fixed time frame.

On November 27, 2025, the High Court directed the Council Chairman Moshen Raju to complete the enquiry into the resignation and take a decision within four weeks.

A single-judge bench termed the prolonged inaction in taking a decision by the Council Chairman as "illegal, arbitrary, and abuse of the process".

Recently, the High Court was told by the government counsel that a decision will be taken in three weeks.

Council Chairman Moshen Raju rejected the resignation on the ground that the reply he submitted to the notice was not satisfactory.

Venkataramana, who was elected to the Legislative Council on the YSRCP ticket in 2023, submitted his resignation and joined the Jana Sena Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on November 23, 2024.

The resignations of five other MLCs were also pending with the Council Chairman. They all were elected on a YSRCP ticket but submitted their resignations after the party lost power in 2024.

Council Deputy Chairperson Zakia Khanam, Pothula Sunitha, B. Kalyan Chakravarthi, Padmasri, and Marri Rajasekhar are the other MLCs who had called on the Council Chairman Moshen Raju in December last year to request him to take a decision on their resignations.

However, Zakia Khanam withdrew her resignation on the advise of the Council Chairman. She was advised to take back the resignation as she had only six months of her tenure left.
London, April 23 : Sayragul Sauytbay, Vice President of East Turkestan's government-in-exile, has accused British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of "disrespecting human rights" over the approval of a Chinese mega-Embassy in London, a report has highlighted.

London, April 23 (IANS) Sayragul Sauytbay, Vice President of East Turkestan's government-in-exile, has accused British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of "disrespecting human rights" over the approval of a Chinese mega-Embassy in London, a report has highlighted.

Speaking to UK's 'The Independent', Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh, claimed to have witnessed serious abuses while being forced to work in one of China's Xinjiang internment camps in 2017. She criticised Starmer for prioritising economic and political interests over international law.

"The recent activities of the current UK government have left us in deep anguish and fear," The Independent quoted Sauytbay as saying, adding that Britain has "no right" to speak about freedom and democracy as it moves to strengthen ties with China and President Xi Jinping.

She described grave abuses in Chinese internment camps in Xinjiang region, home to several Turkic ethnic minority groups, including Uyghurs and Kazakhs. She also recalled the horrors of the so-called "black room" where detainees were allegedly tortured.

Highlighting the "horrific abuse of detainees" in detention camp by the Chinese authorities, Sautbay was quoted as saying by The Independent: "They engage in all forms of torture against the detainees, including both psychological and physical torture. They routinely rape women. I've witnessed gang rapes as well with my own eyes".

Sauytbay stated that she was also subjected to the same "inhumane treatment" despite her role as a teacher.

"You can't talk, you can't cry, you can't smile  even as an instructor, you can't speak with the detainees unless it's about teaching them," she recalled.

Expressing concern, Sauytbay said that Kazakhs and Uyghurs once looked to the UK as a beacon of "hope and help". However, in recent months, she said, the British government has sought to repair the strained relationship between the UK and China  despite Beijing's poor human rights record.

The British Prime Minister called for a "more sophisticated" relationship with the Chinese government during a landmark visit to Beijing in January, emphasising the financial benefits of improved ties with the world's second-largest economy.

Sauytbay highlighted that days before the visit, the UK had approved a "controversial plan" for a Chinese mega-Embassy in London, drawing criticism from many who view it as a national security risk.

"Starmer is disrespecting human rights. He's disrespecting international law and obligations because human rights need to be prioritised over all things, over economic and political gains," leading British daily 'The Independent' quoted Sauytbay as saying.

"Every country has legal obligations that they signed on to before international law, that they will prioritise and respect human rights. If they are not respecting that, then they have no right to speak about freedom and democracy in other parts of the world. So I want to highlight this hypocrisy by the UK government when it comes to our people," she added.
Agartala, April 23 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday claimed that the opposition insulted women for their own political benefit and maintained that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance does not support women's empowerment, instead prioritising self-centred politics.

Agartala, April 23 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday claimed that the opposition insulted women for their own political benefit and maintained that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance does not support womenas empowerment, instead prioritising self-centred politics.

The Chief Minister said that an amendment to the Womenas Reservation Bill could not be passed in Parliament due to opposition resistance on April 17.

He described the amendment as crucial for advancing womenas empowerment in India, adding that it has the potential to reshape the future of politics and contribute significantly to national development.

He said that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or the opposition, has once again insulted women and deprived the entire nation because they are desperate to protect their political ground, adding that they only believe in self-centred politics, while addressing a press conference at the state Bharatiya Janata Party office in Agartala.

Highlighting the significance of the legislation, he referred to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, or Womenas Reservation Bill 2023, as a revolutionary milestone in the history of Indian democracy.

The Chief Minister explained that the primary objective of the Act is to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

He said that this is a historic law to guarantee that women receive one-third representation in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, adding that it not only ensures womenas rights but also paves the way for women-led development in India.

Saha noted that the bill was passed during a special session held in the new Parliament building in September 2023.

He emphasised that the legislation aims to eliminate gender inequality within Indiaas political framework and represents a major step taken by the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister PM Modi.

Saha further stated that the demand for womenas reservation has been ongoing for nearly three decades.

The bill was first introduced in 1996 during the tenure of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, but failed to pass.

Multiple attempts were made between 1998 and 2003 under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, yet the bill continued to face obstacles.

He said that in 2010, it was passed in the Rajya Sabha during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but it could not be cleared in the Lok Sabha, adding that at that time, parties like the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal opposed it. He said that finally, in 2023, under Prime Minister PM Modi, the bill was passed with a huge majority in both Houses.

Explaining the provisions of the Act, the Chief Minister said it mandates 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies and the Delhi Assembly.

It also includes reservations within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes reserved constituencies, he said, adding that seats will be rotated after each election through the delimitation process to ensure wider representation of women across constituencies.

He pointed out that the law has a validity of 15 years, which can be extended by Parliament if deemed necessary.

However, the provisions apply only to directly elected members and do not extend to the Rajya Sabha.

Saha also highlighted challenges that have emerged even after the billas passage in 2023.

He said the law cannot be implemented until the completion of the census, which is currently underway, potentially delaying its enforcement by several years.

He said that, therefore, the amendment was brought again in April 2026 so that it could be implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He added that there was a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha, and the opposition also participated; however, they ultimately did not allow the bill to be passed.

The Chief Minister further alleged that the Congress has historically worked against womenas interests, noting that women constitute 55 per cent of the countryas population and have been deprived due to the delay in implementation.

He said that their government and Prime Minister PM Modi have consistently worked for the welfare of women.

He added that while the opposition may have succeeded temporarily in blocking the amendment, the Prime Minister has the support and blessings of crores of women. He said he strongly condemns the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, including Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist), and believes they will face a strong response.

The women leaders -- Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, Member of Legislative Assembly Mina Rani Sarkar and Member of Legislative Assembly Antara Dev Sarkar -- were also present at the press conference.
Islamabad, April 23 : Learning crisis deepens and existing gaps further widen when children in Pakistan, who struggle with basic literacy, keep on missing schools. In March, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced closure of schools and a shift to online classes for all higher education institutions for two weeks to manage the increasing price of fuel caused by the conflict in West Asia. However, this is not the only time when Pakistan government decided to shut down schools.

"If one reviews the news archives, one can find reports of repeated closures of educational institutions for reasons ranging from security risks to the Covid-19 pandemic, crises driven by climate change and smog. The school closure announcement was just one instance in a recurring pattern. Despite schools having reopened, there is no guarantee that it will not happen again," Mehrin Shah, a development practitioner, wrote in Pakistan's leading daily Dawn.

"But what about the implications of this persistent cycle? For a country where, according to the latest report released by the Pakistan Institute of Education, 77 per cent of 10-year-olds are not able to read and comprehend a simple text, the education system is already mired in a deep learning crisis. When children who struggle with basic literacy keep on missing school, it compounds the learning crisis and further widens the existing gaps," she added.

Schools remained shut for 97 days in Pakistan due to climate change-driven crisis in 2023-24, which makes up 54 per cent of the normal academic year. Pakistan was among the first nations in the world to shut down schools when the Covid-19 pandemic erupted. More than 26 million students dropped out of schools in Pakistan during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and only 50 per cent returned to schools for studying. Majority of the students who dropped out of schools in Pakistan were girls, Shah wrote in Dawn.

Apart from affecting learning outcomes, schools closures also have a gendered impact, with girls, especially in underprivileged settings, paying heavy price. For many students, schools become a safe space against child marriage and child labour. However, the closure of schools takes away that safe space, thereby increase the risk of school dropouts and child marriage.

Shah asserted that some people might argue that remote learning can serve as an alternative in such a situation. However, this method of learning cannot be accessed by all the students in Pakistan as household distractions, lack of familial support in understanding instructional content, limited understanding of the language used for classroom instructions and lack of access to the internet and modern gadgets hinder online learning.

"One of my colleagues stated that schools had instructed parents to teach topics at home and once the students returned to school, those lessons would not be covered by the teacher. One might ask, who was going to teach those children not fortunate enough to have literate family members at home? AnAAother colleague said she and her husbAand were in office all day, which left their son unattended at home, where he played video games all day and did not take any interest in virtual learning," mentioned Mehrin Shah in Dawn.

"An already strained education system should not be further tested through this shutdown practice. However, if such measures are deemed necessary and unavoidable, the education system must be seriously supported to protect student learning. An already strained education system should not be further tested through this shutdown practice," she added.
Washington, April 23 : Former Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi on Thursday raised concerns over US-India trade negotiations and pushed for greater political representation for women.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute's "New India Conference", Chaturvedi criticised the manner in which tariff discussions have been handled, particularly in the context of recent US measures.

"We were negotiating on a tariff, which was imposed on us and came to 18 per cent," Chaturvedi said, referring to ongoing trade talks between the two countries.

She questioned the basis of ambitious bilateral trade targets, asking, "$500 billion where would it come from?" and warned that such projections have raised concerns among Indian farmers and dairy producers.

Chaturvedi also flagged India's energy security concerns, especially in the context of external pressure on oil imports. "That is our autonomic decision, and that is something that we should be deciding in terms of the energy security needs back home," she said.

She stressed that India has historically approached partnerships with consistency and reliability. "We have invested in this relationship, looking at the United States of America as a reliable ally The continuity should remain," Chaturvedi said.

At the same time, she cautioned against public pressure in diplomacy. "Not throwing tantrums at us, not telling us what to do, actually understanding our challenges," she said, outlining expectations from Washington.

Beyond trade, Chaturvedi focused on domestic political reform, particularly women's representation in India's Parliament. She said that despite women comprising nearly half the population, representation remains limited.

"50 per cent of India's voters and population is that of women but in terms of representation, we have barely managed to reach up to 13 per cent, 14 per cent," she said.

Referring to the long-pending women's reservation issue, Chaturvedi said, "This is a fight which has been going on the past three decades for representation."

She expressed concern over delays in implementing the 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament, arguing that linking it to broader structural changes could slow progress.

"Let's open the doors for women in the existing structure as it exists in the parliament," she said.

Chaturvedi said expanding representation is essential for strengthening democratic institutions.

"I stand for the women of the country that they need to be represented," she said.

She also pointed to India's global role in advancing equity, citing initiatives such as vaccine distribution and advocacy at the World Trade Organization. "India was at the forefront of fighting to make it more accessible," she said.

Highlighting the broader policy vision, she added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised "a new paradigm, which is about women-led development".

On India-US cooperation, Chaturvedi said both sides continue to explore areas of convergence but noted that "problematic comments" can derail progress.

The conference brought together policymakers and experts to examine India's evolving global role and its partnership with the United States at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Baramati, April 23 : After a high-stakes and emotional day of voting for the Baramati Assembly by-election, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Sunetra Pawar on Thursday issued a heartfelt message of gratitude to the people and political supporters.

Baramati, April 23 (IANS) After a high-stakes and emotional day of voting for the Baramati Assembly by-election, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Sunetra Pawar on Thursday issued a heartfelt message of gratitude to the people and political supporters.

The by-election, necessitated by the demise of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in January, saw a steady turnout as citizens cast their votes to determine the future of this crucial Assembly constituency.

As per the Election Commission of India, 52.48 per cent voting was reported till 5 p.m. while the final voting percentage will be released late Thursday evening.

However, NCP sources said that about 60 per cent voting has taken place despite hot weather.

In her statement, Sunetra Pawar described the act of voting as a "moving tribute" to the memory of her husband late Ajit Pawar.

She noted that the participation of the "Baramatikars" (residents of Baramati) reflected their deep-rooted love and trust in the work he (Ajit Pawar) had accomplished.

"Today's vote was more than a political exercise; it was a heartfelt homage to Ajit Dada's memory. The tireless efforts he put in for Baramati and his immense love for the people were evident in the actions of every voter today," she said.

In a rare show of political unity, Sunetra Pawar extended her thanks not only to the Mahayuti alliance (BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena) but also to members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and various social organisations.

Notable developments leading up to the poll included NCP-SP's decision to support Sunetra Pawar's nomination.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP opted not to field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar as a mark of respect.

The Congress withdrew its candidate late in the race, effectively smoothing the path for an unopposed-style contest.

The Deputy Chief Minister specifically praised the election officials, police, and party workers for ensuring a "smooth, transparent, and disciplined" polling process.

The Baramati Assembly constituency has 3.84 lakh registered voters.

In all 23 candidates, including Sunetra Pawar were in the fray.

However, the withdrawal of major opposition parties has positioned Sunetra Pawar as the clear frontrunner to carry forward the Pawar legacy in the state Assembly.

Results for the Baramati by-election are scheduled to be officially announced on May 4.
Mumbai, April 23 : Opener Sanju Samson hammered a brilliant unbeaten century, his second of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) posted 207/6 in 20 overs against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

After being asked to bat first, CSK got off to a strong start. Samson and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad attacked from the beginning, scoring 26 runs in the first two overs, including 19 runs off Hardik Pandyaas second over.

Mumbai got their first breakthrough in the third over when Gaikwad was dismissed for 22 off 14 balls. Despite losing a wicket, Samson kept the momentum going and again took on Pandya, collecting 19 runs in the fourth over bowled by the Mumbai Indians skipper as CSK crossed the 50-run mark quickly.

Sarfaraz Khan played a few attacking shots but was bowled by Mitchell Santner for 14 off 8 balls in the last over of the Power-play. CSK ended the first six overs at 73/2.

After the fielding restrictions were lifted, the Mumbai Indians struck again as AM Ghazanfar bowled Shivam Dube with a clever carrom ball. Dewald Brevis then struck some runs, hitting two sixes and a four before getting out for 21 off 11 balls to Ashwani Kumar.

At the other end, Samson continued to bat with confidence and reached his fifty in just 26 balls. He held the innings together even as wickets kept falling.

Young batter Kartik tried to accelerate in the middle overs with a couple of sixes but struggled later and was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 18 off 19 balls. Jamie Overton provided a late boost with a quick 15 off 7 balls.

In the final overs, Samson dominated the bowling and brought up his century in style, reaching the milestone in 54 balls with a six. He remained unbeaten on 101, hitting 10 fours and 6 sixes, helping CSK cross the 200-run mark.

For the Mumbai Indians, Ghazanfar was the pick of the bowlers with 2/25, while Ashwani Kumar also picked up two wickets.

Brief scores:

Chennai Super Kings 207/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 101*, Ruturaj Gaikwad 22; AM Ghazanfar 2-25, Ashwani Kumar 2-37) against Mumbai Indians
Quetta, April 23 : As enforced disappearances of civilians continue unabated across Balochistan, students of Bolan Medical College in the provincial capital, Quetta, continued their protest for the second consecutive day on Thursday outside the college premises, demanding the immediate and safe recovery of a female student forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces.

According to the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Khadija Baloch was abducted on Tuesday by Pakistani security forces from the BMC female hostel in Quetta and shifted to an undisclosed location.

Since her enforced disappearance, it said, no information about her whereabouts or condition has been provided to her family and fellow students.

"It must be remembered that the forcible disappearance of women in Balochistan is increasing with each passing day. It is not far that every household will suffer this fate; anyone, from anywhere, can be picked up, disappear, and later be labelled a terrorist. The state is using all its force to suppress the Baloch people. It is high time for the Baloch nation to stand up and unite against these state atrocities," the BYC stated.

Expressing concern over the incident, the Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) stated the targeting of Baloch women reflects a dangerous escalation.

"Reports of such cases are rising, creating fear across communities. Families face violence, uncertainty, and silence. This pattern shows a deliberate attempt to intimidate and suppress voices that seek justice and dignity," the rights body stated.

The BVJ appealed for immediate accountability and the safe recovery of Khadija , stating that continued silence would deepen mistrust and suffering.

It stressed that the people of Balochistan must raise their voices, stand together, and demand an end to enforced disappearances.

Condemning the incident, Naseem Baloch, chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), stated that the enforced disappearance of Khadija exposes the "brutal reality" of Pakistan's actions against Baloch civilians, including abductions, torture, and collective punishment of an entire people.

"Targeting a young student, a woman striving for education, is not just repression; it is a heinous crime against humanity. It is a genocide going on in Balochistan. And yet, the world remains shamefully silent," Naseem posted on X.

Asserting that silence in the face of oppression is complicity, the Baloch leader called on the international community to speak out and hold Pakistan accountable.
Bhubaneswar, April 23 : Odisha is reeling under scorching heat, with day temperatures hovering above 40 degrees Celsius in several parts of the state, including the capital Bhubaneswar, as an intense heatwave sweeps across the region, severely affecting normal life.

The stateas industrial hub, Jharsuguda in western Odisha, continued to record the highest maximum temperature, with the mercury touching 44 degrees Celsius by 2 p.m. on Thursday. Similarly, the Talcher area of Angul district, known for its rich coal reserves, also recorded 44 degrees Celsius. The twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recorded maximum temperatures of 42.1 degrees Celsius and 41.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, by 2 p.m. on Thursday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar, on Thursday informed through a bulletin that the maximum temperature has recorded an appreciable rise of about 3a"4 degrees Celsius at one or two places over the districts of coastal and interior Odisha.

The agency also predicted that heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over Bhubaneswar and adjoining areas, with the maximum temperature expected to be around 43 degrees Celsius. The Met department also predicted that no large change in maximum (day) temperature is likely over the next three days across all districts of Odisha.

It further added that the temperature is likely to fall by 2a"3 degrees Celsius thereafter.

The IMD has issued a yellow warning, predicting that heatwave conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated places in the districts of Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Khordha.

Meanwhile, hot and humid conditions are also likely to prevail at isolated places in the districts of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati.

The weather department has also predicted that light to moderate rain or thunderstorms are likely to occur in several districts of the state, bringing some respite from the scorching heat in the coming days.

Due to the soaring day temperature, educational institutions in most districts across the state have been closed.

Following concerns over heatstroke, the state government has also stopped census work between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in view of the safety of enumerators.
New Delhi, April 23 : The government has issued a notification to permit the use of Aviation Turbine Fuel blended with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for fuelling aircraft with the aim of reducing emissions from international flights, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced on Thursday.

"The Government has notified an amendment to the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 (ATF Control Order) vide notification dated April 17, 2026. The amendment has been issued as an administrative measure to bring Aviation Turbine Fuel blended with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) under the ambit of the ATF Control Order," a ministry statement said.

SAF consists of specially processed aviation-grade hydrocarbons that are chemically similar to ATF and fully compatible with aircraft engines. SAF does not alter the fundamental nature, safety, or performance of aviation fuel. Inclusion of SAF for aviation use undergoes the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recognised rigorous testing process for aviation engines as per ASTM International, and only after such extensive procedure, SAF is accepted for use in aviation, the statement said.

Earlier, ATF was defined only as petroleum-based fuel meeting BIS specifications. The amendment expands this definition to also include SAF co-processed alongside ATF as per IS 1571 in petroleum refineries, and SAF conforming to IS 17081 blended with ATF, meeting IS 1571. This amendment is essential to keep India aligned with the global supply chain of SAF, the statement noted.

As recognised by ICAO, SAF is a renewable fuel derived from alternative feedstocks such as crops, biogenic residues, and waste materials, offering significant reductions in GHG emissions. ICAO is implementing CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) to control emissions from international flights. The mandatory phase of CORSIA begins from 2027, requiring international flights to offset emissions above a baseline level. The use of SAF can help reduce these offsetting requirements. Recognising this global requirement, the government has already announced indicative blending targets of SAF in ATF for international flights as 1 per cent in 2027, 2 per cent in 2028, and 5 per cent in 2030.

SAF required under the CORSIA not only needs to meet strict quality specifications as per extant BIS stringent specifications (which conform to international specifications), but also must meet CORSIA sustainability criteria to qualify as CORSIA-eligible fuel (CEF). The amendment to the ATF Control Order is therefore an enabling provision to operationalise these targets.

Globally, similar steps are being taken by other countries. The European Union and the United Kingdom have introduced SAF blending mandates. In the EU, the mandate on SAF blending is 2 per cent in 2025, 6 per cent in 2030, and up to 70 per cent by 2050. In the UK, the mandate is 2 per cent in 2025, 10 per cent in 2030, and 22 per cent in 2040. The United States is promoting SAF through production incentives. Japan also has a SAF mandate of 10 per cent SAF by 2030. In Singapore, international flights will be required to use 1 per cent SAF from 2026, and this target goes to 3a"5 per cent by 2030.

India is committed to green fuel transition, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable fuels like SAF, strengthening domestic production capabilities, and positioning the country as a key player in the emerging global clean energy ecosystem, the statement added.
Washington, April 23 : The India-US relationship is undergoing strain but remains fundamentally strong, shaped by shared strategic interests and long-term convergence, former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster told the think tank community here.

Washington, April 23 (IANS) The IndiaUS relationship is undergoing strain but remains fundamentally strong, shaped by shared strategic interests and long-term convergence, former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster told the think tank community here.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute's "New India Conference", Juster traced the evolution of India's foreign policy and its growing alignment with Washington, particularly in response to China's rise.

"India remains committed to the principle of strategic autonomy, or working with others without surrendering its independence of judgment and action, as well as committed to a multipolar world," Juster said. He served as the US Ambassador to India during the first term of President Donald Trump.

He noted that while India has moved closer to the United States over the past two decades, it has deliberately avoided formal alliances. "This prevents it from aligning too closely with the United States," he added.

Juster identified China's assertiveness, especially along the disputed border, as a key driver of India's strategic shift. He said India's ties with the US have strengthened "as its problems with China have worsened".

At the same time, he acknowledged tensions in the current phase of the relationship. "The strain in the USIndia relationship that has arisen during the second Trump administration has still raised some concerns in India," Juster said.

Despite these challenges, the former diplomat stressed that cooperation continues across multiple sectors. "I see strong USIndia ties enduring, whether it's in areas such as defence, overall trade and investment, secure supply chains, technology cooperation, and energy security," he said.

Juster also highlighted India's expanding global footprint, pointing to its participation in groupings such as the Quad and its engagement with Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.

He said India's economic rise is a central pillar of its foreign policy. "Today, India's GDP is approximately $4.15 trillion. It ranks fourth in the world and will soon become the third-largest economy," he noted.

However, he cautioned that India faces a "growth paradox", balancing global ambitions with domestic needs due to its large population and relatively low per capita income.

On trade, Juster acknowledged friction between the two sides, particularly over market access and tariffs. While he did not speak for the administration, he said there has been a long-standing view in Washington that India's market "was a little more closed than it should be".

He added that efforts to address these issues have sometimes been counterproductive. "I don't think it's helpful to use derogatory language or to appear as though you're trying to pressure countries," Juster said, stressing that negotiations are best handled quietly.

Juster also flagged concerns over India's energy ties with Russia, noting that imports had risen sharply in recent years. However, he suggested that New Delhi may gradually reduce its dependence as market conditions evolve.

Reflecting on his tenure as ambassador, Juster pointed to close coordination during crises as a key strength in bilateral ties. He said the US and India "worked closely" during events such as the 2019 Pulwama attack and the 2020 border crisis with China.

"I think we were there for India and consulted closely with them," he said, adding that such cooperation demonstrated US reliability during moments of crisis.

Looking ahead, Juster underscored the broader significance of India's rise. "Its rise will be one of the most significant geopolitical stories of this century," he said, adding that it is in the interest of both countries "for America to be a positive part of that story".

The IndiaUS relationship has deepened significantly over the past two decades, driven by shared concerns over China, expanding defence cooperation, and growing economic ties. While differences persist on trade, Russia, and strategic priorities, both sides continue to view the partnership as critical to stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
New Delhi, April 23 : Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj S. P. Singh Baghel will kick off celebrations of the National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) here on Friday, disseminating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message among functionaries of Panchayats and local bodies.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANA) Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj S. P. Singh Baghel will kick off celebrations of the National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) here on Friday, disseminating Prime Minister Narendra Modias message among functionaries of Panchayats and local bodies.

Observed every year on April 24, the day commemorates the enactment of the landmark 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which gave constitutional status and legal recognition to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across India. This year marks 33 years of that defining milestone in India's democratic journey, said a statement.

During the event at Vigyan Bhawan, a Report on Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)-2.0 and three books on aMeri Panchayat Meri Dharohara will also be released.

Under the Ministryas aPanchayat Dharohar Initiativea, the three illustrated publications on rural heritage to be released are: a Monograph on Rural Heritage of Tripura, a Monograph on Rural Heritage of Tirupati and aUttarkashi: Saumya Kashi: The Soul of Himalayan Heritagea.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj plans to celebrate National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) with fervour across the country at State, District, Block and Gram Panchayat levels, wherein Gram Panchayats will hold Gram Sabha meetings, reaffirming the spirit of participatory democracy at the grassroots.

The day provides an occasion to recognise the role of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in accelerating progress towards Viksit Bharat, said the statement.

Last year, PM Modi presided over the distribution of property cards under the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme in January 2025, providing 65 lakh rural citizens with legal ownership documents in a single day.

The distribution covered more than 50,000 villages across 10 States and 2 Union Territories, bringing the total number of property cards distributed under SVAMITVA to 2.25 crore.

The ceremony witnessed the participation of Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and representatives across 237 Districts.
Moscow, April 23 : Russia is ready to cooperate with all interested countries in the Arctic, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Chairing a meeting with government members focused on the development of the Arctic zone, internet outages and a few government services, Putin noted that, "We are ready for cooperation, not just competition or confrontation, but cooperation with all interested countries. We will certainly protect and, of course, defend our national interests in the Arctic."

He said the Transarctic Transport Corridor, stretching from St. Petersburg through Murmansk to Vladivostok, is emerging as one of the world's safest, most reliable and most efficient shipping lanes, reported Xinhua news agency.

"I would like to emphasise the growing role of the Arctic in the global context, namely for the planet's ecology, for the global fuel, energy and raw materials complexes, and for increasing the sustainability of international trade and logistics links."

The importance of the Northern Transarctic Route "as the safest, most reliable and efficient route is becoming increasingly evident, against the backdrop of disruptions to global transport chains due to numerous conflicts, including in the Middle East," reported state-owned news agency TASS.

He also addressed internet outages in major cities, saying they are linked to preventing terrorist threats.

Putin said, "Of course, if this is related to operational work to prevent terrorist attacks, and we know that, unfortunately, we sometimes miss such attacks, and, of course, the priority will always be ensuring the safety of people, our children, our loved ones, every citizen of Russia."

He added that he understands that when operational work is underway to prevent criminal acts and terrorist attacks, widely informing the public in advance can harm operational development, as criminals could adjust their behaviour and plans accordingly.

He also mentioned that relevant agencies should inform people of the reasons for forced communication restrictions.

a"IANS

ksk/dan

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, April 23 : The Telangana government will constitute a Cabinet sub-committee to discuss and decide the next course of action on the case relating to alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.

Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy told media persons after the Cabinet meeting on Thursday that the government has not yet taken a decision on the next step in the case.

He said that it has been nine months since the state government wrote to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct an investigation. "You can draw your conclusion as to why they are not taking any action," he said.

The minister said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and he would personally meet the CBI director.

Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated that the High Court has not given a clean chit to former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and former minister T. Harish Rao.

"I can't understand why BRS leaders are celebrating," remarked the minister.

He said the High Court made it clear that the P. C. Ghose Commission, constituted to probe the irregularities, was not illegal. He claimed that the High Court dismissed the main plea of KCR and Harish Rao. They had sought orders to declare the Commission illegal and quash its report.

Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the High Court made it clear that the Commission was not illegal and that its report stands.

Due to some technical issues, the High Court said that action should not be taken against KCR and Harish Rao, he explained.

The minister said in a statement on Wednesday that the High Court raised objections regarding certain determinations made against individuals in the judicial commission's report, pointing out that notices were not issued to them in the prescribed format.

It granted relief to the petitioners by stating that no action should be taken against them solely based on the judicial commission's report.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also stated that the High Court verdict is not an obstacle to the CBI inquiry.

A Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin on Wednesday pronounced the orders on the batch of writ petitions filed separately by KCR, Harish Rao, retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi and serving IAS officer Smitha Sabharwal, challenging the report of the Ghose Commission.

The Kaleshwaram project, said to be the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, was started by the then BRS government in May 2016. Its main component was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister KCR in 2019.

In March 2024, the Congress government constituted a commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose to probe the alleged irregularities in planning, design, construction, quality control, operation and maintenance of Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram project.

The commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on July 31, 2025, holding KCR directly and vicariously accountable for irregularities in planning, execution, completion, operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram project.

It also indicted Harish Rao, then Chief Secretary Joshi and then Secretary to Chief Minister Smitha Sabharwal.

---IANS

ms/uk
Washington, April 23 : India is emerging as a key player in a global shift in supply chains, driven by efforts to reduce dependence on China, former US official Nisha Biswal said.

Biswal, Partner at The Asia Group and former US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, said businesses are rethinking their strategies amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

"There has been enormous progress," she said, noting that US-India trade has grown "from 50 billion to about 212 billion" even without a formal trade agreement.

Companies are now asking "what does a de-risking from China look like," she said, adding that India's market and talent pool are drawing interest.

"It is India's moment in the economic space," Biswal said, pointing to the country's scale and resilience.

She said the US-India relationship is expanding beyond strategic ties to include a stronger commercial focus. There is growing attention in Washington on economic engagement and supply chain partnerships, she added.

Biswal said a trade agreement between the two countries is likely but may not be immediate. She said it could emerge as a phased arrangement rather than a comprehensive deal in the near term.

She identified energy, advanced technology and critical minerals as areas for deeper cooperation.

Biswal said global shocks, including geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions, are shaping economic decisions. India is navigating these challenges while maintaining growth momentum, she added.

Other speakers at the panel said domestic reforms will be key to sustaining growth.

Hemang Jani, Public Policy & Governance expert at the World Bank, said India needs to address skills gaps and low workforce participation. He described these as "binding constraints" on growth.

Ashok Malik, Partner at The Asia Group, said India has adjusted its trade policy after earlier agreements exposed vulnerabilities. "That did cause a recalibration of approach to trade," he said.

Richard Rossow, Senior Adviser at CSIS, said state-level reforms are critical. "States run the country," he said, pointing to infrastructure and regulatory issues that affect investment decisions.

The panel was part of the New India Conference in Washington, which brought together policymakers and analysts to discuss India's economic outlook and US-India ties.

India's growth comes as global supply chains shift and countries seek more resilient partnerships. The country's large market and workforce have made it a key destination for investment.

Experts said the pace of economic reforms and deeper trade engagement with the United States will shape the next phase of India's growth.
Surat, April 23 : An organised network involved in siphoning iron rods from transport consignments has been uncovered in Surat after the city Special Operation Group (SOG) seized goods and vehicles worth over Rs 71.52 lakh and arrested four men in the Dindoli area.

Acting on specific intelligence on Thursday, SOG officers carried out a raid near Bhagyalakshmi Society, where they recovered approximately 59,910 kilograms of TMT iron rods.

The police said the accused had been diverting material from consignments transported by trucks and trailers and selling it at reduced rates to builders and traders.

Those arrested were identified as Bheraram Jakhad (25), a truck driver from Barmer in Rajasthan; Nimbaram Jakhad (22), a truck cleaner also from Barmer; Pradeep Tripathi (30), a resident of Dindoli and originally from Uttar Pradesh; and Pradeep Sharma (33), a Dindoli resident and originally from Rajasthan.

They were apprehended at the spot along with the vehicles used in the operation. Police seized iron rods valued at Rs 32.95 lakh, a trailer worth Rs 33 lakh, and a car valued at Rs five lakh.

Four mobile phones and cash were also recovered during the operation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajdipsinh Nakum said the case pointed to a "well-planned conspiracy" in which consignments were tampered with during transit.

"The accused used to remove material from trucks and trailers and later sell it at cheaper rates to builders or traders," he said.

He added that there was a strong possibility of involvement of others connected to the transport network.

A preliminary investigation has identified two alleged masterminds, Jitu and Rajan Tiwari, who are currently absconding.

Police said teams have been deployed to trace them, and further details, including the identities of buyers of stolen material in Surat, may emerge after their arrest.

A case has been registered at Dindoli police station under sections 305(2), 370(2) and 370(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Investigators are examining whether the group was involved in similar thefts elsewhere.

Police have warned that strict legal action will be taken against any builder or trader found to have purchased stolen goods.
Mumbai, April 23 : Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein starred with a four-wicket haul as the Mumbai Indians (MI) were bowled out for just 104 in 19 overs while chasing 208, handing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) a commanding 103-run victory in Match 33 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

Earlier, opener Sanju Samson's brilliant unbeaten century off 56 balls helped CSK reach 207/6 despite losing wickets at regular intervals while batting first.

Chasing a daunting target, the Mumbai Indians had a shaky start as opener Danish Malewar fell early, edging a delivery from Akeal Hosein to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. The early pressure intensified when Mukesh Choudhary struck in the following over, clean bowling Quinton de Kock for just 7 runs.

Hosein continued to trouble the batters and removed the in-form Naman Dhir with a sharp delivery that rattled the stumps. With three quick wickets down, Mumbai were pushed onto the back foot early. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma attempted to rebuild the innings, but runs were hard to come by initially as they managed just 29 runs in the powerplay.

The pair gradually settled in and began to find boundaries, taking the score to 69/3 at the halfway stage. However, just when the partnership looked threatening, Hosein struck again in the 13th over to dismiss Varma for 37 off 29 balls, breaking a crucial 73-run stand.

Mumbaias hopes suffered a major blow immediately after, as captain Hardik Pandya fell for a duck to Noor Ahmad, while Sherfane Rutherford was dismissed on the very next ball.

Hosein capped off a brilliant spell by removing Suryakumar for 36, effectively ending Mumbaias resistance. Shardul Thakur, who came in as a concussion substitute for Mitchell Santner, tried to stay till the end but could only manage 6 runs.

Hosein was the standout performer with exceptional figures of 4/17, while Noor Ahmad chipped in with two key wickets. Gurjapneet Singh applied the finishing touch by dismissing Jasprit Bumrah in the 19th over, sealing a dominant victory for CSK.

Chennai Super Kings made a strong start after being asked to bat first, with Sanju Samson and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad attacking early and scoring 26 runs in the first two overs, including 19 off Hardik Pandya. Gaikwad fell for 22 in the third over, but Samson continued the aggressive approach and took Pandya apart again in the fourth over as CSK crossed 50 quickly.

Sarfaraz Khan added quick runs before being bowled by Mitchell Santner for 14, with CSK finishing the powerplay at 73/2. Allah Ghazanfar then removed Shivam Dube with a carrom ball to pull things back. Dewald Brevis counterattacked with 21 off 11 before falling to Ashwani Kumar.

Samson held the innings together, reaching his fifty in just 26 balls. Kartik struggled for timing and was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 18, while Jamie Overton chipped in with a quick 15.

In the death overs, Samson dominated and brought up his century in 54 balls. He remained unbeaten on 101, hitting 10 fours and six sixes to power CSK past 200. For the Mumbai Indians, Ghazanfar (2/25) and Ashwani Kumar were the standout bowlers.

Brief scores:

Chennai Super Kings 207/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 101*, Ruturaj Gaikwad 22; AM Ghazanfar 2-25, Ashwani Kumar 2-37) beat Mumbai Indians 104 all out in 19 overs (Tilak Varma 37, Suryakumar Yadav 36; Akeal Hosein 4-17, Noor Ahmed 2-24) by 103 runs

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Washington, April 23 : India and the United States must rebuild "mutual respect, mutual sensitivity" and align on core interests as their relationship undergoes a "stress test" amid geopolitical shocks and economic frictions, speakers said at a high-level panel at the Hudson Institute.

Washington, April 23 (IANS) India and the United States must rebuild "mutual respect, mutual sensitivity" and align on core interests as their relationship undergoes a "stress test" amid geopolitical shocks and economic frictions, speakers said at a high-level panel at the Hudson Institute.

The discussion, part of the New India Conference, highlighted strains across strategic, economic and people-to-people pillars, even as participants stressed that the partnership remains durable and essential.

Ram Madhav, president of the India Foundation, said the relationship, though "very important" and "lasting," is facing visible stress across its foundational pillars. "We had a great understanding of our geostrategic priorities Today doesn't seem so anymore," he said, pointing to divergence over China and broader strategic clarity.

He said the economic pillar has also weakened, citing trade tensions and investment imbalances. "We are also facing net negative FDI from the US on the economy," he noted, while expressing hope that an upcoming trade deal could stabilise ties.

On the diaspora, Madhav warned of "a lot of anxiety, a lot of worries" among Indian-origin communities in the United States, underscoring the importance of people-to-people ties that have historically reinforced the partnership.

He called for recalibration anchored in "mutual respect mutual sensitivity and mutual interest," adding that "it's not enough to be goody goody about the things it is important to really look at what is happening."

Elizabeth Threlkeld of the Stimson Centre said the past year had effectively put the relationship through a "stress test," but noted that it had not "come to a screeching halt." She pointed to continued cooperation in defence, energy, space and supply chains, even amid reduced high-level engagement.

She said economic ties, including major investments by US technology firms, provide "ballast" to the relationship. India's response to shifts in Washington, she added, has been "remarkably measured and mature," describing its outreach to other partners as "incremental calibration rather than any sort of fundamental shift."

Threlkeld also flagged immigration and visa uncertainty as critical to both business and people-to-people ties, while cautioning that the shared democratic narrative underpinning the relationship has "less traction than it used to."

Kurt Campbell, former US Deputy Secretary of State, described the relationship as "the most important for the United States in the 21st century," but acknowledged rising unease. "It is troubling that we have to have a reminder around mutual respect," he said.

Campbell highlighted the resilience of diaspora ties, recalling the rapid mobilisation of Indian-American communities during the Covid crisis. He also underscored the importance of expanding education and technology partnerships, noting strong demand among Indian students and professionals.

He warned, however, that bureaucratic and strategic misalignment within the US system continues to complicate engagement with India, particularly in defence structures spanning multiple regions.

On the ongoing global conflict impacting the Indian Ocean, speakers expressed concern over its widening scope. Madhav said the expansion of conflict into the "entire Indian Ocean region" was "certainly a matter of big concern" for India, stressing the need for "negotiation" and "dialogue."

Threlkeld said the crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains, energy security and maritime operations, calling for deeper cooperation in logistics, intelligence sharing and contingency planning.

Campbell warned that the conflict's long-term economic and military consequences would be "greater than anyone is really ready to acknowledge," particularly for the Indo-Pacific, as US resources shift away from the region.

The New India Conference, held on April 23 at the Hudson Institute, brought together senior policymakers, strategists and analysts to assess India's evolving global role and the future of US-India ties.
Business

Community advocate and nationally recognized Angel Mom Agnes Gibboney has endorsed David VanGorden in his campaign for Rancho Cucamonga City Council, District 2.

Gibboney, who is also President of the Rancho Cucamonga chapter of the California Republican Assembly (CRA), announced her support following VanGordens recent appearance at a CRA meeting where he formally announced his candidacy and spoke about issues facing Rancho Cucamonga residents, including development, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and transparency in city government.

Agnes Gibboney has become widely known as an Angel Mom, a term used to describe mothers whose children were tragically killed by individuals who were in the United States illegally. Gibboneys son, Ronald da Silva, was murdered by an illegal immigrant, a tragedy that led her to become an outspoken advocate for public safety, immigration enforcement, and support for victims of violent crime. Since then, she has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs and has met with political leaders across the country while speaking about the importance of protecting communities and supporting law enforcement.

Gibboney said she believes VanGorden brings the experience, integrity, and commitment needed to represent residents of Rancho Cucamonga.

David VanGorden has spent his career serving and protecting the community, Gibboney said. He understands the importance of public safety, transparency, and standing up for residents. Rancho Cucamonga needs leaders who will listen to the community and ask the tough questions when decisions affect the future of our city. I am proud to support David in his campaign for City Council.

VanGorden said he was honored to receive Gibboneys endorsement and praised her dedication to community safety and advocacy.

Agnes Gibboney has turned an unimaginable personal tragedy into a mission to protect others and support safer communities, VanGorden said. Her courage and dedication have earned respect across the country, and I am deeply honored to have her support. Like Agnes, I believe public safety, transparency, and accountability are essential to maintaining the quality of life that residents expect in Rancho Cucamonga.

VanGorden recently announced his candidacy for Rancho Cucamonga City Council, District 2, where he will be challenging incumbent Kristine Scott and DeJonae Shaw in the upcoming General Municipal Election on November 3rd 2026.

About David VanGorden

David VanGorden is a retired law enforcement officer and a more than 30-year resident of Rancho Cucamonga. He is running for Rancho Cucamonga City Council, District 2, in the November 2026 election. His campaign will focus on issues residents have raised repeatedly in recent years, including development planning, infrastructure, fiscal priorities, ensuring that residents feel heard when decisions are made at City Hall. He is challenging incumbent Kristine Scott and DeJonae Shaw for the District 2 seat.
Business

Wellbeing Chiropractic Announces New Modern Clinic in Browns Plains

BROWNS PLAINS, QLD  Wellbeing Chiropractic, one of Australias leading providers of chiropractor care, is proud to announce the opening of its newest clinic in Browns Plains. This expansion marks a significant milestone in the groups mission to provide accessible, high-quality chiropractic services to growing communities across Queensland.

The new Browns Plains facility is equipped with modern chiropractic technology, including onsite digital X-ray facilities, allowing for efficient, comprehensive assessments and same-day care. The clinic serves a wide range of patients, from athletes and office workers to families and seniors, focusing on evidence-based treatments for back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and posture correction.

We are excited to bring our multi-modal approach to healthcare to the Browns Plains community, said a spokesperson for Wellbeing Chiropractic. Our goal is to provide a seamless experience where patients can receive expert adjustments, spinal decompression, and personalized rehabilitation plans all under one roof.

Key Features of the Browns Plains Practice:

Highly Qualified Practitioners: A team of experienced chiropractors dedicated to long-term wellness and recovery.

A team of experienced chiropractors dedicated to long-term wellness and recovery. Onsite Diagnostics: State-of-the-art digital X-ray facilities for immediate and precise clinical assessment.

State-of-the-art digital X-ray facilities for immediate and precise clinical assessment. Tailored Treatment Techniques: Utilising diverse methods including manual adjustments, Activator, and spinal decompression.

Utilising diverse methods including manual adjustments, Activator, and spinal decompression. Patient Convenience: Open 6 days a week with early morning and late evening appointments to suit busy local families and professionals.

Open 6 days a week with early morning and late evening appointments to suit busy local families and professionals. Instant Rebates: HICAPS available onsite for immediate private health insurance claims.

The Browns Plains clinic is currently welcoming new patients. Whether you are managing a chronic condition or seeking to improve your general mobility, the team at Wellbeing Chiropractic is ready to assist.

For further information or to book an initial consultation with a chiropractor in Browns Plains, or call (07) 3062 2587.
Education

Protest Watch News Launches New Independent Media Platform Focused on Constitutional Accountability and Rule of Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New digital publication delivers timely coverage of protests, civil liberties, government accountability, and democratic institutions in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  April 21, 2026  Protest Watch News, a newly launched independent digital media platform, today announced the official opening of its online publication dedicated to covering protests, constitutional accountability, civil liberties, and rule of law issues across the United States.

Available at ProtestWatchNews.com, the site was created to provide readers with timely reporting, commentary, and analysis on public demonstrations, legal developments, civic activism, and concerns surrounding government power and democratic institutions.

As public interest in constitutional rights, free speech, due process, and government transparency continues to grow, Protest Watch News aims to offer a centralized source of information for readers seeking clear updates and issue-focused coverage.

The publications editorial focus includes:

Protest movements and grassroots activism

Constitutional rights and legal challenges

Government accountability and transparency

Civil liberties and free speech issues

Immigration policy protests and reform debates

National demonstrations and local civic actions

Democracy, institutions, and public engagement

Citizens across the country are increasingly engaged in protecting democratic values and understanding the legal issues shaping their communities, said a spokesperson for Protest Watch News. Our mission is to provide accessible reporting and thoughtful coverage of the events and ideas driving civic participation today.

The site plans ongoing expansion into newsletters, opinion features, interviews, and multimedia coverage designed to keep readers informed as events develop nationwide. The site has partnered with an ecommerce protest brand to enable people to express themselves and their views to the world with great designs.

Readers can visit www.ProtestWatchNews.com to explore the latest articles and updates.

About Protest Watch News

Protest Watch News is an independent digital media publication covering protests, constitutional accountability, civil liberties, and rule of law issues across the United States. The platform publishes timely news, commentary, and civic-focused reporting for readers interested in democracy, legal developments, and public engagement.

Media Contact

Protest Watch News

Media Relations Department

Email: sales@riseandrevolt.net



Website: ProtestWatchNews.com
In Sarah Dessens new YA novel Change of Plansher first release since The Rest of the Story in 2019recent high school graduate Finley has her next steps mapped out. She and her long-term boyfriend Colin have a post-graduation cruise on horizon courtesy of his parents. Then, in the fall, the two will attend university together. But when Finleys distant mother shows up out of the blue to take her back to her familys small-town cabin for several weeks, the plans go off the rails in ways she couldnt have expected. As Finley learns more about the mother shes never really known and her extended family, she also discovers that when she lets go of the road map, life can be complicated, but it has some wonderful surprises in store for her, too.

The book coincides with the 30th anniversary of her first novel, That Summer, which debuted in 1996. That breakout title helped establish Dessen as the queen of YA contemporary, with many of her 14 novels hitting #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, including Along for the Ride, Saint Anything, and The Truth About Forever. Dessens books became a mainstay of the YA category, selling millions of copies in more than 30 countries. She won the American Library Associations 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award for outstanding contribution to young adult literature. But not unlike her newest heroine, Dessen found herself recently having to change plans.

After The Rest of the Story came out in the period before the pandemic, Dessen had a three-movie deal with Netflix (That Summer and Someone Like You had been adapted into the 2003 film How to Deal). The streaming giant released the first of the three movies, Along for the Ride, in 2022. But the movie never found an audience, and the next two projects were canceled. Meanwhile, the YA book market had changed, Dessen said. Romantasy and fantasy were on the rise and contemporary wasnt selling. Several publishers turned down her next projects. More than one advisor suggested she try writing a romantasy novel. But it just isnt who she is as a writer, she said. Part of having a long career is knowing what you do and focusing on that. You have stay true to yourself, especially when it comes to writing, she told PW. Dessen never stopped writing novels, she just stopped selling them for several years. It was really frustrating and demoralizing, she said.

But having already had a long career, she knew things would eventually change again. I had to wait for the pendulum to swing back a little bit. Ive been at this for a long time and it always kind of swings back. Theres always a place for contemporary fiction: real stories about real people. Although its hard to believe that publishing a book by one of the best-known, bestselling YA authors could be a gamble, Dessen said she had to wait for an editor to take a chance on one of her projects. That was Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, who acquired Change of Plans and two additional novels last year.

Dessen has seen a lot of changes in YA since That Summer debuted. When I was first coming up, YA didnt even have its own section in the bookstore or the library. My books were shelved between Clementine and Goodnight Moon. If you were a teenager, you literally had to go into the childrens book section. Now, we have a section in the library thats all paranormal romance.

The audience has changed, too. Back in the 90s, people thought I was writing about girls getting their periods, she said, referencing Judy Blumes Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret. People didnt really know what YA was. Big books, like Twilight, The Hunger Games, and The Fault in Our Stars brought attention to the genre. It allowed for a lot of different kind of stories. Around that time, more adults started reading YA, she said. She also noted how YA has broadened. We are hearing from more diverse voices now. We have a long way to go, but thats the most powerful change, I think. When I was in high school, I felt like nobody understood me. Often in a book, I could find a voice that I could relate to, and thats really important. The more that we can do that for kids, the better.

Dessen started writing before cell phones and social media were a thing, and in Change of Plans, a non-functioning phone plays an important part in the plot. The phone is such an integral part [of teenage life] that I dont think you could write truthfully about life without constantly having the person check their phone and incorporating text messages and incorporating social media, she said. But I wanted to strip the story down to basics. Without the constant distraction, Finley develops more immediate and, ultimately, more substantive relationships.

Dessen said that those human connections are among the aspects in YA that are timeless: relationships with your friends, the relationships with your parentsthat push and pullwhoever youre attracted to, having a job, dealing with adults who arent your parents. She described being a teen as a constant learning curve. Its really hard. Everythings brand new. Although her books typically have an element of romance, she said, Its one of the parts of it. Its not the entire thing. She said it used to bother her when her books were shelved in the Teen Romance section.

Dessen noted that many of her longtime fans who started reading her books when they were teens now have kids of their own. Im hoping to reach a new generation that doesnt know me from my previous work, she said. Although fantasy and romantasy are still the strongest segment in YA, Dessen said there are books lovers who read across genres and there are always those who like a nice summer contemporary romance. These things are timeless, she said. I think there is an audience out there. She has two additional books coming out in the next two years.

Publishing Change of Plans feels like a bonus round to her career, Dessen said. Im so appreciative. Everything is really fun again.

Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen. Simon & Schuster, $21.99 May ISBN 979-8-3471-0877-0
One of the subtexts of the conversations and panel discussions at each years Bologna Childrens Book Fair is how publishers can foster camaraderie among nations and serve as stewards of the future. Often, it is those representing smaller nations that feel this most urgently. For example, Justinas Vancevicius came to this years fair representing Vaiku Zeme, a Lithuanian reading promotion organization for children, with the goal of broadening a program weighted heavily toward exports.

Vancevicius said the group has focused primarily on sending Lithuanian titles abroad but now wants to increase imports. There is such a rich variety of illustration and visual material from around the world that we think would enrich the lives of our children. Vaiku Zeme, which translates as Childrens World, organizes childrens literature events and projects with partners across multiple countries. The group came to Bologna to meet with culture-export bodies from target markets.

Our illustration and visual culture has grown and bloomed in Lithuania in the past 10, 12 years, Vancevicius said, adding that Lithuanian illustrators have become more internationally oriented as they engage with what they see at Bologna and other fairs. Bringing more international illustration to Lithuania can only benefit them, he noted.

Asked whether he was concerned about declining reading among children, Vancevicius pushed back. Screen time, he argued, is not a novel distraction. When I was growing up, we watched TV all the time, he said. What matters more is how much a state invests in culture and education, and whether children are brought into a broader cultural life that also includes theater, cinema, and exhibitions.

Vancevicius also addressed the tension between promoting national culture in a small-population country and engaging with European and global culture, which he said are not contradictory. To know your culture is a must because this is where you come from, he said. But also, you cannot understand it without the wider context in which it functions.

He connected the point to the politics of nationalism, arguing that hardline nationalism arises when societies turn inward. Reading in the mother tongue, he said, should coexist with reading in English and other languages.

Cross-cultural exchange was also showcased in a number of art displays at the fair. When Quinto Quarto Edizioni co-founder Marco Ghezzi arrived at the 2026 Bologna Childrens Book Fair with an exhibition built around German designer, social scientist, and author Marie Neuraths long-out-of-circulation childrens books, the response was immediate. There is a lot of interest, Ghezzi said. We are already selling the rights for a few countries.

The exhibition, he noted, was not an afterthoughtit was built into the acquisition itself. Part of the deal was to have an exhibition for the launch, with the patronage of the fair, the help of the community of Bologna, and some sponsors, Ghezzi said. The result is Designing Knowledge: Marie Neuraths Isotype Books for Children, running through May 10 at the Padiglione de lEsprit Nouveau.

The fair has also confirmed the commercial instinct that drove Quinto Quarto to pursue the rights in the first place. The Neurath titles, Ghezzi said, are right now the top-selling books for us a vindication of the months-long effort to secure the archive, which began the moment he first encountered the work. We saw these books and said, this sticks.

At a BolognaBookPlus panel, Publishing as Soft Power and a Cultural Diplomacy Tool, Gvantsa Jobava, president of the International Publishers Association, discussed how the Georgian publishing industry has made a deliberate choice to stop cooperating with state cultural bodies amid the countrys current political direction.

Moderated by Mohammed Laatar, manager of Sharjah-based Nasher News, the session brought together Jobava, a longtime Georgian publisher and former president of the Georgian Publishers Association, and Jacks Thomas, guest director of BolognaBookPlus, to discuss how books, translation, and publishing ecosystems contribute to cultural diplomacy beyond traditional political channels.

Jobava said the Georgian industry had concluded that disengagement was the only way to protect its work and cultural independence. There is no culture without freedom, she said. There is no literature, no kind of art, if you lose your freedom. If this choice arrives in front of you, of course, the best choice is to choose freedom.

Her preferred business model, she said, is partnership. Government and state cultural institutions should support publishing by trusting the professionals, leaving editorial and strategic decisions to the industry. The best thing is always cooperation, she saidbut circumstances sometimes foreclose it, such as now, when the government has co-opted many of the countrys exhibitions abroad since its recent turn to populism and alignment with Russia.

Jobava pointed to an earlier, pivotal event, Georgias 2018 guest-of-honor program at the Frankfurt Book Fair, as an example of what cooperation can achieve. The project coincided with Georgias push for European Union membership and was designed to signal cultural alignment with Europe. In the year that followed, the country recorded roughly a 50% increase in tourists from Germany and other European markets, she said. She cited Nino Haratischvilis novel The Eighth Life, translated into more than 30 languages, as evidence that literature sometimes is much more powerful than other forms of diplomacy.

Thomas described international book fairs as a mini-United Nations and said the most successful guest-of-honor programs pair ministries of culture with ministries of tourism to produce measurable outcomes.

Asked about AI, Jobava reiterated IPAs position that existing copyright law should govern the training of models on published work. We are not looking for new legislation, she said, arguing that publishers materials carry a value and a price that AI companies should pay. Thomas said copyright must be at the heart of any decision taken around AI but added, AI is here to stay, so we have to make AI our friend.
Illustration is at the heart of the Bologna Childrens Book Fair, from competitions and exhibitions to portfolio reviews and masterclasses with some of the worlds most renownedand best-dressedpicture book creators. Bologna also happens to be a beautiful city, sparking creativity and reflection. We invited artists to share their drawings from in and around (and on the way to) the fair, for a collective Bologna sketchbook.

I have dreamed of going to the Bologna Childrens Book Fair way before I was ever published. Being a Seattle-based illustrator, it felt like a luxury I couldnt afford. Then in 2019 I was fortunate that my book All Are Welcome was accepted into the Bologna Childrens Book Fair The Spectator Child exhibit. I was excited to share this event with my art director, the best kind of human, Martha Rago, who is also VP, executive creative director at Penguin Random House. But Covid happened and all plans were canceled. Then the All Are Welcome books took off and I became busy making more books and found life never gave me the space to go. Feeling burnt out while finishing my 20th book last summer, I reserved an Airbnb for Bologna and committed to going even if I couldnt get a friend to join. I came alone to the fair hoping to grow artistically but left with more community than I could imagine. Yes, I saw so many amazing books, but it was the people that changed me.

The biggest gift was ending my day with late-night chats with my impromptu roommate Dasha Tolstikova. We wrapped up our day talking about the amazing things and people we met and saw. I came alone but left with kindred spirits. Suzanne Kaufman

From porticos and narrow passageways to strong coffee and bold colors, Bologna delivered much delight! Selina Alko

A moment of calm watching a baby play with her dads shoelaces on the floor of the Bologna Childrens Book Fair. Catia Chien

A rainy day at the fairgrounds. Sophie Blackall

Click here for a larger version. K-Fai Steele

I go to Bologna, I tell myself, for new art, new voices, new perspective, but running into familiar fellow travelers is part of the fun, too. From that latter category, here is author, illustrator, designer, art director, educator, moderator, panelist, sometime mixologist, sharp-dressed man Steven Guarnaccia, with whom I seemed to cross paths every eight hours or so over the course of the week, who briefly became just an audience member like the rest of us in order to catch a discussion of artist residencies moderated by Maria Russo and featuring Lynn Caponera of the Maurice Sendak Foundation, Sophie Blackall of Milkwood, and Isabelle Arsenault of Leporello. Colors are approximate. Brian Floca

Click here for a larger version.

A few months ago, I was chatting with my friend and fellow picture book maker, Matt Forsythe, about books, spaghetti, and bicycles when we had an idea. Should we bike to the Bologna Childrens Book Fair?

The annual fair is an important industry event, full of many of the best and brightest in childrens publishing. Since my first picture book, Billie Builds a Robocorn, was coming out right in the middle of the fair, we thought what better way to celebrate than by attending. And since we were going, why not arrive in style?

We looked it up online, and the internet told us that the ride from Florence to Bologna would be magical. It also said it would be an easy ride. The internet did not mention the mountain.

After we finally arrived in Bologna, we spent the next three days attending talks, including a great talk by Matt about Gianni Rodari and the Fantastic Binomial. I tried to ask a question, but he wisely shot me down.

All week, I filled my squinty little eyeballs with all the wonderful art on display, and met many of my favorite editors and illustrators. As I explored the city and the fair, I was constantly tripping over happy artists who were busily drawing away in their sketchbooks. Clearly, I was among my strange little ink-stained tribe.

The final night, we attended the Catbird Agency party, hosted by the incredible Kirsten Hall. Each guest introduced themselves briefly, and I told them that my first picture book came out that very morning. Drinks were drunk and cheers were hooted. It was the perfect way to celebrate my first book, and feel embraced by this community of picture book makers.

I then had to promptly fly home to Toronto for the launch of my book. We had around 200 people in attendance, and it turned into a proper little kid art rave. I cant wait to return to Bologna next year, but I might take a different route.

Matt and I are still on speaking terms.

James Braithwaite

Ive been a longtime fan of the Balbusso Twins. During their masterclass Illustrating with Two Souls on April 14, I particularly enjoyed seeing their childhood drawings and hearing about their way of working togetherits very intertwined! In addition to Anna and Elena Balbusso, there were Arabelle Liepold, Steven Guarnaccia, DJ Stout in the panel discussion. Pirita Tolvanen

This year in Bologna, I was lucky enough to be on a panel with five of my dear friends. And it was so joyous! We talked about serious things and hard things, and still it was a delightto share what weve learned over the years, and also to listen to each other and to the audience.

This book fair should actually be a secret. It is so magical, that I am scared that too many people will cometo this heaven of a community where we all love books and childhood, stories and communication. I mean, can you think of a better place? Dasha Tolstikova

See Tolstikovas illustrated travelogue from her very first Bologna Childrens Book Fair, in 2019.
There are just hours to go before Anzac Day weekend double demerits come into force across multiple Australian states.

Drivers caught breaking road rules in NSW, Western Australia, and the ACT over the long weekend risk losing their licence with double demerits in force, while regular road rules apply in other states.

But all drivers across the country are being warned of increased patrols and a "policing blitz" that will come into effect on Friday.

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It comes as Victoria Police said it recorded a "shocking spike" in collisions throughout April, which had two major holidays, including Easter.

While the state does not dish out double demerits and Victorians will not have a public holiday on Monday, as in states including NSW, WA and the ACT, there is still an "increased risk" of impaired driving.

"Despite a significant uplift in road policing enforcement this month, weve still experienced a devastating amount of trauma on our roads during April," Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner Justin Goldsmith said.

"This should serve as a stark reminder that road safety is everyones responsibility, and more than ever, we need people to police their own behaviour and respect the road rules, rather than waiting to be intercepted and fined by police.

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He warned that police can't be "everywhere at all times" and said catastrophic collisions are often caused by "split-second decisions" or "basic driving error".

Anzac Day is a high-risk period on our roads, so we ask people to take care and look out for one another - particularly around the dawn services and commemorative events taking place," he said.

Police are warning that drivers should expect to be tested "anywhere, anytime" for alcohol and drugs.

Double demerits will be enforced this Anzac Day weekend in some states and territories. Source: Yahoo News Australia

RELATED:

Where are double demerits enforced this Anzac Day weekend?

New South Wales, ACT and WA

Double demerits will be in place for four days, starting 12am on Friday, April 24 and running until 11.59pm on Monday, April 27.

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In NSW and the ACT, double demerits apply to speeding, illegal mobile phone use, seatbelt offences, and riding a motorbike without a helmet.

In Western Australia, the offences that incur double demerits are:

Speeding

Illegal mobile phone use

Drink and drug driving

Failing to correctly wear a seatbelt or restrain a child

Running a red light

Driving a motor vehicle in a way to evade a speed detection camera or fitted with a device to avoid speed camera detection

If a driver is caught offending, their fine amount stays the same, but their demerit penalty doubles.

For example, usually drivers are hit with five demerit points for illegally using a mobile phone. But during the double demerits period, that penalty jumps to 10 points.

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In those states with double demerits, Russell White, CEO of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, told Yahoo News the double-penalty makes the chance of losing your licence for an offence you normally wouldn't "pretty high".

Australians are being urged to drive safely over the Anzac Day weekend. Source: Getty

Where double demerits are not enforced over Anzac Day weekend?

Victoria, Tasmania, SA and the NT

These states do not have a double demerits scheme, meaning motorists in these states and territories cannot be hit with double demerits if caught doing the wrong thing.

That said, drivers are still encouraged to drive responsibly.

Queensland

The Sunshine State doesn't implement double demerit periods like other states.

Instead, repeat offenders of certain offences receive double demerits if they commit the same offence twice or more within a 12-month window.

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The policy applies to the following offences: speeding by more than 20km/h, mobile phone and driver seatbelt offences, driver failing to ensure passengers under 16 are appropriately restrained and motorcycle helmet offences.

This applies any time of the year.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Euro Roundup: EMA sees slight improvement in approval submission predictability, reversing trend

The trend for the timing of initial marketing authorization applications (MAAs) to be less predictable is slowly reversing but there remains room for improvement, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said.

EMA and industry representatives formed a focus group to look at submission predictability in 2022. By then, the recurrent problem of unreliable long-term planning for initial MAAs for centralized procedures had become unsustainable because the pandemic had stressed regulatory resources. The focus groups initial report found actions taken in 2023 failed to significantly improve submission predictability.

This week, the focus group published a report about the impact of actions taken after the failure of the initial attempts to reverse the trend. The focus group closely monitored the MAA pipeline in the second half of last year to inform the report.

EMA reported a slight improvement in the predictability of MAA submissions compared to 2023 and an increase in communication engagement by applicants. During the period, 57% of applications were submitted on time, compared to 48% of MAAs in 2023. The proportion of MAAs delayed but submitted within the year fell from 13% to 8%.

About one-quarter of filings were delayed to the next year in both periods. Applicants gave EMA 3 to 146 days notice of the delays, with an average of 51 days. Fifteen applications were delayed once, on average by 5.7 months. Seven applications were delayed twice, with the second delay pushing the filing back by 3.4 months, on average.

EMA found applicants gave less than 60 days notice of more than 60% of the delays. The agency received at least 90 days notice, a period it called more acceptable, in less than 10% of cases. EMA said the failure to give sufficient advance warning to regulators to adjust their workplans causes major disruption in the workload allocation of the assessors.

The agency emails prospective applicants three months before the planned submission date, requesting confirmation and, if changes occur, a justification. More than 90% of companies responded, and 73% of applicants changing their filing date provided a justification. While more companies are justifying changes, EMA said the lack of information on the real reasons for delays hinders efforts to improve predictability.

EMA cited the high percentage of companies failing to fully justify changes in their submission plans and the very short advance notice provided by applicants as evidence that communication can improve. Lacking legal powers to enforce stricter measures, EMA will focus on communication activities that draw attention to the problem and the consequences to the network while waiting for new legislation.

Further systematic monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the adopted measures is not envisaged, EMA said. Instead, the Agency will focus on potential new approaches that could be implemented to improve submission predictability as part of the work towards the implementation of the New Pharmaceutical Legislation.

EMA Report

EDQM gives manufacturers recommendations for supporting traceability in hospitals

The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM) has published best practices for the traceability of medicines in hospital settings.

EDQM created the guidance for policymakers, payers, and hospitals. Yet the directorate also included proposed actions for pharmaceutical manufacturers to take with the support of their solution providers and other industry third parties. EDQM recognized industrys existing efforts to support patient safety but called for the sector to implement additional actions to enable medicine traceability in hospitals.

The directorate proposed that drugmakers implement the regulatory requirements for barcoding at the primary packaging level, facilitating full in-hospital traceability. The Falsified Medicines Directive imposes coding of secondary packaging but does not require manufacturers to barcode primary packaging.

Only some medicines entering hospitals are barcoded at the primary packaging level, EDQM said, and the proportion varies by country. Hospitals that implement point-of-care scanning need to relabel packs without barcodes at a pharmacy, a procedure that EDQM said requires dedicated staff.

EDQM also proposed that manufacturers establish monitoring systems in packaging lines and in quality control to guarantee that hospitals can scan barcodes. The monitoring would check if the barcodes meet applicable quality standards, EDQM said, and ensure that they are located in an appropriate place on the packaging. EDQM said manufacturers would need to discuss exceptions with regulatory agencies.

The directorates final proposal for drugmakers addressed the data encoded by barcodes. EDQM wants barcodes to include the product code, batch number, and expiry date because hospitals need to include that information in their traceability systems. Primary packaging should also state at least the product, dose, and batch number in human-readable text to ensure patient safety, EDQM said.

EDQM Notice

EMA answers questions about clinical data work-share initiative with Health Canada

EMA has shared information on its work with Health Canada to reduce duplication by jointly assessing documentation.

The partners are accepting requests for single reviews of common procedures from companies filing initial marketing authorization applications to both agencies. EMA and Health Canada will only accept a submission for their work-share program if there is about a 70% overlap in the list of documents and the planned outcome dates for both agencies fall in a six-month period.

EMA and Health Canada will assign a lead agency based primarily on regulatory timelines. The lead agency performs the primary assessment of the redaction package, coordinates the joint review process, and interacts with the applicant.

Other questions address package preparation and timelines, and assessment and publication. EMA said applicants do not need to reformat documents submitted to Health Canada to reapply redaction labels that meet European requirements. The work-share process leads to publications in EMAs clinical data portal, which does not distinguish Health Canada collaborations from internal procedures.

EMA Q&A

UK MHRA seeks feedback on guidance about clinical trial roles and responsibilities

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published draft guidance on the roles and responsibilities of people involved in medicine clinical trials in the UK.

MHRA published the guidance to accompany amendments to UK clinical trial legislation that will come into force on 28 April. The legislation expands the definition of who may act as a clinical trial investigator to include a broader range of healthcare professionals who have appropriate qualifications, experience, and training and are supported by medically trained professionals as required.

The draft guidance states sponsors are responsible for appointing an investigator and ensuring they have the required training and qualifications. MHRA said it is strongly suggested that organizations running trials consider what training and support is required for investigators, especially where they do not have prior experience.

MHRA is accepting feedback on the draft until 30 April.

Draft Guidance

Other News:

MHRA has extended its fee waiver program for micro- and small-sized enterprises studying innovative medical devices in humans. After closing the previous pilot, MHRA decided to resume granting waivers. The agency plans to run the program until April 2027 and grant 10 waivers. Developers of Class III devices are now eligible for fee waivers. MHRA Update

The European Commission authorized the first combined COVID-19 and influenza vaccine for people 50 years and older. The vaccine, Modernas mCombriax, contains mRNA to train the immune system to recognize proteins found on the COVID-19 virus and three seasonal influenza viruses. Moderna withdrew an application for approval of the vaccine in the US last year. Press Release
Working at a 24/7 bodega in the heart of Brooklyn, Tajuken Deli employees are prepared for almost anything  except having guns pointed at their heads by cops.

Thats what seemed to be happening one early April morning last year, when four armed men dressed in police uniforms flashed their badges, yelling NYPD as they stormed the neighborhood shop. Surveillance video shows one worker being quickly knocked to the ground and zip-tied into submission before being dragged to the back of the store. Another worker and customer were also subdued as the masked thieves dressed as cops made off with cash and a bag of lottery ticket receipts before fleeing in a dark van.

You dont know who to trust nowadays, local resident Danny Taylor told a TV reporter.

The Tajuken Deli in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn was robbed by four armed men dressed in police uniforms.

The Bed-Stuy deli heist is part of an unusual and little-known crime wave in New York City. In 2025, 1,474 suspects were arrested for impersonating a cop or other public servant, a 50% increase from the prior year, according to New York Police Department data. Brooklyn has seen the most officer impersonation crimes in a trend that stretches across the five boroughs.

Law enforcement impersonators are a national problem. In November, the FBI issued a warning about criminals posing as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after a slew of robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults across the country. In January 2026, the FBIs Atlanta office sent out a warning describing how agents have witnessed a nationwide trend of scammers, potentially of foreign origin, who pose as law enforcement and claim the victim is a suspect in a fraud investigation. Fraudsters will go to great lengths to steal money from people who, in this case, believe they are dutifully complying with lawful requests by law enforcement or prosecutors," U.S. Attorney William R. Keyes said in a press release issued with the warning.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that imposter scams in which thieves pretend to represent government agencies are a growing form of fraud in the United States. During 2025, the FTC reported $3.5 billion in losses from some 1 million imposter scams, often involving individuals impersonating entities such as your banks fraud department, the government, relatives in distress, well-known businesses and technical support experts.

While such scams have an ancient lineage, the growing number of criminals using ever-more elaborate methods to pretend to be law enforcement agents presents a special problem.

Flashing Lights & Sirens

In addition to fake uniforms or badges, impersonators equip their personal vehicles with police lights, scanners, and sometimes sirens. Flashing lights and high-pitched sirens, combined with verbal threats from the criminals, create an illusion of power that can be strong enough to overwhelm victims.

On March 5, 2026, in Osceola, Florida, a 59-year-old man blocked a young driver in traffic before approaching the vehicle and claiming he was an officer. His SUV was equipped with blue lights and a siren; however, his inability to provide a second officer as requested by the victim caused him to retreat. He was later caught and charged.

Two days later, officials with the Sunriver Police Department in Deschutes County, Oregon, warned residents of a man attempting to impersonate their officers over the phone in order to collect sensitive information like Social Security numbers and banking information.

An NYPD officer was arrested for allegedly posing as an ICE agent and threatening to deport a woman who refused his romantic overtures.

In some cases, law enforcement agents themselves are the impostors. According to a criminal complaint, while chatting online with a woman last year, NYPD Sergeant Atickul Islam used the alias James W. Anderson and said he worked for the Immigration and Customs Enforcements New York Field Office. When the woman rejected his romantic advances, he threatened to deport her and her entire family. Islam was later arrested, stripped of his police credentials, and released on bond after pleading not guilty. When asked by a judge why he pretended to be an ICE agent, Islam chose not to respond.

Mary Dodge, criminal justice professor at the University of Colorado Denver, published a seminal study on the impersonation phenomenon in 2012. She found that impersonators often target vulnerable groups, like minors, the elderly, the disabled, and new immigrants who are less likely to resist or distinguish between whats real and fake.

Targeting the Vulnerable & Gullible

Immigrants are less familiar with standard U.S. law enforcement practices and may not speak English, making them easier targets. Fake cops sometimes play on their anxieties during todays immigration crackdown by threatening to send migrants back to their home country to gain their compliance.

Criminals pretending to be Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have few obstacles in their way. Under Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations, ICE agents, when making an arrest, must identify themselves as immigration officers. However, no further proof is needed, such as a badge or a full name, which creates the perfect conditions for ICE impersonators to fake their occupations.

How easy is it to impersonate an ICE officer right now? Dodge asked. You dont even need a badge. You can put on some camo and some gear, and youre good to go.

Impersonators have even infiltrated college campuses, taking advantage of gullible students. Last year at Temple University in Philadelphia, two students and another individual disturbed a dessert shop by identifying themselves as ICE agents. One of the two students, 22-year-old Aidan Steigelmann, was suspended.

The Tajuken Deli robbers were able to carry out their crimes effectively in part because they used fake police gear to catch their victims by surprise. They drove an unmarked black van similar to that used by police, a common practice among impersonators.

Criminals can easily obtain retired police vehicles, police apparel, gun holsters, and other items to advance their imposter scams.

Much of this equipment, including retired police vehicles, is easily available online through sites like curtisblueline.com and GSAfleet.gov, where buyers can purchase these vehicles, gun holsters, and, in some places, even bulletproof vests, without verifying that they are law enforcement.

Jack Cole, a retired New Jersey State Police detective, has personally dealt with police impersonators throughout his 26-year career in narcotics and undercover operations. Every person that I ever came across that was impersonating a police officer was doing it by driving a car, said Cole. Cole said the perpetrators are almost exclusively male. Dodge noted that victims are typically female.

Tianna Clark was one of these victims. Clark is a Hyundai sales consultant in her early thirties from Georgia. While driving to work one morning in early 2025, Clark found herself stuck behind a driver moving slowly in the fast lane. After a few moments of waiting, she accelerated in frustration around the drivers car, which had tinted windows. It was kind of like a cop car, but it wasnt a cop car, said Clark.

The driver rode her tail while she continued at high speeds in an attempt to evade him. He was right up on me like how a cop pulls right up on you real quick before they pull you over, said Clark. The driver swerved into the other lane beside her, rolled down the window, and shouted that Clark was lucky he was an off-duty police officer  otherwise shed be in jail.

The driver was not an off-duty police officer. Although Clark tried to brush the incident off, she was abruptly reminded of it when she saw the same face who had threatened her in an article describing his arrest after threatening other young women using the same impersonation tactics. Honestly, I felt very uncomfortable and uneasy for at least a few weeks, said Clark, who bought a firearm afterward for protection. To this day, Im skeptical if somebody rolls up on me.

The experiences of Clark and others who have had run-ins with fake cops are contributing to growing distrust of law enforcement, undermining its authority. A 2023 study by Dodge and her University of Colorado colleague Shahla Mohammed Alghareeb noted, Although these crimes might be seen as mere pranks in the eyes of individuals in power, they might spread rumors and false news that eventually negatively affect the publics perception. The authors found that this type of case may lead to tensions in areas where agents of actual power are put in threatening situations.

In Atlanta this February, a homeowner shot at an intruder who claimed to be police as he attempted to kick down his front door. The homeowner didnt trust his claims and shot through the door, sending 22-year-old impersonator Jaron Jordan to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Jordan was charged with impersonation of a police officer.

Officer Nathan Heidelberg was shot and killed by a homeowner who thought the uniformed cop was an intruder.

A homeowner in Midland, Texas, shot and killed a uniformed officer because he thought the cop was an intruder. At 1:30 a.m., Officer Nathan Heidelberg responded to a house after a panic alarm had rung out. The door was slightly ajar, and as Heidelberg walked in, he shone his flashlight into the hallway and announced in a strong voice that he was a police officer; he was immediately shot.

Impersonating a police officer is a felony in every state except California, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota, where its a misdemeanor for a first offense. A felony conviction can result in a prison sentence of about five years in most states, and can be increased if the crime was committed alongside more serious offenses such as kidnapping.

Strengthening Penalities

Police departments, which fully understand the powers that come with wearing a uniform and badge, as well as the danger to the public posed by the growing number of impersonators, are advocating for stronger, stiffer penalties. State legislators across the country have introduced new bills and laws to address the growing problem.

Minnesota is now considering a bill to increase the penalty for police impersonation up to five years and a $10,000 fine for a first offense, and up to 10 years and a $20,000 fine for repeat offenders. The legislation was introduced after the murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman by Vance Boelter, who rolled up to the Hortman home in a black SUV equipped with police lights in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, before shooting them both dead when they opened the door.

In New York state, a proposed law would elevate the penalty of an underlying crime if the suspect was simultaneously impersonating an officer, turning some misdemeanors, for example, into felonies.

Californias new No Vigilantes Act now requires non-uniformed law enforcement officers operating in California to display visible identification, including their agency and either a name or badge number, while performing their enforcement duties.

After observing that impersonators commonly block or alter their license plates to avoid arrest, Florida passed a law last year that upgrades the charge of tampering with license plates and using red and blue flashing lights to a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

In New York City, where bodegas are frequent targets of robberies, the Tajuken Deli incident prompted the United Bodegas of America to offer a $5,000 reward for any information about the police impostors. The city spent $1.6 million shortly after the robbery to put panic buttons in hundreds of bodegas in high-crime areas.

These cowards dressed like our heroes  NYPD officers  to rob, terrorize and traumatize innocent people, said UBA President Radhames Rodriguez in an interview with CBS News.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, the head of Taiwans opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a rare delegation to China early this month, evoking mixed reactions from leaders in Taipei and Washington. During the six-day visit, Cheng met top Chinese officials in Shanghai and Nanjing before concluding with a landmark meeting with Xi in Beijing.

Some KMT members have supported Chengs trip, including former KMT Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu, who remarked that it demonstrates Taipeis willingness to build and strengthen mutual trust. But the visit has also drawn fierce backlash, with Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council casting it as pro-unification propaganda. An opinion poll found that most Taiwanese viewed the trip as a net negative, believing that it could harm the KMTs election prospects this year.

The visit certainly comes at a precarious moment. Cross-strait relations have gradually deteriorated since 2016, and even more so after 2022, when then U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei. After the Democratic Progressive Partys (DPP) Lai Ching-te was elected Taiwans president in 2024, Beijing conveyed its dissatisfaction with the DPP, which it views as a separatist force, by severing high-level contact and ratcheting up its air and naval presence in the Taiwan Straitgoing so far as to practice invasion scenarios around the island.

Meanwhile, political differences between the KMT and DPP have frustrated efforts in Taiwans Legislative Yuan, resulting in gridlock over the special defense budget. Taiwanese lawmakers remain sharply divided on how best to handle engagement with Beijing.

Against this backdrop, the political stakes of Chengs trip are extraordinary. But critics and supporters, alike, predominantly focus on the diplomatic optics of the visitthat is, what message does it send? Both groups, however, miss something more significant in Chengs push to restart cross-strait talks: her reaffirmation of the 1992 Consensus.

The 1992 Consensus holds that both sides are part of one China, though there is disagreement over which entity is sovereign. As Alyssa Resar argues in a previous article for The Diplomat, the framework is intended to manage rather than resolve or paper over differences. Nowadays, it is commonly understood to mean One China, Two Interpretations.

When the DPP came to power in 2016 under Tsai Ing-wen, the party refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which resulted in China suspending diplomatic contact. The Consensus is now Beijings precondition to reinitiating cross-strait talks. During Chengs trip, Chinese officials emphasized upholding the 1992 Consensus and criticized the DPPs refusal to do so. That point was echoed by Cheng, who remarked that this visit once again demonstrates the 1992 Consensus remainsa stabilizing anchor for current cross-strait relations.

If the KMT, in its bid to restart talks with Beijing, reaffirms support for the 1992 Consensus, it could face political headwinds ahead of the local elections in November. One poll found that 84.4% of Taiwanese respondents support no political preconditions imposed on cross-strait exchanges. The 1992 Consensus was formulated and agreed to before Taiwan fully transitioned to democracy, which has led some critics to argue that it does not reflect the will of the Taiwanese populace.

Chengs trip raises more fundamental questions about the utility of the 1992 Consensus. While long a cornerstone of the KMTs platform, the framework has failed to meaningfully resolve disagreements. Beijing is still intent on reunifying with Taiwan by 2049, the centenary of communist rule. This was reaffirmed during the meeting between Xi and Cheng, as Xi explicitly reiterated that unitingis a historical inevitability and that China has full confidence in that aim.

Observers may contend that the real utility of the 1992 Consensus lies in establishing parameters under which negotiations can take place. However, Beijing has begun to seek a more ambitious and rigid interpretation of the Consensus, slowly reducing that objective to little more than an ideal. Derek Grossman and Brandon Alexander Millianpreviously argued in an article for The Diplomat that Beijing has over time become less receptive to ambiguitythat is, recognizing there are two different interpretations of the Consensus.

In Xis 2019 Speech marking the 40th anniversary of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, Xi used the 1992 Consensus interchangeably with the One China Principle, which recognizes One Country, Two Systems. That, in effect, equated Taiwans political status to that of Hong Kongs: it retains some degree of autonomy but recognizes Beijing as the sovereign.

Taiwans interpretation of the Consensus runs counter to that notion, rejecting the proposition that it is subordinate to Beijing. Indeed, for Taiwan, the core connotation of the 1992 Consensus is that there are differing interpretations of One China. Just months after Xis speech, graphic scenes of protesters being brutally beaten emerged out of Hong Kong, reminding Taipei of what such a political alternative could entail and prompting many KMT legislators to publicly rebuke the One China Principle.

Cross-strait dialogue is not inherently undesirablein fact, it may offer a viable path toward easing current tensions. However, if Beijing insists on the 1992 Consensus as a political precondition, that puts the KMT in a politically difficult position. Public opinion in Taiwan remains staunchly opposed to accepting Beijings terms. KMT leaders will have to carefully weigh the electoral costs of such an endorsement ahead of the local elections.

Still, the deeper problem lies in Beijing's increasingly rigid interpretation of the Consensus, which conflates the reached mutual understanding with Beijings preferred interpretation. Already, Xis speeches have demonstrated a willingness to obfuscate the Consensus. That raises legitimate questions about whether the framework retains any practical utility for sustaining stable cross-strait relations, or whether reaffirming it could instead delegitimize the islands very political foundations.

Allen Zhang is a Research Assistant in The Heritage Foundations Asian Studies Center.
Disney/John Fleenor

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/22/2026



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Katie Thurston has denied speculation her marriage to comedian Jeff Arcuri is on the rocks and they're headed for divorce.Katie, 34, posted a screenshot via Instagram Stories on Tuesday, April 21 of a person writing in her DMs, "No wonder Jeff is so done with you. He hasn't liked [the] last six of your posts and not even liked your comments recently."Katie quipped in reply to the troll, "Oh no! [Laughing emoji] Jeff hasn't shown his love via public social media display. Is a divorce near?"Katie continued to poke fun at the accusation by secretly filming a conversation with her husband in their home."I have a question: Are you divorcing me?" Katie asked Jeff, 38, in a video she uploaded on her Instagram Stories."Why? Just no," Jeff replied with a laugh."Well, I noticed you haven't been 'liking' my posts... like, the last six you haven't 'liked,'" Katie said."Are you serious?" Jeff asked. "I'll go 'like' them right now if you want me to. I don't like anything."Katie noted, "The internet says you're leaving me," before the couple poked fun at the speculation together.Once Jeff discovered Katie wasn't serious and she was recording him, he playfully blurted out, "I am leaving you!"Katie then posted a screenshot of a fake news story with the following headline: "Shocking news: After two years of marriage, Katie Thurston confirms she has divorced her husband, comedian Jeff Arcuri -- she reveals the reason, leaving fans stunned."Katie reacted to the report by writing, "Omg you guys why didn't you tell us??? [Broken-heart and knife emojis]."Not only are Katie and Jeff still together, but they just bought a house they intend to renovate."[It's] one that will require a lot [of] TLC to get her ready," Katie shared Wednesday, April 22 on Instagram."This is a huge project we will be documenting over the next year... This is just the beginning as we create our demo plan."Katie also teased she'll be dropping a YouTube series to follow the couple's home transformation.Jeff has also been very supportive of Katie's cancer journey and treatments, according to The Bachelor alum.Katie first announced her cancer diagnosis in February 2025."I had a small lump in my breast... I discovered it myself," Katie wrote via Instagram Stories at the time."[I] thought maybe it was my period [or] maybe it was muscle soreness from working out. But, eventually, this lump never went away."One month later, Katie learned the cancer had spread to her liver , elevating her diagnosis to stage 4.Katie -- who chose to move from California to New York for Jeff and her cancer treatments -- sought fertility treatments so that she and Jeff can welcome children one day. The pair also got married on March 22, 2025 in an intimate backyard wedding.Katie said she and Jeff will have a bigger wedding, complete with personalized vows, after she beats cancer."It was this kind gesture of him saying, truly, in sickness and in health," Katie gushed to Us Weekly last year."He is proving that he's here to stay. He shows up every day and he does it in ways that just continue to surprise."Jeff apparently decided that he wanted to be Katie's husband, officially, when she began her treatment "I want to be able to be in the hospital with her and just be like, 'My wife's in there.' There's more power to that," Jeff said. "I don't want to be not with you for any of this."The next step in Katie's journey to recovery is having a double mastectomy with implants and nerve preservation.Katie, who competed on Matt James ' The Bachelor season before starring on 's seventeenth season, saw Jeff for the first time in March 2024 on Instagram and sent her friend a video clip of one of his standup acts. Katie told her friend that Jeff was going to be her "future husband."After talking on the phone for three to six hours daily, Katie and Jeff met in person for the first time in Los Angeles in early May 2024. The pair then got engaged three months later in August 2024.Katie added how Jeff's humor really helped her get through "every single appointment" and all of the IVF shots."[Chemotherapy] does raise the risk of you not being able to conceive. Knowing that we wanted kids in the future, we thought, 'Okay, let's do IVF just to have that option.' We dedicated two weeks before doing anything else breast cancer wise to doing IVF," Katie shared.Katie went on, "A lot of women don't even realize that you can take 10 days to dedicate time to your reproductive health and your future family plans. We were able to retrieve 17 eggs and of those 17, six became embryos."Prior to falling in love with Jeff, Katie had a short-lived engagement to her 17 winner Blake Moynes Katie's season ended on ABC in August 2021, and then she and Blake -- a Canadian wildlife specialist -- announced their breakup only a couple of months later in October 2021.Katie then went public with her romance with John Hersey , whom she had eliminated during Week 2 of her journey, in November 2021. She was accused of moving on from Blake quickly with "a rebound" and emotionally cheating on her ex-fiance.Katie and John split after less than one year together in June 2022, and Katie expressed on numerous occasions how John had dumped her after she allegedly gave the relationship everything she had.After ending her relationship with John, Katie made a cameo on Bachelor in Paradise's ninth season in 2023 and found closure with Blake, who remained her friend post-show.Katie then she decided to pursue a unique opportunity and look for love on FBoy Island.Katie had a brief public relationship with FBoy Island's Vince Xu, but Katie announced their breakup in December 2023.Katie then soft launched her relationship with Jeff in January 2024 when she was asked to give dating advice on Instagram, but she didn't reveal she was officially dating Jeff until June of that year.Katie had announced at the time: "Safe to say he's making it to hometowns next week," which was a nod to her prior stint in 2021.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Tamir Kalifa will be presented with the 2026 McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage on Friday, April 24, at 11 a.m. The free event will be held in Studio 100 at the University of Georgias Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
A 2000 AM General Hummer H1 is being offered for sale in Roseville, California, with an asking price of $108,000, reflecting continued interest in one of the most recognizable off-road vehicles ever adapted for civilian use.

The Hummer H1 traces its origins to military applications, later transitioning into a civilian model known for its imposing size, extreme durability, and off-road capability. This example features a four-door sport utility configuration and is powered by a 6.5-liter V8 diesel engine paired with an automatic transmission. With 55,000 miles on the odometer, it is considered a relatively low-mileage vehicle for its age.

Finished in a bright yellow exterior with black accents and a contrasting roof panel, the vehicle presents a bold and highly visible appearance. The exterior is further enhanced by custom oversized black wheels, off-road tires, a heavy-duty front bumper, tow hooks, and a front brush guard. Additional design elements such as roof marker lights, tinted windows, and black trim details contribute to its rugged aesthetic.

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Inside, the H1 has been updated with a customized tan and black interior featuring diamond-stitched upholstery. The cabin includes modern conveniences such as a touchscreen display, upgraded audio system, power windows, and power locks. Rear passenger seating and a cargo area add to its utility, while the wide stance and high ground clearance remain defining characteristics of the model.

The seller describes the vehicle as well-maintained, noting that it runs and drives well. The combination of its condition, customization, and relatively low mileage positions it as a notable example within the H1 market, which continues to attract collectors and enthusiasts drawn to its military heritage and distinctive design.

As classic sport utility vehicles gain traction among buyers, models like the Hummer H1 are increasingly viewed as collectible assets. This offering highlights the ongoing appeal of vehicles that blend rugged capability with a strong visual presence, particularly those that remain close to their original mechanical roots while incorporating modern upgrades. See it here.

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Indian banks are taking proactive steps to safeguard financial systems and customer data following concerns over the potential data security risks posed by advanced Artificial Intelligence models like Anthropic's Mythos.

Key Points Finance Minister meets with bank heads to address AI data security risks.

Anthropic's Mythos AI model raises concerns about vulnerabilities in operating systems.

Banks are urged to take preemptive measures to secure systems and customer data.

RBI and Finance Ministry are assessing the extent of AI-related risks to the Indian financial sector.

Anthropic's Mythos model can outperform humans in cybersecurity tasks.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met heads of banks on risks related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) following global concerns over Anthropic's Mythos model threatening data security of the financial systems.

The meeting assumes significance in view of development of the Claude Mythos AI model by Anthropic claiming that it has found vulnerabilities in many major operating systems.

AI Risks In The Financial Sector

According to sources, risks and measures needed to deal with AI were discussed at the meeting.

The meeting chaired by the Finance Minister deliberated on various risks that AI posed on the financial sector, sources said, adding that banks have been urged to take preemptive measures to secure their systems, data and money of customers.

Key Attendees And Assessments

The meeting was attended by top officials of banks, officials from Reserve Bank of India, and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

According to a senior finance ministry official, the ministry and the RBI are studying the extent of risks that the Indian financial sector faces from this breach.

Anthropic's Mythos Model: A Cybersecurity Threat

As per the reports, Anthropic said Mythos can outperform humans at cyber-security tasks, finding and exploiting thousands of bugs, including 27-year-old vulnerabilities, in major operating systems and web browsers.

Anthropic, an US-based artificial intelligence company, said unauthorised access was made on its new model Mythos, which is deemed too dangerous for public release.

Announced on April 7, Mythos is being deployed as part of Anthropic's 'Project Glasswing', a controlled initiative under which select organisations aare permitted to use thea unreleased Claude Mythos Preview model for defensive cybersecurity.

Mythos is a powerful AI model that has sparked concerns among regulators about its unprecedented ability ato identify digital security vulnerabilities and potential for misuse.

The meeting highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity in the financial sector, especially with the rapid advancement of AI technologies. The RBI has been increasingly focused on strengthening cyber resilience within Indian banks. These discussions are part of a broader effort to ensure the stability and security of India's financial infrastructure against emerging technological threats.
Amid global concerns over AI-driven cybersecurity threats, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has directed banks to strengthen their IT systems and safeguard customer data.

Photograph: Kind courtesy REINER SCT/Pexels.com

Key Points Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged banks to enhance cybersecurity measures against AI-driven threats.

Banks are advised to establish real-time threat intelligence sharing mechanisms with CERT-In and other agencies.

The Indian Banks' Association is tasked with developing a coordinated response to emerging AI threats.

Anthropic's Claude Mythos AI model, with its ability to identify vulnerabilities, raises significant cybersecurity concerns.

RBI is conducting due diligence to ensure the security of India's financial sector against potential AI-related breaches.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday convened a high-level meeting with heads of banks to assess emerging cybersecurity risks linked to advanced artificial intelligence models, amid global concerns over Anthropic's Claude Mythos system and its potential implications for financial data security.

During the meeting, Sitharaman asked banks to take all necessary pre-emptive measures to secure their IT systems, safeguard customer data, and protect monetary resources.

Enhanced Threat Intelligence Sharing

"It was advised that a robust mechanism for real-time threat intelligence sharing may be established among banks, @IndianCERT and other relevant agencies so that emerging threats are identified early and disseminated across the ecosystem without delay," the finance ministry said in a post on X.

Banks were further advised to immediately report any suspicious activity or cyber incident to the relevant authorities, including Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), and to maintain close coordination with all agencies concerned, it said.

Assessing AI Model Vulnerabilities

These recommendations were given during a high-level meeting chaired by the finance minister, along with the Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, with banks and key stakeholders with a view to assess the potential impact of emerging threats linked to recent developments in AI models, particularly the possibility of such technologies being misused to weaponise software vulnerabilities, the meeting assumed significance in view of development of the Claude Mythos AI model by Anthropic, claiming that it has found vulnerabilities in many major operating systems.

Coordinated Institutional Response

During the meeting, the finance minister urged the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to develop a coordinated institutional mechanism to respond swiftly and effectively to any such threats.

She also directed banks to engage the best available cybersecurity professionals and specialised agencies to continuously strengthen defensive and monitoring capabilities of banks.

Vigilance and Preparedness

Appreciating the work done by banks so far in strengthening cybersecurity systems and protocols, she emphasised that the nature of the emerging threat from the latest AI Model is unprecedented and requires a very high degree of vigilance, preparedness and better coordination across financial institutions and banks.

According to a senior finance ministry official, the ministry and the RBI are studying the extent of risks that the Indian financial sector faces from this breach.

So far, Indian systems are secure and there is no need for unduly worrying, the official said, adding that the RBI is also doing due-diligence at its end to ensure India's financial sector is secure.

Anthropic's Claude Mythos AI Model

As per the reports, Anthropic said Mythos can outperform humans at cyber-security tasks, finding and exploiting thousands of bugs, including 27-year-old vulnerabilities, in major operating systems and web browsers.

Anthropic, an US-based artificial intelligence company, said unauthorised access was made on its new model Mythos, which is deemed too dangerous for public release.

Announced on April 7, Mythos is being deployed as part of Anthropic's 'Project Glasswing', a controlled initiative under which select organisations "Aare permitted to use the unreleased Claude Mythos Preview model for defensive cybersecurity".

Mythos is a powerful AI model that has sparked concerns among regulators about its unprecedented ability "Ato identify digital security vulnerabilities and potential for misuse".

Anthropic chose not to release Mythos publicly, arguing that its capabilities pose unprecedented cybersecurity risks, as per reports.

The meeting highlights the increasing importance of cybersecurity in the financial sector, especially with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. The agency's role is to enhance cybersecurity awareness among Indian citizens.
Following global concerns over AI models threatening financial systems, Indian banks are taking preemptive measures to address potential cybersecurity risks and protect customer data.

Key Points Finance Minister meets with bank heads to discuss AI security risks.

Global concerns arise over Anthropic's Mythos model and its potential vulnerabilities.

Banks urged to take preemptive measures to secure systems and customer data.

RBI conducting due diligence to ensure India's financial sector is secure from AI threats.

Anthropic's Mythos model raises concerns about its ability to identify digital security vulnerabilities.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met heads of banks to discuss risks related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) following global concerns over Anthropic's Mythos model threatening data security of financial systems.

AI Vulnerabilities in Financial Systems

The meeting assumes significance in view of development of the Claude Mythos AI model by Anthropic, claiming that it has found vulnerabilities in many major operating systems.

According to sources, risks and measures needed to deal with AI were discussed at the meeting.

The meeting chaired by the Finance Minister deliberated on various risks that AI posed on the financial sector, sources said, adding that banks have been urged to take preemptive measures to secure their systems, data and money of customers.

RBI and Government Scrutinise AI Risks

The meeting was attended by top officials of banks, officials from the Reserve Bank of India, and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

According to a senior finance ministry official, the ministry and the RBI are studying the extent of risks that the Indian financial sector faces from this breach.

So far, Indian systems are secure and there is no need for unduly worrying, the official said, adding that the RBI is also doing due-diligence at its end to ensure India's financial sector is secure.

Anthropic's Mythos Model Sparks Security Fears

As per the reports, Anthropic said Mythos can outperform humans at cyber-security tasks, finding and exploiting thousands of bugs, including 27-year-old vulnerabilities, in major operating systems and web browsers.

Anthropic, an US-based artificial intelligence company, said unauthorised access was made on its new model Mythos, which is deemed too dangerous for public release.

Announced on April 7, Mythos is being deployed as part of Anthropic's 'Project Glasswing', a controlled initiative under which select organisations aare permitted to use thea unreleased Claude Mythos Preview model for defensive cybersecurity.

Mythos is a powerful AI model that has sparked concerns among regulators about its unprecedented ability ato identify digital security vulnerabilities and potential for misuse.

Anthropic chose not to release Mythos publicly, arguing that its capabilities pose unprecedented cybersecurity risks, as per reports.

Earlier in the day, Financial Services Secretary speaking at an event said AI is both a threat as well as opportunity for the fintech industry.

The meeting highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity in the financial sector, especially with the rapid advancement of AI technologies. The RBI's involvement underscores the regulatory focus on maintaining the integrity and security of India's financial infrastructure. As AI becomes more integrated into financial systems, proactive measures are essential to mitigate potential risks.
Indian stock markets, including the Sensex and Nifty, witnessed a significant slump in early trade as Brent crude oil prices surged past the $100 per barrel mark, fuelled by stalled US-Iran negotiations and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

Sensex and Nifty50 Performance: Key Market Highlights Today Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty fell sharply in early trade, reflecting broader market concerns.

Brent crude oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, driven by stalled US-Iran negotiations and blockades on Iranian ports, raising global supply disruption fears.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,078.36 crore, contributing to the market downturn.

Geopolitical developments in the Middle East, particularly the US-Iran situation and risks to the Strait of Hormuz, are identified as primary overhangs for market stability.

Experts warn that the prolonged geopolitical uncertainty and high crude oil prices pose increasing risks to global growth and India's macroeconomic stability.

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Thursday as crude oil prices once again breached the $100 per barrel mark amid stalled US-Iran negotiations.

Foreign fund outflows and weak trends in Asian equities also dragged the markets lower.

The 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 532.83 points to 77,983.66 in opening trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 175.75 points to 24,202.35.

How High Crude Price Impacted Indian Equities

"Oil markets remain a key concern, with Brent crude once again breaching the $100 mark and trading in the $100-106 per barrel range. The move reflects stalled US-Iran negotiations and the continuation of blockades on Iranian ports, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global supply," Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth-tech firm, said.

Winners and Losers on Dalal Street

From the 30-Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra, Eternal, InterGlobe Aviation, Mahindra & Mahindra, Asian Paints and Infosys were among the major laggards.

Sun Pharma and Power Grid were the only winners.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 1.36 per cent higher at $103.3 per barrel.

Market Volatility and India's Macro Outlook

"With total uncertainty becoming the new normal there is no clarity on the near-term direction of the market.

"With the duration of the war going beyond everyone's initial expectations and the price of Brent crude bouncing back to $103 there is increasing risk to global growth in general and higher risk to India's macros in particular," VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 2,078.36 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were trading lower.

Expert View: What Investors Should Watch Next

"The primary overhang continues to be geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Recent escalation in the US-Iran situation, including reports of naval confrontations and renewed warnings of potential strikes, has significantly increased uncertainty.

"The risk surrounding the Strait of Hormuz-a critical global energy corridor-has pushed Brent crude prices above the $100 per barrel mark," Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, said.
This article was first published 19 years ago

T elugu film Samanyudu adds to Jagapathi Babu's repertoire of hero-oriented films, thanks to director Ravi C Kumar's deft handling of the subject which makes for interesting viewing.

Samanyudu is not just any other story about a hero trying to rid society, especially politics, of scum, as the director focuses on cleansing the heart and mind of politicians.

The story revolves around Chandra and his siblings who carry on the unfinished task of their father. Chandrasekhar, an editor, wants to reform politics, especially politicians, with the help of his newspaper. His focus is on the home minister, Bhagwanraju (Saikumar), who gets wind of Chandrasekhar's intentions and eliminates him.

His adopted son Chandra along with his siblings plans to expose the evil deeds of Bhagwanraju. He videographs Bhagwanraju's plot to kill the chief minister and with this he makes Bhagwanraju fulfill the promises made by him to the people during elections. This irks Bhagwanraju who plans to eliminate Chandra. How Chandra exposes the home minister forms the crux of the film.

The film focuses on changing the mindset of the home minister through some sentiments. Like his daughter who hates her father for his corrupt ways.

Jagapathi Babu performs very well, and Saikumar, for once, gives a restrained performance. The comedy track by M S Narayana is good.

After Jagapathi Babu, the film belongs to director Ravi Kumar who took on an old theme and shied away from the beaten track while presenting it. Music by Vandemataram Srinivas fails to appeal. Kamna Jethmalani has nothing to do but appear glamorous.
Former Sri Lankan intelligence chief Major General Suresh Salley's arrest has revived hopes of uncovering the masterminds behind the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks that killed nearly 270 people.

Sri Lanka's response to the Easter attacks has been slow and politically contested, unlike India's swift institutional reforms after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, observes Colonel R Hariharan (retd).

IMAGE: Sri Lankan officials inspect St Sebastian's Church in Negombo, north of Colombo, after multiple explosions targeted churches and hotels across Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019.

The blasts took place at churches in Colombo as well as neighbouring towns and hotels, including the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand. Photograph: Getty Images/Rediff Archives

Key Points Former Sri Lankan intelligence chief Major General Suresh Salley was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over alleged links to the 2019 Easter bombings.

The 2019 Easter Sunday attacks killed nearly 270 people, targeting churches and luxury hotels in coordinated suicide bombings across Sri Lanka.

Investigations have faced years of delays due to complex charges, legal hurdles, and political controversy surrounding intelligence failures and accountability.

Sri Lanka's supreme court in 2023 held then president Maithripala Sirisena and other officials negligent for failing to act on intelligence warnings.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake ordered a fresh investigation to identify masterminds and possible political links behind the Easter attacks.

Suresh Salley Arrest

Will the arrest of Sri Lanka's former intelligence chief Major General Suresh Salley in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks that killed nearly 270 people, bring to a closure of cases pending for the last seven years?

I am not too sure because General Salley's arrest is under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, with investigators claiming there is 'adequate evidence' linking him to the bombings.

When I look at the loose ends left in the Easter Sunday attack cases for the last seven years, I cannot help quoting Winston Churchill who said, 'Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.'

He was referring to the November 1942 Allied victory at the second battle of El Alamein, a turning point in the North African campaign of World War II.

The phrase reflected his cautious optimism of when the tide was beginning to turn, but the war was far from over.

Hopefully, General Salley's long overdue arrest is the beginning of the process of bringing long overdue cases to a closure.

IMAGE: Police officers at the St Sebastian Catholic church in Negombo, Sri Lanka, after bomb blasts ripped through church on Easter, April 21, 2019. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters/Rediff Archives

Comparison with India's 26/11 attacks

I cannot help comparing the follow-up actions taken after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks by India (2008) and the Easter Sunday attacks by Sri Lanka (2019).

There are similarities between both cases. Both were carried out by jihadi terrorists. Intelligence failure featured as the common cause of both the terrorist attacks.

In India's case there was a lack of cohesive assessment mechanism, despite various intelligence agencies providing the police with bits and pieces of information.

In Sri Lanka's case it was much worse; Indian intelligence had provided the details of the impending attack, well in advance as well as on the day of the attack. These included date, time, target and persons involved in the attacks.

After the attacks took place India's response was institutional and outward-facing, focusing on strengthening counter-terrorism capacity and isolating Pakistan diplomatically.

In Sri Lanka's case the response was internal and accountability-driven, with delayed high-profile arrests of intelligence officials, reflecting political entanglements and contested narratives.

IMAGE: An investigation marker at the St Sebastian Catholic church. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters/Rediff Archives

India's actions

Following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008, several high-level inquiries and investigations were ordered at both the state and national levels to identify security lapses and prosecute the perpetrators.

The government of Maharashtra appointed a two-member high-level enquiry committee, commonly known as the Pradhan Committee, a month after the attack.

Its objective was to investigate the response of the Mumbai police, identify lapses in acting on intelligence, and suggest measures to prevent future attacks.

It found leadership failure of the police commissioner as well as systemic lapses like mechanical forwarding of intelligence reports without proper analysis. It also noted that coastal security was neglected.

A year later, India created the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as the country's first federal agency for investigating and prosecuting terrorism related cases.

The Maharashtra government created Force One, an elite specialised counter-terrorism unit modelled after the National Security Guard (NSG).

The Mumbai police crime branch conducted the primary investigation into the attacks, leading to an 11,280-page chargesheet and the successful prosecution and execution of the terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was caught.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation sent a rapid deployment team to Mumbai on November 29, 2008, to assist Indian authorities and investigate the deaths of six American citizens.

The NIA conducted a week-long interrogation of Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley in Chicago in 2010 after his arrest by the FBI.

This investigation provided critical evidence of the involvement of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and individual officers from Pakistan's ISI.

After the 26/11 attacks, Pakistan came under international pressure and its Federal Investigation Agency launched its own probe.

It led to the arrest of seven individuals, including LeT operational chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. However, this investigation eventually stalled due to frequent changes in judges and legal delays.

To put in a nutshell, India created the National Investigation Agency in 2009 to improve coordination and assessment of information received from various agencies.

India strengthened coastal security and marine policing and streamlined the deployment of NSG hubs in major cities.

The aftermath of the 26/11 attack is still lingering among Indian administrators.

After the attacks, then home minister P Chidambaram wanted to create the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) modelled after the US NCTC.

It was to be the apex body under the Intelligence Bureau with powers to search, seize, and arrest across India.

However, the concept was shelved after several chief ministers of states opposed it as they considered it a violation of the federal structure.

However, the concept has been revived by the ministry of home affairs with the adoption of PRAHAAR -- Policy for Response Against Hostile Activities and Radicalism -- as India's first comprehensive national counter terrorism policy unveiled on February 23, 2026.

IMAGE: Relatives of victims of the explosion at St Anthony's shrine try to identify bodies at the police mortuary in Colombo. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters/Rediff Archives

Sri Lanka's actions after the attacks

Sri Lanka took three actions in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks.

It increased the military presence, arrested suspects linked to National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) and banned extremist groups.

Zahran Hashim, the radical preacher who led the suicide squad, died in the explosion at the Shangri-La Hotel during the 2019 attacks.

Scotland Yard and the FBI were involved in the follow-up investigations of the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Their contributions yielded several worthwhile results, especially in forensic analysis, network mapping and uncovering ideological links.

The FBI's 72-page affidavit filed in a US district court in December 2020 offered a detailed forensic account of the attacks, including bomb composition and digital communications.

The FBI traced ideological and operational links between the attackers and transnational ISIS extremist networks.

It helped recover deleted communications and encrypted data from the devices used by bombers and their handlers.

The FBI affidavit became a key document in international legal cooperation and intelligence sharing.

Scotland Yard helped Sri Lanka police structure the investigation and advised on securing digital evidence.

They also assisted in identifying the chemical composition of the bombs (urea nitrate-based), linking them to known jihadist methods.

Scotland Yard also provided strategic guidance on profiling extremist cells and understanding radicalisation pathways in South Asia.

The prosecution process has been marked by several distinct phases and delays.

Criminal prosecution of the main trial against 25 men, including alleged mastermind Mohamed Naufar with ISIS links, started in November 2021.

Prosecutors filed more than 23,000 charges against these suspects, involving over 1,200 witnesses.

Although indictments were served in October 2021, the trial faced several postponements due to the massive number of charges.

There were also 'practical issues' like lack of Tamil-speaking lawyers and translated documents. So the case that began in 2021 is still going on.

Former national police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando were tried in separate 'trial at bar' proceedings. Both officials were acquitted on February 18, 2022 after the court found insufficient evidence to convict them.

In January 2023, Sri Lanka's supreme court found then president Maithripala Sirisena and four other top officials of negligent handling of information led to the attacks.

The court ordered them to pay approximately Rs 310 million (roughly $1 million) in compensation to the victims' families in civil action.

IMAGE: People participate in a mass funeral in Negombo, three days after a string of suicide bomb attacks on churches and luxury hotels across the island on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters/Rediff Archives

Developments after 2024

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in late 2024 ordered the launch of a fresh investigation to identify 'masterminds' and potential political links to the 'masterminds'.

While there have been no high-profile convictions of 'masterminds' for the Easter Sunday attacks, there have been significant new prosecutions and arrests targeting high-level state and paramilitary figures previously accused of being 'architects' of the bombings.

That includes not only General Salley but also Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (alias 'Pillayan') arrested on April 8, 2025.

Though initially detained on other charges, the government informed parliament that new evidence links Pillayan's paramilitary network directly to the 2019 attacks, specifically in recruiting and supporting the bombers.

Similarly, Lieutenant General Kapila Hendavitharana, former head of military intelligence, is being investigated for alleged strategic oversight and suspicious communications around the time of the attacks.

New Investigation Under Dissanayake

GnereL Salley is alleged to have aided and conspired in the Easter Sunday attacks. Do the investigators have any evidence against him beyond the claim of a whistleblower of his alleged involvement with a local Islamist group in a 2023 Channel 4 documentary?

The allegations against General Salley centre around his close relation with later president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

It is alleged General Salley wanted to stoke Islamists to cause insecurity and create conditions favourable for Gotabaya Rajapaksa's presidential campaign.

India brought visible judicial closure with the execution of terrorist Kasab, and took constructive action to improve the system.

Sri Lanka's politically oriented process has interfered with the investigative process.

This has skewed its systemic process affecting the handling of terror attacks. Will General Salley's arrest lead to final closure?

One can only hope President Dissanayake is able to bring the Easter Sunday attack cases to a closure and punish the actual criminals.

Colonel R Hariharan, VSM, a retired military intelligence specialist on South Asia and terrorism, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-1990.

He is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the South Asia Analysis Group.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
There are enough people at the top decision-making level in Tehran who are still willing to negotiate, provided Trump can create the right setting for the negotiation to acquire a dynamic of its own, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

IMAGE: US forces patrol near the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska after it was boarded and seized by US forces on April 20, 2026. Photograph: US Central Command/X/Reuters

Key Points Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: 'The bottom line is that the United States is taking control of Venezuela's oil industry. The same is now happening with Iran.'

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf: 'The enemy believed Iran was like Venezuela and assumed that after a few days it could seize our oil and allow anyone wishing to transport oil from the Persian Gulf to do so.'

Trump should take Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir's advice to call off the naval blockade.

What motivated US President Donald Trump to order the naval blockade of Iran? Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told France's public television broadcaster in an interview that the Trump administration was moving in the direction of seizing control of Iran's oil and gas reserves (external link).

'Venezuela is a stark example. The claim was that the drug traffickers' regime must be taken down. The bottom line is that the United States is taking control of Venezuela's oil industry. The same is now happening with Iran,' Lavrov alleged.

That was one clever remark, given Russia's deep interest in partnering with Iran's oil and gas sector rather than competing.

The cascading oil price brought windfall profits to Russia in dozens of billions of dollars on the one hand while also compelling Washington to ease the sanctions on the other hand to facilitate additional flow of Russian oil that was good for the market.

Tehran has taken note of the Venezuelan analogy. In a wide-ranging televised interview broadcast on Tuesday, the powerful speaker of Iran's Majlis Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a pivotal figure in the country's leadership, noted, 'The enemy believed Iran was like Venezuela (external link) and assumed that after a few days it could seize our oil and allow anyone wishing to transport oil from the Persian Gulf to do so.'

How far off the mark are the Indian analysts who wax eloquently that the Hormuz issue is all about Pax Americana -- the rules-based order, freedom of navigation and open trade, open sea lanes, stable trade routes. Sheer naivete!

IMAGE: US President Donald John Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House, April 18, 2026. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

The geopolitics of the Strait of Hormuz is plain to see. First, some clarity is needed as regards the Law of the Sea which does provide for freedom of navigation through territorial waters.

But do not ignore wilfully that such freedom is also to be exercised in accordance with the regulations of the coastal parties, the littoral States that border the waterway.

Iran maintains that it is enforcing its regulations.

There are no international waters where the sea lanes pass, and Iran's territorial waters go to the midpoint of the waterway -- and even beyond where it overlaps Oman's territorial waters. (Hence Iran and Oman's shared interest in the Hormuz Strait.)

The Iranian regulations devolve upon the number of ships that pass through the waterway, the payment of fee that these ships are to pay (which is a common international practice), the currency in which such payments are to be made, what the ships' cargo will be, etc.

None of this hampers 'freedom of navigation' as such.

Clearly, the blockade that the US has imposed has no validity under international law. It is brigandage, gunboat diplomacy, 'flexing the muscle' or whatever one may call it.

It is in effect a piece of the so-called 'tanker war' that the West is waging in the downstream of the Russia sanctions triggered by the Ukraine conflict.

IMAGE: A woman walks next to an anti-Israeli mural on a street in Tehran, April 20, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

In the case of Iran, some analysts say the real plot is about restricting the flow of oil to China. Indeed, according to the US-China Economic and Security Commission latest report in March to the US Congress, 'China is Iran's largest trading partner and the primary buyer of Iranian oil. Chinese purchases account for roughly 90 percent of Iran's exported oil.'

The strategic implications of the 'tanker war' are self-evident.

But the US report also estimates that 'Beijing maintains a cautious approach to avoid jeopardising relations with other Middle Eastern partners such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates' and has even 'limited its official support for Iran after US and Israeli strikes to diplomatic statements.'

China is absolutely right in saying that it has trade and energy ties with Iran under bilateral agreements, and US interference is unacceptable.

Also, disruptions in the flow of Iranian oil upset China's supply chain.

That said, China's oil imports are also sourced from a remarkably broad array of regions as a matter of carefully calibrated policy.

China's main source is the 'Other Middle East' (Iran, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain) at 2.4 million barrels per day, followed closely by Russia at 2.2 million, Saudi Arabia at 1.6 million, and Iraq at 1.3 million.

US-Iran Reset: Last Diplomatic Window

It may seem there is no easy way out for Trump in the Hormuz riddle. But in reality, that isn't really so -- provided the US jettisons its 1979 conception of 'revolutionary Iran', which is actually an archaic notion today.

The movers and shakers in Tehran are of different feathers but there is an overall consensus that improved relations with the US will help improve the economic conditions.

Conceivably, the billionaire-politician Qalibaf himself is a stellar example.

Unless the US gets rid of the old shibboleths about Iran, it cannot easily reconcile with the new reality that allows Iran to generate out of Hormuz a fabulous income level running into hundreds of billions of dollars annually which holds the potential to liberate its economy from the clutches of Western sanctions and stabilise its political economy.

As the man solely responsible for destroying the 2015 nuclear deal (JCOPA), Trump only can play such a role today, with a forward-looking agenda of the swiftest possible integration of Iran into the world economy.

Whether such an approach is too late or not can only be known if it is genuinely attempted. No more deceptions, please.

One more round of fighting will be a tipping point that radicalises Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decapitation strategy was a disaster.

A regime change in Iran to create a pro-American regime is a looney endgame. If anything, the constituency within Iran which sought good relations with the US is dramatically shrinking.

Anyone who witnessed the period of the Islamic Revolution will understand the profound meaning of the videos currently circulating, which show Iranians pouring out into the streets of Tehran night after night.

IMAGE: People take part in an anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Tehran, April 19, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Trump's move to extend the ceasefire is a step in the right direction. What is needed is a leap of faith. Trump should take Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir's advice to call off the naval blockade.

It is a wrong notion that Iran can be made to negotiate at gunpoint. Iran's national pride is a civilisational trait. and its deep distrust of the US is a backlog of history.

Make no mistake, things have inexorably reached an inflection point.

Yet, there are enough people at the top decision-making level in Tehran who are still willing to negotiate, provided Trump can create the right setting for the negotiation to acquire a dynamic of its own.

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar is a 29-year veteran of the Indian Foreign Service.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
An accountant was shot and injured near a private cement plant in Uttar Pradesh, prompting a police investigation into the attempted murder.

Key Points An accountant was shot and injured near a cement plant in Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred near Khairada railway crossing in Mataundh area.

Police have registered a case of attempted murder and are investigating.

The motive behind the attack on the accountant is currently unknown.

An accountant working at a private cement plant was shot at and injured by unidentified assailants near Khairada railway crossing in Mataundh area here, police said on Thursday.

Police Investigate Shooting Incident

Additional Superintendent of Police Shivraj said the incident took place on Wednesday night when Dial 112 received information that some unidentified persons had entered the cement plant owned by Vipin Dixit and fired at Pushpendra Singh (38), who worked there as an accountant.

Acting on the alert, police reached the spot and rushed the injured to a trauma centre, where his condition is stated to be stable. He sustained pellet injuries on his left shoulder, the officer said.

Ongoing Investigation Into Attempted Murder

Superintendent of Police Palash Bansal also inspected the spot, he added.

A case of attempt to murder has been registered against unknown persons and an investigation is underway. The motive behind the attack is yet to be ascertained, police said.

In India, attempted murder is a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code, leading to police investigation and potential prosecution. The investigation will likely involve gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and attempting to identify the perpetrators. The police will also be looking into any potential motives for the attack.
The Supreme Court of India has refused to accept information from 'WhatsApp University' as evidence in a significant case addressing religious freedom and discrimination against women at religious sites like the Sabarimala Temple.

IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Key Points The Supreme Court rejected information from 'WhatsApp University' during a hearing on religious freedom.

The case involves petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala Temple.

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul cited an article by Shashi Tharoor, prompting the court's response.

The court emphasised that personal opinions, even from eminent persons, are still personal opinions.

The Supreme Court previously stated the difficulty in defining essential and non-essential religious practices.

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it respects the views of all eminent authors and thinkers, but it cannot accept information from 'WhatsApp University'.

The observation by a nine-judge Constitution bench came while hearing petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths.

Supreme Court Bench Composition

The bench was composed of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi.

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, referred to an article written by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, which talked about judicial restraint in matters of religious relief.

At this juncture, CJI Kant said, "We respect all eminent persons, jurists, etc, but personal opinion is personal opinion."

Arguments Presented Before the Court

Kaul said there was no harm in drawing from all sources.

"If knowledge and wisdom come from any source, any country, any university, it should be welcomed. We are far too rich as a civilisation not to accept all forms of knowledge and information," Kaul said.

Justice Nagarathna, in a lighter vein, said, "But not from WhatsApp University."

Kaul said he was not getting into that.

"I am not into which university is good or bad, which is really inconsequential to this debate..... The point is simply that wherever knowledge and information come from, they must be accepted," Kaul said.

The hearing was underway at the time of filing of this report.

Background: Sabarimala Temple Case

The top court on Wednesday said it was very difficult, if not impossible, for a judicial forum to define parameters to declare a particular practice of a religious denomination as essential and non-essential.

A five-judge Constitution bench, by a 4:1 majority verdict in September 2018, lifted a ban that prevented women between the ages of 10 and 50 years from entering the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple and held that the centuries-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions challenging religious practices that allegedly discriminate against women. The Sabarimala Temple case, which previously struck down a ban on women of menstruating age entering the temple, is a key precedent in these proceedings. The current nine-judge bench is tasked with determining the scope of judicial review in matters of religious freedom.
An ambulance driver in Madhya Pradesh has been fired after a video went viral showing him giving a woman a joyride in the emergency vehicle, prompting an official investigation.

Key Points Ambulance driver in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, caught on video giving a woman a ride with the siren blaring.

The ambulance driver was subsequently sacked by the company operating the 108 emergency ambulance service.

District health authorities have launched an investigation into the misuse of the ambulance.

The driver claimed the woman was his sister but could not provide her name when questioned.

A video has emerged showing a 108 emergency ambulance driver moving around with a young woman onboard and blaring its siren in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district.

As the video went viral, the company operating the 108 emergency ambulance service sacked the driver, while district health authorities ordered a probe into the episode, an official said on Thursday.

Ambulance Misuse Exposed

Late on Tuesday evening, local residents chased and stopped a speeding ambulance with its siren blaring. Instead of a patient, a young woman was found inside the vehicle, the official said.

Driver's False Claim

During questioning, driver Bhagat Singh Yadav tried to wriggle out of the situation by claiming the woman, a college student, was his sister, but was unable to provide her name, he said.

People gathered at the scene captured the entire incident on video, which quickly went viral on social media.

Investigation Ordered

District Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr R P Gupta has sought a reply from 108 ambulance service officials and ordered an investigation into the incident.

Emergency ambulance services in India are typically intended for urgent medical transportation and are publicly funded. Misuse of these services can divert resources from genuine emergencies. Investigations into such incidents aim to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences.
As more and more drivers are priced out of the new vehicle market, experts say used cars are increasingly becoming the go-to for buyers trying to get a ride that fits their budget. But the flood of interest in used vehicles means there are fewer pre-owned cars on dealers' lots, and fewer sales of new cars will eventually mean less used inventory.

Both factors boost the average price of used vehicles, which was up about 6% last month compared to March 2025, according to the Manheim Index, a used-vehicle value analysis.

"There's somewhat of a shortage of pre-owned cars," CarEdge co-founder Ray Shefska said. "And because new-car asking prices are so damn high, even with elevated used-car prices, there's still a big enough spread that people are trending back towards used cars because they just can't afford the new ones."

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Sales of near-new used vehicles from model years 2024 or later rose roughly 24% in the first three months of 2026 compared to the same time period last year, according to a CarGurus industry analysis.

"Youve got average transaction prices on new vehicles at $50,000 (and) 24% of car loans are seven years or more. Over 20% of monthly car payments (are) over $700 a month," said Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research for automotive communications firm Telemetry Group. "There are only so many people who can afford that."

The size of the U.S. used-vehicle market is already at least twice that of the new-car market (which Cox Automotive has projected at 15.8 million this year), Abuelsamid said. Sales of used vehicles will only grow because of the high price of new vehicles.

The popularity of used vehicles means they sell faster and there are fewer available, driving up prices. The number of available used vehicles on dealer lots is "the tightest on record," Cox Automotive chief economist Jeremy Robb told auto industry insiders earlier this month.

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"While affordability concerns boost demand for used vehicles as consumers trade down, a lower new vehicle sales rate constrains trade-ins," Robb said. "And that's a crucial supply input for the used market."

Smaller used vehicles priced under $30,000 have been selling the fastest, a signal of the high demand for affordable transportation, according to CarGurus.

"It's a long tail evolving trend due to the fact that new cars have been increasing in price for decades now," said Kevin Roberts, CarGurus' director of economic and market intelligence. "New cars continue to get more and more expensive. And this was a pre-COVID trend; COVID just accelerated that."

Added tech and safety features are among the top factors in long-term trends driving up the cost of new vehicles, Roberts said.

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Katie Downs last week traded in a 2023 Subaru Forester she bought new in December 2022 for a used 2024 Ford Explorer at Ford Motor Village in Dearborn. The 30-year-old Canton resident said she was looking for something larger to make space for her toddler, a stroller, her dog and groceries.

Her husband, Steve Downs, said the price of the new Subaru in 2022 was roughly $10,000 to $15,000 lower than the prices of similar new vehicles they considered this year. After buying a house in February, Katie Downs said she did not want to have to put more money down for another vehicle.

She said the goal was to keep monthly payments the same, but that "wasn't going to happen" if they bought new. The difference between monthly payments was close to $700 a month for a new Explorer vs. $570 a month for the used one with 14k miles.

"New just wasn't going to be quite in the budget," Katie Downs said.

Where used car prices are headed

Auto industry experts say prices could come down this year after a spring surge in sales fueled by buyers armed with tax refunds. The value of used vehicles is highest during tax season, Robb said.

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Uncertainty over the Iran war and gas prices, U.S. midterm elections and upcoming negotiations over trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico are expected to dampen overall vehicle sales, Robb said. That could also mean more used vehicles on dealer lots and a drop in prices.

"The end of March typically proves to be the peak for price action at Manheim, but the way this tax-refund season is unfolding, it could continue for a bit longer," Robb said. "We thought wed see some impact from the Middle East conflict, and that may still happen. But right now, the data is clear: used-vehicle demand is healthy and inventory levels are relatively tight.

But long term, Roberts and Shefska said more expensive new models will continue to push the price of used vehicles higher.

"Even though the manufacturers keep talking about producing more affordable cars, they don't," Shefska said. "And because those cars are really only affordable for, I would say, 13-15% of the population out there (who) feels as if they can actually afford to buy a car that's over $50,000, it just keeps putting pressure on used car prices.

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"And since new car prices are up, used car prices are up," he added.

The cheapest used cars

As drivers who previously bought new move into the used market and used prices go up in response to the higher demand, there still are options for buyers in need of vehicles in the $10,000 price range, Roberts said. But vehicles selling at that price point now are much older models.

"What $20,000 or $25,000 got you pre-COVID and what it gets you now is, you're generally going to have a vehicle with more age on it and then more mileage on it," Roberts said.

There's a bright spot for southeast Michigan shoppers. While many dealers across the United States are struggling to get enough used cars on their lots to meet demand, Metro Detroit is a beacon for pre-owned vehicles, said Ryan McQuiston, Village Ford's pre-owned sales manager.

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Used-car dealers get much of their inventory from off-lease vehicles, and because leasing is so popular in the Detroit area, McQuiston said local dealers have higher inventories of used vehicles. That means better pricing.

"We have the inventory for people to purchase," McQuiston said. "No. 2: It's at good prices."

sballentine@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Used cars are having a moment as new vehicle costs rise
Andhra Pradesh police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated honey-trap extortion racket in Anantapur, leading to the arrest of five individuals involved in coercing victims for money.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Andhra Pradesh police busted a honey-trap extortion racket operating in Anantapur.

Five individuals were arrested for allegedly extorting money through threats and coercion.

The gang lured victims, trapped them, and extorted money by threatening to circulate nude photographs.

The honey-trap extortion racket allegedly targeted around 20 people, extorting nearly Rs 1 crore.

Police seized Rs 13 lakh in cash, knives, and promissory notes from the accused.

Andhra Pradesh police have busted a honey-trap extortion racket operating in and around Anantapur rural mandal and arrested five persons for allegedly collecting money through threats and coercion, a police official said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as part of an organised gang led by prime accused Mamillapalli Rangamma, along with Dabbara Rajesh, Mangala Jayalakshmi, Chandrakala, and Ananthakumari, police said.

How The Honey-Trap Extortion Racket Operated

"We have busted a honey-trap extortion racket that lured victims with sweet talk, trapped them, and extorted money by threatening to circulate nude photographs and even kill them," Anantapur rural DSP T Venkatesulu told reporters.

According to the DSP, the case came to light following a complaint lodged on April 18 by K Uday Bhaskar Reddy, a 24-year-old resident of Bengaluru.

The complainant said that around five months ago, Jayalakshmi lured him to a house in Bhagyanagar on the pretext of conducting a drone survey, where Rajesh allegedly assaulted him, forcibly stripped him, and took nude photographs along with the woman accused.

Details of the Extortion

Venkatesulu said another accused, Rangamma, entered the house, threatened the victim with dire consequences, and demanded Rs 4 lakh to keep the matter confidential, warning that refusal would lead to public exposure and harm.

Out of fear, the victim arranged Rs 4 lakh from acquaintances and paid the accused to escape the situation, he said.

The DSP said the accused also threatened victims with knives and used intimidation tactics, including threats of murder, to extort large sums of money.

Scale of the Honey-Trap Operation

During the investigation, it was revealed that the honey-trap extortion racket targeted around 20 persons using similar methods and allegedly extorted nearly Rs 1 crore over a period of time.

Police seized Rs 13 lakh in cash, suspected transactions worth over Rs 1 crore, two knives, and promissory notes from the accused. Further investigation is underway.

The DSP said the racket operated in a coordinated manner, identifying targets, luring them to specific locations, and executing the honey-trap before demanding money.

So far, all five accused have been arrested. The prime accused, Rangamma, was earlier remanded, while the others were arrested on April 23.

Police said Rangamma is involved in about 10 cases, while the other accused also have cases registered against them in Anantapur and Tirupati districts.

Honey-trap schemes are a form of extortion that involve seduction and blackmail. Indian law addresses extortion under the Indian Penal Code, with provisions for punishing those who use threats or coercion to obtain property or valuables. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the gang's activities and identify any additional victims.
A deadly militant attack on a copper and gold mine in Balochistan, Pakistan, has resulted in the tragic death of nine workers, raising concerns about security in the region.

Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters

Key Points Nine workers killed in a targeted militant attack at a copper and gold mine in Balochistan, Pakistan.

The attack occurred at the Darigwan site in the Chagai district, targeting workers finishing their shift.

Security forces responded to the attack and launched a clearance operation in the area.

The mining company, National Resources Limited, affirmed its commitment to local communities and Balochistan's economy.

Nine workers were killed when militants attacked a copper and gold mine site in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said on Thursday.

The attack took place at the copper and gold project operated by National Resources Limited (NRL) in the Chagai district's Darigwan site on Wednesday evening, when the workers were finishing their shift, a senior police official said.

Targeted Attack At Balochistan Mine

"It was a targeted attack and carried out at a time when workers were winding up their shift," the official said.

He said that the bodies were taken to Prince Fahad Hospital in Dalbandin.

Mining Company Statement

The mining company confirmed the attack in a statement but did not mention casualties.

It said security forces, including the Frontier Corps, responded promptly, secured the area, and launched a clearance operation.

Commitment To Local Communities

The statement said the NRL remained "fully committed to the development and empowerment of local communities in Balochistan, with a strong focus on improving livelihoods and contributing to Balochistan's economy".

It said 90 per cent of its workforce at the Darigwan site comprised individuals from Balochistan.

The mining company recently reported discoveries of copper, gold, lead and zinc deposits.

This is not the first time that militants have attacked construction sites in the province, where workers mostly from other provinces were targeted.

Balochistan has seen increased militant activity in recent years, often targeting infrastructure projects and security forces. The province is strategically important due to its natural resources and location bordering Iran and Afghanistan. Such attacks can deter foreign investment and hinder economic development in the region.
West Bengal's first phase of assembly elections witnessed a remarkable voter turnout, signalling a crucial stage in the high-stakes battle between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points West Bengal's first phase of assembly elections recorded a high voter turnout across 152 constituencies.

Nearly 90 per cent of electors voted till 5 pm, marking one of the highest turnouts in the state's recent electoral history.

Polling took place in 16 districts amidst tight security, with 1,478 candidates contesting.

Reports of clashes and intimidation emerged from several constituencies during the election.

Voting across 152 constituencies in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections ended at 6 pm on Thursday and electors who reached the polling stations before the scheduled closure would be allowed to exercise their franchise, officials said.

Close to 90 per cent of the 3.60 crore electors turned up to vote till 5 pm. The voter turnout is among the highest in recent electoral history of the state.

Key Highlights Of West Bengal Assembly Elections

Polling in 16 districts began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security to decide the electoral fate of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, in 152 constituencies of the 294-strong state assembly.

Long queues outside polling booths reflected strong voter participation in what is being seen as a crucial round in a high-stakes contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.

Reports Of Clashes And Intimidation

The state recorded 89.93 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm, with the Dakshin Dinajpur district leading with 93.12 per cent polling.

Clashes, allegations of intimidation and attacks on candidates, including on two of the BJP, were reported from several constituencies, prompting the Election Commission to seek detailed reports even as it maintained that polling was "largely peaceful".

West Bengal's assembly elections are being held in multiple phases. The Election Commission of India oversees the conduct of elections, ensuring free and fair voting processes across the state. The results of these elections will determine the composition of the state's legislative assembly and the formation of the next government.
EVM malfunction allegations sparked violent clashes between locals and security forces during the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections in Birbhum, disrupting polling and raising concerns.

IMAGE: An elderly voter being assisted by a security person at a polling station as he arrives to cast his vote in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, in Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, April 23, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Voters claimed that votes cast for the TMC were being registered for the BJP, leading to protests and halted polling.

Security personnel intervened to disperse the crowd, resulting in stone pelting and injuries to central forces.

Polling resumed under heavy security after the situation was brought under control.

Clashes broke out between locals and security personnel in Kharisaol area in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Thursday after allegations of EVM malfunctioning triggered tension during the final hours of polling in the first phase of the state assembly elections, officials said.

EVM glitches spark voter protests

The trouble began at a polling booth under the Dubrajpur Assembly constituency, where electors alleged that votes cast in favour of the TMC were being registered for the BJP, they said.

According to the locals, voting was halted for nearly 30 minutes following complaints of glitches in the electronic voting machines, and protests erupted outside the booth.

Security forces intervene amidst escalating tension

The situation escalated after an argument broke out between polling officials and agitated voters, with a section of locals gathering outside the booth and staging a demonstration.

Security personnel, including central forces, intervened to disperse the crowd, following which clashes erupted.

Police and CRPF personnel were pelted with stones, prompting them to resort to mild force to bring the situation under control.

Polling resumes under heavy security

Several personnel of the central forces were injured in the incident, the officials said.

A police vehicle was also damaged during the violence, they added.

Polling was later resumed under heavy security, the officials said, adding that the situation is now under control.

Voting was underway on Thursday in 152 constituencies in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.

Polling started at 7 am and is scheduled to end at 6 pm.

The second phase of elections is on April 29 and counting on May 4.

The Election Commission of India oversees the conduct of free and fair elections, including the deployment of central forces to maintain order. Allegations of EVM tampering are not uncommon during Indian elections, often leading to demands for greater transparency in the voting process. The results of the West Bengal assembly elections are closely watched, given the state's political significance.
A court reader in Delhi's Tis Hazari court has been arrested by the CBI in a bribery case, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption within the judicial system.

Key Points CBI arrests a court reader in Tis Hazari on bribery charges.

The arrest followed a trap operation conducted by the CBI team.

The court reader was posted in the court of an additional special judge.

The CBI on Thursday arrested a reader posted in the court of an additional special judge in Tis Hazari in an alleged bribery case, officials said.

CBI's Anti-Corruption Operation

A CBI team conducted a trap operation during which the reader was arrested, they said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is India's premier investigating police agency. It is often tasked with investigating cases of corruption and financial crimes, particularly those involving public officials. The CBI's jurisdiction extends across India.
An art exhibition in New Delhi is honouring the memory of children killed in a devastating school bombing in Minab, Iran, showcasing their poignant drawings recovered from the rubble.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points An art exhibition in New Delhi displayed drawings by children killed in a school bombing in Minab, Iran.

The exhibition, titled 'Minab Children Still Draw the Sun,' featured artworks recovered from the rubble of the bombed school.

The drawings and photographs poignantly highlighted the loss of innocent lives due to the Iran-US-Israel war.

Visitors expressed grief, solidarity with Iran, and calls for peace in response to the tragic event.

The exhibition served as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of conflict on children.

Everything is as it should be in the drawings a globe in green and blue, a yellow school bus in motion, multi-hued birds perched on a branch beneath blue clouds and a shining sun. What is missing? The children who brought that fragile order into being and gave visual form to a world they saw as full of colour.

Remembering the Victims of the Minab School Bombing

Framed in innocence and hope, the drawings on display at the Iranian Embassy belonged to children killed when a school in Minab, Iran, was bombed into rubble on February 28 -- the day the Iran-US-Israel war broke out. Around 160 children, aged five to seven, were killed.

The exhibition, titled "Minab Children Still Draw the Sun", ended earlier this week. It was an art show unlike any other, less a celebration of the creations and more a mourning of their creators.

The artworks were found in school bags buried under the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school by Red Crescent teams, then scanned and sent to the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi as well as many others across the world.

The recurring Persian line at the bottom of most of these drawings read: "May our children find happiness."

The Emotional Impact of the Artworks

A preliminary glance at the artworks induced deep sadness with even some of the most stoic finding it hard to hold back their tears. The hall, filled with visitors of all ages, also echoed with sounds of loud sobs.

"A school that was destroyed following a millitary attack by the USA and the zionist regime. Pages that were recovered through the efforts of Red Crescent rescue teams, and have been restored only to the extent that they can be seen.

"The world depicted in them is still simple, bright and trustworthy. But the world outside did not remain so. Children, in no war, should be victims; yet in every war, many worlds collapse with their extinguishing," read the description of the exhibition.

Tributes and Messages of Solidarity

Displayed under soft gallery lights, the 28 drawings carried a quiet weight: a candle burning steadily, the fluttering of an Iranian flag, a nearly perfect glimpse of four seasons, and even a playful little witch. All seen through the lens of a childhood abruptly cut short.

It was more than just about the drawings. In another section of the hall were photographs of rows of graves dug for children. A video showing the school reduced to rubble, voices breaking as bodies are pulled from the debris, played on at the centre.

There was a picture of Makan Nisiri, whose shoes were found hanging from a tree at the school. His body was never recovered.

"Killing innocent children is an act of terror. Humanity is bigger than anything else in this world. And I am here to show my solidarity to Iran and my Muslim brothers in these troubled times," said Pandit Vijay Kumar Sharma, one of those catching the exhibition on its last day.

"Those who call themselves superpowers will bow their heads -- and these children and their sacrifice will make that happen," he said.

Placed beside the drawings, multiple whiteboards were covered in handwritten messages of tribute. Some voices expressed anger toward those blamed for the attack, others offered solidarity with Iran, while many focused on grief and prayers for peace for the children lost.

"Love can only win -- yes, in the end love will win. Long live Iran. You will be remembered in history as heroes," wrote Tara Goswami from Assam.

"Love and duas for lives snuffed out -- you shall live as long as the sun shines and remain forever in our hearts," said another.

The exhibition at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi served as a reminder of the human cost of conflict, particularly on vulnerable populations like children. Such events can strain diplomatic relations and highlight the need for international efforts to protect civilians in war zones. The Red Crescent's involvement in recovering and restoring the artworks underscores the importance of humanitarian aid in conflict-affected areas.
Trump has amplified a controversial critique of birthright citizenship by sharing a video of Michael Savage, sparking debate over immigration and constitutional interpretation.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump gestures during a roundtable focused on tax cuts in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 16, 2026. Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump shared a video of Michael Savage criticising birthright citizenship.

Savage claims immigrants exploit American laws by arriving in the 'ninth month of their pregnancy'.

Savage argues current legal interpretations are obsolete and advocates for a national vote on birthright citizenship.

Savage claims the traditional concept of assimilation has failed in the US.

United States President Donald Trump has amplified a provocative critique of birthright citizenship by sharing a video of prominent conservative author and radio host Michael Savage, who claimed the current legal system allows immigrants to exploit American laws by arriving in the "ninth month of their pregnancy".

In the footage, Savage argued that such practices create a loophole where "a baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet."

The footage, originally aired on the Newsmax series The Savage Nation, was highlighted by the "Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social" account, which serves as a platform dedicated to reposting the President's social media activity.

Savage's Criticism of the Legal Process

In the clip, Savage expressed deep frustration with the judicial process, stating, "Today's brief, abbreviated discussion will be about the arguments that I just listened to before the Supreme Court about birthright citizenship. I was somewhat incensed by listening to the arguments because all I heard was legalese being bandied back and forth."

Focusing his criticism on the legal representation involved, Savage remarked that "the person bringing the arguments in favour of flooding America with illegal aliens to change the demographics forever was a Chinese American who looks to me like the classic ACLU attorney. Very smart, very evil, and very devious."

Extending his attack to the American Civil Liberties Union, he asserted, "The ACLU is the head of the snake. They have been forever, and there they were again trying to turn America into a cesspool."

Savage Argues for Public Opinion Over Legal Technicalities

Savage argued that the matter transcends technicalities, claiming that "these arguments should not be conducted in the abstract of a courtroom. This is really not about law. This is about public opinion."

While acknowledging the difficulty of reform, he noted, "I could start arguing about the Constitution itself, and I'll run into a stone wall with you. We can't modify the Constitution because it's written in stone, and if we do, they'll take away our First and Second amendment, which is what they would do."

Savage's Views on Assimilation and National Identity

The author further highlighted what he views as the obsolescence of current legal interpretations, pointing out that "the Constitution was written before air travel, needless to say, before television, before the internet, before radio."

Lamenting the state of national identity, Savage claimed that "English is not spoken here anymore" and alleged a lack of loyalty among modern immigrants.

Drawing a contrast with the past, he remarked, "No, they're not like the European Americans of today and their ancestors. The Irish integrated, the Italians integrated, the Polish integrated, the Lithuanians, the Romanians, the Russians. They all integrated and became Americans in the melting pot."

Savage stated that the traditional concept of assimilation has failed, noting, "The idea of the melting pot is long over. It is now just a cash in pot. We've gone from the melting pot to the chamber pot."

He described the reliance on judicial oversight as "ludicrous," instead advocating for a direct democratic approach. "I put up a poll on my social channels where I said, birthright citizenship should be subjected to a national vote. Not put in the hands of lawyers," he added.

Birthright citizenship, as enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, has been a subject of debate for decades. Critics argue that it incentivises illegal immigration and strains public resources. Supporters maintain that it is a fundamental right that ensures equal protection under the law for all individuals born within the country's borders.
Congress leader P T Ajay Mohan urges party members to focus on the Kerala Assembly election results rather than prematurely discussing potential Chief Minister candidates.

Key Points Congress leader P T Ajay Mohan discourages discussions about the next Kerala Chief Minister before election results.

Mohan believes such discussions are unnecessary and could negatively impact Congress and UDF workers' morale.

The Congress high command will decide on the Chief Minister if the UDF wins the Kerala Assembly elections.

Mohan expresses confidence in a UDF victory, citing issues like the Sabarimala gold loss and Karavannur bank scam.

Social media campaigns have emerged supporting various leaders for the Chief Minister position.

Congress leader and UDF candidate from the Kunnamkulam Assembly constituency, P T Ajay Mohan, on Thursday said the party high command has discouraged discussions on who should be the CM before the Assembly poll results, which are expected on May 4.

Kerala went to the polls on April 9.

Mohan disapproved of discussions on social media about who should become CM if the UDF comes to power, stating that such talks before the declaration of results are "unnecessary and inappropriate."

Congress Leader's Stance on CM Candidacy

"It is for the high command to decide that. I have a soft corner for Ramesh Chennithala, who is a very senior leader in the party and worked with Oommen Chandy. But I cannot say he should be made the Chief Minister. That would not be appropriate," Mohan told a TV channel here.

He said that such discussions could adversely affect the morale of Congress and UDF workers, as well as the general public.

The high command has discouraged such discussions, he reiterated.

Impact of Social Media Discussions

His remarks on the chief ministerial issue come amid a social media campaign in favour of Chennithala, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, V D Satheesan, and Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal.

Confidence in UDF Victory

Mohan also expressed confidence of a strong win in his constituency, saying there was a wave in favour of the UDF and that issues such as the Sabarimala gold loss and the Karavannur bank scam had worked against the LDF.

The Congress party in Kerala has historically faced internal divisions regarding leadership positions. The high command's intervention reflects an attempt to maintain unity and focus on the election results before deciding on the Chief Ministerial candidate. The UDF hopes to capitalise on anti-incumbency sentiment against the ruling LDF government.
A Dalit groom in Madhya Pradesh faced a brutal attack and casteist slurs for the simple act of riding a horse during his own wedding ceremony, highlighting the persistent issue of caste discrimination in India.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points The groom was subjected to casteist abuses and forced to dismount the horse.

The police booked four individuals under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and relevant sections of the BNS.

Authorities are considering invoking the stringent National Security Act against the accused.

The police increased security in the village to prevent further escalation of tensions.

A Dalit groom with physical disability was assaulted by members of a dominant caste for riding a horse and subjected to casteist abuses when he was taking part in a ceremony as part of his wedding in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district, the police said on Thursday.

Four persons involved in the incident were booked under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, besides relevant sections of the BNS and the district collector's permission is being sought to take action against them under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), a senior official said.

"The administration has taken a tough stand in the case of the assault on a Dalit groom with disability in Bijauri Pathak village of Damoh district on Tuesday during his 'Rachwai ceremony (pre-wedding procession)," superintendent of police Shrut Kirti Somvanshi told PTI Videos.

The groom was assaulted and harassed by a group of persons while riding a horse, forced to get down, beaten up and abused on caste lines, he said.

Following the assault, a complaint was lodged by the victim at the Hata police station.

Acting swiftly, the police detained four men involved in the incident and they will be placed under arrest soon, he said, adding an investigation was underway to find out if there were more suspects.

Police personnel were continuously monitoring the situation in the village, where strict security arrangements were made to maintain peace and prevent any flare-up, the SP said.

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act aims to prevent discrimination and atrocities against members of these communities. The National Security Act allows for preventive detention in cases where there is a perceived threat to national security or public order. Such incidents, though outlawed, continue to occur in various parts of India, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and enforcement of laws against caste-based discrimination.
Four passengers have been arrested at Delhi Airport for allegedly smuggling drugs worth Rs 9 crore, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Key Points Four Indian passengers were arrested at Delhi Airport for alleged drug smuggling.

Customs officials seized approximately Rs 9 crore worth of ganja/marijuana.

The passengers arrived from Bangkok and were intercepted based on profiling.

The seized substance weighed 8,925 grams and was found in trolley bags.

The Customs Department at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here has arrested four Indian passengers for "drug smuggling" after contraband worth around Rs 9 crore was recovered from their possession, officials said on Thursday.

Airport Interception and Drug Discovery

The passengers coming from Bangkok landed here on April 21 and were intercepted by officers based on profiling, a statement said.

Their baggage was put through X-ray screening and detailed examination, following which nine polythene packets containing a green-coloured substance suspected to be ganja or marijuana were recovered from three trolley bags, it said.

Arrests and Seizure Details

All four accused were arrested on Wednesday, and the contraband along with packing material was taken into custody, officials said.

"The total net weight of the seized substance is 8,925 grams, with an estimated value of approximately Rs 8.925 crore," officials said in the statement, adding that preliminary testing confirmed it to be ganja/marijuana.

Violation of NDPS Act

According to the statement, the passengers were found to violate provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, criminalises the production, possession, sale, purchase, transportation, and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Cases under the NDPS Act are investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau and state police forces. India has seen increased efforts to curb drug trafficking through its airports.
South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company announced that it has signed an agreement with Indias TVS Motor Company to jointly develop and commercialise a battery-powered three-wheeled vehicle designed for the countrys last-mile mobility needs.

The formal announcement of their partnership follows the presentation of the E3W concept vehicle at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in Delhi, which Hyundai described as a significant step towards bringing tailored mobility solutions to Indian consumers, while reinforcing both companies' commitment to sustainable urban transportation.

Hyundai Motor confirmed that it has agreed to lead the design and co-develop of the E3W, by leveraging its R&D expertise, advanced mobility technologies, and human-centric design approach. The automaker said that the E3W will be engineered to address India's unique mobility challenges while delivering sustainable solutions aligned with local road conditions and urban infrastructure.

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TVS said that it will make available its leading-edge electric platform, its extensive three-wheeler engineering expertise, and its deep local market knowledge to produce the model and drive local sales.

Hyundai Motors senior vice president of Corporate Strategy & Planning, Joongsun Ko, said in a statement: Hyundai Motor Company has long explored ways to contribute to improving Indias transportation environment as a key market, and our collaboration with TVS Motor is a strategic decision rooted in that effort. We hope the co-developed E3W enables broader access to safer and more sustainable transportation for people across the country.

Sharad Mishra, head of TVS Group Strategy, added: At TVS Motor Company, we aim to transform the quality of life through sustainable and accessible mobility. The Joint Development Agreement marks an important step in our partnership with Hyundai Motor Company and advances our shared ambition to develop electric three-wheeler solutions. By bringing together complementary strengths - including our electric three-wheeler platform, engineering expertise, and deep understanding of customer needs, we are well-positioned to deliver purpose-built products for India and additional markets. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to scalable, sustainable last-mile mobility while setting new benchmarks in technology, quality, customer experience, and upholding a legacy of trust.

Hyundai said that one of the key cornerstones of this partnership is their commitment to localise the production of major component for the E3W, which will help strengthen India's automotive supply chain ecosystem, create local employment opportunities, reduce overall vehicle costs, and ensure rapid after-sales support and spare parts availability for end customers.

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"Hyundai, TVS to co-develop battery-powered three-wheeler" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Delhi Police swiftly rescued a seven-year-old boy kidnapped from Dabri, arresting the suspect at New Delhi Railway Station as he attempted to flee to Bihar.

Key Points A seven-year-old boy was kidnapped from the Dabri area of Delhi.

Delhi Police rescued the boy within five hours of the kidnapping.

The accused, a tailor named Mohammed Adil Ansari, was arrested at New Delhi Railway Station.

Ansari was attempting to flee to Bihar with the child when apprehended.

The child has been safely reunited with his family.

A seven-year-old boy, who was kidnapped by a tailor in his locality and was being taken to Bihar, was rescued within five hours of the incident, police said on Thursday.

Swift Police Action Leads To Rescue

The accused, identified as Mohammed Adil Ansari, a resident of Bihar's Madhubani, was apprehended from New Delhi Railway Station while attempting to flee to his native place with the child, they said.

According to police, the boy was kidnapped from his residence in the Dabri area around 4.30 pm on April 20.

Suspect Apprehended At Railway Station

On receiving the information, the Dabri Police registered a case and launched a search operation. They used technical surveillance along with local intelligence to trace the suspect, an official said.

Ansari, who used to work as a tailor in the Dabri area, was eventually tracked down and apprehended from the New Delhi Railway Station, the official said.

Child Reunited With Family

The child was rescued and reunited with his family, he added.

Kidnapping is a serious offence under Indian law, investigated by local police. The swift action by Delhi Police in this case highlights the importance of rapid response and coordination in such incidents. Reuniting the child with his family is the priority in these cases.
A tragic road accident in Delhi has claimed the life of a 35-year-old man and left his wife and two children injured after a car collided with their motorcycle on Vikas Marg.

Key Points A 35-year-old man was killed in a road accident on Vikas Marg in east Delhi.

The man's wife and two children sustained injuries in the Delhi road accident.

The accident occurred when a car hit their motorcycle near the Geeta Colony cut.

The car driver, Sachin Gulati, has been taken into custody by the police.

A 35-year-old man was killed, and his wife and two children were injured after a car hit their motorcycle on Vikas Marg in east Delhi, police said on Thursday.

Details of the Delhi Accident

The incident took place around 1:30 am near the Geeta Colony cut when the family was returning home from Connaught Place, they said.

According to police, a man made a call at the Shakarpur police station at 1:50 am and informed about the accident.

The caller said a few people had been shifted to the Hedgewar Hospital, while the driver of the offending vehicle had been nabbed by the passersby.

Police Investigation and Arrest

According to the preliminary inquiry, a car rammed into the bike carrying four people. All four were rushed to the Hedgewar Hospital, where Neeraj, a resident of NSA Colony in Vishwas Nagar, was declared brought dead, a senior police officer said.

Neeraj's wife Sonam and their two children are undergoing treatment at the hospital, the officer said.

Police have taken the car driver, Sachin Gulati (45), a resident of Noida, into custody after he was nabbed by the public on the spot.

The Shakarpur police station is investigating the incident. In India, road accidents are investigated by local police, who file a First Information Report and gather evidence to determine culpability. The accused may face charges under the Indian Penal Code for causing death by negligence or rash driving.
Delhi Police have successfully dismantled a network of illegal LPG refilling operations in Delhi, arresting 16 individuals involved in black-marketing and posing safety risks to residential areas.

IMAGE: Photograph: Manash Das/ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted illegal LPG refilling and black-marketing rackets across multiple locations in Delhi.

Sixteen people were arrested for unauthorised storage, refilling, and sale of domestic LPG cylinders at inflated prices.

A total of 241 LPG cylinders were seized during coordinated raids in Mangolpuri, Jahangirpuri, Palam, and Dwarka.

The accused diverted LPG cylinders from authorised agencies and illegally refilled them for profit.

The illegal operations posed significant safety risks due to non-adherence to safety norms in densely populated areas.

The Delhi Police has busted multiple illegal LPG refilling and black-marketing rackets operating across several parts of the city and has arrested 16 people, officials said on Thursday.

Raids Expose Illegal LPG Operations

Acting on specific inputs, coordinated raids were conducted in Mangolpuri, Jahangirpuri, Palam and Dwarka in the past week, exposing a large-scale network involved in unauthorised storage, refilling and sale of domestic LPG cylinders at inflated prices.

A total of 241 cylinders have been seized, police said.

Seizures and Arrests in Northern Delhi

In the northern parts of the city, five people were apprehended and 104 cylinders recovered during raids in Mangolpuri and Jahangirpuri.

The team also seized four vehicles, refilling equipment, weighing machines and pipes used for illegal gas transfer.

Crackdown in Southwest Delhi

Simultaneously, in southwest Delhi, another team arrested 11 accused and recovered 137 LPG cylinders from multiple locations in Dwarka and Palam. Ten vehicles, including tempos, motorcycles and bicycles, along with weighing scales and equipment used for decanting gas, were seized.

Investigation Reveals Modus Operandi

Investigation revealed that the accused procured LPG cylinders from authorised agencies but diverted them instead of completing deliveries. They stored the cylinders illegally and used makeshift equipment to refill gas into empty cylinders, selling them in the open market for profit.

Police said the operations posed serious safety risks, as illegal refilling was being carried out in densely populated residential areas without adherence to safety norms.

Separate cases have been registered, and further investigation is underway to identify the wider network.

LPG cylinders are subsidised by the government for domestic use, and their diversion for commercial purposes is a common crime. Such illegal refilling operations often bypass safety regulations, posing a significant risk of explosions and fire hazards in densely populated areas. Authorities often conduct raids to curb these activities and ensure the safe distribution of LPG to households.
Bengaluru police have arrested two delivery men after a video surfaced showing them harassing a woman on a street, sparking outrage and prompting swift action.

Key Points Bengaluru police arrest two men for allegedly harassing a woman.

The incident occurred near Kogilu Main Road in Maruthi Nagar.

A video of the incident circulated on social media, prompting police action.

The accused were traced using the registration number of their two-wheeler.

Both accused confessed to the indecent behaviour and work as delivery boys.

Police on Thursday said they arrested two men for allegedly behaving "indecently" and harassing a young woman walking on a road in Bengaluru.

Details of the Harassment Incident

According to police, the incident occurred near Kogilu Main Road in Maruthi Nagar, under the jurisdiction of Yelahanka Police Station, on Tuesday afternoon.

"When the woman was walking, two unidentified youth arrived on a two-wheeler and misbehaved with her, causing harassment. A video of the incident was circulated on social media via an Instagram account named 'Namma Bengaluru', following which a case was registered at Yelahanka Police Station," Bengaluru police said in a statement.

Arrest and Investigation

Police traced the accused using the registration number of the two-wheeler.

"Notices were issued to them, and on April 23, both accused appeared at the police station along with the vehicle used in the offence. They were taken into custody and, during interrogation, confessed to the indecent behaviour towards the woman," police said.

It was revealed that both accused work as delivery boys for an online grocery firm in Avalahalli, they added. Further investigation is in progress.

Street harassment is a criminal offence in India, prosecutable under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code. Bengaluru police often use CCTV footage and social media to identify and apprehend perpetrators in such cases. The Yelahanka Police Station will now conduct further investigations to determine the appropriate charges and legal proceedings.
In Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district, police have arrested three individuals for allegedly peddling drugs and seized heroin as part of the 'Nasha Mukt Abhiyan'.

Key Points Three alleged drug peddlers arrested in Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir.

Police recovered heroin-like substance from the possession of the arrested individuals.

The arrests were made as part of the ongoing 'Nasha Mukt Abhiyan' (Drug-Free Campaign).

A case has been registered at Vijaypur police station, and further investigation is underway.

Police have arrested three alleged drug peddlers and recovered heroin-like substance from their possession in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district, officials said on Thursday.

Drug Bust During 'Nasha Mukt Abhiyan'

As part of the ongoing 'Nasha Mukt Abhiyan', a police team was conducting checks on the link road towards Rakh Barotian in Vijaypur area, when they intercepted three persons travelling in a scooty, police said.

Details of the Arrested Individuals

During the checking, heroin-like substance was recovered from the trio -- identified as Rahul Sharma, Sanju Bhagat and Nirmal Kumar, all residents of Jammu.

Legal Proceedings and Investigation

Police have seized the contraband along with the vehicle. A case has been registered at Vijaypur police station under relevant sections, and further investigation is underway, officials added.

The 'Nasha Mukt Abhiyan' is an initiative aimed at creating awareness and taking action against drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir. Such operations are part of ongoing efforts to curb the illegal drug trade and its associated problems in the region.
A fresh protest has erupted at Delhi University's Dyal Singh Evening College over the controversial proposal to rename the institution, raising concerns about preserving its historical legacy.

Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Key Points Dyal Singh Evening College staff protest proposed renaming of the institution.

Faculty members object to renaming after Vice Chancellor's announcement in December 2025.

Staff association demands meeting and assurance that the college location will not be changed.

Previous attempts to rename the college in 2017 were met with controversy and a stay order.

A fresh protest was staged on Thursday by the staff association of Delhi University's (DU) Dyal Singh Evening College over the proposed renaming of the institution, amid growing anticipation that the matter may be taken up at an upcoming meeting of the Executive Council.

This comes amidst ongoing objections among faculty members of the university regarding the issue, following a public announcement by Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh in December 2025, when he had spoken about renaming the evening college after Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur on the occasion of Vir Bal Diwas.

Following the same, the Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) had also written to the VC in January 2026, requesting him to stop the renaming process.

Staff Demand Consultation on College Renaming

On Thursday, the college's staff association held a dharna and submitted a memorandum, reiterating that despite repeated representations requesting the convening of a meeting to deliberate on the proposed name change, the college administration had not taken any cognisance of the matter.

"The legacy of Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia must be maintained," the memorandum urged, further mentioning that the staff association demands that an immediate meeting be convened.

The memorandum also demanded a written assurance from the administration that the location of the college will not be changed.

Location Clause Fuels Renaming Dispute

The last demand, as explained by Mithilesh Kumar Singh, faculty member and president of the staff association, is related to clause 12 of the transfer order, when the college was handed from the Dyal Singh College Trust Society to DU.

"The clause says that as long as the college is in the same location, the name cannot be changed," Singh said, adding, "How can such a decision be taken independently by the administration, without even consulting the staff council?"

Despite anticipations of the matter being tabled at the upcoming EC meeting, DU registrar Vikas Gupta told PTI that the agenda matter has not been included for this immediate meeting, scheduled to take place on April 29.

History of Renaming Attempts

This is, however, not the first attempt at renaming the college.

Ramjilal, former principal of Dyal Singh College, Karnal, said that the first attempt dates back to 2017. The Karnal college is affiliated to the Kurukshetra University and is still managed by the Dyal Singh College Trust Society.

"In November 2017, a proposal to rename the college as Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya College had failed. A second attempt passed by the college's governing body in the same year wanted to rename Dyal Singh Evening College as Vande Mataram Mahavdyalaya," Ramjilal told PTI.

He added that this attempt, however, triggered a controversy and received support from teachers, academicians, politicians and leaders from all over, ultimately leading to a stay order on the decision.

Criticising the renewed attempts at renaming the college, Ramjilal said , "A new institution can be established in any part of Delhi, Haryana or Punjab and that can be named after Banda Singh Bahadur. Renaming an established institution is unnecessary and an insult to the legacy of Dyal Singh Majithia."

Dyal Singh College was established in Lahore in 1910 by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a social reformer and philanthropist. After partition, the college was re-established in Delhi. The controversy highlights the complexities of balancing historical legacies with contemporary priorities in educational institutions.
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating a Rs 145 crore fraud involving Panchkula Municipal Corporation fixed deposits, conducting raids to uncover a complex money laundering scheme.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in connection with a Rs 145 crore fraud involving Panchkula Municipal Corporation's fixed deposits.

The ED case stems from an FIR registered by the Haryana Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau regarding embezzlement of funds.

Raids were conducted at multiple locations in Chandigarh, Panchkula, and parts of Punjab, targeting bank and municipal corporation officials.

The investigation revealed a criminal nexus between municipal corporation and bank officials who conspired to siphon government funds into unauthorised accounts.

Forged documents and unauthorised email IDs were used to transfer funds to financiers and real estate firms, ultimately benefiting the accused.

The Enforcement Directorate Thursday said it has conducted searches at multiple locations in a money laundering case linked to an alleged Rs 145 crore fraud with the fixed deposits of Panchkula Municipal Corporation deposited in a Kotak Mahindra Bank branch in Haryana.

The raids undertaken on Wednesday covered a dozen locations in Chandigarh and Panchkula (Haryana), apart from Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Rajpura (Patiala district) in Punjab.

Details of the Panchkula Municipal Corporation Fraud Case

The ED case, filed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from an FIR registered in March by the Haryana Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on charges of embezzlement of Panchkula Municipal Corporation's fixed deposits worth Rs 145 crore maintained at the Kotak Mahindra Bank branch at Sector-11 in Panchkula.

The premises of former Kotak Mahindra Bank deputy vice president Pushpender Singh, former customer relationship manager at the said branch Dileep Kumar Raghav, Vikas Kaushik, former senior accounts officer of the municipal corporation and some others were covered during the searches.

Key Findings from the ED Raids

The ED said in a statement it seized "incriminating" documents during the raids.

Singh, Raghav and four others were arrested by the Haryana ACB as part of this investigation.

The ED said it found a close "criminal nexus" of the municipal corporation and bank officials along with some private persons who hatched a conspiracy to siphon government funds.

Modus Operandi of the Fraud

Prima facie investigation finds that Raghav along with Singh, in support of Vikas Kaushik, opened two bank accounts through "forged" and "fake" authorisation documents in the name of the Panchkula Municipal Corporation.

The funds of the corporation available in genuine accounts were transferred to "unauthorised" accounts using forged and fake fund migration authorisation letters in the name of the municipal corporation, the ED said.

Unauthorised email IDs were used by bank officials for seeking authorisation for transaction in response to "fake" and "forged" authorisation letters received in the name of the corporation, the agency said.

It added that the "illegally transferred" funds to unauthorised bank accounts were subsequently transferred to financiers like Rajat Dahra, Swati Tomar, Kapil Kumar and Vinod Kumar.

These funds were "routed back" to Pushpender Singh and his wife Preeti Thakur. Some funds were also transferred to real estate firms and private persons, it alleged.

The municipal corporation was given "forged" fixed deposit receipts by the accused showing an investment in 16 FDs worth Rs 145.03 crore with a maturity value of Rs 158.02 crore, the ED claimed.

The ED's investigation focuses on potential violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Such cases typically involve tracing the flow of illicit funds and identifying the individuals and entities involved in the laundering process. The ED has the authority to attach and confiscate assets derived from the proceeds of crime.
EVM glitches and incidents of violence marred the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, causing delays and raising concerns about the integrity of the polling process.

IMAGE: Election officials attend a mock poll drilling before the polling in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. Photograph: @CEOWestBengal/X

Key Points EVM malfunctions caused delays and disruptions at several polling booths during the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.

Overnight violence was reported in districts such as Murshidabad and Cooch Behar, raising concerns about security.

Political parties have accused each other of instigating violence and disrupting the electoral process in West Bengal.

The Chief Electoral Officer has sought a report on the incidents and assured strong action will be taken.

Polling is underway in 152 assembly constituencies in the first phase, with the remaining seats to be contested in the second phase.

The first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections on Thursday set a high-decibel tone for a tightly fought contest with an exceptionally heavy turnout as voters across 152 constituencies had their say after months of rancour over deletion of names from electoral rolls and a vituperative political campaign.

Sporadic incidents of violence failed to deter the electorate as the turnout exceeded 92 percent, a figure that led both the rival parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress, to express hopes of a decisive verdict in their favour. While the former chose to construe it as a strong anti-incumbency sentiment, the ruling party felt people voted in larger numbers to avoid losing their rights.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Nadia, described the turnout as an "overwhelming mandate for change" and asserted that poll-related violence was at its lowest in five decades, a claim sharply contested by the ruling party.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the high turnout reflected "fear among people that if they don't vote, they may lose their voting rights and citizenship", linking voter participation to the SIR exercise.

That divergence captured a broader shift in the nature of the contest from a conventional battle over governance and delivery to one increasingly centred on identity, citizenship and the integrity of the electoral process.

IMAGE: A scuffle breaks out between TMC workers and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) workers in Murshidabad on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

On the ground, that tension manifested in scattered but sharp flashpoints.

In Birbhum's Kharisaol, allegations that votes cast for the TMC were being registered in favour of the BJP triggered protests, a temporary halt in polling and clashes between locals and security personnel. Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated after an argument with polling officials, with stone pelting reported and paramilitary forces resorting to mild force to restore order.

Earlier in the day, BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar was allegedly manhandled in Dakshin Dinajpur's Kumarganj, while BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul's car was attacked near Rahmat Nagar in Asansol Dakshin, with stones shattering its rear window, incidents cited by the party as evidence of "targeted violence".

In Naoda, stones were allegedly hurled at the convoy of AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, leading to clashes between rival supporters and a baton charge by central forces. Further incidents of violence and intimidation were reported from Labhpur, Chanchal and Murarai, where clashes between party workers left several people injured.

In Domkal, allegations surfaced that voters were prevented from reaching polling booths, necessitating a security escort.

The Election Commission, while maintaining that polling was "largely peaceful", acknowledged receiving around 500 complaints by noon and hundreds more through the cVIGIL app. The TMC alone claimed to have lodged over 700 complaints by mid-afternoon, many relating to alleged EVM malfunction and the conduct of central forces.

District-wise data reflected both enthusiasm and regional variation.

Murshidabad, Bankura and Cooch Behar recorded turnout figures hovering around or above 90 per cent, while Malda, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur reported similar levels. Kalimpong remained relatively lower at around 83 percent.

Despite the incidents of violence, polling remained largely peaceful compared to previous elections in the state, which have historically been marked by widespread violence.

By 5 pm, the turnout climbed to nearly 90 percent of the 3.60 crore electorate, with officials indicating the final figure could rise further, possibly bordering 95 percent, capping a brisk polling day shaped as much by mobilisation as by contestation over the electorate itself.

Long queues at booths, particularly in rural areas, pointed to intense booth-level mobilisation by both the ruling TMC and the BJP in what is being seen as a crucial early test of organisational strength.

Yet, beneath the headline turnout lay a more complex electoral undercurrent. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which saw over 91 lakh names, nearly 12 percent of the electorate, deleted, injected both a statistical and political dimension into the turnout figures. With a reduced denominator, even comparable participation translates into higher percentages, while simultaneously altering the composition of the electorate itself.

That turned the turnout figure into a politically contested signal. For the TMC, the surge was being read as anxious participation, driven by fears of disenfranchisement among vulnerable sections. The party has framed the SIR as a "disenfranchisement project", alleging that minorities and poorer voters were disproportionately affected.

For the BJP, however, the same numbers validate its long-standing argument on "cleaning" the electoral rolls. A higher turnout in a reduced electorate, the party argues, indicates a greater proportion of "genuine voters".

Compared with the 2021 assembly polls, when turnout ranged between 79 and 86 per cent across phases, the current figures mark a sharper spike, though the SIR-linked contraction of the electorate complicates direct comparisons.

The first phase, covering all 54 seats in north Bengal along with key constituencies in the south, is central to the BJP's strategy of consolidating its northern gains, a region that powered its rise in 2019 and where it remained competitive in 2021.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is camping in the state, visited the BJP's election control room in Salt Lake during polling hours, underlining the premium the party has placed on this phase.

For the TMC, the immediate objective is to blunt that northern push early and retain narrative control, banking on its welfare outreach and entrenched organisational network.

As Bengal moves into the remaining phases, the twin dynamic of high participation and high contestation is set to shape an election increasingly defined as much by process as by outcome.
Former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam faces legal action after being booked for allegedly spreading misinformation and attempting to disrupt communal harmony in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points Former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam is booked for allegedly spreading misinformation in Hathras.

The FIR was filed after a video circulated claiming a Kushwaha woman was molested and murdered, which police found to be false.

Gautam is accused of attempting to disturb social harmony and creating enmity between communities.

The investigation revealed the claims made in the video to be false and misleading.

An FIR has been registered against former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam for allegedly spreading misleading information and attempting to disturb communal harmony, police said on Thursday.

According to officials, the matter came to light after a video circulated via a press conference and on social media platform X on April 22. The video claimed that a Kushwaha community woman in Hathras was molested and later murdered despite a complaint having been filed with the police.

Police Investigation Reveals False Claims

However, police verification found that no such incident had taken place in the district.

Circle Officer (Sadar) Yogendra Krishna Narayan said the investigation revealed the claims to be false and misleading.

"An FIR has been registered at Kotwali Sadar police station against Rajendra Pal Gautam, former MLA from Seemapuri in Delhi, under relevant sections for spreading misinformation, attempting to disturb social harmony and creating enmity between communities," he said. Police said further legal action is being taken in accordance with the law.

Police said legal action is being taken.

Former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the Congress in 2024.

Rajendra Pal Gautam's political career has seen him transition from the Aam Aadmi Party to the Congress party in 2024. The filing of an FIR indicates the start of a formal legal process, where police will investigate the alleged offences and present their findings to a court.
At least five people were killed and seven injured in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to shootings allegedly related to a property dispute and longstanding animosity.

Photograph: Screen grab/X

Key Points Five people killed and seven injured in separate shootings in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The shootings are allegedly linked to a property dispute and longstanding enmity.

Incidents occurred in Khubai, Gonda and Shabqadar Bazaar in Charsadda district.

Police have registered cases and launched investigations into the shootings.

At least five people were killed and seven injured on Thursday in separate incidents allegedly stemming from a property dispute and longstanding enmity in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said.

Shootings In Charsadda District

The incidents occurred in the areas of Khubai, Gonda and Shabqadar Bazaar in Charsadda district where armed individuals opened fire, resulting in multiple casualties.

The injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Police Investigation Underway

Police officials from Shabqadar and Batgram stations have registered the cases and launched investigations into the incidents.

Property disputes are a common trigger for violence in many parts of Pakistan, often fuelled by weak rule of law and easy access to firearms. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bordering Afghanistan, has historically faced challenges related to security and tribal feuds.
Image: Shutterstock

Lubricant suppliers are warning of growing supply chain pressure tied to the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf, with potential implications for engine oil availability in North America.





Representatives from the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) met with officials from the U.S. Department of Energy to outline the impact of the war on global base oil production and logistics.

Image: Shutterstock

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At the center of the issue is Group III base oil, a key component in modern engine oils. ILMA estimates that roughly 44 percent of U.S. demand for these base stocks is typically sourced from the Persian Gulf region, where production and exports have been heavily affected.





Damage to a major gas-to-liquids facility in Qatar has taken a large volume of supply offline, with repairs expected to take months, if not longer. Additional constraints stem from production interruptions in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, along with shipping bottlenecks tied to the closure/blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.





Alternative supply routes are limited. South Korea, another major exporter of Group III base oils to the U.S., relies on crude imports from the same region, which could reduce output even if refiners shift to different feedstocks. Domestic production capacity in North America is also not an option, with new projects from Chevron and ExxonMobil not expected to come online until later in the decade.

Image: Pennzoil

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The effects are already being felt across the supply chain. Some lubricant producers have begun rationing shipments or increasing prices as availability gets worse. There are also indications that refiners could shift output toward more profitable fuels, further reducing base oil supply.





Automotive applications account for a majority of Group III usage, and ILMA has asked for temporary flexibility from industry bodies such as the American Petroleum Institute to help maintain the supply of certified lubricants. In other sectors, including industrial and metalworking applications, manufacturers may turn to substitute base oils where possible.





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According to the police, the foetus was found in building of the Foxconn facility in Doddagollahalli village in Bengaluru on Tuesday night.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The police registered a case under sections 93 and 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Foxconn is cooperating with local authorities in the ongoing investigation.

The discovery was made by housekeeping staff who noticed a blockage in the toilet.

An investigation is underway to identify those responsible for abandoning the foetus at the Foxconn facility.

Police have registered a case after a foetus was found in a women's toilet at Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn's office in Devanahalli in Bengaluru.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Private Limited said it is closely cooperating with the local authorities.

According to the police, the foetus was found in building A41 of the Foxconn facility in Doddagollahalli village under the Vishwanathapura police station area on Tuesday night.

Based on a complaint filed by a company employee, the police registered a case under sections 93 (concealment of birth by secretly disposing of the body of a child) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the complaint lodged by V S Krishnaraj, senior engineer in the company's security department, the matter initially appeared to be a routine housekeeping issue.

On April 21 at around 9.15 pm, a housekeeping staff member noticed a blockage in the women's toilet and informed a supervisor, who then alerted a technician.

As the technician's shift had ended, it was decided to clear the blockage the next morning. The matter was also reported internally to the project manager and central security personnel, according to the complaint.

On the morning of April 22, around 9 am, the blockage was inspected, the complaint stated.

"Upon inspection of the toilet, it was discovered that the blockage was actually a foetus. Immediately, the police were informed," it said.

Foxconn's response

The police said an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for abandoning the foetus.

In its brief statement, Foxconn said it "is aware of the situation and has been closely cooperating with local authorities in their investigation. The well-being of our employees is our foremost concern and we are providing additional support to all of our team members in Bengaluru."

"Due to the sensitive nature of the matter and to protect the privacy of those involved, we are unable to provide further comments," the company said.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections cited in the case relate to concealing a birth by disposing of a body and murder, indicating the seriousness with which the police are treating the incident.

Such cases in India typically involve a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the abandonment and identify any individuals responsible.

The investigation will likely involve forensic analysis and interviews with Foxconn employees.
The court held that the duo was 'humiliated' as they were handcuffed and taken on a state transport bus from a police station in Amravati to the tehsildar's office, where they were granted bail.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The court deemed the handcuffing a 'humiliation', emphasising the need to respect the Maharashtra police motto.

The HC bench stressed the duty of law administrators to the accused, victim, state, and community.

The court noted that police misconduct erodes confidence in the criminal justice system.

The HC stated that monetary compensation is necessary when fundamental rights are infringed.

The Bombay high court has ordered the Maharashtra government to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 each to a lawyer and an ex-serviceman who were handcuffed by cops, holding that the two were subjected to "humiliation".

In its order passed on Tuesday, a copy of which was made available on Thursday, the HC's Nagpur bench said the motto of the Maharashtra police to protect good and to punish evil needs to be respected.

Court condemns humiliating treatment

The court held that the duo was "humiliated" as they were handcuffed and taken on a state transport bus from a police station in Amravati to the tehsildar's office, where they were granted bail.

"The motto of Maharashtra State Police is 'Sadrakshnaya Khalanighrahanaya' (to protect good and to punish evil) which needs to be respected," HC said, ordering the state government to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 each to lawyer Yogeshwar Kawade and ex-serviceman Avinash Date within eight weeks.

The bench of Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Nivedita Mehta said those persons who administer law must bear in mind that they have a duty not merely to the accused and victim but also to the state and community at large.

Erosion of confidence in justice system

"Such incidents involving police usually tend to deplete the confidence in our criminal justice system much more than those incidents involving private individuals," the court said.

The court said the assistant police inspector and the two constables who handcuffed the petitioners subjected them to an "unwarranted humiliation and indignity which cannot be done to any citizen of India" and hence they are entitled to compensation.

In their petition, Kawade and Date said they had gone to the Talegaon police station in Amravati district in August 2010 to lodge a complaint against a man who had allegedly caused damage to Date's car.

The man filed a cross-complaint alleging that the two manhandled him and threatened him.

Petitioners detail police misconduct

The petitioners claimed that the police illegally detained them after midnight based on the man's complaint and were stripped and made to sit in their undergarments. The next day, the police allegedly handcuffed the duo and took them to the tahsildar's office on a state transport bus.

The tehsildar directed the police to remove the handcuffs and granted the duo bail.

The petition said the police action of handcuffing the petitioners had caused damage to their reputation, contending that it was also against the law as they were not habitual offenders or hardened criminals.

The Amaravati Superintendent of Police submitted to the court that an inquiry was conducted against the errant policemen and necessary action was taken.

The HC, however, held that in such offences the victim needs to be compensated monetarily as well.

Where there is infringement of the fundamental right, the court cannot be stopped by giving a mere declaration that action has been taken. The court must proceed further and give compensatory relief for the wrong done, said the judges.

"To repair the wrong done and give judicial redress for legal injury is a compulsion of judicial conscience," it said.

In India, handcuffing is governed by guidelines set by the Supreme Court, which generally restricts its use to cases involving violent or dangerous individuals, or those with a high risk of escape.

The high court's order reinforces the importance of upholding these guidelines to protect the dignity and rights of individuals within the criminal justice system.

Such rulings serve as a reminder of the judiciary's role in safeguarding civil liberties and ensuring accountability within law enforcement.
West Bengal's first phase of assembly elections witnessed a record-breaking 91.78% voter turnout, marking the highest participation since Independence and highlighting the success of voter-friendly initiatives.

IMAGE: Women voters show their ink-marked fingers as they cast their votes at a polling station for the West Bengal assembly elections, in Birbhum, April 23, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Women voters outnumbered men in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, showcasing increased female participation.

The Election Commission credits voter-friendly measures for the significant increase in voter turnout in West Bengal.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported during the first phase of polling, but officials deemed them minor in nature.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday said the voter turnout of 91.78 percent so far in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls was the state's highest-ever percentage since Independence.

Polling in 16 districts began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security to decide the electoral fate of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, in 152 of the 294 assembly seats.

"This is the highest-ever percentage in West Bengal since Independence," Kumar said on Thursday evening.

According to updated Election Commission figures, the voter turnout stood at 92.72 per cent.

The second phase of polling will be held on April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Data shared by the Commission showed that the previous highest turnout in the state was 84.72 per cent during the 2011 assembly elections.

Women voters lead the way

In Thursday's polling, women voters outnumbered men in participation, with the female turnout touching 92.69 percent against 90.92 percent by male electors. The turnout of third-gender voters stood at 56.79 percent.

Kumar and Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi monitored the voting through live webcasting from all polling stations, officials said.

They attributed the sharp rise in turnout to a series of voter-friendly measures, including improved voter information slips, a reduced number of electors per booth and enhanced assistance for persons with disabilities.

EC satisfied with polling process

The figures remain provisional as data from some polling stations is still being updated, and postal ballots are yet to be included in the final count, the election officials said.

Later in Kolkata, West Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal told reporters: "We are satisfied with the efforts that we put in which was reflected in the high voter turnout. There is always scope for improvement. The CEC said he was also satisfied with the reports of electors voting without fear and favour."

Talking about the sporadic incidents of violence, Agarwal said "none of those were major in nature in terms of law and order".

"These were unfortunate incidents," he said.

On the incident of BJP candidate from Asansol Dakshin Agnimitra Paul's vehicle being reportedly damaged, Agarwal said an unknown miscreant hurled a stone at the rear portion of her car and a "case has been started".

Agarwal said that during the next phase of polls, "especially in Kolkata, we are expecting a similar high turnout of voters".

"We have plans to undertake additional measures to increase voters' confidence in the second phase," he said.

The Election Commission of India oversees elections to the Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The Model Code of Conduct is in effect during the election period, regulating the conduct of political parties and candidates. The goal is to ensure free and fair elections.
In a bid to combat rising cyber fraud, Hyderabad Police are collaborating with banks to tighten security measures and prevent the misuse of bank accounts, focusing on enhanced KYC verification and zero tolerance policies.

IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Key Points Hyderabad Police are addressing cyber fraud by targeting the misuse of bank accounts.

Operation Octopus led to the arrest of bank officials involved in opening mule accounts.

Cyber fraud networks operate from countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Dubai.

The police commissioner recommended a twin-challenge framework for banks, prioritising citizen safety and institutional integrity.

Banks are urged to adopt zero tolerance policies towards cybercrime and enhance KYC compliance.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar on Thursday convened a meeting with bankers to discuss the misuse of bank accounts in cyber frauds and measures to prevent such offences.

Operation Octopus and Its Impact

After the 'Operation Octopus' - the Hyderabad City Police's coordinated two-phase initiative to dismantle organised cyber fraud networks - and the subsequent arrest of bank officials found potentially complicit in the opening of mule accounts, the Commissioner convened the high-level coordination meeting which was attended by 75 representatives from 45 public and private sector banks, an official release said.

The commissioner provided a detailed briefing on the operating methods of cyber fraud syndicates currently active across India.

Cyber Fraud Syndicate Operations

"These networks are primarily headquartered in countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, besides Dubai, and engage intermediaries within India to procure bank accounts by colluding with bank officials - particularly KYC Verifiers - to facilitate the siphoning of funds from Indian victims", he said.

Recommendations for Banks

Sajjanar recommended introduction of a twin-challenge framework to reorient bank branch priorities away from account-opening targets and towards citizen safety and institutional integrity.

He strongly advocated that both these challenges should be embedded as formal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the branch level, with branches achieving compliance to be formally recognised and rewarded by higher officials of the bank.

The commissioner emphasised that safe customer and zero mule account outcomes - not account volumes - must define branch performance.

"Zero cybercrime victims is the measurable target - to be monitored via National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) complaint data linked to the branch. And no mule account should be opened at the branch. Strict KYC compliance, enhanced due diligence, and real-time monitoring are the operational requirements underlying this target," he said.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Banks must adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards cybercrime at every level of the organisation - from frontline staff to senior management, he said.

Strict disciplinary action must be taken against KYC verifiers found involved in fraudulent account openings, accompanied by periodic forensic audits of accounts opened by flagged officials, Sajjanar said.

Advanced technological tools - including solutions such as Mule Hunter - must be adopted to detect and prevent mule account activity in real time, he added.

Investigation Details

Through an intensive investigation into the surge of investment scams, trading frauds, and "digital arrest" scams, the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS), uncovered a nexus of 350 bank accounts used to siphon off victims' funds, Police earlier said.

These accounts were linked to approximately 850 cases across the country involving transactions amounting to nearly Rs 150 crores.

Recognising the seriousness of the situation, 'Operation Octopusa 1' was executed across 16 states resulting in the arrest of 117 accused persons in February this year.

Under 'Operation Octopus 2.O', police said they dismantled a pan-India cyber fraud network involving bank officials by arresting 52 accused--32 bank officials, 15 mule account holders and five middlemen across nine states.

The bank officials were found to be in connivance in the opening of mule bank accounts which were used to facilitate cyber frauds, police had said.

Cyber fraud is a growing concern in India, with fraudsters often using sophisticated techniques to target unsuspecting victims. The involvement of bank officials in facilitating these crimes highlights the need for stricter internal controls and enhanced due diligence processes within the banking sector. Increased collaboration between law enforcement and financial institutions is crucial to effectively combat cyber fraud and protect citizens' financial interests.
Rahul Meena, accused of the murder of an IRS officer's daughter in Delhi, has been remanded to police custody as the investigation into the heinous crime continues.

IMAGE: Rahul Meena, the primary suspect in the murder of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers daughter, is being taken by the police to be produced before Delhis Saket Court, New Delhi, April 23, 2026. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Key Points Rahul Meena, accused of murdering an IRS officer's daughter, has been remanded to four days of police custody by a Delhi court.

The accused admitted to committing a crime and a mistake during the court hearing.

Investigators believe the accused allegedly raped the victim and attempted to use her fingerprints to open a locker before stealing cash and jewellery.

Police seek to recover the victim's mobile phone and investigate the accused's entry and exit route.

"Mujhse apradh ho gaya.... Galti ho gayi," (I committed a crime, a mistake), said Rahul Meena, the 19-year-old domestic help accused of killing a senior IRS officer's daughter at her upscale southeast Delhi residence, as a court sent him to four days of police custody on Thursday.

Judicial magistrate Deepika Thakaran allowed the Delhi police's plea seeking four days of custodial interrogation of the accused.

The accused, whose face was covered with a cloth, was produced in the jam-packed courtroom around 2.30 pm.

The magistrate asked Meena about the injuries shown in the medico-legal report (MLC), to which the accused said he got hurt while getting down from the terrace.

On being further quizzed by the court, the accused said he had committed a mistake and a crime.

"Mujhse apradh ho gaya.... Galti ho gayi," he said.

Details Emerge in IRS Officer's Daughter Murder Case

When the court asked the accused about the reason for committing the offence, Meena said the deceased's fingerprints were needed to open a locker.

Investigators believe Meena allegedly raped the victim, the daughter of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, while she was unconscious and later, dragged her downstairs. He then attempted to open a locker using her fingerprint, before breaking it open with a screwdriver and stealing cash and jewellery.

The court, however, clarified that this would not be treated as a formal confession.

The Delhi police had moved a remand application seeking four days of custodial interrogation of the accused to probe the "heinous crime".

Police Investigation and Further Inquiries

The prosecution said it needs to find the victim's mobile phone, reconstruct the accused's entry and exit route, and ascertain whether anyone else was involved in the crime.

It said, "We are also investigating a similar case against him in Alwar."

The 22-year-old IIT graduate was allegedly raped and killed at her Kailash Hills residence by Meena, their former house help, on Wednesday morning, hours after the accused and his associates allegedly sexually assaulted another woman in Rajasthan's Alwar.

The accused, a former domestic help, is also under investigation for a similar case in Alwar, Rajasthan. Custodial interrogation is a standard procedure in Indian law enforcement, allowing police to question a suspect while they are detained, to gather evidence and further the investigation.

The police will attempt to reconstruct the crime scene and determine the full extent of the accused's involvement.
Security forces in Manipur have destroyed six illegal bunkers in Kangpokpi district and seized arms near the India-Myanmar border, intensifying efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Six illegal bunkers were destroyed in Manipur's Kangpokpi district by security forces.

The bunkers were located in Tingpibung village, Lungter Hill, and Leplen village.

Security forces seized 12 empty cases of 7.62 mm ammunition from the destroyed bunker sites.

Arms and explosives, including an AK-47 rifle and IEDs, were recovered near the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district.

Security forces in Manipur destroyed six illegal bunkers in Kangpokpi district and recovered arms and explosives near the India-Myanmar border.

Bunkers Destroyed in Kangpokpi

Two illegal bunkers were destroyed at Tingpibung village, three bunkers were demolished at Lungter Hill, and one bunker in Leplen village, police said.

Security forces seized 12 empty cases of 7.62 mm ammunition from the sites.

Arms Recovered Near Myanmar Border

In another operation, security forces recovered arms and explosives from near the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoual district, officials said.

An AK-47 rifle with a magazine, a carbine with a magazine, and four IEDs were recovered.

Manipur has witnessed ongoing security concerns due to the presence of various insurgent groups. The destruction of illegal bunkers and seizure of arms are part of the security forces' efforts to maintain law and order in the region, particularly near the sensitive India-Myanmar border.
With the latest extension, the closure of the Indian airspace for Pakistan aircraft will now be in place for more than a year -- a move that first came days after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The airspace closure between India and Pakistan has been in effect since April 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistan has also extended its airspace closure for Indian aircraft.

The ban affects Pakistan-owned, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights.

Indian airlines are taking longer routes to international destinations due to the ongoing airspace closure.

India has extended the ban on Pakistan planes from using its airspace till May 24.

With the latest extension, the closure of the Indian airspace for Pakistan aircraft will now be in place for more than a year -- a move that first came days after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.

Impact of airspace closure on flight routes

Since April last year, both countries have been extending the closure of their airspaces for each other's planes. On Tuesday, Pakistan extended the airspace closure till May 24.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Wednesday said the Indian airspace will not be available for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated/ owned or leased by Pakistan airlines/ operators, including military flights.

The ban will be effective till 2359 hours (UTC) on May 23, which means 0530 hours (IST) on May 24.

Background of airspace restrictions

Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, that killed 26 people, India and Pakistan closed their respective airspaces for each other's planes.

India's airspace ban has been in place since April 30 last year, while Pakistan has closed its airspace for Indian aircraft from April 24, 2025.

The ban, part of various measures taken by the Indian government against Pakistan in the wake of the terror attack, was initially till May 24, 2025 and has been subsequently extended every month.

Understanding NOTAM

Generally, a NOTAM is a notice containing information that is essential for personnel involved in flight operations.

Indian airlines are now taking longer routes to various international destinations due to the Pakistan airspace closure.

The ongoing airspace restrictions between India and Pakistan force airlines to take longer, more expensive routes. These measures were initially implemented following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in April 2025.

The extension indicates continued tensions and security concerns between the two nations.
India's firm stance on protecting its agricultural markets has led a US trade representative to describe the country as a 'tough nut to crack' during ongoing bilateral trade negotiations.

IMAGE: US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Photograph: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters

Key Points US Trade Representative describes India as a 'tough nut to crack' due to its protection of agricultural markets.

India and the US are engaged in bilateral trade agreement negotiations, aiming for USD 500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

Discussions include specific commodities like DDGs (distillers dried grains) for livestock feed.

India seeks preferential access to US markets as part of the trade agreement.

The US Supreme Court ruling against reciprocal tariffs has led India to seek a recalibration of the agreement.

India is a "tough nut to crack", United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in Washington as a delegation from New Delhi wrapped up negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement with Washington.

The 12-member delegation, led by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, held talks on the fine print of the trade deal with the US team led by Brendan Lynch, Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia.

The three-day talks concluded on Wednesday.

Challenges in India-US Trade Negotiations

"India is a tough nut to crack... they've protected their agricultural markets for a very long time," Greer told the Committee on Ways and Means of the US Congress on Wednesday.

"As part of this deal, they want to protect a lot of that. There are things, though, where I think we can find mutual agreement. DDGs (distillers dried grains) is a good example of this," he said.

Greer was responding to questions by lawmakers on exports of DDGs, which are used as high-protein livestock feed, soybean meal and ethanol.

Key Issues: DDGs and Market Access

The USTR said the US negotiators were discussing specific issues, such as DDGs, with their counterparts from India.

"Indian trade negotiators are in town this week. So we've been talking this week about these issues, including these specific commodities you talked about, DDGs," Greer said.

India and the US announced the framework of the bilateral trade agreement on February 2 and released the text of the deal on February 7.

India's Objectives and Tariff Adjustments

India is seeking preferential access to the US markets as part of the agreement, as the two countries eye the target of achieving bilateral trade of USD 500 billion by 2030.

According to that framework, the US had agreed to reduce tariffs on India to 18 per cent, from 50 per cent. It had removed the 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods for buying Russian oil and was to cut the remaining 25 per cent to 18 per cent under the pact.

Impact of US Supreme Court Ruling

But on February 20, the US Supreme Court ruled against Trump's reciprocal tariffs, which were imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

In the wake of the Supreme Court order, India is seeking to recalibrate and redraft the agreement to ensure that its interests are protected under the new global tariff framework.

The US and India have been working to deepen trade ties, with both nations seeking to address specific market access issues. The reference to DDGs highlights the granular level of detail involved in such bilateral trade negotiations. The 2030 target of USD 500 billion in bilateral trade reflects the ambitious goals set by both countries.
Following a controversial social media repost, the US embassy has reaffirmed President Trump's positive view of India as a 'great country' with a strong leader, aiming to reassure relations between the two nations.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Key Points The President has said that India is a great country with a very good friend of him at the top.

The spokesperson did not specify where and when Trump made the remarks that India is a great country.

Controversy arose from Trump reposting comments referring to India as a 'hellhole'.

India's external affairs ministry acknowledges reports of the controversy.

The US on Thursday sought to control the damage done by a controversial social media repost by US President Donald Trump, putting out a message that the American leader believes India is a "great" country led by a "good friend of mine".

US embassy statement on India-US relations

The President has said, "India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top", the spokesperson of the US embassy said.

The spokesperson's statement came in response to queries from the Indian media about the controversy created by Trump reposting on social media comments by radio show host Michael Savage that referred to India, China and some other countries as "hellholes".

Context of Trump's Remarks

The spokesperson did not specify where and when Trump made the remarks that India is a great country.

Savage had made the comments in the context of a case in the US supreme court challenging birthright citizenship.

India's response

When asked about the controversy, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "We have seen some reports. That is where I leave it."

The US and India have been strengthening ties in recent years through various strategic partnerships and dialogues.

This incident highlights the importance of clear communication and diplomatic efforts in maintaining positive relations between the two countries.

The US embassy's quick response indicates the significance Washington places on its relationship with New Delhi.
Indian and Nepalese currency worth over Rs 85 lakh has been seized at the Indo-Nepal border, leading to the detention of six individuals and an investigation into potential hawala transactions.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Over Rs 85 lakh in Indian and Nepalese currency seized at the Indo-Nepal border in Bahraich.

Six individuals, including two Nepalese nationals, detained in connection with the cash seizure.

Accused claim the money was donations for temple construction in Nepal, but police suspect illegal hawala transactions.

The Income Tax Department is investigating the source and intended use of the seized cash.

The case raises concerns about cross-border currency conversion and potential illegal financial activities.

Over Rs 85 lakh in Indian and Nepalese currency was seized and six persons were detained by a joint team of police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) along the Indo-Nepal border in Bahraich district, officials said on Thursday.

The cash was recovered during an intensive checking drive in the border area on Tuesday.

According to police, Rs 16.5 lakh in Indian currency and Rs 69 lakh in Nepali currency were recovered from the possession of the six individuals.

Details of the Detained Individuals

The detained persons were identified as two Nepalese nationals -- Rajesh Prasad Sonar and Pratap Singh Jaiswal -- and four residents of the Rupaideha area in Bahraich, identified as Vijay Kumar Agrawal, Ramgopal Shukla, Motilal and Deepak Kumar Nishad, police said.

Officials in the police, SSB and Income Tax Department said the two Nepalese nationals were dressed in attire associated with followers of 'Jai Gurudev' sect. All six have been taken into custody and are being questioned at Rupaideha police station by the SSB, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) and Income Tax officials.

Investigation and Claims

During preliminary interrogation, the accused claimed that the money had been received as donations from followers of Jai Gurudev in Lucknow and was intended for temple construction in Banke district of Nepal, an official said.

Police said the entire amount was initially in Indian currency, which was converted into Nepali currency locally at Rupaideha, while Rs 16.5 lakh remained in Indian currency.

Suspicions of Illegal Transactions

The accused have reportedly admitted to converting Indian currency into Nepali currency for cross-border transfer, raising suspicion of illegal transactions such as hawala, police said.

No valid documents regarding the seized cash were produced by the detained individuals, they added.

The Income Tax Department has been informed and is conducting further investigation. Officials said the claims made by the accused are being verified and, if required, persons linked to the case in Lucknow may also be questioned.

The Indo-Nepal border has been a known route for smuggling and illegal activities due to its porous nature. Increased vigilance and checking drives are often conducted by security forces to curb such activities. Hawala transactions, an informal system of transferring money without physical movement, are illegal in India.
The Indo-UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor, a new partnership between C-CAMP and Imperial College London, is set to deepen ties and foster innovation in the life sciences sector between India and the UK.

Key Points The Indo-UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor aims to foster bilateral innovation and talent exchange in biological research.

Imperial College London and C-CAMP are partnering to create a bridge between UK and India for life sciences research and entrepreneurship.

The partnership will facilitate knowledge sharing and problem-solving in mutually beneficial biology questions.

The corridor will explore joint fundraising and partnership pathways for sustainable programme scalability.

A bi-directional exchange mechanism will allow teams to assess deployment-readiness in both India and the UK.

A new MoU between the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and Imperial College London has paved the way for deepening India-UK ties in the life sciences sector.

The Indo-UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor, agreed in Bengaluru this week, will facilitate cross-border innovation collaboration to leverage mutual biological research and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Fostering Bilateral Innovation

The corridor is designed to create and foster a long-term vision for greater bilateral innovation and a shared scope for exchanging talent, including researchers, innovators, and start-ups.

"This ambitious partnership reflects Imperial's deep commitment to strengthening long-term collaborations with India's life sciences ecosystem," said Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London.

"By joining forces with C-CAMP and supported through our Imperial Global India initiative, we are creating a powerful bridge between the UK and India that connects world-class research with entrepreneurship and translation.

"The Indo-UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor will enable researchers, innovators, and start-ups to collaborate more effectively and accelerate new technologies to address global challenges," he said.

Knowledge Sharing and Problem-Solving

The new life sciences partnership is also expected to become a medium for a formalised two-way knowledge and evidence sharing system with respect to priority challenge areas, innovation readiness and ecosystem initiatives that enable more problem-solving in mutually beneficial biology questions.

"The Indo-UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor marks a remarkable chapter of synergy between two of the world's capital cities in biotech science and innovation, Bengaluru and London," said Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, C-CAMP Director and CEO.

"We are envisioning the next era of Indo-British collaboration in the Biosciences, a core area of interest to both geographies and human society at large. The five-year-long partnership is a strategic decision to provide an enduring platform to bring together the complementary strengths of both ecosystems in developing, validating and deploying globally relevant life sciences solutions," he said.

Exchange Mechanism and Sustainability

Among the novel initiatives on the cards for the corridor is a bi-directional exchange mechanism for the UK-based teams to assess deployment-readiness in India and India-based teams to seek deployment avenues in the UK and potentially Europe, due to contextual similarities.

The corridor is set to explore joint fundraising and partnership pathways to ensure the sustainability and scalability of the programme, bringing positive change and lasting impact.

Last year, Imperial College London launched Imperial Global India to drive high-impact science and technology programmes with academic, industrial and innovation partners, nurture a two-way flow of Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine, and Business (STEMB) talent between the UK and India and support the university's growing Indian alumni network.

The liaison office in India's tech capital, Bengaluru, creates a powerful hub and communication channel for us to build on this strong foundation of collaboration, Imperial College London stated.

The C-CAMP is India's premier research and innovation hub in the biosciences, supported by Indian government agencies, including the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Science and Technology, among others.

The collaboration between India and the UK in life sciences aims to address global challenges through shared research and innovation. Bengaluru, known as India's tech capital, serves as a key hub for this partnership, leveraging its strong foundation in biotechnology and scientific research. This initiative could lead to advancements in healthcare and biotechnology sectors in both countries.
INLD president Abhay Singh Chautala is urging the Haryana government to prioritise addressing the hardships faced by farmers, particularly regarding new biometric verification rules and land registry issues.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Abhay Singh Chautala urges Haryana to address farmers' hardships instead of focusing on censure motions.

Chautala criticises new biometric verification rules at 'mandis' causing difficulties for farmers.

INLD has deployed workers and opened grievance centres to assist farmers in Haryana.

Chautala highlights issues with land registry fees and the online registration process for farmers.

Chautala predicts TMC's Mamata Banerjee will win the West Bengal elections.

INLD president Abhay Singh Chautala on Thursday said if a special one-day assembly session was to be convened in Haryana, it should not be to bring a censure motion against opposition parties, rather to address the "hardships faced by farmers".

He claimed that several new conditions, including biometric verifications at 'mandis', have been imposed by the government on wheat purchase causing farmers "immense hardships".

INLD Support For Haryana Farmers

Chautala said his party has deployed its workers in the 'mandis' (grain markets) and opened "farmers' grievance redressal centres" to ensure that farmers do not face any problem and get all the help required.

"We had urged the government not to impose these new conditions, including biometric verification. However, the government made biometric verification mandatory. This caused immense hardships for the farmers..," he told reporters here.

Criticism Of Haryana Government

On a question on Haryana Assembly's special one-day session on April 27, Chautala hit out at Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, saying he has time to bring a censure motion against the opposition, but has no time for farmers.

"If a censure motion was indeed to be brought, it should have been directed at the government's own shortcomings and failures -- specifically addressing the hardships faced by the farmers -- A and should have included an assurance that farmers would not face such problems in the future.

"What purpose does it serve to discuss a bill here that has already been defeated in the Lok Sabha? The BJP government was playing politics over the women's quota bill -- an endeavour in which they ultimately failed. In this regard, I congratulate the entire opposition for ensuring that the BJP's intentions were not allowed to materialise," he said.

Farmers Face Additional Hurdles

Chautala alleged the government has created "yet another problem" for farmers.

"The fee for the registry of farmers' land stands at Rs 503. However, if a farmer's application is rejected, this fee is forfeited.

"A three-day window has been allotted for the registration process, which necessitates visiting various officials and also requires updating information on an online portal. There is no way to predict when the portal's server might not work," he said.

On West Bengal elections, Chautala said he did not believe the BJP could win and that TMC's Mamata Banerjee would ultimately emerge victorious.

Abhay Singh Chautala's statements come amid ongoing concerns about agricultural policies and their impact on farmers in Haryana. The INLD has historically positioned itself as a champion of farmers' rights in the state. Chautala's criticism also extends to the BJP's handling of the women's quota bill, reflecting broader political tensions.
The JD-U said that it must be kept in mind that the new government is also blessed by Nitish Kumar, who gave up the post as he took the decision to move to the Rajya Sabha.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary meets JD-U chief and former CM Nitish Kumar in Patna, April 22, 2026. Photograph: @samrat4bjp X/ANI Photo

Key Points New Bihar government led by Samrat Choudhary will seek a vote of confidence.

Nitish Kumar's blessing ensures the new government will follow his policies.

Opposition alleges populism and corruption are draining Bihar's finances.

JDU defends Nitish Kumar's son's upcoming political tour.

The Janata Dal-United on Thursday said that after its president Nitish Kumar stepped down as chief minister, the party let the Bharatiya Janata Party have the top post to reciprocate the "support" received from the alliance partner in the past.

The statement was made by senior JD-U leader and deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary at a press conference in Patna.

"Tomorrow, the new government headed by Samrat Choudhary will seek a vote of confidence. A single-day session of the assembly has been called for this very purpose. The ruling NDA enjoys a thumping majority, so winning the trust vote is a foregone conclusion," Chaudhary said.

Nitish Kumar's endorsement of new government

He said that it must be kept in mind that the new government is also blessed by Nitish Kumar, who gave up the post as he took the decision to move to the Rajya Sabha.

"But the people of the state have repeatedly reposed their trust in him. So all should rest assured that the new government shall follow in the footsteps of Nitish Kumar," said Chaudhary.

Earlier, state JD-U president Umesh Kushwaha said in the press conference that Chaudhary intended to answer any questions related to the power transition in the state, which began with Nitish Kumar announcing his decision to contest Rajya Sabha polls a month ago. Upon his election, Samrat Choudhary took over as the first Bihar chief minister from the BJP.

Reasoning behind BJP leadership

When Chaudhary was asked why the JD-U did not press to keep with itself the chief minister's post after Kumar relinquished it, he replied: "The BJP has been an old ally. It supported us in 2020 when our tally had crashed in the assembly polls. So, it was decided that we reciprocate the gesture by extending our support to a government headed by them".

Notably, besides Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, another senior JD-U leader Bijendra Prasad Yadav had been sworn in as the deputy CM last week. It appeared to be a flipping of power equations in the previous dispensation when Nitish Kumar was heading the government and BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha were his deputies.

Opposition concerns and government response

In the press meet, Chaudhary was also asked about a social media post by the leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav, who had alleged that populism and corruption under the NDA rule were bleeding the coffers dry in Bihar where Samrat Choudhary has been saddled with a "debt-ridden government".

The deputy CM replied: "It is normal for all governments to borrow money for development work. There is no reason to cause alarm about debt."

"Moreover, our opponents should remember that while they were in power, the state's financial position had grown so precarious that even paying salaries to government employees had become a challenge. Thankfully, that is not the case now," he added.

The allusion was to the Rashtriya Janata Dal, of which Tejashwi Yadav is the national working president, which ruled Bihar until 2005 when Nitish Kumar took over.

JDU defends upcoming political tour

Countering the opposition's allegation that the political tour of Nitish Kumar's son Nishant starting May 3 is a "JD-U bachao" yatra, Choudhary said, "People know it very well what a JD(U) yatra means, and they are enjoying the fruits of those yatras."

"Nishant ji is an active leader, and it is only natural that he is embarking on a Bihar tour. We welcome his decision," Chaudhary said.

Nishant officially joined the JD-U last month.

Government stance on liquor prohibition

Chaudhary distanced the government from the views of certain MLAs of the alliance partners and the party, seeking a review of the liquor prohibition law in the state.

"Comments made in a personal capacity are not necessarily reflective of the party's or the government's position. Political leaders, the party and the government are three separate entities," the deputy CM said.

The Bihar government in 2016 enforced a complete ban on the manufacture, trade, storage, transportation, sale, and consumption of liquor and intoxicants in the state. However, this led to scores of hooch tragedies resulting in numerous deaths.

The Patna high court recently criticised the Bihar government over the "failure" of the state machinery in effectively implementing the prohibition law, and warned that citizens' lives were being put at risk.

The JD-U's explanation comes as the new Bihar government prepares for a crucial vote of confidence.

Nitish Kumar's move to the Rajya Sabha marked a significant shift in Bihar's political landscape. The decision to support the BJP underscores the complex dynamics within the ruling NDA coalition.
Kerala is under a heatwave alert as the IMD warns of soaring temperatures, prompting authorities to issue guidelines and precautions for residents across the state.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Maximum temperatures are expected to reach up to 41 degrees Celsius in Palakkad and 40 degrees Celsius in Kollam and Thrissur.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has suspended vacation classes and camps during the warning period.

The CM has urged people to avoid direct sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm and stay hydrated.

Kollam District Administration has announced that all educational institutions in the district will remain closed on Friday due to the heatwave.

The India meteorological department has issued an orange alert warning of heatwave conditions in parts of Kerala, prompting authorities to urge extreme caution amid soaring temperatures and high humidity.

According to a press release, heatwave conditions are likely at isolated places in the districts of Kollam, Thrissur, and Palakkad on Thursday and Friday.

Maximum temperatures are expected to reach around 41 degrees Celsius in Palakkad, 40 degrees Celsius in Kollam and Thrissur, and about 38 degrees Celsius in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode during April 2324, around 4 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal.

Other districts, including Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kannur, and Kasaragod, may see temperatures of around 37 degrees Celsius, while Thiruvananthapuram is likely to record about 36 degrees Celsius.

For April 25 and 26, temperatures are expected to remain above normal, with Palakkad around 40 degrees Celsius, Kollam 39 degrees Celsius, Thrissur and Kottayam 38 degrees Celsius, and most other districts ranging between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius.

The India Meteorological Department has also warned of hot and humid conditions across the state, except in hilly areas, from April 23 to 26.

Kerala issues guidelines amid heatwave

In view of the situation, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued strict guidelines, particularly for the Education Department.

All vacation classes, camps, and similar student activities have been suspended during the warning period, including those in private schools, the statement said.

Exam-related activities such as valuation may continue only if adequate safeguards are ensured, including proper ventilation, access to drinking water, and sanitation facilities.

Authorities have also directed that precautionary measures against heat-related illnesses be communicated to students and parents through channels such as WhatsApp groups and the KITE Victers platform. Officials have been instructed to coordinate with district disaster management authorities.

CM's appeal for caution

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged people to exercise extreme caution as temperatures continue to rise across the state.

In a Facebook post, he said temperatures have crossed 40 degrees Celsius in some regions, while high humidity is intensifying discomfort elsewhere.

Warning that extreme heat can lead to serious health complications and even death, Vijayan advised people to avoid direct sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm, describing it as a "self-lockdown" period similar to precautions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He urged people to stay hydrated, avoid unnecessary travel and outdoor work, and ensure proper ventilation in homes and workplaces.

Wearing light, loose cotton clothing and using protective gear such as umbrellas and sunglasses were also recommended, he added.

Preparedness measures in place

Highlighting preparedness, the CM said working hours have been rescheduled to minimise daytime exposure, and employment guarantee works have been halted during peak heat hours.

He also called for ensuring drinking water and shade for animals and encouraged local bodies, Kudumbashree units, and voluntary organisations to set up public drinking water facilities.

People experiencing symptoms of heatstroke have been advised to seek immediate medical attention, while bystanders have been urged to assist affected individuals by moving them to shaded areas and helping cool their bodies.

"Together, with cooperation, we can overcome this severe summer as well," he said.

School closures announced

In view of the heatwave warning issued by the IMD, the Kollam District Administration has announced that all educational institutions in the district will remain closed on Friday.

In a statement, the District Collector said that all institutions, including professional colleges, will remain closed considering the rising temperatures. However, examinations and interviews scheduled earlier will be held as per the existing timetable.

Kerala often experiences high humidity levels, which exacerbate the effects of high temperatures.

The state government has been actively promoting awareness and preparedness for extreme weather events through various channels. These measures are crucial to mitigate the impact of heatwaves on public health and daily life.
In Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, police successfully rescued a kidnapped youth and arrested six individuals involved in the crime, recovering ransom money and weapons.

Key Points A youth named Fazil was kidnapped near Allabakhshpur toll plaza in Hapur.

The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakh for Fazil's release.

Police rescued Fazil from Aligarh, where he was held hostage.

Six people, including a woman, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping.

Police recovered part of the ransom money, weapons, and a car used in the crime.

A youth kidnapped five days ago was rescued by police here on Thursday and six people, including a woman, were arrested, officials said.

Police also recovered part of the ransom money, weapons and a car used in the crime, the officials said.

Details of the Kidnapping

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Gyananjay Singh, the youth, Fazil, was going home in Gajraula from Deoband on April 17 when he was intercepted near the Allabakhshpur toll plaza by two of the accused, Salman and Masood. The two, along with their accomplices Akash, Rahul and Neeraj, abducted him at gunpoint.

"The kidnappers took Fazil to Aligarh, where he was kept hostage at the residence of Rahul and his wife Shikha," Singh said.

Ransom and Rescue Operation

The accused initially demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakh for Fazil's release. His family paid approximately Rs 12.5 lakh to the kidnappers, he said.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Garh police and the SWAT unit intercepted the accused near Vedanta College on Syana road here. During the operation, Fazil was successfully rescued and the six accused were arrested, Singh said.

Recovery and Reward

Police recovered Rs 7.50 lakh cash (part of the ransom money), two country-made pistols with live cartridges and a car used in the kidnapping from the accused.

SP Singh announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for the police team that conducted the operation.

Kidnapping for ransom remains a persistent problem in parts of India, despite efforts by law enforcement. Uttar Pradesh, where this incident occurred, has seen various initiatives to improve policing and reduce crime rates. Such cases often involve complex investigations and coordinated efforts between different police units.
A teenager was critically injured in a wedding shooting in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, sparked by a heated dispute over a customary gift demanded by a group of 'kinnars'.

IMAGE: All photographs: Kind courtesy, Eeshaan Kashyap/Instagram

Key Points A 16-year-old boy was shot at a wedding in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, after a dispute over a customary gift.

The 'kinnars' (eunuchs) allegedly demanded Rs 11,000 as 'neg' from the groom's father, leading to an argument.

Police arrested six accused and recovered country-made pistols, live cartridges, scissors, and sticks from their vehicle.

The injured teenager is in critical condition at the district hospital.

A 16-year-old boy sustained a severe gunshot injury after a group of 'kinnars' (eunuchs) allegedly opened fire at a wedding here following a dispute over 'neg', the customary gift to the community, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday night in Husainpur village under Kunwargaon police station limits after a group of around six kinnars arrived in a Bolero vehicle during the wedding ceremony, and demanded Rs 11,000 as 'neg' from the groom's father.

When he offered Rs 1,100, an argument broke out, escalating quickly.

Wedding Gift Dispute Turns Violent

During the altercation, one of the accused allegedly produced a country-made pistol from the vehicle and fired, hitting Gaurav (16), the groom's nephew and a resident of Kathra village.

Panic spread at the venue as guests fled to safety, police said.

However, some locals managed to overpower the accused after the firing and handed them over to the police, they said.

Police Investigation and Arrests

A police team reached the spot on receiving information and rushed the injured teenager to the district hospital, and his condition is stated to be critical.

Circle Officer (City) Rajneesh Upadhyay said six accused have been arrested in connection with the incident.

"A search of their vehicle led to the recovery of two country-made pistols, live cartridges, scissors and sticks," he said.

Accused Prepared For Violence

"The recoveries indicate they had come prepared for violence," he said, adding that one of the accused is a district-level office-bearer of a kinnar organisation.

A case has been registered under relevant sections and further investigation is underway, police said.

The term 'kinnar' is often used in India to refer to transgender women. Demanding 'neg' or gifts at weddings and other celebrations is a traditional practice for some kinnar communities, though the practice can sometimes lead to disputes over the amount requested.
The Bombay High Court has discharged four accused in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case, criticising the NIA's investigation and leaving the question of responsibility for the deadly explosions unanswered.

Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

Key Points Bombay High Court discharges four accused in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case due to insufficient evidence.

The court criticised the NIA for disregarding the evidence presented by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

The 2006 Malegaon blasts resulted in 31 fatalities and over 300 injuries.

Conflicting investigations by the ATS and NIA have led to contradictory versions of the incident.

The High Court highlighted the importance of considering evidence from previous probe agencies in the case.

The Bombay High Court has said the 2006 Malegaon blasts case "seems to have reached a dead end," while discharging four accused and pulling up the NIA for "completely ignoring" the evidence collected by the previous probing agency.

The high court's order on Wednesday left unanswered the question of who was responsible for the explosions that claimed 31 lives.

The HC discharged the four accused - Rajendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh, Manohar Ram Singh Narwaria, and Lokesh Sharma - noting there was insufficient evidence to make them face trial in the case.

They were charged under the Indian Penal Code sections for murder and criminal conspiracy, and the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act (UAPA), a stringent anti-terror law.

The HC, while quashing the special court order of September 2025 framing charges against the four accused, stated the judge had then not "applied his mind".

On September 8, 2006, four bombs exploded at Malegaon town in Maharashtra's Nashik district, three inside the premises of Hamidia Masjid and Bada Kabrastan just after Friday prayers, and the fourth in Mushawarat Chowk, killing 31 persons and injuring 312 others.

NIA Slammed Over Malegaon Blasts Investigation

A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Shyam Chandak, in its judgment, said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) "completely ignored" the probe and chargesheet of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which gives a vivid narration of the entire planning by the nine Muslim men arrested earlier in the case.

The probe witnessed several twists and turns with the initial investigating agencies claiming the conspiracy was hatched by the Muslim accused, but the NIA, which later probed the case, alleged right-wing extremists were behind the powerful explosions.

"The case seems to have reached a dead end. The diagonally opposite stories in the chargesheet filed by the ATS and the NIA lead nowhere," said the HC order, made available on Thursday.

The ATS had collected incriminating evidence from the incident site, and there was also forensic evidence to show traces of RDX in the soil samples collected from the place of occurrence and the godown of one of the nine accused, the court said.

"Both the samples were found to be the same," it noted.

Court Highlights Insufficient Evidence

For framing a charge for a serious crime like murder and so on, which may invite punishment for death, the trial court must be on guard to see whether there is sufficient material for proceeding against the accused, the HC observed.

"The special judge overlooked the inherent contradiction and intrinsic improbability in the prosecution story as put forth by the NIA," it said.

There is no explanation as to how the evidence collected by the ATS and CBI can be ignored by the trial court, it added.

"The things as stand today give two contradictory versions of the incident and both stories as floated by the ATS and NIA cannot be reconciled by any stretch of imagination," HC said.

Contradictory Versions of the Incident

The evidence collected by the two previous probe agencies is not wiped out and hence has to be considered by the special court, it opined.

"The trial court, while considering the question of framing the charges, has undoubted power to sift and weigh the evidence for the limited purpose of finding out whether a case is made out against the accused person," the judgment said.

The HC said the prosecution's case against the four accused solely rests on circumstantial evidence.

No person has come forward to testify that he or she has seen the accused engaged in the bomb blasts, HC said, adding the NIA has only relied on the now retracted confessional statements of the accused and their purported statement in another case.

"This is a mystery why the NIA did not collect fresh materials," it said.

Aseemanand's Retracted Statement

It pointed out that the NIA, after its probe, projected an altogether new story based on the statement of one Swami Aseemanand, which was later retracted.

"The NIA has projected an entirely different story and states that the investigation of the case is still continuing and further evidence is being collected against the accused persons, and had requested the special court to permit it to continue further investigation of the case," HC said.

The materials collected by the NIA to show the appellants purchased bicycles which were used in the crime are hearsay evidence, the court observed.

The NIA, in its chargesheet, had also named four persons as wanted accused, two of whom were also later shown as wanted accused in the September 2008 blast in Malegaon.

Former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, then Lt Col Prasad Purohit and five others were arrested and faced trial for their alleged role in the blast. In July last year, a special court acquitted all seven accused due to a lack of evidence.

In its chargesheet in the 2006 case, the NIA relied on a statement made by Swami Aseemanand, as per which the blasts in Malegaon were carried out by associates of deceased right-wing activist Sunil Joshi.

While Aseemanand later retracted this statement, the NIA filed a chargesheet giving a clean chit to the nine Muslim accused and naming these four men.

A special court in 2016 discharged the nine Muslim men, which the ATS challenged in the HC. Its appeal is pending and has not been heard since 2019.

The HC in 2019 granted bail to the four present appellants, observing they had been incarcerated for over six years without trial.

The Malegaon blasts case has seen multiple investigating agencies and conflicting narratives over the years. The initial investigation by the ATS implicated Muslim men, while the NIA later alleged the involvement of right-wing extremists. The acquittal of other accused individuals in related cases further complicates the search for those responsible for the 2006 bombings.
The Enforcement Directorate has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing their investigation into a significant coal smuggling case, prompting a Supreme Court hearing.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleges Mamata Banerjee obstructed their probe into a Rs 2,700 crore coal smuggling case.

ED claims Banerjee used state machinery to obstruct the investigation of the I-PAC office in Kolkata.

The Solicitor General argued that Banerjee's actions violated the fundamental rights of investigating officers.

ED seeks CBI investigation into the obstruction and 'retaliatory' FIRs, citing a history of stalling probes in West Bengal.

The Supreme Court raised concerns about a chief minister intervening in an investigation, stating it puts democracy in peril.

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday told the Supreme Court that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee used the state machinery to obstruct its probe against I-PAC office in Kolkata related to a Rs 2,700-crore coal smuggling case.

A bench comprising justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria heard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S V Raju on behalf of the ED and its official Robin Bansal and they sought a direction to the CBI to register an FIR and probe the case.

The court was hearing arguments on the ED's plea that has alleged obstruction by Banerjee and other state authorities during its January 8 search of the office of political-consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata in connection with a money-laundering probe.

The ED alleges that the chief minister, accompanied by a large police contingent, personally intervened to halt the search and seize evidence collected by federal officers.

The proceedings began with a sharp exchange between the Solicitor General and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy.

Guruswamy accused the ED of using the courtroom as a "social media weapon in a political campaign," labelling the SG's arguments as the behaviour of an "unelected crown".

"I cannot behave like a street fighter. I maintain a dignified silence," the solicitor general said.

Responding to the submission that the plea of ED and its officer was not maintainable, he said the petition under Article 32 was valid because "rule of law" is an integral part of Article 14 (right to equality).

He said that when a chief minister takes the law into her own hands, the fundamental rights of the investigating officers, as citizens, are violated.

"Dr Ambedkar never conceived of such a situation," Mehta said, adding "The Chief Minister along with hundreds of police officers entered the premises. They took away documents, stopped computer backups, and snatched security camera storage. This was not a standalone incident; it is a pattern".

"Can I ask the same police to investigate allegations against the chief minister when I myself am facing FIRs from them," the solicitor general said.

ED Alleges Breakdown Of Law And Order In West Bengal

"There is a total failure of law and order in West Bengal. This is my legal submission. I will demonstrate how the rule of law is violated. This is a case where there is illegal smuggling of coal and the total amount runs to Rs 2,700 crore. The ED and their individual officers who are also citizens of India discharging their statutory functions are seeking protection of their fundamental rights," he said.

The law officer referred to the 2019 incident involving former Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to argue that West Bengal has a history of "arresting" federal officers to stall probes.

He further criticized the Director General of Police (DGP), stating that the DGP's presence at the site was justified in affidavits as "protection for a Z-category protectee," but in reality, he acted as a "personal PSO" for the chief minister.

ED Seeks CBI Probe Into Alleged Obstruction

Additional Solicitor General Raju, appearing for ED officer, said that "ex-facie bogus FIRs" were registered against the officers of the anti-money laundering probe agency.

"The local police knew the identity of the ED officers by 10:00 AM, yet they registered an FIR at 12:00 PM against 'unknown persons' claiming to be ED officers," he said.

He said ED officers were victims of "wrongful confinement and theft" and could not expect a fair investigation from the West Bengal Police, who report to the very person accused of obstruction.

He said the chief minister is also the home minister of the state and the ED officer cannot expect a fair and impartial investigation in the cases.

Supreme Court Questions Maintainability Of ED's Plea

During the hearing, the bench asked as to how a government department could claim fundamental rights, which are traditionally "person-centric", by filing a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution.

Article 32 provides the right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of fundamental rights.

"There is an inherent danger if we keep entertaining this... the court will be flooded with Article 32 petitions from different state governments," the bench said.

The solicitor general said generally states should not be allowed to file writ petitions under Article 32 before the top court. But, in cases like the present one, such petitions have to be entertained.

"If the cloak of the ED is removed, who are you," the bench asked.

The individual officers do not lose their rights as citizens simply because they are performing official duties, the law officer said.

"If an officer is detained illegally, it is his person that suffers, not just the agency," Raju said.

The ED is seeking a direction to transfer the investigation into the alleged obstruction and the "retaliatory" FIRs to the CBI, saying that an independent agency is required to investigate the conduct of the chief minister and the state's top police brass.

The hearing will resume on May 13.

On Wednesday, the alleged obstruction by the chief minister during the ED raid came under intense scrutiny with the bench saying that democracy is put in peril if a chief minister intervenes in a probe.

"This is not a dispute between the Centre and the state. A chief minister of any state just walks in in the midst of an inquiry or investigation, puts democracy in peril and then you say it is a dispute between the Centre and the state," it said.

The Enforcement Directorate is a financial investigation agency tasked with enforcing laws against money laundering and foreign exchange violations. The agency's allegations against the West Bengal Chief Minister raise questions about the extent of state authority in federal investigations. The Supreme Court's scrutiny highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of investigative processes in a democracy.
After four decades, the Delhi Police have successfully apprehended an 82-year-old man who had been evading arrest since 1986 for the murder of his wife, marking a significant breakthrough in the cold case.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrests 82-year-old man after 40 years on the run for a 1986 murder.

The accused, Chandra Shekhar Prasad, allegedly murdered his wife over suspicions of an affair.

Lack of digital records and the accused's age posed significant challenges to the investigation.

Crime Branch reopened the case, using human intelligence and technical surveillance to track Prasad.

Prasad confessed to the crime, stating he killed his wife in a fit of rage.

In a breakthrough in a four-decade-old murder case, the Delhi Police has arrested an 82-year-old man who had allegedly killed his wife in 1986 and been on the run since then, an official said on Thursday.

The accused, Chandra Shekhar Prasad, a native of Bihar's Nalanda, was apprehended from a factory storeroom in Nangli Poona area of outer north Delhi, where he had been living under a false identity, he said.

The 1986 Shakarpur Murder Case

The case dates back to October 19, 1986, when Prasad, then 40, allegedly murdered his wife at their Shakarpur residence in east Delhi by crushing her head with bricks over suspicion of an extramarital affair.

"During the incident, he and his accomplices also held a domestic help at gunpoint before fleeing the scene," he said.

An FIR under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (crime committed with common intention) of the IPC was registered at Shakarpur police station, but the accused evaded arrest and was declared an absconder by a court in 1987.

Reopening The Cold Case

The officer said that a team has been tasked to solve all the unsolved murder cases, and during the study, the team got to know about this case, as the case remained unsolved for nearly 40 years due to a lack of leads and the absence of modern investigative tools at the time.

Police said tracing the accused posed significant challenges as there were no digital records, photographs, Aadhaar data or mobile trails from that era, and his age had advanced from around 40 at the time of the crime to about 82 now.

Tracking And Apprehending The Accused

A team of the crime branch reopened the case and began tracking the accused through a mix of human intelligence and technical surveillance.

"Investigators found that his children were settled in Delhi and Bihar, and discreetly monitored suspected mobile numbers linked to the family. Field verification in Nalanda confirmed that Prasad was alive and occasionally visited during family or religious events," the officer said.

Acting on inputs about one such visit following a bereavement, police mounted surveillance and tracked his movement to Delhi. On April 22, a trap was laid, and the accused was arrested from a factory premises in Alipur.

Confession And Further Investigation

During interrogation, Prasad confessed to the crime, stating that he frequently quarrelled with his wife over suspicions about her character and killed her in a fit of rage before fleeing.

Police said that during his decades-long escape, he constantly changed locations, living in Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. He worked as a rickshaw puller in Punjab's Patiala and even took shelter at an ashram in Haryana to avoid detection. Further investigation is underway.

The First Information Report was filed under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (crime committed with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. In India, murder investigations are typically led by local police, with forensic evidence and witness testimonies playing crucial roles in building a case.
A man has been arrested in Ahmedabad after a fatal stabbing incident stemming from a dispute over an old Instagram post, highlighting the real-world consequences of social media conflicts.

Key Points Ahmedabad police arrest a man for allegedly murdering a 19-year-old over an Instagram post dispute.

The victim, Mohammed Salik Imtiyaz Hussain Sheikh, was attacked by three men over an old Instagram story.

Rehan allegedly stabbed the victim, causing fatal injuries, while another person was injured by the attackers.

Police have arrested Rehan, while the other two suspects are currently absconding.

Police have arrested a young man here for allegedly killing a 19-year-old and injuring another person following a dispute over an old Instagram post.

Rehan (20), Faizal Pathan (22) and Faizan Pathan (20), all residents of Juhapura, allegedly attacked Mohammed Salik Imtiyaz Hussain Sheikh on Wednesday night, said inspector R M Chauhan of Vejalpur police station.

Details of the Instagram Dispute

"The incident occurred around 10:30 pm when Rehan, Faizal and Faizan picked a fight with Salik over an old Instagram story in which he had challenged them saying, 'Tumse jo ho sakta hai kar lo' (do what you can). The post is yet to be recovered from Salik's Instagram archive," the official said.

The Fatal Stabbing and Arrest

It was Rehan who allegedly caught hold of the victim and stabbed him on the right flank, causing fatal injuries. Another person named Kasib Saiyed was also injured as Faizan allegedly struck him with a stone and Rehan stabbed him on his forearm.

While Rehan was arrested, the other two are absconding. Further probe is on, the official said.

The Vejalpur police station is investigating the case. In India, criminal investigations typically involve the police collecting evidence, recording statements, and potentially filing charges in court, where a trial determines guilt or innocence.
A man in Thane has been arrested for allegedly defrauding job seekers of Rs 46 lakh by promising them government jobs and using forged documents.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A man from Nashik is accused of cheating a woman and her acquaintances in Thane out of Rs 46 lakh.

The accused posed as a ministry employee, promising government jobs to the victims.

Forged documents were used to gain the victims' trust and extract money.

The victims were promised government jobs but they did not materialise, leading to a police complaint.

Police in Thane have registered a case against a man for allegedly cheating a woman and her acquaintances of Rs 46 lakh under the pretext of securing government jobs for them, officials said on Thursday.

Details Of The Job Scam

The fraud took place between June 7, 2024 and September 2025, when the accused, hailing from Nashik, posed as a person working in a ministry and having influence in the secretariat.

He promised to secure government jobs for the 45-year-old woman, a resident of Bhandup in Mumbai, her relatives and acquaintances, an official from Manpada police station said.

Forged Documents And False Promises

The accused prepared forged documents with fake signatures and presented them as genuine government papers to gain the victims' trust. He allegedly took Rs 35.25 lakh from the woman and Rs 14 lakh from another person at an office in the Dombivli area of Maharashtra's Thane district, the police said.

Victims Demand Their Money Back

After the promised jobs did not materialise, the victims demanded their money back, but the accused returned only Rs 3.25 lakh and failed to repay the remaining Rs 46 lakh, the official said.

Based on the woman's complaint, the police registered a case on April 20 under relevant legal provisions for cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust, he added.

Job scams targeting vulnerable individuals are unfortunately common in India. Authorities often advise caution when dealing with individuals promising government jobs in exchange for money. Cases of forgery and criminal breach of trust are investigated under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
A man in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for possession of charas, highlighting the strict enforcement of drug laws in India.

Key Points A man in Jhansi has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for possession of charas.

The accused, Sanjay Singh, was arrested in 2008 with 300 grams of charas.

The court found Sanjay Singh guilty under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In addition to imprisonment, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

A court here has sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a 2008 case related to possession of charas, an official said.

Details of the Arrest and Charges

Assistant District Government Counsel Deepak Tiwari said the accused, Sanjay Singh, originally a resident of Kalyanpur in Kanpur and currently residing in Mahaveeran locality, was arrested on April 2, 2008, by then Premnagar police station in-charge Balbir Singh Gaur during a checking drive.

Recovery of Charas and Previous Offences

Police had recovered 300 grams of charas (hashish) from his possession and sent him to jail, he said, adding that several criminal cases, including chain snatching and robbery, were also registered against him at various police stations.

Court's Verdict and Sentencing

Additional District and Sessions Judge Sharad Chaudhary on Wednesday found the accused guilty under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and awarded him 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, Tiwari said.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, prohibits the production, sale, purchase, possession, or use of illegal narcotics. Cases under the NDPS Act are tried in special courts. Convictions often carry significant jail terms and fines, reflecting India's strict stance against drug-related offences.
The Allahabad High Court has affirmed that a husband's financial difficulties do not absolve him of his legal obligation to provide maintenance for his wife during matrimonial disputes.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Allahabad High Court rules a husband cannot escape the legal responsibility of maintaining his wife due to financial hardship.

The court rejected a husband's plea challenging a family court order to pay interim maintenance to his wife during a matrimonial dispute.

The High Court stated that marriage legally binds a man to maintain his wife.

The court considered the wife's claim of having no independent income and the burden of maintaining her children.

The court deemed the interim maintenance amount of Rs 4,000 as reasonable considering the current cost of living.

The Allahabad High Court has held that a man cannot escape the responsibility of maintaining his wife due to financial hardship, observing that one who believes he cannot maintain should not get married in the first place.

A bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Vivek Saran rejected a plea filed by a husband challenging a family court order directing him to pay maintenance to his wife during the pendency of a matrimonial dispute case.

Legal Obligation of Husband Towards Wife

"Once a man marries a woman, he is bound under the law to maintain her," the bench said.

In the present case, the family court had directed the appellant-husband, Tej Bahadur Maurya, to pay Rs 4,000 as interim maintenance to his wife.

The husband moved the high court arguing that the family court did not take his financial condition into account while passing the impugned order.

Arguments and Court's Consideration

He further said that the family court overlooked the fact that the wife is living with another man and that there was a mutual separation between the parties through an affidavit.

The bench noted that the family court had properly considered these allegations.

The high court took into account the claim of the respondent-wife that she has to bear the burden of maintaining her children and she is without any source of independent income.

Court's Final Decision

After going through the record, the bench in its order passed on April 7 opined that keeping in view the cost of living today, it cannot be said that the amount is excessive and unaffordable for the appellant.

The high court also refused to accept the appellant's argument that he is only a labourer as no further information relating to the same had been given to this court.

Maintenance orders in India are typically decided based on factors like the income of both spouses, the wife's ability to earn, and the standard of living during the marriage. Family courts are empowered to grant interim maintenance to ensure the dependent spouse has financial support while the divorce case is ongoing. The final amount can be adjusted based on the evidence presented during the proceedings.
Haryana Police have arrested a man who allegedly posed as a judge's driver to defraud a victim of Rs 1.8 lakh, promising legal assistance in an attempt to murder case.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Haryana Police arrested Neyaz Mohammad for allegedly posing as a Faridabad Sessions Judge's driver.

Mohammad and his accomplice Imran allegedly defrauded a man of Rs 1.8 lakh.

The duo promised to drop Section 307 (attempt to murder) charges and provide protection from arrest.

The victim, Iqbal, received no relief despite paying the money, leading him to file a complaint.

Police are currently searching for Imran, who is still at large.

Haryana Police has arrested a person for allegedly duping a man of Rs 1.8 lakh after posing as a driver of the Faridabad Sessions Judge and promising help in an attempt to murder case and protection from arrest, officials said on Thursday.

Two persons were involved in this cheating crime. While the main accused, Neyaz Mohammad, a resident of Babupur village of Gurugram district, was arrested on Wednesday, his accomplice Imran is on the run.

Details Of The Fraudulent Scheme

According to the complaint filed by the victim, Iqbal, a resident of Dhandhuka village in Nuh district, Mohammad claimed to be the driver of the judge, and together with Imran, gained the complainant's confidence by claiming to have high connections.

The duo took Rs 1.8 lakh from Iqbal by promising to have Section 307 (attempt to murder) dropped from his case and protection from arrest.

Victim's Complaint And Police Action

Despite receiving the money, Iqbal received no relief, and the promises remained unfulfilled, read the complaint.

The accused, however, later returned Rs 80,000 and withheld Rs 1 lakh.

When Iqbal asked for the remaining amount, the accused threatened to lodge complaints against him.

Subsequently, Iqbal filed a complaint, and an FIR was registered at Nuh Sadar police station.

Later, police arrested Mohammad, while Imran is on the run.

Ongoing Investigation

"We are questioning the accused and are trying to nab his accomplice", police spokesperson said.

Cases of impersonation and fraud targeting individuals facing legal troubles are not uncommon. Impersonating a public servant is a criminal offence under Indian law. Police investigations will likely focus on recovering the remaining defrauded money and apprehending the absconding accomplice.
A property dealer was fatally shot in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, with police investigating a potential land dispute as the motive behind the crime.

Key Points Clarence Atkins, a 32-year-old property dealer, was shot dead in Jabalpur.

The shooting occurred near Shiv Shakti Tiraha in Sanjay Nagar.

Police suspect a land dispute in Raipur may be the motive for the murder.

Two masked youths on a motorcycle are believed to be the shooters.

Police are investigating all angles and have suspects under the scanner.

A 32-year-old man involved in construction work and property dealings was shot dead in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur city on Thursday, with the police suspecting it to be the fallout of a land dispute.

The incident took place around 8 am near Shiv Shakti Tiraha in Sanjay Nagar when Clarence Atkins was returning home after dropping his child at school, City Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar Sahu told reporters.

Jabalpur Shooting: Masked Assailants Flee

Two masked youths approached him on a motorcycle and fired at his head from close range before fleeing the spot, which falls under the jurisdiction of Ranjhi police station, he said.

Atkins was rushed to a hospital before being referred to a medical college, where he died during treatment in the afternoon, the official said.

Police Investigation Underway

Police scanned footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras and identified some suspects, he said. Teams also carried out checks on the routes leading out of the city, but the shooters are still at large, he said.

Land Dispute Suspected in Jabalpur Murder

Citing the preliminary investigation, police said a dispute linked to a land deal in Raipur might have triggered the crime. Atkins was a civil engineer and was involved in construction work and property dealings, they said.

Police are probing all angles and have brought a father-son duo under the scanner in connection with the case, an official said.

Jabalpur police have launched a search for the two suspects who remain at large. Such investigations in India typically involve gathering forensic evidence, questioning witnesses, and analysing call records to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
Gurugram Police have launched an investigation into a disturbing video showing a man assaulting a woman near Bristol Chowk, sparking outrage and calls for action.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Gurugram Police launch enquiry after video surfaces of a man assaulting a woman.

The incident occurred near Bristol Chowk in Gurugram, with bystanders failing to intervene.

Police are investigating the assault despite no formal complaint being filed by the victim.

Authorities are working to identify the man seen assaulting the woman in the viral video.

Police have initiated an enquiry after a video surfaced on social media, showing a young man physically assaulting a woman near Bristol Chowk in Gurugram. No bystander intervened to help her.

Police Investigation Launched

Police on Thursday said that their social media team has begun looking into the matter despite no complaint being filed yet, and efforts are underway to identify the man.

According to police, the two, in the video, could be seen scuffling amid heavy crowds and traffic outside a liquor shop near Bristol Chowk late Wednesday night.

Details of the Assault

The man repeatedly slapped the woman, police said, adding that the woman did attempt to hit him back and escape, but he continued to slap her.

During the fight, the bystanders remained silent spectators. However, some people could be heard telling the woman to leave and film the incident, police said.

Public Reaction and Demands for Action

After the video surfaced online, some netizens tagged the Haryana Police and the Gurugram administration, demanding action against the man.

The police investigation is underway to identify the accused and determine the circumstances surrounding the assault. In India, incidents of assault are investigated under the Indian Penal Code, with varying degrees of punishment depending on the nature of the assault and injuries inflicted. The investigation will likely involve gathering evidence, recording statements, and potentially arresting the accused.
A 30-year-old medical student was found dead in a Gurugram PG, prompting a police investigation into a suspected suicide and raising concerns about student mental health.

Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Key Points A 30-year-old medical student was found dead in his PG room in Gurugram, with police suspecting suicide.

The student, identified as Ankit, had been preparing for the MBBS entrance exam.

No suicide note was found, and the body was discovered after a foul odour was reported.

Police are examining call records and CCTV footage to determine the cause of death.

A 30-year-old medical student allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his room in a PG in Gurugram, police said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the paying guest owner called the police after smelling a foul odour. The police recovered the body after breaking down the room's door.

Investigation Into Student's Death

No suicide note was found in the room. The body was around four to five days old and had completely decomposed, police said.

According to the police, the deceased was identified as Ankit, a resident of Khampura village in Mahendergarh district.

Background Of The Deceased

He had been preparing for the MBBS entrance exam for some time and was living in Shri Krishna PG, Bas Kushla village in IMT, Manesar Police Station area since January.

On Wednesday night when a foul smell began emanating from the room, other tenants and the PG owner, Kapil Yadav, knocked on the door, but Ankit did not answer. Fearing something untoward, they immediately informed the local police, who found the body hanging.

Police Examination

The police searched Ankit's room and identified him using his Aadhaar card.

According to the police, Ankit had last spoken to his family on April 15, and since then, his mobile phone had been switched off.

Other men living in the PG described Ankit as quiet and someone who rarely interacted with others. He spent most of his time in his room studying, said police.

Further Investigation Details

"The exact cause of death will only be known after the post-mortem. Currently, we are examining Ankit's call records and CCTV footage from the PG to solve the mystery," said a senior police officer.

The police investigation will likely involve examining the student's recent communications and activities to understand the circumstances leading to his death. In India, suicide investigations typically involve gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and conducting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. The police will also try to ascertain if any external factors contributed to the student's decision.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) 'syndicate raj' in West Bengal is nearing its end due to corruption and broken promises, as he campaigns for the BJP in the upcoming elections.

Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Key Points PM Modi predicts the end of TMC's 'syndicate system' and 'maha jungle raj' in West Bengal on May 4.

Modi accuses the TMC government of corruption, unfulfilled promises, and obstructing central projects.

He pledges financial assistance to fisherfolk in South Bengal to boost fish production and export.

The BJP plans a zero-tolerance policy for infiltrators, who Modi claims are receiving TMC patronage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that May 4, when votes will be counted, would mark the "expiry" of the "TMC's 15-year-old syndicate system and maha jungle raj" in West Bengal.

Addressing a gathering at the South 24 Pargana district's Kakdwip stadium under the Mathurapur assembly constituency, he claimed that the massive poll turnout in the state indicated that the TMC's regime of 'bhoy' (fear) was "surely getting defeated" by the 'bharosa' (trust) the BJP has promised.

Modi Attacks TMC's Corruption Record

"There's not one sector in Bengal where work gets done without bribes, where TMC syndicates and their middlemen don't take cut money. That 15-year-old syndicate system and the 'maha jungle raj' of TMC have reached their expiry date, which is May 4," Modi said.

Holding the Mamata Banerjee dispensation responsible for making "false promises and betraying people", the prime minister listed out a set of "broken promises" made by the state's ruling party.

Unfulfilled Promises and Stalled Projects

"Construction of a bridge to connect the mainland with the Sagar Island, where the Gangasagar Mela is held, is yet to take off, and people still have to rely on ferries.

"Similarly, the Ghatal Master plan to curb floods is a non-starter, and the district-based food parks and projects to tackle river bank erosion are yet to see the light of the day," Modi said.

Accusations of Misappropriation and Obstruction

The prime minister alleged that the TMC "not only stops the implementation of central projects, it also gobbles up the Centre's money meant for development projects".

"This can only be stopped once you have a BJP CM in the state," he added.

Pledges and Promises for the Future

Modi accused the TMC of "collaborating with the Congress" to derail his government's bid to implement 33 per cent women's reservation in legislatures in 2029 in the Lok Sabha.

He also announced special financial assistance to the fisherfolk of the sea-bordering region of South Bengal, with a focus on production and export of fish, once the BJP comes to power in Bengal.

"The BJP has decided to pursue a zero-tolerance policy for infiltrators who are eating into the country's local resources and endangering the country's security.

"They are sneaking into the country also by sea routes in this region and receiving the TMC's patronage in settling here," the prime minister alleged.

West Bengal is one of the states with the highest number of parliamentary seats, making it a key battleground for national parties. The state has been governed by the All India Trinamool Congress since 2011. The current election will determine whether the BJP can make inroads and challenge the TMC's dominance.
Shopian Police in Jammu and Kashmir have deployed a specialised canine unit to strengthen their fight against drug trafficking as part of the 'Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan'.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Shopian Police deploy canine unit to combat drug trafficking under 'Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan'.

Trained sniffer dogs are deployed at checkpoints to detect concealed narcotics.

The initiative aims to disrupt the narcotics supply chain and deter drug peddlers.

Police are conducting awareness campaigns to promote a drug-free society in Shopian.

Intensified vehicle checking operations are underway across Shopian district.

Police in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district has deployed a canine unit to bolster efforts against drug trafficking and trade.

Canine Unit Deployed for Drug Detection

Intensifying efforts under the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan, Shopian Police in coordination with the CRPF 14th Battalion, has deployed its canine unit (Narcotic Dog Squad) to strengthen action against drug trafficking in the district," an official statement issued Thursday said.

Strategic Checkpoint Deployment

Officials said as part of a special enforcement drive, trained sniffer dogs have been deployed at multiple checkpoints to detect concealed narcotics.

"The canine unit plays a crucial role in identifying hidden contraband, enabling timely recovery and apprehension of those involved in illicit drug trade," they said.

Focus on Disruption and Deterrence

Officials said the initiative aims to disrupt the supply chain of narcotics and act as a strong deterrent for drug peddlers. Alongside enforcement measures, police has been actively conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public and foster a drug-free society, they added.

Intensified Vehicle Checks

Intensified vehicle checking operations are being carried out across the district. "Suspicious vehicles are thoroughly searched at designated naka points in strict adherence to established standard operating procedures," they said.

The 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' is a nationwide campaign by the Indian government to raise awareness about substance abuse. Jammu and Kashmir has seen increased efforts to combat drug trafficking in recent years, with police focusing on both supply reduction and demand reduction through awareness programmes.
The new NCERT Class 9 mathematics textbook, 'Ganita Manjari', integrates ancient Indian mathematical systems and historical context, offering a fresh perspective on core mathematical concepts.

Photograph: Michael Caronna/Reuters

Key Points The new NCERT Class 9 mathematics textbook 'Ganita Manjari' integrates ancient Indian mathematical systems and historical context into core concepts.

The textbook emphasises indigenous contributions, linking mathematical concepts to ancient texts and scholars, unlike previous editions.

The revised textbook credits the Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation with early 'grid-based thinking' and its application in spatial planning.

Ancient Indian mathematicians like Baudhayana, Brahmagupta, Aryabhata, and Madhava are highlighted for their contributions to geometry, algebra, and number systems.

The textbook aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, promoting Indian knowledge systems.

The newly-introduced NCERT Class 9 mathematics textbook 'Ganita Manjari' features references to ancient Indian mathematical systems and embeds historical context within core concepts, marking a shift from earlier editions.

The 196-page Part 1 textbook, comprising eight chapters and to be implemented from the 2026-27 academic session, places greater emphasis on indigenous contributions, unlike the previous book which contained limited references to ancient Indian mathematics and largely focused on procedural learning.

Integrating History With Mathematical Concepts

While the earlier textbook presented topics such as number systems, integers and irrational numbers in a largely definition-based format, the new book integrates these concepts with historical narratives, linking them to ancient texts and scholars.

For instance, the revised textbook credits the Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation with early "grid-based thinking" and describes it as an example of systematic spatial planning.

It says "grid-based thinking" and geometry, which require defining specific points in space, "indeed has deep roots in Bharat" with first systematic use of grids occurring thousands of years ago "on a massive urban scale in the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation, where city streets were constructed with striking precision in North-South and East-West directions at uniform distances of 10 metres apart. This was a coordinate system in practice."

Contributions Of Ancient Indian Mathematicians

The textbook also states that ancient Indian mathematician Baudhayana later used East-West and North-South lines for his "deep geometric constructions, developing the Baudhayana-Pythagoras Theorem and thus laying the foundation of coordinate geometry."

In the same chapter, titled "Orienting Yourself: The Use of Coordinates", the textbook states the 'Ujjayina' was described in the early "Siddhantas" of ancient Indian polymath Bhaskara as "the point marking the central longitude meridian from which all other locations were measured" -- as early as 4th century BCE.

The book credits Brahmagupta with formalising key concepts, stating he "formalised the notion and use of zero and negative numbers as algebraic entities" in modern coordinate systems, with the 'origin' at zero and the 'negative axes' representing values less than zero.

It also states that the Rigveda "set the stage for the number system based on powers of 10", linking it to the evolution of the decimal place value system. The earlier textbook treated zero as a mathematical concept without elaborating on its historical origins.

Highlighting Aryabhata and Madhava

The earlier textbook briefly mentioned AryabhatAa mainly for his approximation of 'pi' value and his work as an astronomer-mathematician, with limited context.

The new textbook places his contribution in a broader framework, highlighting his description of pi as "Asanna" (approximate) as an early insight into mathematical approximation.

The new textbook also refers to Madhava, crediting him with the formulation of infinite series. It says the concept of irrational numbers was inaugurated in the 14th century by Madhava of Sangamagrama, who launched the Kerala School of Mathematics. Madhava realised that to express an irrational number, one cannot use a single fraction; but must use an infinite sum, the book highlights.

Alignment With National Education Policy

Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, the revised textbook reflects a broader push to integrate Indian knowledge systems into school education. The textbook was developed by a 26-member Textbook Development Team (TDT).

In the foreword, NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani wrote, "This textbook aims to develop students' ability in formulating well-defined problems that can be addressed through mathematical reasoning -- an essential aspect of learning Mathematics."

"This textbook highlights the rich history of Mathematics in India, spanning thousands of years. By learning about mathematical developments in India and across the world, students can develop a deeper sense of cultural rootedness," he added.

The NCERT Class 9 mathematics textbook was first published in February 2006, with the revised 2022-23 edition presently part of the curriculum.

The revised NCERT mathematics textbook aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of mathematics by connecting it to India's rich historical and cultural heritage. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy's emphasis on integrating Indian knowledge systems into the curriculum, fostering a sense of cultural rootedness among students.
Not long ago, Prime Minister Mark Carney paid a successful visit to China. The leaders of the two countries agreed to forge a new China-Canada strategic partnership, bringing bilateral relations into a new era. Thanks to joint efforts of both sides, the past month or so has witnessed the fruition of various positive outcomes of Prime Minister Carneys visit, which has been widely welcomed by the people of both countries.

On the economic and trade front, the Chinese side announced the final ruling of its anti-dumping investigation into canola seed imports from Canada, lowering the 75.8 percent deposit requirement to 5.9 percent anti-dumping duty. This has greatly improved market access for Canadian canola seed exports to China. The first batch of several thousand tonnes of canola exports from Canada to China has already been shipped. China also announced adjustments to its anti-discrimination measures against Canadian products. From March 1 to the end of this year, anti-discrimination tariffs on Canadian canola meal, peas, lobsters and crabs will be suspended. Additionally, China has allowed 20 Canadian beef slaughtering and processing companies to resume exports to China and approved Canadian pet food exports that meet quarantine and sanitary requirements.

At the same time, the Canadian government adjusted certain restrictive measures on China and formally implemented a quota for imports of Chinese electric vehicles. Starting from March 1, import permits will be issued for the first 24,500 Chinese electric vehicles, meaning Canadian consumers will be able to purchase high-quality and affordable Chinese EVs in the near future.

With respect to cultural and people-to-people exchanges, China has taken further steps to facilitate travel between the two countries. Following the resumption of group tours of Chinese citizens to Canada late last year, China has decided to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for the Canadian people from February 17 until the end of this year. Canadian ordinary passport holders now may enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit. This policy has been warmly welcomed across Canadian society. The two sides also reached consensus on resuming mechanisms such as the ChinaCanada Joint Committee on Culture and the ChinaCanada Cultural Dialogue within the year. And the ninth session of the ChinaCanada Track II Dialogue will be held in China this April.

During this Chinese New Year, Chinese communities across Canada joined local communities for celebrations in an exciting and festive atmosphere. The National Peking Opera Company of China presented its Happy Chinese New Year performances in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto, which played to full houses and were loved by local audiences. Mayor of Edmonton Andrew Knack led a delegation to participate in the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China, while ice sculptors from Harbin created numerous exquisite ice sculptures featuring Chinese cultural elements in Calgary. This represents another chapter of friendly exchanges between the two countries in winter culture.

The essence of these exchanges and cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and the ultimate beneficiaries are the people of both countries. Recent polls by Canadian polling organizations such as Angus Reid Institute and Nanos Research show that the Canadian public favourability toward China continues to rise, with more than 60 percent of Canadians supporting cooperation with China. This fully demonstrates that developing relations and expanding cooperation between China and Canada serves the fundamental interests of both sides and meets the shared expectations of the two peoples.

Looking ahead, China stands ready to work with Canada and deliver on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, resume and strengthen exchanges and cooperation across all fields, and translate the Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap, as well as the preliminary joint arrangements on steel and aluminum products, electric vehicles and so on, into real results as soon as possible. We believe that more good news is to come, which will inject continuous momentum into ChinaCanada relations and bring more tangible benefits to the two peoples.
Indian Railway Protection Force foiled a dacoity attempt on the Siddheshwar Express, arresting nine women allegedly involved in the planned crime.

Key Points Nine women were arrested by the Railway Protection Force for allegedly planning a dacoity on the Siddheshwar Express.

The women were initially spotted behaving suspiciously at Kurduwadi railway station.

RPF personnel alerted officials at other railway stations to monitor the suspects.

The suspects were detained at Solapur station after boarding the Siddheshwar Express.

The women, aged 18-40, are residents of Dharashiv district and are part of a dacoits' gang.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Central Railway has arrested nine women for allegedly planning to commit dacoity on board the Siddheshwar Express in Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday.

Suspicious Activity Leads to Arrests

An RPF Crime Prevention and Detection Squad on duty at Kurduwadi railway station on Wednesday night noticed three women behaving suspiciously on the platform, the Central Railway said in a release.

After being questioned and asked to leave the station premises, the women boarded the Latur Express. The RPF personnel alerted officials at other railway stations in the division and asked them to keep the women under watch.

Dacoity Gang Busted

The suspects got down at Jeur railway station and boarded the Mumbai-Solapur Siddheshwar Express. RPF teams kept them under surveillance, and they were detained at Solapur station, the release said.

Questioning revealed that they were part of a dacoits' gang which operated in Solapur and Pune railway divisions, it said. The women, aged between 18 and 40 years and residents of Dharashiv district, were later handed over to the Government Railway Police at Kurduwadi.

Legal Proceedings Underway

A case was registered against them under section 310(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (preparation for dacoity), officials said, adding that further investigation was underway.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, under which the women have been charged, is the new principal criminal code of India, replacing the Indian Penal Code. Section 310(4) addresses preparatory acts towards committing dacoity, a serious offence under Indian law. The Government Railway Police will now conduct a full investigation into the gang's activities and any prior incidents.
Nine individuals, including family members, have been arrested in Odisha's Ganjam district for their alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of a real estate businessman, highlighting the deadly consequences of property disputes.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Nine people arrested in Odisha for the abduction and murder of a real estate businessman.

The victim, Sudhir Kumar Patra, was allegedly kidnapped and brutally assaulted.

Property disputes between the victim's family and his brother's family are believed to be the motive.

Accused demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore from the victim's wife after sending a video of the assault.

Police seized cars, a pistol, and mobile phones from the accused.

The Police on Thursday arrested nine people, including two family members, for their alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of a real estate businessman in Odisha's Ganjam district, an officer said.

The police arrested the accused persons a day after recovering the highly decomposed body of the victim, identified as Sudhir Kumar Patra (47) of Satyanarayanpur, near Gopalpur, from Ketamani hill under Sorada police station limits.

Key Accusations and Arrests in Odisha Murder Case

The arrested persons included Nibedita Patra (23) and Tushar Patra (19), the niece and nephew of the deceased, respectively. They are the main accused in the sensational case, involving kidnapping for ransom, criminal conspiracy, extortion, destruction of evidence and murder, said Niti Sekhar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), southern range, here.

While Nibedita has completed her post-graduation, her brother is studying his second year in BBA, he said.

Property Dispute as Motive for Real Estate Murder

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the property dispute between the families of the deceased and his brother was the main cause behind the murder, the police said.

The dispute arose after the death of Sudhir's brother in June last year. Nibedita, the prime accused, along with her brother, engaged contract killers for the murder of Sudhir, the IGP said.

Kalu Charan Pradhan (28), a male friend of Nibedita, assisted her in arranging the contract killers, he said.

Details of the Kidnapping and Assault

The police said the deceased was allegedly kidnapped by the accused persons on April 15 evening from Dura at gunpoint, while he was returning to his home.

They took him near Mathura in Polasara and then changed the vehicle and took him to Ramapada forest near Buguda. The victim was brutally assaulted with a wooden plank to terrorise him, said Ganjam SP Subhendu Patra, who is also in-charge SP Berhampur.

The assault was recorded on video and sent to his wife, and demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore from her, he said.

Due to his severe injuries, Sudhir succumbed at the spot. After his death, they transported the body in the car and threw it near Ketamani hill to conceal evidence and absconded in various places, the police said.

Evidence Seized and Ongoing Investigation

Two cars, a country-made 7.65mm pistol and 14 mobile phones were seized from the accused persons. The accused persons have changed their SIMs frequently during the period, said the SP.

He said that some more persons were also involved in the murder, and a search was on to nab them.

The investigation involves allegations of kidnapping for ransom, criminal conspiracy, extortion, and destruction of evidence. In India, murder investigations are typically led by local police, who gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a case for prosecution. The accused will be brought before the courts to determine their guilt or innocence.
Odisha Police have arrested a man in connection with the brutal murder of his former lover, allegedly hiring a contract killer after she planned to marry someone else.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Odisha Police arrested Suryakant Swain for the murder of his former lover in Jagatsinghpur.

Swain allegedly hired a contract killer from Jamshedpur after suspecting the woman of infidelity.

The victim had previously filed a police complaint against Swain, leading to his arrest and subsequent release on bail.

Swain was upset that the woman was to marry another person and allegedly orchestrated her murder.

Odisha Police on Thursday arrested a 30-year-old man for the murder of a 24-year-old woman, whose mutilated body was found in a farmland in Jagatsinghpur district recently, officials said.

The accused, identified as Suryakant Swain alias Bubu, a former lover of the victim, hails from Jagatsinghpur district.

He was arrested in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur, where he ran an auto parts business, and was brought back to Odisha. He was also engaged in a fishing boat business in Paradip and Astaranga and frequently visited Jagatsinghpur in connection with his work.

The Relationship And Its Breakdown

Police said Swain came in contact with the woman in 2016 through common friends. They grew close through regular phone conversations and personal meetings.

"When the woman came to know that Swain was married, she started distancing herself. However, he assured her that he would marry her and purchased a homestead plot in her name in 2020 at a price of Rs 12 lakh. He had also purchased a LIC bond worth Rs 10 lakh in her name," a senior police officer said.

Suspicions And Previous Arrest

However, Swain started suspecting that the woman was in a relationship with another person. The victim had earlier lodged a police complaint, following which Swain was arrested in 2024. He was later released on bail after a compromise. Out of anger, he transferred the land to a relative and cut off contact with her, he said.

The Alleged Contract Killing

On learning that the woman was to marry another person on May 10, Swain allegedly hired a contract killer from Jamshedpur and had her hacked to death in the evening of April 20. The weapon used in the crime has been seized, the officer said.

"The accused has confessed to the crime and participated in scene reconstruction," Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police Ankit Verma told reporters, adding that efforts were underway to nab the hired killer.

The Odisha police are continuing their investigation to apprehend the alleged contract killer hired by the accused. In India, murder investigations involve collecting forensic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and establishing a motive to build a case for prosecution.
A protest in Kerala over the suspected suicide of a Dalit student at a dental college turned violent as Youth League activists clashed with police, demanding justice and alleging institutional harassment.

Photograph: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo

Key Points Youth League activists protested at a dental college in Kerala following the death of a Dalit student, Nithin Raj.

Protesters clashed with police, demanding action against faculty members allegedly responsible for Raj's death.

Dalit organisations are alleging institutional murder and demanding compensation for the student's family.

Police have registered a case against two faculty members for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act.

The student's family claims the loan issue alone could not have led to his death, suggesting other factors were involved.

Youth League (YL) activists on Thursday held a protest march to the private dental college at Anjarakandy here where a first-year BDS Dalit student died in a suspected suicide earlier this month.

Activists of YL, the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), shouted slogans against the institution and then circumvented the barriers set up by the police, which were present in large numbers with riot gear, to rush into the main entrance of the college.

As the police tried to stop and remove them, the protestors clashed with them, resulting in push-and-pull between the two sides within the college campus, according to visuals shown on TV channels.

Demands for Justice in Dalit Student Death Case

The protestors are demanding action against the faculty members allegedly responsible for the death of Nithin Raj (22), who was found critically injured after falling from the college building on April 10 and later succumbed to his injuries.

Recently, the action council of several Dalit organisations in Kerala demanded Rs 10 crore compensation from the state government for the student's family and also called for a statewide hartal on April 28 to protest his death, alleging it was institutional murder rather than suicide.

Police Investigation and Allegations of Caste Discrimination

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.

Dr M K Ram and Dr Sangeetha have been named as accused in the case for abetment of suicide and offences under the SC/ST Act. They have filed petitions seeking anticipatory bail before a district court.

College Management's Statement on Student Loan

According to the college 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.

Police have lodged two FIRs against separate online loan apps in connection with the student's death and arrested three persons from Uttar Pradesh in one of the cases.

The three arrested individuals were reportedly running a loan app operation from Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

Raj's family has claimed that the loan issue alone could not have led to his death.

The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act aims to protect members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from discrimination and atrocities. Cases registered under this Act are investigated and prosecuted by state police, with special courts often designated to handle such cases. The outcome of the investigation and the court proceedings will determine whether the accused faculty members are found guilty of the alleged offences.
Amritsar Police successfully dismantled a cross-border drug and arms smuggling operation, arresting three individuals and seizing a substantial amount of methamphetamine and firearms.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Amritsar Police busted a cross-border drug and arms smuggling module, arresting three men.

Police recovered 915 grams of ICE (methamphetamine) and five sophisticated pistols.

The arrested individuals were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers via social media.

Contraband was being received through drones from across the border.

The accused acted as local handlers for distributing drugs and illegal arms in India.

The Amritsar Police on Thursday said it had busted a cross-border drug and arms smuggling module by arresting three men and recovering from their possession 915 grams of ICE (methamphetamine).

Details of the Arrest and Seized Items

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said five sophisticated pistols with two live cartridges were also recovered from their possession.

Those arrested were identified as Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, 21, Sola Singh, alias Sonu, 29, and Karan Singh, 22, all from Sahanke village in Ferozepur.

The firearms seized were two 9MM Glock and three .30 bore pistols.

Modus Operandi of the Smuggling Ring

Yadav said investigation revealed that the three were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through social media and were receiving contrabands through drones from across the border.

They were acting as local handlers for the distribution of drugs and illegal arms in India, he said.

Investigation and Further Details

Sharing operational details, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the arrests were made based on secret information.

He said their probe has revealed that consignment of drugs and weapons were dropped in densely forested areas of the Ferozepur sector.

The accused used to retrieve these consignments from such locations and supply them to different areas, he added.

Cross-border smuggling of drugs and arms has been a persistent challenge for Indian law enforcement agencies, particularly in regions bordering Pakistan. The use of drones to transport contraband highlights the evolving tactics employed by smuggling networks. Indian authorities have been working to enhance border security measures to counter these activities.
A 15-year-old girl's delivery in Jalandhar has led to the filing of a Zero FIR for an alleged rape in Amritsar, highlighting the critical issue of child sexual abuse and legal recourse under the POCSO Act.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 15-year-old girl in Jalandhar delivered a baby after allegedly being raped in Amritsar.

The victim, a class 9 student, had been living with her aunt in Jalandhar for the past seven months.

Police have registered a Zero FIR in the case, as the alleged rape occurred in Amritsar.

The accused, a 16-year-old boy, has been booked under the POCSO Act and the BNS.

The girl revealed the alleged rape after experiencing severe abdominal pain and discovering her pregnancy.

A 15-year-old girl has delivered a baby in Jalandhar, months after she was allegedly raped by a boy in Amritsar, police said on Thursday.

The class 9 student has been living with her aunt in Jalandhar for the past seven months, said the aunt who filed the complaint of rape to the police.

Zero FIR Filed in Alleged Rape Case

When contacted over phone on Thursday, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phillaur, Bharat Masih said, "We have registered a Zero FIR in the matter as the alleged rape took place in Amritsar.." He said the accused is aged 16 years old.

The victim's aunt said in her complaint that a month and a half back, the teenager complained of abdominal pain, due to which, she was taken for a checkup to a private doctor in Jalandhar's Nurmahal. The doctor prescribed some medicines, she said.

Discovery of Pregnancy and Subsequent Birth

On April 19, the girl complained of severe abdominal pain, after which she took the teenager to a private hospital in Phillaur in Jalandhar. The doctor there referred the girl to another hospital, where she was told that she was pregnant.

Later, she gave birth to a baby in the hospital. When the girl's aunt asked her about her pregnancy, she said that a boy in Amritsar who lived in her locality had raped her, the complainant said.

Accused Booked Under POCSO Act

A police station under Jalandhar Rural police jurisdiction has registered a Zero FIR in the matter and the boy has been booked under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act and the BNS on April 20, police said.

A Zero FIR is an FIR that can be filed in any police station, irrespective of place of incident/jurisdiction and the same can be later transferred to the appropriate police station.

A Zero FIR allows a victim to file a police report at any station, regardless of where the incident occurred, ensuring immediate action. This mechanism is particularly important in cases like this, where the crime occurred in a different jurisdiction from where the victim currently resides. The POCSO Act aims to protect children from sexual offences and ensure justice for survivors.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) has unveiled its 'Akali Declaration 2026', a comprehensive vision document outlining the party's commitment to the 'Panth', Punjab's development, and internal reforms.

Key Points SAD (Punar Surjit) launched 'Akali Declaration 2026', a vision document focusing on the 'Panth' and Punjab's progress.

The document prioritises education, health, and addressing unemployment and drug issues among Punjab's youth.

Internal reforms within SAD (Punar Surjit) include 'one leader, one post' and limiting the party president's term.

'Akali Declaration 2026' emphasises the philosophy of the Sikh Gurus and safeguarding the independence of Takht Jathedars.

SAD (Punar Surjit) aims to form alliances, including with SAD (Waris Punjab De), for 'Panthic unity'.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) on Thursday launched its 'vision document' laying out its ideological direction and commitment to the rise of the 'Panth' besides outlining the roadmap for youth, farmers, women, and other sections in Punjab, and said it is committed to the progress and prosperity of the state.

With the state assembly polls due early next year, SAD (Punar Surjit), a breakaway faction of the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal, rolled out its document which it called 'Akali declaration 2026'.

Key Priorities of 'Akali Declaration 2026'

The vision document was launched by SAD (Punar Surjit) president Giani Harpreet Singh alongside party leaders Bibi Jagir Kaur, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Sucha Singh Chhottepur, Karnail Singh Peermohammad, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Gobind Singh Longowal and several other senior leaders.

Speaking to media here, the SAD (Punar Surjit) president said a seven-member committee was constituted to prepare a new 'Panth- and Punjab-oriented agenda' for the party's emerging leadership.

The committee, headed by Iqbal Singh Jhunda, held more than 35 meetings and prepared the document after extensive discussion and serious deliberation.

After detailed consideration by the senior leadership at the party level, it was decided to release this document to the people of Punjab.

Singh said this 'Akali Declaration 2026' comprises everything concerning 'Panth' and Punjabis.

He added that 'Akali Declaration 2026' is not an election manifesto, but the party's own vision document, laying out its ideological direction, organisational discipline, and long-term commitment to the rise of the 'Panth' and the rebuilding of Punjab.

The document addresses every major issue connected with the future of Punjab and reflects the party's effort to provide a principled and structured direction to public life, he said.

He said this document was prepared by a seven-member committee led by party leader Jhunda.

Focus on Youth, Education, and Health

"'Panthic' issues will be one of the priority areas for the party," said Singh.

He further said the focus of his party will also be on education and health, asserting that these two sectors are the main foundation of a robust state.

According to him, youths play an important role in the country's development. "However, today youths are directionless," said Singh as he lashed out at the successive governments for failing to end unemployment and wipe out the drug menace from the state.

He said his party will give 40 per cent tickets to youths in elections.

Slamming the AAP government over the issue of debt, he said it had promised to make Punjab a debt-free state. However, it added burden on the state's exchequer with more borrowings, he said.

Singh said the majority of the state funds were being spent on salaries, pensions and repayment of loans.

Internal Reforms and Party Structure

Party leader Iqbal Singh Jhunda said the document lays down a clear framework for internal reform and disciplined political functioning within the party.

He said the principles of 'one leader, one post' and 'one family, one ticket' would be implemented.

The term of the party president, he said, would be three years and no one would be able to continue in that post for more than two consecutive terms.

He said that the party president would not contest elections, and if he wished to do so, he would have to resign from the presidency one year in advance.

Jhunda also said that the age limit for the party's youth wing would be 37 years.

'Panthic' Direction and Future Steps

He noted that the document calls for the revival of the All India Sikh Students Federation and the formation of its units in colleges and universities.

Referring to the 'Panthic' direction contained in the document, he said that 'Akali Declaration 2026' emphasises the propagation and dissemination of the philosophy of the 10 Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib, which would help restore the original character and spirit of the Akali Dal.

He added that efforts would also be made to establish an appropriate framework to safeguard the independent status of the Jathedars of all Takhts, including Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

He said the document seriously addresses the concerns of every section of Punjab so that the state may be rebuilt by taking all sections of society along.

He said this, in essence, is the true role and responsibility of a regional party in Punjab.

Emphasising the seriousness of the exercise, Jhunda said that work toward implementing the party's internal vision would begin immediately, and that unlike token political documents, this would be treated as a living direction for the organisation.

The party also clarified that its election manifesto would be prepared separately at the appropriate time as a common minimum programme in consultation with alliance partners.

A few days ago, SAD (Punar Surjit) and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh-led SAD (Waris Punjab De) formed a 'panthic unity coordination committee' to work towards an alliance between the two parties.

Giani Harpreet Singh, the former Akal Takht Jathedar, was appointed president of SAD (Punar Surjit) in August 2025.

SAD (Punar Surjit) was formed by rebel Akali leaders including Bibi Jagir Kaur, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Iqbal Singh Jhundan.

The Shiromani Akali Dal has seen several splits and factions over the years, often based on ideological differences or leadership disputes. The 'Akali Declaration 2026' represents an attempt by SAD (Punar Surjit) to distinguish itself and offer a distinct vision for Punjab. The party aims to address key issues facing the state and its people, while also focusing on internal reforms and 'Panthic' principles.
The Supreme Court has put a hold on Amit Jogi's life sentence in the Ramavatar Jaggi murder case, reopening scrutiny of the controversial 2003 incident.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points The Supreme Court stayed Amit Jogi's life sentence in the 2003 Ramavatar Jaggi murder case.

The Chhattisgarh High Court had recently convicted Amit Jogi and directed him to surrender.

A trial court had previously acquitted Amit Jogi in 2007, while convicting other accused.

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the CBI on Jogi's plea against the High Court verdict.

The case was reopened following Supreme Court directions on an appeal by the CBI.

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Chhattisgarh High Court verdict which had handed down life imprisonment to Amit Jogi, son of former chief minister Ajit Jogi, in the 2003 murder case of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi.

The high court recently convicted Jogi in the case and directed him to surrender before jail authorities.

Background of the Amit Jogi Murder Case

On May 31, 2007, a trial court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges against 28 accused.

It, however, acquitted Amit Jogi, the president of the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J), founded by his late father, of the charges levelled against him.

Supreme Court Intervention

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi took note of the submissions of senior advocates Vivek Tankha and Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jogi, while staying his conviction and the sentence in the case.

Senior advocates Sidhharth Luthra and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the victim's family member, opposed the submission.

While staying the HC verdict, the top court also issued a notice to the CBI on the plea of Jogi.

Jogi had moved the top court against the high court verdict.

Reopening of the Case

The HC had reopened proceedings in the 2003 murder case last month following directions from the Supreme Court on an appeal by the CBI.

The case, which was initially investigated by the state police, was later transferred to the CBI, which filed a charge sheet against several accused, including Amit Jogi.

Jaggi was murdered on June 4, 2003, when Ajit Jogi was the chief minister of Chhattisgarh.

The case has seen multiple twists, with an initial acquittal followed by a High Court conviction, now stayed by the Supreme Court. The CBI's involvement highlights the complexities of the investigation into the murder that occurred when Amit Jogi's father was Chief Minister. Such cases in India often involve lengthy legal battles and intense scrutiny from both the public and the involved parties.
The Supreme Court has provided relief to Amit Jogi by staying the Chhattisgarh High Court's verdict that sentenced him to life imprisonment in the 2003 murder case of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points The Supreme Court stayed the Chhattisgarh High Court's verdict sentencing Amit Jogi to life imprisonment.

Amit Jogi was convicted in the 2003 murder case of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi.

The case was initially investigated by state police and later transferred to the CBI.

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the CBI on Jogi's plea against the high court verdict.

The High Court reopened proceedings following Supreme Court directions on a CBI appeal.

In a major relief to Amit Jogi, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Chhattisgarh High Court verdict, which had handed down life imprisonment to the son of former chief minister Ajit Jogi in the 2003 murder case of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ramvatar Jaggi was shot dead in Raipur on June 4, 2003, when Ajit Jogi was the chief minister of Chhattisgarh.

High Court Conviction and Appeal

The Chhattisgarh High Court, on April 2, convicted Jogi and directed him to surrender before jail authorities in three weeks to undergo life imprisonment in the case.

On May 31, 2007, a trial court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges against 28 accused.

It, however, acquitted Amit Jogi, the president of the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J), founded by his late father, of the charges levelled against him.

Supreme Court Intervention

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi took note of the submissions of senior advocates Vivek Tankha and Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jogi, while staying his conviction and the sentence in the case.

Senior advocates Sidhharth Luthra and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the victim's family member, opposed the submission.

While staying the HC verdict, the top court also issued a notice to the CBI on the plea of Jogi.

Jogi had moved the top court against the high court verdict.

Background of the Case

The HC had reopened proceedings in the 2003 murder case last month following directions from the Supreme Court on an appeal by the CBI.

The case, which was initially investigated by the state police, was later transferred to the CBI, which filed a charge sheet against several accused, including Amit Jogi.

The top court, in November last year, had said though the CBI had filed the application after a significant delay, it was equally true that "the charges against respondent Amit Jogi were very grave, involving a conspiracy to murder a member of a rival political party".

The deceased was a close confidant of the then state NCP chief V C Shukla.

The Supreme Court's decision provides temporary relief to Amit Jogi while the case continues. Murder cases in India typically involve investigation by police, followed by a trial in the lower courts, and appeals can be made to higher courts like the High Court and Supreme Court. The CBI's involvement indicates the perceived seriousness and complexity of the case.
A devastating multi-vehicle collision in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur claimed the lives of 11 people, including children, prompting a swift response from authorities and condolences from the Chief Minister.

IMAGE: According to preliminary findings, a truck travelling downhill is suspected to have suffered a brake failure before ramming into another truck moving ahead of it. Photograph: ANI video grab

Key Points Eleven people, including children, died in a major road accident in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.

The accident involved multiple vehicles and was reportedly caused by a truck experiencing brake failure.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and directed officials to provide treatment for the injured.

The collision occurred on National Highway-135, causing significant disruption and requiring a rescue operation.

Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the deadly road accident in Mirzapur.

Eleven people, including children, were killed in a multi-vehicle collision triggered by a suspected brake failure in a truck in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur district, police said on Thursday.

The accident was reported around 8.30 pm on Wednesday, following which police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation with the help of locals, SP Aparna Rajat Kaushik said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the loss of lives in what he called an "extremely tragic and heart-rending" incident.

Details of the Mirzapur Road Accident

Police said the collision occurred on a stretch of National Highway-135 descending from the Dramandganj valley towards Lasoda, about 50 km from the district headquarters.

According to preliminary findings, a truck travelling downhill is suspected to have suffered a brake failure before ramming into another truck moving ahead of it.

A car travelling between the two trucks was crushed in the impact. In the chain collision that followed, another car caught fire after being hit, Kaushik said.

"Police, along with locals, pulled out the victims trapped in the mangled vehicles. So far, 11 deaths have been reported," the SP said.

Victims Identified in the Fatal Crash

District Magistrate Pawan Gangwar told PTI that seven of those killed were from Mirzapur district, three from Madhya Pradesh, while one was from neighbouring Sonbhadra district.

The deceased from Mirzapur's Jigna area included Shiva Singh (8), Sonam Singh (9), Piyush Singh (14), Pankaj Singh (40), Vandana Singh (43), Vishnu Singh (45) and Veena Singh (47).

The others who died in the accident included Kartikeya Singh (18) and Priyanka Singh (42) from Satna in Madhya Pradesh, Vikas Sharma (32) from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh, and Jai Prakash (27) from Sonbhadra, the officials said.

Response and Investigation into the Accident

The vehicles involved in the crash included a truck bearing a Bihar registration number and another registered in Madhya Pradesh. Among the cars, one was from Sonbhadra district and the other from Mirzapur.

In a post on X Thursday morning, Adityanath said, "The loss of lives in the road accident in Mirzapur is extremely tragic and heart-rending. My condolences are with the bereaved families."

"Instructions have been issued to the officials concerned to ensure proper treatment for the injured," he said.

"I pray to Lord Ram that the departed souls attain eternal peace, the grief-stricken families are granted the strength to bear this immense sorrow, and the injured recover swiftly," the chief minister added.

Gangwar said the bodies have been sent to the mortuary and the victims' families have been informed.

Efforts are underway to restore traffic movement on the affected stretch, and a detailed probe has been initiated to ascertain the exact cause of the accident, police said.

Road accidents are a major cause of fatalities in India. Preliminary findings suggest a brake failure led to the multi-vehicle collision. Authorities have initiated a detailed probe to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Q: Why are Chinas economic and political reforms and planning since 1949 considered to have laid the foundation for its rise?

A:

Chinas economic and political evolution is guided by Marxist theory and has been implemented by Mao, drawing on his artistic skills as a statesman. The trajectory of China's rising follows basically Maos blueprint.

Many Chinese nationalists wanted industrialization and modernization since the Opium War of 1940. They have sought solutions for China in European theories and practices.

The Self-Strengthening Movement, also known as the Westernization or Western Affairs Movement (18611895), was led by Prince Gong, Zeng Guofan, and Li Hongzhang. They want to learn from Prussia, and their idol was Bismarck. The movement failed. The First Sino-Japanese War destroyed all their dream.

There was also the Hundred Days' Reform or Wuxu Reform, led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao in 1898. They want to learn from Britain and establish a constitutional monarchy. Their reform failed in a hundred days, and many members of the revolution party were prosecuted. Kang and Liang were exiled to Canada.

There was also the 1911 Revolution, also known as the Xinhai Revolution, led by Sun Yat-sen, learning the USA. Sun was successful in overthrowing the Qin Dynasty and establishing the Republic of China; the government now resides in the Taiwan province. But that did not help China in industrialization and modernization. The Western powers still dominated the politics and economy of China. China was still invaded time and again by the imperialist powers from foreign countries.

Some today blame China for refusing to learn from Western democracy. They are wrong. The Chinese have had too much bloodshed and sacrifices, learning all forms of democracy from the West. Do you see the failed states in the Middle East after democratic regime changes? Do you see the refugees from countries promoting Western democracy? China had the same experience a century ago.

Then there was the May Fourth Movement in 1919, against imperialism. China was the victim of Western imperialism. The Chinese realized that when foreign powers dominated Chinas politics and economy, China could never accomplish industrialization and modernization.

When the Chinese felt hopeless, the October Revolution of Russia in 1917 shed light on China. A group of nationalists established the Communist Party of China in 1921. They were, too, learning from the West, Marxism. Some say that China is too stubborn to learn from the West. They are wrong. What we witness in todays China is a result of learning from the West. What you see in China is different from the West because learning from the West is like eating beef. Eating beef will not grow the muscles of a cow. Eating beef will still grow human muscles. China learns from the West, but China rises as China.

In 1923, Lenin decided to support China against imperialism. Lenin provided weapons and funding to Sun Yat-sen and the Nationalist Party, the KMT. Lenin helped the KMT establish the Whampoa Military Academy. Lenin believed the KMT should be the leader in the Chinese Revolution because China was a argriculture society and needed a capitalist revolution. The Communist Party of China obeyed the Communist International, supporting the KMT. Moscow trained carders for KMT and CPC alike.

In 1927, the KMT massacred the CPC, a white terror. The Chinese communists, who had learned in Europe or Moscow, took the October Revolution as an example, organized the Guangzhou Uprising and Nanchang Uprising in cities, relying on workers and soldiers. They failed. Mao, instead, organized the Autumn Harvest Uprising in the countryside, relying on peasants. Guess what? Who was more of a Marxist? If the Communist International supported the KMT, thinking that what China needed was a capitalist revolution, then Mao was right according to Marxist theory. If the Chinese Revolution was a proleitarian revolution, then an uprising in cities relying on workers and soldiers should be the correct maneuver. If the Chinese Revolution was a capitalist revolution, as the Communist International categorized, Mao was right in relying on peasants and the bourgeoisie in the revolution. Maos uprising survived and established a soviet power in the countryside. Communists were killed in the Guangzhou uprising, and the fleeing troops from the Nanchang Uprising, which had more connections to the Communist International, joined Mao for survival.

The Soviet power reign larger and larger area, under Maos leadership. There were 28 and a half Bolsheviks, the Chinese communists trained in Moscow, who took power and marginalized Mao, because they had the authority of the Communist International. It was a downturn for the Chinese Revolution. Under the guidance of the Communist International, the Chinese Soviet Power weakened, and the area and population under the Soviet government shrank. The 28 and a half Bolsheviks ruined the Chinese Revolution. The Chinese Red Army had to abandon the Soviet bases and began the Long March, and was almost annihilated during the Long March. Night after night, the Red Army died on the battlefield.

In Zunyi, a town in Guizhou province, they have to decide what to do next with the exhausted Red army, surrounded by the KMT army, overwhelmingly with airplanes and cannons.

In Zunyi, the Red Army had no communication with the Communist International. The Communist International could not make decisions for the Red Army. The Red Amy remembered that they could grow successfully under Maos leadership. Mao returned to the leadership.

In the Yalta conference, Stalin recognized the KMT as the leader of China. He expected the Communist Party of China, like the Communist Party of France, to give up arms, and like other communist parties in Western Europe. Chiang Kai-sheks son had studied in Moscow. The Soviet Union had signed a treaty with the Republic of China.

Yet, to the surprise of Stalin and Eisenhower, Mao took the mainland and drove Chiang to Taiwan. Mao might have taken Taiwan, too, if it were not for the Seventh Fleet cruising in the Taiwan Strait.

In 1940, Mao wrote an article stipulating that the capitalist revolution in China could only be successful under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

Mao led the Chinese Revolution, and that was a capitalist revolution too. Mao established the Peoples Republic of China, but didnt call it a communist China. It was, at the beginning, a capitalist China.

In 1947, at the Congress of the Communist Party of China, the party decided to carry out 30 years of capitalist development after the CPC took power in China. In 1949, actually, in 1946, during the civil war, the CPC had begun the land reform, the capitalist revolution, redistributed land to every peasant, turning peasants into the bourgeoisie. Then, in 1950, the Korean War broke out. China was drawn into the Korean War. For the defense, China had to make weapons. To make weapons, China had to have heavy industries. But heavy industry had no market in China. Individual peasant cannont affort to buy farming machines. China had the socialist revolution: the Peoples Communes, and the reform of the private enterprises. The state-owned enterprises and the Peoples Communes provide the market for China's heavy industry. For the Korean War, Stalin was willing to help China build heavy industry. Mao would not refuse this opportunity and would use the socialist revolution to accommodate the heavy industry. China was the most backward country in 1949, with steel production and the length of railway far behind India.

In 1956, Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev gave a secret speech within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which began the De-Stalinization Campaign. Mao criticized Khrushchev as a revisionist in 1961 and broke away from the Soviet Union. Mao considered Khrushchev a traitor to the socialist movement of the world. Mao believed that the Russian Revolution had failed. Mao was correct. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 proved Maos judgment. In 1962, India provoked China at the border, and the Soviet Union was behind the scenes. That puzzled Mao more. Why did the USSR want a military attack on China?

In 1966, Mao went back to his hometown, isolated himself from everyone else for twelve days, pondering what China should do to avoid the fate of the USSR. He must consider all possible scenarios of what to do with the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution to prevent China from failing the socialist revolution. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was a communist revolution, preventing China from falling back into capitalism.

From 1949 to 1979, for thirty years, China carried out three revolutions: The land reform, the capitalist revolution; the Great Leap Forward, and the Peoples Communes, the socialist revolution; and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, the communist revolution. Thats not what Mao planned in 1947. China carried out the socialist revolution and communist revolution in response to the US and USSR pressure. It was the international environment that forced Mao to take measures for the survival of Red China. This was the Mao era. The Mao era accomplished the task of standing up as an independent country. The Deng era accomplished the task of getting rich. The Xi era will fulfill the task of making China strong.

The Mao era ended with Nixon's visit. Mao finally secured a peaceful international environment for China to develop. In 1979, China resumed the normal diplomatic relationship with the US and its allies. China was recognized as a member of the UN and recognized by almost all countries. Thats the fundamental prerequisite for economic growth, industrialization, and modernization. Its time to come back to the blueprint laid out in 1947, 30 years of the capitalist economy, the Deng era.

In 2012, Xi was in power. The 30 years of the capitalist economy ended, just as Mao had planned in 1947. He began Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. All the capitalist traits tolerated in the Deng Era were not tolerated under Xi. Poverty must be eliminated. Poverty is tolerated in capitalism but not tolerated in socialism. Solidification of social stratification should be prevented. Class formation is allowed in capitalism but not allowed in socialism. Xi banned private schools in China. No one can become an economic-political elite solely because his or her family is rich and can afford special education. China is resilient because it has the most fluid social mobility. The most fluid social mobility brings China the most vibrant economy. You can be a social elite if you are talented and work hard in China. You cannot get into the circle of the social elite just because you are rich. Thats the Chinese Dream. Everyone is equal, rich and poor, to realize their best potential and fulfill their dream based on effort, not on economic status.

China learns from the West, eating beef and growing human muscles. China learns a lot from the West but keeps its own identity. Maos thought is Confucianized Marxism. Dengs theory is Confucianized capitalism. Xis Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is the Renaissance of Chinese Civilization, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. China comes back to the center of the world as it used to be in the last five thousand years. The Chinese Civilization has contributed the most to the progress of Homo Sapiens, and will continue to do so. Because the Chinese Civilization is humanitarian, putting humans at the centre of the universe. China is the civilization of mankind, for the mankind and by the mankind. China is the future of mankind.
The Vanniyar vote can tip the balance in 70 to 75 assembly constituencies of the 234 in the state, mainly in the Ranipet, Vellore, Thiruppathur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Arani, Villupuram and Kallakurichi districts.

IMAGE: Dr Anbumani Ramadoss campaigns in Dharmapuri town for the Tamil Nadu elections. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Anbumani Ramadoss/X

Key Points PMK faces internal split between S Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss ahead of Tamil Nadu elections, creating voter uncertainty.

Vanniyar community, influential in 70-75 constituencies, may see divided voting due to leadership conflict and factional alignments.

Anbumani-led faction controls party symbol and aligns with AIADMK-BJP alliance, actively campaigning across north Tamil Nadu.

S Ramadoss faction joins Sasikala-led alliance, fielding candidates that could split votes and weaken PMK's electoral impact.

Political observers say PMK's division could reshape alliances, potentially benefiting BJP while complicating DMK-led coalition prospects.

It was the hottest political story in the 1980s and 1990s.

Vanniyar consolidation in Tamil Nadu, the electoral success of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and the emergence of a father-and-son team -- Dr S Ramadoss and Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, both in the medical profession -- as leaders of a community that is 12 to 15 per cent of the population, told the tale of how a small community managed to use political arbitrage to prise gains from the system.

However, ahead of the assembly elections, a bitter split in the father-and-son team and a horizontal division in the PMK cadre have injected uncertainty into the community and could cause an unpredictable electoral outcome.

The Vanniyars are a 'backward class' community largely in north Tamil Nadu, engaged mostly in agriculture.

A large section comprises landless labourers.

S Ramadoss founded the Vanniyar Sangam in 1980.

In 1987, the organisation led an agitation demanding 'Most Backward Class' (MBC) status for the Vanniyars.

In 1989, the state government, run by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), accepted the demand, granting reservation in education and employment.

S Ramadoss subsequently founded the PMK in July that year.

Since then, the PMK has been on a steady course: Using the benefits of reservation to secure government jobs and education.

D Ravikumar, the Lok Sabha member from Villupuram and representing the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) party, has a large number of Vanniyars in his constituency.

He told Business Standard on the phone while campaigning: "The Vanniyars are definitely in a better economic position and the credit for this goes largely to S Ramadoss."

S Ramadoss steered the PMK over the years, securing 3 to 4 per cent of the vote, though the seats it managed to win were a function of the strength of the alliance it joined.

It has managed to switch alliances led by the two main political parties in Tamil Nadu -- the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) -- with aplomb (see chart).

Father-Son Rift Deepens Crisis

On the strength of its arbitrage, the PMK managed to secure positions in the Union Cabinet several times. Currently Anbumani is a Rajya Sabha member.

But the crisis in the party, starting in 2022, when Anbumani (57) became its president, and curtailing the role of the father (86), culminated in an organisational split.

"The party is with Anbumani. Dr Ramadoss has been left with nothing," said a Congress MP.

The Election Commission awarded the symbol and the name to Anbumani, who decided the PMK would join the AIADMK-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance.

Anbumani campaigned all over North Tamil Nadu with the BJP and AIADMK flags fluttering alongside that of the PMK.

At a meeting in Chennai, when he launched his campaign, he said Chief Minister M K Stalin was focusing only on 'advertisements' without being aware of what was happening in the state.

'With the passing of M Karunanidhi, social justice has ended in the DMK.'

The smaller faction, led by S Ramadoss, has joined the alliance led by Sasikala's All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK), largely considered a non-starter.

The party was launched only on March 13 this year. Sasikala was an associate of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa and was forced to leave the AIADMK after Jayalalithaa's death.

The split has confused the PMK's voters.

Narasimhana has been a PMK supporter for many years. He told Business Standard on the phone from Chennai: "Even today, the son lacks the political clarity the father has."

But another supporter, Manokaran, said: "In the Vanniyar community, respect for the senior Ramadoss is decreasing. He should let Anbumani Sir lead."

On the other hand, Ravikumar had this to say: "The split may prove damaging (to the PMK vote) in certain constituencies."

However, he added: "Anbumani is aligned with the BJP and this division could jeopardise the (DMK-led) alliance."

The PMK-AIADMK alliance will add value to the BJP in 30-odd constituencies, according to the Congress MP.

This much is true: While it is hard to verify the data, the Vanniyar vote can tip the balance in 70 to 75 assembly constituencies of the 234 in the state, mainly in the Ranipet, Vellore, Thiruppathur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Arani, Villupuram and Kallakurichi districts.

The Anbumani-led PMK is contesting 18 seats.

However, the younger Ramadoss's furious campaigning all over north Tamil Nadu, mainly deriding the DMK, could end up being hugely beneficial to the BJP, which is seeking a toehold in the assembly.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
A Thane court acquitted five men accused of human trafficking, citing critical failures in the prosecution's case, including the non-examination of key witnesses and victims.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Thane court acquits five men accused of human trafficking due to a weak prosecution case.

Key witnesses, including the victims and the police officer who laid the trap, were not examined.

The court highlighted significant failures in the police investigation and prosecution's presentation of evidence.

The prosecution relied heavily on a 'bogus customer' whose testimony was deemed unreliable.

The court emphasised that it cannot fill gaps in a weak prosecution, even in cases of serious social menace like human trafficking.

A Thane court has acquitted five men charged with human trafficking and running a flesh trade, citing a "grave and fatal lacuna" in the prosecution's case, including the non-examination of key witnesses and the victims.

While acknowledging the social menace of human trafficking, Additional Sessions Judge Vasudha L Bhosale, in the order on April 21, emphasised that the court cannot fill gaps in a weak prosecution.

Failures in Police Investigation

The case originated from a police raid conducted on December 29, 2020, at a hotel in the Mira Road area of Maharashtra's Thane district, where two women - one from Bangladesh and another from West Bengal - were rescued from commercial sexual exploitation.

The court, however, highlighted significant failures in the police investigation and the prosecution's presentation.

Critical Witness Not Examined

The non-examination of a police officer, who laid the trap to apprehend the accused is the most critical witness, is a "grave and fatal lacuna" in the prosecution's case, the judge observed.

Victim Testimony Crucial

In a case of trafficking, the testimony of the victims is of cardinal importance. Their non-examination deprives the prosecution of the most direct and natural evidence available, the court said.

Unreliable Witness Testimony

The prosecution's case relied heavily on a "bogus customer", who turned hostile, testifying that he never participated in a raid or signed any panchanama as a willing witness.

"The prosecution case rests on the testimony of the complainant police officer and a repeated police panch...Such a witness occupies a peculiar position: he is neither an independent panch, nor an independent customer. His deposition requires the strictest scrutiny," the court observed.

It also pointed out that the hotel owners were not charge-sheeted, leaving only lower-level employees to face trial.

The inadequacy of the evidence in the present case is not a mere technical deficiency, it collectively renders the prosecution's case insufficient to sustain a conviction. The accused are entitled to the benefit of doubt, the court said.

It ordered the immediate discharge of bail bonds of the accused -- Vijay Balkrushna Kadam, Vijay Dwarka Yadav, Vijay Khushiyal Saw, Shambhu Siddheshwar Saw and Satish Mahabala Shetty -- acquitting them of all charges under Section 370(3) (human trafficking) of the Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Cases of human trafficking often involve complex investigations and sensitive victim support. In India, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act aims to combat commercial sexual exploitation. The acquittal highlights the importance of thorough evidence gathering and witness examination in prosecuting such cases.
Two officials from the Thane Zilla Parishad have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly taking a bribe to release retirement benefits, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Maharashtra.

Key Points Two Thane Zilla Parishad officials arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs 20,000 bribe.

The officials allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh from a retired teacher to release his retirement benefits.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau laid a trap and caught one official red-handed accepting the bribe.

Both officials have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two officials of the Thane Zilla Parishad in Maharashtra for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a retired teacher, officials said on Thursday.

Bribery Demand and Initial Payment

The accused allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from the teacher, against whom a departmental inquiry is underway, to facilitate the release of his partial retirement benefits, Thane ACB inspector Pramod Ahire said.

"The teacher had already paid Rs 80,000 to the accused. They were persistently demanding the remaining amount, following which the aggrieved person approached the ACB," he said.

ACB Trap and Arrests

Acting on the complaint, ACB sleuths laid a trap at the Zilla Parishad office and caught a junior administrative officer red-handed while accepting the remaining Rs 20,000 on Wednesday, Ahire said.

The other accused, an assistant administrative officer, was also later apprehended. Both were booked under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the official added.

The Prevention of Corruption Act aims to curb bribery and corrupt practices by public servants. Cases under this Act are investigated by agencies like the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which sets traps to catch officials accepting bribes. Such arrests highlight ongoing efforts to maintain integrity in public administration.
Three men in Ahmedabad have been arrested for allegedly murdering a 19-year-old following a heated argument over a provocative Instagram post, highlighting the dangerous real-world consequences of online disputes.

Key Points Three men arrested in Ahmedabad for the alleged murder of a 19-year-old.

The murder stemmed from a dispute over an old Instagram post.

The victim, Mohammed Salik Imtiyaz Hussain Sheikh, was fatally stabbed.

Another person, Kasib Saiyed, was injured in the attack.

Police have arrested three young men here for allegedly killing a 19-year-old and injuring another person following a dispute over an old Instagram post.

Rehan (20), Faizal Pathan (22) and Faizan Pathan (20), all residents of Juhapura, allegedly stabbed Mohammed Salik Imtiyaz Hussain Sheikh to death on Wednesday night, said inspector R M Chauhan of Vejalpur police station.

The Instagram Post That Triggered the Violence

"The incident occurred around 10:30 pm when Rehan, Faizal and Faizan picked a fight with Salik over an old Instagram story in which he had challenged them saying, 'Tumse jo ho sakta hai kar lo' (do what you can). The post is yet to be recovered from Salik's Instagram archive," the official said.

Details of the Attack

It was Rehan who allegedly caught hold of the victim and stabbed him on the right flank, causing fatal injuries. Another person named Kasib Saiyed was also injured as Faizan allegedly struck him with a stone and Rehan stabbed him on his forearm.

Ongoing Investigation

Further probe is on, the official said.

The Vejalpur police station is investigating the case. In India, social media posts that incite violence can lead to arrests under various laws related to public order and incitement to violence. The investigation will likely focus on the content of the Instagram post and the intent of the accused.
Delhi Police have apprehended three individuals involved in a violent cab robbery, where the driver was assaulted and extorted for the return of his vehicle.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Three men arrested in Delhi for allegedly robbing a cab driver at knifepoint.

The accused assaulted the driver with a beer bottle and stole his cab and mobile phone.

The robbers demanded Rs 20,000 from the victim for the return of the stolen vehicle.

Police recovered the stolen cab and a knife from the accused during the arrest.

The accused confessed to another similar robbery incident in the same area.

Police said Thursday that three men were arrested for allegedly robbing a cab driver at knifepoint, beating him with a beer bottle, and later demanding a Rs 20,000 to return the vehicle.

According to police, the incident took place in the early hours of April 20 when the victim, a cab driver, accepted a ride booked from New Karala Road in Rohini to Chandni Chowk.

Details of the Cab Driver Assault and Robbery

"At around 1 am, when the driver reached the pickup point near Krishna Block, three men, Ravi Kumar (20), Puspender alias Kaale (21) and Hargovind alias Tochi (21), all residents of Jain Nagar in outer Delhi, boarded the cab after sharing the OTP. A short distance into the journey, one of them asked the driver to stop, claiming he had forgotten his mobile phone," a police officer said.

When the driver halted the vehicle, the trio allegedly pulled him out and attacked him with a beer bottle, causing head injuries. They then threatened him with a knife, snatched his mobile phone, robbed the cab and fled towards Hanuman Chowk, police said.

Police Investigation and Arrests

Police said the injured driver made a PCR call from a passerby's mobile phone, and they admitted him to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. Based on his statement, police registered a case at Begumpur police station.

Police said the accused later contacted the victim and demanded Rs 20,000 through UPI for returning the vehicle, sharing a mobile number for the transaction.

During the investigation, a team tracked the suspects, and it recovered the robbed cab from the Vikaspuri area.

"After raids, all three accused were apprehended. Their mobile phones, which contained details of calls and messages used for extortion, were seized," the officer said.

Recovery of Evidence and Confession

A knife was also recovered from Hargovind, and the car along with its original keys was found in their possession.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in another similar incident on April 16 in the same area. In that case, they had robbed another vehicle and a mobile phone.

Police said further investigation is underway.

The First Information Report was registered at Begumpur police station. In India, robbery is a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code, and investigations are typically conducted by local police forces.
Jammu police have apprehended three hardcore criminals in separate operations, seizing drugs, weapons, and cash, as part of a sustained crackdown on crime.

Key Points Jammu police arrested three hardcore criminals in two separate cases.

Amit Kumar was arrested with heroin, live cartridges, and a Beretta pistol.

Lovely Singh and Swaran Singh were arrested with heroin, mobile phones, and cash.

The accused are allegedly involved in serious offences, including abduction and attempt to murder.

Police urge the public to share information on criminal activities.

Police have apprehended three alleged hardcore criminals in two separate cases in the outskirts of Jammu city, a police official said.

Crackdown on Criminal Elements

Superintendent of Police Anna Sinha said that the arrests were part of a sustained crackdown against criminal elements and narcotics trade.

"In one case, the police arrested Amit Kumar, a resident of Sehora, who is involved in multiple criminal cases. He has six FIRs registered against him, including charges of attempt to murder and abduction," she said.

Seizure of Illegal Items

During the operation, the police allegedly recovered 254 grams of heroin, 13 live cartridges and a USA-made Beretta pistol from his possession, she said, adding that a Baleno car allegedly used in the crime was also seized.

In another case, two accused identified as Lovely Singh and Swaran Singh, both residents of R S Pura, were arrested, she said.

Further Investigation Underway

The SP said that the police seized a Thar vehicle, heroin, six mobile phones and Rs 25,000 in cash from their possession.

The official said the accused are also allegedly involved in serious offences, including abduction and attempt to murder, and further investigation is underway to unearth their wider criminal links.

"All the accused have been booked under relevant sections of law, and further investigation is in progress to dismantle the entire network," the SP said.

Public Assistance Requested

The police have urged the public to assist by sharing information related to criminal or drug-related activities and to dial 112 in case of emergencies, she said.

The First Information Report, or FIR, is the initial document police prepare when they receive information about the commission of a cognisable offence. An FIR typically includes details of the incident, the accused, and witnesses, forming the basis for further investigation and potential prosecution.
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are now voting in crucial assembly elections, marking a significant political contest with heightened security and appeals for voter participation.

IMAGE: An elderly couple steps out early in the morning to vote in West Bengal elections. Photograph: @CEOWestBengal/X

Key Points Assembly elections begin in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal with millions of voters eligible to cast their ballots.

The BJP aims to make inroads in West Bengal, while the Trinamool Congress seeks a fourth consecutive term.

Record numbers of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in West Bengal to ensure security during the polls.

In Tamil Nadu, the DMK and AIADMK are vying for power, with actor Vijay's party also in the fray.

Prime Minister Modi urges voters, especially youth and women, to participate enthusiastically in the democratic process.

Voting for Tami Nadu and West Bengal assembly elections has commenced at 7 am.

In the first phase, over 3.60 crore electors are eligible to vote in 152 constituencies in Bengal .

The election is being seen as the BJP's best opportunity to make an early breakthrough and the ruling Trinamool Congress' most important test in its bid for a fourth consecutive term.

IMAGE: An old woman shoes her inked finger after casting vote at a polling station in Kalimpong district of West Bengal. Photograph: @CEOWestBengal/X

Heightened Security Measures For West Bengal Polls

A record 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces, comprising nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, have been deployed across the state for the polls, with over 8,000 polling stations identified as highly sensitive.

The Election Commission has placed districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Birbhum and Purba Bardhaman under special surveillance.

More than 2,193 quick response teams, surveillance units and flying squads have also been deployed to prevent violence and ensure free and fair polling.

The first phase assumes political significance because it includes all 54 seats in north Bengal, the region that powered the BJP's rise in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and helped it emerge as the principal challenger to the TMC in the 2021 assembly polls.

The second phase of polling in West Bengal will be held on April 29.

Tamil Nadu Elections: Key Political Players

In Tamil Nadu, 5.73 crore voters will decide the fortunes of 4,023 candidates.

The DMK, which heads the Secular Progressive Alliance, is seeking to retain power, and is leading a multi-party coalition that includes Congress, Left parties and the VCK. The AIADMK, heading the National Democratic Alliance, on the other hand, is pushing for a return to power with allies BJP, AMMK and PMK, among others, in tow.

Actor Vijay-led TVK is attempting to break the decades long tradition of DMK and AIADMK alternatively ruling the state and form its government.

The TN Assembly is 234-member strong.

Election Commission's Preparations

The Election Commission has deployed 1,06,418 ballot units along with 75,064 control units and VVPAT machines.

To prevent any technical delays, a reserve of 20 per cent for EVMs and 30 per cent for VVPATs is being maintained, according to officials. To ensure peaceful polling, 300 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed, alongside 83,875 state police personnel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to "enthusiastically" take part in the voting for the assembly elections in their states.

Modi especially urged the youth and women of the two states to vote in record numbers.

Polling has started at all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu while voting began for 152 assembly seats, out of the 294, in West Bengal this morning.

"As Tamil Nadu votes in the Assembly elections, I call upon all voters to take part enthusiastically in this sacred duty of democracy. I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers," Modi said in a post on X.

The prime minister, in another post, said, "Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today. I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength. I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers".

Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
The TMC is countering PM Modi's claims about the West Bengal election, asserting that the high voter turnout signals strong support for Mamata Banerjee and her government's development initiatives.

IMAGE: Voters wait in a queue at polling booths in Baharampur and Lalbag areas of Murshidabad during the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, in Murshidabad. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The party projects winning a significant number of seats based on the first phase polling percentage.

TMC dismisses BJP's narrative of anti-incumbency, attributing increased turnout to electoral roll corrections.

The party alleges the Election Commission is biased against Bengal and the TMC.

The Trinamool Congress on Thursday countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the high voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls indicates an "overwhelming mandate for change", claiming that it instead reflects strong backing for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government's development agenda.

Responding to Modi's remarks, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the surge in polling percentage has "decisively gone in favour of the ruling party" and signals a clear rejection of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"The BJP is trying to misread the massive turnout. This is not a vote for change, but a resounding endorsement of Banerjee's governance. The people of Bengal have broken the BJP's backbone in the very first phase, cementing a fourth term for the Mamata Banerjee-led government," Ghosh said at a press conference, citing the poll percentage of around 90 per cent till 5 pm.

The state recorded 89.93 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm, with Dakshin Dinajpur district leading with 93.12 per cent polling.

TMC's projected performance

Projecting a strong performance, he claimed the TMC is set to win "a minimum of 125 seats, which may go up to 132-134" out of the 152 constituencies that went to polls in the first phase.

Ghosh argued that higher turnout would translate into more seats for the TMC, rejecting the opposition's narrative of anti-incumbency.

"The more the voting percentage rises, the more seats TMC will gain. The BJP's morale has collapsed, and that is why they are spinning this false narrative of change," he alleged.

He said the increase in turnout was expected due to corrections in electoral rolls, including the removal of deceased and shifted voters, and accused the BJP of attempting to "distort a natural trend for political survival".

Focus on Nandigram constituency

Turning to Nandigram, Ghosh claimed that the TMC is poised for a decisive victory in the high-profile constituency, targeting the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.

"Reports from Nandigram-1 indicate a huge lead for our candidate, while in Nandigram-2, the BJP has virtually given up. Their candidate is under immense pressure, which is now visible," he said.

Analysis of voter turnout trends

Echoing the party's position, state education minister Bratya Basu said high turnout does not necessarily indicate a regime change, citing past electoral trends.

"In Bihar, we saw a similar pattern where turnout increased significantly, but the government remained unchanged. Bengal is reflecting the same trend," Basu said.

He also pointed to the large participation of women voters as a decisive factor.

"The unprecedented turnout of women shows their trust in Banerjee and the impact of the state's welfare schemes. This support cuts across sections," he added.

The TMC leaders said polling was largely peaceful despite "provocations" by opposition parties and thanked voters for their participation.

TMC leaders avoided giving importance to allegations of Humayun Kabir being snubbed by party supporters in Murshidabad.

Allegations against the EC

Asked about the role of the Election Commission during the day's polling, they alleged that it has been "anti-Bengal and anti-TMC" from the beginning.

"We will not comment on that now," they said, while also alleging that central forces were deployed "not for protection but to intimidate the people of Bengal".

West Bengal's assembly elections are being held in multiple phases.

The Election Commission of India is responsible for overseeing the conduct of free and fair elections, including the deployment of central forces to maintain law and order during the polling process.

Allegations of bias against the Election Commission are not uncommon during elections in India.
Trump said there will be 'no hesitation' from the US side to shoot down such boats and in a veiled reference to Iran, he claimed that all 159 of 'their naval ships' are at the bottom of the sea.

IMAGE: A satellite image shows a fleet of small boats at sea, north of the Strait of Hormuz near the Kargan coast, Iran, April 22, 2026. Photograph: European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2/Handout via Reuters

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he has directed the country's Navy to take decisive action against any vessels attempting to lay mines in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tension over the virtual control of the waterway between Tehran and Washington.

Key Points In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there will be "no hesitation" from the US side to shoot down such boats.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, with concerns over maritime security and the safety of global oil shipments.

Earlier, the Pentagon had reportedly informed the US Congress that clearing naval mines allegedly positioned by the Iranian military could take up to six months.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there will be "no hesitation" from the US side to shoot down such boats.

He further, in a veiled reference to Iran, claimed that all 159 of "their naval ships" are at the bottom of the sea.

"I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation," the post read.

The US President further stated that he is also tripling the task for clearing mines in the Strait.

"Additionally, our mine 'sweepers' are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!" it added.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, with concerns over maritime security and the safety of global oil shipments passing through the narrow waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical chokepoints, handling a significant portion of international crude oil trade, which has seen a significant disruption following the conflict in West Asia.

Earlier, the Pentagon had reportedly informed the US Congress that clearing naval mines allegedly positioned by the Iranian military could take up to six months, highlighting a significant hurdle to regional stability despite a precarious ceasefire.

According to a US House Armed Services Committee briefing detailed by three officials to The Washington Post, this timeline has triggered "frustration" amongst both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

The delay raises critical "concerns" that energy costs may stay high even if a broader peace deal is reached.

Sources told The Washington Post that Tehran may have "deployed 20 or more mines" within the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior defence official informed legislators that some of these explosives were "deployed remotely using GPS technology", a sophisticated method that makes them "harder for US forces to detect".

The mining activity reportedly began in March amidst ongoing US and Israeli military operations.

Although earlier assessments by the Defence Intelligence Agency suggested a disruption could last up to half a year, Pentagon spokesman Parnell told CNN that a "six-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an impossibility and completely unacceptable" to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

The Pentagon has since "disputed" the reporting, labelling the claims "inaccurate" and criticising the disclosure of information from a classified briefing.

A department statement suggested that the publication of "these false claims" indicated a preference for "advancing an agenda than truth".

The maritime dispute remains a pivotal flashpoint, as Iran continues to link the reopening of the waterway to the lifting of the US naval blockade on its ports.

Trump has maintained his demands for Tehran to "fully reopen the strait" and abandon its nuclear programme as a prerequisite for peace.
The ATS investigating the presence of Pakistani sleeper cells created through social media found that two men, one from Meerut and another from Delhi, were allegedly in direct contact with Pakistani operatives and 'planning a major disruptive act'.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The suspects were allegedly planning disruptive acts and were radicalised through social media.

Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti and radical YouTubers are implicated in the radicalisation scheme.

The accused were allegedly tasked with reconnaissance of sensitive locations and planning terrorist attacks.

Accused promised financial incentives and travel to Pakistan for carrying out attacks.

Two men were arrested in Noida on Thursday for allegedly working with Pakistani handlers, including from the ISI, as well as some gangsters and "radical YouTubers" of the neighbouring country.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) investigating the presence of Pakistani sleeper cells created through social media found that two men, one from Meerut and another from Delhi, were allegedly in direct contact with Pakistani operatives and "planning a major disruptive act".

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said that ATS had initiated a probe following intelligence inputs regarding sleeper cells created through Instagram and other social media platforms.

During the investigation, it emerged that Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, Abid Jatt and radical Pakistani YouTubers, allegedly acting on instructions from the ISI, were attempting to radicalise Indian youths and entice them with financial incentives to disturb internal peace and communal harmony, he said in a statement.

"They were encouraging Indian youths to conduct reconnaissance of sensitive locations and carry out terrorist attacks as per their directions. They were also instigating them to target certain individuals who had left Islam, using sophisticated weapons," he said.

According to the probe, Meerut resident Tushar Chauhan alias Hizbullah Ali Khan and Delhi resident Sameer Khan had come under the influence of the network.

A team of the ATS arrested the duo from Noida on Thursday. A pistol, five cartridges and a knife were recovered from their possession, the officer said.

During preliminary interrogation, Chauhan allegedly confessed that he had come in contact with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti and Abid Jatt through Instagram, and later communicated with them via voice and video push-to-talk calls.

Modus operandi and promised incentives

To gain Bhatti's trust, Chauhan allegedly created Instagram accounts in his name, one of which was blocked, after which he made another account and obtained Bhatti's phone number to establish direct contact, Yash said.

He further said Bhatti had allegedly asked Chauhan to carry out grenade attacks on targeted individuals and assured him that sophisticated weapons would be provided. Chauhan was promised Rs 50,000 in advance and Rs 2.5 lakh after completing the task, along with an offer to facilitate travel to Pakistan via Dubai, the officer added.

According to the ADG, Chauhan also claimed that Bhatti had mentioned that three ISI agents would assign targets.

Tasks assigned to the accused

Police said that interrogation also revealed that Sameer Khan communicated with Bhatti through social media and had allegedly been tasked with writing "Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan" on walls and recruiting more individuals, police said.

Chauhan had contacted Sameer through Instagram, and both were allegedly preparing to carry out activities as directed by their handlers, including reconnaissance of targets, Yash said.

The officer added that the accused had also issued death threats to certain individuals at the behest of Bhatti and Jatt, with Pakistani handlers joining some of the calls via conference.

A case has been registered against both accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he said.

Police will seek custody remand of the accused to gather further information about their associates and the wider network, he added.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, under which the accused have been charged, is India's primary anti-terrorism legislation, empowering authorities to designate individuals and organisations as terrorists.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is the new penal code of India, replacing the Indian Penal Code. Further investigation will focus on uncovering the full extent of the network and identifying other potential collaborators.
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has commended members of the public for their continued cooperation in the fight against crime, describing the partnership as essential to maintaining law and order nationwide.In a statement issued following its participation at the 2026 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the police said public involvement remains a cornerstone of effective policing."The ZRP applauds the public for their continued cooperation and invaluable support in the fight against crime. This partnership remains a cornerstone in maintaining law and order across the country," the organisation said.The ZRP also celebrated its success at the trade fair, where it won First Prize in the Best Security Services Exhibit category  an achievement the organisation said reflects its commitment to professionalism and innovation."This achievement reflects the organisations commitment to professionalism, innovation and effective service delivery," the police noted.According to the ZRP, the exhibition provided a vital platform to engage directly with citizens while showcasing modern policing strategies, crimeprevention initiatives and emerging technologies."The exhibition provided an important platform for the Police to engage directly with the public, showcase modern policing strategies and demonstrate various crime prevention initiatives and technologies," the statement read.The police added that the event also helped raise public awareness on safety and security, reinforcing the importance of community participation in crime prevention."It also enhanced public awareness on safety, security and the role citizens play in combating crime," the ZRP said.The organisation further stated that its presence at the ZITF strengthened relations with key stakeholders while promoting transparency and accountability in policing."The exhibition strengthened stakeholder relations and promoted transparency and accountability in policing," the police said.
Mumbai Police swiftly arrested two individuals and recovered a significant portion of the Rs 63 lakh stolen from an ATM cash van in Kandivali, showcasing efficient crime-solving techniques.

Key Points Two men arrested for allegedly stealing over Rs 63 lakh from an ATM cash van in Mumbai's Kandivali area.

The main accused, an employee of the cash-handling company, distracted security to steal the cash.

Mumbai Police formed special teams and used mobile tracking to locate the suspects.

The suspects were apprehended on the Mumbai-Goa Highway in Raigad district.

Police recovered Rs 62.74 lakh from the vehicle used in the ATM cash van robbery.

Police have arrested two men hours after they allegedly stole more than Rs 63 lakh from an ATM cash van from Kandivali area of Mumbai, an official said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Tuesday night and the police cracked the case within six hours, he said, adding that a major part of the stolen cash was recovered from the accused.

Swift Action Leads to Arrests

The accused were identified as Sushant Kasare (32), who was employed with the cash-handling company, and Sufiyan Razzab Ali (23).

The incident took place in Kandivali West when the cash van arrived at an Axis Bank's ATM located in Rajkiran Co-operative Housing Society in Kandivali to replenish the cash. During the process, Kasare allegedly distracted the security guard and other staff members. Taking advantage of the situation, he fled with two bags containing cash and escaped in a car waiting nearby, the official said.

Technical Analysis Aids Recovery

On being alerted, the Kandivali police formed four special teams to track down the accused. Technical analysis and mobile tracking revealed that the suspects were heading towards Raigad using the Mumbai-Goa Highway, he said.

Acting swiftly, the police intercepted their vehicle near Babhli-Nagothane in Pen taluka of Raigad district. The police apprehended Kasare and recovered Rs 62.74 lakh from the vehicle. His accomplice, who provided the car for the crime, was also taken into custody, he said.

Further probe is underway to determine if more individuals were involved in the crime, according to the official.

The Kandivali police acted quickly to apprehend the suspects and recover the stolen cash. In India, ATM robberies are investigated by local police, who may use forensic evidence and surveillance footage to identify and apprehend suspects. The investigation will determine if the accused acted alone or were part of a larger criminal network.
Delhi Police have arrested two individuals in connection with a murder case and the possession of illegal firearms, following a tip-off in the Wazirpur Industrial Area.

Key Points Delhi Police arrested two men for alleged involvement in a murder case.

One of the accused was found carrying an illegal firearm in Wazirpur Industrial Area.

A country-made pistol and live cartridge were recovered from one of the suspects.

The arrest helped police solve a murder case registered at Adarsh Nagar police station.

Two men have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a murder and for carrying illegal firearms, police said on Thursday.

Arrest Following Tip-Off

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Akanksha Yadav said Ritik Kumar, a resident of Wazirpur Industrial Area (WPIA), was apprehended after police received information on April 20 about a person carrying an illegal firearm at Raja Park in WPIA.

Acting on the tip-off, a police team from WPIA under Ashok Vihar police station conducted a raid and identified the suspect at the spot, Yadav said.

She said the accused was chased and caught, and during his search, police recovered a country-made pistol (desi katta) with one live cartridge loaded in its barrel.

Investigation Uncovers Murder Link

Yadav said an FIR under relevant sections of the Arms Act was registered at Ashok Vihar police station, and Ritik Kumar was arrested in the case.

During the investigation, they found that Ritik was also involved in a murder case registered at Adarsh Nagar police station, she said.

Yadav said his arrest helped police work out the murder case, following which co-accused Kunal, a resident of Bhalaswa Village, was also arrested.

Further investigation is underway, Yadav added.

Possession of illegal firearms is a criminal offence under the Arms Act. In India, such cases are investigated by local police, who file a First Information Report (FIR) and conduct investigations leading to potential charges and trials in court.
A court in Uttar Pradesh has ordered an FIR against police officers accused of tampering with a woman's statement, raising concerns about police misconduct and judicial oversight.

Key Points Shahjahanpur court orders FIR against police for allegedly tampering with a woman's statement.

The woman stated she went willingly, but police allegedly altered the statement in official records.

Court examination of video evidence revealed the discrepancy in the recorded statement.

The court directed the Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police to conduct an inquiry and register an FIR against the police personnel involved.

A court in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur has ordered registration of an FIR against police personnel for allegedly tampering with the statement of a young woman to falsely implicate the accused in a case, officials said on Thursday.

According to prosecution officer Ashish Shukla, the matter pertains to the woman from Jalalabad police station area who had gone with a man of her own will. The police later recovered them from Khatu Shyam in Rajasthan and produced the woman before the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Manish Kumar Singh on April 16 seeking remand.

Court Finds Discrepancy in Police Statement

Shukla said the court found that although the woman had stated that she had gone of her own accord, the police allegedly altered the statement in official records by inserting the word "not", thereby changing it to "I did not go of my own will".

He said the statement had been recorded under relevant provisions of the law.

Video Evidence Confirms Statement Tampering

The court subsequently directed investigating officer Sanjeev Kumar and sub-inspector Kajal to produce a video of the woman's statement. Upon examination, it was found that the woman had clearly stated that she had gone of her own will and had not used the word "not", Shukla said.

Inquiry Ordered Against Erring Police Personnel

Following the discrepancy, the court issued notices to the Jalalabad station house officer and two sub-inspectors.

Not satisfied with their replies, the court directed the Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police to conduct an inquiry and register an FIR against the erring police personnel, Shukla added.

Registering an FIR is the first step in a police investigation, allowing officers to formally begin gathering evidence. In India, courts can order police to register an FIR if they are not satisfied with the police's initial response to a complaint. This ensures accountability and allows for a proper investigation into alleged wrongdoing.
In a shocking incident in Uttar Pradesh, a man has been arrested for the alleged murder of his daughter following a heated argument over dinner preparation, highlighting the tragic consequences of domestic disputes.

Key Points A man in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested for allegedly murdering his daughter.

The accused, Ram Lal, allegedly killed his daughter with an axe after an argument about preparing dinner.

Police recovered the axe and stick used in the crime and have sent the accused to jail.

The victim's husband alleged that his father-in-law committed the murder under the influence of alcohol.

Police on Thursday said they arrested a man in Kohandaur village for allegedly killing his daughter with an axe after an argument about why she hadn't cooked dinner.

Details of the Arrest and Investigation

Station House Officer Dhananjay Rai said police arrested the accused, Ram Lal, near his house in Gaura Atrasand village and recovered the axe and stick used in the crime.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (City) Prashant Raj Hooda said police recovered the 30-year-old woman's body on Wednesday near their house and identified her as Sonam, a resident of Tala village under Kandhai police station.

She had come to her parental home a day earlier.

Allegations and Confession

In a complaint, Sonam's husband Ajay Kumar alleged that his father-in-law killed her under the influence of alcohol. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Lal.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime.

The Argument and the Crime

He told police that after bringing his daughter home on Tuesday, he sold his crops, got some money and consumed alcohol.

"Later that night, he argued with her over food. When he returned home drunk, he asked his daughter if she had prepared dinner. Upset with his acts, she responded, 'For whom should I cook when her father was out drinking?'" a police official said, citing probe findings.

"Enraged, he assaulted her with a stick and later attacked her with an axe," the official said.

He also attempted to conceal evidence by cleaning bloodstains and hiding her sari, according to police.

Police said they have sent the accused to jail and an investigation is underway.

The accused has been arrested and charged, and the investigation is ongoing. In India, murder cases are investigated by local police, who gather evidence and file a charge sheet in court. The trial then proceeds according to the Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Uttarakhand High Court has mandated a report into the death of an 18-year-old BCA student amid allegations of ragging and molestation, raising concerns about student safety.

Key Points Uttarakhand High Court orders investigation into student's death at Graphic Era Hill University.

Father alleges ragging and molestation based on CCTV footage.

Family filed a Zero FIR in Lucknow after alleged police inaction in Bhawali.

Court seeks explanation for the initial failure to register a case.

The case is posted for further hearing on April 28.

The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday directed the state government to submit an investigation report regarding the death of an 18-year-old BCA student at Graphic Era Hill University in Bhimtal last year.

Court Questions Initial Police Response

Justice Rakesh Thapliyal asked the state to explain why authorities failed to register a case based on the family's initial complaint, which forced them to file a Zero FIR in Lucknow.

The directions came during the hearing of a petition filed by the student's father who alleged that she had complained about facing ragging from seniors and was distressed by the incidents. The father, a Lucknow resident, claimed that CCTV footage showed that she had been molested.

Allegations of Suspicious Circumstances and Police Inaction

The college authorities allegedly informed the family that the student died under suspicious circumstances after she was found unconscious in her room in the college hostel.

The father, in his petition, sought an impartial investigation into the death of his daughter, who was a second-year student residing in the college hostel.

According to the petitioner, college officials took her to a Community Health Centre (CHC) where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

The petition alleged that Bhawali police refused to register a complaint under pressure from college authorities, prompting the family to approach the Lucknow Police.

The Lucknow Police subsequently registered a zero FIR and forwarded the matter to the Bhawali police station for further investigation.

The petitioner further claimed that Bhawali police are still not investigating the matter and claimed that CCTV footage from the college gate allegedly showing the student being molested.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on April 28.

A Zero FIR allows any police station to register a complaint regardless of jurisdiction, and then transfer it to the relevant station for investigation. This mechanism is intended to ensure that victims can report crimes without being turned away due to jurisdictional issues. The High Court's intervention highlights concerns about the initial handling of the case and the need for a thorough investigation.
West Bengal's first phase of Assembly elections saw a high voter turnout despite reports of violence and intimidation, marking a crucial stage in the high-stakes contest between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

IMAGE: Both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have recorded a brisk voter turnout throughout the day. Photograph: @ECISVEEP/X

Key Points In West Bengal, the BJP is eyeing to wrest power from Banerjee-led TMC.

In Tamil Nadu, key contenders are the ruling DMK and main Opposition AIADMK.

Modi said that May 4, when votes will be counted, would mark the 'expiry' of the TMC's 15-year-old syndicate system.

The second phase for the remaining 142 of 294 seats in West Bengal will be held on April 29.

West Bengal registered a record voter turnout of 92.72 percent in the first phase of assembly polls on Thursday amid sporadic incidents of violence, while Tamil Nadu recorded unprecedented voting of 85.14 percent as the Bharatiya Janata Party pushed to unseat Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and expand in the South.

In the first phase, 152 constituencies in West Bengal went to polls, while voting for the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly was held in one go. The elections are taking place against the backdrop of a massive political row over the SIR of the electoral rolls, a major flashpoint between the BJP and opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

In West Bengal, the BJP is eyeing to wrest power from Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, which seeks a fourth straight term in a state the saffron party has never governed, and in Tamil Nadu, key contenders are the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and main Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, while actor-politician Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Tamil nationalist Seeman-led NTK are putting up a determined fight.

Terming the massive voter turnout in Bengal "an overwhelming mandate for change," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that May 4, when votes will be counted, would mark the "expiry" of the "TMC's 15-year-old syndicate system and maha jungle raj" in West Bengal, while Banerjee asserted that polling held so far in the first phase indicates "the TMC is already in a position to win," and her party predicts a win in 125-134 seats out of 152 constituencies.

The second phase for the remaining 142 of 294 seats in West Bengal will be held on April 29. The counting for all four states and one Union Territory, Keralam, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry-will be on May 4.

Over 90 percent in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections set the tone for a fiercely contested battle, even as allegations over electoral roll revisions, sporadic violence and duelling political narratives underscored a high-stakes opening round between the ruling TMC and the BJP.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls was the state's "highest-ever percentage since Independence".

Polling across 152 constituencies in 16 districts remained brisk through the day, with long queues at booths, particularly in rural belts, reflecting intense mobilisation by both camps in what is being seen as a crucial early test of strength.

The high participation in Bengal came against the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which saw over 91 lakh names deleted statewide - an exercise that has moved to the centre of the political contest, shaping both campaign rhetoric and voter perception.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is camping in the state, visited the BJP's election control room at Salt Lake during polling hours and reviewed the situation with party leaders, signalling the premium the party has placed on Phase-1, particularly in north Bengal. He is expected to remain in the state till April 27, the last day of campaigning for the second phase.

Compared with the 2021 assembly elections, when turnout ranged between 79 and 86 percent across phases, the current figures mark a sharp spike in voter turnout in West Bengal, though the SIR-linked contraction of the electorate complicates direct comparisons. In 2021, the BJP won 59 of these 152 seats against the TMC's 93.

Reports of clashes, allegations of intimidation and attacks on candidates-including two from the BJP-from several constituencies prompted the Election Commission to seek detailed reports even as it maintained that polling in West Bengal was "largely peaceful."

A record 2,450 central paramilitary companies, comprising nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, have been deployed across the state for the polls, with over 8,000 polling stations identified as highly sensitive.

In Tamil Nadu, the contest is primarily between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance against the AIADMK-led NDA. Chief Minister M K Stalin centred his campaign around the "Dravidian Model" of governance and accused the AIADMK of being controlled by the BJP in Delhi.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is fighting to return to the treasury benches after five years.

Tamil Nadu registered 73.63 percent voting in 2021. It recorded its highest voter turnout --78.29 percent- in the 2011 assembly polls, which the AIADMK swept.

Incidentally, through the SIR, the electorate size has been reduced from 6.41 crore recorded in October 2025 to the current 5.73 crore. Consequently, the 2021 polls saw about 6.29 crore people registered, 56 lakh voters more than this year.

Attributing the surge in voter turnout in Tamil Nadu to the Election Commission's reforms, BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy said the high polling percentage across the state reflects a robust democratic spirit and signals a confident path to victory for the NDA.

"The full credit to SIR. Hats off to the Election Commission. We have seen in Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and now Pondicherry and now in Tamil Nadu. So, full credit to them," Thirupathy told PTI Videos.
Goa Police are seeking the arrest of right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar after a non-bailable warrant was issued following outrage over his alleged offensive remarks against St Francis Xavier.

Key Points A non-bailable warrant has been issued for Gautam Khattar over alleged offensive remarks against St Francis Xavier.

Goa Police are searching for Gautam Khattar after an FIR was filed for 'hurting religious sentiments'.

Khattar's brother, Madhav Khattar, has been arrested and remanded in police custody.

Protests have erupted in Vasco, demanding the immediate arrest of Gautam Khattar and action against the event organisers.

A Look Out Circular has been issued to prevent Gautam Khattar from fleeing the country.

A local court has issued a non-bailable warrant against right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar who is wanted by Goa Police in a case related to his alleged offensive remarks against St Francis Xavier.

Police Investigation and Arrest

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco, has issued a warrant against Khattar who failed to appear before the investigating officer despite a notice being issued to him, Superintendent of police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta told reporters on Thursday.

Goa police are searching for Khattar since last Saturday when an FIR for 'hurting religious sentiments' was registered against him. Police on Wednesday arrested his brother Madhav Khattar from Uttarakhand and he has been remanded by a court in police custody for four days, said SP Gupta.

Outrage Over Remarks Against St Francis Xavier

A video of Gautam Khattar making objectionable statements against St Francis Xavier, whose Holy Relics are preserved at Basilica of Bom Jesus Church, Old Goa, went viral, leading to outrage.

He was addressing an event on Saturday evening in the presence of religious guru Swami Brahmeshanand, State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankulp Amonkar and Daji (Krishna) Salkar.

Event Details and Protests

Khattar is the founder of the organisation Sanatan Mahasangh. The event to mark Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav had been organised by Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti, Mormugao.

More than 100 people staged a demonstration in Vasco town on Thursday, demanding Gautam Khattar's immediate arrest.

Government Action and Look Out Circular

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said efforts were on to trace Khattar and prevent him from fleeing the country.

The Goa Crime Branch has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him and alerted the Bureau of Immigration to prevent him from leaving the country. Police teams are camping in different cities across the country to trace him, as per officials.

Demands for Action Against Organisers

The protesters demanded action not only against Gautam Khattar but also against the organisers of the event.

The protestors, who included former state revenue minister Jose Philip D'Souza and other local leaders, alleged that the organiser - Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti - was aware of Khattar's background.

Several videos of him making derogatory statements against St Francis Xavier, considered to be the patron saint of Goa, were available online, and yet he was invited to speak, they said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurudas Kadam told the protesters that Madhav Khattar, who was allegedly involved in drafting the speeches and uploading them on social media, had been arrested.

The registration of an FIR for 'hurting religious sentiments' is a common legal recourse in India when individuals or groups feel their religious beliefs have been insulted. St Francis Xavier is a revered figure in Goa, where a significant portion of the population identifies as Christian. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, where his relics are preserved, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major pilgrimage destination.
The Indian Air Force demonstrates its advanced operational readiness by activating an emergency-landing facility on the Purvanchal expressway in Uttar Pradesh, showcasing the strategic importance of highway airstrips for national security and disaster response.

IMAGE: An IAF jet takes off during a drill by the Indian Air Force on the Purvanchal expressway in Sultanpur on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Indian Air Force activated an emergency-landing facility on the Purvanchal expressway in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, for a day-and-night exercise.

The drill involved fighter jets (Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI), Mi-17 V5 helicopters, military transport aircraft (C-295, AN-32), and Garud commandos.

The exercise aimed to demonstrate operational readiness and validate standard operating procedures for emergency activation of such facilities.

The event was held ahead of the one-year anniversary of Operation Sindoor, India's military reprisal after a terrorist attack.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) activated an emergency-landing facility on a highway in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday in a bid to demonstrate its operational readiness.

A fleet of fighter jets (Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and Sukhoi-30 MKI), Mi-17 V5 helicopters and military transport aircraft (C-295 and AN-32), as well as a Garud commando team participated in the day-and-night exercise on the Purvanchal expressway in Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

IMAGE: An IAF An-32 aircraft lands on the Purvanchal expressway during an Indian Air Force drill in Sultanpur on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Strategic Importance of Highway Airstrips

The event was held ahead of the one-year anniversary of Operation Sindoor (May 7), India's military reprisal after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 last year, which the government said had links to Pakistan.

The IAF along with the local civilian administration validated the standard operating procedures for the emergency activation of such emergency-landing facilities, in the shortest possible time both by day and by night, an IAF media statement said.

IMAGE: The Indian Air Force's Garud commandos in action during the drill on the Purvanchal expressway in Sultanpur on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Boosting Operational Flexibility

It boosts the IAF's capability to undertake operations even when standard runways are unavailable, the IAF added.

'These strategically developed airstrips on national expressways substantially augment operational flexibility and serve as critical force multiplier during emergencies, reinforcing national security and disaster response capabilities.'

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff. Feature Presentation: Mahipal Soni/Rediff
Phunchuk Stobdan's forte was candour and strong views on India's defence.

Naturally, India's adversaries were in awe of him, fearing his views and unyielding stand on boundary issues, remembers Tarun Vijay.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points Phunchuk Stobdan, noted defence analyst and diplomat, passed away on April 19, 2026, leaving behind a strong strategic legacy.

He was widely respected for his candid views on India-China relations and uncompromising stance on Himalayan security matters.

Stobdan supported Ladakh's separation and Article 370 abrogation, calling it liberation from decades of political subjugation.

He served in key roles including ambassador to Kyrgyzstan and member of the National Security Council, influencing policy discourse.

Phunchuk Stobdan was a fiercely patriotic defence analyst and an uncompromising author. Naturally he had few friends and lived a life of a loner in the heavenly valley of Leh.

A distinguished diplomat, scholar and a prominent voice on Himalayan and Central Asian geopolitics, he passed away on April 19, 2026.

I met him in 1986 to request his interview for Panchjanya and from then on he became a friend whose articles, interviews we used frequently on India China relations, Himalayan security and Ladakh's socio-political affairs.

His forte was candour and strong views on India's defence. He never minced words and wanted the government to listen to the voices of defence experts who mattered.

One of the famous lines critical of the government was, 'We do not have the art of dealing with China which is not simply a political science or subject of international relations.'

It was the pain of a patriotic person, a friendly complaint of a distressed citizen-soldier.

He was soft spoken, articulate but on his views as strong and uncompromising as a Himalayan rock.

He authored extensively on India-China boundary issues and Himalayan security, including the book The Great Game in the Buddhist Himalayas: India and China's Quest for Strategic Dominance.

Naturally, India's adversaries were in awe of him, fearing his views and unyielding stand on boundary issues.

Facts were his biggest armour, and he quoted undisputable references to prove his point, hence he gained the title, 'Don't mess with Stobdan'.

Ladakh's backwardness and growing Islamic influence worried him a lot and when we started the Sindhu Darshan Festival with Shri L K Advani in 1997, he was happy and welcomed it as a positive step towards making the Buddhist population confident of national support.

When Home Minister Amit Shah announced the separation of Ladakh from Kashmir, Stobdan declared it as a step to free Ladakh from the subjugation of the Islamic regime and a big step towards the freedom of Buddhists of the tiny border state.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Stobdan argued that Ladakh felt 'liberated' from 185 years of 'slavery and coercion' under the Kashmiri administration.

He viewed the separation as the fulfillment of a long-standing demand since 1947, aimed at correcting regional disparities and freeing Ladakh from the political baggage of Jammu and Kashmir.

Stobdan suggested that removing the restrictions of Article 370 and 35A allows Ladakh to 'shape its own destiny', fostering better identity preservation and economic development.

He identified that the separation was crucial for India's national interest, particularly in addressing the changed geopolitical situation around Ladakh regarding China and Pakistan.

He served as a member of the National Security Council and helped correct perspectives about Ladakh in the corridors of power.

He served as Indian ambassador to Kyrgyzstan. He was also a senior fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, and was the founding president of the Ladakh International Centre.

He consistently argued that Ladakh should not be viewed merely as a 'border to defend', but as a vital cultural and spiritual gateway for India.

Stobdan was critical of India's historical handling of Chinese territorial shifts in sectors like Demchok and Chip Chap, warning about China's long-term maneuvering.

He championed the idea of using India's Buddhist heritage -- which he called 'Buddhist Echoes' -- as a soft-power tool to counter Chinese influence in the Himalayan belt.

The region he belonged to is a strategically critical Union Territory of India, sharing international borders with three countries: Pakistan to the west, China to the east/north, and a small boundary with Afghanistan to the northwest via the Wakhan Corridor.

It is characterised by tense, disputed borders, notably the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

India lost substantial territory in Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan during conflicts with China and Pakistan, roughly totaling over 40,000 sq km.

Key losses include 37,555 sq km of Aksai Chin to China (1962), 5,180 sq km of the Shaksgam Valley ceded by Pakistan to China (1963), and the Gilgit-Baltistan region (72,000 sq km) to Pakistan in 1947-48.

It is so important and significant that Parliament passed a unanimous resolution on February 22, 1994 resolving to take back all territories illegally occupied by Pakistan and China.

Passed unanimously on February 22, 1994, the parliamentary resolution -- often called the Sankalp Divas resolution -- strongly condemns Pakistan's support for terrorism in key declarations include:

Affirming that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

Asserting India's capacity to protect its territorial integrity.

Demanding that Pakistan vacate all occupied areas.

The resolution covers all of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and areas illegally ceded by Pakistan to China, such as the Shaksgam Valley.

Stobdan was an icon of India's territorial integrity in Ladakh and he lived to it till his last breath.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Born into a family that survived the Pahalgam terrorist attack on the very day the attack took place a year ago, a Chhattisgarh family names their newborn Pahal.

IMAGE: Arvind Agrawal with his wife, daughter and newborn son. Photograph: Kind courtesy Arvind Agrawal

'God's Greatest Gift'

On April 22, 2025, the Agrawal family's Pahalgam holiday in Kashmir turned into the scariest day of their lives -- something they thought they would carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Exactly a year later, on April 22, 2026, the same date has brought joy and happiness that has helped the entire family to forget what happened a year ago, on this day.

This time, it brought a child.

A baby boy.

And the Agrawals have named the "God's Greatest Gift" to their family, to any parents, as Pahal which means (a new) beginning. The word Pahal also happens to be the first three syllables of a place where they could have easily fallen to the terrorists' bullets.

"God wanted us to see this day. So, we survived," says Arvind S Agrawal, who along with his wife and five-year-old daughter Samriddhi were caught in the crossfire of the terrorists' bullets in Pahalgam on this day that took lives of 26 tourists in the picturesque Kashmir town.

Terror Flashback: Tale Of Survival

At Pahalgam's Point Zero -- often called 'Mini Switzerland' -- that day had begun like any other holiday morning. There were photographs to be taken, horses to ride, laughter to be shared. Arvind and his family were doing what families do -- trying to hold on to a moment of happiness.

Then came the sound.

At first, it seemed like firecrackers. For a few seconds, no one quite understood. And then, almost instantly, everything changed.

Gunfire tore through the calm. Panic rippled across the meadow. Men in military fatigues shouted orders. People ran, stumbled, fell.

In the confusion, the family was split apart. Samriddhi -- just four-and-a-half then -- ran toward a swing in the middle of the ground. Arvind lost sight of his wife. His world, for those moments, narrowed to fear and instinct.

What followed was chaos, but also something else -- something that would stay with him just as strongly.

Nazakat Ahmed Shah a long-time family friend of the Agrawals, and also a pony operator from Pahalgam, stepped in.

Nazakat did not hesitate when it mattered most. When questioned by the attackers, he claimed Arvind's daughter as his own. It was a small sentence, spoken in a dangerous moment, but it likely saved her life.

Elsewhere, a Kashmiri horseman guided Arvind's injured wife through a forest route. Her clothes had torn in the scramble; he gave her something to cover herself. When she tried to hand over her gold ring in desperation, he refused.

'My Daughter Still Gets Scared'

A year has passed. But time, it turns out, does not erase everything, even as it fades past memories.

"Thinking about that day still gives us goosebumps," Arvind says, his voice steady but reflective.

Samriddhi, now six, remembers more than anyone would want a child to remember.

"She still gets scared," he says. "If she sees guns in movies, she just shuts her eyes."

The fear surfaces quietly, at such moments or when family and friends talk about the unfortunate day.

Congratulations... And Quiet Celebration

And yet, April 22, 2026, has changed the life of the Agrawal family.

This year, the date did not arrive with dread. It came with anticipation, hospital visits, and a steady stream of phone calls.

Arvind's wife gave birth to a baby boy in a nursing home in Chirimiri, Chhattisgarh -- on the very day that once threatened to take everything away.

"Friends kept calling, congratulating," he says. "They were reminding us -- this is the same day everything happened... and the day our child was born."

There is something almost difficult to grasp about this coincidence -- how a single date can hold terror and tenderness, memory and renewal.

The name they chose for their son is their way of holding all of it together.

Pahal -- a (new) beginning.

"All our memories are connected to that day," Arvind says. "It's been one year today, so it will stay with us for life."

For the Agrawals Pahal is not just a name. It is a quiet act of reclaiming what was lost. A way of ensuring that April 22 will never belong only to fear.

"We are all so happy today. A quiet celebration is in place."

There are moments, even now, when the weight of what could have been surfaces.

Asked how it feels to be here -- to see this day, to hold his son -- Arvind pauses before answering.

"That's true..." he says softly. "I just pray that after coming out of such a difficult time, we continue to receive God's blessings."

The words are simple. But behind them lies everything that almost didn't happen.

'We Have Plans to Visit Pahalgam Again'

Some connections, forged in crisis, have endured.

Arvind is still in touch with Nazakat -- the man who, in a moment of danger, chose courage over hesitation.

"He called today to congratulate me," Arvind said.

It is a small detail, but it says something larger -- about the kind of bonds that survive beyond fear.

Perhaps most striking is what the family has chosen not to do. They have not retreated.

In fact, they are planning to return to Kashmir and Pahalgam in the coming months -- this time with their newborn son.

"We had plans to visit Kashmir on this very day but Pahal's birth has slightly changed our plans," Arvind says.

"Nazakat was here to attend the wedding of my brother and invited us to come as soon as we can. I promised to him that we will be there two months later in June."

There is no grand declaration in that decision. Just a quiet resolve. A refusal to let one day be cowed down by the haunting memories of the past.

Pahal: A New Beginning

For many, Pahalgam will remain a place of beauty shadowed by tragedy.

For the Agrawal family, it is something more layered -- a place where fear and kindness arrived together, where survival depended on strangers, and where memory refuses to fade but also refuses to define everything.

A year ago, April 22 was about escape.

Today, it is about arrival.

And somewhere between those two defining moments -- between what was nearly lost and what has now begun -- lies the meaning of a name.

Pahal.
Georgian Dream Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili hit back at EU High Representative Kaja Kallas on Wednesday, asserting that Brussels, not Tbilisi, needs to adjust its stance. Responding to Kallas's claims of democratic backsliding, Botchorishvili argued that the EU is being used as an "instrument" against Georgia."Georgia has nothing to change," Botchorishvili told reporters, defending the government's mandate. "The people elect the Georgian government, it protects the best interests of our country and does what serves those interests in order to ensure peace, stability, and appropriate conditions for economic development."Botchorishvili rejected the notion that Georgia has avoided engagement, stating that the government has "never refused dialogue" with the bloc. She questioned Kallas's criticism of Georgia's current trajectory, saying it is "unclear" why a focus on national interest and stability is deemed "incompatible with the European Union."Botchorishvili concluded by shifting the responsibility for the strained relations onto European leadership. "If anyone needs to change their attitude, it is solely the current EU bureaucracy in Brussels," she stated.The State Security Service of Georgia (SSS) has arrested a Georgian citizen on charges of espionage for a foreign power. Two other individuals identified in the investigation will be charged in absentia and have been placed on an international wanted list through Interpol. Lasha Maghradze, First Deputy Head of the SSS, reported that the arrest followed an extensive counterintelligence operation which revealed that the primary suspect was recruited by a foreign agency and operated under a pseudonym in exchange for financial compensation.According to the investigation, the detainee was tasked with gathering sensitive information regarding the locations, capabilities, and deployment of Georgia's law enforcement and defense agencies, including the SSS, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of Defense. The operative also reportedly took photos and videos of strategic infrastructure such as bridges, highways, and railway lines. The two other Georgian citizens involved are accused of carrying out similar tasks harmful to the country's interests.The suspect faces charges under Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a sentence of 8 to 12 years in prison. The SSS noted that the complexity of the alleged crimes necessitated a lengthy period of investigative measures to fully document the activities of the foreign intelligence operatives and their recruits.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A South African court has ordered the return of the body of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, just hours after the Zambian government announced it had taken possession of his remains.The ruling marks the latest development in a protracted dispute between the government of Hakainde Hichilema and Lungu's family over funeral arrangements following his death in South Africa nearly 10 months ago.According to reports, authorities under Hichilema's administration had secured the transfer of Lungu's body from a mortuary in South Africa, citing a court decision allowing the state to proceed with repatriation and a state funeral.However, the same South African court later ordered that the remains be returned to a specified mortuary or one chosen by the Lungu family, pending further legal proceedings scheduled for May 21.The Zambian government maintains that, as a former head of state, Lungu should be accorded a state funeral and buried at the presidential burial site in Lusaka.In contrast, the family has insisted on a private burial, citing unresolved disagreements with the government over funeral arrangements.The dispute follows earlier court proceedings in Pretoria, where a High Court ruling had initially granted the Zambian government authority to repatriate the body. That decision was contested by the family, prolonging the impasse.The case underscores deep tensions between Lungu and his successor, with the disagreement over burial arrangements reflecting broader political divisions.The matter is expected to return to court later this month, with the fate of Lungu's final resting place still unresolved.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Sunny along with a few clouds. High 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later at night. Low 37F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy. High near 70F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 36F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Google Cloud is enhancing its partner ecosystem with the establishment of a US$750 million fund for the delivery of new resources and incentives around agentic AI.

Announced during its Cloud Next 2026 conference in Las Vegas, the fund is focused on supporting AI value identification, agentic AI prototyping, agent building and deployment, upskilling, and embedding teams of Google forward-deployed engineers (FDEs).

Global consulting firms, systems integrators (SI), software partners, and channel partners will be able to access the fund, the cloud giant said in a statement.

Google Clouds partners are already leaders in agentic AI development and deployment, and have become important channels for distributing AI technologies, said Google Cloud president of global partner ecosystem Kevin Ichhpurani.

With this expanded funding, we will be able to dedicate new resources and technology to support our partners as they accelerate our mutual customers agentic AI journeys.

Google Cloud noted the funding also out to further accelerate the transformative capabilities of its partner ecosystem, which includes AI assessment and prototyping as well as agent building and integration.

The fund will also go towards new tools and resources, which include AI value assessments, Gemini proofs-of-concept, Gemini Enterprise practice building, agentic AI prototyping and deployment, Wiz security assessments, and usage incentives.

As for the FDEs, these will be embedded alongside major consulting firms and SIs such as Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, Deloitte, Devoteam, HCLTech, and TCS for customer deployments and the solving of deep technical challenges.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Labour Court has set aside an arbitration ruling that had favoured a group of employees in a dispute with National Foods Limited, finding that the arbitrator exceeded his mandate and made speculative conclusions not supported by evidence.In a judgment delivered on 30 January 2026, Justice Tsikwa ruled in the matter National Foods Limited v Madzama and Others (LC/H/1072/25), allowing the company's appeal and dismissing the employees' claims for lack of merit.The dispute arose after employees in grades C3 to C6 accused the company of unilaterally banning their meetings, refusing to recognise their elected committee and conducting a jobgrading exercise without consultation  allegedly resulting in downgraded positions and altered conditions of service.The matter was referred to arbitration after conciliation failed, and the arbitrator ruled in favour of the employees. However, the Labour Court found that the arbitrator committed several errors of law.Justice Tsikwa held that the arbitrator improperly addressed the issue of employee downgrading, which had not been part of the original claim."The arbitrator strayed beyond the dispute placed before him and granted relief that was neither pleaded nor supported by evidence," the court ruled, describing the award as speculative.On the issue of consultation, the court acknowledged that employers are required to consult workers' committees under the Labour Act, but emphasised that failure to consult does not automatically invalidate an employer's decision."The law makes consultation mandatory but does not prescribe nullification as a consequence of noncompliance," the judgment reads.The court also addressed the question of workers' representation, ruling that employees cannot form multiple workers' committees within the same organisation. It found that the arbitrator erred in allowing the respondents to establish a separate committee, contrary to Statutory Instrument 372 of 1985.In addition, the court noted that the employees were already represented by a trade union, undermining claims that they lacked representation.The ruling reinforces the principle that appeals from arbitration to the Labour Court must strictly concern points of law, not factual disputes.In its final order, the court allowed the appeal, set aside the arbitration award and substituted it with a dismissal of the employees' claims. No order as to costs was made after the company indicated it was not seeking them.The judgment is expected to have significant implications for labour disputes involving job grading, workers' committees and the limits of arbitral authority in Zimbabwe.
WASHINGTON -- The expiration of a US sanctions waiver on Iranian oil last weekend has brought renewed attention to Washington's economic strategy, as policymakers seek to limit Tehran's access to revenue while navigating global energy market pressures.

The measure, known as General License U, lapsed on April 19, ending a short-lived window that allowed a significant volume of Iranian crude -- estimated at up to 170 million barrels -- to circulate more freely on international markets.

The decision coincides with a broader push by the US Treasury to intensify pressure on networks linked to Iran's military procurement, including a new round of sanctions announced on April 21 targeting entities involved in weapons development.

For some analysts, the timing reflects a deliberate effort to align economic tools with a wider strategic posture.

"I think that the administration let the waiver expire to be consistent with the terms of the blockade," Max Meizlish, a former US Treasury OFAC official, told RFE/RL.

"The objective is to deprive the regime of the revenue and assets it needs to sustain its efforts," Meizlish, currently a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, added, noting that continuing the waiver -- effectively allowing Iranian oil shipments under certain conditions -- would have conflicted with that approach.

A blockade of Iranian ports aimed at limiting tanker movements, despite mixed reports of enforcement, underscores what Meizlish described as an attempt at policy consistency.

While the waiver's expiration closes off one avenue for Iranian oil sales, its overall impact remains debated, particularly regarding whether it meaningfully altered global supply or primarily affected pricing dynamics.

During the waiver period, Iranian crude, which previously sold at a discount due to sanctions, was able to compete more openly on international markets.

According to sanctions expert Brett Erickson, this shift had tangible financial consequences for Tehran.

"What we saw was a transition from discounted sales to, in some cases, pricing above benchmark levels," Erickson, managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, told RFE/RL.

"That change in pricing power, even more than volume, significantly boosted revenues."

Estimates suggest Iran may have gained over $1 billion in additional income during the waiver period -- modest compared to early projections but still notable.

At the same time, both experts questioned whether the policy delivered lasting benefits to global energy stability.

Meizlish noted that while the waiver may have allowed Iran to extract higher prices, its role in stabilizing markets was likely limited.

"It was unlikely that the license itself actually provided much more supply," he said, adding that stronger oversight mechanisms such as escrow arrangements or reporting requirements could have improved transparency.

From Incremental Sanctions to Systemic Pressure

The latest US Treasury designations targeting individuals, firms, and aircraft tied to Iran's defense sector are part of a familiar sanctions playbook. But Meizlish suggested current conditions may call for a broader application of financial tools.

"It's good to see additional sanctions packages," he said. "But the question is whether this approach matches the scale of the current situation."

He pointed to the potential role of measures aimed at financial institutions that facilitate Iranian transactions, particularly in jurisdictions where Iranian funds have historically circulated. US officials have already signaled that banks in several regions could face consequences if they fail to restrict such activity.

The effectiveness of this approach, analysts say, will depend on follow-through.

More assertive measures, such as designating institutions under authorities tied to anti-money laundering concerns, have historically had far-reaching effects, in some cases cutting off banks from the global financial system.

Balancing Economic Pressure and Market Stability

Erickson described the broader strategy as an attempt to apply what officials have called the "financial equivalent of force," a campaign of sustained economic pressure aimed at constraining Iran's ability to operate.

In practice, he said, this could include tightening enforcement of oil restrictions, increasing financial isolation, and applying secondary sanctions on institutions that continue to facilitate trade.

"This is a comprehensive form of economic pressure," Erickson said. "The question is how quickly it produces results, and how markets respond in the meantime."

Both experts highlighted the adaptive capacity of sanctioned economies, noting Iran has previously developed workarounds -- from informal shipping networks to alternative financing channels -- to mitigate restrictions.

At the same time, the success of any strategy will likely depend on coordination with international partners and consistency in enforcement. Fragmented approaches, Erickson noted, can reduce overall effectiveness.
US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has asked the US to open the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on his TruthSocial network, Trump said that Iran had "informed us that they are in a 'State of Collapse'" and wanted the US to open the strait "as soon as possible."

Iran has restricted commercial shipping from transiting through the strait, while the United States has enforced a naval blockade on all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. This has led to sharply reduced traffic and ongoing disruptions to global oil flows.

Trump said Iran wanted the strait opened as they try to figure out their leadership situation, although it remains unclear exactly what he was referring to.

After Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli attack, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly appointed, although he has not yet been seen in public, with some speculation that he was also injured in air strikes.

There are divisions in Iran between various political groups about whether to negotiate with the US.

Trump has said before that Iran wants the Strait of Hormuz open. In a April 22 TruthSocial post, Trump said that Iran wanted the strait open immediately as the country was "collapsing financially."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is at its "most stable" shape on the battlefield in months as the European Union formally approved a major, long-debated loan to Ukraine and a new sanctions package against Russia.

"Today is an important day for our defense and for our relations with the European Union," Zelenskyy wrote on X after the approval of 90 billion-euro ($105 billion) loan officially announced on April 23.

"This package will strengthen our army, make Ukraine more resilient...It matters that Ukraine is securing this level of financial certainty," he added.

European Council President Antonio Costa also praised the move, saying the bloc's strategy to achieve peace in the war-torn country was "strengthening Ukraine" and "increasing pressure on Russia."

"Today we moved forward on both," Costa wrote in a post on X.

The loan is seen as key financial support for Kyiv amid the fifth year of Russia's ground offensives and relentless air strikes, and after the White House changed its approach to funding Ukraine's defensive efforts.

Long blocked by Hungary and Slovakia, billions of euros are set to be disbursed over this and next year, as countries have lifted their vetoes after the resumption of operations on the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Central Europe.

The development comes as Zelenskyy told journalists that Ukraine may have shifted the balance on the "complicated" and "vivid" front line in its favor, saying Kyiv was in its most stable shape in almost a year.

In a voice message to a group of media, including RFE/RL, the president explained that the rare sense of positivity came from Ukraine's tendency to de-occupy more territory on the battlefield than it has lost since the beginning of the year.

"Over the past 10 months, we've been in our most stable shape, but we still realize that it's really tough for the guys," he said, also suggesting that Russian forces lose up to 35,000 men each month as Moscow tries to advance its new offensive plans.

In another aspect of the war, Russia has continued its air strikes, killing at least three people in Ukraine's major eastern city of Dnipro, which has long been one of the country's key refugee and volunteer centers.

Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said Russian drones attacked the region more than 20 times on April 23, adding that at least 13 people were injured, including two children aged 9 and 14.

Trying to hold back tears, local resident Halyna told RFE/RLs Ukrainian service that a boy named Mykhaylo, whom she had known since he was very young, had suffered burn injuries.

"It was terrifying. The blast was very loud I came here to see what happened, and it's a nightmare. I can't look at it. It's very hard," Halyna said at the scene of the aftermath.

According to Hanzha, a 13-story residential building, a store, a car, and an administrative building were damaged in the attack.

A series of Russian strikes overnight also targeted at least five other Ukrainian regions, killing and injuring people and damaging the country's energy and railway infrastructure.

Meanwhile, in Russia's Samara region, a drone attack on industrial facilities in Novokuybyshevsk early on April 23 killed one person, according to Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev.

While Fedorishchev did not specify which facilities were targeted, the incident is the latest in a series of strikes deep inside Russia in recent weeks.

Seeking to reduce Moscow's energy revenues by stepping up attacks on its oil infrastructure, 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.

"We are targeting what is painful for Russia, and it is indeed very painful. We can see the results: today, their losses are already measured in tens of billions," Zelenskyy said.

"These are critical losses for Russia," he added.
The gunshots rang out amid stopped midday traffic, panicking bystanders on a busy road in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa. Masked men wearing bulletproof vests pulled other men from a white minivan, throwing them to the pavement and pounding on them to make them stay still.

The masked men were from Ukraines main security agency, the SBU. The men being detained were from the regional military recruiting office, in charge of seeking out draft dodgers and conscripts eligible to fight on the front lines.

Some bystanders were ebullient.

The April 21 arrests were part of a sting, authorities said, targeting corrupt recruiters who solicit bribes and extort people who do not want to enlist -- or are ineligible to.

Its far from an isolated case.

More than four years into Russias all-out war, Ukraines defense, where manpower is concerned, continues to be somewhat less than all-out. Kyiv has spent years trying to come up with a better system to entice, attract, and recruit people to serve, on the front lines or otherwise.

Its still a major challenge. Corruption among recruiters isnt helping.

"On the one hand, everyone says we must fight until victory, and on the other hand, everyone is running away from mobilization, Kyrylo Budanov, the former head of Ukraines military intelligence agency, lamented this month. This is a huge, enormous problem.

"Wars are not won without people. Without people, wars are lost, that does happen. But winning without people -- that simply doesn't exist," Budanov said in an interview with the Ukrinform state news agency.

The Ukrainian government has sought to fix the image of the recruitment system, but more work needs to be done, according to an analysis published last month by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The main recipe for bribery and corruption is the unwillingness of a significant part of citizens to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect the state if they have the financial means to buy such an opportunity, said Viktor Kevlyuk, a military analyst at the Kyiv-based Center for Defense Strategies and co-author of the analysis.

Our Guys Are On The Front Line, And They Need To Be Replaced By Someone

In the weeks after the February 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine thwarted what many had predicted would be a cakewalk for the Russian Army, using a mix of pluck, prowess, and bravery -- as well as incompetence on the part of some Russian commanders.

Ukrainian forces managed to pull off two successful counteroffensives late in 2022, knocking Russian troops back on their heels.

As the war ground on, Russia took advantage of its larger size, and deeper defense base, to throw more men into the fight.

A partial mobilization order in September 2022 brought in tens of thousands of men. Authorities devised a patchwork recruitment system that included extraordinary wages and benefits, paid from federal and regional budgets.

The result was a reliable flow of men sent to the front -- with eyewatering casualty rates.

Russias figures are nearing 1.5 million dead and wounded, according to Western intelligence and expert estimates, a mind-boggling number that amounts to more casualties than what Moscow has cumulatively suffered from all wars it has fought since 1945.

Ukraines killed and wounded, meanwhile, are believed to be in excess of 500,000 -- proportionally an even bigger problem given its smaller population.

"Our guys are on the front line, and they need to be replaced by someone, Budanov, who is now President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff, said in his interview. And those avoiding service definitely don't understand that.

Officials struggled to streamline Ukraines system for attracting and maintaining soldiers. In April 2024, Zelenskyy signed legislation that lowered the minimum age for men to be mobilized and required all men to update their draft data with the authorities.

The legislation also increased payments to volunteers and authorized some convicts to serve.

Last spring, officials announced a program of incentives that include cash bonuses, subsidized mortgages, free university education, and the right to travel abroad after completing service.

As of January 2025, around 800,000 troops were serving in Ukraines armed forces and other branches such as the Territorial Brigades and National Guard.

Under martial law, most men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country.

One parliamentary estimate from 2024 said there were 4.35 million Ukrainian men between 25 and 60 -- who were not exempt from military service on family or professional grounds, not yet serving, not disabled, and not living under Russian occupation or abroad -- eligible to serve. Other estimates put the number slightly higher, at around 5 million.

The current system for ensuring there is a steady flow of people in the pipeline relies on what is known as Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support. Those centers are charged not only with recruiting men, but also hunting down draft dodgers.

The effort has been controversial, if not outright loathed. In one notorious case, recruiters showed up at a Kyiv concert by the country's most popular rock group, handing out summonses -- and dragging a man across the pavement as he shouted in protest and onlookers showered the recruiters with chants of "Shame!"

Another video filmed on April 23 shows a recruiter in western Ukraine fighting with a man on a rooftop before both of them plunge to the ground.

Military recruiters frequently drive around towns and cities in minibuses, looking for men. Frequently, recruiters will forcefully detain resisters, then trundle them away in the vehicles, a process known as busification.

Meanwhile, a robust parallel system has sprung up to help people escape being enlisted.

Ukrainian border guards have said it costs draft dodgers around $15,000 to pay smuggling gangs who often hire local children to guide them across the border into Romania or elsewhere.

"There is no split in Ukrainian society on this issue, Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko told Current Time. However, there is tension regarding military recruitment centers, regarding mobilization, and unfortunately this tension is growing. Unfortunately, there is clear corruption and excessive use of violence."

Mobilization Is Necessary. Somebody Has To Fight

Odesa -- a famed Black Sea port city legendary for its criminal underworld  has been the focus of scores of complaints by men who say recruiters routinely extort bribes. The parliaments human rights office said it had received nearly 200 complaints last year of rights violations by military recruiters.

In the April 21 incident, which was filmed by multiple bystanders and posted to Telegram and other social media, SBU officers stopped a minibus after a chase, firing gun shots and arresting eight men at gunpoint, forcing them to lie face down on the asphalt amid passing traffic.

One local news report said the recruiters, along with a police officer, demanded a $30,000 bribe from a former soldier who had received an official exemption, one local news outlet reported. The man was forcibly dragged into a minibus and threatened with a weapon. The SBU officers reportedly confiscated bats, brass knuckles, knives, and unlicensed guns from the minibus.

Though Ukrainians continue to overwhelmingly support the war effort, much of Ukrainian society is also exhausted and eager for some sort of resolution to end the fighting. Efforts to ensure eligible men are enlisted to fight are mostly supported, but corruption, bribery, extortion, and violent tactics frequently employed by recruiters are widely loathed.

You cant avoid it. Mobilization is necessary. Somebody has to fight, one Odesa woman, who did not give her name, told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service. And those who avoid service, they should be forcibly made to serve. But there needs to be civilized methods, without [torture]. And these incidents, they make you think.
2 Locals hold the Ukrainian flag as the funeral procession passes.



The two brothers, aged 33 and 29, served in Ukraine's 100th Mechanized Brigade and were killed at the front just one day apart.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

New details have emerged in the case of Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) activist Charles Mzilankatha Potse Ncube, with reports indicating that he has now appeared in court three times, including one session allegedly conducted under unclear circumstances.Ncube, who is linked to the MRP, appeared in court on Monday and again on Tuesday, where he was remanded in custody at Khezi. He is expected to return to court on Thursday.However, sources close to the matter claim these were not his only appearances. A previous court session is said to have taken place on Saturday, reportedly without public notice or the presence of observers  a development that has raised concerns among supporters about transparency and dueprocess safeguards.During Monday's proceedings, Ncube is reported to have crossexamined State witnesses himself. Those present said some witnesses indicated they had travelled from Harare for Independencerelated duties.It was also alleged in court that individuals involved in Ncube's apprehension did not know each other prior to the operation  a detail that has drawn attention from observers questioning how the arrest was coordinated.Ncube reportedly denied the charges, telling the court that the mbanje cited in the allegations had been brought by those who apprehended him. He also claimed that his party regalia was taken during the incident but was not included in the State's submissions, which instead focus on allegations of possession of mbanje and a knife.Supporters who attended proceedings, including several civilsociety observers, have disputed the charges, describing them as inconsistent and politically motivated. Authorities have not publicly responded to these claims.The case has attracted wider attention in Matobo District, particularly following earlier reports that Ncube was initially seized by unidentified individuals in unmarked vehicles before being formally processed through the courts.Legal analysts say the reported existence of an undisclosed court appearance, if confirmed, could raise serious procedural questions, particularly regarding access to legal representation and openjustice principles.The matter remains before the courts, and key aspects of the arrest, detention and prosecution have yet to be officially clarified.Ncube remains in custody pending his next court appearance.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Veteran Activists Association of Zimbabwe (VAAZ) has issued a strongly worded statement warning that proposed constitutional changes could undermine democratic principles and concentrate power in the hands of a few.In a statement released on Thursday, VAAZ national spokesperson Mandava Blessing said recent political developments posed risks for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation."No one is safe when the Constitution is amended to suit the whims of a small clique," the organisation said, warning that the country faces the danger of "absolute power" if reforms are not subjected to thorough scrutiny.The remarks come amid ongoing debate over proposed constitutional amendments, which critics argue could weaken institutional checks and balances. Supporters of the reforms maintain that the changes are necessary to improve governance and align laws with national priorities.VAAZ also cautioned against what it described as opportunistic political alignments, alleging that some individuals were seeking favour with the ruling establishment at the expense of broader national interests.The organisation called for unity across political divides, urging Zimbabweans to collectively defend constitutionalism and democratic institutions."What Zimbabwe needs are strong institutions, laws that protect the nation and not individuals, and leadership accountability," the statement read.VAAZ further emphasised the importance of safeguarding the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, warning against frequent or opaque amendments.Political analysts say the statement reflects rising tensions within Zimbabwe's political landscape as debates over governance reforms intensify.Government officials have not yet formally responded to VAAZ's remarks.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Children in the care of Tusla are being raped, groomed and killed, the Dail has been told.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin raised the matter following an RTE Investigates programme into the obscene care of children, which was broadcast on Wednesday night.

He told the Dail: Young children are being taken from very difficult backgrounds, from their parents, and theyre being placed into special emergency arrangements.

Tanaiste Simon Harris commended RTE Investigates as well as those with experiences of the care system for participating in the programme (Niall Carson/PA)

These are often unregulated. Often have staff that are unvetted, and some of those staff dont even have references.

During Leaders Questions on Thursday, he said children were being moved around on multiple occasions within a short space of time.

He said there were cases of children sleeping in car parks and broken down cars.

Theyre being groomed by crack cocaine dealers, he said.

Children are being sexually abused while in the care of Tusla.

Children are being raped in the care of Tusla and known to Tusla at the moment.

Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty said the issue was systemic and a political failure (Brian Lawless/PA)

Peadar Toibin said there was a case where a 14-year-old girl who went missing from Tusla was found a year later in a brothel and had been the victim of unimaginable exploitation.

He also told the Dail: Children are being killed in the care of Tusla and known to Tusla.

Toibin said Tusla could not be used as an insulating blanket to protect the Government from responsibility.

Tanaiste Simon Harris told the Dail the vast majority of children in care are thriving and being well looked after, but said there were harrowing failures in some cases.

Harris commended RTE Investigates as well as the children and those with experiences of the care system for participating.

He said very vulnerable children had endured horrors while being in the care of the State.

Harris said there were very many fine people working in extraordinarily difficult circumstances in Tusla.

On the special emergency arrangements, Harris said: This is effectively where the State becomes reliant on a private operator to provide accommodation in an emergency situation.

It is good to see that the reliance on that is being reduced, though still too high.

I think it has been reduced from around 170 children in special emergency arrangements last year to now down to 70.

Harris said Tusla had stopped working with six centres and five centres had been referred to An Garda Siochana.

Pressed for an answer on accountability and resourcing for the care system, the Tanaiste said: I think we need to be very careful here.

The Government was asked if it would launch an investigation into the findings of the RTE programme (Liam McBurney/PA)

Theres extraordinarily harrowing cases that deserve, require the full investigation.

He added: But we also should acknowledge that Tusla isnt the problem here.

Tusla are working with children very, very vulnerable and very complex situations, and the vast majority  its not acceptable for any child, by the way, any child to have an adverse or bad experience- but it is important to say that theres around 6,000 in our care system living with foster parents, living in registered centres.

The matter was raised a short time later by Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty, who said: This is systemic and it is a politic failure.

Harris said he had a conversation with Tusla chief executive Kate Duggan following the programme.

They are making real progress in terms of reducing the reliance on SEAs.

Labour TD Mark Ward asked if Government would launch an investigation into the findings of the RTE programme.

Harris said: Government will of course want to receive a full report from Tusla in relation to this.

He said there has been a reduction in reliance on SEAs, adding that it should be accelerated.
Gordon Deegan

Dublin City Council has granted planning permission for the contentious 100 million part demolition and rejuvenation of St Stephens Green Shopping Centre.

The Council has granted planning permission after the applicants, DTDL, lodged revised plans for the facade design at the centres main entrance last month.

The scheme, through the BKD Architects/ODonnell + Tuomey collaboration, will have the capacity to accommodate 3,000 office workers, while the retail floor area at basement, ground and first floor levels will be 19,001 square metres.

In total, the council received 61 submissions with the bulk of those opposed to the application.

One objection lodged on behalf of the Save Stephens Green Campaign was backed by a petition of 20,000 signatures.

In the Council's planners report recommending planning permission, it states that the applicant has chosen to retain the majority of the architectural design of the corner element as initially proposed.

The Council state that the revised facade includes the provision of a canopy cover over the main entrance that will contribute to the creation of placemaking associated with the proposed development".

The report states that the applicant has satisfactorily addressed the Planning Authorities concern regarding a lack of strong placemaking and urban design elements associated with the development.

The planners report reveals that the City Council Conservation Officer (CO) has reiterated their concerns regarding the overall scale and bulk of the proposed development as presented and its potential impact on the wider area and how the scheme addresses Grafton Street and the wider area.

The report states that the CO concerns are acknowledged. However, a balance has to be struck between the planning gain and the conservation impact of the proposed development.

Recommending that planning permission be granted, the Council planners report stated that considered holistically the deep retrofit of the St Stephens Green Shopping Centre will result in an improved visitor and retailer experience associated with the centre.

The councils planners report concluded that the proposed development would be keeping with the civic character of the area and would not detract from the existing amenities of the area.

Underlining the scale of the proposal, the Council has ordered the developer to pay 4.2 million towards public infrastructure and 1.3 million towards the LUAS Cross City Scheme.

In the further information lodged last month, the design team for applicants, Lanthorn state that "the revised proposals introduce a more defined and cohesive architectural expression that enhances the buildings presence at St Stephens Green and Grafton Street.

In December, owners of the centre, DTDL Ltd lodged new plans for the redevelopment of the landmark shopping centre five months after An Coimiusin Pleanala refused planning permission for its initial 100 million revamp.
Neamt County, an authentic experience

Today we travel to the northeast of Romania, to one of the most complex tourist destinations: Neamt County

Neamt Fortress Museum,Targu-Neamt

Daniel Onea, 23.04.2026, 14:15

Today we travel to the northeast of Romania, to one of the most complex tourist destinations: Neamt County. The area boasts a harmonious mix of nature, history and spirituality, as well as emblematic landmarks such as the imposing Mount Ceahlau and the Neamt Fortress. Beyond the established attractions, ambitious projects are planned for the coming years, such as the development of a themed holiday village, dedicated to the characters in Ion Creangas literature.

At the same time, the tourist experience is completed by the local gastronomy and the authenticity of traditional villages. The chairman of the Neamt County Council, Daniel-Vasilica Harpa, gives us an overview of this region:

Daniel-Vasilica Harpa: Neamt County has a long documented history, dating back to the Cucuteni culture as showcased at the Cucuteni Eneolithic Art Museum in Piatra Neamt, a European landmark. Neamt is also a pillar of medieval Moldavia, with the Neamt Fortress, the Princely Court in Piatra Neamt and a vast heritage from the era of the ruler Stephen the Great (1457-1504). The county has an extensive network of museums and memorial houses, such as the Ion Creanga Memorial House in Humulesti, along with the homes of the writers Veronica Micle, Calistrat Hogas and Mihail Sadoveanu. All this proves that Neamt is a major cultural space. In terms of the spiritual component, the county is regarded as the Mount Athos of Romania, boasting the largest number of places of worship in the country. Included here are the monasteries of Neamt, Agapia and Varatec, the latter two among the largest nunneries in Europe. Adding to these are the Sihastria, Secu, Sihla and other places with a strong monastic tradition, which attract pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.

Beyond the historical and spiritual elements, the county attracts tourists with the uniqueness of its natural heritage. For example, the Land of the Bison is an internationally recognised eco-destination, one of the few certified ecotourism destinations in Romania. It is also the only place in Europe where bison can be observed simultaneously in the wild and in captivity. Here is the chairman of the Neamt County Council, Daniel-Vasilica Harpa, with details about the nature and the experiences offered to travellers:

Daniel-Vasilica Harpa There are three important protected areas: the Ceahlau National Park, the Vanatori-Neamt Natural Park and the Cheile Bicazului-Hasmas National Park, complemented by spectacular lakes, such as Izvorul Muntelui, nicknamed the sea between the mountains, Lake Bicaz and Lake Cuejdel. Beyond the landscapes, visitors are welcomed by friendly local communities and authentic cuisine. Neamt is, therefore, a complete destination, with a strong identity. Neamt County can be visited at any time of the year, as it constantly offers varied experiences: nature exploration, adventure, culture, spirituality and relaxation. An important landmark is Mount Ceahlau, also known as the Olympus of Moldavia, with well-known attractions such as the Toaca Peak, the Dochia Chalet and the Duruitoarea Waterfall.

Travellers, especially foreigners, seek to interact with the local atmosphere and discover authentic traditional art. We learned from Daniel-Vasilica Harpa that there is a rich programme of events dedicated to those who want to get to know the work of traditional craftsmen:

Daniel-Vasilica Harpa Both at a county level and at local level we have a well-structured annual calendar. The Carmen Saeculare Centre for Culture and Arts organises many international festivals, including the Musical Holidays, the Ceahlaul Festival, the Neamt Fortress Days, Christmas fairs and the Creanga Days. These are complemented by festivals and events specific to each village or town. Traditional craftsmen are promoted, in particular, through these festivals and events focused on traditions. A relevant example is the annual Neamt County Dowry Chest. While visiting old wooden churches, memorial house routes or religious trails, visitors can also meet locals practicing various crafts, from pottery and weaving to wood carving. We take pride in internationally recognised craftsmen, such as the Lungu family. Also, the Humulesti area and the rural communities around the Agapia and Varatec monasteries offer an authentic combination of tradition and spirituality.

To bring these attractions even closer to guests, the authorities are working on a county digital platform, which will enable users to quickly put together customised itineraries. Moreover, in addition to road infrastructure, the administration is preparing completely new attractions, as explained by Daniel-Vasilica Harpa, the head of the Neamt County Council:

Daniel-Vasilica Harpa The county tourism development strategy focuses on investments with long-term impact. We have two major projects planned. The first one is a theme holiday village in the Humulesti area, inspired by the stories of Ion Creanga and the traditional Moldavian village. The project will be primarily financed from EU funds and the County Council budget, and we hope to start work soon. The second project concerns the Bicaz Lake Riviera, an investment in the leisure infrastructure around the lake, which will include the purchase of boats and modern leisure facilities. I therefore invite you to discover Neamt County, a place where every day can look different. Whether you hike in the mountains, paddle on Bicaz Lake, visit medieval fortresses and monasteries or explore villages where traditions are still alive, you will find tranquillity, authenticity and welcoming hosts. The experiences you will have here will certainly make you want to come back. We look forward to welcoming you!

The themed holiday village is estimated to welcome its first guests no later than 2029. Until then, however, the region is open and ready for tourists from the world over. (AMP)
April 23, 2026

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 23.04.2026, 13:55

Crisis. The Social Democratic Party is to go ahead with plan to withdraw from the 4-party government. Social Democratic ministers are today expected to submit their resignations from the cabinet led by the Liberal Ilie Bolojan, stepping down from six ministerial posts, namely labour, justice, agriculture, energy, transport and healthcare, and a position of deputy prime minister. The position of secretary general of the government would also be vacated. Following these withdrawals, the cabinet will change its political composition and only rely on the support of the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. The Social Democrats decided to withdraw their support for the prime minister and asked him to resign, something the latter refused to do.

President Nicusor Dan, as a mediator, held talks on Wednesday with the leaders of all parties in the ruling coalition, in an attempt to find a solution to maintain the countrys stability and retain a pro-European government. The consultations ended, however, without a plan to solve the current political deadlock, with political leaders standing by their positions. At the end of the talks, president Nicusor Dan gave assurances that Romania is a functional state despite differences of opinion at political level.

Government. The government has today adopted an emergency order providing for clearer authorisation conditions for companies bringing in foreign workers, as well as a tighter control of these companies, the reduction of bureaucracy and the digitalisation of procedures. Also, the order provides for clearer obligations for employers with respect to the salary granted to workers, accommodation and working conditions, and, for penalties in case of failure to comply.

Anniversary. Today and tomorrow, the National Bank of Romania is holding the sixth edition of an Open Days event to mark the 146th anniversary of its establishment. Guided tours provide the public with access to the most spectacular rooms in the old headquarters of the National Bank in the centre of Bucharest, information about the history of the Bank and entry to the Banks Museum. Visitors are also able to discover the fascinating history of the national currency in an exhibition entitled Money talks to us: the history of the Leu from metal to polymer, which showcases some of the gold bars that are part of Romanias international reserve.

Summit. Romania will be represented by president Nicusor Dan at an informal summit of the European Union hosted by Nicosia, in Cyprus. EU heads of state and government are meeting tonight to discuss the current geopolitical situation, in particular the war in Ukraine and the tensions in the Middle East. The Unions long-term budget is also on the agenda.

Deficit. Romanias budget deficit has decreased from 9.3% of GDP in 2024 to 7.9% in 2025, according to Eurostat data. In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said this is the result of measures to cut expenses and boost revenues taken in the second half of last year, but also of the use of European funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Romania still has the highest deficit level in the European Union, but also the largest correction, Ilie Bolojan added. The faster the correction is, the sooner healthy economic growth can begin, and this will be reflected in peoples living standards, the prime minister also posted.

Feast day. Christians, including those from Romania, today celebrate the Holy Great Martyr George, a 4th-century martyr and patron saint of the Romanian Land Forces. Almost one million Romanians are named after the saint. A general in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, Saint George fell victim to the persecution against Christians. He was imprisoned and tortured in order to give up his faith, but he refused and was executed. The relic of the head of Saint George was brought on Wednesday from Mount Athos, in a pilgrimage to the Pantocrator Monastery in southern Romania. For the first time in Romania, the relics will be on display until April 28. Last year, the Pantocrator Monastery hosted the complete relics of Saint Empress Helena, which very rarely leave the Venetian church where they are kept. (CM)
Consultations with pro-European parties

President Nicusor Dan had consultations with the leaders of the ruling coalition on Wednesday

The president of Romania Nicusor Dan (photo: presidency.ro)

Daniela Budu, 23.04.2026, 14:00

Consultations were held in Bucharest on Wednesday between president Nicusor Dan and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR), the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and the group of ethnic minorities, all in the pro-European ruling coalition, in the context of the government crisis generated by the Social Democrats withdrawing their political support for PM Ilie Bolojan and the breaking of the coalition balance.

This is the presidents second consultation with political parties in Romania, after the one in June 2025, when Ilie Bolojan was appointed as prime minister. This time around, however, the talks ended without a clear solution to break the political deadlock.

The head of state asked political parties to de-escalate the public rhetoric and called for dialogue as the only way to overcome the stand-off. He emphasised that the countrys pro-Western direction is not in question, and vowed that Romania is an operational state, in spite of differences of opinion at a political level.

Nicusor Dan: I think that up to this point each of the political actors has expressed their discontent. The question is how to proceed further and, in any political formula, with a majority or a minority government, we will need dialogue between the pro-Western political forces. And, beyond this political crisis, we must assure Romanians that we are a functioning state, with a difference of opinion at a political level.

Under a political agreement signed a year ago, Ilie Bolojan was to stay in office until April 2027, when a prime minister designated by the Social Democrats was supposed to take over. However, in the current consultations, the Social Democrats voiced willingness to continue governing if PM Ilie Bolojan, whom they accuse of causing the deadlock in the coalition, resigns. The PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu:

Sorin Grindeanu Unless our positions are harmonised, obviously the Social Democratic Party may go into opposition, and we will not support a minority government.

In turn, during the consultations the Liberals sent a firm message of support for their leader. In fact, he has already announced that he is not resigning from office.

Ilie Bolojan: I assured the President of the Liberals and my personal responsibility to ensure the governing of the country and to do whatever is necessary to secure stability, to ensure reforms.

The Save Romania Union leader Dominic Fritz also reaffirmed his full support for PM Ilie Bolojan and for carrying on important reforms for Romania.

Dominic Fritz: We will remain as part of this government, precisely because we are concerned about the loss of the EUR 10 billion in National Recovery and Resilience Plan funding, and the loss of the EUR 16 billion under the SAFE programme.

According to the UDMR leader, Kelemen Hunor, a minority government could be a solution:

Kelemen Hunor: We can discuss a minority government, in which the PNL, USR, UDMR, and the group of national minorities would remain, if there is support in Parliament from individual Deputies and Senators.

The members of the parliamentary group of national minorities did not make any statements at the end of the meeting. (AMP)
Genenta Science S.p.A. (GNTA), which is transitioning into Saentra Forge, has signed definitive agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Sophia High Tech S.r.l., an Italian aerospace and defense engineering company. The move marks a significant step in Genenta's strategic shift from a pure biotech company to a broader industrial consolidator operating across national-security-related sectors.

Under the terms of the agreement, Genenta will invest 6.0 million in two tranches. The first tranche will give the company a 19.9% stake, while completion of the second tranche will increase ownership to 51%, making Sophia High Tech a majority-owned subsidiary. The funding is expected to help Sophia expand production capacity, accelerate development, and strengthen its commercial footprint.

Sophia High Tech manufactures precision mechanical components used in European space and defense programs, serving organizations such as the European space and defence programs, serving organizations such as the European Space Agency, Thales Alenia Space Agency, Leonardo, and AVIO. The company reported 6.29 million in revenue and 0.96 million in EBITDA for fiscal year 2024, and expects sales of approximately 8 million for 2025 based on preliminary internal figures. Over the medium term, Sophia aims to double its 2024 revenue base by 2027 and expand its workforce from 44 to around 70 employees.

Genenta said it expects to add value through enhanced financial controls, expanded visibility, and operational efficiencies, including increased insourcing and improved asset utilization. The company noted that Sophia High Tech joins with a solid cash position and a profitable operating profile.

The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including clearance from the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

GNTA has traded between $0.59 and $10.00 over the past year. The stock closed Wednesday's trading at $0.71, up 3.46%. In pre-market trading, the stock is at $0.73, up 3.07%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Apollo Global Management, Inc.(APO) said on Thursday that Apollo-managed funds have agreed to buy a 40% stake in Pembina Gas Infrastructure Inc., a Canadian gas processor, from the funds managed by KKR & Co. Inc.(KKR).

The transaction is anticipated to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2026. Post transaction, Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PBA,PPL.TO,PPL-PFA.TO), which operates and manages Pembina Gas facilities, will maintain its 60% stake in the company, and the existing governance structure will remain unchanged.

Scott Browning, Partner at Apollo, said: "PGI is a premier Canadian platform strategically situated at the inlet of the Global Industrial Renaissance, with assets supporting industrial end that underpin the energy security of North American economies. We see a compelling opportunity to grow the alongside these tailwinds."

Since its formation as a joint venture between Pembina and KKR in 2022, Pembina Gas has a combined processing capacity of around five billion cubic feet per day.

Pembina Gas currently operates 23 gas processing plants, around 3,900 kilometers of gathering pipelines and approximately 330,000 barrels per day of NGL extraction capacity.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Anxiety around the Strait of Hormuz eclipsed the euphoria surrounding the announcement of an extended ceasefire, dampening market sentiment and dragging down stock prices. However, resilient corporate earnings despite war-led headwinds limited losses.

Wall Street Futures are trading in negative territory amidst a lack of progress in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Benchmarks in Europe are also trading on a mostly negative note. Earlier in the day, Asian too had finished trading mostly in the red.



The 6-currency Dollar Index which measures the U.S. Dollar's strength against a basket of 6 currencies has firmed up mildly. Sovereign bond yields hardened across regions.



Both the crude oil benchmarks are trading just below the flatline. Gold too has edged down from the flatline. Cryptocurrencies are however trading with heavy losses.



Here is a snapshot of the major world markets at this hour.

Stock Indexes:

DJIA (US30) at 49,235.00, down 0.52%

S&P 500 (US500) at 7,117.40, down 0.29%

Germany's DAX at 24,097.47, down 0.47%

U.K.'s FTSE 100 at 10,419.97, down 0.54%

France's CAC 40 at 8,184.83, up 0.35%

Euro Stoxx 50 at 5,877.16, down 0.49%

Japan's Nikkei 225 at 59,140.23, down 0.75%

Australia's S&P ASX 200 at 8,793.40, down 0.57%

China's Shanghai Composite at 4,093.25, down 0.32%

Hong Kong's Hang Seng at 25,915.20, down 0.95%

South Korea's KOSPI at 6,475.81, up 0.90%

Currencies:

EUR/USD at 1.1689, down 0.15%

GBP/USD at 1.3491, down 0.13%

USD/JPY at 159.54, up 0.03%

AUD/USD at 0.7145, down 0.20%

USD/CAD at 1.3678, up 0.06%

Dollar Index at 98.69, up 0.10%

Ten-Year Govt Bond Yields:

U.S. at 4.302%, up 0.19%

Germany at 3.0091%, up 0.34%

France at 3.660%, up 0.44%

U.K. at 4.9370%, up 0.49%

Japan at 2.427%, up 1.08%

Commodities:

Brent Oil Futures (Jun) at $101.88, down 0.03%.

Crude Oil WTI Futures (Jun) at $92.93, down 0.03%.

Gold Futures (Jun) at $4,750.56, down 0.05%.

Silver Futures (May) at $76.77, down 1.53%.

Cryptocurrencies:

Bitcoin at $77,771.37, down 0.68%

Ethereum at $2,331.16, down 2.97%

XRP at $1.41, down 2.50%

BNB at $634.73, down 1.33%

Solana at $86.02, down 2.70%

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Verano Holdings Corp. (VRNO), a multi-state cannabis operator, said its founder and CEO George Archos is celebrating what he called a "historic" announcement confirming that cannabis will be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.

Archos thanked President Trump and Attorney General Blanche for their leadership and coordinated efforts in advancing the rescheduling decision.

The company noted that the rescheduling decision marks a major shift for the U.S. cannabis industry, which has long operated under the strictest federal classification despite widespread state-level legalization. Schedule III status is expected to ease research barriers, reduce tax burdens, and expand opportunities for medical and commercial development.

Archos said the move reflects years of coordinated efforts across government and industry, adding that rescheduling could unlock broader and wellness benefits for patients nationwide. He emphasized that the change has the potential to support the continued growth and normalization of the cannabis sector.

Verano operates across 13 states, with 162 dispensaries under its Zen Leaf and MUV retail banners, along with 14 cultivation and processing facilities totaling more than 1.1 million square feet of capacity. The company produces a range of regulated cannabis products sold under brands including Savvy, Essence, Encore, BITS, Avexia, and MUV.

VRNO has traded between $0.46 and $1.95 over the past year. The stock is currently trading at $1.21, down 10.37%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
With the new TFT display of TVS Raider 125, users can access calls, voice assist and more than 99 connected features

TVS Raider is one of the bestselling 125cc bikes, preferred for its sporty profile, peppy performance and advanced features. It contributes around 10% to the brands monthly sales. Raider 125 takes on rivals such as Honda CB125 Hornet, Hero Xtreme 125R and Bajaj Pulsar NS125. To further enhance its value proposition, TVS has introduced new colour options and additional features with the Raider 125. Lets check out the details.

TVS Raider 125  New Variants, Colours

TVS has introduced a new Nitro Green colour option with the Raider 125. This colourway seems somewhat familiar to the Pearl Siren Blue with Lemon Ice Yellow colour offered with Honda CB125 Hornet. However, both bikes have distinctive designs, and the shades and colour schemes used are different.

Raiders new green colour option is available with the newly launched TFT DD and SXC DD trims. Both these trims have two additional colour choices  Metallic Blue and Striking Red. The new Nitro Green colour is refreshing, especially when compared to the other two colour options. Despite being a relatively lighter shade, it still delivers a striking presence.

In this new colourway, the green shade has been applied largely across the front half of the bike. Its there on the front cowl, fender tip, front wheel, fuel tank, side panels and belly pan. For a more dynamic feel, the green surfaces are combined with sporty graphics in a grey colour. A distinctive profile is achieved with the combination of Nitro Green front wheel and blacked-out rear alloy wheel.

New TFT display

Another key update for the top-spec TFT DD variant of TVS Raider 125 is a full-colour TFT display. One can notice a futuristic, performance-focused user interface that has high contrast and bright colours for easy readability. The UI utilizes a predominantly orange and black colour scheme, which complements the bikes sporty profile.

Sharp lines and neatly segmented data sections help create a high-tech, cockpit-like interface that feels both modern and premium. Users can access calls, turn-by-turn navigation and more than 99 connected features via the TFT display. Other functions like ride reports, match scores and weather updates are also accessible via the TFT console.

This new TFT console is a significant update from the earlier reverse LCD digital display. The latter is now available with the SXC DD trim of Raider 125 and offers 85+ connected features.

Pricing

TVS Raider 125 new top trim TFT DD is available at a starting price of Rs 98,550. Other key features of the top trim include LED headlamp, Roto Petal dual disc brakes with single-channel ABS, follow me headlamp, side stand indicator with engine cut-off and GTT (Glide Through Traffic). Powering the bike is a 124.8 cc, air & oil cooled, single cylinder engine that generates 11.38 PS and 11.2 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.










News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin'ono has urged Zimbabweans to reject tribalism and avoid amplifying divisive voices, warning that such behaviour only strengthens those who seek to exploit societal fractures.In a widely shared message on X (formerly Twitter), Chin'ono called on citizens from all ethnic backgrounds to promote unity and refuse to engage with individuals who incite hatred between communities."Let us not amplify the voices of wicked, cruel and bad people in our midst. We know who they are. We know that they create divisions within communities and within ethnic groups," he said.He cautioned that responding to or sharing inflammatory content on social media only gives it wider reach and legitimacy."The moment you amplify, retweet or reshare such content, you are participating in it. You are validating it. And that is something we must all reject," Chin'ono said.The journalist, who commands a significant following across multiple platforms, said he deliberately avoids engaging with tribal rhetoric to prevent giving it visibility."I will never repost them or comment on them the moment I respond, I give that person access to over a million people. That would be irresponsible," he added.Chin'ono said Zimbabwe's diversity should be a source of strength rather than division, noting his own experiences living and interacting across different ethnic and cultural backgrounds."I am not a tribalist. I am not a racist. I am a decent human being who wants to live in harmony with my compatriots," he said.He urged Zimbabweans to actively reject and isolate those who promote ethnic hatred."Please, let us not amplify such destructive voices in our communities. Block them if you can," he said.Chin'ono warned that tribalism undermines national unity and weakens communities, making them more vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.
Maruti Suzuki has recorded its highest-ever annual production in India, manufacturing over 23.4 lakh passenger vehicles in FY 2025-26. With this milestone, the company becomes the only OEM in India to achieve such scale in a single financial year, further strengthening its dominance in the domestic automotive industry. This achievement is also significant at a global level, as Maruti Suzuki emerged as the top-producing facility within Suzuki Motor Corporations worldwide operations.

Top Models Cross 2 Lakh Production

Driving this record performance were five key models  Dzire, Fronx, Swift, Ertiga and Baleno  each crossing the 2 lakh units production mark during the financial year. These models continue to form the backbone of Marutis portfolio, catering to a wide range of customer segments. From compact sedans and hatchbacks to SUVs and MPVs, the strong demand across categories highlights Maruti Suzukis ability to maintain volume leadership across segments.

Commenting on the milestone, Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said that the achievement reflects the strength of the companys ecosystem, built over decades with support from employees, suppliers and dealer partners. He also highlighted that supportive policy measures and improving market conditions played a role in driving demand, enabling the company to operate at such high production levels.

Expansion Plans To Touch 40 Lakh Capacity

Maruti Suzuki is now aiming to significantly scale up its manufacturing capacity. The company has outlined plans to reach around 40 lakh units annual production capacity in the coming years. Currently, Maruti operates four manufacturing facilities located in Gurugram, Manesar and Kharkhoda (Haryana), along with Hansalpur (Gujarat), with a combined installed capacity of around 24 lakh units per year.

As part of its future expansion, Maruti has also identified land for a new plant at Khoraj Industrial Estate in Sanand, Gujarat. Once fully operational, this facility is expected to add 10 lakh units of annual capacity, playing a key role in the companys growth strategy.

Strong Portfolio And Export Push

Maruti Suzuki currently manufactures 17 models with over 650 variants, catering to both domestic and export markets. With increasing focus on making India a global manufacturing hub, exports are expected to play an even bigger role going forward. With record production, strong demand for its key models and aggressive expansion plans, Maruti Suzuki continues to reinforce its position as Indias largest carmaker while preparing for the next phase of growth.
BSA has expanded its India lineup with the launch of Scrambler 650, a new motorcycle that brings classic British styling together with modern scrambler capabilities. Positioned as a premium offering, Scrambler 650 is priced from Rs 3,24,950 (introductory, ex-showroom) and targets riders looking for a versatile machine suited for both city use and light off-road exploration.

Classic Scrambler Design With Modern Touches

BSA Scrambler 650 draws strong inspiration from iconic models such as Gold Star Catalina, A10 Spitfire and A65 Firebird. It features a sculpted fuel tank with chrome accents, signature 65 oval side panels, flat ribbed bench seat and an exposed subframe, giving it an authentic retro scrambler stance.

The motorcycle rides on wire-spoke wheels with semi-knobby tyres, reinforcing its dual-purpose intent. Design elements such as a high-mounted exhaust, upright riding posture and minimal bodywork contribute to its rugged appeal. Buyers can choose from three colour options  Raven Black, Victor Yellow and Thunder Grey.

650cc Engine  Strong Low-End Torque

At the heart of BSA Scrambler 650 is a 652cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine, which is currently the only engine of its kind in this segment in India. It produces 45 PS of power at 6,500 rpm and 55 Nm of torque at just 4,000 rpm, focusing on strong low- and mid-range performance. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox, tuned to deliver a relaxed yet torquey riding experience, suitable for both urban commutes and highway cruising.

BSA Scrambler 650 is built on a sturdy chassis with long-travel suspension setup. It gets 41 mm telescopic forks at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a 320 mm front disc with Brembo twin-piston caliper and a 255 mm rear disc with single-piston caliper, supported by ABS.

The bike has a kerb weight of 208 kg, seat height of 820 mm and ground clearance of 187 mm, making it accessible while still offering adequate off-road capability. It also features a 12-litre fuel tank.

Features & Accessories

In terms of features, Scrambler 650 keeps things simple yet functional, with a digital instrument cluster, LED lighting and essential rider-focused ergonomics. BSA is also offering a range of accessories including engine guard, saddle stay, top rack, headlight grille and bar-end mirrors, allowing riders to customise the bike as per their usage.

With the launch of Scrambler 650, BSA is targeting riders who prefer a blend of heritage styling and modern usability. The motorcycle is aimed at enthusiasts who want a distinctive product that can handle everyday riding while also being capable enough for occasional off-road adventures. The new Scrambler 650 joins the growing scrambler segment in India, where brands are increasingly focusing on lifestyle-oriented motorcycles with rugged design and versatile capabilities.
The iconic British motorcycle brand Norton, now owned by TVS Motor, is steadily moving closer to its global comeback. As part of this revival strategy, the upcoming Norton Atlas GT ADV has been spied testing again in India. The latest spy shots reveal more details, offering a clearer look at its design, proportions and hardware.

TVS Norton Atlas GT ADV  New Spy Shots

This is not the first time Norton Atlas GT has been spotted on Indian roads. Earlier sightings revealed the rear profile and overall stance. However, the latest images now give a much clearer look at the front and side profile, highlighting several premium design elements. Latest spy shots are credited to automotive enthusiasts Christine Varghese and Charvik.

At the front, it features a distinctive LED DRL signature paired with a twin projector headlamp setup. The lighting unit looks neatly integrated into a semi-faired design, giving it a proper ADV-tourer appeal. A tall windscreen sits above the headlight cluster, suggesting good wind protection for long-distance touring. The bike also appears to get auxiliary lighting elements, likely for improved visibility in low-light conditions.

Premium Hardware & ADV Stance

From the side, Norton Atlas GT ADV looks like a proper middleweight touring motorcycle. It gets muscular tank shrouds, a large fuel tank and a well-sculpted body that enhances its big bike appeal.

Suspension duties are handled by USD front forks finished in gold, likely adjustable. At the rear, a monoshock setup can be seen. The bike rides on alloy wheels (a key distinction from Atlas with spoke wheels), wrapped in road-biased tyres, reinforcing its touring-focused character.

Braking hardware includes twin discs at the front with ByBre calipers, while the rear gets a single disc setup. The presence of a large radiator hints at a liquid-cooled engine underneath. Other visible elements include a single-piece seat, split grab rails, upswept exhaust and a clean tail section.

Engine & Features  What To Expect?

Powering Norton Atlas GT ADV will be a 585cc parallel twin-cylinder engine with a 270-degree crank. While official specs are not confirmed, it is expected to produce around 70 bhp, placing it firmly in the premium middleweight segment. The bike will be underpinned by a steel trellis frame, with the engine acting as a stressed member to optimize weight and rigidity.

Feature list is expected to be quite extensive. Likely highlights include a large TFT touchscreen display with smartphone connectivity, keyless ignition, and a full electronics suite. This could include traction control, cornering ABS, cruise control, riding modes, wheelie control and more, supported by a 6-axis IMU.

Norton Revival Strategy

Norton Atlas GT ADV is one of the four key motorcycles planned under TVS revival roadmap for the Norton brand. Along with Atlas GT, the lineup is expected to include Atlas, Manx and Manx R models. Production is likely to take place in India, leveraging TVS Motors manufacturing capabilities, while maintaining Nortons premium positioning globally. While an official launch timeline is yet to be announced, frequent testing suggests that the debut could happen in the coming months.
Yezdi has expanded its lineup with the launch of the new Scrambler 350 in India. Positioned as a lightweight and versatile scrambler, the new model is aimed at riders looking for a balance between city usability and weekend trail capability. Prices start from Rs 1,99,950 (ex-showroom). With this update, Yezdi is focusing on performance, reduced weight and improved rideability, while retaining the brands signature scrambler styling.

New 334cc Katar Engine  30-30-30 Focus

Powering the new Yezdi Scrambler 350 is a 334cc, liquid-cooled engine named Katar. It produces 30 PS at 8,100 rpm and 30 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox and assist & slipper clutch.

Yezdi highlights a 30-30-30 formula  30 PS power, 30 Nm torque and around 30 km/l efficiency. The engine is tuned to deliver strong low- and mid-range performance, which is crucial for both city riding and light off-road conditions. The motorcycle also features a horizontally mounted radiator and centrally routed exhaust. These help in better heat management and improved weight distribution, contributing to a more balanced ride.

Lightweight Setup, Off-Road Ready Hardware

Weighing 174 kg, the new Scrambler is among the lighter offerings in its category. It gets a seat height of 813 mm, making it relatively accessible for a wide range of riders. Suspension duties are handled by telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers. The setup is tuned for longer travel, allowing the bike to handle rough roads and uneven terrain more effectively.

Braking is managed via a 320 mm front disc and 240 mm rear disc setup. The bike rides on spoke wheels with semi-knobby tyres (19-inch front, 17-inch rear), reinforcing its scrambler credentials.

Design & Features  Classic Scrambler DNA

In terms of design, Yezdi has retained a traditional scrambler look with modern touches. Key highlights include a raised front beak, compact tail section, oval side panels and a ribbed single-piece seat. The bike also features a digital instrument cluster, LED headlight and signature LED tail lamps. Wider handlebars are aimed at offering better control, especially during off-road riding.

Additional functional elements such as handguards, crash guard, headlamp grill, visor and saddle stay are available as accessories, allowing riders to customise the bike as per their usage.

Ride Modes & Practical Touches

Yezdi Scrambler 350 comes with three riding modes  Road, Rain and Off-road. These modes adjust power delivery and braking response based on riding conditions, improving overall usability. The bike also features a 12.5-litre fuel tank and a relatively short wheelbase of 1,403 mm, which should aid manoeuvrability in tight spaces as well as on trails.

Colours & Positioning

Yezdi is offering the Scrambler 350 in four colour options  Legacy Black, OG Yellow, Rogue Red and Rally Blue. Each colour scheme gets distinct graphics, adding to the bikes visual appeal. With this launch, Yezdi is targeting riders who want a stylish yet functional motorcycle that can handle daily commutes as well as occasional off-road adventures without being overly complex or heavy.
More information

KEY DATES

May 5: Early voting begins for the primary.

May 16: Expanded early voting begins for the primary.

May 30: Early voting ends.

June 2: Primary election.

SEMI-OPEN PRIMARIES

This is the first year New Mexico will have semi-open primaries, meaning unaffiliated voters can now vote in the partisan primary of their choice.

If you are a registered Democrat or Republican, you can still only vote in the Democratic or Republican primary. If you are a Democrat who wishes to vote in the Republican primary or vice versa, you need to switch your registration to that party or to declined-to-state before early voting starts on May 5.

If you are currently unaffiliated, you can vote in the primary of your choosing by requesting a ballot without changing your registration.

If you are registered with a minor party such as the Greens or Libertarians, you can switch to either a major party or declined-to-state before the election or through same-day registration at the polls.

Visit NMVote.org to register, check or update your voter registration or request an absentee ballot.
News / National

by Simbarashe Sithole

A 27yearold Chicken Matty employee in Bindura has been jailed for four years after stealing ZWL$360 156.17 from his employer.

Kushinga Denis Zhuriyano was convicted by Bindura magistrate Felix Chauromwe, who conditionally suspended 18 months of the sentence.Prosecutor Sheila Maribha told the court that between 6 October last year and 23 January, Zhuriyano was entrusted with two bank cards by his employer to purchase goods for Chicken Matty outlets.Instead, he reportedly went to money changers in Bindura, exchanged the Zimbabwean currency for United States dollars, and converted the money to his personal use.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Zanu PF Secretary for Administration and Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has vowed to arrest all party members who illegally allocate land.Recently, former Zanu-PF Harare province youth chair Godwin Gomwe was arrested for allegedly giving out stands illegally.Chombo said Zanu-PF does not condone such behaviour and those found on the wrong side of the law would be brought to book."All the laws in this country were made by Zanu-PF. So we cannot make laws that we do not want to follow. We want them to be followed to the later not only by our supporters and activists but also by the generality of Zimbabweans," Chombo told Sunday Mail."We do not tolerate criminal activities and anyone who breaks the laws will be arrested especially land barons and unscrupulous land developers who are hiding behind the name of the party to do their criminal activities. I can assure you that they will find themselves behind bars," he said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe turns 50 today. A banquet to celebrate her achievements will be held at the first family's Borrowdale home on Saturday evening.Top South African gospel artist Benjamin Dube will be one of the main attractions at the banquet, with other artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi and Dr Tawanda famed for his popular song aUnconqerable' billed to perform.The First Lady has dedicated her position to helping abandoned children and people with disabilities through the Grace Mugabe Foundation.She is also patron of the Danhiko Paralympic Games.An orphanage set up in Mazowe by the First Lady is looking after 80 children from disadvantaged backgrounds.The children live in state of the art houses which she built from scratch with help from well-wishers.Last year, Amai Mugabe entered the political fray when she was confirmed the Zanu-PF Secretary for Women Affairs at the December congress.Born to migrant parents from the then Southern Rhodesia in Benoni, South Africa, Dr Mugabe is the fourth child in a family of five.She moved back to Zimbabwe to live with her mother in Chivhu, while her father stayed and worked in South Africa.She attended primary school in Chivhu and went to Kriste Mambo in Manicaland.She got married to President Robert Mugabe in 1996 and the couple is blessed with three children, Bona, Robert (Jnr) and Chatunga-Bellarmine.
New research led by Max-Planck Institute of Geoanthropology and University of Cambridge scientists suggests malaria did more than sicken ancient populations, it steered where early humans could live, fragmenting groups and influencing the genetic map of our species.

Malaria, caused by single-celled parasitic organisms of the genus Plasmodium, is a major world disease that today presents a global health problem, with 263 million cases annually, said lead author Dr. Margherita Colucci and her colleagues.

Genetic studies indicate that malaria was a major problem both in recent prehistory and also in the Pleistocene, with mutations relating to sickle cell anemia emerging in response to malaria between 25,000 and 22,000 years ago in Africa.

Archaeological studies have also identified earlier, indirect evidence for the measures that humans took to avoid exposure to the vectors of disease, for example, by topping plant bedding with aromatic leaves containing insecticidal and larvicidal chemicals.

In their new study, the authors explored how Plasmodium falciparum-induced malaria shaped the history of our species in sub-Saharan Africa between 74,000 and 5,000 years ago.

They found that the disease influenced where early humans lived, pushing populations away from high-risk areas and spreading groups farther apart across the landscape.

Over tens of thousands of years, this fragmentation influenced how populations encountered one another, mixed, and exchanged genes, helping to shape the genetic structure of modern humans.

The findings suggest that malaria was not just a challenge for early humans, but a fundamental force shaping the deep history of our species.

We used species distribution models of three major mosquito complexes together with paleoclimate models, Dr. Colucci said.

Combining these with epidemiological data allowed us to estimate malaria transmission risk across sub-Saharan Africa.

The researchers then compared these estimates with an independent reconstruction of the human ecological niche across the same region and time period.

The results show that humans strongly avoided  or were unable to survive in  areas with high malaria transmission risk.

The effects of these choices shaped human demography for the last 74,000 years, and likely much earlier, said Professor Andrea Manica.

By fragmenting human societies across the landscape, malaria contributed to the population structure we see today.

Climate and physical barriers were not the only forces shaping where human populations could live.

This study opens up new frontiers in research on human evolution, added Professor Eleanor Scerri.

Disease has rarely been considered a major factor shaping the earliest prehistory of our species, and without ancient DNA from these periods it has been difficult to test.

Our research changes that narrative and provides a new framework for exploring the role of disease in deep human history.

The study was published today in the journal Science Advances.

_____

Margherita Colucci et al. 2026. Malaria shaped human spatial organization for the past 74 thousand years. Science Advances 12 (17); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aea2316
News / National

by Prosper Dembedza

A 30-year-old Harare man fatally shot his maid with his service rifle after accusing her of deliberately infecting him with HIV, the court heard yesterday. It is alleged that Phelimon Chigwada shot his wife Memory Mahari who is battling for her life at Parirenyatwa Hospital after she had tried to cool his temper.Chigwada, who is a security guard, was facing murder and attempted murder charges when he appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.He was remanded in custody to May 5 and advised to approach the High Court for bail application. Allegations are that on April 23, Chigwada had a misunderstanding with Chiedza Rambanepasi whom he was accusing of deliberately infecting him with HIV.The court heard that during the dispute, Chigwada took his service 303 rifle and shot Rambanepasi who died on the spot. It is the State's case that after shooting Rambanepasi, Chigwada turned to Mahari and shot her in the jaw.A report was made leading to Chigwada's arrest.Meanwhile, a jilted Harare man appeared in the same court on Monday accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend with a kitchen knife in the heat of a dispute. Emmanuel Chikwanda (25) was charged with murder. He was remanded in custody to May 9 for trial.
Elnur Enveroglu



The official visit of Latvian President Edgars Rink?vi?s to Azerbaijan upon the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev is more than a diplomatic courtesy. It is a clear statement that relations between Baku and Riga matter not only bilaterally, but strategically across a rapidly changing Eurasian landscape.

At a time when Europe is rethinking supply chains, transport security, energy resilience and geopolitical partnerships, Azerbaijan and Latvia increasingly find themselves on the same page. One stands on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the other on the Baltic coast. Despite geography, once seen as a distance, is now becoming an advantage.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, both Azerbaijan and Latvia have pursued a path centred on sovereignty, state-building and integration into wider international systems. Both nations emerged from the same imperial wreckage with a determination to define their own futures. Both understand the value of independence because both know the cost of losing it.

That shared historical memory has often translated into political understanding. Latvia, like the other Baltic states, has consistently recognised and respected Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity. This principle was particularly significant during the difficult years following the First Karabakh War in the 1990s.

Those were years of chaos and confusion across much of the post-Soviet space. Information was scarce, media freedom was weak, and international awareness of the South Caucasus remained limited. Many in Western Europe knew little of the realities on the ground. However, in the Baltic states, there was sharper attention and greater sensitivity to issues of occupation, displacement and territorial disputes. Their own historical experiences made them alert to the dangers of unresolved aggression.

Latvias position over the years has reflected that instinctive respect for international law. It is one reason relations with Azerbaijan have remained stable and constructive.

But todays partnership is no longer defined only by political sympathy. It is increasingly driven by practical interests.

In 2017, Azerbaijan and Latvia signed a strategic partnership document, giving institutional form to growing ties. That framework now looks prescient. Since then, the global economy has been shaken by war, disrupted trade routes and energy insecurity. Countries able to connect Europe with Asia safely and efficiently have gained strategic weight. Azerbaijan is, certainly, one of them, and for Latvia, the country is not merely a South Caucasus state. It is a transport hub, an energy partner and a gateway to Central Asia. The Middle Corridor, linking China and Central Asia through the Caspian, Azerbaijan, Georgia and onwards to Europe, has become one of the most discussed trade routes of the decade. The North-South corridor, meanwhile, offers additional relevance as Eurasian connectivity expands.

For a Baltic trading nation such as Latvia, these routes matter. Ports, railways, logistics centres and customs cooperation go beyond technical issues, so to speak, they turn into geopolitical assets. Riga understands that access to diversified corridors strengthens Europes economic security.

Energy is another area of convergence. As Europe seeks cleaner and more reliable supplies, Azerbaijans growing role in natural gas exports and renewable energy development has attracted increasing interest. Latvia has every reason to watch closely. Azerbaijans green energy ambitions in solar, wind and Caspian offshore projects create openings for investment, expertise-sharing and long-term cooperation.

There is also room for collaboration in agriculture, electronics, digitalisation and cybersecurity. And these are the sectors where smaller but agile states can move faster than larger bureaucracies. Besides, Latvias experience in technology and governance innovation complements Azerbaijans expanding regional economic role.

Culturally, too, the relationship has more depth than is often assumed. Azerbaijan and the Baltic states share traditions of education, multilingualism and outward-looking commercial identities shaped by crossroads geography. Both regions have historically balanced eastern and western influences while preserving strong national cultures. That creates a natural basis for mutual respect.

Too often, European debate draws artificial lines between core Europe and its eastern neighbours. Here, the reality might be more complex. However, nations such as Latvia and Azerbaijan show that modern Europe is interconnected from the Baltic to the Caspian.

President Rink?vi?s visit to Baku, therefore, deserves attention. It reflects confidence, continuity and ambition, and suggests that Latvia sees Azerbaijan not through outdated stereotypes, but through the lens of future opportunity.

And it reminds the wider continent of a simple truth: countries that understand sovereignty, resilience and strategic geography tend to understand each other well.

From Riga to Baku, a partnership built on shared experience is steadily becoming one built on shared interests, which in the current international climate may prove even more valuable.
For this longtime book world reporter, the New England Independent Booksellers Association Spring Forum, held last Wednesday and Thursday in Danvers, Mass., was familiar--a well-run and focused show featuring many wonderful authors and independent booksellers with the added benefit of an emphasis on sidelines--but also unlike any industry gathering I'd ever been to because for the first time I was also there as an author.

First, a show roundup: More than 120 booksellers attended the Spring Forum, which was highlighted by the many authors in attendance, including R.F. Kuang, who was the featured speaker at the Thursday Author Keynote breakfast and whose new novel is Taipei Story, and Isaac Fitzgerald and Namwali Serpell, whose new books are American Rambler and On Morrison, respectively, in conversation at Wednesday's Author Keynote luncheon. Not surprisingly, many more authors were at the author reception late Wednesday afternoon, and, of course, the rep pick session Wednesday afternoon included discussions of highlights of the lists.

The Spring Forum also emphasized sidelines. Trudi Bartow, sales director of the Unemployed Philosophers Guild, long a favorite sidelines company among booksellers, led the session More Than Books: Make Your Sidelines Work Harder. Before an enthusiastic SRO crowd, she pointed out such basics as the ideal price point for a sideline ($19.99); where to place stickers, a very popular category (near the point of sale but not at it since people need time to browse through them); and the most popular sideline (stationery). She was so entertaining and informative that one question from the audience was a simple, "Have you auditioned yet for SNL?" (She wrote about sidelines for Shelf Awareness in January and will do more with us in the future.)

On Thursday, some 30 sidelines vendors exhibited their wares from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. "We've had nothing but fantastic feedback from the vendors about their piece of the show," said NEIBA executive director Beth Ineson, noting that the sidelines emphasis was "a bookseller request" and was something "everyone seemed to find useful." NEIBA is considering offering more sidelines programming next year.

On the personal side, the Spring Forum marked my first appearance as an author--Left Field Publishing is bringing out my novel Fortune and Glass on September 1. Left Field, which was launched last year by Len Vlahos and Kristen Gilligan, sponsored a coffee break Wednesday afternoon that featured me at a table signing ARCs of the book.

Debut author signing an ARC for Casey Robinson of the Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, Mass.

So there were several milestones common to authors, but uncommon to me:

ARC First Contact. When I arrived at the show and went to the registration desk, NEIBA staff said that ARCs had arrived and in fact were in three boxes behind the desk. A moment later, I was holding an ARC of my book, the first time I'd seen it. Authors often say the initial sight of an ARC or a finished copy of a book they've worked on so long and so hard is a special moment. That was the case for me.

The Elevator Pitch. Of course, a frequent question was "what's the book about?" I refrained from channeling my late father and saying, "About 400 pages." For the first time I listened to featured authors discuss their books with a new appreciation and attentiveness. In contrast to my attempts, their book descriptions were so polished, concise, and intriguing. Happily I did pick up some pointers.

Signing Language. What to write to people who wanted an inscription in the ARC I handed them? I did a little research at home before the Spring Forum looking at books authors had inscribed to me. Among my favorites:

"Despite the fact that this is a book you didn't buy, I hope it's one you will keep in your collection... P.S. Buy one of my new ones." From the late Olivia Goldsmith in a copy of The First Wives' Club

"A pleasure to sign a book you bought!" From T. Jefferson Parker in Pacific Beat

"It's a crime if you don't read this book--and come on down to Miami. After the storm!" From Edna Buchanan in Contents Under Pressure

"Some good ideas." From Kelly Link in Get in Trouble.

Many authors simply signed their names, but this was often understandable, as with Sophia Loren at the pub party for Sophia Loren's Recipes & Memories.

At the Spring Forum, I tried to be creative, especially with people I knew well, but often wrote simply, "Hope you enjoy this!" My personal favorite was something I decided on in advance. Kate Layte of Papercuts Bookshop, Boston, Mass., was the first in line, so I wrote: "This is the first book I've ever signed as an author." Lucky Kate...

My first signing was unexpectedly memorialized: NEIBA's weekly newsletter, which came out Thursday morning, featured photos from the Spring Forum. The third one showed me signing an ARC for Casey Robinson of the Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, Mass. Wow. Many thanks to Beth Ineson and to Beth Wagner, the photographer! --John Mutter
The shortlist has been selected for the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction, whose goals are "championing and amplifying women's voices and nurturing a global community of readers." Sponsored by Baileys and Audible, the prize has an award of 30,000 (about $40,500). The winner will be announced June 11.

The shortlist:

Flashlight by Susan Choi

Dominion by Addie E. Citchens

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson

Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Chair of judges and former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard said: "We are delighted to present a shortlist that doesn't shy away from examining life's challenges, but also brings many moments of joy. As judges, we are first and foremost readers, and these novels intrigued and profoundly moved us. The plot lines kept us turning pages to find out what happens next, the characters found a place in our hearts and the stories stayed with us long after the last sentence. The incredible strength of the longlist challenged and delighted us, as we whittled down 16 books to this exceptional shortlist.

"We are proud to support the Women's Prize Trust's mission of championing women's creativity, established and new. With over half of the shortlist represented by debut novelists and independent publishers, we are spotlighting talented emerging writers as well as showcasing the best of known and much loved authors."

---

Finalists have been selected for the 2026 Hugo Awards, recognizing "excellence in science fiction and fantasy" in many categories. Winners of the Hugo Awards, the Lodestar Award, and the Astounding Award will be announced at the World Science Fiction Convention, LAcon V, on August 30. All members of the World Science Fiction Convention are able to vote on the Hugo Awards, including those who have memberships in the virtual portion of the convention. Voting on the final ballot will begin in early May. In addition to the traditional categories, the 2026 awards will again include a Best Poem category, following a trial run in 2025. To see all the finalists, click here.

"The 2026 Hugo Award ballot reflects the wide spectrum of contemporary science fiction and fantasy," said convention chair Joyce Lloyd. "This shortlist highlights established voices and emerging creators. These are works that comfort us in hard times and challenge us to not only envision, but to work towards, better tomorrows and more inclusive worlds."
India denies claims of any cash or cryptocurrency payments to Iran for ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz

Two Indian vessels were forced to turn back after coming under fire from Iranian forces during a crossing attempt on April 18

The government has called reports linking the incident to a crypto scam 'fake news', with ship owners also rejecting such claims

India has firmly denied reports that it made any payments, either in cash or cryptocurrency, to Iran for allowing its ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The clarification comes after rising speculation following a recent security incident in the region.

maritime route. One of the vessels, the Sanmar Herald, reportedly had prior clearance but had to turn back amid the escalation. An audio clip circulating online captured the ships captain requesting Iranian forces to stop firing. On April 18, two India-flagged vessels were forced to retreat after coming under fire from Iranian forces while attempting to cross the key. One of the vessels, the, reportedly had prior clearance but had to turn back amid the escalation. An audio clip circulating online captured the ships captain requesting Iranian forces to stop firing.

Government officials have dismissed claims linking the incident to any financial arrangement. Mukesh Mangal from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways described such reports as 'fake news'. He confirmed that no payments were made and that there is no connection between the firing and any alleged scam.

Some reports suggested that fraudsters were offering fake safe passage deals to shipowners in exchange for cryptocurrency. However, authorities and the vessels owner have denied any such transaction. Sanmar Shipping also issued a statement rejecting claims that its ship was involved in a crypto scam.

The government said it is closely monitoring the situation along with the Ministry of External Affairs. Officials are carefully assessing risks before allowing vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf to resume movement.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the worlds most critical energy routes, handling a significant share of global oil and gas shipments. Ongoing tensions in the region have disrupted shipping, raised energy prices, and affected global supply chains.
Infosys and OpenAI collaborate to scale enterprise AI adoption using Codex and agentic AI systems

Partnership focuses on software engineering modernization, DevOps automation, and enterprise workflow transformation

Aim is to move enterprises from AI pilots to scalable, responsible, and measurable business outcomes

Infosys has announced a strategic collaboration with OpenAI aimed at accelerating enterprise AI transformation and enabling organizations to scale artificial intelligence adoption across core business functions. The partnership is designed to move enterprises beyond pilot projects and experimentation into production-ready, measurable, and responsible AI deployment.

Under this collaboration, Infosys will integrate OpenAIs advanced frontier models and tools, including Codex, with its Infosys Topaz Fabric, a composable and open agentic services suite. The combined offering is intended to help enterprises modernize software engineering, improve developer productivity, and automate complex workflows across industries.

The focus of the engagement spans high-impact domains such as software engineering, legacy system modernization, DevOps automation, e-Commerce platforms, and other engineering-intensive environments. By combining Codex-powered workflows, prebuilt AI agents, and enterprise governance frameworks, the collaboration aims to help organizations streamline development cycles, reduce operational friction, and accelerate time-to-market.

AI in real-world environments. The company is expected to play a key role in embedding Codex into enterprise systems, enabling capabilities such as automated code review, vulnerability detection, legacy code modernization, and application development support. The collaboration also emphasizes responsible AI adoption, ensuring governance, security, and compliance remain central to deployment strategies. Infosys brings its global scale, consulting expertise, and deep experience in enterprise transformation to operationalize. The company is expected to play a key role in embedding Codex into enterprise systems, enabling capabilities such as automated code review, vulnerability detection, legacy code modernization, and application development support. The collaboration also emphasizes responsible AI adoption, ensuring governance, security, and compliance remain central to deployment strategies.

Also Read: The New Era of Digital Transformation Powered by AI and Cloud

According to leadership from both companies, the partnership represents a step toward building an operating model for enterprise AI at scale. It focuses on uniting technology capabilities, skilled talent, and transformation frameworks to help businesses transition from experimentation to sustained business value creation.

The collaboration is also expected to strengthen enterprise adoption of agentic AI systems, enabling organizations to redesign workflows, enhance engineering execution, and improve operational efficiency across digital ecosystems.
Ordering takeout or chasing viral food trends can get expensive fast, especially when the same flavors can be recreated at home with a few smart swaps. Many of the most popular online recipes rely on simple ingredients, familiar techniques, and a little presentation flair.

Disneyland grilled cheese

A Disneyland grilled cheese leans into comfort in the best way, with layers of melted cheese tucked between thick slices of toasted bread. Its known for its rich, buttery exterior and a gooey center that pulls apart with every bite. Theres a slight tang and extra depth of flavor that sets it apart from a standard version, making it feel a little more indulgent. Its simple at its core, but the balance of texture and flavor is what keeps people coming back.

Crumbl pink velvet cookie copycat

A copycat version of the famous Crumbl pink velvet cookie is all about soft, bakery-style texture paired with the sweet frosting on top. The cookie itself is thick and soft, with a subtle flavor that keeps it from feeling too heavy. The signature pink frosting adds a creamy finish thats both eye-catching and nostalgic. Save yourself some money and give it a try.

Totino's pizza rolls copycat

A homemade take on Totinos pizza rolls captures that familiar bite-sized comfort with a crisp outer layer and a warm, cheesy center. Each piece is packed with simple pizza flavors, a hint of sauce, and a melted filling tucked inside. The outside turns a light golden while the inside stays soft and steamy, creating the classic contrast people expect.

Copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls and butter

A copycat version of Texas Roadhouse rolls focuses on that soft, fluffy texture that practically melts as soon as you bite into it. The rolls have a light sweetness and a warm, buttery finish that makes them hard to stop eating. Paired with the creamy, sweet butter, the combination feels rich without being overwhelming. Its simple comfort food that leans on texture and balance more than anything complicated.

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Taco Bell copycat grilled cheese burrito

The Taco Bell copycat grilled cheese burrito brings together bold, layered flavors wrapped in a warm tortilla with a lightly crisped, cheesy exterior. Inside, its packed with seasoned fillings and melted cheese that ties everything together. The contrast between the soft interior and the toasted, slightly crunchy outside is what makes it stand out. Its filling, a little indulgent, and built to hit that same craveable fast-food feel at home.

Copycat Insomnia peanut butter cookie

A copycat version of an Insomnia-style peanut butter cookie leans into that soft, just-baked texture with a rich flavor throughout. The centers stay tender while the edges set slightly, giving it a balanced bite without feeling dry. Theres a deep peanut butter taste that feels cozy and familiar, with just enough sweetness to round it out. Its the kind of cookie that tastes best warm, with that melt-in-your-mouth finish people expect.

Copycat Chick-fil-A chicken salad sandwich

Even though it is discontinued, that's even more reason to make this copycat Chick-fil-A chicken salad sandwich recipe. The texture is light yet satisfying, with flavors that come together easily with each bite. Served on toasted bread, it leans into the classic comfort-food balance. Its a straightforward, nostalgic option that works just as well for lunch at home.

Panera Bread copycat cinnamon crunch bagel

This Panera Bread cinnamon crunch bagel leans into that contrast between a soft, chewy interior and a sweet, crisp topping. The bagel itself has cinnamon flavor throughout, while the sugary crust on top adds a light crunch with every bite. It feels a little more indulgent than a standard bagel, but still simple at its core. Its the kind of bakery-style treat that is fun to make at home, for literally a fraction of the cost.

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KFC copycat recipe

It's not complicated to make this KFC-style recipe, which focuses on that signature crispy coating and tender, juicy chicken. The outside is well-seasoned with a savory blend that delivers bold flavor in every bite, while the inside stays moist and satisfying. Its all about recreating that contrast between crunchy and soft textures that makes it so recognizable.

Copycat McDonald's sweet and sour sauce

This version of McDonalds sweet and sour sauce balances bright sweetness with a mild tang and a hint of savory depth. The texture is smooth and slightly thick, making it perfect for dipping or drizzling. Theres a familiar fruity note that gives it its signature flavor, one people recognize right away. Its simple but distinct, adding a punch of flavor to just about anything its paired with.

Viral recipes dont have to stay expensive or out of reach. Using a few simple ingredients and techniques, its possible to recreate those same flavors at home in a way that fits your routine and your budget. These copycat ideas show how familiar favorites can be made simpler without losing what makes them so popular.

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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Eclipse confirms critical minerals kicker at Greenland rare earths giant Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Andrew Todd April 23, 2026  1:01pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Eclipse Metals has confirmed a suite of valuable critical minerals at its giant Grnnedal rare earths discovery in Greenland, with follow-up assays uncovering widespread slices of gallium, scandium and strontium alongside its magnet rare earths pie. The results are icing on the cake for what is shaping up to be a massive multi-element deposit, coming from the same five diamond drillholes that recently returned extensive, near-surface neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) rare earths mineralisation. Aurora borealis over Eclipse Metals Grnnedal rare earths project in Greenland. Earlier this month, Eclipse revealed every hole in its initial drill program intersected extensive, broad mineralisation from surface. Best results included a stonking 195-metre hit grading 6268 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides (TREO) and another strike of 114.4m at an impressive 6883ppm TREO. Notably, 20 strontium intersections were recorded, averaging 2.32 per cent strontium, with a peak of 6.1 per cent strontium over a metre.

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Drilling also returned a broad 61m intercept grading 12.3ppm scandium, which featured a higher-grade 21.4-metre section at 20.7ppm scandium. The additional gallium, scandium and strontium results further demonstrate the geochemical fertility of the Grnnedal. Eclipse Metals executive chairman Carl Popal Joining the fray, the almighty $1,000,000-per-tonne commodity gallium made its presence felt with a 42.5m hit at 26.7ppm, containing a solid 4.2m zone going a high-grade 90.8ppm gallium. While these results are a welcome bonus, they sit on top of the projects primary rare earths endowment, which importantly carries a high proportion of crucial magnet rare earths, with NdPr consistently exceeding 30 per cent of the total TREO grade in the main mineralised intervals. Eclipse Metals executive chairman Carl Popal said: The additional gallium, scandium and strontium results further demonstrate the geochemical fertility of the Grnnedal carbonatite system and add another layer to the projects broader critical minerals profile. Importantly, they sit alongside the extensive from-surface Nd-Pr-enriched rare earth mineralisation recently reported across all five drillholes, which remains the Companys primary focus as we continue technical and strategic work at Grnnedal.

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The Grnnedal project sits within Eclipses broader Ivigtut project, at a large carbonatite intrusive complex, a geological setting famous for hosting world-class rare earths and critical minerals deposits. The project already contains a JORC-inferred mineral resource of 89 million tonnes grading 6363ppm TREO, with the company emphasising that a large-scale NdPr inventory remains its primary focus. The presence of other critical minerals, such as supply-constrained gallium, used in semiconductors and scandium, found in high-strength aerospace alloys, could provide for some interesting by-product credits down the track. Adding an extra sweetener to Grnnedal, ultra-low uranium levels of only 4.16ppm, well below Greenlands statutory 100 ppm threshold, means the project will likely enjoy a clear regulatory pathway. With the West increasingly looking to diversify its critical mineral supply chains away from a handful of dominant players, a large, multi-element deposit in a friendly jurisdiction such as Greenland could be a useful card to hold.

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Eclipses Grnnedal looks to be unearthing critical minerals in spades and while managements eyes are fixed on the rare earths prize, the bonus metals could add a material economic kicker to an already substantial project. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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BusinessCompaniesRadio ratings KIIS breakfast goes backwards in Sydney, gains in Melbourne amid Kyle & Jackie O blow-up Calum Jaspan Updated April 23, 2026  10:20am ,first published April 23, 2026  9:32am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The breakfast show on KIIS FM enjoyed a minor ratings bump in Melbourne after The Kyle & Jackie O Shows disintegration, while dropping share in Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Hendersons home market of Sydney. The second ratings survey of the year, released on Thursday morning, captured a period spanning February 8 to April 4, meaning the majority of it fell after the pairs final show in mid-February and Sandilands suspension on March 3. Kyle and Jackie O won lucrative contracts on the hope that their show could become a national success, which did not work. Sandilands and Henderson received $100 million, 10-year contracts each in 2023 on the hopes that their show would become a national success, beginning in Melbourne. But it struggled in the southern city, where the pairs coarse, sexualised content turned off listeners. KIISs owner ARN Media terminated Hendersons contract in March, alleging she had effectively rescinded the agreement by telling the station via her lawyers she could not work with Sandilands after he berated her live on air. The company sacked him a fortnight later on the basis of alleged serious misconduct. Both stars are challenging the moves, with Sandilands alleging he was playing the controversial character expected of him, and Henderson alleging ARN retaliated against her for complaining about Sandilands behaviour.

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Since hosted by fill-in presenter Mike E, whose real surname is Etheridge, the KIIS breakfast time slot has dropped share in Sydney, falling from a 12.7 per cent share to 11.7 per cent, but rose in Melbourne from 5.1 per cent to 5.4 per cent. Related Article Exclusive

Media & marketing KIIS turns tables on Kyle and Jackie O, sues pair for millions The show did gain total listeners  which reflects the total number of listeners who tuned in for at least eight minutes during the period  in both markets as the media circus around the duo has intensified, with both since sacked by ARN, launching dual unfair dismissal lawsuits. Late on Wednesday evening, this masthead revealed that ARN has filed counter claims against both presenters and their private companies, citing loss of advertising revenue and profits. The ABC again delivered its worst share for its local stations in Melbourne and Sydney since modern records began. In Melbourne, it dropped to a 3.9 per cent total share in the second survey, down from 5.4 per cent. There were declines across all shows across the day. The stations drive show hosted by Ali Moore had a share of just 2.5 per cent, down 2.3 percentage points.

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In Sydney, the station fell to a 4.3 per cent share, down from 5.1 per cent, also with declines across all shows. Its drive show also fell to just 3.3 per cent, down from 3.9 per cent. Related Article Analysis

Radio ratings ABCs Radio National report card: Have the big changes worked? It was another tough survey for ARNs other station, Gold FM, having launched its Melbourne breakfast program, The Christian OConnell Show, into Sydney this year, replacing long-time offering Jonesy & Amanda. The Gold breakfast show got a 5.5 per cent share, down from 6.1 per cent. In the final survey of 2025, the station had a 9.7 per cent share in the slot. But in Melbourne, OConnells show was again the top-rating commercial breakfast show with a 10.5 per cent share, only bested by 3AWs perennially top-rating talkback show hosted by Russel Howcroft and Ross Stevenson (18.9 per cent). Nine, which owns this masthead, also owns 3AW and its Sydney sister station 2GB. It has agreed to sell those stations to the wealthy publican Laundy family. The $56 million transaction is scheduled to be completed in one week.

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2GB shared top spot in Sydney with Smooth FM, both landing on a 13.3 per cent share, with Ben Fordham topping the breakfast rankings with a 16.8 per cent share. Radio Nationals share in Melbourne grew from 1.2 per cent to 1.6 per cent, but fell in Sydney from 1.2 to 1.1 per cent overall. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Perth biotech at cutting edge of the future of medicine Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Matt Birney April 23, 2026  11:24am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

There is a word almost nobody outside a laboratory will ever use in conversation that many say could play a major role in the future of medicine. You couldnt spell it after a few drinks, youve likely never actually heard of it and yet chances are you have already encountered one of its most practical expressions. You may have come across it unwittingly in a COVID-19 rapid test, in a PCR kit or in one of the new generation of precision medicines quietly changing how the world approaches disease. The word is oligonucleotide or oligo for short. In a laboratory inside Bentley Technology Park in Perths southern suburbs, an unlisted company called Syngenis Laboratories is doing something no other organisation in Australia is commercially capable of doing: manufacturing them. Syngenis Laboratories Founder, Chief Technology Officer and Board Member, Professor Rakesh Veedu pictured with one of the companys oligonucleotide synthesisers. For most of the twentieth century, medicine worked by throwing chemistry at biology, a process that produced blunt instruments engineered to suppress pain, kill bacteria or slow tumours. That worked well enough because fundamentally, it involved chemical approximations of a far more precise underlying language. That language is DNA and RNA. Every disease process, every cancer, every inherited disorder, every misfolded protein that aggregates until Alzheimers or perhaps Parkinsons takes hold, begins as an event written in genetic code. For decades, medicine could read that code but couldnt easily rewrite it. That era is ending.

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While Syngenis does operate Australias only commercial Oligonucleotide manufacturing lab in Perth, its operation is limited because the company only manufactures research grade  rather than clinical grade - sequences, but that is all about to change. Working with government agencies, not-for-profits and Murdoch University, Syngenis is constructing a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) laboratory facility, the demanding quality standard required for DNA and RNA to be used in clinical applications involving human beings. When complete, it is expected to be the only commercial, human-grade short synthetic DNA and RNA manufacturing facility of its kind in Australia. A federal government discussion paper on RNA capability described Syngenis as the nations only commercial manufacturing facility for custom synthetic oligonucleotides and while the technology does exist elsewhere, the global map of GMP-grade nucleic acid manufacturers is a short list. That list is mostly clustered in the United States, Europe and China. Australia does not appear on ityet. The financial stakes are considerable too. The Australian Governments R&D Tax Incentive rebate scheme, administered by the ATO, provides a 43.5 per cent refundable grant for monies spent on eligible R&D activities. That grant has ushered billions back into the hands of some of the most innovative research and development companies in Australia. While the scheme is one of the most generous research and development schemes in the world, its guidelines nonetheless make it very difficult to claim for work that can be done domestically but is sent offshore. Syngenis estimates approximately $160 million worth of GMP-grade oligonucleotide work leaves Australia each year, with much of it heading to laboratories in China, the United States and Europe and most, if not all of it currently claimed back via the Australian Government R&D rebate scheme. Enter Syngenis, who says a local GMP-approved facility changes that equation entirely. The company believes it could trigger a significant and rapid shift in that work returning onshore and with potentially the only local, compliant lab, Syngenis would be in the box seat to pick up that multi-million-dollar work stream. For local biotech researchers, the advantages of a domestic supplier go beyond cost. Intellectual property control is tighter, turnaround times are shorter and the compliance argument alone may be enough to redirect substantial volumes of work that currently drift overseas when programs get serious. And if all of that is not enough, continued access to the Australian Government R&D grant that favours local suppliers will likely prove irresistible. Think of an oligonucleotide as a very short, very specific molecular key designed to find and bind to exactly one genetic sequence. Once it binds, depending on its design, it can detect a disease, silence a harmful gene, carry a therapy to the right tissue, or guide an editing system to the right address in the genome. The same manufacturing capability underpins diagnostics, gene therapy, CRISPR applications and RNA therapeutics. It could also be used as an aptamer-based point-of-care test that could one day deliver results in just minutes from a finger prick at a pharmacy counter, potentially eating the lunch of established bloodwork labs. Syngenis has structured itself around three reinforcing pillars: manufacturing, discovery and diagnostics. Manufacturing is the revenue engine today, with a working research-grade laboratory already servicing around forty paying customers, including several academic institutions and biotech companies across Australia and New Zealand. Discovery uses AI-supported laboratory science to develop proprietary diagnostic assets, with the lead program targeting Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease, conditions where detecting molecular signatures years before clinical symptoms could transform patient outcomes. Diagnostics is the commercial deployment layer, beginning with third-party point-of-care tests for conditions including potentially prostate cancer, kidney disease and infectious disease, building the distribution infrastructure that will carry Syngeniss own tests to market.

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Simply put, manufacturing supplies the materials discovery requires. Discovery generates the targets before diagnostics validate and create the channel through which proprietary tests are monetised. The same regulated infrastructure underpins all three. Notably, the people behind Syngenis are not typical of an early-stage laboratory company. Founder Professor Rakesh Veedu is an internationally recognised authority in RNA therapeutics and nucleic-acid manufacturing, whose synthesis work in Western Australia was formalised as a commercial operation in late 2020, after six years of running the service out of Murdoch University. He is the scientific engine at the companys core. The company was shaped from inception by Professor Marvin Caruthers, a name that carries serious weight in this field. Caruthers invented the chemistry underpinning all modern synthetic DNA and RNA manufacturing, co-founded Applied Biosystems and Amgen Pharmaceuticals and received the United States National Medal of Science. Notably, the lab was originally running the service at Murdoch University with funding from the prestigious Perron Institute. The Advisory Board Chair, Dr Sudhir Agrawal, founded Idera Pharmaceuticals and holds more than 400 patents in oligonucleotide therapeutics, a body of work that spans the full arc of the fields commercial development.

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Chairman Dr Martin Blake and Executive Director Gavin Ball both bring a strong track record in ASX-listed businesses and Ball, along with recently appointed MD Tom Hanly, was a founding director of another diagnostic biotech that listed on the ASX recently at a 50 per cent premium to its issue price. Hanly has a record of taking early-stage science and building it into commercially viable platforms and is best known for his previous role developing ASX-listed Singular Health. The investor register reflects the same seriousness of intent. The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science holds a strategic stake alongside Primewest Property Group behemoth founders John Bond, David Schwartz and James Litis. The market Syngenis is looking to muscle into is substantial, too. The global oligonucleotide synthesis market is forecast to exceed US$15 billion by 2030. DNA diagnostics are expected to reach US$17 billion and point-of-care diagnostics are projected at US$125 billion by 2034, with Asia-Pacific the fastest-growing region across all segments. Syngenis is planning an ASX listing in the future as the next step in its development. And while GMP construction is complex, diagnostic pathways are long and Alzheimers research in particular is challenging, unlike many biotech hopefuls out there that are already ASX-listed, Syngenis has partially validated its offering with existing revenues from current customersand that list is also impressive.

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In plain English, Syngenis makes custom genetic building blocks that help scientists find, measure, target and modify disease-related biology. Do that well enough, add the systems needed for clinical work and the company is no longer just a Perth lab making short strands of DNA and RNA. It becomes part of the domestic manufacturing backbone for Australias next wave of diagnostics and precision medicines. For now, Syngenis laboratory in Bentley is largely flying under the radar, but an ASX listing will no doubt change all that and when it does, its impressive array of investors, staff and customers will likely spark the interest of the Australian biotech glitterati. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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NationalCBD Microsofts Satya Nadella hosts AI lovefest in Darling Harbour John Buckley April 24, 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

Tech executives love to get high on their own supply. And we hear Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella put on an absolute clinic when he descended on Sydney as part of the companys AI Tour on Thursday. At the ICC in Darling Harbour, guests from across Australias tech community were treated to an appearance from the man himself as part of a special keynote that promised to share a framework for success to become frontier companies through AI and human ambition. Chairman and CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella speaks on stage during the Microsoft AI Tour. Getty Images A large chunk of it, most of which would read like guff to those who dont work in tech, was dedicated to really exciting announcements related to Microsofts suite of AI-powered products. Nadella also pumped up the companys tyres over its AI data centre build-out which, he sounded thrilled to note, also includes Australia. And of course, when it comes to Australia, we have regions in Sydney, in Melbourne, Canberra, and its growing. One hundred per cent renewable energy, power. Were very proud of it. Were very committed to it, but also, Nadella said, before being cut off by a rupture of applause, according to a recording of the event obtained by CBD.

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For some Australian tech types, this sort of event is like World Youth Day. Its not every day you get the chief executive of a Magnificent Seven company on Australian shores, and the house was packed out accordingly, were told. More often than not, though, the fanfare usually only arrives when these companies want something. By Thursday morning, Nadellas motive was clear: The $4.5 trillion company wants to walk the red carpet rolled out by the Albanese government in its light-touch approach to regulating AI, and is willing to stump up eye-watering amounts of money to make sure the government doesnt tighten its grip. People participate the Microsoft AI Tour in Sydney on Thursday. Getty Images Enter the announcement: Microsoft will invest $25 billion in data centres in Australia over the next three years. The figure could well be the largest ever investment by a global tech company in Australia. No doubt Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Minister for Technology Andrew Charlton will be juiced up. After all, this is the sort of action theyve been hoping for with their hands-off approach to AI regulation.

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For the worlds largest tech companies, the AI arms race has triggered a rush for land and infrastructure. This has already seen OpenAI, Anthropic and Amazon look at Australia with a view to ramping up spending in the market to build more data centres (read: computer sheds) to power their resource-intensive AI models. Related Article Data centres Microsoft unveils $25b AI splurge in Australia, but key details missing But theres upside for big corporates, too. Westpac chief executive Anthony Miller stepped up before the crowd to give it a taste of how the big four bank is using AI. Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady also said a few words. Then there was Craig Scroggie, the chief executive of the data centre operator NextDC, who appeared to have a front-row seat to the action, and was clearly loving it. Trust is engineered, not declared, Scroggie later wrote in a post to LinkedIn, replete with a pic of the Seattle tech king. Customer-owned IP. Customer-owned keys. Confidential computing. Private evaluation sets as the new IP. Cyber resilience and sovereignty in the same architecture. But part of us couldnt help wondering how many of the engineers, product managers and other Silicon Valley aspirants who dotted the ICC on Thursday would be left without jobs in the next five to 10 years, given how quickly the large language models they champion have been able to undertake their daily tasks.

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Some jobs may have to change, but there may be some new jobs that get created, Nadella told The Australian Financial Review. Will there be turmoil and all of that? Yes, but at a global scale, we all will have to do our job to make sure that, quite frankly, we have social permission to do what were doing. Lots of maybes! Who knows, maybe Nadella and Co will drive an explosion of productivity that leaves us all leading wealthier, healthier, happier lives. Or maybe the technology will spur an oversupply of stuff there isnt demand for. Or maybe worse. When all is said and done, at least well have the sheds. 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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CultureBooksVale A generous mind and a towering talent: David Malouf remembered Melanie Kembrey Updated April 24, 2026  3:49pm ,first published April 23, 2026  4:56pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Some writers leave their mark on the page; others leave it on the people around them. David Malouf did both. In the days following his death at 92 on Wednesday, the Brisbane-born novelist, poet and essayist has been remembered not only as a defining literary voice, but as a generous mentor and a guiding presence for generations of Australian writers. With him gone, its like a whole cosmos has gone out, writer Nam Le said. He was a giant of letters, one by whom the culture lives, and he was a generous and gracious man. David Malouf died on April 22, aged 92. Dominic Lorrimer Maloufs novels  from his debut Johnno (1975) to his final work of fiction Ransom (2009), including Fly Away Peter, The Great World and Remembering Babylon  helped reimagine modern Australian literature. He brought an inward, lyrical sensibility to stories of place, history and identity. His work often focused on men, tracing their inner lives with quiet intensity.

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Poetry was at the heart of Maloufs creative life, but he also wrote essays and memoirs, including 12 Edmondstone Street (1985), as well as opera libretti and plays. He was sometimes described as Patrick Whites heir which was unfair to both but suggests his achievement, novelist Richard Flanagan said. He was a leading part of that great generation of writers that invented contemporary Australian literature in the late 20th century, following in the footsteps of Peter Carey and Tom Keneally in taking Australian writing to the world. Australian writer David Malouf, photographed at his then-home in Chippendale, Sydney, in 2014. David Malouf Delia Falconer, a novelist and a senior lecturer in writing at the University of Technology, Sydney, said Maloufs work  particularly his reimagining of Roman poet Ovids final years in his novel An Imaginary Life (1978)  was transformative for her and ranked among the finest in the world.

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At a time dominated by Australian realism, Davids writing showed that fiction could be deeply scholarly and intensely alive  and that Australian writers could write confidently about the European cultural legacy by taking a postcolonial perspective out into the world, she said. Despite his many achievements  the Miles Franklin Award, a Booker nomination, the International Dublin Literary Award, Frances Prix Femina Etranger and rumours of a Nobel Prize  it was his kindness that defined him to many. His agent, Jane Novak, said Malouf had no interest in being the showy great man of literature, instead working quietly behind the scenes to nurture other writers. He was a dedicated supporter of Opera Australia, Adelaide Writers Week and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Jeffrey Smarts portrait of David Malouf. I think everyone is going to talk about the work and his awards but the thing I will remember is his generosity to other writers. He taught a lot of writers and mentored a lot of writers and continued to right up until now, she said.

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Kate Grenville, a former student of Maloufs at the University of Sydney who went on to her own distinguished literary career, said he was a sympathetic and encouraging presence in many lives. He was one of the towering writers of my formative years, Grenville said. He was a thoroughly good man. A thoroughly decent human being. For people who care about literature, across the globe, his death occasions a moment of pause; for sorrow, yes, but also for gratitude. Christos Tsiolkas His longtime publisher at Penguin Random House, Meredith Curnow, said Malouf had remained active until recently, still working and walking 7000 steps a day. He died peacefully in a Gold Coast hospital after being diagnosed with a short, aggressive illness. Curnow described him as the gentlest of men and the best of friends to so many. He handwrote his work and would edit it in person at the publishers office with a poets precision. Curnow said he was a much-loved presence there  talking, laughing and discussing what he had been reading and seeing, and sharing stories about his family.

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He was so interested in authors and always wanted to talk about authors and their work. One of his first questions was, what are you reading? He never stopped supporting younger writers, she said. Related Article Obituaries Australias sophisticated literary gent understood our identity In his final decades, Malouf focused on non-fiction and poetry, with his final publication a new edition of An Open Book, his poetry collection, released with new material in 2025. His family plan to hold a memorial later in the year. Fellow author Christos Tsiolkas said Maloufs writing would continue to shape readers and writers alike, long after his death. I think that Malouf is one of the great writers, period, Tsiolkas said. And like all great writers, his books will continue to inspire, will continue to live. For people who care about literature, across the globe, his death occasions a moment of pause; for sorrow, yes, but also for gratitude.

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Read more of our coverage of David Malouf: Australias sophisticated literary gent understood our identity The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
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Review Eating outRichmond A Golden Jubilee and another 50 to go: The enduring soul of Bridge Roads favourite deli From meats, cheeses and preserves to custardy bougatsa and one of the best spanakopita in town, theres a reason Richmond stalwart Laikon Deli has stuck around for five decades. Dani Valent Updated April 23, 2026 ,first published April 12, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

1 / 9 Laikon Deli is celebrating 50 years in Richmond this year. Luis Enrique Ascui 2 / 9 Greek souvlaki with chips are on the menu each Friday. Luis Enrique Ascui 3 / 9 In 2018, Laikon Deli expanded into the space next door to open a sit-down cafe. Luis Enrique Ascui 4 / 9 You can feel the history in the air. Luis Enrique Ascui 5 / 9 A classic from the sandwich bar: sourdough toastie with ham, cheese and pickles. Luis Enrique Ascui 6 / 9 Custard-filled bougatsa dusted with icing sugar. Luis Enrique Ascui 7 / 9 The deli range is now broader, encompassing meats, cheeses and preserves from Spain, Italy, France, even Australia, as well as Greece. Luis Enrique Ascui 8 / 9 One of the best spanokopitas in town. Luis Enrique Ascui 9 / 9 Claypot butter beans in a tomatoey gravy with black olives, a poached egg and a sprinkling of crumbly feta. Luis Enrique Ascui Previous Slide Next Slide Laikon Deli Greek$$$$ I wont say I dont get excited about new restaurants but if you really want to reel me in, tell me about a place thats been looking after its community for 10 years. Or 20. Or, in the case of Richmonds Laikon Deli, an astonishing half century. When the place opened in 1976, the suburbs large Greek population quickly came to rely upon it for supplies. (The name Laikon translates roughly as for the people.) Theyd come for olive oil, otherwise more likely to be found in chemist shops where it was sold as a skin balm. Feta was submerged in big briny barrels and families would buy two kilograms at a time, just enough to get them through til next Saturday. Shoppers would chat with neighbours while owner John Manolis sliced the kilo of ham theyd need for a weeks worth of kids lunches. Sacks of dry beans were propped here and there, ready to be scooped and paper-bagged to turn into soups and stews. Related Article Eight long-running Melbourne restaurants spill on their highs, lows and famous diners

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You can feel the history in the air, even though these are different times. The shop is now run by Jon Pandoleon, the third generation in the family to steward the ship. His parents, Michael and Cathy, took over in 1981 when he was a baby. The deli range is now broader, encompassing meats, cheeses and preserves from Spain, Italy, France, and even Australia, as well as Greece. Luis Enrique Ascui Jon would sit behind the counter, remembers Cathy, now retired but still in the shop every day, drinking coffee, greeting patrons and staff like family. If he threw away his dummy, a customer would pick it up and give it back to him. Everyone was a friend. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Later, Jon was there sweeping up and packing nuts and, after studying physiotherapy, he thought hed give the deli a try for a year to take the load off his folks. That was 23 years ago. Pandoleon has changed the place, and there are tweaks happening all the time. You dont hang about for five decades if youre relying purely on nostalgia. The deli range is broader, encompassing meats, cheeses and preserves from Spain, Italy, France, and even Australia, as well as Greece. The display is careful and colourful, a visual feast for picky wanderers, rather than crammed with items for those with a list and a keen sense of purpose.

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Because were so busy these days, there are take-home meals (a tub of spaghetti and meatballs, please) and a sandwich counter to order lunch al desko (you cant do better than Mr Simple, a ham, cheese and tomato toastie perked up with pickles). One of the best spanokopitas in town. Luis Enrique Ascui The biggest change of all came in 2018, when the deli expanded into the shop next door to add a sit-down cafe. Its a lovely space with great light and genial service, nice for catch-ups and solo snacks but also bookable for your next function. Its where you might eat one of the best spanokopitas in town, with an excellent ratio of crunchy filo to spinach and cheese, or a souvlaki of juicy herbed chicken brightened with tzatziki and red onion. Related Article EASY Adam Liaws golden rules for making a showstopping (and sog-free) spanakopita 1-2 hrs

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The family will celebrate the 50-year milestone throughout the year, opening as a wine bar every Friday night (from April 24) with deli snacks turned into drink-friendly bites. On Saturdays, monthly music evenings kick off on May 30 with a Greek blues band. Custard-filled bougatsa dusted with icing sugar. Luis Enrique Ascui Its the daily business that is the soul of Laikon, though, whether its a third-generation customer swinging by for a box of custardy, icing-sugar-dusted bougatsa; local workers planning their week around a Friday souv; or someone like me, sitting down with a wholesome claypot of giant butter beans in tomatoey gravy with black olives, a poached egg and a sprinkling of crumbly feta. Even better than the food is to overhear Pandoleon telling regulars that the golden jubilee is meaningful, sure, but its not a swansong. Theres another 50 to go, he says. Three other venues celebrating milestones in 2026 Entrecote Turning 10 this year, few restaurants make an impression like Entrecote. Maybe its the tinkling of the grand piano, the lunching ladies doing caviar bumps, or the always delicious secret herb butter sauce spilling over grilled porterhouse. This more-French-than-France maison is an ode to hospitality. 142-144 Greville Street, Prahran, entrecote.com.au Marios Celebrating 40 years of cool, artsy cafe life this month, Marios has taught Melbourne so much. When the two Marios  Maccarone and De Pasquale  launched in 1986, all-day breakfast was unknown, solo dining was strange and rare, and jazz was for listening to in clubs, not for enjoying with a well-made coffee. 303 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, marioscafe.com.au Sogumm Every milestone is worth celebrating. This modest, Korean, lunch-only, no-bookings restaurant has just turned one. The kitchens philosophy is based on the approach of Buddhist nun Jeong Kwan; slowly made ferments are the basis of the menu. As the owners recently said on Instagram: A dish is only completed when it meets the energy of the person receiving it. 466 Church Street, Cremorne, instagram.com/sogumm_melbourne Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.
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LifestyleHealth & wellnessDisability Opinion These NDIS cuts will hurt Australian families like mine Satara Uthayakumaran Writer April 23, 2026  11:59am

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They say a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. Right now, the Australian government is making its priorities devastatingly clear  pulling the rug out from under tens of thousands of people living with a disability, while simultaneously funnelling record billions into weapons and letting corporate giants off the hook. Under the governments sweeping overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, participant numbers are targeted to be slashed by 160,000 by the end of the decade. That is 160,000 vulnerable Australians  our family members, our friends, our neighbours  effectively kicked off a scheme that was designed to be their permanent safety net. Sisters Karuka and Satara Uthayakumaran pictured at TedX Canberra in October 2025. The government insists the NDIS is unsustainable. It claims that introducing new standardised functional assessments and reducing average plan spending are hard but responsible decisions. But for families like mine, who rely heavily on the NDIS just to survive day-to-day, these arent abstract line items on a treasury spreadsheet. They are our lives. When politicians talk about curbing growth, they are actively talking about stripping away the foundational supports that allow people with disabilities to live with basic dignity.

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While the government claims core NDIS supports are protected, aggressive price freezes and crushing bureaucratic red tape are acting as devastating stealth cuts. Essential therapies that help individuals communicate, regulate and learn are becoming entirely inaccessible as providers are financially squeezed out of the scheme. Crucial mobility aids  the very equipment that literally allows people to leave their homes and exist in society  are now trapped behind exhausting delays and rigid new assessments. Compounding this, stagnant funding is driving dedicated support workers out of the sector, stripping vulnerable people of the fundamental care they rely on for everyday survival and independence. When the government cuts back these supports, people dont magically stop needing them. Instead, they lose their independence, their connection to the community, and their opportunity to thrive. Health Minister Mark Butler also announced cuts to the NDIS during his National Press Club speech. Alex Ellinghausen Is the budget actually broken or are our national priorities deeply misplaced? Watch how quickly the narrative flips when the conversation turns to defence. Suddenly, government spending is no longer a burden  it becomes an essential investment. The government can effortlessly conjure hundreds of billions of dollars for nuclear submarines that wont even see the water for decades. And it doesnt stop at defence. Just look at the timely debate this week around the massive, untaxed profits of multinational gas companies. We allow corporate giants to extract our natural resources while paying an absolute pittance in tax, shielding their wealth while everyday Australians struggle with the cost of living. Yet, when the government looks for savings, it doesnt look at the gas cartels or the defence contractors. It looks at disabled citizens who need basic home modifications.

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The cruelty of this overhaul is compounded by the fact that the federal government is simply passing the buck. If people are kicked off the scheme under these new, tighter eligibility rules, they are left to navigate a fractured, underfunded state system that leaders admit doesnt even exist yet. As advocates have warned, if we get this wrong, the consequences wont show up in a budget line  they will show up in peoples lives. Last week, I sat and watched my sister after her music therapy session. For that brief, precious window of time, the heavy, exhausting barriers she battles every single day seemed to entirely lift. I saw pure, unfiltered smiles  a beautiful sense of freedom. That joy, that vital connection, that ability to finally experience life on her own terms  that is exactly what the NDIS was promised to be. Yet, under the cold reality of these recent reforms, this lifeline is being suffocated. Related Article Analysis

Disability NDIS overhaul is the biggest government cut this century. It had better work It is absolutely heartbreaking to have to constantly beg a bureaucratic system to let her keep the one thing that brings her peace, forced to reduce her genuine human joy into rigid, clinical paperwork just to prove she is worthy of keeping her own freedom. The NDIS was never supposed to be just another welfare program to be trimmed when politically convenient; it was promised as a fundamental human right. It was built on the promise that Australians with a disability have an inherent right to live fulfilling, independent and dignified lives.

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We cannot accept a society that readily funds the machinery of war and protects the profits of gas giants, while looking at my sister and her friends, and telling them that their freedom simply costs too much. We can no longer afford to suffer in silence while a cold, calculated bureaucracy prioritises its bottom line over the very lives of the people we love. They are not a burden to be managed or an expense to be cut. They are human beings who deserve absolute dignity, and we must ensure they are never, ever left behind. Satara Uthayakumaran is a writer and Australias youth representative to the United Nations for 2025.
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsDeath Opinion Thank you, James Valentine, for being upfront about this great taboo Andrew Denton Contributor April 23, 2026  6:30pm

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Thank you, James Valentine. Not just for your stellar career and gifts as a broadcaster. And not simply for your company and instinct for mischief, excellent though they were. Andrew Denton founded voluntary assisted dying advocacy group Go Gentle Australia. Thank you for doing the hard thing: being upfront about death and dying. And now, we learn, about voluntary assisted dying (VAD), still treated by many as the great taboo. In 2024, James had already gifted his audience with his courage, not only by announcing that he had oesophageal cancer, but by bringing his doctors into the studio with him to discuss his cancer and how it might be treated.

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Related Article Vale It was beautiful: In his last hours, James Valentine delivered one final performance Perhaps just as importantly, James did not shy away from expressing the many emotions coursing through him, not least fear. For thousands of people facing the same fear, or worse, James modelled how to be alive while facing death. Our discomfort with discussing death can stop what used to be normal conversations in their tracks. As if illness doesnt take away enough  our health, our energy, our future  sometimes it can damage what we cherish most. I remember a woman whose husband, from the moment he was diagnosed with cancer until the moment he died, refused to talk about it. The frozen river of grief he left behind was palpable.

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Now, in a final act of generosity, James family has announced, on his instruction, that he took control of his lifes end by choosing VAD. More than that, they have shared with us what that choice, and the control it offered James, meant to them all. That he was able to have a living wake on Valentines Day, surrounded by family and his dearest friends, so that farewells could be made. Knowing James, there would have been plenty of humour and good music. That the Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, was able to bestow a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for James services as a broadcaster and to the community on him last weekend. How brilliant that he could live to be so honoured. Above all, that he could live fully until he could live no more. As his children put it, the thing that sticks out in this period has been one of pure joy with him and love. That James, his wife, Jo, and Roy and Ruby want this known means more than you might imagine.

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Related Article Vale Witty and warm, James Valentine lifted the spirits of a city Even though VAD has been legal in Victoria for six years and NSW, now, for more than two, and even though more than 7000 Australians have taken this choice, its very mention remains off-limits for many. Families are afraid to raise it with doctors, lest they be judged for their choice or given the cold shoulder. Some health institutions and aged-care facilities, many marching under the banner of mercy, are openly hostile to VAD and clear in their intentions to discourage people from using it. Happy to receive taxpayers money, it seems, but not their values. This silence is even written into law, specifically a Commonwealth ban on the use of telehealth for VAD. Reinforcing the idea that VAD cant be spoken of, or if it is, only ever in hush-hush tones and face to face. The AMA recognises the harm this causes and, for two years now, have called on Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to amend the law. So far, that call has fallen on deaf ears.

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Related Article Healthcare Im running out of time: Steve begged his doctors for a single piece of paper At Go Gentle Australia, we see how the silence and stigma that surrounds VAD plays out in peoples lives  of an elderly woman choosing VAD put on suicide watch by her nursing home; of a palliative care service refusing to certify a mothers body because she had chosen VAD, then denying the daughter access to bereavement support; of elderly, dying people being smuggled out of faith-based facilities, away from their friends, on their last day alive, terrified they will be stopped by staff because they had chosen VAD. A year ago, I joined James and clinical psychologist Dr Kerrie Noonan in a long and open discussion on an episode of his podcast he called Lets Talk About Death, Baby. At the end, I could see James getting emotional, and I asked him what he was feeling. Confessing he was on the verge of tears, he said Im taking a deep breath to calm, so I cant talk, not necessarily to squash it  Im probably just contemplating my own death. Then the three of us hugged. For his courage and openness, I wish I could hug him again today.

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Andrew Denton is founding director of Go Gentle Australia The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.
Employment Hero has launched HeroForce, a new model where they become your legal employer and handle it all. Here is what SME owners need to know.

Whats happening: Employment Hero has launched HeroForce, a co-employment model in which the company becomes the legal employer for a clients workforce, taking on payroll, compliance, and HR administration while the business retains operational control.

Why this matters: With wage theft now a criminal offence, Payday Super changes arriving on 1 July 2026, and over half of audited businesses still failing to meet compliance standards, the cost and risk of getting employment wrong has never been higher for SME owners.

Running a business in Australia has always meant doing things you did not sign up for. Managing payroll across more than 120 modern awards, each with its own classifications and pay conditions, keeping up with superannuation changes, navigating Fair Work obligations, and staying across an employment framework that keeps getting more complex.

For most small business owners, it is a significant distraction from the actual work of running a business. For many, it is also a source of genuine legal risk, even when they are trying to do the right thing.

Employment Hero, the Australian-founded employment platform that processes around $120 billion in wages and superannuation annually for more than 350,000 businesses, has launched a new product that takes a different approach entirely. Rather than helping businesses manage compliance themselves, HeroForce asks whether the whole model of individual businesses shouldering employment administration on their own is worth rethinking.

The compliance problem in numbers

The scale of the problem Employment Hero is targeting is significant. Australian businesses collectively spend $160 billion a year on compliance, according to Employment Heros modelling. Each business manages this individually, largely manually, at a cost the company estimates at up to a quarter of an employees salary. Employment Heros modelling identifies $12.6 billion of that expenditure as pure duplication, money spent by thousands of businesses solving the same regulatory problems independently of each other, with no economies of scale and no shared infrastructure.

Despite that level of investment, the outcomes remain poor. Employment Heros data shows 250,000 Australian workers were underpaid in the last financial year. The Fair Work Ombudsmans investigations found 56% of audited businesses were non-compliant with regulatory standards. And Employment Hero estimates the average underpayment exposure for a typical 50-person business sits at $18,668 per year, a liability that accumulates quietly and often without the employer realising it.

Employment Hero CEO and Co-Founder Ben Thompson is direct about what is driving this. Most businesses arent failing at compliance because theyre careless or dishonest, he said. Theyre struggling because individual employers are trying to solve an extremely specialised regulatory problem while also running the business. The system has become too complex to manage manually. The average SME, he notes, spends between $40,000 and $80,000 a year just to stay compliant with employment law. Running a business in Australia increasingly means becoming an expert in payroll, modern awards, Fair Work compliance and superannuation, Thompson said.

That burden has been growing. From January 2025, intentional underpayment of wages became a criminal offence in Australia. Minimum wages and superannuation contributions have increased. Payday Super, which requires employers to pay superannuation at the same time as wages, arrives on 1 July 2026. A Federal Court judgment in September 2025, stemming from the Coles and Woolworths underpayment cases, has further complicated how employers can structure salary payments under modern awards, with small business groups describing the resulting obligations as an impossible payroll burden.

What HeroForce actually does

HeroForce is a co-employment model, sometimes called a Professional Employer Organisation or PEO arrangement, in which Employment Hero becomes the legal employer of a client businesss workforce. The client business retains full operational control of who it hires, what they work on, and how the business runs day to day. Employment Hero takes on the legal responsibilities of payroll, compliance, and HR administration.

It is a model that has been successful internationally, particularly in the United States, but has historically been difficult to make work at scale in Australia due to the structural complexity of the national employment system. Employment Hero says its HeroAI suite, which can interpret modern awards, develop rosters, automate payroll calculations, and monitor compliance obligations across thousands of employment relationships simultaneously, is what makes the model viable here for the first time. Thompson describes this as fundamentally changing the economics of employment administration. By removing the friction that prevents employment, employment becomes cheaper and simpler and as decades of historical evidence tell us, businesses will employ more people to build more, serve more, expand into new areas, he said. Every hour reclaimed from repetitive administration is an hour redirected to work that actually grows economies.

Workers engaged through HeroForce remain employees under formal employment contracts and retain full protections under the Fair Work Act, including award wages, superannuation, leave entitlements, and workers compensation. Employment Hero points to analysis of PEO models in the United States showing user organisations have twice the growth rate of comparable companies, 12% lower employee turnover, and are 50% less likely to go out of business. Those organisations report an average 27.2% return on investment, with a 3 to 5% service fee covering fully-managed employment.

Why now

The timing of the HeroForce launch reflects a confluence of pressures that are landing on SME owners simultaneously. Casual employment is growing at more than double the rate of full-time roles, up 9.3% year on year according to Employment Hero Jobs data, as businesses seek flexibility amid rising compliance pressure and wavering business confidence. The ABS reports 7.5% of the workforce are now independent contractors, a figure that reflects how many employers are restructuring their workforce arrangements to manage cost and regulatory risk.

At the same time, 59% of organisations identify reducing operational costs as their primary challenge, and 49% are struggling to attract and retain talent in a shifting labour market. The regulatory environment is not simplifying. It is adding obligations faster than most small businesses can absorb them.

For SME owners, the HeroForce model raises a genuine strategic question that goes beyond any single product. The traditional assumption is that hiring staff means taking on the full legal and administrative burden of employment. Co-employment models challenge that assumption by treating employment administration as an infrastructure problem that can be centralised, the same way cloud computing centralised IT infrastructure and removed the need for every business to run its own servers.

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The focus on fraud as the reason for the increases in NDIS costs deflects attention from more mundane issues (Overhaul of NDIS to cut 300,000 and save billions, April 23). NDIS is fundamentally privatisation of support, and so profit is built into every service. A pricing arrangements booklet of more than 100 pages lists payments for all services and is updated (generally increased) every six months. Most of the rates are eye-watering. For example, the current hourly rate for support workers is more than $70. However, it is rare to find actual support workers being paid much over the minimum wage of just under $25. Not a bad profit for the companies. The intention to require all suppliers to register with the NDIA will largely force recipients to use companies rather than individuals, so choice and control will be reduced. Hiring sole workers directly leads to a consistency of service and allows the participant to get to know and trust the support provider. This is especially important for people with long-term, complex mental health issues who cant cope with changes in support workers, which often happens with services provided by companies. In addition, essential support such as psychologists and allied health therapists may be largely inaccessible because of the registration requirement. There must be a better way of ensuring payments align more with the cost of the service. Lorna MacKellar, Bensville Health Minister Mark Butler went harder than most thought Labor would with changes to the NDIS. Alex Ellinghausen Labor has shown courage in taking the difficult decision to curb NDIS spending. It is to be hoped though that the government will show equal courage in finally introducing a fair tax on gas exports. That gas belongs to all of us yet profits are funnelled almost entirely to multinational gas companies  an estimated $149 billion from exports in four years. The multinationals are complaining bitterly and running a scare campaign but if less well-off individuals are being asked to bear some pain from budget cuts, the least the government can do is insist that wealthy companies contribute their fair share. Imagine how helpful such a tax would be in boosting the bottom line. Who knows, the NDIS may not have to be cut quite as deeply in the long term. Alison Stewart, Riverview The Albanese government must think were not paying attention. On the same day Health Minister Mark Butler announced at least 160,000 Australians would be cut from the NDIS to secure the scheme, the Senate gas tax inquiry was hearing that Japan now collects more tax on Australian gas imports than Australia does on the exports themselves. The NDIS must be sustainable, granted. But that argument loses every shred of credibility when the government chooses to recover the shortfall from disabled Australians rather than from a foreign-dominated gas industry it has barely bothered to tax. We should be funding healthcare and the energy transition from taxes on the gas weAustralians own. As one of the worlds largest gas exporters, this should be one of the richest countries on earth, not one debating whether the NDIS is affordable. Even the Commonwealth Banks CEO and Liberal MP Andrew Hastie back a 25 per cent export levy. Labor MP Ed Husic is right  the deal Australia gives the gas multinationals is obscenely sweet. Cutting the most disadvantaged is the cheapest thing a government can do. Taxing the gas exporters is the right thing. Albo, stop taking us for mugs. Josh Bates, Ultimo One of the biggest issues related to the blow-out in costs of NDIS and aged care support at home seems to relate to the privatisation of support services. I remember when every community had its own meals on wheels and home care services, but the privatisation model has undercut these once great services, often destroying them, and has pushed costs up. As a counsellor, my most expensive rate is to NDIS. Why? I accept much lower rates from Medicare charged services. Luckily for the public purse, I do very little NDIS work, but others have now built their careers and livelihoods on this. How sad that such a great social goal of independent support for those in need became feeding frenzy of inflated rates and greed. Rhyan Andrews, Faulconbridge Unfortunately, the NDIS changes will leave many people who need help worse off. While the focus of the changes is on recipients, more attention should be paid to the role of the providers, many of whom are skimming off a good percentage of the allocated funds while providing very little support. From the perspective of a recipient of an age care package, I receive little or no input from my provider, whose only role seems to be to process invoices from the carers. I have never received any inquiries as to my health or welfare. I have an annual review via a Zoom call which lasts an hour. Living with any disability is difficult and the prospect of having cuts to your care package is stressful. I thought the main focus of the scheme was to help people maintain independent living, but these changes will force people into care homes, which are already struggling with staff shortages. Georgina Blyth, Narara Australia is a land of contrasts. We read this week of government plans to recoup $35 billion by removing up to 300,000 people from NDIS. Last week, the same government announced an additional $53 billion in defence spending. At the same time, much has been said about the importance of holding on to our Australian values. What is going on? Michael Schell, Berkeley Vale

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Its ironic that Labor is taking the axe to the NDIS yet it vigorously opposed cuts that were proposed by previous Liberal governments. Still, it is doing what had to be done. Lets hope its just as brave when looking at spending of all the major government portfolios. Mike Kenneally, Manly It is galling to hear the Coalition whingeing and criticising the Labor Party for its attempts to keep the invaluable NDIS sustainable. Labor has introduced all the major social and economic policy reforms in this country, the NDIS among them, while the Coalition has introduced none.

For the Coalition to snipe from the sidelines is disingenuous at best, hypocritical at worst. Judy Hungerford, Narraweena Interesting how we cant afford to keep the mildly disabled on the NDIS but can still afford submarines, fossil fuel subsidies, private school funding, negative gearing, capital gains tax concessions, the private health insurance rebate, franking credit cash refunds and stage three tax cuts. Fabio Scalia, Balaclava (Vic) Valentine message In a world that has spiralled into a virtual hell, its hard to comprehend that we have lost forever one of the truly good people in our orbit (ABC radio presenter James Valentine dies aged 64, April 24) Radio is a very personal medium, and those of us who love it deeply feel very strongly, even possessively, about those we choose to listen to. James, you will never be forgotten, your cheeky, sardonic humour will stay with us forever, your voice indelibly embedded in our minds. Donna Wiemann, Balmain Vale. Cathy Wilcox So often, alone in my car at the end of a glum and difficult day, listening to ABC Drive, I found myself laughing out loud. And I thought I truly love you, James Valentine. He rocked my day. My world will be forever incomplete without him. Catherine Cusack, Lennox Head

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Time to break free Shaun Carney refreshingly champions a rethink in the traditional government approach to its remit, particularly economic management (The know-it-alls pouring scorn on Labor have easy answers. They deserve more scepticism, April 24). Wisely, he asks not only for change but a careful scrutiny of the criticism that will flow from experts such as economists and company managers or investors following the upcoming May budget. This is a view offered in light of the substantial changes through which we are going courtesy of internal and external pressures. A consequential overhaul of traditional thinking is finally warranted, one area of which should be the realignment of how we see our position in the world. The state of the economy is at the heart of the budget, and there is a craving for saving, meaning cuts to programs, notably the NDIS. Rethinking our position in the world might also mean a much-needed decoupling from traditional allies, programs and the assumptions and views hitherto from experts clinging to a traditional and conservative ideology. In effect, we need to decouple from the AUKUS elephant and save not only our souls but hundreds of billions of dollars best spent elsewhere than on nebulous goals. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay Illustration by Dionne Gain Housing elitism Shane Wright is dead right in his assertion that our housing market is cooked and someone has to do something, with that someone being our prime minister (Tax reform wont fix housing crisis, April 23). Despite being a huge country and having a small population, the average cost of a two-bedroom city apartment is the 10th highest in the world, making Australian property prices nearly 90 per cent above the global average. While the mooted changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing may help, they will be far too late and will not alone fix the problem of the Australian economys dependence on property. Britain has often been seen as a country of haves and have-nots, and sadly we have achieved a similar status by ourselves. Peter Nash, Fairlight Gambling harm Despite being the leader of a progressive political party, Chris Minns is more often thought of as a social conservative (Hes taunted protesters and rebuked judges. Is the premier fraying cohesion?, April 23). While state legislation limiting freedom of speech is rushed through parliament, other reforms such as cashless gaming cards, considered by many to be the most effective way to solve money laundering, have been rejected. Incredibly, over four years, Mounties customers alone staked more than $4 billion on gaming play and still the Minns government is yet to reveal its policy to reduce money laundering and gambling harm. Meanwhile, communities, families and individuals suffer. John Bailey, Canterbury

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Libs still in a cave I recall Nick Greiner being a nice guy conservative premier of NSW (Letters, April 23). Im not sure when John Howard passed the poisoned baton of Grand Old Liberal Master to him, but its in keeping with their tired party policy of handing it to the next oldest white male. The Libs remain right-right, their own worst enemy despite Greiners efforts to paint them as centre. If they would, for once in their lives, support or propose big ideas instead of opposing all things visionary, maybe they might then shift one tile to the left and become centre-right. But that wont happen with Angus Taylor or the Nats. With the Coalition, it has always been about survival and doing whatever it takes to win the next election rather than moving with the times and offering nation-building proposals. Until they emerge into the bright daylight, theyll remain in a sunless cave of their own making. Patrick McGrath, Potts Point Nick Greiner, former Liberal premier of NSW. Sitthixay Ditthavong Short-circuited Perfect! Weve done the right thing by buying solar batteries, but now the power companies are crying foul about their supposed incapacity to meet maintenance costs (Battery owners face thousands of dollars in losses under new scheme, April 23). I expressly recall it being nigh on impossible to go off-grid during purchase of said battery system, so providers could still reap the ongoing connection service fees. Put another way, Ive invested in a cleaner planet but Ill be slugged because those who cannot afford solar and batteries need to keep using coal-fired power. To borrow from another pony, Scott Morrison: how good is that? Ted Bush, North Epping Charging mystery Peter Robertson wrote of his frustration that EV chargers were located in streets with no signage or parking restrictions (Letters, April 23). I took part in the inner west working group for EV charging. At the time, the council planned to install these chargers in public car parks and shopping centres so people could charge while shopping. Then at the eleventh hour, the council announced that they would install them in streets. I and several other members of the working group explained that this would result in the problems that people now experience  residents understandably not wanting them outside their homes, etc. I wonder if this sudden change of direction is because the Inner West Council wants to put 22-storey apartment blocks on these car parks. Tim Douglas, Hurlstone Park

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NationalCourts Overwhelming case: Billionaires ex-secretary refused bail over alleged $1.6m fraud Kate McClymont April 23, 2026  4:50pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Annalouise Spence, who has been charged with defrauding her former boss, billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson, of more than $1.6 million, has been refused bail. Sitting alone in a small room in the Surry Hills police station for her hearing, the former secretary, wearing a Lorna Jane diamond-pattern sweater and grey tracksuit pants, appeared to be fighting back tears upon hearing she would remain in custody. Judith Neilson and her former private secretary Annalouise Lou Spence. Describing the strength of the case against her as overwhelming with the likelihood of a custodial sentence if convicted, Local Court Judge Lucas Swan refused to grant Spence bail. Police prosecutor Sergeant Ashlee Uren had argued that Spence was accused of a large-scale financial crime and that there was a risk she would fail to appear or interfere with witnesses and evidence.

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Appearing via an audiovisual link, Spences face was dominated by oversized glasses, with her blonde hair pulled back tightly in a bun. The 50-year-old listened as her solicitor Bryan Wrench reeled off the shopping list of medications she was taking. Wrench said that late last year Spence had been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. He also said she had spent a month at St John of God Hospital in November 2025. Annalouise Spence has been refused bail. The court heard that the former secretary was arrested on Wednesday while out walking her dog. There were about 20 riot squad police at her place, which we describe as totally unnecessary, Wrench said. He was referring to the police raid at Spences Erskineville house, during which they seized 115 items including artwork, jewellery, designer shoes, luxury handbags and monogrammed Louis Vuitton trunks.

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Wrench told the court that we had to subscribe to The Sydney Morning Herald to find out what was happening. Spence has been charged with 68 counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception. Police remove potential evidence from the Erskineville home of Annalouise Spence during a search warrant on Wednesday. Steven Siewert In March 2023, Spence is alleged to have impersonated Neilson to obtain a supplementary card attached to her bosss Centurion American Express card, better known as a Black Amex. Over the next two years, Spence is alleged to have used the Black Amex to spend over $1.6 million on first-class travel, extravagant hotel stays, designer clothes, accessories, jewellery and artwork.

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Police will allege that Neilson, one of the most influential figures in the Australian arts and philanthropic worlds, did not authorise Spences supplementary card, and she had no idea that Spence had allegedly removed her finance teams oversight of her Amex account. Neilsons former secretary was employed by Neilson for eight years until September 2025 when the well-known philanthropist restructured her Chippendale office. Loading On one occasion, in October 2023, Spence is alleged to have racked up a bill of more than $38,000 for a five-night stay with a male friend at ritzy New York hotel The Carlyle. In September 2024, Spence is alleged to have treated herself to $23,000 worth of shoes and clothes from the ultra-luxury designer brand Loro Piana. A week later, Amex records reveal another $30,000 had been spent at online store Mytheresa.

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The $58,593 vintage pink-gold Rolex watch purchased in London. Police were alerted to Spences alleged frauds when Neilsons new personal assistant, Katy Lloyd Jones, was reconciling Neilsons Amex account last September. She noticed that on July 19, 2025, $58,593 had been spent on a rare pink-gold Rolex wristwatch at the Vintage Watch Company in London. Police were told that alarm bells were ringing because in the brief time Lloyd Jones had spent with her new boss, she knew Neilson doesnt wear any jewellery and she definitely doesnt wear expensive watches, she told this masthead. As she scanned the Amex account, Lloyd Jones saw that two days after the antique watch purchase, $21,000 had been spent at the luxury Knightsbridge department store Harrods. The Black Amex card Annalouise Spence allegedly secretly obtained without her employers knowledge.

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It will be alleged Neilson was not in London at the time. At her bail hearing on Thursday afternoon, Spences solicitor said that she had repaid $840,000 and that $20,000 would be deposited as security for bail. Annalouise Spence (left) with her employer Judith Neilson in Africa in 2018. It is irrelevant that she repaid the funds, said the judge, adding that would be better saved for sentencing submissions. The matter will return to court on May 7. 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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NationalQueenslandCourts Accused childcare rapists brazen acts under guise of something innocuous Cloe Read April 23, 2026  4:25pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

An accused childcare rapist took advantage of the fact he could have close contact with children, and did not need to take them to a secluded area because this would have raised suspicions, the prosecution told a jury as his trial concluded. Joshua James Capps pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and three counts of indecent treatment of a child, which he allegedly committed while working at a C&K centre in Brisbanes north. Joshua James Capps outside the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday. AAP / Darren England Capps took the stand on Wednesday, where he denied the allegations against him, which included that he raped one boy, and touched tongues with children at the Geebung centre in 2023. A mother of one of the alleged victims, a three-year-old boy, told the trial she walked in on Capps crouching in front of another child and their tongues were poking out, touching each other. Capps had played a game called doctors with several children, the trial heard.

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The prosecution alleged Capps took advantage of the fact it was normal for educators to have physical contact with children. In her closing submissions, Crown Prosecutor Arielle Spiteri told the jury it was plausible that Capps could have been doing something innocuous with the children. Spiteri said Capps accepted in his own evidence that other educators in the vicinity had been preoccupied. The childcare centre in Geebung. He agreed  in fact, he said, we dont watch each other. That was accepted very frankly, she said.

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The defence suggested that it would be more likely someone would do these things somewhere other than the open space  but what you might think is that Mr Capps would be drawing attention to himself if he led a child to a secluded area. So what hes done is, he has used, in my submission, the opportunity available to him to commit these offences, because we know that its entirely normal for educators and children to interact closely, to touch the children, to be at face height. Spiteri reminded the jury that crimes could be committed in the vicinity of CCTV. Earlier, an investigating officer told the court much of the footage recovered from the centre was corrupted, and police were unable to retrieve it. Capps told the court he paid to have some of the footage fixed because he believed it would exonerate him. I suggest that Mr Capps committed these offences also under the guise of doing something innocuous, so these things would have just looked like a normal interaction between an educator and child, Spiteri said.

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You might think that its inconceivable that someone, let alone a childcare educator, would engage in such brazen acts in an open space, in close proximity of others, but the reality is these things really do happen in our society. We know that child-sex offenders often act brazen because children do not have the capacity to understand or appreciate the seriousness of situations they might find themselves in. Related Article Crime Boy, 3, told family of bad man at Brisbane childcare centre, trial hears An example of this is the complainant children clearly enjoying playing a game with doctors. Spiteri said the three-year-old boys mothers memory of seeing Capps touch tongues with another child was clear. The prosecutor said the mothers discussions with her son were the first non-leading disclosures of sexual abuse, and when he spoke about being anally penetrated it was in circumstances where he offered the information of his own volition.

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Spiteri referred to how the alleged victim had requested to read a book named My Body, My Rules every night for about a month before Capps was detected. Spiteri said this might be suggestive of him trying to work out what had happened to him. She said that boy also denied in his police interview that he had touched tongues with Capps. In his closing submissions, barrister Jack Kennedy told the jury while the world was acutely aware of sexual offending, this was not the case for his client, who was not guilty of the charges. Kennedy said his client chose to give evidence, and expose himself to cross-examination. He couldve sat in the dock and said nothing, but he chose to take the stand, Kennedy said.

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Kennedy spoke of the three-year-old boys mother, who he described as loving and who was concerned about a male educator. Clearly [the alleged victim] is not being truthful in what he says  I dont submit that hes lying because the fact is hes just too young to properly understand the gravity of the allegations hes making, he said. Hes read the book My Body, My Rules with his mother ... his mother has seen the footage  you cannot see Mr Capps touch tongues with any child. He is an educator, a trained educator who went down to the childs level. He said the offences were alleged to have happened when numerous centre staff were walking around in an open environment, and the building had glass doors. Kennedy questioned how no one could have seen the alleged incidents in such a brazen location.

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The trial continues. 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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Police have seized $20 million worth of illicit drugs and arrested four south-east Queensland men following a major investigation into an organised crime syndicate with links across Australia.

On Wednesday, Queensland police executed 12 simultaneous search warrants at locations across SEQ, including Yarrabilba, Flagstone, Slacks Creek, Karalee, Logan, Redbank Plains and Upper Mount Gravatt.

Queensland police arrested four men and seized $20 million of illicit drugs in a bust on Wednesday. Queensland Police

Large quantities of drugs  90 kilograms of cocaine, 16 kilograms of methamphetamine, 311 kilograms of ketamine and 58 kilograms of MDMA  were seized during the search, with an estimated street value of $20 million.

Commercial scale laboratory equipment and chemicals used to produce illicit drugs were also found at warehouses south of Brisbane.
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NationalQueenslandQueensland government Revolt over community service for Arnies owner lands in parliament Courtney Kruk April 23, 2026  6:06pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The Queensland government is being urged to consider harsher penalties for people found guilty of killing or injuring a pet after a German Shepherd died in the back of a car in Brisbane last year in a case that caused public outrage. It comes as a petition launched following the dog, named Arnies, death was tabled in parliament after reaching nearly 130,000 signatures. Arnie, a seven-year-old German shepherd, died after being left by his owner in the back of a ute in a case that caused public outrage. Nathan Mckeown Nathan McKeown, 43, left his dog Arnie locked in the back of his ute during a drug-fuelled brothel binge in November last year. McKeown initially reported his car stolen to police, but was later found to have fabricated the story to hide his whereabouts from his wife and family. When the car was located 10 days later in Fortitude Valley, Arnie was found dead inside it.

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Related Article Courts Heard the outcry: Arnie owner sentence could be appealed by government Despite a court finding McKeown responsible for Arnies neglect and death, he was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and had no conviction recorded, prompting further public outrage. A petition launched by a group of Queensland women after the incident called for the introduction of Arnies Law to strengthen protections for pets, increase penalties for offenders, and recognise companion animals as sentient beings, not property. To date, it has attracted nearly 130,000 signatures. Labor MP Jonty Bush used a speech to parliament on Thursday evening to push the Crisafulli government to consider the groups proposal, citing strong community support for the laws reflected by the number of signatories to the petition.

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This was an extreme case of animal neglect, Bush said. Despite the egregious nature of the offending, the court sentenced him to 240 hours of community service [and] no conviction was recorded. For many Queenslanders, that outcome has felt deeply inadequate. Animal Justice Party Queensland convenor Liela DRose said other Australian states are moving towards stronger animal welfare laws, and Arnies Law would bring Queensland in line with emerging national standards. Bush said she wrote to the states Attorney-General Deb Frecklington in February to request a meeting on behalf of the group behind the petition, but no response had been received.

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I recognise that this is a non-conforming petition, and that the Attorney General isnt required to provide a formal response, Bush said. But  I think its important that she does. Labor MP Jonty Bush has tabled a petition in parliament calling for the introduction of Arnies Law, named in honour of a family dog that died in Brisbane last year. Queenslands animal welfare laws were subject to significant reforms in 2022, with key amendments including a new offence for breaching duty of care, and strengthened powers for inspectors in relation to entry and compliance with animal welfare directions.

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On advice from the Queensland Audit Office, the legislation also introduced a requirement for police and the RSPCA to seek permission from the deputy-general of the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to prosecute animal welfare offences. An investigation by the ABC found animal welfare prosecutions have fallen dramatically since the amendment, dropping from nearly 240 prosecutions in 202021, to just nine in 202425. In February, the Animal Care and Protection Act was amended to reinstate police powers to correct the unintended consequence of previous reforms. A petition before Queensland Parliament is calling for the same amendment to be applied to the RSPCA, and for the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences, including imprisonment, for all animal cruelty. 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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Antoinette Lattouf makes something clear when we sit down for our interview: the person I met for lunch four years ago no longer exists. In May 2022, Lattouf had just written her first book, an anti-racism handbook drawing on her experiences as a journalist of Middle Eastern heritage and prominent advocate for diversity in the media. So much has happened since. The October 7 attacks in Israel, the war in Gaza, multiple wars in Lebanon, the current war in Iran. And, of course, Lattoufs sudden sacking from a casual hosting gig at the ABC that saw her take the national broadcaster to court for unfair dismissal  and win. My life has also changed in the interregnum  but not nearly as dramatically: then I was writing about race and diversity; now foreign affairs, including the Middle East. Remembering that Lattouf beat me to our last lunch, I arrive 10 minutes early, but she is already waiting outside Nour, the Lebanese restaurant in Surry Hills she has selected for our interview. During her court case, Lattouf developed a cult following for her chic outfits  the website Crikey published an ode to Antoinette Lattoufs meaningful courtroom fashion  and her choice today is similarly striking. The symbolism of her powder-pink skirt suit, both feminine and formidable, seems obvious. Related Article Lunch with Antoinette Lattoufs mission to make Australias media less white Lattouf emerged from the court case as a hero to many Australians dismayed by Israels conduct in the war in Gaza and the medias reporting of the conflict, but it came at a steep cost. The Lattouf of 2022 radiated energy and optimism; today that lightness, that effervescence, is dimmed. Now 42, she is still outgoing, but more guarded. As we sit down to talk, she presses record on her phone so she has her own copy of our conversation. I am a different person, Lattouf says when I ask what has changed since we last met. There was a certain innocence I think then and an idealism that I could probably say I mourn a little bit. Our previous lunch was also Lebanese but a more traditional restaurant in western Sydney, where Lattouf grew up. She says she has chosen the more innovative Nour because she adores the food and wants to support her friend, the owner Ibby Moubadder. Hes meant to be having his wedding in Lebanon and that has been cancelled, so hes a bit sad, she says.

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A ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hezbollah has just started when we meet, but Lattouf is not celebrating (Given how the ceasefire has gone in Gaza, I am not particularly confident that it will be upheld). Lattoufs parents moved from Lebanon to Australia as refugees in the 1970s and she and her husband still have many family members there whom she checks on daily. Her husbands aunt, aged in her 70s, has rejected their advice to leave her Beirut home because she doesnt want to sleep on the street. Shes resigned to the fact that she might die, and thats a conversation we have to have with her all the time, Lattouf says, choking back tears. Sorry, its heartbreaking. Adding to her anxiety is the fact the release of her second book, Women Who Win, is about to thrust her back into the public gaze, in a way she cant necessarily control. Im cognisant of the fact I have probably opened myself up to another wave of tabloid attacks, she says, as our waiter takes our order. I suggest Lattouf orders for us both given she is familiar with the menu. The food  including a zesty and decidedly non-traditional tuna tabbouleh, charred octopus skewers and beetroot with sheeps curd  is impeccably presented, and the flavours dance on the tongue, even if it feels awkward to eat such glamorous dishes while discussing heavy topics such as the bombing in Beirut and starvation in Gaza. Her new book fuses a memoir of her ABC legal battle with pen portraits of pioneering Australian women such as businesswoman Wendy McCarthy and Indigenous anti-coal mine activist Murrawah Johnson. She worked on the book throughout the court case, when she didnt know if she would emerge triumphant or defeated. Octopus skewers at Nour. The food is beautifully presented, but a sobering contrast to world events. Thomas Wielecki In the middle of a panic attack at midnight, when I couldnt sleep, Id get up, and I would start to read and then reach out to these people, she says. They were a source of comfort and inspiration, and the more I researched and learnt, the more I felt I was prepared for whatever may come. Lattoufs dismissal from the ABC came during what she assumed would be an unremarkable five days in 2023 filling in as host of the Sydney Mornings radio show in the lead-up to Christmas. It was two months after Hamas brutal October 7 attacks, and Israel was waging a ferocious war in Gaza at a devastating cost to civilian lives. Lattouf, working as a freelancer, had been criticising Israels actions on her social media accounts and had just written an article for Crikey questioning a widely shared video that claimed to show pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Opera House chanting gas the Jews (police later confirmed forensic analysis had found no evidence the phrase was used, although protesters had chanted f--k the Jews and other slogans).

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Lattouf didnt think any of this was especially relevant given her job was to play Michael Buble songs and discuss Christmas lunch plans with talkback callers. I was really revelling in the lifestyle type content and showing a lighter side to my personality, she recalls. But, as the Federal Court later said, Lattouf was being targeted by a co-ordinated campaign from pro-Israel lobbyists who sent a barrage of emails to then ABC chair Ita Buttrose and then managing director David Anderson in a bid to have her taken off air. Beetroot, sheeps curd, pomegranate and house pita at Nour. Thomas Wielecki The lobbyist emails caused panic at the very top of the ABC. Cant she come down with flu or COVID or a stomach upset? Buttrose asked in a now infamous email to Anderson sent after Lattoufs second day on air. We owe her nothing. Unbeknown to the legendary former Cleo and Australian Womens Weekly editor, Lattouf had hours earlier shared a post from Human Rights Watch accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. Related Article Good Weekend Im a lots-of-feelings person: Inside the world of ABC chair Kim Williams While she had been told to be careful about what she posted while at the ABC, Lattouf says she didnt think she was crossing the line. She checked that the ABC had twice reported on the Human Rights Watch report, and she avoided adding any personal commentary to the post. Noting she had worked for several mainstream media outlets and as a Media Watch researcher, she says: I knew what I was doing. Everyone makes mistakes on social media, but this wasnt one. Yet the ABC sacked her with two days remaining on her contract. Its almost difficult to put in into words how awful it felt to be asked to pack my bags. I knew how significant it was to be asked to leave the public broadcaster.

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The worst moment of the subsequent court case, she says, came when the ABCs lawyers used an article she had written for the ABC on her experience of post-natal depression to undermine her claim that her sacking had damaged her mental health. In her book she describes being found at court by her legal team violently shaking and crying with rage. That was the most soul crushing thing Ive experienced, she says. The Federal Court found the ABC had wrongfully dismissed Lattouf because it failed to follow enterprise agreement dismissal processes and had sacked her because of her political opinions. It ordered the public broadcaster to pay her $220,000. Almost a year later, she is not ready to forgive those she believed mistreated her and have not apologised. Related Article Courts Judge reveals ABCs penalty in Antoinette Lattouf unlawful sacking case I ask what she would say to Buttrose if she saw her now. Twenty long seconds of silence pass as she gathers her thoughts. Then she answers: I would ask her how she feels as someone who is a patron for [the non-profit organisation] Women in Media that the thing shes most likely to be remembered for is her abhorrent treatment of another woman in media. Others may regard Buttroses conduct as a jarring coda to a storied career, but for Lattouf it is her defining legacy. (Buttrose has been approached for comment.) Does Lattouf believe the ABC learnt anything from the saga? Unfortunately, no, she replies. All theyve done was make their social media policies stricter. She would never say never to working at the ABC again, but not in the current climate, when she believes pro-Israel lobbyists have excessive influence over the organisation. In his verdict on the case, Justice Darryl Rangiah found that, while Lattoufs firing was unlawful, her post was bound to be controversial, when she was an employee of the ABC, describing it as ill-advised and inconsiderate of her employer. Lattouf says she respectfully disagrees. I think its a strange and sad state of affairs when an employee cannot share a fact that the broadcaster itself has shared twice. I think we start to enter some really dangerous territory when that becomes a problem.

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I ask her what the limits should be for mainstream media journalists when it comes to posting on social media about controversial issues, going to protests and signing petitions. I hold the traditional view that such activity should almost always be avoided as it can call into question the impartiality of our work and undermine our journalism. For example, as an openly gay reporter working in the Canberra press gallery during the same-sex marriage debate, I didnt go to protests calling for Australians to vote yes in the postal survey. Lattouf believes that journalists  even at the ABC  should be able to engage in political activity in their own time. If you want to go to a protest over a coal mine, or over a refugee or over the [Indigenous Voice to Parliament] referendum or whatever, absolutely, she says. I dont think you take away peoples ability to practise their civic rights. Nours Lamb neck and yogurt, and mountain salad. Thomas Wielecki In her court appearance, Buttrose described Lattouf as an activist, a term many journalists would regard as a slur. Lattouf thinks it neednt be. I think at its heart a lot of really good, change-making journalism is activism, she says, referring to investigative reporters who expose wrongdoing and drive policy change. Noting that prominent ABC journalist Virginia Trioli wrote a piece in 2024 about protesting against violence against women, she asks why she should not be able to publicly oppose children starving in Gaza. I just think these lines need to be interrogated, who draws them and when they draw them, she says. The bill Since her court victory, Lattouf and long-time friend Jeannette Francis (better known as Jan Fran) have launched a podcast, We Used to be Journos, in which they dissect media coverage of issues such as the war in Lebanon. She says the title is tongue in cheek: they are still journalists but focus on commentary rather than straight news reporting. Her advice to media outlets reporting on Israel: Just cover it like you do every other story. Rely on reputable facts. Treat Israeli sources with the same level of scepticism that you would press releases put out by Putin.
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NationalVictoriaAnzac Day A volunteer Anzac Day marshal marks a half-century of service Carolyn Webb April 24, 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 Vietnam War was ending when David Arden first volunteered as a marshal in Melbournes 1975 Anzac Day march. It was just days before the fall of Saigon. Arden remembers that march as drawing a big crowd. Tradition: David Arden, pictured at the Shrine of Remembrance, prepares for his 50th Anzac Day march as a volunteer marshal. Jason South Spectators stood four or five deep along St Kilda Road. World War I veterans marched, some of them on horseback. Arden has missed only one year since, due to illness, and says its satisfying doing his bit to help one of the citys big days to run smoothly.

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He says that before the march, people come up and say, My grandfather was from the 2/8th Infantry Battalion, where do I go? I go to my list and direct them to the right group. Arden says that in the 1970s, if he told a march participant, You need to go over there, they would say, Right-oh, sure, whereas today some people are less deferential to authority. They might say, Oh? Why is that? David Arden and his wife, Gayle Arden, at Monash University Regiment in Oakleigh, circa 1979. He sees his main role as sorting the marchers into their correct order and position so that they are ready to march. It has echoes of his former occupation as an air traffic controller at Melbourne Airport. He also served in the Army Reserve for more than 40 years. The one Anzac Day march he missed was in 2024, when he had emergency surgery for a blocked bowel. In 2020 the Anzac Day march was cancelled because of COVID-19.

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No one would begrudge him retiring as a march marshal, but he doesnt plan to. Ill be doing the march for as long as I am able to, he says. Its so important to me, and the cause of commemoration and appreciation is so important. He points to a group of children who are near our photo shoot at the Shrine. How many of them would know what our veterans have done? Colonel Rex Hall, who served in the Australian Light Horse Regiment in World War I, leads veterans on horseback in the 1975 Anzac Day March down Swanston Street. The Age archives Arden remembers watching the march at St Kilda Road as a child.

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His father, Fred Arden, served in World War II, and his grandfather, Fred snr, fought in the Boer War and WWI. As a marshal, Arden wears his fathers Sam Browne  a soldiers leather belt and shoulder strap. David Ardens father, Fred Arden, pictured during his service in World War II. In 1975, David was in the Army Reserve when the call went out that volunteer marshals were needed for the Anzac Day march. He feels the role is to recognise, and help other people appreciate the huge sacrifices that veterans have made.

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Hes soldiered on when its been hot, cold or raining on Anzac Day. David Arden (front man in kilt) in Flinders Street in the mid-1990s just before the Anzac Day March as commanding officer of the Melbourne infantry battalion. He was also a volunteer marshal that year. In 2015, a man had a heart attack in St Kilda Road, and while first aid people looked after him, Arden helped divert the march down a service road. This year, Arden will be based in Collins Street, west of Swanston Street, for about five hours before and during the march, helped by a two-way radio, mobile phone and printed schedule, before joining the march at its tail end. Jason Cooke, the RSL Victorias Anzac Day chief marshal, said about Arden: He is incredibly passionate about Anzac Day and getting veterans the recognition they deserve.

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We have around 70 volunteers acting as marshals this year. I know that we all benefit from the knowledge and experience David brings to the role. The Dawn Service is on at the Shrine of Remembrance at 5.30am on Saturday. The Anzac Day March from Princes Bridge to the Shrine starts at 9am followed by wreath laying. The events will be streamed live.
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Updated NationalVictoriaCrime Teen dies after e-motorbike hits two cars at Melbourne intersection Alexander Darling and Isabel McMillan Updated April 23, 2026  7:03pm ,first published 12:07pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A teenage boy is dead and another seriously injured after an e-motorbike they were riding ran a red light and hit two cars in Melbournes outer north-east on Wednesday. Max Foster, 15, was a passenger on the bike when it crashed on the corner of Findon and Plenty roads in South Morang at 5.30pm on Wednesday. He was treated for his injuries but died at the scene. Max Foster, 15, died when the e-motorbike he was a passenger on ran a red light and crashed. @TheLakesSouthMorangP9School / Facebook Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner Justin Goldsmith said the teen wasnt wearing a helmet at the time. The collision also badly injured Maxs 17-year-old friend who was behind the handlebars of the bike, but who was wearing a helmet. As of Thursday evening, he remains at the Austin Hospital in a serious but stable condition with lower-body injuries.

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After the e-motorbike hit the car, it then ran into a second car, police said. Both motorists stopped at the scene. In a social media post, which has since been removed, The Lakes South Morang College said Foster was a valued member of the community. Loading His passing is a heartbreaking loss for us all, the post said. Max was a larger-than-life personality, who endeared us with his warmth, humour, positivity and embraced us with a charm and smile that will always be unmistakably Max. Forever in our hearts.

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Fosters friends, Luca Nogarotto and Jacob Al Mansouri, said their mate was a kind-hearted kid, never selfish and always thinking about other people. He was a good kid at heart, who just got into an accident. Wrong time wrong place, Nogarotto said. The e-motorbike the boys were riding. Victoria Police Forever 15. I just miss him. They said they knew riding the bikes was illegal, and said they were done with it now after hearing the news of Fosters passing.

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Related Article Road safety Boy, 14, dies in e-bike crash with 4WD in Melbournes north-east I wanted one [an e-motorbike] but [my dad] never let me get one, Nogarotto said, but I can see why, the damage it can cause and how serious it really is. Now since Ive lost a friend now, who was like one of my best mates, like a brother to me, I truly believe e-motorbikes are fun but no one should be on them. Acting Assistant Commissioner Goldsmith said the injured boy would be interviewed after his discharge from hospital, and potentially faced serious charges, including culpable driving and dangerous riding causing death. Goldsmith also said the injured boy was unlicensed, and that the prevalence of e-motorbikes was a nationwide issue, adding that police stations were inundated with calls about ride-outs where theyre riding in mass numbers across the state. It was an illegal motorcycle that is incapable of being registered in Victoria because it doesnt fit the safety category to be registered in Victoria, he said. [It] is capable of going 90km/h, and its in the hands of children, and there are, unfortunately, a lot of them on the market.

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In Victoria, a bike with a motor must have working pedals and a maximum power output of 250 watts (not capable of exceeding 25km/h) to be considered legal. Goldsmith said the bike involved in the South Morang crash had its pedals removed. Theyre being imported from other countries quite often [and] they dont fit the criteria to be registered in Victoria, he said. And certainly since the COVID lockdown years, the growth has been enormous. Police tape across the road where a fatal e-motorbike crash occurred. Nine News Goldsmith said the state government was looking at beefing up laws around e-motorbikes. Spring Street began restricting converted e-bikes on trains and within ticketed areas after a review last year. Shara Brown, whose teenage son Noah was a friend of Fosters, said theyd been on the phone chatting in the hours before the crash.

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Everyone has to make mistakes, even at our age, to learn by them, she said. These kids made a mistake, and now [Max] doesnt get to learn from that. He doesnt. I feel so awful for his mother, who now just doesnt get to see him again. Its just shattering. Police at the scene of a fatal e-motorbike and car crash in South Morang on Wednesday night. Nine The prevalence of e-motorbikes also prompted NSW and Queensland to consider stricter regulations. But Goldsmith said new laws and their enforcement could only go so far in curbing the problem, and parents had an equally significant part to play. If it is a motorcycle that is unregistered, we can absolutely enforce. But the sheer volumes make it really difficult for Victoria Police to get a handle on it, Goldsmith said.

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Related Article Cycling E-bike sales surge as petrol price rises bite I would ask all parents to be vigilant about the fact that this is not a fun toy. Some of these modified motorcycles, and the ones that cannot be registered for safety reasons, pose an enormous risk to their children. But you can avoid it. City of Whittlesea mayor Lawrie Cox said the phenomenon of kids on unregistered bikes without helmets playing chicken with cars was becoming increasingly common in the area. Were sincerely wishing the family our condolences for the loss of their child, he said, adding that before Wednesday he had heard of injuries to animals and people in the area when bikes were ridden too fast on footpaths. The road policing operation across the Anzac Day weekend will be the third high-visibility operation police have undertaken in April.

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Despite having a strong presence throughout the month of April, unfortunately, were in the middle of a significant road trauma spike, and unfortunately and tragically, weve had 14 lives lost in the last 11 days, Goldsmith said. There have been 82 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2026. Anyone who witnessed the incident, with footage or information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at crimestoppersvic.com.au. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
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NationalVictoriaUniversity University of Melbourne appoints new leader following VCs death Noel Towell April 23, 2026  2:21pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The University of Melbourne has appointed a new vice chancellor to replace Emma Johnston, who died late last year aged 52. The prestigious institution has hired Griffith University vice chancellor Carolyn Evans to lead the $3.6 billion organisation, which has been helmed by former top federal public servant Glyn Davis on an interim basis since Johnstons death in December. University of Melbourne vice chancellor Emma Johnston died in December after a brief battle with cancer. Peter Casamento The universitys chancellor, Jane Hansen, said the appointment had come after a time of profound loss and transition for the states most prestigious tertiary institution. Since 2019, Evans has been vice chancellor of Griffith University, a 44,000-student operation that sprawls over campuses dotted around Brisbane and south-east Queensland.

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Professor Evans brings with her a deep understanding of the matters facing higher education institutions and a firm belief that universities are powerful forces for good in our society, Hansen said on Thursday. Carolyn Evans has been appointed vice chancellor of the University of Melbourne. Dominic Lorrimer She holds a deep conviction in universities ability to change the lives of individuals, contribute to the wellbeing of our country and the future of our world. Professor Evans has led Griffith University with clarity and purpose, becoming its first female vice chancellor, and we are pleased to welcome Professor Evans back to the University of Melbourne as our next vice chancellor. This appointment comes after a period of profound loss and transition for our university community.

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We honour Professor Emma Johnstons memory and her contribution during her brief tenure, as we look to the future with confidence and positivity in what our university can achieve. Related Article Education Unfathomable loss: University of Melbournes vice chancellor dies at 52 Evans said she had studied at the University of Melbourne in her undergraduate days and later worked at the institution as a high-ranking official. My own life was changed profoundly for the better because of the outstanding education I received at Melbourne as an undergraduate and the opportunities I was given as a staff member, she said on Thursday. I am committed to ensuring that Melbourne continues to be a global leader in the higher education sector, while demonstrating its value to the nation and to the communities it serves.

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I recognise and respect the important role played by Professor Emma Johnston in setting a bold agenda, and I look forward to working with colleagues, students and partners in making its aspirations a reality. The universitys main staff union, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) welcomed the appointment of Evans, who will start work at the Parkville campus in October, but warned that it expected progress on new enterprise agreements for the unis nearly 14,000 staff despite the change of leadership. Professor Evans brings significant experience and a strong connection to the University of Melbourne. We welcome her appointment and look forward to working constructively with her when she commences in October, NTEU official David Gonzalez said. Enterprise bargaining is happening now, and staff are looking for real movement in the months ahead, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
The fuel crisis response is complex and moving quickly. Here is what it all means for your business

In the space of roughly two weeks, the Australian Government has moved faster on business relief than at almost any point since the COVID pandemic.

The trigger is a fuel crisis driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has sent diesel prices surging, disrupted global supply chains, and created acute financial pressure for Australian businesses in transport, logistics, agriculture, and manufacturing.

The response has come in multiple forms simultaneously, and for small business owners trying to keep track of what is available and what is now required, the picture has become complex quickly. This is an attempt to put the full picture in one place.

Securing the supply

The most recent development came this week when the Albanese Government announced it had secured a further 200 million litres of additional diesel for Australia under its new Strategic Reserve powers, bringing the total additional diesel secured in the past seven days to approximately 300 million litres, or more than 1.8 million barrels. The Government has partnered with BP Australia and continued its partnership with Viva Energy, with work continuing alongside Ampol, Park Fuels, IOR, and other fuel suppliers to secure additional shipments in coming days and weeks.

Alongside the diesel supply measures, the Government announced it is working with fertiliser companies Incitec Pivot and CSBP to secure and deliver essential fertiliser for Australian farmers ahead of the current and upcoming growing seasons. The package involves price risk support to protect importers from extreme price volatility. Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins described the fertiliser support as a significant outcome for farmers, noting that fertiliser is critical to Australias food production system and the food security of the broader region.

Prime Minister Albanese framed the response in terms of its ongoing nature. As conflict in the Middle East and global volatility continues, we are working to shield Australians from the worst of the impacts, he said. We want to keep our people, our economy and our nation moving, which is why were working with industry to quickly secure additional shipments of fuel and fertiliser.

The money available now

On 20 April, the Governments $1 billion Economic Resilience Program opened for applications. Drawn from the National Reconstruction Fund, the program provides zero-interest loans of up to $5 million for eligible businesses in freight, fuel, fertiliser, plastics, and other critical supply chain sectors. Loans carry a term of up to two years, with the principal to be repaid in full and standard bank fees applying. No interest is charged.

Applications are currently processed through six participating banks: ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac, Bendigo Bank, and Bank of Queensland. Businesses with annual turnover of $100 million or less and seeking loans of up to $5 million apply through these banks. Larger businesses and larger loans are handled directly through the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation. The program window is six months and funds are limited, which means businesses that are eligible should move quickly.

The program has drawn criticism from non-bank lenders, who argue that many of the businesses most in need already use non-bank lenders for their day-to-day finance and currently have no pathway to apply. Moneytech CEO Nick McGrath has called on the Government and the NRFC to open consultation with the non-bank sector on accreditation. Many of the businesses this program is designed to help already rely on non-bank lenders for their day-to-day finance, McGrath said. The NRFC has indicated more lenders may be added to the program over time.

The ATO has also launched a dedicated fuel response package, available until 30 June 2026, offering more flexible compliance and collection arrangements for businesses whose cash flow has been directly affected by rising fuel and transport costs.

The new compliance obligations

On 21 April, a new legal obligation took effect for businesses operating in road transport supply chains. The Fair Work Commissions Road Transport Contractual Chain Order, Fuel Cost Recovery, 2026 requires primary and secondary parties in road transport contractual chains to adjust their rates fortnightly, or twice per calendar month, to ensure transport operators can recover the increased cost of fuel since 6 March 2026.

The order applies to businesses at every level of the road transport contractual chain, not just transport companies themselves. Any business that contracts road transport services, whether for deliveries, freight, distribution, or logistics, may be a primary party with obligations under the order. Existing rise-and-fall clauses already in contracts may satisfy the adjustment obligation. Disputes can be referred to the Fair Work Commission. The Fair Work Ombudsman has authority to investigate and enforce the order.

The order will remain in force until the weekly average national terminal gate price for diesel falls below $2 per litre, and will be reviewed monthly for the first month and then every three months. SME owners with road transport contracts should review those contracts now to understand their position under the order.

What the data says on the ground

While the government response has moved quickly, the Equifax Business Market Pulse for March 2026 captures how much pressure had already built up before these measures took effect. Overall SME credit demand fell 5.8% year on year in March, while large business demand rose 5.9%. The divergence reflects a business sector where larger, better-capitalised companies are accessing credit to navigate the disruption, while smaller operators are pulling back.

In the logistics sector specifically, the data tells a particularly acute story. Business loan demand in logistics fell 11.6% year on year in March, but trade credit surged 16%, the highest trade credit growth of any major sector. The pattern indicates that logistics operators are using credit lines to cover fuel costs and keep operations running rather than to fund growth or investment. New ATO tax debt disclosures in the logistics sector nearly doubled, rising 97.7% year on year in March, indicating that the financial pressure in this sector is translating directly into tax debt accumulation.

Across the broader business sector, new ATO tax debt disclosures rose 37.8% year on year in March, with company insolvencies remaining at elevated levels and business-related personal insolvencies continuing to rise. For SME owners already carrying overdue tax obligations, the combination of fuel cost pressure, the ATOs ongoing enforcement posture, and the arrival of Payday Super on 1 July 2026 represents a compounding set of pressures that the governments relief measures, welcome as they are, do not fully resolve.

The one genuinely positive data point in the March figures is Queensland construction, where business loans surged 24% year on year, driven by infrastructure projects for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a reminder that the fuel crisis is not affecting every sector or every region equally, and that for businesses in growth-oriented sectors and states, the underlying conditions remain constructive.

For SME owners navigating all of this, the practical priorities are straightforward. If you are in an eligible sector, apply for the Economic Resilience Program through your bank as early as possible. If you have road transport contracts, review them against the new fortnightly rate adjustment obligation. If you are carrying ATO debt, contact the ATO about the fuel response package before enforcement action escalates. And if you use a non-bank lender and cannot currently access the loan program, monitor the NRFCs accreditation announcements as the program evolves.

The government has moved quickly and the response is meaningful. But the crisis is ongoing, and for many Australian small businesses, the measures now in place are a floor of support rather than a full solution.

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NationalWAMiddle East at war Rio Tinto forgoes delivery of 8 million litres of diesel to grow WA stockpile Hamish Hastie April 23, 2026  5:29pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Mining giant Rio Tinto will forgo a delivery of eight million litres of diesel from its supplier Viva Energy which will instead be sold to the WA government for $2.25 per litre as the state grows its own fuel stockpile. Premier Roger Cook said he received the unsolicited offer from Rio Tintos iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz earlier this week. Rio Tinto will forgo fuel for WA to boost its stockpile. Bloomberg The government will pay $18 million for the delivery, which will be stored in Kwinana and Esperance. The fuel will be delivered by Viva Energy next month and will be aimed at replenishing supplies in farming and remote communities in the Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields regions.

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The fuel comes on top of a government announcement last week that it had secured four million litres of fuel to be delivered to Wyndham next week, taking the states total diesel stockpile to 12 million litres. This means that we can direct fuel to where it is needed most, and we can get it there quickly and efficiently utilising established fuel supply routes, Cook said. Cook denied there were any strings attached to the offer from Rio Tinto. Not at all, other than the fact that we had to reach an agreement about the sale price, and...well then hand that on as part of reintegrating that into the market, he said. Energy Minister Amber Jade Sanderson said the fuel would be sold at cost.

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She said storing the fuel in Kwinana, Wyndham and Esperence meant the fuel could be deployed to maximum benefit. The Kwinana storage will be specifically to support the Wheatbelt, the Esperance storage will be specifically to support the Great Southern and Goldfields regions, she said. It will be a lifeline for areas when there is times of acute need, such as our remote communities and our agricultural sector. Alinta has already provided 800,000 litres of diesel into the market while Atlas fuel has added five million litres. The four million litres of diesel for Wyndham was purchased from BP via Cambridge Gulf.

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Related Article Petrol prices WA premier has no confidence weve seen the worst of global fuel crisis Sanderson said she expected other businesses to follow Rio Tintos lead. I expect so, we have some fantastic industries in WA who are very used to supporting particularly regional areas, she said. Were certainly scoping storage opportunities throughout the state, and there will be further opportunities. Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Matthew Holcz said the company was happy to do what it could to help.

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Were glad were in a position to contribute to the states diesel supplies and we hope it goes some way to easing the pressure on communities and farmers at this challenging time, he said. Western Australias desire to establish a state fuel stockpile separate from the nationals stockpile, known as the mandatory stockholding obligation, has drawn criticism from Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor who last week said it demonstrated states didnt trust the Albanese governments management of the fuel crisis. Cook rubbished Taylors claim and said his state was seeking to establish these stockpiles because it had unique energy requirements. Were the largest jurisdiction, and so weve got a heavy reliance on diesel, in particular in relation to our transport-related industries, he said. Weve got our resources sector, which continues to be a huge consumer, in fact, BHP is the largest consumer of diesel in the country.

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Weve got our small remote communities, all of which rely on diesel-power generation. Weve got more remote communities than Northern Territory and Queensland combined.
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PoliticsFederalDisability We will work with them: Angus Taylor gives support to Labors NDIS overhaul Natassia Chrysanthos and Brittany Busch Updated April 23, 2026  5:22pm ,first published April 23, 2026  9:58am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Labors overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will go ahead with the Coalitions support after Liberal leader Angus Taylor said he would work with the government to get the $50 billion program in shape so that it delivers for people with profound needs. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas also rallied around Health Minister Mark Butlers reforms, commending the federal governments political courage and insisting the next step was to develop foundational supports outside the NDIS with the same urgency. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor all but guaranteed the Coalition would help Labor push through the changes in parliament. Alex Ellinghausen Health Minister Mark Butler and NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister fronted more than a dozen media interviews on Thursday to explain major changes Labor would start making to the scheme as soon as July, which they are describing as a reset. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended Labors big savings measure in next months budget, saying he was proud of the NDIS but that it needed to return to its original purpose of serving people with permanent and serious disability.

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I understand how important is. Im the son of what was then called an invalid pensioner, a single mum. I understand what its like for people to have disabilities, and I will always fight for them to get the care that they need, he said. Related Article Analysis

Disability NDIS overhaul is the biggest government cut this century. It had better work Up to 300,000 participants will be removed from the scheme once new eligibility criteria are introduced in 2028, existing users will have their plan budgets for social and community participation cut, and a raft of integrity measures will be introduced over the next four years. As the scheme has snowballed to serve 760,000 people and has been on track to cost $70 billion with 900,000 participants by 2030, Butlers changes are designed to pare the scheme back to 600,000 participants and $55 billion that year. The package will recoup $35 billion in next months budget. But the changes will be implemented in stages. Butler reassured Australian families that the NDIS would continue to be available until new eligibility rules come into effect in January 2028.

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Were not going to change eligibility and move people off the scheme before were confident  and we know the community is confident  there are other systems of support in place, he said. Butlers overhaul will rely on the passage of several new laws  the first of which he will introduce to parliament next month  as well as state governments stepping up to offer more support services to thousands of people outside the NDIS. Taylor all but guaranteed the Coalition would help Labor push through the changes in parliament. We want to make sure that those who need access to this support get it, but this is becoming completely unsustainable for the taxpayer, he told radio station 2CC.

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Well work with Labor on this. Weve been saying for years we would do that. We havent had Labor recognising the situation  now theres signs that they might, and theyre heading in the right direction. We will work with them. Well make this as bipartisan as we possibly can. The state-run foundational supports hinge on a $10 billion deal that the Commonwealth and state governments signed in 2023. Butler has since negotiated a $25 billion hospital funding deal with them in exchange for their commitment. Some states have since held out on giving their full support, and Queensland has accused the government of walking away from people in need. NSW Premier Chris Minns warned his government would not be able to provide like for like support to those being removed from the scheme. Loading

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I understand the reason for reform from the federal government, and Im not like some other state leaders hammering them for making the changes, Minns said. I understand that it needs to be as best as possible, an affordable program, but weve also got to be honest with people ... we cant provide equivalent care in the state system. Malinauskas said stepping up state supports to catch people outside the NDIS needed to be a matter of urgency. I appreciate the sense of urgency from the federal government to reform the NDIS and bring its cost growth trajectory down, he said. But at the same time, that sense of urgency needs to be replicated with the back-up systems that are invested in, foundational supports and otherwise, so that some of the burden can come off the NDIS, because if thats not built at the same speed, you run risks.

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PoliticsFederalByelection Opinion This crucial byelection looks nothing like the battle in Canberra. Thats a good thing James Massola Chief political commentator April 24, 2026  5:00am

April 24, 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 week, while war in the Middle East roiled the global economy and the federal government announced sweeping cuts to the NDIS, a debate was held in the NSW town of Griffith. The Monday debate was a chance for locals to meet the full spectrum of candidates in the Farrer byelection, which will be held on May 9, from the Greens to One Nation and everyone in between. One Nation candidate David Farley (left) and Barnaby Joyce campaigning in Farrer last week. SMH/Age Hosted by the Griffith Business Chamber and led by local masthead Region Riverinas Oliver Jacques, the debate mostly flew under the radar, other than in reporting by that publication and Crikey. But its worth taking a moment to digest it. While there was some overlap between the issues being debated in Canberra and the issues that mattered to Farrer voters  immigration, tax reform and political donations were all discussed  it was a loose, contradictory and timely reminder that all politics is local. Time and again during the debate, Liberal, National and One Nation candidates bucked their respective party lines on issues that mattered to locals. And thats a good thing.

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One Nation candidate David Farley, the front-runner to win the seat according to a handful of published polls, was asked twice if he fully supported One Nations policy of slashing immigration by 75 per cent. His answer went nowhere near endorsing the policy. Rather, he reflected the needs of the small towns and cities that make up the seat. An electorate like Farrer is the exemplar, Farley said. We have showed the nation that we can immigrate and assimilate people into our culture. One Nation is really focused on the quality of immigration, the need of immigration and the skills of immigration [sic]. Farley said: Its the only party focused on Islamic extremism and trying to make sure that it doesnt creep into our society. But the reality is if we want productive, healthy communities, immigration has got to play a big role, conditional on [that] its skilled immigration, its assimilation immigration, and its affordable immigration. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of One Nation policy.

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It is totally different, the picture for Farrer, to the problems we are having in our big cities, so we want to make sure they are not being confused, Farley added. Related Article Exclusive

Byelection Canavan says One Nation is just whingeing as conservatives swap preferences Meanwhile, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson used social media to attack the Greens candidate in Farrer, Richard Hendrie, for having corflutes that explained, in Punjabi, why the local community should vote for him. Farley also gave a less than convincing answer when he was asked whether mining magnate Gina Rinehart, a major donor to One Nation, had pitched in to fund his campaign. After arguing that most of his funds came from locals, when pressed on Rinehart, Farley said: I couldnt answer that question; its not at my pay grade. It wasnt only Farley who was tripped up. Michelle Milthorpe is an independent who ran second to Sussan Ley at the 2025 general election, and who is running second in the current polls. Milthorpe was also on the defensive over donations. She said she had more than 1000 donors, most of them small, but eventually allowed that about 2 per cent of her funding had come from the city-based, teal-backing Climate 200 outfit led by Simon Holmes a Court. Milthorpe has been desperately fending off accusations from other candidates that shes a left-leaning teal in disguise. It was not a good moment for her.

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Then there was Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski, who has the advantage of the No.1 spot on the ticket and who is desperate to retain the seat for Angus Taylors Liberal Party. She claimed, somewhat improbably, that she did not know whether her party would be preferencing Farley ahead of Milthorpe on how-to-vote cards. Independent candidate for Farrer Michelle Milthorpe. AAP Our how-to-vote will be coming out in and around when pre-poll starts, Butkowski said. Pressed on who she would preference, she added: I cannot answer that. It was one of the least convincing answers of the night and odd, given the Liberal Party published on its website its how-to-vote recommendations the next day. It will preference One Nations Farley ahead of the independent, Milthorpe. And pre-poll voting starts next Tuesday. Nationals candidate Brad Robertson bucked his party line on whether capital gains tax breaks should be wound back. Robertson, after first arguing people on low incomes used negative gearing to get into the property market  a questionable assertion  conceded some people used both tax breaks to game the system, which he didnt like. Pressed on whether he would like to see the capital gains tax discount wound back, Robertson said: Im open to the idea of a consideration, for maybe people with lots of homes, but I think you cant scrap it because theres a lot of people out there [for whom] its the only way to get into the housing market.

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Yet again, it was an answer that broke from the party line in Canberra. And there was Sustainable Australias Lucas Ellis, who said he was all in favour of abolishing negative gains, before correcting himself. There are two common threads to all these missteps and breaks from the party line: first, that the candidates were (mostly) trying to give honest answers that addressed what locals in Farrer need, rather than the diktats from head office. Related Article Analysis

Resolve Political Monitor One Nation has hit a speed bump. Have we reached peak Pauline? The second is the growing disconnect between local politics and the kind of people usually selected by major parties to represent seats like Farrer in Canberra. That disconnect is one of the major reasons why the number of independent MPs in Canberra has grown so significantly at the last two elections, and why Farley and Milthorpe  both seen as outsiders  are the front-runners at this byelection. Arguably, the most important issue during the debate, which is not much discussed in Canberra these days, was water. Many Farrer locals are fed up with water buybacks in the Murray-Darling basin. Every candidate bar a couple touched on the issue, signalling their concern for farming in the region. Also discussed was the poor quality of water in the small town of Narrandera, which comes out of the tap a delightful orangey-brown colour, though the local council insists it is safe to drink.

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Both the Liberals and Nationals have promised $16 million towards a new water-treatment plant to fix the problem, but they are in no position to deliver on this promise as they are not in government. Its a problem that Labor and Liberal governments at state and federal levels could have fixed, but locals put up with a situation that would never be accepted in Sydney or Melbourne. The contest in Farrer looks nothing like the battle in Canberra, and thats a good thing, as unpolished as the local candidates may be. Whoever wins this byelection, hopefully he or she brings a dose of Farrer to the capital. James Massola is chief political commentator. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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PropertyNewsVictoria residential property The Victorian regional towns that boomed most over the past year Abbir Dib April 24, 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

Rents in regional Victorias far-flung pockets are outstripping growth in traditional commuter towns, as a shortage of stock and shifting migration patterns push regional affordability to a breaking point. Some remote Local Government Areas (LGAs) are far outpacing the rate of overall annual growth in house rents across the rest of Victoria which is 5.1 per cent, the latest Domain Rental Report, released on Thursday, shows. Asking rents in Horsham jumped 12.8 per cent to a median of $440 a week, up from $390 just twelve months ago. In the Moira shire, the median weekly asking rent climbed 12.2 per cent to $550. Other double-digit climbers include Golden Plains shire (up 11.6 per cent), Mount Alexander (up 11.3 per cent), Alpine (up 11.1 per cent), and Hepburn (up 10.6 per cent).

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By comparison, towns within the 90-minute commuter belt are rising less. Greater Geelong recorded a modest increase of 4.9 per cent, while Ballarat had growth of 4.7 per cent. Only three LGAs, Wodonga, Mitchell, and the Macedon Ranges, recorded no growth or a slight decline. Related Article Victoria residential property Quite painful: Melbourne unit rents at record, pricier than houses Dr Nicola Powell, Domains chief of research and economics, said three per cent quarterly growth is actually the strongest quarter that regional Victorian houses have seen since March 2024. She attributes the shift to metropolitan strain and a changing investor landscape. We have seen investors sell out of Victoria due to taxation changes... and I do wonder whether weve actually seen some investor properties actually transition to being owner-occupied now. Powell also said that the slowing growth in major hubs like Geelong suggests those markets have hit an affordability ceiling, where tenants simply cannot stretch their budgets any further, forcing demand into more remote, traditionally cheaper regions.

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In Horsham, the reality of the 12.8 per cent jump is being felt on the ground as rental stress, said Lionel Godwin, Director of AL Property Agents in Horsham. We are averaging 10 to 15 people per open house inspections at the moment, and vacancy rates would be less than 1.5 per cent, Godwin said. Ararat rents have risen over the past year. Getty Images Its a combination of lower socio-economic and middle-class people relocating for work. Weve got a strong industrial base, a strong agricultural base, and manufacturing is really starting to increase. He said the demand is pushing landlords to increase rent which is causing a lot of anxiety among tenants.

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There are a lot of people in that lower socioeconomic area that now breach that threshold of that more than 30 per cent of their income is being confirmed by rent, and that is causing some concern. The shortage of stock has become so acute that Godwin has taken matters into his own hands. Land supply is probably the biggest issue in terms of councils releasing enough land to build, he said. Within my own agency, I... have started to build structural, isolated panel homes because we can build them quicker. Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo, chief economist at PRD, says this influx of interest might be coming from capital cities.

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If you are someone from Melbourne... youre coming in with potentially a bigger budget than a local person, Mardiasmo said. Its also the purchasing power of people that are moving to regional areas, from capital cities as well, thats driving it up. Related Article Exclusive

Melbourne luxury property Grand $45.5m Melbourne house sells  and is likely to be knocked down She agrees that while growth is sharp, it is a deceleration following the pandemic. Post-COVID, most regional places were going up by like 20 to 25 per cent in rent prices. Yes, rents are still going up, but its going up slower. In Ararat, where rents rose 10.5 per cent, local businesses are increasingly forced to sign leases just to secure staff. We see companies that are getting staff in from out of town to fill those employment opportunities, Jamie Lampard, Partner at Ararat Ballarat Real Estate said.

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These companies are just having a lease agreement in their name and then slotting staff members into those homes. Lampard says the market is incredibly tight. In our office alone, weve only got four properties up for lease, and theyll probably be rented in the next seven to 14 days. Its a very tight rental market at the moment. Mardiasmo believes the sustainability of these double-digit jumps is nearing an end. I wouldnt be surprised if it starts to hit the ceiling pretty soon. Its not sustainable... the wage growth in regional areas is not as much as capital city areas. Some of these look like capital city prices to me. Closing the year, Powell warns that several economic triggers remain on the horizon. Weve got a budget coming up too, which could have changes to capital gains tax. So there are some unknowns, plus weve probably got two more rate hikes coming through this year, which is going to be hard for those trying to transition to being a home buyer.

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TechnologyData centres Microsoft unveils $25b AI splurge in Australia, but key details missing David Swan April 23, 2026  10:29am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Microsoft will invest $25 billion in Australian data centre, cybersecurity and AI skills infrastructure by 2029, in what the company is calling its largest-ever commitment to the country, as US tech giants race to lock in compute capacity across the Indo-Pacific region. Announced on Thursday in Sydney by Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the investment aims to strengthen national cyber defences, boost economic productivity, and deliver workforce-ready AI skills to three million Australians by 2028. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Business Council Australia chief executive Bran Black called the commitment a global game-changer, noting the scale of the investment will support long-term economic growth and productivity. The $25 billion capital and operational expenditure builds on a previous $5 billion injection in October 2023, which expanded Microsofts local data centre footprint to 29 sites across three Azure public cloud regions. Australia has an enormous opportunity to translate AI into real economic growth and societal benefit, Nadella said. Albanese said the investment would strengthen our cyber defences and create opportunity for Australian workers and businesses.

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The announcement was noticeably light on physical details, however, most notably where these new data centres will be located and how they will actually be powered. Data centres are massive, energy-intensive facilities, and the rapid deployment of advanced AI processors requires substantially more electricity and cooling than traditional cloud computing. The government anticipates data centres will consume around 6 per cent of grid-supplied electricity by 2030, up from roughly 2 per cent today. Related Article Analysis

Data centres $3.1m per job: does the employment case for data centres stack up? The announcement also lands amid mounting questions about how much of the foreign capital flowing into Australias data centre boom actually stays in the local economy, and how many Australian jobs these hyperscale facilities truly support once construction crews pack up. As this masthead previously reported, industry analysis shows that for every $100 a multinational tech giant invests in an Australian facility, up to $80 leaves the country almost immediately. Because Australia manufactures no chips, servers, or networking racks, the vast majority of capital flows straight to semiconductor giants in Taiwan, hardware manufacturers in the US, and cooling equipment suppliers in Europe. The physical footprint of these AI mega-factories also poses a significant burden on local resources.

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The entire Australian data centre sector directly employs just 11,500 people. For the massive capital poured into these sites  roughly $3.1 million per permanent operational job  the roles created locally are predominantly in facilities management, such as security, HVAC maintenance, and electrical work, rather than high-end software engineering. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella says Australia has an enormous opportunity to translate AI into real economic growth and societal benefit. Microsofts announcement does not specify how many permanent Australian jobs the $25 billion investment will create, how much of the capital expenditure will flow to local contractors and suppliers versus offshore hardware vendors, or how Microsofts Australian tax contribution will scale with the expanded footprint. Microsoft Australia reported a 4.5 per cent profit margin on $5 billion in local revenue in its most recent disclosed filings, well below the companys global margin of more than 40 per cent, following related-party transactions with offshore entities. Former industry minister Ed Husic said that as communities across America start to actively oppose the rush to build data centres, Big Tech is scrambling to find new places to build these facilities.

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Australias become their big target for this, but Australians are starting to also question the data centre frenzy and governments here havent picked up on that, he told this masthead. Related Article Analysis

Data centres For every $100 in data centres, $80 leaves Australia almost immediately Flashy, easy money announcements by US tech are not the way to build Australian AI capability. We have to invest in growing our own local AI strengths, not coast off the back of a multinationals media release. The growing friction and community unrest has prompted the NSW Legislative Council to launch a first-of-its-kind parliamentary inquiry  due to report in September 2026  scrutinising the sectors land use, water demands, energy drain, and genuine economic benefits. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
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Reviews & adviceTripologist Opinion Which islands are best for two or three weeks in the South Pacific? Michael Gebicki is Travellers expert Tripologist. Each week he tackles the thorny issues in travel as well as answering your questions. Got a question for the Tripologist? Email tripologist@traveller.com.au Michael Gebicki The Tripologist April 24, 2026  5:00am

April 24, 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

My wife and I are planning a two-to-three week holiday in the South Pacific in September to October to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We are looking for a combination of relaxed beach time and interesting cultural experiences. Which countries and islands could you recommend?

R. Dixon, Carlton, Vic Island time  To Sua Ocean Trench in Upolu Island, Samoa. iStock You might start with Fiji. There are several daily flights, the Fijian cocktail of warmth, coral seas and smiling locals is hard to resist and accommodation options range from family-friendly resorts on Denaru Island, close to Nadi Airport, to glossy island resorts to castaway islands with thatch-roof bungalows. Since youre looking for cultural enrichment, you might head for the Yasawas, a string of six main islands plus numerous satellite islets off the coast of Viti Levu, Fijis main island. A private bungalow at the acclaimed Octopus Resort at Liku Liku Bay on Waya Island costs from $229 a night in low season, yet it comes with a massage centre with spa treatments, daily yoga classes and a program of immersive cultural experiences including a visit to the local church on Sundays. For your second island, consider Samoa, which you can reach on a non-stop flight from Nadi. It consists of nine islands, although you can discount all but the largest two, Savaii and Upolu, where most of the population lives. At the centre of Upolu the volcanic peak of Mount Fito forms a waistband from which the island falls like a giant skirt, pleated with rainforest and ribboned with gushing streams, descending to a final frill of beach trimmed with coral reefs.

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As well as resorts, and Taumeasina Island Resort and Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa are two of the standouts, the Samoan government has encouraged villagers to establish guesthouses based on their own domestic architecture, and the coast is now ringed with these fale-guesthouses. Simple, and mostly open to the elements, these are a natural extension of faa Samoa, the Samoan way. If you want to experience Polynesian village life at a bargain price, with a verandah overlooking your own beach, its a perfect fit. From Apia, the capital, there are non-stop flights to Brisbane. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Were going on a Princess cruise from Florida through the Panama Canal and up to Alaska. On board Wi-Fi costs are horrendous. We plan on buying an eSIM for use on land, but any alternatives for on board? I found a company called GigSky offering cruise and land eSIMs, but reviews are mixed.

D. ODonnell, Clontarf NSW MedallionNet, which is Princess Cruises onboard Wi-Fi system, costs $US25 ($35) a day for one device and $US45 ($63) a day for up to four devices, so your description is apt. GigSky is a satellite-based data system and the only realistic option if you want to stay connected on a cruise without paying these fees. The GigSky eSIM data plans for cruises in the Americas/Caribbean vary from a 100Mb seven-day free trial plan to a 10Gb, 30-day plan at $US123.19 ($173). Reviews of GigSkys performance on cruise ships vary, however the fact that the company is prepared to offer a free trial does inspire confidence. What you could do is sign up for the free 100Mb plan and if that works, upgrade to the data plan that suits your needs. My wife and I are planning a trip next year starting with two days in Rome including a visit to the Colosseum. Whats the best way to buy tickets and are there any other attractions we should not miss? We are both nearly 70, moderately fit and will be travelling on foot.

G. Stanley, Central Coast, NSW Actually great: the Colosseum early in the morning. iStock

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You should buy your Colosseum tickets in advance, and from the official website. Two days is tight. Four would be just enough to sample a few of the many sensational things this amazing city has to offer, but if two days is all you can spare, St Peters Basilica is a must, and although entry is free, the queue is often long, so book a timed entry on the official website. The same applies to the nearby Sistine Chapel. From here you might take a stroll through the Trastevere area, which feels more like a lived-in village rather than an open-air museum, a place to wander around and soak up atmosphere rather than tick off sights. Have a bowl of cacio e pepe pasta here, its a Roman classic, and this is one of Romes best food districts. Rise early and wander through the market in Campo De Fiori, have a gelato in Piazza Navona, take a stroll along chic Via Condotti, hang out on the Spanish Steps and round it off with a pizza from Pizza della Madonna dei Monti in one of the citys chic districts. My wife and I are heading off on a European holiday including a 14-night cruise from Istanbul followed by Rome for three nights and Bordeaux for seven nights, but I need advice on Madrid. We love our food and wine, what should be on our list for Madrid?

S. Halliday, Rockdale, NSW Madrid has one of the worlds greatest assemblies of art galleries, and they should not be overlooked. The list includes the Museo del Prado for classical art, Reina Sofia for modern art including Picassos Guernica and the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum for European masters. Since Madrid is also one of Europes great culinary cities, mix those galleries with the citys food and wine experiences, eating your way through neighbourhoods, markets and late-night taverns. Do a proper tapas crawl, and that should include the La Latina, Malasana and Chueca districts, each of which has its own distinct character. The rule is one drink and one tapa in each bar, then move on. Madrids food markets are a lesson in the citys social norms as well as its gastronomy, and put Mercado de San Miguel, Mercado de San Anton and Mercado de la Paz on the list. The taverns are the place to try some of the traditional staples of the citys workers. Typical dishes include cocido madrileno, a hearty chickpea stew, bacalao stews and offal if youre feeling the Anthony Bourdain vibe.

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You might also want to include a high-end restaurant and Diverxo is currently rated number four on the list of the worlds best restaurants. Another standout, Sobrino de Botin, founded in 1725, is famous for its roast suckling pig. Finally, churros with chocolate, thick and sweet, a late-night classic. Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances

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Opinion Michael Gebicki is a Sydney-based travel writer, best known for his Tripologist column published for more than 15 years in Traveller. With four decades of experience, his specialty is practical advice, destination insights and problem-solving for travellers. He also designs and leads slow, immersive tours to some of his favourite places. Connect via Instagram @michael_gebicki Connect via email
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Analysis WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Trumps Iran deal may need him to do the unthinkable Michael Birnbaum April 23, 2026  6:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Billions in frozen assets may be handed back to Iran. Agreements to limit Tehrans nuclear program may eventually expire. And some of the same hard-line leaders who crushed nationwide protests in January could end up better resourced than they were before President Donald Trump unleashed crushing airstrikes more than seven weeks ago. After a decade of fiercely attacking a previous deal with Iran, Trump, pursuing a way out of a war he launched, has authorised US negotiators to consider a bargain that involves many of the same trade-offs one of his predecessors confronted. Securing an agreement may need President Trump to make some serious concessions. Bloomberg Though talks appear paused for now following Trumps decision on Tuesday to extend the ceasefire indefinitely while Iran comes up with a unified proposal, the president will probably face the same challenges no matter when negotiators eventually sit down with each other. With the conflict on hold, the uneasy truce could solidify. But shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has not returned to normal levels amid a continuing US blockade of Iranian ports and Irans assertion of control over the shipping lanes. That has created a drag on global energy markets. Iran retains control over its trove of highly enriched uranium, which Trump has previously said is unacceptable.

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Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war The price of peace: what kind of deal with Iran would Trump accept? The potential terms of a deal have Trump making efforts to shore up his hard-line support as Iran hawks warn that the president should not be too eager to strike a deal. Unfreezing $US20 billion Pallets of cash without the pallets, Peter Doran, a senior adjunct fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, wrote on X, reviving a long-used Republican criticism of President Barack Obamas Iran deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, to attack the proposals currently under discussion. Trump and other Republican critics of that 2015 deal have spent the past decade blasting it for handing pallets of cash to Iran  a reference to $US1.7 billion that the Obama administration agreed to send to Tehran that was the resolution of a decades-old business dispute. Obama administration officials later acknowledged they hoped the money would ensure the Iranians held to their side of the bargain. Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in 2018.

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Now the Trump administration is floating the possibility of unfreezing $US20 billion  in part proceeds from Iranian oil sales that sanctions have locked up in banks around the world. The money would be a bargaining chip to secure Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium. But other elements of the deal are still in question, including points that unsettle some of those who criticised the earlier agreement. Theyre running into the same fundamental hurdle that shaped the long decade-plus of negotiations that finally led to the JCPOA, which is that the Iranians are completely immovable on the question of enrichment of nuclear fuel, said Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert and the vice president of the Brookings Institution. Donald Trump with former President Barack Obama on Capitol Hill in 2017. AP Iran has long denied that it seeks a nuclear weapon but argues that it has a right under international law to enrich uranium or other nuclear materials to run a civilian nuclear program. The Iranians are prepared to accept certain compromises in terms of timelines and level of enrichment and what happens to the stockpile, Maloney said. But they are completely unwilling to simply give up enrichment. And that was one of the core critiques of the 2015 deal.

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Trump publicly insists that his deal wont share the flaws he had denounced in his predecessors agreement. Related Article Analysis

Defence Forget Trump. On AUKUS, its the next president we must worry about The 2015 deal was a guaranteed Road to a Nuclear Weapon, which will not, and cannot, happen with the Deal were working on, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday, adding, The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER. If a Deal happens under TRUMP, it will guarantee Peace, Security, and Safety, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but for Europe, America, and everywhere else. It will be something that the entire World will be proud of, he wrote. The political risks are significant both for Trump and for Vice President JD Vance, who has taken a leading role in the negotiations as he contemplates his desire to win the presidency in 2028.

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The vice president, long a proponent of maintaining a restrained approach to US military action around the world, was among the most sceptical of launching a war with Iran in the lead-up to the February attacks by the US and Israel. Now he has been charged with ending it  and potentially owning whatever painful compromises may be necessary. The White House efforts to seek a deal have put some of its supporters in a tricky place, especially while money is being floated as a bargaining chip. You fall into a slippery slope where you forget the money is fungible, and so you know, whether its $US20 million or $US10 billion or $US6 billion in the end, if its a regime that has not given you a concession on a key illicit activity, like sponsoring terrorism or producing something of a threat, there will always be an argument that Did you free up X amount of money here to pay for this? said Richard Goldberg, who worked on Iran issues in the first Trump administration. Then you free up that amount of money over there to pay for something else. And so, you know, there will always be an argument that youre indirectly subsidising the illicit activities that they have not halted, he said. But he said that if Trump can secure the highly enriched uranium and dismantle a deeply buried nuclear facility under construction at an Iranian site known as Pickaxe Mountain, thats pretty game-changing. You basically, at least for now and for the next several years, have eliminated the nuclear threat that Iran poses.

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Bigger asks and bigger scope In addition to the nuclear issue, Trump wants a new deal to tackle issues that Obamas negotiators left aside. The Obama-era deal was always limited in scope to Irans nuclear program. It left untouched Irans missile program and the regimes support for regional proxies including Hamas and Hezbollah, which Trump has said he wants a new deal to cover. The president has also said he hopes to bar Iran from any nuclear enrichment. If Iran was to agree to a temporary moratorium, that would be stricter than the 2015 deal, which allowed Iran to maintain its civilian enrichment program for use in its power plants. The asks by Iran are going to be greater than they were in 2015, in part because the administration is trying to do so much, said Wendy Sherman, who was the lead US negotiator with Iran under Obama. Its not clear to me what Trumps bottom lines are. Is it a stockpile? Is it enrichment? Is it missiles? Is it proxies? Is it the Strait of Hormuz? A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran. AP

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If he gets a suspension of 10, 15, 20 years of enrichment, we did not get a suspension of their enrichment program, so that will be more than we got on that element, Sherman said. But how will it be verified? Its totally unclear to me or anybody, probably to him. And what will Trump have to give in return? Complicating matters further, the world has changed in the 11 years since Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif strode smiling out of a genteel hotel in Vienna after striking a deal. After years of talks, Iran agreed in 2015 to accept strict limits on its nuclear enrichment in exchange for gradual relief from economic sanctions. Back then, Iran had no highly enriched uranium. In the years since Trump pulled out of the JCPOA, it built a stockpile of about 970 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 per cent  just short of weapons-grade level, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Irans current government is also more hard-line than the reformist leaders who made the deal with Obama. Tehran has been deeply weakened by aggressive military action over the past year: first the 12-day war with Israel in June that was punctuated by Trumps strikes on nuclear facilities, and now the US war that Trump says has destroyed much of Irans military, along with its top ranks of leaders. Its regional proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, are far weaker. A major backer, Russia, is distracted by the war in Ukraine.

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The Iranian regime has shown that it can still keep operating despite the overwhelming military might of the US. X/@IRANinMAZAR That could soften the ground for a deal. But Iran, too, has bargaining chips. The Iranian regime has demonstrated its staying power  and it has unleashed a powerful new ability to throttle shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up energy prices around the world, including in the United States. Facing withering US attacks, some hardliners in Tehran may be more inclined to seek a nuclear weapon, increasing pressure on Washington to address the uranium stockpile. There are also dynamics that may make Tehran less inclined to strike a deal, said Richard Nephew, a former State Department official who helped craft the sanctions regime against Iran under the Obama administration that built pressure for an agreement. In a funny way, the war almost releases some of the pressure on Iran, said Nephew, who is now a senior research scholar at Columbia University. They have demonstrated that they can take a punch and that they can respond accordingly, rather than fearing what form US pressure on them might take, he said. And the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the more hard-line part of Irans ruling elite, is now firmly at the fore, eliminating the tension with moderates that previously created space for negotiations.

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Nephew is a proponent of the 2015 deal. But he said that he was leery of striking a fresh agreement with the new group of Iranian leaders. Im not so sure its a fabulously great idea that after the January protests, we should be looking to do major sanctions relief for the Iranian government that killed all those people, Nephew said. Washington Post
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, the Honorable Melissa Gumbs, hosted a courtesy visit by the National Restoration Fund (NRF), represented by CEO Mr. Ugur Ozcan & CFO Mr. Coen Reinders. During the courtesy visit, a number of topics were discussed, including current projects on Sint Maarten, NRF policies on heritage and monument preservation, and the possibility of the NRF supporting future initiatives by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport.

The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport also discussed the recent acquisition of the Belvedere Plantation South and the potential plans that include the restoration of the main house and surrounding buildings on the property that spans over 125,000 square meters. In her discussion with the NRF, Minister Gumbs further explained her vision for the property, including possibly accessing funding for the development of a park that would be self-sustaining and act as a green space for highlighting and safe-guarding the countrys culture and heritage. It is the Ministers intention to bring these discussions further along with the NRF and other funding avenues.

The National Restoration Fund (www.restauratiefonds.nl) indicated that they are currently engaged with the restoration project taking place at Pasture Piece monument located at #105 LB Scot Road. Pasture Piece is one of 50 properties that are listed on the Monument List of Sint Maarten. It was built in the early 1900s and now houses a Bed & Breakfast, Museum & Event Space. With roots tracing back to the Van Romondt family and the Retreat Estate sugar plantation, every corner of Pasture Piece tells a storyone of culture, resilience, and Caribbean grace, for more information visit www.pasturepiecesxm.com. The courtesy visit ended with a site visit to Pasture Piece.
MIDDLE REGION, PHILIPSBURG: --- Students and educators are one step closer to returning to classrooms at Sister Marie Laurence School (SML) in Middle Region as the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP) marks the start of the construction phase following the signing of the works contract. SML is the first FRLP sub-component to move into this phase. The FRLP also includes the planned reconstruction of the Charles Leopold Bell (CLB) School and the Sint Maarten Library as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (MECYS) commitment to strengthening public education facilities in Sint Maarten.

The contractor, Steel Structures T&T Ltd, began to mobilize in the first quarter of the year; the bulk of construction activity, especially the more visible works, will not begin immediately. Initial works will be carried out by local subcontractors, including surveys, site setup, safety installations, and ground preparation. While a ceremonial groundbreaking took place on April 17 to mark the official start of construction, the majority of construction activities, such as foundation and substructure work, are expected in the summer months.

The groundbreaking event acknowledged the partnership between MECYS, NRPB, the World Bank, Catholic School Board (SKOS), the governing body of Sister Marie Laurence School, and other stakeholders.

During the event, The Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa Gumbs, welcomed the transition into the construction phase, The reconstruction of Sister Marie Laurence School allows students to return to a safe and permanent learning environment within their own community. Many families have had to adjust to temporary arrangements and longer commutes, and this phase brings greater stability. The Ministry recognizes that strong schools are essential to the development and future of our country.

Prime Minister of St Maarten, the Honorable, Dr. Luc Mercelina, shared his remarks at the ceremony, This project speaks to something bigger than one schoolit reflects the kind of country we are building together. When we invest in schools like Sister Marie Laurence, we are investing in the future strength of Sint Maartenour economy, our communities, and the next generation of leaders who will carry this nation forward.

I want to acknowledge the Middle Region community's patience and the importance of staying the course, even when progress takes time. What we see today is the result of partnership, persistence, and a shared belief that our people deserve quality, resilient infrastructure. This is how we move Sint Maarten forwardstep by step, project by projectbuilding a stronger, more secure future for all.

Others addressing the audience at the groundbreaking ceremony included SKOS Board President Dr. Marlon Halley, NRPB Director Claret Connor, and Ms. Toyin Jagha, World Bank Country Manager. Whilst Father Daniel Lee performed a blessing of the grounds.

A community information session followed, during which the contractor and project management team were introduced, and residents received updates on the construction process. The session provided an opportunity for questions and engagement with community stakeholders.

Demolition of the Sister Marie Laurence site was completed on 2 December 2025, ahead of the planned early January completion date. Early completion allowed the project to stay on schedule and ensured that no site activity took place during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, reducing potential disruption for the nearby residents.

Residents are encouraged to participate in upcoming stakeholder engagement sessions for updates and feedback and to stay informed by visiting the project web pages at www.nrpbsxm.org/frlp, Facebook @sxmnationalrecovery or via the NRPB WhatsApp channel tinyurl.com/23fry6mu. Feedback, questions and queries can be sent via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FRLP is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport. The project is funded by the Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands, and administered by the World Bank.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Carnival Jouvert Morning Jump-Up will take place on Monday, April 27, 2026, starting at 04:00 AM.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) wishes to remind all participants that this is a time for celebration and enjoyment. However, any form of fighting or criminal activity that endangers the safety of fellow revelers will be dealt with immediately and firmly.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) remains committed to ensuring that the festivities continue in a safe and orderly manner. Officers from Sint Maarten, along with additional officers assisting KPSM, will be out in full force to monitor the event and respond swiftly to any incidents.

In preparation for this very busy period, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) will also be receiving additional support from partner police forces within the Dutch Caribbean, including Aruba Police Force, Curacao Police Force, and the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force. This collaboration is aimed at further strengthening general safety and security during the upcoming days of festivities.

Individuals who engage in criminal behavior will face the appropriate legal consequences.

Scooter riders are also strongly advised to act responsibly. Any attempt to intercept, disrupt, or interfere with the free flow of the Jump-Up or associated parades and traffic will result in immediate action by law enforcement.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) encourages everyone to celebrate responsibly and contribute to a safe and enjoyable Jouvert Morning experience for all.
The United States Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning 14 individuals, entities, and aircraft based in Iran, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in procuring or transporting weapons or weapons components on behalf of the Iranian regime. As the United States continues to deplete Irans ballistic missile inventories, the regime is seeking to reconstitute its production capacity. Iran is increasingly relying on Shahed-series one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles to target the United States and its allies, including energy infrastructure in the region. These designations support Economic Fury in response to the Iranian regimes continued threats to global security.

The Iranian regime must be held accountable for its extortion of global energy markets and indiscriminate targeting of civilians with missiles and drones, said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent in a statement released April 21.

This action builds on the firm implementation of National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 which directs the U.S. government to curtail Irans ballistic missile program, counter Irans development of asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities, deny Iran a nuclear weapon, and deny Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps access to assets and resources that sustain its destabilizing activities. The action also represents Treasurys fifth round of nonproliferation designations in support of the September 27, 2025, reimposition of United Nations sanctions and other restrictions on Iran, which occurred as a direct result of Irans significant non-performance of its nuclear commitments.

OFAC is designating three individuals for their support to Iran-based Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company (PESC)and its chief executive officer Iran-based Hamid Reza Janghorbani. PESC has procured thousands of servomotors with one-way attack UAV applications, which have been found in downed Shahed-136 UAVs, for Irans military.

Kamal Sabah Balkhkanlu is a Tehran-based currency exchanger who has acted as a longtime payment facilitator for PESCs efforts to procure carbon fiber and servomotors, which are items sought by Iran for its ballistic missile and UAV programs. Iranian national Danial Khalili served as PESCs agent facilitating the receipt and delivery of items procured through Janghorbanis network.

The U.S. is also acting against a Turkiye-based company for its support to Iran-based Pardisan Rezvan Shargh International Prive Joint Stock Company. OFAC designated Pardisan Rezvan Shargh on December 30, 2025, for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of Mostafa Rostami Sani, who had procured dozens of metric tons of sodium perchlorate for Parchin Chemical Industries, an element of Irans Defense Industries Organization that is responsible for the import and export of chemical goods.

Under President Trumps leadership, as part of Economic Fury, said Secretary Bessent, Treasury will continue to follow the money and target the Iranian regimes recklessness and those who enable it.
Trump looks for way out on war, but Iran may not oblige



Washington, United States, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2026



By extending a ceasefire indefinitely with Iran, President Donald Trump appears to be searching for a way out of a costly war, but Tehran may be unwilling to give him a win.

Trump has insisted on maintaining a naval blockade, which Iran is demanding must end before it can consider any agreement to end the conflict launched on February 28 by Israel and the United States.

For Trump, who boasts of his prowess to secure big deals quickly through his team of business buddies, negotiating with Iran's Islamic republic presents an ultimate contrast -- methodical, unyielding diplomats ready to fight for the long haul against what they see as a deceitful enemy.

Trump had raised hopes of progress at a second round of talks in Pakistan, with Vice President JD Vance designated to fly out, but Iran refused to confirm its attendance and Vance stayed home.

With a two-week ceasefire set to end, and Gulf Arab allies of the United States bracing for potential new Iranian strikes, Trump said he was extending the ceasefire because Iran's leadership, decimated by the war, was "fractured" and needed time to come up with a proposal.

"He really could have doubled down and engaged in more reckless military action. But so far he has stopped digging himself into a deeper hole," said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute who studies Iran.

For Trump, who campaigned on promises to shun military interventionism, the war has proven politically disastrous, facing opposition from even his Republican base.

Iran responded to being attacked by exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil, making American consumers pay more at the pump months before congressional elections.



- Seeking to exhaust all options -



Despite suffering losses, Iran's clerical state is not on the verge of collapsing and will not surrender, said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence expert on Iran now at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies and the Washington-based Atlantic Council.

Trump "does not want escalation. I am not saying there is not going to be one, but he is trying to really exhaust any political option," he said.

"I think Trump is fed up with this war and more than that he understands, despite what he is saying, that the price is only going to intensify. It's not going to decrease," Citrinowicz said.

But Iranian leaders are deeply suspicious of Trump, whose negotiators were discussing a deal with them days before the United States and Israel attacked -- a pattern also seen last June, with the two sides talking just before an Israeli bombing campaign then.

Both Trump and Iran's ruling clerics are sensitive to any suggestion of backing down.

In declaring the naval blockade during the ceasefire, Trump had forced Iran to respond, undermining his own diplomacy "for the sake of optics and looking strong," Vatanka said.

In one potential off-ramp, Vatanka said that the United States could maintain the blockade but not enforce it rigorously.

"The Iranians would know if it's not being enforced because that is easy to measure," Vatanka said.

Iran could call it a win but if they insist on a full opening, "that tells me they're more interested in the optics than actually getting a deal. It would be a mistake on their part," Vatanka said.



- How big a blockade? -



Trump has not indicated any let-up on the blockade so far. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who long advocated for striking Iran, indicated the blockade could now serve as the key US means of pressure.

Graham wrote on X that he had concluded after speaking with Trump on Wednesday that "the blockade will be growing and that it could become global soon."

Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the progressive Center for International Policy, said Trump had a choice on the blockade -- lifting it, which would reinforce to Iran how much leverage it had gained, or keeping it and risking ending the ceasefire.

"The prevailing view in Tehran is that time is on its side and that a prolonged conflict would impose mounting costs on the US and the global economy," he said.
Israeli airstrike kills journalist in south Lebanon: civil defence



Beirut, Lebanon, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2026



An Israeli airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist and wounded another on Wednesday while they were working near the border with Israel, according to their employer and rescuers.

The civil defence agency's press office said rescuers were "able to recover the body of martyred journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed as a result of a hostile airstrike that targeted a house in the town of al-Tiri".

Her employer, the Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, also announced her death.

Lebanon's Information Minister Paul Morcos said Khalil "was targeted by the Israeli army while carrying out her professional duty".

"The targeting of journalists is a grave crime and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law," he added on X.

The health ministry had earlier said Israeli strikes in al-Tiri had killed two people, wounded journalist Zeinab Faraj -- who was taken to hospital -- and left Khalil trapped.

A Lebanese Red Cross official had told AFP they had "managed to rescue Zeinab Faraj" but had not reached Khalil and withdrew "because of a warning strike".

Ambulance teams escorted by the Lebanese army and accompanied by a bulldozer to remove the rubble had entered the town to search for Khalil, according to journalists in southern Lebanon and local media outlets.

They reported that rescuers were able to enter the town after several hours and make contact with the 2024 ceasefire mechanism and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Khalil was a veteran correspondent for Al-Akhbar and had consistently produced field reports from south Lebanon, both in the war that began on March 2 and the earlier conflict between 2023 and 2024.

Faraj is a freelance photographer who had frequently worked with Khalil.

Earlier Wednesday, the Israeli army said in a statement it had "identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah".

"After identifying the individuals as violating the ceasefire understandings and posing an imminent threat, the Israeli Air Force struck one of the vehicles. Subsequently, the structure from which the individuals had fled was also struck," the army added.

"Reports were received that two journalists were injured as a result of the strikes. The IDF is not preventing rescue teams from reaching the area."
Top US Navy official to leave office 'immediately:' Pentagon



Washington, United States, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2026



US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan will leave office "immediately," the Pentagon announced Wednesday, without providing an explanation for the sudden exit.

Phelan's departure follows the removal of top US Army officer general Randy George and two other senior officers earlier this month, at a time when the United States is locked in a war with Iran that still remains unresolved.

Phelan "is departing the administration, effective immediately," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on X, adding that he would be replaced in an acting capacity by Undersecretary Hung Cao.

Since returning to office early last year, US President Donald Trump has overseen a purge of top military personnel, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, general Charles "CQ" Brown, whom he fired without explanation in February 2025.

Other senior officers dismissed include the heads of the US Navy and Coast Guard, the general who headed the National Security Agency, the vice chief of staff of the Air Force, a Navy admiral assigned to NATO, and three top military lawyers.

The chief of staff of the Air Force also announced his retirement without explanation just two years into a four-year term, while the head of US Southern Command retired a year into his tenure.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has insisted the president is simply choosing the leaders he wants, but Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential politicization of the traditionally neutral US military.

Last year, the Pentagon chief additionally ordered at least a 20 percent cut in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals in the US military, as well as a 10 percent cut in the overall number of general and flag officers.
Israeli strikes kill 5 in Lebanon, Beirut to seek truce extension



Beirut, Lebanon, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2026



Israeli strikes killed five people, including a journalist, and wounded another in Lebanon on Wednesday, despite an ongoing ceasefire that Beirut will request an extension for in upcoming talks with Israel in Washington.

Ahead of the talks on Thursday, Israel called on the Lebanese government to "work together" with it against Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The two governments, which do not have diplomatic relations with each other, are set to hold a second round of talks under US auspices on Thursday, in a bid to end more than six weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that began on March 2.

Lebanon will request a one-month extension of the ceasefire during the meeting with Israel, a Lebanese official told AFP.

"Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one month, an end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire," the Lebanese official told AFP, on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the talks.

The 10-day ceasefire, which expires Sunday, was announced after an initial meeting last week.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, for his part, said that "contacts are underway to extend the ceasefire period".

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel does not have any "serious disagreements" with Lebanon.

"Unfortunately, Lebanon is a failed state, a state that is de facto under Iranian occupation through Hezbollah," he said.

Hezbollah, which is represented in the Lebanese cabinet and parliament, strongly opposes the direct talks with Israel pushed by Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

A Hezbollah lawmaker, however, told AFP on Monday that the group might accept indirect talks mediated by the United States.

"The obstacle to peace and normalisation between the (two) countries is one -- Hezbollah," said Saar.



- 'Serious disagreements' -



Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed at least 2,454 people since the start of the war, according to Lebanese authorities.

On Wednesday, the state's scientific research council estimated that more than 50,000 housing units had been damaged or destroyed by the war.

Israeli forces remain in dozens of southern villages, behind what the army has called a "Yellow Line", described by the Israelis as a 10-kilometre (six-mile) deep "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.

Despite the truce, Israel is continuing its strikes in Lebanon.

Lebanese rescuers said an Israeli strike killed journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday.

Before rescuers had found her body, Lebanon's state media said Israeli strikes had killed four people in the south and east of the country.

Khalil's employer, Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, also announced her death and said fellow journalist Zeinab Faraj was wounded.

The health ministry said Faraj was transported to hospital.

Lebanon's Information Minister Paul Morcos said on X that Khalil "was targeted by the Israeli army while carrying out her professional duty".

The Israeli army said in a statement it had "identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah".

"After identifying the individuals as violating the ceasefire understandings and posing an imminent threat, the Israeli Air Force struck one of the vehicles. Subsequently, the structure from which the individuals had fled was also struck."

Hezbollah issued four statements on Wednesday saying it had struck Israeli targets in south Lebanon, "in response to the Israeli enemy's violation of the ceasefire".

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that a second French soldier died "of the consequences of his wounds" suffered in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon blamed on Hezbollah, which has denied responsibility.

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War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Israel strikes journalists in Lebanon -



Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed veteran Al-Akhbar newspaper correspondent Amal Khalil and wounded freelance journalist Zeinab Faraj Wednesday, despite a negotiated ceasefire.

A Lebanese Red Cross official told AFP they "managed to rescue" Faraj but couldn't reach Khalil under the rubble immediately and withdrew "because of a warning strike" for several hours, before they returned to recover her body.

Lebanon's Information Minister Paul Morcos called the targeting of journalists "a grave crime and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law" on social media.



- 'Serious disagreements' -



Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Wednesday that Israel does not have any "serious disagreements" with Lebanon, calling Hezbollah "the obstacle to peace and normalisation."

A Hezbollah lawmaker, however, told AFP on Monday that the group might accept indirect talks mediated by the United States.

Despite the truce, Israel is continuing its strikes in Lebanon, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed at least 2,454 people since the start of the war, according to Lebanese authorities.



- Israel hits Gaza, killing five -



Three children were among the five Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes targeting a group of civilians near Al-Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia, in the north, Gaza's civil defense agency said Wednesday.

At least 786 Palestinians have been killed since the October 10 ceasefire with Israel, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.



- Second French soldier dies -



French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that a second French soldier died "of the consequences of his wounds" suffered in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon blamed on Hezbollah, which has denied responsibility.



- No deadline for peace plan -



US President Donald Trump has not set a deadline by which Iran must submit a peace proposal, the White House said on Wednesday.

"The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told journalists.



- Reopening Hormuz 'not possible' -



Iran's parliament speaker said the Islamic republic would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US naval blockade remained in place, calling it a "blatant violation" of the two countries' ceasefire.

"A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated through a naval blockade...Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire," speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X.



- Trump says halted executions -



Trump said Iran had halted alleged plans to execute eight women arrested over anti-government protests, after he urged Tehran to release them to help peace negotiations.

"I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request... and terminated the planned execution," he said on his Truth Social platform.

Iran's judiciary called the claim "false news", saying the women had never faced the death penalty.



- Ceasefire violations -



Trump does not consider Iran's seizure of two container ships to be a ceasefire violation because the vessels are not American or Israeli, the White House said Wednesday.

"No, because these were not US ships, these were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News, when asked if Trump viewed it as a violation of the ceasefire that paused US-Israeli operations against Iran.



- War 'weakening' Europe -



The war is "starting to weaken Europe", said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"The war in our region is likewise starting to weaken Europe, and if we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritises peace, the damage...will be far greater," Erdogan told his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, according to a statement from the Turkish leader's office.

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Iran says won't reopen Hormuz as long as US blockade remains



Tehran, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2026



Iran vowed Wednesday not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so long as a US naval blockade remained in place despite a ceasefire extension, as it announced the seizure of two ships trying to cross the strategic waterway.

As the clock ticked for a return to the war that has engulfed the region, US President Donald Trump had said Tuesday he would maintain the truce to allow more time for Pakistani-brokered peace talks.

Iran said it welcomed the efforts by Pakistan but made no other comment on Trump's announcement.

"A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated through a naval blockade," said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation in the first round of talks in Islamabad.

"Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire."

Oil prices, which have soared since Israel and the United States attacked Iran on February 28, kept inching up from the uncertainty on whether war will resume, although US stock prices gained ground.

Trump had said he wanted to give time for Iran's "fractured" leadership to come up with a proposal, in what many observers saw as a face-saving way to avoid renewed war.

Trump told the New York Post that talks could resume in Pakistan within two to three days, even though Iran has not confirmed participation and Vice President JD Vance put on hold his travel to Islamabad on Tuesday.

Trump also claimed that Iran at his request had halted alleged plans to execute eight women arrested over massive anti-government protests in the weeks before the attack.

But Iran's judiciary described his remarks as "false news", saying the women had never faced the death penalty.



- Ships seized -



Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said they forced two ships to the Iranian shore from the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil.

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force this morning identified and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz two violating ships," the Guards said in a statement.

They identified the vessels as the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas.

Panama's foreign ministry confirmed the seizure of the MSC Francesca, calling it a "serious attack on maritime security" and an "unnecessary escalation".

UK-based maritime security monitors confirmed that three commercial vessels had reported incidents involving gunboats in the strait.

Among them, a container ship reported being fired upon by a Revolutionary Guards boat 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, causing damage to the bridge but no casualties, monitor UKMTO said.

Under orders from Trump, the US Navy is attempting to block vessels heading to or from Iranian ports, seeking to ramp up pressure on the Iranian economy even without all-out war.

In the midst of the blockade, the Pentagon announced Wednesday that the Secretary of the Navy John Phelan would leave "immediately."

It gave no reason for his sudden departure, the latest removal of a senior officer under Trump's combative Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth.

Iran in retaliation for being attacked has said that vessels must seek permission to leave or enter the Gulf through the strait. It had earlier promised free passage during the ceasefire but returned to defiance after Trump announced the blockade.

The US Defense Department said Tuesday that US forces had intercepted and boarded a "stateless sanctioned" vessel. AFP has identified the ship as one linked to Iranian activity. Both sides accuse the other of ceasefire breaches.



- More Lebanon violence before talks -



After the ceasefire with Iran, the United States helped broker a truce between Israel and Lebanon including Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia Muslim movement that had fired rockets into Israel in revenge for the attacks on its patron.

Despite the declared truce, Israeli strikes killed five more people on Wednesday, Lebanese media said.

Amal Khalil, a journalist for the newspaper Al-Akhbar, was killed and her fellow reporter Zeinab Faraj wounded in an Israeli strike near the border, the daily said.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a second French soldier, wounded in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon blamed on Hezbollah, had died.

A first soldier was shot dead in the Saturday ambush, for which Hezbollah has denied responsibility.

Israel and Lebanon, which have no diplomatic relations, will hold a second round of talks in Washington on Thursday.

Lebanon will request a one-month extension of the ceasefire during the meeting, a Lebanese official told AFP.

Lebanon will also seek "an end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present and a commitment to the ceasefire," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the talks.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 2,450 people since the start of the war, according to Lebanese authorities.

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Lebanon meets Israel in Washington to request truce extension



Washington, United States, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Israel and Lebanon hold a new round of talks in Washington on Thursday, during which Beirut plans to request a one-month extension of a ceasefire due to expire within days.

Israel stated ahead of the talks that it has no "serious disagreements" with Lebanon, calling on it to "work together" against the pro-Iran Hezbollah, which is notably absent from and opposed to the negotiations.

The two countries, officially at war for decades, held a meeting in Washington on April 14, the first of its kind since 1993, in an attempt to put an end to the more than six-week war between Hezbollah and Israel.

The United States announced a 10-day truce shortly after the first meeting, and it is due to expire on Sunday.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed at least 2,454 people and displaced one million since the start of the war, according to Lebanese authorities.

As in the previous round, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will bring together Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, in the presence of the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa.

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is now also expected to join the meeting, a State Department official told AFP.



- Strikes ahead of talks -



Israeli strikes killed five people in Lebanon on Wednesday, as Israel continues to hit what it says are Hezbollah targets despite the ceasefire.

Under the truce terms, Israel says it reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".

Lebanon's civil defence agency said an Israeli strike killed journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday.

Before rescuers had found her body, Lebanon's state media said Israeli strikes had killed four people in the south and east of the country.

Khalil's employer, Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, said fellow journalist Zeinab Faraj was wounded.

In Washington, "Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one month, an end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire," a Lebanese official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the talks.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, for his part, said Wednesday that "contacts are underway to extend the ceasefire period".

Following the first round of talks, Lebanon and Israel had agreed to begin direct negotiations with a view to lasting peace, at a date and place to be determined later.

Lebanon has appointed Simon Karam, a seasoned diplomat and former ambassador to the US, to lead its delegation in these negotiations.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Wednesday that Israel does not have any "serious disagreements" with Lebanon.



- 'Serious disagreements' -



"The obstacle to peace and normalisation between the countries is one -- Hezbollah," Saar said.

Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel on March 2 to avenge the US-Israeli killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Israel has responded with massive air raids and an invasion of southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces remain in dozens of southern villages, behind what the army has called a "Yellow Line", described by the Israelis as a 10-kilometre (six-mile) deep "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, for its part, said it had carried out an attack on northern Israel on Tuesday in response to Israel's "flagrant" violations of the ceasefire.

The truce had been demanded by Tehran as one of the conditions for resuming talks with Washington to end the regional Middle East war.

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday an indefinite extension of the truce between the two countries that has been in effect since April 8.
Iran executes man for membership in banned opposition, links to Israel



Tehran, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Iran hanged a man on Thursday after he was convicted of membership in a banned opposition group and alleged collaboration with Israel, the judiciary said.

"Sultan-Ali Shirzadi-Fakhr was hanged early this morning for membership in the terrorist group" of the People's Mujahedin Organisation (MEK) and "collaboration with the Israeli regime's spy service," the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.

He was also convicted of a capital offence that in Persian means waging war against God, accused of taking part in operations hostile to the Islamic Republic, Mizan said.

It was not clear when he was arrested.

Mizan said he had lived in Spain for a period, but it was not clear whether he held another passport.

The execution is the latest in recent weeks during the war with Israel and the United States, in which authorities have carried out multiple executions of people linked to pre-war protests or affiliated with the MEK.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said Iran had halted alleged plans to execute eight women arrested over pre-war anti-government protests after he urged Tehran to release them.

Iran's judiciary dismissed the claim as "false news" and said the women were never at risk of execution.
Iran receives first revenue from Strait of Hormuz tolls: official



Tehran, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



A senior Iranian parliament official said on Thursday that Tehran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the strategic Strait of Hormuz in its war with the United States and Israel.

"The first revenue received from the Strait of Hormuz tolls was deposited into the Central Bank account," said deputy speaker of parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei, according to Tasnim news agency.

Other Iranian media carried the same statement, without elaborating.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint, has become a major flashpoint since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28.

Iran has allowed only a trickle of ships to pass through the waterway, a route that in peacetime accounts for a fifth of the world's oil and gas flows, along with other vital commodities.

Before the announcement of revenue from tolls, Iran's parliament had been deciding whether to impose them on shipping through the strait, with Iranian officials warning that maritime traffic through the strait would "not return to its pre-war status".

On March 30, Iranian state media said the parliament's security commission had approved plans to impose tolls, but it was not clear if a final parliamentary vote on the proposal had taken place.

US President Donald Trump has been pushing Iran to open the strait.

Britain, France and military planners from over 30 countries have held talks to protect navigation through the strait, with Paris and London saying they would lead a multinational mission as "soon as conditions allow".
The United States remains deeply concerned about instability, violence, and illegal drug cultivation and trafficking in Colombia. The violence and drug trafficking perpetrated by terrorist organizations and illegal armed groups jeopardize the safety of not only Colombians, but the safety of everyone in the region, including Americans, said Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations.

On March 19, one of these groups, FARC-EP, threatened the UN Verification and Monitoring Missions access to territories within its purview.

We urge the government of Colombia to prioritize addressing these threats that these groups pose with respect to terrorism, other crimes, and abuses, said Ambassador Locetta.

Illegal armed groups have precipitated an acute humanitarian crisis while committing rampant abuses against civilians  including forced displacement, confinement, sexual violence, and the unlawful recruitment and use of children in combat, she added.

Curbing the cultivation of coca and the production of cocaine is also essential to preventing illegal armed groups from imposing a reign of terror across the country and the region, stressed Ambassador Locetta. The United States condemns all those who seek to undermine peace through narcotrafficking and terrorist activity.

The United States continues to designate groups active in Colombia as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, cutting off their funding and resources. There must be no impunity for acts of terror or violence by illegal armed groups, declared Ambassador Locetta.

According to the Secretary-Generals report, Colombia congressional elections took place with no major disturbances to public order. As Colombia approaches presidential elections, the United States remains vigilant of any actions by groups that threaten the integrity of these elections, warned Ambassador Locetta.

Indeed, these elections are occurring in the shadow of the assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay last year, she noted, a stark reminder of Colombias dark days of political violence where political leaders were killed, kidnapped, and prevented from freely campaigning.

We condemn death threats made against presidential candidates in Colombia and applaud [UN] Special Representative [Miroslav] Jencas condemnation of such threats, said Ambassador Locetta.

The United States stands with the Colombian people as they work to build lasting peace and security in Colombia.
Iran economy looks set to withstand US naval blockade



Doha, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



A US naval blockade of Iranian ports is likely to squeeze Iran's oil output in the coming weeks but claims it will throw the Islamic republic into economic free fall remain premature, analysts say.

After weeks of bombing and counter-strikes, focus has shifted to the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, which ordinarily carries around a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

In response to Iran's blockade of the strait since the start of the Middle East war, the US imposed a counter-blockade of the Islamic republic's ports, a push to force its leaders into a compromise in peace talks.

That bid, however, looks set to fail, at least in the short term.

"If the blockade lasts for more than two or three months, it can cause more damage" to Iran, economic analyst and professor at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran Saeed Laylaz told AFP.

"If Iran suffers any damage, the damage to the countries in the southern Persian Gulf will definitely be greater," he added.

There's a limit on how long Iran can bide its time, however.

Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chief analyst at Global Risk Management said Iran "was expected to run out of storage capacity within approximately one month, but it may already be forced to shut in part of its oil production within a couple of weeks".



- 'Collapsing financially'? -



Trump said Tuesday that Iran was "collapsing financially" under the blockade imposed by the US Navy on April 12, claiming that the country was "starving for cash".

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the blockade meant storage at Iran's Kharg Island, the main export terminal through which most of the country's crude is shipped, "will be full and the fragile Iranian oil wells will be shut in".

Jamie Ingram, managing editor of Middle East Economic Survey (MEES), told AFP it was likely the timeline for Iran to hit its oil storage limits would be measured in "weeks rather than days".

He added it was likely that "Iran will slightly reduce production before getting to the stage where storage constraints start to bite".

According to analysis by oil expert Homayoun Falakshahi shared by energy intelligence firm Kpler, Iran's crude production has already slowed since the start of the war.

Output fell by around 200,000 barrels per day in March to 3.68 million bpd and is expected to drop a further 420,000 bpd in April to about 3.43 million bpd, reflecting "the broader impact of export disruptions and refining constraints linked to the ongoing conflict," Falakshahi said.

But Laylaz in Tehran said beyond the psychological effect of the blockade, the "real material effect has been small so far".

Ingram said Kharg Island "shouldn't be a particular bottleneck," for Iran.

"This is the final storage facility used before oil is exported and Iran can divert crude oil to other facilities rather than straight to Kharg," he said.



- 'Mutually assured disruption' -



The MEES expert also said Iran's dependency on oil exports via Hormuz had "deepened due to the damage caused by US and Israeli strikes to other sections of the Iranian economy".

"But Iran has also proven its ability to withstand huge oil-revenue declines during previous rounds of sanctions. I would not underestimate the regime's resilience in this regard," he added.

As the initial two-week truce between Iran and the US was set to expire Trump had said Tuesday he would maintain the ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks.

Iran said it welcomed the efforts by mediator Pakistan but made no other comment on Trump's announcement, while vowing not to reopen Hormuz so long as the US blockade remains in place.

"It will take a long time before such economic pain forces Iran to compromise," Ingram said, explaining it is "more likely economic disruption... pushes China into exerting more pressure on Iran to negotiate".

Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said "Iran's economy was battered before the war, is contending with added strains caused during it, and now faces the combination of sanctions, seizures and potential strikes".

"Iran's leadership has previously shown a high threshold for pain even if the pressure on ordinary Iranians increases. It also likely calculates that its own efforts to subdue traffic through Hormuz act as a sort of mutually assured disruption," he added.
Lebanon leaders accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed



Beirut, Lebanon, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Lebanon's president and prime minister accused Israel on Thursday of a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, where Israeli forces occupy several areas.

Rescuers and the reporter's employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year-old journalist who worked for the Lebanese daily Al-Akbar.

The civil defence agency said she was killed in a strike on a house in the village of al-Tiril.

"Israel deliberately targets journalists in order to conceal the truth about its crimes against Lebanon," said President Joseph Aoun, in a statement denouncing "war crimes."

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on X that "targeting journalists and obstructing access for rescue teams constitutes a war crime," adding that his government would take the attack to international bodies.

A 10-day ceasefire has been in effect in Lebanon since Friday, pausing the war between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah that has left more than 2,400 dead in Lebanon.

Khalil and another journalist had taken refuge in a house in al-Tiri after an Israeli airstrike targeted a car in front of them, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

It said the two occupants of the vehicle, the mayor of the nearby Israeli-occupied town of Bint Jbeil and a man with him, were killed.

An Israeli strike then targeted the house where the two journalists had taken refuge.

The health ministry said the attack wounded journalist Zeinab Faraj -- who was taken to hospital -- and left Khalil trapped.

A Lebanese Red Cross official had told AFP they had "managed to rescue Zeinab Faraj" but had not reached Khalil and withdrew "because of a warning strike".

Lebanese authorities had to contact UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon, and it took several hours before rescue workers could regain access to the area to recover the journalist's body from the rubble.

The health ministry accused Israel on Thursday of "obstructing rescue operations" and "targeting an ambulance clearly bearing the Red Cross symbol."

The Israeli military said in a statement it had "identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah".

The air force then struck a vehicle carrying "terrorists", it said, who had crossed what Israel calls the "forward defence line" in southern Lebanon and approached its troops.

Israel says it has established a "yellow line," or advanced defence line, deep into southern Lebanon where its troops have entered, stopping residents from returning.

Its army denied preventing rescue teams from "accessing the area" and said the incident was under investigation.

Khalil, known for her courage and respected by her colleagues, had covered various wars in the region.

On March 28, three journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the south, and UN experts called for an international investigation.

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Iranian ex-shah's son says talks with Tehran are 'appeasement'



Berlin, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's ousted shah, argued Thursday that any negotiations with the clerical leadership in Tehran amount to "appeasement" and voiced hope that renewed street protests will topple it.

Pahlavi, 65, was speaking on a visit to Berlin, where he was greeted by some supporters but also bitter opponents -- with one activist splashing a red liquid on him before being detained by police.

Pahlavi, addressing journalists, called on European governments that have stayed out of the US-Israeli war against Iran to take other steps, from expelling Iranian ambassadors to helping Iranian citizens access the blockaded internet.

"The whole narrative of ceasefire and negotiation is still based on thinking that ... you're going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists," said Pahlavi, who was visiting Germany after stops in Sweden and Italy.

"I don't see that happening," he said, condemning Iran's new leaders after the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures as "different faces of the same machine".

Pahlavi said Iran had "slaughtered innocent citizens by the thousands" and threatens Europe with long-range missiles. "No deal will solve this. No negotiations will solve this. It is in their DNA."

Pahlavi, whose father Mohammad Reza was brought down by the 1979 Islamic revolution, has repeatedly said he was ready to lead a transition if the Islamic republic fell in the war that erupted in late February.

He however represents just one of several Iranian diaspora groups, who are often bitterly at loggerheads, and has failed to win recognition from US President Donald Trump, who has never officially met with Pahlavi and repeatedly expressed scepticism over his ability to lead Iran.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government was not due to meet Pahlavi, according to a Berlin spokesman, although several lawmakers were to hold talks with him.

The ousted shah's son was boosted by protesters chanting the name of the family dynasty during January rallies against the clerical system and then vast pro-monarchy demonstrations in February in Munich and several cities in North America.

"Inside Iran, tens of millions of Iranians chanted my name, and they still do," Pahlavi told the Berlin press conference, adding that "today's Gen Z in Iran are my biggest supporters".

Looking ahead, he voiced hopes for a popular uprising, saying that "the strategy is ultimately for people to be able to reclaim the streets".
Lebanon leaders accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed



Beirut, Lebanon, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Lebanon's leaders accused Israel on Thursday of committing a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, with the Israeli army saying it was reviewing the incident.

Rescuers and the reporter's employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year-old journalist who worked for the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar.

The civil defence agency said she was killed in a strike on a house in the village of Al-Tiri.

"Israel deliberately targets journalists in order to conceal the truth about its crimes against Lebanon," said President Joseph Aoun, in a statement denouncing "war crimes".

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on X that "targeting journalists and obstructing access for rescue teams constitutes a war crime," adding that his government would take the case to international bodies.

When contacted by AFP on Thursday, an Israeli army spokesperson said "the incident is still under review".

A 10-day ceasefire has been in effect in Lebanon since Friday, pausing the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that has left more than 2,400 dead in Lebanon.

Khalil and another journalist had taken refuge in a house in Al-Tiri after an Israeli airstrike targeted a car in front of them, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

It said the two occupants of the vehicle, the mayor of the nearby Israeli-occupied town of Bint Jbeil and a man with him, were killed.

An Israeli strike then targeted the house where the two journalists had taken refuge.

The health ministry said the attack wounded journalist Zeinab Faraj -- who was taken to hospital -- and left Khalil trapped.

A Lebanese Red Cross official told AFP they had "managed to rescue Zeinab Faraj" but were unable to reach Khalil and withdrew "because of a warning strike".

Lebanese authorities had to contact UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon, and it took several hours before rescue workers could regain access to the area to recover the journalist's body from the rubble.

The health ministry accused Israel on Thursday of "obstructing rescue operations" and "targeting an ambulance clearly bearing the Red Cross symbol".

The Israeli military said in a statement on Wednesday it had "identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah".

The air force then struck a vehicle carrying "terrorists", it said, who had crossed what Israel calls the "forward defence line" in southern Lebanon and approached its troops.



- 'Accountability' -



Israel says it has established a "yellow line" deep into southern Lebanon where its troops have been posted, stopping residents from returning.

Its army denied preventing rescue teams from "accessing the area".

Rights groups have condemned Israel's repeated killing of press workers, while journalists held a protest in downtown Beirut to commemorate Khalil ahead of her funeral in her hometown of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon.

Jonathan Dagher, head of the Middle East desk at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said the sequence of strikes on Wednesday "would indicate targeting and obstruction of aid constituting war crimes".

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher for Human Rights Watch, said "Israel's killing of journalist Amal Khalil should be credibly investigated with a view towards justice and accountability".

"Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime."

On March 28, three journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the south, and UN experts called for an international investigation.

They joined several other Lebanese journalists who have been killed by Israel since the previous conflict with Hezbollah started in 2023.

From the Beirut protest, journalist Inas Sherri told AFP "accountability is the most important thing".

"If we were holding people accountable, Israel would not have continued killing journalists one after another."

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Iran executes another 'political prisoner', NGO says



Paris, France, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Iran on Thursday hanged a man convicted of membership in a banned opposition group, the judiciary said, with an NGO describing him as the latest "political prisoner" to be executed in an unprecedented trend.

Sultan Ali Shirzadi Fakhr was hanged on charges of membership of the People's Mujahedin (MEK) and "collaboration with the Israeli regime's spy service" Mossad, the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.

He was convicted of a capital offence that in Persian means "waging war against God" and accused of taking part in operations hostile to the Islamic Republic, Mizan said.

Rights groups accuse Iran of using capital punishment as a tool of repression, with high-profile executions aimed at instilling fear in society against the backdrop of the war against Israel and the US.

Since wartime executions resumed on March 19, Iranian authorities have now executed eight men on charges related to mass protests this year, and another nine who were accused of being members of the MEK, which is banned in Iran.

Iran also executed an Iranian-Swedish citizen, and anther man who rights groups said worked for the Iranian atomic energy organisation, both on charges of spying for Israel. Two of the alleged MEK members were executed on similar spying charges, an accusation the group has described as absurd.

It was not clear when Shirzadi Fakhr was arrested and only few details have emerged about the case. According to Mizan he was living in Spain and reportedly recently returned to Iran to visit family.

The Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) described him as a "political prisoner" said the charges related the alleged activity on behalf of the MEK in the late 1980s.

However unlike in the cases of the other eight men executed in recent weeks accused of membership of the group, the MEK has not confirmed he was a member and has issued no statement on this case.

"Such a high number of executions of political prisoners over such a short period is unprecedented in the past 30 years," added IHR director Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam.

"The Islamic Republic appears to be taking advantage of the war situation to carry out these executions. The international community must respond," he said.

Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, according to IHR, saying this was the highest level recorded since 1989.
Trump orders Iran mine-layers sunk, as Iran tolls tankers



Tehran, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy on Thursday to destroy any Iranian boat caught laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, putting more pressure on a fraying ceasefire as disruption from the Gulf stand-off battered the world economy.

Trump's announcement came after the US fleet boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean that was transporting oil from Iran and after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had banked its first proceeds from the tolls it exacts on shipping through the strait.

With plans for renewed peace talks in Pakistan hanging in the balance, more fuel-hungry airlines cancelled flights, oil prices climbed higher once again and the keenly-watched S&P Global PMI index showed eurozone business activity shrinking for the first time in 16 months.

"I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz," Trump posted.

Iran vowed it would keep the strait closed to all but a trickle of approved vessels for as long as the US Navy blockades its ports, brushing off demands from Trump to both reopen Hormuz and surrender its enriched uranium.

The US responded to Iran's action by imposing its own blockade of Iranian ports, and on Thursday the Pentagon announced on social media that US forces had "carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean".

The post included footage of US military personnel rappelling from helicopters onto the deck of a large tanker.

The statement said the US would "continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate".



- 'Not possible' -



While strikes around the region have mostly ceased since the two-week-old truce began, there has been no letup in the confrontation over Hormuz, with both sides seeking economic leverage -- only for Trump to announce an indefinite ceasefire to create space for more talks.

"A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated through a naval blockade," said Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation at a first round of talks in Pakistan.

"Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire."

Ghalibaf's deputy, Hamidreza Hajibabaei, said Iran received its first revenue from tolls it is imposing on ships seeking to cross Hormuz, a route that in peacetime accounts for a fifth of the world's oil and gas flows, and other vital commodities.

Analysts said Tehran, in particular its hardline leaders associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), believes that Iran's blockade gives it sufficient economic leverage to force Washington to back down on its main demands in peace talks.

And some, such as Danny Citrinowicz of the Tel-Aviv Institute for National Security Studies, criticised Israel and the US for misreading the Iranian government's position.

"Tehran has consistently demonstrated a willingness to absorb economic pain while holding firm on what it views as core national interests. There is little reason to believe this time will be different," he said in a social media post.

"Rather than moving toward concession, Iran is positioning itself to escalate."

A brief from the Soufan Center think tank said Iran's hardliners "argue that a prolonged elevation of global energy prices and mounting global shortages of some goods will increasingly pressure Trump to accede to Iran's positions, end the war, and eventually withdraw US forces from the region.

"Trump and his team calculate the opposite -- that the US blockade of Iran's seaborne trade, which carries all of its oil exports, will quickly cripple Iran's economy and force Iran to accept US demands."



- Peace talks -



On Wednesday, Trump told the New York Post that talks could resume in Pakistan within two to three days, even though Iran has not confirmed participation and Vice President JD Vance put his travel to Islamabad on hold on Tuesday.

In the Pakistani capital, blanket security remained in place for the fourth straight day in anticipation of possible talks, with transport disrupted and the city's government quarter and adjacent commercial centre all but shut down.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday said they forced two ships to the Iranian shore from the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military's Central Command said, prior to Thursday's announcement, that its forces blockading Iran's ports had so far "directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port".

After agreeing the ceasefire with Iran, the United States helped broker a truce between Israel and Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

Despite the declared truce, Israeli strikes killed five more people on Wednesday, Lebanese media said.

Israel and Lebanon will hold a second round of talks in Washington on Thursday, during which Beirut will request a one-month extension of the ceasefire during the meeting, according to a Lebanese official.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 2,450 people since the start of the war, according to Lebanese authorities.

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Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei 'gravely wounded' but 'mentally sharp': NYT



Washington, United States, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously wounded in the US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei but is mentally sharp, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Citing several Iranian officials which it did not name, the Times said Mojtaba Khamenei had "at least for now" delegated decision-making to generals in the Revolutionary Guards ideological army.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since succeeding his father and only issued written statements, creating speculation over his condition and if he is still alive.

Although Mojtaba Khamenei was "gravely wounded (in the February 28 airstrike), he is mentally sharp and engaged," said the NYT.

"One leg was operated on three times, and he is awaiting a prosthetic. He had surgery on one hand and is slowly regaining function. His face and lips have been burned severely, making it difficult for him to speak," it cited the officials as saying, adding that "eventually, he will need plastic surgery."

Access for security reasons is extremely limited to Khamenei, who remains in hiding, with only handwritten messages passed on, it said.

Guards commanders do not visit him but President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also a heart surgeon, has been involved in his care, it said.

It said the generals from the Guards who viewed the war with the US and Israel "as a threat to the regime's survival" that has now been contained.

They have also been in charge of military strategy, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

sjw/ser
US-Kuwaiti journalist cleared after arrest over war coverage: CPJ



New York, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



An American-Kuwaiti journalist held for weeks in Kuwait during a crackdown on sharing footage of the US-Iran war has been cleared of all charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has contributed to The New York Times, PBS, and Al Jazeera English, was arrested on March 3 for allegedly spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone.

One of his last social media posts included a geolocated video, verified by CNN, that showed a US fighter jet crash near an American air base in Kuwait, according to the CPJ.

"We are relieved that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been found innocent after 52 days in detention," Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the press watchdog, said in a statement.

"Ahmed's freedom and safety remain our topmost priority and we will continue to closely monitor his case."

The office of Caoilfhionn Gallagher, a lawyer representing two of the journalist's sisters, said he was expected to be released "imminently."

Hundreds of people have been arrested across the Gulf for sharing images of attacks and the resulting damage.

The strikes occurred almost daily from the start of the Middle East conflict on February 28 until a ceasefire came into effect on April 8.
Lebanon meets Israel in Washington to request truce extension



Washington, United States, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Israel and Lebanon hold a new round of talks in Washington on Thursday, with Beirut seeking a one-month extension of a ceasefire set to expire at the end of this week.

Israel stated ahead of the talks that it has no "serious disagreements" with Lebanon, calling on it to "work together" against the pro-Iran Hezbollah, which is notably absent from and opposed to the negotiations.

During the meeting, Lebanon will request "to extend the ceasefire, which also includes a halt to the destruction of homes and attacks on civilians, places of worship, journalists, and the medical and educational sectors" according to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Aoun said he hoped to visit Washington and meet with President Donald Trump.

However, he said he never planned to have a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, contradicting an announcement by Trump earlier this month.

The two countries, officially at war for decades, held a meeting in Washington on April 14 -- the first of its kind since 1993 -- in an attempt to end the more than six-week war between Hezbollah and Israel.

The United States announced a 10-day truce shortly after the first meeting. It is set to expire Sunday.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed at least 2,454 people and displaced one million since the start of the war, according to Lebanese authorities.

As in the previous round, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will bring together Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, in the presence of the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa.

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is now also expected to join the meeting, a State Department official told AFP.



- Strikes ahead of talks -



Israeli strikes killed five people in Lebanon on Wednesday, as Israel continues to hit what it says are Hezbollah targets despite the ceasefire.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency on Thursday reported an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle near Nabatieh, around 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the border with Israel.

Under the truce terms, Israel says it reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".

Hezbollah on its end claimed at least two attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and said it targeted a reconnaissance drone in retaliation for Israel's "ceasefire violations".

Lebanon's civil defense agency said an Israeli strike killed journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday.

Before rescuers had found her body, Lebanon's state media said Israeli strikes had killed four people in the south and east of the country.

Khalil's employer, Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, said fellow journalist Zeinab Faraj was wounded.

In Washington, "Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one month, an end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire," a Lebanese official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the talks.

Following the first round of talks, Lebanon and Israel had agreed to begin direct negotiations with a view to lasting peace, at a date and place to be determined later.

Lebanon has appointed Simon Karam, a seasoned diplomat and former ambassador to the US, to lead its delegation in these negotiations.



- Hezbollah not in talks -



Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said "the obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one -- Hezbollah."

Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel on March 2 to avenge the US-Israeli killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Israel has responded with massive air raids and an invasion of southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces remain in dozens of southern villages, behind what the army has called a "Yellow Line", described by the Israelis as a 10-kilometer (six-mile) deep "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, for its part, said it had carried out an attack on northern Israel on Tuesday in response to Israel's "flagrant" violations of the ceasefire.

The truce had been demanded by Tehran as one of the conditions for resuming talks with Washington to end the regional Middle East war.

Trump announced on Wednesday an indefinite extension of the truce with Iran that has been in effect since April 8.
Israel awaiting US green light to 'return Iran to Stone Age': defence minister



Jerusalem, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Defence minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israel was "prepared to resume the war against Iran", adding that his country was awaiting a green light from the United States to return Iran to "the Stone Age".

"The IDF is ready both defensively and offensively, and the targets have been marked," Katz said in a video statement.

"We are awaiting a green light from the United States -- first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty... and additionally to return Iran to the Dark Age and the Stone Age by destroying key energy and electricity facilities and dismantling its national economic infrastructure," he added.

The opening US-Israel attack of the war on February 28 killed Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, whose son later succeeded him but has yet to appear in public, creating speculation over his condition and if he is still alive.

"This time, when the attack resumes, it will be different and lethal, adding devastating blows at the most sensitive points -- following the tremendous strikes the Iranian terror regime has already sustained -- that will shake and bring down its foundations," Katz said.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which came into effect on April 8, to create space for talks with Tehran.

Plans for renewed negotiations in Pakistan hang in the balance.

The Middle East war has engulfed the region, leaving several thousand people dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and continuing to destabilise the global economy.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:







- Israeli strike kills 3 -

An Israeli strike on south Lebanon killed three people, the Lebanese health ministry said, the latest attack despite a 10-day truce in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

The attacks came hours ahead of the second meeting between Lebanon and Israel's US ambassadors in Washington, where Beirut is expected to ask for a ceasefire extension.



- Israel awaits 'green light' -

Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said the country was "prepared to resume the war" and was awaiting a green light from Washington to return Iran to "the Stone Age".

"We are awaiting a green light from the United States -- first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty... and additionally to return Iran to the Dark Age and the Stone Age," he said in a video statement.



- Trump's Hormuz order -

President Donald Trump vowed the United States would destroy any vessel laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as he ratchets up pressure on Iran to reopen the crucial sea passage.

"I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz," Trump posted.



- Israel accused of war crime -

Lebanon's leaders accused Israel of committing a war crime after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south.

The Israeli army said it was reviewing the incident.



- US forces board tanker -

The US Defense Department said its forces boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean that was providing material support to Iran, the second time it had done so in three days.

"Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean," it said on X.



- Iran gets first Hormuz toll -

A senior Iranian parliament official said on Thursday that Tehran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the strategic Strait of Hormuz in its war with the United States and Israel.

"The first revenue received from the Strait of Hormuz tolls was deposited into the Central Bank account," said deputy speaker of parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei, according to Tasnim news agency.



- Pentagon denies Hormuz mine clearing report -

The Pentagon blasted as cherry picking and false a news report saying that the department assessed it could take six months to completely clear the Strait of Hormuz of Iranian-laid mines.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the Pentagon shared the six-month estimate during a classified briefing for the members of the House Armed Services Committee, citing three unidentified officials familiar with the discussion.

Iran has all but blocked the vital waterway since the start of a war with the United States and Israel, sharply driving up oil and gas prices and disrupting the global economy.



- Hormuz standoff -

Iran vowed it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the United States continues to blockade its ports.

"A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated through a naval blockade," said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation in the first round of talks in Islamabad.

"Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire."



- Iran execution -

Iran hanged a man after he was convicted of membership in a banned opposition group and alleged collaboration with Israel.

"Sultan-Ali Shirzadi-Fakhr was hanged early this morning for membership in the terrorist group" of the People's Mujahedin Organisation (MEK) and "collaboration with the Israeli regime's spy service," the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.



- Lebanon-Israel meeting -

Israel and Lebanon are to hold a new round of talks in Washington on Thursday, during which Beirut plans to request a one-month extension of a ceasefire due to expire within days.

Israel stated ahead of the talks that it has no "serious disagreements" with Lebanon, calling on it to "work together" against the pro-Iran Hezbollah, which is notably absent from and opposed to the negotiations.



burs/rh/giv
Lebanon leaders accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed



Beirut, Lebanon, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Lebanon's leaders accused Israel on Thursday of committing a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, with the Israeli army saying it was reviewing the incident.

Rescuers and the reporter's employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year-old journalist who worked for the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar.

The civil defence agency said she was killed in a strike on a house in the village of Al-Tiri.

"Israel deliberately targets journalists in order to conceal the truth about its crimes against Lebanon," President Joseph Aoun said in a statement denouncing "war crimes".

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on X that "targeting journalists and obstructing access for rescue teams constitutes a war crime", adding that his government would take the case to international bodies.

When contacted by AFP on Thursday, an Israeli army spokesperson said "the incident is still under review".

A 10-day ceasefire has been in effect in Lebanon since Friday, pausing the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that has left more than 2,400 people dead in Lebanon.

Khalil and another journalist had taken refuge in a house in Al-Tiri after an Israeli airstrike targeted a car in front of them, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

It said the two occupants of the vehicle, the mayor of the nearby Israeli-occupied town of Bint Jbeil and a man with him, were killed.

An Israeli strike then targeted the house where the two journalists had taken refuge.

The health ministry said the attack wounded journalist Zeinab Faraj -- who was taken to hospital -- and left Khalil trapped.

A Lebanese Red Cross official told AFP they had "managed to rescue Zeinab Faraj" but were unable to reach Khalil and withdrew "because of a warning strike".

Lebanese authorities had to contact UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon, and it took several hours before rescue workers could regain access to the area to recover the journalist's body from the rubble.

The health ministry accused Israel on Thursday of "obstructing rescue operations" and "targeting an ambulance clearly bearing the Red Cross symbol".

The Israeli military said in a statement on Wednesday it had "identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah".

The air force then struck a vehicle carrying "terrorists", it said, who had crossed what Israel calls the "forward defence line" in southern Lebanon and approached its troops.



- 'Accountability' -



Israel says it has established a "yellow line" deep into southern Lebanon where its troops have been posted, stopping residents from returning.

Its army denied preventing rescue teams from "accessing the area".

Dozens of journalists attended Khalil's funeral in her southern hometown of Baysariyeh on Thursday. Her coffin was draped in the Lebanese flag and covered in flowers, her helmet and press vest placed on top.

Rights groups have condemned Israel's repeated killing of press workers.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said that "targeting civilians and obstructing aid are violations of international humanitarian law".

UN chief Antonio Guterres "reiterates that journalists must be able to perform their essential duties without fears of interference, harassment or worse", he added.

Jonathan Dagher, head of the Middle East desk at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said the sequence of strikes on Wednesday "would indicate targeting and obstruction of aid constituting war crimes".

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher for Human Rights Watch, said "Israel's killing of journalist Amal Khalil should be credibly investigated".

"Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime."

On March 28, three journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the south, and UN experts called for an international investigation.

They joined several other Lebanese journalists who have been killed by Israel since the previous conflict with Hezbollah started in 2023.

From a protest in Beirut commemorating Khalil, journalist Inas Sherri told AFP "accountability is the most important thing".

"If we were holding people accountable, Israel would not have continued killing journalists one after another."

lar/at/jfx/nad/amj
Trump to meet Lebanon, Israel envoys on truce extension



Washington, United States, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



US President Donald Trump will meet Lebanese and Israeli envoys at a new round of peace talks Thursday, with Beirut seeking a one-month extension of a shaky ceasefire set to expire.

With Trump struggling to push Iran into a deal on the wider regional war, the United States is hoping for progress on Lebanon, which Israel has pounded in response to Hezbollah fire.

The talks, previously planned at the State Department like the first round last week and to be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were shifted to the White House.

"President Trump will greet both representatives upon their arrival," a US official said on condition of anonymity.

Israel stated ahead of the talks that it has no "serious disagreements" with the Lebanese government, calling on it to "work together" against Hezbollah, which is notably absent from and opposed to the negotiations.

During the meeting, Lebanon will request "to extend the ceasefire, which also includes a halt to the destruction of homes and attacks on civilians, places of worship, journalists and the medical and educational sectors," Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said.

A Lebanese official told AFP that the government would request the extension by one month.

Aoun said he hoped to visit Washington and meet with Trump.

However, he said he never planned to have a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, contradicting an announcement by Trump earlier this month.

The two countries have been at war for decades and had not met so directly since 1993.

Israel launched a major attack on Lebanon -- killing over 2,450 people and displacing one million, according to authorities -- in response to fire by Hezbollah, which vowed to avenge Israel's killing of Iran's supreme leader.

The United States announced a 10-day truce shortly after the first meeting. It is set to expire Sunday.

Israel and Lebanon will be represented by their ambassadors in Washington.

In an addition from the last round, a US official said the talks will also include the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, an evangelical pastor and stalwart defender of Israeli expansionism.



- Strikes ahead of talks -



Israeli strikes killed five people in Lebanon on Wednesday, as Israel continues to hit what it says are Hezbollah targets despite the ceasefire.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency on Thursday reported an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle near Nabatieh, around 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the border with Israel.

Under the truce terms, Israel says it reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks."

Hezbollah on its end claimed at least two attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and said it targeted a reconnaissance drone in retaliation for Israel's "ceasefire violations."

Among the dead on Wednesday was a Lebanese newspaper journalist, Amal Khalil.

Israeli troops have also taken over southern Lebanese villages in a 10-kilometer (six-mile) deep "security zone" from its border.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said "the obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one -- Hezbollah."

Iran had demanded the truce in Lebanon as a condition to resume talks with Washington on a permanent end to weeks of war.

Iran refused to attend a second round of talks with the United States this week due to an ongoing US naval blockade.

But Trump extended a truce with Iran indefinitely.

bur-at-ris-sct/md
USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in Mideast region: US military



Washington, United States, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, the US military said Thursday, bringing the number of the massive American warships operating in the region to three.

The Bush was sailing "in the Indian Ocean in the US Central Command area of responsibility, April 23," the military command responsible for the Middle East said in a post on X that included an image of the carrier with its deck packed with warplanes.

A second carrier -- the USS Gerald R. Ford -- was operating in the Red Sea on Thursday, while a third -- the USS Abraham Lincoln -- is also in the region, according to social media posts by CENTCOM.

The deployment of the third aircraft carrier to the Middle East comes during a more than two-week ceasefire that paused the devastating US-Israeli air campaign against Iran that was launched in late February.

The Ford sailed to Croatia for repairs several weeks ago after a laundry fire broke out aboard the ship on March 12, but the world's largest aircraft carrier has since returned to operations.

The Ford has been at sea for more about 10 months -- a deployment that has already seen it take part in US operations in the Caribbean, where Washington's forces have carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, interdicted sanctioned tankers and seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The aircraft carriers each travel with substantial groups of supporting warships.
Trump says US in no rush but 'clock is ticking' for Iran



Tehran, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



President Donald Trump said Thursday the United States is in no rush to end the war with Iran but "the clock is ticking" for the Islamic republic, as a third aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East.

Iranian media reported blasts over the capital Tehran, a first since an increasingly tenuous ceasefire in the Middle East war came into effect two weeks ago.

It was not clear what caused the blasts, though an Israeli security source told AFP that their country was not currently striking Iran.

Prospective peace talks in Pakistan were hanging in the balance, meanwhile, with no sign of a return to diplomacy to end a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.

Since Trump indefinitely extended a ceasefire in the Middle East war, the US and Iran have shifted their focus to Hormuz, a blockaded waterway through which a fifth of oil and liquefied natural gas exports ordinarily flow.

"I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn't -- The clock is ticking!" Trump said on social media, adding that Iran's military was destroyed and "their leaders are no longer with us, the Blockade is airtight and strong and, from there, it only gets worse."

Trump had earlier ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boat caught laying mines in Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded since the start of the war that spread across the region following a massive US-Israeli attack on the Islamic republic.



- 'Shoot and kill' -



The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, the US military said Thursday, bringing the number of the massive American warships operating in the region to three.

A second carrier was operating in the Red Sea on Thursday, while a third is also in the region, according to social media posts by CENTCOM.

Iran's state news agency IRNA said the "sound of air defence firing" was heard in western Tehran, while the Mehr news agency reported that air defence systems were activated in several parts of the capital to counter "hostile targets".

Earlier, a US fleet had boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean that was transporting oil from Iran and a senior Iranian official said Tehran had banked its first proceeds from the tolls it exacts on shipping through the strait.

Trump had said he "ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz".

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz meanwhile said "we are awaiting a green light from the United States -- first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty... and additionally to return Iran to the Dark Age and the Stone Age".

Iran has vowed it would keep the strait closed to all but a trickle of approved vessels for as long as the US Navy blockades its ports, brushing off demands from Trump to both reopen Hormuz and surrender its enriched uranium.

The US responded to Iran's action by imposing its own blockade of Iranian ports, and on Thursday the Pentagon announced that US forces had "carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean".



- 'Not possible' -



Deputy parliament speaker Hamidreza Hajibabaei said Iran received its first revenue from tolls it is imposing on ships seeking to cross Hormuz.

Analysts said Tehran believes its blockade gives it sufficient economic leverage to force Washington to back down on its main demands in peace talks.

Responding to remarks from Trump suggesting that Iranian leadership was "seriously fractured", the Islamic republic's president, parliament speaker and chief justice all posted a nearly identical message on social media on Thursday.

"One God, one nation, one leader, and one path; that path being the path to the victory of our dearer-than-life Iran," they all said.



- Peace talks? -



On Wednesday, Trump told the New York Post that talks could resume in Pakistan within two to three days, though no delegations were presently headed to Islamabad.

In the Pakistani capital, blanket security remained in place for the fourth straight day in anticipation of possible talks.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday said they forced two ships to the Iranian shore from the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military's Central Command said its forces had so far "redirected 33 vessels since the start of the blockade against Iran".

burs/jsa/ser
French, UK defence chiefs eye 'real progress' in Hormuz plan



London, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Britain and France Thursday voiced hope that military plans to secure the Strait of Hormuz were coming together and would succeed in restoring trade flows through the vital passage.

At a two-day meeting in London, military planners discussed the practicalities of a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in the key waterway following a sustainable ceasefire, top defence officials said.

The aim is to form a "defensive, multinational mission that will strengthen the confidence of commercial shipping, and, if necessary, clear mines and protect vessels when the hostilities end", British defence minister John Healey said.

The British ministry said the meeting involved more than 44 countries from every continent.

Healey and French counterpart Catherine Vautrin said in a joint statement they were "confident that real progress can be made".

"International trade, energy, and economic stability for all our nations depend on freedom of navigation" in the strait, Healey told those attending.

He called for "practical military plans", saying "millions of people" were relying on a successful outcome from the meeting.

"We can't let them down," he said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said more than a dozen countries have agreed to participate in the mission to free up navigation in Hormuz.

Iran said on Wednesday it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the United States continued to blockade Iranian ports.

While strikes around the region have mostly stopped since the start of a ceasefire, the US and Iran have continued to exert pressure around the trade route.

Before the war started on February 28, about a fifth of the world's oil was shipped through the Strait.
US confirms Peru purchase of 12 fighter jets despite row



Lima, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



US defense group Lockheed Martin on Thursday confirmed the purchase by Peru of 12 F-16 fighter jets in a deal that sparked fierce divisions within Peru's government.

"We are proud that the most advanced F-16 ever produced will help protect Peru's national sovereignty while strengthening the enduring partnership between our nations," Lockheed Martin's vice president said in a statement.

Peru's foreign and defense ministers quit on Wednesday after the country's interim president announced he was putting the deal on hold until after presidential elections in June.

The two ministers said the decision by interim president Jose Maria Balcazar undermined Peru's reputation, insisting that the contracts with Lockheed Martin had already been signed.

The total value of the deal has not been made public.

Peru's economy minister said Wednesday evening he had made a first payment of $462 million to Lockheed Martin.

The US ambassador to Peru, Bernardo Navarro, told Radio Exitosa that Lima had purchased a first squadron of 12 jets, due for delivery from 2029, and that "another 12 will arrive later."



- 'Milestone' deal -



In a statement on X, he confirmed that a "technical signing" of the deal took place on Monday, "with the full knowledge of the highest level of the Peruvian government" after an earlier signing ceremony was called off at the last minute.

"Today marks a milestone in our 200-year history" of US-Peruvian relations, Navarro said.

In October 2024, Peru said that it would renew its ageing air defense fleet with the purchase of 24 state-of-the-art fighter jets for an estimated $3.5 billion.

The South American country currently has 12 Mirage 2000 aircraft, according to defense publications, as well as Russian MiG-29s and Belarusian Sukhoi Su-27s, most of which are inoperative or in reserve.

Balcazar said he halted the defense deal to ensure that public funds were "used appropriately."

The deal became swept up in a presidential election marred by logistical problems, unsubstantiated fraud allegations and delays to the ballot count.

Eleven days after Peruvians voted in the first round, it is still not known who will face off against conservative frontrunner Keiko Fujimori in June's runoff.

Ultraconservative former Lima mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga is locked a tight race with leftist ex-minister Roberto Sanchez for the second runoff spot.
Trump rules out striking Iran with nuclear weapon



Washington, United States, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



US President Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out striking Iran with a nuclear weapon, after his previous threats to completely destroy Iranian civilization.

"No, I wouldn't use it," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"Why would I use a nuclear weapon when we've, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it?" he asked.

"A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody."

Trump on April 7 issued a genocidal threat to Iran that a "whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back," but within hours agreed to a ceasefire that he has since extended in the war launched by the United States and Israel.

Vice President JD Vance during the conflict warned that the United States was ready to intensify damage on Iran with weapons not previously used, but the White House denied he was threatening nuclear strikes.

Vance in failed negotiations had pushed Iran for greater concessions on its contested nuclear work.

Trump told reporters that he was seeking an Iran "without a nuclear weapon that's going to try and blow up one of our cities or blow up the entire Middle East."

Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and the UN nuclear watchdog says that an atomic bomb was not imminent before the war.

The United States is the only country to have used nuclear weapons in combat, obliterating the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, killing some 214,000 people.

Israel is widely known to have nuclear weapons but does not publicly acknowledge them.

Trump's blanket statement against any nuclear use would appear to be at odds with longstanding US nuclear doctrine, which reserves the right to use nuclear weapons.

Trump has previously called for an end to a US moratorium on nuclear testing in response to US allegations of secret testing by China and Russia.

Former president Barack Obama had called for an eventual goal of a world without nuclear weapons, but his administration also said that so long as they existed, the US arsenal would serve as a deterrent.

The United States has rejected calls to declare that it will never use nuclear weapons first in a conflict.
Found family, lost footing is a phrase that quietly defines Our Last Dance, even as the episode barrels through its casework. Amandas (Sonja Sohn) absence destabilizes the team in ways the script barely pauses to acknowledge. The hour moves too fast for grief, too fast for connection, and the people who should be holding each other up instead feel scattered, shaken, and off balance.



Our Last Dance  WILL TRENT. Pictured: Ramon Rodriguez as Special Agent Will Trent, Erika Christensen as Det. Angie Polaski, Jake McLaughlin as Det. Michael Ormewood, Iantha Richardson as Special Agent Faith Mitchell. Disney/Wilford Harewood.  2026 Disney. All rights reserved.

A World That Keeps Taking

The most resonant line of the episode doesnt come from Will (Ramon Rodriguez) or Faith (Iantha Richardson). It comes from Faith's mom, Evelyn Mitchell (LisaGay Hamilton), sitting beside Amandas body states: You always took care of everybody. Its time for us to take care of you.





Its a gorgeous, aching moment  and ironically, it exposes what the episode itself struggles to deliver. The hour gestures toward care, grief, and found family, but the plot machinery is so rushed and so determined to reach the Will vs Adelaide showdown that the emotional architecture never gets the space it deserves.



Our Last Dance  WILL TRENT. Pictured: Erika Christensen as Det. Angie Polaski, Ramon Rodriquez as Special Agent Will Trent, Jake McLaughlin as Det. Michael Ormewood, Todd Allen Durkin as Captain Heller, Iantha Richardson as Special Agent Faith Mitchell. Photo: Disney/Wilford Harewood  2026 Disney. All rights reserve.

A Rushed, Predictable Endgame

Lets be honest: the outcome was never in doubt. Adelaide was always going to die. Will was always going to be the one to pull the trigger. The writers treat this inevitability like a twist, but the tension evaporates long before the final confrontation.





The middle act is especially muddled  a blur of acolytes killing each other, a bankruptcy subplot, a liquidated trust, and a lawyer middleman. What? Suddenly Franklin (Kevin Daniels) knows where Ulster's money that Adelaide wants. This revelation feels like a narrative shrug. The episode wants to be a conspiracy thriller, but it plays more like a speedrun  a messy middle built for one purpose: to shove Will and Adelaide into the same scene, or more accurately, onto that park bench.



Our Last Dance  WILL TRENT. Pictured: Kevin Daniels as Det. Franklin Wilks, Jake McLaughlin as Det. Michael Ormewood, Iantha Richardson as Special Agent Faith Mitchell. Photo: Disney/Wilford Harewood.  2026 Disney. All rights reserved.





Faith and Will: Found Family That Doesnt Get Its Due

This should have been a defining Faith and Will episode. Amandas death is a seismic loss for both of them, and the show knows that  but it doesnt slow down long enough to let their grief collide or cohere.





Faith is present, competent, and emotionally attuned, but she and Will feel strangely distant. The tragedy that should bind them instead exposes how little time the show has invested in deepening their bond this season. The episode gestures toward found family, but the procedural urgency keeps pulling the camera away.



Our Last Dance  WILL TRENT. Pictured: Ramon Rodriquez as Special Agent Will Trent, Christina Wren as Caroline. Photo: Disney/Wilford Harewood  2026 Disney. All rights reserved.

The Investigation: Savant Mode, Flashbacks, and a Warehouse Chase

Wills savant moments are back in full force. He and Faith find the car Amanda was using. Will asks Amanda for help, then he notices things that help reconstruct her murder site. Some of it works. Some of it feels like narrative duct tape.





For example, did we really need the flashback to Amandas murder? The emotional weight was already there. The visual reenactment undercuts grief rather than deepening it.





The warehouse sequence is serviceable. Will pounding the bartender into pulp is one of the few moments where the episode slows down long enough to let rage breathe.





Commander: The Mirror Will Didnt Want

The Commander scenes arent especially compelling, but they are oddly satisfying  Will slices straight through the mans willful delusion about how much Adelaide valued him, and his line (Amanda was my Adelaide, with one difference: she never tried to kill me) lands with a quiet brutality.





Commanders (Braelyn Rankins) despair, his realization that hes disposable, and his decision to give up the names of the acolytes is the closest the episode comes to thematic coherence. Care vs. abandonment. Loyalty vs. manipulation. Survival vs. sacrifice.





Adelaide: A Villain Rushed Off the Board

Her final gambit  kill yourself and Ill tell you where Antonio (John Ortiz) is  is melodramatic, but it does reveal something true: she and Will are connected by trauma, but not by destiny. Adelaide's correction is the episodes sharpest line:

Someone saved you.



Our Last Dance  WILL TRENT. Pictured: Jake McLaughlin as Det. Michael Ormewood, Ramon Rodriquez as Special Agent Will Trent, Iantha Richardson as Special Agent Faith Mitchell. Photo: Disney/Wilford Harewood  2026 Disney. All rights reserved.



Its the only moment where Adelaide feels like more than a plot device. And then the chase happens: Faith corners her, Adelaide kneels, and Will shoots her from behind. The show tries to frame this as morally complicated  as if Will might have acted out of unchecked rage, the same fury that drove him to pummel the bartender earlier.





The ambiguity evaporates the moment he approaches her body. Adelaide was reaching for a gun hidden in her shoe. Will didnt execute her; he protected Faith. The writers want the moment to feel ethically thorny, but the predictability of the setup drains it of real power.





Antonio, Absolution, and the Weight Will Cant Put Down

The train yard rescue is tidy, almost too tidy. Antonios absolution  I have breath in my lungs because of you  is meant to lift Will, but it barely dents the guilt crushing him.





The final image of Will alone in his office, shrinking into the dark frame, is the episodes most honest beat. He has now lost two mothers to violence. The found family is fractured. The grief is bottomless.





Amanda Wagner: A Farewell Too Soon

The episode begins and ends with Amanda  zipped into a body bag, honored in a solemn walk, toasted by her colleagues. Evelyns tribute is perfect:

She was mixed race, bisexual, entered the police force in the 1980s and, Jesus.



Our Last Dance  WILL TRENT. Pictured: Iantha Richardson as Special Agent Faith Mitchell, LisaGay Hamilton as Evelyn Mitchell. Photo: Disney/Matt Miller.  2026 Disney. All rights reserved.

Amanda was a rare character: sharp, layered, and unwavering in her moral compass. There was nothing murky about her ethics  she was crystal clear about right and wrong, even when the cost was personal. Her strength came from conviction, not compromise, and the show will feel her absence not because she was morally complicated, but because she was morally certain in a world that rarely is. Amanda was a rare character: sharp, layered, and unwavering in her moral compass. There was nothing murky about her ethics  she was crystal clear about right and wrong, even when the cost was personal. Her strength came from conviction, not compromise, and the show will feel her absence not because she was morally complicated, but because she was morally certain in a world that rarely is.





Final Verdict

Our Last Dance is an episode with enormous emotional potential that gets swallowed by the need to wrap up a villain arc quickly. Its rushed, predictable, and occasionally muddled  but it still lands a few devastating blows.





The tragedy is real. The grief is real. The execution is uneven.





So, reader  how much darker will the writers make Wills world? Share your thoughts in the comments.





Rating: 7 out of 10








Counties in this area have followed a statewide trend in the number of foreclosures since before the pandemic in 2019 as follows: Butler (-36%), Clark (-25%), Greene (-26%), Miami (-25%) and Warren (-25%). Montgomery County is the outlier where total foreclosures jumped 23.6% from 1,407 in 2019 to 1,740 last year. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF
The trend for Londonmaxxing is all about making the most of what the capital has to offer  especially if you can do so without rinsing through your pay packet. And nature provides a gift each spring as beautiful bluebells pop up right on cue.
After the three men were convicted, Ms Llewellyn-Waters told the court there were ongoing inquiries at a very senior level about Al-Danasurts crimes abroad, adding he had also been given a caution in the UK for criminal damage in April last year but said she was not in a position to provide any more detail.
Mr Lambert said: Its great to see him in there, and that he was keen to get in it, because its not an easy thing to get in and out of by any means so for him to be so open to doing that with everyone around, its not a small ask, but he was really keen.
Lawyers for Ms Kroupeeva told the High Court at a hearing last June that the pair married in Russia in 1988 and moved to the UK in 1993 but in 2023 she discovered Mr Kroupeev had secretly started a relationship with a woman in Russia and had a child with her in around 2008.
When asked about a suggestion that the judge may have been biased because of an alleged personal link to an event involving Sir Sadiq, Mr Fawthrop replied: He should have taken the opportunity  and I can say this as a JP  that if theres any doubt whatsoever that you might actually have an interest, or be not seen to be doing justice at all, you recuse yourself automatically and on this occasion this didnt happen, and it should have happened in my view.
Asked about his intervention and whether the pair can fix their relationship, Mr Trump said: If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now theyre not, he can recover, but if he doesnt, I dont think he has a chance.
On May 7, the way to keep Farages toxic politics out of Scotland is for people to unite behind the SNP  and the way to lock Farage out of Scotland for good is by becoming an independent country.
Weve now had the first conviction in relation to this recent spate of arson attacks and seven others have been charged. We remain determined to identify, arrest and charge all those who have been involved in the recent criminal activity.
Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

SHENYANG, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

After entering China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. Upon landing at the airport, it was given a water salute in tribute to the fallen heroes.

As honor guards carried the caskets off the plane, a remembrance ceremony was held at the airport, attended by more than 1,800 people, including representatives from the military, war veterans, and relatives of CPV martyrs.

The caskets were draped with the five-starred red flag, and participants bowed three times in solemn silence to the martyrs' remains.

The remains will be laid to rest in a martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang on Thursday.

More than 70 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) against the ROK army and U.S.-led UN forces. China sent 2.9 million CPV soldiers to assist the DPRK during the war, of whom more than 360,000 were killed or injured. Most of the fallen CPV soldiers were buried on the Korean Peninsula.

According to an agreement between China and the ROK signed in late 2013, the two sides consult every year on the handover of remains of Chinese soldiers found in the ROK.

Since 2014, China and the ROK have completed 13 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 1,023 CPV martyrs. Wednesday's mission also marks the first time the Y-20B has been deployed for repatriation duties.

Among the representatives who attended the ceremony at the airport were teachers and students from Pui Kiu Middle School in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The school was among the first in Hong Kong to raise the five-starred red flag after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. It has also organized five patriotic education trips to Shenyang to take part in the commemorative event. During the war, more than 20 students from the school signed up for recruitment and went to the battlefield.

"The heroic deeds of our predecessors are worthy of respect," said Cheung Hoi Ching, a third-year junior high school student from the school. "I want to learn from their devotion and carry forward their love and loyalty to the motherland."

After the ceremony, a convoy of 70 police motorcycles escorted the procession from the airport to the cemetery, a distance of roughly 30 km. Thousands of people stood solemnly along the route, their eyes following the fleet as it passed.

Billboards and LED screens along the roads displayed slogans welcoming the return of the remains of CPV martyrs. As the vehicles passed the entrance to the cemetery, Nan Qixiang, a veteran volunteer soldier, sounded a military bugle in salute to welcome his comrades home. His bugle calls were echoed by the melodies of brass trumpets and harmonicas.

"Today I did not sound the charge, but the victory call," said Nan, who served as a bugler on the battlefield during the war. "Brothers, I'm here to take you home."

In recent years, China has intensified efforts to identify the remains of CPV martyrs, including the creation of a DNA database for martyrs and their relatives, offering solid technical and data support to help more families find their missing loved ones.

The Ministry of Veterans Affairs has been seeking the relatives of the martyrs and analyzing their belongings. As of October 2025, the identities of 36 martyrs had been successfully confirmed and their relatives have been found, according to the ministry.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers, escorted by four J-20 fighter jets, is pictured in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers, escorted by four J-20 fighter jets, is pictured in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs, escorted by honor guards, are about to be loaded onto vehicles at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers, escorted by four J-20 fighter jets, is pictured in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs, escorted by honor guards, are about to be loaded onto vehicles at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) veterans and other attendees welcome the remains of the CPV martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

People see off a motorcade delivering the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) veterans and other attendees welcome the remains of the CPV martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers, escorted by four J-20 fighter jets, is pictured in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs is welcomed by a water cannon salute upon arrival at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs is welcomed by a water cannon salute upon arrival at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs, escorted by honor guards, arrives at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Coffins containing the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs, escorted by honor guards, arrives at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs, escorted by four J-20 fighter jets, is pictured in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs is welcomed by a water cannon salute upon arrival at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

Attendees welcome the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs, escorted by four J-20 fighter jets, is pictured in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs is welcomed by a water cannon salute upon arrival at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) veterans and other attendees welcome the remains of 12 CPV martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

Honor guards escort coffins containing the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 22, 2026. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers and 146 of their personal effects landed at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. After it entered China's airspace, the Y-20B transport aircraft was escorted by four J-20 fighter jets. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

Editor: Xiong Jian
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However after initially asking for more time to put together their case, it has now been dropped, and the application by the handbag brand to use the initials, which was first published in the Trademark Journal in the US last year, has been registered.
More than a thousand former residents of Karabakh of Armenian nationality, who voluntarily left the region and moved to Armenia, appealed to the ECHR for the right to return and property. This is reported by the Armenian media.

The appeal demands to ensure the property rights of the Armenians, as well as to recognize their right to collective return. They say that a whole nation is deprived of the right to return to their homeland and this must be urgently corrected. The authors of the appeal, drawn up on behalf of the former residents of Karabakh, consider the ECHR to be the only instance with the tools to resolve the issue.

The Armenians began bombarding the European Court of Justice with their appeals at the end of 2024. Before that, they had not unpacked their suitcases for a whole year, expecting that they were about to return to Azerbaijan, which, as promised, would not withstand international pressure. When a year passed and nothing like this happened, the revanchists began to think about how to use the separatist mass to their advantage. This mass hung on the neck of the Armenian budget, not moving either here or there. They were clearly not welcome in Armenia, either in the government or in society. The initial calculations did not pay off and a plan B was required.

Initially, when the Armenians of Karabakh were being urged to leave Azerbaijan, it was planned that they would not stay in Armenia for long. The Karabakh tribesmen were only required to make pitiful faces and give pitiful interviews in order to form a certain image of "bloodsuckers" in the face of Baku among the international community. It was expected that against the background of worldwide hysteria, he would be forced to open the Lachin road to the Armenians for mass return, and everything would be as before. The Armenians will return with music and accompanied by international missions and will dictate terms to Baku. The mise-en-scenes of the future performance were prescribed, where Armenians get off buses, fall to their knees with tears and kiss the asphalt. And the whole world is crying with them.

But these were just fantasies, the unrealizability of which was understood by every cat in the Khankendi alley, but the organizers and agitators, through whose fault the Armenians of Karabakh voluntarily moved to Armenia, did not understand. No one persecuted them, threatened them, or burned down their homes, however, ordinary Armenians, unfortunately, got used to such manipulations and once again allowed themselves to be turned into an instrument of a political game. No one expected that they would have to stay there for more than a couple of months. No one expected that the results of the September 2023 anti-terrorist operation would be recognized by the world. And they are recognized - there can be no doubt about that. And, of course, no one expected that Azerbaijan would rigidly raise the issue of the mirror return of Azerbaijani refugees to Armenia.

Revanchist circles have only one hope left - the ECHR.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan strongly advises his tribesmen to stop this activity, because keeping the issue of the return of Armenians who voluntarily left Karabakh on the agenda is not productive. "We will no longer delve into who lived where, who had what. We're closing the subject. This is the only way we can achieve peace. We have our own truth, but everyone else also has their own," he said, presenting the election program of the Civil Contract.

Unfortunately, the reasonable position of the head of government does not find sufficient response in the Armenian society. Propaganda, almost completely taken over by the opposition, regularly conducts counterattacks so that Armenians do not forget about their claims on the territories of their neighbors and continue to proudly straighten their backs, looking at the map "from sea to sea."

The first complaints were sent to the ECHR at the end of 2024, and the process intensified in 2025. As of April 2026, the European Court of Justice was "honored" to receive more than 500 complaints, in which the interests of more than a thousand people are represented. If this continues, Strasbourg is in danger of being inundated with tens of thousands of complaints and floods of tears. Will this help you achieve your goal? No. Firstly, Azerbaijan does not recognize the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. The reasons have been repeatedly explained by the head of state and will not be repeated. And secondly, Baku has never denied Armenians the right to live on Azerbaijani soil.

Azerbaijan has prepared a program for the reintegration of the Armenian population of Karabakh after the 44-day war. They were asked to accept Azerbaijani citizenship and live according to the laws of Azerbaijan, despite everything they had done during the thirty years of conflict. However, hatred of everything Azerbaijani and megalomania did not allow the Armenians to adequately assess this opportunity. They were at that time expecting a completely different development of events.

The reintegration program remains in force even after the voluntary and unprovoked mass departure of Armenians from Karabakh. Even today, they can return and live according to the laws of the country in which they want to reside. There is no other option for returning. Not for anyone. Citizens of other countries cannot live in large numbers on the territory of Azerbaijan and have any special rights. Armenians are no exception, and migration laws apply to them.

In an address to the people on September 20, 2020, President Ilham Aliyev said: "Today, a new historical opportunity has been created for ordinary people living in Karabakh. They should not miss this chance. We are ready for this and the Azerbaijani people know it. I am convinced that the Armenian people also know that I am true to my word. We propose this, and I hope that our proposal will be accepted. Because this proposal is based on logic, historical justice, international law and future development, and is designed for future development."

The Armenian population of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan missed the historical chance given to Baku, succumbed to the propaganda of agitators, got into cars and buses and went to Armenia to wait for the promised miracle.

Over the past three years, Baku has repeatedly said that Armenians who wish to return can do so at any time, but on the terms defined by the laws of the country. In this case, there will be everything - both work and social protection. We should not expect a collective return. Decisions on granting citizenship, residence permit and the right to work will be made on an individual basis. The Armenians will not be able to enter Azerbaijan in the same format as they left.

Another quote from the address of the Azerbaijani leader dated September 20, 2023, addressed to the Armenians of Karabakh: "We are ready to implement various social programs. We are rebuilding the whole of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Look at how much work we've been doing in just two years. In 30 years, perhaps not even one percent of the work has been done in this region - power plants, bridges, tunnels, reservoirs, residential buildings, villages, cities are being built. In just two years. Without any help, by yourself. After the end of the Second Karabakh War, I said that we would turn Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur into a paradise, and we are turning it, and all the people who come see this. We will create the same conditions in Khankendi, Agdera, Khojavand, and villages. Let's create it in Askeran. It's in our hands. So here's our proposal, and today was a turning point."

Do the voluntary displaced persons from Karabakh regret their stupid decision today? It is possible that they regret it. But internal mental barriers do not allow you to listen to the voice of reason. It's their fault and their problem. Azerbaijan has done everything it could, and it is not serious to demand from it the unconditional opening of all doors to Armenians.

No matter what decisions the ECHR makes, nothing will change. The reintegration program exists, and the Internet in Armenia is said to be working well. Citizens of foreign countries who have been illegally residing in the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan for thirty years, contrary to Azerbaijani legislation, cannot demand more than the laws of the country offer them. There are no special rights different from the rights of all other citizens of Azerbaijan, no autonomy - neither cultural nor territorial, no fulfillment of whims in the form of textbooks from Armenia and the special status of the Armenian language. The houses where the Armenians who stupidly left lived are safe and sound. The property in these houses has not been looted. Our neighbors, who looted thousands of Azerbaijani homes during the occupation, find it hard to believe, but it is true. As for real estate, only those who were registered in Karabakh before the occupation have rights to it. All others are considered illegal settlers. The registration and documentation of the separatist regime in Azerbaijan is not valid. These documents can only confirm that a person illegally resided at such and such an address, but do not give the right to own this property. Foreign citizens can purchase real estate in Azerbaijan. Real estate does not automatically become the property of a foreign citizen, just because he has lived there for some years. And another "bad news" is that citizens of other countries cannot buy land in Azerbaijan, they can only rent it.

So in any case, the return to Karabakh must be accompanied by the transfer to Azerbaijani citizenship. Whatever the ECHR decides. It is better for the former residents of Karabakh to listen to the official Yerevan and not count on a "miracle". And if they really want to return and live in good neighborliness and peace, they should turn to the reintegration program proposed by Baku. Because their future geographical location depends only on him.
Photo: siberia.transneft.ru

Slovakia began receiving oil via the Druzhba pipeline on Thursday morning, European media reported, citing the Slovak Economy Ministry.

The first deliveries were recorded at around 2:00 a.m. local time (3:00 a.m. Moscow time), the ministry said.

Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said yesterday that oil deliveries to Slovakia via the Druzhba oil pipeline were expected to resume on Thursday.
Russia's losses from Ukrainian energy strikes already in tens of billions of dollars  Zelenskyy

Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

Ukraine is mirroring Russias strikes on its energy infrastructure and hitting what is painful for Russia, with their losses already in the tens of billions of dollars, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"As for our responses to Russian strikes on our energy infrastructure  they are certainly mirrored. We certainly attack what is painful for Russia Today their losses are already in the tens of billions. These are critical losses for Russia," Zelenskyy told journalists on Thursday.

Russia does not want to stop and continues to strike Ukrainians and energy infrastructure, so Ukraine will continue to target Russias largest energy generation capacities and weapons production facilities, he said.

This is one of the ways to put pressure on Russia, the president said.
The EUR 90 billion loan to be provided to Ukraine for 2026-2027 is to be repaid by Kyiv using reparations owed by Russia, the EU Council said.

"The amendments to the EU multiannual financial framework regulation adopted today confirm that the loan in support of Ukraine will be financed through EU borrowing on capital markets and backed by an EU budgetary reserve. The loan is to be repaid from reparations owed by Russia to Ukraine," the Council said in a press release.

On the start of disbursements, the EU Council said todays decision on the last key legislative act underpinning the EU loan agreed by the European Council in December last year will allow the European Commission to begin payments as soon as possible, in the second quarter of 2026.

"The loan will help cover the countrys most pressing budgetary needs and defense industrial capacity needs in 2026 and 2027 within a robust and conditional framework. Funding will be linked to the fulfillment of strict conditions on Ukraines part, such as respect for the rule of law, including the fight against corruption," the Council said.

The Council recalled that on February 24 it adopted the regulation establishing the loan in support of Ukraine, as well as a regulation allowing funds to flow through the Ukraine Facility, a dedicated EU instrument for providing stable and predictable financial support to Ukraine. The loan regulation itself was agreed under an enhanced cooperation procedure involving 24 member states, without Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The press release also detailed how funding will be distributed. "The funding will help strengthen European and Ukrainian defense industries. It will be provided in two ways with the following indicative breakdown: EUR 30 billion for macroeconomic support to Ukraine, provided through macro-financial assistance or through the Ukraine Assistance Mechanism. These funds can be used to meet Ukraines most pressing budgetary needs. EUR 60 billion for Ukraines capacity to invest in defense industrial capabilities, including the procurement of defense products," the Council said.

The funding will give Ukraine "decisive and timely access" to defense products from Ukraines, EU, EEA-EFTA and other third countries defense industries, the Council said. "These third countries must either conclude a bilateral agreement with the Union in accordance with the SAFE regulation, or demonstrate compliance with certain conditions and commitments. In addition, targeted derogations may apply if Ukraines military needs require urgent supply of defense products unavailable in Ukraine, the EU, EEA-EFTA countries or these third countries," the Council said.

Disbursements will be available according to Ukraines financing needs as defined by a financing strategy prepared by Ukraine itself.

Following a positive assessment of Ukraines strategy, the European Commission on April 1 submitted a proposal for a Council implementing decision approving the positive assessment of Ukraines Financing Strategy and granting financial and economic assistance to Ukraine, the press release said.
The honorary doctors have all made distinguished contributions to the university's research and education.

Marie Ekeland is unique among venture capitalists in her commitment to letting research form the basis of the frameworks that guide investment decisions, says Beatrice Crona, professor and science director at the Centre.

Marie Ekeland is a renowned French entrepreneur and venture capitalist with experience in starting companies, developing innovation systems and national public missions to promote long-term societal resilience.

She co-founded France Digitale, Europe's largest interest organization for startups and venture capitalists, which plays a central role in strengthening Europe's capacity for responsible innovation at scale.

She has also been the chair of the French Digital Council, an official advisory body to the French government tasked with guiding national strategy on digital transformation, ethics and systemic risks.

This year's six honorary doctors at Stockholm University are: Matti Bye, Marie Ekeland, Karen Evans, Stephane Horel, Ugo Pagallo and Corinne Peneau.

Read about them on the webpage of Stockholm University.




Photo: https://www.facebook.com/eleringAS/

Dragon Capital plans to invest over $3 million in developing energy-efficient solutions at its facilities in 2026, with a focus on solar power plants, Oleksandr Shmorhun, Director of Facility Management at Dragon Capital PM, told Interfax-Ukraine.

He emphasized that the company continues to increase equipment capacity, taking into account not only the upcoming heating season.

"All our shopping centers have gas heating, except for the Piramida Shopping Center, which is heated by electricity. During the power outages this winter, which lasted for about 300 hours in January, the temperature at Piramida dropped to 14 degrees Celsius on the coldest day of the month. We purchased additional electric generators, which are sufficient to provide all the heating for this combined heat and power plant," he said on the sidelines of UCSC TALKS in Kyiv on Wednesday.

According to him, alternative equipment is now needed in the summer as well: "We've installed additional generators at other retail and office properties. The new equipment makes it possible to ensure the cooling system operates comfortably for tenants and visitors."
MCCS Connect is replacing all local moble apps that provided directories, bus schedules and other helpful information. (U.S. Marine Corps)



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan  Marine Corps Community Services has developed a standard mobile phone app to help Marines, sailors and their families find resources at their installations in time for the upcoming PCS season.

MCCS Connect is replacing all local applications that provided directories, bus schedules and other helpful information, and is available for download now, according to Ronald Netemeyer, community services marketing director at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.

The development of the Connect app is part of the standardization that were doing, he said in an interview Monday.

The app makes a timely arrival as military families prepare for permanent changes of station.

When people are PCSing, they dont have to learn a new app. When different installations had their own app, every time somebody PCSes, they had to either download a new app, delete the old ones, learn the layout of the new location, Netemeyer said.

For four years, the Iwakuni Altitude app housed information for all the events MCCS was hosting on the installation and in the local community, said Netemeyer, who has served marketing director since 2024.

Not every installation had its own phone app.

In the past, if you wanted to know more about the information, you had to Google it, he said.

With MCCS Connect, service members can toggle between installations and find services they might need without leaving the app, Netemeyer said. The local branch had to pay for Iwakuni Altitude out of its own budget, but MCCS Connect eliminates that expense.

Not every installation had an app previously, Netemeyer said. So the standardization allows them to have their location in there, and its actually through headquarters, so it does save some local funding.

Other service branches have similar versions of the Connect app that replaced individual base apps. The Air Force, for example, launched USAF Connect in 2019.

The mobile app provides base directories, emergency contacts, installation announcements, base shuttle schedules and social media links.

Marine Corps Community Services Headquarters did not respond to requests for further information sent April 9 via email and April 16 on Messenger.

Netemeyer said the change was inspired by feedback from multiple commands about the inconsistencies between installations. The app also will make publishing content easier for the digital teams behind the app.

Previously, they had to be manually input into multiple locations, which creates an opportunity for human error, he said.
John Phelan, shown here testifying in June 2025 during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, is leaving his post as secretary of the Navy. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is leaving his position effective immediately, the Pentagon announced Wednesday night.

On behalf of the Secretary of War (Pete Hegseth) and Deputy Secretary of War (Steve Feinberg), we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a post on X, using the administrations preferred term for the Department of Defense. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy, Parnell said.

The reason for Phelans departure is not clear. Stars and Stripes could not immediately reach Phelans office for comment.

The Pentagon will look to replace a service secretary for the first time during President Donald Trumps second term.

The change comes one day after the Pentagon released its $1.5 trillion budget proposal. The Navy would get $377.5 billion to pay for everything from more ballistic missile submarines to new military housing projects.

At the top of the wish list are two new kinds of ships  a BBG (X), the first Trump-class guided-missile battleship; and the FFX, the first of a new type of frigate based on a Coast Guard cutter design.

The battleship is at the center of Trumps Golden Fleet plan, which also includes the new frigate to be modeled on a modified Coast Guard National Security Cutter. It replaces the planned Constellation-class frigate that was scuttled by Phelan late last year.

Trump has made shipbuilding a focus of his second term, vowing to build commercial and military ships very fast, very soon to keep pace with Chinas growing naval fleet and challenge its dominance in the commercial shipbuilding market.

Phelans departure also comes as the U.S. Navy has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world as the ceasefire in the Iran war continues.

Phelan had not served in the military or had a civilian leadership role in the service before Trump nominated him for secretary in late 2024.

Phelans only connection to the military was through an advisory role for the Spirit of America, a nonprofit that works with troops and diplomats to deliver assistance to communities affected by conflict.

He was a major donor to President Donald Trumps 2024 reelection campaign and said during his confirmation hearing in February 2025 that Trump often texted him in the middle of the night to complain about rusty warships.

Phelan also committed during his confirmation to passing a department-wide audit and growing the Navys enlisted ranks.

He was confirmed to the post in March 2025.

Since Trumps return to office, a slate of the most senior military officers has been removed or retired.

Earlier this month, Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff Randy George to step down, and he fired two other Army generals.

Some of the other firings include Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations; Adm. Linda Fagan, the commandant of the Coast Guard; and Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Cao graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy for 25 years, deploying with special operations forces to defuse bombs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia and working on the Navy budget process during assignments to the Pentagon.

He retired at the rank of captain before turning to politics.

In 2022, Cao ran unsuccessfully for Virginias 10th Congressional District and in 2024 lost the Senate election to Sen. Tim Kaine, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Seapower subcommittee.
A PAC-3 MSE launch by the U.S. Army in an undated photograph. (U.S. Army)



The land-based Patriot air defense system would be used on ships for the first time under a contract signed this week, the Navy said Wednesday.

Lockheed Martin will provide Patriot Advanced Capacity (PAC)-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors to be integrated with the Navys Aegis Combat System aboard ships.

The Aegis system can track dozens of incoming threats and is used by the Navys Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and other Navy ships for combating missile and drone attacks.

Demand for missile interceptors of all kinds has surged since the United States and Israel attacked Iran last summer and more widely during Operation Epic Fury, which began Feb. 28.

Lockheed has long pushed for a ship-based Patriot system for the Navy, saying the PAC-3s give a ship a better defense against hypersonic missiles that can maneuver toward targets, unlike ballistic missiles.

This integration further expands the capability of Aegis to engage missile threats at multiple layers, Chandra Marshall, a Lockheed vice president, said in a statement.

The Patriot system is used by the Army and 16 partner countries, according to Lockheed. The Navy pact is the first time the missile will be used at sea. The Navy did not say when the system would begin service on ships.

The Navys 2027 defense budget, released on Tuesday, requests a total of $1.7 billion for 405 PAC-3 missiles and components. Each PAC-3 costs about $4 million.

The Defense Department recently agreed to a seven-year $4.7 billion pact with Lockheed to increase PAC-3 production from 600 per year to 2,000 by 2030.

The PAC-3 uses a kinetic hit-to-kill system  often called bullet-to-bullet  in which the interceptor slams into the target at high speed. Other air defense systems explode with proximity to the incoming missile, using blast and fragmentation to bring down the target.

The Navy currently uses variants of the Standard Missile, along with the RIM-162 SeaSparrow Missile for ship defense.

China, Russia and the United States have all been developing hypersonic missiles that can travel at more than five times the speed of sound. Launched either vertically or in horizontal cruise-missile mode, hypersonic weapons are designed to alter their altitude and trajectory as they approach a target, making them difficult to intercept.

Lockheed builds many of the PAC-3 interceptors at an 85,000-square-foot facility in Camden, Ark.

According to the Defense Post, an independent industry publication based in Washington D.C., the PAC-3 is 16-feet long, 10 inches in diameter, and weighs about 820 pounds. It has a dual-pulse solid rocket motor enabling a maximum altitude of 118,000 feet, a range of 75 miles and a top speed above Mach 4 (about 3,069 mph).
USS Zumwalt steams through San Diego Bay, Calif., in this undated photo. Three sailors were injured in a fire aboard the ship this week while at a naval shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. (Zachary Bell/U.S. Navy)



Three sailors were injured this week in a fire aboard a destroyer in Mississippi, according to a news report.

One sailor was taken to a local hospital for treatment with unspecified injuries. The other two sailors received first aid on the scene, USNI News reported Wednesday, citing a Naval Surface Force spokesperson.

All three are in stable condition, the Navy said in a statement to USNI News.

The fire broke out aboard USS Zumwalt at 9:45 p.m. Sunday when the destroyer was pierside at a naval shipyard in Pascagoula. It was extinguished by the crew, USNI News reported.

Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of technologically advanced destroyers designed to evade detection, among other capabilities, and was once billed as the future of Navy lethality.

It arrived at the shipyard in August 2023 for upgrades that included four additional missile silos. The service originally hoped to have the destroyer ready to deploy last year. Its unclear how close the work was to completion.

The improvements would enable the stealth destroyer to fire hypersonic missiles, which travel more than five times the speed of sound.

The service had envisioned a fleet of 32 of the vessels, but that number dwindled to just three as the class was canceled in 2008 amid ballooning costs and concerns that the destroyers lacked crucial self-defense capabilities.

The other Zumwalt class ships are USS Michael Monsoor and USS Lyndon B. Johnson. Final per-unit cost for the ships was estimated at $8 billion.

Its unclear where the fire originated. The Navy is investigating the cause and extent of damage, according to the statement.

The Zumwalt blaze is the latest in a recent spate of them on Navy vessels.

Last week, three sailors were injured in a small fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as the ship was undergoing maintenance in Norfolk, Va.

In March, three sailors were injured in a blaze aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford while the ship was in the Red Sea.

That fire started in the ships main laundry areas and spread to nearby berthing compartments, displacing some 600 sailors.

Both of those fires also are being investigated.
U.S. Navy divers, attached to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, conduct a hazardous material detection sweep of the Artemis II crew module after its return from its lunar mission on April 10, 2026. (David Rowe/U.S. Navy)



Six Navy photographers were among the first to capture the Artemis II astronauts homecoming. Though the sailors have returned to their regular duties, they still think about their mission.

When people see our photos, I hope they feel like they are seeing history in the making, MC2 Kenneth Melseth said this week.

From the waters of the Pacific Ocean to the flight deck of the USS John P. Murtha, Melseth and his colleagues were in place to cover every stage of the astronauts return on April 10 using photo and video.

On a recovery boat moving across the Pacific Ocean, MC2 David Rowe watched the Orion capsule parachute down from the sky as Navy and NASA teams moved in to begin recovery operations.

From left to right, NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman pose for a photo on the front porch before transiting to amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), April 10, 2026. (David Rowe/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy divers, attached to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 1, approach the Artemis II crew module to recover the crew after returning from their lunar mission on April 10, 2026. (David Rowe/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy divers, attached to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 1, approach the Artemis II crew module, to recover the Artemis II crew after returning from its lunar mission on April 10, 2026. (David Rowe/U.S. Navy)



Ill never forget hearing the sonic boom as the capsule reentered the atmosphere, watching it splash down, and racing over by [the] boat, said Rowe, a Navy dive photographer stationed at Naval Command in San Diego. He was among the first to capture the hatch opening and the astronauts emerging.

The sailors have photographed many special assignments during their careers, but they all agree that this one stands out as one of the most meaningful.

Taking photos that will go down in history is a huge honor, said MC2 August Clawson, who serves with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group ONE in Coronado, Calif.

The other photographers included: MCSN Matthew Green, stationed on the USS Carl Vinson; MC3 Elyssia Rodriguez, stationed on the USS Carl Vinson; and MC1 Charles Scudella III, with Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego.

U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Green, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), captures video footage of the Orion crew module in the Pacific Ocean from the bridge wing of amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Charles J. Scudella III/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Elyssia Rodriguez prepares for the arrival of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on the flight deck aboard amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Kenneth Melseth/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Melseth walks with his camera bag on July 1, 2025. Melseth was one of six Navy photographers assigned to document the recovery of Artemis II in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Sam McNeely/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Charles Scudella III talks with a sailor on Friday, April 10, 2026. Scudella was one of six Navy photographers assigned to document the recovery of Artemis II in the Pacific Ocean. (Kristi Johnson/U.S. Navy)



As Rowe captured the capsule from the water, the other sailors stood on the flight deck of the USS John P. Murtha, waiting for the helicopters carrying the astronauts to land.

All I could think about was how badly I didnt want to mess this up, said Melseth, who is stationed on the USS America in San Diego. This was likely the best chance I would ever have to document history and leave my own mark on it.

Artemis II was NASAs first crewed lunar flyby mission in more than 50 years, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon. It launched on April 1. The crew included commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor J. Glover Jr., and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.

Glover is a captain in the Navy who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wiseman is a retired Navy captain who deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, left, and Jeremy Hansen celebrate in an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, aboard the USS John P. Murtha, after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. Wiseman, a retired Navy captain and Iraq War veteran, commanded the historic moon mission. (Kenneth Melseth/U.S. Navy)

NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Victor J. Glover, center, raises his fist in celebration on the flight deck aboard amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha following extraction from the Orion crew module in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Kenneth Melseth/U.S. Navy)

NASA astronaut Christina Koch, center left, walks across the flight deck aboard amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha following extraction from the Orion crew module in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Kenneth Melseth/U.S. Navy)



The gravity of this mission, no pun intended, made it special to me. I was one of the few hundred people that got to take part in documenting the Navys recovery of the crew and capsule, Rodriguez said.

In the days leading up to the astronauts return, the team held daily planning sessions and coordinated their strategy for documenting that day. Scudella said their main goal was to capture imagery that showed the weight of the moment, including the emotions of sailors and Marines as well as the pure relief and joy of the astronauts.

Thats what we really wanted to show, and I think our team succeeded, Scudella said.

Artemis II pilot and Navy captain Victor J. Glover claps for sailors assigned to the USS John P. Murtha, following the astronauts extraction from the Orion space capsule in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Elyssia Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy divers assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 and sailors assigned to amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha drive rigid-hull inflatable boats in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Elyssia Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, left, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen celebrate in an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, aboard amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha following extraction from the Orion crew module in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Elyssia Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)



Clawson said there were natural moments that helped the team get great photos, like the astronauts landing on the flight deck right when the sun was setting, which created a beautiful golden light that gave him the iconic shots of Koch sitting in the helicopter.

The moment was surreal. I had a giddy feeling knowing I just took photos of astronauts that just went farther from Earth than any before them, Clawson said.

Since the spacecraft and crew returned, the teams photos have circulated across the internet, and the mission continues to resonate around the world.

Seeing it get attention, and from such large outlets, is both delightful and a great learning experience, Green said. Being able to cover such a high profile event was a perfect reminder of how thankful I am to have this job.
(Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)



Afghanistan, March 24, 2005: Humvees from the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Division use a riverbed as a road as they travel through eastern Afghanistan on a two-day mission to the villages of Zarwuk and Naka.

The soldiers were patrolling a large, mountainous rural area connected by the most basic of roads.

Read the full article on the patrol in eastern Afghanistan here.
The menu posted near the gate leading into Paprika am Ring offers the only insight into the Hungarian dishes served at the restaurant in Mannheim, Germany. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes)



The spice cupboard in our family kitchen was a source of fascination during my youth, especially containers whose labels described the origin and history of such favorites as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and saffron.

My half-Italian mothers recipes were the usual way of experiencing their delights. I also reveled in chances to add spices to baked goods or meals I was preparing.

But I struggle to recall a culinary concoction from those days that called for paprika. It was generally part of the stock on hand, but in retrospect it seemed to be our houses sole inhabitant of the island of misfit spices.

Not until my early 40s, when I checked off the bucket-list destination of Budapest, did I encounter paprika on a food item other than the dreaded deviled eggs. The goulash I ordered for lunch on my first day in the Hungarian capital stuck with me as much as it stuck to my ribs.

Now, as a nearly five-year resident of Germany seeing the intense European and American focus on the mid-April elections in Hungary, I had a hankering for another taste of the countrys cuisine and its signature spice. Thats how Paprika am Ring in Mannheim found its way into my search results.

For the first of two dinners there, I started with an order of langos. My Eastern European phrase books normally helpful table of dishes led me to expect a deep-fried potato cake, which I envisioned as something like a hash brown patty.

The Hungarian food offerings at Paprika am Ring in Mannheim, Germany, include three types of langos. Pictured is the one the eatery calls the Langos Devil. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes)



Instead, I was served an item that looked like a mini pizza topped with garlic, creme fraiche, bacon, onions and pepperoncini. It was tasty and filling, so I didnt mind the books misinterpretation.

The selection of a main course came down to two items: chicken goulash or Wiener schnitzel with paprika. Im guessing the latter is a testament to when Hungary was the junior partner in the Vienna-run Habsburg Empire.

But it didnt feel right to me, given the ubiquity of schnitzels in the German-speaking world, so goulash it was.

The chicken goulash at Paprika am Ring in Mannheim, Germany, is bursting with the flavor of the eatery's namesake spice. It is served with a side of spatzle. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes)



That turned out to be a fine choice. The pieces of chicken covered in a paprika cream sauce were savory and gained Hungarian character when dipped in the adjacent sour cream, which was sprinkled with the restaurants namesake.

I ravenously polished off both items, although I left the entrees accompanying spatzle almost untouched due to its blandness.

My chosen beverage was the most intriguing thing on the table that night. Known as kiba, its a smoothielike blend of chilled cherry and banana nectars whose name comes from the German words for the two fruits, kirsche and banane.

A glass of kiba sits on a table at Paprika am Ring in Mannheim, Germany. The beverage consists of chilled cherry and banana nectars, as reflected in the name, which is derived from the German words for the two fruits. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes)



The nectars differing densities create a suspension rather than a mixture, giving the drink a marbled appearance. The delicious duality was a welcome discovery that I look forward to ordering again sometime.

A few days later, I returned with a companion for a follow-up dinner. This time, I came primed to try the menu item listed as Szegediner goulash, an amalgam of sauteed pork, sauerkraut and creme fraiche served with boiled potatoes.

The German name prompted me to guess that the dish hails from the southern Hungarian city of Szeged, but that turned out to be wrong. In English, its called Szekely (pronounced SEH-kay) goulash in reference to the name of its purported inventor.

Although Ive outgrown a number of finicky eater tendencies from childhood, sauerkraut usually generates a high yuck factor with me. Not so with this Paprika am Ring preparation, however.

The Hungarian dish known in English as Szekely goulash is listed on the Paprika am Ring menu as Szegediner goulash. It blends pork, sauerkraut and peppercorns in a creamy sauce. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes)



The ingredient mixture had me loving every bite. As for the side, the potatoes were a vast improvement on the spatzle served with the previous meal.

Speaking of which, the German who joined me on visit No. 2 ordered the same dish I had tried days earlier, and her verdict was in lockstep with mine. Hearing her say she didnt care for the spatzle made me feel more secure in my review.

The cuisine of Hungary makes up only a fraction of the offerings at Paprika am Ring, which is owned by an Italian married to a Hungarian. Italian food, therefore, predominates. Patrons who dont feel up to a meal a la Magyar will have no problem finding something more familiar.

The restaurants distinctiveness as a purveyor of the tastes of Hungary is not well-advertised, as the signage and the color scheme of red, white and green give the impression that its just another Italian restaurant in Germany.

I had walked past it at least twice before, thinking that was the case, so I did a double take when my map app directed me there. Only then did it dawn on me that the flags of Italy and Hungary have identical coloration.

The outdoor patio area at Paprika am Ring in Mannheim, Germany, surrounds patrons in greenery. The restaurant serves Hungarian and Italian cuisine. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes)



Since that aforementioned Budapest trip, Ive gone back twice more and now consider it my favorite European city. My last visit was a one-day stopover en route back to Germany a couple of weeks before Christmas.

But an extremely tight budget meant that I could only look longingly at the assorted food offerings and mentally note them for next time. Paprika am Ring allows me to bridge that gap, however long it ends up being.

A stroll along the ring road in Mannheim, Germany, is a good way to work off calories after a meal at Paprika am Ring. Across the street from the city's iconic water tower is the Pelican Fountain, surrounded by the lovely, flagrant blooms of empress trees. (David Edwards/Stars and Stripes)



Paprika am Ring

Address: U4 No. 13, Mannheim, Germany

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 5-11:30 p.m.

Prices: Langos, 9.50 to 9.90 euros; goulash, 16.50 to 21.90 euros; paprika schnitzel, 19.50 euros; goulash soup, 12.90 euros; kiba, 4.10 euros

Information: +49 621 43759339, https://paprika-am-ring.de/
A Chinese destroyer was spotted sailing between Japans westernmost island, Yonaguni, and Iriomote Island before sailing into Japans contiguous zone heading toward the East China Sea on April 22, 2026. (Japan Joint Staff)



Two Chinese naval vessels sailed between Japans southwestern islands this week, Japans military said, in a passage that follows training in the Western Pacific and comes amid heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted the guided-missile destroyer and frigate south of Hateruma Island around 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to a Joint Staff news release that day. Both ships were moving northwest.

The same vessels were later seen sailing northeast between Yonaguni and Iriomote islands, entering Japans contiguous zone and heading toward the East China Sea, the release said. Both islands are part of Okinawa prefecture.

Foreign vessels are allowed to pass through the roughly 35-nautical-mile-wide waterway under international law, though Japan may respond if ships enter its territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles from shore.

The same vessels were tracked Sunday sailing northwest between Amami Oshima and Yokoate Island in Kagoshima prefecture. The destroyer JS Akebono, assigned to a Sasebo-based surface squadron, monitored the Chinese vessels during their transit, the Joint Staff said.

Chinas defense ministry said the ships were returning from an exercise.

The Chinese navys Formation 133 was passing through the area after it completed its training in the Western Pacific  effectively testing its operations capabilities on the far-seas, spokesman Senior Col. Xu Chenghua said Wednesday in a news release on the ministrys website.

The movements come as naval activity in nearby waters has increased in recent days.

Chinas aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Monday, according to Taiwans defense ministry. It was the first such transit since Beijings newest carrier, Fujian, made a similar passage in December.

Japan has also stepped up its presence in the area. The guided-missile destroyer JS Ikazuchi transited the Taiwan Strait on April 17, marking the fourth such passage by Japans navy since June, according to Japanese media reports.

The move drew criticism from Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun called the transit a dangerous plot of some in Japan to militarily intervene in the Taiwan Strait and undermine peace and stability there, according to a government transcript.

China has increasingly used the waterways near Japans southwestern islands to travel between the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea.

In September 2024, the Liaoning became the first Chinese aircraft carrier to pass between Yonaguni and Iriomote. The transit  along with a separate incursion by a Chinese survey vessel into Japanese territorial waters near Kagoshima  prompted Tokyo to lodge strong protests with Beijing.
Pacific Forum president David Santoro, center, moderates a panel in Honolulu, April 21, 2026, with David Stilwell, a former assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Kelly Magsamen, who served as chief of staff to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)



WAIKIKI BEACH, Hawaii  The area of responsibility embraced by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command should include the entire border of China to better exploit its tensions with India, Pakistan and Russia, a retired Air Force general and former State Department official said Tuesday.

We need to redraw that map so there is no [Central Command] on Chinas western border, David Stilwell, who was assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2019 to 2021, said during a panel discussion at Pacific Forums annual banquet on Waikiki Beach.

He was joined by Kelly Magsamen, former chief of staff to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2024.

Pacific Forum is a Honolulu-based foreign policy think tank that focuses on security, political and economic issues in the Indo-Pacific and began holding annual defense conferences in 2024.

We redesign it so the commander of INDOPACOM has ways of affecting Chinese interest on its western border, where its weak, said Stilwell, a China hawk who was a central figure in moving U.S. policy away from engagement with China and toward strategic competition.

China has a robust military and economic presence to its east, where it tries to dominate neighboring Southeast Asian countries in its disputed claims of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. America and allies Japan and Philippines, however, push back on Chinas agenda, with the U.S. Navy maintaining a steady presence in the sea.

INDOPACOM is already the largest of six in the Unified Command Plan, and covers more than half the Earths surface, half its population and several other large militaries, according to its websites.

Stilwell argues that the Unified Command Plan that divides combatant commands by geographical region, such as Africa Command and European Command, was designed to counteract the threat posed by the Soviet Union, which dissolved in 1991.

It is no longer relevant, he said. The fact that CENTCOM sits on Chinas western border and is thinking about ways they can cooperate with China on counterterror is just shocking. I mean, are they not reading the headlines today?

Stilwell was referring to the Chinese Communist Partys treatment of the Muslim Uyghur people who live in Xinjian province in western China.

President Donald Trumps first administration designated the partys actions, which have included forced sterilizations, forced labor and mass detentions, as genocide.

Ive been to Xinjiang, said Stilwell, who served as defense attache in Beijing from 2011 to 2013. I can tell you its happening.

In an essay published in 2024 in the journal Space and Defense, Stilwell wrote that a counterterrorism-focused combatant command cannot meaningfully exploit frictions in the Chinese Communist Partys Shanghai Cooperation Organization, whose members include Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran, among others on Chinas western border.

China established the organization as a collective security mechanism on its weak western flank, Stilwell wrote.

The collective, however, is doomed given the realities of the open and ongoing conflict between Pakistan and India and China and India, he wrote.

It will, however, take more than the American military to exploit such fissures, Stilwell told the audience Tuesday.

If we were as serious about economic and information warfare as we are about military security, this problem would be solved tomorrow, he said.
South Korean Unification Minister Jung Dong-young poses at the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarized Zone, July 25, 2025. (Brendan Trembath/U.N. Command)



A dispute in South Koreas capital over a government minister publicly disclosing the site where North Korea enriches uranium for nuclear weapons is rippling across the U.S. alliance, according to government sources.

South Koreas Defense Intelligence Agency on Tuesday alleged that the countrys unification minister may have revealed classified information when he spoke publicly about North Koreas Kusong region, the nuclear site, a spokesman for National Assembly Rep. Lim Jong-deuk said by phone Thursday.

Unification Minister Jung Dong-young identified the site during a National Assembly committee meeting on March 6, according to a YouTube video of the meeting.

The intelligence service notified Lim Jong-deuk, a member of the National Defense Committee, that information about the facility is classified as South Korea-U.S.s joint secret, therefore public disclosure is limited, according to Lims spokesman, who declined further comment.

Some South Korean government officials must speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

Rep. Sung Il-jong, chair of the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly, told reporters on Tuesday that Jungs remarks have created a rift in the U.S.-South Korean alliance, according to a YouTube video of the briefing.

Sung said U.S. Army Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, had met with South Korean National Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back to protest the alleged disclosure.

A spokesman for Sungs office declined by phone Wednesday to provide additional details.

The National Defense Ministry on Tuesday denied Sungs account.

Sungs statements about Brunson are not true at all, and for the USFK commander to raise such a protest in the context of alliance diplomacy would be inappropriate, said a text message to reporters from a ministry spokesperson.

USFK spokesman Kim Eun-chong also declined comment on by email Thursday, saying the command has nothing to add.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung defended Jung in a post Monday on X, saying knowledge of the North Korean facility was already in the public domain.

Lee wrote that the facilitys existence was widely known and had appeared in media reports even before Jungs remarks.

He dismissed claims of a leak as false and called for an investigation into the controversy.

The Unification Ministrys deputy spokesman, Yoon Min-ho, echoed that stance during a general briefing on Monday, saying Jungs comments were based on public knowledge, according to a briefing transcript.

He said Jung made similar remarks during his ministerial confirmation hearing in July.

South Korean media on Tuesday, citing unnamed military officials, reported the U.S. has partially limited South Koreas access to intelligence on North Korean technology collected via satellites in the wake of Jungs remarks.

However, the defense ministrys message said the allies remain in close communication and are maintaining a close intelligence sharing system, including monitoring North Koreas missile launch activities.

Seoul and Washington are in constant communication on major matters and strictly adhere to the General Security of Military Information Agreement, the message said.

Kim said USFK works alongside its South Korean ally every day to deter aggression and maintain peace and stability on the peninsula, but declined to comment on reports about limits on intelligence access.
The European Commission made an error in its calculations regarding the application of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to Ukraine from January 1, 2026. The practical results of the first quarter of 2026 have confirmed this mistake, and it must be corrected. Relevant negotiations are currently underway at the level of the European Commission, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka said.

"This is what we are discussing [with the European Commission]. I think we will find a solution that will satisfy the Commission," he said during a discussion at the Third EU-Ukraine Business Summit, taking place in Brussels on April 22-23.

According to Kachka, a "good discussion" took place in Brussels with Gerassimos Thomas, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD).

"And we see that we are capable of finding common ground on how to correct something technical that led to this mistake," the deputy prime minister said.

Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev, who also took part in the meeting with Thomas, was more blunt during the discussion: he described the interaction between Ukraine and the EU on CBAM issues as "strange." "Sometimes it feels a bit like gaslighting," the Economy Minister said.

He recalled that throughout last year, especially in its second half, the Ukrainian side had expressed concern that CBAM would create many problems for Ukraine and had provided the relevant calculations.

"And it's not that the EU said this was unimportant. They said it would not happen. They had calculations showing there would be no impact. Now we are seeing a really, really big impact. And this is news for the EU:  'oh, this is much worse than we expected.' This is very unusual. We usually do not have such disagreements with the EU in other sectors And yes, we need to resolve this," Sobolev said during the discussion at the business summit.

On Facebook, he clarified that due to the objective impossibility of verifying emissions during the war, losses in Ukrainian metallurgy exports in the first quarter of 2026 ranged from 17% to 93%, depending on the sector.

According to the minister, it was agreed that DG TAXUD would accelerate the process of verifying Ukraine's emissions and propose practical solutions for business.

"Also tomorrow [April 23] we will raise the discussion to the political level for further resolution," Sobolev said.

In Kachka's view, the problem that has arisen with CBAM is a manifestation of a strategic issue.

"For the [European] Commission, it is important to treat Ukraine as part of its own market, rather than as a trading partner," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to him, Ukraine is not simply a foreign market, a "third country," because the EU and Ukraine have signed an Association Agreement, Ukraine is a candidate for EU membership, and such application of CBAM is discriminatory.

"I think strategically this is also a message for business: Ukrainian business and European business must understand how we treat one another We need to begin to understand that there was a mistake, at least one or several, in the assumptions that were made last year, and how we can correct it this year before the damage to Ukrainian industry becomes irreversible. Because this is not only about direct damage. It is also about undermining trust in one another," Kachka believes.

He was supported by CEO of pipe and wheel company Interpipe Luca Zannotti. He said a general picture of cooperation with the EU is needed, on the basis of which companies can develop their policies.

The head of Interpipe stated that the CBAM situation is hitting Ukrainian producers even when they have low emissions, because they have no way to verify them.

Earlier, representatives of the energy sector also complained about the impossibility of avoiding payment at the maximum CBAM rate due to the lack of verification.

"That is, everyone in Europe who had the courage to buy electric power [from Ukraine], even from a solar power plant, has to pay EUR 68 for every MWh at the end of the quarter," Head of Kyiv office of Energy Community Secretariat Oleksiy Orzhel, who headed the Energy Ministry in 2019-2020, at the end of March.

He explained that this "carbon price" is calculated as the product of the CO2 emissions price, which is currently above EUR 70, and a coefficient which, for electricity, equals 0.9.

Orzhel told Interfax-Ukraine that CBAM verification of generating capacities in Ukraine, where the war is ongoing, is unlikely to take place this year or at the beginning of next year, because demand for this service is currently very high, including among Balkan countries, which have also been badly hit by the introduction of this mechanism.

"We stressed that in wartime conditions Ukraine's industry faces exceptional challenges, and we need practical, timely solutions to ensure fair treatment, predictability and continued economic resilience. Also agreed to continue technical work on improving access to actual values and verification, as well as reviewing the application of default values. A more predictable and balanced approach is essential," Kachka summed up on social media platform X following the meeting with DG TAXUD Director-General Thomas.
Passengers board the Patriot Express at RAF Mildenhall in England on Dec. 20, 2022. Rising jet fuel prices and supply concerns across Europe are driving up pressure on passengers just ahead of the summer months, the peak travel season for the U.S. military. (Viviam Chiu/U.S. Air Force)



Rising jet fuel costs and supply concerns across Europe are putting pressure on passengers just before the summer months that mark the U.S. militarys peak travel season.

The strain comes as shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint, prompt fears that Europe could face severe flight cancellations and reduced seating capacity this summer.

Lufthansa announced Tuesday that it had cut roughly 20,000 flights, a move expected to save the airliner nearly 40,000 metric tons of fuel through October. The cancellations are estimated to reduce overall seat capacity by about 1%.

The next few months will see the onset of the militarys peak permanent change-of-station season, when service members and their families travel for new duty assignments.

For service members who rely on commercial airlines in Europe, including Lufthansa, to reach PCS locations, its unclear whether flight cancellations and capacity reductions could affect travel timelines.

The potential impact extends beyond passenger airlines.

The 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, a major hub for Pentagon operations, was using between 500,000 and 600,000 gallons of fuel per day, according to a statement put out March 11.

That was roughly two weeks after war broke out between the United States and Iran. A two-week ceasefire negotiated earlier this month was about to expire when President Donald Trump announced an extension Tuesday.

We have about 9 million gallons of fuel storage that we (quality-check) constantly, Master Sgt. Matthew Bennett, the 86th Logistics Readiness Squadrons fuels management flight superintendent, said in the statement.

The unit supports three wings and five combatant commands, underscoring the scale of fuel demand at the U.S. militarys busiest air base in Europe.

Due to operational security, officials cannot provide specifics on fuel inventory levels or potential effects on military passenger travel, said Maj. Madeline Krpan, a spokesperson for U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

She described the logistics infrastructure there as highly resilient and robust.

Ramstein is a focal point for all sorts of U.S. military air travel in Europe, from operational missions to space-available flights on a service known as the Patriot Express.

However, troops stationed farther from the base often rely on commercial airlines for PCS moves, leave and other travel, particularly when Patriot Express capacity is limited.

Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said last week that Europe has maybe six weeks of jet fuel left.

Rising oil costs are part of broader pressures on the industry, but jet fuel availability remains an immediate concern, Michael OLeary, head of Ryanair, told Sky News in April.

However, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Union commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, pushed back on concerns in a statement Wednesday on X.

There are currently no fuel supply shortages across Europe, and cancellations are related to high prices, not to lack of supply, Tzitzikostas said.
U.S. Army vehicles are displayed during the Army's 250th birthday festival in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025. A parade of American-made military equipment is among proposals from the Atlantic Council think tank ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, as President Donald Trump considers withdrawing from the alliance. (Justin Rachal/U.S. Army)



A parade of American-made tanks, missiles and other hardware could help save the day when President Donald Trump travels to Turkey this summer for a high-stakes summit with NATOs future on the line, experts say.

In July, NATO heads of state will meet in Ankara for an annual gathering, only this time they face the prospect of a summit where the overarching goal will be to walk out with the U.S.-founded alliance still intact.

Trump, who blasted allies in Europe for not assisting with his war against Iran, has warned he may withdraw the United States from NATO because of the dispute.

One possible way for NATO to avoid that is to embrace the kind of military pageantry Trump has expressed a fondness for in the past, said John Deni, an Atlantic Council expert.

Such an event would show Trump what Europes increased investments in defense look like in practice, he said in a five-point plan the think tank compiled ahead of the summit.

A parade of military equipment through Ankara, followed by a static display of the same, could form a central part of what should in any case be a very short official summit program, Deni said.

That would send a deterrent signal to Russia and reassure allied publics, Deni argued. Just as importantly, it would let Trump see firsthand the results of his burden-shifting efforts, promote the U.S. defense industry and link him to a vivid display of American military strength, Deni added.

Its unclear whether allies are entertaining such an idea, but NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was in Ankara this week to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and lay the groundwork for the gathering.

NATO was founded more than 80 years ago to deter Soviet aggression in Europe and ensure collective defense among its members. Those goals have taken on new urgency in the wake of two Kremlin invasions of Ukraine since 2014.

Traditionally, NATO summits have been mundane affairs, with agreements and communiques worked out well in advance.

Trump, however, has used past gatherings to bring his criticisms to the fore. During his first term, he publicly dressed down leaders and behind closed doors threatened to pull the U.S. out of NATO.

To avoid a replay, analysts say allies should look for ways to address various Trump concerns by following in the footsteps of last years summit, when member countries agreed to meet Trumps demand to increase defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product.

European allies could use the Ankara summit to ease tensions with Washington by offering practical proposals on security questions around Greenland and the Strait of Hormuz without entirely conceding to U.S. demands, wrote Atlantic Council experts James Townsend and Philippe Dickinson.

That could mean turning NATOs new Arctic Sentry initiative into a security mission with concrete troop deployments, exercises and capability investments in the High North, while also establishing a long-term, NATO-led maritime mission to ensure shipping security through the Strait of Hormuz.

Taken together, those steps would show NATO taking on more operational responsibility, giving the White House a visible win, the analysts said.

Western European allies also should use the summit to commit to more substantial troop deployments on NATOs eastern flank in countries such as Poland, the Baltic states and Romania, analysts said.

Currently, U.S. forces outnumber western European troop contributions for such missions.

Clearly, if the United States is willing to deploy such forces across the Atlantic to defend NATOs east, Western Europe can and should do more, Atlantic Council expert Ian Brzezinski said.

Other ideas include setting up a planning group that would set timetables for when the capabilities now dominated by the United States should shift to European responsibility, thereby signaling the alliances readiness to make NATO more European-led.
An MV-22 Osprey prepares to take off on the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli during Operation Epic Fury on April 2, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps)



WASHINGTON  The Senate on Wednesday for a fifth time failed to advance a measure that would have opened debate on halting the war in Iran as Republicans continued to block efforts to assert congressional war powers.

The vote, 46-51, mirrored previous attempts by mostly Democrats to require the U.S. to withdraw forces from the conflict unless Congress authorizes further action. Democrats have vowed to force such votes weekly as long as the war persists.

Every day we hear new promises from the Trump administration  that victory has been achieved, that peace is at hand, that the costs are starting to come down  and every day we see the opposite, said Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Trump can talk all he wants, but nothing will change until he realizes this war needs to end.

Republicans have largely resisted intervening in the conflict, though some have said they would want a vote on authorization once the war reaches the two-month mark by the end of April or if President Donald Trump decides to send in ground troops. The U.S. attacks began Feb. 28.

Under the War Powers Act of 1973, U.S. forces must be withdrawn from a conflict after 60 days unless Congress either declares war or authorizes the use of force, though the White House can request a 30-day extension for national security reasons.

As in previous votes, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to break with his party on Wednesday, and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans.

Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Dave McCormick, R-Pa.; and Mark Warner, D-Va., did not vote.

The failure to again open debate on the Iran war came a week after the Senate shot down a similar measure and the House barely beat back an effort by Democrats to advance a war powers resolution of their own.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., forced the latest vote on Wednesday, arguing it was time to rein in Trump, who launched the war alongside Israel without making the case for its necessity to Congress.

We have the power to end this war of choice that is costing American troops their lives and American families their savings, she said. Those who vote no are choosing not to use that power.

Republicans maintain that now is not the time to curtail the presidents authority.

Sen. Roger Wicker, of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be dangerous to tie Trumps hands while so many service members remain engaged in the Middle East and warned it could potentially undermine peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

If negotiations have a chance, the Senate should give [negotiators] the leverage they need, he said.

The status of those talks remained uncertain this week after a planned second round of negotiations was put on pause.

Trump announced the extension of an expiring ceasefire on Tuesday, but the battle over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for energy supplies, has continued. The U.S. maintains a naval blockade on ships from Iranian ports, and Iran on Wednesday seized two cargo ships.
A Navy explosive ordnance disposal technician swims toward an inert training mine during a neutralization exercise in this undated photo. While experts say Iran has laid few mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon estimates it could take about six months to clear the waterway, an effort needed to reassure shipowners and captains that the strait is safe. (Tyler Baldino/U.S. Navy)



NAPLES, Italy  Nearly two months into the war in the Middle East, the U.S. has yet to break Irans grip on the Strait of Hormuz  and, increasingly, the world economy.

Thats due in part to concerns of shipping companies and insurers about Iranian sea mines lurking in the critical waterway, through which 20% of the worlds daily consumption of oil and petroleum products usually flows.

While its uncertain how many of the explosive devices Iran has placed in the strait, the impression of a minefield is enough to keep ships away, said Sal Mercogliano, an adjunct professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

The problem is that if theres a fear of a mine, which exists right now, youve got to prove that there arent any mines, Mercogliano said in an X post Monday that included an interview with an Australian news station. That requires extensive mine sweep operations.

That effort likely wont take place until after the war, members of the House Armed Services Committee learned Tuesday in a classified briefing with a senior Pentagon official, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Committee members also were told that it could take as long as six months to fully clear the strait of an estimated 20 or more mines, according to the Post report, which cited three anonymous officials.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged that the disclosure was made in a briefing but said the information was inaccurate, the paper said.

U.S. Central Command said Monday that it couldnt discuss specifics about mines in the Strait of Hormuz or efforts to clear them, citing operational security.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump threatened that Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines in the strait would come under U.S. fire.

Additionally, our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now, Trump said in a Truth Social post. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!

The U.S. has three littoral combat ships based in Bahrain that are capable of clearing mines, but only one, USS Canberra, appeared to be in the Arabian Sea this week.

The status of USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara was unclear Thursday, as was the location of two Avenger-class minesweepers reportedly sent to the Middle East.

Earlier this month, at least one Navy destroyer safely transited the strait in what CENTCOM then described as part of a mine-clearing mission.

That effort could reassure shipowners that the waterway was safe, Mercogliano and other analysts said, but stronger evidence is needed.

Thats just the danger of mine warfare in that one can never take for granted that mines are not present unless cleared, said Steven Wills, an analyst with the Center for Maritime Strategy at the Navy League of the United States.

Since the war began Feb. 28, there have been no reported attacks on ships in the strait involving sea mines, although vessels have come under Iranian fire.

There have been 34 confirmed incidents since March 1 involving commercial ships and offshore infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, the Joint Maritime Information Center said Tuesday.

There were six transits through the strait on Sunday and 16 on Monday, according to the centers report, which noted that the historical average was about 138 ships daily. Mines also have been reported in the strait, it said.

At the center of concerns over the safety of passage are insurers, whose risk assessments can essentially determine whether ships can move at all.

This contest is taking place in the minds of (insurance marketplace) Lloyds of London, said James Holmes, chair of the maritime strategy program at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. If insurers dont have the confidence to insure a voyage, shipping will stay put or take the route close to Iranian shores as required by Iran.

Iran has an estimated stockpile of at least 5,000 sea mines of varying types, according to a 2019 Defense Intelligence Agency report.

That cache includes mines that can lie on the seabed, float just below the surface of the water and one attached to a rocket. They can be deployed several ways, including with small speedboats favored by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

While U.S. forces have destroyed much of Irans navy and 90% of its mines, the country still has the capability to lay more, retired Adm. James Stavridis told CNN earlier this month.

The disruption is rippling through global energy markets.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. was $4.03 on Thursday, up 8 cents from last month and 86 cents from a year ago, according to AAA. Some regions in the U.S. were reporting prices as high as $5.84 per gallon, AAA said.
Photo: https://bank.gov.ua/

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) will begin searching for and selecting candidates for the position of Director of the Department of Monetary Policy and Economic Analysis, as Mykhailo Rebryk will be leaving this position on April 23 due to mutual consent and personal reasons.

It is noted that the department falls under the "Monetary Stability" chain of command, the overall management of which is carried out by Deputy Head of the National Bank Volodymyr Lepushynsky.

"Effective monetary policy is a key component of fulfilling the National Bank's mandate to ensure price and financial stability under any circumstances. I am grateful to Mykhailo Rebryk for his significant contribution to the development of macroeconomic analysis, the NBU's forecasts, and staff proposals regarding monetary policy decisions," commented Deputy Head of the regulator Lepushynsky.

As noted by the NBU, the future director of the department will be responsible for implementing the monetary policy strategy and decisions on its instruments, preparing a macroeconomic forecast, developing and supporting a system of forecast models, as well as analyzing state economic policy and the development of the monetary, real, fiscal, and external sectors.

He will also support the activities of the Monetary Policy Committee and coordinate research work at the National Bank in the area of monetary policy, macroeconomic development, modeling and forecasting.

Until a new director is appointed, Taras Tokarczuk, head of the department's economic analysis department, will act as director of the department.
Jose Luis Piedra Seville 23/04/2026 a las 11:43h.

Exports from companies based in Andalucia increased by 11.4 per cent during February compared to the same month in 2025, reaching sales totalling 3.829 billion euros. This is according to the Junta de Andalucia, based on data collected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise in central government.

This export growth for Andalucia contrasts sharply with the decline for the rest of Spain, where export sales fell by 0.8 per cent to 31.72 billion euros compared to the same month in 2025.

The increase recorded in February enabled Andalusian companies to accumulate sales of 7.03 billion euros in the first two months of this year, 2.8 per cent more than in the same period of the previous year.

Andalucia stands out with its strong performance compared to the other six leading exporting regions of Spain, which are experiencing declines. Their declines are also in line with the rest of Spain, where exports fell by 1.8 per cent. With these figures, Andalucia ranks third nationally in exports for 2026, accounting for 11.6 per cent of the country total.

Furthermore, Andalucia's imports amounted to 6.08 billion euros (down 13 per cent), resulting in a trade surplus of 950 million euros for companies in this region, compared to Spain's trade deficit of 7.306 billion euros. This is due to a coverage rate of 89 per cent, 27 points lower than Andalucia's rate of 116 per cent.

By sector, fruit and vegetables stand out, with a 16.6 per cent increase in exports compared to the first two months of the previous year. Likewise, aeronautics saw significant growth, nearly tripling sales compared to the first two months of the previous year and contributing to a notable diversification of export destinations. Indonesia is now among the top ten markets for Andalusian exports, joining three other non-European markets: the United States, Morocco, China and Indonesia.

As for the origin of these sales from within the region, they are also diversified, as six of the eight Andalusian provinces recorded growth in their exports, all with positive trade balances. Seville leads in sales, with 1.699 billion euros, and in growth, with 27.3 per cent more than in the first two months of 2025.

The aeronautical industry made a decisive contribution to the increase in Andalusian exports this February, having tripled sales compared to February 2025 (up 199 per cent) to reach 439 million euros in this month alone. This makes it the region's second largest exporter, accounting for 11.5 per cent of the total.

Thus, in the year to date, the sector has grown by 167 per cent, almost triple the sales figures for the same period in 2025, and ranking third in sales, with 622 million euros (8.8 per cent of the total). Vegetables are Andalucia's top export category worldwide at 1.361 billion euros, or 19.4 per cent of the total, and showing a 16.6 per cent increase compared to the first two months of the previous year. Olive oil follows with 548 million euros (7.8 per cent), a 14.9 per cent decrease, representing the largest share of the animal and vegetable fats and oils category (689 million euros).

Mineral fuels rank fourth, totalling 552 million euros (7.9 per cent) - a 36 per cent drop. Fruit, in fifth place, reached 491 million euros (7.0 per cent) - a drop of 8.6 per cent. In sixth place are metallic minerals, slag and ash, which registered 416 million euros (5.9 per cent), meaning an increase of 29.1 per cent, followed by copper and its manufactured alloys at 367 million euros (5.2 per cent) - up 24.9 per cent. Exports of machinery, appliances and electrical equipment also increased, reaching 290 million euros (4.1 per cent), which is a rise of 28.3 per cent.

Lastly, in ninth place, is iron and steel, totalling 159 million euros (2.3 per cent), meaning a slight decrease of 2.3 per cent, while pearls, precious stones and metals recorded the second largest increase in the top ten listing, almost doubling (95 per cent) their figures to 122 million euros (1.7 per cent of total exports).

Growth in sales to Indonesia

Data from the Ministry confirms the diversification of Andalusian exports with the entry of Indonesia as the tenth largest export market. Four non-European countries now rank among the top ten destinations for Andalusian exports, two of them from Asia: the United States, Morocco, China and Indonesia. The fastest growing market in the top ten is Indonesia, with a 6,753 per cent increase compared to January-February 2025, reaching 195 million euros. This result places it as Andalucia's tenth largest global market, accounting for 2.8 per cent of total exports, thanks to sales in the aeronautical sector.

The second highest growth was in Germany, with a 27.4 per cent rise in sales to 999 million euros (14.2 per cent), which makes it Andalucia's leading trading partner. France ranks second with 739 million euros (10.5 per cent) and a 22 per cent increase, while Italy comes in third with 717 million euros (10.2 per cent) and a 26.9 per cent increase, the third largest in the ranking.

In fourth place comes Portugal, with 617 million euros (8.8 per cent), although this means a slight decrease of 1.7 per cent. Next, the United Kingdom reached 398 million euros (5.7 per cent), a 4.5 per cent drop, followed by China, with 382 million (5.4 per cent) - 24 per cent growth. The Netherlands is in seventh place with 364 million euros (5.2 per cent) and a 6.1 per cent increase, while the United States is in eighth place with 326 million euros (4.6 per cent), but 29.9 per cent down. Morocco follows with 265 million euros (3.8 per cent) in ninth place - a 23 per cent drop.

Between January and February 2026, exports grew in six of the eight Andalusian provinces compared to the same period in the previous year. All of them (Almeria, Cordoba, Granada, Jaen, Malaga and Seville) also have a positive trade balance, reflecting a significant diversification of the origin of their sales. The province of Seville, driven by the aeronautical sector, is the fastest growing, up 27.3 per cent year-on-year, and the largest exporter, with 1.699 billion euros (24.2 per cent of the total) and a trade surplus of 665 million euros.

Almeria is the second largest province for exports with 1.529 billion euros (21.8 per cent) and the second fastest in growth at 12.2 per cent . Boosted by its veg exports, it recorded a trade surplus of 1.005 billion euros. In third place is Huelva, with 1.050 billion euros (14.9 per cent), meaning an 11.1 per cent fall, closely followed by Cadiz, which recorded 1.011 billion euros (14.4 per cent) and a decline of 23.7 per cent.

The latter two provinces were affected by the drop in fuel prices, which fell in the first two months of the year. Next is Cordoba, totalling 613 million euros (8.7 per cent) and an increase of 11.8 per cent. This meant a positive trade balance of 205 million euros, the third-best increase of all the provinces. Then comes Malaga, with 578 million euros (8.2 per cent) and a rise of 6.1 per cent for January-February, giving the Costa del Sol province a small trade surplus of 25 million euros. Granada also saw growth in export sales, with 314 million euros (4.5 per cent), an increase of 1.1 per cent and a trade surplus of 68 million euros. Lastly, there is Jaen, with 237 million euros (3.4 per cent), which is an improvement of 3.1 per cent and a trade surplus of 41 million euros.
Neil Hesketh Malaga 23/04/2026 a las 16:50h.

With the countdown to land-border controls between Spain and Gibraltar disappearing on 15 July, the Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, continued his week of charming those affected with a visit to towns in the Campo de Gibraltar area on Thursday 23 April.

The mayors of the area across the border from Gibraltar, where thousands of Spanish workers on the Rock live, have been critical of Madrid up to now on, what they said was, a lack of details on the border dismantling deal between the EU and Britain.

On Wednesday (22 April), Albares had met with Gibraltar chief minister Fabian Picardo in Madrid, in a move to show harmony between the two sides as the treaty conditions are provisionally rolled out in the coming months.

Speaking on Thursday in Algeciras, the foreign minister said that the relationship between Gibraltar and the surrounding Campo de Gibraltar area is being transformed in practical and technical terms and evolving into a new model of coexistence, with what he expects will be more meetings both formal and informal with his good friend Fabian Picardo of Gibraltar.

Albares added that both sides are now walking hand in hand towards a shared future after previously being back to back. He stressed that regular contacts and exchanges at all levels are now standard.

The minister underlined in Algeciras that the aim of the negotiations had always been to treat Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar as a single shared area with shared prosperity, assuring residents that improvements on one side would benefit the other.

He said workers crossing the border were a key concern, but insisted their rights are fully guaranteed, including future protections, and that no discrimination would exist on employment, social security, unemployment benefits or pensions.

He also highlighted the creation of a financial cooperation mechanism focused on training and employment, aimed at supporting workers and regional development, as well as tax coordination and environmental rules aligned with EU standards.

According to Albares, the agreement marks an historic step that eliminates inequalities and ensures free movement of people and goods, while strengthening stability, development and opportunities for the 300,000 residents of the area. He said it is expected to come into force on July 15, with border infrastructure changes progressing as planned, including preparations for Schengen and customs controls.

Earlier in the day, the foreign minister had met with the mayor of La Linea, the town on the border that is set to change the most with the disappearance of land-border controls, and paid a visit from the Spanish side to the soon to be dismantled border controls.

The treaty between the EU and UK has still to be ratified by their respective parliaments but will provisionally come into effect on 15 July. It sees the end of passports and ID checking between Gibraltar and Spain as now, with a two-stage passport control between both sides moving to Gibraltars airport and port for incoming passengers. Arrivals will be cleared for entry into Gibraltar and the Schengen area, with residents and visitors now able to move unchecked by land between both sides. Gibraltar will impose a new import tax on goods and increase tobacco duties in a move to bring its traditionally low tariffs closer to the higher EU tariffs.

Following Wednesdays meeting in Madrid between Spains Albares and Gibraltars Picardo, the Gibraltar government confirmed that the process of elimination of all physical barriers will begin before 15 July, to ensure Gibraltar fully complies with the obligations set out in the treaty.

In response to the foreign ministers visit to the Campo de Gibraltar on Thursday this week, hard-right Spanish political party Vox has registered in the Spanish parliament a proposal to force a vote in the joint committee for the EU, made up of MPs and senators, to reject the agreement reached between the UK and the EU on Gibraltar, as it considers the treaty damaging to Spains interests.
Jose Luis Piedra Seville 23/04/2026 a las 11:31h.

Spain's National High Court (Audiencia Nacional, AN) has formally admitted the contentious-administrative appeal filed by the WWF against the boundary demarcation of the Donana marshland area, which was also appealed by Andalucia's regional government due to disagreements with central government over the limits of the tidal influence zone.

The appeal concerns the boundary demarcation order approved last October by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, through the directorate-general for coast and sea, regarding the Donana marshes. The WWF appeal joins the one filed by the Junta de Andalucia, which was also recently accepted for review by this court .

The WWF highlights that opposition to this boundary demarcation is not limited to the WWF alone, but is shared by other state bodies such as the Donana biological station (CSIC), the Guadalquivir river basin authority (CHG), Andalucia's regional government, the management of the Donana Natural Area and Hinojos town council. All these interested parties have already spoken out against the proposed boundary.

The secretary-general for the WWF in Spain, Juan Carlos del Olmo, stated that "it is surprising to have to defend at this point that Donana is also a freshwater marsh when all the scientific studies done over decades unequivocally demonstrate that its marshes are freshwater wetlands of pluvial-fluvial origin".

"The WWF opposes this demarcation as it is currently proposed since it redefines the nature of the Donana marshland, considering that approximately two-thirds of the current marshland would be tidal land, and this proposal could have irreversible ecological consequences", said the head of this environmental organisation in Spain.

In Olmo's opinion, "one of the key aspects of the controversy revolves around Montana del Rio, a rise in the land parallel to the Guadalquivir river which the coastal authority maintains was artificially created in 1983, while the WWF and various scientific bodies, such as the CSIC, support the claim that its origin is not artificial, although it has been restored on several occasions due to erosion".

Juan Carlos Olmo believes that "this proposed boundary demarcation, adopted independently and against the majority opinion of the Donana participation council, will force a reinterpretation of the management of the National Park, potentially causing saltwater intrusion into freshwater areas and jeopardising conservation efforts endorsed for decades by the scientific and technical community".

More than 270 scientists have already expressed their opposition to the current demarcation promoted by Madrid's Ministry for Ecological Transition, arguing that "it contradicts the existing scientific consensus on the hydrological functioning of Donana".

The scientific community further warns that "this decision could have irreversible consequences, such as the loss of its freshwater wetlands and the profound alteration of its most valuable ecosystems, protected by national and international law".

The WWF representative is urging the Ministry to "listen to science and abandon this proposed boundary demarcation, which could lead to a lengthy legal battle and delay essential projects committed to the recovery of Donana's threatened biodiversity." He also calls on the Ministry to "initiate a new procedure based on the broad scientific consensus regarding the ecology and functioning of this important marshland".

Despite accepting this WWF appeal and that of the Junta, the National High Court has not yet ruled on the precautionary measure of suspension requested by the appellants. The Ministry's decision has opened a demarcation process for state-owned, maritime-terrestrial public domain assets in this part of the Donana marshlands, which includes land in the Huelva towns of Almonte and Hinojos and the town of Aznalcazar in Seville.
Macarena Garcia 23/04/2026 Actualizado a las 11:32h.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares held a meeting this Wednesday in Madrid with Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on in Madrid to discuss some aspects of the implementation of the agreement between the United Kingdom, the European Union and Spain, which will govern Gibraltar's relations with the EU after Brexit.

After the meeting, Picardo appeared before the media to discuss some of the details. One of the main points was the demolition of the border fence itself. The Gibraltar Government confirmed that the process of removing all physical barriers will begin before 15 July, to ensure that Gibraltar fully complies with the obligations set out in the treaty.

The new controls at the airport and port to be carried out by the Gibraltarian authorities and the Spanish National Police, should also be ready by then.

Picardo pointed out that 15 July is the date that London and Brussels have agreed for the provisional application of an agreement that is still pending ratification by both sides. Schengen controls will be in place by then at the airport. On possible deadlines regarding the removal of the border, he did not want to give details: "It's a lot of fence, we can't do it all in one day."

Picardo has also shown his willingness to work to make this agreement, which will put an end to the physical border between Spain and Gibraltar, a reality: "I will not believe it and I will not stop working until I see the first Gibraltarian citizen, the first Gibraltarian resident, the first resident of Campo de Gibraltar, cross where there has always been a border without having to present any documents and be able to pass from one side to the other without having to go through any formalities."

Albares in Campo de Gibraltar this Thursday

The round of meetings will take Foreign Minister Albares this Thursday to the Campo de Gibraltar where he will meet with various officials in the area to discuss details of the agreement.

The mayor of Algeciras, Jose Ignacio Landaluce, hopes that this visit will serve to "clarify many doubts". In a previous statement, he asked the minister to "clarify once and for all" whether Spain "is going to have the right to veto an agreement that could harm our country", regretting that Spain has not been active enough in the negotiations between the EU and the United Kingdom.

Landaluce regretted that "little or nothing is being said" about the situation of cross-border workers, their pensions, the so-called zone of shared prosperity, or whether the port of Algeciras is going to be "at a disadvantage in the face of the increased benefits that are going to be given to the Rock", he listed.

"There are still many unknowns surrounding an agreement on which the immediate future of more than 300,000 Spaniards living on this side of the border depends," said the Algeciras councillor, who pointed out that the text "raises the demolition of the fence as a banner", something which, he said, "the Government is selling us as its great achievement" when "there are much more important issues for the daily life of our people and companies in the region about which nothing has been said so far".

"I believe that Minister Albares has a golden opportunity [this Thursday] to explain to the legitimate representatives of the citizens of our region the details of the agreement that are still unknown," he pointed out, referring to issues such as taxation, the environment, the control of goods, labour standards and social protection, as well as the situation regarding the use of the airport, and the vacancy of the post of special delegate of the ministry in the Campo de Gibraltar.
Maria Jose Diaz Alcala 23/04/2026 Actualizado a las 16:38h.

Let him rot in prison; he has done so much damage to my girl, pleaded Josefa, the mother of Catalina (known to everyone as Lina), in an interview with this newspaper.

Lina was allegedly murdered by her ex-partner in front of their children at the family home in Benalmadena last February, before he set the property on fire. While the trial is not yet imminent, the Prosecution has filed its indictment, seeking 48 years and eight months in prison.

The defendant faces charges of murder within the framework of gender violence, threats, coercion, habitual ill-treatment, arson, and three counts of child abuse.

A history of control

The couple began their relationship in 2008 and had three children, who were aged eleven, nine, and seven at the time of the events. The family lived in the same building as Lina's mother and another son from a previous relationship.

The Prosecution maintains that from the beginning of the relationship, the defendant exerted controlling behaviour over Lina, isolating and dominating her to undermine her autonomy and support network. He reportedly subjected her to repeated verbal abuse and threatened to kill her and take the children away.

The indictment, seen by SUR, also reveals that the accused expressed his intent to kill their mother to the children and imposed excessive punishments, such as hitting them with a belt. He also allegedly prevented the children from having a relationship with their maternal half-brother, even assaulting the latter for spending time with the little ones.

'Medium risk' status

On 10 January 2025, following an argument, the defendant allegedly raised his hand to strike Lina. She took refuge in another room and called the Local Police. Lina was subsequently registered in the VioGen (gender violence monitoring) system. Her case was classified as medium risk due to the presence of vulnerable minors. Although police performed follow-up checks via periodic phone calls, no precautionary restraining orders were granted at that time.

The night of the crime

According to the Prosecution, at approximately 4:00 am on 9 February, the accused entered the family home using his keys. Wearing a hoodie and a balaclava, and armed with a knuckleduster-style ring, he entered the bedroom where Lina was sleeping with her children. The report states he attacked her by surprise, leaving her no possibility of defence.

After allegedly strangling her into unconsciousness and assaulting one of the children who tried to intervene, the suspect reportedly used accelerants to set fire to the bed where Lina lay.

Shortly after, the suspect made two calls to the Local Police to report the fire. Catalina died between 5am and 5.30am from asphyxia due to strangulation; her body was later recovered by firefighters, completely charred. Officers located the defendant in a nearby street, where he reportedly remarked, The woman is in there, before walking away to retrieve his mobile phone.

Trauma and sentencing

Police also assisted the eleven-year-old son at the scene, who spontaneously told officers: Please don't let him find out, or he'll kill me too. He killed my mother. He set her on fire. The boy had suffered bruising while trying to defend her. The two younger daughters were found inside the house terrified and required treatment for anxiety attacks.

The Chief Prosecutor for Violence Against Women in Malaga, Flor de Torres, is seeking:

25 years for murder with treachery.

15 years for arson.

3 years for habitual ill-treatment.

3 years (one per child) for child abuse.

Additional sentences for threats, coercion, and verbal degradation.

The total requested sentence is 48 years and eight months, accounting for aggravating factors of kinship and gender. The Prosecution also demands compensation of 180,000 for Lina's mother and 111,193 for each of her three children.
Ignacio Lillo Malaga 23/04/2026 Actualizado 27/04/2026 - 08:27h.

The high-speed rail line between Malaga and Madrid now has an official reopening date, likely the last one after a couple of previous deadlines that couldn't satisfy expectations: 30 April.

On the first day of the reopening, trains will depart from 12pm onwards, right on time for the start of the May bank holidays. Thousands of people can take advantage of the opportunity to travel by train and go somewhere during the long weekend (Friday is a public holiday).

Due to a slight delay in the construction work on the damaged stretch in Alora, the line will not be able to open on Monday, 27 April, which was the last date state infrastructure company Adif announced weeks ago.

Although private operators Iryo and Ouigo had already started selling tickets for Monday, they will have to cancel those and provide refunds. State operator Renfe also offered tickets for the days between 27 and 30 April for a few weeks. On Wednesday, however, the website showed only one direct train to Madrid and four to Malaga.

From Thursday, 30 April, trains will be able to pass through the tracks in Alora, which suffered serious damages during this winter's storms.

Regarding the late start on Thursday, Adif has said that it is because the morning will be the time to perform several "test runs" to ensure the track performs well after the extensive repairs.

What both passengers and the three operators in Malaga must be aware of is that there will initially be a limited number of slots, which means that the companies will have to divide them among themselves.

It will no longer be necessary to change buses between Antequera-Santa Ana and Maria Zambrano, which substantially reduced travel time.

Almost three months of waiting for the AVE in Malaga

Almost three months after that fateful 4 February, when a series of storms triggered a serious landslide near Alora, the Malaga-Cordoba high-speed line is nearly ready to reopen. However, the exact date of this milestone remains unknown. The only timeframe currently available is the one government subdelegate Javier Salas recently mentioned. He stated that direct trains would resume "next week", without providing further details.

Once it happens, the return of the high-speed trains to Malaga will be gradual, as the damage has been far greater than initially anticipated. This has led to several miscalculations regarding the timeline, with two announced dates that were not met.

Initially, the closure in Alora overlapped with the line closure further up, which had been in place since 18 January following the tragedy in Adamuz (Cordoba). The Ministry of Transport subsequently announced that trains might resume services on 8 March. The next date was 23 March, just a few days before the start of the Holy Week. That long-awaited milestone could not be confirmed either, sparking a bitter row between the government, the opposition and businesses in the tourism sector.

Head of Adif Pedro Marco de la Pena visited the Alora construction site on 16 March and announced that they would reopen the rail "no earlier than the last week of April".

Journey times

Once it reopens, the line will remain only partially operational for several more months. Initially, service will run on a single track (the track further from the slope). This has two direct consequences: first, there will be significantly fewer trains than before the incident. The number of services will drop from the usual 26.

The second obstacle will be the speed limits. Passing through this stretch of barely 500 metres will require travelling at a limited speed and the same applies further up, at the site of the Adamuz accident.

Ideally, the journey should take between two and a half and three hours and 15 minutes, depending on whether the train makes stops. It's also worth noting that in the early years of the AVE high-speed train, the journey used to take two hours and 15 minutes.

At least it will be much better than the more than four hours Renfe currently provides with a bus transfer at Antequera Santa Ana.

Fewer and slower journeys until normality returns

Iryo is currently offering three frequencies in each direction (half the number before the suspension) starting next Monday. The second private operator, Ouigo, has scheduled two departures between the two cities for the same day.

Renfe is currently updating its online service. It will likely have to extend the alternative road transport plan between Malaga and Antequera for a few more days.

According to the schedule Marco announced in March, the double track could reopen in June, but a 54-kilometre stretch requires travelling on a single track.

This is because the landslide damaged a major piece of track equipment in the affected area. Replacing the part requires between five and seven months for manufacturing, followed by installation. Therefore, the complete restoration of the infrastructure to its original condition (and capacity) will take at least until the end of the year.

Rail connections between Malaga and Madrid are facing a tough summer. Until the equipment is replaced, trains will have to run on a single track, as there is no possibility of trains crossing from one track to the other on that extensive stretch.

This will result in a clearly vulnerable infrastructure with little room for manoeuvre, especially in the event of a train or track failure in that area. Should such an incident occur, the entire line will be blocked, with no option to use the other track as an escape route.
Costa del Sol

Jose Carlos Garcia Estepona 23/04/2026 a las 12:59h.

The elephants Hope and Bogor now share the same space at Selwo Aventura. These two brothers - Hope, a Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) weighing 1,500 kilograms, and Bogor, an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) - have now completed the necessary process to live together again.

Both were born at the Madrid Zoo Aquarium as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) and lived there for three years.

In 2023, Bogor arrived at the Estepona enclosure, and Hope did so at the end of March, a few days after his sixth birthday, as it was considered the right time for him to be emancipated from his group in the Madrid enclosure.

Related story New arrival at Madrid Zoo Aquarium: birth of a Bornean orangutan Claudia Kittsteiner Simon



Since his arrival, a process of gradual contact was set in motion, first only visual contact, and then protected physical contact. But the process has now been completed and the siblings now share facilities, communication and games at Estepona Zoo.

Behind this union there are, as occurs in each of the zoos integrated in AIZA (Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria), technical motivations.

These are summarised in the designation, by the EEP, of Selwo Aventura as a facility to house males, whether juveniles or single adults, as explained by Eloy Serrano, head of conservation at the Estepona site. Selwo Aventura is also home to Jangoli, an elderly female who, at 58 years of age, has very different social requirements to those of her young male companions.

Hope's subspecies, the Sumatran elephant, is critically endangered. As an adult, it is between 1.7 and 2.3 metres tall, weighs two to four tonnes and, unlike African elephants, only the males have tusks. It is a social animal, grouped in matriarchal systems around an adult female, although the males, once they reach a certain age, separate to live alone.
Prince Harry, who has arrived in Kyiv, urges world not to lose sight of war in Ukraine  media

British Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and called on the world not to lose sight of Russias war against Ukraine, stressing the need to support Ukrainians and international partners, ITV News reported.

He arrived in the Ukrainian capital by overnight train from Poland on Thursday morning and is set to take part in the Kyiv Security Conference, where senior Western defense and government officials have gathered.

"Its nice to be back in Ukraine," Prince Harry said upon arrival.

He said he wanted to "remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is facing, and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly difficult conditions."

Harry is expected to stress in his conference address that the war is not only a struggle for territory but also "about values," and to warn the international community against indifference to this and other conflicts.

At the Kyiv Security Conference, Prince Harry plans to draw on his military experience as well as the activities of the Invictus Games, which he founded. He will stress that the consequences of Russias war against Ukraine will be long-lasting and felt "for many years to come."

The Duke of Sussex also intends to characterize the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces as a "systematic and deliberate" act, saying such actions will have legal consequences at the International Criminal Court.

As part of the visit, Prince Harry will also visit projects connected to the work of The Halo Trust charity, which is engaged in demining activities in Ukraine.

"I look forward to meeting friends and reuniting with the Invictus community, as well as supporting those helping Ukraine win this fight," Prince Harry said.
Matias Stuber 23/04/2026 a las 12:04h.

What are 'soft skills'? Everyone wants them, but few really know what they are: key qualifications, without which a candidate would not be able to land a job or at least that's what many employers believe.

They are only part of the deal, however. In many cases, only applicants who have successfully completed their studies or internships and spent time abroad receive that longed-for job interview. A combination of a strong resume and the right attitude is therefore clearly key to being a good candidate and landing the desired job.

The second phase (training) of the SUR's sixth TalentLab Malaga, which started early in the morning on 22 April, focused exactly on introducing young people who have proven their skills and talents to prospective employers.

The sky was clear and buses and trains were running on time. However, not everyone at the Palacio de Ferias on Wednesday looked relaxed. Many of the participants are either fresh out of university or about to finish their deegree.

Some are science graduates, others come from the humanities. What they all have in common is the desire to take one of life's most important leaps: find their first job that meets their expectations and is related to their studies.

The number of participating companies has grown this year to include eleven employers, but the essence remains the same: "A project to identify, train and connect young talent in Malaga."

It's not surprising that the participants seemed nervous on Wednesday. Facing the young people over the next couple days are executives and human resources managers from some of the leading companies in the province: EY GDS Spain, Montosa, Leroy Merlin, Synergym, Airzone, Navarro Hermanos, Ebury, EMT, Verdecora, Indra Group and Cemosa.

New training centres are also joining the programme: the European University of Andalucia, the Atlantic-Mediterranean Technological University (Utamed), ESIC-EIG and the International University of Andalucia (Unia). Malaga city council and the provincial authority have also extended their support this year.

Meetings with executives

TalentLab Malaga combines talks and group activities designed to develop skills such as public speaking, personal branding, resilience and problem-solving. Another key component are the meetings with the executives of the aforementioned companies.

Young people will be able to directly approach them and ask them anything that comes to mind: what training and qualities they value most in a candidate, how to improve employability or what hiring prospects each company has. Professionals who are difficult to access become direct interlocutors for the best talent in Malaga.

The opening activities on Wednesday were dedicated to speeches and presentations by representatives from participating companies and public institutions. "If there's one thing fundamental to a society's progress, it's the fostering of talent," General Manager of Prensa Malaguena Antonio Gonzalez said.

Mayor of Malaga Francisco de la Torre also visited the event, where he talked about the need to balance personal ambition with the pursuit of the common good. "We must strive to be good people," he said.

The regional government's delegate in Malaga, Patricia Navarro, reiterated the regional government's commitment to vocational training and stated that TalentLab Malaga fulfills "the objective of connecting the talent emerging from schools with the business sector".

The provincial authority's employment representative, Carmen Marquez highlighted the project's capacity to "transform lives". "You're going to connect with the opportunities that companies offer," she told the young participants.

Programme and activities

Isabel Hernandez and Carolina Suarez (both from the European University) also gave a speech, during which they stated that the path to a first job is smoother if the basics are met. Some candidates have excellent academic records but fall short in fundamental areas such as punctuality and courtesy or demonstrate a narrow view of society.

After a lunch that brought together managers and young people at the same table, fostering a relaxed atmosphere, a sense of calm was finally evident on the faces of the participants. UNIA collaborating professor Miguel Angel Serralvo led the main activity of the afternoon: 'What Makes the Difference: Real Skills to Stand Out in Your First Job'.

Cover letter, resume, certificates: these are usually the tickets to a job interview. How can one best prepare and demonstrate that they are the ideal candidate? Do they need a suit or new shoes? Should they use the employer's first name or a formal title? Should they ask about the salary immediately? The event answers these and more questions.

TalentLab Malaga continues on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, psychologist and professor at ESIC-EIG Angel Macias will ask: "What would a person be without their values?" Antonio Rodriguez, director of the business, communication and marketing area at Utamed, will give a presentation on 'The Importance of Communication in Entrepreneurship'.

In the afternoon, the young people will once again have one-on-one meetings with representatives from the participating companies.
Esta funcionalidad es exclusiva para registrados.
Claudia T. Ferrero Madrid 16/05/2025 Actualizado 23/04/2026 - 11:36h.

The beer sector has been growing for a decade in Spain. Approximately two billion cubic litres are produced in the world every year. Data published by Statista places Spain as one of the three largest beer producers in Europe, producing over 40 million cubic litres in 2023 - behind Germany (84.9 million) and ahead of Poland (35 million).

Spain ranks 10th in beer export in the international market, with Mexico, the Netherlands and Belgium topping the list. The export of Spanish beer, driven by Mahou and Damm, with Cuba as the main customer (21.8% of all sales), followed by Portugal (16.8%) and China (14.8%).

In 2024, Spain exported 303 million euros of beer. Beer became the 243rd most exported product (out of 1220) in Spain. Cuba (51.7 million euros), China (47.6), the UK (38.5), Andorra (19.9) and Equatorial Guinea (15.2) were the main destinations for Spanish beer.

It is not surprising that the Spanish brewing sector is one of the reference markets both inside and outside Europe. Its steady growth, despite slight falls in exports in recent years, together with the innovative capacity of Spanish breweries, that have been able to adapt to consumer trends, have led to this wide international recognition. Ambar , Estrella Galicia or Damn have received several awards such as the 'World Beer Challenge'. Created in 1996 by the brewers association, this competition, known as "the Olympics of beer competitions", is considered the most prestigious in the world.

Similarly, current Spanish exports in the food, beverages and tobacco sector reach almost 6 billion euros, with a positive annual variation rate of 3.1%, while imports reached 4.6 billion euros, with a positive annual variation rate of 8.4%, according to Datacomex.

Over the last ten years, there has been a cumulative increase of 283% in Spanish beer exports, according to the latest information gathered by ICEX Spain. Despite the decline in the international marketing of Spanish breweries in 2023, the popularity of Spanish beer continues to reassert itself. The brewing sector maintains historical data.

The brewing sector: employment generation and tax contribution

That Spaniards are beer drinkers surprises no one. With or without alcohol, this drink is one of the most popular among the adult population. The habit takes people out to terraces and bars all over the country. An example of this was the reaction of a large part of the population to the blackout on 28 April, when far from closing, bars and restaurants were full, serving beer after beer.

Interestingly, the historical maximum of the volume of beer consumed by Spaniards was reached during a period of crisis: in 2020, the year of the pandemic, when more than one billion litres were consumed. There was a slight decline in the following three years, which coincided with the return to normality and the general increase in prices. The latest data collected by Statista show consumption of 754.4 million litres of alcoholic beer and 147.7 million litres of non-alcoholic beer in 2023, reflecting the moderate decline since Covid-19.

The beer sector contributes great value to the Spanish economy. For every employee in the sector, 1.5 jobs are generated in the Spanish labour market as a whole. In addition, brewing companies have the highest average expenditure on personnel. This sector generates more than 540,000 jobs in Spain, which represents 2.7% of employment and 1.3% of national GDP. Employability predominates in the hospitality sector, with 66% of the total.

Beer also generates around 5.1 billion euros in production value, according to data by the national institute of statistics (INE).

Mahou: the most valuable beer brand for the fourth year in a row

Mahou leads the sector for the fourth consecutive year, occupying the 19th position of the 30 most valuable brands for Spaniards, with 717 million dollars in brand value, according to the Kantar BrandZ 2025 ranking, which evaluates the performance of companies based on the value perceived by consumers and the analysis of financial data.

The marketing director of the Spanish business unit of Mahou San Miguel, Ignacio Cormenzana, expressed his pride at Mahou being the most valuable beer in Spain. The Madrid-based beer company, which represents one of the oldest brands in the national ecosystem since its foundation in 1890 on Calle Amaniel, revalidates its position as the most valuable Spanish beer since 2021. It is ahead of Cruzcampo, which is in 23rd place, while Estrella Galicia rises to 27th place and Estrella Damm reaches 29th. Furthermore, Mahou stands out as the favourite beer among the youngest .

For Cormenzana, the key to the success that has enabled them to position themselves as the "benchmark brand for Generation Z" lies in a strategy based on a 360-degree approach through five-star experiences and constantly evolving campaigns and products that connect with young people. A clear example of this commitment to innovation and quality is the opening of Plaza Mahou - the first brewery in a Spanish stadium, in Santiago Bernabeu.

Among the 'top 30' most valuable Spanish brands are also Zara, Movistar, BBVA, Santander, Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy, Caixabank, Mercadona, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Repsol, Stradivarius, Mango, La Liga, El Corte Ingles, Mapfre, Mahou, Banco Sabadell, Mutua Madrilena, Glovo, Cruzcampo, Bankinter, Iberia, Occident, Estrella Galicia, Seat, Estrella Damm and Melia. All of them together have achieved the highest annual growth percentage in their history, increasing by 15% in just 12 months, which represents a record value of 116 billion dollars (around 110 billion euros ).
Two killed, 10 wounded in Russia attack on apartment block in Dnipro

Photo: https://t.me/suspilnednipro

The number of casualties from the overnight Russian military attack on an apartment block in Dnipro has risen to ten, with two people killed, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration head Oleksandr Hanzha said.

"In Dnipro, 9 people were wounded and two were killed. A 13-story building, a shop, cars, an administrative building and a derelict building were damaged," Hanzha said on Thursday morning.

In Nikopol district, Nikopol, Myrivska, Marhanetska, Pokrovska and Chervonohryhorivka communities came under attack. Infrastructure, a private house and a garage were damaged. A 64-year-old woman was wounded and will receive outpatient treatment.

In Kryvy Rih, attacks caused a fire and damaged infrastructure.

"Two people were killed, ten were wounded. The enemy attacked three districts of the region with drones more than 20 times," Hanzha said on Telegram.
Tesla is moving closer to large-scale production of its highly anticipated humanoid robot, Optimus V3, as CEO Elon Musk revealed new details in the latest announcement.

Investors are excited to witness the advanced machines, but Musk confirmed that Tesla is deliberately limiting public demonstrations to avoid exposing too much to competitors.

Elon Musk Calls Optimus Tesla's Biggest Product

During Tesla's Q1 earnings call, Musk said that rival companies are closely studying every Tesla reveal in detail to replicate its advancements. Because of this, the company plans to keep many of Optimus V3's most advanced capabilities hidden until production nears full scale.

Musk described Optimus as potentially "Tesla's biggest product ever," signaling the company's growing push into humanoid robotics. The automaker expects initial production to begin in Fremont, California, by late July or August, following major factory reconfiguration work.

To prepare for manufacturing, Tesla is dismantling production lines previously used for the Model S and Model X. Musk acknowledged that the transition is complex and may take several months to fully complete.

The company also plans to build another Optimus production line at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas.

Long-term projections suggest the Fremont facility could eventually produce up to one million units annually, while the Texas site could scale as high as 10 million units per year.

Optimus Robot Will Start With Factory Tasks

Initially, Optimus will be deployed for basic factory operations before expanding into more advanced real-world applications, according to Business Insider.

Musk explained that the robot will feature onboard intelligence, allowing it to function even without constant internet connectivity.

However, it will still rely on an "orchestration AI" system for task coordination. Musk suggested this role may be handled by xAI's chatbot Grok, which would act more like a manager overseeing workers rather than directly controlling every movement.

Tesla Pushes Deeper Into AI And Robotics

Tesla's increasing focus on robotics means that it's more than ready to dominate the AI-driven automation space. While Musk did not provide exact production targets for 2026, he emphasized that the company is moving at an "insanely fast speed" toward making Optimus commercially viable.

Expanding its business far beyond electric vehicles is Musk's goal for Tesla. This also means getting outside its comfort zone to explore other areas of services for some users.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for a halt to hostilities in the Middle East, even if a lasting peace cannot be achieved, on the grounds of preserving human lives.

"We support ceasefire where in this case now America they shifted to the Middle East and they are deeply in Iranian uh question and I know that we have communication on the tactical level with their negotiation group and my group and they have talks and they had for example yesterday some phone calls and etc. But we hope that we can organize the meeting. I dont I dont see now the you know the opportunity to meet today or tomorrow until the question the case of Iran will not be close or found some fundamental ceasefire something like this," Zelenskyy said in an interview with CNN, a clip of which was published on his Telegram channel on Thursday, in response to a question about a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Pirate gangs prowl Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest



Mongla, Bangladesh, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



A crackdown seemed to contain the pirate gangs terrorising the world's largest mangrove forest, but now a decade later they're back kidnapping and extorting the people trying to make a living on its labyrinth of rivers.

The criminal resurgence -- pushed by poverty and political chaos -- has again made Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest a dangerous and potentially costly place to operate.

Mandal, a 47-year-old crab hunter, was kidnapped and held captive for nearly a month before being released for a 40,000 taka ($370) ransom.

"My family cried hard," said Mandal, who asked to be identified by his first name for fear of reprisals, as he recalled his capture.

He and several other fishermen were sleeping on their boat when a gang stormed aboard, despite their employer having already paid extortion money to an armed group to protect them.

The attackers dragged the men onto another vessel and a gunfight erupted between the kidnappers and the fishermen's protectors.

"At one point the two groups started exchanging fire like rain. I was hanging from the branch of a tree while others rushed into the jungle," he said.



- Abundant resource -



Investigative reporter Mohsin Ul Hakim, who helped facilitate the surrender of hundreds of pirates between 2016 and 2018, said many gangs operate as enforcers on the Sundarbans' waterways.

"They (pirates) are hirelings of some big fish traders who through their bully boys keep control over the water mass of the Sundarbans," Hakim told AFP.

Some pirates are linked to arms traffickers or are simply criminals. Young men, often driven by poverty and debts, join the bands to make quick money.

"In many cases they get trapped and can never return home," Hakim said.

The Sundarbans' waters yield close to 29,000 tonnes of fish annually.

Control of the abundant resource has long fuelled violence.

A government anti?piracy drive in 2009 lasted six years and saw several extrajudicial killings.

Though hundreds eventually surrendered, law enforcement could never fully dismantle the networks.

Around a dozen groups are active again, according to security agencies.

A fisherman, requesting anonymity, said some gangs resurfaced after taking advantage of the political chaos sparked by the 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina's government.

"All of a sudden the entire Sundarbans was reclaimed by different groups," he said. "They have hiked the ransom -- sometimes up to 100,000 taka per fisherman."



- Treacherous -



Bangladesh Coast Guard spokesman Lt Commander Shamsul Arefin said units have been conducting regular operations and seizing dozens of weapons -- including German-made arms.

"We have conducted some 100 raids, detained 56 pirates, seized 78 arms and other ammunition including cartridges, air guns and locally made firearms," he told AFP, characterising recent attacks as isolated incidents.

But forest workers say the impact of the raids has been limited.

Pirates familiar with the terrain easily slip into the mangroves, where even trained personnel struggle to navigate the treacherous, root?choked forest floor.

Honey collectors, who entered the forest earlier this month with official permits, had to obtain permission from pirates too.

"We paid more than $1,000 per boat to stay safe and promised to give 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) of honey (to the pirates)," one collector said.

Extortion money is often transferred through mobile apps, which can be traced but is seldom done in practice.

Forest officials warn that unchecked piracy threatens not only human lives but also conservation efforts.

Armed gangs scare away deer -- the main prey of the forest's tigers -- and destabilise the fragile ecosystem, said Imran Ahmed, a regional conservator of forests.

"Some bands maintain international networks and regularly kill deer. At times, they also kill tigers," he told AFP. "Piracy is impacting the ecological balance of the Sundarbans."
Climate scrubbed from G7 meeting to appease US, host France says



Paris, France, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



Environment ministers from G7 nations launched a two-day meeting in Paris on Thursday with climate change kept off the agenda to avoid a row with the United States.

The office of France's ecology minister Monique Barbut had said the Group of Seven would focus on "less contentious issues" to appease its largest and most powerful member, drawing criticism from activists.

Barbut said the G7 "must remain a forum for convergence" and France as host was prioritising unity at a time when environmental protection was slipping down the global agenda.

"I hope we can send a strong message of unity and ambition", Barbut said at the opening of the meeting.

Italy, Canada, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom sent their environment ministers to Paris but Washington dispatched Usha-Maria Turner, an assistant administrator at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Ocean conservation, funding for biodiversity, and the transformation of dry areas into desert are on the agenda, among other broad environmental themes.

Barbut's office said it "chose not to address the climate issue head-on because the United States' positions on this subject are well known".

President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn the United States from global agreements on climate change and weakened environmental protections since he returned to office in 2025.

Gaia Febvre from Climate Action Network, an alliance of activist groups, said "a G7 moving at the pace of the United States cannot claim to respond to the crises of the century".

"By yielding to pressure, it weakens collective action and renounces its potential leading role," she told AFP.

It takes place just days before more than 50 countries meet in Colombia for the first-ever global conference dedicated to phasing out fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change.



- Forests and funding -



France is spearheading an initiative to raise public and private finance for the protection of biodiversity and hopes to win the backing of other G7 nations.

Barbut's ministry hopes to announce $800 million in funding for national parks in some 20 African countries, according to sources close to the matter.

Jean Burkard, advocacy director at WWF France, welcomed this inclusion on the G7 agenda but said any funding "must be additional and not compensate" for cuts elsewhere to state budgets for nature.

The G7 meeting also hopes to reach a political declaration on desertification and security, while sessions on oceans will look to strengthen an alliance on marine protected areas.

Other sessions are planned, including on water pollution, while a visit to the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris is also scheduled Thursday as part of a session dedicated to woodlands.
France says climate nixed from G7 talks to avoid spat with US



Paris, France, April 23 (AFP) Apr 23, 2026



France on Thursday defended keeping climate change off the agenda at a meeting of G7 environment ministers in Paris, saying it was necessary to avoid a clash with the United States.

Ecology minister Monique Barbut said Group of Seven ministers had made progress on environmental issues even if climate change was studiously avoided on the opening day of the talks.

"If I had tackled the issue head-on, there would have been no G7," Barbut told reporters during a trip to Fontainebleau forest south of the French capital with the visiting ministers.

Earlier, Barbut had said the G7 "must remain a forum for convergence" and France as host was prioritising unity among the group at a time when environmental protection was slipping down the global agenda.

Her ministry said the two-day meeting would focus on "less contentious issues" to appease its largest and most powerful member.

President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn the United States from global agreements on climate change and weakened environmental protections since he returned to office in 2025.

Other G7 members Italy, Canada, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom sent their environment ministers to Paris but Washington dispatched Usha-Maria Turner, an assistant administrator at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

When approached by AFP on Thursday the US representative declined to comment.

Barbut said France wanted "a successful G7 by addressing essential topics -- but I didn't tackle them head-on."

"If you look at all the topics we addressed, they are all linked to climate change. They are all either consequences or causes... No one, including the Americans, disputes that" she said.

The United States had been "extremely cooperative" and five texts had already been approved, she added during the Fontainebleau visit where ministers were told of the threats to the forest.



- 'Yielding to pressure' -



The decision nonetheless attracted criticism.

"A G7 moving at the pace of the United States cannot claim to respond to the crises of the century," said Gaia Febvre from Climate Action Network, an alliance of activist groups.

"By yielding to pressure, it weakens collective action and renounces its potential leading role," she told AFP.

The G7 talks takes place just days before more than 50 countries meet in Colombia for the first-ever global conference dedicated to phasing out fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change.

Ocean conservation, funding for biodiversity, and the transformation of dry areas into desert were on the G7 agenda, among other themes.

France is spearheading an initiative to boost public and private finance for biodiversity protection and hopes to win the backing of other G7 nations.

On Thursday, Barbut said they hoped to raise around 600 million euros ($701 million) for more than 100 national parks in 22 African countries.

Of this, around $400 million would come from philanthrophic sources, she said, most notably from American billionaire and Walmart heir Rob Walton.

Before the announcement, Jean Burkard, advocacy director at WWF France, said that any funding "must be additional and not compensate" for cuts elsewhere to state budgets for nature.
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Womens Prize for Non-Fiction winner Rachel Clarke has said that the idea of literature written by artificial intelligence is the emptiest, most vacuous, object imaginable  and warned that the challenge lies in distinguishing which works have used it.

Author and NHS doctor Clarke, who is delivering the annual State of the Nation Lecture at Cambridge Literary Festival, won the Womens Prize last year for The Story of a Heart  the story of how one child received a heart transplant from another. Her memoir about working in the NHS at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Breathtaking, was adapted into a drama for ITV in 2024.

Fears about the use of AI in the literary world are on the rise. Mia Ballads novel Shy Girl was recently pulled by publisher Hachette over accusations that it was written with artificial intelligence, while over the last few years, Amazon has been flooded with hundreds of AI-written books, ranging from fantasy fiction to self-help.

Speaking to The Independent ahead of her lecture at the Cambridge Literary Festival, Clarke said that the concern around AI is much deeper than just will this take my job?  and that she doesnt think readers would ever choose to read an AI-generated book over one written by a real author.

open image in gallery NHS doctor and author Rachel Clarke wrote The Story of a Heart ( PA )

I think it's about trust and authenticity and what really matters to each of us as individual human beings, she said.

And I think with works of art, whether literary or painting or whatever the form might be, we have a bond of trust with the artist. We believe that we are experiencing something that they have created themselves that is built on the edifice of their life.

She added that what makes a painting by Vincent Van Gough significant is that its related to his life and everything hes suffered and endured.

If you strip away all of that, suddenly all youre experiencing is the product of a very clever algorithm. How does that even constitute art at all? Its not creative, it doesnt stem from everything this human has experienced.

Its nothing. Its just a crisp packet that doesnt even contain any crisps. Its the emptiest, most vacuous object imaginable  and I cant imagine there is anybody who really wants to read a book written by a computer, even if they are unable to distinguish that book.

Last year, a Cambridge University study found that almost half of UK novelists feared AI would displace their work  and in March, the UK Society of Authors even launched a logo to identify books written by humans instead of AI.

While the use of AI within the literary sector is on the rise, Clarke said that reading a book is entering into a relationship with an author and without that, shes not even sure I know what the point of reading is.

I suspect that most people feel exactly the same, she said. The challenge is how do we now distinguish the authentic works from the AI-generated works, particularly if we have authors who are perfectly willing to lie and say that theyve written something when it just stems from AI. I dont have the answer to that question but I hope that some of the very clever Silicon Valley minds are focusing on that problem.

In Clarkes State of the Nation Lecture on Saturday (25 April), the author will argue that theres a crisis of care in this country, and as a nation we have become kindwashed, with institutions preaching performative kindness.

Kindness and empathy are qualities that are fundamentally human and what make us the remarkable species we are, she said. Theyre under assault from all manner of different directions  from the corporate realm that tends to judge value in terms of productivity.

The political realm  big political narratives that are dominating the headlines at the moment are about conflict, domination, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Gaza. Theres also a fundamental devaluing of care, treating it as though its a soft, weak, feeble, optional extra rather than something profoundly important to how we live  Elon Musk loves to trash empathy as though its synonymous with weakness.

Musk said last year that empathy towards undocumented immigrants was destroying society, telling podcaster Joe Rogan: The fundamental weakness of Western civilisation is empathy.

The NHS doctor is urging people not to flinch away from other peoples suffering, adding that while its hard to keep on caring, the alternative is deeply corrosive to our sense of self.

We need to tell stories, not only about the power of care but also what an absence of care really looks like, she said. Life is tough for everybody at the moment  we dont really want to consider more of other peoples suffering but actually we need to do that. We need to discipline ourselves not to give up and not to stop caring because once we do that, our indifferent makes us part of the problem.

Rachel Clarke is giving the State of the Nation Lecture at Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday 25 April.
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Some online communities in East Asia have called for a boycott against The Devil Wears Prada 2 after a promotional clip featuring a Chinese assistant character drew criticism over her name and portrayal.

The highly anticipated sequel will see the return of the core original cast, including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci.

The backlash centres on Qin Zhou, a character played by Chinese American actor Helen J Shen, who appears as an assistant to Andrea Sachs (Hathaway). The controversy began after 20th Century Studios uploaded a clip to its official YouTube and social media channels on Friday, prompting a flurry of reactions online.

Several people have argued that the characters name sounds similar to a historically racist term used in the West to mock Chinese people. According to The Korea Herald, Hong Kongs Oriental Daily News described the phrase as a symbolic racist slur historically used in the West to ridicule Chinese immigrant workers in the 19th century, and added that it conveys contempt and discomfort towards Chinese accents and intonation.

In the clip, Qin Zhou appears in a buttoned-up striped shirt and a checked skirt and rattles off her Yale education and 3.86 GPA, a look that some social media users criticised as leaning into a familiar nerd stereotype in a film set in the fashion industry.

Social media users have criticised Qin Zhous character as leaning into a familiar nerd stereotype in a film set in the fashion industry ( YouTube/20th Century Studios )

The Independent has reached out to 20th Century Studios for comment. Neither the studio nor the films cast have yet reacted to the criticism online or in Asian media outlets.

One user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Child-like dress, glasses, overqualified, Ivy League credentials and at top of her game yet obsequious and insecure of her competency: these are not Asian American stereotypes, theyre white womens fantasies.

Another described the character as a stereotype-riddled discrimination: an awkward Asian woman who's a bespectacled, communication-impaired type who, upon first meeting, immediately starts bragging about her Yale degree and GPA.

Hollywood is so out of touch its embarrassing. Its 2026 and THIS is your Asian rep? The name, styling, whole look. Lazy stereotypes, wrote another.

One user on Reddit said that the name sounds like Zhen Chou, which when translated means really ugly.

Others pointed to a contrast between the films marketing and its on-screen portrayal, noting that it enlisted one of South Koreas most commercially influential K-pop stars to build buzz. Earlier this month, Vogue Korea released a video featuring Ives Jang Won Young with Streep and Hathaway ahead of the films release, as part of its Asia rollout.

While putting Jang Won Young, who is called a human doll and enjoys great popularity across Asia, at the forefront of promotions, the movie features an understated, stereotypical Asian character, wrote one user, according to Star News.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is scheduled to open in China on 1 May and will have its global premiere in South Korea on 29 April. According to Seoul Economic Daily, data from the Korean film council showed it had recorded an advance booking rate of 15.5 per cent, with at least 44,933 tickets sold.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits theatres worldwide on 1 May.
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The Italian government is facing calls from trade unions, politicians and more to cancel Kanye Wests forthcoming appearance at the Hellwatt Festival.

West, 48, is attempting to bring his comeback tour to Europe, but the effort has so far been derailed, with countries including the U.K., France and Poland blocking his performances amid backlash over past antisemitic remarks.

The All Falls Down rapper is scheduled to headline the Reggio Emilia music festival July 18, though growing opposition is urging officials to axe the concert.

The United Kingdom denied the visa. France effectively prevented the Marseille concert, Pina Picierno, the vice president of the European Parliament and a senior member of Italys Democratic Party, told local newspaper La Gazzetta di Reggio. Italy, meanwhile, is just staying idle with 68,000 tickets sold, as if nothing had happened.

Rosamaria Papaleo, a representative of the Italian Confederation of Workers Unions in Emilia-Romagna, added in a statement to CBS News: It seems quite contradictory that an artist known for his antisemitic remarks can be hosted by our city, which has always strongly advocated anti-fascist values. Anti-fascism for us is not a whim, but a value rooted in our history.

open image in gallery Kanye West is scheduled to headline Italy's Hellwatt Festival in July ( Reuters )

Papaleo clarified, however, that while the union does not wish to disrupt the festival  an important event for employees and attendees  it expects artists to be held to standards that promote positive values.

The union has asked Reggio Emilias mayor, Marco Massari, to require West to meet with members of the areas Jewish population as a symbolic act of reconciliation for his past harmful comments, according to CBS News.

Massari has said in a statement that he distances himself from Kanye Wests behavior and remarks, but noted that the decision to allow the rapper into the country rests with the national government.

The Independent has contacted Wests representative for comment.

Despite the uproar, Victor Yari Milani, the founder and artistic director of the Hellwatt Festival, has defended booking West  now known as Ye  calling the festival a space for free artistic expression.

The artists past comments have certainly provoked a legitimate reaction, he said in a statement to Italian news agency ANSA, but we also want to remember that Ye formally apologized through the Wall Street Journal in January, stating that he is not a Nazi or antisemite but suffers from bipolar disorder.

open image in gallery Wests European tour has been derailed by a slew of cancellations ( Reuters )

In January, West took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal apologizing for years of offensive outbursts, blaming a brain injury for his erratic behavior.

The disgraced superstar claimed that neurological damage caused by a near-fatal 2002 car crash was responsible for his concerning behavior in recent years, which has included public antisemitic rants. He said that he believes his brain injury also added to his struggle with bipolar disorder, which he was diagnosed with in 2016.

He went on to say that he regrets the things he said and did while spiraling during his manic episodes, writing that he lost touch with reality and gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it.

After Italy, Wests European tour has four stops that remain scheduled: Turkey, the Netherlands, Madrid, and Portugal.
Photo: Kyiv Security Forum

British Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, founder of the Invictus Games Foundation, has arrived in Ukraine at the invitation of the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF).

"He will participate in the 18th KSF  he will address the Forum participants and join one of the panels involving Ukrainian veterans," according to the KSF Facebook page on Thursday.

As reported, the prince arrived in the Ukrainian capital by night train from Poland on Thursday morning and is to participate in the KSF, where high-ranking Western defense and government officials have gathered. He noted that he wanted to "remind people back home and across the world of what Ukraine is facing and support the people and partners who are doing extraordinary work every hour of every day under incredibly difficult conditions."

During his speech at the KSF, Harry plans to refer to his military experience, as well as the activities of the Invictus Games he founded. He will emphasize that the consequences of the war of Russia against Ukraine will be long-lasting and will be felt "for many years to come."

As part of the visit, Prince Harry will also visit projects related to the activities of the charitable organization The Halo Trust, which is engaged in demining territories in Ukraine.
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Darrell Sheetss Storage Wars co-star Rene Nezhoda has shared a powerful warning after Sheetss death Wednesday.

Sheets was found dead at the age of 67 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, from an apparent suicide.

Nicknamed The Gambler, Sheets appeared in dozens of episodes over 15 seasons of the A+E Networks reality show and was known for his rivalry with Nezhoda.

However, in a video shared to Instagram in the wake of Sheetss death, Nezhoda spoke about the mutual respect they shared.

He was a very hard worker that cared more than anyone Ive ever met about their family, about his son, about Zoe [his granddaughter], pretty much [all the] people in his life, the Storage Wars star said.

open image in gallery Rene Nezhoda (left) claimed his Storage Wars co-star Darrell Sheets had been facing intense cyberbullying before his death ( rbargainhunters/Instagram/Getty )

open image in gallery Sheets and his then-wife, Kimber, and son, Brandon, pictured in 2013 ( Getty )

Nezhoda also claimed that Sheets had faced intense cyberbullying before his death.

Rest in peace Darrell Sheets. Also I know Darrell would want something positive out of this, so he had a guy that [was] really really tormenting him lately. Cyberbullying, he said.

Guys, just because you watch us on television, doesnt mean you know us, Nezhoda continued. It doesnt mean you know what were about. Also, it doesnt entitle you to bully somebody. Thats not [just] us, thats anybody. Thats any athlete. You shouldnt cyberbully at all.

As a matter of fact, if you have somebody in your life that thinks its funny to cyberbully other people, may that be a celebrity, athlete or little girl at school slap em in the back of the head. Make them become a better human being, he urged.

You never know what demons somebody faces and what they go through and what you might push them through, he concluded. Darrell has been posting a lot about the guy that has been cyberbullying and torturing him and I really hope they look into that guy and thats just not a pass. Its just not right, guys. Be better.

Sgt. Kyle Ridgway, a public information officer for the Lake Havasu City Police Department, told Page Six on Wednesday that authorities are aware of these cyberbullying accusations and that is a part of the active investigation.

In a press release, police stated that they dispatched officers to a private residence at around 2 a.m. in response to reports of a deceased individual.

The release continued: The body was ultimately turned over to the Mohave County Medical Examiners office for further investigation... This incident remains under active investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Sheets was born on May 13, 1958 and spent over 30 years in the storage hunting business. He previously worked in landscaping.

He appeared in the first season of Storage Wars in 2010 and remained a key member of the cast until 2023. The series was filmed in California, where storage lockers can be auctioned off is rent is not paid for 36 days. The show follows professional buyers who purchase lockers in the hope of turning a profit.

Sheets suffered a heart attack in 2019 and retired to Arizona, where he ran an antique store called Show Me Your Junk.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
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Deadliest Catch will reportedly pay tribute to late deckhand Todd Meadows when the reality series returns next month.

Meadows, 25, died in February after falling overboard from the Aleutian Lady, a boat featured on the high-risk Discovery Channel show.

The next season will begin airing May 8, and will include scenes that Meadows filmed in the weeks before his death.

Variety reports that the premiere episode will include a tribute to Meadows and reflections on the loss from fellow members of the Aleutian Lady crew, but that the series will not at any point air footage of the fatal incident out of respect for the late deckhands family.

Captain Rick Shelford, who has been a regular on the show since 2023, has described the accident as the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady.

Todd Meadows died aged 25 during production of Deadliest Catch in February ( Discovery Channel )

Shelford continued: His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyones respect right away. His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.

A spokesperson for Discovery Channel said at the time that the death of Meadows was a devastating loss, adding: We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows. Our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.

He was survived by his wife and three children.

Deadliest Catch premiered in 2005, following a group of king crab fishermen in Alaska as they embarked on the perilous journey to catch the seafood delicacy in the Bering Sea. The title is inspired by the high risk of injury or death linked to the line of work.

The logline for the new season reads: With a new king crab population appearing far north, the fleet relocates 225 miles to St. George Island, facing colder weather and more extreme seas than any season before as they work to sustain their livelihoods in rapidly changing waters.

For the first time in decades, the captains abandon familiar fishing grounds to chase a rare breed of Red King Crab lurking in the frozen waters of the far North. This elusive catch, worth a fortune, pushes the fleet into remote territory and tests their experience and resilience at the edge of the world.

In 2019, a boat set to appear on Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove capsized in Newport, Oregon, killing three fisherman: Joshua Porter, 50, James Lacy, 48 and Stephen Biernacki, 50.
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A woman who was featured on The Jerry Springer Show three times as a teenager claims the talk show ruined her life.

Jennifer Kreis, the daughter of late Ku Klux Klan member August Kreis III, was invited on the controversial Nineties show with her father multiple times to discuss their involvement with the white supremacist hate group  but she is now accusing the TV appearances of destroying her reputation at a young age while she was being influenced by her fathers hateful beliefs.

Kreis, who first went on the show in 1993 for an episode about white supremacy when she was 14, revisited her experience on IDs new docuseries Hollywood Demons, where she spoke about her regret for spewing racist and antisemitic ideology in her appearances.

I just felt like I was a circus animal under attack, but no one knew the truth, Kreis, now 47, said. I was a kid. What choice did I have?

She said that her family moved after filming the episode because she was bullied for her racist beliefs.

open image in gallery Jennifer Kreis, now 47, said she had no choice but to go on The Jerry Springer Show with her father as a teenager ( Jennifer Kreis/Facebook )

I was 14 years old, just trying to come into my own as a teenager, and I was already dealing with the backlash of his beliefs in school, she said. I was threatened on a daily basis. I had to start carrying mace to school. They tried jumping me, a handful of times. I just had to deal with it.

Kreis said she attended rallies and marches with her father before they were invited on the show, but that she never wanted to go on television. She alleged that the show never obtained her mothers consent for her to go on the show, despite a joint custody agreement.

She also alleged that the show paid her father $1,000 for each appearance, although production for The Jerry Springer Show denied any claim that guests were compensated.

open image in gallery Jennifer Kreis on the 'Jerry Springer Show' at age 17 ( Courtesy of ID )

During Kreiss first appearance on the show, she threatened to kill Springers daughter for being Jewish. When she watched the footage back during IDs docuseries, she began to cry and said she felt embarrassment, anger and sadness that I was ever put in that position by all the adults.

Kreis and her father were thrown off the show during their second appearance. They returned a third time when she was 17.

I think, by that point, I was starting to get really mad because I did not want to be there, Kreis said. I didnt want to be saying these things. I didnt want anything to do with it.

open image in gallery Jennifer Kreis on 'The Jerry Springer Show' at age 14 ( Courtesy of ID )

She continued: The Jerry Springer Show destroyed my life, and Im sure many other people's as well. It was horrible. I hated it. It wasnt me at all.

Kreis left home at age 18. Her father died in prison in May 2025 while serving 50 years in prison for child molestation, according to the documentary.

In a 2022 interview on the Beyond Barriers Media podcast, Kreis said it was freeing to reclaim her experiences and apologize for her past behavior.

Im very sorry for hurting people, she said on the show. At the same time, grant me the grace that you can wrap your head around and understand that I had no choice. It was about survival, for me. I lived surviving. I wasn't living. I was surviving.
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Jamie Lynn Sigler is sharing details about the last weeks she spent with James Van Der Beek before his death.

The Sopranos star, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016, reflected on her friendship with Van Der Beek  who died of colorectal cancer at age 48 in February  in a new interview, saying she and the Dawsons Creek actor bonded a lot on what our illnesses can teach us.

Im devastated that my friend is no longer here, you know? Sigler, 44, told Us Weekly. I think we all knew that there was so much more he could have done, but also, in his passing, to see how loved and celebrated he is and will always be. I dont think he even knew that.

She said about Van Der Beek: Ive never met somebody that is better at and enjoys being a father more.

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 14, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 10, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4.

Jamie Lynn Sigler spent time with James Van Der Beek before his death ( Getty Images )

Nobody did it better than James and Kimberly, Sigler told the outlet. And their children are living proof of how beautifully they have parented and guided and lived with such intention and such care.

While Van Der Beek rose to fame as the titular character in his beloved nineties sitcom, Sigler is best known for playing Meadow Soprano on the iconic HBO drama from 1999 to 2007.

Van Der Beek and Sigler, who has two sons with her husband Cutter Dykstra, both moved to Austin, Texas, after their days in the TV limelight to focus on their families amid their respective diagnoses.

I think really stepping into my acceptance and faith happened here in Austin, and with him, too, Sigler told the outlet. And being honest about pain and being brave in the face of it. We had a lot of like, I see you moments, where we would push ourselves past maybe what our body is telling us it wants to do, because we want to be present in these moments. We dont want to miss out on these moments with our friends or our children, and we shared many long eye contact moments of that.

She added, Our dream was always that him and I were going to dance together one day, and I got to see him a few days before he passed, and sit at his bedside, and I told him, You wait for me, because were going to do that dance.

Van Der Beeks family announced his death February 11 by saying he faced his final days with courage, faith and grace.

Hollywood paid tribute to the beloved actor with an outpouring of social media tributes. A GoFundMe for his family raised over $2 million.
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England's patron saint, St George, will be celebrated this Thursday 23 April.

The day is synonymous with public displays of the English flag  the red cross on a white background  and is celebrated by Christian churches.

Though English schoolchildren learn of a dragon-slaying knight, there is much more to the story of historical figure of St George.

We explore the legend's origins and other countries that honour him as their patron saint.

Who was he?

According to legend, St George was a Roman soldier born in what is now modern-day Turkey in around 280AD and died around 303.

Very little is known about his early life but it is believed he was born to a wealthy Christian noble family.

When he grew up he became a soldier and joined the retinue of Emperor Diocletian.

In 303 Diocletian, as part of a crackdown on the growing influence of the Christian community, ordered that all Christian soldiers in the army should be expelled and all Roman soldiers be forced to make the traditional pagan sacrifice.

St George refused and denounced the edict in front of his fellow soldiers, declaring he was a Christian.

Diocletian initially tried to convert him with offers of wealth and land but when he refused he was beheaded on 23 April 303.

So what does he have to do with dragons?

The myth of St George slaying a dragon originally appeared in stories told by the mediaeval Eastern Orthodox Church which were brought back to Europe by the Crusaders in the 10th and 11th centuries.

According to one story, a town in Libya had a small lake with a plague-infected dragon living in it. The townspeople were gradually being killed by the dragon and started feeding it two sheep a day to appease it.

open image in gallery A woman assembles her St George and dragon costume during the St George's Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square ( Getty )

When they ran out of sheep the king devised a lottery system to feed it local children. One day his own daughter was chosen and as she was being led out to the lake St George happened to ride past.

He reported offered to slay the dragon if the people converted to Christianity. They all did, and the king later built a church where the dragon died.

If he was from Turkey how did he become the patron saint of England?

King Edward III made St George the countrys official saint just after he came to the throne in 1327.

According to historian Ian Mortimer, a patron saint did not have to be from the country they were born in  they just needed to embody the characteristics the kingdom wanted to project to the outside world.

After all, as well as England, St George is also the patron saint of Portugal, Venice, Beirut, Malta, Ethiopia, Georgia, the Palestinian terrorities, Serbia and Lithuania.

Edward III wanted to rebuild the strength of the English monarchy after the disastrous reign of his father  St George was part of his strategy to make England one of the most powerful and warlike nations in Europe.

This article was originally published in April 2016
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A migrant from Chile will spend three years in prison after he stole purses from multiple people in Washington, D.C., including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to prosecutors.

Mario Bustamante Leiva received a 36-month prison sentence Wednesday in connection with a string of thefts, one of which included stealing Noems Gucci purse while she was dining with her family last year, the Justice Department said in a statement.

He will be subject to deportation after his prison sentence ends.

Bustamante Leiva, 50, pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft. He was accused of targeting women who were dining at Washington-area restaurants across three days in April 2025.

During the offenses, Bustamante Leiva surveilled his targets, stole purses containing wallets, credit cards, and personal identifying information, and used the stolen cards to make fraudulent purchases within minutes of each theft, the Justice Department said.

open image in gallery Mario Bustamante Leiva was captured on surveillance footage with Kristi Noem's purse and wallet, which prosecutors said he stole while she was dining at a restaurant with her family ( U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia )

Bustamante Leiva stole Noems purse  which contained credit cards and about $3,000 in cash  on April 20, 2025, while she and her family were eating dinner at Capital Burger, prosecutors said. At the time, he did not realize the victim was Noem.

Noems children and grandchildren were in town that day, and she was planning on treating them to dinner, activities and Easter gifts, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the New York Times last year.

She could feel this person as they snatched her bag, but thought they were her grandchildren playing until realizing a minute later that her bag was gone, the spokesperson said. Her bag was under her feet and the perpetrator hooked the bag with his foot and dragged it across the floor and put a coat over it and took it.

open image in gallery Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she was dining at a restaurant with her family last year ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Afterward, Bustamante Leiva was seen on security footage at another restaurant with Noems purse, wallet, and at least one of her credit cards, which he used to make an unauthorized purchase, the Justice Department said. He was arrested at a motel six days later.

Bustamante Leiva was also linked to two other purse thefts, one of which also involved his co-defendant, Cristian Montecino-Sanzana, the Justice Department said. Montecino-Sanzana was sentenced in March to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and will also face deportation afterward.

Bustamante Leivas attorney said his conduct was related to his alcohol use and addiction, according to a sentencing memo he filed last week.

Immediately after his arrest, Mr. Bustamante Leiva went through a period of serious and life-threatening alcohol withdrawal. But he has since become sober, the filing reads.

His attorney also argued that the cases facts are more indicative of a man who was fighting an addiction and not of someone who was making sophisticated plans to defraud victims and enrich himself.

Bustamante Leiva entered the U.S. in August 2021, but remained in the country illegally after his visa waiver ended in November 2021, the Justice Department said. He also has active warrants in Utah and New York stemming from 2021 charges involving retail theft, credit card theft, and stolen property, according to the departments statement.

The Independent has contacted attorneys representing Bustamante Leiva and Montecino-Sanzana for comment.
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A convicted killer giggled in a Florida courtroom on Tuesday as the judge delivering his fate described in horrific detail how he brutally stabbed his cellmate in the brain with a pen.

Marcus Terry, 43, had just learned he would spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2021 killing of his 64-year-old cellmate Ray Matos inside the Dade Correctional Institution in Homestead.

Judge Ellen Sue Venzer paused and questioned his laughter: Im not sure why youre laughing, she said, as Terry continued to grin, according to NBC6.

You are amusing, Terry said from the defense table, still smiling.

I found nothing amusing about your behavior or the death of this gentleman, Venzer replied.

open image in gallery Marcus Terry, 43, laughed in court on Tuesday as the judge described how he killed cellmate Ray Matos back in 2021 ( NBC6 )

In December 2025, a jury found Terry guilty of second-degree murder for killing Matos inside their jail cell in 2021.

The two men had only been cellmates for less than a week when the attack happened.

Prison guards found Matos lying in a pool of blood while Terry sat nearby on the lower bunk, according to an arrest warrant.

Terry, who was already serving a life sentence for armed burglary and armed robbery at the time of the killing, returned to court on Tuesday to learn his fate.

open image in gallery Ray Matos, 64, was found dead in the cell he shared with Terry, who has been sentenced to life in prison for the crime ( Florida Department of Corrections )

His attorney, Steven Yermish, asked Judge Venzer to grant a new trial, arguing that inadmissible evidence had been presented to jurors. The judge denied the motion and moved forward with sentencing.

Venzer described how Terry attacked Matos inside their shared cell, overcoming him with a pillowcase before pushing a pen into his brain, killing him.

He shoved a pillowcase into his mouth, Venzer said. When the guards came in to find out what was going on, he was standing on top of this man, and his hand was bloodied.

Venzer sentenced Terry to life in prison without the possibility of parole, telling him: God have mercy on your soul.

Terry now has the right to appeal.
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A Midwest furniture chain has been sued after one of its contractors molested an 8-year-old girl during a carpet installation job.

The Accurso Law Firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of the girl and her family in Missouri Monday against Nebraska Furniture Mart after Enrique L. Martinez, 63, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the child, local media reported.

The furniture chain has insisted that the claims in the lawsuit are false.

Martinez was charged with multiple child sex crimes last June after police were called to the familys home in the city of Peculiar to receive a report that the child had been molested, local outlet KCTV 5 reported at the time, citing records from local officials.

open image in gallery A Midwest furniture chain has been sued after one of its contractors molested an 8-year-old girl during a carpet installation job ( Google Earth )

The contractor and his crew were working on carpeting in the familys home when Martinez got the girl alone and sexually assaulted her, according to authorities.

Martinez pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory sodomy involving a child under the age of 12 last January. KCTV 5 reported Tuesday that he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The girls family said it was led to believe that the carpet they purchased from Nebraska Furniture Mart in June 2025 would be installed by trained members of the furniture chains team, KCTV 5 reported Tuesday, citing the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that Nebraska Furniture Mart failed to conduct a thorough background check on Martinez. If the furniture chain had done a proper check, the lawsuit claims, it would have discovered Martinez was barred from lawfully working in the U.S. and was using someone elses Social Security number.

After Nebraska Furniture Mart was made aware of the allegations against Martinez, it refused to complete the familys carpet installation and told them they were no longer welcome at the store, according to the lawsuit.

open image in gallery A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the girl and her family in Missouri Monday against Nebraska Furniture Mart after contractor Enrique L. Martinez, 63, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the child ( Cass County Detention Center )

Nebraska Furniture Mart Kansas City Store Director Nastasia Williams told The Independent, Our hearts go out to the victim and their family. We share the sadness and shock at the details that resulted in the conviction of a third-party contractors helper.

Throughout our more than 85 years in business, NFM has prided itself on our Core Values of Integrity and Honesty while providing quality products and services to all our customers, Williams said. That approach has inspired NFM to maintain longstanding processes related to background checks, safety measures, and accountability that exceed industry standards. Our commitment to ensuring the safety of our customers and team members is unwavering.

Williams said the allegations against the furniture chain are not true.

Out of respect for the privacy of those involved and because this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot share any additional information, the store director said.

The Independent has reached out to the Accurso Law Firm for comment.
The legal defense of Ruben Vardanyan has recently faced significant challenges, including public criticisms and scrutiny of individuals associated with the case. A recent post on Armenian channels concerning Anna Yudkovskaya illustrates the level of public attention and debate surrounding the proceedings.

Yudkovskaya, a partner at a Ukrainian law firm that provided services to SOCAR, has been criticized for her professional connections. Some commentators have questioned her impartiality due to her husbands support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which aligns with international law. Others have raised concerns about her not recusing herself in connection to Vardanyans prior associations. It should be noted that Vardanyan has publicly renounced his Russian citizenship.

Ethical concerns have also been raised regarding transparency and neutrality in the case, prompting discussions about the role of international institutions. The UN Working Group issued a decision, which has sparked further debate about the process and its outcomes.

The case highlights the complexities of legal proceedings involving high-profile figures, international law, and geopolitical sensitivities. It also underscores the importance of professional conduct, impartiality, and adherence to established legal frameworks in such matters.
Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the EU summit in Cyprus in person on Thursday, rather than participating via video link as previously announced, Politico reports, citing European Council President Antonio Costa, who will chair the meeting.

"We will be happy to welcome President Zelenskyy in person at this extremely significant moment," Costa said in a comment to the publication.

As reported, EU heads of state and government will gather on Thursday for an informal summit in Cyprus, which will take place in the cities of Nicosia and Ayia Napa on April 23 and 24. "During the meeting, they will focus on the geopolitical situation, European response measures and the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework," according to materials for the meeting.

On the second day of the summit, key regional partners from the Middle East will join European leaders for a working lunch "to discuss the situation in the region, common challenges and new opportunities for cooperation."

The informal meeting will be chaired by European Council President Antonio Costa. It will be organized by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, as Cyprus currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Council said. EU leaders will discuss the conflict in Iran and the situation in the Middle East, which Brussels admits "is a serious problem for the EU."

In this context, it is planned to consider "Europes contribution to de-escalation and peace, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the consequences of high fossil fuel prices." The implementation of decisions adopted at the European Council meeting on March 19, 2026, particularly in the energy sector, will also be discussed.

The summit documents note that given the overall geopolitical situation, discussions may cover aspects related to Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union (on mutual defense).

On the eve, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) of EU member states managed to agree for approval by the EU Council the European Commissions proposals on the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and on a EUR 90 bln loan for Ukraine thanks to Hungary withdrawing its veto. The EU Councils decision by written procedure, according to Western media, is expected during the meeting in Cyprus.

European leaders will discuss the long-term EU budget for 2028-2034  the EUs multiannual financial plan  in particular "to align the EUs ambitions with the appropriate level of funding."

EU heads of state and government will focus their attention on new own resources  sources of income in the EU budget  and on how the multiannual financial plan can contribute to the long-term program to increase EU competitiveness.
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Two deaths discovered within hours of each other on the University of California, Berkeley campus have prompted separate investigations, authorities say.

The incidents, one involving a student who fell from a residence hall and another involving an unidentified man found near a central campus plaza, occurred less than 24 hours apart.

Officials do not believe the cases are connected and say there is no indication of foul play in either death.

The first incident unfolded Tuesday evening, just before 8 p.m., with emergency crews responding to reports of a person who had fallen from a building at the Unit 3 residence hall complex.

Responders with the Berkeley Fire Department and campus police located the student who was pronounced dead at the scene.

open image in gallery A student and a man were found dead on the University of California, Berkeley campus, but are believed to be separate incidents ( Getty/iStock )

The Alameda County coroner later identified the student as William Yi Lu, a 21-year-old junior majoring in theater and performance studies, according to the Berkeley Scanner. He was due to graduate in May 2027.

Roughly 16 hours later, a second body was discovered. Around noon Wednesday, university staff found a man in bushes outside Sproul Hall, near the Sproul Plaza on the south side of campus.

His identity has not been released, though authorities said he appeared to be in his late 40s or early 50s. UC Berkeley police said the man does not appear to be affiliated with the university. No additional details were immediately available.

Police reiterated that foul play is not suspected in the second case, and the medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

University officials emphasized that there is no known threat to public safety.

"The campus has become aware of reports that a person has passed away near our campus housing, UC Berkeley spokesman, Adam Ratliff, told the Berkeley Scanner following the incidents. We are saddened by this tragic news and wish to extend our condolences to this persons family and friends.

In the wake of the incidents, UC Berkeley police reminded students that counseling and psychological services are available by appointment or on a drop-in basis.

Both investigations are ongoing.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

A woman in North Carolina is facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly beating her 93-year-old husband to death with a vase.

Yorleni Shoff, 58, allegedly beat her husband, Richard, with a vase at their home in Salisbury, North Carolina around 2 am on April 9, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The Rowan County Sheriffs Office responded to a residence on Meadow Lane in Salisbury after 58-year-old Yorleni Shoff called 911 to report that her husband, 93-year-old Richard Shoff, was lying on the floor bleeding, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

When deputies arrived, they found Richard Shoff on the floor of his home, unresponsive. The sheriff's statement says deputies found a "significant amount of blood indicating an assault had occurred."

Yorleni Shoff was initially arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. Her husband spent nine days in the hospital before dying from his injuries. Her charges were then upgraded to first-degree murder.

open image in gallery Yorleni Shoff, 58, is facing a first-degree murder charge after she allegedly bear her 93-year-old husband to death with a vase in their Salisbury, North Carolina home ( Rowan County Sheriff's Office )

Deputies found Yorleni Shoff at a Salisbury hotel and arrested her without incident on April 21.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and recovered a broken vase believed to have been used as the weapon in the assault, the sheriffs office said. Based on the evidence collected and the findings of the investigation, his death is being investigated as a homicide because of the injuries sustained during the assault.

Yorlenia Shoff is being held without bond at the Rowan County Detention Center.

Her first court appearance for the murder charge is scheduled for April 22.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to call Lieutenant Ryan Barkley (704-216-8711) or Sergant Kevin Holshouser (704-216-8683) of the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.
DTEK forced to temporarily close customer service centre in Dnipro following damage from Russian strike

Russia has damaged a customer service centre of energy holding DTEK during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, forcing it to temporarily suspend operations.

"Overnight, the enemy again attacked Dnipro with drones. One of DTEKs customer service centres was struck," the company said on Telegram on Thursday.

According to the statement, the strike damaged office and administrative premises. No employees were injured.

DTEK specified that the branch is temporarily closed while energy workers address the consequences of the attack.

"We plan to resume operations in the near future," the energy holding said.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Work on the exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia is continuing, Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Kyrylo Budanov has said.

"The exchange process? We have just received the next list. There are just some minor legal obstacles on Russias side dont worry, everything will be fine," he said on the sidelines of the Kyiv Security Forum.
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CultureTheatreArts Is Don, is bad: Don Giovanni a serial abuser not hapless rake Will Cox April 24, 2026  5:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A powerful philanderer brought down by the women he has left in his wake? It could be a newspaper headline. In his 400-year history, the character of Don Giovanni, or Don Juan, has become a folk hero, invariably described as a trickster, a playboy, and a seducer. Mozart saw things differently. This month, Mozarts 1787 opera, The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni, returns to the Melbourne stage at the Athenaeum Theatre. Rebecca Rashleigh, who plays Zerlina, and Christopher Tonkin, who plays Don Giovanni, with Suzanne Chaundy, who directs The Rake Punished for Melbourne Opera. Justin McManus I dont think Don Giovanni was ever meant to be a hero, says Suzanne Chaundy, director of The Rake Punished. And yet somehow, over the centuries, hes become one. Chaundy recalls attending previous productions and seeing audiences delight at the lead characters charm. When you actually dig into it, what hes doing is appalling, she says. As soon as you look at it from the womans side of things, the opera starts to make a lot more sense.

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A poster advertising the opera Don Juan in Seville, Spain. Alamy Part of Chaundys reading of the opera involves restoring its original title, Il dissoluto punito, emphasising the characters fate. Over the centuries, the name, Don Giovanni, has taken heroic centre-stage. But even the term, rake, is easy to read as a loveable rogue, an antihero. The name certainly doesnt carry connotations of abuse and murder. The opera opens with Giovanni, played by Christopher Tonkin, escaping a womans bedroom in disguise. She follows in pursuit. All indications are that seduction isnt the word we would use today. Hes not averse to using force, says Chaundy. In his haste to escape, he murders the womans father, the Commendatore (Eddie Muliaumasealii). Over the course of the opera, his misdeeds pursue him to his grave. The Rake Punished is the latest in a run of Mozart operas for Chaundy, who recently directed productions of The Marriage of Figaro and Cosi Fan Tutte, also for Melbourne Opera. All three have librettos by Lorenzo Da Ponte.

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Mozart loved women, you know? says Chaundy. He was interested in women on a psychological level. His operas often have these really interesting female characters. In the opera, its three female characters, played here by Lee Abrahmsen, Eleanor Greenwood and Rebecca Rashleigh, who drive the Don to his downfall. Through their eyes, hes seen with a mix of rage, pity and fear. Aside from his charm, he has power and privilege. Its not hard to see the story through a contemporary lens in an age in which powerful, wealthy men who have used their positions to abuse others are finally held to account. Related Article Arts How this doula uses art to help people take a relaxed look at death The action takes place on stage and off, spilling into the Juliet balconies and beyond. Its not the only way the piece continues beyond the stage. Chaundy says intimacy co-ordinator Lisa Petty likened the plays opening scene to many high-profile sexual assault cases in which men are protected by their social and class status. And like countless similar stories brought to light in recent years, Giovanni is a man unburdened by conscience or by consequences.

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Its absolutely contemporary, she says. These themes of power and privilege are so strong. After the murder, Giovanni is pursued by a previous lover, Donna Elvira, who feels a mix of resentment and pity for him. Giovannis servant, Leporello (played by Henry Shaw), recites to her the catalogue of the Dons conquests  over 2000 women and girls. Editor's pick Victoria Its a beloved historic structure, but not even David Attenborough can save Flinders Pier Weve taken a careful approach to staging that catalogue scene, to make sure it really resonates with the audience. The production gives the women physical presence, using the female chorus. These arent just abstract notions, theyre real people. The final character of the trio of women, Zerlina, a peasant whom Giovanni attempts to seduce, is a case in point. He has this sexual power, and a predatory power, but its also that hes so wealthy, says Chaundy. Hes able to offer her, more than anything else, an alternative life.

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Its complex balance to strike. The opera is a dramma giocoso, a drama comedy, after all, and Chaundy says Giovanni has to be charming, or the women he seduces will look like idiots. But its comedy with bite. The story remains focused on the power he has over people. Its quite a larrikin production, says Chaundy. But were careful not to heroicise him. The Rake Punished is at the Athenaeum Theatre from April 26 to May 3.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Arts Will Cox writes fiction and arts criticism. He's based in Merri-bek.
In 1994, NSW MP John Newman, known for his stance against Asian gangs, was gunned down in the driveway of his home. The local Vietnamese politician convicted of masterminding the murder has always claimed his innocence. Three decades on, he is still in jail  and questions about the case remain.

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This story is part of the April 25 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories .

Monday, September 5, 1994 was the darkest night of the month, the only night with not even a sliver of moon. It was also the first Monday, the regular night for Labor Party branch meetings. Outside the Cabravale Diggers Club, the air hung black and still. Inside, past the pokies, the member for Cabramatta was regaling the faithful with the latest local crime figures. Tall, severe-faced and with piercing blue eyes, John Newman was old-school Labor  a street-fighter with a hair-trigger temper, known for challenging his political opponents to punch-ups, holding a grudge and keeping watch on his enemies. He was in a tough neighbourhood. Australia had been through a long recession, and since 1975 and the end of the Vietnam war, Cabramatta had been the gateway for tens of thousands of IndoChinese refugees who had fled the communists and were now resettled in Australias largest-ever Asian immigration program. By the 1990s, widespread unemployment, social isolation and a sudden flood of high-grade South-east Asian heroin had made Cabramatta the heroin and homicide capital of Australia. Addicts swarmed through its train station and shot up and died in back lanes. Asian gangs fought gun battles on street corners. Cabramatta Police Station counted each days drug deals to be in the thousands. Newman had his own battle. One Vietnamese man, whod arrived as a penniless boat-person, had found his way onto Fairfield Council, become deputy mayor and, Newman was convinced, had his eye on Newmans seat in the NSW parliament. Phuong Ngo, who was said to be highly intelligent, ran a local Vietnamese club, the Mekong Club  which was rumoured to be laundering drug money  and had taken over a defunct Labor branch, stacked it with Asian immigrants and made it the largest branch in Cabramatta. Local alderman Phuong Ngo was convicted in connection to the 1994 killing of his political opponent in Cabramatta, Labor MP John Newman. Brendan Esposito In response Newman, not to be outdone, had dressed in a cowboy hat, pinned on a sheriffs star, made sure the local paper photographed him, and demanded Asian criminals be deported. Asian gangs dont fear our laws, he told the media at the time. But theres one thing they do fear, and thats deportation. Send them back to the jungles, for, frankly, thats where they belong.

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When someone threw red paint on his white Ford Fairlane, and his office answering machine filled up with death threats, Newman took it as a badge of honour. Ditto the old bullet-hole in his electoral office window, which he refused to repair and made a point of showing visitors. That September evening, Newman was telling the Labor diehards at the Diggers Club hed be meeting with the states police commissioner the next morning and laying down his demands: more cops, tougher sentences, Asian deportations. Asian gangs dont fear our laws. But theres one thing they do fear, and thats deportation. Send them back to the jungles. Slain MP John Newman The branch meeting lasted only an hour. By 9.15pm, Newman was striding through the Diggers Club carpark and turning the key in his Fairlane. A shroud of hanging rain swallowed the headlights. In 10 minutes time, Newman would be at home. The MP lived in a quiet area, behind the main road, where Cabramatta was still the old suburbia: cul-de-sacs ending in scrappy patches of bushland; fibro and dying cars; the forward march of concrete driveways; some new blond bricks and Colorbond. Newmans house, red brick with a cream weatherboard upstairs extension, sat at the bottom of a hill in Woods Avenue, near the corner of Bowden Street. When the paint-bombers found it, the police gave him a security camera, but it never showed anything, so he told them to take it away. NSW state politician John Newman, who was known for his stance against Asian gangs, was gunned down in the driveway of his Cabramatta home in 1994. Fairfax Photographic Newman, a sixth dan black belt and president of the Australian Karate Federation, didnt need the police. He put in an alarm system, made his front wall more than two metres high, got himself a gun and bought a grey tarpaulin, which he kept in the boot of the Fairlane.

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Every night, as soon as he arrived home, Newman  a man of discipline  made sure he pulled out the tarpaulin, covered his Fairlane and closed his metal gates. Hed been doing it every night for the past six months. Which meant that every night, Newman would be in his driveway. As anyone would know, if they happened to be watching him. That Monday, September 5, 1994, it was just before 9.30pm when the white Fairlane came into view on the small crest in Bowden Street, drove down the hill and turned right into Woods Avenue. Newman pulled into his driveway and stopped under his carport. Nearby, in the shadows, somebody was waiting. Inside, Newmans fiancee of four months, Lucy Wang, turned off the TV, unlocked the front door and front security screen, and came out to help with the tarpaulin. Newman already had it spread over the back of the Fairlane. Wang, who was short-sighted and wore glasses, had taken a front edge of the tarp and was bending down between the bonnet and the house to pull it over the front bumper. Newman was near the back of his car, standing side-on to the road. An aerial photo of the Cabramatta home of Labor MP John Newman, following his murder on Sept 5, 1994 - the first political assassination in Australian history. Steve Christo/Fairfax Media Suddenly, Wang heard a gunshot. She looked up. A man was standing in the driveway, his head cocked to one side, his arms stretched out straight in front of his body. Flame burst from where his hands were. Newman staggered and fell. Wang screamed. The shooter was too close to miss. The MP was shot twice through his chest. A third bullet ripped the tarpaulin, grazed the back window of the Fairlane and ricocheted up into the roof of the carport. Newman would die minutes later. The shooter disappeared. But within hours, Cabramatta Police Station had been given the suspects name. Politically, the person with the most to gain by John Newmans death would be Phuong Ngo, declared Ken Chapman, who worked in Newmans office, in a statement made to Cabramatta police two hours after the murder. It is general knowledge within political circles that Ngo desires a seat in parliament.

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John Newmans murder shocked the country. It was instantly labelled Australias first political assassination and Phuong Ngo, the ambitious local politician on the rise, was just as quickly labelled the chief suspect. But, despite a massive investigation, it took the police three and half years, until March 1998, to arrest him and took prosecutors another three-and-a-half years and three trials to convict him. Ngos first trial was aborted; his second ended with a hung jury. The third trial, in 2001, was three trials in one, with three men accused of the murder, one as the shooter, one as the getaway driver and Ngo as the mastermind. The jury acquitted the alleged shooter and driver but convicted Ngo. The sentencing judge found Ngos motive for killing Newman was naked political ambition and impatience, that Ngo wanted Newmans seat in NSW parliament but couldnt wait for the next election, where hed be able to contest it. Ngo, in other words, couldnt wait for the ballot and instead chose a bullet. Related Article Good Weekend The early-retirement trap: How to avoid loneliness, boredom and wet leaf syndrome After his conviction, Ngo was sent to Goulburn Supermax, the toughest prison in Australia, where he remained in solitary confinement for almost 14 years. Over that time several lawyers, others who sat through the trials and Ngos two co-accused who the jury acquitted raised concerns about all three trials and the way Ngo was convicted. In 2007, working as a reporter for the ABCs Four Corners, I began the mammoth task of collecting and reading thousands of pages of court transcript, statements and  significantly  secret hearings conducted by the NSW Crime Commission. Four Corners assembled a team and our program The Newman Case was broadcast in 2008. We couldnt tell the whole story  too much was subject to secrecy provisions  but even so, the NSW Chief Justice appointed a retired judge, David Patten, to look into the conviction. Judge Patten handed down his report in 2009. He found the evidence against Ngo was more conclusive than ever, that Ngo wasnt an honest witness, and was highly critical of the lawyers and academics who made submissions to the inquiry and the journalism that prompted it. NSW Police were in furious agreement. So was the NSW Attorney-General, who called the Four Corners program garbage. The Corrective Services Commissioner banned me from visiting any NSW prison for an unlimited period. Through all this time, Ngo was in Supermax where, if he was lucky, he might be allowed to make three six-minute phone calls a week, including to his lawyers. Journalists were banned from visiting prisoners without official permission  which was rarely given and almost unheard-of in a case like his.

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In 2016, Ngo was transferred to Lithgow Correctional Centre. I tried to visit but was told I had to leave. Then, in January 2020, my phone rang. Ngo had been moved to a newly built maximum-security prison, Macquarie Correctional Centre, in western NSW. For the first time in almost 22 years, since the day he was arrested, Ngo was relatively free to make phone calls. And for the first time in 14 years, I was able to ask him questions. For the next three years, in more than 300 phone calls, we went through the murder, the investigation and the trials: informers, reluctant witnesses, shifting evidence, suppression orders, secret hearings in the NSW Crime Commission, prominent politicians who never thought the political motive made sense. Some of the story still cant be told. But enough can. And it raises serious concerns. I cant say that Ngo is innocent. I wasnt there. I didnt see who pulled the trigger. But I do know theres something very wrong with the way he was convicted. Phuong Ngo is a lifer. He has no release date. His life sentence will only end with his death. He is now 68 and has spent more than 28 years in prison  a lot of time to think. He has many questions. Why did it take seven years and three trials to convict him? Why did seven key prosecution witnesses want guarantees they wouldnt face charges before theyd agree to give evidence against him? Why did so many change their stories and become prosecution witnesses after attending secret hearings at the NSW Crime Commission? Why were so many witnesses names and so much evidence kept secret? Why are whole days of trial still subject to non-publication orders? What should happen when a court makes a specific finding on criminal motive  naked political ambition and impatience  and its clearly contradicted by new evidence from some of the most senior Labor politicians of the day? And then theres the puzzle of the verdict. How could a jury acquit the two men said to have carried out the murder  the shooter and driver  but still convict the mastermind? Who did Ngo mastermind? And who shot Newman? Why is the killer still at large?
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NationalNSWAnzac Day The art of war, propaganda and protest from the battlefield to the Opera House Julie Power April 24, 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

Activists Dave Burgess and Will Saunders emboldened protests against Australias involvement in Iraq in 2003 when they scaled the Opera House and painted No War in blood-red paint. Now the Heralds iconic photograph by Phil Carrick, capturing cleaners trying to wash off the message  along with the paint and paint brushes the two used and the Dunlop Volley shoes Burgess wore  forms part of an Iraq display in the Australian War Memorials new Anzac Hall. Cleaners attempt to remove the No War slogan painted on the Opera House by anti-war protesters in 2003. Phil Carrick It is a serious thing to be in that space, Burgess said on Thursday from his Hunter Valley home. Two decades ago, the pair lost every legal battle except one.

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They were fined $151,000 and jailed for nine months. Then prosecutors argued that the paint, the pot and shoes, and the Opera House snow globes embellished with the No War slogan the men gave to people who made donations, could be sold and become proceeds of crime. Artist and author Norman Lindsay created a range of pamphlets using fear tactics to increase enlistment. Audrey Richardson Some of the war propaganda and material being sold by gallery owner Josef Lebovic. Audrey Richardson A pamphlet of well-known artist Norman Lindsay in the Josef Lebovic Gallery. Audrey Richardson Josef Lebovic looks at propaganda written and illustrated by Norman Lindsay, one of Australias best known artists and the author of The Magic Pudding. Audrey Richardson

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Burgess said: They literally tried to wipe [the protest] out of memory. They took our paint and pot, and tried to destroy them. They had become historical items. A roller, paint and shoes used by Dave Burgess and an Opera House snow globe with No War on display in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra Alex Ellinghausen Burgess and Saunders agreed to never sell the pots and brushes; they have been donated to the memorial. Related Article Activists lost the war - but won the last battle AWM director Matt Anderson said such items were a powerful reminder that, in any healthy democracy, decisions to go to war and our communitys determined desire for peace are always interconnected.

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Interest in pro- and anti-war propaganda was strong among collectors, researchers and those who appreciated the art and design, said leading Sydney gallerist Josef Lebovic, an expert in photographs and printed materials. Related Article Exclusive

Architecture From Black Hawks to $2 pool noodles: Inside the new Anzac Hall Over 50 years, he has amassed thousands of items now for sale as part of a collection called Australia at War. Some sell for as much as $2000. It includes recruitment posters, with slogans such as You really go places in the Navy, and others urging men to sign up to protect those they love, advertisements by companies including Qantas supporting the war effort, and ephemera from special events. Some of Australias most famous artists were recruited, including Norman Lindsay, Frank Hinder and Will Mahoney.

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In between drawing naked, wide-hipped nymphs and writing the childrens book The Magic Pudding, Lindsay used his skills to encourage men to enlist in the First World War when opposition to military conscription was growing. A reporter for The Bulletin, Lindsay drew a German soldier whose arms dripped with what looked like red blood as he reached to quash the allies. Josef Lebovic, of the Josef Lebovic Gallery, sifts through posters that he has collected for over 50 years. Audrey Richardson A Qantas poster supporting the war effort. Audrey Richardson Lebovics collection includes a range of two-page pamphlets by Lindsay that folded into a letter-sized parcel.

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Items like these are now used by the AWM to teach school children about propaganda. Sometimes a striking image can effect change where words fail. Burgess recalled that the photo and television coverage of the March 2003 Opera House protest went around the world. Burgess said he had written thousands of words in protest over the years. But suddenly writing five letters, upside down from our perspective, and everyone wanted to hear what we had to say. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Updated NationalQueenslandCFMEU Ingham responsible for violence and sexism, CFMEU inquiry hears William Davis and Matt Dennien Updated April 23, 2026  7:10pm ,first published 1:25pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Ousted CFMEU leader Jade Ingham was responsible for violence and sexism in the union across Queensland, the inquiry into misconduct in the construction industry has been told. The investigative rigour of Geoffrey Watsons 2025 report into the CFMEU has also been tested by lawyers for former leaders Ingham and Michael Ravbar in a day of cross-examination, causing the anti-corruption expert to become frustrated and combative on several occasions. Former CFMEU national president, and assistant Queensland state secretary, Jade Ingham. Dan Peled Inghams lawyer, Tony Kimmins, questioned if his clients involvement was limited to five specific incidents in the report. No, thats not right. What about the whole of it? Watson said as he appeared before the inquiry in a Brisbane courtroom on Thursday for a third time since it began public hearings late last year.

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If the whole of the union is violent and has a bad attitude toward women, bad attitude toward the [rival union] AWU  where does that responsibility rest? Related Article Updated

CFMEU Ex-minister threatened to axe contract unless deal made with CFMEU, inquiry hears I had credible accounts of Inghams involvement. Bouncing his leg behind the witness stand, Watson became worked up multiple occasions when Kimmins and Ravbars lawyer Ruth OGorman KC questioned the process and thoroughness of his investigation. He was asked about his decision not to record interviews, instead relying on handwritten notes. Watson denied they lacked sufficient detail.

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Ive been doing this for 30 years, and the fact is that when I say that people dont talk, its because they clam up [on a recording], he said. They may respond on an audio tape, but they are not full  thats my experience. I made a judgement. OGorman also began questions on possible missing documents before the lunch break, though denied she was suggesting he had destroyed evidence. Geoffrey Watson SC was cross-examined on Thursday in the Brisbane CBD courtroom. News Corp Australia At one stage, commissioner Stuart Wood KC intervened after Watson began drifting and asking questions at OGorman.

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I have asked him three times. You should feel free to take a tighter reign with this witness so the witness answers your questions, he said. Watson confirmed his work was based on 56 interviews, newspaper and nightly news reports, press releases and social media. I dont have Facebook, but I went to Facebook and I got access to those parts of Facebook which you can get access to if you are not a member yourself, Watson said. I was never willing to cross that awful line, become a member myself. When I was investigating, it became very apparent to me that Id done enough. Id heard the same story from a lot of people. And I thought, Well, theres only so far and so long I should do this.

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He did concede a minor footnote, about a glass door smashed during a protest, was worded poorly. Related Article CFMEU Jade had all the power to make or break companies like ours, CFMEU inquiry told OGorman then began taking Watson through the content of his 45-page report titled Violence in the Queensland CFMEU. Watson was pressed on the factual basis underpinning his conclusions that the CFMEU was lawless and had engaged in a campaign of violence. Under the issue of lawlessness, focus was turned to Watsons reference to the evasion by state CFMEU officials of personal payment orders for wrongdoing made by federal judges.

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Watson said he had heard the union had received legal advice from law firm Hall Payne which appeared to justify the unions payment of such orders instead, but he was unable to obtain it. Related Article Updated

Queensland government Former workplace safety boss wanted to sack friend of the CFMEU, but couldnt By the way, I can tell you right now. I mean, after all, I am a lawyer. If there was an opinion to that effect, its wrong, he said. OGorman put to Watson there was, in fact, two sets of legal advice from very experienced and highly regarded silks stating this was lawful, and asked if it was reasonable for the union to follow such advice. Watson pushed back, saying he would need to see the brief given to the person writing the advice and what such advice was, particularly given he had asked those he suspected of having had such payments made on their behalf, and they had claimed privilege against self-incrimination.

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While not initially planned, OGorman was said to be continuing her cross-examination of Watson on Friday. Asked by Commissioner Stuart Wood if she expected to finish by the usual time of 3.30pm, she said she hoped so. The difficulty is, theres only so much I can control about the speed at which were moving, OGorman said. An amused Wood said he understood: Well, youll try your best. Media were later advised the extra hearing day on Friday would not proceed. The inquiry will instead resume on Tuesday, as scheduled. On Wednesday, former employees for Spanish infrastructure giants Ferrovial Agroman and Acciona alleged then-minister Grace Grace threatened to axe the contract for the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Bypass unless the companies made a deal with the CFMEU in 2018. Father and son Neile and Ryan Rosenlund, from contractor Rosenlund, testified on Tuesday.

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They said they had been pressured to hire a volatile former boxer linked to the union and pay for scaffolding that wasnt needed during demolition of Toombul Shopping Centre. The inquiry has so far heard allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration, bullying and other malpractice by the CFMEU across Queensland. 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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Exclusive NationalVictoriaAntony Catalano Antony Catalano accuses News Corp of rehab privacy breach by fellow patient Cameron Houston April 23, 2026  4:02pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Fallen media mogul and accused spousal abuser Antony Catalano has called in lawyers claiming his privacy was breached while he was an inpatient at a rehabilitation facility alongside a News Corp reporter. Catalanos legal team has written to the Herald Sun, News Corps Melbourne publication, demanding it hand over all materials obtained by the journalist after it published a photograph of him outside the private clinic where he is receiving treatment for addiction and mental health issues. Antony Catalano has been charged with assault, false imprisonment and making threats to kill. Jason South The chair of Australian Community Media, who admitted himself to the private hospital after being charged with assaulting his wife, Stefanie, claims a journalist from the newspaper was secretly compiling information on his stay while also an inpatient at the same facility. Catalano alleges the journalist, who this masthead has chosen not to name because of their ongoing health issues, also tipped off a photographer when the pair briefly left the hospital on April 13 on an approved trip to buy cigarettes at a nearby 7-Eleven.

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The photograph of Catalano that appeared in News Corp publications. Herald Sun A News Corp spokesman categorically denied the journalist had played any part in the story or picture. The reporter was in the facility to seek treatment for ongoing health issues and was not working while on medical leave. Any allegations of a breach of privacy are completely false and our reporters wellbeing is our priority, the spokesman said. The reporter is undergoing ongoing treatment for personal health issues and is very concerned that their privacy be protected. It is very distressing for the reporter that this question is being asked. Unlike Mr Catalano, the reporter has not made it public that they have been in treatment. We also note that the reporter is not facing criminal charges. Publication of information which might identify the reporter would be highly detrimental to their recovery and a breach of their privacy, while any allegation of impropriety would be defamatory. The photograph of Catalano  which the publication said showed him appearing gaunt and wearing a hooded puffer jacket  was published on the front page of the Herald Sun, while the tabloid newspaper avoided using images that identified its reporter.

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The accused domestic abuser complained to the hospital, which told Catalano they had allegedly found the reporter  who was also a patient  with notes about him including information obtained during private conversations. Related Article Courts He reaches her, grabs her, pushing her by the neck: Fresh Catalano allegations emerge Among them were details which Catalano claims are confidential including about his wristwatch, plans to complete his rehabilitation at another facility and that he continued to wear a wedding ring, despite allegedly attacking his wife by pulling her by the hair and brandishing an iron at her. None of those details were contained in the news report, which was published under a separate reporters byline, and Catalano and his lawyers say he neither confirms nor denies the veracity of the information. Catalano and his legal team allege that the hospital asked the journalist to leave the centre on April 15, and they were told not to return, according to a letter sent to Herald Sun editor Sam Weir on Wednesday evening.

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A person in Mr Catalanos position would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and where there is no countervailing public interest in information concerning Mr Catalanos medical treatment that outweighs the public interest in Mr Catalanos privacy when seeking confidential medical treatment, the letter by Catalanos lawyer Tony Hargreaves states. The News Corp spokesman said the company was not aware the journalist was in the particular private clinic and denied taking the notes. The reporter informs us that no detailed notes were made on any issues, and certainly no notes were made in relation to any clinical setting, but all patients were encouraged to journal as part of their treatment. They added the reporter was transferred to another facility and was unaware of any ban on returning. The embattled media owner told this masthead he was extremely disappointed by the gross invasion of privacy which had a significant impact on other patients seeking help for addiction issues.

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Im obviously addressing my own problems, but to be photographed while in rehab is an appalling breach of journalist ethics, Catalano said. While Im not surprised by the media attention on me, the journalist and the Herald Sun should be ashamed of themselves for the distress and anxiety caused to 30 other patients at the hospital. Ill face the consequences of my actions and be accountable, but the Herald Sun and its reporter should be ashamed and embarrassed over their behaviour. On March 13, Catalano was charged with assault, false imprisonment and making threats to kill, after allegedly dragging his wife, Stefanie, through their luxury St Kilda penthouse and threatening her with a clothing iron. The 59-year-old released a public statement a day after the alleged attack, conceding he was battling significant mental health and substance abuse issues, and would immediately check in to a rehabilitation program, while also taking leave from his role at ACM.

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Related Article Antony Catalano Very aggressive: The rise and fall of Antony Catalano Catalano was admitted to the rehabilitation clinic, which specialises in addiction recovery on March 18, and says the Herald Sun journalist entered the facility on April 6. The hospital did not respond to questions from The Age, but Catalano said they had apologised over the confidentiality breach. The Herald Sun reporter did not respond to repeated requests for comment. This masthead also contacted the photographer in question who did not respond to questions. During a late night bail hearing on March 13, Senior Constable Kiran Paramaguru opposed bail, telling the court CCTV allegedly showed Catalano brandish an iron above his wife after approaching her while she lay in bed.

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Paramaguru said that about 12.30am, after returning home from a dinner, Catalano allegedly approached the complainant in a severely drug-affected state and began ranting about matters not pertaining to her, and demanded her phone. He then allegedly grabbed her by the hair and ankles, and dragged her around the apartment before reaching the laundry, where she was captured on CCTV. The accused is fairly irate and seen reaching across the victim, grabbing an iron, and swings it at her with quite significant force. She feared it would be used against her to kill her, the officer said. Once the woman reached the outside elevator, she was allegedly dragged back inside, and a neighbour called police. The woman managed to break free and ran out onto The Esplanade, where she flagged down a car and asked to be driven away, the court heard.

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A man accused of murdering a fellow patient inside a Geelong psychiatric hospital has appeared in court nearly two months after the alleged killing. Joel Steinbock, 31, was arrested in West Geelong on Thursday morning and charged with one count of murder after he allegedly killed fellow patient Michael McKeown, a patient staying in adjoining room in the Swanston Centre psychiatric facility in February. A patient has been accused of killing another patient at Geelongs Swanston Centre in February. Justin McManus Emergency services were called to the government-run centre in the early hours of Monday, February 23. There, they found the body of McKeown, 31 from Highton, who had been a patient at the acute mental health ward in the hospital.

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Crime Slain psychiatric ward patient shared bathroom, unlockable door with alleged killer The coroner was notified after the matter was reported to police, the health services chief medical officer, Ajai Verma, said at the time of the incident. We extend our condolences to the family of the deceased patient, Verma said in a statement. Support has been extended to staff. The case marks the latest in a string of violent and traumatic events involving the Barwon Health facility that have sparked police, WorkSafe and coronial investigations. Associate Professor Simon Stafrace, chair of the Victorian branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, described the alleged homicide at the time as a devastating, distressing and an extremely rare event.

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Mental health He threatened to kill his neighbour. He was put on a psych hold. Then he was freed  and came back Its about the worst thing that can possibly happen to have somebody lost in care, he said. My thoughts are with the family of the person who has died and, indeed, with the family of the person who is accused of perpetrating a crime. Stafrace said that while Victoria had striven to improve care for people with mental health issues in recent years, tragedies such as these showed there was still a way to go. One of the most unhelpful conclusions that you can make is that mental health reform is done, he said.

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Earlier this month, a Victorian woman told this masthead she had engaged lawyers after a man who was stalking her and in the grips of methamphetamine-induced psychosis was sent home from the mental health hospital after telling staff about a violent rape fantasy involving her. Within days of being released from the hospital, he had broken into her daughters bedroom in the middle of the night. After a 20-year career as a psychiatrist, Dr Helen Schultz also told this masthead she was assaulted by a patient while working as a locum at the Swanston Centre on June 16, 2022. Days after the incident, Schultz detailed allegations of inappropriate and unsafe practices in the hospital to WorkSafe, and the authority later ordered Barwon Health, which operates the facility, to improve processes. Victorias Public Advocate has implored the state government to improve safety in the mental health system, saying reports of abuse, neglect and violence are common in settings where patients are entitled to safe treatment.

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Lifeline 131 114 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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NationalVictoriaCBD Superstar king of Mandopop flies under the radar in Melbourne Fiona Byrne and Kieran Rooney April 24, 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

Here at CBD we love a celebrity and so this column has been watching with great interest the King of Mandopop, Jay Chou, who seems to have made Melbourne his second home  or at least is a very regular visitor. The prolific hit maker often features the citys major sporting events and restaurants on social media to his 11.2 million Instagram followers and recorded at least part of his new album here. Jay Chou and his wife Hannah Quinlivan at the Australian Open in January. Getty Images While many may have not heard of Chou, the Taiwanese-born singer, songwriter, actor, director and businessman is a genuine and enduring superstar in the Asian music scene, having released 16 studio albums and garnered a fervent fan base over a 26-year career. In recent years CBD has spotted Chou at the Melbourne Cup and the Australian Grand Prix, and in January he was the crowd favourite when he took part in the 1 Point Slam at the Australian Open.

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Chou even shot an episode of his reality travel show J-Style Trip in Melbourne, which showed him singing in the Bourke Street Mall in 2023 with local busker Mark Balas. Balas ended up on stage at Rod Laver Arena, performing with Chou as part of the Mandopop icons 2024 Carnival World Tour. Chou performing in Sydney on his Carnival world tour in 2020. TEG Live/Supplied A second episode of J-Style Trip featured Ballarats gold mining era tourist attraction, Sovereign Hill, and Chou returned to the location, using it as the setting for the music video for his recently released single, Gold Rush Town. Someone needs to sign Chou up as a tourism ambassador for Victoria quick smart! He loves the place!

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Chou in the 1 Point Slam before the 2026 Australian Open. Getty Images Chou has long had Aussie links, having been married to Taiwanese/Australian actress/model Hannah Quinlivan since 2015. Quinlivan, a Vogue Taiwan cover girl, has openly spoken in interviews about the couple living in Australia with their three children. While Quinlivan, whose family is Queensland-based, has not specified exactly where in Australia the couple resides, Melbourne very much looks to have their heart. With her father, Patrick Quinlivan, linked to the recent sale of a multimillion-dollar property in one of Melbournes most desirable suburbs, the connection between the jet-setting couple and the city grows ever stronger. CBD reached out to Chous reps.

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In true star style, the couple held three wedding celebrations  first in the UK at the medieval Selby Abbey in Yorkshire, the second at the W Hotel in Taiwan and a third and final celebration at the Sheraton Mirage Resort on the Gold Coast. Proving his star power, Chou will bring his Carnival II world tour to Melbourne on October 17 where he has all but sold out his show at Marvel Stadium. Race begins for seats up for grabs following political retirements After the high-profile resignation of three more Allan government ministers and a resultant reshuffle, tongues are now wagging in Labor circles about who will replace Gayle Tierney, Danny Pearson and Mary-Anne Thomas in their respective seats. For those who dont follow ALP politics closely, Victorian Labor is mostly a democratic outfit that selects its candidates through two equally weighted votes. A ballot of local branch members and a ballot from a 100-person Party Office Selection Committee that reflects the broader factional make up of the party.

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Premier Jacinta Allan (far right) on April 13 as (from left) Mary-Anne Thomas, Gayle McTierney and Danny Pearson announce their impending retirements from parliament. Simon Schluter But in the lead-up to every state and federal election, senior party figures usually come up with a reason to bypass this process in some cases, with shock resignations and limited timeframes to blame. The preselection process is referred to the ALP national executive. Anthony Albanese did this as recently as last year, leading to a furore in Bill Shortens seat of Maribyrnong as former Queenslander Joe Briskey was selected as a replacement. Locals were not amused. Against this backdrop, branchies in Pearsons seat of Essendon, which intersects with Maribyrnong, have declared they arent going to take it any more.

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Merri-Bek councillor Katerine Theodosis is AWUs pick to run for Labor in Essendon. Merri-Bek councillor Katerine Theodosis, who represents neighbouring suburbs, is the AWUs pick to run in the seat, but on Wednesday night the Essendon branch passed a motion demanding a local vote and no intervention from above. Local members will not support in any way a candidate that has not been selected by the POSC/local members vote when more than one valid nomination is received, the motion says. They agreed that if democracy doesnt win, they will not hand out how-to-vote cards, distribute flyers and corflutes and wont donate to support the Essendon candidate. Essendon members, however, will continue to donate time and effort in neighbouring electorate of Niddrie and Melbourne, (as an expression of their solidarity with the broader Labor Party), withdrawing all volunteer services to the Essendon Electorate, the motion says.

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We the members of Essendon have remained loyal to the party while the preselection of candidates in the past has been done without a local vote, but the time has come for our members to say enough is enough, we will enforce our volunteer strike action if we continue to be ignored in our request again. CBD has been told there has not yet been any formal request to suspend local ballots for the preselections of departing ministers. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Photo: Kyiv Security Forum

Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Kyrylo Budanov said he has always been against the mass legalization of firearms for civilians.

"I have always been against this against simply legalizing and handing out weapons to people. It never works and never will," he said on the sidelines of the Kyiv Security Forum, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

Budanov said this would pose far greater problems.

"The police must work effectively. The security services must work effectively," the lieutenant general said.
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Updated NationalWAEnergy WA Greens MP ejected as oil and gas giant feels the heat from climate activists Derek Rose , Aaron Bunch and and Hamish Hastie April 23, 2026  4:58pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Climate activists have repeatedly disrupted a gathering of shareholders of Australias biggest oil and gas company, with one breaching barricades to jump onto the stage. The four Disrupt Burrup Hub protesters yelled at the board of Woodside Energy during its annual general meeting at Crown Towers in Perth on Thursday, before being escorted from the ballroom. Protesters outside Woodsides AGM at Crown Perth. Ross Swanborough We have 85 seconds left on the doomsday clock, we are running out of time, one activist, whom the protest group identified as a 20-year-old university student, bellowed as investors jeered. West Australian Greens MP Sophie McNeill was also ejected from the meeting.

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Footage of the incident shows McNeill, who sits in WA parliaments upper house, blowing a whistle and holding up a sign reading: Woodside are climate criminals, stop Browse save Scott Reef. McNeill is then escorted out of the vent  still blowing the whistle  before an aggrieved shareholder stands and lunges at her to pull the sign from her hands. The MP and Greens media officer Tim Oliver were handed move-on notices by police. WA Police confirmed 30 move-on notices were issued. Asked about McNeills ejection at a press conference this afternoon, WA Premier Roger Cook said it was a matter for her to manage as a member of parliament.

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We respect the right to protest, we respect the right for peoples voices to be heard, but you have to do it in a respectful way, in a way which doesnt necessarily hinder other people going about their business, he said. Shareholders approved all items of business at the meeting, although there was a significant 34.5 per cent vote against a bonus structure for new chief executive Liz Westcott. Ms Westcott will receive a fixed salary of $2.3 million in 2025/26 and could get as much as another $14.8 million if short and long-term performance hurdles are met. Woodside chairman Richard Goyder said the backlash was slightly frustrating because the long-term incentive structure was an integral part of Woodsides remuneration scheme, which the company had redesigned after feedback from shareholders.

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Other protesters were escorted from the room by security while singing and holding hands off Scott Reef signs they had managed to smuggle in. Ms Westcott took the protests in her stride, saying the conflict in the Middle East had caused significant disruption, and we may get disruption today. Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May appeared at the meeting to question Woodside executives about their contention that a 25 per cent export tax would kill the companys $37 billion Browse gas project off the coast of Western Australia. If giving Australians a fair return for their own gas makes your project unviable, doesnt that show that the model is broken and depends on Australians effectively giving away their resources for free, she said. Ms Westcott said the tax system gave Australians a fair return, with Woodside paying $2 billion in taxes in 2025, for an effective tax rate of 44 per cent.

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We are giving back to Australians, she said. Our new projects generate a huge amount of tax. Outside the meeting, several dozen activists held signs with slogans such as Rage against the Woodside machine and More gas will cook our planet. Protester Laraine Brindle said she was concerned about the environmental destruction she believed was occurring as a result of industrial projects, such as Woodsides gas projects. We have opportunities in Australia to be utilising renewable energies rather than what were doing, destroying the environment, she said.

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Ive lived through decades of beautiful country, and I want that preserved for my grandchildren and their children and their grandchildren. Ms Westcott argued during the meeting that Woodsides liquefied natural gas products were actually assisting in global decarbonisation by replacing coal as a fuel source in Asian markets. When we look at the use of coal in the energy system, and we compare it to the use of natural gas, we can nearly halve the emissions by having coal replaced by gas, she said. Matt Roberts, executive director of the Conservation Council of WA, disputed that claim in remarks to the AGM, saying gas was in fact replacing renewables. We have these lines about it helping decarbonise, but the evidence suggests otherwise, he said.

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Woodside shares closed about 2.5 per cent higher at $31.59 on the Australian stock exchange. AAP
Western Australias government will introduce digital drivers licences and a state digital identity by late next year.

The upcoming May budget includes $28.2 million to introduce digital IDs available through the Service WA app and Apple and Google wallets.

For those wary of further digitisation of sensitive information, Assistant Transport Minister Jess Stojkovski stressed the ID was not mandatory, and the government had no plans to get rid of physical licences.

You can choose to have a digital drivers license if that suits your circumstances and lifestyle, but equally, if you like having a physical drivers license, you can do that as well, she said.

Read the full story here.
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PoliticsFederalDisability Am I disabled enough? The question autistic participants are asking after NDIS overhaul Natassia Chrysanthos and Broede Carmody April 23, 2026  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

When the National Disability Insurance Scheme was introduced in 2013, Colin Armstrongs daughter, Milly, who lives with autism and an intellectual disability, was among the earliest participants to qualify for an individualised support package. It provided us not only supports for Milly, but also a sense of security and stability for families, Armstrong said. The thought of that now being removed  the thought alone  is a little bit traumatic, to be honest. Colin Armstrong with his daughter, Milly, who lives with autism. Janie Barrett Its not necessarily the case that Milly will be among those people who lose access to the NDIS once eligibility changes to the scheme come into effect in January 2028  theres every chance she will retain her support package. But she will be entering adulthood soon, and its the uncertainty around how eligibility will be determined  the scheme will move from a diagnosis-based access list to an evidence-based assessment of peoples functional needs  that is causing great anxiety for Armstrong, as well as 324,000 more NDIS participants with a primary diagnosis of autism.

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Disability Labors sweeping NDIS overhaul to remove up to 300,000 from program in effort to save $35b Thats because autistic participants are the fastest-growing section of the NDIS, and now the largest group, making up 43 per cent of the scheme. While annual growth among other participants is relatively stable, the number of autistic participants, mainly children, grew 24 per cent last year. Some have significant support needs that require around-the-clock care. Most, however, have what the scheme classifies as mild or moderate support needs: data supplied to this masthead by the NDIA puts this category at about 310,000 people. With the government making its eligibility changes to return the scheme to its original purpose, of serving people with the most profound permanent disabilities, thousands of autistic participants believe they will be the first removed. Health and Disability Minister Mark Butler is emphasising that the new system wont take a particular approach to any one diagnosis  whether it be autism or something else. What we want to do instead, is to look at a persons functional capacity: what is their capacity to function in a daily sense? he explained in an interview with 3AW on Thursday.

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If its substantially reduced, which was the intention of the scheme in the first place, yes, theyre on the scheme. If their functional capacity impacts are more mild to moderate, then they shouldnt be on the NDIS, they should be accessing some other type of support. Related Article Disability We will work with them: Angus Taylor gives support to Labors NDIS overhaul He conceded the number of people with autism on the NDIS was significantly higher than predicted when the scheme was designed. But Im not proposing that any particular approach is taken to autism or any other condition, he said. What I am saying, though, is everyone on the scheme, everyone applying to get onto the scheme, will have to undertake one of these objective tests. Sharon Fraser, chief executive of autistic-run charity Reframing Autism, said she was worried about what that functional assessment test will look like.

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Functional capacity is quite a variable concept for autistic people. There are many autistic people who need round-the-clock support, but there are others who very much have sporadic needs. Those needs can be variable and context-dependent, she said. Invisible disabilities are very difficult to measure and track in the same way as other disabilities might show up ... It makes you question: am I disabled enough? Is my child disabled enough to actually get individualised support? That, and the risk of being kicked off the system or this repeated reassessment, is very much anxiety-inducing. The pledge made by Butler this week is that people moved off the NDIS will be able to access a new system of foundational supports that the state governments will run outside the scheme. Were not going to change eligibility and move people off the scheme before were confident  and we know the community is confident  there are other systems of support in place, he said.

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These are designed to reinstate a raft of state-based and community services that dried up when the NDIS was introduced. Related Article Analysis

Disability NDIS overhaul is the biggest government cut this century. It had better work The system for autistic children under nine years old, called Thriving Kids, is already being developed and will be rolled out in phases from October this year. It has been allocated $4 billion, and will range from information services for parents to playgroups and targeted therapies for some children. A further $6 billion will be allocated to a broader system of foundational supports, Butler revealed on Wednesday, which will cater to other age groups. Fraser is worried they will return to block-funded supports, which can be inflexible and dictated by ones postcode and what services are available at a particular time or place.

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With the NDIS you can campaign and say: I need this. Whereas in a block-funding model, you get what you get, and thats really scary for people who have specialised needs, she said. Whatever is created will need to have a level of flexibility and relational care. For many people, but specifically for autistic people, there needs to be a relationship. There needs to be a certain amount of trust. David Tonge, chief executive of autism advocacy group Amaze, said it was important that foundational supports covered social and community participation, as well as therapies from psychologists and allied health professionals. He said retaining individual options in addition to group-based support was important. But he is nervous about the governments timeframes. We know from experience that designing these things is complex  you need to pilot, evaluate and phase the rollout, he said. It needs to be designed with people and families that know: how would a single-parent family with two or three kids on a plan get support if theyre not eligible? That will look different to an autistic adult. I dont think we should settle for a second-rate support system.

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Mardi Terrasson and her daughter, Hailey, who is an NDIS participant. If changes are rushed, he said costs would simply shift onto the health, education and justice systems. The community has come out strongly to contact us, saying they dont think the speed and scale of these reforms are safe, he said. Theyre worried about what the gap might be for their children or themselves. Mardi Terrasson, who has two adult children with autism, is another of those worried families. Both her children can speak, but rarely do, and her daughter, 18, is an ambulant wheelchair user. This means that she can stand and walk, but not for long periods. Theyre too complex. Not clear-cut, Terrasson said. People who have complex presentation dont fit generic tick-box systems easily. People who are non-verbal are not accommodated in the administrative process well, or at all.

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Related Article Autism Thousand-fold increase: What is driving the rise of autism? That was the same testimony of another Melbourne woman, Nicole, who did not want her surname used. All four of her children were neurodivergent, but only her youngest daughter, who is 16, had been able to access the NDIS. One day, a person can be shut down, unable to speak, get out of bed. The next day, maybe they can dress themselves or eat. It can be very much a matter of what sensory overload theyre experiencing in that moment, she said. I just really fear for people. Im confident in my ability to express [my daughters] need for support. Is that going to be enough, though? Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.

CORRECTION A previous version of this story stated the NDIS eligibility changes would come into effect in July 2028. Those changes are expected to come into effect in January that year.
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Exclusive PoliticsNSWNSW State Parliament These 250,000 NSW workers secured better long service leave. Their bosses had a win too Max Maddison April 24, 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 state government has secured a last-minute deal with the community services sector to reduce a portable long service leave levy by 25 per cent in the first year after warnings the financial burden could lead to service closures and additional costs for taxpayers. The industry, which counts 250,000 workers, has been in negotiations with Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis since the NSW government legislated the portable long service leave scheme in June 2024. But the agreement was struck less than a week before the first payments were due and a day after the Herald asked questions about industry warnings the full 1.7 per cent levy would place untenable pressure on providers. Interaction Disability Services chief executive Brett Thompson has warned the NSW governments plans to implement a 1.7 per cent portable service leave annually could diminish service quality and force businesses to close. Steven Siewert The reforms, designed to manage burnout and keep essential workers in the sector, are modelled on a scheme that has been in effect in the building and construction industry since 1975. The sector spans aged care, disability support, youth work, mental health and homelessness, focusing on the states vulnerable and disadvantaged. Under the changes, community service workers can now accrue 6.1 weeks of long service leave after a seven-year tenure in the industry rather than 8.7 weeks after 10 years at a single company.

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National Disability Services NSW state manager Lowri Williams welcomed the temporary reduction in the levy, saying the measure was a practical response to the real financial pressures facing organisations in the sector. Related Article NSW State Parliament Health cuts in darkened rooms in Canberra will impact Sydney hospitals On Tuesday, before the deal, she said survey data showed nearly three-quarters of disability service providers were operating at a loss or just breaking even, and the full levy places untenable pressure and risks service withdrawals and closures across NSW unless a transitional approach was implemented. NSW Council of Social Services had previously estimated the total additional cost of the levy to the sector at $84 million per year. Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis said the state government had listened to the community services sector and understood the financial pressures they were under.

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Weve listened to the workers in this sector, including the women who make up 75 per cent of this workforce and have been calling for this reform to help minimise burnout and fatigue, she said. This approach also tackles recruitment and retention issues by incentivising workers to stay in the industry with the confidence that their long service entitlements move with them from job to job. Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis has been negotiating with the community services sector over the planned levy. AAPIMAGE The decision landed as federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced sweeping reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Under the proposal, 160,000 participants will be taken off by the NDIS by 2030, with the yearly growth rate reduced to 2 per cent until the end of the decade. After the Herald emailed questions to Cotsis about noon on Tuesday, a previously unplanned meeting between the ministers office and advocacy groups was scheduled for 8.30am the following day. The agreement, which will reduce the levy by a quarter for the 2025-26 financial year, was hammered out by Wednesday afternoon.

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The government said the decision will save the sector about $50 million. Another perspective Opinion

Disability These NDIS cuts will hurt Australian families like mine Satara Uthayakumaran Writer Interaction Disability Services chief executive Brett Thompson said the reduction was welcome relief. He had earlier warned that without change, the full 1.7 per cent levy was projected to increase his average yearly long service leave payments from $127,500 to $282,500 over each of the next two financial years. Under the new model, those payments are made to the Long Service Corporation on a quarterly basis rather than when each employee reaches the threshold for long service. Thompson said there was no clarity about what would happen to the funds for employees who left the sector before they reached the threshold for long-service leave. 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 Zane Smith considered the design of his familys country retreat, the distance from the front gate to the front door was a major factor.

The fire-resistant, termite-proof fortress in Black Range in Victoria sits on a 32.37 hectare parcel. Its driveway is almost one kilometre long.

Known as the Boulders Estate, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom property is built from 13 40-foot containers and one 20-foot container and is shielded from light pollution and noise.

Its a 900-metre driveway from the gate to the house, so by the time you reach the front door, the rest of the world just disappears, Smith said in a statement to nine.com.au.
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PropertyNewsRenting The NSW regional towns that boomed most over the past year Sue Williams April 24, 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

Rents in regional NSW towns have skyrocketed by up to 27 per cent in the past year, and the regional rental markets growth is outpacing Sydney. Some of the sharper rises were in smaller towns outside larger regional centres, as prospective tenants look further afield for cheaper options. Asking rents for the median house in regional NSW overall rose 5 per cent in the year to March, reaching $630 a week, Domains latest Rental Report, released on Thursday, showed. Sydneys median house rent rose 2.6 per cent over the same time, albeit to a pricier $800 a week.

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The steepest hike in asking rents in regional NSW was in the Yass Valley local government area outside Canberra, up 27.3 per cent to $700 a week. It was followed by Liverpool Plains near Tamworth, up 20.5 per cent to $470, then Temora near Wagga Wagga, up 18.4 per cent to $450. Tamworth rents have risen, but not as fast as in nearby Liverpool Plains. Destination NSW The dynamics of affordability are playing out in the regions, just as theyre playing out in the cities, said Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell. Were seeing a lot of challenges around affordability, displacement and changed decisions. Rents are still often quite low in the regions but theyre rising faster so cost-of-living pressures are going to be felt acutely. Consumer sentiment is now just off the record [low] levels seen during COVID too, so everyones having to make decisions on how to make their budgets work, and these rents arent helping at all.

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Liz Ritchie, chief executive of the Regional Australia Institute, says a lot more housing needs to be built in the regions to cope with the increasing demand from a population which has just hit 10 million, to make sure rents, and house prices, are affordable again. Related Article Renting Extreme mismatch: Sydney rents at record highs, pushing tenants further out Regional Australia remains an attractive proposition for city dwellers, and we know more than one in three city-based Australians are considering a move, which is more than 5.3 million people, she said. But we continue to argue for infrastructure support to ensure that move is a smooth one, and we are calling for 40 per cent of the 1.2 million National Housing Accord houses to be built in regional Australia. Lifestyle factors are driving up the level of rents in the Yass Valley, for example. There could be a cohort of people relocating from Canberra to Yass and renting before they make the decision to buy, said Powell.

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But, as in many regional areas, theres also a huge amount of infrastructure spending adding extra pressures. Sophie Curlewis of Yass Valley Property says wind farms and underground electric cabling work has brought many new workers. We just dont have many rentals available now, she said. People are finding it a beautiful place to move to and bring up children, but accommodation is difficult. Its the same story for the Liverpool Plains, on the north-western slopes of NSW, with the mines, lots of new work, and projects like the new hospital. Were definitely seeing quite a few people moving to places here like Gunnedah, said Robertson Real Estates Chelsea Palmer. Its putting a lot of pressure on the rental market and rents, and prices, are going through the roof.

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PRD chief economist Diaswati Mardiasmo said demand is outstripping supply in regional centres, prompting some workers to look for accommodation in smaller towns nearby. Related Article Exclusive

Title Deeds Private island owner selling $11 million North Bondi apartment If you live in Temora its still a bit more cost-effective than Wagga, she said. Its driving rents up because theres not enough places in the bigger local government area, so people are looking for the areas around them. She noted the infrastructure and commercial projects being delivered in some of these areas, including solar and battery farms or shopping centres. But there were scant new houses being planned for areas such as Liverpool Plains, Temora and Wagga Wagga, she said, adding that there were added transportation costs involved to construct new homes outside the cities.

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Its a spillover effect from the bigger local areas or markets that are getting all of that commercial infrastructure, industry, development. By contrast, the popular and pricey Byron shire ranked fifth on the list of biggest rent hikes, up 15 per cent in a year to a median asking house rent of $1150 a week. Mardiasmo said some locals are renting in Byron rather than buying due to the areas high house prices. Overall, she did not think there was any immediate release to the pressure on regional renters. Building houses does take time, she said. The only thing that I can see right now is rentals will keep on going up. With Elizabeth Redman

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Singapores Gardens by the Bay. Which Australian state capital is closest to the nation-state?

Are you an expert traveller? Test your knowledge with this weeks travel quiz.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 23, 2026 -- Alaska's wide-open spaces, glaciers, wildlife and Indigenous cultures have always enticed travelers, according to the Alaska Travel Industry Association. This year, new ways to experience those Alaska icons will be the top draws.

Here are five reasons to visit Alaska this year:
Photo: Kyiv Security Forum

Ukrainian intelligence agencies are monitoring the situation in Belarus regarding heightened threats, and nothing will catch Ukraine by surprise, Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Kyrylo Budanov said.

Asked whether Belarus could become more involved in the war against Ukraine and whether there is currently a heightened threat from that side, Budanov said: "Anything is possible in life."

However, there are intelligence agencies monitoring the situation, he said.

"There are certain signs of threats, they may exist. This cannot be ruled out. What this means  as a former head of military intelligence I can tell you: vigilance must be increased, first of all by the intelligence agencies. They have already done this. Dont worry. Nothing will happen by surprise," he said on the sidelines of the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.
No one in Ukraine will recognize loss of even millimeter of territory  Budanov

Photo: Kyiv Security Forum

Striving for peace is common sense, not a sign of weakness, but no one in Ukraine will agree to recognize the loss of Ukrainian territory, Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov said at the 18th annual Kyiv Security Forum titled "Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?"

Asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump is a strong ally, Budanov called the United States a strategic ally of Ukraine.

"We consider the United States a strategic ally. I hope they see us the same way. But I hope so," he said.

The situation around U.S.-Iran negotiations "creates certain complications for the intensity of negotiations" on Ukraine, Budanov said.

"But we are waiting for them [U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner] in Kyiv. This is information absolutely known to everyone. And I think it will still happen," he said.

At the same time, he said the negotiation process and its sensitive aspects should not be disclosed.

"We are trying to do our work, I believe in it. That is all I will tell you. The negotiation process in any case  all its sensitive aspects  cannot be disclosed," the lieutenant general said.

Striving for peace is common sense, not a sign of weakness, Budanov said.

"The conditions for achieving peace can be completely different. I think no one in Ukraine will agree to recognize the loss of even a millimeter of our territory. Of that I am absolutely certain. That we have not reached agreement is also publicly known. But that is what this process exists for. It may or may not achieve its goal. That is also a normal situation. We are ready for any turn of events. If we are strong, that will give us, as they say, room to maneuver. If we are weak, conditions will be dictated to us," he said.

"No one in the world will deal with the weak, and no international law will work here," Budanov said.

The Kyiv Security Forum is an annual international event founded in 2007 at the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuks Open Ukraine Foundation.
Zelenskyy says Russia has many sick ideas, hopes Belarus not drawn into them

Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

Russia has many different sick ideas, and it would be undesirable for Belarus to be drawn into these fantastic ideas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, commenting on the possibility of an offensive from Belarus.

"Regarding the threat of an offensive from Belarus. Look, the Russians have many different sick and fantastic ideas. So it is very undesirable for Belarus to be drawn into these fantastic ideas, for them to turn into a terrible reality," Zelenskyy told journalists on Thursday.

Earlier, Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Kyrylo Budanov said Ukrainian intelligence agencies are monitoring the situation in Belarus regarding heightened threats, and nothing will catch Ukraine by surprise.

Asked whether Belarus could become more involved in the war against Ukraine and whether there is currently a heightened threat from that side, Budanov said: "Anything is possible in life."
Candidate Grossi would help move along UNSC reform





UNITED NATIONS :

RAFAEL Mariano Grossi, who is a candidate for secretary-general, has indicated that he would help move the delayed process of reforming the Security Council forward by facilitating the discussions in that regard. We know that time has passed (for reforms). We know that circumstances have changed, Grossi said at the candidates forum here. Coming to a solution that will be good for all is a challenge ahead of all of us, and I look forward to having that discussion with you, he said in reply to a question on behalf of the G4 from Japans Permanent Representative Yamazaki Kazuyuki. G4 is the group of four countries, India, Japan, Brazil and Germany, which together advocate for reforming the Council by adding permanent members, and mutually support each other for permanent seats on a reformed Council. Yamazaki asked him what specific initiatives he would take to reform the Security Council. Grossi confessed, I dont see the secretary-general as having a magic wand to solve such a complex matter. But, he added, we recognise the importance of it, and hope to be working and having the conversation with everybody on this very topical issue.

The reform process is driven by you, by member states, (but) the secretary-general can play a role in terms of facilitation, in terms of providing with an environment that will be conducive to a good and fair discussion among all, he said. Grossi is currently the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and was nominated by his country, Argentina. He is one of the four candidates vying to succeed Antonio Guterres, whose second term ends this year. The Security Council picks the candidate for selection as secretary-general and recommends its choice to the General Assembly, which has to approve it. In his vision statement for the UN if he is elected, he said the organisation must move from rhetoric and platitudes to diplomacy and concrete action. It must return to its central mission to save humanity from the scourge of war. In an increasingly complex world, this means being active, not passive, in the face of conflict and humanitarian crises, he said. In times of fragmentation and insecurity, impartiality and effective dialogue are essential, and the secretary-general must engage with all sides, speak with clarity, and act with purpose, particularly in moments of disagreement, he said.
Cub, tiger found dead in Kanha, Panna







Staff Reporter :

SEVA Sadan Eye Hospital is strengthening its retina screening and treatment system to combat Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in premature babies. The primary objective of this initiative is to ensure timely screening of infants to prevent severe vision loss. The hospital management has decided to enhance its operational capabilities and technical resources to make this service more effective. Retina Specialist Dr Sonal Paliwal stated that in the last five years, 7,200 infants have been screened at the hospital, and 180 have undergone treatment through the laser system. Currently, this service is being conducted in the district hospitals of Bhopal, Sehore, and Vidisha under the supervision of pediatricians. The hospital aims to expand this facility to the district hospitals of Narmadapuram and Raisen in the near future.

Additionally, special emphasis has been placed on conducting ROP screening in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of private nursing homes alongside Government hospitals. To make this treatment system technically competent, Hospital Director Kushal Dharmani has prepared a new action plan. Under this, short-term training sessions for retina screening will be provided to optometrists stationed at Government and private hospitals. Bangalore-based industrialist Manohar Chhatlani, who has been consistently supporting this programme for the last eight years, has come forward to assist in this endeavor. He has assured that senior optometrists of Seva Sadan will be trained by experts from Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore. Furthermore, he has agreed to help replace old retina screening machines with modern equipment and has consented to partial reimbursement of the expenses incurred for the effective implementation of ROP screening. Those present on this occasion included Senior Optometrist Praveen Aiyam from Narayana Hospital, Bangalore; Secretary Hero Gyanchandani; Trustees Mahesh Dayaramani and Suresh Avatramani; social worker K L Lohana; Medical Director Dr Prerana Upadhyay; Retina Specialists Dr Sonal Paliwal and Dr Sakshi Ramnani; Hospital Director Kushal Dharmani; and Administrator Anusha Tiwari.
Iran fires on 3 ships in Strait of Hormuz, seizes two of them, one bound for Gujarat





DUBAI :

IRAN fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, underscoring the ongoing threat to global energy supplies and complicating efforts to bring the United States and Iran together for talks to end the war. Iranian media said, the attacks were carried out by Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Iran opened fire on a container ship in the strait on Wednesday morning, and a second was attacked a short time later, according to the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre. Iranian state television reported later reported that the ships were in the Revolutionary Guards custody and being taken to Iran. It identified the vessels as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminodes. The ships owners could not be immediately reached for comment. Ship Epaminondas was signalling Mundra port in Gujarat as its destination, according to vessel-tracking data from maritime intelligence firm MarineTraffic.

The ship is sailing under the flag of Liberia and is currently located in the Oman Gulf, it said in an 18.30 IST update. Information on its owner and the cargo it is carrying for was not immediately available. The seizures represent an escalation by Irans leaders, who appear poised to drive a harder bargain with American negotiators after two other rounds of talks with the Trump administration ended in open warfare. The semiofficial Nour News, Fars and Mehr news agencies then reported the Guard attacked a third vessel called the Euphoria. They said the vessel had become stranded on the Iranian coast, without elaborating. The UKMTO said the first ship was attacked by a Revolutionary Guard gunboat that did not hail the ship before firing. It added that nobody was hurt in the attack. Irans Nour News, however, reported that the Guard only opened fire on the ship after it had ignored the warnings of the Iranian Armed Forces. Irans semiofficial Fars news agency described the attack as Iran lawfully enforcing its control over the Strait of Hormuz. There have been more than 30 attacks on ships in the Mideast since the war began on February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Irans ability to restrict traffic through the strait - which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean - has proved a major strategic advantage.
Land acquisition compensation for farmers doubled, CM Dr Mohan Yadav terms it as a historic decision of the Cabinet





By Bhavana :

Following the landmark Cabinet decision to double the multiplication factor for rural land acquisition, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav held a press conference at the CM House on Wednesday evening to elaborate on the historic move. By increasing the factor from 1.0 to 2.0, the State has ensured that farmers will now receive compensation totalling four times the market rate for agricultural land, a significant leap from the previous double-rate structure. Terming the decision a historic turning point for Madhya Pradeshs agricultural community, the Chief Minister emphasised that the simplified acquisition process ensures those providing land for development receive a dignified and fair price. The Chief Minister explained that this change ensures rural farmers now receive up to four times the market value for their land, a rate that is intentionally kept higher than in urban areas to protect rural interests. This decision, applicable to all agricultural land across the State, follows the recommendations of a ministerial sub-committee comprising Ministers Tulsiram Silavat, Rakesh Singh, and Chetanya Kumar Kashyap. This formula was adopted after an extensive study of land acquisition rates in three other states and consultations with over 400 stakeholders, including farmer organisations, CREDAI, and FICCI. Highlighting the financial scale of this commitment, the Chief Minister noted that while approximately Rs 5,300 crore was previously paid annually as compensation, these new measures will provide a massive boost to farmer income.

Currently, major state bodies like the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) and the Narmada Ghati Vikas Nigam have compensation outlays of Rs 2,500 crore and Rs 1,000 crore respectively. By resolving compensation bottlenecks, the state expects to significantly speed up pending infrastructure projects that were previously stalled due to acquisition issues. The Chief Minister also emphasised that the state, situated in the heart of the country, is on a path to double its economic growth rate within the next five years. Beyond land acquisition, he reassured the farming community regarding crop procurement, stating that the government is purchasing produce at prices even higher than the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to manage this years bumper production. Asserting that farmer welfare remains the top priority, the Chief Minister confirmed that the new notification regarding these acquisition rules is being issued and the decisions are effective immediately. The Council of Ministers also focused on expanding the states irrigation footprint with two major project approvals Indokh-Rudahera Micro Irrigation Project: An administrative sanction of Rs 157.14 crore was granted for this project in Ujjain district. Designed to cover a command area of 10,800 hectares, the project will provide crucial irrigation facilities to 35 villages within the Jharda tehsil.

Chhindwara Irrigation Complex Special Package:

A special rehabilitation package worth approximately Rs 969 crore was approved for the Chhindwara Irrigation Complex, surpassing the previously sanctioned Rs 840.80 crore. This package, modelled after the Ken-Betwa Link Project, aims to ensure swift implementation and support for displaced families. The Chhindwara complex involves the construction of four dams, Sangam 1, Sangam 2, Ramghat, and the Pandhurna Balancing Reservoir. Once completed, the project will irrigate 1,90,500 hectares of land, benefiting 628 villages across the Chhindwara and Pandhurna districts. The Council of Ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, has greenlit a massive investment of Rs 33,985 crore. This extensive funding is earmarked for critical infrastructure and development projects spanning the irrigation, health, education, and road sectors, aimed at transforming the socio-economic landscape of the state over the next five years. The Public Works Department received a lions share of the approvals, with Rs 25,164 crore sanctioned for various connectivity projects. Under this, Rs 7,212 crore has been allocated to the MP Road Development Corporation for road construction and operations from April 2026 to March 2031. Additionally, Rs 6,150 crore is set aside for upgrading rural and district roads, while Rs 1,087 crore will focus on bridge and road enhancements.

The Cabinet also approved Rs 9,950 crore for a large-scale bridge construction scheme aligned with the 16th Finance Commission period, alongside Rs 765 crore for the maintenance of government buildings and assets. To bolster the States healthcare framework, the Cabinet approved Rs 5,479 crore for advanced medical services. A significant portion, Rs 3,628 crore, is dedicated to the CM CARE 2025 scheme over the next five years. This initiative aims to establish super-speciality hubs in oncology, cardiology, and organ transplantation by leveraging both government investment and private sector expertise. Furthermore, Rs 1,503 crore was sanctioned for upgrading existing medical colleges. Notably, the budget for the new Government Medical College in Mandla was revised to Rs 347.39 crore to accommodate technical requirements due to a site change, ensuring better tertiary care for the tribal region. In a compassionate move, the Cabinet also approved the establishment of affordable Parijan Awas (attendant housing) at medical colleges through philanthropic organisations to support families of patients. The education sector saw an allocation of Rs 2,191 crore, which includes Rs 990 crore to continue the Free Cycle Distribution Scheme for rural students in classes 6 and 9 through 2030-31.

This scheme specifically benefits students who must travel to other villages or towns for schooling. Another Rs 1,200 crore was approved for strengthening teacher training institutes. Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned Rs 23.90 crore for the third phase of the Chief Minister Young Professional for Development Program, aimed at integrating youth expertise into governance. To streamline administrative functions, 15 new posts were also created for the Sixth State Finance Commission.
Mumbai woman berates Minister: Mahajan finds her language improper





MUMBAI :

A DAY after a woman publicly berated Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan for the traffic jam caused by a BJP rally over the womens reservation bill in south Mumbai, he conceded on Wednesday that her anger was justified but objected to her language, while Mayor Ritu Tawde expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to her and other commuters. As the video of the womans outburst went viral, opposition parties targeted the ruling BJP, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi lauding the woman for showing mirror to the Minister whose attitude she termed as disrespectful and dismissive.

The incident occurred in the upscale Worli area on Tuesday when Mahajan was speaking to reporters at a rally organised by the BJP to target Opposition parties over the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill for fast- tracking the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. An agitated woman confronted the BJP Minister, shouting at him for blocking roads and causing inconvenience to commuters. When a police official intervened, she snapped at him, refusing to engage and demanding that no one speak to her. Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal shared the video on X, and accused the BJP of misleading women for political gains. Mahajan on Wednesday admitted that some commuters did face inconvenience, and added that he had apologised to the woman on the spot and also asked the police not to take any harsh action against her. It is true that there was traffic congestion as thousands of women participated in the march. But the woman who came there was very angry and spoke in a language that was not appropriate. Even when we told her the road would be cleared in 10-15 minutes, she was not ready to listen and, in anger, even threw a bottle, the BJP leader claimed.

The protest, held after obtaining necessary permissions, saw participation of around 15,000 to 20,000 women which made some congestion unavoidable, he said, denying a fault in polices planning or allegations of VIP culture. I understand that she was in a hurry to pick up her child, and her anger is justified to some extent. But the way she reacted, using such language and throwing a bottle, was wrong. However, I do not think any legal action should be taken against her, he said. Mayor Ritu Tawde, who belongs to the BJP, said in a post on X that the Mahila Janakrosh Morcha had been organised after obtaining all necessary permissions. Its objective was to oppose attempts to dilute womens political rights, she said. Proper planning was also done by the police and the transport department to avoid inconvenience to citizens and traffic. Still, as a first citizen of Mumbai, I apologise for the inconvenience caused to some citizens, Tawde stated.

The Mayor also said that thousands of women from across the State participated in the protest despite the summer heat, and it was an outpouring of anger over issues concerning womens rights and representation. Therefore, we hope that the woman who faced inconvenience, as well as other citizens, will understand the anger of those who participated in the protest march, Tawde said. The Mayor also highlighted infrastructure projects undertaken by the BJP-led government in south Mumbai, including the coastal road project, railway flyovers and cement concretisation of roads, claiming these works have eased traffic. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, on the other hand, accused the BJP of being insensitive to the travel woes of Mumbaikars. In Mumbai daily commute includes hours of being stuck in traffic jams and instead of understanding the fast losing patience at these gatherings/VIP movements that hold up traffic, the ruling dispensation doesnt seem to care, even the ministers attitude is so disrespectful and dismissive, said the former Rajya Sabha member in a post on X. Hats off to the lady from Mumbai who showed a mirror to Minister Girish Mahajan and BJP protestors for blocking traffic to carry out their political protest, Chaturvedi added. Why was BJP protesting on the streets instead of a designated ground?

Who gave them permission to carry out the protest during peak traffic hours? Why should people suffer due to the political showmanship of the BJP? she asked. The woman gave vent to the anger of every Mumbaikar who faces commute woes daily, Chaturvedi said. Earlier on Tuesday evening, Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad had said that the womans berating of BJP minister was an example of real womens power. This lady didnt hold back! The common public now knows BJPs eventbaazi! A lady on her way to pick up a child had to wait for hours as BJP blocked the road in the name of womens reservation....A common Mumbai woman told BJP ministers and workers to leave and showed them the reality. That is the true womens power. Stop troubling Mumbai for publicity, said the Mumbai North-Central MP.
Real need for Security Council reform, will push for it: UNSG candidate





UNITED NATIONS :

UN Secretary General (UNSG) candidate Michelle Bachelet said there is a real need for Security Council reform and greater representation in both permanent and non-permanent categories, vowing to push efforts towards achieving it. Bachelet, the former Chilean President, is one of the four candidates currently in the fray to be the next Secretary General of the United Nations. The current UN chief, Antonio Guterres, completes his tenure on December 31, after having served two consecutive five-year terms as the worlds top diplomat. I think its a real need for a reform of the Security Council, Bachelet said here Tuesday in response to a question by PTI on the long-pending UNSC reforms and developing countries like India sitting at the powerful table as permanent members to reflect current global realities. India has been at the forefront of years-long efforts calling for reform of the Security Council, including expansion in both its permanent and non-permanent categories, saying the 15-nation Council, founded in 1945, is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. New Delhi has consistently underscored that it rightly deserves a permanent seat at the horseshoe table. Bachelet said reforming the Security Council is a decision to be taken by UN member states. But I think there is an opportunity, she said, referring to the Pact of the Future, adopted by world leaders in 2024, that gave a strong clarion call to reform the 15-nation body. Bachelet, who is also the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said when people around the world look at the UN, they see the Security Council, they see a body that is not solving the problem, that is paralysed, has deadlocks on issues that really means the suffering of millions of people.

She stressed that while the UN member states will decide how the Security Council is reformed, but to really be able to be different, the Council needs to have representation of member states who are not represented there - as permanent member or non-permanent members as well, because thats the only possibility to sort of solve the deadlock, the blockage thats there. Bachelet said that while it sounds too much, there wont be hope for the multilateral system if the Security Council is not reformed. I will do my best to convince, with my good offices... I dont have the mandate to do that, but I will do my best to try to convince the UN membership to achieve reforms. She underscored that in the General Assembly, and also as expressed in the Pact of the Future, theres a huge movement and understanding that the Security Council needs to be reformed. In which way will depend on how member states decide, but if Im selected Secretary General, I will push as much as possible so that it happens, Bachelet said. During a three-hour interactive dialogue here on Tuesday, she faced questions from UN member states and civil society about her vision for the position of the next Secretary-General and why she is the best choice for the top job at the UN. Apart from Bachelet, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and former Vice President of Costa Rica, Rebeca Grynspan is the other woman candidate in the running for UN Secretary General. Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi and former President of Senegal, Macky Sall, are also vying for the position.

The United Nations has been led by nine Secretaries General, all of them men, and has never seen a female leader at its helm in 80 years of its existence. The Secretary-General is appointed by the 193-member General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council, the powerful but divided 15-nation body where China, France, Russia, the UK and the US sit as permanent members and have veto powers. India last sat at the UN high table as a non-permanent member in 2021-22. A polarised Security Council has also failed to deal with current peace and security challenges, with Council members sharply divided on conflicts such as the Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas conflict and the current West Asia crisis.
Rs 78,571 cr push to projects under Thrust Sectors in Vidarbha





Staff Reporter :

Upcoming seven projects in Vidarbha will generate 43,185 direct and indirect jobs

Naxal-hit Gadchiroli district will get highest investment of Rs 43,135 crore which will generate 28,000 direct and indirect jobs

In a major push to transform Vidarbha into a national economic hub and boost job-creation, the Maharashtra Government has approved special incentives to seven Large and Mega projects, collectively worth Rs 78,571.01 crore. These projects will also help to generate 43,185 direct and indirect jobs in Vidarbha.

The incentives were approved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the 14th meeting of the Cabinet Sub-committee on Industries, Energy, Labour, and Mining. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde; Minister for Industries and Marathi Language, Dr Uday Samant; Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal; Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Abha Shukla; Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) O P Gupta; Principal Secretary (Industries) Dr P Anbalagan; CEO of MIDC, P Velarasu; and Development Commissioner Dipendra Singh Kushwah also attended the meeting. During the meeting, Fadnavis approved 18 proposals including seven proposals of Vidarbha region for granting special incentives to Large and Mega projects falling under Thrust Sectors or based on high technology.

These projects encompass areas such as solar cells, modules, ingots, and wafers; green steel; green ammonia; electronic products; aerospace and defence equipment; lithium-ion batteries; electric vehicle manufacturing and components; and steel and Gas-to-Chemicals production. Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district will get the highest investment of Rs 43,135 crore with projection of creating 28,000 direct and indirect jobs. Rashmi Metallurgical Industry Private Limited will invest hopping Rs 40,000 crore, creating 20,000 jobs in Gadchiroli. Whereas, Hariom Pipe Industries Limited will provide employment to 8,000 individuals by investing Rs 3,135 crore in Gadchiroli. Nagpur district will get an economic boom with Rs 24,180 crore investment and openings for 13,825 individuals. Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited will provide employment to 6,825 individuals through an investment of Rs 12,780 crore. Similarly, at Butibori, Acme Cleantech Solutions Private Limited will invest Rs 11,400 crore and create 7,000 direct and indirect jobs.

In Bhandara district, Ashok Leyland Limited will make a major investment of Rs 10,000 crore and job creation for 1,000 individuals. Similarly, in Chandrapur, Million Steel Private Limited will generate 360 jobs through an investment of Rs 256.01 crore. Tembo Defence Products Private Limited will be investing Rs 1,000 crore in Amravati district. These projects will provide a significant boost to industrial development across Vidarbha and other parts of the State, thereby strengthening the local economy. Furthermore, they will facilitate the emergence of technological innovation, research and development, and robust supply chains. Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) also are set to benefit from these initiatives. Additionally, these projects will open up opportunities for training and skill development for local workers, thereby enhancing their employability.
Ukraine will work on building its own air defense system with European countries that have strong companies, and plans to discuss the matter with Sweden, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We will work with European countries that have strong companies  Norway, Germany, the Netherlands. We also want to discuss this with Sweden, I plan to do that a little later," Zelenskyy told journalists on Thursday.

On April 19, the president said Ukraine needs to build its own anti-ballistic air defense system within a year, calling it realistic but noting there are questions regarding components.
Terse message





EVEN as the nation remembered with heavy heart the killing of innocent civilian male tourists at Pahalgam exactly one year ago, the Indian Army, true to its spirit, gave out a terse message to whosoever it may concern that boundaries of humanity should never be crossed, and that there would be a decisive response if the violation took place again. As the people knew about this message from the Army, they remembered the precision strikes the Indian Armed Forces conducted on Pakistani targets as part of the phase one of Operation Sindoor. They also recalled that the Government had told the world that Op Sindoor was still on and the Indian Forces would strike the hardest if there was any violation of the countrys sovereignty and dignity. Operation Sindoor was an outstanding success of well--planned military operations. The Forces delivered the punch, achieved the desired results, and took a pause -- with a warning that Op Sindoor was still on.

The world understood the message from India -- though, of course, Pakistan refused to acknowledge that it had been beaten down by the Indian strikes beyond measure. Not just terror hideouts but also some of Pakistans military installations were hit in a pin-pointed manner, crippling that countrys critical ability to strike back. Through Op Sindoor, thus, India fought a war beyond its borders without crossing those, and without allowing any civilian target to be affected by Pakistani attack. The world watched simply amazed by Indian strikes precision and sense of focus and purpose of its military and political leaderships.

Though the country might have been taken by shock and surprise by the Pahalgam terror attack, Indias political, diplomatic and military responses stemmed from years of serious meditation and precise implementation of plans -- that seemed to have been drawn up years ago and kept polished with passing time, as if the military leaders visited the plans every 24 hours and kept them updated all the time ! Operation Sindoor, thus, was an outcome of ultra-modern technology being used by well-trained personnel as per a grand plan of the overall security apparatus the country has come up with over time. Of course, Indias military leadership is still deeply engaged in sprucing up its strategic thinking and tactical operational capabilities. True, Indias national leadership is not holding itself back while spending mind-boggling amounts of money to equip the security apparatus with the latest technologies as per the national defence requirement. This process has two dimensions, of course, one being acquisition of modern weapons for the military from whatever sources around the world; and the other being the indigenous design and manufacture military hardware in every possible domain.

The indigenous manufacture of defence merchandise has risen to levels that could not be imagined just a few years ago. So successful is this drive that India has begun earning precious foreign exchange by sale of defence merchandise to several countries around the world. But the issue that Indias collective leadership is giving importance to relates to its strategic maturation. Various concepts are being worked upon from the angle of implementation -- and either accepted or rejected. This activity is being conducted at a hectic pace with an innate sense of urgency so that the country does not lose precious time only at the drawing board. The military leadership is conducting some of those deliberations from public platforms where specialists air their views and give the common people an idea of how strategic thought proceeds. The people understand various implications against the background of the manner in which Operation Sindoor was conducted. All these exercises cumulatively promote what is described as strategic and security culture in the larger Indian society. There is a clear reason for common Indian people to feel proud of the developments on the strategic front. They now know for sure that they belong to a strong country.
Trump extends ceasefire with Iran indefinitely





WASHINGTON :

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran at the request of mediator Pakistan, saying the move was aimed at giving Tehrans fractured leadership time to come up with a unified proposal to end the seven-week war. The dramatic announcement, which was welcomed by Pakistans top leadership, came just hours before the two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 was set to expire. The extension effectively delayed the planned visit of a US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance to Islamabad for peace talks with Iranian interlocutors. Vance and US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were scheduled to travel to Islamabad on Tuesday, but the White House said the delegations trip to Pakistan will not be happening today (Tuesday). Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal, Trump said in a statement on Tuesday. However, Trump made it clear that the US will refrain from attacking Iran only until its leadership presents a unified proposal for negotiations.

He said the economic blockade of Irans ports will remain in place. The US President said he has therefore directed the military to continue the blockade. Slamming the US, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire. Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation. Iran knows how to neutralise restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying, he said in a social media post. On Tuesday, the US said its forces boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude in Asia. The Pentagon said that US forces boarded the M/T Tifani without incident. The US military did not disclose the location of the boarding, though ship-tracking data showed the vessel in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia on Tuesday. The Pentagon added that international waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels. Trumps ceasefire announcement capped days of intense diplomatic activity among officials in Washington, Islamabad and Tehran aimed at producing a draft proposal acceptable to all sides.

Iran holds rallies including ballistic missile launcher :

Iranian hard-liners rallied late on Tuesday night as possible talks in Islamabad with the United States broke down, with members of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard apparently bringing a ballistic missile on a mobile launcher to one event. Footage aired by Iranian state TV showed men carrying Kalashnikov-style assault rifles riding atop a missile that resembled a Qadr ballistic missile in Irans capital, Tehran. Such Qadr missiles can release individual bomblets known as cluster munitions, which Iran used widely when attacking Israel during the war.
Shown is marijuana at NJ Weedman's Joint dispensary in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Matt Rourke/AP Shown are marijuana joints at NJ Weedman's Joint dispensary in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, April 23, 2026. Matt Rourke/AP President Donald Trump waves as he departs after an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks at a news conference at the Justice Department, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP FILE - Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche holds a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, April 7, 2026. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. But it does change the way it's regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I  reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse  to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

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The Trump administration also said it was jump-starting the process for reclassifying marijuana more broadly, setting a hearing to begin in late June.

Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

Blanche said Thursday that the Department of Justice was delivering on President Trumps promise to expand Americans access to medical treatment options. This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information, he said in a statement.

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What the marijuana reclassification order does

Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them. It sets up an expedited system for state-licensed medical marijuana producers and distributors to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

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It makes clear that cannabis researchers won't be penalized for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or marijuana-derived products for use in their work, and it grants state-licensed medical marijuana companies a windfall by allowing them, for the first time, to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes.

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Any marijuana-derived medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration is similarly listed in Schedule III, it said.

Since 2015, Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from using its resources to shut down state-licensed medical marijuana systems. But the order nevertheless represents a major policy shift for the U.S. government, which has continued its longstanding marijuana prohibition  dating to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937  even as nearly all the states have approved cannabis use in some form.

Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, 40 have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use. Only Idaho and Kansas ban marijuana outright.

The regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way since California became the first state to adopt it in 1996, Blanche wrote.

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Today the vast majority of States maintain comprehensive licensing frameworks governing cultivation, processing, distribution, and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes, Blanche wrote. Taken as a whole, they demonstrate a sustained capacity to achieve the public-interest objectives ... including protecting public health and safety and preventing the diversion of controlled substances into illicit channels.

The president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Michael Bronstein, called it the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy in over 50 years."

This action recognizes what Americans have long known, cannabis is medicine, he said in a written statement.

Critic calls the order a tax break to Big Weed

The Trump administrations decision drew derision from marijuana legalization opponent Kevin Sabet, the chief executive of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. Sabet said that while marijuana research is necessary, "there are many ways to increase our knowledge without giving a tax break to Big Weed and sending a confusing message about marijuanas harms to the American public.

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With this move, we are now confronted with the most pro-drug administration in our history, Sabet said in a text message. Policy is now being dictated by marijuana CEOs, psychedelics investors, and podcasters in active addiction."

Marijuana or marijuana-derived products that are not distributed through a state medical marijuana program will continue to be classified in Schedule I.

Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some critics of the industry have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly than before.

The efforts to reclassify marijuana

The Justice Department under President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had proposed to reclassify marijuana, eliciting nearly 43,000 formal public comments. The DEA was still in the review process when Trump succeeded Biden, and Trump ordered that process to move along as quickly as legally possible.

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Blanche's order sidestepped the review process by relying on a provision of federal law that allows the attorney general to determine the appropriate classification for drugs that the U.S. must regulate pursuant to an international treaty.

It was unclear how the order might affect operations in states where licensed recreational marijuana shops also sell to medical patients. In Washington state, which in 2012 became one of the first states to legalize the adult use of marijuana, 302 of 460 licensed stores have endorsements allowing them to sell tax-free cannabis products to registered patients.

Many Republicans oppose loosening marijuana restrictions. More than 20 Republican senators, several of them staunch Trump allies, signed a letter last year urging the president to keep the current standards.

Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs. He signed another executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.

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This story has been corrected to show the spelling in the name of the 1937 law was Marihuana, not Marijuana.

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FILE - The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, on May 6, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP The city of Logan, Utah, a college and dairy farming town, is seen from the hillside on the Utah State University campus, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Hannah Schoenbaum/AP

LOGAN, Utah (AP)  President Donald Trumps administration took the unusual step this week of sending a government plane to Cuba to return a 10-year-old from Utah who is at the center of a complicated and contentious custody fight involving the childs gender identity.

The child's parent, Rose Inessa-Ethington, a transgender woman, is accused of taking the child to Cuba without the permission of the biological mother. Federal and state authorities sought the return of the child after a family member expressed concern that Inessa-Ethington went to Havana to get the child gender transition surgery.

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Inessa-Ethington, who had run a popular Utah political blog in the 2010s, was arrested along with her partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, and charged in the U.S. with international parental kidnapping.

The couple traveled with the child to Canada ostensibly for a camping trip in late March with Blues 3-year-old child. However, the two adults turned off their phones after telling the older childs mother they had arrived in Canada. They flew from Vancouver to Mexico and then to Cuba on April 1, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in federal court in Utah.

The charges don't say if the couple actually planned on getting the child gender-affirming surgery in Cuba or how they would get it because that surgery isn't legal for children in Cuba.

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The FBI said that Blue Inessa-Ethington withdrew $10,000 from her checking account before leaving. Agents also found at their home a note with instructions from a mental health therapist in Washington, D.C., to send the therapist the $10,000.00 and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children. That note didn't mention Cuba.

The use of the Department of Justice plane in a parental kidnapping investigation comes after the Trump administration sought to block access to gender-affirming care for minors and pressured health care providers over the issue.

The Associated Press left telephone and email messages with the court-appointed attorneys who represented Blue and Rose Inessa-Ethington in Virginia. The defendants will be returned to Utah to face one count each of international parental kidnapping, according to court filings.

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Search began after child wasn't returned as scheduled

The search for the child began on April 3 when they were not returned to the mother in Utah as scheduled, court documents show.

The 10-year-olds mother, who was divorced from Rose Inessa-Ethington and had shared custody of the child, filed a missing-person report with police in Logan, Utah, a college and dairy farming town about 70 miles (115 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City.

Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons said his departments initial focus was on the custodial interference allegations in the case, and he said investigators did not learn until later about concerns over gender-affirming surgery.

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Logan police spokesperson Sgt. Brandon Bevan said those concerns were raised by one family member. He declined to say who.

They just had the concern about it, no actual physical evidence Bevan said.

A Utah state judge ordered the return of the 10-year-old to the childs mother on April 13. Three days later, a federal magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for the Inessa-Ethingtons. On the same day, Cuban law enforcement located the group. They were deported to the U.S. aboard the government plane Monday and arraigned in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.

The 10-year-old was returned to the childs biological mother, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak in Utah indicated in a statement. Representatives of the FBI and U.S. attorneys office in Utah declined to say what happened to the 3-year-old child who had been with the group.

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Parents engaged in custody dispute

The custody dispute between the parents does not appear to be a new development. An online fundraiser created five years go by Blue Inessa-Ethington titled Help a Trans Mother Keep Custody of Her Child raised $9,766.

Last week, Roses ex relocated several counties away, negatively impacting Roses parent-time with the child, she wrote on the fundraising page. She said the money would be used to seek a court order that would keep the child safe and stable throughout this process.

Anyone who has spent time with Rose knows how much care and thought she puts into parenting her gender open child, she wrote.

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Family members said the child was assigned male at birth but identifies as a girl because of what they believed to be manipulation by Rose Inessa-Ethington, according to an April 16 affidavit from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield.

Gender-affirming care for minors has been limited

The Trump administration moved in December to cut off gender-affirming care for minors, prompting a third of states to sue.

It was the latest in a series of clashes between an administration that says transgender health care can be harmful to children and advocates who say its medically necessary.

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Gender-affirming surgery is rare among U.S. children, research shows. Guidance from several major medical organizations calls for caution around surgery for minors and says decisions about treatments are case-by-case. Fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents receive gender-affirming medications, such as hormones or puberty blockers.

In Cuba, gender-affirming surgeries are banned for minors and only performed for adults through the public health system under strict supervision in designated public hospitals for Cuban citizens. They must be authorized by a medical commission after a comprehensive review of the patients file. That process often takes years because it requires a wide range of medical and psychological evaluations.

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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks during a discussion titled, The Roadmap for Restoring American Education, hosted by the Buckley Institute at Yale University, Thursday, April 16, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

It was about 5:20 p.m. Jan. 28 that a message went out to a Fairfield elementary school community that U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon would be visiting two days later. But by 9:45 p.m., another message was sent: the event was canceled.

Hundreds of emails and other documents obtained by CT Insider through a Freedom of Information Act request provide a window into how the event was planned and what happened in the four hours between the visits announcement and its cancellation. Those documents included about 100 emails from parents and community members expressing their displeasure that McMahon would be visiting as part of the nationwide History Rocks! tour celebrating Americas 250th anniversary.

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A barrage of emails from parents flooded the Fairfield superintendents inbox that evening with a variety of adjectives used  "inappropriate," "disgraceful," "disgusting" and "embarrassing" among them. Some described the event as propaganda, indoctrinating children and a politically motivated photo op. Their messages calling for the events cancellation cited a range of concerns, from the safety of students to the tours ties to conservative organizations, to McMahon and the Trump administrations policies.

After the cancellation, the superintendent and school board faced additional criticism, this time from a smaller handful of people critical of the decision. The emails said the district caved to a small group of radicals, that scrapping the visit ran counter to open dialogue and free speech and that McKinley students missed out on the opportunity.

The tour is in coordination with the Trump administrations America 250 Civics Education Coalition, an initiative dedicated to renewing patriotism, strengthening civic knowledge, and advancing a shared understanding of Americas founding principles in schools across the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The coalition includes major Trump-aligned groups like the America First Policy Institute and Turning Point USA, co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

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Despite criticism in communities like Fairfield and Thomaston  which also canceled a McMahon-linked event last month  and in other states where the event has been held, McMahon and her department have defended the events purpose. Fairfield Superintendent Michael Testani  who according to records had a key role in planning McMahons visit to McKinkley  also defended it.

The visit to Fairfield is not for anyone to promote a political agenda, he wrote in emails responding to the first of many parent concerns that rolled in on Jan. 28.  This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our students and staff on a national stage. This is in no way political.

Testani did not respond to a CT Insider request for comment for this story.

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In the wake of the cancellation and in response to other messages from parents and community members disappointed that McMahon would no longer be coming, Testani encouraged them to share their thoughts with the school board, documents show.

Unfortunately, I need more people like you to email the board of education to demonstrate that not every family feels that this was bad for the district. I wish they could hear from all of you, he wrote to one parent. Last night someone posted my email and their email on Facebook which started the massive campaign against the visit.

McKinley Elementary School Principal Christine Booth had described the event as a dynamic, interactive assembly that brings American history and civic learning to life through fun, game show style activities, hands on participation, and even prizes in her initial Jan. 28 message announcing the visit to families.

Backlash floods in within hours of announcement

The pushback came from a slew of parents and Fairfield residents, who wrote in a plethora of emails to Testani, Booth, and board of education members that they were worried, disappointed, disgusted and horrified by the news of the visit.

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Lauren Effron, the Fairfield PTA Council president-elect, emailed Testani on Jan. 28 urging him to cancel the visit, writing that she was sickened to hear about it, according to documents obtained by CT Insider.

How are you OK with bringing in such a divisive figure as Secretary McMahon? Her title aside, what she stands for is not a message of unity for our country but one that will further divide us in a time of national crisis, Effron wrote.  We cannot allow propaganda of this sort to be viewed by our youngest learners. You have to shut this down or you will face the greatest opposition of your career.

Multiple emails also included concerns surrounding the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, and questions over whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be present, citing the diversity of McKinleys student population. For more than a decade, McKinley has had far more racial minority students than the district-wide average, and has been categorized under state law as racially imbalanced.

This is blatant exploitation and disrespect to the McKinley community  one of Fairfields most diverse schools and the most vulnerable to be targeted by ICE, whose lethal and illegal mission is supported by the very people you are inviting into this community, one parent wrote.

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In one email response to a parent, Testani wrote that ICE would not be there.

Some emails to district officials pointed to plans for a protest and district-wide walkout on the day of McMahons visit, as well as parents not wanting to send their kids to school.

Around two hours after the announcement went out, Testani notified U.S. Department of Education officials and event planners about the response the district had received so far.

We are having a ton of push back from the community and my Board on this visit, Testani wrote in an email. We need to connect first thing in the morning on this. Please send a Zoom link.

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But the decision to cancel didnt wait until the next morning.

After speaking to Secretary McMahons team, the History Rocks Tour event on Friday has been cancelled, Testani wrote in an email to Board of Education members around 9 p.m. on the same evening the visit had been announced.

In his message announcing the cancellation, he cited concerns raised by families.

After cancellation, critics say district caved to pressure

While the large majority of the emails sent were from parents upset with the decision to host McMahon, others pushed back on the decision to cancel.

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It makes me so sad, and quite frankly disgusted, that adults in this town cant put their politics aside and see that this would have been an amazing experience for their children, fostering patriotism and a love of this great country, wrote one school district employee in an email to Testani.  There are a lot of parents and even some staff in this town, who were able to see this experience for what it truly was meant to be, and its unfortunate that it is no longer happening.

In response, Testani thanked her and said he agreed it was an honor to have the secretary visit the district. McKinley was my choice because it is a great place for kids! he wrote.

The day after the cancellation, Testani emailed state Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker to express [his] sincere regrets that we are unable to move forward with hosting the Secretary of Education and the History Rocks tour this Friday.

As you know, it was a point of great pride for us to be selected by your office to represent Connecticut. However, over the last 36 hours, the external climate surrounding the visit escalated to a point where I felt I could no longer guarantee the focused, celebratory, andmost importantlysecure environment our students deserve, Testani wrote to the commissioner. Canceling such a prestigious event was a difficult decision, but as the Superintendent, my primary obligation is the safety and well-being of the children in our care. I did not want a milestone moment for our state to be overshadowed by disruptions that would detract from the educational mission you and I both champion.

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Russell-Tucker thanked Testani for his continued efforts in prioritizing, as noted, the well-being of students, and wrote that she looked forward to continued collaboration and partnership in an email response.

Even after the cancellation  which spurred multiple messages of gratitude  questions remained over how exactly the visit was planned in the first place, with parents calling for accountability and transparency.

The U.S. Department of Education had informed the state Department of Education in early December of its intent to visit Connecticut, and asked whether any districts might be interested in hosting an event, according to a Jan. 29 email to Testani from the state Department of Educations Director of Communications Matthew Cerrone.

The state Department of Education had initially recommended Stamford, Norwalk and Fairfield to the U.S. Department of Education as districts for McMahon to visit, according to December 2025 documents obtained by CT Insider.

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Given the geographical region requested by the USDE for the visit, we reached out to you to determine the districts level of interest. Given you expressed interest to host the Secretary of Education, the agency relayed your contact information and willingness to the USDE, consistent with standard practice. Coordination regarding the visit occurred directly between the USDE and Fairfield Public Schools, Cerrone wrote to Testani on Jan. 29.

The documents show that Testani was the main point of contact for the event, and he said in multiple emails that he chose McKinley for the visit. I made the decision to showcase the wonderful McKinley School community, Testani wrote in an email responding to parent concerns.

Event details

The records also show the U.S. Education Departments detailed rundown of the event, complete with the weather forecast, Connecticut-specific talking points and exact wheels down timing of McMahons plane.

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McMahon was supposed to visit three McKinley classrooms before the History Rocks! assembly, which was set to include remarks from McMahon, Booth and Testani, the pledge of allegiance and national anthem, before launching into two trivia-style games and ending with a song.

One game asks students to hold up signs based on their answers to questions like What is the Declaration of Independence? and What is the capital of Connecticut? The next game has students raise their hands to answer multiple choice questions like What symbol represents U.S. freedom? and Which unfair action helped cause the American Revolution?

In addition, the documents show that Testani, Booth and U.S. Department of Education officials corresponded with a private company in planning the visit.

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FILE - The tail of a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 is shown as the plane prepares to take off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Jan. 19, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wilfredo Lee/AP President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and Vice President JD Vance listen in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was weighing a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines with the intent of reselling the struggling budget carrier after oil prices drop.

The president confirmed his continued interest in offering Spirit a financial lifeline after a lawyer told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court that the airline was in advanced talks with the U.S. government on a financing deal that would allow Spirit to emerge from Chapter 11 protection.

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They have some good aircraft and good assets, and when the prices of oil goes down, well sell it for a profit, Trump said, speaking at an unrelated Oval Office event. Id love to be able to save those jobs. Id love to be able to save an airline.

Trump stoked speculation of a deal to save Spirit on Tuesday when he encouraged a buyer to rescue the airline and suggested the federal government could help keep it afloat.

The White House has attempted to blame Spirits predicament on the Biden administration, which in 2023 sued to stop JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit for $3.8 billion. A little more than a year before Trump replaced Joe Biden as president, a federal judge in Dallas blocked a proposed Spirit-JetBlue merger, saying it would drive up airfares for passengers.

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Trump said he had a smart person in mind who could potentially run Spirit and that he believed the airline could get back on solid financial footing.

And they have some very good slots too, which are pretty valuable, the president added, referring to scheduled times allocated for airlines to take off or land at airports when demand exceeds available capacity.

Spirit has struggled with losses for years. The airline filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024 and again in August 2025. With the Iran war driving up jet fuel costs for all airlines, creditors earlier this month expressed doubts about Spirits ongoing viability, raising the possibility the airline recognized for its bright yellow planes would be forced to sell its assets and cease operating.

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Before Trump's comments about the government buying the airline outright, Marshall Huebner, a lawyer with Davis Polk who is representing Spirit, said during a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing in New York that government financing would make a reorganization possible and help Spirit be more competitive.

Details of a potential deal were shared with all three of the companys primary creditor groups, Huebner said.

It was not immediately clear how a federal acquisition would differ from the terms that were under discussion. The size and terms of the financing aid were not shared publicly. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, both reported an amount of $500 million that would give the government an option to acquire a sizable stake in the airline, which has its headquarters in Florida.

Earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy voiced skepticism about the government stepping in to keep Spirit alive. In a CBS interview that aired Tuesday night, Duffy questioned whether a deal would set a broader precedent.

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Then who else comes to my door? he said, referring to other airlines potentially requesting government aid. The question will be, can we do anything to save Spirit and make it viable, or would we be putting good money into a company that inevitably is going to be liquidated?

Several lawmakers, both Republican and Democrats, also balked at the idea of a bailout. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X on Wednesday that a deal for Spirit would be a terrible idea.

If Spirits creditors or other potential investors dont think they can run it profitably coming out of its second bankruptcy in under two years, I doubt the US Government can either, Tom Cotton, a senator from Arkansas, posted on X. Not the best use of taxpayer dollars.

The union that represents the airline's pilots, on the other hand, voiced strong support for a rescue deal.

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Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation, said Capt. Ryan P. Muller, chair of the Spirit Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council. When Spirit enters a market, fares go down.

Spirits relatively young fleet has made it an attractive acquisition target. But previous buyout attempts from budget rivals like JetBlue and Frontier were unsuccessful both before and during Spirits first bankruptcy.

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A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. AP Iran's Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of Shah Reza Pahlavi, waves to supporters after he was attacked with a red fluid following a news conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 23, 2026. Markus Schreiber/AP Mourners hold posters that show portraits of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, during her funeral procession in the village of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Mohammed Zaatari/AP Mourners carry the coffin of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, during her funeral procession in the village of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Mohammed Zaatari/AP Zainab, the sister of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, hugs her helmet as she mourns over her coffin in the village of Baysariyeh, southern Lebanon, Thursday, April 23, 2026. Mohammed Zaatari/AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to shoot and kill small Iranian boats that deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, announcing the move Thursday a day after Iran again displayed its ability to thwart traffic through the channel.

Trump also announced that a ceasefire in Lebanon would be extended by three weeks.

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His post on social media about the small boats came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passed during peacetime.

I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be ... putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump posted, adding that U.S. minesweepers "are clearing the Strait right now.

I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! he added.

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The decision to extend a pause in fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon came during a meeting at the White House between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States.

Meanwhile, it was still unclear when, or if, the U.S. and Iran would meet again in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, where mediators are trying to bring the countries together to reach a diplomatic deal ending that conflict.

Negotiations initially planned this week have not happened. Iran insists it will not attend until the U.S. ends its blockade on Iranian ports and ships. The White House insists it will not take part until Tehran opens the strait to international traffic.

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Pope Leo XIV, returning home from a trip to Africa, urged the U.S. and Iran to return to talks to end the war.

Footage shows US forces on deck of tanker

The Defense Department released video footage of U.S. forces on the deck of the oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean. The ship had been flying a Guyanese flag, though the South American nation of Guyana said it was not registered there

The footage emerged a day after Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard attacked three cargo ships in the strait, capturing two of them, in an assault that raised new concerns about the safety of shipping through the waterway.

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The powerful head of Irans judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, said three violating ships in the strait were subject to enforcement Wednesday.

The show of strength by the armed forces of Islamic Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is a source of pride, he wrote Thursday on X, claiming the Americans lack the courage to approach the strait.

Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same location as the oil tanker Tifani, seized earlier by American forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan, China.

Majestic X previously was named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

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Guyana said in a statement the Majestic X was not registered in the South American nation.

While the name of the vessel has changed, the (International Maritime Organization) number remains recorded in the international database as PHONIX. There is no record of this vessel or name in Guyanas registry. Therefore, the ship is FRAUDULENTLY flying the Guyana flag, Guyanas Maritime Administration Department said.

There was no immediate response from Iran about the seizure.

Trump claims leadership rift in Iran

Trump this week extended a ceasefire to give the Iranian leadership more time to come up with a unified proposal on ending the war, while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports.

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In a post Thursday, Trump claimed a leadership rift between moderates and hard-liners was confounding Iran. Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just dont know! Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly said during the ceasefire that began April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging that his decision to kill several top leaders has come with complications.

Irans president and its parliament speaker posted statements on social media declaring the country has no hard-liners or moderates.

"We are all Iranians and revolutionaries, they said.

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A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Trump's claim of a leadership rift was a deflection. Other Iranian officials said on social media that the country was united.

Trump, while speaking to reporters at the White House, pushed back against questions about the conflict exceeding the four-to-six-week timeline that he and aides previously set for the war.

I dont want to rush myself, Trump said, adding that the U.S. took the country out militarily in the first four weeks.

Now all were doing is sitting back and seeing what deal" can be made. "And if they dont want to make a deal, then Ill finish it up militarily, Trump said.

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He said he would not use a nuclear weapon against Iran.

Meanwhile, three aircraft carriers were in the region after the USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the Indian Ocean. One carrier was in the Arabian Sea and another was in the Red Sea, military officials said.

Talks between Lebanon and Israel lead to truce extension

Trump said a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington went very well and resulted in a ceasefire extension for Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.

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The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah, Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah started after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran and the Tehran-backed militants fired rockets into northern Israel. The ceasefire first took effect for a 10-day period starting Friday.

Underscoring the truce's fragility, Israels military said it struck missile launchers in Lebanon that had fired into its borders. Hezbollah said it fired at the Israeli town of Shtula in response to Israeli attacks on the Lebanese village of Yater.

Lebanon's public health ministry said an Israeli airstrike killed three people further north, in the area of Nabatiya. The Israeli military said it killed three militants who launched a missile toward an Israeli warplane.

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Each side has accused the other of breaching the truce.

Trump reiterated that the U.S. continues to demand that Iran stop its backing of Iranian-allied militias in the Mideast, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, as part of any deal between Washington and Tehran to end the U.S. war on Iran.

Yeah, theyll have to cut that, Trump said to a reporters question about aiding Hezbollah. Thats a must.

Threats to shipping persist

Since the Feb. 28 start of the war between Iran, Israel and the United States, over 30 ships have come under attack in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

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The threat of attack, rising insurance premiums and other fears have stopped traffic from moving through the strait. Irans ability to restrict traffic through the strait, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, has proved a major strategic advantage.

Jakob Larsen, the head of maritime security for BIMCO, the largest international association representing shipowners, said in a note Thursday that most shipping companies need a stable ceasefire and assurances from both sides of the conflict that the strait is safe for transit.

The threat of mines, he wrote, was a particular concern if traffic might return to normal levels one day.

___

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Madhani reported from Washington, and Keaten reported from Geneva.

___

This story has corrected that the Majestic X oil tanker had been flying the Guyanese flag not the Guinea flag.
Gov. Ned Lamont gives his State of the State address Feb. 4 during opening day of the 2026 legislative session in Hartford. On Wednesday, April 22, after a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting, Lamont confirmed that budget adjustments will likely include more money for the Hartford and Hamden school budgets. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Gov. Ned Lamont speaks outside his State Capitol office Wednesday evening after a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting on proposed budget adjustments to the second year of the biennial budget. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  After a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting with Democratic leaders of the General Assembly, Gov. Ned Lamont emerged from his State Capitol office Wednesday night and confirmed that budget adjustments will likely include more money for the Hartford and Hamden school budgets.

Minutes earlier, Democratic leaders added Bridgeport to the list.

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Look, we have a very constructive relationship, Lamont told a pair of reporters. Were going to get a balanced budget, our eighth in a row. We talked about aid to education. We talked about some of our towns and cities that are having a really tough time in terms of managing an education budget, like Hartford.

Hartford schools face a $74 million school budget shortfall, while Hamdens town government is about $38 million in the red.

Lamont said his proposal for $200 rebates to state taxpayers is still on the table in a nearly $29 billion state budget that would take effect July 1.

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I want to make sure its within the confines of an honestly balanced budget., he said, standing next to Joshua Wojcik, who as secretary of the Office of Policy and Management is the governors budget chief.

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Several municipalities have financially struggling schools, Wojcik said. He declined to name all of the districts that could get further relief but stressed that Hamden is one of them.

Some of those towns are going to need additional financial assistance over and above what would be typical through a a regular distribution, Wojcik said.

In those cases I think we need to look at some accountability on the other side to make sure we can right size budgets and make sure that they can be sustainable with typical funding on a move-forward basis," he said. "We know that Hamden is having some significant challenges relative to some of the unfunded liabilities that they are experiencing.

Asked what else came up during the visit from his fellow Democratic leaders with the legislative adjournment date of May 6 looming, the governor said, Were in a good place.

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Were going to get a budget balanced, on time, and I think a lot of our towns and cities are going to get some extra support, Lamont said.

Any additional funding would have to continue ahead into the future, Lamont said. He would not indicate a particular amount, such as Speaker of the House Matt Ritters desire, announced earlier in the week, for an additional $170 million in education funding statewide.

The numbers are going to add up, said Lamont, who is running for a third four-year term. Theyve added up every year Ive been here. They going to add up next year as well.

A few minutes earlier, Ritter, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff mirrored Lamonts optimism but were shorter on details of the bienniums second year.

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We had a really good, productive conversation with the governor and his budget people, said Looney, D-New Haven. One of the major focuses, of course, education aid for municipalities. We made significant progress on that, with more discussions to follow tomorrow. We hopeful that were getting close to an overall deal.

If was a very positive discussion, said Ritter, D-Hartford, who said that tax collection numbers will be rolling in to provide a better financial picture. He declined to confirm whether the $170 million for education was still on the table. We dont want to do numbers. It was agreed to make a substantial increase in ECS (Educational Cosy Sharing), yes.

Ritter said that in addition to Hamden and Hartford, Bridgeport schools are in a fiscal crisis as well. The Bridgeport school board recently approved a $400 million budget, about $106 million more than the current years budget. To provide a current-service spending plan, city schools would need $44 million.

Looney said some kind of pot of money for the the communities is also planned. You dont have a deal until all of the pieces come together, he said, stressing that municipal aid was a focus of the prolonged discussion, which Ritter departed and returned to twice to vote in the nearby House of Representatives.

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For ECS, its talking about having the biggest impact we can as soon as we can, said Duff, D-Norwalk. Its too early right now to either leak out or just predispose what might happen because you have to get all sides to agree.
The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has signed an agreement with the Finnish Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross to support people with disabilities affected by the war in Ukraine.

"This partnership is aimed at ensuring that people who have been injured, veterans, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable categories of the population have equal access to services, opportunities for self-realization, and full participation in community life," the URCS said on Facebook on Thursday.

Kharkiv region will serve as the pilot region, as one of the territories most affected by the war, where issues of inclusion are particularly relevant.

The initiative provides for expanding access to inclusive services and barrier-free infrastructure. The program is also aimed at developing the economic capacity and self-sufficiency of people, supporting veterans, and those injured as a result of the war. Special attention is paid to creating mutual aid networks, strengthening the role of communities, as well as training specialists and implementing inclusive approaches at the local level.

The project also involves data collection and analysis to form effective solutions and promote change at the local and national levels.
From left, Westport twin sisters Leonie and Lisette Kalra are looking to combat the loneliness epidemic by creating sparks for human connection through their app Westport Smiles. Courtesy of Aashish Kalra From left, Westport twin sisters Leonie and Lisette Kalra are looking to combat the loneliness epidemic by creating sparks for human connection through their app Westport Smiles. Courtesy of Aashish Kalra

WESTPORT  For 11-year-old twins Lisette and Leonie Kalra, every visit to their Westport Smiles app is a chance to create a spark for connections in the fight against loneliness.

We realized people are growing increasingly divided by political, economic, social and cultural divisions and we wanted to bring people together," Leonie Kalra said.

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Using programs, such as Streamlit and Open AI, the homeschooled Westport sisters created an app that uses everyday objects to spread kindness and spark connections.

For example, by uploading an image of a dog, the app may conjure ideas for puppy playdates, creating thank you cards for local animal shelters, making dog walking buddies or organizing story time events involving dogs at local libraries.

We thought maybe we could use AI, and since people are on their phones so much, we can create an app to help people be more social, Lisette Kalra said.

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The sisters were inspired to create the app because of the loneliness epidemic sweeping the nation. Lisette Kalra said they noticed how often people of all ages spent time scrolling on their devices, and how they could use it to socialize instead.

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More than 60% of U.S. adults report feeling lonely and emotionally disconnected, while 54% said they felt isolated, 50% felt left out and 50% felt they were lacking companionship often or some of the time, according to an American Psychological Association poll from November 2025.

The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA, found that among more than 3,000 U.S. adults surveyed, about 69% said they needed more emotional support in the past year than they received, which is up from the 65% reported in 2024.

Users are guided through the sisters' app by Professor Juju, a fluffy white poodle mascot created to make AI safe and fun for children.

We used a prompt that made it think of fun ideas that are good for children and make everyone happy and more like a social event, Leonie Kalra said. The AI could even think of ideas of what to do with ceiling lights.

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The Kalra sisters were recognized for their work in March as Connecticut's middle school champions in the Presidential AI challenge, which prompts youth and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while fostering AI interest and competency, according to the challenge's website.

Lisette and Leonie Kalra are now waiting to hear if they will advance to the regional section of the challenge. They said their goal is to expand Westport Smiles on a national level as America Smiles, and later worldwide as World Smiles.

The sisters learned about the challenge this past fall as part of their science homework, according to their father Aashish Kalra. After five months spent developing the technology, they launched Westport Smiles in January.

Leonie Kalra said they were involved with other coding competitions before the Presidential AI challenge, so the idea of doing a bigger competition intrigued them.

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It was challenging since, instead of just thinking of the idea, we had to make something, she said. Thinking of an idea is easy, but changing peoples lives and impacting peoples lives is harder. We needed something that many people were facing  The hardest part was finding the right idea.

Lisette Kalra said they thought about tackling loneliness through peoples phones.

People were on their phone a lot, she said, so we thought, 'Oh, this is a good problem, it affects all the ages."

Aashish Kalra said his daughters wanted to make the problem the solution."

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In their quest to build a kinder app, the sisters tried a variety of AI technologies and even built their own AI, which Leonie Kalra said was a total bust. She said they knew they found the right technology when AI started getting ideas right and we thought the ideas are really good.

As they continue to improve their app, Leonie Kalra said they hope to develop it with different languages and resources as well as a better interface. Lisette Kalra said theyd like to add prizes and a leaderboard to encourage kindness and build more connections. The sisters are also looking for launch partners to take Westport Smiles to the next levels.

Those interested in building connections and partnerships with Westport Smiles can reach out via email at westportsmiles.org@gmail.com.

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FILE - Law enforcement detain a man outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building during a protest, Jan. 17, 2026, in Minneapolis. Yuki Iwamura/AP FILE - A law enforcement officer points a crowd control weapon at a protester in East Side, Chicago, Oct. 14, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, File) Anthony Vazquez/AP FILE - Tear gas is deployed as federal agents make arrests, Jan. 21, 2026, in Minneapolis. Angelina Katsanis/AP Franci Stagi center, speaks with a Durango, Colo., Police Department officer early Oct. 29, 2025, after an immigration officer allegedly assaulted her in Durango, Colo. (Scout Edmondson/Durango Herald via AP) Scout Edmondson/AP FILE - Law enforcement respond to protesters after federal immigration authorities conducted operations, June 7, 2025, in Paramount, Calif. Eric Thayer/AP

The decision in Colorado to charge an immigration officer with assault after a protester was grabbed by the neck and pulled across a street could test the boundaries of immunity provisions for federal agents as states scrutinize the use of force under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

A Colorado prosecutor said Wednesday that the officer has been charged with third-degree assault and criminal mischief following an investigation into the treatment of a protester in October.

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Multiple videos show a masked federal agent seizing a 57-year-old woman, who says she was put in a chokehold, during the protest in Durango.

Colorado is among several states to prohibit or severely limit the use of chokeholds and neck restraints by police officers. But immunity provisions under the U.S. Constitution and federal law limit the reach of local authorities in prosecuting federal agents.

Here's what to know:

Investigations underway in Minnesota and Chicago

The Trump administrations immigration enforcement tactics have spurred an array of investigations by state and local authorities.

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Earlier this month, a federal immigration agent was charged with two counts of second-degree assault by a county prosecutor in Minnesota amid investigations into the actions of several officers during the immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. is accused of pointing his gun at occupants of a car after pulling alongside them on a Minneapolis-area highway. Investigators say Morgan said he feared for his safety after the vehicle swerved in front of him.

Minnesota officials also have sued the administration for access to evidence for investigations into three shootings during the crackdown, including those that resulted in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

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Outside Chicago, an off-duty ICE agent has been charged with misdemeanor battery for throwing to the ground a 68-year-old protester who was filming him at a gas station in December. The Homeland Security Department that oversees ICE says the agent acted in self-defense.

In California, the shooting death of 43-year-old Keith Porter by an off-duty ICE agent on New Years Eve has prompted protests and calls for an independent investigation.

Federal officers and the supremacy clause

Federal law enforcement officers have broad legal protections when acting in the course of their official duties, and the Justice Department has taken a hard line against state efforts to arrest or prosecute federal agents.

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Late last year, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said arrests of federal officers performing their duties would be illegal and futile, citing the Constitutions supremacy clause and federal law.

Legal experts say those protections are significant but not absolute and that the supremacy clause does not provide blanket immunity.

In a statement on the Colorado charges, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said states do not have the authority to investigate such cases.

Federal officers acting in the course of their duties can only be investigated by other Federal agencies, the statement said.

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Conduct by ICE officers is under additional scrutiny amid a rapid hiring spree and evidence that applicants with questionable histories were not fully vetted.

Flashpoint in Colorado mountain town

The altercation in Colorado arose from demonstrations over the detention on Oct. 27 of three Colombian asylum-seekers  a man and two children  while they were on their way to school in the morning. In late October, protesters gathered outside an ICE facility in Durango, a college town and destination for outdoor recreation in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.

Multiple videos show a masked federal agent placing Franci Stagi in what she described as a chokehold. Chokeholds have been at the center of public discourse and state legislative initiatives about what constitutes an unreasonable use of force since Eric Garner died in New York in 2014 after he was put in a chokehold by a police officer.

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Stagi, a retired hypnotherapist, said she reached for the agents shoulder to get his attention and that he then grabbed her by the hair, put her neck in the crook of his arm and carried her across the street by her head before throwing her down an embankment next to the street.

Court documents allege that Customs and Border Protection officer Nicholas Rice committed third-degree assault by causing bodily injury to Stagi, but the documents dont describe how she was injured or make mention of a chokehold. Court documents didnt list any attorney as representing the officer.

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which launched its own investigation, didnt immediately respond to questions about the charges.

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A new secured double-entry in July 2025 at Edwardsville High School. Courtesy Edwardsville District 7

The Edwardsville District 7 school board is setting new priorities for the 2026-27 school year as early discussions reveal a divide over how the district should approach student safety.

At a special April 20 work session, interim Superintendent Allen Duncan and the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education outlined five areas of focus: curriculum, staff accountability, safety, communication and finance. Specifics are expected later.

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The value of having a strategic plan is annually coming back and seeing if it still makes sense, President Bob Paty said. Because you don't want to be so married to a five-year plan when all of the sudden, hey, guess what? We now have AI has completely changed how we need to be thinking about things."

The discussion then turned to the third goal, which focuses on maintaining a safe, equitable and inclusive environment for all members of the school community. Board members diverged on what that priority should emphasize.

Board Secretary Matt Breihan raised concerns about physical safety in schools, citing gaps in preparedness and training that he said he recognized because of his law enforcement background. Safety manuals are missing or not readily accessible, leaving staff uncertain about basic procedures such as exit routes and designated shelter areas during emergencies.

In my experience, we've always played catch up when it comes to school safety, Breihan said.

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He said many people do not know where to go or how to respond in a crisis. The issue is compounded by inconsistent training, particularly among newly hired staff who may not be familiar with current safety systems or protocols. Breihan noted there is no clear plan to ensure all employees are properly trained, creating potential risks in emergency situations.

It's always been a reactionary measure, Breihan said.

During the meeting, he broke with several board members on Goal 3, school safety, pointing to how long it took the district to complete secure entry vestibules at school buildings, a project discussed as early as 2012 but not finished until funding became available years later. He cited that timeline as an example of how critical safety improvements can be delayed.

He emphasized the importance of routine drills, including less conventional scenarios such as exercises during lunch periods. He pointed to a bomb threat at the high school that exposed gaps in preparedness, including confusion during a mass evacuation and no clear plan for securing the relocation site.

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He said those experiences underscore the need for ongoing practice, planning and communication to ensure staff and students know how to respond in emergencies. He expressed frustration that attention to school safety tends to surge only after high-profile incidents and then decline over time.

It's like security's a fad, Breihan said. Safety is a fad.

I want to make sure that we always have that way that we're looking forward to make our school safer, Breihan said.

Other board members emphasized students mental and emotional safety, arguing that the discussion should focus not only on the physical security measures Breihan raised but also on student well-being.

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We cant have one without the other, Paty said. If we dont have a place where students feel safe just in general, we cant focus on the detail of space.

The discussion comes after the district reported several years of improvement in students sense of belonging through the Panorama Education platform, adopted in 2022, which collects data from a student assessment sent out three times a year.

The reason I bring this up is because we did really poorly on the belonging, which assessment, board member Lynn Sanderson said.

She advocated for including mental and emotional well-being as a safety priority.

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Youre not safe if you dont feel like you belong, Sanderson said.

The discussion follows key physical upgrades to school buildings, including secure entry vestibules completed across the district, as well as a recent emergency preparedness drill at the central office.

What happens next

The district will focus on tightening internal systems by clarifying procedures, improving how protocols are communicated to staff and ensuring expectations are consistent across buildings.

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That likely would include more structured training, clearer guidance on emergency responses and an emphasis on ensuring staff members understand and can follow established procedures.

What I imagine is for the physical safety, kind of tightening up our systems, being very clear and the not only with our communicate our systems, but the process procedures, Duncan said.

However, none of these steps are finalized. The discussion reflects what board members want to see happen, but specific plans and timelines still must be developed and approved.

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Dr. Sid Denny will be recognized posthumously for his book, "Colonel Benjamin Stephenson and the History of Early Illinois," during the ISHS annual luncheon in Springfield. Courtesy of Stephenson House Dr. Sid Denny served in several pivotal roles at the Col. Benjamin Stephenson House, a living history museum in Edwardsville. David Blanchette/For Hearst Illinois

The Illinois State Historical Society is honoring an Edwardsville resident posthumously with the Best of Illinois History Award.

Dr. Sid Denny will be recognized posthumously for his book, "Colonel Benjamin Stephenson and the History of Early Illinois," during the ISHS annual luncheon on April 25 in Springfield.

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Denny, who died June 13, 2023, was a professor emeritus of anthropology at SIUE and served in key roles at the 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House. Denny was a researcher, historical interpreter and board member of the living history museum in Edwardsville.

Dennys book drew on extensive research into Madison County and one of its founding fathers, Benjamin Stephenson. Denny didnt just focus on dates; he explored the political and social landscape of the 1820s, giving readers a more human view of the past.
This is the area in Glen Carbon where the new location of The Retina Institute will be constructed. Don Munsch/The Intelligencer These renderings provided with the packet for the July 22 Glen Carbon Building and Development Committee meeting show the design of the planned Retina Institute building. Courtesy Village of Glen Carbon These renderings provided with the packet for the July 22 Glen Carbon Building and Development Committee meeting show the design of the planned Retina Institute building. Courtesy Village of Glen Carbon The Retina Institute, in the foreground, will move its operations to a new site just behind Edley's Bar-B-Que. Jason Koch/The Intelligencer

The Glen Carbon Planning Commission approved an amended site plan for the Retina Institute on April 21 after village staff discovered the building under construction did not match the plans approved last year.

Erika Heil said the village was alerted to concerns that the building appeared to be closer to neighboring property than originally approved.

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Heil said village staff later found that unapproved plans were being used during construction, which started in February, and that the building was 25% larger than originally approved.

An immediate stop work order was issued by the Community Development Department, Heil said.

Heil said the project has remained halted while the updated site and building plans were reviewed by the villages consulting engineer and a third-party building review firm. Those reviews have since been completed, she said, and confirmed that the revised site and building plans comply with village code.

Just how did it happen? Planning Commissioner Steve Mandeville asked during the meeting.

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Mike Garrett, of Plocher Construction, said the mistake came from the belief that the larger building still fit within the same general footprint because the curbs and site layout were not changed.

I guess it was our bad, Garrett said. We thought it was more of an as-built condition because the building just expanded within the same footprint.

Garrett said the company was told that approach was not acceptable and came back with revised plans.

"I have been educated. Its a little different, he said.

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The site plan must still be approved by village trustees and is expected to be on the April 28 meeting agenda.

The Retina Institutes planned move to a new facility in Glen Carbon has been under discussion for since July 2025, with village officials previously approving a smaller version of the project before construction began earlier this year.

Initial plans for the development called for a 6,318-square-foot medical office building on Lot 4 of the Sunset Park Plaza development along Illinois 157, near Edleys Bar-B-Que, Brightly Senior Living and Victory Mens Health. Village trustees granted final approval for the site plan in September 2025, following earlier review by the Building and Development Committee.

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A marginal risk of severe weather has been put into place for Thursday, April 23. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

After a week of calmer weather in the region, an active weather pattern is set to begin in the St. Louis metro region starting Thursday.

Starting Thursday and running through Monday of next week, an active pattern should bring thunderstorms to the St. Louis metro.

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A 5% severe wind risk is in place for Thursday, April 23. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

For Thursday, a marginal risk of severe weather is in place for the region by the Storm Prediction Center, with stronger severe weather chances north towards Quincy and west towards Columbia. The only highlighted severe risk for the region with this storm system is severe level winds.

Thunderstorms develop over the eastern Plains late Thursday afternoon and evening, moving eastward into Missouri and Illinois Thursday night, the St. Louis NWS said. Severe thunderstorms over Kansas and western Missouri weaken as they move east into central/eastern Missouri Thursday night. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat with a low threat of tornadoes.

A marginal risk of severe storms is in place for St. Louis for Friday, April 24. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

Another marginal risk of severe weather has been highlighted for Friday, April 24 as well. A 5% severe weather risk is in place for the day with the worst of the severe weather currently expected to remain south.

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A 15% risk of severe weather has been highlighted for Monday, April 27. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

The final main severe weather risk for the region appears to be Monday, April 27. Here, the Storm Prediction Center has highlighted 15% severe weather risk six days out.

The southern stream mid-level shortwave ejects into the Great Plains sometime Sunday night into Monday, bringing with it additional 70-90% chances for showers and thunderstorms to the area on Monday. Analysis of LREF temperature IQRs reveals that temperatures look to remain near or slightly above average for the entire extended, with the exception of next Wednesday, the St. Louis NWS said.

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Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said all changes regarding firearms legalization must be made exclusively at the legislative level, with the government and parliament expected to work on resolving the issue.

"I agree with society and experts that in principle this issue needs to be settled, although it is not simple as it is a great responsibility. But the relevant changes must be made exclusively at the legislative level, so I expect government officials, primarily the Interior Ministry, to work together with parliamentarians, with their colleagues on the relevant committee, and present this concept," Zelenskyy told journalists on Thursday.

He said he is ready to work together on the issue.
Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:ELPC  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $13.65 and last traded at $13.5550, with a volume of 208435 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $13.33.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ELPC shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel in a report on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $10.40 target price for the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Sunday, April 5th. Finally, Scotiabank raised Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $10.40.

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Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $11.79 and a 200-day moving average of $10.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.45, a PEG ratio of 4.29 and a beta of -0.11.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel (NYSE:ELPC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.52 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel Unsponsored ADR will post 0.18 EPS for the current year.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 13th. Investors of record on Friday, May 1st will be issued a $0.1904 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 1st. Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copels dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 105.45%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Pedro Franco Sales sold 153,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.19, for a total value of $490,303.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 74,844 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $238,752.36. This trade represents a 67.25% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel by 10.6% in the 1st quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,166 shares of the companys stock worth $133,000 after buying an additional 1,068 shares during the period. SmartHarvest Portfolios LLC bought a new position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel in the 1st quarter worth approximately $131,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise boosted its holdings in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel by 34.3% in the 1st quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 22,930 shares of the companys stock worth $274,000 after buying an additional 5,851 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC purchased a new stake in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,730,000. Finally, Compound Planning Inc. bought a new position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel in the 4th quarter valued at $114,000.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel Company Profile

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Companhia Paranaense de Energia  Copel is a Brazilian utility company primarily engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Established in 1954, Copel operates a diversified portfolio of power plants, with a strong emphasis on hydroelectric facilities supplemented by thermal and renewable energy sources. The companys integrated network spans the entirety of Parana state, delivering electricity services to residential, commercial and industrial customers through a combination of high-voltage transmission lines and local distribution networks.

In addition to its core power business, Copel has expanded into telecommunications through its Copel Telecom subsidiary.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 1.2% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $364.25 and last traded at $366.1990. 11,537,940 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 11% from the average session volume of 12,937,206 shares. The stock had previously closed at $370.50.

Key Headlines Impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week:

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Monday, January 5th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $325.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Freedom Capital raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $404.29.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Up 5.3%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 2.51 and a quick ratio of 2.32. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $355.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $323.28. The company has a market capitalization of $2.01 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.35.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The semiconductor company reported $3.11 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $30.65 billion for the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 46.97% and a return on equity of 38.17%. Sell-side analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 14.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 11th will be given a dividend of $0.9503 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 11th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is presently 24.71%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Bor-Zen Tien bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Sunday, March 22nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $55.93 per share, for a total transaction of $55,930.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 9,051 shares in the company, valued at $506,222.43. This trade represents a 12.42% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.11% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Childress Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 145.3% during the third quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,192 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $891,000 after purchasing an additional 1,891 shares during the last quarter. Shannon River Fund Management LLC acquired a new position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the third quarter worth approximately $2,430,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 9.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 101,876 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $28,470,000 after purchasing an additional 8,738 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 28.6% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 37,216 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $10,394,000 after purchasing an additional 8,284 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hollencrest Capital Management increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 125.3% during the third quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 5,216 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,457,000 after purchasing an additional 2,901 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products.

TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications.

Further Reading

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Shares of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the twenty-two ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seventeen have given a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $52.9311.

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on AAP shares. Morgan Stanley set a $60.00 target price on Advance Auto Parts in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Northcoast Research upgraded Advance Auto Parts from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $55.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Advance Auto Parts from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Roth Mkm reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $57.00 price objective on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a report on Thursday, February 19th.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts Price Performance

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. lifted its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 11.4% in the 3rd quarter. Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. now owns 226,990 shares of the companys stock worth $13,937,000 after purchasing an additional 23,172 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,694,027 shares of the companys stock worth $165,413,000 after purchasing an additional 306,702 shares in the last quarter. CSM Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 71.6% in the 3rd quarter. CSM Advisors LLC now owns 89,867 shares of the companys stock worth $5,517,000 after purchasing an additional 37,486 shares in the last quarter. Roberts Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Advance Auto Parts in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,996,000. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new position in Advance Auto Parts in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,840,000. 88.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

NYSE:AAP opened at $59.44 on Thursday. Advance Auto Parts has a 52 week low of $30.84 and a 52 week high of $70.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.59 billion, a PE ratio of 81.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.04. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $53.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.32.

Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.45. Advance Auto Parts had a return on equity of 6.23% and a net margin of 0.51%.The firm had revenue of $1.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.95 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($10.16) EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Advance Auto Parts has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.400-3.10 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Advance Auto Parts will post 2.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advance Auto Parts Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 10th. Advance Auto Partss payout ratio is presently 136.99%.

About Advance Auto Parts

(Get Free Report)

Advance Auto Parts, Inc (NYSE: AAP) is a leading distributor of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, and maintenance items. The company operates a network of stores and distribution centers across North America, serving both do-it-yourself (DIY) customers and professional service providers. Advance Auto Parts focuses on offering a comprehensive selection of replacement parts, batteries, engine components, and performance products for cars and light trucks.

The companys product portfolio includes engine oils and lubricants, cooling system components, brake and suspension parts, filters, belts, hoses, and diagnostic tools.

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Shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS  Get Free Report) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $2.06 and traded as low as $1.33. American Shared Hospital Services shares last traded at $1.41, with a volume of 176,215 shares traded.

American Shared Hospital Services Price Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average price is $1.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.05. The firm has a market cap of $8.91 million, a P/E ratio of -5.87 and a beta of 0.30.

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American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 31st. The company reported ($0.09) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.02 by ($0.11). American Shared Hospital Services had a negative return on equity of 5.43% and a negative net margin of 5.53%.The business had revenue of $7.73 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.78 million. As a group, analysts forecast that American Shared Hospital Services will post 0.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of American Shared Hospital Services

American Shared Hospital Services Company Profile

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in American Shared Hospital Services stock. DRW Securities LLC acquired a new stake in American Shared Hospital Services ( NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Free Report ) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 50,481 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $107,000. DRW Securities LLC owned 0.77% of American Shared Hospital Services at the end of the most recent reporting period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 23.16% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

American Shared Hospital Services operates as a specialized healthcare services company focused on delivering diagnostic imaging solutions to community and rural hospitals across the United States. Through strategic joint ventures and management agreements, the company collaborates with hospital partners to develop and operate outpatient imaging centers that provide advanced modalities while sharing the capital and operating costs. By partnering directly with hospitals, American Shared Hospital Services enables facility owners to offer in-house diagnostic capabilities without the burden of full operational oversight and significant equipment investment.

The companys service portfolio encompasses a wide range of imaging technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), mammography, ultrasound, bone densitometry (DEXA) and nuclear medicine.

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Andritz (OTCMKTS:ADRZY  Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 9,775 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 441% from the previous sessions volume of 1,806 shares.The stock last traded at $16.4594 and had previously closed at $15.89.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Andritz in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Zacks Research upgraded Andritz from a strong sell rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Andritz has a consensus rating of Strong Buy.

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Andritz Stock Up 0.2%

The stocks fifty day moving average price is $16.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $15.83. The stock has a market cap of $8.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.28 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23.

Andritz (OTCMKTS:ADRZY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by ($0.01). Andritz had a return on equity of 20.46% and a net margin of 5.81%.The company had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.79 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Andritz will post 1.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Andritz Company Profile

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Andritz AG is a global technology group based in Graz, Austria, with a history dating back to its founding in 1852. The company specializes in providing equipment, systems, and services for industrial processes across four key business areas: Hydropower, Pulp & Paper, Metals, and Separation. Through a combination of engineering expertise and in-house manufacturing, Andritz develops tailored solutions that meet the demands of energy efficiency, resource optimization, and environmental sustainability.

In its Hydropower division, Andritz designs and installs turbines, generators, and automation systems for run-of-river, reservoir and pumped storage plants.

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Iran stresses dialogue, criticizes Washington's "double standards" in negotiations

Xinhua) 08:18, April 23, 2026

TEHRAN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Iran has always welcomed resolving issues through dialogue and agreement and will continue to do so.

In a post on social media platform X, he said breaches of commitments, blockades and threats constitute the main obstacles to genuine negotiations, adding that "world sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions," in reference to the United States.

Also on Wednesday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said a comprehensive ceasefire would only be meaningful if it is not accompanied by maritime blockades or what he described as "holding the global economy hostage," and if Israel halts its military actions on all fronts.

He added that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would be impossible if there were serious violations of a ceasefire.

Earlier in the day, Axios, citing U.S. officials, reported that U.S. President Donald Trump is giving Tehran three to five days to unite behind a "coherent counter-offer," or the ceasefire extended on Tuesday ends.

"It is not going to be open-ended," the officials were quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Trump told the New York Post that it's "possible" fresh peace talks between the United States and Iran could take place as soon as Friday.

Delegations from Iran and the United States had been expected to hold the second round of their peace talks in Pakistan this week. The two countries held their first round of talks on April 11-12 in Islamabad, and the negotiation failed to reach a consensus.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Qabil Ashirov



The United States has intercepted nearly 30 vessels during the enforcement of its maritime blockade against Iran, according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, AzerNEWS reports.

The statement noted that U.S. forces stopped a total of 31 ships as part of blockade operations, redirecting them back to their ports of origin. The move underscores Washingtons continued efforts to restrict maritime activity linked to Iran amid escalating regional tensions.

The blockade comes against the backdrop of a prolonged standoff between the United States and Iran over Tehrans nuclear program, which has so far failed to yield concrete diplomatic outcomes. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian positions. In response, Iran initiated retaliatory attacks, firing missiles and deploying unmanned aerial vehicles against Israeli targets as well as U.S. assets in the region.

Following weeks of heightened confrontation, a temporary de-escalation was brokered on April 7 through mediation by Pakistan, resulting in a two-week ceasefire agreement between the parties.

On April 21, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire, stating it would remain in place until Iran presents a formal proposal and negotiations reach a definitive conclusion. Despite the extension, Washington has opted to maintain the maritime blockade, signaling sustained pressure on Tehran as diplomatic efforts continue.
Photo: Unsplash

The European Union has formally approved a decision to provide Kyiv with a EUR 90 billion loan and adopted the 20th sanctions package against Russia over its war against Ukraine.

The decision was announced on Thursday by the spokesman for Cyprus, which holds the EU presidency. "The written procedures on the amendment to the multiannual financial framework regulation underpinning the EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package against Russia have been successfully completed. Both documents were adopted unanimously," he told journalists.

The spokesman said the Cypriot presidency "has been working tirelessly to ensure the EU continues to firmly support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Cyprus Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, commenting on the decision, said: "Today the Council approved the last element needed for the disbursement of the EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine. The Cypriot presidency has been working tirelessly to ensure all elements needed for the loan are in place. Disbursement of the loan will begin as soon as possible, providing vital support for Ukraines most pressing budgetary needs. The EU remains unwavering in its support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Both measures had previously been blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who used anti-Ukrainian slogans in his election campaign. Following his election defeat, Orban changed his position and lifted his veto on Ukraine-related measures.

The day before, EU member state ambassadors approved both the amendment to the EUs multiannual financial framework regulation needed to enable disbursement of the EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package, after which a written procedure was launched in the Council. The first loan disbursement is expected in the second quarter of this year.
BE Semiconductor Industries (OTCMKTS:BESIY  Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The technology company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.76, Zacks reports. BE Semiconductor Industries had a return on equity of 32.38% and a net margin of 22.27%.

BE Semiconductor Industries Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of BE Semiconductor Industries stock traded up $0.90 on Thursday, reaching $283.50. 2,221 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,676. BE Semiconductor Industries has a 1-year low of $106.35 and a 1-year high of $300.77. The company has a market cap of $20.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 151.60 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 5.55 and a quick ratio of 4.88. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $224.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $189.53.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Kepler Capital Markets downgraded BE Semiconductor Industries from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Needham & Company LLC upgraded shares of BE Semiconductor Industries to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of BE Semiconductor Industries in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Berenberg Bank raised BE Semiconductor Industries to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of BE Semiconductor Industries in a research report on Sunday, January 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, BE Semiconductor Industries presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

BE Semiconductor Industries Company Profile

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BE Semiconductor Industries NV (OTCMKTS:BESIY), commonly known as BESI, is a global supplier of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry. The company designs, develops and manufactures capital equipment used in the back-end production of semiconductor devices, including die attach, wire bonding and flip chip packaging systems. BESIs platforms support a wide range of applications from memory and logic chips to advanced power devices and radio-frequency modules, enabling high precision, throughput and yield in device assembly and test processes.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Duiven, the Netherlands, BESI went public on Euronext Amsterdam in 1999.

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Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II, Spring Valley Acquisition, and Predictive Oncology are the three Small Cap stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Small-cap stocks are shares of publicly traded companies with relatively small market capitalizationscommonly defined as roughly $300 million to $2 billion, though exact cutoffs vary by index and provider. Market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the current share price by the number of outstanding shares. For investors, small caps often offer higher growth potential but also greater volatility, lower liquidity, and higher business risk compared with mid- and large-cap stocks. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Small Cap stocks within the last several days.

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Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II (IPXX)

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Spring Valley Acquisition (SV)

Predictive Oncology (POAI)

Predictive Oncology Inc. operates as a science-driven company on the oncology drug discovery. It provides various solutions for the oncology drug development. The company, through the integration of scientific rigor and machine learning, has developed the ability to advance molecules into medicine by introducing human diversity earlier into the discovery process with the pairing of artificial intelligence and the biobank of approximately 150K tumor samples.

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BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc. (NYSEARCA:BTK  Get Free Report) shares rose 0.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $9.77 and last traded at $9.7650. Approximately 1,831 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 51% from the average daily volume of 3,738 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.76.

BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund Price Performance

The company has a fifty day moving average price of $9.76 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.77.

BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund Company Profile

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BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It primarily invests in a portfolio of United States government and government agency securities, including the U.S. government mortgage-backed securities. The fund invests in non U.S. government debt securities of foreign or domestic issuers, including commercial paper, notes, corporate bonds, debentures, asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate loans, sovereign debt securities, and money market securities.

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Keyera Corp. (TSE:KEY  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$53.55.

KEY has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Raymond James Financial boosted their price target on Keyera from C$63.00 to C$66.00 in a research note on Monday, March 30th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Keyera from C$51.00 to C$58.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. National Bank Financial cut their price objective on Keyera from C$48.00 to C$46.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Keyera from C$48.00 to C$53.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Finally, TD Securities lifted their price objective on Keyera from C$52.00 to C$56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th.

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Keyera Price Performance

Shares of TSE:KEY opened at C$49.72 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is C$52.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$46.89. The firm has a market capitalization of C$11.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 227.74, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 0.57. Keyera has a 12 month low of C$40.09 and a 12 month high of C$55.35.

Keyera (TSE:KEY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported C$0.39 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$1.70 billion for the quarter. Keyera had a return on equity of 15.39% and a net margin of 6.34%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Keyera will post 2.2166667 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Keyera Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.54 per share. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 16th. Keyeras payout ratio is currently 112.17%.

Keyera Company Profile

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Keyera is a midstream energy business that operates primarily out of Alberta, Canada. Its primary lines of business consist of the gathering and processing of natural gas in western Canada, the storage, transportation, and liquids blending for NGLS and crude oil, and the marketing of NGLs, iso-octane, and crude oil. The firm currently has interests in about a dozen active gas plants and operates over 4,000 km of pipelines.

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BRP (TSE:DOO  Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Citigroup from C$119.00 to C$102.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock.

DOO has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered shares of BRP from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from C$118.00 to C$90.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of BRP from C$115.00 to C$120.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 27th. Ci Capital decreased their price objective on shares of BRP from C$128.00 to C$119.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 27th. National Bank Financial lowered shares of BRP from an outperform rating to a hold rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from C$125.00 to C$80.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, Raymond James Financial decreased their price objective on shares of BRP from C$117.00 to C$115.00 in a report on Friday, March 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$105.20.

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BRP Stock Down 5.0%

DOO opened at C$77.31 on Monday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is C$95.63 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$97.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 443.59, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 1.27. BRP has a twelve month low of C$44.98 and a twelve month high of C$112.26. The firm has a market cap of C$5.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.57, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.94.

BRP (TSE:DOO  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 26th. The company reported C$2.21 earnings per share for the quarter. BRP had a net margin of 3.45% and a return on equity of 54.95%. The business had revenue of C$2.46 billion for the quarter. Equities research analysts anticipate that BRP will post 6.890971 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BRP Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 24th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. BRPs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.77%.

BRP Company Profile

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BRP designs, develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and personal watercraft under the Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, and Lynx brand names. It also builds engines under the Rotax brand (after discontinuing the Evinrude outboard engine business in 2020) and offers clothing, parts, and accessories that cater to its core consumers. In 2018, BRP created a marine group, acquiring boat manufacturers Alumacraft, Triton (which makes Manitou pontoon boats), and Telwater (in Australia).

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Command Security Co. (NYSEAMERICAN:MOC  Get Free Report) was up 1.1% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $2.85 and last traded at $2.85. Approximately 51,100 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 474% from the average daily volume of 8,909 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.82.

Command Security Stock Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is $2.85 and its 200 day moving average is $2.85.

About Command Security

(Get Free Report)

Command Security Corporation provides uniformed security officers and aviation security services in the United States. It operates through Security and Aviation Safeguards divisions. The Security division offers armed and unarmed uniformed security personnel for access control, loss prevention, mobile patrols, traffic control, security console/system operators, and fire safety directors, as well as personnel for reception, concierge, and front desk/doorman operations. This division serves governmental, quasi-governmental, and financial institutions; colleges and universities; healthcare facilities; residential communities; and commercial real estate, industrial, distribution, logistics, and retail customers.

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CPC Advisors LLC decreased its position in Heico Corporation (NYSE:HEI  Free Report) by 58.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,979 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 4,202 shares during the quarter. CPC Advisors LLCs holdings in Heico were worth $964,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in shares of Heico by 45.7% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 769,704 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $248,476,000 after acquiring an additional 241,559 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Heico by 263.2% in the third quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 60,469 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $19,521,000 after acquiring an additional 43,821 shares during the last quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH increased its position in shares of Heico by 136.0% in the third quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH now owns 59,000 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $18,752,000 after acquiring an additional 34,000 shares during the last quarter. Concentric Capital Strategies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Heico in the third quarter valued at about $8,466,000. Finally, Numerai GP LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Heico in the third quarter valued at about $8,006,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.12% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Julie Neitzel sold 676 shares of Heico stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.00, for a total transaction of $150,748.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 4.86% of the companys stock.

Heico Trading Down 2.8%

Heico stock opened at $268.41 on Thursday. Heico Corporation has a 52 week low of $241.47 and a 52 week high of $361.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a current ratio of 3.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.05, a PEG ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $300.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $315.46.

Heico (NYSE:HEI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The aerospace company reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.09. Heico had a return on equity of 16.57% and a net margin of 15.38%.The business had revenue of $1.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.17 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.20 earnings per share. Heicos quarterly revenue was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Heico Corporation will post 5.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Heico in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Susquehanna assumed coverage on Heico in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $385.00 target price on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded Heico from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, March 8th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Heico in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. They issued an equal weight rating and a $290.00 target price on the stock. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane raised Heico from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $358.71.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Heico

About Heico

(Free Report)

HEICO Corporation is an aerospace, defense and electronics company that designs, manufactures, and sells a range of products and provides repair and aftermarket services. Headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, HEICO supplies replacement components, repair services and engineered systems for commercial and business aviation, military and space markets as well as for selected industrial and medical customers. The companys offerings are focused on sustaining and improving the reliability and availability of complex equipment across its end markets.

HEICO operates through two principal business areas.

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CTS Corporation (NYSE:CTS  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $46.72 and traded as high as $55.87. CTS shares last traded at $54.8730, with a volume of 168,498 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently commented on CTS. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of CTS in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen upgraded CTS from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, CTS presently has an average rating of Hold.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on CTS

CTS Trading Down 1.3%

The company has a current ratio of 2.30, a quick ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $51.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $46.88. The company has a market capitalization of $1.56 billion, a PE ratio of 24.84, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.93.

CTS (NYSE:CTS  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The electronics maker reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $137.27 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $135.86 million. CTS had a return on equity of 12.14% and a net margin of 12.07%.CTS has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.300-2.450 EPS. Analysts predict that CTS Corporation will post 2.41 EPS for the current year.

CTS Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be issued a $0.04 dividend. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th. CTSs dividend payout ratio is presently 7.31%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CTS

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury lifted its stake in shares of CTS by 21.6% in the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury now owns 26,233 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $1,125,000 after purchasing an additional 4,658 shares during the last quarter. Seizert Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of CTS in the 4th quarter valued at $2,202,000. Horizon Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of CTS by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 14,084 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $604,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the last quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL lifted its stake in shares of CTS by 103.4% in the 3rd quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL now owns 85,266 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $3,406,000 after purchasing an additional 43,341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of CTS in the 3rd quarter valued at $341,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.87% of the companys stock.

CTS Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CTS Corporation (NYSE:CTS) is a global manufacturer and supplier of electronic components and sensors, headquartered in Lisle, Illinois. Established in 1896 as the Chicago Telephone Supply Company, the firm has evolved over more than a century to become a diversified provider of high-precision products for a wide range of end markets.

The companys core business encompasses the design, development and production of sensors and actuators, frequency control devices such as quartz crystals and filters, multilayer ceramic capacitors, and inductive components.

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Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group (OTCMKTS:EUBG  Get Free Report)s share price was up 2.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $0.4570 and last traded at $0.4570. Approximately 2,140 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 853% from the average daily volume of 225 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.4452.

Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group Price Performance

The companys 50-day moving average is $0.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.23.

Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group Company Profile

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Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group, through its subsidiaries, provides digital marketing consultation services in the Hong Kong and People's Republic of China. It offers consulting, sourcing, and marketing services. The company was formerly known as REE International, Inc and changed its name to Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group in April 2020. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is based in Xi'an, China.

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Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:JUST  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $101.35 and last traded at $100.98, with a volume of 778 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $100.95.

Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $545.78 million, a PE ratio of 24.96 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $95.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.22.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JUST. Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 19,443 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,546,000 after buying an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 732,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,224,000 after buying an additional 24,907 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $219,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 11,212 shares of the companys stock valued at $986,000 after buying an additional 397 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new position in Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $379,000.

Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF Company Profile

The Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (JUST) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the JUST US Large Cap Diversified index. The fund tracks a tier-weighted index of US-listed large-cap stocks selected based on a survey-based assessment of business behavior. JUST was launched on Jun 7, 2018 and is managed by Goldman Sachs.

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Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on a visit to Cyprus for an EU summit, said the previously approved EUR 90 billion EU reparations loan for Ukraine has been finally unblocked and that he expects the first tranche to arrive next month or in June.

"Today is an important day for our defense and for our relations with the European Union. The European support package for Ukraine has been unblocked  that is 90 billion euros over two years," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

This "will add strength to our army, provide Ukraine with greater resilience and allow us to fulfill social obligations to Ukrainians as defined by law," he said.

"We are working to have the first tranche from this support package available in May-June. Funds from the European package will be directed, in particular, to weapons production, procurement of necessary weapons from partners that we do not yet produce in Ukraine, as well as preparations for the coming winter of our energy sector and critical infrastructure," the president said.

He also said he will discuss with partners at meetings in Cyprus new sanctions steps against Russia following the adoption of the 20th package, and will work with partners on security partnership agreements in the drone deal format, which have proven their effectiveness in the Middle East and Gulf region. "We believe that only joint efforts provide truly significant strength, and Europe deserves to have exactly such strength," Zelenskyy said.

As previously reported, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) of EU member states reached agreement for Council approval of European Commission proposals on the 20th sanctions package against Russia and the EUR 90 billion loan for Ukraine after Hungary dropped its veto. EU member state ambassadors then approved both the amendment to the EUs multiannual financial framework regulation needed to enable disbursement of the loan and the 20th sanctions package. Both had previously been blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who lost the recent Hungarian elections.
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE:HVT  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $23.36 and traded as high as $23.67. Haverty Furniture Companies shares last traded at $23.4290, with a volume of 65,713 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on HVT shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Haverty Furniture Companies from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Haverty Furniture Companies in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Haverty Furniture Companies from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Reduce.

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Haverty Furniture Companies Stock Performance

The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $22.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $23.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $369.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.33.

Haverty Furniture Companies (NYSE:HVT  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $201.92 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $197.47 million. Haverty Furniture Companies had a net margin of 2.60% and a return on equity of 6.45%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. will post 1.88 EPS for the current year.

Haverty Furniture Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 10th. Haverty Furniture Companiess payout ratio is presently 112.82%.

Institutional Trading of Haverty Furniture Companies

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. EP Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $338,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies by 130.6% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 48,173 shares of the companys stock worth $1,125,000 after acquiring an additional 27,280 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,186,000. Engineers Gate Manager LP lifted its stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies by 31.6% in the 4th quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 17,736 shares of the companys stock worth $414,000 after acquiring an additional 4,258 shares during the period. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $215,000. 80.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Haverty Furniture Companies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc operates as a specialty retailer of residential furniture and home decor in the United States. Founded in 1885 by J.J. Haverty and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company offers a broad assortment of upholstered furniture, case goods, mattresses, area rugs and decorative accessories. Customers can shop through a network of company-owned showrooms as well as an e-commerce platform, supported by in-house design services, delivery options and consumer financing programs.

Over more than a century of operation, Havertys has expanded its presence primarily across the Southeast and select markets beyond.

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Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lowered its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 5.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 173,850 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 9,812 shares during the quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.06% of Illinois Tool Works worth $43,073,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. AE Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 128.4% during the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,128 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,380,000 after purchasing an additional 5,131 shares during the period. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 70.1% during the 3rd quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 18,226 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,753,000 after purchasing an additional 7,508 shares during the period. Madison Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 411.8% during the 3rd quarter. Madison Asset Management LLC now owns 87,875 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $22,914,000 after purchasing an additional 70,704 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 103,161 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $26,964,000 after purchasing an additional 9,738 shares during the period. Finally, Brendel Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1,328.6% during the 3rd quarter. Brendel Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,929 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,632,000 after purchasing an additional 12,954 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.77% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

ITW has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $285.00 price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $327.00 to $303.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $253.00 price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $271.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and five have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $270.00.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

Shares of ITW stock opened at $267.11 on Thursday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12-month low of $228.76 and a 12-month high of $303.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $76.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.87 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $274.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $261.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 0.89.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $2.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.69 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.07 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 95.16% and a net margin of 19.11%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.54 EPS. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.000-11.400 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 11.26 EPS for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $1.61 per share. This represents a $6.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 31st. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.39%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Ernest Scott Santi sold 167,345 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.93, for a total transaction of $48,685,680.85. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 258,766 shares of the companys stock, valued at $75,282,792.38. This trade represents a 39.27% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Axel Beck sold 4,223 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.22, for a total value of $1,225,599.06. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,680,083.58. This represents a 42.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW) is a diversified industrial manufacturer that designs and produces a broad array of engineered products, consumables and related service solutions for industrial customers. Its offerings span engineered fastening systems, specialty components, industrial equipment, welding products, foodservice and packaging equipment, adhesives and polymer products, and test-and-measurement technologies. These products are used as critical inputs by customers across automotive, construction, electronics, foodservice, maintenance and other industrial end markets.

The company operates a decentralized business model in which independently managed businesses focus on niche product lines and close customer relationships.

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Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust (NYSEARCA:FXC  Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $70.68 and traded as high as $71.65. Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust shares last traded at $71.58, with a volume of 19,561 shares trading hands.

Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust Price Performance

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $71.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $70.70.

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Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 1st were given a $0.007 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.1%. This is an increase from Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.01. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 1st.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust Company Profile

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FXC. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust by 8,401.4% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 59,935 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $4,075,000 after purchasing an additional 59,230 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust by 45.0% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 725 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust by 54.7% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,690 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $480,000 after purchasing an additional 2,366 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust in the third quarter valued at $204,000. Finally, MAI Capital Management raised its stake in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust by 88,750.0% during the 3rd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 3,554 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $250,000 after purchasing an additional 3,550 shares in the last quarter.

(Get Free Report)

Guggenheim CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust, formerly CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of Canadian dollars and distributes Canadian dollars in connection with the redemption of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price of Canadian Dollars. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the Trustee. The Trusts sponsor is Rydex Specialized Products LLC, which is doing business as Rydex Investments.

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iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF (NYSEARCA:ITDH  Get Free Report)s stock price were down 0.3% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $40.22 and last traded at $40.27. Approximately 2,183 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 6,278 shares. The stock had previously closed at $40.38.

iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $31.33 million, a P/E ratio of 20.21 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $38.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.10.

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Institutional Trading of iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF stock. Cyr Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF (NYSEARCA:ITDH  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 5,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $209,000. Cyr Financial Inc. owned 1.01% of iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF at the end of the most recent quarter.

About iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF

The iShares LifePath Target Date 2060 ETF USD (ITDH) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in target date asset allocation. The fund is an actively managed fund-of-funds that invests in equity, fixed income, and money market ETFs using an asset allocation strategy that shifts exposure as the target retirement date approaches. The fund is intended for investors who anticipate retiring around 2060 ITDH was launched on Oct 17, 2023 and is issued by BlackRock.

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LIXIL Co. (OTCMKTS:JSGRY  Get Free Report) shot up 1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $20.46 and last traded at $20.46. 706 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 57% from the average session volume of 1,647 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.25.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of LIXIL from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, LIXIL currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on JSGRY

LIXIL Trading Up 1.0%

LIXIL Company Profile

The firms 50 day moving average price is $21.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $22.69.

(Get Free Report)

LIXIL (OTCMKTS: JSGRY) is a Japan-based manufacturer and supplier of building materials and housing equipment. The companys core product range includes kitchen and bathroom fixtures, plumbing fittings, faucets, toilets and bathtubs, as well as doors, windows and exterior building products. Through its integrated design and manufacturing capabilities, LIXIL delivers both standard and customized solutions for residential, commercial and public sector projects.

The company operates a portfolio of well-known brands, including INAX, American Standard, GROHE and Permasteelisa, reflecting its global footprint in water technology and building systems.

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Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Morgan Stanley from $40.00 to $42.00 in a report published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the oilfield services companys stock.

Several other equities analysts have also recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Halliburton from $40.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Halliburton from $35.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Halliburton from $39.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 25th. Argus lifted their target price on shares of Halliburton from $31.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Halliburton from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, March 28th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Halliburton currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $40.36.

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View Our Latest Analysis on HAL

Halliburton Price Performance

Halliburton stock opened at $39.13 on Wednesday. Halliburton has a 52 week low of $19.22 and a 52 week high of $41.18. The companys 50 day moving average price is $36.50 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The stock has a market cap of $32.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.50, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.68.

Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The oilfield services company reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.06. Halliburton had a net margin of 6.95% and a return on equity of 19.04%. The firm had revenue of $5.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.60 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Halliburton will post 2.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Halliburton Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 4th were paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 4th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Halliburtons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.03%.

Insider Activity at Halliburton

In other news, EVP Van H. Beckwith sold 19,618 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.82, for a total transaction of $663,480.76. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 344,535 shares in the company, valued at $11,652,173.70. This trade represents a 5.39% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Margaret Katherine Banks sold 2,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.17, for a total transaction of $88,842.00. Following the sale, the director owned 14,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $479,849.31. The trade was a 15.62% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 415,508 shares of company stock worth $15,291,882 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. purchased a new position in Halliburton in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Nvest Wealth Strategies Inc. purchased a new position in Halliburton in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Kelleher Financial Advisors purchased a new position in Halliburton in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new position in Halliburton in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its stake in Halliburton by 196.4% in the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 981 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 650 shares in the last quarter. 85.23% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Halliburton News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Halliburton this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat on profits and revenues  HAL reported $0.55 EPS (above consensus) and $5.40B revenue; net income rose to $461M, operating margin expanded and the company generated positive free cash flow while repurchasing stock and paying a dividend. This is the primary driver lifting the stock. BusinessWire: Q1 Results

Q1 beat on profits and revenues  HAL reported $0.55 EPS (above consensus) and $5.40B revenue; net income rose to $461M, operating margin expanded and the company generated positive free cash flow while repurchasing stock and paying a dividend. This is the primary driver lifting the stock. Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and higher price targets  multiple firms moved to buy/overweight or raised targets (HSBC, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, RBC, TD Cowen, Griffin, Stifel), signaling higher near-term earnings confidence and supporting the rally. Investing.com: Upgrades

Analyst upgrades and higher price targets  multiple firms moved to buy/overweight or raised targets (HSBC, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, RBC, TD Cowen, Griffin, Stifel), signaling higher near-term earnings confidence and supporting the rally. Neutral Sentiment: Management outlook  CEO said U.S. oil activity looks to be in the early innings of a rebound and a North American drilling ramp-up may be coming; encouraging long-term demand signal but timing remains uncertain for investors. MSN: CEO Comments

Management outlook  CEO said U.S. oil activity looks to be in the early innings of a rebound and a North American drilling ramp-up may be coming; encouraging long-term demand signal but timing remains uncertain for investors. Neutral Sentiment: Commercial moves in Venezuela  Halliburton said its discussing commercial terms after recent facility visits; potential upside if business resumes but geopolitics and execution risk make near-term impact uncertain. Reuters: Venezuela Talks

Commercial moves in Venezuela  Halliburton said its discussing commercial terms after recent facility visits; potential upside if business resumes but geopolitics and execution risk make near-term impact uncertain. Negative Sentiment: Iran conflict cost headwind  management flagged higher costs tied to the Iran war and estimated a Q2 EPS impact of roughly $0.07$0.09 while keeping 2026 capex at ~$1.1B; this creates near-term earnings uncertainty. Seeking Alpha: Conflict Impact

Iran conflict cost headwind  management flagged higher costs tied to the Iran war and estimated a Q2 EPS impact of roughly $0.07$0.09 while keeping 2026 capex at ~$1.1B; this creates near-term earnings uncertainty. Negative Sentiment: Valuation/positioning caution  a few analysts warned the stocks strong rally increases uncertainty and one boutique firm kept a sell stance; that produced some cautious notes amid otherwise constructive analyst action. Seeking Alpha: Downgrade/Warning

Halliburton Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Halliburton is one of the worlds largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, offering a broad portfolio that supports the lifecycle of oil and gas reservoirs from exploration and drilling through production and abandonment. Founded in 1919 by Erle P. Halliburton as an oil-well cementing company, the firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has developed into an integrated oilfield services company serving upstream operators globally.

The companys activities encompass drilling and evaluation, well construction and completion, production enhancement and well intervention.

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MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Tuesday. The technology company reported $4.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.38 by $0.17, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $850.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $830.91 million. MSCI had a net margin of 40.74% and a negative return on equity of 65.48%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $4.00 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from MSCIs conference call:

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MSCI reported a strong Q1 with organic revenue growth of >13%, adjusted EPS up ~14%, adjusted EBITDA up ~19%, a record asset-based fee run rate of $872M (up 25%) , and repurchased >$464M of shares at ~ $556/share.

, and repurchased >$464M of shares at ~ $556/share. Management said accelerated product launches and broad adoption of AI are driving momentumhundreds of clients have used MSCI IndexAI Insights since February, and three recent bolton acquisitions (Vantager, Compass, PM Insights) extend AI, customization and assetclass coverage.

since February, and three recent bolton acquisitions (Vantager, Compass, PM Insights) extend AI, customization and assetclass coverage. The index ecosystem is a major tailwindMSCI indexes benchmark >$21T AUM, Q1 saw $103B of equity ETF inflows linked to MSCI (record quarter) and doubledigit index subscription runrate growth with strong customindex demand.

of equity ETF inflows linked to MSCI (record quarter) and doubledigit index subscription runrate growth with strong customindex demand. Management flagged nearterm softness in sustainability & climate and some realassets solutions (higher cancels and muted growth), expects Analytics revenue growth around ~5% in Q2, and noted slightly higher D&A from acquisitionspotential shortterm pressure on growth/margins.

MSCI Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MSCI traded down $3.94 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $593.45. 30,854 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 619,626. The stock has a market capitalization of $43.60 billion, a PE ratio of 33.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.30. MSCI has a one year low of $501.08 and a one year high of $626.28. The companys 50 day moving average is $551.05 and its 200 day moving average is $561.97.

MSCI Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $2.05 per share. This represents a $8.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. MSCIs dividend payout ratio is currently 46.83%.

In other news, CFO Andrew C. Wiechmann sold 450 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $560.00, for a total transaction of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 22,544 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,624,640. This represents a 1.96% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Henry A. Fernandez bought 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $524.18 per share, with a total value of $3,145,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,493,047 shares in the company, valued at approximately $782,625,376.46. The trade was a 0.40% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. 3.76% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of MSCI

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MSCI in the second quarter valued at $36,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSCI during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MSCI by 116.7% during the 3rd quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 91 shares of the technology companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in MSCI during the 3rd quarter valued at about $59,000. Finally, DV Equities LLC bought a new position in MSCI during the 4th quarter valued at about $61,000. 89.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on MSCI shares. Evercore increased their price objective on shares of MSCI from $655.00 to $690.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of MSCI from $719.00 to $727.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $715.00 price objective on shares of MSCI in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a strong-buy rating and set a $730.00 price objective on shares of MSCI in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of MSCI in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. They set a buy rating and a $700.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, MSCI has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $692.70.

Get Our Latest Research Report on MSCI

Trending Headlines about MSCI

Here are the key news stories impacting MSCI this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 results topped estimates  MSCI reported $4.55 adjusted EPS and $850.8M revenue (revenue +14% y/y), with margin expansion and strong recurring/indexlinked sales driving the upside. Article Title

Q1 results topped estimates  MSCI reported $4.55 adjusted EPS and $850.8M revenue (revenue +14% y/y), with margin expansion and strong recurring/indexlinked sales driving the upside. Positive Sentiment: Capital returns and dividend  Management disclosed continued share repurchases and declared a $2.05 quarterly dividend, supporting shareholder returns and reinforcing cash-flow confidence. Article Title

Capital returns and dividend  Management disclosed continued share repurchases and declared a $2.05 quarterly dividend, supporting shareholder returns and reinforcing cash-flow confidence. Positive Sentiment: Analyst pricetarget upgrades  Multiple firms raised targets (UBS to $720, Morgan Stanley to $727, Wells Fargo to $650; RBC reaffirmed outperform at $655), signaling dealer conviction that earnings and cash returns support further upside. Article Title

Analyst pricetarget upgrades  Multiple firms raised targets (UBS to $720, Morgan Stanley to $727, Wells Fargo to $650; RBC reaffirmed outperform at $655), signaling dealer conviction that earnings and cash returns support further upside. Positive Sentiment: Shareholders approved board slate, compensation plan and auditor at the annual meeting  a routine governance outcome that removes nearterm proxy uncertainty. Article Title

Shareholders approved board slate, compensation plan and auditor at the annual meeting  a routine governance outcome that removes nearterm proxy uncertainty. Neutral Sentiment: External review left MSCIs risk profile unchanged from the 2025 10K  the firm says disclosures remain appropriate; this reduces surprise risk but doesnt materially change fundamentals. Article Title

External review left MSCIs risk profile unchanged from the 2025 10K  the firm says disclosures remain appropriate; this reduces surprise risk but doesnt materially change fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/localmarket headwinds in Indonesia  MSCI extended a suspension/decision timeline for Indonesia/ RI equities to a June review, creating uncertainty for indexlinked flows and potential shortterm pressure on assetbased fees tied to that market. Article Title Article Title

MSCI Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

MSCI Inc is a global provider of investment decision support tools and services for the financial industry. The company is best known for its family of market indexes, which are widely used as benchmarks by asset managers and as the basis for exchange-traded funds and other passive products. In addition to index construction and licensing, MSCI offers portfolio analytics, risk models, factor and performance attribution tools, and a suite of data and technology solutions designed to support portfolio management and trading.

Beyond traditional indexing and risk analytics, MSCI has expanded into environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and ratings, offering data, scores and screening tools that help investors integrate sustainability considerations into investment processes.

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M&T Bank Corp increased its position in FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN  Free Report) by 10,081.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 321,731 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 318,571 shares during the quarter. M&T Bank Corp owned 1.04% of FTI Consulting worth $54,961,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in FCN. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in shares of FTI Consulting by 7.4% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 41,795 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $6,860,000 after purchasing an additional 2,889 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its stake in shares of FTI Consulting by 4.9% in the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 2,221 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $364,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of FTI Consulting in the first quarter valued at $33,000. Millennium Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of FTI Consulting in the first quarter valued at $15,802,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of FTI Consulting by 9.1% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 131,716 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $21,612,000 after purchasing an additional 10,980 shares during the period. 99.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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FTI Consulting Trading Down 1.1%

NYSE FCN opened at $184.99 on Thursday. FTI Consulting, Inc. has a 12 month low of $149.31 and a 12 month high of $187.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The company has a market capitalization of $5.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.42 and a beta of -0.01. The companys fifty day moving average price is $170.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $169.50.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

FTI Consulting ( NYSE:FCN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The business services provider reported $1.78 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.39. FTI Consulting had a net margin of 7.15% and a return on equity of 15.42%. The firm had revenue of $990.75 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $918.49 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.56 EPS. The firms revenue was up 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. FTI Consulting has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.900-9.600 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that FTI Consulting, Inc. will post 9.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of FTI Consulting in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $165.00.

Get Our Latest Analysis on FTI Consulting

About FTI Consulting

(Free Report)

FTI Consulting, Inc is a global business advisory firm providing multidisciplinary solutions designed to address complex challenges and strategic opportunities. The companys primary service offerings encompass corporate finance & restructuring, economic consulting, forensic & litigation consulting, strategic communications, and technology. These capabilities enable clients to manage financial distress, navigate regulatory environments, resolve disputes, build trust with stakeholders, and leverage data-driven insights.

In its corporate finance & restructuring practice, FTI delivers restructuring, interim management, and transaction advisory services to companies facing operational or financial pressures.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN  Free Report).

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Paul Mueller Co. (OTCMKTS:MUEL  Get Free Report) shares traded down 1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $495.01 and last traded at $510.00. 43 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 68% from the average session volume of 136 shares. The stock had previously closed at $515.00.

Paul Mueller Trading Up 3.5%

The firm has a market capitalization of $450.24 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.62 and a beta of 0.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $443.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $447.17.

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Paul Mueller (OTCMKTS:MUEL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 27th. The company reported $14.73 EPS for the quarter. Paul Mueller had a net margin of 12.08% and a return on equity of 36.52%. The business had revenue of $94.14 million during the quarter.

About Paul Mueller

Paul Mueller Company designs and manufactures stainless steel, aluminum and other corrosion-resistant metal equipment for industrial and hygienic applications. Its core offerings include storage tanks, pressure vessels, pasteurizers, fermenters, mixers, fillers and custom process systems. The company also provides engineering design, installation, field services and aftermarket support, ensuring its equipment meets stringent safety, hygiene and regulatory standards.

Founded in 1940 and headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Paul Mueller Company has grown from a regional fabricator into a publicly traded supplier with manufacturing facilities in multiple U.S.

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Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX  Free Report) had its price target lifted by Robert W. Baird from $224.00 to $229.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. Robert W. Baird currently has a neutral rating on the medical research companys stock.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on DGX. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $190.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Evercore set a $225.00 price objective on Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $220.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $210.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $214.54.

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Quest Diagnostics Trading Down 0.6%

NYSE:DGX opened at $203.77 on Wednesday. Quest Diagnostics has a 12-month low of $164.65 and a 12-month high of $213.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $200.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $189.13.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 21st. The medical research company reported $2.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.37 by $0.13. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 15.60% and a net margin of 9.07%.The business had revenue of $2.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.83 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.94 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Quest Diagnostics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.630-10.830 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Quest Diagnostics will post 10.67 EPS for the current year.

Quest Diagnostics announced that its board has approved a share buyback program on Tuesday, February 10th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the medical research company to reacquire up to 4.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 6th were paid a $0.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 6th. This represents a $3.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. This is a boost from Quest Diagnosticss previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. Quest Diagnosticss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.31%.

Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics

In other news, SVP Karthik Kuppusamy sold 2,628 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.86, for a total value of $538,372.08. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 13,441 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,753,523.26. The trade was a 16.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Patrick Plewman sold 2,855 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $206.21, for a total value of $588,729.55. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 15,198 shares in the company, valued at $3,133,979.58. This represents a 15.81% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 24,083 shares of company stock worth $4,945,262 over the last 90 days. 8.16% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Quest Diagnostics

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Caldwell Trust Co raised its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 18.5% in the 1st quarter. Caldwell Trust Co now owns 12,889 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,526,000 after buying an additional 2,010 shares in the last quarter. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. raised its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. now owns 156,832 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $30,736,000 after buying an additional 2,978 shares in the last quarter. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. raised its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. now owns 94,640 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $18,736,000 after buying an additional 5,658 shares in the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN raised its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 23,951 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $4,694,000 after buying an additional 1,783 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System bought a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the 1st quarter worth $1,097,000. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the companys stock.

Key Stories Impacting Quest Diagnostics

Here are the key news stories impacting Quest Diagnostics this week:

Quest Diagnostics Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) is a leading provider of diagnostic information services that supports clinical decision-making for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. The company operates a network of clinical laboratories and patient service centers that perform a broad range of laboratory tests and diagnostic assays used in routine care, disease diagnosis, monitoring and screening.

Its services span core clinical laboratory testing, anatomic pathology, molecular and genomic diagnostics, infectious disease testing and toxicology.

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Photo: https://x.com/antoniocostapm

European Council President Antonio Costa commented on the EU Councils final approval of the EUR 90 billion loan for Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package against Russia.

"Promised, delivered, implemented," he said on X.

Costa said the EUs strategy for achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine rests on two pillars: strengthening Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia. "Today we moved forward on both: unblocking the EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine, securing financial and military support for 2026-2027; adopting the 20th sanctions package against Russia, reducing its capacity to wage war," the European Council president said.

He assured that "Europe stands firm, united and unwavering in its support to Ukraine."
Royal Bank Of Canada (NYSE:RY  Get Free Report) and China CITIC Bank (OTCMKTS:CHCJY  Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, dividends and risk.

Dividends

Royal Bank Of Canada pays an annual dividend of $4.71 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. China CITIC Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.81 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.8%. Royal Bank Of Canada pays out 45.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. China CITIC Bank pays out 24.8% 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. Royal Bank Of Canada has increased its dividend for 15 consecutive years. China CITIC Bank is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

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Risk & Volatility

Royal Bank Of Canada has a beta of 0.78, meaning that its share price is 22% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, China CITIC Bank has a beta of 0.41, meaning that its share price is 59% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Royal Bank Of Canada $67.74 billion 3.62 $14.54 billion $10.45 16.78 China CITIC Bank $47.42 billion 1.09 $9.54 billion $3.27 6.49

This table compares Royal Bank Of Canada and China CITIC Banks revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Royal Bank Of Canada has higher revenue and earnings than China CITIC Bank. China CITIC Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Royal Bank Of Canada, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Royal Bank Of Canada and China CITIC Banks net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Royal Bank Of Canada 15.28% 17.12% 0.94% China CITIC Bank 20.20% 8.48% 0.72%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

45.3% of Royal Bank Of Canada shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Royal Bank Of Canada and China CITIC Bank, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Royal Bank Of Canada 0 3 11 0 2.79 China CITIC Bank 0 0 0 0 0.00

Royal Bank Of Canada currently has a consensus price target of $162.00, indicating a potential downside of 7.62%. Given Royal Bank Of Canadas stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Royal Bank Of Canada is more favorable than China CITIC Bank.

Summary

Royal Bank Of Canada beats China CITIC Bank on 13 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Royal Bank Of Canada

(Get Free Report)

Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of wealth, investment, trust, banking, credit, and other advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients; asset management products to institutional and individual clients; and asset and investor services to financial institutions, asset managers, and asset owners. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, property and casualty, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital platforms; and independent brokers and partners. The company's Capital Markets segment offers advisory and origination, sales and trading, lending and financing, and transaction banking services to corporations, institutional clients, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

About China CITIC Bank

(Get Free Report)

China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited provides various banking products and services in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company operates in segments, such as Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Financial Market business. It accepts deposits; offers corporate and personal loans; and provides securities agency, remittance and settlement, and guarantee services, as well as investment banking and international services. The company also engages in the capital markets operations and inter-bank operations, including inter-bank money market transactions, repurchase transactions, investments, and trading in debt instruments; and derivatives and forex trading. In addition, it offers asset management, finance leasing, wealth management, ageing finance, private banking, credit card, payroll, and other non-banking financial services. The company serves corporations, government agencies, and non-financial institutions; and individual customers and micro and small enterprises. The company operates tier-one branches, tier-two branches, and sub-branches; self-service banks; and self-service terminals, as well as smart teller machines. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited operates as a subsidiary of CITIC Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.

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Ruffer LLP purchased a new position in M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE:MHO  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 21,832 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $2,798,000. Ruffer LLP owned approximately 0.08% of M/I Homes as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MHO. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new stake in M/I Homes in the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its stake in M/I Homes by 73.1% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 206 shares of the construction companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in M/I Homes by 90.6% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 284 shares of the construction companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA purchased a new stake in M/I Homes in the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, WealthCollab LLC lifted its stake in M/I Homes by 16.5% in the 2nd quarter. WealthCollab LLC now owns 614 shares of the construction companys stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.14% of the companys stock.

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M/I Homes Stock Performance

M/I Homes stock opened at $133.61 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 8.12 and a quick ratio of 1.86. M/I Homes, Inc. has a 1-year low of $102.44 and a 1-year high of $158.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.08 and a beta of 1.77. The companys 50-day moving average is $130.89 and its 200 day moving average is $132.15.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

M/I Homes ( NYSE:MHO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The construction company reported $2.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.64 by ($0.09). M/I Homes had a return on equity of 14.50% and a net margin of 9.12%.The firm had revenue of $920.71 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.18 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.98 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that M/I Homes, Inc. will post 13.63 EPS for the current year.

Several analysts have recently issued reports on MHO shares. Oppenheimer set a $165.00 target price on shares of M/I Homes in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Seaport Research Partners restated a neutral rating on shares of M/I Homes in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Citigroup restated a market outperform rating on shares of M/I Homes in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of M/I Homes from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of M/I Homes in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, M/I Homes presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $161.67.

Read Our Latest Research Report on M/I Homes

Trending Headlines about M/I Homes

Here are the key news stories impacting M/I Homes this week:

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Robert H. Schottenstein sold 14,974 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.80, for a total value of $2,198,183.20. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 348,513 shares of the companys stock, valued at $51,161,708.40. This represents a 4.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Phillip G. Creek sold 8,616 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.80, for a total transaction of $1,264,828.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 45,815 shares in the company, valued at $6,725,642. This represents a 15.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 49,213 shares of company stock valued at $7,115,268 in the last ninety days. 3.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

M/I Homes Company Profile

(Free Report)

M/I Homes, Inc is a publicly traded residential homebuilder founded in 1976 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company designs, markets and constructs single-family homes and townhome communities across the United States, offering a range of floor plans with customizable design options. Its product portfolio includes starter homes, move-up homes and luxury models, as well as multi-family residences in urban and suburban infill locations.

In addition to its core homebuilding operations, M/I Homes provides mortgage, title and closing services through its in-house affiliate M/I Financial Services.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MHO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE:MHO  Free Report).

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Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. (NYSE:UGP  Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $4.53 and traded as high as $6.02. Ultrapar Participacoes shares last traded at $5.9450, with a volume of 1,890,312 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on UGP. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Ultrapar Participacoes from an underperform rating to a hold rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $3.10 to $5.60 in a research note on Friday, March 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Ultrapar Participacoes from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $5.40 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Ultrapar Participacoes from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Ultrapar Participacoes from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, March 7th. Finally, HSBC lowered shares of Ultrapar Participacoes from a buy rating to a hold rating and raised their price objective for the company from $4.90 to $6.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $5.67.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on UGP

Ultrapar Participacoes Trading Down 1.4%

The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $6.48 billion, a PE ratio of 14.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.76. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $5.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $4.55.

Ultrapar Participacoes (NYSE:UGP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, February 14th. The oil and gas company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $6.19 billion during the quarter. Ultrapar Participacoes had a return on equity of 14.11% and a net margin of 1.72%. Analysts forecast that Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. will post 0.46 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Inspire Investing LLC lifted its position in Ultrapar Participacoes by 14.2% in the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 21,133 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 2,632 shares during the last quarter. Plan A Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Ultrapar Participacoes by 32.4% during the third quarter. Plan A Wealth LLC now owns 14,056 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 3,438 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Ultrapar Participacoes by 5.5% during the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 75,215 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $308,000 after purchasing an additional 3,952 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ultrapar Participacoes by 32.3% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 19,210 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 4,688 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Signaturefd LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ultrapar Participacoes by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 33,774 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 5,082 shares during the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Ultrapar Participacoes

(Get Free Report)

Ultrapar Participacoes SA is a Brazilian diversified holding company operating in the downstream energy and chemical sectors. Its Ipiranga unit runs one of Brazils largest networks of fuel stations, supplying gasoline, ethanol, diesel and convenience-store products to retail and wholesale customers. Through Ultragaz, the company is a leading distributor of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), offering cylinder and bulk gas solutions for residential, commercial and industrial use across urban and rural regions.

In the specialty chemicals arena, Ultrapar controls Oxiteno, which produces surfactants and specialty chemical formulations for industries such as personal care, oil and gas, agrochemicals and coatings.

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Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-three analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $267.4762.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $267.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a buy (b-) rating to a buy (b) rating in a report on Tuesday. Benchmark restated a buy rating and issued a $275.00 price target (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated a market perform rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, February 19th.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on UNP

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Company insiders own 0.22% of the companys stock.

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after acquiring an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,779,907,000. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after acquiring an additional 4,244,226 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $408,592,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the companys stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $249.93 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.88, a PEG ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific has a 1-year low of $206.63 and a 1-year high of $268.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $251.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $237.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The companys quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.91 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 12.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio is 46.12%.

About Union Pacific

(Get Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western twothirds of the United States.

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With the general election approaching, debate continues around the impact of third-party and independent candidates. Do you think these votes could influence the overall outcome? Share your view in our latest poll.

You voted:
Photo: Valerie Proschenko

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur arrived in Kyiv and spoke at the 18th Kyiv Security Forum.

During his address Pevkur said it is "more important than ever to focus international attention on Ukraines fight for its territory," an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

The two-day Kyiv Security Forum opened in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday. This years theme is "Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?"

The forum brings together international leaders, senior security and defense officials, NATO representatives, diplomats, innovators and public figures to discuss current security challenges. Key topics include international solidarity with Ukraine, transatlantic unity, global security, defense and modern warfare technologies, anti-corruption efforts, countering Russia disinformation, resilience of cities and energy infrastructure, and nuclear security.

The Kyiv Security Forum is Ukraines leading international platform for discussing issues of war, peace and global security, founded in 2007 at the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuks Open Ukraine Foundation.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on individuals and an organization involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children, appropriation of cultural heritage, and propaganda.

The Council of the EU announced the measures on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, Russian individuals involved in reprehensible acts continue to operate with impunity, and are often supported by the government itself. Since the start of the war, Russia is estimated to have deported and forcibly transferred nearly 20 000 Ukrainian children, while pursuing policies to forcibly assimilate and indoctrinate Ukrainian children in order to diminish their Ukrainian identity. Russian government-linked individuals are involved in the seizure of Ukrainian cultural property, and state media broadcasts anti-Ukrainian narratives," the Council said.

Against this background and in order to ensure accountability, the EU has listed five individuals and one organization that facilitated the abduction, forced transfer and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, as well as four individuals involved in the appropriation of Ukraines cultural heritage. In addition, the 20th package includes four propagandists, including those with state platforms.

Among other measures, the EU introduced "stronger legal safeguards to protect EU companies from violations of their intellectual property rights or from unfair expropriation in Russia due to abusive court rulings in relation to sanctions." A ban was also introduced on providing cybersecurity services to Russia.

In addition, it was decided to expand the existing broadcasting ban to include websites mirroring banned organizations, thereby circumventing EU measures.

"In line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the measures agreed today will not prevent the targeted media outlets and their staff from carrying out activities in the EU other than broadcasting, e.g. research and interviews," the Council said.

The EU also tightened diamond traceability requirements, obliging importers of polished diamonds to provide due diligence declarations confirming that the diamonds were not mined, processed or produced in Russia.
Estonian defense minister calls for securing Ukraine's victory: Another Budapest Memo is not solution

Photo: Valerie Proschenko

It is the shared responsibility of partners to ensure that Ukraine continues to do what it needs not only for self-defense, but also for victory, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said at the 18th annual Kyiv Security Forum titled "Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?"

Pevkur said it was important, more than ever, to keep international attention focused on Ukraines fight for its territory and stressed that partners had a shared responsibility to ensure Ukraine could continue doing what it needed not only for self-defense, but also for victory.

He recalled that Estonia had committed to providing Ukraine with military assistance of no less than 0.25% of its GDP per year.

According to Pevkur, Estonia had in fact done more and remained one of Ukraines strongest supporters in the world.

He said Estonia would again in practice exceed the 0.25% level this year.

Pevkur said Estonias latest EUR 12 million package under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) had helped ensure that critically important equipment continued to flow from the United States to Ukraine as well.

At the same time, he expressed regret that today only a few were doing a lot to help Ukraine.

He added that Estonia would continue encouraging everyone to do at least as much as it does.

According to Pevkur, Estonia believes the strongest security guarantee for Ukraine is a militarily strong and independent Ukrainian state.

He said Ukraine fully belongs in the European Union and NATO and stressed that another Budapest Memorandum would not be a solution. He added that Estonians also understood Putins intentions.

The Kyiv Security Forum is an annual international event launched in 2007 on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuks Open Ukraine Foundation. This year it is being held on April 23 and 24.
A pair of closed handcuffs. James C Hooper/Getty Images

EDWARDSVILLE  A 44-year-old man, no address given, was charged April 20 with criminal damage to property, a Class 4 felony.

The East Alton Police Department presented the case.

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According to court documents, on Feb. 27, the suspect allegedly damaged the property of J&J Gaming, a gaming machine located at 13 S. Stanley, East Alton, causing in excess of $500 damage.

The suspect was ordered released from custody.

Livingston man charged in deceptive practices case

A Livingston man was charged this week with improper actions related to accounts of several others.

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The 35-year-old suspect was charged April 20 with deceptive practices, a Class 4 felony.

The Madison County Sheriffs Department presented the case.

According to court documents, on Oct. 15, the suspect allegedly possessed, transferred or negotiated checks on four victims in an attempt to obtain access to funds.

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The suspect was ordered released from custody.

East Alton man charged with unlawful use of credit card

A 38-year-old East Alton man was charged April 20 with unlawful use of a credit or debit card, a Class 4 felony.

The Madison County Sheriffs Department presented the case.

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According to court documents, on March 27, the suspect allegedly used a MidAmerica Credit Union credit or debit card belonging to another person without their consent, to obtain less than $300 on five separate transactions using a cash app.

The suspect was ordered released from custody.

Alton man charged with criminal damage, domestic battery

A 23-year-old Alton man was charged April 20 with criminal damage to property, a Class 4 felony; and domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.

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The East Alton Police Department presented the case.

According to court documents, on March 8, the suspect allegedly damaged the windshield of a Chrysler Town and Country in the 100 block of S. Pence Street, East Alton, causing in excess of $500 damage; and threw a household or family member to the ground.

He was ordered released from custody.

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Gary Krueger, Jersey County Board Chairman Jersey County/Courtesy of Jersey County

Jersey County Board Chairman Gary Krueger was remembered Wednesday by his fellow county officials as a caring public servant and friend.

Krueger died at his home in Dow early Tuesday at the age of 75.

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(Tuesday morning), I found out that he passed away, said Mark Wagner, vice chairman of the Jersey County Board.

Wagner, who assumes Krueger's duties as chairman, said he called several county officials and municipal mayors to deliver the news.

I worked very closely with him the last three-and-a-half years, Wagner said. He was running for County Board in the next election, and I have no doubt that he would have been the chairman again. Gary was very well-liked, very respected.

Krueger previously served several terms as a board member before being elected chairman by his fellow members, Wagner said.

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Jersey County Clerk Pam Warford said she was informed about Kruegers death on Tuesday.

(Tuesday) was definitely a weird day, and it is still pretty subdued around here, Warford said on Wednesday. Everyones kind of shocked. He will certainly be missed.

Jersey County Board Chairman Gary Krueger, left, and County Clerk Pam Warford at the Jersey County Board meeting in Jerseyville on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Steve Whitworth/The Telegraph

Kruegers wife, Rhonda Mary Krueger, died in October at the couples home in Dow. She was 73. They had been married for 54 years.

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The couple is survived by their three children: Benjamin Krueger of Broadheadsville, Pennsylvania; Christopher Curt Krueger of Godfrey; and Carisa Cook of Greenfield, as well as seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Gary was always a down-to-earth person that you could talk to about anything, Wagner said. And it didnt matter if it was personal, it didnt matter if it was business, it didnt matter if you had a difference of opinion with him. He always respected your opinion. Gary was just always dependable.

I just cant say enough about his character.

Arrangements for Krueger are being handled by Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey.

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Gary Krueger recounts farming, IDOT work before office

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Krueger talked about his life before serving on the Jersey County Board.

Im retired. I farmed small-time all my life, and I worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation for almost 18 years as a highway maintenance worker, he said.

I grew up on a dairy farm, and I fed a few hogs and a few cattle when I was farming, but nothing really big, Krueger said. Plus, Ive done dirt work, run bulldozers, and stuff for small construction companies. I built hundreds of water control basins with a four-wheel-drive tractor and a scraper pan.

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Jersey County Republicans praise Krueger's integrity

The Jersey County Republicans posted a message about Kruegers death on their Facebook page on Wednesday.

Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Gary Krueger on his sudden passing, the post states. Gary was a respected leader who served Jersey County with integrity, dedication, and with a genuine heart for his community. As County Board Chairman, he worked faithfully to help move our county forward and leaves behind a legacy of honorable public service. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time. He will be deeply missed.

Chris Slusser remembers Gary Krueger as a quiet, hard-working conservative

Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser said he had worked with Krueger several times, mainly on Republican Party politics and the regional Workforce Development Board.

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I first met Gary back in like 2015, 2016, when he was the Jersey County Republican Party chairman, and I was the Madison County Republican Party chairman, Slusser said. Then we stayed in touch over the years, and then eventually he became a county board chairman, and I became a county board chairman.

We would meet a few times a year for the regional Workforce Development meetings. When we had interactions, it was good. He was a nice man.

When youre a county board chairman, sometimes it could be a lonely job, because youre kind of running the show, and youve got a big board you have to work with, and youve got a lot of communication you have to do, Slusser said. So anytime youre around another county board chairman, you usually commiserate a little bit.

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The time capsule at the Sierra College-Nevada County Campus was sealed August 17, 1996, the day the first classes were convened at the new campus. The time capsule will be opened in a ceremony on Saturday, April 25.
The 20th package of European Union sanctions imposed on Russia over its war against Ukraine includes 58 companies and individuals involved in the development and production of military goods, including drones.

The Council of the EU announced the measures on Thursday.

"The 20th package further constrains the Russian military-industrial complex by designating 58 companies and associated individuals involved in, inter alia, the development and manufacturing of military goods, such as drones," the statement reads.

In addition to depriving Russian military enterprises of valuable EU technologies, the package also targets Russias dependence on third countries for supplies of critical high-tech products.

"Specifically, the EU has now designated 16 entities based in China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus which have provided dual-use goods or weapons systems to the Russian military-industrial complex," the statement reads.

A further 60 entities will also be subject to tighter export restrictions on goods that contribute to the technological enhancement of Russias defense sector.

"Some of these entities are also located in third countries other than Russia, such as in China (including Hong Kong), Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates," the council said.
Labour protests in Haryana led to revision of minimum wages by 35 per cent, which led to violent unrest in Noida, which then led to Uttar Pradesh government itself reworking minimum wages across districts. Good move for labour welfare, right?

Wrong, if you go by a new study released on Thursday afternoon, which pointed fingers at Indian states and their lopsided labour welfare moves that lead to a large chunk of them becoming legally unemployable.

Delhi-based think-tank Foundation for Economic Development (FED) found that more than 6 out of every 10 Indian labourer earned salaries below the minimum wage, and worse, for as much as half of all of India's workers, even given them a 30 per cent raise on the salary they are making right now would still be illegal, or in other words, would be less than the legally stipulated minimum wage.

The anomaly is on two counts  Indias state governments have set minimum wages at a range that is way higher and unfeasible considering Indias position on the GDP growth chart, making India instantly unattractive for international investment.

Even worse perhaps, since businesses cannot employ them legally since the minimum wage stipulated by the state government is higher than what they are ready to pay, what happens in practical situation is that companies hire workers informally, or through outsourcing contracts, meaning they are never considered part of the labour force, and hence left to the mercy of fate without any legal protection provided as per the governments labour provisions. The share of Indian workers with no contract, no PF, no legal protection is higher than Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh or Mexico, the report pointed out.

When the law mandates a wage above what a worker's labour can produce, employers cannot simply pay more. They adjust  and the adjustment travels in one direction, the report warned.

When adjusted for per capita income, Indias minimum labour wages are also way higher compared to key exporting competitor countries such as China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. Minimum wage in India is also on average about 1.7 times the median wage for a casual worker. In countries like the US, Japan, Korea, or the UK, this multiple is 0.26-0.60, implying that the Indian figure is 3 to 7 times higher.

There are larger repercussions here, stretching all the way from employability and a place becoming attractive for foreign investment. For example, being 1.5 times higher than our rivals in garnering global investment in manufacturing (read: jobs) means it prices our exporters out of the labour-intensive sectors and jobs the country most needs, the report notes.

What may on paper seem like welfare and fairness actually amounts to incompetence and a larger disadvantage to the labour force themselves.

"The evidence is clear: well-intentioned wage floors prevent workers from getting opportunities that would improve their lives, said Rahul Ahluwalia, founding director of FED which prepared the study, adding, If nearly half of our workforce cannot be legally hired even after giving them a 30 per cent raise, then the minimum wage has backfired".

The report has some contentious suggestions, including relaxing the minimum limits and allowing workers to freely negotiate their wages (the report does not per se mention unionised negotiations, though). Since this is a politically sensitive subject, in the meantime governments should use wage subsidies instead of further minimum wage hikes. This will support higher pay without reducing the demand for workers and without making low-skilled hiring unviable. Further, government should allow flexibility in the national floor wage to reflect different regional realities and to prevent pricing poorer states out of formal job creation, a statement issued by FED mentioned.
Ahead of the three-day visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Germany, there was much chatter about how an inter-governmental agreement for supplying six stealth submarines to the Indian Navy would be finalised during the visit.

German defence major ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) had been holding price negotiations with the defence ministry for a deal to supply the stealth submarines to the Navy. If India and Germany agree to sign the submarine deal under Project-75(I), this is expected to be one of the largest defence deals between the two sides.

ALSO READ: India, Germany deepen defence ties; focus on joint development of niche tech

The deal is also being billed as one of the biggest 'Make in India' projects in recent years.

The submarines are expected to be based on advanced derivatives of the Type 214 submarine, with customisation to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy. A major feature of the deal is the integration of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems, which allow submarines to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing, enhancing stealth and survivability in contested waters.

TKMS is expected to provide design expertise and critical technologies, and most of the construction will take place in India with MDL playing the lead role, marking a major push toward defence indigenisation.

The press statement from the ministry of defence after the meeting between Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius was silent on such a deal, even as the Indian defence minister highlighted the need to co-develop and co-produce defence equipment, especially in the field of niche technologies.

However, Singh visited the TKMS Submarine building facility in Kiel, and according to the defence ministry, the visit provided an "opportunity to exchange views on advanced maritime capabilities and explore avenues for collaboration in naval technologies in line with Indias defence modernisation priorities."

Visited TKMS submarine building facility in Kiel, accompanied by the German Defence Minister-Mr. Boris Pistorius.



An insightful visit showcasing cutting-edge technologies and advanced naval capabilities, which will be mutually beneficial for cooperation in maritime domain. pic.twitter.com/cg2mp04hvI  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 22, 2026

Singhs visit to the submarine-building facility of TKMS in is a strong signal of serious intent from the Indian side for the deal. Such high-level visits to defence manufacturing facilities are usually undertaken when discussions are at an advanced stage, and both sides are exploring the final contours of cooperation.

A Reuters report, meanwhile, said Germany expects to sign the planned submarine deal between the two countries soon.

"I am very, very confident that I will be able to sign it soon," the news agency quoted Defence Minister Pistorius as saying, adding that he expects that the deal to be signed in the next three months.
Japan's sale of 11 upgraded Mogami-class frigates to Australia marks a major milestone in Japan becoming an arms exporting nation.

An English language promo video created by the Japanese government compared the frigates' tech to stealthy samurai.pic.twitter.com/GFZUPHFuaM  Jeffrey J. Hall  (@mrjeffu) April 18, 2026

Japan is open to the transfer of complete design and construction rights of the Mogami-class stealth frigate to India, a report stated. If true, some of the worlds most advanced frontline stealth warships will be built in Indian shipyards, paving the way for a new defence and strategic tie-up between two Asian maritime powers.

Japan is reportedly ready to release the complete design of the Mogami-class stealth frigates, which are known for their modern anti-submarine, anti-surface, and maritime patrol capabilities. The offer is that New Delhi can include them in the "Make in India" list while using the same "selected critical materials and certain sensitive technologies" that the Japanese Navy uses, a report said. The deal has the potential to influence the dynamics in the Western Pacific as well as the Indian Ocean.

What are Mogami-class warships?

Each Japanese Mogami-class multi-mission frigate is reportedly 132.5 metres long and can travel at 30 knots (56 km/h) best. Originally built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding, the vessel uses a combination of Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines and two MAN diesel engines. All frigates within the Mogami class are reportedly named after famous Japanese rivers.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

Commissioned in 2022, the Mogami-class boasts a high degree of overall automation and a low radar signature and damage control. However, most defence experts highlight the fact that its upgraded versions require just 90 personnel as the star attraction, as modern warfare capability with minimal manpower is the dream of every navy.

ALSO READ | Will the QUAD rewrite Indo-Pacific maritime security?

"The Mogami class is currently equipped with a 127-millimetre Mk 45 naval gun, eight Type 17 anti-ship missiles, a SeaRAM defence system, and a 16-cell vertical launcher. Its anti-submarine design also includes variable depth sonar, towed sonar, and helicopter supportcapabilities that are increasingly important as China's submarine fleet increases in the Indian Ocean," a Malaysian report said.

The missile array provides layered defence and attack capabilities. As per a 2023 TWZ report: "They also boast Lockheed Martins 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launching system for launching MHIs Type 03 Chu-SAM surface-to-air missiles. The vessels can fire eight ship-launched variants of MHIs Type 12 anti-ship missile. Raytheons SeaRAM system provides a close-in last line of defence against incoming missiles and even small boats. Sea minesexactly which variants are unclearalong with mine-laying equipment can be deployed for mine warfare work."

Japan trusts Australia, India to counter Chinese dominance?

Australia and Japan recently signed a $7 billion deal for upgraded Mogami-class warships. This purchase is said to have triggered interest from New Zealand and Indonesia in sealing similar deals, but nothing solid has materialised so far, reports indicate.

Only initial talks regarding the transfer have been conducted, and neither government has officially confirmed the development, Defence Security Asia said in a report. While the talks took place on 19 and 20 April, there was no information on the schedule or the specifics of the tech transfer involved, the report added.

Japan is not known for transferring advanced combat platforms or naval technology to even its closest allies. Thus, letting New Delhi not only build its stealth frigates but also integrate its technology is a clear signal that the East Asian country is looking to open a new frontier of cooperation with India.

ALSO READ | How Manmohan Singh deterred an aggressive China by raising an attack corps

Apart from design data, production support, and tech transfer, Japan is also open to discussing the possibilities of joint frigate development in the future, Defence Security Asia noted. At a time when India is playing catch-up with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's numerical superiority, access to Japanese tech will be a major boost, the report added.
After a high-octane campaign that lasted weeks, Tamil Nadu is heading to the polling booths today. A total of 4,023 candidates are contesting across 234 constituencies as the state is set to witness a four-cornered contest, with the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) looking to put an end to the bipolar political landscape of the state. However, the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led AIADMK, leading the NDA alliance, remains the main rival to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's DMK, which is looking to beat an anti-incumbency wave.

Tamil Nadu has a total of 5,73,43,291 voters, including 2,80,30,658 men, 2,93,04,905 women, and 7,728 third-gender voters. Among the candidates, 3,579 are men, 443 are women, and one is transgender, local media reports said. Following the completion of the electoral roll revision, around 40 lakh names were removed. As a result, the voter turnout is reportedly expected to exceed 85%.

Voting will take place across 75,064 polling stations using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). These machines reached their respective polling stations on Wednesday. The voting is scheduled to begin at 7 am and will end at 6 pm.

ALSO READ | Cash, drugs, gold: EC uncovers over 1,000 cr in voter allurements ahead of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal polls

CCTV cameras have been installed inside and outside every polling station. The Election Commission has set up three levels of control rooms to monitor polling in real timeunder the Chief Electoral Officer, the District Election Officer, and the Returning Officer. The main control room under the Chief Electoral Officer has been set up on the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai at the Secretariat in Chennai.

All parties led intense campaigning to secure victory. Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin began his campaign in Tiruvarur and followed it up with rallies, public meetings, and roadshows across districts, gathering support for the DMK and its alliance candidates. He concluded his campaign on Tuesday in Kolathur, the constituency from which he is contesting. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who began his campaign in Mylapore, wrapped it up in Salem.

ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu elections: New opinion poll predicts photo finish in DMK-AIADMK clash because...

TVK boss Vijay filed his nomination in Perambur, started his campaign there, and concluded it yesterday in Nandanam, Chennai. Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman concluded his campaign in Karaikudi. Despite the rising summer heat, the campaign activities of the leaders and candidates were intense.

Amongst the leaders of smaller parties, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss held his final campaign event in Dharmapuri, AMMK's T.T.V. Dhinakaran in Karaikudi, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha in Vridhachalam, and VCK leader Thirumavalavan in Thirukovilur, while TMC leader G.K. Vasan wrapped up his in Kumbakonam.

The counting is scheduled to take place on May 4.
Both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (first phase) recorded their highest ever voter turnout since Independence in the assembly elections on April 23. Tamil Nadu recorded 84.29 per cent voter turnout while Bengal witnessed 92.35 per cent voters exercising their franchise.

In Tamil Nadu, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) reduced the size of the electorate from 6.41 crore to 5.73. Karur district, which witnessed a tragic stampede last year during actor Vijay's rally, recorded the highest turnout at 91.86 per cent.

Previously, the highest-ever voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was in 2011 when 78.29 per cent poll participation was recorded. According to the election panel, previously, the highest ever turnout in West Bengal was also in 2011, recording 84.72 per cent polling.

What Modi, Mamata and others said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi the high voting figures in West Bengal are indicative of an "overwhelming mandate for change".

"The record-breaking turnout makes me certain that this is going to be an overwhelming mandate in favour of a change which West Bengal's voters have already decided to bring about," the PM said.

He added that the counting day, May 4, would mark the expiry of the TMC's 15-year "maha jungle raj".

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the high voter turnout was because people fear that "if they don't vote, they may lose their voting rights and citizenship". She also asserted that polling held so far in the first phase indicates the TMC is already in a position to win

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari predicted that BJP will win 125 of the 152 seats in Bengal, citing high voter turnout.

However, the Tamil Nadu BJP attributed the surge in turnout to SIR. "The full credit to SIR (Special Intensive Revision of electoral roll). Hats off to the Election Commission of India. We have seen in Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and now Pondicherry and now in Tamil Nadu. So, full credit to them," BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy told PTI.

On the other hand, the DMK said the high voter turnout was "accurate reflection" of the electorate after the dead and shifted voters were removed from the rolls.

"Going by established historical trends, the party expects the total number of votes polled in this cycle to reach approximately 5 crore," said DMK spokesperson Saravana Annadurai.

On April 9, Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll participation by recording a voter turnout of 85.38 per cent and 89.83 per cent respectively. Kerala also saw a high voter turnout at 78.27 per cent.
After US President Donald Trump shared an anti-India rant on social media, calling India and China as "hell-holes", the Ministry of External Affairs said it had "seen some reports".

"We have seen some reports. That's where I will leave it," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal's response comes hours after Trump shared a letter posted by conservative commentator Michael Savage's podcast Savage Nation. Slamming the automatic citizenship for children born in the US, he wrote in the letter: "A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring in their entire family from China, or India, or some other hell-hole on the planet."

Hours later, Iran slammed Trump while calling India and China "cradles of civilisation". "China and India are the cradles of civilisation. In fact, the hellhole is where its war-criminal president threatened to decimate civilisation in Iran," the Iranian Embassy in Hyderabad wrote on X.

Earlier, former US ambassador to Japan and potential Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential run, slammed the Trump administration for its treatment of India for "literally spitting on their face."

"America has literally spit in India's face under the Trump administration. Bringing India closer to the US has been a 30-year project for every US president. I would not do what Trump has done," Rahm Emanuel said, while speaking at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Meanwhile, US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, said he discussed strong future of India-US ties during a dinner with Trump. Productive meeting with Secretary Howard Lutnick on the US-India commercial roadmap. We discussed a new MoU connecting Indias AI scale with the American AI ecosystem, strong Indian participation at the upcoming Select USA Summit, and growing Indian pharma investment in the United States to boost competition and strengthen supply chains, he posted on social media.
An estimated 5.73 crore voters will decide the fate of over 4,023 candidates in the fray in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. As of 3 pm, 62.41 per cent of the voters came out to exercise their franchise to elect the 17th Tamil Nadu assembly. This is much higher than the voting percentage recorded in the 2021 assembly elections by 3pm. The percentage stood at 55.35 in 2021. The increase in voter turnout is due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in deleting the duplicate and the dead voters.

With over 3.5 lakh polling personnel at work on the ground across 234 constituencies in the state, the 2026 election represents the culmination of a 74-year democratic journey that began in 1952 in Tamil Nadu. However, the story of the 2026 election is not just about the high-stakes battle between Chief Minister M.K. Stalins DMK-led SPA, the AIADMK-led NDA under Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and the surging TVK led by Vijay.

The real story lies in a mathematical curiosity, or what can be called the 80 per cent paradox. As the state witnessed over 50 per cent polling in the first half of the day, the new fledgling political outfit and its supporters have been calling it an election which was to vote out the ruling party. Apparently, the increase in polling percentage is usually connected to the anger among the voters against the ruling party. But pollsters and observers have a completely different view.

Yes. The standard metric of successvoter turnout percentagehas become a deceptive mirror in this first election in Tamil Nadu after the SIR. The radical restructuring of the voter rolls had actually led to a higher percentage this time, which signals a smaller volume of human participation.

The total voters have come down by 13 per cent in Tamil Nadu after the SIR. The most counter-intuitive aspect of this election is that a record-breaking percentage is required to match the the raw volume of civic participation seen in 2021the state must hit an unprecedented turnout of 80.6 per cent.

The math of the SIR had changed, and the electorate has been streamlined from 6.41 crore in October 2025 to the current 5.73 crore by the Election Commission. This is a significant drop from the 6.29 crore voters registered in 2021, which recorded 73.63 per cent. The turnout paradox hinges here. Because the total pool has shrunk by roughly 56 lakh voters, the percentages are skewed. For instance, if the Election Commission announces a 75 per cent turnout, it would superficially beat the 73.63 per cent recorded in 2021. In reality, however, that 75 per cent would represent 33 lakh fewer individual voters than five years ago.

The 1967 election, which heralded the Dravidian era, saw the 75 per cent threshold. Yet, the gold standard remains 2011, which saw a historic 78.29 per cent turnout. Reaching the 80.6 per cent, which is equivalent to the 2011 percentage, would require a shift in political engagement not seen in decades.

While we argue the percentage and the numbers, the changing demography of the voters also plays an important role in deciding the outcome of the elections. A total of 2.93 crore women voters are in the rolls. The women outnumber men by a clear 10 lakh. This gap has widened progressively from 3 lakh in 2016 to 6 lakh in 2021. This silent majority is no longer an outlier, and they are the core focus of every political partys manifesto in this election.

Furthermore, a truly modern electorate has emerged through the growth of the third gender category. Registered third-gender voters have risen to 7,728a significant jump from the 1,394 recorded when the category was first introduced in 2011. This 2026 tally represents the most inclusive voter roll in the states history. There are 14,59,039 first-time voters in this election. This youth surge can be viewed as a potential repeat of the 2011 landmark election, which was driven by a net addition of 11.5 lakh new voters.

As the final hours of polling approach, the question remains: can we judge this election by the 80 per cent paradox or by the raw volume of voices heard? If the state manages to breach that 80.6 per cent mark, it won't just be a win for a party; it will be a historic testament to the enduring strength of the Tamil Nadu voter, proving that even a leaner roll can produce a louder roar.

2021

Total voters - 6,29,43,693

Total votes polled - 4,58,91,125

NOTA - 3,45,591

Percentage -73.63

2024

Total voters - 6,24,04,947

Polled -4,37,23,498

Percentage - 70.06

2019

Total - 5,98,75,402

Polled - 4,33,89,353

Percentage -72.47

2016

Total - 5,77,91,397

Total polled valid votes - 4,32,05,158

Percentage - 74.81

2011

Total voters - 4,71,15,846

Polled votes - 3,67,56,813

Percentage -78.01
Despite over 70 per cent voters across Tamil Nadu turning up at the ballot boxes to vote, as of 3 PM on Thursday, one village has grabbed headlines for boycotting the assembly elections completely.

This is the Perumpathu village near Nanguneri in the Tirunelveli district, where all 969 voters have refused to cast their vote at polling station #290.

As a result, the polling station has been left deserted for hours since voting began at 7 AM on Thursday, as per a Daily Thanthi report.

The report added that this boycott was being done on purposeas a sign of protestbecause the residents of Perumpathu were furious at not receiving justice for the gruesome double murder of March 2.

Back on March 2, a gang had entered the Perumpathu village at night and had attacked five people outside a tea shop, killing two and injuring the rest.

The incident led to the deaths of Trinath Kata, an Odisha-origin worker, and John Mark, a native of the village, causing panic and leading the people to demand justice.

At the time, the Nanguneri Police had registered a case, under which six people were detained.

However, as the investigation progressed, the villagers grew dissatisfied, demanding that the Tirunelveli district collector visit the area, condemn the incident, and take stringent action against the accused, as well as those allegedly supporting them.

These unfulfilled demands grew into a call for boycotting the electionsevident as early as a week ago, when some election officials who visited the village to facilitate postal voting returned after the elderly residents declined to participate.
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election commenced at 7 am on Thursday amidst tight security, with people briskly lining up in front of polling stations across the southern state. A total of 152 constituencies in West Bengal are also voting in the first phase of the assembly elections, amid unprecedented security arrangements.

Voting begins at 7:00am for the 1at phase of West Bengal elections with 1478 candidates contesting across 152 constituencies. The remaining 142 constituencies go to polls in the 2nd phase on April 29th @TheWeekLive pic.twitter.com/dKNGcgtVVy  Prema Rajaram (@prema_rajaram) April 23, 2026

In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami, veteran Congress leader P. Chidambaram, former Telangana Governor and BJP candidate Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, and NTK top leader Seeman were among the early voters; they cast their votes in Salem, Sivaganga, and Chennai respectively.

Union Minister L. Murugan stood in a serpentine queue and cast his vote in Chennai. Similarly, BJP leader Khushbu, along with her filmmaker husband Sundar C., voted in the city. Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik voted at Virugambakkam, which falls under the Maduravoyal Assembly constituency.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal, voters were queueing up outside booths in districts ranging from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the north to Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, and Hooghly in the south.

The opening round covers more than half of the state's 294 assembly seats and is being seen as the BJP's best opportunity to make an early breakthrough, and the ruling Trinamool Congress's most important test in its bid for a fourth consecutive term.

ALSO READ | As Tamil Nadu, West Bengal head to polling booths, here are key candidates to watch out for

Here are five updates from the early hours of the high-stakes elections in the two states:

1. To prevent any technical delays, a reserve of 20 per cent for EVMs and 30 per cent for VVPATs is being maintained in Tamil Nadu. Officials have strictly enforced the ban against taking mobile phones and smartwatches inside the polling room. The Election Commission has deployed 1,06,418 ballot units along with 75,064 control units and VVPAT machines.

2. A record 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces, comprising nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, have been deployed across West Bengal, with over 8,000 polling stations identified as highly sensitive. The Election Commission has placed districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, and Purba Bardhaman under special surveillance, reported news agency PTI.

3. TVK chief Vijay cast his vote at Vaels International School in Chennai. He is contesting from the Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur constituencies. Meanwhile, actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan voted at Chennai High School, Eldams Road, Teynampet.

4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to "enthusiastically" take part in the voting for the Assembly elections. "As Tamil Nadu votes in the Assembly elections, I call upon all voters to take part enthusiastically in this sacred duty of democracy. I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers," Modi said in a post on X.

                                    Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 23, 2026

"Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today. I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength. I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers," PM Modi said in another post.

5. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged the people of West Bengal to vote in large numbers and ensure that the ideals of democracy, social justice, equality, and freedom remain intact.

Dear brothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu,



The fight today is to secure your rights. The fight is to protect federalism, rationality, equality, justice and freedom.



It is also to ensure inclusive welfare and retain the ideals of social justice espoused by your icons.



It is  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 23, 2026

In a post on X, Kharge said, "As West Bengal votes in the first phase of Assembly elections today, I sincerely urge all citizens to step out and participate in large numbers. Do not be deterred by forces that seek to discourage you. Your vote is your voice, and it must be resoundingly heard."
Photo: https://www.youtube.com/live/RJNSK8HPks4?si=jC9izPZA0m4HrIAU

European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a joint statement following their meeting.

The text of the statement was distributed by the European Council on Thursday.

The trilateral meeting took place in Lefkosia on Thursday ahead of the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government.

"Following the European Councils decision in December to provide Ukraine with a support loan of EUR 90 billion for 2026 and 2027, the Presidents welcomed the adoption of the loan by the co-legislators on 23 April. The Ukraine Support Loan will ensure that Ukraine can meet its urgent budgetary and defence needs, enabling the country to remain resilient in the face of ongoing Russian attacks. The Presidents emphasised the importance of the swift implementation of the loan and looked forward for the first disbursement in the second quarter. They also called on third countries to assist in bridging the remaining gaps in Ukraines finances," the statement reads.

The presidents also welcomed the adoption of the 20th sanctions package.

"These sanctions aim to reduce Russias energy revenues, constrain its banking system, and curb shadow fleet operations. The Presidents underscored the necessity of applying further pressure on Russia to cease its aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace," they said.

In addition, the presidents highly praised the significant progress Ukraine has made on its path toward EU accession.

"They called for the opening of negotiation clusters without delay. Furthermore, the Presidents welcomed the recent adoption of necessary legislation by the Ukrainian Parliament that will unlock further funding under the Ukraine Facility. They highlighted the reform progress Ukraine has achieved so far under challenging circumstances and called for further efforts," the text said.

The presidents also reaffirmed the Unions commitment, in coordination with international partners, to support Ukraine in "urgently repairing and rebuilding its energy infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of its energy system in view of next winter."

"Ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, the Presidents recalled the importance of nuclear safety and security in Europe and called on Russia to stop its attacks and occupation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine," the statement reads.

Finally, the presidents welcomed the announcement of a high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-hosted by the EU, Ukraine and Canada, on May 11 in Brussels.
Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) requesting a two-hour extension of polling in Tamil Nadu in light of traffic paralysis. Vijay pointed out that many willing voters remain stuck in faraway places due to a lack of transport options and, provided the polling process is extended until 8:00 pm on Thursday, at least some of them should be able to make it to the polling booths.

Accusing the state-run transport corporation of purposeful misplanning, the actor-turned-politician said thousands of voters remain stranded at major bus stations across Tamil Nadu. This is an attack on the fundamental rights of these people, as many of them arrived from other states to cast their votes but are being hit by the unavailability of bus services.

ALSO READ | DMK lashes out at Vijay's viral church prayer video before TVK's Trichy East campaign: 'Where were you when...'

Requesting a polling extension, Vijay wrote: "This extension is well within the Commissions powers and has been exercised in the past for far lesser disruptions. It is essential to allow every voter who reaches the polling station premises by the revised closing time to cast their vote without compromise."

Vijay also noted that long queues have been spotted at several booths, leading to delays and inconvenience for voters. Thus, an extended window for voting would be the ideal scenario.

Here is the letter he wrote to the Election Commission in full:

Subject: Urgent Intervention Required  Deploy Emergency Public Transport for Thousands Stranded at Bus Terminals in Chennai and Other Cities; Extend Polling Hours by 2 Hours to Safeguard Democratic Rights and Ensure Smooth Queue Management.

Respected Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you in a state of deep concern and indignation over the complete transport paralysis - Thousands of voters are stranded at bus terminals in Chennai, and similarly in other metro cities across Tamil Nadu, with no buses or alternative public transport available to reach their designated polling booths. This is not a minor inconvenience-it seems an intentional attempt of misplanning by the State Transport corporation and administration which is an outright assault on the fundamental right to vote guaranteed under the Constitution of India.

The scenes at Chennais Koyambedu, Kilambakkam, and Madlavaram bus stands, and equivalent terminals elsewhere, are unacceptable on election day. Thousands of citizens who have travelled from all over the world and from various states and from within the cities of Tamil Nadu are attempting to travel to exercise their franchise have been left helpless due to the heavy requisitioning of buses and vehicles for poll duty without parallel arrangements for ordinary voters. This systemic failure has the potential to effectively disenfranchise a large section of the electorate, striking at the very heart of free and fair elections that the Election Commission is constitutionally mandated to conduct under Article 324.

I therefore request a decisive action on three urgent fronts:

1. Direct and deploy emergency public transport services forthwith: The Election Commission must direct state transport authorities and district election officers in Chennai and all affected cities to immediately press additional government buses, shuttles, and other vehicles into service exclusively for ferrying stranded voters from bus terminals to polling stations. This must be done within the next few hours through coordinated announcements at terminals, via media, and through the ECIs own apps and helplines. No voter should be turned away or forced to miss their democratic duty due to administrative negligence.

2. There are reports from polling stations of voters waiting in long queues to cast their votes, but the polling process is slow. Such delays would discourage and may affect voter turnout. There should be a designated supervisory officer to visit polling booths regularly and ensure that the voting process is conducted efficiently and without unnecessary delays.

3. Extend polling hours by two hours: In view of the large surge of delayed voters due to travel disruptions and long-queue waiting imperatives, polling must be extended till 8:00 pm across all affected constituencies. This extension is well within the Commissions powers and has been exercised in the past for far lesser disruptions. It is essential to allow every voter who reaches the polling station premises by the revised closing time to cast their vote without compromise.

The right to vote is the bedrock of Indian democracy. Any failure to act swiftly today on the above aspects will not only suppress voter turnout but will erode public faith in the electoral process itself. The Election Commission cannot remain a mute spectator while thousands are denied their constitutional right on polling day.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

C. Joseph Vijay
EVM glitches and violence in many regions disrupted the first phase of the voting in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Several people were injured in Nowda, Murshidabad, after unidentified persons detonated a crude bomb near a polling centre. Police stated the explosion was an attempt to disrupt the ongoing elections, causing panic and briefly halting the voting process.

According to officials, the injured were transferred to nearby medical facilities, though the exact number of casualties is unknown.

The security forces rushed to the spot soon after the incident and have begun combing operations to trace those behind the attack.

VIDEO | West Bengal election: BJP candidate from Bhabanipur and Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, said,



"Murder accused Sheikh Shahuddin is threatening voters. I am not afraid of anything. My fight is not against any religion. My fight is against the goons of TMC." pic.twitter.com/z2EYl7Tmjs  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2026

BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul held the Mamata Banerjee government behind the explosion act and said that TMC would go to any extent to prevent voters from coming out to vote.

VIDEO | West Bengal Election 2026: Several people injured as unidentified people hurled crude bomb in Nowda, Murshidabad district. More details are awaited.#AssemblyPollsWithPTI#WestBengalPollsWithPTI



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/W7G5A9OqR6  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2026

"The Mamata Banerjee government will do such things, hurl bombs, load shedding. They will try to damage the cameras. This is the mechanism of TMC. They think they will prevent voters from coming out to vote by doing such things. QRT, Election Commission must take note of such incidents," said Paul.

Also, TMC workers clashed with police as a scuffle occurred upon the arrival of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir in Murshidabad.

Widespread EVM glitches disrupted the voting process across several sectors. In Suri, Congress candidate Sanjoy Adhikari alleged that a technical failure prevented him from casting his own vote. Adhikari stated that while a complaint was lodged with the District Magistrate and the local polling officer, no steps had been taken to repair the machine.

EVM glitches were also reported in regions, including the Beldanga, Samsherganj, Kandi, Nandigram and Cooch Behar.

In Purba Medinipur, an EVM malfunction was reported in Birulia of the Nandigram assembly constituency. Meanwhile, in Cooch Behar, voting at booth number 229 in Town High School was suspended for nearly an hour before resuming. Polling was also delayed at booth number 231 in Malda district's Habibpur constituency.

In Siliguri in Darjeeling district, polling could not start on time at booth number 26/31 in Margaret School because of a faulty EVM.
As West Bengal heads to the polling booth for the first phase of voting, Opposition leader and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has made a prediction about the BJPs chances.

Adhikari, who cast his vote at Nandigram, told reporters on Thursday afternoon that the BJP will win at least 125 seats out of the 152 seats in the first phase. According to him, the ruling Trinamool Congress will be 'cleansed' everywhere from North Bengal to Jangalmahal.

Expressing confidence about the BJPs chances beyond his own district of Purba Medinipur, Adhikari said: "Don't confine me to Purba Medinipur alone. There is no room for the BJP to fall below 125 out of 152 seats," he said, adding that there is a widespread public support for the BJP in North Bengal and Jangalmaha.

However, the TMC has rubbished his claims, stating that the BJP leader was presenting imaginary statistics to be in the limelight of the campaign.

The BJP leader also triggered a controversy with a scathing communal and political attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress party in Nandigram. He claimed that the common people of the state, especially Hindu and tribal women, are desperate to oust the Trinamool from power.

A married Hindu woman broke down in tears in front of me on the way to the booth. She told me to protect Hindus. She fears that if Mamata Banerjee returns to power, Hindus will face a situation like Murshidabad, they will be wiped out," he said.

#WATCH | West Bengal Elections 2026 | Suvendu Adhikari, State LoP & BJP Candidate from Nandigram & Bhabanipur says, "...We are Hindus, we are Sanatanis. I offered prayers, offered a 'naman'.... I spoke to polling agents of my constituency...Polling should be held peacefully." pic.twitter.com/KhghWrutFR  ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2026

His comments stoked a controversy with the ruling Trinamool party, which has termed this allegation as 'baseless and provocative'.

Shuvendu Adhikari who voted at the Brajmohan Tiwari High School in Nandigram Vidhan Sabha constituency also expressed his dissatisfaction with the role of BLO. Shuvendu claimed that voters were being influenced. "I know him. He is influencing voters.
The first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal on Thursday began with heightened security2,047 personnel from the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) manning polling booths across 152 constituencies.

People stepped out to cast their vote, with the voter turnout reaching 92.35 per cent till 9 PM for the 3.6-crore electorate.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), this time's voter turnout has been the highest in West Bengal since independence.

This percentage is expected to increase further as figures were received from 39,558 booths out of the total of 44,376 booths. Polling was underway in 4,828 booths where people who came in till 6 PM were still casting their votes.

The ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Dead, Deleted) votes have gone. The denominators have gone down and voting percentage will go up. Voting percentage has gone up across the country and Bengal has always been conscious about voting and voting percentage has been high, explained Manoj Agarwal, CEO, West Bengal.

There were no major incidents that took place. I thank all political parties who cooperated and all stakeholders," he added.

The EC hopes that the voter turnout will also increase for urban constituencies going to the polls on April 29 in the second phase of the Assembly elections in the state. Urban constituencies usually see a lower voter turnout.

Agarwal further noted that this time, webcasting was 100 per cent foolproof and that the intricate details of camera placements to record the EVM had been considered beforehand.

A detailed analysis was done for where generators were needed, in addition to a separate protocol for places with no internet connectivity.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) claimed that the high voter turnout meant people coming out to vote as they considered this their last chance, with several names deleted after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Despite the Election Commission deleting 91 lakh names through SIR, Bengal has delivered a record voter turnout.



Why? Because the people of Bengal know this could be their last real chance to secure their future.



They see the NRC and delimitation threat staring them in the pic.twitter.com/QHtZGXcQtS  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 23, 2026

However, after a few hours of polling, violence was reported in some parts of the state.

In Naoda in the Murshidabad district, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabirs car was vandalised during stone pelting between TMC and AJUP workers.

TMC supporters shouted 'go back' slogans, accusing Kabir of being a BJP agent. The rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, who won from Bharatpur in the 2021 Assembly elections, accused workers of his former party of intimidation.

In another incident in Domkal in the same district, CPI(M) and TMC clashes took place on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with CPI(M) supporters allegedly threatened with firearms by the TMC if they were to cast their vote.

In Dakshin Dinajpur, the BJP's Kumargunj candidate Suvendu Sarkar was allegedly manhandled by TMC supporters, despite the presence of one security officer, and was seen running through fields to protect himself.

Sarkar was on his way to a polling booth when he heard of chaos by ruling party supporters.

In Rahmat Nagar in Asansol, BJP candidate Agnimitra Pauls car was also vandalised after she left the polling booth.

There were also three incidents reported in the Birbhum district. In Labhpur, BJP candidate Debashish Ojhas agent was allegedly beaten up by TMC supporters. In the second incident in Murarai, two Congress workers were injured due to clashes with TMC. The third incident in Dubrajpur in the same district saw stone pelting at the CAPF by miscreants suspected to be TMC workers, resulting in two security personnel injured.

In Tufangunj in the Cooch Behar district, booth jamming allegations emerged, with security personnel resorting to lathi charges. Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctioning allegedly took place thrice in Berhampore in the Murshidabad district, which also caused long delays for voters.

Anand Kumar, Nodal Officer, State Police, said that 41 arrests were made while 571 were preventive arrests. In specific incidents, nine arrests were made in Naoda, three in Dubrajpur, five in Kumarhunj, four in Saithia (where a BJP candidate was assaulted), and four in connection with the Murarai incident.

Till around 2 PM, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had received more than 1,000 complaints from various quarters including individuals and political parties. However no casualties were reported in the first phase of elections.
As the United States and Iran refuse to negotiate an end to the hostilities, the real battlefield now is the Strait of Hormuz. After realising that raining bombs and missiles is not enough to bring down the regime in Tehran, the Trump administration has placed its bets on economic suffocation. A naval blockade is squeezing Iran's oil income, the lifeblood of the Revolutionary Guards, while deliberately leaving civilian infrastructure like power grids and roads untouched. The logic is to hurt the regime without triggering a humanitarian catastrophe that would turn world opinion against Washington.

At the same time, the US has extended a ceasefire with Iran but refused to put any deadline on it. That vagueness is intentional. The longer the economic pain drags on, the thinking goes, the more space it creates for quieter, more pragmatic voices inside Iran to start pushing for a deal. It also keeps the administration from having to fight a full-scale war that most Americans don't want and that global markets would absolutely hate.

But the strategy is still costing Trump. The global economy is tanking, Russia continues its oil exports, the Gulf allies are worriedsome are even requesting currency swaps. At home, approval ratings have slumped into the mid-30s, dragged down further by anxiety over the economy and immigration. Inside the Pentagon, things aren't much smoother. Critics are now openly questioning Defence Secretary Pete Hegseths competence to lead the Pentagon. Navy Secretary John Phelan was pushed out yesterday after a months-long clash with Hegseth. His replacement, Hung Cao, is stepping in just as naval operations in the Gulf are at their most intense. Congress is restless too, though not quite restless enough: a Senate resolution to strip the president of his war powers failed, but only just. And May 1 marks 60 days of the war (Trump formally notified Congress of the operation on March 2) and more stringent provisions of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a law aimed at curtailing the presidents power to go to war without the approval of Congress, will kick in.

Iran, meanwhile, has responded by playing its own version of the same game. By effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, Tehran has shown it can threaten the entire global economy without firing a single missile. Revolutionary Guards forces have been seizing foreign commercial ships, and Washington has been quietly looking the other way. These were not US ships, said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary after Iran seized yesterday two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz and took them to the country's coast. These were not Israeli ships. So the Iranian action was not a violation of the ceasefire, she argued. Leavitt also asked the media not to blow this out of proportion.

Inside Iran, the crisis has had a consolidating effect on power, although the White House claims that the power structure in Tehran appears fractured. In fact, the main reason Trump gave for Iranian negotiators refusing to turn up in Islamabad for another round of talks was the alleged infighting in Tehran. However, the usual power struggle between competing factions and institutions in Iran has given way to hardliner dominance. When Foreign Minister Araghchi floated the idea of reopening the Strait to civilian shipping, he was shot down almost immediately. President Pezeshkian and senior negotiator and parliament speaker Ghalibaf have since aligned their views with the IRGC. Ghalibaf wrote on X yesterday that it was impossible for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened because of the blatant violations of the ceasefire by the US and Israel. A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the worlds economy. reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.

The ripple effects are being felt everywhere. Oil prices have spiked sharply, and Asian economies that run on Gulf energy are feeling it most acutely. Britain and France are quietly assembling a maritime coalition to eventually escort shipping through the Strait, but even if a ceasefire holds tomorrow, reopening it won't be quick. The Pentagon estimates that clearing naval mines alone could take months, if not more.

And the longer-term implications are making military planners nervous. The worry is that this conflict is setting an example that others could follow. China, for instance, could apply the same logic to Taiwan, squeezing semiconductor supply chains or blocking key sea lanes. The Bab-el-Mandeb, the Strait of Malacca, anywhere the world's trade funnels through a single bottleneck becomes a potential pressure point. There is also the uncomfortable reality that the US has poured enormous military resources into one corner of the world. With missile systems and interceptors tied up in the Middle East, Russia and China have more room to manoeuvre elsewhere.

Looking ahead, the prospects for a durable resolution remain uncertain. While Washington ultimately seeks to constrain Irans uranium enrichment capabilities, experts caution that a comprehensive and lasting agreement may prove elusive. Tehran, even under pressure, is unlikely to abandon its strategic ambitions entirely.
At a moment when the US President Donald Trump is once again weighing the possibility of a negotiated settlement with Iran amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia, Washingtons focus appears to be shifting back towards a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict. Back channels of communication via Islamabad, tentative de-escalation efforts and renewed strategic calculations suggest that the United States is searching for a way to step back from a deepening confrontation that carries significant military and economic costs. Yet beneath these efforts lies a more decisive factor, one that has historically shaped and determined the survival of past agreements between the US and Iran.

That factor is Isreals Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Any arrangement that emerges between Washington and Tehran in the ongoing negotiations between the two countries cannot not be assessed in its isolation. Its durability will depend on whether it aligns with Netanyahus uncompromising position on Irans nuclear ambitions and regional influence. And as experience suggests that if any agreement is perceived in Israel as falling short of those expectations it is unlikely to hold its ground for long.

The story of the earlier US-Iran nuclear deal is often told as a contest between Washington and Tehran where the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal emerged out of diplomacy and defiance. But running parallel to that narrative has been another force that shaped its trajectory by the persistent and an uncompromising opposition of Benjamin Netanyahu. Across three different American presidencies, Netanyahu has demonstrated a rare consistency of purpose on Irans nuclear programme. His position has not shifted with the changing US administrations or the changing global sentiment. Instead, what has changed is how effectively he has been able to bend the American policy to align with Israels strategic red lines on Iran.

To understand why any future US-Iran agreement remains inherently fragile, one has to begin with Netanyahus open confrontation with the then US President Barack Obama. The signing of the JCPOA in 2015 was seen by the Obama administration as a landmark diplomatic achievement, one that would freeze Irans nuclear ambitions and bring it back into the global fold. Netanyahu however viewed it through an entirely different lens. For him the deal did not eliminate Irans nuclear capability but it merely postponed it. Worse, it legitimised Irans regional influence by lifting sanctions and unlocking the economic resources that could be funnelled into the proxy networks that were waging war against the Israeli and US interests across the Middle East.

Netanyahus response to Obamas deal was not a subtle diplomacy conducted behind closed doors. It was a direct, public and an unprecedented confrontation that challenged the ultimate authority of the White House. In a move that broke away with the traditional diplomatic protocol he addressed the US Congress in 2015 effectively bypassing the Obama administration to make his case directly to the American lawmakers. The speech he delivered on the floor of the US Congress was not just of opposition to the US policy on Iran but it was a warning of Israels resolve to declare war on Iran hence completely undermining the US policy. Netanyahu openly argued that the deal would pave Irans path to the bomb rather than block it. At that moment, he was not merely disagreeing with a sitting US president but in essence he was positioning himself as a counterweight to the American policy itself.

Obama despite the pressure pushed the deal through after his re-election. But Netanyahus resistance had achieved something more subtle yet enduring. He ensured that the Iran deal would never gain bipartisan legitimacy within the United States. It remained a politically contested issue that was vulnerable to reversal and deeply tied to the identity of the administration that created it. In doing so, Netanyahu planted the seeds for what would come next.

That next phase unfolded under Donald Trump. When Trump entered office in 2017, the Iran deal was already politically weakened. Netanyahu seized that moment with precision. Unlike his contentious relationship with Obama, Netanyahu found in Trump a leader far more receptive to his worldview on Iran. But receptiveness alone does not translate into policy. What followed was a sustained campaign driven through Israeli intelligence briefings, public messaging and strategic alignment that reframed the Iran deal as a fundamental threat.

The turning point came in 2018 when Netanyahu publicly unveiled what Israel claimed was a trove of secret Iranian nuclear documents. The presentation was carefully staged and designed not just for intelligence circles but also for global perception. It reinforced the narrative that Iran could not be trusted and that it had concealed elements of its nuclear program hence giving credence to his long-standing argument that the deal itself was built on incomplete or misleading assurances. Shortly thereafter, Trump announced the US withdrawal from the JCPOA.

This was not just merely a policy shift by Donald Trump, it was also a structural dismantling of Obamas diplomatic framework. Trumps maximum pressure campaign that pillared on reimposing sanctions, isolating Iran economically and escalating nuclear rhetoric aligned almost perfectly with Netanyahus long-standing position. What Obama had constructed through negotiation, Netanyahu unravelled it through thorough persistence and strategic timing.

Yet the story does not end with the withdrawal. It evolves further in the context of Trumps second presidency where the dynamics shifted from beyond the pressure politics into an open confrontation. The trajectory from diplomatic rollback to military escalation did not emerge as an isolated incident. It was the culmination of Netanyahus years of framing that Iran is not just a nuclear concern but stands as an existential and an immediate threat. Netanyahus influence here is less about a single decision and more about shaping the strategic environment in which those decisions are currently made.

By the time the United States finds itself engaged in a direct conflict with Iran, the conceptual groundwork has already been laid. Iran is no longer seen as a negotiable adversary but as an irreconcilable one. In such an environment the space for a compromise narrows dramatically. In this light any future agreement that even slightly resembles the original JCPOA becomes politically and strategically untenable particularly from Israels perspective.

This brings us to the central dilemma facing any future US-Iran negotiations. Even if Washington and Tehran manage to reach a new agreement its durability will not depend solely on the terms negotiated between them. It will depend on whether that agreement aligns with Israels core security expectations and more specifically with Netanyahus interpretation of those expectations.

Netanyahu has consistently rejected the idea of any partial solution with Iran. For him, the constraints are insufficient if they are temporary and any IAEA inspections are inadequate if they do not eliminate Iranian nuclear capability altogether. This is a fundamentally different standard from that of most of the diplomatic frameworks which are built on managing risks rather than eliminating them entirely. As a result, any deal that allows Iran to retain even a limited nuclear infrastructure or that includes sunset clauses is likely to be viewed by Netanyahu as inherently flawed.

What makes this dynamic particularly consequential is Netanyahus demonstrated ability to act on his opposition. His approach is not just confined to rhetoric as he has demonstrated his will to act that includes shaping the US domestic debates, leveraging intelligence disclosures, coordinating with sympathetic political actors and when necessary taking direct and indirect unilateral actions. This creates a structural instability in any agreement that does not meet Israels maximalist criteria.

For Washington, this presents a complex strategic issue. On one hand, there is the imperative to prevent further Iranian nuclear proliferation through diplomacy. On the other hand, there is the sense of reality that a key regional ally does not trust that diplomacy alone can deliver it a lasting security. When these two positions diverge as they have repeatedly over the past decade the result is not just a policy disagreement but it is policy disruption.

The history of the previous US-Iran deal illustrates this clearly. Obamas agreement did not fail because it lacked technical detail or international backing. It failed because it did not survive the political and strategic contest with Israel surrounding it. Netanyahu ensured that the contest remained active, persistent and ultimately decisive.

As the United States once again navigates its new course of relationship with Iran this underlying tension remains a stumbling block in the pathway of finding lasting peace. Any deal that appears even marginally to concede space to Tehran will face scrutiny not only just from the domestic critics in Washington but also from a leadership in Israel that has shown little willingness to compromise on this issue.

In that sense, the future of US-Iran diplomacy is not just a question of negotiations between the two adversaries. It is a three-layered equation where the Israeli strategic doctrine plays a critical and a determining role. And as long as Netanyahu remains a central figure in that equation, the threshold for what constitutes an acceptable deal will remain extraordinarily high, even perhaps too high for any lasting agreement to survive.

The author is an independent journalist and columnist.
A satellite image has captured an unusual view of a fleet of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast-attack craft sailing north of the Strait of Hormuz. This comes amid reports that the IRGC seized two cargo ships sailing along the strait on Wednesday before taking them to the Iranian coast.

According to open-source investigator Mehdi H., the view was captured by a Sentinel-2 satellite near the Kargan coast. The image shows atleast 33 boats, most likely armed with short-range anti-ship missiles and artillery rockets.

Sentinel-2 satellite image today shows what looks like a flotilla of IRGCN fast attack crafts sailing north of strait of Hormuz near Kargan coast.

At least 33 boats can be seen in what looks like a show of force enforcing the strait closure by Iran.

Geo-location: 26.899,56.824 pic.twitter.com/smNuM0y6D3  Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) April 22, 2026

Though it is not clear what the mission was and whether it was connected to the attacks launched on the vessels. As per reports, Liberian-flagged container ship Epaminodes and Panamanian-flagged container ship MSC-Francesca were seized by the Iranian troops, according to MarineTraffic. The IRGC also opened fire at the Panamanian-flagged vessel Euphoria. The IRGC version is that the vessels ignored the warnings of the Iranian armed forces.

However, speculations are that the vessels could also be used for laying mines. As per reports, Iran has invested heavily in its fleet of small boats, and the IRGC uses them to launch attacks on commercial oil tankers, including using limpet mines. These fleets are extremely hard to find and fix, and do not need large ports to operate from.

Though the US claims it destroyed well over 150 Iranian ships, the IRGC still has many such craft.

There are also concerns that Iranian boats could be exploring the possibility of destroying the undersea cables, considering that they had earlier warned of such an attack. A report that appeared in state-backed Tasnim said the Strait of Hormuz is not only a crucial route for oil and gas transportation; this narrow waterway is also one of the most important internet chokepoints in the region and the world.

The concentration of many internet cables in a narrow passage makes the Strait of Hormuz a vulnerable point for the regions digital economy, Tasnim posited, calling it a place where cables, after passing through the strait, connect to coastal landing nodes and major regional data centres, which many consider a veiled threat.

Soon after, Iran released dramatic footage showing the seizure of two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) released footage of its forces boarding and seizing the Greek-owned MSC Epaminondas container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.



In the statement released earlier, the IRGC claimed that the vessel was operating "without pic.twitter.com/PFzspJEGoB  Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) April 22, 2026

The footage released later showed the IRGC commandos with their faces covered approaching the vessel, before opening fire. They continue to board the ships with weapons drawn. The disposition of the vessels and crews is not currently known.

While the IRGC claims that the vessels ignored the warnings, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations Agency reported that a container ship came under direct fire from small and medium weapons. Two Iranian gunboats approached the vessel and opened fire without prior warning or attempt to establish wireless contact, it added.
US President Donald Trump has set tongues wagging when he reposted a bizarre take on birthright citizenship by controversial radio host Michael Savage. In the post, Savage, a right-wing radio shock jock with the second-most popular show in the United States, used a disparaging remark against India and China, calling them hellholes, which was endorsed by Trump himself.

In a letter posted on social media, Savage said he had been listening to the arguments before the US Supreme Court on birthright citizenship. Addressing the lawyer who defended birthright citizenship as a Chinese-American who is a classic ALCU attorney, Savage added: A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring in their entire family from China, or India or some other hellhole on the planet. You dont have to go too far to see that. English is not spoken here anymore, he said.

2/3 President Trump posted this commentary by Michael Savage on birthright citizenship arguing that the ACLU is a mafia that President Trump must bring down. pic.twitter.com/3g3FIeUXdP  Melissa Redpill (@MelissaRedpill) April 22, 2026

Savage added that unlike the Asians, Europeans intergrated into the US culture.

This derogatory remark was soon reposted by US President Donald Trump on his TruthSocial platform. The Presidents gesture came a day after he made false claims about birthright citizenship in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday morning. During an interview, Trump repeated his long-debunked lie that no country in the world offers birthright citizenship other than the United States. In fact, about three dozen countries provide automatic citizenship to people born on their soil, including US neighbors Canada and Mexico and the majority of South American countries.

Who is Michael Savage?

A famous radio host, Savage, has been pro-Trump and often courted controversy for his comments, including a ban from the UK. He hosted The Savage Nation, one of the top-rated radio shows in the U.S. for years, and is a bestselling author. He has been very vocal, often crossing the lines of decency, on his comments against Democrats, illegal immigrants, Left-wing judges, transgender rights and even Barack Obama, whom he calls Afro-Leninist.

His controversial comments include ones on Hillary Clinton. We will live in an outright criminal regime, he said in 2016. His other remark was on Obama: It will take decades for the U.S. to recover from the Democrat-socialist Marxist, he calls Maobama.

After he was elected as President for the first time, Trump made a point of calling Savage to the show to chat about the campaign and thank the host for being so loyal to him. Youve changed the national dialogue; youve changed the course of human history, responded Savage.
A Chanukas Habayis was held at the historic Gerer Beis Medrash in Gur, Poland, marking the return of the site to the ownership of the Gerer Chassidus for the first time since World War II.

The Beis Medrash once served as the spiritual center for thousands of Gerer Chassidim and their Rebbes before the war. Attached to it was the home of the previous Rebbes  a place steeped in generations of kedusha and leadership. After the Holocaust, the property fell under Polish government control and sat neglected for decades.

The Gerer Rebbe shlita made reclaiming the site a personal mission, and after years of legal battles, the property has been repurchased and carefully restored to its former dignity.

The effort was made possible by the Fishoff Family, who sponsored the Beis Medrash, and Mr. Shlomo Werdiger, who sponsored the restoration of the Rebbes residence.

For the Fishoff family, the moment carried deep personal significance. The Beis Medrash was dedicated lzecher nishmas their father, Yechiel Benzion (Benny) Fishoff zl  a Holocaust survivor who davened in the very same Beis Medrash as a child in Poland. Mr. Fishoff zl went on to become a distinguished baal tzedakah who played a central role in supporting and rebuilding the Gerer Chassidus in the postwar years, a legacy his family continues.

Among those in attendance at the Chanukas Habayis was the Rebbes son, Reb Nechemia Alter.

The restoration reconnects the Gur of prewar Europe with the Gur of today  returning a place from which, as those present described it, great light once came forth, back into the hands of the Chassidus.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Costa: Next step should be opening first cluster of Ukraine's EU accession talks

Photo: https://x.com/antoniocostapm

European Council President Antonio Costa said that after the unblocking of the EU's EUR 90 billion reparations loan for Ukraine and the adoption of the 20th sanctions package against Russia, it was time to prepare for the next step  opening the first cluster of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

Speaking during a doorstep briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Costa said it was now time to look ahead and prepare for that next stage.

Von der Leyen said she believed Ukraine could receive the first tranche of EUR 45 billion already in this quarter.

She said the sides had agreed that one third of the loan would go to budgetary needs and two thirds to defense, adding that she expected the first package to be a drone package  drones from Ukraine for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy thanked all EU leaders for their unanimity in adopting the sanctions and unblocking the EUR 90 billion loan, adding that the funds would be directed toward supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, arms production and protecting the energy sector in winter.

He added that work would continue to force Russia back to real diplomacy in order to end the war.

As reported, on April 23 the European Union finally approved the decision to provide Kyiv with a EUR 90 billion loan and adopted the 20th sanctions package against Russia over the war it is waging against Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Cyprus, which currently holds the EU presidency, announced the decision on Thursday.

The spokesperson said the written procedures regarding amendments to the regulation on the multiannual financial framework underlying the EUR 90 billion loan for Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package against Russia had been successfully completed, and that both documents had been adopted unanimously.

Earlier, Zelenskyy, who is on a visit to Cyprus where the European Union summit is taking place, said the previously approved EU reparations loan for Ukraine in the amount of EUR 90 billion had been finally unblocked and that he expected the first tranche to arrive next month or in June.
German federal prosecutors have charged a teenage suspect in connection with a series of violent attacks in the city of Essen, alleging the incidents were driven by extremist ideology and included plans to target Jewish individuals.

The suspect, identified as Erjon S, faces three counts of attempted murder along with charges including assault, aggravated assault and resisting arrest, according to the German Federal Prosecutors Office.

Prosecutors allege the teenager embraced a jihadist ideology and sought to carry out attacks against what he described as infidels, with a stated intent to ultimately kill Jewish people.

According to authorities, the suspect first targeted a janitor at a school in September, allegedly punching him and using pepper spray. The victim reportedly resisted, preventing further escalation involving a knife.

The suspect then allegedly attacked a teacher at a vocational school, stabbing her multiple times in the upper body. Both victims survived but suffered serious injuries.

Prosecutors say the teenager later went twice to the Old Synagogue Essen, but did not encounter any Jewish individuals. He then allegedly stabbed a stranger nearby.

Authorities further allege the suspect attempted to provoke a fatal police response by approaching officers while armed with a knife. Police opened fire, wounding him. He survived and was taken into custody.

The case was transferred from local prosecutors in Essen to federal authorities due to its national security implications, a step typically taken in cases involving terrorism-related motives.

All victims are reported to have survived the attacks. The investigation remains ongoing.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A priceless golden helmet dating back 2,500 years was returned to Romania on Tuesday after the national heirloom was stolen from a Dutch museum where it was on loan last year.

The ornate Cotofenesti helmet and three golden bracelets  some of Romanias most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization  were taken from the Drents Museum in January 2025 in a raid which shocked the art world and devastated Romanian authorities.

But after 14 months of investigations, diplomatic tensions, and three suspects in an ongoing trial, most of the artifacts arrived at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport on Tuesday from where authorities transported them under guard to Bucharests National History Museum. They were displayed in a glass cabinet, flanked by masked, armed guards.

Cornel Constantin Ilie, the museums interim director, said that the artifacts have been returned not as simple patrimony items, but as relics of our historical memory, as the legacy of a civilization that continues to define us.

For us, this is a moment of joy, but also of contemplation, he said. For months, we have lived with the fear that part of our past could be lost forever. Today we can say that an essential part of this treasure has returned.

Robert van Langh, the Drents Museum director, described the recovery and return of the relics as an emotional moment for all involved, and acknowledged the grief, the anger and now the relief have naturally been even greater in Romania than in the Netherlands.

Romanian national heritage has returned home, he said. The impact of this robbery was already significant in the Netherlands, but here it must have been truly unparalleled  The police and judicial authorities of both countries have done extraordinary work.

Dutch prosecutors unveiled the recovered items at a news conference in the eastern Dutch city of Assen earlier this month. The whereabouts of the third golden bracelet remains unknown, but van Langh vowed the search would continue and that a judicial verdict is expected in the coming weeks.

During its disappearance, the golden helmet was slightly dented, while the recovered bracelets were in perfect condition.

Romanias Minister of Culture Demeter Andras Istvan said the return of the artifacts had shown how strong the connection between heritage and collective consciousness can be.

This entire episode reminds us at the same time how exposed heritage can be. It can be exposed to violence, illegal trafficking, negligence, oblivion, he said.

After the raid, Dutch authorities were left with grainy security footage of three people wrenching open a museum door with a crowbar, after which an explosion was seen. Before its recovery, there were fears the helmet may have been melted down because its fame and distinctive appearance made it virtually unsellable.

The artifacts will be exhibited to the public in Bucharest before undergoing some restoration work, the museums interim director said.

We believe that the public has the pleasure of celebrating them  not only as splendid objects, but as a witness to an ordeal, an almost irreparable loss, and a return that we owe to the operation between institutions and the perseverance of the authorities, he said. Today, these treasures returned home.

(AP)
The European Union on Wednesday was on the cusp of approving a massive loan for Ukraine as oil began flowing again through a key pipeline toward Hungary and Slovakia, lifting a major obstacle to approving the funds.

The operator of the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine, Ukrtransnaft, told the two countries that Russian oil was on its way and should arrive early on Thursday. Unlike most of the rest of the EU, Hungary and Slovakia still depend on Russia for their energy needs.

EU envoys, meanwhile, launched a political procedure to endorse the loan. National governments have 24 hours to raise objections in writing, and if none of the 27 member nations do, the loan could be approved by Thursday afternoon, just as EU leaders are gathering for a summit in Cyprus.

A new raft of sanctions against Russia could also be approved on Thursday.

Money runs short in Ukraine

Ukraine desperately needs the 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan package, originally agreed in December, to prop up its war-ravaged economy and help keep Russian forces at bay for the next two years.

Hungary has insisted that it must start receiving the oil again before it will unblock the funds, while Slovakia refused to endorse new sanctions.

For months, the two countries have accused Ukraine of failing to repair the pipeline. Ukraine and most of its European backers oppose imports of Russian oil which have helped to fund President Vladimir Putins war, now in its fifth year.

In a post on social media on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations and that we expect that the European side will also deliver.

He welcomed movement on the loan, saying that the unblocking is the right signal under the current circumstances. Russia must end its war. And the incentives for that can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient.

Cautious optimism after months of delay

The 27-nation EU had originally intended to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for the loan. But that option was blocked by Belgium, where the bulk of the frozen assets are held.

In December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia agreed not to stop their EU partners from borrowing the money on international markets as long as the three countries did not have to take part in the scheme.

But Hungarys outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has repeatedly blocked EU aid to Ukraine, angered the other 24 countries by later reneging on that deal over the pipeline dispute and as campaigning heated up ahead of an April 12 election that he lost in a landslide.

New sanctions on Russia

The EU has also been trying since February to push through a new raft of sanctions against Russia, which Hungary and Slovakia have blocked. The EU envoys also set in train a procedure to have them approved on Thursday.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico repeated on Wednesday that his government would not approve the new EU measures unless the Druzhba oil pipeline is really reopened. Fico said that trust between Slovakia and Ukraine has been badly damaged by the dispute.

But Economy Minister Denisa Sakova confirmed that Slovakia expects oil supplies to resume early on Thursday. Sakova said Ukrtransnaft had informed the government that oil began entering the Druzhba pipeline again on Wednesday.

(AP)
British police are investigating a suspected hate crime after the door of a Jewish-owned shop in Hertfordshire was set on fire and defaced with graffiti, the latest in a broader spike in attacks targeting Jewish sites across the United Kingdom.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said Tuesday that the fire was deliberately set at a business on the lower high street on Sunday, and confirmed the case is being treated as religiously aggravated. Authorities are now appealing for witnesses and reviewing potential security footage as part of the investigation.

I would like to make it clear that we do not tolerate hate crime in our communities in Hertfordshire, Detective Superintendent Mark Clawson said in a statement, adding that police are working to identify those responsible. He said investigators are particularly interested in speaking with a group of young males seen in the area around the time of the incident.

While officials stressed that there is no confirmed link between the Hertfordshire attack and a recent string of arson attempts in London, the episode comes against a backdrop of rising anxiety within the Jewish community.

Advocacy groups say the latest incident fits into a troubling pattern. The Campaign Against Antisemitism said Tuesday that multiple arson-related attacks have been reported in recent days, warning that the frequency of such incidents is becoming untenable.

The recent wave of cases has included attempted firebombings at shuls, vandalism of Jewish-linked buildings, and attacks on community infrastructure, including Hatzolah ambulances. Some of those incidents have been claimed by a group believed to be tied to Iran, though no such claim has been made in connection with the Hertfordshire case.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A group suspected of ties to Iran is escalating its rhetoric against the United States, issuing direct threats against Ivanka Trump and calling for violence against President Donald Trump in a statement circulated Monday on channels affiliated with the Iranian regime.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, or HAYI, has previously claimed responsibility for a string of arson and attempted bombing attacks targeting Jewish, Israeli and Iranian dissident-linked sites across Europe. In its latest message, the group issued a series of incendiary and personal threats aimed at the Trump family.

The statement included explicit threats against Ivanka Trump and urged Americans  including individuals within the U.S. security establishment  to carry out violence against the president. It also invoked individuals tied to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein in an apparent attempt to amplify its call.

U.S. officials have not publicly responded to the statement, and it remains unclear what operational capability, if any, the group has beyond the attacks it has claimed in Europe.

HAYI has been linked in recent weeks to a growing number of incidents, particularly in the United Kingdom, including claiming responsibility for the March 23 arson of four Hatzolah ambulances in London.

Subsequent incidents have included an attempted firebombing at Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London, where accelerants were placed near the building, as well as an attempted arson at the offices of Iran International, a media outlet critical of Tehran. In both cases, the attacks caused limited damage but raised alarm about coordination and intent.

Additional incidents followed, including a failed arson attempt at a building previously used by a Jewish organization and the discovery of suspicious jars near the Israeli embassy, later determined to be non-hazardous. On Sunday, the Kenton United Synagogue, an Orthodox shul, was targeted in a firebombing that caused minor smoke damage but no injuries.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
CNN anchor Jake Tapper delivered an on-air critique of President Donald Trump on Tuesday, accusing the administration of issuing a series of false, unproven or confusing comments as the Iran war continues with no clear end in sight.

Speaking on CNNs The Lead, Tapper zeroed in on a growing pattern of contradictory statements surrounding U.S. strategy, particularly after Trump announced he would extend a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely just hours before a previous deadline was set to expire.

In other words, the deadline has been replaced with what sounds a lot like the opposite of a deadline  an indefinite time period, Tapper said, pointing to the presidents post on Truth Social indicating that U.S. military action would remain paused while awaiting a proposal from Iranian leaders.

White House clarified on Wednesday that Trumps extension of the deadline was for 3-5 days, not indefinitely. Analysts note that the extension gives the US Navy enough time to get the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier to the region, where it could join in striking Iran if fighting resumes.

Regardless, Tapper argued the shifting timeline is just the latest example of a broader breakdown in messaging that has defined the conflict. He noted that plans for a second round of peace talks appeared to change in real time, with Trump first telling ABC News that Vice President JD Vance would not travel to Pakistan, only to later claim that Vance was already en route.

Theyre heading over now, Trump was quoted as saying, according to the New York Post. But Tapper noted that Vance remains in Washington, D.C. He has never left for Pakistan, despite the president saying he was on his way.

The confusion has extended to key developments in the conflict, including the status of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz. Last week, Trump declared in a social media post that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business, before later asserting that Iran had agreed never to close it again.

But Iran did in fact close the Strait of Hormuz again the very next day, Tapper said, adding that Tehran cited ongoing U.S. military actions as justification.

In a separate interview on CNBC, Trump appeared to contradict earlier statements, signaling reluctance to reopen the waterway while negotiations remain unresolved. The blockade has been a tremendous success, Trump said, adding, were not going to open the strait until we have a final deal.

Tapper also raised questions about the scope of U.S. military operations after the Pentagon confirmed the interception of another Iranian-linked vessel  this time in the Indian Ocean, far from the Strait of Hormuz. That prompts the question, Tapper said, is the U.S. now extending the blockade far beyond the strait?

Further muddying the picture, Trump suggested the intercepted ship may have carried equipment linked to China. A gift from China, perhaps, he said, while acknowledging uncertainty about the details.

Tapper noted that the White House has not clarified which vessel the president was referring to, nor has it addressed whether any retaliatory measures  including previously threatened tariffs on China  are being considered.

Although we dont know any of the facts behind any of this, Tapper said, and this was just in the last week.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Irans leadership structure is undergoing a quiet but consequential shift, with real authority increasingly concentrated in the hands of military commanders rather than the countrys newly installed supreme leader, according to a report by The New York Times.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed power in March following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, is reportedly not exercising the same centralized control that defined his fathers rule. Instead, decision-making authority has shifted toward senior figures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly on matters of war strategy and diplomacy.

Access to the younger Khamenei has become extremely difficult and limited, according to the report, which cites interviews with current and former Iranian officials, IRGC members and individuals familiar with the countrys leadership dynamics. He is said to be recovering from serious injuries sustained during the opening phase of the war, when U.S. and Israeli strikes killed his father and left him with severe burns that have impaired his ability to speak.

He is managing the country as though he is the director of the board, said Abdolreza Davari, a former adviser to ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He relies heavily on the advice and guidance of the board members The generals are the board members.

Others describe an even more constrained role. Mojtaba is not yet in full command or control, said Sanam Vakil of Chatham House, noting that key decisions are often presented to him as a fait accompli.

Khamenei has not appeared publicly since taking office and is believed to be in hiding due to ongoing security concerns. Communication with him is reportedly conducted through handwritten messages delivered by couriers, a workaround that underscores both his physical limitations and the tightly controlled environment around him. Officials cited in the report say he has avoided issuing video or audio statements, wary of projecting weakness.

The result is a governing structure that diverges sharply from the centralized model under his father, who maintained final authority over nearly all major decisions. Mojtaba is subservient to the Revolutionary Guards, said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group, describing him as a leader only in name.

According to the report, IRGC commanders have driven critical wartime decisions, including operations against Israel, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the direction of ceasefire and diplomatic talks with the United States. Internal disagreements persistparticularly over whether to engage with Washingtonbut military leaders have largely prevailed, including in a recent decision to halt negotiations amid tensions tied to a maritime blockade.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Donald Trump on Thursday said he has ordered the U.S. Navy to shoot and kill any vessels attempting to lay mines in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!

U.S. officials have not confirmed that Iranian vessels are actively deploying mines in the waterway, but say the military has taken a series of precautionary steps amid heightened tensions with Iran. The narrow shipping corridor handles a significant share of the worlds oil traffic, making any disruption a potential global economic flashpoint.

Trump paired the military directive with a barrage of posts highlighting what he described as dysfunction within Irans leadership. Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just dont know! he wrote.

The comments come as questions swirl around the status of Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since taking power following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. Multiple reports indicate he was seriously injured in the strike that killed the elder Khamenei, fueling uncertainty about who is directing decision-making in Tehran.

In practice, power appears to be consolidating within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, whose hardline commanders are widely believed to be steering wartime strategy. At the same time, civilian officials  including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi  are seen as more open to negotiating a ceasefire with Washington.

The infighting is between the hardliners who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the moderates, who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY! Trump wrote.

The White House has argued that those internal divisions have prevented Tehran from delivering a unified response to the latest U.S. proposal for a permanent ceasefire, prompting Trump to extend a temporary truce that had been set to expire earlier this week.

Trump also claimed sweeping U.S. control over the key maritime route. We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy, he wrote. It is sealed up tight until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The U.K. and French governments signed a new multimillion-euro deal on Thursday aimed at reducing the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, with increased police patrols and enhanced surveillance in northern France.

U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez formally endorsed the three-year agreement during a joint visit to the Dunkirk region.

Mahmood praised the new deal as providing the right mix of skills and capabilities that we know will work on the beaches in order to reduce the crossings.

Nunez said that it will help in combating illegal immigration networks, human trafficking networks, which are obviously extremely harmful.

Under the agreement, the U.K. will provide 500 million pounds ($675 million) to strengthen measures in northern France, with an additional 160 million pounds ($216 million) depending on the success of new tactics to curb Channel crossings. If those efforts fail, the additional funding will be halted after one year, the U.K. Home Office said.

The plan aims at increasing the number of officers deployed on the ground from 907 now to 1,392 for the 20262029 period, along with the creation of an additional police unit dedicated to combating irregular migration, funded by France, the French Interior Ministry said.

It will also include the deployment of new technologies aimed at reducing departures of taxi boats, the term authorities use for small motorized vessels that are typically inflatable and used by smugglers to pick up migrants along long stretches of the northern French coast.

Unlike boats that migrants carry into the water themselves, taxi boats typically set off largely empty from secluded coastal areas and pick up migrants at prearranged meeting points on beaches.

The deal also expands surveillance capabilities through drones, helicopters and electronic monitoring, to better prevent crossing attempts.

U.K. pushes tougher migration policies

Our work with the French has already stopped tens of thousands of crossings and this government has deported or returned nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

Since taking office nearly two years ago, Starmers center-left Labour government has pushed through a series of policies that it hopes will sharply reduce immigration.

Small boat crossings have become a potent political issue in the U.K. over recent years. Anger at the seeming inability of successive governments to get a handle on the issue has been behind a series of demonstrations and riots over the past few years and fueled the rise of the hard-right Reform UK party, which has been leading in opinion polls for more than a year and is predicted to make sweeping gains in a raft of elections on May 7.

Under the measures adopted, the government now has powers to seize the assets of people smugglers, beefed up U.K. border surveillance and increased law enforcement cooperation with France and other countries to disrupt the journey.

Its unclear whether the policies are working.

Summer surge will test policies

So far this year, more than 6,000 migrants have reached the U.K. after crossing the Channel, down 36% from the same period last year, a drop that may partly reflect more unsettled weather.

The real evidence will emerge over the coming months as the weather turns warmer and the Channel turns less choppy. In 2025, a total of 41,472 people made the crossing that way  the second-highest annual figure since records began in 2018, after a peak of 45,755 in 2022.

Police operations led to the arrest of 480 smugglers last year, the French Interior Ministry said.

A large share of the resources provided under the new deal will be deployed from the early summer.

Nicolas Laroye, representative of the police union UNSA in the Dunkirk region, said that additional staffing and increased capabilities will support police efforts in their complex mission to monitor more than 200 kilometers (around 125 miles) of coast along the Channel.

British-financed measures in recent years had a major impact on the ground, Laroye said.

Were intercepting many people before they go on the beaches to prevent them to get on boats, he said.

Drones especially have become a key tool to monitor the vast stretches of sand dunes where migrants hide overnight before crossing attempts, he said.

Critics warn policy fails to address root causes

Earlier this month, two men and two women died as they were trying to board an inflatable boat off the coast of northern France. British authorities arrested a man from Sudan on Friday on suspicion of endangering life in that case.

The week before, two other people died in similar circumstances off the coast north of Calais.

Critics say that the new deal, which builds on the Sandhurst Treaty, first signed in 2018 and renewed in 2023, isnt addressing the underlying issue.

Policing alone will not prevent desperate people from turning to dangerous small boats in the first place, said Imran Hussain from the Refugee Council, a U.K. charity that aims to promote the rights of refugees.

Campaign groups for migrant rights have long warned that increasingly vigorous efforts by French police to prevent boat departures from beaches, including using knives to hack and puncture inflatable boats to render them unusable, are encouraging the use of taxi boats, which increases the risks of drownings, injuries and the need for rescues.

Before this months deaths, migrant aid group Utopia 56 said that at least 162 people have died at the French-U.K. border over the past three years.

(AP)
The 1986 Chernobyl disaster fueled global fears about nuclear power and slowed its development in Europe and elsewhere. Four decades later, however, theres a revival around the world, a trend that has been given a big boost by war in the Middle East.

Over 400 nuclear reactors are operational in 31 countries, while about 70 more are under construction. Nuclear power accounts for producing about 10% of the worlds electricity, equivalent to about a quarter of all sources of low-carbon power.

Nuclear reactors have seen steady improvements, adding more safety features and making them cheaper to build and operate.

While Chernobyl and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan diminished the appetite for such power sources, it was clear years ago that there probably would be a revival, said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.

With the war in the Middle East, I am 100% sure nuclear is coming back, he added.

Its seen as a secure electricity generation system, and we will see that the comeback of nuclear will be very strong, both in (the) Americas, in Europe and in Asia, Birol told The Associated Press.

Nuclear energy reliance stays strong

The United States is the worlds largest producer of nuclear power, with 94 operational reactors accounting for about 30% of global generation of nuclear electricity. And it is increasing efforts to develop nuclear energy capacity with a goal to quadruple it by 2050.

The world cannot power its industries, meet the demands of artificial intelligence, or secure its energy future without nuclear power, U.S. Undersecretary of State Thomas DiNanno said last month.

China operates 61 nuclear reactors and is leading the world in building new units, with nearly 40 under construction with a goal to surpass the U.S. and become the global leader in nuclear capacity.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged that it was Europes strategic mistake to cut nuclear energy and outlined new initiatives to encourage building power plants.

Russia, meanwhile, has taken a strong lead in exporting its nuclear know-how, building 20 reactors worldwide.

Chernobyls Reactor No. 4 exploded on April 26, 1986, while Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union. The accident contaminated nearby areas and spewed radiation across Europe.

Ukraine still relies heavily on nuclear plants to generate about half of its electricity. Those plants have played a vital role after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022. Moscows forces have captured Ukraines Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Kyiv accused Russia of a drone attack on the protective containment structure covering the damaged Chernobyl reactor.

Japan has restarted 15 reactors after reviewing the lessons of the earthquake and tsunami that damaged the Fukushima plant, and 10 more are in the process of getting approval to restart.

South Africa has the only nuclear power plant on the African continent, although Russia is building one in Egypt, and several other African nations are exploring the technology.

The momentum we are seeing today is the result of a growing recognition that reliable, low-carbon electricity will be essential to meet the worlds rising energy demand, said Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

EU eyes nuclear expansion

Europe sought to wean itself off Russian energy after the Ukraine conflict, but its dependence on hydrocarbons was underlined by the war in the Middle East.

The European Commission has shifted its perception of nuclear energy and views it as part of clean energy, along with wind and solar power, to achieve climate goals.

In 1990, nuclear energy accounted for about a third of Europes electricity; now its only about 15%, and von der Leyen has acknowledged that its reliance on imported fossil fuels puts it at a disadvantage.

I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power, she said recently. In the last years, we see a global revival of nuclear energy. And Europe wants to be part of it.

The EU is considering the development of Small Modular Reactors. Expected to become operational in the early 2030s, they are seen as cheaper and faster to build and more flexible than traditional reactors.

France and a few other EU members, including Sweden and Finland, have spearheaded nuclear power. On the other hand, Germany, Austria and Italy are among the EU members that outlawed its use.

In a major policy reversal last year, Belgium repealed a law that demanded the closure of its reactors and extended their lifespan. Spain, meanwhile, still plans to phase out its nuclear capacity and shut down its seven operational reactors between 2027 and 2035.

France remains a nuclear powerhouse

With 57 reactors at 19 plants, France relies on nuclear power for nearly 70% of its electricity.

Successive governments have backed nuclear power as central to Frances energy independence, undeterred by the Chernobyl disaster. In 2022, President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to build six new pressurized water reactors, aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions and support the transition to low-carbon energy.

The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the gas supply crunch triggered by the conflict in Ukraine, revealed the limits of deploying renewable electricity and Europes dependence on gas, said Nicolas Goldberg, a partner at Paris-based Colombus Consulting.

France has therefore been reinforced in its strategy of maintaining its existing nuclear plants, which means extending their lifespan as much as possible, he said.

Germany stands firm in phasing it out

Decades of anti-nuclear protests in Germany, stoked by past accidents, had pressured successive governments to end using a technology that critics saw as unsafe and unsustainable. Germany switched off its last three nuclear reactors in 2023, the final step in plans that had been drawn up by governments of various political stripes over two decades.

A significant nuclear revival in Europes biggest economy still looks far-fetched, despite recent talk among some in Chancellor Friedrich Merzs center-right bloc about being open to a possible future generation of small modular reactors.

The decision is irreversible  I regret it, but thats how it is, Merz said, noting the plant operatorss consistent answer was: We are too far along with demolition.

Russian domestic nuclear expansion and exporting reactors

Russia has aggressively expanded its nuclear power capacity both domestically and internationally.

It has 34 operational reactors, including eight Chernobyl-type RBMK reactors, known as the light water graphite reactors, which account for about a quarter of all nuclear power generation. They have seen extensive modernizations, adding safety features to fix the inherent design flaw that, coupled with human error, triggered the Chernobyl disaster.

Key projects under construction include new units at the Kursk, Leningrad and Smolensk sites, a prospective plant in the Far East, and prospective floating nuclear units.

Russia also is building 20 reactors in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and has signed contracts to launch construction in several other countries.

Russia has built the first nuclear reactor for neighboring ally Belarus, which has seen a third of its territory contaminated from the Chernobyl accident.

Belarusian authorities are using the changed context and the so-called nuclear renaissance to claim that we are acting like everyone else in the world, rather than solving the problems of Belarusians in the contaminated territories, said Irina Sukhiy, founder of the Belarus ecological group Green Network.

(AP)
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/vzaluzhnyi

The new world order will be defined by the technological revolution currently underway, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and former Armed Forces commander-in-chief (2021-2024) Valerii Zaluzhny believes.

"What will the new world order look like and what will shape it? Clearly, the great technological revolution that is happening right now, linked to artificial intelligence. Predicting the consequences of this revolution is impossible. Everything will depend on how countries and societies, including Ukraine, navigate this leap. The role of our youth is important here, as is the state's ability to form and develop their potential," Zaluzhnyi wrote on Facebook following a meeting with students from various Ukrainian universities as part of an online discussion organized by the Nizhny Kyiv School of Public Administration.

He stressed that the old world order, based on rules and the power that upheld them, is over. "It was gradually destroyed after the 2008 war in Georgia. And so it was only a matter of time before conflicts spread to other parts of the world," the diplomat said.

Zaluzhny said the discussion focused on the end of the war in Ukraine, whether it could have been avoided, and the country's strategy and goals in the war.
U.S. weapons deliveries to Ukraine havent stopped despite the Iran war, and Ukrainian long-range strikes continue to hammer Russian oil production and manufacturing plants, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday.

Of course, we are hitting what is painful for Russia, and it is very painful, Zelenskyy said in voice messages to reporters. He said that Russian losses in the strikes have reached tens of billions of dollars.

It wasnt possible to independently verify Zelenskyys comments, but Russian officials have reported that attacks have struck infrastructure in regions more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) inside Russia.

While Russia presses its all-out invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, Ukraine is using its domestically developed drone and missile technology to strike Russian territory. The Ukrainian military also uses American-made Patriot air defense systems to stop Russian missile attacks on Ukraines territory.

We see that the Russians do not want to stop  they are hitting our energy sector and our people. We will respond, Zelenskyy said.

Prince Harry praises Ukraines resistance

Ukraines fight against Russias bigger army drew renewed praise from Prince Harry, who arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for his third visit in a year.

Ukrainians have demonstrated strength not just in bravery and capability, but in unity, in trust, he said in a speech to a Kyiv security conference

Ukraine continues to hold together, and hold together you must, he said.

The Duke of Sussex stepped off a train in Kyivs main station after an overnight journey from Poland, which is the only way to travel to the Ukrainian capital.

It wasnt clear whether Harry would meet with Zelenskyy, who was due to attend a summit of European Union leaders in Cyprus on Thursday evening.

Russian firefighters tackle huge drone strike blaze

Hours before Harry arrived, three people were killed and 10 were wounded in a Russian drone attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, according to Oleksandr Hanzha, the head of the regional military administration.

A 13-story building and an administrative building were damaged in the strike, Hanzha said on the Telegram messaging app.

Russian air defenses, meanwhile, intercepted 154 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the annexed Crimea Peninsula, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Authorities in the Krasnodar region on Russias Black Sea coast said that 276 firefighters at the Black Sea port of Tuapse were fighting for a third straight day a huge blaze caused by a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week.

Toxic material from the fire fell with rain, covering several districts of Tuapse with a black layer of dirt, the regions emergency headquarters reported. The concentration in the air of chemicals from the fire surpassed admissible levels, officials said, and authorities advised residents to stay indoors.

Ukraine targets more Russian oil facilities

For the second consecutive night, Russias Samara region also was targeted. In the Samara city of Novokuybyshevsk, about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, a drone attack on an unspecified industrial facility killed one person, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said.

Drone debris also fell on a roof of a residential building in the city of Samara, wounding a number of people, Fedorishchev said. One person was hospitalized.

Unconfirmed media reports said that a petrochemical plant in Novokuybyshevsk owned by the Rosneft oil and gas company came under attack.

Ukrainian forces also struck Russian oil infrastructure in the Samara region and a pipeline in the Nizhegorodskaya region that transports oil from Western Siberia to Tatarstan, said Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation.

An oil refinery in the Samara region and an oil pipeline in the Nizhegorodskaya region were hit, he said. The pipeline transports oil from Western Siberia to Tatarstan. He didnt offer more details about the strikes.

Also, units of Ukraines Security Service struck the Gorky oil pumping station in Russias Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow, said a senior official from the agency, which goes by the abbreviation SBU.

The nighttime drone attack damaged three oil tanks and caused a large fire, the official said. The official wasnt authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The operation of main pipelines is disrupted, the efficiency of processing at refineries decreases, and transportation costs increase. As a result, this directly affects the revenues of the Russian budget, which are used to finance the war against Ukraine, the official said.

(AP)
In a deeply moving and momentous ceremony, the historic residences of the great leaders of previous generations  the holy Sfas Emes, ztl, and the Imrei Emes, ztl  were inaugurated this week in the town of Gora Kalwaria, Poland. This long-awaited redemption comes after fifteen years of complex, global bureaucratic efforts, made possible through the generous support of the distinguished Werdiger and Fishoff families.

A Moment of Elevation: Tears of History

It was nearly impossible to find a dry eye this week in Gora Kalwaria, as the historic apartments  once the very heartbeat of pre-war Polish Jewry  were revealed once more. In a unique and intimate gathering, attended by Harav Hatzaddik Nechemia Alter, shlita, son of the Gerrer Rebbe, shlita, alongside members of the donor families, the crown was restored to its former glory.

The event was conducted under the devoted leadership of Rabbi Yonasan Bornstein, CEO of Ichud Mosdos Gur, whose tireless dedication over many years brought this vision to fruition.

This remarkable structure is one of a kind in the world. It housed generations of Gerrer Rebbes and served as the formative center of the Gerrer Chassidus in Poland, and by extension the entire world. Within its walls, tens of thousands of Chassidim once came to seek counsel and brachos, Torah and Chassidus, many traveling with the famed kolejka from Warsaw.

The Struggle for Redemption: Fifteen Years of Effort

Reclaiming the building from foreign ownership was no simple task. Since the war years, local residents had occupied the premises, and a web of legal and bureaucratic challenges stood in the way of its return.

Working quietly yet resolutely behind the scenes, Rabbi Yonasan Bornstein led the effort for over fifteen years  navigating setbacks, complexities and moments of both despair and renewed hope.

When a breakthrough was finally achieved, the acquisition required an immense sum; millions of dollars. At that pivotal moment, the generous benefactors stepped forward: the esteemed philanthropist Reb Shlomo Werdiger and his family, renowned supporters of Torah in general and of Gerrer causes and institutions in particular, together with the distinguished Fishoff family, known for their far-reaching contributions to Torah and chessed, and their deep connection to the Gerrer dynasty.

For both families, this was a deeply personal and historic closing of a circle. Their forefathers  Reb Nechemia Werdiger, zl, and Reb Bentzion Fischoff, zl  had traveled to, and davened in, this very building before the Churban, carrying with them vivid memories of what once was.

The Chanukas Habayis and Affixing of Mezuzos

This Monday, 3 Iyar, history was made. Such emotion had not been witnessed in Gora Kalwaria since its destruction.

Rabbi Yonasan Bornstein opened the ceremony, his voice choked with emotion, as he recounted fifteen years of worldwide efforts  years marked by struggle and perseverance, despair and faith, bolstered by the brachos of tzaddikim and unwavering emunah, all culminating in this extraordinary moment: the reopening of this sacred and historic site. He then invited the donor families to unveil the impressive commemorative plaques placed at the front of the beautifully restored building. Reb Shlomo Werdiger, together with his sons and sons-in-law, stepped forward to reveal one plaque, as the moving melody of Yizkor Ahavasam filled the air.

Moments later, members of the Fishoff family unveiled the parallel plaque. The renowned chazzan, R Yisrael Adler, led a heartfelt rendition of Keil Malei Rachamim, in memory of the multitudes who once filled the beis medrash  among them Reb Nechemia Werdiger, zl, and Reb Yechiel Bentzion Fischoff, zl.

One of the most stirring moments came as the participants entered the building itself. Harav Nechemia Alter affixed a mezuzah at the entrance  symbolizing the buildings return to authentic Jewish ownership, in the hands of those who carry forward the legacy of the Gerrer dynasty. Representatives of the families were then honored with affixing the mezuzos inside.

A profoundly moving tour followed, guided by Harav Hagaon Moshe Chaim Denderovitch, shlita, culminating in the signing of a beautifully prepared founding scroll reserved for those who restored the beis medrash building.

In a powerful and unexpected revelation, at the very spot where the Sfas Emes, zya, authored his renowned sefarim, a wall was uncovered bearing the words: Sfas Emes Tikon Lad  The language of truth shall stand forever. Nearby stood a sefer Torah prepared by the Ichud Mosdos Ger, and the distinguished participants were invited to complete the final letters in the sefer Torah, which was then dedicated to the beis medrash for generations to come.

As the choir lifted their voices in the moving hymns Torah HaKedoshah Hischaneni Bvakashah and Yizkerem Elokeinu LTovah, an emotional procession made its way toward the restored beis medrash  one of the very few structures of batei medrash in Poland to have retained its original form after the Churban.

Seudas Mitzvah

During the seudas mitzvah that followed, participants were deeply moved as a historic speech by Reb Bentzion Fishoff, zl  delivered within the very walls of the beis medrash some fifteen years ago  was played. In that address, he had turned to his dear friend, Reb Shlomo Werdiger, who was present at the time with his sons.

Now, years later, those words carried a powerful and almost awe-inspiring resonance, as the two families together merited to initiate and bring to completion the redemption of this sacred site in such a magnificent manner. In preparation for the occasion, a mikveh was also inaugurated on the premises, and the residences were readied to host Chassidim who wish to visit and spend time within these holy walls  walls still imbued with the atmosphere of bygone Poland, where the fiery ruach of Ger once radiated outward, illuminating Jewish life across Europe and Eretz Yisrael.

A particularly moving and unexpected moment came during the address of Harav Nechemia Alter, shlita.

In a gesture of rare distinction, he presented two bottles of fine wine sent personally by the Gerrer Rebbe, shlita, as a token of appreciation to the two distinguished donor families. Such a tribute is reserved in Ger for only the most exceptional occasions.

Heartfelt words were then shared by Reb Shlomo Werdiger, who recounted aspects of the earlier stages of redeeming the beis medrash many years ago, and concluded with the hope that the Rebbe himself will soon come to visit the restored makom kadosh. He was followed by Reb Dov Fishoff, who spoke movingly on behalf of his family.

A Vision for the Future

Beyond the redemption of the historic residences, the site has now been fully prepared to receive Chassidim from around the world who seek to reconnect with their roots, to walk once more through the pathways of the town, and to dwell in the shadow of these sacred walls.

A mikveh has been established, and the ancient beis medrash has been carefully restored, preserving its original form as much as possible.

Special appreciation was extended to Reb Yossi Chishinsky of Ashdod, who personally oversaw the restoration of the beis medrash and the residences, devoting himself to the project with exceptional care and dedication. The exciting news of the reopening has spread rapidly among thousands of Gerrer Chassidim across the world, stirring a deep yearning to return, to once again experience the unique atmosphere absorbed within those walls, and to cleave to the glorious heritage that has now, at long last, been restored to its rightful owners.
President Donald Trump is pushing back on claims that the United States is under pressure to reach a deal with Iran, even as the ongoing conflict continues to drive up energy costs and strain global markets.

I am possibly the least pressured person ever to be in this position, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. I have all the time in the world, but Iran doesnt  the clock is ticking.

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Trump added that he could make a deal with Iran right now, but he wants it to be everlasting rather than temporary.

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Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump acknowledged that Americans could face higher gas prices in the near term. For a little while, he said, before adding that the outcome would be worth it: Iran without a nuclear weapon thats going try to blow up one of our cities or the entire Middle East.

The president declined to offer a timeline for reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement, emphasizing patience over urgency. Dont rush me, he told reporters, noting that past U.S. wars have lasted far longer than the current conflict.

Trump also pointed to what he described as internal divisions within Irans leadership. Theyre fighting like cats and dogs over whos going to control. Weve created a real mess for them, he said.

While suggesting that a deal could be reached quickly, Trump said he is aiming for a lasting agreement rather than a short-term fix. A deal will only be made when its appropriate and good for the United States of America, our allies and, in fact, the rest of the world, he said.

Trump also stressed the importance of removing Irans nuclear threat, saying, I think there would be nothing worse than having nuclear holocaust in Europe; London, Paris, various places in Germany  all targeted.

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The remarks come as the Pentagon announced that a third aircraft carrier  the USS George H.W. Bush  entered the Indian Ocean, in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, and could in if strikes on Iran resume.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
New intelligence assessments are raising fresh questions about the extent of damage inflicted on Irans military, suggesting the Islamic Republic retains far more capability than the White House and Pentagon have publicly acknowledged.

Multiple U.S. officials familiar with classified briefings told CBS News that as much as half of Irans ballistic missile stockpile remained intact at the start of the April ceasefire, along with a significant portion of its launch infrastructure. Roughly 60 percent of the naval arm of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  including its fleet of fast-attack boats  also survived the U.S. and Israeli campaign, according to those officials.

The findings stand in contrast to the sweeping claims of success from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have repeatedly characterized the operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, as a decisive blow that effectively neutralized Irans military.

Weve taken out their navy, weve taken out their air force, weve taken out their leaders, Trump said this week, while Hegseth described the campaign as a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, adding that it had rendered Iran combat ineffective for years to come.

But officials speaking on condition of anonymity painted a more complicated picture. While Irans conventional navy appears to have suffered extensive losses, its asymmetric naval forces  particularly those tied to the IRGC  remain capable of disrupting shipping lanes, including in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

That threat was underscored Wednesday, when Iranian gunboats attacked multiple commercial vessels in the waterway shortly after Trump announced he was extending a ceasefire to allow more time for diplomacy.

Irans air power has also been degraded but not eliminated, officials said, with roughly two-thirds of its air force still believed to be operational despite thousands of strikes targeting military infrastructure. And while the campaign significantly reduced Irans capabilities, intelligence assessments indicate the country retains a large inventory of missiles and unmanned aerial systems.

Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs that can threaten U.S. and partner forces throughout the region, Marine Lt. Gen. James Adams, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, wrote in prepared testimony to Congress.

Pentagon officials have defended the operations success, emphasizing the scale of destruction inflicted. Spokesman Sean Parnell said more than 13,000 Iranian targets were struck in under 40 days, describing the campaign as delivering a crippling series of blows to the regime.

Parnell added that 92 percent of Irans largest naval vessels had been destroyed, calling it the largest elimination of a navy over a three week period since World War II.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Immigration from the United Kingdom to Israel has reached its highest level in four decades. A study released by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research found that 742 people moved from the UK to Israel in 2025  the highest annual figure since the mid-1980s.

The gradual uptick appears to be part of a broader trend that has accelerated in the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacre and the subsequent war in Gaza, which contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents across Europe and the United States. The study suggests that these developments have played a role in nudging more British Jews toward considering relocation to Israel, even if the overall scale remains relatively modest.

Researchers found that migration rates are not uniform across the community. Ultra-Orthodox Jews were more likely to make the move, as were individuals who reported a strong connection to Jewish communal life. Those less engaged with communal institutions showed lower rates of migration, pointing to the role of identity and social networks in shaping such decisions.

Despite the increase in aliyah, the study paints a more nuanced picture of sentiment within the UKs Jewish population. A survey conducted as part of the research found that a large majority still feel able to live openly as Jews in Britain. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they either strongly or somewhat agree that they can practice Judaism without restriction.

At the same time, concern about antisemitism remains widespread. 82 percent of respondents described it as a very big or fairly big problem, highlighting a tension between day-to-day comfort and broader unease about the trajectory of Jewish life in the country.

The findings may already be dated in one key respect. The survey was conducted between June and July 2025, before a deadly Yom Kippur attack on a shul in Manchester  an event that could further shape perceptions of safety and belonging.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Iran executed a man on Wednesday convicted of ties to Israels intelligence services, the latest in a growing wave of high-profile executions that rights groups say reflects an intensifying crackdown amid the countrys ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

State media, including the judiciary-affiliated Mizan Online, said Mehdi Farid was hanged after being found guilty of extensive cooperation with Israels Mossad spy agency. Authorities said the case had been fully adjudicated and the sentence approved under the capital charge of corruption on earth, one of the most serious offenses under Iranian law.

The execution comes as Tehran ramps up the use of capital punishment in cases tied to national security and alleged espionage. Iranian officials have repeatedly warned there will be no leniency for individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, particularly since the outbreak of war on Feb. 28.

Exile-based human rights organizations offered additional details that diverge in part from the official account. The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights said Farid had worked for the countrys Atomic Energy Organization and was arrested in May 2023. According to the group, he was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison before receiving the death penalty following a retrial in 2025.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency added that Farid, 55, was employed in Irans nuclear sector and that prosecutors sought a harsher sentence on appeal.

Iranian authorities, however, presented a different version of his role, describing him as a manager in the Passive Defense Organization, a civil defense body. That agency later issued a statement denying Farid had ever held a position there.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A dramatic High Court hearing opened on Thursday morning on petitions from left-wing organizations demanding that the government be compelled to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre.

The hearing is yet another unprecedented attempt by Israels High Court to intervene in core government powers and violate the separation of powers by directly challenging government decisions. However, this time, the confrontation is over an extremely sensitive issue, with bereaved families of the October 7 victims still mourning their losses and emotions running high.

Left-wing Israelis support a state commission of hearing because it means that the members would be appointed by the far-left president of the Supreme Court, Yitzchak Amit, whose actions have been so controversial and politically biased that his decisions have even been condemned by his fellow High Court justices on numerous occasions. The government and the majority of Israelis (who elected the government) have no trust in Amit and the High Court to head an unbiased investigation.

Instead, the government is promoting a framework for a national commission of inquiry, in which representatives would be appointed by the coalition and the opposition, ensuring a politically balanced committee. But of course, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who opposes every government decision, supports a state commission of inquiry, and the High Court already signaled its intentions to actively meddle in the matter by issuing a controversial interim order to halt the State Comptrollers investigation into the massacre, a decision that experts say is not only judicial overreach but endangers Israelis lives.

Additionally, as is well-known, the High Court and the judiciary system often issue controversial rulings that side with terrorists and the rights of Palestinians, which significantly affects Israels security. The lives of numerous Israelis, civilians and IDF soldiers, have been lost due to judicial decisions that favored the rights of terrorists over those of Israeli citizens. In fact, the majority of Israelis believe that the decisions of the High Court and the military prosecution also played a role in causing the October 7 massacre and must be investigated. How can a state commission of inquiry be headed by that same High Court?

High Court justices banned the public and bereaved families from entering the courtroom out of fears of disturbances due to their highly controversial usurpation of power, and the hearing took place under heavy security. Nonetheless, after the hearing began, a bereaved father burst into the courtroom and cried out, The terrorists murdered our sons with the backing of the court!

Members of bereaved families also protested outside the courthouse, and verbal clashes broke out between those who support a state commission of inquiry and those who support a national commission of inquiry.

Drama ensued during the hearing when bereaved parents who oppose the High Court tried to break into the courtroom, shouting: Put the judges on trial! Security officials halted the hearing, and the judges were evacuated from the courthouse. The hearing later resumed.

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(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
An Arab terrorist threw stones at an Israeli vehicle traveling on Route 60 in the Shomron on Thursday, injuring a five-year-old child.

One of the stones forcefully hit the car windshield and penetrated the car, directly hitting the childs shoulder.

MDA medical teams that were called to the scene provided the child with initial medical treatment. Fortunately, the child was only lightly injured, sustaining bruises and cuts from glass shards.

IDF forces who arrived at the scene launched a search for the terrorist and imposed a blockade on the nearby village of Madama.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
The United States is intensifying its pressure campaign against Iran, launching a more aggressive phase of maritime enforcement that now includes disabling and seizing vessels suspected of supporting Tehrans oil trade and war effort.

The effort marks a significant escalation in the U.S. strategy, shifting from a traditional naval blockade to active interdictions on the high seas, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal and other outlets.

The campaign began earlier this month with a sweeping blockade of Iranian ports, aimed at halting the regimes ability to export oil  a key source of revenue. U.S. Central Command has already turned back dozens of vessels attempting to leave Iranian ports, with none successfully breaching the blockade so far.

But in recent days, the operation has expanded both geographically and tactically.

On Sunday, U.S. forces intercepted the Iranian-flagged tanker Touska, which was carrying roughly two million barrels of oil from Kharg Island, according to the report. After repeated warnings were ignored, a U.S. Navy destroyer disabled the vessel before Marines boarded and took control.

The move signals a shift toward more forceful enforcement, including the use of disabling fire against noncompliant ships  a tactic more commonly associated with counter-narcotics operations.

Officials say the crackdown is no longer limited to the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have expanded operations into the Indo-Pacific and beyond, targeting vessels linked to Iranian smuggling networks or providing material support to the regime.

The broader strategy appears modeled on earlier U.S. campaigns against Venezuelas so-called dark fleet, with the potential for seizures across multiple oceans.

The Pentagon, State Department and Treasury Department are coordinating the effort, combining military enforcement with economic sanctions in a bid to cut off Irans oil exports and constrain its ability to fund military operations.

At the same time, the pressure campaign is unfolding alongside fragile ceasefire negotiations. The White House has expressed hope that the economic squeeze  paired with visible demonstrations of U.S. naval power  will push Tehran toward a broader agreement.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Israeli prosecutors have charged two Israeli Air Force technicians accused of spying for Iran. According to Israels public broadcaster KAN News, the suspectsboth stationed at Tel Nof Airbaseare alleged to have passed classified material during Operation Roaring Lion. The two worked on F-15 fighter jets, among Israels most advanced aircraft, and are suspected of handing over sensitive engine schematics along with prohibited images of a flight instructor, in violation of strict military censorship rules.

Investigators say the pair were also tasked with collecting information on senior Israeli figures, including former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Authorities are weighing whether to elevate charges against one of the suspects from espionage to treason, a significantly more severe offense under Israeli law. The case is being handled in coordination with the Shin Bet, which has taken a leading role in interrogations and damage assessment.

The fallout appears to extend beyond the two primary suspects. As many as eight additional soldiers at the base are under investigation for allegedly knowing about the activity and failing to report it.

In the immediate aftermath, the base commandera brigadier general whose identity remains classifiedconvened personnel for an urgent security briefing. During the session, he disclosed that he had been summoned by the Shin Bet to account for the incident, signaling the seriousness with which Israeli authorities are treating the breach.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Akbar Novruz



The Country to Live party, linked to former Karabakh regime figure Ruben Vardanyan, has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Strong Armenia Alliance of Parties, founded by RussianArmenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, ahead of Armenias 2026 parliamentary elections, AzerNEWS reports via OC Media.

According to the agreement, the two sides will unite their political, organisational, and human resources to participate in the June 7 elections. The memorandum provides for the formation of a unified political agenda and the active involvement of regional structures.

Vardanyan is currently serving a 20-year sentence in Azerbaijan on charges including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and terrorism.

While the alliances updated electoral list includes several members of the Country to Live party, its founders, Mesrop Arakelyan and Mane Tandilyan, were not included, without a detailed explanation.

The party stated that the decision to cooperate was made amid serious security, political, and value-based challenges facing Armenia, which require nationwide consolidation, responsibility, and clear political will.

It also emphasized that the inarguable priority of returning Armenian prisoners is a key element of the cooperation.

Arakelyan expresses his confidence that Karapetyan would spare nothing to ensure their return.

Azerbaijan has officially confirmed that 19 Armenian detainees are currently held, including former political and military figures, who have been convicted on various charges.

Arakelyan described the upcoming elections as a choice between surrender and resistance and stressed that the return of detainees should become a central national priority.

The announcement coincided with a congress of the alliance, where the first 30 candidates on its electoral list were approved. It was also confirmed that the bloc would formally operate under the name Strong Armenia Alliance of Parties, following recent amendments to Armenias electoral legislation prohibiting the use of personal names in alliance titles.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has welcomed the adoption by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) of its opinion on the draft Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on laundering, search, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds from crime and on the financing of terrorism.

"The emphasis in the opinion on the link between anti-money laundering instruments and the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine is of fundamental importance. Strengthening mechanisms for tracing, freezing and confiscating assets is critically important for cutting off the financial flows that Russia uses to wage war, circumvent sanctions and support state-linked structures," the ministry said in a comment published by its press service.

The Ukrainian side said the effective application of these instruments should become one of the key elements of international efforts aimed at limiting the resource base of the aggressor state and ensuring the inevitability of accountability.
Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett is intensifying the countrys already fraught debate over military conscription, insisting that state funding should be cut off to Chareidi yeshivos whose talmidim do not serve in the military.

We will not fund a single shekel to those who dont enlist, Bennett said in a radio interview Monday.

Speaking on Maarivs 103FM, Bennett argued that the IDF is short roughly 20,000 troops, a gap he said is straining operations and increasing risk to soldiers. Draft evasion is costing us the lives of our soldiers, he said, describing reservists as repeatedly redeployed and worn down, with diminished effectiveness over time.

Bennett took direct aim at Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing him of enabling continued exemptions through a proposed plan to incentivize Chareidi enlistment. He also criticized coalition figures including Yitzchak Goldknopf and Aryeh Deri, as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying political considerations have been prioritized over military readiness.

At the center of Bennetts proposal is a sweeping funding overhaul. He called for halting dozens of money channels that support yeshivos, and for conditioning state support on participation in national service. He also criticized educational frameworks that omit core subjects, saying the current model is incompatible with state priorities.

There are 100,000 young, healthy Chareidim who could enlist, Bennett said, arguing that even partial participation would materially close the manpower gap.

The former premier is pairing the policy push with an explicit political strategy. He said he intends to form what he calls a Zionist government, claiming he can assemble a 61-seat majority without Netanyahus bloc. Asked whether he would join a Netanyahu-led coalition after elections, Bennett dismissed the idea as absurd.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Senior officials in the Trump administration have reportedly outlined the next phase of policy toward Iran should diplomatic negotiations fail to restart.

The current ceasefire, which President Trump reportedly agreed to extend, is expected by regional reports to last only several more days. If no diplomatic breakthrough is reached, the next step would be a major military strike described as significantly more forceful than previous U.S. operations against Iran.

Such an operation would reportedly last several days, after which military actions against Iran would conclude.

The only scenario likely to prevent further escalation would be a substantial softening of Iranian positions regarding its nuclear program. At present, however, officials reportedly believe Irans leadership has shown no intention of making meaningful concessions.

Iranian state-affiliated media on Wednesday released videos mocking the way President Trump has handled contacts with Tehran. The videos reportedly claimed that Iran has never negotiated directly with President Trump.

In addition, despite President Trumps reported willingness to send Vice President J.D. Vance for talks in Islamabad, Iranian representatives are said to have no intention of attending.

President Trump has thus far refrained from striking Irans energy infrastructure because of the expected impact such action could have on global oil prices.

However, officials in both Israel and the United States reportedly believe that, to complete military objectives, any future campaign would need to target the infrastructure that enables the Iranian regime to function.

As a result, absent an unexpected diplomatic shift, another joint U.S.-Israeli strike focused on strategic national infrastructure is being described as increasingly likely. President Trump has repeatedly warned that Iran would face severe consequences if it refused to meet his demands.

(YWN World headquarters  NYC)
More than 12,000 former inmates have joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces under a 2024 law allowing certain categories of convicted persons to volunteer for military service after conditional early release, Deputy Justice Minister Yevhen Pikalov said.

In an interview with TIME France, Pikalov said that an active process of replenishing the army from penitentiary institutions is ongoing. He noted that since the beginning of 2026, nearly 1,500 applications from inmates have been reviewed each month, with the average age of applicants ranging from 30 to 35.

He acknowledged that victims of crimes committed by those who chose to join the army might have negative emotions, but stressed that during wartime decisions cannot be guided by emotions and that everyone must contribute to defending the country.

Pikalov said that primarily individuals convicted of non-serious crimes are eligible to participate in the program, while those convicted of crimes against national security or serious violent offenses are excluded. Final decisions are made individually following medical, psychological and physical assessments.

He added that after signing a contract, former inmates are required to serve for a period equivalent to the remainder of their sentence. If the war ends earlier and martial law is lifted, they would be released even if several years of their sentence remained.

According to him, only Ukrainian citizens are recruited under the program and participation is strictly voluntary.

Pikalov also noted that such servicemen are allowed to communicate freely with relatives via mobile phones, have internet access and receive standard military pay.

Most of them join assault units operating in the most intense areas of the front, performing particularly dangerous tasks, but undergo one to two months of intensive training before deployment.
A meeting of a panel assessing the decision to dismiss Enoch Burke from his job will go ahead on Friday despite attempts by the former teacher to secure a High Court injunction to prevent it from happening.

A Disciplinary Appeals Panel (DAP) oral hearing is due to take place at 10am on Friday, but Mr Burke said it should be halted until a decision is reached by the Court of Appeal in another matter relating to his dispute with Wilsons Hospital School.

In the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Micheal OConnell refused the application as proceedings stretched into 7pm in the evening.

The judge also granted a production order so that Mr Burke would be brought to the disciplinary hearing.

The former history and German teacher has been engaged in a legal dispute with the Co Westmeath school since 2022.

He was suspended following incidents arising from a request from the schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun, and later dismissed from his position.

Mr Burke has repeatedly argued the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

He has spent more than 650 days in prison after he was found to have violated court orders instructing him not to trespass at the school.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal heard arguments from Mr Burke as he sought to overturn a May 2023 High Court ruling by Mr Justice Alexander Owens which found his suspension from the school was lawful.

In normal circumstances, litigants have 28 days to file an appeal to a High Court decision after an order is perfected, the date it is formalised.

Appearing in front of the three-judge panel, Mr Burke said he did not bring his appeal in time because he was involved in other litigation, was in prison for much of the period since the ruling and had lost confidence in the Court of Appeal following a previous judgment.

He said he was appealing against the judgment because it had not taken his constitutional rights into consideration or properly examined the legality of the principals instructions.

He also referred to a statement the Department of Education gave to The Irish Times in January which said schools are not legally obliged to use students preferred pronouns.

The lawyer representing the schools board of management, Rosemary Mallon, challenged his request and said the two-and-a-half year delay was extraordinary, she said there was a need for finality in the matter.

Ms Mallon argued Mr Owens decision was not a declaration as to the lawfulness of the principals direction or instruction, but about the lawfulness of the decision to suspend.

She also said Mr Burke had the opportunity to make arguments at the time but he was disorderly and in persistent contempt of court, and was asked to leave the court.

She also said the statement from the Department of Education statement was simply be a view expressed by the department and not binding for the courts.

The first judge scheduled to hear the injunction on Thursday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan, recused himself from the case after hearing arguments from Mr Burke.

He had argued the judge should remove himself from making a decision on the injunction on the grounds of objective bias.

In a previous judgment, Mr Cregan had referred to Mr Burke as not a credible witness, and Mr Burke said this, and other comments the judge made pushing for the DAP to be heard, supported his case.

Mr Cregan said that he did not agree with Mr Burkes arguments but said not only does justice need to be done, it needs to be seen to be done adding especially in this case.

Addressing the High Court on Thursday for the purposes of the appeal, Mr Burke said the issues before the Court of Appeal and to be discussed by the DAP were closely relevant and connected to the issues.

He said the issue of the legitimacy of the principals instructions was the kernel of what the DAP is to consider and central to his case in front of the Court of Appeal, the second-highest court in Ireland.

I am going to be sitting in front of three members of DAP who are relying on Judge Owens judgment, Mr Burke said, adding that there is a huge question mark over Mr Owens judgment and he is awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal.

Tomorrow, if this injunction is not granted, the DAP will be sitting down to decide a question of law, a question of constitutional law, he said.

He argued the issue should only be decided by the courts and not the lay people who make up the DAP.

He said the panel usually only decides on matters of fact, not matters of law.

Mr Burke said he had written to the DAP three times since late March requesting an adjournment of the meeting.

Padraic Lyons SC, for the DAP, said Mr Burkes submission was untenable, misconceived and there is no basis for it.

He said were the hearing to go ahead it doesnt mean he (Mr Burke) is shut out from further legal review.

If the DAP made a decision, based on a judgment that was then overturned, Mr Burke could have it corrected for legal error, Mr Lyons said.

He also said Mr Burke had not brought proceedings in the correct manner, despite being a vastly experienced litigant who he knows exactly what he is doing.

Mr Lyons said Mr Burke was informed of the hearing date on March 26, he was told on April 7 that all his objections had been rejected.

He said he had ample time to apply for an injunction but waited until the eve of the hearing.

Mr Justice OConnell said he was satisfied that the judgment of Mr Owens never amounted to a final determination of the issue about the validity of the instruction given by the principal.

In refusing the injunction, he said he did not believe the DAP had to delay its hearing due to the Court of Appeal proceedings.

Five other members of the Burke family were in court on Thursday: his mother Martina, as well as his brothers Isaac and Simeon and sisters Ammi and Jemima.

After Mr Lyons argued against a further delay, Mr Burke responded and said the panels work had already been delayed for three years.

Mr Burke argued the delay was down to conduct of his (Mr Lyons) clients, stating a previous member refused to resign from the panel for two years and two further members resigned earlier this year.

The current DAP is the third iteration of the panel and is made up of Claire Callanan, John Irwin and Seamus Lahart.
The latest presser from the top lawman in Kansas that aligns with the Commander-In-Chief . . . Check-it:

Kobach joins coalition to defend executive order on election integrity

TOPEKA  (April 23, 2026)  Today, Kansas joined 10 other states in a motion to intervene to defend a presidential executive order that would allow access to information that would verify voter registration lists against lawfare from left-wing activists.



On March 31, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 14399, entitled Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections, to assist the states in guarding their elections. Left-leaning activists and progressive states immediately challenged the order, claiming it represents a federal intrusion on state authority over elections. These nonsensical claims attempt to derail an opportunity for states like Kansas to work alongside the federal government on election integrity and to ensure voter rolls are accurate, secure, and up-to-date.



When I served as Kansas Secretary of State, I sought this information for eight years. It is critical in preventing noncitizens from voting. Now, the Trump Administration is coming through to provide it, Kobach said. We will fight in court to ensure that this program remains in place.



The Executive Order aims to enhance election security through two main initiatives. It mandates federal agencies to compile a "State Citizenship List" for state election officials, listing potential voters who are confirmed U.S. citizens, over 18, and residents of the state. Kansas and the other states are advocating for access to this list to ensure voter registration records are accurate.



Additionally, the order instructs the U.S. Postal Service to develop rules for mail-in and absentee ballots, improving their security and reliability. This includes using tracking barcodes on "Official Election Mail," allowing states to provide lists of eligible absentee voters, and prohibiting the transmission of ballots from unidentified individuals.



Kansas and the other states are fighting for access to these resources to guard the integrity of American elections. The Motion to Intervene was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.



In addition to Kansas, attorneys general from Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas joined the filing.



###

Developing . . .
On an otherwise gloomy day, Angel Candice inspires one more peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Conservatives Tout Fixer-Upper

Kansas City Takes Steps Toward Better Housing Policy Kansas City has made some meaningful changes to how it regulates housing development, and they are worth applauding. In recent weeks, city leaders have advanced reforms that begin to reduce [...]

JoCo Endures More Tragedy

Second child dies from Overland Park apartment fire A second child has died from their injuries after a large fire broke out at an Overland Park apartment complex over the weekend.

South Side Crash Postscript

Man dies after car hits him in sidewalk in Kansas City's Waldo area The collision happened on Troost Avenue near 77th Terrace.

Backstory On The Haberdasher

'The Vault' at Truman Library showcases rare artifacts that defined America The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence has a new exhibit honoring the history of the U.S.

Toasting Cowtown Collab

Parent company's latest acquisition pours new beer brand into Boulevard's production lineup An acquisition by Boulevard Brewing Co.'s parent company will shift production to the Kansas City facility on Southwest Boulevard - tapping into local expertise and workflow management efficiencies, said Bobby Dykstra.

Angel Hotness Endures . . .

Victoria's Secret vet Candice Swanepoel still sizzles in bikinis 'Elemental is about the quiet power of nature - the strength of rock, the fluidity of water, and the warmth of sun on skin,' Swanepoel, 37, told the Daily Mail.

MAGA Counts On King Chuck

Trump tells BBC that King's visit could 'absolutely' help repair relations with UK In a phone interview with the BBC's North America editor, the president discussed next week's visit and his relationship with the UK PM.

Progressively Pouring In Cash

4 charts show where money is going in the midterms -- and who has the most cash The latest campaign finance reports show Democratic enthusiasm in key House and Senate races, but national Republican groups have far more in the bank to potentially spend down the road.

Life Lesson For La Migra?!?

Turning Point USA: Baylor U. Sabotages Event Featuring Tom Homan Baylor University is sabotaging a Turning Point USA event set for Wednesday by denying ticket holders from the greater Waco community.

Commander-In-Chief Makes Call

Trump orders U.S. military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz President Donald Trump's post on social media came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes.

Power Move Confronts GOP

Senate Republican predicts Democrats will shut down government 'right before the midterms' Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) predicted on the Senate floor that his Democratic colleagues will find a reason to block funding legislation and trigger another government shutdown "right before the midt...

Legal Weed Stays Winning

Trump administration moves to reclassify marijuana to schedule III drug Marijuana had same classification as heroin, LSD and others before Trump signed an order to move it to schedule III

American Underworld Worsens

Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann's ex-wife says she now lives in basement where he murdered seven victims Rex Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup says she has moved into the basement "kill room" where the confessed Gilgo Beach serial killer admitted to killing seven of his victims.

Hulkster Had Lots Of Probs

Hulk Hogan Netflix doc reveals steroid use, sex tape fallout and Trump friendship Hulkamania is taking over Netflix. The docuseries "Hulk Hogan: Real American" (now streaming) looks back at the late wrestler's life and career.

Gen Z Dudes Explore Options

Video: Opinion | Older Women Are in Demand by Younger Men What a shift in the dating preferences of younger men reveals about our changing norms.

Royal Slugger Pitches Junk Food

Bobby Witt Jr. partners with Whataburger for documentary-style short film After an early afternoon game Wednesday, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. hurried over to the Whataburger in Independence.

Katie Shares Early Warning

WEATHER BLOG: Risk of severe weather Thursday night into Friday morning Storms are expected to pass through the Kansas City metro between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. | Take a look at the risks and when we could see more storms:

Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There is the #TBT song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
A cowtown caveat before we get started . . .

TKC loves LIFE. We have NEVER had even the slightest inclination toward self-harm and in the unlikely event of our bloggy demise, even if there's a note, it was MURDER.

Here's more context . . .

At least 10 people tied to sensitive US research have died or disappeared in recent years, sparking federal investigation | CNN At least 10 individuals connected to sensitive US nuclear and aerospace research have died or disappeared in recent years, prompting concerns whether they are connected and fueling speculation online about the possibility of nefarious activity.

Mystery clouds deaths, disappearances of scientists with UFO research ties: timeline Karoline Leavitt says the Trump administration will likely look into a string of mysterious deaths and disappearances of scientists tied to space and nuclear research.

And now the local connection . . .

"A man contracted out of Kansas City's National Security Campus (KCNSC) is among 10 missing or dead scientists and government insiders who have ties to top-secret space and nuclear laboratories in the United States."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The political big picture this week involves and ongoing fight for a Kansas City congressional district and several similar battles across the nation.

What American voters are starting to consider . . .

DID MAGA REDISTRICTING ACTUALLY WORK AGAINST REPUBLICANS?!?

Show-Me state voters still await a court decision but here are a couple of apt summaries and more insight for news watchers as BOTH SIDES tinker with dividing lines in order garner an election advantage.

Check-it . . .

In Missouri . . . Republican Governor Mike Kehoe signed a new map into law in September that dismantled a Democratic-held seat based in Kansas City, giving his party the advantage in seven of the state's eight congressional seats. Opponents are attempting to force a voter referendum on the map, while several organizations have filed lawsuits challenging its legality.

More insight . . .

"What began as an effort to create more GOP-controlled seats  and avoid a Democratic takeover that would weaken President Trump  now could be a wash, or even add to Democrats' edge."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

How the war over US congressional redistricting is playing out, state by state U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that Republican-led states redraw their congressional maps to help his party retain control of Congress in November's midterm elections has triggered a national battle over redistricting.

With Virginia vote, Democrats gain edge over Trump's national GOP redistricting push After Virginia voters weighed in on Tuesday, the redistricting set off by President Trump to help the GOP in the midterms has been countered and possibly surpassed by Democrats.

Virginia court declares state's redistricting vote was unconstitutional in legal win for Republicans Virginia Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley ruled the Democrat redistricting referendum in the state was unconstitutional and blocked its certification. Attorney General Jay Jones says he will appeal.

Trump's Enormous Gerrymandering Blunder The Republican redistricting effort backfires.

"I wish none of this had happened": GOP's buyer's remorse on redistricting The GOP's redistricting push now could be a wash - or even a plus for Democrats.

Developing . . .
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Photo: https://t.me/DeepStateUA

Russian occupiers are trying to infiltrate the city of Kostiantynivka in Kramatorsk district, Donetsk region, using large numbers of infantry, the DeepState OSINT project reported.

"The largest number of infiltrations and attempts to build up forces are being recorded in the private residential sector on the southeastern outskirts of Kostiantynivka. The dense private housing there allows them to hide in ruins and houses, which complicates strike-and-search operations for Ukrainian drone pilots," the project said on Telegram.

It noted that this penetration zone is becoming increasingly dangerous, because sustained enemy buildup and entrenchment there would enable further infiltration deeper into the city.

"At the same time, active infiltration is taking place on the eastern outskirts near the settlement of Novodmytrivka, where Russians are being spotted trying to seize the village, which would also allow them to concentrate forces and then move into the city," the project's analysts said.

An additional axis of enemy pressure is the southwestern outskirts of Kostiantynivka near the settlements of Berestok and Illinivka.

"In particular, we are clarifying whether Berestok is actually under our control at all, or whether Ukrainian defense forces are simply holding positions there unsuccessfully while the enemy is actively infiltrating through them," DeepState said.

According to the researchers, based on communication with Ukrainian drone pilots, they are reporting a shortage of personnel able to hold back the Russian pressure.

"In particular, drones are the main resource for destroying and blocking infiltration, with Ukrainian troops using them to hunt down the Russians. They are constantly trying to contain enemy infantry, but its 'endless' numbers are gradually breaking through Kostiantynivka's defenses," the OSINT analysts said.
Details added: first version posted on 17:29

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have discussed the economic cooperation between the two countries, a source in the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy told Trend.

The discussion was held during the meeting between the Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, and Co-Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Joint Intergovernmental Commission, Laziz Kudratov.

The meeting emphasized successfully continuing friendly and strategic partnership relations between the countries, and noted the importance of mutual projects in strengthening the economic cooperation.

Additionally, the parties discussed expanding mutual investments and trade turnover, implementing joint investment and infrastructure projects, as well as cooperation in the industrial sector.

According to the State Customs Committee, the volume of trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the first three months of this year amounted to $89.9 million. The data shows that this figure is $7.4 million, or 7.6%, lower than the figure for the same period in 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The 2nd Forum on Logistics and Oil Trade in the Caspian and Central Asian Regions has opened in Baku, Trend reports.

The forums agenda covers key areas, including transportation and infrastructure, financial aspects and transactions, as well as trading strategies in a changing global environment.

Discussions also address issues related to resource bases, refining, and legal frameworks.

The forum aims to foster professional dialogue, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and establish business contacts in the field of regional oil trade and logistics.

Speaking at the event Taghi Taghi-Zada, Acting Chief of Trading Operations at SOCAR Trading stated that the situation on the global oil market has become significantly more unpredictable.

If we look back to 2019, we have witnessed a series of major events: first, the developments in Saudi Arabia in 2019, then the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and now the tense situation, or even conflict, in the Strait of Hormuz, he said.

Taghi-Zada noted that the situation around the Strait of Hormuz has long been considered in research, academic discussions, and expert debates as one of the most extreme scenarios the world could face in terms of oil supply disruptions.

And now we are effectively facing it. What is particularly interesting is that discussions usually focused on what would happen if the strait were closed for a day, for three days, or for a week. Now we are approaching the end of the second month of this situation and are still observing how it unfolds. It is important to note that modern markets are largely shaped by news headlines, and we are currently dealing with a highly volatile market. Unlike the initial stage of the conflict, when it seemed that everything was moving in one direction, the situation has now become far more unpredictable. We are still facing a supply deficit of approximately 13-15 million barrels per day from the Persian Gulf region, he added.

Asylbek Dzhakiev, Chairman of the PetroCouncil of Kazakhstan outlined that over the next five years, Kazakhstan plans to attract about $15 billion in investments into its oil refining sector.

"Among these projects is a polyethylene production project worth $7.6 billion, with a planned output of 1.2 million tons per year, as well as a butadiene production project worth $1.1 billion, with a planned output of 900,000 tons," Dzhakiev noted.

According to him, the strategic issue lies in how to deliver this petrochemical product to global markets.

"From this perspective, the northern route may remain limited for the next 5-10 years, which increases the importance of alternative corridors," he said.

Among the priority export destinations, Dzhakiev highlighted China, considering the participation of Chinese state companies in funding the projects, as well as Azerbaijan via the Caspian Sea and the Middle Corridor.

"It is expected that these routes will become key for the future export of Kazakhstans petrochemical products," he added.

Shehryar Omar, Director General of the Petroleum Institute of Pakistan, revealed that over the next 5 to 10 years, the opportunities for Central Asia and Azerbaijan will shift toward the south rather than the west, and now is the time to invest in the necessary infrastructure and transport corridors.

According to him, traditional Western markets, including Europe, are expected to gradually lose importance in the long term due to demographic changes and the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels.

He noted that the southern direction offers access to a rapidly growing market with a population of around 2 billion people, where steady economic growth is being observed.

In this context, Omar called on regional countries to intensify efforts in developing infrastructure projects oriented toward southern routes.

He also highlighted Pakistan as a potential transport and energy corridor to the Arabian Sea, pointing to existing investment and trade ties, including cooperation with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) in the field of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline projects.

According to him, the development of southern routes could also enhance supply resilience amid potential geopolitical risks, including restrictions on traditional transit pathways.

Speaking about logistics, Kuanysh Keskinbayev, Deputy General Director for Commercial Affairs at KMG Kashagan B.V. said that the Middle Corridor is becoming increasingly important as it is one of the routes operating without major disruptions.

The corridors capacity for exporting Kazakhstani oil is up to 5 million tons, and if volumes need to be increased, investments will be required in additional ports, tankers, and related infrastructure, he noted.

According to him, the cost of transportation along this route is usually higher than via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system; however, the higher price of Azerbaijani oil partially offsets this difference.

In terms of net export profitability, the gap may be smaller than the tariffs suggest. Nevertheless, when the CPC is fully operational, it often remains the most profitable route, Keskinbayev added.

The forum will continue its work tomorrow.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The decline of the Caspian Sea is a collective challenge that demands collective solutions, said the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues and President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev, at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in Astana, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijan hosted a high-level ministerial event on water decline in the Caspian Sea at COP29 in 2024 in Baku. This brought together the Caspian littoral states, UNEP, international organizations, and the donors to discuss regional cooperation and strategies. It was an important moment to bring the issue onto the global stage. The event concluded with the adoption of the Declaration of the littoral states, representing the first collective commitment to strengthen cooperation on this issue", he said.

Babayev noted that, building on this declaration, the Tehran Convention Secretariat prepared an action plan for 10 years, which provides a framework for coordinated measures.

He added that at Azerbaijan's request, UNEP also prepared and presented the working paper, Caspian Sea Level Fluctuations and Climate Change at COP29, highlighting the urgency of the crisis.

"At COP30 in Brazil, in Belem, Azerbaijan hosted the third consecutive ministerial dialogue on this issue, where a declaration was also adopted, making an important continuation of the collective efforts we began together", he said.

He emphasized the importance of involving all partners and called on the Caspian littoral states and international organizations to move from words to action.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Azerbaijan welcomes the initiative by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to develop a program for the preservation of the Caspian Sea's water resources, said the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues, President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev, at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in Astana, Trend reports

"We welcome the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the development of the Intergovernmental Programme on the Preservation of Water Resources of the Caspian Sea. We are grateful for UNEP's cooperation, but we need the whole UN system to be involved, as well as international financial institutions, donors, and expertise to engage in this challenge. This support is vital for the future of our region and the stability and prosperity worldwide", he said.

Babayev noted that Azerbaijan will work alongside its neighbours to continue advancing this issue on the global agenda and will stand up for Caspian communities.

"We will not let this growing crisis be ignored, and we invite all our partners, all littoral states, and international organizations to stop talking and start actions" he said.

Meanwhile, speaking at the opening of the summit the previous day, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that Kazakhstan had initiated an interstate program to prevent further degradation of the Caspian Sea and established the Caspian Sea Research Institute to develop regional scientific cooperation.
PASHA Bank has held another meeting with investors and market participants as part of its Initial Public Offering (IPO).

The meeting was attended by PASHA Bank Executive Board Deputy Chairman Bahruz Naghiyev, PASHA Bank Chief Financial Officer Murad Suleymanov, EY Azerbaijan Managing Partner Ilgar Valiyev, National Depository Center Executive Board Chairman Elchin Alizade, Baku Stock Exchange Executive Board Chairman Ruslan Khalilov and PASHA Capital Chief Operating Officer Elnur Fatullayev.

During the event held on 23 April, 2026, Naghiyev noted that the IPO creates new opportunities for investors and enhances market transparency.

Entering the public market strengthens our corporate governance standards and marks a new stage in our relationships with investors. We are focused on creating long-term value and ensuring sustainable growth for all stakeholders, he said.

The panel discussion covered the impact of the IPO on capital markets, the readiness of market infrastructure, and opportunities for investors. It also addressed the progress of the subscription process, the readiness of digital channels, the engagement of foreign investors, the development of clearing and settlement systems, and the future market outlook.

PASHA Bank launched its IPO subscription on 13 April 2026, which will run until 12 May 2026. A total of 932,926 ordinary registered shares, representing 5% of the Banks capital, are being offered to investors. The initial offering price is set at 55 AZN per share. The minimum purchase is one share, with no maximum limit. A 5% annual return is applied to prepaid amounts during the subscription period. The shares are being offered through the Baku Stock Exchange.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The British Chamber of Commerce is ready to support Azerbaijan in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging fields, John Patterson (OBE), chairman of the British Chamber of Commerces Azerbaijan branch, told Trend on the sidelines of the 2nd Forum on Logistics and Oil Trade in the Caspian and Central Asian Regions in Baku, Trend reports.

"We are Azerbaijans largest trading partner largely thanks to bp and the fact that the oil and gas sector has dominated the countrys economy from around 1995 to the present day. Although oil and gas revenues no longer account for the same share of Azerbaijans GDP as before, bp and British businesses have maintained an active presence in the market since the mid-1990s, he said.

According to Patterson, the British Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan is working to develop cooperation between British and local businesses, striving to move beyond the oil and gas sector alone.

"We remain actively involved in the energy sectorthrough bp and British contractors operating in the country. This sector remains an important part of our economic engagement. At the same time, a key factor in Azerbaijans long-term economic success is the gradual diversification of the economy and a reduction in dependence on oil and gas. In this context, we strive to support the development of new areas, including education, artificial intelligence, and other technological sectors, he added.

According to Patterson, the financial sector also plays an important role, especially given that London remains one of the worlds leading financial centers.

In addition, he touched on the transport sector and the significance of the Middle Corridor.

"The Middle Corridor takes on particular significance. Its importance is evident in practice: when disruptions occur on other routes, the significance of alternative transport routes passing through this region increases. For freight transport between China and Europe or in the opposite direction, rail routes along the Middle Corridor have the potential to be faster and more reliable compared to maritime transport, which follows longer and more vulnerable routes. However, significant work remains to be done to fully realize the corridors potential, including a feasibility study and infrastructure development, Patterson explained.

He believes that another challenge is the fluctuating water level of the Caspian Sea, which requires adaptation of transport and logistics infrastructure, including the development of shipping and other modes of transport.

Overall, the development of the Middle Corridor is seen as a way to strengthen regional connectivity and create a more resilient transport system that is less dependent on specific geopolitical risks, Patterson concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. President Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the 9th Congress of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

"Dear congress participants,

I sincerely congratulate you on the commencement of the 9th Congress of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan.

The tradition of eldership, rooted in the ancient moral and ethical values of the Azerbaijani people, is one of the most important pillars of our national heritage. Respect for elders has always held a prominent place as a fundamental value both in Azerbaijani oral folk literature and in written literature. It is no coincidence that in the epic Book of Dede Korkut, which reflects the historical past and customs of our people, respect for the advice and words of elders is portrayed as the highest moral quality.

Guided by the historical traditions of our people, our elders, who have always successfully fulfilled the important mission entrusted to them, serve in society as guarantors of preserving moral and spiritual values and ensuring intergenerational continuity. At the same time, our elders have exceptional merits in continuing national statehood traditions and strengthening civic solidarity.

It was precisely our youth, raised in the spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice by our elders, who played an important role in achieving our glorious Victory in the Patriotic War. Thanks to the national pride and love for the Motherland instilled in the younger generation by our elders, who had lived for more than 30 years longing for their lands and had witnessed the pain and suffering of war, a new page was written in the modern military history of our people.

It is gratifying that today our elders actively participate in all spheres of the countrys life. The growing threats in the world, especially the erosion of national and spiritual values and family values in many countries as a result of globalization and the harmful influence of social media platforms, further highlight the significance and role of the institution of eldership existing in Azerbaijan. One of the main tasks facing our elders is to raise our youth in the spirit of national patriotism and attachment to their roots and to guide them onto the right path.

Founded at the end of the last century and bringing together distinguished figures who have devoted their lives to serving society, the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan has come a long way and continues today to contribute to the development of our country. The Council takes part in the countrys socio-political and humanitarian development, in resolving current issues of public life, and in the upbringing of the younger generation.

I am confident that the discussions to be held and the decisions to be adopted at the 9th Congress will serve to improve the activities of the Council of Elders and further strengthen the organizations role in the socio-political life of the country.

I wish the Congress every success and each of you strong health, long life, and success in your valuable public activities," the address reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The tradition of eldership, rooted in the ancient moral and ethical values of the Azerbaijani people, is one of the most important pillars of our national heritage, said President Ilham Aliyev in his address to the participants of the 9th Congress of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Respect for elders has always held a prominent place as a fundamental value both in Azerbaijani oral folk literature and in written literature. It is no coincidence that in the epic Book of Dede Korkut, which reflects the historical past and customs of our people, respect for the advice and words of elders is portrayed as the highest moral quality, the head of state emphasized.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Founded at the end of the last century and bringing together distinguished figures who have devoted their lives to serving society, the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan has come a long way and continues today to contribute to the development of our country, said President Ilham Aliyev in his address to the participants of the 9th Congress of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The Council takes part in the countrys socio-political and humanitarian development, in resolving current issues of public life, and in the upbringing of the younger generation, the head of state added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The 'bridge' being built between Baku and Riga has the potential to become a strategic line connecting wider regions, Azerbaijan's political analyst told Trend.

According to him, the visit of the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics, to Azerbaijan on April 22 was remembered as an important political and economic event that marked the transition of relations between the two countries to a new stage. The meetings held between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Latvian President, the signed documents, the statements made, and the organized business forum showed that Baku and Riga intend to deepen relations not only in the diplomatic framework, but also in the field of practical cooperation.

"This visit was, in fact, a logical continuation of the relations that have been formed over many years. The Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed between Azerbaijan and Latvia in 2017 has already created a solid legal basis for these relations. Recent meetings have once again demonstrated that this document is not just a formal framework, but is filled with real projects and concrete initiatives," he said.

According to him, political relations between Azerbaijan and Latvia have long been stable and built on mutual respect.

"Both countries cooperate on various international platforms and understand each other's positions on regional security issues. In this context, the meeting of the heads of state discussed not only bilateral relations but also broader geopolitical issues. Issues such as events in Europe and the Middle East, regional security, energy security, and transport corridors took a special place on the agenda of the parties. Touching upon these issues, President Ilham Aliyev stated: "We largely discussed the political developments in our region, and we'll continue our discussions with Mr. President." This shows that Azerbaijan is no longer an active actor not only in the regional, but also in the broader geopolitical arena. Latvia, as a member of the European Union, plays an important bridge role in this dialogue," the analyst said.

Garayev noted that one of the most striking aspects of the visit was the emergence of economic cooperation issues. Both sides openly admitted that the current trade turnover does not correspond to the potential and should be increased.

"The Latvian President, touching upon this issue, noted that the current economic relations are "very moderate and should be increased." This is an open and realistic approach, and at the same time indicates a serious political will for future cooperation. Azerbaijan, with its successes in economic diversification in recent years, has created a favorable basis for this cooperation. Reducing dependence on the oil and gas sector, developing the non-oil sector, and improving the investment climate make the country more attractive to foreign investors. The below statement by President Ilham Aliyev in his speech clearly reflects this transformation: "Diversification of the economy is already a reality." This reality, in turn, opens up new cooperation opportunities for European countries such as Latvia," Garayev explained.

The analyst emphasized that the energy sector remains one of the main directions of Azerbaijani-Latvian cooperation.

"Azerbaijan has been playing an important role in Europe's energy security for many years. Currently, the country exports gas to 16 countries, including 10 European Union members. However, it is noteworthy that cooperation is not limited to traditional energy. Azerbaijan is also implementing big plans in the field of renewable energy. Solar and wind energy projects, green energy export prospects are of strategic importance for Europe. Latvia can be a useful partner in this area in terms of both technological experience and institutional knowledge. Latvia's experience in forestry and environmental management is especially interesting for restoration projects implemented in Karabakh and East Zangezur," Garayev said.

According to him, the geographical position of Azerbaijan has turned the country into an important transit hub between East and West, North and South.

"The Trans-Caspian transport corridor and other international routes are already actively used. Latvia, on the other hand, plays the role of a gateway to Northern and Central Europe. In this regard, the logistics capabilities of the two countries complement each other. This cooperation is not limited to cargo transportation alone. Digitalization, logistics technologies, and artificial intelligence applications also open up new directions in this area. In modern times, transport is no longer just physical infrastructure, but also a technological ecosystem," he said.

The analyst pointed out that one of the areas that attracted attention during the visit was the prospects for cooperation in the defense industry.

"Both countries have developing potential in this area. Azerbaijan already exports defense industry products to many countries. Latvia is rapidly developing in the field of drones and defense technologies. Cooperation in this area is important not only in terms of military, but also in terms of technological innovations. Artificial intelligence, security systems, and new generation technologies can further deepen cooperation between the two countries," he said.

Garayev underscored that the agricultural sector is also one of the main areas of cooperation.

"The majority of the Azerbaijani population lives in the regions, and this area is of particular socio-economic importance. Latvia has rich experience in this area, especially in forestry and environmental management. It's possible to apply this experience within the framework of the reconstruction work carried out in Karabakh. This cooperation can also cover the areas of education and personnel training. Modern agriculture is now based on technology, innovation, and the principles of sustainable development. In this regard, the "Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia" was also signed within the framework of the visit, he said.

According to him, the visit of the Latvian President to Azerbaijan can be assessed not only as a continuation of the relations between the two countries, but also as the beginning of a new stage.

"There are wide opportunities in the political dialogue, economic cooperation, energy, logistics, defense industry, and humanitarian fields. The most important thing is that both sides demonstrate political will to realize these opportunities. This is a key condition for the success of any partnership. In the coming years, this cooperation is expected to manifest itself more clearly with concrete projects, increased trade turnover, and strengthened relations. This bridge, built between Baku and Riga, has the potential to become a strategic line connecting not only the two countries, but also wider regions," the analyst concluded.
Feature: Cross-Strait bridge of love built on 75-year-old Taiwan businessman's farmland

Xinhua) 08:44, April 23, 2026

Kuo Yang-fu is pictured in the office in his farming complex in Ezhou, central China's Hubei Province, March 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

WUHAN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Hu Xuemei, 47, has never been to Taiwan, nor had she ever imagined any connection to the island until Kuo Yang-fu opened a farming complex near her home in a village in central Hubei Province on the Chinese mainland.

Having worked at the complex for many years, Hu now hopes to visit the island, the hometown of her friendly boss and his wife, who have created a dream job opportunity for her and helped boost the village's income.

"I feel grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Kuo for what they have done for the village, and I wish to know more compatriots from Taiwan," she said.

Kuo, 75, a businessman from Taiwan, had never imagined himself in the agricultural industry in his younger years, having mainly engaged in sectors such as manufacturing and venture capital in Taiwan and the mainland.

The connection began in 2013, when Kuo and his wife, Kuo Hsin-kuei, were invited by the local government to research potential business opportunities in Ezhou, Hubei. Prior to that, Kuo, despite having retired from his previous businesses, had been looking for "something to do."

There, they noticed the then underdeveloped town of Duandian. Encouraged by favorable investment policies and the prospect of helping local residents out of poverty, the couple established an agricultural company in 2014. They began developing a farming complex on more than 670 hectares of farmland across five villages, including the one where Hu lives.

Over the past decade, Kuo has built dozens of greenhouses and plantations in the complex, with great investment to improve soil quality. It is now the largest Taiwan-invested farming complex in Hubei, seeing more than 5,000 daily agritourism visitors during holidays and other peak periods.

By paying rents for land-use rights and employing villagers, the company generates more than 14 million yuan (about 2 million U.S. dollars) in annual income for nearby households in total.

"It's lucky for me to have the complex to work for, to offer me a job near my home that enables me to stay with my family," said Hu, who used to work for years in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou, nearly 1,000 kilometers away from her home in Ezhou.

For Kuo, it is a pleasure to see the vibrant landscapes he has created from barren ground, and he often takes a moment to enjoy them from the benches in the complex during his free time.

"The willows would turn verdant in spring, their branches dancing more gracefully than ballet performers; while in summer, I would watch the butterflies, bees and fruits," he said affectionately.

The villagers, some of whom have become full-time employees or temporary workers for the company, have become his friends, and in some cases more than that. They often bring him homemade cured meat and free-range eggs, and sometimes even invite him, as a respected elder, to family gatherings, such as when a young man introduces his prospective bride for the first time.

Kuo has set up free canteens for elderly residents in the villages and organizes birthday parties for them.

In February 2021, a grand gathering was held in Beijing, announcing China's complete victory in its fight against absolute poverty. Kuo's company was among 1,501 organizations honored with the title of poverty-fighting models at the gathering.

Earlier this year, Kuo was named to the 2025 annual list of model figures in agriculture, rural development and rural people-related affairs released by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, becoming the third individual from Taiwan to receive the honor in the past 20 years.

"It's like watching a baby growing up," Kuo said, reviewing his farmland journey. "It is the people here who have accomplished all these, and they have also helped my dream come true."

A worker picks strawberries at Kuo Yang-fu's farming complex in Ezhou, central China's Hubei Province, March 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Workers tend to flowers at Kuo Yang-fu's farming complex in Ezhou, central China's Hubei Province, March 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, has met with a delegation led by the Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Zhuang Rongwen, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, a source in the parliament told Trend.

The meeting welcomed the high-level development of relations between Azerbaijan and China, which have reached the stage of strategic partnership.

The special role of the heads of state in the development of interstate relations based on the principles of friendship, mutual respect, and support was emphasized. Along with the existing active political dialogue, the expansion of cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, green energy, digital technologies, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI) was highly appreciated.

During the meeting, Gafarova recalled her participation in the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia last month and praised her meeting with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Zhao Leji, as an important step in strengthening interparliamentary relations. She noted that during the discussions, ideas were exchanged on expanding cooperation in new areas.

The conversation also informed about the digital transformation policy being implemented in Azerbaijan. The speaker said that in recent years, Azerbaijan has been consistently pursuing a policy to form a new digital architecture for the state, initiated by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. In this context, she pointed out the importance of a conference held in February this year, dedicated to the unified action plan called "Azerbaijans New Digital Architecture".

She noted that the ongoing policy encompasses the development of critical infrastructure, the expansion of the digital economy, and the application of innovative solutions in state governance. The speaker highlighted a significant role of the Azerbaijani Parliament in contributing to the creation of a modern legislative base in this field. The conversation also covered the use of information technologies in parliamentary activities, cooperation in cybersecurity, and efforts to accelerate the application of AI solutions.

The meeting further emphasized that in the modern era, cybersecurity is a vital component of national security and should remain a priority area of focus.

Rongwen emphasized that China values its equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with Azerbaijan. The guest provided a detailed overview of his countrys recent achievements in the field of information technology, saying that China is ready to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan in areas such as the internet, cybersecurity, digital economy, AI, and other key sectors. Highly appreciating the work done in Azerbaijan in this area, as well as the fact that more than 90% of the country's population has access to the internet, the guest said that the results achieved in this direction are satisfactory.

During the talks, the sides expressed confidence that the relations between Azerbaijan and China, based on true friendship and mutual respect, will continue to develop successfully in all areas for the welfare of their peoples.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Ambassador Tofig F. Musayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, visited the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

On behalf of Azerbaijan, he signed the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation.

It is reported that the convention adopted in New York on December 20, 2018.
Affordable mobile operator Nar has successfully implemented another initiative as part of its ongoing educational outreach across the regions of Azerbaijan, marking 23 April  World Book Day.

A meeting with students was held at Sarvan village secondary school named after Isfandiyar Hasanov in the Salyan district, featuring authors Gunel Akbar and Amin Oruj. Organized by Parlag Imzalar (Parlaq Imzalar) publishing house, the event provided an engaging platform to discuss the importance of reading, answer students questions, and enable direct interaction with the authors. The primary objective of the event was to promote reading habits among students and strengthen an educational environment.

Additionally, intellectual and entertaining board games were organized for the students, contributing to the development of their logical thinking skills and promoting productive leisure time.

It should be noted that Nar, which consistently places the regions of Azerbaijan at the center of its activities, continues to contribute to youth development through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the field of education and awareness. Through such initiatives, the company supports expanding access to educational opportunities for different segments of society.

Currently serving 2.2 million subscribers, Nar has been the leading mobile operator in Azerbaijan for the past seven years, based on the Net Promoter Score. This success is driven by Nars consistently implemented customer-centric strategy. The mobile operator provides users with reliable, high-quality communication services, a variety of internet packages, and modern eSim technology at affordable prices.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The visit of the delegation led by Vice Rector of the National Defense University of the Republic of Turkiye, Professor Talat Canbolat to Azerbaijan is ongoing, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

As part of the visit, the Turkish guests visited the territories liberated from occupation and toured a number of historical monuments. The delegation was provided with detailed information about the destruction and the consequences of vandalism committed by the Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijani people, as well as about the restoration, reconstruction, and rebuilding work done in the liberated territories under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

Servicemen also shared their memories related to the 44-day Patriotic War and other successful operations.

The Turkish delegation visited one of the military units and got acquainted with the conditions created there.

The guests were given detailed information about the combat path of the units that participated in the battles for the liberation of Azerbaijani lands and the restoration of our territorial integrity.

In the end, the sides exchanged gifts and a photo was taken.

In accordance with the visit program, the delegation of the Turkish National Defense University will visit the Combined Arms Army.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. On April 23, the 9th Congress of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan commenced in Baku, Trend reports.

The Congress brings together members of the Board of Directors of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, prominent scientists, public and political figures, well-known intellectuals, elders, members of martyrs families, youth, as well as representatives of 81 city and district organizations of the Council.

The event began with the performance of the National Anthem of Azerbaijan.

Then, a minute of silence was observed to honor the memory of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, as well as elders who passed away during the past period.

Chairman of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan Eldar Guliyev read out President Ilham Aliyevs address to the congress participants.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. An expanded board meeting dedicated to the work carried out this year, and upcoming priorities, was held at the Prosecutor Generals Office of Azerbaijan under the leadership of Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev on April 23, the Prosecutor Generals Office told Trend.

Opening the meeting, the Prosecutor General noted that amid the complex geopolitical situation observed globally and in the region, consistent policies implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and with the close involvement of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva have ensured socio-political stability, continued legal reforms, sustainable economic development, and the strengthening of Azerbaijans international standing. It was emphasized that, through joint efforts of prosecutorial bodies with relevant state institutions, including law enforcement agencies, necessary measures have been taken to uphold the rule of law, intensify the fight against crime, and protect citizens rights and freedoms.

Furthermore, it was also highlighted that, within the framework of the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture, modern urban development principles are being applied, a sustainable and secure living environment is being formed, and smart city and smart village concepts are being widely implemented in the liberated territories. Large-scale reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, along with the organized return of citizens to their native lands, were noted as ongoing positive developments.

During the meeting, achievements of prosecutorial bodies over the reporting period were reviewed, and key priorities for further improving the quality and effectiveness of service activities were outlined. Particular attention was given to organizational and legal measures required for the implementation of recent amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes, including the transition to electronic criminal proceedings and the use, collection, and preservation of digital evidence.

In line with the agenda, a number of pressing issues were discussed. Deputy Prosecutor General Heydar Mammadov delivered a report on preparations for the upcoming high-level meeting of heads of anti-corruption law enforcement bodies of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), noting that hosting such an event reflects Azerbaijans active role in international law enforcement cooperation and its proactive stance in combating corruption. He emphasized that the meeting is expected to yield important outcomes in expanding experience exchange, strengthening institutional cooperation, and defining joint areas of action.

Additional reports were presented by senior officials on the implementation of electronic criminal proceedings, legislative changes related to digital evidence, and other organizational matters. Participants of the meeting also shared their views and proposals on the issues discussed, and relevant decisions were adopted.

Additional reports were presented by Head of the Organizational and Execution Control Department, Tural Aslanov; Head of the Investigation Department, Nemat Avazov; Head of the Information Technology Department under the Criminalistics and Information Technologies Directorate, Akif Mammadyarov; Head of the Cybersecurity Department, Aydin Verdiyev; Head of the Department for Work with Documents and Appeals, Sahib Ismaylov; and Head of the Human Resources Department, Natig Huseynov. Their speeches focused on the implementation of electronic criminal proceedings, legislative changes related to digital evidence, and other organizational matters.

Concluding the meeting, the Prosecutor General expressed confidence that all employees of prosecutorial bodies will mobilize their knowledge and experience to address the significant tasks ahead, ensure a successful transition to a new stage of procedural activity, and continue to uphold the rule of law, protect citizens rights and freedoms, and safeguard state interests at the highest level.

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Premium Azerbaijan-Iran trade turnover ramps up in 3M2026

Trade between Azerbaijan and Iran increased in the first quarter of 2026. Azerbaijan's exports to Iran saw a slight decline, while imports from Iran rose significantly. Overall, the trade turnover between the two countries showed positive growth during this period.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Over the next five years, Kazakhstan plans to attract about $15 billion in investments into its oil refining sector, said Asylbek Dzhakiev, Chairman of the PetroCouncil of Kazakhstan, during the 2nd Forum on Logistics and Oil Trade in the Caspian and Central Asian Regions in Baku, Trend reports.

"Among these projects is a polyethylene production project worth $7.6 billion, with a planned output of 1.2 million tons per year, as well as a butadiene production project worth $1.1 billion, with a planned output of 900,000 tons," Dzhakiev noted.

According to him, the strategic issue lies in how to deliver this petrochemical product to global markets.

"From this perspective, the northern route may remain limited for the next 5-10 years, which increases the importance of alternative corridors," he said.

Among the priority export destinations, Dzhakiev highlighted China, considering the participation of Chinese state companies in funding the projects, as well as Azerbaijan via the Caspian Sea and the Middle Corridor.

"It is expected that these routes will become key for the future export of Kazakhstans petrochemical products," he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. I believe that the signed Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the field of agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia will be a significant milestone in the bilateral relations, Azerbaijans Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov, wrote on his X account, Trend reports.

The Declaration is expected to expand cooperation in the field of food security, agricultural trade, R&D, human resources development, animal breeding, and other mutually agreed areas.

The declaration laid a solid foundation for a lasting and productive partnership in future cooperation," the publication reads.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 23. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan discussed measures to facilitate the movement of goods and transport vehicles across the border, as well as the exchange of experience in customs digitalization, Trend reports via the Uzbek State Customs Committee.

The talks were held at the Jartepa border customs post on the Uzbek-Tajik border between Deputy Chairman of the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan Nodir Musamukhamedov and First Deputy Head of the Customs Service of Tajikistan Azim Tursunzoda.

Particular attention was given to improving the operation of border crossing points and strengthening bilateral customs cooperation.

Furthermore, the Tajik side presented its vehicle identification and clearance system VIN.TJ, which has been in operation since March 16, 2026.
Symposium on 9th CIIE, Hongqiao Forum calls for deeper China-Africa trade, economic ties

Xinhua) 09:27, April 23, 2026

Jiang Feng (1st L), head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU), speaks during the high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, April 21, 2026. A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth CIIE and the ninth HQF was held Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

ADDIS ABABA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) was held Tuesday at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization.

The high-level symposium was jointly hosted by the CIIE Bureau and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum Secretariat, in partnership with the Chinese Mission to the AU and the AU Commission. The symposium brought together over 80 guests, including AU leadership, Chinese and African officials, as well as representatives of the business community from both sides, to explore concrete ways of deepening economic cooperation.

Addressing the gathering, Ron Osman Omar, director for industry, minerals, entrepreneurship, and tourism at the AU Commission, highlighted that the elevation of China-Africa relations into an all-weather partnership reflects not only political trust but also growing strands of economic and development cooperation, playing a pivotal role in advancing the interests of the Global South.

Noting that the relationship between Africa and China has reached an "unprecedented level of dynamism and strategic depth," Omar said the CIIE offers African businesses a vital platform, serving as "a gateway to scale up and diversify exports, and integrate into global value chains."

"The CIIE has emerged as a unique and powerful platform by creating opportunities for countries, particularly developing economies, to access the Chinese market. The CIIE contributes meaningfully to expanding trade, supporting enterprise development, and promoting value addition," the director said.

Jiang Feng, head of the Chinese Mission to the AU, said that the CIIE is the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, serving as a major platform for China to advance high-standard opening-up and share development opportunities with the world.

He noted that in recent years, China has steadily expanded zero-tariff treatment for African products exported to China, streamlined customs procedures, and enhanced trade facilitation, thereby reducing barriers and broadening channels for African goods to access China's vast market.

"Beyond trade in goods, the CIIE promotes market connectivity, industrial collaboration, and development empowerment. It aligns closely with the AU Agenda 2063 and strongly supports Africa's pursuit of industrialization, agricultural modernization, and economic diversification," Jiang said. "While offering African products a valuable export route, the CIIE also brings in technologies, equipment, investment and management expertise, helping Africa turn its resource endowments into industrial strength."

Amany Asfour, president of the Africa Business Council, stressed that the African continent is endowed with natural and human resources, urging partnership with China to harness these resources toward transforming Africa into a global industrial powerhouse through investments in agribusiness, healthcare infrastructure, and technology transfer.

The high-level promotion symposium noted that the CIIE and the HQF, representing China's concrete actions in supporting true multilateralism and fostering an open world economy, have continued to contribute to upholding the multilateral trading system, promoting South-South cooperation, bridging development gaps, and providing international public goods.

The ninth edition of the CIIE will be held in November in east China's Shanghai, contributing to global economic growth and enabling countries across the globe to share China's opportunities since 2018. Held concurrently with the CIIE, the HQF, which focuses on cutting-edge issues in global development, brings together a wide range of international participants, consolidating multilateral consensus, and serving as a high-level platform for international dialogue and cooperation.

Ron Osman Omar (1st L), director for industry, minerals, entrepreneurship, and tourism at the African Union (AU) Commission, speaks during the high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, April 21, 2026. A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth CIIE and the ninth HQF was held Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

Song Shangzhe (1st L), deputy director-general of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) Bureau, also deputy secretary-general of the Hongqiao Forum Secretariat, speaks during the high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, April 21, 2026. A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth CIIE and the ninth HQF was held Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The Middle Corridor is becoming increasingly important as it is one of the routes operating without major disruptions, Kuanysh Keskinbayev, Deputy General Director for Commercial Affairs at KMG Kashagan B.V., said, Trend reports.

He made the statement at the 2nd Forum on Logistics and Oil Trade in the Caspian and Central Asian Regions in Baku.

The corridors capacity for exporting Kazakhstani oil is up to 5 million tons, and if volumes need to be increased, investments will be required in additional ports, tankers, and related infrastructure, he noted.

According to him, the cost of transportation along this route is usually higher than via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system; however, the higher price of Azerbaijani oil partially offsets this difference.

In terms of net export profitability, the gap may be smaller than the tariffs suggest. Nevertheless, when the CPC is fully operational, it often remains the most profitable route, Keskinbayev added.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 23. Turkmenistan and Malaysias oil company Petronas discussed expanding cooperation in training highly qualified specialists for the oil and gas sector, Trend reports via the Turkmen Ministry of Education.

The talks were held during a meeting between Minister of Education of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev and Ambassador of Malaysia to Turkmenistan Mohd Suhaimi bin Ahmad Tajuddin, as well as a delegation from the Turkmen branch of Petronas Carigali and PETRONAS University of Technology.

The development of human capital for the energy industry was identified as a key area of bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on strengthening ties between vocational schools, universities, and educational and research institutions under Petronas.

The sides discussed opportunities for expanding collaboration with PETRONAS educational and training centers, including Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, the PETRONAS Institute of Technology, Alam Maritime Academy, as well as PETRONAS Leadership Centre, Yayasan PETRONAS, and Petrosains.

PETRONAS (Petroliam Nasional Berhad) is Malaysias fully state-owned oil and gas corporation and one of the largest energy companies in Southeast Asia, with integrated operations across the entire hydrocarbons value chain in more than 100 countries. Beyond its core upstream and downstream business, the company places strong emphasis on long-term human capital development through its flagship education initiatives, particularly the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP), which funds talented students for undergraduate studies at leading local and international universities, including its own Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP).

PETRONAS also supports vocational and technical training institutions, internship pipelines, and structured talent development schemes, while collaborating with global universities and training centres to equip both Malaysian and international students with industry-relevant skills in engineering, energy, and related fields, with a particular focus on preparing future professionals for the oil and gas sector through scholarships, specialised courses, and industry-linked academic programmes.

Earlier, Turkmenistan announced the creation of 1,041 jobs as part of the fourth phase of development of the Galkynysh gas field, one of the largest in the world. The development of the fourth phase of the field began on April 17, 2026 and is being carried out jointly with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The next stage of the Middle Corridors development will be determined not only by transit volumes but also by the depth of its logistics infrastructure, Deputy Director General of the Georgian transport company Royal Express, Lasha Amashukeli, wrote on his social media account, Trend reports.

When we talk about the Middle Corridor, we often highlight its rapid development, and that is absolutely true. Freight volumes reached approximately 5.2 million tons in 2025, whereas in 2019 the figure was around 1 million tons. Thats a fivefold increase in just a few years. Yes, we all want this growth to continue. But such growth will not happen at the current pace alone. It requires very specific support, not only from the government but also from the private sector. Most importantly, the right investments in infrastructure are needed. Because a corridor is not just about roads and railways. A true corridor is built on the infrastructure located along the corridor, he said.

The company representative particularly emphasized the advantages of warehouses along the Middle Corridor: Today I want to focus on an often-overlooked but very important element: warehouses. Warehouses are not just storage facilities; they are key elements that ensure the flow of goods. They determine the speed at which goods move, the efficiency of their management, and the competitiveness of the corridor.

If we are serious about expanding this route, then warehouse infrastructure must become one of the top priorities alongside ports, railways, and highways. Because without sufficient and properly distributed warehouse infrastructure, cargo will move, but inefficiently, uncompetitively, and not on a large scale. This is a clear signal to both governments and investors: the next stage of the Middle Corridors development will be determined not only by transit but also by the depth of its logistics infrastructure.

The Middle Corridor is a transport and trade route connecting Asia and Europe that passes through several countries in the region. It serves as an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern Corridors.

The route begins in China and reaches Europe via Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye. The Middle Corridor offers a land route to the eastern regions of Asia, including China, connecting Europe and bypassing longer sea routes.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The expansion of partnership in the private sector was discussed between Azerbaijan and Egypt, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO).

Thus, a meeting with the Egyptian Ambassador Houssam-Eldine Reda held at AZPROMO exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in organizing mutual business missions and promoting investments.

During the meeting, AZPROMO Executive Director Yusif Abdullayev briefed on the agency's activities, as well as economic and trade relations with Egypt.

The ambassador noted favorable conditions for deepening economic partnership between the countries and the emergence of new business initiatives.

The meeting also exchanged views on potential areas of cooperation between the countries and organization of mutual business visits, and considered the partnership opportunities in the fields of pharmaceuticals, tourism, transport, communications, construction, and infrastructure.

The parties emphasized the importance of joint activities to expand relations between private sector representatives, organize business missions, and promote mutual investments.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are actively working to optimize oil supply chains, Deputy General Director for Commercial Affairs at KMG Kashagan B.V., Kuanysh Keskinbayev, told Trend in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Second Caspian and Central Asian Oil Logistics and Trading Forum in Baku.

"We have a general agreement under which we operate. Under this agreement, we are constantly working to increase transit volumes. However, frankly speaking, the most important issue is the economics of the route. Because it's a very long, multimodal route, we are currently actively working to resolve this issue," Keskinbayev noted.

He also clarified the current volumes of Kazakh oil supplies via Azerbaijan.

"From the Kashagan field, we ship nearly 250,000 tons of oil per year via Azerbaijan, and from Tengiz, approximately 1.5 million tons," he noted.

Speaking about the prospects for new projects, Keskinbayev noted absence of major new initiatives in the current plans, but pointed out the expansion of production at Tengiz.

"As part of the expansion, a third-generation plant was launched at Tengiz, which increased production by 10-11 million tons per year," he added.

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MARY, Turkmenistan, April 23. Turkmenistan plans to construct a gas processing plant with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters of marketable gas per year as part of the fourth phase of development of the Galkynysh gas field, Aman Khasietov, representative of Turkmengaz State Concern told reporters during the official ceremony marking the launch of the fourth phase of development at the Galkynysh gas field, Trend reports.

He said the project will be implemented in partnership with Chinese partners and will also include the drilling of 30 production wells and the construction of a range of industrial, infrastructure, and social facilities. The total investment is estimated at around $5 billion.

He noted that the project will use technologies from leading global manufacturers, ensuring a high-tech nature of the future production complex.

According to Khasietov, construction is scheduled for completion by 2030, after which deliveries of marketable gas to consumers will begin. Export destinations, as noted, will depend on market demand, including both domestic and external markets.

The Galkynysh gas field, located in eastern Turkmenistan, is one of the largest in the world. Its reserves are estimated to range between 27 trillion cubic meters of gas. The field was discovered in 2006, and commercial production began in 2013 under the management of Turkmengaz State Concern.

China National Petroleum Corporation gained access to the development of the field in 2009 after securing relevant contracts, becoming one of the key foreign partners in the project. The company has participated in the construction of gas processing facilities and infrastructure and was selected for the implementation of this phase in 2025-2026, further strengthening its position in Turkmenistans gas sector.

On March 2026, a contract has been signed between Turkmengaz State Concern and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) for the turnkey design and construction of the facilities for development of fourth phase of the field. The project is expected to enable annual production of up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas, contributing to the expansion of Turkmenistans export capacity.

Earlier, Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, emphasized that one of the key priorities of the countrys energy agenda is the supply of natural gas to Europe. 15-20 years ago we had very good cooperation with our European colleagues, and we did a lot to practically implement a number of ideas for delivering Turkmen natural gas to Europe via the Caspian Sea, he said.

In parallel, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Turkmen Dunyasi, Batyr Muradov, told Trend that Turkmenistan is considering the possibility of exporting natural gas to Europe via Azerbaijan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Discussions on cooperation in the fields of transportation, logistics, and technology took place between Azerbaijan and China, Azerbaijans Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, wrote on his X account, Trend reports.

We held a meeting with Zhuang Rongwen, Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of the Peoples Republic of China. During the meeting, we discussed cooperation between our countries in the fields of transportation, logistics, and technology.

We exchanged views on existing opportunities for the development of the ICT and innovation ecosystem. At the same time, we discussed the implementation of joint initiatives in the fields of cybersecurity, research, personnel training, and other relevant areas, as well as the expansion of the regulatory framework in this direction, the publication reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have discussed the economic cooperation between the two countries, a source in the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy told Trend.

The discussion was held during the meeting between the Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, and Co-Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Joint Intergovernmental Commission, Laziz Kudratov.

The meeting emphasized successfully continuing friendly and strategic partnership relations between the countries, and noted the importance of mutual projects in strengthening the economic cooperation.

Additionally, the parties discussed expanding mutual investments and trade turnover, implementing joint investment and infrastructure projects, as well as cooperation in the industrial sector.

According to the State Customs Committee, the volume of trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the first three months of this year amounted to $89.9 million. The data shows that this figure is $7.4 million, or 7.6%, lower than the figure for the same period in 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Georgia, with a population of approximately 3.5 million, had 1,251 gas stations as of late 2025, Mirza Shavgulidze, head of the commercial department at SOCAR Georgia Petroleum, said during the Second Caspian and Central Asian Oil Logistics and Trading Forum in Baku today, Trend reports.

"This is a very high indicator of market saturation. More than 45% of participants are small companies without recognizable brands, owning one or two gas stations," he noted.

According to him, this market structure creates significant pressure on business profitability.

"For large players, the issue of optimizing operational activities is becoming a critical condition for survival," Shavgulidze added.

SOCAR is one of the largest investors in Georgia. Established in 2006 as the first foreign subsidiary, SOCAR Energy Georgia is involved in the wholesale and retail sales of oil and gas products, as well as in the development of the gas distribution network and natural gas supply throughout Georgia. More than 30,500 kilometers of pipelines have been developed and rehabilitated in the country, which allows for the supply of gas to over 930,000 customers.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Omans Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said to discuss prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy, logistics and agriculture, Trend reports via the Presidential residence Akorda.

During the meeting, Tokayev emphasized that Oman is a reliable and time-tested partner of Kazakhstan in the Arab world and reaffirmed Astanas commitment to further deepening ties.

Our bilateral relations are strengthening both politically and economically. I would like to express my appreciation for your personal commitment to enhancing our partnership. I also look forward to the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said to Astana, Tokayev said.

For his part, the Omani deputy prime minister thanked the Kazakh president for the warm reception and reaffirmed Omans interest in expanding cooperation.

Kazakhstan is a beautiful country with a rich cultural heritage. Our relations date back to 1992, and Oman was among the first Gulf Cooperation Council countries to establish diplomatic ties with Kazakhstan. We are connected across many sectors, including culture, trade, economy and tourism, and we hope to further strengthen this cooperation, he said.

The sides discussed opportunities to expand trade and economic ties, with particular focus on energy, metallurgy, transport and logistics, agriculture, and digitalization. The importance of enhancing cultural and humanitarian cooperation was also highlighted.

Tokayev additionally expressed support for the people of Oman amid the current challenges in the Middle East and noted Omans significant role in promoting peace and stability in the region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Azerbaijan exported electricity to Iran in the first two months of 2026, Trend reports, citing the State Statistical Committee.

From January through February, Azerbaijan supplied 5.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to Iran, generating $157,000 in revenue.

Compared with the same period in 2025, exports to Iran declined slightly by 4.5% in volume and 4.8% in value.

During the same period, Iran also exported electricity back to Azerbaijan. Imports totaled 2.613 million kilowatt-hours worth $74,000, reflecting a modest year-over-year decrease.

Overall, Azerbaijan exported 72.208 million kilowatt-hours of electricity worth $3.9 million to three countriesRussia, Georgia, and Iranduring JanuaryFebruary 2026. At the same time, imports from the same group of countries totaled 16.5 million kilowatt-hours worth $619,000.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Increasing oil volumes from Kazakhstan is essential for expanding shipments via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC), Taghi Taghi-Zada, Acting Chief of Trading Operations at SOCAR Trading, said at the 2nd Forum on Logistics and Oil Trade in the Caspian and Central Asian Regions in Baku, Trend reports.

Kazakhstan transports oil via the BTC route as it recognizes differences in value. This relates to route quality, delivery time, freight cost, pricing structure, insurance expenses, and other factors, he said.

According to him, all these elements confirm that BTC remains a safer and more valuable export route for the region and continues to maintain this status.

Additionally, our colleagues from Kazakhstan, while rightly pointing to the high transportation costs, given the need for trans-Caspian shipments, domestic transportation across Kazakhstan, and further delivery to Ceyhan, still view BTC as a strong alternative to existing routes. To further expand the use of the BTC route from Kazakhstan, increasing supply volumes could be a key factor, Taghi-Zada added.

BTC Co. shareholders include bp (30.10%), SOCAR (32.97%), MOL (8.90%), TPAO (6.53%), Eni (5.00%), TotalEnergies (5.00%), ITOCHU (3.40%), ONGC Videsh (3.10%), ExxonMobil (2.50%), and INPEX (2.50%).

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. SOCAR Trading has proposed the creation of an energy exchange in Baku, Anar Habib, Senior Trader for Middle Distillates at SOCAR Trading, said at the 2nd Forum on Logistics and Oil Trade in the Caspian and Central Asian Regions in Baku, Trend reports.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline is constantly exposed to risks related to geopolitical conflicts. And of course, from time to time, we have to adjust production volumes to ensure the transportation of the required amount through CPC. One of the topics that has been discussed for a long time among traders, sellers, and buyers in the Caspian region is the creation of an effective hedging mechanism in this part of the world. Perhaps today Im presenting a somewhat futuristic idea, but every such idea has its time for implementation. Therefore, I believe that at some point, the opportunity will arise to create a commodity exchange platform in Baku  either a commodity or an energy exchange, he said.

According to him, such a project could be implemented in the form of a joint venture with existing exchanges in London, such as ICE, with the support of leading global banks like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

Im confident they would be happy to become part of such an initiative in Baku, Anar Habib added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. Azerbaijans green energy strategy was presented at the prestigious WindEurope Annual Event 2026 held in Madrid, the capital of the Kingdom of Spain, Trend reports.

Azerbaijan was represented at the event by Deputy Director of the State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources under the Ministry of Energy (AREA), Fagan Abdurrahmanov.

The opening ceremony brought together the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, the Prime Minister of Spain, energy ministers from European countries, as well as leading wind energy companies, turbine manufacturers, and other international partners. Discussions focused on global development trends and strategic directions in the wind energy sector.

During the event, the deputy director participated in several thematic sessions covering topics such as the application of artificial intelligence in wind energy operations, data centers and electrification, integration of renewable energy with data centers, links between wind energy and the defense sector, and reducing investment risks. Participation also included ministerial sessions on offshore wind energy and discussions on expanding supply chains.

As part of the visit, a meeting was held with the WindEurope organization, where issues arising from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between AREA and WindEurope, as well as future areas of cooperation, were discussed.

In addition, discussions with Spains Eolos company focused on an upcoming measurement campaign in the Caspian Sea using floating lidar systems to assess wind potential.

A meeting with World Bank representatives addressed technical assistance projects related to the local production of certain wind turbine components in Azerbaijan, as well as the transfer of expertise from the offshore oil and gas sector to offshore wind energy.

Furthermore, during talks with Spains Elecnor company, the sides discussed the current status of contract agreements and the initiation of measurement activities for a planned 70 MW wind energy project in Azerbaijan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. On April 22, leaders of Central Asian countries gathered in Kazakhstans Astana city for the Regional Ecological Summit, where President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon outlined the countrys key priorities in the fields of climate policy, water resources, and the "green" economy.

The Tajik leaders speech came against the backdrop of intensifying climate risks in the region - ranging from water scarcity to ecosystem degradation and an increasing frequency of dust storms. These factors are increasingly viewed not only as environmental challenges but also as economic ones, directly affecting growth sustainability and social stability.

A central element of Tajikistans position is the water agenda. According to Dushanbes estimates, up to 60% of Central Asias water resources are formed on Tajikistans territory, making the country a key component of the regional hydrological system. In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the role of mountain ecosystems and the accelerating melting of glaciers, which could disrupt the water balance and increase the risk of natural disasters.

The promotion of the international water agenda remains one of Tajikistans main diplomatic priorities. The speech reaffirmed the countrys commitment to the Dushanbe Water Process, as well as to the implementation of initiatives under the International Decade for Action Water for Sustainable Development". Additional emphasis was placed on strengthening the scientific base, in particular through the creation of a regional center for glacier and cryosphere monitoring under the auspices of international organizations.

At the same time, Dushanbe is strengthening the economic dimension of its climate policy. Priorities include expanding the use of renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and developing a low-carbon economy. In this context, hydropower is considered a strategic sector capable of meeting domestic demand while also providing export potential.

Special attention was given to financial instruments. The authorities announced plans to introduce green financing mechanisms, including the issuance of green bonds, aimed at facilitating integration into global climate finance markets. It was also proposed to consider the gradual formation of a regional carbon market  an initiative that could reshape investment flows in Central Asia.

The environmental agenda is further complemented by biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation measures. The country is implementing long-term programs on the protection of rare species and afforestation through 2040. These measures are presented as part of a broader sustainable development strategy, where environmental, economic, and social policies are closely interconnected.

Emomali Rahmon also noted that Tajikistan is actively implementing state programs and projects aimed at preserving unique and rare species of mountain fauna.

"These and other efforts are aimed at protecting natural habitats and ensuring a responsible attitude toward nature," the head of state stated.

On the sidelines of the summit, the importance of strengthening institutional regional cooperation was also emphasized - from aligning positions on the international stage to reinforcing specialized structures, including centers for waste and water resource management.

Given the announced initiatives, the further development of the regional environmental agenda may follow several scenarios. In one case, Central Asian countries could enhance coordination in the water-energy sector and attract additional investment through international financial institutions and climate funds. An alternative scenario assumes partial implementation of initiatives amid continuing disagreements over water distribution and the pace of transition to a green economy. A third scenario involves accelerated institutionalization of cooperation, including the creation of regional carbon markets and digital resource management systems, which could increase transparency and reduce project costs. A more fragmented path is also possible, where individual countries pursue national strategies without deep regional integration.

Thus, the Astana summit not only outlined Tajikistans current priorities but also highlighted a broader trajectory for transforming the environmental agenda of Central Asia - from a set of separate initiatives toward a more interconnected regional development model.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. Chairman of the Management Board of QazaqGaz Alibek Zhamauov and PetroChina International Vice President Wang Haiyan discussed the expansion of long-term cooperation during a meeting in China's Zhuhai, Trend reports via QazaqGaz.

The sides confirmed the stability of their cooperation in gas trade and expressed their intention to further expand it.

During the talks, the parties discussed the current state of cooperation and prospects for its further development in the areas of gas export supplies and infrastructure projects.

QazaqGaz noted that during the 2025-2026 winter period, the company took all necessary measures to ensure stable gas export supplies despite seasonal growth in domestic demand.

In February, QazaqGaz and PetroChina International signed an addendum to the three-year natural gas sales contract. It was noted that this step would allow an increase in gas exports to China in 2025, while no figures were disclosed.
The Colombian-born content creator, who called the British home secretary a dirty Muslim, claims she will reach London by boat to take part in a farright demonstration

Like any influencer, Valentina Gomez thrives on controversy. But this 26-year-old from Colombia is not like any other content creator: her social media platforms promote hatred against Muslims, whom she accuses of being rapists, and against immigrants, despite having been one herself.

Whats more, Gomez, a naturalized U.S. citizen who spells her last name without an accent, is seeking a place in politics. Her most recent campaign to reach Congress in the state of Texas is remembered for a video in which she is seen burning a Quran with a flamethrower. Now, she has returned to the center of controversy: the United Kingdom has banned her from entering the country due to her Islamophobic and racist comments.

Gomez was scheduled to speak at a large far-right rally in London, organized by the controversial activist Tommy Robinson, who advocates for the expulsion of Muslims. A similar rally in September, which Gomez also attended, drew more than 100,000 people and featured a video conference address by the worlds richest man, Elon Musk.

The influencer shared on her social media last Thursday that she had received travel authorization to the United Kingdom  U.S. citizens do not require a visa, only an ETA permit  and sent a message to Prime Minister Keir Starmer: See you on May 16 in England. [The Government is] only good at protecting the Muslim rape gangs. Try to arrest me and see what happens. England belongs to the English. Not the Mohammeds.

Following the news, several members of parliament and human rights organizations called on the British government to ban the young woman from entering the country, arguing that she posed a threat to the safety of the approximately four million Muslims in the U.K., representing 6% of the British population. And on Monday, media outlets reported that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood revoked Gomezs travel permit, stating that her presence would not be conducive to the public good. This is the same argument the British government used to bar entry to rapper Kanye West, who has made several antisemitic remarks in the past.

Gomez was outraged by the news. In a video, she called Minister Mahmood a dirty Pakistani Muslim and asserted that, since she couldnt arrive by plane, she would go by boat, like rapist pedophile Muslims. The agitator is confident that if the authorities dare to arrest her, the White House will get involved.

Gomez was born in Medellin and has lived in the U.S. since she was 10 years old. Her family settled in New Jersey. In several interviews, she has described herself as a genius for graduating from university at 19 and earning an MBA at 21 on a swimming scholarship. One of her brothers is Jonathan Gomez Noriega, a swimmer who represented Colombia at the 2016 Olympic Games.

The influencer worked as a real estate agent before entering politics. Her first attempt to get elected was in 2024, in a Missouri state primary. She lost with just 7.4% of the vote. This year, she tried to become the Republican candidate for Texas 31st Congressional District, but also lost in the March primary to John Carter, an 84-year-old congressman who has held a seat in the House of Representatives since 2003.

Gomez, who identifies herself as part of the Republican Partys MAGA faction, claimed that the election was rigged and that it had been stolen from her, without specifying whom she was referring to. U.S. President Donald Trump had endorsed Carter to keep his seat, describing him as a reliable conservative.

The far-right agitator, who has amassed over 1.2 million followers across Instagram and X, is a Christian and identifies as a woman of God. In most of her videos, she speaks directly to the camera, proposing Islamophobic and racist ideas. Her suggestions include banning women from wearing the hijab, the public execution of migrants who commit crimes, and the destruction of mosques in Texas. She frequently appears in her posts with some type of weapon, such as rifles, bows and arrows, or the flamethrower she used to burn the Quran.

The controversy with the United Kingdom has paid off, and Gomezs accounts have surged in visibility. The video in which she claims she will arrive in British territory by boat has already surpassed 4 million views on X. According to Gomez, she will travel to England with activeduty and retired military personnel. In her subsequent posts, she has escalated her attacks on Minister Mahmood, arguing that the minister doesnt only protect rapists and murderers; she also protects terrorists.

Shaista Gohir, an independent MP and leader of the U.K. Muslim Womens Network, welcomed the governments decision to the British press: I am pleased that the home secretary has listened to concerns and acted swiftly. They have rightly recognised the danger [Gomez] posed. Had she been allowed into the U.K., then it would have sent a message that Muslim safety does not matter.

If Gomez follows through on her promise to travel to England, the content creator could shake up diplomatic relations between Washington and London.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. Kazakhstans Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Tatiana Molcean discussed cooperation on strengthening energy resilience and developing low-carbon technologies, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, a meeting took place on the sidelines of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in Astana.

The sides focused on renewable energy expansion, regional energy market development, energy efficiency projects, and the extraction and processing of critical minerals. The officials also exchanged views on reducing the environmental impact of base-load generation, including the potential use of clean coal technologies, coal chemistry, and deep coal processing.

Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to a green economy transition, targeting a 15% share of renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030. The development of hydrogen energy was also highlighted as a promising direction, including large-scale investment projects and the formation of export capacity for green hydrogen.

The sides emphasized the importance of green financing, technology exchange, scientific cooperation, and workforce training in the energy sector. The meeting concluded with confirmation of mutual interest in further strengthening the KazakhstanUNEEC partnership in sustainable energy and low-carbon development.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. Kazakhstan has reaffirmed its commitment to the large-scale development of clean energy and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Energy.

The announcement was made in Astana during the Regional Ecological Summit (RES-2026), where a panel session was held with the participation of Eva Kracht, Director General for International and European Affairs at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and Kazakhstans Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenzhenov.

Akkenzhenov outlined Kazakhstans key priorities in advancing energy sector development, decarbonization efforts, and strengthening regional connectivity. He expressed appreciation to the EU and Central Asian partners for sustained cooperation, stressing that energy transition, supply security, and integration of infrastructure are becoming strategically vital for the wider Eurasian region.

We are convinced that ensuring energy security and achieving climate goals should complement each other. The transformation of the energy mix and the integration of regional grids will allow Kazakhstan to act as a reliable bridge, providing access to clean energy from Central Asia to European markets, Akkenzhenov said.

Kazakhstan emphasized its long-term course toward clean energy expansion, supported by infrastructure modernization, development of flexible gas generation, digitalization of the energy system, and improved energy efficiency as key elements of system stability and cross-border cooperation.

Regional priorities also included the creation of a unified electricity market in Central Asia under the REMIT initiative, modernization of interstate power grids, and development of trade mechanisms. The Kambarata HPP-1 hydropower project was highlighted as a strategic component in balancing the regions water and energy systems.

Participants were also presented with the proposed green energy corridor Central Asia - Caspian - Europe, a large-scale initiative aimed at exporting clean electricity to the EU and expanding long-term energy cooperation.

The minister noted the important role of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in supporting Kazakhstans energy modernization agenda, while expressing interest in deeper cooperation in green hydrogen production and sustainable financing mechanisms.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and a group of high-level representatives of the United Nations discussed the regional environmental agenda, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

The meeting was held within the frame of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES-2026) in Astana.

Tokayev noted that in the context of growing geopolitical instability, coordinated action in response to current challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, and water scarcity, is becoming increasingly important.

You know that Kazakhstan is a strong supporter of effective multilateral diplomacy. We are meeting at a time of growing uncertainty and unpredictability, when geopolitical tensions are rising and the logic of force is increasingly prevailing over the norms of international law. Yesterday I spoke about these very complex issues that we must address as a united international community within the United Nations framework and beyond, the president said.

He emphasized the indispensable role of the United Nations as a universal international platform capable of consolidating efforts to address global challenges.

In turn, UN representatives positively assessed the level of organization of the Regional Ecological Summit, as well as the president of Kazakhstans address at its plenary session.

The sides also discussed the implementation of Kazakhstans global initiatives. Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstans readiness to further strengthen cooperation with the UN system in the interests of sustainable development, stability, and shared prosperity.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Yerlan Akkenzhenov and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director General Yevgeniy Zhukov discussed prospects for cooperation in the energy sector, Trend reports via the ministry.

The talks took place on the sidelines of the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana.

The minister highlighted ADBs significant contribution to the modernization of Kazakhstans energy infrastructure, the introduction of advanced technologies, and the development of sustainable energy solutions.

Special attention was given to the outcomes of negotiations between the Government of Kazakhstan and ADB leadership in March 2026. Following those discussions, a Memorandum was signed providing for the implementation of 15 projects worth approximately $5.5 billion during 2026-2029.

It was noted that one of the key areas of cooperation is the modernization of district heating systems. In this context, the importance of the 2024 Law On Heat Energy was emphasized, which established a modern regulatory framework for the development of the sector.

The sides also discussed joint work on developing regional heat supply schemes aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing losses, and upgrading combined heat and power plants, boiler stations, and heat networks.

Decarbonization efforts and the introduction of modern technologies were also in focus, including gas-based solutions, thermal energy storage systems, and digital management of heating networks.

In addition, the meeting addressed prospects for cooperation in the development of electricity grids, the deployment of Smart Grid technologies, and energy storage systems to enhance grid stability amid the growing share of renewable energy sources.

The document signed in March 2026 opens up opportunities for the implementation of new large-scale projects in the economy. In particular, initiatives are planned in areas such as regional connectivity, strengthening resilience to natural disasters, water resources management, development of housing and communal services, and the residential market of Kazakhstan, among others. The ADB will also continue financing the private sector, including projects in agriculture, transport, logistics, and other key industries.

In addition, a contract was signed between KazAvtoZhol and ADB for the construction of a 102-kilometer bypass road around the city of Saryagash, with access to Uzbekistan via the B. Konysbaev border crossing point.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation across key areas, Trend reports via the presidential press service.

Tokayev expressed gratitude to the OSCE Secretary General for his active participation in the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, noting that the platform is aimed at identifying joint solutions to shared environmental challenges facing Central Asia and neighbouring regions.

During the meeting, both sides expressed interest in further developing cooperation in sustainable development, climate resilience, rational water resource management, and expanding economic connectivity.

Tokayev also reaffirmed Kazakhstans commitment to strengthening cooperation across all three dimensions of the OSCE, stressing that the partnership is based on the principles of the 2010 Astana Declaration of the OSCE Summit.

The president highlighted the priority of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Kazakhstans national agenda. He noted that the country is implementing a large-scale programme of political and institutional modernization aimed at building a Just Kazakhstan. According to him, the recent referendum and adoption of the updated Constitution marked an important stage in the transformation of the countrys political system, strengthening accountability, the rule of law, and effective governance.

In turn, Sinirlioglu thanked the president for the invitation to participate in the Regional Ecological Summit and highly appreciated Kazakhstans leadership in advancing the climate and environmental agenda in Central Asia and beyond. He also underlined Kazakhstans key role within the OSCE.

The sides additionally exchanged views on current regional and international issues.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Electricite de France (EDF) Bernard Fontana discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation, Trend reports via the presidential press service.

Tokayev noted the broad potential for joint work and stressed that Kazakhstan attaches particular importance to deepening cooperation with the French company.

For his part, Fontana expressed interest in further expanding cooperation in the fields of sustainable energy and modern energy infrastructure.

The President reaffirmed Kazakhstans readiness for open and mutually beneficial cooperation with international partners, including EDF, based on the principles of transparency and parity.

The sides also discussed cooperation in uranium supply.

Electricite de France is the largest state-owned electricity company in France and one of the worlds leading operators of nuclear power plants.

Kazakhstans first nuclear power plant, the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, is planned to be built near the village of Ulken in the Almaty region in cooperation with Russias Rosatom. A nationwide referendum held in October 2024 resulted in 71.12% of voters backing the construction of nuclear power facilities. In November 2025, the name of the countrys first nuclear plant was officially approved following a national vote.

Kazakhstan is also considering the construction of a second nuclear power plant, which may be located near Lake Balkhash.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 23. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy and Chair of the Supervisory Board of CLAAS Group Kathrina Claas-Muhlhauser discussed prospects for further strengthening Kazakh-German economic cooperation, Trend reports via the presidential press service.

Tokayev thanked the chairwoman for her contribution to the development of cooperation between the two countries and expressed confidence in continued support for joint initiatives and projects.

Claas-Muhlhauser, in turn, congratulated Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan on the successful conduct of the referendum on the adoption of the new Constitution.

The sides noted significant potential for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and industry.

Special attention was given to strengthening collaboration in energy, mechanical engineering, agriculture, logistics, and water resource management.

The sides also addressed the agenda of the upcoming C5+Germany format dialogue, with both sides agreeing to continue efforts to deepen trade and economic relations.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 23. Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan discussed preparations for upcoming bilateral visits at high and highest levels, Trend via the Kyrgyz MFA.

The issue was addressed on April 22, 2026, during a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

During the talks, the sides reviewed the implementation of agreements reached following the state visit of President of the Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov to Pakistan on December 3-4, 2025.

The diplomats confirmed their mutual readiness to actively work on the implementation of the outlined plans through the foreign ministries of both countries.

Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan maintain a developing bilateral agenda focused on political dialogue, trade expansion, and regional connectivity, with recent high-level exchanges aimed at strengthening cooperation following presidential-level agreements.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 23. Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in the trade and investment sphere, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz MFA.

The issue was addressed during a meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic to Mongolia, Aibek Moldogaziev, and Acting Director of the Mongolian Investment and Trade Agency, Bilegt Zandan, on April 21, 2026.

During the meeting, the parties discussed expanding mutual trade, increasing trade turnover, attracting investment, and organizing joint events aimed at promoting the investment potential of both countries.

Ambassador Aibek Moldogaziev emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and economic ties between Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, noting the need to create favorable conditions for further development of mutual trade, stimulation of investment activity, and support for entrepreneurs.

He also presented updated information, materials, and presentations on investment projects in the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasizing the importance of intensifying cooperation between the relevant investment agencies of the two countries.

For her part, Bilegt Zandan expressed Mongolias interest in further deepening trade and investment cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and proposed considering the organization of joint events to promote it.

Following the meeting, the sides confirmed their mutual interest in expanding trade and investment cooperation and agreed to continue active work in the discussed areas.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 23. On April 23, 2026, a TajikistanEstonia business forum was convened in Dushanbe, organized under the framework of cooperation between the chambers of commerce and industry of the two nations, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan.

The forum brought together eight Estonian companies and over forty domestic enterprises representing diverse sectors, including metallurgy, non-ferrous metals and scrap processing, information technology, logistics, woodworking, and the confectionery industry.

The event provided a structured platform for establishing business contacts, exchanging professional expertise, and exploring prospects for enhanced bilateral economic cooperation.

During the forum, a memorandum of cooperation was formally signed between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In addition, the Estonian delegation participated in site visits to several leading domestic enterprises, further facilitating practical engagement and knowledge exchange.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The reported attacks on the Iranian port of Bandar-e-Anzali, located on the Caspian Sea coast and attributed to US-Israeli military operations, pose a threat to peace and trade cooperation in the Caspian region, Iranian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ali Akbar Jokar said at the session dedicated to Caspian issues within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in Astana, Trend reports.

The official stated that they also risk causing environmental harm to the ecological balance of the Caspian Sea basin.

Unfortunately, as a result of military attacks, Iranian ports on the Caspian Sea coast, including port infrastructure, have also been targeted. Infrastructure and commercial vessels in Anzali have been subjected to unlawful and baseless military strikes. These actions not only threaten peace and stability in the Caspian region but may also lead to serious environmental and humanitarian consequences, as well as disrupt trade and economic cooperation among Caspian littoral states, he said.

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.

On April 21, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he extended the ceasefire until Iran submits its proposal and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The issue of Iran's nuclear program is not the main topic of negotiations with the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said, Trend reports.

According to him, in previous rounds of negotiations, the main focus was on the Iranian nuclear program, but in the current situation this is impossible. The ministry representative emphasized that the main task is to end the conflict in a way that meets Tehran's interests.

Baghaei stressed that the topics of negotiations will also change depending on the situation. He also added that it was important for Iran to include in any agreement the issues of lifting sanctions, compensation and ending attacks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The U.S. has advised American citizens to leave Iran via the Azerbaijani border after the partial opening of Iranian airspace, Trend reports via the U.S. State Department.

"As of April 21, Irans airspace has partially reopened. U.S. citizens should leave Iran now, monitor local media for updates, and consult with commercial carriers for additional information on flights out of Iran. Americans seeking to depart Iran may also depart by land to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan," the statement reads.

The State Department also advised U.S. citizens not to travel to Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Pakistan-Iran border area.

Americans who are unable to leave the Islamic Republic of Iran are advised to remain in their residences - at home, in hotels or other buildings - until further notice, and to stay away from windows.

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.

On April 21, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he extended the ceasefire until Iran submits its proposal and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 24. US President Donald Trump said he rules out the possibility of using nuclear weapons against Iran, Donald Trump told reporters at the White House, Trend reports.

Answering a question from journalists, he called it inappropriate, emphasizing that the United States had no grounds for such a step.

Trump noted that nuclear weapons, in principle, should not be used by any country.
CHENGDU, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official has stressed strengthening the law-based approach in the governance of religious affairs and guiding Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to a socialist society.

Li Ganjie, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a research tour in the western provinces of Gansu and Sichuan from Saturday to Wednesday.

The trip took Li to Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, where he learned about their law-based standardized management. He also visited a Buddhist college in Gansu and the Center for Tibetan Studies of Sichuan University to investigate religious education systems, the training of Buddhist monks, and Tibetology research.

Talking to people of different ethnic groups, Li emphasized the need to uphold the Party's leadership over religious work, develop religions in the Chinese context, and strengthen and improve the management of monasteries.

He also highlighted the importance of enhancing the education, training, and management of representative figures in Tibetan Buddhism, and guiding religious figures to resolutely safeguard national reunification and ethnic unity.

Efforts should also be made to run religious institutions well, establish and effectively utilize Tibetology research institutions, advance research on Tibetan Buddhism, and continuously improve the capabilities of officials engaged in religious work, Li said. 
Meg Nordale named 2026 Business Leader of the Year

Photo by Anna Nevison

Meg Nordale, second from left, stands with UAF College of Business and Security Management students and ASUAF officers Jackson Nelson and Lael Bartch after being selected for the 2026 Business Leader of the Year award.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Business and Security Management has named Meg Nordale, president of GHEMM Co., as the 2026 Business Leader of the Year award recipient.

GHEMM Co. is a leading Alaska-based construction firm. During the past 30 years, Nordale rose through the organization from a bookkeeper to executive leadership. She will retire in 2027.

Nordale has served as president of the Associated General Contractors of Alaska and as the chair of the University of Alaska Foundation Board of Directors.

Nordale helped lead a construction management workforce initiative that raised nearly $900,000 to support student training and career pathways across Alaska. Her dedication to education is also reflected in scholarships, mentorship and her engagement with UAF students and programs.

Nordale has contributed her time and leadership to numerous organizations, including the UA Foundation, the CBSM Business Advisory Council, Rotary Club and KUAC public broadcasting.

Lisa Putnam, vice president of public relations at Usibelli Coal Mine, said Nordales legacy is not only in the buildings she helps create but also in the people she inspires and the community she strengthens.

Meg doesnt lead loudly, Putnam said. She leads thoughtfully, investing in others and helping them grow along the way.

Nordale and her husband, Bob Schruf, enjoy spending time outdoors while traveling, hiking, fishing and working in their yard at home. They share those experiences with their six adult children and are now beginning to share them with their grandchildren.

A celebration in her honor will be held on Nov. 7, 2026. For more information or to reserve a table or a sponsorship in advance, contact Tammy Tragis-McCook at tjtragismccook@alaska.edu.

More information about the Business Leader of the Year award is available on the website.

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Webinars highlight Alaska Native Plant Month

Photo by Julie Stricker

Native plants, such as these white wild irises in Two Rivers, are important for pollinators.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, in collaboration with the Alaska Native Plant Society, is hosting a series of free webinars to highlight native plants and animals and the challenges they face.

All webinars will be from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesdays during May, which is Alaska Native Plant Month. Register using the online form or visit https://bit.ly/NativePlantMonth.

On May 6, Todd Eskelin, a biologist at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, will feature rufous hummingbirds, an important pollinator that is in decline. Eskelin will talk about current research into how rufous hummingbirds interact with native plants and what is needed to expand the hummingbirds range.

On May 13, Lisa Strecker, with UAFs ethnobotany program, and Jessica Newton, of the Kenaitze Tribe, will talk about how people develop relationships with plants that tend to grow well in human-impacted habitats. They will focus on how people can interact with plants for holistic well-being through the lens of Alaska Native plant traditions and ethnobotany.

On May 20, Maddie Dong, with Pollinator Partnership, will review the two new ecoregional planting guides for Alaska. She will discuss how the guides were developed in collaboration with Alaska-based plant and pollinator experts. The guides provide targeted native plant recommendations that support pollinators throughout the growing season.

On May 27, Gino Graziano, Cooperative Extension invasive plants instructor, will explain how some wildflower seed mixes can carry varieties that can spread beyond where they were planted and, in some cases, become invasive. He will discuss which species to look out for and avoid in wildflower mixes.

For more information, contact Molly Johansson at mjohansson@alaska.edu or 907-786-6313.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu.

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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Karnataka SSLC Result 2026 Out: Check Full List of Toppers

The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has annouced today i.e. Thursday April 23, 2026 the result of the Senior School Leaving Certificate (Karnataka SSLC) 2026 exam, also known as Pre University and Class 10 exams, along with the Merit List and Toppers' Names on its official website karresults.nic.in and kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

Karnataka SSLC 2026 Toppers: The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has annouced today i.e. Thursday April 23, 2026 the result of the Senior School Leaving Certificate (Karnataka SSLC) 2026 exam, also known as Pre University and Class 10 exams, along with the Merit List and Toppers' Names on its official website karresults.nic.in and kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

Karnataka School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa declared the Karnataka SSLC (Class 10th) 2026 results at a press conference held at the board's headquarters in Bengaluru. He also released the complete 2026 board exam result details along with the SSLC Merit List, Toppers Names, District-wise result and overall pass percentage.

The state recorded an overall pass percentage of 94.10% in the 2026 SSLC exam. The state has recorded such a high result for the first time. In 2025, the overall pass percentage was 62.34% - over 11% less than 2024 when the pass percentage was 73.40%.

As many as 7 students have obtained 100% marks i.e. 625 out of the total 625 marks in the 2026 Karnataka 10th board exam, and have emerged as toppers. In 2025, the number of toppers was 25.

Karnataka Class 10 Toppers 2026 List

Bharath G of Sri Vidyalakshmi English Medium School, Kabbala of Davangere district Preetham G. Poojary of Mother Theresa Memorial School, Shankaranarayana, Kundapura Taluk, Udupi district Sukhadeva of BVR English Medium School, Manvi, District Raichur Dhanush Sudhir Mysore, Malleswaram in Bengaluru Roopa Chanagouda Patil from Belagavi Jahnavi from Hassan Utsav Patel from Hassan

Karnataka SSLC 2026 Pass Percentage

According to the result declared by The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) Friday, the state registered an overall pass percentage of 94.10%.

"A total of 7,70,209 regular students appeared in the 2026 SSLC Exam 1. Of them, 7,24,794 passed with a pass percentage of 94.10%", the KSEAB said.

Karnataka Class 10 District-wise Result 2026

Dakshina Kannada: 98.40%

Udupi: 98.18%

Uttara Kannada 98.09%

Yadagiri: 91.89%

Kalaburagi: 85.06%

Districts that were already performing relatively well have pushed higher. Mandya, Mysuru, Belagavi, and Dharwad have all improved by over 1315 points.

Karnataka SSLC 10th Grade-wise Result 2026

A+ Grade (90 to 100 per cent): 68,207 students

A Grade (80 to 90 per cent): 130403 students

B+ Grade (70 to 79 per cent): 140963 students

Grade (60 to 69 per cent): 1,42,645 students

C+ Grade (50 to 59 per cent): 128722 students

C Grade (35 to 49 per cent): 113854 students

Karnataka SSLC Result 2026

Government schools: 93.97%

Aided schools: 92.44%

Government schools with 100% result: 2,393

Aided schools with 100% result: 824

Unaided schools with 100% result: 2959

Government schools with 0% result: Nil

Aided schools with 0% result: 5

Unaided schools with 0% result: 22

KSEAB SSLC 2026 Gender-wise Result

Boys appeared: 3,77,287

3,77,287 Passed: 3,46,872

3,46,872 Pass percentage of boys: 91.94%

91.94% Girls appeared: 3,92,922

3,92,922 Total girl students passed: 3,77,922

3,77,922 Pass percentage of girls: 96.18%

The pass percentage of Rural Students in the 2026 Karnataka SSLC exam stood at 79.85% whereas that of Urban Students is 80.30% - barely 0.45% higher, marking the important performance of the villagers.

The SSLC or Class 10 board exams of the year 2026 in Karnataka were conducted from March 18 to April 2, across the state. Soon later the assessment and evaluation of the exam papers were done.

Steps to check Karnataka SSLC Result 2026

Go to the official website: " karresults.nic.in " or " kseab.karnataka.gov.in "

" or " " Click on the link marked as "SSLC Result 2026".

Enter Reg Number and other details that are asked.

Click on Submit button.

Karnataka SSLC 10th Pre University Exam results are also accessible on the websites "kseeb.kar.nic.in", "pue.kar.nic.in" and "results.nic.in". Karnataka SSLC result of this year were also sent to the students' registered mobile number via SMS.

How to Check Karnataka SSLC Result Via DigiLocker?

Visit the official DigiLocker website at digilocker.gov.in and click on "Karnataka Class 10 SSLC Results"..

Click on "Go To Result" and select "View Result".

Enter roll number and date of birth.

Click on "Submit" to view your marksheet.

Check Karnataka SSLC Result Via SMS

Open the messaging app.

Click on the compose icon to write a new message.

Type KAR10, followed by a space, then your 11-digit roll number

Send the message to 56263.

Once the message is sent, you will receive your subject-wise marks via SMS on the same number.

Passing Criteria for SSLC 2026 (Revised)

The Karnataka government has lowered the passing marks for the 2025-26 academic year (applicable to 2026 exams):

Aggregate: Minimum 33% overall (combining internal assessment + external exam) i.e. at least 206 marks out of 625.

Minimum 33% overall (combining internal assessment + external exam) i.e. at least 206 marks out of 625. Per subject: Minimum 30% in each subject (no subject below this, regardless of aggregate).

Minimum 30% in each subject (no subject below this, regardless of aggregate). Third language marks are not counted in the aggregate for pass/fail (grading only, appearance mandatory).

Karnataka SSLC 10th Result 2026: Grade vs Percentages

A+ Grade: 90 to 100%

90 to 100% A Grade: 80 to 89%

80 to 89% B+ Grade: 70 to 79%

70 to 79% B Grade: 60 to 69%

60 to 69% C+ Grade: 50 to 59%

50 to 59% C Grade: 35 to 49%

SSLC Karnataka result of previous years

In 2025, Karnataka SSLC result was declared on May 02, 2025. Mohammed Mastoor Adil, Shagufta Anjum and Akheel Ahmed Nadaf were among the 22 toppers of the Karnataka SSLC or Class 10 board exam 2025.

In 2024, KSEEB SSLC exam was held from March 25 to April 6, 2024 and result was announced on May 09, 2024 when the board had registered an overall pass percentage of 73.40% .

In 2023, KSEEB SSLC exam was held from March 31 to April 15, 2023. The Karnataka SSLC Result 2023 was declared on May 08, 2023. The overall pass percentage in 2023 was 83.89% with over 61,000 students securing A+ grade (90 to 100%) and 1,47,634 students passing with A grade(80 to 89%).

The overall pass percentage in Karnataka 10th exam in the year 2022 was 90.29%. A total of 145 students scored 100% marks to emerge toppers in 2022.

In 2021, nearly all students were declared passed with the Karnataka board registering a pass percentage of 99.99% for the first time in the history of SSLC 10th exams. Overall pass percentage in 2020 was 71.80%.

The state board had not released the merit list and details of toppers in 2021 as the academic year was hit by the Pandemic.

In 2020, the Class 10 exam result was announced on August 10 and the overall pass percentage recorded in the state was 71.80 per cent, which is nearly a two per cent drop from 2019.

Karnataka Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) had announced the results of the Second Year Pre-University (2nd PUC) or Class 12 2025 on April 08, 2025.

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Maha TET 2026 Registration: Last Date to Apply April 24

The Maharashtra Rajya Parkisha Parishad has extended the last date of application for online registration of the candidates who wish to appear for MAHA TET 2026.

Maharashtra TET 2026: The Maharashtra Rajya Parkisha Parishad has extended the last date of application for online registration of the candidates who wish to appear for MAHA TET 2026.

The Maharashtra Rajya Parkisha Parishad had earlier started through the official website of Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test "mahatet.in" from March 27, 2026 online Registration of the candidates.

The last date of Maha TET 2026 application, as per the original schedule, was fixed as April 16, 2026. The Maharashtra Rajya Parkisha Parishad later extended till April 24, 2026 without any extra charge of late fee.

Hence the candidates who have not yet applied for MAHA TET 2026 should apply before April 24, 2026 as there will not be any further extension.

Maha TET 2026 Date

According to the MAHA TET 2026 notification, the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test 2026 will be held on June 21, 2026.

Maharashtra TET is held in Marathi, English and Urdu three languages since 2013. It comprises of two papers. MAHA TET Paper I is for candidates aspiring for posts of primary teachers, whereas MAHA TET Paper II is for those wanting to be secondary school teachers.

Both the papers of Maha TET will be held on the same day.

MAHA TET 2026 Paper I will be held on June 21, 2026 in the morning session - 10:30 AM to 01:00 PM.

MAHA TET 2026 Paper II will be held on June 21, 2026 in the afternoon session - 02:00 PM to 04:30 PM.

"MAHA TET 2026 Important Dates"

"MAHA TET 2026 Online Registration": From March 27 to April 24, 2026 (Extended)

"MAHA TET 2026 Admit Card Download Date": June 09, 2026

MAHA TET 2026 Paper 1: June 21, 2026 from 10:30 am to 01:00 pm.

Maharashtra TET 2026 Paper 2: June 21, 2026 from 02:00 am to 04:30 pm.

Maha TET 2026 Result Date: To be announced later

Steps to apply for "MAHA TET 2026"

Go to the official website: " mahatet.in ".

". Click on 'Navin Nondni' (New Registration) on left sidebar of the home page.

Read the instructions carefully and click on the check box to proceed.

Carefully fill up the Registration Form and click on Submit button.

Complete theregistration process and pay the MAHA TET 2026 exam fee.

As per the Right to Education Act, 2009, all states have to mandatorily conduct TET for recruitment of teachers to all types of schools. Only candidates who have qualified the TET will be eligible for teaching jobs henceforth.

Candidates wishing to appear for Maharashtra TET can visit the official website - the link of which is mentioned above, for TET syllabus, eligibility criteria, exam fees, test centres and other useful information.

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UP: Girls bag all but one top rank as 10th, 12th results 2026 declared

Girls secured all the top ranks, except one, as the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) Thursday April 23, 2026 released the Class 10th Matric and Class 12th Inter results along with the Merit Lists and Toppers Names

Uttar Pradesh 10th, 12th Results 2026: Girls secured all the top ranks, except one, as the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) Thursday April 23, 2026 released the Class 10th Matric and Class 12th Inter results along with the Merit Lists and Toppers Names.

The UP Board Class 10th and 12th board exams for 2026 were held from February 18 to March 12, 2026. The 2026 board exams in Uttar Pradesh were held in two shifts: morning (8:30 AM  11:45 AM) and evening (2:00 PM  5:15 PM).

A total of 52,30,184 candidates had registered for the examinations this year. Out of them, 27,50,843 students had registered for Class 10, while 24,79,341 students registered for Class 12.

After successfully conducting the board exams, the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) announced the results, along with the complete details, merit lists, pass percentage, and toppers details at a press conference today i.e. April 23, 2026 at 04:00 PM.

UPMSP Class 12 Toppers 2026

Rank 1: Shikha Verma (Sitapur) - 97.60%

Rank 2:

Nandini Gupta (Bareilly) - 97.20%



Shreya Verma - 97.20%

Rank 3:

Surbhi Yadav (Bareilly) - 97%



Pooja Pal (Barabanki) - 97%

UP Class 10 Toppers List 2026

Rank 1:

Kashish Verma (Sitapur) - 97.83%



Anshika Verma (Barabanki) - 97.83%

Rank 2: Aditi (Barabanki) - 97.5%

Rank 3:

Arpita (Sitapur) - 97.33%



Priti Verma (Bareilly) - 97.33%



Rishab Sahu (Jhansi) - 97.33%

Uttar Pradesh 12th Result 2026: At A Glance

UP 12th Inter Overall Pass Percentage: 80.38%

Pass Percentage of Boys: 75.04%

Pass Percentage of Girls: 86.32%

Uttar Pradesh 10th Result 2026: At A Glance

UP 10th Inter Overall Pass Percentage: 90.42%

Pass Percentage of Boys: 87.30%

Pass Percentage of Girls: 93.76%

UP Class 10th District-wise Result 2026

Badaun: 95.78 per cent

Agra: 95.40 per cent

Aligarh: 95.36 per cent

Prayagraj: 95.36 per cent

UP 12th Inter 2026 Stream-wise Results

Science: 82.15%

Commerce: 90.41%

Arts or Humanities: 76.18%

UP Class 12th District-wise Result 2026

Lucknow: 89.17%

Amethi with 88.96%

Amroha 88.8.87%

Steps to Check UP 12th, 10th Results 2026

Go to the Allahabad board's official official website: " upresults.nic.in ".

". Click on the link "U. P. Board Secondary (Class X) Examination - 2026 Results" to check 10th result.

Click on the link "U. P. Board Higher Secondary (Class XII) Examination - 2026 Results" to check 10th result.

Enter the necessary details like Roll Number and school code.

Click on Submit button.

Results will be displayed on the screen.

The candidates are advised to take a printout for future use.

Other Options to Check UPMSP Results

DigiLocker: results.digilocker.gov.in

UMANG: Search "UP Board" after login

Check UP Results via SMS

Class 12: Type UP12 <space> Roll Number and send to 56263

Class 10: Type UP10 <space> Roll Number and send to 56263

UP Board Exam Passing Criteria

Students must secure at least 33% marks in each subject to pass. Those who fail to meet the minimum criteria will be eligible to appear for compartment examinations.

The board announced the results through a press briefing, following which links were activated across official and partner platforms for student access.

UP Board Exam Results of Past Years

UP Board 2025 Results and Toppers

The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Board (UPSEB) had registered an overall pass percentage of 90.11% in the 2025 Class 10 board exam the result of which was declared on April 25, 2025. Yash Pratap Singh was the state topper in the UP Board Class 10 exams 2025, achieving a score of 97.83%.

In 2025, UP Inter 12th exam was held from 24 February to 12 March 2025. The result was declared on April 25, 2025, and the overall pass percentage was 81.15%.

2024 Result and Toppers

The Uttar Pradesh board had announced the 10th and 12th exam results in 2024 on April 20, 2024. The board had registered a overall pass percentage of 89.55% in Class Xth 2024 Board Exams . In the 12th Inter 2024 exam, the overall pass percentage was 82.66%.

Prachi Nigam of Sita Bal Vidya Mandir, Sitapur was the 10th topper in 2024 whereas Shubham Verma of Sita Bal V M I C Mahmudabad, Sitapur was the topper in the 12th board exam 2024 .

2023 Result and Toppers

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP), Allahabad Uttar Pradesh had registered an overall pass percentage of 89.78% in the Class 10 Matric 2023 exams result of which was declared on Apri 25, 2023 .

Priyanshi Soni of Sita Bal Vidya Mandi Inter College of Mahmudabad, Sitapur had topped the Uttar Pradesh board Class 10 exam held in 2023.

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP), Allahabad Uttar Pradesh had registered an overall pass percentage of 75% in the Class 12 Intermediate exams result of which was declared on Apri 25, 2023 .

Shubh Chopra had topped the Uttar Pradesh board 2023 exams by scoring 97.80%. Anamika and Saurabh Gangwar had jointly secured the 2nd rank with a pass percentage of 97.20% and 486/500 in 2023.

Priyanshu Upadhyay, Khushi and Supriya registered a pass percentage of 97% and 485/500 marks to bag the 3rd rank.

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HONG KONG, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Stock exchanges across Asia and Oceania should build a more coordinated and unified market to boost their appeal to international capital, Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, said on Wednesday.

Chan made the remarks at the 40th General Assembly of the Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation.

Hosted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the three-day gathering brought together more than 100 representatives from 18 bourses to discuss deepening cross-border connectivity, enhancing market liquidity and strengthening resilience.

In his keynote address, Chan said together, the federation's 17 members represent roughly one-third of global market capitalization and more than half of the world's listed companies, adding that for many global funds, navigating across these markets remains complex and unfamiliar when approaching them one by one.

"Our diversity is our strength, but only if we build the bridges that turn complexity into seamless accessibility," he noted.

"With global capital pivoting towards Asia, exchanges across our region have a unique opportunity to strengthen cross-market connectivity ... By working together, we can create richer product ecosystems, advance market access and develop efficient infrastructure that helps build liquidity within Asia," said HKEX Chairman Carlson Tong.

HKEX Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Y Chan said the HKEX is focused on developing the right products, platforms and partnerships that make two-way access easier and more meaningful for investors and issuers across the region, in a joint effort to advance Asia's financial markets.

The federation aims to facilitate information exchange and cooperation among member exchanges to drive the development of regional securities markets.

Its 41st general assembly will be held in Beijing in 2027, hosted by the National Equities Exchange and Quotations. 
Ulviyya Poladova



U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced a 30-day extension of sanctions waivers on maritime shipments of oil products from Iran and Russia, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Bessent, the decision was made in response to requests from several countries facing rising risks of fuel shortages due to recent instability affecting shipping traffic in the region. He said the appeals were made by finance officials from around ten countries during recent meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

The waivers temporarily allow certain maritime oil deliveries from Iran and Russia despite ongoing U.S. sanctions targeting both countries energy exports.

Bessent rejected claims that Iran had generated more than $14 billion in revenue from such exemptions, although he did not provide further details.

On April 15, during a White House briefing, Bessent said the administration would not renew general licenses for Russian or Iranian oil shipments, noting that existing exemptions applied only to cargo already at sea before March 11.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the worlds oil supply is transported, has reportedly experienced increased disruptions in recent weeks.

Photo: Reuters
Portuguese President Antonio Jose Seguro (R) meets with Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai in Lisbon, Portugal, April 21, 2026. (GCS Macao/Handout via Xinhua)

LISBON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Sam Hou Fai, said here Tuesday that during his visit to Portugal, the two sides agreed to use Macao's platform to strengthen China-Portugal economic cooperation.

On Tuesday, Sam met separately with Portuguese President Antonio Jose Seguro, Speaker of Parliament Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and President of the Supreme Court of Justice Joao Cura Mariano. During the meetings, he briefed the Portuguese side on the successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao.

Speaking at a media briefing at the end of his visit, Sam said the visit had yielded fruitful results, achieving the goals of enhancing mutual understanding, consolidating the traditional friendship and strengthening all-round cooperation.

He expressed confidence that China-Portugal cooperation would reach a new level, with Macao continuing to leverage its unique advantages to contribute further to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal.

For his part, Seguro said Portugal and China established diplomatic relations in 1979 and formed a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2005, noting that the two countries have long enjoyed close and friendly ties, with growing political mutual trust, frequent high-level exchanges, and strong cooperation across various fields.

Portugal will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and further advance all-round cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Sam arrived in Lisbon, the first stop of his visit, on Saturday. During the visit, Sam also held discussions with several Portuguese ministers and attended a presentation on the achievements of the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macao. 

Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai delivers a speech at a presentation on the achievements of the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macao, in Lisbon, Portugal, April 20, 2026.

Speaking at a media briefing at the end of his visit, Sam said the visit had yielded fruitful results, achieving the goals of enhancing mutual understanding, consolidating the traditional friendship and strengthening all-round cooperation.

He expressed confidence that China-Portugal cooperation would reach a new level, with Macao continuing to leverage its unique advantages to contribute further to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro (R) meets with Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai in Lisbon, Portugal, April 21, 2026.

Speaking at a media briefing at the end of his visit, Sam said the visit had yielded fruitful results, achieving the goals of enhancing mutual understanding, consolidating the traditional friendship and strengthening all-round cooperation.

He expressed confidence that China-Portugal cooperation would reach a new level, with Macao continuing to leverage its unique advantages to contribute further to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal. (GCS Macao/Handout via Xinhua)

Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai (R) attends a presentation on the achievements of the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macao, in Lisbon, Portugal, April 20, 2026.

Speaking at a media briefing at the end of his visit, Sam said the visit had yielded fruitful results, achieving the goals of enhancing mutual understanding, consolidating the traditional friendship and strengthening all-round cooperation.

He expressed confidence that China-Portugal cooperation would reach a new level, with Macao continuing to leverage its unique advantages to contribute further to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

People attend the Macao-Portugal economic and trade cooperation promotion conference in Lisbon, Portugal, April 20, 2026. (Photo by Carlos Costa/Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. defense officials briefed lawmakers this week on an intelligence assessment that it could take six months to fully clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines deployed by the Iranian military, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Furthermore, any such operation is unlikely to be carried out until the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran comes to an end, members of the House Armed Services Committee were told on Tuesday, according to the report. This means gasoline and oil prices could remain elevated through the U.S. midterm elections.

Iran may have emplaced 20 or more mines in and around the strait. Some were floated remotely using GPS technology, which has made it difficult for U.S. forces to detect the mines as they are deployed, a senior defense official told lawmakers. Others are believed to have been laid by Iranian forces using small boats.

The disclosure was made in a classified briefing for lawmakers, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged in a statement, while criticizing the related reports as "inaccurate."

"As we said in March, one assessment does not mean the assessment is plausible, and a six month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an impossibility and completely unacceptable to the (Defense) Secretary," Parnell said, without specifying how long it could take.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News on Wednesday there is "no time frame" for ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. 
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday marked the 77th anniversary of its navy, whose presence and growing strength have become an important force in maintaining regional and global stability.

As part of the celebrations, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy plans to open bases in more than 10 cities to the public, with over 40 active-duty vessels on display, according to the official schedule.

The number of vessels open to the public is the largest, and the variety the most diverse, in the history of such naval open-day events, the navy said.

The lineup includes guided-missile destroyers, frigates and amphibious transport docks, along with support vessels such as replenishment ships and hospital ships, many of which have taken part in missions including escort operations in the Gulf of Aden, overseas visits and joint exercises.

Founded in the same year as the People's Republic of China, the PLA Navy has -- over the past 77 years -- developed into a modern strategic service with a full range of naval branches and both conventional and nuclear capabilities.

In just over a decade, it has built three aircraft carriers and added new strategic nuclear submarines, 10,000-tonne-class destroyers, amphibious assault ships and integrated supply vessels to support maritime operations and national security.

Chinese officials and experts have long said that the Chinese military is a firm force for safeguarding world peace and stability, and that its growing strength contributes to the broader forces for peace worldwide. 
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The Hawaiian Islands are not only home to the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island, but also boast a unique natural environment. Born by volcanic activity of a very active hot spot in the middle of the Pacific Plate, they are a showcase of natural history.
Robert Pape, Professor of Political science at the University of Chicago has drawn attention to his academic "Escalation trap" model to current U.S-Israel war against Iran. He argues reliance on "air dominance" can backfire when precision bombing doesnt induce regime collapse but instead triggers a protracted costly war.

The notable essay by Robert Pape was published on Substack and synthesized by The Guardian [1], a newspaper linked to the Soros cartel. Pape was a professor at the U.S. Forces School of Advanced Air Space Studies (SAASS) and later moved to the University of Chicago. His critics point out that he had been an advisor to Barack Obama when he was a senator, although, contradictorily, he briefly served as an advisor to Texan Republican Congressman Ron Paul on the Iraq War.

Robert Pape founded the Chicago Project on Suicide Terrorism (Cpost), funded by the Carnegie Corporation, the Pentagons Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Argonne National Laboratory.

Through funding from the U.S. Air Force itself, the RAND Corporation refuted Robert Papes allegations, which were profusely watered down. Then, Pape got involved in the debate on the effectiveness of economic sanctions, estimating that 5% can achieve policy goals.

In his 1996 book Bomb to Win : Air Power and Coercion in War [2], Robert Pape questioned the effectiveness and relatively low cost of coercive air power, as it has a counterproductive effect: as the resilience of the targeted country is strengthened, as well as the loyalty of its citizens.

It should be noted that ten years later, in 2015, Pape and the French-American neuroscientist Jean Decety received a $3.4 million grant from the Department of Defenses Minerva Research Initiative  focused on Islam, Iraq and China to study the social and neurological construction of martyrdom.

In his highly publicized essay published on Substack platform, Pape highlights the patterns of the four stages now visible in the Iran war [3]:

Stage 1: Tactical success, but strategic failure: "visible destruction" that "fails to break the regimes will" or to destroy its main capabilities (the Iranian uranium enrichment deposits). 

Stage 2: Horizontal escalation: "the weaker side, Iran, extends the conflict in scope and duration, forcing the stronger side to expose itself to the same extent " . Its efforts are intensifying, but without achieving the strategic objectives.

Stage 3: Strategic risk increases (no exit in sight) and withdrawal becomes politically toxic.

"Stages 4 and 5 deepen the stagnation and lead to irreversible decisions."

In the Iranian context, Robert Pape warned that before and during the decapitation of enemy forces, through high-precision strikes, the "escalation trap" creates an illusion of control. However, rather than bringing Iran to its knees, Tehran would prove resilience and expand the conflict geographically to affect many other countries, as well as global insurance and energy markets. This strategy shift favors the defender (Tehran) over time: "The United States and Israel are biting more than they can chew". [4]

According to Robert Pape,  decapitations create powerful incentives for  horizontal escalation (Note: stage 2) . In the middle of his stage 4 , he states that Iran is emerging as a 4th center of world power-alongside the the United States, Russia, and China [5], so that  The Israel-Lebanon truce is not just a ceasefire. Its a signal for the future. The United States is actively constraining Israel in the middle of a war. That does not happen without a major shift in power [6]. 

Robert Pape judges that the war is now  economic more than a military one , while the  most dangerous phase [7]  is ahead. At no point did Pape mention Israels  Nuclear Samson Option  or the  Nuclear Madman Theory  linked to both President Richard Nixon and Donald Trump, let alone Trumans nuclear performativity.
Strongly committed to multilateralism, China remains a steady contributor to global development, international participants said at a high-level meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.
EAL Learning Support Assistant

St Georges British International School is seeking an EAL Junior School Teacher to support the learning and progress of pupils with English as an Additional Language. The successful candidate will report to the Head of EAL and the Head of Junior School. The position is available on a full-time basis from September 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

Take lead responsibility for the planning, preparation, and delivery of high-quality lessons that meet the needs of all learners.

Proactively liaise with colleagues and senior leadership to ensure curriculum continuity and shared best practice.

Establish and maintain professional, transparent relationships with parents and guardians regarding student progress and well-being.

Demonstrate professional flexibility and willingness to provide internal cover for colleagues across all Junior School year groups, ensuring continuity of learning if required.

Support the admission and integration of children and families identified as EAL into the school community.

Pastoral

Demonstrate professional awareness of each students wellbeing and welfare, and foster the personal and social development of each student in their care.

Actively promote the social, moral and cultural ethos of the school community.

Create an atmosphere of support by being aware of, and fully compliant with, all of the schools pastoral policies.

Be familiar with all the schools Health and Safety policies and be proactive in ensuring the safety of all members of the school community at all times.

Promote exemplary behaviour and a responsible attitude among pupils.

Be aware of and act upon all policies regarding the safeguarding of children.

Professional

Promote pride in the school among the pupil body through high standards of dress, behaviour and commitment.

Ensure that all communication is acted upon appropriately and in a timely manner.

Attend Parents Evenings, assemblies and other school events during term time as required by the Head of School or Principal.

Be responsible for all school resources, particularly those in your care, reporting damage or loss to the appropriate authority within the school.

Contribute to the virtual learning environment, the website, social media and publications in support of your work.

Contribute to the schools self-evaluation and strategic plan.

Foster a close partnership with parents, initiating contact where appropriate and ensuring that there is a record of this.

Carry out any reasonable professional request made by the Principal or Head of Junior School.

Personal Skills

The successful candidate will be:

An ambassador of St Georges at all times.

A role model in relation to the schools core values of internationalism, inclusivity and excellence.

Enthusiastic and passionate about education with a sound understanding of UK best practice.

Reliable and respectful in their dealings with all members of the school community.

Flexible and adaptable to the varied demands of working in a world-class school environment.

Proactive in all aspects of school life.

Able to work both independently and collaboratively.

A collaborative practitioner who can effectively guide colleagues on EAL best practice to ensure an inclusive learning environment.

Creative and innovative across and beyond the curriculum, with a commitment to bespoke lesson design.

Able to work successfully under pressure, with excellent organisational skills.

Able to demonstrate a positive and proactive attitude towards professional development and the schools induction and review processes.

Able to present a professional image in line with the high expectations of St Georges.

A strong communicator.

A confident and competent user of IT in the classroom and for administrative purposes.

Formal Qualifications / Experience

A good UK Honours Degree (or equivalent).

A recognised teaching qualification (e.g. Qualified Teacher Status).

A strong record of teaching.

A solid record of professional development.

Proven experience in lesson planning, assessment for learning and data tracking.

A track record of effective parental engagement and reporting.

How to Apply

Reference Number 260401

Application Deadline Monday 4 May 2026, 4.00 pm CEST

Start Date September 2026

Availability Full-time

Contract 1-year contract with the potential for a permanent position from Year 2

We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Please complete an online application form via www.stgeorge.school.it/staff/vacancies. Shortlisted candidates will have references taken up prior to interview.

Supporting Statement

The supporting statement is an important part of the shortlisting process and should address: the reason you are applying for the role, why you are a suitable candidate, your skills and experience, and any gaps in employment.

Additional Application Guidance

The Education and Qualifications section of the application form must be completed in full, including grades obtained. References should include your current employer. If you are currently working in education, your first referee must be your current Headteacher or Principal.

School Policies

Applicants should be familiar with the schools Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy available at www.stgeorge.school.it/policies. A copy of the Staff Code of Conduct and Whistleblowing Policy will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

Conditional Offer of Appointment

Any offer to a successful candidate will be conditional upon the following:

Verification of identity, qualifications and professional status.

A safeguarding check.

Receipt of at least three satisfactory references, including one from your current or most recent Principal, Head of School or line manager.

Verification of medical fitness (completion of a medical declaration).

Social media screening.

Non-EU applicants will be required to produce their university transcript with courses taken and final degree grade.

Remuneration

Package details will be available to shortlisted candidates upon request.

Equal Opportunities

St Georges is an equal opportunities employer and is fully committed to treating all employees and applicants equally. Discrimination will not be made on the grounds of age, race, religion, disability, marital status, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or any other basis.
New crucifix installed in Debel following desecration by Israeli soldier.

Italian peacekeeping troops have assisted in the installation of a new statue of Jesus Christ in the southern Lebanese village of Debel, after an Israeli soldier destroyed the crucifix on the site.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia, visited the church of Debel to bless the new crucifix donated by Italian soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The news was announced by Father Claudio, an Italian priest serving with UNIFIL, and was reported by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera and The Times of Israel.

The Italian forces of UNIFIL replace the crucifix in Debel, Lebanon, which was destroyed by an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer.



Video: debelalerts pic.twitter.com/4MiQVuh4PK  Hillbilly Catholic (@RosaryQuotes123) April 22, 2026

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also delivered a crucifix to Debel, although it appeared significantly smaller and different in style to the original one which was destroyed when an Israeli soldier used a sledgehammer to smash the head off the icon.

The incident, filmed by another Israeli soldier, sparked international condemnation, including from Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, strongly condemned the act, describing it as a "grave affront to the Christian faith" and part of "other reported incidents of desecration of Christian symbols."

Ci sono gesti che parlano piu di molte parole, e quello compiuto in #Libano dai nostri militari di #UNIFIL ne e una testimonianza concreta e di valore.

La nuova statua di Cristo crocifisso - per sostituire quella distrutta nei giorni scorsi nel sud del Paese - e un dono e al pic.twitter.com/776tXnwVkH  Ministero Difesa (@MinisteroDifesa) April 23, 2026

Following an enquiry, the IDF sentenced the two soldiers to 30 days in military detention and removed them from combat duty.

Six additional soldiers who witnessed the event without intervening are also facing disciplinary measures.

In a statement, the IDF expressed "deep regret" over the incident and was "working to ensure that it does not happen again in the future".

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Gordon Deegan

A 31-year-old Co Clare man has appeared in court charged with the assault causing harm of a Catholic co-parish priest and man of faith in a Cathedral in Ennis in front of churchgoers.

Dylan OLoughlin has appeared in Ennis District Court charged with the assault causing harm of Fr Joy Micle at the St Peter and St Paul Cathedral, O'Connell Street, in Ennis on Monday of this week contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

OLoughlin, from the Burren village of Corofin but currently of no fixed abode, is also charged with the criminal damage of 150 eye- glasses belonging to Fr Micle at the Cathedral on Monday, April 20th.

OLoughlin - who turns 32 next month - is also charged with using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at the Cathedral in Ennis on Monday.

In court, Garda Thomas Murray said that during the alleged assault, OLoughlin scraped Fr Micle's face and Fr Micle sustained injuries over his right temple and right cheek.

Garda Murray said that during the alleged assault, Fr Micles eye glasses fell and broke on the Church floor.

Garda Murray said that other church goers came to the priests assistance.

He added that OLoughlin was also allegedly verbally abusive towards Fr Micle.

Garda Murray said the sentence for Section 3 assaults in the circuit court on conviction is prison terms up to 10 years, adding that there may be further charges brought against OLoughlin.

Objecting to bail for OLoughlin, Garda Murray said that he would not be satisfied at all if the accused was granted bail.

Garda Murray said that gardai were objecting to bail as gardai have a fear that there will be interference with witnesses.

He said that Fr Micle is a man of faith, a priest and always at the Cathedral and that makes it very easy for OLoughlin to approach him should he receive bail.

Solicitor John Casey for OLoughlin applied for bail for his client and described OLoughlin as a very vulnerable individual who has good periods.

Casey said Garda Murray had provided a graphic account of the assault in court.

Casey said that OLoughlin suffers from paranoia. Casey said: I can see where the case is going and how it will be dealt with.

Casey said that previously OLoughlin worked in Shannon for a number of years and then had an accident unrelated to work and didnt go back to work.

Judge Harris granted bail to OLoughlin on condition that he remain out of Ennis and also ordered him to obey a nightly curfew.

Judge Harris told Loughlin I dont want you to come to Ennis apart from court appearances.

Judge Harris also ordered that OLoughlin is not to have any contact with the alleged injured party or witness in the case and remanded him to bail to appear before Ennis District Court next month.
On May 3, the iconic Hook Lighthouse will once again open its historic grounds for the May Bank Holiday, 'Shine A Light Festival', in association with Great Lighthouses of Ireland.

The event will offer a vibrant celebration of Irelands maritime heritage in a setting that blends breathtaking coastal views over the Wexford and Waterford coastlines along with centuries of history.

The worlds oldest operational lighthouse, Hook Lighthouse, will come alive with a free, family-friendly programme designed to spark curiosity and adventure for visitors of all ages. Running from 10am to 4pm, the festival will encourage guests to explore the world of the sea through interactive demonstrations from Irish Coast Services, lively family games, hands-on activities, and a range of delicious food offerings throughout the day.

May Bank Holiday, 'Shine A Light Festival' will take place at Hook Lighthouse. Picture: Patrick Browne.

The festival atmosphere will extend across the grounds, where picnic benches and childrens play areas create a relaxed, welcoming space for families.

A highlight for younger visitors will be the ever-popular pirate ship, ensuring imaginative play is firmly anchored in the days maritime theme. Alongside the outdoor activities, the maritime museum and sustainability centre will be open all weekend, offering further insight into Irelands rich nautical story and the evolving importance of ocean conservation.

A spokesperson said visitors will also get to enjoy the full experience of the lighthouse throughout the weekend, with guided tours running daily from 10am to 4pm.

Creative workshops will add another dimension to the programme, with childrens art sessions with Rose available from 10 per person and beginner adult art classes from 15, taking place Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 4pm.

Food and refreshment are well catered for, with the on-site cafe alongside an outdoor catering unit, ensuring visitors can spend the day comfortably immersed in the festival atmosphere.

As a free event supported by Great Lighthouses of Ireland, the Shine A Light Festival will celebrate accessibility, heritage, and community spirit in one of Irelands most dramatic coastal settings. For further details, see www.hookheritage.ie
Waterford City and County Council has commissioned a large-scale mural spanning across the Dock Road in Ferrybank, presenting 29 distinct scenes from the areas history.

The work is being carried out by Portuguese street artist Mariana Duarte Santos, who aims to pay tribute to the historic communities of Ferrybank and Sallypark through her art.

Mariana told the Waterford News & Star that she spent months trawling through the areas historical archives- taking design cues from historic maps, census records, newspaper articles and photos.

She began her work on April 16, and leaves on the 29th, though she concedes she may need to make another trip to fully complete the 150-metre wall.

Her job has taken her across Europe, although its not her first time in Waterford. In 2025, she completed a mural outside of Waterford Citys Greenway Bike Hire.

I really enjoy working here, I dont get much of a chance to see the city because Im working, but when I have seen it Ive enjoyed it, she said.

Senior Engineer with Waterford Council, Paul Johnston, said the work is vitally important in celebrating the history and essence of Ferrybank.

This mural is significant not only in scale but is a stunning visual narrative that bridges past, present and future.

Most importantly, it pays tribute to the people who shaped Ferrybank, from railway workers and stevedores to families and generations of residents whose lives and livelihoods defined the character of the area.
TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran has received its first revenue from tolls imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Thursday, citing a senior Iranian lawmaker.

A member of the parliament's presiding board told the agency that he had learned from reliable sources that Iran has imposed fees on passing ships.

The charges vary by ship type, cargo volume, and associated risks, he said, adding that Iran sets the rules for assessing and collecting these fees.

According to him, revenues previously collected from these charges are currently being transferred into the unified treasury account.

In a separate report, Hamidreza Haji-Babaei, a deputy speaker of the parliament, said the first revenue received from the Strait of Hormuz tolls was deposited into the Central Bank account.

Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz after Israel and the United States launched their joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. The United States also imposed a naval blockade targeting ships going to and from Iran, after peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed. 
A vibrant display of creativity and community spirit came to life in a County Waterford town recently as students from Tallow National School joined forces with local volunteers to transform the towns public toilets into a colourful and welcoming space.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

The initiative, delivered by West Waterford Mental Health & Awareness Group and supported by Waterford City and County Council, invited young artists to contribute their ideas and energy.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

A spokesperson for the local authority said the project saw students painting and decorating the exterior walls, turning a once ordinary structure into a bright and engaging feature for residents and visitors alike.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

The project captured the imagination of all involved, with a strong sense of collaboration evident throughout the day.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

Families, locals, and visitors stopped to watch, participate, and support the effort, creating an atmosphere that reflected the very best of community spirit.

Passers-by were also encouraged to take part, adding their own creative inputs to the mural.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

Cllr. Donnchadh Mulcahy, Chairperson of the West Waterford Mental Health & Awareness Group said: We are delighted with the outcome of this project and the support it has received. We particularly want to thank the volunteers and the students of Tallow National School for bringing their ideas, energy and enthusiasm to the project."

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

By combining creativity and collaboration, we hope the finished piece will serve as a reminder that community is at the heart of Tallow," he said.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

West Waterford Mental Health & Awareness Group is a community initiative that promotes positive mental health and breaks down the stigma surrounding mental illness.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

The group provides support through free workshops and outreach events throughout Waterford city and county.

The project was a real community effort and transformed the space. Pic: Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy

For more information about West Waterford Mental Health & Awareness visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WWSPGroup

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
A brand new gallery has been launched at Waterford Treasures to honour the Deise's maritime history.

The gallery was created to celebrate the 1,111 years of the Port of Waterford, Ireland's oldest port.

The exhibition will showcase the seafaring stories of Waterford and present them to a wider audience.

Waterford Treasures and the Port of Waterford are encouraging the public to share any document, photograph, artefact or story connected to our local maritime history.

Waterford Treasures have also made a call-out for the return of a historic diving helmet from the legendary Deise dredger SS Portlairge. The helmet is now believed to be in private ownership but would make an excellent feature to the gallery.

During the month of May, there will be a series of open days throughout the county where members of the public can go and share their own memorabilia and stories. There will be an event from 11am - 4pm on Saturday, May 99 at the Medieval Museum, Fishermans Hall in Dunmore East on May 10 from 2pm to 6pm.

The Coast Guard Cultural Centre in Tramore will hold an open day from 12pm to 4pm on May 16, followed by Faithlegg National School in Cheekpoint/Passage will hold its event from 12pm to 2pm the next day.

Celebrating heritage

Board Member of Waterford Treasures, Des Whelan said: We are absolutely delighted to welcome the Port of Waterford as our partner on this transformative project. This gallery will finally give Waterfords maritime story the dedicated space and prominence it deserves, and we are deeply grateful to the Port for their vision, their trust and their commitment to celebrating the heritage of Irelands oldest city and port.

CEO of the Port of Waterford David Sinnott said: "The Port of Waterford is immensely proud to support this new Maritime Gallery and to partner with Waterford Treasures on a project that truly reflects who we are and where we come from.

"The port has been at the heart of Waterfords story for over a thousand years, and this initiative ensures that our maritime legacy is celebrated, understood and passed on to future generations. We very much look forward to the unveiling of this gallery and to seeing the stories, artefacts and memories of Waterfords maritime past brought to life."

To learn more about the gallery and Waterford Treasures, check out waterfordtreasures.com.

On 16th May, the Coast Guard Cultural Centre in Tramore will host an open day from 12 pm to 4 pm, and on 17th May, Faithlegg National School in Cheekpoint/Passage will hold its event from 12 pm to 2 pm.
A music fundraiser is being held on May 2 at 5pm in Tully's Bar to raise money for Tobi Omoteso, a renowned hip hop dancer who was brutally attacked last March. Tobi spent many years in Waterford and was crucial in raising the profile of street dancing in the city. The Waterford dance and music community has been reeling since his attack and is coming together to support him in recognition of all he has done for the dance scene in Waterford.

Tobi Omoteso in Waterford before the horrific incident. Photo: Joe Evans

One of the organisers of the event, DJ Jay Roche, told the Waterford News & Star, I wanted to help him out as much as I could. There are a lot of people who are victims of assaults, and no one deserves that, but Tobi is the most undeserving person. Hes truly somebody whod give you the clothes off his back to help you out.

DJ and dancer Damien McCarthy has known Tobi since he was 14.

He was doing dance classes in Waterford at the time. I was on the street with a few friends, and we used to pester Tobi every time he passed us to do some dancing for us. Eventually, we joined his classes and from then on weve been pretty close.

Damien was with Tobi the weekend the attack happened.

He said: It was even worse that it happened on the weekend when he was running an event for the community. It was a shock for us all - the funds are one thing, but also the events and gatherings are even more important because theyre something Tobi has always pushed for and always been involved in.

Damien said that the support of the dance and music community in Waterford has been immense.

Its a credit to everything hes done for this scene and for community work. If he can help you, he will. The support and help hes given everyone, it shows that everyone wants to help him now."

Tobi started dancing in Waterford, according to Damien. When he first started dancing, the only dance school in Waterford focused on jazz and theatre dance. He joined forces with that school and introduced hip hop.

Tobi Omoteso in Waterford before the life-changing incident. Photo: Joe Evans

For the past five years, Tobi and Damo have been running a breakdancing competition as part of Waterford Walls.

Its a jam day where we have dance battles, break dancing, live rappers and graffiti.

Libby Seward is a renowned dancer, choreographer and founder of the dance branch of Waterford Youth Arts. She worked with Tobi from 2007 to 2017 on a range of community-led and professional projects. Now based in the UK, she reminisced about how when Tobi was just starting, he and his friends would put cardboard on the ground outside the Book Centre and do performances  they created quite a stir.

She said that the type of dance Tobi did was something the young people of Waterford were looking for  someone to do all these cool moves. Tobi came down to Waterford to study, where his profile as a hip-hop dancer became firmly established.

Libby said, He gathered people together.

Between backflips off altars (my heart was in my mouth, said Libby) and breakdancing battles, Libby spoke about how hip-hop and breakdancing were entirely new to Waterford, and it was difficult in the beginning to legitimise the art form.

She said, It was challenging  he didnt have funds, so money for insurance and venues was difficult, but he kept going, he was determined.

As part of the Imagine Festival, Libby put on an event celebrating all types of dance from Irish dancing to contemporary dance; whenever Tobi and his crew would perform, it was a riot.

Libby believes that Tobis success is his innate ability to express himself and his charisma.

Libby said, He was just brilliant.

Ed Cahill, owner of Tullys Bar Waterford, spoke to the Waterford News & Star about the fundraiser.

Were not putting a number on the suggested donation; were just asking people to support us if they can. Whats been heartening is the impact Tobis had; hes held in such warm and high regard that people are rightly rallying around him. Thats the mark of the man, really.

Already, over 70,000 has been raised to help Tobi with his medical expenses and recovery. On the GoFundMe page, Tobi recounted the horrific events of the day.

We were supposed to be celebrating. We had just finished packing the car, the seats heavy with gear and equipment for the 5th edition of our Hip-hop and Streetdance community festival in Limerick, which I co-founded and have been working on across Ireland for over 12 years.

"It was a day meant for music, DJ, street dance, movement, graffiti, art, unity and having fun for all regardless of race, religion, gender, age and ability. Instead, it became the end of life as I knew it.

As I tried to leave my estate, a man sat waiting in his car at the exit. He was parked carelessly, tyres on the footpath, blocking traffic and creating chaos in an already small space with road works. After a brief exchange of gestures, something snapped in him. He chose me.

He tailed me through the streets of Limerick, chasing me toward a well-known roundabout where he finally forced his way in front of me, swerving to cut off any hope of escape. I watched, paralysed, as he stepped out of his vehicle, wielding a wooden bat.

He began to beat my car, then he struck and shattered the drivers side window with the wooden bat, which exploded shards of glass, like tiny knives, sprayed across my face and buried themselves deep into both of my eyes.

Tobi spoke to the Waterford News & Star about the fundraiser this weekend: This weekend is going to be a celebration of what we do, which is hip-hop. The culture of hip-hop is community, peace, love and having fun.

Tobi hinted that there may be some dancing at the event as well.

Tobi said the attack happened all of a sudden. He said his iris split in two and his lens was ruptured. He has already had two surgeries and he has two more to go.

As far as my sight goes, my normal sight is a thing of the past.

"The field Im in obviously requires sight - well see what the future holds.

He is trying to remain positive though. He said, The community rallying around me is keeping me going.

It is still not known how much of Tobis sight will be regained after this surgery, but one thing that is known is that the Waterford arts community will stand behind him every step of the way.
Eva Osborne

SIPTU is seeking an urgent meeting with management at Pfizer after it announced the loss of 100 jobs at its manufacturing site in Ringaskiddy in Cork.

The US pharmaceutical company said the manufacturing operation support roles will be cut in the last three months of the year.

It has cited an anticipated reduction in volume requirements and changes to the Small Molecule operations at the site.

SIPTU Sector Organiser Andrea Cleere, said staff are shocked.

"Well it's a major blow to the work force and members of SIPTU employed in Pfizer Ringskiddy, many of whom have been employed there for decades," she said.

"So, really, it's shock at the moment while they absorb the information, assess how it may impact them individually and collectively as a work force on site."

Cork Sinn Fein TD, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, said supports must be put in place for the impacted employees.

Speaking to Newstalk, he said: "For the Government's part, it should be examining any possibilities that exist to preserve jobs, including engaging with the company. That should be the first objective.

"If not, I hope workers' representatives get the best possible conditions for workers, and state agencies need to be on the ground.

"They need to be there, ready to support those facing redundancies, to ensure every possible support is provided by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Enterprise."
Criticism over Ryder Cup ticket prices and warnings over terrorist attacks make the front pages of Thursday's papers.

The Irish Times leads with Iran seizing two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, tightening its grip on the strait, amid reports

that peace talks could begin.

The Irish Examiner leads with comments from a judge, as EU law is largely preventing access to key phone communication evidence, potentially hampering garda investigations.

The Echo leads with the BusConnects project to Bishopstown is set to be scrapped after the publication of the Cork Luas route.

The Irish Independent leads with warnings from the security watchdog that Ireland is at risk

The Irish Daily Mail's front page leads with the EU Commission's package for households to reduce energy costs.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with the Ryder Cup prices, with single ticket prices set to cost 499.

The Irish Daily Star also leads with the EU package to reduce rising energy costs.
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Exclusive BusinessCompaniesPublishing LinkedIn wins news bargaining reprieve as Microsoft boss lands in Sydney David Swan and Calum Jaspan April 23, 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

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is expected to be excluded from a federal government scheme to force big tech to pay for its use of media reporting despite the social networking site promoting news articles and its parent companys multibillion-dollar Australian business. Draft legislation for the new scheme could be unveiled within the next 10 days in a boon for media companies that have been anxiously waiting for the government to unveil the scheme so they can advance talks with Meta, Google and TikTok. Satya Nadellas company has spent years publicly endorsing Australias news bargaining framework. AP But LinkedIns likely exclusion from the News Media Bargaining Incentive laws  which could save the company about $170 million  has angered the technology giants that are included, according to people familiar with the proposed laws. Under planned laws, technology giants would have to strike commercial deals with media companies to compensate them for the value of the news that users post on their platforms or face being hit with a more expensive tax.

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Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella, who is in Australia this week, reportedly engaged directly with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese around the time the incentive was first announced in late 2024, and the tech giant has spent years publicly endorsing Australias news bargaining framework. Company president Brad Smith told this masthead that a previous version of the laws were based on a good principle that made sense. Related Article Exclusive

News Bargaining Incentive Google, Meta take aim at Australian plan for tech giants to pay for journalism We should not underestimate the value that journalism and media companies are contributing ... and if there is an opportunity to transfer some of this economic value to media and news, that will make the world a better place, he said at the time. All the big tech companies either declined to comment, or did not respond, but Google has previously said that Australians are increasingly turning to a range of platforms, such as Microsoft, Snapchat and Apple, for news content and this shift in consumption should be reflected in any proposed measure. The incentive is designed to encourage technology companies, which are worth trillions and control much of the distribution of information in the world, to pay much smaller publishing companies for their use of news reports that engage their users and help them to sell ads. The companies are also increasingly deploying AI chatbots and tools that reproduce and link to Australian journalism.

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Companies such as Meta, which is the most antagonistic to the proposal, argue the laws are unfair because they provide a service to the media by sending readers to their websites. Nine and News Corp declined to comment. Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is expected to be excluded from the federal governments incoming News Bargaining Incentive. AP The incentive, first announced in December 2024 by then-assistant treasurer Stephen Jones and former communications minister Michelle Rowland, functions as a charge-and-offset scheme administered through the tax system. Platforms with $250 million or more in annual revenue from significant social media or search services pay around 1.5 per cent of revenue to news publishers, or a 2.25 per cent charge if they refuse. Microsoft clears that threshold many times over. The companys Australian arm reported revenue of $7.5 billion for the year ended 30 June 2023, up 20 per cent year on year, with post-tax profit of $174 million. LinkedIn globally is a $15 billion-plus annual business and one of Microsofts fastest-growing divisions with a major focus on news.

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It operates a dedicated news tab, employs its own Australian editorial team curating daily headlines, and surfaces stories from local mastheads prominently in its feed. Based on its local revenue numbers, Microsoft stands to save up to an estimated $168.75 million if it evades the scheme. Former ACCC chair Rod Sims. Jamila Toderas Estimates based on local revenue figures show Meta faces an annual bill of up to $33.75 million if it refuses to strike deals with media companies, with Alphabet facing a liability of $202.5 million and TikTok $16.9 million. Those figures align with the total value of deals struck under the original 2021 News Media Bargaining Code, which industry estimates placed at about $200 million annually at its peak. The News Bargaining Incentive remains a priority for the Albanese government in order to support Australian journalism, a spokeswoman for the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Daniel Mulino, told this masthead. The draft legislation for the News Bargaining Incentive will be released in due course. There have been wide-ranging and ongoing consultation with stakeholders throughout the process.

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Rod Sims, the former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair who designed the original 2021 News Media Bargaining Code, said the apparent carve-out was difficult to justify. It does have editors. It does compile news stories, Sims said. It does seem strange that theyre excluded. Related Article Social media Roblox reveals sweeping changes amid Australian crackdown The design of the incentive is intended to close the loophole exposed when Meta walked away from renewing its Australian news deals in March 2024, arguing news content held little commercial value for Facebook. Under the existing 2021 News Media Bargaining Code, platforms could sidestep obligations by simply removing news. The incentive charge applies to digital platforms regardless of whether they host news content as long as they are covered by the law. In a November consultation paper, Treasury defined the incentive as potentially applying to all large digital platforms operating significant social media or search services in Australia.

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But the expected carve-out for LinkedIn suggests Treasury has settled on a narrower definition of significant social media or search services for the laws that excludes professional networking platforms, regardless of their news distribution role. Treasury was contacted for comment. Google remains the only major platform with active commercial agreements supporting Australian newsrooms, covering more than 90 news businesses and 226 outlets across national, regional and independent titles, according to the company. Meta ended its arrangements in March 2024. Sims said he was disappointed it wasnt sorted out a year ago and that the risk of a hiatus between the expiry of existing deals and the start of the new regime was material. A lot of peoples deals are coming to an end in the next three months, he said. The urgency is huge. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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NationalNSWDefamation Terribly rude: Text messages between Rebel Wilson and rising star revealed Michaela Whitbourn Updated April 23, 2026  3:24pm ,first published 9:50am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Hollywood star Rebel Wilson admonished a young actor for being terribly rude in text messages revealed during a high-stakes defamation fight between the pair that has raked over an incident involving a bath at a Bondi penthouse. Charlotte MacInnes, who plays the lead role in Australian musical film The Deb, directed, co-produced and acted in by Wilson, is suing the Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids actor for defamation over a series of social media posts. Text messages between Rebel Wilson and Charlotte MacInnes were tendered in the Federal Court. Matt Willis, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Audrey Richardson. At the centre of the trial is a claim by Wilson that MacInnes complained to her that a producer of The Deb, Amanda Ghost, made her feel uncomfortable during the bath incident in 2023, but later changed her story to secure future career opportunities with Ghost. MacInnes gave evidence on Thursday that she never made a complaint to Wilson and didnt walk back anything. She is seeking damages for defamation for Wilsons claim that she lied in recanting the alleged complaint to advance her career.

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Text messages shown in court on Thursday reveal some tension in May 2023 between the two performers at the start of their working relationship. The court heard Wilson had secured a ticket for MacInnes to watch the production Oklahoma! on Londons West End with her and cast mates, but MacInnes texted Wilson after the event to offer huge apologies because she lost track of time. MacInnes said she had [ended] up eating with Amanda Ghost, who has emerged as a central figure in the defamation case, and Ghosts assistant Pia Ashcroft. Not a great start Hi Charlotte. I appreciate the apology. In the future, it is terribly rude to say you wanted a ticket to a show and then you dont reply or follow up, Wilson replied. Its not a great start to our working relationship. MacInnes responded: Completely understand. Again, hugely sorry for my poor communication. Id love to send you the money for the ticket as you stuck to your word and got an available ticket.

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Wilsons barrister, Dauid Sibtain, SC, put to MacInnes that she was quite happy to effectively ditch your other co-lead actresses and the director [Wilson] for the possibility of another one-on-one meeting with Ms Ghost. MacInnes disagreed. The lawsuit More than two years later, in September 2025, MacInnes launched a Federal Court defamation suit against Wilson over a series of four Instagram stories, posted between September 2024 and July last year, that made claims about the young star and Ghost. Wilson alleged in one of the stories that MacInnes made a complaint to me as director that Ghost asked her to have a bath and shower with her and it made her feel uncomfortable. MacInnes denies that conversation happened. Neither woman was named in that story, but surrounding posts contained identifying information.

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Charlotte MacInnes arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney on Thursday with her boyfriend Carlo Boumouglbay. Audrey Richardson At the time of the alleged complaint in September 2023, MacInnes was living with Ghost and the producers assistant at a rented Bondi penthouse apartment during rehearsals for The Deb. MacInnes is not suing for defamation over Wilsons allegation that she made a complaint, but the further allegation by Wilson that the rising star recanted the alleged complaint in return for further career opportunities allegedly set up by Ghost, namely a lead role in a stage production and a record label. The bath incident MacInnes gave evidence on Thursday that the incident involving the bath, on September 5, 2023, was a medical episode. Ghost had a reaction to the cold after swimming with MacInnes at Bondi Beach, and MacInnes assisted the producer to warm up, she said. At one stage both women, wearing their swimmers, shared a bath.

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Sibtain put to MacInnes that it was a pretty regular-sized bath, and tendered a photo of the bathroom in the Campbell Parade penthouse. The penthouse bathroom in the defamation case, as shown in a Sothebys real estate listing. Sothebys Id describe it as a large bath, MacInnes said. MacInnes agreed under questioning by Sibtain that she ran a bath for Ghost to warm up, but said she got in first rather than Ghost. She denied Ghost invited her to get in the bath. MacInnes barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC, alleged in her opening address to the court that Wilson was not a whistleblower  seeking to protect a young actress and had only claimed when it suited her that MacInnes was a victim.

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Wilson has denied making the claims to further her commercial interests amid a welter of legal disputes with the films co-producers, including Ghost. Strange or bizarre situation MacInnes rejected Sibtains suggestion on Thursday that she told Wilson on September 6, 2023, the day after the Bondi incident: Amanda asked me to have a bath and a shower with her and it made me feel uncomfortable. I never said those words. I never made a complaint to Ms Wilson, she said. But she agreed they had spoken that day, and the next day Wilson called her in her capacity as director to check in with her. MacInnes agreed that in the call she told Wilson something like the situation was strange or bizarre.

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I dont recall saying those words specifically, but I may have, MacInnes said. Asked if she had also told Wilson she had not felt personally uncomfortable, MacInnes said: I dont recall. She said she didnt walk back anything and had not made a complaint. Wilson texted Ghost on September 7: Charlotte says all good. She just meant it was a bizarre situation not that she personally felt uncomfortable x. MacInnes agreed with Sibtains suggestion that she was very distressed about the fact that Amanda was keeping her distance from her after the incident. She had been asked to move out of the penthouse.

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On September 20, MacInnes had a conversation with Ghost. She agreed with Sibtains suggestion that she felt she had better clear the air with the producer, or she might have some real problems. I knew it was important that she knew I never made a complaint, MacInnes said. Career opportunities MacInnes was questioned at length by Sibtain about the circumstances in which she got a record deal with Atlantic Records and a lead role in the stage production Gatsby: An American Myth, co-produced by Ghost. Sibtain put to MacInnes that Ghost had provided her with quite a lot of help  to get through the audition process for Gatsby.

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I agree that it was a lot of help, MacInnes said, after Justice Elizabeth Raper asked her to answer the question directly. Rebel Wilson outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday. Sitthixay Ditthavong Sibtain took MacInnes to information Ghost sent MacInnes that was described as super confidential: the audition tape of an actor who didnt get the role. She was encouraging you to be more dramatic, Sibtain said. Yes, MacInnes said.

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She agreed that, in another message, Ghost was encouraging her to audition for the role even though she would be up against the worlds best performers. Everything has come up trumps for you, Ms MacInnes, over the last three years, Sibtain said. Ive worked very hard, MacInnes said. We know you talk to Amanda MacInnes was also taken to a note she made on her phone of a meeting with Wilson and Greer Simpkin, another producer of the film, during production of The Deb.

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MacInnes wrote in the note that Simpkin said to her: We know you talk to Amanda all the time. There are protocols that you havent followed. Maybe its just cause its your first movie. She told me you were [unhappy]  with the make-up. But the actions you took almost got a lot of crew fired. She wrote that Wilson added: Yeah lots. MacInnes said she did not know what Simpkin meant when she mentioned the crew. She said she had not complained about her make-up, but had asked on one occasion if it could be redone.

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Her voice shook with emotion briefly during questioning about the meeting, but she told the court she did not need a break. MacInnes was asked later about the opening song from The Deb, FML (F--- my Life). I dont require it to be played in court, but I embrace its sentiment, Sibtain said. I can sing along, Chrysanthou said. MacInnes denied she had a good and friendly relationship with Wilson throughout the shoot.

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She said she did what she could to keep the relationship lighthearted but its very difficult to be around Rebel. Wilson, who is seeking to rely on a truth defence, is expected to give evidence next week while Ghost is slated to appear on Friday. 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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NationalWACourts Passengers sat on planes for three hours after man threatened to blow up Perth Airport Rebecca Peppiatt April 23, 2026  4:06pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A 57-year-old man is facing up to 10 years behind bars after he was arrested for allegedly threatening to blow up Perth Airport, forcing its evacuation and leaving 450 passengers stranded on two planes for three hours as the threat was investigated. Keiron Beau James Hedges told Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday his words had been misconstrued as prosecutors said he was seen walking toward the passport area before he was stopped by security, prompting him to tell them to f off. A Victorian man has been arrested and charged over an incident that forced the evacuation of Perth Airport on Wednesday night. Picture: Australian Federal Police Australian Federal Police Hedges then allegedly said, Im going to blow this place up before again telling the security guard to f off. Australian Federal Police were advised of the incident before being notified of an unattended backpack left at arrivals. CCTV footage allegedly revealed Hedges was the person who left the bag which prompted the evacuation and an investigation by the bomb squad.

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The airports terminal 1 building was completely evacuated, prosecutors said, leaving 450 incoming international passengers stuck on two planes for three hours. Airport staff were also evacuated and 250 passengers had to remain in the terminal. Access to the airports train station was also denied before the bag was cleared. Hedges was later arrested on Adelaide Terrace in Perths CBD and during a recorded police interview allegedly said he had been informed to inform the public that the airport will be blown up and the carpark will be blown up. I did not tell them I would plant a bomb, he allegedly told police.

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I was informed to put my backpack outside terminal 1. I placed the bag in the bin because I didnt need it. The court was told that Hedges is in receipt of a disability pension because of mental health problems. His application for bail was denied so he can be brought back before the court for a mental health assessment on April 28. I would like to protest your decision immediately, Hedges told the magistrate.

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AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said the AFP and its partners would not tolerate threats to aviation security. Travelling through airports should be a safe experience for passengers, staff and airline crew alike, he said. We want to thank members of the public for reporting suspicious activity at airports  if you do see anything that doesnt look right, please report it to 131 237. The AFP will continue to work closely with airline partners to deal with any behaviour that interferes with aviation security.
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WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Trump orders navy to shoot and kill mine-laying boats in Strait of Hormuz Updated April 23, 2026  9:10pm ,first published 3:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the navy to shoot and kill any boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized two ships and tightened its grip on the strategic waterway during an indefinite ceasefire with no sign of peace talks restarting. I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday. There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! Ships lie at anchor off the major Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, which is under blockade by the US Navy. Getty Images In a separate post, Trump claimed the US had total control over the Strait of Hormuz and that no ship could enter or leave without the approval of the navy. It is Sealed up Tight, until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!! he said.

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The status of a two-week-old ceasefire, due to expire earlier this week, has remained unclear. In a sharp about-face hours after threatening renewed violence, Trump made what appeared to be a unilateral announcement that the US would extend the truce until it had discussed an Iranian proposal in peace talks to end the two-month-old war. But Iranian officials did not say they had agreed to any ceasefire extension and criticised Trumps decision to maintain the US blockade of Irans ports, itself considered by Tehran as an act of war. Related Article Middle East at war Iran claims it has seized two ships after Trump extended ceasefire indefinitely Irans parliament Speaker, and lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said a full ceasefire only made sense if the blockade was lifted. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that carried a fifth of the worlds oil trade before the war, was impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire, Ghalibaf said on social media.

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You did not achieve your goals through military aggression, and you will not achieve them by bullying either, he wrote in his first response to Trumps announcement. The only way is recognising the Iranian peoples rights. Trump again backed away at the last moment from his repeated threats to bomb Irans power plants and other civilian infrastructure, which the United Nations and others have warned would violate international humanitarian law. But little progress has been made in ending the war that started with joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. That leaves the two sides in a holding pattern, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, straining economies worldwide. Iranian state television reported Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard had seized two ships  identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas  after three vessels were attacked in the strait on Wednesday. The two ships were reportedly being taken to Iran for inspection of their cargo, documents, and records. The third vessel, a Liberian-flagged container ship, was fired on in the same area but was not damaged and resumed sailing, according to maritime security sources.

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White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that since the ships were not US or Israeli vessels, the seizure was not a violation of the ceasefire. She called it an act of piracy. Loading Traffic through the strait ground to a halt following the seizures. Only one ship, bulk carrier LB Energy, was seen moving through the waterway early on Thursday, with none observed entering. The tanker Ocean Jewel is currently idling at the entrance to the corridor, having aborted a transit not long after Iranian forces began firing at three ships. The US military said on Wednesday it had so far directed more than 30 ships to turn around or return to port as part of its blockade against Iran. Far beyond the Gulf, the US has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters, sources said, redirecting them away from their positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Brent, the international crude oil benchmark, remained above $US100 a barrel in Asian trade on Thursday, having hit triple figures a day earlier for the first time in two weeks.

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No new deadline In his Tuesday announcement, Trump said he had agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal ... and discussions are concluded, one way or the other Trump has declined to set an expiry date on the ceasefire. AP He has not set any deadline for the proposal or discussions, Leavitt told reporters. Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator, was still trying to bring the sides together after both failed to show up for tentatively scheduled talks in Islamabad on Tuesday before the two-week-old ceasefire was due to expire.

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A first session of peace talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad 11 days ago produced no agreement. Trump wants Iran to give up highly enriched uranium and forgo further enrichment to prevent it from building a nuclear weapon. Iran says it has only a peaceful civilian nuclear programme, and wants the lifting of sanctions, reparations for damage and recognition of its control over the strait. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war Trumps Iran deal may need him to do the unthinkable Iran has also made a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah militant group a condition of truce talks. On Wednesday, Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed at least five people, including the Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, in the deadliest day since a 10-day ceasefire was announced on April 16. On the eve of further talks in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors on Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Beirut would seek an extension to the ceasefire, which is set to expire on Sunday.

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Thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
People participate in a navy open-day event in Dongying, east China's Shandong Province, April 21, 2026. (Photo by Wang Guangjie/Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of its navy, whose growing strength has become an important force for regional and global stability.

As part of these celebrations, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy opened naval bases in more than 10 cities to the public, with dozens of active-duty vessels on display, according to the navy.

The lineup includes guided-missile destroyers, frigates and amphibious transport docks, along with support vessels such as replenishment ships and hospital ships. Many of the vessels have taken part in missions including escort operations in the Gulf of Aden, overseas visits and joint exercises.

To mark the occasion, the navy also released a short film, "Into the Deep," showing an aircraft carrier group operating alongside other naval forces, supported by carrier-based aircraft and shore-based missile systems in coordinated precision strikes.

China's drive to develop a capable navy has been tied to both its geography and its history. With more than 18,000 kilometers of coastline and a vast maritime domain, the country has increasingly emphasized safeguarding its waters, shaped in part by over 470 foreign naval incursions from 1840 to 1949.

Founded in 1949, the same year as the People's Republic of China, the PLA Navy has developed into a modern strategic service with a full range of naval branches and both conventional and nuclear capabilities.

In just over a decade, the navy has built a trio of aircraft carriers. The first, Liaoning, a refitted Soviet-made vessel, entered service in 2012, followed by Shandong in 2019, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier.

The third, Fujian, equipped with electromagnetic catapults, was commissioned in November 2025 and is now the largest vessel in the navy's active fleet by displacement. Work is ongoing on its carrier-based air wing, including fighter jets, early-warning aircraft and helicopters designed for carrier operations.

Beyond its carrier program, the navy has added new strategic nuclear submarines, 10,000-tonne-class destroyers, amphibious assault ships and integrated supply ships, in support of maritime operations and national security.

This rapid pace of modernization has also been visible to the public. Aboard a warship, Wang Zhifang, a 97-year-old veteran dressed in the old-style military uniform from his service days, recalled serving with only rifles.

"Now the weapons are automated, and the military operates with a much higher level of automation," the veteran said, expressing admiration for the navy's transformation.

Another visitor, a young military enthusiast, said the navy had made a qualitative leap over the past decade. He recalled buying military magazines each month in middle school, most of them focused on foreign equipment. "Back then, I kept wondering when I would see Chinese aircraft carriers," he said. "Now that day has finally come."

For Lin Yi-chen, a young woman from Taiwan attending the navy's open-day event, stepping onto a warship for the first time was a new experience, one that, she said, offered a different perspective. She hoped to share it with more young people in Taiwan.

The Chinese navy's growing capabilities have increasingly been put to use in international missions, from escort operations to humanitarian assistance initiatives.

Since 2008, the PLA Navy has sent dozens of fleets to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somali on escort missions to protect the international lane, escorting over 7,000 Chinese and foreign vessels.

In addition to escort missions, the navy has broadened its overseas medical operations. The hospital ship Peace Ark has treated more than 370,000 people worldwide since entering service, while a newer vessel, Silk Road Ark, has since 2025 extended such efforts to countries including Fiji, Tonga and Jamaica.

The navy has also become a regular responder to overseas crises, taking part in evacuations from Libya and Yemen, disaster relief in the Philippines, and emergency water deliveries to the Maldives during a local shortage.

"Such efforts reflect China's increasingly confident role in global and regional affairs, helping position the PLA Navy as a stabilizing force for peace worldwide," said Teng Jianqun, an international affairs expert. 

This screenshot from a video clip shows people participating in a navy open-day event in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on April 23, 2026. (Photo by Han Fangda/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on April 21, 2026 shows people participating in a navy open-day event in east China's Shanghai. (Photo by Sun Wei/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows people participating in a navy open-day event in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Li Fengxiang/Xinhua)
Today marks the PLA Navy's 77th anniversary, with two naval vessels opening to the public at an iconic waterfront in Shanghai for the first time.

When steel meets skyline -- and the view is unreal.
WCO Programme Global Shield brought together 22 participants from 17 Latin American countries in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Five-day regional workshop strengthened frontline Customs capacity to detect explosive precursors, initiators and other IED-related commodities

The workshop opened with remarks by Sandro Castillo, Director General of Ecuador Customs, who welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation to counter IED-related threats

Port visit to DP World Posorja provided participants with practical insight into supply chain security and operational controls

The World Customs Organizations (WCO) Programme Global Shield (PGS), in close collaboration with INTERPOL, held a five-day regional workshop in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from 13 to 17 April 2026. This final PGS workshop brought together senior managers and other enforcement staff from Customs administrations across Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen their response to the evolving threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Hosted by Ecuador Customs, the workshop gathered 22 participants from 17 countries in the region, namely Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Uruguay and two Regional Liaison Offices (RILOs) from South and Central America. A pre-accredited PGS trainer from Nigeria Customs Service joined the workshop virtually and provided several presentations covering various technical topics. The event was funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF).

Strengthening Capacity to Address Evolving IED Threats

At the workshop, WCO and INTERPOL provided an overview of the global and regional threat posed by IEDs, with a particular focus on the growing role of illicit trafficking and diversion of explosive precursors, initiators and other components used in their manufacturing. In this context, special attention was given to the critical role of Customs administrations in securing the supply chain and preventing the misuse of legitimate trade channels.

Through a combination of different thematics, participants enhanced their understanding of supply chain security, risk assessment techniques, and the identification of explosive chemical precursors and other IED-related materials. The workshop also strengthened their technical knowledge of IEDs, including their identification, classification, components, explosive precursors and initiators, while further developing their capacity to apply risk analysis, profiling and targeting techniques to detect suspicious consignments and prevent illicit diversion of dual-use explosive precursors from legitimate supply chains.

In addition, the workshop addressed safe handling, identification, labelling, packaging and regulatory aspects of chemical substances commonly used as explosive precursors. Participants also discussed the importance of information exchange, intelligence cooperation and inter-agency coordination between Customs and Police in responding effectively to complex evolving threats in the region.

Showcasing the WCO Programme Global Shield

The event also served as an opportunity to present the achievements of the WCO Programme Global Shield since its inception in 2010, as well as equip the participating Customs administrations with the operational tools and initiatives available to support them in addressing IED threats after the closure of the Programme.

In particular, the participants were briefed on the results of Operation Global Gateway, which focused on countering illicit trafficking and diversion of the explosive precursors and IED components. The participants were also familiarized with the newly launched WCO PGS App, developed to support Customs and other law enforcement officers in the identification of explosive precursors in the field environment. The participants were also introduced to the other tools and instruments of the WCO and INTERPOL, namely WCO CEN suite of applications and INTERPOL Notices.

Promoting Cooperation and Exchange of Good Practices

The workshop provided a valuable platform for participants to build a network of contact points across the region working on dual-use explosive precursors and other materials that could be used to build IEDs. The discussions contributed to a stronger common understanding of operational challenges and helped identify practical ways to enhance coordinated responses across the region. The participants were provided with multiple case studies from their own region and beyond, as well as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols.

A field visit to DP World Posorja was also organized as part of the agenda, offering participants a full tour of the port facilities. The visit provided attendees first-hand exposure to port operations, cargo flows and control measures, further reinforcing the importance of public-private cooperation in strengthening supply chain security and port safety and security.

By strengthening the operational and analytical capacities of frontline Customs officers and promoting closer regional cooperation, the workshop marked an important step in supporting Members in Latin America to counter the misuse of cross-border trade for IED-related activities and to contribute to peace and security. The joint delivery of the workshop by the WCO and INTERPOL also highlighted the importance of operational cooperation between the two organizations with the aim of reinforcing chemical security, preventing illicit trafficking and diversion of explosive precursors and other components for the manufacturing of IEDs, and promotion of the coordinated inter-agency responses to emerging and evolving threats.
BUCHAREST, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan of the National Liberal Party (PNL) on Thursday unveiled new cabinet candidates during a live press conference after the Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew all its ministers from the government.

In a move aimed at forcing Bolojan to resign, seven PSD officials, including the deputy prime minister and six ministers, submitted their resignations Thursday afternoon. Their departure has caused the government to lose its parliamentary majority, reducing it to a minority administration.

During the press conference, Bolojan signaled his refusal to step down by naming new ministers and vowing they would assume their duties by Monday at the latest.

In a statement posted on social media, the PSD said Bolojan no longer has parliamentary majority support and has therefore "lost the democratic legitimacy to lead the Romanian government." The party also said it is ready to join a new pro-European government and support "either a political or technocratic prime minister." 
BRUSSELS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- How to bring down the high energy costs in European Union (EU) countries? This topic is expected to dominate most discussions at the informal meeting of heads of state or governments scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Nicosia, Cyprus, amid a continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that transports roughly a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies.

Although Washington's indefinite extension of a ceasefire with Tehran allows for more diplomatic efforts toward a political settlement of the strait blockade and the war in the Middle East, it takes time for the global oil market to return to normal prices even after peace is restored. Moreover, for the second time in less than five years, with no end in sight yet for the Ukraine crisis, Europeans have recognized the great price of Europe's dependency on imported fossil fuels.

One day ahead of the Cyprus meeting, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed a package of measures aimed at protecting European households and industries from the energy crisis and accelerating the shift to clean, homegrown energy.

Since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, the 27-member EU has spent an additional 24 billion euros (28.2 billion U.S. dollars) on energy imports due to higher prices, without receiving any extra energy, the commission said in a statement.

REDUCING ENERGY DEPENDENCE

The new EU package, called "AccelerateEU," includes both short-term and structural measures to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and strengthen Europe's resilience through homegrown clean energy and electrification.

The measures include closer coordination among members on refilling underground gas storage, flexibility in filling rules and any exceptional releases of oil stocks. Monitoring will be strengthened through a Fuel Observatory to be established to track EU production, imports, exports and stock levels of transport fuels.

Targeted income support schemes, energy vouchers, social leasing schemes and lower excise duties on electricity for vulnerable households are on the list of household shield options. National governments can also be allowed extra flexibility to support the most exposed economic sectors under a State Aid Temporary Framework.

An Electrification Action Plan expected to be unveiled by the summer, including an electrification target and measures to remove barriers in the industrial, transport and building sectors, will also be discussed by leaders at the informal meeting called by the European Council.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this month that EU legislative proposals on electricity taxes and grid charges are expected to be presented in May.

FACING ENERGY IMPACT FROM MIDEAST CONFLICT

"We will address the challenging geopolitical environment and Europe's response to it," European Council President Antonio Costa said in his invitation letter, speaking of the Cyprus meeting's focus.

EU members have rejected involvement in the Iran war after the United States and Israel jointly launched military strikes on Iran in late February. As part of the EU's latest efforts to help de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged Israel to "renounce its territorial ambitions" in its parallel conflict in Lebanon.

Faced with mounting pressure, Macron warned that the EU could reconsider its trade relations with Israel if the latter's policies remain unchanged. "War must not be allowed to resume," Macron noted while calling for extending negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Iran has demanded the inclusion of Lebanon in its ceasefire with the United States as a precondition for peace talks, a second round of which is yet to begin.

Earlier in April, Von der Leyen said that there could be no stability in the Middle East while Lebanon is in flames, adding that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is of "paramount importance." She noted that the energy crisis arising from tensions in the Middle East has had an enormous economic impact on the EU.

PLANNING LONG-TERM EU BUDGET

Costa said the EU summit in Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, comes at a crucial moment for the EU agenda as "it will provide a moment for coordination and further political guidance in light of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its impact on European economies; and it will be an important milestone on the way to an agreement on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)."

He further said that Friday's working session will be dedicated to an open discussion on the EU's MFF for 2028-2034, "to prepare the ground for an agreement by the end of this year."

The seven-year framework regulates the EU's annual budget, focusing on EU competitiveness, security, defense and support for Ukraine in the next phase.

Following the meeting, EU leaders will meet with representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria on Friday afternoon to discuss shared challenges and explore cooperation opportunities.

Cyprus has deemed strengthening EU ties with the Middle East as a key priority for its EU presidency. 
High Court Reporters

A dispute between an Aer Lingus pilot, who was suspended from the company's recently closed Manchester base, is to go to mediation, the High Court has heard.

Captain Ian Blair had, on Wednesday, been granted a hearing date on Friday for his application for an order that he be allowed to attend a retraining course in Dublin on Monday.

The course is for pilots who have been transferred from the closed Manchester operation.

However, Blair is the subject of disciplinary proceedings by Aer Lingus UK Ltd, which is his employer and is on suspension pending the outcome of that process. He says, however, the process ended last January.

Aer Lingus maintains that the suspension remains in place and it is governed by UK disciplinary procedure. It says he was rostered for the retraining course in error, which he disputes.

He had been suspended on pay last November to allow for an investigation into a complaint that he had required cabin crew, who were on a "positioning flight" from Barbados to Manchester, to sit in economy rather than business class. There were no passengers on the flight.

There had been industrial action by Aer Lingus cabin crew in Manchester at this time for higher pay. The cabin crew on the Barbados flight did not take part in the industrial action.

It is claimed that Blair did not comply with an instruction from a chief operations officer to allow the crew to sit in business class, and disciplinary action was taken against him by Aer Lingus UK.

He brought proceedings earlier this month against Aer Lingus Ltd and Aer Lingus UK Ltd over what he said was the airline's insistence that he would have to remain in the UK while disciplinary proceedings against him continued, even though he said it had been agreed he would transfer to Dublin.

He then brought another application seeking to be allowed to sit the training course, and on Wednesday, Judge Brian Cregan granted an early date of Friday for the hearing to take place.

On Thursday, his barrister, Cathy Smith, told the judge the hearing on Friday could be vacated as the parties had agreed to go to mediation.

The judge agreed to adjourn the hearing for a week and was also told that a previous undertaking by the defendants not to take steps to progress the disciplinary process would continue until then.
Pupils from the Quay National School in Ballina have proven themselves to be among the brightest young problem-solvers in Ireland, securing top honours at the Bebras Computing Challenge National Finals. The event, held at Maynooth University on April 18th, saw two Ballina students reach the podium in a competition that tests the logical and analytical limits of thousands of students nationwide.

Following a school-wide participation of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-class students in November, fourteen pupils from the Quay National School were invited to the prestigious national finals. The delegation included six pupils from the third and fourth-class category and eight from the fifth and sixth-class category.

Owen Lewis and Oisin Murphy, prizewinners in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge held in Maynooth University

There is huge delight in the school as fourth-class pupil Oisin Murphy was awarded first place nationally, with classmate Owen Lewis securing third place. Their success highlights the growing strength of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) nationally.

While many associate computers with coding, the Bebras Challenge - run by the Irish Computer Society (ICS) and the Bebras Foundation - focuses on 'Computational Thinking'. This is a problem-solving process that involves:

Decomposition: Breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts.

Pattern Recognition: Identifying trends or similarities.

Abstraction: Focusing on the important information only.

Algorithmic Design: Creating step-by-step solutions.

Marco McDonagh, Niamh Murphy, Holly Carolan, Charlotte Cunningham and Kate McKenzie represented the Quay NS, Ballina at the Bebras Computational Thinking national finals in Maynooth University.

Speaking at the event, Eljakim Schrijvers, a global leader in the Bebras international community, emphasised that these skills are not just for future software engineers but are essential "life skills" for the 21st century. He provided parents and teachers with an overview of how these challenges prepare children to navigate an increasingly digital world. Mr Schrijvers encouraged other primary and post-primary schools across Mayo and Ireland to sign up for future challenges to help foster these critical thinking skills in the next generation.

Marco McDonagh, Kate McKenzie, Dylan Hannick, Donnacha Gavin, Holly Carolan and Niamh Murphy at the Bebras National Finals in Maynooth University.

Sean Gallagher, Principal of the Quay National School, said: "We are incredibly proud of all fourteen participants who represented Quay National School so well in Maynooth. Seeing Oisin and Owen take home national prizes is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers. More importantly, every student who took part has developed a new way of looking at problems, which will benefit them across all subjects."
VIENTIANE, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Tourism in Luang Prabang province in northern Laos is gaining strong momentum, driven by improved rail connectivity, rising international interest, and growing global recognition of its cultural and natural heritage.

The China-Laos Railway's Luang Prabang station has emerged as the busiest passenger hub along the line, playing a key role in driving socio-economic growth in northern Laos. The station has significantly contributed to development in the province, particularly in tourism, hospitality, and employment, according to a Lao News Agency report on Wednesday.

The station can accommodate up to 1,200 passengers and handles both passenger and freight services. Since its opening, it has served more than 4.36 million domestic and international passengers, making it the busiest hub along the line.

The railway has significantly boosted local socio-economic development, particularly in tourism and related services. The number of hotels in the province has more than tripled compared to the pre-railway period, reflecting rising visitor demand.

Improved connectivity has also created jobs and increased incomes for local residents. Each day, more than 400 vans and 10 buses transport passengers to and from the station, providing stable employment and supporting livelihoods.

During the 2026 Lao New Year celebrations from April 10 to April 20, Luang Prabang welcomed 68,126 visitors, including 27,251 international tourists. Chinese visitors ranked first among foreign arrivals, followed by travelers from Thailand and Vietnam, according to the provincial culture and tourism department.

Authorities are stepping up efforts to sustain this growth by improving professional skills in the tourism sector and promoting sustainable development. The province gained international attention in 2026, ranking among the world's most beautiful destinations and earning recognition for its community-based tourism, environmental management, and preservation of traditional architecture and spiritual heritage.

Luang Prabang province, some 220 km north of the Lao capital Vientiane, is a top tourist destination for its old temples, scenic attractions and rural landscapes.

Laos is targeting between 5 and 6 million international tourist arrivals in 2026, driven by improved regional connectivity and rising global interest in cross-border rail travel. 
Government proposals to introduce 30km per hour speed limits along Irish roads in built-up areas must be carefully examined in relation to Mayo as people may not be willing to adhere to such limits, according to senior council official.

Addressing the April meeting of Mayo County Council, Director of Services David Mellett explained that speed zones of 80kph were reduced to 60kph in February 2025 and phase two of the Governmen's roads programme related to the introduction of 30kph zones in built-up areas, which had to be signed off by March 2027.

"This relates to residential roads and locations where there are vulnerable active road users. Overall, the guidelines are specific, exceptions may be permitted but they need to be credible and take regard of the road and the users. For example, if you are putting in 30km limits where it does not make sense and where it is unlikely motorists will adhere, this creates a danger.

"It is important that the speed limit we introduce is self-regulating and self-enforcing, so that a formal traffic calming is already in place where motorists are driving at close to 30km. This is not just a matter of changing numbers on a sign and picking on a map where these zones will go. The advice is we put in the engineering measures now, then go back and change the speed limits, and then go to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for funding.

Cllr Michael Loftus said he was worried the 30kph is too slow and will cause problems as people wont adhere to it, given we dont have the garda numbers to enforce traffic measures even outside the urban areas".

Cllr Damien Ryan said the proposals need to be very well thought out, adding: It will be ridiculous to impose this in some places but a stretch in every town should be 30km. We are looking all the time for the 50kph and 60kph speeds to be enforced, so unless enforcement is part of the plan and An Garda Siochana is prepared to work with us, I dont see this working.

Cllr Patsy OBrien said Garda manpower is critical, adding: I dont have a lot of faith in this new 30kph plan. Even the 60kph enforcement does not materialise, I know a case of a HGV going at 106km through one.

Cllr John OHara said anything above 30kph in an estate is too much while Cllr Gerry Coyle said the only way to slow traffic down is with speed ramps.

Mr Mellett added: I would not be advocating to put in 30km where the normal speed is 50km at the minute. As to schools on rural roads, they are talking about a speed of 50km but that is on a case-by-case basis.
La Casa Tapas & Wine Restaurant in Claremorris secured a double win at the YES Chef Ireland Awards 2026 last Tuesday evening, held at the YES Chef Ireland Awards 2026 at the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk.

The restaurant was recognised as Best Small Plates Dining in Connacht and also received a Highly Recommended accolade for World Food Dining in Ireland.
A Claremorris woman was found asleep at the wheel of her car after it collided with a bench and a wall.

Oksana Kolesnikova, of 15 Cluain Aoibhann, Claremorris, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to refusing to provide a breath, urine or blood sample after her arrest for drink driving.

Gda Sgt John OReilly told the court that gardai received a report at 6.59pm on Sunday, November 23, 2025, of a female motorist asleep at the wheel after her car had collided with a bench and wall at An Clar, Claremorris,

When gardai arrived at the scene, they found Kolesnikova to be extremely intoxicated. The court heard that she has no previous convictions.

Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said his client, aged 45, is originally from Latvia and has been living in Ireland for the past 11 years. She works in a factory in Ballyhaunis while residing in Claremorris and is the sole breadwinner for her family. The refusal to provide a sample had been a misunderstanding.

Judge Sandra Murphy said she had considered the defendants personal circumstances and lack of previous convictions. She imposed a four-year driving ban and a fine of 250.
When Robert Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV as the first American pope in history, people wondered how he would get on with President Donald Trump. Not great was the general prognosis. Though both were American-born, they lived on different planets. Chalk and cheese.

Pope Francis couldnt deal with Americans. His focus on the care of the poor was out of sync with the standard American gospel that the rich were blessed by God and poverty was the fault of the poor. And yet millions of American Catholics had voted for Trump. Francis seemed almost to despair of America.

But while Francis effectively withdrew from Trumps America, Leo is built of sterner stuff. When Trump discovered that Leos brother was a MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporter, he imagined it was a good sign that he would have a free run at further domesticating American Catholicism.

However, an effort early in 2025 by the vice-president, JD Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, to prioritise love of family over respect for migrants, drew a swift rebuke from the future Pope Leo. Catholic social teaching, he pointed out, was being oversimplified and misapplied by Vance and couldnt be used to justify harsh immigration policies.

After becoming pope, in May 2025, and a short period of testing the relative waters between the Pentagon and the Vatican, Trump and Leo were seen to be at odds with one another.

In January, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Catholic Churchs representative in America (Papal Nuncio), was summoned to the Department of War where Pete Hegseths officials pointed out a few home truths including that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants and that the Catholic Church should take its side. The meeting was described by Massimo Faggioli, a Catholic theologian at Trinity College Dublin, as like inviting a vegetarian to a barbecue.

While both sides used diplomatic language to calm the situation - an exchange of views of mutual interest, a substantive, respectful and professional meeting, frank but very cordial - it is clear that it was a difficult conversation or as one Vatican official described the meeting as between two alternate approaches, one dominated by force, deterrence and security, the other by listening, dialogue and persistence.

However, a comment of a consultor to the Vatican communications department, the Jesuit Fr James Martin, may be closer to the full truth when he said that he had no doubt but that government officials could have spoken bluntly, even rudely to Cardinal Pierre.

An invitation to Pope Leo to attend the 250th birthday celebrations of July 4th marking the founding of the USA was turned down as Leo decided instead, very pointedly, to visit the island of Lampedusa in Italy, where Pope Francis had honoured migrants who died crossing the Mediterranean and where Francis had first drawn attention to what he called the globalisation of indifference.

Meanwhile Trump continued his mesmeric odyssey: ogling Greenland; insulting Canada; invading Venezuela; menacing illegal migrants; threatening Cuba; abusing President Zelensky of Ukraine in the Oval Office; building a monster dance hall; visiting his friend, President Putin of Russia; attacking those on his enemy list; attending a dizzying number of court trials while rubbishing their verdicts; organising a prayer breakfast of multidenominational mainly Protestant evangelical clergy, including the hapless Catholic Bishop Barron  an unexpected convert to the MAGA creed  many laying hands on Trump and praying for victory and protection in war; ignoring the Epstein files; and latterly menacing Iran and threatening to target its power plants, bridges, oil infrastructure and transportation networks and to obliterate its civilisation out of existence. And now, at present, cleaning up the Strait of Hormuz .

Meanwhile, Leo lamented that a zeal for war was increasing, and that principles of law governing invasion and the use of force were being undermined. If Trump had imagined that the American Leo might be an asset he was soon disabused of that perception.

The latest exchange between Leo and Trump indicates a new low in their relationship when Trump issued a late night rant on social media. It was littered with complaints and lies and followed up with another post with a representation of himself as Jesus Christ - a mockery of the Catholic faith that subsequently was quickly withdrawn. Trump described Leo as: weak, wanting Iran to have a nuclear weapon, supporting an influx of murderers, drug dealers and killers into the USA, is friendly with Obama supporters and was only elected pope to deal with Trump and he ended his rant by advising Leo to 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. I counted eight obvious lies in just over 700 words.

In contrast Leos was a measured, adult response: he wasnt a politician so he didnt want to enter into a debate with him. He continued: I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent lives have been lost, and I believe someone must stand up and say there is a better way. I say this to all world leaders: let us end wars and promote peace and reconciliation. I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do... I believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker. The contrast between the two responses couldnt have been more different.

Trump in his usual form  personal abuse peppered with complaint, an infantile perspective coupled with an insatiable ego and with an extraordinary inability to distinguish truth from lies, right from wrong, or even to recognise what shame might look like.

And Leo, the adult in the room, taking responsibility, defining a moral response, explaining a religious motivation, respectful, courageous, committed, measured and reasoned.

As I said at the start, both were American-born, living on different planets. Chalk and cheese.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Defence Forces peacekeepers are ready to deploy to southern Lebanon despite the volatile situation on the ground.

Members of the 128th Infantry Battalion have been taking part in a mission readiness exercise in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow, which saw them test different scenarios they may see in deployment including live fire, ambushes, patrolling and casualty evacuations.

They will be deploying to Lebanon in May, in what will be the last major operational deployment before the Unifil mandate expires at the end of the year.

Lieutenant Zara Bolger (Brian Lawless/PA)

Lieutenant Zara Bolger said there were some feelings of nervousness and excitement among personnel, but also confidence in our training.

She told the Press Association that serving overseas is the pinnacle of a military career.

We feel lucky to have been selected for  potentially  the last (operational mission), as far as were aware, she said.

Members of the Defence Forces during the 128th Infantry Battalion Unifil Mission Readiness Exercise (Brian Lawless/PA)

We just want to make sure we do a good job and hopefully hand it off to whomever in the best way possible.

On Thursday, personnel conducted a counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) exercise where a vehicle on patrol simulated being struck by a bomb.

Others in the convoy had to recover the struck vehicle and provide medical aid to the casualties inside.

Lieutenant Zara Bolger (Brian Lawless/PA)

It was a particularly relevant test given the presence of unexploded ordnance and IEDs in southern Lebanon.

Bolger said recent focus in training has been on C-IED and denial of freedom of movement.

She said: Weve put a lot of time and effort into honing in on those drills.

Of ongoing concern is Israels destruction of bridges over the Litani River, limiting access to Unifils area of operations.

Officer Commanding 128th Infantry Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Damian Carroll (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Officer Commanding of the 128th Infantry Battalion said all courses of action around deployment are being examined.

Lieutenant Colonel Damian Carroll told reporters: Ive no concerns in that regard, planning will continue  and were ready to deploy in whatever manner they decide.

He said the situation on the ground is volatile but added that Unifil is still fulfilling its mandate.

He said he was assured by a recent rotation of Irish and Polish personnel out through Beirut airport.

Members of the Defence Forces during the 128th Infantry Battalion Unifil Mission Readiness Exercise (Brian Lawless/PA)

At the end of last month, the Defence Forces carried out its first personnel rotation in a conflict zone using the new strategic reach capability of recently acquired aircraft.

Asked about recent deaths of peacekeepers in the region, Carroll offered condolences to the affected families and said: Conflict zones are difficult.

We wouldnt have soldiers in south Lebanon if it wasnt complex.

He said he trusted the training of the battalion and the personnel themselves, adding they had trained for all eventualities.

It is a dynamic environment, it is complex. But we have to believe  we have to trust our training, trust our equipment, trust our people, he said.

The UN Security Council mandate for the mission expires on December 31st, followed by a 12-month drawdown and ultimate liquidation.

Members of the Defence Forces during the 128th Infantry Battalion Unifil Mission Readiness Exercise (MRE) at Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow (Brian Lawless/PA)

After May, there will also be a rotation of Irish personnel in November, which is expected to have a larger logistical footprint to deal with the end of the mission.

There will still be a requirement for a heavy security footprint, but the personnel will likely be dealing with multiple convoys carrying Irish equipment as well as force protection as the installations are collapsed.

Addressing the poignancy of the end of the mission, Carroll said: The Defence Forces has been there for 50 years. Soldiers have lost their lives in Lebanon.

Ireland and Lebanon will be intertwined irrespective of what happens in the future, based on the service of Unifil.

He said overseas deployment has been the highlight of his career, and that any future mission is a matter for the Government.

A Company  Private Michael Jr. Chucks (Brian Lawless/PA)

Also among those deploying is Private Michael Jr. Chucks, who said there were high spirits about the mission.

He said: Were well trained for it I think everyone feels confident about the training were getting.

He said he was excited about his first mission, but added the overall drawdown may be difficult for colleagues: We (the Defence Forces) have nearly built a family out there as well  so leaving it will be rough for some people.

The 128th Infantry Battalion is deploying with 344 personnel from the Defence Forces, some of whom are seasoned officers, while others are on their first overseas mission.

They will deploy in May and take over duties from the 127th Infantry Battalion who were deployed in November, 2025.
Photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows a dock with Yachts in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Kuwait announced on Wednesday that it will ease maritime restrictions, allowing fishing and recreational boats to operate during daytime hours starting Friday, as part of efforts to regulate sea traffic while maintaining security. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait announced on Wednesday that it will ease maritime restrictions, allowing fishing and recreational boats to operate during daytime hours starting Friday, as part of efforts to regulate sea traffic while maintaining security.

The decision allows boats to sail from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. beginning April 24, following an evaluation of the current situation, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry.

Director General of the Coast Guard Sheikh Mubarak Ali Al-Yousef urged seagoers to strictly adhere to designated navigation routes and avoid approaching oil facilities and other vital installations.

Kuwait had tightened maritime and security measures in recent weeks following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28, which prompted retaliatory actions by Iran and its regional allies targeting U.S. and Israeli interests across the Gulf region, including Kuwait.

A ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on April 8 after 40 days of fighting. U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would extend the ceasefire as the current two-week truce was set to expire. 

Photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows fishing boats at a dock in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Kuwait announced on Wednesday that it will ease maritime restrictions, allowing fishing and recreational boats to operate during daytime hours starting Friday, as part of efforts to regulate sea traffic while maintaining security. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
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.
Reading, PA (19601)

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.
NEW YORK, April 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that oil-rich U.S. allies in the Gulf have requested currency swap lines from the United States amid economic turbulence caused by the war in the Middle East.

"Many of our Gulf allies have requested swap lines," Bessent said at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee budget hearing, where he was testifying on the Treasury Department's budget for fiscal 2027.

He said such arrangements, whether provided by the Federal Reserve or the Treasury, are intended to maintain stability in dollar funding markets and prevent disorderly sales of U.S. assets.

Bessent said that a swap line could benefit both the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and that other countries, including some in Asia, have also made similar requests.

The requests come as the regional conflict has disrupted economic activity in the Gulf. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has further constrained oil revenues.

Currency swap lines would provide dollar liquidity to partner countries. Some U.S. media reports have raised concerns about potential domestic economic impacts, including higher consumer costs.

In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would like to assist the UAE if it's possible.

A Democrat, nevertheless, noted recent reporting on the UAE-U.S. relationship at the hearing, including reported investments from the Gulf nation's government in the Trump family's business. 
BEIRUT, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Italy on Thursday to strengthen bilateral agricultural cooperation, according to the National News Agency.

The agreement was reached during Hani's official visit to Rimini, Italy, where he took part in the international "Macfrut" exhibition, a global event focused on fruit, vegetables, and agricultural technologies.

At the signing ceremony, Hani highlighted the challenges facing Lebanon's agricultural sector, noting that Israeli attacks had damaged around 22.5 percent of the country's agricultural land, negatively affecting production, supply chains, and food security.

The MoU covers several areas, including improving product quality through geographical indication systems, upgrading certification and phytosanitary standards in line with European requirements, and supporting rural development, among others. 
ROME, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Italy's navy has signaled readiness to participate in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict subsides, the ANSA news agency on Wednesday quoted naval sources as saying.

Officials emphasized that any such effort would not be undertaken unilaterally but within a coordinated multilateral framework, said an ANSA report.

Italy's Foreign Ministry has also reaffirmed the country's commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation in line with international law and supporting maritime security through collective, multilateral cooperation.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz carry major implications for Europe's energy security. Italian government and security officials have underscored the risks, indicating that the issue is under close review and raising the prospect of expanding maritime security operations within a broader European framework. 
Constitutional Court finding is a missed opportunity

This week, the Constitutional Court handed down judgment in a matter which has important implications for the Human Rights Commission and the right to water

On Wednesday, 22 April 2026, the Constitutional Court handed down judgment in an appeal brought by the South African Human Rights Commission. The Court was asked to consider whether the Commissions directives are legally binding. The judgment acknowledges the indispensable role of Chapter 9 institutions in advancing the constitutional project, but finds that the Commissions directives do not have to be binding in order for it to fulfill its mandate.

The case arises from a complaint investigated by the Commission in 2019. The Commission found that farm owners had infringed on a communitys rights to dignity and to water and directed the owners to engage with the community and restore their water supply. When the owners failed to comply with these directives, the Commission approached the High Court seeking to enforce the directives and also seeking a declaration that all their directives are legally binding.

The High Court ruled against the Commission, and the matter was taken on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The judgment from the Supreme Court of Appeal recognised the importance of the right to water and the Commissions role in our constitutional democracy, but stopped short of ruling that their directives are legally binding. The Commission then approached the Constitutional Court for final clarity on the matter and the appeal was heard on 25 November 2025.

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) intervened in the appeals as a friend of the court. We argued that the Constitution should be interpreted as broadly as possible in line with international law that guides how human rights bodies like the Commission function. We further made the case that the Commission has a critical role to play in realising the right to access remedies when rights are violated  particularly for communities living under impoverished conditions.

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, handed down judgment dismissing the Commissions appeal. The judgment acknowledges the indispensable role played by Chapter 9 institutions in advancing the constitutional project, but finds that the Commission does not have the same power to issue binding directives as the Public Protector. Rather, its function is to investigate, support litigation, and exert pressure on powerful actors. The Court argues that the Commission is far from toothless and is still a potent guardian of human rights despite the ruling.

This judgment is a missed opportunity to enhance the protection of the most vulnerable people in our society, says Sithuthukile Mkhize. Many of the people who approach the Human Rights Commission for redress will find that this creates yet another barrier to accessing justice. Nonetheless, we acknowledge the judgment for amplifying the important role played by the Commission, an institution created to support our democracy. The ruling emphasizes that directives issued by the Commission do have legal status and can therefore not be ignored in the absence of legal consequences.

CALS is represented in the matter by in-house counsel Jatheen Bhima.

Read our papers in the matter here.

For inquiries, please contact:
by Xiang Haoyu

On March 24, an egregious incident shocked the international community. Kodai Murata, a 23-year-old second lieutenant in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force, scaled the wall, broke into the Chinese Embassy in Japan carrying a 31-cm knife, and threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel. This breach of international law laid bare the anti-China public opinion long hidden behind Japan's facade as a "peace-loving nation."

In recent years, multiple opinion polls have shown that only around 10 percent of the Japanese public views China favorably. Despite various disputes between China and Japan, the two are close neighbors with deeply integrated economies and extensive people-to-people exchanges -- making such low numbers highly abnormal. Yet anyone familiar with Japan's China-related public opinion ecology knows the root cause: a long-standing Sinophobic discourse in Japanese society, fueled by rampant anti-China sentiment online. This near-pathological social psychology did not emerge overnight; it is the result of selective filtering, distortion and stereotyped reporting by the Japanese media over many decades.

STEREOTYPED SMEARING VIA MEDIA

While the media cannot determine what people think, they can shape what people think about.

The Japanese media's negative coverage of China plays out in three core ways. First, Japanese media display striking "selective blindness." Within Japan's traditional media landscape, dominated by five national newspapers and major television stations, coverage of China has long focused almost exclusively on military development, territorial disputes, social tensions, economic problems and human rights issues. Meanwhile, objective reporting on China's social progress, scientific and technological advances, poverty alleviation, and urban and rural development is virtually absent.

Within an already stereotyped narrative framework, Japanese media consistently fit China-related news into pre-set templates, such as "China threat," "China collapse," or "China as a pariah state." For instance, China's commemoration of its resistance against Japanese aggression is labeled as "anti-Japanese education"; its overseas infrastructure investment is accused of creating a "debt trap"; scientific and technological innovation is smeared as "technology theft"; and economic growth is dismissed as "statistical falsification." When Japanese people turn on the television or read newspapers, they see a neighbor portrayed as "dangerous, backward and aggressive," and hostility takes root.

While traditional media set the tone, new media and social media inflame such sentiment at the grassroots level. A recent survey in Japan revealed that the crowdsourcing platform CrowdWorks carried numerous posts offering to pay for creating short videos that "denigrate China and praise Japan." This systematic incitement of hatred is algorithmically fed to Japanese internet users, turning anti-China sentiment into a monetizable industry in the age of traffic-driven media, further reinforcing the information cocoon that shapes Japanese public opinion on China.

DEEP-SEATED SOCIAL ANXIETY

Japan's anti-China public opinion ecology is also the product of deep-seated social anxiety and the political demands of right-wing forces.

Since the burst of economic bubbles in the 1990s, Japan has experienced three decades of economic stagnation. Meanwhile, China's rapid rise has shattered Japan's long-standing self-image as the "leader of Asia," plunging Japanese society into a profound sense of loss. By magnifying negative images of its neighbor, the media offer the Japanese public an illusory comfort: "We may be stagnating, but our neighbor is beset with problems." This psychological defense mechanism of alleviating self-anxiety by belittling others has expanded the audience for anti-China reporting.

As Japan's political landscape has shifted rightward, the conservative ruling authorities in pursuit of "normalizing the nation" have sought to portray China as an "external threat," and used it to mobilize support for revising the pacifist constitution and expanding armaments. In this movement, the media have acted as "cheerleaders," reducing complex international relations to a simplistic narrative of confrontation. The Self-Defense Force officer's intrusion is a direct result of this long-term smear campaign.

INSTITUTIONAL MALADIES

Japanese media, under the banner of "press freedom," are plagued by a highly rigid access system and a culture of self-censorship.

The Press Club system is the most criticized institutional malady in Japanese journalism. Government agencies and major political parties maintain their own press clubs, where access to key press conferences and internal briefings is restricted to members of large traditional media outlets, while freelancers, emerging online media and foreign correspondents are excluded.

During former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration, PM's Office-led politics prevailed, and the term "sontaku," anticipating and acting on the unspoken wishes of those in power, gained popularity. When "anti-China" has become political correctness and a magnet for audience attention, media practitioners engage in "sontaku" by filtering out positive information about China to protect their careers and ratings. This automatic censorship is more insidious and pernicious than direct administrative interference.

In conclusion, Japan's anti-China public opinion ecology is a joint product of political manipulation, social anxiety, commercial interests and systemic flaws in the media. When the people of a country can only observe their most important neighbor through a severely distorted prism, the political consequences are bound to be dangerous.

The heinous case of an active-duty Self-Defense Force officer breaking into the Chinese embassy is a wake-up call for Japanese society. The anti-China atmosphere long cultivated by Japan's political circles and media have manifested in extreme hatred among certain individuals, and this now risks backfiring on the rationality and security of Japanese society itself. However, given the current political climate, dismantling the psychological and institutional "high walls" in Japanese public opinion sadly remains a distant prospect.

Editor's note: Xiang Haoyu is a research fellow in the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.
President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Sudruetai Lertkasem, director-general of the Public Relations Department of the Kingdom of Thailand, in Beijing, capital of China, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with Sudruetai Lertkasem, director-general of the Public Relations Department of the Kingdom of Thailand, in Beijing on Thursday.

Fu said that China and Thailand are close and friendly neighbors and a community with a shared future. Xinhua News Agency is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation with the Public Relations Department of the Kingdom of Thailand, jointly tell the story of high-quality development of China-Thailand relations, continue to strengthen media and think tank cooperation under the framework of multilateral mechanisms, and make due contributions to the development of China-Thailand relations.

Sudruetai said that since the two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation last year, the two sides have cooperated more closely in areas such as news cooperation and information exchange. She expressed her willingness to further enhance exchanges with Xinhua and learn from Xinhua's advanced experience in international news communication. 
Around 1,800 train drivers are taking part in two days of strike action this week on London Underground against the introduction of a compressed four-day week by Transport for London (TfL), overseen by Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The two 24-hour strikes, running from midday Tuesday to Wednesday and Thursday to Friday, are the opening stage of industrial action, with further two-day stoppages scheduled for May and June.

A Central Line platform at Bank Underground station, London, September 2012 [Photo by Cmglee / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Tube drivers, members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), are opposing TfLs restructuring agenda, which would mean longer shifts across fewer days, increasing shift lengths to eight hours 45 minutes, risking greater fatigue and concerns over safety.

This weeks strikes follow the breakdown of talks between the RMT and TfL since March, with management refusing to negotiate and proceeding with implementation plans.

RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey accused TfL of a U-turn. This is entirely cynical. On March 18, Dempsey intervened to suspend the first two days of strike action a week before they were due to go ahead, overriding a 96 percent mandate. He justified this on the pretext that progress had been made in talks with management.

Dempsey stated in an RMT press release: Through our show of industrial strength and unity, we have forced management into a position where they are now willing to seriously engage with the issues our members want addressing.

This has been exposed as a fraud. The talks have broken down not due to RMT intransigence but because of TfLs hardline stance. It has used Dempseys demobilisation of members to press ahead with the restructuring.

Why are RMT Tube drivers standing alone?

1,800 RMT tube drivers face the imposition of TfLs detrimental terms as a direct outcome of last Novembers sellout engineered by Dempsey and the union executive. That followed a week-long strike in September involving 10,000 RMT members across London Underground, including drivers, engineering, signalling and station staff.

Tube workers demanded action against years of pay erosion and called for a reduction of the working week from 35 to 32 hours. Staff are working beyond contracted hours to compensate for job losses, and workplace safety and fatigue is central to the dispute. Intensive night work has been found to reduce life expectancy by 1015 years.

Dempsey shut down RMT members fight, entering closed-door talks and returning with an unchanged 3.4 percent pay offer for 2025/26, which had already been rejected. The new offer was repackaged as a three-year deal, with later increases tied to RPI and no settlement on the core demand for a shorter working week.

The deal was presented as no strings. But Dempsey stated that London Underground, operating with 2,000 fewer staff, had generated a 166 million surplusconditions the RMT had helped deliver.

A balance sheet must be drawn. These brutal conditions were not achieved with the consent of members. The RMT executive has engaged in a slicing and dicing exercise, suppressing the fight for genuine pay restoration and separating this from demands for a shorter working week, defence of jobs and pensions, despite members delivering one strike mandate after another.

The November deal was not even put to a ballot, with 10,000 RMT members who conducted the strike denied a voice. It was rubber-stamped by the union executive via consultation with RMT reps. They bypassed any ratification by members seeking to avert the prospect of a No vote against the sellout.

Dempsey calls for industrial peace

On April 18, Dempsey issued a press release complaining that TfL was undermining RMTs efforts at keeping a lid on LU workers anger. He stated, The approach of TfL is not one which leads to industrial peace and will infuriate our members who want to see a negotiated settlement to this avoidable dispute.

Eddie Dempsey speaking at the demonstration against the Gaza genocide in London, September 7, 2024

This appeal for industrial peace exposes the role of the RMT leadership and the hollowness of Dempseys left credentials as he pledges loyalty to Labours Mayor of LondonStarmers local enforcerwhile policing the demands of his own members.

The bureaucratic methods the RMT has relied on to demobilise opposition are coming apart. There is growing unease and anger among tube workers toward the RMTs collusion with TfL and Khan.

In waging a week-long strike last September, tube workers were not seeking peace and concessions but laying down red lines. The strikes were part of a wider fightback against the Starmer government over deepening inequality, austerity and its scapegoating of migrants for the collapse of public services.

TfL has already secured such industrial peace through train drivers union Aslef, which represents around 2,000 drivers on London Underground and has not taken part in the strike action. Aslefs leadership pushed through acceptance of the compressed four-day week in a ballot last April.

Finn Brennan, Aslefs full-time official on the London Underground claimed the deal would mean improved working conditions and a better work life balance. His claims of an improved work-life balance, are a Trojan horse for cost cutting. The one-day reduction in the working week comes at the cost of longer daily shifts of over eight hours, raising fatigue and safety risks while enabling potential job cuts of around 10 percent.

TfL has used the collusion of Aslefs top brass to full effect in decrying this weeks strike by RMT train driver members, telling the BBC that this weeks industrial action was completely unnecessary, declaring that ASLEF supports the deal as exactly the sort every trade union should be trying to achieve.

The division is not between ASLEF and RMT tube drivers, but between the demands of LU workers and a union bureaucracy policing the class strugglewhether ASLEFs sweetheart deal with TfL, or the RMTs isolation and demobilisation tactics across its 10,000-strong membership on the London Underground.

The rank-and-file alternative

The unity of London Underground workers must be asserted against the union apparatus and the sectional divisions it sows. United action is needed to win workers demands for pay restoration, adequate staffing, decent hours and safe working conditions.

As the World Socialist Web Site put forward:

This fight requires forming rank-and-file committees to link up all grades across London Underground to renew the struggle for a shorter working week abandoned by Dempsey. It must include an appeal to ASLEF drivers to oppose their leadership and build a united struggle.

The claim that there is no money for a genuine shorter working week must be rejected. London is the seat of the financial oligarchy, embodying the divide between those who produce wealth and those who live off it.

London Underground operates as a profit-making concern, with government subsidy withdrawn in 2018 and running costs covered by passenger revenue based on the highest fares of any metro system in the world.

A properly funded public system means ending tax giveaways to big business and the billions diverted to warexpenditures set to escalate further through the governments participation in the illegal war against Iran.
The suppression of anti-fuel hike protests by the broad-based unity government of President William Ruto in Nairobi this week is one of the first results in Africa of the deepening global social crisis triggered by the US-Israeli led war against Iran.

On Tuesday, the Ruto regime, uniting the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) founded by the late political fixer Raila Oding, moved to crush planned anti-fuel price protests organised by youth under the hashtag #RejectFuelPrices. Anti-riot units sealed off central Nairobi, at least 11 demonstrators were arrested, and the city centre was placed under lockdown. Outside the capital, in Embu, hundreds of youths took to the streets and burned tires, blocked roads and forced small businessmen to close their shops. In Kiritiri town, youths blocked the major Embu-Kiritiri highway.

[Photo: https://citizen.digital]

The protests, dubbed Total Shutdown Tuesday, were called in opposition to a sharp fuel price hike, raising petrol from 178 Kenyan shillings ($1.30) to as high as 206.97 shillings ($1.60) per litrean increase of over 16 percentwhile diesel surged by more than 24 percent. Although prices were later marginally revised down, the hike, driven by disruptions to global oil supplies by the US-lsraeli war against Iran, has sharply increased the cost of transport and basic goods.

The governments response testifies to its deep fears of a renewed eruption of the Gen-Z protests that shook the regime in 2024 and 2025, when millions of workers and youth opposed International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed regressive tax hikes and privatisations.

In the days leading up to the protest, senior Ruto officials issued anxious warnings. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki dismissed the demonstrations, insisting that going to the streets wont be a solution, while government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura urged organisers to call them off. Mwaura asked, Will it benefit Kenyans? Will it even lower the price of fuel? He appealed for dialogue rather than confrontation.

Francis Atwoli, secretary-general of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) nominally representing 1.5 million workers across 36 affiliated unions, denounced the protestors, saying that if we supported it blindly, we [workers] would be the losers. Atwoli is a determined backer of the Ruto regime, calling for social media censorship to prevent protestors from organising and defending violence against them, demanding firm measures to curb the unrest.

Over the weekend, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud declared the protests unlawful, insisting they would not be tolerated. Hundreds of uniformed and plainclothes police across Nairobi and other towns were mobilised to block the planned demonstrations. Among them were units from the elite General Service Unitestablished by British colonial authorities to suppress the Mau Mau anti-colonial uprising in the 1950s and the notorious Administration Police Rapid Deployment Unit.

According to The Daily Nation, the Ruto regime prepared extensively, arranging reinforcements from neighbouring counties of Nairobi, and instructing police commanders across the city to closely monitor their areas and disperse any gatherings, particularly in working-class slums of Nairobi, such as Mathare, Kawangware, and Kibera. Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat established a command centre to monitor CCTV footage across the city and major roads, while police intensified overnight surveillance of social media platforms.

The pre-emptive crackdown ensured that the mass protest anticipated by the government did not materialise. This also reflects a degree of weariness after years of mass protests, despite the widespread support expressed online for the #RejectFuelPrices mobilisation. However, this should not be mistaken for stability. The underlying anger is only growing, as fuel and food prices rapidly escalate.

The recent experience of the Gen-Z protests also demonstrates how quickly the situation can change. In the lead-up to the July 2024 uprising, protests were initially small, involving only dozens of participants, before rapidly escalating into mass demonstrations involving millions. What was contained on Tuesday can erupt again on a far broader scale.

However, political lessons must be drawn. Over the past four years, Gen-Z-led movements have broken out in Kenya, across Africa and internationally expressing deep anger at inequality, corruption, and rapidly deteriorating living conditions. Young people have demonstrated immense courage and a willingness to confront the capitalist state.

However, spontaneity and protest politics aimed at pressuring the bankrupt political establishment is not enough. Kenyas 20242025 protests showed that even the largest and most militant demonstrations in the post-independence period can be contained when they lack organisation, coordination, and a clear strategy.

Moreover, social media mobilisation cannot substitute for rooted organisation. Hashtags and online calls to action can rapidly gather support, but without structures in workplaces and neighbourhoods, they lack coordination, and the capacity to resist and take power.

None of the existing political forces offer a way forward. The entire political establishment is stained with blood. Kalonzo Musyoka was a leading figure under Daniel arap Mois dictatorship, which built the repressive apparatus now used against workers and youth. Martha Karua defended Kibakis stolen 2007 election, which triggered violence leaving over 1,200 dead. Rigathi Gachagua served as Rutos deputy while protesters were being shot during the Gen-Z demonstrations.

The United Opposition withheld support for Tuesdays protests out of fear that they might ignite forces they would be unable to control. At the same time, they issued limited gestures of solidarity, positioning themselves to step in should the movement develop, in order to contain and redirect it, as deceased ODM leader Odinga did during the 2024 Gen-Z protests.

These forces fear an independent movement of workers and youth more than they oppose Ruto. They share the same fundamental class interests and are equally committed to defending the capitalist order.

Kenyan President William Ruto [Photo by Paul Kagame / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

As for what passes as left, the Communist Party MarxistKenya (CPM-K), did not even bother to comment on Tuesdays protests. The CPM-K functions as a political firewall for the regime, working to disorient radicalising layers of youth and workers while keeping opposition within safe, nationalist and pro-capitalist channels.

Its programme is based on the National Democratic Revolution perspectivea two-stage theory that subordinates the working class to the bourgeoisie by calling first for the completion of democracy, postponing socialism indefinitely. During the Gen-Z protests, this meant vacillating between appeals for Ruto to reverse austerity measures and calls for his replacement by a vague pro-poor government. This perspective served to block the development of an independent revolutionary movement of the working class.

The decisive force in this struggle is the working class. The Gen-Z protests have mobilised broad layers of youth, but their power can only be realised through a conscious alliance with the working class, acting independently with its own demands. It is the working classwhose labour sustains the economy and who has the capacity to bring it to a haltthat must take the lead.

Workers must see themselves as an international class, not bound by colonial imposed borders. They must reach out across the continent, where the same conditions are provoking mass opposition. In South Africa, protests against fuel prices have erupted in townships amid worsening living conditions, while the government has responded by deploying thousands of troops domestically. In Mauritania, anti-fuel protests earlier this month were met with repression, resulting in dozens of arrests.

This demands the building of a revolutionary leadership rooted in the working class and armed with an international socialist programme. It means the formation of independent rank-and-file committees in workplaces, universities, and working-class neighbourhoodsdemocratic organs of struggle, controlled by workers and youth themselves and independent of the union bureaucracy and all factions of the political elite. These committees must serve as the basis for unifying struggles across sectors, tribes and borders, linking up nationally and internationally in a common fight against austerity, repression, and war.

The construction of a Trotskyist party in Kenya, as part of the International Committee of the Fourth International, to provide the political leadership necessary to unite workers and youth in a conscious struggle against capitalism, imperialism, and war is the central task.
The following statement was issued by the IYSSE at Carroll Community College, located in Westminster, Maryland, about an hours drive northwest of Baltimore.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at Carroll Community College (CCC) denounces the colleges recently instituted policy restricting students and faculty members freedom of expression by placing bureaucratic control over the voicing of political perspectives on campus. As the youth organization of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States, we also strongly denounce CCCs effort to bar our supporters from its campus on unconstitutional grounds.

This policy and others like it represent a violation of free speech against an entire generation politicized by a world historic crisis. Youth have witnessed in real time the genocide of the Palestinian people backed by American weaponry; ICE agents terrorizing cities and abducting immigrants without due process; and a fascist president, Donald Trump, with open aspirations to dictatorship. Now an unprovoked war on Iran, launched in flagrant violation of international and domestic law, is devastating civilian populations.

As the American ruling class prepares the next phase of war on Iran and confrontation with Russia and China, the foundation is being laid for the reimposition of the draftclearing the way for bloodshed unseen in generations.

Student and faculty protest the genocide in Gaza at George Washington University, Washington D.C., April 25, 2024.

Students are being politicized. They are enthusiastic to engage with the world around them and need an outlet to do so on their own campus. The policy recently enacted at CCC seeks to throttle that healthy impulse. The policy, misleadingly titled the Freedom of Expression and Public Assembly, places restrictions on where, how, and when students, staff, and community members may conduct activities on campus. It proclaims full adherence to students' rights and freedoms while systematically undermining them in practice.

The policy opens with the following declaration:

Carroll Community College supports the rights of the College community to exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly according to the U.S. Constitution.

No sooner does the administration state these words than it begins to walk them back, carving out caveats and exceptions to this fundamental right. It continues:

At the same time, the College must maintain a safe and secure campus environment that optimizes college resources, supports college activities, and maintains respect for all community members.

Elsewhere it states:

Freedom of expression at the College does not allow individuals to express their views any time, at any place, and/or in any manner. Expressive activity must not disrupt college operations.

What the college refers to as disruptive, however, is an overly broad and undefined category. Nowhere does the policy clarify what actually constitutes a disruption of college operations.

Would a student demonstration against ICE deportations qualify? A sit-in over tuition increases? A petition drive to overturn this very policy? The language is elastic enough to prohibit all of these. It is a blank check for authoritarian overreach, and it is being used that way.

At CCCs spring Club Fair on February 10 of this year, community supporters invited to help promote the campuss newly-formed IYSSE chapter were ordered to leave on the flimsy grounds that they were non-students. This was a direct violation of the campus's own policy, which permits invited guests of a college-recognized student group to assist in promoting that club. There was nothing unlawful in their presencewhatever discomfort the administrators may have felt at seeing students engage with socialist ideas.

The Freedom of Expression and Assembly policy is, in fact, an extension of CCCs earlier suppression of a student clubs Child Victims of War display in the spring of 2025. The displaytwo tri-folds documenting child deaths in Palestine, Israel, Sudan, and Congounderwent full administrative vetting, including a source review by a college librarian. In the brief time it was up, it generated immediate and enthusiastic student engagement, with multiple students leaving written responses debating its content. After just one school day, the administration removed it without citing any policyand then moved swiftly to ensure such political expression could not occur again.

The most glaringly repressive aspect of the gag order is its requirement that students who wish to express their political perspective submit proposals at least four weeks in advance. These proposals must be approved by a slew of executive members and administrators in order for students to engage in any organized expressive activity.

This rule makes timely political response in the form of leafleting, tabling, and other demonstrations impossible. It prevents students from organizing activities around rapidly transpiring events such as police brutality, layoffs at workplaces and international crises, instead having to work around the calendars of school administrators. By preventing the mobilization of students in response to current events, this policy inhibits the political education of students and their ability to form independent opinions about or take action over the major social and political events of our time.

CCCs policy is not an isolated incident. A wave of anti-democratic restrictions has swept colleges in the wake of mass student opposition to the Gaza genocide. The University of Maryland enacted a similar policy following historic campus protests. In 2024, the Northern Virginia home of two students in the George Mason University chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine was raided by the FBI, the club was banned for a year, and the students were effectively expelled.

Across the United States and internationally, administrations have moved to suppress free speech on campus, hiding behind distorted claims of disruption, unfounded allegations of antisemitism leveled at anti-genocide protesters, and other pretexts.

These developments cannot be separated from the Trump administrations accelerating drive toward dictatorship. Having already established the precedent of slashing federal funding to universities that resist its directives, the administration cut grants, froze funds, and imposed punitive measures in 2025 to force compliance with its national priorities.

Carroll Community College depends on state and federal funding, as well as investment from local wealthy donors, to operate. Its administration understands that permitting genuine free speech on campusspeech that challenges the existing ordercould have financial consequences.

The Freedom of Expression and Public Assembly policy is the result: a mechanism granting CCC administrators final authority over what political views may be expressed on campus, dressed up as a measure to protect student safety and institutional operations. It does not protect students or workers. It protects the class of billionaire criminals ruling society, increasingly opposed by students and workers.

The IYSSE at Carroll Community College calls for the outright rejection of this policy. We call on students and faculty to organize in active opposition, demanding the removal of these unconstitutional restrictions on free expression. We further call for the rejection of the colleges February 10 removal of our supporters from a campus-sanctioned student event to which they had been invited.

Join us. Organize in solidarity with youth, students, and workers internationally by getting involved in the IYSSE and the Socialist Equality Party.
AMMAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A joint international humanitarian aid convoy departed from Jordan on Thursday for Lebanon, carrying essential food supplies, tents, and basic relief materials.

The 19-truck convoy is a collaborative initiative between Jordan, 10 friendly nations, and the European Union, the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) said in a statement.

International partners contributing to the relief effort include Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Romania, Portugal, Germany, Singapore, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands, and the European Union.

JHCO Secretary-General Hussein Shibli said the operation aims to ensure the efficient and rapid delivery of assistance.

The convoy reinforces Jordan's status as a regional hub for humanitarian action and a reliable center for coordinating international responses, Shibli added.

This latest aid shipment came after Jordan sent 40 trucks of relief supplies to Lebanon over recent weeks as part of ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian situation in the country. 
The recent fuel protests in Ireland, involving farmers, hauliers and small business owners, underscore mounting social tensions driven by the deepening global crisis. Though rooted in legitimate grievances over soaring costs, the absence of an independent working-class movement allowed right-wing and even far-right forces to dominate.

In March, just weeks after the outbreak of the US-Iran war, the Fine Gael/Fianna Fail coalition government led by Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced a temporary package of 250 million which reduced petrol by 0.10 per litre and diesel by 0.20. This was obliterated by further price increases as the Middle East crisis intensified. By early April, petrol cost around 1.91 a litre and diesel 2.14, compared with 1.70 and 1.69 as recently as January.

Northeast corner of R105 and O'Connell Street Lower in Dublin City Centre, blockaded during the 2026 Irish fuel protests, with law enforcement present. [Photo by ComplexRational / CC BY-SA 4.0

In response, for four days, ports, motorways, central Dublin and the country's only oil refinery were blockaded by hundreds of vehicles driven by farmers, agricultural contractors, hauliers, builders, bus operators and taxi drivers. At one point, a majority of petrol stations were reported as running dry.

The refusal of Irelands trade unions to mobilise workers against the coalition government has enabled right-wing influencers and politicians to fill the void. Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary Owen Reidy issued a statement on March 24, saying the governments paltry relief package was welcome and calling for measures such as remote working to save on petrol costs as a cost-free response for employers and the Exchequer! He warned that failure to act would make heightened wage demands a real risk. The ITCU represents unions with 600,000 members.

The protests stemmed from a meeting in the Midland Hotel, Portlaoise, March 29, attended by around 400 people. Farmer and contractor James Geoghegan, who emerged as one of the protest leaders, has repeatedly appeared on the social media channels of far-right, anti-migrant, anti-vaxxer citizen journalist Philip Dwyer.

Geoghegan was involved in large protests earlier this year in Athlone against the EU-Mercosur trade deal which threatens to undermine much of the beef farming industry in Ireland, with cheaper meat imports to the trade bloc.

Geoghegan reported a committee was formed with representatives from agricultural contracting, farming, plant and bus hire, and the haulage sector. There were 100 - 200 men driving trucks, who were ready to park up their trucks in the middle of the roads, wherever they are told to go and at whatever time they are told to do it...

The meeting was addressed by the Independent Ireland party's founder and member of parliament, Michael Collins, who highlighted the share of fuel revenue taken by the government in taxation. Taxation makes up more than half the price of both diesel and petrol in Ireland.

Independent Ireland is a right-wing, anti-migrant, anti-abortion party committed to law and order and business deregulation. Much of their pitch is to small business owners, precisely those layers squeezed by the fuel crisis.

Days later, an Irish Haulage Farming Construction Contractors Amalgamation was formed. The new grouping sent a letter to the government demanding a fuel price cap, the suspension of carbon tax on fuel and financial support for households and business.

Protests began to be organised on social media around Facebook pages such as The People of Ireland Against Fuel Price Protest, a long-standing page run by tow truck operator and anti-migrant campaigner Sonny Boyd.

Other prominent figures include Christopher Duffy, an agricultural contractor, whose Facebook page includes vile comments about Muslims and that he would not care if environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg was raped or beaten. Numerous far-right social media commentators, in Ireland and internationally, offered support to the protests.

On April 7, rolling roadblocks were reported on major motorways, including the M6 from Galway, M8, M7 and M1, as protestors made their way to Dublin and to protests in dozens of rural towns and villages. Over 150 trucks, tractors and heavy goods vehicles blockaded Dublin's O'Connell Street where a rally of hundreds of people was held. Luas tram and bus services were disrupted across the city. Large assemblies of vehicles and protestors were also reported in Midleton, Tullamore, Cashel, Castlebar and Rosslare.

A blockade was set up at the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork, which supplies about 40 percent of Ireland's petrol. The refinery entrance was blocked by trucks and tractors and around 60 people.

Another blockade, maintained by up to 100 demonstrators, was set up outside a fuel depot in Galway. For four days, no fuel left the depot, although all other traffic was allowed to pass. Rosslare harbour and Europort were also closed by protestors.

The blockades stopped fuel deliveries to Ireland's 1,200 or so petrol stations, with as many as 700 running out of fuel over the next few days. By April 10, health services were running out of fuel, appointments were cancelled, medicine deliveries impacted, and water treatment and animal feed supplies were delayed. Bus services to Dublin Airport were impacted by rolling roadblocks, leading to passengers walking along the motorway hard shoulder to the airport.

A panicked coalition government announced further limited palliative measures, worth 500 million, while moving to clear the protests. Measures announced included a 10-cent reduction in petrol and diesel tax, a delay in implementing carbon tax increases and support schemes for farmers and fisheries. Prices at petrol stations began to fall slightly over the following days.

Irish state financesheavily dependent on tech company headquartersare unusually healthy, with a budget surplus of 12.4 billion (3.7 percent of gross national income) recorded in 2025, so the sums dispensed were the least required to quell the protests.

Despite crushing housing costs, an overstretched health service and countless indicators of social stress impacting the population, the coalitionwhich coined 33 billion in corporate tax receipts last yearchose to divert much of its surplus into sovereign wealth and savings funds.

Dozens of gardai (police) and army tow trucks were deployed to clear the protests at Whitegate refinery and the Galway fuel depot. At Whitegate, some scuffles ensued as public order police armed with pepper spray pushed protestors back. One 14-year-old was pepper sprayed. Over the course of the protests, a handful of people were arrested for driving offences.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheal Martins handling of the protests saw the opposition Sinn Feinwho had expressed sympathy with those impacted by soaring fuel coststable a motion of no confidence in the coalition. While the government won the vote, by 92 to 78 votes, an independent Minister of State, Michael Healy-Rae, announced his unexpected resignation. Healy-Rae was one of a group of right-wing independent members of parliament who have kept the coalition in power.

Sections of the media raged at what they deemed an unacceptable climb down. Former Irish Times editor Stephen Collins commented, We need to be ready against opponents who dont feel bound by accepted conventions. He complained that the protests came close to shutting down the economy, disrupting the running of the health service and causing public disorder on a wide scale [but] did not appear to generate widespread indignation. Collins called for a comprehensive plan to deal with future discords.

Millions of workers are being hit by the same fuel price increases and a surge in the cost of living. However, the fact that protests over fuel cost increases were politically dominated by the far-right is a dangerous situation. One brought about by the role of the trade union bureaucracy in suppressing independent class action by the working class.

Days after the protests were ended, Irish Congress of Trade Unions leader Reidy met with Taoiseach Martin and Irish business in the Labour Employer Economic Forum.

In line with the unions' practice over decades of no-strike agreements and social partnership, Reidy merely warned the government, in advance of the meeting, that what we want to see is a process where government engages with us over the coming weeks on fundamental issues... Failing that, and indicating that he would do everything he could to prevent it, strike action is probably inevitable, he warned. All parties agreed to meet again in a few weeks.

There is no prospect of the ICTU waging a struggle in defence of workers living standards. Workers in Ireland are posed with building independent rank-and-file organisations to unify their struggles across sectors and national borders. Above all, a new socialist political leadership, an Irish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, is needed.
The new Military Service Modernisation Act being introduced by the German government imposes far-reaching restrictions on travel freedoms for young people, demonstrating how extensive its plans are for the reintroduction of conscription and the militarisation of society.

Protest against conscription outside the Ministry of Defence in Berlin, 27 August 2025 [Photo by Regine Ratke/IPPNW / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

A central, hitherto little-noticed paragraph stipulates that persons of conscription agei.e., between 17 and 45 yearsmust obtain permission from the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) for longer stays abroad. Specifically, this affects stays of more than three months. The military is thereby being given control over whether and for how long young people are allowed to leave the country.

This regulation was initially barely discussed in public. That changed abruptly when it became known on social media following an article in the Frankfurter Rundschau. Within a few days, a broad wave of outrage developed, particularly among youth and young adults.

The Defence Ministry reacted to the criticism with an attempt to downplay the significance of the regulation. Reference was made to the fact that similar provisions had already existed during the Cold War and had not had any major impact at the time.

This comparison is misleading. Today, longer stays abroadfor example, through gap years, work and travel or study visitsare frequently part of the life plans of many young people. In school exchanges alone, the numbers have been in the tens of thousands for years.

Even more important, however, is that the ministry has not withdrawn the regulation. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius merely announced that an administrative directive would be issued temporarily suspending the authorisation requirementas long as military service remains formally voluntary.

This means that the legal basis remains in place. As soon as conscription is reintroduced on a mandatory basiswhich is being actively prepared by the governmentthe restriction on freedom of travel can be put into effect at any time.

There can therefore be no talk of a retreat. Rather, the government is reacting to public outrage with an attempt to temporarily obscure the consequences of its own law in order to dampen resistance.

The regulation is not a technical detail, but an expression of pursuing a fundamental political course. The reintroduction of conscription prepares not only compulsory military service, but a comprehensive control of conscripts by the state and the military.

In practice, the possibility of approving or refusing stays abroad means that young people can be prevented from evading the grasp of the Bundeswehr. They are to be available at all times, for training, mobilisation and ultimately for deployment in war.

This is directly connected to the governments aggressive rearmament policy. Germany is actively participating in the escalation of international conflicts, from the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine to preparations for deployments in the Middle East, for example with regards to the Strait of Hormuz.

For this policy, German imperialism needs not only weapons and money, but above all human materiel. The officially stated goal of expanding the Bundeswehr to 260,000 soldiers is only a first step here.

It is noteworthy that the restriction of travel freedoms is not fundamentally questioned by any of the establishment parties.

The Greens merely demanded a clarification of the regulation. The Left Party criticised the law as poorly crafted. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), in turn, primarily complained about the potential administrative burden.

This is not opposition to militarism, but de facto support. These parties are not concerned with stopping the militarisation of society and the associated attacks on democratic rights, but with making them more efficient.

What is happening in Germany is part of an international trend. In view of growing geopolitical tensions, neocolonial wars and the preparation of new major military conflicts between the great powers, governments worldwide are once again resorting to conscription and coercive measures.

In the US, the reintroduction of the draft is being prepared in response to falling recruitment numbers. France is expanding programmes for military service. In Ukraine, men of conscription age, who are being consumed as cannon fodder in the NATO war against Russia, are prohibited from leaving the country.

These measures are part of the preparations for an escalation of global conflicts, up to and including a possible direct war between major powers.

Reactions to the new regulation show that this policy is meeting with broad rejection. The outrage on social media was only a first expression of this.

Even more significant are the school strikes against conscription, in which tens of thousands of school students and young people have participated in recent months. This made clear that many young people recognise the connections between conscription, rearmament and war.

This opposition must, however, be further developed. Isolated protests are not enough to stop militarisation.

What is necessary is the building of an independent movement that does not orient itself towards the establishment parties or trade unions, but which mobilises the working class and represents its interests. The attacks on democratic rights, the deterioration of working and living conditions and the official pro-war policy are inextricably linked with each other.

The struggle against conscription and against travel restrictions for young people is therefore part of a broader fight against war and social attacks, and it requires an international socialist perspective.
Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria held on April 19 returned former President Rumen Radevs Progressive Bulgaria (PB) as the clear victor, with almost 44 percent (43.91 percent) of the vote. PB will hold 130 seats in the 240-seat National Assembly. Progressive Bulgaria was established in March as a coalition of three smaller existing parties, described as being on the left wing of the political establishment, specifically as a vehicle for Radevs electoral project. It only formally became a unified political party on April 17. Radev resigned the presidency in January, one year before the end of his term, in order to run in the elections.

Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev delivers a speech at the closing rally of his campaign, in Sofia, Thursday, April 16, 2026, as Bulgaria heads into an early parliamentary election. [AP Photo/Valentina Petrova]

This result gives Progressive Bulgaria an absolute majority and will allow Radev to form a government without the need for an alliance.

The snap elections come after the coalition government of GERB and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) resigned in the wake of mass protests in December against its proposed 2026 state budget. The draft budget was supposed to be the countrys first budget in euros, with Bulgaria joining the eurozone on January 1, 2026. The budget entailed a massive expansion of the security apparatus and a record debt ceiling fueled by military credits.

GERB, headed by three-time prime minister Boyko Borissov, saw its vote decline sharply from 25.52 percent in the last elections to 13.18 percent and will hold 39 seats in the new Assembly, down from 66. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), a party traditionally associated with the Turkish ethnic minority vote, took 7.01 percent of the vote, down from 11.13 percent, and will have 21 seats. DPS has become increasingly associated with systemic corruption in the country, exemplified by its leader, the oligarch Delyan Peevski.

The Continue the ChangeDemocratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition received 12.42 percent and will have 37 seats, making it the only party already in parliament that did not lose seats. The coalition is described in the European press as the technocratic and anti-corruption wing of the pro-European parties, in contrast to GERB, which is widely despised among the population and associated with corruption scandals.

The vote for the fascistic Revival party fell from 12.92 percent to just above the 4 percent threshold for entering parliament, at 4.19 percent, giving it 13 MPs. The post-Stalinist BSP and its electoral alliance, United Left, saw their vote collapse from an already historic low of 7 percent to below the electoral threshold.

The vote, with a turnout of 50.2 percent, relatively high for Bulgaria, represents above all a broad rejection of the traditional political establishment. GERB had been the leading political party in the country since 2009, while the BSP has been left outside parliament for the first time since the restoration of capitalism.

Radev is being described in Western media as pro-Russian because of his verbal misgivings about the war against Russia in Ukraine. His election-night declaration that he hoped for practical relations with Russia, based on mutual respect and equal treatment has reinforced his portrayal as President Vladimir Putins next Trojan horse, after Hungarys former president Viktor Orban and Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Radev has himself cultivated an ambivalent attitude toward the war in order to appeal to widespread anti-war sentiment in Bulgarian society. His campaign projected the image of a moderate figure, opposed to the worst excesses of EU-imposed austerity and war preparations.

Exit poll data presented by Novinite showed that two-thirds (67 percent) of voters who had sat out the previous parliamentary elections backed Progressive Bulgaria this time. Progressive Bulgaria was especially successful among young voters, with 34 percent of Bulgarians aged 18-30 years casting their ballots for Radevs project, making it the dominant choice among young people by a significant margin.

That Radev was able to benefit from widespread discontent is due in no small part to the active or tacit support of many figures from the collapsing BSP and the pseudo-left formations that traditionally gravitated around it.

Vanya Grigorova, a former union bureaucrat who was the focus of a pseudo-left bid for the Sofia mayoralty in 2023 and leader of Solidarity Bulgaria, said in January, in the run-up to the election: I strongly hope that Radevs formation will be left-leaning and based on solidarity. But I will give him time to develop his vision. I wont start with criticisms just yet. For me, its important to see concrete policiesfor example, in the pension system. Radev also received, and expressed thanks for, the support of the fascistic VMROBulgarian National Movement party.

The character of the next administration can be glimpsed from Radevs political past and his presidential terms.

A high-ranking military aviation officer, Radev completed extensive training courses in the United States as part of a generation of officers orienting the Bulgarian military toward US imperialism. His political rise in 2016 was tied to the post-Stalinist BSP and its increasing adoption of extreme right-wing positions. In a process that took place throughout Europe, Radev and the BSP normalized and elevated the fascistic anti-refugee positions of street groups such as Ataka.

In a period of intensifying international crisis, Radev emerged as an important political anchor for the Bulgarian ruling class.

While maintaining a rivalry with Boyko Borissov that took the form of an at times bitter struggle over control of the state security apparatus, Radev and GERB worked in tandem on the critical interests of the Bulgarian bourgeoisie.

Radev was a key opponent of public health measures to control the spread of COVID-19 and supported the reopening of the Bulgarian economy, a policy that led to catastrophic results, with Bulgaria registering one of the worlds highest mortality rates, at roughly 548 deaths per 100,000 people.

Radev and Borissov also worked in tandem and in close collaboration with the EU powers to press Bulgarias irredentist ambitions in North Macedonias EU accession talks. The EU has likewise been heavily involved in the widespread mistreatment of refugees along the so called Balkan route.

Radev maintained an ostensibly critical attitude toward the war against Russia, most recently in March, when he called a security cooperation agreement signed by the government with Ukraine a risk to national security. The truth is that Bulgaria has remained a principal supplier of Soviet-style equipment to Ukraine throughout his terms as president.

He has repeatedly called for the expansion of European and Bulgarian military production facilities, whose growth in recent years has been tied to the war against Russia.

Throughout the last year, Radev has been a vocal critic of the last GERB government and its draft budget, calling for a referendum on the introduction of the euro. At the same time, throughout the election campaign, he insisted that any future government would have to abide by the same fiscally responsible budget policies that have devastated Bulgarian society in the years leading up to the introduction of the euro.

In his election victory declaration, Radev stated, We have defeated apathy and that This is only the first step toward restoring trust and the social contract. He is, however, fundamentally incapable of and unwilling to resolve any of the issues that have provoked mass protests in recent years.

Neither the advanced war preparations, nor the attacks on living standards that accompany them, nor even the state capture by the oligarchs are uniquely Bulgarian phenomena. Workers and youth will soon confront a Radev administration determined to defend the interests of the imperialist powers and the Bulgarian ruling class. The way forward lies through the international class struggle and the founding of a Bulgarian section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI).
We are publishing here the report given by World Socialist Web Site writer Stephen St. Clair to a public meeting of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality at the University of Michigan held April 21.

We gather today in the shadow of a profound tragedy: the death of Danhao Wang, a brilliant 30-year-old postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan. On March 19, Dr. Wang took his own life after being subjected to hostile questioning by federal agents.

Danhao Wang

His death is the direct consequence of a systematic government- and university-sponsored political operation targeting young Chinese researchers. This xenophobic purge, deeply intertwined with the capitalist military-industrial complex, is part of the broader attack on the democratic rights of all immigrants, students and working people. Today we will examine the profound complicity of academic institutions in this state repression and outline the urgent need to mobilize the working class and young people in a unified political struggle against the anti-Chinese pogrom, which is bound up with the criminal war against Iran and preparations for war against China, the drive to dictatorship, and the capitalist system which is the root cause of these evils.

We must begin today by speaking of the death of Danhao Wang. Dr. Wang took his own life, falling from an upper story of the G.G. Brown Laboratory building on North Campus. According to statements released by the Chinese Consulate in Chicago, Wang had been subjected to hostile questioning by federal agents the day before his death. Within days, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the encounter as unprovoked investigation and harassment, denouncing the US government for terrorizing lawful international residents in the name of national security.

University cover-up of Wangs suicide

While the College of Engineering acknowledged that a death had occurred in an internal email, the U-M administration withheld the fact of the suicide for two weeks. It was only after independent reporting by the World Socialist Web Site on April 2 revealed the name of Danhao Wang that the broader public was informed of the tragedy.

The university issued a statement the following morning naming Wang and local, national, and international news media covered the story over the next week. Posts referring to articles from the World Socialist Web Site calling for an independent investigation led by researchers, students, staff and faculty were subjected to political censorship on the U-M subreddit.

One of the posts removed by the moderators of r/uofm on the death of Wang.

Wang stood at the vanguard of semiconductor physics. Working within the laboratory of Professor Zetian Mi, Wang focused his research on a new class of materials known as wurtzite ferroelectric nitrides. Wang had authored over a hundred articles, including a landmark April 2025 paper published in the journal Nature under the title Electric-Field-Induced Domain Walls in Wurtzite Ferroelectrics. Wangs findings essentially mapped the theoretical and physical blueprint for a new generation of transistors capable of vastly outperforming the existing radar technologies currently used by the military.

Additionally, because wurtzite ferroelectric nitride-based semiconductors can integrate both memory storage and logic processing within the same physical material, Wangs research provides the potential physical substrate for edge AI computing. This would enable AI processing to occur directly on local, physically disconnected devices, such as autonomous combat drones, missile interceptors, or isolated battlefield sensors, without ever requiring connectivity to cloud networks.

While Wangs research has military applications under the control of the Pentagon, the technology itself has vast potential to benefit society. Like artificial intelligence, its impact on humanity depends entirely on which social class is wielding it. Under capitalism, this genius is hijacked to build the machinery of death. Under the democratic control of the working class, these breakthroughs in efficiency and computing power could be used to improve the conditions of society as a whole, optimizing global logistics, revolutionizing medical technology, and laying the infrastructural groundwork for the elimination of scarcity.

Persecution of Chinese researchers

As the capitalist ruling class accelerates its preparations for war against China, the bipartisan political establishment is creating a climate of security paranoia to justify the militarization of academic institutions. Danhao Wangs death is the direct consequence of a government- and university-sponsored political operation that has systematically targeted young Chinese researchers. What follows is an accounting of the federal prosecutions, the prolonged detentions, the coerced plea deals, and the ultimate deportations of six Chinese scientists over the past 10 months: Yunqing Jian, Chengxuan Han, Xu Bai, Fengfan Zhang and Zhiyong Zhang, all affiliated with the University of Michigan, alongside Youhuang Xiang of Indiana University.

All six had their careers ruined by the criminalization of routine, harmless biological research. The Department of Justice (DOJ) used labels like agroterrorism, espionage and smuggling to terrorize these scientists. Under ordinary circumstances, minor technical lapses regarding biological material transfers are treated strictly as administrative matters by the US Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). They are typically resolved by destroying the material and issuing a warning or fine. The DOJ escalated these cases into felony conspiracy and smuggling charges carrying a potential twenty five-year prison sentence.

The objective of these federal prosecutions was not to secure convictions in fair, open trials, as the scientific evidence overwhelmingly undermined the governments claims. Instead, the national security apparatus used the threat of indefinite detention to extract coerced plea deals.

When these researchers were targeted by federal probes, U-M and Indiana University swiftly terminated their employment and revoked their visa sponsorships, exposing them to detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If a targeted scholar were granted bail by a federal magistrate, they would be instantly transferred from criminal custody to administrative ICE detention. Because time spent in administrative immigration custody does not count toward a federal criminal sentence, these researchers were forced to waive their right to a detention hearing and remain in federal prison indefinitely.

Yunqing Jian, a plant biologist and thirty-three-year-old postdoctoral fellow, was the first to be arrested, in June 2025. The DOJ accused Jian of conspiring with her boyfriend in China to smuggle a strain of Fusarium graminearum, branding the incident an act of agroterrorism supposedly intended to sabotage the American food supply.

Yunqing Jian, Sanilac County Jail.

In July of 2025, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins linked Jian to terrorism and espionage, declaring:

Last month, the US Department of Justice charged foreign nationals, including a Chinese Communist Party member, with smuggling a noxious fungus into the United States  a potential agroterrorism weapon responsible for billions in global crop losses. The scheme involved a US research lab and highlighted a disturbing trend: Americas enemies are playing the long gameinfiltrating our research, buying up our farmland, stealing our technology, and launching cyberattacks on our food systems.

Academic experts testified that the strains involved in the prosecution were ubiquitous in the wild across North America and posed absolutely no threat to United States agriculture. Such materials are routinely studied at research institutions to genetically engineer pathogen resistant crops.

Jian was brought to a Detroit federal courtroom bound in chains in November to finalize a coerced plea after five months of incarceration. A federal prosecutor admitted at the sentencing hearing that the government possessed no evidence that Jian harbored any evil intent, yet the government destroyed her career and forced her permanent exile from the country.

The second Chinese researcher to be arrested was University of Michigan doctoral student Chengxuan Han, a 28-year-old scholar, detained at Detroit Metro Airport in June, 2025 following an international flight from China on her first visit to the US. She was interrogated for six hours as federal agents ignored her requests for an attorney, failed to inform her of her Miranda rights, used an incompetent translator who several times had to ask Han to answer in English, and ultimately misled Han into speaking without a lawyer present.

This photo provided by the Sanilac County, Mich., Sheriff's Office on Friday, June 13, 2025, shows Chinese scientist Chengxuan Han. [AP Photo/Sanilac County Sheriff's Office]

The government characterized her research shipments as containing dangerous biological materials, ignoring the fact that her samples consisted merely of Caenorhabditis elegans and plasmid DNA. C. elegans is an entirely harmless, non-parasitic roundworm used as a model organism in biology laboratories. Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules likewise used daily in thousands of molecular biology laboratories to replicate and study genes. They possess absolutely no pathogenic qualities, are chemically inert, and are entirely incapable of causing sickness or disease in humans, animals or agriculture. Hans research focused on how organisms detect sensory inputs such as light and temperature, with no conceivable connection to bioweapons, agricultural sabotage or espionage. Chengxuan Han was coerced into a no contest plea in August 2025 before being sentenced to time served and deported back to China, permanently banned from reentry into the United States.

Three other Chinese postdoctoral researchers at the University of Michigan, Xu Bai, Fengfan Zhang and Zhiyong Zhang, were fired by the university in October 2025 for refusing to participate in an internal probe. They were arrested and jailed for over three months on identical baseless conspiracy charges related to shipping Chengxuan Hans harmless nematodes and plasmids. The entirely fraudulent nature of these charges was exposed on February 4, 2026, when federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss all indictments against the three men without offering any explanation, implicitly admitting before the court that the prosecutions lacked any basis. Following their release, the researchers immediately returned to China, their American careers destroyed.

The case of Youhuang Xiang, a 32-year-old postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biology at Indiana University, continued this campaign of persecution. Xiang, who resided lawfully in the United States on a J-1 visa, was arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Chicagos OHare International Airport in November, 2025 upon his return from an international research trip. The initial criminal complaint, amplified by inflammatory social media posts from FBI Director Kash Patel, accused Xiang of participating in a sinister plot to smuggle pathogenic E. coli bacteria into the country.

One hundred percent political

The package Xiang received from a trusted colleague in China did not contain infectious, living bacteria of any kind; it contained plasmid DNA. Xiangs direct supervisor, the distinguished Indiana University plant biologist Professor Roger Innes, denounced the prosecution, calling it one hundred percent political and clarifying that the plasmid DNA was a completely harmless substance.

Innes said:

The fact that it grew up in E. coli is irrelevant. It has no genes from E. coli in it; it cant infect you. Once youve purified DNA, its the same DNA that you would purify from your own cells. It was clear the FBI [agent] just didnt understand what he was talking about.

Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II, a Trump appointee and member of the far-right Federalist Society, repeatedly conflated the inert plasmid DNA with living, dangerous bacteria in his official orders, citing it as a pathogen that could damage US public health and agriculture.

Youhuang Xiang was coerced into accepting a guilty plea for smuggling in March of this year after enduring over four months of incarceration. Even after the prosecutor recommended a sentence of time served, Judge Sweeney delayed the final sentencing hearing for an additional five weeks. Xiang was ultimately sentenced to time served and ordered deported on April 7. He remained in custody for almost two weeks after his sentencing at an ICE facility in Kokomo, Indiana. We just received word that he arrived safely in Beijing yesterday afternoon and was met by his family.

The consequences of this xenophobic purge are spilling outward, affecting the broader international community. Following the death of Dr. Wang and the ongoing harassment of scholars, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an extraordinary safety alert to its citizens on April 16. It warned of malicious inspections by US border authorities and advised travelers to entirely avoid Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This warning was issued after 20 Chinese scholars, traveling with valid visas to attend an academic conference, were subjected to questioning and harassment and ultimately denied entry and deported by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

The University of Michigan administration, led by President Domenico Grasso, views the lives of its foreign-born researchers as expendable in the pursuit of federal funding and political alignment with the Trump administration. On March 26, one week after Wangs death, Grasso testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce at a hearing titled US Universities Under Siege: Foreign Espionage, Stolen Innovation, and the National Security Threat. Grasso pledged his administrations total subservience to the state apparatus.

He said:

As an engineer and an army veteran, who currently holds a top secret security clearance, Im deeply committed to protecting our nations security.  This commitment is illustrated by our decision to end a relationship with a university in China that is seen as a potential threat to Americas interests. We made this decision after discussion with this committee and the House Select Committee on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).

He boasted of terminating the visas of the five Chinese researchers, telling the committee:

In isolated but serious incidents, a small number of university students and researchers from China have been arrested for unlawful activities Once alerted, we acted swiftly and decisivelyworking with federal law enforcement, promptly terminating student and work visas, and severing all ties with those individuals.

By doing so, the administration stripped its researchers of all institutional protection and triggered the legal ICE traps that facilitated their prolonged incarcerations and deportations.

University complicity

The University of Michigans institutional complicity is rooted in the financial structure of US academia, which has become heavily dependent on federal research funding from the defense and intelligence sectors. The university is a highly integrated beneficiary of the capitalist military-industrial complex, securing $100 million in direct research support from the Department of Defense for 2025 alone, an increase from $85 million the previous year.

This funding supports critical defense projects, including the development of heat-tolerant silicon carbide semiconductors for military aircraft, the engineering of autonomous off-road vehicles designed for combat zones, and the creation of imaging technology for the detection of nuclear materials. To protect this revenue stream and maintain its institutional standing in a national climate dominated by imperialist war-mongering, the university administration facilitated the purge of its own researchers, acting as accomplices to the FBI and CBP.

The militarization of universities is codified by bipartisan legislative efforts designed to build a fortress around American technological research. At the congressional hearing on March 26 where President Grasso testified, Republican Representative Michael Baumgartner promoted the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act, known as the DETERRENT Act. This legislation is designed to increase reporting requirements for universities, using the threat of massive fines and the loss of funding to force academic institutions to police their own faculty and international students.

At the same hearing, Representative Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, promoted legislation to expand the definition of partnerships with malign foreign talent programs. This bill, which was passed in the House, exposes an even broader swath of immigrant researchers to federal scrutiny for engaging in what was previously considered entirely routine academic exchange, shared data analysis, or even co-authorship of scientific papers with foreign nationals.

The Democratic Party is completely complicit in this McCarthyite witch-hunt. The war in Iran and the witch-hunt against Chinese researchers are interconnected aspects of a single imperialist strategy, based on the need to control the energy corridors and resources needed by China.

Furthermore, we must understand this assault on international researchers within the context of a general attack by the ruling oligarchy on science itself. The criminalization of basic biological research, treating harmless plasmids and roundworms as threats, is part of the same phenomenon driving the assault on medical science and public health. We see it in the elevation of figures like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the relentless, government-backed promotion of religious obscurantism and anti-vaccine and COVID lab leak conspiracy theories.

Growing sections of the capitalist ruling class are deeply hostile to scientific truth because rational, scientific inquiry exposes the irrationality, profound inequality, and inherent destructiveness of the profit system. They seek to subordinate all scientific endeavor strictly to the needs of militarism, while drowning the broader population in ignorance and backwardness to prevent a unified, scientifically literate challenge to their rule.

The political assault on Chinese scientists is an attack on the core democratic rights of all immigrants, students and working people. It is part of a broader assault on the social gains of the working class, all of which are being systematically dismantled to feed the budgets required for World War III. The legal mechanisms currently deployed to criminalize minor academic infractions and enforce deportations through indefinite administrative detention will be redirected against the working class, anti-war activists and political dissidents. All of thisthe drive toward war, the attack on social gains, the destruction of democratic rightsarises organically from the capitalist system in the age of imperialism.

It must be emphasized that appeals to university administrations or to the political establishment, including the Democratic Party, are futile. In every case discussed today, these institutional actors have functioned as willing conduits for state repression. The American state apparatus, fully backed by the corporate press and the institutional defenders of the status quo, has mobilized its legalistic and administrative instruments to bypass democratic constraints. The defense of persecuted researchers, the preservation of academic freedom, and the prevention of a catastrophic global conflict require a fundamental, irrevocable break from these capitalist entities.

The survival of rational, cross-border scientific cooperation depends upon the independent, coordinated political organization of the global working class. The ultra-efficient microelectronics made possible by Danhao Wangs theoretical breakthroughs must be physically manufactured, etched, and assembled. This process rests entirely on the exploitation of a globally interconnected industrial working class. The workers in the massive semiconductor fabrication plants around the world, at TSMC in Taiwan, at Samsung and SK Hynix in South Korea, at Intel and GlobalFoundries in the United States and at SMIC in China, are the ones who turn theoretical physics into material reality.

This dire situation demands the immediate formation of independent rank-and-file committees across university campuses and within the semiconductor fabrication plants. These committees must operate independently of the pro-imperialist corporate-controlled trade union bureaucracy, university administrations, and the capitalist political parties. We must work to unite the theorists and researchers who design microelectronics with the technicians, logistics workers, and assemblers who physically manufacture them, establishing lines of communication across national borders.

For an independent investigation

The investigation into the tragic and entirely preventable death of Danhao Wang must not be left in the hands of the institutional apparatus that facilitated his political persecution. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality insists that any internal probe conducted by the U-M administration, led by a president who has publicly boasted of his subservience to the national security state, will result in nothing but a whitewash. The federal agencies whose hostile interrogations precipitated this tragedy cannot be trusted to investigate their own crimes.

Therefore, the immediate task is the formation of an independent commission of inquiry, organized and led by rank-and-file researchers, students, staff and faculty, operating entirely outside the control of the university administration and the capitalist state. This democratically controlled committee must demand the unredacted public release of all communications between the university and federal intelligence agencies. It must expose the precise nature of the harassment Dr. Wang endured, and hold fully accountable every official who sacrificed the lives and democratic rights of international scholars on the altar of the imperialist war drive. We must remove ICE from campuses, oppose all collaboration between academic administrations and federal security agencies, and fight for the full restoration of visas and academic positions to those persecuted by the state.

This meeting is a direct appeal to all workers and students, especially the international scientists and students targeted by this campaign. It is a call to understand the revolutionary tasks that stand before us. The central issue of our time is to mobilize the working class and young people, both immigrant and native-born, in a unified political struggle against capitalism, and for workers power and socialism. Through sustained international solidarity, armed with a scientific understanding of political economy, the working class can halt the imperialist war drive. Only the socialist transformation of society can ensure that the genius of researchers like Danhao Wang serves the flourishing of all humanity, rather than its destruction.
Harvard graduate students on strike on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The strike by 4,000 graduate student workers that began Tuesday, April 21, is not simply a local contract dispute. It is a fundamental collision between academic workers, who are members of the Harvard Graduate Student UnionUnited Auto Workers (HGSU-UAW), and a self-selected oligarchy of finance capital that runs and effectively owns Harvard University.

The material reality of the graduate workers is a damning indictment of the capitalist university and its board. Teaching Fellows (TFs), who perform the essential labor of instruction, earn a miserable $18 to $21 per hour. In the hyper-inflated Boston economy, these academic workers are routinely driven to apply for food assistance and visit food pantries.

Standing in obscene contrast is the Harvard Corporation, the steward of a $53.2 billion endowment managed by the Harvard Management Companya financial behemoth that serves as a clearinghouse for global markets and the military-industrial complex.

The President and Fellows of Harvard College, known as the Harvard Corporation, are the universitys true governing power and its highest fiduciary authority. Far from a benign board of trustees, it functions as a superstructural institution where the interests of the imperialist state and finance capital are fused. Its composition reveals a Committee of Capital that manages ideological production as an extension of their corporate portfolios.

Alongside the current president, Alan Garber, the Board includes the following:

The Senior Fellow and Chair of the Corporation since 2022 is Penny Pritzker. Pritzker is a billionaire hotel heiress who served as Secretary of Commerce during Barack Obamas second term. She is the sister of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a member of the boards of Microsoft Corporation and Icertis.

Penny Pritzker [Photo: Harvard Gazette]

Pritzker is a former executive chairman of TransUnion and a past board member of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. She also served as President Bidens Special Representative for Ukraines Economic Recovery and was formerly a member of the board of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Pritzker became Senior Fellow several months after donating $100 million for a new economics building. The philanthropic gesture and the governing role are inseparable. A $100 million gift is also a down payment on institutional control. This is the ruling class not merely influencing HarvardIt is owning it.

The Treasurer of Harvard University and the Chair of the Harvard Management Company is Timothy R. Barakett.

Barakett is the founder and CEO of TRB Advisors, a private investment firm. Prior to founding TRB in 2010, he was the founder and CEO of Atticus Capital, a global investment management firm. He chairs the Board of the Harvard Management Company, which manages Harvard Universitys endowment.

In March 2025, KKR, one of the worlds leading private equity firms, appointed Barakett to its Board of Directors. This appointment is the precise mechanism by which Harvards endowment management interlocks with private equity accumulation. Barakett controls how Harvards tens of billions are invested.

Timothy R. Barakett (left) and Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuellar [Photo: The Harvard Gazette]

He now sits on the board of one of the most powerful private equity firms on the planet. An analysis from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project of November 2025 documented a recurring pattern at KKR-owned companies: pushing costs and risks onto workers while extracting profits for investors, with widespread wage violations, mass layoffs and labor rights abuses across its portfolio.

Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuellar has been a Fellow since 2019. The former California Supreme Court Justice has served in three Democratic administrations at the White House and federal agencies, beginning in U.S. Treasury Department in the second term of the Bill Clinton administration. He specializes in intelligence and foreign affairs, was co-chair of the Transition Immigration Working Group for Obama, the deporter-in-chief. He then became senior director of the National Security Council in the Obama administration, which directed drone assassinations, including of US citizens, covert regime change operations in Libya and Syria, and the 2014 coup in Ukraine that installed a pro-NATO regime.

Cuellar now serves as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a key think tank in the intellectual infrastructure for US foreign policy, whose members move in and out of U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Joseph Y. Bae has been a Fellow since 2024. He is co-CEO of KKR, the same leading global investment firm where Barakett was appointed to its Board of Directors. Bae has served on the Corporation Committee on Finance, the Universitys Global Advisory Council and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Deans Council.

The coincidence is structural, not accidental: Harvards Treasurer sits on KKRs board, and KKRs co-CEO sits on the Harvard Corporation. This is not a conflict of interest but the system functioning as intended. Two of Harvards most powerful governing figures are in a direct institutional relationship with the same private equity firm whose business model rests on leveraged buyouts, wage suppression and the extraction of value from workers in healthcare, manufacturing and logistics.

A Fellow since 2014 is Kenneth I. Chenault, who worked up the corporate ranks of American Express, becoming CEO in 2001. In 2007 and 2008, he earned a total compensation of $50 million and $42 million, respectively. He is now chairman and managing director of General Catalyst, a venture capital firm where fellow Corporation member Kenneth C. Frazier also works.

Frazier is former chairman and CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., where he was initially hired as general counsel. He currently chairs health assurance initiatives at General Catalyst. He has served on the boards of Exxon Mobil Corporation and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

General Catalyst is no ordinary venture capital shop. It is central in the privatization of American healthcare, funding health assurance models that commodify care delivery. His position on ExxonMobils board represents the fossil fuel industrys purchase of respectability through elite institutional networks. PhRMA membership means direct advocacy for the pharmaceutical industrys monopoly pricing regime, the same regime that rations insulin to diabetic workers.

Sylvia Burwell (left) and Michael Chae [Photo: Harvard Gazette]

Sylvia Mathews Burwell is a newly appointed Fellow in 2026. She has held leadership roles at the Gates Foundation and the Walmart Foundation. Earlier in her career she was director of the federal Office of Management and Budget and chief of staff to Robert Rubin, when he was Secretary of the Treasury under Bill Clinton. Her boss Rubin is the former Goldman Sachs co-chairman and leading architect of financial deregulation. After leaving as Rubins chief of staff, she moved to the Gates Foundation (a major proponent of the privatization of public education and public health infrastructure) and the Walmart Foundation (the philanthropic arm of the worlds largest low-wage employer). She then ran the Department of Health and Human Services under President Obama (20142017), managing the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, which preserved private insurance profit.

Michael Chae is vice chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Blackstone, the worlds largest alternative asset management firm, and serves on the board of the Harvard Management Company. According to The Guardian, Blackstone is the largest commercial landlord in history, which over the past two decades has quietly taken control of apartment blocks, care homes, student housing, railway arches, film studios, offices, hotels, logistics warehouses and datacentres.

With these figures as its leadership, it is no surprise that Harvard finds itself under continued scrutiny with the release of documents from Jeffrey Epstein. As chairman of the international editorial board of the WSWS David North, wrote recently, The Epstein files reveal the social physiognomy of a degenerate ruling class and oligarchical society in an advanced state of decomposition. Their offenses are rank; they smell to heaven.

The relationship between Harvard and the late sex offender was the logical outcome of a capitalist enterprise and its pursuit of capital. Harvard accepted over $9.1 million from Epstein, granting a predator unfettered access to the university, including a 2005 Visiting Fellow appointment although Epstein possessed zero academic qualifications.

While former President Larry Summers maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after Epsteins 2008 conviction, the Corporation today deploys a different standard for the working class. Wealth bought Epstein institutional immunity, but striking workers and students today face the disciplinary regime, pervasive surveillance and police presence for the crime of opposing war.

To justify wage suppression, the Corporation has weaponized a political fiction of financial distress, citing a projected $365 million deficit in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The universitys own data exposes this lie. In Fiscal Year 2026, the Alumni Affairs and Development unit raised a record-breaking $629 million in current-use gifts alone. A university sitting on a $53.2 billion endowment is not in crisis. It is engaged in a class-driven transfer of wealth from workers to the fund.

The strikers have issued clear political demands:

 Immediate protection for international students and workers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

 The removal of cops and surveillance apparatus from campus

 Full divestment from military contractors and the global war machine

These are fully justified and should be supported by all workers. But the Whos Who of the corporate-financial oligarchy on the Harvard Corporation makes it clear that grad students are in a direct confrontation with the ruling class. To prevail, the strike must be expanded, uniting academic workers across the country, auto and other industrial workers, and developed into a politically conscious counter-offensive against the oligarchy, the fascist Trump administration and its enablers in the Democratic Partya party of Wall Street and the military-intelligence apparatus.

To fight for this, Harvard academic students must form a rank-and-file committee to oppose the sabotage of the pro-war and pro-capitalist UAW bureaucracy, headed by UAW President Shawn Fain and UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. The leadership of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW) is currently pushing workers to accept a one-year contract, with a flat $2,300 raise, a real-wage cut that deliberately isolates the clerical staff from the graduate strikers.

Members of the HGSU-UAW must guard against betrayal by the UAW apparatus. The UAW bureaucracy has ignored two strike votes by academic workers at Columbia University, who are members of Student Workers of Columbia, United Auto Workers Local 2710 (SWC-UAW). UAW Region 9Adirected by Mancilla, a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) memberordered SWC to water down its demands for cops off campus, protections from ICE, an end to campus surveillance, fairer disciplinary processes and divestment from weapons manufacturers and institutions complicit in the US-backed genocide in Gaza.

The Harvard strike is a central battleground in the global struggle against war, austerity and the capitalist social order. Victory cannot be won by pleading with the Pritzker-led Corporation or trusting the UAW bureaucratic apparatus. Workers must take control by forming a rank-and-file committee independent of the union apparatus and linking their struggle to the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). Only in this way can this critical struggle become the rallying point for a struggle against war, fascism and dictatorship, and the development of a politically conscious struggle for socialism.
Last Friday and Monday, two workers were killed on job sites in Brisbane, the Queensland state capital, taking the citys known total workplace fatalities to five in six months. These terrible deaths point to a rising toll due to unsafe conditions and increased rates of exploitation in Australia and internationally.

Only scant details have been released by the official work safety authorities, but hundreds of people have used social media platforms to send messages of support and condolences, reflecting the concern in working-class households.

On Friday, a man in his forties died after he was crushed between two trucks at a workplace in Brisbanes east. Paramedics were called to the All Star Infrastructure site on Wynnum Road in Tingalpa at about 6.40am. The man was treated at the scene for life-threatening injuries but later died despite the paramedics efforts.

The official state safety agency, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), was notified and said it would investigate the circumstances with assistance from police.

Karreman Quarries [Photo: Karreman Quarries]

On Monday, about 15 kilometres away, a worker was critically injured in a horrific workplace accident involving a forklift. Emergency services were called to Karreman Quarries on West Mount Cotton Road in Sheldon at about 2.20pm.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said four paramedic units attended the scene. Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) confirmed on Tuesday that the man had died. Police also went to the site and are reported to be assisting WHSQ in investigating the incident.

Official investigations invariably take many months or years and cover over the driving forces of dangerous working conditions under capitalismthe systemic subordination of workers health and lives to the interests of corporate profit, including through speed-up, subcontracting and casualisation.

There has been a wave of workplace deaths in Brisbane. In January, a worker was killed in a bulldozer rollover at the Sunstate Cement site at the Port of Brisbane. Emergency services found the worker in a life-threatening condition before declaring him dead at the scene.

The Australian Workers Union (AWU), which had members on the site, said the death was unacceptable but left the investigation in the hands of the police and WHSQ. Stacey Schinnerl, the Queensland secretary of the AWU, said the union was working closely with Sunstate Cement to offer support to workers and ensure the site was safe.

In December, two workers were killed and another seriously injured on construction sites in Brisbane and the nearby Gold Coast. In the first incident, Beau Bradford, just 15, was reported to have died instantly when he was struck by a large object that fell from the boom of a concrete pump truck on a building site in Surfers Paradise.

Just 24 hours later, Kimura Dixon, 45, died when a retaining wall collapsed at an apartment block site at West End in inner Brisbane. His stepson Rama, only 19, was trapped under the rubble for about 90 minutes before he was freed and taken to hospital with serious injuries to his legs and chest.

After these deaths, family members and building workers raised concerns about the reported lack of safety precautions involved. They demanded action to halt the deaths and injuries caused by corporate profit-driven speed-ups and disregard for workers lives.

These deaths are not aberrations. There has been a series of workplace fatalities in Brisbane over the past two years. In January 2025, a construction worker died at a Douglas Construction site in the western suburb of Wacol, apparently from heat stress under unbearable conditions.

The previous November, 48-year-old building worker Brendon Stevens died on a Brisbane site after being struck on the head by a falling piece of metal pipe. Stevens was working during heavy rainfall, a risk that should have been prevented.

Ten months earlier, in January 2024, construction workers walked off a state government Cross River Rail job site in Brisbane after a worker died from heat stress.

Data from Safe Work Australia indicates that by April 9, 30 workers had died nationally in 2026, following 180 deaths in 2025. According to the latest available breakdown of the statistics, in 2024, machinery operators and drivers recorded the highest number of fatalities (61 workers, or 32 percent of all deaths) and the highest fatality rate at 6.7 deaths per 100,000 workers.

Labourers faced the second-highest risk, with a fatality rate of 4.0 per 100,000 workers and 50 deaths in 2024. The industries with the highest number of fatalities were transport, postal and warehousing (54 fatalities or 29 percent), agriculture, forestry and fishing (44 fatalities or 23 percent) and construction (37 fatalities or 20 percent).

No improvement has occurred despite industrial manslaughter becoming a criminal offence in every Australian state and territory as of late 2024. These laws are meant to punish gross negligence or reckless conduct by employers that leads to a workers death.

As of April 2026, there have been only six successful industrial manslaughter convictions across Australia since these laws began appearing in 2017, despite hundreds of workplace deaths being reported each year. These figures also understate the true toll because chronic occupational illnesses and unreported incidents are often excluded from official counts.

Hundreds of prosecutions have occurred for breaches of safety rules, but even companies that are convicted usually escape with token fines, amounting to a tiny fraction of their profits.

Last years deaths in New South Wales of a young worker at the Port Kembla steelworks and of two mineworkers in the Cobar tragedy are typical of how fatalities are treated. Work continued or quickly resumed after the deaths, the management imposed gag orders on workers and investigations were left in the hands of official agencies, ensuring no meaningful accountability.

Another example was provided in January. A coroner decided not to hold an inquest into the deaths of two workers who were crushed by a concrete wall in Brisbane in 2016, despite written pleas from family members for answers from that terrible day.

Ashley Pangana Morris, 34, and Humberto Ferreira Leite, 55, were killed at Brisbanes Eagle Farm Racecourse on October 6, 2016, after becoming sandwiched between two concrete slabs. The pair had been erecting wall panels in a foul water pit, when two slabs toppled over, and one landed on them.

A WHSQ investigation found their working system did not comply with industry code of practice and was unsafe for several reasons. There was no escape route for workers in the event of a panel collapse and the bracing was structurally inadequate.

Criscon, the company in charge of the racecourse redevelopment, later pleaded guilty to two breaches of Queenslands Work Health and Safety Act, but was fined just $625,000.

In January, nearly a decade after the deaths, Queensland coroner Donald MacKenzie declined to hold an inquest, in part due to the mental state of a key witness. Mackenzie referred to the egregious behaviour of those responsible and said he hoped the evidence would allow the deceaseds families and the general public to draw their own conclusions.

In correspondence to the Coroners Court, Morriss partner, Luisa Wilson wrote everything that hasnt happened over my partner and his colleagues death is absolutely devastating for myself and our families. She said the lack of criminal prosecution was a terrible outcome for us which left them with no explanations or any knowledge of what had happened that terrible day.

Workplace deaths and serious injuries are on the rise globally, as corporations cut costs and impose productivity increases to satisfy the demands of their financial backers.

Last month, a disastrous blaze at an auto parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea killed 14 workers and injured 60 others, at least 25 seriously.

The US Department of Labors latest annual report on worker deaths found 5,070 preventable workplace fatalities in 2024, a figure that dramatically undercounts the toll when occupational illness is included.

One of the most recent deaths also involved a forklift. Austin Lewis Flores, a worker at a warehouse for the H-E-B grocery chain in San Antonio, Texas, died after he was hit by a forklift while working with a floor jack.

This month marked one year since 63-year-old Ronald Adams Sr. was killed at the Stellantis Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan. His widow, Shamenia Stewart-Adams, and co-workers have still received no official explanation of what happened. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued no findings, and the United Auto Workers (UAW) has said nothing.

Around the world, the building of rank-and-file committees in opposition to trade union collaboration with management is essential in the fight to assert workers control over safety and production. Under the democratic control of workers, these committees could assess site conditions, investigate deaths and injuries, formulate demands and enforce safety measures, including through strike action.

This has to be connected to a political struggle, uniting the full power of workers across industries and national borders, to take control of basic industries and convert them into public utilities, as part of the socialist reorganisation of the world economy to protect workers lives and meet human need, not corporate profit.
Boat bombed by US military in the Eastern Pacific [Photo: USSOUTHCOM]

A rare case of survivors of US missile strikes on small boats off the coasts of South America has produced damning evidence that the Pentagons killing spree in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean is targeting not drug traffickers, but impoverished fishermen.

Ecuadorian fishermen aboard the vessel Don Maca have testified that they were subjected on March 26 to what they describe as a double tap strike by a US drone and then detained, handcuffed, hooded and held at gunpoint by soldiers aboard a US-flagged patrol vessel.

This campaign of extrajudicial killings has gone largely unreported in the US media, even as it has expanded dramatically in recent months. Not a single major US corporate media outlet has recounted the testimony of the fishermen who survived US strikes.

The Don Maca, a 35-ton fishing vessel operating alongside six smaller boats, had departed roughly a week earlier from the Ecuadorian port of Manta. On March 26, while approximately 200 miles northwest of the Galapagos Islands, the vessel disappeared.

Its 20 crew members were engaged in routine fishing activity when the attack occurred.

We were just working, waiting for the last trawler to return, said Jhonny Sebastian Palacios. Everything was perfectly fine. Moments later, a drone strike tore through the vessel. I ran upstairs and saw the boat destroyed The whole ship was stripped bare, he said to The Guardian.

Several crew members were seriously injured. Erick Fabricio Coello Saltos, 27, who has been left 90 percent blind by the attack also described ruptured eardrums and shrapnel wounds: When I heard an explosion, my eardrums ruptured terribly I was covered in blood.

As the Don Maca burned, survivors were seized by US forces. We were terrified they were going to kill us, Palacios recounted. A lawyer for the crew described the ordeal as psychological torture, marked by sensory deprivation and the constant threat of execution.

The fishermen report being held aboard a US vessel before being transferred to a Salvadoran patrol boat. They were taken to El Salvador after several days at sea, interrogated at a military base, and eventually handed over to immigration authorities. During this time, their families conducted a desperate search for the missing men.

Palacios emerged deeply shaken. I get scared in the middle of the night. I cant sleep well. My ears still hurt I thought they were going to kill us. He added that he would never return to fishing.

The Don Maca incident is not isolated. Lawyers are investigating the disappearance of another Ecuadorian vessel, the Fiorella, missing for three months with eight crew members onboard. Survivors and relatives across the region have repeatedly testified that those targeted had no connection to drug trafficking.

Earlier this month, Hernan Flores, captain of the Negra Francisca Duarte II, described a nearly identical attack on March 17 near the Galapagos. A US drone bombed and sank his vessel, forcing the 16 crew members to jump from the burning ship and survive for eight days in lifeboats.

Several fishermen suffered severe injuries. The crew managed to stay afloat and used small boats to escape the flames. After reaching safety, they approached a nearby vessel for help, only to be met with hostility by US soldiers. They were eventually found a week later adrift by a Salvadoran ship.

Jorge Chiriboga, a lawyer representing some of the fishermen told the Ecuadorian news site Primicias, This is an act of terror against fishermen in the exclusive economic zone of the Ecuadorian state; therefore, it is Ecuador, the state, the government that has to protect the interests of Ecuadorian citizens.

The right-wing regime of President Daniel Noboa, heir to a billion-dollar banana fortune who holds US citizenship, has shown no interest whatsoever in defending the interests of the fishermen, handing the Pentagon the right to murder as many Ecuadorians as it pleases. Government officials have insinuated, without any evidence whatsoever, that the fishermen may have been involved in illicit activity. The United Nations office on forced disappearances, meanwhile, has felt compelled to demand that the government pursue the case of the eight missing crew members of the Fiorella.

Relatives of the disappeared fishermen of the Fiorella protesting the government's inaction [Photo: cdh.org.ec]

In a February 2026 State of the Union address, Donald Trump jokingly remarked that US operations had been so aggressive that nobody wants to go fishing anymorea remark that, in light of these testimonies, takes on a chilling literal meaning. Trump has often repeated his joke with apparent sadistic glee over the slaughter of innocent workers.

Since the launch of what has been dubbed Operation Southern Spear in September, the US military has carried out at least 53 recorded strikes, killing no fewer than 181 civilians aboard fishing vessels.

Official press releases by the US Southern Command outline a relentless escalation. Between April 11 and April 19 alone, five lethal strikes took place in the Eastern Pacific. In each case, the justification rests solely on claims that vessels were traveling along known trafficking routes.

No verifiable evidence has been provided to substantiate these assertions.

In fact, efforts to investigate these crimes have met with systematic obstruction. Reporting by The Intercept indicates that the US State Department pressured the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an arm of the Organization of American States, to shift its focus away from the killings.

Following a March 13 IACHR hearingwhere the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the International Crisis Group and a UN special rapporteur argued that the strikes violate both domestic and international lawUS officials urged the commission to move onto other matters. Former IACHR leadership warned that the body fears the wrath of Washington, its largest financial backer.

Meanwhile, victims families have begun pursuing legal action. The relatives of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza, killed in a September 15 strike, filed a complaint naming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as responsible. They describe Carranza not as a trafficker, but as a lifelong fisherman and father of four.

Similarly, families of Trinidadian victims Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, with legal teams describing the campaign as unprecedented and manifestly unlawful.

These operations provided the pretext for a massive US deployment, culminating in the January 3 bombing of Caracas and other Venezuelan targets, which killed more than 100 people and resulted in the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro.

Operation Total Extermination

In March, the US and Ecuadors President Noboa announced joint land operations. Joseph Humire, a senior Pentagon official, told Congress that boat attacks were just the beginning, unveiling Operation Total Extermination along the Ecuadorian-Colombian border.

Testimony has since emerged that these operations have targeted rural communities, destroying homes and agricultural infrastructure while detaining and torturing workers.

Simultaneously, the US is expanding its intelligence and law enforcement footprint, with the FBI opening an office in Quito and establishing a permanent presence in Costa Rica. New bilateral agreements further deepen US control over regional security operations.

These developments coincide with large-scale military exercises, including Southern Seas 2026, led by US Southern Command. The deployment of major naval assets, including carrier strike groups, underscores the strategic scope of the buildup.

In the Eastern Pacific, Washington has also targeted economic infrastructure tied to China, particularly Perus Chancay megaport. US officials have openly threatened to take back the port from its Chinese operator, echoing earlier threats against the Panama Canal and revealing the geopolitical dimension of the campaign.

In the Caribbean, naval deployments continue, alongside intensified reconnaissance drone flights near Cuba, amid preparations for potential military operations for regime change.

The connection between these developments is unmistakable. Under the banner of combating drug trafficking, the United States is asserting military dominance over the hemisphere, treating it as its exclusive sphere of influence while countering Chinas increasing investment and trade ties to the region.

The doctrine underpinning this strategyreferred to as Greater North America by Hegsethbears a chilling resemblance to the expansionist ideology of Nazis Greater Germany. Like its historical predecessor, it combines territorial ambition with the systematic dehumanization of targeted populations.

The methods employed are equally revealing. The extrajudicial killing of fishermen through drone strikesbased on unverified intelligence and without due processserves to normalize the assertion that the US state has the right to kill anyone, anywhere in the hemisphere, on the basis of mere suspicion, including in the US itself.

No confidence can be placed in any faction of the US political establishment to halt these crimes. House Democrats have filed articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth, including charges related to unauthorized war-making in Iran and the deadly strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats.

However, this effort is a sham. With Republicans controlling Congress, the impeachment has virtually no chance of success and serves primarily as a political gesture. At the same time, the Democratic Party has consistently voted to fund the very military operations it now nominally criticizes, underscoring its complicity in the ongoing bloodshed.

Nor can any reliance be placed on the so-called left nationalist governments in Latin America. In October, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denounced the strikes as illegal. When a missile is used against a boat with unarmed people, what is committed is an extrajudicial execution, Petro declared.

Yet following the January 3 abduction of Maduro and the subsequent escalation of US aggression, these criticisms have given way to silence. Neither Petro nor Sheinbaumnor Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvaraised any opposition to the ongoing killings during the so-called Progressive summit in Barcelona this weekend.

This silence reflects the organic incapacity of these governments, rooted in their own national capitalist elites, to mount any genuine opposition to US imperialism. Their earlier denunciations have proven to be empty rhetoric, quickly abandoned in the face of mounting pressure from Washington.

What is unfolding in the waters of the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean is not a war on drugs, but a campaign of terror against workers. The evidence makes clear that the bloodiest and most shameless mass murderers and criminals are not hidden in remote jungles or at seathey are seated in positions of power in Washington D.C., directing a campaign that treats human life as expendable in the pursuit of US hegemony.
On Tuesday, April 21, at 6:15 p.m., the state of Florida pronounced Chadwick Willacy dead at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was 58 years old and had spent more than three decades on death row for the 1990 murder of his neighbor, Marlys Sather. He was the eighth person executed this year in the US and the fifth in Florida, the latest casualty of an accelerating machinery of death overseen by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Chadwick Willacy

Willacy maintained his innocence to the end. In his final statement, he said simply, I would never kill my friend. He urged his brothers on the row to stay strong, apologized to his family and asked for forgiveness. Whatever the full truth of the events of 1990, the states certainty that it was executing the right manbased on evidence now more than three decades oldwas not and could never be absolute.

It would be a mistake to understand the current wave of executions in Florida as the product of one governors personal convictions. Since taking office, DeSantis has signed death warrants at a pace unmatched by any Florida governor in the modern era, presiding over what death penalty opponents have called the deadliest stretch of state-sanctioned killing in the states recent history.

The men executed in Florida share characteristics that are not coincidental: poverty, childhood trauma, intellectual disability, inadequate legal representation at trial. Court records in Willacys case note that his father admitted physically abusing him, with beatings beginning in early childhood, and that later mitigation evidence described a background involving abuse and drug problems.

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP), which organized opposition to Willacys execution, aptly called it state-sanctioned murder and part of a steady stream of Floridas attempts to silence the truth.

Willacy was twice condemned to death by a non-unanimous recommendation. He was condemned to death in 1991 by a 9-3 jury vote, but was granted a new sentencing by the Florida Supreme Court in 1994 because the trial judge failed to allow defense attorneys a chance to rehabilitate a potential juror who said she could not recommend the death penalty. He was sentenced to death again in 1995 by a jury recommendation of 11-1.

Willacy had filed public records requests to examine the states secretive lethal injection protocolsrequests denied by the courts, which then dismissed his concerns as a last-ditch attempt to delay justice. The system denied him the evidence he needed, then penalized him for not having it.

The 2026 killing season

Willacys death is the eighth execution carried out in the US this year, and Florida accounts for five of them. Each of those deaths involved serious unresolved questions of fairness, mental capacity or the reliability of decades-old evidence. Taken together, they reveal a system in which the formal legal machinery of appeal and constitutional protection has been steadily subordinated to the political imperative of maintaining a relentless pace of executions.

Ronald Palmer Heath, executed February 10 at the age of 64, was sentenced to death by a non-unanimous juryunder a Florida law that has lowered the threshold for a death sentence to an 8-4 jury vote. He had committed his first murder at 16. He was executed despite longstanding criticism that the non-unanimity standard undermines the reliability of death sentences.

Melvin Trotter, 65, was executed February 24 for a 1986 killing. His attorneys argued for clemency based on significant intellectual disability and childhood trauma that shaped a lifetime of addiction. His execution drew a pointed dissent from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who accused Florida of shrouding its executions in secrecy and raised the possibility that the state had used expired or compromised drugs. No court halted the proceedings.

Billy Leon Kearse, executed March 3, was 18 years and 84 days old at the time of his crimebarely a legal adult, his brain still physiologically developing. The record of his childhood included Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, severe neglect and documented physical abuse. Neurologists and advocates argued that his actions reflected the impulsivity of a traumatized adolescent brain, not the calculated malice the death penalty is supposed to require. The Catholic Mobilizing Network and FADP organized vigils. Florida proceeded.

Michael Lee King, executed March 17, was condemned for the 2008 abduction and murder of Denise Amber Leea case shadowed by the fact that Lee had managed to call 911 from her captors vehicle, only to be failed by dispatch errors that prevented her rescue. Advocates argued that Kings childhood traumatic brain injury and history of chronic hallucinations should have disqualified him from execution under the Eighth Amendment. Those arguments were rejected.

Justice Sotomayor pointed to one of the central mechanisms sustaining Floridas capital punishment system when she described what amounts to a Catch-22: the state denies condemned prisoners access to the records that would allow them to challenge the execution protocol, and then the courts dismiss those challenges for lack of evidence. It is a closed loop, designed to be impossible to break from the inside.

The secrecy surrounding lethal injection in Florida is not accidental. It is maintained because transparency would be politically inconvenient. What states are protecting is not a medical procedure but a political ritual, and its architects have no interest in a clear public accounting of what actually happens when the drugs are administeredwhether they work as claimed, or what the condemned person experiences in the minutes before death.

Florida: A leader in both executions and exonerations

There is a bitter irony at the center of Floridas position as the nations leading executing state: it is also the state with the highest number of death row exonerations. Since 1973, more than 30 people have been freed from Floridas death row after being wrongfully convicted. The men exonerated were not freed because the system worked but usually due to the work of determined advocates, DNA evidence unavailable at trial or witnesses who recanted. The question that flows from this is: how many people has Florida already executed who did not commit the crimes for which they were condemned?

DeSantis and the states political establishment have chosen to answer that question with more executions, not fewer.

The men on Floridas death row are, with vanishingly rare exceptions, poor. The overwhelming majority were represented at trial by underfunded public defenders carrying impossible caseloads. Many had the misfortune of being tried in jurisdictions where the quality of appointed counsel was determined more by courthouse politics than legal competence. Many, like Melvin Trotter and Billy Kearse, suffered from intellectual disabilities or severe mental illness that should have made them categorically ineligible for executionbut whose conditions were never adequately documented or litigated at trial.

Study after study has demonstrated that the single most reliable predictor of a death sentence in the United States is not the severity of the crime but the race of the victim. Killing a white victim dramatically increases the likelihood of a death sentence. While this is among the most extensively documented empirical findings in the social science literature on criminal justice, it has had essentially no effect on the administration of the death penalty.

The political function of DeSantiss execution agenda

DeSantis has made the expansion of capital punishment a centerpiece of his governorship. He signed legislation lowering the jury unanimity requirement for death sentencesa move widely understood as intended to make it easier to execute more people. He has signed death warrants at a pace that has drawn comparison to the most aggressive executing governors in recent American history. Each execution, each round of legal challenges, each dissenting Supreme Court opinion is an opportunity to demonstrate that DeSantis is not deterred by opposition from courts or advocatesa signal directed at his political base rather than at any coherent theory of crime and punishment.

What this agenda reflects is a contempt for the proposition that poverty is an explanation that calls for intervention, that childhood trauma shapes adult behavior in ways the law must account for, and that the possibility of error demands caution, not a rush to justice.

The exonerations, the botched executions, the racial disparities, the executions of the intellectually disabled and the severely mentally ill are not aberrations from a sound system. They are what the system produces when operating as designed. The communities that bear the weight of violent crime are the same communities that bear the weight of mass incarceration and the social conditions that generate violence in the first place. The death penalty does not make them safer, nor does it address any of those underlying conditions. It is a costly performance of state authority, carried out in the name of those communities and against their interests.

The state of Florida killed Chadwick Willacy based on a conviction more than three decades old, for a crime he denied committing, using a drug protocol he was never allowed to examine, after courts dismissed his legal challenges as dilatory, or too late. He died saying, I would never kill my friend.

Whatever the truth of 1990, the process that ended his life was not justice. It was the operation of a machineone that processes poor and vulnerable people through a system designed to produce convictions and executions, that shields itself from scrutiny through secrecy, and that has been deliberately accelerated by a politician who has made state killing a signature of his tenure.

James Ernest Hitchcock is the next prisoner set to die in Florida, on April 30. There are 12 executions scheduled so far for the remainder of 2026, including one each in Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona and Alabama, and four in both Texas and Tennessee. DeSantis holds the sole authority to set additional execution dates in Florida.
Coincidentally, two films we discussed last year after viewing them at the San Francisco Film festival online are opening this month in theaters in the US: Ricky (directed by Rashad Frett) and Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), from Joel Alfonso Vargas.

Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)

The two films present some of the same problems, some of the same problems that a good number of American (and not simply American) small, realist dramas exhibit.

They contain truthful moments and sequences, but on the whole they sidestep vital social contradictions and accept too much of the world as immediately given.

Ricky (directed by Rashad Frett) centers on its eponymous protagonist, a 30-year-old man from East Hartford, Connecticut, following his release from prison after 15 years for armed robbery. In other words, the punishment begins. He loses employment in a warehouse due to a background check. Holding a job is a condition of his parole. He learned barbering in prison, but that doesnt offer much in terms of steady prospects. He is largely lost in his new conditions, including its modern technologies.

Virtually every relationship and encounter has an abrasive quality. Life is harsh, people are mostly rude and callous.

Ricky, like filmmaker Frett, comes from a Caribbean background. His religious mother and her friends exert their own particular pressure on him. He meets a young woman with a son who needs a haircut. Through interactions with her, we learn things about Ricky (he has no car, he lives with his mother, he doesnt know his own cellphone number.) He meets another woman in his self-help group, who proves to be more volatile. This connection leads to a disaster.

Im here to make films that bring in humanity, Frett told Variety. Everything I do, I want to not only entertain our audience but inform them on whats going on. Give them food for thought. To bring the audience a visceral perspective from a situation theyve never experienced before.

Ricky came from seeing a lot of family members go through the criminal justice system and how they struggled to improve and find work, and some resorted to their old ways, Frett says, explaining the backstory for the project, which he co-wrote, produced and directed. We wanted to shed light on this topic with this different type of coming-of-age story, where a 30-year-old adult is outside in the free world for the first time.

Ricky

The ambitions are worthy ones, as far as they go, but the results are duller than they should be. Everything is rounded off to grey, to drabness, in the interests presumably of realism. But this is not truly realistic, as the mass demonstrations against Donald Trump and his policies reveal. America seethes with anger, and this is not simply inwardly focused or directed against other oppressed people.

Approximately two million people are in prison in the US. This is not the product of individuals making a large quantity of poor decisions. It is, above all, the result of sharp economic decline, the destruction of vast numbers of decent-paying manufacturing jobs, relentless and systemic poverty, the devastation of public education and the central fact that the US ruling class has no solution to its burning social ills except to throw people in jail.

Nor do people resort to their old ways merely out of personal irresponsibility. The self-help group of former convicts, with quasi-religious conceptions hovering in the background, is not actually that helpful. We want one of the people here to jump up and point out that the basic cause of their problems is poverty, that no one in the room is rich and that theyre all being sold a bill of goods. No such luck. There is too much submissiveness to the authorized version of things here. In the end, the severity of prison and neighborhood life reflects the essential brutality of social relations in America.

Vargass Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, Dile Que No Soy Malo) [or Destiny, tell him/her Im not bad] suffers from similar sorts of weaknesses, from passivity and a lack of sharp social insight. Set in the Bronx, 100 miles or so from East Hartford, the film follows Rico (Juan Collado), a 19-year-old Dominican American who is selling home-made (illegal) cocktails on the beach when we first meet him. He lives with his mother and sister in a small apartment, amidst a good deal of inevitable, economically driven friction.

Things only take a turn for the worse when Ricos girl-friend Destiny (Destiny Checo) discovers she is pregnant and moves in with Ricos family. His sister is particularly unfriendly and derisive. The situation is not promising. Inevitably, Destiny and Rico have a falling out. She moves out and returns to her mother. Rico is arrested for jumping a turnstile, and finds a lousy job cleaning up in a restaurant. Ultimately, he tells Destiny, I want you back in my life, and makes an effort to stay on the straight and narrow.

Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)

The story gets a bit tedious. Without anger, protest, genuine non-conformism, the details of such lives are not that fascinating or illuminating.

Vargas, who mentions his admiration for problematic figures such as directors Martin Scorsese and Pedro Costa, explains that the film is

deeply personal, drawn from childhood memoriesmy family dynamics, the boroughs hustler culture, those mad, hot New York City summers. Rico is an amalgamation of the guys I grew up aroundkids forced into adult responsibilities too soon, raised with the expectation to man up despite having no blueprint for what that actually means. That tensionbetween the social pressure to be a man and the naivete of still being a boysits at the heart of the film.

Bronx is the most impoverished borough in New York and contains the poorest congressional district in the US. Such things are apparently accepted in the film as immutable facts of nature. Instead,

Thematically, were trying to understand Ricos misinterpretation of masculinity, and how thats really been impacted by a lack of a male figureor a male role model/father figurein his life.

Although Vargas told another interviewer

There's something about the systems in which we live under capitalism where you're feeling these pressures intenselyespecially in New York and especially if you're living on the margin or below the margin, as I've seen firsthand. Those forces drive people to the limit, to the brink of insanity. Everywhere you look in the city, people are struggling with mental health, lacking structure and support, and so on.

Unfortunately, Mad Bills to Pay doesnt demonstrate even this degree of breadth or expansiveness. The film is claustrophobic and mildly depressing. The Bronx apartment is akin to a sealed tomb. It is not the responsibility of filmmakers to point the way forward, but if they are not simply beating their heads against the wall in frustration, they surely must have an interest in indicating an objectively existing impulse for a type of social breakthrough. It would be far worse if one were to conclude that the filmmaker is content to leave his characters stewing in their misery.

As we have argued before,

Realism about life in any meaningful sense surely involves more than simply turning on a camera. Passivity and the inability or unwillingness to criticize or render serious judgment have all too often been passed off in recent decades as evenhandedness and lack of bias. To look at the world with an artists eyes and draw no important conclusions has nothing in common with genuine objectivity.

Since real people live on earth and in society, the 19th century Russian critic Belinsky noted, and not in the air, not in the clouds, where only phantoms live, the writers of our day are naturally portraying society as well as people. Society is also something real, and not imaginary, therefore its essence is made up not only of costumes and hairstyles, but also of customs, habits, concepts, relations, etc.

Its worth repeating: Society as such is something real, and its essence is made up not only of clothing, externals, the surface of everyday life, but also of more profound customs, habits, concepts, relations and so forth. Among the artists we need more realistic historians of contemporary society.
SYDNEY, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Two police officers are among four people who have been treated for injuries following separate shootings in western Sydney on Wednesday night.

Police said on Thursday that the first incident occurred at around 8:40 p.m. when officers in the suburb of Punchbowl, 16 km southwest of central Sydney, spotted a car that had been reported stolen.

An officer approached the car to arrest the driver when it stopped in traffic, but the driver accelerated and pinned the 39-year-old man between two vehicles.

The officer fired his weapon at the vehicle before it left the scene. Ambulance paramedics attended and took him to the hospital in a stable condition with lower leg injuries.

The alleged driver of the stolen vehicle, a 32-year-old man, was found with a gunshot wound in the yard of a home a short time later and hospitalized under police guard.

Hours later, police said that emergency services were deployed at 11:30 p.m. to Chester Hill, 19 km west of central Sydney, following reports that several shots had been fired from one vehicle into another.

Both vehicles left the scene, but police were notified that a 26-year-old man had presented to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds minutes later.

A vehicle with several bullet holes was located at the hospital and police attempted to speak to a 30-year-old man in the emergency department when he allegedly assaulted an officer, who was treated for a laceration to his head after being repeatedly punched.

The 26-year-old shooting victim was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition and the 30-year-old was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer executing their duty.

Police established several crime scenes and have commenced investigations into both shootings. 
MACAO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government launched a reading campaign week with an opening ceremony held on Thursday at the Macao Cultural Center.

Jointly organized by the SAR government's cultural affairs bureau (IC), the education and youth development bureau and the social welfare bureau, the event, running from April 20 to 26, features a wide range of activities aimed at fostering a reading culture across the city.

According to the IC, the reading week introduces a "10-minute reading" initiative that includes incentive schemes and reading corners. A series of extended activities from April to May will also be held, such as workshops, book clubs, parent-child reading sessions, themed book fairs and award ceremonies.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Leong Wai Man, head of the IC, said the bureau has actively responded to national initiatives by upgrading its existing program into this year's reading week, positioning it as a new cultural brand to help build Macao into a "city of reading" and promote the high-quality development of public cultural services.

China's regulation to promote public reading, which was issued last December and took effect on Feb. 1, designates the fourth week of April each year as national reading week, encouraging reading activities nationwide. 
JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have discovered a bacterial "gatekeeper" that blocks the spread of antibiotic resistance, a finding that could lead to new ways of treating stubborn infections.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem identified a specific protein that stops bacteria from sharing genetic material with their neighbors, the university said in statement on Thursday.

The study, published earlier this month in the journal Nature Microbiology, explains how microbes compete for resources by hoarding beneficial genes.

Bacteria typically exchange DNA through tiny bridges called nanotubes. These structures allow small DNA molecules, known as plasmids, to move between cells. Since plasmids often carry the instructions for antibiotic resistance, this exchange is a primary reason why "superbugs" evolve so quickly.

The researchers found that a protein called YokF acts as a filter. It breaks down DNA during the transfer process, effectively preventing nearby bacteria from acquiring new traits.

By understanding how bacteria naturally block these genetic "bridges," scientists hope to develop treatments that mimic the process. Slowing the speed at which resistance genes move through a population could extend the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.

The university said the discovery is particularly relevant in crowded environments where different types of microbes must compete for limited resources. 
Gen Zs relationship with higher education has never been more fraught. Soaring tuition costs and a brutal entry-level job market have left many young people questioning whether getting a degree was worth it at all.

But Valerie Capers Workman, who served as vice president of people at Tesla, has a sharply different message for the graduating class of 2026: Dont buy the noise. This comes even as her former boss, Elon Musk, is part of the chorus of powerful voices casting doubt on college.

Do not let anyone, not a tech founder, not a headline, not a podcast host, convince you that your education was a waste, Workman said last week at the Defining the Future conference at California State University, San Bernardino. It was not. It is more valuable today than it has ever been.

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The skills a degree developsthe ability to reason, question, and lead with humanityare precisely what artificial intelligence cannot replicate, she argued.

And counterintuitively, its liberal arts fields like history, English, and the arts that, she says, are becoming more relevant in the AI era, not less, despite long being dismissed as financially impractical.

In the age of AI, these disciplines are not soft skills, Workman, who currently serves as the chief human resources officer at Empower Pharmacy, added. They are the source code for the emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, cultural fluency, and critical thinking that machines will never have.

How to use your degree to land a job in todays AI world, according to Teslas former head of HR

Workmans optimism about degrees comes at a time when landing a job right out of college has become significantly harder.

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Job postings on Handshakean early careers platform where Workman also formerly held a C-suite roledeclined more than 16% year over year as of August 2025, while the average number of applications per posting rose 26%. For the class of 2026, who will soon begin walking across the stage, more than 60% are pessimistic about their career prospects, with AIs disruption of the job market a central frustration.

Workmans advice to graduatesregardless of their degree or desired professionisnt to lean on their diploma alone. Its to pair it with something their predecessors never had to learn: AI fluency.

You do not get to sit this one out, she said. You do not get to say, I am not a tech person. That identity is retired. If you plan to work, lead, build, or earn in this economy, you must become fluent in artificial intelligence the way your parents generation had to become fluent in email and the internet, the way your grandparents generation had to become fluent in the personal computer.

She offered two concentrated ways to get started. First, learn prompt engineeringand treat it seriously: Treat it like a second language, Workman said. The people who can instruct AI clearly, specifically, and strategically will outearn and outperform everyone else in the room.

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Second, master the art of asking great questions: The graduates who win this decade will not be the ones with the best answers. They will be the ones with the best questions.

Fortune reached out to Workman for further comment.

Tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Alex Karp, and Elon Musk arent sold higher education is worth it

While Workman joins a growing number of business leaders who remain bullish on higher education, many of the loudest voices in tech are not.

Mark Zuckerbergwho famously dropped out of Harvard University after launching Facebook from his dorm roomhas expressed his concern that colleges are failing to equip students for todays workforce.

Im not sure that college is preparing people for the jobs that they need to have today. I think that theres a big issue on that, and all the student debt issues are  really big, he said last year on Theo Vons podcast.

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Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who has three degrees of his own, has been particularly scathing, criticizing higher education for both the debt it saddles students with and what he calls ideological indoctrination.

Everything you learned at your school and college about how the world works is intellectually incorrect, Karp told CNBC in 2025.

Elon MuskWorkmans former bosshas echoed that concern.

I think college is basically for fun and to prove that you can do your chores, but theyre not for learning, Musk said at the Satellite 2020 conference, adding that requiring a degree for employment is absurd.

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At Tesla, the main requirement for landing a job is exceptional ability, Musk said, who received a bachelors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997.

But despite the anti-college rhetoric from Silicon Valley, there hasnt been a mass exodus from higher education. Total postsecondary enrollment in the United States grew 1.0% in fall 2025, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Centersuggesting that many Gen Z are still betting on degrees.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
ZHENGZHOU, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Li Cuili opens her shop each morning as usual. The small grocery store is located beside a main road in a farming village in Henan Province, central China. Passing vehicles raise dust at the entrance, while drivers occasionally stop to purchase bottled water.

A few steps inside the shop, in a space of about 20 square meters, bookcases cover three walls. Some children sit shoulder to shoulder, reading newly arrived picture books.

Li grew up in the village, but few would have expected that she would one day make reading part of everyday life here.

The idea came from a moment of shock 18 years ago. One spring evening in 2008, a traveling troupe came to the village. Li, then in her twenties, went with her young daughter to watch.

The performers turned classic Chinese poems into crude jokes, even involving children in the audience. The next day, children in the village were heard repeating the jokes.

"It felt like something hit my heart," Li recalled.

She remembered a fable: if you want to remove weeds from a field, the best way is to plant crops there.

So Li decided to plant something of her own. She opened a reading corner in her family's shop -- no membership cards, no fees. She even replaced a shelf of the most profitable products, bottles of strong white liquor with more than 200 books.

She named the corner "Glimmer Book Nook."

Neighbors thought she had lost her mind. Others joked that she had fallen for a pyramid scheme. Not surprisingly, villagers walked past the books on their way to buy soy sauce or laundry powder, barely giving them a glance.

Then Li tried something simple: children who borrowed a book would get a piece of candy.

This approach was an instant success. Children began arriving in groups. They told one another that "reading is sweet."

Slowly, reading became part of village life. Sometimes children would encourage their parents to accompany them, making reading a family activity. For a long time, more people came to read than to shop.

As the number of readers grew, Li needed more books. In the early years, books were hard to find. She once pooled 1,000 yuan, roughly her father's monthly salary at the time, to buy new books in the county town. But she came back with 300 second-hand books, as the money had not been enough for even 30 new ones.

Another time she bought cheap pirated books, only to find mistakes after a child pointed them out. She destroyed the entire batch.

Her family members quietly supported her. Her mother once gave her 500 yuan earned from weaving straw hats. Her sisters always brought books when they came to visit her.

In 2015, Li was invited to a forum for grassroots libraries in Beijing. It was the first time she realized that others across China were also building small community libraries in rural areas.

"Is mine really a library?" she asked.

"Yes," came the answer. "It's a library inside a shop."

Gradually, more and more people joined in. The village doctor shared medical books and retired teachers began helping children with their homework.

Over the years, the library has recorded more than 400,000 borrowing visits.

Among those readers are children whose lives have quietly changed. One girl, who initially borrowed books in order to receive candy, later read a biography of Marie Curie and has since gone on to university. Another child, who once said she wanted to own a shop when she grew up, now hopes to run a store like Li's, with books available on the shelves.

Today, books are no longer a problem as more donations arrive. The reading space has been improved. The library is now linked to the local public library system. It also offers health lectures and sessions on avoiding scams.

As the village's elderly population grows, Glimmer Book Nook has launched a new activity: "mutual help between the old and the young." The elderly tell children stories about the village's history, folk tales and their own hard-working past. Children teach the elderly how to use smartphones and help with small chores.

In Li's eyes, the interaction between the generations is a beautiful meeting across time.

Following the model of Glimmer Book Nook, 400 "one-square-meter bookshelves" have now been set up across China, according to Li.

"I haven't read many books. But I believe that rural areas also need the light of culture. I want to keep promoting reading in the countryside." 
A South Korean man documented his daily life on just $10 a day while facing $300,000 in debt.

Kang Gwang-sik, 40, told Business Insider he went bankrupt after his business collapsed.

The content creator shares how he's managing to survive amid South Korea's worsening economic pressures.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kang Gwang-sik, a 40-year-old content creator from South Korea. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm the guy on Instagram with $300,000 in debt in South Korea, living on $10 a day. That's the concept of my content, but it's also my real life.

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My total debt was actually much larger. At one point, it reached close to $1 million.

I ran a company in electric mobility focused on smart charging systems, but it collapsed at the beginning of 2025, and I entered bankruptcy proceedings.

In South Korea, early-stage startups rely heavily on government grants and private investment. When I began my business in 2020, there was a global boom in electric mobility.

However, product development took time, and I spent years  and a lot of money  on research, manufacturing, international certifications, and marketing. As time passed, market attention and investment shifted strongly toward AI-related industries.

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Existing investors withdrew, and competition for government funding intensified. Difficulties in securing additional capital ultimately led to the business's collapse.

The company's bankruptcy is finished, but my personal bankruptcy is not. About $300,000 remains. That's the number I live with now.

Going all in on a business idea and failing

Before I started my company, I had stable, full-time work.

I studied regenerative medicine and worked as a freelance stem cell engineer in South Korea from 2016 to 2018. At the same time, I took on other jobs to support myself.

I chose to study this field because of a serious knee injury I suffered during a typhoon in South Korea years ago. Doctors told me I wouldn't fully recover. I wanted to understand the human body and maybe fix my knee.

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I became interested in electric mobility. Because of my knee, walking long distances was difficult, and electric mobility gave me freedom again. What started as an interest became a company. Without realizing it, I was all in.

When the company failed, I stayed home, waiting for bankruptcy court decisions. I was disappointed in myself. I felt gloomy and isolated. In Korea, failure carries a lot of shame. If you fail in business, some people see you as a loser in a very competitive system.

Living on about $10 a day

Now I live on about $10 a day. When I returned to work as a physical laborer in May 2025, most of that money went toward transportation and one simple meal.

Sometimes I skipped lunch completely. Whatever was left  usually $2 or $3  I carefully managed to get through the next day.

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Food prices in Korea have gone up a lot, so I learned how to cook cheaply. I make simple Korean dishes  soups made with cheaper cuts of meat, vegetables with chili paste, and basic home food. I share those meals online. People like seeing that survival doesn't have to be miserable. It can still be warm.

I was injured in an accident at work in December  then I lost my job, and had to recover at home.

I made content to share my journey  and the support has been heartening

My wife changed everything for me. Before the company officially collapsed, I sat her down and told her the truth  that we were heading into a very difficult life. She didn't blame me. She thanked me for being honest and reassured me that we would face it together.

As part of the bankruptcy process, we had to liquidate most of our assets and move from Busan to Jeju Island to try to spend less.

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I started sharing my daily life online. My wife had been creating content online, and one day she encouraged me, saying, "You could do this too." That made me think, "Maybe I can do this as well." She became my strongest supporter.

At the beginning, only a few people watched  maybe 100 or 200. But they left comments and encouraged me. They didn't just watch quietly, but actively helped my videos reach others. That surprised me the most.

My online work generates very little, inconsistent income through occasional brand collaborations and ads. It's not a solution yet, but it's a beginning.

Life, even when hard, is worth continuing

Many people in South Korea are struggling right now. After the pandemic, many small businesses failed. Government loans are ending. Bankruptcy courts are crowded with people waiting, just like me.

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If I could say one thing to people in a similar situation, it's this: Don't disappear. Don't isolate yourself. Accept that this is where you are right now  not forever. When you accept reality, your mind becomes calmer. Then you can start to think again.

My goal is simple. I want to become financially stable again without hiding my debt. I want to show that recovery is possible, even if it's slow. That's why I keep sharing my life.

And real life, even when it's very hard, is still worth continuing.

Do you have a story to share about working in Asia? Contact this reporter at cmlee@insider.com .

Read the original article on Business Insider
Goodbye. Its a word so many of us use daily. Some shorten it and simply say, Bye! If youre a toddler, you might say, Bye bye. If youre from the South, you may say, Bah. But have you ever stopped to think where the word came from?

A clip from the podcast The Rest is Science, co-hosted by Hannah Fry (a British mathematician) and Michael Stevens (an educator), has been making the rounds on Facebook. Fry explains how the word gently morphed from a completely different phrase in the 1600s.

Across many languages

Fry shares the etymology, saying, The 1600s is the exact century when the parting blessing God be with ye was so said so rapidly and often as phatic communion that it permanently mashed together into God bwy and eventually goodbye.

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What is of equal fascination (at least for linguist-lovers) is that this seems to be common among many languages, not just English. A commenter shares the Spanish and French equivalents, writing, Adios from phrase (a Dios vais), meaning I entrust you to God, and adieu from phrase a dieu vous commant, meaning I command you to God, are both formal farewells.

Another adds that Croatians have a similar term. In Croatian, you can say zbogom, which translates to with God or go with God.

John Howarth (@Johnsenglishpage) shares the same knowledge in an Instagram Reel and specifically asks commenters to share versions in other languages. One writes, Yes. In Brazilian Portuguese we say Vai com Deus, which translating word by word would be May God go with you, which means God be with you.

Germany enters the chat with one commenter writing, In southern Germany, or more specifically in Bavaria, we say Pfia God (also Pfiad di God). This is a warm, traditional Bavarian farewell greeting that literally means May God protect you.

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Russians have their own version. Thank you in Russian is spasibo which is a shortened spasi bog meaning god save you. Every time we say thanks we (are) actually wishing each other to be saved by God, writes another commenter.

And its not just goodbye

Upworthy spoke with Spanish language expert Jennifer Jin, who doubles down on the similarity thats often seen among cultures. You see something similar in Spanish with the word adios, which can be broken down into two Spanish words: a (to) + dios (God). This is similar to English phrases like go with God or I commend you to God, showing how similar these farewells are across languages and cultures.

She also shares that some common sayings are less obvious than others. There are other common phrases in English and Spanish, like Dios mio! (My God!) or gracias a Dios (thank God) that are more obviously linked to religion, whereas in goodbye its a more hidden connection.

Why it possibly became good

In a 2016 piece for Columbia Journalism Review further exploring the origin of the word morphing, former New York Times copy editor Merrill Pearlman writes, The Oxford English Dictionary traces it to the 16th century and says our current goodbye was formed partly by clipping or shortening Godbewithyou, where people speak hastily or in shorthand, and partly by compounding, the practice of combining two or more words into one. God may also have become good because it seemed to go with other expressions like good morning and good night. And we do like some consistency in our language.

If one goes further back in time, they can find partings that dont have the religious affiliation. You can, of course, say farewell, shortened for fare thee well. These are among the oldest parting words in the English language; the OED traces the phrase to the late 14th century.

The post Language experts explain the fascinating reason we say goodbye and the journey it took from the 1600s appeared first on Upworthy.
Brittany Hernandez, an English and English as a New Language teacher at Sturgis High School, has been selected as the Sturgis Journal Amazing Teacher of the Month, presented by John B. Simpson Co. and LL Electric.

Jesus Hernandez nominated Brittany, noting that she moved to the area within the last year and a half and immediately made it her home.

Brittany has developed very meaningful relationships with her students. They seek her out because she makes them feel welcomed, he wrote. She challenges them and raises the bar so students can realize their capabilities.

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At Sturgis High School, Hernandez teaches English to speakers of other languages in grades 9 through 12. She is the only full-time teacher at the high school certified to work with English language learners, she writes, serving a student population where nearly half identify as Hispanic and more than 150 students are identified as ELL.

From the teacher

Hernandez said it is an honor to be nominated as an Amazing Teacher.

This is my 13th year teaching, she said. I spent eleven years teaching at an urban middle school in Indiana and moved to Michigan when I met my husband. I have worked at Sturgis High School since 2024.

As for inspiration, she traces her passion for education back to her family history.

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My paternal grandmother dropped out of seventh grade and spent her life working as a maid, cleaning other peoples houses for low wages, she said. Funnily enough, I spent eleven years teaching seventh-grade English.

Advice for future teachers

Hernandez encourages future educators to focus first on relationships.

You have to love your students, not just your subject, she wrote. Students do well when they can. Rarely is a student behaving poorly because they want to. Be open-minded and remember that even high school students are still children who need guidance and mentoring.

Do you know an Amazing Teacher?

The Amazing Teacher program, sponsored by John B. Simpson Co. and LL Electric in partnership with the Sturgis Journal, recognizes educators whose compassion, creativity and dedication inspire students and strengthen their communities. Teachers are selected monthly, honored locally, and entered for opportunities to receive both local prizes and national-level recognition and awards.

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Is there an Amazing Teacher in your life? Lets hear about them! Nominations are open to all. Go here to submit your favorite teacher. 

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Meet the John B. Simpson Co./LL Electric Amazing Teacher of the Month: Brittany Hernandez
A longserving member of staff at Cambridge railway station is set to retire after a 45year career on the railway.

Jeff Tan started working at the station's Travellers Fare catering service in 1974 after moving from Malaysia to the UK for studying aged 19.

Greater Anglia said he would complete his last shift on Thursday and would spend retirement travelling, flying kites and riding motorbikes.

Jeff said the transformation of Cambridge station and the introduction of computers were among the most notable changes during his career.

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"But my colleagues and the customers have made me stay and, equally, made my day," he said.

Jeff completed a degree in economics before coming back to join the railway in 1980, getting a job in the ticket office which featured a European ticket counter.

He also worked in the telephone inquiry bureau and in the customer relations team.

In more recent years, he has been back in the ticket office.

Jeff said he would travel, go geocaching and ride motorbikes in his retirement [Greater Anglia]

"Over the years, you deal with all sorts of queries, but two that stand out are that I once had a woman who worked for British Airways offering me a discount for being helpful and another person asking me if I could locate a man they fancied on the train for them," Jeff said.

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He planned to continue geocaching in his retirement, in which participants search for treasure boxes around the world.

Jeff says he has found 8,500 geocaches since starting in January 2019, including in New Zealand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Latvia, Denmark, France and Belgium.

"In a way, I'm looking forward to retirement, but of course I've never done it before, so I'm still a bit unsure," he added.

Rebecca Cubitt, assistant group station manager for the Cambridge area, said Jeff had been "nothing but a positive presence" on the railway.

"It will be a sad day when his final shift comes to an end, and he will be sorely missed."

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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Six intrepid fundraisers have taken part in a trekking challenge across frozen lakes in sub-zero temperatures to raise money for the bereavement support charity, Sue Ryder.

Whittlesey's "Arctic Angels", from across Peterborough and Fenland, travelled to the Arctic Circle and trekked across Finland to raise about 23,000.

They described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime challenge", which involved snowshoe trekking through frozen forests and nights in remote wilderness cabins.

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Annette Mawby, regional fundraiser at Peterborough's Thorpe Hall Hospice, and one of the participants, said: "It felt perfect and terrifying."

"When I joined Sue Ryder, I knew I wanted to do something bold, something that would inspire others," she added.

The group of fundraisers includes Reece Trott, Ahslea Mawby, Sarah Andrews, Annette Mawby, Jessica Scott and Victoria Marshall [Sue Ryder]

The team also organised bake sales, yard sales, wreath-making workshops and a large winter ball, to help raise funds for the challenge.

Victoria Marshall described the challenge as "unforgettable".

"Upon arrival, I was like Bambi on ice and seriously wondered if I'd get through day one," she said.

"I've never laughed so hard or cried so many tears. I will forever be changed for the better."

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Despite the physical demands, team members said the sense of unity carried them through the toughest moments.

Mawby added: "This challenge pushed me in ways I never imagined, but it also showed me the power of people coming together.

"The support from our community, the strength of our team, and the moments we shared out there, it's something I'll carry with me forever."

Do you have a story suggestion for Peterborough? Contact us below.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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This c. 1940s photograph features Miss Aunt Mae Gilliam standing outside the Broad River Community Library.

Known as one of North Carolinas smallest and most unusual institutions, the Broad River Community Library opened its small doors in 1938 on the corner of U.S. Highway 64 and Stone Mountain Road thanks to funding from the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Formerly a community grocery store, the Broad River Community Library was a small log-cabin structure of about 12 square feet operated by librarian and community member Aunt Mae Gilliam.

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At its inception, the library contained a total of 140 volumes for patrons to choose from. By 1942, that number grew to more than 700 works stacked in all corners of the small building. Many of these books came from community members, civic organizations, the Asheville-Buncombe library system, and even Aunt Maes personal collection.

The Broad River Community Library served not only as a place to check out books but also as a hub for community education and teaching. Having studied to be a teacher at Asheville Normal School, Aunt Mae Gilliam valued education and access to information and wanted to share that with her community.

A 1942 Asheville Citizen-Times account describes Aunt Mae as a kind, mild-mannered little missionary of the mountains. Aunt Mae dreamed of expanding and rebuilding the library; however, her dream was never realized due in part to the rationing of materials during World War II, as well as increased access to transportation and the building of a new Black Mountain Public Library after the war.

This article originally appeared on Black Mountain News: Valley Rewind: Mae Gilliam and the Broad River Community Library
CONCORD  Two men pleaded guilty on April 15 in federal court to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, according to U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.

Isaiah Ferro, 19, of Queens, New York, and Zaire Braddock, 21, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe.

Ferro will be sentenced on July 14 and Braddock will be sentenced on July 19.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ferro and Braddock, along with three co-conspirators, traveled together from New York to Londonderry on April 7, 2025, to rob a local business on Harvey Road.

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Upon arriving at the business around 1 p.m., the five individuals entered the premises, held a female employee at gunpoint, and restrained her with zip ties. They then stole merchandise and goods from the business, placing those items in a truck driven by a sixth co-conspirator.

The suspects initially appeared to be looking for cell phones. When they found none, they stole various other items, including purses, wallets, and shoes, before fleeing in a vehicle.

The victim was not injured during the encounter

The location of the crime was identified only as a commercial address (reported as 51 Harvey Road), a 22,500-square-foot commercial facility housing multiple businesses.

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The mixed-use site also features office, warehouse, and manufacturing spaces near I-93. Police believe the perpetrators may have targeted the wrong location while searching for electronic devices.

They fled the scene and returned to New York.

The charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $250,000 and not more than three years of supervised release.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with help from the Londonderry Police Department, New Hampshire State Police, Massachusetts State Police, and New York Police Department.
The potential collapse of a key Atlantic ocean current  due to human-caused climate change  is in the news again.

You'd be hard-pressed to come up with a scarier scenario than what's going on now with the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, the fickle Atlantic ocean current whose weakening and eventual collapse could change the climate and weather for hundreds of millions of people.

A pair of new scientific studies detail the present and potential future of the AMOC, which was the ocean current at the center of the fictional (and scientifically inaccurate) "Day After Tomorrow" climate change disaster movie in 2004.

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In one study released April 8, scientists at the University of Miami determined that over the past 20 years, the AMOC has already been weakening at four different locations in the Atlantic. In the other study, released April 16, a separate group of European scientists said the AMOC will weaken by 50% by 2100, potentially leading to its eventual "collapse."

So what does this mean? And what's the difference between weakening and collapsing?

A weakening AMOC means the Atlantic Oceans climateregulating currents slow down over a period of a few decades, while a collapse means the entire current system crosses a tipping point and mostly shuts down  triggering abrupt, potentially irreversible global climate disruptions.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, often referred to as the conveyor belt, relies on a delicate balance of salt and fresh water.

What is the AMOC?

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation really is one of our planets key circulation systems, said Niklas Boers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, the author of a previous study on the topic.

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The AMOC is a crucial conveyor belt for ocean water and air, which influences weather. Warm, salty water moves north from the tropics along the Gulf Stream off the U.S. East Coast to the North Atlantic, where it cools, sinks and heads south.

The faster it moves, the more water is turned over from warm surface to cool depths.

The cycle keeps northern Europe several degrees warmer than it would otherwise be and brings colder water to the coast of North America.

Previous studies in 2018 and 2021 have also found that a collapse of the AMOC is possible at some point this century.

Study says AMOC is weakening

The April 8 study by scientists from the University of Miami, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, revealed that over the past 20 years, the AMOC is weakening at four different latitudes throughout the western boundary of the North Atlantic Ocean.

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"In a sense, observations at the western boundary, in isolation from the eastern boundary, constitute the canary in a coal mine for the tendency of the AMOC," study coauthor Shane Elipot told USA TODAY via email. "These findings support the evidence of a broader weakening of the AMOC."

Meanwhile, an April 16 study by European scientists, also in the journal Science Advances, found that "most climate models underestimate its decline," CNN reported. "The AMOC is on course to slow by more than 50% by the end of the century, a 'substantial weakening' thats 60% stronger than that estimated by the average of all climate models, according to the study."

How close to a 'tipping point' is the AMOC?

According to Elipot, "the AMOC is likely going towards a tipping point, which means it enters a very weak state from which it could not recover without great effort. If the weakening currently observed continues at the same rate, a collapse of the AMOC could be reached in about 140 years. However, this weakening could accelerate and occur earlier, underscoring the importance of continued monitoring of the AMOC."

How will a weakened AMOC affect the planet's weather and climate?

"A substantial weakening of the AMOC would impact natural and human systems globally, most notably leading to cooler temperatures over the North Atlantic ocean, more winter storms in Europe, and a reduction in Sahelian and South Asian summer rainfall," Elipot told USA TODAY.

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"In addition, if the AMOC weakens further, sea level on the American northeast coastline will likely rise more sharply than it already does."

What are the reasons for the weakening of the AMOC?

The weakening is mainly attributed to climate change, according to Elipot, speaking in a podcast interview with USA TODAY. He said global warming prevents the usual sinking of dense, cold water in the North Atlantic by altering water density and causing more freshwater from melting ice to cap the region, reducing circulation.

Mitigating climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and transitioning to clean energy is crucial, according to Elipot, along with ongoing observation and research to better predict and prepare for potential impacts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 studies warn infamous AMOC ocean current is in trouble
1. IS IT LEGAL? Can I go through a red light if an ambulance is behind me?

Imagine you are at a red light and you see an ambulance flashing its lights and siren behind you. Is it illegal to go through the red light to get out of the way?

Good news, you will not be arrested. But there is a chance you could get a civil citation.

Going through a red light and failing to yield right of way to an emergency vehicle can both result in civil citations, but Lt. David Rosko said it is up to officer discretion.

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If its just a car at a red light, they pull a little bit forward and proceed through the intersection, and they dont cause a crash, they do everything safely, me personally, I am not going to write that person a citation, Rosko said.

He said this does not happen often, but it does depend on the situation and how everything plays out.

I would like to think that any officer, trooper, deputy that observes something like this is going to take into consideration the circumstances and utilize some common sense, Rosko said.  Olivia Franklin/USA TODAY Network-Florida

Walmart is redesigning its private label Great Value brand, featuring a darker blue color.

2. REVAMP: Walmart is redesigning its private label Great Value brand

Walmart is updating the look of its logo and packaging for the companys Great Value private-label brand.

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The redesign is the first major change to the brands packaging, which first launched in 1993, in 10 years, said Scott Morris, senior vice president of private brands for Walmart U.S.

The biggest change to the updated Great Value logo is the background color being a darker blue.

The redesign will be on nearly 10,000 food and consumable Great Value items. It will phase in over the next two years, starting with snacks, cereals, cream cheese and sour cream items.

Additionally, the new design will include consistent placement of nutrition information and benefit claims, the retailer said.  Betty Lin-Fisher/USA TODAY Network-Florida

3. READ MORE: Online now at marconews.com

If you missed Fridays Marco Eagle, you can read those stories online now at marconews.com or click on the eNewspaper and read it and other past issues online, just as they appear in print.

Marco Eagle, April 21

Tuesdays articles include:

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Also, when you click on 3 To Know or 3 To Do, we have helpful links that expand on the topics discussed. The SWFLA To Do List has events listed far in advance of those in print, so that you can plan ahead. There are also stories of interest from around the region and around the state. And no subscription is required.

Read more at marconews.com.

Looking for something to do? 3 To Do: Rib Cookoff on Marco, Bands & Brews at Paradise Coast, more

More events: SWFLA To Do List: Events in Bonita, Estero, Naples and Marco Island

This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: 3 To Know: We ask, is it legal? Walmart revamps house brand
An exchange of gunfire at a food court inside a Louisiana mall on Thursday killed one person and wounded five others and sent workers and shoppers scrambling for safety, police and witnesses said.

Authorities described the shooting inside the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge as a confrontation between two groups of people and not a random attack. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said some innocent bystanders were struck by gunfire.

Police Chief TJ Morse said five people were in custody, and there was no ongoing threat to the public.

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This was a disagreement, a fight, between two different groups of people that we are still trying to unravel, and unfortunately innocent victims got caught in the crossfire, Morse said in a news conference.

Three high school seniors from Ascension Episcopal School were among the victims of the shooting, according to a Facebook post from Lafayette Parish President Monique Blanco Boulet.

We are heartbroken by the senseless violence that happened today at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, she said, adding that she was asking her community to join us in holding all of these families close in prayer.

Rachel Delcambre, a spokesperson for the school, said in an email that the school would not be giving additional information at this time out of deep respect for the families and the sensitivity of this situation.

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Authorities initially said as many as 10 people had been injured but later revised that number. Morse did not immediately say what set off the shooting at the mall in the Louisiana capital. He said police would not release the names of victims until families have been notified.

Alex Theriot, a commercial electrician, was working on a construction project in the mall a few hundred feet from the food court when gunfire erupted and he heard what sounded like plates of glass shattering. Thinking a shooter might be going store to store, he quickly screwed the door shut of his work site and hunkered down with two other workers. They waited and hoped for the best.

Everybody was running and screaming, Theriot told The Associated Press. I thought it could have been a terrorist attack.

Desire Batton, who works at a clothing store, said she and other workers dashed inside a breakroom to protect themselves.

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We hid in there until cops came and got us, Batton said.

The shooting began around 1:30 p.m. when the two groups argued inside the food court and started shooting at each other, Morse said. An officer was already present at the mall and ran toward the gunfire, he said. The chief made public appeals for witnesses to come forward with any video of the shooting.

By late afternoon, dozens of police cars still were clustered in the parking lot, multiple helicopters hovered overhead and armed officers in bulletproof vests patrolled the area.

Mall spokesperson Lindsay Kahn called it a frightening day for everyone there and said the mall would not reopen Thursday.

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Kennedy Barnum, 22, said she had gone to the mall to get lunch at the food court when she heard a woman on the phone outside say, Ill call you back. Theres an active shooter in the mall.

Within five minutes, Barnum said, law enforcement had swarmed the mall. She saw people running and crying, including one girl she described as hysterical.

We spoke to a security guard there and she told us that there was an active shooter there, people were shot and injured, and we should leave immediately, Barnum said.

Its at least the second high-profile case of gun violence in Louisiana this week. A 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, police said. Two women, including the gunmans wife who was the mother of their children, were critically wounded.

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___

Associated Press writers Jack Brook in New Orleans, Jim Mustian in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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by Zhang Yisheng and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani

JAKARTA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- As Indonesia accelerates its transition toward cleaner energy, interest in affordable and reliable green technology is surging among both industry players and everyday consumers.

For Anif Putramijaya, a visitor at this week's Solartech Indonesia exhibition in Jakarta, Chinese-made solar panels present a compelling value proposition.

Planning to install solar panels at his home, he is also considering entering the installation business, motivated by the diverse range and competitive pricing of Chinese products.

"You cannot look at China with only half an eye," he told Xinhua, noting that Chinese providers offer high-quality solutions across diverse price points, making durable technology widely accessible.

The three-day exhibition from April 22 to 24 featured over 1,000 exhibitors, underscoring the burgeoning cooperation between Chinese and Indonesian firms in the renewable energy sector.

As Southeast Asia's largest economy, Indonesia is viewed as a high-potential market due to its electrification goals and commitment to energy transition, a potential that Chinese companies are increasingly eager to tap.

Bill Wang, managing director of China's Qingdao Wangbaoqiang Industry, expressed confidence in the Indonesian market, noting that a significant portion of the country's nearly 290 million people still lack adequate access to clean energy.

"I expected there to be a big market in Indonesia," Wang said, emphasizing that the company's vision is to leverage Indonesia as a strategic launchpad to enter neighboring countries.

Indonesian businesses also view Chinese firms as strategic collaborators, particularly in advancing energy infrastructure.

Anthony Utomo, president director of Utomo SolaRUV, noted that the heavy presence of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands in Indonesia is a primary catalyst for infrastructure development.

The prevalence of Chinese car brands creates a "strategic importance" to develop EV infrastructure that is compatible with the technology already established in the market, he said, noting ongoing efforts to expand charging networks.

This cooperation aligns with Indonesia's national development agenda, which places energy transition at its core. The government aims to add 69.5 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity between 2025 and 2034, with the ultimate goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. These ambitious targets are expected to create immense opportunities for international collaboration in the years ahead. 
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  A shooting broke out in a crowded food court at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on April 23, killing one and injuring five others in what started as a fight between two groups of people that escalated to bystanders getting caught in the crossfire, city officials said.

Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse said one person died at a local hospital, another was in surgery and three others had minor injuries. Another person was taken to another hospital and had "very minor injuries," he told reporters.

Morse and other city officials had previously said 10 people were injured. He declined to say which of the victims were considered bystanders and whether any of them were involved in the fight.

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Five suspects are in custody, Morse said at a news conference, adding that they were being interviewed and that no one had officially been arrested or charged.

"It looks like guns were pulled after words were exchanged right in front of some of the food counters in the food court," Morse said. "When those guns were pulled and shots rang out, thats when we, unfortunately and very tragically, had innocent victims struck."

Morse said that it wasn't "a random act of violence but a very targeted disagreement between two groups of people."

He declined to release any other details about the victims or the suspects, including their ages or what set off the fight. Gov. Jeff Landry later posted that those affected include students from Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette.

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"These senseless tragedies must end," he said in the post.

Jolene Sizemore told The Advocate that her niece, a high school student at Ascension Episcopal, was at the mall with friends when the shooting broke out. Her niece told Sizemore that her friend was shot pretty bad" the newspaper reported.

Amid the chaos shortly after the shooting, Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards promised that law enforcement would catch the people responsible for the violence.

"To the thugs who did this, we're going to catch you," he told reporters at the scene. "We're not going to have this in Baton Rouge. It's not going to happen."

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Asked about two back-to-back tragedies this week in Louisiana  the mall shooting and the massacre of eight children over the weekend in Shreveport  Edwards said people "have a right to be concerned."

"Sometimes the devil lives everywhere," he said. "This is one of those situations, no matter how much law enforcement you got or social programs or whatever, if someone gets in their mind that they're going to do something like this, they're going to do it. And then sometimes all we can do is respond."

Charles Koger, assistant special agent in charge of the FBIs New Orleans field office, said the federal agency is supporting the local officials leading the investigation.

This is a tragic situation and our hearts go out to everyone affected, he said. Our shared goal is to determine exactly what happened and to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure the safety of this community.

A law enforcement officer wears bulletproof jacket as he arrives at Mall of Louisiana, which the police said is the site of an active shooter investigation, in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, U.S., April 23, 2026 in this screengrab taken from a social media video. Law enforcement officers prepare as they arrive at Mall of Louisiana, which the police said is the site of an active shooter investigation, in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, U.S., April 23, 2026 in this screengrab taken from a social media video. A law enforcement officer runs as after arriving at the Mall of Louisiana, which the police say is the site of an active shooter investigation, in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, U.S., April 23, 2026 in this still image taken from social media video. Exterior of Mall of Louisiana after a shooting inside on April 23, 2026. A shooting broke out at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday, April 23, injuring multiple people and leaving one dead. Exterior of Mall of Louisiana after a shooting inside on April 23, 2026. A shooting broke out at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday, April 23, injuring multiple people and leaving one dead. A shooting broke out at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday, April 23, injuring multiple people after what appears to have started as a fight between two groups of people, city officials said. Exterior of Mall of Louisiana after a shooting inside on April 23, 2026. A shooting broke out at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge on Thursday, April 23, injuring multiple people and leaving one dead. Shooting at Mall of Louisiana leaves 1 dead, 5 hurt in Baton Rouge 1 of 7 A law enforcement officer wears bulletproof jacket as he arrives at Mall of Louisiana, which the police said is the site of an active shooter investigation, in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, U.S., April 23, 2026 in this screengrab taken from a social media video.

Witnesses report chaos, fear

At about 1:40 p.m. local time, about two dozen police cars surrounded the mall located southeast of downtown Baton Rouge. Crowds left the mall in a panic. Some stopped to hug one another or record the scene on their cellphones.

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Police gave bystanders little information, telling them there was an active shooter and to avoid the area. Authorities directed people attempting to turn around and not head to the mall. Ambulances and fire trucks were on the scene.

Stanley Jackson, a FedEx worker, was on mall's second floor when he heard gunshots from what he thought were several different firearms. Then, he told The Advocate, everybody started running.

Jackson said he saw four people on the ground bleeding, The Advocate reported.

Raleigh Robertson, a photographer who was shopping at the mall, told the outlet that she was on the ground floor near the main entrance when she heard gunshots.

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She and droves of other shoppers fled as police cars and ambulances arrived to the scene. You can see everyone and their mama running out the store, Robertson told The Advocate.

A law enforcement officer runs as after arriving at the Mall of Louisiana, which the police say is the site of an active shooter investigation, in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, U.S., April 23, 2026 in this still image taken from social media video.

Fast response credited with saving lives

City officials credited an immediate response by law enforcement with preventing further loss of life.

A Baton Rouge police officer assigned to the mall was on scene when the shots rang out and immediately "ran towards the gunfire," Morse said at the news conference.

An East Baton Rouge sheriff's deputy in the parking lot also ran toward the chaos and within minutes, dozens more officers were on scene, he said.

"You saw a response today that I has no doubt limited the severity of what it could have been," said Chris Landry, director of the city's Emergency Medical Services. "I want to make sure that the citizens understand that while this is a senseless act, what we do for you ever day is prepare for things like this ... We're prepared, we're here for you."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shooting at Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge leaves 1 dead, 5 injured
As high school students across the country begin planning their futures, artificial intelligence is becoming a central part of the conversation.

For many families, the question is no longer just where to go to collegebut whether certain careers will even exist by the time todays students graduate.

Thomas Rich, a junior at Newburyport High School, says discussions about AI have become routine at home.

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Its definitely been a topic of conversation over the past few months, Rich explained. Which professions can I look at in 10, 15, even 50 years down the line that are still going to be there?

For parents, the uncertainty surrounding AI is colliding with the already high cost of higher education.

Amber Barbere, whose daughter graduated high school last year, says many families are questioning whether college is worth the financial risk.

I think were at the very cusp of young people saying, There is no way Im coming out of school with $90,000 a year plus in loans, she said.

That concern is backed by experts like Jon Carson, founder and CEO of College Guidance Network, who has surveyed hundreds of parents about this issue.

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This is becoming a riskier decision, Carson said. Its more expensive, and the pathway youre on may have risk to AI. The numbers may not add up.

Carson adds that anxiety is growing among parents about what AI will mean for their childrens future careers.

Entry-Level Jobs Already Disappearing

Recent research underscores those fears. A report from Goldman Sachs found that roughly 16,000 jobs per month have been eliminated over the past year due to advancements in AImany of them entry-level roles.

Its not AI thats going to take your job, said Aaron Smith, a college and career counselor at Newburyport High School. Its somebody using AI better than you.

The Jobs Most at Risk

According to a 2026 study by Anthropic, the roles most vulnerable to AI disruption include:

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Computer programmers

Customer service representatives

Data entry workers

Medical record specialists

Market research analysts

These positions often involve repetitive or data-driven tasksareas where AI excels.

Preparing Students for an AI-Driven Future

At Newburyport High School, educators are adapting. Smith works closely with students to help them understand both the risks and opportunities AI presents.

I try to help them understandthis isnt going away, Smith said. What jobs are going to come from that in five years? What jobs are going to get taken away?

The school even incorporates AI-focused learning tools, including a masterclass platform through College Guidance Network. The system provides access to hundreds of expert-led videos and resources designed to help students make informed decisions.

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For some students, the uncertainty is pushing them toward alternative paths.

Barberes daughter chose to take a structured gap year, exploring industries around the world before deciding to pursue a career in the tradesspecifically esthetics or cosmetology.

The trades are going to allow people to stay in business without the significant change in technology, Barbere said. Not at the same rate that some computerized or administrative jobs might experience.

Careers That Are More AI-Proof

Research from Microsoft and Forbes suggests that certain fields are less likely to be replaced by AIespecially those that rely on human interaction, complex judgment, or unpredictable environments.

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These include:

Skilled trades (plumbers, electricians, carpenters)

Healthcare (surgeons, nurses, therapists)

Emergency services (firefighters, police, paramedics)

Leadership roles (CEOs, founders, strategists)

Legal and ethics professions (judges, legal counsel)

For Rich, those insights have helped shape his own plans. Hes now leaning toward a career in medicine.

I think thats one of the jobs thats pretty protected, he said. Ive always been interested in science, but its even more of a reason to go into medicine because its not that replaceable.

Boston will be the first big city school district in the country to require proficiency in AI skills to graduate. On the state level, Governor Maura Healey announced a new partnership with Google to offer access to an AI training program and certificate at no cost for all Massachusetts residents this year.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Ankeny police are requesting help in the search for a teen missing since early April.

Francis Kat Magik Manier, 16, was reported missing after he left Ankeny High School on April 8 and did not return home, according to a news release from police spokesperson Sgt. Trevor McGraw.

Francis Kat Magik Manier, 16, was reported missing after not coming home from school on April 8.

Police believe he went to a friend's house after school and left for an unknown location, McGraw said. He has not been in communication with his family since then.

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Manier is 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs around 180 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Manier's location is asked to call 911 or 515-286-3333, ext. 5.

Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny police searching for missing 16-year-old boy
By Robert Harvey and Dmitry Zhdannikov

LAUSANNE, April 22 (Reuters) - Asian ship owners might begin to sail through the Strait of Hormuz soon amid a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire as they have a higher risk tolerance and can manage paying tolls unlike sanctions-complying Western firms, shipping executives said at the FT Commodities Global Summit on Wednesday.

Hundreds of tankers and other ships have been stuck inside the Middle East Gulf unable to cross the strait since the end of February, hitting global oil and liquefied gas supply in the world's largest ever energy supply disruption.

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Some tankers and cargo ships managed to escape the Gulf last Saturday, but Iran quickly pulled the plug on the move by firing shots and telling other vessels to return to the Gulf. At least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the strait on Wednesday.

"For companies that are happy not to comply with OFAC sanctions, the safety part is still there. But, if that has been resolved by government to government communication, can the Indian navy send a convoy through, can a Chinese convoy go through? Yeah, probably so," Mercuria's global head of freight Larry Johnson said. OFAC is the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The ships which have transited have tended to be government-owned vessels benefitting from government-to-government communications with Iran or naval support, which merchant traders do not have, he added.

"Certain parts of the world will be able to pass through and the odds are that in the next few weeks you're going to see more of that, and we won't be able to," said Peter Weernink, CEO of SwissMarine, listing Indian, Iraqi and Chinese vessels.

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TOLLS

Tehran has also sought to tighten its grip over the strait by charging tolls in conjunction with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a sanctioned entity.

Increased costs and lingering safety concerns could continue to impact Hormuz traffic, said Andrew Jamieson, co-head of Gunvor shipping arm Clearlake, with the Advanced War Risk Premium set to rise in the short-term, and as crews may not be willing to take the risk, or seek higher payment to do so.

"If your crew doesn't want to go, they don't need to go if they feel unsafe," he said.

The global shipping fleet could react quickly to a reopening of Hormuz, Clarkson's Chief Commercial Officer Roger Horton said, even though many vessels left the Middle East in the wake of the crisis to take on business in the Atlantic Basin given high freight rates.

(Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Robert Harvey in Lausanne; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and county Supervisor Kathryn Barger met with President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday afternoon.

In a joint statement, Bass and Barger said they were there to advocate for families who lost everything in the January 2025 wildfires.

"We had a very positive discussion about FEMA and other rebuilding funds as well as the support of the President to continue joining us in pressuring the insurance companies to pay what they owe - and for the big banks to step up to ease the financial pressure on L.A. families," the statement said.

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"Our job is to fight for our communities. When it comes to this recovery, our federal partners are essential, and we are grateful for the support of the President," the statement added.

Fire survivors have described dealing with insurers and filing claims as the biggest hurdle to recovery.

City News Service contributed to this report.
A conflict is brewing between Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and the Westfield High School Band that began with a since-deleted Facebook post from the lieutenant governor.

Beckwith, in a Facebook post on his personal account that has more than 30,000 followers, posted a link to a Westfield High School Band post from late March that wished students good luck at a competition and was accompanied by photos and a video of the band in their costumes.

This is Westfield High School, Beckwith, a Republican, wrote in his since-deleted post on April 22. Im starting to get the sense that schools like Westfield LOVE giving the (middle finger emoji) to Christian Conservative families of our community. Parents use the VOUCHERS and get your kids OUT of our Indiana public schools like Westfield. Their futures and their lives depend on it!

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From last year: Parents protest Micah Beckwith's visit to Westfield High School and 'dangerous rhetoric'

The students have black and red eye makeup and costumes on in the post from the Westfield High School Band. In a post from February, the band explained the costumes are for the indoor percussion program called The Red Line.

The Red Line follows a journey of knowing where boundaries exist, yet feeling an urge to cross them, the bands post reads. From the restraint of Bolero to the fire of Carmen Fantasy and Capriccio Espagnol, restraint gives way to passion as precision collides with obsession, leaving us changed forever.

Bolero, Carmen Fantasy and Capriccio Espagnol are musical pieces.

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IndyStar reached a spokesperson for Beckwiths office, who declined to comment for this article. His office did not respond to questions about the meaning behind his post, or why it was deleted from Beckwith's Facebook page.

Westfield Washington Schools also did not reply to a request for comment from IndyStar before publication of this article, but the school district and band are standing behind the students.

In a post on April 23, the Westfield High School Band listed several ways people could support them  without naming Beckwith in the post.

Many of you have reached out asking how you can support Westfield Band  thank you, the bands Facebook post reads. Your encouragement means a great deal to our students and staff.

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The post encourages people to wear green, one of the schools colors on April 24, and share a photo with #StandingRockStrong. It also encourages people to support arts in their community or donate directly to the Westfield Band.

A post showing support for the band was also added to the Westfield Washington Schools main Facebook page on April 24.

We are so proud of our Shamrocks, the Westfield Washington Schools post reads. WHSs band program continues to set a high standard for performance, growth, and opportunity. From The Pride of Westfield Marching Band to nationally competitive winter ensembles, our students are consistently demonstrating excellence through dedication, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

The school's band has also found support from Republican Westfield Mayor Scott Willis, in a statement that also does not name Beckwith, which was posted in the afternoon of April 23.

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"When you hear from Westfield, Indiana announced on a national stage, its a point of pride for our entire community," Willis said in the Facebook post. "These students have put in the work, and it shows. Its a great example of what can happen when students are supported by their schools, their families, and their community.

This isn't the first time Beckwith has called out Westfield Washington Schools.

In late 2024, he threatened to push to defund Westfield schools after he said he was disinvited to an appearance at an agriculture program at Westfield High School following complaints about his visit.

Beckwith posted on X that Westfield Washington Schools disinvited him to meet with students in the districts agriculture program because it wouldnt be safe. By the end of the day, Beckwith shared again on social media that he had a a great, honest, and firm conversation with district leadership and received a new invitation to visit with agriculture students.

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When Beckwith visited Westfield High School in early 2025, some parents stood outside and protested. The parents told IndyStar the lieutenant governor's brand of being an outspoken champion of culture war issues and his specific comments about LGBTQ people and immigrants made them worry about having him around students.

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19. Click here to get Hamilton County news sent straight to your inbox and subscribe to the IndyStar North newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Beckwith targets Westfield High School band in deleted Facebook post
Finnish Air Force cadet pilots were reprimanded after flight paths from a training exercise near Jyvaskyla appeared to form crude shapes on the Flightradar tracking service, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The incident occurred on April 13 during reserve officer pilot training flights out of Tikkakoski. Flight data reviewed by the broadcaster showed several aircraft taking off at about 7:30 a.m., with at least four of the tracked routes resembling phallic shapes.

The Finnish Air Force confirmed the pilots involved were students in the reserve officer course and said disciplinary action was taken.

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An Air Force spokesperson said the missions purpose was to practice turns within an assigned training area. Officials also said the aircraft remained within that designated area, carried out the assigned exercises, and did not pose a danger to other air traffic.

Military officials have launched an investigation into the incident. Officials did not publicly detail the cadets sanctions, but they said service members must follow rules of conduct and that the Air Force would respond appropriately to violations.

A similar incident involving mapping data drew attention in July 2025 when Teslas official Robotaxi account posted an image of the companys expanded geofenced service area in Austin, Texas, that many observers noted resembled a phallic shape.

Elon Musk replied to the post with the comment Bigger, longer and uncut, accompanied by laughing emojis.
The biological parents of a child at the center of a fertility embryo mix-up have been located. Still, an attorney for the couple raising the child said a transfer is not being planned or contemplated.

Tiffany Score and Steven Mills are the Florida couple at the center of the saga.

Score gave birth to a baby girl on Dec. 11 after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) at the Fertility Clinic of Orlando in April 2025, according to a January lawsuit filed against the clinic, IVF Life Inc., and Dr. Milton McNichol, the doctor who ran the practice.

A photo of Tiffany Score and Steven Mills with their baby. The baby's face was blurred by the family's lawyer.

The baby she gave birth to appeared to be a different race than Score and Mills, who are both White, and testing showed she had "no genetic relationship" to either parent, according to the lawsuit.

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The child has been in the couple's care since her birth. Here's a look back at the case and what may happen next now that the biological parents have been found.

'We will love and will be this childs parents forever'

In an emailed statement provided to USA TODAY on April 23, the couple's attorney, Jack Scarola, said genetic testing results recently confirmed the identity of the child's biological parents. However, their identities are not being made public due to their request for privacy.

"This ends one chapter in our heartbreaking journey, but it raises new issues that will have to be resolved," the couple said in a written statement provided by their attorney. "Questions about the disposition of our own embryos are still unanswered, and under the circumstances now known to exist, those questions are even more unlikely to ever be answered.

"Only one thing is as absolutely certain today as it was on the day our daughter was born - we will love and will be this childs parents forever."

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The couple believes their single remaining embryo remains with the clinic. According to court documents, transport for the embryo is being arranged for early May. The couple has secured another facility for treatment.

According to the lawsuit, the couple remains concerned that other patients may have been implanted with their embryos, is pregnant or is the parent of one or more of their children.

The lawsuit requests the clinic undertake free genetic testing for all patients and children whose birth resulted from embryo implantation throughout the last five years, the amount of time the clinic had the couple's embryos in its possession.

A photo of Tiffany Score with her baby. The baby's face was blurred by the family's lawyer.

What happened to the fertility clinic the couple used?

Earlier this year, the clinic sent out a letter to patients notifying them of its closure. The clinic simultaneously announced CNY Fertility will be opening in the same location. The letter did not state a reason for the closure.

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The business also did not say when its last day of operations would be, but asked patients to make arrangements for the transfer of all cryopreserved specimens no later than April 15. The plaintiffs alleged in court records that McNichol has been associated with the entity taking over the clinic.

What happens now that the biological parents have been identified?

It's unclear what happens now that the child's biological parents have been located. Scarola confirmed in an email to USA TODAY that the couple is not in the process of handing over the child to her genetic parents.

A status report filed on April 22 states the biological parents and the couple will meet in person regarding next steps.

Despite no current planned transfer, the lawsuit adds Score and Mills would willingly keep her in their care, but recognizes the baby should legally and morally be united with her genetic parents so long as they are fit, able and willing to take her, the complaint notes.

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More: Fertility clinic closing after couple gave birth to someone else's baby

The lawsuit doesn't stipulate specific damages being sought.

"There is no adequate remedy at law for the ongoing loss, injury and damage inflicted on the plaintiffs as a direct consequence of the afore-described acts and omissions on the part of the defendants," the lawsuit states.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biological parents found in Florida embryo mix-up. What happens next?
Border czar Tom Homan said hed be happy to invite Pope Leo XIV to get a firsthand look at what ICE officers do following the popes public clash with President Donald Trump over his aggressive approach toward migration and the Iran war.

Talking Wednesday about the dispute during a TurningPoint USA event at Texas Baylor University, he said, Ill sit down and talk to him, because theyre talking about something they dont understand. Interviewer Benny Johnson had asked if Homan wanted to invite the pope to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ride-along.

There are slim chances the offer would be accepted. The Vatican had previously announced the pontiff had no plans to visit the United States this year.

Border czar Tom Homan, here in March, said he'd be happy to invite Pope Leo for a ride-along with ICE officers. Brandon Bell via Getty Images

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

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An open border is the most inhumane thing you can do, Homan, a lifelong Catholic, went on to pope-splain. When you make that promise to the whole world, the most vulnerable people will give their lifes savings to the cartels to make that dangerous journey.

Celebrating figures that say undocumented immigration has dropped nearly 97% under Trump, Homan asked, When 97% less people are coming, how many women arent being raped? How many children arent dying? How many pounds of fentanyl is not getting in to kill Americans?

The statistic is likely in reference to apprehensions at the U.S.s southwest border compared with December 2023, when Joe Biden was in office.

Pope Leo XIV, here leading Mass in Equatorial Guinea, called Trump's treatment of immigrants "extremely disrespectful" and has made pleas for peace amid the war in Iran. ALBERTO PIZZOLI via Getty Images

Leo, who became the first pontiff from the United States following predecessor Pope Francis death last year, called Trumps treatment of immigrants extremely disrespectful during comments to the press last November.

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We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have, he said.

Politics: RFK Jr. Defends Trumps Erroneous Drug Price Claims With More Bad Math

But it appears the popes pleas for peace in the Middle East were a tipping point for Trump, who accused Leo of being weak on crime while saying he needed to get his act together in a long-winded Truth Social post earlier this month.

Responding to the remarks while flying from Cameroon to Angola last Saturday, the pontiff said it was not in my interest to debate with the president.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
ZUYDCOOTE, France (AP)  The U.K. and French governments signed a new multimillion-euro deal on Thursday aimed at reducing the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, with increased police patrols and enhanced surveillance in northern France.

U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez formally endorsed the three-year agreement during a joint visit to the Dunkirk region.

Mahmood praised the new deal as providing the right mix of skills and capabilities that we know will work on the beaches in order to reduce the crossings.

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Nunez said that it will help in combating illegal immigration networks, human trafficking networks, which are obviously extremely harmful.

Under the agreement, the U.K. will provide 500 million pounds ($675 million) to strengthen measures in northern France, with an additional 160 million pounds ($216 million) depending on the success of new tactics to curb Channel crossings. If those efforts fail, the additional funding will be halted after one year, the U.K. Home Office said.

The plan aims at increasing the number of officers deployed on the ground from 907 now to 1,392 for the 20262029 period, along with the creation of an additional police unit dedicated to combating irregular migration, funded by France, the French Interior Ministry said.

It will also include the deployment of new technologies aimed at reducing departures of taxi boats, the term authorities use for small motorized vessels that are typically inflatable and used by smugglers to pick up migrants along long stretches of the northern French coast.

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Unlike boats that migrants carry into the water themselves, taxi boats typically set off largely empty from secluded coastal areas and pick up migrants at prearranged meeting points on beaches.

The deal also expands surveillance capabilities through drones, helicopters and electronic monitoring, to better prevent crossing attempts.

U.K. pushes tougher migration policies

Our work with the French has already stopped tens of thousands of crossings and this government has deported or returned nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

Since taking office nearly two years ago, Starmers center-left Labour government has pushed through a series of policies that it hopes will sharply reduce immigration.

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Small boat crossings have become a potent political issue in the U.K. over recent years. Anger at the seeming inability of successive governments to get a handle on the issue has been behind a series of demonstrations and riots over the past few years and fueled the rise of the hard-right Reform UK party, which has been leading in opinion polls for more than a year and is predicted to make sweeping gains in a raft of elections on May 7.

Under the measures adopted, the government now has powers to seize the assets of people smugglers, beefed up U.K. border surveillance and increased law enforcement cooperation with France and other countries to disrupt the journey.

Its unclear whether the policies are working.

Summer surge will test policies

So far this year, more than 6,000 migrants have reached the U.K. after crossing the Channel, down 36% from the same period last year, a drop that may partly reflect more unsettled weather.

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The real evidence will emerge over the coming months as the weather turns warmer and the Channel turns less choppy. In 2025, a total of 41,472 people made the crossing that way  the second-highest annual figure since records began in 2018, after a peak of 45,755 in 2022.

Police operations led to the arrest of 480 smugglers last year, the French Interior Ministry said.

A large share of the resources provided under the new deal will be deployed from the early summer.

Nicolas Laroye, representative of the police union UNSA in the Dunkirk region, said that additional staffing and increased capabilities will support police efforts in their complex mission to monitor more than 200 kilometers (around 125 miles) of coast along the Channel.

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British-financed measures in recent years had a major impact on the ground, Laroye said.

Were intercepting many people before they go on the beaches to prevent them to get on boats, he said.

Drones especially have become a key tool to monitor the vast stretches of sand dunes where migrants hide overnight before crossing attempts, he said.

Critics warn policy fails to address root causes

Earlier this month, two men and two women died as they were trying to board an inflatable boat off the coast of northern France. British authorities arrested a man from Sudan on Friday on suspicion of endangering life in that case.

The week before, two other people died in similar circumstances off the coast north of Calais.

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Critics say that the new deal, which builds on the Sandhurst Treaty, first signed in 2018 and renewed in 2023, isn't addressing the underlying issue.

Policing alone will not prevent desperate people from turning to dangerous small boats in the first place, said Imran Hussain from the Refugee Council, a U.K. charity that aims to promote the rights of refugees.

Campaign groups for migrant rights have long warned that increasingly vigorous efforts by French police to prevent boat departures from beaches, including using knives to hack and puncture inflatable boats to render them unusable, are encouraging the use of taxi boats, which increases the risks of drownings, injuries and the need for rescues.

Before this month's deaths, migrant aid group Utopia 56 said that at least 162 people have died at the French-U.K. border over the past three years.

___

Pan Pylas contributed to this report from London.
MOSCOW, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia hopes that visits by U.S. representatives related to a Ukraine settlement will continue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

"We hope that these visits will continue," Peskov told reporters when asked about potential visits by U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Russia on Ukraine-related issues.

The exact dates of the visits are still unknown and will be announced as soon as they are decided, Peskov added. 
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) has vanished from Capitol Hill, and colleagues have not heard from the two-term congressman who lasted voted on March 5, Politico reported Wednesday.

Keans team told the outlet he has unspecified health issues, but even fellow Republicans in the New Jersey delegation have been unable to reach him, the outlet noted.

News: Trump  And House Republicans  Are Largely Absent As Shutdown Fallout Grows

GOP Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith have reached out to Kean to check on his welfare, only to be met with radio silence, Van Drew said. Ditto for Republicans in the New York delegation, Politico wrote.

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Kean consultant Harrison Neely told the site that Kean will be back on a regular full schedule very soon. Union County GOP Chair Carlos Santos said, I dont even know the truth myself, yet indicated he was texting with Kean and was told hell be fine.

Read the full story at Politico.

Kean or his office have been issuing press releases during his absence, and he appears to be active on his X account.

Politics: Nixon Resignation Territory?!?: New Poll Spells Massive Trouble For Trump

Keans office did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment.

It remains to be seen how the secrecy around his absence will impact the political scion, whose father, Tom Kean, served as New Jersey governor from 1982 to 1990.

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The congressman is up for reelection in November and will face off against the winner of a June 2 Democratic primary.

Keans 7th District is considered a tossup race, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, as Republicans fight an uphill battle to hold on to the House.

Politics: Rand Paul Slams Republicans For Voting Against Bill To Rein In Trump Amid Iran War

The resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) in the last week have left the lower chamber with 218 Republican-aligned members to 213 Democrats, NPR reported.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) has not voted in weeks and hasn't been heard from by many colleagues. Bill Clark via Getty Images

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
(Corrects data about islands distribution in paragraph 12)

By Ryan Woo and Xiuhao Chen

BEIJING, April 23 (Reuters) - China teased in a video an aircraft carrier that could be its fourth, and the first using nuclear power, while vowing to further build up its islands, as it looks to boost maritime power, secure resources and bolster territorial claims.

The video issued on the eve of the 77th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy featured fictional officers with names that are homophones of three commissioned aircraft carriers, the Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian.

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Titled "Into the Deep", it showed a 19-year-old named "He Jian" joining the group, unleashing public speculation that it was referring to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as the navy recruit's name is a homophone of "nuclear vessel" in Mandarin.

The three aircraft carriers now in service are all conventionally powered, carrying sequential pennant numbers 16, 17, and 18. The new recruit's age, 19, suggests "He Jian" will conform to the numbering convention.

China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on Wednesday's video.

Beijing is spending billions of dollars to build a "bluewater navy" allowing it to project power far from its shores, a goal dating from 2012, when President Xi Jinping became leader of the ruling Communist Party.

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Action sequences in the video featured military drills and strikes in the Pacific. But it also sent a message to democratically-governed Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, despite Taipei's rejection of the claim.

The video showed an exchange between a naval officer and his son "Xiao Wan", the latter's name an allusion to Taiwan.

"I don't want to go home just yet. I want to play out a little longer," the boy says.

His father responds, "Xiao Wan, don't be difficult. Mum is waiting for you at home. Let's go home."

ISLAND BUILD-UP

China's natural resources ministry, in an article published in the official People's Daily, urged greater efforts to "protect" the more than 11,000 islands China claims.

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The vast majority of these are located within 100 km (62 miles) of the coast, with nearly 60% in the East China Sea, around 30% in the South China Sea and the rest in the Bohai and Yellow Seas, an official Chinese tally showed in 2018.

China has built artificial islands, airstrips, and military facilities during extensive land reclamation efforts over the years in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Last September, Beijing declared a national nature reserve at the disputed Scarborough Shoal to assert its claim to the atoll, a long-time flashpoint with the Philippines.

"The facilities on its artificial island bases have allowed Chinese law enforcement, naval, and militia vessels to spend every day of the year patrolling the waters of its neighbours up to 1,000 nautical miles from the Chinese coastline," said Gregory Poling of the CSIS think tank.

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But China's presence in the busy waterway did not deter a senior Taiwan official from a rare visit to the Taiwan-controlled island of Itu Aba, part of the contested Spratly Islands.

Itu Aba has a runway long enough to allow military re-supply flights from Taiwan, while a new wharf opened in 2023 can host a 4,000-ton patrol ship.

The Philippines, the United States and partner nations started military drills this week, including maritime operations, across the Philippine archipelago.

The exercises projected a multinational front against China in a region that is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce.

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"Beijing seems to have hit a point of diminished returns," said Poling, who heads the think tank's Southeast Asia programme.

"It has not succeeded in stopping a single Southeast Asian energy project, resupply or construction mission, or the like, in at least four years."

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Xiuhao Chen; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
(Corrects paragraph 5 to say a group of Chinese naval vessels sailed through the Yokoate Waterway on Sunday, not the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway)

BEIJING, April 22 (Reuters) - China said a group of its naval vessels, including a destroyer, passed through a waterway between two islands administered by the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa on Wednesday as it returned home after testing far-seas capabilities.

Vessel formation 133 dispatched by the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command completed its training in the Western Pacific, and has returned through the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway, said the command, which is responsible for East China, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

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While non-Japanese vessels are allowed to pass through the narrow band of waters in the middle of the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway, Japan reserves the right to take action if vessels stray into the country's territorial sea, defined as seas 12 nautical miles (22 km) from its shoreline.

The width of the waterway is about 65 km (35 nautical miles).

On Sunday, to reach the Pacific Ocean, the PLA formation sailed through a waterway between the Japanese islands of Amami Oshima and Yokoate, a passage northeast of the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway and farther away from Taiwan. The transit followed the passage of a Japanese destroyer through the Taiwan Strait on Friday that Beijing said was a "deliberate provocation".

China regards democratically governed Taiwan as part of its "sacred" territory despite Taipei's rejection of the claim. Beijing has responded aggressively on occasion to foreign navies sailing through the Taiwan Strait, which Beijing says is not international waters.

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The Japanese transit last week provoked an angry response from the Chinese foreign ministry, which said Japan's deployment of a military vessel in the Taiwan Strait was "a display of force" and "a deliberate provocation" that threatens China's sovereignty and security.

The Chinese defence ministry said then that the passage of the Japanese destroyer had sent a "wrong" signal to pro-independence forces in Taiwan.

Sino-Japanese ties have significantly weakened since November last year when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could spark a military response from Japan.

Yonaguni, just 110 km (68 miles) off Taiwan's eastern coast, is increasingly on the radar of both China and Japan.

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In September 2024, the Liaoning passed through the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway, marking the first transit of a Chinese aircraft carrier in Japan's contiguous waters, triggering loud protests from Tokyo.

In November last year, the Japanese defence ministry said it had been advancing a plan to deploy a medium-range surface-to-air missile unit at a military base on the island.

The plan has since triggered even more hostility from China, which has said the move was "extremely dangerous".

(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Tom Hogue, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
(Edits story tag to match pix and TV)

By Daria Smetanko

KHUTORY, Ukraine, April 21 (Reuters) - Petro Hurin says his health has never been the same since he was sent 40 years ago to clear the Chornobyl site in the wake of the world's worst nuclear accident.

He was among hundreds of thousands of 'liquidators' brought in to clean up after the explosion at reactor four of the Chornobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. The disaster sent clouds of radioactive material across much of Europe.

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Thirty-one plant workers and firemen died in the immediate aftermath, mostly from acute radiation sickness. Thousands more have since succumbed to radiation-related illnesses such as cancer, although the total death toll and long-term health effects remain a subject of intense debate.

At the time, Hurin worked for a business that supplied diggers and construction vehicles, which sent him to the Chornobyl exclusion zone in June 1986. Of the 40 people sent by his company, only five are alive today, he said.

"Not a single Chornobyl person is in good health," the 76-year-old said. "It's death by a thousand cuts."

Soviet authorities strove to conceal the extent of the Chornobyl disaster, refusing to cancel the May 1 parade in Kyiv, around 100 km (60 miles) to the south. Ukraine's current government has highlighted the Soviet authorities' bungled handling of the accident and attempts to cover up the disaster.

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Hurin said some colleagues produced medical certificates to excuse themselves from serving in Chornobyl, but he was willing to help.

"I realised that, however small my contribution might be, I was doing my bit to help tame this atomic beast," he said.

HEADACHES, CHEST PAIN, BLEEDING

Working 12-hour shifts, Hurin used an excavator to load dry concrete mixed with lead  shipped to the site by river barge  onto trucks for transport to the reactor, where it was mixed to build a massive sarcophagus to contain the radiation.

"The dust was terrible," Hurin recalled. "You'd work for half an hour in a respirator, and it would end up looking (brown) like an onion."

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After four days, Hurin said he began experiencing severe symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, bleeding and a metallic taste in his throat. Doctors treated him but after another shift, he could barely walk. He feared he had "a day or two" to live.

"I was brought to the hospital, and the doctors did a blood test first," Hurin said. "They pricked all my fingers and a pale liquid came out, but no blood."

Soviet doctors refused to diagnose radiation sickness, a finding he said was not permitted at the time. Instead, he was told he had vegetative-vascular dystonia, a nervous disorder often linked to stress.

Before the disaster, Hurin had never taken sick leave, but afterwards he spent around seven months going from one hospital to another to receive treatment, including a blood transfusion.

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He says he has been diagnosed with anaemia - often linked to radiation sickness - angina, pancreatitis and a series of other conditions.

By the standards of his countrymen, Hurin has lived a long life. According to the World Health Organization, average life expectancy for men in Ukraine stood at 66 in 2021, having declined during COVID.

Now retired, Hurin lives with his wife Olha in central Ukraine's Cherkasy region. Although he suffers from health problems, he still plays the bayan  a type of accordion - and writes songs and poems.

He says he is fighting to access a special disability pension for 'liquidators' of the nuclear disaster.

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Another catastrophe - Russia's 2022 invasion of his homeland - has come to dominate his life. He and his wife Olha regularly visit a memorial in nearby Kholodnyi Yar dedicated to their grandson, Andrii Vorobkalo, a Ukrainian soldier, who was killed three years ago in the war, aged 26.

After his daughter had left to work in Europe, Hurin and his wife raised Andrii from the age of four. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Andrii quit his job in Greece.

"He left everything behind and came to defend Ukraine," Hurin told Reuters, standing near the memorial stone dedicated to his grandson. "We think of Andrii all the time."

(Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Cincinnati officials fired Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge April 23, about a month after the city released a report concluding she "has not been an effective leader.

City Manager Sheryl Long, in an eight-minute press conference on Thursday, said she earlier gave Theetge an opportunity to resign, something she said the chief had asked for prior to being placed on paid leave in October.

"She said she wanted that professional courtesy so that she could walk away with her head held high," Long said. "I provided her that professional courtesy. Chief Theetge changed her mind."

Dismissal comes after five-month investigation

Theetge had remained on paid leave since October during the city's investigation, still getting her $203,000 annual salary.

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FBT Gibbons, a law firm contracted by the city for up to $49,000, crafted the report after a five-month investigation into Theetge's leadership.

The city then in March contracted with another law firm, employment law firm Jackson Lewis, for up to $50,000. That was for advice on how to proceed with Theetge's employment.

Long said she made the decision to fire Theetge.

"My responsibility as city manager is to make sure I have the right people in the right seats to guide me through that," Long said. "And that's why I stand by this decision."

Theetge's attorney vows to 'get justice'

Theetge's attorney Steve Imm vowed to "get justice for Terri Theetge."

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"Today is a sad day for the city of Cincinnati," Imm said in a statement. "Its leaders have taken the shameful step of dismissing one of its most accomplished and beloved public servants for no legitimate reason. They know their phony excuses for this disgraceful action are entirely false, but still chose to put this black mark on our great city."

FOP president Ken Kober called Theetge's firing 'unjust.'

Cincinnati police chief Teresa A. Theetge stands next to the American Flag at District 1 in West End on Friday, June 27, 2025.

"This is the latest example of a poor decision made by the city manager that is likely going to cost the taxpayers millions," Kober said. "I look forward to seeing Chief Theetge fight this unjust termination."

Interim Chief Adam Hennie will remain in charge for now

Long said Interim Chief Adam Hennie will remain in charge of the police department. She didn't give any specifics on the next steps, saying the city will give an update "in the coming months." The City Charter gives the city manager the sole power to hire and fire police chiefs.

Vice Mayor accepts the decision

Mayor Aftab Pureval wasn't immediately available for comment on April 23. Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney released a statement that called the city manager's decision to fire Theetge 'a legal matter.'

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"People are looking for good guys and bad guys, but sometimes it's really about different visions and expectations for leadership," Kearney said. Kearney praised Theetge's 30-plus years with the police department saying "she broke the glass ceiling" becoming the city's first woman police chief.

"She can hold her head high," Kearney said. She said it's the council's job to support Hennie in leadership.

Why was Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theege fired?

Cincinnati leaders and Theetge have faced criticism this summer as crime spiked in the city's urban core. A double shooting on Oct. 13 on Fountain Square again pushed the city into trending posts on social media. Mayor Aftab Pureval declined to give a straight "yes" or "no" in response to questions following the shooting about whether he had confidence in Theetge.

The investigation report released on March 31 determined Theetge could not return to the police department "and be effective." It also called her approach to leadership "old school" and "rigid and authoritarian."

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Theetge's departure comes after a dramatic exit spurred by a series of high-profile crimes that drew national attention, including the killing of Patrick Heringer and a fight in Downtown that went viral.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge give an update on a Monday evening shooting on Fountain Square from the crime Investigation building in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025.

The chief was scrutinized in the wake of a shooting in the heart of Downtown on Fountain Square. City Manager Sheryl Long asked her to resign in October and Theetge refused, setting off a city investigation into the effectiveness of her leadership.

Theetge's attorney has repeatedly slammed the investigation and city's decision to place Theetge on leave as making her a political scapegoat.

The firing ended a historic 30-year career with the Cincinnati Police Department that culminated in 2023 with her becoming the city's first female police chief.

5 Cincinnati police chiefs since 1999

For the early 21st century, Tom Streicher ran the department, retiring after 12 years in 2011. Since then, the city has had four chiefs in 15 years. James Craig came on in 2011 but stayed less than two years, becoming police chief in Detroit. Chief Jeffrey Blackwell was next and was ousted within two years.

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In 2015, the city again hired a chief from within the department. Police Chief Eliot Isaac's tenure lasted over six years until his retirement. Isaac now leads the University of Cincinnati Police Department.

Who is Teresa Theetge?

Theetge had a long career at the Cincinnati Police Department before becoming chief and comes from generations of law enforcement.

She was sworn in as the Queen City's 16th police chief in January 2023, becoming the first woman to lead the Cincinnati Police Department, per her bio on the city's website.

Theetge also served as interim police chief for nearly a year before taking on the role permanently. Her bio states that she was the first woman to be appointed to the interim police chief position full-time.

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Under her leadership, she successfully lobbied the city for additional funds and support for the recruitment and retention of police officers. More recently, she launched a "drones as first responders" program, which is one of the first in the region.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Police Chief dismissed by the city
Streicher, shown here with his wife Cathy Streicher and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, served 12 years as chief, retiring in 2011. Former Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig was hired in 2011. Craig left Cincinnati in May 2013 to become chief in Detroit. Eliot Isaac was hired by the city in 2015. Isaac spent six years as Cincinnati's top cop. He retired in 2022 after 33 years with the department. Chief Teresa Theetge, shown with Mayor Aftab Pureval, was sworn in as Cincinnati's 16th police chief in January 2023, becoming the first woman to lead the department Theetge was fired April 23, 2026, after being placed on paid leave in October. Cincinnati has had 5 police chiefs since 1999. Who were they? 1 of 7 Streicher, shown here with his wife Cathy Streicher and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, served 12 years as chief, retiring in 2011.

Cincinnati's city manager had to "beg" Chief Teresa Theetge to get more police on the streets during the spike in Downtown crime in 2025, according to a termination letter sent to Theetge.

Following Theetge's termination on April 23, city officials released both a "pre-disciplinary notice" and a termination letter outlining how City Manager Sheryl Long believed Theetge failed. Obtained through a public records request, the letters provide key details on the rift that eventually ended with Theetge's firing.

In the termination letter, Long wrote that Theetge opposed a summer safety plan that included more police coverage in Cincinnati's urban core.

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"I begged you to fill the police work details called for in the summer plan," Long said. "It was clear you were not interested in anyone telling you what to do."

Police work details typically refer to times when private entities like businesses hire officers to work outside their normal shifts. However, the Cincinnati Police Department also has "police visibility overtime," in which officers would work outside their shift, paid for by the city. Long's letter does not get into details about what she was referring to.

Long said that Theetge viewed the city's violence reduction initiatives like Rec @ Nite and Act for Cincy as "separate from the work of the police."

Long said Theetge admitted to having all the money needed for staffing and recruitment, but still didn't act.

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"You claimed the 'data' did not support filling details in areas like Washington Park," Long said. "You did not mandate overtime to fill the details, even though you admitted that you could have."

Theetge skipped town hall for play

Long also criticized Theetge for her actions following the Oct. 13 shooting on Fountain Square.

"Although you said that there were police on Fountain Square and that you filled all details on Fountain Square, you admitted that this was after I sent a text saying 'Please please make the fountain square patrols happen....Please please. Give it to a sgt," Long wrote. "I should not have had to beg you to do this."

She also pointed to Theetge skipping an Oct. 14 public safety town hall meeting, instead attending a play, and for failing to prepare the assistant chief who did attend.

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"You justified this lack of preparation by saying that there was no specific topic to prepare for and no data to put together," Long wrote.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge at a press conference in March.

Long says Theetge damaged relationship with school board

Long said that her staff was impeded from communicating with Theetge's assistant chiefs.

"You showed an inability to build bridges and work with important City partners with whom you disagreed," Long said.

Long pointed toward the Board of Cincinnati Public Schools, which had asked Theetge not to attend any more meetings and complained to Mayor Aftab Pureval about her after an unannounced visit to a board meeting.

"The School Board asked you not to come to any more meetings because you attended a meeting and presented the School Board with essentially an invoice for the Police Department costs of dealing with disorderly students," Long wrote. "You damaged this relationship. This exemplifies your poor judgement."

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Long wrote that Theetge did not inform her or Pureval that she intended to go that school board meeting.

When confronted after the fact, Theetge said she knew the city wouldn't agree and planned to "just ask for forgiveness after the fact," the letter states.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge speaks at a press conference on Cincinnati crime in June of 2025.

Theetge began the process of stepping down, Long said

According to Long, Theetge said multiple times over two years that she would step down if public opinion shifted or things weren't going well.

Long said after the October shooting on Fountain Square she told Theetge it was time for her to step down.

"You admitted that you understood this and even sent an email initiating the discussion, but then you changed your mind," Long wrote.

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Then at an April 10 pre-disciplinary hearing, Theetge "did not present any witnesses or bring any documents or records," Long wrote.

'Blamed the City Manager or Mayor for issues within your own responsibilities'

The pre-disciplinary notice also outlined the city's grievances with Theetge.

"City Council approved $5.4 million for public safety, including $1.2 million for Police Department visibility and overtime," the notice stated. "You still did not fill all police work details ... You said mandatory overtime would be bad for morale."

The city was receiving complaints about a lack of a visible police force Downtown after the Fourth Street brawl in July and officials asked Theetge to do something.

"You rejected the importance of this. You said the incident on Fourth Street was just a fight," the notice stated. "You said public perception did not natter because crime data did not support the public's perception."

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Theetge operated in an "insular manner" with a small inner circle and didn't take feedback into account, according to the document.

"You blamed the City Manager and Mayor for issues within your own responsibilities and were resistant and/or unwilling to work collaboratively," the notice stated.

What's next

According to Long's letter, Theetge has 10 days to appeal the termination to the city. There is also the possibility of a lawsuit.

Theetge's lawyer, Steve Imm, said the city's accusations are false and vowed to get justice for his client.

"Today is a sad day for the city of Cincinnati," Imm said in a statement. "Its leaders have taken the shameful step of dismissing one of its most accomplished and beloved public servants for no legitimate reason. They know their phony excuses for this disgraceful action are entirely false, but still chose to put this black mark on our great city."

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Imm and Theetge plan to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. Friday to discuss the termination.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Termination letter outlines what led to firing Chief Theetge
When JBS, the world's largest meat company, pledged to reach net zero by 2040, it took out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times and dedicated eight pages of its sustainability report to the commitment.

What it did not include was a credible plan for how to get there, according to researchers at the University of Miami who examined the company's sustainability documents.

The company's own footnote to the pledge acknowledged that "whether the company is successful in achieving this very ambitious goal will depend on numerous factors outside of the company's control.

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However, it then raised $1bn in sustainability-linked bonds on the back of that pledge. In 2024, the attorney general of New York filed a lawsuit against JBS alleging the claim was misleading because the company had no clear and achievable path to its 2040 target.

JBS is not alone. According to a new study published on Wednesday in the journal PLOS Climate by the same researchers, most of the claims made by 33 of the largest meat and dairy companies can be categorised as greenwashing  the practice of making environmental claims that are misleading, unverifiable or unsupported by evidence.

Researchers examined the sustainability reports and websites of the 33 largest meat and dairy companies in the world and found that nearly 98 per cent of their environmental claims, 1,213 out of 1,233, did not stand up to scrutiny.

It is the most systematic examination of its kind, covering claims made between 2021 and 2024 by companies including Nestle, Danone, Tyson Foods, Arla, Fonterra and Danish Crown.

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The meat and dairy industry accounts for at least 16.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 57 per cent of total food production emissions, more than twice the emissions of plant-based foods. Despite this, the researchers found the companies are making sweeping environmental promises with almost no scientific backing. Of the 1,233 claims identified, only three were supported by scholarly scientific evidence.

Arla Foods, the world's fourth-largest dairy company with operations in over 32 countries and a cooperative of more than 12,700 farmers, cited installing solar panels on the roof of a single cheese packaging site in Oswestry in the UK  panels that cover 12 per cent of that one site's electricity needs  as evidence of climate action.

Protesters transport an inflated pig sculpture reading "No pig needs factory farming" as they take part in a demonstration titled "We are fed up!" and demanding a socially just agricultural transition, in front of the Chancellery in Berlin (AFP/Getty)

The same company launched a "regenerative agriculture pilot" on 24 farms, representing 0.0019 per cent of its total global operations. Tyson Foods framed its net-zero commitment not as a target but as something the company "continually aspires to achieve, the researchers noted.

Arla disputed the study's findings. "We fundamentally disagree with the conclusions in this report and stand firmly behind our data," Bjarke Munk Kamstrup, head of global media relations at Arla, told The Independent.

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"Our climate goals and plan have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative since 2019, and our annual climate reporting is rigorously validated by external auditors. Our plan is working  we have reduced our operational emissions by 43.6 per cent since 2015, and through our FarmAhead incentive programme, our farmers have achieved a 9.9 per cent emissions reduction per kilo of milk since 2020."

Researchers said more than a third of all claims they studied  467 in total  were promises about the future with no clear steps for how they would be delivered. Nestle made 55 such promises, Danone 49, Danish Crown 34. The number of companies with net-zero commitments has quadrupled since 2020, from four to 17.

But the researchers found these commitments appeared to rely on offsetting emissions rather than actually cutting them  a pattern they compared directly to the fossil fuel industry.

JBS and Tyson both announced net-zero targets while simultaneously expanding production, according to the paper. Tyson opened two new facilities and announced a $200m plant expansion in 2022, while JBS opened two new plants in Brazil and one in Missouri and said it would "pursue additional value-enhancing growth opportunities.

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"Greenwashing was rampant in the sustainability reports of the world's largest meat and dairy companies, which can create the illusion of climate progress," said Maya Bach, lead author of the study. "We are concerned that these claims can mislead the public, influence consumers, and reduce pressure on policymakers to take climate action."

The consequences go beyond public perception. Sustainability reporting strengthens a company's image with investors and can broaden its social and financial licence to operate, the researchers note. In the case of a sector responsible for a disproportionate share of global emissions, the paper warns, greenwashing may be doing what it has done in the fossil fuel industry for decades  delaying meaningful action.

"Meat and dairy companies are talking a lot about climate change, which makes sense because animal-based foods lead to more emissions and other environmental impacts than other kinds of foods," said Jennifer Jacquet, professor of environmental science and policy at the University of Miami and the study's corresponding author.

"But when so much of what these companies say seems to be empty promises that are not backed up with evidence or investments, it starts to look more like a public relations exercise rather than caring for the planet."

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Legal pressure is beginning to mount. The paper notes that in addition to the New York lawsuit against JBS, cases involving misleading environmental advertising are being pursued against Danish Crown, Tyson, Arla and Fonterra. In 2023, California passed new emissions reporting requirements for large companies doing business in the state.

Fonterra said it took claims of greenwashing seriously and believed scrutiny could support good business practice. "We have a robust internal review process for sustainability statements, supported by data and subject to governance and assurance where appropriate," Charlotte Rutherford, Fonterra's director of sustainability told The Independent. "This can include pilots and early-stage programmes that are not yet delivering improvements at scale, and we disclose key assumptions, uncertainties and risks to achieving targets."

The Independent has approached JBS, Tyson, Danone, Nestle, and Danish Crown for comment.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Colombian President Gustavo Petro is visiting Venezuela on Friday for key talks on border security and trade with the countrys acting president, Delcy Rodriguez. The meeting, their first, comes months after the U.S. military seized former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife from their home in January.

Colombia is lobbying to become a buyer of Venezuelan gas and last month sought an exemption from U.S. sanctions to invest in Venezuelan electricity projects and natural gas ventures, which could include the reopening of a gas pipeline between the neighboring South American countries.

Petro's administration also reached agreements with Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA to replace the pipeline in the Colombian section.

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Petro and Rodriguez are also expected to discuss the presence of illegal armed groups and drug trafficking along their shared border.

The United States has an interest in Colombia becoming the buyer of Venezuelan gas, said Ronal Rodriguez Duran, a researcher at the Venezuela Observatory at the Universidad del Rosario.

Colombia, by virtue of its geographical nature, would become the client that could quickly bring revenue into Venezuela under U.S. supervision," he added.

The topic was part of the conversation during the nearly two-hour meeting between Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in February. Both said the talks were friendly  a dramatic about-face from weeks earlier, when Trump accused Petro of pumping cocaine into the U.S. and threatened his country with military action.

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According to Petro, they discussed how to revitalize the Venezuelan economy with Colombias assistance, as well as the role of the U.S., which the Colombian leader said should lift sanctions on Venezuela.

The Trump administration is aiming to revive the Venezuelan economy by drawing foreign investment toward its vast natural resources, particularly oil, following years of decline under the Maduro government, which saw the country crumble and forced at least 7.7 million people to migrate.

Petro's leverage as mediator in Venezuela is limited

Ahead of Friday's meeting, Petro announced that his delegation, which includes top military and police officials, will tackle border security with Rodriguez.

The focus remains on the Catatumbo region, where rival armed groups fight for territorial control and Petro stressed the necessity of close collaboration on intelligence, warning that without it, bombs land in the wrong places ... and end up killing civilians.

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Colombia-Venezuela ties have long been on the rocks. Petro did not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president in the wake of the contested July 2024 elections that triggered protests, which sparked widespread repression. Still, he maintained diplomatic ties with Caracas.

Colombia's government has said that the Petro-Rodriguez meeting on Friday aims to contribute to a resolution of Venezuelas political crisis.

However, it's unclear how this can be achieved.

Rodriguez Duran, the university researcher, said Petros leverage is limited regarding any potential mediation, given that his term ends in August. Future ties with Venezuela will likely also be influenced by who takes power next in Colombia.

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Petro and Rodriguez were expected to meet last month at their shared border, but their respective governments abruptly canceled the meeting citing force majeure, which they did not explain, and simply said it would take place at a later time.

Before that canceled meeting, several Venezuelan nongovernmental organizations had addressed an open letter to Petro, urging Colombia to contribute to the promotion of democratic principles and human rights, including the release of all political prisoners and an end to persecution.

___

Suarez reported from Bogota, Colombia.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Community Crossroads recently held their first annual Casino Night fundraiser at the Castleton in Windham. The event featured dinner, casino games, raffles and activities for all experience levels.

For more than 45 years, Community Crossroads, based in Atkinson, has supported more than 1,600 individuals with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries and long-term care needs, helping them live at home and remain connected to their communities.

The agency serves 11 towns in southeastern New Hampshire, including Atkinson, Derry, Hampstead, Pelham, Plaistow, Salem and Windham.
Corpus Christi ISD students will soon be able to apply for a new tuition-free online high school option for students in grades 10 through 12 that provides flexible virtual, electronic and on-campus college learning opportunities with Del Mar College.

The Digital Scholars Academy will open in the 2026-2027 school year. Students interested in applying will go through an interview process that will focus primarily on career planning.

The new option is a result of the passing of Senate Bill 569 in May 2025, which allows school districts to be funded by the state for virtual education.

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Which district pays the most? See how Corpus Christi teacher pay compares across school districts

Tracie Rodriguez, program leader and director for Early College Programs and Workforce Education, said she recognizes students at a high school level may be in situations in which a virtual environment would better suit them to meet their career and/or post-secondary education goals.

Carroll High School students head to class in this 2022 file photo.

"We want to be sure that students are thinking beyond high school and are looking to jumpstart a career path," Rodriguez said. "It's going to be a career pathway dependent for students to be able to seek something that's going to give them credentials they can utilize beyond high school."

The program will be in partnership with Del Mar College, similar to its dual credit program. Students will be able to be involved in a virtual or hybrid learning plan and earn a college certificate, an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.

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The new program is different from the dual credit program because it gives students more flexibility, Rodriguez said.

"Some students have to take on adult responsibilities outside of the home such as being a caretaker for a family member," Rodriguez said. "That can be intrusive of a traditional schedule. A modality like a virtual one might assist them."

Higher education: Here's how U.S. News ranks Coastal Bend university graduate programs

Rodriguez said the new program is not a recovery school but something to advance students with opportunities to jumpstart their career ambitions.

There will be five in-person meetings to discuss more information about the Digital Scholars Academy at Collegiate High School at the St. Clair Building at 101 Baldwin Blvd.

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All will start at 5:30 p.m.:

April 28

May 7

May 18

June 3

June 9

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com.

Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: How to learn more about Corpus Christi ISD's new virtual school option
TOKYO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean man was arrested by Japanese police on Wednesday on suspicion of disrupting shrine rituals after staging a protest during the annual Spring Rites at the notorious Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, local media reported.

According to Kyodo News, the man hung a banner inside the shrine bearing messages such as "Stop paying visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines war criminals." Shrine staff held him back before police arrived and placed him under arrest.

The man is believed to reside in South Korea and had entered Japan on April 20, the report said.

The war-linked Yasukuni Shrine kicked off its three-day annual Spring Rites on Tuesday.

The controversial shrine, located in central Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II alongside the war dead. It has long been a source of diplomatic friction between Japan and its neighbors.

Visits and ritual offerings made by Japanese officials to the notorious shrine have consistently sparked criticism and opposition both at home and abroad, hurting the feelings of the people of China, South Korea and other countries brutalized by Japan during the war. 
The Georgia midterm election season is in full swing as voters head to the polls for the primary races in a few short weeks.

Early voting in the primary starts April 27, and election day is May 19 across the state.

From the governor to school boards, dozens of seats will be on the ballot this year as the national political landscape remains tense. Midterm elections are always a referendum on the party in power, but this year possibly more than ever, Republicans across the country will have to account for low approval ratings in Washington, D.C.

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In the Peach State, a recent runoff election in the 14th congressional district saw the greatest performance by a Democrat ever, from retired Brigadier General Shawn Harris, even if he didn't bring home the win in a deep red region of the state. Trump-endorsed Republican district attorney Clay Fuller won the seat once held by controversial former MAGA star Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Harris' near success poses an important question for the rest of the state: is Georgia leaning blue in the midterms?

Georgia governor race polls

Democrats were pulling ahead in both major races in Georgia, according to polling published April 21 by Echelon Insights.

In the race for governor, former Democratic mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms wins against Brad Raffensperger, Rick Jackson, or Burt Jones, one of whom will likely be the Republican candidate.

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Bottoms wins 49% of the vote against Jones' 43%, the polls show, and she wins by the same margin against Jackson. Against Raffensperger, Bottoms comes out on top with 46% of the vote to his 44%.

The poll did not compare other possible Democratic nominees (like Geoff Duncan, Michael Thurmond or Jason Esteves) against a Republican ticket.

Georgia senate polls

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is running for reelection unopposed in the primary for his U.S. Senate seat, but the polls also show him winning against possible Republican challengers in the general midterm.

Against Buddy Carter, Ossoff wins 52% to 43%. In a race against Mike Collins, Ossoff wins by a slightly smaller margin with 51% of the vote to Collins' 44%. The poll did not compare Ossoff to Kemp-backed Derek Dooley.

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Andra Gillespie, an associate professor in political science at Emory University, however, warns against reading too far into the polling. In Georgia, only 407 people were polled, with a margin of error of 6.5 points.

"The biggest problem with these polls is the low sample size, and so with that margin of error of 6.5%, somebody is going to have to be ahead by more than 13 points for me to be able to say statistically that they're ahead," Gillespie said in an interview with USA TODAY. "I think if you're looking for granularity, you're going to have to have a larger sample size."

That being said, the number of candidates and the name recognition that they have on both sides of the ticket show that the primaries for these two races are likely headed to runoffs, Gillespie said. If needed, runoff elections will be held in June.

"When you have this many candidates, and especially this many candidates with the profiles that they have, it's highly likely that one of them is not going to be able to get 50% of the vote," Gillespie said. "So that means that on the MAGA side there is a choice of two and the establishment side has a choice of two" on the Republican ballot.

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On the Democratic side, there are "extremely well-qualified candidates" who will split up the liberal cohort in Georgia, according to Gillespie.

Special election was 'harbinger for Democratic enthusiasm'

The polling numbers may not play out, but the voter turnout for Shawn Harris in Georgia's 14th district earlier this month bodes well for Democrats across the state.

"I think that the results point to a mood and align with some of the things that people are seeing in some of the national polls about Democrats being more engaged in this election," Gillespie said. "If there's more excitement on the Democratic side, then you would expect higher turnout and then higher voter support for Democratic candidates. Again in a midterm year, it's not unusual for the president's party to lose seats in Congress, so I would expect Democrats to perform better than usual... I think that is a harbinger for Democratic enthusiasm."

In the gubernatorial race, the leading candidates seem largely aligned on the issues, supporting a rescinding of the six-week heartbeat bill, expanding Medicaid and pausing new AI data center development. But while they all have name recognition, the candidates each have issues to address if they hope to pull center-leaning Republicans away.

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Keisha Lance Bottoms was mayor of Atlanta and has a lot of support in the capital, but she chose to only serve one term before going on to work in the Biden Administration. Geoff Duncan also has a lot of support, but he served as lieutenant governor under Brian Kemp as a Republican just four years ago, and he supported the abortion ban he now says he would repeal. Michael Thurmond has been in the politics game for decades and has worked across the aisle, but some worry he doesn't match the new brand of the Democratic Party as it ushers in a new generation of leaders. Jason Esteves is picking up steam late in the race, but it's unclear whether he has the name recognition across the state to take on the leading three.

In the Senate race, Ossoff has incumbency and an united Democratic Party on his side he runs unopposed in the primary. He has campaigned across the state and Gillespie said that would be essential for a win. But he's not just running against Republicans. He's also trying to perform better than past Democrats.

"In Senator Ossoff's case, the fact that he is an incumbent could actually prove to be advantageous for him, but he's got to organize around the state and part of a winning strategy, part of that mobilization effort, would be performing better than expected, or over performing relative to Kamala Harris or Joe Biden in parts of the state where you expected to lose," Gillespie said. "So it's not just winning in the blue parts of the state. It's actually over performing in the red parts of the state. What Shawn Harris did was prove conceptually that this was possible. Now they're just going to have to scale that up and do that in every other Republican congressional district in the state."

USA TODAY reached out to the Democratic National Committee for comments on the races and is waiting for a response.

Republicans go back to the basics

Republicans within the party and state are sounding alarm bells for red candidates to not get too comfortable in Georgia.

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In a recent interview, Gov. Kemp said Republicans have a "tough cycle" ahead of them.

"I've told a lot of Republicans out there, a midterm election with a Republican president is tough enough already, no matter who that president is, and we better stay focused on 2026," Kemp said. "If we don't stay focused like we were back (in 2018), because it's going to be very close to re-win our governor's race in Georgia, to get back the U.S. Senate race, that is what we need to focus on."

Marjorie Taylor Greene has also vented her frustration with the party after she left the Trump bubble, speaking out about Epstein, the war in Iran and more.

"There's no amount of money that can be spent to lie to voters and get them to come back and vote for Republicans right now," she wrote in an April 22 post on X following the redistricting win for Democrats in Virginia. "If Trump and Republicans had delivered what they promised, this would be different."

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In the gubernatorial race, both Burt Jones and Rick Jackson are vying for MAGA votes, but only one has the president's endorsement. The two candidates, who have been leading Republicans in previous polling, spend much of their political capital taking on one another in hopes of avoiding a runoff race.

Gov. Kemp's endorsement has done little to help Derek Dooley in the Senate race as he trails both Buddy Carter and Mike Collins. Their campaigns are largely looking ahead at a race against the Democrats coming this summer, while also targeting Ossoff for his voting record and recent TSA turmoil at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The Republican Party, however, is sticking to many of the same talking points it used in races in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

"Jon Ossoff sides with illegals, fights for men in women's sports, and tried to stop the largest middle-class tax cut in history," Republican National Committee Spokeswoman Emma Hall told USA TODAY in an email. "Keisha Lance Bottoms defunded the police, shuttered small businesses, and advanced Joe Biden's radical agenda. The Democrat brand is a toxic, failed disaster, and Republicans look forward to forcing these nut jobs to answer for their extremism."

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That won't really be what the primary, and general, race will be about though in the Republican base, Gillespie said. It will be about the president.

"I believe that Burt Jones is not just a loyal Trump ally, but I think he's a sincere Trump ally. So it would be weird for him to try and moderate himself, it doesn't fit his brand and I don't think it's part of his DNA," Gillespie said. "I think the really curious strategy is Rick Jackson's because he is a political novice. I'll be really curious to see whether or not it was a strategic or advantageous choice for him to align himself so squarely with the MAGA base."

Irene Wright covers the midterm races in Georgia as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Todays Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats ahead in polls before May primary elections. What to know
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Havana will not abide by any American ultimatums to release political prisoners as part of new talks, a Cuban diplomat said Thursday, while asserting that leaders are preparing for all scenarios if U.S. President Donald Trump makes good on threats to intervene in the island nation.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Cuban Ambassador to the U.N. Ernesto Soberon Guzman said internal issues regarding detainees are not on the negotiating table. The release of political prisoners was a key U.S. demand as the longtime adversaries held discussions in Cuba this month for the first time in a decade.

We have our legal system, like here in the U.S., they have their legal system, he said. So we have to respect both of our internal affairs.

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In response, the State Department said in a statement that the administration remains committed to the release of all political prisoners.

The Cuban regime should stop playing games as direct talks are occurring. They have a small window to make a deal, the statement continued.

An American delegation arrived for secret meetings in Havana on April 10 in a diplomatic push to urge Cuba to make major changes to its economy and political governance or face continued economic pressure and potentially risk U.S. military escalation. Neither side has named who took part, but Guzman said it was at the undersecretary of state level for the Americans and deputy foreign minister level for the Cubans.

Despite the recent revival in diplomatic relations, tensions between the two countries have steadily increased in the last few months over a U.S. energy blockade that has further strained economic and other crises in the Caribbean country.

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Trump has threatened tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba and said the U.S. might have the honor of taking Cuba following military operations in Venezuela and Iran. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Guzman's remarks.

The blockade, coupled with the islands severe water and power shortages, has deepened poverty and increased hunger across Cuba as severe blackouts persist.

In late March, a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels became the first fuel shipment Cuba had received in three months. Guzman said that the shipment has been able to fulfill only a fraction of what the country needs to operate.

Other concerns the U.S. raised during the meeting this month centered on the influence of foreign powers on the island, the AP has reported. The Americans also discussed proposals to compensate hundreds of thousands of legal claims by Cuban Americans whose homes, businesses and land were seized after revolutionary leader Fidel Castro took power in 1959.

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Guzman confirmed that such compensation was among the topics at the meeting and that Havana is receptive to it. But, he added, that it could only happen in conjunction with reciprocal economic relief for the decadeslong economic embargo against Cuba.

There is not only this claim but also the claim from our side because the embargo has an economic impact, he said. This is a highway with two directions.

Asked whether Cuban officials can trust diplomatic efforts amid U.S. threats, Guzman said that while they are optimistic about creating a new approach to U.S.-Cuban relations, the Trump administration's foreign policy approach in the last year has put them on high alert.

We have been seeing what is happening all around the world, in our region, in the Middle East, so we are not a naive person, he said. We are preparing for all the scenarios. And I insist, our first option  what we really want  is a successful dialogue with the U.S. government.

But, he added, if U.S. military aggression were to happen, we are ready to fight back.
Residents of Miami Beach could be awarded up to $20,000 to help floodproof their homes as part of an ongoing effort to improve the city's climate resilience.

"Miami Beach is a low-lying community and many buildings are vulnerable to different types of flooding, including King Tides, storms, and sea level rise," the program's website states. "In fact, most of Miami Beach is located in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area."

The city of Miami Beach plans to award up to $20,000 in matching funds to selected applicants to assess the flood risk of their property and implement flood risk mitigation improvements, according to a post made to the citys Facebook page. Its a part of Miami Beachs larger Rising Above initiative, which intends to help the city adapt to the effects of climate change.

Qualifying property owners of low- to moderate income won't be required to match funds, according to the city. Instead, it'll fully fund the project for up to $20,000.

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According to the city's website, a designation of "low-income" requires a total annual gross household income that does not exceed 80% of median annual income, adjusted for family size  which was $87,200 in Miami-Dade County in 2025, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Moderate-income" requires a total annual gross household income that does not exceed 120% of the median annual income, adjusted for family size.

The deadline to submit an application in 2026 is April 24.

How to submit an application for funding

All applications submitted will be reviewed and prioritized "according to available funds," according to the city's Facebook post, though submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

To apply, residents will need to provide a property elevation certificate, proof of active flood insurance and proof of property ownership, as well as proof of identify and income information, among other items.

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For a full list of requirements, visit the website for the city's private property adaptation initiative.

Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Florida Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami Beach offering $20,000 to help residents floodproof their homes
Decades later, authorities have identified the man involved in two heinous crimes in Brockton, a 1991 murder and a 1993 rape, thanks to DNA evidence and advanced genetic testing, the district attorney said Thursday.

Robert Carey, who had been living at the Brockton Veterans Administration Medical Center, died last June of natural causes, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a statement. He was 64.

Carey has been identified as the man who killed 28-year-old Cherie Bishop, 28, and sexually assaulted Donna Bell, Cruz said. The violent crimes happened in 1991 and 1993, respectively.

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Over decades, the Massachusetts State Police and the Brockton police have been investigating Bishops murder and the rape of Bell. Over time, both cases grew cold.

But recent forensic developments pointed to Carey.

Their exhaustive investigative work, combined with a DNA sample match, identified Robert Carey as the perpetrator, Cruz said of the crimes.

When the women were attacked, Carey lived in Brockton within a mile and a half of both crime scenes.

On June 25, 1991, Cherie Bishop was found strangled to death in Mulberry Park in Brockton, Cruz said. She was found nude and had been sexually assaulted.

Cherie Bishop

Investigators interviewed witnesses, analyzed and tested evidence found at the crime scene, conducted DNA testing, and retested items as DNA science evolved and improved over the years.

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On April 4, 1993, Donna Bell was walking on Annis Avenue in Brockton, and a white man driving a van grabbed her, Cruz said.

The unknown man held an electric wire across her face and told her to cooperate, or he would strangle her, Cruz said.

After sexually assaulting Bell, the man grabbed a sharp object. Fearing he was going to stab her, Bell grabbed the object, suffering slices into her right hand.

Bell jumped out of the vans passenger side and screamed for help.

Donna Bell, left, shown in an undated photo with her daughter, Maggie. Bell, a rape victim, died in 2021. Courtesy family photo.

Two Brockton Police officers found the victim standing at the intersection of Ames and Interval streets in a state of distress.

Bell died nearly two decades later, in 2021. At the time of her death, her rapist had not been caught.

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Samples taken from Bishops sexual assault kit produced a full, unknown male DNA profile, Cruz said. This evidence was uploaded into CODIS, the FBIs program of criminal justice DNA databases used to link DNA profiles from crime scenes to convicted offenders and missing persons.

Samples taken from Bells sexual assault kit were also uploaded into CODIS, and a link was made between the two cases in 2016.

In March 2023, investigators enlisted the assistance of Texas-based Othram Research.

Othrams technology enables local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and internationally to break through forensic DNA barriers and close previously unsolvable cases.

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Othram creates a single-nucleotide polymorphism, or SNP shot, of a DNA profile and uses the SNP shot to place into various ancestry DNA websites, Cruz said.

On these websites, genealogists use the data to identify close family members of the unknown DNA sample.

Since investigators knew that the DNA from the Bishop homicide matched the DNA from the Bell rape, a sample of the DNA was tested by Othram.

In 2025, investigators conducted further reference testing.

Genetic reference testing and research conducted by the forensic genealogists at Othram identified a specific branch of a family tree, Cruz said.

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Investigators then obtained personal items, which were forwarded to the MSP Crime Lab, and experts identified a Short Tandem Repeat, or STR profile.

This STR profile was then compared to the unknown suspects STR profile, Cruz said.

The MSP Crime Lab notified Cruzs office that both were a statistical match to both Bishops DNA evidence and Donna Bells DNA evidence.

Cruz ordered further testing of any and all evidence linked to the case.

That testing corroborated investigators theory that Carey was responsible for the Brockton crimes, Cruz said.

The Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab matched Careys DNA with the sexual assault kits of both Bishop and Bell.

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For decades, the Bishop and Bell families were deprived of the full story of what happened to their loved ones, Cruz said. They carried these tragedies across lifetimes.

Today, thanks to a multijurisdictional effort led by my offices Unsolved Homicide Unit, we are finally able to identify the perpetrator who victimized Cherie Bishop and Donna Bell, Cruz said.

It was a lengthy process to identify Robert Carey, but it is my sincere hope that knowing his name and bringing his heinous actions to light will bring a sense of closure and peace to the Bishop and Bell families, Cruz said.

None of this would have been possible without the tremendous effort and devoted work of the Massachusetts State Police, Brockton Police, the State Police Crime Lab, Trooper Joe Collett, Assistant District Attorneys Samantha Mullin and Jennifer Sprague, as well as Forensic Scientist Krista Lundgren, Cruz said.

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Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble echoed his words.

Todays announcement reflects the unwavering dedication and expertise of the Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Plymouth County Unsolved Homicide Unit, and our team of Forensic Scientists, Noble said.

Their tireless pursuit of the truth has finally delivered long-overdue answers to the families of the victims, Noble said. I hope this outcome brings renewed optimism to other families still seeking justice. The Massachusetts State Police remain resolute in its commitment to pursue every case, follow every lead, and embrace new technology to achieve justice for victims of violent crime across the Commonwealth.

The Unsolved Homicide Unit in Cruzs office re-examines existing evidence and conducts further investigation using modern technologies and techniques.

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Anyone with information on a homicide is urged to contact the hotline at 508-894-2584 or email the unit at: Plymouth.DA.Unsolvedhomicide@state.ma.us.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Romulus  The U.S. Homeland Security Department bought a Romulus warehouse this year because "political opposition" to immigration enforcement limited the departments options, according to documents filed Tuesday.

The documents were filed in federal court as part of a lawsuit by the Michigan attorney general to stop construction of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center at 7525 Cogswell Road in Romulus. The Detroit News reviewed the documents, which held new details about the plans and reasons for purchasing the facility.

Opposition to ICE and proposed immigration detention centers has led to more laws, regulations and ordinances that make it difficult for governments and contractors to provide the agency with detention services, said James Ingalsbe, ICE assistant director of the Office of Asset and Facilities management, in the filing.

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ICE determined that buying properties for detention purposes was the most reliable approach going forward to ensure the availability of detention space for its immigration law enforcement mission, Ingalsbe said.

Another ICE official, Shawn Byers, claimed that if DHS is not permitted to turn the property into a detention center, the agency would be forced to make difficult determinations, like transporting detainees to other states or simply not arresting them.

Attorney General Dana Nessel, Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight and state Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City, held a press conference at Romulus City Hall in March to announce a lawsuit challenging ICEs conversion of the warehouse to a detention center. The Department of Homeland Security recently responded to their filing.

DHS responds to lawsuit

DHS filed nearly 500 pages of documents to supplement a response filed Tuesday to the request by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Romulus for a temporary injunction for the center while the lawsuit is ongoing.

The department argued in its response to the injunction request that ICE needed a dedicated detention center in Metro Detroit because the two closest facilities with immigrant detention space are provided through agreements with St. Clair and Monroe counties, which has space for up to 150 immigrant detainees between the two facilities.

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Nessel's office declined comment to The News on DHS's filings. Spokesperson Danny Wimmer said Nessel plans to file a brief on Tuesday replying to the agency's arguments.

The North Lake Detention Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, with capacity for up to 1,810 people is located about three hours outside Detroit, which DHS argues presents operational impracticalities for daily use.

Since taking office in January 2025, the Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a focus. ICE operations have taken place across the United States, including in Michigan, where ICE has arrested thousands of people.

The proposed detention center in Romulus has generated backlash, including from Mayor Robert McCraight, and other local elected officials.

Warehouse purchase challenged on procedure

DHS purchased the Romulus warehouse, covering about a quarter-million square feet, on Feb. 4 for $34.7 million. The next day, the agency posted a notice required of potential actions in floodplains, according to a declaration in the lawsuit filings by Andrew DeGregorio, ICEs Energy and Environmental Programs manager in the Office of Asset and Facilities Management.

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Nessel and the city of Romulus sued DHS and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin in March, contending a detention center was inappropriate for the property near Detroit Metro Airport because of the possibility of flooding, concerns the site doesnt have enough sewage capacity for a detention center, and its close proximity to schools and residential neighborhoods.

McCraight said he hadn't yet gone through the hundreds of pages of filings in the lawsuit. But he told The News the city maintains that the agency flouted its own established procedures in how it has pursued the facility.

"The crux of our case is they didn't follow their own procedure, and they didn't," he said.

The lawsuit argues President Donald Trump's administration has flouted the federal Administrative Procedure Act, which applies to administrative agencies, about an appropriate place for detention, existing facilities and the consideration of environmental consequences.

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DHS responded this week, arguing the federal court doesnt have jurisdiction to review the agencys authority to select places of detention. DHS also contends the injuries the state argues it will suffer are speculative and dont meet the standard necessary for an injunction.

The acquisition of the Romulus Warehouse  a direct manifestation of this statutory responsibility  represents a critical exercise of the Secretarys statutory discretion under the (Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952) to arrange for appropriate detention space in a key logistical corridor, wrote DHS in the agencys response filed Tuesday. Plaintiffs now seek extraordinary remedy of a preliminary injunction to halt this federal action.

The filing called the lawsuits allegations over traffic, flooding and sewage capacity hypothetical future harms, as are claims a detention facility will cause reputational harm, lost business and income, and a strain on public safety resources in Romulus.

Not only is the harm speculative, the speculation contravenes the well-trod assumption that government actors are presumed to properly execute their duties, DHS said in the filing.

Documents reveal new details about plan

The filing also laid out the agencys plans to renovate the warehouse by building 3,800 feet of fencing, adding exterior lighting and security cameras, and constructing a security checkpoint.

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ICE's Byers said in the filings that ICE must construct the fencing, lighting and security cameras before construction is complete at the site, because ICE detention facilities have been the target of vandalism and arson.

He wrote that at the Romulus property, "signs indicating the property was U.S. government property and stating 'no trespassing' were defaced with graffiti."

Images included in the filings showed that the planned fencing would run around the perimeter of the property, while lights would be mounted on the building and on poles at even intervals around the perimeter of the facility.

The proposed site plan also included an emergency generator and new fiber optic cable.

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According to the document, the facility will have standard housing areas or pods, as well as American with Disabilities Act-compliant pods and behavioral and special housing.

There was no estimated cost in the DHS project proposal.

An environmental and historic preservation review by DHS found the proposed changes to the Romulus property would not harm the ecosystem or cultural resources.

But a memo from a DHS environmental protection specialist raised the issue of lead contamination under the surface of soil on the property. The specialist recommended that if a sensitive population were to come in contact with the soil, DHS would need to further test for heavy metals.

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The contamination stemmed from the propertys earlier use as a junkyard, according to the memo.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: DHS details of Romulus ICE detention center plans in court filings
Thousands of educators across North Carolina are expected to rally in Raleigh on May 1.

Theyre calling for higher pay for teachers and more funding for public education in the state.

The last two protests like this were in 2018 and 2019. Dozens of school districts canceled classes due to the number of teachers who requested leave to participate.

This year, teachers in Kannapolis have the option to skip school that Friday. The Kannapolis City Schools Board voted Wednesday night to make it an optional teacher workday and non-school day for students.

Channel 9 is monitoring other school districts for similar announcements.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
By Andrew Goudsward and Bhargav Acharya

April 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice said on Thursday it would immediately loosen restrictions on some marijuana products and move quickly to reclassify the drug as less dangerous, in one of the biggest changes to U.S. drug policy in decades.

The move does not legalize marijuana across the United States, but it is likely to reshape the $47 billion industry, which has faced continued barriers at the federal level, even as all but two U.S. states have legalized it in some form for medical use and nearly half have legalized it for recreational use as well.

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State-regulated medical marijuana products now would be moved from a group of drugs classified as highly addictive, such as heroin, to a less restrictive category for products that have a low to moderate potential for abuse, including common painkillers, ketamine and testosterone. Marijuana products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also would be moved to that category.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the U.S. government would also fast-track a broader effort that would reclassify all uses of the psychoactive plant as less dangerous.

The measures are likely to lower barriers for research, ease tax burdens and make it easier for firms to secure funding.

This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information," Blanche said in a statement.

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The move follows a December executive order from President Donald Trump directing the Justice Department to loosen marijuana restrictions.

The measure is expected to boost the growing cannabis industry in the United States, benefiting companies like Canopy Growth, Tilray Brands , Trulieve Cannabis.

In addition to selling medical marijuana and consumer-focused products with cannabis, some of these companies are also researching their pharmaceutical uses for pain management, cancer symptoms, anxiety and other disorders.

POT SHARES JUMP THEN REVERSE GAINS

U.S.-listed shares of cannabis companies jumped between 6% and 13% following the decision, but later reversed their gains as investors reacted to the limited scope of the federal government's immediate moves.

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Today marks a pivotal moment for the United States. With President Trumps action to reschedule cannabis, federal policy is finally aligning with science, medicine, and most importantly, patient needs," said Irwin Simon, CEO of marijuana company Tilray Brands.

Marijuana's status as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, has been widely criticized as anachronistic, particularly as it makes inroads at the state level.

Some 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized it for recreational purposes, while 40 have fully legalized it for medical purposes and another eight allow some medical uses, according to the Congressional Research Service. Only two states - Idaho and Kansas - do not allow any legal use.

Legal sales are expected to top $47 billion in 2026, according to market researcher BDSA.

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After Trump's December order, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began allowing some eligible Medicare beneficiaries to use hemp-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD) products, under clinician guidance.

On Thursday Trump said more must be done. In a Truth Social post, he called on Congress to update the law to ensure access to the "full-spectrum" of CBD products "while preserving Congress's intent to restrict the sale of products that pose Health risks."

MARIJUANA IS MOST WIDELY USED ILLICIT DRUG

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States and the world. Nearly one in five U.S. residents use it in a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Millions of Americans have been arrested for possession of the drug, even while growing businesses listed on stock exchanges sell cannabis-related products.

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The Biden administration embarked on a similar move in 2024, but it was not finalized when Trump returned to office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration scrapped the effort.

The Justice Department said it will begin proceedings on June 29 to gather evidence and expert opinion on reclassifying the drug.

Marijuana skeptics have argued that legalization would lead to higher drug use by minors, lower workplace productivity and increased traffic safety hazards.

Dozens of Republicans in Congress objected in December when President Donald Trump ordered the Justice Department to loosen regulations. Reaction was more muted on Thursday, but Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, said the moves would make it easier for Americans to use what he described as a still-dangerous drug.

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"Marijuana today is much more potent than just ten or twenty years ago, leading to increased psychosis, anti-social behavior and fatal car crashes," Cotton said in a social media post. "A change to marijuanas drug classification is a step in the wrong direction."

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward and Bhargav Acharya; additional reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Nolan McCaskill; editing by Andy Sullivan, Susan Heavey, Michelle Nichols, Nick Zieminski and Louise Heavens)
On the Thursday, April 23, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast: A large-scale and delicate system of ocean currents that has been active for millions of years and thats responsible for our warm climate is in danger of collapse. This is according to a new study published in April in the journal Science Advances. Shane Elipot, a physical oceanographer at the University of Miami and one of the authors of the study, joins The Excerpt to share his findings.

Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here

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Dana Taylor:

A large scale and delicate system of ocean currents that's been active for millions of years and that's responsible for our warm climate is in danger of collapse. This is according to a new study published earlier this month in the journal, Science Advances. If that collapse actually happens, scientists warn the consequences could be dire. Hello and welcome to USA TODAY's The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. Joining me to discuss new research indicating that the Atlantic Meridional overturning circulation known as the AMOC may be weakening faster than previously understood is Shane Elipot, a physical oceanographer in the Department of Ocean Sciences at the University of Miami and author of the study. It's good to have you here, Shane.

Shane Elipot:

Thank you very much for having me.

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Dana Taylor:

First, help me understand the importance of this complex system and how it functions. What is the Atlantic Meridianal overturning circulation and how does it work?

Shane Elipot:

Yeah, so the AMOC is an acronym that we use and it describes a system of currents that we can observe and we can see throughout the entire North Atlantic. In broad terms, what it does is that you have about a very...the top thousand meter of the ocean is actually flowing northward throughout the North Atlantic. And as it reach the northern end of the Atlantic Ocean, the water becomes cooler and denser and sinks eventually to greater depth. And then it returns back south. So this type of ocean currents, we call this a circulation. And sometimes in simplistic terms, it is described as a conveyor belt of ocean currents.

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Dana Taylor:

Can you share more about what led you to the study and give an overview of the data you gathered?

Shane Elipot:

Yeah, so the reason why we care about the system of current is because it actually transport a lot of heat. So it's an integral part of the climate system and it affects the temperature of the ocean autonomy, but it also affect the climates over Europe. So there's been a couple of pointers in climate models or in previous studies that have indicated that the system of currents might be weakening. As a result, scientists that I now work with have started in 2004 a campaign to continuously measure the strengths of this currents because of their importance in our climate. So since 2004, we've had in place in the ocean a number of instruments that are recording the temperature, the salinity, and the ocean currents. So at the University of Miami, we've been deploying instruments just east of the Bahamas throughout the water column. And then my colleagues in the UK at the National Ocean Graphic Center have been deploying instruments of the coast of Morocco, south of the Canary Islands.

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And then our colleagues from a NOAA laboratory in the US have been measuring continuously the strengths of the Gulfstream. So when you put all these measurements, we combine them all together because you are measuring either end of the Atlantic Ocean, east and west, you are actually able to measure the full strengths of that system of currents of the AMOC. And the amount of heat that this current, the AMOC is transporting is very much tied up to the strengths of it. So that being said, we've been measuring it for about 20 years. And in the last couple of years, we have noticed that the system of currents has been decreasing in a way that statistically we see is significance that the signal of a weakening has raised above a level of natural viability and natural oscillation. So the research that was just published is basically using this data from that rapid array, as we call it.

And then, what we've combined observation from three different other arrays throughout the North Atlantic. And what we found very briefly is that the signal at the western boundary of these different arrays is confirming the signal of weakening that we've been observing at this rapid array at 26 north.

Dana Taylor:

Shane, what does this data reveal regarding how close we are to a point where the AMOC can't recover? Is there a real danger of collapse? And if so, what's the timeframe?

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Shane Elipot:

Yeah, so this is a very good question. So it's on a matter of a real timescale and how long you need to have these observations. We've noticed what we've been able to measure is that on average, the strengths of that circulation has decreased by 10% over 20 years. So 10% may sound like a lot or maybe doesn't sound like much, but considering the amount of heat that it actually transport, it is actually significant. So if a collapse of such a current, which is maybe a reduction of maybe 80%, considering the current observe rate, it would take about 140 years from now to decrease. And maybe it will decrease by about 50% by the end of the century if it continues to decrease at this rate. So it indicates that in general, we'll be getting closer to collapse of this system of currents.

Dana Taylor:

Do we know why the AMOC is weakening?

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Shane Elipot:

Yes. So the AMOC is very much driven by changes in density in the ocean and changes in density is caused by changing temperature and salinity. So the general global warming climate change that we are experiencing currently because of human activities have led to changes in density that are causing that sinking of water at higher latitude to be reduced, and hence the strengths of that conveyor belt of current to weaken as well. So it's very much part of the general climate change that we are currently experiencing in the world.

Dana Taylor:

The AMOC has weakened before. Shane, can you offer a bit of historical context here on the global consequences?

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Shane Elipot:

Yeah, so the AMOC has weakened in the past, and it has even shut down in the past, we think, according to paleoclimate records. But more importantly for us, because what really matters is the impacts for the ecosystem and humans on this planet, we can look at the record that we have here from since 2004. And after about four or five years, the AMOC reduced by 30% during the winter of 2009 and 2010. And scientists that have been working on the data have been able to pinpoint that maybe that was the cause of a very harsh winter over Europe that happened in 2010. So this is one example of a relatively short impact that the EMR may have. So one can imagine that if the ammo were to permanently weaken and collapse, as people say, then we can imagine that this impact would last. It would have lasting impacts basically where a number of climate consequences such as harsher winter and drier summer over Europe.

It has also potentially some impact on the sea level on the East Coast of the US that could affect a lot of coastal communities. It is also expected to displace some climate patterns and some weather patterns in some distant part of the world because the climate is very interconnected. So it is expected that the belt of rain that we find around the equator might be displaced southward, and it would have some impact on food production in Africa. It would warm up the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere. So it would have some lasting impact if you want if such big reduction were to last in the future.

Dana Taylor:

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Which regions of the world are most exposed here, particularly in the US, and what are some of the near term risks?

Shane Elipot:

Yeah, so because the system of current is for the North Atlantic, the regions that are going to be the most affected are around the Atlanic Ocean. So as I mentioned earlier, the climate over Europe is likely to be affected in short term once the AMOC has declined, as well as the sea level around the East Coast of the US and also throughout Europe because the AMOC is very much embedded into the dynamics of ocean currents and ocean currents are related to the shape of the sea level throughout the North Atlantic. So if you weaken the currents, unfortunately one of the consequences is that you are going to increase the sea level by quite a bit on the East Coast of the US, so affecting coastal communities.

Dana Taylor:

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And finally, I want to get your thoughts on what government can do right now to prepare for collapse, and if you think any of those things are being done.

Shane Elipot:

So I don't think you're asking the scientist here. I think you are asking the individual who is in a society. Personally, I think that we could be doing more in the US or throughout the entire world to limit CO2 emissions, to transition towards clean energy that are going to allow us not to rely so much on burning fossil fuel. We need also to be better prepared in terms of resilience in coastal areas when we're looking at impacts such as sea level. So all the same things that you're hearing about how to adapt and mitigate and trying to limit the impacts and climate change, we have to do the same thing. And this is me talking as an individual citizen living in the United States.

Dana Taylor:

It was lovely speaking with you, Shane. Thank you so much for sharing your findings with us here on The Excerpt.

Shane Elipot:

Thank you very much for giving me the time to talk.

Dana Taylor:

Thanks to our senior producer, Kaely Monahan, for her production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. I'll be back tomorrow morning with another episode of USA TODAY's The Excerpt.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A new study says ocean currents have weakened 10% in past 20 years | The Excerpt
ZOETERMEER, the Netherlands, April 23 (Reuters) - The Netherlands is facing the greatest threat to its national security since the end of World War Two, chiefly from Russia and China, against the backdrop of a much more "unpredictable" world order, Dutch intelligence agency AIVD said on Thursday.

"In the 80 years of our existence, we have not seen a threat level like the current one, where national security has been put under pressure from so many sides at once, for such a long time," AIVD director Simone Smit said at the presentation of the agency's annual report.

"We see an unstable and unpredictable world order, after decades where stability and predictability were the foundation of prosperity and peace."

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As in past years, the AIVD stressed the threats to the Netherlands, a founder member of both NATO and the European Union, emanating from Russia and China.

It said Russia had become even more aggressive against Western countries including the Netherlands, mainly through cyber attacks.

"Russia is preparing for a long confrontation with the West," the AIVD said. "As a consequence, a military conflict between Russia and the West is no longer unthinkable."

Russia denies any plan to attack NATO countries but accuses what it calls the "collective West" of threatening its own national security, especially through its financial and military support for Ukraine.

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The AIVD said China was continuing "illegal" efforts to acquire advanced technological expertise in its push "to reshape the world order .. to better serve its own interests".

The AIVD has long labeled China as the largest threat to Dutch economic security, and said that threat had deepened in 2025.

China denies acting illegally in pursuit of its economic interests or posing any threat to Western countries.

Domestically, jihadist and far-right groups pose the main security threat in the Netherlands, with both groups gaining a worrying popularity among some young people, the agency said.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer)
Donald Trump, the president who fancied himself a very stable genius, shows very little of that stability these days. More than 80 Democratic members of Congress have called for invoking the 25th Amendment to sideline him.

Trumps vice president and a majority of his Cabinet are the only ones who could actually exercise their powers under the amendment and suspend Trump as president. With this vice president and this Cabinet, thats like expecting the cast of a puppet show to overthrow the man controlling the strings.

That said, talk of the 25th Amendment is serious. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the astute ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, has filed legislation (HR 8275) to create a bipartisan, professionally qualified 17-member standing Commission on Presidential Capacity to determine if a president is unable to carry out the powers and duties of his office.

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That needs to pass  if not by this Congress, which is unlikely, then as a first order of business for the next one. That would necessitate electing a Democratic Congress in November.

HR 8275 completes what Congress left undone when it approved the 25th Amendment by overwhelming bipartisan votes in 1965.

One purpose, inspired by the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy, was to fill vacancies in the office of vice president. The Congress also had in mind President Woodrow Wilsons paralyzing stroke in 1919 and President Eisenhowers serious illnesses, including a heart attack that disabled him for six weeks.

The president can invoke it

Section 3 of the 25th provides for presidents themselves to invoke it, as several have in anticipation of surgery and anesthesia, by briefly transferring their duties to the vice president.

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Section 4 anticipates dealing with a president who needs to step aside and refuses. He or she could be compelled to do so by the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet, or by the vice president and such other body as Congress might create, but never has.

Raskins commission would be that other body. The vice president would still have the decisive vote. In each case, a president could contest the action and appeal to Congress, which could suspend the president from office by a two-thirds vote of each chamber.

The Founders apparently thought the impeachment process would accommodate all eventualities. They could not foresee how inadequate that would be in an age when a presidents whim could extinguish millions of lives in an instant.

A letter from seven psychiatrists to congressional leadership elaborated on the danger.

A whole civilization will die

The presidents recent public communications have been, by any normal standard of political discourse, alarming, they wrote. His posts demanding that Iran open the f strait, you crazy b, and his threat to bomb Iran back to the stone ages, adding that a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, are not the rhetoric of calculated geopolitical pressure.

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They are the expressions of a man in profound psychological distress who is reaching for the most extreme retaliatory threats available to him. That these statements were addressed to an adversary in the context of an active military confrontation makes them not merely shocking but profoundly dangerous.

Trumps behavior, though often bizarre and detached from reality (as after he lost the 2020 election), reached new extremes by also attacking the pope and posting an AI-generated impression of himself as Jesus.

The president has become increasingly erratic, and the public has noticed. In a Reuters/Ipsos survey of 4,638 adults two months ago, 61% agreed that Trump has become erratic with age and only 45% considered him mentally sharp and able to deal with challenges while 49% disagreed. But among Republicans, 81% were still seeing him through rose-colored glasses. They cant see in Trump the unfitness he relished imputing to former President Joe Biden.

A presidents mental state wouldnt have been so critical back when wars were fought with sailing ships and muzzle-loading muskets. In our times, whether a demented president would order an unwarranted nuclear attack is just one ominous concern. Another is whether he would be unable to respond to a nuclear attack in time  which could be as short as 10 minutes.

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As Raskin said, We are at a dangerous precipice.

Raskins legislation has 85 co-sponsors, all of them Democrats. None is from Florida, which is inexplicable.

It is unrealistic, perhaps, to expect Republicans to support Raskins legislation or even allow it to become law while they are still in thrall to Trump.

Nonetheless, the question of how to make the 25th Amendment meaningful is no longer idle or theoretical. It belongs in the forefront of everyones mind and in the November election campaign.

_____
HANOI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ministry of Health has proposed spending more than 1.8 trillion Vietnamese dong (about 71.7 million U.S. dollars) annually on cash incentives for childbirth as the country grapples with a decline in fertility, local media VnExpress reported Thursday.

The policy, if approved by the government, will take effect from July 1, with at least 2 million Vietnamese dong to be offered in cash or bank transfer to eligible women, who may receive combined benefits if they qualify for more than one group, according to the report.

Beneficiaries include women from small ethnic minority groups, those living in areas with fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, and those who have two children before age 35.

The health ministry also plans to allocate over 2 trillion Vietnamese dong annually to cover congenital disease screening, said the report.

Health experts see the financial incentives as an urgent response to falling birth rates, with the national fertility rate declining from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to 1.91 this year and expected to decline further. (1 Vietnamese dong equals 0.000038) 
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on Wednesday and said his country aims to deepen cooperation with Vietnam in trade, technology and digital transformation.

Relations between Vietnam and Estonia have accelerated in recent years and the two countries signed agreements on digital cooperation in 2025.

Estonias GDP accounts for just 0.2% of the European Unions total, but it punches above its weight in digital expertise and e-governance innovation. It is offering that expertise to Vietnam as the Southeast Asian export powerhouse pursues reforms aimed at making it a high-income economy by 2045.

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Cooperation on digitalization of services could help Vietnam reduce bureaucracy, improve transparency and lower costs, Tashkna said.

It is much more quicker for citizens to be part of public sector services, he told The Associated Press in Hanoi, adding that Vietnam had proposed an education cooperation agreement.

Hung, the prime minister, asked Estonia to urge the European Union to ratify an Investment Protection Agreement and support efforts to lift the European Commissions yellow card that restricts imports of Vietnamese seafood exports for illegal fishing, said state media.

Tsahkna said Estonia could serve as a gateway for Vietnamese businesses to Europe, while Vietnam offers Estonia a larger market and a foothold in Southeast Asia.

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For us, Vietnam is one of the priority countries in the region, he said.

He said the meetings in Vietnam were also an opportunity to convey Europes view of why it sees Russia as an existential threat.

Hanoi and Moscow have had diplomatic relations since 1950 and Vietnam has maintained a neutral stance regarding the war in Ukraine, advocating peace but avoiding direct criticism of Russia.

Tashkna said Estonia's outreach to Vietnam and Southeast Asia is driven by geopolitical pressures and economic opportunity, as U.S. President Donald Trumps criticism of European defense spending and tariff tensions compel Europe to look outward.

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__

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
European Union countries have unanimously approved a loan for war-torn Ukraine worth 90 billion ($105 billion) and new sanctions on Russia, after Hungary had lifted its opposition, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced.

"Russias war economy is under growing strain, while Ukraine is getting a major boost," Kallas wrote on X on Thursday.

"We will provide Ukraine what it needs to hold its ground, until (Russian President Vladimir) Putin understands his war leads nowhere," she said.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa welcomed the breakthrough.

Thursday's move formalizes an agreement reached earlier by EU members to resolve a months-long dispute between Kiev and Budapest over halted Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had accused Ukraine of blocking the resumption of Russian oil supplies via the pipeline for political reasons ahead of Hungarys parliamentary elections, which he lost decisively.

Kiev rejected the allegation, saying the pipeline required repairs following Russian airstrikes in January. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced earlier this week that the pipeline was repaired.

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Earlier on Thursday, Slovakia confirmed that Russian oil is again reaching the country.

The funding is intended to cover Ukraine's most urgent economic and military needs and enable the country to continue its defensive struggle against Russia.

The European Commission hopes to disburse the first tranche of 45 billion by the end of June, with a further 45 billion to follow next year.

From the 90 billion to be made available to Ukraine, one-third is earmarked for budgetary support while two-thirds, or 60 billion, is intended for defence-related expenditure.

"Today is an important day for our defense and for our relations with the European Union," wrote Zelensky on X.

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"This package will strengthen our army, make Ukraine more resilient, and enable us to fulfill our social obligations to Ukrainians," he said.

"The funds from the European package will be directed, among other priorities, to arms production, the procurement of necessary weapons from partners that we do not yet produce in Ukraine, and the preparation of our energy sector and critical infrastructure for the next winter."

In addition, the EU approved to the bloc's 20th package of sanctions on Russia, which aims to further limit Moscow's revenues from energy exports and puts more restrictions on the arms industry.
European Union countries have unanimously approved a loan for war-torn Ukraine worth 90 billion ($105 billion) and new sanctions on Russia, after Hungary lifted its opposition, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced.

"Russia's war economy is under growing strain, while Ukraine is getting a major boost," Kallas wrote on X on Thursday.

"We will provide Ukraine what it needs to hold its ground, until [Russian President Vladimir] Putin understands his war leads nowhere," she said.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa welcomed the breakthrough.

Thursday's move formalizes an agreement reached earlier by EU members to resolve a months-long dispute between Kiev and Budapest over halted Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had accused Ukraine of blocking the resumption of Russian oil supplies via the pipeline for political reasons ahead of Hungary's parliamentary elections, which he lost decisively.

Kiev rejected the allegation, saying the pipeline required repairs following Russian airstrikes in January. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced earlier this week that the pipeline had been repaired.

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On Thursday, Slovakia confirmed that Russian oil is again reaching the country.

Later in the day, Hungary said it was also receiving Russian crude oil again via the pipeline.

The Hungarian oil company MOL, which processes the Russian oil, said the first shipment of crude oil arrived on Thursday morning at the Hungarian pumping station in Fenyeslitke, near the Ukrainian border.

The EU funding is intended to cover Ukraine's most urgent economic and military needs and enable the country to continue its defensive struggle against Russia.

The European Commission hopes to disburse the first tranche of 45 billion by the end of June, with a further 45 billion to follow next year.

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From the 90 billion to be made available to Ukraine, one-third is earmarked for budgetary support while two-thirds, or 60 billion, is intended for defence-related expenditure.

"Today is an important day for our defense and for our relations with the European Union," Zelensky wrote on X.

"This package will strengthen our army, make Ukraine more resilient, and enable us to fulfill our social obligations to Ukrainians," he said.

"The funds from the European package will be directed, among other priorities, to arms production, the procurement of necessary weapons from partners that we do not yet produce in Ukraine, and the preparation of our energy sector and critical infrastructure for the next winter."

In addition, the EU approved the bloc's 20th package of sanctions on Russia, which aims to further limit Moscow's revenues from energy exports and puts more restrictions on the arms industry.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union is set to ramp up tests on rules that oblige the bloc's 27 member countries to help each other in times of crisis, as the reality sinks in that Washington's commitment to NATO and security in Europe under U.S. President Donald Trump is evaporating.

At a summit in Cyprus starting later Thursday, leaders will work on an operational plan to make best use of the EUs military, security, trade policy and other assets in times of need, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told The Associated Press.

In mid-May, EU envoys will take part in table-top exercises to game out how Article 42.7 of the blocs treaties could be used to provide collective assistance to a nation in the event of an attack or an invasion by a country like Russia.

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EU defense ministers are expected to carry out similar tests a few weeks later. The exercises are focused on political decision-making and don't involve armed forces, government agencies or other assets in the field.

Like NATO's Article 5, but not exactly

Under NATOs Article 5 security guarantee, an attack on one ally is deemed an attack on them all and one that requires a collective response, often, though not exclusively, by military means.

Its only ever been activated once, in support of the United States following the Sept. 11 attacks and led to NATOs failed 18-year security effort in Afghanistan.

The EUs Article 42.7, which was drafted to avoid conflict with Article 5, has also only been used once, at the request of France following terror attacks in Paris in 2015 that left more than 130 people dead and more than 400 others wounded.

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The EU article states that if a nation is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, its partners should provide aid and assistance by all the means in their power.

It provides that such help should be in accordance with the U.N. charter and not conflict with NATO commitments, and the clause makes allowances for the neutrality of member countries like Austria and Ireland.

When the US is absent

In the case of France, EU nations expressed solidarity and offered support. France appealed to its partners to step up their efforts against international terrorism, which freed up French forces for a major security operation at home.

Similar exercises to test the use of Article 42.7 have been held over the past decade. But growing doubts about the U.S. commitment to NATO and the future EU membership of war-ravaged Ukraine have brought new urgency to the preparations.

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Recent reflection about how the Europeans might defend themselves gathered pace after Trump threatened to annex Greenland, which is a semiautonomous part of the kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally.

Several European countries sent just a few soldiers each to the massive island off the coast of Canada in a highly symbolic display of solidarity with Denmark. Trump railed that he would impose tariffs on countries that took part, but he eventually backed down.

Trumps decision to launch a war against Iran, alongside Israel, seemed to justify the planning. A revenge attack by Iran in March targeted a U.K. military base on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which currently holds the EUs rotating presidency.

Options and issues

Unlike NATO, which is purely a security organization, the EU has many more diverse weapons at its disposal. They range from military might to the use of sanctions, border controls, or trade and visa policies.

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The extent to which they and other measures might be used in times of crisis are set to be put to the test again in coming weeks as wars fester in the Middle East, absorbing U.S. attention, and in Ukraine.

We dont know what is going to happen if a member state triggers this article, Christodoulides told the AP. There are a number of issues.

___

Menelaos Hadjicostis contributed to this report from Nicosia, Cyprus.
All 95 Tennessee county sheriffs will be required to enter cooperative agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in legislation headed to Gov. Bill Lees desk after a final Senate vote on Thursday.

The legislation requires sheriffs to enter the so-called 287(g) agreements with the federal government or risk losing state funding.

If signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee sheriffs will have a Jan. 1, 2027 deadline to comply. Local police forces are not covered by the legislation and would retain autonomy over the decision to enter the agreements. The Lookout is seeking comment from Lees office about whether the governor intends to sign the legislation.

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As part of its crackdown on illegal immigration, the Trump administration has made a push for local law enforcement nationwide to enter the voluntary agreements to serve as force-multipliers in arresting and detaining individuals without legal status.

As of Thursday, 49 county sheriffs  just over half of all sheriffs in Tennessee  had entered into an agreement with ICE, according to a federal database. Separately, several Tennessee police departments and constables have also entered into the agreements.

Of the Tennessee sheriffs that have entered into these agreements, most have opted to partner with the federal government on so-called jail model and warrant model 287(g) agreements, allowing deputies to verify immigration status of jail inmates or serve warrants provided by ICE.

A separate task force model gives law enforcement officers similar power to ICE agents to enforce U.S. immigration laws. The Tennessee legislation does not mandate which type of agreement sheriffs are required to enter.

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On the Senate floor Thursday, Democrat Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville attempted unsuccessfully to amend the legislation to include state funding to cover added costs for sheriffs who take on additional immigration enforcement responsibilities.

Dozens of Tennessee sheriffs have opted not to participate in the program, Yarbro noted. Yarbro suggested many sheriffs have declined to participate in the 287(g) program due to unavoidable expenses participation brings.

This is fundamentally an unfunded mandate, Yarbro said, noting such mandates are barred by the Tennessee Constitution. Yarbro and other members of the Democrat minority opposed the legislation in its entirety.

We are requiring all of our counties to comply with something that is a costly endeavor every year going forward and we have made no commitment to actually be part of that annual funding that was required to take on the expense in the years ahead, Yarbro said.

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But Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a Williamson County Republican who sponsored the measure, dismissed those concerns.

The federal government has offered certain financial incentives to departments that join the program, he said. And a separate $5 million state-funded incentive fund, created by lawmakers last year, is available for start-up costs, he said.

The program has thus far distributed $160,000 to sheriffs departments, leaving more than $4.8 million left to distribute to sheriffs who would be required to participate, Johnson said.

Johnson said he believes so little of the state funding has been requested thus far because sheriffs have been able to secure federal funding for their 287(g) participation.

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During this very unprecedented time were in where we have an occupant in the White House who is actually doing something about this scourge of illegal immigration and securing the border and so forth (the legislation is) focusing particularly on those individuals who are not only in the country illegally but have committed crimes, he said.

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In the latest redistricting battle, voters in Virginia have approved a measure to redraw that states congressional lines. The states Democrats have portrayed the political gerrymandering as a temporary measure enacted in reaction to Republican efforts to add GOP seats in predominantly red states. With several states having redrawn their district lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Virginias move could tip control of the House toward Democrats.

Virginia Democrats appeal to Black voters, win vote to redraw electoral map

Multiple news agencies projected Tuesday night that a Democratic-led effort on redistricting in Virginia had been approved by voters in a statewide referendum on the issue. Virginia voters approved of the plan to allow the Democratic-controlled government to temporarily redraw the states congressional map ahead of Novembers congressional elections. The new map is expected to create a major shift in the states congressional delegation. Currently, six Democrats and five Republicans represent Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives; the new map could shift that number to 10 Democratic representatives and only one Republican.

As noted by TheGrio, Black voters were seen as crucial for Democrats winning Tuesdays referendum, which was framed as a way of protecting voting rights for Black people and others against Republican attempts to unfairly skew the midterm election. Svante Myrick, president and CEO of People For the American Way, told TheGrio before the election that this measure in Virginia, if passed, will protect Black voters and give all voters a fair shot at representation. Popular Black politicians campaigned in favor of the proposed redistricting. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, speaking at a Black church in Virginia, portrayed the referendum as a chance to counteract Republican efforts to restrict voting. Certain people are trying to nationalize elections and place federal agents to guard ballot boxes to stop fraud, even when they know that is a direct act of voter suppression, Moore said. Former President Barack Obama, meanwhile, also campaigned for the Virginia referendum and celebrated the approval of the redistricting plan. Congratulations, Virginia! Obama posted on social media. Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they havent done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back.

Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they havent done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 22, 2026

Partisan gerrymandering ahead of midterm elections

Virginias approval of a new congressional map is the latest in a partisan battle to redraw district lines ahead of the midterm elections. The race to gerrymander was kicked off when President Donald Trump pressured Republican-led state governments to redraw their maps in order to ensure that the GOP holds the House, which it currently holds with a very narrow majority. Texas was the largest Republican state to heed Trumps call, overcoming Democratic opposition to add several Republican-leaning seats and forcing sitting Democrats such as Rep. Jasmine Crockett to run against one another or seek other office. Other Republican-controlled states, such as North Carolina and Missouri, have also redrawn their maps to favor the GOP, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session for late April to redraw that states congressional districts.

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In retaliation to these GOP moves, Democrats have sought to redraw district lines in states they control, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom successfully promoted a redistricting measure that was passed by referendum in that state in November. With so many states redrawing congressional lines, and with voting under these new maps yet to take place, the net impact of this wave of gerrymandering remains to be seen. However, the Virginia redistricting is poised to wipe out most or all of the advantage that Republicans have gained so far in the process. Eric Holder, who served as U.S. Attorney General under Obama and now chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, praised the outcome of Tuesdays referendum. Virginian voters, Holder said in his statement, didnt just win an election  they have stopped Donald Trumps attempt to steal the 2026 midterms in its tracks and defended the principle that elections should be fair, competitive, and decided by the people. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who pushed the referendum, posted on social media, The President ordered states to draw more Republican seats in Congress because he knows he cannot win with his record. She also urged voters to get to work to win in November.

The President ordered states to draw more Republican seats in Congress because he knows he cannot win with his record.



Rising prices. Reckless war. Failed promises.



Virginians made their response loud and clear last night. Now, we get to work to win in November. pic.twitter.com/Suen7ah8yA  Abigail Spanberger (@SpanbergerForVA) April 22, 2026

L. Louise Lucas, president pro tempore of the Virginia State Senate, posted an even more pointed message toward Trump and Republicans: You all started it, and we fing finished it.

With Virginia now set to significantly redraw its district maps ahead of the midterm elections, Democrats are hopeful that they are countering Republican efforts to maintain control of Congress. Republicans, meanwhile, may be emboldened to push more gerrymandering before the November vote. For now, at least, Virginia has boosted Democrats chances of retaking the House by creating a significant advantage for the Democratic Party in the states congressional elections.







The post Everything To Know About Virginia Voters Approving New Democratic Redistricting Ahead Of 2026 Midterms appeared first on Blavity.
A former Seminole High School SRO was back in front of a judge Thursday, facing additional child sex-related charges.

Pedro da Silva, 36, was accused by an underage student of making inappropriate advances, grabbing her, and sending her explicit photos while she was at school and he was on duty.

The girl said da Silva would send her photos if she did not accept his invitations to come to his office, and over the span of their interaction sent her too many pictures for her to count.

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The accusations came four months after da Silvas first arrest, when a different girl made similar accusations. Da Silva was fired after the first student reported him after only serving as an SRO for five months.

The new records uploaded as part of his case include Google searches da Silva allegedly made with his phone shortly after he was fired.

The searches included jail-related topics, like where police officers are held in a jail, and what the crime and sentence were for sending explicit photos to a minor in Florida.

Sanford police are encouraging anyone else who experienced this behavior to come forward, emphasizing that the new victim came to their attention because she commented on their post about da Silvas original arrest on Facebook.

Da Silva was given a $70,000 bond and told to stay away from all juveniles.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The family of a Carteret woman who drowned after a massive sinkhole opened in a Woodbridge roadway last July has filed a wrongfuldeath lawsuit.

The suit alleges that Shelly Malbranche, 36, died as a result of dangerous and defective conditions on a public roadway, negligent maintenance and other wrongful conduct.

The complaint was filed April 8 in Middlesex County Superior Court by her brother and father, Evan and Enoise Malbranche, as administrators of her estate.

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According to the complaint, a leak in a nearby water main over a period of time undermined the roadways foundation, leaving it structurally unsound and prone to collapse.

The lawsuit names Middlesex County, Woodbridge Township, Carteret Borough and Middlesex Water Company.

The complaint states that around 1:12 a.m. on July 26, 2025, Malbranche was driving on Middlesex Avenue in Woodbridge after attending a wedding event in New York when her vehicle struck a fire hydrant.

Malbranche told a friend on the phone that she had taken off her seat belt and exited the vehicle after the crash.

Shortly afterward, the suit alleges, a large sinkhole opened. The hydrant then detached from the water main, sending water rushing into the road.

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First responders found Malbranches car partially submerged in the sinkhole, which spanned approximately 15 to 16 feet, according to the complaint.

Malbranche was found dead with her body floating in the sinkhole, the suit states.

According to the lawsuit, she inhaled dirty water, mud and debris while attempting to breathe.

The complaint further alleges that the sidewalk near the hydrant collapsed when the sinkhole opened, which likely caused Malbranche to fall into the sinkhole. A whirlpool formed, and Malbranche was allegedly struck by debris.

Her cause of death was listed as mechanical asphyxia with drowning.

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The suit claims that Middlesex Water Company and the public entities failed to fulfill their duties to inspect, correct, repair, or warn of the dangerous roadway condition.

Spokespeople for the Middlesex Water Company and Middlesex County declined a request for comment, citing pending litigation.

A Woodbridge spokesperson said the township attorney is in the process of reviewing the litigation and will withhold comment pending a response to the court.

Carteret officials did not respond to a request for comment.

An attorney representing Malbranches family declined to comment.

According to the suit, Malbranche is remembered as a beloved daughter, sister, friend, girlfriend, and sorority sister to many individuals who grieve her loss.

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Her brother and father, Evan and Enoise Malbranche, are seeking compensatory, consequential, incidental and punitive damages, along with interest, attorneys fees, costs of suit and other relief.

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An illegal immigrant from Cuba with multiple prior convictions is in federal custody after spending decades evading deportation due to relaxed sanctuary city policies, federal authorities announced Tuesday.

Eledoro Valenzuela Rodriguez was taken into custody from the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida last month, according to officials.

At the time, Rodriguez was awaiting trial on charges of cocaine possession with intent to sell, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and trespassing, officials said.

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Sledgehammer Murder Spurs Ice Manhunt For Illegal Immigrant Suspect

He previously had a final removal order lodged against him in 1980, but remained in the United States after "lenient sentences from sanctuary states New York and Maryland allowed this serial offender to keep preying on innocent people," ICE said in a statement.

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"Sanctuary policies protect criminals like Valenzuela Rodriguez and enable them to prey on generations of innocent Americans," ICE Director Todd Lyons said.

ICE did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment.

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Eledoro Valenzuela Rodriguez, a Cuban national, had a final removal order in 1980 but remained in the U.S. after lenient sentences in New York and Maryland, according to ICE. (iStock)

Authorities said Rodriguez "amassed numerous convictions and charges," including arrests for possession of controlled substances, marijuana possession, dealing cocaine, weapon possession and firearm possession by a convicted felon.

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Despite the litany of charges and past convictions, Rodriguez was released from jail multiple times while living in sanctuary cities, federal authorities said.

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"These policies dont make communities safer," Lyons added. "They make enforcement more difficult and force federal officers into more dangerous  and more public  situations. ICE will continue to enforce the law, regardless of local politics."

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It was not immediately clear if Rodriquez had retained an attorney following his arrest.





Original article source: Feds arrest illegal immigrant repeat offender they say dodged deportation for decades amid sanctuary policies
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said an apology from Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming does not go far enough after she shared a video featuring an AI-generated image attacking Mayor Brandon Scott  a move that has triggered an ethics complaint and renewed debate over professional boundaries for the citys top watchdog.

An apology is fine for personal redemption. Its not sufficient professionally under the circumstances, Ferguson said in a post on X.

He said the decision to share insulting and offensive content targeting a sitting mayor undermined public trust in an office built on impartiality and weakened the publics confidence in oversight.

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The Baltimore City Board of Ethics is reviewing a complaint filed by the mayors office after Cumming posted a third-party YouTube video commentary earlier this month that included a manipulated image portraying Scott surrounded by luxury goods and cash. Cumming said she did not notice the image and does not endorse it, removed the post, and issued a public apology.

The episode, Ferguson said, highlights the need for clearer guardrails around access to and use of public-sector data.

This whole episode is exactly why a thoughtful, purposeful framework for accessing data in the public sector is so important, Ferguson wrote. Too often personal vendettas cause people to make bad choices, and good public policy requires systems to be in place to limit the potential damage that can result.

Conway says timing was suspect

Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway said the timing of the criticism was suspect and warned it could be used to undermine independent investigations.

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It is highly revealing that the same politicians who blocked the reforms necessary for the Inspector General to complete her investigation are now using this incident to argue that the access of the Office should remain restricted in perpetuity, Conway said.

He pointed to recent court proceedings in which a judge said the mayors office had cut off, foreclosed, and shut down parts of the inspector generals investigative access, arguing the current controversy risks distracting from ongoing oversight work.

The actions and the arguments put forward by elected officials point to a more troubling pattern, Conway said.

An ongoing situation

The criticism comes as tensions remain high between Cumming and the mayors office over the independence of the inspector generals role. Cumming sued the city earlier this year after her access to certain records was curtailed following a state audit. A Baltimore judge has allowed that lawsuit to move forward.

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Mayor Scotts chief of staff, John David Merrill, told the ethics board that the inspector generals social media activity, including follows, comments and reposts tied to partisan political commentary, raises broader concerns about perceived bias and independence. The complaint argues that pairing misleading claims with a racist, fabricated image crossed a professional line.

Since removing the video, Cumming has continued posting personal content on social media, including reflections about visiting family in Florida and remembering her late father during a walk on the beach. The post, accompanied by a photo of a seabird in flight, did not reference city business.

While the ethics review focuses on professional conduct, the contrast between that personal post and the disputed video underscores the challenge public officials face in navigating personal expression online while holding offices that demand neutrality.

The ethics board has not commented, even to acknowledge receipt of the complaint. Ferguson did not call for specific disciplinary action, but said the situation serves as a warning.

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For offices grounded in independence, he wrote, public trust is everything.

The ethics complaint remains pending.

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, April 22, 2026. Wang and Dong are in Cambodia for the first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday here in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, vowing to further deepen bilateral ties and cooperation.

Wang and Dong are in Cambodia for the first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism.

Hun Manet said Cambodia firmly adheres to a friendly policy towards China and resolutely upholds the one-China principle.

He said Cambodia looks forward to close high-level exchanges with China, expanding institutional dialogues, and deepening practical cooperation in areas such as clean energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and talent cultivation.

He added that Cambodia welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia and resolutely combats online gambling and telecom fraud, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this regard.

The prime minister said Cambodia is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations to jointly safeguard multilateralism.

For his part, Wang said that in the face of a tense and chaotic external environment, China and Cambodia need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever before.

He said that China will continue to deepen strategic mutual trust, promote all-round cooperation, and contribute to the development, revitalization, and long-term stability of both countries.

Wang added that both sides should maintain high-level exchanges, jointly promote the construction of the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor," and help Cambodia enhance its capacity for independent development.

Both sides must resolutely crack down upon and completely eradicate cross-border online gambling and telecom fraud, he said, adding that the two sides should firmly support each other in international multilateral affairs and work together to uphold fairness and justice.

Meanwhile, Dong briefed on the cooperation between the defense ministries of China and Cambodia.

During the meeting, Hun Manet briefed on the situation regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and expressed his hope that China would play a greater role in advancing peace talks.

Wang said that China is willing to continue to build more platforms for the resumption of exchanges and direct dialogue between Cambodia and Thailand. 
April 22 (Reuters) - A large contingent of Russian firefighters was battling a blaze for the third day on Wednesday at the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea after a Ukrainian drone attack, and officials said air quality in the city had sharply deteriorated.

On Tuesday, two industry sources said the Tuapse oil refinery, which sells most of its products for export, had halted operations following the April 16 attack.

On Wednesday, the general headquarters of Russia's southern Krasnodar region said: "In Tuapse, firefighting operations are going on for the third day at a large fire at the sea terminal after a drone attack by the Kyiv regime."

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The headquarters said 276 firefighters and 77 vehicles had been drafted into the operation.

It said byproducts from the fire, mixed with rainfall, had created a "black coating" in areas around the terminal.

Atmospheric readings, it said, showed concentrations two to three times permitted concentration levels of benzene, xylene and soot and residents were urged to remain indoors, keep windows shut and wipe down surfaces.

"The situation will normalise as soon as the fire is extinguished," it said.

Ukraine has increased attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure as the U.S., which had brokered peace talks to stop the conflict with Russia, has shifted its focus to the war in Iran.

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According to Russian officials, attacks on April 16 and April 20 on the city of Tuapse damaged transport infrastructure at the port and set oil product storage on fire.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kim Coghill)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Wednesday that prohibits local governments in his state from promoting or funding diversity initiatives, claiming that such programs discriminated against groups like white men.

Republican state leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump's administration have rallied against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.

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Civil rights advocates say DEI practices help address historic inequities for marginalized groups like women, the LGBT community and racial and ethnic minorities.

"I would think with DEI the disfavored groups, number one obviously, would be white males and I think they've been discriminated against," DeSantis said on Wednesday.

The bill prohibits local governments from establishing or maintaining DEI offices or programs, DeSantis' office said.

The legislation also requires grant recipients to certify that public funds will not be used to advance DEI and provides enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for officials who violate the law, it added.

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Republicans, casting diversity programs as anti-merit and discriminatory against groups like white people and men, have cracked down on DEI at the state and federal levels.

Trump has signed executive orders directing the dismantling of DEI policies at federal agencies and in the private sector, including in government contractors and subcontractors.

Trump has also attempted to freeze federal funding for universities over DEI.

DEI practices, among others, include training on combating discrimination, addressing pay inequity along gender or racial lines and broadening recruitment and access for underrepresented ethnic groups.

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DeSantis also signed a bill prohibiting initiatives related to climate change. That law will prevent new taxes, fees and penalties tied to carbon emissions, his office said.

Rights advocates have criticized Republicans for cracking down on DEI, climate initiatives, transgender rights and pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza.

Civil rights groups say such steps violate free speech and due process. Republicans cast their actions as being against "woke," "far-left" and "anti-American" ideologies.

Earlier this month, DeSantis signed into law a measure that gave him and other state officials the power to designate groups as "terrorist organizations."

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)
A North Carolina man accused of threatening a mass shooting in New Orleans has been taken into custody in Florida, authorities said.

Christopher Gillum, of Chapel Hill, was arrested Wednesday evening at a Destin hotel by deputies with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Investigators said they were able to locate Gillum using the county's Flock camera system after receiving information that he was in the area.

Gillum is wanted in Orleans Parish by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety on a charge of terroristic threats. Authorities said they obtained information indicating Gillum planned to travel to a festival in New Orleans with the intent to carry out a mass shooting, specifically targeting Black people, and "then commit suicide by cop."

Christopher Gillum Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

Though the festival has not been named, Thursday is the first day of New Orleans Jazz Fest.

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Deputies said they recovered a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition from Gillum's hotel room on Scenic Highway 98.

Retired FBI investigator Frank Brostrom said agencies in several states worked together to stop the alleged plot.

"He decided to do a terrorist act. He did a couple of things in that overt act. He traveled interstate, he purchased or possessed firearms, a large amount of ammunition, and he's making his way to where he was going to go," Brostrom said.

The Chapel Hill Police Department told ABC11 that Gillum served as a police officer from 2004 to 2019. He worked as a police officer in Carolina Beach from October 2019 until his resignation the following October, town administrative services officer Sheila Nicholson said. Gillum became a detention officer in October 2023 with the Orange County Sheriff's Office and left in July 2024, spokesperson Alicia L. Stemper said.

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He returned to Chapel Hill in 2024 as a nonsworn employee, then left to work as an Orange County deputy from January to September 2025.

Guillum has a long history with law enforcement in North Carolina, and it was a tool used by law enforcement that helped deputies locate him: Flock's license-plate reader system.

Burlington Police said Thursday that the Alamance County Sheriff's Office contacted the department on Wednesday about a missing person. As the investigation progressed, the Alamance County Sheriff's Office and the Burlington Police Department "developed reasons to believe Gillum was a danger to himself and others."

Gillum's family reported him missing on Tuesday, and he has a history of self-harm, according to Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriff's Office. Gillum's family told law enforcement he had a gun and had "expressed recent threats to harm 'Black people.'"

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Lyons said Gillum left the state before the sheriff's office could prepare paperwork to involuntarily commit him to psychiatric treatment. Lyons said there were no criminal grounds to detain Gillum despite his comments about Black people, "because there was no victim," however, the agency decided it needed to spread the word about him to other departments.

Burlington Police's Aerial Reconnaissance Tactical Intelligence Center (ARTIC), used Flock cameras to determine Gillum was heading south toward Florida and began contacting other agencies, including the New Orleans Police Department and the Louisiana State Police.

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Gillum was stopped by law enforcement officers in Okaloosa County on Wednesday, Burlington Police said, but he "did not present any grounds for involuntary commitment or criminal charges" and was allowed to drive away. Gillum told officers he was "en route to New Orleans."

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Okaloosa deputies were initially asked to make a "welfare check" on him Wednesday morning, but they didn't know he'd been making violent threats, Okaloosa sheriff spokesperson Michele Nicholson said. Later that day, after the sheriff's office learned Gillum was being investigated, deputies surveilled him until an arrest warrant arrived from Louisiana, she added.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno released a statement on the arrest:

"I want to recognize the tremendous coordinated and swift work by the New Orleans FBI, Louisiana State Police, NOPD, NOCEM and governor. This level of coordination extended to law enforcement agencies in multiple states from North Carolina to Florida. This is where urgent collaboration and cooperation pays off. Job well done! We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners at every level to ensure that any potential danger is addressed quickly and decisively. The safety of our residents and visitors will always be my top priority."

Brostrom said investigators are now determining what charges Gillum could face.

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"Law enforcement and the prosecutors will decide, is that enough to charge him with, you know, intent to commit bodily harm or murder, intent to commit a domestic terrorist act, and they'll be looking at that very closely," he said. "They're going to talk to his supervisors and the executives for those agencies that he worked for, and dig into that employment file and find out, was there something going on that identified that he had an issue early on. How was his firearm skills? How was his attendance record? Did he have discipline?"

Part of that review includes Gillum's long history in law enforcement. Brostrom said investigators will examine his employment records closely.

"They're going to go back to the Human Resources Department of everywhere that he worked, probably in the last 20-25 years, and they're going to find out why he moved around so much. That was my first key that something was amiss all the jumping around," he said.

According to ABC News, police alerted law enforcement agencies that Gillum had threatened to harm Black people. Brostrom said investigators will now look for clues about what may have motivated him.

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"They're going to go back and look at cases in which he was a witness, and he gathered evidence. They may have to go back and review those cases," he said.

Gillum is being held in the Okaloosa County Jail while awaiting extradition to Louisiana.

- ABC News and The Associated Press contributed.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has labelled a deadly attack on soldiers with the UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL in Lebanon a war crime.

"To attack UN blue helmets, soldiers of peace who are clearly identifiable in the field, is not only a war crime, but also an affront to the entire international community," Barrot said on France Info.

This is because the international community grants the peacekeepers their mandate, the minister added.

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Two French soldiers died as a result of Saturday's attack. Two others were injured.

According to United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the troops came under fire while clearing explosive devices from a road in Lebanon's south.

A preliminary assessment by UNIFIL indicated that Hezbollah fighters were responsible for the attack. Israels military said its intelligence also pointed to Hezbollah gunmen opening fire.

Hezbollah, however, denied any responsibility for the incident over the weekend.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry promised a thorough investigation of the incident by Lebanese authorities.

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UNIFILs peacekeepers, often known as blue helmets for their distinctive headgear, have monitored the border area between Israel and Lebanon since 1978.

There have repeatedly been deaths and injuries among their ranks. A few weeks ago, two Indonesian soldiers from the UNIFIL mission were killed in an explosion.
Fruit growers were among the most concerned after a storm swept through the area this week, according to Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen.

A helicopter was deployed shortly after Tuesday's storm passed through cherry trees in Biola, west of Fresno.

Grower Stan Grosz said calling in a pilot to dry his trees was a familiar step.

"The Huey helicopter comes in, blows them off, it's mostly about shaking them off and getting the water out of the crack by the stem," Grosz said.

RELATED: 3 tornadoes officially touched down in Central California Tuesday, NWS confirms

Grosz said water sitting by the stem can cause cherries to crack, so he acted quickly after the storm.

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"One time a year, we have to get the cherries off and get them to the market," Grosz said.

He believes the effort helped save his crop.

Not all neighboring farmland fared as well. Jacobsen said damage was observed in a nearby almond orchard following the storm.

"We definitely see hail damage; the extent is not fully known, and we probably had some wind damage too," Jacobsen said.

Drone footage from the area showed several almond trees uprooted from the ground, with gusty winds and hail causing the most damage. Jacobsen said some impacts are unavoidable.

"We try to deal with what mother nature gives us because we have to work hand in hand, it's not something you work against and just try to make the most of it this upcoming year," he said.

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Even growers who escaped damage may still take preventive steps after the storm, Jacobsen said.

"Whether it's almonds or grapes or a lot of these other crops, that can sustain water, you do have to come on the backside and put a fungicide because they are susceptible to mildew or fungus issues," he said.

Despite the aftermath for some growers, Jacobsen said the storm also brought significant snowfall, which is expected to benefit summer agriculture.

For news updates, follow Elisa Navarro on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
There were lane closures temporarily in place along a busy stretch of Interstate 93 in Medford just as drivers hit the road for the afternoon commute.

Shortly after 2:45 p.m., the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said lanes were closed on the northbound side of the highway at Exit 23 in Medford due to an earlier fuel spill.

MassDOT officials initially said the closures were expected to continue through the afternoon commute, but at 3:22 p.m., they reopened the lanes.

Drivers were urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes during the closures.

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No additional details about the fuel spill were immediately available.

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Drought conditions are worsening across Central North Carolina, and more towns and cities are joining Raleigh in enacting water restrictions.

Fuquay Varina restrictions

Town of Fuquay Varina officials announced Stage 1 Water Conservation measures will take effect Friday, April 24 with the goal of reducing overall water consumption by 10%. Under Stage 1, people who receive water from the town must follow specific outdoor watering restrictions.

For residents who use automated irrigation systems such as sprinklers, watering is limited based on the last number of the address:



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Homes with even numbered addresses may water outdoor landscaping on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Homes with odd numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

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Hand watering is allowed at any time, as long as a handheld hose or watering device is actively held while in use. Drip irrigation systems are also permitted and are not required to follow the watering schedule.

Rock Mount restrictions

The city of Rocky Mount started implementing voluntary stage 1 water restrictions on Monday.

"Voluntary Conservation Stage I measures are typically implemented later in the summer; however, current conditions have prompted earlier action this year. These measures are part of the City's established drought management plan, which accounts for seasonal increases in water demand and environmental conditions," town leader said in a news release.

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Under Voluntary Conservation Stage I, people and businesses who draw water from Rocky Mount are encouraged to reduce water use by:



Limiting outdoor watering, especially during peak daytime hours

Repairing leaking faucets, toilets, and irrigation systems

Running dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads

Turning off water while brushing teeth or shaving

Avoiding non-essential water use, such as washing driveways or sidewalks

Goldsboro

On Monday, Goldsboro town leaders also announced voluntary water conservation measures.

They released this statement about the restrictions: "Due to current river levels and ongoing drought conditions, the City of Goldsboro is implementing voluntary water conservation measures effective Monday, April 20. All customers are encouraged to reduce water usage until further notice."

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Examples of recommended conservation measures include:



Take 5-minute showers instead of baths.

Turn off water while shaving, brushing teeth, or rinsing dishes.

Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
After the expiration of a statutory holding period, a small town in eastern Germany is allowed to keep a gold treasure worth tens of thousands of euros.

No one was able to credibly prove ownership of the 10 gold bars discovered by a municipal worker while mowing the lawn in October, Heiko Wersig, mayor of Bannewitz, told dpa.

"I received many, many emails, calls and letters," said the politician.

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However, none of the alleged owners were able to provide the required proof, such as a valid purchase receipt and the serial numbers stamped on the bars.

With the six-month statutory holding period for found property having expired on April 17, the town near Dresden can now decide what to do with the gold.

A final decision is expected at a municipal council meeting next Tuesday, Wersig said. In any case, the plan is for community clubs to benefit from the treasure.

"Specifically, this concerns associations involved in youth work and in preserving local traditions and customs," the mayor added.

For now, the gold bars remains in police custody. At current gold prices, the hoard is worth around 40,000.
A GOP-linked group is urging Congress to slash red tape on the Pentagons defense acquisition process, a restructuring aimed at prioritizing shorter timelines for delivery, expanding the industrial base and boosting capacity.

The new report from Polaris National Security, which was first shared with The Hill, argues that the acquisition process should be predicated on speed, more competition on the market and adaptation to quickly arm the U.S. warfighter and dodge the slow procurement process seen as an obstacle by the Trump administration.

A system built for slow, exquisite platforms and a narrow industrial base is poorly suited for an era of great-power competition, mass production, and rapid adaptation, Polaris National Security said in the 25-page report , writing that the U.S.s greatest strategic advantage is its private-sector innovation umbrella of venture capital, startups and commercial firms.

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The report builds on previous work at the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pushed legacy contractors to produce weapons faster, introduced accountability for delays and sought to foster competition among firms competing for Defense Department (DOD) contracts.

We need acquisition and industry to be as strong and fast as our war fighters, Hegseth said during a November speech to industry leaders and military officials at the National War College in Washington, D.C. The Warfighting Acquisition System will dramatically shorten timelines, improve and expand the defense industrial base, boost competition and empower acquisition officials to take risks and make trade-offs.

Were leaving the old, failed process behind, and will instead embrace a new agile and results-oriented approach that used to take sometimes  when you add it up with requirements  three to eight years, we believe can happen within a year, Hegseth added.

The speech followed President Trumps executive order Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base, which said that the U.S. has to deliver stateoftheart capabilities at speed and scale through a comprehensive overhaul of this system.

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The report is recommending 10 changes, including codifying a Commercial-First mandate within Title 10 to force executives and officers to send written justifications before opting for non-commercial solutions. It also recommends refomring the use of advance market commitments and creating a single Commercial Pathway acquisition lane.

Congress can institute a pilot program to track progress and ensure accountability. The point is to remove structural friction that makes commercial firms walk away: uncertain timelines, shifting requirements, and compliance demands that assume a legacy prime, the authors wrote.

The report also advocates for mandating that market research be conducted before beginning new programs, forming Commercial Integration Program offices to help integrate technology into military units, systems and networks and connecting career advancement to speedy delivery of products.

Done right, this doesnt mean reckless shortcuts; it rewards leaders who manage risk intelligently, ship capability early, and improve through iteration rather than waiting for perfection, the report said. When reputational incentives align with fielding outcomes, the bureaucracy stops treating speed as a slogan and instead as a professional standard.

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Cale Brown, the chair of Polaris National Security, said the U.S. defense acquisition system has needed an overhaul for decades, but today the consequences of inaction are impossible to ignore.

Marginal tweaks to a model that rewards slow timelines, rising costs, and a narrow set of incumbents simply wont cut it. Meanwhile, the most dynamic engine of innovation in the worldAmericas private sectorremains largely untapped, Cale, a retired Army Col., told The Hill. Congress should act now to drive real reform and unleash the full breadth of American innovation to meet todays threats. We cannot afford to enter the next major conflict with a defense industrial base built for a bygone era.

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.
If youre a Cabinet official thinking of pursuing a new professional opportunity, Senate Republicans have a request: Nows the time to call it quits.

The departure this week of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is following former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi out the door, has some GOP lawmakers pondering a larger Cabinet shakeup and what that could mean to an unsettled Senate floor schedule.

Senate Republicans are already trying to juggle a shrinking window for lawmaking before the November midterms  including at least one potential party-line budget reconciliation bill, a litany of measures they are negotiating with the House and, some hope, a possible Supreme Court vacancy.

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Thats not to mention the growing uncertainty about what will happen in the midterms themselves, with many Republicans growing concerned that their four-seat majority could be at risk.

The number of working days are very limited, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said in an interview. You just do the math. Its a very compressed schedule.

Tillis is among a group of Republican senators who believe Trump should make any further changes to his inner circle sooner rather than later to give the Senate maximum flexibility in confirming replacements. Waiting, they fear, could mean significant delays in confirmations or worse if Democrats can retake the majority.

Another GOP senator, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly, said any personnel shakeup is ultimately up to Trump but that it would make sense to do it now.

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As we get closer to the election  you never know whats going to happen to the Senate, the senator said.

No GOP senator is openly pointing to any particular Cabinet official as likely to depart. But three privately fingered Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as someone they believe the president is likely to remove.

A fourth questioned how long Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, would remain in her post given her split with the president on recent issues such as the Iran war and a soon-to-lapse surveillance authority, though many Republicans believe she has powerful allies within the White House and outside of the administration.

FBI Director Kash Patel is also under fresh scrutiny after The Atlantic published allegations of drinking and erratic behavior, which he has denied and launched a defamation lawsuit over. Two of the GOP senators granted anonymity to speak candidly said they believed Patel was on the rocks.

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Hes in a bad mood, so hes letting a lot of them go, one of the four said about Trump. Hes preparing to really let a lot of them go.

The senator added that the shakeup should happen sooner rather than later, saying, Its not like well have that much time.

The urgency was further underscored Wednesday by the sudden departure of Navy Secretary John Phelan, who was not a Cabinet member but occupied a senior Senate-confirmed post that is now vacant in wartime.

Other senators arent fretting, noting that any move to remake the Cabinet depends solely on Trump, who has been known to mull privately for months about potentially firing someone before taking action.

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I don't think that's how it works, Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said. Typically, you see some changes before, like right after the midterms, in preparation for the next two-year cycle.

The White House defended Trumps personnel choices in a statement Wednesday.

The President has assembled a world-class cabinet who are tirelessly implementing the Presidents agenda and achieving tremendous results for the American people, spokesperson Davis Ingle said. They will continue fulfilling the many promises President Trump was elected to enact. The White House is appreciative of their service to this country.

The prospects for replacing Bondi, Chavez-DeRemer, Phelan and others could vary wildly.

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Republicans were able to confirm Markwayne Mullin to succeed Noem at DHS in a matter of weeks  but that was the exception, not the norm. Mullin enjoyed bipartisan support as a sitting senator and moved through a committee with few procedural hurdles.

The Judiciary Committee, in contrast, has a 28-day holdover period between when it receives a nominee questionnaire and when it holds a hearing, meaning the Senates consideration of any attorney general nominee will be much slower.

Several committees including Judiciary, Banking and Finance all have one-seat margins between the parties, meaning that nominees that cant garner Democratic support risk getting blocked by opposition from just one GOP panel member.

In addition to the Cabinet nominees, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to assemble a package of lower-level nominations to confirm as a group  though even that can be tricky. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), for instance, is holding up all Coast Guard promotions over a contract dispute.

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Then theres the growing pile of backed-up legislation, including the renewal of a contentious surveillance law, a stalled-out housing bill, the GOPs party-line push for immigration enforcement and a potential push for yet another budget reconciliation bill. The chamber will also be out of session for long stretches later this year to accommodate midterm campaigning.

Weve got a full plate, so confirming new people is going to take a while, Thune said.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) added that the Senate was also busy with the annual government funding process and assembling the mammoth defense policy bill.

They'll do it based on what's best for them and the president, he said of any departing deputies. I think it's totally up to the president as to when he would want to make a submission.

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The White House is signaling that its aware of the Senate's calendar as it considers staffing shakeups and is trying to give the chamber enough time to confirm replacements before the end of the year approaches. Tillis warned that if Trump waits until June or July to oust additional officials, the Senate could run out of time to confirm them.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) questioned if the time crunch wasnt already so severe that filling any additional Cabinet departures would have to be a lame duck thing  referring to the traditional session held between an election and the beginning of the next Congress.

I think were probably better right now  having the stability, Cramer added.

The North Dakota Republican pointed to other items he wants to get done in the meantime, including appropriations, permitting reform, a farm bill and judicial nominations.

There are big things to do yet, Cramer said, noting the constant Supreme Court chatter hed heard. In fact, that would be more important.

Leo Shane III contributed to this report.
KABUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- At least two commuters were killed and four others injured after their vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a water dam in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, a local police official reported on Wednesday evening.

The accident occurred on the outskirts of Shahri Buzurg district due to reckless driving, said Ehsanullah Kamgar, the provincial police spokesman.

All the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, said Kamgar, adding that the authorities have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the incident.

Traffic accidents caused by poor road infrastructure, steep terrain and challenging weather conditions, especially during the spring thaw, are frequently reported in Badakhshan, a mountainous province bordering Tajikistan. 
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that South Carolina should think about redistricting after Virginia voters backed a plan to do so in their own state Tuesday.

After the Virginia Democrats efforts to redistrict in order to increase Democrat seats in the House of Representatives, South Carolina should consider fighting fire with fire, Graham wrote in a Wednesday afternoon post on the social platform X.

I would encourage South Carolinas next Republican governor and the Republican legislature to seriously look at what our states response should be to Democrats in Virginia, he added.

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Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a redistricting plan supported by Democrats, giving the go-ahead to a new congressional map that could give the party as many as four seats in the midterm elections.

Democratic lawmakers had asked Virginia voters to approve a state constitutional amendment that would temporarily bypass the states redistricting commission and switch up maps in the middle of the decade.

The new map widens the 6-5 Democratic advantage in the states congressional delegation to a 10-1 edge.

On Wednesday, President Trump responded to the approval of the redistricting plan, claiming the results were rigged without pointing to evidence.

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A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive Mail In Ballot Drop! Where have I heard that before  And the Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory! Six to five goes to ten to one, and yet the Presidential Election in November was very close to a 50-50 split, he continued.

On Wednesday, a Virginia judge blocked the state from certifying the referendum results, ruling that both the referendum and the bill that triggered it were unconstitutional.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones on Wednesday said his office would appeal the decision.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is leading the Democratic primary race for governor of New Mexico, new polling shows.

A new Emerson College Polling/KRQE News 13 poll found 4 in 10 primary voters back Haaland, a former Democratic lawmaker who joined the Biden administration to oversee the department in charge of conserving the nations public lands and waters.

She jumped into the governors race last year to replace term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D).

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Haaland was ahead in the poll by double digits over Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, who notched 24 percent. Another 36 percent of voters were undecided.

Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted that Haalands lead was driven by a 24-point advantage over Bregman among women, and a 30-point advantage among voters with college degrees. Men broke for Haaland by a narrower 7-point margin, Kimball said, while voters without a college degree were roughly split between the two.

All three of New Mexicos congressional delegation and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan have backed Haaland, an apparent push to avoid a messy primary.

The winner of the Democratic primary is favored to win the open seat, which Cook Political Report rates as likely Democratic.

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New Mexico has been a reliably blue state in presidential elections. Grisham, who was preceded by Republican former Gov. Susana Martinez, won her seat in 2018 by double-digits and secured reelection in 2022 by roughly 6 points against a Republican challenger.

Across the aisle, a whopping 61 percent of likely Republican primary voters in the Emerson poll were undecided on who should win the GOP nod. Rio Rancho Mayor Greggory Hull scored the highest, with 21 percent.

The poll was conducted April 18-19 among 1,000 New Mexico likely primary voters. For the subset of 564 Democratic primary voters, the credibility interval, similar to a polls margin of error, was plus or minus 4.1 percent.

For the 436 Republican primary voters surveyed, the credibility interval was plus or minus 4.7 percent.

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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.
Fox News has learned a high-ranking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official is on administrative leave after an investigation was launched into the leader's alleged "sugar daddy" relationship, lavish spending and drug use, according to a DHS official.

The probe unfolded after a formal complaint was filed against Julia Varvaro, 29, the DHS deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism, the Daily Mail first reported.

The man at the center of the allegations, described as a divorced father named "Robert," told the outlet he spent $40,000 on her during a three-month relationship that began on dating app Hinge before discovering she had a profile on a website called Seeking, which markets itself as "a space where love and luxury meet."

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He alleged that her Seeking profile was under the name "Alessia" and sought "mutually beneficial" relationships with "masculine men." Varvaro firmly denied the claims when questioned by the Daily Mail.

Julia Varvaro, a DHS deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism, is under investigation after accusations arose related to her personal life. (Fox News)

Liberal Journalist Claims Ice Accepted Her Recruitment Application Without Proper Vetting

The outlet reported that, prior to the pair's falling out, Robert took Varvaro on numerous posh getaways to Aruba, Italy and Switzerland, purchasing her a $3,500 Bottega handbag and taking her to the high-end jewelry store, Cartier.

Read On The Fox News App

He added that, during their travels, Varvaro flexed her government position in TSA security lines and claimed she could get VIP access to the Winter Olympics, allegedly bragging, "ICE works for me."

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In his formal complaint to the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which was reviewed by the Daily Mail, Robert said he believes Varvaro is "under financial stress" and that her actions pose a severe national security risk.

A DHS OIG spokesperson told Fox News Digital the office has "a longstanding policy neither to confirm nor to deny the existence of any specific investigation," and could not provide additional details or comment on the matter.

Varvaro allegedly boasted about being able to get VIP tickets to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Cardi B Issues Warning To Ice At California Concert Kickoff: 'We Gon' Jump They A----'

He also told the outlet he witnessed her use marijuana on nearly a dozen occasions and take recreational Xanax.

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In an interview with the Daily Mail, Varvaro described the situation as a "mad ex-boyfriend putting crap together. I didn't know it was bad to go on vacation with your boyfriend."

The outlet said Varvaro admitted to being expedited through Dulles Airport security but denied using marijuana, seeking VIP Olympic access or having sugar daddies pay for her college, insisting that her request to Robert for a credit card in her name was "kind of a normal thing."

The latest alleged scandal involving DHS comes after photos appeared to show the husband of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem cross-dressing in private messages.

The scandal comes less than a month after photos were released of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's husband, Bryon, which appeared to show him cross-dressing in private messages to three different women.

Fox News previously reported rumors of an alleged affair between Noem and her top advisor, Corey Lewandowski, contributed to her dismissal from her DHS post.

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Click Here To Download The Fox News App

She now serves as special envoy to the Shield of the Americas.

The Cia, Hinge and Seeking did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

Varvaro could not immediately be reached for comment.





Original article source: High-ranking DHS official sidelined over allegations of 'sugar daddy' relationship, luxe gifts and drug use
Millions of Indians have begun voting in high-stakes state elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

In West Bengal, where the fiercest contest is unfolding, voting is under way in 152 of 294 seats across 16 districts in the first phase, with 1,478 candidates in the fray. A second phase of polling is scheduled for next week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has mounted an aggressive push to unseat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is seeking a fourth straight term in a state the BJP has never governed.

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The election is taking place against a controversy over a sweeping revision of electoral rolls that has heightened political tensions.

Modi's BJP has mounted an aggressive push to unseat Banerjee in Bengal [NurPhoto via Getty Images]

Voters display their ID cards as they queue to vote in West Bengal on Thurday [ANI]

In Tamil Nadu, elections are being held in a single phase across all 234 constituencies, with more than 57 million voters eligible to vote.

These elections are part of a wider round of state elections seen as an early gauge of support for Modi's party, with polling already held this month in the states of Kerala and Assam and the federally-administered territory of Puducherry.

For the BJP, the contests are a test of its ability to expand in regions where it has struggled, while opposition parties are gauging whether they can challenge its dominance.

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That contest is most sharply defined in West Bengal, where the poll is unfolding amid controversy over the electoral roll revision.

About nine million voters - roughly 12% of the state's electorate - have been removed following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with officials saying millions were classified as absentee or deceased, while the status of another 2.7 million remains under review.

While tribunals in West Bengal continue hearings on more than three million appeals from people removed from electoral rolls, 136 voters were cleared for inclusion in the first round of polling at the last minute, according to reports.

Some 240,000 federal personnel have been deployed in West Bengal for the elections [NurPhoto via Getty Images]

India's Election Commission (EC) says the exercise aims to clean up rolls, but it has been mired in controversy and legal challenges since it was first carried out in Bihar last year.

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Thirteen states and federally-administered territories have undergone the SIR process so far, but West Bengal is the only one where it was followed by an additional layer of special adjudication.

The issue has raised concerns among affected families, some of whom say their names were struck off despite valid documents, leaving their eligibility to be decided by tribunals even as voting proceeds.

Tensions have been fuelled by political remarks, including from Modi, suggesting the voter roll "clean-up" targets so-called "illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators" - a term the Trinamool Congress says is being used to refer to Muslims. However, officials say many Hindu voters have also been excluded from the list.

Security is a key focus, with a record deployment of about 240,000 central forces across West Bengal, supported by bulletproof vehicles patrolling poll-bound districts.

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The scale reflects concerns over electoral violence and intimidation in a state with a history of politically charged contests.

Ahead of the first phase of voting, the EC imposed strict curbs to ensure security, including a ban on bike rallies, pillion riding during the day and non-essential two-wheeler movement at night across 152 constituencies.

The restrictions, in force from Tuesday, also include a 96-hour liquor ban - longer than the usual 48 hours.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal clarified that the extended liquor sale restrictions were not ordered by the EC, while noting a sharp "30-240% spike in offtake from 1,200-1,300 liquor shops".

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He said authorities were "looking into where all this liquor went".

"This liquor cannot be used for inducement [to voters]. If we receive verified information on any government servant being involved in such inducement activities, very strong action will be taken against them," Agarwal said.

The revision of electoral rolls, large-scale reshuffle of state government officers and heightened security measures have become particularly contentious in a state where the ruling party is locked in a bitter stand-off with the election authorities.

Thursday's polling will cover seats largely in the farthest reaches of West Bengal - the northern, central and southwestern belts, which are among its less prosperous regions.

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These areas also have a higher share of Muslim, tribal and lower-caste Hindu populations. West Bengal is home to India's second-largest Muslim population, accounting for roughly 14% of the country's 172 million Muslims, according to the 2011 census.

Women queue outside a polling station in Tamil Nadu, waiting to cast their vote [AFP via Getty Images]

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin is seeking a second consecutive term in office [NurPhoto via Getty Images]

All three of the state's Muslim-majority districts - Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur and Malda - go to the polls in this phase.

The constituencies also account for a larger share of the 2.7 million voters removed from the rolls over "logical discrepancies" in their records.

The second phase of polling on 29 April covers 142 seats, largely in and around the capital, Kolkata, and the lower Gangetic plains of south Bengal, a region that has remained a stronghold of Banerjee's TMC over the past three elections.

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Beyond West Bengal, attention also turns to Tamil Nadu, where politics has long been dominated by two regional parties - the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) - both rooted in social justice movements.

The state is currently governed by MK Stalin-led DMK, while the AIADMK is contesting in alliance with the BJP.

This year's contest has drawn added attention with the entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), raising the prospect of a three-way race.

The BJP has historically struggled in the state, where politics is shaped by regional identity, linguistic pride and welfare-driven policies.

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Analysts say even modest gains here would be significant for the party as it seeks to expand in southern India, while debates over delimitation - the redrawing of constituencies - have added a sharper edge to regional concerns about political representation.

With additional reporting by Snigdhendu Bhattacharya and Moyurie Som in Kolkata

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Ari Levine, a senior at Hopedale Junior-Senior High School, is one of the first three recipients of a new scholarship from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.), according to a community announcement.

The statewide association awarded the $3,000 M.A.S.S. Senior Student Leadership Scholarship Award to Levine, as well as to Deliyah Fortes, of Mashpee Middle-High School, and Gavin Tramontozzi from Medway High School.

Our work is ultimately about ensuring student success, said Mary Bourque, executive director of M.A.S.S., in a statement. We are thrilled to support three outstanding graduates from the Class of 2026 with these scholarships.

Ari Levine, a senior at Hopedale Junior-Senior High Schol, is one of three recipients of the $3,000 M.A.S.S. Senior Student Leadership Scholarship Award.

Each year, the association plans to award the scholarship to a student from the district led by the M.A.S.S. president. Karen Crebase, superintendent of Hopedale Public Schools, is current president and was recently named Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year.

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'This kid is different': Ari Levine building a legacy of more than shot put at Hopedale

Levine is an accomplished student-athlete who plans to attend the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, after graduation, according to the announcement.

He has served as president of the LOOP Peer Mentoring Program; vice president of the Spanish Honors Society; and is a member of the National Honor Society and Math National Honor Society. Levine also volunteers as a tutor, student representative to the School Committee and as a School Council member.

Levine has also excelled on Hopedale High's track and field team, serving as captain and competing in the shot put, discus and javelin, and setting four school records. He is a three-time Most Valuable Player, four-time Field Athlete of the Year, two-time Athlete of the Meet, three-time Central Massachusetts All-Star, 12-time Conference All-Star, and 10-time Conference Champion.

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For more information, visit the M.A.S.S. website at massupt.org.

This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Hopedale High School senior Ari Levine awarded $3,000 scholarship
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) sent a Wednesday letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) strongly opposing the possibility of a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime partner and accomplice of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

I am writing to express my disgust at the Department of Justices (DOJ) reported willingness to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, Krishnamoorthi wrote in the letter.

Last week, David Oscar Markus, Maxwells attorney, said, Theres a good chance and for good reason that [Maxwell] would get a pardon, the Illinois lawmaker added, citing reporting from Politico.

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Markus has led efforts to advocate for Maxwells freedom since last year and helped get her transferred to a lower security prison after she met with then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Tallahassee, Fla.

Months after the meeting, Maxwell appeared in a deposition with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee but refused to answer questions by invoking her Fifth Amendment right.

Some lawmakers slammed her for the lack of cooperation and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Maxwell deserved to be sent back to a maximum security prison.

After learning of talks of a pardon for the Epstein accomplice, Krishnamoorthi wrote in his letter, It is unacceptable that DOJ would be engaging at all with such an outrageous request.

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While Maxwell fights for her freedom, other people associated with Epstein have begun to face punishment for their ties to the deceased financier.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was arrested at his home in February and Peter Mandelson was dismissed from his post as a United Kingdom ambassador  both instances related to their connection with Epstein.

Economist Larry Summers was ousted from multiple advisory boards and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before Congress about his relationship with Epstein.

Survivors have fought to see more convictions. Recently, New Mexico launched an investigation into Epsteins ranch.

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Krishnamoorthi urged the DOJ to immediately reopen and fully resource a probe into Epsteins sex-trafficking operation, pursuing all credible leads.

You must also publicly, and repeatedly, refuse to engage with Ghislaine Maxwell on any presidential pardons that would excuse her from serving out her full sentence, the lawmaker wrote in his letter.

Survivors deserve answers, and those responsible must be held accountable. This is not a question of politicsit is a matter of justice, he added.

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 bill that would limit the protections provided by the Endangered Species Act was pulled from the House floor Wednesday, which just so happened to be Earth Day.

Opponents of the law have long felt that its a stark example of the federal government over regulating. According to the bills sponsor, Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., the original law consistently failed to achieve its intended goals and its very character morphed into a weapon instead of a tool.

With the reforms we are introducing today, we can look forward to a future where the ESA works to support the continued abundance of Americas rich and diverse wildlife, Westerman said in a statement while introducing the legislation last month.

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Several Florida House members, though, wavered in support of the bill, citing concerns over certain provisions, according to The New York Times.

One would carve out protections for various regions based on specific activities, such as the exemption off-shore drilling received from the Trump administration late last month. One Florida Republican told the Times that she had serious concerns about what that could mean for her home states ample coastline.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., took to social media to voice her opposition posting on X, Protected means protected. Her post included a reimagining of the Dont Tread on Me flag, with a sea turtle in place of a snake.

Dont tread on my turtles. Protected means protected. #EndangeredSpeciesAct pic.twitter.com/iDrRzt4Ytv  Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 20, 2026

Activists who had mobilized efforts to oppose the bill celebrated it being pulled from the docket.

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Given the more than 58,000 emails sent to elected officials, along with hundreds  if not thousands  of calls made in just the past few days, it is clear that the American people support the Endangered Species Act, understand its value, and want its protections for threatened and endangered wildlife to remain in place, Jewel Tomasula, the policy director for the Endangered Species Coalition, said in a statement.

This is a welcome sign that efforts to gut protections for imperiled species are not moving forward on Earth Day ... This Congress should leave the ESA alone.

What does the bill seek to do?

Westermans bill had many provisions and addressed many different parts of the Endangered Species Act. Its big picture efforts would be to place timelines on recovery efforts and push species management back to the states where those animals live.

Its a position some legislators in the West have held for a long time.

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Last fall Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., introduced legislation to delist the gray wolf and Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., introduced another bill that would delist the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem spanning 22 million acres of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Hageman told the Deseret News last fall that, It is time for Congress to step forward ... We do not need to do what courts do, which is ignore the science, ignore the history, ignore the purpose of the act, etc. We can step in and delist, and thats what the purpose of this bill is.

Westermans bill has a large scope and would require federal agencies to establish objective, incremental recovery goals for threatened species and provide regulatory relief once those goals are reached. At that point, it would require those agencies to hand over the recovery management to the states where those species live.

In addition, the measure would force land-use agencies to act on five-year review determinations for listed species and prevent judicial review  no lawsuits  five years after a species is delisted.

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Also, it would prevent federal agencies from creating regulations aimed at reducing the mere potential impact on a species.

After the bill was pulled, Westerman told the Times that, We just have a few provisions weve got to work through on it, and hopefully in the next couple of weeks, well be able to vote on it.

For now, those opposed to the bill found something to cheer about.

Now we can really celebrate Earth Day! Mary Beth Beetham, legislative director of Defenders of Wildlife, said in a statement.

The public defeat of the Westerman bill is a direct result of sustained constituent pressure. Congress is finally listening to the majority of Americans who support the Endangered Species Act. ... While there is still much more work to secure lasting protections for wildlife, todays outcome is a meaningful victory for conservation.
Two weeks ago, the Houston City Council enacted an ordinance clarifying the extent to which local police may cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. When police detain a pedestrian or driver, the ordinance says, they may not prolong the stop after its purpose has been accomplished simply because a background check reveals a civil administrative warrant issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

That ordinance irked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who threatened to withhold $110 million in state public safety grants unless it is repealed. The ordinance also provoked a lawsuit by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who argues that it violates a state law saying "a local entity" may not "prohibit or materially limit" a "peace officer" from "assisting or cooperating with a federal immigration officer as reasonable or necessary." But on its face, the ordinance merely requires that the Houston Police Department (HPD) comply with the Fourth Amendment.

"During a field encounter," the ordinance says, "officers may temporarily detain an individual only as long as reasonably necessary to complete the legitimate purpose of the initial stop or investigation. An ICE administrative warrant is civil in nature and, alone, does not justify a stop, arrest, or continued detention by local law enforcement, like HPD. If independent reasonable suspicion of a criminal offense sufficient to justify arrest or continued detention does not exist, the individual must be released."

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That policy is surely inconvenient for ICE, but it is consistent with what the Supreme Court has said about the limits that the Fourth Amendment imposes on police stops. In the 2015 case Rodriguez v. United States, the Court held that "a police stop exceeding the time needed to handle the matter for which the stop was made violates the Constitution's shield against unreasonable seizures."

That case involved a motorist who was pulled over for driving on a highway shoulder and detained for an additional "seven or eight minutes" after he received a written warning to facilitate the deployment of a drug-detecting dog. The majority concluded that "a seizure justified only by a police-observed traffic violation'become[s] unlawful if it is prolonged beyond the time reasonably required to complete th[e] mission' of issuing a ticket for the violation." The stop can be prolonged past that point, the Court said, only if the officer has "reasonable suspicion of criminal activity."

The Houston City Council decided that police needed to be reminded of that rule in light of incidents where officers had transformed traffic stops into immigration arrests. Last July, Houston police stopped a driver based on an expired registration. After a database search found an immigration warrant, the officers contacted ICE, which asked them to take the driver to the Jersey Village Police Station, about 20 miles from the location of the traffic stop. ICE arrested him there. The following month, a Houston officer likewise helped ICE make an arrest by transporting a driver to a police station after a stop for running a red light.

In those cases, there was no "reasonable suspicion of criminal activity," since the basis for prolonging the seizures was an alleged civil violation, and no probable cause for an arrest, since local police officers have no authority to enforce federal immigration law unless they have been deputized for that purpose. "If a local officer was engaging in immigration enforcement when they did not have any legal authority to do so, that could amount to a constitutional violation," University of South Carolina law professor Seth Stoughton told the Houston Chronicle. "The officer has effectively no more authority than any random community member to detain someone."

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That much seems clear, even without considering the question of whether arrest warrants issued by ICE itself, as opposed to a judge, are consistent with the Fourth Amendment. "Administrative immigration warrants are civil in nature and only authorize federal immigration authorities to take custody of an alleged deportable noncitizen for immigration proceedings," the authors of the Houston ordinance noted. "Administrative immigration warrants do not provide a basis for local law enforcement agencies, like HPD, to arrest, detain, or transport someone to jail."

In addition to ruling out such arrests, the ordinance reversed a short-lived HPD policy that instructed officers to wait half an hour after contacting ICE before releasing an alleged immigration violator. That policy likewise seemed to run afoul of the principle recognized in Rodriguez.

The expectation that police officers refrain from violating the Fourth Amendment was too much for Abbott, who on Monday averred that "refusing to collaborate with federal immigration officials is deadly." It also irritated Paxton, who portrayed the Houston ordinance as a state-prohibited "sanctuary city" policy "designed to limit local law enforcement's cooperation with ICE."

Cardozo School of Law professor Lindsay Nash, who has studied the history of administrative warrants as a tool for immigration enforcement, says the position taken by Abbott and Paxton seems unprecedented. "I'm not aware of any other state or municipality attempting to mandate arrests solely on the basis of these administrative warrants," Nash told The New York Times. When a local police officer prolongs a stop for that reason, she said, it clearly "violates the Fourth Amendment."

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Houston Mayor John Whitmire initially supported the ordinance, which he viewed as a restatement of existing policy. But he is ready to fold in the face of Abbott's financial threat. "I voted for the [ordinance] believing it affirmed our original policy," Whitmire said last week. "Houston enforces state and local lawnot federal law, and we are not ICE. However, Governor Abbott disagrees."

On Tuesday, Whitmire proposed a revised ordinance aimed at placating Abbott and Paxton, which he presented as an urgent response to the "public emergency" created by the governor's threat. "During a field encounter," it says, "officers may temporarily detain an individual as long as reasonably necessary to complete the legitimate purpose of the initial stop or investigation and for other legitimate purposes discovered during the detention" (emphasis added).

Does facilitating an ICE arrest count as a "legitimate purpose"? That seems doubtful, since Whitmire's version says the ordinance is aimed at "ensuring continued compliance by Houston Police Department officers with all local, state and federal laws, including the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution."

In tension with that goal, Whitmire's proposed ordinance deletes the statement that "ICE administrative warrants are not reviewed by a neutral magistrate or judge and are not probable cause for a criminal arrest." His version describes those warrants as "commanding the arrest of an individual either to conduct removal proceedings or for removal." The existing ordinance is vaguer on the function of the warrants, saying they are issued "for civil immigration violations."

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The current version already says "nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or materially limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities as required by state law." Whitmire wants to add "or by agreement," which looks like a reference to the grant conditions that Abbott says require Texas cities to assist ICE.

Will these changes be enough to assuage Abbott's wrath? Maybe, but the new language seems deliberately ambiguous. And no matter how the Houston City Council tweaks the ordinance, it cannot authorize what the Fourth Amendment prohibits.

The post Houston Irks Texas Gov. Greg Abbott by Reminding Cops To Comply With the Fourth Amendment appeared first on Reason.com.
Among the terrorists killed was Ali Reza Abbas, commander of the Hezbollah unit operating in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.

The IDF killed hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists and attacked infrastructure used by the terror group in the 24 hours before the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect, a statement on Sunday from the military revealed.

During the IDFs strikes, more than 150 Hezbollah terrorists were killed, and about 300 infrastructure targets were attacked, including launchers, command centers, and weapons storage facilities across Lebanon.

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Among those killed was Ali Reza Abbas, commander of the Hezbollah unit operating in Bint Jbeil, a town in southern Lebanon that has served as a prominent Hezbollah post and in which the IDFs Division 98 has been in active battle recently.

Additional commanders in the terror organization were also eliminated, said the IDF.

Abbas, in addition to commanding fighting against the IDF in the area, was also involved in terror plots against military forces over the years, particularly during Operation Roaring Lion, according to the statement. He also worked to strengthen Bint Jbeil.

Israeli soldiers are seen along the Israeli border with Lebanon amid the ongoing war, April 10, 2026. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)

Abbas is the fourth Bint Jbeil commander killed by the IDF since the start of Israel's recent operations against Hezbollah.

Operation in Dibbin strikes 70 targets, kills 20 terrorists

An additional operation was conducted by the IDFs 91st Division, alongside the Israeli Air Force, in the southern-Lebanese municipality of Dibbin, before the ceasefire took place, the military said on Wednesday.

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Over 70 targets were struck during the operation, according to the military, and over 20 terrorists were killed.

Since the start ofOperation Roaring Lion in late February, more than 1,800 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed in Lebanon, according to military numbers.

IDF arrests Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist

Separately, the IDF on Wednesday arrested a terrorist from Hezbollahs Radwan Force during operations in southern Lebanon.

While working to locate Hezbollah weapons and clear terrorist infrastructure, Israeli troops identified the terrorist, who is part of a Hezbollah unit responsible for the planning of imminent terror attacks on IDF forces.

The terrorist surrendered and was arrested before being transferred to Unit 504 for further investigation.
The Crook Point bascule bridge, rusty and stuck in an upright position, is a familiar sight to anyone traveling into or out of Providence, but how many know its history?

The former railroad bridge connecting Providence and East Providence has stood in an upright and locked position over the Seekonk River since it was abandoned in 1976. At one point, the state Department of Transportation included plans for its demolition in a long-term list of state transportation projects, with the bridge's date with the wrecking ball expected in 2026-2027. DOT cited safety and liability as reasons for its removal, which was expected to cost $6 million.

But the longer the bridge has thrust awkwardly into the sky, and the more decrepit it's become (part of the bridge burned in 2019, with flames visible for miles, though inspectors later determined it was structurally sound), the more distressing the idea of losing it seems to many in the area.

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In fact, the Providence Preservation Society has the bridge on its list of Most Endangered Places for 2026, calling it an iconic sculptural element of the Providence and East Providence landscape.

And on April 16, the General Assembly advanced legislation to help the city of Providence save the Crook Point Bascule Bridge, according to a news release. Both the House and the Senate today gave approval to matching bills (2026-H 7218, 2026-S 3176) sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Kislak and Sen. Samuel D. Zurier to create the Crook Point Bridge Authority, an independent corporate authority to acquire, develop and maintain the bridge.

The move, backed by the city, is intended to prevent the demolition of the structure planned by the state Department of Transportation, which currently owns it but is willing to transfer it to the city.

The 111-year-old Crook Point Bascule Bridge once carried trains from downtown Providence over the Seekonk River to East Providence. The state says public-safety officials in both communities want it torn down  but Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza proposes that the city take custody of the bridge and preserve it. [The Providence Journal / David DelPoio]

When was the Crook Point bridge built?

The rolling lift, or Scherzer, railroad drawbridge was built in 1908 to carry the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad line.

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In 1906, the J.P. Morgan-controlled New York, New Haven & Hartford line started work on the East Side Rail Tunnel, opened in 1908, that connected Union Station with the Crook Point Bascule Bridge across the Seekonk River. (That tunnel, abandoned since 1976 except for the occasional party, did not include any stops on the East Side.)

That's right, dark, dank and filled with graffiti, theres a hidden railroad tunnel that runs for almost a mile beneath the East Side of Providence. Back in 1993, the police had to break up a big party in the tunnel attended by some 200 to 300 college students.

Is the bridge safe?

After the fire in the summer of 2019, the DOT said: "Findings show the fire did not cause any major damage to the steel superstructure of the bridge and the channel on the Seekonk River under the bridge is safe for boaters. Workers removed "approximately 60 pieces of timber that were burned, loose, or otherwise damaged by the fire," the DOT said.

The bridge's clean bill of health, at least relatively speaking, meant the T-shirt-ready symbol of Providence's industrial past and quirky present would not be torn down any time soon.

The Crook Point Bridge, photographed at an unknown date, in a position rarely seen in modern days: down. [Journal files]

What are the plans for the bridge?

A transfer of the structure from state to city control was proposed, so it can be turned into a Providence park. A re-use design competition attracted more than 80 entries. All five finalist designs would convert the old railroad trestle into a pedestrian bridge.

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They would also build a park in the land between the bridge and the mouth of the old East Side rail tunnel near Gano Street.

And, per the rules of the contest, they would all keep the bridge span in its current airborne position.

But despite soliciting designs for the bridge, the city did not have dedicated funding for it, nor a timeline, and none of the design entries were asked to provide cost estimates.

With reporting from the Providence Journal's Patrick Anderson.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: What to know about Providence's iconic, stuck Crook Point bridge
COLOMBO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's finance ministry said on Wednesday that hackers have gained unauthorized access to a computer system of the Department of External Resources, triggering an investigation by law enforcement authorities.

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development said it had lodged complaints after identifying a suspicious foreign currency transaction in January 2026.

The ministry said in a statement that the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the Computer Crime Investigation Division of the police were informed, while a complaint was also filed with the Criminal Investigation Department and the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank.

A preliminary internal inquiry has been conducted, and disciplinary action has been initiated against several officials, the ministry said.

The ministry said it is cooperating with ongoing investigations and will provide further updates at an appropriate time, noting that arrangements may be made with foreign jurisdictions under existing agreements if required. 
Rep. lhan Omar, D-Minn., directed a profane outburst at a "stupid" reporter on Tuesday, refusing to discuss discrepancies about her financial disclosure and declaring she wouldnt discuss "jack s---."

Omar's finances continued to grab national attention on Friday, when congressional disclosures reviewed by the Wall Street Journal indicated that her wealth is somewhere between $18,000 and $95,000  a far cry from previous reports that had put her wealth between $6 million and $30 million.

The reporter approached Omar in the halls of Congress and asked, "The last time I spoke to you, you said that I was stupid for asking about your financial disclosure, but there are some discrepancies on there. Would you like to explain them? How did you make such a big mistake?"

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'Squad' Rep Ayanna Pressley's Ex-con Husband Slaps Phone Out Of Man's Hands As He Tries To Ask Her A Question

Rep. lhan Omar, D-Minn., continues to generate headlines related to her finances. (Getty Images)

Omar shot back, "I still do think youre stupid for asking me anything."

Allison Steinberg, of the right-wing outlet LindellTV, pushed for Omar to answer to the "American people" who want to know how she made "such a big mistake."

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"I have explained to the American people I have given them the explanation," Omar said.

Steinberg asked if she could reiterate her explanation, but Omar snapped, "I dont want to tell you jack s---. How about that."

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Omar then sarcastically told Steinberg to have a nice day.

Omar brushed past questions about the discrepancies from another reporter on Monday, ignoring him while chatting and laughing with another woman.

Omar Ducks Questions As Scrutiny Grows Over Filings That Slashed Her Reported Wealth By Millions

Omar's office previously said the new numbers would end suspicion that Omar may have used her position on Capitol Hill to monetarily benefit her and her husband.

"The amended disclosure confirms what weve said all along: The congresswoman is not a millionaire," Omar spokesperson Jacklyn Rogers told the Wall Street Journal on Friday.

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Rogers noted that the filing was corrected "as soon as the discrepancy was identified."

While the new figures undercut concerns about the size of her wealth and where it came from, they also bring new questions of their own, including how they had been so far off the mark in the first place.

Omar came under fire last year when disclosure reporting revealed she and her husband accumulated up to $30 million in wealth, drawing calls from President Donald Trump for lawmakers to investigate her husbands business ties.

Trump Says Media Focuses Too Much On Minnesota Ice Coverage, Not Enough On Corruption Allegations

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and husband Tim Mynett at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards on Sept. 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Omars wealth jump had been tied to two businesses: Rose Lake Capital and ESTCRU LLC.

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In 2024, evaluations of Rose Lake, a business firm co-founded by her husband, reached between $5 million and $25 million. Just one year before, in 2023, she reported that the same companys value was between $1 and $1,000.

Similarly, Estcru Llc, a winery registered in Santa Rosa, California, first appeared on Omars disclosure reports in 2020 and had a value of just $15,000 to $50,000 in 2023. In 2024, that evaluation exploded to between $1 million and $5 million.

Reports of Omars wealth drew scrutiny from the House Oversight Committee, which demanded to see more of the companies business records earlier this year.

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Fox News Digitals Leo Briceno and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.





Original article source: Ilhan Omar calls reporter 'stupid,' refuses to explain financial discrepancies in vulgar outburst
The statutorily required direct-to-employer health care arrangements offered by five Indiana nonprofit hospital systems collectively cleared a 260% of Medicare pricing maximum last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Health.

The model allows employers to establish contracts directly with health care providers, forgoing traditional deals with insurance companies.

When employers can access stable, affordable healthcare, they can invest more confidently in their workers and communities, Gov. Mike Braun said in a news release Wednesday. Direct-to-employer contracting is a smart, forward looking option that strengthens Indianas competitive edge, and I applaud the hospitals and employers embracing this model.

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Indiana lawmakers required the states nonprofit systems  Ascension Saint Vincent, Community Health Network, Franciscan Health, Indiana University Health and Parkview Health Network  to offer such direct-to-employer arrangements beginning Sept. 1, 2025.

That years House Enrolled Act 1004 also specified that the arrangements be at or below 260% of full Medicare pricing. The benchmark is calculated by taking the sum of inpatient and outpatient facility prices, expressed as a percentage of full Medicare.

Full Medicare includes the hospital-specific payments Medicare provides for inpatient services.

All five systems came in under the 260% mark for 2025 in the report.

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This years review demonstrates that Indiana hospitals are stepping up to provide employers with affordable, predictable healthcare options, Health and Human Services Secretary Gloria Sachdev said. Direct-to-employer contracts are an important tool for controlling costs while maintaining access to high quality care. We encourage businesses statewide to take full advantage of these solutions.

Ascension Saint Vincent reported total performance of 171% of Medicare plan performance  the lowest of the five  although it had to submit supplemental data for six plans for IDOH to successfully validate them.

Through direct employer arrangements, we partner with organizations across Indiana, from small employers to large corporations, schools, public safety agencies and local governments, to improve affordability and deliver high-value care, CEO Don King said. Our Employer Solutions program, established in 2009, serves more than 75 businesses, 125 public schools and over 300 public safety agencies, and we are proud to support employers across the state.

Some individual locations were above the 260% benchmark, including the Jennings, Randolph and Williamsport facilities, according to the supplemental data appended to the IDOH review.

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Community Health came in second at 190% of Medicare, followed by Parkview Health at 203% and Franciscan Health at 206%.

IU Health reported the highest prices, at 250% of Medicare, but was still 10 percentage points below the benchmark.

Indiana Hospital Association President Scott B. Tittle applauded members for their innovative, market-based approaches.

By working more directly with hospitals or targeted networks to cut out unnecessary middleman, employers can improve health outcomes of their employees, reduce administrative complexity, and create more predictable health care spending, he said.

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As the states review shows, hospitals are more than delivering on competitive, transparent pricing that aligns with employers needs, and IHA looks forward to the ongoing growth of these models in the future, Tittle added.

The report comes as Indiana hospitals attempt to address widespread criticism  including from state leaders  over high prices.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce called the results encouraging, also backing further expansion of direct-to-employer options.

However, implementation is key, according to the American Medical Association, which has created a model checklist for physicians considering going the direct route.

Update: This story has been updated with comments from the Indiana Hospital Association.

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By Parisa Hafezi, Enas Alashray and Trevor Hunnicutt

DUBAI/CAIRO/WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) - Iran flaunted its tightened grip over the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday with a video of commandos in a speedboat storming a huge cargo ship, after the collapse of peace talks that Washington had hoped would open one of the world's most important shipping corridors.

U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the threat posed by Iran's "little wise-guy ships" and told reporters that he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal but that its leadership was in turmoil. Trump added that he was in no hurry for a deal, but if Iran did not want one, "I'll finish it up militarily."

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Iranian state television broadcast video overnight of masked troops pulling up in a grey speedboat alongside the MSC Francesca, climbing a rope ladder to a door in the hull and jumping through, brandishing rifles.

The video, presented with an action-movie-style soundtrack and no commentary, included views of another ship, the Epaminondas. Iran said it had captured both on Wednesday, accusing them of trying to cross the strait without permits.

The Iranian boat seizure was a reminder that the United States, despite its more powerful military, struggles to keep control of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump and his military officials have said Iran's navy is "at the bottom of the sea," but Tehran has shown it can still cause major problems for oil markets. Before the war, one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas was shipped through the strait.

Major surveys showed on Thursday that the global economy is facing ever more tangible strains from the energy shock of the war, as factories grapple with soaring production costs and activity weakens even in services sectors.

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The war, launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, has been paused since a ceasefire on April 8. The U.S. and Iran met in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 in an attempt to end hostilities, but talks ended without agreement and a second round has yet to take place.

Tehran says it will not consider opening the strait until the U.S. lifts its blockade of Iran's shipping, which Washington imposed during the ceasefire and Tehran calls a violation of that truce. Iran has also called Israeli strikes on Lebanon, where Israel has been engaged with the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, an obstacle to renewed peace talks.

Israel and Lebanon on Thursday agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after a high-level meeting between representatives of both countries in the White House Oval Office, Trump announced on social media.

"I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. It was a Great Honor to be a participant at this very Historic Meeting!" Trump said. It was unclear, however, how much influence the Lebanese government might exert over Hezbollah.

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Before that announcement, Israel warned on Thursday that it was ready to restart attacks on Iran.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel was waiting for a "green light" from the U.S. to resume the war, saying that if it did, it would begin by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and "return Iran to a dark age."

STRUGGLE FOR THE STRAIT

Trump said this week he would indefinitely extend what had been a two-week ceasefire with Iran to allow for further peace talks, but on Thursday he said he had ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill" Iranian boats laying mines in the strait, and step up demining activity.

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In a social media post, he said Washington was in "total control" of the strait, which he described as "'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!"

Later at the White House, Trump said Iran might have loaded up its weaponry "a little bit" during the ceasefire, but the U.S. military could knock that out in about one day.

"Don't rush me," he said when asked how long he was willing to wait for a long-term peace deal. "I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now ... but I don't want to do that. I want to have it everlasting."

Trump, who has used provocative language threatening to obliterate Iran and end its civilization, ruled out the use of nuclear weapons, telling reporters they were unnecessary because the U.S. had "decimated" Iran with conventional arms.

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"No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody," Trump said.

Iranian officials cited in state media dismissed claims by Trump of divisions in Iran's leadership, and Khamenei said in a post on X that "enemy" media operations were aiming to undermine unity and national security.

Washington, which has been confronting Iranian ships in international waters to enforce its blockade, said it had boarded another tanker, the Majestic, in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, an apparent reference to a supertanker last reported off the coast of Sri Lanka carrying 2 million barrels of crude.

The U.S. military said on Thursday that U.S. forces had redirected 33 vessels since the blockade began.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff, Keith Weir, David Brunnstrom and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Nia Williams and Edmund Klamann)
Irans decision to charge fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuzand U.S. President Donald Trumps tentative endorsement of that ideaare reverberating in a different waterway around 4,000 miles away.

On April 22, Indonesias finance minister, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, suggested the Southeast Asian country might start imposing levies on ships transiting the Strait of Malacca, which connects the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea. The strait is one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes, carrying around 30% of global trade. Two hundred ships travel through Malacca each day, double the number that pass through Hormuz.

Iran is now planning to charge ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Purbaya said during a symposium in Jakarta. If we split [income from levies] three waysIndonesia, Malaysia, and Singaporeit could be quite substantial. He added that Indonesia stood to benefit most, given that its stretch is the largest and longest.

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Purbaya quickly walked back his suggestion, acknowledging that a decision would require buy-in from both Singapore and Malaysia, which also sit alongside the strait.

Yet Purbayas idea, even if just a hastily raised trial balloon, shows just how quickly the conversation around freedom of navigation has changed in the two months since the outbreak of war in Iran.

Iran is now openly charging tolls for ships to traverse the Strait of Hormuz (often paid in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrencies), and is planning to set up a regime to formalize this control even after the war ends. U.S. President Donald Trump has at times signaled his comfort with Iran charging tolls for ships to pass through the strait, and even suggested that the U.S. and Iran could jointly manage the waterway as part of a settlement to end the war.

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore

The Indonesian archipelago straddles many of the waterways governing access between the Indian Ocean and the rest of East Asia, which hasnt escaped the notice of Indonesian officials. President Prabowo Subianto has publicly pointed out that 70% of Asias trade travels through the Indonesian straits of Lombok, Sunda, and Malacca.

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Indonesias neighbors have responded differently to the idea of tolling the Strait of Malacca.

The right of transit passage is guaranteed for everyone, Singapores Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said yesterday during a CNBC event. We will not participate in any attempts to close or interdict or to impose tolls in our neighborhood.

Singapore had previously stated that it wouldnt negotiate with Iran in order to sail its ships through the Strait of Hormuz, calling Tehrans closure of the waterway a violation of international law. Ships, under international law, are freely allowed to traverse straits like Hormuz, which dont fall within one countrys territorial waters.

Several other countries, like India, Thailand, and Pakistan, secured safe transit through Hormuz after negotiations with Iran.

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I cant engage in negotiations for safe passage of ships or negotiate on toll rates, Balakrishnan explained during a parliamentary debate on April 7.

Singapores economy relies on free navigation. The city is the worlds largest transshipment and bunkering hub, and over 130,000 vessels call at its ports every year. Any limits to transit through the Strait of Malacca are thus a significant threat to its economy.

Neighboring Malaysia has also expressed caution about plans to impose levies on the strait, though didnt reject the idea outright.

Whatever is to be done in the Strait of Malacca must involve the cooperation of all four countries, said Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan on Wednesday, referring to Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. It cannot be done unilaterally.

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Yet some in Malaysia have bristled at Singapores statements over the Iran conflict. When Balakrishnan in early April said he wouldnt negotiate with Tehran to secure access through Hormuz, Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, grumbled that Malaysia will not be lectured on the merits of engagement.

Thailand sees an opportunity

Thailand, the only other country to sit alongside the Strait of Malacca, has its own plans. On April 20, Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the country will fast-track a plan to build a land bridge between the Strait of Malacca and the Gulf of Thailand. The bridge would link seaports on either side of the country through road and rail networks, potentially cutting transit time by four days and shipping costs by 15%.

The land bridgewhich is expected to cost 1 trillion Thai baht ($31 billion)is a less radical version of a plan floated by some Thai administrations to build a canal across the Kra Isthmus, the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula. Several governments have launched feasibility studies, only to balk at the massive cost involved.

Still, with the fragility of maritime trade now in the spotlight, Bangkok may be looking for an opportunity.

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The Middle East conflict has demonstrated the advantage of controlling a transport route, Phiphat said. Thailand will have a great advantage by operating the link between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
JERUSALEM: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have introduced a new self-propelled howitzer to combat Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon as a defensive weapon against Hezbollah attacks.

Roem, the Hebrew word for thunder, could play an important role if the 10-day fragile ceasefire breaks down between Israel and Hezbollah. A second round of talks aimed at disarming Hezbollah between the ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel are slated for Thursday in Washington D.C. The ceasefire went into effect Thursday.

Ehud Bibi, Chief Artillery Officer for the IDF, told Fox News Digital that "The Roem brings a new capability to the Artillery Corps and the IDF as a whole, reshaping how firepower is employed on the battlefield. This marks a historic milestone, introducing a new era of more precise, faster, and more flexible fire enabling us to support troops on the ground more effectively."

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Lawmakers Question Whether Us Moving Fast Enough To Capitalize On Hezbollah's Weakened State

According to the IDF statement, "During the activity, the troops conducted precise artillery fire on several Hezbollah anti-tank and surface-to-surface missile launch positions, from which attacks had been launched against IDF troops. The firing was effective, achieving operational results and introducing new artillery capabilities, thereby reducing the threat posed to IDF troops and Israeli civilians."

The IDF said the launches were purely defensive attacks against Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists during the truce. The howitzer can fire roughly 40 kilometers (about 25 miles). A team of three IDF soldiers operate the Roem.

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Elbit Systems stated on its website that it's "capable of automatic loading and laying of the gun system, rapid in-and-out action times and high rate of fire. It offers a protected cabin for a crew of three." Adding that, "Depending on the mission, SIGMA is capable of automatically selecting and loading the required projectile, propellant and fuze and laying the gun to optimally engage targets." Also known as SIGMA, the Ro'em is produced by South Carolina-based subsidiary of Elbit Systems of America.

Hezbollah violated a previous November 2024 ceasefire, which was brokered by the U.S., when it launched missiles into Israel on March 2 in response to the joint Israel-Iran war on Irans regime. The Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces failed to adhere to a deadline in 2025 to disarm Hezbollah.

The United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 also required that Hezbollah be disarmed following the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon.

Macron Under Fire Over Iran, Hezbollah Policy As Trump Admin Hosts Israel-lebanon Talks

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According to an IDF statement sent to Fox News Digital about the modern howitzer, last Tuesday, "Troops from the 282nd Fire Brigade of the Artillery Corps, led by the Roem branch at the Mali (Ground Training Center) Fire Center, conducted... their first operational firing using the "Roem" howitzer, in support of IDF troops operating in northern Israel."

The statement continued that "The Roem"is a new howitzer recently introduced into IDF service, bringing advanced and innovative capabilities to the battlefield. It significantly increases the rate of fire, enables engagement at longer ranges compared to existing systems, and provides enhanced mobility and maneuverability in the field.

Hezbollah attacks on Israel since March 2 resulted in the killing of 2 civilians and 15 Israeli soldiers. Reuters reported that Hezbollah has not disclosed its casualty figures.

Lebanese authorities report that nearly 2,300 people in Lebanon have been killed since March 2. Those figures don't differentiate between Hezbollah terrorists and civilians.

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Speaking at a Memorial Day event for the country's fallen troops, the country's defense Minister Israel Katz pledged to ensure that Israelis in the north, who have faced massive aerial attacks from Hezbollah, will be secure.

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"Even as we gather here to honor our fallen, after weeks of determined operations by IDF forces in southern Lebanon, our commitment to the residents of the north remains clear and unequivocal, to bring them security," Katz said. He noted that "If the Lebanese government continues not to fulfill its obligations, the IDF will do so through continued military activity."

Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: Israel unveils game-changing artillery against Iran-backed Hezbollah amid fragile ceasefire
According to the indictment, the soldiers conducted a variety of missions for Iran, including an instance in which one of them sent an Iranian agent training materials.

Two IDF soldiers were indicted on charges of spying for Iran in exchange for financial compensation, the military, police, and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced on Thursday.

The two soldiers served as air force technicians and had allegedly been in contact with Iranian intelligence agents for several months before being arrested in March.

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According to the indictment, the soldiers conducted a variety of missions for Iran, including an instance in which one of them sent an Iranian agent training materials. The materials included information on Israeli combat jet systems, as well as documentation of infrastructure and areas within a military base.

KAN reported that they were also asked to gather information about former IDF chief Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Herzi Halevi and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Israel Air Force fighter jet F-15, at the Tel Nor airforce base. January 01, 2024. (credit: MOSHE SHAI/FLASH90)

Soldiers cut off by Iranian handlers after refusing missions with weapons

The two soldiers claimed in their interrogation that all contact with their Iranian handlers had been cut off after they'd refused to undertake missions involving weapons. However, the soldiers attempted to re-establish contact with their handlers afterward.

N12 also reported that one of the soldiers had actively sought contact with the Iranian agents, after hearing that his friend had been working for them in exchange for money.

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One of the soldiers was charged with aiding an enemy in wartime, passing information to the enemy, aiding in contact with a foreign agent, and other crimes. The other soldier was charged with contact with a foreign agent, passing information to the enemy, and other crimes.

Eight other soldiers on the base are suspected of knowing about the actions of the two technicians without reporting it to authorities, according to KAN.

James Genn contributed to this report.
April 22 (UPI) -- A judge in rural Virginia on Wednesday blocked the results of Tuesday's state referendum, barring lawmakers, at least temporarily, from implementing a new congressional map that favored Democrats in November's midterm elections.

The five-page ruling by Judge Jack Hurley of the Tazewell County Circuit Court sided with the Republican National Committee, which was challenging the results of Tuesday's special election.

On Tuesday, 51.4% of the more than 3 million Virginians who voted approved amending the state's Constitution to permit a mid-decade congressional district map redraw, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.

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The new map is expected to favor Democrats to win 10 of the state's 11 congressional districts. The Democrats currently hold six of the state's 11 congressional seats and Republicans hold five.

Hurley agreed with each of the RNC's claims, including that the legislation supporting the map redraw violated General Assembly rules and that the question voters were asked -- "Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections" -- was "a flagrantly misleading question to the voters, and because the ballot language did not accurately describe the proposed amendment as it was passed by the General Assembly."

The order declares that all votes from the referendum are "ineffective," and the state is enjoined from certifying them and instituting the new congressional district map.

"This ruling is a major victory for Virginians," RNC Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement.

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"Democrats attempted to force an unconstitutional scheme to tilt congressional maps in their favor, but the court recognized it for what it is -- a blatant power grab."

Virginia said it will immediately appeal the ruling.

"As I said last night, Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the people's vote," Virginia's Democratic attorney general, Jay Jones, said in a statement.

"We look forward to defending the outcome of last night's election in court."

Virginia Democrats first moved for a mid-decade congressional map redraw in the fall after Texas, under pressure from President Donald Trump, approved a map expected to favor Republicans, kicking off a gerrymandering arms race. Four Republican-led states have approved new maps compared with two Democratic-led states, though several other states under majority leadership of each party are seeking to do likewise.

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Trump -- who has repeatedly warned Republicans that losing the House in November could lead to his impeachment -- has taken several executive actions, including tightening voting regulations, that could affect November's midterms and that Democrats and critics argue are unlawful measures that could help Republicans maintain their narrow House majority.

He has also repeatedly cast doubt on election legitimacy.

On Wednesday, Trump made unfounded claims that the Virginia referendum was "RIGGED," citing mail-in voting, a common voting practice that the president has targeted as a vehicle for election fraud, though Trump himself has voted by mail in Florida.

"The Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory," he said in a statement on his Truth Social media platform before Hurley's ruling. "Let's see if the Courts will fix this travesty of 'Justice.'"

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Hurley previously ruled to block the Democrats' redistricting plan twice, though the Supreme Court of Virginia allowed the referendum to move forward amid litigation.

Democratic-led states California and Virginia pursued their redraws through voter-approved ballot measures, while GOP-led Texas, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina passed actions through their Republican-controlled state institutions, without voter-approved measures.
A federal judge in Texas dismissed FBI Director Kash Patels complaint against an MS NOW columnist after he suggested on air that Patel spent more time in nightclubs than at the bureaus headquarters.

In a Tuesday filing, United States District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. said Patel failed to allege a viable defamation claim against former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi.

A person of reasonable intelligence and learning would not have taken his statement literally: that Dir. Patel has actually spent more hours physically in a nightclub than he has spent physically in his office building, Hanks wrote, according to court documents.

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By saying that Patel spent far more time at nightclubs than his office, Figliuzzi delivered his answer in an exaggerated, provocative and amusing way, employing rhetorical hyperbole, the judge added.

Patel sued Figliuzzi last June over the statement, with his lawyers arguing that the columnist crossed the legal line by fabricating a specific lie about Director Patel.

The FBI chiefs attorneys added that the defendant knew this was a lie when he said it during a broadcast of Morning Joe in May 2025.

Earlier this week, Patel sued The Atlantic for $250 million after the outlet published bombshell reporting that the director was anxious about losing his job and was hard to reach following nights of excessive drinking.

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The magazine published a story Friday titled The FBI Director Is MIA, citing conversations with more than two dozen people, including current and former FBI officials, members of Congress, and hospitality industry workers.

In light of the reports, a watchdog organization has requested records tied to Patel and group of House Judiciary Democrats have pressed the FBI director to take an alcohol disorders test.

The Hill has reached out to the FBI 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.
A federal judge has dismissed the long-running lawsuit a far-right philosopher filed against a New Jersey university, which had booted him from the classroom after learning he praised Adolf Hitler and made other controversial comments off campus.

U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martini said Jason Reza Jorjani failed to prove his claim that the New Jersey Institute of Technology violated his free-speech rights by refusing to renew his teaching contract in 2018, in retaliation for provocative comments he made at a Manhattan bar in 2017. Jorjani sued the school in July 2018, a federal judge dismissed the case in 2024, Jorjani appealed, and an appellate panel ruled in Jorjanis favor last September, vacating the dismissal and reviving his claim.

But Martini on Monday dismissed the case with prejudice, a final judgment that means Jorjani cannot proceed any further with his claims, and granted qualified immunity to several school administrators named as defendants. Qualified immunity shields public employees from liability for actions they take as part of their job.

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Martini conceded that times have changed since 2018, with courts elsewhere acting to protect professors and students free-speech rights, even when speech offends.

He pointed to several recent precedential rulings, including one in Ohio where federal judges in 2021 sided with a Christian professor who claimed retaliation after he was disciplined for refusing to refer to students by their preferred pronouns as his university required. In another ruling last year, a federal appeals panel decreed that a Washington professors free-speech rights outweighed the offense students felt when he mocked a universitys recommended indigenous land acknowledgment statement.

Debate and disagreement are hallmarks of higher education, the panel wrote in the latter case.

But in Jorjanis case, Martini wrote, the time, place, and content of his comments matter.

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Although these other circuits point in favor of plaintiff, these published decisions came out after the relevant events, underscoring that until recently, the law was unsettled, he wrote.

While its clearly established that a public employer cant retaliate against an employee for publicly criticizing their workplace, theres less national consensus on speech that offends, he added.

In the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where New Jersey is, judges historically have deemed offensive speech to be unprotected, especially when it roils a campus or community, he added.

This court cannot identify any binding case protecting a public employees extramural speech unrelated to the workplace before now, much less speech of a teacher, particularly where there was some evidence of disruption, Martini wrote.

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Had Jorjani made his controversial comments today, the outcome might be different, Martini suggested. Thats because the Third Circuit court in September concluded for the first time in a precedential opinion that extramural speech unrelated to the workplace was protected in light of the evidence of disruption that defendants presented, he wrote.

Jorjani, an Iranian-American author and native New Yorker, did not respond to a request for comment. He now writes a Substack, with recent topics including the war in Iran, reincarnation, astrology, and comics and pop culture.

Matthew R. Golden, a university spokesman, said school officials are pleased that this matter is resolved.

Jorjani was a non-tenured lecturer at the school in Newark, where more than half of the 13,000 students enrolled are people of color, when a column and video published in The New York Times in 2017 revealed his controversial comments about Hitler, fascism, race, immigration, and the Trump administration. The column also disclosed that he had founded an alt-right corporation and website with white nationalist Richard Spencer.

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School officials said the revelations sparked outrage on campus, and they placed Jorjani, who they first hired in 2015, on paid leave. They hired a law firm to investigate and ultimately decided against renewing his contract, court records show.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department has settled for $1.25 million a lawsuit from an aide to President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign who was the target of secret surveillance during the FBIs Russia investigation.

Carter Page asserted in a 2020 lawsuit that he was the victim of unlawful spying by an FBI agency that was investigating whether Trump's 2016 campaign had conspired with Russia to affect the outcome of the election. The lawsuit alleged a series of omissions and errors made by FBI and Justice Department officials in applications they submitted in 2016 and 2017 to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to eavesdrop on Page on suspicion that he was an agent of Russia.

Page vigorously denied any claim of improper ties to Russia and was never charged with any wrongdoing.

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Page appealed to the Supreme Court after lower courts tossed out his suit, with appellate judges saying last year that he had waited too long to file his complaint. But as the appeal was pending, the Trump administration informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it had reached a settlement with Page on his claims against the federal government. The settlement does not cover claims Page had made against former FBI officials he had also sued.

The court filing to the Supreme Court did not reveal a dollar figure, but a person familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss non-public information said the amount of the deal was $1.25 million.

Page's lawsuit followed a harshly critical Justice Department inspector general report that found significant problems with the four surveillance applications. Former FBI and Justice Department leaders who were involved in signing off on the surveillance have since said they wouldnt have done so had they known of the extent of the issues, and the FBI has said it had initiated more than 40 corrective steps aimed at improving the accuracy and thoroughness of applications.

Despite the problems with the warrant applications, the scrutiny of Page accounted for only a narrow portion of the overall investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

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An investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Russia had interfered on Trump's behalf during the 2016 campaign and that the campaign welcomed the assistance. Mueller's team said it did not find sufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and Russia.

The Justice Department in March settled a separate lawsuit with another figure from the Trump-Russia probe, reaching a roughly $1.2 million settlement with Michael Flynn, the former Trump national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a top Russian diplomat and was later pardoned.
A Taiwan compatriot poses for a photo with a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy officer while visiting a warship in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)

QINGDAO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A group of Taiwan compatriots on Thursday attended an open-day event celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, a city in east China's Shandong Province.

They boarded active-duty warships open to the public and learned about the ships' weapons and equipment, as well as the work and daily life of the officers and crew.

Opening active-duty vessels to the public is a cultural tradition shared by navies around the world. In recent years, the PLA Navy has held multiple such open-day events on occasions including its founding anniversary and National Day.

For Lin Yi-chen, a young woman from Taiwan, stepping onto a warship for the first time was a new experience, one that, she said, offered a different perspective. She hoped to share it with more young people in Taiwan.

Lu Li Shih, a social media influencer, said he was delighted to board a PLA Navy warship for the first time, adding that people across the Strait are one family.

The Taiwan compatriots then visited the naval skills demonstration area on the pier, where they observed flag signalling, diving gear preparation, and rope knot-tying demonstrations.

During an interactive session, at the suggestion of the Taiwan compatriots, naval signalers sent flag signals reading "People on both sides of the Strait are one family" and "Harmony in a family brings prosperity," prompting warm cheers and applause from the crowd.

Xu Ming, a tourist from Zibo in Shandong, took a photo with the young visitor from Taiwan and said, "Welcome home."

"We are all one family. I feel the hearts of people across the Strait are drawing closer. I sincerely welcome our Taiwan compatriots to come home often," Xu said. 

People board a warship of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)

Taiwan compatriots attend an open-day event celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)

A Taiwan compatriot visits a warship of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)

A Taiwan compatriot poses for a photo at a port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
Three political candidates running in both Democratic and Republican primaries across the United States were fined and suspended by Kalshi, the prediction market platform announced on Wednesday, April 22.

According to a news release from Kalshi, the three candidates allegedly placed trades on the prediction market during their own primary campaigns, something the platform described as political insider trading.

"Just like in traditional financial markets, bad actors will try to cheat," Kalshi said in the release. "These three cases are an example of how developing proactive engineering solutions can help identify illicit trading activity."

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Kalshi added that the fines against the three candidates range from $539 to more than $6,200. The three candidates are also suspended from the platform for about five years.

Here is what to know about the three candidates Kalshi fined and suspended.

Kalshi logo appears in this illustration taken April 22, 2026.

More: Are prediction markets democratizing information or gamifying war? | The Excerpt

Minnesota political candidate

Matt Klein, who is currently running in the Democratic primary for the state's 2nd Congressional District, was handed a five-year suspension from the platform and a $539.85 fine for betting on his own primary.

Kleins primary is not set to happen until August, with Democrats in the district looking to choose the replacement vying to succeed Rep. Angie Craig, who is currently running for the U.S. Senate.

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In an emailed statement to USA TODAY, Klein said he had only wagered once on the platform.

I had never wagered on a prediction market previously. I was curious about how it worked, Klein said. This was a mistake, and I apologize. My experience, like many other Minnesotans, points to the need for clearer rules and regulations for these types of markets.

Kalshi logo appears in this illustration taken April 22, 2026.

Texas political candidate

According to a disciplinary document from Kalshi, the candidate in Texas was Ezekiel Enriquez, who finished 11th in the Republican primary for Texass 21st Congressional District. For his actions, Enriquez was also given a five-year suspension from the platform and a $784.20 fine.

Enriquezs primary was won by former MLB player Mark Teixeira, who President Donald Trump endorsed. Teixeira is set to face off against Democrat Kristin Hook in the general election in November.

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As of April 22, Enriquez's campaign website is down. USA TODAY contacted Enriquez's social media for comment about Kalshis disciplinary action.

More: Will 'Sinners' win at Oscars? When will Maduro fall? Place your bets.

Virginia political candidate

In Virginia, Mark Moran, who dropped his primary campaign against incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and is now running as an independent, said he wanted Kalshi to catch him betting on his election.

In an April 22 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Moran admitted to betting $100 on himself and said that Kalshi was rife with corruption.

Kalshi is currently being sued by many states for being an illegal betting market we live in a Country destroyed by vice, which Kalshi directly contributes to - where we cant afford homes or healthcare, Moran said.

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According to a disciplinary document from Kalshi, Moran was given a five-year suspension from the platform and a $6,299.30 fine. In Moran's same X post, he alleged that Kalshi was attempting to up his fine to more than $16,000.

Moran said the fine was being increased so that (Kalshi) can take pressure off themselves and act like they are enforcing regulationswhile getting PR.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kalshi says 3 candidates bet on their own primaries
Three congressional candidates wagered on the outcome of their own elections on Kalshi, according to the prediction market, which said Wednesday that it fined and suspended the men from their platform for five years.

It is the latest high-profile case of alleged insider trading on prediction markets including Kalshi and Polymarket, which have brought bipartisan scrutiny from Congress and calls for stricter regulations of the websites where people can put money on just about anything.

Kalshi's disciplinary documents named Mark Moran, who is running as an independent in Virginia's U.S. Senate race; Ezekiel Enriquez, who ran in a Texas Republican primary for a U.S. House seat; and Matt Klein, a Democratic state senator running for a U.S. House seat in Minnesota.

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Klein and Enriquez both placed bets less than $100 related to their own candidacy, Kalshi said. Moran said on social media that he traded $100 on myself.

These relatively small bets follow mammoth wagers on prediction markets earlier this year that raised eyebrows. In one case, an anonymous Polymarket user made a $400,000 profit in January on a wager that former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro would soon be out of office.

In March, after two U.S. senators announced legislation that threatened prediction markets, Kalshi and Polymarket highlighted new rules, including against political candidates trading on their own campaigns.

Moran refused to reach an agreement with Kalshi and was fined the most at more than $6,200, while Klein and Enriquez did reach agreements and face penalties of over $530 and $780, respectively, the company said. All were suspended from Kalshi for five years.

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Some politicians said the punishments didn't go far enough. U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, a California Democrat, slammed the repercussions on social media, saying, Thats not a punishment. Thats a parking ticket.

The agreements are with the company, and not with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates predication markets. The agency is chaired by Michael Selig, who is considered friendly to the burgeoning industry.

Far from denying the allegations, Moran told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he placed the bets intending to draw attention to what he said was unjust sway that platforms like Kalshi have on elections. Moran added that he'd met with the company and had asked for his name to appear on its website.

Moran said he was fined more than the other candidates because he refused to sign a settlement that would've required him to post a statement on X. He said he felt that the stunt was successful.

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When I piss people off, when I upset people, and when I captivate their attention, thats when they have to start listening, he said.

Klein also confirmed Kalshi's findings in a post on social media on Wednesday. The $50 wager he placed in October was the first time he had used a predictions market, he said in a statement on X, and he was curious about how it worked.

This was a mistake and I apologize, he wrote, saying that the experience made it clear that the markets need more regulation.

Klein is a cosponsor of a bill working its way through the Minnesota Legislature to ban most wagering on predictive markets, including the outcome of elections. In an interview, he said he didnt think there was an inconsistency between his betting $50 on himself to win his primary and his sponsorship of legislation.

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Klein said he spent the winter learning about predictive markets and signed onto the bill well before he learned that his bet violated Kalshis rules.

Enriquez, known as Zeke, lost his House race in the beginning of March with less than two percent of the vote. Contact information for Enriquez was not immediately found to request comment. ___

Associated Press reporters Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Logan, Utah, contributed.
A man was shot and killed inside a vehicle in Philadelphia's Juniata Park neighborhood. Police say the killers then allegedly tried to burn the SUV before fleeing the scene.

It happened in the back alley behind homes along the 4300 block of Malta Street at 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Police say the 45-year-old victim was shot in the back of the head.

Action News has been told surveillance video shows two suspects exiting the vehicle before running off.

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The victim's wife contacted police out of concern when he did not pick her up from work, as planned. She then tracked his location to Malta Street.

Detectives are working to figure out why the victim was in that area.


Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of crimes against humanity for killing journalist Amal Khalil and wounding her colleague Zeinab Faraj in an air strike in the village of al-Tayri in southern Lebanon.

Khalil and Faraj were reporting on an earlier Israeli attack on a vehicle on Wednesday, when they were targeted while fleeing towards a building to take shelter.

Paramedics rescued Faraj and recovered Khalils body from the rubble hours later.

Heres what we know so far:

The journalist was last heard from at about 4:10pm local time (13:10 GMT), when she called her family members and the Lebanese military, according to colleagues and media reports.

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She had taken cover inside the house after an earlier Israeli air raid killed two people near the car in which she was travelling with Faraj.

Rescue workers initially tried to reach the veteran Al Akhbar journalist, but came under Israeli fire and were forced to withdraw, according to Lebanons Ministry of Public Health.

A second strike then hit the house where the two journalists had sought refuge. Khalils body was recovered shortly before midnight, more than seven hours after the attack.

Khalil was killed in what Lebanese officials described as a double-tap strike in al-Tayri.





Rescuers were able to pull Faraj, who was seriously wounded, from the scene and recover the bodies of two people killed in the first strike. But efforts to reach Khalil were delayed after Israeli forces fired on emergency workers, the ministry said.

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Khalil had been covering a renewed escalation of hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which resumed in early March amid wider regional tensions linked to the US-Israel war on Iran.

Khalil is the ninth journalist killed in Lebanon this year.

Born in 1984 in Baysariyyeh, southern Lebanon, she had covered the region for Al Akhbar since the 2006 war. Her latest reporting focused on Israeli demolitions of homes in villages where Israeli troops are positioned inside Lebanon.

In an interview earlier this year with The Public Source, Khalil said her reporting sought to highlight the resilience of residents in Lebanons border villages.

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I debunk the enemys narrative of targeting only military sites by showing evidence of them bombing homes, farms, and killing children, she said. Through my work, I have tried to be in solidarity with these people  the people of the land.

Israel condemned for the killing

In a statement to Al Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Khalils killing must be a wake-up call for the international community to enforce international law, urgently investigate Israels 262 killings of journalists across the region, and hold all those responsible to account.

The Israeli militarys obstruction of medical crews from rescuing wounded civilians is a brutal and recurring crime we have already witnessed in Gaza and now again in Lebanon. Khalil, an unarmed civilian journalist, remained trapped under the rubble for more than seven hours while the Red Cross was prevented from reaching her, said the CPJs regional director, Sara Qudah.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun offered his condolences over Khalils death and wished Faraj a swift recovery.

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In a post on X, Aoun accused Israel of the deliberate and consistent targeting of journalists in an effort to conceal the truth of its aggressive acts against Lebanon.

Reporting from Tyre, southern Lebanon, Al Jazeeras Heidi Pett said Khalil was a well-known and respected journalist here in Lebanon.

Pett said Khalil had received direct threats during the last war from an Israeli phone number on WhatsApp, warning her to stop reporting.

In fact, [they were] telling her that she should leave Lebanon if she wanted her head to remain on her shoulders, Pett said.

The Israeli military denied reports it had prevented rescue teams from reaching the scene and said it does not target journalists.

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Less than a month ago, three journalists were killed in another reported double-tap attack in southern Lebanon. Their vehicle was struck, then hit again, while rescue workers who arrived afterwards also came under attack.

Following that incident, the Israeli army posted an image alleging one of the journalists was a member of Hezbollahs elite forces, but later acknowledged the photo had been altered.

Lebanons Information Minister Paul Morcos described the latest attack as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
The Rent Guidelines Board heard from landlords and tenant advocates in a meeting Thursday morning in Lower Manhattan.

With New York City rents rising to historic levels, the Rent Guidelines Board is facing unprecedented pressure to hold the line on the 40% of apartments that are rent regulated.

"The rent is already too high," said Emma Rehac, a rent-stabilized tenant.

The board heard from tenants like Rehac, who shares an apartment with two roommates in Upper Manhattan and spends 30% of her income on rent.

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"Our landlords' incomes are not in crisis. It is our housing, our basic need for shelter that is in crisis," she said.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani made it a signature issue in his campaign, and later made good on his pledge to appoint half a dozen members of the nine-member board, insisting landlords can weather a rent freeze.

"Buildings with rent-stabilized apartments saw their revenue increase by more than 6% last year," Mamdani said in a video posted on his X account.

But the board also heard from landlords who are struggling with rising costs, like fuel oil and insurance.

"One thing we can say for sure: that trend is alarming," said Kenny Burgos of the New York Apartment Association. "Insurance has increased by well over 100% in the past five years."

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"The war in Iran has dramatically increased our fuel costs," said a Washington Heights landlord, Jose Tur.

Tur owns a 45-unit building in Washington Heights. It was purchased in 1979 by his grandfather, who emigrated from Cuba. His profit margin is less than 10%.

When asked by Eyewitness News if he feels like he's fighting a losing battle, Tur said "yes."

"It definitely feels that way, right off the bat," he said. "I know, and it feels like we're the underdog and we have to fight every day for our interest."

Eyewitness News asked Rehac if she has any sense of how the final decision will play out.

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"I hope that if they are very serious about addressing the affordability crisis in New York, they're going to decrease our rent, because the rent is already too damn high," she said.

The board will hold a preliminary vote in two weeks ahead of a final vote in June. Their decision, whatever it is, will take effect on October 1.

Last year, the board approved a 3% increase for one-year leases and a 4.5% increase for two-year leases during the Adams administration. Adams had unsuccessfully attempted to change the makeup of the board before those votes.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to shoot and kill Iranian small boats choking the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media post Thursday morning, he said the military is intensifying its mine clearing efforts in the critical waterway. The move intensified the U.S.-Iran standoff in the Persian Gulf and raised questions about efforts to end the war.

Later Thursday, Trump said Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House. The meeting Thursday was the second high-level negotiation between the two countries since last week. The initial 10-day ceasefire, which took effect last Friday, had been due to expire Monday.

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Meanwhile, the U.S. military said it seized another tanker Thursday associated with smuggling Iranian oil, the Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean, deepening confusion over efforts to end the war. The seizure comes after a day after Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them. Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the worlds traded oil passes in peacetime, with no end in sight.

Here is the latest:

US puts $10 million bounty on Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada leader

The United States has placed a $10 million bounty on the leader of an Iranian-backed Shiite militia in Iraq.

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The U.S. State Departments Rewards for Justice program issued a notice it sought the leader of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada.

It said Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji led the group, whose members killed Iraqi civilians and attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq.

It also said Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada attacked U.S. military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq has several Shiite militias backed by Iran that are part of the countrys Popular Mobilization Forces, which was created after the fall of Mosul in 2014 to formalize volunteer units that defeated the Islamic State group.

Guyana says tanker seized by US FRAUDULENTLY flying the Guyana flag

The South American nation of Guyana said Thursday that a tanker seized by the United States in Asia for allegedly carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil was FRAUDULENTLY flying the Guyana flag.

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Guyanas Maritime Administration Department made the announcement in a statement to journalists.

It noted the vessel had previously been named Phonix, which the U.S. Treasury noted when it previously sanctioned the vessel.

This ship is NOT registered in Guyana; thus, the registration is false and fraudulent, its statement said.

While the name of the vessel has changed, the (International Maritime Organization) number remains recorded in the international database as PHONIX. There is no record of this vessel or name in Guyanas registry.

Israel says it struck Hezbollah missile launcher

Israels military said it struck a missile launcher in Lebanon that had fired into Israel on Thursday in an attack that Israeli air defenses intercepted. Hezbollah claimed the attack.

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Israels announcement of the strike came soon after Trump said the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire had been extended by three weeks.

Hezbollah said it had launched rockets toward Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Lebanese village of Yater. Two people, including a child, were wounded by Israeli artillery shelling there, said Lebanons public health ministry.

The ministry also said that an Israeli airstrike killed three people farther north, in the area of Nabatieh. The Israeli military said it had killed three militants who had launched a missile toward an Israeli warplane.

Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors thank Trump for historic moment

Speaking alongside Trump in the Oval Office, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said Israel and Lebanon have never been next to each other more than today.

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Leiter thanked Trump and Vice President JD Vance for a day he said was decades in the making.

We are going to keep going, working for peace. Lets hope we will get it as soon as possible, he said.

Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad thanked Trump for presiding over this historic moment. She added: I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again.

Trump says its a must for Iran to end funding for Hezbollah

The president reiterated that the U.S. continues to demand that Iran stop its backing of proxy groups in the Mideast, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, as part of any deal between Washington and Tehran to end the U.S. war on Iran.

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Yeah, theyll have to cut that, Trump said to a reporters question about aiding the militant group. Thats a must.

US envoy compares Hezbollah to a kid throwing rocks

The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel are neighbors and they want to get along, said Mike Huckabee, the U.S. envoy to Israel, who was on hand for the White House talks.

They can get along, he said. But its like neighbors who have a rough little kid living in the neighborhood who keeps throwing rocks at everybodys window. And if the kid will quit throwing rocks, the neighbors can get along and start actually working together.

Trump says ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by 3 weeks

That comes after representatives from both countries met at the White House on Thursday.

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The meeting went very well, Trump said on his Truth Social platform. The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah.

Trump said he will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in the near future.

A 10-day ceasefire was announced on April 16, pausing fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.

As Israel-Lebanon talks are set to start, rocket fire from Hezbollah

Israels military says its air defenses intercepted rocket fire from Lebanon.

It came as talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials were set to begin at the White House. Hezbollah said it had fired at the town of Shtula in response to Israeli attacks on the Lebanese village of Yater.

Trump says hes not considering using a nuclear weapon against Iran

The president appeared perturbed when asked by a reporter if hed consider deploying nuclear weapons against the Islamic Republic.

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No, I wouldnt. We dont need it. Why do I need it? Why would a stupid question like that be asked? Trump fumed.

He went on, Why would I use a nuclear weapon, when weve totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it. No, I wouldnt use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.

Trump say he wont be rushed to end war as Iran negotiations drag on

I dont want to rush myself, said Trump, who added that Irans leadership is in turmoil.

Trump in an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office also pushed back against questions that the conflict is exceeding the four-to-six week timeline that he and aides previously set for the war.

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I took the country out militarily in the first four weeks. I took it out militarily, Trump said. Now all were doing is sitting back and seeing what deal (we make). And if they dont want to make a deal, then Ill finish it up militarily.

Iranian officials refute Trumps claims of leadership rift in the country

In Iran there are no hardliners or moderates. We are all Iranians and revolutionaries, Irans president, and Irans parliament speaker wrote in an almost identical statement on their social media.

A spokesperson for Irans Foreign Ministry called the U.S. presidents claim that there was a leadership rift in Iran a form of deflection, with other Iranian officials also claiming on social media that the country was united.

Hours earlier, Trump said that Iran is going through a hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just dont know!

Since the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the war, it has been unclear who in Iran wields ultimate authority over its collection of civilian figures and powerful generals who appear to be in charge.

Third aircraft carrier arrives in the Middle East

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush has now arrived in U.S. Central Command, making the ship the third aircraft carrier to be present in the Middle East during a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war.

The Bush is now in the Indian Ocean, according to a social media post from the military command. The USS Abraham Lincoln is located in the Arabian Sea and the USS Gerald R. Ford is in the Red Sea.

The Bush, which left its home port of Norfolk, Virginia at the end of March, proceeded to sail across the Atlantic Ocean but then made the unusual choice to turn south and sail around the Horn of Africa before heading north toward the waters of the Middle East

Air defenses in action over Tehran

Irans capital Thursday night saw air defense systems in action as explosions were heard in the western part of the city.

State media said the move was against hostile targets,  without any elaboration.

Witnesses said air defense systems were also heard southwest of the city.

Some Iranian media said earlier Wednesday that a test of the systems was in process.

Clashes disrupt Israeli Supreme Court hearing

Clashes broke out at Israels Supreme Court during a hearing on petitions calling on the government to establish an official state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the investigation.

Protesters attempted to break into the courtroom, forcing the proceedings to pause, according to Israeli media reports. The hearing resumed after about 30 minutes. Separate confrontations were reported outside the court between bereaved families holding opposing views.

Renowned US-Kuwaiti journalist detained in Kuwait acquitted, press monitor says

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Thursday that a Kuwaiti court acquitted journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin on all charges following 52 days of detention.

Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist who contributed reporting to major media outlets, was arrested March 3 while visiting his family in Kuwait, CPJ said. The press monitor previously reported that Kuwaiti authorities have charged him with spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone.

We are relieved that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been found innocent after 52 days in detention, said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg.

Trump to join Israel-Lebanon talks at White House

A U.S. official says President Donald Trump will greet Israeli and Lebanese diplomats who will meet for a second round of talks on Thursday at the White House.

The official said the meeting had been moved from the State Department, where the first round was held last week, to the White House so that Trump could attend. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration planning.

The talks come as a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that was agreed to by the Israeli and Lebanese governments is due to expire. U.S. officials say they hope an extension of the truce can be arranged.

- Mathew Lee

Israel appoints envoy to Christian world

Israels foreign minister Gideon Saar has appointed George Deek as special envoy to the Christian world in a bid to strengthen ties with Christian communities, according to a government statement.

Deek, a veteran diplomat and former ambassador to Azerbaijan, is a member of Israels Arab Christian community.

Saar said Israel attaches great importance to its relations with Christians worldwide.

The appointment comes after a pair of incidents that strained relations with the Christian world. Last month, Israeli police prevented Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, citing the war with Iran. And an Israeli soldier set off a global firestorm by smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in Lebanon. Two soldiers have been sentenced to jail for their roles in the incident.

Pope urges US and Iran to return to peace talks, condemns capital punishment

After a trip that was dominated by the very public back and forth between Pope Leo XIV and U.S. President Donald Trump over the war, Leo urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations.

He called for a new culture of peace to replace the recourse to violence whenever conflicts arise.

He said the question wasnt whether the Iran regime should change or not. The question should be about how to promote the values we believe in without the deaths of so many innocents.

He revealed that he carries with him the photo of a Muslim Lebanese boy who had been killed in Israels recent war with Hezbollah. The boy had been photographed holding a sign welcoming the pope when he visited Lebanon last year.

As a pastor I cannot be in favor of war, he told reporters aboard his plane. I would like to encourage everyone to find responses that come from a culture of peace and not hatred and division.

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Trump likes a naval blockade. But Iran presents big differences from Venezuela and Cuba

President Donald Trump has turned to naval blockades to pressure the governments of Venezuela, Cuba and now Iran to meet his demands, but his preferred tactic is confronting a very different reality in the Middle East than in the Caribbean.

Unlike Cuba or Venezuela, Iran choked off a crucial trade route for energy shipments, meaning the longer the standoff persists, the more the global economy will suffer. Tehran also poses a greater military threat than those two adversaries in Americas own hemisphere and requires a sustained military presence far from U.S. shores.

Irans leverage over the Strait of Hormuz gives it power during a shaky ceasefire because the widening economic risks, especially higher U.S. gas prices in an election year, could force the Republican president to end the blockade on Irans ports and coastline, experts say.

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Palestinians mourn another death in historically violent year in the occupied West Bank

A 25-year-old father of twins was shot by Israeli settlers in a village home to a large Palestinian-American population, sparking an outpouring of grief at his funeral Thursday.

The Ramallah-based Palestinian Ministry of Health said Awda Awawdeh died from gunshot wounds after what witnesses described as a clash with settlers attempting to steal Palestinian livestock.

Young men from our town gathered and came to confront them. The settlers fired at them, and the young man Awda Awawdeh was hit and injured on his side with a live bullet, said Ziad Manasrah, a paramedic who helped transport Awawdeh from the town of Deir Dibwan to the hospital.

Awawdeh is the 11th Palestinian killed by Israeli settlers in 2026, surpassing the nine killed in 2025.

The daily killings in the West Bank are not incidental, but an integral part of a systematic process of ethnic cleansing. The Israeli system does not halt this violence deliberately because it serves its political goal: the suppression and dispossession of Palestinians from their land, said Yuli Novak, the executive director the Israeli rights group BTselem.

Lebanese cabinet discusses potential move to join the ICC

Lebanons Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said ministers on Thursday discussed joining the International Criminal Court, a permanent tribunal that prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, for a specific period.

The move would mark a significant shift for Lebanon, which is not a member of the court. Mitri said the move would enable the ICC to look into war crimes and humanitarian crimes which were committed on Lebanese territory.

Lebanon has accused Israel of war crimes and repeated breaches of international law during the latest war with Hezbollah.

Irans judiciary chief touts the countrys show of force in the Strait of Hormuz

Irans judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi, said on X that the countrys armed forces were demonstrating strength in the Strait of Hormuz, citing what he described as a Revolutionary Guard mosquito fleet of speedboats and underwater drones, along with action against three ships in the waterway.

He wrote that the IRGCs mosquito fleet, with speedboats and drones, lies in wait from the sea caves of Faror Island for the American aggressor warships, ready to saturate their air defenses and bring utter ruin upon the invaders.

He called the display a source of pride and warned against U.S. naval presence.

Israeli defense minister says Israel is ready to resume war with Iran

Israels defense minister, Israel Katz, said Thursday that Israel is prepared to resume war with Iran and is awaiting a green light from the United States, according to a statement following a security assessment.

We are waiting for a green light from the United States, Katz said, adding that the military is ready for both defensive and offensive operations and targets are marked.

Israelis express mixed views on Lebanon talks

Residents in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv expressed mixed views on talks between Israel and Lebanon, with opinions ranging from calls for diplomacy to deep skepticism over Hezbollahs role.

I always believe that you can talk, but you have to be prepared for war, said Ben Kurtzer, a Jerusalem resident.

Others were more skeptical. Who is there to talk to? said Yardena Sharon.

Some drew a distinction between Lebanon and Hezbollah.

We do not want to be hostile with the state of Lebanon; we have no hostility towards them. I think there are, undoubtedly, wonderful people there, people who seek peace, just as we seek peace, said Matan Moalem, a Jerusalem resident. Hezbollah needs to be eliminated once and for all, to take control of the entire area that constantly threatens Israel, firing in our direction and always seeking to eliminate and kill us.

In Tel Aviv, others emphasized diplomacy. Force without brains is worth nothing. In the end, only agreements bring peace and security, only agreements, said Daron Sabani.

Images of new crucifix in southern Lebanon convey message of hope, dialogue and peace, Meloni says

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday thanked Italian peacekeepers serving in southern Lebanon for donating a new crucifix to the village of Debel after the original was destroyed by an Israeli soldier in an incident that drew international criticism.

Meloni said images showing the crucifix being delivered and placed in the same spot as the one destroyed days earlier conveyed a message of hope, dialogue and peace.

Israels military said Tuesday it had replaced the crucifix and shared a photograph of the new one on social media. The replacement appeared smaller and more ornate than the original, which had been smashed by a soldier.

The Israeli military said two soldiers involved in the episode will be held for a month in military detention.

Ukraines president discloses details of security agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a CNN interview that his country signed a Drone Deal with the three Gulf countries, aiming to help them manufacture much cheaper drones and drone interceptors.

Zelenskyy toured the Gulf countries late May, but there was no immediate word on the details of the signed agreements between Ukraine and the Gulf countries.

 A (low-cost, Iranian-designed Shahed drone) can cost from 80 to 130 thousand dollars. It will be destroyed not with a missile worth 3-4 million dollars, but with an interceptor costing 10 thousand dollars, Zelenskyy wrote, adding that he wants to help Gulf countries defend themselves.

Speaking earlier this month, Zelenskyy said that in exchange for its drone expertise, Ukraine would get air defense weapons to protect its energy infrastructure, along with oil, diesel and, in some cases, financial help. Ukrainian officials havent published details of the final deal.

Stable ceasefire and assurances needed for transit in the Strait of Hormuz

The chief safety and security officer in BIMCO, the worlds largest international shipping association, said Thursday that shipping companies need assurances from both Iran and the U.S. to transit the vital waterway.

Mine clearance efforts are also needed as they pose a particular concern, Jakob Larsen said in a statement, adding that the process of mine clearance could take up to several weeks.

Hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the military is intensifying its mine clearing efforts in the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz remains fully closed Thursday as the U.S.-Iran standoff continues to intensify in the Persian Gulf.
Fierce debate this week in the Louisiana Legislature over a criminal defendants right to waive their right to a jury trial led to accusations of tyranny with some lawmaker-lawyers questioning the constitutionality of a proposal that has the backing of the attorney general.

The debate stemmed from House Bill 310, sponsored by Rep. Josh Carlson, R-Lafayette, that would reassign criminal cases to a different judge when a defendant declines a jury trial unless the prosecutor disagrees. The Seventh Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by jury, but some defendants choose to waive that right and elect to have a judge decide the outcome in a bench trial.

Representatives approved the bill in a 57-36 vote Wednesday, sending it next to a Senate committee for consideration. A vote on the same measure April 9 failed by three votes.

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The proposal is one of several Attorney General Liz Murrill is asking lawmakers to pass this session.

Under Carlsons bill, when a defendant waives a jury trial, the case would be randomly assigned to the remaining pool of judges in a division. The judge who was initially assigned the case would not be eligible to hear it.

Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, said he found Carlsons bill problematic, in part, because defendants already have limited options in smaller court jurisdictions where there might be only one judge who hears criminal cases.

There should be no penalty attached for waiving a constitutional right  Jordan said. What were doing is taking something that is a right of the defendant, and were putting all of the power back in the hands of the prosecution.

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Carlsons bill also drew opposition from his fellow Republicans in the House.

Rep. Brian Glorioso, an attorney from Slidell, noted Carlson is not a lawyer and mentioned Murrills influence on the bill, likening it to politics from Nazi Germany and other tyrannical governments.

I know many of you have received coercion and possibly even threats from the AG, Glorioso told his colleagues. Many of you may fear the AG. I do not Tyranny doesnt always arrive with a roar. Often it arrives with a whisper in the form of a procedural change that looks like good policy but erodes the foundation of justice.

Murrill took exception to Gloriosos remarks, issuing a statement Wednesday morning demanding an apology.

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I respect the legislative process, but Representative Glorioso crossed the line and made comments unbecoming of a member of the House, Murrill wrote. He is entitled to disagree with any bill, but failing to convince people with his arguments, he resorted to personally attacking my character and making false claims about my entirely deferential and informational discussions about the bill with members.

Glorioso made the apology Wednesday afternoon from the House floor.

While we can disagree on policy, I should have kept my opposition to the specifics of the bill and not insinuated any improper motive, Glorioso said. I have the greatest respect for our attorney general.

Carlson said his proposal would bring Louisiana in line with 31 other states that have similar laws pertaining to waiving a jury trial. The U.S. Constitution guarantees a jury trial but doesnt guarantee the right to waive a jury trial, he said.

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Glorioso noted that the Louisiana Constitution specifically guarantees the right to waive a jury trial.

When Carlsons bill first went up for a House vote April 9, he argued that defendants are waiving jury trials so their cases will be assigned to judges who are biased against prosecutors. Though he didnt provide names or examples, he said there are judges who regularly acquit defendants despite hearing evidence that proves them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

To keep the integrity of the system, the public confidence of the outcome and the perceived legitimacy, [bench trials] should be randomly assigned to a judge that has not been involved in that case, Carlson said during Tuesdays debate.

Lawmakers are also weighing a proposed constitutional amendment regarding the ability of defendants to waive jury trials. Senate Bill 97, by Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, would require a district attorneys approval for defendants to waive their right to a jury trial in criminal cases that do not involve the death penalty.

Morris bill has gained Senate approval and awaits a House committee hearing.

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LINCOLN  Nebraska Appleseed officially appealed the dismissal of its lawsuit seeking to challenge the Pillen administrations legal authority last year to convert a state prison into a federal detention center for migrants.

The case, appealed Thursday, comes on behalf of former State Sen. DiAnna Schimek and 13 McCook residents regarding the repurposing of Nebraskas Work Ethic Camp in McCook. The lawsuit argues that Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services first needed legislative approval.

Schimek was one of the original lawmakers who authorized the creation of the states Work Ethic Camp in 1997. It opened in 2001 and housed state inmates until late last year.

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The appeal is to the Nebraska Court of Appeals. The Nebraska Supreme Court might expedite the case to its own docket.

Red Willow County District Judge Patrick Heng hears arguments from attorneys Nick Grandgenett, left, and Jennifer Huxoll, right, about the legality of converting the states Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska, into an immigration detention center. Oct. 24, 2025. (Erin Bamer/Nebraska Examiner)

Nick Grandgenett, Appleseeds immigrants and communities senior staff attorney and lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the case, said Nebraskans want welcoming communities where everyone has a sense of belonging, not large-scale detention camps.

We are disappointed with the district courts decision to dismiss this lawsuit, Grandgenett said Thursday. Nebraska law is clear. Neither the governor nor the NDCS director have the unilateral authority to use the Work Ethic Camp for immigration detainment. We look forward to the opportunity to present this separation of powers case on appeal.

Red Willow County District Judge Patrick Heng dismissed the case in late March. He initially allowed it to move forward in October 2025, though, even then, Heng said Pillen and Jeffreys were within their rights to have the state contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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It is clear that the current situation with the department and ICE detainees was never contemplated when the statutes were created, but the language utilized by the Legislature is broad enough to allow the defendants to take the action they have chosen, Heng wrote in October.

Hengs ruling last month put a finer point on the constitutional matter: There has been no violation of separation of powers in the defendants actions.

Rob Jeffreys, director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, at an inaugural public roundtable of Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillens cabinet. April 20, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Pillen, in a March 27 statement, had called Hengs dismissal a huge victory and the right decision to affirm the states authority to use the Work Ethic Camp as an ICE detention center.

The Legislature made no changes to state laws regarding a work ethic camp for the state in the 2026 legislative session, which ended last week.

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The repurposed Work Ethic Camp  which Pillen and federal officials have described as the Cornhusker Clink  remains state-owned and operated. The nearly 200 Nebraskans who had been at the McCook facility were moved out following the Sept. 30 signing of the Nebraska-ICE contract, which officials have estimated would annually net Nebraska about $14.25 million.

Jeffreys, at a public cabinet roundtable Monday, said state staff at the repurposed facility are incredible and have adapted to the new partnership, which he described as turning a state expense into a revenue-generated asset.

Were providing a safe, state-run environment, like weve always done with the rest of our population, to make sure that people are being treated humanely and with care and dignity, Jeffreys said.

The facility remains at a capacity of up to 200 detainees, but construction continues to bring that toward the 300 stipulated in the Nebraska-ICE contract. Jeffreys anticipates construction will be done by July. As of February, Jeffreys said the repurposing had brought in $4.4 million. The facility had operated at around $10 million annually.

Once complete, Nebraska could receive the full $2.5-million-per-month the feds had promised, but which the state is not yet receiving.

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Lebanon's leaders accused Israel on Thursday of committing a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, with the Israeli army saying it was reviewing the incident.

Rescuers and the reporter's employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year-old journalist who worked for the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar.

The civil defence agency said she was killed in a strike on a house in the village of Al-Tiri.

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"Israel deliberately targets journalists in order to conceal the truth about its crimes against Lebanon," President Joseph Aoun said in a statement denouncing "war crimes".

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on X that "targeting journalists and obstructing access for rescue teams constitutes a war crime", adding that his government would take the case to international bodies.

When contacted by AFP on Thursday, an Israeli army spokesperson said "the incident is still under review".

A 10-day ceasefire has been in effect in Lebanon since Friday, pausing the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that has left more than 2,400 people dead in Lebanon.

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Khalil and another journalist had taken refuge in a house in Al-Tiri after an Israeli airstrike targeted a car in front of them, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

It said the two occupants of the vehicle, the mayor of the nearby Israeli-occupied town of Bint Jbeil and a man with him, were killed.

An Israeli strike then targeted the house where the two journalists had taken refuge.

The health ministry said the attack wounded journalist Zeinab Faraj -- who was taken to hospital -- and left Khalil trapped.

A Lebanese Red Cross official told AFP they had "managed to rescue Zeinab Faraj" but were unable to reach Khalil and withdrew "because of a warning strike".

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Lebanese authorities had to contact UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon, and it took several hours before rescue workers could regain access to the area to recover the journalist's body from the rubble.

The health ministry accused Israel on Thursday of "obstructing rescue operations" and "targeting an ambulance clearly bearing the Red Cross symbol".

The Israeli military said in a statement on Wednesday it had "identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah".

The air force then struck a vehicle carrying "terrorists", it said, who had crossed what Israel calls the "forward defence line" in southern Lebanon and approached its troops.

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- 'Accountability' -

Israel says it has established a "yellow line" deep into southern Lebanon where its troops have been posted, stopping residents from returning.

Its army denied preventing rescue teams from "accessing the area".

Dozens of journalists attended Khalil's funeral in her southern hometown of Baysariyeh on Thursday. Her coffin was draped in the Lebanese flag and covered in flowers, her helmet and press vest placed on top.

Rights groups have condemned Israel's repeated killing of press workers.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said that "targeting civilians and obstructing aid are violations of international humanitarian law".

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UN chief Antonio Guterres "reiterates that journalists must be able to perform their essential duties without fears of interference, harassment or worse", he added.

Jonathan Dagher, head of the Middle East desk at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said the sequence of strikes on Wednesday "would indicate targeting and obstruction of aid constituting war crimes".

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher for Human Rights Watch, said "Israel's killing of journalist Amal Khalil should be credibly investigated".

"Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime."

On March 28, three journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the south, and UN experts called for an international investigation.

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They joined several other Lebanese journalists who have been killed by Israel since the previous conflict with Hezbollah started in 2023.

From a protest in Beirut commemorating Khalil, journalist Inas Sherri told AFP "accountability is the most important thing".

"If we were holding people accountable, Israel would not have continued killing journalists one after another."

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The IDF said that reports of injured journalists were under review, emphasizing that the military was "not preventing rescue teams from reaching the area."

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of war crimes in an X/Twitter post early Thursday morning, claiming that the IDF had targeted journalists in southern Lebanon.

"Targeting journalists, obstructing access to them by relief teams, and even targeting their locations again after these teams arrive constitutes described war crimes," said Salam.

"Israel's targeting of media workers in the south while they carry out their professional duties is no longer isolated incidents, but has become an established approach that we condemn and reject, as do all international laws and conventions," Salam continued.

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The prime minister added that Lebanon will "spare no effort in pursuing these crimes before the competent international forums."

Salam's comments come after a senior Lebanese military official told Reuters on Wednesday that rescuers in the southern Lebanese town of Tayri were injured after an Israeli drone dropped a grenade on them as they tried to lift a wounded journalist from rubble.

A general view shows demolished homes and structures in the southern Lebanese village of Beit Lif, in the Bint Jbeil district on April 22, 2026. (credit: KAWNAT HAJU / AFP via Getty Images)

The official said the Lebanese army asked the Israeli military through a US-led mechanism to allow rescuers to retrieve the wounded journalist.

The IDF said in a statement on Wednesday that reports of injured journalists were under review, emphasizing that the military was "not preventing rescue teams from reaching the area."

IDF: We do not target journalists

The statement noted that the IDF "does not target journalists" and "acts to mitigate harm to them," adding that the map of the Forward Defense Line has been published and that the area has been "evacuated."

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In the same statement, the military said that it had struck one of two vehicles that had crossed the Forward Defense Line on Wednesday after it had approached IDF soldiers, killing the terrorist occupants.

The building from which the vehicles had originated was also targeted, the military added, noting that the structure had been used by Hezbollah.

On March 28, the IDF killed a Hezbollah terrorist who was also a journalist for Lebanese outlet Al Manar, with the military confirming that it was aware of reports that an additional journalist was killed in the strike.

"The IDF directs its strikes to target terrorists, and not journalists, and is operating to mitigate harm to civilians as much as possible," the military said.
BUCHAREST, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest party in the ruling coalition, withdrew all its ministers from the government on Thursday in a move aimed at forcing Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan to resign, according to local media reports.

The withdrawal has caused the current government to lose its parliamentary majority, reducing it to a minority government. Around 1:45 p.m. local time (1045 GMT), seven PSD officials submitted their resignations, including the deputy prime minister and six ministers.

The PSD has not yet initiated discussions with the president regarding the filing of a no-confidence motion against the government, reported Digi 24.

Three opposition groups in the parliament are considering filing a no-confidence motion against the government. However, given the required number of parliamentary signatures needed to file such a motion, only the PSD currently has enough lawmakers to do so independently.

Under Romania's constitution, when the political composition of the government changes, the prime minister has 45 days to seek a confidence vote in parliament. 
Bucks County, Penn.  Catholic churches seem to be everywhere in this southeastern Pennsylvania county  33 parishes, to be exact  and for good reason. More than a third of Bucks County residents are Catholic, according to the privately run 2020 U.S. Religion Census.

In 2024, Catholic voters helped deliver Bucks County to President Trump, marking the first time in 36 years that a Republican presidential candidate carried the county and helping him win statewide.

But the Iran war, Pope Leo XIV's biting criticisms of it and, in turn, Mr. Trump's attacks on the pope have many Catholics in Bucks County watching closely in a midterm year.

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Even Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez, who oversees Bucks County, weighed in. He defended the pope from Mr. Trump's attacks, saying in a statement that the pope's call for peace "powerfully reflects the truth of the gospel."

That sentiment was echoed from the pulpit at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Philadelphia into the pews at St. Mark's parish in Bristol borough.

William Watkins, a Democrat from Bristol who has voted for GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in past elections, told CBS News after a Friday morning Mass that he would likely vote against the moderate Republican in the fall if the U.S. is still at war with Iran on Election Day.

"I would do it as a protest," he said. "Not that I think he's not a good candidate. I just think that the policy of the Republican Party right now is too one-sided."

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Bucks County has comprised the majority of Pennsylvania's First Congressional District since 2019, and was part of the state's Eighth District before that. The southern population of the county is more working class than its northern counterpart, and it is fiercely independent.

In 2024, Fitzpatrick won reelection by nearly 13 percentage points, up from less than nine in his first election in 2016, signifying security in a historically swing-happy region, built through a meticulously moderate voting history.

But local elections in Bucks County tell a different story. When Fitzpatrick first won his seat, Republicans held a supermajority among county elected officials, controlling all but one of the county's 12 seats. Today, Democrats hold 11 of those 12 seats.

"People will come out and vote if Trump is on the ballot. But they won't come out and vote if he's not," said Bob Harvie, vice chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners and the frontrunner for the Democratic House nomination in the district. Harvie is also Catholic.

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The pope raised concerns about the U.S.'s war with Iran shortly after it began and grew more critical as the conflict went on, calling Mr. Trump's threats to destroy Iranian civilization "unacceptable." Mr. Trump has lashed out in response, calling the first U.S.-born pope "weak on crime" and "very liberal," and saying he isn't "doing a very good job."

Fitzpatrick was swift in his defense of the pope after Mr. Trump's attacks on the pontiff, calling the president's words "disgraceful" and "plainly sacrilegious" last week.

"I am not a fan of any divisive rhetoric ever, particularly when it's targeted at any religious leader," Fitzpatrick told CBS News. "The pope is one of many religious leaders who's trying to bring world peace and solve world hunger and see the humanity and dignity of every human being. That's somebody we should hold in high esteem."

Archbishop Nelson Perez leads Mass and gives communion to members of the community outside the former site of St. Leo's Catholic Church in Philadelphia on June 19, 2021. / Credit: Tyger Williams / AP

For Pat Balcer, a Catholic Republican from Bristol Township, that's precisely why he has voted for Fitzpatrick despite breaking from his party and never supporting Mr. Trump.

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"Let the pope have his say. The pope is for world peace, and  that's what he was proclaiming," he told CBS News after Mass. "I like that [Fitzpatrick] crosses the line every once in a while and doesn't stay with the rest of the lemmings."

Still, the war with Iran may be a bigger political issue for Fitzpatrick than the president's spats with the pope. Polling suggests most Americans oppose the war  including most Catholics.

"Brian Fitzpatrick can talk all he wants about how upset he is with Donald Trump, but I haven't yet seen him cast a vote that matters when it comes to stopping Trump's agenda," said Harvie, the Democrat running for the chance to challenge Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick in March voted against a resolution to force the U.S. military to stop hostilities with Iran without permission from Congress, calling it "recklessly over-broad," although only two Republican members voted for it. Fitzpatrick did, however, introduce his own resolution in April to force compliance with the War Powers Act of 1973, but the measure has not reached the floor.

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Fitzpatrick has also broken ranks on other significant votes in the past, including voting against Mr. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer.

"You condemn the statement, which I did. And you introduce a War Powers Resolution, which I did," Fitzpatrick said. "So what in the world is [Harvie] talking about?"

War in the Middle East has historically been politically precarious in Bucks County.

Before Mr. Trump's victory in 2024, the last Republican to carry the county was President George H.W. Bush. The year after Operation Desert Storm, the Democratic candidate, then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton won Pennsylvania in 1992.

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That pattern has extended to congressional races. Bucks County last elected a Democrat to the U.S. House in 2006, unseating GOP Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, Brian Fitzpatrick's late brother, after he voted to fund U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mike Fitzpatrick reclaimed the seat in 2010.

"I don't like [the GOP's] policies connected to the war," Watkins, the Democrat from Bristol, said. "I don't think they should have gone in the way they did, and I don't think they're going to be able to finish it the way they think they will. It's a lose-lose situation."

Still, some of those in the district for whom the MAGA movement initially made the GOP attractive have found ways to square their faith with their support for Mr. Trump.

One CBS News poll conducted earlier this month  before the feud between the pope and Mr. Trump escalated  found 46% of Catholics approve of Mr. Trump's job performance and 44% approve of U.S. military action against Iran. But Catholics who attend religious services at least once a week are more likely to approve of the president (58%) and action against Iran (50%).

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Dennis McGee Jr., a market researcher and podcaster from Bristol Township, said he was a lifelong independent and joined the Republican Party in 2016. He's now a local GOP committee member.

"I became a registered Republican in 2016 because I was motivated by President Trump in many of his positions," he said.

McGee, who attends Mass seven days a week, rejected Leo's criticism of the Iran war.

"Popes have an infallible ability, meaning they speak, and we as Catholics have to be obedient to what they say. This is not an infallible statement that Pope Leo made. It was a general statement," he said, acknowledging the rarity of such a case.

Dennis McGee Jr. in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. / Credit: Zak Hudak

Bucks County is often considered a bellwether area politically. Fitzpatrick and Harvie grew up in the southern part of it  their childhood parishes are a six-mile drive apart  where the population is more economically diverse and political fortunes can turn more quickly.

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The Iran war, and the pope's assessment of it, could have broader impacts across Pennsylvania, which has enjoyed must-win status in the last few presidential races.

Nearly two decades ago, the prominent Pennsylvania pollster G. Terry Madonna told The New York Times: "Whoever wins the Catholic vote will generally win our state and, most of the time, the nation."

In recent years, nearly a quarter of the total population of Pennsylvania still identified as Catholic and more than 60 percent as Christian, according to Pew Research Center's 202324 Religious Landscape Study.

The state's recent political history reflects that influence. The last two Republicans elected governor of Pennsylvania were Catholic, as are 10 of the state's 17 current House members. Four of the last seven U.S. senators from Pennsylvania were Catholic.

"For Republicans, the Catholic vote is pivotal," said Charlie Gerow, a GOP strategist based in Harrisburg. "A lot of Catholic voters are still old-line Democrats, who will vote Republican, particularly in statewide and national elections. So capturing the Catholic vote is very, very important."
Apr. 23After years of concern from the California School Employees Association that campus fields are unsafe for students, Lodi Unified School District will add nine positions to address the issue.

Edith Holbert, the district's executive director of operations, told the Board of Education on Tuesday that Lodi Unified will add three groundskeeping positions next year, two of which will require experience with irrigation systems.

A vacant maintenance position also will be converted to a lead irrigation and plumbing assistant. Adding the three positions will cost $251,048 in salaries.

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The district will add two more groundskeeping positions and an irrigation specialist during the 2027-28 school year at a cost of $251,055.

Two additional groundskeeping positions, costing $158,172, will be added in 2028-29. Holbert said existing personnel have been asking for more staff so they can spend more time at each campus requiring service.

Groundkeepers also have requested dedicated staff responsible for irrigation and expressed a need for training in that area.

Holbert said the new positions will serve all Lodi Unified campuses.

"The high schools do have dedicated staff already," she said. "But this will allow the current groundskeepers  who go from site to site  to spend more time at those sites and address irrigation as well."

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The district currently employs 12 groundskeepers and one full-time lead groundskeeper to maintain 709 acres and 81 buildings.

In addition, four groundskeepers and four utility workers are assigned to high schools 70% of the time, and two utility workers are assigned to the district's maintenance and operations division 50% of the time.

Cathy Allen, a consultant with The Callen Group, told the board in February that because those 10 employees work on grounds and utilities only part time, they are often reassigned to other departments on a daily basis.

Although there are technically 23 employees responsible for groundskeeping and utility maintenance, Allen said only 19.6 full-time equivalent employees are performing that work on any given day.

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Teachers and physical education instructors at previous meetings described many of the district's fields as "horrible," saying irrigation systems work poorly or not at all.

Many fields also contain hazards that cause students to roll their ankles or suffer other injuries.

Lodi CSEA President Rodrigo Contreras thanked staff for addressing the issue but said he was concerned the vacant maintenance position was converted rather than filled, calling it vital to ongoing operations.

"Even though (the proposal) is not perfect, we realize it is an acknowledgment and a start," he said. "We at CSEA look forward to providing students, staff and the community with beautiful and safe campuses to be proud of."

Superintendent Neil Young said formal approval of the new positions will not come before the board at a future meeting but will be included in discussions of the district's Local Control and Accountability Plan in June.
More than 40 members and associates of the Mexican mafia were arrested Thursday morning during an early-morning raid across Southern California.

The FBI and other federal and local agencies executed search and arrest warrants at about 30 locations across the region, mostly in Orange County.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said 43 people, some of whom were already in custody, have been indicted on charges that include murder, kidnapping, extortion, running an illegal gambling operation and drug trafficking.

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"Gang members who murder, extort, kidnap, and traffic drugs and firearms are a menace to our communities and our way of life," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. "Today's arrests highlight the continuing cooperation between federal and local law enforcement against violent felons and our unyielding determination to crack down on organized crime in our prisons and our streets."

According to authorities, officers seized four kilograms of fentanyl, 54.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 0.9 kilogram of heroin, three kilograms of cocaine, 25 firearms, and more than $30,000 in cash.

The Mexican Mafia was started in the 1950s at a juvenile jail and grew to an international criminal organization that controls smuggling, drug sales and extortion from inside California's penal system.

The indictment alleges one leader who was incarcerated used contraband cellphones to oversee the Mexican Mafia's criminal activities from his state prison cell from June 2024 to April 2026. He directed street gang members to kidnap and assault people, according to court documents. The gang also allegedly sold drugs including fentanyl, meth, heroin and cocaine.

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"It ran illegal gambling businesses within commercial strip malls and private residences," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. "The gang collected extortionate taxes and provided security, including the use of violence, to protect the illegal gambling businesses."

The gang is also suspected of a murder at a "gang-controlled" motel in Anaheim, according to the indictment.

The defendants will begin making their initial appearances Thursday afternoon in federal court in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim said on Thursday that he will select the next head of the country's anti-graft body, with the agency's current chief under growing pressure to resign over misconduct allegations.

Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), has faced sustained calls to step down following media reports in February accusing him and other senior officials at the agency of misconduct and breaches of public service rules. Azam and the MACC have described the allegations as "baseless".

The scandal has deepened rifts within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration, with some key allies questioning the premier's commitment to tackling graft.

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The government has investigated some of the allegations against Azam but has so far declined to make the findings public, pending related probes by police and other authorities. Azam's contract with the MACC is due to end in May, according to media reports.

Sultan Ibrahim said there was no need for the appointment to be politicised, adding that the chief's role was important to ensure the agency's effectiveness in combating corruption, misappropriations and abuse of power, according to a statement from the royal press office.

"I will determine who will be the best candidate to lead the MACC from now on," he said.

Anwar's office and the MACC did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the king's decree. According to the constitution, the king can appoint heads of key government agencies on the advice of the prime minister.

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Malaysia practices a unique rotational form of monarchy, in which the heads of the country's nine royal families take turns to be king for a five-year reign.

The monarchy plays a largely ceremonial role and is traditionally seen as above politics. But it has become more influential in recent years due to prolonged political instability during which the king has wielded rarely used discretionary powers.

(Reporting by Ashley Tang and Rozanna Latiff; Editing by David Stanway)
LONDONDERRY  A 31-year-old Londonderry man was arrested and charged last week with the possession of child sexual abuse material.

About 11:15 a.m. on April 8, the Londonderry Police Departments Detective Division served an arrest warrant on Winding Pond Road to Jonathan Hankins, who was charged with 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse images, felonies, police said.

These charges stem from a lengthy investigation that included the execution of a search warrant at his residence on March 19.

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Hankins was held on preventative detention and transported to the Rockingham County House of Corrections in Brentwood, pending an arraignment on April 9.

The Londonderry Police Department was assisted by the Windham Police Department and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
A man pleaded guilty to a weapon charge Thursday in connection with the death of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera.

Jaylin Arnold pleaded guilty to felony possession of a weapon, and was sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The sentence will run concurrently with a three-year sentence for an unrelated drug charge.

Investigators say Arnold was an armed drug dealer who Rivera and her partner first encountered on the evening of June 5, 2025 near 82nd Street and Drexel Avenue in the city's Chatham neighborhood.

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SEE ALSO: New video shows moment Chicago police say Officer Krystal Rivera was fatally shot by her partner

Prosecutors said the officers tried to engage with Arnold after they noticed what they thought was a gun with a drum magazine, and Arnold ran, prompting a pursuit.

The pursuit led the officers to a nearby apartment, where authorities say Arnold had guns and was preparing drugs for sale.

That is where investigators say Rivera and her partner encountered Arnold's co-defendant, Adrian Rucker.

Prosecutors said police body camera video and security video in the apartment captured Rucker pointing a rifle at officers from behind a couch in the apartment.

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Authorities say that's when Rivera's partner lost his footing, and his weapon accidentally discharged, striking Rivera and killing her.

Rucker is due in court May 12.

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For Mauro Rui Callado Cortez, a Catholic lay teacher in Angola, the unique opportunity to see Pope Leo XIV in person was unmissable, even though serious illness should have confined him to bed.

My visual contact with the Holy Father was a unique moment; it transmitted such a great physical and spiritual lightness that the feeling of satisfaction doesnt end, Cortez told CNN about his experience of seeing the papal car pass by outside Luanda International Airport, shortly after Leos arrival on Saturday.

Angola was the third stop on an 11-day tour of four African nations that has prompted wide excitement among the faithful on a continent, which is home to around 20% of the worlds Catholics  but also disquiet in some quarters.

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Critics have voiced concern that Leos decision to visit Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, both governed by long-serving leaders who maintain tight control over the Central African nations, has given tacit approval to authoritarian regimes.

The trip has been further complicated by a diplomatic dispute with the Trump administration regarding the popes stance on the Middle Eastern conflict.

The Pope has sought to downplay the perceived conflict, emphasizing that his trip to Africa focuses on peacebuilding and that hes not seeking to debate the president.

Leo has taken a strong stance against corruption and the exploitation of Africas natural resources by foreign powers in his public addresses. Hes also advocated for peace and reconciliation in areas affected by conflict.

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But the optics of the tour, which coincides with the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, Leos predecessor and a champion of the poor, remain troubling for many.

While in Africa, the pope has been greeted by sizeable crowds. In Bamenda, the center of a conflict between English-speaking separatists and the Francophone government in Cameroon, there was a festive atmosphere as Leo took part in a peace meeting and celebrated a Mass.

We want peace, that is all we want, said Pamela Nze ahead of the Mass. Earlier, Jamconfidence Masha waved a peace plant as she waited for the pope to arrive. She works as a clothes maker in Bamenda  her shop was destroyed during the conflict. She said the pope was bringing a message of love, hope and unity.

On Tuesday, on the flight from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, Leo paid tribute to Pope Francis, on the one-year anniversary of his predecessors death. He described Franciss life as a great gift to the church and the world, emphasizing the late popes closeness to the poorest, to the least (among us), to the sick, to children, to the elderly.

A complicated tour

The trip, which concludes this week in Equatorial Guinea, began with a historic visit to Algeria on April 13, where Leo became the first pope to visit the predominantly Muslim nation. From there, he traveled to Cameroon, where he led a large Mass in Douala that drew over 100,000 attendees.

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On Sunday in Angola, the pope addressed an audience of approximately 130,000 at two events, urging the nation to move beyond its longstanding divisions following a nearly three-decade war that ended in 2002.

Forty-four-year-old catechist Cortez, who witnessed the visits of Pope John Paul II to his hometown, Huambo, in 1992 and Pope Benedict XVI to Luanda, the Angolan capital, in 2009, said he viewed Leos visit as a great blessing for the Southern African country, where Catholics are the largest religious group.

Angola, where Portuguese is spoken, is one of several African countries with a Catholic heritage tracing back to the European colonial era.

A few days earlier, on April 15, Leo arrived in Cameroon at a politically significant moment. The countrys 93-year-old President Paul Biya had just signed a decree reinstating the position of vice president for the first time in his 43-year rule. This legislation, which received parliamentary approval about 10 days before the popes visit, allows the vice president to automatically assume the presidency if Biya were to die or become unable to govern.

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Father Ludovic Lado, a priest from Cameroon, expressed apprehension  shared by opposition groups  that this could pave the way for dynastic succession. In November, he sent a letter to the pope, asking him to rethink his planned visit to the country, which the Holy See acknowledged, according to a letter Lado posted on Facebook, saying it was following the countrys situation with keen attention.

Biya won his eighth presidential term in October, allowing him potentially to remain in power until hes nearly 100 years old. His re-election sparked widespread protests, during which Cameroonian security forces reportedly killed at least 48 people. Opponents of the regime claim that the election was fraudulent. Cameroons Constitutional Council dismissed petitions alleging electoral fraud, citing a lack of evidence.

The Central African region the pope is visiting includes some of the most entrenched and authoritarian political systems, often led by long-serving presidents, Lado told CNN. Cameroon is a clear illustration of this reality, with a troubling record in matters of governance and human rights.

Leo arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, a former Spanish colony and one of the worlds least-visited nations, where 74% of the population of nearly 2 million are Catholics.

Catholic faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV at the airport in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. - Misper Apawu/AP

Human rights lawyer Tutu Alicante, who leads a nonprofit organization promoting human rights and the fight against corruption in the small, authoritarian nation, expressed his opposition to the pontiffs visit in an interview with CNN, saying he feared it lent legitimacy to its leaders.

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The nations 83-year-old president, Teodoro Obiang, has held power for over four decades. Ahead of the popes arrival, Obiangs son Teodoro, who serves as the vice president, denied media reports alleging that the government had cut civil servants salaries to fund preparations for the trip, dismissing the claim as false information.

Despite its oil wealth, nearly half of Equatorial Guineas population lives in poverty.

The government has also been mired in numerous corruption scandals.

In 2021, the presidents son Teodoro was sanctioned in the United Kingdom for diverting millions of dollars, which officials claimed were used to purchase luxury mansions, private jets, and a $275,000 glove once worn by Michael Jackson.

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The previous year, he was tried in absentia in France, receiving a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of over $30 million for embezzlement. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

There are many other African countries that he (Leo) could go to, but he is choosing to meet with two of the longest serving heads of state in the world, Alicante said. The pope is the biggest diplomatic figure in the world. His presence in any country speaks volumes about what the Catholic Church believes.

Leo is not the first pope to be welcomed by the current leaders of Equatorial Guinea or Cameroon. However, his visit to these countries may have unintended consequences, according to Alicante, who expressed concern that the trip could legitimize an authoritarian kleptocracy.

Both leaders have previously dismissed allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

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Bitter taste

Throughout his tour, Leo has spoken out against corruption.

At the Presidential Palace in Yaounde, in front of Biya, he stressed that In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility  must be broken.

He also addressed the ongoing conflict in Cameroon between the Francophone government and English-speaking separatists, which has claimed thousands of lives over the past decade.

Jesuit priest Lado remarked that although the popes message to Cameroonian authorities was encouraging, it was nonetheless ignored. We are dealing with a particularly shrewd regime, he stated.

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Politician and social activist Kah Walla echoed the mixed feelings surrounding the popes visit to Cameroon.

There are over 8 million Catholics in Cameroon who were ecstatic and thrilled to see their Holy Father, she told CNN.

But there is definitely a bitter taste for some of us when we think about how the regime will use this visit to further legitimize itself and how all of the power and influence that the Pope carries might not truly improve the situation of Cameroonians who live under a very unjust system.

Cameroon's President Paul Biya and Cameroon's First Lady Chantal Biya watches as Pope Leo XIV (C) arrives to lead the Holy Mass at the Yaounde Ville Airport in Yaounde on April 18, 2026. - Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

Defenders point to popes focus on dialogue

Amid the scrutiny of Leos inclusion of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, other commenters have come to his defense.

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Father Beltus Asanji, a communications coordinator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Bamenda  the epicenter of the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon  told CNN that the purpose of the popes travels was to connect with local churches and share a message of peace, reconciliation and the dignity of humanity.

He explained that meetings with civil authorities are routine on apostolic journeys, and noted that the popes meeting with Biya aligns with the Vaticans principle of engaging in dialogue without political bias.

The Holy See has repeatedly stated that such encounters do not imply moral judgment on a leaders tenure or policies, Asanji said.

Cameroonian political analyst Collins Molua Ikome highlighted that the pope is primarily a religious authority.

If political institutions such as the United Nations, European Union and African Union, as well as numerous governments, recognize the Biya government, it is naive for people to think that a religious and moral authority like the pope can change that reality, he said.

Ikome viewed the popes visit as symbolic, noting that Biya had invested in significant infrastructure projects in Bamenda, including renovating its airport, in preparation for the visit, which could be positive for local residents.

One of the main catalysts for the Anglophone crisis is the perceived underdevelopment of the Anglophone regions, Ikome added.

However, Walla, leader of the opposition Cameroon Peoples Party, cautioned that the scars from the regimes crackdown on election-related protest are still fresh, and argued that a high-profile visit of this kind could send misleading signals.

Right now, there are banners with pictures of Pope Leo and Paul Biya all over the major cities of Cameroon. The regime is spinning this as to say that after the horrible election, marked by deaths and arrests, we are legitimate, we are being visited by the pope, she said.

She added, Every visit of a dignitary is turned into a type of PR campaign for the regime, and this popes visit is no different.

CNNs Christopher Lamb contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said Republicans wasted the money spent funding his opponent and attack ads against him in the upcoming Kentucky Republican primary race.

Theyve wasted $10 million in my race already. Imagine if they had used that in Virginia, Massie wrote on the social platform X, referencing Democrats Tuesday redistricting win in the state. Massie was responding to a post from a different user discussing analysis of the money spent in the Virginia referendum.

President Trump has backed Ed Gallrein to challenge Massie in Kentuckys Republican primary election on May 19. Trump went to the state last month to speak in support of Gallrein.

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Massie frequently butts heads with the Trump administration, criticizing their handling of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and opposing the GOPs massive funding bill passed last year.

Gallrein has raised over $2 million in his contest against the Republican incumbent, mostly from individual donations. Nearly $100,000 of his campaign funding has come through the Republican Jewish Coalition PAC, according to Federal Election Committee (FEC) filings.

Additionally, Trump-linked super PAC MAGA KY has raised over $1 million for political ads targeting Massie.

Massie has raised over double his Republican challenger, drawing in nearly $5 million for his campaign, according to filings with the FEC.

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Virginia voters narrowly approved new congressional maps Tuesday that could swing four additional House seats in Democrats favor in the upcoming midterm elections.

Democrats spent around $65 million, including nearly $39 million from House Majority Forward, a nonprofit group aligned with congressional Democratic leadership. The Republican funding effort against the maps raised nearly $22 million. Trumps super PAC, MAGA Inc., spent no money on the redistricting fight.

The presidents political director, James Blair, deflected criticism about the GOPs comparative lack of funding in this election during a Wednesday interview with CNN, casting doubt on the effectiveness of these new maps for Democrats.

These are not slam dunk districts for them, Blair said. They unloaded a lot of cash, and theyre going to have to fight for them in November if they get past the courts.

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MAGA Inc. has raised over $330 million ahead of the midterm elections, according the most recent FEC filing data from the end of March. Blair refused to say exactly how the Trump administration planned to spend this money when asked by CNN.

Well, Im certainly not going to broadcast our battle plans to the other side through the media, Blair said on Wednesday. But what I would say is I dont think Republicans will be at a spending disadvantage in [these] midterms  and in fact, I firmly believe they will have a significant spending advantage.

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 popular Madison block party is this weekend  and with it, come exuberant crowds and some safety concerns.

First held in 1969 as a Vietnam War protest, the Mifflin Street Block Party has shifted over the decades, growing into an annual event of college kids and other partygoers letting loose as the weather starts to warm.

Thousands of people flock to the Madison campus neighborhood each year for the party. But a legacy of rambunctious crowds and underage drinking leads local law enforcement and University of Wisconsin-Madison leaders to put precautions in place.

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Here's what to know about the annual event:

What's the history of the Mifflin Street Block Party?

The first Mifflin Street Block Party was May 3, 1969, held as a street protest against the Vietnam War. It led to a standoff between protesters and police in riot gear that resulted in several arrests and injuries.

The event continued, linked to the hippie movement of the '60s and '70s. After the Vietnam War, it began to evolve into a general celebration without its political connotations.

Through the decades, it has at times had an official sponsor, and at other times, like the present day, the party has been unsanctioned.

Taunting police, a line of young dancers swung from the sidewalk into Mifflin Street as they joined in an afternoon block party in the Madison hippie community in 1971. Police tried to keep the youths on the sidewalk. Ronald Overdahl / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Social media posts of the block party in recent years depict streets filled with a sea of people dressed in Wisconsin red.

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Over the last decade, city officials have at times called for an end to the party, citing safety concerns. In 2023, the Madison Police Department's then-Central District captain of police, Michael Hanson, said he was "very serious" about finding ways to stop Mifflin, after more than 40 people were arrested for alcohol-related offenses.

During the 2024 block party, more than 80 people were arrested, a first-floor porch collapsed and partygoers flipped a car over.

When is the Mifflin Street Block Party?

Mifflin is typically held on the last Saturday in April  this year, April 25.

It takes place on Mifflin Street  hence the name  and surrounding areas. Attendees primarily gather in backyards and porches for the daytime partying.

Partygoers flipped over a car at the annual Mifflin Street Block Party on April 27, 2024. Police said no one was injured.

How do law enforcement and UW-Madison officials respond to safety concerns?

Due to massive crowd sizes and concerns for underage drinking and related behaviors, the city of Madison and UW-Madison officials annually put precautions in place.

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At a news conference ahead of this weekend's festivities, Matt Tucker, director of the City of Madison's Building Inspection Division, warned of dangers of collapsing balconies.

"Although our office visually inspects from the public sidewalk, we are unable to guarantee the structural viability of the balconies," he said. "Many of the balconies in these areas are old. They get over-occupied. It's a great concern for us."

The Madison Police Department didn't respond to an interview request but WMTV-TV reported that the department plans to send around 150 officers to Mifflin on April 25, and will get assistance from the UW-Madison Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff's Office.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Housing released a statement April 20 advising students of increased safety measures in place "due to the nature of this event, the behavior students engage in, and its proximity to several residence halls." Among them will be additional staffing and guest restrictions.

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It also advised students against consuming alcohol  particularly in BORGs, or "Black Out Rage Gallons"  which have led to increased rates of alcohol poisoning.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Madison's Mifflin Street Block Party is Saturday; what it's all about
The search for the Milwaukee Housing Authority's next boss is over.

The board of commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee picked Harold S. Ince, Jr. the former executive director of the Flint Housing Commission, to lead the public housing agency.

Ince is stepping into power as the Housing Authority navigates rough waters. The agency, which provides housing assistance to more than 10,000 Milwaukee families, has faced accusations of financial trouble and mismanagement for years.

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Last year, a review by the city comptroller found that the cash-strapped agency owes the city $5.1 million. A month prior, Housing Authority admitted it had misused $2.8 million in Section 8 rent assistance funds to cover cash needs in other parts of the agency.

Inces appointment follows a long, closely watched leadership shakeup. Former Housing Authority executive director Willie Hines, who led the agency since 2021, retired at the end of 2024 amid calls for his resignation.

The months-long search for Hines' replacement began in January 2025, and Ince emerged as a finalist in early 2026.

Ince begins a 36month contract April 27, with a base salary of $220,000 and the opportunity to earn bonuses up to 10% his salary with board approval, according to his employment contract.

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Here's what we know about the Housing Authority's new boss.

Who is Harold Ince?

Ince, who hails from Falmouth, Maine, has nearly 30 years of leadership experience in public and private real estate management, according to his resume.

Ince graduated from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, with a degree in management. He was the director of asset management for housing authorities in Meridan and New Haven, Connecticut, according to his LinkedIn.

Ince then became interim executive director of the Detroit Housing Commission from 2016 to 2018 and executive director of the Flint Housing Commission in Michigan from 2018 to 2024, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel previously reported.

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Ince is currently suing the Flint Housing Commission for wrongful termination. His lawsuit alleges he became a target of the commission board president after authorizing an investigation into her conduct based an employee complaint, the Flint Journal reported.

Ince was placed on paid administrative leave in April 2024. The Flint Housing Commission Board of Commissioners terminated him nine months later. The City of Flint and the Flint Housing Commission have denied retaliating against Ince.

During his time at the Flint Housing Commission, Ince grew the commission's funds by $1.8 million, the Journal Sentinel reported.

The board of commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee discussed Ince's employment contract during a 15-minute closed session on April 15. After the end of the closed session, commissioners promptly approved the contract.

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More: What to know about one of Milwaukee's biggest landlords: The housing authority

What are Ince's top priorities?

The first item on Ince's to-do list is to get his bearings on the Housing Authority's current operations and priorities, said spokesperson Amy Hall.

"His goal is to bring stability, accountability, and a strong operational foundation that supports residents and positions the agency for long-term success," Hall said in an email April 22.

Ince will be listening and learning from the Board of Commissioners, staff, residents and community partners, Hall said.

Hall said Ince will also advance the Housing Authority's progress on its recovery agreement with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The agreement is a contract with the federal government to ensure the Housing Authority is addressing its issues with fiscal management and tenant services.

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It came about after the Housing Authority failed a federal review in 2022 and was rated poorly in a 2024 on-site assessment.

Kenneth Barbeau, who has been filling in as interim director of the Housing Authority since January 2025, said in an interview April 20 that Ince will also help pick two key positions in executive leadership: the chief financial officer and the chief operations officer.

With those positions locked in, the Housing Authority will be on its way to improving its accounting and rein in expenses, Barbeau said.

Barbeau, who has been with the Housing Authority since 1999, said he plans to help Ince transition into the role and then retire later this year.

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"We didn't get into this overnight," Barbeau said. "We're not getting out of this overnight. We're working our way through it."

How does Ince's pay compare to his predecessor?

Ince's salary is $32,000 less than Hines' 2023 salary. Hines was paid $252,000  around $80,000 more than the Milwaukee mayor and the governor, the Journal Sentinel reported in 2024.

Ince is still being paid more than the mayor and governor. His $220,000 base salary is about $50,000 more than the mayor's and $44,000 more than the governor's.

Gina Castro is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at gcastro@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is Harold Ince, the Milwaukee Housing Authority's new boss?
MANILA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Senator Imee Marcos has criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruling upholding jurisdiction in the case involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement released Wednesday, Marcos said the ruling "disregards the Philippines' sovereign withdrawal from the Rome Statute."

"Justice must be pursued in a manner consistent with our Constitution, our laws, and the integrity of our own judicial processes," she added.

The ICC's Appeals Chamber on Wednesday upheld the court's jurisdiction over the Duterte case, affirming an earlier decision by Pre-Trial Chamber I dated Oct. 23, 2025. The ICC maintained that it has authority over the case. 
A total of 518 people died in Tanzania from "unnatural causes", including 197 who were shot dead, in the widespread protests that followed last year's general election, the commission of inquiry set up to investigate the violence has announced.

However, commission chairman Mohamed Chande Othman did not say who was responsible for the deaths, recommending further investigations.

This is the first time the authorities have said how many people died.

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Opposition parties and human rights groups had previously accused the security forces of unleashing a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, killing thousands.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the 29 October poll with 98% of the vote - which the opposition described as a "mockery" of democracy after her main challengers were excluded.

At the time, the president said the election was fair and transparent and blamed foreigners for the violence, saying it was part of a plot to overthrow her.

International observers, however, last year raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the vote, with the African Union and the southern Africa bloc Sadc saying the election had fallen short of democratic standards.

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Last year, the BBC verified multiple videos of police shooting towards groups of protesters. Footage posted online showed that demonstrators were confronted by heavily armed police units blocking their progress and firing tear gas to disperse crowds. In many of the videos, gunfire can clearly be heard as people scatter in the ensuing chaos.

The scale of Tanzania's election violence was shocking for a nation that had cultivated an image of calm, consensus and order for nearly six decades.

Police used tear gas to disperse crowds [Reuters]

Speaking after receiving the report on the violence, Samia said it "shook our nation" and the government would take lessons from it.

She also defended the actions of the security agencies, saying they had prevented the state from sliding into anarchy.

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"We have learnt. The commission has told us that all the violence was planned coordinated, financed and executed by people who were trained and given equipment for committing crimes," she said.

She believed that the objective of those involved was "to create a leadership vacuum" and make the country "ungovernable", adding that they would be held accountable.

The president also announced the establishment of a criminal investigation body to examine offences linked to the post-election unrest.

She said it would identify those involved in criminal acts such as breaking into shops, looting property, damaging infrastructure and causing deaths.

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"The investigation will also examine the deaths of children, address claims of missing bodies, and probe allegations of abductions, including cases beyond the immediate areas of the unrest," she said.

The main opposition party, Chadema, told the AFP news agency the report was a "cover-up" and described it as "an attempt to whitewash the regime's crimes".

Among the 518 dead, 490 were male, 21 were children and 16 were security officers, Othman said.

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But he explained that the death toll could be higher as some victims had been buried without the authorities being told.

More than 2,000 people were injured, including 120 security officers, he added.

Opposition and religious groups had said thousands of people were killed, with reports of bodies being taken from hospitals and some allegedly buried in mass graves.

Othman said the claims of the existence of mass graves "could not be substantiated", alleging that AI was used to manipulate some images.

The commission identified several underlying causes of the violence, citing economic, political and social issues, including demands for political reforms, unemployment and "lack of patriotism".

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It said politicians and activists had used these issues to persuade citizens to take part in protests. It added that the demonstrations were neither peaceful nor lawful and would not qualify for legal protection.

After the ninemember commission was appointed by President Samia, opposition parties had raised concerns.

They said the inquiry "cannot be independent or impartial, especially in a situation where the government is the primary suspect in the crimes being investigated".

The young protesters generally said they were angered by what they saw as a political system dominated by one party since Tanzania gained independence in the 1960s.

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The two main opposition leaders were blocked from contesting the 2025 poll. Tundu Lissu is still in detention on treason charges, which he denies, while Luhaga Mpina's candidacy was rejected on technical grounds.

The commission made several recommendations including free medical treatment and psychosocial support for victims and that a national day of mourning be set aside in honour of those who died.

It also proposed setting up a commission of criminal inquiry to determine who is to be held accountable.

Besides, it recommends that a new constitution should be in place by 2028, before the next general election, as well as a new commission to foster reconciliation.

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

BBC Africa podcasts
A mother and her boyfriend are facing charges in connection with a child abuse investigation in Dayton.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Heather Pippen and Stephanas Golden were charged in Dayton Municipal Court on Thursday.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Pippen was charged with three counts of complicity, and one count each of domestic violence, assault, and endangering children, according to municipal court records.

Golden was charged with one count each of endangering children, domestic violence, and assault

They both pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday and were given a $100,000 bail, according to court records.

As previously reported, this case is connected to a viral social media video.

On Tuesday, News Center 7 watched as Dayton police were at a house on Wroe Avenue.

It was the second time that officers were at the home for a child endangering complaint.

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Monday night, a dad asked for a welfare check on his 15-year-old daughter, who lives here.

Based on some information he had received from her about some possible abuse in the household, Lt. Eric Sheldon with the Dayton Police Department said.

Police said they spoke with the man and woman who live there and the 15-year-old.

She was not willing to explain what led to what they called a small injury to her lip.

So at that point, they did not have enough information to make an arrest. They did, however, file a complaint and made a referral to Montgomery County Children Services, Shledon said.

Officers came back to the home for another welfare check on Tuesday.

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Police said people outside the home made the department aware of a video on social media that showed a man beating a 10-year-old girl inside the house.

As we interview the juveniles and process this evidence, theres a possibility that this will be upgraded to a felony child endangering. And there also may be other crimes that we can charge them with, Sheldon said.

As a result of the investigation, children services took seven children from the house.

Police said Pippen is the mother of five children in the home and the aunt of the other two.

Golden is Pippens boyfriend and isnt the father of any of the seven children removed.

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Golden and Pippen were arrested on scene.

The kids were all taken to the hospital to be checked for injuries.

Golden and Pippen are both scheduled to be in court on May 4.

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Tyler Johnson

The mother of a teen fatally shot at a Southfield hotel two years ago has started a campaign to increase the reward for information to find his killer.

Her son, Tyler Johnson, was shot in the head on Feb. 11, 2024. He was 15.

"We are working to increase the reward fund in hopes that someone will come forward with information that can help bring answers and justice," Tomika Alexander said in a statement. "During this difficult time, I am asking for your support."

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Alexander launched a GoFundMe.com page about a week ago to raise money for the reward. Currently, Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering a cash reward of $2,500 for a tip that leads to an arrest and conviction of Tyler's killer.

As of Thursday, her GoFundMe page had raised $3,421 toward a $5,000 goal.

"Increasing the reward money has been proven to be effective, and it encourages witnesses to come forward so that the families of the deceased receive some sort of justice and closure," Alexander wrote on the page. "If you can, please donate to my GoFundMe campaign. I cant do it alone, but together we can raise the reward money. I appreciate you all, and I believe justice will prevail."

Police said after the shooting, Tyler was taken to a hospital, where the Ferndale resident was put on life support.

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Authorities said the teen was with an unsupervised group of friends who had gathered in a room.

Officers arrested two juveniles who fled from the room, including a 15-year-old Detroit boy who had two handguns in his waistband. The other boy was released into his parents' custody.

In February 2025, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren told the media that witnesses to the shooting were not willing to come forward and tell investigators what happened.

As a result, the investigation had not moved forward, Barren said. He said the witnesses obtained attorneys through their parents and were not cooperating with the police.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

@CharlesERamirez

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Mother seeks to boost reward for tips in Oakland Co. teen's slaying
A recent stabbing has rattled the popular beach town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, police said.

Officers responded about 8:33 a.m. Sunday to 1004 S. Ocean Blvd. after a reported stabbing, according to the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Two people were hurt in the attack. One was taken to a hospital for treatment, while the other was treated at the scene.

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In a Tuesday update, police announced that Jeffrey Alonzo Keitt, 68, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

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Keitt was booked in the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. According to booking records reviewed by Fox News Digital, Keitt has a lengthy arrest record, with at least four bookings into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center since June 2025.

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The previous charges span from allegedly trespassing, assault on a police officer while resisting arrest or serving process, first-degree assault and battery, loitering, and unlawful entry onto posted land.

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According to booking records reviewed by Fox News Digital, Jeffrey Alonzo Keitt has a lengthy arrest record, with at least four bookings into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center since June 2025. (Fox News)

Investigators said an adult male victim told police that a verbal altercation involving a woman and Keitt escalated when the suspect allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed the victim in the leg.

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One victim was transported to a hospital, and EMS evaluated the second victim on the scene.

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Jeffrey Alonzo Keitt was charged in a double stabbing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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The investigation remains active. Police are asking anyone with additional information to contact the department.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Myrtle Beach Police Department for comment.





Original article source: Myrtle Beach man with lengthy arrest record charged with stabbing two people in popular beach destination
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) will host the 20th stop of its nationwide Oral History Project in Billings, Montana, as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the stories of Native American boarding school survivors.

The project will take place May 48, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Billings, where NABS is inviting Native American relatives who attended boarding schools prior to 1970 to participate in professionally recorded video interviews.

Organizers say the Montana stop represents a critical opportunity for survivors to document their lived experiences. The interviews will become part of a permanent archive housed at the Library of Congress, ensuring these histories are preserved for future generations.

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The Oral History Project is a key component of the U.S. Department of the Interiors Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a national effort to document and reckon with the legacy of the federal boarding school system and its impact on Indigenous communities.

We are grateful to be returning to Montana to gather boarding school survivor stories for the 20th stop of this historic project. Their lived experiences and truths deserve to be heard and preserved. It is more important than ever to gather and honor their stories, as our elders are getting older. This part of our history must be known in order to support healing for Indigenous peoples and communities, said Charlee Brisette, co-director of the initiative.

Participation is limited, and organizers are encouraging early registration. Interviews will be conducted by appointment only and are open to survivors who attended federally supported Indian boarding schools in the United States before 1970.

The Billings event marks another milestone in the coalitions broader mission to ensure that the voices of boarding school survivors are recorded, recognized, and honored as part of the ongoing healing process across Indian Country.

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Registration Information: Visit https://www.tfaforms.com/5092936 or call 651-650-4445



To learn more, please visit https://boardingschoolhealing.org/oral-history-project or contact the oral history project team at 651-650-4445 or OralHistoryProject@nabshc.org.

To learn more about Indian boarding schools in Montana, please visit, https://bit.ly/4dEbqpE.

The post NABS Oral History Project Reaches 20th Stop in Billings, Montana appeared first on Native News Online.
LINCOLN  The race to be the Democratic nominee for Nebraskas 2026 U.S. Senate race is lopsided in campaign funding.

Cindy Burbank, a self-employed pharmacy financial counselor, outraised anti-abortion pastor William Forbes with a haul of $4,163 to Forbes reported tally of $0, according to federal fundraising reports for the first quarter.

The amounts are lower than in many other contested statewide races, but the Democratic Senate primary could affect the general election for incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts and registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn, who is petitioning his way onto the November ballot.

William Forbes of Paxton, 2026 candidate for U.S. Senate, Nebraska. (Courtesy of Forbes campaign)

Both Burbank and Forbes joined the Democratic race on the last day to file for this cycles primary election. Burbank said she did so to keep Forbes off the general election ballot. The Nebraska Democratic Party and its Douglas County offshoot have labeled Forbes a Ricketts plant. The state party recently paid for a mailer showing all the Democratic candidates in state and federal elections. It leaves out Forbes, and a banner at the bottom says, DONT FALL FOR THE RICKETTS PLANT. WILLIAM FORBES VOTED FOR TRUMP THREE TIMES.

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Ricketts and his team have denied any involvement with Forbes.

Despite not raising funds, Forbes said, fundraising is going strong. He said, Were right where we need to be.

Im focused on the real fight, he said. The road to stopping Donald Trump and his Nebraska puppet, Pete Ricketts  Were not just raising money  were raising hell, and were going to beat Ricketts.

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Forbes isnt the broader Senate races only candidate being labeled a plant. Republicans and a former chair of the Legal Marijuana NOW Party called longtime labor leader Mike Marvin a plant for Osborn in the two-person primary for the Legal Marijuana NOW party.

Cindy Burbank of Omaha, 2026 candidate for U.S. Senate, Nebraska. (Courtesy of Burbank campaign)

Marvin has denied being a plant, and Osborns team has denied any involvement with his bid. Burbank paid the filing fee for Marvin, which was first reported by the Examiner.

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She previously said that she paid for it because she was pissed off that the Secretary of States office didnt take Marvins check. and said, If Ricketts can throw his money around, then so can I!

Marvins latest fundraising report listed the $1,740 payment from Burbank.

Burbank has said that she would drop out of the race after winning the Democratic Senate nomination, to give Osborn a one-on-one race against Ricketts. Nebraska Democrats did not recruit a Senate candidate, and the state party chair, Jane Kleeb, endorsed Osborn last year.

Burbank listed in $3,998 cash on hand. She received $3,500 from Megan Hull of California. Hull also donated $3,500 to Osborn this quarter, according to Federal Election Commission fundraising reports. Burbank didnt immediately respond for comment on her fundraising.

Early voting has already started. Nebraskas primary election is May 12. The general election is Nov. 3.

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In a win for Democrats, the New Hampshire House on April 23 tabled a bill that wouldve created universal open enrollment in the states public schools.

Senate Bill 101 wouldve allowed parents to send their children to public schools outside of their district. Under the bill, the state would have been required to chip in funding to any district receiving a student that didnt live there.

Republicans have been pushing for open enrollment, saying families shouldnt be limited to public schools in their own ZIP code. But Democrats argued that the bill could be costly to school districts and that it raises complications with special education expenses.

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While the bill had been recommended ought to pass by the Education Policy and Administration committee, on Thursday, 21 Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the bill and it failed to pass on a vote of 168-184. Fourteen of the opposing Republicans were from Rockingham County, including Rep. Nicholas Bridle, R-Hampton, and Rep. Susan Porcelli, R-Hampton Falls. The House then tabled the bill with a vote of 320-32.

NEA-NH, the largest teachers union in the state, had opposed the bill, saying that legislators should focus on adequately funding education instead.

By tabling SB 101, the House of Representatives has taken an important step toward protecting equity in New Hampshires public education system, Megan Tuttle, president of NEA-NH, said in a statement after the vote. Rather than deepening disparities through a statewide open enrollment mandate, lawmakers have recognized the need to strengthen opportunity for every student.

However, the issue itself isnt dead. HB 751 would also allow New Hampshire residents to enroll students in any school district in the state, but, under this bill, the district losing a student would need to pay tuition to the district receiving that student.

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The legislation was added to a non-related House bill in the Senate and fast tracked to the House in late January, but the House didnt agree to the changes right away. It now awaits a decision in a conference committee.

Dozens of public school superintendents  including Portsmouths Zachary McLaughlin  have signed a joint letter opposing HB 751. And city school officials have set a policy limiting the number of out-of-district students that could attend Portsmouth High School, saying that they dont have a lot of capacity to accept students from towns not already in the Portsmouth school systems area agreement.

SB 101 could also be pulled off the table for another vote before the end of the legislative session, although it's unlikely.

Contributing: Ian Lenehan, Ethan DeWitt

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH House tables school open enrollment, but issue isn't dead
New Jersey launched a new dashboard displaying information about the budget Gov. Mikie Sherrill introduced last month and the nine spending bills that preceded it Thursday.

The dashboard, dubbed the New Jersey Report Card, displays topline spending figures the governor has proposed for the coming July-to-June fiscal year and features brief descriptions of the states large spending items and some smaller state programs.

This is your government. You should be able to see what its doing with your money and what the services that youre paying for are delivering, Sherrill said during a press conference in Trenton.

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On the campaign trail, Sherrill pledged to create the budget portal to boost transparency over state spending and improve access to information typically relegated to spending bills that run for hundreds of pages. Sherrills first detailed budget is 618 pages long.

Many of those pages feature balance sheets or dense, legalistic language that governs how funds can be spent or how specific programs operate.

At present, the dashboard includes performance data for five specific programs, including for the states down payment assistance program and an initiative to reduce veteran homelessness.

Dave Cole, the states chief innovation officer, said more information would be added to the platform as time wore on, including performance data for other specific programs.

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Right now, were starting with the budget in brief, but we do have the ability to display other data about program outcomes. Part of what we want to do is to make sure this is staying current even outside of the budget cycle for the program outcomes, he said.

The Treasury annually publishes the budget in brief alongside the governors budget address. The document includes brief overviews of how spending is changing across various departments and shares topline budget figures for those agencies.

A team of roughly six aims to update the dashboard to include new programs or other information every two weeks, though staffing levels would vary based on the offices other programs, Cole said.

At present, the dashboard does not break down how each state department spends its funds, though it describes the agencies duties and presents their spending across broad categories and over the preceding 10 years.

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Advocates praised the platforms introduction as a positive step for transparency.

Weve been fighting for transparency of any kind for a very long time at New Jersey Policy Perspective, so this is a great start, said Nicole Rodriguez, the think-tanks president.

She added she looked forward to the platform being further developed to show spending in finer detail so that people actually know specifically where their tax dollars are going.
On April 22, AirAsia flight D7809, scheduled to depart Chongqing at around 2:10 a.m. for Kuala Lumpur, was delayed owing to a severe disruption caused by a female passenger only recognized by her surname, Li. Other travelers videotaped the disturbance and published it online, and the episode quickly attracted global attention.

According to Mothership, the problem began when a passenger filmed Li talking loudly on her phone shortly before departure. Li asked that the passenger remove the video and apologize to her, although admitting that she had spoken loudly. The staff quickly became engaged in what began as a minor passenger quarrel.

When an AirAsia staff member intervened to resolve the situation, he spoke to her in English. And that lit a different fuse entirely.

 China   (I am China  )



Apr 22: another Chinese passenger making a scene on an international flight and causing a significant delay this took place on the AirAsia D7809 Chongqing to Kuala Lumpur flight after boarding but before takeoff (scheduled for 2am) in Chongqing. pic.twitter.com/O9ds6M4hV5  Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) April 22, 2026

When I tried communicating with him, he kept speaking to me in English. Im Chinese. Why is he always speaking to me in English? How can someone working on an international flight not even speak the most basic Mandarin? What kind of service industry is this? Li reportedly said.

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A crew member who speaks Mandarin was then called in to try to defuse the issue, but it didnt go well. Ivy Ng, a Malaysian traveler who saw the whole incident from her cabin seat, told The Rakyat Post that Li erupted twice. First, she demanded that the crew hold the flight for three friends who had missed boarding, and then, as the plane was about to push back, she refused to end a loud WeChat call.

Ng recalled as the situation escalated: As an international flight crew, if you cant speak Chinese, how do you work in service? Problem not solved, nobody flies.

Li refused to exit when the crew asked her to, claiming she hadnt broken any laws and demanded payment for the inconvenience caused to her. The Chinese police had to take the matter into their hands. They urged everyone to remain calm, requesting that they stop filming and eventually led Li off the aircraft. But before she left, Li asked the passenger who filmed the incident to send her the footage as evidence.

The flight eventually departed at 3:47 AM, nearly 100 minutes behind schedule.

Guarantee letter by Miss Li You Dong or Miss Gucci Bag in the Chongqing  KL AirAsia meltdown.



Apparently, even after delaying the aircraft and escorted out from the plane, she still dont show any remorse in the incident and still think that every international flight should pic.twitter.com/hcSFzKFhm6  The Great Translation Movement  (@TGTM_Official) April 23, 2026

Later, a handwritten note dated April 22, supposedly signed by Li, appeared on social media. The writer acknowledged that she should not have been loud on her call, explaining that she had an argument with a neighbor. The letter stated, This incident made me realize my mistakes, according to The Rakyat Post.

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Online reactions have been widely varied. Some people echoed her concerns regarding multilingual service on foreign routes. Others pointed out that English is still the internationally recognized operative language for aviation, and that keeping an entire plane of passengers hostage at 2 a.m. is a very different topic.

At the time of writing, AirAsia has not released an official statement regarding the incident.
Campgrounds, hiking trails, boat launches and even a scenic outlook are among places in northern Michigan affected by widespread flooding.

As May approaches, camping season is gearing up, but the flooding has closed, or partially closed, many campgrounds.

A photo shows high water at William Mitchell State Park in Cadillac.

Among them are:

Alcona County

Harrisville State Park and Negwegon State Park

Alpena County

Ossineke State Forest Campground

Cheboygan County

Black Lake State Forest, Haakwood State Forest, Maple Bay State Forest

Presque Isle County

Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground, Tomahawk Creek Flooding State Forest Campground, Tomahawk Lake State Forest Campground

Otsego County

Big Bear Lake State Forest Campground, Big Bear Point State Forest Campground

Wexford County

William Mitchell State Park

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The website for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources shows that some of the campgrounds expect to begin taking reservations May 1, though many will depend on ground conditions. The same goes for trails in the area.

"Please avoid flooded or muddy sections to help us prevent trail damage," the DNR said on its website. "High waters have caused hidden hazards like washouts, sinkholes, and erosion. Please slow down and stay alert."

Boat launches, especially in Cheboygan, Newago and Wexford counties, are also temporarily closed.

One exception is at Taquamenon State Park in the Upper Peninsula. The massive rains that have flooded so many other places have mostly missed one of Michigan's most postcard parks.

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"We really haven't experienced any flooding other than the normal spring flow on the Taquamenon River; it's up pretty high," Park Manager Kevin Dennis told the Free Press Thursday, April 23.

Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Read more about the dangerous floating ice chunks these cottages are facing. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Black Lake flooding leaves stunning damage: Homes submerged, ice piled indoors 1 of 14 Ice and floodwater damage is seen at homes off Black Lake in Grant Township in Cheboygan County on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Read more about the dangerous floating ice chunks these cottages are facing.

One issue is snow, which has lingered a little longer than usual. Dennis said in some places in the woods, the snow remains a foot deep or more.

"We're going to have some campsites that we're going to have to make adjustments and move people in because there's still snow and stuff like that," he said. "But really, we've dodged the bullet with not getting any rain up here. I think that's what saved us."

Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Up North flooding closes campgrounds and boat launches
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and foreign minister, held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn here on Thursday.

Wang said that the first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism was a success, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to being long-term, reliable good friends and partners.

Wang said that China is willing to work with Cambodia to coordinate development and security, deepen all-around cooperation between the two countries, and strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as China-ASEAN cooperation and Lancang-Mekong cooperation.

Wang noted China will continue to work in its own way to rebuild mutual trust and improve relations between Cambodia and Thailand, and is willing to provide more platforms for direct communication between the two countries.

For his part, Sokhonn said the meeting enhanced mutual political trust and played an important role in deepening bilateral cooperation.

He added that Cambodia appreciates China's valuable support in areas such as infrastructure construction, clean energy, agriculture, and finance, and is willing to continue to deepen cooperation with China in various fields.

Meanwhile, Sokhonn briefed the delegation on the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, expressed gratitude for China's mediation efforts, and looked forward to China playing a greater role.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. 
More than two years after a small plane crash-landed on Interstate 75, killing both pilots, federal investigators ruled corrosion of both engines is to blame.

The 68-foot-long Bombardier Challenger 600 had two pilots, two passengers, a crew member on board when it took off from Ohio State University's airport the early afternoon Feb. 9, 2024, on its way to the Naples Airport. The plane had 350 gallons of fuel, the report said.

It was scheduled for a subsequent departure to Fort Lauderdale.

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Both pilots died in the crash.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office identified the dead as pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, of Oakland Park and Ian Fredrick Hoffman, 65, of Pompano Beach.

Crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 29, of Jupiter and passengers Aaron Baker, 36, and Audra Green, 25, of Columbus, Ohio, survived the crash.

Roughly 6 miles out of its destination at the Naples Airport, the planes crew contacted air traffic control and got the clear to land. However, as the jet approached its final turn to the airport, within seconds of one another, both engines  first left, then right  sent warning signals to the plane. Both engines lost oil.

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The warning for the right engine came in just a second after the left-engine warning.

Ten seconds after the tower controller cleared them to land, the crew replied, "Eh we're clear to land but we're not gonna make the runway uh we've lost both engines," according to the report.

Instead, they aimed for the southbound side of Interstate 75.

According to FlightAware's flight tracker, the jet plunged from 1,800 feet to the ground in one minute.

The plane, which crashed onto the highway at about 3:10 p.m. destroyed two vehicles: a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2023 Nissan Armada SUV. One driver, whose car was hit by the plane as it landed, was injured, but survived.

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The jet was engulfed in flames after hitting the sound wall alongside the highway. Both the cabin and emergency exits were blocked by flames, Bosmans told investigators. She, along with Baker and Green, escaped through the baggage door at the rear of the plane.

What did investigators probe?

The probe included analysis of the flight data recorder, as well as the fuel and the engines.

Investigators also looked into both pilots' background and analyzed their blood-alcohol concentrations.

Medical examiner conducts autopsies

The final report states that the medical examiner's office in Collier County performed autopsies of Murphy and Hoffman. According to Murphy's autopsy report, the cause of death was "inhalation of superheated gases" and the manner of death was ruled an accident.

Emergency officials work the scene of a plane crash on I-75 in Naples near exit 105 on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. The plane carrying five people crashed on Friday, Feb. 9, 2023. Two people have been confirmed dead.

According to a separate autopsy report, the cause of Hoffman's death was catastrophic blunt-force injuries, and the manner of death was ruled accidental.

Flight attendant's recollection

Bosmans told officials she first realized there was a malfunction when she saw red writing on the screens in the cockpit.

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According to the report, Bosmans overheard one of the pilots state "we're in an emergency," followed by "we just lost both engines." She then asked the pilots if she should prepare the cabin and was told "brace for impact."

There was no further communication between the pilots and Bosmans, according to the report.

Bosmans then moved from the cockpit jumpseat to the cabin and sat on the forward bulkhead. She briefed the passengers to get in the brace positions and announced "brace, brace, brace." Shortly after, the airplane hit the ground.

After it came to a stop, the cabin was rapidly filling with smoke, and Bosmans could see "neon flames." She unsuccessfully attempted to open the forward door and emergency exit near the wing.

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Bosmans told officials there was fire outside the window near the wing.

She then realized that the only viable exit was the baggage door.

Once she got to the baggage door, according to the report, one of the passengers was already there, "possibly attempting to open the door."

Bosmans told Baker him to get out of her way, and she began moving items out of the baggage compartment.

After struggling with the door, Bosmans opened it.

Bosmans got out of the airplane; after a slight delay, both passengers followed her out, and shedirected them to move away from the fallen plane.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: I-75 plane crash investigation ends, survivor details final moments
For almost 20 years, a Trader Joe's in Oakland has served the Rockridge neighborhood. But it may be torn down to build two high-rise towers for assisted living senior housing.

"Maybe three times a week we go to Trader Joe's. I would really, really miss it being gone. It is part of a little bit of a community hub here," said Patricia Helyer, who lives walking distance from the store.

The City of Oakland confirmed that San Francisco-based Align Real Estate submitted a proposal on Wednesday to build two towers - 25 and 31 stories tall - on property reportedly owned by Albertsons, the parent company of Safeway.

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"I have a 93-year-old mom and we have been working on her housing. So, it's an important issue. However, I also think neighborhood integrity is an issue. There is nothing high-rise over here," said Oakland resident Jeri Boomgaarden.

MORE: Oakland launches 1st-of-its-kind affordable housing project for teachers thanks to nonprofit

Align Real Estate declined an interview request, but in a statement to ABC7 Eyewitness News, it says some of the 415 units being planned will be assisted living apartments. This could lead to 150 full time jobs in areas like healthcare. The project includes approximately 371 independent living apartments, 18 assisted living and 26 memory care residences. It remains unclear how many may be affordable housing units.

"This project is about helping seniors stay in the neighborhoods they call home," says David Balducci of Align Real Estate in the statement. "By placing senior housing near transit, services, and shops, we're giving older adults the opportunity to age in place with dignity and independence, while also freeing up family homes for the next generation. In turn, this will reduce pressure on families and the healthcare system while strengthening the long-term vitality of the Rockridge corridor."

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"In the proposal, the developer seeks to strengthen the vital of Rockridge. But by ripping out Trader Joe's, a vital member of our community, you are not strengthening the vitality of our neighborhood," says Casey Farmer, Chair of the Rockridge Community Planning Council, which focuses on quality-of-life issues for the neighborhood.

Farmer says her organization plans to meet with developer to discuss their concerns.

In a statement to ABC7 Eyewitness News, the City of Oakland confirms that the proposed project includes, "demolition of the existing grocery store." That is raising concerns since many see Trader Joe's as an economic anchor for business district.

MORE: Low-income Marin City residents sound alarm over $266M project with concerns of being forced out

"People, again, come from outside of Rockridge to come shop here which brings an influx of foot traffic to our local merchants," says Devan Meneses, President Rockridge District Association.

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Meneses says she is open to building senior housing in the area, but questions utilizing the recently passed California State Bill 79 for this project. SB79 allows for high density housing near major transit hubs.

"What I do find interesting is that this proposal is in response to the SB79 law that was signed. From my understanding, that was to bring workers closer to BART stations, that they could take public transportation to work," says Meneses. "And this proposed community right next to a BART station, I would venture to assume are not going to be commuting anywhere in particular."

The project is being developed in partnership with an unnamed leading Bay Area nonprofit senior living organization described by Align Real Estate as having, "more than 65 years of experience serving older adults."

A city planner will review the materials. "After the pre-application process is complete, the applicant will then determine whether to submit a development application to proceed with the project. If the applicant submits a development application, the planning staff will determine subsequent regulatory steps," the City of Oakland's statement says.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
OKLAHOMA CITY  A legislative panel on Thursday passed a measure asking voters to let lawmakers access $1 billion in public funding that voters have stored in a lockbox out of their reach.

The Senate Rules Committee passed House Joint Resolution 1077 that would ask voters to transfer $1 billion from the $2.2 billion Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund corpus to an account that lawmakers could spend down.

Lawmakers said they want to invest the $1 billion independent of TSETs existing governing board oversight and spend the earnings to improve health and educational outcomes.

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The TSET fund contains monies paid to the state following the master settlement agreement with tobacco companies. The earnings from the funds investments are used to improve health outcomes, such as reducing smoking, vaping, and obesity and to prevent cancer.

Voters in 2000 created a constitutional lockbox to prevent lawmakers from accessing those dollars. Prior legislative efforts to ask voters to make changes to the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust have failed.

The measure seeks to put the state question on the Aug. 25 primary runoff ballot, which has the lowest voter turnout. All voters would be able to vote on the measure.

This is simply asking the voters if they would like to split this fund up so some of it can be used by the Legislature to help out in their communities, said Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton.

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Paxton, R-Tuttle, the author, said proceeds from the new fund could be used for things such as providing grants to rural hospitals to pay off debt.

The population elects us to represent them, Paxton said. And sometimes the elected population also has ideas on where this money would be very well spent in our communities.

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said the measure is a fundamental shift from an independent public health model to a legislatively controlled funding stream.

Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, speaks at a news conference Feb. 2, 2026, at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, said powerful people didnt like it when TSET recently told lawmakers to go through its grant application process to fund a legislative project.

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And so here we are today to try to create a politically influenced, hyperpartisan, politically divisive pot of money that can be used for deal making at the Capitol, Boren said.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, said the issue was not about politics, adding that sometimes lawmakers have different priorities and perspectives that could also improve health outcomes.

In the past, lawmakers have asked TSET to partner with them, and TSET declined, Daniels said.

The measure, which passed by a vote of 14-4, heads to the full Senate.

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OU Israel Independence Day event for English-speakers at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem, April 21, 2026. (photo credit: Haim Tuito)

Several of the organization's senior leadership were in attendance, as well as an assortment of Americans, Canadians, Australians, and South Africans, including Olim.

Around 2,000 people participated in an Independence Day event organized by Orthodox Union (OU) Israel for English speakers on Tuesday at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem.

Several of the organization's senior leadership were in attendance, including its Executive Director, Rabbi Avi Berman; Center Director, Rabbi Sam Shore; and President, Rabbi Stuart Hershkowitz.

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Participants and Olim (immigrants) from around the English-speaking world also attended the event, including Americans, Canadians, Australians, and South Africans.

"In these days, I look at the prosperity and flowering of Israel thanks to those who gave their lives for it," said Berman in his opening address. "We will celebrate today thanks to them and in their merit, and thanks to the Almighty who gave every Jew in the world the strength, enthusiasm, Torah, and devotion to be entirely loyal to the State of Israel."

"I am certain each of us had a meaningful Remembrance Day," Berman added. "We drew a great deal of strength from this significant day to thank our heroes-the IDF soldiers and all security personnel-and those who even gave their lives so that we could live here in this wonderful country."

OU Israel Executive Director Rabbi Avi Berman speaks at the OU Israel independence Day event at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem on April 21, 2026. (credit: Haim Tuito)

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arieh King also attended the event, saying, "It was important to me to come from the military base not far from here and take part in this moving event. Just a few hours ago, the siren sounded; I met the wives of friends buried on Mount Herzl, and now we are going to celebrate and dance.

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"This contradiction is the character of the People of Israel and the State of Israel," said King. "On one hand, the Western Wall and the missing Temple, and on the other, skyscrapers. 'From darkness to light'-that is our definition."

OU Israel Center and 'Yachad' directors speak

Rabbi Sam Shore also spoke, saying, "For nine years now, we have held this special event here, an emotional prayer for English speakers and new immigrants."

"We thank God for the great merit of being part of the mission and the work for Aliyah and integration in Israel in every way, including through this prayer," continued Shore. "It is my personal privilege to be part of the OU organization, bringing the English-speaking public in Jerusalem and across the country together to give thanks for the gift of our wonderful generation and for the flourishing State of Israel.

"This is an emotional and significant event every single year for our community," Shore concluded.

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Sima Kellner, the director of the "Yachad" program for special needs, also spoke at the event, telling the story of her nephew, IDF Staff Sgt. Maoz Morell, who died in February 2024 after being wounded in battle in the Gaza Strip.

"When we made Aliyah three years ago, I was excited to have the opportunity to connect with my nephews-a deep connection, not just meeting once in a while," said Kellner. "Maoz was quiet, and I thought it would take time to get to know him, but that eventually it would happen."

"Unfortunately, a deep face-to-face acquaintance never occurred, but after his fall, I discovered sides of him I hadn't known before," Kellner continued. Maoz was very determined and planned everything exactly as he wanted. This was true in high school, at the Hesder Yeshiva he chose, and in the army. He pushed to succeed."

''Yachad'' director Sima Kellner speaks at the OU Israel independence Day event at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem on April 21, 2026. (credit: Haim Twito)

When he went to fight in Gaza, Maoz brought a small Mesillat Yesharim (Path of the Just) book, which he kept in the front of his vest," Kellner added. "When everyone else went to sleep, Maoz would open the book and study."

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Kellner then described how Staff Sgt. Morell had been fatally wounded in Gaza while protecting his fellow soldiers after several were wounded by an enemy grenade.

"He provided cover the entire time while the soldiers were being treated, until he was wounded, lost consciousness, and was rushed to the hospital," Kellner said. "There, we were granted the privilege to say goodbye and hold his hand even in that difficult state.

"Maoz will not have children, but if someone takes from his character traits and his legacy, then he has a continuation in this world," concluded Kellner.
Harbor House of Central Florida will host its 15th annual Paws for Peace Walk and Run this weekend in Orlando, raising money to help domestic violence survivors who need shelter for themselves and their pets.

The event is scheduled for Saturday at Mayor Glenda Hood Park in Baldwin Park and is expected to draw about 300 people and their dogs for a morning of walking, running and pet-themed activities.

Organizers say the fundraiser supports Harbor Houses Paws for Peace Kennel, an on-site shelter program that allows survivors escaping abuse to bring pets with them instead of leaving them behind.

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For many survivors, advocates say concern for a pets safety can delay the decision to leave an abusive home.

Harbor House says 65% of survivors delay leaving because they fear harm to their pets, while 71% of pet owners report an abuser threatened or injured an animal.

The kennel opened in 2012 and has since housed more than 400 animals, including dogs, cats, birds, turtles and guinea pigs.

This years Yappy Birthday theme marks the events 15th anniversary and will include a pet costume contest, dog ice cream, a lure chase, scavenger hunt and yoga with pets.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. Saturday, with the 5K beginning at 8 a.m. and the community walk starting at 9:30 a.m.

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Harbor House is Orange Countys only state-certified domestic violence shelter and one of the few shelters in Florida with an on-site kennel for pets.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Pennsylvania's treasurer refused Thursday to approve payments for more than $1 million in security systems and other upgrades to the private home of Gov. Josh Shapiro, changes that were made after an intruder set fire to the state-owned governor's residence last year in an attempt to kill the Democrat.

The treasurer, Republican Stacy Garrity, said there is no legal authorization to use taxpayer dollars to reimburse contractors for the security upgrades on private property, even the private home of a governor.

The Pennsylvania State Police submitted the reimbursement requests to the Treasury Department but appear to have simply ignored the statutory limits and restrictions on spending and procurement, Garrity said during a news conference in her offices.

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The state police have other options to get taxpayer dollars to underwrite the work, which has already been done. The agency could ask lawmakers to explicitly authorize the payments or enter the state's settlement process for disputes between contractors and state agencies, Garrity said.

Shapiro, who is considered a potential top-tier contender for the White House in the 2028 presidential election, is running for reelection this year for a second term as governor. Following last year's attack, he emerged as a prominent voice in condemning political violence.

Garrity is expected to be Shapiro's main opponent in the fall election. She is both endorsed by the state GOP and uncontested for the GOP nomination in Pennsylvania's May 19 primary election.

The treasurer said the decision wasn't political and that I dont play these kind of political games.

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But Shapiro's office blasted Garrity's decision as a shameful political action without legal basis and said the state police were exploring options to ensure it protects its authority and that the contractors get paid.

The Treasurer should put partisanship aside, follow the law, and show some humanity for a family that has experienced real trauma, the state troopers who protect them every day, and the vendors and workers who the treasurer has now refused to pay, the governor's office said in a written statement.

Garrity said the security and well-being of public officials and their families is of the utmost importance to her and that an attack on the governor is an attack on all of us.

Still, she said, her department does not have the legal authority to issue the payments.

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The security upgrades at Shapiro's home were something of a secret until his administration informed lawmakers about it in a letter last fall. In it, the Cabinet official in charge of state property told lawmakers that the threat to a high-profile elected official like Governor Shapiro does not end when he leaves the Governors Residence.

State officials haven't detailed those upgrades, citing safety reasons. Shapiro, his wife and two of his four children still live in the private residence, in Abington, a Philadelphia suburb.

However, plans for a security fence there spawned dueling lawsuits between the Shapiros and a neighbor over who rightfully owns a sliver of land abutting the two properties.

So far, the Treasury Department said Thursday it has paid more than $26 million in security upgrades and remediations at the governors state-owned residence in Harrisburg, where the Shapiros often stay. Those renovations included an anti-climb iron fence that is much higher than the one scaled by the intruder, Cody Balmer.

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Balmer last year pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Shapiro. Under a plea deal, Balmer was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison, far less than he could have faced if the case had gone to trial.

He climbed over a 7-foot (2-meter) iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded two state troopers stationed at the residence and used beer bottles filled with gasoline to set fire to the residence, just hours after Shapiro had hosted a Passover Seder to celebrate the first night of the Jewish holiday.

The fire forced Shapiro, his wife, children and members of his extended family to flee, as firefighters battled the blaze. The residence, built in the 1960s along the Susquehanna River about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the state Capitol, was badly damaged, but has since been renovated.

___

Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter
Emirates President Tim Clark has said he does not believe the Gulf region will lose appeal with travellers in the long term due to the war in Iran.

"People have short memories," the airline boss told an industry gathering in Berlin via video link on Thursday.

"If your product and your brand is as strong as ours is and will continue to be, and as long as Dubai remains a city of enormous attraction for all sorts of people, then people will forget, providing that we get a resolution to the crisis, that there is a degree of stability and quiescence," Clark said.

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The US-Israeli war on Iran, which was launched on February 28, has wreaked havoc on global air traffic, with hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi particularly hard hit due to Iranian attacks on Gulf countries allied with the US.

Tens of thousands of people were initially left stranded in the region, and major airlines such as Emirates have since scrapped countless flights connecting Europe with Asia and Australia, forcing travellers to take long detours.

Despite an ongoing ceasefire in Iran, it remains unclear whether a negotiated long-term solution to the war is likely in the near future.

Meanwhile, fuel prices have been soaring due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and there are concerns over kerosene shortages in Europe.

However, Emirates boss Clark struck an optimistic note, predicting that if the situation calms within the next three to four weeks, flight traffic might be able to recover by the end of summer.
A picture of an Ecuadoran family separated when US immigration agents arrested the father following a court hearing won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year Award on Thursday.

The photo, taken by Carol Guzy of the ZUMA Press agency and iWitness for the Miami Herald, shows the moment Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers hauled away Luis, as his family claws at his shirt to keep him back.

The jury selected the image from a larger body of photos taken by Guzy in a corridor outside a courtroom in New York where families were often separated following hearings, sparking emotional scenes.

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"To have documentation of what's going on, that people can actually be really disappeared without there being a record of it, to hold both the agents and their agencies accountable, I think it's an absolutely valuable role that the press is playing in that courthouse," Guzy told AFP in an interview.

The jury sifted through 57,376 photographs from 3,747 photojournalists to select 45 prize-winning shots from around the world.

The winning photo, "Separated by ICE", is a "powerful example of why independent photojournalism matters," according to Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo.

"In a democracy, the camera's presence in that hallway serves as a witness to a policy that has turned courthouses into sites of shattered lives," she added in a statement.

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Saber Nuraldin from EPA Images was a finalist with a shot of Palestinians swarming over an aid truck in Gaza, scrambling to get flour during a brief pause in Israel's blockade.

"This honor carries both pride and a deep sense of responsibility and sorrow," Nuraldin told AFP.

"I was not observing from a distance. I was inside the situation, feeling the same hunger, fear, and emotional weight. The image came from that direct and lived experience."

Victor J. Blue for the New York Times Magazine was the other finalist with his portrait of indigenous Achi women in Guatemala, who won a legal battle against paramilitary forces who committed atrocities during the country's civil war.

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"Offering a powerful reflection of our world, the winners illuminate the realities we face globally; marked by fracture, urgency and yet an innate resilience," according to the World Press Photo statement.

Luis Tato, from Agence France-Presse's Nairobi bureau, won a prize in the Africa Stories category for his coverage of the 2025 "Gen Z uprisings" in Madagascar.

"Through dynamic scenes and varied views of youth-led actions, the project captures the scale of young people taking to the streets, conveying both energy and urgency," said the jury.

sh-ric/yad
HAMPSTEAD  Two juvenile patients were rescued from the roof of Hampstead Hospital last week where they were found using sharp cutting objects to harm themselves.

Around 3:20 p.m., April 7, the Hampstead Police Department responded to Hampstead Hospital on East Road where officers quickly established a perimeter and found the individuals on the roof, police said.

Because the facility is built on a hill, the roof top is all one level though some sections of the building are one story while others are three stories. The roof consists of approximately 54,000 square feet of surface area and the height posed a significant danger to both patients.

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It is believed the patients made it onto the roof by climbing a section of tall fence which is supposed to be rated as a no climb fence and has additional anti-climbing components on top of it.

On arrival, police called for additional agencies for assistance, including the New Hampshire State Police and members from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Department.

Several attempts made to reason with both juveniles were not successful.

The Rockingham County Sheriffs Department deployed a drone to pinpoint the patients exact location on the roof to determine where to take them into custody. The situation escalated quickly when the patients found a sharp object on the roof and began harming themselves.

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Four officers quickly deployed and safely took both patients into custody without further harm. The Hampstead Fire Department used its ladder truck to safely get both juveniles off the roof and back into custody of hospital staff.

The patients both sustained minor, self-inflicted injuries.
Police responded to a "large fight among a group of students" at Vincent High School in Milwaukee on April 23 that resulted in three arrests and two injuries.

Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson Efrain Cornejo said the department is investigating a battery that occurred at 1:39 p.m. at the 7500 block of North Granville Road, which corresponds to the school's address. He said a large fight ensued with several students that resulted in a 17-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys being arrested and a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old sustaining non-fatal injuries.

Cornejo said the department will refer criminal charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office.

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Vincent High School principal Richard Watkins said in a letter to parents that school resource officers responded to the fight and requested additional support from the Milwaukee Police Department. Some of the students were hurt and the school notified emergency medical personnel.

For safety reasons, the school was put on a hold, meaning that students were kept inside their classrooms during that time. The hold was eventually lifted and the school day continued, Watkins' letter said.

Along with any police actions, the district will take steps to discipline students in accordance with Milwaukee Public Schools' student code of conduct located in the district's parent and student handbook, Watkins' letter said.

Discipline for fighting, which is defined as "physical confrontation including, but not limited to, pushing, shoving, and/or exchange of physical blows," could range from a conference with any combination of students, parents and/or staff and interventions at the lower end all the way up to a recommendation for expulsion on the highest end, the student code of conduct said.

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"This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We will continue to take any and all appropriate disciplinary action to ensure that Vincent remains a safe and welcoming place for all of our students and staff," Watkins said in his letter. "I am asking every parent to please talk with their students about appropriate behavior for our learning environment."

Contact Alec Johnson at 262-875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @AlecJohnson12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Police respond to 'large fight' at Vincent High School in Milwaukee
TOKYO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, continued to spread Thursday, with the burned area expanding to over 200 hectares, local media reported.

Since breaking out on Wednesday in a mountainous area of Otsuchi Town, the fire has destroyed seven buildings. In some areas, the flames have come within roughly 100 meters of residential houses, according to Kyodo News and public broadcaster NHK.

Helicopters from the Iwate prefectural government and the Self-Defense Forces were mobilized for water-dropping operations, and personnel from fire departments across the prefecture were brought in.

Neighboring Miyagi Prefecture was also urged to dispatch its emergency fire response team to join the fight against the blaze, which is raging at multiple locations.

As of Thursday afternoon, Otsuchi had issued evacuation orders to 2,588 people from 1,229 households. All elementary, junior high, and high schools in the town were closed on Thursday, the reports said. 
Authorities are investigating two deaths on the University of California, Berkeley campus that were discovered within a 24-hour span: a student who fell from a dorm building and a man found dead near a busy campus plaza.

The latest incident unfolded around noon Wednesday, when university staff discovered a mans body in bushes outside Sproul Hall, near the heavily trafficked Sproul Plaza, the Berkeley Scanner first reported.

UC Berkeley police told Fox News Digital in a statement that the man does not appear to be affiliated with the university. His identity has not been released.

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Just hours earlier, emergency crews responded to a separate call Tuesday evening at the Unit 3 residence hall complex, where a 21-year-old student died after falling from a building.

Neighbors Of Slain Mit Professor Stunned By Killing

Sproul Plaza at UC Berkeley in Berkeley, Calif., on March 31, 2018. (Getty Images)

The Alameda County coroner later identified the student as William Yi Lu, a junior majoring in theater and performance studies, the Scanner reported.

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University officials confirmed the death of a student on campus to Fox News Digital.

"It is with immense sadness that we have learned that a UC Berkeley student has passed away at our campus housing on the evening of April 21, 2026," university spokesman Adam Ratliff told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We wish to extend our condolences to this students family and friends."

A drone captures an aerial view of the UC Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California, on May 2, 2024.

Campus police said in statements that they do not suspect foul play in either case, and investigators have not indicated the two incidents are connected.

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Masked Gunman Kills Loyola Chicago College Student In Shooting Near Campus; Police Hunt For Suspect

The university added that there is no known threat to the community.

The Alameda County medical examiner will determine the causes of both deaths.

Students walk through Sather Gate, the iconic entrance to the University of California, Berkeley campus on Oct. 9, 2018.

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The university added that counseling services are available for those impacted.

The investigations remain ongoing.





Original article source: Police at University of California, Berkeley investigate 2 dead men found on campus
EMBARGOED UNTIL THURSDAY, APRIL 23, AT 12 A.M. CT/1 A.M. ET

WASHINGTON  The Supreme Courts February decision striking down most of President Donald Trumps tariffs did little to change the public impression that the conservative court is going out of its way to avoid ruling against Trump, according to a new poll.

Two-thirds of adults surveyed for the Marquette Law School Poll this month said they supported the courts decision that Trump lacked authority to impose sweeping tariffs.

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But 57% said the court wants to avoid rulings that Trump might refuse to obey, a figure unchanged from a January survey.

The president, however, may feel differently.

Trump has been predicting that the court wont let him end automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S. unless at least one of the childs parents is a citizen or permanent resident.

No Country can be successful with such an anchor wrapped firmly around its neck," Trump wrote on social media April 21 about birthright citizenship, but based on the questioning by Republican Nominated Justices that I watched firsthand in the Court, we lose.

President Donald Trump, next to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, arrives to deliver the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026.

Trump, who appointed three of the courts six conservative justices, complained that the justices appointed by Republican presidents are letting themselves be pushed around by Democrats.

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Trump attended part of the April 1 oral arguments on birthright citizenship, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to sit in on the courts debate.

More: Muffled gasps, first-row seat, and Supreme Court tensions: Trump birthright case

During the arguments, the justices seemed inclined to find that Trump cant change the rules for birthright citizenship through an executive order.

Nearly seven-in-ten adults surveyed by Marquette Law School after the arguments said the court should rule that Trumps executive order is unconstitutional.

More: Is Trump citizenship order doomed? 6 takeaways from birthright debate

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The court is also deciding whether the president can remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserves board of governors. Two-thirds of adults surveyed want the court to rule against Trump.

Decisions are expected by the end of June or early July.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court usually avoids ruling against Trump, poll says
Pope Leo XIV last Friday urged African youth to work toward improving their own countries rather than migrating elsewhere in search of better opportunities.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church directed his remarks to university students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, during an 11-day apostolic journey in Africa.

"In the face of the understandable tendency to migrate  which may lead one to believe that elsewhere a better future may be more easily found  I invite you, first and foremost, to respond with an ardent desire to serve your country and to apply the knowledge you are acquiring here to the benefit of your fellow citizens," Leo said.

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While displacement in Africa has steadily increased in recent years amid economic and political challenges, Leo said each countrys rising generations should be "committed to society," reflect their nations needs and confront systemic issues at home.

Bishop Robert Barron: What Leo's Choice Of Name Tells Us About The New Pope

Pope Leo XIV speaks as he meets with the community of Bamenda at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Bamenda on the fourth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa April 16, 2026. (Getty Images)

"Africa, indeed, must be freed from the scourge of corruption. For young people, this awareness must take root from their years of formation," he said.

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"These are the witnesses of wisdom and justice, of which the African continent needs."

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He added that through education and spiritual formation, "you learn to become builders of the future of your respective countries and of a world that is more just and humane."

Pope Leo Says He's Unafraid Of The Trump Admin After President Calls Him 'Terrible' On Foreign Policy

Pope Leo XIV delivers a speech during his visit to Central African Catholic University as part of his Africa tour April 17, 2026, in Yaounde, Cameroon.

According to the World Migration Report, most of Africas displacement occurs internally within the continent, with 21 million Africans recorded as living in another African country in 2020.

Overseas African migration has also steadily increased, with figures more than doubling between 1990 and 2020.

In 2020, roughly 11 million Africans reportedly migrated to Europe, 5 million to Asia and 3 million to Northern America.

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Morning Glory: Leo's Launch

Pope Leo XIV visits Central African Catholic University as part of his Africa tour April 17, 2026, in Yaounde, Cameroon.

The causes of displacement are largely attributed to political conflict, corruption, violence and economic hardship, including widespread poverty.

These factors are particularly pronounced in countries such as Somalia, one of Africas largest sources of refugees; Nigeria, which is riddled with natural disasters and economic pressures; and Sudan's surrounding areas, where civil war, political instability and food insecurity have driven large-scale displacement.

The Popes remarks come just days after President Donald Trump criticized Leo on Truth Social, calling him "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy."

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The backlash followed the pontiffs criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and his appeal for a return to peace.

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Tensions between the two boiled over several days before the Pope said last Saturday that it was "not in my interest at all" to debate the president.

Leo has insisted that his position is focused on bridging divides among nations and promoting peace and reconciliation.





Original article source: Pope Leo urges Africans to stay and 'serve your country' instead of migrating as displacement climbs
South Korea's acceptance of more immigrants in recent years to address the problem of its rapidly shrinking workforce has also fuelled anti-foreigner sentiment in the country, but footage circulating on social media purportedly showing a recent "riot" by immigrants in Paris is several years old. The Paris police told AFP no such protest had occurred in the French capital in recent months. The footage in fact comprises clips filmed in December 2022, during furious protests sparked by the fatal shooting of three Kurds in the French capital.

"Today, 31 French police officers were injured in the 'Kurdish riot' that has broken out in Paris," reads part of the Korean-language caption of an X video shared on April 7, 2026.

"French citizens are voicing their frustration, demanding that these groups be sent back to their home countries. The entire world seems to be grappling with the headache of immigration."

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The video comprises two clips. The first shows several overturned cars that have been set on fire, on a street littered with debris. The second clip shows a group of people smashing the glass panels of a bus shelter.

Screenshot of the false post captured on April 23, 2026, with a red X added by AFP

The video was also shared elsewhere in similar X posts.

South Korea has welcomed a growing number of immigrants in recent years as it seeks to combat rock-bottom birth rates and a shrinking pool of workers but the demographic changes in the country -- which has long remained ethnically homogenous -- have also fuelled anti-foreigner sentiment (archived here and here).

According to a survey of 16,000 South Koreans by the state human rights commission in 2021, over 54 percent of respondents said immigrants faced hate or discrimination in the country (archived link).

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While the video does show demonstrations in Paris involving the city's Kurdish population, it was not filmed recently as the posts claim.

"No such event has taken place in the Paris area in recent months," the Paris police told AFP in an email on April 16, 2026, adding that the force "strongly denounces this false information".

2022 demonstrations

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared video found the first clip was previously shared by French journalist Remy Buisine on X on December 24, 2022 (archived link).

AFP reported at the time that thousands of people had gathered at the Place de la Republique in central Paris to commemorate three Kurds killed in an attack near a Kurdish cultural centre days earlier by a man who confessed to a "pathological" hatred for foreigners (archived here and here).

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Many expressed anger at the French security services for doing too little to prevent the shooting, and the frustration boiled over at the rally as furious demonstrators clashed with police. AFP journalists at the scene said at least four cars were overturned and one was burnt.

AFP also distributed a photo and video showing the same overturned car.

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (L) and the clip from December 2022, with matching features highlighted by AFP

The clip had also previously been shared alongside false claims linking it to protests against pension reforms in France in 2023 and another bout of violence in Paris in January 2026.

A separate reverse image search found the second clip had been shared by a Turkish-language website on December 25, 2022 (archived link). Another Turkish-language website published the clip in a December 26, 2022 report about the same protests (archived link).

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AFP reached out to both websites for comment, but did not receive a response by time of publication.

The footage also matches Google Street View imagery from near the Place de la Republique, where the protests erupted (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (L) and Google Street View imagery, with similarities highlighted by AFP

Moreover, a demonstrator wearing a yellow headscarf seen at the falsely shared video's 31-second mark can also be seen in footage of the protest aired on French TV station CNEWS (archived link). The footage was uploaded to a French user's YouTube channel, and its authenticity was verified by the outlet in an email to AFP on April 21, 2026.

AFP has previously debunked other false claims about anti-immigration and anti-Muslim sentiment in South Korea.
Fewer U.S. adults consider President Donald Trump to be very religious  or religious at all.

This finding, outlined in a recent Pew Research Center survey, captures public opinion just prior to the president criticizing Pope Leo XIV, calling him "weak" on crime, and posting an illustration of himself looking like a Christ figure.

Seven in 10 U.S. adults (70%) said Trump is not too or not at all religious, according to the survey, conducted April 6-12. Thats higher than the 62% from Pew's last survey in October 2024.

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About one-fourth (24%) said the president is somewhat religious  down from 31% previously  while 5% said Trump is very religious, down from 6% previously, the survey found.

President Donald Trump showered former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi with praise on social media April 2, 2026  praise that might have suggested an honor, not a firing. The message instead marked the end of Bondis brief stint at the Justice Department, after barely a year on the job. Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was fired by the president on March 5, 2026, not long after lawmakers grilled her about her departments massive spending. President Donald Trump fired John Bolton as his national security adviser on Sept. 10, 2019, noting the two "disagreed strongly" on foreign policy matters. President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Nov. 7, 2018, after a year of intense scrutiny from the White House. Sessions' exit, a resignation forced by Trump, was expected for weeks amid Trump's attacks over his attorney general's decision to recuse himself from the Justice Departments inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. After months of disputes with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, President Trump removed him on March 13, 2018, and nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo to head the State Department. Anthony Scaramucci was fired as White House Communications Director on July 31, 2017, just 11 days after the man known as "The Mooch" was hired, making it the shortest in White House history. 'You're fired'  From Bondi to The Mooch, see Trump's firings 1 of 6 President Donald Trump showered former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi with praise on social media April 2, 2026  praise that might have suggested an honor, not a firing. The message instead marked the end of Bondis brief stint at the Justice Department, after barely a year on the job.

President Trump: After slamming Pope, he depicted himself as Jesus. Then he read the Bible.

Who's more likely to think President Trump is religious or not?

Democrats and Independents who leaned Democratic were much more likely to have said Trump is not too religious or not at all religious (89%) than were Republicans and Republican leaners (49%).

Republicans were also more likely to have said Trump is somewhat religious (42%) than Democrats were (8%). White evangelical Protestants, who typically lean Republican, Pew notes, were also more likely than other religious groups to view Trump as somewhat religious (44%).

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Very few people surveyed said they considered Trump to be very religious. Among Republicans, 8% said they did, while 5% of White evangelicals said so.

Among religious groups, Hispanic Catholics had the largest opinion shift from Pew's previous survey, with 80% saying Trump is not too or not at all religious, up from 60% in the previous survey.

Hispanic Catholics were also the religious group to have the biggest opinion shift as to whether Trump stands up a little or not at all for their religious beliefs. More than half (55%) said he stands up a little or not at all for their religious beliefs, up from 40% in February 2024.

Among all U.S. adults, 47% said Trump stands up a little or not at all for their personal religious beliefs, the survey found. More than one-fifth (22%) said Trump stands up a great deal or quite a bit for people with religious beliefs similar to their own. Another 14% say he stands up "some" for their religious beliefs, the survey found.

What does it mean to be religious? There are 'different ideas'

There were differing opinions about the president and religion when Pew Research Center associate Chip Rotolo, who authored Pew's summary of the research, posted a video about the findings on Instagram, with one commenter saying, "I don't think he (Trump) is religious at all."

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Another offered that Trump may be "more religious than anyone," adding that, "Religion has always been used as an excuse for war, domination, and superiority complexes. Anyone who supports him still likely views him as messianic, no?"

That led Rotolo to respond with a comment noting how "people have many different ideas about what it means to be religious. This question leaves that open to peoples own evaluation.  We (are) simply trying to accurately capture the publics views and how that has changed over time."

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump not too religious, Americans say, survey suggests
By Yuliia Dysa

KYIV, April 23 (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Thursday and called on Russia's President Vladimir Putin to end the war - a week after a massive Russian aerial attack on the country - and on U.S. President Donald Trump to show leadership to help resolve the conflict.

By convention, the British royal family do not speak out on political matters, although King Charles and other senior royals have regularly voiced their support for Ukraine. But Harry, on his third visit to the country since the war began, used far more explicit language than any of his relatives have done previously.

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"President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing. There is still a moment - now - to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course," Harry said in a speech to a Kyiv security forum.

He called on Washington to do more to bring about an end to the war.

"This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations," he said.

"Europe has stood up in profound ways," added Harry, a British Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. "The task now is to match endurance with speed, solidarity with scale, and commitment with consistency."

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In his speech, which drew huge applause, he praised the Ukrainian people's resolve and the innovative response of its military, including its advanced drone capabilities.

On his two-day visit Harry is also expected to visit the de-mining HALO Trust charity, supported by his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and spend time with Ukrainian participants of the Invictus Games Foundation he founded, which helps wounded veterans recover through sport, according to Britain's ITV.

"I am not here as a politician, I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences," Harry said.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Additional reporting and writing by Anna Pruchnicka and Mike Holden; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Hugh Lawson)
(NewsNation)  Prince Harry made a surprise trip to Ukraine and is showing support to its people.

Harry arrived in Kyiv on Thursday to shed a light on people helping the injured and the veterans of the war in Ukraine.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez died of multiple penetrating injuries: Cause of death report

Its good to be back in Ukraine, Prince Harry said upon arriving at train station in Kyiv from Poland.

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Harry spoke at a special security conference during his visit, telling leaders whats at stake for the country as it faces off against Russia and that the war is more than a territorial dispute, according to ITV News.

Britains Prince Harry, second from left, speaks during a discussion together with Ukrainian war veterans at the Security Forum in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Britains Prince Harry speaks during the Security Forum in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

The Duke of Sussex said he wanted to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions.

Harry, a veteran himself, told officials at the Kyiv Security Conference that hes visited Ukraine three times and that it was an honor to return.

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Jelly Roll admits to avoiding the scale after losing way during holidays

I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences, he said.

He praised Ukrainians for showing strength not just in bravery and capability, but in unity, in trust.

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 NewsNation.
Cincinnati should pause an agreement to lease Downtown's Piatt Park to a development group and protect it as a gathering spot for unhoused people, according to park supporters.

With an online petition, in-park event and in-person pleas to members of Cincinnati City Council, Piatt fans are asking the city to allow more time for public input before moving forward.

The call for a pause comes less than a week after the Cincinnati Park Board OK'd a plan for the city to lease Piatt to the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp.  the nonprofit group known as 3CDC that develops and manages Downtown and Over-the-Rhine properties. The deal would allow 3CDC to apply for state funding for a $7.2 million upgrade of Cincinnati's oldest park property, and millions more for adjacent real estate projects.

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"Public parks are public property, funded by the public, and deserve public input," said a petition launched by park supporters this week.

Working through 3CDC to seek state dollars "does not mean that we are going to sell off a valued public space or take away the public use of it," Mayor Aftab Pureval told people who attended City Council's April 22 meeting to speak about Piatt.

The deal is also not intended to "interrupt any social services and support for our vulnerable communities that are happening there," Pureval said. "That is not going to happen on the city's watch."

In a presentation to the Cincinnati Park Board, 3CDC said Piatt Park needs renovation to address "persistent misuse of the park." The group used that phrase next to a photo of a food distribution event at the park.

'Persistent misuse' at Piatt offends some

In pitching the lease arrangement to the Park Board on April 16, 3CDC said Piatt needs renovation to address "persistent misuse of the park."

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Piatt supporters were offended by the phrase  and its use in a presentation next to a photo of volunteers providing a meal in the park.

"This park serves as a safe space where the public can build community, separate from private interests," Nick Pierok said while helping serve lunch in the park on April 22.

At least five groups provide weekend meals at Piatt, according to city emails obtained by The Enquirer. They distribute food to 150 or more people at a time, sometimes also giving away clothing and personal hygiene products.

Officials with the city, 3CDC and the Downtown Residents Council have been discussing the Piatt food distribution for months, the emails show. They have questioned whether participating groups need permits, licenses or insurance to serve food, and noted that some Downtown residents have reported trash and rats left behind after meals.

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In a March 25 email, city official Kait Bell suggested a conversation with the groups providing food, to ask them to alert the Parks Department when they'll be on site and to request that they clean up after meals.

"It seems a little intense to me to go straight to telling them they can't come back," wrote Bell, violence reduction manager for the city manager's office.

Paul Vega passes through Piatt Park regularly. "It's a meeting place for a lot of us," he said.

Piatt a meeting place for 'us out here,' park patron says

On April 22, before the City Council meeting, a group called Cincy Food Not Bombs provided vegetable curry soup, cake and bottled water to about 20 people gathered at Piatt.

Paul Vega and a friend who identified himself only by initials J.P. were among the takers.

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"Saturday feedings are one of the greatest things," said J.P., a veteran of the local food service industry. "It's my one chance (a week) to get vitamins and minerals."

Paul Vega often sketches in Piatt Park, along with the Downtown public library branch across the street.

Vega said he passes through Piatt regularly, for the meals and for its proximity to the Downtown public library branch where he works on art projects.

"It's a meeting place for a lot of us, our outdoor meeting place," Vega said.

The men fear homeless park patrons  a population Vega called "us out here"  would not be welcome in a renovated Piatt.

"When you take away one place, we'd be faced with finding another," he said. "We're not welcome anywhere."

Volunteers with Cincy Food Not Bombs hosted a lunch event at Piatt Park on April 22. Some participants made their way to Cincinnati City Hall after that to urge Cincinnati City Council to pause a deal to lease the park to a developer.

Food distribution is 'fountain of joy,' providers say

Piatt food providers, working as Community Survival Network, called the weekend meal distributions "a fountain of joy for everyone."

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With many of Cincinnati's social service agencies operating Monday through Friday, the network makes sure "everyone has dignity and gets a plate" on weekends, the group said in a statement.

The groups have been feeding people in Piatt for more than a decade, the statement said. "Now in our time of great need, our voices have once again been ignored."

At City Council, more than a dozen speakers accused city leaders of putting business desires ahead of public good.

"This building prioritizes private interests over public interests," speaker Bob Highland said of City Hall.

The Park Board, in particular, serves what he called "the real estate class" rather than citizens. "It's your job to stop them," Highland said.

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The registered nurses association at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and its 1,700 members oppose putting Piatt under developer control, said Kylie Ham, association president. Services offered in the park help address health issues, along with food insecurity, she said. "The people that we see in this park are also our patients.

Preserving Piatt is also important for free speech, said Olivia Merrill, a member of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The park was the setting for the Occupy Wall Street movement 15 years ago, she noted.

It is imperative that we make sure we preserve these spaces so we can keep fighting for a Cincinnati that cares for regular people here and does not prioritize corporations and development over the needs of those people, Merrill said.

Opponents of leasing Piatt Park to a development group spoke at Cincinnati City Hall on April 22.

'Very long process' ahead, mayor says

After Council's meeting, Pureval said there is no action for City Council to take at this point.

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We take very seriously the concerns from the community, Pureval said, adding that "a very long process" will follow to determine the park's future.

He pledged that whatever happens, the park will remain open to the public.

No one on council is interested in disrupting volunteers from trying to help and support our vulnerable population, he said.

3CDC's application for funding from the Ohio's Transformational Mixed Used Development grant program was due April 22, according to the online petition launched by the local Democratic Socialists group.

3CDC did not respond to a request to confirm that deadline or provide a copy of the application.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Protests oppose Cincinnati plan to lease Piatt Park to 3CDC
Christina Bohannan, a Democratic candidate in a battleground Iowa district, is facing scrutiny from Republicans over past remarks in which she said the state would be viewed as "backwards" without diversity training in schools and argued the nations founders were motivated by preserving slavery during the Revolutionary War.

Bohannan, a law professor and former Iowa state representative, is making her third attempt to unseat incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, in the states 1st Congressional District after losing by less than a percentage point in 2024. The razor-thin margin has set up a high-stakes rematch this cycle, as Republicans work to defend one of their most competitive seats while highlighting Bohannans past positions on diversity, equity and inclusion.

"DEI Queen Christina Bohannan thinks George Floyd is a role model, and George Washington should be cancelled," Republican National Committee spokesperson Zach Kraft said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Iowans will channel the spirit of 1776 to reject this two-time loser once again so she can return to her day job calling everyone and everything racist."

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Bohannan made the remarks now under GOP fire on the podcast "Under the Dome" in 2021.

Crockett's Potential Successor Has Repeatedly Railed Against Us In Reparations Push: 'It's Been Evil'

Bohannan, then a state representative, said she was "really concerned" about a bill in the Iowa legislature banning diversity training, including implicit bias training, from being taught at public schools and universities. She said that implicit bias, an unconscious attitude a person may have toward someone based on race, is "very real," and is "serious."

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"I think that it is going to be very divisive if passed," Bohannan said at the time. "I think that it's going to send a very bad message about Iowa and that it is going to seem like are kind of this backwards state that doesn't understand there are things like systemic racism."

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed that bill into law in June 2021.

Bohannan also said on the podcast that she was "glad" that a Republican-backed bill banning the 1619 Project, a New York Times initiative that suggests slavery is central to the nation's founding, failed during the legislative session.

Democratic Lawmaker Suggests 'Slave Mentality' Behind Hispanic Trump Voters

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The 1619 Project focuses "on the fact that there were some Revolutionary leaders who became supportive of that Revolution because they wanted to preserve the institution of slavery," Bohannan said, noting there were other reasons for the revolution, such as taxation.

Fox News Digital reached out to Bohannan for comment.

Bohannan has supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as police reform and migrant rights groups, for years.

Democrat In Key Senate Primary Says She Regrets Vote On Laken Riley Act, Draws Gop Backlash

While in the Iowa legislature, she co-sponsored a bill requiring implicit bias training for health professionals, but the bill never made it out of committee.

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As chairwoman of the University of Iowa law school's DEI Committee, she pushed students to support the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. In a letter to students, she listed five different funds students can donate to, including the Minnesota Freedom Fund and the National Bail Out Fund, which both support defunding the police.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16, 2025. (Getty Images)

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

During a candidate forum in 2020, at the time of Bohannan's first congressional campaign, she said she was "very active" in Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, a group focused on abolishing ICE, the Washington Free Beacon reported. A year prior, Bohannan donated money to the Prairieland Freedom Fund to help bail illegal immigrants out of jail. The Prairieland Freedom Fund seeks to establish a "world without police."

Fox News Digital reached out to Miller-Meeks' campaign for comment.





Original article source: 'Queen of DEI' running for Congress ripped her rural state as 'backwards' on podcast
Outbound Republican Senator Thom Tillis has warned that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is in dangerous waters.

The retiring North Carolina lawmaker promised early Thursday to stand in the way of Blanches confirmation if hes tapped to take over the lead Justice Department role.

Tillis was reacting to comments that Blanche made at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month, in which Americas temporary top cop boasted about how he cleaned house and fired federal prosecutors who had worked to pursue cases relating to the 2021 Capitol riot. At the time, Blanche also boasted about the mass Inauguration Day 2025 pardon that Donald Trump issued to his supporters who participated in the bedlam, claiming that when folks say, Youve done nothing, I say you have a very short memory.

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Tillis has the power to block any nominee before the Senate Judiciary Committee: As long as all Democrats are united against a nominee, Tilliss vote is enough to tip the scales. And he plans to wield that power against Blanche if it comes down to it. In an interview with Semafor Thursday, Tillis said that the principle here is that anybody who didnt back the blue on January 6th is disqualified from consideration for me in the Judiciary Committee.

He added that Blanche is not a politician in his current state. But when you start acting like a politician, you get treated like one.

The more recent comments are really what drew my attention, Tillis told Semafor. So that I have to parse through. The minute you give somebody slack, then youve lost the principle, right?

Blanche joined the Trump camp in 2023, when he was hired as Trumps defense attorney in his criminal trials. However, Blanche has since risen through the ranks of the second Trump administration, first as Pam Bondis number two and then by landing in the vacancy left behind by her firing.

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Bondi was ousted earlier this month for failing to break the parameters of American government in order to unquestionably do Trumps bidding, specifically with regard to prosecuting Trumps political enemies and handling the Epstein files, which remain Trumps biggest and most indelible scandals to date.

In her wake, it seems that Blanche has learned the lesson. In the few short weeks since he became acting attorney general, Blanche has worked overtime to please the president. He has accelerated investigations into Trumpian conspiracies, fired prosecutors who enforced laws that protected abortion clinics, defended the White Houses intimate involvement in DOJ affairs, and initiated a controversial indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center for aiding local and federal law enforcement investigating political extremism.

Blanche knows Trump wants action in the cases Trump has publicly targeted, John Fishwick, a former U.S. attorney in Virginia, told MS NOW. It is always a challenge to audition for a job for Trump, but Blanche is moving the chessboard at DOJ to try and get results that will satisfy the president.
Photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows the site where two trains collided on the Gribskov Line between Hillerod and Kagerup, in Denmark. A total of 18 people were injured, including five in critical condition, after two local trains collided head-on in Denmark on Thursday morning. (Photo by Anders Kongshaug/Xinhua)

OSLO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 18 people were injured, including five in critical condition, after two local trains collided head-on in Denmark on Thursday morning.

The number of people believed to have been on board the two trains was revised to 37 from an earlier estimate of 38, according to updated information from Danish broadcaster DR.

Acting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written response to Danish media TV 2 that her thoughts were with the injured, their families and all those affected.

Police said road closures remained in place around the accident site, with some restrictions expected to last until late Friday morning. Train services on the route were still suspended, and it remained unclear when operations would resume.

The collision occurred on the Gribskov Line between Hillerod and Kagerup, about 50 km north of Copenhagen. Police said they received the report at 6:29 a.m. local time (0429 GMT) and dispatched emergency response teams to the scene.

Morten Pedersen, police inspector with North Zealand Police, described the crash as a "very serious accident." He said authorities were carrying out extensive investigations to determine the cause of the collision.

Police said later on Thursday that a crisis center and hotline set up in Hillerod for those affected had been closed after everyone had left, though relatives and passengers could still contact police for further information. 

Workers are seen at the site where two trains collided on the Gribskov Line between Hillerod and Kagerup, in Denmark, April 23, 2026. A total of 18 people were injured, including five in critical condition, after two local trains collided head-on in Denmark on Thursday morning. (Photo by Anders Kongshaug/Xinhua)

A railway worker is seen at the site where two trains collided on the Gribskov Line between Hillerod and Kagerup, in Denmark, April 23, 2026. A total of 18 people were injured, including five in critical condition, after two local trains collided head-on in Denmark on Thursday morning. (Photo by Anders Kongshaug/Xinhua)
BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 23 (UPI) -- A temporary, 10-day cease-fire, which halted six weeks of intensified Israel-Hezbollah conflict, has revealed the scale of the human and material toll on Lebanon, including widespread, Gaza-style destruction across dozens of border villages in the southern portion of the country.

The brief lull did not stop Israel from pursuing what military observers describe as a "scorched-earth" policy to establish a 6.2-mile-deep military zone inside southern Lebanon, gradually wiping out entire villages and flattening or burning properties across some 55 villages within its self-proclaimed "Yellow Line."

More people have been killed or injured in Israeli airstrikes and bombardments since the cease-fire took effect April 17, prompting Hezbollah to respond days later with rocket fire and drones.

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On Thursday, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health released updated figures showing that 2,483 people have been killed and 7,707 injured since March 2.

Its latest casualty breakdown April 17 indicated that the dead included 177 children, 274 women and some 100 healthcare workers.

Journalists and media workers were not spared, with eight killed in Israeli strikes that, according to press freedom groups, targeted members of the media.

The displaced, who flocked back to southern Lebanon by the thousands once the cease-fire was announced, were met with a grim reality: the scale of destruction inflicted on their homes and villages was beyond imagination.

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Many, however, were unable to reach their villages within the "Yellow Line," where aerial footage, satellite images and videos show widespread Israeli demolitions that have reduced entire areas to rubble, rendering them largely unrecognizable.

They are among the roughly 600,000 residents whom Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said would be strictly prohibited from returning until the security of northern Israel is ensured.

Demolitions were accelerated on the orders of Katz, who said that all homes in Lebanese border villages would be destroyed "in accordance with the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza" to establish a military zone inside Lebanon.

The Israeli army said the destruction of property was carried out on grounds of imperative military necessity, alleging that Hezbollah had embedded military infrastructure within civilian areas -- a claim that is often unsubstantiated and disputed by critics, who cite the scale of destruction and the large number of civilian casualties.

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Worse still, Israeli soldiers have been looting significant amounts of civilian property from homes and businesses in southern Lebanon, according to a report published Thursday by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which cited testimonies from Israeli army soldiers and commanders.

Haaretz reported accounts describing the widespread theft of motorcycles, televisions, paintings, sofas and rugs, saying the practice has become routine, with no disciplinary action taken to curb it.

Fear that the cease-fire -- set to expire Sunday unless extended -- would not hold was an additional factor prompting displaced people to head back to their temporary shelters in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokeswoman Lisa Abou Khaled acknowledged the "cautious movements of return," taking place in "very challenging conditions," amid extensive damage to towns, villages and homes, and limited access to basic services, with schools, hospitals, water and electricity severely affected.

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"This moment reflects hope combined with uncertainty. People want to return home, but safety remains the overriding concern," Abou Khaled told UPI, noting that safety risks include "unexploded ordnance in many residential areas across south Lebanon."

As the Israeli army issued a "no return" order south of the Litani River, she emphasized that under international human rights law, displaced persons retain the "right to voluntary, safe and dignified return once conditions permit."

However, Israel's systematic demolitions, which are making the region uninhabitable, significantly complicate the process.

Hashem Haidar, president of the Council of the South, said Israel is implementing a "criminal and savage scorched earth" policy to empty the border region of "humans and everything else."

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Haidar added that the destruction of houses and civilian infrastructure, including electricity and water installations, was being carried out "without any military justification."

"Every village or house in south Lebanon has been damaged, schools have been destroyed, and entire villages and neighborhoods have been wiped out," Haidar told UPI, noting that accurate damage assessment is difficult while the war continues, but estimating that it is at least three times greater than during the 2023-2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

However, efforts have begun to clear and reopen roads linking the villages, remove rubble and construct alternative crossings and passages to replace destroyed bridges because "people are determined to go back," he said.

According to the National Council of Scientific Research, more than 62,000 housing units were destroyed by Israel during the recent 46-day war with Hezbollah, with 21,700 units gone and 40,500 others damaged.

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This adds to the 220,000 housing units destroyed or damaged during the 2023-2025 war period, as well as to the $11 billion estimated by the World Bank that is needed for Lebanon's reconstruction and recovery after the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war in 2023-2024.

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber initially estimated in published remarks that the destruction recorded in March amounted to about $1.5 billion, a figure expected to increase considerably due to the intensified bombardment in April, which destroyed additional villages, bridges and buildings in Beirut and its southern suburbs.

Tarek Mazaraani, a civilian engineer who assisted in assessing the damage inflicted in the previous war, said residents of southern Lebanon, especially in the border area, have resorted to videos and Google Maps images supplied by family members living abroad, as well as videos released by the Israeli army of its demolitions, to determine the status of their properties.

Mazraani said the border villages and towns today appear to have been almost destroyed by Israeli air and drone strikes, bulldozers and the rigging of houses with explosives "in a way to prevent their inhabitants from returning, making the area unlivable and free of population for a long time."

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"It is a kind of revenge against those villages, wiping out their geography, demography, history and memories," he told UPI, citing the destruction of their agricultural land, 100-year-old olive trees, schools, hospitals, mosques and government institutions, "10 times more than the previous war."

He cited the village of Houla on the border with Israel, where 10 to 15 houses were destroyed during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, compared to 1,000 today.

The 1.2 million displaced, like most Lebanese who have been exhausted by the continuing war for three years now, aspire to an effective cease-fire that could stop Israel's destruction, secure their return and eventually end the conflict for good.

Until then, humanitarian needs would remain significant, both for those returning and for those who remain displaced or risk being displaced again, according to Abou Khaled.

Post-war reconstruction emerges as the top challenge, requiring commitment and substantial funding from donor states -- especially Gulf countries -- a move Haidar expects to materialize once a lasting settlement is achieved.
Operation Metro Surge may have cost the Minnesota economy thousands of jobs in January and February.

Federal employment data shows Minnesota lost 5,700 hospitality jobs and 4,400 construction jobs from December to February. The respective declines represent 2.1% and 3% of total statewide employment in those sectors.

North Star Policy Action, a left-leaning research outfit, noted the significant declines in a new report this week.

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Operation Metro Surge caused serious and accumulating harm to Minnesotas economy, said Jake Schwitzer, North Stars executive director, in a statement.

Minnesotas unemployment rate was 4.5% in February, roughly on par with the national average of 4.4%, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Its labor force participation rate  the percentage of working-age adults who are working or actively seeking employment  is 67.9%, well above the national average of 62% and historically among the highest in the nation. And, Minnesota has added proportionally more jobs than the nation as a whole over the past 12 months.

But state data shows a rapid spike in unemployment coinciding with the arrival of thousands of federal agents in the Twin Cities late last year. Minnesotas unemployment rate sat at 3.5% in December, a full percentage point below where it would be two months later. Such sharp, rapid increases in unemployment are rare outside major economic shocks like the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily erased hundreds of thousands of Minnesota jobs in March and April of 2020.

In a statement, DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek linked Minnesotas soft jobs numbers with the federal law enforcement surge.

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February was a very challenging month for Minnesota communities due to the ICE presence, and that also contributed to it being a tough month for the states labor market, Varilek said.

North Star said the comparatively steep declines in industries that employ significant numbers of immigrants, such as food service and construction, strengthen the case that Operation Metro Surge had a chilling effect on the states economy.

The drop in construction employment marked a real decline, concentrated in Minnesota, in an industry with deep ties to the immigrant workforce that Operation Metro Surge directly went after, the report says. Federal agents have harassed or detained homebuilders repeatedly over the past several months, which business owners say has crimped the labor supply as the spring construction season ramps up.

Research by North Star and others indicates the drop in headline employment figures is just one aspect of Operation Metro Surges economic toll. Aaron Rosenthal, a researcher with North Star, told the Reformer last month that early estimates  $106 million in lost wages across the Twin Cities, over $203 million in broader economic losses in Minneapolis alone  are based on rough math.

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It may be a long time before we have objective data that can really speak to the impact of what occurred, he said.

State and local relief efforts have been widely criticized by immigrant, worker and renters rights groups as inadequate. Theyve also been stymied by politicians.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for example, vetoed a measure last month that would have doubled the citys required pre-eviction notice period from 30 to 60 days. The Minneapolis City Council is poised to pass a more lenient eviction-notice measure Thursday. The city has expanded emergency rental assistance, however.

And at the Capitol, Republicans have repeatedly blocked relief bills, arguing that the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Partys pro-immigrant policies were responsible for the fallout.
Republicans took a first step early Thursday morning toward funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol for the rest of President Donald Trumps term using a novel approach that will allow them to fund the agencies without Democrats help.

The strategy is part of a two-pronged plan to end the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. The Department of Homeland Security has been shuttered for nearly 10 weeks because of a partisan standoff over the administrations immigration enforcement operations. Democrats demanded that Republicans agree to new accountability measures in exchange for their support for DHS funding, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement after weeks of negotiations.

Instead, Republicans devised a time-consuming approach to funding the department, which President Donald Trump has endorsed.

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The Senate voted 50-48 early Thursday to begin work on one part of the plan: A bill to send approximately $70 billion to ICE and Border Patrol without the help of Democrats under budget reconciliation rules. Reconciliation allows the Senate to pass legislation with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes typically needed to overcome a filibuster as long as it complies with obscure budget rules.

Two Republicans voted with Democrats against the measure - Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rand Paul (Kentucky).

Reconciliation is often used to push through signature legislation, such as the tax and spending law that Republicans passed last year and President Joe Bidens 2022 climate and domestic policy law, not for the more commonplace process of funding the government.

Reconciliation is a complicated, multi-step process. The measure that the Senate passed Thursdayinstructs the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee to propose legislation by May 15 with the goal of passing a final bill by June 1,the deadline that Trump has set.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks as Senate Republican leaders hold a press conference following their weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., April 21, 2026.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and other Republicans have said they would prefer to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the traditional appropriations process but that the breakdown in negotiations with Democrats over new restrictions on federal agents gave them no choice but to turn to reconciliation.

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I am sad that were having to do this, but you gave us no choice, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), chairman of the Budget Committee, said on the floor before the vote.

The budget resolution would allow Congress to send ICE and Border Patrol up to $140 billion, although Republican leaders expect to spend about half of that, according toa Senate GOP leadership aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. The money is expected to fund ICE and Border Patrol for the rest of Trumps presidency.

The Senate has already passed the other part of the Republican plan: a bipartisan bill to fund the rest of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard and other agencies.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has endorsed the plan, but his chamber has not voted on it because of some Republican concerns that the bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol could die in the Senate.House Republicans say theyre waiting to ensure the administrations immigration priorities get funded before voting to fund the rest of the department.

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The sequencing is important. Weve got to make sure we dont isolate and make an orphan out of key agencies of the department, Johnson told reporters Tuesday.

Some House Republicans are demanding assurances that there will be another chance to pass remaining GOP policy priorities before the end of the year if they support a narrowly written ICE and Border Patrol funding bill. Republicans have an extremely slim majority in the House, and a small handful of objectors could derail the plan.

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Missouri) wouldnt rule out demanding additional measures in the immigration funding bill, saying hes not confident there will be another reconciliation bill.

I think were wasting an opportunity, he said. This may be the last train that leaves the station.

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The Senates approval of the budget resolution Thursday morning is only the first step toward funding ICE and Border Patrol. The House still needs to adopt the budget resolution, then both chambers must pass a reconciliation bill to fund the agencies.

Republicans in Congress sent tens of billions of dollars in additional funding last year to ICE and Customs and Border Patrol last year, which has allowed the agencies to keep operating during the shutdown. Trump also signed an executive order this month directing DHS to pay all of its employees, but that money is running out.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Tuesday on Fox & Friends that the money the department has been using to pay employees salaries will soon run out. Thats $10 billion for border security in the Republican tax and spending law last year, according to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

That money is dried up, if I continue down this path, the first week of May. My payroll through DHS is just over $1.6 billion every two weeks, he said. So the money is going extremely fast, and once that happens, there is no emergency funds after that.

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Democrats demanded new restrictions on federal immigration operations after agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. They included a ban on agents wearing masks and rules to prevent agents from entering private property without judicial warrants. Republicans and Democrats for weeks without reaching a deal.

Senate Democrats have criticized Republicans for taking up legislation that does not include any of those changes. Democrats also forced amendment votes on proposals to make Americans lives more affordable during a late-night vote-a-rama before the resolutions passage, with the aim of making Republicans take uncomfortable votes ahead of the midterm elections.None of those amendments were adopted, though some drew a few Republican votes.

Republicans want to shell out billions of dollars to Donald Trumps private army without any common-sense restraints or reforms, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) told reporters. Democrats want to put money in peoples pockets by lowering their costs of electricity and of gas and of housing, of health care, of food. The contrast is glaring.

Some Senate Republicans have pressed to pass affordability legislation ahead of the midterms, but Republican leaders decided against including anything in the bill except funding for ICE and Border Patrol.

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Id like to see us come up with one or two issues thatll help the American people with the cost of living and other things that I know Republicans can agree to, Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-Louisiana) said on the floor.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said he would likeRepublicans to take up legislation to cut taxes on health care, suspend the gas tax and expand the Child Tax Credit, among other affordability ideas.

I just worry what voters will say if they see Congress not doing anything this year that is helpful to them, to their families and to their pocketbooks, Hawley said.

Some of those proposals could attract Democratic support, allowing Republicans to pass them without relying on the cumbersome reconciliation process. But Hawley said he was not optimistic that the Senate would take up such legislation.

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I dont detect a great deal of appetite for doing a whole lot of legislating at the moment, Hawley said.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: New Republican plan would fund ICE for rest of Trumps term
Lansing  Republican former state House Speaker Tom Leonard ended his campaign to be Michigan's next governor Thursday, leaving five GOP candidates competing for their party's nomination.

Leonard of DeWitt announced his decision to withdraw from the race in a post on social media. Leonard said he was focused on "substance and bold solutions" but it was "clear the political environment does not consistently reward that kind of campaign."

While Leonard put forward a series of significant policy proposals on issues like transparency, energy and auto insurance, he struggled to raise money. His primary poll numbers also remained in the single digits, compared to other contenders who had more cash and were better known among Michigan voters.

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"Over the past several weeks, this race has gotten increasingly negative," Leonard said. "And sadly, the system rewards sound bites over substance, theater over seriousness and personal attacks over real policy debate.

"Every time we drag fellow Republicans through the mud, we make all our jobs harder in November."

Former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard talks at a GOP gubernatorial debate sponsored by the Michigan Republican Party on on Oct. 29 in Sparta.

Leonard launched his campaign for governor in June 2025.

He vowed to cut waste in Lansing and lower taxes. Leonard's policy priorities included expanding the state's open records law to the governor's office and improving third grade reading scores.

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Leonard left the Legislature at the end of 2018 and is currently a lawyer and a lobbyist for the firm Plunkett Cooney. In 2018, Leonard ran for attorney general, losing to Democrat Dana Nessel, 46%-49%. In 2022, he again campaigned for attorney general, but he was defeated in a Republican convention by Kalamazoo lawyer Matt DePerno.

As of the end of last year, Leonard's campaign for governor had about $430,000 available to spend, much less than other candidates for governor, including U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, who had $2.4 million.

Likewise, businessman Perry Johnson of Bloomfield Hills is also seeking the Republican nomination and has spent more than $10 million of his own money on TV ads promoting himself.

The other Republicans remaining in the race are former Attorney General Mike Cox of Livonia, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township and longtime pastor Ralph Rebandt of Elmira.

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Michigan's current governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, can't run again because of term limits. Republican voters will pick their nominee in the Aug. 4 primary.

Three Democrats turned in petition signatures to get on their party's primary ballot: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson of Detroit, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson of Fenton and Kim Thomas of Battle Creek.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tom Leonard, former Michigan House speaker, withdraws from race for governor
Georgia Congressman David Scott dies 03:16

Washington  Democratic Rep. David Scott, who represented Georgia in the House for more than two decades, has become the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die in office. He was 80.

All five members who died since the start of the current Congress in January 2025 were between the ages of 65 and 87.

The deaths come against the backdrop of a narrow House GOP majority, where just one or two absences, vacancies or defections can play a role in whether legislation passes. Scott's death means Democrats now have 212 seats, compared to 218 for Republicans, including one GOP-leaning independent.

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During the 118th Congress, four members died in office, all between the ages of 65 and 90. The eldest was the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, whose determination to remain in office despite her evident decline frustrated many Democrats.

When the 119th Congress began in January 2025, 117 House and Senate members were over the age of 70, according to the Pew Research Center, and 19 were over 80.

These are the members who have died in office during the 119th Congress:

Rep. David Scott, 80

Rep. David Scott of Georgia speaks during a House Agriculture Committee hearing titled The Future of Digital Assets in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. / Credit: Ting Shen / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Scott, who represented the Atlanta suburbs, was seeking his 13th term in office when he died. A lifelong champion of civil rights, he was elected to the Georgia State House in 1974 and to the Georgia State Senate in 1982 before he was elected to Congress in 2002. Scott was the first Black member to chair the House Agriculture Committee, and prioritized strengthening access to nutrition, particularly for children from low-income families.

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Rep. Doug LaMalfa, 65

Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California leaves the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. / Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa died at 65 in January 2026 during surgery necessitated by a medical emergency. He represented California for over a decade in the northern part of the state. LaMalfa was a fourth-generation rice farmer and a businessman who championed rural and agricultural issues in the House.

Rep. Gerry Connolly, 75

Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia questions witnesses at a House Oversight Committee hearing on March 5, 2025. / Credit: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia died on May 21, 2025. Weeks earlier, he announced he would not seek reelection in 2026 and would step back from his role as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee because his cancer had returned. He had served in Congress since 2009.

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Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, 77

Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. / Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona died March 13, 2025, after battling cancer. Grijalva, who had served in Congress since 2003, had been absent for votes since the start of the 119th Congress.

Rep. Sylvester Turner, 70

Sylvester Turner speaks in Houston, Texas, on July 28, 2023. / Credit: Marcus Ingram/Getty Images

Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas died on March 4, 2025, weeks after taking office. He had served as Houston's mayor from 2016 until 2024, before joining the House. Turner won the House seat after Democratic Rep. Sheila Lee Jackson died in office from cancer in July 2024 at the age of 74.
Dozens of Senate Democrats are calling on the U.S. Postal Service not to comply with President Trumps executive order that restricts mail-in voting.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) demanded in a Monday letter to the Postal Service that it follow the law and not implement the order, which it cast as a blatant violation of the Constitution and statutes governing postal operations.

Like the President, the Postal Service has no authority to regulate the manner of voting in federal elections, nor who is eligible to vote by mail in such elections, senators wrote.

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The letter, signed by 37 Democratic senators in total, was first reported by Reuters.

The order, signed earlier this month, directs Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to work with the Social Security Administration to compile a list of verified U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote.

It bars the U.S. Postal Service from sending ballots to those not on the states approved mail-in ballot list and requires ballots to be secured in envelopes with barcodes for tracking.

More than 20 Democratic-led states quickly sued in an attempt to block the order from taking effect. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) also filed a separate lawsuit alongside the Democratic National Committee and other party organizations.

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Senators argued in their letter that Trump is attempting to unconstitutionally consolidate power to personally regulate American elections, warning that his order could disenfranchise voters.

These directives clearly infringe on the states and Congress constitutional role to regulate the manner in which federal elections are held and would deny eligible voters their ability to cast a ballot, they wrote.

Trump has sought in his second term to use his authority to exert more control over federal elections, often claiming that practices such as mail-in voting contributed to widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election despite a lack of supporting evidence.

Ahead of the November midterms, he has called for nationalizing elections and pressured Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to show photo identification when voting in federal elections and provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register.

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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.
WASHINGTON  In a flurry of rapid-fire votes, most Senate Republicans spurned a group of measures Democrats said would lower everyday costs for Americans while separately moving to approve $70 billion for immigration enforcement.

In the early-morning hours April 23, Democrats tried to attach a series of amendments to a federal budget blueprint. Their legislation, they said, would have ultimately brought down rates for gas, groceries, health care and school meals by creating reserve funds, blocking future price-hiking bills and reversing food stamp cuts.

GOP lawmakers accused their counterparts of orchestrating political stunts and said they were prolonging the record-long shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

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The "vote-a-rama" was one of the most significant, though futile, pieces of political leverage at Democrats' disposal in a bitter, monthslong fight over immigration enforcement since the killings of two Minnesotans by federal officers in January. Though the measures failed to move forward, they represented some politically tough votes for members of the opposing party, especially during a consequential midterm election year that could swing control of Congress to Democrats in November.

Notably, two Republicans facing reelection in purple states  Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Dan Sullivan of Alaska  threw their support behind some efforts to curb out-of-pocket medical expenses and grocery prices.

Read more: As DHS shutdown lags, Congress mulls $70B for ICE, Border Patrol

"Democrats are standing up for the American people," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said on the Senate floor.

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At the same time, the GOP cleared a key hurdle toward fully funding DHS again  while also directing more money to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, both top priorities for Republicans.

"Why are we here? Our Democratic colleagues have refused to provide funding for the Border Patrol and ICE at a time of great threat to our country," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, chairman of the Budget Committee. "We tried to have some reforms, but you refused."

It remains unclear exactly when Congress could move toward fully ending the DHS shutdown, which has dragged on for more than two months. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said this week on Fox and Friends" that President Donald Trump's directives to reroute funds to pay DHS employees, including airport security workers, would run out of money by the start of May.

"Ive got one payroll left and there (are) no more emergency funds, so the president cant do another executive order because theres no more money there," he said.

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Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In rapid-fire votes, Senate spurns measures to lower Americans' costs
Two vigils were held Wednesday evening across Shreveport in memory of the eight children who lost their lives Sunday, April 19.

The first vigil held on April 22, began at 5:30 p.m. at Kings Highway Christian Church. People from all over the community were in attendance, leaving prayers and messages to the family in a leather-bound notebook in the sanctuary.

Kings Highway Christian Church held a vigil Wednesday night following the mass shooting on April 19.

"I can't always say that everything is well with our souls and all aspects of our lives," Senior Pastor of Kings Highway Christian Church Steven Lesher said. "There's always going to be storms to face, and sometimes there will be tragedies. But with faith and a loving God, and when we trust in him for his divine help, we can confidently sing even through our tears, 'It is well. It is well. It is well.'"

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Just 30 minutes later, on the south side of town, the Shreveport City Council held a vigil just 100 feet from the crime scene. In attendance were city officials, church leaders, friends and family of the victims and a victim.

Church leaders far and near stood at the podium, leading the group in prayer. The victim sat near the podium in a wheelchair surrounded by family as she prayed.

The Shreveport City Council held a vigil Wednesday night following the mass shooting on April 19.

During this vigil, Shreveport Councilman James Green called for a domestic violence summit at First Methodist Church Shreveport.

"The Spirit of the Lord asked me to ask Pastor," he said. "According to the spirit, to call a domestic violence summit 30 days from the day. He asked me to ask you, could we have it at your church?"

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"Yes, and yes," First Methodist Church Shreveport Senior Pastor Dr. Steven Bell said. "Right now, we are just showing up... there's a lot of good, smart, loving, caring people that are going to make this thing happen."

Attendees Wednesday evening were given a flower kit and a candle by the United Cajun Navy.

"What we are actually wanting people to do is we want them to take enough candles home, where they can, whenever a funeral takes place, light that candle and pray for those families," Chaplin for the United Cajun Navy Tony Dickey said.

He continued by challenging every attendee to sit on their knees and pray for the entirety of the candle. "Those candles will burn maybe four hours," he said. "When's the last time you've been on your knees for four hours in front of God?"

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For the long-term memory of the slain children  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  Dan Beazley provided a cross that was permanently placed across the street from the crime scene at St. Gabriel Community Baptist Church. The cross carries a marker of each name of the victims.

This is the cross that will memorialize the victims of the mass shooting in Shreveport on April 19.

Beazley traveled from Northville, Michigan, Monday, April 20, with his cross after hearing about the tragic event of Sunday, April 19.

"I was asked about where my cross was going to go," Beazley said. "I knew immediately that a cross needed to go here. I couldn't leave here until we put a cross in the ground to memorialize the situation. So that there will be a place for the community to come to any day of the week... they'll never forget."

The Snow, Elkins and Pugh Family provided a statement Wednesday during the vigil, it was read by the family's liaison, R.J. Johnson.

Family statement We come together as one in grief, united by a loss that no family should ever have to endure. Our children and grandchildren were deeply loved, full of life, and a source of joy to everyone who knew them. While our hearts are heavy, beyond words, we are grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. It has meant more to us than we can fully express. We also ask that you continue to link up our survivors in prayer as they recover. The healing journey is ongoing... During this incredibly difficult time, we are leaning on one another for strength. We ask working to do prayers, respect, and privacy as we navigate today as ahead and begin the long journey of healing. We also want to acknowledge the first responders, medical personnel, and all those who supported us in the immediate aftermath. Your care and compassion have not gone unnoticed. As we move forward, we are committed to honoring the lives of our children in a way that reflects the love they brought into this world. We ask the community to continue to stand with us, not only now, but in the days and months to come.

Johnson confirmed that three of the four survivors have been discharged from the hospital. He also stated that additional information related to arrangements will be announced at a later date once they are completed.

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More: 8 children dead in Louisiana mass shooting, victims' names released

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Vigils in Shreveport honor 8 children who died in shooting
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  South Africa's top police official was suspended by the president on Thursday after he was charged with breaking finance laws related to an allegedly corrupt police contract.

Fannie Masemola appeared in court on Tuesday and was set to return alongside 12 other senior police officers suspected of fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with the contract, which was allegedly awarded unlawfully to a local company. Charges against Masemola relate to his responsibilities as the accounting officer for the police service.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a press briefing on Thursday that he had appointed Puleng Dimpane, the commissioner for financial management services in the police service, as acting police commissioner while Masemola is on trial.

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I have agreed with General Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case, Ramaphosa said.

His suspension follows wide-ranging allegations of corruption in the country's criminal justice system that were revealed at a commission of inquiry appointed by Ramaphosa last year.

Masemola faces four counts of violating the Public Finance Management Act, a law that regulates the governments awarding of contracts, over a 360 million-rand ($21 million) deal to provide health and well-being services to police officers. It is alleged that some of the police officers received bribes from the winning bidders.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the country's top policeman on "precautionary suspension" after he was charged in court on Tuesday.

Gen Fannie Masemola, 62, is alleged to have failed in his oversight duties in connection with the awarding of a controversial $21m (15.5m) health contract, which has become the subject of a criminal investigation and has since been cancelled.

He has been charged with violating part of South Africa's Public Finance Management Act, which governs how taxpayers' money is spent.

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Masemola told journalists after Tuesday's hearing that he denied the charges. "I know that I'm not guilty, I'm not wrong, but the [law] must take its course," he said.

He is the third South Africa police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office.

Ramaphosa said he had decided to suspend the policeman because of the "seriousness of these charges and the critical role that the national commissioner of police plays in leading the fight against crime".

Masemola will be suspended until the court case is concluded, he added.

Ramaphosa, who has been under growing pressure to stamp out police corruption, stressed that it was vital for the law enforcement agencies to be "capable, ethical and effective" and that they have the confidence of the people of South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) said Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane (R) will be looking closely at police procurement processes [Reuters]

The president made the announcement during a press briefing in the capital, Pretoria, with Masemola's replacement, Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane, standing alongside him.

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She has been the police service's chief financial officer since 2018 and has been in the force for almost 20 years.

But her appointment is already being questioned given she oversaw the police's finances during the period the alleged corruption took place. She has previously denied any involvement in corruption.

Masemola's court case relates to a tender awarded to controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's company Medicare24 Tshwane District in 2024, which was meant to provide health services to the police.

It was cancelled a year later, in May 2025, and since then a dozen senior police officers have been formally charged over their role in the awarding of the contract.

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They have been accused of colluding with Matlala, who has also been charged with corruption. None of them have yet been asked to plead in court.

Masemola, who was also not asked to enter a plea, is the only one who has not been charged with corruption. He faces four counts of breaching the public finances act.

The allegations about the health contract tender came up at an inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, set up by Ramaphosa last September to look into corruption in the police force.

Additional reporting by Khanyisile Ngcobo in Johannesburg

Related stories:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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BEIRUT, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Thursday called on Lebanese authorities to stop direct talks with Israel, warning that continued engagement gives political cover to ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

"Lebanon must halt all forms of direct communication with the enemy," Fadlallah said at a parliament press conference, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

Israel has continued its assaults on Lebanon's southern border villages, with drone strikes, artillery shelling, and direct gunfire, he said.

The resistance "will not accept a one-sided ceasefire" while Israeli attacks persist, he said, voicing opposition to Israel imposing new "red lines."

He also slammed Israeli forces for blocking rescue teams from reaching civilian victims, including two journalists, in the southern town of Al-Tiri, describing it as a "war crime" targeting unarmed civilians.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect at midnight between April 16 and 17, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Israeli and Lebanese officials held talks in Washington on April 14. A second round of discussions is scheduled for Thursday. 
By Heejin Kim

SEOUL, April 23 (Reuters) - South Korea's government said on Thursday it would ensure no discrimination against U.S. tech companies, including e-commerce firm Coupang, following a letter from U.S. lawmakers calling for an end to unfair targeting of American businesses.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Seoul was implementing measures to ensure U.S. digital companies did not face discriminatory measures or unnecessary barriers.

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The assurance was included in a U.S.-South Korea joint fact sheet signed in November under a trade deal between the two countries, the ministry said.

The response came after a letter was sent this week by some U.S. lawmakers to South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, demanding an immediate end to "discriminatory regulatory actions" against American businesses operating in South Korea.

Led by the Republican Study Committee (RSC) member Michael Baumgartner, the lawmakers said: "systematic targeting of American companies such as Apple, Google, Meta, and Coupang is particularly concerning."

South Korea "recently leveraged a low-sensitivity data leak in November 2025 as a pretext to launch a whole-of-government assault on Coupang," they said, citing a series of actions including threats to revoke its business licences and pressuring pension funds to divest its shares in the holding company.

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"We are committed to ensuring that your government ceases its persecution of Coupang and other American companies operating in South Korea," the letter said.

The Korean Foreign Ministry said the ongoing probe into Coupang's data breach was proceeding under domestic law and procedures, regardless of the nationality of the company.

Coupang Korea, operated by U.S.-listed Coupang Inc., faced a public and lawmaker backlash in South Korea over a data breach that affected more than 30 million customers.

On Wednesday, the ministry said the issues regarding Coupang should not be linked to ongoing security negotiations with Washington, which include South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines.

(Reporting by Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)
Tens of thousands of Samsung Electronics workers rallied in South Korea on Thursday to demand higher pay and bonuses, as their threat of a weeks-long strike hung over the technology giant.

Samsung is a major producer of chips used in everything from artificial intelligence to consumer electronics, raising the prospect that the planned walkout could cause severe disruption and losses.

An association of three labour unions held the rally outside the company's plant in Pyeongtaek, south of the capital Seoul, to demand a seven-percent wage hike, the end of a cap on bonuses and other benefits.

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"More than 40,000 members" took part, a union official told AFP, declining to be named. Local police did not immediately give an estimate.

Demonstrators waving banners reading "Let's eliminate the bonus cap" and "Change it to be transparent!" gathered in the sunlit streets around the factory, Samsung's largest for making memory and logic chips.

"We will not back down until we are guaranteed a transparent compensation system," said one female union member on stage, drawing applause from the crowd.

The workers are also demanding that Samsung allocates 15 percent of its operating profits for bonuses.

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The unions, which represent nearly 90,000 workers in total, have said they will stage a strike from May 21 to June 7 unless a deal with management is reached.

The company said in a statement to AFP that it would "continue to work toward reaching a wage agreement at the earliest possible date".

The dispute comes as South Korean technology firms ride an AI boom that has bumped up national growth, pushed the stock market to record highs and drawn it closer to industry leaders the United States and China.

Samsung's shares have surged nearly 300 percent over the past year, while its rival SK hynix said on Thursday that it had obliterated its quarterly profit record.

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Samsung said this year it had begun mass production of next-generation high-bandwidth memory chips, HBM4, seen as a key component for scaling up the vast data centres needed for AI development.

Long staunchly anti-union, founder Lee Byung-chul once vowed never to allow unions "until I have dirt over my eyes".

He died in 1987. Samsung Electronics' first labour union was formed in the late 2010s.

shk-kjk/mjw/lga
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger defended a newly approved redistricting referendum during an interview Wednesday but sidestepped a question about whether the measure conflicted with her past campaign stance.

"So, when we found the results out, I was really excited but not surprised," Spanberger told host Wolf Blitzer during CNN's "The Situation Room" after he asked about the referendums narrow approval. "Because it's been clear for a number of months that Virginians were really motivated to take this temporary responsive stance," she added.

The interview came after Virginia voters approved the redistricting referendum. The measure allows for revised congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections in November, with supporters arguing it responds to similar efforts in Republican-led states.

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When pressed on criticism that the measure allows politicians to "choose their voters," Spanberger defended the process as transparent and voter-driven.

Former Virginia Governor Challenges Spanberger To Debate Her Redistricting Flip-flop

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks during a Virginians For Fair Elections canvassing event in Woodbridge, Va., on April 18, 2026. (Getty Images)

"Well, I think that that's fair criticism of places like Texas, where it was the legislature that pushed through a redistricting effort without any buy-in from the people," she said. "Here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, certainly it was the General Assembly that drew the maps, but the maps were made available to the public."

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Blitzer later raised a broader concern, asking how Spanberger would respond to critics who argue that political retaliation through redistricting escalates a national "arms race." Spanberger pointed to President Donald Trump starting the trend.

"I think it really depends on leadership from the top," she said. "Importantly, this all began because President Trump said he was entitled to more congressional seats and implored his friends in Texas to make that happen for him."

Cbs Host Presses Former Ag On Defending Partisan Redistricting Efforts In Virginia

Blitzer followed up with a more pointed critique, asking what Spanberger would say to those who believe "two wrongs don't necessarily make a right." Spanberger acknowledged the concern but did not directly address whether her current position aligned with her prior campaign rhetoric.

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"You know, I hear them, and I won't argue with that point," she said. "But I think that the people of Virginia, when looking at the landscape of what is occurring across the country, the people of Virginia said we want to take this temporary responsive effort."

Instead, Spanberger pivoted to broader political messaging, arguing the referendum reflected voter frustration with national conditions.

"I think we will see a wave election," she said, citing "a rebuke of President Trump and his failed policies and yet another war in the Middle East and rising gas costs."

David Marcus: Desperate Dems Tap Obama To Pitch Virginia Gerrymandering Lies

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks on CNNs "The Situation Room" after voters narrowly approved a redistricting referendum she supported, defending the measure while facing criticism over its partisan impact.

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Spanberger addressed criticism from constituents who viewed the referendum as partisan, again shifting focus away from the question of campaign consistency.

"I campaigned on a broad array of issues," she said. "There are many bills and many priorities that I am going to support that a whole host of Virginians will support, and there may be some that not everybody does.

"We also saw tens of millions of dollars in lies put on television saying that I was supportive of a no vote, that President Obama was supportive of a no vote," she said. "And, frankly, across Virginia, I heard from people saying, 'I wasn't sure how I was gonna vote.' Then I saw those lies."

Public campaign finance data shows that both sides of the referendum battle spent significant amounts with combined expenditures reaching into the tens of millions of dollars, reflecting the high stakes of the redistricting fight.

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Spanberger argued that the tone of the opposition campaign ultimately backfired with voters.

"I think, frankly, some of the mechanics of how the no vote actually tried to trick people here in the Commonwealth of Virginia made people feel really fed up," she said.





Original article source: Spanberger sidesteps question on reversal over Virginia redistricting stance
The owners of a western South Dakota survival bunker community are legally justified in pursuing the eviction of a man who brandished a firearm on the property, the South Dakota Supreme court has ruled.

Daniel Sindorf signed a 99-year lease with the property owner, known as Vivos XPoint Investment Group, in 2020, paying $35,000 upfront for a bunker.

At the time, the community rules did not mention prohibitions on weapon usage. The property includes a shooting range. The U.S. military used the 575 concrete, earth-covered bunkers on the property near Edgemont between 1942 and 1967 to store bombs and other munitions, but the bunkers sat empty until California-based Vivos purchased the property to create what it billed as the nations largest survival community.

Following a series of confrontations with neighbors, Sindorf brandished a pistol. He was protecting himself from his neighbors dogs, he said, but Vivos said he was threatening other residents.

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By the time the incident took place, Vivos had adjusted its community rules to bar the brandishing of firearms, a clause that served as justification for an attempted eviction of Sindorf, although the eviction notice cited a vague rule violation.

Sindorf disputed Vivos right to oust him, and the company later pointed to the 2023 altercation as the reason for the eviction. Sindorf no longer lives in the bunker, but has refused to allow Vivos to access the property.

A local judge ruled that Vivos decision to change the community guidelines mid-lease rendered the lease illusory because the lease contract, as signed, did not include such a provision.

As a result, Sindorf maintained possession of the bunker and the right to keep Vivos out. The judge declined to allow the eviction to proceed.

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This states high court overruled the local judge.

The lease noted that the parties expressly agreed that Vivos would be able to modify the community rules and regulations subject only to 30 days written notice before the modifications became enforceable, the ruling says.

Sindorf was given notice of the rule change, according to the ruling. The ruling allows the eviction proceedings to reopen in local court.

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High Court October 7 inquiry hearing: Justices hear petitions to force the government to establish a state commission, two and a half years after the Hamas massacre.

The High Court of Justice on Thursday heard petitions seeking to compel the government to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre and the subsequent war, in a dramatic hearing that laid bare both the depth of judicial concern over the prolonged delay and the courts hesitation about ordering such a step itself.

After roughly six hours of arguments, interruptions and repeated clashes in the courtroom, several justices appeared to signal that while the need for a serious investigation is no longer meaningfully in dispute, the harder question is whether the court should force the governments hand now, just months before elections, or leave the matter to the public and the next government.

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Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, leading the seven-justice panel after Supreme Court President Isaac Amit recused himself, said there were very heavy costs to a judicial order requiring a state commission of inquiry at this stage, and asked whether the work might better be left to the government formed after the election. Justice Yael Willner went further, suggesting it might be preferable to leave the matter to the public at the ballot box. Justice Ofer Grosskopf similarly asked why the court should not leave that decision to voters.

That apparent end-of-hearing signal came after a day in which the bench also sharply challenged the governments position.

Representing the government, attorney Michael Rabello argued that the court had no authority to compel the government to establish a state commission of inquiry, saying such a step does not exist in any court in the world. He also said the government believes that, while investigation is important, now is not the time to conduct it because Israel remains in an ongoing war, adding at one point that the main thing right now is that the State of Israel win the fighting on all fronts.

That position drew some of the hearings sharpest judicial reactions.

Bereaved families opposing a state commission of inquiry protest outside a hearing on a petition demanding the formation of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 23, 2026. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Willner called it a dramatic shift, saying it amounted to the government taking the position that for now it should not investigate at all. She pressed Rabello on whether the state was really saying that only after the war fully ends would it begin investigating what happened years earlier. Sohlberg asked bluntly: How many years can one wait?

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Grosskopf framed the issue as one that also touches the democratic process, asking whether a government can simply avoid investigating an issue that is politically uncomfortable for it, thereby denying the public information it may need as it forms its political judgment before elections.

Justice Khaled Kabub was among the most direct. He said that under the law currently in force, the state must act accordingly, and suggested that the elephant in the room was who gets to appoint the commissions members. In his telling, the real dispute was the governments unwillingness to have the president of the Supreme Court appoint the panel. He also criticized the broader public messaging around the case, saying he did not understand how the impression had taken hold that the High Court was against the state.

At the same time, the justices questions to the attorney-generals representative showed equal concern with the limits of the judicial remedy being sought.

Court not the right body to determine scope of probe, justices suggest

Attorney Yonatan Berman, representing the Attorney-Generals Office, argued that after two and a half years the time question had run out, that continued delay was undermining truth-finding, and that under the law as it currently stands only a state commission of inquiry is truly suitable.

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But several justices repeatedly pressed him on why the court should order that specific form of inquiry, rather than some other investigative framework, and whether the attorney-general would agree to a compromise based on the governments proposed national commission model without waiting for legislation. He refused.

Willner made clear that, in her view, the central legal issue was no longer whether there is a need to investigate, or even whether in rare cases the court may intervene, but what the legal basis is for ordering intervention specifically as to the nature of the inquiry. She and Grosskopf also noted a practical problem: even if the court ordered the government to establish a commission, the government could still try to narrow the mandate.

Stein raised a related concern, saying that even if one assumed the government had effectively rendered the Commissions of Inquiry Law a dead letter, the court was not necessarily the right body to define the contours of a military-professional inquiry.

That institutional tension ran through the hearing from start to finish. Early on, Sohlberg pressed the government on its own earlier position, saying that if it had already accepted that some form of investigation was needed, that check has to be cashed. If not a state commission, he asked, then what exactly was being proposed in practice? The government pointed to draft legislation for an alternative national commission, but the justices repeatedly noted both the delay and the fact that the legislative process is still incomplete.

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The hearing was also repeatedly disrupted by bereaved family members opposed to a state commission of inquiry, some of whom tried to force their way into the courtroom after being denied entry. Proceedings were suspended for security reasons after court guards intervened, and the justices were taken to a side room before the hearing resumed. During the disruptions, Sohlberg told those interrupting that the pain is terrible and the pain cries out, but that there had to be a limit. Later, Likud MK Tally Gotliv was removed from the courtroom after repeated interruptions.

By the end of the day, the court had not tipped its hand definitively. But the justices questions suggested a divided emphasis: deep skepticism toward the governments continued delay and its latest position that investigation should wait until the war is fully won, alongside equally serious concern about whether forcing a state commission by judicial order, at this political moment, would produce the legitimacy and public trust such a body would need.

If that reading holds, the likely fault line in any future ruling may be less over whether October 7 must be investigated - a proposition that appeared broadly accepted in the courtroom - than over who should decide the form and timing of that investigation, and whether the High Court believes that answer now belongs to judges or to voters.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court seemed wary of limiting the power of federal regulators on Tuesday in a case over multimillion-dollar penalties levied against telecommunications giants Verizon and AT&T.

The cellular companies appealed to the justices after the Federal Communications Commission found they sold customers location data without proper safeguards. The FCC slapped the companies with hefty penalties totaling over $100 million.

The telecom companies challenged the process as unconstitutional because it gives them little opportunity to tell their side of the story in court. Key justices seemed skeptical, however. I wonder if, at the end of the day, you're really just talking about a PR problem, Chief Justice John Roberts said during arguments Tuesday.

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The Trump administration defended the process as an essential regulatory tool and argued that it does leave a path to court. But the government also said companies dont have to pay penalties right away, a concession that amounts to a win for the companies, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said. It seems like youve won on the law going forward one way or the other, Kavanaugh told an attorney for AT&T and Verizon.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority has limited the power of federal agencies before, including overturning a decades-old decision that had given regulators an advantage in court and stripping another agency of a major tool in fighting securities fraud. A victory for AT&T and Verizon in this case could have widespread effects for other agencies who use similar enforcement mechanisms, advocates said.

Companies who get notices that theyve run afoul of FCC regulations now have two options: pay the penalty and then contest it before an appeals court or refuse to pay and wait for a federal lawsuit that could eventually go before a jury. Doug Orvis, a veteran telecom attorney, said neither option is viable, so most companies pay up.

A ruling is expected by late June.
Your favorite online grocer or retail store might be secretly raising prices on you - and one state has had enough.

Maryland lawmakers approved a bill earlier this month that will ban surveillance pricing: the practice of raising individualized prices online, based on a shoppers habits and personal information. The practice can cost shoppers as much as $1,200 a year, a study from consumer watchdog Consumer Reports found last year.

The bill is likely to become law in Maryland later this month when Governor Wes Moore signs it. His signature is all but guaranteed after Moore said in an April 14 social media post that he cant wait to sign it.

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Titled, Protection From Predatory Pricing Act, it includes a ban on grocery stores and third-party partners from using an individuals personal information and other data to set a price. If passed, it would be the first law of its kind in the country.

Surveillance pricing uses a shopper's personal information, past purchases, cart activity and, in some cases, protected data such as gender to raise prices as far as they can without losing the customer. That can lead to higher prices for the same product for different consumers.

Lawmakers are pushing back on surveillance pricing tactics used by online grocery stores and third-party delivery services (Getty Images)

Surveillance pricing has become widespread in the last few years, and can increase a companys profits by up to 4 percent, a 2025 Federal Trade Commission study found.

The practice impacts consumers beyond the grocery store. Car dealerships can be dynamic pricing traps, too, the commission said.

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A car could potentially be segmented as a first-time car buyer by the dealership using these tools, inferring that [the] shopper might be less savvy about the options available and be promoted particular financing rates, trade-in discounts, or maintenance products, the commission wrote.

Translation: a company can use your personal info to shape how it pitches lending options, discounts and optional vehicle features.

Maryland isnt the only state taking on surveillance pricing.

New York passed a law in November 2025 requiring retailers to tell customers when theyre using AI or personal information to set prices. A bill submitted to New Yorks state legislature in January would ban surveillance pricing altogether, but it has yet to make it past the early stages of the lawmaking process.

In January 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an investigation into how businesses use surveillance pricing and whether it violates the states consumer protection laws.
A longtime AT&T employee in New Jersey has filed a federal lawsuit alleging age discrimination and wrongful termination.

The suit, filed March 31 in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, claims Daniel A. Zuckerman, 62, was demoted and ultimately fired last year without warning in retaliation for opposing discrimination and seeking legal advice.

A spokesperson for AT&T called the lawsuit baseless, and said the company will defend itself in court.

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This employee was not a victim of discrimination: he was given a new job assignment during an organizational restructure, and he was terminated for violating our Code of Business Conduct, the spokesperson said.

Zuckerman, of Hillsborough, started his career at AT&T in May 1985, according to the lawsuit. He spent nearly 40 years climbing the ranks before he was fired from the companys Bedminster office on Jan. 27, 2025.

At the time, he held the role of level-three director as a member of technical staff. However, days before his termination, he was notified that he would be demoted to level two associate director in cybersecurity, effective Feb. 1, according to the complaint.

Zuckerman claims he has never received disciplinary action or a negative performance evaluation during his tenure.

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The lawsuit alleges that AT&T maintains a corporate culture of age discrimination which encourages older employees to leave voluntarily, and favors younger employees.

Zuckerman also claims he was instructed in 2014 not to hire a highly qualified 56-year-old candidate because of the candidates age.

The lawsuit says the age discrimination originated with top leadership. It points to remarks by former CEO Randall Stephenson in 2016 about AT&Ts aging workforce and need to reinvent itself, and alleges current CEO John Stankey made outrageously offensive ageist statements.

During a July 2023 town hall, Stankey stated that the workforce needed younger employees to better match the U.S. population, according to the suit.

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In October 2023, Zuckerman began reporting to Prafulla Verma, an assistant vice president of network systems development. The following year, Verma allegedly pressured Zuckerman to retire and told him he would be reassigned to a less desirable role under Hussein Fareed, assistant vice president of cybersecurity, the complaint states.

The new role had a lower salary range and a smaller success-bonus percentage. It also made him ineligible to participate in the companys long-term incentive plan, according to the suit.

After he was transferred, Zuckerman alleges that about 70 percent of his duties were reassigned to substantially younger colleagues and that some of his direct reports were removed. He was the oldest of four level-three directors reporting to Fareed, the complaint states.

On Jan. 22, 2025, Fareed informed Zuckerman in a meeting that Zuckerman would be downgraded to a level-two associate director position for cost reasons. The company told him he would be fired if he declined the role, according to the lawsuit.

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Zuckerman opposed the alleged age discrimination, used profanity and said he intended to speak with an attorney, the complaint states.

The next day, he stated in an email that he had made an appointment with an employment lawyer.

Four days later, on Jan. 27, he was fired without warning during a meeting with Fareed and an assistant vice president of human resources, according to the lawsuit.

Zuckerman filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on May 8, 2025, alleging age discrimination and retaliation.

On Jan. 6, 2026, the EEOC issued Zuckerman a notice which allowed him to file a lawsuit in federal court.

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In response to the EEOC complaint, AT&T said Zuckerman was fired due to his insubordinate and unprofessional behavior during the Jan. 22 meeting, which violated the companys code of business conduct, according to the suit.

The lawsuit alleges that the description of his conduct was exaggerated and that the use of profanity is not identified as an offense in the code of conduct.

New Jerseys Division of Unemployment Insurance later determined there was no evidence that Zuckerman was discharged for unprofessional conduct, the suit states.

Zuckerman alleges that a much younger employee replaced him.

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The suit claims Zuckerman faced lost wages and earning capacity, loss of benefits, pain and suffering, humiliation and mental anguish.

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TAIPEI, April 23 (Reuters) - Taiwan's minister in charge of the coast guard has made a rare visit to a Taiwan-controlled island in the South China Sea for exercises, including practising the armed boarding of a suspicious ship.

Taiwan and China claim sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, and Taiwan has control of Itu Aba in the contested Spratly Islands in the southern part of the sea.

In a statement late on Wednesday, Taiwan's coast guard said Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling had visited Itu Aba, which it calls Taiping Island, the previous day for a "humanitarian relief, medical evacuation, and marine pollution removal" exercise.

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Taiwan's official Central News Agency said it was the first time in seven years a minister had visited Itu Aba, which is also claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

In one part of the drill, coast guard special forces armed with guns practised boarding a suspicious cargo ship that had refused to respond to hails.

"In order to safeguard the nation's rights and national security, the cargo vessel was escorted back to Taiping Island for further investigation," the coast guard said.

It shared video footage of the special forces, clad in black and heavily armed, entering the control room of the ship.

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"You have entered the waters under the jurisdiction of our country. Please cooperate with the investigation," one of the team tells a crew member.

Itu Aba has a runway long enough to take military re-supply flights from Taiwan, and Taiwan opened a new wharf there in 2023 able to accommodate a 4,000-ton patrol ship.

But the island is lightly defended compared to nearby Chinese-controlled islands. Chinese forces generally leave Itu Aba alone.

Beijing has carried out extensive land reclamation on the South China Sea islets and outcrops it controls, building major air force and other military facilities, fuelling concern in Washington and around the region where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also claim parts of the sea.

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China says it has every right to build on and defend what it considers to be its territory.

Taiwan also controls the Pratas Islands in the northern part of the South China Sea. China's air force and navy regularly operate nearby to assert Beijing's territorial claims over Taiwan, which the government in Taipei rejects.

The South China Sea is a key shipping route through which billions of dollars in trade passes every year, and an important fishing ground. It is also thought to hold substantial energy reserves.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP)  At least 518 people died in last years postelection violence in Tanzania, which happened amid an internet shutdown, a commission formed to investigate the bloodshed said on Thursday.

Thousands of people were injured in the violence, with more than 800 people having gunshot wounds.

The commission's chairman, Mohamed Chande Othman, said that the number of deaths was likely to be higher, because some families buried their loved ones without taking their bodies to morgues.

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Tanzania experienced postelection violence on Oct. 29, after young people took to the streets, accusing the government of silencing the opposition, as the countrys main opposition party leader remained in prison for treason and the presidential candidate for the second-largest opposition party was barred from running.

The internet was shut down in the country for days, a move that President Samia Suluhu Hassan later apologized to the diplomatic community for and promised would never happen again.

Hassan was seeking a second term in office after serving out the term of her predecessor, John Magufuli, after he died in office. Hassan won with 97% of the vote, and some international observers said the election fell short of a free and fair vote.

Othman recommended that a further investigation be conducted on the use of firearms, as some of the witnesses told the commission that their loved ones were shot while sitting inside their houses.

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Since the violence, 245 people remain unaccounted for, and 39 families reported having seen the bodies of their loved ones in morgues before they later disappeared.

The commission ruled out the presence of mass graves, as alleged by human rights groups. The commission concluded that the demonstrations weren't peaceful, but were acts of violence based on their contravention of laws requiring a 48-hour police notice and because it was an election day, thus denying some citizens the right to vote.

Othman said that the protests were planned and coordinated by people who had been recruited and trained, and violence occurred simultaneously in various locations to confuse the police.

Hassan said that the commissions findings will guide constitutional amendments and promised the establishment of a reconciliation commission.

The president also announced the formation of a criminal investigative body to review the postelection unrest. She said that the body will identify those who planned, financed and were involved in criminal acts such as looting and damaging infrastructure. It will also investigate claims of missing bodies and allegations of abductions.
KABUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Police have taken into custody 10 people on charges of excavating historical sites to steal cultural artifacts in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, said a statement of the provincial police office on Thursday.

The arrested individuals, according to the statement, were excavating some shrines and historical sites on the outskirts of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah to find and steal relics on Wednesday night, but police identified and took them into custody.

Police would hand them over to the judiciary after completion of preliminary investigation, the statement said.

The statement also urged locals to inform police if anyone was seen to excavate historical sites and cultural monuments. 
Taylor Rooks is helping people in her hometown erase medical debt.

Foundation

As

AFROTECH

previously reported, the Emmy Award-nominated journalist and producer launched the Taylor Rooks Foundation in 2025 to empower Black families in education, health, and opportunity regardless of zip code, background, or bank account. Its three pillars of focus are reach (educational resources, community wellness initiatives, small business support, and direct giving), relieve (support for health and recovery, crisis assistance, and essential living needs), and represent (mentorship for journalists, storytelling workshops, and the launch of Rising Rooks Award).

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I believe that equity starts with access  access to care, to confidence, to opportunity, Rooks said in a press release shared with AFROTECH



at the time. My work is rooted in trust, community, and the radical idea that a single act of support can rewrite someones story.

Erasing Medical Debt

In January, the foundation announced in an Instagram post that it provided $20,000 in utility assistance to families, helping them cover electricity, water, heat, and phone service costs.

Now, Rooks has taken to Instagram to announce that her foundation had partnered with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to erase medical debt for residents of Gwinnett County, Georgia, her hometown.

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My baby sister has Type 1 diabetes, so I know firsthand just how medical bills can pile up. Sometimes it can really just feel like youre drowning, and it can seem like you have nothing that you can do about it, Rooks explained in the Instagram video. Medical debt is not something that people even plan for. It often comes at some of the hardest moments in life and can stay with people so much longer than it should. This kind of relief has real impact. It eases financial stresses that many carry with them silently, and it gives people the ability to just focus on their health, their families, and everything that comes next.

At the Taylor Rooks Foundation, we are so committed to continuing this work by expanding access, removing barriers, and creating real opportunities for people to just build this stability. Everyone deserves the chance to move forward without being held back by circumstances beyond their control, and we promise to keep showing up to help people make that possible, she continued in the video.

According to Cornell Universitys School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 66.6% of bankruptcies are the result of medical debt. Furthermore, medical debt disproportionately impacts the Black community. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27.9% of Black households had medical debt compared to 17.2% of white households. Additionally, per a study published by the National Library of Medicine, those with mental health conditions have double the odds of medical debt compared to individuals without mental health conditions.

In response to these disparities, the partnership between the Taylor Rooks Foundation and Undue Medical Debt has supported 1,805 residents and erased $2.1 million in medical debt, according to a separate Instagram post.

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The post Taylor Rooks Foundation And Undue Medical Debt Erase $2.1M In Medical Debt For Gwinnett County, GA, Residents appeared first on AfroTech.







The post Taylor Rooks Foundation And Undue Medical Debt Erase $2.1M In Medical Debt For Gwinnett County, GA, Residents appeared first on AfroTech.
Two bills introduced by lawmakers seek to return money to Americans after tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump were found to be illegal.

Members of Congress from Texas and New Mexico introduced bills in March after Trump floated the idea of sending tariff dividend checks to Americans back in November. Since then, there's been no recent update from Trump as to when the stimulus checks could arrive for Americans. A new portal from Customs and Border Protection now allows businesses to request tariff refunds after the Supreme Court ruled them illegal in February.

As businesses begin receiving refunds, taxpayers may be wondering if relief could extend to them as well.

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Heres what to know about the bills aiming to put money in Americans pockets.

Could we get a stimulus check in 2026?

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, introduced the "American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act of 2026" on March 9.

H.R.7865 calls for $231,350,000,000  roughly how much consumers are said to have paid due to tariffs, according to the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Economic Committee  to fund tariff rebate payments to Americans, The Hill reported.

The bill reads: "to provide direct refunds to taxpayers for increased consumer costs attributable to tariffs imposed without congressional authorization."

The last action on the bill was its referral to the House Committee on Ways and Means in March.

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A New Mexico lawmaker, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, introduced the "Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act" to the Senate on March 12. According to CNBC, the rebate would pay $1,200 to joint filers making under $180,000 annually and $600 for each additional child.

S.4093 was referred to the Committee on Finance in March.

Both bills still need to pass Congress before they can reach the president's desk for signature.

What would need to happen to get a $2,000 stimulus check?

Any form of stimulus payment issued by the U.S. government would have to be approved by Congress.

USA TODAY contributed to this story.

Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on x; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.

More: How much in taxes do Texans pay at the gas pump? Here's what to know

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Tariff refund update: Texas, New Mexico lawmakers push stimulus bills
Three Republican senators broke with the rest of the Senate GOP conference Wednesday night to vote in support of an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) to address insurance companies delaying or denying necessary medical care.

Vulnerable Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) joined conservative Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in voting with Democrats to support the amendment to create a point of order against a budget reconciliation bill that fails to address insurance companies delay or denial of medical care.

Ossoff moved to waive the applicable sections of the 1974 Budget Act to strike down the point-of-order objection but it fell 11 votes short of success. He needed 60 votes to waive the budget rules.

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Think of the retired Georgia teacher who had paid over $100,000 into a cancer policy only to be diagnosed with cancer and have her insurance claims denied, Ossoff said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote.

Think of the Monroe County mother of three diagnosed with cancer who needed a liver transplant, was told she had six to 12 months to live and had to fight her insurance company because her claim was denied, he said.

Ossoff said his amendment would ensure that the budget reconciliation bill Republicans plan to advance to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol would also prevent insurance companies from denying or delaying medically necessary health care.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) raised a point-of-order objection to Ossoffs amendment.

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Adopting this amendment would jeopardize the privilege of the budget resolution and our ability to use reconciliation to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, he said.

Ossoff moved to waive the applicable sections of the 1974 Budget Act to strike down the point-of-order objection but it fell one vote short of success.

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) missed the votes Wednesday due to health and personal issues.

Senate Republicans scheduled votes late into the night Wednesday on a budget resolution they hope to pass to lay the procedural groundwork for a budget reconciliation package that could pass the upper chamber with a simple-majority vote and avoid a Democratic filibuster.

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Republicans want to use the budget reconciliation vehicle to pass 3 1/2 years of funding for ICE and Border Patrol. GOP aides estimate that package, which is expected to reach the Senate floor next month, will cost between $70 billion and $80 billion.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who is running for lieutenant governor, is facing blowback for promising jobs and internships to students at a China-based boarding school accused of committing diploma fraud in conjunction with a California school district, after the schools founder poured tens of thousands of dollars into her campaigns.

Pegasus California School, based in Qingdao, China, was the subject of a probe completed in February by California education officials in Riverside County, following concerns that the Val Verde Unified School District was illegally issuing diplomas to Pegasus' China-based students. It also identified other potential concerns related to Pegasus and California education officials working for the district and the California Department of Education, indicating there was evidence of them engaging in potential fraud, misappropriation of funds and other illegal fiscal practices. The audit concluded that investigators found "a pattern of favors, official acts, promises, and payments" leading to the California Department of Education's ultimate approval of a pilot program that allowed wealthy Chinese students to obtain a U.S. high school diploma overseas.

Meanwhile, a post on the school's website shows Ma visiting in 2023, telling students, parents and teachers there that she would be able to help the enrollees at the school get jobs and internships back in the U.S. The same post on the school's website heralded Ma's visit as evidence of "the California government's recognition and attention to Pegasus," which became a sister school to California's Val Verde Unified School District in 2016 and started its pilot program issuing California diplomas a year later.

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"Fiona chose Pegasus as the only school to visit in China, which shows the California governments recognition and attention to Pegasus," Pegasus bragged in the now-archived post from its website.

Chinese Educator With Several Ccp Ties Cozies Up To Top New York Democrats: 'Our Old Friend Who Listens'

It then included an excerpt from Ma: "I am honored to come to Qingdao Pegasus California School today to see many students perform and communicate with them. If they want to intern in California, they can come to me, I will provide some internship and employment opportunities."

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California Treasurer Fiona Ma smiles during an interview in San Francisco on Dec. 18, 2018. (Getty Images)

Steven Ma, who is unrelated to Fiona Ma but is Pegasus' founder, directly contributed over $13,200 to her campaigns for state treasurer and lieutenant governor, according to California campaign finance records dating back to 2021.

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The Pegasus founder's college-admissions consulting firm, ThinkTank Learning Inc. also contributed $23,800 to Ma's campaigns since 2010, according to state campaign finance records.

Trump Admin Sends Warning To California As Trans Athlete Advances In State Track And Field Championship

Fox News Digital reached out to Ma multiple times for comment on her visit to the China-based school, and to the Val Verde school district itself to inquire whether it was aware of Ma's visit, but did not receive a response.

Business Insider released a scathing report in 2021 calling out the Pegasus California School for its improper relationship with the Val Verde Unified School District, which Business Insider argues spurred the recently completed audit into Pegasus by California education officials. The China-based school, according to Business Insider, was charging up to $34,000 a year for students to enroll and, despite drawing on Val Verde resources, it functioned as a private boarding school. The school's own website describes itself as an "independent" international school that uses a "fee payment and registration" framework for students after gaining admission, similar to how private schools in the U.S. operate, according to a Fox News Digital review.

A Riverside County school district is accused of improperly issuing diplomas to nonresident Chinese students through a partnership with a foreign sister school, according to a lengthy audit that found potential fraud and unlawful financial practices.

A February 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between the China-based boarding school and Val Verde, reviewed by Fox News Digital, indicated that in return for receiving diplomas and teachers from the United States, 10 students from the Val Verde school district would be afforded the opportunity to travel to China and attend Pegasus for 10 days at the cost of $300 a student. It also laid out an exchange program for students at Pegasus to visit schools' in California. While the audit does not appear to identify any clear direct repayment from Pegasus to Val Verde itself, it does highlight travel, consulting opportunities, scholarships and other perks, like "great publicity," that benefited officials and the district more than its own students.

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Meanwhile, Pegasus was allegedly telling its students and parents that it could guarantee them admission to one of the top 100 universities in the U.S., and if that didn't happen, they would get a complete tuition reimbursement. A 2019 Memorandum of Understanding, included in the California audit, showed the University of California  Riverside even made a commitment that students who met certain academic thresholds would "receive a UCR scholarship."

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Following the completion of the audit from Riverside County officials in February, announced publicly in March by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez, the California Department of Education issued a cease-and-desist demanding Pegasus terminate official statements on its website claiming it was founded in 2016 with the department's "blessing and support."

"California Business and Professions Code Section 17533.6 makes it unlawful for a non-governmental entity to use a state government name in a manner that could reasonably be interpreted or construed as implying connection, approval or endorsement by the state government," stated the March cease-and-desist. "The above statement on your website could reasonably be interpreted or construed to imply that the California Department of Education is connected to, approves or endorses Pegasus California School. You are on notice that the California Department of Education is not connected to, does not approve and does not endorse Pegasus California School."





Original article source: Top California Dem running for office tied to Chinese school accused of US diploma scandal
NEW YORK  The Trump administration on Thursday launched a civil rights probe into New York Citys public schools over claims that pro-Palestinian teachers discriminated against Jewish students.

In a news release, the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights, or OCR, said it received reports about a coalition of teachers known as NYC Educators for Palestine organizing seminars focused on Palestine, Zionism, and Resistance.

No child should be taught by his or her teachers to hate their peers, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. Neither should Jewish children be taught that being Jewish somehow makes them inherently guilty or proponents of hate and violence.

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The Trump administration will not turn a blind eye to antisemitic harassment. OCR will investigate these appalling allegations to ensure the equal treatment of all students.

While the exact seminars federal officials referring to were not immediately clear, NYC Educators for Palestines Instagram in January advertised a free Palestine Teach-In for children ages 6 to 18 on this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Trump administration said NYC Educators for Palestine allegedly taught the kids about contemporary and historical Palestinian resistance, that Zionists are genocidal white supremacists, and to support the federally designated terrorist organization Hamas.

Federal officials did not immediately provide evidence of the teachers alleged support for Hamas.

The New York Daily News has reached out to a spokeswoman for the citys public schools for comment.
President Trump responded Wednesday to Virginia Democrats redistricting win Tuesday night, saying the results were rigged without citing evidence.

A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive Mail In Ballot Drop! Where have I heard that before  And the Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory! Six to five goes to ten to one, and yet the Presidential Election in November was very close to a 50-50 split, he continued.

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Since he lost in 2020, Trump has falsely claimed that election was rigged, continuing to mention it throughout much of his second term. Recently, he also said, without proof, that polls showing low public approval of his presidency and the war in Iran are fixed.

Virginia voters approved the Democrat-backed redistricting plan, which could expand the partys 6-5 advantage in the commonwealths congressional delegation to 10-1.

The development stands to be a major blow to Republicans ahead of the midterms, but the results will likely be appealed in court given concerns over the language used on the ballot and arguments that redistricting violates the Virginia Constitution.

The president went on to accuse the referendums wording of being purposefully unintelligible and deceptive.

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As everyone knows, I am an extraordinarily brilliant person, and even I had no idea what the hell they were talking about in the Referendum, and neither do they! Lets see if the Courts will fix this travesty of Justice, Trump said.

Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sought to galvanize Virginia voters in a telerally on Monday.

Trumps political director, James Blair, reacted to news of the Democratic victory in an interview on CNN on Wednesday, touting Republicans overperformance in the election.

This is a state in November of 2025 that went by 15 points to the Democrats for governor and about 8 points for attorney general. Last night, this was a 3-point race. Thats actually a 3-point overperformance of the Trump 2024 historic performance in Virginia, Blair said. So just as a baseline for all of the Democrats crowing this morning, if Republicans perform anywhere near on average the way they did in Virginia last night, we not only add seats to the Senate, but we add seats to the House.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Trumps political director James Blair expressed his confidence on Wednesday for GOP midterm election victories, despite falling economic approval ratings and a recent loss on a redistricting measure in Virginia.

Were not ignorant of the history of the midterms obviously, right, but its way too soon to declare defeat, Blair told CNNs Dana Bash on Wednesday. Republicans are in the fight. We have a record to run on, unlike the Biden administration  and again, our party holds the edge on issues that voters care about.

Bash asked Trumps 2024 campaign director about a recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Research Center, which showed approval for the presidents economic performance slipping to a record-low of 30 percent.

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Blair declined to directly address these numbers, saying he had not read that poll specifically.

Instead, the political director enumerated a GOP strategy for the midterms previously reported by CNN to compare Republicans to Democrats on what he labeled the main issues people are voting for, including crime, border security and illegal immigration.

Republicans still maintain the edge, and the midterms are going to be about who do you trust more to deal with these issues that they care about? Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress? Blair said.

Bash pushed Blair on this tactic, pointing to previous attempts from past White Houses to set up the midterm elections as a choice between the two political parties, instead of a referendum on the presidents job performance.

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Its not about making it a referendum on the president or not, Blair replied. It comes down to the policies that President Trump and the Republicans have put in place.

Additionally, Blair addressed Democrats narrow win on a redistricting measure on Tuesday evening, which could offer the party up to four seats in the midterm elections.

The political director called the redistricting ballot measures in Virginia and California illegal under their own state laws.

Blair has been at the forefront of the Trump administrations efforts to win Republican-leaning seats through redistricting in red states like Texas, North Carolina, Missouri and Ohio.

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The political director defended these redistricting efforts during the Wednesday interview with CNN.

This is about bringing fairness to what has been done to Republicans and Republicans being represented around the country, Blair said.

Republicans in Florida, Blairs home state, are reportedly eyeing new maps that would favor GOP congressional candidates.

The political director denied knowledge of these plans, only expressing his trust in Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R-Fla.) decision-making on this matter.

I dont talk to the governor. Ive not talked to those folks about it, Blair said. But again, like I said, I think their track record shows that they know how to draw maps in compliance with Florida law and the Florida constitution and we will see what they do next week.

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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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. But it does change the way it's regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I  reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse  to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

The Trump administration also said it was jump-starting the process for reclassifying marijuana more broadly, setting a hearing to begin in late June.

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Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

Blanche said Thursday that the Department of Justice was delivering on President Trumps promise to expand Americans access to medical treatment options. This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information, he said in a statement.

What the marijuana reclassification order does

Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them. It sets up an expedited system for state-licensed medical marijuana producers and distributors to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

It makes clear that cannabis researchers won't be penalized for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or marijuana-derived products for use in their work, and it grants state-licensed medical marijuana companies a windfall by allowing them, for the first time, to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes.

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Any marijuana-derived medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration is similarly listed in Schedule III, it said.

Since 2015, Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from using its resources to shut down state-licensed medical marijuana systems. But the order nevertheless represents a major policy shift for the U.S. government, which has continued its longstanding marijuana prohibition  dating to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937  even as nearly all the states have approved cannabis use in some form.

Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, 40 have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use. Only Idaho and Kansas ban marijuana outright.

The regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way since California became the first state to adopt it in 1996, Blanche wrote.

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Today the vast majority of States maintain comprehensive licensing frameworks governing cultivation, processing, distribution, and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes, Blanche wrote. Taken as a whole, they demonstrate a sustained capacity to achieve the public-interest objectives ... including protecting public health and safety and preventing the diversion of controlled substances into illicit channels.

The president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Michael Bronstein, called it the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy in over 50 years."

This action recognizes what Americans have long known, cannabis is medicine, he said in a written statement.

Critic calls the order a tax break to Big Weed

The Trump administrations decision drew derision from marijuana legalization opponent Kevin Sabet, the chief executive of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. Sabet said that while marijuana research is necessary, "there are many ways to increase our knowledge without giving a tax break to Big Weed and sending a confusing message about marijuanas harms to the American public.

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With this move, we are now confronted with the most pro-drug administration in our history, Sabet said in a text message. Policy is now being dictated by marijuana CEOs, psychedelics investors, and podcasters in active addiction."

Marijuana or marijuana-derived products that are not distributed through a state medical marijuana program will continue to be classified in Schedule I.

Schedule III drugs are defined as having moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some critics of the industry have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly than before.

The efforts to reclassify marijuana

The Justice Department under President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had proposed to reclassify marijuana, eliciting nearly 43,000 formal public comments. The DEA was still in the review process when Trump succeeded Biden, and Trump ordered that process to move along as quickly as legally possible.

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Blanche's order sidestepped the review process by relying on a provision of federal law that allows the attorney general to determine the appropriate classification for drugs that the U.S. must regulate pursuant to an international treaty.

It was unclear how the order might affect operations in states where licensed recreational marijuana shops also sell to medical patients. In Washington state, which in 2012 became one of the first states to legalize the adult use of marijuana, 302 of 460 licensed stores have endorsements allowing them to sell tax-free cannabis products to registered patients.

Many Republicans oppose loosening marijuana restrictions. More than 20 Republican senators, several of them staunch Trump allies, signed a letter last year urging the president to keep the current standards.

Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs. He signed another executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.

___

This story has been corrected to show the spelling in the name of the 1937 law was Marihuana, not Marijuana.

___

Johnson reported from Seattle.
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had agreed not to execute eight women protesters in a sign of respect for him, while officials in Tehran denied the executions had been planned and accused the U.S. president of spreading falsehoods.

"Very good news," Trump said in a social media post a day after granting a unilateral ceasefire in the war started by the U.S. and Israel on February 28.

Trump said four of the eight women would be released immediately and four would be sentenced to one month in prison.

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"I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States, and terminated the planned execution," Trump said.

Iran called the whole issue a fabrication and said Trump was trying to save face.

The U.S. president has been frustrated by Iran's refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for one-fifth or the world's oil and gas, despite the ceasefire he declared on April 8 and extended on Tuesday.

"Trump's empty-handedness in the battlefield has pushed him towards fabricating achievements from false news," the Iranian judiciary's news agency, Mizan, said on Wednesday.

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Neither the White House nor the Iranian Foreign Ministry immediately responded to requests for comment on Wednesday.

After an initial social media post by Trump about the women on Tuesday, Mizan said Trump had "fallen for" false claims circulated by anti-Iran groups.

On Wednesday, it again said Tehran had made no concessions.

"Last night, Donald Trump, citing a completely false news story, called on Iran to overturn the death sentences of eight women," Mizan said.

"However, despite the false claim being revealed last night, Trump claimed in another post a few minutes ago that the sentences of eight protesting women who were supposed to be executed in Iran tonight have been overturned and thanked Iran!"

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The agency said a number of the women had already been released and some are facing charges that could result in prison but not death.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Howard Goller)
President Trump has moved into an apparent holding pattern after his latest diplomatic retreat in the stalemate with Iran, trying to find an off-ramp to the war that would allow him to claim victory.

Trump unilaterally extended a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, after backing down from his threats to bomb Irans civilization into oblivion earlier this month  both times at the request of Pakistan, which is mediating talks.

Trumps attempts to strangle Irans economy with a naval blockade have yet to pay dividends at the negotiating table.

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The U.S. has narrowed its war aims to ensuring that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon, a vague goal the administration has left open to interpretation.

I dont think the Iranians will end their nuclear program. Anybody whos calling for that is basically calling for war, until the place, you know, is occupied essentially by the United States, said Alex Vatanka, senior fellow and the founding director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute.

However, he said that Iran is evidently more willing to provide more reassurances than they ever did to Obama in 2015.

Those assurances have not been enough to satisfy Trump so far, as he seeks to strike a deal that is demonstrably better than the one he ended in 2018.

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Iran retains a significant stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the fuel needed for a nuclear weapon, and seizing it will either require Irans consent or a ground invasion of some sort.

Irans closing of the Strait of Hormuz has made the waterway a key focus of negotiations and provided Tehran important leverage in any further talks.

The White House on Wednesday projected control over the war, despite the president being snubbed by the Iranian negotiating team for a second round of talks that were planned for Wednesday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump is generously offering a bit of flexibility to a regime who has been completely tarnished, referring to the ceasefire extension.

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This is a battle between the pragmatists and the hard-liners in Iran right now, and the president wants a unified response, she said.

While the Iranian regime has sent some mixed messages regarding the Strait of Hormuz in the past week, both its supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and the official leading its negotiating team, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, are seen as closely aligned with the military.

Elisa Ewers, senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said all of Trumps options carry significant risks.

Thats part of the danger of where we are in an escalation cycle that is zero-sum  one side escalates with the objective of getting the other side to capitulate. When that doesnt happen, you are faced with a choice: Muddle along as it is, scale back, or consider the next rung on the escalation ladder. All of these have costs.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian placed the blame on Trump for upending talks  saying the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, the presidents threats of violence against the country and his breach of commitments made negotiations untenable.

World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions, Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X.

The New York Post reported Trump and Pakistani officials are pushing for talks with Iran to take place Friday.

But Leavitt also said Wednesday the president has not set a deadline for Iran to deliver a new proposal to end the war, adding that the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief.

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Vatanka pointed out that the nuclear deal negotiated under the Obama administration took well more than a year to be ironed out.

Its going to take many months this time, too, but you need to have the ceasefire in place, he said. You need to have the Strait of Hormuz open, you need to build trust.

Morgan Vina, who served at the United Nations in Trumps first term, said the Iranians have a greater ability to withstand pressure than Trump, given his promises to avoid forever wars and his party facing the midterm elections amid high gas prices.

It is to their advantage to make this as long and as painful, she said on the Fault Lines podcast on Wednesday. But President Trump being too willing, too eager, to find an agreement here, I think that is to our detriment when it comes to finding a long-term solution.

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Pressure on the strait continued for both the U.S. and Iran throughout Wednesday, as did the fallout on the global economy.

Iran attacked three ships in the strait and escorted two others to its ports, after the U.S. boarded a sanctioned ship in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday.

And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration was pressured into issuing another 30-day sanctions waiver to allow Russian oil on the market at the request of more than 10 of the most vulnerable and poorest countries in terms of energy, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.

Bessent was criticized by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) for padding Russian President Vladimir Putins pocket with another $4.5 billion to fund his war in Ukraine.

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Amid Trumps inability to reopen the strait, the United Kingdom and France convened military planners from more than 30 nations to discuss plans to restore access to the waterway. It follows an international conference last week of more than 50 countries.

Ewers, from the Council on Foreign Relations, said the blockade is building leverage, and so is the U.S. military posture in the area.

Its clear that the [Iranian] regime doesnt want the blockade in place, she said. Its willing to live with it, and then the question becomes, how long?

Now were in kind of a more nebulous state, Ewers added.

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The question becomes, how can the president claim victory in the current context? And I do think that thats harder right now, as there is still no clear strategic endgame.

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.
Jiang Feng (1st L), head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU), speaks during the high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, April 21, 2026. A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth CIIE and the ninth HQF was held Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

ADDIS ABABA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) was held Tuesday at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization.

The high-level symposium was jointly hosted by the CIIE Bureau and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum Secretariat, in partnership with the Chinese Mission to the AU and the AU Commission. The symposium brought together over 80 guests, including AU leadership, Chinese and African officials, as well as representatives of the business community from both sides, to explore concrete ways of deepening economic cooperation.

Addressing the gathering, Ron Osman Omar, director for industry, minerals, entrepreneurship, and tourism at the AU Commission, highlighted that the elevation of China-Africa relations into an all-weather partnership reflects not only political trust but also growing strands of economic and development cooperation, playing a pivotal role in advancing the interests of the Global South.

Noting that the relationship between Africa and China has reached an "unprecedented level of dynamism and strategic depth," Omar said the CIIE offers African businesses a vital platform, serving as "a gateway to scale up and diversify exports, and integrate into global value chains."

"The CIIE has emerged as a unique and powerful platform by creating opportunities for countries, particularly developing economies, to access the Chinese market. The CIIE contributes meaningfully to expanding trade, supporting enterprise development, and promoting value addition," the director said.

Jiang Feng, head of the Chinese Mission to the AU, said that the CIIE is the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, serving as a major platform for China to advance high-standard opening-up and share development opportunities with the world.

He noted that in recent years, China has steadily expanded zero-tariff treatment for African products exported to China, streamlined customs procedures, and enhanced trade facilitation, thereby reducing barriers and broadening channels for African goods to access China's vast market.

"Beyond trade in goods, the CIIE promotes market connectivity, industrial collaboration, and development empowerment. It aligns closely with the AU Agenda 2063 and strongly supports Africa's pursuit of industrialization, agricultural modernization, and economic diversification," Jiang said. "While offering African products a valuable export route, the CIIE also brings in technologies, equipment, investment and management expertise, helping Africa turn its resource endowments into industrial strength."

Amany Asfour, president of the Africa Business Council, stressed that the African continent is endowed with natural and human resources, urging partnership with China to harness these resources toward transforming Africa into a global industrial powerhouse through investments in agribusiness, healthcare infrastructure, and technology transfer.

The high-level promotion symposium noted that the CIIE and the HQF, representing China's concrete actions in supporting true multilateralism and fostering an open world economy, have continued to contribute to upholding the multilateral trading system, promoting South-South cooperation, bridging development gaps, and providing international public goods.

The ninth edition of the CIIE will be held in November in east China's Shanghai, contributing to global economic growth and enabling countries across the globe to share China's opportunities since 2018. Held concurrently with the CIIE, the HQF, which focuses on cutting-edge issues in global development, brings together a wide range of international participants, consolidating multilateral consensus, and serving as a high-level platform for international dialogue and cooperation. 

Ron Osman Omar (1st L), director for industry, minerals, entrepreneurship, and tourism at the African Union (AU) Commission, speaks during the high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, April 21, 2026. A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth CIIE and the ninth HQF was held Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

Song Shangzhe (1st L), deputy director-general of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) Bureau, also deputy secretary-general of the Hongqiao Forum Secretariat, speaks during the high-level promotion symposium on the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, April 21, 2026. A high-level promotion symposium on the ninth CIIE and the ninth HQF was held Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to tap into the "unique and powerful" platforms to penetrate the vast Chinese market and accelerate Africa's industrialization. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)
US President Donald Trump has said next week's state visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla could help repair relations with the UK.

When asked in a phone interview with the BBC whether the visit could help repair the relationship, Trump said: "Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes."

"I know him well, I've known him for years," he said. "He's a brave man, and he's a great man. They would absolutely be a positive."

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The president also spoke about his relationship with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who he said could only "recover" if he changed course on immigration.

The King and Queen will travel to the US for a four-day visit beginning on Monday, and will meet with Trump at the White House.

The King will have a private meeting with the president and also deliver an address to Congress.

After two days in Washington DC, they will travel to New York, Virginia and Bermuda before returning to the UK.

The Foreign Office said the trip would mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, and would celebrate a partnership of "shared prosperity, security and history".

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In the five-minute interview on Thursday, Trump was also asked about his relationship with Sir Keir.

The two leaders have appeared at odds over the war in Iran, and the prime minister has faced mounting pressure over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said Lord Mandelson was "a really bad pick" but the prime minister had "plenty of time to recover".

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When asked what he meant by that post, Trump said: "If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now they're not, he can recover, but if he doesn't, I don't think he has a chance."

Trump has repeatedly called on the UK to increase oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.

"I make my decisions based on what's in the British national interest and not what other people say or do," Sir Keir said while talking to broadcasters about the president's comments on Thursday.

"That is why I took the decision that we would not be dragged into the war in Iran," he said. "I'm not going to be diverted or deflected from that by what anybody else says."

The King and Queen will travel to the US for a four-day visit beginning on Monday [Reuters]

Trump has also criticised the UK government and other allies over their response to the Iran war. He has said he is "not happy" with the level of support offered by the UK, while Sir Keir has repeatedly said the country will not be drawn into a wider conflict.

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When the president was asked why he needed allies such as the UK to get involved, he told the BBC: "I didn't need them at all but they should've been there. I didn't need them, obviously."

"We've wiped Iran's military out," he added. "I didn't need anybody."

"I wanted to see whether or not they would be involved," Trump said, describing his calls for support from allies as "more of a test".

Trump was also asked whether his threat, made earlier this month, that "a whole civilisation will die tonight" unless Iran agreed to a deal was about nuclear weapons. The comment was widely condemned, including by the Pope, the head of the UN and Sir Keir.

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"The other side is dying to make a deal," Trump said. "So whatever I'm saying or whatever I'm doing, it seems to be working very well."

Towards the end of the phone interview, the president also referenced his multi-billion dollar defamation lawsuit against the BBC.

He is suing over the way a Panorama documentary edited together different sections of a speech he gave before the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021.

Trump said the BBC had to be "very careful" or it could "destroy" its reputation.

The BBC has previously apologised to Trump over the Panorama edit, but rejected his demands for compensation. It has said there is no basis for a defamation claim and filed to dismiss the lawsuit.

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"We have said throughout we will robustly defend the case against us," a BBC spokesperson said on Thursday.

Later on Thursday, Trump threatened to hit the UK with a new tariff if it did not drop its 2% digital services tax on big US technology firms.

"We've been looking at it and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the UK, so they better be careful," he told reporters in the Oval Office.

BBC News has contacted Downing Street for comment.

[BBC]

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Turkish lawmakers have voted in favour of banning teenagers under the age of 15 from accessing social media, following in the footsteps of Australia which introduced landmark restrictions on social media use last year.

The proposal, backed by lawmakers in Ankara on Wednesday evening, still needs to be signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before it is set to come into force in six months, state news agency Anadolu reported.

Under the law, social media platforms are to be barred from offering their services to users under the age of 15, according to the agency.

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They will also be obliged to introduce age verification tools and control mechanisms for parents.

Platforms which are accessed in Turkey more than 10 million times a day will also be required to comply with official orders within an hour in urgent cases.

They must prevent deleted or blocked content from being republished on their platform, with violations resulting in potential fines and a reduction in internet bandwidth.

Turkey's CHP party, the country's largest opposition group, has rejected the move and has vowed to fight against it. CHP lawmaker Gokhan Gunaydin accused the government of using children's wellbeing as a pretext for introducing further restrictions.

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The Erdogan administration has garnered criticism in the past for restricting access to social media. Last year, authorities blocked the X account of jailed former Istanbul mayor and presidential hopeful Ekrem Imamoglu at the request of the government.

The social media ban for children and teenagers echoes a similar move by Australia, which became the first country to restrict social media access for under 16s in December.

The move ignited similar debates across the globe, amid increasing concerns about the effects of social media on children's mental and emotional wellbeing.
By Exec Edge Editorial Staff

On the morning of March 20, medical students at UNLVs Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine gathered with their families in a room buzzing with nervous energy. At noon Eastern time, along with tens of thousands of peers at medical schools across the country, they tore open envelopes to learn where they would spend the next three to seven years of their lives  and, in many cases, build their entire careers.

Dr. Ryan Hafen, anesthesiologist at U.S. Anesthesia Partners Nevada practice in Las Vegas and program director for HCA Sunrise Healths anesthesiology residency.

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It was Match Day, the annual rite of passage that determines where graduating medical students will train as resident physicians. Run by the National Resident Matching Program, the Match uses a sophisticated algorithm to pair the preferences of students with those of residency programs nationwide. Students rank their preferred programs; programs rank their preferred students. A computer reconciles the two lists, and on one Friday in March, futures are sealed.

For Dr. Ryan Hafen, anesthesiologist at U.S. Anesthesia Partners Nevada practice in Las Vegas, the day carried a particular weight. As program director for HCA Sunrise Healths anesthesiology residency, Nevadas only anesthesiology residency, Hafen has spent years cultivating relationships with medical students long before they ever sit for an interview. A member of the faculty at UNLV, Hafen leads the anesthesia interest group at the university, hosts dinners and delivers lectures, all in an effort to identify and attract the best candidates to his eight-seat program.

I try to get to know the students that want to do anesthesia not just for three months during the interview season, but for three to four years when theyre medical students, said Hafen. Then I know who to really build a class with.

The investment is paying off. Nine of the students who matched into anesthesiology from Nevadas medical schools this year will train with USAP Nevada as apart of HCA Sunrise Healths anesthesia residency. And Hafens track record over his four years leading the program is striking: over 50 percent of recent graduating residents have either stayed with USAP or remained practicing in the state. This summer, there will be 11 independent anesthesiologists working in Nevada that came through the USAP residence program, and Hafen expects almost all of the 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes to stay in-state.

A State in Need

Nevada ranks 45th in the nation for active physicians per capita, with roughly 218 doctors for every 100,000 residents  well below the national average of 272. A 2025 report from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine estimated that Nevada would need more than 2,300 additional physicians just to reach the national average. Nearly two-thirds of the states population lives in areas designated as having a shortage of primary care providers. The nationwide shortage of anesthesia clinicians is well-chronicled.

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The data point most relevant to Match Day, however, is one that researchers have documented for decades: physicians overwhelmingly tend to practice where they complete their residency training. For a state already struggling to attract and retain doctors, every resident who trains elsewhere and never returns represents a compounding loss.

The statistics are very, very clear-cut, Hafen said. Where you train in residency is statistically where youre going to end up starting your career and likely providing your expertise and care for the rest of your career.

That reality makes Hafens program  and his ability to recruit from Nevadas three medical schools, UNLV, Touro University Nevada in Henderson, and the University of Nevada, Reno  a matter of public health infrastructure as much as medical education.

Eight Seats, Eight Hundred Applicants

Anesthesiology is among the most competitive specialties in American medicine. Hafens eight-position program receives between 800 and 1,000 applications every year  a ratio of roughly 100 applicants for every available seat. Nationally, there are more medical students seeking anesthesia residencies than there are positions to train them, meaning that after the Match, virtually no unfilled spots remain.

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The competition reflects the specialtys appeal: intellectually demanding work, strong compensation and a lifestyle that many physicians find sustainable. For a program in Las Vegas to consistently attract top candidates and then keep them in Nevada after graduation is an achievement that speaks both to the quality of the training and to Hafens personal approach.

I put a lot of time and energy into this whole process, Hafen said. And the payoff is watching residents weve developed for four years become good anesthesiologists and then start their careers here. It makes all the paperwork worth doing.

This years Match was the largest in history. A record 44,300 applicants secured first-year residency positions, according to the NRMP, drawn from a pool of more than 53,000 who applied. It is a process with no parallel in American professional life  a binding, algorithm-driven placement system more reminiscent of a military assignment than a corporate hiring process.

The Bigger Picture

Hafens role as a residency program director illustrates a dimension of U.S. Anesthesia Partners that extends well beyond the operating room. USAP clinicians across the country hold faculty appointments, lead training programs and shape the future of the profession  positions that reflect the organizations scale and clinical reputation as the nations premier anesthesia practice.

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USAP is a physician-owned, clinician-led organization of more than 4,500 anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified anesthesiologist assistants working in more than 700 facilities across the country.

Hafen looks forward to Match Day each year, but he is candid about the limits of what one eight-seat program can accomplish.

Graduating eight anesthesiologists a year for this amount of population, Hafen said, is like pouring a glass of water into Lake Mead and hoping the water levels rise.

Still, Hafen is optimistic. Each year his program produces physicians who stay and serve. The residents joining USAP this year will add to a growing network of Nevada-trained anesthesiologists who are building careers and families in the communities where they trained.

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Every year, were watching the residents we developed for four years become fantastic anesthesiologists and then start their careers right here, Hafen said. Thats the ultimate payoff. Its incredibly rewarding and gratifying  and it tells me were doing our part to help solve the physician shortage and train the next generation for Nevada.

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US Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving the Trump administration, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday.

His departure will be "effective immediately", Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social media post. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve on an acting basis in the role, which is largely administrative.

Phelan is the latest high-ranking military leader to leave the administration in recent months. His departure comes amid the US-Israel war with Iran and the continued US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

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The Navy has not provided a reason. His exit came after tension within the American leadership over issues around shipbuilding, according to unconfirmed reports in US media.

"On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy," Parnell wrote. "We wish him well in his future endeavors."

It comes just weeks after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff Randy George to step down from his post.

Two other Army officials, Gen David Hodne and Maj Gen William Green, have also been removed from their roles recently.

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Since entering the Pentagon, Hegseth has fired more than a dozen senior military officers, including the chief of naval operations and the Air Force's vice chief of staff.

Phelan was ousted from his job after he, too, ended up clashing with Hegseth over the implementation of Trump's shipbuilding initiative, according to sources who spoke to multiple news outlets.

The secretary's role is largely administrative and includes formulating policies, recruiting, training and equipping the Navy, as well as overseeing budgeting and logistics like construction, and repair of naval ships and facilities.

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Phelan, a civilian who had not previously served in the military, was sworn in as Secretary of the Navy in March 2025 after being nominated by President Donald Trump in 2024. The businessman was a major donor to Trump's campaign.

The two appeared alongside one another at Mar-a-Lago last December when Trump announced that the US would commission a new series of heavily armed Navy "battleships" named after himself - part of a revamped "Golden Fleet" which Phelan supported.

Andrew Peek, a former State Department deputy assistant secretary, told the BBC that the president had been clear that he wanted to expand the country's merchant and civilian fleet.

"Eventually, somebody was going to take the fall for the lack of movement on that. I would bet that's about 30% of this," Peek said.

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"The other 70% - Phelan's replacement is very well known to the MAGA base, I would bet it's a simple replacement with someone he likes and trusts better," he added.

Phelan's replacement, Cao, became undersecretary in October 2025 and is a 25-year Navy veteran.

He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the US Senate in Virginia in 2024, endorsed by Trump, against incumbent Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. During a campaign debate, he criticized the military's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

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Speaking about Navy recruiting during the debate, Cao said: "What we need is alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds. Those are the young men and women that are going to win wars," the AP reported.

The Navy's change in leadership comes as Trump said the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue amid a ceasefire in the war. Clashes have continued in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route that supplies much of the globe's oil, with Iran announcing that it had "seized" two ships in the strait.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is "satisfied" with the ongoing US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and "understands Iran is in a very weak position".

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the US, said on Wednesday that it is "not possible" for the Strait of Hormuz to be re-opened due to "the blatant violations of the ceasefire" by the US and Israel.

[BBC]

Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
The US Senate has cleared a key hurdle as Congress looks to secure funding for two immigration enforcement agencies and allow the government to reopen in full.

In a late-night voting session, Republicans in the upper chamber of Congress used a procedural manoeuvre that did not require the support of opposition Democrats.

Democrats have been refusing to fund the two agencies, unless they are reformed in the wake of two deadly shootings by the agencies' operatives in the state of Minnesota.

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Both Thursday's resolution, and a separate measure aimed at unlocking funding for the rest of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), now require approval from the House.

It is not clear when the lower chamber might take up either measure. House Republicans have sometimes taken a different approach to the issue to their colleagues in the upper chamber.

The measure passed in the early hours of Thursday is designed to specifically fund the two agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), until the end of President Donald Trump's term.

The Senate had previously passed the separate measure that would fund the rest of the wider DHS, of which both agencies are a part.

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The top Republican in the Senate, John Thune, hailed Thursday morning's result, but acknowledged that there was still "a multi-step process ahead of us".

Republicans used a procedure that allows lawmakers to pass spending-related matters with a simple Senate majority - after negotiations with Democrats proved ineffective.

It passed by 50 votes to 48. Two Republican senators who frequently break with the Trump administration joined Democrats to vote against it. Two senators, one Democrat and one Republican, also did not vote.

Voting dragged on until about 03:30 local time (07:30 GMT), as Democrats tabled a series of amendments in a process sometimes known as a "vote-a-rama".

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Trump has said he wants a budget package to be on his desk for signature by 1 June.

DHS has gone without funding since a shutdown began on 14 February, as the two sides have struggled to agree on a funding deal.

The shutdown represents the longest ever shutdown of a part of the US government.

Democrats have been demanding reforms to the agency as part of any funding deal, after federal agents shot dead two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, amid immigration raids in Minnesota in January.

As the weeks have gone on, and the Senate and the House have been unable to find a common solution to fund DHS, the department's lack of funding has impacted ordinary Americans.

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The impasse in Congress led to chaos at airports in March due to a shortage of security officers at checkpoints. Hundreds of security officers employed by DHS either quit their jobs or did not show up for work, causing airport security queues to reach car parks.

When Trump signed an executive order that required DHS to use existing money to pay the security officers, the pressure on lawmakers to agree to a funding solution dissipated somewhat.

But together with the lack of funding, Trump's June deadline and recent remarks from Homeland Security Secretary Mark Mullin, the pressure has mounted again.

Mullin told Fox News this week that his department would run out of money to pay employees' salaries in the first week of May.

"I've got one payroll left and there is no more emergency funds, so the president can't do another executive order because there's no more money there," he said.
By Michael Martina

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - The United States is concerned that several African countries revoked overflight clearances for Taiwan's president at China's behest, the State Department said on Wednesday, calling the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system.

Taiwan this week said the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unilaterally revoked flight permits for its presidential aircraft to cross airspace they manage on a planned trip to Eswatini, one of Taiwan's allies.

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It is the first instance of a Taiwan president having to cancel an entire foreign trip due to denial of airspace access, representing a new Chinese strategy as it steps up efforts to stifle the island's efforts to engage internationally.

"These countries are acting at the behest of China by interfering in the safety and dignity of routine travel by Taiwan officials," a State Department spokesperson told Reuters, without naming the African island nations.

The U.S. official said those countries' management responsibility of certain international airspace beyond their sovereign airspace was "solely to ensure aviation safety, not to serve as a political tool for Beijing."

"This is yet another case of Beijing waging its intimidation campaign against Taiwan and Taiwan's supporters around the world, abusing the international civil aviation system, and threatening international peace and prosperity," the official said.

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Beijing should cease military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan, the official added.

EU, BRITAIN EXPRESS CONCERN

A senior Taiwan security official had told Reuters that China applied pressure on the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius, threatening economic sanctions including revoking debt relief.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office denied the claim, but expressed appreciation for the position and "practice" of the three countries in adhering to the one-China principle.

The European Union and Britain's de facto ambassador to Taiwan, Ruth Bradley-Jones, also expressed concern.

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"While states exercise sovereignty over their airspace, such decisions should be taken in a transparent and predictable manner," an EU spokesperson said. "Such decisions should not be taken to achieve political objectives."

Airspace management decisions about should put safety and stability first, and "should not be made for political ends," Bradley-Jones said in a separate statement.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory despite Taipei's rejection of the claim, and frequently calls the issue a "red line" in its diplomatic relations with other countries.

The small southern African nation of Eswatini is one of only 12 countries to retain formal ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Lai was due to leave on Wednesday for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession.

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The last time a Taiwanese president visited Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland and home to around 1.3 million people, was in 2023, when Tsai Ing-wen made the journey.

Numerous U.S. lawmakers also condemned China for the move and expressed support for Taiwan. The United States does not have formal ties with Taiwan but is its biggest international backer and arms supplier.

(Reporting by Michael Martina; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Editing by Franklin Paul, Hugh Lawson and Christopher Cushing)
Virginia lawmakers met Wednesday to weigh Gov. Abigail Spanbergers amendments to dozens of bills passed this year, reflecting both shared goals and differing views on some of the most consequential legislative proposals, despite Democratic control of both chambers and the governors mansion.

Spanbergers changes to measures designed to rein in residential power bills by levying more distribution costs onto data centers and to establish a paid family and medical leave insurance plan by next year were accepted by the Senate and House.

But lawmakers rejected her tweaks to bills that would limit how much profit the states largest utility can make on certain projects, cap the cost of power line burial, establish a board to limit prescription drug costs, and expand paid sick leave benefits and collective bargaining rights.

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Heres how the process shook out, and details on what happens next.

Mixed reactions to energy cost shift, power line burial bill amendments

Lawmakers took up two bills regarding utility costs that received heavy edits from Spanberger. Each chamber accepted only a portion of the amendments.

The governor handed down sweeping changes to Senate Bill 253 by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and House Bill 1393 by Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico, which aimed to transfer costs of new distribution infrastructure for data centers and capacity auction prices onto the high-load energy users, including data centers and large-scale manufacturers.

The two bills have some slight differences  but both extend the weatherization and bill assistance programs, which were untouched by the proposed amendments.

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Spanberger removed the portion of both bills that shift the cost of purchasing additional power through the regional grid operator PJM, which the utility has said is necessary to meet demand on the hottest and coldest days.

She suggested replacement language to allow the State Corporation Commission to determine whether data centers and other high-load customers are paying their fair share and ensure costs arent unfairly passed down to customers. These recommendations were accepted.

Lawmakers said that this cost shift would save the average residential customer $5.52 a month. But under the original bills, those savings would only be realized if the SCC found that the cost shift was reasonable to be placed onto the high-load facilities, which would not be guaranteed.

The original bill text allowed for high-load customers that are already under construction by July of this year to opt out of the high-load facility rate class to avoid some of these new costs. Spanbergers amendments removed that opt out and that amendment was accepted.

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The bills also extended to 2038 Dominions Strategic Undergrounding Program (SUP), which maintains a monthly cost on customers bills so that the utility can bury distribution lines in the most outage-prone areas. The governors tweaks to these parts of the bills met resistance at the Capitol.

The cost of the SUP program, started in 2014, has totaled $1.4 billion to bury 2,900 miles of power lines. It comes out to a customer cost of $4.88 a month. The bills as passed by lawmakers would raise the price per mile cap from $750,000 to $900,000 and limit the investment in the program to 4% of the distribution rate base.

Spanbergers amendments to the SUP program would give the State Corporation Commission more authority to reject more projects if they find them to be unreasonable, even if they are under the $900,000 price cap. The amendments also lowered the percentage of investment down to 2%. Lawmakers rejected these amendments.

Spanbergers amendments added in a new provision to the bill that limits the return on equity, or how much of a profit that Dominion can make back on projects, to 9.3%. With the governors changes, anything over that percentage would be credited back to customers on their monthly bills. In the latest rate case in front of the SCC, the SCC allowed Dominion a 9.8% return.

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Environmental advocacy group Clean Virginia supported the governors amendments and estimated it would spur $267 million in savings over five years. However, lawmakers rejected this addition to the bills.

When asked about the reasoning behind her amendments to the two bills, Spanberger pointed to on-going negotiations with the data center industry over the potential removal of the sales and use exemption for their equipment and software upgrades, deliberations that the states budget now hinges on.

There are efforts afoot in the General Assembly, as it relates to the budget, to ensure that data centers are paying their fair share, as I think everyone broadly agrees is necessary, Spanberger told reporters last week. And so that will continue to play out in those negotiations.

Paid Family Medical Leave to be a reality in Virignia

State lawmakers have tried for years to establish a Paid Family and Medical Leave program. In her first State of the Commonwealth speech as Virginias new governor, Spanberger promised that if it made it to her desk, she would sign it.

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Though she did not sign it outright earlier this month, she proposed minor tweaks that left the essence of the measure intact. With amendments accepted by lawmakers on Wednesday, the proposal can join other approved measures in becoming law on July 1.

SB 2 by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, and HB 1207 by Del. Brianna Sewell, D-Prince William, would allow for workers to take up to 12 weeks off when caring for family members who are ill, going through long-term care for their own injuries or illness, or when having a child.

Federal law requires employers with 50 or more workers to allow for up to 12 weeks of leave, but does not require that workers who use the leave be paid. With Virginias pending law, workers can tap into a partially-state-funded program for up to 80% of their pay. It will entail some initial state funding to set up, but would eventually become jointly funded as most employers and employees pay into it over time.

The pending new law also allows for four weeks of safe leave for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or harassment to sort through medical, legal or safety issues.

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Courtenay Schwartz with the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance said that while she had wished for this demographic of workers to have more time off if they need it, she is grateful to see lawmakers and the governor supporting the issue.

Paid sick leave amendments rejected

Lawmakers rejected Spanbergers changes to their paid sick leave legislation. HB 5 by Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, D-Virignia Beach, and SB 199 by Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, would ensure employers allow workers to take up to five days off per year for minor illness recovery.

The state already allows this type of leave for home health workers and if the bill is signed, will expand this to other workers around the state. A point of contention emerged as airline pilots and other flight crew were excluded in Spanbergers amendment.

In a statement ahead of the reconvened session, Air Line Pilots Association president Capt. Jason Ambrosi said that flight workers deserved to be included too.

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Paid sick leave is not a perk. It is a public health and aviation safety issue, he wrote. Crew members should not be pressured to fly while ill.

Prescription Drug Affordability amendments rejected

A five-year journey to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board continues, as lawmakers rejected Spanbergers amendments to it.

Now rebranded as the Affordable Medicine Act, the advisory board would help ensure that federal drug pricing caps are applied to state-regulated health insurance plans. Backed by both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the federal government approved caps on 10 drugs at the beginning of this year for Medicare recipients and another 15 are expected to kick in next year.

Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, who carried the House version of the bill, said that the state legislation is simply extending that to other insurance types. Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, carried the Senate version, SB 271.

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Spanbergers amendment, however, would add a reenactment clause, which advocates for the bill said would have taken the teeth out of the measure.

Meanwhile, groups like Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of America and the Virginia Association of Health Plans have expressed support for Spanbergers amendments.

Association CEO Doug Gray said the fiscal impact statement for the bill was published weeks after the bill was passed, because it was heavily workshopped so close to its passage. Meanwhile, PhRMA has noted complexities in pharmaceutical supply chains.

Ultimately lawmakers in support of the bill have emphasized how it can help curb drug prices, as more and more of their constituents have relayed feeling forced to choose between rent, groceries and medicine.

Collective bargaining amendments rejected

Lawmakers shot down Spanbergers amendments to collective bargaining bills for public employees, which would have delayed the bills implementation for local governments until 2030.

HB 1263 by Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, and SB 378 by Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, would repeal a prohibition on public employees being able to collectively bargain for things like workplace conditions, benefits or salaries. Both lawmakers carried the legislation in previous sessions but it was not successful under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

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The Virginia Association of Counties have celebrated Spanbergers amendments to delay the effectiveness of the law, while unions have continued to advocate for the bill to be signed without them.

Spanberger defended her amendments in recent weeks, emphasizing that she felt that state employees should exercise collective bargaining rights first, to ensure that we have a process that works and to give ourselves time for any level of adjustments. She said that could prime local public sector employees to successfully do so later.

Next steps

The amendments that lawmakers accepted to their bills will be incorporated before the measures become law. The ones that were rejected and sent back to Spanberger have an uncertain fate; she can choose to sign them as is, or veto them.

The governor will have 30 days to take action. Unless otherwise noted, the signed bills will transform into laws July 1.

Both chambers will return to the Capitol Thursday to begin finalizing the state budget.

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By Diana Novak Jones

April 22 (Reuters) - A Virginia court on Wednesday halted a new Democratic-drawn congressional map approved by voters that could flip four Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in November's midterm elections.

The court in Tazewell County said Tuesday's referendum was invalid, blocking the state from taking any action to enact the new districts. The Republican National Committee sued to block the referendum.

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Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said his office would appeal the ruling.

"As I said last night, Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People's vote. We look forward to defending the outcome of last night's election in court," Jones said in a post on X.

(Reporting by Diana Novak Jones, editing by Ross Colvin)
Virginia and Pennsylvania breweries dominated the 2025 World Beer Cup, combining for seven gold medals, while breweries in Maryland also earned medals across multiple categories at one of the beer industry's most prestigious competition.

Organized by the Brewers Association, the World Beer Cup (WBC), now in its third decade, is one of the beer industry's most competitive contests, with this year's contest drawing thousands of entries from breweries around the world. The rigorous judging process places beers in style-specific categories, evaluated by an international panel of experts.

The results highlight the Mid-Atlantic's growing strength in craft brewing, with Virginia and Pennsylvania producers earning gold in categories spanning traditional European styles and American classics, and Maryland breweries also landing on the medal podium in highly competitive fields.

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Below is a breakdown of the World Beer Cup medalwinning breweries from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, highlighting some of the regions standout performances at this years competition.

World Beer Cup winners

Breweries from Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania earned multiple medals at the World Beer Cup (WBC) 2026, as judges recognized standout beers across multiple styles at one of the beer industry's most competitive international competitions.

This year's competition, held in Philadelphia, drew thousands of beers and ciders across more than 100 style categories, according to the Brewers Association.

A full list of World Beer Cup categories and results is available on the competition's website.

The 2026 World Brewing Cup was held in Philadelphia on April 22, 2026.

Virginia breweries win multiple World Beer Cup medals

Virginia breweries delivered one of the strongest performances at the 2026 World Beer Cup, earning four gold medals with additional bronze across multiple categories, from sour beers and saisons to brown ales and seasonal specialties.

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Virginia gold medal winners included:

Aloha State of Mind , Cova Brewing Co. (Norfolk)  Gold , Gose

Foxfield Saison , Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows (Roseland)  Gold , Specialty Saison

Boxcar Brown , Caboose Brewing Co. (Vienna)  Gold , AmericanStyle Brown Ale

Pumpkin Ale, 2 Silos Brewing Co. (Manassas)  Gold, Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer

Virginia breweries also earned bronze medals, including:

Irish Prenup , Barley Naked Brewing Co. (Stafford)  Bronze , Sweet Stout or Cream Stout

Smokehaus Lager, Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows (Roseland)  Bronze, Smoke Beer

The 2026 World Brewing Cup was held in Philadelphia on April 22, 2026.

Maryland breweries earn World Beer Cup medals

Maryland breweries earned multiple medals at the 2026 World Beer Cup, with silver finishes in highly competitive categories that drew large international fields.

Maryland silver medal winners included:

Scent of a Lesser Stag , BabyCat Brewery (Kensington)  Silver , Fruit Wheat Beer

Free Drift, Eden Town Brewing Co. (Denton)  Silver, Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale

Pennsylvania breweries earn World Beer Cup medals

Pennsylvania breweries came out strong with another standout performance at the 2026 World Beer Cup, earning three gold medals along with multiple bronze finishes across a diverse mix of traditional and special beer styles:

Pennsylvania gold medal winners included:

Common Nightjar , Attic Brewing Co. (Philadelphia)  Gold , International Dark Lager

Just Like Himmel , New Ridge Brewing Co. (Philadelphia)  Gold , AmericanStyle Amber Lager

Archive: Allegheny Altbier, Cinderlands Beer Co. (Pittsburgh)  Gold, GermanStyle Altbier

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Pennsylvania breweries also earned bronze medals, including:

London Porter , New Ridge Brewing Co. (Philadelphia)  Bronze , Brown Porter

Isle of Pitt , Hazel Grove Brewing (Pittsburgh)  Bronze , ScottishStyle Ale

Barrel Aged Double Zombies, New Trail Brewing Co. (Williamsport)  Bronze, Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer

The 2026 World Brewing Cup was held in Philadelphia on April 22, 2026.

What's next after the World Beer Cup

With the 2026 World Beer Cup results now finalized, attention in the brewing world turns to the next major competitions on the calendar, including the Great American Beer Festival, where many of this year's medal-winning breweries are expected to compete again later this year.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based news reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network's Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Virginia and Pennsylvania lead 2026 World Beer Cup; Maryland medals
Not listening to his mother cost 23-year-old Nigerian Rasheed Wasiu dearly  more than five years of his freedom for something he did not do.

Now released from prison, where he was stuck waiting for his trial as the judicial process crawled on, Rasheed has no idea where she is. His mother has gone missing.

In October 2020, she had told him not to go out as widespread anti-police brutality demonstrations, known as the End Sars protests, swept into his area of Lagos, Nigeria's bustling commercial heart.

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People's anger was directed towards the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) accused of robbing, attacking and even killing innocent people.

The reaction of the security forces to the 2020 demonstrations was to reach a crescendo on the evening of 20 October, when officers opened fire on a group of protesters in the city.

But the protests had been building over the previous fortnight, with some turning violent, and the police along with a local vigilante group began responding by rounding up anyone they thought might be involved.

On the morning of 20 October, Rasheed, 17 at the time, was trying to get to a painting job with a friend in an area called Amukoko, but on their way they learnt that violence had broken out there and so turned around.

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When he arrived home, his mother told him to "stay indoors" and not to "go outside because of the protests" that had by that point reached his neighbourhood.

But as a disobedient teenager he ignored her and stepped out on the street again.

The protests were fed by anger at the way some police officers carried out their jobs [Reuters]

Although he says he did not join the demonstration, members of the vigilante Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) caught him in their dragnet and bundled him into a van alongside weaponwielding protesters.

His mother and neighbours remonstrated with the OPC, insisting Rasheed was not part of the group, but their pleas were ignored.

He was first taken to an army barracks and then moved to a prison  Lagos's Kirikiri Correctional Centre  where he waited for his trial to start.

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Rasheed says he was initially arrested on allegations that he had been involved in looting "but when I appeared in court, the offence on my charge sheet was 'unlawful possession of firearms'".

His experience and the charges chimed with many who were detained during the protests.

Speaking to the BBC, dressed in worn-out clothes and bathroom slippers, he sounds stressed and bitter as he recalls his incarceration.

"Jail is hell if you do not have money to ease your way through and cater for your needs," he says.

"The food is miserable; we get weak after eating. The space is really congested. They locked up to 70 people in a tiny room at a time. There is no good healthcare, but if you have money, you can have access to good food, a bed and proper medications.

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"There was a time a young man died in my cell, his leg was just getting swollen." No-one had gone to help diagnose what was wrong.

More on the End Sars protests:

Rasheed took on menial jobs to survive like washing clothes for inmates in exchange for a bit of cash or food. He also sold food items on behalf of prison staff, like cow skin, popularly known as "ponmo", and baked snacks. They would give him some of what he was selling or some money.

Months passed without his case being called. On the rare occasions when he was taken to court, his case was not mentioned. One of the lawyers who was representing Rasheed even died while he was in prison.

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This state of purgatory continued for nearly six years.

However, at a hearing early last month, a judge at Lagos's high court struck out his case over a lack of evidence and Rasheed was set free.

The judge's ruling came after the intervention of an advocacy group known as the Take It Back Movement (TIB), which provides lawyers for free and fights for the release of people arrested during the End Sars protests as well as other demonstrations.

According to Nigeria's prison authorities, some 50,000 people are currently in detention in the country even though they are still awaiting trial - some 64% of the total prison population.

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Human rights groups say that cases like Rasheed's - of people spending years in prison without being convicted of any offence - are not uncommon.

TIB's Lagos coordinator, Adekunle Taofeek, called the ruling on Rasheed's case "a significant milestone".

"This development reinforces our belief that persistence, solidarity and commitment to justice will always yield results."

TIB says it has managed to free 100 people who were detained during the End Sars protests.

Asked whether he planned to pursue legal action for the years he has lost, Rasheed responded: "No, I am leaving everything to God."

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But Rasheed's joy at finally being released turned into another nightmare as, on returning home, he was unable to find his mother.

"People in my neighbourhood said they thought I was dead since they couldn't find me. I checked around for my mum but couldn't find her neighbours told me she left the area because she was being threatened that she would be arrested as well."

The protests were led by young Nigerians [Getty Images]

He had only seen her once since his arrest, in the immediate aftermath of his detention when she followed him to the barracks where he was initially held.

On the following two days she returned with some food but was denied access.

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He did not see her again.

Rasheed's neighbours could offer very little information about her whereabouts.

"When I asked they said they did not know where she had moved to, but sometimes they see her when she passes by the market. They would greet her but she won't reply.

"They said my arrest caused her so much pain and tears."

Rasheed now lives with his mother's brother in another area of Lagos. They are both actively searching for his mother.

"I pray to God every day that I will see her, let me just come face to face with her," he says.

Rasheed's top priority is finding his mother but he is determined to rebuild his life after losing out on almost six precious years.

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He says that before his arrest he was training to become a tailor and would have finished by now and set up his own business.

"Ever since I got out of prison, my neighbours have been the one[s] supporting me with food. But I don't want to be dependent on them, I wish to get a job and be a giver as well. I have two hands and legs, I can work."

More BBC stories from Nigeria:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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OSLO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Five people are in critical condition after two trains collided head-on in Denmark on Thursday morning, Danish broadcaster DR reported.

A total of 17 passengers were injured when two trains carrying 38 people collided between Hillerod and Kagerup, about 50 km north of Copenhagen, said the report.

Morten Pedersen, police inspector with North Zealand Police, described the crash as a "very serious accident." He said police received the report at 06:29 a.m. local time (0429 GMT), prompting emergency response teams to be dispatched to the scene.

A military helicopter, several ambulances and medical transport units were deployed to the scene. Police said the road section has been closed and is expected to remain shut for an extended period.

The injured were transported to hospitals in the region. Police said that the number of critically injured may rise as the situation remains dynamic.

The cause of the incident was not immediately clear.

Emergency operations at the scene have been completed, and police are continuing follow-up work. Local authorities in Hillerod Municipality have set up a crisis center for those affected. 
A chaotic situation unfolded on Tuesday night in Los Angeles as far-left activists and students disrupted and chastised a Department of Homeland Security attorney who was speaking to law students at a conservative group's event at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The incident took place at a speech hosted by the Federalist Society's UCLA chapter, where James Percival, general counsel of the DHS, was speaking to law students. Over 150 protesters gathered outside the event chanting criticisms of the Trump administration, including "No ICE, No KKK, No Fascist U.S.A."

Inside the event, students booed Percival throughout his talk, and many held profane signs while he spoke. One sign read, "F--- you loser." The students also set off different sounds on their phones as part of the disruption, and at different points, yelled out the word "Nazi."

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The event culminated in a question and answer session, when most of the disruptors walked out in protest.

Inside Antifa-linked Group's Plan To 'Structurally Change' The Us As May Day Unrest Approaches

Royce Hall on the UCLA campus is shown in an early morning view. (iStock)

"Yesterday, DHS General Counsel James Percival came to UCLA School of Law for a good-faith academic discussion and was met with personal attacks, repeated interruptions, and organized disruption that prevented him from speaking," UCLA FedSoc chapter president Matthew Weinberg told Fox News Digital.

Read On The Fox News App

"As President of the UCLA Law Federalist Society and the event organizer, I saw students who came to hear and question a senior federal official denied that opportunity. If this is what it looks like for conservative law students trying to host a speaker at an American law school in 2026, we are not staying silent about it."

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After the event was announced, left-wing campus groups circulated posts and online petitions containing rhetoric described as "threatening." One of those radical leftist groups was By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), which on its website calls for a "militant new civil rights and immigrant rights movement," posted a flyer on Instagram promoting a picketing event outside the law school.

"UCLA must not give representatives of ICE and the Trump Administration a base to organize Trumps campaign of racist ethnic cleansing of the U.S. and the Middle East," the flyer said.

"Stop the fascist takeover of the American federal government! Stop the Trump police state!" the caption on the social media post said.

Watchdog Exposes Taxpayer-funded Teacher Program For Banning White Applicants: 'Likely Illegal'

Janss Steps on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles on Oct. 20, 2017.

The UCLE Latine Law Students Association also stoked hysteria around the event.

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"Many students at UCLA and UCLA Law have been impacted by ICEs practice of stalking, kidnapping, and profiling individuals whom they suspect to be in the United States without authorization, primarily based on ethnicity," the group said, later adding that inviting Percival to speak "utterly disregards the safety of our undocumented students and minimizes the great harm and trauma that has been inflicted on our communities over the decades."

"By giving Mr. Percival a platform, The Federalist Society and UCLA Law are legitimizing and normalizing racially discriminatory policies that are actively harming both UCLA students and our broader community," the group said.

Video of the incident quickly made waves on social media after it was posted by recent UCLA law school graduate Yitzy Frankel and even got the attention of a top Justice Department official.

"Oh, @UCLA," DOJ assistant attorney general for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon posted on X. " Adding To The List . And its the wrong list."

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"Some little punks tried this when I went to speak at UVA Law FedSoc, but school security cooperated with me in shutting down disruption during Q&A," Dhillon added in another post. "Conservative campus speakers must sadly now expect this nonsense, and prepare accordingly."

"When you dont discipline this kind of behavior you get more of it," Manhattan Institute's Ilya Shapiro posted on X. "This isnt hard."

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Flyer spotted at UCLA linking Trump administration to Nazis.

"So much for the diversity of thought' that the university says it values," JCN President Carrie Severino posted on X. "That tolerance doesnt extend to conservative legal arguments. Its hard to imagine these students will be committed to the rule of law and upholding judicial independence."

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After publication, UCLA Law released the following statement to Fox News Digital: "UCLA Law is committed to free speech and academic freedom, including perspectives that may be controversial or deeply contested. This student-organized event, which proceeded to its conclusion, was one instance of those principles in practice. The law school worked with the Office of Campus and Community Safety in advance to support the event and uphold the universitys commitment to the free exchange of ideas."

The incident highlights an ongoing trend of far-left students and activists disrupting conservative events and harassing conservative students on college campuses.

"FIREs 2026 college free speech survey shows that 91% of students now self-censor at least some of the time in conversations with classmates," Fox News contributor William J. Bennett wrote in a recent Fox News op-ed discussing how conservatives don't feel comfortable expressing themselves on college campuses. "Israel and Palestine are the most feared topics for open dissent, just ahead of abortion and transgender rights. At two prominent universities, 88% of students now pretend to be more progressive than they really are."





Original article source: WATCH: Chaos erupts as leftists interrupt conservative group's UCLA event featuring DHS lawyer
April 23 (Reuters) - The White House has accused China of undertaking industrial-scale theft of U.S. artificial intelligence labs' intellectual property and warned it would crack down on a practice that exploits U.S. innovation, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

The report cited a memo written by Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

(Reporting by Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru)
Whole Foods has announced the opening date for its newest Florida store.

Coming to Jacksonville on May 21, the new Whole Foods Market will feature more than 800 local items from more than 115 Florida-based suppliers, according to a news release.

 How do prices at Florida grocery stores compare to Walmart?

The new grocery store joins another already in Jacksonville and one in Jacksonville Beach.

Here's what to know.

New Whole Foods Market opening in Jacksonville, Florida

Whole Foods Market announced it will open a new 38,432-square-foot store in downtown Jacksonville on May 21, 2026.

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 New Jacksonville Whole Foods opening earlier than expected

The address for the store? Whole Foods Market, 1 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, Florida.

What will be store hours at new Whole Foods in Jacksonville, Florida?

The store will open at 8 a.m. on opening day May 21. Regular store hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Freebies available during Whole Foods grand opening

The first 300 customers in line on May 21 will receive a limited-edition Jacksonville tote bag and a secret saver coupon featuring savings up to $100 off.

Also available on opening day will be free samples from La Gringuita Gourmet Cookies and coffee from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters.

Jacksonville Whole Foods features several departments

Features of the downtown Jacksonville store include:

A Prepared Foods department featuring hot food, salad bars, pizza, gourmet sandwiches and sushi

Certified organic, conventional and Sourced for Good produce and flowers

Curated grocery section filled with exclusive brand favorites and products from local suppliers

Seafood counter

Full-service meat counter

Specialty department dedicated to cheesemakers and artisan producers

Extensive beverage selection including more than 500 wines and 200 craft beers

Bakery department offering bread baked fresh daily as well as everyday favorites

Wellness and beauty department with a wide range of body care, beauty, lifestyle and supplement products

Whole Foods Jacksonville design pays homage to Florida Times-Union newspaper

"For the store's design, vertical wooden slat walls pay an homage to the vertical lines of the Florida Times-Union newspaper building that once sat on the stores site," the grocery chain said.

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"The stores color palette of soft green and blue hues represents the water and sky seen along the riverfront of the historic Brooklyn neighborhood of Jacksonville."

Whole Foods Jacksonville donating to community

Whole Foods Market will provide a food donation to Gleaners Dispatch, which makes regular surplus food pickups from local Whole Foods Market stores to "help prevent food waste and serve the surrounding community."

"The organization previously received an all-electric refrigerated van through Whole Foods Markets Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program, which aims to enhance the ability of local food rescue organizations to transport surplus food to areas facing the greatest need, the site states.

Whole Foods Market online said the company will also donate to Hunger Fight and United Community Outreach Ministry.

Whole Foods locations

Whole Foods opened its first store in September 1980 in Austin, Texas. Today, there are 532 stores in the U.S.

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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Whole Foods opening 3rd store in same Florida city. When, what to know
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  A feud over his funeral has meant the body of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu still hasn't been buried nearly a year after he died in a South African hospital.

Lungu's family wanted to bury him in South Africa because of his bitter political rivalry with current Zambian leader Hakainde Hichilema. But the Zambian government has gone to court to win custody of Lungu's remains so that it can repatriate them for a state funeral.

A new twist in the monthslong drama came Wednesday when the Zambian government said it took custody of the body with the assistance of South African authorities, only for a court to order the remains returned to a funeral home where the family had kept them.

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Here's what to know about the bizarre row thats been a source of morbid fascination for people in both countries:

10 months on, still not buried

Lungu died on June 5 last year of an undisclosed illness at the age of 68, having traveled to South Africa for medical treatment. His family made plans to bury him in South Africa, refusing to return the body to Zambia for a state funeral to be attended by Hichilema.

The family, through a spokesperson, said it was because one of Lungu's last wishes was that Hichilema should not go anywhere near his body when he is buried. The Zambian government launched a court case to win custody of the remains, arguing a state funeral was in the national interest.

Zambian authorities also prepared a space for Lungu months ago in a cemetery where some of the country's ex-leaders are buried. The grave remains empty.

Bitter political rivals

Lungu and successor Hichilema were bitter political rivals in the southern African nation for years.

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Lungu beat Hichilema in a 2016 election. A year later, Hichilema was imprisoned for four months on a charge of treason after failing to give way to the presidential motorcade on a road. The charge was dropped and Hichilema was released as advocacy groups condemned the arrest.

After Hichilema became president in 2021, Lungu claimed he was harassed by police and effectively placed under house arrest. His family said he was for a time prevented from leaving the country for medical treatment. Hichilema's government denied those allegations.

Lungu reportedly traveled to South Africa by slipping away to an airport unnoticed and buying a ticket at the counter.

Legal battle over the remains

The Zambian government's court case seeking custody of Lungu's body halted a planned funeral service for him in South Africa last June. The move forced members of Lungu's family  dressed in black funeral attire  to stop the service and travel to a courthouse for the urgent case.

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A South African court later ruled in favor of the Zambian government and said the body should be repatriated. A date of May 12 was set for the body to be handed over.

Unlawful seizure of the body

The Zambian government announced late Wednesday that it had taken custody of Lungu's body and moved it from a mortuary at a private funeral home in the South African capital, Pretoria, to another facility in preparation for repatriation.

Soon after, a court ordered the government to return the body to the family immediately, accusing it of contempt of court because it attempted to take Lungu's remains before the agreed-upon date.

A new legal drama could now unfold after the court ordered the Zambian government  and South African authorities who apparently helped facilitate the moving of the body  to show why they shouldn't be charged with contempt of court.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
Wildfire smoke triggers air quality alert across Charlotte area

Wildfire smoke from fires across the Southeast could create air quality concerns across the Charlotte metro area as we end the week.

A Code Orange Air Quality Alert is in place for much of the metro area until 8 p.m. Thursday. People who have respiratory issues should be mindful of the reduced air quality and limit time outdoors.

Dr. Michael Fitch, a professor of Emergency Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, says people should stay alert for symptoms like coughing or feeling short of breath. Those with underlying conditions should be especially cautious.

Code Orange Air Quality Alerts are in place for most of the metro area because of increased ozone and wildfire smoke reducing our air quality. If you have respiratory issues, it's best to limit your time outdoors today! pic.twitter.com/avx3JyRMix  Danielle Miller (@wx_danielle) April 23, 2026

If you have underlying medical conditions like asthma or COPD you may notice working a little bit harder to breathe, you may have wheezing ... The kinds of things that would let you know if you do have a respiratory underlying condition, that it might be time to take one of those rescue medications, Fitch told Channel 9.

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If you are looking to limit your exposure to pollutants, Dr. Fitch recommends using an N-95 mask.

An N-95 mask is actually very efficient at filtering those things out, he says. But if you have an underlying medical condition like COPD or asthma, make sure you talk to your doctor first before you make a decision to wear a mask outdoors, because sometimes those, in and of themselves, can make it challenging to breathe, as well.

The wildfires popping up across the Southeast are occurring as we see the historic drought continue to worsen. In the Carolinas, extreme drought continues to expand through the mountains and Foothills with the latest drought monitor update Thursday.

>>CLICK HERE for the latest weather conditions

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The forecast remains dry through the end of the week; however, a pattern change will bring some much-needed rain over the weekend. And while that is a hopeful sight, experts caution that we need a lot of rain to fix the drought and dampen any wildfire concerns.

To really make a dent in this drought and its impacts, we will need to get consistently above-normal rainfall, that means 1.5 to 2 inches every week, and we know this time of the year thats tougher to come by, says Corey Davis, assistant state climatologist for the State Climate Office of North Carolina.

More of our rain comes from those pop-up showers and thunderstorms. Those might drop an inch over your house and nothing to your neighbors across town. So, we know its a tough ask to get that sort of widespread, consistent rainfall, but even average rainfall over the next couple of months would help to stop the bleeding of this drought, he says.
A Chicago woman is facing several felony charges, including attempted murder, in a shooting in Irving Park

The shooting happened at about 2:47 a.m. on April 12 in the 2900-block of West Irving Park Road, Chicago police said.

Police said Isathtia Perez, 27, opened fire on three men standing outside a bar. One of the victims was critically hurt in the shooting.

Perez is set to appear before a judge Thursday morning.

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The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board have launched investigations into a chemical incident that killed two people and critically injured another person in Kanawha County Wednesday morning, officials say.

We are opening an investigation into this tragic incident to determine how it happened and identify ways to help prevent something like this from happening again, CSB chairman Steve Owens said in a news release.

West Virginia DEPs Environmental Enforcement teams launched a full investigation into the facility, Gov. Patrick Morriseys office said in a news release Thursday. The state will examine the cause of the incident as well as the facilitys overall compliance with state and federal regulations, officials said.

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The chemical leak happened at Catalyst Refiners Inc. in Institute during a cleaning process involving a tank at the facility, creating hydrogen sulfide.

Kanawha County Emergency Management director C.W. Sigman told reporters Wednesday that while workers were decommissioning a tank, the chemicals M200A and nitric acid mixed in a pump area, and an explosion and leak occurred.

At least 21 people were transported or sought treatment following the incident. Seven members of the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority were evaluated for potential exposure, according to county officials. All ambulance authority staff members were treated and released, KCEAA director Monica Mason told West Virginia MetroNews.

State officials will also monitor the sites wastewater handling and any potential runoff to ensure there are no impacts to surrounding systems, Morriseys office said.

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The Chemical Safety Board is an independent, nonregulatory agency that investigates incidents and hazards that result or may result in the catastrophic release of hazardous substances, the agency said in the release. Board members are appointed by the president subject to Senate confirmation

The boards mission is to conduct incident investigations to identify root causes of releases, develop preventative or mitigative recommendations and advocate for their implementations.

The agency does not issue fines or safety citations, but makes safety recommendations to companies, labor groups and regulatory agencies.

This incident has had a real impact on workers, and on the surrounding community. Understanding what went wrong is essential so that facilities handling hazardous chemicals can operate more safely and responsibly, Chemical Safety Board Member Sylvia Johnson said in the news release.

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The West Virginia DEP in coordination with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, will also sample air at the Institute facility and in surrounding areas and watch existing monitoring stations for unusual changes, the governors office said in a news release Thursday.

The facility, owned by Ames Goldsmith Corp., manufactures silver catalyst.

West Virginia officials are closely watching the sites wastewater handling and any potential runoff to ensure there are no impacts to surrounding systems, Morriseys office said in the news release.

The state is also gathering information about people who sought medical treatment following the incident, Morrisey said.

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Our focus is on getting answers and ensuring the community is protected, Morrisey said in the statement. We are taking a thorough, coordinated approach to monitoring this situation and holding all responsible parties accountable.

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School leaders in Xenia want voters to renew funding thats been around for 40 years in their community.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

A yes vote would extend that funding for another five years.

News Center 7 talked to early voters in Greene County on Thursday.

Were gonna vote today and get a little early because were gonna be traveling on voting day, Ed Mignery of Xenia said.

TRENDING STORIES:

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We asked them what issues and races brought them to the polls in Xenia.

Well, were going to vote for the roads and the schools, very important. And thats our top priority, Christine Mignery said.

One of the issues on the May 5 ballot for voters in Xenias school district is a renewal levy.

It was first proposed in Xenia in 1986, and voters have renewed it every five years since.

If its approved, it will continue to cost a homeowner in the district $13 a year for every $100,000 of their homes value for another five years.

Xenia Community Schools Superintendent Gabriel E. Lofton sent the following statement to News Center 7:

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Our goal is to provide the community with the factual information needed to understand how these funds are utilized to maintain a safe and functional learning environment for our students. If approved, the funds from this levy will pay for essential building maintenance, safety and security upgrades and infrastructure repairs. Because these funds are legally separated from our general operating budget, they allow us to safely steward the communitys investment in our facilities without diverting resources away from classroom instruction.

Elections are very important and thats why we want to be here and cast our vote as an American, Ed said.

Starting next week, there are expanded in-person early voting hours at your county Board of Elections office. Thats for the last full week before Election Day.

Information on Ohios early voting can be found here.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Just hours after the Zambian government said it had taken possession of ex-President Edgar Lungu's body, a court in South Africa - where Lungu died - has ordered the body to be returned.

It is the latest twist in a 10-month saga over what should happen to his remains following a long-standing feud between Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema.

The government has long maintained that, as a former head of state, Lungu should be honoured in the country and buried alongside his predecessors in the special presidential burial ground in the capital, Lusaka.

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But Lungu's family wanted a private burial after negotiations with the government over the funeral arrangements broke down.

Last August, the South African high court in Pretoria ruled that Zambia's government could repatriate the body and give him a state funeral - an outcome that left Lungu's relatives visibly distraught in the courtroom.

The family appealed against the decision but, in a surprise announcement late on Wednesday night, Zambia's government said Lungu's remains had been "formally transferred" to the state by the South African court.

According to the statement, the transfer occurred after Lungu's family were unable to "proceed with their case" at the appeals court.

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But just a few hours later, the same South African court ordered the Zambian government to return the body until the matter goes back to court on 21 May.

To complicate matters further, Two Mountains Burial Services, the funeral home where Lungu's remains were originally being kept, has reportedly said it will no longer accept the body and has asked the Lungu family to find an alternative.

Interviewed on a Zambian YouTube news channel, Lungu family spokesman Makebi Zulu disputed that the appeals process had lapsed, saying that the correct procedure had been followed.

The former president died of an undisclosed illness aged 68 at a clinic in South Africa's capital, Pretoria. Chaos ensued following his death, with mourners receiving conflicting information from the government and Lungu's political party, the Patriotic Front (PF).

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Two separate mourning periods were announced and at one point there were competing condolence books.

Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 until 2021, had numerous rows with Hichilema, who was the opposition leader for many years before finally unseating his bitter rival.

After Lungu's death, his family said the ex-president did not want Hichilema to be at his funeral or "anywhere near" his body.

Additional reporting by Nomsa Maseko in Johannesburg

More on this story:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

BBC Africa podcasts
Ukraine and the European Union hope to start formal membership negotiations following the election defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a noted opponent of Kiev's accession to the bloc.

"We are ready," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, as he arrived at an informal EU summit in the Cypriot seaside town of Ayia Napa.

The EU decided to launch accession talks with Ukraine in 2024, but Hungary has been blocking the opening of the first phase of formal negotiations.

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Orban justified his veto by arguing Ukraines accession posed major risks, potentially dragging the EU into a war with Russia.

The accession negotiations are divided into six areas with a total of 32 thematic sections, also known as clusters. Talks on each cluster can only be opened and concluded by unanimous decisions of all 27 EU member states.

Ukraine has completed preparatory work and is ready to open several clusters, Zelensky said.

He expressed hope that the incoming Hungarian government under prime minister-elect Peter Magyar will be more open towards Ukraine and that Kiev will have the support of all EU partners.

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"Now it's time to look forward and to prepare the next step, and the next step is to open formally the first clusters of negotiation," said European Council President Antonio Costa at the beginning of the two-day meeting in Cyprus.

EU leaders breathe sigh of relief

Kremlin-friendly Orban, who did not take part in the talks in Cyprus, dropped his months-long opposition to a 90 billion ($105 billion) support loan for Ukraine and the bloc's 20th package of sanctions on Russia after his election defeat.

Many EU leaders welcomed the decision, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

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"I am very grateful that the European Unions loan has now finally been approved," said Merz.

While many in the EU hope for better relations with Hungary under Orban successor and fewer disagreements, some did not mince words.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Orban "held us hostage ... for a long time."

Along with events in Ukraine, EU leaders were due to discuss on Thursday the fallout from the conflict in the Middle East, including rising energy prices and worries about a potential jet fuel shortage.

Turning to internal issues on Friday, EU leaders are expected to discuss plans for the bloc's upcoming long-term budget for the years 2028-34 in Nicosia.

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The main stumbling point is how the bloc's ambitions, including boosting the EU's faltering competitiveness and improving Europe's defence capabilities, can be financed when many capitals are short on cash after consecutive crises.

After the consultations on EU issues, leaders are to meet representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria on Friday afternoon to discuss shared challenges.
This photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows the awards session of ocean story short videos at the opening ceremony of the second Shared Oceans  Shanghai Forum 2026 in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

SHANGHAI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The second Shared Oceans  Shanghai Forum 2026 was held on Thursday in Shanghai, where participants called for stronger cooperation to build a maritime community with a shared future.

Themed "Shared Oceans: Maritime Security and Blue Prosperity," the forum, held at Shanghai Maritime University, aimed to serve as a bridge for maritime exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, pool strengths to jointly safeguard maritime security and share blue prosperity, and inject impetus into the implementation of the vision of a maritime community with a shared future.

The event attracted scholars and experts from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the International Maritime Law Institute of the International Maritime Organization, and domestic institutions including the Chinese Academy of Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University and China Oceanic Development Foundation.

Participants engaged in discussions across a main forum and four parallel sub-forums, covering topics such as coordinated maritime development in Asia and the Pacific, maritime security and jurisprudence, blue economy practices, and national security situations.

In a video address, Azhar Jaimurzina Ducrest, chief of Transport Connectivity and Logistics Section of ESCAP's Transport Division, emphasized the significance of maritime connectivity for regional development.

She said that China plays an important role in international maritime cooperation and called on all parties to strengthen coordination and build consensus to jointly advance a more resilient, digital and green maritime future, and to work together toward a maritime community with a shared future for sustainable prosperity.

Chu Beiping, president of Shanghai Maritime University, said the key to building a maritime community with a shared future and promoting maritime economy cooperation lies in practicing the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to achieve mutual and win-win outcomes.

The event also released the Global Maritime Security Situation Assessment and Outlook (2025-2026) and the Initiative on "Jointly Safeguarding Maritime Security and Building a Shared Ocean Future" to disseminate maritime visions and build consensus for cooperation. 

This photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows a scene during the opening ceremony of the second Shared Oceans  Shanghai Forum 2026 in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

This photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows a scene during the premiere of a micro-documentary at the opening ceremony of the second Shared Oceans  Shanghai Forum 2026 in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Chinese and foreign youth representatives read out the Initiative on "Jointly Safeguarding Maritime Security and Building a Shared Ocean Future" during the opening ceremony of the second Shared Oceans  Shanghai Forum 2026 in east China's Shanghai, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
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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.
BEIRUT, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday condemned Israel over a recent airstrike that killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured another reporter in the southern town of Al-Tiri.

In a statement, Aoun said that Israel's "deliberate and repeated targeting of journalists aims to conceal the truth about its aggressive violations against Lebanon."

He described such acts as crimes against humanity, punishable under international laws and norms, calling for international intervention to bring them to an end.

Khalil, who worked for Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, was killed on Wednesday after being trapped under rubble following Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, reported Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed TV.

The strike blocked rescuers' access to Khalil and her colleague Zeinab Faraj. Faraj was later evacuated to a hospital.

Aoun extended condolences to Khalil's family and expressed sympathy to the staff of Al-Akhbar newspaper as well as to the Lebanese and Arab media community.

He wished Faraj a speedy recovery from injuries sustained in the attack.

The airstrike occurred despite a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that came into effect last week, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. 
BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China has formally submitted comments to the European Commission on a draft revision of the European Union (EU)'s Cybersecurity Act, expressing its official stance and serious concerns, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

He Yongqian, spokesperson for the ministry, told a regular press conference that the EU should attach great importance to and seriously consider China's comments and proposed amendments.

"If Chinese companies suffer discriminatory treatment as a result, China can take measures in accordance with its Foreign Trade Law and the State Council's regulations on industrial and supply chain security to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," He said.

The spokesperson also reaffirmed that cooperation and dialogue are the right ways to resolve China-EU issues. China stands ready to properly address differences with the EU through consultations and by working together to maintain the stability and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains. 
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Brunei held a tree planting and beach cleanup activity at a recreational park near Muara port town on Wednesday to celebrate 2026 Earth Day.

The initiative saw the participation of more than 100 individuals, reflecting a strong community commitment toward environmental conservation, according to the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation under Brunei's Ministry of Development.

The department said that during the event, 40 trees were planted to support greening efforts and enhance the natural landscape.

Brunei continues to take part in the global movement through initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental responsibility, according to the department. 
BANGKOK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is tapping into a rapidly growing health and wellness market as part of its move to shift the country's vital tourism industry toward high-quality, value-driven growth.

The Health and Wellness Trade Meet 2026, held on Thursday, brought together 69 Thai health and wellness operators, 74 international buyers, and 24 overseas media and influencers, aiming to reinforce Thailand's position as a premier global destination for health, medical, and holistic wellness tourism.

Hosted by the TAT, the one-day trade meeting was designed to create opportunities and expand networks into international markets, facilitating over 1,632 business appointments and generating an estimated economic circulation of over 929.62 million baht (about 28.65 million U.S. dollars).

Speaking at the event, TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool highlighted that health and wellness have become major driving forces for lifestyle, travel, and investment.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness economy was valued at approximately 6.8 trillion dollars in 2024 and is projected to expand to nearly 7.9 trillion dollars in 2026, reflecting a clear transition into an era of proactive healthcare.

Thapanee said Thailand represents one of the fastest-growing wellness economies worldwide, with a valuation exceeding 42.7 billion dollars in 2024 and a growth rate of over 10 percent compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, the Southeast Asian country's wellness tourism experienced remarkable growth, surging by 36.4 percent year-on-year, nearly three times the global average, and reaching a value of 14 billion dollars, she noted.

"This demonstrates strong confidence in Thailand's health and wellness potential, encompassing traditional wisdom, natural resources, modern medicine, and exceptional service, further strengthening its ambition to become a global hub for health and rehabilitation," she added. 
The first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism is held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, April 22, 2026. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun co-chaired the meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism was held here in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Wednesday, aiming at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun co-chaired the meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

The two sides exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations, cooperation on political and defense security issues, and international and regional situations, reaching a broad consensus.

Wang said China is willing to work with Cambodia to develop the mechanism into a strategic platform for enhancing political and defense security cooperation, a key instrument for cementing mutual assistance and solidarity between China and Cambodia, and to make new contributions to building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

He noted that China supports Cambodia and Thailand in implementing the consensus reached at the China-Cambodia-Thailand Fuxian Meeting, making good use of existing bilateral mechanisms, strengthening dialogue, rebuilding mutual trust, and improving relations.

China is willing to provide platforms for more comprehensive and effective communication between Cambodia and Thailand, Wang added.

Noting that China will continue to support Cambodia in accelerating development and revitalization, and its efforts to improve people's livelihoods, Wang said that China is willing to continue providing humanitarian support for Cambodian border residents' resettlement and other fields, and to advance poverty reduction demonstration cooperation projects.

He said China is willing to deepen cooperation with Cambodia within the framework of the four major global initiatives proposed by China, build an Asian security model featuring shared security, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and dialogue and consultation, and promote the development of the global governance system in a more just and equitable direction.

During the meeting, Dong said China is willing to work with Cambodia to deepen and strengthen mutual trust in military security.

Meanwhile, Sokhonn said that China is Cambodia's most trusted friend and expressed his gratitude for China's comprehensive support.

He reiterated that Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports all efforts made by China to achieve national reunification.

Seiha said that Cambodia is willing to actively explore new avenues for cooperation and promote greater development of Cambodia-China relations.

In the meeting, both sides agreed to deepen law enforcement and defense cooperation, jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, and safeguard their respective cybersecurity.

They also underscored supporting resolving regional disputes through dialogue and negotiation, jointly opposing unilateral bullying and power politics, and upholding global free trade and international fairness and justice. 
A cruise ship carrying nearly 800 int'l passengers docked at a port in Tianjin, ending their journey in China. What surprised the foreign travelers most in China?
Palestinians mourn over victims who were killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on April 23, 2026. Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed on Wednesday evening in an Israeli strike on the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed on Wednesday evening in an Israeli strike on the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said.

An Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of people near Al-Qassam Mosque in Beit Lahia, security sources said.

A medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City told Xinhua that the hospital had received the bodies of five victims, including three children, in addition to several injured people with varying degrees of wounds.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement that hospitals in the enclave had received one body and four injured people over the past 24 hours.

According to the statement, since the announcement of a ceasefire on Oct. 10, 2025, 786 Palestinians have been killed and 2,217 others injured by Israeli attacks. The total death toll since Oct. 7, 2023 has risen to 72,562, with 172,320 others wounded. 

Palestinians mourn over victims who were killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on April 23, 2026. Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed on Wednesday evening in an Israeli strike on the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians mourn over victims who were killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on April 23, 2026. Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed on Wednesday evening in an Israeli strike on the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians mourn over victims who were killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on April 23, 2026. Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed on Wednesday evening in an Israeli strike on the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
The State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press conference on China's intellectual property rights development of 2025, in Beijing, capital of China, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China has rejected more than 1.27 million trademark applications over the past three years and invalidated over 3,300 trademarks, as part of a widening crackdown on deceptive branding that misleads consumers, the country's top intellectual property regulator said Thursday.

"Trademarks are meant to identify the source of goods or services, not to serve as advertising tools for false or misleading claims," said Rui Wenbiao, deputy commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), at a press conference amid the country's IP publicity week, which kicked off on Monday.

Rui's remarks came in response to a question about the recent emergence of "edge-ball trademarks," a practice in which applicants use registered trademarks to make deceptive claims about product quality, origin, or features.

In addressing the problem, the CNIPA has issued evaluation guidance to prevent deceptive trademarks, established a proactive monitoring mechanism, and expedited the invalidation procedures, Rui said.

Legislative efforts are also underway. A draft revision to China's Trademark Law has passed a first reading in the national legislature, including a new clause targeting the misleading use of registered trademarks, with harsher penalties expected.

The CNIPA said it would enhance coordination with market regulators to enforce the rules. It also urged companies to focus on honest operations.

By the end of 2025, the Chinese mainland had over 49.8 million valid registered trademarks.

"A 'deceptive trademark' may win short-term sales, but it will ultimately cost consumer trust and the future of the business," Rui said. 
People experience traditional Chinese tea culture during the "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon in Auckland, New Zealand, April 22, 2026. The "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon was held on Wednesday evening in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. Organized by the China Cultural Center in Auckland, the event, which also featured a concert by the Amber Quartet, integrated Chinese tea culture with Western classical music, as it opened with tea tasting, traditional tea preparation, tea appreciation and storytelling about tea culture, creating an elegant and harmonious atmosphere. (Photo by Wu Jiaxiang/Xinhua)

WELLINGTON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon was held on Wednesday evening in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.

Organized by the China Cultural Center in Auckland, the event, which also featured a concert by the Amber Quartet, integrated Chinese tea culture with Western classical music, as it opened with tea tasting, traditional tea preparation, tea appreciation and storytelling about tea culture, creating an elegant and harmonious atmosphere.

The Amber Quartet was founded in 2005 and has become an internationally influential string quartet in China. "They were truly amazing," Sharon Ann from the audience said, speaking of the performers' superb skills.

Chen Shijie, Chinese consul general in Auckland, said in his remarks that the event uses music as a bridge and tea as a bond to convey the friendship of the Chinese people, helping to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and New Zealand and strengthen the public foundation of bilateral relations.

Bob Harvey, former mayor of Waitakere, said he values the historical ties and current cooperation with China. "Tonight, it's cemented with the tea for harmony and peace. It is such a special moment." 

A participant experiences traditional Chinese tea culture during the "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon in Auckland, New Zealand, April 22, 2026. The "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon was held on Wednesday evening in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.

Organized by the China Cultural Center in Auckland, the event, which also featured a concert by the Amber Quartet, integrated Chinese tea culture with Western classical music, as it opened with tea tasting, traditional tea preparation, tea appreciation and storytelling about tea culture, creating an elegant and harmonious atmosphere. (Photo by Wu Jiaxiang/Xinhua)

A participant experiences traditional Chinese tea culture during the "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon in Auckland, New Zealand, April 22, 2026. The "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon was held on Wednesday evening in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.

Organized by the China Cultural Center in Auckland, the event, which also featured a concert by the Amber Quartet, integrated Chinese tea culture with Western classical music, as it opened with tea tasting, traditional tea preparation, tea appreciation and storytelling about tea culture, creating an elegant and harmonious atmosphere. (Photo by Wu Jiaxiang/Xinhua)

People experience traditional Chinese tea culture during the "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon in Auckland, New Zealand, April 22, 2026. The "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon was held on Wednesday evening in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.

Organized by the China Cultural Center in Auckland, the event, which also featured a concert by the Amber Quartet, integrated Chinese tea culture with Western classical music, as it opened with tea tasting, traditional tea preparation, tea appreciation and storytelling about tea culture, creating an elegant and harmonious atmosphere. (Photo by Wu Jiaxiang/Xinhua)
by Xinhua writer Li Hanlin

HANNOVER, Germany, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China is becoming a key global driver of AI-powered smart manufacturing, said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of the Bosch Group, as the German technology supplier expands its industrial AI applications and deepens its local innovation footprint.

AI is rapidly transforming manufacturing from a supporting tool into an embedded decision-making layer, enabling closer human-machine collaboration, said Hartung in a recent interview with Xinhua at the Hannover Messe, Germany's flagship industrial trade fair.

Bosch is advancing its "agentic AI" concept, which integrates humans, machines and digital systems into a unified operational framework aimed at addressing labour shortages, rising complexity and cost pressures in industrial production, he noted.

Under this model, agentic AI systems can monitor production in real time, detect early deviations and trigger corrective actions before major failures occur. When faults do happen, workers can interact directly with AI systems via voice or chat interfaces.

The system can also retrieve manuals, analyse shift logs and provide step-by-step troubleshooting guidance, while automatically documenting incidents and sharing solutions across plants using similar equipment.

"AI agents can answer questions up to three times more accurately than isolated systems and reduce manual documentation and data reconciliation work by up to 50 percent," he said, adding that the impact is becoming increasingly evident at scale in large industrial environments.

He pointed to Bosch's smart factory in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou as an example of how agentic AI is being applied in industrial settings.

At the plant, Bosch engineers have developed an AI agent-based platform for new product industrialisation, integrating nearly 30 AI models and multiple agents for quality inspection and production preparation.

The system reduces processes that previously took several weeks to around one to two weeks and is now being gradually rolled out to Bosch plants in Europe and North America, according to Hartung.

He said China plays a particularly important role in this transformation, given its large-scale manufacturing base, rapid adoption of new technologies and strong engineering talent pool.

"The innovation pace in China is extremely strong. In China, AI is already widely applied across production stages, from workflow design to factory management in collaboration with human teams," he said.

China remains Bosch's largest single automotive and industrial market in Asia, supporting the company's global growth trajectory.

In 2025, Bosch's sales in China reached 149.8 billion yuan (21.9 billion U.S. dollars), up 4.9 percent year-on-year. Hartung said China's scale and technological dynamism continue to underpin its strategic importance for the group.

Bosch's global manufacturing network includes more than 220 plants, of which 38 are in China, making the country not only a major production base but also an increasingly important source of industrial innovation, according to Hartung.

"We are seeing strong innovation momentum in China, supported by talent from universities and a very strong manufacturing ecosystem," he said.

Bosch employs around 57,000 people in China and has invested an average of around 6 billion yuan (879 million U.S. dollars) annually in recent years, driven by its market scale and technological change, he said.

"This makes it a long-term strategic investment for us," he added. "We will continue to increase investment and deepen local innovation and industrial cooperation." 
Punnor works in the office in the regional people's broadcasting station in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

by Xinhua writers Lyu Qiuping, Dronla and Liu Zhoupeng

LHASA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- In his small dormitory, a wall away from the Potala Palace in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Punnor, 58, has spent 35 years translating the world's classic books into Tibetan.

His translations span literature, history and philosophy, ranging from "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway, the "The Sorrows of Young Werther" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the poems of the renowned Chinese poet Ai Qing, to a complete world history from ancient times to the present.

Many of these Tibetan versions are not only sold in stores, but also broadcast on the radio, reaching herders and farmers in remote mountains and valleys.

Thursday marks World Book and Copyright Day. China has been supporting the publication of ethnic minority languages, with translators like Punnor forming part of this effort, bringing world classics to "the roof of the world."

Born in 1968 in a remote mountain village in Xizang's Gyangze County, Punnor did not step into a classroom until he was 12 years old. Through his hard work and a thirst for knowledge, he was admitted with top marks to Gyangze County Middle School and later to the Tibetan language and literature department at Minzu University of China in Beijing.

On campus, the diverse cultural atmosphere and various lectures not only broadened Punnor's horizons but also made him realize that although Xizang had a long and splendid culture, it still lagged far behind global civilization.

"If we want Xizang to integrate into the modern world, we first have to understand where modernity comes from," said the Tibetan.

His interest in translation began with an encounter in the campus library, where he came across "The Price of Flowers," a short story that tells of a young Indian man living in London and his friendship with a struggling British family.

"I found myself so moved that I copied it out by hand and started translating it into Tibetan," he recalled, adding that the kindness, compassion and understanding reflected in the story are universal human emotions.

In 1991, Punnor joined the regional people's broadcasting station, translating news from Mandarin to Tibetan. Over the following 10 years, he studied philosophical works by Kant and Hegel and immersed himself in classical works from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, as well as the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.

This strengthened his resolve to connect Tibetan readers with world literature through translation. To make his translations accurate, he also studied English and Sanskrit.

In 2004, Punnor created a radio program reading novels, granting Tibetan herders and farmers access to classic literature by "listening to books." Many of his translations, including novels and radio plays, were serialized via radio broadcasts. Some of them are also accessible online, allowing listeners to tune in at any time.

Punnor has lost track of how many books he has translated over the past three decades. But the one he considers particularly significant is a world history book that took him seven years to finish -- the first of its kind in Tibetan.

The hardest part was the names, such as ancient country names, ancient people's names and place names that no longer exist. "To ensure accuracy, I almost turned over every historical document I could find around me," he said.

With state support for publishing in minority languages, his Tibetan version of roughly 550,000 characters was published in 2018 by the regional people's publishing house.

Rinchen, an editor of the Tibetan language with the publishing house, said Punnor's translations not only accurately convey the original content but also strictly follow Tibetan grammatical norms. "The quality is remarkably high."

Punnor's translations have proven popular among Tibetan readers, with several reprinted multiple times, including a selection of "Grimm's Fairy Tales," which has gone through four reprints and reached some 20,000 copies.

According to a white paper issued last year, Xizang had published 46.85 million copies of 8,794 Tibetan-language books by the end of 2024. In addition to traditional media, like newspapers, magazines, radio programs, films, television programs and the internet, new media have also been developed in the Tibetan language, including surging official accounts on social media.

Although Punnor will retire in two years, he has no plans to rest.

Apart from giving lectures and lessons to nurture young Tibetan talent in translation, he has started retranslating the classic novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms," which may take five to 10 years. The task was left unfinished years ago when the original translator passed away, leaving the broadcast cut off mid-way.

Punnor still remembers an elderly herder from northern Xizang who called him in tears, begging him to finish broadcasting the novel. Every day at 4:30 p.m., the old man said, he would climb down from the mountains to catch the signal and listen.

"Retranslating the novel is my attempt to fulfill the promise I made to that herder. I have never forgotten his simple wish," he said. 

Punnor records a Tibetan language radio program in the recording studio of the regional people's broadcasting station in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

This picture shows a Tibetan-language version of "The Old Man and the Sea" translated by Punnor. (Xizang People's Publishing House/Handout via Xinhua)
This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows a view of the Senqu Bridge in Mokhotlong District, Lesotho. Lesotho and South Africa have officially inaugurated the Senqu Bridge in Lesotho's highland district of Mokhotlong, marking a milestone in cooperation between the two neighboring countries. (GCIS/Handout via Xinhua)

MASERU, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Lesotho and South Africa have officially inaugurated the Senqu Bridge in Lesotho's highland district of Mokhotlong, marking a milestone in cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lesotho's King Letsie III jointly declared the Senqu Bridge, the first extradosed bridge in Lesotho, open at a ceremony Wednesday attended by dignitaries, engineers, workers and community members.

Addressing the ceremony, Ramaphosa described the bridge as a powerful symbol of the deep and enduring partnership between the two neighboring countries.

"This bridge tells a story of determination in the face of complexity," he said.

Ramaphosa said the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) remains the largest investment South Africa has made outside its borders, and that Lesotho's highland water resources are vital to the development of South Africa as a water-scarce country.

He also announced that South Africa would provide 30 million rand (about 1.81 million U.S. dollars) in humanitarian assistance to Lesotho through the African Renaissance Fund to support the country's response to HIV and tuberculosis amid declining international aid.

King Letsie III said the bridge represented more than an infrastructure achievement, adding that it would help connect communities, strengthen cooperation and support economic growth in both Lesotho and South Africa.

Noting that 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the LHWP Treaty, the king called for renewed commitment to ensuring that the long-running water project continues to serve the interests of both countries.

Lesotho's Prime Minister Sam Matekane echoed that sentiment, reaffirming Lesotho's commitment to ensuring that the project's benefits reach ordinary citizens.

"The government will ensure that every loop of return to Lesotho through Phase II is invested wisely in health, education, infrastructure and the future of our young people," he said.

Built at an estimated cost of 2.4 billion maloti (about 145 million dollars), the bridge is the first extradosed bridge in Lesotho and forms part of the broader Phase II works, which also include the Polihali Dam, a transfer tunnel and related infrastructure such as roads, power lines and telecommunication facilities. The bridge project has created more than 1,200 jobs, most of them for Basotho workers.

Established in 1986, the LHWP is a multi-phased partnership between South Africa and Lesotho aimed at enhancing water security, hydropower generation and socio-economic development.

Once Phase II is completed, annual water supply capacity is expected to increase from 780 million cubic meters to 1.27 billion cubic meters, significantly strengthening South Africa's long-term water security while also boosting Lesotho's hydropower output. 

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows a view of the Senqu Bridge in Mokhotlong District, Lesotho. Lesotho and South Africa have officially inaugurated the Senqu Bridge in Lesotho's highland district of Mokhotlong, marking a milestone in cooperation between the two neighboring countries. (GCIS/Handout via Xinhua)
Cering Chophel poses for a photo at the Museum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, capital of China, April 15, 2026. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- In Sozhug, a high-altitude township in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region where families have harvested potatoes from thin soil for generations, a young entrepreneur did something few expected.

Standing on the observation deck of Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest stadium last week, 28-year-old Cering Chophel looked out over a city he was visiting for the first time.

He thought of the rutted mountain roads back home, the tractors groaning under sacks of potatoes, and the villagers who had trusted him with a question he couldn't shake: "You went to college. You started a business. Can you help us?"

Cering had once chased a different kind of future. After graduating from a normal college in the eastern city of Nantong, he returned home for a substitute teaching post, a job that paid about 2,000 yuan a month, roughly 291 U.S. dollars. The work kept him afloat, but it never felt like enough. He wanted to put down roots at home and gather strength for something larger.

In 2022, without telling his father, he resigned, scraped together 300,000 yuan from relatives and friends, and opened a small grocery store in Sozhug. Not long, the shop was pulling in 3,000 to 4,000 yuan a day, enough to repay half his debts. Yet the real pull came from the fields outside his door.

Sozhug's potatoes are a local point of pride -- thin-skinned, dense with starch and ripened under the fierce plateau sun. But they arrived late to market, after prices had already collapsed elsewhere. Farmers bounced for more than an hour on tractor seats to sell their crop in town for as little as 2 to 4 yuan a kilogram, a pittance after fuel and labor.

Cering had watched his own parents bend over those furrows year after year to send him to school. When neighbors asked if he could find a better way, he hesitated. His store was new. He had no agricultural training. But the sight of stooped backs in the potato fields kept pulling him forward.

In the summer of 2024, he made a bold move to register a brand named Yalong Wenba Potatoes. He organized 89 households to plant 150 mu, about 10 hectares. The harvest totaled 217 tonnes. Sales reached 2.17 million yuan, with 1.08 million yuan distributed as dividends to villagers and the highest single household receiving more than 20,000 yuan.

"Before, one mu might bring 5,000 yuan," Cering said. "Now it's around 10,000 yuan. When we handed out the dividends, many people were in tears."

The change was not magical. It was branding, collective effort and a promise that farmers could focus on growing while Cering's company handled the rest. "Now the villagers just plant," he said. "We take care of the sales."

This April, Cering joined 46 other leaders of farmers' and herdsmen's cooperatives in Xizang on a study tour in Beijing. In Longtou Village of Daxing District, he saw tofu and decorative bun workshops transformed into rural tourism draws, linking households, the collective and industries. At tech exhibitions, drones, self-driving vehicles and other autonomous equipment suggested a future where plateau farming might rely less on aching muscles.

"I saw that smart machines can free people from labor," he said. "That's the power of innovation. The potato business can't just be about hard work. It has to be smart."

The trip, Cering said, was an eye-opener. He returned to Xizang with a notebook full of ideas and a sense that the road ahead could be wider than he had imagined. Earlier this year, his company leased another 73 mu of land to test new potato varieties. He hopes to bring more households into the fold.

An older villager, in his 80s, once told him, "You've done what no one dared to do for years. But your strength is bigger than this. You can help more than those 89 families. Make this industry strong. That's what young people should do."

For Cering, the words still echo. He often thinks of the gravel roads that have become smooth asphalt ones, the earthen houses replaced by tidy Tibetan homes, people's wallets bulging. What has not changed, he said, is the resilience of the plateau and the stubborn desire of its young people to build a future on their own land.

As the train pulled out of Beijing West Railway Station, carrying him and the other cooperative leaders back toward Lhasa, Cering pressed his face to the window. The spring light of the Chinese capital, he knew, could not be carried home. But the lessons about branding, technology, and what a village can become when people work together, felt like seeds.

And on the highlands along the Yarlung Zangbo River, he intends to plant them. 

Villagers attend the first dividends distribution ceremony of Yalong Wenba Potatoes, in Sozhug, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 6, 2026. (Xinhua)

Cering Chophel checks the growth of potatoes with villagers in a field in Sozhug, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua)
LIMA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Peru's Defense Minister Carlos Diaz and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela resigned Wednesday after a dispute over the government's decision to delay the purchase of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets.

The resignations followed President Jose Balcazar's move to postpone the deal, citing concerns over public spending and leaving the decision to the next administration.

Local media reported that both officials opposed the delay. De Zela said postponing the purchase could harm Peru's credibility in negotiations, while Diaz described the acquisition as a matter of national security.

Balcazar said that the delay was intended to ensure the proper use of public funds and that Peru does not seek confrontation with the United States.

The decision comes amid a political transition in Peru, where a new president is expected to take office in July following ongoing election processes. 
UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for international efforts to prevent the Middle East conflict from impacting Syria's security and stability.

"Tensions in the Middle East persist with spreading spillover effects, adding new complexities to the existing fragility in Syria," said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. "It is imperative that the international community act in concert to keep the flames of war in the Middle East from flaring up or expanding further and from impacting Syria's security and stability."

With much at stake, the Middle East could tilt toward either war or peace, he said. China calls on the relevant parties to seize the window of peace, exercise maximum restraint, demonstrate utmost sincerity, and continue to settle disputes through political and diplomatic means, with a view to achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, he told the Security Council.

Calling for efforts toward an inclusive political transition in Syria, Fu said, "All Syrian parties should uphold the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle, and address each other's concerns through extensive political dialogue to effectively promote internal reconciliation and achieve peaceful coexistence at an early date."

In this process, the legitimate rights and interests of all groups in Syria must be fully guaranteed and large-scale violence must never be allowed to recur, said Fu.

Fu said eliminating terrorist groups is essential to restoring stability in Syria, urging the international community to avoid double standards in counterterrorism. He also called on Syria's transitional government to meet its obligations and take effective action against all UN-designated terrorist organizations.

He said respecting Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity is a key principle in resolving the Syrian issue, calling for an immediate end to Israel's military operations in the separation zone and strikes in southern Syria, which he said violate international law, and urging full adherence to the 1974 disengagement agreement as well as Israel's withdrawal from Syrian territory without delay.

China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting long-term peace and stability in Syria and restoring peace and stability to the Middle East, he said. 
A burial ceremony for the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs is held at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by honor guards during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Han He)

This photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards escort caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Han He)

This photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards march into position during a burial ceremony for the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Han He)

Honor guards escort caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

People pay tribute to martyrs at the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards fire a gun salute during a burial ceremony for the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Han He)

Honor guards escort caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Han He)

Honor guards line up during a burial ceremony for the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards escort caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards escort caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards arrange caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Han He)

Honor guards escort caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Honor guards escort caskets containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 23, 2026. The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were laid to rest on Thursday here.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were brought back to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
ACCRA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has urged Ghanaian nationals in South Africa to remain calm, reaffirming the government's commitment to protecting its citizens both at home and abroad.

The call by the foreign minister comes after a viral video surfaced on social media showing a South African woman leading a youth group to confront a Ghanaian resident, accusing him of overstaying and calling for foreigners to return to their home countries.

In a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Ablakwa disclosed that he had held a telephone conversation with his South African counterpart Ronald Lamola to address the situation.

"Let me assure compatriots that the Mahama administration remains uncompromising about the welfare and safety of Ghanaians, both at home and abroad. We are determined to guarantee the protection of all citizens," said Ablakwa.

The minister disclosed that his South African counterpart has expressed empathy with the victims and promised full-scale investigations into the incidents, adding that authorities in South Africa are expected to brief African ambassadors on the matter.

Ablakwa also revealed that Ghana's diplomatic mission in South Africa, led by High Commissioner Benjamin Quashie, has been actively coordinating a response and providing support to affected citizens.

"I am gladdened that so far, colleagues in our diplomatic mission have located the main victim in the viral video and are offering consular assistance. He is doing very well. No Ghanaian life has been lost," he added. 
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Graeme Biggar, director general of Britain's National Crime Agency, in Beijing, capital of China, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Graeme Biggar, director general of Britain's National Crime Agency, in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang said that China stands ready to work with Britain, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, to deepen practical cooperation in such areas as combating economic and financial crimes, telecom and online fraud, and illegal immigration, as well as carrying out drug control.

The two sides should step up coordination of actions under multilateral frameworks including the United Nations and Interpol, strengthen cooperation on law enforcement capacity building and experience sharing, continuously advance the in-depth development of bilateral law enforcement cooperation, and jointly safeguard the well-being of the two peoples, Wang added.

Biggar said that Britain is ready to maintain close communication with China and jointly elevate the level of bilateral law enforcement cooperation. 
ISLAMABAD, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir are making all-out efforts at every level to help resolve issues between Iran and the United States for lasting peace.

In a meeting with Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad Natalie A. Baker, Naqvi expressed hope that "the parties will give diplomacy and a peaceful solution a chance," according to an interior ministry statement.

During the meeting, both sides held a detailed discussion on the latest regional situation and reviewed ongoing diplomatic efforts related to the second round of talks expected to be held in Islamabad. 
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday there is "no time frame" for ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

There was "no time pressure" on the extended ceasefire or pending new peace talks, Trump told Fox News.

"People say I want to get it over because of the midterms, not true," Trump claimed. He had initially said the war would last four to six weeks after it began on Feb. 28.

On Tuesday, Trump said that he would extend the two-week ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday night to allow more time for Iran to come up with a unified proposal for further negotiations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that Trump has not set a deadline for receiving Iran's proposal. "Ultimately, the timeline would be dictated by the commander in chief," she said.

Trump may extend the ceasefire with Iran for three to five more days, U.S. online media outlet Axios reported Wednesday, citing three U.S. officials.

Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Ahmad Vahidi and his deputies had rejected much of what Iran's own negotiators had discussed during the first round of U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan earlier this month, according to the report. 
ADDIS ABABA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Thursday said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's recent appointment as the African Union (AU) Champion for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Health is a recognition of his leadership and the country's growing role in advancing AI and innovation across the continent.

Appointing Abiy for his new continental duty, the AU underscored that his "leadership in promoting digital transformation and emerging technologies has helped position AI as a key tool for sovereignty, efficiency, and inclusive growth in Africa," the Ethiopian Prime Minister's Office said in a statement issued Thursday.

The 55-member continental organization highlighted that Abiy's continued advocacy for strategic autonomy and technological empowerment "will be instrumental in positioning Africa as a global leader in responsible and equitable AI adoption."

In recent years, the East African country has witnessed notable progress in digitization and AI, with some national initiatives launched under Abiy's leadership, including a university specializing in AI.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister's Office highlighted that the expansion of digital infrastructure, the rollout of e-government services, investments in innovation ecosystems, the establishment of an AI institute, and the development of a national AI strategy have laid "a strong foundation for transformation."

Abiy has recently announced the country's plan to establish a dedicated AI university, which is expected to strengthen research, talent development, and continental collaboration in emerging technologies.

Last week, African ministers at the AU Peace and Security Council high-level ministerial session welcomed Abiy's appointment. They noted that the decision highlighted the role of innovation in advancing peace and sustainable development across the continent. 
ANTANANARIVO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The distribution and sale of Chinese books hold significant potential in Madagascar's publishing landscape, as the country's interest in China continues to grow, Fabien Corbou, director of the Malagasy Book Promotion Center (CMPL), has said.

"Today, Malagasy youth are increasingly looking toward other horizons, including China," Corbou told Xinhua in an interview ahead of World Book Day, which falls on April 23. "Among students and teachers, there is a desire to better understand this major country that is widely discussed."

As director of the CMPL, a bookstore founded in 1973 and specializing in academic and professional works, Corbou has witnessed the evolution of the publishing sector in Madagascar.

According to him, books remain "an expensive product" and access to them is still limited, despite growing public interest in reading.

Since China has made great progress in many fields such as technology, business, and trade, the access to up-to-date Chinese publications can be a valuable asset for Madagascar's development, Corbou said.

Beyond academic publications, he underlined Chinese children's literature as "a key area" and a cultural gateway for distributing Chinese books in Madagascar.

"If children can explore more stories from China, they will naturally become more open to the culture as they grow up," Corbou said.

He also highlighted increasing interest among Chinese readers in Madagascar, particularly in its history and traditional medicinal plants.

"We need to build bridges between universities, publishers and booksellers," Corbou said, adding that he hopes Malagasy booksellers and publishers could travel to China, participate in book fairs, and meet directly with Chinese publishers to strengthen cultural and professional exchanges. 
TUNIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The 40th Tunis International Book Fair opened Thursday at the Kram Exhibition Park in the northern suburbs of the Tunisian capital and will run until May 3.

Under the theme "Tunisia, Homeland of Books," this edition brings together 394 publishing houses from more than 30 countries.

President Kais Saied inaugurated the event, touring the various halls and exhibition pavilions in the presence of numerous intellectuals, thinkers, and publishing house executives.

During the presentation of this year's program, Mohamed Salah Kadri, director of the organizing committee, announced that 25 cultural activities would be held alongside the event, including 10 seminars and 15 roundtables. 
SYDNEY, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft on Thursday announced it will spend 17.9 billion U.S. dollars on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Australia over the next three years in the technology giant's largest-ever investment in the country.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the 25 billion Australian dollar (17.9 billion U.S. dollars) investment in Sydney, declaring that it will expand Microsoft's AI supercomputing and cloud infrastructure and boost Australia's cyber defenses.

The commitment includes funding for data centers, AI skills training for three million Australian workers and expanded collaboration between Microsoft and the federal government on cybersecurity and national resilience.

"Australia has an enormous opportunity to translate AI into real economic growth and societal benefit," Nadella said. "That is why we are making our largest investment in Australia to date."

Albanese said that the commitment from Microsoft would help Australia capture the economic opportunities of AI while also protecting from the risks. 
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Brunei hosted the Asia-Pacific Food Forum on Wednesday, marking the country's first time staging the regional event.

In collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization, Brunei aims to accelerate agrifood system transformation through investment, science, innovation, and the empowerment of women and youth, while supporting the Sustainable Development Goals, according to Brunei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.

It gathered around 150 participants, including policymakers, farmers, academics, private sector players and development partners, to address challenges such as climate change, market volatility, food safety, and limited access to innovation and finance. 
PHNOM PENH, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia welcomed Myanmar's recent granting of amnesty to more than 4,000 prisoners, saying that the move is a positive and significant development consistent with ASEAN's expectations, said a statement of Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation late Wednesday.

"This move is a positive and significant development consistent with ASEAN's expectations, and helps create a more conducive environment for dialogue and national reconciliation," it added.

The statement said that Cambodia looks forward to further positive steps that build confidence and advance the cause of peace. 
PHNOM PENH, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government on Thursday approved a new draft law on military conscription, which requires young male-adults to fulfill military obligation.

The approval was made during a weekly cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet, said a government's press release issued after the meeting.

The draft law aims at building the capacity of the armed forces, the press release said.

"Under this draft law, all Cambodian citizens aged between 18 and 25 years old are required to fulfill military obligation," the press release said.

However, for women, it will be implemented under the "voluntary principle," the press release added.

The draft bill will need to be adopted by the National Assembly and finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni for promulgation.

According to the press release, the Southeast Asian country had a law on compulsory military service in 2006, but it did not yet cover all aspects at the present and in the future, so the government has decided to make this law again. 
PHNOM PENH, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and foreign minister, on Thursday briefed the media on the six points of consensus reached during the first meeting between Chinese and Cambodian foreign ministers and defense ministers under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism.

First, both sides agreed to firmly support each other, focusing on supporting each other in safeguarding their core interests. China appreciates Cambodia's reaffirmation of its firm adherence to the one-China principle.

Second, both sides agreed to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, focusing on helping Cambodia accelerate its capacity for independent development, particularly on the construction of the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor," and advancing the strategic Funan Techo Integrated Water Resources Management Project.

Third, both sides agreed to strengthen political and security cooperation, focusing on safeguarding the security of their respective governments and systems, jointly resisting external infiltration, and preventing "color revolutions."

Fourth, both sides agreed to strengthen law enforcement cooperation, focusing on resolutely and thoroughly combating online gambling and telecom fraud.

Fifth, both sides agreed to strengthen defense cooperation, focusing on assisting Cambodia in accelerating its defense capacity building.

Sixth, both sides agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, focusing on opposing power politics and bullying, upholding global free trade, and supporting the United Nations in playing its due role. 
ISLAMABAD, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were killed and a foreign worker abducted after terrorists attacked a mining exploration site in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday evening, security sources said on Thursday.

The attack happened at about 7 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Wednesday at a site operated by the National Resources Limited company in Chaghi district, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Copper and gold exploration activities were underway at the site where the attack took place, the sources added.

"Armed militants used small arms fire and under-barrel grenade launcher rounds during the attack, and also carried out arson and sabotage, damaging three fuel bowsers and setting fire to two to three tents and two vehicles at the site," the sources said.

One terrorist was killed in retaliatory fire, while the remaining attackers fled the scene with the abducted individual in two vehicles.

Security forces have launched a search operation in the area to track down the perpetrators and recover the abducted foreign national.

The deceased included three private security guards and six laborers, the sources said.

No group has claimed the attack so far. 
YANGON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar exported over 355,225 tons of green mung beans in the 2025-2026 fiscal year (April 2025 to March 2026), generating over 315 million U.S. dollars in export earnings, according to the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) on Thursday.

The export volume declined compared with the 2024-2025 fiscal year, during which the country exported more than 600,633 tons of green mung beans and earned over 425 million U.S. dollars.

To boost green mung bean exports, the country is adopting Good Agricultural Practices, which promote sustainable farming, reduce the use of harmful chemicals, and ensure food safety standards, U Ye Min Aung, Vice President of the UMFCCI, told Xinhua.

Green mung beans were exported to key markets including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines, he said.

In addition, European markets, particularly the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France, were among the notable buyers of Myanmar's green mung beans, he added. 
COLOMBO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's per capita income exceeded 5,000 U.S. dollars for the first time in 2025, reaching 5,003 U.S. dollars, state media reported Wednesday night, quoting the latest annual report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The central bank report showed that Sri Lanka's economy grew by 5 percent in 2025, a significant improvement compared with recent years.

Sri Lanka's gross domestic product rose to 32.75 trillion rupees (about 105 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up from 30.1 trillion rupees in 2024, according to central bank data.

Government revenue has risen to 16.7 percent of GDP, the data showed. 
KABUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 1,000 Afghan refugee families have returned to their homeland in a single day, highlighting the ongoing trend of repatriation amid evolving regional conditions, the official media Bakhtar news agency reported on Thursday.

According to the report, a total of 943 families crossed back into the country from neighboring Iran and Pakistan. The returnees entered Afghanistan through several key border crossings, including Islam Qala in western Herat Province, Torkham in eastern Nangarhar Province, and Spin Boldak in southern Kandahar Province

Despite these difficulties, many returning families express hope for rebuilding their lives in their homeland, even as Afghanistan faces ongoing economic and social challenges. 
MOSCOW, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia said Thursday it struck 138 energy infrastructure facilities supporting Ukrainian military operations, and Ukrainian military deployment sites in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Russia's air defense systems shot down 418 Ukrainian drones and 10 precision-guided bombs, said the defense ministry.

In Russia's Samara Oblast, one person was killed and several others wounded as a result of a Ukrainian attack on an enterprise in Novokuybyshevsk and a residential building, Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said on his Telegram channel on the same day.

Local authorities said that some classes in the region's schools have been postponed. Children who were already at school during the attacks have been moved to shelters. Kindergartens were reportedly closed and will not reopen until the air alert ends. 
Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai (1st R) meets with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares (1st L) in Madrid, Spain, April 22, 2026. (GCS Macao/Handout via Xinhua)

MADRID, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai said on Wednesday that expanding cooperation with Spanish-speaking countries is a strategic priority for the region, pledging to extend the functions of Macao's platform for cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries to Spanish-speaking countries.

Sam made the remarks at a reception in Madrid hosted by the Macao SAR government.

He noted that Macao has long maintained close links with European countries, including Spain, and will further deepen cooperation in trade, culture, tourism, and conventions and exhibitions with these countries, while enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

Sam said China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan will outline the country's development blueprint for the next five years, providing broad prospects for China-Spain cooperation. Macao is aligning with the plan and formulating its own third five-year development plan to improve external cooperation mechanisms and build a platform for shared development opportunities.

Concha Andreu, second vice president of the Spanish Senate, said both Spain and China share a strong desire to strengthen cooperation, and bilateral relations are maintaining sound momentum.

She noted that China has made notable progress in areas such as technological innovation, while Macao's economy shows strong vitality and potential. Spain and Macao, both major tourist destinations, have promising prospects for cooperation in culture, tourism, and the conventions and exhibitions sectors.

More than 300 representatives from the Macao SAR government, business circles and Spanish economic and commercial sectors attended the event. 

Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai (C, front) attends a reception hosted by the Macao SAR government in Madrid, Spain, April 22, 2026. (GCS Macao/Handout via Xinhua)
SOFIA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Progressive Bulgaria coalition, led by former President Rumen Radev, won 131 seats in the 240-member parliament in Sunday's elections, according to final results announced by the country's Central Election Commission (CEC) on Thursday.

The GERB-UDF coalition came second with 39 seats, the CEC said.

Three other political formations also entered parliament: the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition with 37 seats, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) with 21 seats, and the Revival party with 12 seats.

Under the constitution, the newly elected parliament must be convened for its first session by the president, who will then task the largest parliamentary group with forming a government. The proposed government must be approved by a simple majority vote.

This marks Bulgaria's eighth parliamentary election in five years, following the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's government in December 2025 amid mass protests over its economic policies and the subsequent failure of parliament to form a new cabinet.

Radev, born in 1963, was first elected president in November 2016, re-elected in November 2021, and began his second consecutive term in January 2022. He resigned in January 2026 ahead of snap parliamentary elections. 
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump did not view Iran's seizure of two European ships by force near the Strait of Hormuz as a breach of the extended U.S. ceasefire with Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

"These were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels," she said on Fox News.

"These two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don't have control over the strait. This is piracy that we are seeing on display," Leavitt said.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said earlier Wednesday that it had seized two vessels "allegedly operating without proper authorization, repeatedly violating regulations, and manipulating navigation systems."

The IRGC also targeted a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria on Wednesday, a third "violating ship" attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now stranded on Iran's shores, the Iranian semi-official Fars news agency reported. 
People attend a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump did not view Iran's seizure of two European ships by force near the Strait of Hormuz as a breach of the extended U.S. ceasefire with Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

"These were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels," she said on Fox News.

"These two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don't have control over the strait. This is piracy that we are seeing on display," Leavitt said.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said earlier Wednesday that it had seized two vessels "allegedly operating without proper authorization, repeatedly violating regulations, and manipulating navigation systems."

The IRGC also targeted a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria on Wednesday, a third "violating ship" attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now stranded on Iran's shores, the Iranian semi-official Fars news agency reported. 
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Wednesday urged U.S. citizens in Iran to leave after the Middle East country partially reopened its airspace.

In a social media post, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs urged Americans to monitor local media for updates closely and to contact commercial airlines for information about outbound flights.

The advisory noted that U.S. citizens may also depart by land to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Turkmenistan. However, it warned against traveling to Afghanistan, Iraq or the Pakistan-Iran border area.

Iran shut down its airspace after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes started on Feb. 28.

The country reopened its eastern airspace to international flights on Saturday, paving the way for the partial resumption of airport operations.

In a report on Sunday, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting quoted a senior official from Iran's Civil Aviation Organization as saying that the country's airspace would be reopened in four phases. 
NEW YORK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were injured on Thursday in a shooting at the food court of a shopping mall in Baton Rouge, the U.S. state of Louisiana, police said.

"Two groups of people got into an argument inside the food court and started shooting at each other," Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. said. "Unfortunately, there were some innocent people that were in the area that might have also caught some rounds."

The wounded were taken to local hospitals, Morse said. Two sustained severe injuries that require surgery.

The incident took place at around 1:22 p.m. local time at the Mall of Louisiana, the police chief said, adding that "there is no known threat to the public." 
WASHINGTON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that he has no "rush" to end the weeks-long U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as negotiations have been stalled, while expecting U.S. citizens to spend more money on gasoline "for a little while."

"I don't want to rush myself," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that U.S. citizens would anticipate paying more for higher prices with the payoff being "Iran without a nuclear weapon."

"I am possibly the least pressured person ever to be in this position. I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn't -- The clock is ticking!" Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier on Thursday. "Time is not on their side!"

He insisted that any peace deal with Iran would be made on U.S. terms and his timeline. "A deal will only be made when it's appropriate and good for the United States of America, our Allies and, in fact, the rest of the World," he wrote.

Trump said Wednesday there is "no time frame" for ending the war and "no time pressure" on the ceasefire he extended Tuesday or on stalled talks.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday there was no "firm deadline" for Tehran to submit a proposal for a peace deal with Washington. 
German chocolate manufacturer Alfred Ritter is to cut dozens of jobs at its HQ.

The privately owned group pointed to rising costs and muted consumer spending.

Around 70 staff at Ritters head office in the southern German town of Waldenbuch face the axe. Approximately 1,000 employees work at the company headquarters. The group employs 1,900 worldwide.

Our company has been operating in a challenging economic environment for several years, a Ritter spokesperson said.

The combination of highly volatile raw material prices, persistently rising costs  particularly for energy and packaging  and a noticeable reluctance to spend on the part of consumers is putting structural pressure on our business model.

Against this backdrop, it is necessary to make sustainable adjustments to our cost base. This also involves making our structures more efficient.

In 2025, Ritter booked a turnover of 712m ($832.3m), up 15% on a year earlier. The spokesperson said the company was loss-making last year, compared to a small profit in 2024. No specific figures for profits were disclosed.

In November last year, Ritter struck a deal to buy Creative Natural Products, the US business behind the Chocolove brand, for an undisclosed sum.

Creative Natural Products, headquartered in Boulder in Colorado, makes its Chocolove products at its facility in the city.

In a statement at the time, Ralf Hilpusch, the CEO of Ritter Sport USA, said the takeover was a decisive step in our ambition to build a strong and influential presence in the US chocolate market.

"Jobs to go at German chocolate giant Ritter" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




China willing to advance global community of shared development with all parties: vice president

Xinhua) 08:40, April 23, 2026

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with foreign attendees of the Third High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development in Beijing, capital of China, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to work with all parties to advance a global community of shared development, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said on Wednesday.

Han made the remarks during a meeting with foreign attendees of the Third High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development in Beijing.

Noting that five years have passed since Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Han said the initiative has won active response and broad support from the international community, with substantial progress made through joint efforts.

Han said China will take the conference as an opportunity to build wider consensus with all parties, stay committed to action-oriented approaches, scale up investment in global development cooperation, advance cooperation in key areas, and promote green and sustainable development, allowing the people to benefit more from the fruits of development and advancing a global community of shared development.

Foreign attendees congratulated China on successfully hosting the conference, voiced full support for the GDI, and spoke highly of China's contributions to global development. They said their governments firmly adhere to the one-China principle and are willing to strengthen cooperation with China to advance global development.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Port development has moved into a more demanding phase. The old logic was clear enough: trade expands, vessels scale, hinterlands deepen and ports add capacity to keep pace. That still holds in part, but it no longer explains enough. The harder question now is what kind of infrastructure stays valuable when trade routes, sourcing decisions and political assumptions can all shift within a planning cycle.

Data from GlobalData makes that tension clear. The firm is tracking projects worldwide with a combined value of $502.5bn, and more than 60% of that sits in pre-execution or execution. It is being procured, mobilised and built. At the same time, UNCTAD expectations cited in the analysis point to maritime trade growth of just 0.5% in 2025, with container volumes rising 1.4%.

You can see the issue. Capital is committing just as visibility weakens.

For the industry, this is less a forecasting problem than a structural one. A port designed around a single growth path can still underperform if tariffs reroute cargo, conflict alters shipping lanes, or carriers redesign networks. In practice, that is where investment cases begin to strain. Not because ports stop mattering, but because the source of value shifts.

Capacity still matters, but flexibility now carries weight

The change is straightforward. Owners are no longer buying capacity alone. They are paying for room to adjust.

That shows up in design choices. Yard layouts are planned for reconfiguration. Berths are strengthened to handle a wider mix of vessel calls. Landside connections, particularly rail and gate systems, are getting more attention because they help terminals cope when volumes move.

The global port construction pipeline reflects that shift. The headline number is large, but the composition tells the story. A significant share of work is tied to dredging, reclamation, marine structures, electrical systems and layouts that support automation rather than simple expansion. The aim is not just to add space, but to avoid locking assets into one outcome.

Global  Port Construction Projects  By Stage

Contractors are already dealing with the consequences. Labour is tight, marine plant is constrained and procurement lead times are stretching. When demand signals change mid-project, programme risk tends to rise. That is where projects start to slip. Not because the engineering is flawed, but because the assumptions behind sequencing and scope begin to move.

So, clients are adjusting. Phasing is more deliberate. Scope is often modular. The idea is to keep options open rather than commit everything up front.

Asia remains dominant, but the growth story is widening

Asia-Pacific still leads, with GlobalData placing its pipeline at $210.9bn, or 42% of the global total. But the shape of that investment is changing.
(Oil & Gas 360) By Greg Barnett, MBA  Thailands recent decision to explore crude supply options with Oman reflects not a collapse in access to Iranian oil, but a deeper vulnerability to the geopolitical architecture surrounding it. Thailand does not meaningfully import Iranian crude.

Thailand, Iranian oil, and the economic cost of sanctions and war- oil and gas 360

However, the U.S.Iran war, combined with Washingtons tightened maritime blockade and secondary sanctions, has exposed how profoundly Thailands GDP depends on Middle Eastern oil flows, even when Iranian barrels are absent.

According to Thailands Ministry of Energy, the country imports roughly 8590 percent of its crude oil consumption, with total net energy imports equivalent to around 56 percent of GDP, the deepest negative energy trade balance in emerging Asia. Thailand does not import oil from Iran, Deputy Energy Permanent Secretary Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo said in March, but we are still exposed to the global price and shipping impact of the conflict.

That exposure became acute when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed by more than 90 percent following Iranian attacks and the subsequent U.S. naval blockade in March and April 2026. The strait ordinarily carries about onefifth of global oil and LNG flows, and roughly half of Thailands crude imports transit the route. Brent prices briefly surged above $120 per barrel, pushing up Thailands import bill almost overnight.

The macroeconomic consequences have been swift. Thailands National Economic and Social Development Council warned on March 10 that prolonged disruption could cut 2026 GDP growth to 1.3 percent, down from earlier forecasts near 2 percent. Thailand, which depends heavily on imported oil, would be hit hard by rising energy prices if the conflict deepens, said NESDC SecretaryGeneral Danucha Pichayanan. Diesel price caps have so far masked the shock, but at mounting fiscal cost, with the Oil Fuel Fund slipping billions of baht into deficit.

Thailands turn toward Oman and other Gulf producers must also be understood politically. U.S. secondary sanctions make any Iranian energy engagement commercially toxic for Thai firms, while the U.S. blockade, though aimed at Tehran, has restricted shipping insurance availability and raised freight costs for neutral countries. As one Thai government briefing put it, The strategic risk is not shortage. It is repricing.

This has strained Thailands already delicate relationship with Washington. Although a longstanding U.S. treaty ally, Bangkok has grown wary of bearing the economic fallout of U.S. Middle East strategy without input into its execution. Analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations note that U.S. sanctions and unilateral pressure campaigns have, over the past decade, accelerated Thailands drift toward hedging behavior and diversified alignment.
Chartered accountants (CAs) in Northern Ireland are calling for a reform of the public sector, a more attractive corporation tax regime and firmer economic leadership, according to the latest Business Confidence Survey from Chartered Accountants Ulster Society.

More than 200 CAs in Northern Ireland took part in the survey.

The findings depict an economy that has levelled off but is struggling to move beyond weak growth. Respondents cited sustained cost pressures and limited confidence in policy delivery as ongoing challenges.

Just 6% of respondents see the outlook as positive. Most (56%) expect fair conditions, while 38% hold a pessimistic view.

Signs of strain also remain widespread, with 58% reporting that financial distress among businesses continues to rise.

Overall, 76% describe current economic conditions as either stagnant (38%) or expanding only slowly (38%), and only 7% report strong or moderate growth in activity.

Around 95% of the respondents say the rising cost of doing business is a major challenge, alongside pressures from taxation, energy prices and the broader public finance position.

More than half of them (51%) believe Northern Irelands existing funding model is no longer viable and requires substantial change.

The survey also found that more than 90% agree that improving efficiency and refocusing existing expenditure should come before any moves to increase taxes or reduce services.

Respondents also express deep unease about how decisions are made and implemented.

They highlight inefficiency, slow decision-making and a lack of strategic direction as significant impediments to growth.

A large majority (85%) think a more competitive Corporation Tax rate would enhance Northern Irelands ability to attract and retain mobile investment.

The survey further points to what many see as unrealised benefits from Northern Irelands post-Brexit dual market access.

On technology, respondents signalled cautious optimism about AI.

Almost half (49%) expect AI to affect their role without radically altering it, while 36% foresee significant or positive transformation.

The Ulster Society has urged policymakers to adopt a long-term economic strategy with a strong emphasis on implementation as well as policy design.

Chartered Accountants Ulster Society chairman Mark Lawther said: Northern Irelands economy has stabilised, but momentum remains modest.

Businesses continue to face elevated costs and financial pressures, and greater confidence will depend on clearer, faster policy delivery.

There is a clear message from our members that reform must come before additional revenue-raising. Improving how public money is spent, alongside stronger governance and decision-making, is essential to restoring confidence.
For years, the only way for Jose de la Torre to make a living in L.A. as a pizza delivery driver was to crash with six other people in a one-bedroom apartment.

Then, when his weekly hours were cut from 40 to 30, he gave up and started living in his car (1), as he shared with the Los Angeles Times in 2023.

Flash forward three years and things have improved for fast-food workers like de la Torre, in large part thanks to a new $20/hour minimum wage specifically for workers at California's fast-food, snack and beverage chains.

Must Read

When the new minimum wage kicked in April 2024, restaurant industry groups protested the $4 premium they had to pay workers on top of the existing $16 California minimum wage at the time.

They claimed it would take a Big-Mac-sized bite out of their profits, forcing them to spike prices and shed jobs.

But new research from the University of California, Berkeley shows that giving fast-food workers that raise transformed fast-food workers' lives with minimal downside.

In an industry notorious for wage theft, labor violations, and unpredictable just-in-time work schedules, there were no job cuts or cuts in hours. Menu prices increased by pennies, even as employees' income grew, according to the new study.

What researchers found

Economists Denis Sosinskiy and Michael Reich dove into a massive trove of data: census figures on employment and wages, pay information from online job postings and the payment platform Square  even anonymized cellphone-based location data measuring how long workers spent in fast-food chains.

What they found: Two fiscal quarters after the change, fast-food workers' hourly wages were not only up by 11%, but so were their overall weekly earnings  also up 11%, indicating that their hours were not cut at all.

What about price hikes for menu items? The researchers pulled Uber Eats menus from 900 restaurants in California and 1,100 in other states to measure changes in prices before and after the policy's effective date.

While employees' earnings went up 11%, fast-food joints' total costs only went up 3% as labor represents only a small part of their overall spending. The restaurants passed half of that cost increase on to consumers.
Student loan borrowers in the Saving for a Valuable Education plan have faced significant upheaval over the past two years.

Credit: Investopedia / Photo Composite by Elizabeth Guevara / Getty Images

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Buyback program, made after the Saving for a Valuable Education plan was struck down, have increased borrowers' costs.

Almost 90,000 public service loan borrowers have been waiting as long as a year for a decision on their PSLF Buyback applications.

Borrowers in the SAVE plan must switch to another repayment plan and resume payments.

Thousands of student loan borrowers have been waiting up to years for their promised forgiveness, and recent policy shifts have stretched their wait and increased their costs.

One federal worker who lives in Virginia, near Washington, D.C., told Investopedia she has been waiting over a year for her loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. (She spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation as a federal worker for disclosing her financial situation and appearing to criticize the administration's policy.) The borrower said the amount she owes to secure forgiveness has risen by thousands of dollars, with her monthly student loan bill increasing six times her previous payments.

This borrower is not alone.

"The payments under the standard plan, or IBR, or some of the other plans that are available for some borrowers, will be quite a bit higher than what they would have been on SAVE," said Sarah Reber, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, where she focuses on education policy.

Why This Matters

Under recent Department of Education changes, millions of SAVE borrowers must move to a new plan and resume payments within months, and those payments will likely be far higher than what they owed under SAVE. Experts predict the plan's end will drive default rates higher. Public service workers eligible for loan discharge could avoid this stress if their applications are processed.

The mid-career borrower has been on the Saving for a Valuable Education plan since it was introduced in 2023 under former President Joe Biden. The SAVE plan was intended to lower monthly payments based on a borrower's income and provide an easier path to forgiveness. However, in early March, the repayment plan was struck down after the 8th Circuit ruled the president exceeded his authority by including loan forgiveness and monthly payments that were too generous.

[The ruling] was very frustrating, because when the SAVE plan had first come about, I felt like there was hope that I could see how I could easily manage the payments, and I could see when my forgiveness was going to happen, and everything was on track, said the borrower, who said she has about $150,000 in student loan debt.
European Union competition regulators are reviewing whether JD.coms proposed $2.5bn acquisition of Ceconomy may have involved foreign state backing.

According to a European Commission filing cited by Reuters, the EU watchdog has set 28 May as the deadline for its preliminary examination of the deal.

That initial review will determine whether the transaction should move to an in-depth probe under the blocs foreign subsidies rules.

If concerns are not resolved during the first phase, the Commission may open a fuller investigation and could ask JD.com to offer remedies.

The assessment is being conducted under the EUs Foreign Subsidies Regulation, which targets distortions to competition arising from support granted by non-EU states.

The deal is not being reviewed under the EUs standard merger control system.

JD.coms planned purchase of Ceconomy would expand the Chinese online retail groups footprint beyond its domestic market by giving it access to Ceconomys consumer electronics businesses, including MediaMarkt and Saturn.

The transaction is also being scrutinised in Austria under foreign direct investment rules.

While the deal has already been cleared in several other jurisdictions, approval in Austria is still pending, leaving an important regulatory issue unsettled.

Italy has already approved the takeover, although its authorisation came with conditions.

In December, the country introduced strict measures concerning personal data protection linked to JD.coms purchase of Ceconomys Italian business.

The ruling was issued under Italys golden power framework, which allows state intervention in deals involving assets considered strategically important.

Separately, JD.com expanded its European activity last month by launching its Joybuy online marketplace in six countries, including the UK.

The service is now operating in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the UK, selling categories such as technology, appliances, beauty products, household goods, groceries and everyday essentials.

"EU reviews JD.coms Ceconomy bid over subsidy concerns  report" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently weighed in on how artificial intelligence (AI) might impact working life, suggesting in an X post that smart, bigger companies could cut the number of hours employees put in each day.

Check Out: Mark Cuban Warns 4 Key Industries Could Crumble in the Next Recession

Explore More: 7 Low-Risk Accounts Financially Savvy People Trust for Reliable Returns  And How You Can Use Them

They will reduce their work day by an hour to start, Cuban wrote, adding that employees will still get the same paycheck. Heres a look at whether AI really could shorten the workweek and how that might impact your paycheck.

AIs Impact on Work Hours

Although Cuban focused on shorter workdays  beginning the day at 10 a.m. rather than 9 a.m., for example  plenty of other business experts have suggested that AI will lead to a shorter workweek across numerous industries.

One of those experts is JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. In November 2025, Dimon addressed the topic at the America Business Forum, Fortune reported.

My guess is the developed world will be working three and a half days a week in 20, 30, 40 years, and have wonderful lives, Dimon said.

Others expect a four-day workweek to arrive much sooner than that.

In the U.S., AI can potentially automate tasks that account for roughly one-quarter of all work hours, according to a report from Goldman Sachs Research. This could speed the transition to four-day workweeks in much the same way that COVID-19 produced a steep rise in remote work.

Keep Financial Literacy Month going  learn how the MoneyLion app helps you track, manage and move your money in one place

How Will Pay Be Affected?

As Cuban noted, many companies can still pay their workers the same amount even if they work one fewer hour each day. Other experts also say wages dont necessarily have to go down even if AI reduces work schedules.

Jared Lindzon and Joe OConnor, co-authors of Do More in Four: Why Its Time for a Shorter Workweek, recently told the Harvard Business Review that salaries often remain the same when AI reduces weekly work hours to 32 from 40.

The main impact would be on paid time off (PTO), as some employers reduce the number of PTO days when workweeks are shortened. For hourly employees, however, fewer hours would translate into less pay.

What If Your Pay Gets Cut?

If you find yourself with fewer work hours due to AI  and lower pay  the obvious solution is to fill in the gap with other income sources. This could come in the form of part-time work, side hustles, investment opportunities or other means.
By Emily Green and David Lawder

MEXICO CITY, April 22 (Reuters) - Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard acknowledged on Wednesday that tariffs on the country's automotive, steel and aluminum sectors are likely to remain in place, regardless of whether a trade deal with the U.S. and Canada is renewed.

"We shouldnt be nostalgic about a time when there were no tariffs," Ebrard told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday. "When it comes to the automotive industry, steel and aluminumwhich have been our prioritywe know it is very difficult to think that tariffs will disappear. What we are looking for is how to reduce them."

His comments come one day after Reuters reported that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Mexico's auto and steel industries earlier this week they should not expect the renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to remove President Donald Trump's tariffs on their sectors.

Ebrard, who is leading Mexico's negotiations with the U.S. to revamp USMCA starting the week of May 25, said Greer shared the same message with Mexican business leaders and largely repeated it to U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday.

"The worldthe global trading system we had, based on free tradeis very unlikely to return," Ebrard said.

COMMITTED TO TARIFFS

Greer told the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee that Trump intended to keep tariffs in place on U.S. imports, that his trade policies have not changed.

"He's not going to go back to the old situation where we had no tariffs and we just let foreign goods made by foreign workers come in without any fee to the detriment of domestic workers," Greer said. "The president will have tariffs using appropriate legal tools."

Mexico and Canada have been looking to the USMCA negotiations as a way to provide relief from the steep duties Trump imposed last year that have caused difficulties for automakers and other industries in a highly integrated North American economy.

Trump last year imposed a 25% national security tariff on automotive exports from Mexico and Canada, compared to zero under USMCA, which Trump launched in 2020 as the "greatest trade deal ever."

Although the value of U.S. content can be deducted from the import value of vehicles and parts, automakers say that Trump's 25% duties put Mexico and Canada at a disadvantage to other major auto-producing countries and regions. Vehicles from Japan, South Korea and the European Union are charged a 15% tariff, while cars from Britain are charged 10%.
As Starbucks prepares its 2nd headquarters in Nashville within the next 5 years, many throughout Downtown Seattle are worried this could be the beginning of more businesses eventually leaving the Emerald City.

Look at what has happened to our big business in Seattle. Theyve all contracted and moved elsewhere, Ryan Frost with Washington Policy Center said.

Frost says city and state taxes couldve played a role in the coffee giants decision to grow their business in Tennessee. He says with this move, the company avoids paying several taxes they currently pay for the Global HQ in Seattle such as the Jump Start Payroll Tax, B&O Tax, Informations Technologies Service Tax and several more that will go into effect soon. He says in 2014, Washington ranked 6th in the US for tax purposes on business but in 2025, Washington fell to 45th.

Bare minimum they are going to save $250 million over the course of that 23 year lease in Nashville than they wouldve had to stay here in Seattle, Frost said.

One person who has been outspoken about Starbucks corporate has been Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, who joined baristas on the picket line in November.

That is why I am proud to join on the picket line and proud to say loud and clear that I am not buying Starbucks and you should not either, Wilson said.

KIRO 7 pressed Wilson at a press conference talking about improvements being made to the Route 8 bus line. When she was asked about Starbucks, she didnt want to talk about it.

Again this is not the subject of our press conference. So Starbucks expansion is Nashville has been in the works for years. Seattle will remain their North American HQ and we are confident of that, Wilson said.

While Wilson is confident Starbucks HQ will remain in Seattle, Frost and many throughout the downtown corridor worry if the attitude toward big business doesnt change, then we will see a lot more vacant buildings across the city.

If you want your businesses to survive and your downtown not to be hollowed out, you need to have an environment where people can succeed, Frost said.
By Francesco Guarascio and Jihoon Lee

HANOI/SEOUL, April 23 (Reuters) - South Korean and Vietnamese companies signed 73 business deals on tech, energy and infrastructure on Thursday as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited Hanoi, a list seen by Reuters showed.

The agreements, which were mostly non-binding with no value mentioned, followed the signing a day earlier of 12 cooperation pacts at a meeting between Lee and Vietnam's top leader To Lam, including on Korean possible investment in a new nuclear plant in southern Vietnam.

South Korea is the largest investor in Vietnam with factories accounting for more than 30% of the country's exports, although its investment pledges fell about 25% last year from 2024, according to Vietnam's government data, amid trade uncertainty and concerns over Vietnamese regulations.

Officials of more than 100 Korean companies with operations in Vietnam including longtime investor Samsung Electronics accompanied Lee, following a visit to India, officials and media said.

The number of corporate agreements was confirmed by Korea's industry ministry on Thursday.

LNG, DATA CENTRES, UNMANNED VEHICLES

The document lists an investment licence for a liquefied natural gas power plant to be co-developed by SK Innovation with local partners, and non-binding memoranda of understanding for the development of data centres in Vietnam by SK Innovation, SK Telecom and Daewoo E&C.

It also includes an investment certificate to expand an existing facility in Vietnam run by Seojin System Co, a communication equipment maker.

The Korea Chip Design Industry Association agreed to work with Vietnamese tech firm FPT to promote the development of next-generation semiconductor technology, according to the list.

Defence company Hanwha System signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnamese firm Saigontel to cooperate on unmanned submarine and surface vehicles, and Kepco E&C agreed to work on a wind power project in Vietnam.

In a regulatory filing earlier on Thursday, Hyundai Rotem said it won orders worth about $332 million for a three-phase rail project in Ho Chi Minh City. The agreement is mentioned on the list without an investment value.

The officials with Lee include those representing Samsung Electronics, SK, LG, Lotte, POSCO Holdings and HD Hyundai, they added.

Samsung has the largest presence in the Southeast Asian nation after decades of investment running into more than $20 billion.

It has recently made progress in years-long talks with Vietnamese authorities for a possible back-end semiconductor factory, sources familiar with the discussions have said. However, no agreement was announced on Thursday.
Its clear that Spirit cant keep flyingunless Trump indeed orders a huge cash refill from the government. Clearly, keeping Americas leisure and business flyers as happy as possible under the circumstances is the best possible outcome for Trump. And that means maintaining the greatest possible frequency of service, and the best ticket prices considering the inevitable fuel surcharges. The problem: Salvaging Spirit is just a short-term fix that could do more harm than good. It would create subsidized competition for JetBlue and Frontier, potentially forcing those budget rivals, also stressed by punishing fuel costs, into slashing flights to dodge a financial tailspin. That shrinking capacity could stoke higher fares and lengthen times between takeoffs, especially to prized vacation spots that folks plan on visiting this summer.

Spirits tailspin, of course, is partly of Trumps making. The Middle East conflict has ignited an explosion in jet fuel prices, a line item that in average times amounts to 20% to 30% of airlines pretax, noninterest costs. Spirit has been operating under bankruptcy protection since August, and just two weeks after the war began, presented an already-fragile reorganization plan in the Southern District of New York. The blueprint projected jet fuel in the $2.20 a gallon range for this year and 2027, and even at those historically low prices, foresaw super-thin operating margins of 0.5%. Now, airlines are paying around $4.20, almost double the prewar sticker and Spirits forecast. A study by J.P. Morgan posits that owing to the fuel hit, Spirit is set to lose 20 cents for each dollar of revenue, and add $360 million in operating costs, an amount equal to its cash cushion.

During a CNBC interview on April 21, President Trump for the first time hatched the possibility of an administration-led rescue plan for stricken Spirit Airlines . Spirits in trouble, declared the POTUS. Maybe the federal government should help out on that one  Its 14,000 jobs. Prior to Trumps statement, few if any were speculating about such a solution. Indeed, though the U.S. propped up a broad swath of carriers post9/11 and during COVID, weve never seen a Washington bailout designed for an individual airline. From Trumps surprise salvo, things moved fast. By the next day, the secretaries of Transportation and Commerce were reportedly mulling a $500 million package of loans in exchange for warrants that could give the U.S. a substantial equity stake in Spirit. The reports tagged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as the chief proponent of the ownership strategy.

Story Continues

How Spirit got in so much trouble

Famed for its bright-yellow planes, Spirit thrived during the 2010s by offering low-price, no-frills service primarily to destinations in the Southeast and Caribbean. Then, as now, it boasted a strong presence in such metros as Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and destinations in the Caribbean, providing north-south service from New York, as well as Las Vegas, and surprisingly, Detroit. Around the turn of the decade, the player so reliant on low flying and overhead costs made some risky moves. In 2019, Spirit spent $10 billion to $11 billion on a fleet of brand-new Airbus A320neo jets, and the following year broke ground on a sumptuous, 500,000-square-foot campus on 12 acres in Dania Beach, Fla.

In early 2022, Spirit and Frontierboth pounded by COVIDannounced merger plans to create a super ultra-low-cost carrier or ULCC. But months later, JetBlue shattered the proposed union by capturing Spirit on a $3.7 billion, all-cash bid. The two then endured a long process seeking regulatory approvals over strong opposition from the Biden administration. In January of 2024, a federal court sided with the Department of Justice and blocked the tie-up. That March, JetBlue and Spirit abandoned the quest. But its legacy badly damaged the target. Spirit was in limbo for almost two years, where they didnt make hard decisions, says Savanthi Syth, an analyst at Raymond James. Theyd be in a better place today if theyd been able to spend less time without a direction and more time moving in the right direction.

The upshot: In November of 2024, Spirit declared bankruptcy for the first time. It emerged in March of last year brandishing a new game plan. It sold a number of its pricey new planes, relied far more on older models that it owned or leased, and drastically downsized its total fleet to just 76 planes. It also axed such far-flung destinations as Oakland and San Diego to focus on core markets in Florida, New York, and Detroit. Most of all, Spirit moved upmarket. It remained a low-fare player, but positioned itself above the ULCCs by offering a number of perks including free Wi-Fi, extra legroom in premium cabins, and special check-in lanes. They were moving into JetBlue territory, observes Syth.

The plan failed, in part because Spirit had a reputation for mediocre customer service at best. What they offered wasnt enough to offset that historical brand deficit and get the extra revenue, says Syth. Plus, big rivals Delta and United also offered low-price options in their economy cabins, and won loyalty for their gracious treatment of fliers. Plus, United in particular targeted Spirits Florida strongholds deploying bigger planes and more flights.

In August of 2025, Spirit sought bankruptcy protection in New York court, for the second time in under two years. According to Syth, the reorganization plan was too optimistic from the start, and would have courted danger even if the war never happened. It relies on concessions from the unions that decline over time, and assumes that the premium strategy will work this time, greatly boosting revenues. In addition, theyd gone with older airplanes, but theyd need to replace them at market rates. Overall, it seemed like a short-term plan. And it couldnt withstand the oil shock, which to be fair, no one back in January would imagine coming. Citibank, which heads the lender group providing the revolving credit facility, states that Spirit is already in default on part of the agreement, and skewers the airline for failing to show in the plan how it would perform if fuel prices remain elevated.

To make matters worse, if thats possible, Spirit is heading into the slow, pre-summer May season when the industrys bookings and revenues fall. Summer sales havent started, and theyre in a lull period, says Syth. Even before the war, we thought it was highly likely theyd have to liquidate in the May time frame. She adds that a bailout would keep Spirit airborne, but make the futures of JetBlue and Frontier more precarious. And that, she says, could make things worse for the people Trump is trying to protect, the flying public.

As for a redux deal where either of those two rivals buy Spirit, its a long shot. Neither JetBlue nor Frontier harbor balance sheets strong enough to absorb the heavy debt baggage Spirit is carrying. For Syth, the best solution would be that the administration forgo a bailout, and persuade rival airlines to honor Spirit tickets on their own flights. Then, they will eagerly lease and purchase its planes in a supertight market for jets, claim its routes, and hire its pilots and flight attendants.

Losing a low-cost competitor is unfortunate and would, at least for a while, increase concentration in a business where sundry routes offer just one or two competitors. But the best flight path is letting the market work.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) - The average rate on the popular U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell this week, though further declines are likely to be limited by uncertainty surrounding a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Iran.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 6.23%, down from 6.30% last week, mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac said on Thursday. It averaged 5.98% just before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae expanded purchases of mortgage-backed securities.

The rate shot up to an average of 6.46% at the beginning of April. Mortgage rates track U.S. Treasuries, which have largely been range-bound amid lingering uncertainty over the truce.

Trump on Tuesday indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran, though a U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect. On Thursday, Trump said he had ordered the U.S. Navy "to shoot and kill any boat" that is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, lifting global oil prices.

(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani)
Spirit Airlines (FLYQQ) has been in trouble long before the war-driven oil price spike. But now, fuel prices might dictate the carriers survival.

According to JPMorgan analyst Jamie Baker, if gas prices hit $4.60 a gallon, Spirit could face $360 million in additional expenses. That figure exceeds the airlines total year-end cash balance of $337 million.

The result could be liquidation. CNBC reported that a shutdown could come as soon as this week. To stave it off, Spirit has reportedly offered the US government an equity stake in exchange for emergency funding. The Wall Street Journal reported that the carrier may be close to a $500 million rescue package from the Trump administration.

Spirits in a tough spot, SDT Capital Advisors president Steve Trent told Yahoo Finance.

Wall Street is already reacting. Earlier this week, President Trump claimed hed love somebody to buy Spirit, prompting the stock to jump 100%. Spirit stock then catapulted over 600% just a day later as investors bet that a federal lifeline could open the door to a merger. However, the volatility remains extreme, as shares have dropped over 80% in the last year.

Read more: $100 oil could send airfare soaring this summer. These tips could save you.

Analysts remain skeptical of government-led rescue. Were concerned, Baker said, suggesting that if Spirit receives a federal boost, rivals like JetBlue (JBLU) and Frontier (ULCC) may be inclined to follow suit.

Truthfully, we can think of no greater defiant gesture towards the likes of Delta (DAL) and United (UAL) than the government stepping in with lopsided assistance, Baker said.

A Spirit Airlines plane taxis at Hollywood Burbank Airport on April 16, 2026, in Burbank, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)  Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

Spirit has been struggling for years. High debt and operational costs were exacerbated by shifting consumer demand. The ultralow-cost model dwindled as travelers opted for carriers offering better perks at similar prices. Spirit was caught in the middle: too expensive to be the cheapest, but too basic to be the best.

The bleeding hasnt stopped. The company has filed for bankruptcy twice, most recently last August. It posted a net loss of $2.7 billion in 2025, up significantly from the $1.2 billion the company posted in 2024. A massive engine recall further grounded dozens of its aircraft.

Read more: Find the best travel credit cards for April 2026

Today, investors are left wondering which carrier wins if Spirit vanishes.

In a note to clients, Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth described the timing of these liquidation reports as unsurprising given the industrys post-holiday lull. She noted that because Spirits customers tend to book flights at the last minute, the airline lacks advanced ticket sales. Rival airlines can use the cash from future summer bookings to bridge the gap during seasonal slowdowns.
With significant hedge fund interest, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM) ranks among the best silver mining stocks.

Analyst Bullish on Avino Silver & Gold Mines (ASM) Amid 180% YTD Surge

A photo of Vizsla Silver's mining site. Photo from Vizsla Silver website

As of April 17, 2026, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM) enjoys the confidence of around 75% of covering analysts, who keep bullish ratings on the stock. The $12 consensus price implies over 50% upside potential.

So far this year, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM) has gained over 12%, slightly underperforming the Other Precious Metals & Mining industrys 15% gain. Meanwhile, over a one-year period, the stock surpassed the industrys 200% return, rising over 250%. This reflects the robust performance of gold and silver miners over the past year. As of the time of writing, silver has surged over 180% since the start of 2025.

The companys performance is attributable to its record revenue of $92.2 million in 2025, representing 39% year-over-year growth. The top-line performance helped Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM) achieve 118% growth in adjusted net income. Furthermore, the company reported $43 million in EBITDA and a record $102 million in cash balance, meeting annual production guidance.

Another significant development during the year was the ramp-up at La Preciosa, where Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM) started processing development material. After securing 100% ownership by buying back royalties and obligations, the company said better-than-expected drill results bolstered the mines outlook. La Preciosa is one of the largest undeveloped primary silver resources in Mexico.

Building on those positive developments, management guided 2.4-2.7 million silver-equivalent ounces for 2026. The companys focus on development work at La Preciosa lowered managements expectations regarding its five-year production plan. Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM)s cash position remains healthy, and therefore, management expects silver-equivalent production to remain strong into 2027.

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM) drew attention from analysts at Roth Capital following the companys guidance release in February and strong fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release in March. The investment firm raised its price target from $7.25 to $7.50, while reiterating a Neutral rating.

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (NYSE:ASM) is a Canadian mining company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and production of silver, gold, copper, and base metal deposits. It operates the Avino Mine in Mexico and is advancing additional projects, such as La Preciosa, to increase production and deliver longterm value.
Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE:EXK) has significant support from hedge funds, making it one of the best junior silver mining stocks.

Endeavour Silver (EXK) Q1 2026 Update Reaffirms Its Shift Into Larger Silver Producer

On April 8, 2026, Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE:EXK)s first-quarter production results reaffirmed the companys shift into a larger silver producer, with Terronera and Kolpa continuing to reshape the companys operating profile.

Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE:EXK) produced 1.88 million ounces of silver and 11,740 ounces of gold, reporting a total of 3.3 million silver-equivalent ounces. The two properties, Terronera and Kolpa, were primarily responsible for the year-over-year growth. While Kolpa commissioned equipment to increase throughput capacity to 2,500 tons per day despite weather-related setbacks, Terronera continued to ramp up with improving recoveries, anticipating access to higher-grade ore later in 2026.

In addition, Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE:EXK) completed the sale of Bolanitos during the quarter and withheld some inventory due to lower metal prices near quarter-end.

This performance is in line with the companys January guidance, which called for 8.3 to 8.9 million ounces of silver production and 46,000 to 48,000 ounces of gold output in 2026. With full-year contributions from Terronera and Kolpa, that amounts to 14.6 to 15.6 million silver-equivalent ounces.

Earlier, in January, Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE:EXK) said that Terronera had reached commercial production on October 1, 2025, providing management with further confidence in its expansion-led development strategy. The company reported a record 2025 production of 11.2 million silver-equivalent ounces.

Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE:EXK) is a Canadian mid-tier mining company focused on acquiring, developing, and operating silver-gold mines in the Americas, with projects in Mexico such as Guanacevi, Bolanitos, Terronera, and Pitarrilla.

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Key Takeaways

Stratiphy is offering crypto ETNs within an IFISA, creating a limited path back to tax-efficient crypto investing.

By restricting crypto ETNs to niche IFISAs, UK authorities have made access to crypto ISAs more complex.

Strong demand for tax-efficient crypto investing, often referred to as crypto ISAs, persists despite barriers.

A UK startup is seeking to reopen a tax-efficient route into crypto assets for retail investors  effectively restoring a crypto ISA pathway  after a recent rule change effectively shut them out of the countrys most popular savings accounts.

Stratiphy said on Wednesday it would allow clients to hold crypto-linked exchange-traded notes (ETNs) within an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA), offering a potential workaround after tax authorities barred such products from mainstream stocks-and-shares ISAs.

The move follows a decision by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to restrict crypto ETNs to IFISAs from the start of the current tax year, removing their eligibility for standard ISA accounts used by millions of Britons.

Startup Offers New Crypto ISA Route

Stratiphy, launched last August, will initially provide three exchange-traded notes from issuer 21Shares, tracking Bitcoin, Ethereum and a hybrid Bitcoin-gold product.

The platform said its structure would allow investors to shield potential gains from capital gains tax, a key attraction given the volatility of digital assets.

Were excited to be at the forefront of this important evolution in the UK investment landscape, Chief Executive Daniel Gold told the Financial Times, adding that investors needed a simple and compliant pathway to maintain exposure to digital assets.

Gold had previously signaled the companys ambitions to expand crypto access within tax-efficient wrappers.

We expect strong investor appetite as the UK catches up with other European markets, he told CCN in October, adding that regulatory changes would empower investors to seek new and diverse opportunities.

No platform had previously combined crypto ETNs with an Innovative Finance ISA, leaving investors with limited options for holding such assets in tax-advantaged accounts, according to industry reports.

Crypto ISA Rule Change

Britains Financial Conduct Authority lifted a ban on retail investors buying crypto ETNs in October last year, allowing trading in instruments linked to major tokens such as Bitcoin and ether.

However, HMRCs subsequent decision to exclude these products from stocks-and-shares ISAs has limited their practical appeal, as investors can no longer benefit from the tax-free treatment those accounts provide.
Damisa has partnered with cross-border payments platform dLocal to broaden cross-border settlement across Asia-Pacific (APAC), with an emphasis on stablecoin-based settlement rails.

The agreement connects Damisa to dLocals local payment rails across the region through a single integration.

As a result, Damisas merchant base will be able to access local bank transfers in key APAC markets without additional technical work.

dLocal said Damisa customers will get local APAC payment capabilities under one transparent fee, alongside real-time tracking. Settlement is expected to take hours rather than days.

Damisa enables businesses to collect, hold and pay out in both fiat and stablecoins across more than 70 currencies. It settles via regulated stablecoin rails while keeping the blockchain layer invisible to end users.

dLocal enables companies to pay and get paid in emerging markets through direct integrations with local acquirers.

The company added that its infrastructure manages the final stage of settlement by depositing funds into local bank accounts, avoiding routing delays associated with traditional correspondent banking chains.

dLocal said the partnership will support Damisas expansion across APAC. It also said Damisas growing B2B merchant base is expected to drive additional demand for dLocals network in the region.

Thomas Pinter, the co-founder and chief commercial officer at Damisa, said: "APAC represents one of the most significant opportunities in global B2B payments, and dLocal gives us the local rail access and regulatory footing in the APAC markets where it operates to move quickly and responsibly in the region.

"This partnership means our customers can reach new markets without any additional integration on their side. That is the kind of seamless expansion we are building Damisa to deliver."

Richard Healy, commercial VP (APAC) at dLocal, said: "Cross-border settlement in APAC can be complex. Fragmented rails, local compliance requirements, in-country operational demands.

"That is exactly what our infrastructure is built to absorb. Damisa is building for corridors that have been underserved for too long, and this partnership gives them the foundation to do it at scale."

"Damisa, dLocal partner to expand APAC stablecoin-based cross-border settlement" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Bitcoins sustained bullish market structure over the past three weeks has triggered a clear risk landscape signal that could hint at an extension of the ongoing rally.

The Risk IndexGlassnodes proprietary metric that quantifies systemic risk on a scale of 0 to 100is hovering at zero, the lowest possible level, indicating a cleared risk landscape, according to a Thursday Telegram post from the market intelligence firm. It also serves as a primary gauge of market health, with a 25 threshold that distinguishes between low- and high-risk regimes.

The Moderate Strategy, which captures upside momentum and exits when conviction fades, has flipped from Moderate to High Confidence.

The alignment of these models signals a bullish regime, analysts told Decrypt, underscored by sustained inflows into Bitcoin ETPs and aggressive demand from spot buyers.

This is an excellent window for strategic accumulation rather than chasing deeper dips, Lacie Zhang, research analyst at Bitget Wallet, told Decrypt. Zhang added that the firm maintains, a strong conviction for a positive close to 2026, supported by improving market structure and institutional conviction that should drive Bitcoin to a new all-time high.

As the US-Iran conflict subsides, bullish bets will continue to propel the market upward in the near term, Jeff Mei, COO of BTSE, told Decrypt.

As a result, Bitcoin hit $79,388 on Wednesday, its highest level in over three months.

Investor sentiment has also seen considerable improvement, resulting in the Fear and Greed Index jumping from extreme fear at the start of April to fear. Likewise, users on prediction market Myriad, owned by Decrypts parent company Dastan, see a 74% chance that Bitcoin extends its rally toward $84,000 next,up from lows of 62% at the start of the week.

A similar outlook can be seen with Ethereum, with users assigning a 54% chance that the second-largest crypto by market cap pumps to $3,000 next.

Breaking and holding above $80K would act as a major technical and psychological catalyst, clearing the path for further recovery toward $90K and potentially $100K, Zhang said.

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum are down 0.5% and 2.9%, respectively over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko data. Bitcoin is currently trading at around $77,800, while Ethereum is around $2,330.

Whats next?

Despite Glassnodes risk indicator and the underlying bullish developments, investors need to exercise caution, analysts argued.

Risks include the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, restriction of oil flows, and elevated inflation that could lead to rate hikes, Mei added.
Justin Sun Sues Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Over $75 Million Token Freeze

Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun has filed a lawsuit against World Liberty Financial (CRYPTO: $WLFI), the decentralized finance project backed by the U.S. President Donald Trump and his family, alleging the platform wrongfully froze his digital assets and violated his rights as a token holder.

The complaint, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses the project of fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. Sun, the founder of the Tron (CRYPTO: $TRX) blockchain and the projects largest individual investor, claims World Liberty Financial utilized a hidden backdoor blacklisting function in its smart contracts to lock approximately 2.9 billion WLFI tokens belonging to him. At their peak, these holdings represented a valuation of over $1 billion, though recent market volatility and liquidity constraints have seen the estimated value of the frozen tokens drop to roughly $75 million.

The lawsuit follows a year-long dispute that began in late 2025, when World Liberty blacklisted Suns wallets amid allegations of misconduct on both sides. Sun has characterized recent governance proposals as a scam designed to lock out major token holders who do not actively participate in specific protocol maneuvers. He further alleged that the projects leadership threatened to burn his tokens without due process.

More From Cryptoprowl:

Despite the litigation, Sun reaffirmed his personal support for President Trump on social media, distancing the commander-in-chief from the day-to-day operations of the venture. Sun attributed the conflict to certain individuals on the project team whom he claims are operating in a manner contrary to the administrations stated values of financial freedom.

World Liberty Financial has not released a formal statement regarding the filing, though it previously dismissed Suns claims as baseless in public social media posts.

The lawsuit marks a significant fracture in the relationship between the Trump-linked crypto venture and its most prominent early backer.
MicroStrategy reported a 6.2% BTC yield and a gain of 47,079 Bitcoin gain in the first three weeks of April. The Bitcoin (BTC) treasury company, led by Michael Saylor, said the gain is worth approximately $3.6 billion.

The firm's total holdings now stand at 815,061 BTC, valued above $62 billion with BTC trading near $76,483.

MicroStrategy's 2026 Bitcoin Buying Pace Outstrips 2025

MicroStrategy has already purchased 62.8% of its entire 2025 Bitcoin haul within just the first 110 days of this year. At this rate, the firm could surpass 1 million BTC by year-end.

That would represent more than 5% of Bitcoin's fixed 21 million supply cap. An 8-K filing revealed the company acquired 34,164 BTC for $2.54 billion between April 13 and 19.

Saylor framed BTC gain as a new performance standard for the company.

"BTC Gain is the closest analog to Net Income on the Bitcoin Standard," he wrote in a post.

The company's year-to-date yield stands at 9.5%, with full-year 2025 yield reaching 22.8%.

MicroStrategy BTC Yield. Source: Strategy

Capital Group Increases MSTR Exposure

Institutional backing for Strategy continues to build. Capital Group's American Funds Fundamental Investors fund disclosed it purchased 4.32 million additional MSTR shares worth $747 million.

The buy raised its total position to 10.33 million shares valued at $1.78 billion. The $3.3 trillion asset manager now ranks among Strategy's largest institutional shareholders.

Whether Strategy can sustain this accumulation pace through 2026 may depend on continued access to low-cost capital and favorable BTC price conditions.

Read the Original story MicroStrategy Reports Massive Bitcoin Gain and Yield in April by Lockridge Okoth at beincrypto.com
A $1 million municipal bond portfolio yielding 5% generates $50,000 per year in interest income that the federal government cannot touch. For a married couple in the top tax bracket, that same $50,000 would require roughly $79,365 in taxable bond income to produce the same after-tax result.

Municipal bonds are issued by states, cities, school districts, and transit authorities to fund public projects. The federal tax exemption on their interest has existed for over a century. What changes is how valuable that exemption becomes as income grows, tax brackets rise, and taxable yields stay competitive.

Why a 5% Tax-Free Yield Beats a 7.94% Taxable Bond

Portfolio size needed: $1 million invested in investment-grade municipal bonds at a 5% average yield produces $50,000 annually in federally tax-exempt interest. Tax bracket context: The 37% federal bracket applies to married couples filing jointly with taxable income above roughly $751,600 in 2026. The taxable equivalent: At 37%, a 5% muni yield equals roughly a 7.9% taxable yield on an after-tax basis. Current rate environment: The 10-year Treasury currently yields 4.29%, making a 5% tax-free muni yield genuinely competitive even before the tax advantage is applied.

With the Fed Funds Rate at 3.75% and the yield curve in normal, positive territory, the income environment for fixed-rate bonds is reasonably favorable right now.

The Tax-Equivalent Yield

The tax-equivalent yield is the only number that matters. It answers: what taxable yield would you need to match a given tax-free yield after paying federal income tax?

At the 37% bracket, a 5% muni yield is equivalent to a taxable yield of about 7.9%. The current 10-year Treasury sits at 4.29%. That gap, roughly 365 basis points of after-tax advantage, is why high-income earners have favored munis for decades.

State taxes add another layer. In states with no income tax, including Florida, Texas, Nevada, and Washington, the federal exemption alone drives the value. But in high-tax states like California (13.3% top rate) and New York (10.9% top rate), buying that state's own bonds exempts the income from both federal and state tax. For a California resident in the top federal bracket, a 5% California muni yield equals a taxable yield of just over 10%. That double exemption is the most powerful version of this strategy.

Read: I Review Investing Platforms for a Living, And SoFi Crypto Finally Changed My Mind

Ive spent years reviewing investing platforms across stocks, options, ETFs, and now crypto. Most crypto platforms fall into one of two categories: fast-moving exchanges with regulatory uncertainty, or traditional financial firms that treat crypto like an afterthought. SoFi Crypto is one of the very few platforms that breaks that mold.
Small module reactor stock Oklo Inc (NYSE:OKLO) is 5.9% higher to trade at $76.68 this afternoon, eyeing its ninth win in 10 sessions. Behind today's pop is news the company will partner with Nvidia (NVDA) and Los Alamos National Laboratory to support nuclear-powered AI factories in Los Alamos, California.

Today's jump has Oklo stock building some separation from its year-to-date level and padding its 55.8% April gain. This rally has OKLO flashing a bullish quantitative signal that could catapult the shares back near their October record highs.

The trendline in question is the stock's 80-day moving average. Per Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, this crossover event happened twice in the last 10 years, after which OKLO was higher one month later both times, averaging an incredible 133.3% gain. From its current perch, a move higher of this magnitude would put the shares just shy of $180 -- within a chip-shot of its Oct. 15 record of $193.84.

oklodaily80

The stock is also ripe for a squeeze. Shorts have been piling on, short interest up 26.2% in the past two reporting periods, which now accounts for 16.9% of the stock's available float. At OKLO's average pace of trading, it would take shorts nearly three days to buy back these bets.

The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) comes in at 87 out of 100. In other words, the shares have consistently realized higher volatility than its options have priced in over the past 12 months.
Six weeks of active war in Iran and the Persian Gulf paused on April 8 when President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire that he extended for an indefinite period on Tuesday. The pause will continue until "discussions are concluded," according to the president.

It's not 100% clear how much America has spent on the war so far, both on actual combat operations and on enforcing its blockade of Iran. The Trump administration won't answer that question. "We keep asking. They keep ignoring us," laments media outlet MS Now. But The Washington Post reports that Trump plans to ask Congress for an additional $80 billion to $100 billion in funding to cover the cost of the war.

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 

And that's just to start.

Image source: Getty Images.

A $1.5 trillion defense budget

For the government's fiscal 2026, which ends Sept. 30, Congress has authorized just over $890 billion in total spending on national defense. This week, the Pentagon announced it will request a sizable increase from that for fiscal 2027: It wants to lifting the total Defense Department budget to $1.5 trillion.

Obviously, that increase is well above the $80 billion to $100 billion tied directly to the current war. So where's all the extra money going, if not just to pay the bills for Trump's Iran expedition? Turns out, we actually know quite a bit on that score -- and it's good news for three essential defense stocks that are well positioned to profit from the increased defense spending: Boeing (NYSE: BA), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), and General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

Boeing

Defense Department comptroller Jules W. Hurst III says the extra spending will primarily go toward "strengthening supply chains and supporting tens of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses" by acquiring new military hardware and replenishing and expanding munitions supplies. Specifically, 52% of the spending will go to buying "munitions, planes, tanks and ships."

Boeing would clearly benefit from the "planes" part of this target package. The Iran war's focus on sustaining operations on the far side of the world has highlighted the need for aerial refueling tankers to keep fighter jets, bombers, and even cargo planes fueled in flight. The Air Force's KC-135 Stratotankers are aging, however, (the first one flew in 1956), and are due to be replaced.
The 2026 conflict in Iran has accelerated immediate defense demand, particularly for giant defense contractors, but the backlogs for smaller defense stocks such as Textron (NYSE: TXT), Huntington Ingalls (NYSE: HII), and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) are underpinned by structural, multiyear programs that extend far beyond any single regional engagement.

Textron and Huntington Ingalls have seen their shares rise more than 38% and more than 79% so far this year, respectively, while Rocket Lab's stock has soared more than 352%. Here's why big backlogs can drive share growth over the next few years for these defense companies.

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. Textron: Growing military and corporate orders

Textron isn't a household name, but several of its brands are. The company manufactures Bell helicopters and vertical-lift vehicles, Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft, Pipistrel electric and light aircraft, Lycoming aircraft engines, Jacobsen high-end mowing equipment, Kautex fuel tanks, and E-Z-GO golf carts and personal utility vehicles.

In 2025, Textron reported $14.8 billion in revenue, up 8%, and earnings per share (EPS) of $5.12, up 18%. In 2026, the company predicts revenue of $15.5 billion, up 4.7%, and EPS of $5.39 to $5.59, up 7% at the midpoint. The company has a backlog of $18.8 billion, much of it weighted toward long-cycle platforms in aviation and next-generation electric vertical-lift products.

A major driver of that backlog is the U.S. Army's MV-75 program, which includes Textron's Bell V-280 Valor, a tiltrotor aircraft that pairs helicopter-like vertical takeoff with airplane-like speed and range. The MV-75 program is a multi-decade modernization effort to replace the Black Hawk fleet, with the bulk of this contract to be realized throughout the 2030s, regardless of current Middle East stability.

The company's backlog is also tied to commercial aviation through its Cessna and Beechcraft jets. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified the Citation Ascend this past November and CJ3 Gen2 in October, and Textron should benefit from the refresh cycle by corporations' flight departments.

2. Huntington Ingalls: Doing more than just staying afloat

Huntington Ingalls is the largest shipbuilder in the U.S. and the world's largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles.

As of the end of 2025, the company reported a total backlog of $53.1 billion. That's more than five times its current annual revenue, which was reported at $12.5 billion in 2025, up 8.2% from 2024. Its EPS grew 10.2% to $15.39.
April 21 (Reuters) - Adobe on Tuesday announced a share repurchase program worth up to $25 billion through April 30, 2030, as the Photoshop maker seeks to reassure investors of its growth strategy amid the rise of creative autonomous tools.

Its shares rose around 2% in extended trading, but the stock has fallen around 30% this year as investors weigh the effects of new agentic models that many fear could hamper demand for traditional software and design products such as those provided by Adobe.

More from Yahoo Scout Why did Adobe announce $25 billion share repurchase? How are AI competitors affecting Adobe's stock performance? How might CEO transition impact Adobe's AI strategy? What AI products is Adobe launching to compete?

"Our new $25 billion share repurchase authorization is a direct expression of confidence in our robust cash flow and the long-term value we are delivering to investors," said Adobe CFO Dan Durn.

Fears were compounded when top AI firm Anthropic unveiled Claude Design last week, which allows users to create designs, prototypes and presentations using its chatbot.

In a bid to fend off competition from autonomous tools, Adobe on Monday launched a suite of AI products to help clients automate and personalize digital marketing functions.

These rapidly evolving models come at a highly uncertain time for Adobe after longtime CEO Shantanu Narayen decided to exit the role in March, sparking concerns about the trajectory of its AI strategy.

Investors have been on the heels of Adobe for years to show meaningful returns from its AI products as the technology has enabled smaller firms such as Figma to challenge its industry dominance.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
SAO PAULO, April 23 (Reuters) - Telecom operator Claro, owned by Mexico's America Movil, is open to new deals in Brazil following its recently announced purchase of internet provider Desktop.

"We analyze all the options that come our way," Claro's Brazil CEO Rodrigo Marques told reporters in Sao Paulo on Thursday. "But we don't buy just anything for the sake of buying. It has to be related to our customers' needs."

More from Yahoo Scout What drove Claro's acquisition of Desktop internet provider? Is Claro planning additional acquisitions in Brazil? How much did Claro pay for Desktop stake? What regulatory approvals does the Desktop deal require?

Claro announced last month a deal to buy a 73% stake in Desktop for an enterprise value of 4 billion reais ($808.93 million), with a base equity price of about 2.4 billion reais after deducting the Brazilian firm's net debt.

Marques noted that the deal still requires approval from antitrust watchdog CADE and telecom regulator Anatel, which he expects could be granted by the end of the year.

The executive said the Desktop acquisition was driven by the company's strong presence in Sao Paulo state, Brazil's most populous and economically significant, while noting that Claro is open to deals across the country as it operates nationwide.

America Movil is controlled by the family of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.

($1 = 4.9448 reais)

(Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes; Editing by Gabriel Araujo)
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the best Warren Buffett stocks.

American Express (AXP), The Longest-Held Position of Warren Buffett; See Why

During the initial wave of consumer credit in the 1960s, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) drew Buffetts attention, prompting his acquisition of a 5% stake in the company. The company remains one of Berkshire Hathaways longest-held positions, appreciating significantly over the years. As of Q4 2025, the stake had grown to more than $56 billion, a massive increase from the Q4 2010 stake, valued at over $6.51 billion.

Meanwhile, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) enjoys the confidence of hedge funds, with 83 out of 1,041 hedge funds remaining bullish on the stock. The combined hedge fund stake in the company totals $61.45 billion as of Q4 2025.

As of the same period, billionaire sentiment remains strong as well, with 22 out of 107 billionaires remaining bullish on American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), which translates into a $60.47 billion stake.

The bullish case for American Express is built on resilient spending from affluent customers, strong demand for premium cards, and a business model that continues to translate customer engagement into earnings growth and shareholder returns. While the stock is down 10% year-to-date, it climbed over 12% over the past month, as of April 20, 2026.

Meanwhile, discussing American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) in its Q4 2025 investor letter, GAMCO Investors, a diversified asset management firm, grouped AXP with other financial holdings that are benefitting from a steeper yield curve, a recovery in deal-making activity, a strong equity market, and solid spending by wealthier customers.

Additionally, Bretton Fund, a mutual fund, expressed a similar view more directly in its Q4 investor letter, noting that cardholders continued to spend and make timely payments, while the Platinum Card remained in high demand despite increasing competition. The firm also highlighted that EPS grew 15% and the stock delivered a 26% return during the quarter.

Jim Cramer commented at the start of April:

I think that American Express was one of the worst performers. I think American Express down 17% seems pretty interesting to me. Im willing to take a, I hate to say this, but a flyer, on some of these travel names, betting that they were too linked with gasoline. With gasoline, now breaching four dollars, but it can start coming down if the President says tonight, that the wars going to end soon.

Managements fourth-quarter 2025 commentary earlier in 2026 supplemented this outlook.

The company reported record full-year 2025 revenue of $72 billion and EPS of $15.38, with card-fee growth in the double digits for the 30th consecutive quarter and strong credit quality. Millennials and Gen Z accounted for the largest share of U.S. consumer spending, while demand for premium products remained strong. The company also guided 2026 revenue growth of 9% to 10%, EPS in the range of $17.30 to $17.90, and a planned 16% increase in its dividend.
Spending by wealthy American Express cardholders pushed card volume growth to a three-year high in the first quarter, helping the company clear Wall Street's profit targets by a comfortable margin, Reuters reported.

The company posted earnings of $4.28 per share in the three months ended March 31. Analysts had projected $4.02 per share, according to Reuters, and $3.99 per share, according to MSN.

Revenue for the quarter reached $18.9 billion, up 10% from a year ago. Card member spending, a rise in card balances that fed net interest income, and card fee growth all contributed to the quarterly revenue increase, the company said. Analysts had expected $18.6 billion in revenue, according to MSN.

Total billed business  a measure of overall card spending  rose 10% year over year to $428 billion. Within the quarter, luxury retail spending climbed 18% and overall retail spending was up 11%, CFO Christophe Le Caillec told Reuters.

Net card fee revenue reached $2.75 billion, up from $2.33 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Net interest income came in at $4.69 billion, compared with $4.17 billion a year earlier.

Credit quality remained stable. At 2.3%, the net write-off rate was unchanged from the prior quarter and a tick below the 2.4% recorded in the same period last year. The $1.25 billion set aside for credit losses edged up from $1.22 billion in the year-earlier quarter, though it came in well below the $1.34 billion analysts had anticipated. "Credit numbers are incredibly strong... we see no noise or concerns there," Le Caillec told Reuters.

Not every travel segment performed equally well. Airline volume grew 8% for the quarter, but Le Caillec told Reuters that a surge of refund requests came late in the period after airspace closures related to the Iran conflict disrupted flights. Despite this, he described the segment's overall performance for the quarter as strong.

For the full year, the company left its 2026 outlook intact, targeting per-share earnings of $17.30 to $17.90 alongside revenue growth in the 9%-to-10% range. "Given our strong results to date, we're reaffirming our full-year 2026 guidance for 9 to 10 percent revenue growth and EPS of $17.30 to $17.90, and decided to increase our investments in marketing and technology to capitalize on long-term growth opportunities," Chairman and CEO Stephen J. Squeri said in a statement.

New card acquisitions totaled 3.1 million, a step down from the 3.4 million added in the same quarter a year earlier.

American Express stock was up about 1% in premarket trading following the results.
Management attributes current growth momentum to the Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB) group, which is diversifying across 42 industry niches to mitigate sector-specific competition.

The bank is intentionally pivoting CIB focus toward middle-market and single-lender opportunities to counter pricing compression seen in large corporate and fund finance sectors.

Performance in the Real Estate Specialties Group (RESG) is currently facing headwinds from high repayments, though management expects these to ease by 2027 as the market stabilizes, with significant balance growth potentially inflecting higher by 2028.

Operational resilience is supported by a high-prime indirect consumer lending portfolio, which now represents approximately 13% of the total book and continues to perform consistently.

Strategic positioning involves replicating the RESG 'bank-protective' documentation and high-touch servicing model within the CIB group to ensure credit quality during rapid expansion.

Management is aggressively investing in fee-generating verticals, including trust, wealth management, and treasury services, to build long-term non-interest income streams.
BlackRocks Rick Rieder believes the current stock market rally is being driven by a rare combination of "amazing" technical factors and "powerful" corporate earnings.

Speaking with Bloomberg Television, the firms global fixed income CIO explained that while there was a recent period where "nobody wanted to buy stocks," the market has now shifted into an explosive growth phase.

Related: Michael Saylor's Strategy announces $1.44B dollar reserve as stock slumps

Supply crunch in equities

Rieder highlighted a significant imbalance between the amount of stock available and the massive demand from buyers. He noted that while the IPO calendar for the year might reach $200 billion, corporate buybacks are expected to hit a staggering $1 trillion.

"Actually, theres not enough stock to buy," Rieder stated.

He emphasized that these supply-side technicals are pushing prices higher, supported by incredible growth in sectors like semiconductors, where earnings have jumped 97% year-on-year.

While he admitted that housing and lower-income sectors are struggling, he noted that the primary drivers of the equity market remain in "pretty good shape."

Most Popular on TheStreet Roundtable:

Historic productivity shift

Rieder also described what he calls a "productivity revolution," the likes of which he has not seen in decades.

He explained that companies are finding ways to grow their top-line revenue by 4% to 10% while keeping labor costs static or declining. This creates higher operating margins and better returns for investors.

"Big cap stocks are so powerful because youre building a moat to utilize data so effectively," Rieder noted.

He cautioned, however, that while this is a "really good story" for corporate earnings, it is often difficult for the broader working population.

BlackRocks role in the digital shift

This institutional demand extends to digital assets, led by BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). As of April 22, IBIT holds 806,699 Bitcoin, while BlackRocks Ethereum fund, ETHA, holds approximately 3,163,330 ETH.

This massive accumulation places BlackRock in a symbolic competition with Strategy, which currently holds 815,061 BTC following a $2.54 billion purchase on April 20.

While IBIT briefly overtook Strategy in holdings during early 2024, both now serve as the primary vehicles for institutional exposure, allowing investors to track prices without corporate risk.
Boeing (BA) gave investors a quarter that looked much closer to a real recovery than a hopeful one.

First-quarter revenue rose 14% to $22.2 billion, the companys GAAP loss narrowed to $0.11 per share, and core loss per share improved to $0.20. Boeing also reported an operating cash flow of negative $0.2 billion, a sharp improvement from negative $1.6 billion a year earlier, while total backlog grew to a record $695 billion.

The stock moved higher after the report as investors responded to the smaller-than-expected loss and steadier production picture, rising about 5% after earnings, on growing confidence that Boeing is making real operational progress even as it continues to burn cash.

Commercial airplanes give quarter clearest lift

The most visible improvement came from Boeings commercial jet business. Boeing delivered 143 airplanes in the quarter, up from 130 a year earlier, while Commercial Airplanes revenue climbed 13% to $9.2 billion.

The company said the 737 program continues to produce at a rate of 42 per month, and management kept its certification timeline for the 737-7 and 737-10 in 2026, with first deliveries expected in 2027.

More Boeing

The 787 program also held steady at eight per month, while the 777X moved further through certification.

Boeing said the 777-9 received approval to begin another phase of FAA certification flight testing and still targets first delivery in 2027. That gives investors a better sense of continuity across several major aircraft programs, not just the narrow 737 recovery story.

Commercial Airplanes still lost money in the quarter, with an operating margin of negative 6.1%. Even so, that was an improvement from negative 6.6% a year earlier, and the company tied the result to higher deliveries and better operating performance.

Defense, services round out recovery story

The quarter also showed broader strength across the rest of the company. Boeings Defense, Space & Security segment reported revenue of $7.6 billion, up 21%, while operating earnings jumped 50% to $233 million.

Boeing said the segments backlog rose to $73 billion, supported by programs including the F-15EX, P-8, MQ-25, and satellite work.

Global Services added another steadier layer. Revenue rose 6% to $5.4 billion, and the segment posted an operating margin of 18.6%. Boeing said services backlog reached $33 billion, which helps explain why this part of the company continues to be one of the cleaner earnings supports inside the broader turnaround.
Boyd Group Services Inc. (NYSE:BGSI) is among the 10 High Growth Canadian Stocks to Buy Now.

On April 14, Stephens lowered its price target on Boyd Group Services Inc. (NYSE:BGSI) to $157 from $200 while keeping an Overweight rating. The firm adjusted estimates to reflect storm-related softness in Q1 and current expectations around the Joe Hudson acquisition completed in January. Importantly, the positive rating signals continued confidence that Boyd can grow through temporary industry noise.

Earlier, on April 3, Goldman Sachs lowered its price target on Boyd Group Services Inc. (NYSE:BGSI) to $165 from $172 while maintaining a Neutral rating, citing caution on the pace of recovery in the collision repair industry. While near-term industry demand may fluctuate, deferred repairs and long-term vehicle complexity trends often support stronger future demand.

The investment case for Boyd Group Services Inc. (NYSE:BGSI) is built around scale, consolidation, and recurring demand. Auto accidents are an unfortunate but consistent reality, and modern vehicles are becoming more technologically advanced and expensive to repair. That favors large, sophisticated operators like Boyd that can handle ADAS calibrations, insurer relationships, and national service standards.

Boyd Group Services Inc. (NYSE:BGSI) is a leading North American operator of non-franchised collision repair centers and auto glass businesses. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the company operates under well-known brands including Gerber Collision & Glass in the U.S. and Boyd Autobody & Glass / Assured Automotive in Canada. It also owns Gerber National Claims Services, a third-party administrator serving insurers.

While we acknowledge the potential of BGSI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 13 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 8 Best Up and Coming Semiconductor Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Lake Success, New York-based Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (BR) provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry in the United States and internationally. The company has a market cap of $18.9 billion and handles the proxy materials distribution and voting processes for bank, broker-dealer, corporate issuer, and fund clients, and more.

BR is expected to release its Q3 2026 earnings on Thursday, May 7, before the market opens. Ahead of the event, analysts expect the companys EPS to be $2.63 on a diluted basis, up 7.8% from $2.44 in the year-ago quarter. The company has exceeded Wall Streets EPS estimates in each of its last four quarters.

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For fiscal 2026, analysts project the companys EPS to be $9.46, up 10.6% from $8.55 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, its EPS is expected to rise by roughly 9.7% year over year (YoY) to $10.38 in fiscal 2027.

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BR stock has declined 31.4% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 34.8% rise and the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLK) 62% rise during the same time frame.

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On Feb. 3, BR stock declined 6.3% following the release of its Q2 2026 earnings. The technology outsourcing companys revenue for the quarter came in at $1.7 billion, surpassing Wall Street estimates. Moreover, its adjusted EPS amounted to $1.59, also coming in on top of the Streets estimates.

Analysts are moderately bullish about BR, with the stock having a Moderate Buy rating overall. Among the nine analysts covering the stock, one is recommending a Strong Buy, three suggest a Moderate Buy, and five suggest a Hold. BRs average analyst price target of $239.57 offers a 49.5% upside potential.

On the date of publication, Aritra Gangopadhyay 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
Image Credit: Bugatti

When you sell cars that start at $4 million, you might expect the business relationship to be as polished as the paint. But Bugatti Miami and Bugatti of the Americas are now headed to federal court, and the fallout involves alleged retaliation, suspicious inventory favoritism, and a labor rate dispute that makes a Beverly Hills plumber look affordable. This is not your average dealership drama. This is hypercar drama, and it is playing out in the most expensive zip code of lawsuits imaginable.

Filed on March 6 in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court and later moved to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the complaint lays out a series of grievances that Bugatti Miami says began after it had the audacity to ask for more money to fix Bugattis. Bugatti of the Americas apparently did not take kindly to that ask, and things escalated quickly from a negotiation into what the dealership describes as outright retaliation.

The lawsuit accuses Bugatti of the Americas of wrongfully stripping Bugatti Miami of its right to perform warranty work, playing favorites with vehicle allocations, and quietly selling cars directly to customers in a way that may violate Florida law. It is a wide-ranging set of claims that touches on some of the most sensitive pressure points in the manufacturer-dealer relationship, and it raises real questions about how even the most exclusive brands in the world handle business when money is on the table.

What makes this story particularly compelling is not just the legal fireworks, but the sheer absurdity of the dollar figures involved. We are talking about a warranty labor rate negotiation where the opening ask was $1,350 per hour. For context, that is roughly the cost of a new Honda Civic's down payment, charged hourly, to fix a turn signal on a car that costs more than most American homes. Welcome to the world of Bugatti.

How a Labor Rate Dispute Turned Into a Federal Lawsuit

Image Credit: Bugatti.

The timeline here matters a lot. In September 2024, Bugatti Miami asked for an increase in its warranty parts reimbursement rate, going from just over 100 percent to 160 percent. That request was approved without much fanfare. Then in June 2025, the dealership came back and asked for its hourly labor reimbursement rate to jump to $1,350. After some back and forth, both sides reportedly agreed to a phased approach: $1,100 per hour from July through December 2025, then a step up to $1,350 starting January 1, 2026.

That deal, according to the complaint, turned out to be short-lived. In February, Bugatti of the Americas informed Bugatti Miami that it would no longer be authorized to perform warranty work at all, citing the dealership's "excessive labor and parts markup." The authorization was set to end on May 13. Bugatti also reportedly told the store that customers could get the same quality service elsewhere at a lower cost, which is a remarkable thing to say when there is exactly one other Bugatti dealership in the entire state of Florida.
Artificial intelligence is already a huge and rapidly growing market. But in the long term, the size of the AI industry will be enormous. Roughly $7 trillion alone is expected to be spent on data center infrastructure over the next few years to support the compute needs of artificial intelligence applications. Several other trillion-dollar markets are expected to form in support of the burgeoning AI industry, spanning everything from software to energy.

Few companies are as well positioned as Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO). A developer of small modular reactors, or SMRs, Oklo hopes to bring this innovative approach to nuclear energy directly to data center operators. Unsurprisingly, the company was initially backed by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Altman was the Chairman of Oklo for many years, and clearly understands how the company's nuclear technology can help meet the rapidly growing energy needs of the AI and data center industries.

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.



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With a market cap of just $10 billion, could Oklo stock be your ticket to 1,000% returns? Let's crunch the numbers.

Oklo can produce 1,000% returns if these catalysts arrive on time

A giant opportunity is opening up for nuclear energy in general. Bank of America thinks the upcoming "nuclear renaissance" will be worth around $10 trillion globally. But this opportunity won't just be relegated to SMR technology -- the specific approach that Oklo is pursuing. Conventional nuclear power plants, which are bigger, more complex, and more costly to construct, will take the biggest share of this value. But over time, Bank of America analysts see SMR adoption accelerating, commanding a 15% market share of nuclear spending by 2050.

Image source: Getty Images.

While there is plenty of competition within the SMR industry, Oklo has a legitimate opportunity to command a leading market share. Altman's involvement, though reduced in recent months, gives the company direct access to one of the biggest AI companies in the world. And unlike competitors like NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR), Oklo's go-to market strategy involves locating its power plants directly with data center infrastructure, rather than just feeding into the broader grid. It's no wonder, then, that the company has signed a long list of potential data center customers, whereas NuScale has struggled in this department.
Cathie Wood, chief of Ark Investment Management, likes to trade around earnings season.

Sometimes, Wood adds or sells stocks right after their earnings. Sometimes, she makes moves days ahead of results, betting on potential gains. Thats what she just did, buying shares of a megacap tech firm ahead of its earnings next week.

In 2025, the flagship Ark Innovation ETF gained 35.49%, far outpacing the S&P 500s return of 17.88% in the same period. So far this year, Woods flagship Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) is up 1.84% year to date, while the S&P 500 surged 4.27%, Yahoo Finance data shows.

Wood gained a reputation after the Ark Innovation ETF delivered a 153% return in 2020. But her style also brings painful losses in bearish markets, as seen in 2022, when the Ark Innovation ETF tumbled more than 60%.

Those swings have weighed on Woods long-term gains. As of April 21, the Ark Innovation ETF has delivered a five-year annualized return of -8.52%, while the S&P 500 has an annualized return of 12.73% over the same period, according to data from Morningstar.

In the 12 months through April 21, the Ark Innovation ETF saw roughly $1.12 billion in net Getty Images

Cathie Wood expects a great acceleration brought by technology developments

Wood focuses on high-tech companies across artificial intelligence, blockchain, biomedical technology, and robotics. She thinks these businesses have strong growth potential, though their volatility often causes fluctuations in the Arks funds.

From 2014 to 2024, the Ark Innovation ETF wiped out $7 billion in investor wealth, according to a March 2025 analysis by Morningstars analyst Amy Arnott. That made it the third-biggest wealth destroyer among mutual funds and ETFs in Arnotts ranking. The analyst hasnt updated the 2025 ranking outflows.

In a March Bloomberg podcast, Wood says the global economy is not heading into a downturn, but into what she calls a great acceleration driven by AI and other breakthrough technologies.

Were not going into the Great Depression, were going into the great acceleration, Wood said, pointing to how past technological revolutions reshaped economic growth.

Related: Cathie Wood buys $2.5 million of tumbling megacap stock

She noted that global real GDP growth averaged just 0.6% between 1500 and 1900, before the Industrial Revolution lifted it to around 3% for more than a century. Now, she argues, a new wave of innovation could push growth much higher.

We think [technologies] are going to take growth into the 7 to 8% range, Wood said, adding that the number may actually be conservative.

Wood also noted that AI is driving down costs across industries.
In 2026, however, the momentum has been far less convincing. Apple stock has seen marginal gains as geopolitical uncertainty, rising component costs, and earlier concerns about slowing iPhone demand weighed on investor sentiment. The stocks underperformance underscores a market that is increasingly demanding clear evidence of reacceleration.

Apples stock performance over the past year reflects a pattern of resilience tempered by intermittent bouts of macro-driven volatility. Over the past 52 weeks, the stocks overall returns stood at 37.8% despite periods of weakness, particularly tied to China demand concerns and broader tech sector rotations that have capped upside.

Based in California, Apple stands as a forward-looking company and a worldwide leader in hardware, software, and services. Its portfolio spans iconic devices like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, alongside widely used platforms such as the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, and Apple TV+. The company currently boasts a market cap of $4 trillion and a Magnificent Seven status.

With the stock reacting modestly to the news, the market appears cautiously optimistic.

It remains to be seen whether this surge represents a cyclical rebound or a more structural turnaround in a region that has weighed on Apples growth in recent years. China remains the worlds largest smartphone market and a critical battleground against domestic competitors like Huawei, making any sustained momentum there highly important for Apples revenue trajectory and valuation.

The strength of this performance is underscored by the broader backdrop as Chinas overall smartphone shipments declined roughly 4% during the same period, pressured by supply chain disruptions and rising component costs. Yet Apple not only defied the downturn but gained share, reinforcing the durability of its premium positioning and ecosystem-driven demand.

Apple (AAPL) shares edged higher, buoyed by fresh data showing a sharp rebound in its most critical international market on April 17. iPhone shipments in China surged 20% year-over-year (YOY) in the first quarter, making Apple the fastest-growing major smartphone vendor in a market that otherwise contracted.

Story Continues

Against this backdrop, the recent data point showing a 20% YOY surge in iPhone shipments in China has provided a timely catalyst. The stock moved modestly higher, gaining 2.6% intraday on April 17 and 1% on the following session, signaling a tentative improvement in sentiment. This reaction is notable not for its magnitude, but for its direction, as it comes amid a broader contraction in Chinas smartphone market, where overall shipments declined, highlighting Apples ability to gain share even in a weakening environment.

Notably, Apple announced on Monday, April 20, that CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role on Sept. 1, 2026. Cook will transition to the role of executive chairman of the board. John Ternus, currently Apples Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will succeed him as the new CEO. The news led the stock falling slightly in after-hours trading.

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The stock trades at a premium at 31.83 times forward earnings, compared to the sector median and its historical average.

Q1 Results Exceeded Expectations

Apple reported its fiscal 2026 first-quarter results for the period ended Dec. 27, 2025, on Jan. 29, 2026, delivering what can only be described as a record-breaking holiday quarter that exceeded expectations.

The company posted revenue of $143.8 billion, representing a 16% YOY increase from $124.3 billion in the prior-year quarter, while earnings per share rose 19% to $2.84, above expectations. Net income came in at $42.1 billion, compared to $36.3 billion in the same period last year.

The growth was primarily driven by the iPhone segment, which delivered its strongest quarter on record, with revenue rising 23.3% YOY to about $85.3 billion. Services continued to provide a structurally important and high-margin growth engine, increasing 14% YOY to $30 billion. On the other hand, product revenue grew 16.1% YOY to $113.7 billion.

Performance across other hardware categories was more mixed. iPad revenue increased modestly by about 6.3% YOY to $8.6 billion, while Mac revenue declined 6.7% YOY. Wearables, home, and accessories also experienced a slight contraction.

Geographically, Apple delivered strong growth across all major regions, with particularly notable momentum in emerging markets and a sharp rebound in Greater China, where revenue increased 37.9%, supported by strong demand for the latest iPhone cycle.

Furthermore, management provided guidance for the fiscal second quarter, forecasting revenue growth in the range of 13% to 16% YOY. The company also guided for gross margins in the 48% to 49% range, while flagging potential cost pressures from rising memory prices.

Analysts covering Apple predict its EPS to rise by 15.8% YOY to $1.91 in the second quarter (about to be reported on April 30). Further, the consensus estimate of $8.49 for fiscal 2026 indicates an increase of 13.8% YOY, before improving by around 9.7% annually to $9.31 in fiscal 2027.

What Do Analysts Expect for Apple Stock?

Recently, Wedbush reiterated its Outperform rating and $350 price target on Apple despite the major leadership shake-up, under which Tim Cook will become Executive Chairman and John Ternus will take over as CEO.

Moreover, Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co. reiterated a Buy rating on Apple with a $315 price target. Also, this month, BofA Securities raised its price target on Apple to $325 from $320 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing stronger-than-expected iPhone demand and Services growth.

Apple stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating overall. Out of 42 analysts covering the tech giant, 23 recommend a Strong Buy, three give a Moderate Buy, 15 analysts stay cautious with a Hold rating, and one has a Strong Sell rating.

While the average analyst price target of $296.30 suggests an upside of 11.32%, Wedbushs Street-high target price of $350 suggests as much as 31.5% upside ahead.

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On the date of publication, Subhasree Kar 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
By Jeff Horwitz

April 21 (Reuters) - The Consumer Federation of America has filed a class-action complaint against Meta Platforms alleging that the social-media giant has profited from advertising for fraudulent activities on its platforms and misled users about its efforts to combat the problem.

Meta has knowingly taken steps and adopted policies that pad its bottom line at the expense of its users safety and well-being, states the complaint, which was filed Tuesday by CFA, an association of non-profit consumer organizations, in Superior Court in Washington, D.C. It asks for a jury trial and seeks to recover damages for local consumers.

More from Yahoo Scout How has Meta responded to the class-action complaint? How much revenue does Meta earn from fraudulent advertising? What allegations does the Consumer Federation make against Meta? What role do Chinese business partners play in scam ads?

The CFA complaint cites previous reporting by Reuters on internal Meta documents that revealed the scale of scams on Facebook and Instagram. According to Metas own 2024 estimates, the company showed users 15 billion higher risk scam ads a day, earning an annualized $7 billion a year in revenue.

Reuters also reported that Meta internally projected in 2024 that it would earn about 10% of its overall annual revenue  or $16 billion  from running ads for scams and banned goods, internal company documents show.

In a statement about the CFAs legal action, Meta said: These allegations misrepresent the reality of our work and we will fight them. The company also noted an announcement last month in which it said it was expanding its advertiser-verification efforts and had begun prohibiting financial services-related ads from steering users to private messaging services, a common tactic of financial scammers.

CFAs complaint alleges that Meta has repeatedly and publicly downplayed the risks of scams on its platforms to its users  creating a false impression of safety.

The complaint also alleges, as Reuters has reported, that Meta has tolerated widespread scam ad activity by its business partners in China. These partners include digital advertising middlemen that the company has authorized to resell ads through so-called agency accounts. To protect that business, the CFA alleges, Meta continued to accept ads via a system that facilitated ads for fraudulent activities.

The CFA complaint was reported earlier by Wired magazine.

(Reporting by Jeff Horwitz in Oakland, California; Editing by Steve Stecklow)
Meta Platforms (META) is the global leader in social technology and digital connectivity with a massive ecosystem serving nearly 4 billion monthly active users. Metas Family of Appsincluding Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threadsremains the world's most powerful digital advertising engine. The company has pivoted toward a "Superintelligence" roadmap, integrating generative AI across its platforms while pioneering spatial computing through Reality Labs.

Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Meta is transforming from a social media giant into the foundational infrastructure for the next era of human interaction.

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Meta Stock

Meta Platform's stock has demonstrated significant resilience, recovering from early 2026 lows to trade near the upper end of its 52-week range. While the stock closed 2025 with a 12.7% gain, it has faced technical consolidation as investors weigh the company's aggressive $115-$135 billion capital expenditure guidance for 2026.

In comparison to the S&P 500 Communication Services Index ($SRTS), Meta has delivered a competitive performance, though it has slightly lagged the broader sector's 33% gain in 2025. While the sector was propelled by a wider rotation into digital media and traditional telecom, Metas price action was more closely tied to its internal transition toward AI monetization.

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Meta Reported Strong Results

Meta reported powerful results for its fourth quarter, with revenue surging 24% year-over-year (YoY) to $59.9 billion. This performance was driven by a robust holiday advertising season and a 10% increase in the average price per ad, fueled by AI-powered targeting enhancements.

The companys Family Daily Active People (DAP) averaged 3.54 billion, showing sustained engagement despite the platform's massive scale. While Reality Labs reported ongoing operating losses, the segment's revenue grew 74% to $470 million, driven by strong demand for the latest Quest headsets and the commercial success of AI-enhanced smart glasses.

For the first quarter of 2026, Meta provided revenue guidance of $53.5 billion to $56.5 billion, anticipating a 4% foreign currency tailwind. Managements 2026 outlook is defined by a "notably larger" spending ramp, with total expenses projected between $162 billion and $169 billion.
April 21 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is considering a full combination with T-Mobile US that could result in the largest public M&A deal on record, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The German telecoms group has been in talks about creating a new holding company that would make a stock bid for shares of both Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile, the report said.

Deutsche Telekom is the majority shareholder in T-Mobile, with a stake of nearly 53%, according to LSEG data.

Shares of T-Mobile, with a market value of about $218.57 billion, rose more than 1% following the news.

Deutsche Telekom has a valuation of about $166.46 billion. In February, the company said it had no plans to sell any T-Mobile shares in 2026.

The potential merger could create the world's biggest wireless operator by market capitalization, beating China Mobile Ltd, valued at $234.67 billion.

"Deutsche Telekom's tighter grip on T-Mobile is all about backing its strongest asset and building the broader group around that momentum," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore.

Discussions are at a preliminary stage and any transaction would require political support to move ahead, according to the report, which added that details of the potential deal could also change.

Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. The White House and the Federal Network Agency, the primary regulatory body overseeing telecommunications in Germany, did not immediately respond to requests.

The German telecoms group has been the majority owner of the U.S. wireless carrier since buying VoiceStream for $50.7 billion in 2000 and renaming it T-Mobile USA. Its stake was diluted after TMobile merged with MetroPCS in 2013 and then Sprint in 2020.

Deutsche Telekom's shareholders, including the German state and government-controlled bank KfW, both of which own 14%, would have a say in the potential merger.

Deutsche Telekom beat fourth-quarter core profit expectations in February but issued a mixed outlook for 2026, while T-Mobile raised its forecast for 2027 service revenue and adjusted free cash flow.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City, additional reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
By Hakan Ersen, Elvira Pollina and Supantha Mukherjee

BERLIN/MILAN/STOCKHOLM, April 22 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is exploring a deal to combine with T-Mobile US and create a transatlantic telecoms giant in what would be the largest ever public merger, two people familiar with the matter said.

The German group's shares fell about 5% on Wednesday after news of the talks, first reported by Bloomberg. Telekom already owns a 53% stake in T-Mobile. T-Mobile shares were trading down by around 3.5% on Wednesday afternoon.

More from Yahoo Scout What are the potential benefits of combining Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile? How would this deal compare to other major telecom mergers? What regulatory hurdles could this transatlantic telecoms merger face? What role does the German government play in this potential deal?

The merger talks, long mooted and still at an early stage, could create a company with a market capitalisation of nearly $300 billion, making it the world's most valuable telecoms group with more than 200 million mobile subscribers.

That scale could bolster financial firepower and support further acquisitions, Morgan Stanley analysts said.

"The real appeal is gaining the benefits of control while still preserving the agility and valuation upside of T-Mobile as a standalone business," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore, adding that T-Mobile has increasingly become the "engine" of Deutsche Telekom.

Deutsche Telekom's ownership of T-Mobile dates back 25 years and has fluctuated over time. Since 2020, the German group has moved to tighten its grip. CEO Timotheus Hoettges is chairman of T-Mobile's board.

REGULATORS LIKELY TO SCRUTINISE ANY DEAL

The complex potential deal is aimed at reigniting growth in a stagnating telecoms sector, though it could face major regulatory and geopolitical hurdles. It comes amid strained diplomatic and economic ties between Germany and the U.S., clouded by tariffs and tensions over the war in Iran.

Any deal would require support from the German state, Deutsche Telekom's single biggest shareholder, with a 28% stake held roughly equally by the government and state-lender KfW, whose holding could be diluted in a merged group.

"A full merger would see this diluted to 17%-18% at current valuations, below the ~25% threshold which German authorities have signalled would be a threshold for 'strategic businesses' in the past," said BNP Paribas Equity Research senior analyst Sam McHugh.

Blair Levin, policy adviser at New Street Research, said a deal would likely face heavy scrutiny in the U.S., but was unlikely to be blocked on purely regulatory grounds, even if it triggered political resistance.

"The bottom line is that while there will be antitrust, national security, and regulatory investigations, those investigations are unlikely to find a problem that results in the U.S. government blocking the deal," he said.
Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) is among the 10 High Growth Canadian Stocks to Buy Now.

On April 15, BMO Capital analyst Brian Quast lowered the firms price target on Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) to C$82 from C$98 while maintaining an Outperform rating. Although the target was reduced, the continued bullish rating suggests confidence in Eldorados long-term value proposition despite recent market volatility. Analysts often trim targets to reflect commodity price swings, project timing, or broader market multiples rather than deterioration in the core business.

The day before, TD Securities lowered its price target on Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) to $40 from $45 and kept a Hold rating, citing concerns that the Foran Mining transaction appeared relatively expensive and near-term dilutive. While acquisitions can pressure sentiment initially, they can also strengthen future production pipelines and reserve bases when executed strategically. Investors focused solely on short-term dilution may be overlooking the long-term benefits of asset expansion and optionality.

For investors bullish on gold and copper, Eldorado provides an attractive blend of precious-metals exposure, geographic diversification, and project upside. If gold prices remain elevated and Skouries progresses smoothly, the stock could see substantial re-rating potential. With a growing production base and long-life assets, Eldorado Gold appears to be an appealing mining stock to buy for long-term upside.

Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) is a Canadian mining company that explores, develops, and operates gold and base metal mines with primary assets in Canada, Turkey, and Greece. Founded in April 1992 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company owns a diversified portfolio including Lamaque, Kisladag, Olympias, Efemcukuru, and the highly important Skouries project in Greece.

While we acknowledge the potential of EGO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 13 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 8 Best Up and Coming Semiconductor Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Tesla Inc. is facing an international backlash over self-driving promises the carmaker made nearly a decade ago, with class actions now spanning California, Australia and a fresh European campaign.

The suits land two days before Tesla reports first-quarter earnings.

The latest front opened last week in the Netherlands, where a Dutch Tesla owner launched a campaign organizing European drivers who paid thousands for automated driving they still cannot access.

An Australian law firm is pursuing a parallel class action accusing Tesla of selling vehicles incapable of fully autonomous driving, while in California an 80-year-old retired attorney who paid $8,000 for Full Self-Driving in 2017 won class-action certification in September on behalf of roughly 3,000 Tesla owners seeking refunds.

Don't Miss:

The Hardware 3 Problem

At the center of each case is Hardware 3, the outdated computer system installed in millions of Teslas that Wall Street analysts say can no longer run Elon Musks most sophisticated Full Self-Driving software.

Musk told investors in January 2025 that Tesla would eventually upgrade the hardware for lifetime-FSD buyers, calling the process painful and difficult.

Tesla offered complimentary third-generation upgrades to some customers in 2020 and 2021, then moved to fourth-generation hardware in 2023.

Owners who paid upfront for lifetime access found themselves with outdated equipment again.

Musk has not publicly updated the plan since, leaving Wednesdays call as the next pressure point.

See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

What Prediction Markets Are Pricing

The lawsuits land at an awkward moment. Tesla reports Q1 earnings after the close on Wednesday, and Kalshis dedicated Tesla earnings-mention market is pricing near-certainty that Musk addresses Full Self-Driving on the call.

Whether he speaks to the growing legal pressure, and to the millions of owners stuck with outdated hardware, is a separate question.

Polymarket traders are skeptical that Tesla is on track to hit other targets. A California Robotaxi launch by June 30 is priced at 15%, and Optimus, hitting public sale by the same date, sits at 7%.

A contract on the Robovan gives a 23% chance it will be available for sale before the end of the year.

Tesla shares are trading around $395 after rallying into earnings on AI5 chip optimism and robotaxi expansion to Dallas and Houston. Q1 deliveries of 358,023 missed consensus.
Potential Churchill China plc (LON:CHH) shareholders may wish to note that the Executive Director & Sales and Marketing Director, James Roper, recently bought UK103k worth of stock, paying UK3.44 for each share. Although the purchase only increased their holding by 3.1%, it is still a solid purchase in our view.

AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early.

Churchill China Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Notably, that recent purchase by James Roper is the biggest insider purchase of Churchill China shares that we've seen in the last year. That implies that an insider found the current price of UK3.65 per share to be enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider purchases were made at close to current prices.

While Churchill China insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

See our latest analysis for Churchill China

AIM:CHH Insider Trading Volume April 23rd 2026

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. If investing in lesser known companies is your style, you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Does Churchill China Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Our data indicates that Churchill China insiders own about UK3.8m worth of shares (which is 9.4% of the company). However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. We do generally prefer see higher levels of insider ownership.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Churchill China Insiders?

It is good to see recent purchasing. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. We would certainly prefer see higher levels of insider ownership but analysis of the insider transactions suggests that Churchill China insiders are expecting a bright future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. While conducting our analysis, we found that Churchill China has 2 warning signs and it would be unwise to ignore them.
Philip Morris International (PM) stock has gone practically nowhere for the past year, but Goldman Sachs sees that changing. The firm just reiterated a $205 base-case price target, implying about 33% upside from the stocks current price near $153.

The call comes down to one idea. Philip Morris is no longer just a cigarette company; it is becoming a smoke-free business. That shift could drive a higher-quality earnings profile if execution holds.

Goldman Sachs sees 33% upside as smoke-free products drive the story

Goldman Sachs is making a clear call on Philip Morris. The firm has reiterated its $205 base-case price target for the stock, implying about 33% upside from the stocks current price of roughly $153.

That view is built on one core shift: Philip Morris is becoming a smoke-free business. New segment reporting separates International Smoke-Free from combustibles, making it easier to see where growth and profit are coming from.

Related: Popular vodka brand closes facility, leases to rival distillery

As analyst Bonnie Herzog said, "We continue to see a pathway for strong top- and bottom-line growth over the next several years, given the compounding effect of IQOS and opportunities with ZYN...PM is transforming into a faster-growing and more profitable business - an earnings compounder with an attractive valuation."

Smoke-free products now account for over 40% of total revenue, and international smoke-free is expected to grow from 34% in 2025 to 39.5% by 2028. That shift means a larger share of results will come from categories that are still adding users, taking price, and leveraging fixed costs.

That changes how the stock is valued. Philip Morris is no longer judged mainly as a cigarette company, but that re-rating depends on whether smoke-free growth translates into durable profit. Philip Morris is guiding to 11.1-13.1% EPS growth in 2026, and analysts have pointed to improved visibility as a driver of upside.

ZYN slowdown is the main near-term risk

The clearest near-term risk to that story is the sharp deceleration in U.S. ZYN growth. Q1 U.S. ZYN volume growth is estimated at just 2.5%, down sharply from 19.3% in Q4. Full-year 2026 U.S. ZYN growth is forecast at 14.1%, versus 36.7% growth that Zyn saw for 2025. That is a meaningful slowdown for a product that has been central to Philip Morriss U.S. reduced-risk momentum.

The key question is whether this is a timing issue or something more structural. Temporary factors like retailer de-stocking or promotional timing would mainly shift revenue between quarters.
HONG KONG (AP)  PwC, one of the world's biggest accounting firms, is paying HK$1.3 billion ($166 million) in fines and compensation in Hong Kong over its audit work for the failed Chinese property developer Evergrande, which was said to have overstated revenues.

Hong Kong's accounting regulator on Thursday also announced a six-month ban on PwC from working for new clients and said it had issued a public reprimand to two of its former partners for misconduct, fining each of them a separate HK$5 million.

More from Yahoo Scout What fines did PwC face over Evergrande audits? What impact did Evergrande's collapse have on China? How did Evergrande overstate its revenue and profits? What penalties were imposed on PwC partners involved?

China Evergrande, one of Chinas biggest property developers and once deemed too big to fail, defaulted in 2021 and became the worlds most indebted developer with roughly $300 billion in liabilities. Its rapid downfall was the most prominent case of failure in Chinas property sector, which was embroiled in a liquidity crisis after authorities cracked down on excessive borrowing in the industry as many other developers had also defaulted or underwent restructuring.

The property sector slump in China has still not yet fully recovered, which has weighed on home prices across the country and impacted consumption and investment sentiment, dragging on China's broader economic growth.

In 2024, PwC was fined by mainland Chinese authorities 441 million yuan ($62 million) over its Evergrande audit. Chinese authorities also imposed a six-month ban on the accounting firm over false conclusions in its audit reports for Evergrande and serious defects in its auditing procedures.

Hong Kongs Securities and Futures Commission said Thursday it had investigated PwCs work relating to Evergrandes financial statements for 2019 and 2020 and found that its annual revenue and profits were substantially overstated.

It said Evergrande had manipulated annual revenue and profits by prematurely recognising revenue from property sales before the completion and delivery of properties to buyers. Revenues were overstated by roughly 564 billion yuan ($83 billion) over the two years, it said, after Chinese authorities reached a similar conclusion in September 2024 when it imposed its fine and ban on PwC.

The Hong Kong commission also said there were serious breaches of professional duties by PwC. It said it had reached an agreement with PwC  without an admission of liability by the firm  under which PwC would be setting aside HK$1 billion for compensating minority shareholders of Evergrande.

Hong Kongs accounting regulator, the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council, said in a separate statement that PwCs audit deficiencies for Evergrande were particularly egregious and that the accounting firm had knowingly permitting unsupported or unjustified adjustments in the financial statements.
HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) is one of the 10 Resilient Stocks in a Sea of Uncertainties.

HP saw its share prices jump by 7.66 percent on Tuesday to finish at $21.09 apiece, as investors cheered the approval of corporate resolutions aimed at boosting company growth.

In a regulatory filing on the same day, HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) said that it officially secured the approval of its shareholders for a number of corporate resolutions, including the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, which aims to compensate the executive management and employees upon the achievement of growth targets.

HP pexels

Photo by Alain Youssef on Pexels

The Incentive Plan also covers the issuance of 73.6 million additional shares pursuant to share-based compensation awards granted under the plan.

Last week, HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) saw its share price surge for three straight days after reports from a website that claimed Nvidia Corp. was eyeing to acquire one of the largest PC makers globally, which would reshape the PC landscape.

Investors were quick to position their portfolios in key players, including Dell Technologies.

Nvidia, on the other hand, denied the report, saying that it is not engaging in any talks for a potential acquisition.

The media report is false; Nvidia is not engaged in discussions to acquire any PC maker, a spokesperson told Bloomberg.

While we acknowledge the potential of HPQ 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.
By Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI, April 23 (Reuters) - India's biggest food delivery app Zomato has agreed to drop a contract term that penalized restaurants for offering cheaper meals to walk-in diners, a company source said, after opposition from eateries who said the policy undermined their pricing decisions.

Eternal's Zomato app has 24 million consumers and 300,000 listed restaurants. As demand for food delivery boomed, Eternal shares have more than doubled since their 2021 listing and the company is valued at nearly $26 billion.

For years, Zomato has had a "charges for price disparity" clause in its contracts, which allowed it to fine restaurants if their eat-in or their own delivery prices were lower than those listed on the Zomato app. Zomato's contracts also stated that it could use mystery shopping, or secretive restaurant visits, among other tactics to check that outlets were not undercutting the app in price, according to contracts seen by Reuters.

The clause was never enforced but has been dropped now, a Zomato source said on Thursday, without explaining the rationale for the decision.

Reuters is first to report Zomato's decision, as a review of publicly available Zomato policy for restaurants also showed the clause has been dropped.

Zomato did not respond to Reuters queries.

With players like Domino's and KFC competing with millions of restaurants in India, the country's $94 billion food services market is set to be worth $153 billion by 2031, Mordor Intelligence estimates.

ANTITRUST RISK OF CLAUSE

According to Zomato's contracts, it would charge a fine equal to "three times the differential amount" per order. This was opposed by the National Restaurant Association of India as it restricted their pricing ability, said Sagar J. Daryani, president of the group that represents over 500,000 outlets.

"Its our product and should be our pricing. We appreciate their assurance that price parity will no longer be enforced," Daryani told Reuters.

Five lawyers and one former Indian antitrust official who reviewed the clause in the Zomato agreement said it was prone to hurt competition and could have faced scrutiny from regulators.

They referred to how a complaint by a hotels body led to a 2022 decision by India's antitrust watchdog which asked travel booking websites MakeMyTrip and GoIbibo to remove clauses that prohibited hotels from offering lower rates to other agents.

"The clause has resemblance to those found to be in violation in India hotel booking business ... though similar clauses have faced scrutiny world over, the company would have needed to provide an objective justification to defend it," said Rahul Goel, antitrust partner at India's AnantLaw.
(Corrects analyst's employer details in paragraph 7)

BENGALURU, April 22 (Reuters) - Indian IT services company Tech Mahindra said it is confident of delivering growth in fiscal 2027, after its fourth-quarter revenue beat estimates on strength in the manufacturing and banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) verticals.

The two segments drove growth, CEO Mohit Joshi said, with the BFSI push being part of the company's plan to expand its portfolio.

Revenue from manufacturing and BFSI grew 11.8% and 4.7%, respectively. New deal wins rose to $1.07 billion from $798 million a year earlier.

Its communications business, from which it derives a third of its revenue, grew 5.6% due to stabilisation and increased spend from the company's largest U.S. client, Joshi said.

"CEO Mohit Joshi, who was previously the head of BFSI at Infosys, has been able to use his history to mine new BFSI accounts, which is a good sign. They are on track to deliver on their fiscal 2027 targets before time," said Sushovon Nayak, IT analyst at Anand Rathi.

Analysts said that the company reported a good set of numbers, but that expectations have been muted across the sector.

"On that muted expectation, they have done well. The expectation was that growth would be flat on constant currency basis, they grew 0.6%," said Piyush Pandey from Centrum Broking, citing client-specific issues for some of Tech Mahindra's peers.

Margin improvement trajectory remains on track, and deal wins look good, he added.

Consolidated sales for the quarter ended March 31 rose 12.6% to 150.76 billion rupees ($1.61 billion), above average estimates of 147.77 billion rupees.

Net profit rose 16% to 13.54 billion rupees but missed expectations.

The company's shares, which were down 6% before the results, initially pared all losses after the results were announced, before closing 2.55% down on broad-based weakness.

($1 = 93.8425 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Haripriya Suresh; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair and Janane Venkatraman)
General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) was among Jim Cramers stock calls on Mad Money recently. A caller asked whether the company can reaccelerate its organic growth or if performance will remain stagnant, and will rely on price increases and the pet food segment, while core categories remain flat or declining. Cramer replied:

Okay, Mills doesnt want to hear this, Jeff Harmening doesnt want to hear this, but they gotta combine. A lot of these companies just have to combine, and maybe with this administration, they could because they have to start playing offense, and they cant right now because theres too many negatives in the food group. Unless its just going to be a group that goes down for years and years and years, they have to do some combinations, and they gotta do them now.

Photo by Adam Nowakowski on Unsplash

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) provides branded foods, including cereals, snacks, meals, baking products, frozen items, ice cream, and pet food. A caller asked for Cramers long-term opinion on the stock during the April 8 episode, and he replied:

You know, I was talking with the team earlier about, I was talking to Jeff Marks about, that I saw Smucker, SJM, report a good quarter, and it went up for about a minute, and then it just got crushed. I cant recommend the stock of General Mills, 6.67% yield, it does not stop the decline. Im going to have to say no. I dont have a reason to recommend General Mills, so Im just going to have to say pass. Pass, wow.

While we acknowledge the potential of GIS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.

What recent performance suggests for Byline Bancorp

Byline Bancorp (BY) has drawn investor attention after a period of mixed share performance, with a slight 1 day and week decline but gains of about 7% over the past month and 4% in the past 3 months.

Over longer horizons, total returns of about 14% year to date and 33% over the past year, alongside revenue of US$409.98m and net income of US$130.05m, give investors more context for assessing the current share price near US$33.09.

See our latest analysis for Byline Bancorp.

The recent share price around US$33.09 sits alongside a year-to-date share price return of about 14% and a 1-year total shareholder return of roughly 33%. This suggests momentum has been building over time as investors reassess growth prospects and perceived risks.

If you are weighing Byline alongside other opportunities in financials, this can be a good moment to broaden your search and check out 19 top founder-led companies

With Byline trading near US$33.09, a reported intrinsic discount of about 46% and a value score of 4 raise a key question: is this still a mispriced bank stock, or is the market already factoring in expectations for future growth?

Most Popular Narrative: 7.1% Undervalued

Byline Bancorp's most followed narrative pins fair value at $35.60, a touch above the recent $33.09 share price. This frames the current move as a modest discount rather than a major dislocation.

The successful integration of First Security, including immediate cost synergies and system upgrades, has expanded Byline Bancorp's lending and deposit base while improving operational efficiency, setting the stage for higher net interest income and improved net margins going forward. Byline's continued investment in digital banking upgrades, demonstrated by the completion of a major online banking systems update, positions the company to attract and retain younger, tech-savvy customers, potentially driving future deposit growth and enhanced fee income.

Read the complete narrative.

Curious what sits behind that fair value gap? The narrative leans heavily on compounded revenue growth, steady but moderating margins, and a richer future earnings multiple. The mix of buybacks, dividends and asset growth is built into a tight set of assumptions that aim to reduce guesswork yet still reflect meaningful progress.

Result: Fair Value of $35.60 (UNDERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Release Date: April 22, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Mahindra EPC Irrigation Ltd (BOM:523754) registered its highest ever revenue in FY26, with a growth of 14.8% compared to the previous year.

The company improved its bottom line significantly, delivering a PBT of 17 crore rupees for FY26, up from 10.7 crores in FY25.

The non-subsidy business contribution increased to 35% in FY26 from a mere 3% in FY20, indicating successful diversification.

The company managed to achieve a 1% saving on material costs through strategic sourcing and improved product and business mix.

Mahindra EPC Irrigation Ltd is expanding its presence in emerging markets, such as North India, with a 28% growth in UP in FY26.

Negative Points

The company faced challenges with high receivables due to delayed payments from state governments, impacting cash flow.

Raw material prices saw a sharp increase in March 2026, affecting the company's margins and cost structure.

The industry is subject to volatility in demand due to factors like election cycles and agricultural policy changes.

The company has experienced negative cash flow over the past five years, primarily due to high working capital requirements.

The subsidy business, which constitutes a significant portion of revenue, is heavily reliant on government pricing and fund disbursement.

Q & A Highlights

Q: What impact do you expect from the increase in raw material prices, and how will it affect your margins? A: We see volatility in raw material prices as a risk for FY27. We are mitigating this through strategic product focus, selective price increases, and careful procurement. The Industry Irrigation Association has also requested a price increase from the government, which is under consideration. (Respondent: Managing Director)

Q: Can you elaborate on the strategy for targeting specific products and markets? A: We have a range of products and a strong presence in the south and west of India. We will focus on products and geographies where our margins are higher, structuring our approach to maximize margin opportunities while driving top-line growth. (Respondent: Managing Director)

Q: What is the reason for the increase in other expenses? A: The increase in other expenses is primarily due to project expenses. Our revenue mix shifted towards projects, which have lower raw material costs but higher variable expenses. This shift contributed to the increase in other expenses. (Respondent: Managing Director)
By Elvira Pollina and Echo Wang

MILAN/NEW YORK, April 23(Reuters) - Bending Spoons, a European tech firm whose business model is based on reviving companies, has picked banks to organise a potential $20 billion U.S. initial public offering this year, two people close to the matter said.

The Milan-based firm, whose name is inspired by the Hollywood movie "The Matrix" and which last year bought the web portal AOL, has lined up Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Allen & Co, Bank of America, BNP Paribas and Jefferies, one of the sources said.

The listing could value the company at around $20 billion, the people said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

They added it is expected in the coming months, with one of them saying it could happen before the northern hemisphere summer, subject to market conditions.

Bending Spoons, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas and Jefferies declined to comment. Representatives for Allen&Co and Bank of America did not immediately respond to request for comment.

GROWTH THROUGH ACQUISITIONS

The company has grown through acquisitions of tech firms, including video platform Vimeo and the apps WeTransfer and Evernote, taking its value in a funding round last year to about $11 billion.

In an interview with Reuters in November, Chief Executive Luca Ferrari said the firm was ready to go public and that it could list as soon as this year, while stopping short of committing to a specific timetable.

A year earlier, he had said that if Bending Spoons decided on an IPO, it would probably choose a U.S. listing, citing the higher valuations typically commanded by technology companies in U.S. markets.

Markets have been expecting a flurry of IPOs in a potentially record year, although the uncertainty and economic damage caused by the Iran war may disrupt some plans.

Bending Spoons may also look to avoid overlapping with some of the trillion-dollar names planning to list such as SpaceX, the sources said.

The firm expected its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation to reach $1.4 billion in 2026, from $700 million in 2025, Ferrari told Reuters in November.

(Reporting by Elvira Pollina in Milan and Echo Wang in New York. Editing by Barbara Lewis)
Revenue growth of 27% in Q1 was primarily driven by higher-than-anticipated ADAS fitment rates among Western customers and significant volume from Chinese OEM exports.

Management attributes the Q1 beat to a 'blue ocean' opportunity in emerging markets where Chinese partners are expanding, providing a net gain without cannibalizing higher-ASP Western business.

The company is successfully transitioning from base ADAS to Surround ADAS, which offers average selling prices of $100-$150 compared to legacy solutions while maintaining 70% gross margins.

Strategic positioning in India is accelerating as local regulations starting in 2027 and consumer demand are expected to drive ADAS penetration from 8% to between 70% and 90% within two to three years of the mandate.

Execution on advanced products remains the core priority, with the SuperVision system demonstrating high 'out-of-the-box' performance during a 2,000km U.S. test drive in severe weather.
Nestle is going ahead with the sale of the Blue Bottle Coffee chain business as it confirmed Chinese investor Centurium Capital as the buyer.

Blue Bottle Coffee was the subject of media speculation in December suggesting Nestle had hired advisors to weigh up options for the business, including a possible sale.

Further speculation then emerged in March that private-equity firm Centurium Capital might be the suitor, which has now proved to be the case.

Nestle buried the confirmation announcement at the foot of its first-quarter results statement today (23 April), saying briefly: Nestle has agreed the sale of Blue Bottle Coffee to Centurium Capital. The transaction is subject to the customary conditions and is expected to close during H1-26.

The Swiss group acquired a controlling interest in Blue Bottle in 2017 in a deal that valued the US business at about $700m. The chain runs around 100 outlets across the US and Asia. It also sells packaged coffee in stores such as Target and Save Mart.

Centurium Capital confirmed the deal with Just Drinks but did not supply a comment or statement.

Nestle did not put out a full statement on the transaction but CEO Philipp Navratil was asked for more details on a follow-up results discussion with analysts today as coffee outperformed in the opening three months of the year.

The deal is for the sale of the whole business, he said, although Nestle will retain some parts of the business.

We have Blue Bottle branded capsules on Nespresso that are quite successful and we intend to keep that business sold through Nestle, Navratil told analysts. But all the cafes are obviously in the perimeter of the sale.

Nestle delivered a positive set of first-quarter numbers led by coffee, which was described today as the star performer. However, the group results were overshadowed by a slowdown in sales linked to this years infant formula recall.

Organic growth came in at 3.5%, easing from the 4% pace in quarter four of fiscal 2025 as the recall mainly weighed on sales in Europe and China.

Real internal growth (RIG), which strips out the effect of pricing from organic growth, was positive across all zones and categories, Navratil said, adding that coffee was the star, with recovering volumes and positive mix.

Organic growth in the coffee division was 9.3% with RIG of 3.5%, outpacing the 1.2% for the group based on total sales of SFr21.32bn ($27.1bn). Coffee delivered SFr6bn in sales, only trailing the SFr6.18bn for food and snacks.

We love this category because it's a category that is resilient, Navratil told analysts during todays Q&A session.
Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge.

Nestle has expanded its partnership with Keurig Dr Pepper to manufacture and distribute Starbucks branded K Cup pods in North America.

The renewed agreement builds on Nestles global licensing arrangement with Starbucks and targets the at home coffee market.

The deal focuses on wider distribution and new product development for Starbucks branded single serve coffee formats.

Nestle (SWX:NESN), trading at CHF75.54, is leaning further into coffee, a category where it already has a significant presence. The expanded K Cup agreement adds another channel alongside its existing coffee platforms and connects the company more directly with at home coffee habits across North America.

For investors watching SWX:NESN after a 10.0% decline over the past year and a 26.9% decline over three years, this development is worth tracking as part of the companys broader focus on branded coffee formats. The way Nestle executes on product variety, pricing and retailer relationships within this enlarged K Cup footprint could influence how meaningful this agreement becomes in its coffee portfolio over time.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for Nestle by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Nestle.

SWX:NESN Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Apr 2026

 Beyond the headline: 1 risk and 3 things going right for Nestle that every investor should see.

Quick Assessment

 Price vs Analyst Target : At CHF75.54, Nestle trades about 13.5% below the CHF87.37 analyst price target.

 Simply Wall St Valuation : Shares are described as trading 51.6% below estimated fair value.

 Recent Momentum: The 30 day return of roughly 0.9% is mildly positive.

There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Nestle. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Nestle's Fair Value.

Key Considerations

 The expanded Starbucks K Cup partnership reinforces Nestle's focus on branded at home coffee formats, an area already important to its portfolio.

 Watch how K Cup volumes, the mix of Starbucks variants and any commentary on pricing or margins in North America are reflected in future segment disclosures.

 Simply Wall St flags a high level of debt as a risk, so investors may want to see that any extra investment in this partnership does not stretch the balance sheet.

Dig Deeper

For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete Nestle analysis. Alternatively, you can visit the community page for Nestle to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company's narrative.
The first proposal (proposal #5 on the agenda) asks for the issuance of an ESG ROI report. The proposal requests that the Board of Directors publish a report disclosing the extent to which the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investments identified in the 2024 ESG Report were authorized and are maintained based on Net Present Value (NPV) and Return on Investment (ROI) calculations. The proposal argues Netflix is devoting financial resources to ESG projects which dont provide a reasonable rate of return. Here are the examples given in the proposal : 1. Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA): The Company is a co-founder of SABA, participating in a collective commitment of nearly $200 million to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) certificates. The Report states the goal is to send market signals to producers, but subsidizing a nascent market to send signals sounds like an economic policy action not a corporate investment strategy. There is apparently no evidence this premium expenditure was authorized based on an NPV calculation justifying the cost against standard procurement. 2. Fund for Creative Equity: This initiative represents a $100 million commitment, with approximately $57 million invested by the end of 2024. Success is reported strictly through non-financial metrics, such as 25k+ people supported but shareholders have apparently been provided no data demonstrating that this $100 million outflow meets an internal hurdle rate or generates a measurable financial return through recruitment savings or accretive content revenue. 3. Operational Efficiency Investments: While the Company references return on investment, it qualifies this metric as applying to energy used. This phrasing suggests a siloed capital bucket where energy projects compete only against other energy projects, rather than competing for capital against high-yield core business opportunities. If these investments do not meet the enterprise-wide cost of capital, they may represent a destruction of shareholder value despite being efficient relative to other energy options. 4. Matching Emissions via Carbon Credits: The Company purchases and retires millions of tons of carbon credits annually to match emissions. Unlike an investment that generates cash flow, this is a recurring expense that purchases an asset immediately retired for zero financial gain. Based on the report, shareholders are left unaware if management has calculated the compound opportunity cost of these funds had they been invested in profitable operations rather than retired assets.

Netflix shareholders are set to vote on a number of proposals during the upcoming annual meeting of the Netflix Board of Directors. Including two that focus on subjects that are of great interest to politically conservative groups and critics of the company.

Story Continues

The Netflix Board Of Directors Recommends A No Vote



The current Netflix Board of Directors is recommending Netflix shareholders vote no on the proposal. They argue the ROI study is unnecessary and that its adoption would not be in the best interests of Netflix or the companys stockholders.



The statement further argues Netflix already transparently reports on how ESG initiatives align with business objectives through an annual Environmental, Social & Governance Report. And that this additional study would not provide any meaningful additional information and would consume additional resources to produce:



The proposal assumes that all ESG initiatives should be judged only by traditional financial impact metrics. However, many of these initiatives address compliance, risk management, stakeholder expectations, or company business objectives factors that are important to our long-term success in shareholder value creation that are not always measurable by financial metrics across traditional financial reporting time horizons, and could therefore be impractical and misleading.

Another Proposal Argues Netflix Pushes Gender Ideology

A second proposal (proposal #6 on the agenda) asks for Netflix to issue a report on Politicized Brand Misalignment. That proposal argues the company has been damaged financially by its alleged focus on various woke ideas and character portrayals:



"Netflix has faced significant backlash over its use of gender ideology in childrens programming. Shows such as Dead End: Paranormal Park and films such as Cuties have been widely criticized for promoting highly controversial narratives regarding gender ideology & sexual activity to young audiences. The most recent example, Dead End: Paranormal Park, features a transgender teen protagonist and was rated TV-Y7, indicating suitability for children aged seven and older.



Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly canceled his Netflix subscription over the show and urged others to do the same, leading to a reported drop in Netflixs stock price.

Another example, Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City, promoted transgender characters and was rated TV-Y, indicating suitability for children of all ages, and The Baby-Sitters Club reportedly featured a child character shaming doctors for referring to a child patient by biological pronouns. Another example was 2018s Baby, which portrayed a group of teenagers entering into prostitution as a glamorized coming-of-age story as per NCOSE analysis.

This promotion of sexualized content, particularly to Netflix youngest viewers, has alienated customers, employees, and shareholders, and exposed Netflix to litigation and regulatory scrutiny. One earlier example of programming, the 2020 film Cuties, sparked so much controversy over depicting the sexualization of children that a grand jury indicted the company over child exploitation charges.6 Crucially, this has exposed Netflix to significant contingent liability and material legal risk, incurred costs of litigation, regulatory enforcement, and compliance, and materially affected other segments of the business.

At the same time as these widespread public controversies, Netflix has notably underperformed its peer group competitors over the past 5 years (as per Bowyer Research analysis). When Netflixs $500 billion market value is negatively impacted by public controversies related to sexualized childrens content that hurt stock prices, shareholders are right to ask the company to take a serious look at how its brand performance has been hurt by such consistent controversies. It is imperative that Netflix reassess its approach to public engagement.

By commissioning a report that transparently evaluates these risks, the Board will demonstrate its commitment to fiduciary duty and corporate accountability. Shareholders deserve clarity on how Netflixs ideological positioning may be undermining enterprise valueand how the company intends to mitigate these risks moving forward.

The Netflix Also Recommends A No Vote On This Proposal



The Netflix Board of Directors is recommending shareholders vote no on this proposal, stating they have concluded that it is unnecessary and that its adoption would not be in the best interests of Netflix or its stockholders for these reasons:



The proposal is unnecessary in light of existing oversight and disclosure practices. Netflix already maintains processes for identifying, assessing and managing legal, regulatory and reputational risks associated with its business operations, including those arising from branding, marketing and public policy activities. The Companys governance structure is expressly designed to ensure that the Board, through its committees and regular engagement with management, exercises effective oversight of risk management.



The proposal would inappropriately interfere with managements day-to-day operations.

The evaluation and management of risks associated with branding, marketing and public policy positions are core functions of management, who possess the requisite expertise and access to real-time information necessary to make informed decisions in these areas. The Board, in its oversight capacity, regularly reviews managements risk assessments and strategic decisions, ensuring that appropriate controls and mitigation strategies are in place.



Requiring the Board to conduct a separate, duplicative evaluation and issue a public report on these matters would divert time and resources from the Companys primary business objectives. Moreover, the Companys branding and marketing strategies, as well as its public policy positions, are integral to its business model and are continuously adapted in response to market conditions, regulatory developments and stakeholder feedback. Mandating a public report on these matters could expose the Company to unnecessary risk and would not provide stockholders with meaningful incremental information beyond what is already disclosed.



The proposal would not meaningfully benefit stockholders.

Netflixs public disclosures already provide comprehensive information regarding the Companys approach to risk management and public policy engagement and the Company is committed to transparency and regular engagement with its stockholders. The Board and management routinely solicit and consider stockholder feedback on a wide range of issues, including governance, risk management and strategic priorities. These engagement efforts have contributed to enhancements to the Companys governance structure and disclosure practices.



These Proposals Come From Well-Known Politically Conservative Critics



Its unlikely either of these proposals will be approved by shareholders. And its worth noting that both of these issues are ones often cited by politically conservative critics who argue the company is too woke. Despite Netflix streaming stand-up specials from a number of pro-Trump, politically conservative comedians.



But the identity of the shareholders making these proposals is also worth knowing.



The first proposal comes from the National Center for Public Policy Research, a self-described conservative think tank. The firm has launched a number of similar proposals at other companies, including a 2014 proposal to force Apple to disclose the costs of its sustainability programs. That proposal argued Apples decision to have all of its power come from green sources would lower shareholders' profits.

The second proposal is being introduced by Bower Research, a small company that advises many millions of dollars, including the $57 billion Texas Permanent School Fund. In recent years, Bower has filed a number of similar proposals at other companies, including a recent one at John Deere, which argued the company should conduct an evaluation and issue a report within the next year evaluating the risks of failing to allow faith-based business resource groups (BRGs)



The Netflix Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, June 4th.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) is one of the 10 Stocks Besting Wall Street With Easy Double-Digit Gains.

Oklo surged by 15.65 percent on Wednesday to finish at $72.41 apiece, mirroring the broader market rally primarily boosted by the easing tensions in the Middle East.

Notably, investors are increasing positions in stocks riding the artificial intelligence wave, while fleeing sectors seen as vulnerable to the uncertainties in the US-Iran war.

OKLO

A rendering of Oklo's Aurora powerhouse. Photo from Oklo website

The rally was also supported by the US governments continued backing of the nuclear sector as it eyes ramping up energy expansion in the country to fill the growing demand.

Earlier this week, Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) earned a hold recommendation from investment firm UBS, alongside a price target of $60. The figure, however, was markedly lower by 20.68 percent than its closing price on Wednesday.

Apart from UBS, four other investment firms also issued a hold recommendation for its stock, while eight others turned more bullish, recommending investors to buy its shares.

In other news, Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) late last month said that its co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jacob DeWitte, was tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as one of his advisors at the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology or PCAST. He would bring direct experience in advanced nuclear technology development for clean and reliable power.

DeWitte joins other executives in the PCAST, including Nvidia Corp.s Jensen Huang, Oracle Corp.s Larry Ellison, and Meta Platforms Inc.s Mark Zuckerberg, among others.

While we acknowledge the potential of OKLO 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.
PlusAI and Churchill Capital Corp. IX announced Tuesday the termination of their previously announced SPAC-backed business combination. According to a PlusAI announcement, the termination of the merger between the autonomous truck technology maker and the SPAC was due to market conditions.

In the announcement, PlusAI was optimistic, noting that it continues to show significant commercial momentum and is positioned for long-term growth. Existing PlusAI investors continue to support the companys growth and commercialization plans, the announcement added.

Our business has significant momentum. With strong expected revenue in 2026 and continued growth on the horizon in 2027, we are executing on our strategy and delivering real value to our customers. SuperDrive



is proving itself in commercial operations today and HyperFoundry is picking up momentum. The trajectory ahead gives us tremendous confidence in where PlusAI is headed. The support from our existing investors on our next capital raise is a direct reflection of their conviction in our business fundamentals and our technology, said David Liu, CEO and co-founder of PlusAI.

The move comes as the company recently unveiled major updates to its SuperDrive 6.0 autonomous trucking platform in March. PlusAI operates an autonomous trucking trial in Texas with International and Ryder.

PlusAIs partner ecosystem spans global manufacturing OEMs including TRATON GROUPs Scania, MAN and International brands, Hyundai Motor Co. and Iveco Group, alongside technology and logistics partners NVIDIA, Bosch, DSV and Goodyear.

Existing investors  including Sequoia Capital China, FountainVest Partners, ClearVue Partners, Amazon, Mayfield and others  continue to back the companys growth plans.

The post PlusAI terminates SPAC deal with Churchill Capital IX appeared first on FreightWaves.
The obvious reason this matters is valuation. Investors tend to dislike conglomerates when the pieces inside them are hard to compare, hard to value, or pulling in different directions. ABF has had that problem in spades. Primark is a consumer retail story. FoodCo is a global staples and ingredients story. One sells T-shirts and socks to bargain hunters. The other worries about commodity cycles, brand portfolios, supply chains, and agricultural inputs. Trying to wrap both into one neat equity story has become increasingly awkward.

That tension matters. This is not a spin-off from a position of roaring strength. It is a structural reset arriving just as both halves of the business are dealing with awkward questions. Primark is facing tougher competition, weaker consumer confidence in parts of Europe, and the familiar problem of how to stay cheap, relevant, and fashionable without getting digitally outgunned by online rivals. The food side, meanwhile, has to prove it is more than a bag of unrelated assets stapled together by history.

The announcement came alongside underwhelming half-year results. Group profit fell, sales slipped, and several food divisions remained under pressure. Primark itself produced a mixed picture. U.K. like-for-like sales edged higher, but Europe was weaker, suggesting the retailer still has work to do even before it gets handed the keys to its own front door.

The company laid out the logic in familiar corporate language but the broad message was simple. Primark is now too big and too different to keep living inside a food conglomerate. The retailer generates about half the groups revenue, operates hundreds of stores across multiple markets, and faces a completely different set of challenges from the rest of ABFs portfolio.

Management framed the move as a way to maximize long-term shareholder returns and give each business governance, strategy, and investor communication better suited to its own market. The food arm will keep the Associated British Foods name, while Primark will become a standalone listed retailer.

ABF said it will separate Primark from its food businesses, with completion targeted by the end of 2027. Once the demerger is done, existing ABF shareholders will own shares in both listed companies.

Primark, a clothing retailer with stores around the globe, has become large enough, visible enough, and strategically distinct enough to stand on its own, while the food arm wants to be understood as something more coherent than the stuff left behind after shoppers head for the clothing aisle.

Associated British Foods decision to de-merge Primark is less a bolt from the blue than an admission that the old structure had stopped making sense.

Story Continues

So the de-merger is, in part, a plea for clarity.

Primark gets to pitch itself as a global value-fashion retailer with room to expand internationally, invest in digital tools, and refine its customer proposition without being judged next to sugar margins or oils demand. That should make life easier for management and, in theory, for investors who want a direct bet on the brand.

FoodCo gets the opposite opportunity. For years, it sat behind the Primark spotlight like the quiet sibling at a loud family dinner. Now it can argue that it is a serious FTSE 100 food business with scale, cash generation, and a portfolio built to capture long-term demand across the food chain. Whether investors buy that story is another matter, but at least they will be able to see it properly.

Still, lets not pretend every demerger is magical financial alchemy. Splitting a company in two does not automatically create growth, desirability, or multiple expansion. Sometimes it just gives you two businesses with the same problems, only now they have separate letterheads.

Primark, for all its strengths, is not entering some golden standalone age without baggage. It remains a low-margin retailer in a brutally competitive market. The brand is powerful, yes, but the value-fashion space is a knife fight. Shein and Temu have trained consumers to expect endless novelty and frictionless convenience, while Primark still leans heavily on large physical stores and the treasure-hunt appeal of rummaging around in person. That model can work brilliantly, but it is not immune to shifts in shopping habits or macro pressure.

The food business has its own headache. Once Primark is gone, investors will be left with a collection of businesses that may be solid but do not obviously scream strategic unity. Sugar, ingredients, grocery, and agriculture can make for resilient earnings in the right environment, but they can also look like a corporate leftovers buffet if management cannot articulate the thread connecting them.

There is also the timing. ABF is making this move during a period of geopolitical volatility, uneven consumer demand, and sticky cost pressures. That can be read two ways. Either the company is being smart by separating two businesses exposed to very different risks, or it is choosing to perform a delicate surgical procedure in the middle of a storm.

WHATS NEXT

Now comes the hard part, which is proving the split is more than an elegant presentation deck. Investors will want detail on capital structures, management incentives, governance, and how much real strategic freedom each side actually gains.

For Primark, the key question is whether independence leads to faster decisions and a more aggressive push on growth, especially internationally and digitally. For FoodCo, the challenge is narrative and discipline. Can it look like a focused food company rather than a respectable but slightly random cupboard of brands and industrial assets

ABF has decided the bundle is worth more in pieces. The market will spend the next 18 months deciding whether that is a revelation or just tidier packaging.

Downstream Analysis

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Positive Impacts

Companies

Associated British Foods (ABF.L)  The demerger is intended to unlock value for existing shareholders by allowing for clearer valuation and strategic focus for both the food and retail businesses.

Primark (New Listing)  As a standalone entity, Primark will gain strategic freedom to pursue growth, invest in digital tools, and expand internationally without being constrained by the food conglomerate's priorities.

PDD Holdings (PDD)  As the parent company of Temu, it benefits from the continued competitive pressure in the value-fashion market, which Primark acknowledges as a significant challenge.

H&M (HNNMY)  As a competitor in the value-fashion segment, H&M may benefit from Primark's challenges in adapting to digital competition and shifts in shopping habits.

Industries

Investment Banking / Advisory  Firms involved in facilitating the demerger process will benefit from fees associated with the transaction.

Shareholder Services  Companies providing services for managing two separate listed entities will see increased demand.

Neutral Impacts

Companies

Associated British Foods (ABF.L)  While the demerger aims for positive outcomes, the food business (post-Primark) still needs to prove its strategic unity and faces ongoing challenges like commodity cycles and articulating its value proposition to investors.

Primark (New Listing)  Independence offers opportunities but also exposes Primark to the full force of a low-margin, brutally competitive value-fashion market, requiring significant investment in digital and international expansion.

Inditex (ITX.MC)  As a major global fashion retailer, Inditex operates in a similar market to Primark but with a different model, making the demerger's direct impact on its operations mixed or minor.

Tate & Lyle (TATE.L)  As a peer in the food ingredients sector, Tate & Lyle will observe the new 'FoodCo' as a more focused competitor, but the demerger itself does not fundamentally alter its market position.

Industries

Food Manufacturing  The demerger clarifies the competitive landscape by creating a focused food entity, but the industry still faces existing challenges related to commodity cycles, supply chains, and consumer demand.

Clothing Retail  The value-fashion segment will see a newly independent, focused competitor in Primark, potentially intensifying competition but also offering clearer market segmentation for investors.

Countries / Commodities

UK  The demerger of a major UK-based conglomerate will lead to changes in its corporate structure and investor base, but the direct economic impact on the broader UK economy is likely to be mixed or minor.

Europe  Primark's mixed sales performance in Europe suggests ongoing challenges, and the demerger itself does not immediately resolve broader consumer confidence issues or competitive pressures in the region.

Negative Impacts

Key Downstream Effects

[Long-term] Shareholder Value Unlocking  The demerger is expected to unlock value for existing ABF shareholders by allowing both the food business and Primark to be valued as pure-play entities, potentially leading to higher aggregate market capitalization as investors can better understand and invest in each segment. Confidence: High.

[Medium-term] Increased Competition in Value-Fashion Retail  An independent Primark, freed from its conglomerate structure, is likely to pursue more aggressive growth strategies, particularly in digital and international expansion, intensifying competition for online rivals like Shein and Temu, and traditional players like H&M. Confidence: Medium.

[Short-term] Investor Scrutiny on FoodCo's Strategy  Post-demerger, the remaining Associated British Foods (FoodCo) will face immediate pressure to articulate a coherent strategy for its diverse portfolio of sugar, ingredients, grocery, and agriculture businesses to justify its valuation as a focused food company. Confidence: High.

[Long-term] Digital Transformation Acceleration for Primark  Independence will likely enable Primark to accelerate investments in digital tools and e-commerce capabilities, addressing its current vulnerability to online rivals and adapting to evolving consumer shopping habits. Confidence: High.

[Medium-term] Potential for M&A Activity in Food Sector  A more focused 'FoodCo' could become a more attractive target or acquirer in the food industry, as its strategic direction becomes clearer and its valuation less obscured by the retail arm. Confidence: Low.

Economic Indicators

 FTSE 100 Index  The demerger of a significant FTSE 100 constituent will lead to adjustments in index composition and potentially minor shifts in overall market sentiment, but not a directional change.

 Consumer Confidence (UK/Europe)  Primark's mixed performance in Europe and the mention of weaker consumer confidence suggest this indicator remains a key factor influencing retail sector performance, but the demerger itself does not directly alter it.

 Retail Sales (UK/Europe)  Primark's future performance as an independent entity will contribute to these figures, but the demerger itself is a corporate event, not a direct driver of overall retail sales.

 Agricultural Commodity Prices  The food arm of ABF is exposed to commodity cycles for sugar and agricultural inputs; these prices will continue to influence its profitability but are not directly impacted by the demerger.

 Corporate M&A Activity  The demerger is a significant corporate restructuring event, and its success or challenges could influence the broader trend of corporate splits and consolidations, particularly in the UK.

One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here.
Today, the story goes beyond devices. Its services segment has quietly become a strong growth engine, supported by over a billion paid subscriptions. Platforms like iCloud, Apple Music, and the App Store bring in steady, high-margin revenue, helping the company stay resilient even in uncertain times while keeping users deeply tied to its ecosystem. Its market capitalization currently stands at a whopping $4 trillion.

Apple, the Cupertino-based tech giant, has spent decades shaping the ways in which people live, work, and stay connected. From the iPhone that transformed communication to the Mac and iPad that made computing more personal, Apple built its name on simple yet powerful products.

And with AAPL stock not too far from its recent highs, does this Siri upgrade have enough bite to drive the stock higher, or is it just another neat feature without real market impact?

The idea is not just about answering questions anymore. It is about handling layered requests, understanding context on-screen, and possibly even working with external AI tools. If that plays out, this could mark one of Siris biggest leaps since its debut. Beyond the flash, Apple is expected to fine-tune performance, battery life, and usability, and these are small changes that tend to matter more over time.

This time, the spotlight seems to be shifting toward Siri, Apples voice assistant. For years, Siri has been reliable, but some would say it's a bit behind the curve in the artificial intelligence (AI) race. Now, chatter around a new Siri is picking up, according to Bloomberg News reporter Mark Gurman, with expectations of a more conversational, chatbot-like experience, deeper personalization, and tighter integration across Apples ecosystem.

Every year, when Apple Worldwide Developers Conference rolls around, its not just developers who tune in. Wall Street watches just as closely. Apples events have a habit of dropping hints about whats coming next  sometimes subtle, sometimes headline-grabbing  and investors have learned to read between those lines.

Trillion-dollar tech giant Apple (AAPL) built its reputation by turning simple ideas into category-defining products  from the iPhone to the Mac  while creating an ecosystem people rarely leave. And, over time, Apple events became more than launches.

Story Continues

Apple may still wear the innovation crown, but its stock chart this year tells a more layered story. It has not been a straight climb. A mix of global tensions and shifting sentiment around tech, especially concerns about an AI bubble, have kept investors cautious, and Apple hasnt been immune to that pressure.

Yet, the mood is beginning to change. When I last wrote about AAPL stock back in March, it was still in the red for 2026. Since then, it has inched back into positive territory on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, including a 2.84% gain over just the past five days.

The price action has been fairly disciplined. After slipping into the $200 range in early August, Apple steadily climbed, hitting a peak of $288.62 in early December. Profit-taking followed, pulling it back toward the $250 zone, and its now trading around the $270 level. That leaves it roughly 7.8% below its 52-week high and about 5.24% under its YTD high of $280.90. Still, zooming out, Apples share are up 37.8% over the past 52 weeks.

Technically, AAPL looks to be gaining some strength again. Trading volumes have picked up, which usually means more investors are stepping in. The 14-day RSI is 56.72, showing the stock is moving higher but not overheated yet.

Plus, MACD oscillator shows a steady bullish setup. The MACD line is above the signal line, typically a sign that the upward trend is holding. Histogram is staying in positive territory, suggesting that the buying pressure is still stronger, keeping momentum tilted in favor of the bulls for now.

www.barchart.com

AAPL is not exactly a bargain buy currently. The stock is priced at about 31.83 times forward adjusted earnings and 8.59 times sales, sitting above the sector peers and its own historical averages. But investors seem comfortable paying that price because Apple delivers steady performance, strong cash flows, and a loyal customer base that keeps coming back.

The dividend story adds another layer. The company has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years, while using only about 13% of its earnings to fund it. That leaves enough cushion to keep increasing payouts over time, which is a big reason investors stay comfortable holding the stock.

A Snapshot of Apples Q1 Results

Apple released its fiscal first-quarter results on Jan. 29, generating a record revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16% year-over-year (YOY), while EPS amounted to $2.84, rising 19% annually and comfortably beating Wall Streets expectations.

The biggest driver was the iPhone business, which generated $85.3 billion in revenue, up 23.3% from last year, as demand stayed strong globally. Apples services segment continued to deliver steady growth, bringing in a record $30 billion, up 14% YOY. With higher margins, this segment is quietly becoming a key pillar of the business.

But not every segment kept pace. iPad revenue rose modestly to $8.6 billion, while Mac revenue slipped to $8.4 billion, reflecting softer demand in the PC market. Wearables, Home, and Accessories brought in $11.5 billion, slightly lower than last year.

Despite the strong numbers, the stock reaction was muted. The focus quickly shifted to potential challenges. Strong iPhone demand left Apple with tighter inventory, which could limit near-term sales. At the same time, rising memory costs are expected to have a bigger impact ahead, potentially putting pressure on margins.

Looking ahead, Apple is now getting ready to report its fiscal second-quarter results on Thursday, April 30, and theres optimism building around it. The management has already guided for revenue growth of 13% to 16% for the March quarter, which suggests the momentum is not slowing down just yet.

Also, margins are anticipated to stay stable, thanks to a better product mix. And even though short-term concerns are still in play, Apples strong ecosystem and its high-margin services business continue to provide a solid foundation for steady growth.

Meanwhile, analysts monitoring the company remain optimistic, predicting Q2 revenue around $109.6 billion, while EPS is anticipated to rise by 15.8% YOY to $1.91. Looking further ahead to fiscal 2026, profit is anticipated to be around $8.49 per share, up 13.8% YOY, before surging another 9.7% annually to $9.31 per share in fiscal 2027.

What Do Analysts Expect for Apple Stock?

As anticipation builds around a potential Siri upgrade and Apple Worldwide Developers Conference draws closer, the recent leadership transition adds a new twist to the Apple story. Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities maintained an Outperform rating and a $350 price target, but described the shift as a mixed signal.

While he acknowledged Tim Cooks lasting legacy, he pointed out that the sudden move to Executive Chairman raises questions, especially with Apple entering a key phase in its AI strategy. Ives noted that incoming CEO John Ternus will face immediate pressure to deliver, particularly as investors look for clarity on Apples AI direction in the months ahead.

Plus, ahead of Apples upcoming quarterly results, Goldman Sachs is asking investors to take a closer look at the tech giant. After a slow start to 2026, analyst Michael Ng thinks it could be buy opportunity now. He reiterated a Buy rating with a $330 price target and expects EPS of $2.00 for the quarter, slightly above consensus. His confidence is driven by solid iPhone and Mac demand, healthier margins, and supportive currency trends.

He also pointed to Apples efforts to secure DRAM supply as a smart move to manage rising costs. Ng believes Apple remains well-positioned, backed by strong premium demand and continued gains in China, with services like iCloud+ and AppleCare+ adding steady growth.

Meanwhile, Bank of America raised AAPLs price target to $325, highlighting strong iPhone momentum and Apples 21% global smartphone market share in early 2026. The bank views the leadership shift as a move made from strength, not stress. It also sees Apple entering a new device cycle, potentially led by AI-driven wearables and smart home products, with 2027 shaping up as a major milestone year.

AAPL stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating overall. Out of 42 analysts covering the tech stock, 23 recommend a Strong Buy, three give a Moderate Buy, 15 analysts stay cautious with a Hold rating, and the remaining one analyst has a Strong Sell rating.

The average analyst price target for AAPL is $296.30, indicating potential upside of 11.32% from here. However, the Street-high target price of $350 suggests that the stock could rally as much as 31.5%.

www.barchart.com

www.barchart.com

Final Thoughts on AAPL Stock

Bringing it all together, the real test for Siri is not just how impressive it looks at launch, but also how useful it feels in everyday life. If it can actually manage multiple tasks, understand whats on your screen, and work smoothly across apps and devices, it could quietly change how people interact with Apple's ecosystem.

But this upgrade is coming at a time when a lot is already in motion  leadership changes, an upcoming earnings report, and high expectations from the market. That means the pressure is not just to innovate, but to deliver consistently.

The overall picture still looks resilient, with analysts staying positive and the core business holding up well. Meanwhile, challenges like rising costs and supply issues are still there in the background.

So, while an upgraded Siri version could definitely add a new spark to the story, whether it truly moves the needle for the stock, or just adds to the hype, remains to be seen.

On the date of publication, Sristi Suman Jayaswal 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
Redwire Corp. (NYSE:RDW) is one of the 10 Stocks Besting Wall Street With Easy Double-Digit Gains.

Redwire climbed by 15.71 percent on Wednesday to close at $11.93 apiece, as investor sentiment was primarily fueled by the surging needs for advanced military services amid the ongoing tensions globally.

The stock rallied alongside its counterparts, with optimism for the sector sparked primarily by the US-Israeli war on Iran, alongside Russias conflict with Ukraine.

redwire

Photo from Redwire website

Redwire Corp. (NYSE:RDW) is a US-based integrated defense and space technology company focused on the development of space infrastructure and components, and defense technology and avionics, among others.

Earlier this month, Redwire Corp. (NYSE:RDW) clinched a new $20 million follow-on order from the US Marine Corps for the supply of Stalker Block 30, an advanced navigation version of its uncrewed aircraft system or UAS. The order reflected its expanded collaboration with the Department of Defense.

Redwire Corp. (NYSE:RDW) said that the total order was on top of the 250 existing Stalker aircraft already fielded by the Marine Corps.

Advanced Navigation is critical for long-range reconnaissance missions where drones must operate in contested, GPS-denied environments over vast distances, Redwire Defense Tech President Steve Adlich said.

Our Stalker UAS has a 20-year legacy of combat-proven reliability, mission-driven performance, and adaptability. We are proud to support [Portfolio Acquisition Executive Robotic Autonomous Systems] as they modernize small UAS capabilities for the Marine Corps and strengthen readiness across key mission sets, he noted.

While we acknowledge the potential of RDW as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy.

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The Philippines has millions of unbanked adults, and its consumer lending market is starting to catch up. Salmon, a Manila-based consumer finance app, just raised $60 million in equity and $40 million in debt to bring digital banking to Filipinos.

Salmon was founded by Pavel Fedorov, George Chesakov, and Raffy Montemayor, all of whom previously worked at Russian digital bank Tinkoff. Montemayor was, in fact, Tinkoffs first employee in the Philippines, and led the companys expansion in the country since 2016. In March 2022, the three parted ways with Tinkoff, and launched Salmon.

We saw that the Philippines and broader Southeast Asia were proving themselves in terms of innovation, Fedorov said in an interview with TechCrunch. The Philippines is probably one of the most exciting markets for disruption in the financial services industry in the world.

Indeed, the Philippines is one of the most active mobile markets in the world, with a young, tech savvy population, and is often cited as the social media capital of the world. But its financial system has struggled to keep pace.

Salmon is targeting underbanked Filipinos, with little to no credit history, as well as people unhappy with the incumbent lenders reliability issues.

Notably, Salmon took a shortcut to set up shop: The company in January 2024 acquired a rural bank that was established in 1963 to secure its banking license. The startup is currently building out a full suite of financial products, including revolving credit lines, installment loans, cash loans, motorbike loans, and deposits.

We started by solving the hard things first, lending, and then followed up with many other products. By now, we have around seven or eight different products, Fedorov said. Its impossible for a traditional bank to solve this problem given the current credit market infrastructure in the Philippines.

Fedorov says he is attacking a market in which getting a loan for, say, a motorbike, sometimes requires weeks of paperwork, home visits, and waiting. He claims Salmon is changing that by digitizing the entire process.

Customers fill out a form on their phone, upload a few documents, and get a decision in 20 seconds. The bike is ready for pickup the next morning. Instead of using credit history, we score borrowers in real time using behavioral and digital data, and raise limits quickly for those who repay on time, he explained.

Salmons credit product offers up to a 62-day grace period, which Fedorov says makes it interest-free for borrowers who pay on time. Its subsidiary, Salmon Bank, also offers term deposits at up to 8% interest.
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Like the astronauts on NASAs Artemis II, the exchange-traded fund market is set to break records in 2026.

Thats according to State Streets most recent outlook, which estimates that there will be $2.1 trillion of inflows into US ETFs this year, up from $1.5 trillion last year. The firm also predicts that well see the first fund to top $1 trillion, as well as some $750 billion flow into active ETFs in the US (a 50% jump). If youve been following the ETF market, its no surprise that another banner year is likely in the making. In 2025, US ETFs saw record launches, inflows and AUM as institutional investors and retail investors poured money into the tax-efficient, low-cost funds. As issuers build on that momentum, active ETFs remain the global product center of gravity, State Street authors wrote.

Sign up for The Daily Upside at no cost for premium analysis on all your favorite stocks.

READ ALSO: BlackRock, State Street Want In on the Nasdaq 100. Can They Compete With Invescos QQQ? and Betting All the Chips on Memory ETFs

Active to the Moon

Jeff Sardinha, head of ETF solutions for North America at State Street, broke that $2.1 trillion prediction down by asset class for ETF Upside. He said we could see $750 billion move into passive equity, $350 billion-$375 billion into passive fixed income, another $350 billion-$375 billion in active fixed income, $425 billion for active equity and $50 billion-$75 billion for the remaining classes (crypto, metals, commodities, leveraged and inverse, and alternatives).

Many ETFs have mutual funds to thank. Sardinha said mutual-fund-to-ETF conversions could contribute another $50 billion-$60 billion, and that he expects a significant portion of the organic inflows to active ETFs to come from active mutual funds. And what about the multiple share class structures, which allow strategies to be offered in both mutual funds and ETFs?
[Getty Images]

The Bank of England expects stock markets around the world to fall as share prices do not reflect the many risks facing the global economy, its deputy governor has told the BBC.

Sarah Breeden said: "There's a lot of risk out there and yet asset prices are at all-time highs. We expect there will be an adjustment at some point."

It is unusual for a senior figure at the Bank to be so forthright on market movements.

Breeden, who is also the Bank's head of financial stability, declined to say when she expected markets to fall or by how much, but pointed to a number of factors that markets seemed complacent about.

"The thing that really keeps me awake at night is the likelihood of a number of risks crystallising at the same time  a major macroeconomic shock, confidence in private credit goes, AI and other risky valuations readjust - what happens in that environment and are we prepared for it?" she said.

A sharp fall in stock markets can have a number of effects on the economy. If households own shares, a fall in their value can make people feel poorer which might make them cut back on spending.

It can also make it harder for businesses to raise funds, which means they might reduce or delay investment. Falling markets can also hit confidence, which might lead to companies cutting back on hiring.

The US stock market is home to the world's biggest companies and has set a series of all-time highs recently despite warnings from the International Energy Agency that the global economy is facing the biggest energy shock in history.

Technology firms have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into AI infrastructure. The amount of cash going into the sector has been called "a frenzy" by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and some have compared it to the dotcom bubble of the late 1990s when investors threw money at unproven start-ups that quickly went bust or had billions wiped off their value.

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, the biggest supplier of chips to AI companies, is among those to dismiss these concerns.

[BBC]

Another area of concern is the growth in a number of funds that mimic the role of banks and lend privately to businesses. These have seen losses recently and have had to restrict the amount of money that investors can withdraw, sparking concerns of weaknesses in the financial system.

Breeden said the enormous growth in this so-called "shadow banking" system has yet to face the challenge of a market downturn.

"Private credit has gone from nothing to two-and-a-half trillion dollars in the last 15 to 20 years. It hasn't been tested at this scale with the degree of complexity and interconnections it has with the rest of the financial system so far," she said.
Management attributes the 1% revenue decline to a slight decrease in consolidated enrollment, identifying Q1 as the likely low point for both absolute revenue and growth in 2026.

The Education Technology Services (ETS) division is becoming a primary growth engine, now representing 46% of consolidated operating income behind a 21% revenue increase.

Strategic positioning has shifted toward employer-affiliated and healthcare channels, with employer-affiliated enrollment reaching a record 34.5% of total U.S. Higher Education students.

Operational efficiency is being driven by accelerated implementation of AI and productivity-enabling systems, which allowed for a 2% reduction in adjusted operating expenses despite revenue pressure.

Management is intentionally reallocating growth capital from Strayer's unaffiliated undergraduate channel to Capella's employer-focused and healthcare programs to maximize overall segment growth.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke in a different tone during the company's first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. The best way to describe it is that he was more subdued than usual on these calls.

Take new products, for example. Musk often promises huge technological leaps on tight deadlines for Tesla's upcoming products (think Roadster or Cybertruck). This time around, he preached patience.

"I would now say that whenever you have an all-new product with an all-new supply chain, and everything is new, its growth curve is always a stretched S-curve. So you should expect very slow initial production for CyberCab and Semi," Musk said.

I'm not the only one who noticed the difference.

"Teslas earnings calls are usually freewheeling affairs, with pulsating electronic music and wildly optimistic projections from CEO Elon Musk, who often likes to crack crude jokes and giggle. Today was different," wrote Theo Wayt in The Information.

"Instead of the typical sci-fi rhapsodies about self-driving vehicles taking over the world and robots solving poverty, Musk spent much of the call talking about constraints on his vision for Tesla."

Photo by VV Shots on Getty Images

Elon Musk 'injects some realism' into Optimus timeline

Even though he was much more subdued during the first quarter earnings call, a tiger can't change its stripes and Elon Musk can't completely abandon his tendency towards hyperbole when talking about his companies.

During the call, he said that while FSD version 14.3 currently "represents a major architectural update," version 15, which is expected to launch by the end of this year, but certainly next year, will be a complete overhaul of the current system, making even version 14.3 obsolete.

"I think our safety is significantly higher than human driving, but version 15 will take it to another level," Musk said.

But Musk really dialed back expectations when he talked about Optimus.

During the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, he said Tesla's near-term goal was to discontinue Model S and Model X production and convert those assembly lines into manufacturing capacity for Optimus. He estimated that the company would begin production in the first half of 2026 and would soon have enough capacity to make 1 million robots annually.

Whether there is a market for 1 million humanoid robots annually remains to be seen, but Musk admitted on this call that even just converting the production capacity is no small task. And while many headlines focused on Musk's future goal of producing 10 million Optimus robots annually, many skipped over the dose of reality he also delivered.

"Frankly, if we can halt production of a line, dismantle the entire production line, reinstall a completely new one, and get it up and running within four months, that would be an incredibly fast pace. I dont think any other company on Earth has achieved this, just to objectively clarify and inject some realism into the current situation," said Musk in the Q1 earnings call.

Related: Tesla Full Self-Driving faces its biggest challenge yet

"It is impossible to dismantle such a massive production line overnight. This process will take at least several months. You then need to install new production lines, provide all necessary wiring and communication, and test the machines on the new production lines. This also takes several months," Musk said.

"I dont know what the production capacity of Optimus will be this year. Its impossible to predict."

In January, the company said it would unveil the Gen 3 version of Optimus in the first quarter. Tesla did not do so on Wednesday.

Related: History of Tesla & its stock: Timeline, facts & milestones

Tesla reports mixed first-quarter results

Tesla missed analyst revenue expectations, reporting $22.39 billion vs. analysts' $22.64 billion, but earnings of 41 cents per share topped estimates of 37 cents per share.

Revenue was 16% higher year over year, including a 16% increase in auto revenue to $16.2 billion from $14 billion last year.

Tesla delivered more than 358,000 vehicles in the quarter, a 6% increase over last year. But Tesla has reported falling deliveries for two consecutive years.

Maybe the biggest news to come out of the call was Musk's announcement that 2026 capital expenditures will exceed $25 billion, while free cash flow at the end of the quarter was about $14 billion.

"While this may seem substantial, and we will face negative free cash flow impacts for the remainder of the year, we believe this is the right strategic approach to position the company for its next era," said Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja.

In addition to the capex, Tesla says it is also incurring costs for six factories that will soon become operational as it invests in new products like the Cyber Taxi, Tesla Semi and Optimus.

Related: Tesla takes big swing with new model in key market

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Apr 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Automotive section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, Tesla delivered 418,227 vehicles, which missed analyst estimates of 428,536 vehicles by 2.4%. Revenue came in at $24.9 billion, a little below the $25.12 billion Wall Street expected. Still, earnings were better than feared. GAAP operating profit came in at $1.41 billion, topping estimates of $1.29 billion by nearly 9%. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.50 beat the $0.45 consensus by almost 11%.

That helps explain why Tesla still trades at a very rich valuation. Its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 292.5 times, compared to the sector average of 16.2 times.

Tesla makes and sells electric vehicles (EVs), but the company is no longer just about cars. Tesla also has growing businesses in energy storage, software, and other areas of tech. TSLA stock has had a strong run over the past year, rising more than 70% in the last 52 weeks, although the stock is still down more than 13% so far this year.

With Tesla stepping up hiring in Taiwan and spending heavily on this chip buildout, the real question is simple: does this make TSLA stock a buy near $400? Or are investors getting ahead of the story again?

That is why the Taiwan hiring matters. Tesla is going after talent in the same place where Taiwan Semiconductor is based, at a time when Musk says outside suppliers cannot fully meet Teslas demand for the AI5 chip, which is tied to Full Self-Driving IFSD), the Cybercab robotaxi, and the Optimus robot.

This is not some small side project. Terafab is being built to produce up to 200 billion AI and memory chips a year, with a goal of 100,000 wafer starts a month using 2-nanometer technology. Earlier this month, Intel (INTC) joined the Terafab effort alongside Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI. Together, the project is aiming for up to 1 terawatt a year of compute capacity across two planned sites, with one site focused on vehicles and robots and another built for space-based AI data centers.

Tesla (TSLA) is making a bigger push in Taiwan as part of its artificial intelligence chip plans. The company has posted new engineering jobs there for its Terafab AI chip complex, which fits into CEO Elon Musks $20 billion to $25 billion plan to bring more of Teslas chip work in-house instead of relying heavily on suppliers like Taiwan Semicondutor Manufacturing (TSM) and Samsung.

Story Continues

Automotive revenue was $17.69 billion versus the expected $17.92 billion, energy revenue was $3.84 billion compared with $3.86 billion expected, and services revenue was $3.37 billion against the $3.38 billion forecast. Gross margin improved to 20.1% from 16.3% a year earlier, while operating margin held steady at 5.7%, showing that Tesla is still doing a decent job managing profitability even as revenue growth faces pressure.

What Is Driving Teslas Long-Term Growth Story?

Tesla is trying to grow by reaching more buyers in its core EV business. Reports say the company is working on a smaller, cheaper electric SUV that would be a completely new model, not just another version of the Model 3 or Model Y. This EV is expected to launch first in China, then later in the U.S. and Europe. At about 14 feet long, it would be smaller than the nearly 16-foot Model Y, which could help Tesla offer a more affordable option as it tries to lift slowing sales.

The company is also putting serious money into its energy business. Tesla plans to build a $4.3 billion battery plant in Lansing, Michigan, with LG Energy Solution, with production expected to start in 2027. The plant will make batteries for Megapack 3 systems, with the cells shipped to Houston, Texas, for Teslas stationary storage business.

Tesla is also trying to tighten control over battery materials. The company's lithium refinery near Corpus Christi, Texas, is now up and running, and Tesla says it is the largest and most advanced facility of its kind in the United States. The site turns spodumene ore into battery-grade lithium hydroxide using a process that is reportedly cleaner, simpler, and cheaper. That gives Tesla more control over a key battery material as it grows both its car and energy businesses.

What Do Analysts Think of TSLA Stock?

Analysts expect Tesla to earn $0.21 per share for the March 2026 quarter, up from $0.15 a year earlier. For the June quarter, the estimate is $0.29 versus $0.27 the same time last year. For full-year 2026, Wall Street foresees earnings of $1.37 per share, up roughly 26% year-over-year (YOY) from $1.09 per share.

Barclays recently kept an Equal Weight rating on TSLA stock with a $360 price target, saying sentiment has improved around Teslas AI and software plans. However, the firm is still cautious because of pressure on auto margins.

UBS analyst Joseph Spak also became less bearish ahead of the upcoming first-quarter report, upgrading TSLA stock from Sell to Neutral. That said, the analyst kept his $352 target and still pointed to concerns about deliveries and robotaxi rollout goals.

Overall, TSLA stock has a consensus Hold rating from 43 analysts, with an average price target of $400.58. Because the stock recently surpassed the $400 level before retreating to around $386 as of this writing, it is basically sitting right at that target. That suggests Wall Street sees limited upside from here.

www.barchart.com

Conclusion

So, does Teslas Taiwan Terafab hiring push make TSLA stock a buy now? Not quite. The hiring wave adds another real piece to the firm's long-term AI and chip strategy, and it strengthens the argument that Tesla is serious about building more of its own silicon stack instead of staying boxed in by outside foundry limits. But with the stock already trading in line with Wall Streets average price target and still carrying a rich premium valuation, a lot of that future promise already looks priced in. Tesla shares will most likely stay volatile in the near term and trade on earnings, delivery execution, and proof that these AI bets can turn into actual margin and profit growth.

On the date of publication, Ebube Jones 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
By Akash Sriram and Abhirup Roy

April 23 (Reuters) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk is asking investors to take a leap of faith on his costly bets in self-driving technology and humanoid robots that have yet to generate meaningful revenue.

It raises a key question for investors: whether Tesla's rising spending can be justified without the kind of established, high-margin cash engines that allow Big Tech peers to fund bigger investments.

"If you think that Elon Musk's view that Optimus will be ultimately their most worthy, most value-creating platform, and you think you're skeptical, then the capex doesn't make sense, and it's probably not a good investment," said Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar analyst, on Tesla's humanoid robot, a still-in-development system Musk has said could be mass-produced.

"But if you think that Elon Musk has proven himself that he can make seemingly impossible things a reality, then you're willing to take the leap of faith here."

The automaker's shares were down nearly 3% on Thursday.

Tesla on Wednesday lifted its 2026 capital expenditure plan to more than $25 billion, nearly triple last year's $8.53 billion, and higher than the $20 billion it forecast early this year.

As Musk spends big to double down on artificial intelligence, robotaxis and robotics, the company expects negative free cash flow for the rest of the year after posting a surprise $1.44 billion surplus in the first quarter.

Musk has argued Tesla is not alone, pointing to heavy spending across the technology sector.

Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon are all committing tens to hundreds of billions of dollars toward AI infrastructure. But these companies possess established cloud and software businesses generating significant and recurring cash flow.

Amazon is expected to post negative free cash flow in 2026, reflecting the scale of its investment cycle. Yet analysts say that differs from Tesla's position, as Amazon's spending is underpinned by high-margin businesses such as Amazon Web Services and advertising that have a track record of eventually translating investment into returns.

Tesla, in contrast, is betting on businesses still in early development. Its robotaxi service is expanding gradually across a handful of U.S. cities, while its Cybercab, a fully autonomous vehicle without manual controls like a steering wheel or brake pedals, is only expected to begin volume production later this year.

Musk has said the robotaxi business is unlikely to contribute meaningful revenue before 2027.
We are also benefiting from the promotional offers from those delivery aggregators to take more market share, delivery revenues increased by 23.1% year-over-year. At the same time, our sub-franchisee and retail business maintained their steadily growing contributions to cash flow and profitability. Profits from other revenues achieved a year-over-year increase of 58.2% during the quarter. For the first 9 months of 2025, our adjusted company-owned and operated store contribution margin was 8.1%, same as that for the first 9 months of last year. Our adjusted corporate EBITDA and adjusted net loss, we continue to cut loss by 10.4% and 11.5%, respectively. These results underscore our team's resilience and discipline in execution.

Yongchen Lu: Thank you, Gemma. Good morning and good evening, everyone. In Q3, we returned to positive net new store openings and continued our strong momentum in system sales, achieving a 12.8% year-over-year growth. With our successful Light & Fit Lunch Box platform products launched in Q2, we further enhanced our differentiated Coffee Plus Freshly Prepared Food strategy, driving a positive 3.3% same-store sales growth for company-owned and operated stores. As a result, food revenues increased by 24.2% year-over-year and food revenue contribution as a percentage of sales reached our historical high of 36.5%, an increase of [ 5 ] percentage points from 31.5% in the third quarter last year.

All forward-looking statements should be considered in conjunction with the cautionary statements in our earnings release and risk factors included in our filings with the SEC. This presentation also includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, which we believe can be helpful in evaluating our performance; however, those measures should not be considered substitutes for the comparable GAAP measures. The accompanying reconciliation information related to those non-GAAP and GAAP measures can be found in our earnings press release issued earlier today. With that said, I would now like to turn it over to Yongchen Lu, our CEO and Director. Please go ahead, Yongchen.

Yongchen Lu, our CEO and Director; and Albert Li, our CFO. After the company's prepared remarks, the management team will conduct a question-and-answer session. You can find the slide presentation and the webcast of today's earnings call on our IR website. Before we get started, I'd like to remind you that our earnings presentation and investor materials contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to future events and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including, but not limited to, statements about the company's beliefs and expectations are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and our actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Story Continues

On store development, leveraging sub-franchisee partnerships, we expand our store footprint into 91 cities, including the city of Yanji in Jilin Province, Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province and Wuhu in Anhui Province that we entered in Q3, while maintaining capital efficiency and delivering value -- absolute convenience for our guests. Since we launched our individual franchise program in December 2023, we have received over 8,400 applications and successfully converted over [ 300 ] stores by the end of September, showcasing market confidence in our franchise model. We have attractive and desirable store unit economics for our subfranchisees with reasonable 2 to 3 years payback period on average.

We are also focused on strategic channel development with 64 stores in locations such as high-speed train stations, airports, highway rest areas, hospitals, universities and schools at the end of September. As of the end of September 2025, our Registered Loyalty club members reached 27.9 million, reflecting a remarkable 22.3% year-over-year growth. The average number of members per store is now over 27,000, serving a strong catalyst for our future growth. Q3 represents the peak season for China's beverage market. This summer experienced record high temperatures, driving robust consumer demand for fresh prepared beverages, albeit a heightened price sensitivity.

Compounding this dynamic, the coffee sector faced intensified competitive pressure from the rapidly expanding tea beverage categories, not only due to strong demand for non-coffee alternatives, but also because leading tea brands have begun entering the coffee space, further intensifying market competition. Our strategic initiatives, including a celebrity partnership during the Bagel Festival and enhanced summer beverage portfolio and target seasonal lunchtime operations enabled Tims China to return to positive same-store sales growth in Q3. We partnered with Lars Huang [indiscernible], a highly influential Gen Z celebrity to elevate brand awareness and drive engagement. The collaboration was integrated with compelling product angles to convert interest into purchases, supported by targeted promotions to encourage repeat visits.

This holistic marketing approach delivered strong results. July marked our highest sales month of the year and the September Bagel Festival drove double-digit same-store sales growth, significantly outperforming the broader market. Building on the [ Cold Blue ] platform launched in Q2, we execute a series of monthly innovations throughout Q3 centered around refreshing some appropriate leverages. This was an intentional offensive strategy, leveraging a balanced portfolio of trended SKUs spanning coffee and non-coffee categories to capture incremental share in the summer beverage market, particularly among younger consumers whose preferences align closely with our endorsed audience.

We anticipate competitive encroachment from key brands and responded decisively, reinforcing our coffee leadership through premium offerings like Cold Blue and Water Buffalo Milk [ lactase ] while deploying non-coffee SKUs to directly compete for tea drinkers wallet share. Notably, this dual check approach resonated strongly with our target demographic, contributing meaningfully to beverage sales growth. Following 6 months of focused launch time development, we proactively adapted our food strategy in Q3 to counter seasonal softness by introducing 6 new SKUs featuring chilled and [indiscernible] options to stimulate consumer interest and maintain meal relevance.

In order to sustain momentum from our ongoing launch time expansion strategy, we also introduced seasonal cold food offerings tailored to evolving consumer preferences during hot weather. Additionally, we expanded our afternoon tea offerings with chilled variant of cakes and Smile Bagel of SKUs. The launch of the Smile Bagel series further reinforces our leadership in the bagel category and enhances our competitive differentiation. These initiatives have firmly helped cement Tims reputation as the go-to lunch destination in consumers' mindset. Thanks to our efforts over the past 3 quarters, more than half of all orders now include food and food sales make up over 1/3 of total revenues.

At this time, I would like to turn it over to our CFO, Albert Li, to discuss our third quarter financial performance in more detail.

Dong Li: Thank you, Yongchen. We remain focused on delivering high value for quality healthy products and thoughtful services to our ever-growing customer base. Our overall monthly average transacting customers reached 3.85 million in Q3 2025, a 16.7% increase from 3.3 million in the same quarter of 2024. Additionally, digital orders as a percentage of total orders rose from 86.6% in Q3 2024 to an all-time high of 91.0% in Q3 2025. We continue to enhance our digital capabilities to meet the growing demand from delivery and takeaway services.

In Q3, our company-owned and operated store revenues dropped by 5.5% year-over-year, which was primarily due to the planned closure of certain underperforming stores, partially offset by a 3.3% increase in same-store sales growth for company-owned and operated stores. We have also achieved positive transaction growth in Q3, driven by strong momentum from food orders and delivery orders. In the meantime, revenues from our franchised business and retail business increased by 25.0% year-over-year. The number of our franchised stores increased from 382 as of September 30, 2024, to 479 as of September 30, 2025. Accordingly, our system sales increased by 12.8% year-over-year.

Moving to cost and expenses for company-owned and operated stores since we offered higher discounts during the quarter, especially to others through those delivery platforms, food and packaging costs as a percentage of revenues from company-owned and operated stores increased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year. Food and packaging costs accounted for 30.6% of our company-owned and operated store revenues during the quarter, and we maintained relatively stable labor cost, rental and property management fees and other store operating expenses as a percentage of revenues from company-owned and operated stores in Q3.

Delivery costs as a percentage of revenues from company-owned and operated stores increased by 2.9 percentage points to 13.2% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to 10.3% in the same quarter of 2024, which was primarily due to the higher delivery revenue mix as a percentage of total revenues from company-owned and operated stores. The number of delivery orders from company-owned and operated stores increased by 20.9% year-over-year. Benefiting from our improved brand influence, marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues accounted for approximately 4.4% during the quarter, representing a 0.7 percentage point decrease from 5.1% in the same quarter of 2024.

Adjusted general and administrative expenses increased by 23.2% year-over-year, which was primarily due to an increase in outside service fees related to audit, IT and business travel, an increase in credit loss of accounts receivable, partially offset by a decrease in headquarter staff compensation costs and a decrease in depreciation and amortization. Adjusted general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased from 10.7% in the third quarter of 2024 to 13.2% in the same quarter of 2025. As a result of the foregoing, adjusted corporate EBITDA margin was negative 4.2% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to positive 0.6% in the same quarter of 2024. Turning to liquidity.

As of September 30, 2025, our total cash and cash equivalents, time deposits and restricted cash were RMB 159.3 million compared to RMB 184.2 million as of December 31, 2024. The change was primarily attributable to cash disbursements on the back of the expansion of our business, partially offset by the drawdown of additional bank borrowings.

Looking ahead, with profitable growth always being front and center of everything we do, we are posed to further enhance our operational efficiencies such as supply chain capabilities and optimizations and rigorous cost controls to roll over our differentiating make-to-order fresh and healthy food preparation model to drive traffic, to optimize the overall store unit economics and to accelerate the expansion of our successful sub-franchising. I will now turn it over to Yongchen for concluding remarks followed by Q&A.

Yongchen Lu: Yes. Thank you, Albert. Our third quarter performance reflects continuous improvement and the resiliency in our business and execution as well as both challenges and opportunities in this industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our guests, team members, business partners, shareholders and everyone supporting our endeavors and journey. Together, we have built over 1,000 stores in 91 cities, a robust community of nearly 28 million loyalty club members, a unique coffee plus freshly prepared food business model offering the best value for quality products, a unique advantage of offering franchise opportunity as an international coffee brand in China and refined store unit economics with attractive payback period within 2 to 3 years on average.

With these milestones, we are steadfast in our commitment to sustainable profit growth and to generating long-term value for our shareholders. We're excited to announce the successful issuance of approximately USD 89.9 million senior secured convertible notes due September 2029. The restructuring of our unsecured convertible notes due 2027 and the repurchase of all outstanding amount due under our variable rate convertible senior notes due 2026. These strategic transactions enable us to focus on the development of our overall store network and the core Tim Hortons brand nationwide. I will now turn to the call over to Gemma for today's Q&A session. Gemma?

Gemma Bakx: Thank you very much, Yongchen. We will turn it over to Q&A and open it up for registered questions. Let's begin with the first question. Go ahead, operator.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the phone line of Steve Silver from Argus Research Corporation.

Steven Silver: Congratulations on the system and same-store sales growth. With the closing of the new convertible notes transaction in Q3, I was hoping you could provide just the company's latest thinking on its liquidity status and its long-term financing plan.

Dong Li: Okay. Sure. Thanks, Steve, for asking this question. I will take this one. Okay. So we -- with the successful issuance of the USD 89.9 million 2025 senior secured convertible notes, I think the company -- we have used the part of the proceeds to fully repurchase the entire remaining amount of our 2021 variable notes actually due 2026. And actually, in the meantime, we have also extended the due date of our 2024 unsecured convertible notes from 2027 to the same time line of September 2029. So actually, after the closing of the transactions, the company does not have any near-term offshore liabilities so that actually we can focus more on our daily operations.

And we believe these financing would also help reduce our onshore leverage ratio actually quite significantly. So I think we will also benefit greatly to actually get more in terms of the onshore bank facilities in terms of the expansion and the renewal from the PRC commercial banks. And I think as we have also mentioned, so in order to take the advantage of the lower rent level at the current market environment, and also to roll out our attractive mid- to outer store model. So I think we are also working very hard in terms of securing additional alternative debt or equity financing in order to support the development of our company-owned and operated store network.

And so lastly, I also want to mention with the further improvement of our store and corporate level margin. So we are expecting to generate positive operating cash inflows. So we will become more and more self-sustainable in terms of to support the long-term sustainable growth of our business. So hopefully, I have addressed your question, Steve.

Steven Silver: Yes, that was helpful. So in Q3 specifically, it looks like there was some pressure on the store contribution margins. It sounds like gross margin and delivery costs were impacted a bit. Do you expect that trend to continue over the near term? And maybe what the company's thoughts about the margin profile moving forward?

Yongchen Lu: Okay. Yes, Steve, I will take this one. Thank you for your question. Yes, the lower store contribution margin in Q3 was mostly because of higher delivery revenue mix led by the delivery war in China. Those platforms gave aggressive subsidies trying to taking market share from the competitors. We would think this would be temporary play in our view. So in the first 9 months of 2024 and 2025, our company-owned store contribution margins was consistent at 8.1%. And we aim to further expand that to mid- to high teens by enhancing gross margins and driving same-store sales and also the network optimization. Essentially, we continue to close some high rent loss-making stores and we open high-quality new stores.

So we plan to further improve our gross margins through supply chain optimization, increased pricing on delivery platforms, high-margin new product launch and optimize the recipe of existing core products. So by doing so, we expect, okay, we'll achieve double-digit store level margin next year.

Steven Silver: Great. And one last one, if I may. The company has discussed focusing on strategic special channel stores under the franchise model. Curious if there's any information about the performance of some of these stores.

Yongchen Lu: Yes, sure. So I mean, as of the end of September, of 2025, we have over 60 stores in those special channels, including high-speed road stations, airports, highway rest areas, hospitals, et cetera. Those stores at the special channels performed very, very well, generating store contribution margin of mid and even high teens EBITDA margin and the payback is around 2 years. So I mean, we have gained a lot of interest from the [indiscernible] franchise, which have access to those special channels. In China, there are thousands -- tens of thousands such a special channel locations. So we have seen a great momentum in these channels, and we're expecting to open much more next year.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] At this time, there are no further questions. So with that, that concludes today's question-and-answer session. I would like to hand the call back to Yongchen for closing remarks.

Yongchen Lu: Yes. Thank you so much for your time. And we are very glad we returned the growth on system sales and also more important on the same-store sales. So we're expecting another progress towards the end of the year and much even better next year. Thank you.

Dong Li: Thank you.

Gemma Bakx: Thank you all very much.

Operator: That does conclude today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect your lines.

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This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool. While we strive for our Foolish Best, there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this transcript. As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability.

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THCH Q3 2025 Earnings Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool
Management attributes Q1 resilience to a 'decommoditized' business model where premium demand and brand loyalty allow for significant price pass-through despite doubling fuel costs.

The airline is pivoting from a growth-oriented posture to a tactical recovery phase, prioritizing 100% fuel cost recovery over marginal capacity expansion.

Operational outperformance, including leading on-time departures among major peers, is cited as the primary driver for record first-quarter Net Promoter Scores.

Strategic positioning is focused on 'winning' business travelers in core hubs, with management claiming significant market share gains against competitors through superior product and technology.

The company views current industry stress as a validation of its decision to triple cash balances and strengthen the balance sheet over the past several years.
Strategic hiring of 10 new revenue producers in Q1 is expected to drive loan growth momentum, particularly in C&I and middle-market segments, with a lag of 5 to 6 months before full productivity.

The bank maintained a strong liquidity position with an 82% loan-to-deposit ratio and limited reliance on brokered deposits or wholesale borrowings.

Credit quality remained stable with net charge-offs at 22 basis points, though management highlighted that excluding Navitas, charge-offs were only 10 basis points.

Deposit costs decreased by 9 basis points to 1.67%, with a cumulative total deposit beta of 39%, which management noted exceeded their internal goals for the down cycle.

Management attributed the margin expansion to the continued repricing of the back book and a strategic shift in asset mix from securities toward higher-yielding loans.

Performance was driven by a 4.5% annualized loan growth and a 3-basis-point expansion in net interest margin, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of margin growth.

Management expects the net interest margin to expand by another 3 to 5 basis points in the second quarter, supported by $1.4 billion in assets repricing at higher rates.

Loan growth is projected to remain in the 5% to 6% range for the remainder of 2026, assuming no significant macroeconomic or geopolitical disruptions.

The bank aims for a 10% annual growth in revenue producers, with plans to reach the 2026 hiring goal by the end of the second quarter.

Guidance for operating expense growth is targeted at approximately 3.5%, though new hires may add $1 million to $1.2 million in quarterly costs in the near term.
Walmart has made a big bet on ultrafast delivery across its US stores.

Now the company is bringing the perk to Sam's Club, with a new one-hour service option for members.

Sam's Club says its 10 fastest orders were fulfilled in under 12 minutes  way faster than Costco.

Walmart is doubling down on ultrafast delivery with a new option at its warehouse chain Sam's Club.

On Wednesday, Sam's Club e-commerce head Greg Pulsifer said a new "enhanced" express delivery option in the US has posted impressive numbers since it was rolled out three weeks ago.

"Our 10 fastest deliveries to date were all fulfilled in less than 12 minutes," he said in a statement.

Members can now get Sam's Club's jumbo pack sizes with Walmart's blazing-fast fulfillment.

The move ramps up pressure on warehouse club rival Costco, and underscores Walmart's focus on growing e-commerce sales through a combination of convenience and value.

Last September, Walmart's then-US CEO John Furner said Walmart's fastest delivery time was under five minutes. The company also says more than 5% of store-fulfilled orders arrive in less than 30 minutes.

Sam's Club has also had significant success with rapid fulfillment at international locations, most notably in China.

Faster fulfillment with a flat fee instead of higher prices per item

At Sam's Club, sub-three-hour deliveries cost $17 for standard members and $5 for higher-tier Plus members and arrive within three hours, while the faster delivery option costs an additional $5 to get the order in less than an hour for both membership types.

Ralph Asher, founder of Data Driven Supply Chain, told Business Insider that this ultrafast delivery option could give Sam's Club an advantage over its larger rival, Costco, especially since the product prices online match those at the warehouse.

Costco's same-day services, which offer delivery in as little as an hour, are fulfilled by Instacart, and items are typically priced higher than those in-store. Costco says the higher prices allow most orders to avoid additional delivery fees, though long-distance orders are subject to a $10 fee.

Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its delivery strategy.

Sam's Club says it has now fulfilled nearly 65,000 orders under its three-hours-or-less delivery option, with an average delivery time of 55 minutes.

Top categories for express orders include water, produce, paper goods, and baby items, with more urgent items like baby formula and rotisserie chickens arriving in as little as 10 minutes. The fastest order Sam's Club says it fulfilled was the delivery of Member's Mark baby formula to a day care in Fargo, North Dakota, in nine minutes.
Wendel has wrapped up the purchase of a 56% controlling interest in Committed Advisors from the firms founding partners, who also reinvested all of their net proceeds into Committed Advisors funds as part of the deal.

The deal was first announced in October 2025.

Established in 2010, Committed Advisors is a private investment firm operating globally in the mid-market segment.

It provides liquidity-related solutions to investors and general partners with private equity holdings.

The company has 55 employees, oversees 7.7bn in private assets for external investors, and has carried out more than 250 transactions since it was set up.

The acquisition adds to Wendels third-party asset management activities under Wendel Investment Managers.

Wendel is due to acquire the remaining 44% of Committed Advisors share capital through further transactions planned for 2029, 2032 and 2035, in line with the terms set out when the deal was first announced.

BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts, through its GP Stake investment strategy managed by the Prime unit for a diversified group of investors, has also announced an agreement to buy a 5.9% holding in Committed Advisors from Wendel.

BNPP AM Alts GP stake investments head Gilles Dusaintpere said: As a minority shareholder, we will accompany Committed Advisors on its next stage of growth, leveraging its key position as a high-quality, leading secondary manager.

The parties said the investment is linked to BNPP AM Alts view of the secondaries market and to the existing relationship between those involved.

A comparable joint transaction was completed in March 2025 with Monroe Capital.

BNPP AM Alts said the latest agreement forms part of the ongoing deployment of its GP Stake strategy by an investment team that currently manages 540m and seeks private market firms for strategic and operational support.

Under the arrangement, Committed Advisors will serve as the secondary market specialist within Wendel Investment Managers, which already includes buyout through IK Partners and private credit through Monroe Capital.

Wendel CEO Laurent Mignon said: Its a great privilege for Wendel to partner on the next chapter of Committed Advisors growth with such a renowned investor as BNPP AM Alts and its full ecosystem. Their commitment to our business will provide meaningful and stable capital to thoughtfully further scale our platform and better capture the attractive and expanding opportunity in middle market private markets.

After the transaction, Wendel Investment Managers is expected to oversee more than 49bn in assets under management and produce more than 200m in fee-related earnings on a pro forma basis in 2026 across private equity, private debt and private market solutions.
Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) is one of the 10 High Growth Chemical Stocks to Buy.

Westlake (WLK) Agrees to a $67M Settlement in a Lawsuit

On April 14, 2026, Reuters reported that Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) had agreed to a $67 million settlement to resolve a 2024 class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing in the U.S. PVC pipe market. The agreement disclosed on April 13, 2026, in federal court in Illinois awaits judicial approval and represents one of the largest settlements to date in the nationwide antitrust litigation. The company denied wrongdoing and committed to cooperating with plaintiffs against the remaining defendants, including Atkore and Otter Tail. Additionally, Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) will provide documents previously submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice, which is conducting a parallel grand jury investigation into alleged anti-competitive conduct within the industry since early 2020.

Prior to this, RBC Capital adjusted the price target on Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK), raising it from $119 to $145 while keeping an Outperform rating on the stock. The firm believes that tightening supply is driving petrochemical price hikes, potentially leading to first-half earnings exceeding previous market expectations.

Founded in 1986, Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) is a leading global manufacturer of petrochemicals and housing products. Based in Texas, the company operates through two primary segments: Performance and Essential Materials (PEM) and Housing and Infrastructure Products (HIP).

While we acknowledge the potential of WLK 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: MLP Stocks List: 20 Largest MLPs and 10 Top Stocks Fund Managers Are Loading Up On in 2026.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Shares of credit card giant American Express (NYSE: AXP) fell on Thursday, down 4.6% as of 2:16 p.m. EDT.

American Express released its first-quarter earnings report this morning, and the results appeared quite strong, conflicting with the negative price action.

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 

Investors may have been hoping for an increase in full-year guidance following the first-quarter beat, but that didn't happen. Additionally, the ceasefire in Iran appeared shaky, pushing oil prices higher.

American Express delivers

In the first quarter, American Express reported revenue of $18.9 billion, up 11.4%, and earnings per share of $4.28, up 17.6%. Both figures beat analyst expectations.

Given the solid beat, investors may have been hoping for an increase to full-year guidance; however, management only reiterated the guidance from the prior earnings release in January, forecasting 9% to 10% revenue growth and earnings per share between $17.30 and $17.90, in line with analyst estimates.

But management said it doesn't see a slowdown in growth from here. Rather, CEO Steve Squeri noted that American Express plans to increase its marketing and technology investments this year to "capitalize on long-term growth opportunities."

Investors may have been hoping for an increase in share repurchases or larger dividend increases instead of more spending. One concern may have been that Amex would have to spend more on artificial intelligence just to keep up with rivals and the pace of technological change.

Still, it's more important for long-term shareholders that American Express maintain a strong competitive position and sustains growth. Aside from the increased spending plans, there weren't any real blemishes in this earnings report, except for the commentary on increased investments.

A secondary factor in today's stock decline may have been a potential reescalation in the U.S. war with Iran. Earlier today, it was reported that peace talks have stalled, sending oil prices higher. While higher oil and gas prices would theoretically cause American Express cardholders to spend more on gasoline, higher oil prices tend to be viewed as a threat to the overall economy and, therefore, to financial stocks like Amex.

Image source: Getty Images.

American Express has pulled back to a buyable range

While trading at a higher-than-historical valuation much of last year, Amex stock now trades at around 18 times the middle of this year's earnings estimates. That's at the lower end of the stock's range over the past few years, so long-term investors may wish to consider buying or adding to their American Express stock holdings on this dip.
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple has firmly cemented itself as one of the most dominant forces in global technology. Its strength lies not just in iconic products like the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods, but in how seamlessly these devices are woven together through a tightly integrated ecosystem of hardware, software, and services, creating a unified, stickier user experience that keeps customers within its orbit.

So, given this bullish outlook, heres a closer look at Apple stock as it gets ready to lift the curtain on its highly anticipated Q2 earnings report after the market hours on Thursday, April 30.

Woodring emphasized that the company is entering a seasonally strong period of outperformance, regardless of near-term results. He expects revenue growth to remain robust, potentially around 15%, supported by share gains across multiple markets. Historically, this time of year has also seen valuation multiples expand ahead of a new iPhone cycle. At the same time, expectations for Apples developer conference remain muted, while talk of a foldable iPhone this fall could spark fresh excitement.

Analyst Erik Woodring noted that while gross margins may face some pressure from rising memory costs, stronger revenue in the June-quarter outlook is expected to more than offset that weakness. This could lead to a better-than-feared earnings outcome and serve as a catalyst heading into Apples Wordwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June and its iPhone launch in September. Even with margins tracking below consensus, continued strength across iPhone, Mac, and Services is likely to keep earnings guidance broadly in line with Street expectations, which would still come as a positive surprise given relatively low expectations.

Tech giant Apple (AAPL) is enjoying strong backing from Wall Street as it prepares to report its fiscal 2026 Q2 results later this month, building on the momentum of a blockbuster Q1 in late January. According to Morgan Stanley, the April 30 earnings could act as a crucial clearing event, one capable of resetting investor sentiment and potentially opening the door for a move toward the $300 level by September.

Story Continues

Beyond devices, Apples footprint spans smartphones, personal computing, digital content, and cloud services. At the same time, the company is steadily leaning into future-facing areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), wearables, and mixed reality, signaling a strategy that blends innovation with its established strengths rather than depending solely on its legacy franchises.

Apple made headlines on April 20 with a major leadership shake-up, announcing that CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role on Sept. 1 after more than a decade at the helm. Cook isnt exiting entirely. He will transition into the role of executive chairman, where he will continue supporting the company, including engaging with global policymakers. Stepping into the top job will be John Ternus, Apples senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, signaling a new chapter for the tech giant.

The leadership transition comes at a critical juncture for Apple as it steps up efforts to close the gap in AI, a space where rivals like Microsoft (MSFT) and Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) have pulled ahead. The company is expected to unveil a revamped Siri powered by Googles Gemini AI models at its WWDC conference this June, signaling a more aggressive push into AI-driven experiences.

At the same time, Apple is preparing for a major product evolution, a foldable iPhone that could debut soon after Tim Cook steps down, potentially reigniting excitement around its flagship lineup. Nevertheless, despite the leadership change and evolving strategy, Apples market dominance remains firmly intact. With a towering market cap of roughly $4 trillion, Apple continues to rank among the worlds most valuable companies, and its stock performance tells the same story.

Shares have climbed 37.8% over the past year, outpacing the broader S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 36.95% gain. The strength extends into the near term, with AAPL up 7.48% in the last three months compared to the markets 2.74% rise. Notably, the stock remains resilient, trading just 7.8% below its December peak of $288.62.

www.barchart.com

A Look Inside Apples Q1 Earnings Report

Apple kicked off fiscal 2026 with a headline-grabbing first quarter report that reinforced its status as a pillar of the tech sector. In results reported on Jan. 29, the company comfortably beat Wall Street expectations on both revenue and earnings, powered largely by the enduring strength of its iPhone franchise. Revenue jumped 15.6% year-over-year (YOY) to $143.76 billion, well ahead of the $137.81 billion consensus estimate.

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone remained the star performer. Sales surged 23.3% annually to $85.3 billion, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup introduced in September 2025. CEO Tim Cook called it a record-breaking quarter, pointing to solid momentum across all regions. A standout highlight was Greater China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, where revenue soared 38% to $25.5 billion, underscoring Apples deep global reach.

Outside of the iPhone, however, trends were more uneven. iPad revenue saw a modest 6.3% uptick, while Mac sales slipped 7%, reflecting softer demand in the broader PC market. Meanwhile, the Wearables, Home, and Accessories segment, spanning products like AirPods, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro, declined about 2%, hinting at some pressure on discretionary spending.

Even so, Apples ecosystem continues to scale impressively. Its active installed base grew to 2.5 billion devices, up from 2.35 billion a year ago, reinforcing the strength of its global footprint. At the same time, its high-margin services business, including Apple TV+, iCloud, advertising partnerships, and AppleCare, expanded 14% YOY to $30 billion, providing a steady and increasingly critical revenue stream.

On the bottom line, Apple delivered earnings per share of $2.84, up 18.3% YOY and comfortably above the $2.65 estimate. CFO Kevan Parekh also highlighted the companys strong cash generation, with nearly $54 billion in operating cash flow, enabling Apple to return close to $32 billion to shareholders. Overall, it was a quarter that not only showcased Apples core strength but also highlighted the shifting dynamics across its broader business portfolio.

How Are Analysts Viewing Apple Stock?

As Apple heads into its Q2 earnings, Wall Street sentiment remains notably positive. The stock holds a consensus Moderate Buy rating, backed by a strong majority of bullish calls, with 23 of the 42 analysts rating it a Strong Buy, three recommending Moderate Buy, 15 remaining neutral with Hold, and only one analyst taking a bearish Strong Sell stance. The upside case is still very much alive. The average price target of $296.30 signals a potential gain of 11.32%, while the Street-high target of $350 points to a possible rally of 31.5% in the coming months.

www.barchart.com

www.barchart.com

On the date of publication, Anushka Mukherji did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is among the best Warren Buffett stocks.

Why Is The Coca-Cola Company (KO) Part Of Warren Buffetts Portfolio Since 1988?

A close-up of a bottle of Coca-Cola, showing its iconic branding, from the factory shelves.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) remains one of Warren Buffetts longest-held positions, with the billionaire adding the stock to his portfolio back in 1988. Warren Buffett, a longtime advocate of Coca-Cola, once joked, Im one-quarter Coca-Cola, reflecting his love for the brand.

As of Q4 2010, Warren Buffett held 400 million shares worth $13.15 billion, making the stock Buffetts largest holding. Over the years, the billionaires investment has yielded significant returns. As of Q4 2025, Berkshire maintains that investment, which now translates into a $27.96 billion stake.

Meanwhile, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) also has strong hedge fund backing, with 87 out of 1,041 hedge funds remaining bullish on the stock. The combined hedge fund stake in the stock totals $33.54 billion as of Q4 2025.

The bullish case for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is grounded in durable cash returns, brand breadth, and a business model that management says remains positioned for continued growth. Roughly 80% of covering analysts rate the stock bullish as of April 20, 2026, with the consensus price target implying 13.23% upside.

Jim Cramers commentary reinforces that view from multiple angles.

In November 2025, Jim Cramer identified The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) as one of his top dividend picks, underscoring its income appeal. Next, in early February, he noted that the company is less exposed to GLP-1-related pressures than PepsiCo due to its limited snack business.

The dividend case also improved materially with The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) announcing a 3.9% increase for 2026, lifting the quarterly payout to $0.53 from $0.51. This marks the companys 64th consecutive year of dividend growth, further reinforcing its status as a Dividend King.

Against this backdrop, Carillon Eagle Growth & Income, a large-cap value mutual fund, noted that the third-quarter weakness was driven by softer volume trends and weaker beverage industry sentiment, even as pricing helped the company deliver results above expectations.

In response, managements Q4 2025 call indicated that these pressures did not undermine the broader thesis.

Former CEO Quincey said The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) added 12 billion-dollar brands over the past decade, bringing the total to 32, with 75% coming from outside sparkling soft drinks. CEO Henrique Braun added that the company achieved value share gains for a 19th consecutive quarter, exited 2025 with improving fourth-quarter volume momentum, and still sees a long runway for growth. Additionally, CFO John Murphy noted that fourth-quarter organic revenue increased 5%, EPS reached $0.58, free cash flow totaled $11.4 billion, and 2026 guidance calls for 4% to 5% organic revenue growth.
Gerresheimer AG (OTC:GRRMY) is one of the

12 Takeover Rumors Targeted by Short Sellers.

Gerresheimer AG (OTC:GRRMY) is one of the takeover rumors targeted by short sellers.

On April 17, 2026, Reuters reported that Gerresheimer had rejected a takeover bid from U.S. packaging company Silgan, citing three sources familiar with the matter. Reuters said the two companies were no longer in talks and added that Silgans earlier non-binding approach had valued Gerresheimer at 41 per share, more than double the companys then-current share price.

Reuters also reported that Gerresheimer wanted to focus on resolving its accounting problems and selling its U.S. subsidiary, Centor, before pursuing any deal. That detail mattered because it suggested the company was stepping back from a bid despite the large premium implied by Silgans approach.

Why Gerresheimer (GRRMY) Remains a Takeover Story Even After Rejecting Silgans Bid

The market reaction then shifted as investors absorbed the report. Investing.com, citing Reuters, said Gerresheimer shares were up about 1.7% in European trading by 09:28 GMT after initially falling more than 5%, showing that the stock regained ground even after news that the bid had been rejected.

Gerresheimer AG (OTC:GRRMY) is a German manufacturer of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical packaging and delivery systems.

While we acknowledge the potential of GRRMY 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.
NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. stocks pulled back from their record heights on a shaky Wall Street Thursday following mixed profit reports from Tesla and other big companies. Oil prices, meanwhile, jumped on worries about what will happen next in the war with Iran.

The S&P 500 fell 0.4% and halted a weekslong rally that had erased all its losses because of the war and then carried it to all-time highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 179 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.9% from its own record.

More from Yahoo Scout Why did oil prices jump amid Iran tensions? How did Tesla's earnings disappoint despite beating expectations? What caused U.S. stocks to pull back Thursday? Which companies drove the market's mixed performance?

Tesla helped drag the market lower after sinking 3.6% even though it reported better results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Investors focused instead on a big jump in Teslas forecast for spending this year, as it builds factories to make robots and other products.

You should expect to see a very significant increase in capital expenditures, Elon Musk told investors late Wednesday, but I think well justified for a substantially increased future revenue stream.

ServiceNow dropped even more, 17.7%, even though its results for the latest quarter matched analysts expectations. The company has been under pressure, along with much of the broad software industry, because of worries that rivals powered by artificial-intelligence technology could undercut its business.

In the oil market, prices leaped as uncertainty built about what will happen with the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire is still in place between the United States and Iran, but oil tankers in the Persian Gulf arent able to get through the narrow waterway off Irans coast and deliver crude to customers.

The U.S. military on Thursday seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, a day after Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two vessels in the strait. President Donald Trump also said Thursday he ordered the U.S. military to shoot and kill Iranian boats that deploy mines to gum up traffic in the strait.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in June rose 3.1% to settle at $105.07 and at one point topped $107. That peak coincided with a sudden drawdown for stocks, and the S&P 500 fell as much as 1.3% before it almost as instantly erased half the loss.

The price for a barrel of Brent to be delivered in July, which is the more popular contract for traders, settled at $99.35 after getting as high as $101.

More expensive oil has hurt airlines in particular because of the industrys big fuel bills, and stocks diverged in the industry following the latest profit reports.

American Airlines Group rose 2.4% after reporting better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. American said demand was strong for flights, and it saw the nine best weeks for revenue intake in its 100-year history.
The Disparagement of Assyrians in Middle East Studies

(AINA) -- Atrocity denial suffuses the bedrock of the academic field of modern Middle East studies. One of the most frequently cited works about modern Assyrians is a 1974 revisionist account of the 1933 massacres of Assyrians in Iraq. Its author, Khaldun S. Husry, dismisses Assyrian recollections of the violence as "propaganda of the victims."

Examining how Husry's article came to be published reveals that the editor who published it, Stanford Shaw, promoted its logic as part of his denial of the Armenian genocide. As a result of the influence of this denialism, Assyrians--who continue to face displacement and dispossession over a century after hundreds of thousands of them, alongside Armenians, were killed by the Ottoman Empire--are systematically demeaned in academic literature.

Scholars routinely treat Assyrians as problematic, questioning their legitimacy through racist lines of inquiry. They then claim, as moral licensing for their contempt, that their aim is to critique ethnic nationalism and colonialism. Analyzing the disparagement of Assyrians in the Middle East studies field offers lessons about what good and bad critiques of ethnic nationalism look like, how to avoid historiographical and citational pitfalls when writing about marginalized people, and why revisionist histories of atrocities are profoundly harmful.

Read the full article here.
Apple (AAPL) likely wont want to put its new CEO even more in the hot seat on earnings day next week.

He has enough on his plate right now!

The news that shook the often steady Apple cart: Apple said Monday afternoon that longtime CEO Tim Cook will step down later this year and transition to executive chairman. As many on the Street expected, he will be succeeded by John Ternus, currently Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering. Ternus will take the helm on Sept. 1.

More from Yahoo Scout How might the leadership change affect Apple's earnings? Why did Tim Cook announce his CEO transition now? Who is John Ternus and what's his background? What are analysts expecting from Apple's upcoming quarter?

What Yahoo Finance is hearing on this C-suite shake-up: The timing of the announcement caught some on Wall Street by surprise, perhaps explaining why the stock is down close to 3% on Tuesday. But B. Riley chief market strategist Art Hogan and Visible Alpha Research at S&P Global head Melissa Otto each raise a good point: Apple is likely poised to report a strong quarter on April 30.

"You don't make an announcement like this on a Monday night if you think you're missing your earnings," Hogan said on Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid. "One signal you can take from this right now is the earnings are in the bag and the guidance is going to be positive. That's my only takeaway. I think the new guy is going to be fine."

Said Otto, "I think net net, [earnings] are looking fairly resilient as we look forward. The real issue is going to be around the commentary and what sort of visibility the new leadership is going to give around their strategy for innovation and also for growing services."

Wall Street vibe on Apple's upcoming earnings release: The influx of Apple earnings previews hasn't hit en masse just yet. But those notes Yahoo Finance has checked out reinforce the points made by Hogan and Otto.

Two analyses that caught our attention:
By Colleen Howe and Sethuraman N R

BEIJING/NEW DELHI, April 22 (Reuters) - In the rolling, wind-swept grasslands of Chifeng in northern China's Inner Mongolia, towering white wind turbines line hilltops like sentinels over a hydrogen industry Beijing is trying to prise away from coal.

They are part of a $2 billion project - the biggest of its kind - that harnesses renewable energy to run banks of electrolysers that produce the molecules needed for fertilizer, marine fuel and low-emission steelmaking.

India shares China's "green hydrogen" ambitions, but its commitments are even more concrete and aggressive. Backed by subsidies worth some $2.1 billion, New Delhi is targeting 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030 - five times the current size of the global market and about double what analysts estimate Chinese output will be by then.

The massive bets by the world's two most populous nations come at the same time that the West has quietly backed away from its ambitious green hydrogen goals from the start of this decade after cost constraints proved stickier than anticipated.

What China and India have in common - despite very different motives - is the power and political will to force a market into existence, by underwriting projects, steering demand and pushing costs down through scale.

India has drawn private capital by pairing subsidies with offtake guarantees from refineries, fertiliser plants and steelmakers, making projects bankable from the outset.

The motivation is energy security. Hydrogen in India is overwhelmingly derived from imported natural gas, whose supply has suffered a sequence of shocks from the Middle East, Ukraine and the pandemic.

For China - able to deploy state-owned giants or attract private firms with large-scale, planning-led industrial projects - the aim is to preserve its dominance in hydrogen as the industry shifts towards cleaner energy.

In its five-year plan announced in March, Beijing listed green hydrogen alongside quantum computing, brain-computer interfaces and AI-enabled robotics as a frontier industry - an elevation in status that signals more capital will flow its way.

CHINA: SPEED AND SCALE

China invested $3.7 billion in green hydrogen production last year, more than double U.S. levels, said Rystad Energy's head of hydrogen, Minh Khoi Le.

By 2031, China will have some 2.6 million tons per year online, representing $26 billion in investment, according to Rystad projections.

Much of 2025's outlay went into the Chifeng project, operated by Chinese wind turbine maker Envision Energy. It aims to sell green hydrogen and ammonia to markets in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, and delivered its first green ammonia cargoes to South Korea's Lotte Fine Chemical in February.
Listen and subscribe to Opening Bid Unfiltered on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

At Pizza Hut, both the pizza and the brand are for sale.

Yum! Brands (YUM)  the owner of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC  officially announced it was conducting a formal strategic review of options for Pizza Hut in November 2025. The process could include a sale of the iconic fast food pizza chain, which has close to 20,000 locations globally, and the review is set for completion by year-end.

More from Yahoo Scout Why is Yum! Brands conducting a strategic review of Pizza Hut? What challenges has Pizza Hut faced in the competitive market? Who is Chris Turner and what's his background? What could Pizza Hut potentially be worth in a sale?

"We do believe some bold news needs to be made," Yum! Brands CEO Chris Turner said on Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast. "There's likely going to need to be investment in the brand. There may need to be some ownership of stores. So there's a lot of work to be done now. Some of those things are things that Yum! typically doesn't do."

"That's why we're exploring options where there may be some outside capital partners who could take on some of those types of strategies that could help get Pizza Hut get on the right trajectory," Turner added. "And so that's why we're being pretty open in terms of exploring those options. We want to end up at the end of the day doing the right thing for the brand."

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The relationship between Yum! Brands and Pizza Hut is as close as pepperoni and cheese on a steaming hot pizza.

PepsiCo (PEP) purchased Pizza Hut in 1977 for approximately $300 million. At the time, Pizza Hut was the world's largest pizza chain, and this move marked PepsiCo's first foray into the restaurant industry.

Over the next decade, PepsiCo acquired Taco Bell (1978) and KFC (1986) to expand its restaurant portfolio.

In October 1997, PepsiCo decided to shift focus to its core beverage and snack businesses and spun off its restaurant division into a new public company called Tricon Global Restaurants. This went on to become what we know today as Yum! Brands.

But the fast food business has changed considerably through the years, and Pizza Hut's performance has lagged.

In 2025, Pizza Huts US sales fell by 5%, while Taco Bells same-store sales rose by 7%.

Competitors in the pizza industry, like Dominos Pizza (DPZ), have aggressively taken market share through frequent promotions and have leaned hard into mobile ordering.

Meanwhile, the world of food delivery by way of Uber Eats (UBER) and Grubhub has opened up a world of eating possibilities, whereas pizza delivery dominated for decades.

"We are supportive of a sale, as it would remove a key source of underperformance risk and should increase confidence in steadier growth," Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull said.
By Jaspreet Singh

April 22 (Reuters) - ServiceNow (NOW) reported on Wednesday that delays in closing several large government deals in the Middle East hurt first-quarter subscription revenue growth, sending its shares down 12% in extended trading.

The company said its subscription revenue growth faced about a 75-basis-point headwind from delayed closures of several large on-premises deals in the region due to the ongoing conflict.

Chief Operating Officer Amit Zavery told Reuters that those deals are expected to close throughout the year. "We don't know when these conflicts will get sorted out, but we continue to work with these customers," he said.

ServiceNow, like its peers, is also facing investor concerns that artificial intelligence tools could shift enterprise clients away from traditional software by automating some of the tasks previously done by their products.

More from Yahoo Scout How will Armis acquisition affect ServiceNow's margins? What is the SaaSpocalypse affecting software companies? What are ServiceNow's 2026 revenue growth expectations? How did Middle East conflicts impact ServiceNow's revenue?

Advanced coding tools by Anthropic and OpenAI have sparked a sell-off in software stocks in recent months, leading to what Wall Street has dubbed "SaaSpocalypse" - a term reflecting the gloom around software-as-a-service companies.

Zavery said, "I am not worried about the narrative," as more than 50% of new business comes from non-seat-based pricing models, where revenue is tied to platform usage rather than user licenses.

Its acquisition of cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75 billion may also create near-term challenges in fiscal 2026, impacting free cash flow margin by about 200 basis points for the year and operating margin by about 125 basis points in the second quarter.

In the first quarter, ServiceNow secured 16 deals, each exceeding $5 million in annualized value.

CEO Bill McDermott said on a post-earnings call that the company had not faced pressure from customers to cut prices on its core products, even as clients increased spending on AI solutions.

ServiceNow expects 2026 subscription revenue to be between $15.74 billion and $15.78 billion, up from its earlier outlook of $15.53 billion and $15.57 billion.

The subscription revenue forecast of $3.815 billion to $3.820 billion for the second quarter also exceeded analysts' average estimate of $3.75 billion, according to LSEG-compiled data.

First-quarter revenue of $3.77 billion and adjusted earnings per share of 97 cents beat estimates of $3.74 billion and 96 cents, respectively.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
Schiphol Airport is reducing its costs for struggling airlines (Robin van Lonkhuijsen)  Robin van Lonkhuijsen/ANP/AFP

Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport said Thursday it would offer airlines a 10-percent discount on airport charges due to the high price of jet fuel caused by the Iran war.

The discount is a temporary measure that applies to daytime flights only from April 27 through March 2027, announced the airport, Europe's fourth-busiest hub.

"The airport is taking this measure because airlines' costs have risen unexpectedly and sharply as a result of high kerosene prices," Schiphol said in a statement.

"Especially in the current geopolitical situation, it is important to keep the Netherlands connected to the rest of the world and to ensure that essential flights can continue to operate."

Dutch legacy carrier KLM announced last week it was scrapping nearly one percent of its short-haul flights that had become unprofitable due to high fuel charges.

The war pitting the US and Israel against Iran has choked trade through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil was shipped before the conflict.

Airlines have trimmed routes and costs as fuel bills explode and wary passengers think twice about travel plans, a situation that could persist even if a fragile truce holds in the Middle East.

Schiphol admitted there would be a "temporary negative effect" on its financial results, without disclosing an exact figure.

According to data from industry group ACI Europe, Schiphol was the fourth busiest European hub last year, with 68.77 million passengers.

London Heathrow, Istanbul and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports were the only busier hubs on the continent.

ric/yad
BP failed to win majority approval for two board-backed resolutions at its annual general meeting, in a rebuke over climate transparency that cast a shadow over the debut appearance of the company's new leadership.

Voting results showed each of the two resolutions fell at roughly the 47% mark  nowhere near the 75% threshold that special resolutions must clear to be adopted, according to Bloomberg. One resolution concerned the right to hold virtual-only AGMs; the other sought to retire two existing shareholder-approved requirements for company-specific climate disclosures.

"While we appear to have overwhelming support for the direction of travel for the company, it seems very clear that the two special resolutions  one relating to our articles and one relating to historic resolutions  have not reached a simple majority," BP chair Albert Manifold told investors at the meeting.

With 81.8% of shareholders voting to elect Manifold, who assumed the chair in October, the tally fell well below the near-unanimous approval that board nominees customarily receive. Among those signaling opposition ahead of the meeting, Legal & General Investment Management  a top-10 BP shareholder  announced plans to vote against Manifold's election, and Glass Lewis issued a recommendation to do the same, pointing to the board's move to exclude the Follow This resolution as the basis for its view. ISS and Norway's sovereign wealth fund, which manages roughly $2.2 trillion in assets, each came out in favor of retaining Manifold.

At issue was a Follow This proposal that sought information from BP on how its business strategy holds up if demand for oil and gas were to fall over time. Speaking at the AGM, Manifold contended that the Follow This submission failed to meet legal requirements, leaving the company with no option but to leave it off the ballot. "If you don't submit a resolution in compliance with the rules, we are legally bound not to accept it," he told investors, according to Bloomberg.

Follow This founder Mark van Baal described the resolution results as "extremely embarrassing" for BP, according to CNBC.

A resolution brought by climate group ACCR, which pressed BP to demonstrate that its spending approach on oil and gas serves shareholder interests, garnered 25.9% support  an outcome that triggers a requirement for BP to engage with investors on the matter and provide a subsequent update. The vote signaled deep investor frustration, according to ACCR's oil and gas strategy lead Nick Mazan, who called the outcome "unprecedented and demonstrates that investors are fed up with BP's lack of capital discipline and its approach to shareholder rights."
A potential jet fuel shortage across Europe could lead European Union member countries to share fuel reserves and import more from the U.S.

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the start of the war in Iran, with oil prices accelerating after the restriction of traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint where 20 percent of global oil supply passes through daily.

More from WWD

E.U. Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said there was no evidence of current shortages, but when it comes to sharing reserves in the future, what is voluntary today could become compulsory.

If real supply issues arise, our emergency stocks must be put to best use, Tzitzikostas told reporters after a meeting of the E.U.s transport ministers, saying emergency stock must be used only when necessary. Any national release of fuel must be done in full transparency to avoid market distortions.

According to Tzitzikostas, the executive body is also examining alternative imports, including U.S. Jet A fuel, which has a higher freezing point than the European standard. Additionally, the bloc is looking at easing regulation that requires European airlines to buy 90 percent of their fuel at E.U. airports.

The Commission is due to present a broader package of energy and transport measures on Wednesday guidance airlines how to handle airport slots and public service obligations if jet fuel shortages take place. Tzitzikostas said a new fuel observatory would be set up to monitor supplies, starting with jet fuel.

DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer says the logistics giant can secure jet fuel for its planes in Europe through June, but theres less certainty about supply across Asia.

So far, we have no shortages or indication of shortages with the suppliers we work with, but especially in Asia, the visibility is quite limited, Meyer told a group of reporters in Brussels Tuesday. He said China had significant strategic reserves, but noted that other countries in the region had less backup.

At European airports, Meyer said DHL had visibility and supply commitments from oil companies into May and June. The CEO said Europe had two to four weeks more assurance than in Asia.

That capacity now is absorbed by carriers like us who fly directly Asia-Europe, so for instance Singapore-India-Europe is a route that we serve. For us, theres more demand not less, Meyer said.
The U.S. oil sector has entered the early innings of a rebound with more growth to come, Halliburton chairman and CEO Jeff Miller said Tuesday, explaining that the Iran war is forcing countries to prioritize energy security by capturing more barrels both domestically and from other regions outside the Middle East.

More from Yahoo Scout Which international regions show strongest growth prospects? How is Halliburton benefiting from increased drilling activity? What impact has the Iran war had globally? What factors are driving the oil sector rebound?

Amid the pain of higher prices at the pump and in supply chains, there are bright spots for oilfield services companies like Halliburton, which conducts drilling and fracking work (hydraulic fracturing), as oil production ramps up around the world to make up for disruptions caused by the war and the standoff over the pivotal Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20% of global energy supplies flow.

Miller kicked off the first earnings season for the industry since the war began by arguing that the sector has fundamentally shiftedat least for a few solid yearswith elevated prices and a push to rely less on the Middle East. This is the case even if a deal is reached soon to reopen the Strait of Hormuz choke point, Miller said.

In North America, we already see the early signs of recovery. Outside of the Middle East, we expect our international business to grow, Miller said, specifically citing growth in South America and Africa. Equally important is the view that energy security is no longer [just] a talking point. Thats going to drive activity, and I think that change is not temporal.

Indications that a ramp-up of U.S. oil supply is ahead

U.S. oil production hit a record high of more than 13.8 million barrels last year, but the volumes plateaued and even decreased slightly amid a global glut of crude oil before the Iran war.

Commodity prices are expected to remain highereven if they come down from their current levelsinto 2027 and perhaps beyond because of supply-chain shocks, logistical problems, heightened geopolitical and insurance risks, and the prolonged timelines for Middle Eastern nations to repair infrastructure and restart their oil and gas supplies.

While drilling activity and production volumes have not yet ramped up in the U.S., theres an early indicator that they will: Smaller oil producersthe typical first moversalready are hiring more fracking fleets and keeping drilling rigs contracted for longer.

Were in the early innings, and big public companies typically would come later in that cycle, Miller said. The early movers are the smaller companies, but thats an important move because that early move by small operators is what takes [fleet] capacity out of the market and creates [equipment] tightness.
Halliburton delivered a strong earnings performance in the first quarter of 2026, with net income rising to $461 million, or $0.55 per share, compared with $204 million a year earlier, as improved operating efficiency and international activity drove margin expansion.

Revenue remained broadly unchanged at $5.4 billion, reflecting a mixed operating environment in which international growth offset declines in North America. Operating income climbed to $679 million from $431 million a year earlier, underscoring improved profitability even in a flat top-line environment.

The companys performance highlights a growing divergence between regions. North America revenue fell 4% year-on-year to $2.1 billion, weighed down by lower stimulation and artificial lift activity, particularly in U.S. land operations. This reflects a broader slowdown in shale activity as producers maintain capital discipline amid volatile oil prices.

By contrast, international revenue rose 3% to $3.3 billion, with particularly strong gains in Latin America and Europe/Africa. Latin America revenue surged 22%, driven by increased activity in Brazil, Ecuador, and Argentina, while Europe/Africa posted an 11% increase on stronger drilling and completion activity.

However, the Middle East and Asia region declined 13%, reflecting reduced activity in key markets such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The company noted that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East shaved approximately $0.02$0.03 per share off earnings during the quarter.

At the segment level, Completion and Production revenue fell 3% to $3.0 billion, as lower pressure pumping and completion activity in North America and the Middle East weighed on results. Meanwhile, Drilling and Evaluation revenue rose 4% to $2.4 billion, supported by stronger project management activity in Latin America and increased drilling services in Europe.

CEO Jeff Miller pointed to early signs of a recovery in North America, suggesting the downturn may be bottoming out. At the same time, he emphasized the companys resilience internationally, where growth has outpaced disruptions linked to geopolitical instability.

Halliburtons results come amid a shifting global oilfield services landscape. After years of U.S.-led growth driven by shale, international markets are increasingly becoming the primary engine of expansion, supported by national oil companies boosting upstream investment.

At the same time, capital discipline among U.S. producers continues to cap activity levels, limiting demand for high-margin services such as hydraulic fracturing. This trend has pressured North American service providers while favoring companies with strong international exposure.
Noveria Energy has entered into a grid connection construction agreement with TenneT Germany to develop a 250MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Niedersachsen.

Scheduled for grid connection in early 2028, the project will link to the German transmission network in a region where substantial offshore wind power from the North Sea is integrated into the grid.

By finalising this agreement, Noveria has secured a timeline for the connection and set the technical framework for future operations.

Upon completion, the battery storage facility will operate under the grid connection arrangement and is expected to address grid stability requirements and support the integration of renewable electricity.

Noveria Energy Grid & Policy director Dennis Klink said: Signing the grid construction agreement with TenneT Germany reflects the strong commitment of all parties to the success of this important project.

We particularly value the constructive and highly professional collaboration with TenneT Germany throughout this process.

BESS have gained significance as tools for managing the input of variable renewable resources and maintaining reliable power system operation.

This project is among several battery storage initiatives in Noverias development pipeline, which encompasses more than 3GW of planned capacity.

In January 2026, TenneT Germany and the UKs National Grid announced plans to develop GriffinLink, an offshore interconnector that will connect offshore wind generation from both countries to their respective electricity grids.

The project will link British and German offshore wind resources with the power networks in each country.

GriffinLink aims to increase the security of electricity supply and improve market integration across north-western Europe.

"Noveria Energy signs grid deal with TenneT Germany" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Amnesty International Annual Report Warns of Deepening Crisis in Post-war Syria

Amnesty International released its 2026 annual report, The State of the World's Human Rights, assessing global, regional, and international developments across a wide range of human rights issues. Covering 144 countries, the report highlights widespread violations of the international order, contributing to worsening conditions affecting citizens' lives. It examines trends related to armed conflict, repression of political opposition, and ethnic and sectarian discrimination.

In its section on Syria, Amnesty addressed the fall of the Baathist regime of Bashar al-Assad and the subsequent formation of a government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa. The report also documented massacres affecting Alawite and Druze communities in Suwayda and along the Syrian coast, including killings, kidnappings, and the burning of property.

The report further referenced the bombing of the Greek (Rum) Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in the Douileh neighborhood of Daramsuq (Damascus), which resulted in more than 25 deaths and over 60 injuries, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health.

Amnesty also noted an agreement between al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, General Commander if the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), providing for the integration of institutions of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) into state structures.

The organization pointed out that most sanctions on Syria have been lifted by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, it stressed that the humanitarian crisis remains severe, with more than 16 million people in urgent need of assistance. Funding for the United Nations humanitarian response plan has reached less than 10%.

According to the report, the US's sudden suspension of a significant portion of its humanitarian funding in January led to the closure of some medical facilities and human rights organizations, as well as cuts to food aid and staffing levels among local NGOs.

Amnesty added that although new civil society organizations and independent media outlets have begun operating in Daramsuq and other areas after years of restrictions under the former government, repressive legislation remains in place, including laws that allow prosecutions related to freedom of expression.

Regarding the judiciary, the report stated that while the government has taken limited steps toward reform, the appointment of judges remains under executive control, the death penalty has not been abolished, and international crimes have yet to be incorporated into the constitution.

At the same time, the Ministry of Justice announced the annulment of at least 287,000 rulings issued by anti-terrorism and military courts under the Assad regime. These included verdicts based on charges commonly used to criminalize basic rights, such as insulting the head of state, insulting the army, and participating in protests.

On transitional justice, Amnesty reported that the National Transitional Justice Commission has pledged to address violations committed by all parties, not only the former regime.

The report also highlighted the issue of enforced disappearances, noting that families of the missing have organized demonstrations across Syrian cities, demanding action to uncover the fate of their relatives, recover remains, and hold perpetrators accountable. The number of forcibly disappeared persons is estimated to exceed 100,000 between 2011 and 2024.

Amnesty further documented arbitrary arrests of individuals from the Alawite community without warrants or clear charges, often accompanied by denial of access to legal counsel.

A dedicated section of the report examined massacres along the Syrian coast, stating that government forces and allied militias carried out an offensive resulting in more than 1,400 deaths in Latakia, Tartous, and Baniyas, citing findings by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria. The violations included killings, torture, inhumane treatment of the dead, widespread looting, and the burning of homes, primarily targeting the Alawite community.

Although a Syrian government fact-finding committee identified hundreds of suspects from both government-affiliated forces and armed groups linked to the former regime, the report noted that authorities have neither published the findings nor taken action against those responsible.

Regarding events in Suwayda, Amnesty stated that clashes in July 2025 between Druze armed groups and Bedouin tribes escalated into widespread violence, including killings, abductions, displacement, and destruction of property affecting Druze and Christian residents.

Finally, the report highlighted worsening environmental conditions, noting that Syria experienced its lowest rainfall levels in three decades. The resulting drought caused a 40% decline in wheat production, further exacerbating food insecurity, which now affects more than half the population.

Farmers have called on the government to rehabilitate agricultural infrastructure, promote drought-resistant crops, adopt water-efficient farming methods, and invest in sustainable agriculture. However, Amnesty noted that no significant steps were taken in this regard during the year.
Prospex Energy's wholly owned subsidiary, PXEN Tatra, has been formally granted the onshore Dunajec block in southern Poland.

The licence is the companys second award in Poland following the granting of the San licence earlier this month.

Both the Dunajec and San licences provide Prospex with a 100% working interest in regions with existing gas production and developed infrastructure.

The Dunajec acreage contains a shallow undeveloped oil discovery known as the Mniszow area. It includes a previously identified 13m oil pay encountered at around 600m depth in fractured carbonate formations.

Drilling activity dating back to 1966, including the Mniszow-3 well, demonstrated an oil-saturated interval flowing at 45 barrels per day during testing. Previous studies estimated the original oil in place at around two million barrels.

The area remained undeveloped, in part because of the smaller field size and thinner reservoir compared to neighbouring fields such as Grobla and Pawowice.

Prospex is collecting historical geological and production data from Dunajec and San to inform the design and priorities of future work programmes. The company intends to use modern exploration and development methods to evaluate the resource potential across these areas.

PXEN Tatra now holds the two licences within the Carpathian foredeep, which is known as a significant Polish gas region with multiple producing fields. The company plans to assess opportunities for early development, especially in the shallow oil discovery at Dunajec.

Prospex CEO Tom Reynolds said: The formal award of Dunajec means that Prospex has been awarded both licences it applied for in Poland which, together with San, provides highly attractive prospectivity.

Both licences are located within one of Poland's most prolific gas regions, with Dunajec also presenting near-term development potential through the Mniszow undeveloped oil discovery.

In November 2025, Prospex Energy submitted a complete environmental impact assessment for five new natural gas wells at the El Romeral concessions to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge in Madrid, Spain.

"Prospex wins Dunajec onshore licence in southern Poland" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




While gasoline prices remain high at pumps across the U.S., experts warn that the cost of another fuel could ultimately impact consumers more.

Its diesel that really runs the economy, and kind of runs the world, Joe DeLaura, a global energy strategist at Rabobank, told The New York Times.

Since the start of the war in Iran on February 28, the average price of a gallon of diesel has gone up by around 45 percent, compared with regular gas which has increased at around 35 percent per gallon.

Prices are expected to peak at $5.80 per gallon this month for diesel, while gas will average at $4.30, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Whereas gas prices may be more noticeable for Americans day-to-day, affecting the costs of fuelling their cars, diesel  which has more energy per gallon  is used in the transportation industry to power trucks, tractors and other heavy machinery.

While gasoline prices remain high at pumps across the U.S. experts warn that the cost of another fuel could ultimately impact consumers more  diesel (AFP/Getty)

Despite a ceasefire in the Middle East being extended by President Donald Trump earlier this week, oil prices held around $100-a-barrel Thursday after Iran seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz and peace talks remained deadlocked.

Gas prices have fluctuated somewhat in recent weeks, though diesel has remained elevated.

The process for refining diesel from oil is more intensive and costly than that of gasoline and there were lower supplies even before the start of the conflict. Refineries are also not able to easily adjust their diesel production.

Despite a ceasefire in the Middle East being extended by Donald Trump earlier this week, oil prices held above $100 a barrel Thursday after Iran seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz and peace talks remained deadlocked (Getty)

In addition, since the war began, Persian gulf countries and China  who produce a lot of diesel  have slashed their exports to ensure they dont experience shortages, the NYT reports.

This is why diesel more than doubles, while gasoline basically moves up in tandem with crude, DeLaura told the NYT. You have a shortage of diesel, you have a shortage of jet fuel, you have a shortage of fuel oil. Gasoline is relatively well supplied.

Unlike regular consumers, who can choose to carpool or cut down on gas consumption in other ways while prices are high, farmers and truckers who rely on their vehicles and machinery to work can not.

Even if the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, prices of diesel may not fall as quickly as other fuels due to the amount of time needed to continue distribution.
By Rajasik Mukherjee

April 23 (Reuters) - Australian biotech giant CSL extended losses on Thursday, lingering near decade lows, after the U.S. military scrapped its flu vaccine mandate, dealing another blow to the drugmaker as it grapples with a prolonged earnings slump.

The U.S. defense department said on Tuesday that military personnel would no longer be mandated to receive the flu vaccine, marking a reversal from a long-standing requirement and raising concerns about demand from a key institutional buyer.

More from Yahoo Scout How did military flu vaccine policy affect CSL? What challenges face CSL's plasma business recovery? What factors contributed to CSL's earnings slump? How significant is CSL's vaccine business revenue?

"The Pentagons move... was a meaningful catalyst for the sell-off and could be the straw that finally breaks the camels back," said Marc Jocum, senior product and investment strategist at GlobalXETFs.

"CSL was already carrying a heavy load around falling U.S. flu vaccination rates, weaker Seqirus earnings, and delayed strategic plans, and this decision simply adds incremental pressure at the worst possible time."

The stock fell as much as 0.8% to its lowest since late August 2017, bringing its yearly decline to over 25%.

CSL is heavily exposed to the United States, its largest revenue source, according to its annual report.

The firm's vaccines business  which includes influenza shots supplied through unit CSL Seqirus  is one of its most profitable divisions.

CSL Seqirus generated about $2.17 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025 - about 14% of the company's total.

The stock had already been under sustained pressure amid slowing demand for plasma-derived therapies, higher collection and manufacturing costs, and multiple earnings downgrades over the past year.

CSL, a former government laboratory which later became a stock market darling, has also been at the receiving end of investors' wrath over its share price performance. Once Australia's priciest stock, CSL plunged about 39% last year in its biggest annual drop since 2002.

Investors have also grown wary of the pace of recovery in CSLs core plasma business, which was badly disrupted during the pandemic.

"The real issue runs deeper: slowing earnings momentum, a more volatile vaccine segment, and a lack of clarity around the companys forward strategy," said Hebe Chen, market analyst at Vantage Markets.

"A 5% drop (on Wednesday) of this magnitude signals the market is still repricing that broader confidence gap, with CSL yet to convincingly find a floor."

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Community Health Systems, Inc. Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary - Moby

Strategic Performance and Operational Context

Adjusted EBITDA performance landed at the low end of internal expectations, primarily impacted by a $50 million year-over-year drag from recently completed divestitures.

Management attributes volume and payer mix challenges to temporary macroeconomic disruptions, specifically citing consumer fears regarding geopolitical instability and rising living costs.

Aggressive managed care practices, including increased preauthorization denials, are identified as significant drivers of delayed payments and inefficient medical care delivery.

Strategic investments in physician experience, such as ambient listening technology, aim to reduce administrative burdens and optimize face-to-face patient care time.

Significant quality improvements were realized, with 80% of hospitals expected to receive Leapfrog A or B grades, up from 48% in the prior year period.

The company is pivoting toward a 'network of care' strategy, acquiring majority interests in high-volume surgery centers to extend outpatient capabilities in core markets.

Outlook and Strategic Assumptions

Full-year 2026 guidance remains unchanged, assuming that the back half of the year will carry a heavier weight as economic conditions potentially stabilize.

Volume recovery is anticipated as deferred elective procedures return to the system, with the company maintaining a low single-digit volume growth target for the year.

Management expects to collect a $50 million to $60 million buildup in Medicare Advantage accounts receivable throughout the remainder of the year.

The pending $112 million divestiture of four Arkansas hospitals is expected to close in Q2 2026, with proceeds intended for further debt reduction and growth investments.

Guidance methodology currently excludes potential upside from the Rural Health Transformation Fund and new state-directed payment programs due to insufficient early-stage data.

Non-Recurring Items and Risk Factors

Winter Storm Firm contributed to negative EBITDA results for hospitals divested during the first quarter.

A $25 million benefit from the Georgia State Directed Payment Program was partially offset by out-of-period Indiana provider tax increases.

Following the completion of the Arkansas divestiture, net debt is expected to be approximately $9.3 billion, down from $10.1 billion at year-end 2025 and $11.4 billion at year-end 2024.

Medical specialist fees grew 11% year-over-year, exceeding the forecasted range of 5% to 8%.

Q&A Session Highlights

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
I think its important too, to think about it  this relates to historical payment disputes that involve the interpretation of the risk adjustment policy during that period in question. Actually really important I think to remind everyone  its not about how we operate the business today, CEO Gail Boudreaux said on a Wednesday morning call with analysts.

However, executives attempted to reassure investors that $935 million accrual is large enough to cover the matter  and to avoid threatened sanctions from the CMS, which would endanger Elevances reputation and future MA growth.

Elevance is now sizing its liability for resubmitting the data at $935 million. The figure is a ballpark estimate, and could be about $500 million less  or about $500 million more, according to Elevances detailed financial filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

That data is used to adjust reimbursement, so Elevances noncompliance could have resulted in the insurer being overpaid, the CMS said.

In February, regulators warned Elevance it could face weighty sanctions  including a halt on new enrollment in its MA plans  after finding Elevance failed to correctly submit data on the health needs of its members in the privatized Medicare program.

The insurer had to revise the outlook down after accounting for hundreds of millions of dollars it may have to pay the CMS this year.

However, Elevances new outlook is still well below the $30.29 the company posted in 2025. And Elevance slashed its guidance for unadjusted earnings per share, which includes factors outside of the companys control, to at least $19.85. Previously, Elevance had expected to bring in at least $22.30 .

The Indianapolis-based payer raised its annual adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance from at least $25.50 to at least $26.75. Investors had expected a raise, but not of this magnitude, echoing UnitedHealths unexpectedly robust beat-and-raise on Tuesday.

Elevance on Wednesday became the second major insurer to raise its 2026 earnings guidance on the back of better-than-expected first quarter results  though, a massive potential payout over faulty data reporting in Medicare Advantage could cut into Elevances bottom line this year.

This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive . To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter .

Story Continues

The CMS originally gave Elevance until the end of March to fix the issue, before extending the deadline to May 30 after the insurer argued it needed more time.

The CMS has now pushed the deadline back even further, to July 31, Boudreaux said.

Based on the steps that CMS has prescribed and the current timeline which I shared, we believe and expect that if we complete those steps that the sanctions will not go into effect, Boudreaux said.

We view the [dollar] amount as a favorable outcome assuming no sanctions on future enrollment, TD Cowen analyst Ryan Langston wrote in note Wednesday morning.

Operations improving at Elevance

MA liability aside, the picture painted by Elevance and UnitedHealth at the outset of this year  of medical costs more under control  has brightened Wall Streets outlook for the health insurance sector, which has been plagued by runaway medical costs.

Margins have especially been pressured in government programs like MA and Medicaid in which insurers have less direct control over their reimbursement.

Investors have been unsure whether actions taken by insurers to claw out of the hole, like begging the government for higher rates, cutting unprofitable plans and curbing benefits, would be enough to cover persistently elevated medical utilization among their members.

Earlier this year, Elevance, which is mostly known for its Blues-licensed plans but also operates in MA, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act exchanges, warned investors that it would bring in lower revenue this year  and post lower earnings  as a result of membership losses and continued cost pressures, especially in Medicaid.

Though Elevances first quarter revenue of $50.2 billion was up almost 3% year over year, the insurers net income of $1.8 billion was down more than 19%  in part due to the expected CMS settlement, which was logged as a quarterly expense.

Still, Elevances adjusted results  which companies argue are a better representation of their actual performance  gave Wall Street reason for optimism. The insurer posted adjusted earnings per share of $12.58 in the quarter, above analysts consensus expectations.

Shares in Elevance rose about 3% in Wednesday morning trade.

While it is still early in the year, the trends we are seeing give us increased confidence in the trajectory of the business, Boudreaux said.

Buoyancy in Medicare Advantage

Elevance posted a medical loss ratio, an important marker of spending on patient care, of 86.8% in the quarter, better than analysts had expected, though slightly higher than the first quarter last year.

The MLR bump reflected elevated spending in Medicaid, as state reimbursement rates continue to lag actual utilization trends in the safety-net program, executives said

Elevance expects its Medicaid operating margin to be about -1.75% this year, with executives calling 2026 a trough year for the business.

However, Elevances MLR improved in MA, a program thats also been wracked by elevated spending.

MA makes up a relatively small slice of Elevances membership. The company has 1.9 million customers in the program, accounting for just 4% of its 45.4 million total members.

However, MA accounts for an outsized share of Elevances premiums  about 26%  so executives took a number of actions last year to try to boost margins in the business, including exiting unprofitable markets and steering seniors towards plans where it can more aggressively control costs.

Those actions appear to be having the desired effect. Elevance has lost about 330,000 MA members since the end of 2025, in line with the roughly 18% drop the company had expected.

The membership loss is coinciding with improving margins  Elevance is on track to reach its 2% MA margin goal in 2026, which Felicia Norwood, Elevances chief health benefits offer, called a meaningful step up year over year in January.

And looking into next year, Elevance is also on track to grow overall earnings at least 12%, executives said.

The path to that goal was oiled by the Trump administration this spring when regulators finalized an almost 2.5% rate hike in MA for 2027  well above the flat rate update originally proposed, which had sent health insurers into a tizzy.

Payers argued theyve had to absorb steep spending increases without adequate rate updates in federal programs. Regulators seemed open to that argument, nixing the rules biggest proposed reforms of MA, a program dogged by concerns about insurer gaming and overpayment.

During the call, Boudreaux said Elevance was encouraged to see the CMS boost final rates, but that the insurer would continue to prioritize MA plans that boost margins.

Comments from insurance executives about the final rate notice  including that the 2.5% bump is still inadequate to cover spending  suggest that most MA plans are unlikely to increase their benefits or coverage areas in 2027 as they continue to focus on margin growth.

Overall, Elevances membership actually increased compared to the end of 2025 by about 200,000 members, as losses in MA and Medicaid were offset by growth in its commercial and ACA businesses.

In particular, Elevance had more ACA members remain in its plans than expected, given how intensely the ACA exchanges have been roiled by the expiration of more generous subsidies for coverage this year.

Elevance ended the first quarter with 1.4 million individual ACA members, up from 1.3 million at the end of 2025. However, Elevance expects its ACA enrollment to tick down to 1.2 million members by the end of the second quarter, and the insurer could even end the year with as few as 900,000 enrollees in the exchanges as high premiums lead more members to drop coverage, executives said.

Shrinking membership in certain programs is also affecting Elevances health services division, Carelon.

Carelon, a key growth engine for the company, posted an adjusted operating gain of just over $1 billion in the quarter, slightly below analyst expectations.

Executives said Carelons margins were impacted by membership losses, given that Carelon provides services to Elevances health insurance plans.

Editors Note: This article has been updated with additional details from Elevances 10-Q filing.

Recommended Reading
It's no secret that the job market is tough right now. But what happens if you get that coveted job, uproot your entire life to a new town, only to find out days before your start date that your job offer was rescinded?

Do you have any legal options? You might, though it depends on the details of your situation and the state you're now in.

Must Read

Imagine Ryan, a 27-year-old working in HR for a tech company. For years, he's imagined moving to California to be near the beaches, so when he sees a job listing he's qualified for, he applies.

After three rounds of intensive interviews, Ryan is hired with a start date 3 weeks away. Thrilled for the new opportunity, he puts in his two-week notice at his current job, where he'd been working for the past five years, sells most of his belongings as fast as he can and rents a new apartment near his new job  moving his entire life nearly 1,000 miles to a new state.

Two days before Ryan's new job is set to start, he receives an email from his soon-to-be employer. Unfortunately, there has been a hiring freeze and the job Ryan thought he had is now gone. Ryan is stunned. As he sits on the floor of his new apartment surrounded by boxes, he wonders, "Can they do this? Is this even legal?"

If you're facing a similar situation, here's what you need to know.

Can a to-be employer rescind a job offer?

The short answer is yes, usually (1). Most employees in the U.S. work "at will," meaning an employer can fire an employee  or, in this case, not hire one  for any reason that isn't illegal (think race, gender, etc.). A job offer is generally not an iron-clad contract.

But Ryan is in a bit of a unique situation and he might have legal options.

Since Ryan relocated to California, he has a specific statute working in his favor: California Labor Code Section 970 (2) prohibits employers from knowingly making false promises to prospective employees about the nature of their future work and/or the length of their employment to encourage them to relocate.

The keyword here is "knowingly." If the company genuinely didn't know about the hiring freeze when they extended the offer, Ryan might have a hard time making this stick. But if leadership knew a freeze was coming and extended the offer anyway, that could give Ryan legal ground to stand on. Proving this is another story.
Prudential Financial has extended the voluntary suspension of new business at its Japan unit for another 180 days, pushing the expected end of the freeze to November 2026.

When asked about the earnings hit due to the suspension, Prudential confirmed to Life Insurance International that the aggregate hit to 2026 pre-tax adjusted operating income will be approximately $525m to $575m, "reflecting both the initial 90-day suspension and 180-day suspension".

For 2027, pre-tax adjusted operating income will be approximately $400m to $450m.

As per the statement, this mainly reflects the "annualised impact of surrenders and suspended new sales activity in 2026, together with costs associated with restarting and ramping up new sales in 2027. Life Planner compensation also factors into this range but is a smaller contributor."

The move follows the 90-day pause that started on 9 February 2026.

The insurer said extra time is needed because the changes required at Prudential of Japan (POJ) are broader and more complicated than first expected and will take longer to prepare and put in place.

According to the company, the work covers operations, governance, organisational structures and other related measures needed before sales can restart.

In a statement to Life Insurance International, Prudential spokesperson said: "As part of our responsibility to ensure all businesses operate in line with our standards, we have undertaken a proactive review across our Japan entities, including Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life (PGFL), our bank distribution channel, and Gibraltar Life (GIB), our Life Consultant and independent agent channel.

"We have disclosed that approximately 70 claims have been received by the Customer Reimbursement Committee. These claims are under independent review and have not been verified or deemed eligible for reimbursement. We do not comment on ongoing reviews."

It also said an independent external review of POJs management system was launched earlier this year as part of its governance process.

Prudential said the longer suspension should also support changes to the captive Life Planner model so that incentives and decision-making are more closely tied to customer interests.

The restriction applies only to new sales. Existing policyholders and servicing for policies already in force are not affected.

The decision comes after misconduct cases emerged in its Japan operations.

In January, Prudential Financials Japanese life insurance arm disclosed that around 100 former and current employees had improperly taken around Y3.1bn from customers. An independent compensation committee has been investigating the scale of the losses.
A financial analyst, a few years out of school, sits in front of four cloud terminals at a New York hedge fund, running $1,000 a day in AI tokens. His manager approved the budget without hesitation  the firms own math showed his productivity had multiplied fivefold, returning well over 200% on every dollar spent.

This is just one example of how a 26-year-old does his job today. Now imagine the same transformation applied across the loan origination operations of a top ten bank, with thousands of underwriters, risk analysts, and compliance staff. Or to the customer service operations of a Fortune 100 retailer handling two million interactions a week.

The potential gains are obvious, and no individual contributor or off-the-shelf AI tool can deliver them at enterprise scale. Reimagining business operations for human and agentic workers and building production-grade, AI-native solutions to run them is the opportunity that stands before IT services providers today.

The industrys first principles were born out of an enterprise reality: technology kept becoming more powerful and more complex than companies could implement, scale, and operate on their own. Starting in the 1960s and supercharged from the 1990s forward, IT services providers built four durable value engines: implementation expertise, talent at industrial scale, global delivery, and managing complexity. Those engines survived every technology wave  Java, .Net, cloud, mobile  because they adapted while preserving the core economics.

Necessary shifts for the transition

Autonomous AI now challenges the industry at a deeper level. It changes how IT services firms create value, how they deliver it, how they price it, and ultimately how they themselves are valued.

Enterprise software was deterministic, relying on repeatable, templated logic delivered through packaged software and SaaS platforms. AI systems are different. The AI models that power them are not products to be configured, but reasoning engines that require context, guardrails, and domain-specific knowledge to work reliably inside enterprises. And because AI solutions must be built around reimagined workflows, service providers now have the opportunity to create and manage the full operating stack, taking accountability for business outcomes.

Making this transition demands four significant shifts. Providers must evolve from systems integrators into AI builders, creating the platforms, models, and tooling required to deliver outcomes. In the old world, software existed, and the job was to implement it; in the AI world, systems are inherently bespoke and must be built.
SAO PAULO, April 23 (Reuters) - Brazil's antitrust watchdog CADE approved on Thursday a recommendation to deepen investigations into the use of journalistic content by Alphabet's Google, which would assess potential abuse of the company's dominant market position.

CADE's members backed a proposal from its interim chief Diogo Thomson de Andrade to return the case to its general superintendence for formal administrative proceedings, citing the evolution of Google's conduct since the 2019 inquiry began.

More from Yahoo Scout What is Brazil's CADE investigating about Google? What potential violations is Google now facing? What market position concerns does CADE have? How has Google's conduct evolved since 2019?

CONTEXT

 The case began following CADE's 2019 determination to examine competitive conditions in search and news markets.

 Initial investigation focused on Google's automated collection of journalistic content and its display in search results.

 CADE's general superintendence had previously recommended shelving the case for lack of sufficient evidence of violations.

NEW FINDINGS

 De Andrade's new analysis noted Google's conduct evolved with AI generative features that synthesize information directly in search interfaces.

 It highlighted potential structural dependency of news publishers on Google's search mechanisms for audience reach.

 De Andrade pointed out this could constitute exploitative abuse through extracting value from third-party content without proportional compensation.

 Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Nia Williams)
Chinas Chery Automobile is working on smaller passenger vehicles for Europe as part of its wider growth plans in the region, Reuters reported citing a senior executive.

The move would mark a shift from the companys current emphasis on SUVs, as Chery looks to widen its passenger vehicle offering in Europe.

Its brands in the market include Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo, which have supported its European expansion.

According to the report, the timeline for the new platform has not been disclosed.

The group also launched the Lepas brand last year.

The line-up currently features three SUV models, including the L6, which was presented in Europe during Milan Design Week.

Chery's head of engineering Peter Matkin, quoted in the report, said the company had focused on SUVs because they are what everybody's asking for in both Chinese and overseas markets.

He also said Chery is developing a new vehicle platform that will support models measuring less than four metres in length, with those vehicles set to arrive at a later stage.

Chery already has vehicle assembly operations in Europe through a joint venture at a former Nissan factory in Spain.

It is also considering additional production growth in the region through partnerships with other carmakers, allowing it to use existing plants.

The planned entry into smaller vehicles is part of Cherys broader effort to build its presence in Europe while increasing its regional manufacturing base.

Chery Commercial Vehicle recently launched its Future Super Commercial Vehicle (FSCV) strategy at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, UK, where it introduced the electric Delivan light commercial vehicle on the global stage.

Chery said Delivan, as the first product under the FSCV strategy, represents a new generation of intelligent commercial vehicles designed for urban logistics, last-mile delivery and fleet use.

The company also confirmed its move into the UK and wider European markets as an OEM, with an offering that includes vehicles, charging, servicing, telematics, digital programmes, aftermarket support, warranty and lifecycle services.

"Chery targets smaller cars for Europe expansion strategy  report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Cambodian PM meets with Chinese foreign minister, defense minister

Xinhua) 09:20, April 23, 2026

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, April 22, 2026. Wang and Dong are in Cambodia for the first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday here in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, vowing to further deepen bilateral ties and cooperation.

Wang and Dong are in Cambodia for the first meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of China and Cambodia under the "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism.

Hun Manet said Cambodia firmly adheres to a friendly policy towards China and resolutely upholds the one-China principle.

He said Cambodia looks forward to close high-level exchanges with China, expanding institutional dialogues, and deepening practical cooperation in areas such as clean energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and talent cultivation.

He added that Cambodia welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia and resolutely combats online gambling and telecom fraud, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this regard.

The prime minister said Cambodia is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations to jointly safeguard multilateralism.

For his part, Wang said that in the face of a tense and chaotic external environment, China and Cambodia need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever before.

He said that China will continue to deepen strategic mutual trust, promote all-round cooperation, and contribute to the development, revitalization, and long-term stability of both countries.

Wang added that both sides should maintain high-level exchanges, jointly promote the construction of the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor," and help Cambodia enhance its capacity for independent development.

Both sides must resolutely crack down upon and completely eradicate cross-border online gambling and telecom fraud, he said, adding that the two sides should firmly support each other in international multilateral affairs and work together to uphold fairness and justice.

Meanwhile, Dong briefed on the cooperation between the defense ministries of China and Cambodia.

During the meeting, Hun Manet briefed on the situation regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and expressed his hope that China would play a greater role in advancing peace talks.

Wang said that China is willing to continue to build more platforms for the resumption of exchanges and direct dialogue between Cambodia and Thailand.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
How 3D Printing is Saving Iraq's Heritage

Mosul, Iraq -- Some cities carry their history in their stones. Mosul is one of them -- a place where ancient Assyrian gates once rose beside Ottoman-era houses, where minarets have marked the skyline for centuries, and where the layered memory of civilization is written into every arch and facade. It is also a city that knows, better than most, what it means to have that memory threatened.

For Yahya Mohammed, watching war tear through Mosul's fabric was a personal wound that sharpened into a professional calling.

"Since I was an architecture student, I needed 3D models for my department," Yahya explains, his eyes still carrying the excitement of someone who cannot quite believe his own story. "I couldn't stop thinking about this idea -- why not use modern technology to build these models?"

Iraq's architectural heritage runs deeper than old. It is ancient in a way that few places on earth can claim. The land between the Tigris and the Euphrates gave birth to the first urban civilizations, to the ziggurat and the courtyard house, to the towering ambitions of the Abbasid Caliphate, when Baghdad was the beating heart of the known world.

Mosul itself sits on layers of memory that stretch back thousands of years. Minaret and arch, carved stone and muqarnas: this was never mere decoration. It was identity.

Then came 2014. Daesh swept through northern Iraq, and Mosul fell. What followed was a human catastrophe with a cultural dimension just as devastating. Monuments that had survived empires, invasions, and centuries of upheaval were deliberately erased.

By the time the city was liberated in 2017, much of what had defined it -- physically, historically, spiritually -- was rubble.

Yahya was finishing his architecture degree when liberation came. He had seen what destruction looked like up close. He had also just discovered 3D printing.

"I enrolled in several courses and competitions," he recalls. "In one of those courses, I won first place, and as a result, I was awarded a 3D printer."

It was a single machine. But it was enough to begin.

In 2019, Yahya founded Imagine 3D -- a Mosul-based company that transforms digital designs into precise physical models using 3D printing technology. From architectural scale models and heritage replicas to custom prototypes and spare parts fabrication, the company offers a range of services that sit at the intersection of technology, design, and craft.

In the early days, Yahya worked alone, project by project, building a client base and a reputation at the same time. The market for 3D printing in Iraq was, at that point, almost nonexistent.

One of Imagine 3D's first major milestones came through a collaboration with QAF Lab, Al-Noor University, and the Baytuna Foundation, which launched the first tactile museum of its kind in Iraq -- an exhibition featuring precise 3D-printed models of Ninewa's historical and cultural landmarks.

For many visitors, it was the first time they had been able to hold, in their hands, a piece of heritage that had seemed forever lost. Yahya's machines had made memory tangible.

By 2023, Yahya aspired to expand his business. Still, like many small enterprises in Iraq, Imagine 3D faced the challenge that every ambitious entrepreneur in a post-conflict economy is often confronted with: access to capital.

"Access to capital in Iraq is limited or non-existent," Yahya says simply. "It's very difficult for businesses to find funds to start or grow."

That changed in 2025, when Imagine 3D received a grant through the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Enterprise Development Fund Innovation (EDF-i), supported by the German Federal Government via the German Development Bank (KfW) -- a programme designed specifically to support technology and digital start-ups and small businesses in Iraq.

"It was an excellent grant that allowed us to scale up the work," Yahya says. "We now have more than ten 3D printers and a team of nine employees."

Those nine positions -- in 3D design, machine operation, and production -- represent exactly the kind of skilled, technology-focused employment that remains difficult to find in post-conflict Mosul.

Within six months of receiving the grant, Imagine 3D's sales nearly doubled and its customer base grew significantly. The support also opened doors that capital alone cannot buy. Imagine 3D participated in ITEX, Iraq's premier technology exhibition in Baghdad -- a platform that connected the company with new clients and placed a Mosul start-up firmly in the national conversation about innovation.

Shortly after, in November 2025, IOM selected Imagine 3D among five EDF-i businesses to represent Iraq at the Saudi Startup Expo in Riyadh, where Iraqi entrepreneurs entered a regional pitch competition for the first time.

"It was exciting to explore the latest trends, network with investors, and understand new markets," Yahya reflects. "Overall, it added a lot to us."

He came home with contacts, ideas, and potential partnerships with Saudi companies now under discussion. A regional expansion, once an abstraction, is now a plan being mapped.

Back in Mosul, the printers run. Models of ancient gates and mosque facades take shape layer by layer, hour by hour. Yahya still thinks like the architecture student who first imagined all of this -- someone who understood, before almost anyone else in his city, that the best response to destruction is to rebuild.

Yahya's story is one of more than 120 businesses the EDF-i programme has financed to date, since 2020, collectively creating 555 jobs across the country.

"Our next goal," he says, "is to establish a solid presence in the regional market while expanding our client base and enhancing our company's technical, human, and production capabilities on all levels."

The road is long. But in Yahya's workshop, the past and the future are printed side by side -- proof that innovation, in the right hands, can be its own form of resilience.
Cursors 25-year-old CEO, Michael Truell, helped take the AI coding company from a college passion project to a potential $60 billion acquisition by Elon Musks SpaceX.

On Tuesday, SpaceX announced in a post on X that Cursor gave SpaceX the right to acquire the company later this year for $60 billion. If SpaceX doesnt buy Cursor, it will pay $10 billion for their work together, the company said.

More from Yahoo Scout How did Michael Truell build Cursor from MIT dropout? What is Cursor and how did it become valuable? Why would SpaceX acquire Cursor for $60 billion? What makes Cursor different from other AI coding tools?

Either way, its a big win for Truell, who, just a few years after dropping out of MIT, is worth an estimated $1.3 billion, according to Forbes. His and Cursors rapid rise are among Silicon Valleys biggest success stories.

Who is Michael Truell?

Truell grew up in New York City and attended the Horace Mann School, a private prep school in the Bronx. Hed always had an interest in technology, and started coding at age 11 to make his own mobile games, he told Fortunes Allie Garfinkle.

By age 18, Truell had just wrapped up his first year at MIT and was completing a summer internship at Google. During this time, he worked on language models for feed ranking, according to his profile on LinkedIn.

Truell met Ali Partovi, an early investor in Facebook and Airbnb, during his internship, as Partovi was recruiting for his Neo Scholars program, an accelerator for young tech talent. Truell immediately impressed him by completing a written coding test in record time, Forbes reported. After he left that meeting, Partovi put a star with a circle next to his name on a list of potential Neo Scholar candidates, meaning he was so impressed that hed invest in any project Truell pursued, according to Forbes.

Truell later became a Neo Scholar, one of only 30 selected each year. When he started Cursor, Partovi became one of the companys first investors.

How Truell founded Cursor

Truell and his MIT classmates Aman Sanger, Sualeh Asif, and Arvid Lunnemark were interested in AI before OpenAI changed the industry by launching ChatGPT in 2022. A year before that, the Cursor cofounders were thinking about what they should do in AI, Truell said in an interview at Y Combinators AI Startup School in San Francisco last June.

In 2021 we were trying to figure out what we do with that interest, he said. Do we go and work on AI in academia? Or  do we go join, you know, a big existing AI effort? Or do we start our own thing?

By 2022, they had their answer. Truell and his cofounders were obsessed with Microsofts GitHub Copilot, which launched for individual developers in 2022. But the program had its limits, they found, and could be improved.

At first, the cofounders focused on what Truell described as a copilot for mechanical engineers partly because it would be a niche space that was sleepy and uncompetitive, he said during the interview with Y Combinator. Two of Truells cofounders were also working on a message encryption project at the time.
By Gianluca Lo Nostro and Agnieszka Olenska

April 23 (Reuters) - Europe lacks the infrastructure needed to build up artificial intelligence data centres and is not investing enough to keep business from moving to China and the United States, the head of Nokia said on Thursday.

While big technology companies are expected to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into scaling up AI-related infrastructure this year, Europe has been lagging behind due to regulatory and energy constraints.

More from Yahoo Scout How is Nokia benefiting from the AI infrastructure boom? What infrastructure challenges is Europe facing for AI development? What specific barriers limit European AI data center expansion? Why are businesses potentially moving AI operations elsewhere?

"The issue today is Europe doesn't have the infrastructure," Nokia CEO Justin Hotard told Reuters, while praising some of the European Union's moves, such as the establishment of AI gigafactories.

"But I think when you look at the relative pace of investment, I'm not sure it's enough. And it's not just about putting these factories in. You need connectivity. You need data centre capacity."

Data centres account for 3% of the EU electricity demand, but their consumption is expected to increase rapidly due to AI.

Amazon said in February that long delays to get power grid connections were challenging the company's data centre expansion in Europe.

Nokia, a Finnish company once known for being the world's largest phone manufacturer, is reaping gains from its push into AI. Its AI and cloud business now accounts for 8% of group sales, and the company expects that addressable market to grow by 27% annually until 2028.

"We've seen the movie before, right? If you don't build that infrastructure, then ultimately the business and the developers will move to where that is," said Hotard, who left Intel to join Nokia last year.

"The reality is right now, that's in China and in the U.S. for the large part."

(Reporting by Agnieszka Olenska and Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
By Echo Wang, Jeffrey Dastin and Max A. Cherney

NEW YORK, April 23 (Reuters) - SpaceX may be tackling one of the biggest challenges in the chip business: manufacturing the keys to powering artificial intelligence called graphics processing units, or GPUs.

Ahead of SpaceX's $1.75 trillion IPO expected this summer, the company has warned prospective investors of its big spending plans to develop AI and other technologies.

It lists "manufacturing our own GPUs" among the "substantial capital expenditures" it is undertaking, according to excerpts of its S-1 registration reviewed by Reuters. Companies file this document to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose their risks and finances before going public.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the size of the expected expenditure could not be determined.

The ambition follows work by SpaceX, its xAI unit and Tesla to jointly develop the Terafab, an advanced AI chip manufacturing complex that CEO Elon Musk is planning in Austin, Texas.

Though Musk has said the project would target chips for cars, humanoid robots and space-based data centers, many details - including the types of AI chips, such as GPUs, it would produce - have been unknown.

There are a range of approaches for chips that power AI. For example, Nvidia largely makes GPUs, which are general purpose and good at performing a wide array of data crunching tasks. Alphabet's Google takes another approach with its tensor processing units (TPUs), which are tuned to perform specific functions, key to building AI models and running chatbots such as Anthropic's Claude.

It was unclear when SpaceX plans to manufacture its own chip and which companies - the Terafab developers or their partner Intel - would handle the fabrication technologies inside the plant.

Musk told Tesla analysts on Wednesday that by the time Terafab scales up, Intel's next-generation 14A manufacturing process "will be probably fairly mature or ready for prime time" and "seems like the right move."

It was also unclear if SpaceX, in its filing, used the term GPU as shorthand for AI processors generally.

Still, the previously unreported plans for GPU production come as SpaceX warned investors that it may not have enough chip supply to power its growth.

SUPPLY CONCERNS

"We do not have long-term contracts with many of our direct chip suppliers," SpaceX said in the S-1 registration. "We expect to continue sourcing a significant portion of our compute hardware from third-party suppliers, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve our objectives with respect to TERAFAB within the expected timeframes, or at all."
StrictlyVCs first San Francisco event of the year is nearly here, and with just a week to go, nows the time to grab yourself a ticket. The venture and founder communities will be gathering at the Sentro Filipino Cultural Center on April 30 for an evening packed with what StrictlyVC does best: engaging in enlightening conversations with excellent speakers, with ample opportunity for networking that drives outcomes.

More from Yahoo Scout What makes corporate venture capital investing different from traditional VC? How can AI systems become more trustworthy and accurate? What is Eclipse's $1.3 billion physical AI investment strategy? How is AI transforming software development according to Replit?

And were excited to announce one more speaker is joining our lineup: Eclipse founder and CEO Lior Susan, who has recently raised $1.3 billion to solely back physical AI startups. That extensive investment will be explored in detail in our discussion with him, as he shares his vision for what autonomy in the real world could look like as the convergence between the digital world of AI and our physical world evolves.

Susan is well-versed in that space, having served in the military and leading Flexs hardware investments. Hes seen firsthand the kinds of opportunities that lie in improving the industrial systems underpinning the modern world and using new technologies, supported by operators fueled by vision, capital, and innovative new technologies. And hell be interviewed by our venture reporter Marina Temkin, so no follow-up opportunity will go unaddressed.

Image Credits:Eclipse Ventures

Susan is joining the rest of our speakers for a particularly timely series of conversations. Replit co-founder and CEO Amjad Masad will talk about the AI-driven shift in software development and what the next era of programming may look like, amid continued shifts in practices and employment within the industry.

TDK Ventures president Nicolas Sauvage, whose firm is also sponsoring the event, will join TechCrunch editor-in-chief and StrictlyVC founder Connie Loizos for a conversation about the ins and outs of corporate venture capital, early-stage investing, and key lessons founders must learn about raising from strategic backers.

In addition, Campbell Brown, co-founder and CEO of Forum AI, will bring her perspective on building more trustworthy AI systems amid an increasingly skeptical environment around the accuracy of any information coming from any number of sources. All of which is informed by her tenure as Metas head of media partnerships and as a CNN host. And shell be interviewed by our newest senior reporter, Tim Fernholz.

And if youve never been to a StrictlyVC event before, this is a great one to start with. These meet-ups are a more intimate, informal affair that allow for candid and particularly instructive conversations that founders and VCs can use to get a head start on the competition immediately. You get the chance to actually connect with speakers, fellow investors, and founders, plus anyone else interested in learning more about the trends shaping Silicon Valley and beyond.
LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Microsoft must face a mass lawsuit alleging it overcharged thousands of British businesses to use Windows Server software on cloud computing services provided by Amazon, Google and Alibaba, a London tribunal ruled on Tuesday.

Competition lawyer Maria Luisa Stasi is bringing the case on behalf of nearly 60,000 businesses that run Windows Server on rival cloud platforms. Her lawyers have previously said the claim was worth up to 2.1 billion pounds ($2.8 billion).

More from Yahoo Scout How does Microsoft's pricing strategy affect cloud competition? What are the main allegations in Microsoft's lawsuit? How much compensation is being sought against Microsoft? What regulatory scrutiny is Microsoft facing globally?

They argued at a hearing last year that the businesses were overcharged because Microsoft charges higher wholesale prices for Windows Server than for users of Azure, costs that are passed on to customers and make Azure cheaper than Amazon's AWS or Google Cloud.

Microsoft said Stasi's case failed to set out a workable method for calculating any alleged losses and should be thrown out.

But London's Competition Appeal Tribunal certified the case to proceed towards trial, an early step in the proceedings.

A Microsoft spokesperson said they planned to appeal against Tuesday's decision. "We also dispute the underlying allegations by the class representative (Stasi), and today's decision makes no final determination on those claims," the spokesperson said.

Stasi said in a statement that the ruling was "an important moment for the thousands of organisations impacted by Microsoft's conduct".

Microsoft argued at last year's hearing that its vertically integrated business model - using Windows Server as an input for Azure while also licensing it to rivals - can benefit competition.

Regulators in Britain, Europe and the U.S. are separately examining the practices of Microsoft and other firms in cloud computing.

Last July, an inquiry group from Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said Microsoft's licensing practices reduced competition for cloud services "by materially disadvantaging AWS and Google".

Microsoft said at the time the report had ignored that "the cloud market has never been so dynamic and competitive".

Last month, the CMA said it would again investigate Microsoft's software licensing practices in the cloud market.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin. Editing by Mark Potter)
The power of places like Palo Alto or Sunnyvale [in Silicon Valley] is that you would walk out and grab a coffee and meet the top engineers from 10 other companies, says Rodolfo Rosini, of semiconductor company Vaire Computing. Having deep tech and AI [all] in Kings Cross is really important.

That has changed, as the parcel of land around Kings Cross and Euston known as the Knowledge Quarter makes clear.

Yet, for years, London lacked the crucial density of tech companies and investors in one place that has characterised Silicon Valley.

David Cameron and his aides attempted to incubate a cluster of start-ups in east London and brand the area tech city. Rishi Sunak injected taxpayer cash into start-ups to address a chasmic funding difference compared with American tech firms.

Successive British governments have spent years looking for ways to replicate the success of Americas West Coast.

When you look at the talent density in science, technology and the creative industries, theres literally nowhere else like this on the planet, says Klein.

Saul Klein, a veteran venture capital investor who runs investment firm Phoenix Court, calls the area the new Square Mile. He says it is home to the greatest concentration of tech companies outside Silicon Valley or Beijing.

The area is also home to some of Britains top AI companies, including driverless car company Wayve and AI video firm Synthesia. If you are looking for the home of Londonmaxxing, the boosterish term for talking up the capitals economic prospects, it is surely here.

Last week, OpenAI and Anthropic, Americas two top artificial intelligence labs, announced plans to open new offices in the area with space for a combined 1,300 staff. In the formers case, it came just days after it had paused a separate data centre development in the north of England.

But its eventual opening is, in a way, well timed. The new office, when it opens this summer, will cement Kings Crosss status as the nucleus of Europes technology industry and complete the revival of what was once an embarrassing corner of central London.

First expected to open in 2016, the project has been beset by delays and redesigns, the pandemic and  last summer  foxes making their home in the buildings expansive roof garden.

The one-million-square-foot landscraper building, as long as the Shard is tall, has been a long time coming.

In the next few weeks, the first of 7,000 Google employees will finally move into the technology giants warship-sized new offices in Londons Kings Cross.

Story Continues

Rosini says he used to go clubbing 25 years ago in the area and my god, it was a dump.

I remember there were areas without any public lighting  I mean, it was great, but there is no comparison with the amount of wealth that area will create for the country in the next 25, he says.

It is not the first time Kings Cross has gone through a reinvention.

The area  named after a now-demolished monument to the unpopular George IV  became an important industrial logistics hub thanks to its cluster of three major railway stations  Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston  and the Regents Canal.

As Britain suffered a postwar industrial decline, Kings Cross gradually deteriorated.

By the 1980s, it was notorious for drugs, illegal raves and prostitution. A fire at the railway station in 1987, which killed 31 people after a lit match was dropped on a wooden escalator, seemed to serve as tragic proof of its demise.

However, by 1994, the seeds of revival were planted when the government announced that Eurostars British terminal would move from Waterloo to St Pancras. In 2000, property developer Argent was appointed to remake the area.

We had to imagine quite a lot, says Roger Madelin, the companys former chief executive. It still suffered the huge stigma of 150 years of the industry, pollution, prostitution and drugs. It used to be a joke.

Developers were wary of Google at first. Madelin says Argent was initially in discussions with Yahoo, which seemed a less risky prospect: Everyone was quite sceptical about which one of these new dotcom companies was going to have longevity.

But by 2011, when Googles board visited London to scout new sites, multiple developers were competing for its attention.

Madelin says the tech giants directors  accompanied by Matt Brittin, then Googles UK boss  arrived late for the presentation and said they were short on time.

When Madelin attempted to paint a picture of the areas potential redesign as a dining and shopping hub, Brittin cut him off, saying: Roger, we havent got long and were only interested in offices.

I said to him, Well, if youre only interested in offices, you might as well F off, Madelin recalls.

The room did go a bit quiet but they were there three hours later. At the end of the day, there wasnt another location where they could get a million square feet in one building.

Google ultimately needed to find space in London  a city which has long been Europes hub for tech start-ups, investors and US giants international offices.

In the first quarter of the year, UK start-ups raised 5.7bn, according to HSBC and Dealroom. This was up 60pc on a year ago and accounted for more than 40pc of Europes total.

However, technology companies and their investors have typically been dispersed all across the sprawling city: venture capital in Mayfair, scrappy entrepreneurs pushed ever-eastward by rising rents and American giants in Soho.

This contrasts with Silicon Valley, where microhubs such as San Franciscos South Park and Palo Altos University Avenue became Petri dishes for new tech companies.

Recently, Kings Cross has started to look more like these areas.

Frontline for poaching talent

One early Kings Cross tenant was DeepMind, the British AI start-up founded by Sir Demis Hassabis, a computer scientist. Its now owned by Google.

Sir Demis resisted pressure from investors to move to the US and ignored Silicon Roundabout, seeking to base the company near University College London.

The likes of Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic setting up offices in the area has been in part motivated by a desire to prise engineers away from DeepMind without them having to change their commute.

Cambridge is a 45-minute train away and Eurostar offers connections to the Continent, meaning companies basing themselves in the area are also able to pluck star engineers from outside London.

For its part, Google has made DeepMind central to its new offices, named Platform 37. The name is a reference to the AI labs breakout moment in 2016, when it defeated the world champion at the ancient board game Go with a particularly unique 37th move.

Together, AI-focused occupiers have taken up nearly 250,000 sq ft of offices across Kings Cross and Euston so far this year, according to property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield.

The surge in activity has pushed up values.

Large offices now cost 2,315 per sq ft, up 7pc on last years average.

Rents, which were half of the central London average in 2010, have shot up, making the area one of the capitals priciest zones.

The Kings Cross Group runs the estate on behalf of its owners, Melbourne-based pension fund AustralianSuper and US investment giant Federated Hermes. Leo Shapland, the groups chief executive, describes the area as being at the forefront of AI innovation and technology.

It is clearly a hub for AI, not just in London but in the UK and Europe, he says. The UK ranks third in the world for talent in developing AI, after the US and India, according to CBRE.

Few could have envisaged this would be the case.

If anybody told you that 20 years ago, they were building Kings Cross with the intention of becoming the home of AI, nobody would have known what they were talking about, Shapland says.

Unlike previous government attempts to force through the creation of tech clusters, Kings Cross has happened without the need for a centralised scheme. As one report on the Knowledge Quarter noted, such clusters cant be developed artificially.

In theory, the concentration of AI start-ups in one zone and major investments from international companies will make Kings Cross an economic powerhouse, as well as a home for invention.

The area is also home to the Francis Crick Institute, a biolab; the Alan Turing Institute, Britains national AI body; and Aria, the Governments 800m research lab.

It is certainly leading to some lavishly compensated individuals, raising hopes that it could help London shake off its reputation as a source of cheap tech talent. One Anthropic job posting last week raised eyebrows after offering a salary of up to 630,000.

That is good news for tax receipts, especially if OpenAI and Anthropic successfully carry out New York IPOs this year.

Kings Cross is also home to XTX Markets, the tech-heavy trading business whose chief executive, Alex Gerko, is Britains biggest taxpayer.

There are questions about the wider impact of this influx of AI firms into the area, however. Klein points out that Somers Town, the small district between Euston and Kings Cross, is one of Britains poorest neighbourhoods.

AIs clustering in Kings Cross has also made it a target for protesters.

Last year, two activists calling for companies to suspend AI development staged hunger strikes outside DeepMinds offices, one lasting for 16 days. In February, hundreds attended a march against the machines in the area.

At the same time, insiders warn that the soaring salaries, offered by the worlds richest companies, are making it harder for local start-ups to secure talent. Others say the benefits of the AI boom risk coming at the expense of other areas.

The AI boom is visibly benefiting Kings Crosss accelerating development - Sam Mellish/In Pictures via Getty Images Images

Mike Prew, a respected property analyst, warned in February that if AI were to prompt a wave of white-collar redundancies in a dotcom crash deja vu, tens of thousands of jobs could be lost.

If 50,000 jobs in London are shed  about the amount lost after the dotcom bubble burst  then the equivalent of 12 Gherkins would be emptied.

Yet, this assumes the AI boom continues. It is not necessarily a given.

The premium offices and lavish salaries being offered by AI companies are the result of record fundraising levels and a historic stock market surge driven by unbridled optimism about the technology.

This has, however, been marked by persistent fears that the boom has become a bubble that could be easily pricked  either if AI adoption is slower than expected or if the industry turns out to be so commoditised that nobody can make a profit from it.

While the AI boom is visibly benefiting Kings Cross, Shapland stops short of declaring it a future-proof sector.

He says AI occupiers are in a growth phase [that] is substantially accelerated over the traditional, more established industries, bringing not just jobs but a momentum and a prospect for growth that is differentiated.

Still, he says making AI the sole focus for national growth would probably be myopic.

Concerns over tech dominance

For Kings Cross, it suggests that perhaps its high concentration of AI companies may be a cause for concern.

Madelin says that developers were initially wary of letting so much space to one company or industry, as ultimately happened with Google.

We didnt want one business dominating the location because if anything changes, if that business disappears or splits or decides to do something else, you end up with all your eggs in one basket, he says.

The global financial crisis and the companys offer to sign a 999-year lease helped to change minds.

In Shaplands view, though, if the boom tails off, something else will be around the corner.

Over the last generation, the life-cycle from start-up to large company has become much shorter, he says. Our job is just to create the environment and then if the next wave of innovation is around music or fashion or textiles or energy or whatever it may be, our job is to be a place that welcomes that.

On the flip side, if the boom continues, London is likely to be better placed to benefit than anywhere else.

Even tech-heavy hubs do not have the advantage of Kings Crosss proximity to biolabs and creative industries, says Klein.

Show me where this is in New York. Its nowhere. Its nowhere in Seattle. Its nowhere in Austin, he says. This is a Square Mile built for the future. The last 60 years of innovation, the Silicon Valley era, is the past.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
By Hyunjoo Jin and Heekyong Yang

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea, April 23 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Samsung Electronics workers rallied at a sprawling factory complex south of Seoul on Thursday, venting their anger over compensation levels ahead of a planned lengthy strike that could disrupt AI chip production.

More from Yahoo Scout What bonus pay gap exists between Samsung and rivals? How could the strike impact AI chip production? What impact could the strike have on production? Why are Samsung workers planning an 18-day strike?

Union organisers and police put the number of protesters at 40,000, making the demonstration the largest to date for Samsung, which has long been known for its union-busting tactics but saw workers walk out for the first time in 2024.

Should their demands not be met, they plan to strike for 18 days from May 21. That could delay shipments to customers, push up chip prices further and benefit rivals.

MANY WORKERS SAID TO LEAVE FOR RIVAL

Chief among workers' grievances is what they call a massive gap in bonus pay with rival SK Hynix, which beat Samsung to the punch in delivering high bandwidth memory for artificial intelligence chip units to Nvidia and other clients following the release of ChatGPT in late 2022.

That said, the AI boom has also helped Samsung's profits surge to record levels.

"In reality, many employees are leaving for SK Hynix," said Song Yong-gi, 39, who handles logistics tasks for an assembly line in Samsung's chip division.

"At the end of the day, more than 90% of employees work for pay, and the compensation gap has become so wide that it's driving these moves," Song said.

Other Samsung workers, who gathered in black vests for the mass sit-in at the Pyeongtaek campus, many carrying signs that listed their demands, also said large numbers of their colleagues had left for SK Hynix.

In somewhat shocking behaviour given Samsung's conservative top-down corporate culture, workers walked over a large banner with the faces of Chairman Jay Y. Lee and other executives. Nicknames written on the banner mocked them for being cheap, haughty and at fault.

The Samsung Electronics Labour Union argues that a chip division employee with a base pay of 76 million won ($51,280) would receive 38 million won in bonus pay for 2025, or less than a third of the figure a similarly paid SK Hynix employee would qualify for.

Samsung said it would continue to make efforts to reach a swift agreement in wage negotiations.

A Samsung official speaking on condition of anonymity has said that production halts caused by "even a single strike" could damage trust with customers and take years to recover from.

WORKERS WANT CAP ON BONUS PAY SCRAPPED

SK Hynix in September accepted its union's demand for compensation reform and hefty bonuses, fueling Samsung employees' frustration over the pay gap and sparking a surge in union membership.
Hadley Harris, cofounder of seed-stage VC firm Eniac Ventures, said on X that he didn't "get" the deal.

Finn said the hurdle Cursor faced is likely happening to many vibe-coding tools that rely on OpenAI and Anthropic, which are building competing offerings.

The deal could allow the two companies to address those issues, Finn said. While SpaceX gains Cursor's coding capabilities, Cursor gets access to SpaceX's compute infrastructure to build its own model rather than relying on OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude.

"xAI has been behind on coding products for years now. Cursor has a great coding product, but will fail unless they build their own model," he said on Tuesday.

Alex Finn , founder of Creator Buddy and AI agent startup Henry Intelligent Machines, said the deal made "so much sense" in an X post.

News of the Cursor deal electrified chatter among business and tech industry professionals on social media, many of whom viewed it as a symbiotic match. Here's what people in tech are saying about the deal.

Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002, has made serious strides in AI this year. Chief among them is SpaceX's February acquisition of Musk's xAI , which helped SpaceX expand into AI infrastructure and software. In April, SpaceX confidentially filed for an IPO , boosting gains in other space stocks and teasing a public debut this year.

The partnerships could be a crucial step for Musk to get ahead of rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic .

The companies have also held discussions in recent weeks with Mistral about a potential three-way partnership , Business Insider reported.

As part of the deal, SpaceX gains the right to acquire Cursor later this year for $60 billion, or pay Cursor $10 million for the work they produce together.

The space company, which owns AI startup xAi, said in an X post on Tuesday that it's working with Cursor to "create the world's best coding and knowledge work AI." It's expected to combine Cursor's AI-powered coding model with SpaceX's Colossus training supercomputer, the companies said.

SpaceX's multibillion-dollar deal with AI coding startup Cursor marks a colossal step for Elon Musk and his ambitions to win the AI race.

Here's what smart people in business and tech are saying about the multibillion-dollar deal.

SpaceX said on Tuesday that it's partnering with Cursor, an AI coding startup.

Story Continues

"Every frontier dev I know has moved off Cursor and off IDEs entirely," Harris said on Wednesday, referring to "integrated development environments," or applications that combine building, editing, testing, and other coding capabilities. "Only laggards are still on it. And dev tools always move from thought leaders to laggards, never the reverse."

Mario Nawfal, founder of the IBC Group

Mario Nawfal, founder of the startup incubator and accelerator IBC Group, said Cursor's users are largely "elite software engineers," who are an important group for SpaceX to cultivate ahead of an IPO.

Bringing in more software engineers would help SpaceX, and by extension, xAI, delve further into AI infrastructure and development.

"@elonmusk now has space, satellites, AI, social media, and the world's most popular coding tool under one roof," Nawful said. "What he's cooking up will be wild."

Tomasz Tunguz, founder and general partner at Theory Ventures

Tomasz Tunguz, general partner at early-stage VC firm Theory Ventures, said the partnership allows SpaceX and Cursor to fill their individual infrastructure gaps.

"Winning in agentic coding requires three layers: compute, models, & distribution," Tunguz said in an X post on Wednesday. "Anthropic, OpenAI, & Google own the full stack. xAI & Cursor each have gaps,"

He said xAI has massive compute power, referencing Musk's Colossus data center in Memphis, but the company is losing popularity. Cursor, he said, has the opposite problem.

"Millions of developers vibe coding, but its model layer depends on OpenAI, Google, & Anthropic  all competitors. This relationship also pressures margins," Tunguz said. "For $10 billion, SpaceX buys a call option on the distribution it couldn't retain, & Cursor wins the independence it hasn't yet secured."

Sarah Catanzaro, general partner at Amplify

Amplify general partner Sarah Catanzaro reacted to the deal by referencing Elon Musk's ambitious plan to put data centers in space. Amplify is a VC focused on early-stage tech startups.

"I guess Elon realized to get data centers in space, you first need a really good coding agent " Cantanzaro said in an X post on Tuesday.

Anand Kannappan, a former data scientist at Meta and cofounder of PatronusAI

Anand Kannappan, cofounder of Patronus AI startup, said on Tuesday that the deal wasn't so much a merger-and-acquisition as it is a "a bet on what the real bottleneck in frontier coding models is."

"The deal lets Cursor train Composer on Colossus while xAI runs the same recipe on Grok," its AI assistant, Kannappan, a former data scientist at Meta, said on X. "Both sides find out, at the same time, whether Cursor's data is actually the difference."

He added: "The option structure reflects that uncertainty. If the training work ports over, SpaceX buys Cursor and owns the pipeline. If it doesn't, they pay $10B for the experiment and walk."

Regardless of the outcome, Kannappan said Musk's companies benefit.

"Either outcome, Grok ends up stronger than it would have been, and xAI gets an answer to a question it couldn't answer internally," he said.

Aadit Sheth, cofounder of The Narrative Company

On Wednesday, a cofounder of The Narrative Company  a communications firm aimed at company executives  said SpaceX's deal with Cursor puts the companies in direct competition with industry leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Aadit Sheth said the companies are betting that Musk's AI supercomputer can train a Cursor model that could replace Claude and GPT. Both Anthropic and OpenAI are working to build their own integrated development environments, which help streamline software production.

"Cursor has the user. It doesn't have the model. Distribution without a defensible model underneath is a rental," Sheth said in an X post on Wednesday. "We'll know in 6-12 months whether that $60B bought a moat or a rental."

Art Levy, chief business officer at Brex

Art Levy, chief business officer at fintech company Brex, said he liked the deal in a X post on Tuesday.

"This is a 'try before you buy' for Elon, with a massive 'break up fee' for Cursor if it doesn't work out," Levy said.

He pointed out that the deal's structure gives SpaceX a call option and prevents "startup destruction" if the deal falls through.

"I like it," he said.

Max Kolysh, cofounder of Dover

Max Kolysh, cofounder of recruiting startup Dover, said Cursor's decision to partner with SpaceX is likely a survival move.

He said on X that Cursor's long-term viability had been contingent on its access to Anthropic's and OpenAI's models

"Both are actively building Cursor competitors," Kolysh said. "That's an existential platform risk to survive."

Kolysh also said Cursor needs its "own foundation models"  like Anthropic's Claude or Google's Gemini. Training those requires deep pockets.

"They found the guy with the deepest pockets in the world," he said.

Rohit Mittal, cofounder and CEO of Helium Ventures

On Tuesday, Helium Ventures CEO and cofounder Rohit Mittal said the deal could stir up the AI startup scene. Helium Ventures acquires and guides software businesses.

"It will be very interesting if Claude's token consumption from Cursor moves to xAI," he said on X.

Cursor currently relies on Claude, using its tokens  units of data processed by AI models  in its offerings. A new partnership could instead bring xAI into focus, Mittal said.

"I can imagine that impacts the growth rate of Claude (not saying it'll slow down), but it'll pull xAI ahead much faster."

"The Hunger Games have just begun," he said.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CEO and founder of Paytm

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the CEO and founder of Indian digital payment service Paytm, said on X that he thought Microsoft would acquire Cursor, not SpaceX.

"SpaceX was a space company for me," Sharma wrote. "Thinking of them owning xAI and doing this deal was a bit far."

"Congratulations Musk & Cursor team," he added.

Thomas Smale, founder of FE International

Thomas Smale, the founder of the New York-based technology M&A advisory firm FE International, called the deal a "test drive with a $10 billion deposit."

Smale said that the real question in this deal is not whether SpaceX exercises the $60 billion option. He wondered aloud if Cursor can build enough of its own capabilities on SpaceX's compute to stay competitive, versus Anthropic and and OpenAI's rival models.

"That answer will determine whether $60 billion looks like a bargain or a cautionary tale," he said.

Shay Boloor, chief market strategist at Futurum Equities

Shay Boloor, a chief market strategist at Futurum Equities, said that the two scarcest assets in the AI economy are distribution and compute, and Cursor and SpaceX, combined, have both.

"That would give them an integrated AI platform that can train on proprietary usage data, ship into a massive developer base and improve faster than competitors that lack either side," he wrote on X.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Stellantis is considering selling or sharing vehicle manufacturing sites in Europe, including with Chinese carmakers, as it seeks to deal with surplus production capacity in the region.

According to a Bloomberg report, the company has begun talks with prospective buyers and industrial partners.

Representatives from Dongfeng Motor have recently toured facilities in Rennes, Madrid, as well as sites in Italy and Germany.

The discussions reportedly include the option of renewing an earlier partnership between Stellantis and Dongfeng, with possible joint vehicle manufacturing activities in both Europe and China.

No decisions have yet been made on any individual plant, and the negotiations are still in progress, with no assurance that any deal will be reached.

Among the options being examined are arrangements to share factories to make use of unused capacity in return for access to technology, alongside the possible sale of one or more sites.

The report said other Chinese carmakers have also shown interest.

The plants identified include Rennes in France, Cassino in Italy and Madrid in Spain.

Stellantis runs about 20 vehicle assembly plants across Europe and is the regions second-largest carmaker after Volkswagen.

The company, quoted in the report, said it holds discussions with a range of industry players around the world on various topics, as part of its normal course of business, and declined to comment further.

In a separate move, Stellantis is preparing to convert its Poissy factory near Paris, with vehicle production there set to stop after 2028.

Bloomberg reported that the change is expected to lead to job losses and affect suppliers such as Lear, Forvia and OPMobility.

Labour unions have staged protests in response, according to the report.

Any deal involving a Chinese partner is expected to draw political attention in France ahead of next years presidential election, the report said.

Italy, by contrast, has signalled that it would welcome overseas investment.

Italys Industry Minister Adolfo Urso cited in the report said the country would be open to foreign investors willing to bet on our country.

Stellantis chairman John Elkann and CEO Antonio Filosa are overseeing a wider operational review focused on reducing overcapacity in Europe.

Factory closures remain politically difficult and expensive, especially as demand has remained weaker than before the pandemic.

"Stellantis weighs sale or sharing of European plants  report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




April 22 (Reuters) - Chinese tech giants Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group are in discussions to invest in artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing four people with knowledge of the talks.

Owned by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer Capital Management, DeepSeek is now aiming to raise funding at a valuation exceeding $20 billion, as its initial discussions with prospective investors sparked immense interest, the report said, citing one of the people.

More from Yahoo Scout How did DeepSeek's release impact global tech markets? Why are Tencent and Alibaba interested in DeepSeek? How did DeepSeek's release impact global tech markets? Which tech giants are reportedly investing in DeepSeek?

Alibaba, Tencent and DeepSeek did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba rose 1.3% in premarket trading.

The Information reported on Friday that DeepSeek started discussions to raise outside capital for the first time, with a target to raise at least $300 million at a valuation of at least $10 billion.

This potential fundraise underscores the intense capital required to develop and operate cutting-edge AI models, especially with the growing complexity of advanced reasoning and autonomous agentic bots.

The talks are still underway and both the valuation and the amount of capital to be raised could still change, according to the report.

As it is a Chinese startup, some U.S. venture capitalists might hesitate about investing in DeepSeek, the tech news website previously reported.

Reuters reported earlier this year that the company did not show U.S. chipmakers its flagship model for performance optimization, and had trained one of its newest models on Nvidia's most advanced chip despite it being banned.

DeepSeek's initial release in January 2025 triggered a global tech selloff and spurred its Chinese rivals to release upgrades to their own models.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
April 22 (Reuters) - VAST Data said on Wednesday it was valued at $30 billion in its latest funding round, growing more than threefold since 2023, helped by strong interest in companies that build the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence.

The New York-based company, which is backed by Nvidia, said the Series F round fetched it about $1 billion in primary and secondary capital, and was led by Drive Capital and Access Industries.

Existing investors, including Fidelity Management & Research Company, NEA and Nvidia, also participated in the round, along with new parties.

The rapid adoption of AI has fueled demand for data centers, semiconductors, cloud capacity and high-performance computing needed to train and run increasingly complex models, driving investor interest in infrastructure providers that support the ecosystem.

VAST Data, founded in 2016, builds software that helps companies store and process large volumes of information used to train and run artificial intelligence systems.

The company, which counts Elon Musk's xAI and CoreWeave and the U.S. Air Force, among others, as its customers, was valued at $9.1 billion in 2023.

"The VAST platform is a key enabling technology for next gen AI infrastructure initiatives - providing a modern, flexible data architecture for Gen AI applications and agentic workflows," said Larry Feinsmith, managing director and head of Global Tech Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships at JPMorgan Chase.

Primary proceeds from the latest raise will be used to expand VAST Data's global footprint, strengthen partnerships and pursue strategic transactions to broaden its technology platform.

The company in November signed a $1.17 billion commercial agreement with cloud provider CoreWeave, extending their existing partnership.

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas and Prakhar Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Shinjini Ganguli)
LONDON, April 22 (Reuters) - European mobile and broadband operator Vodafone said it would offer its small business customers advanced cybersecurity and agentic AI through its $1 billion strategic tie-up with Google Cloud agreed in October 2024.

The security product will be a managed detection and response service enabled by Google Security Operations designed to protect small businesses from increasingly frequent and sophisticated cyber threats, Vodafone said on Wednesday.

More from Yahoo Scout What services will Vodafone offer through Google Cloud partnership? Which markets will receive Vodafone's new AI products first? How does the AI Concierge help small businesses? What cybersecurity protection will Vodafone provide small businesses?

It will launch in Germany, in compliance with the region's stringent data protection standards, before rolling out across additional European markets later this year, it said.

The agentic AI product - Vodafone Business AI Concierge with Google Gemini - is designed to engage with a small business's customers to answer inquiries and book appointments, it said.

It will initially be available in Greece and Germany, Vodafone said. Pricing for both products has not been announced.

Fanan Henriques, Vodafone's business product and international business director, said the products would help small businesses to start using AI without complexity or risk.

"By combining our network and support with Google Cloud's AI expertise, were making advanced, secure AI practical for everyday business use - starting with innovations like AI Concierge, one of the first telephony integrations with Gemini," he said.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter.

WD-40 is leveraging artificial intelligence across parts of its business to improve efficiency and augment decision-making, CEO and President Steven Brass said on an April 9 earnings call.

More from Yahoo Scout How is WD-40 using AI to improve business operations? Where has WD-40 deployed its AI-enabled systems globally? How are other CPG companies using AI technology? What AI platforms has WD-40 implemented across operations?

As part of that push, the household chemicals company is deploying AI-enabled platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce and Atlas, Brass told investors.

"Our goal isn't just personal efficiency; it's rethinking processes across the business," Brass said.

WD-40's Dynamics 365 enterprise resource planning system currently operates in the U.S., Latin America and Asia distributor markets and parts of Canada, Brass said. Collectively, the areas represent about half of the company's global revenue.

The Atlas system, which is a supply chain planning platform by John Galt Solutions, has yet to be rolled out globally, a company spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive in an email.

In line with these technology efforts, WD-40 lists productivity-driving enhanced systems as critical elements within the company's strategic framework, according to a 2025 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Also, WD-40's future success may increasingly depend on having enough skilled workers in AI, machine learning and other emerging technologies, the document said.

AI is playing an increasingly important role in improving the effectiveness of business processes within CPG companies. For example, Hormel Foods implemented the technology to sharpen demand forecasts and bolster its supply chain, and PepsiCo is using AI in a multi-year remake of its plant and supply chain operations. Unilever is also using it to strengthen inventory management and forecasting capabilities.

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(HedgeCo.Net) The worlds largest commodity trading houses are once again at the center of global financial markets, generating extraordinary profits as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East inject extreme volatility into energy, metals, and shipping markets. The latest flashpointescalating conflict involving Iranhas created one of the most dynamic trading environments since the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war, delivering multi-billion-dollar windfalls for firms uniquely positioned to capitalize on dislocation, opacity, and risk.

While headlines have largely focused on oil price spikes and the geopolitical implications of a widening regional conflict, a parallel story has quietly unfolded behind the scenes: the resurgence of the commodity trading giants. Firms such as Vitol, Trafigura, Glencore, and Mercuria have emerged as some of the largest beneficiaries of the current turmoil, leveraging their global networks, proprietary data flows, and balance sheet strength to navigateand profit fromrapidly shifting market conditions.

A Perfect Storm for Commodity Traders

Commodity trading firms thrive in environments characterized by volatility, fragmentation, and information asymmetry. The Iran conflict has delivered all three in abundance. Oil markets, in particular, have experienced sharp intraday swings as traders attempt to price in the risk of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil flows.

At the same time, sanctions regimes, insurance constraints, and shipping risks have created a complex web of arbitrage opportunities. Cargoes are being rerouted, re-labeled, and repriced in real time, often requiring deep expertise in logistics, legal frameworks, and counterparty risk. This is precisely where the large commodity houses excel.

These firms are effectively the market makers of last resort in times of crisis, said one senior commodities analyst. When liquidity dries up and traditional participants pull back, traders like Vitol and Trafigura step in, providing both capital and optionality.

The result has been a surge in trading margins across crude oil, refined products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and even base metals such as copper and aluminum. In many cases, traders are not simply speculating on price movements but are capturing value through physical arbitragebuying in one region, transporting, storing, and selling in another where prices have dislocated.

Oil Volatility Drives Record Margins

Crude oil has been at the epicenter of the current volatility cycle. Prices have swung dramatically as markets react to each new development in the Iran conflict, including threats to shipping lanes, military posturing, and diplomatic interventions. These swings have created fertile ground for trading desks equipped with real-time intelligence and global execution capabilities.

One key dynamic has been the widening of regional price differentials. As Middle Eastern supply becomes more uncertain, buyers in Asia and Europe have scrambled to secure alternative sources, driving up premiums for non-Iranian crude. Meanwhile, U.S. shale producers have seen increased demand, creating new export flows that traders are quick to intermediate.

Storage economics have also come into play. With forward curves shifting between contango and backwardation, traders have been able to monetize storage capacitybuying oil when prices are depressed and selling futures contracts at higher levels. Floating storage, in the form of tankers parked offshore, has once again become a viable strategy, reminiscent of the early pandemic period.

Beyond Oil: Metals and Power Markets React

While oil has captured the most attention, the ripple effects of the Iran conflict have extended into metals and power markets. Aluminum prices, for example, have surged amid concerns about energy supply disruptions affecting smelters, particularly in Europe. Copper, often viewed as a barometer of global economic health, has experienced heightened volatility as traders reassess growth expectations in light of geopolitical risk.

Electricity and natural gas markets have also been affected, especially in regions dependent on Middle Eastern energy flows. LNG cargoes are being redirected, and price spreads between regional gas hubs have widened, creating additional arbitrage opportunities.

Commodity traders, with their cross-asset expertise, are uniquely positioned to capitalize on these interconnected dynamics. A disruption in oil flows can influence power prices, which in turn affects industrial metals demandcreating a complex, multi-layered trading environment.

The Role of Intelligence and Information Flow

One of the defining advantages of large commodity trading firms is their access to proprietary information. Unlike traditional financial institutions, these firms operate extensive physical networks, including shipping fleets, storage terminals, and on-the-ground personnel in key markets.

This infrastructure provides real-time insights into supply disruptions, port congestion, refinery outages, and regulatory changesinformation that can be monetized through trading decisions. In a fast-moving crisis like the Iran conflict, the ability to act on information minutes or even seconds ahead of competitors can translate into significant profits.

Moreover, these firms maintain close relationships with producers, consumers, and governments, allowing them to navigate complex political landscapes. In some cases, they act as intermediaries in sanctioned or semi-sanctioned trades, structuring deals that comply withor creatively interpretregulatory frameworks.

Risk Management: The Other Side of the Coin

Despite the windfall gains, executives across the commodity trading sector have been quick to emphasize the risks inherent in the current environment. Volatility, while profitable, also increases the potential for large losses, particularly in markets where liquidity can evaporate quickly.

Counterparty risk is a major concern, especially when dealing with entities in politically unstable regions. Payment delays, contract disputes, and regulatory interventions can all disrupt trading strategies. Additionally, the complexity of sanctions regimes creates legal risks that must be carefully managed.

There is a tendency to focus on the upside during these periods, but the downside risks are equally significant, noted a senior risk officer at a major trading house. One misstep in compliance or logistics can wipe out weeks of profits.

To mitigate these risks, firms are deploying sophisticated risk management systems, including real-time exposure tracking, stress testing, and scenario analysis. Hedging strategies are also being actively adjusted as market conditions evolve.

Capital Strength and the Rise of the Super Traders

The current episode underscores the growing importance of scale in commodity trading. The largest firms, often referred to as super traders, have access to vast pools of capital, allowing them to take on larger positions, extend credit to counterparties, and invest in infrastructure.

This capital advantage has become increasingly important as traditional banks have retreated from commodity markets due to regulatory pressures. In their place, trading houses have stepped in, effectively becoming quasi-financial institutions.

Private equity and sovereign wealth funds have also taken notice, investing heavily in the sector over the past decade. Firms like Mercuria have secured backing from institutional investors, enabling them to expand their operations and compete with established giants.

A Structural Shift in Global Markets

The windfall profits generated during the Iran conflict are not merely a cyclical phenomenon but part of a broader structural shift in global commodity markets. As geopolitical tensions become more frequent and supply chains more fragmented, the role of intermediaries is likely to grow.

Decarbonization efforts add another layer of complexity. The transition to renewable energy is creating new marketssuch as carbon credits and battery metalswhile simultaneously disrupting traditional energy flows. Commodity traders are already positioning themselves to capture value in these emerging areas.

At the same time, digitalization is transforming the way commodities are traded. Advanced analytics, machine learning, and satellite data are enhancing decision-making, allowing firms to identify opportunities with greater precision.

Market Outlook: Volatility Here to Stay

Looking ahead, most analysts expect volatility to remain elevated as the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve. While ceasefire discussions may provide temporary relief, underlying tensions are unlikely to dissipate quickly.

For commodity traders, this suggests that the current environment of high margins and active trading opportunities could persist. However, the path forward will depend on a range of factors, including geopolitical developments, central bank policies, and global economic growth.

Investors, meanwhile, are increasingly paying attention to the sector. Publicly listed firms like Glencore have seen renewed interest, while private trading houses continue to operate largely out of the spotlight, despite their growing influence.

Conclusion: Masters of Chaos

In many ways, the current moment represents a return to form for the commodity trading industry. Long viewed as opaque and cyclical, the sector is demonstrating its critical role in maintaining the flow of goods and energy during times of crisis.

The Iran conflict has highlighted both the opportunities and the risks inherent in this business. For firms like Vitol, Trafigura, Glencore, and Mercuria, the ability to navigate chaos is not just a competitive advantageit is the core of their business model.

As global markets become increasingly interconnected and unpredictable, the importance of these trading houses is likely to grow. Their windfall gains may draw scrutiny, but they also underscore a fundamental truth: in a world of uncertainty, those who can manage complexity and risk will continue to thrive.

For now, the commodity traders are doing exactly thatturning turmoil into profit, and in the process, reshaping the landscape of global finance.
PayNuts , one of Australias fastest-growing payment service providers, has unveiled a refreshed brand identity and an expanded suite of integrated business solutions, marking a significant evolution in its offering for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Long recognised for its reliable EFTPOS solutions, PayNuts is repositioning itself as a fully integrated business partner, designed to help SMEs operate more efficiently and navigate increasingly complex economic and regulatory conditions. The expanded offering reflects a focus on delivering greater value to merchants as the payments landscape undergoes structural change.

The announcement follows the Reserve Bank of Australias recent conclusions paper on Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging, signalling a major shift in the Australian payments landscape. From 1 October 2026, the reforms will introduce lower interchange fee caps, stronger fee transparency requirements, and new powers for card schemes to prohibit surcharging. Together, these changes are expected to accelerate the move away from traditional costrecovery models and place greater pressure on payment service providers to clearly demonstrate tangible value.

PayNuts Co-Founder and Managing Director Geoff Branson welcomed the RBAs push for greater clarity and fairness across the payments ecosystem.

As surcharging is phased out, the responsibility will increasingly fall on payment service providers, acquirers and banks to deliver genuine value to merchants, Branson said.

The critical question is how the industry ensures that value flows through to small and medium-sized businesses. Thats the problem were focused on solving at PayNuts. Branson said.

The refreshed brand reflects PayNuts commitment to supporting SMEs through a connected ecosystem that streamlines operations, reduces vendor complexity and strengthens financial resilience. Central to this strategy is a new suite of integrated solutions that extends well beyond payments.

PayNuts has unveiled a fully integrated point-of-sale (POS) platform for hospitality and retail businesses, designed to seamlessly connect instore and online payments and deliver a unified transaction experience. Following a successful twelve-month pilot, the platform is now being rolled out across multiple form factors to support businesses of varying size and complexity.

With end-to-end control of the payments and POS experience, PayNuts can deliver deeper integration, faster support and ongoing product innovation. The platform includes features such as real-time reporting via mobile app, table management, and online and QR code ordering that syncs directly to the POS. Future enhancements include delivery app integrations for hospitality venues and appointment booking tools for health and beauty operators. For merchants, it means a unified platform for managing business.

Beyond POS, PayNuts is expanding into value added services designed to improve business continuity and operational efficiency. Through a partnership with More Telecom, merchants can access fast, business-grade nbn, including discounts for eligible customers. This is supported by a partnership with More Bookkeeping, providing dedicated financial management support and creating a more seamless, fully integrated operational foundation for SMEs.

Branson said the companys evolution reflects its long-term commitment to Australian businesses.

Were not just a payments company anymore. Were evolving into a technology business built to serve Australias SMEs with a connected ecosystem of products that complement each other, from payments and POS to nbn and financial tools. We want to be the partner that helps small businesses grow, adapt and succeed. This is especially important as the global economic landscape is constantly shifting, and Australian businesses, now, more than ever, need access to services that can scale and wrap around their own unique needs.

With strong recognition, and a refreshed brand that reflects its expanded mission, PayNuts is positioning itself as a new kind of business partner, one built for the realities of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.

About PayNuts:

PayNuts is an Australianowned fintech built for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). From standalone EFTPOS terminals to fully integrated pointofsale and eCommerce solutions, PayNuts delivers modern, easytouse payments technology designed to keep transactions simple, so merchants can focus on growing their business.

Founded in Melbourne in 2020, PayNuts is a challenger brand created as a genuine alternative to traditional payment providers. Entrepreneurial and innovationdriven, the company supports SMEs through a connected ecosystem of products and valueadded services that help streamline operations and strengthen financial resilience. Since launch, PayNuts has scaled from a local startup into an international fintech, supporting thousands of merchants across Australia and New Zealand.

For more information on PayNuts and the integrated business offerings with More Telecom and More Bookkeeping, visit www.paynuts.au
TeamViewer is unveiling key enhancements to its Agentless Access and Assist AR solutions, strengthening its portfolio for the AI-accelerated convergence of operational technology (OT) and IT environments at Hannover Messe. Both innovations address key challenges for operational efficiency in industrial digital transformation, including downtime, security risks, and growing complexity.

Secure access gateway in partnership with Bechtle

TeamViewer Agentless Access enables direct, zero-trust remote access to any kind of OT equipment. It routes access through an on-premises gateway, without requiring software installation on the endpoint itself. TeamViewer and Bechtle present a secure access gateway hardware that comes pre-configured with Agentless Access. This allows companies to deploy secure, scalable remote access and endpoint management to their industrial systems in a plug-and-play manner.

The Bechtle partnership is complemented by a new Agentless Access release that offers extended protocol support, allowing seamless, secure access to legacy systems such as Windows XP. IT/OT teams can now keep these systems isolated from any direct internet access, while enabling use cases ranging from remote control to remote PLC programming.

Combining Augmented Reality and AI for smarter troubleshooting

TeamViewer willalso unveil an AI-powered extension to its Assist AR solution at the event. It helps industrial service teams to capture expert knowledge and use it to resolve unplanned downtimes faster and more consistently. By combining Augmented Reality with TeamViewers AI agent Tia and its proprietary knowledge graph, support staff receive real-time suggestions during live video calls on how similar issues have been resolved in the past. This makes expert knowledge immediately available where and when it is needed most, streamlines support processes, and helps manufacturers reduce downtime, costs, and operational risk.

Oliver Steil, CEO of TeamViewer, said: Manufacturing companies who are accelerating their AI-driven transformation and modernise operations while keeping complexity and risk in check will stay ahead of the curve and competition. Together with strong partners like Bechtle, we focus on making secure access and AI assistance an integral part of everyday industrial workflows, so that innovation can scale across even highly heterogeneous and brownfield environments.

About TeamViewer

TeamViewer provides a Digital Workplace platform that connects people with technology  enabling, improving and automating digital processes to make work work better.

In 2005, TeamViewer started with software to connect to computers from anywhere to eliminate travel and enhance productivity. It rapidly became the de facto standard for remote access and support and the preferred solution for hundreds of millions of users across the world to help others with IT issues. Today, more than 635,000 customers across industries rely on TeamViewer to optimize their digital workplaces  from small to medium sized businesses to the worlds largest enterprises  empowering both desk-based employees and frontline workers.

Organizations use TeamViewers solutions to prevent and resolve disruptions with digital endpoints of any kind, securely manage complex IT and industrial device landscapes, and enhance processes with augmented reality powered workflows and assistance  leveraging AI and integrating seamlessly with leading tech partners. Against the backdrop of global digital transformation and challenges like shortage of skilled labor, hybrid working, accelerated data analysis and the rise of new technologies, TeamViewers solutions offer a clear value add by increasing productivity, reducing machine downtime, speeding up talent onboarding, and improving customer and employee satisfaction.

The company is headquartered in Goppingen, Germany, and employs around 1,900 people globally. In 2025, TeamViewer achieved a revenue of around EUR 768 million. TeamViewer SE (TMV) is listed at Frankfurt Stock Exchange and belongs to the SDAX. Further information can be found at www.teamviewer.com.
Australian-founded AI-powered employment platform, Employment Hero, has today launched HeroForce, a new fully-managed employment model designed to centralise and automate the worlds most complex regulatory landscapes.

Australian businesses face one of the most cumbersome compliance landscapes in the world - paying $160 billion annually to keep up with regulatory requirements. The kicker: each and every business does this individually, and largely manually, costing up to a quarter of an employees salary and dragging down productivity.

Employment Hero modelling shows businesses are paying an additional $12.6 billion in duplicate employment admin. But despite this significant expenditure, hundreds of thousands of workers remain underpaid, and over half of audited businesses are still failing to comply with regulatory standards.

But now, Employment Hero has combined their end-to-end employment infrastructure with their suite of AI employment agents (Hero AI) to centralise and manage employment complexity at global scale for the first time.

HeroForce is an AI-enabled evolution of co-employment models that offers a new choice for Australian businesses where Employment Hero becomes the legal employer, managing payroll, compliance and HR administration, while businesses retain full operational control of their workforce.

While successful internationally, a local model has been previously unworkable at scale in Australia due to the structural complexity of the national system - too costly and cumbersome to manage. Hero AI now breaks these barriers, powering EHs Employment Operating System that automates everyday compliance and admin and makes the traditional PEO model even more cost-effective.

Employment Hero CEO and Co-Founder, Ben Thompson, says HeroForce will not only reduce duplicated administrative costs but will help overcome the significant structural barriers holding Australian employers and employees back.

Most businesses arent failing at compliance because theyre careless or dishonest. Theyre struggling because individual employers are trying to solve an extremely specialised regulatory problem while also running the business. The system has become too complex to manage manually. said Employment Hero CEO and Co-Founder, Ben Thompson.

Australias employment framework includes more than 120 modern awards, each with its own classifications, pay conditions and compliance requirements. The regulatory burden is continuing to grow, with wage theft now a criminal offence, minimum wages and superannuation contributions increasing and reforms such as Payday Super and onboarding reforms from 1 July adding further administrative obligations.

At the same time, businesses are facing a perfect storm of economic conditions: Australia is grappling with a national productivity crisis, while 59 per cent of organisations report that reducing operational costs is their primary challenge. This is compounded when 49 per cent of businesses are struggling to attract and retain talent in a shifting labour market where new Employment Hero Jobs data shows casual employment is surging at 9.3 per cent year on year, more than double the rate of full-time roles and the ABS reports 7.5% of the workforce are independent contractors, as businesses seek flexibility amidst rising compliance pressure and wavering business confidence.

Thompson said artificial intelligence is now making it possible to relieve this growing pressure for employers.

The average SMB spends $40,000$80,000 a year just to stay compliant with employment law. Running a business in Australia increasingly means becoming an expert in payroll, modern awards, Fair Work compliance and superannuation, Mr Thompson said.

Employment Heros Hero AI can interpret modern awards, develop rosters, automate payroll calculations and monitor compliance obligations across thousands of employment relationships simultaneously.

That fundamentally changes the economics of employment administration, Thompson said. By removing the friction that prevents employment, employment becomes cheaper and simpler and as decades of historical evidence tell us, businesses will employ more people to build more, serve more, expand into new areas. Every hour reclaimed from repetitive administration is an hour redirected to work that actually grows economies.

Analysis of Professional Employer Organisations in the US shows user organisations have twice the growth rate of comparable companies, 12 per cent lower employee turnover and are 50 per cent less likely to go out of business. Organisations report an average 27.2 per cent return on investment, with a 35 per cent service fee unlocking fully-managed employment.

Thompson said the model ultimately benefits workers as well as businesses.

The last financial year saw 250,000 Australian workers underpaid, despite the huge investment in compliance. Of the businesses the Fair Work Ombudsman investigated, 56 per cent were found to be non-compliant. For years, Ive seen businesses try and navigate the system to fall short due to its complexity rather than deliberate wrongdoing. These issues are frequently the result of fragmented compliance systems rather than bad intent, Thompson said.

Employment Hero modelling shows an estimated underpayment exposure $18,668 per year or a typical 50-person business - a risk that HeroForce will address for Australian employers.

HeroForce has been designed to operate fully within Australias regulatory framework. Workers engaged through the platform are employees under formal employment contracts and retain full protections under the Fair Work Act, including award wages, superannuation contributions, leave and workers compensation.

HeroForce is now available for Australian businesses. Employment Hero is making HeroForce available in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada, bringing the same AI-powered efficiency to these high-complexity markets on its mission to make employment easier and more valuable for everyone on earth.

For more information, visit https://employmenthero.com/products/heroforce/.

About Employment Hero

Employment Hero is a global, AI-powered employment platform transforming the way businesses hire, manage, and pay their teams. Its intelligent Employment Operating System (eOS) uses Hero AI to automate HR, payroll, recruitment, and employee engagement, delivering real-time insights, predictive recommendations, and compliance safeguards. Serving over 350,000 businesses and 2.5 million employees worldwide, Employment Hero leverages AI-driven automation to reduce administrative overhead by up to 80%, creating smarter, faster, and more compliant workplaces. For further information, please visit www.employmenthero.com.

About HeroForce

HeroForce is Employment Hero's fully-managed employment service. Under the HeroForce model, Employment Hero becomes the legal employer of workers engaged to perform work for a client business, assuming responsibility for payroll, award interpretation, superannuation contributions, workers' compensation, and employment compliance. Client businesses retain full operational control, directing who is hired, how the work is performed, and how long the engagement lasts.

Workers employed through HeroForce hold formal employment contracts and retain all entitlements and protections under the Fair Work Act, including award wages, superannuation, leave, workers' compensation, and the right to union representation. HeroForce operates fully within Australia's existing regulatory framework, including relevant labour hire licensing requirements. HeroForce is now available in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and coming to Canada.

About Hero AI

Hero AI is Employment Hero's artificial intelligence capability, built on 14 years of regulatory integrations, payroll infrastructure, and employment law expertise. Operating as the intelligence layer of HeroForce, Hero AI coordinates three AI-powered agents across the employment lifecycle.

The Recruitment Agent autonomously sources, screens and matches candidates against verified skills, availability and award requirements, reviewing more than 600,000 job applications every month. El Jannah restaurant group replaced traditional resume screening with AI-assisted candidate matching, resulting in faster shortlisting, a more consistent hiring process and an estimated $500,000 in annual savings.

The Payroll Agent interprets Australia's Modern Awards in real time across every payroll run on the platform, automatically carrying award updates across all affected businesses as they occur. It monitors compliance obligations across multiple jurisdictions, tracking changes to legislation, award rates, superannuation guarantee requirements and payroll tax thresholds, enabling businesses to identify potential issues before they result in underpayment or regulatory breach.

The HR Agent provides workers and businesses with employment guidance and compliance support across the full employment relationship, from onboarding through to termination. Every output operates under a human-in the-loop model, with HR, payroll and compliance specialists overseeing processes to ensure accuracy and accountability at every decision point.
Google Cloud today announced a $750 million fund to deliver new resources and incentives to partners in its 120,000-member partner ecosystem to help accelerate joint customers' transformations with agentic AI. The fund, available for global consulting firms, systems integrators, software partners, and channel partners, will support AI value identification, agentic AI prototyping, agent building and deployment, upskilling, and teams of embedded Google forward-deployed engineers (FDEs).

Today, global consulting firms, systems integrators, software providers, and specialised services providers play a critical role enabling the agentic enterprise. Google Cloud's ecosystem of system integrator partners already offer more than 330,000 experts trained on implementing Google AI for customers, and 95% of the top 20 and over over 80% of the top 100 SaaS companies use Gemini models.

This new funding will further accelerate the transformative capabilities of Google Cloud's partner ecosystem including partners' ability to assess the full potential of AI, rapidly prototype and prove value, build AI agents and integrate these agents into existing software and workflowsultimately helping more businesses realise value and benefit from Google Cloud's AI capabilities.

New partner resources announced today include:

New tools and resources: The fund will support new tools and resources for partners, including AI value assessments, Gemini proofs-of-concept, Gemini Enterprise practice building, agentic AI prototyping and deployment, Wiz security assessments, and usage incentives to accelerate adoption of AI within these companies and their customers.



The fund will support new tools and resources for partners, including AI value assessments, Gemini proofs-of-concept, Gemini Enterprise practice building, agentic AI prototyping and deployment, Wiz security assessments, and usage incentives to accelerate adoption of AI within these companies and their customers. Forward-deployed engineering teams: As part of the expanded investment in partners, Google will embed FDEs alongside major consulting firms and systems integrators like Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, Deloitte, HCLTech, PwC and TCS to support customer deployments and solve deep technical challenges.



As part of the expanded investment in partners, Google will embed FDEs alongside major consulting firms and systems integrators like Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, Deloitte, HCLTech, PwC and TCS to support customer deployments and solve deep technical challenges. Dedicated Gemini Enterprise practices: AI-native services partners, including Altimetrik, Artefact, Covasant, Deepsense, Distyl.ai, Northslope, Quantium, Tribe.ai, and Tryolabs will launch Gemini Enterprise practices as part of Google's new Gemini Enterprise transformation program. To support these partners, Google Cloud will provide credits for sandbox development, technical upskilling, and referral opportunities to help them rapidly build, test, and deploy agentic solutions for joint customers.



AI-native services partners, including Altimetrik, Artefact, Covasant, Deepsense, Distyl.ai, Northslope, Quantium, Tribe.ai, and Tryolabs will launch Gemini Enterprise practices as part of Google's new Gemini Enterprise transformation program. To support these partners, Google Cloud will provide credits for sandbox development, technical upskilling, and referral opportunities to help them rapidly build, test, and deploy agentic solutions for joint customers. Early model access: Partners including Accenture, BCG, Deloitte, and McKinsey, will receive early access to Gemini models. Their feedback will help refine these systems to ensure they're equipped to deliver benefits for people, companies, and society.



Partners including Accenture, BCG, Deloitte, and McKinsey, will receive early access to Gemini models. Their feedback will help refine these systems to ensure they're equipped to deliver benefits for people, companies, and society. Enterprise-ready agents: Under the expanded investment, Google Cloud will help better enable partners to surface enterprise-ready agents in Gemini Enterprise, enabling customers to easily deploy highly-vetted agents in alignment with enterprise governance and security policies. Built using the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform and discoverable through the app, Gemini Enterprise now offers agents from Adobe, Atlassian, Deloitte, Lovable, Oracle, Palo Alto Networks, Replit, S&P Global, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Workday, and more.

"Google Cloud's partners are already leaders in agentic AI development and deployment, and have become important channels for distributing AI technologies. With this expanded funding, we will be able to dedicate new resources and technology to support our partners as they accelerate our mutual customers' agentic AI journeys," said Kevin Ichhpurani, President, Global Partner Ecosystem at Google Cloud. "Enterprise reinvention requires more than experimentationit demands deep engineering and the ability to execute at scale. Google Cloud's investment strengthens how we solve complex technical challenges and build enterpriseready solutions together, accelerating the adoption of Gemini Enterprise, modernising digital cores, and helping clients realise tangible outcomes from agentic AI faster," said Scott Alfieri, Accenture Google Business Group Lead, Accenture. "AI agents have the power to reshape enterprise workflows. This investment by Google Cloud signals a pivotal moment, affirming that the future of enterprise AI lies in a rich ecosystem where powerful technology from Google Cloud is paired with the deep industry and transformation experience of Deloitte. Our growing library of more than 1,000 pre-built agents is a reflection of this. Each agent can be tailored to a client's specific context and business needsdesigned to supercharge delivery and accelerate the path from vision to value," said Jason Salzetti, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "Working with Deloitte and Google Cloud, Gemini Enterprise agents have helped us transform internal functions and provide immediate, actionable support to our partners. Our teams can now easily leverage specialised AI agents to streamline complex processes that free up teams for higher-value work to better serve our customers, all within a secure and governed framework," said Matt Ausman, CIO, Zebra Technologies.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud offers a powerful, optimised AI stack  including AI infrastructure, leading models like Gemini, data management capabilities, multicloud security solutions, developer tools and platform, as well as agents and applications  that enables organisations to transform their business for the Agentic Era. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.
Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, recently announced that it has been recognised as a Leader and Star Performer in the Everest Group Adobe Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2025. This recognition underscores Infosys remarkable growth, delivery excellence, and client impact within the global Adobe services ecosystem. In this assessment, Everest Group evaluated 33 service providers across their Adobe services end-to-end adoption journey. Infosys demonstrated robust market adoption, with visible growth in Adobe services revenue and expanded client traction across North America and Europe.

As a Leader and Star Performer, Infosys has been recognised for its ability to deliver large-scale, complex, and end-to-end Adobe programs, supported by advisory depth, global delivery networks, certified talent pools, and broad product specialisations. Infosys and Adobe recently collaborated to drive AI-first marketing transformation. Together, they bring capabilities from Infosys Aster , a set of AI-amplified marketing services, solutions and platforms, and Adobe solutions to unify customer experience at scale, personalise content for business growth, and streamline workflows for efficiency.

Joydeep Mukherjee, Executive Vice President, Global Services, Infosys, said, The world of marketing is undergoing a profound transformation. We are at an inflection point, where AI is revolutionising how brands connect with their audiences, personalise experiences, and drive growth. In this new AI era, its more important than ever for CMOs and CIOs to collaborate closely  blending creativity with technology to unlock growth. Infosys Aster, along with Adobe solutions, empowers organisations to reimagine marketing and IT as a single growth engine that accelerates business outcomes and strengthens competitive advantage.

Nitish Mittal, Partner, Everest Group, said, The Adobe services market is rapidly expanding as enterprises embrace AI-driven personalisation and consulting-led transformation to unify marketing, technology, and design for measurable business outcomes. This years assessment highlights the industrys commitment to innovation and strategic partnership in shaping next-generation digital experiences at scale. Within this landscape, Infosys stands out for its advancement to Leader and Star Performer. With the AI-amplified marketing suite, Infosys Aster, it is exemplifying excellence in capability, innovation, and client impact.

To read the full report, please visit here.

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Licensed extracts taken from Everest Groups PEAK Matrix Reports may be used by licensed third parties for use in their own marketing and promotional activities and collateral. Selected extracts from Everest Groups PEAK Matrix reports do not necessarily provide the full context of our research and analysis. All research and analysis conducted by Everest Groups analysts and included in Everest Groups PEAK Matrix reports is independent and no organisation has paid a fee to be featured or to influence their ranking. To access the complete research and to learn more about our methodology, please visit Everest Group PEAK Matrix Reports.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 330,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in 63 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organisation where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.
Companies can build AI factories with NVIDIA Vera Rubin-powered A5X instances scaling up to nearly 1 million Rubin GPUs, Gemini on Google Distributed Cloud, confidential NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs and agentic AI built on Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform with NVIDIA Nemotron and NeMo.

NVIDIA and Google Cloud have collaborated for more than a decade, coengineering a fullstack AI platform that spans every technology layer  from performanceoptimized libraries and frameworks to enterprisegrade cloud services.

This foundation enables developers, startups and enterprises to push agentic and physical AI out of the lab and into production  from agents that manage complex workflows to robots and digital twins on the factory floor.

At Google Cloud Next this week in Las Vegas, the partnership reaches a new milestone, with advancements to expand Google Cloud AI Hypercomputer for AI factories that will power the next frontier of agentic and physical AI.

These include the new NVIDIA Vera Rubin-powered A5X bare-metal instances; a preview of Google Gemini on Google Distributed Cloud running on NVIDIA Blackwell and NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs; confidential VMs with NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs; and agentic AI on Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform with NVIDIA Nemotron open models and the NVIDIA NeMo framework.

Next-Generation Infrastructure: From NVIDIA Blackwell to Vera Rubin

At Google Cloud Next, Google announced A5X powered by NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 rack-scale systems, which  through extreme codesign across chips, systems and software  deliver up to 10x lower inference cost per token and 10x higher token throughput per megawatt than the prior generation.

A5X will use NVIDIA ConnectX-9 SuperNICs, combined with next-generation Google Virgo networking, scaling to up to 80,000 NVIDIA Rubin GPUs within a single site cluster and up to 960,000 NVIDIA Rubin GPUs in a multisite cluster, enabling customers to run their largest AI workloads on NVIDIAoptimized infrastructure.

At Google Cloud, we believe the next decade of AI will be shaped by customers ability to run their most demanding workloads on a truly integrated, AIoptimized infrastructure stack, said Mark Lohmeyer, vice president and general manager of AI and computing infrastructure at Google Cloud. By combining Google Clouds scalable infrastructure and managed AI services with NVIDIAs industryleading platforms, systems and software, were giving customers flexibility to train, tune and serve everything from frontier and open models to agentic and physical AI workloads  while optimizing for performance, cost and sustainability.

Google Clouds broad NVIDIA Blackwell portfolio ranges from A4 VMs with NVIDIA HGX B200 systems to rack-scale A4X VMs with NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 and A4X Max NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 systems, all the way to fractional G4 VMs with NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs.

Customers can right-size their acceleration capabilities, whether using multiple interconnected NVL72 racks that scale out to tens of thousands of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, a single rack that can scale up to 72 Blackwell GPUs with fifth-generation NVIDIA NVLink and NVLink 5 Switch, or just one-eighth of a GPU.

This comprehensive platform helps teams optimize every workload, from mixture-of-experts reasoning, multimodal inference and data processing to complex simulations for the next frontier of physical AI and robotics.

Leading frontier AI labs are already putting this infrastructure to work. Thinking Machines Lab is scaling its Tinker application programming interface (API) on A4X Max VMs with GB300 NVL72 systems to accelerate training, while OpenAI is running largescale inference on NVIDIA GB300 (A4X Max VMs) and GB200 NVL72 systems (A4X VMs) on Google Cloud for some of its most demanding inference workloads, including for ChatGPT.

Secure AI Wherever It Needs to Run: Sovereign and Confidential

Google Gemini models running on NVIDIA Blackwell and Blackwell Ultra GPUs are now in preview on Google Distributed Cloud, so customers can bring Googles frontier models wherever their most sensitive data resides.

NVIDIA Confidential Computing with the NVIDIA Blackwell platform enables Gemini models to run in a protected environment where prompts and finetuning data stay encrypted and cant be seen or altered by unauthorized parties, including the infrastructure operators.

In the public cloud, the preview of Confidential G4 VMs with NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs brings these protections to multitenant environments  helping safeguard prompts, AI models and data so customers in regulated industries can access the power of AI without compromising on security or performance.

This is the first confidential computing offering of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in the cloud, giving Google Cloud customers a new foundation for secure, highperformance AI.

Open Models and APIs for Agentic AI

The NVIDIA platform on Google Cloud is optimized to run every kind of model  from Googles frontier Gemini and Gemma families to NVIDIA Nemotron open models and the broader open weight ecosystem  equipping developers to build agentic AI systems that reason, plan and act.

NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Super is available on Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, giving developers a direct path to discovering, customizing and deploying NVIDIAoptimized reasoning and multimodal models for agentic workflows.

Google Cloud and NVIDIA are also making it easier to train and customize open models at scale. Managed Training Clusters on Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform introduced a new managed reinforcement learning (RL) API built with NVIDIA NeMo RL for accelerating RL training at scale while automating cluster sizing, failure recovery and job execution, so teams can focus on agent behavior and model quality instead of infrastructure management.

Cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike uses NVIDIA NeMo open libraries such as NeMo Data Designer, NeMo Automodel and NeMo Megatron Bridge to generate synthetic data and fine-tuning Nemotron and other open large language models for domain-specific cybersecurity. Running on Managed Training Clusters on Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform with NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, these capabilities accelerate threat detection, investigation and response.

Building the Future of Industrial and Physical AI

Building industrial and physical AI at scale demands powerful hardware and a combination of open models, libraries and frameworks to develop these complex end-to-end workflows.

NVIDIA AI infrastructure, open models and physical AI libraries available on Google Cloud, is mainstreaming industrial and physical AI applications, enabling customers to simulate, optimize and automate real-world workflows.

Solutions from leading industrial software providers, including Cadence and Siemens Digital Industries Software, are now available on Google Cloud, accelerated on NVIDIA AI infrastructure. These applications are powering the next-generation design, engineering and manufacturing of everything from chips to autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace platforms, heavy machinery and large-scale production systems.

With NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and the open source NVIDIA Isaac Sim robotics simulation framework available on Google Cloud Marketplace, developers can build physically accurate digital twins and develop custom robotics simulations pipelines to train, simulate and validate robots before real-world deployment.

NVIDIA NIM microservices for models like NVIDIA Cosmos Reason 2 can be deployed to Google Vertex AI and Google Kubernetes Engine. This enables robots and vision AI agents to see, reason and act in the physical world like humans, powering use cases such as automated data curation and annotation, advanced robot planning and reasoning, and intelligent video analytics agents for real-time insights and decision-making.

Together, these technologies help developers seamlessly move from computer-aided design to living industrial digital twins and AIdriven robots, accelerating processes from design signoff to factory optimization on the NVIDIA platform running on Google Cloud.

Proven Impact: From Startups to Global Enterprises

Global enterprises, AI labs and highgrowth startups are using NVIDIA and Google Clouds co-engineered platform to move from prototyping to production faster, including Snap, Schrodinger and Salesforce. Snap is cutting the cost of largescale A/B testing by shifting data pipelines to GPUaccelerated Spark on Google Cloud. Schrodinger is shrinking weekslong drug discovery simulations into just hours with NVIDIA accelerated computing on Google Cloud.

Startups are orchestrating the next wave of AI innovation  building new agents and AInative applications using NVIDIA accelerated computing on Google Cloud.

As part of a broader ecosystem highlighted through NVIDIA Inception and Google for Startups, CodeRabbit and Factory are using NVIDIA Nemotronbased models on Google Cloud to power code review and autonomous software development agents, while Aible, Mantis AI, Photoroom and Baseten are building enterprise data, video intelligence, generative imagery and managed inference solutions on the fullstack NVIDIA platform on Google Cloud.

More than 90,000 developers have become a part of the joint NVIDIA and Google Cloud developer community in just over a year, tapping this platform to build and scale new AI applications.

In addition, NVIDIA has been honored at Next as Google Cloud Partner of the Year in two categories  AI Global Technology Partner and Infra Modernization Compute  in recognition of deep technical expertise and go-to-market alignment.

Together, NVIDIA and Google Cloud are giving customers a cloudscale platform to turn experimental agents and simulations into production systems that review code, secure fleets, enable new AI applications and optimize factories in the real world.

Learn more about the companies collaboration by attending NVIDIA sessions, demos and workshops at Google Cloud Next.
Google Cloud and Salesforce today announced an expanded partnership that will enable AI agents to execute end-to-end workflows across both platforms by solving the long-standing challenge of fragmented data and disconnected systems.

With new integrations across Salesforce and Google Cloud, customers can deploy AI agents in tools like Slack and Google Workspace, while Agentforce and Gemini Enterprise provide the intelligence and context behind the scenes. This allows agents to work across systems, reduces risky data movement, and eliminates time lost to context switching.

Under the expanded partnership, the two companies will also develop new features that will make it simpler for customers to transition from manual oversight to autonomous operations  letting employees collaborate where the work is already happening, and using their tech stack to execute complex workflows. These integrations bring Google Cloud and Salesforce together across every layer of the Agentic Enterprise  the systems of context, work, agency, and engagement that turn raw intelligence into enterprise work.

"Businesses are ready to go all in on agentic AI, and that requires infrastructure and models that can operate across the entire enterprise. Our deepened partnership with Google Cloud gives joint customers exactly that, so they can deploy Agentforce across every part of their business and accelerate their Agentic Enterprise transformation," said Srini Tallapragada, President and Chief Engineering Officer at Salesforce.

Working where teams already are: Slack, Google Workspace, and Gemini Enterprise

The modern workday is governed by a hidden toggling tax that costs the average employee two hours of productivity every single day. A security escalation surfaces in Slack, context lives in a Google Doc, approvals sit in Salesforce, and stakeholder alignment happens over email. Instead of patching together point solutions, companies can now build an interconnected system of engagement that enables teams to move faster across the business and turn ideas into agentic action, all from the same conversation.

Key integration features:

Slack and Google Workspace: Users can instantly turn any request into polished Google Workspace content simply by asking Slackbot. When prompted, Slackbot will pull relevant Slack and Google Workspace inputs like Slack Threads, Google Slides, Docs, Sheets, or PDFs, structure the information intelligently, and deliver a ready-to-share file, eliminating the gap between finding, creating, and presenting information.

Users can instantly turn any request into polished Google Workspace content simply by asking Slackbot. When prompted, Slackbot will pull relevant Slack and Google Workspace inputs like Slack Threads, Google Slides, Docs, Sheets, or PDFs, structure the information intelligently, and deliver a ready-to-share file, eliminating the gap between finding, creating, and presenting information. Gemini Enterprise in Slack: Gemini Enterprise is directly accessible within Slack, acting as a powerful search and assistant tool capable of accessing connectors and related information from across your apps (e.g., it can summarize a Google Meet transcript alongside a Slack thread).

Gemini Enterprise is directly accessible within Slack, acting as a powerful search and assistant tool capable of accessing connectors and related information from across your apps (e.g., it can summarize a Google Meet transcript alongside a Slack thread). Agentforce Sales in Gemini Enterprise: Agentforce Sales agents can engage leads, create meeting briefs, surface deal risks and guidance, manage pipeline and CRM updates  securely and in real-time  without ever leaving Gemini Enterprise. By automating manual tasks, sellers can focus on relationship building and closing deals.

"At Wayfair, we're building an Agentic Enterprise  embedding intelligent agents across our operations, from customer service to logistics, to help millions of people create their feeling of home. Salesforce and Google Cloud are key partners as we bring this vision to life," said Fiona Tan, CTO of Wayfair.

"Our partnership with Salesforce allows customers to securely connect data across both platforms to accelerate business results and build a scalable foundation for the agentic era. With an enterprise-ready Salesforce agent in Gemini Enterprise, customers have a powerful new way to act on their data with speed and confidence," said Karthik Narain, Chief Product and Business Officer, Google Cloud.

Expanding agentic context: optimized security, deep intelligence & zero-copy data

The backbone of this partnership lies in the system of context  the underlying architecture that connects the world's most advanced AI models with enterprise-scale data. Salesforce and Google Cloud are making it easier for AI to use all your data right where it lives, so you don't have to worry about security or costly data migration. From CRM records and customer signals, to Google Workspace activity and BigQuery warehouses, these data connections allow agents to deliver results at scale that were previously out of reach.

Key advancements:

Gemini-powered reasoning for Agentforce: Agentforce natively supports Gemini models via the Atlas Reasoning Engine. This enables Agentforce to 'see' across text, image, and video formats, drawing from years of customer history to accurately solve complex problems. This means faster, smarter resolutions, building upon the 1,400+ customers already experiencing success from Gemini within Agentforce to build prompts.

Agentforce natively supports Gemini models via the Atlas Reasoning Engine. This enables Agentforce to 'see' across text, image, and video formats, drawing from years of customer history to accurately solve complex problems. This means faster, smarter resolutions, building upon the 1,400+ customers already experiencing success from Gemini within Agentforce to build prompts. Zero copy with Google Lakehouse: Customer data can stay where it is. Agentforce will be able to natively read data from Google Lakehouse, with no copying, moving, or security risk. This means a single compute layer with quality performance no matter how large the dataset gets, building on the Zero Copy

Customer data can stay where it is. Agentforce will be able to natively read data from Google Lakehouse, with no copying, moving, or security risk. This means a single compute layer with quality performance no matter how large the dataset gets, building on the IDMC expanded governance and multi-source connectivity: Unlock real-time insights (like fraud prevention and predictive marketing) and enforce security guardrails more efficiently with new data connectors that push down Informatica data security policies and enterprise data sources like Workday and SAP, to Google BigQuery. Read, write, and transform large-scale datasets via the Informatica connection to Apache Iceberg on Google Cloud Storage, supporting schema evolution and high-performance analytics.

"By unifying 64 million customer profiles into 24 million profiles with Salesforce Data 360 and Google BigQuery, our loyalty program now gives us a deeper understanding of customer behavior across all 15+ brands," said Michael Yolland, Head of AI at Pepkor. "This has enabled us to reach 25% more of our customer base with truly personalized engagement  and we can do it all without ever moving or copying our data."

"Agentforce allows us to scale autonomous action across our entire enterprise," said James Lomas, Group CTO, Bionic. "By integrating Gemini, we will power agents with world-class intelligence and deeper context, allowing us to scale across every department without compromising on security or governance."

The agentic enterprise is officially here. By Google Cloud and Salesforce partnering together, companies can unify fragmented data, automate complex processes, and enable true human-AI collaboration within one cohesive architecture. Built for companies who want to grow faster and smarter in the next era of AI.

Availability:

Slack Enterprise Search (Querying Gmail & Google Drive): Now available

Agentforce Sales in Gemini Enterprise: Now available in Open Beta on the Gemini Enterprise Marketplace

Gemini Enterprise in Slack: Available April 2026 on the Slack Marketplace

Gemini-Powered Reasoning for Agentforce: Available May 2026

Slackbot Google Slides Generator: Available in Mid 2026

Zero Copy with Google Lakehouse: Available in Late 2026

IDMC Google BigQuery Connectors (CAI & CDAM): Available in April 2026

IDMC Apache Iceberg GCP Support: Available in April 2026

About Salesforce

Salesforce is the #1 AI CRM, empowering companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way through the power of CRM + Data + AI + Trust. For more information, visit www.salesforce.com.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud offers a powerful, optimized AI stack  including AI infrastructure, leading models like Gemini, data management capabilities, multicloud security solutions, developer tools and platform, as well as agents and applications  that enables organizations to transform their business for the Agentic Era. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.
Orro, a leading Australian technology partner for secure networks and digital infrastructure, today launched its Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) service. This managed service addresses critical pain points in vulnerability management by focusing on risks and threats, rather than just theoretical vulnerabilities.

Australian security teams face challenges such as noise from thousands of vulnerability alerts, flagged as high and critical, which lack business context for prioritisation, and tension between security and operations teams over remediation actions. Furthermore, shadow IT and cloud blind spots, too many tools without a single unified view, and data overload with no clear insights exacerbate the problem.

The scale of this challenge is accelerating. ASD's ACSC notified Australian organisations of potentially malicious cyber activity more than 1,700 times in FY202425 - an 83% increase on the previous year - while attacks on Australian critical infrastructure surged 111% in the same period.1 At the same time, Rapid7's 2026 Global Threat Landscape Report found that exploited high and critical severity vulnerabilities more than doubled in a single year, with the window between a vulnerability being disclosed and actively exploited shrinking to a median of just five days.2

Against this backdrop, the average Australian data breach now costs AUD $4.26 million - a 27% increase since 2020, according to IBM.3 For organisations drowning in vulnerability data but starving for clarity, the gap between what security teams are told to act on and what genuinely threatens the business has never been more costly.

Orros CTEM service provides a new model to solve this decision-making challenge, using an AI-powered platform to unify data from over 100 security tools and apply business context. This enables teams to identify which handful of exposures, out of thousands, truly threaten operational continuity and require immediate focus.

Daniel Greengarten, CEO, Orro commented: Australian security teams are working harder than ever, but many still cant answer basic questions their boards are asking, including are we safer than last quarter? and what are our most critical exposures? This is why weve launched our CTEM service as it represents a fundamental shift from asking whats broken? to asking what actually threatens our business? For organisations drowning in vulnerability data but starving for clarity, this changes everything.

Unlike traditional vulnerability management that relies on generic severity scores, Orros service delivers a context-over-severity approach. It factors in an assets business criticality, network position, and active threat intelligence to prioritise remediation based on actual risk. The service extends across both corporate IT and OT environments, a critical capability for organisations managing critical infrastructure under the SOCI Act.

Manuel Salazar, Director of Cyber Services, Orro commented: We see this challenge every day with a lot of Australian businesses where security teams are receiving thousands of high and critical vulnerabilities demanding immediate attention. Traditional vulnerability management says to patch everything, but thats operationally impossible."

CTEM provides the context thats been missing. Instead of just CVSS scores, we factor in where the asset sits, its importance to the business, whether attack paths are exploitable, and if existing controls are working. This approach ensures that a CVSS 9.8 vulnerability on an isolated test server is appropriately deprioritised, while a CVSS 6.5 vulnerability on your internet-facing customer portal, which is critical to business operations, moves to the top

The launch of Orros CTEM service coincides with the company being named Rapid7s APJ Partner of the Year for 2026, recognising Orros technical excellence and ability to deliver measurable security outcomes for customers across the region.

Built on the Rapid7 Command platform and managed by Orros National Cyber Defence Centre, the service provides a systematic, evidence-based approach to risk management that delivers on both board and regulatory requirements.

Orros CTEM service is available now to Australian organisations.

About Orro

Orro is a leading Australian technology partner with deep expertise in cyber security and the design, construction and operation of secure networks and digital infrastructure. Orros managed security and network services, as well as cloud and workspace solutions deliver greater efficiency, performance and resilience to its business customers. For more information about Orro please visit www.orro.group.
(L to R) Greg Barker, Regional Marketing Manager, Oceania, Genetec, Laurie Mac, Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada in Australia, Xuguang Huang, Senior Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada in Australia. Dr. Julie Sunday, High Commissioner of Canada to Australia, Andy Mackay, Regional Vice President of Marketing, EMEA/APAC, Genetec, Troy Grenfell, Account Executive, NSW/ACT, Genetec

COMPANY NEWS: Genetec Inc. (Genetec), the global leader in enterprise physical security software, has announced that the High Commissioner of Canada to Australia, Her Excellency Julie Sunday, visited the Genetec Sydney Experience Centre on 15 April to commemorate two years since its official launch.

The Genetec Experience Centre is located within Sydneys Tech Central precinct at 477 Pitt Street and features innovative solutions from Genetec and its large ecosystem of industry-leading technology partners. These include video management, access control, license plate recognition, security and communications management, and secure cloud services.

At the same time, the facility serves as a hub for Genetec partners and customers located in the region and complements the companys additional Experience Centres located in in Montreal, Paris, London, Mexico City, Washington D.C., Dubai, and Singapore.

Genetec is a Canadian leader delivering worldclass security technologies that support Australias critical infrastructure and public safety. Genetecs expansion in Australia demonstrates how Canadian innovation is creating local jobs while strengthening security cooperation between our two countries, said Her Excellency Julie Sunday, High Commissioner of Canada to Australia.

The Genetec Sydney Experience Centre operates as a fully functioning Security Operations Centre and includes an Internet of Things (IoT) wall, providing an immersive experience for customers in any industry to see how Genetec solutions can directly enhance their security and operations.

Additional features include a dedicated training centre ensuring customer and partner teams are equipped to address their physical security challenges and a modern workspace to accommodate the fast-growing Genetec Oceania team.

Since its launch two years ago, hundreds of industry executives and partners have visited the centre experiencing the best of breed physical security technologies on offer from Genetec. In addition to a range of industry networking functions and channel enablement sessions.

Genetec continues to invest significantly in Australia and plays a lead role in supporting teams from private sector enterprises, government agencies and critical infrastructure to strengthen and reinforce their physical security posture as well as drive digital resilience and accelerate innovation, says George Moawad, Country Manager Oceania at Genetec Inc.

"The Genetec Sydney Experience Centre reflects our deep commitment to Australia as a trusted global leader combining state-of-the-art capabilities and an unparalleled emphasis on training and innovation. Were able to provide our valued channel partners, technology partners, and end users an opportunity to experience first-hand the innovative technology and solutions that Genetec has to offer.

The Experience Centre currently hosts over 20 employees, with capacity to support workforce expansion as the company continues to grow its local footprint.
COMPANY NEWS: New funding reflects VASTs rare combination of growth and profitability, driven by its central role in powering AI infrastructure at global scale

VAST Data, the AI Operating System company, today announced the closing of its Series F financing at a US$30 billion valuation, representing more than a threefold increase from its US$9.1 billion Series E valuation in late 2023. The latest round was led by Drive Capital, with Access Industries acting as co-lead, and included participation from existing investors including Fidelity Management & Research Company, NEA, and NVIDIA, alongside new investors. This financing reflects the accelerating demand for a new data infrastructure stack needed for the development and deployment of artificial generally intelligent systems.

The financing included primary and secondary capital, bringing the total transaction value to approximately US$1 billion. Primary proceeds will be used by VAST Data to solidify its position as the AI operating system at the centre of the AI ecosystem and to further fuel global growth, including strategic transactions that expand its technology footprint and partnerships.

The Data Computing Foundation That Is Enabling AI at Global Scale

AI is a generational shift set to reshape trillions of dollars of global economic activity. This is now materialising as a massive industrial buildout approaching US$100 trillion in scale, spanning AI factories and software systems, powered by a new era of parallel computing at levels previously unimaginable.

Founded in 2016 at the dawn of deep learning, VAST Data reimagined distributed systems for a future where AI would demand a fundamentally new approach to data and compute. Starting from a blank sheet of paper, the company created DASE (Disaggregated Shared Everything), a new architecture designed to break longstanding trade-offs between scale, simplicity, performance, and cost.

Over the following decade, VAST expanded this foundation into a full data and computing platform aligned to the subsequent waves of modern AI. Today, the VAST AI Operating System sits at the centre of this transformation, unifying data, compute, and real-time processing into a single system. This architecture collapses traditionally separate layers of the stack, enabling organisations to build, train, and run AI models while powering the applications and agents that depend on them, all at global scale.

Commercially, the VAST AI OS has become an essential component of the global AI datacentre buildout. From CoreWeave to Lowes, from the U.S. Air Force to Cursor, thousands of organisations rely on VAST to store, contextualise, and act on data, supporting environments that power millions of GPUs and some of the worlds most advanced AI training and inference initiatives.

We are already supporting AI environments spanning millions of GPUs globally, operating across every layer of the AI stack, said Renen Hallak, Founder and CEO of VAST Data. What is becoming clear is that these layers are no longer independent. Applications, models, and infrastructure now operate as a single system through data. VAST sits at the centre of how that system works, which is why we are seeing this level of demand at global scale.

High Growth, Built for Durability

The Company has surpassed US$4 billion in cumulative bookings and exited the previous fiscal year with more than US$500 million in Committed Annual Recurring Revenue (CARR), along with positive operating margin and free cash flow. In its most recent fiscal year, VAST Data delivered a Rule of X score of 228%, reflecting an unparalleled combination of rapid growth and strong profitability.

As organisations scale AI, they are prioritising partners that are not only providing disruptive technology, but who also are building sustainable, professional and financially durable businesses that can continue to innovate and support the worlds AI infrastructure. This Rule of 228% is testament to VAST being optimally positioned to support the largest and most demanding AI environments with near-infinite runway to continue its growth trajectory.

Industry Validation and Customer Momentum

The scale and speed of AI adoption are creating a new class of infrastructure company, said Chris Olsen, Co-Founder and Partner at Drive Capital. VAST is emerging as the clear leader in this category, with the architecture and momentum to support the worlds most demanding AI environments. The step-change in valuation reflects both that momentum and our conviction in VASTs role at the centre of this market.

As we push the boundaries of large-scale model training, the foundation of our infrastructure becomes critical, said Timothee Lacroix, Co-Founder and CTO of Mistral AI. VASTs data platform enables us to efficiently manage and scale the massive datasets required to train frontier models, ensuring high performance and flexibility across our training pipelines.

The VAST platform is a key enabling technology for next gen AI infrastructure initiatives  providing a modern, flexible data architecture for Gen AI applications and agentic workflows, said Larry Feinsmith, Managing Director, Head of Global Tech Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships at JPMorganChase.

Our partnership with VAST Data has grown more than 10x this past year and continues to accelerate  a reflection of how critical an AI data platform is to training and inference workloads on Crusoe Cloud. Together, we've built a storage service which many model labs, leading AI agent companies, and physical AI pioneers rely on. This milestone for VAST validates the essential role they play in helping us give AI infrastructure engineers and developers the seamless, industrial-scale foundation they need to build the future of AI, said Erwan Menard, SVP Product Management at Crusoe.
FUJIFILM Business Innovation (BI) Australia today announced the appointment of Yoshinori Nagata as Managing Director and Head of Oceania Sales Operations, effective 1 April 2026.

Mr Nagata succeeds Yasuyuki Matsumoto, who will transition to a global leadership role in Tokyo within the FUJIFILM BI Group to focus on expanding the overseas solutions business.

Mr Nagata brings more than three decades of experience across FUJIFILM BI, having held senior roles across sales, international marketing, and corporate and business group strategy across Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Most recently, he served as Deputy of the Business Solutions Business Group in Japan, where he played a key role in advancing the companys solutions-led transformation.

His appointment comes at a pivotal time for FUJIFILM BI Australia, as the organisation continues to evolve to support customers navigating complex digital, security, and workflow needs, and to drive innovation in delivering integrated, future-ready solutions.

"I am honoured to lead FUJIFILM Business Innovation Australia into its next chapter," said Mr Nagata. "Australia represents a key market in our global operations, known for its innovation and early adoption of new technologies. Building on the strong foundation established by Mr Matsumoto, we are well positioned to continue our growth and transformation. My vision is to further deepen our customer partnerships, accelerate our digital transformation initiatives, and position FUJIFILM BI as the go-to partner for organisations seeking to thrive in an increasingly complex digital age. We will focus on expanding a range of transformative technology solutions while maintaining our commitment to sustainable outcomes in line with our Fujifilm Group Purpose of Giving Our World More Smiles."

Outgoing Managing Director, Yasuyuki Matsumoto, reflected on his tenure: "It has been a privilege to lead FUJIFILM Business Innovation Australia through a period of meaningful transformation. I am proud of the progress our team has made in evolving our business, and I am confident that Nagata-san's leadership will continue to build on this momentum and guide the organisation toward a strong and sustainable future."

In his new global role, Mr Matsumoto will focus on addressing key business solutions challenges faced by organisations worldwide.

"I look forward to continuing to work with our Australian teams in my new role, as we tackle critical issues around the complexity of modern work tools, and exciting opportunities to accelerate business transformation," he added.

About FUJIFILM Business Innovation Australia

FUJIFILM Business Innovation Australia is a leading provider of scalable IT and digital transformation solutions, serving organisations across Australia. With a national service network and deep local expertise, we help businesses unlock efficiencies, enhance security, and achieve better outcomes through innovative technologyincluding managed IT services, process automation, and AI.

Recently appointed to Procurement Australias prestigious IT Procurement Panel under Contract 2706-0714 (Information Technology Products & Services & Multi-Functional Devices), effective 1 July 2025 through to 30 June 2027, FUJIFILM Business Innovation Australia is a trusted supplier of IT solutions and services to Procurement Australia members nationwide, providing a comprehensive range of technology offerings.

As part of FUJIFILM Business Innovations global network, we combine international best practice with a commitment to supporting Australian organisations of all sizes. Our legacy in document solutions has evolved to deliver end-to-end digital transformation capabilities and empower customers to confidently navigate todays dynamic business environment.

Learn more: https://fujifilm.com/fbau - Australian website | https://fujifilm.com/fbglobal - Global website
 In Atkinson, New Hampshire, a new business is stirring up controversy: The Diaper Spa is a haven for adults who role-play as children.

Boston.com reported that the spa is open to "all diaper-wearing individuals who seek acceptance, respite and care."

The facility is decorated like a nursery, with toys and adult-sized cribs. Services range from $200 an hour for virtual playdates to a $1,500-a-day experience that pampers "the little one inside of you."

The owner, Dr. Colleen Ann Murphy, said the community of ABDL (adult/baby diaper lovers) is vast.

"Being a part of this community brings comfort and solace," she said, and added that her services do not have a sexual component.

Some Atkinson residents are concerned, though.

"That is something that I will never be willing to expose my kids to," said Kayla Gallagher. "People tend to fear anything that they fail to comprehend," Murphy countered. [Boston.com, 1/30/2024]
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is usually a predictable affair. Journalists and celebrities gather to reinforce their credentials as powerful insiders who should be the ones running the country.

This year's dinner, to be held April 25 in Washington, is likely to be something quite different from previous gatherings of media elites. That's because President Trump (and first lady Melania) say they will attend after snubbing the event since 2011.

This dinner could be unique, even unsettling, because of a letter recently signed by more than 250 journalists calling on the dinner's organizers "to forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump's efforts to trample freedom of the press."

In part the letter says: "We believe the White House Correspondents Association should take stronger action by issuing  from the podium  a forceful defense of freedom of the press and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by a standing toast to the First Amendment. Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country's long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press."

One can debate that last part, given the low approval ratings of the media by the public. What will make the event watchable is how Trump reacts. He might play offense and list his grievances against the media, or he can fool them by taking an approach they don't expect: Humility and self-deprecating humor.

That was the path taken by George W. Bush at the 2006 correspondents' dinner. Standing next to him with a lectern and presidential seal was entertainer and Bush lookalike Steve Bridges. Bridges played the part of Bush's alter ego, saying what Bush really thought.

"Here I am at another one of these press dinners," Bridges said. "I could be home asleep with little Barney at my feet, but no, I have to pretend I like being here."

The real Bush: "I'm absolutely delighted to be here, as is Laura."

Bridges: "The media really ticks me off by not editing what I say." And "How come I can't have dinner with the 36 percent of the people who like me?"

Bush made fun of himself and his mangled syntax, his low approval ratings, and his vice president, Dick Cheney, who he said "is a good man with a good heart. Well, a good man." Cheney had a heart condition. The audience roared and applauded.

Self-deprecating humor reflects a certain level of modesty that says to people you don't think more highly of yourself than you should. President Calvin Coolidge put it succinctly (as he always did) a century ago: "It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man."

Does President Trump have within him the capacity to demonstrate humility? He hasn't yet done so either in his presidential or business life. Maybe he could fake it. In Washington, if you can fake humility, you can fake anything.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Cal Thomas, America's most-syndicated columnist, is the author of 10 books.


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What if the biggest problem with electronic health records was not the technology itself, but that we expected it to transform medicine when it could only lay the foundation? Robert Wachter, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, joins the show to discuss his book, A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future. He explains why AI is the first technology that replicates what doctors thought only they could do, from diagnosing complex cases to demonstrating empathy. You will hear how Open Evidence dethroned UpToDate as the go-to clinical knowledge tool, why AI scribes went from experiment to expectation in just two years, and what the Waymo model of incremental trust teaches us about avoiding a catastrophic setback in medical AI. Wachter also explores the deskilling debate in medical education, why the doctor-patient relationship may not be as irreplaceable as physicians believe, and how primary care could look radically different within a decade. If you are trying to understand where AI in health care is headed and what it means for your career and your patients, this is the conversation to hear.

Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Lets work together to tell your story.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today it is my pleasure to welcome Robert Wachter, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and we are going to talk about his new book, A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Health Care, and what that means for our future. Bob, welcome to the show.

Robert Wachter: Thank you, Kevin. Great to see you.

Kevin Pho: I was thinking back, and you graciously wrote the foreword to my book. This was thirteen years ago, back in 2013, about online reputation and social media. I was thinking about all the technological changes. Change is too small a word for these momentous changes in medicine over the years. It could be the EHR, social media, mobile devices, and, of course, now we have artificial intelligence. When you reflect and think back between all of these digital waves, what feels fundamentally different about AI?

Robert Wachter: The humanness of it. The fact that it can replicate to a pretty astounding degree what doctors typically thought only we could do. I wrote a book about the transformation of medicine going from paper to digital. It changed a lot, some for the better, some for the worse, but in some ways it did not really fundamentally challenge what I do as a doctor. It was an adjunct. It helped that I got rid of doctors handwriting and I could send an e-prescription to Walgreens, but being a doctor still felt the same.

To a large extent, and this is a bad thing, being a patient felt pretty much the same. I think this is the first technology that I have ever seen that just fundamentally challenges what it means to be a patient, a doctor, a nurse, or a health care leader. That is why I use Hemingways old line in the book. When a character went bankrupt, one of the others asked how a man goes bankrupt. He said two ways: gradually and then suddenly. Everything up to now feels gradual. This feels sudden.

Kevin Pho: I feel that electronic medical records, even though they did not change our definition of being physicians, did change the day-to-day. You mentioned the humanness of artificial intelligence. Go into more detail. What do you mean by that?

Robert Wachter: It is the first technology that I have seen that essentially feels like you are talking with a human. I remember the early days, three years ago of generative AI. I would be watching and thinking it can pass the boards. That is impressive. But in some ways, it is not more impressive than when I watched Watson beat the Jeopardy champions in 2011. It can pass tests, and it knows things. But what about complex cases? That is what we do in medicine.

Then it does really well on the case records of the Mass General Hospital, the most complex cases. But how about relationships, communication, and empathy? Then it was clear it can do that well too. Of course it has no empathy, but it can fake empathy like the best doctor. On every measure of what we think of as being unique about what physicians do and their relationship with patients, we began to see that it is acting more like a human.

Like most of the doctors I now know, I use OpenEvidence to get my medical information. Until two years ago, I used UpToDate or I used Google. Why is OpenEvidence better? I could go into UpToDate and ask about the right dose of apixaban for a patient with pulmonary embolism. But I could not say I have an 82-year-old patient who comes in with a PE who also had a history of GI bleed three years ago, has a creatinine of 1.7, and weighs 243 pounds. I can say that to a large language model, and it gives me an answer that is not that different than the answer I might get if I was talking to a colleague. That is magical and new. That is different than anything we have ever had before.

Kevin Pho: Are they not having some type of large language model interface at UpToDate to replicate what OpenEvidence is already doing?

Robert Wachter: They are, they have built it, and they needed to because their lunch was getting eaten. Until two years ago, if I had gone to my residents and asked what they use as a knowledge tool, every single one would have said UpToDate. If I did that today, every single one would say OpenEvidence. UpToDate was a little asleep at the switch and then woke up one day and said we better build that kind of interface. Now I think it is an open question whether UpToDate can win back its audience. I think that is an interesting food fight.

What OpenEvidence does is you can put in a very doctor prompt, and it is spatially searching the medical literature and guidelines from respected societies to give you an answer. What UpToDate theoretically can do is search a curated chapter written by the worlds expert on a topic. You could argue that might be better because that expert will know that a study is a good study and another study is not a good study. Does OpenEvidence know that? That is a little trickier. On the other hand, the economics model for UpToDate is going to be tricky because they have to have human experts for one thousand topics that have to keep chapters up to date. They have to pay them. I do not know how that is going to play out, but UpToDate has some work to do to reclaim the mantle from OpenEvidence.

I will tell you one quick story in case you are having any sympathy for UpToDate getting disrupted in the classic way. When hospital medicine became a field, I wrote the first textbook of hospital medicine with two of my co-authors at UCSF. We put it out the minute UpToDate became a thing. I gave a copy to the residents and put it in the resident library, a little bookshelf in the resident room. Six months later, here was a book written by the chair of the department, the associate chair of the department, and the residency director. I went into the office and pulled it out. It had been there for six months, and I opened it up. It was clear to me that the book had not been opened before because UpToDate had just come out. I had spent two years writing this thing. UpToDate did to textbooks essentially what OpenEvidence did to UpToDate. UpToDate is going to need to scramble to reclaim their position.

Kevin Pho: We are going to talk about this later in terms of some of the tools that physicians are using. It is a fascinating horse race. You have OpenEvidence, UpToDate, and of course, Doximity really fighting for supremacy when it comes to the knowledge aspect of large language models. Thinking back to when ChatGPT first came out, November 30, 2022. There are times when you have a monumental shift happen and you just know exactly what you are doing at that point. I can think of one episode in the past when Steve Jobs gave his iPhone keynote, and he just knew at that moment that it was going to change the world. Did you get that feeling? You mentioned earlier it was kind of like Watson. If you did not get that feeling when you first saw ChatGPT, when did you get the feeling it was going to change everything? Was there a singular event that changed your mind?

Robert Wachter: I did get that feeling the first time I used it. It was not perfect. I did not know what hallucination was in the beginning. Then you began to see that it would fabricate certain answers. Part of the reason I got so excited about it for health care was the day before, November 29, 2022, if I was Googling something, I was not sitting there saying Google stinks and I need a better search engine. Given that I am not Steve Jobs, I could not even imagine a better search engine than Google. But the first time I used GPT, I said this is better. I can put a prompt in plain English and get an answer in plain English. That was astounding to me.

On November 29, 2022, I do not know anybody who thought the health care system was perfect. The first time I used it, I recognized that part of the problem with electronic health records and our disappointment with them was our belief that just having this digital tool would transform health care. I came to realize it does not do it automatically, but it creates a foundation for it. All of our data are digital, but they are mostly in unstructured notes, doctors notes, nurses notes, etc. The questions we ask are not computable. They are the kind of complex questions I just asked before, with lots of words, jargon, and initials. The first time I used it, I knew this is the kind of tool that we need that can essentially deliver what we hoped the electronic health record would deliver and did not.

I have gone back and looked at my book The Digital Doctor a few times. Toward the end of this very grumpy book, there is chapter twenty-seven where I ended on a pretty optimistic note. The note was my mistake here was thinking that the EHR would be transformative. I came to believe that the EHR was foundational but not transformative. We needed our data in digital form, but then we needed a set of tools that would allow us to take all that data, make sense of it, get diagnoses, get treatment recommendations, and get rid of some of the bureaucratic paperwork. The EHR by itself did not do that and, in fact, created some new bits of friction.

Truly, on November 30, 2022, when I used GPT for the first time, I said this is it. It is not perfect, and it is going to take some evolution. One of the things I learned from the EHR is there will be lots of unanticipated consequences. As I used different and better tools, like the first time I used OpenEvidence, I realized this is even better than what I had seen before. The first time I put a paragraph of text into Claude and asked it to make this better while retaining my voice, or the first time I said to GPT to tell me about Robert Wachter in the style of Hemingway, Shakespeare, or The Godfather, those were all wow moments for me.

Kevin Pho: As you reflect back in your previous book, The Digital Doctor, there are many painful lessons that we have learned from that transition to electronic health records. If you were to pick one, what is the most important lesson that you have learned? What is the most important mistake that we cannot repeat as hospitals and medical institutions rush into the AI era?

Robert Wachter: That is a great question. The thing that I did not understand at all was the productivity paradox of IT. There is a tendency to put in some fancy new piece of technology and assume that it is going to be transformative. It is not just the tech. It really is the ecosystem, the way you govern it, and the culture. There is some change that needs to happen that goes beyond just putting in a piece of technology. This technology is easier in a way than the electronic health record in that you do not have to learn a lot about how to put in a prompt. The importance of the right prompt has gone down in the last couple of years.

The biggest lesson might be the lesson of unanticipated consequences. That is a paradox. What flows from that? You should anticipate unanticipated consequences. Recognizing that Vinod Khosla wrote a blurb for my book, the theme is that we have learned it is not the technology itself. It is the ecosystem, the culture, and the payment system. We have to pay a lot of attention to it.

The thing that may turn out to be the biggest challenge for physicians is why many of us dislike our electronic health record. Part of it is the tools were not very good, but it also became an enabler of corporate control. When I was scribbling on a piece of paper, nobody could look over my shoulder in real time, and nobody could make me do anything. Once it became electronic, everybody who cared about what you did as a doctor had the capacity to electronically look over your shoulder and electronically make you do things. What do people hate about their EHR? It is not really Epic or Cerners fault. A lot of it is having to fill out thirty-two checkboxes because quality is being measured or it is going to produce a better bill. You could build enforcing functions to make the doctor do things that you could not before, and that made clinicians unhappy. It was the source of a lot of burnout.

The AI is going to be that on steroids. It is not only potentially going to make me fill out certain boxes. It is going to begin delivering decision support that is going to suggest, at first, and maybe something stronger than suggest, the diagnosis. It is going to suggest the right tests and the right treatments over time. There is going to be some real tension between physicians who are used to their autonomy and this technology. Underlying the technology will be some really important values. If you suggest that I use a new Alzheimers drug that might cost $50,000, slows the progression by three months, and has a 1 percent chance of a brain bleed, the decision about whether to suggest that has to have a lot of values embedded into it. Somebody is going to be deciding, and it might not be the doctor. It might be your health care organization, or it might be the insurer.

It is one thing to say the tool is going to scribe for you. Who is going to object to that if it does it well? It is going to summarize the patients 600-page medical record. Terrific. Those are things that are relatively unobjectionable. I am going to use OpenEvidence on my phone that is sitting in my pocket to suggest a diagnosis. Fine, that makes me a better doctor. But as these tools get institutionalized and increasingly impact and dominate decision-making, diagnosis, and treatment, there will be real tension between physicians who worry about what is underlying that recommendation, losing autonomy, the art of medicine, and ultimately their job. Those lessons flow a little bit from the experience with the electronic health record, but the electronic health record was baby steps compared to what we are going to see as decision support becomes more robust.

Kevin Pho: You said that the AI era is going to be electronic medical records on steroids. If you step back and take a wider look at it, we are in our infancy when it comes to medical institutions adopting AI tools. You are based in San Francisco near Silicon Valley. I am sure you have exposure to a lot of health tech startups. I interview a lot of health tech executives on the show, and it is AI everything. What are you seeing now when you talk to different hospitals as they consider AI rollouts? Are they taking a more measured approach like what you are describing, or do you feel like they are rushing into it to catch that bandwagon?

Robert Wachter: I think they are taking a pretty measured approach. These are conservative organizations. They worry about privacy, security, and hacking. They do not have the bandwidth to do one hundred implementations. Each one takes change management, organization, and buy-in. I worry the path of least resistance, particularly if you have Epic, is to just turn on the tools that Epic builds. Your roadmap may just be Epics roadmap. It is like the old saying that nobody ever lost their job going with IBM. In an Epic hospital, nobody ever lost their job waiting for an Epic tool.

In some ways, it resembles the old Microsoft debates. Is this good for one company to dominate a field like that? A lot of the tension comes over whether we stick with Epic as the dominant player here, or use tools built by giants like Google or Amazon, or the ubiquitous AI startups that are around us all the time. It is a tricky choice because the startups might be building a better tool because that is what they do for a living. But are they going to be in business in two years? You have to integrate the tool. It creates a playing field that does not feel exactly level. I worry about Epic dominating this game for everyone.

The speed with which we have all adopted AI scribes is pretty amazing. Two years ago, you wondered if it was going to cost a health care organization a couple million dollars. Are they going to do it, or are they going to insist on a return on investment? It has almost become an expectation of a practice. For the rest of them, they are looking at what the return on investment of these tools is. At UCSF, we have set up a robust governance process to vet these tools. A lot of organizations are scrambling to do that. Nobody has the time to deal with one hundred startups and listen to their pitches.

The thing that happened most quickly is the shift to OpenEvidence, which to me is mostly organic. In very few places have health care systems bought OpenEvidence because it is free and advertising-based. Clinicians have voted with their feet and said here is a tool that we think is better and we are just going to use it on our phones. That creates a little bit of hair on fire for some of the institutional officials who are worried about HIPAA, and therefore some motivation to say if everybody is going to use it, we better bring it into the system and govern it better. The fastest things I have seen are the scribes on the institutional side and OpenEvidence and other knowledge tools on the organic physician side. Those have been quick, but it does not feel like it is happening too quick or people are not thinking about the guardrails.

I worry more on the patient side. Patients are using GPT or Gemini for health-related queries constantly. The emerging evidence is that sometimes they get the wrong answer. Of course, there is no regulation for this at all. That is the part of this that is probably the scariest in terms of how quickly it has evolved and taken over.

Kevin Pho: Your point about Epic earlier is already happening. Epic is coming out with their own AI scribe, and they are using that Microsoft model to put some of the smaller AI scribe businesses potentially out of business. There is definitely a lot to think about there. From a physician standpoint, it is safe to say that the EHR rollout has gone wrong for physicians. There is a lot to complain about. If we were to do it over again, there are a lot of things that we would change. As we enter the AI era, from a practicing physician standpoint, what could make this moment go wrong?

Robert Wachter: The thing that probably dominates my thinking about what could go wrong will be a high-profile error where the AI kills somebody, setting things back five years and leading to a backlash against AI. People will say it is not ready for prime time in a high-stakes field like medicine. That is why I think it has been smart for us to begin with pretty small-bore problems. It is not the end of the world if AI gets something wrong in scribing a note. It will happen. The thing is not perfect, but it is better than the alternative. The same is true in chart summarization. It was important to try things early that built up a reservoir of trust. As we get to more high-stakes, higher benefit, but also higher risk entities like diagnosis and clinical decision support, at some point it is going to make a mistake. At some point, somebody is going to die. If you have not built up enough trust before that, it becomes a lawsuit and a cause celebre.

I spent a lot of time in the book talking about Waymo and what it took to have a driverless car that I take about once a week and sometimes take a nap in the back. Everybody says AI is not ready for prime time in health care because it is too risky and we can kill somebody. Are you kidding me? Try making a left turn in rush hour onto a busy street in San Francisco with me sitting in the back of a car with no driver, and I trust it completely. That is amazing. You did not start with a driverless car. You started with cruise control, you started with automatic braking, and then you drove millions and millions of miles with a driver there just watching in case something was wrong before you said this thing is ready for prime time. In San Francisco, there was a second driverless car company, Cruise, that GM owned. It ran over a woman. It did not kill her, but almost killed her, and within a year it was out of business.

That is the thing that worries me the most, particularly in an environment where the incumbents, doctors and nurses, are a little bit worried about losing their jobs. If they felt the AI was not ready and was coming for their job, they would use the n of one case of a bad outcome to demonstrate we need doctors. There is going to be some of that in every industry. I argue in the book that the threat of job replacement for physicians and nurses is relatively low in the short term. We have seen that in radiology. Everybody thought radiologists were going to be out of business by now. At UCSF, we cannot hire radiologists fast enough, and they are all begging for more AI help. There may be a threat to them, but it is not tomorrow.

The more powerful incumbents like physicians and nurses are generally feeling like they need the help and are not so worried about job replacement. In a world where there is a lot of skepticism about AI, public attitudes about the AI companies are pretty sour. People are quite worried about this partly because of jobs, partly because of other risks, and partly because they just do not understand it. The level of trust is low, and it will not take very much for a bad error to become a national story. That could set the field back by five years.

Kevin Pho: We are talking to Robert Wachter. He is the professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. His new book is A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Health Care. I want to transition now in terms of the clinical use of AI. You have mentioned OpenEvidence several times, and you still do rounds. How are medical students and residents today incorporating AI during rounds?

Robert Wachter: They are using it like I do, as a curbside consult. I am a hospitalist, so I am a generalist. What I tell a medical student about the good and bad parts of being a hospitalist is it is an analog of being a primary care doctor in a hospital. Any patient who comes onto my service, I can name five people in the building who know more about each of their problems than I do, and I know more about all of it than they do. That leads to some tension. One of the manifestations of the tension is that on rounds I will often have a question about the right management of a problem, pathophysiology, or treatment. It is not a big enough question where I need a procedure or a nephrology or infectious disease consult, but I would love to be smarter about it.

Three years ago, I hoped I would run into my favorite infectious disease doctor in the hallway or the cafeteria and do a curbside consult, where you ask to run a case by them and do a little snippet. Now I use OpenEvidence for that, and all of our residents and students do the same thing. That has become the standard way when you have a question that does not merit a full specialty consult, but you need specialty-level knowledge. It is scaled and hyper-convenient. Sometimes they are using other tools, including GPT, Gemini, or Claude, which are also quite good. OpenEvidence has become the default setting.

I think we have all gotten over the embarrassment of that. I remember in the old days when I was doing ambulatory care and I would see a patient and have a question that I needed to Google, I would say to the patient my beeper went off as a little white lie and go out in the hallway. Now we are pretty confident admitting that we can use some help, and this tool is available 24/7. In the medical education world, we are worried about deskilling. It is one thing for me to use it to ask a question. I know the questions to ask, and I can interpret an answer and know if it is a good answer or a dumb answer. A first-year or second-year medical student is not an expert. They are a novice, and they do not have some of the same capabilities.

The biggest struggle that we are having in the medical education world is whether this is a crutch. Is this going to prevent them from learning, or is this an adjunct to their learning? It gives them on-the-spot intelligence that they did not have access to before. I think it is net good, but we have to be careful about making sure that we do not bypass the developmental stages they need to go from novice to expert. That is what allows you to ask the right questions of a patient. It would be a mistake for us to say this thing is in your pocket and therefore you do not have to know things anymore.

I chaired a national conference on medical education and AI last year and tried to see if there is consensus on anything we can take off the curriculum. The only answer that everybody agreed on was the Krebs cycle. Everybody is pretty sure that can go away. Beyond that, there is a general consensus that it is premature to say medical students do not need to know things anymore or know diagnostic reasoning because this tool is smarter than they are. That may come, in which case we probably are out of a job. In the foreseeable future, it is still going to be important that they learn how to think, how to reason, and some of the foundational knowledge that goes into differential diagnosis.

Kevin Pho: Tell us the things about being a doctor that you feel AI cannot replace. You mentioned during teaching rounds that there are some things medical students need to maintain even during this AI era so that they cannot look everything up on OpenEvidence. What are those specific things that they need to keep under every circumstance, no matter how advanced AI gets?

Robert Wachter: I almost never say never anymore. These things are getting better so fast that things I would have thought we would never give over to AI, we have to treat as open questions at this point. Telling a patient they have a dread disease, cancer, kidney failure, or diabetes, I do not want AI to do that. People have to be really good at empathy. People have to be really good at bringing together teams and using members of teams for their appropriate uses and skills. Understanding enough clinical medicine that you know the right questions to ask and know how to interpret answers is going to remain exceptionally important. Having an AI decide whether you start on chemo or go to surgery are things that I cannot see happening for the foreseeable future.

I will hear people talk about this, and they divide the world into things that feel like they are AI-able, and then things that they almost say as a religion are profoundly human things. That is the conclusion I came to at the end of the book. I think we have to recognize that we are rooting for the humans because we are them. We work very hard to be doctors, and the idea that it could be replaced feels profoundly unsettling. Recognize that is a bias that needs to be tested, particularly with a younger generation of patients who may ask why they would go sit in a waiting room of a doctors office. This feels transactional in the same way my finances or travel is transactional. If it is cheaper, more convenient, and I am getting the answers I need, why would I go see a doctor? There is a generational shift here where the expectations of what you need to see a doctor for are going to change.

For now, things that are high-stakes, complex, and feel profoundly human really involve empathy. High-stakes decision-making and communication feel to me like they are fundamentally human. Every time I say that, I also recognize these tools are getting better and better. We may need to demonstrate that the value of seeing us is worth the inconvenience and the cost. Maybe we will, and maybe we will not. In the world of primary care, it feels like almost a sure thing that there is going to be a fair amount of what a primary care doctor does today that can be done effectively by AI at a lower cost and more conveniently for the patient. Yet, nobody wants a patient to learn that they have cancer from AI.

There is probably some level of complexity in terms of the number of different diseases with all their interactions that is beyond todays AI, but probably not beyond AI forever. Then you end up with tough questions. What does the triage system look like if the patient is getting their cholesterol and hypertension managed by the bot, but somehow the patient can get to Kevin when they really need to? Questions are going to be posed to primary care doctors. You look at your schedule today, and it is an incredibly complex patient, hypertension, statins, and a difficult case. If all the easy ones are taken off your plate in the name of creating a job that is better for you, it may make your day even more hellish and make the cognitive load almost impossible because all you have is a centrifuged sample of tough patients. Lots of second-order questions flow from this. Four years ago, there was a whole lot of stuff that AI does that I would have said could never happen, and now it does.

Kevin Pho: A lot of consternation in terms of the future of our jobs, especially in primary care. I go to a lot of Facebook physician-only groups, and there is a lot of debate on the role of AI in the future. There is a certain consensus that AI will not necessarily replace our jobs, but you could have advanced practice practitioners with OpenEvidence or AI support that could do a lot of things primary care physicians can do. If you contrast that with pretty much every other field, you are right. There is a human component in medicine. That doctor-patient relationship is sacred. I am not going to say never, but I would say it is going to be very hard to be replicated by AI.

Robert Wachter: Even as you say sacred, which is incredibly loaded. As soon as we say it, and I feel it myself, I sort of catch myself now and say that is a man-made construct. It is partly to make me feel good that what I do is so important. That is a question that will be answered empirically. I do not think anybody ever thought the relationship with their bank teller or their travel agent was sacred. A whole lot of people are choosing to do that in different ways with digitally enabled tools. It could be completely technology-driven care or a lesser-trained and less expensive human who maybe has the relationship part but does not have the knowledge that you and I have, and they do not need it anymore because they have AI.

I would not only confine that to the cognitive parts of medicine. Do you need a $450,000-a-year gastroenterologist doing your colonoscopy when you have an AI-enabled colonoscope? That is a skill you could probably teach a high school student to do. I am sure I am going to make all the gastroenterologists unhappy, but that is life. It is not going to be our choice necessarily about whether patients see this thing as sacred. It is going to be their choice.

Kevin Pho: What are some things physicians can do? I will use the term future-proof to future-proof themselves as AI can do more and more things. What kind of advice could you give to our currently practicing physicians and early-career physicians?

Robert Wachter: I think future-proof is the wrong word. My wife, who is a journalist and wrote about tech for a long time, gave the commencement speech to the graduates of the computer science department at San Francisco State a couple of years ago. It was like speaking at a wake because these kids had future-proofed their careers by getting a computer science degree. These were mostly first-generation college students. I thought I was future-proofing my career by doing this thing called computer science that I was taught was a golden ticket, and now they are worried they will not have a job. The future is the future. It is hard to know, but what should everybody be doing?

You have to use these tools and see how they make you better, more efficient, or more productive. Part of my writing the book was designed to communicate what they are good at, what they are bad at, and where this takes the future of health care. Many people found it useful that way, but there is no substitute for using it in your daily life, whether in your clinical life or personal life, to help you plan your next trip or to help you write. You get a sense of what they can and cannot do. If you are in a leadership position in your health care organization, I do not see how you are going to be able to stay ahead of the curve because your competitors are going to be using these tools. You have to figure out how to use them. The nice part is they are not that hard. This is not like saying you have to go off to a two-week course to learn how to do prompt engineering.

Ethan Mollick, a professor at Wharton who writes about this, talks about the jagged frontier. They are scary good at certain things, and certain things they are just not very good at yet. The only way you are going to figure out how it can improve your life or your practice is to use them. There is some foundational knowledge you have to have to use them effectively, but it is not a massive investment in time. That is the only real advice I can give. I find this really interesting and profound, so I like keeping up with it. I have a Substack. Ethan Mollick writes about AI in life and work, but not so much about health care. His stuff is very helpful in staying at the cutting edge of where the tools are. Listening to the podcast Hard Fork that The New York Times produces is quite good in keeping track of the technology, but there is no substitute for trying it. Choose a few of them, as they are not very expensive, and see which one you like. I use OpenEvidence for my clinical work mostly. Each one has a different set of characteristics. I toggle between Gemini and GPT for regular Google replacement. Claude is the best of the writers and editors, so if you are using it for that purpose, it is really quite good.

Kevin Pho: Earlier, you joked that the Krebs cycle could probably go in medical education. Are you seeing medical schools adapt to this AI era? If not, what kind of changes should they make going forward as more students are using AI tools?

Robert Wachter: They are talking about it in the same way we just did. It is happening, and they are all using these tools. There is a part of medical school which is similar to a high school or middle school teacher asking how to assess students. Medical school assessment is easier. It is not like you are sending the kid home to write an essay, which is the scourge of middle school teachers who know it will be written by AI. Medical schools are recognizing there is going to be a trade-off between how much knowledge we have to stuff into the kids ears versus other skills that they need to have and that we should emphasize more. Good schools are making a subtle shift that way.

Pulling all that knowledge out of the curriculum is not the right call at this point, but we need to make sure they are using the tools safely, spotting hallucination, and knowing when to go to the primary source. They need to be better at the things we think of as fundamentally human, like empathy and communication, and using AI in new ways to do those things. For example, how do I know how good my medical student is at interviewing a patient? Do I watch them for 30 minutes talking to the patient? Usually not. They come out and present the case to me. That is a pretty poor proxy measure of their communication. Now we could record that conversation and the AI could give them feedback on how they did. Schools are beginning to build that sort of thing.

At UCSF, we have a feedback tool. At the end of a student presenting a case to me, I might have some feedback that I give the student. When I assess the student at the end of ten days, I have forgotten what I said. Now I will dictate into my phone what my feedback was, and at the end, it aggregates all of that for me as overarching feedback for their entire performance. We are using AI for grading tests, reading their notes, and new kinds of simulation. These world models are able to watch, not just listen to what they all said to each other during a simulation, but watch what happened in a room and give feedback about the entirety of the experience. Those are tools that forward-looking schools are working on.

The concept of precision education has been around the corner the same way the concept of precision medicine has been around the corner for the last twenty years. Precision education says why are we giving the same generic curriculum to every student? We should be assessing where they are. The student needs to learn more about diabetes, and they have heart failure nailed, therefore we should shunt the patients to them that they need. We could modulate their training time based on their achievement of competencies rather than having to be in medical school for four years.

If health care is slow to change, education is just as slow. If you are building new things in the curriculum, you have to figure out what to take out of the curriculum. The anatomy and biochemistry professors are very wedded to what they do. There are political and historical challenges. Forward-thinking schools are recognizing that students need a slightly different set of skills than they had before and need to be very comfortable with these tools. A lot of health care systems, including mine, are thinking about this. We have a committee decide if we turn on scribes. That committee up until recently did not have an educator on it. The decision to turn on scribes might be different for students than for the practicing doctor. Maybe we do not want them to have their notes scribed in the beginning. We want them to write fifty notes and get good at it before we turn it on. We have to figure out how to have an educational lens on what otherwise would be more clinically or business-driven decisions.

Kevin Pho: It is almost analogous to the invention of the calculator. You have calculators as a tool. How much do you still need to rely on basic arithmetic when you have a calculator? There is an opportunity in medical education to refocus some of that time and resources. I do not want to say less knowledge base, but less of an emphasis on knowledge because it could be easily looked up. Have that focus on deepening relationships or how medical students should interact with patients. I think it is that relationship that will persist as these AI models get more advanced.

Robert Wachter: Maybe we should repurpose some of the time on what we used to do on the new thing. I think that is right. There has also been the argument that Zeke Emanuel made recently in The Times that medical schools should be three years. There are schools that are three-year medical schools that seem to be doing fine and have similar outcomes to four-year schools. The process is long, and the process is expensive. If there are things we can take off their plate, I do not think we should automatically say let us fill back that cup with other stuff. We may have to make the whole thing more efficient.

Kevin Pho: What about your colleagues, your fellow professors? Obviously, you are on one end of the spectrum because you wrote a book about AI. What are the perspectives among your fellow professors regarding the advancement of AI and how that intersects with medical education?

Robert Wachter: I think it is generally positive. That may be partly because I am the chair of the department, so they are supposed to think the way I think, although they mostly do not. We are in San Francisco, which leads to a slightly more optimistic view. When I go to places in other parts of the country, it is not quite the burning issue that it is at my place. Most people are using AI knowledge tools and seeing what they can do. It is pretty unusual these days when I talk to people in places that are not very forward-thinking in the world of technology and they say they just do not use this or believe in it. They are trying it in the rest of their life.

We may be overlearning the example from radiology. Would you tell your kid to become a doctor? The story I tell in the book is in 2016 when Geoff Hinton, the founding father of generative AI, gave a speech in Toronto and infamously said we should stop training any new radiologists because it is obvious in five years we are not going to need them anymore. If we had listened to him, by 2021 we would have no new radiologists. As I say, there is a shortage of radiologists now. That has given people the impression that job replacement in medicine is not going to happen. There probably is a threat in fields like radiology and pathology over a decade or fifteen-year time horizon. As these tools get better, the radiologist and pathologist will find other new things to do. There still will be jobs, but it has given the sense to people that they do not need to be that worried about their job.

That has been helpful because the political blowback against that would be profound. If people are not that worried about it, they are more receptive to trying this in their life and seeing whether it can make things better. The harder questions are institutionally where it lives, where it fits into the workflow, Epic versus not Epic, and those sorts of things. Most people are either neutral or mostly enthusiastic. If they are worried about it, they are worried about it in the same way I am, which is patients using these tools themselves instead of seeing a doctor and getting themselves in real trouble, setting things back. As these companies get a little bit more hubristic about pitching themselves as AI doctors, you are going to see people using these tools as substitutes for the health care system. Some of them are going to have a bad outcome, and that is what most of us worry about the most.

Kevin Pho: I know GPT and Claude are appealing directly to patients. They are encouraging patients to upload an entire medical record to these tools without emphasizing things like privacy. From a patient perspective, if they are listening to you now, what are some of the red flags? What are the things that they need to be cautious about as they bypass the medical system and go straight to these tools to upload their medical record or simply ask for medical advice?

Robert Wachter: The decision to upload your medical record is a decision you should take thoughtfully. You already have uploaded your medical record. It is in Epic or Oracle. It is in an electronic record somewhere, so it already lives in a company. Those companies are governed under HIPAA, and they have strict privacy regulations. For the most part, that has been quite a safe thing to do. Uploading it to GPT, Claude, or Perplexity is an act where you do not have the same protection. Am I really worried about it? Not really. The companies have a pretty strong corporate interest in not leaking your data. They are going to be pretty careful, but anything I did not want to be publicly exposed, I probably would not allow to be uploaded.

The bigger question is whether they are giving the right answers. I still think they are better than anything that you had before. What are you comparing against? If you are comparing against Google, I would rather put my data and ask my question to Gemini or GPT than just do a Google search. You get something more useful back. Try doing it in two different models and seeing if they agree. I cannot prove that is better, but I feel more comfortable if I put this to GPT and Gemini and they give me the same answer about what to do.

There are certain red flag symptoms. If you have bad chest pain, shortness of breath, you are confused, or part of your body is not working, I do not care what the computer says. You need to see a doctor now. Patients may not know that, but there are certain things that we know where these tools are not trustworthy enough. I think the tools are going to get better. I would be looking for tools that replicate what you and I would do more than what they currently do. If someone says to you they have a headache, you do not say that sounds like a migraine. You ask a whole bunch of questions before you say what you think they have and what they should do. The tools of the future have to act more like a good doctor than the current tools do.

Kevin Pho: We have been talking to Robert Wachter. He is the professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. His book is A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Health Care. I want to be thankful for the time you have graciously spent with us today. What do we have to look forward to in the immediate future, and then maybe we can end off with some of your take-home messages to the KevinMD audience.

Robert Wachter: Kevin, thanks for the opportunity. The next 10 years are going to be pretty great for doctors, and I think they are going to be better for patients. Patients are going to have new tools that allow them to get these questions answered. They ask them all the time of technology to get better, more convenient answers. For physicians, some of the sources of burnout, the paperwork, the prior authorizations, the documentation, and even answering a whole bunch of patients email questions, new AI will help with a lot of those things. It will help us be better doctors, in part by scaling subspecialty knowledge. It is not going to be without speed bumps or real challenges, but it is going to make the lives of both patients and clinicians better. I came out of this much more optimistic than I thought I would be when I entered it. An important question is whether it will raise or lower the cost of health care. I do not know the answer to that. It could go in either direction. The cost of health care is one of the big problems in our system, so we have to work to see whether it can lower costs.

The take-home messages are that this is the biggest experiment in the history of medicine. We do not know exactly how this movie ends. We have to approach it with an open mind and try to be rigorous about studying it without just accepting that it is necessarily better. Health care is not about my employment or yours. It is about how we create the best health and health care system at the lowest cost for our patients. We need to be open to the possibility that technology is doing things that we right now think have to be human. There is still going to be a role for humans for the foreseeable future, but it is going to be different than it has been before, so we have to be open to change. The change is going to be net positive, at least in health care. In AI in the rest of our lives, I am quite worried in the same way everybody else is about all sorts of things. In health care, because the system is so broken, there is almost only room to go up, and I think it is going to make things better.

Kevin Pho: Bob, once again, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks for coming on the show.

Robert Wachter: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.
As a physician who has spent years managing patients with persistent pain, I often encounter the same frustrating cycle. A patient arrives with unrelenting back pain that has lasted for months. They describe not just physical discomfort but a deepening sense of hopelessness, fatigue, and withdrawal from life. Is the pain causing the depression, or did underlying depressive symptoms amplify an initially manageable ache into something chronic and debilitating? It is the medical equivalent of the classic chicken-or-egg dilemma: which came first?

The evidence on the pain-depression link is clear. This is not a one-way street. Chronic pain and depression share overlapping mechanisms of disease and respond to many of the same treatments. They fuel each other in a bidirectional loop that complicates care, worsens outcomes, and strains our health care system. Recognizing this interplay is essential, especially as we deal with workforce shortages and shifting priorities in mental health training.

A bidirectional relationship backed by data

Large-scale studies consistently demonstrate that chronic pain and depression do not merely coexist, as they actively exacerbate one another. A 2024 analysis of two major aging cohorts found a modest but statistically significant bidirectional association: chronic pain modestly increased the risk of subsequent depressive symptoms, while baseline depressive symptoms modestly raised the likelihood of developing chronic pain. Similar 20-year longitudinal data and pooled analyses of national cohorts confirm the pattern across age groups and pain types, including back pain.

Prevalence data underscore the scale of the problem. Among adults with chronic pain, approximately 39 percent experience clinically significant depressive symptoms, far higher than in the general population. In pain clinics and specialized settings, rates climb even higher, sometimes exceeding 50 percent. Patients with fibromyalgia show some of the strongest overlaps, with over half reporting both conditions.

Why does this happen? Depression lowers pain tolerance and heightens pain perception through altered central processing. Conversely, unrelenting pain triggers neuroinflammatory changes, sleep disruption, and loss of function that erode mood and motivation. It is a vicious cycle: pain begets depression, which in turn intensifies pain, leading to more functional impairment and deeper despair.

Shared neurobiological pathways

The chicken or egg question has a neurobiological answer. Both conditions arise from overlapping brain circuitry and chemistry. Key regions, including the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and insula, process both emotional distress and pain signals. Neurotransmitter systems involving serotonin and norepinephrine are dysregulated in both disorders, explaining why interventions targeting these pathways help either condition. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels drop in the hippocampus in both states, contributing to impaired neuroplasticity. Chronic stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, perpetuating inflammation that links the two.

Functional imaging studies further illustrate the shared burden. Pain accompanied by depression often shows heightened right amygdala activity, while depression with prominent pain correlates with left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex hypoactivity, which are the regions critical for emotional regulation and pain modulation. These common substrates mean that untreated pain can literally reshape brain function in ways that mimic or worsen depressive neurobiology, and vice versa.

Treatment overlap: one stone, two birds

The mechanistic overlap translates directly into clinical practice. Certain medications address both pain and depression simultaneously, offering efficient dual benefit.

Duloxetine (Cymbalta), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, and several chronic pain conditions, including diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal pain. Meta-analyses confirm it reduces pain intensity, improves physical function, and lifts mood at standard doses (60 mg daily).

Nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, similarly demonstrates strong efficacy for neuropathic pain and depression. Real-world comparative studies rank it among the top performers for pain relief with acceptable tolerability, often outperforming or matching duloxetine in head-to-head utility analyses. Both drugs work at doses that simultaneously target mood and pain pathways, nortriptyline often at lower doses for analgesia than for full antidepressant effect.

This overlap is not limited to pharmacology. Providers who routinely treat chronic pain quickly become adept at recognizing and managing depressive symptoms that amplify pain reporting. Psychiatric clinicians, in turn, frequently encounter patients whose somatic complaints represent pain intensified by mood disorders. Integrated care, whether in multidisciplinary pain clinics or collaborative models, leverages this expertise to break the cycle more effectively than siloed approaches.

Workforce realities and the case for prevention

Recent years have seen substantial investment in training mid-level providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) to address the mental health crisis. This is necessary and overdue. Yet it risks an unintended consequence: fewer clinicians willing or trained to manage complex chronic pain patients, whose needs extend beyond mental health screening into nuanced multimodal care.

We must moderate this shift. Chronic pain should be addressed proactively, and just before it evolves into a secondary mental health crisis. Early, aggressive pain management (pharmacologic, interventional, behavioral, and rehabilitative) can prevent the downward spiral of depression. Treating the egg (pain) early may avert the chicken (depression) altogether. This preventive mindset aligns with evidence that bidirectional comorbidity worsens prognosis when either condition is ignored.

Primary care clinicians, pain specialists, and psychiatrists already overlap in skill sets. Expanding pain education within psychiatry residencies and mental health training programs, as some institutions have begun to do, would further bridge the gap. Conversely, ensuring pain-focused providers maintain competence in depression screening and basic psychopharmacology prevents unnecessary referrals and delays.

Breaking the cycle: a call to integrated action

The chicken-or-egg riddle of chronic pain and depression has no single starting point, but it does have a clear solution: treat both conditions concurrently from the outset. Screen every chronic pain patient for depression and anxiety using validated tools. Consider dual-action antidepressants like duloxetine or nortriptyline early when appropriate. Refer for multidisciplinary care when pain persists despite initial therapy. And advocate for policies that support early pain intervention rather than waiting for psychiatric decompensation.

As clinicians, we cannot afford to view pain and mood disorders as separate silos. Our patients live in the messy reality where one begets the other. By embracing their shared biology and overlapping treatments, we can interrupt the cycle, improve quality of life, and use our limited workforce more effectively.

The next time you see a patient trapped in this loop, remember: it does not matter which came first. What matters is that we intervene before the cycle becomes unbreakable. Early, integrated care is not just good medicine, as it is the practical answer to a very old riddle.

Kayvan Haddadan is a physiatrist and pain management physician, and president and medical director of Advanced Pain Diagnostic & Solutions, a multidisciplinary pain management practice in California that he founded in 2012. A physician and surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California, he is double board-certified in pain medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. He is also certified in controlled substance registration through the DEA and serves as a qualified medical examiner through Californias Department of Industrial Relations Division of Workers Compensation.

Dr. Haddadan earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Alborz in Tehran, Iran, and his medical degree from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. He later received his Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certification in Philadelphia, completed an internship in medical surgery at Loyola University Medical Centers Stritch School of Medicine in Illinois, and finished his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the same institution. He completed his fellowship in pain medicine at California Pacific Medical Centers Pacific Pain Treatment Center and also trained in medical acupuncture for physicians at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine.

Dr. Haddadan has contributed to 29 research publications across multiple specialties, including pain management, cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and infectious disease. His work has examined topics such as hyperlipidemia in high cardiovascular risk patients, hyperuricemia and gout management, type 2 diabetes and hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma therapies, influenza treatment, irritable bowel syndrome, and opioid related complications in chronic pain care. His research has also included clinical outcome studies in spinal cord stimulation and award-winning presentations on neuropathic pain management and neuromuscular disorders.
The discovery of a virus which may cause Aids, the fatal disease sweeping through America, has been hailed as a monumental breakthrough in medical research.

The development was announced in Washington by US Health Secretary Margaret Heckler.

She said the virus was a variant of a known human cancer virus called HTLV-3. A blood test has also been developed, which, she said, would be available within six months, preventing the tragedy of transfusion patients contracting the disease through tainted blood products.

She also suggested that a vaccine to prevent Aids might be ready for testing in two years time.

Todays discovery represents the triumph of science over a dreaded disease, she said.

Aids, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, weakens the immune system, leaving its victims open to a series of wasting diseases. Those people who appear to be more at risk of contracting Aids include homosexuals, haemophiliacs, drug users and those who have received blood transfusions.

It has been causing widespread panic in the United States, where 4,000 people have been infected since the discovery of the disease in 1981. Almost half have died.

The findings in the United States are similar to the discovery in France last week of a virus called LAV, although French researchers stopped short of saying it was definitely the one which causes Aids.

Reaction to the news among victims was philosophical. Bob Scheckey has lived with the disease for two years  far longer than his doctors predicted. He welcomed the news from Washington, but said a possible vaccine was too far off to offer comfort.

I am working with people with Aids on a daily basis, he said. To hear that there is a possible vaccine that could come out in two or three years is no good news for these people. Most of the people were working with now will be dead by that time.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The HTLV-3 virus was discovered to be the same as the LAV virus discovered in France. To avoid confusion, it was re-named HIV in 1987.

An estimated 24 million people, both homosexual and heterosexual, have died of Aids since the disease emerged in the United States. It has now reached pandemic proportions in some parts of southern Africa, where two million died in 2001 alone.

No successful vaccine has yet been developed, although billions of dollars have been spent trying.

Only eight potential vaccines are currently being tested on humans, and just one, developed by US firm VaxGen, has reached end-stage trials.

The trials were held in North America, Europe and Thailand and involved thousands of volunteers at high risk from Aids. []

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The local government, in partnership with the six major integrated resorts and leisure enterprises, unveiled the Tourism and Leisure Buses exploration program on Wednesday to drive community economic growth and funnel more customers to local small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), the Transport Bureau (DSAT), the Public Security Police (PSP), and the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) announced the initiative at a joint press conference yesterday afternoon.

Officials described the program as an extension of existing shuttle bus routes, with new stops designed to allow visitors to explore authentic cuisine, specialties, and local culture. The scheme covers more than 1,000 merchants along the routes, aiming to open new customer streams for SMEs and foster community development.

Trial operations for the buses will kick off this Saturday, April 25, featuring three themed routes and nine community drop-off points across the Northern District, the ZAPE Area, and the Central and Southern Districts.

The three routes include Holiday Vibes Macau, running daily from April 29 to May 5 during the Labor Day holiday and linking the ZAPE area and the Macao Grand Prix Museum with community activities.

Taste the Streets Macau will operate on weekends from April 25 to July 26, connecting Northern District locations such as Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, Pantane Food Court, and Hong Kung Night Market to highlight the areas gastronomic offerings.

Leisurely Weekend Tour will also run on weekends from April 25 to July 26, focusing on attractions in Barra and AnimArte Nam Van.

In tandem with the bus tours, the DSEDT launched a mobile webpage linking 300 featured businesses in categories such as Distinctive, Century-Old Brand, and Macao Classic Brand.

With this app, visitors can access real-time information to discover each communitys unique charms, officials said.

Divert high-end visitors to boost local economies

Lei Cheok Kuan, president of the Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District, praised the SAR governments efforts to divert high-quality tourists from Macaus core areas to peripheral neighborhoods, calling it a vital boost for local community economies.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Lei highlighted the long-standing challenge of tourist distribution in the compact SAR.

As we all know, how to effectively divert tourists in Macau has always been a hot topic of discussion. Now that the SAR government is willing to help our community economy, it can help us find ways to channel high-quality consumers from leisure businesses to different areas, Lei said.

He pointed out that many tourist routes already pass through primarily residential neighborhoods and predicted a positive ripple effect for local merchants if they respond effectively.

Lei emphasized that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must raise their standards to capitalize on the expected footfall.

When the government helps promote the entire neighborhood and attract more customers, its even more important for businesses to do their job well. If you dont do your job well, a large influx of tourists might bring negative news and damage your reputation, he warned, noting that modern consumers demand immersive experiences and readily share feedback online.

He also advised merchants to stay attuned to government updates.

Lei addressed resident complaints about tourist buses disrupting neighborhoods, acknowledging that no perfect solutions exist. He advocated tolerance to balance tourist-driven vitality with quality of life, while pushing for collaborative, tailored optimization plans.

On the high costs SMEs face for imported goods  exacerbated by Macaus small size, taxes, Hong Kong transits, and freight charges  Lei offered practical guidance.

As we all know, because Macau is a small place, some imported goods may incur higher prices due to taxes, transit through Hong Kong, or freight costs. These factors can make some products quite expensive compared to other regions, he explained.

Despite these constraints, Lei encouraged resourcefulness to meet consumer expectations and ensure long-term success.

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Cambodia and China yesterday held their first meeting of what is called a 2+2 Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, bringing together both countries foreign and defense ministers to deepen mutual political and security ties.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun are visiting Cambodia to hold talks with their counterparts, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

These talks are an initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit in April last year, aimed at boosting relations and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. China has worked to increase its sphere of influence in Southeast Asia, and initiated the ministerial-level 2+2 dialogue format with Indonesia last year.

While in Cambodia, both Chinese ministers are also to hold separate meetings with Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet. Following the joint 2+2 meeting, Wang Yi today is scheduled to have in-depth discussions with Prak Sokhonn to discuss the implementation of existing cooperation frameworks and contributions to regional peace, security and stability.

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Macau residents and visitors will be given rare access to around 50 buildings across the city this November as the Center for Architecture and Urbanism (CURB) brings back Open House Macau on November 7 and 8.

The event, first held in Macau in 2018 as the first Open House in Asia, allows visitors to explore interiors typically off-limits.

Nuno Soares, architect and editor of the newly launched book Architecture Beyond Walls and president of CURB, said the event celebrates architectural culture in Macau, not just heritage sites.

Some will be heritage buildings, but some will be contemporary buildings, infrastructural buildings, industrial buildings, or even infrastructure, Soares told the Times on the sidelines of the book launch and event announcement. Its about very interesting buildings. Its really celebrating the architectural richness of Macau.

The list includes spaces the general public rarely enters. Soares cited the TDM building as an example, noting that journalists have been inside, but most people have not. Other previously opened buildings include footbridges designed by local architect Adalberto Tenreiro of Creative Macau, who created many memorable footbridges across the city.

Open House is a global network founded by Victoria Thornton in 1992, now spanning 60 cities worldwide. The events attract approximately 1.2 million visitors annually, opening over 6,000 buildings across six continents. Macaus edition was the first in Asia, predating other Asian editions including those in Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul, and Taipei.

Unlike curated tours, Open House Macau lets visitors choose their own experience. Attendees can select buildings based on personal interest, with no two visits being identical. More than 5,000 people participated in 2018. The event is free, with no ticket required.

The important part of the project is the volunteers, the people that interact with you when you go to the buildings, Soares said. When we say that this is by the community, its that this is done really by a community.

Building suggestions are open to the public, making the selection a collective dialogue rather than a top-down curation. Soares noted that the curatorial team incorporates public suggestions alongside pre-selected buildings to create a richer and more open selection.

For the 2026 edition, organizers are focusing on the theme of architectural dialogues  how buildings dialogue with their context, how owners and users dialogue, and how the community dialogues collectively. Volunteer training is open to all backgrounds, not just architects.

This is not just for architects, it is not just for professionals, it is for the wider public, said Matias Lao, researcher for the book and vice-president of CURB. Students, people who are interested in urban culture, and also people who love Macau in general can always join.

The book Architecture Beyond Walls documents the 50 buildings from the 2018 edition, featuring photographs by Kingsley Leon and research by Matias Lao. Filipa Simoes served as creative director, with Tatiana Rocha, production and communication manager of Ponte 9 Creative Platform, responsible for the graphics on the front cover and the back.

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THE HAGUE  Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he allegedly oversaw while in office.

A three-judge panel found unanimously there were substantial grounds to believe the ex-leader was responsible for dozens of murders, first as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later when he was president from 2016 to 2022.

Duterte, 80, was arrested in the Philippines last year. He denies the charges against him.

In their 50-page decision, judges found that the evidence shows that Duterte developed, disseminated and implemented a policy to neutralize alleged criminals.

According to prosecutors, police and hit squad members carried out dozens of murders at Dutertes behest starting in 2011, motivated by the promise of money or to avoid becoming targets themselves.

For some, killing reached the level of a perverse form of competition, deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the court in pretrial hearings in February.

Estimates of the death toll during Dutertes presidential term vary, from the more than 6,000 that the national police have reported to up to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.

Dutertes lead defense lawyer Nick Kaufman told The Associated Press he was disappointed in the decision, saying it is based on the uncorroborated statements of vicious self-confessed murderers acting as cooperating witnesses.

A date for the start of the trial has not yet been set.

Duterte has not been present in the courtroom for any hearings, having waived his right to appear. Last month judges found he was fit to stand trial, after postponing an earlier hearing over concerns about his health.

Human rights groups praised the decision.

Dutertes trial will send a powerful message that no one responsible for grave crimes is above the law, whether in the Philippines or elsewhere, and that justice will eventually catch up with them, Maria Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch, said.

ICC prosecutors said in 2018 that they would open a preliminary investigation into the violent drug crackdowns. In a move that human rights activists say was aimed at avoiding accountability, Duterte, who was president at the time, announced a month later that the Philippines would leave the court.

On Tuesday, appeals judges rejected a request from Dutertes legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because of the Philippine withdrawal.

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Faced with rising processing charges for international journal articles, China is advancing reforms in its scientific research evaluation system, aiming to channel more funding into actual scientific work and improve research quality.

Traditionally, journal publishing operated on a subscription model where readers paid and authors published for free. However, in recent years, the industry has shifted to an open-access model to facilitate the dissemination of scientific knowledge, allowing free reader access while authors pay fees to cover publishing costs. However, increasing article processing charges have become a heavy financial burden for scientists.

A report from the National Science Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed that the average processing charge exceeded $3,000 per article in 2024. Chinese scholars published 313,500 such articles, accounting for about one-third of the global total, and spent $909 million, a year-on-year increase of more than 20 percent.

The phenomenon of Chinas research funding subsidizing international publishers has long troubled researchers, who argue that high processing charges may entrench hierarchies, amplifying disparities in academic discourse power through financial means.

A graduate student at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology told China Central Television that if article processing charges consume a large share of research funding, experimental work will inevitably be affected.

Yan Ning, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, wrote on her Weibo account late last year that while the open-access model may have been well-intentioned, processing charges have become excessively expensive. She added that her laboratory would no longer pay to publish articles requiring such fees, opting instead to post work as preprints and publish in journals only if fee waivers are offered.

It feels like researchers are being exploited, making us suffer. Why should the funding we apply for be taken by middlemen? Yan told CCTV. She noted that many publishing groups are publicly traded companies with commercial interests and expressed hope for restoring a healthy publishing ecosystem as a vital part of the academic community.

To break the deadlock, China is promoting its own international academic journals. One example is Vita, a life sciences and biomedicine journal that will publish its print edition in June. Its main edition is open to researchers worldwide free of charge, and a study from Yans team was the first paper published online in the journal.

Starting in March, the Chinese Academy of Sciences stopped using academic funds and central government allocations to pay publication fees for 30 international open-access journals, including Nature Communications, Cell Reports and Science Advances, according to the journal Science. In addition, reimbursement for processing charges is prohibited for articles published in journals suspected of academic misconduct. The measures aim to improve oversight of academic publishing and bring charges under reasonable control.

A series of other measures has also been introduced to guide research outputs toward domestic journals. Revised guidelines for national science and technology awards issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology call for a gradual increase in the proportion of major publications in domestic journals. The National Natural Science Foundation of China has also introduced a requirement that for all projects funded since 2025, at least 20 percent of representative papers must be published in domestic journals.

Some universities have relaxed faculty recruitment and evaluation criteria, moving away from an exclusive focus on publication metrics to encourage a more flexible research environment. Tsinghua University now asks faculty to submit up to five works that best represent their academic level  including papers, monographs or patents  instead of emphasizing publication quantity or impact factors. Fudan University has established a basic research pilot zone to support long-term original research for more than 10 years. MDT/China Daily

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As the latest 10-week Community Consumption Grand Rewards Scheme campaign entered its second week, public opinion remains divided, with some residents calling the lottery mechanism absurd and arguing that direct consumption cards and merchant subsidies would be fairer, while an economics scholar noted that such concerns, while valid, overlook the fundamentally different policy objectives and resource requirements between the rewards program and consumption cards.

Seeking to boost consumer confidence, revitalize local spending, stimulate the economy and enhance the consumption atmosphere in residential areas, Macau authorities launched a new consumer promotion campaign on April 10. The initiative adopts a weekend lottery, weekday redemption model, aiming to inject approximately MOP400 million in consumption incentives to drive the local circular economy.

However, the campaign has sparked controversy. Recent social media comments have criticized the lottery mechanism as absurd, with critics claiming the benefit distribution ratio is roughly 30% for residents and 70% for businesses.

They argue that the requirement to spend at least MOP50 to enter the lottery distorts consumer behavior, noting that residents are not consuming out of actual need, but rather to enter the lottery and receive subsidies. The comments further satirize the initiative as akin to gambling, stating: It truly is the Las Vegas of the East.

Critics also questioned whether businesses are the true beneficiaries, alleging under-the-table dealings and claiming that business owners, relatives and friends were cashing out directly. They cited examples from the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (Red Note), where users reportedly entered eight e-wallets within half an hour at midnight.

The critics argued that a fairer approach would be to directly distribute consumption vouchers  an electronic consumption benefits plan first launched by the government in 2022 as a provisional measure to spur domestic demand and ease financial pressure on local residents and businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic  while also providing direct operational subsidies to businesses.

In response to the concerns, an economist told the Times that while some worries are indeed valid, the public needs to understand that the policy objectives and resource requirements of the ongoing consumption incentive scheme are fundamentally different from those of consumption vouchers, and the two should not be directly compared.

Henry Lei, associate professor of business economics at the University of Macaus Faculty of Business Administration, acknowledged public concerns over the low winning rate of the consumption incentive scheme and suggested that authorities consider optimizing the program. Reducing the MOP200 voucher and splitting it into a large number of MOP10 vouchers would enhance residents sense of benefit, he stated in a text message to the Times on Tuesday, adding that the move may also effectively reduce the likelihood of residents using the MOP200 voucher for prepaid spending.

Amid public debate comparing the Community Consumption Grand Rewards Scheme to pandemic-era vouchers, Lei emphasized that the two initiatives have entirely different policy objectives and require vastly different levels of resources.

He noted that if the government were to issue consumption vouchers again based on the 2022 scale, the expenditure could exceed MOP5 billion  a substantial amount requiring careful management. Regarding the rewards scheme launched last year and this year, Lei said the governments goal is to stimulate private consumption while offering discounts. Citing last years data, he pointed out that the programs multiplier effect exceeded four times the investment, meaning a budget of MOP400 million could potentially generate over MOP1.6 billion in consumption  yielding even greater benefits than the pandemic-era consumption vouchers.

Addressing the claim that some consumers can use a method to maximize spending benefits across eight available payment platforms, the scholar noted that other members of the public are equally entitled to apply for benefits from all eight platforms to increase their chances of winning and the total amount of discounts, though he acknowledged that this would certainly require a significant time investment.

Lei emphasized that the process as a whole does not involve any illegal activity and added that he believes the relevant authorities will not intervene excessively.

Meanwhile, the Times probed further, noting that many small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have begun offering in-store cash vouchers following the launch of the program. Although authorities have urged against the practice, from the first phase to the current fourth phase, an increasing number of stores  including supermarkets  have been encouraging consumers to buy vouchers.

Lei responded that these arrangements stem primarily from SMEs desire to capture as much new demand generated by the redemption of discount vouchers as possible. Since this demand includes contributions from both the government and the public, it fully demonstrates the multiplier effect  which, he noted, is precisely the objective of the government in launching the scheme.

However, he also pointed out that this involves resource allocation issues.

Some SMEs, due to various reasons, including cost and staffing constraints, may not be able to offer prepaid consumption in the form of cash vouchers and thus fail to benefit from the new demand created by the rewards scheme  affecting the fairness of the initiative. He cautioned that cash vouchers, being a form of prepaid consumption, also carry certain risks.

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Israels defense minister, Israel Katz, said Thursday that Israel is prepared to resume war with Iran and is awaiting a green light from the United States, according to a statement following a security assessment.

We are waiting for a green light from the United States, Katz said, adding that the military is ready for both defensive and offensive operations and targets are marked.

Residents in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv expressed mixed views on talks between Israel and Lebanon, with opinions ranging from calls for diplomacy to deep skepticism over Hezbollahs role.

I always believe that you can talk, but you have to be prepared for war, said Ben Kurtzer, a Jerusalem resident.

Others were more skeptical. Who is there to talk to? said Yardena Sharon.

Some drew a distinction between Lebanon and Hezbollah.

We do not want to be hostile with the state of Lebanon; we have no hostility towards them. I think there are, undoubtedly, wonderful people there, people who seek peace, just as we seek peace, said Matan Moalem, a Jerusalem resident. Hezbollah needs to be eliminated once and for all, to take control of the entire area that constantly threatens Israel, firing in our direction and always seeking to eliminate and kill us.

In Tel Aviv, others emphasized diplomacy. Force without brains is worth nothing. In the end, only agreements bring peace and security, only agreements, said Daron Sabani.

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Pope Leo XIV urged the United States and Iran to return to talks to end the war Thursday and condemned capital punishment, in a wide-ranging press conference en route home from his trip to Africa.

Leo also asserted that countries have the right to control their borders but mustnt treat migrants worse than animals, and lamented that the churchs morality teaching is often reduced to sexual issues.

On Iran, capital punishment and peace

After a trip that was dominated by the very public back and forth between Leo and U.S. President Donald Trump over the war, Leo urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations.

He called for a new culture of peace to replace the recourse to violence whenever conflicts arise.

He said the question wasnt whether the Iran regime should change or not. The question should be about how to promote the values we believe in without the deaths of so many innocents.

He revealed that he carries with him the photo of a Muslim Lebanese boy who had been killed in Israels recent war with Hezbollah. The boy had been photographed holding a sign welcoming the pope when he visited Lebanon last year.

As a pastor I cannot be in favor of war, he told reporters aboard his plane. I would like to encourage everyone to find responses that come from a culture of peace and not hatred and division.

Asked if he condemned Irans recent executions, Leo said he condemned all actions that are unjust and included capital punishment in the list.

I condemn the taking of peoples lives. I condemn capital punishment. I believe human life is to be respected and that all people from conception to natural (death), their lives should be respected and protected.

So when a regime, when a country takes decisions which take away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that is something that should be condemned, he said.

Pope Francis changed the churchs social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.

On migration and the rights of states

Leo affirmed the right of countries to impose immigration controls on their borders and acknowledged that uncontrolled migration had created situations that are sometimes more unjust in the place where they arrive than from where they left.

I personally believe that a state has the right to impose rules for its frontiers, he said. But saying this, I ask: What are we doing in the wealthier countries to change the situation in poorer countries to provide opportunities so that people arent compelled to leave?

Regardless, he said migrants are human beings and deserve to be respected in their human dignity and not be treated worse than house pets, animals.

On LGBTQ+ blessings and morality

Leo was asked about the recent invitation by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich, for the priests and pastoral workers in his archdioceses to adopt a set of guidelines formalizing and ritualizing blessings of same-sex couples.

The guidelines were approved last year by a controversial German church governing body made up of the German bishops conference and a Catholic lay group that has been working to have a greater say in church decision-making.

The Vatican in 2023 allowed for such blessings, but it made clear that they were not to be formalized or ritualized. The Vatican allowed them to be offered spontaneously and informally, as a priest gives a final blessing to all people at the end of Mass.

Leo said the Holy See had made clear to German bishops that we do not agree with the formalized blessing of gay couples or couples in other irregular situations.

The Vaticans 2023 declaration allowing an informal blessing, promulgated with virtually no consultation outside the Vatican, sharply divided the church, with African bishops delivering a continent-wide dissent and refusing to implement it. Homosexual activity is criminalized in several African countries.

Asked how he would handle keeping the church unified over such a divisive issue, Leo spoke broadly about how culture war questions of sexual morality had dominated church discourse, particularly in the West, far too much.

I think its very important to understand that the unity or division of the church should not revolve around sexual matters, he said. We tend to think that when the church is talking about morality, that the only issue of morality is sexual.

And in reality, I believe that there are much greater and more important issues such as justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion that would all take priority before that particular issue.

The comment was significant because it suggested that even though he is American, Leo believes the church in the U.S. and the West has excessively reduced its moral teachings to revolve only around sex at the expense of other pressing issues.

A pope who keeps on eye on how hes being covered

Historys first U.S. pope showed himself keenly aware of how his Africa trip had been reported and interpreted, including about his sometimes tame public addresses to African leaders who are accused of corruption or authoritarianism.

With a few notable exceptions, Leo kept his political remarks to the leaders largely diplomatic, using a language of encouragement and subtle messaging rather than headline-grabbing condemnations.

He also allowed some of the circumstances of his visit to speak louder than his words: a choreographed song and dance routine by prisoners in a country known for gross human rights abuses, or the extravagant luxury of a presidents hometown in a country where more than half the population lives in poverty.

Leo insisted that his primary reason for visiting Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea was as a pastor, to accompany his flock in their faith.

He added that the Holy See can sometimes achieve more behind the scenes via its diplomatic work, including through the release of political prisoners, than with great proclamations criticizing, judging or condemning.

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE

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A priceless golden helmet dating back 2,500 years was returned to Romania yesterday [Macau time] after the national heirloom was stolen from a Dutch museum where it was on loan last year.

The ornate Cotofenesti helmet and three golden bracelets  some of Romanias most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization  were taken from the Drents Museum in January 2025 in a raid which shocked the art world and devastated Romanian authorities.

But after 14 months of investigations, diplomatic tensions, and three suspects in an ongoing trial, most of the artifacts arrived at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport on Tuesday from where authorities transported them under guard to Bucharests National History Museum. They were displayed in a glass cabinet, flanked by masked, armed guards.

Cornel Constantin Ilie, the museums interim director, said that the artifacts have been returned not as simple patrimony items, but as relics of our historical memory, as the legacy of a civilization that continues to define us.

For us, this is a moment of joy, but also of contemplation, he said. For months, we have lived with the fear that part of our past could be lost forever. Today we can say that an essential part of this treasure has returned.

Romanian national heritage has returned home, he said. The impact of this robbery was already significant in the Netherlands, but here it must have been truly unparalleled  The police and judicial authorities of both countries have done extraordinary work.

Dutch prosecutors unveiled the recovered items at a news conference in the eastern Dutch city of Assen earlier this month. The whereabouts of the third golden bracelet remains unknown, but van Langh vowed the search would continue and that a judicial verdict is expected in the coming weeks.

During its disappearance, the golden helmet was slightly dented, while the recovered bracelets were in perfect condition.

Romanias Minister of Culture Demeter Andras Istvan said the return of the artifacts had shown how strong the connection between heritage and collective consciousness can be.

This entire episode reminds us at the same time how exposed heritage can be. It can be exposed to violence, illegal trafficking, negligence, oblivion, he said.

After the raid, Dutch authorities were left with grainy security footage of three people wrenching open a museum door with a crowbar, after which an explosion was seen. Before its recovery, there were fears the helmet may have been melted down because its fame and distinctive appearance made it virtually unsellable.

The artifacts will be exhibited to the public in Bucharest before undergoing some restoration work, the museums interim director said.

We believe that the public has the pleasure of celebrating them  not only as splendid objects, but as a witness to an ordeal, an almost irreparable loss, and a return that we owe to the operation between institutions and the perseverance of the authorities, he said. Today, these treasures returned home. STEPHEN McGRATH, BUCHAREST, MDT/AP

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Chief Executive (CE) Sam Hou Fai concluded his visit to Portugal on Tuesday afternoon local time, describing the trip as successful in strengthening traditional ties and expanding cooperation between Macau and Portugal.

Before departing Lisbon, Sam held a series of high-level meetings with Portuguese officials on Tuesday morning, including meetings with the President of the Portuguese Republic, Antonio Jose Seguro; the President of the Portuguese Parliament, Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco; the Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro; and the President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Portugal, Joao Cura Mariano.

During the meetings, Sam continued to share details of Macaus implementation of the One country, two systems principle and Macaus unique advantages as a platform for cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, as cited in a statement issued by the Government Information Bureau yesterday.

He also continued to highlight development opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Speaking to the media as he wrapped up his visit to Portugal and headed to Spain, the CE said the four Portuguese officials he met on Tuesday all agreed that Macau has an important role to play in the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal and that it should fully tap into its potential.

He also noted that representatives from Macau and Portugal agreed to continue deepening exchanges across all fronts and jointly create better prospects for bilateral cooperation.

In his remarks, Sam noted that the comments received in the last four meetings added to those gathered in earlier meetings with the countrys Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, and the Minister of Justice.

The CE said that Portuguese officials hoped that, on the one hand, companies from the Chinese mainland and Macau could leverage Portugals geographical advantages as a gateway to markets in Africa, Europe, and Latin America, and, on the other hand, Portuguese companies could make full use of Macaus role as a platform to enter the mainland market.

According to Sam, a total of 61 cooperation agreements were signed in Portugal by government and business delegations. The agreements cover various fields, including cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, trade and commerce, high technology, tourism, education, Big Health, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), and culture and sports.

He also noted that upon his return to Macau, the government will strive to ensure the effective implementation of these agreements by requiring relevant public administration departments to refine their efforts and ensure that projects proceed as planned.

He pointed out that the visit had enhanced mutual understanding between the two sides and deepened the traditional friendship, raising it to a new level.

Govt showcases global tourism ambitions at Madrid roadshow finale

The Experience Macao Roadshow in Madrid concluded on April 21 with a closing Macao Night ceremony, marking the end of a five-day promotional campaign aimed at strengthening Macau visibility in the Spanish and broader European markets.

The event featured performances and cultural showcases highlighting Macau development in tourism, culture, trade, and sports. It also included gastronomy promotions, travel trade sessions, and multi-channel marketing initiatives designed to position Macau as a premium international destination.

Delivering remarks at the closing event, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said Macau recorded more than 40 million visitor arrivals in 2025, with international arrivals from Spain and Europe posting double-digit growth.

She said the government has intensified overseas promotion efforts, including multiple delegations to Spain last year and participation in tourism and technology exhibitions. These initiatives, she noted, are aimed at deepening cooperation with Spains travel industry and expanding Macau international visitor base.

We sincerely invite friends in Spain to experience Macaus latest development and Chinas progress, Senna Fernandes said, adding that the government hopes to strengthen long-term cooperation in tourism, trade, technology, and culture.

Chinese Ambassador to Spain and Andorra Yao Jing said Macau plays an important role as a platform for ChinaPortuguese-speaking countries cooperation, noting its bilingual system and cultural connectivity. He encouraged Spanish stakeholders to visit Macau and experience its East-meets-West heritage.

Madrid officials also welcomed the initiative. Francisco de Borja Fanjul Fernandez-Pita said the roadshow offered residents a direct introduction to Macau, while Luis Fernando Martin Izquierdo of the Community of Madrid said the city continues to welcome Macau visitors to explore its cultural and culinary offerings.

Held at Puente del Rey from April 17 to 21, the roadshow featured 20 themed booths and interactive zones showcasing Macaus tourism products, industry partnerships, and government initiatives. It was complemented by food promotions in Madrid restaurants and engagement with international influencers, including UN Tourism ambassador Khaby Lame.

MGTO said the initiative reflects the SARs strategy to position itself as a precise connector between mainland China and Spanish-speaking markets, while expanding its global tourism reach.

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Taiwans leader postponed a visit to Africa this week when three countries withdrew permission for him to fly over their territories after pressure from China, his office said.

Lai Ching-te was set to visit Eswatini, Taiwans sole remaining diplomatic ally in Africa, from April 22-26.

But flight permits were canceled in island nations along the route, Secretary-General to Lais office, Pan Meng-an, told journalists in Taipei.

The cancellation of flight permits by Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar without prior warning was actually due to strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion, Pan said.

Chinas alleged pressure constitutes blatant interference in the internal affairs of other countries, disrupts the regional status quo and hurts the feelings of the Taiwanese people, he added.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary, and prohibits countries it has diplomatic relations with from maintaining formal ties with Taipei.

Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday that it wanted to express its high appreciation for the actions, saying the relevant countries adherence to the one-China principle is in full compliance with international law, in reference to Beijings claims over Taiwan.

The Mauritius government, the Seychelles government and the office of the Madagascar president did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Eswatinis government said in a statement that it regretted that Lai wasnt able to visit but it does not change the status of our longstanding bilateral relations.

Over the past few years, Beijing has intensified a campaign of poaching Taiwans diplomatic allies, often while financing infrastructure and other projects in the less-developed countries.

Taipei now has diplomatic ties with only 12 countries, almost all smaller nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Most recently, the Pacific Island nation of Nauru switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in January 2024, following similar moves by Honduras in 2023 and Nicaragua in 2021.

The last visit by a Taiwanese leader to Eswatini was in 2023, when Tsai Ing-wen visited the southern African country of 1.2 million people and met with King Mswati III. JOHNSON LAI & SIMINA MISTREANU, TAIPEI, MDT/AP

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The University of Macaus (UM) Advanced Research Institute in Hengqin recently hosted the 5th International Conference of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area on Regenerative Medicine, held across Macau and Hengqin. The event brought together about 400 participants, including scholars, clinicians, industry professionals, researchers and postgraduate students from around the world. The conference featured two keynote lectures and seven thematic sessions. Topics included pluripotent neural stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based treatments for Parkinsons and Huntingtons diseases, immune cell therapies, and emerging Alzheimers disease strategies involving cranial surgical approaches.

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The Macao University for Tourism Studies (UTM) and Tencent recently hosted a closed-door seminar at Tencents Binhai Building. The Macau Tourism Group seminar brought together university researchers, integrated resort representatives, and Tencent experts to discuss generative AI trends. Topics discussed during the session included large language models, smart customer service, personalized recommendations, and operational efficiencies, with keynote speeches and case studies.Per UTM, group discussions addressed digital transformation challenges, aiming to advance Macaus goal of becoming a world-class tourism hub through industry-academia collaboration.

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Next week, the Revolutionary Communist Party in Britain will open up its Third Congress, where hundreds of communists will gather to discuss British perspectives, and the tasks of the party. Political secretary Rob Sewell gives a preview of the draft perspectives document, outlining the main processes in the British class struggle. This article was originally published on 3 April, before the Starmer government became completely overwhelmed by the Mandelson scandal.

[Originally published at communist.red]

It is undeniable that world capitalism is in a profound crisis. The Iran conflict is the latest hammer blow  following on from many  that has shaken the capitalist system to its core. Even the August Financial Times says that the Iran war is metastasising into a global economic calamity.

On all fronts, the warning lights are flashing. The scale and speed of events is breathtaking  leaving the apologists of capitalism blindsided.

Even when the current conflict in the Middle East ends, the long-term effects of this earthquake will be dramatic. The destruction of vital oil and gas supplies, infrastructure, and transport routes is already resulting in an unprecedented energy crisis. This raises the spectre of another world slump, worse than in 2008.

The end of the rules-based order; the end of the postwar consensus; the end of globalisation; the shifting balance of power internationally; Trumps erratic and reckless behaviour; the rapid decline of Europe; the rise of populism on the right and the left; the hatred for the status quo; the general collapse in living standards: these are not separate phenomena, but are manifestations of the crisis of the capitalist system, on different levels.

The war in Iran is pouring petrol on these flames.

Karl Marx explained that when a socio-economic system is incapable of developing the productive forces, and incapable of taking society forward, it enters into a terminal crisis. That is the situation we face today.

Trumps capricious actions have certainly exacerbated the crisis. Oil and gas prices have rocketed, with the destruction of energy facilities and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The world stands on the edge of a precipice.

No wonder there is a profound sense of dread amongst the ruling class. Lloyd Blankfein, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, who famously said he was doing Gods work, has warned that another meltdown is coming. It is time to sound the alarm, states Martin Wolf of the Financial Times.

All the contradictions that have built up over the past are coalescing and coming together in dramatic fashion. Again, this is a reflection of the complete impasse of capitalism globally. In many ways, we are reaching a tipping point.

Perspectives and processes

This is the volcanic background to developments in Britain.

Our task is to understand the stage we are at, and how things are likely to develop. In doing so, we do not approach things superficially, by simply looking at the surface of events. We apply the Marxist method of dialectical materialism, which analyses the process as a whole.

We look at the underlying contradictions operating below the surface. These build up; and as quantity turns into quality, they eventually break through, causing shocks and abrupt turns in the situation.

With our perspectives, we do not intend to make exact predictions. This is not possible. Rather, we aim to simply outline the fundamental processes that are relentlessly propelling society in a certain direction.

Decay and decline

No one can deny that British capitalism is in a dire state. On every index, on all fronts, the UK has suffered a steep decline.

On every index, on all fronts, the UK has suffered a steep decline / Image: The Communist

Once the workshop of the world, Britain has been reduced to a failing, second-rate, middling power. This is the result of a complete failure by the capitalists to invest and develop industry, leading the country to fall behind its competitors.

In the years of boom, before 2008, this decline was masked. But in this epoch of crisis, the real, diminished strength of British capitalism is exposed for all to see.

The capitalists have presided over a hollowing out and destruction of industry. Coal, steel, shipbuilding, petrochemicals, cars, and much more besides: all these have been decimated and left to rust.

Instead, myopic investors took their wealth  the surplus value extracted from the unpaid labour of the working class  and put it into speculation, financial services, and opportunities overseas, where there was a higher rate of profit.

They asset-stripped the state through privatisation, and created a class of abject parasites and rentiers. As a result, they have reduced Britain to wrack and ruin  all while presenting the bill to the working class.

Political shocks

Ever since the deep slump of 2008, Britain has faced a whole series of political shocks: the growing support for Scottish independence, and the wipeout of Labour in Scotland; the rise of Corbynism; Brexit; the pandemic; and the rapid fall of successive Tory prime ministers.

We have also witnessed the degeneration of the Tory Party. The ruling class lost control of the Conservative Party, which fell into the hands of swivel-eyed loons, to quote David Cameron. This, especially under Boris Johnson, expressed the rise of right-wing populism in Britain.

Although they won a landslide victory in 2019, the Tories, several leaders later, were obliterated in the general election of 2024. From there, they entered into a death spiral.

Throughout this period, there has been an accumulation of discontent and anger in society. The working class has been hammered by years of growing insecurity and falling living standards, with this last decade being the worst on record.

Government of crisis

The hatred for the Tories led to the victory of Labour under Keir Starmer. But this win did not represent any deep-rooted support or enthusiasm for Starmers Labour.

Instead, within months and without precedent, distrust rapidly built up towards the government. Ordinary people were desperate for change, but there was no change. In turn, doubt and scepticism turned to anger and rage.

The Labour leaders talked of generating economic growth, but could not deliver on these pledges. While accepting corporate freebies and gifts from wealthy donors, they attempted to cut benefits to pensioners and disabled people.

Starmer is a shallow man: out of his depth; regarded with contempt and even hatred by most / Image: Number 10, Flickr

Starmer has pranced around the world stage, acting like a great fool: handing out billions to the Ukrainian mafia, and promising to ramp up spending on defence and war; all while bleeding hospitals and schools back home dry.

He is a shallow man: out of his depth; regarded with contempt and even hatred by most.

All attempts by Starmer to reset his premiership have failed. The economy is in a parlous state; the public finances are rapidly deteriorating; and the Iran war threatens to wreak further havoc on the governments budget, and on the British economy more widely.

UK public debt is at 100 percent of GDP. And the government already pays 100 billion per year just to service this debt. Meanwhile, borrowing costs are rising to levels not seen since 2008.

Austerity reigns, as the capitalist crisis deepens. Reforms are off the agenda.

In turn, this economic chaos fuels political instability, with Starmer facing mutinies from his backbenchers over cuts to welfare and more.

Polarisation and fragmentation

You can cut the discontent with a knife. There is a deep-seated feeling of hatred towards Labour and the Tories.

This was reflected in the Caerphilly by-election to the Welsh Parliament in October 2025, where the combined percentage of the vote for these two parties was only 13 percent. Labour managed 11 percent, while the Tories scraped 2 percent  losing their deposit.

Plaid won the seat  which had been held by Labour for 100 years  with 47 percent. Meanwhile, Reform also gained, winning 36 percent of the vote.

This result  the collapse of a former Labour stronghold  was truly earthshattering. It reflected a massive political polarisation and fragmentation, not seen in living memory. The two main parties that have dominated British politics for over a century were humiliated.

This two-party system had provided stability for the ruling class, offering a safety valve for social pressures. This setup had long been regarded as fixed and solid; as a normal part of British political life. But things are no longer normal.

This upheaval was repeated in the Gorton & Denton by-election, in February this year. Again, this had been a safe Labour seat, with the previous MP sitting on a 13,500 majority. But this was overturned by the Green Party, which captured 40 percent of the vote.

Embarrassingly, Labour was pushed into third place, behind Reform UK on 28 percent. This was another unprecedented result.

The Greens have surged in terms of support, garnering the lions share of the anti-Reform and anti-establishment vote.

Under their new left leader, Zack Polanski, the Greens have adopted a more radical image. This has allowed Polanski and his party to partially fill the political vacuum on the left.

This reflects the turmoil in British politics. Electorally, everything has been turned upside down.

Flames of anger

The deepening crisis of capitalism is having a growing impact on peoples lives, and on their outlook on life.

There is seething anger, as the super-rich become even wealthier, while the rest of us find it harder and harder to make ends meet.

The pillars of the establishment are increasingly discredited. A proliferation of scandals is only adding to the profound distrust. There is a growing hatred for the rich and powerful, who are getting away with murder. This is epitomised by the Epstein affair, affecting top politicians, Lords, and royalty.

There has never been such a polarised mood in Britain.

Under Polanski, the Greens have adopted a more radical image, allowing them to partially fill the vacuum on the left / Image: fair use

Now, with the price of fuel, energy, food, and mortgages going up, this public anger will be inflamed even further.

Farage and Reform

Given the contempt for Starmer and the Tories, and the failures of the left, Farage has been able to exploit the situation  tapping into the anti-establishment mood in society.

Appealing to the left-behind working class  and there are many areas of the country that have been left behind, after decades of deindustrialisation  the Reform leader has demagogically preyed on ordinary peoples concerns.

Of course, Farage uses immigrants as a scapegoat for societys problems, sowing division at every opportunity. At the end of the day, however, Farage and Reform have no solutions to the crisis of capitalism. If they come to power, they will also be found wanting.

For some time, Reform has been ahead in the opinion polls nationally. But by welcoming prominent ex-Tories into their leadership, the anti-establishment shine has come off Farage and his party. The more they do this, the more they are seen as just a Tory Party Mk2  reducing their attraction to disgruntled voters.

Left alternative

Surveys only ever offer a snapshot of the mood. And much can change in the coming period. Nevertheless, it is notable that the Greens have overtaken Labour and the Tories in several polls, by offering a seemingly viable electoral alternative to both Starmer and Farage.

The policies the Greens put forward today are less about the environment, and more about the cost-of-living crisis. Instead of working for a nice life, were working to line the pockets of billionaires, stated new Gorton & Denton MP Hannah Spencer in her victory speech, for example. We are being bled dry.

It is rhetoric like this that has enabled Polanski and his party to attract large numbers of new members and voters.

The emergence of Your Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, initially attracted enormous enthusiasm, with some 800,000 supporters signing up in days.

This was rapidly squandered by the partys leaders, however. Infighting at the top generated disillusionment, with many instead gravitating towards the Greens. Corbyn and his allies have now won the leadership of the party. But the internal squabbling and bickering still continues, and the whole venture is floundering.

Consequently, the Greens have emerged as the main electoral force on the left.

Limits of reformism

Polanskis attacks on the billionaires and landlords have certainly struck a cord. His solutions to societys problems fall far short of what is needed, however.

The Greens argue along the lines of taxing the rich and increasing government borrowing. But this is no different to the Keynesian policies  however left sounding  that have been tried in the past, and failed.

Such measures represent an attempt to find a solution within the confines of capitalism, which is impossible. The capitalist system is in an existential crisis. This means that counter-reforms, not reforms, are on the cards.

It is precisely the decline of capitalism that has produced the ills facing the working class.

The rich have a million ways of hiding their money. Any attempt to significantly increase public borrowing, meanwhile, in order to pay for state spending and investment, will face the same fate as the Liz Truss government, which was brought down by the bond vigilantes: billionaire financiers.

The bondholders are the ones really in charge, remarks one cynical FTSE 100 chief executive, speaking to the Financial Times. There isnt flexibility there. They could destroy the country.

Only with the expropriation of the capitalist class  including the top 100 monopolies, banks, and financial companies  can the economy be planned in the interests of working people.

Uncharted waters

The next general election is scheduled for 2029. But many things can  and will  happen between now and then.

One thing is absolutely certain, however: the crisis of capitalism will only intensify.

It is clear that Labour faces an electoral wipeout. At present, Starmers approval rating is minus 45. He is a dead man walking.

Starmer may soon be replaced, following a disastrous result for Labour in the upcoming May elections. But whoever succeeds him will face the same impossible dilemma.

One thing is absolutely certain, however: the crisis of capitalism will only intensify / Image: The Communist

Angela Rayner, one of the frontrunners to replace Starmer, has already assured the City of London that she would continue with the same economic strategy as Rachel Reeves, the current chancellor. In other words, there will be no real change.

The question is: what government will come next? Clearly, it is impossible to predict the exact electoral arithmetic. Nevertheless, on present trends, Reform could emerge as the party with the most seats in the House of Commons.

Whether Reform can achieve a majority, however, is another matter. If Reform is able to form a majority government, it will be very weak, resting on little public support.

It would clearly be a reactionary government. It would also, however, be a government of crisis  as with Starmer, Sunak, Truss, and Johnson before.

Any attempts to attack the working class would inevitably lead to an almighty backlash, just as Trump has experienced in the USA; in Minnesota, for example.

This would be a recipe for heightened  possibly unprecedented  class struggle.

The whip of a Farage government would only serve to radicalise the situation further. Millions would be drawn into the struggle, especially the youth.

This, in turn, would prepare a massive shift to the left in society. The hatred towards the ruling class and the capitalist system would grow enormously. Britain, as elsewhere, would be set for revolutionary convulsions.

Under these circumstances, growing layers will be drawing revolutionary conclusions. Events, events, events will transform and retransform consciousness.

Historic tasks

It must be said that the old lefts are completely washed up and politically bankrupt. The radicalism of these reformists amounts to superficial rhetoric, dressed up with pacifism and moral pleading, without an ounce of revolutionary or class content.

We therefore turn our back on these worn-out cynics and sneering sceptics, whose only role is to sow confusion. They are incapable of struggle. As the Bible says: let the dead bury the dead.

We are confident that the working class will face up to its historic tasks.

At the same time, we pay special attention to the youth  those imbued with a belief in their own strength and in the future.

Our task, based on these perspectives, is to prepare for the coming British revolution / Image: Enrique Rodriguez Pamanes

With the fresh enthusiasm and fighting spirit of the youth, we can be assured of success. Through them, the best elements of the older generation will find the path of the socialist revolution.

The crisis and turmoil at present is only a precursor to the turbulent epoch opening up. All countries will experience revolutionary upheavals in the period that lies ahead. Millions will be radicalised, in Britain and internationally.

Our task, based on these perspectives, is to prepare for the coming British revolution.

A new, militant leadership of the working class needs to be built in time. This means building the revolutionary party, as the only guarantee of victory for our class.

It is in this spirit that the Third Congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party will be taking place in a few weeks time, from 1-4 May  training and educating the cadres and class fighters required for the titanic events that impend.
The Government of Burundi, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has announced a voluntary repatriation programme for thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The initiative announced on Tuesday, April 21, is set to begin on Thursday, April 23 and it is framed as part of broader regional efforts to deliver durable solutions for displaced populations, even as security conditions remain fragile in eastern Congo.

Authorities emphasised that participation will be entirely voluntary, with refugees required to complete administrative procedures at designated centres, including arrangements for family reunification.

The move comes against the backdrop of dwindling humanitarian resources. The Busuma refugee site, hosting around 66,000 Congolese refugees since late 2025, has faced acute shortages of water, food, medicine and shelter.

Initial returns will focus on selected territories in South Kivu province, including Uvira, Fizi and the Ruzizi plain. Special consideration will be given to vulnerable groups, including schoolchildren and individuals with specific needs.

Burundi currently hosts over 230,000 refugees, mostly from Congo. However, UNHCR reports that only 20 per cent of the 35 million US dollars required for refugee assistance in 2026 had been secured by late February, underscoring the financial strain on humanitarian operations.
North-American aerospace giant Pratt & Whitney inaugurated its manufacturing facility at Midparc, Nouaceur, this week, marking a milestone that industry observers describe as Moroccos entry into the technological heart of aviation: engine component production. The 27,871-square-metre site, built in just fifteen months, represents a total investment of 76 million dollars, of which 25 percent was contributed by the Moroccan government, according to Laurent Bouyer, Vice President of Operations at Pratt & Whitney Canada.

The plant will produce static and structural components for a range of engine families, beginning with approximately 55 part types before scaling progressively toward a target of more than 6,400 components per year by 2030. The engines served include the PT6  one of the most reliable turboprop platforms in aviation history  as well as the PW300 and PW500 families for business jets, and the geared turbofan (GTF) for commercial aviation. After production in Morocco, components are shipped to assembly centres in Canada for integration into finished engines.

The choice of Morocco was made following a global site selection process that assessed manufacturing infrastructure, talent availability, and long-term strategic fit. Collins Aerospace, a fellow RTX subsidiary, had already been established in Morocco since 2012, providing an existing industrial anchor. The Institut des metiers de laeronautique (IMA) was cited as a key training partner, with a third cohort already in preparation. The plant currently employs 77 people, rising to 200 specialised staff by 2030.

Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi, President of Midparc, placed the inauguration within a broader industrial narrative. Accessing engine technology, he argued, categorically changes a countrys position in the global aerospace value chain  a field historically reserved for a handful of industrialised nations. Morocco, with this plant and comparable projects under development at Midparc, is asserting its claim to that exclusive circle.

Pratt & Whitneys parent group RTX employs more than 180,000 people worldwide and generates annual revenues of approximately 88 billion dollars. The Casablanca plant extends a global manufacturing footprint spanning Canada, Europe, and China, with Morocco now representing the groups latest strategic node in an increasingly distributed industrial supply chain.
Pope Leo on Wednesday criticized the treatment of prisoners in Equatorial Guinea, highlighting poor sanitary conditions and human rights concerns ahead of a planned visit to a notorious prison in Bata.

Addressing a Mass attended by about 100,000 people, including President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the Pope expressed concern for vulnerable groups, particularly inmates living in harsh conditions. He later urged authorities to prioritize the common good, reduce inequality and ensure national resources benefit the wider population.

The visit to Bata prison comes amid reports by Amnesty International of abuse, including routine beatings and cases of detainees disappearing without trace.

Equatorial Guinea, despite its oil wealth, faces widespread poverty and allegations of corruption. Watchdog Transparency International ranks it among the worlds most corrupt countries, while the World Bank estimates that over half the population lives in poverty.

The Pope also called for greater political freedom and respect for human dignity in a country where opposition activity is tightly restricted and media largely controlled by the state. His remarks form part of a broader African tour that has seen him speak out against governance failures, inequality and the exploitation of the continents resources.

Pope Leo left Equatorial Guinea this Thursday, April 23 bidding farewell to Africa, after an eleven-day stay.
Mozambique has reported a 19.4 per cent increase in money laundering cases, reaching 228 in 2025, according to the Attorney-General Americo Letela during the presentation of the Public Prosecutors Office annual report to Parliament.

Authorities said a total of 656 cases were handled in 2025, including new and pending files, with 59 concluded and 43 archived. Financial assets worth 4,052 million meticais (about 54 million) were frozen as part of ongoing investigations.

Letela warned that illicit financial flows continue to involve large cash deposits, rapid withdrawals, over-invoiced imports, questionable real estate investments and growing use of cryptoassets.

Despite these challenges, Mozambique was removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October, a development authorities say must be safeguarded through stronger institutional controls to prevent regression.

The Attorney-General also highlighted progress in counterterrorism efforts in Cabo Delgado Province, noting that 462 individuals have been convicted since the onset of extremist violence in 2017. He proposed the creation of a deradicalisation and rehabilitation centre to support reintegration of former extremists.

He further acknowledged ongoing security challenges linked to foreign financing and self-funding tactics used by armed groups, calling for stronger inter-agency coordination and specialised court mechanisms in affected regions.

According to conflict monitoring data, Cabo Delgado continues to experience intermittent violence, underscoring the persistent security and governance pressures facing the province.
Honduras has announced the suspension of its recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), administered by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, in the latest significant diplomatic setback for the separatist movements international standing. The decision was communicated to Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita by his Honduran counterpart, Mireya Aguero de Corrales, through an official letter received on Wednesday, and Honduras simultaneously notified United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the move.

In her communication, the Honduran foreign minister described the suspension as a sovereign decision grounded in Hondurass traditional commitment to the principles of non-interference and respect for the internal affairs of other states. Honduras also expressed full support for the UN Secretary-Generals efforts and those of his Personal Envoy to reach a political, just, and lasting solution to the dispute  language that aligns closely with Moroccos own framing of the issue.

The timing is notably adverse for the Polisario. Honduras had originally recognized the self-proclaimed entity in 1989, reaffirmed that position in 2022, and is now reversing course as a direct consequence of sovereign foreign policy review. The move marks the sixth withdrawal of recognition in approximately two years, a pace of diplomatic attrition that Moroccan officials have described as reflecting an irreversible global trajectory.

The Latin American dimension is particularly significant. The region was once a stronghold of support for the Polisario, built on Cold War-era anti-colonial solidarity and sustained by intensive Algerian diplomatic lobbying. That coalition has disintegrated rapidly. Ecuador withdrew its recognition in October 2024; Panama  the first country ever to recognize the entity, in 1978  subsequently suspended relations; and Bolivia suspended all diplomatic ties in February 2026. In Africa, where most countries recognize Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, Mali, which had recognized the Polisario since 1980, formally withdrew its recognition just two weeks before the Honduran announcement.

No new country has extended recognition to the entity since 2011, and the trajectory of withdrawals shows no sign of reversing. Moroccos Autonomy Plan for its southern provinces now has the expressed support of more than 110 UN member states.
Jean-Noel Barrot will undertake a two-day official visit to Togo from April 23 to 24, at a critical juncture for Franco-African relations and regional stability in the Sahel.

According to Frances Foreign ministry, the visit will include engagements with non-governmental organizations ahead of a forthcoming humanitarian Conference, with discussions centred on international humanitarian law amid escalating conflicts in the sub-region.

Barrot is also scheduled to hold talks with his Togolese counterpart Robert Dussey, focusing on bilateral cooperation, counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel, and broader regional political developments.

Cooperation through the French Development Agency is expected to feature prominently. Among the topics to be discussed is the suspension of French state-owned stations Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24, which formally expired in September 2025 without the two media outlets of the France Medias Monde network being authorized to broadcast again in Togo.

The visit underscores Togos growing diplomatic relevance as a mediator in Sahelian crises, leveraging its neutrality to maintain dialogue channels. It also reflects Frances broader effort to recalibrate its engagement in West Africa, with Lome emerging as a strategic partner in this evolving landscape.
Adebayo Adelabu has resigned as Nigerias Minister of Power to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, with his exit set to take effect on April 30.

In a resignation letter dated April 22 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Adelabu said his decision aligns with the amended electoral law, which bars serving public officials from contesting elections. The letter was submitted through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

During his tenure, Adelabu highlighted key reforms in the power sector, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, increased generation capacity to over 6,000 megawatts, and improvements in transmission and distribution systems. He also cited financial restructuring efforts that boosted sector revenues and restored investor confidence.

Despite these gains, he acknowledged ongoing challenges such as gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism and incomplete commercialization of the electricity value chain.

Adelabu proposed the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to enhance policy alignment across power, gas and related sectors, alongside measures such as cost-reflective tariffs, expanded metering and stronger regulatory enforcement to sustain progress.
Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission on Wednesday warned of limited progress in implementing Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, urging urgent political dialogue to avert further instability.

In its quarterly report covering January 1 to March 31, 2026, the Commission cited persistent political tensions, ongoing ceasefire breaches and a worsening humanitarian situation as key challenges undermining the peace process.

The report recorded 133 alleged ceasefire violations involving the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces and Sudan Peoples Liberation Army-in-Opposition, including armed clashes, violence against civilians, sexual abuse and forced displacement.

It warned that delays in reforms, coupled with funding and capacity constraints, risk reversing fragile gains, while a lack of political trust among key actors continues to weaken the agreements implementation.

The Commission called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a more inclusive political dialogue, cautioning that failure to act could lead to renewed large-scale violence with wider regional implications.

It also urged the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, African Union and United Nations to support efforts to accelerate reforms, strengthen accountability, protect civilians and ensure adequate funding for the transition and planned elections.
Chinese, African experts call for deepening collaboration in infrastructure development

Xinhua) 09:29, April 23, 2026

Guests attend the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 21, 2026. Officials and experts from China and Africa have called for further deepening China-Africa collaboration in infrastructure development, with the private sector taking a leading role in narrowing the widening infrastructure gap in Africa. The call was made on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

ADDIS ABABA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Officials and experts from China and Africa have called for further deepening China-Africa collaboration in infrastructure development, with the private sector taking a leading role in narrowing the widening infrastructure gap in Africa.

The call was made on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The gathering brought together representatives of prominent Chinese companies operating in Africa, AU officials, and Chinese and African experts on infrastructure development.

Speaking at the event, Wang Ligui, counselor of the Chinese Mission to the AU, called for enhanced strategic alignment between the AU-led Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa and China's Belt and Road Initiative to accelerate infrastructure development on the continent.

"China and Africa need to make use of all cooperation platforms, such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to support infrastructure development in Africa. African countries need to improve the business environment, offer preferential policies and increase investment protection, so as to retain Chinese enterprises that are already doing business on the continent, and attract more," Wang said.

Nelisiwe Siphelele Mathabela, head of the administration and facilities management division at the AU Commission, said that Africa-China cooperation in infrastructure is a cornerstone of their partnership, driving industrialization and economic growth on the continent.

Noting that China has remained a leading infrastructure partner in Africa, she said China is a primary source of funding for infrastructure construction in Africa, with major roads, railways and energy developments having been financed either through the FOCAC or its financial institutions.

Ban Yongzhi, chief representative of the Southeast Africa Office of the Export-Import Bank of China, emphasized the significance of systematic thinking, integrated planning, and an optimized financing system to build a sustainable infrastructure development environment.

"Infrastructure projects are characterized by large investments, long cycles, broad social impact, and strong spillover effects. We must take a holistic and coordinated approach when planning strategically significant infrastructure projects," Ban said, advocating a balance of economic outcomes, social benefits, and livelihood impacts in infrastructure development.

Guests attend the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 21, 2026. Officials and experts from China and Africa have called for further deepening China-Africa collaboration in infrastructure development, with the private sector taking a leading role in narrowing the widening infrastructure gap in Africa. The call was made on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The BMCs decision to finalise permanent dog shelters in Mulund and Mahul has sparked opposition from Dharavi residents and Mulund locals, with the proposed Mulund facility  just 400 metres from land earmarked for Dharavi rehabilitation project (DRP)  emerging as the flashpoint.



While the civic body says the shelters are part of compliance with a Supreme Court (SC) directive on relocating stray dogs from sensitive public spaces, residents argue the issue is one of poor planning and Mulund being made to absorb one contentious project after another.



For Dharavi locals resisting relocation outside Mumbai, the shelter has become another symbol of rehabilitation being pushed without consultation.



People from Dharavi are being pushed out in the name of development, and now they want a dog shelter next to human settlements. Are we being taken for granted? said resident Deepak Khandare.



Ulesh Gajakosh, another Dharavi resident, also criticised the plan. Even if the Dharavi locals rehabilitation happens in Mulund, how can authorities think of locating a dog shelter a few metres away from where people may be resettled? he said.



Mulund pushback



In Mulund, residents say the shelter is the latest in a string of imposed projects  from Project Affected Persons (PAP) housing and Dharavi rehabilitation to the proposed kabutarkhana.



First PAP housing, then Dharavi rehabilitation, then the kabutarkhana, and now a shelter for 10,000 stray dogs, said resident Sagar Devere. Everything is being pushed into Mulund.



Gangadhar Tulsankar said the scale of the facility had alarmed locals. A shelter for 10,000 dogs adjoining residential areas will give us sleepless nights, he said.



Residents also argue that Mulund, long associated with difficult civic infrastructure, is again being treated as a dumping ground for projects resisted elsewhere.



What BMC plans



The Mulund shelter is planned on a 3,000 sq m plot near Mithagar Road, where 422 sq m already houses a dog sterilisation centre. The BMC has proposed changing the land reservation from solid waste management use to a permanent dog shelter.



In Mahul, an 8,411.50 sq m hospital-reserved plot is proposed to be redesignated for an animal hospital and shelter. The proposal is expected to come up for discussion on Friday.



Civic sources said the Mulund facility could house up to 10,000 stray dogs, in line with the SC directive.



For protesters, however, the question is why such a facility should sit beside a proposed rehabilitation cluster. That has turned a municipal shelter proposal into a larger Dharavi redevelopment flashpoint, uniting two groups of residents.




Azad Maidan Police have arrested five accused, including Thane BJP Yuva Morcha vice-president Vishal Rai, for allegedly posing as police officers and cheating two Sudanese women of Rs 17.5 lakh in south Mumbai.



Police said Rai was the alleged mastermind and fled with the cash after the con. He was arrested in an industrial area in Ahmedabad, where investigators said he had gone into hiding.



During interrogation, Rai allegedly told police he had spent the stolen money at a casino in Guwahati, Assam, a claim officials are now examining.



The set-up



The incident took place on March 16, near Pancham Panpoi, opposite Fashion Street, when the two women were travelling by taxi to Colaba for garment purchases.



According to investigators, the gang intercepted the taxi using three scooters, all allegedly without number plates. Two men approached the vehicle, identified themselves as police personnel and flashed fake identity cards carrying the designation of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).



Police said the accused used deception and intimidation rather than force, making the offence a planned confidence trick.



The victims were made to believe it was a routine check, an officer said. As the women stepped out, the accused began checking their bags. During the purported inspection, the bag containing Rs 17.5 lakh was allegedly passed to an accomplice, who fled before the women realised the cash was gone.



The fake ACP trail



Police have also arrested Suraj alias Prathamesh Gaikwad, who allegedly designed and supplied the fake identity cards used in the crime. Gaikwad, who works in designing hoardings and flex boards, is suspected of having fabricated the ACP-level cards that lent credibility to the impersonation.



Police have seized the three scooters allegedly used in the crime and said their lack of registration plates suggested a deliberate attempt to evade identification.



The victims, both Sudanese nationals, had arrived in Mumbai for business and were carrying cash for garment purchases.



Officials said further arrests are likely as investigators probe whether the accused were involved in similar impersonation-based crimes in Mumbai or elsewhere.



With the arrest of a political functionary at the centre of the case, the probe has taken a sensitive turn.



Investigators are examining the gangs background, possible wider links and whether the operation was part of a larger organised network.




The meadow still looks the same. Pine-fringed and postcard-perfect, the Baisaran Valley above Pahalgam once stood as shorthand for Kashmirs fragile return to normalcy  tourists milling about, pony rides tracing familiar paths, the soft hum of a region trying to outgrow its past. Then came April 22, 2025.



Gunmen stepped into that calm and shattered it. Moving with chilling intent, they singled out victims by religious identity, killing 26 people in what became the deadliest terrorist attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai carnage.



What followed was not just retaliation. It was a reset.



Operation Sindoor, launched weeks later, is now widely seen as the moment New Delhi moved from reactive restraint to proactive enforcement. Over the past year, Indias response hardened into something more structural: A reworked approach to Pakistan-backed terrorism that privileged action over signalling.



In earlier crises, India had leaned on diplomatic messaging, backchannel pressure, and the slow assembly of international consensus. This time, the sequence was reversed. Military action came first; messaging followed. That inversion alone signalled a turning point, underscoring a willingness to impose costs directly rather than wait for global validation.



A year on, recovery is visible  but so is a new security architecture. Among the most notable changes is a QR codebased identification system for tourism service providers, from pony operators to roadside vendors. Anyone interacting with visitors is now police-verified and digitally registered, allowing tourists to instantly access identity and background details with a simple scan.



The anniversary, then, is not just an act of remembrance. It is a measure of how a single episode reshaped Indias military doctrine, its deterrence posture, and the terms of its long-term engagement with Pakistan. The shift is no longer confined to rhetoric; it is embedded in military budgets, exercises, and capability-building efforts that have followed.



A new security doctrine



Operation Sindoor formalised a doctrinal shift that had been building incrementally over the past decade. At its core lies a simple but consequential proposition: Terror attacks originating from Pakistan will be treated not as isolated incidents, but as acts of war.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi captured this shift succinctly: India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail.



For years, Pakistans nuclear deterrent constrained Indias options, effectively placing a ceiling on conventional response. Operation Sindoor challenged that assumption, demonstrating that limited, precise military action could be undertaken without tipping into full-scale war.



This is deterrence redefined  not through avoidance, but through controlled assertion.



And a new counter-terror policy



By early 2026, the transformation had crystallised into policy.



India unveiled Prahaar, an acronym for Indias first comprehensive counter-terrorism policy and strategy that aims at criminalising all terrorist acts and seeks to deny terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, weapons, safe havens and cyber resources.



The framework outlines a seven-pillar strategy built on zero tolerance, intelligence-led prevention, and a whole-of-society approach.



At the outset, the policy makes a clear ideological assertion: Terrorism will not be associated with any religion, ethnicity, or nationality. At the same time, it acknowledges a history of sponsored terrorism from across the border and points to regional instability that has created ungoverned spaces.



Reaffirming Indias long-standing stance of zero tolerance, the document describes this position as a principled commitment rooted in solidarity with victims and an unequivocal rejection of violence in all forms. While it avoids naming Pakistan, it notes that some states in the region have used terrorism as a state policy.



Crucially, the doctrine frames counterterrorism not merely as a security imperative but as a values-based commitment grounded in the rule of law, constitutional safeguards, and global norms. At its core is the assertion that national security and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive but must advance together.



Hitting where it hurts most



Beginning May 7, India executed a tightly coordinated four-day campaign involving nine deep-penetration strikes. The targets ranged from terrorist infrastructure to critical military nodes, signalling that both non-state actors and enabling systems would be held accountable.



The operations defining feature was its integration of advanced platforms and precision weapons. Rafale and Su-30MKI aircraft deployed SCALP and BrahMos missiles, while HAMMER munitions and Nagastra-1 loitering systems enabled flexible, high-accuracy targeting. The campaign unfolded at speed, compressing decision cycles and leaving little room for adversary response.



Pakistans attempted retaliation  through drones and missile strikes  was neutralised by Indias layered air defence architecture, combining legacy systems with indigenous platforms and real-time command networks. The outcome was not just successful strikes, but successful defence.



Crucially, India chose to stop at Pakistans request. By declaring a strategic pause, it demonstrated control over escalation  the ability to decide when enough had been achieved. That restraint, paired with precision, is what made the operation strategically significant rather than merely tactically successful.



Drones, data and decision speed



If Operation Sindoor revealed anything decisively, it was the centrality of technology in modern conflict. The operation showcased how drones, precision-guided munitions, electronic warfare and integrated air defence systems can shape outcomes in compressed timelines.



Indias ability to neutralise incoming drone swarms and missile threats highlighted the maturity of its layered defence systems and command networks. Equally, its offensive use of loitering munitions and stand-off weapons demonstrated how technology enables precision without exposure.



Key lessons



Drones and loitering munitions are now central to both attack and surveillance; electronic warfare can neutralise even advanced, Chinese-origin systems; integrated air defence grids are critical for homeland protection



In the months that followed, these lessons were institutionalised. Military planning began to prioritise sensor fusion, real-time intelligence and rapid decision-making. The emphasis shifted from attrition to agility  from mass to precision.



Experts lauded Indias decisive power



According to John Spencer, a leading military scholar and executive director of the US-based Urban Warfare Institute, Operation Sindoor met and exceeded its strategic aims  destroying terrorist infrastructure, demonstrating military superiority, restoring deterrence, and unveiling a new national security doctrine. This was not symbolic force. It was decisive power, clearly applied.



His endorsement mattered because it framed Indias actions not as political signalling but as a textbook example of limited, goal-oriented warfare.



Spencers assessment resonated globally because it addressed a long-standing dilemma: Can a nuclear-armed state respond militarily without triggering uncontrollable escalation? Operation Sindoor, in his reading, answered that question in the affirmative. It showed that calibrated force, backed by clarity of objectives, can deliver strategic outcomes  a lesson not lost on military planners beyond South Asia.



Austrian combat aviation analyst Tom Cooper praised both the technical precision and the strategic payoff of the operation, while Mikael Valter, a retired Swedish military officer, observed that India effectively framed the strikes as an anti-terrorist campaign. He also pointed to the conflict as evidence of the superiority of Indian air defence in limiting damage.




Three years ago, a private landowner approached the Bombay High Court, seeking compensation for land that was acquired for a section of the Sahar elevated road. The court was perplexed: The airport authority maintains the road but is not a planning authority. The BMC is a planning authority for the city, but not for the airport. The MMRDA is the planning authority for the airport, but not for this section of the road.



The court found this situation unique even by the standards of the strange goings-on in this city; it had discovered a piece of land that lies outside the control and command areas of every known public planning authority.



The original Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act of 1966 identified local authorities as planning authorities for urban areas. Municipalities are required to prepare or revise development plans (DPs) for areas within their jurisdiction. In 1992, the planning role of local authorities was reinforced by the decentralisation and self-government objectives of the 74th Constitutional Amendment. The first three functions of urban local bodies, according to the Twelfth Schedule, are urban planning, regulation of land-use and construction, and planning for economic and social development. The BMC is the planning authority for Greater Mumbai  or so we are told. In practice, the state and centre have made periodic incursions into what ought to be the domain of city government.



The result is a balkanised planning system, undermining both functional coherence and local control. The most obvious manifestation of this is the diminution of the territorial scope of the DP. Every now and then, the state government designates an agency like the MMRDA or MHADA as the special planning authority (SPA) for specific parts of the city.



Unlike a local authority, an SPA is not required to prepare a DP for notified areas, nor is it subject to the constraints or proposals of the BMCs DP. An area under an SPA is an island unto itself, subject to that authoritys own objectives for development. The BMCs planning area is riddled with holes, effectively making it a planning authority for what is left behind.



Notably, SPAs account for a substantial share of Mumbais land. The city spans roughly 458 square kilometres. Take away the legally protected natural areas (113sqkm) and we are left with 345sqkm of developable area. Of this, approximately 60sqkm are notified as SPAs: Various pockets for MMRDA (20.5sqkm) and one for MIDC (1.1sqkm); eastern waterfront for MbPA (9.6sqkm), MHADA layouts (23.41sqkm), and Dharavi for SRA (4.69sqkm).



Add 30.32sqkm potentially planned by SRA (through slum redevelopment) and another 4.45sqkm for MHADA (through CESS building redevelopment) and we get 94.11sqkm under other authorities, leaving 251sqkm for BMC to plan  54 per cent of Mumbais total land area.



The problem is not confined to notified areas. Frequent amendments to planning rules reflect the state governments periodic policy interventions, which the BMC has no choice but to dutifully adopt. Schemes like slum rehabilitation, CESS, textile mill lands, resettlement and more have all been planning interventions of the state into what ought to be decision making by the local authority. From a planning perspective this is outlandish, given that planning presupposes some means of anticipating and preparing for outcomes in the future  which the frequency and nature of periodic changes to development regulations make impossible.



And then there is sectoral fragmentation, with authorities initiating their own projects without regard to issues of inter- or intra-sectoral coordination or assessment of cumulative impacts on the city. MMRDA carries out transport projects that range from Metro systems to car-only sea-bridges and tunnels, and even pod taxis. Sometimes, these projects have no basis in regional or development plans; for instance the proposed sea-links by MMRDA and MSRDC from Worli to Virar are neither proposed in the citys development plan nor in the regional plan.



So why is this the case? The BMC is hardly lacking in experience, expertise, or resources, and therefore there is no compelling justification for external intervention. In fact, in his 2021 budget speech, the municipal commissioner complained about having to service SPA areas while the BMC loses out on development-linked revenue. He demanded that BMC should be made a single planning authority for the whole city.



The real question, then, is not what the state or centre can offer the city, but what they stand to gain by retaining and appropriating planning powers  functions that the Constitution envisages for local government. Control over planning translates into offerings for private value capture, while providing the authority access to revenue streams from land monetisation and sale of development rights. It is no surprise that multiple authorities seek a slice of the citys planning pie.



Hussain Indorewala is a teacher and urban researcher at KRVIA. Views are personal.




Sonora, CA  This weekend is the time to get rid of unused medications and possibly save a life during the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Several events will take place Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mother Lode to reduce accidental poisoning, overdoses, and medication abuse. Drug Take Back Day provides an opportunity to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription or over-the-counter medications and vapes, where accepted.

The Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office (TCSO), in collaboration with YES Partnership and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will host the event at the Main Branch of the Tuolumne County Library at 480 Greenley Road in Sonora. The Calaveras Sheriffs Office provided these locations:

Calaveras Lumber Yard (parking lot): 155 S. Main Street in Angels Camp

Toyon Middle School (parking lot): 3412 Double Spring Road in Valley Springs.

Here are the rules for those dropping off medications:

Liquid medications must remain sealed in their containers.

Batteries should be removed from vaping products.

Intravenous solutions, injectables, or syringes are not accepted.

Last year, during the October National Take Back Day, officials reported:

Total Law Enforcement Participation: 4,263

Total Collection Sites: 4,317

Total Weight Collected: 571,054 lbs. (286 tons)

Total Weight All Time: 20,391,815 lbs. (10,196 tons)

Both Tuolumne and Calaveras counties have permanent Drug Drop Boxes at their offices that are available during regular business hours. For more information about the Calaveras County Drop the Drugs program, contact Deputy Michael Varni at 209-754-6931.
The decision in Colorado to charge an immigration officer with assault after a protester was grabbed by the neck and pulled across a street could test the boundaries of immunity provisions for federal agents as states scrutinize the use of force under the Trump administrations immigration crackdown.

A Colorado prosecutor said Wednesday that the officer has been charged with third-degree assault and criminal mischief following an investigation into the treatment of a protester in October.

Multiple videos show a masked federal agent seizing a 57-year-old woman, who says she was put in a chokehold, during the protest in Durango.

Colorado is among several states to prohibit or severely limit the use of chokeholds and neck restraints by police officers. But immunity provisions under the U.S. Constitution and federal law limit the reach of local authorities in prosecuting federal agents.

Heres what to know:

Investigations underway in Minnesota and Chicago

The Trump administrations immigration enforcement tactics have spurred an array of investigations by state and local authorities.

Earlier this month, a federal immigration agent was charged with two counts of second-degree assault by a county prosecutor in Minnesota amid investigations into the actions of several officers during the immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. is accused of pointing his gun at occupants of a car after pulling alongside them on a Minneapolis-area highway. Investigators say Morgan said he feared for his safety after the vehicle swerved in front of him.

Minnesota officials also have sued the administration for access to evidence for investigations into three shootings during the crackdown, including those that resulted in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Outside Chicago, an off-duty ICE agent has been charged with misdemeanor battery for throwing to the ground a 68-year-old protester who was filming him at a gas station in December. The Homeland Security Department that oversees ICE says the agent acted in self-defense.

In California, the shooting death of 43-year-old Keith Porter by an off-duty ICE agent on New Years Eve has prompted protests and calls for an independent investigation.

Federal officers and the supremacy clause

Federal law enforcement officers have broad legal protections when acting in the course of their official duties, and the Justice Department has taken a hard line against state efforts to arrest or prosecute federal agents.

Late last year, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said arrests of federal officers performing their duties would be illegal and futile, citing the Constitutions supremacy clause and federal law.

Legal experts say those protections are significant but not absolute and that the supremacy clause does not provide blanket immunity.

Conduct by ICE officers is under additional scrutiny amid a rapid hiring spree and evidence that applicants with questionable histories were not fully vetted.

Flashpoint in Colorado mountain town

The altercation in Colorado arose from demonstrations over the detention on Oct. 27 of three Colombian asylum-seekers  a man and two children  while they were on their way to school in the morning. In late October, protesters gathered outside an ICE facility in Durango, a college town and destination for outdoor recreation in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.

Multiple videos show a masked federal agent placing Franci Stagi in what she described as a chokehold. Chokeholds have been at the center of public discourse and state legislative initiatives about what constitutes an unreasonable use of force since Eric Garner died in New York in 2014 after he was put in a chokehold by a police officer.

Stagi, a retired hypnotherapist, said she reached for the agents shoulder to get his attention and that he then grabbed her by the hair, put her neck in the crook of his arm and carried her across the street by her head before throwing her down an embankment next to the street.

Court documents allege that Customs and Border Protection officer Nicholas Rice committed third-degree assault by causing bodily injury to Stagi, but the documents dont describe how she was injured or make mention of a chokehold. Court documents didnt list any attorney as representing the officer.

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which launched its own investigation, didnt immediately respond to questions about the charges.

Stagi says shes disappointed Rice was charged with less serious crimes but hopes the prosecution sends a message that immigration officers cant tackle people indiscriminately and use excessive force.

___

Lee reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Slevin contributed from Denver.

By MORGAN LEE and COLLEEN SLEVIN

Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  Two 27-year-old University of South Florida doctoral students have been missing for a week, and authorities have asked for any assistance in locating them.

Both Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, a couple from Bangladesh, were last seen on April 16 at the campus in Tampa, Florida, according to a statement from the University of South Florida Police Department.

Limon, who was studying geography, environmental science and policy, was last seen at his home in a student apartment complex. Bristy, who was studying chemical engineering, was last seen an hour later at a campus science building.

A family friend contacted authorities last Friday after being unable to contact either one, USF police said.

USF police investigators dont believe that they were detained by federal immigration officers, campus police spokesman Larry McKinnon said Thursday.

Friends and family described their lack of communication as out of character.

It doesnt feel normal, Md. Rakibuzzaman, a graduate student at the University of Georgia and a close friend of Limon, told Tampa television station WFLA. Its a pretty complex puzzle to me.

Zubaer Ahmed, Limons younger brother, told WTVT in Tampa that they last spoke three days before he disappeared, and that Limon told him he was very busy working on his thesis, which involves using generative AI to study Floridas shrinking wetlands. Ahmed said Limon and Bristy were discussing a potential future marriage, but were focusing on getting through their degrees first.
BERLIN (AP)  Irans exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was splattered with red liquid on Thursday as he left a building in Berlin.

Pahlavi had just departed a news briefing, during which he criticized the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, when the incident occurred outside Germanys federal news conference building.

He appeared unhurt by the liquid coating the back of his blazer and neck, and waved to his supporters before he got into a car that drove away. Police said the liquid appeared to be tomato juice.

The alleged perpetrator, whose name was not released in line with German privacy rules, was immediately detained by police.

Pahlavi, 65, is the son of Irans former shah, who was so widely hated that millions took to the streets in 1979 to force him from power. Nevertheless, Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a player in his countrys future, though its unclear how much support he has in Iran after he has been in exile for nearly 50 years.

Hundreds of his supporters demonstrated Thursday near Germanys parliament building, according to German news agency dpa.

Pahlavi, who was not invited to meet with any government representatives during his visit to Berlin, argued Thursday that the ceasefire agreement assumes the Iranian governments behavior will change and youre going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists.

I dont see that happening, he said. Im not saying that diplomacy should not be given a chance, but I think diplomacy has been given enough chance.

Pahlavi is jockeying for a return to power should the Shiite theocracy fall and has supported the U.S.-Israeli military intervention in the Middle East.

Pahlavi in Berlin called on Europeans to do more to support Iranian people fighting for democracy. He claimed 19 political prisoners were executed by Iranian authorities in the past two weeks and another 20 people have been sentenced to death.

Will the free world do something, or watch the slaughter in silence? Pahlavi said.

Meanwhile, more than an hour after the incident, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz released a statement saying the government welcomes the extension of the ceasefire.

This presents an important opportunity to resume diplomatic negotiations in Islamabad with the aim of making peace and averting further escalation of the war, the statement said. Tehran should seize this opportunity.

___

Ciobanu reported from Warsaw, Poland.

By MARKUS SCHREIBER and CLAUDIA CIOBANU

Associated Press
LONDON (AP)  DNA and other confidential health data from 500,000 people who volunteered for a massive U.K. health study were offered for sale online in China following a data breach this week, the British government said Thursday.

The information from the U.K. Biobank database was found listed for sale on the website Alibaba, but names, addresses, contact details or telephone numbers were not included, the technology minister, Ian Murray, told lawmakers.

Murray said he could not give a complete guarantee that nobody could be identified as the data could include gender, age, month and year of birth, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and measures from biological samples.

Murray said the information had been legitimately downloaded by three research institutions in China, who have now had access revoked. Mondays breach was an unacceptable abuse of the data and the government is working to figure out how it happened, Murray said.

Those who agreed to make all their health-related data available for research were 40 to 69 when they joined the study from 2006-2010. The participants provide detailed information about their lifestyle via online questionnaires, and consented to providing data from their health records and related information Some also provide body scans with medical imaging equipment, provide additional blood, urine and saliva samples, wear physical activity monitors or heart health monitors.

All the information is used to assess how diseases develop.

Murray said the breach was an unacceptable abuse of the U.K. Biobank charitys data and abuse of the trust that participants readily expect when sharing the data for research purposes.

Thanking the Chinese government for its cooperation, Murray said no purchases had been made and that the data has now been taken down.

U.K. Biobank is the worlds most comprehensive dataset of biological, health and lifestyle information, and has been used to achieve improvements in detection and treatment of dementia, cancers and Parkinsons. It can be used by scientists around the world for research that is deemed to be in the public interest. Data from it has been cited in more than 18,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers, including on major causes of ill-health.

Apologizing to participants, U.K. Biobank chief executive Rory Collins said the charity had temporarily closed access to the research platform and that additional security measures will be put in place.

Elena Simperl, a professor in the department of informatics at Kings College London, said the costs of maintaining infrastructure for flagship data stewardship projects like that of U.K. Biobank are treated as an afterthought.

The U.K. has built something remarkable, but we need to keep investing in keeping it safe, she said.

By PAN PYLAS

Associated Press
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced a significant breakthrough in the fight against corruption within the Ministry of Health, claiming that fraud rates have plummeted from 26% to under 6% since his appointment in 2025.

During an appearance before the Senate on April 22, 2026, Duale credited this sharp decline to a rigorous overhaul of the ministrys internal systems, designed to bridge long-standing gaps in accountability. These reforms prioritize the restoration of institutional integrity and the improvement of healthcare delivery across the country.

Since April last year, when I went to that ministry, it was at 26 percent. Now I want to confirm to the country because of the actions we have taken, we are now below 6 percent, Duale said.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that the crackdown has resulted in the closure of more than 1,200 healthcare facilities implicated in fraudulent schemes. He further highlighted that the ministrys aggressive stance on malpractice has reached the highest levels of administration, leading to the removal of high-ranking officials and the initiation of multiple criminal proceedings.

We have closed over 1,200 facilities. The DPP has received over 24 files, of which I think 18 of them, including two former CEOs of SHA and NHIF have been removed, and many staff of NHIF, SHA, and even the regulatory bodies like KMPDC who registers, Duale said.

The Health Cabinet Secretary has identified Mandera, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, and Wajir as the five counties serving as the primary epicenters for healthcare fraud. He noted that the bulk of these illegal activities occur within private health facilities, which frequently target specialized insurance pools, including funds dedicated to the nations teachers.

Duale vowed to maintain an aggressive stance against these syndicates, signaling that the ministry will continue to track and dismantle the networks siphoning public resources.

We will not relent on fraud. We have flagged out five counties as the epicenter of the fraud, and those counties are Mandera, Kisii, Migori, Home Bay, and Wajir, and we will not relent on it. Im talking of not the county alone. Im talking of all the facilities. The majority of the fraud is taking place in the private health facilities, Duale said.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has pinned the blame for soaring fuel prices on a failure of leadership, accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of steering the economy and public services toward a crisis.

Addressing a crowd at Katutu market in Kitui West on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Kalonzo noted that the financial strain on households is reaching a breaking point. He argued that Kenyas pump prices have now outpaced those of its neighbors, creating an unnecessary burden on citizens. The opposition leader also leveled sharp criticism at the governments management of the education sector and pointed to what he described as the persistent theft of public resources.

The meeting took place against a backdrop of rising public anger following record-breaking fuel hikes earlier this month, which saw petrol and diesel prices climb past the KSh 200 mark. Kalonzo revealed that he has already mobilized legal and political support for those caught up in the fallout of recent demonstrations.

Kalonzo also announced plans for a massive protest on June 25, 2026, to honor the memory of the young Kenyans killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. He pledged that a united opposition government would officially recognize June 25 as a national day of remembrance to commemorate those who stood against executive overreach.

The mother of all protests will be on June 25 this year to commemorate the day when Kenyan youth were shot dead by the government while protesting injustices, he said.

In a separate move, former Attorney General Justin Muturi called for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to move beyond issuing statements and instead convene a multi-stakeholder meeting. He urged the commission to engage directly with political parties, civil society, and the media to address lingering electoral concerns.

Muturi noted that the current enhanced voter registration drive, which aims to net 2.5 million new voters, will conclude on April 28, 2026. He issued a stern warning to the commission, stating that if the IEBC fails to organize these talks within two weeks, stakeholders will mobilize a sit-in at its headquarters to demand transparency.

DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa added his voice to the growing chorus of concern, alleging a coordinated effort to register voters outside Kenyas borders. He called for an immediate investigation into claims that non-citizens are receiving Kenyan voting documents to influence the upcoming electoral cycle.

Specifically, Wamalwa pointed to activities in the Endebess constituency, accusing local leadership of facilitating the illegal registration of foreign nationals from neighboring Uganda. He urged the IEBC to scrutinize these cross-border movements to protect the integrity of the national voter register.

Tunataka IEBC waangalie jamaa anaita Robert Pukose wa kule Endebes, tunajua hapo wanaandikisha watu kutoka Uganda kule Sebei.. wanapatiana kadi ya za uchaguzi kwa watu wasio Wakenya, Wamalwa said.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has raised an alarm over the external pressures hampering 2025 KCSE candidates as they navigate the critical process of course selection. KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Dr. Agnes Wahome identified parental expectations and peer influence as the primary obstacles preventing students from making effective, independent career choices.

Speaking during a webinar focused on the 2026 application cycle, Dr. Wahome noted that many students are being nudged or forced by parents into traditional prestige careers that may not align with the students actual interests or strengths.

Parents should guide their children but ultimately allow them to choose careers based on their ability, talent, and interests. The world today offers many emerging opportunities in fields such as performing arts, sports, and design, unlike in the past when options were largely limited to health and teaching, Dr. Wahome said.

She cautioned that dismissing modern vocational paths in favor of outdated career templates often results in student frustration and academic underperformance. Dr. Wahome also addressed the social dynamics of high school, advising students against the common pitfall of selecting courses simply to stay close to their friends.

You came into this world alone, and you will leave alone. I understand how close friendships can be in high school, but it is time for each of you to choose your own path, she advised.

The KUCCPS chief executive also warned students against prioritizing the name brand of a university over the quality and suitability of the specific program. She pointed out that candidates often overlook national polytechnics and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, even when those centers offer superior practical training for their chosen fields.

Choose a programme based on your interest, not an institution for prestige. Be clear about the course you want to pursue before selecting where to study, she said.

Dr. Wahome emphasized that a successful career path must balance a students natural talents with actual job market demands. She urged learners to look beyond traditional roles and consider the growing viability of sectors like design, performing arts, and sports.

To illustrate the importance of self-assessment, she used the teaching profession as a primary example. She advised aspiring educators to first look inward to see if they possess the necessary patience and communication skills, and then look at their academic data to ensure they meet the rigorous subject-specific requirements.

What are your two strongest subjects? Did you perform well in them? The minimum requirement is a C+ in both teaching subjects, Dr Wahome explained.

She further advised students to carefully review course cut-off points before making their final selections. She urged them to assess their academic standing against previous years benchmarks to guide their decisions.

Check the cut-off points for previous years and compare them with your cluster points to determine your chances. This will help you make an informed decision, she added.

The placement service opened its portal for the 2026/2027 academic year on April 7 and will keep it active until May 6, 2026. The window gives thousands of students the chance to apply for programmes in universities, colleges, and technical institutions across the country.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba noted that candidates can log in at any time to select and revise their preferred courses before the deadline.
The Japanese government is inviting ambitious Kenyan students to apply for prestigious, fully funded scholarships to study at Japanese universities. This opportunity, the 2027 MEXT Scholarship, caters to both KCSE graduates aiming for undergraduate degrees and research students pursuing masters or doctoral qualifications.

The package provides comprehensive support, covering all tuition fees, round-trip airfare, and a monthly living stipend. Interested candidates must submit their applications for both tracks by the May 19, 2026, deadline.

The program maintains rigorous eligibility standards for postgraduate applicants. To qualify, one must be a Kenyan national born on or after April 2, 1992. Academic requirements include a minimum of a Second Class Upper Division bachelors degree for those seeking a masters, while PhD hopefuls must hold a masters degree that included a completed thesis.

Undergraduate hopefuls face a similarly high bar for entry. Applicants must be Kenyan citizens born on or after April 2, 2002, and must have reached at least 18 years of age by the time they enroll in Japan. Academically, the scholarship demands excellence: candidates must possess a KCSE mean grade of A plain. Furthermore, they must have secured an A plain in at least four subjects, including mathematics, and no less than an A minus in both English and Kiswahili.

The Japanese government also extends opportunities to students seeking technical and vocational paths through its College of Technology and Specialized Training College programs. To qualify for the College of Technology track, applicants must be Kenyan citizens born on or after April 2, 2002, and must reach at least 18 years of age by the time they begin their studies in Japan.

Academic standards for this technical route remain high. Candidates need a KCSE mean grade of A minus, supported by grades of A minus or higher in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. Additionally, the program requires at least a B plus in English to ensure students can navigate the rigorous curriculum.

For those interested in the Specialized Training College category, the age and citizenship requirements remain identical, targeting those born on or after April 2, 2002. This pathway focuses on practical skills and requires a minimum KCSE mean grade of B plain. Within that score, applicants must demonstrate proficiency with a B plus or higher in Mathematics and at least a B plain in English.

Navigating the application process requires careful attention to the specific academic track a student chooses, as the Japanese government provides unique portals for each category. Prospective undergraduate students, those aiming for the College of Technology, and candidates for Specialized Training Colleges must use the distinct links provided by the official Study in Japan website to begin their journey.

To help students prepare for the rigorous selection process, the Japanese authorities have also made past qualifying examinations available online, offering a clear look at the academic expectations.

Undergraduate: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-undergraduate.html

College of Technology: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-technology.html

Specialised Training College: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-specialized.html

Past Exam Resources: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/mext-scholarships/examination.html

For those pursuing advanced degrees, the research track for Masters and PhD studies involves a detailed review of specific guidelines and the submission of specialized forms. Applicants can download all necessary paperwork, including the comprehensive list of required documents, directly from the dedicated research application portal. Similar to the undergraduate tracks, research candidates should utilize the online archive of past exams to familiarize themselves with the testing standards.

The Embassy offers flexibility in how candidates submit their materials, accepting both physical and digital applications. Students can email soft copies to [email protected] or hand-deliver hard copies to the Japan Information and Culture Centre at the Embassy of Japan on Mara Road in Upper Hill, Nairobi.

Regardless of the chosen method, the Scholarships Desk must receive all documents by 4:30 pm on May 19, 2026. Officials strongly urge all applicants to submit their packages well ahead of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.
The Nairobi City Court has granted freedom to 10 protesters on a cash bail of KSh 3,000 each after they pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing public passage within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

The group, which includes several prominent activists frequently seen in court circles, was charged by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act 2021. The ten men identified in the case are Julius Kamau, Joshua Okayo, Emmanuel Muchui, Michael Ngige, Alphones Opiyo, Brian Mwendwa, Dickson Mworia, Emmanuel Yegon, Collins Otieno, and Elisha Ochieng.

The prosecution alleges that on April 21, 2026, the accused gathered near the Kenya National Archives along Moi Avenue, creating a crowd that hindered the movement of both pedestrians and vehicles.

On April 21, 2026, in the Archives area, along Moi Avenue in the Nairobi Central Business District they wilfully obstructed the free passage of a public street by gathering in crowds, thereby causing inconvenience to pedestrians and road users, the charge sheet reads.

Two other young men arrested alongside the group were unable to enter a plea after it was revealed they are minors. Representing the defendants, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) lawyer Ian Mutiso informed the court that the two teenagers were swept up with the ten activists during the protests on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

While appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Rhoda Yator at the City Court on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Mutiso successfully argued that the minors should not be charged in the same manner as the adults. Following the defenses request, the magistrate directed the two to stand aside while the rest of the group proceeded with their legal formalities.

With the ten adult men formally pleading not guilty to the charge of obstructing public passage, the court has entered their pleas into the record.

Following the pleas, Magistrate Rhoda Yator released the ten men on cash bail. Addressing the situation of the two younger detainees, the court issued a directive to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police Station to facilitate an age assessment test.

The magistrate ordered that the two be taken to a medical facility to scientifically ascertain their ages before the court determines the appropriate legal path for their cases.

The accused persons are hereby released on a cash bail of Ksh 3,000 each, and an order is issued to the Central Police OCS to take two alleged minors to a medical facility for age assessment, Magistrate Yator ruled.

The case for all parties involved is scheduled for mention on May 7, 2026, by which time the age assessment results are expected to be available to guide the next steps of the proceedings.
Members of the Peoples Renaissance Movement (PM) staged a dramatic scene recently, appearing in masks shortly after securing their official registration certificate from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP). During a briefing held just before their scheduled unveiling, the group explained that they chose to hide their identities as a symbolic gesture, promising a grand reveal during their official party launch.

A movement will be born, a movement will be delivered, one that will liberate this country from the circles of dictatorship. These faces are hidden today because tomorrow we must unveil the real faces of Kenyans very early in the morning, one member said.

The group views this anonymity as a temporary measure before they transition into active public leadership. They intend for the eventual removal of the masks to signal a new era where ordinary citizens take direct control of the countrys governance.

We shall remove these masks, and we will tell you that Kenyans can actually take leadership in their hand.

The Registrar of Political Parties formalized the partys status in a letter dated April 17, 2026. This document, referenced as RPP/PROV/PM Vol IV (43), confirms that the movement successfully navigated the legal hurdles set out in Section 7 (4) of the Political Parties Act.

Pursuant to section 7 (4) of the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D, the Registrar shall, within thirty days of an application, issue a certificate of full registration to a provisionally registered political party which has fulfilled the conditions of full registration, the letter reads.

The Registrars office also directed the party to finalize its transition by complying with Regulation 4(2) of the Political Parties (Registration) Regulations, 2019. This step requires the PM to formally surrender its provisional certificate along with a signed forwarding letter to the authorities.

In view of the foregoing, this Office hereby invites at least three PM founding members to the certificate issuance meeting to be held on 22nd April, 2026 at 9.00 a.m. at ORPP 4th Floor Boardroom, the letter adds.

The movement first secured its provisional registration on January 15, 2026. Since then, the Registrars office has guided the partys founders and interim officials through the rigorous legal and technical requirements necessary for full status, including recruiting a national membership base, establishing functional regional offices, and forming the governing bodies required by law.

The partys visual identity features a hummingbird in flight, rendered in a palette of red, blue, and white, paired with the straightforward slogan: The change we need.

According to its official website, the PM envisions a Kenya rooted in equal opportunity and transparent governance, where national resources benefit the entire population. The partys core mission focuses on dismantling exclusive power structures to build a system that serves every citizen rather than a privileged few.

Aspiring members of the Peoples Renaissance Movement must complete their registration through the Integrated Political Party Management System (IPPMS). This official platform serves as the central hub for verifying and managing political party memberships across the country. The process lives entirely online, requiring applicants to navigate a series of digital steps before the party grants them full access to its internal system.

To begin, users should visit the official IPPMS portal at https://ippms.ke/ to either set up a new account or sign in to an existing one. Once inside the portal, applicants must provide accurate personal details on the membership registration form. After a thorough review and subsequent approval of the application, the system issues a unique IPPMS ID to confirm the users official status.

With this ID in hand, members must return to the platform and input their National ID number to finalize their professional profile. Current users can simply log in with their National ID to get started. For those who prefer a mobile-first approach, the movement also offers a USSD option; simply dial *509#, select the Peoples Renaissance Movement from the menu, and follow the prompts to join the fold.

The Peoples Renaissance Movement offers several membership tiers, allowing supporters to choose a level of commitment that aligns with their personal investment in the partys future. These categories range from accessible entry-level options to high-stakes premium tiers, each carrying distinct financial contributions and renewal cycles.

Prospective members can join at the Ordinary level for a modest, one-off fee of KSh 20. For those looking for a more permanent stake in the movement, the standard life membership costs KSh 20,000, with a renewal requirement every five years.

The party has also established a series of prestige tiers for significant donors, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold Life Memberships, which cost KSh 50,000, KSh 100,000, and KSh 1,000,000, respectively.

At the highest echelon of the partys structure sit the Diamond and Platinum tiers. A Diamond Life Membership requires a KSh 5,000,000 contribution, while the elite Platinum level commands a fee of KSh 20,000,000. Like the other premium tiers, these memberships remain subject to a five-year renewal period.

Aspiring leaders within the organization should note the partys strict internal requirements regarding hierarchy. According to the official guidelines, any individual who wishes to run for office or serve as a party official must hold, at minimum, a fully paid-up life membership.
President William Ruto has finally pulled back the curtain on his Zakayo moniker, attributing the nickname to the intense political friction sparked by his tax reforms and housing agenda. During a candid sit-down with Kenyans residing in Italy, the president traced the labels roots back to the initial rollout of the Affordable Housing Programme  a project he characterizes as one of his most calculated yet grueling executive decisions.

That is how I became Zakayo, the president shared, reflecting on the wave of criticism he weathered from both the public and political rivals when the initiative first launched. He recalled the skepticism that defined those early days, noting that many questioned the necessity of the project entirely.

When I pushed for the housing programme, many citizens, leaders actually, said,  Who told you that Kenyans need houses? People have their homes; why are you obsessed with this programme? he said.

Ruto pointed out that while housing has occupied a spot in political manifestos for a quarter-century, previous administrations rarely moved the needle on large-scale implementation. Despite the persistent pushback, he maintains that the program remains a vital pillar of his administrations long-term vision.

The Zakayo moniker gained significant traction in the public square as citizens and political rivals reacted to the Finance Act 2023. This legislation sparked nationwide debate by introducing or hiking taxes on fuel, housing, and everyday essentials, fueling a narrative of economic pressure.

The label draws a direct parallel to the biblical figure Zacchaeus  a chief tax collector in the Gospel of Luke often associated with heavy-handed collection and public scorn. Critics adopted the Swahili version of the name to personify what they describe as an aggressive tax regime and a spiking cost of living.

Through a mix of street protests, viral memes, and sharp political commentary, opposition figures and social media users transformed the name into a cultural shorthand for the countrys economic frustrations.

President Ruto stood firm on his administrations strategy, arguing that the controversial program is now delivering concrete results for the nation. He pointed out the historical disconnect in Kenyan politics, where housing remained a hollow promise for decades.

You see, the irony is that in every manifesto of every political party in the last 25 years, housing has always been a permanent feature, he said.

The president showcased the programs momentum by pointing to a surge in employment and a nationwide map of active development sites. He claims the initiative has transformed into a massive economic engine, fostering growth far beyond simple construction.

Today, in our housing ecosystem, we have 640,000 Kenyans who are working. We have 210 sites of affordable housing and 600 sites of markets, Ruto said.

The government has already moved past the breaking-ground phase and started delivering finished homes to Kenyan families. Ruto expanded on the scale of this ambition, noting that the project also addresses the desperate need for student accommodation.

We are doing 240,000 housing units. We have started giving out keys, and we have hostels for 180,000 college students, he said.

Ruto framed the introduction of the Housing Levy as a vital, albeit grueling, legislative maneuver required to bankroll his administrations massive infrastructure goals. He acknowledged that the move invited fierce resistance but stood by the necessity of the contribution.

It was deliberate, but it was difficult, and that is how I became Zakayo. We had to have the Housing Levy, he said.
Three Emory University faculty members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nations oldest and most prestigious honorary societies and a leading independent public policy research center.

Erica Dunbar, NEH Professor in the Humanities and professor of African American studies; Tayari Jones, Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing; and Elaine Walker, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, are Emorys new members.

Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognizes the intellectual leadership of these scholars and the broader impact of their work, says Badia Ahad, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Erica Dunbar, Tayari Jones, and Elaine Walker have each shaped their fields in meaningful and distinctive ways. Their scholarship reflects the very best of what the Academy stands for: advancing knowledge in service to the public good.

Dunbar, Jones and Walker will join 34 other Emory faculty as members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, which elected its first members in 1781 and announced its newest members April 22. The 252 members elected in 2026 are recognized for their excellence as leaders in academia, the arts, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy, research and science.

We celebrate the achievement of each new member and the collective breadth and depth of their excellence  this is a fitting commemoration of the nations 250th anniversary. The founding of the nation and the Academy are rooted in the inextricable links between a vibrant democracy, the free pursuit of knowledge and the expansion of the public good, said Laurie Patton, the organizations president, in an announcement.

Erica Dunbar: Historical scholarship for everyone

Dunbar, an acclaimed scholar and award-winning author, writes about the lives of Black women in 18th and 19th century America for academic and public audiences.

As co-executive producer on HBOs The Gilded Age, she advises the hit television series about the nuances of racial and gender relations in late-1800s Manhattan.

Dunbar has written or co-written eight books focusing on the history of enslavement and freedom, social history, urban history and womens history.

These include A Fragile Freedom: African American Women and Emancipation in the Antebellum City in 2008 and Never Caught: The Washingtons Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge, which was a finalist for the National Book Award in nonfiction and a co-winner of the 2018 Frederick Douglass Book Prize. In 2019, she published She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman.

Dunbar says she is honored and deeply humbled to be elected to the Academy.

After learning of the recognition, she says she visited the organizations website to peruse the list of historians elected over the years.

I stopped on one profile and smiled, she says. Staring back at me was an image of Dr. John Hope Franklin, a 20th-century historian who reshaped U.S. history and held profound care and interest for the public. Its an honor to be counted among scholars like Dr. Franklin, and many others, who placed African Americans and women at the center of their scholarship.

Dunbar served as the national director of the Association of Black Women Historians from 2019-22. She also served as the inaugural director of the Program in African American History at The Library Company of Philadelphia from 2011-18.

Her op-eds, essays and commentary have appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, TIME, Essence, the New York Review of Books, CNN and Los Angeles Times. She has appeared in documentaries including The Abolitionists on PBS and the Ken Burns series Benjamin Franklin.

Tayari Jones: Writing that humanizes social history

Jones is the author of five novels, including this years Kin, a New York Times bestselling book about a friendship tested by time and circumstance during the 1940s and 50s Jim Crow South.

Her storytelling has addressed urgent social issues including race, gender and mass incarceration  while steeping readers in the regional histories of the American South. Her previous novel An American Marriage, also a New York Times bestseller, was awarded the Womens Prize for Fiction in 2018. Her first novel, Leaving Atlanta, earned multiple honors, including the Hurston/Wright Award for Debut Fiction in 2003. In addition, she is the author of The Untelling and Silver Sparrow. In 2016, Sparrow was added to the National Endowment of the Arts Big Read Library of Classics, which brings communities together to discuss a single book.

It is deeply moving to be one in this number, says Jones. The Academy of Arts and Sciences reminds us of what it means to be American in all of her complexity and nuance. As a Black writer, a Southern writer and a woman writer, I am honored to represent my many communities as a new member of this meaningful gathering of minds.

Jones has penned introductions to works by Zora Neale Hurston, Ann Petry, Alice Walker, Randall Kenan, Dovey Johnson Rountree, Sapphire, Maya Angelou and Diane Oliver.

She has also served on the boards of many philanthropic arts organizations, including Poets and Writers, Girls Write Now and the Haymarket Writing Freedom Fellowship. Her accolades include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Radcliffe Fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and a Literature Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. She was recently named to TIMEs 100 Most Influential People of 2026.

Her short stories, literary criticism, reviews, essays and travel writing have appeared in TIME, The New York Times, The Believer, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Callaloo, Tin House, McSweeneys and Travel & Leisure.

Elaine Walker: Pioneering research in mental illness

Walkers contributions to the field of psychology and neuroscience have had a profound impact on our understanding of major mental illnesses, particularly psychosis.

For more than three decades, she has led a research laboratory, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and private foundations. Her pioneering research on the risk factors for major mental illnesses has advanced understanding of the behavioral and neurobiological factors associated with the risk of psychosis.

Her research focuses on the precursors and neurodevelopmental aspects of the scientific study of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. Through her work, she aims to improve the prediction of psychotic disorders and identify the neurobiological processes that precede the onset of these debilitating conditions.

Walker says shes grateful for the honor, adding, Ive always thought of it as a gift to have the opportunity to pursue my passion for scientific research. I was banking on the inherent gratification of being able to conduct research on issues that were of such great interest to me, but getting recognized for doing what I am inclined to do anyway is especially nice.

Walker has written or co-written six books and more than 500 scientific articles, many of which are highly cited and have influenced subsequent research in the field.

She also leads the Emory site for the NIMHs North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study, a consortium of nine institutions studying the early indicators of psychosis.

She served as president of the Society for Research in Psychopathology from 1986-2000 and chair of Emorys Department of Psychology from 2003-06.

Her many accolades include the William T. Grant Faculty Scholar Award; the Joseph Zubin Award from the Society for Research in Psychotherapy; and the Alexander Gralnick, M.D., Award for Research in Schizophrenia. She is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock and other founding fathers of the United States, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences honors excellence and convenes leaders from every field of human endeavor to examine new ideas, address issues of importance to the nation and the world and work together to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity and happiness of a free, independent and virtuous people.

Induction ceremonies for new members will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October 2026.
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation named two Emory English faculty 2026 Guggenheim Fellows. Heather Christle, associate professor of English and creative writing, and Elizabeth Goodstein, professor of English and the liberal arts, are among 223 distinguished individuals across 55 disciplines selected as fellows for their exceptional promise and prior professional achievements.

A Guggenheim Fellowship is one of the career pinnacles for any scholar or artist, and I am so thrilled that Elizabeth and Heather have been recognized for their achievements. All of us here in Emory College celebrate their success. I cant wait to see what will come of these honors, says Joseph Crespino, interim dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences and Jimmy Carter Professor of History.

Christle and Goodstein will receive financial stipends to pursue independent work at the highest level under the freest possible conditions, according to the Guggenheim Foundation.

Christle has written five poetry collections, including, most recently, Paper Crown, which was published last year. Another collection, The Trees The Trees, won the Believer Poetry Award in 2012 and was adapted into a ballet by the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

She has also published two nonfiction books. The Crying Book, published in 2019, examines the history and sociology of tears in poetic fragments. In the Rhododendrons: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Woolf, published in 2025, weaves Christles personal history with the life and works of the influential British writer.

Whether exploring the way information decays across time or the science of cognitive linguistics, the throughline of Christles writing is curiosity.

Theres a sense of What are we going to learn? What are we going to put together? she says.

While she has branched out into prose, Christle says, I think that poetry will always be my home.

Christle plans to use the Guggenheim stipend to return to that home  by working on a new book of poems called The Downs.

It feels like a great honor to receive a Guggenheim fellowship, she says. What makes me most excited in all the world is writing. And this means I will have the gift of time to write. So, when I contemplate that prospect, I feel the most alive I can feel.

She credits her friends and colleagues, especially those in Emorys Department of English, for inspiration and support. I feel so lucky to be working and making and thinking as a part of a community of really extraordinary people, she says.

Goodstein, who is a member of the core faculty in the Department of Comparative Literature and the Psychoanalytic Studies Program, also teaches in the departments of philosophy, history and German studies.

Goodstein is a theorist of modern experience and an expert in practices of interdisciplinary inquiry. Her research incorporates ideas and methods from diverse arts and disciplinary traditions. Her book Georg Simmel and the Disciplinary Imaginary considers the influence and impact of the German sociologist and philosopher.

Much of Goodsteins work focuses on boredom as a socio-cultural phenomenon. Her first book, Experience without Qualities: Boredom and Modernity, puts poets and novelists in conversation with sociologists and philosophers about the topic, helping launch a new field, known as boredom studies. The book, published in 2005, won the Modern Language Associations Prize for a First Book and the German Studies Association Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Prize.

Goodstein, whose Guggenheim was awarded in the General Nonfiction category, will use her stipend to finish a book in progress. Nothing to Do: Boredom and Change will explore new formations of boredom in the age of screens and social media.

Theres a very active production of boredom in 21st-century life, says Goodstein. It's part of the way were kept in the cycles of consumption and distraction that prevent our engaging more deeply with the experience of boredom and the questions of meaning it raises.

The new book was inspired, in part, by ongoing conversations with students, most recently while teaching No Time to Think: Boredom, Distraction and Modern Life last fall. The graduate seminar explored the cultural, political and philosophical significance of the boredom, anxiety and stress endemic in contemporary life.

Goodstein calls receiving the Guggenheim Fellowship joyful and such a tremendous honor  which demonstrates how important it is that we continue to cultivate spaces for the kinds of conversations and work that that cross institutional and disciplinary boundaries.

Our new class of Guggenheim Fellows is representative of the worlds best thinkers, innovators, and creators in art, science and scholarship, says Edward Hirsch, award-winning poet and president of the Guggenheim Foundation. As the foundation enters its second century and looks to the future, I feel confident that this new class of 223 individuals will do bold and inspiring work, undaunted by the challenges ahead. We are honored to support their visionary contributions.

The Guggenheim Foundation was created in 1925 by U.S. Sen. Simon Guggenheim and his wife, Olga Guggenheim, in memory of their son, John Simon.

The foundation has granted more than $450 million in fellowships to more than 19,000 individuals breaking new ground in the creative arts, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and a range of interdisciplinary fields. Recipients include more than 125 Nobel laureates, members of all the national academies and winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award, Bancroft Prize, National Book Award and other internationally recognized honors.

Other recent Emory faculty Guggenheim Fellowship recipients include Aubrey Michelle Kelly, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, and Dianne Marie Stewart, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Religion and African American Studies, in 2025 ; Cassandra Quave, Thomas J. Lawley, MD Professor of Dermatology and associate professor in Emory School of Medicine and the Center for the Study of Human Health, in 2024 ; and Tayari Jones, Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing, Laura Otis, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor Emerita of English, and Katherine Young, assistant professor of composition in the Department of Music, in 2021
On March 31, the Emory community gathered to celebrate global leadership and service at the International Awards Ceremony, hosted by Emory Global Engagement. The event honored four distinguished award winners from the Emory community, including students, alumni, faculty and staff, whose achievements and dedication exemplify the universitys dedication to global connection and exchange.

This years recipients are:

Parminder Suchdev, Marion V. Creekmore Award for Internationalization

Alawode Oladele, Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award

Jennifer Ducksworth, International Outreach Award

Adriana Gutierrez Yllu, Global Student Leadership Award

Creekmore Award for Internationalization

The 2026 Marion V. Creekmore Award for Internationalization was presented to Parminder Suchdev. A physician-epidemiologist and professor of pediatrics and global health in the School of Medicine, Suchdev has dedicated more than 20 years to advancing maternal and child nutrition and strengthening global health systems. His work bridges research, clinical care and policy, translating evidence into practice to improve health equity worldwide. Suchdev also serves as a pediatric hospitalist at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta.

Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award

The Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award was presented to Alawode Oladele 93MPH, a physician and public health executive with more than three decades of experience in infectious disease control and global health leadership. Born in Nigeria, Oladele has advanced care for underserved communities through humanitarian missions across Africa and the Caribbean, refugee health initiatives and sickle cell disease advocacy. He currently serves as supervising physician and laboratory director at DeKalb Public Health. Oladele is also the CEO of both Premiere International Health Care Inc. and GIANT Non-Profit Inc., as well as a co-founder of CMG Global Foundation.

International Outreach Award

The International Outreach Award was presented to Jennifer Ducksworth in recognition of her transformative impact on Emorys international student community. As senior program coordinator for student engagement at the Professional Advancement and Student Experience Center, she leads the Rollins International Student Advisory Board and advises 25 student organizations at Rollins School of Public Health. Her work in mentorship, resiliency training and inclusive programming has strengthened belonging and cross-cultural engagement across campus.

Global Student Leadership Award

The Global Student Leadership Award was presented to Adriana Gutierrez Yllu, a second-year Master of Public Health student at Rollins School of Public Health and an international student from Peru. As president of La Alianza Latinx at Emory, she fosters inclusive community spaces and mentors peers. Through her leadership, research and service, Yllu is committed to advancing health equity and fostering welcoming communities where people feel they truly belong.

At the ceremony, Provost Badia Ahad and Vice Provost for Global Engagement Jane Gatewood shared congratulatory words and introduced the evening. Distinguished guests included civil rights leader and former Atlanta Mayor Ambassador Andrew Young; Mayor of Clarkston Beverly Burks; the Consul General of Peru in Atlanta, Giancarlo Leon Collazos; and Ambassador Auwalu Jega Namadina, the Consul General of Nigeria in Atlanta, all of whom underscored the international spirit of the celebration.

More information on the awards can be found online, or by emailing global@emory.edu.
McCormick Foundation CEO to discuss philanthropy hurdles with SIUs Paul Simon Institute

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Tim Knight, president and CEO of the Robert McCormick Foundation, will discuss the challenges facing philanthropy at a special event in Chicago hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on Thursday, April 30.

Knights fireside conversation with John Shaw, institute director, is at The Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd. at 6 p.m. in the clubs French Room. A reception is from 5-6 p.m. in the same room.

Online registration to attend the conversation is requested.

Media availability

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to attend the conversation. To make arrangements for interviews, contact William Becque, marketing associate, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, 618-453-4009.

Shaw and Knight will discuss Knights background and professional career, the McCormick Foundations history and programs, and the challenges and opportunities facing philanthropy in turbulent funding times, particularly in Chicago.

"Tim Knight is an extremely impressive leader at the McCormick Foundation, Shaw said. He has been strategic, bold, and passionately committed to using the Foundation's reputation and resources to build a stronger Chicago.

Knight has spent most of his career in the media industry, much of it with the Tribune Company. Prior to joining the McCormick Foundation, he served as CEO, president, and a member of the board of Tribune Publishing Co. Earlier in his career, Knight was president of Advance Ohio, CEO of the holding company of the Chicago Sun-Times, president and CEO of Newsday Media Group, and publisher of Newsday magazine.

Knight began his career as a corporate attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Chicago and London. He has an undergraduate degree in accounting from Marquette University and a law degree from DePaul University.
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 23: Banke International Properties - India has announced a strong topline performance in Mumbai, closing approximately Rs 587 crore in gross transaction value during the last financial year. Presenting a robust year-on-year growth of around 20%, the transactions achieved reinforces the Banke's growing presence in one of India's most competitive real estate markets. The residential segment dominated Banke's business, contributing to nearly 90% of the overall transaction value. Commercial real estate accounted for the remaining 10%. Within the residential category, premium housing stood out as a key driver, accounting for approximately 40% of transactions. Luxury properties contributed around 20%, with the rest driven by mid-segment demand. In the previous financial year, Banke also noted a steady demand across a typical ticket size range of Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore, with homebuyer behaviour reflecting a shift towards quality, prioritising better locations, and seeking reputed developers for their enhanced lifestyle offerings. The strategic partnerships inked with leading developers such as Lodha, Runwal, Godrej Properties, and Paradise Group, helped Banke in driving transaction volumes. These collaborations ensured that Banke managed to strengthen its deal pipeline through better access to inventory, better pricing alignment, and faster transaction closures. Thane stood out as the highest-performing micro-market for Banke, contributing approximately 35% of the total transaction value. This was followed by consistent contributions from the Central and Western suburbs, along with Navi Mumbai and South Mumbai. Commenting on the achievement, Porush Jhunjhunwala, Founder & CEO, Banke International Properties - India said, "In real estate, true scale is not defined by numbers alone, but by the depth of relationships, the integrity of advice, and the consistency of execution. In this evolving market, our focus remains on building a platform that delivers enduring value to both clients and partners while we look at setting new benchmarks for professionalism in the industry," During this period, Banke's end-users accounted for approximately 70% of the total transactions, backed by a sustained demand from first-time homebuyers. Investors contributed the remaining 30%, with a continued focus on capital appreciation and rental income opportunities. Banke's advisory-led approach, backed by deep market expertise, curated inventory access, and a client-first philosophy, has been instrumental in closing high-value deals. The company's emphasis on transparency and end-to-end service has only strengthened client trust in a highly competitive environment. Looking ahead, Banke International Properties is actively exploring development opportunities, particularly in plotted land projects aligned with the state government's broader Mumbai 3.0 vision. This forms part of its ambition to double performance and achieve the Rs 1,000 crore milestone in the upcoming financial year. The recent launch of its new office in Andheri is expected to contributed by accelerating growth, particularly across the Western suburbs from Bandra to Borivali. Banke is also looking at active development opportunities, particularly in the area of plotted land development fitting into the larger Mumbai 3.0 plans of the state government. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
PNN Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 23: Corium Italia, the premium Italian furniture brand, marked its debut in Agra with an exclusive launch event at Vilasa Design, introducing the city's first Italian furniture brand showroom. The launch showcased a curated collection of contemporary Italian sofas that combine innovation, comfort, and sculptural elegance--crafted for those who value understated luxury. The evening brought together architects, design enthusiasts, and discerning consumers, offering an immersive experience of Italian living. Through curated hospitality and guided walkthroughs, guests engaged with the brand's design philosophy, which emphasises the balance between aesthetics, functionality, and comfort. The collection highlighted refined detailing, fluid forms, and the tactile richness of premium materials. The event witnessed promiment figures including Vinod Thapa, Interior Designer & Director - Vinod Thapa Innovation Private Limited; Gulab Ladhani, Businessman; Puran Dawar, President - Shoe Export Industry; Rajesh Hemdev, Diamond Jewellery Retailer; Surendra Kumar Jain, President - Help Agra NGO; Dr. Shivani Chaturvedi, Gynaecologist; Suresh Seetlani, President - Sindh HelpAge. Originating from Florence, Italy--renowned for its legacy in art, fashion, and fine leather craftsmanship--Corium Italia is rooted in a philosophy of precision and timeless design. Founded by Rino and Edoardo, the brand reflects a strong focus on craftsmanship and material integrity, with each piece conceived as an expression of artistry. "India continues to be a key growth market for us, with consumer demand increasingly moving beyond functionality towards design, craftsmanship, and overall experience. With Corium Italia, we are introducing a distinct Italian design language supported by global expertise, while remaining aligned with local preferences. We are committed to delivering products that seamlessly balance aesthetics, comfort, and durability," said Manoj Kumar Nair, Country Head - Brands, India, Middle East and Africa, HTL Group of Companies. With its entry into Agra, Corium Italia continues to expand its presence in India, catering to the growing demand for design-led furniture across emerging markets. About Corium Italia: Corium Italia is an Italian sofa manufacturer with extensive experience in the product development, design, manufacturing and sales of sofas. It was originated from the heart of Florence, Italy, a country famed for their passion in design, beauty and fashion, yet deep-rooted with a rich blend of culture and heritage. Corium Italia promises a suite of upmarket and modern Italian designer sofas for the esteemed customers. We draw our inspirations from Tuscany's rich heritage and tradition of passion, excellence and accomplishment, dedicated towards ideals of beauty and perfection. Every piece of furniture is crafted through expert craftsmanship, precision and ultimate attention to detail in the finishing touches. Corium Italia reveals itself through a restless passion to pursue beauty and perfection, not to be noticed, but to be remembered. Life is what we make of it. Live with pride. Visit: https://coriumindia.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) unveiled its next-generation A13 process at its North America Technology Symposium in California on Wednesday. The world's largest contract chipmaker stated that it was targeting volume production for the new technology in 2029. The announcement came during the company's largest annual customer forum, which was held in Santa Clara under the theme "Expanding AI with Leadership Silicon." According to a report by Focus Taiwan, the new A13 process was aimed at meeting the growing demand for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and mobile applications. The company used the symposium to showcase its latest services and technological advancements designed to support the next generation of semiconductor design. The report mentioned that in a statement, TSMC Chairman and CEO, C.C. Wei, said that customers expect advanced nodes like the A13 to be ready for volume production when next-generation designs require them, adding the company continues to lead in chip density, performance and power efficiency. The A13 process improved on the previous A14 node by shrinking the chip area by 6 per cent while maintaining full design-rule compatibility. This allowed for a rapid migration to nanosheet transistor technology. TSMC noted that additional gains in performance and power efficiency were achieved through design-technology co-optimization. At the same symposium, the company also previewed its A12 process. This technology featured a "super power rail" architecture to provide backside power delivery for AI and high-performance computing applications. Production for the A12 was slated for 2029. Additionally, within its 2-nanometer platform, the N2U was expected to deliver a 3-4 per cent speed increase or an 8-10 per cent reduction in power use compared with the N2P. Production for the N2U was expected in 2028. Regarding advanced packaging, the report highlighted that TSMC announced it was expanding its CoWoS technology. The company planned to scale the technology from 5.5 times reticle size to 14 times, which allowed for the integration of approximately 10 compute dies and 20 high-bandwidth memory stacks. Production for this expansion was planned for 2028, while larger CoWoS and wafer-scale SoW-X were targeted for 2029. The company also advanced its SoIC 3D stacking capabilities. This included A14-to-A14 stacking by 2029, which offered 1.8 times the input/output density of 2nm-based SoIC. Furthermore, the COUPE photonics engine was set to reach a key milestone, with co-packaged optics entering production in 2026. This was expected to double power efficiency and cut latency by 90 per cent. For the automotive and edge AI sectors, the report noted that TSMC introduced the N2A node. This was the company's first nanosheet-based automotive node, with AEC-Q100 certification expected in 2028. (ANI)
Space is no longer just a supporting tool for national security, it has become the dominant domain that will determine the outcome of future conflicts, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Samir V. Kamat said on Thursday, calling for a "whole-of-nation" approach to close India's capability gap with rivals whose space programmes are expanding at an alarming pace. Speaking at the 4th Indian DefSpace Symposium at Manekshaw Centre on "Strengthening India's Defence and Space Industry Synergy," Kamat outlined DRDO's growing role in military space while stressing that catching up will be a "Herculean challenge" without greater investment and collaboration. While ISRO remains the lead agency for India's civilian space programme, Kamat said DRDO was entrusted with addressing the military aspects of space after the formation of the Defence Space Agency. The responsibility, he noted, is still a small part of DRDO's overall mandate but is expanding rapidly. "It needs to grow much more if we have to keep pace with our rivals," he said. To bridge the gap, DRDO is adopting a collaborative model that brings in startups, MSMEs and academia. The organisation has already set up DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence in three to four of its 15 DIA COEs, with space identified as a priority domain. "There is a lot of interest among academia and startups to contribute to the defence part of the space programme," Kamat said, adding that he is optimistic India will gain the necessary impetus and sovereign capabilities in critical technologies over the next few years. Kamat made it clear that while some space technologies can still be sourced from abroad, several areas remain restricted and require indigenous development. DRDO's current focus includes space situational awareness to protect India's space-based assets, development of the restricted service of NAVIC for military operations, and capabilities in space-based surveillance and imaging radar. The organisation is also working on early missile launch detection systems, a capability highlighted by Chief Marshal Bhaduriya. Civil-military fusion will be essential, particularly in areas like imaging radar where civilian and military applications overlap, he noted. The Chairman underlined that India's current investment in research and development remains inadequate to sustain this push. As a nation, India spends only 0.65% of GDP on Research and Development, and within defence, only 5% of the budget is allocated to R&D. "We definitely need to scale this up if we have to catch up with our rivals," he said. There is, however, a positive signal on funding. Kamat noted that the Raksha Mantri has committed to doubling the defence R&D budget to 10% of the overall defence budget over the next five years. He expressed confidence that this would unlock more resources not only for government institutions but also for startups and MSMEs working in the sector. Kamat added that the goal is to build sovereign capabilities in critical space technologies that cannot be imported and to ensure India's space-based assets remain secure and operational in contested environments. He stressed that this cannot be achieved by DRDO alone and will require coordinated efforts across government, industry and academia. (ANI)
PNN Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], April 23: Dr. Bharat Agravat, a renowned Dental Implant Surgeon with over 30 years of clinical expertise, today announced a breakthrough in organic oral care: the "Organic Agravat Moringa Mouth Shot." This innovative technique offers a natural, non-invasive solution for millions suffering from Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) and chronic mouth burning sensations. As Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) cases rise globally due to tobacco and betel nut habits, patients frequently face the dual challenge of restricted mouth opening and agonizing burning sensations while eating. Dr. Agravat's latest protocol focuses on systemic healing through pharmaceutical-grade superfoods to complement traditional physical rehabilitation. The Science of Reducing Mouth Burning Naturally. The primary hurdle in OSMF recovery is chronic mucosal inflammation. Dr. Bharat Agravat emphasizes that topical treatments often fall short because they do not address underlying systemic damage. "To reduce mouth burning sensation naturally, we must neutralize toxins at a cellular level," says Dr. Kartavya Agravat, Innovator of the QSG DIY Kit. "Organic Agravat Moringa contains 46 antioxidants and 90+ vital nutrients that specifically target stiff fibrous bands, softening them while calming the sensitive oral lining." Watch the video of the"Organic Agravat Moringa Mouth Shot" Technique. How to Reduce Mouth Burning Sensation Naturally at Home. Organic Oral Care Agravat Moringa for OSMF Recovery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AAmb5cJvgg What is the "Organic Agravat Moringa Mouth Shot" Technique? The 1-Minute Habit Protocol: The hallmark of this new era in oral wellness is a simple, 1-minute daily habit integrating local repair with systemic detoxification: 1. Prepare: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of Organic Agravat Moringa in lukewarm water. 2. Swish & Gargle: Swish vigorously for 30-60 seconds. This allows the antioxidants to be absorbed directly into the affected cheek tissues. 3. Swallow: Swallow the mixture to allow the nutrients to enter the bloodstream for deep, internal healing. Doing this twice daily ensures that the patient is fighting OSMF both from the outside (local absorption) and the inside (systemic nutrition). A New Standard in D2C Healthcare, marking a significant shift toward Organic Oral Care, Dr. Agravat Healthcare Ltd is providing a "Gold Standard" DIY home treatment. Currently an "Amazon's Choice" bestseller, Organic Agravat Moringa is helping patients globally transition from restricted opening to a healthy, full-smile recovery. About Dr. Bharat Agravat, Dr. Kartavya Agravat & Dr. Agravat Healthcare Limited Dr. Bharat Agravat https://www.drbharat.agravat.com/ is an award-winning Dental Implant Surgeon and the innovator behind the world's first clinically tested OSMF Mouth Opening Kit. With a career spanning three decades, he has been at the forefront of dental innovation and oral cancer prevention. Dr. Kartavya Agravat is a Cosmetic Dental Surgeon and the innovator of the world's first clinically tested QSG DIY Kit. https://quitsmokinggutkha.com/ His mission-driven startup, which helps individuals quit gutkha and smoking at home, is supported by I-Hub and the Government of Gujarat. He is dedicated to leveraging clinical research to create accessible, life-changing healthcare solutions. Dr. Agravat Healthcare Limited is a leading pharmaceutical and wellness company based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. For over 18 years, the company has specialized in D2C healthcare solutions, exporting innovative oral care, Personal care, Nutraceutical and wellness products to over 18 countries. The company is committed to integrating ancient Ayurveda with AI-supported modern medical clinical science to provide effective home-based recovery solutions. Contact Dr Agravat Patients struggling with mouth burning or restricted mouth opening can start their journey to recovery today. - Order the Organic Agravat Moringa & OSMF Kit:https://osmfmouthopeningkit.com - For Clinical Insights & Consultations:https://www.agravat.com Media Contact: Dr Agravat Wellness Center, Sindhubhavan Road, Thaltej, Ahmedabad-380059, Gujarat, India. Website: https://www.wellness.agravat.com/ Disclaimer: This press release is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult a doctor before taking any decisions. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 23: Amba Auto Sales and Services Limited (The Company Amba Auto) is engaged in automobile and consumer electronics retail, proposes to open its Initial Public Offering on Monday, April 27, 2026, aiming to raise 65.12 Crore (At Upper Price Band), with shares to be listed on the NSE Emerge platform. The issue size is 48,24,000 equity shares at a face value of 10 each with a price band of 130 - 135 Per Share. Equity Share Allocation - QIB - Not more than 4,64,000 Equity Shares - NII- Not less than 22,86,000 Equity Shares - Individual Investors - Not less than 18,32,000 Equity Shares - Market Maker - Up to 2,42,000 Equity Shares The net proceeds from the IPO will be utilized for funding capital expenditure for setting up new showrooms and renovating existing ones, to meet the working capital requirements and general corporate purposes. The issue will open on Monday, April 27, 2026, and will close on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The Book Running Lead Manager to the Issue is CapitalSquare Advisors Private Limited, The Registrar to the Issue is Bigshare Services Private Limited. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Lohia, Chairman & Executive Director of Amba Auto Sales and Services Limited, expressed, "The proposed Initial Public Offering represents an important milestone for the company. Over the years, we have built a strong dealership platform with established relationships with leading OEMs such as Bajaj Auto and LG Electronics, supported by a well-established network across Bengaluru. The proceeds from the IPO will be primarily utilized towards expanding our showroom network, strengthening our service infrastructure, and meeting working capital requirements, which will enable us to scale operations efficiently and enhance customer reach. With a focused strategy on network density, customer-centric operations, and integrated revenue streams across vehicle sales, after-sales services, and consumer electronics, we believe the IPO will position us well to capture growth opportunities in both the automobile and consumer durable segments." Dr. Sunil Kumar Manocha, Founder & Managing Director of CapitalSquare Advisors Private Limited, said, "The Indian automobile and consumer durables sectors continue to demonstrate strong structural growth, supported by rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and increasing demand for mobility and lifestyle products. Against this backdrop, the proposed Initial Public Offering of the Company represents an important milestone in its growth journey. The Company has established a strong dealership platform with long-standing relationships with leading OEMs such as Bajaj Auto and LG Electronics, supported by a well-established network across Bengaluru. The proceeds from the IPO are proposed to be utilized towards expanding the showroom network, strengthening service infrastructure, and meeting working capital requirements, which are expected to support the scale-up of operations and enhance customer reach. Given its focused strategy on network density, customer-centric approach, and integrated revenue streams across vehicle sales, after-sales services, and consumer electronics, the Company is well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities in both the automobile and consumer durables segments." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
New Delhi [India], April 23: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Northern Region organised its annual meeting alongside 'The Future India Summit' on 16 April in New Delhi, under the theme "Navigating Change. Driving Growth." The summit served as a strategic platform to examine the evolving economic landscape and outline pathways for sustained and inclusive growth.

At its annual regional meeting, CII Northern Region announced new office bearers for

2026-27. Mr Puneet Kaura, Managing Director & CEO, Samtel Avionics, has been elected

Chairperson, while Ms Shradha Suri Marwah, Chairperson & Managing Director, Subros Ltd, will serve as Deputy Chairperson. Together, they will steer CII Northern Region across seven states - Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and

Uttar Pradesh, and three Union Territories: Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.

At the meeting, Mr Kaura outlined six strategic priority areas for CII Northern Region in

2026-27: Policy Advocacy; Technology & Innovation Enablement; MSME Growth & Competitiveness; Skill Development; Sustainability & Inclusivity/Community Engagement; and Membership Engagement.

"India continues to be forecast as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, with GDP growth projections of close to 7% for 2026-27. He highlighted the enormous opportunities available to India, both as a market and as a source of skilled talent and manpower, as multiple countries around the world seek to deepen partnerships with India," - Puneet Kaura

About CII Northern Region

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) northern region works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering industry, government, and civil society through advisory and consultative processes. CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organisation.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
India and Germany need to ensure open markets and uninterrupted supply chains amid the ongoing West Asia crisis and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, said Jan Noether, Director General, Indo German Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the impact of geopolitical tensions on global trade. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Noether said both India and Germany are heavily dependent on free shipping routes for trade, particularly for the movement of oil, gas and other essential goods. He noted that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have affected trade flows and increased pressure on supply chains globally. "Trade has been affected since both India and Germany depend on supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, including oil and gas, which form the basis of energy supplies," he said. He stressed that maintaining open markets and ensuring the smooth movement of goods is critical for sustaining economic activity and business cooperation between countries. "Germany as well as India are large economies that depend on free trade and reliable business cooperation. Therefore, we need open markets and open supply chains to make that happen," he added. Noether also pointed out that the impact of the crisis is already being felt in Germany, with rising prices of fuel and daily consumption items. "Prices are up in Germany. If you look at fuel prices and general prices of daily consumption, they have increased," he said. He noted that the situation reflects the broader impact of global supply disruptions, as restrictions or uncertainties in key trade routes quickly translate into higher costs for consumers and businesses. Expressing hope for an early resolution, Noether said a political solution to the conflict is essential to ease tensions and restore stability in global markets. "We hope that there is a political solution and that it is around the corner, which can help soften tensions not only in the region but also globally," he said. The comments come at a time when global trade routes remain under pressure due to geopolitical tensions, with economies like India and Germany facing challenges related to energy supply, pricing and overall trade flows. Noether emphasised that restoring stability in supply chains will be key to ensuring continued trade and economic cooperation between nations. (ANI)
The US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, on Thursday highlighted a clear goal of taking the US-India trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. Gor confirmed on X of his meeting with the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in India to advance trade and investment ties. "Great discussion with @AmchamIndia Board to advance U.S.-India trade and investment ties. We are focused on a clear goal: taking U.S.-India trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. American companies operating in India are driving U.S. exports, expanding trade, attracting investment, and reinforcing the strength of our partnership," Gor said on X. Earlier, Gor highlighted the strength of India-US ties upon touching 100 days as the envoy to India. In a post on X on Tuesday, he highlighted several achievements between New Delhi and Washington, from advancing a major trade deal, strengthening defence cooperation, to India joining the Pax Silica initiative. He shared a video which showcased key developments from the first 100 days of his tenure here in India. He recalled his recent visit to Washington, where he met POTUS, VP Vance and Secretary Rubio and expressed great optimism on the future of ties. "100 days in as U.S. Ambassador to India -- and we've hit the ground running! From advancing a major U.S.-India trade deal, welcoming India into Pax Silica, strengthening defense cooperation, and engaging leaders across government and business -- the momentum is undeniable. I also traveled to Washington to meet with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary Rubio to deepen this critical partnership. This is just the beginning. The United States and India aren't just talking -- we're delivering results," Gor posted. Earlier in an interview with DD, Sergio Gor described India as "vitally important to us and an incredible partner," while stating that India-US relations are on an "incredible footing" and indicated several big-ticket announcements on bilateral ties are expected in the coming days and weeks. He underlined the strength of bilateral ties, stating that the relationship is currently on an "incredible footing." The envoy also confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit India next month, marking his first visit to the country. Gor said preparations are underway for a ministerial-level Quad meeting in India. "We're looking forward to hosting a ministerial-level Quad meeting in India. This will be the Secretary's first visit to the country, and he is keen to visit not just Delhi but other places as well. India is vitally important to us and an incredible partner. The President also shares a strong relationship with your Prime Minister," Gor told DD News. (ANI)
India-South Korea bilateral trade has remained range-bound at USD 25-28 billion between FY2022 and FY2025, even as both countries target USD 50 billion by 2030, according to an analysis by Rubix Data Sciences.The report, India and South Korea: Trade Scenario, stated that the first South Korean presidential visit to India in eight years signals a shift towards a more structured, investment-led partnership across semiconductors, clean energy, shipbuilding, defence and advanced manufacturing. "This visit of the President of Korea to India, after a gap of eight years, is of great significance. Democratic values, a market economy, and respect for the rule of law are deeply embedded in the DNA of both our nations. We also share a common outlook on the Indo-Pacific region," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the analysis noted that structural challenges remain, with India's goods trade deficit with South Korea widening, highlighting the need for export diversification, deeper value chain integration and improved market access to realise the partnership potential. The report said India's goods exports to South Korea declined from USD 8.1 billion in FY2022 to USD 5.8 billion in FY2025, reflecting an 11 per cent CAGR contraction, while imports remained stable at around USD 21 billion.This imbalance led to a sharp rise in the trade deficit, which expanded more than 1.6 times over the same period.It added that while engagement between the two economies has deepened at a policy level, trade flows have yet to reflect this momentum, pointing to the need for more targeted interventions.According to the report, India's import basket is shifting towards higher-value, technology-intensive goods, with electrical integrated circuits increasing their share from 7 per cent to 15 per cent. On the export side, India continues to rely on commodity and intermediate goods such as petroleum products and metals, though aerospace components show early signs of diversification.The report said achieving the USD 50 billion trade target will depend on export diversification, stronger manufacturing linkages, improved market access and reduction of non-tariff barriers, along with increased bilateral investments. It added that India-South Korea economic ties are well-positioned for expansion, provided structural imbalances are addressed. (ANI)
Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief and veteran actor Kamal Haasan, along with his daughter Shruti Haasan, arrived at Alwarpet School to cast their votes. The father-daughter duo was seen reaching the polling station amid security arrangements as voting took place across key constituencies in the state. Actor S. Ajith Kumar also cast his vote at a polling station in the Thiruvanmiyur area of Chennai. Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Khusbu Sundar also cast her vote in Mylapore. Speaking with ANI, she urged everyone to exercise their right to vote, hoping they would make the right decision. "You can see the smile on my face that says it all. Casting my vote has been my biggest democratic right, and I think this matters a lot to me as a citizen of the country...Today is the time for people to take a call and a decision, and we leave it to them," she said. Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today in both states. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of polling in the Assembly elections 2026, with the second phase scheduled to take place on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. Polling is being held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK, and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies. With the DMK banking on its welfare record, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight. (ANI)
Actor Dhanush arrived at a polling station in Chennai on Thursday to cast his vote for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections being held across the state. Leading film director, producer and screenwriter Pa. Ranjith exercised his democratic right by casting his vote at a polling booth located in a school in Karalappakkam Panchayat under the Madhavaram Assembly constituency in Tiruvallur district. Actor Aravind Swamy also cast his vote at Stella Maris College in Chennai's Teynampet. Meanwhile, actors Prabhu and Vikram Prabhu urged citizens to exercise their democratic right. Speaking about the importance of voting, Prabhu told ANI, "Putting a vote is every Indian citizen's right. So, please don't miss voting. Whoever you want to vote for, please do come and vote. That is the service you are doing for the country and for the state. God bless all, God bless Tamil Nadu, God bless India. Please do come and vote." Vikram Prabhu emphasised that voting is a responsibility and encouraged people to understand issues and participate meaningfully in the electoral process. Polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began today amid tight security. At 9 am, Tamil Nadu recorded 17.69 per cent voter turnout.Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout with 20.38 per cent voting, while Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51 per cent, and Erode recorded 19.55 per cent turnout.Vijay cast his vote at the Neelankarai polling booth. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is contesting from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies. In Perambur, Vijay is pitted against DMK heavyweight RD Shekar, who recorded a landslide victory in the last elections by a margin of 54,976 votes against AIADMK's NR Dhanapalan.In Tiruchirappalli East, he is contesting against sitting DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj S, who won with a huge margin of 53,797 votes in the 2021 elections.The counting of votes will take place on May 4. (ANI)
Actor Sonam Bajwa has offered a candid glimpse into her relationship with Mumbai's paparazzi culture, describing it as equal parts awkward, amusing, and inevitable. In an interview with ANI, Bajwa admitted she often finds herself unsure of how to react when photographers surround her and ask to pose. "I laugh out loud. I don't know what to do in front of Paps. And, you know, they are waiting for you even outside the salon. I can't say no to them. But, I feel very shy, I don't know what to pose in front of them if I have just come out of a salon," she said. Despite the discomfort, the actor spoke warmly about the photographers, calling them "very cool" and praising their friendly nature. "The Paps are very cool, by the way. They make you laugh so much. I feel like people will think, why she keep giggling in front of Paps?" Bajwa added. She also highlighted the humorous side of these encounters, revealing that she often shares light moments with photographers. "You must have heard their commentary in some videos. They are our legendary Paps. So, I laugh a lot with them. I have a good time talking to them. I love seeing them every once in a while," she said. However, Bajwa acknowledged that constant public scrutiny can be challenging, especially during unguarded moments. "But sometimes, you have just woken up. You haven't even had a cup of coffee. You are late for the gym. And, as soon as you reach the gym, you see Paps. And, your face is swollen. You might not have slept since last night. You haven't had enough water. But paps are waiting for you...," she said. Reflecting on the inevitability of being photographed, Bajwa noted how deeply embedded paparazzi culture has become in Mumbai. "Everybody gets conscious. Imagine if I catch you within 30 minutes of you waking up. You will not like it. So, that happens. But I think that's part and parcel of our job. And, now this culture is set. Paps culture in Mumbai is set. So, I always tell myself, Always be prepared that the Paps are going to be there. No matter where you are going," the 'Baaghi 4' actress said. She also spoke about the advanced equipment used by photographers, comparing it to wildlife cameras. "The cameras used in the wildlife, I am telling you, those cameras are capturing humans. So, I ask them, Why did you bring this camera?" Sonam Bajwa said. Recalling advice from fellow actor and a close friend, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bajwa said, "Once Jacqueline briefed me, she said, Babe...those HD zooming cameras are dangerous... Always be mindful that they can use that camera. But, still humans forget. So, I forget. Sometimes I say, Paps are taking wildlife photography cameras. So, be prepared. Or mask. That's a very good way. Jacqueline herself follows it. She is mostly in masks." Bajwa also emphasised that paparazzi often respect boundaries when requested. "But, the Paps are really sweet. A lot of times when I have requested them, please don't capture me today. I am not feeling well. They always listen. They always respect that. And, I am very grateful for it." On the work front, Bajwa will next be seen in 'Pitt Siyapa,' an upcoming Punjabi comedy-drama directed by Rupinder Chahal. The film, slated for release on May 1, 2026, features Bajwa alongside Paramvir Singh Cheema. The story follows Nimmi, a character played by Bajwa, who launches a unique "funeral business" that organises virtual last rites for NRIs unable to return home. The narrative blends chaos and comedy as she manages a team of misfits before taking a dramatic turn involving a Dubai-based crime ring, romance, and unexpected heroism. (ANI)
Actor Vasanth Ravi on Thursday arrived at the Stella Maris College polling booth in Chennai to cast his vote for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The actor, while speaking to ANI, urged people to step out and take part in the democratic process and also made a humble appeal to those who had still not voted. Stressing that "every vote counts," he encouraged people to use their chance to choose their leader and not miss the opportunity. "I think people out there in their homes who haven't cast their votes yet, please come in and cast your votes. Every vote counts. I still see a lot of names on the list that have not turned out yet," he told ANI. "Please come in. It's a very important election, and I would say this is the power you have on this day to choose your leader, so don't miss that opportunity. That's my humble request," he added. Earlier in the day, actors Suriya and Jyothika also cast their votes in the state. Several prominent leaders and personalities, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, actors Rajinikanth and Dhruv Vikram, were also seen voting during the day. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu recorded encouraging numbers across many districts. Namakkal led the state with 76.43%, closely followed by Karur at 76.08%, Salem at 75.79%, Erode at 75.61%, and Tiruppur at 75.38%. Other districts such as Dharmapuri (74.68%), Dindigul (74.35%), Kancheepuram (72.51%), Coimbatore (71.16%), Kallakurichi (71.11%), and Tiruchirappalli (71.05%) also reflected steady voter. Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. (ANI)
The two arrived at a polling booth in T Nagar in Chennai to take part in the democratic process.

Suriya looked stylish in a black shirt paired with black sunglasses. Jyothika was seen in an elegant kurta-dupatta set as the couple greeted people before entering the booth.

Meanwhile, several leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, along with actors Rajinikanth and Dhurv Vikram, cast their votes this morning.

Tamil Nadu witnessed massive voter turnout in Assembly polls on Thursday, recording 70.00% turnout at 3 pm, according to the Election Commission of India.In Tamil Nadu, the highest turnout of 76.43% was recorded in Namakkal, closely followed by Karur at 76.08%, Salem at 75.79%, Erode at 75.61%, and Tiruppur at 75.38%. Other districts such as Dharmapuri (74.68%), Dindigul (74.35%), Kancheepuram (72.51%), Coimbatore (71.16%), Kallakurichi (71.11%), and Tiruchirappalli (71.05%) also reflected steady voter participation, contributing to the state's overall healthy turnout figures.

Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. (ANI)
Latha Rajinikanth, Megastar Rajinikanth's wife, arrived at the Stella Maris College polling booth in Chennai on Thursday to cast her vote for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. After casting her vote, Latha spoke to ANI and urged citizens to step out and take part in the democratic process. She said, "It is a constitutional duty as a citizen to come and vote." Earlier, actor Vasanth Ravi also arrived at the Stella Maris College polling booth in Chennai to cast his vote. The actor, while speaking to ANI, urged people to step out and take part in the democratic process and also made a humble appeal to those who had still not voted. Stressing that "every vote counts," he encouraged people to use their chance to choose their leader and not miss the opportunity. "I think people out there in their homes who haven't cast their votes yet, please come in and cast your votes. Every vote counts. I still see a lot of names on the list that have not turned out yet," he told ANI. "Please come in. It's a very important election, and I would say this is the power you have on this day to choose your leader, so don't miss that opportunity. That's my humble request," he added. Actors Suriya and Jyothika also cast their votes today. Several prominent leaders and personalities, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister KN Nehru, actors Rajinikanth and Dhruv Vikram, were also seen voting during the day. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu recorded encouraging numbers across many districts. Namakkal led the state with 76.43%, closely followed by Karur at 76.08%, Salem at 75.79%, Erode at 75.61%, and Tiruppur at 75.38%. Other districts such as Dharmapuri (74.68%), Dindigul (74.35%), Kancheepuram (72.51%), Coimbatore (71.16%), Kallakurichi (71.11%), and Tiruchirappalli (71.05%) also reflected steady voter. Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal began amid tight security this morning. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. (ANI)
The 'Vasantha Azhaippugal' directed visited the polling station at the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in T. Nagar to cast his vote.

Demonstrating civic responsibility, T. Rajendar chose to wait in the long queue alongside the general public to await his turn to cast a vote. His presence in the queue drew attention from fellow voters as he participated in the electoral process in the same manner as every other citizen.

Earlier, actor Vijay Sethupathi fulfilled his democratic duty in the Anna Nagar assembly constituency no. 21 in Kilpauk Chennai high school and spoke about the importance of civic responsibility.

"Everyone, come and vote, this is our most important responsibility... Best wishes to all the youth," said Vijay Sethupathi while talking to ANI.

Actor Trisha Krishnan on Thursday also cast her vote in Chennai as polling began for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections early morning.

The actress was seen arriving at the polling booth in a green cord set as she joined several prominent faces from the film fraternity who turned up at polling stations amid the ongoing Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Several other South film celebrities also participated in the Tamil Nadu elections, including Suriya, Jyothika, Vasanth Ravi, Vishal and others.

Polling was held for 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta condemned the remarks made by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, where he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "terrorist," saying that there is widespread public outrage over his statement and the Congress National President should realise the global image of PM Modi as a leader. Speaking to ANI, the Chief Minister slammed the Congress party, citing their repeated insults and abuses towards constitutional institutions and the judiciary. "He has insulted individuals holding constitutional positions in the country; sometimes they hurl abuses at the country's constitutional institutions, sometimes they curse the judiciary, and sometimes they use derogatory words against the armed forces. There is widespread public outrage over his statement; the public strongly condemns such behaviour. Kharge should realise that PM Modi is one of the most popular leaders of the world. He resides in the heart of every Indian," she said. Her criticism follows the remarks of the Congress President against the AIADMK for supporting the BJP, while he labelled PM Modi a "terrorist who does not believe in equality" on the last day of Tamil Nadu election campaigning. When questioned on the choice of words, Kharge quickly defended himself, claiming that he meant to say that the PM was terrorising his political opponents. "He (PM Modi) is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist. What I mean, I want to clarify, is that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. He wants to take delimitation also into his hands," Kharge said. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially taken note of the controversial remarks made by him. ECI has issued a formal notice to Kharge, citing a potential violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the high-stakes campaign for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The ECI characterised the language used as "intemperate and highly objectionable," noting that such dehumanising labels undermine the dignity of democratic institutions. The Congress President has been granted a strict window of 24 hours to clarify his stance. (ANI)
In separate posts on X, the Prime Minister made a special appeal to youth and women to participate enthusiastically and ensure a record turnout.

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2047126559820235006?s=20

"As the people of Tamil Nadu prepare to vote in the Assembly elections, I urge all voters to fulfil this sacred democratic duty with great enthusiasm. In particular, I call upon the youth and women of Tamil Nadu to turn out in large numbers and pave the way for a record turnout of votes," PM Modi wrote.

Extending a similar message to West Bengal, where the first phase of polling is underway, he urged people to take part in what he described as a "festival of democracy".

"The first phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is today. I call upon all citizens to participate with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. I especially urge my young friends and the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers," he said.

Polling began in both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Thursday under tight security arrangements. Voting will continue till 6:00 pm.

Mock polls were conducted at polling stations in both states before voting began.

Tamil Nadu is voting in a single phase for all 234 Assembly constituencies.

West Bengal is witnessing a two-phase election for its 294 Assembly seats. The first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the second phase is scheduled for April 29.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in the first phase.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4. (ANI)
Naam Taamil Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Senthamilan Seeman cast his vote at a polling station in Neelankarai in Chennai for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday. Seeman is contesting elections from the Karaikudi constituency, which has been held by Congress since 2016. Seeman is going against sitting MLA S Mangudi and AMMK's Therpoki V Pandi. The NTK leader appealed to voters to vote for change. "This Voting is the only weapon and way to choose our leader. No one should ever think that one vote cannot change or make any difference. It is our Democratic responsibility to cast our vote. You can vote to any one. But you should Vote The whole election process is like negotiating the price of a real estate plot and selling it.. The same happens around the election also, constituencies are been sold. This has to be changed and the the change is very important," he said. Meanwhile, Tamilisai Soundarajan the BJP candidate from Mylapore assembly constituency, expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s victory "This is the democratic celebration. Each and everyone should take part in this democratic celebration. I am very happy, I am a candidate, as well as a voter. With all the blessings of the people of Tamil Nadu, NDA will win even in Mylapore with the blessings of God and the people, I will raise the voice of women in Assembly," she said P Soundararajan, her husband also echoed the confidence. "I have gone around the entire constituency. It is going to be a huge success for NDA, especially for my wife in Mylapore. The unmet demands will be met by the wife. We are very confident of the victory," P Soundararajan told ANI. Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received. Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies. With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight. (ANI)
In the ongoing investigation into the murder case involving the 22-year-old daughter of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, the accused Rahul Meena was taken from Amar Colony Police Station for a medical examination on Thursday, officials said. The incident took place on Wednesday in South Delhi's Kailash Hills. Police said the accused was apprehended soon after the incident and is currently in custody. Joint CP (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar said that the accused had sold his mobile phone for Rs 10,000 and hired a vehicle for around Rs 6,000 to travel to the national capital in what is being seen as an attempt to evade police tracking following an alleged molestation case in Alwar. Earlier, during the investigation, police teams reached Meena's residence in Alwar, where it was revealed that he had allegedly been involved in a molestation incident in his locality just a day before the murder of the daughter of the civil servant. The accused then fled to Delhi to escape police action. The Delhi Police had arrested the accused, Rahul Meena, from a hotel in Dwarka on Wednesday. Kumar told ANI that multiple teams were formed and sent across Delhi and other locations to trace the accused before he was apprehended. He is currently being interrogated. According to investigators, the accused, who had been working as a domestic help with the family for about a year, had detailed knowledge of the household and their routine. He knew the parents would leave for a morning walk and gym, leaving the victim alone at home. On the day of the incident, CCTV footage showed the accused entering the colony around 6:30 am, entering the house at 6:39 am and leaving at around 7:20 am. Police said he was aware that a spare key was kept in a shoe rack for domestic workers and allegedly used it to gain entry into the house. No signs of forced entry were found. The victim's father alerted the Delhi Police after finding his daughter unconscious at home. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was declared dead. Investigators said the accused carried out the crime, changed his clothes and fled with around Rs 2.5 lakh cash from the house. A case has been registered against the accused under charges of rape, murder and robbery, and further investigation is underway, police added. (ANI)
The Boer community from Tiruppur district in Tamil Nadu has announced to boycott the elections amid concerns over a lack of political recognition and educational and economic backwardness. District Boer Community Welfare Association president VP Azhagesan told the media that no political party has yet given formal recognition to the Boer community, which has a population of more than one crore, and no constructive steps have been taken for the educational and economic development of the people of the community, who are mostly daily wage labourers. He alleged that no big political leader or official has approached them to listen to their grievances so far. In particular, he lamented that leaders who talk about other communities do not talk about the Boer community. Azhagesan said that the Boer community has about one lakh votes in Tiruppur district, with more than 50,000 voters in Tiruppur North, South and Palladam constituencies. "Our children are raising questions about the status of their community while they are studying. We do not have the authority to answer them. We want to assert our rights to the government and political parties through this election boycott," Azhagesan said. Polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began today amid tight security. At 9 am, Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 17.69 per cent, with Tiruppur district having the highest turnout with 20.38 per cent. Meanwhile, Chennai district registered a turnout of 16.51 per cent, and Erode recorded 19.55 per cent turnout at 9 am. This election is a contest between the ruling DMK alliance, which is banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, and the AIADMK-led NDA fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. (ANI)
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule cast her vote on Thursday at a polling station in Baramati for the Assembly by-election. The Baramati seat fell vacant after Ajit Pawar passed away in a plane crash on January 28. His wife and Maharashtra Deputy CM, Sunetra Pawar, is contesting on an NCP ticket. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday remembered his uncle and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, late Ajit Pawar, amid bye-elections in the Baramati Assembly constituency. Rohit Pawar cast his vote at the polling booth at Zilla Parishad Primary School in Pimpli Village. Earlier today, Sunetra Pawar exercised her franchise at a polling booth in Katewadi. She was accompanied by NCP MP Parth Pawar, who also cast his vote at the Zilla Parishad School. Sunetra Pawar told reporters, "The people of Baramati have been standing in support of the Pawar family for the last 60 years. This election is taking place in the absence of Dada, and all the people of Baramati have decided to cast their votes for Dada as a tribute to him." Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar will not participate in the voting for the Baramati Assembly by-election scheduled for April 23 due to health-related issues, said Mahayuti candidate and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunetra Pawar. The announcement comes as a significant development in the high-stakes battle for the Pawar family's stronghold, Baramati. The bypolls in Pune's Baramati constituency come after the former NCP Chief Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash while he was headed to his constituency earlier this year. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier announced the schedule for by-elections to eight Assembly constituencies in six states. The two Maharashtra constituencies include Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district and Baramati in Pune district. The by-election in Baramati is scheduled for April 23 following the vacancy caused by Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash earlier this year. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. (ANI)
The Supreme Court of India has granted interim relief to Amit Jogi, former MLA and son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, by staying his conviction and life sentence in the murder case of NCP leader Ram Avtar Jaggi. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and Vijay Bishnoi passed the interim order, effectively suspending the sentence during the pendency of proceedings. Jogi had approached the apex court challenging the judgment of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had overturned his acquittal and convicted him, sentencing him to life imprisonment. Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Chhattisgarh government on Jogi's plea. The High Court's ruling had come on an appeal filed by the CBI against the trial court's acquittal. In his plea before the top court, Jogi also sought exemption from surrendering before authorities within the stipulated period following his conviction. Meanwhile, the case arises from the 2003 murder of NCP leader Ram Avtar Jaggi. In 2007, the trial court sentenced 28 accused persons to life imprisonment but acquitted Amit Jogi for want of evidence. However, the High Court has now overturned that finding and held him guilty, directing him to surrender within the stipulated time of three weeks. During the last hearing in the matter, the Court had issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Chhattisgarh government on Jogi's plea challenging the reversal of his acquittal by the Chhattisgarh High Court. The High Court had reversed Jogis' acquittal and convicted him on a plea by CBI. Now, Jogi has moved the apex court against his conviction and life sentence, along with seeking exemption from surrendering to authorities within the stipulated time. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, Vivek Tankha, Siddharth Dave, and Shashank Garg appeared on behalf of Amit Jogi, while Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the father of the deceased victim. (ANI)
With the monsoon approaching and bringing a seasonal spike in dengue risk, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in collaboration with Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI, India), the Dengue Alliance partners, and the WHO South-East Asia Region, hosted a day-long dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday to address urgent gaps in care and preparedness for dengue. The Dengue Alliance is a consortium of leading institutions such as the Ministry of Health (Malaysia), Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University (Thailand), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz, Brazil) and Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG, Brazil), among others, with the aim to accelerate conversations on challenges and opportunities for strengthening national and regional capacities to develop dengue therapeutic solutions, while consolidating India's role as a strategic partner in this agenda. The convening saw the participation of high-level representatives from governments, scientific institutions, regulatory agencies, multilateral organizations, industry, funders, and civil society, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Serum Institute of India, the World Bank, and NITI Aayog, among many others. Speaking about the convening, Taruna Madan Gupta, Scientist and Head, Development Research Division, ICMR, said, "Dengue is unequivocally a national health priority for India, and our response has been deliberate, step-by-step, and increasingly comprehensive. Today, India is advancing on multiple fronts--from strengthening public health systems to enabling public-private partnerships, including Phase III trials of an indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine with over 10,000 participants, and regulatory progress on global vaccines. However, a critical gap remains: the absence of an effective therapeutic for dengue. Through collaborations with global and national partners, we are actively working to bridge this gap and remain committed to delivering impactful solutions in the near future." Dr G Karthikeyan, Executive Director, THSTI, said, 'THSTI is proud to work closely with DNDi and our Dengue Alliance partners to bridge the gap in dengue diagnostics and therapeutics. Our focus remains steadfast: leveraging high-level translational science to create accessible interventions that align with the global mandate for health equity and affordable care.' Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer in-charge, World Health Organization SEARO, said, 'The WHO South-East Asia Region alone accounts for more than half of the global dengue burden, with 1.3 billion people living at risk across ten endemic countries. And dengue carries costs beyond health system costs. These costs are often indirect-- lost productivity, lost wages, lost futures. And they fall hardest on the households least equipped to absorb them. This is both an economic crisis and a social crisis. To change this trajectory, we must close the gap on diagnostics, on vaccines, on therapeutics, and on health system resilience." The timing of the convening is critical. With India's monsoon season weeks away, a period that historically drives a sharp surge in Aedes aegypti mosquito populations and dengue transmission, health systems across South and South-East Asia face their most vulnerable window of the year. India alone reported over 289,000 dengue cases in 2023, with experts warning that case counts are significantly underreported due to gaps in surveillance, making the push for better diagnostics, therapeutics, and coordinated financing not merely timely, but urgent. Dr Nor Fariza Ngah, co-chair of the Dengue Alliance said, 'Dengue care needs an integrated approach. For a climate-sensitive disease of this scale, it is essential that we approach it from all angles. While we do have vaccines and vector controls, addressing the treatment gap is crucial in ensuring care for the disease is accessible and effective.' 'Dengue has outpaced our response for decades. While we now have stronger surveillance, improved scientific understanding, and growing partnerships, patients still lack access to specific treatment options. Addressing this gap requires sustained commitment from governments, funders, and partners. The Dengue Alliance is accelerating this effort by bringing together stakeholders to advance research, align priorities, and support the development of safe, accessible and affordable treatments. Moving forward, sustained collaboration and commitment will be key to translating dialogue into action,' said Dr Sanjay Sarin, Continental Lead Asia and Director South Asia, DNDi The gathering brought together over 30 speakers across four panels covering surveillance, vaccines, diagnostics, community impact, financing, and health system resilience. A key focus was on populations most vulnerable to severe dengue, including pregnant women, children, and low-income communities, for whom the absence of treatment often leads to preventable hospitalization and economic burden. (ANI)
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) General Secretaries N Anand and Aadhav Arjuna on Thursday submitted a petition to Tamil Nadu's Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, flagging the lack of transport facilities for voters. This comes after TVK chief Vijay wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, urging the Election Commission to deploy public transport for people stranded at bus terminals in Chennai, and extend the duration for polling by two hours. Addressing a press conference after meeting the Tamil Nadu CEO, N Anand said, "We raised a complaint to TN CEO Archana Patnayak that many voters could not reach their destination since there was no bus facility, so we have asked her to take steps." Aadhav Arjuna alleged that Chief Minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin feared a higher voter turnout amid anti-incumbency anxieties. Arjuna told reporters, "Even TN CEO Archana Patnayak had requested to make a facility through the transport department. IAS MD Prabu Shankar, R Mohan, MD State Express Transport Corporation, and all the IAS officers are still taking the orders of interim CM Stalin. There are 30 to 40 thousand voters still stranded at the bus stands. Stalin fears that if a larger number of votes, he may lose." Aadhav Arjuna is also TVK's Villivakkam candidate against DMK's Karthik Mohan and AIADMK's Vijayakumar in the constituency. He cast his vote today at a polling booth in Chennai. Earlier today, Vijay also alleged an intentional misplanning by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, calling it an assault on the fundamental right to vote. He also flagged a delay in the polling process at several polling booths and demanded that the ECI extend polling till 8 pm. He wrote to the CEC, "I am writing to you in a state of deep concern and indignation over the complete transport paralysis. Thousands of voters are stranded at bus terminals in Chennai, and similarly in other metro cities across Tamil Nadu, with no buses or alternative public transport available to reach their designated polling booths. This is not a minor inconvenience-it seems an intentional attempt at misplanning by the State Transport corporation and administration, which is an outright assault on the fundamental right to vote guaranteed under the Constitution of India." He requested the ECI to "direct the state transport authorities and district election officers in Chennai and all affected cities to immediately press additional government buses, shuttles, and other vehicles into service exclusively for ferrying stranded voters from bus terminals to polling stations. This must be done within the next few hours through coordinated announcements at terminals, via media, and through the ECT's own apps and helplines. No voter should be turned away or forced to miss their democratic duty due to administrative negligence." Polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began today amid tight security. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. (ANI)
Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Thursday described the ongoing Baramati Assembly by-election as a significant referendum on the good work accomplished by the late Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar. Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC said, "Sunetra Pawar's by-election in Baramati is a referendum for the good work, the decades of service of Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar herself. The Pawar family have treated Baramati, their own constituency, as their family, and I'm sure it's going to be a historic mandate." Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar arrived at a polling booth in Katewadi on Thursday morning to exercise her franchise for the Baramati Assembly bye-election. Sunetra Pawar told reporters today that the people of Baramati are voting in this election to show their love for the late Ajit Pawar. The Deputy CM was accompanied by Member of Parliament Parth Ajit Pawar, who also cast his vote at the Zilla Parishad School, marking his participation in the democratic process. Talking to the reporters, Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar said, "The people of Baramati have been standing in support of the 'Pawar' family for the last 60 years. This election is taking place in the absence of Dada, and all the people of Baramati have decided to cast their votes for Dada as a tribute to him..." Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar offered a tribute to her late husband and former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar before casting her vote in the Baramati Assembly bye-election. The seat was declared vacant following the death of former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash. Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed strong confidence in Mahayuti candidate Sunetra Pawar, stating that she has the capability to carry forward the legacy and fulfil the unfinished dreams of late leader Ajit Pawar. Addressing the final public rally ahead of the April 23 Baramati bypoll on Tuesday, Fadnavis said, "She has not just become the state's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, but also she would emerge as a strong and capable leader. I have absolutely no doubt about this." Referring to the public sentiment following Ajit Pawar's demise, the Chief Minister said, "There is deep sympathy and affection for Ajit Pawar in everyone's hearts. However, the manner in which his accident occurred has raised several doubts among people." Reiterating the demand for clarity, Fadnavis said, "Everyone feels that the truth must come out. I had said this earlier, and I repeat it today: until the truth behind this accident comes out, we will not sit quietly. We are determined to bring out the truth." Calling for high voter turnout, he urged the electorate to treat the bypoll as an opportunity to pay tribute to the late leader. "There should be record voting on April 23. This is an opportunity for people to pay tribute to Ajit Pawar," he said. He concluded by urging voters to ensure a decisive mandate. "With record voting, you should ensure Sunetra Pawar's victory by casting your votes in her favour," he said. The Baramati by-election is scheduled to be held on April 23, following the vacancy caused by the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. (ANI)
A 37-year-old man undergoing treatment for sunstroke died on Thursday morning, marking a heat-related fatality in the district amid rising temperatures. The deceased has been identified as Sunil Kumar, a native of Pallippoyil in Kannur. The incident occurred around 11 am on Wednesday while Sunil was engaged in digging a well at his house. He later collapsed and was rushed to a nearby clinic in Pallippoyil before being shifted to a private hospital. Though his condition initially showed signs of improvement, he passed away early in the morning. Hospital authorities said the cause of death was likely sunstroke. Sunil's funeral will be held at 10 am on Friday. Meanwhile, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) weather bulletin issued on April 23, 2026, Southern India is expected to face a period of volatile weather characterised by scattered thunderstorms and significant heat stress across various states. The IMD has specifically warned of heat wave conditions in isolated pockets of Keralam on April 23 and 24. Additionally, "hot and humid" weather is very likely to prevail in isolated areas of Tamil Nadu, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Coastal Karnataka through April 27. The IMD advises the public in these regions to avoid heat exposure, stay hydrated, and use ORS or homemade drinks like lassi and buttermilk to maintain health. The weather department predicted isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds reaching 30-50 kmph, for Keralam, Mahe, and Karnataka from April 23 to 27. Similar weather is expected in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam until April 25, while Rayalaseema and Telangana are likely to see these conditions on April 23 and 24. Furthermore, the IMD has issued lightning warnings for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal for the first 48 hours of the forecast period. (ANI)
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday attended the sixth convocation of AIIMS Rishikesh as the Chief Guest and highlighted India's role as a global partner during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was also graced by the presence of Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said India's health infrastructure was tested during the pandemic, but the country emerged as a global partner by supplying COVID vaccines. "A few years back our health infrastructure was put to the test... India emerged as a global partner, sent COVID vaccines to more than 100 countries, enforcing the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," said VP Radhakrishnan. He further praised the institute's role in strengthening healthcare education and services. "AIIMS Rishikesh stands today as one of the finest examples of how modern institutions can combine clinical excellence, academic strength, research, culture and technological innovation and social commitment," the Vice President added. The Vice President appreciated the telemedicine initiatives of AIIMS Rishikesh, noting that healthcare must go beyond hospital campuses to reach remote and underserved populations. He noted that the establishment of new AIIMS institutions across the country over the last decade has strengthened access to quality healthcare and medical education, especially in underserved regions. The Vice President emphasised that healthcare is a public trust and that medical professionals play a vital role in nation-building. He urged them to contribute through preventive care, rural outreach, research, and innovation, and to remain guided by the values of empathy, integrity, and service. "The expansion of quality healthcare infrastructure in India has been significantly strengthened through the establishment of new AIIMS institutions across the country in last decade," VP Radhakrishnan said. "In a state like Uttarakhand, where geography itself creates barriers, AIIMS Rishikesh has assumed a role much larger than that of a conventional hospital," he said. Commending the Uttarakhand government, the Vice President said, "The use of drones to deliver emergency medicines to pilgrims during the Chaar Dham Yatra and in remote areas of Uttarakhand is commendable." "Health-care cannot remain confined to the hospital campus. It must cross mountains, distances, weather, and delays," he said. (ANI)
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday responded to the Election Commission of India (ECI) issuing a notice to him over 'terrorist' remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that "our people will reply to it". Speaking to reporters here, Kharge said, "Notice aane do. (Let the notice come). We will reply to it in the evening. Our people will reply to it." Reacting to the issue, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal defended Kharge and criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his remarks on Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging disrespect towards a senior political leader. Speaking to ANI, he said, "He has forgotten how to make remarks upon an elderly National President of a party. He should remember the civilised and cultural identity of the state. BJP and RSS believe that all knowledge and wisdom reside solely with them and that others are inferior to them. This statement implied the same." Earlier on Wednesday, Fadnavis had lashed out at Kharge over his comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling them a result of "frustration following repeated losses" and demanding an apology. Addressing the media, he said, "I condemn the statement of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. This is the frustration following the repeated losses. The public always gives an answer to these kinds of statements made by the Congress leaders. Mallikarjun Kharge should apologise for the statement." The political exchange comes after Kharge sparked a controversy on the last day of Tamil Nadu election campaigning, when the Congress president criticised the AIADMK for supporting the BJP and labelled PM Modi a "terrorist who does not believe in equality". When questioned on the choice of words, Kharge defended himself, claiming that he meant to say that the PM was terrorising his political opponents. "He (PM Modi) is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist. What I mean, I want to clarify, is that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. He wants to take delimitation also into his hands," Kharge said. The ECI on Wednesday issued a stern 24-hour ultimatum to Mallikarjun Kharge, demanding an explanation for his controversial remark directed at Prime Minister Modi during the high-decibel Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign. (ANI)
Delhi's Saket court granted four days' custody of the accused Rahul Meena to Delhi Police to investigate the alleged rape and murder case of the IRS officer's daughter. Rahul was produced before the court on Thursday after his arrest from a hotel in Dwarka on Wednesday. An FIR has been lodged at the Amar Colony police station in connection with the alleged crime. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Deepika Thakran granted the custody of Rahul Meena to the Delhi police. Delhi police sought 4 days' custody of Rahul Meena to recover his mobile phone, to examine his family members and to verify whether there is any other person involved in the crime. The investigation officer told the court that cash and jewellery had been recovered. The court also interacted with the accsued. The court asked why did you enter the house? He said that he went there for money. Why did you do other acts, the court asked? He said that it was his mistake, and he can't say anything now. The judge also asked the Accused if there were any injury marks in the MLC? How did it happen? The accused said that I came through the agricultural field, therefore it happened as well as by the fibre. The court asked the investigation officer to justify why the 4-day custody was required. Delhi police said that it has to trace the route which Rahul Meena followed to reach Delhi. His mobile is also recovered; other evidence is to be collected. Legal Aid Defence counsel (LADC) Sayantini Sahoo opposed the remand application, saying that it is a sensitive case and the police acted in a very prompt manner. Four days' remand is not required. Alwar is a distance of two and a half hours, his mobile can be recovered in two days time. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) vice president Jay Prakash Majumdar on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led government in Centre over the Constitution Amendment Bill that sought to increase Lok Sabha seats and operationalise women's reservation law, alleging that it was a "tactical step" ahead of future elections. Speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, "Modi knows in 2029 he'll be defeated by the people of India. So he is taking a tactical step, the Women's Bill, to increase the number of women parliamentarians, and you have to see that women's empowerment is not the sole idea of this bill. Women's empowerment, we have seen Mamata Banerjee has done in Bengal. She has reserved 50 per cent of the seats in local government for women. No BJP government has shown that courage." He further said that BJP-ruled states had not taken similar steps for women's empowerment. "So many states are ruled by the BJP, but none of them has shown that courage to bring a bill. Now they are bringing it, after 12 years of the reign of Modi, that 33 per cent women's reservation. We'll see what they will do. We know that this is a mischievous ploy of the BJP to go ahead. We are not against women. We have raised our voice in Parliament for the last 20 years," he said. Majumdar also cited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's initiatives, saying, "Mamata Banerjee has pushed for one-third reservation for women. To that end, Mamata Banerjee has already shown the path by reserving 50 per cent, not 33 per cent, 50 per cent for women in local government." On April 17, Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill. The BJP-led government failed to secure the required two-thirds majority to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill. In the Lok Sabha voting, 298 members supported the bill while 230 opposed it. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla confirmed that the bill did not pass. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Centre would not proceed with the remaining interrelated legislations. 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. 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)
The Uttarakhand police have registered an FIR after a video claiming irregularities in darshan arrangements at Kedarnath Temple surfaced on social media, officials said on Thursday. According to officials, the video was flagged during routine social media monitoring in Rudraprayag district, where false claims were being made regarding the Char Dham Yatra that devotees were being denied darshan at Kedarnath Temple. Taking the matter seriously, an FIR has been registered against the concerned individual at Sonprayag police station, and legal proceedings have been initiated. The investigation is currently underway. Additionally, 4-5 other suspicious videos have been identified, which are being thoroughly examined, and strict action will be taken against those responsible as per the law. The state government has clarified that all arrangements related to the Char Dham Yatra are functioning smoothly, and devotees are being facilitated for darshan in an orderly manner. Any kind of misinformation, rumour, or propaganda will be dealt with under a strict zero-tolerance policy. Social media platforms are being monitored around the clock (24x7), and stringent legal action will be taken against those found guilty. On April 21, ahead of the scheduled opening of Kedarnath Dham on April 22, the Rudraprayag administration had also issued instructions prohibiting mobile phones, drones, and videography inside the temple premises to maintain order and sanctity. Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar earlier said that the use of mobile phones, drones, or any cameras for videography has been completely banned within the temple premises. She further said that a mobile counter and locker system has also been established by the temple administration. "I would like to appeal to all devotees not to do any kind of videography or make reels in the temple premises so that its dignity and sanctity are maintained," SP Niharika Tomar said. "Along with this, flying drones without permission is also prohibited here. Today, we have taken action against two drones that were being flown unauthorised. This will continue in the future as well. Therefore, I would request and appeal to everyone not to engage in such unauthorised activities for the sake of the security and sanctity of the Dham," the official said. The administration has urged devotees to follow the rules and help maintain the sanctity of the temple premises. With the Char Dham Yatra officially commenced on April 19 (Akshaya Tritiya), record numbers of pilgrims have already gathered at the base camps. As the sun rose on April 22, the echoing sound of conch shells and chants of "Kedar Baba Ki Jai" marked the end of the six-month winter hiatus, reopening one of India's most sacred pilgrimage sites to the world. (ANI)
Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan has urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to immediately scrap the proposed relocation of Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH) to the premises of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC). In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Chauhan opposed the move, highlighting the historical importance and emotional connection of the Mother and Child Hospital with residents of Shimla and adjoining areas. He said shifting the facility would cause hardship to women and children dependent on affordable healthcare services. Referring to earlier attempts to shift the hospital's OPD to IGMC, Chauhan noted that such proposals had been rolled back following public protests. He also expressed concern over reports that the existing hospital site may be used for the construction of a new building for legislators. He pointed out that around 22 crore had been spent on the second phase of modernisation of the hospital, initiated in 2013, including construction of a new wing, while a third phase -- featuring an IVF centre, private wards and advanced operation theatres is already planned at the present site. Chauhan said the hospital caters to around 300-400 women daily and has a capacity of about 300 beds, providing low-cost or free treatment. Relocating these services, he said, would adversely impact access to healthcare. He urged the government to prioritise the third phase of expansion at the existing location, stating that shifting the hospital would go against public interest. Meanwhile, the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) announced the conclusion of its 24-hour protest at Kamla Nehru Hospital, while strongly criticising the government's decision to shift the gynaecology OPD to IGMC. Addressing the gathering at the conclusion of the protest, AIDWA leaders said the decision had been taken "without proper planning," leading to inconvenience for patients who are now being forced to move between facilities for treatment. They alleged that the move has caused significant distress to women seeking healthcare services. State President Ranjana Jarett criticised the government's claims of improving healthcare for women, stating that increased user charges for medical tests contradict such assurances. She also raised concerns over vacant posts of doctors and nurses in the health department, alleging that these gaps remain unaddressed. State Secretary Falma Chauhan said the government should adhere to guidelines of the World Health Organization and the Medical Council of India, which emphasise that obstetrics and gynaecology services should not be separated. She alleged that the shift was aimed at introducing robotic surgery facilities and argued that such services could have been provided within the existing KNH premises. Following the protest, AIDWA submitted memorandums through the Medical Superintendent to the Chief Minister, Health Minister, Health Secretary, Principal of IGMC and the Head of the Gynaecology Department. The organisation expressed hope that the government would take a positive decision after considering the concerns raised. However, it warned that if no resolution is reached, it, along with other civil society groups, will hold a protest outside IGMC on April 30 against both the relocation issue and the recent hike in healthcare charges. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Thursday listed the bail plea of former AAP MLA Naresh Balyan for a hearing on May 12. The plea came up for hearing after recusal by another judge earlier this week. Balyan is an accsued in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) case linked with an organised crime syndicate allegedly run by Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu. Balyan has been in custody since December 4, 2024. Justice Manoj Jain listed the matter for hearing the arguements by counsel for Naresh Balyan on May 12 at 3 PM. His bail plea has been pending since 2025. Earlier, on April 20, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recused from hearing the bail plea of Naresh Balyan and listed the matter before another bench. Advocate Vivek Jain and Rohit Kumar Dalal appeared for Balyan. Delhi police is being represented by Advocate Amit Prasad and Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap Singh. His bail plea was pending at the High Court before the Special MP MLA judge. He had moved to the high court after his bail plea was rejected by the trial court. The Delhi police crime branch had charge sheeted Naresh Balyan and several others in a case of MCOCA, alleging that they are part of an organised crime syndicate allegedly run by gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu, who is absconding and allegedly hiding in the United Kingdom. Earlier in January, the Rouse Avenue Court permitted former AAP MLA Naresh Balyan to make telephone calls twice a week for 5 minutes to his family at Mandoli Jail, where he is in judicial custody. He had sought liberty to make an additional telephone call instead of E-Mulakat. Special Judge Vishal Gogne permitted Naresh Balyan to make two telephone calls for 5 minutes to his family in a week after hearing submissions of counsel. Earlier, Balyan was allowed to make one call and have one E-Mulakat per week. Naresh Balyan and his Counsel submitted that due to technical issues, E-Mulakat is mostly ineffective or not conducted. Jail officials also had opposed the prayer. "In view of the above submissions and in light of the liberty already granted vide order on 22.07.2025, applicant/accused Naresh Balyan is permitted to have two telephonic conversations, each lasting 5 minutes, per week with his family members from the jail premises as per the prevalent rules," Special Judge ordered on January 30. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday, along with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, with Scheduled Commercial Banks and key stakeholders to assess the potential impact of emerging threats linked to recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, particularly the possibility of such technologies being misused to weaponise software vulnerabilities. Sitharaman urged all banks to take all necessary pre-emptive measures to secure their IT systems, safeguard customer data, and protect monetary resources. During the meeting, the Union Finance Minister appreciated the work done by banks so far in strengthening cybersecurity systems and protocols, the Finance Ministry said in a post on X. She noted, however, that the nature of the emerging threat from the latest AI Model is unprecedented and requires a very high degree of vigilance, preparedness and better coordination across financial institutions and banks. The Finance Minister advised the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to develop a coordinated institutional mechanism to respond swiftly and effectively to any such threats. She also directed banks to engage the best available cybersecurity professionals and specialised agencies to continuously strengthen the defensive and monitoring capabilities of the banks. Banks were further advised to immediately report any suspicious activity or cyber incident to the relevant authorities, including the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, and to maintain close coordination with all agencies concerned. "Emphasising the need for proactive action, the Union Finance Minister urged banks to take all necessary pre-emptive measures to secure their IT systems, safeguard customer data, and protect monetary resources. A robust mechanism for real-time threat intelligence sharing may be established among banks, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, and other relevant agencies so that emerging threats are identified early and disseminated across the ecosystem without delay," the Finance Ministry said in its post. The meeting was attended by Department of Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju, Director General of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team Sanjay Bahl, senior officials of RBI and NPCI, and MDs & CEOs of Scheduled Commercial Banks. AI models such as Anthropic's Mythos could pose disruption risks to the growth of India's IT services sector, according to a report by Kotak Institutional Equities. The report said the model "exhibits a step-jump in benchmark performance across software engineering tasks" and added that it "raises near- to medium-term disruption risks for IT services," particularly for companies with higher exposure to application services. The brokerage noted that improvements in AI-driven coding could translate into real business impact. "The realization of similar improvements in real-world scenarios risks turning our estimate of a 3-3.5% annual growth headwind for the industry... from prudent to practical," the report said. It added that such advancements could also increase downside risks if rapid capability gains continue in future AI models. Kotak further said the model could "increase efficiencies across all IT services segments" but warned that gains may not be evenly distributed. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has recently suspended the sentence of three years awarded to a convict of child trafficking and kidnapping. The Convict has challenged the trial court judgement. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on February 23, 2026. Appellant Krishan Kumar was convicted of selling a child to one woman for Rs 1.5 lakh. This case pertains to an FIR lodged in the Hari Nagar Police Station in 2017. Justice Saurabh Bannerjee suspended the three-year sentence awarded to Krishan Kumar. "The appeal is admitted, and the same will take time for disposal. During the pendency of the appeal, the sentence shall remain suspended," Justice Bannerjee said. "Considering the totality of the facts and circumstances involved, especially the fact that the appellants herein have been sentenced with a fixed term of sentence of three years and that the appeal filed by him has already been admitted and is pending before this Court and will take time to be heard and adjudicated upon, the sentence shall remain suspended pending disposal of the captioned appeal," Justice Banerjee ordered on April 20. Krishan Kumar has challenged the three-year sentence and the imposition of a fine of Rs 1 lakh by the Tis Hazari Court. An appeal has been filed through Advocate Shishant. Counsel for accsued argued that the maximum sentence imposed upon the appellant is three years; that he has a strong case on merits, with a reasonable likelihood of success in appeal; and lastly, the present appeal is not likely to be taken up for final hearing in the immediate future and custody of the appellant would defeat the very purpose of the appeal. (ANI)
The brutal alleged rape and murder of a 22-year-old daughter of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer in South Delhi's Kailash Hills has sent shockwaves through the national capital, marked by extreme violence, calculated movement, and disturbing post-crime behaviour by accused Rahul Meena. The victim was a young IIT Delhi graduate and civil services aspirant preparing for her first UPSC attempt. According to police, the young woman had been living a disciplined and focused life, with her daily routine centred entirely around her ambition to join the civil services and serve the nation. She had created a separate study space on the terrace of her home to maintain isolation and focus during her preparation. The room, described by officers who later visited the scene as orderly and structured, was filled with books, notes, and study material, reflecting what investigators called a highly disciplined aspirant's environment. The arrangement had been made nearly two years ago after she committed herself fully to UPSC preparation. Police said the investigation has now intensified following multiple developments, including court proceedings, forensic findings, and interrogation inputs on Thursday. Delhi Police had sought four days of custodial interrogation of accused Rahul Meena after he was produced before the Saket Court in connection with the case. He was arrested from a hotel in Dwarka shortly after the incident and is currently in custody. The court sent him to a four-day judicial custody. Police sources said the request for custody was crucial to reconstruct the sequence of events, verify digital and forensic evidence, and establish the full motive behind the crime. Meena was arrested from a hotel in Dwarka shortly after the incident and has since been in police custody. Delhi Police arrested the accused in Amar Colony, with investigators using a digital trail involving a stolen mobile phone, hotel Wi-Fi usage, and Instagram chats to trace and apprehend him from a hotel in Dwarka. Police said Meena fled after allegedly committing the crime and avoided using his own phone, instead relying on a device allegedly stolen during a previous incident in Rajasthan's Alwar. He was later traced through Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR) and surveillance inputs after it was found that he had been staying in a Dwarka hotel and remained in contact with a relative in Gurugram through Instagram Messenger. According to police sources, the accused showed no visible remorse during interrogation and has maintained a composed and calm demeanour. He allegedly told investigators that he had gone to the house only to take money and repeatedly stated that "it just happened". He also reportedly said that "if didi had given the money, this would not have happened", while responding in a matter-of-fact manner during questioning. Sources further said forensic teams are examining key evidence to confirm the sequence of events, including allegations of sexual assault, robbery, and murder. Officials said the accused appeared unusually normal during interrogation, prompting investigators to closely examine his psychological profile and intent. According to sources, the accused stated that the family treated him very good and paid him a monthly salary of Rs 20,000, and also gave him bonuses. Investigators said the accused, who worked as a domestic help with the family for nearly a year, was familiar with their daily routine. He allegedly took advantage of the fact that the victim would be alone in the morning hours when her parents left for their routine walk and gym sessions. Following this, he gained entry into the house by falsely claiming that "aunty ne bulaya tha for money". On the day of the incident, CCTV footage showed the accused entering the colony around 6:30 am, entering the house at 6:39 am and leaving at around 7:20 am. Police said he was aware that a spare key was kept in a shoe rack for domestic workers and allegedly used it to gain entry into the house. No signs of forced entry were found. Police sources have also reconstructed the alleged final moments before the crime. The victim was reportedly studying in her room when the accused entered and demanded money. When she refused, an argument broke out. He allegedly warned her not to raise an alarm before launching a violent assault. According to sources, the accused first attempted to strangulate the victim, after which she fell unconscious. It is at this stage that sexual assault is suspected to have taken place. He then allegedly struck her three times with a heavy object, leading to fatal injuries. Blood traces were found in multiple areas of the house, indicating the intensity of the assault, sources said. Investigators further said Meena allegedly dragged the victim's hand in an attempt to unlock a digital lock using her fingerprint. When that failed, he reportedly used a screwdriver to break another lock and fled after looting around Rs 2.5 lakh cash and valuables. Police sources further stated that after noticing blood stains on his clothes, the accused changed into the victim's brother's pants before fleeing the scene. He is believed to have headed towards a railway station in an attempt to escape. The victim was found unconscious by her father, who immediately alerted police. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead. A case has been registered under charges of rape, murder, and robbery. Earlier on Wednesday, Joint CP (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar said that the accused had sold his mobile phone for Rs 10,000 and hired a vehicle for around Rs 6,000 to travel to the national capital in what is being seen as an attempt to evade police tracking following an alleged molestation case in Alwar. Police teams reached Meena's residence in Alwar earlier, during the investigation, where it was revealed that he had allegedly been involved in a molestation incident in his locality just a day before the murder of the daughter of the civil servant. The accused then fled to Delhi to escape police action. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
With the Palestine Embassy in India highlighting the findings of a recent UN Women report on cost of war in Gaza on women and girls and calling it evidence of the severe humanitarian crisis, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday slammed the BJP-led government over its stance on the Gaza war and said it has "betrayed all human values, apart from traditional Indian principles and positions". In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh alleged that Prime Minister has shown "moral cowardice" by silence on Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon "The Prime Minister has been demonstrating moral cowardice by his total silence on the continued genocide by Israel in Gaza and its heavy bombing of Lebanon. He has also kept completely quiet on the dispossession and displacement of lakhs of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. There has been no government that has shown so much solidarity with the murderous Israeli regime as the Modi Govt that has betrayed all human values, apart from traditional Indian principles and positions," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. Palestine Embassy in India on Thursday highlighted the findings of a recent UN Women report titled 'The Cost of War in Gaza on Women and Girls', calling it evidence of the severe humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian women amid the ongoing conflict. It said the report sheds light on the devastating impact of the war in Gaza on Palestinian women. "More than 70 per cent of those killed are women and children, while nearly one million women and girls have been forcibly displaced--often multiple times and under unsafe conditions--many lacking adequate shelter and access to basic services."The statement further raised alarm over collapsing healthcare services in Gaza. "Approximately 50,000 pregnant women remain in Gaza, with over 180 births taking place daily under increasingly dangerous and unsanitary conditions, often without adequate maternal care and amid the collapse of the healthcare system," it said. Highlighting worsening food insecurity, the Embassy said, "Over 90 per cent of the population is facing acute food insecurity, with women and children among the most affected," adding that access to clean water and sanitation has been severely reduced. India has always supported a negotiated two State solution, towards establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognized borders, living side by side in peace with Israel. India also supports Palestine's membership of the UN. India has strongly condemned the terror attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 and also the loss of civilian lives in the Israel-Hamas conflict. India has called for peaceful resolution of conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. (ANI)
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) for giving only 24 hours to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge to respond to the charges levelled against him over "terrorist" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a letter addressed to the ECI, he expressed astonishment over the short span of time allotted to Kharge amid the Assembly elections 2026. "We would like to express our surprise at the short amount of time given to the Congress President to reply to the charges levelled against him in the Notice, i.e. 24 hours. You would have been aware that this is certainly not sufficient time given that the Congress President is in the middle of multiple campaigns," he wrote. Criticising the Election Commission, the senior Congress leader said that the Chief Election Commissioner is seemingly executing the Notice as a formality rather than as an act in discharge of natural justice. He further asked the ECI for more time to file a detailed response within a week. "We seek time to file a detailed response within one week and also for a senior delegation of Congress leaders to present the same," he stated in the letter. Jairam Ramesh emphasised that Kharge has already given a clarification regarding the statement, where he explained that he never labelled the Prime Minister as a "terrorist", but rather highlighted how he threatens political parties and government institutions such as ED, I-T, and CBI. "Now coming to the context of the remarks/comments in question, they have already been clarified subsequently by the Congress President himself," he said. "He (PM Modi) is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist...What I mean, I want to clarify, is that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. He wants to take delimitation also into his hands. Therefore, I said, in that context, he is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist," he quoted Kharge's explanation. He slammed the ECI, saying that it seems like an attempt to deliberately twist the context of Kharge's statement to initiate an action against him. "It almost seems that an attempt is being made to deliberately overlook the clear and unequivocal explanation about the context in which the words were uttered, so as to find some way to take action against the Congress president. Unfortunately, it smacks of ulterior motives. The statement of the Congress President is sufficiently clear, and no member of the general public can claim otherwise," he said. (ANI)
Congress leader Pradeep Chauhan on Thursday staged a 24-hour hunger strike outside the Congress Bhawan in Shimla, protesting against recent organisational appointments in the party. Chauhan, a former Bhangani zone president, aggrieved over the appointment of the Paonta Sahib Block Congress Committee president, began the strike expressing his dissatisfaction. He demanded the immediate removal of Harpreet Ratan from the post and called for appointing a representative from the Giripar region instead. Chauhan alleged that the Giripar area in Sirmaur district has been consistently overlooked in party appointments at various levels, including the state executive, district, and block committees. He claimed that key organisational posts have been concentrated in Paonta Sahib, leaving Giripar without adequate representation. Addressing reporters during the protest, Chauhan said that despite being a committed party worker, his region has been sidelined. He further alleged that Harpreet Ratan had earlier rebelled during the Vidhansabha elections, joined the BJP, and later rejoined the Congress, yet was rewarded with the block president's post. He said such decisions have led to resentment among grassroots workers and have adversely affected their morale. "Those who have worked day and night for the party are being ignored, while opportunists are being given positions," Chauhan said. Chauhan warned that if his demands were not addressed, he would stage a protest outside the Congress headquarters in Delhi. He also said that he would raise the matter with senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Meanwhile, Shimla also witnessed 'Jan Akrosh Mahila Padyatra' held by the Women leaders of the BJP, asserting that the march was in support of women's reservation and claiming that opposition parties stand "exposed" on the issue. The padyatra was organised at Chaura Maidan, where women from various districts of Himachal Pradesh gathered in large numbers, raising slogans and carrying banners against opposition parties, including the Congress, accusing them of being against women's reservation. Speaking to ANI, BJP Mahila Morcha state president Daisy Thakur said the padyatra was aimed at securing women's rights and ensuring their political participation. "This padyatra is a movement for women's rights. Women from across districts have gathered here with enthusiasm. The Women's Reservation Bill is about giving long-pending rights to women. Crores of women in the country have been waiting for this for decades," she said. (ANI)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (local time) criticised the United States for what he termed "hypocritical" and contradictory behaviour, even as US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire to allow time for negotiations. Pezeshkian said Iran remains open to dialogue but accused Washington of undermining genuine talks through pressure tactics, including threats and sanctions. In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical, empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions." https://x.com/drpezeshkian/status/2047009859204202603?s=20 His remarks come after US President Donald Trump said he had decided to extend the ceasefire with Iran to give its leadership more time to come up with a unified proposal for negotiations. He said the decision was taken after requests from Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said Iran's government appears "seriously fractured" and needs time to present a clear position. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal." Trump added that the US military will continue its blockade and remain ready, while the ceasefire will stay in place until Iran submits its proposal and talks are concluded. "I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other. President DONALD J. TRUMP," the post read. (ANI)
Newly appointed Honorary German Consul in Ahmedabad, Abhay Mangaldas, said his priority will be to promote education and skill development, especially for economically weaker students, to strengthen India-Germany ties. He said initiatives such as teaching the German language and offering vocational training in collaboration with institutions like the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce can open up employment opportunities with German companies in India and abroad. Speaking to ANI, Mangaldas said, "This is a great opportunity for us. Our focus is to support economically weaker students by teaching them German, which can open employment opportunities with German companies in India or even in Germany. Learning a language from childhood makes it easier, and combined with vocational training offered by the Indo-German Chamber, it can lead to real career prospects. Beyond trade and business, our priority through the Foundation is education and skill development. To strengthen India-Germany ties, we will bring people together through cultural and delegation exchanges, encouraging dialogue and mutual understanding." Further, Consul General of Germany in Mumbai, Christoph Hallier, said the appointment of Abhay Mangaldas as Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad is aimed at strengthening ties with Gujarat and further boosting India-Germany relations. He said the appointment marks the beginning of a "new chapter" for Germany in Gujarat, adding that the Honorary Consul will help expand cooperation in trade, culture, and business between the two sides. "... Today in Gujarat, Germany begins a new chapter with the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad. I am very pleased with this decision, having only assumed office as Consul General in Mumbai last July with jurisdiction over Gujarat. The installation of an Honorary Consul will serve as a focal point to expand bilateral relations, especially with Gujarat. The Gujarat government has welcomed this move, which will be complemented by the presence of other German institutions such as the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and the Max Muller Bhavan Institute," Hallier said. He also noted that India and Germany share strong and reliable ties, especially in challenging global times, and continue to work together on key issues, including economic partnerships and regional developments. "India-Germany relations are at a high point. In turbulent times, both countries see each other as reliable partners, as demonstrated by Prime Minister Modi's warm welcome to Chancellor Merz in Ahmedabad earlier this year. This reflects trust and confidence in close collaboration for mutual benefit. In West Asia, the crisis affects Europe and India alike. Germany and India continue to support each other, including through the EU-India Free Trade Agreement signed in New Delhi in January -- a clear signal of commitment," he said. (ANI)
According to the report, an initial Israeli attack targeted a vehicle in the village of at-Tiri in south Lebanon, killing two people who were inside.

Israel's military said it targeted two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had left a site used by the Hezbollah group.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's National News Agency reported, as cited by Al Jazeera, that a subsequent airstrike on a building in the same village injured a journalist who was trapped under the debris; she was later found dead, according to her employer, local outlet Al Akhbar.

Paul Morcos, Lebanon's Information Minister, condemned the Israeli attack on the journalists.

In a post on X, Morcos wrote, "We strongly condemn this assault, holding Israel fully responsible for their safety, and affirming the necessity of immediately ensuring their protection and guaranteeing freedom of media work."

Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that its troops and air force carried out a strike in Southern Lebanon after claiming the violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah involving two members crossing the "Forward Defence Line" and approaching the Israeli soldiers.

In a statement, the IDF said the incident took place in the Saluki area in southern Lebanon, where the IDF claimed to detect a potential threat.

"Yesterday (Tuesday), IDF soldiers identified in the area of the Saluki in southern Lebanon, two terrorists who violated the ceasefire understandings, crossed the Forward Defence Line and approached the soldiers, posing an immediate threat," said the IDF in an official statement.

The military said that it responded with an airstrike to neutralise the situation and added that operations in the area are ongoing, including efforts targeting Hezbollah-linked infrastructure.

"Following the identification, the Israeli Air Force struck and eliminated the terrorists in order to remove the threat. In addition, IDF soldiers continue to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure to remove threats and locate weapons," the IDF said. (ANI)
American lawmakers from both sides of the aisle stood in solemn solidarity with India on Wednesday (local time), attending an exhibition at Capitol Hill organised by the Embassy of India to commemorate the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the Kashmir Valley in recent memory. The exhibition, titled 'The Human Cost of Terrorism', opened its doors to members of Congress, diplomats, and members of the public on the evening of April 22, exactly twelve months after gunmen opened fire on tourists in the scenic mountain resort town, claiming 26 lives and wounding dozens more. Photographs, testimonies from survivors, and personal effects of victims formed the centrepiece of the display, which sought to put human faces to the statistics of political violence. Curated by the Indian embassy's cultural team, the exhibition drew an emotional response from visitors who paused at portraits of the dead-- among them honeymooners, pilgrims, and a retired schoolteacher from Gujarat. The attendance of Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike was notable in Washington's current partisan climate. Several members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate India Caucus were present at the opening reception, signalling broad congressional sympathy for India's position that cross-border terrorism must be met with coordinated international pressure. Speaking at the event, US Representative Lisa McClain strongly condemned terrorism and called for collective actions. She told ANI, "Terrorism is hate, and we don't stand for hate... So many times, people stand silent and think silence is agreement. We must stand with our partners and with our allies and to denounce hate, to denounce terrorism. Because that is what we were sent here to do, but that's also the right thing to do... I am happy to be here... this is just another example of where we stand together; we are stronger as a nation and as a nation together to fight this horrible atrocity." India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said the exhibition was meant to honour the victims of terrorism globally and reiterate the need for unity. He told ANI, "The event here this evening, which the Embassy of India has organised, is essentially an event to honour the members of the innocent lives lost to terrorism in the last few years across the world... Today marks the one-year anniversary of the terrorised Pahalgam in which 26 innocent Indian civilians were killed by armed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir... The special exhibition today essentially serves to remind us of a few things. One, the scourge of terror upon humanity is very much bent upon destroying our societies. The countries in the world need to come together and remain determined to defeat terrorism... PM Modi is very clear has been very clear in terms of his unwavering resolve of India in dealing with this purge and defeating it completely." Congressman Bill Huizenga highlighted the shared experience of both countries in facing terrorism. He told ANI, "The India-US relationship is very important economically and strategically. We have a kinship with terrorist attacks that happen within our countries... I am glad India is here telling a story." Congressman Brad Sherman emphasised deeper cooperation and action against terror groups. He told ANI, "We are natural partners... That partnership should be economic, and we have to get rid of the ridiculous terror that has been... We have to open the Strait of Hormuz from either American blockade or Iranian blockade, and we have to fight the outrageous terrorist organisations, which on April 22nd in your country killed people on the basis of their religion in Kashmir... Our intelligence services need to work together, and we need to demand that those countries that shelter terrorism, including Pakistan, clamp down on these organisations." He also urged action against Pakistan-based groups. He added, "As the World focuses on Islamabad for the talks that are taking place or not taking place, we have to use this opportunity to demand that the Pakistani government clamp down on the LeT." Remembering victims, Sherman added, "America and India are united because we are the oldest democracy and India is the largest democracy. We are also united in mourning the victims of terrorism... I would like to remember the Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal... It was only 6 days after his wedding that Lieutenant Narwal was viciously killed in attacks by terrorists targeting Hindus. His wife witnessed his death." Congressman David Taylor called for coordinated global efforts to tackle terrorism. He said, "India is a hugely important ally of the United States. We have to have a coordinated policy to deal with it (terrorism) and react to it as a team. Not just India and the US, but all of our Western allies." On Iran-related tensions, he added, "That has to end, and I know it's coordinated by Iran in a lot of ways with their proxies in other nations. I think the message has been sent out clearly by the United States, and I'd like to see more buy-in with that from our NATO partners and other countries in the world that we're aligned with to recognise that the threat has to be put to an end." Congressman Jonathan Jackson told ANI, "We have enormous respect for the Indian people and the Indian government... terrorism is a global problem. No one country can terminate terrorism on its own. Its global network... people have to fight back. We are here to also show our support, continue the strength and times and also celebrate our friendship." Congressman Ro Khanna said, "There should be zero tolerance (towards terrorism). First, there was a tragedy during 9/11... and then when I was in India, the Taj Hotel was affected. I understood the human cause. We need, as democracies, to be fundamentally aligned against terror. It's one of the reasons I believe in the extraordinary partnership... We need to cooperate on intelligence sharing where it makes sense... We need to make sure that we're aggressive about taking on the terror threats." The Capitol Hill exhibition arrives at a delicate moment in US-India relations, with Washington keen to deepen defence and technology ties with New Delhi even as it tries to manage escalatory pressures in South Asia. For many lawmakers in attendance, the event was as much about the bilateral relationship as it was about the victims themselves. (ANI)
Panama strongly condemned Iran's seizure of "MSC Francesca", calling the seizure of a vessel sailing under its flag "illegal." In a statement, Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ship is Italian-owned but registered under the Panamanian flag. "The ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz when it was seized and forcibly taken to Iranian territorial waters," the ministry said. https://x.com/CancilleriaPma/status/2047059908277813275 The ministry further warned that Iran's actions pose "a serious threat to maritime security" and said the incident was "an unnecessary escalation at a time when the international community is advocating for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without threats or blackmail of any kind." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday claimed that its naval forces seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that the vessels violated its territorial waters and tried to exit the strategic waterway without authorisation from Tehran. This comes just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of a temporary ceasefire. In a statement as reported by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the two ships -- identified as "MSC-FRANCESCA" and "EPAMINODES" -- were allegedly involved in violations while transiting the strategic waterway.The IRGC, in its statement, stated that the vessels were attempting to exit the strait without authorisation, accusing them of repeated infractions, including tampering with navigational aid systems and endangering maritime security. "In line with the intelligent control of the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy this morning identified two violating ships named 'MSC-FRANCESCA', belonging to the Zionist regime and the violating vessel 'EPAMINODES', which were attempting to secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation by committing repeated violations and tampering with navigational aid systems and jeopardising maritime security," the statement read as quoted by IRIB. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has issued a direct appeal to the Iranian leadership, calling for a diplomatic breakthrough to end the current standoff between Washington and Tehran. In an interview with CNBC, the President suggested that the Islamic Republic could secure a prosperous future by committing to a new agreement. He expressed confidence that a diplomatic resolution would significantly benefit the country's regional and economic standing. Trump remarked, "Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal," noting the potential for a complete transformation of Tehran's current circumstances. As the US continues to maintain a naval blockade and a conditional ceasefire, the President urged the Iranian government to approach the negotiating table with a clear and pragmatic strategy. Highlighting the need for a change in rhetoric, Trump added, "They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country." In a notable shift of strategy, President Trump has moved away from his aggressive posture by extending the current ceasefire indefinitely. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (local time) criticised the United States for what he termed "hypocritical" and contradictory behaviour, even as US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire to allow time for negotiations. Pezeshkian said Iran remains open to dialogue but accused Washington of undermining genuine talks through pressure tactics, including threats and sanctions. In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical, empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions." According to The New York Post, Trump stated that such a development is "possible" within a window of 36 to 72 hours. However, the prospect of immediate negotiations remains unclear, as Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on participating in the upcoming round of mediated talks. (ANI)
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry has revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously proposed a military conflict with Iran to multiple American leaders, all of whom rejected the overture. During an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Kerry detailed how previous administrations resisted the push for war. Discussing the internal deliberations, Kerry noted, "Obama said no. Bush said no. President Biden said no. I mean, I was part of those conversations." The former official explained that past presidents declined to engage in a war with Tehran because they had not "exhausted all the remedies of peaceful process". Reflecting on his experiences as a Vietnam veteran, Kerry argued that the conflicts in Vietnam and Iraq provide a vital lesson in transparency. He emphasised the importance of not deceiving the public before committing troops to battle. "And speaking as a veteran of the Vietnam War, where decisions like that were so critical, we were lied to about what that war was about, and the lesson of that war and of Iraq is don't lie to the American people and then ask them to send their sons and daughters to fight," Kerry stated. The former Secretary of State further dismissed the arguments presented by the Israeli leader, describing the presentation as a "prediction". He noted that the claims regarding a domestic uprising or a transition in power failed to materialise, stating that none of the anticipated "regime change" occurred. However, a report by the New York Times suggested that Prime Minister Netanyahu found a more receptive audience in President Donald Trump. During a high-level meeting in the Situation Room on 11 February, the Prime Minister reportedly made a "hard sell", arguing that the Islamic Republic was "ripe for regime change". The report indicated that Netanyahu expressed a firm "belief that a joint U.S.-Israeli mission could finally bring an end to the Islamic Republic". In response to the proposal, President Trump reportedly remarked, "Sounds good to me," effectively providing a green light for the joint operation. Despite the President's initial support, the strategy has faced internal scrutiny. According to Axios, US Vice President JD Vance recently held a tense discussion with the Israeli Premier, questioning the "overly rosy assumptions" regarding the conflict. The report suggests that Vance challenged Netanyahu's confidence concerning the probability of "regime change". A US official told the outlet that "Before the war, Bibi really sold it to the president as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was. And the VP was clear-eyed about some of those statements." (ANI)
The Iranian government has published footage purportedly documenting the seizure of a commercial container ship within the strategic waters of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The visual evidence shows armed members of the Iranian military, wearing masks, scaling the hull of the cargo vessel to gain control of the deck. This escalation follows claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that their forces "captured two vessels in the strait on Wednesday". Following the boarding operations, the military wing confirmed that the situation remained under their control, noting that "both ships were directed towards the Iranian coast". According to Al Jazeera, the release of the video serves as a domestic demonstration of naval capability amidst heightened regional friction and a restrictive maritime blockade. In a sharp diplomatic response, Panama has strongly condemned the seizure of the "MSC Francesca", describing the capture of a vessel sailing under its flag as "illegal". Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that while the ship is Italian-owned, it is registered under the Panamanian flag. "The ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz when it was seized and forcibly taken to Iranian territorial waters," the ministry stated. Officials further warned that Tehran's actions pose "a serious threat to maritime security" and labelled the incident an "unnecessary escalation" at a time when the international community seeks to keep the waterway open without "threats or blackmail of any kind". Detailing the operation, the IRGC identified the detained ships as the "MSC-FRANCESCA" and the "EPAMINODES". In a statement reported by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the military wing alleged the vessels were involved in violations while transiting the strategic waterway. The IRGC accused the crews of "tampering with navigational aid systems and jeopardising maritime security". The statement, as quoted by IRIB, claimed the "MSC-FRANCESCA" belonged to the "Zionist regime" and alleged both ships were attempting to "secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation". This naval confrontation surfaced just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of a temporary ceasefire. In an interview with CNBC, Trump issued a direct appeal for a diplomatic breakthrough, suggesting Iran could secure a prosperous future through a new agreement. The President remarked, "Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal," noting the potential for a complete transformation of Tehran's circumstances. Despite maintaining a naval blockade, Trump urged the Iranian government to adopt a pragmatic strategy, adding, "They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country." However, the gesture has been met with scepticism in Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticised the United States for what he termed "hypocritical" and contradictory behaviour. In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation." He further accused Washington of a contradiction between its claims and its actions. While the New York Post reported that Trump views a new round of talks as "possible" within a window of 36 to 72 hours, the path forward remains clouded. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on participating in the upcoming round of mediated discussions. (ANI)
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that "aggressors" (US and Israel) are fully responsible for any instability in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the rising tensions in the Gulf region, as reported by Iranian state media Press TV. According to Press TV, Araghchi made the statement during a meeting with the South Korea FM's Special Envoy Chung Byung-ha in Tehran on Wednesday, where he linked the current security situation to actions by the United States and Israel. He said, "Iran, as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, has adopted measures in accordance with international law and its domestic regulations to safeguard Iran's security and national interests against the US's and the Zionist regime's aggression and threats." He added, "Naturally, responsibility for the consequences arising from this situation lies with the aggressing parties." Araghchi also stressed that countries must take a firm stand, calling for condemnation of the "aggression and the brutal crimes committed by the aggressors against the Iranian people", as reported by Press TV. He further emphasised the importance of strengthening ties between Iran and South Korea, expressing Tehran's readiness to expand cooperation. During the meeting, the South Korean envoy Chung Byung-ha voiced hope that continued diplomatic efforts would help end the "aggression" and restore peace and stability in the region, as reported by Press TV. He also conveyed greetings from South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, describing enhanced relations with Iran as important. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has issued a direct appeal to the Iranian leadership, calling for a diplomatic breakthrough to end the current standoff between Washington and Tehran. In an interview with CNBC, the President suggested that the Islamic Republic could secure a prosperous future by committing to a new agreement. He expressed confidence that a diplomatic resolution would significantly benefit the country's regional and economic standing. Trump remarked, "Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal," noting the potential for a complete transformation of Tehran's current circumstances. As the US continues to maintain a naval blockade and a conditional ceasefire, the President urged the Iranian government to approach the negotiating table with a clear and pragmatic strategy. Highlighting the need for a change in rhetoric, Trump added, "They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country." In a notable shift of strategy, President Trump has moved away from his aggressive posture by extending the current ceasefire indefinitely. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (local time) criticised the United States for what he termed "hypocritical" and contradictory behaviour, even as US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire to allow time for negotiations. Pezeshkian said Iran remains open to dialogue but accused Washington of undermining genuine talks through pressure tactics, including threats and sanctions. In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical, empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions. According to The New York Post, Trump stated that a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran is "possible" within a window of 36 to 72 hours. However, the prospect of immediate negotiations remains unclear, as Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on participating in the upcoming round of mediated talks. (ANI)
The Donald Trump administration has reportedly developed a "naughty and nice" list categorising NATO allies according to their contributions, a move viewed as an effort to reward or penalise nations based on their support for the US military engagement with Iran, according to the Politico. The documentation was prepared in anticipation of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's diplomatic visit to Washington DC earlier this month. A European diplomat informed Politico that the initiative appears to be an expansion of a concept introduced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in December. During a previous defence forum, Hegseth noted that "model allies" would be granted "special favour" by Washington DC, whereas those deemed to be failing in collective defence obligations could face repercussions. The implementation of such a list could result in punitive measures against certain alliance members, including the strategic relocation of US personnel or the restriction of American defence technology sales. However, observers told Politico that these actions may ultimately prove more detrimental to Washington than the intended targets. "They don't seem to have very concrete ideas when it comes to punishing bad allies. Moving troops is one option, but it mainly punishes the US, doesn't it?" a European official remarked to the publication. While the White House has yet to officially verify the list's existence, nations such as Poland and Romania are expected to receive positive assessments. Poland has been recognised for its substantial defence expenditure, while Romania has permitted US forces to utilise its airbases for operations connected to the conflict with Iran. In contrast, the majority of NATO members have declined to participate in the Gulf hostilities, a position that has drawn sharp criticism from the US President. In a recent address, Trump remarked that the alliance had belatedly offered assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. "I told them I would have liked your help two months ago, but now I really don't want your help anymore, because you were absolutely useless when we needed you," Trump stated during an event in Arizona. He further asserted, "But actually, we never needed them. They needed us," adding that the current climate underscores the necessity for the US to maintain self-reliance. The President's dissatisfaction has been a recurring theme throughout the conflict. Following a meeting with Rutte, Trump posted on social media: 'NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.' These latest frictions follow a history of disputes over European defence spending and previous diplomatic disagreements, including Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that a prolonged conflict in Iran could jeopardise Ukraine's ability to secure vital anti-missile defence systems from the United States. In an interview with CNN, Zelenskyy explained that while Kyiv has received a limited supply of such weaponry due to constraints in US production, there has been no immediate disruption to current supplies or the provision of intelligence. The Ukrainian leader noted that his country has been securing American hardware through the PURL programme, which allows NATO members to fund weapon purchases for Kyiv. "Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons, which is very important for us. We don't have this...with our European neighbours," Zelenskyy told CNN. However, he expressed concern that escalating instability in the Middle East could divert resources away from Ukraine's defence needs. "And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk," he said. Zelenskyy pointed out that the United States has supplied "only a small number" of these systems so far. He attributed the limited volume to manufacturing capacity, stating, "We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big." The President warned that a protracted conflict or a delay in reaching a ceasefire in the Middle East would have negative consequences for Ukraine's security. "And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed...(this) will not be good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics," he added. Amid these challenges, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine is sharing its strategic expertise with Middle Eastern nations regarding drone warfare. After four years of countering Russian-deployed drones, many of which are of Iranian design, Kyiv is offering its technical know-how to regional partners. According to the President, agreements have already been formalised with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. "We will continue to work with other countries," Zelenskyy stated, adding, "We will be ready to deliver first our expertise...and the second point is training missions." (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has amplified a provocative critique of birthright citizenship by sharing a video of prominent conservative author and radio host Michael Savage, who claimed the current legal system allows immigrants to exploit American laws by arriving in the "ninth month of their pregnancy". In the footage, Savage argued that such practices create a loophole where "a baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet." The footage, originally aired on the Newsmax series The Savage Nation, was highlighted by the "Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social" account, which serves as a platform dedicated to reposting the President's social media activity. In the clip, Savage expressed deep frustration with the judicial process, stating, "Today's brief, abbreviated discussion will be about the arguments that I just listened to before the Supreme Court about birthright citizenship. I was somewhat incensed by listening to the arguments because all I heard was legalese being bandied back and forth." Focusing his criticism on the legal representation involved, Savage remarked that "the person bringing the arguments in favour of flooding America with illegal aliens to change the demographics forever was a Chinese American who looks to me like the classic ACLU attorney. Very smart, very evil, and very devious." Extending his attack to the American Civil Liberties Union, he asserted, "The ACLU is the head of the snake. They have been forever, and there they were again trying to turn America into a cesspool." Savage argued that the matter transcends technicalities, claiming that "these arguments should not be conducted in the abstract of a courtroom. This is really not about law. This is about public opinion." While acknowledging the difficulty of reform, he noted, "I could start arguing about the Constitution itself, and I'll run into a stone wall with you. We can't modify the Constitution because it's written in stone, and if we do, they'll take away our First and Second amendment, which is what they would do." The author further highlighted what he views as the obsolescence of current legal interpretations, pointing out that "the Constitution was written before air travel, needless to say, before television, before the internet, before radio." Lamenting the state of national identity, Savage claimed that "English is not spoken here anymore" and alleged a lack of loyalty among modern immigrants. Drawing a contrast with the past, he remarked, "No, they're not like the European Americans of today and their ancestors. The Irish integrated, the Italians integrated, the Polish integrated, the Lithuanians, the Romanians, the Russians. They all integrated and became Americans in the melting pot." Savage stated that the traditional concept of assimilation has failed, noting, "The idea of the melting pot is long over. It is now just a cash in pot. We've gone from the melting pot to the chamber pot." He described the reliance on judicial oversight as "ludicrous," instead advocating for a direct democratic approach. "I put up a poll on my social channels where I said, birthright citizenship should be subjected to a national vote. Not put in the hands of lawyers," he added. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the upcoming 4th India-Africa Forum Summit to be held from May 28-31 will define a more forward-looking partnership, as he joined the African envoys to launch the logo, theme, and website of the summit. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Joined African Ambassadors and those invested in India-Africa friendship to launch the Logo, Theme and Website of 4th India Africa Forum Summit." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2047213131412447528 Highlighting the significance of the event, he added, "The forthcoming Summit will shape the next phase of our partnership - one that is more ambitious, more inclusive, and more future-oriented. It will enable us to exchange best practices, share successful experiences and discuss common challenges." Underscoring the depth of cooperation, Jaishankar noted, India's " wide-ranging development partnership and capacity-building initiatives, driven by African priorities and local ownership." He also pointed to emerging areas of collaboration, stating that the partnership is expanding into "new frontiers of digital, fintech and innovation, reshaping economies across the African continent." Emphasising sustainability efforts, he highlighted "robust cooperation for a sustainable future, including deeper engagement in initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuels Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and International Big Cat Alliance. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's support for Africa's global role, noting "India's consistent support to Africa's rightful place in global governance, demonstrated in AU's inclusion in G20 during India's 2023 presidency," referring to the African Union joining the G20. He further highlighted India's "growing diplomatic footprint in Africa," calling it a reflection of "long-term commitment to engage with every African region." Recalling historical ties, Jaishankar said, "Our shared history of struggle, solidarity, resilience and aspirations shaping our partnership." He added, "Together, India and Africa are not just partners in development, we are partners in shaping a better world." Further, while delivering an address at the event, Jaishankar said, "This is a season of renewal and of fresh beginnings, and we gather at this joyous moment to mark the next chapter, the next chapter of the enduring partnership between India and Africa through the India Africa Forum Summit." Highlighting the historical depth of ties, he noted that "our shared history of struggle, of solidarity, of opinion and of aspirations continues to shape our partnership", underlining how past cooperation plays a role in present engagement. Jaishankar pointed to the steady expansion of bilateral engagement, stating that "our engagement has grown across all key pillars with numerous high-level political interactions." He added while emphasising his previous visits to the African countries, "I myself have made more than 20 visits to African countries and our Ministers of State (MoS) many more." Emphasising India's growing diplomatic presence on the continent, the minister said, "India has also expanded its diplomatic footprint in recent years by opening 17 new missions, new diplomatic missions across the African continent, taking the number of our missions there to 46." He added that "this clearly demonstrates our long-term commitment to engaging with every region of the continent, a defining feature of India-Africa relations is our shared vision for a more inclusive and Representative global order." (ANI)
The Iranian Embassy in Thailand has launched a fresh verbal assault on Donald Trump, following the exit of United States Navy Secretary John C Phelan. In a social media post on X, the diplomatic mission highlighted the departure and remarked that "Regiment change continues." This latest jab follows a pattern of provocative commentary from the embassy directed at the current American administration. Recently, the mission shared a satirical post on the same platform mocking the White House after US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped down from her cabinet position. In that instance, the embassy suggested that "regime change" was unfolding within the United States itself rather than abroad. The verbal provocations from Tehran coincide with a period of significant upheaval within the American defence establishment. The Pentagon has confirmed the immediate resignation of US Navy Secretary John Phelan, marking the first exit of a military service head during Donald Trump's second term. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell verified the development on Wednesday, stating that Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately." In an official statement, Parnell expressed appreciation for the outgoing official's tenure, noting, "We are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy." However, no formal explanation was provided for the abrupt departure. Phelan's exit appears to be part of a broader, more aggressive restructuring of the Pentagon. The resignation follows a series of high-level removals orchestrated by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has recently overseen the dismissal of several senior military figures. Amongst those previously removed from their posts are the Army's top officer, Gen Randy George, alongside other high-ranking admirals and generals. These changes follow the earlier high-profile exits of Ad. Lisa Franchetti and Gen Charles "CQ" Brown Jr., signalling an extensive overhaul of the American military hierarchy since the beginning of 2025. The vacancy at the top of the Navy is particularly significant given the current geopolitical climate, as American maritime forces remain heavily engaged in a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Despite a fragile ceasefire, American forces have continued to target vessels associated with Tehran. This operational pressure has been concentrated in vital global corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz, where the Navy has maintained a robust presence to enforce the blockade. Tensions in the region remain acute, with recent maritime strikes on commercial shipping further complicating the stability of the existing truce. While Washington has extended the cessation of hostilities, it has maintained the naval blockade, a move Tehran has denounced as a violation of the agreed terms. Consequently, Iran has thus far declined to participate in further diplomatic negotiations. The instability within the defence sector coincides with similar turnover in the civilian cabinet, following the resignation of US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on Monday. White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung confirmed her exit via a post on X, stating that she "will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector." Her deputy, Keith Sonderling, is set to assume the role of acting secretary. Chavez-DeRemer, who entered the department in March 2025 following a two-year stint in the US House of Representatives, leaves amidst a cloud of controversy. Reports from Politico suggest her resignation follows various misconduct allegations involving senior staff and personal indiscretions. These claims include an alleged affair with a member of her security detail and accusations of unprofessional conduct during working hours. Furthermore, it is alleged that aides fabricated official schedules to facilitate her personal travel. As the administration grapples with these dual departures, Chavez-DeRemer is expected to transition directly into a role within the private sector. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday stated that the India-Africa partnership holds "particular significance" amidst global geopolitical challenges, serving as a message of "stability" and "reliability" in a turbulent world. Speaking at the unveiling of the logo, theme, and website for the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit-IV (IAFS-IV), Jaishankar emphasised that the two regions are not merely development partners, but also "partners in shaping a better world". The Minister's remarks come as the international community grapples with numerous conflicts, notably the ongoing crisis in West Asia, which has exceeded 50 days and continues to have widespread global consequences. During the event, attended by ambassadors and diplomats from across the African continent, the official logo was revealed. It features a lion superimposed on interlocked maps of India and Africa, carrying the theme 'Enduring Partnership Shared Vision' and the summit date, January 28-31. Jaishankar described the forthcoming summit as a "unique opportunity" to further "deepen our engagement" and establish a framework for a partnership that is "more ambitious, more inclusive and more future-oriented". Highlighting the importance of the alliance, he noted that "as the world navigates through complex geopolitical and geoecomic challenges," the collaboration will act as a "message of stability in a turbulent world, of reliability in an uncertain one, and of solidarity in difficult times." The Minister further explained that Africa currently occupies a "central place" in India's foreign policy. This engagement is steered by a vision based on the "principle of equality," mutual respect, and collective advancement. India has significantly bolstered its diplomatic presence on the continent, opening 17 new missions in recent years to reach a total of 46. Jaishankar noted that this expansion marks the "next chapter in the enduring partnership" governed by the India-Africa Forum Summit framework. Reflecting on historical ties, the External Affairs Minister said the relationship is "rooted in our civilisational linkages" and was forged through centuries of cultural and human exchange. He added that these "bonds were further strengthened as India stood in solidarity with the African nations in their struggle against colonialism." Drawing parallels between the freedom movements of both regions, Jaishankar remarked that the "shared history of struggle, solidarity, resilience and aspirations continues to shape our partnership." He pointed out that India's "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision and the "Africa's Agenda 2063" serve as "complementary roadmaps" aimed at achieving prosperity through sustainable and inclusive growth. The Minister also highlighted India's consistent advocacy for Africa's "rightful place in global governance," citing the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 during India's 2023 presidency as a "seminal step" in this direction. According to Jaishankar, this move reflected a "firm belief that the voices of the Global South must shape global governance in times to come." Beyond diplomacy, India has placed development cooperation and capacity-building at the "core of our partnership." He concluded by noting that defence, security, and maritime cooperation remain vital components of the relationship, influenced by the vision of "MAHASAGAR" to maintain stability in the Indian Ocean Region and protect critical sea lanes. (ANI)
A sweeping shutdown across Rawalpindi over five consecutive days has thrown normal life into chaos, with authorities reportedly citing security arrangements tied to Iran-US negotiations as justification. However, residents and businesses alike have borne the brunt of these restrictive measures, as reported by The Express Tribune. According to The Express Tribune, public life in the city came to a grinding halt as transport hubs, wholesale markets, commercial districts, hotels, and even wedding venues were forced to close. The suspension of routine activity disrupted not only trade but also education and judicial proceedings, leaving citizens struggling to manage essential commitments. Travel has emerged as a major concern. With public transport services suspended, people have been compelled to rely on privately hired vehicles at inflated costs. Families dealing with urgent situations, including funerals, were left with no choice but to rent entire vehicles, often at nearly twice the normal fare. This unusual surge in demand has ironically boosted business for car dealers and showroom operators. The city, which hosts around 1,470 registered car showrooms, reportedly saw all small vehicles booked out at premium rates, especially for travel to destinations such as Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and others. Meanwhile, the closure of 34 transport terminals has left hundreds of workers jobless, compounding the economic distress. Although authorities verbally allowed transport services to resume on Tuesday evening, public fear and low passenger turnout prevented a meaningful restart. Transport operators remained hesitant to resume operations without clear assurances. Strict security enforcement continued across major roads, including Murree Road and Rawal Road, with heavy police deployment even extending to areas near the airport, as cited by The Express Tribune. Residents within a three-kilometre radius reportedly faced severe restrictions, including limited access to rooftops, while nearby markets remained sealed. Transport Federation leader, Haji Zahoor Arain, has called for a clearer, more balanced policy. He suggested controlled transport operations instead of a blanket shutdown, proposing alternative routes and locations to keep essential mobility intact while maintaining security, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)
Amid the developing security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, a senior government official said that over 12 lakh people have returned to India from the region. He further highlighted that regular flights continue to operate from several countries to various destinations in India. The details were provided by Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital on Thursday. Noting that the overall flight situation continues to improve, with additional flights operating from the region to various destinations in India, Mahajan informed, "Since February 28, around 12 lakh 12 thousand passengers have travelled from the region to India." "Airlines continue to operate limited commercial flights based on operational and safety considerations between the UAE and India. Today, around 110 flights are expected to operate from the UAE to India. Flights are operating from airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to different destinations in India. Qatar's airspace is partially open. Qatar Airways is operating flights to various destinations in India", he said. Noting that the Kuwait airspace is closed, Mahajan said that Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways continue to operate non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam airport in Saudi Arabia to various destinations in India. "Gulf Air is operating flights from Bahrain to various destinations in India. Iraq airspace is open, and limited flight operations to destinations in the region, which can be used for onward travel to India", he said. Mahajan further said that Iran's airspace is partially open for cargo and chartered flights. "Our embassy in Tehran continues to facilitate the movement of Indian nationals through Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. So far, 2,428 Indian nationals have moved out of Iran into Armenia and Azerbaijan. This includes 1,096 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen. Israel airspace is open and limited flight operations have resumed to destinations in the region, which can be used for onward travel to India", he said. Mahajan assured that the welfare of Indian seafarers in the region remains of high priority for the government and informed that the missions are extending all assistance to them, including coordination with local authorities and agencies, extending consular assistance, and assisting with requests to return to India. Underlining how the MEA is working round-the-clock to ensure the safety, security and welfare of the large Indian community, the Additional Secretary said that the dedicated special control room in the ministry is operational to respond to queries from Indian nationals and their families. "We are in constant touch with the state governments and Union territories to share the latest advisories and to align our efforts. Our embassies and consulates in the region are operating round-the-clock helplines to provide timely assistance. They are proactively assisting our citizens. They are also in close touch with the local governments", Mahajan said. He further informed that advisories are being issued, including information related to local government guidelines, flight and travel situation, consular services, and the various welfare measures being undertaken for the community. "Our missions are actively engaged with the resident Indian community. They are regularly interacting with the Indian community associations, organisations, professional groups, and Indian companies to address their concerns", Mahajan said during the inter-ministerial briefing. As the security situation continues to evolve in the region, the Trump administration is reportedly pushing for a more consistent diplomatic engagement from Tehran as the precarious ceasefire persists. According to White House officials, the President is pursuing a "unified" stance from the Iranian leadership regarding American overtures aimed at de-escalating the regional crisis. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the US has refrained from setting a formal deadline for the current truce extension, suggesting a cautious strategy by Washington while communication lines remain open. Nevertheless, Leavitt emphasised that a non-negotiable requirement for any permanent agreement would involve Iran consenting to surrender its entire stockpile of enriched uranium. Despite the extension of the truce, the US has made it clear that the cessation of hostilities remains strictly conditional. President Trump asserted that the naval blockade will persist until such time as Tehran presents a formal proposal and discussions lead to a definitive outcome. In response, Iranian authorities have reacted with sharp condemnation, further deepening the diplomatic rift. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi characterised the naval restrictions as an "act of war" and a direct breach of the existing ceasefire, cautioning that Tehran is ready to oppose any measures it perceives as coercive tactics. (ANI)
As India and France continue to bolster their bilateral ties, New Delhi on Thursday welcomed the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting via French airports. Speaking at the weekly press briefing in the national capital, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the discussion for the removal of the transit visa requirement for Indian passport holders was agreed during the meeting between PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai earlier this year. Jaiswal said, "The government of France has now operationalised this agreement, and Indian nationals transiting through mainland France exclusively by air will no longer need a transit visa with effect from April 10, 2026". The decision reflects the enduring partnership between India and France, elevated to the level of a special global strategic partnership during the recent visit of President Macron, and further facilitation of the smoother movement of people and enhanced people-to-people ties. In this regard, an official press release from the French Embassy in India said, "Subsequent to President Macron's statement, a decree amending that of 10 May 2010 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners into French territory was adopted, and published in the Official Gazette (Journal Officiel) on April 9, 2026". It further noted, "Consequently, with effect from 10 April 2026, Indian nationals possessing an ordinary passport are no longer required to hold an airport transit visa when passing through the international zone of airports located on French territory." The statement noted that the measure applies to passengers remaining in the international zone during a layover at a French airport en route to a third country. https://x.com/FranceinIndia/status/2047271777697771858?s=20 Earlier in February, during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Joint Statement had reflected this move. The Joint Statement shared by the MEA had highlighted that with a view to expanding mutually beneficial skills and talent mobility between the countries, both leaders emphasised the importance of the India-France Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) and Young Professional Scheme (YPS). "Both leaders welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of skill development, vocational education and training that would strengthen opportunities for mobility of youth and professionals and strengthen people-to-people bonds between India and France. In this spirit, the leaders welcomed the announcement of the upcoming visa free transit of Indian nationals through French airports, which will be reviewed after a six month pilot period", the statement mentioned. (ANI)
Iranian state media broadcaster on Thursday shared a video where exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi was seen getting attacked with tomato ketchup. In a 47-second clip posted by IRNA, it was seen that Pahlavi was exiting a building in Berlin when he was attacked by a man who threw a red liquid on his back. The man was soon grabbed by security members as Reza Pahlavi was escorted to a car standing ahead of several people waving flags of Iran. https://x.com/IrnaEnglish/status/2047293269638279358?s=20 Politico reported on Thursday that Pahlavi had called on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to abandon talks with Tehran as European leaders prepared to gather in Cyprus for an EU Summit. As per Politico, Pahlavi told reporters in Berlin, "If your governments continue to focus only on somehow maintaining the status quo, you're neither helping us liberate ourselves, nor are you truly addressing the concerns that you will have down the line. It should be the prerogative of democratic governments not to be dictated [to] by a bunch of thugs and terrorists." Pahlavi has time and again presented himself as a leader capable of steering a transitional administration in Iran. According to Politico, he called on EU leaders to apply more pressure on the regime in Tehran. "There are a lot of things that Europe can do that it hasn't... Nothing has been done by putting more pressure on the regime to stop executions. Nothing has been done to force them to release political prisoners." Ahead of his visit to Germany, on Wednesday evening, Pahlavi had said in a post on X that he was visiting Berlin to be the "voice" for Iranians who "continue to fight for their freedom". His post had further mentioned holding discussions with the media, meetings with the Iranian diaspora and interacting with elected officials from various political parties at the Bundestag. Last week, the exiled crown prince had met with a cross-party delegation of Italian MPs and had discussed the "moral responsibility Italy and Europe" have to back the Iranians' demand for human rights, religious freedom, Internet access, and an end to the Islamic Republic. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that 10 Indian ships have safely exited the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz in the last week, while 14 vessels remain in the Persian Gulf amid heightened tensions. Addressing the weekly media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We have 10 Indian ships which have exited the Strait of Hormuz safely in the last few weeks. We have 14 Indian ships which are still in the Persian Gulf." Providing an update on a recent security incident, Jaiswal said that two foreign ships were fired upon a day earlier, with Indian crew members on board. He noted that the crew were safe and clarified that the vessels involved were not Indian-flagged ships, and therefore, detailed information remains limited. However, he emphasised that the safety of Indian nationals remains a priority. "Regarding the matter of yesterday, the firing that happened, two foreign ships were fired upon. Some of our Indian crew members, sailors, were on them. They are safe. And these two ships, which were fired upon, are foreign ships. I don't have detailed information about this because they are foreign ships," Jaiswal added. The spokesperson further noted that the Government of India is in continuous contact with Iran to ensure the safe passage of the remaining vessels and crew members in the region. "Our continuous conversation with the government of Iran is going on so that the remaining ships there can safely come to India," the MEA spokesperson said. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical shipping routes, handling a significant portion of global oil trade. Any escalation in the region often raises concerns over maritime security and the safety of commercial vessels. Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that all Indian seafarers operating in the region are safe following recent firing incidents involving foreign-flagged vessels. Addressing an interministerial press briefing here, Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Mukesh Mangal, said that while no Indian-flagged vessels were affected, concerns remain over the safety of Indian crew members serving on foreign ships in the affected area. "In the past 24 hours, there were certain incidents of firing on the foreign-flag vessels. Although none of the Indian vessels came under fire, we are worried for the Indian seafarers on these vessels," Mangal said. He confirmed that no Indian seafarers were injured in the incidents. "None of the Indian seafarers has been injured in the firing on the foreign-flagged vessels," he added. Mangal further said that all Indian crew members on affected ships have been accounted for and are safe. "A vessel, Euphoria, was having 21 Indian seafarers on board, and all of them are safe. Similarly, there was another vessel, Epaminondas. That vessel has one Indian seafarer. He is also safe," he said. He reiterated that authorities are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with relevant agencies. "Therefore, all the Indian seafarers in the region are safe," Mangal added. (ANI)
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Samir Paul Kapur, highlighted the difficulties faced by Tibetan refugees in Nepal during his visit to Kathmandu from April 20 to 22, calling on the Nepali government to enhance support mechanisms amid continuing humanitarian concerns, as reported by Phayul. During his three-day visit, the senior US official met with members of the Tibetan community in Kathmandu. Representatives of the refugee population pointed out ongoing issues such as obstacles in running businesses, difficulties in opening bank accounts, limited access to nursing education, and restrictions in participating in wider economic activities. In his meeting with Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, Kapur directly addressed these concerns, urging greater assistance for the roughly 10,000 Tibetan refugees living in Nepal. He also stressed the need to provide identity cards to refugees, explaining that official documentation would allow them to enter the tax system and take part more actively in the economy. Nepali officials acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, particularly given Kathmandu's diplomatic relationship with China. Minister Khanal reportedly reiterated Nepal's commitment to supporting Tibetan refugees on humanitarian grounds while also pointing to broader geopolitical considerations. "We are hosting them on humanitarian grounds and will continue to do so," he said, according to the Phayul report. Kapur's comments came soon after China's ambassador to Nepal, Zhang Maoming, called for stricter controls on Tibetan and Taiwanese activities during an April 13 meeting with Home Minister Sudan Gurung. Beijing has consistently urged Kathmandu to ensure that its territory is not used for activities it considers politically sensitive. The visit also took place amid wider diplomatic engagement with Nepal's new government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah, with discussions focusing on regional stability and how to manage China's growing influence, factors that have, in recent years, led to increased monitoring and movement restrictions on Tibetan refugees. Separately, Kapur met with Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle and Foreign Minister Khanal to discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation. Talks included boosting US investment in sectors such as tourism, clean energy, and information technology, with Nepali officials promising reforms to improve the business climate, according to Phayul. After the meetings, Kapur stated on the social media platform X that stronger economic collaboration could help develop Nepal's infrastructure and promote shared growth. He also pointed to discussions on expanding bilateral trade and tackling issues like illegal immigration and human trafficking, reaffirming the United States' commitment to strengthening its partnership with Nepal, as noted in the Phayul report. (ANI)
Sherap Therchin, Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC), presented a stark and deeply personal account before Canada's Subcommittee on International Human Rights, cautioning about the widening scope of China's transnational repression and its direct consequences, according to a report by Phayul. Appearing before the parliamentary panel under the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, Sherap addressed a hybrid session conducted in line with parliamentary procedures. He was joined by fellow witnesses, including Maria Cheung, Grace Wollensak, Zaha Hassan, Marcos Kolga, Peter Mattis, and Zumretay Arkin. At the outset of his testimony, the Tibetan activist disclosed that he is among 20 Canadians sanctioned by the Chinese government on December 21, 2024, an action he described as both symbolic and significantly impactful. While referring to the sanctions as "a badge of honour" reflecting his dedication to human rights, he stressed that they have led to "real and lasting consequences." Labelled by Chinese authorities as a threat to national security and sovereignty, he said those targeted have been subjected to ongoing harassment and intimidation, as noted in the Phayul report. He outlined the increasingly hostile circumstances he has encountered since the sanctions were imposed. According to him, this has included repeated phishing attempts, malware attacks targeting the CTC's website, and a continuous flow of threatening online messages from unidentified sources. To reduce risks, he and his colleagues have implemented stronger digital security practices, such as using VPNs, measures that, while essential, have disrupted routine operations and act as a constant reminder of the threats they face. "These are not abstract concerns," he told the committee, emphasising that such pressures impact all areas of life, including communication, professional work, personal safety, and mental health. Sherap warned that his experience reflects a larger pattern associated with the People's Republic of China. He pointed to findings from Canada's Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference, which identified China as the most active state actor targeting the country's democratic systems. He also referred to Canada's 2026 National Cyber Threat Assessment, which characterises China as the most advanced and persistent cyber threat confronting the nation, involved in espionage, intellectual property theft, and malign influence operations. Concluding his testimony, Sherap issued a strong warning that China's repression is no longer limited to its own borders. "It has gone transnational," he stated. "The threat is already here in Canada," as cited by the Phayul report. (ANI)
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday strongly dismissed claims of internal divisions within the country, responding to remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump. In a post shared on X, Ghalibaf asserted that there is no divide between political factions in Iran, emphasising national unity and allegiance to the country's leadership. "In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates; we are all 'Iranian' and 'revolutionary,'" he stated in a post on X, adding that the nation stands united in the face of external pressures. He further underscored what he described as "iron unity" between the Iranian people and government, along with "complete obedience" to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei. "With the iron unity of the nation and government, with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution," the post added. Ghalibaf also issued a warning to adversaries, stating that Iran would make any "aggressor criminal regret his actions." He concluded his statement with a message of national solidarity: "One God, one leader, one nation, and one path; that path being the path to victory for Iran, dearer than life." This comes after Trump, earlier in the day, claimed that there is internal division within Iran's leadership, alleging infighting between "hardliners" and "moderates" in the country's political and military establishment. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was struggling to determine its leadership direction and suggested deep internal discord amid diplomatic engagements to find a comprehensive solution to the situation in West Asia. Trump described the infighting as "crazy". "Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don't know! The infighting is between the 'Hardliners,' who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the 'Moderates,' who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!" Trump wrote. He further claimed that the United States maintains strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. The US president also noted that the control will persist until a deal is reached with Iran. "We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is 'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!" he added. Earlier on Wednesday, Iran strongly rejected the comment made by Trump in his ceasefire extension announcement, alleging that the Iranian leadership is "seriously fractured", accusing him of spreading falsehoods and engaging in propaganda. Responding to the claim, Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy of Communications and Information Dissemination in the office of the President of Iran, said that assertions of division among Iran's leadership are part of an "enemy's unplayed political and propaganda game." In a post on X, Tabatabaei emphasised unity within the country, stating, "The line of discord and division among the country's highest officials is the enemy's unplayed political and propaganda game against Iran. The unity and consensus among the field, the street, and diplomacy these days is unprecedented and exemplary." He further criticised the US, in a veiled reference, saying, "Instead of weaving lies, they should cease their breaches of promise, bullying, and deceit; the door to negotiation based on fairness, dignity, and rationality remains open." Tabatabaei's statement came after Trump, in a separate post on Truth Social, claimed that divisions within Iran's leadership had prompted a request to delay potential military action against the country. (ANI)
US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin B Schneider called on Air Chief Marshal AP Singh during his official visit to India as the two countries continue to deepen their defence ties. Sharing the details of his visit in a post on X, the Indian Air Force said that General Schneider also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and was also accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. He also interacted with senior Indian Air Force leadership. "General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander PACAF & Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, called on Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, CAS, Indian Air Force, during his official visit to India. He laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour, and interacted with senior leadership of the Indian Air Force", the IAF said. https://x.com/IAF_MCC/status/2047202440299385208?s=20 His visit comes shortly after Air Chief Marshal Singh was hosted by US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach at the Pentagon on April 10. The two leaders met to discuss mutual aid and plans for a productive future for both countries. As part of the visit, Air Chief Marshal Singh received a full honours arrival at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and attended office calls with Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Wilsbach at the Pentagon. During the office calls, Department of the Air Force senior leaders emphasised the priority the US places on its defence partnership with India, highlighting its central role in ensuring a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. General Wilsbach praised India's leadership and participation in multilateral exercises with like-minded partners and stressed how continuing to prioritise and expand such cooperation is key to enhancing regional deterrence. He also welcomed India's procurement of MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft and emphasised the US Air Force commitment to ensuring the Indian Armed Forces can seamlessly and effectively employ the platform upon delivery. General Wilsbach underscored the US Air Force's readiness to further support Indian Air Force modernisation efforts, noting the mutual benefits of pursuing these goals through defence industrial collaboration. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh also undertook a familiarisation flight in a Boeing F-15EX Eagle II fighter aircraft during his visit to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. ACM Singh flew alongside US Air Force Major Matthew Benson, a pilot with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. The sortie gave the Indian Air Chief a close look at one of the most advanced fighter platforms in the US inventory, which plays a key role in maintaining air superiority and supporting operations in the Indo-Pacific region. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday invited German industry leaders to co-develop and co-produce advanced defence technologies with India, stressing that partnerships based on reliability and shared interests are crucial amid rising global uncertainties. Addressing Indian and German defence industry leaders at the Defence Investor Summit in Munich during his visit to Germany, Singh highlighted the shifting geopolitical landscape, supply chain disruptions, and rapid technological changes as key reasons for deeper collaboration. "Partnerships based on reliability & shared interests are indispensable amid increasing global uncertainties," he said, as per a release from the Ministry of Defence. The Defence Minister emphasised that countries and industries are re-evaluating dependencies and seeking trusted partners to ensure resilience and continuity. He underlined that India offers an expanding market, a young and skilled workforce, and a rapidly evolving industrial ecosystem. "India offers an expanding market, skilled workforce & evolving industrial ecosystem with stability, predictability & commitment to the rule of law; it's not a short-term opportunity, but a long-term strategic proposition," he said. Singh also pointed to opportunities under initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat, stating that Indian companies are keen to collaborate with German firms in areas including advanced radar systems, AI-enabled unmanned aerial systems, sensor technologies, and underwater systems. Highlighting India's long-term vision, he said the country aims to become a developed nation by 2047 under the leadership of Narendra Modi, backed by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and policy direction. On self-reliance in defence, Singh clarified that the approach is not inward-looking but collaborative in nature. "India's self-reliance pursuit is not inward-looking; we see it as the ability to design, develop & produce with trusted partners," he said, adding that India is transitioning from being a buyer of defence equipment to a partner in design and production. He stressed that a robust defence industrial ecosystem would not only strengthen national security but also drive economic resilience and global competitiveness. The Defence Minister also highlighted reforms undertaken over the past decade to improve ease of doing business, including liberalised norms, stronger regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure investments aimed at attracting global investors. During his visit, Singh also travelled to Kiel to visit a submarine manufacturing facility, underscoring growing maritime cooperation between India and Germany. Earlier, he held bilateral talks with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin, where both sides discussed ways to deepen strategic defence ties. Agreements, including a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an arrangement on UN peacekeeping training, were also finalised. Singh expressed confidence that India-Germany ties will continue to grow, stating that the next phase of the partnership can be driven by innovation, capability, and strategic cooperation. (ANI)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday (local time) asserted that there are no divisions within the country's leadership, rejecting claims of internal rifts between "hardliners" and "moderates." He said all Iranians are united as "revolutionaries" and fully aligned with the Supreme Leader, adding that the nation stands together against any external aggression. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump claimed that there was infighting within Iran's political and military establishment. In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, "In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates; we are all "Iranian" and "revolutionary," and with the iron unity of the nation and government, with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will make the aggressor criminal regret his actions." https://x.com/drpezeshkian/status/2047358147287724123?s=20 "One God, one nation, one leader, and one path; that path being the path to the victory of our dear Iran, more precious than life," the post read. Earlier, Trump claimed that there is internal division within Iran's leadership, alleging infighting between "hardliners" and "moderates" in the country's political and military establishment. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was struggling to determine its leadership direction and suggested deep internal discord amid diplomatic engagements to find a comprehensive solution to the situation in West Asia. Trump described the infighting as "crazy". "Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don't know! The infighting is between the 'Hardliners,' who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the 'Moderates,' who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!" Trump wrote. He further claimed that the United States maintains strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. The US president also noted that the control will persist until a deal is reached with Iran."We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is 'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!" he added. (ANI)
India has a stake in expanding global governance reforms and wants to push for more democratic global governance which includes the voice of the Global South, Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Answering queries during media briefing here, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there are several proposals for UN Security Council reforms. "On UN reforms, UNSC reforms, these are some of the technical issues but our point remains that global governance needs to be changed because they have to be anchored in contemporary realities. There are several proposals. I'm not particularly clear about the technicalities that you mentioned, but yes we want to push for broader more democratic global governance which includes the voice of the Global South which includes other countries who aspire to be.... India of course has a stake in expanding global governance reforms," he said. Answering a query, he said Secretary (West) Sibi George met UN Secretary General and discussed several issues. "He made several statements there including, if I'm not wrong, in the ECOSOC. He also met the Secretary General and several issues that are part of our agenda at the UN were discussed," Jaiswal said. He was also asked about efforts against terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF) and its designation as terrorist organisation by the UN. "The monitoring team is considering this. We continue to push hard because we want to strengthen global fight against terrorism and in that regard it's important that UN member states are on board with how we take, how we approach fighting terrorism globally speaking," he said. TRF is a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), that has been involved in numerous terror-related activities, including the heinous attack on civilians in Pahalgam. United States State Department had in July last year designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). (ANI)
China reports decline in workplace accidents in Q1

Xinhua) 09:33, April 23, 2026

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- China saw a significant decrease in workplace accidents in the first quarter of 2026, with the safety situation in most regions and sectors improving markedly, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Wednesday.

A total of 3,258 workplace accidents occurred across the country in the first three months, down 26.7 percent year on year, said Shen Zhanli, an official with the ministry, adding that no exceptionally serious accidents were reported during the period.

However, Shen warned that accidents in high-risk industries such as chemicals and fireworks indicate that the pressure to prevent and contain serious accidents remains high.

In terms of natural disasters, China mainly experienced meteorological and geological disasters in the first quarter, as well as other events such as forest fires.

China has attached great importance to workplace safety, making it a priority in its governance agenda. Senior Chinese officials have called for intensified efforts to ensure workplace safety and prevent forest and grassland fires, emphasizing the need to prioritize fire prevention in crowded places, high-rise buildings and commercial self-built houses.

China has launched a three-year campaign to address the root causes of workplace safety issues, which is set to be fully accomplished by the end of 2026, according to the ministry.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The government on Thursday said a social media post that referred to Indians in derogatory terms in terms of immigration, was "uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste". "We have seen the comments, as also the subsequent statement issued by the US Embassy in response. The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests," MEA Spokesperon Randhir Jaiswal said. He was responding to query about social media post that had referred, among other things, to Indians. Earlier, during weekly media briefing, Jaiswal responded to query on the reports of US President Donald Trump endorsing a report critical of India and China over immigration. ""We''ve seen some reports. That''s where I''ll leave it," he said. Trump amplified a critique of birthright citizenship in the US by sharing a video featuring right-wing conservative author and radio host Michael Savage on Truth Social. In the clip, Savage criticised existing immigration laws, alleging that they allow individuals to exploit legal provisions by travelling to the US late in pregnancy to secure citizenship for their children. In the video, Savage claimed that such practices create a loophole whereby "a baby here becomes an instant citizen", followed by family migration from countries including "China or India or some other hellhole on the planet". The footage, originally aired on the Newsmax series The Savage Nation, was highlighted by the "Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social" account, which serves as a platform dedicated to reposting the President''s social media activity. In the clip, Savage expressed deep frustration with the judicial process. "Today''s brief, abbreviated discussion will be about the arguments that I just listened to before the Supreme Court about birthright citizenship. I was somewhat incensed by listening to the arguments because all I heard was legalese being bandied back and forth." Following MEA''s one-line response over Trump''s post, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a post on X, Kharge said that Prime Minister Modi remained "absolutely mum" on the disparaging terms and questioned what was stopping India from raising the matter at the highest levels of the American government. "Modi''s dear friend, ''Namaste Trump'' has shared a note abusing India and using an extremely disparaging term. Modi remains absolutely mum on these ridiculous utterances. MEA Spokesperson said, ''That is where I leave it.'' Modi, what are you scared of? Indians have played a vital role in America''s success. What is stopping us to raise this at the highest levels of the American government?" Kharge asked. "From the skewed Indo-US Trade deal framework to Trump''s earlier claims on mediating to stop the war during Operation Sindoor, from grinning in front of Trump when he said ''BRICS is dead'' to US levying 50 per cent tariffs on India -- at every step Modi has mortgaged India''s interests. Amidst the high-voltage election campaign of the Prime Minister, I sincerely hope that he gets some time to react to this intimidation and indignation of 140 crore Indians," he said. Some other Congress leaders also commented on the government''s response. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) said he would not use a nuclear weapon in the conflict with Iran, stating that such weapons should never be used by anyone. Speaking to reporters at the White House, when asked whether he would use a nuclear weapon against Iran, Trump said, "Why would a stupid question like that be asked?... No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody." Further, Trump said the United States has a strong economy and sufficient oil supply, added that several ships are now heading to the US instead of the Strait of Hormuz, amid efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. " ... We have this unbelievable economy... I called JD, Marco, Howard and Scott and told them that I hate to tell you, but we have to do a little bit of a detour. We have to go to Iran and make sure that they are out of nuclear weapons... A lot of ships are coming to the United States, and they are using the United States instead of the Hormuz Strait... We don't have an oil shortage... We are right now producing more oil than Saudi Arabia and Russia combined... We are taking in millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela," he said. He also said the United States has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz and is deliberately keeping it closed to pressure Iran into a deal, adding that he wants a lasting agreement and will not rush the process despite claiming significant progress. "... I gave them a break. I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now. Do you know that if I left right now, we had a tremendous success. It would take them 20 years to rebuild, but I don't want to do that. I want to have it everlasting... What I am doing, I can't tell you that. I don't want to put that kind of timetable on it, but it will go pretty quickly. We will have the Strait opened up. Right now, we have it closed. We have total control of the Strait," he further said. "They would have opened it up 3 days ago. They came to us, and they said, 'We will agree to open the Strait.' All my people were happy except me. I said, 'One minute, if we open the Strait, that means they are going to make $500 million a day.' I don't want them to make $500 million a day until they settle this thing. So I am the one that kept it closed. We have total control of it. It will open when they make a deal or something else happens that is very positive," he said. Trump said he is under no pressure to end the West Asia conflict, claiming that the United States has already struck a majority of its targets and that Iran is facing urgent pressure due to its oil situation. He added that further military action remains an option if a deal is not reached, while also noting that Iran has agreed to halt the execution of several women following a request from the US. "...How many years was Vietnam?... I took the country out militarily in the first 4 weeks. Now what we are doing is sitting back and seeing what deal. If they dont want to make a deal, then I will finish it up militarily with the other 25% targets. We have hit 78% of the targets that we wanted to hit... It is amazing what we have done... You know who is under time pressure? They are. If they dont get their oil moving, their whole oil infrastructure is going to explode because they have no place to store it. Because they have no place to store it, if they have to stop it, something happens underground that essentially renders it in very poor shape, and you never recover fully... They have a matter of days before that event takes place," Trump said. "I am not under any pressure whatsoever... Our ships are locked and loaded, and they are ready to go... They are very disorganised right now... 8 young women were going to be executed yesterday afternoon at 6 o clock. I asked them, call it a favour or just a moral request, that they not be executed. They came back with an answer that they will not be executing them... They are releasing 4 of them very shortly, and they are going to keep 4 of them in jail for a period of one month and release them. So they will not be executed," he said. When asked whether Iran will have to cut off its funding to Hezbollah, Trump said, "Yeah, they will have to cut that off. That is a must." (ANI)
Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday highlighted the various pillars of partnership between India and the United States and noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump share bonhomie which is reflected in the wide-ranging cooperation between New Delhi and Washington. He made the remarks while speaking at the Hudson Institute's The New India Conference. While describing the government-to-government connection between India and the United States, Ambassador Kwatra said, "Prime Minister Modi on our side, and President Trump-- Both of them have a very strong relationship, deep respect for each other, even friendship. That translates into a wide-ranging cooperation between our two countries." He also spoke about the plurilateral initiatives between the two countries with an emphasis on QUAD and IMEC and also recalled the India-US 10-year defense framework, which was signed last year. He noted how trade stands as one of the strongest segments of the partnership. "We have the largest bilateral flow of capital between our two economies...We are currently at about $200 billion a year, and the objective, which was announced during Prime Minister's visit to the White House in February last year, is to achieve Mission 500, which is $500 billion by the by the end of this decade." He noted how nuclear technology, critical minerals and artificial intelligence are some of the areas where there is a strong sense of partnership. "Critical minerals is an area of strong partnership between us; the strategic objective, which is to build resilience for both our economies so that in the supply of critical minerals, no country holds us hostage to the supply to constrain our economic growth." Calling the people-to-people exchanges a "bedrock" of ties, he highlighted how the contact between India and the US is not only rooted in the two societies, but also the institutions across the two countries, whether it is the bipartisan congressional support, or the connect of the community of think tanks. Noting how India is at the cusp of transformation and positive changes, he said that the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 is being realized through policy changes and actions India is taking. "I must mention that the target is not just an articulation of an objective. It is an empirical objective which has backward linkages to the policy choices and the actions that we are taking today with absolute measurable metrics year after year so that we know each year we are meeting that milestone which would help us reach. It's also vision which is measurable, which we are determined to achieve as we go forward". "New India is a story of great excitement, great opportunity", he said. He added, "We are quite confident that with this focus, with these transformations, and our international partnerships, particularly with the United States, we would prevail in advancing our economic growth and prosperity and achieving that New India aim that we have for ourselves politically, economically, technologically, and reach that goal of Viksit Bharat 2047". (ANI)
By Stephen Blank

Recent trends in world politics have led several analysts to emphasize the idea of the retreat or recession of Russian power abroad. Yet few have commented on a key aspect of this retreat, namely the growing movement across Central Asia to unseat the Russian language from its position, often enshrined in law, as an official language on a par with the native tongue. Trends across the region demonstrate state action to diminish the role of the Russian language, growing political discussion of the issue, or socio-economic trends working to reduce the hegemony of the Russian language. These trends also display both Russias mounting anxiety about such trends and its increasingly visible inability to reverse or stop them.

BACKGROUND:

Russias recent reversals in Syria, Venezuela, the Caucasus and potentially Iran have triggered a flood of articles proclaiming the retreat of Russian power. However, none of these writings noticed the parallel ongoing dethronement of the Russian language from its previous eminence in Central Asia. Nevertheless, this epochal development, like Russias aforementioned geostrategic defeats, possesses profound political as well as cultural significance. Given the importance of linguistic policies in the Tsarist, Soviet, and now post-Soviet regimes, the retreat of the Russian language from a position of linguistic-political primacy in Central Asia signifies major political and cultural transformations.

Specifically, Kazakhstans new constitution subtly but overtly downgrades the status of Russian as an official language. Article 9 of the new constitution establishes Kazakh as the dominant language of the country, relegating Russian to the status of an official language used by the government alongside Kazakh. This new constitution obtained massive public support although much of it was probably engineered from above, forcing Putin to congratulate President Tokayev on its ratification. However, those congratulatory remarks, as Tokayev and his team well know, probably came through clenched teeth and were preceded by much Russian public criticism of Kazakhstans language policies.

An analysis of Russian press perspectives on the return of Kazakhstans Latin alphabet, originally introduced in the 1920s, from the Cyrillicization of the alphabet during the height of Stalinism, displays a politicized perspective where this process is seen as a repudiation of a Russian orientation in favor of a Turkic-Western one. Insofar as Turkey and Western powers like the EU and the U.S. have stepped up their presence and interest in Kazakhstan and Central Asia as a whole, this politicized perspective sees language and alphabet policies as manifestations of the growing regional presence of those parties at Moscows expense. Thus, Russian press coverage warns Central Asian audiences against alleged foreign plots of an imperialist nature.

Russian media also minimize or deny the agency of Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states in formulating and then executing their own alphabet and language policies while implicitly and often overtly extolling the superior, imperial role of Russias language and culture as a vehicle for connecting Central Asia with modern civilization and culture. In other words, much of this literature reflects an imperial echo with deep roots in late Tsarist and then Soviet imperial policies that Russian elites seek to preserve.

IMPLICATIONS:

Kazakhstans assertion of its linguistic sovereignty challenges the Russian dream of maintaining its cultural-political hegemony over Central Asia because it is losing the means to enforce that claim on Kazakhstan and because Astanas example is being replicated across Central Asia, e.g. in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In Uzbekistan, as a 2024 paper makes clear, Russian must coexist if not compete with Uzbek and Tajik while English, a global Lingua Franca, is rapidly gaining on it as well. In Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstans example has simultaneously stimulated debates on emulating its language policy.

Predictably the Russian government, sensing another threat to its receding hegemonic pretensions, has reacted strongly. On March 19, its embassy in Bishkek forcefully demanded that Kyrgyzstans government suppress provocative statements of certain public figures about the place of Russian in Kyrgyz society. The statement also complains about language patrols where vigilantes purportedly try to intimidate people to stop speaking Russian and speak only Kyrgyz. The embassy deemed such calls incitement to ethnic hatred and a threat to Russo-Kyrgyz strategic partnership and, in a conscious echo of Soviet propaganda, deep alliance between our fraternal peoples and countries  Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

This atavistic employment of Soviet tropes is no accident. Whereas Lenins language policies, likely inspired by his fathers work in teaching Orthodoxy to Muslims, wagered that teaching socialism would lead Soviet Muslims to socialism; Stalin decisively imposed Russification by giving the Russian language primacy and Cyrillicizing Central Asian alphabets. Putins consistent attacks on Lenins nationality policies, many of which stemmed from an appreciation of socio-political realities during the early Soviet period, reflect his clear preference for the centralizing, Stalinist, and more openly imperialist policies of Stalin and his successors.

Nevertheless, a generation after independence and having devoted much effort to fostering large-scale national identification among their populations, Central Asian leaders are openly moving to assert not just their foreign policy sovereignty, but also their linguistic nationalism. The use of Russian across Central Asia will likely remain pervasive because of the benefits it offers in economic relations with Russian and possibly Central Asian entities. However, Russian will not be the only regional Lingua Franca or the language of Russian imperial hegemony either in the Caucasus or in Central Asia. Since we can readily imagine a similar outcome in Ukraine due Russias war against the country, which underlies many of the causes for the retreat of Russian hegemony, the trends discernible in Central Asia go far beyond its borders.

CONCLUSIONS:

Even as the Russian government is currently discussing legislation allowing it to intervene anywhere abroad on behalf of its citizens, Central Asian developments presage the ongoing erosion of Russian cultural and thus political power. The whole idea of the Russkii Mir (Russian World) based on speakers of the Russian language that furnishes a pretext for interventions abroad is rapidly falling to pieces. From Tsarist and Soviet times, Russian authorities consistently regarded Russian as the sole civilized and therefore hegemonic language of the empire and often sought to enforce that hegemony by coercion. Those days are visibly ending as Central Asian governments are, with increasing confidence, asserting their own native tongues while also opening up to greater economic-cultural interaction with other countries. While Russian will not disappear in Central Asia; it is being decentered and increasingly deprived of its superior legal-political standing.

This process is clearly linked to the global recession of Russian power even as Russia fights to retain its erstwhile imperial and global great power status. For its rulers, expression of that status through all the forms of cultural power, e.g. alphabets and languages, was a critical component of empire. Yet what we see today, despite Moscows threats or even forceful efforts to arrest or reverse that decline, is an imperial sunset that evidently cannot be stopped either in culture or in hard power.

AUTHORS BIO:

Stephen Blank is a Senior Fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute, www.fpri.org.
Honduras has decided to suspend its recognition of self-proclaimed SADR, dealing another blow to the Algerian regime and its Polisario proxy separatist group as the UN Security Council is preparing to hold meetings on the Sahara.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita, Honduras top diplomat described the move as a sovereign decision taken in line with he countrys commitment to the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States.

The Government of Honduras has reaffirmed its full support for the efforts engaged by UN Secretary-General and his Special Envoy for reaching a political, just and lasting solution to the Sahara issue in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2797 endorsing Moroccos autonomy plan in the Sahara under the Kingdoms sovereignty.

The timing is notably adverse for the Polisario. Honduras had originally recognized the self-proclaimed entity in 1989, reaffirmed that position in 2022, and is now reversing course as a direct consequence of sovereign foreign policy review. The move marks the sixth withdrawal of recognition in approximately two years, a pace of diplomatic attrition that Moroccan officials have described as reflecting an irreversible global trajectory.

The Latin American dimension is particularly significant. The region was once a stronghold of support for the Polisario, built on Cold War-era anti-colonial solidarity and sustained by intensive Algerian diplomatic lobbying. That coalition has disintegrated rapidly. Ecuador withdrew its recognition in October 2024; Panama  the first country ever to recognize the entity, in 1978  subsequently suspended relations; and Bolivia suspended all diplomatic ties in February 2026. Several other countries in Latin America including Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Paraguaysupport Moroccos territorial integrity and Autonomy plan for the Sahara. In Africa, where most countries recognize Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, Mali, which had recognized the Polisario since 1980, formally withdrew its recognition just two weeks before the Honduran announcement.

Of the Latin American nations that once formed the core of the Polisarios diplomatic support base, very few maintain formal ties with the front. No new country has extended recognition to the entity since 2011, and the trajectory of withdrawals shows no sign of reversing. Moroccos Autonomy Plan for its southern provinces now has the expressed support of more than 110 UN member states.

With its proactive diplomacy and soft-power, Rabat has gained the support of this region, which was once a stronghold for the Polisario Front. Moroccos resilience, persistence and hard-work have always paid-off against its enemies.
The Special Representative of the UN retary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh told the UN ecurity Council that Libya is facing growing instability due to stalled political progress, a worsening economy, and prsistent institutional divisions.

Addressing the Council on Wednesday, she cautioned that some Libyan actors are bypassing democratic accountability, while parallel political structures are undermining efforts to reunify State institutions. Tetteh warned that maintaining the status quo without meaningful pressure risks delaying negotiations and deepening the crisis.

Economically, she highlighted rising prices, fuel shortages and increasing poverty as signs of an unsustainable system, fuelling public frustration and instability. Despite these challenges, she noted that a temporary oil revenue windfall offers a limited opportunity to stabilize the economy and improve public financial management.

On security, although no ceasefire violations have been reported, tensions remain high, particularly in border regions and coastal areas where armed groups and criminal networks are active. Tetteh also raised concerns over the humanitarian impact of the Sudan conflict, noting that Libya will require $115.5 million to support nearly 597,000 Sudanese refugees in 2026.

She urged the Security Council to push Libyan leaders towards unifying institutions and organizing national elections, stressing that the country has reached a critical political, economic and security juncture. Libya remains divided between the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a rival eastern administration in Benghazi headed by Osama Hammad.
Algerian authorities have sentenced French Algerian writer Kamel Daoud to three years in prison in absentia and fined him 35,000, in a ruling critics say epitomizes the regimes sustained effort to suppress debate about the countrys civil war.

Daoud, who won the 2024 Prix Goncourt for his novel Houris, announced the verdict on his X account.

The decision was handed down under Algerias Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, a 2005 law designed to close the file on the 19912002 civil war, a conflict that killed an estimated 200,000 people dead and left many questions unanswered regarding the role of the military regime in the carnage.

The same charter criminalizes discussion of state crimes and bars any investigation into abuses committed during what is commonly known as the black decade.

In Houris the novelists confront the trauma, silence and moral void left by a conflict the Algerian state insists must remain unexamined. The book is banned in Algeria, and its author has been subjected to sustained attacks in pro regime media.

Daouds conviction reflects a broader state-enforced blackout on the civil war, aimed at shielding the military-backed regime from scrutiny over its role in one of the bloodiest episodes of Algerias post independence history. The regime now prosecutes memory rather than perpetrators, punishing writers while granting amnesty to thousands of former fighters.

The case of Daoud echoes that of Boualem Sansal, another prominent Algerian writer living in exile, who suffered arbitrary detention in Algiers for his views and whose works revisiting taboo historical questions have also drawn persecution.

The persecution of writers who question the regimes narrative shows that in Algeria, history remains a controlled space, and those who challenge the official version face judicial punishment.
Moroccan engineering firm Cegelec has secured a contract worth more than two billion dirhams to design and construct a suite of high-voltage electricity transmission and generation assets in Guinea, the company announced this week. The project, carried out through its subsidiary VINCI Energies Guinee, was launched officially on April 18 at Kamissaya in the prefecture of Kindia, in the presence of Guineas Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah and two senior ministers.

The contract covers the construction of extra-high-voltage transmission lines and substations, as well as a 50-megawatt-peak solar photovoltaic power plant complete with its grid evacuation substation. The combined infrastructure is designed to reinforce and stabilize the Guinean national grid, increase generation and transmission capacity, and support the countrys integration of renewable energy into its national energy mix.

For Cegelec, the contract is the latest in a sustained expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa and the wider region. The firm has previously completed major electricity infrastructure projects in Benin, Cote dIvoire, Mauritania, Senegal, and Rwanda, and has delivered high-voltage substations and transmission lines in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. This track record positions it firmly as a reference contractor for turnkey energy infrastructure on the African continent.

Abdellah Sabri, Director General of Cegelec and VINCI Energies Africa, described the Guinea project as grounded in a commitment to local human capital development. The contract explicitly provides for structured technology transfer at each stage of execution, with Guinean teams given the opportunity to acquire competencies in high-voltage transmission and solar energy systems  skills the company frames as strategically important for the host countrys long-term energy autonomy.

The award underscores the growing commercial reach of Moroccos engineering and industrial services sector. Cegelec, a subsidiary of VINCI Energies, operates as a fully Moroccan-headquartered entity and has built a diversified portfolio spanning energy infrastructure, industrial installations, and digital systems. Its ability to compete for and execute multi-billion-dirham contracts across multiple continents is indicative of the maturity that Moroccos engineering industry has achieved over the past two decades.
The 6th annual Ministerial Conference of the AAA initiative (Adaptation of African Agriculture), held on Wednesday in Meknes on the sidelines of the 18th International Agriculture Show in Morocco (SIAM), concluded with the adoption of a Declaration meant to boost climate-resilient Agriculture.

Aware of the urgency, and following up on the resolutions of COP30 while looking ahead to COP31, the Ministers of Agriculture and representatives of international and regional institutions, adopted the Declaration which covers six main commitments.

In this vein, they endorsed the concept note of the strategic document 10 Years of the AAA Initiative: Review and Vision 2036 and welcomed its development by the AAA Initiative Foundation in partnership with the FAO.

Regarding increased mobilization of climate financing, they called for the effective implementation of the NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) and for achieving the collective ambition of $1.3 trillion annually.

We call for simplified, fair, and transparent access to funds dedicated to loss and damage, and for reform of the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund to better serve African realities, stated the Declaration signatories.

They encouraged he development of innovative African mechanisms (climate bonds, green taxation, blended finance) to accelerate investment in resilient agriculture.

Regarding the finalization of NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) 3.0 and National Adaptation Plans, to date, 21 African countries have submitted their NDC 3.0.

In this context, they commit to collectively accelerating the finalization of their NDC 3.0 and National Adaptation Plans by COP31, systematically integrating concrete and quantified agricultural adaptation measuresagroecology, climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, sustainable soil and water management, and nature-based solutionswhile ensuring alignment with the Global Goal on Adaptation.

On another front, they affirm that food security in Africa requires priority support for small-scale producers, women, and youth, who are on the front line of climate impacts, calling for easier access to financing, innovation, inputs, markets, as well as agricultural insurance and social protection adapted to climate riskssubsectors currently largely under-covered by African NDCs.

At the same time, they commit to investing in early warning systems based on modern digital infrastructure. They actively support the International Platform on Adaptation Metrics (IPAM), led by the AAA Initiative Foundation, to support the implementation of the Abu DhabiBelem Program.

This platform will develop robust methodologies and indicators tailored to African agricultural realities, to ensure rigorous assessment of progress and strengthen the credibility of their actions.

As regards strategic partnerships, the officials reaffirm their commitment to strengthening intra-African and international cooperation. They likewise call for ambitious public-private partnerships and for intensifying South-South and triangular cooperation, welcoming synergies with the FAST Partnership, the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), the Abidjan Initiative, and the three African Climate Commissions from the Marrakech SummitCongo Basin, Sahel Region, and Island Statesto advance a coherent and ambitious continental strategy.

Ten years after its launch, the AAA Initiative has established itself as a strategic lever for transforming African agriculture in the face of climate change. In this momentum, Ministers of Agriculture and representatives of international and regional institutions commit to mobilizing their full political will to achieve modern, inclusive, resilient, and high-performing agriculture, capable of feeding populations, preserving resources, and supporting territorial prosperity.

On the eve of COP31, and in view of the Rome event on September 16, 2026, they reaffirm their commitment alongside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and call on the international community to honor its commitments with ambition and solidarity.

On the same occasion, the officials praised the ongoing efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco and the visionary commitment of King Mohammed VI in favor of sustainable, inclusive, and sovereign African agriculture.
Michigan Program Offers Free Mental Health Training

Wayne State University and the Islamic Center of Detroit launch MIOSHA-funded safety sessions for construction and general industry workers.

Wayne State University has partnered with the Islamic Center of Detroit to launch a mental health awareness program specifically designed for the construction sector and other Michigan industries.

The initiative, titled Awareness Training on Mental Health in the Construction and Other Industries in Michigan, provides workers and management with tools to identify and mitigate psychological distress in the workplace. The program is funded by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) Consultation Education and Training Division.

Participants can choose between traditional in-person lectures or live webinars. A self-paced online version is also available for specific cases. The curriculum, which runs between 2.5 and 3 hours, includes a PowerPoint presentation, assessments and a feedback survey.

The course addresses the physical and economic impacts of mental health challenges. Organizers noted that excessive stress and adverse workplace conditions can lead to depression, substance abuse and decreased productivity. The training focuses on developing resilience and implementing countermeasures to alleviate these issues.

The program is open to construction workers, safety managers, site superintendents and general employees. Because the training is sponsored by MIOSHA, there is no cost to attend. All participants receive a certificate upon completion of the session.

Those seeking more information may contact project leads Tarik Najib or Mumtaz Usmen via Wayne State University.
New energy projects face up to four-year waits just to connect to the grid, with permitting now taking as long as actual construction.

The global energy crisis could be fomenting a massive surge of clean energy tech adoption and innovation as countries around the world scramble to replace the fossil fuel imports they typically depend on. Thanks to the lengthy closure of the Strait of Hormuz  Tehran's response to the United States' and Israel's attack on Iran  the cost of oil and gas has skyrocketed in global markets as competition heats up over increasingly scarce supplies. This market shock is providing fresh incentive for a rapid clean energy transition, as home-grown solar and wind power are comparatively affordable, and, critically, are not vulnerable to the same geopolitical threats.

The timing could not be better in terms of global decarbonization targets. But while a wave of clean energy tech advances is absolutely critical for the world's chances at getting on track to meet mid-century climate goals, there is massive inertia baked into energy policy at all levels, threatening to kneecap the sector's transformative potential. Energy executives are therefore begging world leaders to cut back on excessive red tape in order to let critical clean energy innovations hit the market faster.

The level of technology that we have access to is always changing, Kyle Clark, president and CEO of BETA Technologies, recently told Semafor, a nonpartisan news outlet. The next step, ironically, is to continue to expand our regulatory acceptance of new technologies. The physics work. We just need the regulation to really get these things out.

Energy and tech leaders have been making similar pleas for years. The issue isn't just with new and emerging technologies that have to prove their efficacy and reliability in order to get policy approval. Issues with permitting are also plaguing well-established clean energy sectors, such as the solar and wind power industries. The gears of progress are often jammed by a convoluted web of separate approvals required from local, state, interstate, and federal authorities, stated a June 2024 report from Deloitte. As a result, new energy providers can expect a four-year wait just to connect to the grid. In fact, a different 2024 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that it often takes as long or longer to obtain permits and licenses for large-scale renewable energy projects as it does to build them.

Set OilPrice.com as a preferred source in Google here

Reflecting the scale of this issue, the EIA analysis also found that the COP 28's Consensus goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade is only feasible if world governments cut down on lengthy permitting processes. And there is already proof that this approach is extremely effective. Germany saw its new installations of wind and solar power nearly double from 2022 to 2023, driven by a policy shift that sought to streamline the approval process.

Permitting is one of the silver bullets of the energy transition, said SolarPower Europe's Jonathan Bonadio. When we get the paperwork and bureaucratic procedures right, solar and renewables will have a true fighting chance.

There is, however, some concern that energy tech startups may be too eager to slash regulations in the name of disruption. As Silicon Valley gets more involved in nuclear energy startups, for example, industry insiders are starting to get nervous about a new wave of disregard for traditional safety and oversight proceedings. This attitude seems to be catching  the Trump administration is also eager to do away with many of the regulations that keep the domestic nuclear sector rigorous in its safety proceedings  and which, indeed, keep it moving at a snail's pace.

The regulatory environment needs to expand and adapt to fast moving cleantech startups with radical propositions that could change the way we live and consume energy, reports Semafor. But striking the right balance between deregulation and critical protections of public safety and public interest will be paramount to the success of the recently reinvigorated global clean energy transition  no mean feat in a political and geopolitical era characterized by conflict and stratification.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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The voluntary carbon market (VCM) covers less than one-half percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It remains very small after many years of development and reform.

It is recovering from a downturn after press revelations of overproduction of credits in Indonesia and elsewhere. The quality of credits, their actual accounting for removal or avoidance of 1 metric ton per credit, is a constant concern.

Yet this small market plays an important niche role in testing methods and technologies. And it might become increasingly important as it integrates more closely with the mandatory or compliance markets that many countries now plan to adopt.

Compliance markets take on various forms: cap-and-trade, carbon tax, project-based, etcetera. They now cover 23 percent of global GHG emissions, according to a recent report by the nonprofit International Emissions Trading Association (IETA).

Regional, national, and subnational compliance are expected to continue expanding worldwide, eventually operating in some way in most countries. Their appeal to governments lay in their proven capacity to produce revenue while counting toward nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the UN climate framework.

As their expansion continues they will likely stimulate growth of the VCM, as they accept VCM credits and propel innovation.

Market snapshot

A recent report by AlliedOffsets, a UK-based data and market intelligence provider, reveals some of markets inner workings,

The report, Voluntary Carbon Market 2025 Review, Emerging Trends for 2026, is assembled from a comprehensive database that tracks more than 36,000 projects. Its sources include the four carbon registries that dominate the market: Verra, Gold Standard, American Carbon Registry (ACR), and Climate Action Reserve (CAR).

The report tracks retirement of credits when companies that have purchased credits count them against their emissions in reporting on climate goals. It also tracks offtakes, which are pre-purchase of credits from planned projects not yet developed.

It's a significant part of the market because companies buying via offtake are typically doing so because they can't find the credits they need on the spot market, says Anton Root, Co-founder and Head of Research for Allied Offsets.

Such credits are usually generated from emerging technologies like direct air capture (DAC) or from forests planned to be planted.

For project developers, offtakes are a useful mechanism to get up-front purchasing commitment, which they can then use to start the project, says Root. The offtake also allows them to raise additional capital more easily, as they can show demand for future credits.

Costly technical credits

According to the AlliedOffsets report, the total measure of the VCM in 2025 was $10.4 bn, including the value of retired credits taken out of circulation and announced offtake transactions for future credits.

The report covers many kinds of credits under the general categories nature-based and technical. Nature-based projects include forest conservation projects, while technical projects involve carbon dioxide removal (CDR) through technologies such as direct air capture of CO2.

Technical credits, which are the most expensive in the market, some upwards of $500 per credit, are increasing in number. This is in part the result of project developers now putting their projects onto registries after years of R&D and pilot development.

DAC prices, which are the highest of all credits, are falling, which could indicate there is progress in CDR technologies, perhaps anticipating technical breakthroughs.

Anton Root thinks its plausible. As the technologies are starting to scale up, the price per ton of technical credits is starting to come down slowly, he says.

But the weighted average price of credits is creeping up a little bit over the past year, reflecting an increased willingness of some buyers to pay for more expensive credits.

He notes that companies' purchases of CDR credits is a form of investing in clean tech.

It is important for the development of clean tech, especially so for DAC where the carbon credits are a key source of revenue for the projects, he says.

Among the top buyers of carbon credits are energy companies including oil majors, while Microsoft is by far the largest buyer of technical credits. Related: Europe's Rooftop Solar Orders Triple As Gas Prices Surge

UN units

The carbon market landscape is a patchwork of systems. Compliance markets are governed by national and regional policies. The VCM is a fragmented collection of initiatives.

One factor that could forge these into a more unified global market is Article 6 of the 2015 UN Climate Accord. This part of the Paris Agreement has advanced in recent COP summits and is coming into effect now.

Article 6.2 governs bilateral trade between governments to count for or against NDCs. Private groups may also enter bilateral trades to meet compliance obligations. This trade must be carefully managed under national administrative frameworks and UN rules that guard against double-counting of emissions reductions.

The Article 6.2 Emissions Reductions (A6.2ERs) are units known as Internationally Traded Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) when traded internationally with corresponding adjustments to countries NDCs.

This trade is already underway. An early trade occurred when Switzerland entered into agreements with Ghana and Thailand, which authorized the transfer of cross-border carbon credits. In Ghana, a Swiss foundation is supporting a cookstove project and an electric bike startup.

Article 6.4 creates a central crediting mechanism, the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) for carbon projects, with its own registry operated under the UN framework.

An Article 6.4 rulebook was finalized at the recent COP30 summit in Brazil. The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism ERs (PACM ERs), are tradeable units also known as ITMOs among countries. But they are subject to a UN Supervisory Body to ensure that standards and methodologies maintain high environmental integrity.

Article 6.4 should not be understood as a single global trading platform, says Kutalmis Ersoy, a markets expert with Correggio Consulting in Brussels.

Instead, it establishes an UN-regulated global carbon market framework, with a central registry and governance system that enables internationally transferable credits to be issued, authorised, tracked, and used across borders.

In that sense, it functions as a global backbone for carbon crediting and trading, rather than a standalone exchange, he says.

Ersoy notes there is still no officially announced go-live date for project listings, issuance, or large-scale trading, so broader market activity under Article 6.4 will unfold gradually through 2026.

Going global

Carbon market advocates want to unite the fragmented voluntary market and push it into closer integration with compliance markets. They want to create something like a global commodity market for carbon with integrated markets, standards, and prices.

This could maximize the capacity of the markets to reduce GHGs. But it will require much more than the UNs efforts alone.

Mark Lewis, Partner & Managing Director of Climate Finance Partners LLC, provides helpful analysis in the IETA Greenhouse Gas Market Report (2025).

He writes that Article 6 credits will drive convergence of the project-based VCM and compliance markets if allowed into the EUs Emissions Trading System (ETS), which is by far the largest compliance market in the world.

Its a controversial matter currently under discussion by EU officials considering acceptance of Article 6 ITMOs to meet the Blocs 2040 climate target (90 percent net GHG emission reduction relative to 1990 levels).

A provisional EU decision accepts very high-quality international credits equivalent to 5 percent of (base year 1990) emissions but debate is ongoing. Environmentalists argue against it, fearing the international credits will diminish European industries incentive to lower GHGs.

Lewis argues that the A6 credits should be allowed into the ETS, as well as industry schemes such as airlines mandatory CORSIA, because their large buyer pools will greatly enhance the market for them.

And because the A6 credits count directly toward the Paris Agreement goals, their inclusion in large compliance markets will make them the main instruments of global carbon trade, with all of the market efficiencies that will bring.

"Given that there is no other instrument that can act as a glue between the worlds various carbon markets in this way, how quickly the A6 market scales is crucial to the future health of the global carbon market more generally," he writes.

What the EU decides regarding the admissibility of A6 credits under its 2040 target will be decisive.

A VCM niche

Andrew Cullen, founder of Axis Green, a corporate sustainability advisor based in Abu Dhabi, sees an inevitable expansion of compliance markets with a small but potentially important role for the voluntary market.

The voluntary carbon market has never really gained scale and high levels of liquidity precisely because it's voluntary, he says. After all, if taxes are voluntary will companies pay taxes?

He thinks it is a market for a few companies, tech companies, and others with big budgets, to pursue voluntary climate objectives. But as compliance markets expand, the incentives for buying carbon credits will change.

If CORSIA approved credits for the aviation sector are trading at, say, $15 a ton, and there are more costly credits with a lot of social and environmental benefit selling for $100 a ton, its obvious what an airline will buy, he says.

It will turn the logic of the voluntary market on its head because companies under mandatory schemes will ask why they should pay above and beyond.

But the voluntary market will not disappear and indeed will grow as compliance markets expand.

It will take time but compliance markets will become much bigger, he says. Then we might see corporates that want above and beyond credits for their public relations or any number of reasons and theyll buy from projects with more investment going into them.

So as compliance expands it will drag the volumes in the voluntary market up with it.

This implies a need to focus on the structure of compliance markets.

To really increase demand requires more than just cap-and-trade schemes, he says. It requires having project-based credits incorporated into these schemes.

But it will be interesting to see what happens.

By Alan Mammoser for Oilprice.com

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By Eldaniz Gusseinov, Rassul Kospanov

The PakistanAfghanistan war has accelerated Kabul's economic reorientation toward Central Asia, a structural shift that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have moved most visibly to institutionalize. Less visible, but strategically consequential, is the parallel track that Russia has been constructing through the Republic of Tatarstan. Over the course of 2024 and 2025, Tatarstan has signed memoranda worth US$ 183 million with Afghan private-sector counterparts, doubled bilateral trade to US$ 51 million in the first eleven months of 2025, and prepared a trilateral RussiaTurkmenistanAfghanistan transport corridor agreement for signature at KazanForum 2026. The pattern suggests that Moscow has delegated a substantial component of its Afghan engagement to a subnational actor as a calibrated instrument of paradiplomacy, a model that carries implications for how external powers compete for position in the emerging trans-Afghan corridor system.

BACKGROUND:

Tatarstan's suitability as Moscow's Afghan channel rests on a combination of confessional, communal, and institutional factors that no other Russian federal subject combines. The republic's Islamic identity provides a register of communication with the Taliban authorities that federal Russian institutions cannot easily replicate.

Kazan hosts the annual RussiaIslamic World: KazanForum, which since 2023 has carried federal status and functions as one of the few large-format venues where Taliban officials are received. An additional advantage is the presence of a historically established Tatar diaspora in Afghanistan. A notable Tatar community has lived in the country since the nineteenth century, having been formed largely by merchants and trading intermediaries from the Russian Empire who gradually settled in Afghan cities and integrated into local society.

Today, descendants of this diaspora are concentrated primarily in the northern provinces of Balkh, Samangan, and Baghlan, providing Kazan with an important human infrastructure for engagement that predates the events of 2021. In March 2021, the Afghan government formally recognized "Tatar" as a nationality category in civil documentation, which anchored the community's relationship with Kazan more durably than informal ties had previously allowed.

The institutional architecture developed in parallel. In 2023, a Russian business center affiliated with the Kazan-based Charitable Patriotic Fund of Muslims opened in Kabul. Russia became the first country to open a business representative office in Afghanistan after August 2021.

Tatarstani firms entered the market before the federal center had resolved the legal status of the Taliban movement, which remained on Russia's list of banned organizations until April 2025, when the Supreme Court suspended the ban and Russia became the first state to formally recognize the government in Kabul.

During that pre-recognition period, Tatarstan's engagement operated in a space that federal diplomacy could not formally occupy, and the institutional relationships established during those years have persisted after recognition.

As CEO of the Charitable Patriotic Foundation of Muslims of Russia, Rustam Khabibullin headed the business representative office. Even before the Taliban movement came to power, the patriotic foundation of Muslims had maintained relations with Afghanistan, in particular with Afghans of Tatar origin. Trade volumes reflect the accumulated weight of this engagement.

TatarstanAfghanistan commerce doubled in the first eleven months of 2025 to US$ 51 million, accounting for roughly 10 percent of total RussianAfghan trade. Tatarstan exports petroleum products, grain, KAMAZ trucks, and specialized equipment; Afghanistan exports dried fruits and minerals.

In May 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar led an Afghan delegation to Kazan for meetings with Rais Rustam Minnikhanov and federal ministers.

In August 2025, a Tatarstani delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Korobchenko travelled to Kabul, the first regional Russian delegation of such standing to visit in the post-2021 period.

IMPLICATIONS:

The paradiplomatic model offers Moscow operational flexibility that formal diplomacy cannot match, even after recognition. Industrial cooperation, equipment supplies, and energy projects can be advanced through Kazan without elevating every transaction to state-to-state protocol.

The confessional and historical background that Tatarstan brings to the engagement is quite unique. Recognition has regularized the legal environment without altering the functional logic that made Kazan the preferred channel in the first place.

The federal center has therefore continued to route substantial engagement through the republic rather than absorbing the Afghan file fully into the standard Ministry of Foreign Affairs framework.

This model also has historical precedents. During the Soviet period, Moscow often used Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as showcase republics of the Soviet East  modernized Muslim-majority regions meant to demonstrate the compatibility of socialism with development, secular governance, and industrial progress.

Tashkent in particular hosted Afro-Asian conferences and served as a symbolic bridge to the decolonizing world, while Kazakhstan projected an image of industrial modernity and frontier development. In this sense, the current use of Tatarstan as Russias preferred Afghan channel reflects not an innovation, but a revival of an older practice: governing external peripheries through carefully selected internal Muslim intermediaries.

The trilateral TatarstanTurkmenistanAfghanistan transport corridor scheduled for signature at KazanForum 2026 in May represents the most consequential element of this architecture. The route is conceived as an alternative to the International North-South Transport Corridor, whose Iranian segment has been disrupted by regional conflict.

Nuruddin Azizi, the Afghan Minister of Industry and Trade, has been one of the driving forces behind the project from Afghanistan, and Oleg Korobchenko, Tatarstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, has overseen the Tatarstani component through regular meetings with the Afghan side. First shipments are planned from Tatarstan. Khabibullin has identified Afghanistan as Tatarstan's leading importer of halal-certified goods. In 2024, companies in Tatarstan exported US$ 37 million worth of halal products to Afghanistan. This figure is 20 times higher than in 2023.

If the corridor materializes, it will deepen Russian participation in the trans-Afghan railway architecture that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have been actively advancing. Uzbekistan's project, which runs from Termez through Mazar-i-Sharif toward South Asian ports via the Salang Pass. Kazakhstan's alternative route, with approximately US$ 500 million committed including a logistics hub in Herat, follows the technically simpler TurgundiHeratKandaharSpin Boldak corridor across western Afghanistan.

A parallel track runs through Uzbekistan's Surkhandarya region, where the Aritom free economic zone in Termez borders Afghanistan and offers multimodal logistics including rail, road, and river port. At the RussiaUzbekistan interregional conference held in Termez in autumn 2026, Tatarstani and Surkhandarya officials advanced a cooperation framework covering industrial localization, agro-processing, and transit through Aritom toward Afghan and broader South Asian markets. The Uzbek side has positioned the zone as a 250-million-consumer gateway; Tatarstan's two industrial parks at Chirchik and Jizzakh, where more than half of resident firms are Russian, provide a productive base that can be articulated with the transit infrastructure at Termez. The architecture allows Russian exports to reach Afghan markets either through the Turkmen corridor or through Uzbek infrastructure, which diversifies the operational risk inherent in a single route.

Energy and resource cooperation extends the model further. At the Tatarstan Oil and Gas Chemical Forum, the Taliban's acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri publicly invited Tatarstani firms to invest in Afghan hydrocarbon projects, while the acting Minister of Energy and Water Resources Abdul Latif Mansur proposed Tatarstani participation in the Panjshir-to-Kabul water transfer project. Memoranda on exploration, extraction, and processing of oil and gas were signed in Kazan in 2025, and KER-Holding has advanced proposals for coal-fired power generation in Afghanistan. This is a role that China lost when its oil extraction project in northern Afghanistan was cancelled, and which Kazakhstan is now beginning to contest through Kazatomprom's and Kazakhmys's exploration activities in Laghman.

The labor migration track, opened in late 2025, adds a further dimension. Kabul has formally proposed directing Afghan labor migrants to Tatarstan, with an initial cohort of approximately 1,000 workers for the agricultural sector and potential expansion across industries. This inverts the direction of the Afghan exodus of the 20212024 period and establishes a formal channel through which Afghan labor enters Russia via a subnational agreement, a configuration that the federal labor migration framework has not previously accommodated.

The limits of the model are also visible. Banking infrastructure remains the principal operational constraint. Rustam Khabibullin has publicly identified transaction commissions of approximately 30 percent as a substantial barrier to RussiaAfghanistan commercial settlement and has proposed that Russia develop an international payments system modelled on hawala for transactions with member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Nur Ahmad Agha, the chairman of Da Afghanistan Bank, is expected to attend the first congress of OIC national bank representatives at KazanForum 2026, which has been identified as the venue for this discussion. Without a payments architecture that can absorb Afghan transactions at scale, the trade volumes reported will remain concentrated in a narrow band of fuel, grain, and equipment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Tatarstan's Afghan engagement is neither a humanitarian gesture nor a purely commercial venture. It is the operational layer of Russian policy in a region where the confessional and communal dimensions of the relationship carry weight that standard diplomatic instruments cannot supply.

Russia's formal recognition of the Taliban government in April 2025 regularized the legal environment without displacing the Tatarstani channel, because the republic's combination of Islamic identity, a diaspora community in northern Afghanistan, an institutional platform in KazanForum, and a productive industrial base constitutes an instrument that no federal subject of Russia could replicate.

The trilateral corridor agreement prepared for May 2026 and the parallel track through Surkhandarya indicate that the model is scaling from bilateral commerce toward regional transit infrastructure. Whether Tatarstan's engagement consolidates into a durable Russian presence in Afghanistan will depend on the resolution of payment-system constraints and on whether Moscow formalizes the paradiplomatic arrangement through a trade representation in Kabul.

The broader significance lies in what the case illustrates: in the northward reorientation of Afghanistan that began with the closure of the Pakistani corridor, external powers are not only competing through state-level instruments but through the subnational channels that carry confessional, communal, and industrial advantages.

AUTHORS BIO:

Eldaniz Gusseinov is Head of Research and o-founder at the political foresight agency Nightingale Int. and a non-resident research fellow at Haydar Aliyev Center for Eurasian Studies of the Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul. Rassul Kospanov is a Senior Researcher at the National Analytical Center under Nazarbayev University, where he coordinates socio-political research projects and prepares analytical reports and policy recommendations for central and local government bodies. His work focuses on political processes in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia, as well as issues of regional cooperation.
Faced with the second energy crisis this decade, the European Union aims to reduce dependence on natural gas, coordinate gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel supplies, and accelerate renewable energy capacity installations.

The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled proposals aimed at protecting Europeans from the fossil energy crisis and accelerating the shift to clean, homegrown energy.

For the second time in less than five years, Europeans are paying the price of Europe's dependency on imported fossil fuels, the Commission says.

The new measures are designed to offer immediate relief to households and industries while addressing long-term dependencies, such as on gas for power generation.

Since the Iran war began at the end of February, the EU has spent an additional $28 billion (24 billion euros) on energy imports due to higher prices  without receiving a single extra molecule of energy, the European Commission said.

The current geopolitical situation is a stark reminder that accelerating the transition to clean, secure and affordable energy is an economic and security imperative.

Immediate Measures

As a large part of the Middle Eastern oil and fuel supplies remains trapped at the Strait of Hormuz, the EU is accelerating coordination among all member states to ensure the availability of jet fuel and diesel, including the availability of oil refinery production capacities.

The bloc will also establish a new Fuel Observatory to track EU production, imports, exports, and stock levels of transport fuels, to quickly identify potential shortages and balance fuel distribution in case of emergency stock releases.

Support for vulnerable households and emergency measures to support the industries most exposed to the energy price spike are also part of the measures to ease the blow from the energy crisis. This is Europes second such crisis in four years, after 2022, when the collapsed Russian pipeline deliveries triggered a cost-of-living crisis and made many EU-based energy-intensive industries uncompetitive.

The Commission will also present a legislative proposal on network charges and taxation, ensuring electricity is taxed less than fossil fuels. This is to incentivize more power generation from domestic renewable sources that could replace some of the gas-fueled power supply whose costs spiked as Qatars LNG went offline in early March and resulted in soaring natural gas prices in Europe and Asia.

Related: UK Fund Targets $20 Billion for Clean Energy in Developing Economies

The immediate measures could ease some of the burden, especially on households, and potentially redistribute jet fuel supplies, which industry and analysts say are at risk of shortages within weeks.

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.

Airports industry group ACI Europe welcomed the EUs new fuel supply coordination mechanism.

No airport in Europe is currently facing jet fuel shortages, and flight operations are proceeding normally, said Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe.

But the plan adopted today is the adequate strategy and response to mitigate potential jet fuel shortage risks, given how uncertain the situation remains over the resumption of the safe and stable passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Preparing for the Long Term

Exposed to a geopolitical shock and a new war that hiked energy prices once again, the EU is doubling down on accelerating the shift to homegrown clean energy to replace oil, gas and fossil transport fuels.

The Commission aims to unveil an Electrification Action Plan by the summer, it said in the actions proposed on Wednesday. The plan will include an ambitious electrification target and measures to remove barriers to the electrification of the industrial, transport, and building sectors.

It is vital to speed up investment in the clean energy transition now, not least to break EU dependence on fossil fuels and make the EU resilient to future energy crises, the Commission said.

Member States that have already invested in the clean energy transition are reaping the benefits, with electricity prices generally below the EU average.

The true impact of the current crisis is long term, evolving, and unpredictable, Dan Jrgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, said.

As we cannot predict everything, we must be prepared for anything, Jrgensen noted.

We will coordinate more and better to secure supplies. We will seek to maximise existing refining capacity in Europe, and look into our rules on strategic and emergency stocks, to see if more can be done, the commissioner said.

Yet, Jrgensen acknowledged that Europe needs to accelerate investment and attract much more private investment that it urgently needs to boost power infrastructure with more connections, more storage capacity, and more flexibility.

The Commission sees the Middle East crisis as a wake-up call and a turning point  when Europe steps away from fossil fuel dependence, and steps towards clean energy autonomy, Jrgensen said.

Because now it is more obvious than ever  clean energy means security, the official added.

In the future, instead of buying something and burning it to get energy, and then buying it again, we need to produce our own, homegrown, clean energy.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Russian oil has reportedly started to flow once again through the Druzhba pipeline to the European Union after months of a blockage in Ukraine. At the same time, Russia is reportedly halting the flow of Kazakh oil via Druzhba to Germany as of May 1, an action that some regional experts describe as an attempt at geoeconomic retaliation.

According to Kazakh officials, Russia is claiming that a lack of technical capability is forcing Moscow to halt Kazakh shipments via Druzba, the KazTag news agency reported April 22. This is most likely due to the recent attacks on Russian infrastructure, KazTag quoted Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov as saying.

The minister confirmed that there will be zero transit of Kazakh oil in May to the Russian city of Samara, the nearest node of the Druzhba network. Kazakh oil shipments could resume in June, provided the technical issues can be resolved. Russia has not officially confirmed the cutoff.

A cutoff of Kazakh oil shipments threatens to disrupt operations at a German refinery that is a vital supplier for the German capital Berlin, according to a report published by the German news agency Deutsche Welle (DW).

Akkenzhenov said the Druzhba cutoff will not cause Kazakhstan to reduce overall oil production this year, KazTag reported. Other top Kazakh officials have downplayed the significance of Druzhba for Kazakh oil exports. The overwhelming majority of Kazakh oil is exported via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium route, which has been hit by repeated Ukrainian drone attacks in recent months.

Russia historically has used its control of pipelines as an instrument of geopolitical pressure. This news [the Kazakh cutoff] illustrates, once again, that Russia will retain the ability to threaten European energy security until all imports from and through Russia have stopped, DW quoted a regional energy expert, Benjamin Hilgenstock, as saying.

The southern branch of the Druzhba route originates in Russia and travels through Ukraine to reach Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. A northern branch traverses Belarus to deliver oil to Poland and Germany.

Druzhbas southern branch was damaged and stopped pumping oil in January. Ukraine blamed a Russian drone strike for the disruption, while Russian and Hungarian officials accused Ukraine of sabotage. Reports have circulated that oil will once again flow via the southern branch on April 22. The news comes shortly after the downfall of Viktor Orbans authoritarian government in Hungary. Orbans government was widely seen as an obstacle to EU assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. The resumption of Druzhba operations should unblock a planned EU 90-billion-euro aid package for Kyiv.

Druzhba means friendship in English. But the Kazakh cutoff can only be interpreted as a hostile gesture towards Germany.

By Eurasianet

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If U.S. President Donald Trump had already succeeded in his real core aim of changing the regime in Iran, the world would very different today  and Washingtons leverage over Beijing and Moscow would have expanded dramatically. A pro?West Iran, led by a government aligned with Washington, would control the vital Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el?Mandeb Strait, which together account for up to 45% of global oil flows. And with Washington directing the strategic framework, China would not continue receiving discounted Iranian oil if a major security crisis suddenly emerged. Washingtons strong relationships with other key oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers in the region would also make it extremely difficult for China to source or transport energy from the wider Middle East. Beijing would be forced to fall back on Russian supplies  but if those had been further reduced by sanctions or by direct attacks from Ukraine or European powers as part of an expanded Russia?Ukraine conflict, Chinas fallback options would be limited. In short, Beijings ability to project power across the Asia?Pacific  beginning with its long?planned repatriation of Taiwan  would be significantly constrained. As it stands, Trump has not been able to engineer regime change in Iran, as he did in Venezuela, and it appears unlikely he will be able to do so. However, other elements of his three?tier strategy for a new global order have begun to take shape.

This emerging world order would likely be divided into three main spheres, as Trump has suggested on several occasions since his first term. His administrations 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), along with recent public statements, reflects this tripolar vision  with the U.S. maintaining overall dominance and exerting direct influence across North and South America. China would hold the primary role in Asia, while Russia would either dominate or significantly influence Europe, depending on how any future conflict between European NATO members and Moscow unfolds. The [U.S.] administration -- even the current one -- would prefer to deal with Europe, and so is Trump, despite what hes said in recent weeks, but hes happy enough to keep dealing with [Russian President, Vladimir] Putin if he needs to, a senior source closely connected to the European Commissions (E.C.) security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. This view [of the world split into three zones but with the U.S. still the leading superpower] is why Trumps been keen to annex the bits he wants from elsewhere -- such as Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal -- before he focuses on the Americas, he said. It also aligns with several of his speeches where he said America shouldnt keep fighting endless wars and should stop trying to maintain its role as the worlds policeman [analysed in depth in my latest book on the new global oil market order], he added. But, if theres rising tensions between the U.S. and China, as he [Trump] thinks there will be, he wants to ensure that the U.S. and its allies are not at a disadvantage due to energy supplies, as they were last time [after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022], he underlined.

Related: StanChart: $95 Per Barrel Is The New Oil Price Equilibrium

In the aftermath of the 24 February 2022 invasion, energy prices spiked as Russian supplies fell, causing months of economic disruption. Worse still from the U.S. perspective  a view shared by longstanding allies Great Britain and France  was that much of Europe, most notably its de facto political and economic leader Germany, had become so dependent on cheap and plentiful Russian energy that it was extremely reluctant to sanction the Kremlin, as also detailed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. This dynamic had been evident since Russias invasion of the sovereign European country Georgia in 2008 and its annexation of Ukraines Crimea region in 2014. Washington, London, and Paris believed that Europes reluctance to act after those earlier events effectively convinced Putin he could move into the rest of Ukraine without facing meaningful consequences. Conversely, Putin waited to launch the 2022 invasion until after the Beijing Winter Olympics ended on 20 February, avoiding disruption to Chinese President Xi Jinpings major international showcase. And with almost supernatural foresight, China had spent the previous year steadily building up its LNG reserves, insulating itself from any immediate energy shock once the conflict began. After Russia moved into Ukraine in 2022, LNG became the worlds most strategically important energy source. Unlike pipelined gas, LNG can be purchased quickly on the open market and shipped rapidly to wherever it is needed, making it the critical buffer for countries scrambling to replace disrupted Russian supplies.

After the invasion, the U.S. not only coordinated major deals between major LNG producers  notably Qatar  and European countries to offset the loss of Russian energy supplies, but also sharply increased its own LNG exports to the continent. By the end of 2022, U.S. export capacity had reached roughly 11.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), making it the worlds leading LNG exporter in the first half of that year. Since then, several major European oil and gas companies have moved aggressively to diversify the regions energy sources through new ventures in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, and elsewhere  developments covered in detail in my latest book on the new global oil market order. Meanwhile, the U.S. has become the worlds leading LNG producer and exporter, rising from a near?standing start in 2016. Today, it remains by far the largest exporter, processing around 18 Bcf/d of natural gas into LNG. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that export capacity will double by 2031 compared with 2024 levels, as new projects such as Venture Globals Plaquemines facility and Chenieres Corpus Christi expansion come fully online. Theres an old phrase: If youve got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow, and Trump knows that controlling energy is the way to do this, said the European Commission source. You saw it when he told the Europeans  when the Strait of Hormuz was closed  that they should just get their energy from the U.S. Thats what this is, he underlined.

The U.S.s growing dominance across global energy markets was underscored again last week when news emerged that Qatar might extend its force majeure on gas supplies beyond mid?June. Several major importers immediately signalled they would consider switching to U.S. LNG instead. Until its key North Dome (or North Field) gas site suffered Iranian missile attacks in March, Qatar had been one of the worlds top LNG producers. Qatari officials now estimate that fully repairing the damage to the North Dome facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City will take three to five years, with significant implications for the emirates LNG export capacity in the meantime. The U.S. is also poised to use LNG leverage in Iraq to reduce Baghdads long?running dependence on Iranian gas and electricity for its power sector. U.S.-based technology and engineering giant KBR is serving as the consultant for Iraqs first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) import platform, scheduled to be operational by June. The facility is designed to handle 500 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of gas, with a technical ceiling of up to 1 Bcf/d. As exclusively analysed by OilPrice.com last year, U.S. firm Excelerate remains central to Washingtons effort not only to sever Iraqs energy, economic, and political ties with Iran, but also to re?establish U.S. influence in Baghdad. Under a five?year renewable agreement with Iraqs Electricity Ministry, Excelerate has a dual mandate: to operate the terminal that converts LNG back into the dry gas required for Iraqs power plants, and to act as the LNG supplier. This effectively allows the company to prioritise U.S. gas and ensure supply reliability amid regional volatility. And in case the strategic significance of this shift was not already clear, Excelerate emphasised it directly in its summary of the deal: The project has been developed in close collaboration with the Iraqi government and enjoys strong support from both Iraqi and U.S. government stakeholders It represents not only a commercial partnership but also a strategic step toward enhancing Iraqs long-term energy security.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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Oil producers in the Middle East would typically rejoice at oil prices of $100 per barrel as they would see windfall revenues from their exports. But since the Iran war trapped most oil and gas shipments at the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf economies have lost billions of dollars in oil revenues and havent seen any upside from the oil price spike.

The United Arab Emirates, one of the richest Gulf countries, hasnt been spared from crashing revenues from oil, and tourism, too, as airlines have cut routes to avoid the war zone, which the entire Middle East has been for eight weeks.

The Trump Administration would help the UAE, one of its closest allies in the region, with liquidity via a currency swap line, if needed, various U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have signaled in recent days.

The UAE has not formally requested any financial assistance and says that Any suggestion that the UAE requires external financial backing misreads the facts.

Yet, a White House official told CNBC that a currency swap, aimed at boosting the U.S. dollar liquidity in the UAE, is something were thinking about considering. Related: Japans Japex To Quadruple Oil and Gas Production, Eyes U.S. Expansion

There isnt any official consideration in Washington and no official request from the UAE, either, but the Trump Administration signals it is ready to help if necessary.

If I could help them, I would, President Trump told CNBCs Squawk Box on Tuesday.

Its been a good country. Its been a good ally of ours, the President added.

Reports emerged earlier this week that the UAE has informally raised the idea with senior U.S. officials.

UAEs Central Bank Governor, Khaled Mohamed Balama, raised the idea of a currency-swap line with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Treasury and Federal Reserve officials in meetings in Washington last week, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, quoting U.S. officials.

The idea has been only pitched as a preliminary and precautionary idea of potential moves, according to the officials who spoke to the Journal.

The UAE on Tuesday dismissed talk that it is in need of financial assistance.

Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, said that Any suggestion that the UAE requires external financial backing misreads the facts.

The UAE is one of the worlds most financially resilient economies, underpinned by more than $2T in sovereign investment assets, more than $300 billion in foreign currency reserves held by the UAE's central bank, and a banking sector with approximately $1.5 trillion in deposits, a statement by Al Otaiba on X says.

Any financial assistance by the U.S. Administration to one of the richest petrostates would not sit well with Trumps political base at home, as the President would be effectively helping fund a foreign country while U.S. gasoline prices surge to over $4 per gallon.

The UAE may not need any aid at all, but it has been hit  directly  by the Middle East war, which has crashed the Gulf petrostates oil revenues and damaged energy assets that would need billions of dollars and months, and even years, to repair.

The UAE last month suspended operations at a key natural gas field in Abu Dhabi, the Shah gas plant, following the first direct attack on a producing field in the country.

The Shah gas field is operated by ADNOC Sour Gas, a joint venture between Abu Dhabis national oil company ADNOC with 60%, and U.S. firm Occidental Petroleum, which holds a 40% share. The Shah gas plant accounts for about 20% of the UAEs total gas supply and 5% of the world's granulated sulfur.

The missed oil and gas revenues for the Gulf producers have been piling up over the past eight weeks.

Two weeks into the war, oil producers in the Arab Gulf were estimated to have already lost at least $15.1 billion in oil and gas revenues.

At the end of week seven, the world had already lost 500 million barrels of oil supply, equal to around $50 billion of oil revenues at an average price of $100 per barrel, around which futures prices have been hovering since February 28.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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In a political climate where bipartisan unity is increasingly rare, a consensus is forming among US lawmakers and foreign policy heavyweights: The relationship between Moscow and Tehran has moved far beyond diplomatic convenience.

Instead, they argue, it has hardened into a transformational military alliance -- a deepening axis that is drastically shaping battlefields in the Middle East and Ukraine.

At a hearing of the Helsinki Commission on April 21, the rhetoric was as sharp as the intelligence reports. Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, didn't mince words, framing the geopolitical struggle as a singular, unified threat.

The United States is not confronting just Iran, but a broader Russia-Iran axis, Wilson declared, arguing the two nations have transitioned from mere partners to a coordinated front, utilizing weapons transfers, intelligence sharing, and sanctions-evasion tactics to systematically dismantle American global leadership.

A 'Transformational' Partnership

The evolution of this bond has been rapid and, for Western observers, alarming.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described the trajectory of the relationship as shifting from turbulent to transactional to transformational.

The catalyst for this final shift? The 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

While the partnership has roots in the post-Soviet era -- beginning with Russian arms sales and the construction of the Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran -- the war in Ukraine flipped the power dynamic. Once the junior partner, Iran has become an indispensable enabler for a Russian military depleted by industrial shortfalls and battlefield losses.

Ilan Berman, senior vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council, says there has been a chilling exchange of assets. Russia, he noted, has materially aided the Iranian regime in its war with the United States and Israel since the two launched air strikes on Iran on February 28.

Russia has provided advice on how many drones to deploy per strike and at what altitudes, Berman, a board member of RFE/RL, said, noting that Iranian attack patterns now closely resemble Russian operations, where waves of drones are used to saturate defenses before precision missiles strike.

This operational know-how is supplemented by upgraded Russian drone components that improve navigation and resistance to electronic jamming -- innovations honed directly against Ukrainian defenses.

The Human Cost Of Coordination

The implications of this axis of upheaval are not merely strategic; they are lethal to American personnel, according to Senator Tom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina.

If Putins responsible for one dead American service member, he might as well be responsible for 5,000, Tillis remarked, highlighting the gravity of the Kremlin's intelligence and satellite data sharing.

In a striking contrast, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, pointed to the bifurcated reality of the modern global conflict. Russia is assisting Iran in targeting American troops, while Ukraine is helping usdefend against those attacks, he said.

Lawmakers repeatedly underscored that Ukraine is no longer just a recipient of aid, but a vital security partner providing a defense innovation cycle that the West is struggling to match.

When the US requested help with drone defense, Ukraine dispatched a team of experts within 24 hours.

Aaron Zelin, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, highlighted Kyivs development of interceptor drones -- a rapid response to the very Iranian-Russian tactics now threatening the Persian Gulf.

However, the urgency felt in Kyiv isn't always mirrored in Washington. Congressman Greg Murphy, a Republican from North Carolina, voiced concerns over the long-term trajectory if Irans capabilities continued to swell.

Can you paint me a picture of Iranin the next five years? Murphy asked, pointing to a regime that knows no boundaries when it comes to human life.

Speaking to RFE/RL, Murphy expressed a hardened stance: Were not believing their lies anymore.... I think as hard as it is, we finally said, No, you cannot do this. You will endanger the entire world.

A Common Fight

The consensus from the hearing was clear: The era of viewing Russia as a potential partner in containing Iran is over. The two are now inextricably linked.

The Kremlin cannot be counted on as a partner, Berman warned, urging policymakers to recognize that "success or failure on one front will inevitably shape others."

While internal politics in Washington remain divided, the threat of this authoritarian coordination has sparked a rare moment of bipartisan unity.

As the hearing concluded, the message to the administration and the public was singular: Ukraine is the front line of a much larger global struggle.

Ukraine is the tip of the spear, Berman concluded. Russia may have begun with Ukraine, but it wont end there.



By RFE/RL

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Canadas pledge to contribute 23.6 million barrels of oil to the International Energy Agencys coordinated release will add little new supply to an already tight market because the volumes are not incremental, BMO Capital Markets said in an interview with Bloomberg, adding that the barrels in question were coming from production growth that was already in motion before the Iran-driven disruption.

Its not really a function of whats happening in Iran or any request from the federal government to say, what can we contribute to this, Randy Ollenberger, head of oil and gas research at BMO said.

Unlike the United States or Japan, Canada does not hold a strategic petroleum reserve, so it cannot release stored crude in response to a supply shock. What it is offering instead is output that was already scheduled to come online this year.

BMOs Randy Ollenberger put it plainly: these barrels are tied to projects that were underway well before the current crisis. They are not the result of a policy decision to increase production in response to the Strait of Hormuz disruption or the broader Middle East supply loss. In other words, these were barrels the market already called for prior to the crisis.

That doesnt even touch on the fact that Canada is entering spring maintenance, when oil sands operators take planned outages that reduce production to seasonal lows. Those maintenance programs are set years in advance and are difficult to shift on short notice. Cenovus, one of the countrys largest producers, has already indicated it will not alter its schedule in response to the current crisis.

Pipeline capacity is already maxed out. Even if production ticks higher, theres nowhere for those extra barrels to go. No spare takeaway, no quick fix.

So the headline number lines up with the IEAs 400 million barrel release, but the impact doesnt. Canada isnt suddenly flooding the market. Its just continuing on the same path, with the same constraints.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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HSBC has issued its second downgrade for Indian equities in a month citing the impact of the oil crunch caused by the war in the Middle East on the Asian powerhouse.

India now looks less attractive than North East Asian peers in the current macro setting, the banks analysts said in a note today, as quoted by Reuters. They added that oil and gas supply was expected to remain tight during the second and third quarters of this year, extending pressure on Indian corporates.

Brent crude has gained 42% since the United States and Israel first struck Iran at the end of February. The international benchmark this week again topped $100 per barrel amid a diplomatic stalemate between Tehran and Washington and reports of tanker seizures and a renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

India is the worlds third-largest oil importer and depends on imports for over 85% of its consumption, which makes its economy especially vulnerable to the negative effects of oil shocks.

In the latest evidence of this vulnerability, Indias crude oil imports sank by 13% in March from February as the Iran war crippled Middle Eastern supply that couldnt be offset by record-high Russian oil imports.

India imported a total of 4.5 million barrels per day of crude in March, down by 13% from pre-war levels, according to shipping and industry sources' data cited by Reuters earlier this week. Middle Eastern supply to India plunged by 61% to 1.18 million barrels per day last month, while Russian supply almost doubled from February to 2.25 million barrels per day in March, thanks to the U.S. waiver on purchases of Russian crude thats already loaded on tankers.

Indias Russian crude imports are set to remain at near record-high levels in April, too, after the U.S. Treasury Department this weekend extended the waiver for an additional two weeks until mid-May.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have created the largest energy security threat the world has ever faced, Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), told CNBC on Thursday.

We are facing the biggest energy security threat in history, Birol told CNBC, building on the IEAs assessment at the start of the war that the Middle East war is creating the biggest supply disruption in the history of the oil market.

As of today, weve lost 13 million barrels per day of oil ... and there are major disruptions in vital commodities, Birol told CNBC today.

The IEA-coordinated record emergency release of 400 million barrels of oil stocks last month cannot offset the massive supply loss.

This is only helping to reduce the pain, it will not be a cure, Birol said early this month on the In Good Company podcast hosted by Nicolai Tangen, the CEO of Norways sovereign wealth fund, the worlds biggest.

The cure is opening up the Strait of Hormuz, the head of the IEA said at the beginning of April.

The Strait of Hormuz has now been closed for nearly eight consecutive weeks, which has slashed crude supply to refiners, exports of fuels, and feedstocks for petrochemical and fertilizer production.

Earlier this week, Birol said the Middle East war and the crisis at the Strait of Hormuz could redraw the global energy map as the worlds most critical oil chokepoint is no longer seen as a reliable route for oil and gas supply.

The era when the global economy was critically dependent on a single strait is becoming history, Birol told Turkish newspaper Dunya.

Even if everything returns to normal tomorrow, high prices and volatility in the markets will persist for a long time.

The IEA estimated in its monthly report last week that global oil supply plunged by 10.1 million barrels per day (bpd) to 97 million bpd in March, due to attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East and ongoing restrictions to tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday requested cooperation from the world's top crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, in expanding energy deliveries to Japan amid the ongoing supply crunch.

In a telephone call with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today, Takaichi expressed her appreciation for Saudi Arabia's continued supply of crude oil to Japan via Yanbu Port even after the outbreak of the situation, and requested cooperation toward the expansion of energy supply to Japan, the office of the Japanese PM said in a statement.

The Saudi ruler expressed Saudi Arabia's intention to respond positively in order to ensure energy supply to markets including Japan, the Asian G-7 economy said.

Resource-poor Japan is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil supply and felt the supply crunch almost immediately as most supplies from the region remained trapped at the Strait of Hormuz unable to pass through the world's most critical oil and LNG chokepoint.

Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman also told the Japanese PM that he would continue to cooperate with Japan to stabilize the situation, including ensuring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Japan said today.

Japan, which depends on Middle Eastern oil supply for about 95% of its oil supply, began releasing oil stocks from national reserves at the end of March, as part of the IEA-coordinated record-high release of 400 million barrels of oil and fuel. Japan is releasing a total of 80 million barrels of oil stocks, including 54 million barrels of crude and 26 million barrels of oil products as part of the IEA's 400-million-barrel release.

Earlier this month, Japan announced it would release another 20 days of worth of oil from reserves beginning next month, with all of these supplies intended for the domestic market.

Japan is also seeking to diversify its crude oil imports and is expected to import 1 million barrels of Mexican crude in July, under an agreement between Takaichi and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, the Nikkei Asia newspaper reported earlier this week.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Phillips 66 has shipped crude oil from Texas to the U.S. East Coast on a foreign-flagged tanker, the first such cargo since Washington waived the Jones Act last month, Kpler ship-tracking data shows.

The Bakken crude was loaded in early April at a Phillips 66 terminal in Beaumont, Texas, onto the Malta-flagged Htm Warrior. The vessel is destined to carry the cargo to the Trainer oil refinery in Pennsylvania, owned by Delta Air Lines subsidiary Monroe Energy.

The long-standing Jones Act requires that cargo moving between U.S. ports travel on vessels that are U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and U.S.-manned, reducing the number of ships available to move crude oil and refined products between domestic ports. It has routinely found itself the subject of intense scrutiny, especially in times of oil scarcity, but the Act has persevered.

The 60-day waiver, signed March 18, temporarily allows foreign-flagged vessels to move oil, gasoline, diesel, and other fuels along U.S. coastal routes in an effort to take at least some pressure off the oil markets amid the current oil crisis.

Kpler data shows no other shipments of U.S. crude have moved between the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast on foreign-flagged vessels since the waiver took effect, according to Bloomberg, although data does show that several cargoes of Middle Eastern crude have moved between U.S. ports on foreign ships over the same period.

Phillips 66 has extensive operations on the Gulf Coast, including storage and marine terminals in Beaumont, where crude oil from inland basins is aggregated before being shipped or refined. The company has access to Bakken supply moving south via pipeline networks into Texas.

The Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania processes light crude into jet fuel, gasoline, and distillates, supplying the Northeast market. The refinery has a nameplate capacity of about 185,000.

The Northeast has limited refining capacity and depends on supply from the Gulf Coast and imports. Jones Act shipping constraints have historically limited the movements of domestic crude along the coast.

The waiver remains in place through mid-May, with no extension announced.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Oil flows from Russia to Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline resumed early on Thursday, Slovakia's Economy Ministry said, as supply via the infrastructure crossing Ukraine was restored after a nearly three-month halt.

Oil supply is currently flowing as per the agreed daily timetable and technical pumping parameters, Slovakia said.

Slovakia and Hungary are the last remaining EU member states receiving crude oil supply via the Druzhba pipeline.

However, flows were halted at the end of January after the Druzhba oil pipeline was damaged in what Ukraine said was a Russian drone attack.

Hungary and Slovakia, which have kept close ties with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, have accused Ukraine of delaying the repair works and threatened to reduce power supplies to Ukraine.

Ukraine will complete in the spring repairs on the damaged pipeline Druzhba, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said early this month.

We will complete the repairs because that is the agreement. I told them we would finish this spring, Zelenskyy said earlier in April in remarks to reporters carried by Reuters.

A lot has already been done there... Of course, destroyed storage tanks cannot be repaired quickly, the Ukrainian president added.

Repairs have been apparently completed as oil started flowing via the pipeline to both Slovakia and Hungary.

The resumption of flows to Hungary led to the end of the deadlock, in which Hungary's now outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a previously agreed EU loan of $105 billion (90 billion euros) to Ukraine.

Orban had conditioned his lifting of the veto on the resumption of the oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline.

Shortly after Ukraine said that flows to Hungary and Slovakia had resumed, the EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels gave preliminary approval to the loan to Ukraine, and adopted the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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By Larry Huss,

Here we go again. The stated goals of the United States in dealing with Iran, its terrorist networks, and its nuclear ambitions have largely been accomplished. We know this not because of satellite photos, field reports, or the networks of spies deployed by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Israeli Mossad, but rather by the volume and recklessness of the talk by liberals and progressive members of Congress. Why so loud and reckless? Because President Donald T. Trump is succeeding where they have failed  again. They had hoped  again  that they had found a Trump initiative that would fail so that they might use it to bolster their irrational belief that Mr. Trump was not qualified for public office. I always find that amusing since the last time they were in the majority they produced Joe Biden  a useful idiot who disintegrated in office.

However, according to local rumors, Mr. Trump is about to throw another curve ball and change up the negotiating team supporting Vice-president J.D. Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr. Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. He has apparently asked Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Jasmine Crockett, and Jamie Raskin and Sens. Adam Schiff, Mark Warner and Cory Booker to assist in an apparent attempt to match the Iranians liar for liar.

Okay, so theres really no change in the lineup because, frankly, Mr. Trump wouldnt trust these six morons to sex his chickens.* And yet we have to listen day in and day out from the Democrats and their allies in the media that we havent given diplomacy a chance. What the hell do you think we have been doing over the last forty-seven years to no avail? The only thing we have accomplished through seven successive Presidents of the United States (Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe**) is that we have been manipulated by the Elis of the State Department who have never seen an enemy of America that isnt a friend of theirs.

The time for diplomacy is over. It hasnt worked and it isnt going to work with Iran for one simple reason  they lie. They lie about everything even when the truth would serve them better. They not only lie because they can; they lie because their view of Islam, taught by their clerics, is that they are obligated to lie. It is called taqiyya, and it is apparently mandatory in any conversation between the Shia and everybody else, and even within the Shia, is applicable to communications between those in charge (the ayatollahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and the lesser beings slaving in Iran.

It is time for action because action is the only thing that has worked over the past forty-seven years and the past six weeks in particular. So when the current temporary cease-fire expires, Mr. Trump should do the following:

1. Begin the systematic destruction of their critical infrastructure, beginning with their bridges, moving on to their power stations and grids, and finishing with Kharg Island  their primary shipping point for their oil. And after each facility is destroyed, contact should be made with the IRGC** to ask whether they are prepared to accede to Americas demands  not a renewal of negotiations because there is no reason to negotiate. Mr. Trump is the first President to have recognized that our economic strength is our most important and potent weapon. He also understands that Irans economy is its weakness. Its singular reliance on oil leaves them vulnerable. Shut down the oil and you shut down Iran. By following the systematic destruction of Irans infrastructure, we can enforce our demands  no nuclear weapons, no missiles, no support for proxy terrorist regimes, and the release of existing stockpiles of enriched uranium. Also, it can be done without boots on the ground and can be paused at any point when the leadership of Iran capitulates. The best outcome would be that the IRGC concedes with enough pieces of their infrastructure operational so that the next regime has financial resources to rebuild Iran.

2. Begin arming and training dissident Iranians who can lead a revolution to displace the maniacal theocracy currently running Iran with the help of the IRGC. At this point, arming them should be limited to shoulder-fired weapons only. America should take note of how vulnerable the Iranian people are without access to weapons, as well as the politicians advocating gun control and confiscation. They are largely found among the progressives and socialists who, while denying it, recognize that their preferred form of government can only exist by force  just like Iran and its theocratic oligarchy.

3. And finally, tell Mr. Trump to stop the personal attacks on everyone with whom he disagrees. I dont disagree that Great Britains Keir Starmer is a socialist weenie who spent a lifetime as a public employee; however, as a head of state, it is probably better to criticize his policies than him personally. The same goes with Europes principal surrender monkey  Frances President Emmanuel Macron.

Victory is well within Mr. Trumps reach, but he needs to decide, as the most powerful leader in the world: are you going to be a bully or a protector? Much of the world views Mr. Trump as the latter, while the Democrats and the effete leaders of Europe view him as the former.

*Sex his chickens is denigrating reference to a monotonous job requiring little skills and even less attention.

** I have noted in previous columns that even the worst public figures are entitled to the courtesy of their designated title initially and/or the courtesy title of Mr., Mrs., or Ms. thereafter. However, Joe Biden was the worst head of state in our nearly 250 years of existence. So bad was he that it is impossible to determine whether he actually served as President of the United States or just ceded all the power to a cabal of unelected bureaucrats and wealthy donors. He has sullied and corrupted everything he touched and remains undeserving of any official courtesy.

*** I reference the IRGC because they have all the guns and thus the singular ability to impose their views on Irans population. It also appears that they have possession of the newest Ayatollah, although it is less clear whether he is still alive and/or cognitive.
By Lars Larson

NW and national radio host,

The Northwest Nonsense

Oregons last Republican Governor walked out of office 39 and a-half years ago.

This might just be the year voters get some sensible management for the state.

But how will Republican Governor Ed Diehl get things done with a legislature dominated by two-thirds majorities?

Simple. He uses the same tool Governor Schwarzenegger used in California 20 years ago.

Tell the Democrats hes willing to negotiate solutions. If they refuse to play ball, he goes straight to the voters.

The Slavery Party has already seen what happens when you vote against the best interests of citizens and pass massive new taxes.

A quick referral to the people that only took 38 days and bodes almost certain defeat at the polls.That scared democrats so much they illegally moved the vote from November to May.

Governor Ed Diehl can lay out that same threat to Democrat Party lawmakers.

Do the things Oregon needslike lower taxes and less government for more jobs and housing, enforce the laws to solve drugs and homelessness.

Or risk a trip to the ballot box woodshed where voters will happily deliver the spanking democrats have deserved for so long.

Thats the Rose City Rap. Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of Honestly provocative talk. Im Lars Larson
Group searching for missing persons find five bodies outside town of Mahahual

Mahahual, Q.R.  A search group scouring an area outside the town of Mahahual located five bodies Wednesday. Authorities have confirmed the discovery and have said the skeletal remains are likely one-and-a-half years old.

Human skulls were found in an area recently flooded and believed used to dispose of bodies. April 22, 2026.

On Wednesday afternoon, the State Attorney General (FGE) reported on the finding. Skeletal remains were located in a grassy area off the main highway several kilometers from the town of Mahahual.

The bodies were located during a missing persons search by police, canine units and Madres Buscadoras (Searching Mothers). The group chose that area after receiving information about the likeliness of finding human remains there.

Skeletal remains of five bodies were found Wednesday during a search outside Mahahual. April 22, 2026.

Details surrounding the tip were not provided, however, on Wednesday their efforts paid off. Human remains were located in an area that was flooded and reportedly used to dispose of bodies.

FGE forensics personnel were brought in to assemble the bones found in makeshift graves.

The Quintana Roo Attorney Generals Office (FGE) reports that in coordination with groups of mothers searching for their missing children, it conducted a search operation in the town of Mahahual in the municipality of Othon P. Blanco, the FGE said Wednesday afternoon.

Police were part of the Wednesday search team when the skeletal remains were found. April 22, 2026.

Authorities confirmed the finding of skeletal remains belonging to five individuals on the Cafetal-Mahahual highway.

According to initial findings, the remains are approximately one to one and a half years old, they said.

Specialized forensic experts from the State Attorney Generals Office are still at the scene processing the remains to gather evidence for analysis and identification.

Forensics personnel from the FGE were brought in to assemble the bones and work on identification. April 22, 2026.

The FGE Quintana Roo reaffirms its commitment to working in coordination with the groups and to continuing search efforts to clarify the facts.
Members of criminal group known to police for drug dealing, surveillance and contract killings captured

Lazaro Cardenas, Q.R.  Six people police say are members of a criminal group known for narcotics, surveillance and killings were taken into custody. They were arrested Tuesday in separate operations in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas.

Local authorities say all six are facing charges of drug dealing.

Manuel Aurelio N, Manuel Enrique N, Jorge Eduardo N and Hannia Michel N were arrested near Insurgentes Avenues in the town of Kantunilkin. They seized dried green herb with characteristics similar to marijuana as well as a black Bajaj brand motorcycle without license plates.

On a dirt road in the town of San Angel, Jose Alfredo N, alias Winnie the Pooh, and Jose Eliezer N, alias Kalu, were arrested.

They were found in possession of a green, dried herb similar to marijuana. These individuals were riding a black Bajaj Dominar 400cc motorcycle without license plates and a tampered-with ignition switch.

Police did not say if the bike was stolen.

According to initial investigations, the six detainees are alleged members of a criminal group dedicated to drug dealing and contract killings, surveillance of rivals and authorities traveling on the highway, police said.

In the case of Jose Alfredo N and Jose Eliezer N, they would also be related to events possibly constituting the crime of aggravated homicide against a male person, they added.
Over 140 million pesos being injected in Cozumel development from collected tourist cruise ship taxes

Cozumel, Q.R.  Several new urban development projects have been announced for the island of Cozumel. More than 140 million pesos is being injected into island rehabilitation from collected tourists cruise taxes.

Governor Mara Lezama presented the projects Wednesday. She said the money spent comes from tourists taxes collected in the Cruise Tourism Trust. The projects were announced along with Michele Paige, the Executive Director of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

The projects include the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Malecon, the strengthening of the Tourist Assistance and Security Centre as well as the urban improvement of the area.

On Wednesday, officials laid the first stone for the construction of the public security Headquarters in Cozumel. The new Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) facility will consists of two buildings making up a 2,398 square meter complex.

A new 83 million SSC police facility has been announced April 22, 2026.

The Secretary of Citizen Security, Rear Admiral Julio Cesar Gomez Torres, reported that during the first stage an investment of 83 million pesos is planned for construction in two buildings.

Building A, with an area of 1,143 square meters, will house a concentration and recruitment areas, general archive, medical area, armory, laundry and administrative spaces linked to the C2.

Building B will have an area of 1,255 square meters, integrating on its ground floor spaces such as a warehouse, kitchen, dining room, meeting room and command offices. On the upper floor, training classrooms, specialized C3 areas, computer center and shooting simulator, strengthening the professionalization of the security forces.

Governor Lezama also announced 33 million pesos to improve island mobility and infrastructure in the center of the island. During her Wednesday visit, she delivered the first phase of the street rehabilitation project and announced a second phase.

Central San Miguel streets will see a 33 million peso injection from the cruise ship taxes collected during 2025. April 22, 2026.

Lezama announced the rehabilitation of the main tourist roads in downtown Cozumel, through the Ministry of Public Works (SEOP), as part of the strategy to strengthen urban infrastructure and tourism development.

With an investment of over 33 million pesos from the Cruise Tourism Trust, this project modernizes key streets, improving mobility and providing greater security for both residents and visitors.

Working as a team and together, for every dollar that the cruise companies put in, the state government puts in a dollar, she said.

The work is for the people of Cozumel so that shared prosperity can be seen through the cruise industry as well, Lezama added.

While on the island Wednesday, Governor Lezama also delivered a new fleet of specialized police vehicles. The new fleet consists of 21 units that will be used by the Cozumel Public Safety and Transit Directorate.

With an investment of 25 million pesos, specialized units were acquired that will allow for a more effective response to the security needs on the island, including a level III Plus armored vehicle for high-security operations, she said.

Approximately 25 million was spent on new police units for Cozumel. April 22, 2026.

The units are equipped with communication, signaling and protection technology in accordance with national standards, which strengthens the response capacity and operational coordination of the police forces.

The money being used to improve island infrastructure comes from tourist cruise ship taxes collected by cruise ship companies who visited Cozumel during 2025. Those taxes were collected by the Comite Tecnico del Fideicomiso del Turismo Crucerista (Technical Committee of the Cruise Tourism Trust) and held in trust for future use.
Owner of Cancun business injured in LP gas explosion dies in hospital

Cancun, Q.R.  A man injured in a commercial store LP gas explosion in Cancun earlier this month has died. After spending more than two weeks in hospital, the male owner of the ice cream shop died Wednesday.

Mau D was one of two owners of the Marea Helada ice cream shop that exploded in central Cancun April 3. Firemen arrived to a blown out back portion of the business after a massive gas explosion inside the kitchen.

The explosion blew out the back of the ice cream shop April 3, 2026.

The accident happened inside the business on Tulum Avenue due to a gas leak. According to available information, the business had a new hot water heater installed that was the believed source of the leak.

Both of the ice cream shop owners were on site at the time of the explosion. The second owner, Maria A, continues to recover.

Members of the Cancun Fire Department responded to a fire in a food establishment, resulting from an explosion in the kitchen area, Bomberos Cancun reported at the time.

Upon arriving at the scene, personnel located an active fire in the back of the establishment, so extinguishing maneuvers were immediately carried out, managing to control the fire in its entirety.

As a result of the incident, injured people were recorded.
Peoples Daily: As the increasing spillover effects of the situation in the Middle East put a heavy strain on peoples livelihoods and development across the globe, China hosted the third High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, during which the List of Deliverables for a Shared Future Actions Plan was released. Could you offer more information on the event? Is the conference of any special relevance given the current international background?

Guo Jiakun: This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by President Xi Jinping. Over the past five years, the GDI, starting as a cooperation concept proposed by China, has grown into a tested international consensus with proven results, injecting vitality into the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has been endorsed and supported by international organizations including the UN and over 100 countries. More than 80 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI. Nearly 100 countries, regions and international organizations have signed GDI cooperation documents with China. To date, under the framework of the GDI, over 1,800 cooperation projects have been carried out, and more than 200,000 personnel from developing countries have received various types of training. All this has boosted progress in global development.

In a world fraught with changes and turbulence, solidarity and cooperation is the only right choice. China stands ready to work with all sides to take the implementation of the GDI as a platform to accelerate implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, pool development resources, consolidate the foundation for development, stay committed to peaceful development, foster an enabling environment for open development, and ensure that the fruits of development benefit more people. We look forward to sharing with all countries opportunities presented by our 15th Five-Year Plan and development dividends brought by Chinese-style modernization to jointly open up a new horizon for global development.

Bloomberg: The U.S. State Department criticized China for influencing three African nations to not let Lai Ching-te fly through their airspace. Does the Foreign Ministry have a response or comment?



Guo Jiakun: There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the world. It is where the public opinion trends and the arc of history bends, and the right thing to do. It is fully just for China to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for relevant countries to safeguard the one-China principle. The U.S.s irresponsible accusations are nothing but a mischaracterization of the facts and truth. China firmly opposes it and will never accept it. China urges the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop using the Taiwan question to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, stop supporting and consolidating the so-called diplomatic allies of Taiwan region, and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces.

CGTN: The latest statistics released by the World Travel & Tourism Council show that Chinas travel and tourism economy grew by 9.9 percent in 2025, more than twice as fast as the global average, and that China could become the worlds largest tourism economy by 2030. We noted that more and more foreign tourists are changing the way they travel in China from simply sightseeing to an immersive experience, and from having a glimpse into China to being integrated into the country. Whats your comment?



Guo Jiakun: Over recent years, China Travel has gained increasing popularity and weve seen many positive feedbacks from foreign travelers who have been to China. Convenient mobile apps, high-speed transportation network and safe streets late at night in China deeply impressed foreign visitors. In the first quarter of 2026, the number of foreigners who entered China visa-free continued to increase, up by nearly 30 percent year-on-year.

Come to China and discover its true charm beyond imagination. As we embrace the spring-summer travel season, we welcome more foreign friends to come to China visa-free and have an immersive experience of the country where ancient history meets modern marvels.
On the afternoon of April 21, 2026, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping met with Member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, who serves as the special envoy of General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the mutual dispatch of special envoys by the CPC and the LPRP to brief each other on major political agendas demonstrates the profound traditional friendship and high-level political mutual trust between the two sides. Noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Laos as well as the Year of China-Laos Friendship, Xi Jinping said that not long ago, he and Thongloun Sisoulith reached important consensuses through an exchange of letters on deepening the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future. It is believed that under the strong leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, the Lao Party, state and people will surely overcome all difficulties, successfully complete all goals and tasks, steadily follow the socialist path, and achieve the centenary goal of the Party.

Xi Jinping emphasized that, at this new historical starting point, China and Laos should follow the 16-word guideline of long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation and the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners. The two sides should take a strategic perspective on the future and destiny of socialism to maintain close coordination and cooperation, deepen strategic alignment, expand practical cooperation, jointly address common challenges, ensure the implementation of the new Five-Year Action Plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future, and steadily advance the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future toward high standards, high quality, and high levels.

Saleumxay Kommasith conveyed a personal letter from Thongloun Sisoulith to General Secretary Xi Jinping and briefed him on the relevant situation of the 12th National Congress of the LPRP. He said that China has maintained long-term security and stability in its domestic political and social environment, created a miracle of sustained and rapid economic growth, and continuously enhanced its role and influence on the international stage. Laos firmly supports the major global initiatives proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and stands ready to deepen comprehensive and practical cooperation with China to achieve new outcomes in building a Laos-China community with a shared future.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.
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On Wednesday, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Hencely v. Fluor Corporation allowing a former soldier to sue a defense contractor under state law. It was a 63 ruling, but probably not 6 to 3 in the way you might expect. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority, joined not only by Trump appointees Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, but also by the three liberal justices. How this unusual coalition came together says a lot about how the remaining justices treat the federal governments quest for unchecked foreign war powers.

The Fluor Corporation is a major defense contractor. The U.S. Army hired Fluor to help run a military base during the war in Afghanistan. One of Fluors responsibilities was to monitor local hires who worked on that base, including a man by the name of Ahmad Nayeb. When hired, Nayeb claimed to be a former member of the Taliban who had renounced the terrorist group. But that was a lie. In 2016 Nayeb engaged in a suicide bombing inside the U.S. base, killing five people and injuring more than a dozen others.

The attack would have been even worse had it not been for the intervention of 20-year-old Spc. Winston Hencely. Nayeb had been moving around the base suspiciously on that day. Hencely noticed this, and when he confronted Nayeb, the man detonated his vest. Although it was not Hencelys job to monitor other employees on the base, his heroic instincts likely prevent[ed] a far greater tragedy, according to the Armys subsequent investigation. Hencely survived the bombing but suffered serious skull and brain injuries.

After he returned home to South Carolina, Hencely sued Fluor Corp. for negligently failing to supervise Nayeb. Negligence is a classic state law claim that an employee might bring against an employer who fails to meet the standard of care: think of a construction worker suing their company after an accident because it did not abide by workplace safety conditions. And by all accounts, Hencely had a strong claim against Fluor. The postattack investigation alleged that Fluor made more than a few errors that could have prevented the bombing. For example, Fluor management personnel failed to supervise Nayeb on the base, allowing him to roam around outside his station at odd hours and even rent work tools that allowed him to make the bomb. Each of these failures was in direct violation of the Armys written safety measures agreed to by Fluor in the lucrative contract signed with the federal government.

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In fact, Fluor did not even challenge the claim that it had failed to follow the Armys safety precautions. Its only response in court was that these types of cases could not move forward under state law under a doctrine called preemption. It argued that the supremacy clause of the Constitution, which generally renders federal law supreme over state law, provided a complete defense. Because wartime activities are a product of federal law, Fluors argument went, defense contractors are immune from state claims like negligence.

In Thomas opinion on Wednesday, the Supreme Court brushed these arguments aside for the simple reason that no federal law says such immunity exists. In fact, there isnt even a statutory provision that could plausibly get to that result. No constitutional provision was that helpful to Fluor either. Although Congress has the power to declare war as well as regulate the rules and regulations of the military, it chose not to grant defense contractors the immunity that Fluor asked for. Thomas often supports presidents broad claims of wartime authority as commanders in chief. But he is also a skeptic of preemption when neither Congress nor the Constitution has explicitly stripped away some traditional power from the state. Here, the latter instinct won out: No federal law prevents Hencely from suing Fluor under South Carolina law, and courts should not dream one up based on their subjective sense that its a good idea.

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Related From Slate Clarence Thomas Just Gave a Speech Blaming Progressivism for Hitler. It Was Mostly Just Sad. Read More

Fluor then tried a backup argument that fared even worse: Because federal service members are often protected from state law claims, Fluor argued that it was simply following the Armys order and therefore should get the same protection. Again, the majority was unimpressed. Fluor could not say it was just following orders when the Army itself alleged that it was violating required procedures on base.

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Justice Samuel Alito wrote a dissentin a rare disagreement with his usual ally Thomasjoined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. These justices would have affirmed the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had sided with Fluor, by inventing what it called the battlefield preemption doctrine. This doctrine sounds like a made-up phrase created for a patriotic first-person-shooter video game. And it would operate like one too, allowing defense contractors to engage in even egregious acts of wrongdoing in the middle of wartime and be shielded from the consequences of their actions. Ultimately, Alitos dissent is based on the idea that the Constitutionno particular provision, just its general structureestablishes sweeping immunity for defense corporations. This anti-textualist position continues a trend of the conservative justices adhering strictly to the letter of the law when it suits them, then falling back on policy preferences when theyd prefer a different outcome.

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We certainly know, based on their careers, what the dissenting justices prefer as a matter of policy. President George W. Bush appointed Roberts and Alito to the high court, as well as Kavanaugh to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Kavanaugh was also a prominent lawyer during the Bush administration. As President Donald Trump pointed out in his ramblings on Wednesday, just because a president appointed you does not guarantee that you will vote in his favor. Still, the Roberts-Alito-Kavanaugh coalition brings to mind a bygone era of the early 2000s when military power reigned legally supreme over any other considerations.

Kavanaugh and Alito, at least, had made it abundantly clear that they would rule this way during the November oral arguments. Kavanaugh made headlines with his yelling during these arguments, which got so bad that Gorsuch had to tell him to settle down. This was after Kavanaugh, for roughly the dozenth time, interrupted an attorney or fellow justice to repeat his same points. His arguments were echoed in Alitos opinion, namely that defense contractors have a difficult job balancing their operational instructions with the messy reality of wartime, and that lawsuits against them would harm U.S. military efforts. But neither of those reasons is strong enough to create law from scratch that keeps multibillion-dollar defense contractors free from judicial scrutiny.

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This wont be the last time, even in the near future, that allegations of wrongdoing by defense contractors will become an issue. Although the United States has pulled out of Afghanistan, it has once again placed itself at the center of another Middle East conflict by waging war with Iran. Moreover, the Trump administration might have even more disdain for official military personnel than even the Bush administration. This month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has continued his firing spree of decorated war generals. The hollowing out of military veterans from the government, particularly those with the most experience, only increases the importance of defense contractors who are following appropriate procedure. But when, inevitably, corporations like Fluor come under scrutiny for their operations, those contractors at least know they will have a trio of justices who are willing to shield them from responsibility.
This is Executive Dysfunction, a newsletter that highlights one under-the-radar story about how Trump is changing the lawor how the law is pushing backand keeps you posted on the latest from Slates Jurisprudence team. Click here to receive it in your inbox each week.

A core strategy of President Donald Trumps second term has been manipulation by brute force, particularly over the judiciary. In what feels like a never-ending list of legal challenges, Justice Department lawyers have brazenly asserted that executive branch authority is unreviewable by courts all over the country in order to push through the presidents agenda. Though theyve lost many of these battles, the DOJ has often responded by simply ignoring judicial orders. But there is one court system that Trump has been wildly successful in dismantling, bit by bit, from the day he was inaugurated in January 2025, and it is perfectly legal: Welcome to U.S. immigration court.

The executive branch has a uniquely unilateral level of control over the entire immigration court system because it was not constitutionally established like the Article 3 judiciary. Immigration court is an administrative court that falls squarely within the executive branch, overseen by the Department of Justice. Its exclusive role is to consider deportation cases. The attorney general, who oversees it, is tasked with selecting immigration judges and members of the Board of Immigration Appeals. This system is not perfect, but past presidents have largely respected the preexisting makeup of immigration courts when they enter office, appointing more immigration judges of their own choosing throughout their term. Trump 2.0 has not followed this precedent.

When Trump returned to office, there were about 750 immigration judges stationed across the country. The Trump administration fired more than 100 of them over the course of one year, largely those appointed by Democratic presidents, but especially ones who issued decisions that favored immigrants. When Trump first kicked off his second term, the BIA consisted of 28 members; now it only has 15. To be clear, these staffing changes arent a result of shrinking caseloads, in fact its quite the contrary. There are approximately 3.3 million active cases pending before immigration court as of February 2026.

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Nina Froes was an immigration judge appointed in 2024 by the Biden administration, and she recently ruled against the federal government in its deportation case against Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. Roopa Patel was also an immigration judge, based in Boston, and she ruled in favor of Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University student detained over an op-ed she wrote against the war in Gaza, in that deportation case. Both judges were fired just last week. Meanwhile, when Judge Jamee Comans was assigned to the deportation case for Mahmoud Khalil, the poster child for the Trump administrations crackdown on college students pro-Palestinian protests, and issued a decision ordering Khalils deportation last year, she was promoted. Khalil appealed, and a three-judge panel of the BIA reaffirmed her decision just this month.

No matter what an immigrant suffered, no matter what Congress intended, no matter what the hearing-level judge found, the answer is removal, Jason Cade, a law professor at the University of Georgia, concluded in a forthcoming research paper titled Welcome to the Trump Administrations Board of Immigration Appeals. The Immigrant Always Loses.

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Homero Lopez is an immigration attorney based in Louisiana who provides pro bono removal defense representation through his nonprofit, Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy. He was appointed to the BIA in 2024 by the Biden administration, but was fired early last year, within days of Trump taking over the White House. During his tenure, he told me, immigration court was relatively calm and firings were rare. He did not see any board members appointed by the first Trump administration get let go. Seeing how much things have changed over the course of one year, Its disheartening, Lopez said. People are worried, and a lot of people end up giving up on their cases.

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The Trump administration is instilling fear among immigration judges and the BIA, and that intimidation is seeping into the lives of Americas already terrorized immigrant communities and even immigration attorneys themselves. Lopez believes this has pushed some attorneys not to pursue certain cases while also driving up the cost to retain an immigration attorney. Some people are just getting out of the field completely, saying this isnt worth it anymore. Youre seeing this kind of result because thats the intent, he said.

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Meanwhile, Trumps DOJ has also eliminated certain work requirements that one needed to become eligible to serve as an immigration judge and approved over 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges. Most, if not all, of these temporary judges do not have experience in immigration law.

The Trump administration is clearly pushing the system to a breaking point in order to force its anti-immigrant agenda through, and many of the remaining immigration court judges have made it clear they are falling in line. More and more, Lopez has noticed that the language being used in court decisions sounds a lot like the Trump administrations. Its this hostile language towards immigrants. Its not necessarily legal language, its more policy-based, he said. Consider the BIAs recent decision in Khalils deportation case, where the three-judge panel cites the State Department and its invocation of a rarely used federal statute that allows the secretary of state to declare a noncitizens presence in the U.S. a threat to the countrys foreign policy goals. It seems like the board is basically saying, yes, were going to give deference to the administration whenever they want to kick somebody out, Lopez said.

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Adding insult to injury is the fact that if Khalil appeals the BIAs latest decision, it would take the case outside of immigration court and into the hands of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a bench infamous for its far-right slant and one that has a reputation for holding negative views toward immigrants. This is largely why the Trump administration chose to transport Khalil from New York, where he was initially arrested, to Louisiana, forcing his case to be heard by a conservative judiciary. And this strategy has been used over and over again, as federal agents arrest and detain noncitizens all over the country, establish deportation cases against them, and then work as quickly as humanly possible to get them to Louisiana, Texas, or other Southern states with heavily conservative circuit courts. (An injunction issued by a federal judge in New Jersey is currently blocking Khalils deportation. But a panel for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled it improper, and the full court is now considering the question.)

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The BIA is not supposed to be a rubber stamp. Its become far worse than its ever been before, under Trump, Elora Mukherjee, a professor at Columbia Law School and director of the schools Immigrants Rights Clinic, told me. Mukherjee submitted an amicus brief in defense of Khalil, along with other students, scholars, and professors who have been charged under the same foreign-policy deportability ground that Khalil currently faces.

Lopez said there isnt much that can immediately be done to stop Trumps brutal takeover of immigration court, but Congress could still step in to prevent future damage. Lawmakers could pass an amendment adding immigration court to Article 3, which would force its independence from the executive branch. Instead of being an impartial tribunal, the Board of Immigration Appeals has become a judicial facade behind which there is little meaningful review of individual cases or guidance for immigrants and their advocates, Brennan Center scholars have argued. They called on Congress to move immigration courts and the BIA out of the executive branch and establish them as Article 1 or Article 3 courts.

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The unfortunate reality is that while hundreds of thousands of immigrants are caught in the dragnet of Trumps deportation machine and face unlawful deportation orders, Congress isnt interested in getting involved. In 2025, the Republican-led House and Senate set a modern record for lowest legislative output in the first year of a new presidency, while an exceedingly large number of lawmakers have simply decided to call it quits.

We hope you learned a thing or two from this edition of Executive Dysfunction, and if you enjoyed reading it, please consider supporting our legal journalism by becoming a Slate Plus member!

Elsewhere in Jurisprudence

In this weeks Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick tries to find the light at the end of Donald Trumps seemingly never-ending corruption tunnel with former Obama administration ethics czar Norm Eisen. They discuss how Democrats need to be using simple but blunt language to call out Trumps corruption in order to save our democracy, with Hungarys recent election ousting authoritarian President Viktor Orban being a prime example. People dont want to hear about Locke and Burke and John Rawls, Eisen argues. The way democracy hits them is they want to have a better life, and theres nothing wrong with talking to people about the cost-of-living crisis. Thats not smaller than talking about ethereal democracy ideas.

In the Slate Plus bonus episode, Dahlia and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the inner drama of the U.S. Supreme Court now spilling out into public view. Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a surprisingly personal takedown of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his now-infamous Kavanaugh Stops opinion, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson lobbed criticism of the courts increasing use of the shadow docket, and Justice Clarence Thomas declared progressivism the enemy of America.

Mark and Dahlia dive into a series of 2016 memos, published by the New York Times, that were penned by Chief Justice John Roberts and other justices, and explain how the modern-day shadow docket was created. Though the documents may initially look like a legitimate judicial product, Mark and Dahlia argue that in actuality they are cheap ornamentation gilding a petty vendetta against the Obama administration. These 2016 memos have come to define the Supreme Courts way of doing business a decade later, and prove the courts conservative wing is using the shadow docket as a mechanism to hide its reckless reasoning from the public.

Speaking of the shadow docket, Alex Romero, Slates new jurisprudence intern, writes about Smith v. Scott, a case about a Black man killed by the police while he was having a mental health episode. In a 63 shadow docket decision, the Supreme Court ruled the police officer involved was protected by qualified immunity, without holding a full briefing or oral arguments. The only hint the justices provided about their reasoning was a single citation: Zorn v. Linton, a decision that came out just last month that also dealt with qualified immunity. The two cases deal with significantly different circumstances, yet the Supreme Court took an unsigned, summary decision about a rear wristlock and parlayed that into an order in favor of cops who allegedly suffocated a man to death, Romero writes.

Thank you for reading Executive Dysfunction! Were thrilled to be in your feeds and will be back with more dysfunction analysis next week.
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The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development has taken a devastating toll, with more than 750,000 lives already lostmost of them childrendue to the cuts, and far worse yet to come. The reckless destruction of USAID stands out as one of the most costly decisions of the Trump administration to date. That decision, however, does not have to be a permanent one.

I was the top global health official at USAID, and my new book, Into the Wood Chipper, takes readers inside the mayhem to expose the jaw-dropping ignorance, indifference, and cruelty of DOGE and Donald Trumps appointees as they eviscerated one of Americas best ideas in a few short weeks. But it wasnt solely Elon Musks chain saw that killed a congressionally mandated federal agency that had enjoyed broad bipartisan support for more than six decades. Congress abdicated its constitutional authority. Lawmakers merely watched as the administration ignored and violated the laws it had passed to establish and fund USAID. Too many stood silent for too long.

As the midterm elections approach, Americans cannot allow their representatives to make the same mistake again. Now is the time for candidates seeking election to pledge to enter office with an actionable plan to rapidly and immediately rebuild USAID. This is especially importantand it should be a prerequisite for any candidate who wants to be the Democratic nominee for president in 2028. (For what its worth, it should be a prerequisite for any presidential candidate from either party, but in the current political environment, that seems unlikely.)

This should be an easy promise for anyone seeking office. The case for USAID is both unequivocal and overwhelmingly popular. The agency was one of the best investments across the entire government. On less than 1 percent of the federal budget, USAID saved 92 million lives around the world in the past two decades alone. And it made Americans safer too. The agency helped countries develop early warning systems to ensure that infectious disease outbreaks were rapidly detected and contained before they risked spreading to our borders. It projected American generosity and soft power in ways that built lasting alliances far more efficiently than could ever be achieved militarily.

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But dont take my word for it. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a strong case for USAID as a bulwark of American national security. In 2022 he described the agency as a key tool to counter the Chinese Communist Partys expanding global influence. Regarding USAIDs global health programs, Rubio said: Travel to the African continent, and you will meet people who are alive today because of the American-taxpayer-funded antiviral HIV medications that kept them alive. It will not be easy to radicalize people who are alive because the American taxpayer saved their lives and the lives of their children.

USAID was dismantled not because there was something wrong with the agency. In fact, as I describe in my book, DOGE and the political appointees tasked with destroying USAID were shockingly clueless about what it even did. One official matter-of-factly stated that he had assumed that the only thing the agency did in global health were abortions. Another ordered me to make Barney-style slides (referring to the purple dinosaur of childrens television) to explain the dangers of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

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The flimsy lies Trump and Musk spouted to justify dismantling USAID were quickly debunked. The president claimed, for example, that we identified and stopped $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas. Theyve used them as a method of making bombs. But it turned out that the project in question had nothing to do with Hamas, or even Gaza. It was a family-planning initiative in Gaza Province, in Mozambique.

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Again, dont take it from me. Trumps own chief of staff, Susie Wiles, admitted that there was no justification for dismantling the agency: I was initially aghast, Wiles said, because I think anybody that pays attention to government and has ever paid attention to USAID believed, as I did, that they do very good work.

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With USAID shuttered, the shredded remnants of American foreign aid were last summer folded into the State Department, where, Rubio claims, hell administer a more effective form of international development assistance. Yet weve already started to see why burying development assistance in the bureaucratic tangle of the State Department is not likely to succeed. For the same reason that we have separate departments of state and defense (or war?)they focus on different pillars of foreign policy, diplomacy and defenseso too do we need an independent agency for the third pillar of foreign policy: development.

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Diplomacy and development are two separate ways of engaging with other countries, and they require different approaches, different operational capacities, and different expertise. Over the past several months, the State Department has attempted to shoehorn development into its existing transactional diplomacy approach, for example through its America First Global Health Strategy, which conflicts with and undermines the goals of development. Lifesaving health aid is now being conditioned on quid pro quo deals that grant access to sensitive data and natural resources, including in Zambia, where HIV treatment for over 1 million people is being conditioned on American access to the countrys critical minerals. The new approach jettisons everything weve learned over 60 years: that international development is successful when lasting partnerships are built upon a foundation of goodwill.

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The symbolic significance of an independent agency for foreign aid is powerful too. As President Barack Obama said: To many people around the world, USAID is the United States. The agencys logoa handshake over the words From the American Peoplewas a ubiquitous reminder that the U.S. was committed to making the world a healthier and safer place. That is why Congress created USAID as an independent agency in the first place, and now Congress must insist that it be reestablished.

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Some will say that its unrealistic to resurrect USAID, that it is never coming back, and that we need to adjust to the new reality. I disagree. USAID worked well. It was dismantled to satisfy the ego of a billionaire at a cost of the suffering of millions. It is not enough to decry the damage done by DOGEs destruction. USAID can be rebuilt, and it must be.

Unfortunately, rebuilding the agency will not be nearly as easy as it was for Musk and his minions to tear it down. Its expertise has been scattered, its contracts terminated, and the trust built with countries, local organizations, and multilateral institutions destroyed. Fully restoring USAID will require a renewed congressional mandate to codify its authorities, procurement systems, and operating structures across the world.

Though it will be a challenge, restoring USAID is certainly not unprecedented. The federal government has redesigned and rebuilt agencies before, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Homeland Security. It is not a question of whether USAID can be rebuilt; it is a question of whether lawmakers will demonstrate the political will to make it happen.

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As with those other new agencies, reestablishing USAID presents substantial opportunities. USAID wasnt perfect, and there are ways it can be improved in reincarnation to ensure it leads us toward a world where the need for aid no longer exists. A few ideas include setting end dates for aid funding to transition ownership to host governments; flexibility from congressional earmarks so that funds can address crosscutting developmental issues rather than only specific diseases; reformed procurement processes to better tie contractor performance to results; and reconstructing the network of local partner organizations that was decimated by last years cuts.

But USAID must be restored. Somewhere, the early version of Project 2029 is no doubt being written, and I implore the drafters to include the reestablishment of USAID as a Day 1 pledge. So too must candidates running for Congress pledge their commitment to immediately begin rebuilding what was lost.
David Miller, who earlier this year became harness racings all-time leading driver in earnings, reached another milestone as he collected career win number 15,000 when Country Victory won the 13th race at Miami Valley Raceway on Wednesday, April 22.

Miller hustled the four-year-old International Moni-Kristins Victory mare out of post eight to take the lead at the quarter, and the Melvin Schmucker trainee was in control throughout, winning by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.2. She posted the $29 upset for owner Yacht Club 140 LLC.

Miller became the fifth driver in North American harness racing history to reach the 15,000-win mark. Horses driven by the 61-year-old have earned more than $301.5 million USD in purses.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Miller got his first career win in 1981. He finished among North Americas top 10 drivers in victories seven times from 1991 through 1998 before moving from the Buckeye State to the northeast and becoming a force at The Meadowlands and on the Grand Circuit. He moved back to Ohio near the end of last year and is the current leading driver at Miami Valley.

Miller has received the United States Harness Writers Associations Driver of the Year Award three times: 2003, 2015 and 2016. His 2003 season was highlighted by capturing the Pacing Triple Crown with No Pan Intended, who was named the Dan Patch Horse of the Year. He also was the regular driver of Dan Patch Horse of the Year winners Always B Miki in 2016 and Test Of Faith in 2021.

Among his other numerous career highlights, Miller has won the Little Brown Jug five times, tied for the most in history, and has captured 30 Breeders Crown finals, tied for third best in the series. Miller was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., in 2014.

In other action on the card, Oh Look Magic continued his dominance of the Miami Valley top trotting class as he won his eighth straight $49,315 Open Handicap Trot.

Starting from post nine, Oh Look Magic floated off the wings for regular driver Chris Page and found himself four-wide with a host of leavers to his inside. With nowhere to go, Page took Oh Look Magic back out of the fray as Battle Hill (David Miller) went by Yanks Dugout (Austin Hanners) for the lead. Adamsville Road (Luke Hanners), who was right behind Battle Hill, pushed forward through the opening quarter of :27.1 and took over in front of the stands. Oh Look Magic was fifth on the outside, having never seen the rail, and brushed up quickly to draw even with Adamsville Road at the half in :56.2.

As they turned towards the backside, Oh Look Magic seized control, placing Adamsville Road in the pocket and leaving Abbey D (Brett Miller) first-over. Three-quarters came and went in 1:24, and as they trotted the final turn, Oh Look Magic opened up on the field and continued to stretch his lead, cruising home to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:53. Battle Hill out-sprinted Yanks Dugout for second.

Oh Look Magic notched his ninth win of the year in 11 starts for trainer Ron Burke. The six-year-old son of Lookslikeachpndale-Miami Magic, who has won 19 of his last 23 appearances, leads North America in seasonal earnings with $175,500 USD and is tied for the top spot in wins with nine. The gelding, owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, is now 34-for-95 lifetime. He paid $2.60 to win.

Sauble Delightful extended her own win streak one race earlier as the 10-year-old mare scored her fifth straight victory in the $9,589-$13,699 claiming class for fillies and mares, carrying a $13,014 purse. Tyler Smith directed the daughter of Bettors Delight-Performing Art to her usual spot on the lead, and she put up panels of :27, :55.3 and 1:23.2 on the way to a 1:52.4 score. Tonic Treasure (Cameron McCown) was second by three-quarters of a length, followed by Pj Dena (Austin Hanners). Rachel Oenema trains the winner for Bradley Delaney and Mary Megerle. Sauble Delightful is now five-for-nine this year and 36-for-200 lifetime with $393,704 in earnings. She paid $2.60 to win.

Austin Hanners led all drivers with a triple on the 14-race card. Sam Widger and David Miller each had a double.

(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)
A Standardbred foal from Brackley, P.E.I., has attracted attention around the world for his rare condition and will to survive.

When the big Somewhere Fancy colt out of the mare Lady Willa arrived at the Sheppard family's Living The Dream Stables in mid-April, it was clear right away he had a wry nose, a rare congenital deformity to the structural alignment of the nose. Immediate concerns for the wellbeing of the foal and his ability to breath and nurse properly to gain strength were overcome in the hours and days that followed, much to the relief of his connections.

"When he arrived, it was clear right away that he had a wry nose," said Morgan Sheppard in a social media post. "In those first few moments, your heart sinks and your mind goes straight to the hardest questions. But he didnt hesitate. He got up. He tried to nurse. He fought. And in those quiet early hours, he showed us something you cant teach  heart. Knowing how tough his mother is, and the grit behind his sire, we made the decision to give him a chance because he was already proving he wanted one."

Despite the challenges associated with the condition that lie ahead for the resilient colt, his connections are hopeful for a bright future and remain committed to providing the best care possible.

The colt, who is fondly referred to as "Benny" and will officially be named Livingallbentup, has gained a following on social media as Living The Dream Stables has documented and shared his journey since his birth, involving nutritional support and consultation with a team of veterinarians to assess treatment and surgical options. CBC News has also profiled the foal.

"The encouraging part in our colts case is that he is nursing well and gaining strength," said Sheppard in another social media post. "However, one of the main concerns right now is that he is only able to breathe effectively out of one nostril due to the misalignment. Because of that, we are consulting with our veterinary team about whether surgery may be needed to help improve his airway and give him the best chance moving forward."

Sheppard noted that surgery is typically considered if the foal has difficulty nursing, breathing and/or the structural misalignment could lead to long-term issues with eating or quality of life.

"The goal of any treatment is always the same  to give the foal the best chance at a comfortable, healthy life," she said. "Right now, were taking things day by day, making sure he continues nursing, gaining strength and staying bright. Our veterinarian and surgeon is also consulting with other vets both locally and beyond to make sure were exploring every option and making the best decisions for him."

(Standardbred Canada with files from Living The Dream Stables & CBC News)
Standardbred breeders Beth and Tom Rankin will once again open their doors and welcome the community into their breeding farm in St. Catharines, Ont. on Saturday, May 30 to get up close and personal with their horses.

The annual Open House supports two horse-themed youth contests run by the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA), the Youth Literary Derby and Youth Art Derby. The Literary Derby is open to students in Grades 3-8 and the art contest is for those in Grades 3-12. Young writers and artists looking for inspiration for their entries to the contests, both of which are sponsored by the Rankins, will find plenty of it at the Rankin Open House.

Attendees will be able to meet the farms broodmares and their foals, take pictures and enjoy behind-the-scenes access to a Standardbred breeding operation. There is expected to be seven or eight foals born by the day of the event.

More than 800 people have participated in the Open House in its first three years.

We love sharing our passion for horses with young people, said Tom Rankin. Seeing their faces light up when they meet a foal for the first time is really special. Many of them have never been this close to a horse before, and its a great opportunity to introduce them to these amazing animals and the sport of harness racing. We were thrilled with last years turnout despite the inclement weather. Many visitors told us they often drive past the farm and wondered about the horses, so this event gave them a chance to learn more about the breed.

The popular Name the Foal contest will continue this year. Guests will be able to submit name suggestions for foals, and those chosen by the Rankins will receive a $100 cash prize.

The Rankins, breeding horses since 1990, have produced more than 300 foals at their farm on St. Paul St. West. Families and horse lovers are invited to visit the farm at 1490 St. Paul St. West in St. Catharines, Ont. on Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those wishing to attend should register no later than May 27 by calling Rankin Construction at 905-684-1111 during business hours (Monday to Friday).

For more information about the BGRA and full contest rules for the youth contests, visit bgracingalliance.ca.

(BGRA)
Parallel education for the Serbian minority has evolved into a durable political instrument, leaving students to navigate a future shaped less by choice and more by unresolved political divisions.



NORTH MITROVICA and PRISTINA, Kosovo | Nemanja Dicic walks slowly away from the campus of the University of North Mitrovica, where he studies sociology. The cafes nearby are among the few places he frequents. We dont have much to do here, but were used to it, he told Transitions.

He was born in North Mitrovica after his family was displaced from Lipjan, a small town in central Kosovo, to the Serb-majority north in the aftermath of the 1998-1999 war.

Dicic expects to graduate this year and his main concern now is whether to continue his studies in Belgrade or pursue opportunities abroad.

His university issues diplomas within a parallel education system based on Serbias curriculum. To achieve his goal of a job in public administration in Kosovo, he would need to undergo a verification process through a temporary government commission.

Theres a sense of transience, he added.

Roots of Segregation

Nearly two decades after Kosovo declared independence, the integration of Kosovo Serbs who continue to operate within a Serbia-administered education system remains one of the countrys most persistent challenges.

The Serbian parallel education system in Kosovo comprises more than 100 primary and secondary schools funded by Serbia and operating under the Serbian national curriculum. Serbias Ministry of Education provides these schools with textbooks, diplomas, and official documentation, while teachers and support staff are supervised and managed from Belgrade.

During the Yugoslav period, the University of Pristina offered instruction in both Albanian and Serbian and formally operated in the same premises, but participation was often unequal and, in practice, segregated.

In the early 1990s, after Kosovos autonomy was revoked, Albanian professors were dismissed for refusing to abandon the Albanian-language curriculum and sign loyalty pledges to Serbian authorities.

As a result, Albanian-language education was driven underground, with Albanians establishing a parallel system in improvised facilities.

Following the war, with the establishment of a United Nations mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Albanian students and staff returned to official school buildings.

Meanwhile, Serbian-run faculties were relocated to Serb-majority areas of Kosovo or to southern and central Serbia. Unlike the earlier Albanian parallel system, however, these institutions have continued to operate within public facilities and are directly funded by the Serbian state.

Education was only one component of a broader network of parallel structures, which also included courts, security and administrative bodies, schools, healthcare, and other public institutions. The education parallel system is the main component of Serbias remaining parallel institutions.

My father is a teacher, and he used to say that a parallel education system would create a deep and lasting division, Dicic said.

His institution is officially called the University of Pristina, temporarily located in North Mitrovica, even though it is no longer based in the city it is named after and has no formal connection to it. Dicic describes a reality within the university that operates entirely outside the framework of the Kosovo state.

The very name of the university insists on keeping the past alive. But I dont think anyone actually wants to be relocated to Pristina, he said.

Educational policies and practices in Kosovo remain heavily shaped by a prolonged and unresolved political impasse, reflected in the existence of two completely separate systems.

Our university must remain within the system of Serbia, said Nebojsa Arsic, the rector of the University of North Mitrovica.

Ten faculties operate within the university and, according to Arsic, more than 13,000 students, the majority of them Kosovo Serbs, have graduated over the past decade across all three levels of study.

Normal, for Now

As Serbian schools continue to operate in Serb-majority parts of the country despite Pristinas repeated claims of the need to integrate them into the national education system, many Serbs are now worried about the implications of a new law.

Last month, Kosovo began implementing a new Law on Foreigners, which would make it impossible for some university staff to remain in Kosovo for more than 90 days, as they lack Kosovo citizenship or valid Kosovo-issued documents.

However, following reactions from the international community, the government agreed to a compromise, postponing full implementation and granting one-year residence permits to Serbs without Kosovo-issued documents.

Arsic said the arrangement allows the university to continue operating normally within the Serbian system for now.

Inside the university, however, many young people describe a sense of uncertainty and limbo.

Luka Pecenkovic, a philosophy student originally from Cacak in Serbia, spoke about the lack of space for young voices in Kosovo.

Now we face basic questions: under which system will we study, how will we live, and whether we will even remain here, he said.

In his view, Serbia should prevent the integration of his university into the Kosovo system.

The founders of the university, the Serbian state, have turned their backs on us. We have to stop pretending everything is normal, he added.

Support, direct and indirect, from the international community has contributed to this long-unresolved issue, helping sustain the Serb-run parallel system. The 2003 higher education law promulgated by UNMIK further formalized this separation, enabling the establishment of a university for Serbs in the northern part of Mitrovica, a city divided by the Ibar River into a southern, mainly Albanian part, and the almost entirely Serbian section on the far bank.

Erasmus+, an EU program supporting education, training, and youth across Europe, is among the initiatives from which the university benefits, enabling it to participate in programs funded by the European Commission.

Elizabeth Gowing chairs a Kosovo government commission established to verify the diplomas of University of North Mitrovica graduates who seek employment in public administration. She said the commission provides a degree of stability while at the same time keeping the unresolved status of the university in the public eye.

The Diploma Verification Commission is a temporary, affirmative measure, never intended as a long-term solution, Gowing said. It should maintain attention on the need to secure a sustainable solution for citizens of Kosovo who wish to pursue higher education in one of the countrys official languages.

After declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo made little effort to integrate the parallel Serbian system and offered few opportunities for inclusion. Beyond regularly issuing invitations to develop a unified curriculum, which have just as regularly been rejected by the Serb side, there were no further meaningful efforts.

The EU continues to support Kosovo Serb students through various higher education programs, including opportunities for students to spend time at universities in other countries.

Afraid of History

Kosovos education system is predominantly Albanian-language, but it also offers instruction in Bosnian and Turkish in different parts of the country.

Kosovo is ready to integrate the Serbian community into the Republic of Kosovos education system, and we invite representatives of the Serbian community and the Serbian education parallel system to participate in drafting the curricula, the Ministry of Education said in an email. However, they have so far refused to cooperate.

One of the most frequent concerns raised within the Kosovo Serb community about integrating the two education systems is that children would be forced to learn a slanted version of history, because history, especially the recent history of the former Yugoslavia, is taught in entirely different versions. In Serbian-language textbooks, Albanian civilian victims of 19981999 are not mentioned, while only Serbian victims are included. Serbia is also portrayed as a victim in the process of the violent disintegration of the former Yugoslavia.

In the municipality of Gracanica, just outside Kosovos capital, Pristina, a primary school continues to operate under the parallel system. Teachers there are open and direct when discussing the future. We cant predict what will happen decades from now, but I dont see any change in the curriculum, said Verica Cvetkovic, a young teacher.

The Serbian parallel education system comprises more than 100 schools, including this secondary school in Gracanica. Photo by Serbeze Haxhiaj



While most Serbian parallel structures have been dismantled or reduced over the years, education and healthcare remain two key sectors directly funded by the Serbian state, through which Belgrade continues to exert influence over the estimated 53,000 Serbs living in Kosovo, according to census data, although many Serbs in the north boycotted the 2024 census.

Blazo Dragovic, head of the school administration for Kosovo within Serbias Ministry of Education, rejected any prospect of integration. We will remain independent of the authorities in Pristina and continue operating under the system of Serbias Ministry of Education, he said.

Maintaining the Serbian curriculum in 103 schools across Kosovos Serbian enclaves gives Serbs an important reason to remain in the territory, he added.

The parallel education system run by Serbia in Kosovo serves thousands of young people, and its integration within Kosovos framework inevitably raises direct political implications.

The EU-facilitated dialogue on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia has largely avoided addressing education-related issues.

Dukagjin Pupovci, head of the Pristina-based Kosovo Education Center, an organization focused on education policy, argues that the status quo is unsustainable. The integration of the parallel Serb education system requires in-depth dialogue with the Serbian community, he noted.

Pupovci added that the EU, as the sponsor or participant in agreements such as the mutual recognition of diplomas in the Western Balkans under the Berlin Process, should take a more active role in ensuring their implementation. This situation cannot continue indefinitely, he reiterated.

Flora Ferati-Sachsenmaier, research coordinator at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Goettingen, Germany, who has worked extensively on minority issues in the Balkans, said that Belgrades policies are effectively holding the education system hostage in both Kosovo and Serbia.

Maintaining a parallel Serbian education system in Kosovo, while also preventing the Albanian minority in southern Serbia from fully integrating into the Serbian education system, has caused long-term consequences that are difficult to reverse, she said.

Serbeze Haxhiaj, an investigative journalist and news editor based in Pristina, is currently an editor at Radio Television of Kosovo and a journalist for Balkan Insight. Her work has appeared in The Financial Times, Der Standard, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Voice of America, World Politics Review, Euractiv, and Al Jazeera. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including an EU Investigative Journalism Award in the Western Balkans and Turkey in 2020.
The recent elections in Hungary were watched closely across the pond in Washington, but some are advising caution to those who celebrate Orbans loss as a victory for the left.

Hungarys recent elections took place an ocean away, but the left in the United States jubilantly celebrated Viktor Orbans landslide defeat.

For 16 years, the right-wing prime minister lorded over a system described as an electoral autocracy within the European Union. Orban stubbornly obstructed Brussels efforts to build consensus in the bloc on a number of policy issues, and flaunted his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the United States, Orbans rise and consolidation of power while championing right-wing nationalist, or illiberal values, made him a role model for the American right. He was seen by many as the model for dismantling democracy within a democratic system. His approach appeared to be adopted by the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, which aimed to reshape the U.S. federal government as an extension of a conservative presidency. Donald Trump, who returned to the White House last year, has openly and repeatedly praised Orban.

Orbans loss gave hope to some in the U.S. liberal camp who see parallels between his government, which had achieved seemingly insurmountable power and influence, and the situation in their own country.

In an official statement on Instagram, the U.S. Democratic Party tied the loss to upcoming Congressional elections by declaring, Far-right extremism was soundly defeated in Hungary. In November, itll be defeated in America. Prominent Democrat figures, including California Governor and Trump critic Gavin Newsom, former President Barack Obama, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, posted statements celebrating Orbans defeat and tying it to a rejection of the broader far-right movement.

Some keyed on the Trump administrations efforts to boost Orbans chances, notably a last-minute trip to Hungary by Vice President JD Vance in which he tried to rally support for Orban and against Brussels. Orbans opposition to supporting Ukraines defense in the face of Russian aggression was also a common target.

Aaron Parnas, the host of the popular liberal podcast MeidasTouch, called the results a big win for Ukraine and a cause for Republicans to worry. The comment section echoed his sentiments, with listeners expressing outrage that the Trump administration would endorse such a figure and suggesting the result was a sign of things to come for Republicans.

Jon Stewart, host of the popular satirical news show The Daily Show, celebrated Orbans loss with a wish that it was a precursor of things to come. Please god let the dam be breaking, he said of the right-wings recent dominance, adding that the air of Donald Trumps invincibility is being slowly eroded by world events.

Others in and outside the United States saw opposition candidate Peter Magyars victory as a model to follow.

Garry Kasparov, the Russian dissident and founder of the Renew Democracy Initiative, wrote that the center-right approach employed by Magyar and his Tisza party to counter the far-right provided lessons for U.S. Democrats on how to reclaim the center. Others praised the Tisza Island approach  which centered on the creation of hundreds of small, opposition-minded clubs sprouting up in the heart of Orban territory across the country  as a blueprint for rebuilding civic trust and repairing polarization.

Prominent American commentator Anne Applebaum said the importance of Orbans defeat was that it broke the myth of the inevitable rise of the far-right, and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy urged progressives in America to learn from Orbans defeat to clip the right-wing.

One Hungarian-American policy expert who spoke to Transitions expressed caution, however. The expert, who requested anonymity due to their work, noted that Magyar was not exactly a liberal icon. As is well documented, Magyar rose through the ranks of Obrans Fidesz party for more than a decade until his defection to Tisza in 2024.

Magyar is already labeled as a lefty by the West, but in fact the winning candidate is a conservative and promised to continue to stop illegal immigration and protect Hungarys borders, the expert explained.

This win is not the lefts  its a win for democracy, the expert concluded. Hungarians have stood up against corruption, which Magyar vowed to eliminate.

Thats a sentiment that even some Republicans echo. For example, Senator Roger Wicker  a Republican from Mississippi  praised Hungarians for choosing democracy and the rule of law and rejecting the malign influence of Vladimir Putin.

In the end, the Trump administrations considerable attention to Hungarys election, including promises of economic assistance to Hungary if Orban won  a move similar to one that contributed to Argentinian President Javier Mileis re-election  was not enough to save him.

While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio once told Orban that your success is our success, the Hungarian prime ministers loss has right-wingers on both sides of the ocean questioning the partnership. Attendees of Orban rallies often wore MAGA gear, for example, leading some far-right parties in Europe to believe the pro-Trump display may have damaged Orbans image and fueled accusations that he was working in the interests of foreign actors.

In the aftermath of Orbans loss, the U.S. Republican side has been relatively mute. When asked for his reaction to the results, Trump attempted to distance himself from a failed campaign. He [Orban] was behind substantially, Trump said. I wasnt that involved in this one.

Joseph Clark is an editorial intern at Transitions. He is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University studying international relations.
The price of flights has been rising since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, a worry for anyone planning a summer holiday.

Some airlines are also cutting back the number of flights they are operating, which could mean travellers facing changes to their plans.

Which airlines are cancelling flights?

Many airlines that serve the UK have said they plan to operate fewer flights.

They include:

KLM

Air Canada

Asiana Airlines

Delta Airlines

Lufthansa

SAS

The following companies have said they don't plan to change their schedules:

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British Airways owner IAG

EasyJet

Jet2Holidays

What is happening to flight prices?

While some airlines have cut back on the number of flights to save money, others have said they will start charging more or will put up charges for luggage.

These include:

Air France-KLM

Indigo

British Airways-owner IAG

Pakistan International Airlines

Thai Airways

Turkish Airlines-Sun Express

Virgin Atlantic

[Getty Images]

Can airlines change the price or cancel my flight after I have booked?

Overall cancellations will be a very small proportion of the millions of flights in and out of the UK, says Rory Boland, travel editor at consumer publication Which?. Airlines are likely to target cancellations on routes where there are multiple flights a day to make it easier to put passengers on a different flight.

Low-cost Spanish regional airline Volotea has come under fire for saying it will add a surcharge to tickets it has already sold and is being challenged by local consumer rights groups.

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An airline or tour operator could only raise the price post-sale if they had a specific caveat written into the terms and conditions, says independent consumer commentator Jane Hawkes, but it is not standard practice.

However, when it comes to package holidays, tour operators can add up to 8% to the cost of your deal after you've booked, based on a "significant rise in fuel costs", says Boland. But Which? found most operators were promising not to add surcharges this year.

Why are airlines raising prices?

A lot of the industry's jet fuel supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed to shipping since the start of March.

Airlines are not physically running short of fuel currently, but there have been warnings of potential shortages by the summer if the conflict continues.

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In the meantime the squeeze on supply has pushed up the price of jet fuel sharply - it roughly doubled during March and the first half of April.

Airlines agree deals in advance that help them lock in a lower price, but longer term they will be paying more for fuel.

The biggest rises in fares have been on long-haul routes via Asia, that have been forced to adapt their flight paths to avoid flying over the Gulf.

Flights from London to Melbourne in June now cost 76% more than last year and a flights to Hong Kong are up 72%, according to consultancy Teneo.

Should I book my summer holiday now or wait?

"There's no right or wrong," says Jane Hawkes. It could pay to wait for last-minute deals, or you might want to seize the moment now. She doesn't expect prices to fall over the rest of the year, however, because airlines still need to cover the increased costs.

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She suggests being flexible over where and when you travel, including considering switching to road or rail or holidaying in the UK.

Book insurance and check your policy covers you for travel disruption, she adds.

And make sure you have a "contingency pot". Even if your holiday operator or airline is supposed to cover any disruption, you may need to pay upfront and claim it back later, which can take months, she warns.

Spain's industry and tourism minister said on 27 April that people should buy airline tickets as soon as possible in case fares are increased to cover higher jet fuel costs.

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Jordi Hereu told Spanish newspaper Expansion: "What we're recommending is that people buy their tickets now because it's true that (airlines) are currently using kerosene that was purchased some time ago, and therefore there's an element of price fluctuations involved."

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled the airline must get you to your destination or offer a refund.

If you are delayed more than a couple of hours the airline is required to provide food and hotel accommodation.

That is in ordinary circumstances. In cases of war, weather, or other situations that are beyond an airline's control, they do not have to offer extra compensation.

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Airlines are currently pushing for more clarity over whether fuel shortages caused by the current conflict would count as "extraordinary circumstances".

If you have booked your accommodation separately the airline is not required to compensate you for any days you have missed out on.

But if your package holiday travel is disrupted your tour operator should extend your stay, offer you an alternative holiday, or refund you for the holiday, says Boland.

Correction: this article has been amended to remove references to Air Asia and Vietjet as they do not currently fly to the UK. References to Air New Zealand have also been removed as it does not fly directly to the UK, but offers connections through its partners.
Buc-ee's fans are getting a sneak peak of a new massive center being constructed in San Marcos, Texas.

The San Marcos location broke ground in January 2025, and a construction company is giving a behind-the-scenes look at what the 74,000-square-foot travel center will look like  the iconic store rooted in Texas is anticipated to open in the summer.

J. Raymond Construction Corp. shared a video on its Facebook page in early April, showing progress on the building, which is located along Interstate 35 and Yarrington Road. While its bright signage featuring that popular beaver mascot is still missing, the massive travel center is becoming more recognizable with its brown brick facade.

"With water and sewer now live, bathroom fixtures are being installed," the post said. "Site clean-up continues, TXDOT turn lanes are complete, and were prepping the canopy for paving. Furnishings and equipment are up nextgetting close!"

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The location in San Marcos will feature 128 pumps, plus create 175 new full-time jobs, according to FOX 7 Austin.

Buc-ee's also lists 14 locations scheduled to open in 2027 and beyond, including one in Boerne, Texas, USA TODAY reported. Construction is also underway at the 53,000-square-foot facility in Boerne  a city found in Texas Hill Country, north of San Antonio.

New Buc-ee's locations

The Bucc-ees chain was founded in 1982 by Arch "Beaver" Aplin in Clute, Texas, next to Lake Jackson (South of Houston).

The company lists three locations that are set to open in 2026. The company said in an email to USA TODAY that the locations will be in:

Huber Heights, Ohio, in April

Goodyear, Arizona, in June

San Marcos, Texas, in July

Here are the locations set to open in the next few years:

2027

Benton, Arkansas

Ruston, Louisiana

Kansas City, Kansas

Oak Grove, Kentucky

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Gallaway, Tennessee

St Lucie, Florida

Boerne, Texas

2028

Monroe County, Georgia

Lafayette, Louisiana

Mebane, North Carolina

Ocala, Florida

West Memphis, Arkansas

2031

Hardeeville, South Carolina

What's the nearest Buc-ee's to El Paso?

In early 2025, Amarillo welcomed a new Buc-ee's, located at 9900 East Interstate 40, making it the nearest to the Sun City.

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Before, El Pasoans had to drive about 560 miles to New Braunfels, Texas  a seven-hour and 45-minute drive.

In comparison, the drive from El Paso to Amarillo is a little more than 400 miles, which translates to about six hours and 45 minutes, and you'll have to venture through New Mexico to get to the location.

Buc-ee's near me

Find the nearest Buc-ee's using the store's locator feature.

Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on x; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.

More: What time can you buy beer in Texas? A look at alcohol sale hours

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas is getting 2 new Buc-ee's. Take a look at construction progress
A China Southern Airlines aircraft was the first official passenger flight to reach its parking position at the new Terminal 3. The new Terminal 3 at Rhine-Main Airport was officially opened on April 22, 2026. The first regular passenger aircraft are being handled April 23, 2026. Andreas Arnold/dpa

The first passengers on a scheduled flight arrived at Frankfurt Airport's new Terminal 3 on Thursday, one day after the building was officially opened.

A China Southern Airlines jet from Shenyang was the first aircraft to arrive at the new terminal early in the morning, operator Fraport confirmed.

The Chinese carrier is among 57 airlines due to move to Terminal 3 at Germany's largest airport in the coming months. They have so far operated from Terminal 2, which is set to close for refurbishment.

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The new terminal was inaugurated on Wednesday at a ceremony, more than 10 years after construction began.

Completion of Terminal 3 was initially planned for 2022 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fraport has invested around 4 billion ($4.7 billion) in the terminal, well beyond the original estimate of between 2.5 billion and 3 billion.

In its first phase, Terminal 3 can handle around 19 million passengers a year and can be expanded to 25 million, roughly matching the capacity of Germany's fourth-largest airport in Dusseldorf.

In 2025, around 63 million passengers were registered at Frankfurt Airport in around 460,000 departures and landings.
We have 12 Cincinnati food trivia questions for you know-it-alls. How many can you get right? Cincinnati food trivia question 1 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 1 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 2 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 2 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 3 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 3 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 4 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 4 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 5 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 5 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 6 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 6 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 7 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 7 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 8 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 8 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 9 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 9 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 10 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 10 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 11 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 11 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 12 of 12. Cincinnati food trivia question 12 of 12. How did you do at our Cincinnati food trivia? Tell your friends. (You can fib on how well you did.) 1 / 26 Cincinnati food trivia puts your restaurant knowledge to the test We have 12 Cincinnati food trivia questions for you know-it-alls. How many can you get right?

The world-renowned Michelin Guide is finally coming to the Midwest, covering the cities of Cleveland, Indianapolis, Detroit, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and the mid-Atlantic city of Pittsburgh. And while Cincinnati is curiously absent from that list, one local organization is working to correct the oversight.

Michelin started publishing its travel guides in the United States in 2005 and now covers cities, states and regions including New York, Chicago, California, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, the American South (sans Kentucky) and the American Southwest. On April 7, Michelin announced the creation of a new edition called the Michelin Guide: American Great Lakes edition, which will include the six cities mentioned above.

The Great Lakes edition came about thanks to the tourism boards of each of the included cities. And yes, they had to pay. Minneapolis' tourism improvement district will pay $250,000 a year for three years to secure this honor, according to Fox 9, a local Fox affiliate in Minneapolis. Destination Cleveland, meanwhile, is paying $150,000 per year for the next three years, Emily Lauer, the organization's vice president of public relations and communications told Cleveland.com.

The Michelin Man holds a copy of the Michelin Guide to New York City.

I contacted Cincinnati's tourism arm, Visit Cincy, to ask why Cincinnati was not included in the new guide, since it can be a tremendous boon for any city's local tourism.

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Julie Kirkpatrick, interim president and CEO of Visit Cincy, told me the city's absence from the guide was due to "a missed email" in October of 2025. She said she and Visit Cincy are working "tirelessly" to correct the error and get Cincinnati into the American Great Lakes guide.

"Bringing the Michelin Guide to Cincinnati is one of our top goals. It's a powerful signal to the world that our culinary scene is thriving, innovative and worth the trip," Kirkpatrick told me via text. "It gives our visitors a trusted roadmap to experience the creativity, flavor and hospitality that define this region and we will work tirelessly to continue to advocate for our city's inclusion with Michelin."

Michelin would neither confirm nor deny that Cincinnati might still have a chance to be included in the guide.

"The Michelin Guide is always evaluating exciting new destinations for the Guide, around the world," wrote Carly Grieff, who handles Michelin's external communications, via email. "Once all the conditions are present to highlight the quality of the culinary scene in a given city, region, or country, the Michelin Guide begins its process. We look forward to expanding coverage and discovering restaurants in new areas, but we don't have any news to share about new Guides destinations in North America."

The Michelin Man at the top of the building at the entrance to Michelin's headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

What is the Michelin Guide?

The Michelin Guide, which was launched in 1900, includes a star-rating system for restaurants (1 to 3), as well as a "Bib Gourmand" designation that recognizes establishments that serve good food at moderate prices, and "selected" restaurants, which, according to Michelin, indicates a chef is using quality ingredients that are well-cooked and provide "a good meal."

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Michelin publishes two separate guides. The "red guide" (with a red cover) covers restaurants that have received stars, Bib Gourmands or selected designations, while the "green guide" (with a green cover) is more of a general guide to local attractions, museums, hotels and restaurants.

But just because a city, state or region ponies up the money for its restaurants to be considered doesn't guarantee inclusion. It simply means Michelin will send judges to the area to evaluate its restaurants.

'Mission Michelin'

Many local chefs were surprised Cincinnati was not included in the American Great Lakes expansion, given the city's restaurants are regularly finalists for James Beard Awards and have received substantial recognition from publications such as The New York Times, Bon Appetite magazine and Food & Wine.

"Cleveland's great, but I think it was a massive oversight to ignore the breadth of culinary talent in our city, which has been getting some long overdue attention, especially in recent years," said David Jackman, the James Beard-nominated owner and chef of Wildweed, in Over-the-Rhine.

A piece of tape, reading "Mission Michelin," which chef Jeff Harris placed on his oven hood two years ago.

Jeff Harris, a two-time James Beard finalist who owns Nolia Kitchen, in Over-the-Rhine, thinks Cincinnati is ahead of the curve already. But if Michelin comes, he said the restaurant scene will get more intense and competitive. He also thinks more chefs will want to open restaurants or stay in the city, instead of moving to work at Michelin-starred restaurants in other cities. Two years ago, Harris placed a sticker on his restaurant's oven hood that read "Mission Michelin" so everyone on his staff could see it.

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He said restaurants such as Nolia, Boca, Salazar, Sudova and Wildweed have given the city's chefs national attention, "but bring Michelin here and it would bring attention to everyone."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why Cincinnati got left off Michelin Guide's new Great Lakes edition
I write to formally bring to your attention a matter of urgent public health concernthe apparent inconsistent distribution of statin medications to pharmacies participating in the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP) programme.

Over the past three months, I have visited my local pharmacy on three separate occasions, seeking my prescribed statin medication; on each visit, I was informed the medication had not been supplied. Fortunately, I am in a position to purchase my medication privately, and I have done so to ensure continuity.
In Mexico, we say this is the time of women, and this is particularly true for both the Mexi
Dalliance announces further cast

Upcoming drama with Heather Mitchell and Hugo Weaving centres around 60-somethings who refuse to be defined by their age.

Paramount+ has announced the ensemble cast for Dalliance, an upcoming drama exploring the messy, complicated and deeply human lives of 60-somethings who refuse to be defined by their age.

Led by Heather Mitchell (Narrow Road to the Deep North, Love Me, Fake), Georgie Parker (Home & Away, All Saints), Hugo Weaving (Slow Horses, Patrick Melrose, Love Me), David Wenham (Fake, Elvis), the six part drama is described as a heart-wrenching, affectionate and at times hilarious relationship drama in which a group of best friends discover that life, love and sex in their 60s are not what they expected.

The ensemble also features Wayne Blair (Kangaroo, Redfern Now), Catherine McClements (The Family Next Door, The Survivors ), Kate Winter (The Witcher), Carolyn Bock (Wentworth), Russell Dykstra (Rake, Ladies In Black), Kirk Torrance (The Pact, Dark Horse), Ryan Panizza (Anyone But You), Tess Bowers (He Had It Coming), David Roberts (Colin From Accounts, The Matrix Revolutions) and John Doyle (Roy and H.G.)

Sophia Mogford, Head of Scripted and Comedy, Paramount Australia, said: Paramount+ is thrilled to be working with Rough Diamond again on this timeless series. Dalliance is about a group of friends who have history. It encompasses love, rivalries, jealousy and passion, but most of all connection, themes that we all relate to and our audience will relish.

Heather Mitchell said: If you think youll get it all worked out by your 60s, think again.

Producers John Edwards and Dan Edwards said: It aint over yet this is a story about embracing life before the knees give out.

Screen NSW Executive Director Kylie Munnich said: Screen NSW is thrilled to support Dalliance and the entire creative team, led by producers Dan and John Edwards, on what promises to be another fan favourite series.

Produced by Roadshow Rough Diamond, it will premiere later this year on Paramount+.

When charismatic ex-cameraman Billy (Hugo Weaving) meets restaurateur Dani (Heather Mitchell) on a Sydney Harbour ferry, their worlds collide. The attraction is undeniable, and sparks might fly if Billy wasnt happily married to Rose (Georgie Parker), his wife of 40 years.

Billy brings Dani home to meet Rose, triggering a series of life-changing events which have far reaching consequences. Their closest friends and family are impacted; intimate relationships are formed, and others shattered. Lies are told, memories are unreliable, and absolute truths are never known.

Heather Mitchell joins John and Dan Edwards from Roadshow Rough Diamond as producers of the series.

Roadshow Rough Diamond is the award-winning producer of Bump and Romper Stomper, and John Edwards previously produced series such as Offspring, Tangle, Love My Way and The Secret Life of Us.

Dalliance is executive produced by Paramount Australia Head of Scripted and Comedy, Sophia Mogford and Pip Karmel. Series writers are Pip Karmel, Jock Serong, Christopher Lee and Liz Doran, with Matthew Saville and Emma Jackson directing. Dalliance is supported by Screen NSWs Made in NSW TV Drama Fund.
Northern Screen Finance backs new screen projects

New industry financing group, Northern Screen Finance, announces its first offset loan for upcoming drama series Dalliance.

Australian media group RACAT has announced a new industry financing group, Northern Screen Finance, designed to give Australian screen producers fast, costeffective cashflow finance.

Led by Managing Director Peter Anderson, Chief Financial Officer Steve Morgan and General Counsel Page Henty, Northern Screen Finance is a related company to RACATs Northern Pictures, with its team having supported more than 60 productions for local broadcasters, global streamers and international partners.

Peter Anderson, Managing Director, said announced the first offset loan as the upcoming 6-part drama series Dalliance, produced by John Edwards and Dan Edwards for Roadshow Rough Diamond, Network 10 and Paramount.

Were committed to strengthening Australias screen sector and championing local storytellers, so their work reaches audiences here and globally. With a deep understanding of the production process end-to-end, our goal is to make the lending experience seamless and efficient, empowering producers to focus on creating outstanding content, he said.

Northern Screen Finance is part of the RACAT Group, an independent Australian media organisation with a portfolio spanning television, digital, publishing and gaming, including Northern Pictures, Australian Geographic, Junkee Media and Runaway Play.
NZFC International Placements with Australian producers

NZ creatives placed with Sydney based Picking Scabs to be followed by Lantern Pictures.

The New Zealand Film Commission has announced the latest recipient of its International Placement initiative, with filmmaker Dana Leaming selected for a six-month placement at Picking Scabs, where she joined the company in March as a Creative Producer.

A joint venture production company between See-Saw Films and showrunner Samantha Strauss, Sydney-based Picking Scabs is known for addictive stories that dig deep into personal, societal, and structural wounds.

Dana (Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa) is an award-winning wahine Maori filmmaker. Her debut series Not Even premiered on Sky New Zealand in early 2023, earning her the NZ Television Award for Best Comedy Script. She returned as showrunner and codirector for Season 2 in 2024.

She has written across New Zealand television, including Madam, Warrens Vortex and Ahikaroa Season 7. Her short film Daisy Does Lunch premiered at the 2024 Maoriland Film Festival and screened at Finlands Skabmagovat Film Festival. She is currently developing the series A Cat Called Fred and her first feature film.

Dana (pictured) said, Kua tau taku aho ki te au whaihanga e rere nei (My hook has been cast into the creative currents that flow here). I am incredibly humbled to be working with Picking Scabs and Seesaw Films across the ditch in Sydney. I have always been a big fan of Australian film so to get an opportunity to learn from some of the best is such an exciting prospect. As an emerging filmmaker in a fast-changing cinematic landscape it can be hard to know the most effective way to build your work. This international placement puts me at the heart of learning from larger scale industry, brilliant minds and establishing strong connections. I cant wait to take it all in.

Shay Spencer, executive producer at SeeSaw Films / Picking Scabs, said, Were delighted to welcome Dana Leaming to Picking Scabs and See-Saw Films through this six-month placement. Great writing is at the heart of everything we do, and Dana is a compelling writer with a distinctive voice who were excited to support as she works across our international development slate. Were grateful to the New Zealand Film Commission for backing initiatives like this that support the next generation of Kiwi storytellers to hone their craft and set them up to create work that stands alongside the best in the world.

NZFC is also opening a new International Placement with Sydney based production company Lantern Pictures. Founded in 2024 by writer and showrunner Sarah Lambert, director Jane Manning and former-Foxtel media executive Andrew Lambert, Lantern Pictures places writers and creatives at the centre of storytelling.

NZFCs Lantern Picture International Placement opportunity offers a six-month role designed for an experienced writer with a strong interest in television development. The successful applicant will gain handson experience working across Lanterns diverse slate, with a particular focus on developing television drama from concept through to execution, within an awardwinning team.

Our International Placements initiative gives New Zealand creatives the chance to step into different industry contexts, build meaningful relationships, and bring fresh perspectives back to our local screen industry, said Ainsley Gardiner, NZFC Head of Funding.

This placement offers the opportunity to work with established Australian industry figures and experience a showrunnerdriven production model (more commonly seen in the United States), giving the selected applicant unique insight into a different way of working.

Applications for NZFCs Lantern Pictures International Placement are open now, closing on Monday 11 May 2026, 1pm.
Prosecutors drop charges against Alicia Gardiner

Charges against Deadloch actor following a Victorian Parliament protest have been dropped.

Prosecutors today dropped assault charges against actor Alicia Gardiner following a 2024 incident at the Victorian parliament.

Gardiner (Deadloch, Offspring) was accused grabbing a parliament workers breast during a protest at the Victorian parliament on May 7, 2024.

Gardiner admitted she was among a group of pro-Palestine protesters who crashed the Victorian treasurers budget speech.

As they were escorted out, it was alleged Gardiner tried to enter the legislative chamber but was stopped by two workers blocking the door. Gardiner was accused of pushing one of the workers before grabbing and twisting the womans left breast.

But prosecutors sensationally withdrew the charge this afternoon, midway through a contested hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Prosecutors did not give a reason for the withdrawal.

Gardiners lawyer Angeline Centrone told the court Gardiner had always denied the assault allegation but she accepted she did not leave the parliament when told.

I have always denied these charges, she read from a statement outside court, and the police tody have finally withdrawn them.

I pled guilty today to the charge of failure to leave the parliamentary precinct.

I was there to give voice to something important and I will continue to speak up for what I believe in.

Gardiner was fined $500 without conviction.

Source: Nine News
Seven News appointments in Australia, USA and Europe

Mylee Hogan is Washington based; Isabelle Mullen becomes Europe Correspondent; Jasmin Teurlings heads to Canberra and Jacquelin Robson to Brissy.

Seven Director of News and Current Affairs Ray Kuka has announced several appointments at Australian and international bureaus.

Here is what he advised in a staff note:

USA

Weve been planning for a long time  finally, we can confirm correspondent Mylee Hogan (pictured top left) and cameraman Dan Armour are now based in Washington, DC.

Our US teams spend so much time living out of suitcases covering the Trump administration, so it makes sense to have a permanent base to cover drama from the White House.

Europe

Isabelle Mullen (pictured top right) will head to London as Europe Correspondent.

Issy goes with experience from Brisbane, Sydney and working in our Canberra bureau, plus a backfill stint in LA  so is well-prepared to cover the global turmoil.

Shes replacing Jacquelin Robson (pictured bottom right) whos returning to Brisbane after most recently spending a lot of time under air raid sirens covering the Middle East conflicts and of course, from London, every Royal scandal of the past 18 months.

Issy departs and Jacqui returns in a few weeks.

Canberra

Replacing Issy in Canberra is Jasmin Teurlings (pictured bottom left). Jas has been recommended by a long list of our colleagues as a growing star and in her new role will excel under Mark Rileys leadership  and by being part of the number one bureau in Parliament House.

7News is leading the way on coverage of major international events and politics. The viewers trust our teams and our ratings are reflecting that. Please join me in congratulating everyone in their new roles, he added.
The Assembly: April 26

The Assembly students ask Andy Lee if he feels in the shadow of Hamish Blake?

First guest in S3 of The Assembly is comedian Andy Lee.

Previous graduate students of Australias first and only Autistic journalism course, return to The Assembly for its third season, to hone their journalism and media skills as they prepare to disarm and win over a fresh selection of famous Australians.

In the first returning episode of The Assembly, graduate students under the continued support and mentorship of award-winning Australian journalist, Leigh Sales, prepare for the first celebrity interview of the series with comedian and radio and TV personality Andy Lee. On their first day back at the ABC, worlds collide as graduate students from different series meet for the first time and friendships are reunited.

As the graduate students catch up, we get a glimpse into their lives since they were last on The Assembly as they share their personal success stories from working in the industry. Filled with laughs and sincerity, Andys interview is often hilarious and surprisingly vulnerable, revealing the true power of The Assembly.

To finish the graduate students, make Andy do a try not to react challenge and the results are unexpectedly hilarious.

7:30pm Sunday on ABC.
Vale: Darrell Sheets

Darrell Sheets best known for Storage Wars, has died.

Darrell Sheets best known for Storage Wars, has died, aged 67.

Arizona police said he died on Wednesday of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

On April 22, 2026, at approximately 0200 hours, officers with the Lake Havasu City Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 1500 block of Chandler Drive in reference to a reported deceased individual, Lake Havasu Police Department said in a statement.

Upon arrival, officers located a male subject who suffered from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The male was pronounced deceased on scene and the Lake Havasu City Police Departments Criminal Investigations Unit was notified and responded to the scene to assume the investigation.

He was identified as Darrell Sheets, a 67-year-old resident of Lake Havasu City.

Sheets appeared in 163 episodes of the popular A&E series Storage Wars from 2010 to 2023, often saying I see a lotta dead presidents at valuable items. He also made appearances on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and on Rachael Ray.

He had suffered a heart attack in 2019 and had retired to Arizona.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36

Source: Variety
(Bloomberg) -- Frances forecasting office flagged suspected tampering with weather sensors at the countrys largest airport and referred the case to police, after detecting unusual readings alongside heavy betting on a popular prediction market.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Automated temperature readings taken at Meteo Frances weather station at Charles de Gaulle International Airport spiked 4C and 5C unexpectedly in the evenings of April 6 and April 15, respectively, reaching the highest temperature recorded at the site on those days, data from the installation show.

Readings from the site are important for the safe operation of the airport. They are also used to settle contracts for daily high temperatures on Polymarket, according to information on the website where traders place bets on real-world outcomes.

Weather betting has boomed on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi Inc., where individual traders and weather experts have flocked to put money behind their predictions for temperatures, or the amount of rain or snowfall in particular areas on specific dates.

Boosters say prediction markets create economic and social value by providing better information about what will happen in the world. Detractors call them glorified gambling vulnerable to manipulation, insider trading and other shenanigans.

Concerns have emerged for other contracts on prediction markets, including claims from an Israeli journalist that Polymarket users pressured him to change a story about missile strikes outside Jerusalem.

Prediction market traders and independent meteorologists in a French weather discussion forum flagged the data irregularities and questioned the results of the contracts, which attracted roughly $1.4 million in combined bets, according to Polymarket data. Total betting for each was more than double the typical volume for other daily Paris temperature contracts in April.

A spokesperson for Meteo France, Laurent Becler, said technicians examined sensor data and inspected the weather station, and the forecasting office subsequently filed a complaint for tampering with the operation of an automated data processing system to airport police.

Becler declined to answer additional questions about the possible tampering and data irregularities. Airport police declined to answer questions about the complaint and referred questions to court officials, who declined to answer a request for more information. Charles de Gaulle International Airport declined to comment.
Specifically, two gold medals were awarded to Ngo Hoang Minh, a 12th-grade student at HanoiAmsterdam High School for the Gifted, who placed second overall; and Nguyen Thai Minh, an 11th-grade student at the High School for Gifted Students under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi), who ranked 11th.

Two silvers went to Nguyen Huu Tue, a 12th-grade student at the High School for Gifted Students under the VNU-Hanoi, who finished 24th; and Nguyen Cong Thanh, a 12th-grade student at Chu Van An High School, Hanoi, who came in 29th.

This was only Vietnams second official trip to the IMChO, and the strong showing once again proved that Vietnamese students have the competence, grit and speed to hang with the worlds best in cutthroat global academic contests.

The success also spotlights the ministrys smart push to open up elite academic competitions to more students. By running national qualifiers, it's giving standout students a real shot to test themselves, rack up experience and level up on the international stage.

The IMChO features three rounds over three days, including two theoretical exams and one practical exam, each lasting five hours. About 60% of contestants walked away with awards, in a strict 1:2:3 ratio for gold, silver and bronze. Thanks to its rigorous difficulty and razor-sharp ranking power, experts rank the IMChO right up there with the International Chemistry Olympiad as one of the toughest chemistry showdowns on the planet.

The Vietnamese team was selected from the 2026 national qualifying exams for international and regional Olympiads held by the ministry. The goal is to give more talented students an access to global academic exchange while sharpening their skills alongside the official IChO squad. This year, the crew secured financial backing from the Tradition and Friendship Fund for Russia-Vietnam cooperation and plenty of support from their schools.

The IMChO was held under the auspices of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia, announced by President Vladimir Putin. It was co-organised by the Faculty of Chemistry at Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Melnichenko Foundation. The contest traces its roots back to the old All-Union Chemistry Olympiad of the Soviet Union, which started in 1967. The 60th edition this year pulled in participants from 37 countries./.


As a neutral country and a centre of multilateral diplomacy and UN organisations, Austria has actively contributed to UN peacekeeping operations since 1960, deploying more than 100,000 military personnel, police officers, and civilian staff to over 100 missions, mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.



At the meeting, Hoang stressed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, proactive and active international integration, stronger defence and security diplomacy, and active, effective participation in UN peacekeeping activities.



Vietnamese military officers began joining UN peacekeeping missions in 2014, while police officers started participating in 2022 in areas such as Abyei, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Vietnams law on participation in UN peacekeeping forces officially came into effect on January 1, 2026.



The ambassador noted that Vietnam highly values international cooperation in general, and cooperation with Austria in particular, in training and improving peacekeeping capacity, especially in foreign languages, operational skills, specialised peacekeeping knowledge, understanding of international law and culture, and the application of technology to meet UN standards.



For his part, Tobias Lang expressed his strong impression of Vietnams sound policy direction, remarkable efforts, and encouraging achievements in participating in peacekeeping operations, which have helped enhance its image and reputation as a peace-loving country and a responsible member of the international community.



With its extensive experience and strong network of respected experts and trainers, the ACP is ready to cooperate with and support Vietnam in organising tailored training and capacity-building courses. These may include survival skills, climate adaptation, strengthening capacities for female officers, and the use of technology in peacekeeping operations, as well as courses and seminars on mediation and conflict resolution in international disputes.



He expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation in UN peacekeeping holds significant potential and should be advanced in a practical and substantive manner, thereby contributing positively to global peace, stability, and sustainable development./. VNA
This change, according to the Ministry, will help individuals develop their business, especially small-scale households and individuals, and encourage individuals to transition into formal enterprises.

According to the MOFs proposal on the formulation of the Law on Tax Administration Project 2025, there are 3.6 million household businesses under tax management, of which 1,829,920 households have an annual revenue of less than VND500 million.

This means that more than 1.77 million households have revenue exceeding VND500 million per year.

However, of the 1.77 million households, only 37,000 generate more than VND1 billion annually, and just over 4,000 exceed VND10 billion. The remainder are still small business households operating very differently from formal enterprises.

For many households with above VND500 million in revenue a year, complying with the Tax Administration Law from January 1, 2026 is not simply about paying more or less tax, but involves a much more complex shift.

They must shift from the previous presumptive tax model to a new operating approach: maintaining accounting records, using software, issuing invoices, and treating accounting as a regular part of business operations.

Regarding accounting costs, for most household businesses, this is almost mandatory, as the new requirements exceed their ability to self-manage. According to a report obtained by VietNamNet, the common cost ranges from VND25 million per month, equivalent to VND2460 million per year.

The other costs include e-invoicing software, digital signatures, equipment, and system maintenance fees, estimated at about VND310 million annually.

However, the most significant burden lies in compliance time. With dozens to hundreds of daily transactions, data entry, reconciliation, and error handling can take from one to several hours each day.

If converted into opportunity cost, this may amount to VND1020 million per year, or even higher for busy businesses.

Combined, compliance costs are no longer marginal but become a substantial burden, typically ranging from VND4090 million annually.

For many small household businesses, this could be the largest additional expense once they cross a revenue threshold.

Meanwhile, the previous presumptive tax obligations were relatively low. For trading businesses, the most common group, with annual revenue from VND500 million to under VND1 billion, tax payments were typically around VND715 million per year.

In some service sectors, taxes may be higher, but still significantly lower than the compliance costs under the full declaration regime.

Comparing the two figures, compliance costs under e-invoicing versus previous presumptive taxes, it is clear that to comply properly, businesses may have to spend several times more than the tax itself.

With compliance costs ranging from VND4090 million per household, the total cost for the 1,770,080 households above the VND500 million threshold could reach about VND70.803 trillion annually, and up to VND159.307 trillion in a high scenario.

This is a very large compliance cost compared to the budget revenue from this sector, which was VND25,953 billion in 2024 and more than VND31,000 billion in 2025.

As such, compliance costs can be about 2 to 6 times higher than the budget revenue. In other words, to collect 1 dong of tax, the economy may have to spend 2 to 6 dong in compliance costs.

The issue of invoices is equally difficult.

A small shop may generate hundreds of transactions per day, but the majority of inputs come from sources without invoices - wholesale markets, farmers, and small-scale intermediate channels.

Here, the issue is not just a lack of documents. The issue is that the tax calculation method based on invoices does not match the way this sector must operate.

When inputs have no invoices but outputs are forced to have them, the unrecorded portion of actual costs is very easily converted into taxable income.

This means that businesspeoples taxable income is higher than the actual value, not because they are fraudulent, but because the system cannot accurately measure their costs.

So, another paradox appears: the more one complies, the greater the risk of incorrect tax calculation.

These are the reasons why the recommendation of National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Van Than (HCMC delegation) gained attention when he proposed that the business households with revenue from VND500 million to VND5 billion per year should only apply a simple tax mechanism, instead of being forced to declare every transaction in detail.

Tu Giang - Lan Anh
China's Global Governance Initiative offers path toward fairer int'l order: seminar

Xinhua) 09:56, April 23, 2026

MOSCOW, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Amid the worsening international situation, participants at a seminar on Tuesday highlighted the important role of China's Global Governance Initiative (GGI) in improving the global governance system.

Over 70 representatives from political, academic, business and media circles in China and Russia attended the seminar titled "Jointly Advancing the Implementation of the Global Governance Initiative and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination."

In his written address to the seminar held at the Chinese Embassy in Russia, Gennady Zyuganov, leader of Russia's communist party, said that the GGI, rooted in the vision of a community with a shared future for humankind and drawing on China's international cooperation experience, has played an important role in improving the global governance system, especially in amplifying the Global South's voice.

Constructive stances taken by Russia and China are crucial to building a fair and equitable international relations system, Zyuganov added.

The view was echoed by Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences, who said China and Russia share similar views on the future world order and that their strategic coordination continues to contribute to a new global governance system.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui, for his part, said the GGI is not only a realistic response to prominent global contradictions but also a normative guide for the long-term development of global governance.

"It is an important measure to address global challenges and uphold multilateralism, and a crucial step toward a fairer, more rational world order," he said, adding that the GGI, together with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, forms a system of public goods to tackle humanity's common problems.

Zhang emphasized that China and Russia must staunchly advocate for a multipolar world, support the broader SCO and BRICS development, unite Global South countries, and inject "China-Russia momentum" into building an equal and orderly multipolar world.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Rescue forces deploy equipment to reach the victim. Photo by G.X.

On April 23, the Fire and Rescue Team No. 3 under the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Division of Da Nang City Police confirmed that they had safely freed a foreign male tourist who was stuck inside a bathroom due to the incident.

Earlier, on the morning of April 22, the command information center received a report about the case at a residence on An Thuong 3 Street, in Ngu Hanh Son Ward. The victim, identified as S.A.G., is a US national, approximately 1.80 meters tall and weighing nearly 300kg.

After nearly three hours, the victim was safely brought out. Photo by G.X.

Immediately after receiving the alert, rescue personnel and specialized equipment were dispatched to the scene. However, the operation faced significant challenges due to the confined bathroom space and the victims large physical size.

Rescuers deployed specialized tools and devised a suitable plan, coordinating closely with local police and medical teams to ensure the victims safety throughout the process.

After nearly three hours of continuous effort, the rescue team successfully brought the victim out safely and handed him over to medical personnel for further care.

Ho Giap
National Assembly deputies attend the first session of the 16th National Assembly. Photo: VNA

On April 6, when assuming responsibility as head of the 16th NA, Man made a term-long commitment: to continue innovative legislative thinking, to be prudent in method but decisive in action, and to focus on completing the institutional regime so the country can achieve fast and sustainable development, meeting the demands of international integration.

He affirmed that the NA will match words with actions, act immediately, act correctly, act effectively, and act to the very end.

Amid the solemn atmosphere of the hall, this was not merely an inaugural statement by an individual, but also a political promise for the entire new NA term to the people and the business community. To put the country into a high-growth trajectory, there must first be an institutional runway that is wide enough, clear enough, and safe enough for development.

The directive speech of Party General Secretary To Lam at the opening session of the NA set the vision for institutional reform of this term.

He requested that the legal system truly become the institutional foundation of development, a tool to protect human rights and citizen rights, and a driving force to promote innovation, release productive forces, and open new development spaces for the country.

The General Secretary remarked that although the legal system has been significantly perfected, there is still a state of overlap, contradiction, and lack of connectivity. There are regulations that are not clear, not stable, and have not kept up with reality, increasing compliance costs, slowing development opportunities, and making things difficult for the people, businesses, and the enforcement agencies.

Therefore, the NA needs to direct a total review of the legal system, perfect the structure of the national legal system, and resolutely overcome the situation of "constricting laws," overlaps, and pushing responsibility to sub-law documents. It must be ensured that laws, once enacted, enter into life, are easy for the people to understand, easy for businesses to implement, and easy for state agencies to apply.

In particular, the General Secretary stated that there must be a fundamental innovation in law-making thinking toward constructive development. Laws are not just managing what already exists, but also opening the way for new things; not just adjusting existing reality, but also constructing the future. It must not only "open the road" but also "repair the road."

For new issues, new fields, new models, and new productive forces, there needs to be an appropriate approach, boldly piloting with control, creating room for innovation, and enhancing national competitiveness. The legislative process must be truly scientific, democratic, and transparent, listening to the voices of experts, scientists, international experience, businesses, and people.

The General Secretary said that every law must stem from the national interest, from the legitimate interests of the People, resolutely preventing and combating group interests and local interests, and all negative impacts that distort policies.

There must be a strong shift from the mindset of "making enough laws" to the mindset of "making laws for development"; from "good law on paper" to "good law in life. The effectiveness of implementation and the satisfaction of the people and businesses must be the highest measure of legislative quality.

Placing those two speeches side by side, the role of the 16th NA appears very clearly: The NA designs the institutional runway for a new growth cycle of the country.

Strong will

This becomes even clearer when looking back at the Conclusion of the Second Conference of the 14th Party Central Committee on April 2 regarding the Socio-Economic Development Plan, national finance, public debt borrowing and repayment, and medium-term public investment for the 20262030 period, associated with the goal of striving for "double-digit" growth.

Accordingly, institutional reform is placed in the position of a breakthrough growth driver, directly linked to the goal of striving for "double-digit" growth. The overarching spirit is to build a modern and competitive developmental institutional system that will establish a new growth model, support the restructuring of the economy, and promote industrialization and modernization.

A very noteworthy highlight is the strong shift of the state management method from "pre-inspection" to "post-inspection," associated with a system of standards, regulations, and implementation monitoring, while changing the measure of legal effectiveness from "good in text" to "good in life," taking compliance costs and the level of convenience for people and businesses as the substantive criteria.

Tu Giang
In the first quarter of 2026, the US remained Vietnams second-largest export market for agro-forestry-fishery products, accounting for 18.3% of total export value, though this marked a 5.2% decline compared to the same period last year.



Despite its large scale and strong purchasing power, the market is becoming increasingly challenging due to fierce competition, stringent standards and rapidly shifting policies, requiring exporters to stay highly adaptable amid global geopolitical uncertainties and supply chain disruptions.



The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported that aquatic exports to the US fell by over 10% in the first quarter, continuing to be a major bottleneck for the sector.



VASEP Deputy Secretary General Le Hang attributed the decline to weaker demand as well as mounting technical and tariff barriers.



Notably, new import regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), including mandatory certificates of admissibility (COA) effective from January 1, 2026, have increased compliance pressure. Anti-dumping duties on shrimp have also weighed heavily, with shrimp exports to the US dropping sharply, by 61% year-on-year, to 16 million USD in February. In the first two months, shrimp exports to this market reached nearly 60 million USD, down 22%.



Looking ahead, shrimp exports are expected to remain under pressure in Q2 as the US tightens controls on antibiotic residues, food safety, traceability and import alerts, raising risks for customs clearance, delivery and costs.



Timber and wood product exports have also declined. In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam was still the largest supplier of wooden furniture to the US, with turnover of 1.3 billion USD, but this was down 21.3% year-on-year due to weaker demand, higher logistics costs and global economic uncertainty. The share of Vietnamese kitchen furniture also fell from 42.3% to 39.4%.



In contrast, cashew nuts have emerged as a bright spot, with exports to this North American market rising 1.6% in volume and 0.6% in value, lifting Vietnams market share from 88.19% to 88.68%. However, demand is shifting towards processed and branded products with full traceability.



At the same time, ensuring origin transparency, particularly for imported raw materials, has become essential to benefit from tariff preferences and overcome technical barriers.



From a trade promotion perspective, Trade Counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US Do Ngoc Hung noted that after years of market expansion, the biggest challenge now is no longer how to enter the US market but how to maintain a foothold, retain customers and expand market share under increasingly competition and demanding conditions. This requires enterprises to invest more systematically in internal governance, supply chain control, raw material data management, origin documentation, and compliance with labour, environmental and regulatory standards.



In addition to trade-specific challenges, exporters must also take into account broader global factors, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and fluctuations in energy and logistics markets.



Businesses are therefore advised to proactively develop flexible strategies for pricing, contract negotiation and delivery planning while factoring in freight costs and potential supply chain disruptions to mitigate risks and sustain exports in the time ahead./. VNA
With convenient travel distances, easy access, and refreshing green spaces, destinations near Ho Chi Minh City such as Can Gio and Ho Coc Beach are becoming ideal escapes from the heat during the April 30 - May 1 holiday. Can Gio Located about 50km from central Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio is a perfect destination for those seeking a nearby retreat during the upcoming holiday. The area is known for its long coastline and rich mangrove forests, including Vam Sat, Ha Thanh River, and Giong Ca Vo, offering experiences such as boat rides, stand-up paddleboarding, or joining locals in fishing and crabbing. Often described as a green island near the city, Can Gio also attracts visitors with its fresh seafood, including dried fish, grilled oysters, mantis shrimp, and mixed salad made from mudskipper fish. Can Gio is often described as a green island near Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Kha Loc Visitors to Can Gio can enjoy a variety of fresh local seafood. Photo: Kha Loc

Cat Tien National Park About 170km from the city, Cat Tien National Park is both an exploration destination and a peaceful retreat for nature lovers. Visitors can explore the park by specialized vehicles, bicycles, or on foot, discovering its diverse ecosystem. Highlights include ancient trees up to 700 years old, Bau Sau wetland - home to hundreds of crocodiles - and conservation centers for bears and birds. Camping amid vast green forests is also a popular activity. At the park, travelers can join a night wildlife tour starting at 6:30pm, lasting about an hour along a 12km route. Guided by experts, visitors may spot animals such as deer, porcupines, rabbits, and civets searching for food in the dark. Tourists check in under a giant ancient tree at Cat Tien National Park. Photo: Cat Tien National Park

Lang Lon Stream Lang Lon Stream, also known as Nghe Stream, located in Kim Long Commune (formerly Chau Duc District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province), is another attractive spot thanks to its lush scenery and short travel time. The stream lies about 37km from former Vung Tau City and just over an hour from central Ho Chi Minh City. Surrounded by wide-canopy trees, the clear and shallow water makes it ideal for wading and cooling off. Visitors can bring their own camping gear or opt for nearby glamping services priced at around VND1.4 million per night (US$57), excluding meals. The campsite is equipped with premium tents, cooking areas, sanitation facilities, and even a private swimming pool. A lush camping area near Lang Lon Stream. Photo: Suoi Camp

Ho Coc Beach Ho Coc Beach, located in Xuyen Moc Commune (formerly Bung Rieng Commune, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province), is a familiar destination for travelers, especially those who enjoy seaside camping. About 100km from Ho Chi Minh City, the journey takes roughly two hours. Visitors can camp independently or book beachside camping services under casuarina forests, with prices ranging from VND800,000 to VND1.5 million per person per night (US$33 to US$62). Around 500m from the shore lies a sand dune strip. During low tide, visitors can paddle SUP boards to the dunes and stroll while enjoying the coastal scenery. Ho Coc Beach is a favorite camping destination for many travelers. Photo: Mage Camp






The port is planned for Phu Loi islet, at the mouth of the Cai Mep River in Thanh An commune, Ho Chi Minh City. The project carries a total investment of more than VND128,800 billion (US$5 billion).

A strategic investor consortium has recently been finalized, marking a significant milestone for the project.

The selected consortium includes VIMC, Saigon Port, and Terminal Investment Limited Holding S.A. - a member of MSC, the worlds largest container shipping line. The foreign partner will hold a 49 percent stake, bringing with it cargo flows and a global shipping network.

The project spans 571 hectares, with a main wharf stretching about 7 to 7.5 kilometers, capable of accommodating container vessels of up to 250,000 tonnes.

Located less than 2 kilometers from the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster as the crow flies, the site currently lacks direct road connectivity.

Under the master plan, by 2030 the port will develop 2 to 4 berths with a total length of more than 2 kilometers, reaching a capacity of about 4.8 million TEUs. By 2047, the system is expected to expand to 13 berths, with a total capacity of 16.9 million TEUs, capable of handling the largest container ships.

To complete connectivity infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City plans to build the Can Gio bridge before 2029, linking the area with Nha Be district.

At the same time, the Rung Sac road will be expanded to 10 lanes, connecting to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway. After 2030, the city will continue investing in direct access roads to the port and an elevated route along this corridor.

The city has also imposed strict conditions on investors. The project cannot be transferred within 10 years from land allocation; at least VND50,000 billion (US$1.9 billion) must be disbursed within the first decade; and the entire project must be completed within 20 years. These requirements are aligned with Resolution 98 and Resolution 260.

Authorities also require investors to balance transshipment cargo with import-export flows to avoid disrupting nearby ports, while ensuring the protection of Can Gios unique ecosystem.

Once completed, the port is expected to become a major international container transshipment hub, enhancing Vietnams position in global logistics chains. The project is projected to generate annual revenue of VND34,000-40,000 billion (US$1.3-1.6 billion), create 6,000 to 8,000 direct jobs, and tens of thousands of indirect jobs.

The Can Gio international transshipment port is planned on Phu Loi islet at the mouth of the Cai Mep River in Ho Chi Minh City.

Perspective design of the Can Gio international transshipment port. Photo: Portcoast.

The city has finalized a strategic investor consortium for the nearly US$5 billion project.

The port will span 571 hectares with a main wharf capable of receiving ultra-large container ships.

The site is located less than 2 kilometers from the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster but currently lacks direct road access.

By 2030, the port is expected to handle 4.8 million TEUs, expanding to 16.9 million TEUs by 2047.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to build the Can Gio bridge to improve connectivity.

Rung Sac road will be expanded to 10 lanes and connected to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway.

Investors are required to meet strict disbursement and completion timelines under city regulations.

Environmental protection and balanced cargo flows are key requirements for the project.

The port is expected to become a major international transshipment hub for Vietnam.

Nguyen Hue
The event, organised by the Phu Tho Union of Literature and Arts Associations, is part of activities celebrating the Hung Kings Commemoration Day, the Hung Kings Temple Festival, and the 2026 Culture and Tourism Week in the ancestral land.



Featuring 118 artworks, the exhibition gathers artists from Phu Tho, Lao Cai, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, alongside a delegation from Seoul.



Poet Le Va, Chairman of the Phu Tho Union of Literature and Arts Associations, said Vietnam and the RoK upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022, creating a strong stepping stone for cultural cooperation. Since 2012, the association has worked with the K-Art International Exchange Association to organise seven fine arts exhibitions, thus fostering exchanges and mutual learning between artists of the two countries.



Through artistic works, the public gain deeper insights into the cultures and people of both nations, contributing to peace, cooperation, and development, he said, adding that this time's exhibition also helps younger generations better understand a dynamic Vietnam and a culturally rich RoK.



Chairman of the Korean association Kim Jung Taek described the event as a meaningful opportunity for Korean artists to engage with Vietnamese culture and appreciate local artistic creations, especially as it coincides with the Hung Kings Commemoration Day.



He expressed his hope that such exchanges will further promote Korean arts in Vietnam while helping strengthen cultural ties and elevate bilateral cooperation between the two countries.



The exhibition will run until April 27./. VNA
During discussions at the first session of the 16th National Assembly, deputies voiced strong support for the plan, saying Dong Nai meets all criteria for elevation to the centrally-run city status and has the potential to become a new national growth pole.

Lawmakers highlighted Dong Nais location in the southeast region, which serves as a strategic gateway linking the nations key development corridors and largest economic hubs, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Central Highlands, the south-central coastal region and the Mekong Delta.

Backed by increasingly modern and synchronised socio-economic infrastructure, particularly in transport, industry, services and logistics - along with the fast-tracked construction of Long Thanh International Airport, the province has all the attributes of a high-potential urban centre with multi-core and multi-functional development and strong spillover effects across southern Vietnam and the country as a whole, they noted.

Delegates said the establishment of Dong Nai city will mark a fundamental shift in both the development and local governance models, positioning Dong Nai as a major urban centre that can share functions, strengthen linkages and promote complementary development with Ho Chi Minh City.

The move aims to turn Dong Nai into a regional economic connectivity hub and gateway for international integration, while becoming a model of dynamic, modern and civilised development that helps shape a new spatial development orientation for the Southeast region, in line with the Politburos conclusions, they added.

Deputy Trinh Xuan An from Dong Nai described the proposal as a historic step to unlock the development potential of a province already regarded as one of the countrys leading economic centres.

With a large economic scale, a strong industrial base and a comprehensive transport network, including Long Thanh International Airport, Dong Nai possesses the characteristics of a major growth engine, he said.

The deputy expressed confidence that Dong Nai will not only remain a leading fast-growing locality, but also emerge as a genuine growth pole, driving wider spillover effects, contributing more to national development, and evolving from an industrial hub into a centre for innovation, logistics and high-quality services with deeper integration into global value chains.

Meanwhile, Deputy Trinh Thi Tu Anh from Lam Dong province proposed that the Government study and submit to the NA special policies for Dong Nai city, particularly in finance, budget, investment attraction, and decentralisation in land management. She noted that without breakthrough policies, it would be difficult for Dong Nai to tap its potential and advantages.

The Government should also institutionalise a regional development linkage model between Dong Nai city, Ho Chi Minh City and the Central Highlands provinces through concrete, binding and feasible coordination mechanisms, she said, adding that accelerating key infrastructure projects such as the Dau GiayLien Khuong Expressway will help realise Dong Nais role as a gateway to the world./.


On the afternoon of April 22 in Hanoi, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs held a conference to review first-quarter performance and outline tasks for the second quarter of 2026. Member of the Party Central Committee, Party Secretary and Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang chaired the meeting.

Attendees included members of the Party Standing Committee, the Executive Committee of the Ministrys Party organization, heads of departments and affiliated units, as well as representatives from the Government Party Committee, the Central Organization Commission, the Central Internal Affairs Commission, the Central Inspection Commission, and the Party Central Office.

Notable achievements in the first quarter of 2026

Member of the Party Central Committee, Party Secretary and Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang speaks at the conference. Photo: Le Anh Dung

A report presented at the conference showed that in the first quarter of 2026, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs provided comprehensive leadership and direction across all areas, achieving a number of important results.

Party building efforts continued to receive strong attention, particularly in studying and implementing resolutions and directives from the Central Committee in alignment with the sectors political tasks. Ideological work among officials, Party members, civil servants, and employees was carried out effectively, especially during the process of streamlining organizational structures within departments and affiliated units.

Subordinate Party organizations promptly disseminated and implemented Party directives and resolutions to all members. Party committees at various levels closely coordinated with the leadership of departments and units in directing and managing professional tasks in accordance with their assigned functions and responsibilities.

In terms of professional work, the ministry actively advised the Government and the Prime Minister on key policies related to ethnic and religious affairs, while focusing on removing obstacles and promoting socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Alongside these achievements, the conference also candidly acknowledged several limitations. The implementation of some tasks remained slow, coordination among units was not always synchronized, and the grasp of grassroots developments was at times not timely.

Some delegates noted that in the current context, ethnic and religious affairs demand increasingly high standards, requiring renewed leadership approaches and improved advisory quality.

Creating clear changes in leadership and direction

The Party Committee of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs outlines tasks for the second quarter of 2026. Photo: Le Anh Dung

In his concluding remarks, Party Secretary and Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang emphasized that the conference had largely reached consensus on the draft report for the first quarter of 2026. He noted that delegates discussions were carefully prepared, offering in-depth, practical, and concrete contributions that would serve as an important basis for finalizing the report and implementing tasks in the coming period.

He described the feedback as valuable and reflective of a strong sense of responsibility, and requested that the entire Party organization seriously absorb these inputs and translate them into the second-quarter work program.

Highlighting key priorities ahead, Nguyen Dinh Khang stressed the need for a genuine shift in thinking, with Party committees enhancing their comprehensive leadership role and avoiding a narrow focus on professional tasks alone. He underscored that professional duties must be carried out within the framework of Party leadership, ensuring adherence to principles and proper functions.

At the same time, task implementation must deeply reflect the guiding ideology of General Secretary and State President To Lam, as well as the direction of the Politburo, translating them into clearly defined responsibilities and actionable tasks.

The Party Committee Office was assigned to strengthen oversight and review of reports from subordinate committees and units, ensuring compliance with working regulations and guidelines. Reports must clearly reflect the leadership role of Party committees and avoid overlap with professional functions. Units were also instructed to urgently review central documents and promptly develop implementation plans for any content not yet executed.

Regarding Party building, Nguyen Dinh Khang called for continued innovation and heightened awareness, especially among Party secretaries, committee members, and heads of units, with the goal of building a clean, strong, and comprehensive Party organization.

He stressed that Party organizations must focus on strengthening internal unity, fostering openness and dialogue, and building consensus in both awareness and action.

Khang further directed departments and units to intensify leadership and ensure decisive implementation of assigned tasks, while reviewing and completing any outstanding work from 2025 and the first quarter within the second quarter of 2026. At the same time, they must closely monitor grassroots developments and promptly advise the Party, the National Assembly, and the Government on effectively addressing issues related to ethnic minorities and religious affairs in line with policies and real-world conditions.

He also instructed Party bodies to swiftly develop second-quarter work programs aligned with discussions at the conference, while supplementing and refining tasks based on delegates feedback.

Hoang Quy
Construction machinery at the Long Duc 3 industrial park project. Photo by Hoang Anh.

Spanning approximately 244 hectares across Binh An and Long Thanh communes, the project carries a total investment of around VND1.8 trillion (US$74 million). It is designed as a modern, integrated industrial park with a focus on attracting high-tech industries.

The development will incorporate advanced technological solutions in energy management, environmental treatment and infrastructure operations, aiming to optimize resource efficiency while minimizing emissions.

Strategically positioned within one of Dong Nais key growth zones, the industrial park benefits from direct connectivity to major national transport infrastructure. Notably, it stands to gain significantly from the nearby Long Thanh International Airport, a major national infrastructure project currently being accelerated.

At the ceremony, Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Peoples Committee, said the Long Duc 3 industrial park is expected to evolve into a modern production and logistics center for the province.

She emphasized that the orientation toward green and smart industrial development aligns not only with Vietnams sustainable development strategy but also with global investment trends, as businesses increasingly prioritize environmental standards.

We expect Long Duc 3 to become an attractive destination for major corporations and strategic investors, both domestic and international, she said.

Provincial leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting businesses by fostering a transparent and open investment environment, streamlining administrative procedures, developing synchronized infrastructure and improving workforce quality.

At the same time, authorities called on the projects investor to focus resources on ensuring timely implementation, maintaining quality standards and strictly complying with environmental protection regulations.

Hoang Anh
Speaking at a working session on April 22 with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Government leader said that, in line with the Politburos Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, at least 3% of total annual State budget expenditure should be allocated to these sectors.



Reports at the meeting showed that in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, the ministry had advised the issuance of 10 laws and one resolution, along with 35 decrees and 60 decisions. It also identified 11 groups of strategic technologies comprising 35 key technology products.



Last year, Vietnam recorded 53 sci-tech organisations reaching regional and international standards, alongside six high-tech parks. High-tech exports accounted for nearly 50% of total exports. The country ranked 44th out of 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index, while its startup ecosystem stood 55th globally.



By the end of March 2026, 5G network coverage reached 91.9% of the population, with over 22.4 million subscribers. Vietnam ranked 14th globally in mobile internet speed and 9th in fixed broadband speed, while its IPv6 infrastructure ranked 7th worldwide.



Progress has also been evident in the development of the digital government, digital society, and digital economy. The number of digital technology enterprises rose sharply, with an additional 1,394 firms established. Exports of digital technology products were estimated at over 45 billion USD, while total export turnover reached approximately 172 billion USD. Meanwhile, the e-commerce market expanded to 36 billion USD, three times its 2020 size.



The total State budget allocated to science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation this year stands at 65.02 trillion VND (2.47 billion USD). To date, 92.27% of recurrent expenditure and 68.58% of investment spending have been disbursed, with the remainder under review.

A view of the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Concluding the session, the PM acknowledged the ministrys efforts while pointing out several shortcomings. Looking ahead, he called for a shift in governance thinking from input-based support for enterprises to output-based mechanisms, alongside the removal of bottlenecks through controlled risk acceptance, mastery of core technologies, and effective management of digital assets and digital currencies.



Highlighting the importance of accelerating digital transformation, particularly in the digital economy, he set targets for the sector to account for 30% of GDP and for over 40% of enterprises to engage in innovation activities.



The leader also directed the ministry to urgently submit, within April, three decrees and two prime ministerial decisions guiding the implementation of the laws on digital transformation and on artificial intelligence. It was also tasked with reviewing and finalising the list of strategic technologies and products.



In addition, the ministry must coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to complete guidelines on criteria, procedures, and funding mechanisms for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation projects. This includes transitioning from direct budget allocation to an order-based mechanism tied to outcomes, as well as establishing controlled regulatory sandbox frameworks for research.



By the second quarter of 2026, the ministry is required to work with relevant agencies to draft a resolution on a new development model for the country based on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, for submission to the Party Central Committee.



PM Hung further called for a comprehensive restructuring of research infrastructure and the innovation ecosystem, including reforms to 16 key national laboratories, the introduction of breakthrough mechanisms for science and technology exchanges, and enhanced support for intellectual property valuation and registration.



He also urged the swift establishment of criteria for recognising innovation centres and innovative enterprises, with completion targeted for May 2026./. VNA
The global aviation industry is undergoing profound structural transformation. Modern airports are no longer merely transit points but have evolved into complex ecosystems known as airport cities, serving as engines of economic growth for entire regions and nations.

Within this context, human resources emerge as a decisive factor for Long Thanh. With tens of thousands of jobs to be filled, recruitment now demands a vision that goes beyond traditional human resource management.

The scale of workforce demand for Long Thanh is unprecedented in Vietnams civil aviation history. It is estimated that the first phase alone will require around 14,000 workers. Recently, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) launched a recruitment drive targeting approximately 3,000 positions, including about 1,400 core roles directly under ACV.

The recruitment criteria are highly specialized, with strict age limits - typically under 30 or 35 depending on the position. This reflects a preference for a young, physically fit workforce adaptable to digital technologies.

However, from a risk management perspective, such constraints narrow the talent pool and may lead to underutilization of experienced workers currently serving at Tan Son Nhat airport.

Another major barrier lies in geography. The airports distance from existing urban centers presents significant challenges, including long commuting times, limited nearby urban amenities, and high transportation costs between central Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province.

Costly lessons from global airports

The global aviation industry offers numerous cautionary examples where workforce challenges were underestimated.

In the US, Denver International Airport provides a classic case. In the 1990s, the airport implemented a fully automated baggage handling system but failed to adequately train ground technical staff to operate it. The result was a budget overrun of US$560 million and daily losses of about US$1.1 million for the city.

Even today, with a workforce of 40,000, Denver continues to struggle with its remote location. Traffic congestion has discouraged employees, forcing the airport to invest US$1.2 million in a transportation demand management plan and subsidized public transit for staff.

In Europe, post-Covid disruptions exposed similar vulnerabilities. Major airports such as Manchester and Heathrow faced prolonged chaos after laying off tens of thousands of workers during the pandemic. When demand rebounded, they were unable to rehire quickly due to background check requirements and low starting salaries, around 16,000 per year.

Cost-cutting through workforce reduction ultimately created systemic weaknesses. When technical systems malfunctioned, operations were severely disrupted due to a lack of backup personnel capable of manual intervention.

Meanwhile, South Africas aviation sector has suffered from a brain drain, as air traffic control experts are recruited by Gulf airports such as Dubai and Doha, attracted by tax-free salaries, housing support of up to 30 percent of base pay, and superior transportation benefits.

Airport city solutions and local integration

In contrast, successful models worldwide share a common approach: treating human resources not as operational costs but as strategic partners, supported through housing, transport, and integration with local communities.

Beijing Daxing International Airport stands out as a leading example. Located 46km from central Beijing, instead of displacing 20,000 rural residents, authorities developed large-scale social housing, offering subsidized apartments of up to 115 square meters. A comprehensive training program transformed more than 11,439 farmers into airport workers, ensuring a stable workforce without the strain of long commutes.

In Australia, Western Sydney International Airport established a legal requirement from the outset that at least 30 percent of construction workers must be recruited locally. In practice, the figure exceeded 50 percent. Early partnerships with vocational institutions enabled the airport to train and employ local labor, rather than relying on workers from distant urban centers.

Closer to home, Singapores Changi Airport has redefined transport as a corporate responsibility rather than a burden on employees. Ground service companies collaborate with digital bus platforms to provide door-to-door transport, ensuring safety and convenience for workers on late-night shifts.

What is the solution for Long Thanh?

Drawing from both domestic experience and international precedents, attracting 14,000 workers to Long Thanh requires a fundamental shift from mechanical recruitment to a comprehensive workforce ecosystem strategy.

First, eliminate transportation barriers. ACV should remove all parking fees for airport staff, regardless of employer, and implement high-quality shuttle bus services operating 24/7 from Ho Chi Minh City and Bien Hoa, free of charge.

Second, prioritize social housing. Dong Nai is already developing large-scale social housing projects in Long Thanh and Nhon Trach districts. Local authorities should allocate a dedicated aviation housing quota within these projects for airport employees, combined with rental support or low-interest home loans.

Third, build a local workforce ecosystem. Instead of relying on labor from Ho Chi Minh City, ACV and other aviation entities such as the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, Vietnam Airlines, and Vietjet should collaborate with educational institutions in Dong Nai to establish a regional aviation training center, preparing technical personnel from an early stage.

At the same time, to offset the lack of experience among younger workers, a structured rotation program should bring seasoned experts from Tan Son Nhat to mentor new staff, ensuring operational safety during the initial years.

Clearly, Long Thanh International Airport marks a new chapter in Vietnams infrastructure development. Yet runways and digital systems cannot operate on their own.

Recruitment for an airport located far from the urban core demands a vision that transcends traditional human resource management. Removing mobility barriers, adopting the airport city model, and ensuring housing, transport, and clear career pathways for workers are essential.

Only when employees are truly treated as strategic partners can Long Thanh take off safely and sustainably in Vietnams new era of growth.

Nguyen Phuoc Thang (Hoa Binh University)
The opening session was chaired by Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu, President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Neak Oknha Kith Meng, VCBA Chairman Oknha Leng Rithy, senior Cambodian trade officials, and around 200 representatives of Vietnamese enterprises, Vietnamese-invested firms, and Cambodian businesses across sectors such as health care, tourism, IT, digital transformation, and agriculture.



Delegations from some Vietnamese localities, including Tay Ninh, Gia Lai, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Lam Dong, and business organisations also attended the annual event.



In his opening remarks, Vu highlighted the orientation set by the 14th National Party Congress to elevate foreign affairs, particularly economic diplomacy, as a central task contributing directly to socio-economic development and the achievement of double-digit growth towards becoming an high-income developed country by 2045.



He affirmed Vietnams desire to strengthen cooperation with partners, including Cambodia, across areas such as investment, trade, tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, logistics, and the digital economy. During Party General Secretary To Lams state visit to Cambodia in February, leaders of both countries reiterated their determination to further connect the two economies, leverage complementarities, and step up trade and investment promotion efforts, striving to raise bilateral trade to 20 billion USD.

Delegates at the dialogue (Photo: VNA)

The ambassador expressed his hope that the dialogue would help businesses, particularly Vietnamese firms, better understand Cambodias investment environment and opportunities, enabling them to shape effective business strategies. He also proposed that the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) coordinate in organising a dedicated dialogue with Vietnamese enterprises in 2026.



At the event, CCC President Kith Meng described connectivity as the lifeblood of bilateral economic ties, noting ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure and logistics connectivity as well as upgrade border facilities to build regional supply chains and boost competitiveness.



He also highlighted Cambodias economic reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, including improvements to the investment climate and workforce development. He underlined his country's openness to Vietnamese firms, calling on them to expand investment in digital transformation, renewable energy, advanced agro-processing, and services and, together, build sustainable partnerships towards shared development and prosperity.



VCBA Chairman Leng Rithy stressed that bilateral economic ties are evolving beyond traditional trade towards deeper cooperation in technology, sustainable agriculture, and green energy. He reaffirmed the associations role in supporting businesses and facilitating market entry.



Cambodian officials emphasised continued efforts to improve the investment environment through public  private dialogue, the development of special economic zones, and the expansion of logistics infrastructure.



Vietnamese businesses in Cambodia were briefed by local authorities on specific incentive policies covering the construction of agro-processing and lubricant manufacturing plants, the promotion of e-commerce, and land leasing in industrial zones.



The programme also featured four thematic sessions where participants shared policy information, explored investment opportunities, and raised recommendations to authorities of both countries.



Vietnam is currently the fifth-largest investor in Cambodia, with 223 projects worth nearly 3 billion USD, contributing significantly to local socio-economic development, job creation, and social welfare./. VNA
According to information released by the ministry on April 22, a draft decree detailing the implementation of several provisions of the Population Law has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal, with plans to present it to the Government later this month.

Three groups of women eligible for financial support

Vietnams fertility rate has fallen below the replacement level for several consecutive years. Photo: BVCC

A key highlight of the draft decree is the proposal to provide financial assistance for childbirth to three groups of women, with a minimum level of VND2 million (US$80) per case. These include women from very small ethnic minority groups, women living in provinces and cities with fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, and women who have two children before the age of 35.

Under the proposal, a woman living in a low-fertility locality or belonging to a very small ethnic minority group would receive at least VND2 million (US$80) for each childbirth. If she has two or three children, the total support would amount to VND4 million (US$160) and VND6 million (US$240), respectively.

In cases where a woman falls into multiple eligible categories, she would receive the full combined support corresponding to each group.

Speaking to VietNamNet on April 22, a representative from the Population Department under the Ministry of Health explained that this means a woman who belongs to a very small ethnic minority group, lives in a low-fertility area, and has two children before the age of 35 could receive VND6 million (US$240) for a single childbirth.

According to estimates by the drafting agency, the total annual budget required for this policy would exceed VND1.8 trillion (US$74 million), to be covered by local government budgets. The draft also allows provincial Peoples Councils to set higher support levels. Payments, either in cash or via bank transfer, are expected to be administered by commune-level Peoples Committees.

In practice, several localities have already implemented financial support policies for women who have two children before the age of 35. Some areas offer higher levels than those proposed by the Ministry of Health. For example, Ho Chi Minh City, which has recorded the lowest fertility rate in the country for many years, currently provides support ranging from VND3 million to VND5 million (US$120-200). To date, nearly 9,000 women have received this benefit, including some from areas merged from Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong.

If approved, the provisions in the draft decree are expected to take effect from July 1.

Fertility decline may lead to negative population growth

Vietnams fertility rate has been declining below the replacement level for several consecutive years, dropping from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to 1.91 in 2024 and slightly rising to 1.93 in 2025. This downward trend has spread across multiple regions.

Projections suggest that a worst-case scenario could unfold if fertility continues to decline. By 2036, Vietnam would exit its golden population period; by 2044, the working-age population would begin to shrink; and by 2051, the countrys population could start experiencing negative growth. Toward the end of the projection period (2069-2074), the average annual population decline could reach approximately 461,000 people.

As a result, policies aimed at encouraging childbirth are being actively considered and implemented.

Sharing his view with VietNamNet, Professor Giang Thanh Long, a senior expert in population and development at the National Economics University in Hanoi, said that such financial support measures primarily serve as a form of encouragement and demonstrate local authorities concern. However, he noted that the decision to have additional children does not depend solely on the amount of financial assistance.

Vo Thu
The event, jointly organised by the Vietnam  Germany Education & Career Association (VGECA) under the Vietnam  Germany Friendship Association and the Union of Germany  Vietnam Economic and Cultural Associations, gathered economic promotion organisations, businesses, consulting agencies for overseas learning, and training institutions from both countries



Discussions were conducted in an open manner, focusing on issues ranging from training in Vietnam to working conditions in Germany. Promoting two-way dialogue helped clarify both advantages and barriers in vocational training in Vietnam. On that basis, German enterprises proposed specific recommendations to help Vietnam better prepare its training foundation and select candidates in line with actual demand, thereby enhancing the reputation of Vietnamese human resources in the German market.



Addressing the workshop, Dang Hoang Linh, Minister-Counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, spoke highly of its significance, noting that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on labour cooperation during German President Frank-Walter Steinmeiers visit to Vietnam in early 2024. This, he said, underscored the importance of creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese workers to fully realise their potential in Germany.



German businesses noted that for Vietnamese workers to successfully access the German market, they must first acquire a solid understanding of the countrys vocational training system. In reality, however, many trainees remain unclear about their chosen fields or specific jobs in Germany, leading to difficulties in establishing appropriate learning pathways. Meanwhile, German employers have clear requirements for each position, with specific skill demands. Without proper orientation from the outset, workers may struggle to keep pace with training and job requirements later on.



Among current challenges, language remains the biggest barrier. Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, VGECA Chairman Nguyen Tuan Nam said many workers, despite holding German language certificates, still face difficulties in real-life communication, affecting their ability to absorb knowledge and integrate. Meanwhile, German employers expect workers to make long-term commitments rather than work for only a few years and later return home.



Sharing this view, Thomas Schlegtendal, Sales Director of Transcura GmbH, said many trainees arrive in Germany with a B1 level of German while B2 is required to keep up with vocational training programmes. In addition, limited understanding of the tax and insurance systems has led some to misunderstand their actual income.



Kevin Fest, head of international relations at the BLA Education Group JSC, said language proficiency and adaptability are the two biggest obstacles for Vietnamese trainees and workers. He suggested that acquiring vocational theoretical knowledge in advance in Vietnam will help learners feel more confident when entering a new environment.



Another factor highlighted was the role of consulting agencies. Inadequate or overly optimistic information can lead to unrealistic expectations among workers before they arrive in Germany. Therefore, providing accurate and practical information is essential to ensure proper preparation.



Around 6,000 Vietnamese students and trainees went to Germany for study and vocational training over the past year, a figure expected to continue rising, statistics showed. To ensure sustainability, both countries need to implement coordinated policies to protect workers rights and enhance market transparency./. VNA
Amid policy constraints and operational challenges in the gold market, the Vietnam Gold Business Association has submitted recommendations to the government, calling for the removal of key bottlenecks that are hindering business activities.

Legal gaps and compliance challenges

From a practical perspective, the association believes many current regulations no longer keep pace with market developments, creating direct challenges for business operations and compliance.

From an implementation perspective, the association noted that many current regulations no longer reflect market realities, creating direct difficulties for business operations and compliance.

One major issue lies in value-added tax (VAT) policy. The current method of VAT declaration for gold trading and jewelry manufacturing, which follows the direct calculation approach, has revealed significant shortcomings. Existing regulations do not fully account for processing and manufacturing costs - which typically make up 25 to 35 percent of the value of jewelry products - when calculating input costs for determining taxable value added.

This results in a higher taxable value than actual, discouraging businesses from investing in technology and craftsmanship.

Another major concern relates to legal risks surrounding gold sourced from the public and anti-money laundering regulations. Due to the lack of clear guidelines on mobilizing and purchasing gold held by individuals for use as production materials, businesses face constant risks in conducting transactions.

Verifying the origin of assets from individuals selling gold remains extremely challenging in the absence of a synchronized national database, leading to unintentional errors in anti-money laundering compliance - an issue widely faced across the industry.

The most significant challenge is the lack of alignment between legal requirements and real-world conditions. While regulations require verification of occupation and income, there are no clear mechanisms or guidelines to support this process, making full compliance difficult despite long-standing rules.

To address these issues, the association proposed issuing clear guidance on the scope of information that can be collected and establishing minimum criteria for transaction assessment. It also recommended shifting to a risk-based approach - focusing on transaction frequency, history, and unusual patterns - instead of requiring strict verification of income and occupation.

At the same time, the development of shared data systems, such as eKYC integrated with national population databases, would help improve identity verification accuracy and reduce the compliance burden on businesses.

Minh Huong
On the morning of April 23 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Y Thong held talks with Kheungkham Keonuchan, Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the Lao Prime Ministers Office, to discuss and align future cooperation between the two agencies.

The meeting took place in a spirit of friendship, openness and constructive dialogue, reflecting the shared determination to further consolidate the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, particularly in the fields of ethnic and religious affairs.

Agreement on a new cooperation framework

Deputy Minister Y Thong speaks at the meeting. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the Lao Prime Ministers Office Kheungkham Keonuchan addresses the talks. Photo: Le Anh Dung

During the talks, both sides focused on exchanging views and reaching consensus on the direction for building a new cooperation framework between Vietnams Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Lao Prime Ministers Office.

The framework will be adjusted to ensure greater practicality and effectiveness, aligning with the functions, responsibilities and real-world needs of each side in the new context.

Deputy Minister Y Thong emphasized that Vietnam consistently values the sharing of experience in formulating and implementing policies on ethnic and religious affairs, particularly models for socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, social welfare assurance and the preservation of cultural identity.

The Lao side expressed high appreciation for Vietnams achievements in these areas and conveyed its desire to strengthen exchanges of delegations, share experience in policymaking, enhance training for officials and promote the application of technology in state management.

The two delegations hold discussions in Hanoi. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the Lao Prime Ministers Office Kheungkham Keonuchan presents a gift to Deputy Minister Y Thong. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Both sides agreed to soon finalize the draft of the new cooperation framework, which will serve as a foundation for long-term, stable and sustainable collaboration.

Based on this shared orientation, the two sides reviewed and agreed on specific contents to implement the 2026 cooperation plan.

Key areas include organizing high-level and technical working delegations; jointly hosting thematic workshops and seminars on ethnic and religious affairs; strengthening training and capacity-building; exchanging information and research materials; and coordinating the implementation of socio-economic development programs in areas with large ethnic minority populations.

Notably, both sides agreed to prioritize the promotion of digital transformation in the management and administration of ethnic and religious affairs, thereby improving governance efficiency and meeting the demands of the evolving context.

Kheungkham Keonuchan affirmed that relevant Lao agencies would closely coordinate with their Vietnamese counterparts to translate these agreements into concrete actions, ensuring synchronized and timely implementation.

Deepening the special Vietnam-Laos relationship

Delegates take a commemorative photo after the meeting. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Beyond the main agenda, Deputy Minister Y Thong also shared Vietnams experience in developing legal frameworks for managing ethnic and religious affairs, the coordination mechanisms in policy implementation, challenges encountered in recent years, and approaches to countering harmful and misleading information on social media related to these fields.

At the conclusion of the talks, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the long-standing tradition of special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, while pledging close coordination to effectively implement the agreed initiatives.

The meeting not only helped concretize cooperation agreements between the two agencies but also marked an important step in deepening the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive partnership between the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

The outcomes of the talks are expected to lay a solid foundation for implementing cooperation programs and plans in 2026 and beyond, contributing to socio-economic development and improving the livelihoods of ethnic communities in both countries.

Hoang Quy
Amid concerns over the potential impact on national digital infrastructure, the Ministry of Science and Technology has sent a second official document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, warning that applying commercial electricity tariffs to data centers could increase operating costs by 20 to 25 percent. Businesses are concerned that changes in electricity pricing could negatively affect the continuous operation of data centers and overall business activities.

Recently, the ministry reiterated its position regarding the application of electricity pricing policies to data centers.

From a sectoral management perspective, it emphasized that the application of electricity pricing under Circular 60 should be reviewed to ensure consistency with the Telecommunications Law and the Law on Digital Technology Industry.

Under Circular 60, electricity prices are categorized based on usage purposes. Electricity used for telecommunications infrastructure - such as switching centers, transmission networks, and broadcasting stations - is subject to production pricing, while electricity used for telecom service business operations is subject to commercial pricing.

According to the Telecommunications Law (2023), data centers are classified as a type of telecommunications infrastructure, while data center services are considered telecommunications services.

Therefore, electricity pricing for data centers should follow the same principle applied to other telecommunications services and should not depend on whether the services are used internally or provided to external customers.

In practice, production activities are fundamental to generating products and services for the market. Supplying services externally does not change the nature of electricity usage within technical systems.

Specifically, electricity used for technical systems within data centers - including servers, storage, data processing, cooling, and infrastructure operations - directly enables service provision and should be classified under production pricing. Meanwhile, electricity used in business service areas such as offices and transaction points should fall under commercial pricing.

In addition, under the Law on Digital Technology Industry (2025), data centers are part of digital technology industry infrastructure.

The ministry affirmed that applying production electricity pricing to data centers aligns with the principle of applying such pricing to industrial sectors under Circular 60.

As a critical component of digital infrastructure, any disruption or interruption in electricity supply to data centers could severely affect information systems and a wide range of socio-economic activities in the digital environment.

Electricity pricing is also a key factor for foreign investors when deciding whether to establish data centers in Vietnam.

Applying commercial electricity tariffs would significantly increase operating costs, potentially affecting investment efficiency and raising the risk of relocating data storage and processing activities  Vietnam. This could undermine the effective implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, which calls for policies to support domestic enterprises in developing data centers and cloud computing, while attracting foreign investment in these sectors.

Based on these considerations, the Ministry of Science and Technology urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade to issue clear guidance on the application of Circular 60 to data centers to ensure consistency and promptly address difficulties faced by businesses.

In the absence of unified guidance, the ministry proposed temporarily maintaining production electricity pricing and ensuring stable power supply for data centers.

Earlier, major companies including Viettel, VNPT, FPT Telecom, CMC, and VNG Data Center had submitted proposals to the Ministry of Industry and Trade regarding changes in electricity pricing under Circular 60.

Under the current interpretation, electricity authorities classify data center operations as centralized data processing, storage, and management services, thereby applying commercial electricity tariffs instead of production tariffs - which had previously been consistently applied to all data centers in Vietnam.

On February 13, 2026, the Ministry of Science and Technology sent an initial document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade regarding enterprise recommendations on electricity pricing for data centers.

On March 19, 2026, the Electricity Authority and the Telecommunications Authority held a joint meeting with representatives from Vietnam Electricity, power corporations, data center enterprises, and the Vietnam Internet Association.

At the meeting, businesses and industry groups expressed concerns that policy changes would significantly increase costs, affecting operations and the investment environment.

Electricity costs currently account for around 40 to 50 percent of total operating expenses for data centers. Switching from production to commercial electricity pricing has already increased electricity costs by more than 50 percent compared to previous levels, potentially raising total operating costs by approximately 20 to 25 percent.

Thai Khang
The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment announced that, within the framework of the state visit to Vietnam by RoK President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hae Kyung, Minister Trinh Viet Hung and Korean Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryung signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in veterinary medicine and animal quarantine. The agreement formally enables the two countries to export processed chicken products to each others markets.



The development is regarded as an important milestone in bilateral agricultural ties, helping establish a more structured framework for closer coordination in animal quarantine procedures.



Hung said that, in the initial phase, each country will designate two enterprises eligible to export processed chicken products. He expressed confidence that this starting point will pave the way for expanding participation and scaling up exports in the future.



On the Korean side, Song highlighted that the outcome reflects a sustained negotiation process and effective coordination between relevant agencies of both countries.



In the coming time, the two sides will continue technical exchanges, particularly in animal quarantine, to facilitate further market access for additional products such as Vietnamese pork and Korean beef.



To ensure effective implementation of the MoU, Hung said his ministry will direct relevant agencies to work closely with their Korean counterparts on inspection, evaluation and quality monitoring.



From a business perspective, Pawalit Ua-Amornwanit, Chief Executive Officer of C.P. Vietnam Corporation, described the market opening as clear evidence of the production and processing capabilities of Vietnamese enterprises.



With a closer cooperation framework and proactive engagement from both countries authorities and businesses, bilateral agricultural trade is expected to expand further, diversify product offerings and move toward sustainable development, delivering tangible benefits to both producers and consumers./. VNA
The event attracted strong interest from investment funds, businesses and industry associations in the RoK.



Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of the MoST Hoang Minh said Vietnam is targeting double-digit GDP growth for the 20262030 period. To achieve this, the country is prioritising the development of emerging sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy and green transformation. Those areas are expected to offer more opportunities for cooperation with Korean partners.



He stressed the need to upgrade Vietnams innovation ecosystem, support startups in meeting international standards, and strengthen links with national venture capital funds to mobilise resources for growth.



Nguyen Thi Thai Binh, Minister Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK, highlighted the special significance of the seminar, which coincided the state visit to Vietnam by President of the RoK Lee Jae Myung, following the visit to the Northeast Asian country by Party General Secretary To Lam in August 2025. These high-level exchanges underscore strong political trust and the dynamic development of the Vietnam  RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.



She noted that Vietnam is evolving from an investment destination into a strategic link in emerging global value chains. With cumulative Korean investment nearing 100 billion USD and bilateral trade reaching around 90 billion USD, economic ties are entering a more substantive and higher-quality phase.



The Vietnam  RoK cooperation is shifting from traditional models to innovation-driven partnerships and co-creation of value, the diplomat went on, adding that Vietnam is actively improving its institutional framework, business environment, digital infrastructure and human resources while promoting strategic technology sectors.



Meanwhile, the RoK, with its strengths in technology, research and development, and a globally recognised innovation ecosystem, is well positioned to partner with Vietnam in harnessing these opportunities, according to Binh.



Major Korean corporations such as Samsung Electronics, SK Group, POSCO, and Hanwha Group are expanding their presence in Vietnam, increasingly moving beyond manufacturing into high-tech industries, energy and strategic infrastructure.



Beyond capital attraction, Vietnam is positioning itself as a regional hub for innovation and technology development. Proposals discussed at the seminarfrom semiconductor and AI cooperation to clean energy and startup fundingare expected to pave the way for a new wave of deeper, more sustainable and long-term strategic collaboration.



The event signals that both countries are entering a new phase of partnership where technology, innovation and strategic trust will serve as new drivers for more effective and substantive cooperation under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership./. VNA
Early heatwaves have pushed electricity consumption in Vietnam to record levels, while supply constraints are tightening. Power plants are now preparing multiple contingency scenarios to ensure stable electricity provision during this years summer peak.

The power sector faces dual pressure

Electricity demand has repeatedly hit record highs, forcing power plants to prepare multiple response scenarios. Photo: TA

At the onset of summer, the National System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO) reported that electricity demand has repeatedly set new records.

On March 31 alone, electricity consumption reached nearly 1.005 billion kWh. According to NSMO Deputy General Director Nguyen Quoc Trung, this indicates a rapid surge in system load.

From April 6 to April 10, daily consumption consistently exceeded 1 billion kWh, about one month earlier than in 2025. Notably, on April 8, national electricity demand peaked at 1.092 billion kWh, marking a new high for the year.

Forecasts suggest that 2026 could become the 12th consecutive year among the hottest on record. At the same time, extreme heatwaves are expected to intensify due to climate change.

Trung explained that short heatwaves lasting one to two days do not significantly increase demand. However, when high temperatures persist for four to five consecutive days, electricity demand can rise by 800 to 1,000 MW per day, even without changes in usage patterns.

If such heat continues for an additional three to four days, the cumulative increase in load could reach 3,000 to 4,000 MW.

As the system operator, Trung noted that the power sector is under pressure from both rising demand and supply challenges. In recent days, hydropower output has hovered around 70 million kWh per day, relatively low compared to total national demand. Meanwhile, coal-fired and gas-fired power generation are being affected by the global energy crisis.

Tran Huu Thanh, Deputy Director of Phu My Thermal Power Company, acknowledged that 2026 presents a difficult landscape for gas-fired power plants due to declining domestic gas supply, which is placing additional strain on the entire system.

According to Thanh, Phu My Thermal Power currently requires about 10 to 11 million cubic meters of gas per day. However, domestic gas sources in some regions are showing signs of depletion, forcing plants to consider supplementing with liquefied natural gas (LNG). This comes with higher costs and direct exposure to global energy market fluctuations.

We still prioritize domestic gas because of its stability and relatively predictable pricing, he said. However, increasing reliance on LNG will significantly raise generation costs.

Nguyen Huu Khanh Ngoc, Director of Tri An Hydropower Company, added that the 2026 dry season is becoming more challenging than usual, with early signs of El Nino appearing from the beginning of the year.

For Tri An, the challenge is no longer maximizing output, but balancing electricity generation with water storage.

Tri An reservoir not only generates electricity but also supplies water to Ho Chi Minh City and the southeastern region. Every water release decision must be carefully calculated. Generating too much electricity risks water shortages downstream and for future seasons, while conserving water reduces available capacity during peak demand, Ngoc explained.

Flexible scenarios to ensure electricity supply

To respond to El Nino conditions, Tri An Hydropower Plant began storing water early, starting in late 2025, and has shifted to more flexible operations. Instead of maintaining steady output based on planned targets, the plant prioritizes generation during peak demand hours while conserving water for long-term balance.

Despite this, all generating units remain on standby, capable of ramping up output within about 30 seconds. This rapid response is critical for maintaining system frequency, especially as renewable energy sources - which are inherently variable - account for an increasing share of the energy mix.

Similarly, Phu My Thermal Power has worked early with gas suppliers to develop stable fuel supply plans for the peak season. Flexible scenarios combining domestic gas and LNG have been prepared to minimize the risk of supply disruptions. The company has also reviewed technical service contracts and backup materials to prevent unplanned outages during high-demand periods.

According to Thanh, the company successfully negotiated an increase in one gas supply from 1.4 billion cubic meters to 3 billion cubic meters. LNG supply from PV Gas is expected to rise to about 9.5 billion cubic meters, with an additional source from Hai Linh to be added in May.

Amid volatile fuel costs and rising demand forecasts, a representative from Power Generation Corporation 3 (EVNGENCO3) said the company has developed multiple operational scenarios, prioritizing the availability of generating units.

Beyond capacity, this years dry season presents a comprehensive challenge involving both fuel supply and system operations, the representative said.

EVNGENCO3 has coordinated early with suppliers to secure coal and gas while maintaining stable output and minimizing disruptions to ensure reliable electricity supply.

The company is also optimizing coordination among different power sources, including coal-fired, gas-fired, and hydropower, to enhance operational efficiency depending on system conditions.

Regarding the national electricity supply plan for 2026, Trinh Quoc Vu, Deputy Director General of the Electricity Authority, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade has developed three specific scenarios.

In the first six months of the year, electricity demand is projected to grow by about 8.5%, closely aligning with the baseline scenario.

However, contingency plans remain necessary to address unexpected fluctuations in demand, particularly given increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. Vu emphasized that, alongside operational efforts, public and business participation in energy conservation will be essential.

Tam An
Ukraine reportedly considered renaming part of the contested Donbas region "Donnyland" in a bid to win support from Donald Trump.

US President Donald Trump

The New York Times reports that the proposed name was suggested by a Ukrainian negotiator as a way to appeal to the former US president.

The idea, reportedly shared during discussions with US officials, emerged partly in jest as Russia insisted peace would require Kyiv to surrender the entire Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk.

A Ukrainian negotiator reportedly created a mock green-and-gold flag and a national anthem for the fictional territory, though it remains unclear whether these were ever presented to US envoys.

Russia claims full control of Luhansk, while Ukraine still holds parts of Donetsk, including key cities such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that conceding the region could embolden Preident Vladimir Putin to pursue further territorial gains.

Donnyland has reportedly continued to feature informally in talks between US and Ukrainian officials.

It has been suggested the area could become a demilitarised or free economic zone via President Trump's Board of Peace.
Mobile network operators may be forced to ration phone signal access amid rising energy costs due to the Iran war.

Students using smartphones in schools

Network providers including Vodafone, Three, Virgin Media O2 and EE have been warned the Government that they may be forced to limit access to mobile signals or slow internet speeds to reduce electricity consumption.

In more extreme scenarios, companies are also considering surge pricing, which would see customers charged extra during peak usage periods.

The industry says it has been left exposed after being excluded from the Governments energy support scheme announced by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

While manufacturers will receive relief under the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, telecoms firms argue they have been overlooked despite operating critical national infrastructure.

Mobile networks are highly energy-intensive, consuming nearly enough electricity each year to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

Costs have risen sharply due to global conflicts disrupting energy supplies, leaving operators struggling to absorb the increases.

Executives warn that without support, investment in 5G expansion could be scaled back, potentially leading to job losses or roles moving overseas.

Any disruption to mobile services would be a significant blow to consumers and could further impact the UKs already fragile economic growth.
Rita Wilson was "shocked" to learn that her late dad had a secret family.

Actress Rita Wilson

The 69-year-old actress discovered that Allan Wilson - born Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff - had a wife named Alice and a child called Emil in his native Bulgaria before he emigrated to the United States, during an appearance on the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? in 2012.

Sleepless in Seattle star Rita - who grew up in Los Angeles with Allan, his wife Dorothy and her siblings, Lily and Chris - recalled the family secret on the latest episode of the How to Fail With Elizabeth Day podcast.

Rita said: "What they found with my dad was that his story was so shocking and unusual that they stuck with his story.

She was informed that Allan "was married and he had a child" and asked Who Do You Think You Are?'s producers: "Am I going to meet someone? Am I going to meet a family?"

Sadly, Rita did not meet anyone as Alice died in childbirth, and Emil passed away from an infection four months after he was born on December 26.

And Allan moved to the United States in 1949 following the double tragedy, "which took place right after the war".

Oscar-winner Rita said: "I still can't get over that. [He] never said anything to us. I wish I could have talked to him about that."

In a "weird" and heartbreaking twist, the Mamma Mia! cast member added: "My sister's firstborn child was born on December 26, and my youngest son was born on December 26.

"And I think of my dad, all of those years, celebrating all those birthdays, and knowing that he had a child born on Dec. 26, Emil, who passed away."

Rita - who has been married to Toy Story legend Tom Hanks, 69, since 1998 and has Chet, 35, and Truman, 30, with him, and is stepmom to the actor's older children, Colin, 49, and Elizabeth, 44, whom he has from a previous marriage - said her Greek Orthodox family "kept things so private" .

But she thinks: "If we were all more open with each other, then we all can see that we're all in the same boat.

Allan went on to marry Dorothy in 1950 before they welcomed Rita, Lily and Chris into the world.

And Rita lauded her dad - who died in March 2009 - and mom for being "incredible" parents.
Russell Brand has revealed he slept with a 16 year old when he was 30.

Russell Brand has opened up about a past encounter

The British comedian, now 50, has opened up about a past sexual encounter which he claimed was "consensual" while admitting he would now see the situation as "exploitative" given his fame.

Appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, he said: "The plain fact of it is, in Europe and in the United Kingdom, where I'm from, the age of consent is 16. And I did sleep with a 16 yea -old when I was 30. "But when I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30 year old.

"Consensual sex, actually, with a variety of people when there is a strong power differential, because there is when youre a famous man that has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation."

Brand - who has appeared in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek - described his past actions as "selfish" and noted he didn't have much consideration for their impact.

He added: "I think it is exploitative. I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I did not apply enough consideration, barely any, I suppose, really, to how that sex was affecting other people.

Meanwhile, Brand has continued to deny separate sexual assault allegations made against him last year.

In April 2025, he was charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault, in relation to alleged offences involving four women between 1999 and 2005, but after fresh charges were brought in January, one count of rape and one of sexual assault against two women in 2009.

The actor, who has denied the allegations against him, had been due in court on June 16, but his trial has been postponed until October 12, when the matter is expected to last two months.

According to Sky News, the judge, Mr. Justice Bennathan, said if the trial began in June as planned, the court may run out of time to hear it and would struggle to find jurors who could sit through the start of the summer holidays.

Brand - who is a father to three children with his wife Laura Gallacher - previously spoke out to deny the allegations against him when he was first charged by the Metropolitan Police last year.

In a video statement which was posted on social media, he said: "I've always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had my wife and family ... I was a fool, man.

"I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile. But what I never was, was a rapist.

"I've never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes."

Brand added: "Of course, I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court. And I'm incredibly grateful for that."
Photo: thoibaotaichinh.vn

According to its latest financial report, the company posted revenue of over VND32.61 trillion ($1.3 billion) in the first three months of the year, up nearly 30 per cent on-year.

Net profit reached approximately $88.2 million, almost 1.5 times higher than the same period last year. This translates into average daily earnings of more than $980,000, or over $40,000 per hour. Net profit margin also improved to 6.8 per cent.

Growth was driven by multiple segments. Topzone recorded the fastest expansion with a 42 per cent increase, followed by The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World) at 34 per cent and Dien May Xanh at over 30 per cent. By product category, mobile phones surged 65 per cent, while home appliances and refrigerators both rose by around 45 per cent.

By the end of the first quarter, the group maintained a network of 2,006 Dien May Xanh stores, 929 The Gioi Di Dong outlets, and 85 Topzone stores, unchanged from the beginning of the year.

Overseas, the EraBlue joint venture in Indonesia generated revenue of around $57 million. Average revenue per store in this market was 1.5 to 2.6 times higher than comparable domestic models. The chain currently operates 212 outlets and targets doubling this figure by 2027 and reaching around 1,000 stores by 2030.

For 2026, Dien May Xanh targets revenue of approximately $4.9 billion and net profit of $294 million, representing increases of nearly 12 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively, compared to 2025.

The company also plans to launch an IPO this year, subject to regulatory approval. It aims to offer up to 179.5 million shares, equivalent to 16.3 per cent of its charter capital. The offering price is expected to be no lower than $0.65 per share, with proceeds to be used to repay short-term borrowings.
Photo: baodautu.vn

The draft proposal from Hanoi Peoples Committee outlines a first phase from July 1 to December 31, establishing a 0.5 square kilometres low-emission zone covering streets including Trang Tien, Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Hang Buom, Ma May, Hang Bac, Hang Mam, Nguyen Huu Huan, and Ly Thai To.

The zone has a 3.5km perimeter and a population of around 20,000.Within the zone, petrol motorbikes will be banned from 6pm to midnight on Fridays, and from 6am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Petrol-powered motorcycles used for ride-hailing services will also be prohibited.

Light trucks under two tonnes meeting Euro 4 emission standards will only be allowed to operate outside peak hours. Trucks from two to under 3.5 tonnes meeting the same standard may operate only between 9pm and 6am the following day, subject to approval from city police. Trucks above 3.5 tonnes will be banned.

Vehicles with 16 seats or more, excluding buses and school transport, operating in the Old Quarter and areas surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake must meet Euro 4 emission standards and will be restricted from 6am to 9am and from 4pm to 7.30pm daily.

Buses and school vehicles must comply with Euro 4 standards, while vehicles with fewer than 16 seats using fossil fuels must also meet the same requirements.

In the second phase, from January 1 to December 31, 2027, the pilot zone will be expanded to include Cua Nam ward and surrounding streets such as Nguyen Du, Han Thuyen, Tran Hung Dao, Tran Khanh Du, Tran Quang Khai, Tran Nhat Duat, Hang Dau, Cua Dong, Ly Nam De, Ton That Thiep, Dien Bien Phu, Hang Bong, Cua Nam, and Le Duan.

In the third phase, from 2028 to 2029, the low-emission zone is set to expand across the entire Ring Road 1 area, covering more than 26sq.km with a population of approximately 625,000.

The proposal aims to implement Resolution No.57/2025 of Hanoi Peoples Council on low-emission zones, with a roadmap starting from July 1.

Research by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment during 20232025 shows that transport accounts for around 25 per cent of PM2.5 emissions in Hanoi, followed by construction and road dust at 20 per cent, burning at 12 per cent, and secondary particulate formation, including industrial sources, at 27 per cent.

Emission inventory data indicates that within the city, transport contributes 59 per cent of direct emissions, followed by road dust and construction at 28 per cent, residential burning at 11 per cent, and industry at 2 per cent.

Hanoi currently has around 6.9 million motorbikes, including approximately 450,000 operating within Ring Road 1.
Trinh Viet Hung Minister of Agriculture and Environment (left) and Song Miryung Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (right). Photo: MAE

On April 21, Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of South Korea held a meeting with Trinh Viet Hung, Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam.

Minister Miryung requested that the Vietnamese side extend the permitted export period for South Korean melons until June (presently restricted to May) considering the growing demand in Vietnam. He said the differing climates of South Korea and Vietnam meant it was mutually beneficial to facilitate a strong agri-food trade environment, with both ministers agreeing to keep trade expansion dialogue open.

The ministers recognised South Korea's contribution to the advancement of Vietnams agricultural and rural sector through official development assistance (ODA) implemented since 2011. This includes support for the National Centre for Veterinary Diagnostics. Looking ahead, both ministers agreed to further cooperation in agricultural ODA.

In addition, Minister Miryung proposed convening the second meeting of the South Korea-Vietnam Agricultural Cooperation Committee to broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation into sectors, such as smart farming and agricultural product processing.

Notably, in light of the recent global impact of African swine fever, he sought the Vietnam's continued cooperation to ensure collaborative research on a vaccine development proceeds seamlessly. Minister Miryung also emphasised the importance of a joint response system for transboundary animal diseases.

In the afternoon, he visited the West Lake branch of Lotte Mart in Hanoi to observe consumption trends for fresh agricultural produce and popular K-street food among local consumers. During the visit, the minister engaged with consumers, retail personnel, and K-Food supporters to gather feedback on market preferences.

It was a privilege to meet the newly appointed Minister for Agriculture and Environment and offer my congratulations on his appointment. We have held productive discussions on matters of mutual interest in strengthening bilateral agricultural cooperation and have agreed to continue building a substantive partnership in the agricultural sector, Minister Miryung said.

Lotte Global Logistics inks MoU with Tan Long Group to enhance agriculture and food logistics Lotte Global Logistics and Tan Long Group signed an MoU on cooperation in agriculture and food logistics on March 23.

US wheat sees rising demand in Vietnam Vietnam is emerging as a promising market for US wheat farmers, driven by steadily rising domestic demand.
Vietnam and South Korea promote cooperation in water security

The MoU was signed at the 17th Vietnam - Korea Environment Ministers Meeting. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect, focusing on modern water resource management.

The focus is on strengthening integrated water resource management to mitigate and adapt to climate change; strengthening water resource monitoring, including operating water resource databases to support data collection, analysis, and information and data sharing; and enhancing capacity in water resource regulation and allocation for effective management, use, and protection of resources.

Key areas include restoring and sustainably managing degraded, depleted, and polluted rivers and freshwater ecosystems; encouraging the water-energy linkage as a circular system to enhance resource efficiency and sustainability; and encouraging carbon neutrality and renewable energy in the water resources sector.

In addition, the two countries will cooperate to encourage the modernisation and professionalisation of water resource governance based on digital technology, including the application of technologies such as the Internet of Things , big data, Digital Twin, AI, and water resource accounting systems to enhance efficiency, transparency, and data-driven decision-making, and strengthening cooperation frameworks to ensure water security and transboundary water resource management.

The cooperation will be diversified, including professional exchanges, joint research projects, pilot initiatives, workshops, training, study tours, and policy dialogues. Simultaneously, the two countries will collaborate on developing specific action plans, implementing water-saving models, developing environmental friendly smart cities, and improving the national water resource data system.

A joint working group to coordinate cooperation was also established, with a rotating meeting mechanism between the two countries. The focal point on the Vietnamese side is the Department of Water Resources Management, while on the Korean side it is the Water Use Policy Bureau.

Vietnam and South Korea sign MoU to boost innovative startup development According to an MoU signed on July 3 between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam (MoST) and the Ministry of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and Startups of South Korea (MSS), both parties will enhance cooperation on the development of an innovative startup ecosystem.

Vietnam and South Korea to strengthen ties in AI Vietnam and South Korea will strengthen cooperation in AI, focusing on building core digital infrastructure, data centres, and developing appropriate legal frameworks, while South Korean businesses express interest in investing and collaborating with Vietnamese enterprises for mutual development.

Vietnam and South Korea strengthen ties with new sci-tech pact Vietnam and South Korea have taken a major step to deepen their strategic partnership, signing a new agreement to advance cooperation in science and technology.

Vietnam and South Korea strengthen exchanges on stock market supervision A delegation from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Duc Chi had a working session with South Korea officials on August 25 in Seoul to discuss the safe and effective operation of Vietnam's new stock trading system.
On April 22, Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh had a meeting with Chang Min Young, chairman and president of the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) at the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) headquarters in Hanoi. During the meeting, Deputy Governor Canh congratulated IBK Vietnam on receiving its licence to establish a wholly foreign-owned bank in Vietnam.

Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh (right) in discussion with Chang Min Young, chairman and president of IBK

This is the only licence issued by the State Bank of Vietnam to a wholly foreign-owned bank in Vietnam over the past nine years, bringing the total number of such banks in the country to 10, including three from South Korea. The most recent licence before this was granted to UOB Vietnam in 2017.

The current list of wholly foreign-owned banks in Vietnam features HSBC Vietnam, Shinhan Vietnam, Standard Chartered Vietnam, Public Bank Vietnam, Woori Vietnam, UOB Vietnam, ANZ Vietnam, Hong Leong Vietnam, CIMB Vietnam, and IBK Vietnam.

IBKs top leader Chang Min Young noted that the bank was established with the mission of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with 75 per cent of its lending portfolio dedicated to this segment.

He expressed confidence that IBKs experience in operating financial mechanisms for SMEs would serve as a valuable asset in advisory and cooperative activities with Vietnam.

As a wholly foreign-owned bank operating in Vietnam, IBK has committed to quickly stabilising its operations and performing effectively, contributing to strengthening cooperative relations between South Korea and Vietnam, he said.

At the meeting, Deputy Governor Canh stated that Vietnam considered the development of SMEs a key driver of the national economy, holding an important role in economic growth, job creation, and social welfare.

The demand for capital to support business development, especially for SMEs in Vietnam, is enormous. With more than 60 years of experience, IBK Vietnam can be serving as a bridge between businesses of the two countries, helping encourage Vietnams investment environment to Korean business community, and expand supply chain financing programmes. This, in turn, will help Vietnamese enterprises participate more deeply in global value chains, he said.

The participation of wholly foreign-owned banks not only increases competition in the market but also creates momentum for domestic banks to improve governance standards, risk management, and service quality.

This group of banks typically has strengths in areas such as trade finance, retail banking, services for foreign-invested enterprises, and cross-border financial services, thereby effectively supporting import-export activities and foreign investment inflows into Vietnam.

In addition, foreign banks play an active role in the digital transformation of the banking sector by introducing advanced technological solutions, modern operating models, and innovative financial products.

At the same time, their compliance with international standards on capital safety, transparency, and corporate governance contributes to enhancing the stability and integration of Vietnams financial system in the face of deepening globalisation.

Banks address green credit significance Significant progress has been made in the sustainable finance market in Vietnam, with banks actively promoting bonds and loans to facilitate the development of projects aligned with environmental, social, and governance frameworks.

Banks race to divest financial stakes Foreign banks and investors are projected to deepen their foothold in Vietnams consumer credit market, driven by low penetration rates compared to the region, favourable policies, and the evolving attitudes of a new generation of borrowers.
The agreement was signed at Viettel Global headquarters in Hanoi with the presence of senior representatives from both organisations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Jung Jinwan, CEO of Woori Bank Korea, said, "Going forward, Woori Bank Korea will continue to accompany and actively support the cooperation between the two parties."

"We aim not only to provide comprehensive financial solutions, but also to expand collaboration with Viettel Global across various high-potential business sectors, becoming a reliable partner in creating meaningful added value together, he said.

As key institutions driving their economies, the partnership between Woori Bank and Viettel Global is expected to unlock growth for both sides and contribute to the broader development of South Korea and Vietnam.

This collaboration is expected to be a new milestone for Woori Bank as it expands its presence in Vietnam and advances its localisation strategy, one of the banks top priorities.

Viettel Global, part of Viettel Group, operates across 10 countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The company has previously carried out financial transactions with Woori Banks Vietnamese branch.

The cooperation was sealed during Jung's trip to Vietnam, where he accompanied President Lee Jae Myung on his state visit to the country.

Woori Bank Vietnam partners with Samsung Vina Insurance to offer property insurance services Woori Bank Vietnam and Samsung Vina Insurance have forged a strategic alliance to enhance property insurance operations, offering more options to new insurance services for corporate clients while strengthening Woori Bank's competitive position.

Viettel Global achieves record revenues and profit Last year Viettel Global (VGI) recorded its highest-ever revenues and profit.
North Wales residents have been reassured that fire stations will remain open across the region.

The North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority approved a paper pledging to retain fire stations at its April meeting this week.

The Draft Community Risk Management Implementation Plan Consultation Report 2026  2027 was presented and rubberstamped by authority members at the online meeting on Monday.

As part of the Fire Standard, the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is required to consult and engage with communities, staff, and stakeholders.

The consultation is part of a community risk management planning process. Consequently, the service carried out a public consultation, receiving 397 responses, including 43 from Anglesey, 49 from Conwy, 62 from Denbighshire, 88 from Flintshire, 71 from Gwynedd, and 84 from Wrexham.

Only five staff responded to the survey. Consultees were asked about a range of subjects, varying from mental health to recruitment to concerns about fire safety.

The consultation received 72 comments on concerns around the adequacy of fire engines, fire stations, and staffing levels across the service area as well as repeated requests not to close fire stations. According to the report, no closures are planned.

The service has no intention to close any fire stations, the report reads. The service has increased the number of wholetime fire stations (from eight to 10) following the introduction of a pilot project at Dolgellau and Porthmadog fire stations, which now operate a day crewed system, thus improving fire cover across different rural areas in South Gwynedd.

The service also received 90 comments in regard to recruitment and workforce diversity  with many responses debating the emphasis on diversity versus prioritising the physical and mental health requirements needed for the role of a firefighter.

But other respondents said the service needed to recruit more women and those from diverse backgrounds and people with life experience.

Other concerns raised included 76 people requesting more visibility in rural areas. 151 letters raised concerns about air fryers, e-bikes/e-scooters, vaping, and charging equipment, and the addition of solar panels on roof tops. The authority also received numerous comments about wildfires, flooding, coastal and tidal water safety, and the impact of severe weather.

The service also received concerns about the Conwy Tunnel fire and incidents on the A55. The report, though, said it was encouraging to see the diversity of other minority languages represented among those who took part in the consultation aside from English and Welsh. Members agreed to note the report.

By Richard Evans  BBC Local Democracy Reporter

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This Friday (Friday, 24 April), Ukrainian actor and author Mariia Samoilenko will be performing a piece that explores the voice of artists in times of crisis in collaboration with Dirty Protest Theatre.

Mariia is working with Wrexham-based new writing theatre company Dirty Protest Theatre for an evening of live performances  bringing together invited artists and friends of the company, voices and stories across cultures, exploring themes of migration, belonging, and survival in times of crisis.

The event will begin at 6:30 pm and following the main performance there will be a Q&A.

After fantastic supporting poets and musicians such as Iwan Berry, Tom Mandane, Jenny Wilde-Parkes and Hazel Shan, Mariia Samoilenko will perform her solo piece Bridges of Voices, a poetic monologue that will incorporate Ukrainian, Danish and Welsh folk songs to embody the messages of her text.

The event will also include servings of Ukrainian sweet and savoury snacks provided by Annas Bakery where you can try some delicious cakes, cabbage rolls and more.

According toTy Pawbs description of the event, Mariia Samoilenko is a Ukrainian theatre and film actor and creator originally from Kyiv, currently based in Denmark, where she has continued her artistic practice since 2022. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, her work has included theatre projects in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany, as well as concert performances across different regions of Denmark.

When we had the joy of speaking to Mariia, she discussed how an idea that has informed the research and development of this project is the belief that it is in collaborating that we are enriched and our voices are made stronger together.

She highlighted how it was important for her to bring a piece of Ukraine to share with Welsh audiences and hopes that Ukrainian audiences too will be reflective. She also carries Danish culture in her heart and looks forward to performing folk songs in Ukranian, Danish, and Welsh, viewing her role as an artist as that of a messenger, bringing communities together through song.

This project, written, created and performed by Mariia Samoilenko and directed by Dirty Protest Theatre, has been developed as part of an independently led R&D project by Mariia Samoilenko, supported by the Nordic Culture Fund (NEMO) and partner arts councils (Arts Council England, Arts Council of Ireland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland).

Mariia has enjoyed her time in Wrexham, noting the beautiful landscape, people, and local history. She told us that every castle, village, and community shes visited around Wrexham has contributed to her artistic archive and hopes to use this experience to inform her future projects. Mariia feels there are connections between Wales and Ukraine in their shared struggles and anti-colonial fight; in light of this and her performance in Wrexham, she hopes for future collaboration with Wales.

Dirty Protest Theatres involvement in this project reflects their interrogative question of what is the role of artists in time of crisis? Exploring multilingual connections, Dirty Protest are also collaborating with artists in Brazil to create a performance that will occur on the 7th and 8th of May. Keep an eye on their socials and website for more information.

Follow Mariia at https://www.instagram.com/mariyasamoylenko/ and https://www.facebook.com/maria.samoylenko.16 to see updates on her next projects.

Bridges of Voices is a free event, with the option to pay what you decide on the night. You can reserve your place with an Eventbrite ticket here.

Photo by Flemming Madsen

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A police investigation is underway after multiple vehicles were damaged in the Plas Madoc and Rhosymedre areas.

The damage is reported to have taken place overnight on Saturday, 18 April and into the early hours of Sunday, 19 April.

North Wales Police are appealing to residents in the Alwen, Dinas, Glaslyn, Ogwen, Hampden Way and Plas Isaf areas to check any CCTV or Ring Doorbell footage that may help officers with their enquiries.

A police spokesperson said: You may also have noticed an increased police presence over the past few days as officers look to conduct house-to-house enquiries to identify any suspects.

Simply put, mindless damage of this nature is not acceptable and anyone found to be involved will be dealt with robustly.

Should anyone have any information that might assist with the investigation, please contact North Wales Police either online or via 101 quoting reference number 26000306799.

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Travis Barker is set to explore "the thin line between survival and surrender" in a new documentary.

Travis Barker is set for a new documentary

The Blink-182 drummer is set for a new project with Hulu exploring the aftermath of a horror plane crash in 2008, which killed four people and left the musician badly injured with third-degree burns on more than half his body, while he needed 27 surgeries to help with his injuries.

This summer, he will appear in Hulu documentary Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear.

The synopsis reads: After surviving a devastating plane crash that nearly took his life, legendary and electrifying drummer Travis Barker embarks on a raw and redemptive journey.

Once a trash collector in Laguna Beach, his life changed when he stepped in as a replacement for Blink-182s drummer  igniting a meteoric rise that would make him the driving pulse of a generation.

"Yet beneath the spectacle of fame, the film reveals a complex man battling pain, grief and the thin line between survival and surrender.

This is the story of the man behind the tattoos. A tribute to those who keep going when the music almost stops.

The 50-year-old star previously credited "power of love" for getting him back on a plane, as he paid tribute to his now-wife Kourtney Kardashian.

He told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: I think the power of love really helped me.

Kourt made it so I fly, my kids fly now. She healed us.

Although Travis found his first flights easy, he was horrified when he took to the skies for the third time and his private jet began losing cabin pressure.

He recalled pleading: "Youve gotta be kidding me. God, please. Please."

He added: "I had someone tell the pilot, No cowboy s***. Just land this f****** plane, please. Dont try to be a hero. But I have no control over it. I dont know if Ill ever feel comfortable.

And Travis is still unsure whether flying is "worth" the stress it brings him.

He said: It takes a little piece of my life every time I fly. The amount of stress and anxiety it causes is just unbearable. It brings up all this old trauma, and sometimes Im like, Is this worth it?

"But I dont like anything having a hold on me, either  I dont like being afraid, and I dont like having things from my past control my future.
The Llangollen and Corwen Railway has hailed a recent Branch Line Gala as a big success after visitors travelled from across the UK to attend the three-day event.

The gala featured a line-up of four steam locomotives alongside heritage diesel trains, operating a busy timetable throughout the weekend.

In addition, visitors had the chance to enjoy live music at Beyers Bar and take part in brake van rides.

The event was delivered by the railways team of volunteers, including drivers, firemen, station staff, cleaners and catering teams.

Branch Line Gala organiser, Iain Ross, said: This years gala has been absolutely fantastic. Weve seen a huge number of visitors, with people travelling from all over the UK to be here. The atmosphere right across the railway has been incredible.

The combination of four steam engines, an intensive timetable, and the range of activities on offer has really delivered something special. Its also been wonderful to see how popular Beyers Bar and the brake van rides have been.

Events like this play a huge role in promoting the Dee Valley and supporting the local economy. Above all, this has been a team effort, and our volunteers have once again been outstanding.

The railway has confirmed that its next major event, the 80s Diesel Weekend, will take place on May 30 and 31.

The next Branch Line Gala is scheduled for April 2 to 4, 2027.

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NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP)  Some of the destructive wildfires tearing through Georgia this week are being fed by not only a persistent drought, but also by fallen trees and limbs scattered across the South by Hurricane Helene well over a year ago.

Blustery winds also are helping ignite and expand the fires in Georgia and Florida that have blanketed parts of several states in smoke, leading to air quality warnings Thursday in cities far from the blazes.

Shifting winds made for another high-risk day with more evacuations ordered near Georgias coast, where a wildfire has now destroyed close to 90 homes and threatened more.

Residents there were warned to leave as many as 200 homes. Farther to the west, Georgia's biggest fire near the Florida state line doubled in size in less than a day and by Thursday had burned through a sparsely populated area twice the size of Manhattan.

Images from the devastated areas showed the shells of charred cars and trucks sitting next to the smoldering ruins of homes nestled among blackened trees.

Many who were forced to flee this week were distraught over the homes and animals they left behind.

I dont know if I have a house standing or not, said Denise Stephens, who evacuated her home near Hortense because of the fast-moving Brantley County fire. I know what its taken from other people, but I dont know what I have left standing.

Wood debris littering the states southern half since Hurricane Helene churned through in September 2024 has enabled some of the blazes to spread and intensify quickly, officials said.

Theres a ton of old Hurricane Helene debris down in the woods, said Seth Hawkins, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson. Its lying around, and its just a tinderbox out there.

The forestry commission estimated that Helene swept across nearly 14,000 square miles (36,000 square kilometers) of forestland statewide, striking areas where trees are grown for paper and lumber.

In Helenes wake, cleanup efforts were rolled out across southern Georgia. The state put up roughly $135 million to help private timberland owners remove fallen trees, and the Army Corps of Engineers hauled off millions of cubic yards of debris.

But they couldnt get everything.

The way Helene just threw everything down like matchsticks, theres only so much you can do short of bulldozing everything, Hawkins said. There are big pockets of woods out there where people dont walk around too much. So it just kind of gets left there.

Brantley County, where most of the evacuations have been ordered, has less hurricane debris in its forests than some neighboring counties, County Manager Joey Cason said.

But as the wildfire continued to expand and remained unpredictable, some residents decided to stay put.

Ive been in the fire area today on both sides of it, and we have folks that are sitting in their front yards running sprinklers, Brantley County Sheriff Len Davis said. So some are leaving, and some are staying.

It is not known yet how the wildfires started, but the bottom half of Georgia and northern Florida are both extremely dry.

In Florida, firefighters were battling more than 130 wildfires, mostly in the states northern half. Fire crews in Georgia responded to 34 new and relatively small blazes Wednesday, the forestry commission said.

Smoke drifted across a large area of the Southeast, making the air unhealthy Thursday for children and people with lung or heart problems in cities as far as Columbia, South Carolina. A haze hung over Atlantas skyline a day earlier, and there was a smoky smell across the metro area.

Officials are hoping for rain to help tame the fires, and there is a 30% to 40% chance of showers or thunderstorms in the area of both big Georgia fires this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. While showers could bring welcome relief, thunderstorms could also produce lightning capable of sparking more fires.

Martin reported from Atlanta, and Bynum from Savannah. Associated Press writer John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.
Microsoft has insisted its longteased Xbox mobile game store isnt dead  even though the web link for the service quietly stopped working and fans assumed the whole thing had been scrapped.

Xbox mobile game store is 'not dead'

The confusion kicked off when users noticed the URL for the browserbased version of the store had gone dark.

But Microsoft Gaming boss Asha Sharma jumped in to shut down rumours, saying the company is still pushing to break Apple and Googles grip on mobile apps.

Posting on X, she said: Three weeks ago, we filed an amicus because mobile competition still matters and we believe the future of play should be more open. While I am still learning, the idea of an Xbox mobile store is not dead.

The project was originally announced by former Xbox president Sarah Bond, who promised a July 2024 launch  a date that came and went as legal battles over appstore rules dragged on.

Sharmas comments point to Microsofts ongoing support for the Epic v Google case, which recently forced Google to open the door to thirdparty Android stores.

As part of the settlement, Google agreed to let rival app stores be installed directly from the web worldwide, without the usual unknown sources warning screens  except in the US.

In America, a proposed court order could go even further, potentially requiring Google to let competing stores be downloaded straight from the Google Play Store itself.

Microsoft backed that plan in a legal filing, saying the injunction has enabled innovation, spurred technological development, and promoted competition.

Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney, who has spent years fighting for a more open Android ecosystem, cheered Microsoft on, calling the update great news and saying the settlement ensures the Xbox store can launch without the old scare screens.


Exploration Update

Perth, April 23, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Uranium project developer Deep Yellow Limited ( ASX:DYL ) ( JMI:FRA ) ( DYLLF:OTCMKTS ) provided a summary of key field and drilling programs completed in the March 2026 quarter at the Company's exploration projects in Namibia and in the Northern Territory, Australia.



HIGHLIGHTS



Tinkas Prospect



- Exploration drilling at Tinkas, north-west of Tumas, was completed in mid-March 2026, comprising 133 holes for 1,363m.



Alligator River Project



- Seismic survey completed over Condor Prospect to help identify priority drill targets for the 2026 exploration season.



Tinkas Prospect (Namibia)



A reverse circulation (RC) infill drilling program at the Tinkas Prospect, located approximately 8 km north-west of the Tumas Project, commenced on 18 February 2026 and targeted previously identified uranium mineralisation. Tinkas forms part of the regional prospectivity around Deep Yellow's flagship Tumas Project, which is being prepared for development.



The RC program comprised 133 holes for a total of 1,363 m and was completed on 18March 2026.



Drill line spacing was 100 m, with drill holes spaced at 100 m intervals along each line. Figure 1* shows the Tinkas location; Figure 2* shows the drill hole locations; and Figure 3 shows an eastwest cross-section through the prospect. Appendix 1*, Tables 1 and 2 list the drill hole details.



Drilling successfully confirmed the presence of uranium mineralisation in calcretised palaeochannel sediments as well as in joints and fractures within schistose basement lithologies. Uranium mineralisation exceeding 100 ppm equivalent uranium grade (eU3O8) was intersected in 38 holes, including:



- TUBR1296: 11 m at 265 ppm eU3O8 from 2 m

- TUBR1335: 4 m at 244 ppm eU3O8 from 3 m



Based on the results of the RC program, the Company considers that further infill drilling may be required to establish a resource in the Tinkas area.



In 2026, the focus of exploration on the Company's tenements in Namibia will be to further evaluate the S-Bend Prospect and Aussinanis Project for calcrete mineralisation within fractured basement rocks.



Alligator River Project (Northern Territory)



The Alligator River Project, approximately 380 km by road east north-east of Darwin, is the largest granted uranium exploration package in the world-class Alligator River uranium province, located in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The potential of Alligator River is demonstrated by the outstanding resources of the nearby Jabiluka and Ranger deposits providing over 750 Mlb of U308 in mineral endowment (current resources and mined).



The Angularli Deposit is the most advanced of Deep Yellow's prospects and targets across the Alligator River Project, with the most recent exploration focus on the northern sections of this substantial tenement package. Figure 4* shows the project and prospect locations. During the quarter, Deep Yellow progressed the interpretation of the 2D reflection seismic survey at the Condor Prospect.



The Condor Prospect corridor is highly prospective for Ranger-style mineralisation, showing a similar geology. The previous operator, Cameco Corporation, applied traditional geophysical methods to guide sparse drilling. To overcome a key hindrance associated with highly conductive Cretaceous cover sediments of up to 150-200 m thickness, Deep Yellow engaged Fleet Space to undertake a high-resolution reflection seismic program. Four lines were shot in the central part of the Condor Prospect area. The Northern Territory Government contributed $100,000 towards the seismic acquisition through the "Resourcing the Future 2025" program.



As shown in Figure 5*, the reflection seismic survey clearly maps the Cretaceous cover with thicknesses ranging from 150-200 m. Structural interpretation of the seismic data identified several prospective faults in the basement, resulting in the identification of five priority drill targets.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/623S52B3





About Deep Yellow Limited





Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF) is successfully progressing a dual-pillar growth strategy to establish a globally diversified, leading uranium company producing 10+ Mlb pa. The Company's portfolio consists of two advanced projects in Tier-1 uranium mining jurisdictions - flagship Tumas in Namibia and Mulga Rock, Western Australia.

Deep Yellow's future growth is underpinned by its highly prospective exploration portfolio - Alligator River, Northern Territory and Omahola, Namibia with ongoing M&A focused on high quality assets should opportunities arise that best fit the Company's strategy. Led by a best-in-class team, who are proven uranium mine builders and operators, the Company is advancing its growth strategy at a time when the need for nuclear energy is becoming the only viable option in the mid-to-long-term to provide baseload power supply and achieve zero emission targets. Importantly, Deep Yellow is on track to becoming a reliable and long-term uranium producer, able to provide production optionality, security of supply and geographic diversity.

Related Companies
Ye's Italy concert sparks major backlash. Jewish groups, politicians demand cancellation as Europe-wide tour faces protests. 68K tickets sold.

AceShowbiz - Controversy is mounting over Yes upcoming performance at Italy's Hellwatt Festival, scheduled for July 18 at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia. The venue, which holds 103,000 people, is now at the center of a heated political and social debate.

With 68,000 tickets already sold, strong opposition is coming from the local Jewish community, anti-fascist groups, trade unions, and various politicians. These groups are urging the Italian government to block Yes concert, according to reports from Variety.

This backlash follows a series of cancellations across Europe, as Yes shows have been called off in the U.K., France, Switzerland, and Poland over recent weeks. Notably, the U.K. denied him a visa, and France effectively prevented his Marseille concert from taking place.

Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament and a prominent figure in Italy's Democratic Party, publicly expressed frustration over Italys silence on the issue, especially given that tens of thousands of tickets have already been sold.

The situation carries additional weight in Reggio Emilia, a city honored with the Gold Medal for Military Valor in 1950 for its significant role in resisting Nazi forces during World War II. This historical context adds complexity to the decision facing authorities.

Yes past remarks and actions have fueled the uproar. He has publicly declared I Love Nazis on social media, sold merchandise displaying swastikas, and released a song titled Heil Hitler. Earlier this year, Ye issued a full-page apology in the Wall Street Journal, attributing his controversial behavior to manic episodes linked to bipolar disorder. He was also recently photographed leaving The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.

Victor Yari Milani, the artistic director of the Hellwatt Festival, defended the event as a space for free artistic expression but noted that they have asked Ye to offer another apology while in Italy.

Meanwhile, Reggio Emilias mayor, Marco Massari, has taken a neutral position, stating that the ultimate decision lies with Italys Ministry of the Interior, which has yet to comment publicly.

The festival lineup also includes artists such as Travis Scott, Rita Ora, and Martin Garrix, but these names have been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Yes performance.

Yes remaining European tour dates include stops in Turkey, the Netherlands, Madrid, and Portugal. Italys ruling on his concert could influence the fate of these upcoming shows.

The Ministry of the Interior is expected to announce its decision by May 15, which will likely determine whether Ye can perform in Reggio Emilia or if the concert will be canceled amid ongoing protests.
Drake's 'Iceman' album drops May 15. Fans speculate: will Future appear despite their rumored feud? Discover the cryptic reveal.

AceShowbiz - Now that the release date for Drake's highly anticipated Iceman album has been revealed, fans are buzzing with excitement and hoping for a reunion between Drake and Future despite their rumored falling out.

On April 21, Twitch streamer Kishka discovered the Iceman release date hidden in a blue bag encased in an ice block. Later, the streamer visited the Toronto mansion of the Canadian rapper, known as "The Embassy," where he opened a large-print magazine on camera. This magazine unveiled the album's official release date: May 15. Alongside this, an inscription was found that read, "2024 26 will be my year."

Following the announcement, speculation intensified online about whether Future will make an appearance on the album despite reports of tension between him and Drake. The rumored discord stems from last years release of the collaborative album by Future and Metro Boomin, We Don't Trust You. That project included the intense diss track "Like That," where Kendrick Lamar took aim at the so-called "Big 3" in rap, which includes Drake.

The track ignited one of the most notable rap battles in recent memory between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, culminating in Kendricks widely praised response, "Not Like Us," which many viewed as a decisive victory. Reports suggest that Drake felt betrayed by Future for allowing Kendrick to disrespect him on "Like That," though Future himself was reportedly puzzled by the diss, believing he is part of the "Big 3."

Despite rumors that the two may have reconciled in 2024, neither Drake's nor Future's camps have confirmed any official resolution to their differences. Nonetheless, fans remain hopeful that the two artists will put their past behind them and collaborate once again on Iceman.

Social media platforms have been filled with messages expressing this desire. One user on X wrote, "Iceman on May 15th... I hope Drake and Future made amends." Another fan shared their dream guest list for the album, which included Future alongside artists like Dave, J. Cole, and Tems or Jhene Aiko.

A particularly emotional post reminisced about the 2015 joint project What a Time to Be Alive by Drake and Future, expressing hope for their reunion. The fan wrote, "If Drake and Future actually reunite on Iceman I might actually shed a tear man cant believe I forgot what we used to have," while sharing an image of the album's cover art.

With the Iceman release date now public, many are eagerly waiting to see if Drake will respond to fan enthusiasm and reach out to Future to repair their relationship. Fans are hopeful that their collaboration will be a highlight of the upcoming album and fulfill the excitement surrounding the project.

For now, the anticipation builds as the May 15 release date approaches, and the music world watches closely to see if this potential reunion will come to fruition.
UFO theorist David Wilcock dies at 53. Details on the paranormal author's death and the ongoing investigation into the cause.

AceShowbiz - David Wilcock, the well-known YouTuber, paranormal author, and UFO conspiracy theorist, passed away on April 20, 2026, at the age of 53, according to multiple reports. News of his death first emerged after a Florida U.S. representative publicly mentioned it, with TMZ subsequently confirming the story. The Boulder County Coroners Office is currently investigating the official cause of death.

David Wilcock was a prominent figure in the disclosure movement, which promotes theories about the U.S. government concealing intelligence related to UFOs. Originally from Rotterdam, New York, he gained recognition as a media personality, paranormal writer, and YouTuber.

Details surrounding Wilcocks death have been reported by TMZ, which states that he died after using an unidentified weapon "on himself." Authorities from Boulder County, Colorado, responded to a 911 call on April 20, 2026, just before 11:00 a.m. local time. The call was for an unspecified problem, and a communications specialist handling the call suspected the individual might have been experiencing a mental health crisis.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they found a man outside holding a weapon. Minutes later, the man used the weapon on himself and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Boulder County Coroners Office will determine the exact cause of death in the coming days.

One of the earliest public confirmations of Wilcocks death came from U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna from Florida. She tweeted on April 22, 2026, expressing condolences and prayers for his family, loved ones, and the millions impacted by his work.

In the days leading up to his passing, Wilcock remained active on social media. On April 19, 2026, just one day before his death, he posted a tweet announcing a planned live video. In the tweet, he questioned a recent photo shared by Donald Trump depicting himself as Jesus Christ, asking if the former president had lost his mind and referring to the possibility of him being the Antichrist.

Dear Family, he wrote, I slept miraculously well last night and decided to go LIVE today! Why in the world did POTUS post that Christ-like picture? Has he lost his mind? Are we going to be okay? Is he the Antichrist?

According to TMZ, Wilcock died by suicide. His death has sparked conversations about mental health awareness. If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or considering suicide, help is available. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Judge dismisses Diddy's $100M defamation suit over documentary alleging his involvement in deaths of Biggie, Kim Porter, and others.

AceShowbiz - A New York judge has dismissed Sean Diddy Combs $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal and Peacock concerning the 2025 documentary The Making of a Bad Boy. The lawsuit alleged the film falsely implicated Combs in the deaths of several individuals close to him, including The Notorious B.I.G., Kim Portermother of his childrenrecord executive Andre Harrell, and rapper Heavy D.

Combs filed the suit last year, claiming the documentary propagated baseless accusations that he was involved in these deaths. However, on Monday, April 20, Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond ruled that the documentary did not meet the standard of grossly irresponsible journalism necessary to sustain a defamation claim. Instead, the judge noted the film presented a carefully curated and nuanced approach, transparently disclosing the biases of its interviewees and including counterstatements to controversial claims.

Among the interviewees featured in The Making of a Bad Boy was musician Al B. Sure!, who speculated that Combs may have orchestrated the deaths of Porter, Harrell, and Heavy D to silence them regarding negative information about him. In the documentary, Al B. Sure! is shown questioning, Why is everybody dead? Oh, its a coincidence? Get the f- out of here.

Another notable contributor to the documentary was Combs former bodyguard Gene Deal, who implied a possible connection between Combs and the 1997 murder of The Notorious B.I.G. Deal stated, The week in which Big was murdered, [Combs] was acting real anxious trying to get Big at this party.

Combs has vehemently denied all such allegations, and his suit accused NBC of ignoring professional standards in research and fact-checking. However, Judge Perry-Bond emphasized that the documentary took care to rebut and contextualize these claims. For example, it referenced autopsy reports confirming that Kim Porter died from pneumonia and Heavy D from heart failure, with no police suspicion of foul play in Porters, Heavy Ds, or Harrells deaths.

Additionally, the documentary included statements from Porters children affirming that Combs had no involvement in her death. It also noted that Combs has consistently denied any role in The Notorious B.I.G.s murder. The judge highlighted that NBC disclosed the personal grievances held by Al B. Sure! and Gene Deal towards CombsAl B. Sure! previously dated Porter, and Deal admitted in the documentary that he ended his employment with Combs following a conflict with Combs mother.

Judge Perry-Bonds ruling rejected Combs challenge to the editorial content, stating, Given the record conclusively establishes defendants did not act in a grossly irresponsible manner, the court will not entertain plaintiffs second-guessing. She further noted Combs reputation is already severely damaged due to his federal prostitution conviction and multiple civil sexual misconduct allegations, describing him as somewhat libel-proof. Thus, the judge found it inconceivable that the documentary could have caused additional harm to his reputation.

Connor Sullivan, a lawyer representing NBC from Gibson Dunn, told Billboard, This is an important ruling that protects filmmakers and journalists by dismissing this meritless complaint as barred by New York law and the First Amendment. A spokesperson for Combs declined to comment on the courts decision.

Currently, [strong]Diddy[/strong] is serving a four-year prison sentence for organizing cross-country prostitution events known as freak-offs. He is appealing the sentence, arguing it was excessively harsh considering he was acquitted of more serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.

The lawsuit dismissal marks a significant legal victory for NBCUniversal and Peacock, reinforcing protections for documentary filmmakers and journalists when handling contentious subjects. The judges detailed opinion underscores the importance of providing viewers with multiple perspectives and factual context in documentaries that explore complex and controversial narratives.

As the legal battle concludes, the controversy surrounding the documentarys content and the unresolved questions about the deaths of several notable figures remain topics of public interest and media discussion.
Explore the impact of Leaving Neverland, the controversial HBO documentary on Michael Jackson abuse allegations, and the enduring resilience of his legacy.

AceShowbiz - Documentarian Dan Reed, known primarily for his work on terrorism and war, ventured into a profoundly different and controversial subject with the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland. The film explores the child sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson that have persisted since 1993, focusing on the detailed testimonies of Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

Leaving Neverland premiered to widespread attention and won an Emmy, yet it sparked fierce backlash from the Jackson Estate, which condemned the film as a complete fiction and criticized the Emmy decision as honoring a one-sided narrative. Despite the films impact, the legacy of Jackson has shown remarkable resilience.

Seven years after the documentary's debut, Jacksons music streaming numbers have actually increased. His story continues to thrive on Broadway with MJ the Musical, and Lionsgate's biopic Michaeldirected by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, Michaels nephewis poised to be a major box-office success. Meanwhile, Leaving Neverland quietly disappeared from HBO following a legal settlement with the Jackson estate.

Reed recently spoke from the UK with The Hollywood Reporter about the ethical challenges surrounding such high-profile music biopics and reflected on the complicated public response to his film.

When asked about the current status of Leaving Neverland, Reed explained that the Jackson estate invoked a non-disparagement clause that dated back to a 1992 HBO contract for a concert recording. This clause essentially prohibited HBO from producing any content that could be seen as negative toward Jackson. After six years on HBO, the network settled with the estate and agreed to remove the film from its platform.

However, Reed noted that HBOs license to the film only lasts until 2029, after which he will be free to resell and distribute it again. He also mentioned that a sequel to the documentary was released on YouTube in the U.S., though he found that distribution method unsatisfying.

Reflecting on his journey making the film, Reed admitted he began with skepticism. As a filmmaker typically focused on terrorism and war, the subject of Jackson was outside his usual realm. Yet, as he engaged with Robson and Safechuck, he found their accounts to be detailed, layered, and credible. Reed was able to corroborate much of their testimony through records, police investigations, and trial transcripts, which convinced him that the two men had genuine stories to tell rather than fabricating claims for financial gain.

Despite ongoing accusations branding Robson and Safechuck as gold diggersa notion even supported by director Antoine FuquaReed dismissed such claims as ironic, considering the financial success of the biopic project. He emphasized that neither Robson nor Safechuck has profited from their allegations to date, noting that lawsuits only result in payment if the plaintiff wins in court, which has not happened even after a decade.

Reed addressed skepticism around Robsons changing story, highlighting the emotional toll of speaking out after years of denial. Robson testified in Jacksons defense during the 2005 trial but later reversed his stance. Reed described the process as shattering, as victims must confront not only their trauma but also the lies they told to protect their abuser, often facing disbelief from family and the public.

Reed maintains contact with both men and hopes to produce another film related to the upcoming trial. When asked about their feelings toward Jackson, he said he hasnt discussed the new movie with them but doubted they are pleased.

One of the most striking points Reed made concerns the paradoxical resilience of Michael Jacksons popularity despite the serious allegations documented in Leaving Neverland. After the films release, streaming of Jacksons music rose, and the Broadway musical became a huge success. With the biopic opening on nearly 4,000 screens, Reed bluntly stated, It says that people dont care that he was a child molester. Literally, people just dont care.

He noted that while none of the allegations in Leaving Neverland have been seriously challenged, the presence of simplistic debunking videos online gave many viewers permission to continue enjoying Jacksons music. Reed believes that many fans separate the art from the artist, choosing to love Jacksons music while ignoring or dismissing the abuse allegations.

Reed does not advocate boycotting Jacksons music. He condemns cancel culture and compares book burning to archaic practices. Instead, he asks listeners to acknowledge the disturbing facts about Jackson when they consume his work, encouraging honest reflection on how those revelations might affect their enjoyment.

The director also recalled the backlash he personally faced after the films release, including online harassment from Jacksons fan base. He observed that this reaction went beyond simple denial, describing it as a willful refusal to engage with the allegations.

Ultimately, Reeds experience making and promoting Leaving Neverland reveals a complex cultural landscape where allegations of abuse coexist with immense celebrity and enduring public admiration. As new projects continue to celebrate Michael Jacksons life and legacy, the conversation around his alleged crimes remains deeply contentious and unresolved.
Judge dismisses Diddy's $100M defamation suit against NBCUniversal, citing his already damaged reputation. A major legal setback.

AceShowbiz - Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, received a significant legal setback on Wednesday when a New York judge dismissed his $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal. The suit targeted the documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, which streamed on NBCUniversals Peacock platform.

The lawsuit was originally filed on February 25, 2025, and accused NBCUniversal of damaging Sean Combs' reputation. However, Empire State Supreme Court judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond ruled that the documentary could not have harmed Combs' standing because his public image was already severely compromised. The judge cited multiple lawsuits, a domestic violence video, extensive press coverage, and a pending criminal indictment that existed prior to the documentarys release.

This dismissal marks a notable development amid ongoing legal challenges for Sean Combs, who is currently incarcerated and awaiting a decision from a panel of U.S. Court of Appeals judges regarding his criminal case. While the defamation lawsuit has been thrown out, his legal battles continue on other fronts.

The judges ruling effectively ends Combs' attempt to seek damages from NBCUniversal for the documentarys portrayal of his life and career. The court found that the negative information presented was not newly damaging but rather reflected a reputation already under significant scrutiny and criticism before the documentary aired.

As Sean Combs pursues a fast-track appeal regarding his criminal case, this dismissal represents a crucial loss in his broader legal strategy. The outcome clarifies that the court does not view the documentary as the source of any defamation, reinforcing that prior incidents had already affected public perception.
EPIC: The Musical, a viral audio retelling of The Odyssey, is becoming an animated film from producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The epic adaptation is heading to st...

AceShowbiz - EPIC: The Musical is set to become an animated film, produced by Academy Award-nominated Jerry Bruckheimer, alongside Jorge Rivera-Herrans and Grammy Award-winning producer Kevin Weaver. The project is a film adaptation of Rivera-Herrans' acclaimed audio musical reimagining of Homer's Odyssey.

The collaboration also includes Chad Oman from Jerry Bruckheimer Films as a producer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, CAA will soon begin pitching the animated project to studios and streaming platforms, marking a significant step toward bringing this unique musical to a broader audience. The film reunites Bruckheimer and Weaver, who previously worked together on the Academy Award-nominated movie F1.

Jorge Rivera-Herrans created the original sung-through audio musical, which retells the ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey. He began the project in 2019 while studying at the University of Notre Dame, where he shifted his academic focus from medicine to film, theater, television, and music. Rivera-Herrans documented his progress on social media starting in 2021, with a viral clip of the song "Full Speed Ahead."

The musical is divided into nine sagas, with the first, titled The Ocean Saga, released in 2023. Subsequent sagas have been released every few months, culminating with the final saga arriving in December 2024. Rivera-Herrans himself performed the role of Odysseus and assembled a global cast of 25 performers by holding online auditions.

The reception for EPIC: The Musical has been impressive. Eight of its sagas reached the top three positions on Billboard's Cast Albums chart, including four that hit No. 1. Following a Billboard policy update in late 2024, which moved concept albums not tied to a theatrical production from the Cast Albums chart to the Compilation Albums chart, the final two chapters of EPIC topped the latter.

Since its debut, the musical has amassed over 4 billion streams worldwide and generated more than 7 billion short-form video views, indicating its massive popularity across multiple platforms.

In addition to the digital releases, Rivera-Herrans offered a limited-edition collectible in September: a $350 nine-vinyl EP set featuring holographic packaging, providing fans with a premium physical version of the musical.

This animated adaptation promises to bring EPIC: The Musical to life visually, expanding the reach of Rivera-Herrans' innovative retelling of a classic tale, with the support of industry veterans like Jerry Bruckheimer and Kevin Weaver. Fans and new audiences alike can look forward to experiencing this epic journey in a new format in the coming years.
From near cancellation to critical acclaim. Discover how Wonder Man defied the odds to become a hit Marvel series and what's next for its second season.

AceShowbiz - Wonder Man faced a close call with cancellation before securing a second season, and star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has shared his thoughts on the shows success and what lies ahead. Despite initial doubts from Marvel Studios, the series quickly became one of the best-received entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universes (MCU) Disney+ lineup, boasting a 91% critics score and 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Showrunner Andrew Guest revealed that the first two episodes of Wonder Man did not initially test well with audiences. The confusion among viewers contributed to Marvel nearly shelving the series, as the company was undergoing a period of reassessment, cutting down on projects in development. Guest explained, We were definitely one of those things that was taken off their board for a moment there, reflecting the precarious position the show found itself in before eventually moving forward.

In an interview with ScreenRant conducted by Ash Crossan, Abdul-Mateen discussed the overwhelmingly positive reception of Wonder Man and expressed his unique connection to the series. Unlike many actors who prefer to distance themselves from their work after release, Abdul-Mateen remained engaged with the conversations around the show due to its special nature. He stated, This one was special. I usually distance myself from the work after it comes out But Wonder Man was a bit different, because it was so special for creatives, for artists, for people with dreams.

The actor also emphasized his pride in the impact the show had on viewers and expressed gratitude for the renewal. I am happy that we got a season 2, and thank you. Im excited to share what we got in store, he added, signaling enthusiasm for the series future direction.

The renewal of Wonder Man season 2 is notable given that Disney+ MCU shows rarely receive multiple seasons. While some exceptions existsuch as Loki and Daredevil: Born Againmany Marvel series like Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, and Moon Knight have either stalled or remain uncertain regarding continuation. This makes the decision to move forward with Wonder Man especially significant, particularly considering Guests revelation that the show was nearly canceled before its initial release.

Guest described the series as one of the last projects in the door of the previous iteration of the Marvel Disney Plus experiment, where they were saying yes to many things. Since then, Marvel has sharply reduced the number of new shows produced annually for Disney+, further underscoring the achievement of Wonder Man securing a second season.

One key factor behind Wonder Mans success is its distinct tone and approach compared to other MCU entries. According to ScreenRants Ben Gibbons, the series stands out because it refuses to conform and offers an innovative, character-driven story about a lesser-known Marvel figure. Rather than focusing on universe-altering stakes, the show centers on Yahya Abdul-Mateen IIs character, Simon Williams, as he pursues his dream of becoming a successful actor despite Hollywoods ban on superpowers.

The narrative also explores the unexpected friendship between Simon and Trevor Slattery, portrayed by Ben Kingsley. Their relationship forms the emotional core of the series, examining themes of insecurity, personal growth, and the challenges of fame. Unlike typical superhero plots, superpowers take a backseat, with the story emphasizing character dynamics over large-scale action.

The first season concludes with Simon rescuing Trevor from the Department of Damage Control, setting up new challenges for the pair in season 2. While Simon has risen to major stardom, Trevors public confession and fugitive status complicate his prospects for returning to Hollywood. The upcoming season will explore how their friendship evolves amid these pressures and the ongoing threats they face.

Fans speculating about the future of Wonder Man also consider the possibility of introducing the West Coast Avengers to the MCU in season 2. This team, familiar from the comics, could connect characters like Simon Williams, Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), and Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany), all based in California within the MCU. Such a development would mark a shift from the standalone nature of season 1, which relied minimally on established MCU characters.

Currently, all episodes of Wonder Man season 1 are available for streaming on Disney+. Meanwhile, Abdul-Mateen stars in Netflixs Man on Fire, which will release its episodes on April 30. Fans of Wonder Man and the MCU are encouraged to subscribe to newsletters and updates to stay informed about the shows progress and related studio news.

In summary, the journey of Wonder Man from near cancellation to critical darling and renewal is a testament to its unique storytelling and the dedication of its cast and crew. Yahya Abdul-Mateen IIs response captures the pride and excitement surrounding the series, which continues to carve out a distinct place within the MCUs expanding television universe.
Duran Duran have dropped their brandnew single Free To Love  a euphoric, discodriven collaboration with their longtime musical partner Nile Rodgers.

Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers are back with a peace offering

The tune comes accompanied by a glossy, highcolour video from superstar director Jonas Akerlund.

The clip stars broadcaster Clara Amfo, who introduces the '80s band and Le Freak hitmaker Nile in a music TV-style performance.

Nile cowrote the track, helping shape what the band describe as a burst of positivity in a divided world.

Frontman Simon Le Bon said of the poignant track: "Free To Love is disco for the 2020s. It's up-beat and up-tempo; it's about freedom; it's about loving the modern world instead of hating it, and that is something we need right now. Be free! Be free to love!

Keyboardist Nick Rhodes added: Every time we plug in and play with Nile, the electricity he generates could light up a whole city Free To Love is our call to all the people out there who want peace, hope and understanding to prevail.

Nile, who first teamed up with the band more than 40 years ago, said: True love is free and unconditional Whatever chaos is going on outside, inside the studio we're free to love our peace.

The video continues the bands creative partnership with Italian luxury perfumer Xerjoff, whose NeoRio fragrance inspired the films glowing, technicolour aesthetic.

Akerlund said: Working with Duran Duran again, its clear the instinct is still there Always bold, always pushing for more.

Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers have one of pops longestrunning creative partnerships, stretching back more than four decades.

Their first linkup came in 1984, when Nile remixed The Reflex and helped turn it into a global No.1, cementing his place in the bands inner circle. He returned soon after to produce tracks on 1986s Notorious, giving the album its sharp, funkleaning edge.

The relationship picked up again in the 1990s, with Nile contributing to the bands 1993 selftitled Wedding Album era.

In the 2000s, he reunited with them for live performances and studio sessions, including work on 2004s Astronaut, which brought the classic lineup back together.

Nile later appeared on 2015s Paper Gods, adding guitar and production touches that fans immediately recognised as his signature sound.

The collaboration continued into the 2020s, with Rodgers featuring on 2023s Danse Macabre and joining the band onstage for special shows.

The latest track arrives just weeks after the band were confirmed as American Express presents BST Hyde Park headliners for July, where theyll be joined by Scissor Sisters.
Beyond Bond: Explore the dark, intricate world of modern spy dramas on Apple TV+, where high-stakes espionage meets personal cost.

AceShowbiz - Spy dramas often captivate audiences by exploring the complex and shadowy world of espionage, where dual identities, constant vigilance, and moral ambiguity define the lives of operatives. While Hollywood has long glamorized espionagemost famously through the James Bond franchisethe reality depicted in recent television shows reveals a darker, more intricate realm. Series like Netflix's The Night Agent, Prime Video's Citadel, and NBC's The Blacklist starring James Spader as Raymond Reddington, have showcased the high stakes and personal costs involved in intelligence work.

Within this competitive genre, Apple TV+ has steadily built a strong portfolio of acclaimed shows, including Masters of the Air, the sci-fi drama Silo, the hit comedy Ted Lasso, and the critically praised thriller Severance. Adding to its growing slate of espionage content, Apple TV+ has previously launched heavyweight spy series such as Slow Horses and Tehran. Now, the streamer is preparing to expand its offerings with a new eight-episode thriller titled Safe Houses, which promises to bring a fresh narrative to the spy genre.

According to recent reports, the upcoming Safe Houses will star Ana de Armas in the lead role. This new series is inspired by the espionage novel of the same name by Dan Fesperman and is set to delve into the tense aftermath of a high-ranking CIA officers assassination in Madrid. The storyline follows two central characters: Sofia Jimenez, an agent on the run accused of orchestrating the killing, and Ambassador Elizabeth Winters, the widow of the slain officer. Each woman embarks on her own investigation, uncovering a far-reaching conspiracy that threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of global power.

Joining de Armas in the cast are David Lyons, known for his work in The Beast in Me, and Tobias Menzies, recognized for his role in F1. Both actors will play significant roles in this espionage drama, adding depth and intensity to the unfolding narrative. Additionally, Jennifer Connelly had been previously announced as part of the ensemble, further reinforcing the series star-studded lineup.

The premise of Safe Houses explores the tension and intrigue within the intelligence community, emphasizing the personal and political ramifications of espionage. The shows narrative will pivot around the contrasting perspectives and motivations of the two female protagonists as they navigate a perilous world rife with deception and danger.

With Apple TV+ investing in such a high-profile project, Safe Houses is expected to enhance the platforms reputation for producing sophisticated thrillers that combine gripping storytelling with complex character development. The series will offer viewers a nuanced portrayal of the spy world, spotlighting the sacrifices and ethical challenges faced by operatives behind the scenes.

Spy thrillers have traditionally captivated audiences by blending action and suspense with emotional and psychological depth. Safe Houses is poised to join the ranks of successful espionage series by delivering a tightly woven plot centered on betrayal, loyalty, and survival in a shadowy global landscape. The involvement of acclaimed actors such as de Armas, Lyons, Menzies, and Connelly adds to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the series.

Apple TV+ continues to position itself as a formidable player in the streaming wars by curating original content that appeals to diverse audiences. Adding a complex spy thriller like Safe Houses to its catalog will not only attract fans of the genre but also those seeking compelling dramas with rich character arcs and high production value.

As the series moves forward in production, viewers can look forward to an intense exploration of espionage, power struggles, and the personal toll of secrets kept in the shadows. The eight-episode format will allow the story to unfold with sufficient depth, providing both suspenseful moments and thoughtful character exploration.

In summary, Apple TV+s upcoming series Safe Houses promises to be a gripping addition to the spy thriller genre, headlined by Ana de Armas and supported by a strong ensemble cast including David Lyons, Tobias Menzies, and Jennifer Connelly. Drawing on the intrigue of Dan Fespermans novel, the show is set to dive into a high-stakes conspiracy following a CIA officers murder, offering a fresh and thrilling perspective on espionage for streaming audiences.
Explore the horror origin of Clayface in DCU's first horror film. Batman is absent as Matt Hagen's tragic transformation takes center stage.

AceShowbiz - The upcoming Clayface movie is set to dive deep into Gotham City within the DC Universe (DCU), but fans wondering if Batman will appear might be disappointed. The newly released teaser trailer for Clayface reveals that the film will be DCs first foray into horror, telling the story of Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries. Hagen is an actor whose promising career is shattered when a gangster attacks him, disfiguring his face. This trauma leads to an experimental surgery that transforms him into a living clay creature.

Though this marks Clayfaces first live-action movie appearance, the character has a long history, especially as one of Batmans villains in comics and other media. Despite these strong ties, the Caped Crusader is notably absent from the film. As of now, no actor has been cast as the DCUs Batman, making it unlikely the character will debut here rather than in his own dedicated movie.

Clayfaces connection to Batman is well established across various platforms. The character has appeared in popular games like LEGO Batman and Batman: Arkham City, as well as in the acclaimed animated series Batman: The Animated Series. That shows two-part episode Feat of Clay notably inspired this new horror film. However, the creators appear to be focusing on Clayface as a standalone figure, exploring his tragic transformation rather than his role as a traditional villain.

Its natural to question whether Clayface can succeed without Batman being present. The DCU has previously experimented with villain-centric stories to mixed results. The 2019 Joker movie was a massive critical and commercial hit, while its sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux, did not meet expectations. Meanwhile, The Penguin, a spin-off from The Batman film, has become one of DCs best TV offerings. Though Clayface is less famous than these characters, this could be an advantage, as it allows the story to shape him in new, unexpected ways.

This iteration of Clayface is portrayed more as a tragic antihero than a straightforward villain. The trailer hints at themes of revenge and inner torment, inviting viewers to empathize with Hagens plight. The body horror elements are emphasized, promising a unique tone for a DC movie that strays from typical superhero fare. This darker, more personal narrative may allow the film to stand on its own without relying on the presence of Gothams iconic vigilante.

Although Batman himself wont appear, Gotham Citys setting will still play a crucial role and could provide insight into the state of the Dark Knights influence in the DCU. The citys portrayal in the footage looks atmospheric and richly detailed, suggesting Gotham remains a character in its own right. This raises questions about whether Batman is active during these events and how criminals perceive himwhether he is considered a looming threat or simply a legend.

Additionally, the film subtly teases the presence of the Joker, Batmans arch-nemesis. On set, images showed protest signs urging people to join the Joker and graffiti reading The Jokers. While these details dont appear in the teaser, the trailer does feature Amusement Mile, a notorious hideout for the Clown Prince of Crime in DC lore, accompanied by an image of a clown. This suggests the Jokers influence will be felt, even if he does not appear directly.

Exploring Gothams criminal underworld in this way offers a glimpse into the broader trajectory of James Gunns DCU. Clayface could serve as a pivotal step toward eventually bringing Batman and the Joker into the cinematic universe, even if those characters remain a few years away from their full introductions.

Clayface is slated for release on October 23, 2026, promising a fresh and chilling addition to DCs growing slate of films. It aims to blend horror, tragedy, and crime thriller elements while expanding the mythology of Gotham City without directly relying on its most famous hero.

What are your thoughts on a Gotham story without Batman? Do you look forward to seeing Clayfaces tragic arc and the teased Joker connections? Share your opinions and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum.
Wolverine returns with Deadpool in the MCU's record-breaking hit. See how the $1.3B film revives the iconic hero without undoing Logan's legacy.

AceShowbiz - Wolverine's return alongside Ryan Reynolds's Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine proved to be a groundbreaking success for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, grossing $1.3 billion worldwide. This achievement made it the highest-grossing R-rated film ever produced and delivered the best domestic MCU opening weekend since Spider-Man: No Way Home. Despite Hugh Jackman having retired the character after the emotionally charged Logan in 2017, the films conclusion was meant to be definitive. However, thanks to persistent efforts by Reynolds and the multiverse narrative flexibility, Wolverine has been reintroduced without diminishing the impact of his Fox-era storylines.

The massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine transformed what was meant to be Wolverines final chapter into a fresh starting point. Marvel Studios has since confirmed plans to continue exploring Jackmans Wolverine within the MCU. Although Jackman has not been officially announced for upcoming projects like Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, its widely expected that Wolverine and Deadpool will play a key role in the multiversal event saga. They survived their films events but have yet to be fully integrated into the main Sacred Timeline. The conclusion of the Multiverse Saga is set to reboot the franchise, and when Wolverine crosses over, Marvel can draw from a rich comic book history filled with longstanding rivalries to portray onscreen conflicts.

5) Black Panther

Wakandas strict borders and deep-rooted traditions create a world fundamentally at odds with Wolverines unpredictable and chaotic nature. In the comics, Wolverines encounters with the Black Panther often escalated into fierce physical battles. Logans blatant disregard for diplomatic norms clashed sharply with Wakandas royal protocols, fueling intense animosity. The Black Panthers vibranium suit and superior agility make him one of the few fighters who can challenge Wolverine hand-to-hand. Additionally, the personal history involving Storm, who was once married to TChalla before eloping with Logan, adds emotional complexity to their feud. Within the MCU, the mantle of Black Panther has passed to Shuri (portrayed by Letitia Wright) following the tragic loss of TChalla (Chadwick Boseman). Despite this shift, the fundamental tension between Wolverine and Wakandas secretive society remains ripe for exploration. A Wolverine visit to Wakanda would spotlight the clash of cultures and offer Marvel Studios a platform to explore the friction between a lawless survivor and a highly structured nation.

4) Namor

The rivalry between Wolverine and Namor is rooted in their conflicting personalities and ideologies. As one of Marvels earliest mutants, Namor considers himself royalty and exhibits an arrogance that routinely provokes Wolverines anti-authoritarian instincts. Their comic book confrontations are often sparked by this clash of wills, with Wolverine refusing to submit to the Atlantean kings demands. In the MCU, Namor (Tenoch Huerta) was introduced as the ruler of Talokan in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His fierce protection of his underwater kingdom aligns closely with his comic book counterparts isolationist stance. Talokans guarded vibranium reserves paired with an adamantium-laced mutant trespasser create a natural setup for future on-screen conflict between these two formidable forces.

3) Frank Castle

Frank Castles ruthless pragmatism frequently puts him at odds with other superheroes, including Wolverine. While both characters use lethal force, Logan sees Castle as an unhinged killer without a clear moral compass. Conversely, Castle views Wolverine as a hypocritical brute. Castle, portrayed by Jon Bernthal, was reintroduced into the MCU with the Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again and is set to appear in upcoming shows like Punisher: One Last Kill and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. As Wolverine crosses into the Sacred Timeline, an inevitable encounter with Castle will test Logans regenerative powers against Castles vast military experience and arsenal. This confrontation promises a tense exploration of their differing approaches to justice and violence.

2) The Winter Soldier

The deep-seated enmity between Wolverine and Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, originates from a tragic event. During his time as a brainwashed Soviet assassin, Barnes murdered Wolverines pregnant wife, Itsu, as a tactic to lure Logan out. This assassination attempt triggered a decades-long vendetta that profoundly shaped Wolverines path. While Barnes eventually regained his memories and sought redemption, Wolverines feral nature makes forgiveness difficult. In the MCU, Bucky (played by Sebastian Stan) has worked to atone for his past, recently becoming an Avenger during the events of Thunderbolts. This ongoing journey of redemption presents a compelling contrast to a Wolverine displaced in the Sacred Timeline, still burdened by his violent past and personal losses.

1) The Hulk

Wolverines first significant comic book appearance was in The Incredible Hulk #181, where he was deployed by the Canadian government to assassinate the gamma-irradiated Hulk. Their battles have become some of Marvels most iconic clashes, marked by brutal violence as Wolverines adamantium claws test the Hulks gamma-enhanced durability. The Hulk embodies an unstoppable force of nature, while Wolverine acts as an immovable object, making their face-offs legendary in Marvel lore. Within the MCU, Bruce Banner (played by Mark Ruffalo) has merged his intellect with his brute strength to become Smart Hulk, tempering his rage significantly. However, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to unleash the Savage Hulk again, the stage is being set for a high-stakes cinematic showdown between these two powerhouse characters.

As Wolverine integrates into the MCUs Sacred Timeline, these rivalries provide fertile ground for dramatic storytelling and intense action sequences. Each of these characterswhether they be kings, vigilantes, or gamma giantsoffers a unique foil to Logans complex persona. Fans are eagerly anticipating which of these legendary grudges will come to life on the big screen next.

Which of these iconic Marvel rivalries involving Wolverine are you most excited to see unfold in the MCU? Join the conversation and share your thoughts on the ComicBook Forum!
Jerry Bruckheimer produces Epic, an animated musical adaptation of Homer's Odyssey, inspired by a viral TikTok sensation. A new voyage begins.

AceShowbiz - The Odyssey is receiving a fresh adaptation as an animated musical titled Epic, produced by the renowned filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer, best known for his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. This new project reimagines the ancient Greek epic poem that chronicles the perilous ten-year journey of Odysseus returning home after the Trojan War.

Bruckheimer revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he is currently developing this musical adaptation following the viral success of a related video on TikTok. Teaming up with Jorge Rivera-Herrans, the creative mind behind the viral social media sensation, and Kevin Weaver, president of Atlantic Music Group, the production is still in its early stages. However, it is anticipated that Creative Artists Agency, which represents Bruckheimer, will begin pitching the project to studios and streaming platforms as soon as next week.

This marks Bruckheimer's first venture into animation, though he has a history with musical adaptations, having previously produced titles like Flashdance. Rivera-Herrans initially created Epic as his senior thesis while attending the University of Notre Dame. His work gained momentum during the 2020 pandemic, as he documented his creative process on TikTok, eventually sharing snippets of the musical by 2022, which captivated millions.

Rivera-Herrans independently released EPs from Epic soared in popularity, hitting number one on iTunes and topping soundtrack charts. At one point, his songs occupied nine of the top ten spots on these charts simultaneously, illustrating the widespread appeal of his reinterpretation of Homers classic tale.

The musical offers a contemporary spin on the ancient narrative, blending elements of musical theater, anime, and video game aesthetics. This innovative approach has resonated strongly with Millennial and Gen Z audiences, who connect with the fusion of modern storytelling techniques and classical themes.

This announcement comes as excitement builds for another highly anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey, set for theatrical release on July 17, 2026. That version boasts an impressive cast including Matt DamonMatt Damon as Odysseus, Tom HollandTom Holland as Telemachus, ZendayaZendaya as Athena, Robert PattinsonRobert Pattinson as Antinous, Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway as Penelope, alongside Jon BernthalJon Bernthal, Benny SafdieBenny Safdie, and Mia GothMia Goth.

While the live-action adaptation is already generating buzz, the animated musical Epic remains in early development with no official release date announced. Its unique combination of animation and musical storytelling promises to offer a fresh and compelling retelling of the epic saga.

In summary, Jerry Bruckheimer is expanding his producing repertoire with Epic, an animated musical inspired by The Odyssey, created in collaboration with viral TikTok creator Jorge Rivera-Herrans and Atlantic Music Groups Kevin Weaver. This project aims to captivate a new generation by reinventing a timeless classic through innovative artistic styles and music.
Charli XCX stars in the indie drama Erupcja, exploring personal turmoil against a volcanic backdrop. See her bold move from pop icon to compelling actress.

AceShowbiz - Erupcja features Charli XCX stepping into a new realm beyond her pop stardom as she takes on a lead role in this unconventional indie drama. Known for her vibrant music career and edgy persona, Charli expands her artistic horizons in a film that explores personal turmoil against the backdrop of volcanic upheaval.

Charli XCX has long been recognized for her boundary-pushing music and charismatic presence, but her ambitions extend into acting, where she has pursued roles that align with her unique flair for the offbeat and unorthodox. From hosting Saturday Night Live in 2024 to appearing in quirky projects like the A24-backed mockumentary The Moment and the historical fantasy 100 Nights of Hero, Charli's trajectory into cinema has been anything but predictable.

Despite expectations of blockbuster projects ahead, it is the modestly budgeted Erupcja, filmed in Poland, that serves as a compelling showcase for her acting talents. The film, directed by Pete Ohs, carries a nostalgic indie vibe reminiscent of early 1990s cinema but infused with contemporary anxieties. This atmospheric tone suits Charli well, allowing her to shed the brashness of her stage persona to portray a more subdued and vulnerable character.

In Erupcja, Charli plays Bethany, a thirtysomething navigating emotional and relational complexities while wandering the streets of Warsaw. Unlike typical Hollywood narratives, the film offers a raw, almost documentary-like exploration of a young woman caught in a self-created chaos. Her celebrity status is deliberately muted, presenting Bethany as an everywoman grappling with the consequences of her choices and instincts.

Bethanys connection to Warsaw is deeply personal. She suggests the trip to her boyfriend Rob, played by Will Madden, choosing the Polish capital over Paris, which he favors for its romantic reputation. Bethanys preference stems from her history in Warsaw, where she spent significant time in her youth and where her friend Nel, portrayed by Lena Gora, runs a quaint flower shop. Their friendship began during a school trip when Bethany was stranded in Poland due to an Icelandic volcanic eruption.

The film cleverly intertwines these volcanic disasters with Bethany and Nels recurring reunions, suggesting a magical or metaphorical link between their meetings and eruptions. After Bethany and Rob arrive at their Airbnb, Italys Mount Etna erupts, continuing the strange pattern of natural disasters coinciding with their encounters. This pattern is a running joke between the two women, who half-seriously claim responsibility for the destruction.

Adding to the films meta-textual layers is the presence of an expatriate artist played by Jeremy O. Harris, a collaborator of the director and a contributing writer. His character, both amused and horrified by the volcanic coincidences, helps frame the films themes of chaos and consequence. The narrative unfolds through a series of vignettes punctuated by minimalist visual interludes, enhancing the films introspective and fragmented mood.

At its core, Erupcja uses the volcanic eruptions as a metaphor for emotional upheaval, with Rob describing them as "hall passes" that excuse reckless behavior. The film suggests that youthful indifference and selfishness can leave emotional wreckage in their wakeakin to the physical destruction of a volcanic eruption. Bethanys reflection that "volcanoes leave so much destruction...and they leave perfectly good boyfriends in the dust" encapsulates this theme.

While the films mystical elements remain ambiguouswhether the eruptions are magical, metaphorical, or simply coincidentalthe focus remains on the human fallout of the characters choices. The Polish narration adds a layer of enigmatic commentary, reinforcing the sense that certainty is elusive in both life and art.

Erupcja is not a conventional romance or disaster film. Instead, it captures the restless spirit of youth and the complexities of relationships in a fragmented, atmospheric style. Charli XCXs portrayal of Bethany balances a party-girl edge with a quietly resonant vulnerability, inviting audiences to witness a nuanced performance that departs from her musical persona.

This film, while modest in scale and budget, may surprise viewers as a defining moment in Charlis evolving career as an actress. It embodies the spirit of indie filmmaking with its improvisational feel, communal writing process, and focus on mood over plot. For fans and newcomers alike, Erupcja offers a fresh and moving cinematic experience that blends natural disaster with emotional rawness in a city that feels both foreign and familiar.
ABC expands Dancing With the Stars with a new spinoff, The Next Pro, where 12 dancers compete for a spot on season 35, hosted by champ Robert Irwin.

AceShowbiz - ABC is expanding the Dancing With the Stars franchise with an exciting new spinoff series set to premiere this summer. The show, titled Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, will spotlight twelve emerging professional dancers competing for a coveted spot as a pro on season 35 of the iconic ballroom competition.

The network announced the new series on Wednesday, April 22, revealing that the contestants will live together under one roof while undergoing a demanding audition process. This format aims to intensify the competition as dancers showcase their skills and determination to join the main DWTS cast.

Robert Irwin, the reigning DWTS champion, will serve as the host of the spinoff. The 22-year-old wildlife conservationist and dancer captured the mirrorball trophy in season 34 alongside professional partner Witney Carson. Irwin expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming series, stating in a trailer, "For the first time in Dancing With the Stars history, the greatest dancers will compete for a spot as the next pro. This summer, let the fiercest dance battle begin."

The judging panel features familiar faces from the DWTS family. Pro dancer Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas, will evaluate the contestants. Shirley, known as the "Queen of Latin," is also the head judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in the UK. Mark, age 39, and Shirley, age 65, will be joined by a rotating group of guest judges and mentors, many of whom are professional dancers featured on the main show.

The announcement underscores the show's commitment to discovering fresh talent to elevate the competition. The spinoff will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the intensity and passion required to become a professional dancer on the franchises flagship series.

Reflecting on his own DWTS journey, Robert Irwin recently shared insights about his winning freestyle dance last season. He explained on Good Morning America in November 2025, "Our last dance, that freestyle, was our way to say thank you to everybody who's been on that journey. We just knew we had to make it work because it was the way to just say, 'We're so grateful for this experience.'" The routine, while stunning, caused an unexpected injury for Irwin, but his passion and adrenaline carried him through. "It's all good. We were having that much fun that I didn't even realize there was an issue till the end," he said, adding that bringing his "wildlife warrior" vibe to the dance floor was a unique and rewarding experience.

Meanwhile, Witney Carson, who partnered with Irwin, reflected on her second DWTS mirrorball win during the same Good Morning America interview. She noted that winning again felt "so different," especially with the changes in her life since her first victory in season 19 back in 2014. Now 32, Carson has children and described the celebration with her family and husband as particularly meaningful.

Season 34 featured an impressive roster of professional dancers alongside Mark Ballas and Witney Carson, including Val Chmerkovskiy, Pasha Pashkov, Brandon Armstrong, Emma Slater, Jenna Johnson, Britt Stewart, Daniella Karagach, Rylee Arnold, Ezra Sosa, Gleb Savchenko, and Jan Ravnik, who made his ballroom debut that year.

Additionally, ABC confirmed that Dancing With the Stars will return for its 35th season, with celebrity contestants such as Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins set to compete. The network is clearly investing in the longevity and evolution of the brand by introducing new talent and engaging fans with fresh content.

Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro is scheduled to premiere on ABC on Monday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET. The series will also be available to stream the following day on Hulu, providing fans multiple ways to tune in and follow the journey of the next generation of professional dancers.

This spinoff represents a new chapter for the DWTS franchise, blending reality TV competition with the rigorous demands of professional dance. By giving rising stars a platform to prove themselves, ABC aims to keep the ballroom vibrant and thrilling for years to come.

Fans of the show can look forward to an intense summer of dance battles, expert critiques from beloved judges, and the drama that unfolds as these talented professionals vie for their chance to shine on one of televisions most popular dance competitions.
Enrique Bunbury closes his folk phase with De Un Siglo Anterior, exploring bolero and tango before returning to rock.

AceShowbiz - Enrique Bunbury, the acclaimed Spanish musician, has once again delved into roots music and Latin American folklore with his latest album, De Un Siglo Anterior (From a Century Ago). This release marks the conclusion of a deeply exploratory phase for the artist before he plans to return to his rock origins, the genre that has cemented his status as a major figure in the Spanish-speaking music world.

In a conversation with Billboard Espanol in Mexico City, Bunbury described this period as his most folk-inspired and traditional phase. The album was made available on digital platforms just last week, continuing a musical journey that began with the previous record, Cuentas Pendientes.

Produced under Warner Music Spain, De Un Siglo Anterior extends Bunburys exploration of traditional Latin American genres such as bolero and tango, which he introduced in the preceding album. However, this time the lyrics take on a more reflective and introspective quality, addressing the transformations in the world brought about by the new century and the pervasive influence of social media.

Bunbury explained, These two albums are part of a joint era or phase. I think keeping these traditional genres alive, which are timeless in themselves, is something beautiful when you look at the already existing songbook.

The album was recorded at Desierto Casa/Estudio, located in the Desierto de los Leones in Mexico City. It features ten tracks where Bunbury incorporates folklore into various musical forms including zamba, ranchera, tango, son, and Peruvian rhythms. Notable songs include Un Brindis al Sol, La Voz, La Cima, Peor Que Como Estamos - Es Dificil Ya Que Estemos, and the title track, De Un Siglo Anterior.

Among the albums most poignant compositions is La Voz, a jazzy bolero where the former frontman of the disbanded group Heroes del Silencio reflects on his vocal cord issues suffered in 2022. These issues were caused by an intolerance to glycol, a key component in artificial smoke used during concerts. Bunbury recalled, I thought I would no longer be able to sing. The song metaphorically addresses the loss of his voice and the power of communication, while also indirectly mourning lost friends.

The title track, De Un Siglo Anterior, takes a nostalgic look at how people sometimes long for the past and perceive the technological advances of the new century as a form of loss. It contemplates where this new millennium is leading humanity and what aspects of the previous century might be worth reclaiming.

Other tracks like En El Arcen, Zamba Para Olvidar, and La Cima further explore themes of fame and success, with Bunbury using the metaphor of Everest and other great mountains to describe the heights and challenges of his career.

For this project, Bunbury reunited the same creative team from Cuentas Pendientes, including Mexican musicians Luri Molina and percussionist Johnny Molina. The technical crew and even the cook returned, emphasizing the strong human connection within the group. The artist shared, We really enjoyed the human experience of being together, recording, getting to know one another, and talking. So when I finished the last album, I thought, Id like to find another project to work on with this team. I started writing some songs for this album, and everything came together very quickly.

With the release of this new LP, Bunbury is preparing to embark on a tour across Latin America, the United States, and Spain. The tour, titled Nuevas Mutaciones (New Mutations), will begin in Puebla de Zaragoza, Mexico, on October 10 and conclude in his hometown of Zaragoza, Spain, on December 12.

In Mexico City, the tour will mark a significant return for Bunbury to the iconic Auditorio Nacional after nearly ten years. He is scheduled to perform there on October 12, 15, 17, and 19. Despite having played on major stages in Mexico beforeincluding the Zocalo during an event supporting victims of the 2017 earthquakeBunbury expressed his aspiration to one day hold a free solo concert at that monumental venue. He said, Id like to do one solo and for it to be free. That would be amazing.

As Bunbury closes this chapter of folk and traditional music with De Un Siglo Anterior, fans can look forward to his evolving artistry as he prepares to return to rock, continuing his legacy as one of the most influential voices in the Spanish-language music scene.
Cornerstone secures global sales for horror film *When Darkness Loves Us*, starring Emilia Clarke. Based on a cult novella, it hits Cannes.

AceShowbiz - Cornerstone has secured international sales rights for the upcoming horror film When Darkness Loves Us, directed by James Ashcroft. The company will manage sales and distribution worldwide, excluding New Zealand and Australia, and plans to present the film to buyers at the Cannes Film Market.

The movie stars Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, alongside Marlon Williams (Sweet Tooth), Victoria Pedretti (You), and Natascha McElhone (The Truman Show). Principal photography recently concluded in New Zealand, with producers targeting a U.S. release in 2027.

Based on Elizabeth Engstrom's cult novella from the 1980s, When Darkness Loves Us is described as a psychologically charged horror story. The plot centers on a young woman, portrayed by Clarke, who returns to the surface after surviving 15 years trapped in an underground cave system. She seeks to reclaim the family she believes belongs to her, setting the stage for a haunting narrative.

This film marks a notable addition to the horror genre, combining intense psychological elements with a gripping storyline drawn from a classic source. With its anticipated debut at Cannes and subsequent U.S. release, When Darkness Loves Us is positioned to attract significant attention from horror enthusiasts and international audiences alike.
Despite scandal & a canceled Bachelorette season, Disneys Rob Mills remains optimistic about the franchises future and loyal fan base.

AceShowbiz - The The Bachelor franchise has faced significant difficulties over the past 18 months. Issues including allegations of a toxic work environment and the exit of its two leading showrunners created turmoil behind the scenes. These challenges culminated in ABC deciding to cancel an entire season of The Bachelorette due to domestic assault accusations against its star, Taylor Frankie Paul, known from the show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Despite these setbacks, Disneys head of reality programming, Rob Mills, remains optimistic about the future of the franchise. He emphasized the enduring strength of the format, which has been successful for over twenty years. Mills described The Bachelor as almost a perfect format with a loyal fan base that deeply cares about the show.

The Bachelor has experienced both triumphs and controversies in its long run but has consistently demonstrated resilience. According to Mills, the upcoming revival of the franchise will be handled with great care and thoughtfulness. He expressed confidence that the series will return stronger and better when it reappears on ABC in 2027.

As the franchise prepares for its comeback, all eyes will be on how ABC and the production team address past issues while reinvigorating the beloved dating competition series. Fans and critics alike anticipate seeing how the show evolves after its hiatus and internal challenges.
Jesse Malin honors late D Generation bassist Howie Pyro with new song "Hollywood Forever," plus a Clash cover and heartfelt video tribute.

AceShowbiz - Jesse Malin has released a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and former bandmate, Howie Pyro, through a new song titled Hollywood Forever. The track honors Pyros legacy as bassist and co-founder of D Generation, as well as his influence as a popular DJ and collector of unique curiosities.

Pyro, born Howard Kusten in 1960, passed away on May 4, 2022, after a battle with liver disease. His death profoundly affected Malin, who channeled his grief into this musical homage. Alongside the release of Hollywood Forever, Malin also shared a B side cover of The Clashs Rudie Cant Fail.

The tribute extends beyond the music with an accompanying video that features rare photographs of Pyro and glimpses into his extensive collection of figurines and occult literature. Malin explained, He would always say, if he had to go, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the place hed want to be buried.

Malin described Pyro as a magnetic figure who connected with a wide range of people, saying, Howie could get along with anybody. He was friends with both Johnny and Joey Ramone. Hells Angels, skinheads, drag queens, comic-book nerds, art collectors, fashionistas  they all loved him.

In addition to the song and video, Malin is sharing his personal story of friendship and loss through his ongoing stage show, Silver Manhattan. The production, described by Malin as a love letter to New York City and to Pyro, delves into their deep bond and the impact of Pyros passing.

The show also touches on Malins own health struggles after being struck by a rare spinal stroke a year following Pyros death, which left him paralyzed. Despite these challenges, Malin continues to honor his friends memory through his art and performances.

Silver Manhattan is currently extended to run through May 10 at the Bowery Palace theater, allowing audiences to experience this intimate homage to both a city and a cherished friend.

Malin shared, I didnt make it to the end of that party. I ended up in the hospital for three months, but I did write this song to show him how much he meant to me. Its our story.
Prince Harry has made a surprise trip to Ukraine.

Prince Harry is in Ukraine

The Duke of Sussex - who lives in California with wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children Prince Archie, six, and four-year-old Princess Lilibet - arrived in Kyiv on Thursday (23.04.26), where he intends to highlight the work of his Invictus Games Foundation in supporting wounded soldiers and veterans, and give a speech at the Kyiv Security Forum.

Images from Harry's arrival showed him stepping off a train and greeting people at the station.

According to ITV News, the prince's message to Ukrainians was that the world sees you and respects you."

Amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Harry described Ukraine as a country bravely and successfully defending Europes eastern flank."

He added: "It matters that we dont lose sight of the significance of that.

The 41-year-old royal made the visit to "remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions.

During his trip to Ukraine, Harry is also expected to show his support to The HALO Trust, a landmine-clearing charity of which Harry is a longtime supporter, following in the footsteps of his late mother Princess Diana.

Harry last made a surprise visit to Ukraine in September, where he urged veterans to "open up" to their loved ones during a panel discussion.

According to People magazine, he said: "You will feel lost at times, like you lack purpose, but however dark those days are, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

You just need to look for it, because there will always be someone  a mother, father, sibling, friend, or comrade  there to pick you up.

"Don't stay silent. Silence will hold you in the dark. Open up to your friends and family, because in doing so, you give them permission to do the same."

Harry - who served in the British Army for a decade and undertook two tours of Afghanistan - also paid tribute to the families of service personnel for the sacrifices they make too.

He said: The wives and mothers who keep their loved ones on the straight and narrow  they deserve as much respect as anyone who serves.

Harry was joined on the panel by Invictus Team Ukraines Captain Olexiy Tiunin, Invictus Games Foundation Chief Programmes + Strategy Officer David Wiseman, and Superhumans Center leaders Rudneva and Andriy Stavnitser.

Harry's trip also included a private meeting with Ukraines Minister for Veterans Affairs, Natalia Kalmykova, where Harry discussed how the Invictus Games Foundation could continue to support wounded veterans, and he reiterated his personal commitment to the community during a separate private meeting with the country's Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko.

Earlier in the day, he had attended a fundraising lunch to help Superhumans - which helps support the recovery and rehabilitation of seriously wounded Ukrainian service personnel - expand their network with up to five new centres.

The prince ended his visit by laying a wreath in honour of the Ukrainians who have lost their lives during the ongoing war with Russia.
Mourning James Valentine: Beloved saxophonist, ARIA Hall of Fame member, and radio icon passes away at 64 after a battle with cancer.

AceShowbiz - The Australian music and broadcasting community is mourning the loss of James Valentine, a multi-talented saxophonist, author, and radio presenter, who passed away at the age of 64 after battling cancer.

James Valentine was widely recognized for his contributions to Australian music as a member of the band Models, which earned a place in the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2010. His work extended beyond music into broadcasting, where he gained millions of fans and received international accolades for his engaging radio programs.

Valentine's family shared a heartfelt statement on April 23, revealing that he "passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him." This loss has deeply affected both the music and broadcasting worlds in Australia.

As a skilled jazz saxophonist, Valentine was a prominent figure in the 1980s Australian music scene, performing and recording with several notable bands and artists including Models, Absent Friends, the Wendy Matthews Band, Jo Camilleri, Stephen Cummings, and Kate Ceberano.

His most commercially successful work came with Models on their fourth album, Out of Mind, Out of Sight, which reached number 84 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1986 and remained there for 18 weeks. This album featured three top 40 hits in Australia: "Big on Love," "Barbados," and the title track "Out of Mind, Out of Sight." The latter also achieved international success, hitting number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charting for 13 weeks.

During the 2010 ARIA Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Sydney, Valentine stood alongside his former bandmates to celebrate their legacy. The occasion was bittersweet as it came just days before the tragic death of fellow band member James Freud.

Reflecting on their time together, Models drummer Barton Price remarked to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that while the band considered themselves significant, Valentine remained humble and grounded. Bandmate Roger Mason described him as "the most mature one in the band," highlighting his down-to-earth nature.

Beyond his stage presence, Valentine excelled in broadcasting, hosting radio and television programs for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for over three decades. He was a familiar voice on the 702 ABC Sydney Afternoons radio show for more than 20 years, where his curiosity and empathetic interviewing style made his program popular well beyond Sydney.

In 2020, Valentine's radio work was internationally recognized when he won a Bronze Award at the New York Festival's Radio Awards for Best Two-Way Telephone Talk/Interview Show.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Valentine, calling him "someone who was always worth listening to" and praised his vibrant personality. Albanese extended his condolences to Valentine's family, friends, and the ABC community.

ABC Chair Kim Williams lauded Valentine as a "creative polymath," while New South Wales Premier Chris Minns remembered his "quirky, unique way of talking with people in Sydney," emphasizing how Valentine was both genuinely interested in others and interesting himself.

Recently, Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn announced that Valentine was honored with the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award, recognizing his exceptional service and achievements. Mostyn described Valentine's ideas as "lovely, gentle, sensible, really important things about how community comes together and how we all have a role to play."

Garry Gary Beers, bassist for INXS and fellow member of Absent Friends, expressed his admiration for Valentine as a "truly great sax player and a very very decent guy." Beers recalled Valentine as someone who was "always smiling, always happy to be in the moment and a guy you could depend on."

In March 2024, Valentine publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and took a leave from his radio show to undergo treatment. Though he returned briefly in 2025, scans in June revealed a tumor in his omentum, prompting him to step away once more to focus on his health.

James Valentine is survived by his wife Joanne and their two children, leaving behind a rich legacy in both Australian music and broadcasting.

His passing marks the end of a remarkable career that touched countless lives through his vibrant music performances and empathetic radio presence. Tributes continue to pour in from fans, colleagues, and public figures, all celebrating the life and work of this beloved cultural figure.
A biopic on French culinary legend Bernard Loiseau is coming to the big screen, exploring his life, legacy, and the inspiration behind Chef Gusteau.

AceShowbiz - The remarkable story of Bernard Loiseau, the late French culinary legend, is set to be brought to the big screen in an upcoming biopic. The film will explore the life and legacy of one of Frances most celebrated chefs, whose influence extended far beyond the kitchen.

Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, a company within the Mediawan Group, has partnered with 31 Juin Films and the family of Bernard Loiseau to develop and produce this new film. The project will be both written and directed by Thomas Lilti, who is known for his thoughtful storytelling.

Bernard Loiseau gained widespread fame in the 1990s and early 2000s as the head of the renowned La Cote d'Or hotel and restaurant, located in Saulieu in the Burgundy region of France. His culinary expertise and dedication made him one of the most recognized chefs in the country during that period.

Notably, Bernard Loiseau also inspired the character of Chef Auguste Gusteau in Pixars acclaimed animated film Ratatouille. This adds a unique cultural significance to his story, which the biopic aims to capture in depth.

The announcement of this film highlights the enduring impact of Loiseaus career and the ongoing interest in his life story. Fans of French cuisine and cinema alike can anticipate a compelling portrayal of a culinary icon whose legacy continues to inspire.
Boards of Canada break a decade-long silence with new album *Inferno*, featuring 18 tracks, a double LP, and cryptic visuals. Arriving next month.

AceShowbiz - The enigmatic electronic music duo Boards of Canada is breaking a long silence with the announcement of their new album, Inferno. This release marks their first collection of new material in over a decade, exciting fans who have waited since 2013.

Inferno is set to arrive next month, featuring 18 tracks spread over roughly 70 minutes. The album will be presented as a double LP, with various physical formats available including a special-edition limited red translucent 2LP vinyl housed in a triple gatefold sleeve accompanied by a 16-page booklet, a standard black 2xLP vinyl, CD, and digital versions.

The tracklist for Inferno was revealed alongside cryptic social media posts that combined minimal, atmospheric music with hexagonal visuals and vintage-style video clips. These posts hinted at the album's nostalgic yet fresh vibe, blending the duo's signature sound with an evocative aesthetic that calls back to simpler times.

Fans of Boards of Canada will recognize the significance of this release, given the lengthy quiet period following their 2013 album Tomorrow's Harvest. That previous record marked their commercial peak, reaching No. 7 on the UK charts and No. 13 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, their first top 10 and Billboard 200 entries respectively.

Despite their limited public presence, Boards of Canadacomposed of Scottish brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoinhave cultivated a devoted following among electronic music enthusiasts. The duo is known for their scarcity of interviews, rare live performances mostly from the late 1990s and early 2000s, and a minimal number of official music videos, which only adds to their mystique.

Their impact is not measured by mainstream hits or streaming numbers but by the deep resonance their atmospheric soundscapes have with listeners. A notable moment during their hiatus was the 2019 release of "XYZ," a previously unreleased track from a 1998 Peel Session, which appeared in the Warp Records 30th anniversary compilation WXAXRXP Sessions.

Fans can pre-order and pre-save Inferno directly from the official Boards of Canada website. The album's release date is confirmed for May 29.

Below is the full tracklist for Inferno:

Introit

Prophecy At 1420 MHz

Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan

Age Of Capricorn

Father And Son

Somewhere Right Now In The Future

Naraka

Acts Of Magic

Memory Death

The Word Becomes Flesh

Into The Magic Land

Blood In The Labyrinth

Deep Time

All Reason Departs

Arena Americanada

The Process

You Retreat In Time And Space

I Saw Through Platonia

This new chapter in the Boards of Canada discography arrives like a bolt from the blue for their long-standing fans. After 13 years without a full album, Inferno promises to reignite the unique and immersive world the duo has crafted over decades.
NCIS finally reunites Torres and Bishop in Season 23s midseason premierea tense, game-changing episode that sets up major future twists.

AceShowbiz - NCIS delivered a much-anticipated reunion between Nick Torres and Eleanor Bishop in its midseason premiere of Season 23, titled "Her," which aired this past Tuesday. This pivotal episode not only brought back a fan-favorite character but also introduced a significant turning point hinting at possible future story developments for the duo.

The episode centers on Eleanor Bishops unexpected return to town while she is on the run from U.S. authorities. This marked the first time viewers have seen Bishop since actress Emily Wickersham left the series in 2021. Wickershams departure was abrupt, as her character suddenly embarked on an undercover mission, representing the actresss desire to pursue other opportunities outside the CBS crime procedural.

In "Her," Katrina Laws character Jessica Knight is tasked with locating Bishop for questioning after some suspicious activity involving her new associates. This sets up a tense dynamic between Bishop and the NCIS team, particularly with Nick Torres, played by Wilmer Valderrama. Throughout the episode, Bishop complicates matters by rendering both Nick and Timothy McGee (portrayed by Sean Murray) unconscious at separate points, all while following her own agenda.

Despite the challenges and uncertainty surrounding Bishop's true intentions, Torres remains loyal to his former partner and love interest. Their reunion rekindles the complex bond they shared, blurring the lines between trust and suspicion. Valderrama described the experience of acting alongside Wickersham again after five years as "like riding a bike," emphasizing the ease and familiarity between them. He noted, "We had a lot of fun playing with the things that were there on set before our storyline ended, and we had a great time. We have such a shorthand."

Wickersham expressed her excitement about returning to the show, describing the cast and crew as a continuous family spanning more than 20 years. She shared, "As Wilmer knows, it's like a family there that's been a continuous family for 20+ years, with different characters in and out. It's such a home to every actor who's been there." This sentiment highlighted the deep connection among the NCIS team, both on and off screen.

The plot of "Her" follows Bishops attempt to access sensitive files and reunites her with familiar faces from the NCIS team. Wickershams Bishop, who appeared in 172 episodes as a series regular, kept audiences guessing about her allegiance. Ultimately, the episode revealed that Bishop was working toward justice, acting as a Robin Hood figure targeting corrupt organizations, while one of her new allies turned out to be the real rogue agent.

Wickersham elaborated on the intricate relationships within the team, saying, "These characters built such a blueprint for one another under Gibbs's rules and supervision. This is family ... No matter how weird things may look or how confusing it may be for the rest of the team, they have some kind of second nature understanding." She added, "There's an unspoken understanding that, regardless of time or circumstance, they're there for each other."

Before her departure at the end of the episode, Bishop offers Nick an unexpected invitation to join her on her unconventional mission. After hesitation, Torres chooses to remain with NCIS, affirming his current commitment to the team and the life he knows. Valderrama teased that this life-altering invitation lays the groundwork for potential future storylines, possibly hinting at another reunion or a new chapter for both characters.

Valderrama reflected on the cliffhanger, stating, "Is this the end of that chapter, or did they just open another one? We're going to figure out where this goes." This uncertainty leaves fans eager to see how Bishop and Torress paths will cross again.

Celebrating a decade as a regular on NCIS since his 2016 debut, Valderrama will reach his 200th episode by the end of this season. Despite his long tenure, he admits to still feeling like the "new guy" on set. This reunion episode provided a "full circle" moment for Torres, allowing him to receive a proper farewell from Bishop, which was missing due to her sudden exit in Season 18.

Valderrama commented on the emotional complexity of their past separation: "Bishop had chosen her own journey and Torres, in that moment, realized he wasn't part of that plan. What hurt was that she was leaving without saying goodbye. There is a reason why it happened the way it did [then]. And with this episode, we now know why."

NCIS continues to air on CBS every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with episodes streaming the following day on Paramount+. Fans can look forward to more developments as the season progresses, especially regarding the evolving relationship between Bishop and Torres.
Charley Crockett completes his 'Sagebrush Trilogy' with Age of the Ram, a cinematic country-blues saga of redemption inspired by Willie Nelson.

AceShowbiz - Charley Crockett has completed his compelling 'Sagebrush Trilogy' with the release of his latest album, Age of the Ram, a project inspired by the narrative style of Willie Nelson's iconic Red Headed Stranger. This new record, released through Island Records, showcases Crocketts unique blend of storytelling and musicianship, combining elements of country, blues, and soul into a cinematic experience.

The album centers around the fictional character Billy McLane, a cattle rustler on the run from the law who ultimately finds redemption. This concept draws from the 1963 Marty Robbins song "Old Red," which tells the story of an unyielding bull and a fearless cowboy, both meeting their end in a legendary showdown. Crockett revives McLanes story, weaving a rich allegory that reflects his own journey through the music industry and personal struggles.

Age of the Ram is the third installment in Crocketts trilogy, following Lonesome Drifter and Dollar a Day, both produced in collaboration with Shooter Jennings at Sunset Sound Studio 3 in Los Angeles. This series marks an impressive output for Crockett, with three major albums released since mid-March 2025, solidifying his position in the country and Americana genres.

Though McLane is the central figure, Crocketts own life parallels the outlaw narrative. From a New York City busker to a musician who has faced legal troubles, including a felony conviction, Crockett channels his experiences into McLanes story. The outlaws clashes with law enforcement and quest for authenticity resonate with Crocketts challenges navigating the music industry and his personal path to success.

Shooter Jennings explains the dual storyline approach of the trilogy: One is about Charley's real life, intertwined in songs like 'Easy Money.' The other is a fantasy story told through McLane. They are connected, revealing Charley's story through this imaginative lens. This creative framework allows the trilogy to explore themes of identity, struggle, and redemption on multiple levels.

The albums tracks delve deep into Western mythology and outlaw lore, with songs like "Rancho Deluxe" expressing weariness with the outlaw life, "I Shot Jesse James" embracing the legend, and "Kentucky Too Long" depicting an escape from danger. Historical figures such as Pat Garrett, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, and the Sundance Kid also influence the albums narrative, enriching the thematic depth.

Crocketts storytelling culminates in a series of short pieces titled "The Life & Times of Billy McLane," which chronicle the characters journey through love, revenge, and eventual redemption. The narrative closes with the track "Billy McLane," tying the albums concept together.

Crockett credits Shooter Jennings with helping him unlock a faster, more confident songwriting process. My ability to write and finish songs on the spot has improved, Crockett says. Before, I often felt judged or like I was acting in a movie rather than being authentic. The producers influence was pivotal in shaping the albums concept, encouraging Crockett to envision the trilogy as a connected saga rather than separate projects.

Jennings brought a unique perspective rooted in his love for fantasy and sci-fi, which helped frame the trilogys narrative as a constellation of stories intertwined across three albums. This approach allowed the albums to call back and forth to each other, creating a cohesive artistic statement.

Since releasing Lonesome Drifter, Crockett has maintained a prolific pace. His August release, Dollar a Day, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Country Album, a recognition Crockett notably offered to the Turnpike Troubadours following their snub. At the time, he and Jennings had already begun work on Age of the Ram, continuing their momentum.

Listeners encountering Age of the Ram might assume the trilogy was meticulously planned from the start, but in reality, the project evolved organically. Reflecting on the trilogys development, Crockett remarked, After Dollar a Day, we wondered how to top what wed already built and how to finish the trilogy with impact.

The expectations surrounding the trilogy were high. Both previous albums had charted on the Billboard 200, and Dollar a Days Grammy nod raised the stakes. Fans and critics alike awaited a satisfying conclusion, which Crockett sought to deliver through a concept album  a format that can be challenging to execute effectively.

To anchor the trilogys finale, Crockett turned to his greatest musical influence: Willie Nelson. Though his sound incorporates soul, blues, and Tejano elements, Nelsons storytelling and artistry remain a guiding light. Nelson's 1975 album Red Headed Stranger tells a story of a fugitive outlaw, a thematic parallel to Age of the Ram. Though Crockett does not imitate Nelsons style, he views Nelsons work as a blueprint for crafting a concept album that tells a compelling and cohesive story.

The two albums could be imagined as a double feature of classic Western tales, each offering a distinct but complementary perspective on the outlaw narrative. This creative ambition reflects Crocketts desire to carve out a unique space within the country music landscape.

While Crockett has discussed the trilogy and concept album approach with the press, he remains focused on the music itself and the story he wants to tell. The result is a richly layered album that showcases his growth as a songwriter and storyteller, blending personal history with mythic themes.

Age of the Ram stands as a testament to Crocketts persistence and artistic evolution, completing a trilogy that explores the complexities of identity, redemption, and the outlaw spirit through a blend of musical genres and narrative depth. With this ambitious project, Crockett solidifies his role as a formidable voice in contemporary country and Americana music.
The Last Kingdom leaves Netflix soon despite 91% RT score & George R.R. Martin's praise. A gripping 9th-century saga of battles & betrayal.

AceShowbiz - The Last Kingdom is set to leave Netflix soon for many subscribers, despite its strong popularity and critical acclaim. The historical drama, which enjoys a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has garnered praise from influential figures including George R.R. Martin, who publicly endorsed the series in his blog. This show, inspired by Bernard Cornwells novels, offers viewers a gripping look at the birth of England during the 9th and 10th centuries.

George R.R. Martin, known widely for his work on the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, has repeatedly expressed admiration for The Last Kingdom. Unlike Martins own fantasy work, the show contains no dragons or magic; instead, it focuses on intense battles, political betrayals, and swordplay  elements that Martin highlighted in his praise. The series is based on a set of 13 novels by Bernard Cornwell, published between 2004 and 2020, which chronicle the formation of England through the eyes of complex characters.

Originally premiering on BBC Two in 2015, The Last Kingdom ran for five seasons until 2022. After its initial seasons, Netflix acquired the rights and marketed it as a Netflix Original, expanding its global audience. The story culminated with a feature-length movie, Seven Kings Must Die, which debuted on Netflix in 2023.

Despite its success and a loyal fanbase, the series continued availability on Netflix is now limited by expiring licensing agreements. According to a report from What's On Netflix, the streaming platforms four-year licensing deal for The Last Kingdom in Canada will end on March 9, 2026. In the United States, the series will be removed from Netflix on December 9, 2026. However, the feature film Seven Kings Must Die is expected to remain on the platform at least until 2033, offering fans some continued access to the franchise.

The departure of The Last Kingdom from Netflix is primarily due to rights issues rather than lack of popularity. Fans who have yet to watch the series or who want to revisit its intense historical storytelling should plan accordingly to avoid missing out. Meanwhile, followers of medieval fantasy may find other content to explore, including the latest Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, available on HBO. Additionally, the third season of HBOs House of the Dragon is scheduled to premiere in June, offering more epic storytelling in a similar genre.

The showrunner behind The Last Kingdom is Stephen Butchard, who crafted a narrative weaving historical fact with compelling drama. The series stars Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred, a Saxon-born warrior raised by Vikings, and Emily Cox among the primary cast. Their performances bring to life the turbulent era when Alfred the Great defends his kingdom against Norse invaders, while Uhtred seeks to reclaim his ancestral lands.

The Last Kingdom blends action, drama, and history, making it a standout series for viewers interested in medieval England. Its departure from Netflix marks the end of an era for many fans, but the storys legacy continues through the film and related programming. For those eager to experience the series before it leaves, now is the time to stream and immerse themselves in this richly crafted world.
Monarch star Wyatt Russell reveals Lee Shaw's Monsterverse prequel series begins filming this summer with a fresh, unexpected tone.

AceShowbiz - Monarch: Legacy of Monsters star Wyatt Russell has shared an exciting update about Apple TVs upcoming Monsterverse spinoff centered on his character Lee Shaw. As Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 continues to release episodes weekly, Apple TV+ is actively developing a fresh prequel series set in the 1980s, which will explore Shaws story in greater depth.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell revealed that production on the new show is slated to begin this summer, bringing fresh energy to the Monsterverse franchise. He praised showrunner Joby Harold for his inspired vision and shared that the tone and genre of the Lee Shaw series will be distinctly different from Monarch. According to Russell, viewers can expect something unexpected and unique:

We are shooting it this summer, and Ive read the scripts. Theyre very well written. Im more excited to start working on this than I have been about anything in a long time, Russell said. The genre that the Lee Shaw show will live in is totally separate from the genre Monarch lives in, and its very different in a way that I think is really exciting. I think people will expect one thing when they watch it, and that expectation will be completely subverted. Early on in the show, people are going to be like, This is wild. This is so different from what I thought I was going to be watching  in the best way.

Russell also highlighted the enthusiasm of the creative team, emphasizing that although the project is in early pre-production, the cast and crew are deeply invested in expanding the Monsterverse narrative. The actor expressed hope that this new spinoff could sustain interest in the franchise for many years to come, possibly a decade or more. While the show will focus heavily on human characters, the presence of monsters remains an important element, maintaining the franchises signature appeal.

The Lee Shaw spinoff was first announced in December 2025, outlining a Cold War-era plot where Monarch brings Shaw out of retirement in 1984 to counter a Soviet threat involving a powerful Titan weapon. While Godzilla is expected to appear, details about other returning characters from Monarch remain unknown at this time.

This upcoming series marks the initial phase of a significant expansion of the Monsterverse across both television and film. With Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 currently airing and the next Monsterverse film, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, scheduled for release on March 26, 2027, Apple TV+ is positioning itself for a broad slate of interconnected projects. The Lee Shaw series is reportedly the first of multiple spinoffs planned for the streaming platform.

Production timelines have seen some variation in reports. While executive producer Tory Tunnell previously mentioned a spring start for filming, Russells statement points to a summer shoot. Regardless, filming is expected to occur within the first half of 2026, signaling a fast-tracked approach to bringing the series to audiences.

Meanwhile, Russell continues to appear as a younger Lee Shaw in flashbacks during Monarch season 2, beginning with the premiere episode. He hopes to maintain this role for an extended period, expressing interest in exploring numerous stories set within the Titan-focused world of the Monsterverse.

Fans eager for additional updates on Russells Monsterverse project can anticipate more information as filming approaches. For now, it appears that he may be the only returning actor from previous installments, which could help distinguish the new series as a standalone narrative within the larger franchise.

New episodes of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 are released every Friday on Apple TV+, continuing to build momentum for the expanding Monsterverse universe.
MrBeast faces federal lawsuit over sexual harassment claims, including disturbing bathroom behavior allegations. Company denies all charges.

AceShowbiz - MrBeast and his production company, Beast Industries, are confronting a federal lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and workplace retaliation by a former employee.

The suit, filed by Lorrayne Mavromatis in a North Carolina federal court, includes serious accusations against the companys former CEO, James Warren, and involves disturbing claims about MrBeasts behavior in workplace bathrooms. The company has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them fabricated and offensive.

According to the complaint, Warren allegedly told Mavromatis that MrBeast becomes uneasy around attractive women and implied that the YouTube star engages in explicit self-pleasuring behaviors in their presence. Beast Industries responded swiftly, labeling the claims as "ridiculous" and "disgusting," and accused the plaintiff of exploiting MrBeasts publicly known medical conditions, including his eye issues and Crohns disease, for sensational headlines.

Mavromatis, who worked with Beast Industries from 2002 to 2025, alleges a hostile work environment characterized by gender discrimination. She claims she was regularly excluded from male-dominated meetings, demeaned publicly, and pressured to work during her maternity leave, which she says violated her Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights. The lawsuit also states that other female employees endured similar treatment.

The complaint demands unspecified damages and suggests that the hostile workplace culture is systemic within the company. Mavromatis further alleges that after raising concerns about the work environment, she was demoted to a social media manager role in the merchandise department during her final tenure at Beast Industries.

Beast Industries strongly rejects all allegations. The company issued a statement asserting the lawsuit is filled with "deliberate misrepresentations and categorically false statements." They claim to have extensive evidence, including Slack and WhatsApp messages, company records, and witness accounts, that refute Mavromatiss claims.

Additionally, Beast Industries presented a screenshot showing that Mavromatis had signed the employee handbook outlining FMLA and parental leave policies. They also contend she voluntarily requested to work during her maternity leave, contradicting her claims of pressure.

The company described the lawsuit as an opportunistic attempt to extract a financial settlement, stating they will not "submit to opportunistic lawyers looking to manufacture a payday from us."

This case is not the first legal challenge concerning workplace conduct for MrBeasts enterprises. Beast Industries is also defending a class action lawsuit filed by contestants of the Amazon Prime Video series Beast Games, who allege unsafe conditions and sexual harassment during the show's production.

As this lawsuit moves forward, both sides are preparing to present their evidence in court, with significant implications for the workplace culture and reputation of MrBeasts growing media empire.
Julianne Moore to receive Kerings Women in Motion Award at Cannes on May 17, alongside emerging talent Margherita Spampinato.

AceShowbiz - Julianne Moore is set to be honored with the Women in Motion Award by Kering during the Cannes Film Festival. The ceremony, an official event at Cannes, is scheduled for May 17 and will include notable attendees such as festival leaders and jury members.

The awards gala will also recognize Italian filmmaker Margherita Spampinato with the emerging talent award, highlighting her promising contributions to cinema.

Since its inception in 2015, the Women in Motion Awards have celebrated female artists whose careers and dedication have significantly advanced the role of women in both cinema and society. Past honorees include acclaimed figures such as Nicole Kidman, Donna Langley, Jane Fonda, Patty Jenkins, Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Viola Davis, Michelle Yeoh, and Salma Hayek Pinault. Alongside the awards, Kering's Women in Motion initiative at Cannes features live talks, podcasts, and other events that foster dialogue around gender and representation in the film industry.

Kering chairman Francois-Henri Pinault praised Julianne Moore for embodying the spirit of Women in Motion. He highlighted her consistent artistic choices, the depth and complexity of her performances, and her longstanding commitment to promoting meaningful representation, both on and off screen. According to Pinault, Moore has helped redefine the concept of what it means to be a leading woman in cinema.

As a frequent presence at Cannes, Moore is celebrated for her Oscar-winning role in Still Alice. Her extensive filmography includes acclaimed works such as Far From Heaven, The Hours, The Kids Are All Right, Boogie Nights, and more recent projects like May December, Echo Valley, The Room Next Door, Sirens, and Mary & George. She is also attached to star in an upcoming untitled musical comedy directed by Jesse Eisenberg for A24. Over the years, she has received top acting honors at major festivals including Berlin, Venice, and Cannes.

Expressing her gratitude, Moore said she is genuinely grateful to be recognized by Kering. She emphasized the importance of visibility and the power of storytelling in expanding the space for women and diverse voices both in front of and behind the camera. Continuing to work together to amplify female and diverse voices and to support the next generation of creators helps build a cinema that is more open, more representative, while driving real change, she added.

Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch praised Moore for her courageous choice of roles, noting that she has never used cinema to provide reassurance. Instead, for four decades, Moore has portrayed characters who destabilize, suffer unresolved struggles, and reject easy sympathy. Knobloch said through these roles, Moore has claimed new ground on screen that did not exist before.

General delegate Thierry Fremaux also lauded Moore, calling her one of the great actresses of contemporary cinema. He remarked on her uncompromising and richly varied filmography, her remarkable intelligence and patience, and her rare emotional precision. According to Fremaux, Moore works with some of the most important filmmakers of our time, bringing profound sensitivity, extraordinary nuance, and fearless engagement with complex characters to every role.

The emerging talent award will be given to Margherita Spampinato, selected by last years recipient, Brazilian filmmaker Marianna Brennand. This award includes a grant of 50,000 euros to support the development of a second feature film project. Spampinato is recognized for her debut feature Gioia Mia, a film that premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, where it earned two prizes. The story follows a young boys discovery of love, memory, and mystery during an unexpected visit to a Sicilian seaside town.

Before her feature debut, Spampinato wrote and directed two short films, Tommasina and Segreti. Upon receiving the award, she expressed her gratitude and happiness, calling it a great honor to be recognized by Brennand, whose work she deeply admires. She noted that the award supports the creativity and freedom of new female voices in cinema and the arts worldwide.

The Kering Women in Motion Awards gala continues to spotlight female talent and promote gender equality in the film industry, making it a significant event during the Cannes Film Festival each year.
Artem Chigvintsev opens up about his "inevitable" split from Nikki Garcia, calling the domestic violence arrest a "bad dream" in a candid podcast interview.

AceShowbiz - Artem Chigvintsev recently opened up about the breakup with his ex-wife Nikki Garcia, describing the split as "inevitable" during a candid conversation on the April 20 episode of The Penthouse With Peta podcast hosted by fellow dancer Peta Murgatroyd.

The former Dancing With the Stars professional reflected on the difficult week that changed his life dramatically, ultimately leading to the end of his marriage to the WWE star known from Total Bellas. The split followed a highly publicized incident that involved Artem's arrest for domestic violence, which he called a "bad dream" he struggled to process.

"I had to completely switch off me," Artem explained to Peta Murgatroyd. "There was no way of processing everything." Looking back, he admitted feeling disoriented by the entire experience, saying, "I'm like, 'Woah. I don't know where I am right now.'"

Despite the turmoil, Artem insisted that if he could change anything about the situation, his answer would be no. "It was inevitable," he said, emphasizing his belief that everything happens for a reason and that the breakup was necessary for him to move forward in life.

He further revealed, "I don't think I would have ever left with that relationship on my own. I would have never done that just because I was raised differently." This statement highlights how deeply ingrained his values were, which complicated his willingness to leave the marriage independently.

According to court documents obtained by E! News, the divorce was filed by Nikki Garcia in September 2024, less than a month after police responded to a domestic dispute at their Napa, California residence. The WWE star alleged that the argument started over breakfast and escalated, leading her to throw their son's shoes at Artem in a moment she described as a "momentary lapse in judgment."

Artem Chigvintsev denied these accusations in his own court filings, claiming that Nikki Garcia was the aggressor during the incident. Ultimately, the Napa County District Attorney's Office declined to press charges against him. Their divorce was finalized in 2025.

Reflecting on the timeline, Artem shared that their 5-year-old son Matteo was a major factor in why the couple stayed together as long as they did. He expressed the importance of having both parents actively involved in their child's life.

"I want my kid to have a full family," he stated. "There is a huge amount of relationships that, I think, nowadays people exit way too early."

Currently, Artem and Nikki are committed to co-parenting their son together. In a September episode of Sirius XMs The Nikki and Brie Show, Nikki Garcia praised Artem for his adaptability to her schedule, saying, "I get Matteo almost more. He's amazing." She added that they have adjusted well and that Matteo is thriving in their shared parenting arrangement.

Returning to Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia, their journey reflects the complexities faced by many couples in the public eye. Their experience underscores the challenges of navigating personal struggles while maintaining a united front as parents. Though their marriage ended amid controversy, both remain focused on providing stability and love for Matteo.

Artem described the breakup as a turning point, marking a necessary step toward the future he needed. The co-parenting dynamic they share now offers a hopeful example of how former partners can prioritize their childrens well-being above past conflicts.

As celebrity co-parenting continues to evolve, the stories of Artem Chigvintsev, Nikki Garcia, and others highlight the importance of cooperation, respect, and commitment to family despite the end of romantic relationships. Their experiences provide insight into the ongoing balance between personal healing and shared responsibility in raising the next generation.